China's emergency humanitarian aid to Myanmar demonstrates profound fraternal friendship

People's Daily) 16:34, April 15, 2025

Chinese emergency rescue teams transfer a survivor at a quake site in Mandalay city, Myanmar, March 31, 2025. (Photo provided by the Chinese civilian rescue team of RAMUNION RESCUE)

A 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on March 28, causing heavy casualties and property losses, prompting international concern.

Responding swiftly, Chinese President Xi Jinping extended condolences to Myanmar's leader Min Aung Hlaing on March 29, expressing China's readiness to provide assistance and support efforts to overcome the disaster and rebuild homes at an early date.

In the days that followed, Chinese rescue teams were en route to Myanmar, joining local efforts to save lives. Their rapid actions epitomize the profound "Paukphaw" (fraternal) friendship between the two countries, and this solidarity embodies the meaning of the China-Myanmar community with a shared future sharing weal and woe.

"When Chinese rescuers arrived, I felt immense relief - they were the help we could truly count on," said a survivor in Mandalay, echoing widespread local confidence in China's disaster response capabilities..

From the very first moments, China moved quickly to coordinate relief assistance. Within 18 hours, a medical rescue team from southwest China's Yunnan province set out from the provincial capital of Kunming and arrived in Myanmar, bringing life-saving equipment such as life detectors and drones.

At present, multiple Chinese rescue teams are engaged in frontline operations, collaborating with local teams to prioritize life-saving missions. Among them are the China Search and Rescue Team, the China international search and rescue team that includes members from the Chinese military, a rescue team from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government, and the Chinese Red Cross International Emergency Response Team.

In Mandalay, Naypyidaw, and Yangon, Chinese seismic experts, disaster specialists, and medical teams are leading targeted relief operations. Their technical expertise, 24/7 commitment, and cross-border coordination underscore China's ethos of solidarity and shared resilience in crises..

China and Myanmar are connected by mountains and rivers, and the two peoples enjoy a profound fraternal friendship.

A Chinese rescue team hands over emergency tents to Myanmar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the capital city of Naypyidaw, April 1, 2025. The team also assisted with the setup of the tents to support ongoing relief efforts. (People's Daily/Xie Jiajun)

To address urgent needs, China is providing comprehensive emergency humanitarian assistance to support quake-stricken regions. It has decided to provide Myanmar with 100 million yuan ($13.62 million) in emergency humanitarian aid. On April 3, the second batch of emergency humanitarian aid supplies dispatched by the Chinese government arrived in Myanmar. Meanwhile, Chinese enterprises, trade associations, and volunteers in Myanmar are mobilizing additional resources for shelter, medical care, and infrastructure rehabilitation.

Yangon Region Chief Minister U Soe Thein said the aid supplies demonstrated a profound friendship of the Chinese government and people toward the Myanmar people, expressing heartfelt appreciation for China's timely and substantive assistance.

Ambassador of Myanmar to China Tin Maung Swe noted that China immediately extended a helping hand to Myanmar when it was facing the most difficult time, which made the Myanmar people deeply feel the fraternal friendship between the two countries.

Humanity is a community with a shared future where all people rise and fall together. Countries around the world are like passengers aboard the same ship who share the same destiny. When sudden natural disasters strike, they not only put a country's emergency response to test but also challenge the international community's capacity to act with unity, compassion, and resolve.

China has long championed the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, backing that commitment with concrete actions in global humanitarian efforts.

The China Foundation for Rural Development (CFRD), in collaboration with local partners, sets up a temporary shelter for disaster victims using relief supplies donated by China, April 2, 2025. (Photo provided by the China Foundation for Rural Development)

Since 2018, China has provided more than 1,000 cases of emergency assistance to over 70 countries. When Cyclone Idai struck Mozambique in 2019, China immediately sent humanitarian supplies and rescue teams. When a strong earthquake hit southern Turkiye near the Syrian border in 2023, Chinese rescue teams were on the ground within hours as part of an overnight emergency response.

These efforts came with no political strings attached and no pursuit of geopolitical gain. They prioritize people and lives above all else - offering a sense of humanity and solidarity at moments when the world needs it most.

While natural disasters strike without mercy, they are often met with compassion, resilience, and solidarity. It is through unity and cooperation that humanity can weather hardship and rise above adversity.

China remains committed to carrying forward the fraternal friendship between the two countries and will continue working side by side with the international community to support the people of Myanmar as they recover and rebuild.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
China's digital revolution transforms inland city into computing powerhouse

Xinhua) 10:14, April 16, 2025

LANZHOU, April 15 (Xinhua) -- On the windswept plateau in northwestern China, 29-year-old Wang Ting sat in front of a computer, with her eyes darting across a cascade of images depicting bustling urban streets in the southern Chinese tech hub of Shenzhen in Guangdong Province.

With meticulous precision, she marked vehicles, pedestrians and traffic signs on the screen. Outside her window, the landscape was a vast expanse of endless yellow hills, their raw beauty forming a striking contrast to the vibrant cityscapes that filled her digital world.

Once a migrant worker, Wang has now returned to her hometown. She is employed as an AI trainer for autonomous driving projects, one of China's most cutting-edge emerging sectors. The data she annotated will become key "human knowledge" for training advanced self-driving systems.

This scene in Gansu Province, in which Wang featured prominently, unfolded in the city of Qingyang, a cradle of the revolution that gave birth to the People's Republic of China. Notably, a quiet digital transformation here is reshaping the future of one of the country's previously economically less-robust regions.

COMPUTING HUB

Wang's story is an example of the transformative changes driven by the "East Data, West Computing" initiative, a mega data project launched in 2022 to accelerate the development of an integrated national computing network.

This initiative is designed to see less-developed inland regions storing and processing data transmitted from the country's economically vibrant eastern areas -- thereby creating a digital bridge across China's economic divide.

Once heavily reliant on oil and coal extraction, Qingyang had to confront a significant challenge to its fossil fuel-dependent growth model, as China advanced its ambitious carbon reduction goals.

In response to these targets, Qingyang and its neighboring regions have in recent years witnessed a surge in renewable energy infrastructure, with numerous wind and solar power installations now operational. These facilities are poised to supply abundant electricity to satisfy the huge energy appetite of the data centers.

Also, the city's natural advantages, such as its central location in China and cooler climate -- have transformed geographical remoteness from a liability into an asset. Qingyang is now one of China's major computing hubs.

By the end of 2024, the Qingyang Data Center Cluster had put into operation 31,000 standard racks, with a computing power capacity reaching 50,000 petaflops.

"At that scale, the servers can process 500 billion photos per second," explained Jing Lirong, a manager at China Mobile's computing center in Qingyang.

He pointed out that in the space of just one second, creative design teams in China's southern province of Guangdong can utilize Qingyang's computing power to render ultra-high-definition 3D models.

"With AI-driven computing needs rising in eastern cities, there is growing urgency for western data center clusters to speed up construction," Jing added.

NEW INDUSTRIES

This digital revolution is creating ripple effects throughout the local economy. In only two years, over 370 digital economy firms have established operations in the northwestern city, including Shanghai-based AI chip unicorn Enflame Technology.

"Determined to become a leading AI computing hub in China's western region, Qingyang's computing power relies on home-grown AI chips," said Mi Shitao, deputy director of Qingyang's data bureau.

Computing power facilities have spurred a cluster of midstream and downstream enterprises. The city has even introduced a graphene sodium-ion solid-state battery production line to support the growing data center ecosystem.

"When fully operational, this production line will generate over 2 billion yuan (around 277 million U.S. dollars) in annual output and create more than 1,000 jobs," said Gong Xiaozheng, a local commerce official.

The digital boom has also sparked an unexpected industry. Qingyang is leading the way in Gansu by building the province's first "low-altitude economy city," designing and producing drones for applications such as emergency communications and geographical mapping.

Last December, the city successfully tested its "No. 001" drone. Equipped with cutting-edge technology, including electro-optical pods, satellite communications, oblique cameras and multispectral sensors, the drone is designed for a variety of applications -- such as inspections, emergency communications and geographic mapping.

"Drone design and production demand significant computing power to minimize development costs," said Hou Yutong, general manager of Super Mach Aviation Technology in Qingyang. "The current scale of computing resources available here greatly enhances our overall R&D efficiency."

At an industrial park in Qingyang, this drone manufacturer has forged a preliminary production chain with a firm specializing in 3D printing of turbine engines and wings.

The city is also set to conduct its first electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) flight between its two local airports this year.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
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The meteorite used in this studyLAR12252when it was discovered in Antarctica. Credit: The ANSMET (ANtarctic Search for METeorites) Program, Case Western Reserve University and University of Utah.

A team of researchers at the University of Oxford have uncovered crucial evidence for the origin of water on Earth. Using a rare type of meteorite, known as an enstatite chondrite, which has a composition analogous to that of the early Earth (4.55 billion years ago), they have found a source of hydrogen which would have been critical for the formation of water molecules.

Crucially, they demonstrated that the hydrogen present in this material was intrinsic, and not from contamination. This suggests that the material which our planet was built from was far richer in hydrogen than previously thought.

The findings, which support the theory that the formation of habitable conditions on Earth did not rely on asteroids hitting Earth, have been published in the journal Icarus..

Without hydrogen, a fundamental elemental building-block of water, it would have been impossible for our planet to develop the conditions to support life.

The origin of hydrogen, and, by extension, water, on Earth has been highly debated, with many believing that the necessary hydrogen was delivered by asteroids from outer space during Earth's first approximately 100 million years. But these new findings contradict this, suggesting instead that Earth had the hydrogen it needed to create water from when it first formed.

Thin section photo of sample LAR 12252 in plane-polarized light with 5x magnification. Credit: NASA.

The research team analyzed the elemental composition of a meteorite known as LAR 12252, originally collected from Antarctica. They used an elemental analysis technique called X-Ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES) spectroscopy at the Diamond Light Source synchrotron at Harwell, Oxfordshire.

A previous study led by a French team had originally identified traces of hydrogen within the meteorite inside organic materials and non-crystalline parts of the chondrules (millimeter-sized spherical objects within the meteorite). However, the remainder was unaccounted formeaning it was unclear whether the hydrogen was native or due to terrestrial contamination.

The Oxford team suspected that significant amounts of the hydrogen may be attached to the meteorite's abundant sulfur. Using the synchrotron, they shone a powerful beam of X-rays onto the meteorite's structure to search for sulfur-bearing compounds.

When initially scanning the sample, the team focused their efforts on the non-crystalline parts of the chondrules, where hydrogen had been found before.

But when serendipitously analyzing the material just outside of one of these chondrules, composed of a matrix of extremely fine (sub-micrometer) material, the team discovered that the matrix itself was incredibly rich in hydrogen sulfide. In fact, their analysis found that the amount of hydrogen in the matrix was five times higher than that of the non-crystalline sections.

In contrast, in other parts of the meteorite that had cracks and signs of obvious terrestrial contamination (such as rust), very little or no hydrogen was present. This makes it highly unlikely that the hydrogen sulfide compounds detected by the team originated from an earthly source.

Lab photo of sample LAR 12252. Credit: NASA.

Since the proto-Earth was made of material similar to enstatite chondrites, this suggests that by the time the forming planet had become large enough to be struck by asteroids, it would have amassed enough reserves of hydrogen to explain Earth's present-day water abundance.

Tom Barrett, DPhil student in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Oxford, who led the study, said, "We were incredibly excited when the analysis told us the sample contained hydrogen sulfidejust not where we expected.

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"Because the likelihood of this hydrogen sulfide originating from terrestrial contamination is very low, this research provides vital evidence to support the theory that water on Earth is nativethat it is a natural outcome of what our planet is made of."

Co-author Associate Professor James Bryson (Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford) added, "A fundamental question for planetary scientists is how Earth came to look like it does today.

"We now think that the material that built our planetwhich we can study using these rare meteoriteswas far richer in hydrogen than we thought previously. This finding supports the idea that the formation of water on Earth was a natural process, rather than a fluke of hydrated asteroids bombarding our planet after it formed."

More information: Thomas J. Barrett et al,The source of hydrogen in earth's building blocks, Icarus (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.icarus.2025.116588 Journal information: Icarus
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Coherence measurement on superpositions of rotational states of formaldehyde corresponding to clockwise or counterclockwise rotation. Credit: Low et al.

Over the past decades, researchers have been trying to develop increasingly advanced and powerful quantum computers, which could outperform classical computers on some tasks. To attain this, they have been trying to identify new ways to store and manipulate qubits, which are the fundamental units of information in quantum computing systems.

So far, most studies have developed quantum systems that store qubits using superconducting materials, trapped ions, and the spin of electrons confined in quantum dots (i.e., tiny semiconductor-based structures).

Another promising and yet so far rarely explored platform for the storage and manipulation of qubits relies on polar polyatomic molecules, which are molecules with more than two atoms and an uneven distribution of electric charge.

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics carried out a study exploring the possibility of storing and measuring quantum superpositions in specific rotational quantum states of these molecules.

Their paper, published in Physical Review Letters, unveils an interesting new avenue for the development of quantum computing and sensing technologies, leveraging the rotational states of cold polyatomic molecules.

"We have already been working with formaldehyde and similar molecules for many years and always knew that the rotational states that we worked with were actually degenerate state pairs corresponding to clockwise and counterclockwise rotation, but we more or less ignored this fact," Maximilian Low, first author of the paper, told Phys.org.

"I can still remember that one day Martin Zeppenfeld assembled the molecule team and told us that he had an idea about how to measure coherence between these states by taking advantage of the slight asymmetry of formaldehyde molecules. Of course, from there it was still a long way to go before we could perform the measurements we describe in our paper, but that's where it all began."

Low, Zeppenfeld and their colleagues showed that specific rotational quantum states of polar molecules are particularly suited to store quantum superpositions.

Their recent study built on their knowledge that molecular rotational states with nonzero projection of the angular momentum on the electric field direction come in pairs, a clockwise and a counterclockwise rotating version (i.e., opposite-rotation state pairs), which in many respects have indistinguishable properties.

"For a long time, this was always a bit of an annoyance for us, since, for simplicity, it was convenient to consider each pair of states as a single state, but for completeness we always added a note to our papers that each of our 'states' in fact consisted of a pair of states," Zeppenfeld, senior author of the paper, told Phys.org.

"At some point, I realized, however, that this bug can be considered as a major feature, since a quantum superposition could be basically hidden in these pairs of states, due to their in many ways identical properties, while treating the remaining molecular degrees of freedom independently."

The idea behind the recent work by Low, Zeppenfeld and their colleagues is that opposite-rotation state pairs in polar molecules could be used to enable the robust storage of quantum information. This is because the pairing between these states can be considered independent from the remaining molecular degrees of freedom.

"I have written in considerable detail about this idea in a concurrent theoretical publication," explained Zeppenfeld.

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"Realizing that these pairs are interesting is only half the story, however, since for a long time we had no idea how to produce and measure superpositions in these states. At some point, we realized, however, that this would be possible by using the slightly asymmetric nature of formaldehyde."

The main goal of the recent study was to demonstrate that quantum superpositions can be stored and measured in the opposite-rotation state pairs of formaldehyde molecules. To achieve this, however, they first had to cool down and reliably trap these molecules.

"Before we can even think about coherence measurements we have to cool or at least sufficiently slow down the molecules and trap them," said Low.

"The trapping and cooling methods we employ were mostly developed in our group and differ quite a lot from the approaches of most other research groups in the field of cold molecules.

"Our trap, for instance, is an electrostatic trap: as our molecules possess a permanent electric dipole moment, they kind of 'feel' (if you excuse this non-scientific language) electric fields which allows us to trap them (if they occupy the right states)."

The unique microstructured electric trap devised and employed by the researchers is well-suited for the trapping and cooling of cold molecules. Nonetheless, they provide insufficient optical access and present large field inhomogeneities, thus they are not the ideal location in which to perform coherence measurements.

"Because of this, we had to become a bit creative with our measurement scheme," explained Low.

"By exploiting the slight asymmetric structure of formaldehyde, we used RF radiation to selectively remove molecules in one superposition state of our target state pair from our trap, while leaving the complementary superposition state untouched. This creates a population imbalance between the two.

"When you add an external magnetic field to the mix and check for the population of one of the two states a little while later, you end up with these beautiful oscillation patterns shown in our paper, which prove the existence of coherence between the two superposition states."

To cool their molecules, the researchers employed a technique known as Optoelectric Sisyphus Cooling, which enables the cooling of formaldehyde and other polar molecules down to very low temperatures. The primary challenge that the researchers had to overcome was to encode quantum superposition in their desired state pairs and then demonstrate the existence of these states experimentally.

Their efforts were successful and could open new possibilities for the future development of quantum computing systems. Specifically, their paper introduces a new paradigm for the realization of multi-qubit quantum computing architectures rooted in single molecules based on quasi-hidden degrees of freedom.

"The main aspect of this architecture is that a single qubit is stored in a molecular degree of freedom which is well isolated from the remaining degrees of freedom, allowing additional qubits to be independently stored and manipulated in the remaining degrees of freedom," explained Zeppenfeld.

"To make the connection to the rest of the discussion clear, the isolated degree of freedom would be the pairing of the clockwise and counterclockwise rotating states, which is very well isolated due to the in many ways identical properties of both states in each pair. In our paper, we have taken a big step in demonstrating this paradigm by preparing and measuring a quantum superposition in these isolated state pairs."

A further remarkable achievement of the researchers' study is that the superposition in their state pairs was found to be extremely robust, given that the environment in their experiment was considerably noisy.

Under similar experimental conditions, a generic electric trap would destroy a superposition between a generic pair of states in less than a nanosecond, due to the distinct electric fields in different parts of the trap.

"While the unique properties of our microstructured electric trap increases the possible coherence time for a generic pair of states to about 100 nanoseconds, the identical dependence on the electric field magnitude for both states in each of our pairs allows us to, in fact, observe coherence times of about 100 microseconds," said Zeppenfeld.

"Moreover, this is not limited by an actual decoherence, but by the time we are able to keep a given molecule under observation. So, this really shows the robustness of our qubits."

The researchers hope that their study will inspire further research investigating the potential of the experimental platform they outlined. These efforts could in turn facilitate the development of quantum computing systems based on polar molecules.

"Concerning the implications of our work, my hope is that future research will allow a full implementation of quasi-hidden degrees of freedom as a quantum computing platform to be experimentally demonstrated, including encoding, manipulation and readout of qubits in the remaining molecular degrees of freedom with a qubit simultaneously stored in the quasi-hidden degree of freedom, and quantum gates between the qubit stored in the quasi-hidden degree of freedom and the qubits stored in the remaining degrees of freedom," said Zeppenfeld.

"This might really help to make polar molecules a competitive platform for quantum computing."

Unfortunately, Zeppenfeld and his team did not yet receive the funding that would allow them to continue assessing the potential of polar molecules for advancing quantum computing. Nonetheless, other research teams could draw inspiration from their recent paper, contributing to the further validation of their theory and proposed experimental platform.

"Throughout my 20 years working in the field of cold and ultracold molecules, I have regrettably consistently struggled getting new and original (and somewhat exotic) ideas accepted by the scientific community," said Zeppenfeld.

"However, there is lots of excellent work being performed by other experimental groups on other molecule species, and I hope that they will be willing to try implementing the ideas we have presented.

"Moreover, in a recent theoretical paper, colleagues in Austria and the U.S. discuss how their quite different ideas can be understood in the framework of our own work, i.e., quasi hidden degrees of freedom, and this shows how there is quite a bit of potential to develop off our work in unexpected directions."

More information: Maximilian Low et al, Coherence of Symmetry-Protected Rotational Qubits in Cold Polyatomic Molecules, Physical Review Letters (2025). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.113402. Journal information: Physical Review Letters

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This is the first confirmed live observation of the colossal squid, Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, in its natural habitat. The team on Schmidt Ocean Institutes Research Vessel Falkor (too) captured footage of the 30-centimeter-long squid (nearly one foot) at a depth of 600 meters (1968 feet) using their remotely operated vehicle SuBastian during an Ocean Census flagship expedition searching for new marine life. The expedition took place in the remote South Sandwich Islands in the South Atlantic Ocean. This year (2025) is the 100-year anniversary of the identification of the colossal squid, which are estimated to grow up to seven meters (23 feet) in length. Credit: Schmidt Ocean Institute

An international team of scientists and crew on board Schmidt Ocean Institute's research vessel Falkor (too) was the first to film the colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) in its natural environment. The 30-centimeter juvenile squid (nearly one foot long) was captured on video at a depth of 600 meters (1968 feet) by the Institute's remotely operated vehicle (ROV) SuBastian. The sighting occurred on March 9 on an expedition near the South Sandwich Islands in the South Atlantic Ocean.

This year is the 100-year anniversary of the identification and formal naming of the colossal squid, a member of the glass squid family (Cranchiidae).

Additionally, on January 25 a team on the previous Falkor (too) expedition filmed the first confirmed footage of the glacial glass squid (Galiteuthis glacialis) in the Southern Ocean near Antarctica. G. glacialis is another glass squid species that has never been seen alive in its natural environment before.

This is the first confirmed live observation of the colossal squid, Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, in its natural habitat. The team on Schmidt Ocean Institute's Research Vessel Falkor (too) captured footage of the 30-centimeter-long squid (nearly one foot) at a depth of 600 meters (1968 feet) using their remotely operated vehicle SuBastian on March 9 during an Ocean Census flagship expedition searching for new marine life. The expedition took place in the remote South Sandwich Islands in the South Atlantic Ocean. This year (2025) is the 100-year anniversary of the identification of the colossal squid, which are estimated to grow up to seven meters (23 feet) in length. Credit: Schmidt Ocean Institute

The 35-day expedition that captured the footage of the colossal squid was an Ocean Census flagship expedition searching for new marine lifea collaboration among Schmidt Ocean Institute, the Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census, and GoSouth, a joint project between the University of Plymouth (UK), GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research (Germany), and the British Antarctic Survey.

"It's exciting to see the first in situ footage of a juvenile colossal and humbling to think that they have no idea that humans exist," said Dr. Kat Bolstad of the Auckland University of Technology, one of the independent scientific experts the team consulted to verify the footage. "For 100 years, we have mainly encountered them as prey remains in whale and seabird stomachs and as predators of harvested toothfish."

Colossal squid are estimated to grow up to seven meters (23 feet) in length and can weigh as much as 500 kilograms (1,100 lbs), making them the heaviest invertebrate on the planet. Little is known about the colossal squid's life cycle, but eventually, they lose the see-through appearance of the juveniles. Dying adults have previously been filmed by fishermen, but have never been seen alive at depth.

Dr. Aaron Evans, another independent expert on the glass squid family, also confirmed the footage of both squids. Bolstad and Evans said one of the most distinguishing characteristics of colossal squid is the presence of hooks on the middle of their eight arms, which help differentiate them from G. glacialis. Otherwise juvenile colossal squid and G. glacialis are similar, with transparent bodies and sharp hooks at the end of their two longer tentacles.

"It's incredible that we can leverage the power of the taxonomic community through R/V Falkor (too) telepresence while we are out at sea," said the expedition's chief scientist, Dr. Michelle Taylor of the University of Essex, who led The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census team on the South Sandwich Islands expedition. "The Ocean Census international science network is proud to work together with the Schmidt Ocean Institute to accelerate species discovery and expand our knowledge of ocean life, live online with the world's science community.

Credit: Schmidt Ocean Institute

The first confirmed footage of the G. glacialis was filmed in the Bellingshausen Sea near Antarctica during the Schmidt Ocean Institute's January expedition, which examined the seafloor after an iceberg the size of Chicago calved from the George VI ice shelf. On board was deep-sea expert Dr. Thom Linley from the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, who alerted his colleague, Bolstad, as he watched the ROV footage from the vessel's mission control room.

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In the footage, taken at 687 meters (2254 feet), the transparent G. glacialis positions its arms loosely above its head, similar to the cockatoo pose commonly observed in other glass squids.

"The first sighting of two different squids on back-to-back expeditions is remarkable and shows how little we have seen of the magnificent inhabitants of the Southern Ocean," said Schmidt Ocean Institute's executive director, Dr. Jyotika Virmani. "Fortunately, we caught enough high-resolution imagery of these creatures to allow the global experts, who were not on the vessel, to identify both species."

To date, the Schmidt Ocean Institute's ROV SuBastian has captured the first confirmed footage of at least four squid species in the wild, including the Spirula spirula (Ram's Horn Squid) in 2020 and the Promachoteuthis in 2024, with one more first sighting yet to be confirmed.

"These unforgettable moments continue to remind us that the Ocean is brimming with mysteries yet to be solved," Virmani said.

Provided by Schmidt Ocean Institute
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MILLVILLE  The investigation into the cause of a fire that killed two children last week continues as city residents call for hearings on why a fire hydrant near the South Fourth Street site was not working.

During the City Commission meeting Tuesday night, several residents sought information on why firefighters had to search for working hydrants.

The fire was reported about 11 p.m. April 9 and took several hours to bring under control. Two girls died and their father was injured in the blaze.

Firefighters initial efforts were hampered because a nearby hydrant wasnt working. Crews had to run about 800 feet of hose to another hydrant and nearly that length to a third to combat the blaze.

People pay taxes to ensure essential services are functional and working. Because of the city administrations lackadaisical and incompetent approach to things, much more property was destroyed than necessary, more people are now homeless and destitute, and worst of all, lives have been potentially lost, Darrius Smith, who spoke during the meeting, wrote in a post on Facebook following the fire.

In an email to the city, Smith requested fire hydrant inspection records for the past 24 months.

The ultimate goal is to force transparency and accountability, Smith said during the meeting. Make you guys remember that you are accountable to us, not the other way around.

Commissioner Kirk Hewitt, who oversees public safety, said the response to the tragedy from the community has been inspiring.

The fire remains under investigation, Hewitt said during the meeting. Im unable to release any other information on the cause. We are not heartless people up here; we have to follow the law. When we can release, we will release information. We will release what we can.

Millville schools, businesses, nonprofits collecting donations for fire victims The Holly City Development Corp. and local schools are seeking to help the families displaced and the family of the two girls who died in late Wednesday's fire in Millville.

Municipal engineer Wayne Johnson has suggested the city remove anti-tampering caps from fire hydrants to improve response times, according to a report in the Vineland Daily Journal.

The cause of the fire does not appear to be suspicious, fire Chief John Wettstein said last week.

Two houses had already been engulfed when firefighters arrived, and the blaze soon spread to a third. The heat was so intense that it melted part of a firetruck and a parked car.

The bodies of the girls, ages 8 and 10, were found April 10 amid the rubble, city officials said. Their names have not been released. Their father was treated at a hospital for injuries that were not life threatening. His name also hasnt been released.

About two dozen residents were displaced by the fire. One woman said she and her three young children safely escaped their burning home because the blaze awoke her boyfriend, who was able to get them to safety.

Everybody is hurting, said Hewitt, who responded to the fire 13 minutes after the call went out. Its going to take a lot of counseling for the guys that were there. Its going to take a lot of counseling for the residents that lost their homes and especially for the mom and dad who lost their daughters.

Sean Thom, founder of Our Future First, said its unfathomable that fire hydrants are not working in the most densely populated section of the city. The lack of working hydrants impacts response efficiency, Thom said.

Our community deserves answers, Thom said. We must ensure that this does not happen again.

Thom said first responders deserve the best possible resources to help them save lives, and they did not have them during the fire.

This area of town is constantly neglected by those in charge. Everyone in the city knows this happens, Thom said. This level of neglect, that may have led to children dying and numerous people losing their belongings, did not happen recently. It has been a systemic level of neglect that has festered for years. Its not a new problem.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Pupils from St Paul's Church in Wales Primary School Break World Record in River Clean-Up

9/4/2024

Pupils from St Paul's Church in Wales Primary School in Grangetown have made history by helping to break the Guinness World Record for the largest number of people participating in a river clean-up.

On March 21, 2025, a total of 1,327 volunteers including 26 pupils from the school, gathered across eight official locations to clean the River Taff, surpassing the previous record of 329 participants set on the River Ganges in India.

The record-breaking event was organised in collaboration with Cardiff Council and Taff Tidy, a local environmental initiative. Volunteers, including school children, community groups, and other members of the public, collected litter along the River Taff from its source in Bannau Brycheiniog National Park (Brecon Beacons) to Cardiff Bay. The clean-up lasted for 30 minutes, starting at 12:00 GMT.

A Guinness World Records adjudicator was present to assess the evidence gathered from the eight locations. Five volunteers were stationed at each spot, on behalf of Guinness World Records to observe and record the entire clean-up process. The adjudicator confirmed the new record shortly after the event concluded.

"We are incredibly proud of our pupils and the community for coming together to achieve this remarkable feat," said Ruth Wilshire, Headteacher of St Paul's Church in Wales Primary School. "This event not only highlights the importance of environmental conservation but also demonstrates the power of collective action."

The successful record attempt was supported byCardiff Harbour Authority and the Council's Waste Management team who also took part and contributed to the record. Ithas brought attention to the ongoing efforts to keep the River Taff clean and has inspired many to take part in future environmental initiatives.

Kate Strong who organised the Taff Tidy event said: "I am delighted that so many residents along the length of the river Taff came out to clean our wonderful waterway. It was particularly heartening to see how many children and young people attended the event, including pupils from St Paul's CIW Primary School. This gives me hope for the future of our rivers and that our country is fostering environmentally-conscious future leaders and action-takers."

Cardiff's Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Sarah Merry said: "It was wonderful to hear that so many children and young people have made history by supporting the Taff Tidy event. The effort from pupils from St Paul's Church in Wales Primary School not only shines a light on the importance of protecting our environment but also proves what can be achieved when we come together to make a positive change."
BOX ELDER  U.S. Sen. John Thune of South Dakota was among roughly 40 people who gathered to celebrate the Amazon delivery station in Box Elder.

Dignitaries cut a ribbon to celebrate the new facility, which opened in October.

"(The facility) creates economic activity, creates jobs and it just enhances what is already a great place to work and to live and raise families. So we welcome companies like Amazon that want to come to South Dakota," Thune told reporters after a ribbon cutting and tour. "This is an exciting day for Rapid City, and I'm delighted to be here for the ribbon cutting and congratulate Box Elder, the community employees, the team that work here for what I hope will be a very lasting partnership in this area with the folks at Amazon."

According to Amazon, the delivery station serves as a "last stop" before packages arrive at customers' doors. Packages arrive by semi-truck and are sorted by deliver route. From there, Amazon drivers (a mix of company employees and contractors) deliver the packages.

The station is the third Amazon site in South Dakota, with the other two in Sioux Falls  a delivery station and a larger fulfillment center.

The 40,000-square-foot facility has 60 part-time employees and 12 full-time managers, according to Nick Cunningham, Box Elder site lead. It delivers to a 60-mile radius.

"So we're going as far north as Belle Fourche into the Black Hills National Forest, as far south as Hot Springs, and then obviously here in the Box Elder community and the Rapid City area," Cunningham said. "Customers throughout the area are seeing packages delivered within one to three days, whereas traditionally, without the delivery station, it was anywhere from five to seven days."

Ashleigh de la Torre, Amazon vice president of public policy, thanked a host of partners during her remarks, including the South Dakota Governor's Office of Economic Development, contractors and other local partners. She also noted the one millionth package was set to be delivered out of the facility on Wednesday. Cunningham said the station averages 8,000 to 10,000 packages sent out per day, with peak capacity at 12,000 to 16,000. Peak times include Prime deal days and the holidays.

Amazon said it has invested $800 million in South Dakota since 2010, counting infrastructure investments and employee compensation. As of January 2024, the company said it employed a total of 1,500 full- or part-time employees in the state. There are also approximately 600 independent sellers who sell their wares through Amazon.

"We were really, really excited back when we got the news that you'd decided to come to Box Elder, of course. But it's really exciting to actually have you up and running," Box Elder Mayor Larry Larson said during the ribbon-cutting event. "I really appreciate you having the confidence to come here to Box Elder in western South Dakota."

During the event, Amazon also donated $30,000 to the YMCA of Rapid City for its Hero Fund. The Hero Fund provides active-duty military members and their families the opportunity to receive a sponsored membership to the Liberty Center YMCA in Box Elder, according to the Y's website.

During his remarks, Thune  a Republican who took over as Senate Majority Leader in November 2024  thanked Amazon for coming to Box Elder and joked, "and I told Amazon that the next big step was to move their headquarters from Silicon Valley to Rapid Valley."

"We're truly excited to have the opportunity to host Amazon here. I think it's a great place to do business. We work really hard at making sure that we've got the right conditions that are available, low taxes, environment, availability of energy and all the things that people look at when they're making capital investments," Thune said. "It creates an economic impact on Box Elder and Rapid City and the entire Black Hills region."
Montanas compensation program for people who have been wrongfully imprisoned appears to have been short-lived.

Its the first time the Legislature failed to pass or renew the program since its creation in 2021. And while agreement on compensating people who were wrongfully convicted remains in the state Capitol, the parties involved have in recent years drifted apart on the terms of how to accomplish that goal.

House Bill 93, sponsored by Rep. Kerri Seekins-Crowe, R-Billings, carried the compensation program this session. The bill passed the Legislature in both of the last two sessions but failed on the Senate floor on Saturday in a 24-26 vote.

Lawmakers and stakeholders goal this session was to revive the program after it died in a procedural fiasco at the end of the 2023 session. But in the final weeks before legislators adjourn until 2027, the programs strongest advocates say the program might now be dead for good. Only one person ever applied for the compensation and received none.

The program has had a whiplash life cycle since its first introduction in 2021, when the Legislature and governors office were often at odds over how much of the compensation should be shouldered by the state versus the counties where the conviction occurred.

The Legislature voted to remove the programs sunset in 2023, but that bill died when lawmakers suddenly adjourned without a resolution to a second stalemate with Gov. Greg Gianforte over its terms, although the one active case was allowed to proceed.

Lawmakers took another swing at the compensation program this session and advanced HB 93 last month with broad support in the House, where it passed 96-3.

Theres been a lot of emotions, a lot of nonstarters, a lot of, That wont work, said Sen. Barry Usher, a Yellowstone County Republican who carried the bill on the Senate floor last week. Lawsuits could take years. They can take lots of years; we all know how this goes. This option gives them the option to take this.

The program offered $60,000 per year of imprisonment and $25,000 for every additional year served on parole or probation. Gianforte, a Republican, would have vetoed the programs creation in 2021 unless counties were on the hook for a share of that compensation. The final version of the program also required the applicant to abandon any other legal actions against the state in order to receive payment through what was supposed to be a quick process that avoids protracted litigation.

But when Cody Marble filed for that compensation, the state and Missoula County defended against the matter all the way to trial. Years earlier, a judge overturned Marbles conviction and prosecutors dismissed their pursuit of a new trial, saying the earlier case lacked integrity.

The victim recanted their claims against Marble, but had waffled on that statement and later died, leaving Marble with no irrefutable evidence to prove that he did not commit the crime at the moment he was seeking a claim. After a weeklong trial last year relitigating Marbles innocence, a jury found that Marble was not entitled to any compensation.

Usher was involved early in the programs development with criminal justice advocates and a bipartisan group of lawmakers. He told the Montana State News Bureau on Tuesday the Marble case exposed the flaws of the program that made compensating people a more difficult task than initially thought.

Marbles case turned out to be the only test balloon.

Before Richard Raugust was exonerated, he spent 18 years in prison while falsely accused of killing his friend outside a bar in Trout Creek. Disposing of his lawsuit and taking up the states compensation program could have delivered him $1.4 million. Instead, he maintained his case and in 2022 settled with Sanders County for $5 million.

SK Rossi, a lobbyist for the ACLU of Montana and the Montana Innocence Project, has also been involved in developing the program since 2019 as a member of the state Criminal Justice Oversight Counsel. Rossi said despite the high-dollar settlement for Raugust, a compensation package is more ideal to the claimant and the state than a federal civil rights case.

The claimant doesnt  theoretically  have to go through another legal process and can be compensated at, honestly, a much lower level than they would be if they went to federal court, Rossi said. But they also dont have to go through the court process; thats a benefit. The benefit to the state is that theyre going to now have to pay out $5, $10, $15 million settlements to people who are wrongfully convicted, because this program does not exist, when it could have been less than a million dollars.

The hitch that upended HB 93 was an amendment Usher put on the bill to raise the threshold a claimant needed to attain in order to obtain compensation. By requiring clear and convincing evidence rather than a preponderance of the evidence, the new threshold would have likely eliminated additional litigation but precluded a case like Marbles from moving forward.

The Montana Department of Justice, which defended the state against Marbles case, opposed HB 93 before Ushers amendment was grafted onto the bill. Chad Vanisko, general counsel for the justice department, said the proposal made funding available to people whose convictions were dismissed on technicalities rather than evidence of innocence.

The bill opens the door not only to compensation of, I think, people who have no factual innocence but also cases in which there was no bad faith involved [on the] part of the prosecutors, Vanisko said. He added HB 93 was being driven by special interests, and that Marbles case was one of manufactured innocence.

Following Ushers change to raise the threshold to reach a compensation claim, the Montana Innocence Project began raising alarm that the bills criteria would be too narrow to meet the programs original intent. In an interview on Tuesday, Rossi noted the new standard to receive compensation in HB 93 would have been a higher hurdle than a civil court case, and accused the justice department of driving innocent people away from the program.

It was basically a bill that is a false flag for people who are wrongfully convicted and wrongfully imprisoned, Rossi said. If they entered that program, there was no way they would get through it and get compensation without having to go through a nightmarish, essentially retrial, in civil court. So, at the end of the day, we asked the Legislature to kill it because we didnt want to give anybody false hope.

The Senate initially gave a narrow endorsement, voting 26-23 on Friday to advance the bill. But it died Saturday on a third, procedural vote when two Republicans switched their stance against the bill.

I feel like its a disservice to the state and the voters of Montana that are going to have to foot the bill if they win in a lawsuit, Usher said. Lawsuits take years, so this person is not going to just come out and hit the ground running. Theyre going to have to go through years of lawsuits, and if they win, they might get more.

As far as the Montana Innocence Project is concerned, Rossi said its unlikely the organization will pursue another bill to establish the compensation package in the near future.

Unless the dynamics substantially change in the building (the state Capitol), the route for innocent people in Montana who want compensation for being wrongly convicted and wrongfully imprisoned will end up in federal lawsuits that end up in million-dollar settlements, Rossi said.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin has less than three weeks to act on the pending two-year state budget, but Virginia economists and lawmakers are worried about the effect of federal job and spending cuts on Virginia revenues in the final quarter of the states fiscal year, which began on April 1.

Last week, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered the cancellation of $5.1 billion in contracts for information technology consulting services. The immediate effects in Virginia are not clear, but federal contracting jobs are a major source of state revenues to pay for core public services in the states general fund budget.

Probably most of that work is occurring in Northern Virginia, said Bob McNab, chairman of the economics department at Old Dominion University in Norfolk.

Hegseths April 10 memorandum specified four contracts, including one for the Defense Health Agency that includes services from three companies with a big presence in Northern Virginia  Accenture, Deloitte and Booz Allen. He also singled out an IT contract between the U.S. Air Force and Accenture, a professional services company with headquarters in Ireland and offices in Arlington County.

Virginia receives more federal contracts than any other state, more than $106 billion in 2023, and those jobs often carry high wages that make a major contribution to the income tax revenue withheld from paychecks. So-called withholding taxes account for almost two-thirds of state general fund revenue.

We should start seeing this in the withholding tax revenue in the next month or so, said Terry Clower, an economist who leads the Center for Regional Analysis at George Mason University.

Youngkin has not reported on revenues the state collected in March, but withholding tax collections remained strong in February, when they grew by 14.2%, compared with the same month a year ago, and 7.1% for the first eight months of the year.

Similarly, the cuts in federal jobs and contract spending under President Donald Trump have not yet shown up significantly in Virginia unemployment claims.

Virginia Secretary of Labor Bryan Slater said last week that the state had unconfirmed jobless claims for 894 federal workers and 570 employees of private contractors through April 5, with total initial claims up by 1,139 over the previous week and 1,426 over the same week the previous year.

Slater attributed most of the jump to layoffs by a single manufacturer in southern Virginia. Goodyear announced 815 layoffs at its truck and aviation tire manufacturing facility in Danville.

But the latest state unemployment report does not reflect other layoff notices by federal contractors in Northern Virginia, including MITRE Corp. in Fairfax County. MITRE has announced that will lay off 442 employees, effective on June 3.

Those jobs mean something to state revenue collections, Clower said. MITREs not going to be low-wage jobs.

Regional jump

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a 7.1% jump in unemployment in February from the previous month in a region that includes Northern Virginia as far south as Fredericksburg, and west as Culpeper County, two counties in the northern Shenandoah Valley and one in neighboring West Virginia.

I do think theres some softening in the job market, Slater said.

So do consumers, according to a survey that the Federal Reserve Bank of New York released on Monday. The survey showed that consumers expect job growth to fall and prices to rise in the next year.

I dont think theres any question there is an economic slowdown coming as consumers pull back on their spending and businesses pump the brakes on hiring and investment, Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, said on Tuesday.

Virginia sales tax collections were up by 2.5% over the first eight months of the fiscal year, compared with the same period a year earlier, but consumers are pulling back on spending in Northern Virginia and the rest of the Washington, D.C., region, according to Tom Barkin, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.

Retail spending is way down in D.C., Barkin told the Economic Club of Washington last week. You can imagine why that would be.

In a report early last month, the Richmond Fed noted the vulnerability of localities in the Washington region, including outlying counties such as King George and Stafford, where more than 20% of the adult work force works for the federal government.

In addition, many of the federal government jobs are relatively well-educated, well-paying jobs, the loss of which could challenge state and local finances, the report states.

The General Assembly is keeping a close eye on the effects on state revenues from President Donald Trumps cuts in the federal work force and spending. Trump is trying to slash the size of the federal government and save money to pay for tax cuts. Both chambers have convened special committees to monitor the cuts in federal jobs and spending.

A representative of the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia told the House committee in late February that a 10% reduction in federal employment would cost the state almost $250 million in revenue.

Stakes for Fairfax

Jeff McKay, chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, offered a similarly sobering outlook for Virginias most populous locality, based on a study by the county economic development authority.

A reduction of 20 percent would result in the loss of 56,993 jobs in Fairfax County alone, including both federal employees and private-sector contractors, McKay said in a public message on Tuesday. To put it bluntly, this level of loss could surpass even what we experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whats especially concerning is that, unlike the COVID-19 pandemic, we are not expecting any federal assistance  these cuts are being driven by federal action, he said. During the pandemic, federal support allowed us to rebound quickly. This time, were on our own.

In the memo about terminating the $5.1 billion in defense contracts, Hegseth said: These contracts represent non-essential spending on third-party consultants to perform services more efficiently performed by the highly skilled members of our DoD workforce using existing resources.

New defense contracts

The Defense Department also announced this week that it is awarding new contracts that will help companies based in Fairfax. That includes one to Northrop Grumman Corp., based in McLean, for more than $52 million and one for Acuity International LLC, based in Reston, for almost $50 million.

But the department also plans to reduce its civilian work force by 60,000 jobs, while restructuring its operations.

McNab, at ODU, said federal civilian employees generated most $44 billion in economic activity in Virginia last year, or 5.8% of the gross domestic product.

Any reduction in the federal civilian employment will reduce Virginias potential economic growth in 2025, he said.

Youngkin has not signaled whether he will sign the revised state budget or veto line items. The Democratic-controlled legislature earlier this month rejected all but 33 of his proposed 205 amendments to the spending plan. His office did not return a request for comment on Tuesday.

Democrats worry that the governor and assembly might have to revise their expectations for revenues in the second year of the budget, which begins on July 1, because of uncertainty over the effects of federal cutbacks on the state economy.

I think thats a big risk, said Sen. Jeremy McPike, D-Prince William, a member of the Senate Finance & Appropriations Committee who represents parts of Prince William and Stafford counties.

House Appropriations Chairman Luke Torian, D-Prince William, said legislative leaders from both parties are looking ahead to manage the risks.

We plan for how to govern the commonwealth when things are very good, Torian said, and we plan for when things dont look so good as well.
Conanp meets with Tulum nautical providers to discuss rates and sales points inside park

Tulum, Q.R.  Federal authorities from the Natural Commission of Protected Natural Areas (Conanp) met with nautical tourist service providers to talk rates. The group met Tuesday to discuss establishing better rates for nautical service providers within the Tulum National Park.

Both sides met in hopes of coming to an agreement that would eliminate the abuse of intermediaries. The group of Tulum tourist service providers also requested they be allowed to offer their services at agreed upon points inside the Jaguar National Park.

Jose Juan Dominguez Calderon, the Director of the Mexican Caribbean Biosphere Reserve, reported that they are working to establish an organization of agreed upon fair prices so that everyone has an equal opportunity to sell and provide the service.

He stated that they are in the process of allowing the nautical community to organize itself to eliminate old customs and provide an opportunity for fair trade in the tourist services offered at Jaguar Park.

The old customs of the people who are selling the tours are to offer them to tourists at a high price and in turn, pay a small fee to the service provider.

Right now, what we want is to reverse that and ensure that those who benefit most from are the people who are providing the service and not those who are offering the services, he explained.

Dominguez Calderon says they are analying the request to allow tourist service providers to be able to have sales points at the entrance to the archaeological zone and at Jaguar Park.

It will be analyzed because with the Jaguar Park architectural project, the trend was to eliminate all those modules that were installed irregularly. Its a request they made, but its not a guarantee that it will happen, he said.

The group will meet again with Fernando Orozco Ojeda, the Regional Director for the Yucatan Peninsula and the Mexican Caribbean of the Natural Commission of Protected Natural Areas (CONANP), to discuss the feasibility of the proposals and regulations.
Fugitive wanted for two counts of first degree murder returned to face charges in Illinois

Mexico City, Mexico  The Attorney Generals Office has extradited a fugitive wanted in Illinois for first degree murder. Daniel F was handed over to U.S. authorities Tuesday for the murder of two American men.

Daniel F has been considered a fugitive from U.S. justice since the April 1995 murders. The Mexican national was wanted by the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois for shooting two men to death.

In April 1995, Daniel F killed two men with a firearm. Following efforts by the Attorney Generals Office (FGR), the Mexican government granted the extradition of Daniel F to the U.S. government, police reported.

Daniel F was captured in 2023 in Celaya, Guanajuato and held for extradition purposes. He was handed over to U.S federal marshals at Mexico City International Airport (AICM) Tuesday from where he was returned to the U.S.
A new documentary based on Rod Drehers bestselling book hopes to connect dissidents from the past to those on the verge of authoritarian dominion today so as to teach the latter how to avoid the worstor suffer well.

Angel Studios is a rare enterprise in American film, trying to put together popularity, prestige, Christianity, and new media. They had a major hit with Sound of Freedom (2023), then aimed for the Oscars with Bonhoeffer (2024). In 2025, theyre entering the culture wars with Live Not by Lies, a documentary based on my friend Rod Drehers eponymous report on the spiritual threat to Christians and the need to learn from those who have suffered persecution, as is suggested from the title, Solzhenitsyns most famous maxim.

The book Live Not by Lies: A Manual for Christian Dissidents appeared in 2020. Rod has a gift for prescience. Two decades back, he was talking about Crunchy Cons, long before all my right-wing friends turned against seed oils, decided to go for natural food and living, for reasons of health and taste, thus shedding the demeanor of the blazer-and-slacks Republicans of the Bush era. At this point, weve moved so far to the crunchy side that RFK Jr. is running HHS. Does Rod get any credit for predicting this trend?

The Benedict Option (2017) broke news about the resurgence of faith, especially among men, in this generation and the deeply felt need among them to return to the original sources of our way of life. Years down the road, were all learning that Gen Z is more religious than Millennials and that young men are especially drawn to a stricter theological and liturgical understanding of Christianity than was typical of evangelicals. Does Rod get any credit for predicting this other trend?

But Live Not By Lies was the first time Rod confronted his great fear of the modern state turning against the rights of conscience and forcing Christians to return to suffering and even martyrdom. And he turned out to be right again. As soon as COVID hit, elites around the world started using the power of the state to attack religious freedom and, indeed, they canceled Easter, i.e., the Resurrection. I remember listening to the Easter liturgy from a window high up in a high-rise looking out on a city under arrest, searching for other windows in other buildings where other people like me, imprisoned, would light candles. I knew there would be no going back.

As noted above, Rods a friend and, normally, Id rather criticize than praise a friend, since friendship is something else than flattery. But I believe he has earned a right to our attention by getting the major spiritual crises right. He has bestsellers to his name but has also been ignored in his warnings, as though he were too right too early. So its very welcome news to see his work turned into a documentary and brought into the digital era, recording the last living witnesses of communism in Europe, establishing continuity across the great moment of amnesia that was the 90s.

Live Not by Lies the documentary is a four-part story about totalitarianism as it appeared in the 20th century and as it has reappeared in the 21st. We are reminded of Mussolini, Stalin, Hitler, Mao, and Pol Pot; Auschwitz and the Gulag; the horrible possibility that enlightenmentfrom technology to ideologycould turn into a tyranny of such power that it would overwhelm human nature itself. We are warned that totalitarianism is back, now in the guise of safety and sensitivity, inclusion and diversity.

The work juxtaposes old recordings of communist dissidents from Central Europe, new interviews with them today in old age, in democratic Prague and Bratislava, as well as contemporary recordings of dissidents in the West, such as Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, who was arrested for possibly praying in her head, which is antisocial behavior in England. The realities of our days are even more incredible than the testimony of those brave dissidents, who are as isolated among us as anti-communist dissidents were in their countries. We are free, of course, in ways undreamt of during communism. But we must still ask, What are our virtues and what is our defense of our freedom? Do we not fear losing the latter and therefore throwing away the former with some regularity? Do we not hope we will have champions to stand up for us when we feel humiliated by the attack of vast, impersonal, institutional state powers? Do we not then discover the need for truth telling?

In Live Not by Lies, we can look at ourselves through the eyes of those dissidents. We see the great man Vaclav Havellong before he became the president of a free, democratic Czechia and addressed a joint session of Congressmock the police in home recordings from the 1970s for setting up a listening and surveillance post outside his countryside hut. That ironic man Havel, a playwright and a playboy, went to jail for his beliefs with the hope we would help himthe recordings were in Englishand that his countrymen would discover their courage. But is there anyone among us so brave as to mock the surveillance and censorship state built around us? Who would we ask for help? We used to somewhat look down on the victims of communism because they suffer what could never befall usbut how about now?

We see the BBC go into the apartment of Kamilla Bendova, wife of another famous Czech dissident, Vaclav Benda, and survey her everyday life with her kids. How strange to enter into the privacy of people already under state surveillance; only that violation of the secrecy of their home, however, can protect them. Shy children and a heartbreakingly friendly woman welcome us in, hoping we will look on their poverty and their dignity aliketheir faith, their learning, their public spirit. We might learn to look up to them.

Then Rod visits Mrs. Bendova in her Prague apartment now and shows us her eventual triumph, her Christian contentment in the midst of her large family, a sign of divine providence, you may think, for those who obeyed the Christian commandment of love and faith. Ive been in that apartment, talked to this impressive woman who is still living out that life from the BBC documentary excerpted in this new documentary, as keeper of the flame, remembering her life with her long dead husband and their struggle against communism and for faith for visitors, to inspire others. She has inspired Rod, which has led to this documentary. This documentary can inspire you.

Live Not By Lies suggests lessons as well. If we believe we are in trouble, we have to see how one may act. One lesson is Bendas Parallel Polis, the need for institutions to promote those who are canceled. Another is the Committee for the Defense of the Unjustly Persecuted, public defense through lawyers, courts, and the court of public opinion. A third is the need to understand the Progressive attack on Christianity, to be prepared to suffer, survive, and restore freedom in secrecyspiritual freedomand then to restore public freedom when the conditions permit. In this regard, Live Not by Lies is not simply a documentary or a public exhortation; it suggests guidance for practical purposes.

There is, however, a great tension between the documentary form and the living witnesses it shows us in interviews, so I end on a critical note. The documentary format is probably outdated. It relied on assumptions about general knowledge and the ongoing education of a mass audience by mass media that dont make any sense in the new situation of fragmentation. When you see Douglas Murray or Victor Davis Hanson in 10-second clips in Live Not by Lies, you realize how preposterous everything in old media is. You can now listen to these impressive intellectuals talk for hours on new media platforms, podcasts or on YouTube, without these cameo techniques!

History will replace the documentary, taking over its techniques and adapting them for digital media. Everything from hyperlinks leading you to the texts themselves to connections to other histories and historians working in parallel on related matters. Something else than the moral concerns of the op-ed is needed now. We need to recover our memories. This documentary is a transition to this future, and it does a rare service in bringing to America the voices of the dissenters of communism who are not simply victims but also teachers, having learned from their suffering so we may learn in ours.
A fashion mainstay in Roanoke for 115 years, Davidsons is passing along ownership to a Lynchburg-based menswear store that will uphold the family reputation for personalized service, owner Larry Davidson said.

R. Coffee Ltd. will complete its acquisition of Davidsons in September, according to an announcement Tuesday. Larry Davidson is the third-generation owner, who for the past 53 years has worked full-time at the clothing store his grandfather founded.

Suits, shirts and ties have been part of Larry Davidsons life for all his 77 years, but the family legacy is cut from more than cloth, he said. The stores longevity is rooted in its deep ties to the community.

The family has been very involved in this community for years, and proud of that legacy, Davidson said. We want to maintain that kind of support for the community here in Roanoke.

Joe Davidson was a Lithuanian immigrant who founded the store in 1910. Sig Davidson was a World War II veteran who expanded the business until retirement in 1985, when Larry took the reins.

My father would take me to work when I was a young kid, before I could even remember what was going on, Davidson said. I worked receiving and marking merchandise when I was in high school.

The business flagship location moved a couple times since 1910, and satellite stores have come and gone, but theyve always had a presence on Jefferson Street in downtown Roanoke.

We have developed a legacy here for customer service, quality and custom opportunities, Davidson said. A lot of our business is custom, where you choose a swathe, and we have it made for you.

Plenty has changed since 1964, when the store moved to its current location on 412 S. Jefferson St, he said.

The world has become much more casual, and there are fewer people who still feel a need to dress up, Davidson said. We sell a ton of sportswear in addition to our business clothing.

He said the last five years since the coronavirus have been some of his most successful ever. Other menswear business owners have told him similarly, Davidson said.

Up until the point of the current turmoil in the last month, their business has been fabulous, Davidson said. The turbulence is not making it easy. If you look at all the suits and sport coats over there, the vast majority of them are made in Canada.

Davidson said his wife is retiring this summer, and theyd like to spend more time traveling, hiking and visiting grandchildren. He said the president of R. Coffee Ltd., James Bower, approached about the sale.

Philosophically, hes on the right path, Davidson said. I felt that it was a good fit, and it was good for the business going forward.

R. Coffee Ltd. wants to grow its footprint in Virginia, and sought to do so by purchasing a mens store with amazing history, clients and staff, Bower said in an email Tuesday.

The best part about this industry is that it is timeless, Bower said. Davidsons is a true example of what mens clothiers were and are, and the idea to even have the opportunity to extend an offer is very humbling.

He said for the future, it will be business as usual at Davidsons.

But with a few changes in adding new clothing lines while maintaining the brands that Davidsons is known for, Bower said. We want the future 115 years for Davidsons to be just as focused on the community as the last 115 years has been.

Larry Davidson said loyal customers will still walk in and see the same familiar faces, including his own from time to time.

Im not going away totally. I will be here some to help with training, and to do what Ive enjoyed for years. We have fabulous clients, Davidson said. Whether its a young couple getting ready to get married, or a professional adding to their wardrobe, its just been highly enjoyable over the years.

One of those shoppers, Roanoke Times Columnist Dan Casey, stopped in to pick up a tuxedo Tuesday afternoon. Casey said the store sale marked the end of an era.

The next customer who walked in, Larry Davidson knew him by name too.
" " All signs point to the black demon being a regular, giant shark spotted in dark waters. Nicole Antonio / DALL-E

In the dark waters off the Baja California Peninsula, whispers of a massive, shadowy predator have given rise to the legend of the black demon shark. Known locally as El Demonio Negro, this alleged predatory shark has sparked both fear and fascination among local fishermen, ocean lovers and shark enthusiasts.

But is this just local lore, or could there be truth behind the tale?

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The black demon is said to resemble a great white shark but much larger. Some eyewitnesses claim it's as long as a school bus and nearly black. Descriptions mention mega jaws, aggressive behavior and even the ability to kill whales or sea lions. With that kind of bite, its no wonder this creature has been compared to the long-extinct megalodon.
China has a powerful card to play in its fight against Trumps trade war

Chinese leader Xi Jinping visits the JL MAG Rare-Earth Company in the city of Ganzhou, Jiangxi Province, on May 20, 2019. - Xie Huanchi/Xinhua News Agency/Getty Images

Less than a year into Donald Trumps first trade war with China, Chinese leader Xi Jinping made a high-profile visit to an unassuming factory in Ganzhou, an industrial city nestled among rolling hills in the countrys southeast.

Touring its exhibition hall in 2019, Xi examined row upon row of unremarkable gray metal blocks and declared to his entourage of Communist Party officials: Rare earths are a vital strategic resource.

Nearly six years on, Chinas dominance of the rare earths supply chain has emerged as among its most potent tools in a renewed trade war with the United States president. The minerals  used to power everything from iPhones to electric vehicles  are vital components for the kinds of advanced technology that will define the future.

And unlike tariffs, its a front where Trump has little room to retaliate in kind.

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Rare earths are a group of 17 elements that are more abundant than gold and can be found in many countries, including the United States. But theyre difficult, costly and environmentally polluting to extract and process.

For decades, the US and other countries have been dependent on Beijings supply of these processed metals. China accounts for 61% of global mined rare earth production, but its control over the processing stage is 92% of the global output, according to the International Energy Agency.

On April 4, after years of veiled warnings, the Chinese government placed export restrictions on seven types of rare earth minerals, as part of its retaliation against Trumps initial 34% reciprocal tariffs on Chinese goods. The new rules require all companies to secure government permission to export the seven minerals as well as associated products, such as magnets.

Magnets made of rare earths enable smaller, more efficient motors and generators used in smartphones, car and jet engines, and MRI machines. They are also essential components in a range of big-ticket weapons, from F-35 stealth fighter jets to nuclear-powered attack submarines.

Its China showing that it can exert incredible economic might by being strategic  and surgical and really hitting American industry right where it hurts, said Justin Wolfers, a professor of economics and public policy at the University of Michigan.

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On Tuesday, Trump ordered a probe into potential tariffs on critical minerals, a broader category of resources that include rare earth elements, to evaluate the impact of these imports on Americas security and resilience.

The dependence of the United States on imports and the vulnerability of our supply chains raises the potential for risks to national security, defense readiness, price stability, and economic prosperity and resilience, Trump said in an executive order.

Since the first Trump administration, the US has been trying to play catch-up and build up its own domestic rare earths supply chain. Three American rare earth industry companies told CNN that they are in the process of expanding production capacities and sourcing materials from US allies and partners.

But those efforts will take years to meet the enormous demand from key US industries.

Suspended orders

For now, the impact of Beijings export controls is being swiftly felt on the ground.

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John Ormerod, founder of rare earth magnet consultancy JOC, told CNN that shipments of rare earth magnets belonging to at least five American and European companies have been halted in China since the imposition of the order.

They were taken by surprise so theres a lot of confusion on their side and they needed clarification from the authorities of whats required (to obtain the required export licenses), he said.

Joshua Ballard, CEO of USA Rare Earth, said the export controls focus on heavy rare earths, which are 98% controlled by China. (Heavy rare earths are less common, harder to process and more valuable.) This means that companies must now seek Beijings approval to deliver these critical materials to key American industries, he added.

Right now, literally these exports are being suspended, Ballard said. We dont hold a lot of back stock of this in inventory here in the US  This is Chinas best play. They dont have much leverage when it comes to tariffs on us, but they sure do have leverage here.

The export controls not only target single materials but also alloys and products where the elements are contained even in minimal quantities, said Thomas Kruemmer, director of the Singapore-based mineral and metal supply chain firm Ginger International Trade and Investment. A lot of exports now fall under this licensing system, he added, noting that some delays are expected as exporters navigate the new system.

A cargo ship offloads imports in Qingdao, China, on March 6, 2025. - Costfoto/NurPhoto/Getty Images

Decades in the making

China got an early start in rare earth extraction, beginning in the 1950s, according to state media, but the industry only really began to develop in the late 1970s.

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During that time, China combined its low labor costs and relatively lax environmental standards with the adoption of foreign technologies, according to Stan Trout, founder of the rare earths and magnetic materials consultancy Spontaneous Materials.

Much of the technology that they brought in was developed here in the US, or in Japan, or in Europe, he said. And over time, Im sure theyve made improvements to it.

As the countrys rare earth production increased, Beijing gradually understood the strategic importance of the minerals. There was a recognition that this could be a very important technology for them to master, Trout added.

In 1992, during a visit to one of the countrys main rare earth production hubs in Inner Mongolia, Deng Xiaoping, the former Chinese leader who spearheaded the countrys economic reforms, famously said: While there is oil in the Middle East, China has rare earths. Today, China has fulfilled Dengs vision by dominating the entire supply chain for the materials.

While labor costs are now higher, Chinas control of the industry has been cemented because of its willingness to invest in the technology, the R&D, and automation in an industry that is highly capital-intensive, said Ormerod.

There were once American companies making these rare earth magnets. But Ormerod noted that they gradually exited the business as lower-cost Chinese alternatives emerged.

Weve lost the know-how, weve lost the human resource capability and its a very capital-intensive operation, he said.

Now, it is difficult to compete with the Chinese price, because of the countrys greater economies of scale, as well as government incentives that gave them an additional edge, Ormerod added.

Between 2020 and 2023, the US relied on China for 70% of its imports of all rare earth compounds and metals, according to a US Geological Survey report this year.

Workers on a production line in Fuyang city, Anhui province, China on April 15, 2025. - CFOTO/Future Publishing/Getty Images

Challenge and opportunity for the US

The latest export controls are not the first time Beijing has leveraged its dominance in the industry. In 2010, China halted shipments of rare earths to Japan for nearly two months over a territorial dispute. In late 2023, Beijing imposed a ban on rare earth extraction and separation technologies.

Beijing has also curbed exports of other critical minerals that are vital to the economy and global supply chains.

Experts and industry insiders said Chinas export controls have left the rest of the world with very limited alternatives. But the US is working to fill the gap.

Since 2020, the US Department of Defense has awarded more than $439 million to establish domestic rare earth element supply chains. And it has set a goal to develop a sustainable, mine-to-magnet supply chain capable of supporting all US defense requirements by 2027.

Some American companies see Chinas export controls as an opportunity to expedite domestic production and push for a stronger supply chain outside China.

Nicholas Myers, CEO of Phoenix Tailings, a Massachusetts-based rare earth processing start-up, said his company has developed technology to refine rare earth minerals with zero waste, zero emissions into metals and metal alloys, sourcing the materials from domestic ores as well as Canada and Australia.

His company currently produces 40 metric tons of rare earth metals and alloys per year and aims to scale up to 400 tons with a new facility in New Hampshire.

Its all domestic processing. We dont rely on anything from China, he said.

The United States absolutely has the capabilities to be able to produce the rare earth metals at the timelines that we really need it. We just have to make sure that all the customers, all the policymakers are focused on supporting the industry to really scale up, Myers added.

American businesses are making inroads in parts of the supply chain too.

USA Rare Earth is building a magnet plant in Texas, aiming to produce 5,000 tons of rare earth magnets annually; it also owns a deposit rich in heavy rare earths in West Texas, including all the minerals on Chinas latest export control list, according to its CEO Ballard. (The deposit is also rich in gallium, a critical material banned by China for export to the US in December.)

But the company is still working on the processing technology to extract minerals from the rocks, Ballard said.

The question is how do we do this faster? How do we unlock these assets that we have in the US, as few as they are? We need to unlock what we have and build as quickly as we can, he said.

After years of talk, American companies may finally have the impetus they need to do the difficult work of re-establishing the industry for extracting and processing raw materials that is key to winning a tech race with China.

CNNs Yong Xiong and Isaac Yee contributed reporting.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
How to Do It is Slates sex advice column. Have a question? Send it to Jessica and Rich here. Its anonymous!

Dear How to Do It,

My husband and I are in our early 40s. We have been together for 15 years, and married for 11. Over the last two years, his endurance in bed has steadily been decreasing. Now he can only last about three minutes, leaving me frustrated.

Lately, Ive been turning to sex toys. He has taken offense at this and says I might as well tell him he cant satisfy me. He doesnt want me to use them. Its not as if I use them in front of him. I keep them in my underwear drawer so he doesnt have to see them. If our roles were reversed, I wouldnt be upset if he wanted to use a masturbation aid. Besides, what does he expect me to do? Nearly a year has passed since he gave me an orgasm! This is increasingly becoming a source of tension between us. Is there some way to help my husband understand that my using these toys isnt meant as an insult to him?

Problematic Playthings

Dear Problematic,

Im hearing that your husband orgasms quickly, but Im not hearing anything that leads me to believe that his fingers or mouth are incapacitated in any way. Why isnt he using one of those body partsor some other creative method, maybe even incorporating said toysto give you pleasure? Regardless of what his penis is up for, he absolutely could be taking steps to satisfy you. The sex toy factor is halfway to a red herringnot completely irrelevant, but still a distraction from this larger issue.

Hes already upset and theres existing tension, so youll be fighting an uphill battle here. But Id start trying to untangle this issue by asking your husband what he thinks sex should look like. I have a hunch that he believes sex is always supposed to involve penis-in-vagina penetration, and that this penetration is not only the main event but what is meant to give you an orgasm. Meet that fallacy, gently, with facts. Most women do not orgasm from penetration alone. Im also suspecting that hes got some ideas about what makes a man, sexually speaking, and is reacting so hard to your sex toys because his sense of his masculinity is threatened. I imagine his decrease in stamina is exacerbating the situation. This is an issue to be empathetic about. It is not something to be flippantly dismissed.

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To be clear, you should not allow him to take any of this upset out on you. His response to what I think is happening on his end, of trying to control what you do with your own body on your own time, is both inappropriate and wrong. But youre married, and you seem like you want to stick with the relationship. So, cautiously and carefully, ask him to open up about what hes thinking and feeling. Use open-ended questions and listen to what he says. Look for the appropriate moments to suggest that he works on satisfying you with something other than his penis. Hopefully, hell come around, and, as he feels more confident, calm down about your use of toys.

Get sex advicesubmit a question! Please keep questions short (<150 words), and dont submit the same question to multiple columns. We are unable to edit or remove questions after publication. Use pseudonyms to maintain anonymity. Your submission may be used in other Slate advice columns and may be edited for publication. Thanks! Your question has been submitted. Dear How to Do It, * Your letter signoff Your pronouns Your email (optional and confidentialplease include if you're open to How to Do It following up) Submit

Dear How to Do It,

During a visit to a sex club, my husband and I were able to try out a sex swing and we loved it. Now he wants to install one in our bedroom. As much as I enjoyed the experience, I dont think I want to install something like that in our ceiling. He isnt being very mature about my reservations, so Im wondering, is there some sort of free-standing version that can be assembled and disassembled as needed?

Looking for a Swingin Good Time

Dear Looking for a Swingin Good Time,

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You didnt ask me to address your husbands immaturity around your concerns, but its hard for me to let it slide and I dont think you should either. Before you present him with the available options, talk to him about his reaction. Why is he behaving that way? Can he understand your position and show some empathy for it?

That said, there absolutely are possible compromises. Bed Bible reviewed a few free-standing frames last year. You can also look at free-standing aerial rigs, such as this one. These kinds of frames do take two people to set up (mostly because its unwieldy once assembled and really needs two humans to wrangle into the upright position) but it isnt any more effort than a fairly elaborate rope scene would be. Its also fair to expect your husband to do most of the work of assembly and disassembly, with you coming to help with setting it upright, since hes the one who wants this so intensely. If you want it disassembled after every use, this will probably get cumbersome pretty quickly, but if youre open to leaving it up most of the time and taking it apart when, say, you have visitors, this might be your best option.

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Door-frame swings are another option. They can feel a little less sturdyyou should know, Ive occasionally heard stories of them collapsingand theres less room to maneuver, but theyre much easier to set up than a whole stand. Ive seen people using pull-up bars to hook the swing straps to as well. However, Ive also wobbled off the door frame while using this kind of pull-up bar for its intended purpose, so, again, use caution and evaluate the risks.

Alternatively, is it possible to return to the sex club on occasion and facilitate your husbands sex swing interest as more of a special occasion practice than a part of your day-to-day sex life? Making your way over to the club seems like no more effort than setting up a whole frame, and the clubs swingpresumably installed securely in their ceilingwould be your best bet from a safety perspective.

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Send Us Your Questions About the Workplace!

The columnists behind our new advice column, Good Job, want to help you navigate your social dynamics at work. Does your colleague constantly bug you after hours? Has an ill-advised work romance gone awry? Ask us your question here!

Dear How to Do It,

Im a cis (mostly) straight woman who loves to give blow jobs. Im enthusiastic, and I have usually been pretty confident, but my current partner has new preferences. He loves when I gag, which is fine with me and Ive been doing it, but I feel like my gag reflex is actually too sensitive. (Obviously, Id prefer to do controlled gags and not involuntary ones.) He also doesnt seem to like when I also use my hand, which had been a common go-to move for me. Any practical tips/tricks you can offer me to wow him? And any advice on strengthening my gag reflex so its not as sensitive?

Want to Blow Him Away

Dear Want to Blow Him Away,

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The best, most effective for most people and situations, sex tip is to use conversation to get more detail. You say it seems like your partner doesnt like it when you use your hand during a blow job. Ask him about it. Im also curious about what, specifically, he loves about gagging. Armed with further information about which particular details he appreciates most, youre in a better position to artfully push all of those buttons.

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Im not quite sure what you mean by a controlled gag, but Im guessing its a desire to provide the sensation he gets out of you gagging without vomiting everywhere. You can work on squeezing your throat muscles voluntarily without actually gagging. This can also involve engaging the back of your tongue to provide added pressure on his shaft. Theres also a good chance that you have more space, as it were, between gagging and vomiting than you think you do. I cant guarantee this is the case, but it often is. If youre really worried about causing a mess, moving to the bathtub or shower for the first few experiments can give you some peace of mind about having an easy way to clean up quickly. Theres a whole span of physical reaction to our gag reflex in which yes, our stomachs heave, but what comes out of our throats is a clear, viscous fluid without the characteristic acidity and accompanying sting of vomit. Even with practice, youll probably find that different conditions make you more or less certain in your control of the whole situationboth gagging at all and managing your risk of vomiting. The more experience you have, the better youll be able to judge your capacity during a given session, and the more relaxed youll likely become about the whole endeavor.

Jessica

More Advice From Slate

Im 25 now. Ive been told Im charming, handsome, in shape, and successful. Im also perpetually single. All my past relationships have started out excellent, only to fall apart six months to a year in. Ive asked what the problem is every time, and I always got the BS Its not you, its me. Were just not compatible kind of answers. Until an ex who I had a falling out with finally told me what the real problem was.
Our advice columnists have heard it all over the years. Each Sunday, we dive into the Dear Prudie archives and share a selection of classic letters with our readers. Join Slate Plus for even more advice columnsyour first month is only $1.

Dear Prudence,

My girlfriend had a nose job done three years ago at my request. (I did not pressure her.) Tragically, the procedure went wrong and her face was disfigured. We stayed together throughout this and I covered some of her legal and medical bills and did my best to support her emotionally. For the past year, however, I feel like Im with her out of guilt more than anything. I find myself losing patience with her and making excuses to cancel our dates. I do not have the heart to break up with her because I feel obliged to look after her. Im sure shes noticed this but hasnt said anything to mein fact she treats me more nicely, as does her mom. Am I a jerk for not loving her anymore?

Ladies, heres some advice thats as plain as the nose on your face: Do not surgically alter your appearance in the hopes of pleasing some jerk who doesnt like you the way you are. Ultimately, Want-To-Be-Ex, it doesnt matter whether youd suggested you could look at your girlfriend more easily if shed had plastic surgery, or youd said, Get rid of the schnoz or Im out of here. Shes an adult and it was her decision. (However, in cases such as this, the best answer is, Goodbye!) Its good you stepped up and helped with medical costs. And if your (ex) girlfriend still is not looking normal, she needs to find a plastic surgeon who specializes in reconstruction. Im hoping its possible she can get to the point where shes satisfied with the repair, and you should offer to help pay for that. But this relationship sounds irreparable. Talk about adding insult to injury by longing to be free but hanging around because you helped persuade her to mess up her face. Youve done enough to mess up her life, so if you want out, get out. Emily Yoffe

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From: Help! My Girlfriends Nose Job Left Her Disfigured. (July 18, 2011)

Dear Prudence,

Until recently I was engaged to a wonderful (or so I thought) man. Wed been together for five years, and I thought he was one of the best people I knew.

Recently a neighbor confided to me that theyd seen my former fiance teasing my blind dog and causing the dog to run into things. Theyd observed this several times and, after a lot of deliberation, decided I needed to know. I set up a spy camera and indeed caught him teasing my dog. I confronted him, and he admitted to doing it for years, although he pointed out my dog still liked him and was never seriously hurt.

I broke off the engagement immediately. Many people have expressed the opinion that Im making a mistake and that I should at least give myself time to cool down or try to work through this. I did make this decision quickly, but I believe its the right one. Theres an ugly side to my former fiance, and I dont want to be married to him. My instincts on this are right, right?

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Hell yes, theyre right. If the strongest thing your ex could say in his own defense was I never seriously hurt your dog, then he doesnt have much of a defense.

Your neighbor saw this and felt strongly enough that they were compelled to tell you, and you yourself found the behavior cruel and disturbing. Hes admitted that hes done it for years, and yet he never did it in front of you, which suggests a certain (and disturbing) deliberation and awareness. Clearly on some level your ex knew what he was doing was not simple horseplay. He knew that if you saw him do it, you would object and possibly even leave him, so he made sure to hide it from you. Thats not a sign of good character or compassion. Youre well rid of him. Danny M. Lavery

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From: Help! I Caught My Fiance Abusing My Blind Dog. (May 1, 2017)

Dear Prudence,

More than a decade ago, when I was 15, my beloved mother died of cancer. My siblings, our dad, and I grieved and stuck close together and moved toward healing. My dad did a great job of seeing us through to adulthood. In the months before her death, my mother decided to write her children cards and letters to read at different points along our paths: high school graduations, weddings, etc. I believe that doing this helped to steady her during a time of great anxiety about what would happen to her children, particularly a teen daughter without a mother. My siblings and I have shared some of the letters with one another, and we have appreciated learning more about her early life from them, as well as laughing at her wit and energy coming back to us. However, Im getting married in a few months, and I am now dreading reading the Wedding Letter from Mom. I understand what she was doing for us, as well as for herself, but the letters cause an emotional upheaval during times that are already emotional enough. Knowing that the stack is dwindling is painful, but knowing that I have to read them on her timeline is making me a little resentful toward her because its holding me back from closure. My aunt stressed to me that Mom never intended to control me through these letters, and I believe that she wouldnt want me to be the perpetual little girl lost years after shes gone. But the idea of sitting down and reading through all of them at once so I wont have to open them during big life events seems so final and sad. Any advice?

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My heart lurches over your dilemma. I can imagine your dying mother writing you, the daughter she knows shell never see become a woman, putting on paper the things she would want to say to you on the eve of your wedding. What a painful paradox to have your long-gone mothers voice come alive on the page while feeling taken back to the worst time in your life. There also must be something unsettling about getting advice from a mother who knew who you were then but doesnt know who you are now. Rebekah Gee, a physician and daughter of the former president of Ohio State, experienced the same dilemma you face when her late mother left her a ream of lettersher story was told on This American Life. I can see how it could be unnerving to hear your mothers voice anew, speculating about who you are and who you are marrying. I think you should put the letters away for now. You know theyre there, and you know your mother did not want you held emotionally hostage to them, so it is not a betrayal of her memory to say, Mom, Im going to read these later. Later could be after the wedding. Later could be years from now. Later could be when your children say, Mommy, what was your mommy like? And you say, Well, Ive got some mail from her. Lets read it together. E.Y.

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From: Help! My Dying Mother Wrote Me Letters a Decade Ago. Do I Have to Keep Reading Them? (Nov. 26, 2014)

Dear Prudence,

Im an ex-military guy using the GI Bill to attend college. Im looking to enter the tech field and landed a great internship at a well-known tech company. During introductions, I let people know that prior to entering college, I worked in military intelligence and had learned an East Asian language as part of my job. This attracted the interest of a senior project manager in my office who is also an ex-military linguist, but who had learned a different East Asian language. We struck up a conversation, and he revealed that he was working on a side project that could use my language skills. Being eager to impress, I readily volunteered, and he asked me to come over to his place that evening. However, when I arrived, I was mortified to learn that his side project was adding English subtitles to animated porn films for some website he runs! Not wanting to lose the internship, I awkwardly translated a few lines for him, then made up some excuse to leave. Now I have an email from him asking when I am free again to help! I worry if I say no, Ill risk upsetting somebody who could potentially sabotage my career, but I also dont want to spend my evenings translating tentacle porn and God knows what else for this weirdo! If I were a woman, I think this would be sexual harassment, but what the hell is this if youre a guy?

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This isnt good news, exactly, but I hope it may prove to be helpful newsyou dont have to be a woman to be sexually harassed at work. Regardless of your gender, what this is is wildly unprofessional and totally inappropriate, not to mention a display of bad judgment. I suspect, too, that he asked the intern to help him with this because he felt like he could abuse your precarious employment status in order to get what he wanted out of you. You say that hes a senior project manager, but not, it sounds like, your direct supervisor. Tell him youre not going to work on his project againsay this in writing so you have documentationand youre not comfortable being asked to help him write subtitles for pornographic films off the clock (what a sentence to have to write). If for any reason he did attempt to retaliate, youd have such a strong case against him that I dont doubt for a minute the company would be on your side. D.L.

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From: Help! A Senior Colleague Asked Me, the Intern, to Help Translate His Animated Porn. (May 30, 2018)

More from Dear Prudence

My stepdaughter has never forgiven me for marrying her father after her mother died over 20 years ago. We tried family therapy when she was a teen, and it was a waste. She tried to disinvite me from her wedding, and only backed down when her father told her if I didnt go neither would he and he wouldnt be paying for it. I have never tried to be her mother. I just want a civil relationship like I have with her brothers. I gave up when during her baby shower we got her a stroller and signed it Pop Pop & Nana. My stepdaughter bluntly informed me that her baby has only one grandmother and in no way was I her.

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Since then I have stepped back and sent my husband to see her alone. I dont want to cost him a relationship with his grandchildren and daughter. Now I have retired, and I have been taking care of my daughters son while she works. My stepdaughter is in the middle of a nasty divorce and has to go back to work. She wants me to watch her two children (a kindergartner and an infant). My husband is hopeful, but I am not. Frankly I think she wants free child care in addition to free rent (we are paying for her apartment). I dont mind the money; we can afford it. But I dont want to get attached to these children only to have them snapped away once it is convenient for my stepdaughter to hate me again. I would love to believe that this could be a new beginning, but I cant. What should I do?
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A man tried to murder the governor of Pennsylvania by setting fire to his home, and its barely broken through into the news cycle. This is in part because there is so much news generated by the Trump administration, from their economically devastating trade war to their attacks on higher education to their refusal to bring back an innocent man they accidentally deported to a Salvadoran prison. But its also in part because political violence is losing its shock value, largely thanks to a right-wing movement that embraces violent rhetoric and then either ignores or celebrates the violence it begets. And thats very bad news for a nation already teetering on the brink.

On Saturday, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro gathered family and friends at his residence, the governors mansion, for a Seder meal to mark the first night of Passover. After the dinner ended and Shapiro and his family went to sleep, 38-year-old Cody Balmer allegedly climbed over the fence that surrounds the property, broke windows, and tossed Molotov cocktails inside. Luckily, first responders came quickly, and Shapiro and his family were safe. The images of the fires aftermath, though, are shocking. And Balmer allegedly carried a sledgehammer with him; police say Balmer told them that had he encountered Shapiro in the house, he would have beaten him with his hammer.

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Balmer is by most accounts not a stable individual. His hammer comments, though, are particularly chilling: They are reminiscent of the 2022 hammer attack and attempted kidnapping of Paul Pelosi, the octogenarian husband of former House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi, that fractured Pelosis skull and caused other serious injuries. Wheres Nancy? the attacker reportedly yelled.

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One would imagine that all Americansall decent people everywherewould condemn such nightmarish violence, no matter their politics. But now-President Donald Trump and many of his MAGA fans and colleagues seemed to find the near-killing of an elderly man funny. Just days after the attack, Donald Trump Jr. posted an image of a hammer and mens underwear to social media with the quip, Got my Paul Pelosi Halloween costume ready. His father wasnt much better. Well stand up to crazy Nancy Pelosi, who ruined San Franciscohows her husband doing, anybody know? Trump asked the crowd at a California Republican convention in 2023. And shes against building a wall at our border, even though she has a wall around her housewhich obviously didnt do a very good job.

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Trump, thankfully, has yet to make light of the attack on Shapiro (although how low we have sunk when that even needs to be said). But he did manage to make it about him: The attacker was not a fan of Trump, I understand, he said. Just from what Ive read and what Im been told. The attacker basically wasnt a fan of anybody. He also told reporters that the attacker was probably just a whack job.

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When it was Trump on the receiving end of an attack by a man with amorphous political beliefs who also seemed like a whack job, he was singing a different tune. The left, he posted on social media, has taken politics in our Country to a whole new level of Hatred, Abuse, and Distrust. And he blamed Kamala Harris and Joe Biden. Their rhetoric is causing me to be shot at, when I am the one who is going to save the country and they are the ones that are destroying the countryboth from the inside and out, he told Fox News.

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It is good that Trump at least said that the kind of violence aimed at Gov. Shapiro cannot be allowed to happen in the U.S. Im about as much of a Trump opponent as one can be, and I also dont believe that violence against him is justified, let alone the answer to Americas problems. But Trumps and his administrations tepid condemnations sound awfully hollow when they so consistently stoke violence, and routinely fail to condemn the violence that comes from their sideor worse, when they justify, celebrate, or pardon pro-Trump violent criminals.

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Political violence is not a new problem in the U.S., but it is a significant one. And while political violence has recently come from the left and the right alike, it has not come from both sides equallyand perhaps more importantly, both sides do not react in the same way. Right-wing violence is much more common in the United States. And its useful to see how elected, appointed, and other officials and political leaders respond when political violence occurs. When Trump survived an assassination attempt, elected Democrats voiced their shock and horror, and universally condemned the attack. While random people may have joked on Twitter or lamented the shooters imperfect aim in their private group chats, the members and leaders of the Democratic Party did not hope for the presidents demise or see anything funny about a gunman nearly taking out a presidential candidate.

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And while Luigi Mangione, who allegedly shot and killed the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, has become something of a folk hero for Americans across the political spectrum who are fed up with predatory health insurance companies, its impossible to imagine him being invited to meet Joe Biden, being recruited for congressional internships, or being nominated by a sitting member of Congress for a Congressional Gold Medalall of which were accorded to Kyle Rittenhouse after he responded to a Black Lives Matter protest by packing up his gun and heading into the fray, where he ended up shooting three people, two to death. (A jury found him not guilty of homicide in 2021.)

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Its impossible to imagine elected Democrats claiming Mangione is some sort of political prisoner; it seems beyond the realm of reality to believe that a Democratic president might pardon him. And yet Trump and his MAGA movement have rewritten the history of the deadly Jan. 6 insurrection to do just that, claiming that anti-democracy rioterspeople who wanted to undo the results of a free and fair electionwere the true patriots, and pardoning even those convicted of serious violent crimes.

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Its not that the political left isnt violentit certainly can be. Its not even that leftists, liberals, and progressives never cheer on violencesometimes they do. But the party apparatus that represents the American left-of-center has managed, so far, to largely hang on to sanity and decency and continues to reject political violence. The party representing the American right has not.

These differences play out in rhetoric, too. It is again hard to imagine a Democrat running for office and declaring all conservatives or Christians evil enemies of the people who cannot be reasoned with and must be destroyed. Its hard, even now, to imagine a Democrat running for office and promising retribution against the Trump administration and MAGA voters.

But from Trump, thats simply the norm.

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I always say, we have two enemies, Trump said on Fox News as he ran for office in 2024. We have the outside enemy, and then we have the enemy from within, and the enemy from within, in my opinion, is more dangerous than China, Russia, and all these countries. And he has often promised revenge, which he now appears to be exacting.

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In 2016, I declared, I am your voice,  Trump said in 2023, before a crowd of right-wing activists. Today, I add: I am your warrior. I am your justice. And for those who have been wronged and betrayed, I am your retribution.

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This language of violence and warfare is, again, not an exclusively right-wing dynamic. But it is much more of a right-wing dynamic than a left-wing one. And when coupled with the rights general hesitation to condemn violence when it comes from their own side, it may feed into a culture in which violence becomes an unremarkable part of political life. It certainly feeds into a culture of fear: Some Republicans have reportedly said in private that they dont voice opposition to Trump for fear that they will wind up in a MAGA stans literal crosshairs.

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Now that Trump is in office, his desire for retribution is not just words. He seems, at best, ambivalent about violence befalling those he believes have somehow crossed him, having pulled security protection for several men who used to work in his administration, despite credible threats against their livesthreats largely from foreign adversaries, made because of the work those men did in Trumps service.

Political violence can be alluring in its simplicity, and it has seduced many otherwise intelligent people who no doubt believe themselves to be generally kind and decent. But the only way that democracies function is by hashing out our disagreements through political means: In elections, in legislatures, in the courts. Resorting to violence doesnt just make people scared and make life less comfortable; it undermines the whole democratic project.

We dont know yet why, exactly, Balmer targeted Shapiro, assuming the police are right that Balmer was the attacker. We know Balmer, like so many, many violent men before him, was also accused of physically attacking his ex-wife and children. According to early reporting, Balmer allegedly called 911 after the fire and told dispatchers that the governor should know that he will not take part in his plans for what he wants to do to the Palestinian people. Balmers politics also seem all over the place, and he reportedly struggles with mental health problems. He may be the exact kind of whack job that Trump says he is.

But whatever and whoever Balmer is, the kind of violent act he is accused of committing is not unique. Nor, in Trumps America, is it guaranteed to be condemned. That dark reality doesnt just threaten the lives of politicians, or even our nations moral character. It threatens our very existence and ability to sustain democratic rule.
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In a thundering opinion on Wednesday, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg announced that he had found probable cause to hold the Trump administration in criminal contempt for defiance of his orders. It is obvious, Boasberg wrote, that government officials deliberately flouted his commands by deporting Venezuelan migrants to a Salvadoran prison on March 15 under President Donald Trumps invocation of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. And now they must answer for their unlawful conduct. The Constitution, he declared, does not tolerate willful disobedience of judicial ordersespecially by officials of a coordinate branch who have sworn an oath to uphold it.

Wednesdays order constitutes the first real step toward accountability for the lawless behavior of the Trump administration. Crucially, it also offers the possibility of redress for the migrants who have been imprisoned in El Salvador without due process. Boasberg gave the government one last off-ramp: It could, he wrote, purge the contempt by asserting custody over these individuals and giving them a chance to contest their treatment. If the government accepts this offer, it would have to concede that it does exercise ongoing custody over migrants locked up in El Salvador. (This concession would corroborate arguments raised by Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland father wrongly detained there, that the government has the power to bring him home.) If the government refuses this offer, Boasberg held, it must swiftly identify the officials who violated his orders so they may be criminally prosecuted, facing fines and potential jail time. Critically, Boasberg notes that if the Department of Justice doesnt appoint a prosecutor to take the case, he will do so on his own.

Boasbergs opinion marks the culmination of his meticulous, weekslong effort to discover what happened on March 15, when the Trump administration sent two planes carrying Venezuelan migrants to the notorious CECOT mega-prison in El Salvador. The president accused these migrants, without any credible evidence, of membership in the Tren de Aragua gang, which he designated a foreign terrorist organization. He then invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798a wartime law that applies only to invading armies of a foreign nationto justify deporting them without due process. By that point, Boasberg wrote, the government was already hustling migrants onto planes, betray[ing] a desire to outrun the equitable reach of the judiciary.

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The ACLU promptly filed suit on behalf of five migrants subject to the order, and on the morning of March 15, Boasberg issued a temporary restraining order barring their removal. He held an emergency hearing at 5 p.m. that day, at which point Justice Department attorney Drew Ensign revealed that the administration was planning to begin the deportations immediately. Boasberg adjourned the hearing so Ensign could gather more informationand the government evidently exploited this adjournment to dispatch the two planes. When the hearing resumed, Ensign allegedly concealed this fact from Boasberg, refusing to say more on the grounds that any details raised potential national security issues. This obfuscation, the judge wrote on Wednesday, prompted the growing realization that the government might be rapidly dispatching removal flights in an apparent effort to evade judicial review while also refusing to provide any helpful information.

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In response, Boasberg promptly expanded his injunction to protect the entire class of migrants subject to the Alien Enemies Act. He verbally instructed Ensign to halt any deportations in progress. The plaintiffs, he said, need to be returned to the United States. However thats accomplished, whether turning around a plane or not [dis]embarking anyone on the plane  I leave to you. But this is something that you need to make sure is complied with immediately. Boasberg published his restraining order in writing 30 minutes later.

The government did not comply. Instead, Boasberg held on Wednesday, there was probable cause to show it refused to turn around the planes, and disembarked passengers for transfer to CECOTall in clear violation of the restraining order. Worse, the judge wrote, the government defied the courts order deliberately and gleefully, citing Secretary of State Marco Rubios retweet of a post by El Salvador President Nayib Bukele boasting of the disobedience. During subsequent hearings, Boasberg pressed the Justice Department to reveal what happened. But what followed was increasing obstructionism on the part of the government as it refused to answer basic questions, raising vague national security concerns to justify their stonewalling.

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Ensign, the DOJ lawyer, tried to distract Boasberg with legalistic arguments claiming that it had not technically violated his commands. For instance, Ensign said that they did not unlawfully remove migrants after he ruledbecause removal only means expulsion from the United States, and the migrants were already in international airspace when he handed down his order. But, as Boasberg pointed out, this argument directly contradicts the Justice Departments own definition of removal in a separate, ongoing case, in which DOJ lawyers insisted upon the exact opposite meaning of the word.

The argument also fails as a matter of basic logic. Anyone paying attention to the hearing, Boasberg wrote, would have known that he did not mean mere physical exit from U.S. territory. The government could only ignore this fact through an egregious case of cherry-picking to mischaracterize the courts position. It also claimed that Boasberg no longer has jurisdiction to issue contempt because the Supreme Court narrowly lifted his restraining order on procedural grounds. But the Supreme Court has unambiguously held that lower courts may still issue sanctions against parties before them for violating orders even if those substantive orders are later overturned on appeal.

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The upshot, Boasberg explained, is that the Trump administrations willful and knowing actions here constitute probable cause for a finding of contempt, a penalty he has every right to impose. Indeed, the government has offered no persuasive reason to conclude otherwise. And rather than pursuing civil contempt, Boasberg found cause to hold the defendants in criminal contempta punishment that includes large fines and up to six months in jail.

But Boasberg gave the government one last way out: It could purge the contempt by asserting custody of the individuals who were unlawfully removed and allow them to challenge their deportation to CECOT. The Supreme Court unanimously agreed that migrants have a right to file these challenges, called habeas petitions, just last week. But in the separate case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an immigrant mistakenly deported to El Salvador, the government has claimed it has no control over individuals once theyre locked up in CECOT. Boasberg is, in effect, calling the governments bluff. He will forgo contempt proceedings if officials let CECOT detainees vindicate their rights. But by doing so, these officials will have to acknowledge that they do exercise constructive custody over these individuals. And this acknowledgment would puncture the fiction that they have no practical authority to bring Abrego Garcia, or anyone else, back from El Salvador.

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Should the government refuse this offer, Boasberg will proceed to identify the individual(s) responsible for defying his orders, through live witness testimony if necessary. He will then ask the Department of Justice to appoint a prosecutor; if the DOJ refuses, he noted pointedly, federal law empowers him to appoint a private attorney to prosecute the defendants for contempt instead, as the interest of justice requires. If Boasberg orders the defendants arrested and jailed, federal marshals are responsible for carrying out the task. But if the Justice Department instructs marshals to stand down, Boasberg can appoint other law enforcement officers, including state police, to seize and detain the federal officials who defied him.

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There are two chief threats to this path forward. The first is Supreme Court intervention, and whether a majority of justices will throw Boasberg under the bus is anyones guess at this point. Simply as a matter of preserving the judiciarys independence, the justices should back him up and decline to condone such brazen defiance of judicial authority. But this Supreme Court keeps dodging conflicts with Trump at the expense of its own power. The second hitch is that Trump could pardon any officials accused of criminal contempt; he could even do so before they are found guilty, thwarting the prosecution. At that point, however, Boasberg could still hold them in civil contempt, which cant be pardoned; he could then impose significant fines and deputize law enforcement to enforce them.

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Wednesdays opinion is likely the first of several forthcoming orders finding probable cause of contempt against the Trump administration. At a tense Tuesday hearing, U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis indicated that she, too, is weighing contempt against officials who refuse to facilitate Abrego Garcias return from El Salvador, as both she and the Supreme Court have now ordered. Perhaps the biggest question surrounding these casesother than whether the men unlawfully trapped in a gulag in El Salvador can receive any redressis whether the Supreme Court will stand behind the judges enforcing its rulings on the ground. Boasberg has now taken that step, trusting the justices to support him; Xinis may not be far behind. If the Supreme Court fails to back them up, it risks surrendering the entire judiciarys authority to an executive branch that recognizes no limits on its power.
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The Constitution does not arrive at the scene of the crime in time to stop the killing. That has always been true. But until now, it has at least had the opportunity to arrive afterward; to ask what happened, weigh the facts, and reckon with the power used. Now, even that may be slipping away.

An underexamined Supreme Court case, Barnes v. Felix, which could be decided any day, may close the door on the postmortem reckoning, leaving the Constitution as a distant echo.

When the U.S. Supreme Court convened to hear oral arguments in the case in January, it took up a question that tests the outer bounds of reasonableness under the Fourth Amendment: Must courts evaluating a police officers use of force examine the entire encounter, or may they isolate only the split second in which an officer claims to have perceived a threat? The answer will determine how the law defines accountability in the exercise of state powerwhether the Constitution arrives at the scene of police violence to cradle the dying or wraps itself around the one who pulled the trigger.

The case arose from the fatal police shooting of Ashtian Barnes, who was pulled over by Officer Roberto Felix on a Texas toll road in 2016 for an unpaid toll. The balance owed was $6.45an amount Barnes, who had rented the vehicle, neither accrued nor knew existed. During the stop, it is alleged that Barnes began to drive away with his door open. Officer Felix mounted the side of the moving car and, within seconds, fired his gun with no visibility, killing Barnes.

A federal district court granted summary judgment to Felix, removing the question of whether the shooting was reasonable from a jury and declaring the killing legally justified as a matter of law. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit affirmed, holding that courts may only assess whether he was in danger at the precise moment he fired the shot, regardless of how the encounter was created or escalated.

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That is what police chose to pursue that day: a toll violation worth less than a fast-food meal, tied to a charge Barnes neither owed nor knew existed. And that is what he was killed over. Because the officer lived and Barnes did not, the story that survives is the one the state has authorized us to hear. The legal record rests on Felixs account. Not because it is more credible, but because the man who could have contradicted it is dead. Barnes storyhis fear, his confusion, his decisionscannot be weighed, and vanished with him when he took his last breath. In death, the law renders him a legal nullity.

This interpretive framing, what petitioners and amici have termed the moment of threat doctrine, presents a consequential question: whether the Fourth Amendment permits courts to assess reasonableness based solely on the narrowest slice of time or whether it requires an evaluation of the officers entire course of conduct during the seizure. Beyond the pettiness of the violation that led to the stop, that conduct included Felix shoving his gun into Barnes head as the car supposedly started to move and then allegedly firing blindly into the vehicle. Barnes own reasonable terror at this moment does not factor into the equationjust that of Felix.

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The petitioner in this case is Barnes mother, Janice Hughes Barnes. She is represented by Nathaniel Zelinsky, who argued that the 5th Circuit applied an impermissibly narrow test. Under the Fourth Amendment, the use of force is a seizure subject to the constitutional requirement of reasonableness. In Tennessee v. Garner and Graham v. Connor, the court articulated a balancing test to be used in such cases: Courts must weigh the nature and quality of the intrusion on an individuals Fourth Amendment rights against the governments interest in effectuating the seizure, taking into account the totality of the circumstances. No single factor is dispositive.

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In practice, however, courts have increasingly defaulted to a compressed inquiry: whether the officer reasonably feared for their safety at the exact moment force was used. This truncation is most evident in circuits like the 5th, where Grahams totality-of-the-circumstances standard has been reshaped into a snapshot test. The result is a legal frame that filters out causation and context, omitting how an officers own conduct may have transformed a stop into a deadly encounter.

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At oral argument, Zelinsky stressed that Scott v. Harris and Plumhoff v. Rickardcases the government often cites for deference to police decisionsstill require courts to assess all relevant facts, including the officers conduct preceding the use of force. He quoted Justice Antonin Scalias recognition in Scott that courts must slosh through the fact-bound morass of reasonableness. That morass, Zelinsky argued, includes an officers decision to jump onto a supposedly moving vehicle during a stop for unpaid tolls.

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The Department of Justice, represented by Zoe Jacoby of the Office of the Solicitor General, urged the court to vacate and remand. Jacoby argued that the 5th Circuits categorical rule was incompatible with established Fourth Amendment precedent. While she described the moment of danger as potentially having prime importance under Graham, that characterization reflects a rhetorical emphasis more than a doctrinal one. Graham imposes no such hierarchy and instead calls for a holistic assessment of the facts and circumstances of each particular case. Jacoby ultimately affirmed that a proper Fourth Amendment inquiry must account for the whole arc of events, including whether the officers actions created the peril later invoked to justify force.

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But at oral argument, the most revealing posture came from the officers counsel, Charles McCloud. He claimed that no true moment of threat doctrine existed and that the petitioner was inventing a label to distort the 5th Circuits reasoning. He insisted that the court below did not prohibit pre-shooting context entirely, but merely limited how far courts could go in using it to assign blame. According to McCloud, courts can see context but not act on it. To acknowledge the officers behavior before using force but not weigh it in the constitutional balance.

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And as some of the liberal justices questions emphasized, that distinction is merely constitutional sleight of hand. To admit facts but strip them of consequence is to neuter the Fourth Amendments reasonableness standard. It turns causation into atmosphere, escalation into suggestion. The facts explaining how and why force became fatal are reduced to background noise. And if fear, however unreasonable, is treated as a sufficient shield, then the law becomes little more than the officers version of events, formalized.

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McCloud went further, rejecting the concept of officer-created danger as a dangerous expansion of liability. He warned that allowing courts to consider whether an officers poor tactics contributed to the danger would amount to punishing negligence rather than constitutional wrongdoing.

But what those awaiting this rule should understand is that this is not about punishing imperfection. It is about recognizing that state violence is often the result of a chain of decisionsdecisions that courts must be able to evaluate. When a police officer jumps onto a moving car, turns a minor infraction into a fatal encounter, and then claims fear, the question is not whether their panic was real. The question is whether the violence resulting from that panic was constitutionally protected.

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Even the current standard is far from perfect. Courts are instructed to see through the eyes of a reasonable officer, but that phrase conceals a thousand assumptions. Most federal judges have never been stopped and searched, never been presumed criminal, and never had to teach their children how to survive a police encounter. Their perception of reasonableness is shaped not by proximity to force, but by distance from it. They understand the officers fear. They have never had to consider the victims.

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Objective reasonableness was supposed to prevent second-guessing and restrain hindsight. In practice, it has blinded foresight, preventing courts from asking whether different choices could have made violence unnecessary. The lens the doctrine prescribes does not protect people. It protects perception. And perception, like fear, is deeply racialized. The Black man reaching for his registration becomes a threat. The teenager running away becomes a suspect. The doctrine no longer asks whether the force was necessary. It asks only whether the officers fear can be retroactively made plausible.

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Although some justices expressed interest in a restrained ruling, the consequences of such a decision would be meaningful. A holding that courts mayand mustconsider pre-force conduct to the extent it bears on reasonableness would mark a clear repudiation of the 5th Circuits categorical approach. It would also reaffirm that constitutional accountability cannot be reduced to a two-second frame.

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Such a ruling would not revolutionize excessive force litigation or open the floodgates to liability. Officers would remain protected by qualified immunity in many cases, and courts could still find that the use of force was reasonable when viewed in full context. But the constitutional terrain would shift in one essential respect: Courts would no longer be permitted to truncate the narrative. They would be obligated to assess the entire sequence of events leading to the use of force, including whether the officers own decisions escalated the encounter or foreclosed safer alternatives.

The inquiry would become fuller, more honest, and more faithful to the Fourth Amendments command of reasonableness, not just at the triggers pull, but in everything that made the trigger feel necessary. It would widen the evidentiary lens, allowing courts to see how an encounter unfolded rather than freezing judgment at its most violent moment.

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This case, like countless others entangling Black lives, lays bare the fiction of neutrality: The ruling may wear the mask of universality, but its consequences fall with racial precision.

But a deeper questionone the court may not confront in its ruling, though the case aches with itis how much weight the moment of threat should be allowed to carry and for whom. Because in American policing, fear is not neutral. It is racialized, weaponized, and unevenly believed. Yet during the oral arguments, race is not spoken aloud. The transcript of oral arguments will record every word spoken, but its the silences that indict. What the court and counsel refused to say matters as much, if not more, than what they did. What to Black Americans is central is rendered incidental, treated as context too fraught to name. It may be a background fact to the court, but it should be a foreground argument. Because when race is left unspoken, it distorts the very frame of the question: not just how much force is reasonable, but whose fear is credited, whose life is risked, and whose death the law is willing to narrate as justified. The moment of threat doctrine is not just a temporal framing. It is racial one. And until courts are forced to reckon with that, their analysis will remain incompleteformally precise but morally vacant. Legally intricate but constitutionally hollow.

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There is a bone-chilling sickness in knowing that constitutional law is being shaped through the corpses of Black people killed for things so trivial. That attorneys are litigating the boundaries of state power not through grand clashes of rights and authority but through toll violations, traffic stops, loose cigarettes, and toy guns. That the constitutional framework for judging lethal force is being built, brick by brick, on administrative error and blood.

At its core, Barnes v. Felix presents a jurisprudential question about what counts as legally visible. The petitioner does not ask the court to create new doctrine, only to restore the one already written into the Fourth Amendment: that reasonableness is a question of context, not of isolated frames. It is a request not for innovation but for constitutional memory.

The court now has the opportunity to clarify that the Constitution applies to the full arc of a seizure and not just its final seconds. In doing so, it may reaffirm a Fourth Amendment standard robust enough to measure not just how state power ends, but how it begins.
Donald Trump won the presidency in part on promises to deport undocumented immigrants with criminal records. But his earliest executive orderstrying to undo birthright citizenship, suspending critical refugee programsmade clear he wants to attack legal immigrants, too. In our new series, Who Gets to Be American This Week?, well track the Trump administrations attempts to exclude an ever-growing number of people from the American experiment.

As if the past few weeks of immigration-related breaking news werent bleak enough, this week President Donald Trump said hed like to imprison U.S. citizens outside of the country. The idea involves relying upon El Salvador yet again, this administrations partner in lawless deportations. And speaking of U.S. citizens, Immigration and Customs Enforcement lured a pro-Palestinian activist from Columbia University to an immigration office for a citizenship interviewhes held a green card for 10 yearsonly to arrest him upon arrival.

Heres the immigration news were keeping an eye on this week.

Trump Is Considering Denaturalizing U.S. Citizens

Among the slew of executive orders Trump signed on Inauguration Day, he included a reference to the Department of Justices Denaturalization Section. Established during his first term in the White House, it was meant to target people who illegally obtained naturalization. It seems like Trump wants to take that even furtheron Monday, he told reporters he would love to deport homegrown criminals to El Salvador, which the U.S. is paying $6 million for one year to imprison immigrants it deports. (This is most likely illegal, though there are ways for Trump to try to get around that.)

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Meanwhile unnamed sources familiar with the matter told Rolling Stone that the Trump administration has been discussing how they could denaturalize American citizens and deport them to other countries, including El Salvador, where hundreds of migrants were recently deported and imprisoned without due process under allegations that they are members of Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. Stephen Miller, deputy chief of staff to the president, said back in 2023 that under a second Trump administration, denaturalization efforts would be turbocharged.

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The federal government has to meet a high burden of proof when attempting to denaturalize a citizen, plus it can only proceed by a judicial order. And if the governments denaturalization attempt were to succeed, that person returns to the immigration status they had before becoming a citizen, and they dont necessarily face deportation, so long as that status is lawful.

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Under the law, the federal government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the citizen was not qualified for naturalization at the time it was mistakenly granted, according to the National Immigration Project. Naturalization can be revoked if a person willfully misrepresented themselves, committed treason, or enlisted in a foreign military which then attacked the U.S.

Over the past decade, the U.S. added over 7.9 million naturalized citizens. Of those who became citizens during fiscal year 2024, it took on average seven and half years for a legal permanent resident to become naturalized. The process demands that applicants pass a language test where they must read, write, and speak ordinary English words, and a civics test that covers U.S. history and government.

The Legal Battle Over Abrego Garcia Ramps Up

Last week, the Supreme Court issued a mixed decision on the wrongful deportation case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Maryland father who was living legally in the U.S. under protected status. The justices ruled that the U.S. government is required to facilitate Abrego Garcias return to the U.S., but lower district courts must give deference to the executive branch in the conduct of foreign affairs.

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Now the matter is back with Maryland District Judge Paula Xinis, and the Department of Justice is arguing that facilitating Abrego Garcias return means that the U.S. government merely has to remove any domestic obstacles that would otherwise impede his ability to return here. During a Tuesday hearing, Xinis said that interpretation is flawed. When a wrongfully removed individual [is outside U.S. borders] its not so cut-and-dried that all you have to do is remove obstacles domestically.

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Despite the DOJ previously admitting that Abrego Garcias deportation was an administrative error, theyre now saying that even if he was brought back to the U.S., Homeland Security would either remove him to a third country or terminate his withholding of removal, citing his alleged membership to the Salvadoran gang MS-13 (though the government has not charged him with any crimes). In response, Xinis suggested the DOJ was grandstanding, adding that each day that Abrego Garcia remains in an El Salvador prison is a day of further irreparable harm.

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Xinis ordered both sides to strap in for two weeks of intensive discovery, and she said she intends to move fast. Cancel vacations, cancel other appointments. Im usually pretty good about that  not this time, Xinis said.

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During El Salvadors President Nayib Bukeles visit to the Oval Office, Attorney General Pam Bondi said its up to El Salvador to return Abrego Garcia to the U.S. Bukele declared that he would not be doing that. Meanwhile, House Democrats are requesting to visit Abrego Garcia in the maximum security prison hes currently being held inand Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen traveled to El Salvador on Wednesday in an attempt to press for his release.

Separately, U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg warned the Trump administration hes considering holding them in contempt of court for defying his restraining order from March. Boasberg ordered any deportation flights for Venezuelan migrants, including Abrego Garcia, to be immediately stopped, yet federal officials proceeded to deport them anyway, with at least three planes taking the migrants to El Salvadors megaprison. Boasberg determined theres probable cause that the government willfully disregarded his order and is offering one last opportunity to purge such contempt by bringing the wrongfully detained men back into U.S. custody.

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Another Palestinian Student Activist Was Detained

Mohsen Mahdawi is a Columbia University student who has legal permanent residency, and after waiting 10 years, he was called in for an interview that would have secured U.S. citizenship. Instead, ICE agents ambushed him as soon as he arrived.

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Mahdawi was arrested in Vermont, where his attorney requested a temporary restraining order to prevent ICE from transferring Mahdawi somewhere elsenamely Louisiana, the Trump administrations venue of choice because of its conservative judiciary. U.S. District Court Judge William K. Sessions III granted the request.

Mahdawi was born and raised in a refugee camp in the West Bank and moved to the U.S. in 2014. While pursuing a degree at Columbia, Mahdawi was active in protesting against Israels military campaign in Gaza. In 2023, he was featured in a 60 Minutes segment, which, according to the Intercept, drew the attention of Zionist groups who attacked him online and surveilled him. Mahdawi feared arrest after Trump signed an executive order targeting participants in the pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses last year, and even asked Columbia to help him secure safer housing. Mahdawi told the Intercept that the university did not respond to his requests.

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Mahdawis targeting is reminiscent of that of Mahmoud Khalil, another pro-Palestine protester from Columbia. In Khalils case, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is invoking a provision within the Immigration and Nationality Act to deport individuals he has reasonable grounds to believe would negatively impact U.S. foreign policy.

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Immigration Judge Rules Mahmoud Khalil Can Be Deported

After Mahmoud Khalil was arrested for protesting for Palestinians at Columbia last year and sent to a Louisiana detention center, an immigration judge ruled last Friday that the U.S. government could deport him. Assistant Chief Immigration Judge Jamee Comans determined that the DOJ established by clear and convincing evidence that he is removable.

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Comans was referring to a memo Secretary of State Marco Rubio submitted in which he wrote Khalil was considered a threat who would create a hostile environment for Jewish students in the United States. Rubios memo made no mention of criminal conduct, and Khalil has not been charged with any crimes. The secretary can make this claim under a rarely used provision within the Immigration and Nationality Act where he can personally determine whether a person should remain in the country.

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This is by no means the end of the road for Khalils case, as his attorney will appeal Comans ruling with the Board of Immigration Appeals. At the same time, Khalil has a separate lawsuit in New Jersey thats challenging the legality of his detention under the First Amendment. U.S. District Court Judge Michael Farbiarz ruled he can retain Khalils case because his habeas petition was filed while he was still being detained in New Jersey, before he was transferred to Louisiana.

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Homeland Security Sent Emails Telling People to Self-Deport

The Department of Homeland Security sent out a blanket email to immigrants living in the U.S. under temporary legal status that said their parole would be revoked just seven days from the date of the notice.

The emails were light on details, failing to specify any exceptions. Hilton Beckham, assistant commissioner for public affairs for Customs and Border Protection, told Wired that people from Ukraine and Afghanistan who were given temporary legal status under certain programs under the Biden administration are excluded from the emails. However, Nicole Micheroni, an immigration attorney from Massachusetts, said on Bluesky that she also received one of the emails despite being born in the U.S. Beckham said these notices were sent out based on addresses the agency had on file, which is likely why at least one was sent out in error. Micheroni told Wired that often immigrants dont have email addresses and use their attorneys contact information when filling out legal documents.

These mass emails were sent just days after the Department of Government Efficiency claimed that CBP had identified 6,300 individuals who were paroled in the U.S. but were also on the FBIs terrorist watch list or had criminal records. These paroles have since been terminated with immediate effect, the agency announced on X. Again, it was unclear specifically who this applied to and if these individuals were notified.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20250415/natos-mission-is-not-to-wage-wars-or-fund-them---state-dept-spokeswoman-1121877338.html

NATO's Mission is Not to Wage Wars or Fund Them - State Dept. Spokeswoman

NATO's Mission is Not to Wage Wars or Fund Them - State Dept. Spokeswoman

Sputnik International

The United States aims to ensure that the military alliance fulfills its mission as a deterrent and refrains from engaging in or funding wars, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said on Tuesday.

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"We want to make sure and help to make sure that the nations in NATO can actually deliver on the mission of NATO, which is to be a deterrent. It is not to help with wars or to help fight them, or to fund them, or to make it a little bit better as the wars are going on," Bruce said at a press briefing.She then immediately urged NATO members to increase their defense spending.Recently, the West has increasingly voiced ideas about a direct armed conflict between the alliance and Russia. The Kremlin, however, noted that Russia did not pose a threat, did not threaten anyone, but would not ignore actions that are potentially dangerous to its interests. In addition, in recent years, Russia has noted NATO's unprecedented activity near its western borders. The alliance is expanding its initiatives and calls this "containment of Russian aggression." Moscow has repeatedly expressed concern about the buildup of the Alliance's forces in Europe. The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that Moscow remained open to dialogue with NATO, but on an equal basis, while the West must abandon its course toward militarizing the continent.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20250402/money-down-the-drain-nato-pledged-over-21-bln-to-ukraine-in-first-three-months-of-2025-rutte-says-1121734063.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20250416/china-faces-no-risk-of-gas-supply-shortages-amid-ongoing-trade-war-with-us---expert-1121877846.html

China Faces No Risk of Gas Supply Shortages Amid Ongoing Trade War With US - Expert

China Faces No Risk of Gas Supply Shortages Amid Ongoing Trade War With US - Expert

Sputnik International

China is unlikely to face natural gas supply shortages due to the ongoing trade war with the United States, as US gas accounts for only a small share of Chinese imports and can be replaced by supplies from other countries, Sergey Kolobanov, an expert at the Center for Strategic Research, told Sputnik.

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"The United States' share in China's total natural gas imports is insignificant, amounting to about 3.2% or 4.2 million tonnes in 2024," Kolobanov said. The expert noted that the liquefied natural gas (LNG) market is global and redirecting supply flow and finding alternative sources is relatively easy. Kolobanov acknowledged, however, that the trade war could affect overall economic activity in China, potentially slowing industrial production growth and leading to a downward revision of previously forecasted gas demand. The situation does not present immediate opportunities for Russia, the expert said, adding that the expansion of output and supply from Novateks Arctic LNG project is currently limited by a shortage of ice-class gas carriers. Moreover, even if negotiations on the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline project gain momentum, expanding pipeline exports remains a long-term prospect, he said. In early April, Bloomberg reported that China has not imported LNG from the US for more than 60 days, which is the longest period since the last trade war between the two countries five years ago. On April 2, US President Donald Trump signed a decree introducing reciprocal tariffs on imports from other countries. Their base rate was set at 10%, while for 57 countries, increased rates were introduced, depending on the US trade deficit with a specific country. On April 9, Trump declared that a baseline tariff of 10% would be imposed for 90 days on over 75 countries that had not retaliated and had requested negotiations, except for China. On Sunday, White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said that trade talks were underway with 130 countries. US tariffs on Chinese goods have now hit 145%, while China's tariffs on American imports reached 125%.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240628/russia-to-begin-gas-supplies-to-china-via-far-eastern-route-in-2027---gazprom-ceo-1119165541.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20250416/foreign-experts-urge-russia-and-us-to-collaborate-in-preventing-global-conflict--russias-intel-1121879452.html

Foreign Experts Hope Russia and US to Collaborate in Preventing Global Conflict  Russia's Intel

Foreign Experts Hope Russia and US to Collaborate in Preventing Global Conflict  Russia's Intel

Sputnik International

The foreign expert communities show hope that Moscow and Washington will join forces to prevent a global conflict, the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) said on Wednesday.

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"As for Russian-US relations in the context of past and current events, foreign experts express hope for a new unification of efforts between Moscow and Washington capable of preventing the world from sliding into a new global conflict and resisting possible provocations from both Ukraine and the 'distraught Europeans,' traditionally incited by the UK," the statement read. Analysts are not surprised by London's leading destructive role in the Ukrainian conflict, the service said. "According to experts, the current discord in relations between the United States and the European Union countries accusing [US President] Donald Trump of authoritarianism is becoming, against the background of the upcoming 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, a factor contributing to the situational rapprochement between Washington and Moscow, as it has happened more than once in the past," the statement said.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20250415/kremlin-russia-and-us-strive-for-peace-but-europe-pushes-for-conflict-1121874536.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20250416/moscow-warns-ukraines-economic-integration-into-pan-european-market-will-backfire-on-eu-1121878237.html

Ukraines Economic Integration Into EU Could Spell Trouble for Blocs Economy

Ukraines Economic Integration Into EU Could Spell Trouble for Blocs Economy

Sputnik International

Integration of the Ukrainian economy into the pan-European market without waiting for the countrys accession to the European Union will turn out badly first of all for the bloc's economy itself, Vladislav Maslennikov, director of the Department of European Problems at the Russian Foreign Ministry, told Sputnik.

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european union (eu)

ukraine

moscow

peter szijjarto

russian foreign ministry

economy

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"I think that such plans would backfire first of all for the EU economy, because what happens when countries that are not ready for it economically or in any other way are accepted into the EU was clearly visible in the major enlargement of the EU that took place in 2004," Maslennikov said. He added that everyone knew perfectly well that when the 2004 enlargement took place, it was a political decision by EU member states to accept a large group of countries, while only Estonia was really ready to join at that time, while all the others were not ready to join to a various extent. The EU still has to deal with the consequences, including economic ones, of that major expansion, the diplomat added. On Monday, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said that the European Commission proposed to fully integrate Ukraine's economy into the EU without waiting for the country's accession. The largest enlargement of the EU took place on May 1, 2004. On that day, 10 countries joined the bloc, namely the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20250404/eu-rearmament-should-not-become-secret-ukraine-support-project---hungarys-top-diplomat-1121741765.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20250416/russia-planning-to-explore-deep-space-including-moon-mars---putin-1121879779.html

Putin Announces Russia's Ambitious Plans to Explore Deep Space

Putin Announces Russia's Ambitious Plans to Explore Deep Space

Sputnik International

Russia is planning to explore deep space, including the Moon and Mars, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday.

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space

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international space station (iss)

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"We also have plans to explore deep spaceboth the Moon and Mars. Let me remind you that we were once the first to make a piechmatic landing on a planet with the 400-500 degree Celsius [752-932 degree Fahrenheit] temperature. But it has been done, which seems incredible. Many projects are being implemented. I think this one will eventually be implemented as well," Putin said during a meeting with students of the Bauman Moscow State Technical University. Russia is a country attractive to partners in regard to the exploration of deep space, he added.Many different ideas exist on how to complete the work of the International Space Station (ISS), Russian President Vladimir Putin said.Russia and China have very ambitious plans for cooperation in space, Russian President Vladimir Putin said."We have big plans with the People's Republic of China, interesting, good ambitious ones. In general, with the BRICS countries as a whole  with India, with South Africa, with Brazil. This cooperation does not stop and cannot stop," Putin said.Space cooperation between Russia and the United States continues, Russian President Vladimir Putin said."By the way, we continue to cooperate with the United States in space, no matter what, everything continues, and the Europeans decided to suspend it, but this is their choice," Putin said.Russian space equipment is still working on European stations, although the Europeans have stopped cooperating with the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin said."Despite the fact that our European partners have stopped cooperating with us, they have practically reduced it to zero, nevertheless, Russian equipment is still working at their stations and facilities. In particular, in my opinion, it is used to study Mars and so on. What we did, or we did, or we did together, everything is still working. So it is important to them too. They have curtailed cooperation, but the devices have not been withdrawn, the devices are working," Putin said.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20241118/russia-develops-contactless-method-to-protect-the-iss-from-dangerous-space-debris-1120918742.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20250416/us-to-offer-lower-tariffs-in-exchange-for-chinas-trade-isolation--reports-1121878374.html

US Playing Hardball: Restrict Chinas Access in Exchange for Fewer Tariffs on Allies

US Playing Hardball: Restrict Chinas Access in Exchange for Fewer Tariffs on Allies

Sputnik International

During negotiations with more than 70 countries, the US administration plans to secure commitments from trade partners to economically isolate China in exchange for lower tariffs imposed by the White House, The Wall Street Journal newspaper reported.

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us treasury

white house

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The White House plans to convince countries to prohibit China from transporting goods through their territories, the report said on Tuesday, adding that Washington also wants to ban Chinese companies from locating in these countries in order to circumvent US tariffs, and prevent cheap Chinese industrial goods from entering their markets. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has become one of the key developers of this strategy, the report read. In his opinion, in the near future, such agreements can be reached primarily with Japan, the United Kingdom, Australia, South Korea and India. On April 2, US President Donald Trump announced reciprocal tariffs on imports from various countries, establishing a baseline rate of 10%. The tariffs were intended to be adjusted based on the rates charged by those countries on US goods. However, on April 9, Trump declared a 90-day pause on tariffs for all countries except China and lowered the rate to 10% to facilitate negotiations. After a number of steps in the so-called trade war between Washington and Beijing, US tariffs on Chinese goods reached 145%, and China's duty on American goods amounted to 125%.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20250415/china-suspends-all-future-boeing-deliveries-amid-ongoing-us-trade-standoff--reports-1121876780.html

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Pocket position patience paid prolifically for Plainridge Park pacer Mach Seelster, who turned a deep-stretch brush into a big win in the $23,611 conditioned feature at The Ridge on Tuesday (April 15) afternoon.

When the gate pulled away, the field lined up in post position order with Control Group (Matty Athearn) on the point and Mach Seelster (Drew Monti) tucked away second. After getting to the half in :56.3, Pyrenees Hanover (Nick Graffam) made a first-over move and brought the heavily favoured Swifty Run (Brett Beckwith) with him in the breeze, while Mach Seelster was still fifth and locked in.

As the race spiralled off the final bend, Pyrenees Hanover was still outside Control Group while Swifty Run had tipped thee-wide around them both. But it was Mach Seelster who found room along the pegs, and flew through the inside path to pass them all and win by one-quarter length in 1:53.1 for the upset.

Mach Seelster ($34.20) is owned and trained by Domenic Longobardi.

In the undercard $19,444 conditioned pace, Seafood Togo (Drew Campbell) took a similar route to victory, after tripping-out behind Poker Sy (Brett Beckwith) through quarters of :27.3, :57.3 and 1:26.3 before tipping out at the top of the stretch to stride by the leader and win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:54.4.

Seafood Togo ($10.20) is owned by Seafood Delight Stable and trained by Nicholas Vamvilis.

Drivers who won two races on Tuesday include Matty Athearn, Drew Campbell, Drew Monti and Kevin Switzer Jr., while 11 different trainers scored one win apiece.

Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Thursday (April 17) at 4 p.m.

(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)


Garuda Aerospace has successfully raised 100 crores in its Series B funding round from Venture Catalysts (Vcats++), at a valuation of $250 million. This strategic infusion of capital marks a major milestone in Garuda Aerospaces mission to bolster indigenous drone manufacturing and innovation. The fresh funds will significantly enhance the companys capabilities in producing drone systems. The funds will also be allocated in scaling up its current production facility and fast-tracking the completion of a cutting-edge R&D and testing center dedicated to advanced defense drone design. This development not only strengthens Garuda Aerospaces position in the Indian aerospace ecosystem but also aligns with the nations broader vision of achieving self-reliance in high-tech defense manufacturing.

Currently holding a robust portfolio of over 20+ patents, Garuda Aerospace has demonstrated a strong commitment to innovation and technological excellence in the fast-evolving drone sector. A dedicated portion of the newly secured funds will support the expansion of its intellectual property portfolio, further solidifying its position as a trailblazer in drone innovation and utilizing the funds towards producing a new design facility as well. This initiative underscores Garuda Aerospaces strategic role in enhancing Indias defense and security capabilities through the development of cutting-edge, domestically engineered drone systems. Garuda Aerospace will continue to contribute meaningfully to the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission.

Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder and CEO of Garuda Aerospace, said, This Series B funding is a defining milestone in Garuda Aerospaces growth journey. It not only strengthens our capacity to scale manufacturing and innovation but also positions us to accelerate the development of next-generation drones technology. As we prepare for global growth expansion journey, this investment reinforces our commitment to building world-class, indigenous drone technologies that contribute to Indias economic progress, self-reliance in defense, and technological leadership on the global stage.

Top Breaking News Of The Day

Dr. Apoorva Ranjan Sharma, Co-founder and Managing Director of Venture Catalysts, said, We are immensely proud to lead this landmark Series B funding for Garuda Aerospace. This investment is closely aligned with our strategy of supporting homegrown champions that have the potential to transform Indias technological landscape and create significant socio-economic impact. The role Garuda is playing in strengthening Indias indigenous defense manufacturing ecosystem, while also creating a global footprint, is something that truly excites us. We firmly believe that in the years to come, Garuda Aerospace will emerge as a global leader in drone technology, making India the drone hub of the world by 2030.

Garuda Aerospaces successful Series B funding of 100 crores signifies strong investor confidence in the companys vision, technological prowess, and growth potential within the burgeoning Indian drone market. The Indian drone market is experiencing exponential growth, driven by increasing applications across agriculture, infrastructure, logistics, surveillance, and defense. With the governments strong emphasis on promoting drone adoption and indigenous manufacturing through initiatives like the Drone Rules 2021 and the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, the market presents a substantial opportunity. Garuda Aerospace has established a robust business model encompassing drone manufacturing, drone-as-a-service (DaaS) offerings, and pilot training. The company caters to a wide array of clients, including government agencies, agricultural enterprises, infrastructure companies, and defense establishments, providing tailored drone solutions for diverse needs. Garuda Aerospace continues working with local partners like Tata, HUL, Reliance etc for indigenization of drones.
Deloitte India, in collaboration with SAP and Amazon Web Services (AWS), has announced the Near Zero Cost Migration programme, a joint initiative designed to help SAPs existing ERP customers accelerate their transition to the AI-powered RISE with SAP S/4HANA Cloud. This programme will fast-track and simplify the migration process, providing businesses with access to the enhanced capabilities and benefits of SAP Cloud ERP, a sustainable and high-performance infrastructure.

The programme enables organisations to transform their ERP while minimising upfront costs. It is a unique opportunity that helps businesses achieve a shorter time to value and provide a smooth transition while utilising cost-efficient and combined resources from Deloitte, SAP and AWS.

The Near Zero Cost programme seeks to streamline the migration by using Deloittes extensive industry expertise and framework. This includes a suite of AI-driven tools and accelerators, such as MigrateX, which automates key aspects of the migration process, including Assessment, SAP Note Analysis, CVI Deduplication and Testing. Together with AWS SAP cloud experience and end-to-end security that delivers high availability and provides disaster recovery with zero data loss option, customers will experience unified migration support that is resilient and efficient.

Top Breaking News Of The Day

Anand Rajagopalan, Partner and SAP Offerings Leader, Deloitte South Asia, said, Enterprise modernisation must be a structured, efficient and value-driven process. By aligning IT transformation with business objectives, this initiative allows enterprises to navigate migration challenges with minimal disruption. The combined expertise of Deloitte, SAP and AWS ensures organisations can move to cloud ERP seamlessly while optimising operations and improving scalability, agility and innovation potential.

Vinay Prabhakar, Deloitte South Asia Sales and Alliance Leader, said, Collaboration is at the heart of business transformation. Through this alliance with SAP and AWS, we are providing enterprises with an opportunity to simplify migration, eliminate cost barriers and accelerate innovation. Cloud transformation is no longer an option but a necessity, and this initiative ensures organisations can move forward with confidence, agility and long-term resilience.

Nitish Agrawal, Chief Partner Officer, SAP Indian Subcontinent, said, We are enabling customers to accelerate their digital journeys by harnessing the full potential of cloud technology to innovate faster, operate more efficiently and achieve their long-term strategic goals. Together, we are transforming IT landscapes making organisations future-proof their operations to create lasting value in a rapidly evolving digital economy.

Praveen Sridhar, Head of Partner Business, AWS India and South Asia, said, The Near Zero Cost Migration programme offers organisations a streamlined pathway to modernise their SAP environment while using AWS Cloud infrastructure and Deloittes industry-leading expertise. Our collaboration with Deloitte and SAP will deliver a unified, automated approach that accelerates organisations digital transformation while ensuring sustained operational excellence.

Deloittes Near Zero Cost Migration programme is an exclusive offer available in India until July 2025. Participating enterprises will gain access to structured guidance, proven recommendations, security principles and enhanced support at every step to ensure seamless transformation.
Turnitin, a global player in upholding academic integrity, recently released new survey findings on the impacts of AI in education. Commissioned by Turnitin* and conducted by Vanson Bourne, the survey includes data and insights from 3500 students, educators and academic administrators across six countries, including India (700). Responses to the online survey revealed that while the education community is generally positive about the impacts of AI in education, the line between using AI to enhance students learning and cheating is still undefined.

Key learnings from our research and continued engagement with the academic community across regions help inform development of future solutions, and increase the value of our current solutions, said Turnitin chief product officer, Annie Chechitelli. To provide the right support for the global education community, we have to better understand how technologies, like AI, are used to either support or shortcut learning around the world.

Key takeaways from Crossroads: Navigating the Intersection of AI and Academia in India

93% of survey respondents in India feel positive about the impacts that AI is having on education. This is the highest reported positive outlook on the impact of AI on education across the regions/countries surveyed.

85% of survey respondents in India say the availability and volume of AI is overwhelming. Interestingly, while respondents in India are the most positive about the impact of AI, they also reported being the most overwhelmed by its volume and availability.

50% of survey respondents in India say they dont know how to get the most benefit from AI in their role/studies. This is slightly higher than the response across all survey respondents (45%).

The positivity around the impacts that AI is having on education in India presents an exciting opportunity for students, educators and academic administrators throughout the region to lean into new advancements in technology, said Chaitali Moitra, Regional Director, Turnitin South Asia. It is important to focus on helping the education community feel supported and prepared to explore the benefits that AI can have on the learning environment.

While continued expansion of AI use in education is not a surprise, students outpacing all other surveyed groups (educators and academic administrators) in their concerns around AI is less expected. 64% of students reported being worried about the use of AI within education, compared to 50% of educators and 41% of academic administrators across Australia/New Zealand, India, Mexico, United Kingdom/Ireland, and the United States.

Our research, across all countries and surveyed groups, highlights a pivotal moment in academia, said David Gallichan, Business Strategy & Partnerships Lead at Vanson Bourne. While there is clear optimism about AIs potential, there is also significant concernparticularly among studentsabout its misuse.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

In late summer 2024, Caltrain replaced its diesel fleet with brand new electric trains. A new UC Berkeley study found that the electrification of the commuter rail line led to a dramatic boost in air quality in and around the trains. Credit: Adam Lau/UC Berkeley

Switching from diesel to electric trains dramatically improved the air quality aboard the San Francisco Bay Area's Caltrain commuter rail line, reducing riders' exposure to the carcinogen black carbon by an average of 89%, finds a new study published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology Letters.

The electrification of the system also significantly reduced the ambient black carbon concentrations within and around the San Francisco station, the study found.

"The transition from diesel to electric trains occurred over just a few weeks, and yet we saw the same drop in black carbon concentrations in the station as California cities achieved from 30 years of clean air regulations," said study senior author Joshua Apte, a professor of environmental engineering and environmental health at the University of California, Berkeley.

"It really adds to the case for electrifying the many other rail systems in the U.S. that still use old, poorly regulated diesel locomotives."

Caltrain operates the busiest commuter rail system in the western U.S., carrying millions of passengers a year along its 47-mile route between San Francisco and San Jose.

Over the course of six weeks in August and September 2024, the system retired all 29 of its diesel locomotives and replaced them with 23 new electric trains. The debut of the new trains was the culmination of a $2.44 billion modernization and decarbonization project that first launched in 2017.

UC Berkeley postdoctoral scholar Samuel Cliff (left) and professor Joshua Apte at the San Francisco Caltrain Station. Each is holding one of the portable air quality monitors that they used to measure black carbon concentrations aboard the trains. Credit: Adam Lau/UC Berkeley

Apte, an expert in air quality monitoring, was inspired to pursue the study after visiting a Caltrain station in August 2024, when the very first electric trains were being introduced.

"I was stunned at how much the station smelled like diesel smoke and how noisy it was from the racket of diesel locomotives idling away at the platforms, dumping smoke out into the community," Apte said. "A light bulb went off my headI realized this would all be going away in a few weeks."

After securing the support of Caltrain, Apte and study lead author Samuel Cliff quickly mobilized, installing black carbon detectors at Caltrain stations and carrying portable air quality detectors aboard the trains. For four weeks, they tracked the rapid improvements in air quality as old diesel locomotives were replaced by new electric trains.

"A lot of these transitions happen pretty slowly. This one happened in a blink of an eye," Apte said. "We had the unique opportunity to capture the ancillary public health benefits."

Samuel Cliff downloads data from a portable air quality monitor at a Caltrain station. Credit: Adam Lau

According to Apte and Cliff's calculations, the reduction in black carbon exposure achieved from Caltrain's electrification cut excess cancer deaths by 51 per 1 million people for riders and 330 per 1 million people for train conductors.

For reference, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has a policy that any exposure that increases the average individual's cancer risk by more than one per million is considered unacceptable.

"If you think about this in the context of the whole of the U.S., where we have millions of people commuting by rail every day, that's hundreds of cases of cancer that could be prevented each year," said Cliff, a postdoctoral scholar at UC Berkeley.

The majority of U.S. commuter trains are still powered by diesel fuel, despite the fact that electric trains are quieter, more reliable and produce fewer greenhouse gases than diesel locomotives. Apte hopes the study motivates more U.S. municipalities to follow the lead of Asian and European countries in electrifying their railways.

"This is something that we ought to find a way to do as quickly as possible, everywhere," Apte said. "California has long-term plans to electrify most of its rail systems, but this shows that we shouldn't be waiting another 25 years to get it done. We should be speeding it up."

Co-authors of the study include Haley McNamara Byrne and Allen Goldstein of UC Berkeley.

More information: Samuel J. Cliff et al, Dramatic Air Quality Improvements after the Complete Electrification of a Commuter Rail System, Environmental Science & Technology Letters (2025). DOI: 10.1021/acs.estlett.4c01096 Journal information: Environmental Science & Technology Letters
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Pedestrian crosswalks in California's Silicon Valley were emitting recordings over the weekend that mocked US President Donald Trump and tech billionaires Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk, according to widely shared videos.

Instead of the usual "walk" or "wait" audio instructions, crosswalk speakers at some intersections in Palo Alto, Menlo Park and Redwood City played recordings that sounded like the tech titans.

"You know, they say money can't buy happiness, and... I guess that's true," the crosswalk audio says in one video posted over the weekend on TikTok, Meta-owned Instagram and Musk's social platform X.

"God knows I've tried. But it can buy a Cybertruck and that's pretty sick, right? Right? ... I'm so alone."

In another widely circulating video, a Musk-sounding voice emerges from the crosswalk signal and talks about Trump.

"You know it's funny, I used to think he was just this dumb sack of shit. But, well, when you get to know him, he's actually really sweet and tender and loving."

A voice resembling Trump's replies: "Sweetie, come back to bed."

Meta CEO Zuckerberg was not spared. In another video viewed more than 400,000 times on X, a crosswalk sign appears to emit the audio: "Hi, this is Mark Zuckerberg, but real ones call me 'The Zuck.' It's normal to feel uncomfortable or even violated as we forcefully insert AI into every ... facet of your conscious experience.

"And I just want to assure you, you don't need to worry because there's absolutely nothing you can do to stop it. Anyways, see ya."

It was not clear who was behind the messages playing at the crosswalks, which returned to normal by Monday, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Palo Alto City spokesperson Meghan Horrigan-Taylor told US media that 12 downtown intersections were impacted and authorities had disabled the audio feature until it could be repaired.

The tampering may have happened on Friday, Horrigan-Taylor said, according to Palo Alto Online.

City official Jennifer Yamaguma told the San Francisco Chronicle that four crosswalks in Redwood City were impacted.

"The unauthorized messages have since been disabled, and staff are evaluating ways to strengthen system protections," Deputy City Manager Yamaguma said.

"We also want to remind the public that tampering with City infrastructure, including crosswalk signals, is unlawful and poses a safety risk."

 2025 AFP
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

As always seems to be the way, energy and climate policy is proving to be an area of contention between the major parties in Australia's 2025 election.

One issue that's provoked a lot of discussion and confusion is the Liberal-National Coalition's proposal to build seven nuclear power plants across Australia.

It's a controversial idea that's opposed by Labor, the Greens, many independent MPs and some Liberal groups.

Both the Climate Change Authority and Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) concluded that the deployment of nuclear energy in Australia would significantly increase the country's energy prices and cause us to miss our climate change targets.

With the federal election campaign in full swing, there's a lot of information and disinformation out there on nuclear energy. These are my 10 main reasons why nuclear energy would be a bad idea for Australia.

1. Too expensive

It's extremely expensive to build and operate nuclear power plants anywhere in the world. Independent analysis by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) found that building nuclear power in Australia could see average household electricity bills rise by $AUD665 a year.

Estimates by CSIRO and the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) for the 20242025 GenCost Report also found renewables are the cheapest option for any new electricity generation.

2. Too slow

Even if we drop everything else and throw all our weight behind nuclear energy, it wouldn't play a role in Australia's energy grid for more than a decade.

It took an average of 11 years to build the nuclear reactors that came online around the world in 2023largely in countries with a well-established nuclear industry, like China.

In Australia, CSIRO estimates it would take at least 15 years before we'd reach the first nuclear generation.

3. Too risky

Nuclear accidents are rare but they have devastating consequences.

The Chernobyl disaster in 1986 and the Fukushima disaster in 2011 contaminated large areas and continue to impact the health of hundreds of thousands of people. Both disasters caused a rise in anti-nuclear sentiments in the Australian public.

They also led to the majority of German citizens supporting an end to nuclear power in the country, with the three last remaining nuclear power plants in Germany taken offline in 2023.

4. Hard to build

Nuclear power stations are huge and complicated infrastructure projects that almost never stay on schedule.

The UK's Hinkley Point C nuclear plant construction is now running 14 years late and is costing three times more than it was estimated: a whopping $AUD90 billion.

Smaller nuclear power plants, known as Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), have been proposed as an alternative, but there are no known commercial SMRs operational anywhere in the world.

The only company to have a small modular nuclear power plant approved in the US has since canceled its first project due to rising costs.

5. Produces nuclear waste

Once in operation, nuclear reactors continuously produce radioactive waste. Generally, this waste is buried underground, where it remains radioactive for thousands of years.

Australia already produces a relatively small amount of low-level radioactive waste for some medical and research activities.

However, Australia currently doesn't have any waste storage facilities to process high-level radioactive waste that would be produced by nuclear reactorsand recent efforts to build the country's first radioactive waste storage facility have failed.

6. Uses lots of water

Nuclear reactors need to be cooled constantly, which requires high volumes of water.

It might not make sense to switch to a water-intensive energy source in the driest inhabited continent in the world, which is already facing increasing droughts and extreme heat.

Even countries like France and Swedenwith dramatically cooler climates compared to Australiaare increasingly being forced to shut down their nuclear power plants during warm periods when their cooling water heats up.

This means they then have to import energy from neighboring countries.

7. No energy security

Australia's remaining coal-fired power stations are old and increasingly breaking down, with over 60% of our coal-generating capacity now more than 40 years old.

Even in the most optimistic scenarios, nuclear power is unlikely to come online before 2040, by which time all of Australia's coal plants will have retired, according to the National Electricity Market.

In other words, the timelines for a coal-to-nuclear transition don't add up.

Extending the life of these aging coal-power plants would mean spending billions to prop up coal rather than investing in updating the electricity grid and expanding more cost-effective and readily available forms of energy like renewables.

8. No expertise

While nuclear generation is well established in many countries, it has never been deployed in Australia.

We currently lack the trained workforce and technical capability required for building a large-scale nuclear reactor.

Any attempt to go nuclear would leave Australia reliant on foreign companies and expertise. This is something we're seeing play out in building and maintaining the nuclear submarines Australia agreed to host as part of the AUKUS deal.

In comparison, the renewable energy industry already creates more than 25,000 local jobs in Australia and this is expected to grow.

9. We'll miss our climate goals

While nuclear energy is a form of low-emissions energy in many countries with established pre-existing nuclear facilities, focusing on the development of new nuclear energy in Australia is a diversion from taking real climate action.

Australia's Climate Change Authority (CCA) recently released a detailed analysis concluding that a nuclear pathway for Australia would result in an additional 2 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

It would extend the use of some coal-fired generators, slow down the uptake of clean technologies, and obstruct existing national plans to deliver 82% renewable electricity by 2030.

10. Illegal in Australia

In the late 1990s, the Australian Federal Government introduced several new laws banning nuclear energy, including the National Radiation and Nuclear Safety Act (1998).

This Act prohibited the development of any new nuclear power sites in Australia.

The Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999) also introduced rules preventing the construction or operation of any facilities that generate nuclear power.

Building nuclear reactors is currently illegal in every Australian state and territory.

Ultimately, pursuing a lengthy, expensive and potentially harmful energy source is a misguided step for Australia, particularly when we have all the resources and potential to make us a renewable energy superpower.
In a letter sent to College Station City Hall and obtained by The Eagle on Tuesday, Texas Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, raised concerns with College Stations housing enforcement policies and suggested the city may be encouraging behavior that goes against state law.

Archived reports show citizens submitting photos of parked cars to support occupancy violation claims. This, combined with the Citys ordinance using such evidence to establish a rebuttable presumption of violation, raises serious concerns under Section 42.07(9) of the Texas Penal Code, which prohibits tracking anothers vehicle without consent. The City may be inadvertently encouraging behavior that constitutes criminal harassment, Bettencourts letter said.

On March 17, 2025, the Texas Senate held a meeting on SB 1567 which would prevent cities from regulating housing occupancy numbers based on familial status. SB 1567, which passed the Senate by a 30-1 vote on Monday, was sponsored by Bettencourt and Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, D-Austin. A variety of groups spoke for and against its companion bill, HB 2792, including representatives from the city of College Station who all spoke against it at the initial committee hearing. There were no College Station representatives at the SB 1567 hearing.

College Station Mayor John Nichols clarified that the letter was sent because they had no representatives at the Senate meeting due to not being invited.

Our letter to Sen. Bettencourt and his committee was simply to clarify and explain our position, but also to explain our position and clarify the actions of our code enforcement officers, Nichols said. Some of the language that was used or assertions that were presented during that hearing did not reflect what the city was doing. We felt like all of those things were important contexts that the Senator and his committee needed to have. I was pleased to see he responded to us.

College Station councilor Bob Yancy, who initially spoke against HB 2792, said in a statement Tuesday that a strong relationship between the city of College Station and the Texas Senate is crucial and that the city should follow the Senates guidance if the bill passes.

If SB 1567 becomes the law of the land, Ill be advocating strongly that we follow it, Yancy said. Its also important that we comply with these document requests as quickly as possible. For everyone thats concerned about occupancy, I am confident that if we pivot to appropriate policy, and if we incentivize new housing, we can solve this problem. Safe, quality and affordable housing is important for everyone, from students to families to retirees. We need to get to work.

Nearly one week after the public hearings, members of the city council co-signed a letter to the Texas Senate to clarify untrue claims made about code enforcement practices and officially sent it on March 27.

The letter denounced any claims that the city encourages individuals to submit photos of vehicles as evidence of occupancy violations and said the city discouraged individuals from continuing this practice. The letter also said that the city did not issue search warrants to investigate occupancy violations, as occupancy violations are a civil offense, and said code enforcement officers are not members of the College Station Police Department.

The letter by College Station adds that representatives of the Senate were invited to witness the proactive efforts the City has initiated to provide affordable housing options for all residents but added that this trip has not occurred.

Additionally, while the Committee appears to have invited testimony from several residents of College Station, the same invitation was not extended to the City of College Station, the letter said.

Mondays lone no vote on SB 1567 came from Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, who represents College Station. Before the vote, on April 11, a letter from Sen. Bettencourt was sent in response to College Stations letter and began by directly addressing the concerns that College Station was not invited to the meeting.

While the City of College Station was not specifically invited to testify, municipalities are always welcome to do so. In past hearings, the City has sent taxpayer-funded lobbyists to testify without an invitation and the city has one registered this session. It is concerning that the City chose not to send any representatives on this occasion, especially given the bills local impact, the letter said.

The letter from Bettencourt expressed major concerns after hearing testimony from students and parents in College Station and was initially one of the reasons why the no-more-than-four ordinance received Senate interest.

During a Senate meeting in November 2024, the Texas A&M Student Government Association spoke against College Station housing ordinances that prevent more than four unrelated individuals from living in the same house, colloquially called the no-more-than-four ordinance. These students voiced frustrations with the ordinance, claiming it drives up housing costs and discriminates against students hoping to find housing to attend Texas A&M University. They also voiced concerns with behaviors by those looking to enforce the ordinance.

To enforce the no-more-than-four ordinance, College Station utilizes the SeeClickFix system where citizens can report code enforcement violations and other non-emergency issues. In his letter, Bettencourt expressed concerns with this system and cited previous testimony from residents regarding this system.

The Committee heard testimony from students and parents who cited housing availability as a major stressor, and I urge the city to address this issue more proactively, the letter said. Additionally, I remain concerned by reports that the City continues to issue fines to real estate professionals, including to individuals who testified before our committee. Issuing violations following their testimony suggests such citations may be seen as retaliatory.

Nichols denied Bettencourts claim that they were inadvertently encouraging behavior that constitutes criminal harassment and the city does not accept photos of peoples cars as evidence.

They were concerned citizens that were taking photographs in the middle of the night and trying to share that with the city, but the city has made it very clear to those people that were not accepting any evidence from anybody other than what our code enforcement officers are able to develop on their own.

Bettencourt also requested that the city immediately stop demanding private lease documents from third parties without warrant or subpoena and said SB 1567 includes language to address this issue directly. In the last paragraph of his letter, Bettencourt requested access to code enforcement information.

Pursuant to Section 552.008 of the Government Code, which is a Legislative Request that prohibits the withholding of records, I request copies of all civil citations issued in connection with occupancy ordinance violations, as well as body camera footage from related code or law enforcement interactions, the letter said.

Nichols said College Station city staff are currently gathering the requested information and will send it to Bettencourts staff.

SB 1567s companion bill, HB 2797 by Chairman Vasut, was voted out of the House Committee on Land and Resource Management with a unanimous 7-0 vote on April 10.

Nichols said he will wait to see what the outcome is in the Texas House before deciding the next best actions for College Station.

Weve tried our best to communicate, to exchange ideas and inform those that are in the decision-making process in Austin, he said. Well see what the outcome is, and well respond however necessary at that point.
Chinese senior legislator visits Mongolia

Xinhua) 10:15, April 16, 2025

ULAN BATOR, April 15 (Xinhua) -- At the invitation of Mongolia's State Great Hural (Parliament), Losang Jamcan, vice chairman of China's National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, led an NPC delegation on a visit to Mongolia from April 12 to 15.

During the visit, Losang Jamcan met with Dashzegve Amarbayasgalan, chairman of the State Great Hural, and co-chaired the sixth meeting of the bilateral parliamentary exchange mechanism with Khurelbaatar Bulgantuya, deputy chairman of the State Great Hural.

Losang Jamcan spoke positively of the achievements in bilateral ties, noting that under the strategic guidance of the two countries' leaders, China-Mongolia relations have maintained a sound momentum of development in recent years.

Guided by the building of a community with a shared future for the two countries, China is ready to work with Mongolia to strengthen the alignment of development strategies, deepen cooperation across various fields and exchanges of experience in state governance, strengthen interactions between legislative institutions, and support each other on their respective paths to modernization, he added.

The Mongolian side said developing relations with China is the primary direction of its foreign policy and that the country looks forward to maintaining the momentum of high-level exchanges with China, deepening mutually beneficial cooperation and strengthening exchanges between legislative institutions.

The Mongolian side reiterated its adherence to the one-China principle.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Improve Teacher-Student Satisfaction by Removing Procurement Obstacles

Intuitive tools help teachers gain flexibility and control over purchases, and more time back for doing what they love.

Teachers and K12 districts manage increasingly complicated workloads while striving to keep students satisfied and engaged, as well as meet learning objectives. That leaves little time at the end of the day to navigate the cumbersome or outdated procurement processes often required to request  and wait for  the essential supplies their students and classrooms need.

The need to ensure teacher and student satisfaction comes into tighter focus as districts navigate competitive recruiting environments and look to improve the overall school climate. EdWeek recently identified the need to recruit (53%) and retain (51%) high-quality teachers as the top two priorities and pain points noted by district leaders as part of the EdWeek Market Brief's School District Purchasing Priorities survey. Improving school culture and climate (48%) and meeting all students' needs (41%) followed closely behind. While it may not be the first solution on district leaders' minds, eliminating purchase and procurement pain points can alleviate many of the unnecessary  and unsatisfactory  burdens of day-to-day classroom management.

Schools and districts that continue to rely on a handful of well-informed individuals or procurement professionals to manage cumbersome, legacy solutions to fill out purchase orders (POs) or complete classroom supply requests perpetuate delays and administrator burdens. Time-strapped IT and admin teams find it just as difficult to onboard new procurement solutions or modify existing tools to solve access problems and delays.

Legacy systems frequently create additional challenges from a data and visibility perspective, through the lack of deeper insights around purchase histories, for example, or identifying competitive pricing opportunities, seasonal supply demands, and more. Removing procurement obstacles by providing teachers and admins with more direct access to intuitive tools like Amazon Business offers a more sustainable path for purchase management. Here are a few product features that allow teachers greater flexibility and choice around purchases, while also saving administrators precious time and the budget's bottom line.

User-Friendly, Where It's Needed Most

Not so long ago at Michigan's Bay City Public Schools, teachers were required to search on Amazon for the classroom items they needed, print out their selections, and submit the paperwork to the central district office for approval. The procurement team then manually recreated each shopping list in the ordering system, spending upwards of 30 minutes rebuilding a single shopping cart.

The district recently transformed its paper-based purchase process using Amazon Business, which allows teachers and other school personnel to select items on the Amazon Business website, lock in pricing, and submit orders directly through the district's purchasing system, which triggers an approval process. The integrated configuration helps ensure supplies and purchases fall within the district's specific policies and procurement requirements, maintaining essential oversight while allowing each school to maintain greater control over its supply selections and purchases.

"Amazon Business Pay by Invoice, the ACH, the credit memos  it has saved me so much time, and that is very precious right now," said Kristine Rodabaugh, an executive specialist in the district's finance and accounting office. "Having more time to spend on new ideas is going to help with the education of our students. Even having five minutes is going to make me a better employee."

Helping Schools Make Purchases with Ease

With Amazon Business, districts decentralize the procurement process and consolidate spending into one channel, where administrators set district- or building-specific spending limits along with category restrictions. Ongoing monitoring helps ensure compliance with purchase and budget policies and removes the need for finance or purchasing personnel to manually or directly manage every purchase or request.

Supplier consolidation reduces the need for purchasers to obtain multiple quotes or navigate more lengthy RFP processes. At the same time, having concrete data and insights into real-time spending and supply usage improves annual budgeting processes. School leaders can quickly and easily pinpoint anomalies or adjust funding requests for specific supplies or resources that are in greater demand. Furthermore, Punchout integration with more than 300 leading software applications, including Skyward and Jaggaer, offers education organizations flexibility and choice. Schools and districts can access Amazon Business through their existing systems while maintaining their current procurement processes.

More Time Back in Everyone's Day

At Bay City Public Schools, the shift from paper checks to digital payments through Pay by Invoice drove further support efficiencies, Rodabaugh said. Instead of dedicating entire days to preparing checks and maintaining spreadsheets, the district can quickly and safely make digital payments and ACH withdrawals  rapid, traceable transactions that maintain robust financial and accounting controls. The setup also allows Bay City Public Schools to easily manage multiple purchase funding sources.

"We pay out of both a general fund and an activity fund, so we do truly appreciate the fact that we can switch and choose which bank accounts to use," Rodabaugh said.

Such flexibility reduces budget management complications while also ensuring compliance with state grants or federal program requirements. At audit time, additional efficiencies are seen through easy access to comprehensive digital records of transactions, with every purchase linked to its corresponding PO, easing reconciliations and creating a clear audit trail. Auditors can be given direct access to the district's accounting system to retrieve necessary records, further eliminating the need for paper files or binders.

"Everything's there, tied to a purchase order, with line-item details," Rodabaugh explained. "It saves both our auditors and our team so much time."

Allowing Teachers to Focus on What Matters Most

Back in the classroom, teachers enjoy access to a wide selection of classroom supplies  and potential cost savings  and can quickly get those tools and resources into students' hands, creating an effective and engaging learning environment. Beyond access, teachers have more time in their day to spend with students and focus on their core role, rather than perusing supplies and completing paperwork.
(TBTCO) - Mot trong linh vuc ang uoc nha au tu quan tam la cong cuoc sap xep lai on vi hanh chinh khong chi la cai cach hanh chinh on thuan, ma con huong en muc tieu tao ra nhung on vi hanh chinh co quy mo u lon, u tam phat trien va ket noi. oi voi TP. Ho Chi Minh, ay chinh la co so e thanh pho tro thanh manh at mau mo cho von au tu truc tiep nuoc ngoai (FDI).
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Former prime minister Stuart Young is leading the legal team representing former Central Bank Governor Dr Alvin Hilaire in his wrongful dismissal battle against the State.

On Wednesday, Hilaire told the Express that his attorneys issued a pre-action protocol letter to the Attorney General and the Cabinet Secretariat.

When asked by the Express to provide a copy of the pre-action letter and the names of his attorneys, Hilaire responded yesterday, declining to share the letter but confirming that Young is leading his legal team.
New president of the T&T Chamber of Commerce Sonji Pierre-Chase, second from right, is flanked by former Chamber president

Kiran Maharaj, from left, Prime Minister Stuart Young and Trade Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon at the Chambers annual general meeting

on April 2 at the Hyatt Regency (Trinidad), in Port of Spain. Photo: ISHMAEL SALANDY
A PRIVATE contractor is dead after an accident in Tobago.

Police have identified the victim as Darryl Figaro of Black Rock, Tobago. He died on Wednesday after falling from a ladder while working at a private villa.

An autopsy of Figaros body yesterday at the Scarborough Mortuary determined injuries were consistent with a fall, and it ruled out foul play. The body was previously identified by the victims daughter.
The Trump administration is seeking bidders for a contract to build about 25 miles of border wall through the San Rafael Valley  a hotly disputed area with one of the longest remaining stretches of Arizona borderlands without a wall.

A spokesman for Customs and Border Protection confirmed Tuesday an emailed report the Sierra Club said it received from CBP three days earlier  that it plans to build 24.7 miles of wall between the Nogales Border Patrol Station in Santa Cruz County and the town of Naco south of Bisbee in Cochise County. The area is a known biodiversity hotspot but is also populated by ranchers concerned about unauthorized immigration into the area.

Additional information will be released when we announce the successful bidder, John Mennell, a CBP spokesman, said Tuesday, adding he cant say at this time when the agency intends to start construction.

The Department of Homeland Security, CBPs parent agency, is working to implement President Trumps executive orders on securing the borders and declaring a national emergency at the southern border of the United States. He has directed the secretary (of DHS) to take all appropriate actions to deploy and construct temporary and permanent physical barriers, to insure complete operational control of the southern border of the United States, Mennell said.

The plan for new border wall comes as unauthorized border crossings across the entire U.S. Southwest, including Arizona, are at record lows, according to a Customs and Border Protection news release earlier this month.

In the agencys entire Tucson Sector, which spans 262 border miles, much more than the nearly 25-mile stretch now targeted for new border wall, the agency had 1,336 encounters with migrants in February, a 97% decrease from February 2024. The sector has approximately 3,700 border agents, CBP says. There were 1,068 apprehensions by border agents in March in the Tucson Sector. There were 1,500 pounds of drugs, including 430 pounds of fentanyl, seized in March in the Tucson Sector.

The San Rafael Valley stretch is one of the largest and lushest remaining spans of native grassland in Southern Arizona.

It also includes large areas of the Patagonia and Huachuca mountains and has been the scene of three recent border crossings of the endangered jaguar, including that of the cat nicknamed El Jefe. He roamed the Santa Ritas north of this area from 2012 through 2015. Endangered ocelots also have been photographed in the area. It is also the natural setting where the 1955 movie Oklahoma was filmed.

Now, environmentalists fear all construction through the valley will trigger what one of them, Russ McSpadden of the Tucson-based Center for Biological Diversity, called ecocide.

There are significant conservation lands on both sides of the border, McSpadden told the Star Tuesday. Its one of the best wildlife corridors left in this region. Its one of the worst places you can put a border wall. Its a quiet valley. There are not that many border crossers there at all. Its rugged country.

Sidney Spencer, who sells grass-fed beef from her Lazy J2 Ranch in the valleys center about 8 miles from the border, begs to differ. She favors a border wall and said, I think if they put their noodles to it, they can figure out something to let the jaguars cross through.

Ive been here 30 years and the drug lords have controlled this valley as long as Ive lived here, Spencer said. They know who I am, where I am, when Im home and not home. Its a drug alley. It always has been.

This project will be among the 85 miles of new border barriers from California to Texas that were funded with prior year appropriations, a CBP spokesman said. Most if not all of those were approved by Congress during the first Trump administration, since President Joe Biden halted border wall construction shortly after taking office. The new fencing includes projects within the Border Patrols Tucson, Yuma, San Diego, El Paso and Rio Grande Valley sectors, the spokesman said.

CBPs goal for its environmental planning efforts is balancing environmental concerns while ensuring the expeditious construction of new border barriers to deter illegal crossings in areas of high illegal entry into the United States, the spokesman said.

The Sierra Club got word of the impending border wall project in an email Friday from a CBP official. The two entities have been in contact for several years as they sought to implement a legal settlement stemming from a lawsuit the club filed over the wall during the first Trump administration. The federal government is still considering proposed amendments to the settlement agreement involving various projects at the Santa Cruz River and the Coronado National Memorial and opening additional gates to let storm water pass through various border barriers in Arizona and New Mexico, the CBP official told the Sierra Club. The club didnt identify that official, to protect the person as a source of information.

CBP is planning to construct approximately 24.7 miles of new primary barrier in the Sonoita Station Area of Responsibility, covering the area from the Nogales Border Patrol Station to Naco, said the email excerpt released by the Sierra Club.

Erick Meza, the Sierra Clubs borderlands coordinator, said, This valley, this represents one of the major biodiversity hotspots on the Southern border. Its the birthplace of the Santa Cruz River (which starts in this area, then flows south into Mexico before resuming its northward path in Nogales, Sonora).

This is an area where a lot of very sensitive species live and use as a wildlife corridor, including black bears, mule deer and white-tailed deer, and pronghorns as well as jaguars and ocelots, he said. Blocking 25 miles of this landscape will sever connectivity for countless animals, pushing already vulnerable species closer to extinction. This is gong to be one of the worst pieces of news for the environment we can get here in Arizona, Meza said.

Rancher Spencer, however, said Tuesday that, While I like to invite people into my home, I want to know who Im inviting. I believe in immigration. I want it to be done in the right way. I know families who spend 10 years getting green cards, their citizenship, doing it the right way. What we oughta fix is the system for getting a green card or getting permission to work here.

Overall, Carol Bonchalk,a resident of the San Rafael Valley since 2005,said I could go either way on the border wall issue, and she wants more facts about the planned construction project before taking a stance.

I think we need more things across the border. Weve had fires started by illegals, which caused problems for everybody. There needs to be some kind of protection, although weve had better protection since they put 100-foot towers up across the valley, Bonchalk said.

I agree there will be a problem for wildlife. I dont know what the solution is. Its a catch 22 no matter which way they go. You need some protection but you need some ability for wildlife to cross.
A Tucson law firm is suing Trump administration officials on behalf of two international students living in Pima County whose legal statuses were terminated without legitimate cause and in violation of due process, their attorney says.

The complaints, filed this week in U.S. District Court in Arizona, include a motion for a temporary restraining order to protect the students from unlawful arrest by immigration authorities and to allow them to continue working on campus and finish their studies.

The Pima County-based students  one pursuing a masters and the other a doctoral degree  were both set to graduate this year, and have been taking classes remotely from home, due to their fear of being detained, said Tucson immigration attorney Matt Green, managing partner at Green Evans-Schroeder.

The lawsuits dont list the plaintiffs by name, due to their fear of retaliation by the Trump administration, Green said.

I can tell you that both of my clients are terrified that they may be detained and taken away from their spouses and their young U.S. citizen children, Green told the Arizona Daily Star on Tuesday. They definitely want to maintain as much privacy as possible.

Green would not specify which schools the two Pima County students attend, to protect their privacy. Both had prior contact with law enforcement for minor offenses that in each case did not result in a criminal conviction, he said.

The lawsuits are among about a dozen cases filed in federal courts nationwide  including New York, Georgia, California and Washington state  since last month, when the U.S. State Department started revoking students visas, and as the Department of Homeland Security terminated the students legal status in its Student and Exchange Visitor Information Systems database, known as SEVIS.

Typically even if a students visa is revoked, they are still allowed to stay in the country to finish their studies as long as their status as foreign students in the SEVIS database remains active, Green said. A student visa only controls the students entry to the country, not his or her legal status as a foreign student once they are here.

The lawsuits focus on what Green calls unlawful SEVIS terminations, arguing DHS does not have the legal authority to unilaterally revoke SEVIS status without advance notice to the student, who by law should have a chance to respond.

Under federal regulations, a valid basis for terminating SEVIS records includes a student failing to maintain a full class load, working without authorization, or being convicted of a violent crime with a possible sentence of more than one year.

The complaints, which seek relief under the Administrative Procedures Act and the 5th Amendments due process clause, name President Donald Trump, Immigration and Customs Enforcements Phoenix office director John Cantu, acting ICE director Todd Lyons and DHS secretary Kristi Noem.

In seeking protection from unlawful arrest for the client, one of Greens complaints cites high-profile arrests of students in New York, Boston and D.C. who were transferred to immigration detention in states including Louisiana and Texas.

If ICE believes a student is deportable for having a revoked visa or any other reason, it has the authority to initiate removal proceedings and make its case in court, the complaint reads. It cannot, however, misuse SEVIS ... to circumvent the law, strip students of status, and drive them out of the country without process. It similarly cannot engage in retaliatory arrests and transfers to further intimidate students into abandoning their studies and fleeing the country to avoid arrest.

In addition to the two students hes formally representing, Green said hes consulting with multiple students from Arizona State University and more than a few from the University of Arizona about their student-visa revocations. So far, all are from the Middle East, Asia or southeast Asia, he said.

Visas revoked at UA, ASU, Pima

Across the country, at least hundreds  and likely thousands, lawyers say  of international students visas have been revoked and their SEVIS statuses terminated in violation of due process, attorneys say. The revocations affect international students with either no or minor criminal histories, such as simple traffic violations or other infractions that are not grounds for student-visa revocations, let alone deportations, their lawyers say.

ASU now has more than 100 international students who have had their student visas revoked by the new Trump administration, according to Michael Kintscher, president of the United Campus Workers Arizona, an organization which advocates for workers at ASU, UA and Northern Arizona University.

We have now confirmed the number of students with visas revoked at ASU is over 100, Kintscher told the Star Monday. Kintscher said he couldnt reveal the source of the figure, due to retaliation concerns.

Pima Community College, which serves 212 international students, has recorded one international students SEVIS account being terminated by the Department of Homeland Security, said Phil Burdick, PCCs vice chancellor for external relations.

Kintscher said the number of student visas revoked at the UA is fewer than a dozen. The UA administration has refused to confirm any student visa revocations.

In a Tuesday faculty-wide email, faculty leaders reported the UA had fewer than 10 visas revoked as of last week, but said the number was rising.

For the cases we know about, the methodology apparently used is cross referencing student visa lists with local law enforcement records, including misdemeanors and traffic violations, said the email from UA Secretary of the Faculty Katie Zeiders, Faculty Chair Leila Hudson and Faculty Vice Chair Mona Hymel.

All the cases of visa revocations at UA are reportedly linked to non-political police encounters (e.g., traffic violations). We have not heard of any visa revocations here that are related to political activity on our campus, they wrote. Many of the students with visa revocations have already returned to their home countries (self-deported).

According to the faculty leaders email, while UA administrators might not be notified directly by the State Department, they can scan the SEVIS system to see which international students are affected daily. The email said affected students are being advised by attorneys to seek formal legal representation and consider immediately filing an injunction in federal court which could stall deportation.

UA spokesperson Mitch Zak said Tuesday, The university continues to respect the privacy of our international students, faculty, and scholars, and emphasizes the importance of relying on verified information. We encourage international students and scholars to contact us with any questions, as university staff are available to support their success and compliance.

Notifications sent to students informing them their visas were revoked encouraged students to leave the country, faculty leaders wrote in the email.

Enforcement action  which we have not yet seen at UA  can lead to detention in or out of state without due process, Zeiders, Hudson and Hymel said in the email.

Faculty leaders also said the initial intake and subsequent legal costs are not being paid by the UA and that UA counsel cannot represent the students, but did not state the reason behind this. They also confirmed there had been no federal law enforcement or immigration enforcement presence on the UA campus so far.

Kintscher, who said ASU is offering free legal services to affected students, clarified that is a standard practice for ASU that students have already paid for through an additional international student fee, which also covers legal consultation.

National picture

Atlanta immigration attorney Charles Kuck said he filed a lawsuit on behalf of 18 international students on Friday, in the northern district of Georgia, and on Tuesday was adding to the case another 150 students who hailed from across the country, including Arizona. Kuck said hell ask the judge to consider the cases jointly because they all share the same set of facts and requests for relief.

Kuck estimates at least 5,000 students nationwide have had their student visas revoked since the end of March.

To carry out so many revocations so quickly, the Trump administration must be using an automated process, likely powered by artificial intelligence, which would also explain what Kuck called the nonsensical basis for the revocations, he said.

The only way they could get this level and number of students is to use A.I., he said. Kuck said he suspects they cross-referenced the SEVIS database with federal and state databases related to criminal or civil violations, including traffic infractions.

They got a list, and just revoked all of them, he said. I think they spent no time reviewing them individually, and they certainly didnt follow the law on the revocations.

One of the students hes representing had a visa issue at an airport in 2014 and was sent back home, he said. The student cleared up the issue and returned to the U.S., and has traveled back and forth dozens of times since then, he said. Yet 11 years later, her visa was randomly revoked, he said.

What Kuck called the Trump administrations lack of care in executing the visa revocations and SEVIS cancellations means the students fighting back have strong cases, he said.

Because theyre using a wrecking ball, theyre giving the courts viable options to stop their efforts, he said. Their own actions are causing court actions to be successful.

The government has not specified why the students are losing their status, and that is likely because a legitimate basis doesnt exist; theyre hoping to scare students into self-deporting, even if they have a legal basis for staying, Kuck said.

Of all the students that have contacted us  and were talking about hundreds  none have a deportable offense, he said. These kids are scared, and they (immigration authorities) want them to be scared. They want them to think theyre going to be picked up tomorrow, because then theyll leave voluntarily.

ASU less transparent now

The ASU administration had initially confirmed eight student visa revocations two weeks ago, but has reduced its transparency since the numbers started rising, Kintscher said.

Theyre not providing that level of detail anymore, he said.

Asked to confirm reports that 100 student visas had been revoked, an ASU spokesperson said Tuesday, With more than 17,000 international students, Arizona State University has one of the largest international student communities in the country. Federal authorities have revoked visas for some students. Due to the complexity of the visa process, including appeals and other procedures, exact numbers at any given moment are not available.

The spokesperson said the revocations are unrelated to campus protests; they stem from what appear to be, in most cases, various legal infractions. The statement also clarified that none of ASUs more than 17,000 international students have been deported.

Kintscher said the level of transparency coming from the universities is inadequate.

They are actively doing harm to the communities theyre supposed to be serving, he said. Their desire to protect individuals is commendable, and I think no one is questioning that.

But the lack of transparency makes it harder for students to know how to protect themselves, he said.

By denying that information, the university is actually making their students less safe. I also think that they are intentionally, or not, furthering all the goals of the current administration, the current federal administration of sowing fear and confusion among the students.

UA declined through Zak to comment on that claim by Kintscher.

Fall enrollment for international students at U.S. universities is already down by more than 130,000 students, Kuck said.
A surprisingly strong slate of six candidates offered themselves as possible replacements for former Pima County Supervisor Adelita Grijalva.

Karla Morales stood out as a real contender.

Kimberly Baeza came out of nowhere and was intriguing.

In the end, though, there were no surprises. The Pima County Board of Supervisors, without absent member Steve Christy, voted quickly and unanimously Tuesday morning to approve Andres Cano as Grijalvas replacement.

While Supervisor Jen Allen moved to appoint Cano, and Supervisor Matt Heinz seconded the motion, board chair Rex Scott even had a speech prepared extolling Canos qualities. Despite the surprising strength of other candidates, they clearly only had one choice in mind.

When I spoke with Mr. Cano, it was as if I was engaged in dialogue with somebody who is already a supervisor, Scott said. Such was the extent of his extensive knowledge and obvious preparation.

Allen and Heinz also attributed Canos selection to his preparation, with Allen noting, we need someone who can hit the ground running.

Cano was an aide to former Pima County Supervisor Richard Elias before winning three elections to the Arizona House of Representatives and rising to minority leader. Then he resigned to get a masters degree in public administration at Harvard University, returning to Tucson last year and going to work for the city.

Immediately after the boards vote, Pima County Superior Courts presiding judge, Danelle Liwski, swore Cano in. Then, after a long round of photos and congratulations, he stepped up to the dais and assumed his new job.

His first comments, though, were not thanks or offering a vision for the future but to request a moment of silence for an elder in District 5, Pascual Erunez, who died earlier this month and whose funeral was Tuesday morning.

I thought of this moment when I spoke to Albert Elias later on Tuesday. Albert Elias was a Tucson official who retired as assistant city manager and, more importantly in this context, the brother of Richard Elias, who died unexpectedly in 2020. Richard Elias was Andres Canos mentor when Elias served as the District 5 supervisor and Cano was a top aide.

While people like me have sometimes referred to Cano as part of the Grijalva political machine, his direct mentor was Richard Elias, who replaced Raul Grijalva on the Pima County Board of Supervisors in 2002.

When I asked Albert Elias on Tuesday what he saw of his brother Richard in Cano, Elias mentioned a few key qualities: Remembering their roots, the ability to listen and respect for their communitys elders.

The elders have lessons to teach you, Albert Elias said. Richard and Andres always remember where they came from. They embrace that.

Indeed, Cano choked up when he credited Richard Elias impact on him and thanked Elias wife and daughter.

Chairman Elias shaped not just my career but my heart, Cano said. He showed me that service is not about spotlight  its about showing up no matter how heavy the moment. I carry that lesson and his legacy with me into this new chapter.

District 5 raised me, and Im ready to return that gift by doing what Ive always done  show up, listen, and get to work.

To start with, that meant voting with the rest of the Democratic supervisors on a run of unanimous, 4-0 decisions. They appointed Allen as vice chair, appointed Heinz to the board of the Pima Association of Governments and put Cano on the Visit Tucson board.

By the end of the meeting, he was already digging into details and questioning a Health Department proposal for spending $8 million the county received from a legal settlement over opioid abuse.

What I would hope these opioid dollars going to our region really promote are creativity, direct ability to fund key programs, and do it in a way thats responsive to community need. I do believe we have that, but this feels a little bureaucratic to me, Cano said.

It was a small sign of how quickly this young old hand is settling into the seat his mentor occupied.
PHOENIX  The Arizona Senate has given a big victory to the maker of Taser stun guns and police body cameras, but it may not be the quick win Axon Enterprises was banking on.

The measure now sitting on Gov. Katie Hobbs desk would cancel an election forced by residents in Scottsdale who oppose Axons plan to build a new headquarters complex that will include nearly 2,000 apartments and a hotel. The apartments are the big issue.

But it also shows the Legislature is willing to again overrule local control anywhere in the state if they consider the stakes or issue to be important enough.

And this particular effort might run afoul of a state constitutional ban on special legislation that is crafted to affect just one business, leading to a possible legal challenge that could hold up the whole project.

Hobbs signaled after the Senate gave final approval to the measure on a 17-12 vote Tuesday that she backs Axon. The bill was prompted by the home-grown companys threats to leave the state if its new campus is blocked and by its flirtations with officials in Florida and Texas about a new home for the $43 billion firm.

They want to stay here. They are creating jobs, Hobbs said in response to a question from Capitol Media Services about the bill, which had been approved by the state House last week. And not only that: They are now helping to address the affordable housing crisis by using the state land that they bought to build housing to house their workforce.

If Hobbs signs the bill into law, the win may be a hollow one  or at least not the quick victory that Axon and its supporters are seeking.

I dont want to tip our hand too much, but everythings on the table, said former Scottsdale city councilman Bob Littlefield, who opposes Axons development.

Littlefield is the chairman of the opposition group dubbed TAAAZE  short for Taxpayers Against Awful Apartment Zoning Exemptions.

The group blocked the development by collecting enough signatures to refer the city council approval of the plan to the ballot in Scottsdale. That would have delayed any action until voters got the last word, something that could not happen before November 2026.

That delay led Patrick Smith, the company CEO, to lobby lawmakers for the legislation which would effectively nullify the local referendum.

But as it turns out, there may still be a referendum, albeit on a larger scale.

The new bill did not get the required two-thirds vote in the Senate, a margin which would allow it to take effect on the governors signature. Because of that, it would become effective 90 days after the end of the current legislative session.

And any legislation enacted without an emergency clause can be blocked until the next general election  November 2026  if opponents gather at least 128,000 signatures in that 90-day window.

Thats exactly the delay that Smith sought to avoid when he convinced lawmakers to undermine the successful local referendum.

If the new bill is blocked from taking effect and voters get to reject his project in 2026, Smith could follow through with his threat to leave Arizona.

Thats what Axons allies in the Legislature fear.

As one of the largest companies in the state, losing Axon would be a huge loss. And if voters in one city can block a major development, they worry that other companies will reconsider Arizona as a place to expand, dealing a blow to the economy.

This is really a reflection totally about the state of Arizona and whether we welcome business, whether we welcome housing, whether we welcome more schools, more infrastructure, said Sen. Frank Carroll, R-Sun City West. This is talking about the future here, and to fail to pass this bill is going to send that signal, and its going to have a negative impact on the state of Arizona.

Sen. Vince Leach, R-Tucson, made similar arguments, noting that Axon wasnt asking for subsidies or other handouts.

They just want to stay here, and were pushing them to the very, very brink, he said. Lets keep them here. Lets keep their jobs.

And he warned of the economic hit if Axon loses and the damage to Arizonas reputation as a business-friendly state.

If they leave, I guarantee you, it would be very difficult to start building back that reputation, Leach said.

Opponents of Axons plan arent willing to take the loss at the hands of lawmakers sitting still.

TAAAZE is considering multiple ways to stop the legislation Axon got lawmakers to OK, according to Littlefield.

TAAAZE is consulting with attorneys about challenging the constitutionality of the legislation. And the key is that constitutional prohibition against special interest legislation.

The measure is crafted so that it essentially only affects the Axon headquarters campus.

It says a city must allow apartments and hotels on land zoned for light industrial and that is being developed as a headquarters for an international company. And it only applies to cities applies with populations between 200,000 and 500,000.

Although technically four cities meet the criteria, only one has a proposed international headquarters: Scottsdale.

The bill applies only to land owned by a single company, that the headquarters will employ more than 1,000 full-time workers, and that average annual compensation will be more than 125% of the Maricopa County median wage, a figure that translates to more than $106,000.

The thing is so ridiculously outrageous, Littlefield said.

Its a special interest bill which is supposed to be unacceptable, he said.

It takes away peoples right to vote for it, Littlefield continued, referring to the already-called Scottsdale election. Our legal team is pretty confident because that they can get this thing beat in court because theres so much wrong with it.

Sen. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, warned that the quick-fix backers were seeking was a pipe dream.

Now, if this bill passes, there is a group that says they will refer it to the ballot, and they may very well do that, Kavanagh said as he voted against the measure. Scottsdale will certainly be suing over special legislation, which means that this whole issue is going to be tied up for probably at least a year.

And he said passing the bill would cut off any hope of avoiding all that through negotiations between Axon and Scottsdale officials.

I cant in good conscience support this, Sen. Lauren Kuby, D-Tempe, whose district includes part of Scottsdale and is a former Tempe city council member, said during the vote.

Her main concern was the bills cancelation of the Scottsdale election, but she also fretted about its legality.

It seems unconstitutional on its face, Kuby said. There will be much litigation. We know that never goes well for our city and for our taxpayers.

The issue is not the headquarters but instead the new apartments.

Axon company says it wants to put up some of its workers there and the bill requires a portion of them to be used by the company or by teachers, firefighters, police or others who work nearby.

And 5% must be offered at prices that are affordable for low- or middle-income families for a decade.

Littlefield said Scottsdale doesnt need Axons apartments, since about 10,000 approved units are already in the pipeline.

The council approved the plan just two weeks after voters turned the majority out of office in November.

The previous council were filled with people who over-approved apartments  so theres no shortage of housing or apartments in Scottsdale, Littlefield said. If this guy at Axon, really, really, really needed apartments, theres several thousand apartments already approved within a mile of his campus.

For some senators who supported the bill, the issue boiled down to the not-in-my-backyard attitude of many opponents. Sen. Catherine Miranda D-Laveen, said it comes down to NIMBY-ism, not in my neighborhood.

I think one part of our Valley is experiencing that right now, she said.

Even worse, Miranda said, were comments made by one person from Scottsdale during a committee hearing, saying they dont want those kind of people in their community.

What kind of people? Miranda said. Because I think were all in the same situation right now, all levels of income have to worry about whats affordable. Its not just those kind of people, 
Randy Krehbiel Tulsa World Reporter Follow Randy Krehbiel Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

Two long-standing Republican priorities  moving school election dates and making initiative petitions harder to get on the ballot  continued to roll through the GOP-controlled Legislature on Tuesday.

Senate Bill 6 (school elections) and SB 1027 (initiative petitions) encountered some opposition but easily passed the House Government Oversight Committee to set up floor votes in the coming weeks.

Both must return to the Senate because of House amendments.

Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, lent his support to both measures by personally presenting SB 1027 and, as an ex officio committee member, voting for SB 6.

SB 1027 would modify the initiative petition process in two general ways  one, by capping the number of signatures that can be gathered in any one county and, two, by imposing additional conditions on petitions and their circulation.

Hilbert cited those provisions in referring to SB 1027 as an important election integrity bill, but he and Senate author David Bullard, R-Durant, have been quite forthright in saying the legislations purpose is to increase the influence of rural counties in the initiative petition process at the expense of urban areas.

Bullard has said his intent is to prevent decision-making by urban elites, and Hilbert argued that rural counties are ignored by petition drives.

Rep. Andy Fugate, D-Oklahoma City, asked whether the caps might work against those counties should a petition of particular interest to them arise.

Certainly not, because no one is going to Harper County now to collect signatures, Hilbert responded.

This legislation pushes out the signature gathering process so its not confined to the metros, he said at another juncture in the discussion.

HB 1027 originally capped signatures so that four counties with 48% of the states population would have been able to provide only 28% of the signatures.

Last week Hilbert amended that portion of the bill to set caps as a percentage of each countys vote in the last general election.

The result is that a maximum of around 45% of the signatures needed to get an initiative petition could be obtained in the four largest counties.

Currently, all could realistically be gathered in the four largest counties.

Statutory initiative petitions require signatures equivalent to 8% of the vote in the last gubernatorial election, or 15% for constitutional amendments.

Less discussed were the provisions Hilbert described as integrity measures. These include requiring that all signature gatherers be registered Oklahoma voters, a ban on out-of-state financing of petition drives, additional requirements on ballot title language and shifting approval of the title from the elected attorney general to the secretary of state, who is appointed by the governor.

Democrats pointed out that several of these provisions have previously been ruled unconstitutional, but Hilbert said court decisions are regularly overturned.

Some initiative petitions in the 1990s, and especially one that established legislative term limits, helped the Oklahoma Republican Partys rise to power, but since a pair of criminal justice reform measures passed in 2016 the GOP has not been as happy with the process.

Through initiative petitions, voters enacted legalized marijuana and expanded Medicaid, and the prospect of election reform and possibly action to loosen the states abortion laws have been met with repeated attempts to limit or neutralize that avenue.

Hilbert acknowledged that some say HB 1027 will essentially end initiative petitions in Oklahoma, but he said that is not true.

Asked by Fugate whether HB 1027 would make initiative petitions easier to put forward, Hilbert said it would enhance the integrity of the process.

HB 1027 passed 14-4, with two Democrats and two Republicans in opposition.

Moving school elections

SB 6 encountered a little stiffer opposition, passing 11-6.

The bill would move school elections from early in the year to August and November with the stated goal of increasing turnout and saving money.

In presenting the bill, Rep. Chris Banning, R-Bixby, said he thinks holding the school elections separate from other elections produces results counter to community standards.

Under questioning by Fugate, State Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax acknowledged that the change could create some challenges.

Among them is the fact that voting precincts are often split among as many seven school districts. This requires multiple ballots and greater chances of error and perhaps longer lines for November elections.

He also acknowledged some concern about voter fatigue and discarded ballots left in voting booths.

Banning argued that the move is called for given the light turnout generally seen in the current setup.

In the broader discussions of elections, we are often reminded of importance of turnout, said Rep. Jim Olsen, R-Roland. But when it comes to school board elections, it seems theres less interest in that.

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OKLAHOMA CITY  Cyndi Munson, the leader of the minority Democratic Party in the Oklahoma House, announced Tuesday that she is running for governor.

Munson, who was first elected to represent her Oklahoma City district in 2015, grew up in Lawton, the daughter of a single father. In announcing her candidacy on the South Plaza of the state Capitol, she said her dad, a Vietnam War veteran, had to work multiple jobs to make ends meet and moved with his two daughters at least 10 times chasing cheaper rent before she graduated from high school.

Munson took advantage of the Oklahomas Promise program, which offers scholarship opportunities to qualified students, to attend the University of Central Oklahoma, where she earned a degree in political science. She also studied nonprofit and voluntary services at Georgetown University and attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she earned a masters degree in leadership education.

Munson was employed for more than a decade in the nonprofit sector. She served in a variety of roles with Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma and later worked as a coordinator at the OK Messages Project, which benefits children through shared reading with incarcerated parents.

I know Im not what you would call a typical candidate for governor. I work for a living. I pay my student loans. I rent my house, and I know what it is like to live within a budget, she said. Im here today because Oklahoma and its leaders invested in me, and I want Oklahoma to be a state that continues to invest in its people.

The first Asian-American woman elected to the Oklahoma Legislature, Munson was selected to chair the House Democratic Caucus in 2018. She was appointed by former House Speaker Charles McCall, a Republican, to serve on the Oversight Committee for the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency.

Munson described herself as a commonsense Oklahoman who is interested more in solving the problems of everyday people than in hewing to any hard left or right political views.

Theres no doubt that should I win this race Im going to have to continue to work with Republicans. Even now as Democratic leader I have to work across the aisle with the Republican supermajority to get things done, but its also my job to stand up against the more extreme policies. My hope is that if I become governor, well find ways to partner and find some balance and work on solutions that actually help everyday people and not get caught up in that partisan rhetoric, she said.

Munson is the only Democrat to have filed so far for the race for election in 2026. Declared Republican candidates include McCall, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, former state Sen. Mike Mazzei and political outsider Leisa Mitchell Haynes. Gov. Kevin Stitt is term-limited and cannot run for the office again.

Munson said she would prioritize funding public schools in Oklahoma to the regional average and increasing pay for teachers and support staff. She also would work with lawmakers to provide tax relief for working families in the middle class. She said she helped lead bipartisan efforts last year to eliminate the states sales tax on groceries.

She said she also would work to repeal Oklahomas near-total ban on abortion.

I will put a repeal of the abortion ban to a vote of the people, because Oklahomas families should make their own health care decisions with their doctors  not their state government, she said.

She said the current law on the books in Oklahoma puts the lives of women at risk.

In the Legislature, Munson also has defended tribal sovereignty and the rights of minority Oklahomans, including members of the LGBTQ community. She has spoken out against making teaching of the Bible mandatory in public schools.

Im not an extremist. I have a proven track record of working across the aisle to get things done and wont pander to Washington, D.C., politicians who only want to continue deepening our political divide, she said.

Among those who turned out to hear Munsons announcement was Tulsa Democratic Rep. John Waldron. He said she should appeal to Oklahomans who feel theyve been left behind and arent represented by divisive politicians.

I think she speaks for a lot of Oklahomans whose voices arent heard in the supermajority state that were in right now. Her experience growing up under difficult circumstances mirrors a lot of Oklahomans who have struggled, he said. She knows how to work with people from different sides of the aisle, from different walks of life. She has a keen grasp of the issues, and shes smart and courageous.

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Three years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, prompting Oklahoma to enact among the nations strictest bans. The following year, 3,347 Oklahomans got abortions in Kansas.

The procedure didnt end among Oklahomans; it just crossed state lines.

Kansas was the first state to vote on abortion rights after the U.S. Supreme Court in June 2022 took away federal protections to the procedure. Two months after the ruling, 59% of Kansas voters rejected a legislative referendum to ban abortions. The states Supreme Court reaffirmed abortion rights last July. Abortion is legal in Kansas for up to 20 weeks post fertilization.

In November, Missouri became the first in the nation to reverse a near-total abortion ban by a vote of the people, with 52% support. Abortions are legal in that state until viability, or about 24 weeks. The PAC supporting the amendment raised $31 million for the effort.

Oklahoma lawmakers are worried about a repeat of Missouri here, which could explain why they are trying so hard to make it nearly impossible for citizens to get a petition referendum to a statewide vote. Senate Bill 1027 would limit how many signatures could come from each county and would require some potentially unconstitutional new rules around signature gathering.

Some anti-abortion activists dont want to risk any loosening of Oklahomas nearly complete ban. Even though there is an exemption for the life of the mother, physicians and medical institutions arent taking chances of running afoul of the law. Stories have emerged of Oklahoma women being required to get closer to death before an abortion would be performed.

The way to make abortions rare is to increase access to birth control and sex education. Yet every year a handful of lawmakers want to prevent any progress in those areas. Family planning centers cannot depend on federal dollars in the Trump administration.

Simply saying no doesnt get at the reasons women seek abortions.

For years, the Oklahoma State Department of Health surveyed patients receiving abortions to get at those reasons. Between 2002 and 2020, abortions in Oklahoma fell by 49%.

The years of the largest decreases coincided with programs created to give long-term contraception to low-income women and to provide evidence-based sex education to youth.

Of Oklahoma women who received abortions during that time, the highest rates were among those in their 20s with a high school diploma or GED and were unmarried, and the majority had previously given birth.

Now Oklahomans are going to Kansas  and, likely, Missouri.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment released in December its annual vital statistics report tracking information from 2023. Sections about abortion reflect the political reality.

Of the 19,467 induced abortions, patients from out of state represented 15,111 of the total.

Patients from Oklahoma traveling to Kansas for abortions totaled 3,347. Of those, 64 were girls younger than 18. In 2021, the last full year in Oklahoma when abortions were legal, 4,145 such procedures were performed in the state. And 898 abortions were performed in 2022 before the ban was enacted.

The other states with the biggest numbers of patients traveling to Kansas from out of state were Texas (7,707), Missouri (3,110) and Arkansas (746).

Most women realize they are pregnant at about six weeks gestation. In Kansas, about 69% got the procedures at nine weeks or less, and 23% were between nine and 12 weeks. No abortions were performed in the last trimester.

What all this data dont show are the individual stories. Data are broad strokes, while stories are the details and emotions behind such decisions.

The interesting aspect of Oklahomas reports were womens explanations of their choices. They werent required to answer the questions, but many did. What their answers showed was that each situation was different and complex.

Some said they were not ready for parenthood. Others said they were in abusive relationships, had financial problems, faced job interference, had relationship difficulties or had health problems. Some reported having been raped or that a parent or spouse wanted them to have the abortion.

They spoke of unemployment, lack of health insurance, child care unaffordability and mental health breakdowns. Many reported maternal health complications, including possible death, and problems with fetal development.

Those issues didnt go away when Oklahoma banned abortion. For women with means, they went to Kansas.

If Oklahoma leaders truly want to eliminate abortion, they must address the issues leading to it.

The Tulsa World is where your story lives
When Australian director Amanda Brotchie had a zoom meeting with Doctor Who producers at Bad Wolf, she was convinced she had lost the gig.

I can honestly say I underwhelmed them because I think they thought that I would be doing a presentation, and I thought it was an initial meeting, she tells TV Tonight.

So I watched this sort of gradual deflation and at the end, I just thought, I really want this job!'

Having already read a script for Episode 2 Lux by Russell T. Davies she was determined not to let it slip through her fingers, spending the remainder of the night on the case.

I just pulled a whole lot of images together. I developed a look book and took some risks, because I didnt want it to look generic.

I had things like a Daffy Duck image, Cinema Paradiso, (Martin Scorsese film) Hugo and a bunch of eclectic pieces to try and capture the Doctor Who tone. It has a real twinkle in it, it mixes the humour with the action and sci-fi.

I went to bed exhausted. A few hours later I looked up and there were nine downloads from the Dropbox. Theyd reached back immediately!

Brotchies entry into the Whoniverse had come via Executive Producer Phil Collinson, impressed with her work on Sally Wainwright UK drama Gentleman Jack. Lux was the script which spiked her interest.

The story sees the Doctors (Ncuti Gatwa) quest to get Belinda (Varada Sethu) home taking the Tardis to Miami in 1952, where an abandoned cinema is hiding a terrifying secret. Alan Cumming guest stars as the voice of animated character Mr Ring-A-Ding.

I just thought, This is incredible. When do you get to direct something with an animated character that steps out of a screen? which I think I can say, because Ive seen it in the trailer, she teased.

I loved the nostalgia of the era and the imagination that went into it. It was just so much fun. So I really knew it was something I wanted to do.

Prior to her hiring, Brotchie had seen very little of Doctor Who, introduced to it mostly via the episode Blink from an enthusiastic colleague.

Her directing work in Australia included an early gig on Neighbours, This is Littleton, Lowdown (co-created with partner Adam Zwar), Picnic at Hanging Rock, Mr. Black. US interest in an adaptation of Lowdown was ultimately not fulfilled but it did lead to directing on US comedy Girlboss.

We were one of those bright-eyed, bushy-tailed people who went over and then found out it wasnt greenlit. But it was something that we wanted to do anyway, because my management is in the US, so I was sort of keen to go over and have a crack. I got Girlboss, and that was great and then after that, I kept flying home because I was getting work in Australia, which was wonderful.

A script for a further episode of Doctor Who, The Well landed during pre-production of Lux whilst in Cardiff.

They are completely different genres, Brotchie explains.

What I would say about the first one is that its an adventure. Its fun, its got nostalgia for an era. And the second one is a little bit more chillingalmost horror sci fi.

The Well is essentially all in one room, or a couple of rooms, on a planet 500,000 years in the future. So its quite a contrast!

Pre-production spanned 10 weeks in Cardiff, with shooting of two episodes across 6 weeks. During that time Brotchie immersed herself in the Whoniverse, watching every episode from Christopher Ecclestone in 2005 to Ncuti Gatwa. Filming took place in early 2024.

Its a very, very tight schedule, and its so ambitious. Its only the fact that Bad Wolf has this incredible setup with the greatest production designer, Phil Sims, and the costume design its almost like making a feature film every few weeks. Pretty much all-new cast, all-new sets, different genres.

Its astonishing how organised and how efficient they are, but its hard on the on the main cast.

I find Ncuti a different kind of Doctor, because hes very soulful. Hes got the humour, but hes got real humanity and Varada does as well. Theyre both movie stars, they have incredible chemistry. Its really delightful and joyful to work with them, because they just gel so well.

The cold was a challenge  actually the coldest was in a quarry, which is a signature Doctor Who location  one of the amazing Welsh quarries. (Aside from) the elements, all of the direction and the creative stuff, I just really enjoyed.

Cast in The Well is fellow Australian actor Christopher Chung (Slow Horses) who plays Cassio in one hell of a meeting with the Doctor.

He was great in Slow Horses. Russell was also a big fan, and had wanted to work with him, so it was sort of a no-brainer, really, says Brotchie.

We had this connection because we were both Australian, and hes great fun to work with. He brings a really joyful energy to it.

We had some beautiful, really excellent guest cast, and Ncuti and Varada are very welcoming. So its a really nice atmosphere on set.

Brotchie is also directing on Sally Wainwrights next project Riot Women, but is currently enjoying some downtime at home in Australia. The timing means she misses out on being in the UK when Lux and The Well screen.

Its so frustrating. I get the invitation to the premiere. But I have to say, no, but well get some friends around, and watch it. Itll be fun, she maintains.

Ive been overseas for so long, and its just sort of nice to come back home and take some time out, do some writing and were renovating our house. So its nice to have my feet on the ground again back here in Australia.

Doctor Who: Lux screens Saturday April 19 / The Well Saturday April 26 on Disney+.
Asian arts series Culture by Design premieres on iview this Sunday presented by Anthony Burke (Restoration Australia, Grand Designs Australia).

Host Anthony Burke said: Culture by Design is a celebration of culture, community and identity coming together in the contemporary work of an extraordinary group of artisans and designers from across SE Asia and India. From architecture to fashion, its a celebration of creativity and the transformative power of design to inspire positive change, at a moment when we need it most.

ABC International Head Claire M. Gorman said: ABC Australias exciting new release Culture by Design is more than just a television series  it fosters cross-cultural dialogue, spotlighting visionary designers from Southeast Asia and India who are redefining the boundaries of tradition and innovation.

From Yogyakarta, Indonesia, to Mumbai, India, Anthony meets with ceramicists, street artists, fashion designers, architects, furniture makers and weavers who are pushing the boundaries in developing sustainable, innovative, and ethical design, tackling global challenges like climate change, resource scarcity and social inequality.

The full season is available on ABC iview on Sunday 20 April from 2:00pm AEST.
The National Film and Sound Archive has launched a new online collection with rarely seen footage from both classic and obscure Australian TV music shows including Nightmoves, Countdown, The Go Show, The Lorrae Desmond Show, Young Talent Time and 10s very kooky Thank God Its Friday at the Zoo (previously a TVT Friday Flashback!)

This collection explores music TV as a cultural phenomenon, from the 1960s, when Australia was just learning to groove, to the Noughties when the line between backstage and broadcast blurred, said Meagan Loader, the NFSAs Chief Curator. It really celebrates that pre-streaming era when music television was the heartbeat of pop culture.

The collection charts key moments in the rise and fall of music television, including Australias first major late-night music program Nightmoves, which was created by Mushroom Records Michael Gudinski, the fledgling 0-10 networks forerunner to 1970s teen pop programs, Go!!, hosted by Johnny Young, represented by its one surviving complete episode, and the ABCs launch of The Lorrae Desmond Show (196064) which featured a rare female host at its helm.

Early performances from Kylie and Dannii Minogue feature, as does the launch of Songlines from the ABCs Indigenous Programs Unit, which brought First Nations music and culture to national TV screens, an early appearance by John Farnham on Happening 72, and a teen Olivia Newton-John featuring on an episode of Channel 9s Boomeride.

The content collection explores the NFSAs accidental discovery of long-lost Countdown material when it digitised a student documentary and found an episode containing two live performances from 1976  Ted Mulry Gangs Its All Over Now and John Paul Youngs Keep On Smiling. Unseen since its original broadcast, this footage captures Countdown before it morphed into the phenomenon that defined what music tv could be.

Other standout footage unearthed by NFSA curators includes the single surviving preview tape of Channel TENs 1978 time capsule of discos last dance  Thank God Its Friday at the Zoo, a 1964 clip from the Seven Networks Sing Sing Sing, in which Roy Orbison performs Crying following the wrap of his Australian tour, and Skyhooks guitarist Bob Bongo Starkie interviewing Japanese new wave singer Sandii in 1986 in a segment for The Noise  an SBS series known for championing non-mainstream music.

Collection content from music televisions later heyday includes Channel Vs Yumi Stynes on the hunt for Iggy Pop at the 2006 Big Day Out, and an interview with Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 2000s House of Hits, plus clips showcasing the enduring ability of the ABCs Rage  the worlds longest running music TV show  to rule the music airwaves.
Daily news headlines from 9News newsrooms will appear on roadside digital sites following a multi-year partnership with oOh!media.

More than 50 state-based news updates will appear each day across 74 digital billboards in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth  as well as regional Australia including the NSW Northern Rivers.

Nines Director of News & Current Affairs, Fiona Dear, said: We have been actively evolving our news product to ensure we are reaching our audience where they are in their day-to-day lives. Whether that be on their daily commute, at work, or at home, we want our news content to be easy to consume and access. This partnership with oOh! is another piece to our puzzle, ensuring that we are broadening our distribution even further, and giving millions of Australians daily updates to keep them informed.

Cathy OConnor, CEO of oOh!media, said: The partnership with 9News is yet another step forward in our strategy to enhance the Out of Home experience by delivering high-quality, contextually relevant content at scale. This initiative further reinforces oOh!s commitment to making public spaces better by providing timely, attention-grabbing content that extends the value exchange for both audiences and our advertising partners.

Nines Director of Growth & Retention, Helena ODowd, said: As one of Australias leading and most trusted news providers, 9News is excited to extend our reach even further through this partnership. By leveraging oOh!s extensive large format digital network, we can deliver breaking news and local updates to audiences on the move, ensuring more Australians stay informed no matter where they are. This collaboration reinforces our commitment to providing timely, accurate, and engaging news content in new and innovative ways.
"Today, I am pleased to announce the successful completion of our non-core asset divestiture program with the sale of Akyem and Porcupine, generating total after-tax cash proceeds of approximately $850 million before closing adjustments," said Tom Palmer, Newmonts President and Chief Executive Officer. "This is a significant milestone for Newmont, as we have now divested all six of our non-core operations from the program announced in early-2024. With the cash proceeds received this year, we remain committed to continuing to strengthen our balance sheet and return capital to shareholders through ongoing share repurchases."

Story Continues

Newmonts address is 6900 E Layton Avenue, Suite 700, Denver, CO 80237. Discovery is listed on the TSX and its address is 55 University Avenue, Suite 701, Toronto, ON Canada, M5J 2H7.

About Newmont

Newmont is the worlds leading gold company and a producer of copper, zinc, lead, and silver. The Companys world-class portfolio of assets, prospects and talent is anchored in favorable mining jurisdictions in Africa, Australia, Latin America & Caribbean, North America, and Papua New Guinea. Newmont is the only gold producer listed in the S&P 500 Index and is widely recognized for its principled environmental, social, and governance practices. Newmont is an industry leader in value creation, supported by robust safety standards, superior execution, and technical expertise. Founded in 1921, the Company has been publicly traded since 1925.

At Newmont, our purpose is to create value and improve lives through sustainable and responsible mining. To learn more about Newmonts sustainability strategy and initiatives, go to www.newmont.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbor created by such sections and other applicable laws. Where a forward-looking statement expresses or implies an expectation or belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. However, such statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed, projected or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, without limitation, (i) expectations regarding total proceeds estimates, including receipt of any deferred consideration in the future, (ii) future financial conditions and balance sheet strength, (iii) future return of capital to shareholders, including share repurchases, and (iv) other statements regarding future events or results. Estimates or expectations of future events or results are based upon certain assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions include, but are not limited to: (i) certain exchange rate assumptions approximately consistent with current levels; (ii) certain price assumptions for gold, copper, silver, zinc, lead and oil; (iii) with respect to disclosed sales that have not yet completed, all closing conditions for such sales being satisfied; and (iv) conditions necessary for receipt of deferred consideration being met in the future. For additional information regarding the terms and conditions for receipt of deferred consideration payments and total consideration estimates, refer to the press releases available on the Companys website at www.newmont.com (see the September 10, 2024 press release for further details regarding the agreement to divest Telfer and Havieron, the October 8, 2024 press release for further details regarding the agreement to divest Akyem, the November 18, 2024 press release for further details regarding the agreement to divest Musslewhite, the November 25, 2024 press release for further details regarding the agreement to divest Eleonore, the December 6, 2024 press release for further details regarding the agreement to divest CC&V, and the January 27, 2025 press release for further details regarding the agreement to divest Porcupine). No assurances can be provided with respect to the receipt of deferred consideration. For a discussion of risks and other factors that might impact future looking statements , see the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on February 21, 2025, under the heading "Risk Factors" (including without limitation under the subheading the headings "Assets held for sale may not ultimately be divested and we may not receive any or all deferred consideration" and "The Companys asset divestitures place demands on the Companys management and resources, the sale of divested assets may not occur as planned or at all, and the Company may not realize the anticipated benefits of such divestitures"), available on the SEC website or at www.newmont.com. Investors are also cautioned that the extent to which the Company repurchases its shares, and the timing of such repurchases, will depend upon a variety of factors, including trading volume, market conditions, legal requirements, business conditions and other factors. The repurchase program may be discontinued at any time, and the program does not obligate the Company to acquire any specific number of shares of its common stock. The Company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly revisions to any "forward-looking statement," including, without limitation, outlook, to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news release, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. Investors should not assume that any lack of update to a previously issued "forward-looking statement" constitutes a reaffirmation of that statement.

____________________

1 Represents after-tax cash proceeds before closing adjustments.

2 All previously announced operating sites having been divested, with the Coffee development project remaining designated as held for sale. No agreement has been reached with respect to Coffee as of the date of this release.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250416251818/en/

Contacts

Investor Contact  Global

Neil Backhouse

investor.relations@newmont.com

Investor Contact  Asia Pacific

Natalie Worley

apac.investor.relations@newmont.com

Media Contact  Global

Shannon Lijek

globalcommunications@newmont.com
(Reuters) - Italy-based robotic company Comau signed a binding agreement to acquire full control of Automha, an Italian firm operating in the logistic automation sector, from current owner Trasma, the three companies said on Wednesday.

The closing of the Automha deal is expected by the second quarter of 2025. Financial terms were not disclosed for the purchase of the company, which is based in Bergamo in northern Italy.

"Expanding our scope, our know-how, and our technology portfolio through the acquisition of innovative companies like Automha is a key step in Comau's growth strategy, defined during the process that led us to become an independent company," Comau CEO Pietro Gorlier said.

Comau, formerly controlled by carmaker Stellantis, sold a majority stake to private equity firm One Equity Partners last July as part of a strategy to expand beyond the automotive sector.

Stellantis retains a 49.9% stake in the company.

(Reporting by Alberto Chiumento)
Holidaymakers face fines of up to 5,000 if they bring back meat or dairy products as the government seeks to prevent spread of foot and mouth.

This is a view into a display case at a prosciutteria in Venice Italy. The case is full of traditional cured meats as well as a selection of cheeses.

British tourists can no longer bring back cheese and meat back from their holidays in the EU under new rules announced by the UK government.

The warning, issued ahead of travellers returning from trips abroad over the Easter weekend, also features popular items like pork, beef and butter.

Additionally, items like sandwiches, cheese, cured meats, raw meats or milk are also on the hit list - regardless of whether it is packed or packaged or whether it has been bought at duty free.

The government said it has taken the temporary measure to prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease (FMD) following a rising number of cases across Europe.

The Government is introducing new measures to protect farmers from the spread of foot and mouth disease.



From Saturday 12th April, travellers can no longer bring personal meat and dairy products, from EU countries into GB. https://t.co/Xo1q6ZrJvF pic.twitter.com/JlpVWvmUUK  Defra UK (@DefraGovUK) April 11, 2025

 Important changes to personal imports  

You can no longer bring meat or dairy products from EU or EEA countries into Great Britain for personal use.



This includes beef, pork, lamb, mutton, venison and goat meat, and all dairy products like cheese, butter or yoghurt.



If pic.twitter.com/4NDS7BQajS  GOV.UK (@GOVUK) April 16, 2025

While the disease doesn't pose a risk to humans and there are no cases currently in the UK, it is a highly contagious viral disease that affects cattle, sheep, pigs and other cloven-hoofed animals such as wild boar, deer, llamas and alpacas.

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Because of this, the outbreak on the continent presents a significant risk to animals, farms and livestock.

The government said in the most "serious" cases, holidaymakers face fines of up to 5,000 if they are caught with any banned items in England.

Here's the full list of the banned and accepted items, as well as what countries are outside of the restrictions.

What is banned?

The full list of banned products is:

pork

beef

lamb

mutton

goat

venison

other products made from these meats, for example sausages

milk and dairy products like butter, cheese and yoghurt

pet food made with banned meat products

You can bring these items into the country:

bread, but not sandwiches filled with meat or dairy products

cakes without fresh cream

biscuits

chocolate and confectionery, but not those made with a lot of unprocessed dairy ingredients

pasta and noodles, but not if mixed or filled with meat or meat products

packaged soup, stocks and flavourings

processed and packaged plant products, such as packaged salads and frozen plant material

food supplements containing small amounts of an animal product, such as fish oil capsules

What happens if I bring banned food back into the country?

If you declare banned food products to Border Force officers at customs, they'll take them away and destroy them.

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"Those found with these items will need to either surrender them at the border or will have them seized and destroyed," the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs told Yahoo News.

"In serious cases, those found with these items run the risk of incurring fines of up to 5,000 in England. The ban will remain under review depending on the disease picture."

Border Force can take away ("seize") your products if they think:

You've brought something into the country illegally

You've brought in too much of a restricted product

It's been cross-contaminated, for example with blood from meat  if any clothing or a bag the item's in is contaminated, it'll be destroyed

The measures are being put in place to prevent the spread of food and mouth disease in the UK.

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The government has already banned personal imports of cattle, sheep and pig meat as well as dairy products, from Germany, Hungary, Slovakia and Austria.

On Tuesday, Germany was certified as free of foot-and-mouth disease by the World Organization for Animal Health, four months after announcing an outbreak in a herd of water buffalo on the outskirts of Berlin on 10 January.

Hungary reported a first case in over 50 years on a cattle farm near the border with Austria and Slovakia in March.

The last outbreak in the UK was 2007, but the largest was in 2001, when a devastating outbreak led to the culling of more than six million animals and resulted in over 2,000 cases.

An outbreak of the disease would require complete eradication and the country could risk losing its ability to export produce abroad for years.

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The estimated cost of the 2001 outbreak for the UK public and private sector was around 8bn, equivalent to 14.7bn today, according to the National Audit Office.

Earlier this month, the government was warned that a lack of funding, basic biosecurity measures and resources for research centres was putting the UK at risk of disease outbreaks.

Tom Bradshaw, president of the National Farmers' Union, said that "the cost of that is simply unthinkable with the finances of the country as they are today".

The new restrictions apply only to travellers arriving in the UK, and will not be imposed on personal imports arriving from Northern Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey, or the Isle of Man.
Global Airlines, the British start-up airline planning a transatlantic network, has started selling tickets for its first flight.

Seats have gone on sale one month before planned inaugural flight from Glasgow to New York. An Airbus A380 is scheduled to depart from the Scottish city at 11am on 15 May. The worlds biggest passenger plane, fitted with more than 500 seats, is due to arrive at JFK airport seven hours later.

The aircraft will remain on the ground in New York for four days, returning to Scotland on 19 May. The next venture leaves Manchester two days later, on 21 May, for another four-day trip to New York.

The aircraft is a 12-year-old former China Southern jet. Although it is owned by Global Airlines, it will be operated by Hi Fly Malta, a subsidiary of the Portuguese aviation firm Hi Fly. Tickets for what is a charter flight are being sold through a Slough-based travel solutions company, Travelopedia.

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The configuration is the same as the China Southern original: 428 economy seats, 70 business and eight first class.

A Global Traveller (economy class) return ticket is selling for 778. Business class is 3,700, while first costs 7,127. At 9am on Tuesday, the online seat map shows two of the eight first class seats filled.

Unlike the originally envisaged scheduled link between London Gatwick and JFK, the maiden flight is one of a pair of one-off charters rather than regular scheduled flights.

Ahead of the launch, founder and chief executive James Asquith posted on Instagram: There is nothing better than seeing our first aircraft in the sky where it belongs.

Seeing 9H-GLOBL flying reminds me of the monumental efforts of so many people in the last two years that have led us to this moment. I want to say a huge thank you to every single person who has played their part in this journey.

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In May 2024, the Sunday Times Rich List estimated Mr Asquiths wealth at 182m.

The 36-year-old airline founder told The Independent before the first tickets went on sale: Im feeling good. Its been a long road to get here. Its those crazy kind of last couple of days and weeks looking to enter into service and it has certainly not been easy.

We knew it would be massively challenging. But we persevered and here we are.

Many aviation industry insiders have questioned the prospects of a start-up airline profitably filling seats on the worlds biggest passenger plane across the Atlantic  especially with figures showing a sharp downturn in travel to the US from the UK and the rest of Europe since Donald Trump began his second term as president.

Normally nonstop air fares between the UK and US soar towards 1,000 return during the summer peak.

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But The Independent has found Manchester-New York flights on Aer Lingus on sale for just 368 return in July.

At present no other airline flies from Glasgow to New York. But from Edinburgh airport, 42 miles away, three airlines compete between the Scottish capital and Americas biggest city: JetBlue, United and Virgin Atlantic.

On the same dates as Global Airlines, United is selling tickets for 413 return  though this does not include checked baggage. That puts the premium from Scotland to New York for Global Airlines as 88 per cent.
Trump tariffs: China 'not afraid' of trade war with US

Trump has refused to lift the 145% tariffs on Beijing as the White House looks to bring China to the negotiating table [FILE: April 9, 2025] Nathan Howard/REUTERS

China has appointed a new international trade envoy as Beijing pushes back against Trump's 145% tariffs The White House says "the ball is in China's court", as Trump accuses Beijing of "reneging" on a deal to purchase Boeing jets China's Foreign Ministry has insisted that it is not afraid of a fight with Washington Japan's chief trade negotiator was visiting Washington for talks

This blog, tracking the latest global developments regarding the Trump tariffs on Wednesday, April 16, has now been closed. We have moved to covering updates here.

Trump's tariffs 'likely' to constrain growth: US Fed chair

The tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump are likely push up prices and constrain growth, the chairman of the United States' Federal Reserve said on Wednesday.

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"Tariffs are highly likely to generate at least a temporary rise in inflation," Powell told the Economic Club of Chicago, warning that the inflationary effects "could also be more persistent."

Echoing similar remarks earlier this month, he added: "Avoiding that outcome will depend on the size of the effects, on how long it takes for them to pass through fully to prices, and, ultimately, on keeping longer-term inflation expectations well anchored."

Speech by Chair Powell on the economic outlook @EconClubChi: https://t.co/KYJR37GEoI



Watch live: https://t.co/tE79G5hKHp



Learn more about Chair Powell: https://t.co/3kYVCuudso  Federal Reserve (@federalreserve) April 16, 2025

In the US, the Fed has a dual mandate from Congress to ensure both stable prices and maximum sustainable employment over time, unlike some other central banks.

They attempt to balance those two objectives by lowering or raising interest rates, which act as either a throttle or a brake for demand in the US economy.

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Powell went on to say that while the Fed's employment and inflation goals were mostly balanced, policymakers could find themselves in the "challenging scenario in which our dual-mandate goals are in tension."

Powell said that the Fed would wait for more data on the economy's direction before changing interest rates.

"For the time being, we are well positioned to wait for greater clarity before considering any adjustments to our policy stance," Powell said in prepared remarks.

How are things looking for the euro?

Investors are shifting away from the US dollar in response to Trump's aggressive tariff policies and new confidence in the eurozone.

The euro has surged over 10% against the US dollar since January, reaching 1.1369 dollars per euro on Monday.

Here, we take a look at whether this could be the euro's moment to shine.

WTO cuts its trade growth forecast amid Trump trade war

The World Trade Organization cut its prediction for global merchandise trade by 0.2% this year as US President Donald Trump continues his tariff policy towards China and the world.

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WTO Director Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala told journalists in Geneva that he was "very concerned" by the "contraction in global merchandise trade growth."

BREAKING: Under current tariffs, goods trade is forecast to fall 0.2% in 2025, 2.9 pp less than baseline. Downside risk of reciprocal tariffs & broader uncertainty could lead to sharper decline of 1.5%. Services trade also affected. #GlobalTradeOutlook: https://t.co/gw6CWYFYM8 pic.twitter.com/ofqKpQOp2P  WTO (@wto) April 16, 2025

After a 90 day pause, if Trump decides to follow through elevated "reciprocal" trade policies, merchandise trade worldwide would decline by 1.5%.

Okonjo-Iweala said "enduring uncertainty threatens to act as a brake on global growth, with severe negative consequences for the world, the most vulnerable economies in particular."

Trade in North America will be especially hard hit amid the tariffs, seeing a "12.6% decline in exports and 9.6% drop in imports in 2025."

How might Germany respond to Trump's tariffs?

After Donald Trump unveiled his controversial list of countries targeted by steep tariffs, most suspended for the time being, Germany has been left scrambling to find its way.

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The tariff shock has increased pressure on the next federal government to defend the competitiveness of the German economy.

DW takes a look at what might be the best way to go about his.

What has happened so far today?

As we continue our coverage of the global repercussions of US President Donald Trump's tariffs, here's a look at our coverage so far today.

Japan's Economic Revitalization Minister and chief trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa is expected to meet Trump administration Treasury Secretary and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer later today. Japan is a key US ally, with Trump last week pausing a 24% tariff on Japanese goods and instead slapping a 10% levy on imports from the wealthy Asian country.

Trump is also expected to be present at the trade talks with Japan at the White House.

Also on Wednesday, China said it does not fear a trade war with the US. The Trump admin imposed a 145% tariff on all Chinese goods, whereas China has retaliated with a 125% tariff on all American goods. China appointed a new top international trade negotiator amid the tariff battle.

Hong Kong is also facing a 145% tariff on its goods. Hong Kong accused the US of bullying with the tariffs, and said it would "suspend the acceptance of postal items containing goods destined to the US."

The White House said "the ball is in China's court" when it comes to making a trade deal.

Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, meanwhile, said there is "little comfort" in the US delaying elevated tariff rates on many countries in the world. The US for now has 10% tariffs on goods from most nations, along with the high aforementioned tariffs on Chinese goods and 25% tariffs on foreign cars.

Wong said the tariff changes have created "great uncertainty for businesses everywhere," while adding that "No company can comfortably plan long-term investments while knowing that the tariff rates could be changed at a moment's notice."

Trump to attend talks with Japan trade envoy

US President Donald Trump said he will take part in a meeting on Wednesday with a senior trade envoy from Japan for tariff negotiations.

Japanese Economic Revitalization Minister Ryosei Akazawa is making a three-day visit to Washington this week.

Akazawa is also due to meet the US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer at the White House on Wednesday.

"Japan is coming in today to negotiate Tariffs, the cost of military support, and 'TRADE FAIRNESS.' I will attend the meeting, along with treayury and commerce secretaries," Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

"Hopefully something can be worked out which is good (GREAT!) for Japan and the USA!" the US president added.

In 2023, Japan was the largest foreign investor in the US. Since 1990, direct investment in the US economy from Japan has totaled $783.3 billion (689 billion)  more than Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom.

Those investments, however, did not stop Trump from targeting Japanese imports with his "reciprocal" tariffs.

Although a 24% levy on Japanese imports was included in Trump's 90-day tariff pause, Japan is still facing a blanket 10% tariff on all goods. Tokyo is also subject to the US president's 25% tariff on specifically for car, steel and aluminum imports.

'Little comfort' in US tariff reprieve: Singapore PM

Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Wednesday that there is "little comfort" in the US postponing sweeping tariffs on most of the world.

After initially imposing so-called "reciprocal" tariffs on most of the US' trading partners, US President Donald Trump abruptly reversed course last week, announcing a 90-day pause.

However, "baseline" tariffs of 10% on most imports, as well as 25% tariffs on car, steel and aluminum imports, have remained in place.

In a speech at an event organised by the city-state's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wong said "geopolitical competition," which had largely been dormant since the end of the Cold War, had "returned with a vengeance" and that "major powers no longer feel economically secure" amid the escalating trade war between the US and China.

"Where economic interdependence was once seen as a virtue, it is now seen as a vulnerability," Wong said.

The prime minister said that while these trends are not new, "they have reached a new intensity with the latest US tariff moves."

"The US has since postponed most of its reciprocal tariffs, but there is little comfort in this, because the current baseline tariff rates are still much higher than what they used to be, and the changes have already caused great uncertainty for businesses everywhere," Wong said.

"No company can comfortably plan long-term investments while knowing that the tariff rates could be changed at a moments notice," he added.

China 'not afraid' of trade war with US

China on Wednesday said it was ready to negotiate, but would not back down in a trade war with the US.

The comments from the Chinese Foreign Ministry come a day after Donald Trump said "the ball is in China's court" as Washington looks to pressure Beijing into negotiating a trade deal.

"If the US really wants to resolve the issue through dialogue and negotiation, it should stop exerting extreme pressure, stop threatening and blackmailing, and talk to China on the basis of equality, respect and mutual benefit," Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said.

"This tariff war was initiated by the US side... China does not want a fight, but it is not afraid of one either," Lin added during a daily press conference.

The Trump administration has imposed a 145% tariff on all goods from China, although small electronics have since been exempted. China has responded with a 125% tariffs on all US goods.

Hong Kong suspends postal service to US over Trump's 'bullying'

Hong Kong's postal service said Wednesday that it has suspended goods shipments by sea to the US because of Washington's "bullying" tactics.

Hongkong Post also said it would suspend its air mail service for goods from April 27.

"The US is unreasonable, bullying and imposing tariffs abusively. Hongkong Post will definitely not collect any so-called tariffs on behalf of the US and will suspend the acceptance of postal items containing goods destined to the US," the government department said in a statement.

Packages containing only documents will not be affected.

Hong Kong, as a Special Administrative Region of China, has been slapped with the same 145% tariffs facing Beijing.

Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order ending a duty-free arrangement for goods valued at $800 (702.7) or less from May 2 onwards, a move the White House said would clamp down on illegal shipments.

The new rules will see these lower value goods face a 30% tax or a flat fee of $25, which is due to double from June 1.

Asia markets fall again after Nvidia AI chip exports restricted

Stock markets in Asia were down again Wednesday after a relatively calm couple of days following last week's global turmoil caused by Trump's tariffs.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 2.5%, while the Shanghai Composite index gave up 0.9%. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 index shed 0.9%, and South Korea's Kospi fell 0.7%.

The slump comes after Washington last night announced new licensing rules on shipments of AI chips made by US giant Nvidia.

Nvidia's shares fell by 6.3% in the wake of stricter controls on its chip exports to China. The company said the measures would cost $5.5 billion (4.84 billion).

White House says 'the ball is in China's court'

The White House has said the "ball is in China's court" as it continues to pressure Beijing into renegotiating the trade relationship between the world's two largest economies, who are locked in a tit-for-tat trade war.

China is facing 145% tariffs on all goods entering the US. Beijing has retaliated with a 125% levy on US goods.

China is the only country not to be subject to a 90-day pause on the sweeping, "reciprocal" tariffs Trump had announced on April 2, although the US president has exempted electronics from the measures.

At a press briefing late on Tuesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt read out a statement from President Donald Trump that said "the ball is in China's court. China needs to make a deal with us. We don't have to make a deal with them."

"There is no difference between China and any other country except they are much larger," the US president added, according to Leavitt.

The remarks come after Trump said Beijing had "reneged" on the delivery and purchase of jets from US aviation company Boeing, following a report by Bloomberg on Tuesday.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said "(China) just reneged on the big Boeing deal, saying that they will 'not take possession' of fully committed to aircraft," without providing further details.

China appoints new trade envoy in commerce ministry shake up

China has named Li Chenggang to replace Wang Shouwen as its top international trade negotiator, amid an escalating trade war between the world's two largest economies over Donald Trump's tariffs.

Wang, who has also served as the vice minister of commerce, was involved in negotiations for a trade deal between China and the US in 2020.

Li Chineggang, whose most recent role was as China's envoy to the World Trade Organization, had previously served as an assistant commerce minister during Trump's first term in the White House.

The surprise announcement comes as Beijing pushes back against Trump's 145% tariffs on Chinese goods.

Trump's "reciprocal" tariffs, announced on April 2, caused turmoil in global markets before the White House abruptly backed down last week, announcing a 90-day pause for all countries  except China.

Beijing has responded to Trump's tariffs with levies of 125% on US goods.

President Xi Jinping and Commerce Minister Wang Wentao are currently on a tour of Southeast Asia, where many countries are facing the threat of Trump's tariffs.

"We can only speculate as to why this happened at this precise moment; but it might be that in the view of China's top leadership, given how tensions have continued escalating, they need someone else to break the impasse in with both countries find themselves and finally start negotiating," Alfredo Montufar-Helu, a senior advisor to the Conference Board's China Center, told Reuters.

Japan trade chief heads to Washington for tariff talks

Japan's Economic Revitalization Minister and chief trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa is visiting Washington this week for tariff talks with senior White House officials.

Akazawa is due to meet with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer later on Wednesday.

Ahead of the trip, Akazawa told reporters that he was confident that the two countries  who have been close allies since World War II  would be "able to build a relationship of trust and conduct good negotiations that will lead to a win-win relationship."

While Trump last week paused a 24% tariff on Japanese goods, Japan, like most countries, is still facing a "universal" 10% levy on exports to the US as well as a 25% duty on cars, steel and aluminum imports.

While Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has described the tariffs situation as "a national crisis," he told parliament on Monday that his government would not be retaliating against Washington, saying the measures would only further harm Japan's economy and national interests.

Welcome to our coverage

China has appointed Li Chenggang to replace Wang Shouwen as its international trade envoy, as Beijing continues to weigh up its response to the massive tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump.

Japan's Economic Revitalization Minister Ryosei Akazawa will be in Washington this week for discussions with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

Tokyo is hoping to "build a relationship of trust" and convince Washington to drop 24% duties.

Meanwhile, the White House has said "the ball is in China's court" and that it "needs to make a deal with us," after Trump accused Beijing of reneging on a deal to buy Boeing jets and parts.
PM Modi, T&T PM agree to strengthen India-CARICOM ties; several agreements inked 05 Jul 2025 | 12:40 AM Port of Spain/New Delhi, July 4 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi today expressed appreciation for Trinidad and Tobagos strong support and solidarity extended to the people of India in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack. see more..

PM Modi thanks T&T for standing with India in the fight against terrorism 04 Jul 2025 | 11:35 PM Port of Spain/New Delhi, July 4 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi today termed terrorism as the enemy of humanity, and thanked the people and government of Trinidad and Tobago for standing with India in the fight against terrorism. see more..

PM Modi becomes first foreign leader to be conferred T&T's top national award 04 Jul 2025 | 10:34 PM Port of Spain/New Delhi, July 4 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi was today conferred Trinidad and Tobagos highest national award  The Order of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago, for his statesmanship, for championing the priorities of the Global South and for his exceptional contribution to strengthening the relationship between India and Trinidad & Tobago. see more..

PM Modi conferred T&T's top national honour; says it's a symbol of the enduring bond between the two nations 04 Jul 2025 | 9:40 PM Port of Spain/New Delhi, July 4 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi was today conferred Trinidad and Tobagos highest national honour -- the Order of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago. He said this honour is a symbol of the enduring and deep friendship between the two nations. see more..
A draft revision of the Law on Chemicals 2007 is currently open for public feedback. The amendment aims to align Viet Nams legal framework with global trends in green, circular and sustainable economic development while enhancing emission reduction efforts.

Chairman of the Vietnam Fertiliser Association and former Director of the Department of Chemicals under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Phung Ha, discusses key updates in the proposed amendment with a Vietnam News Agency reporter.

The Law on Chemicals 2007 has been in effect for years. Why is a revision necessary now?

Although the Law on Chemicals 2007 has worked well after 17 years, it shows gaps, especially in keeping up with green, circular and sustainable development trends, as well as in achieving Viet Nams 2050 Net Zero goal.

For example, the law lacks clear rules on its scope and coverage for some chemical-related activities. It also does not provide guidelines for green chemistry and sustainable industry practices.

The law also fails to emphasise the critical role of the chemical industry, which supports many economic sectors, especially industrial production. Due to environmental and health concerns, some localities limit chemical investments, making new projects harder to develop.

Additionally, the law mainly regulates the production, trade and import of chemicals but does not fully cover their entire life cycle, including disposal. It also lacks rules for managing hazardous dual-use chemicals, new drug precursors and consumer products like paints, inks, adhesives, detergents, cosmetics and toys that contain hazardous substances.

Updating the 2007 Chemical Law is crucial to fixing these issues and creating a legal framework that supports the industry's sustainable growth.

What are the key updates in the 2025 revised law?

The draft revision of the Law on Chemicals addresses the shortcomings of the 2007 version. Notably, it combines both chemical industry development and chemical safety management  something rarely seen in chemical laws of developed countries.

Additionally, the new draft aligns with global trends in green and circular economies, greenhouse gas reduction, and Viet Nams net zero commitment. It introduces regulations on green chemistry in technology design, selection and operations.

The draft also includes provisions for managing hazardous chemicals in products, which are in line with international chemical management practices.

Moreover, it expands regulations beyond production, transportation, storage and disposal to include chemical destruction, ensuring a more comprehensive legal framework.

Besides the key updates in the 2025 draft revision, do you have any suggestions for further improvements?

First, the draft law offers incentives to develop the chemical industry into a modern, key sector. However, it should clarify its alignment with the Investment Law and other related laws to ensure effective implementation.

Additionally, Article 7 needs adjustments in terminology. Instead of prioritising high-nutrient fertilisers, the focus should be on Enhanced Efficiency Fertilisers (EEF). High-nutrient fertilisers can be wasteful and contribute to environmental pollution if plants cannot fully absorb them. In contrast, EEF products are more efficient for crops, reduce losses and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

For the regulations on chemicals requiring special control, the responsibility for defining these substances should be assigned to the Government rather than being directly legislated in the law. This would allow for more flexibility in adapting to emerging risks.

For example, defining pharmaceutical chemicals in the law is essential to distinguish which substances qualify for incentives. Globally, pharmaceutical chemicals fall between chemistry and pharmaceuticals, combining elements of organic chemistry, biochemistry and biotechnology.

Along with these revisions, clear definitions are important in the law, especially for terms like new chemicals, pharmaceutical chemicals, hazardous chemicals and petrochemical products.

For example, defining pharmaceutical chemicals helps clarify which substances get incentives. Globally, these chemicals blend chemistry and pharmaceuticals, including organic chemistry, biochemistry and biotechnology.

Another point of clarification is whether food additives, food processing aids, flavouring agents, vitamin and mineral processing aids are classified as chemicals under the law. The draft should include clear exemptions to prevent regulatory overlap with other laws.

Regarding green chemistry principles, the current draft states that: "Green chemistry principles apply to the design, selection of technology, equipment, production processes, use, and disposal of chemicals to minimise or eliminate hazardous substances."

However, this is too broad and difficult to enforce. The law should adopt a more structured approach, such as Paul Anastas and John Warners 12 Principles of Green Chemistry, which include prevention, cost efficiency, safer synthesis methods, safer chemicals, safer solvents and additives, energy-efficient design, use of renewable materials, fewer by-products, catalysts, biodegradable products, real-time analysis to prevent pollution and safer chemistry to reduce risks.

Additionally, for chemical transportation, the drafting committee should ensure that Article 14 of the revised Chemical Law aligns with Decree No. 161/2024/N-CP, issued on December 18, 2024. This decree outlines the list of hazardous goods, transportation regulations and procedures for licensing and certification of drivers and escorts handling dangerous goods on roads.  VNS
HA NOI  As climate change continues to pose a global challenge and countries move to fulfil their net-zero commitments, Viet Nam is taking decisive steps to diversify its clean energy sources, strengthen energy security, and promote sustainable growth.

These efforts not only encompass the energy transition and the development of renewables and liquified natural gas (LNG) power but also extend to economic instruments such as carbon markets and attracting major corporate investments.

At COP26, Viet Nam pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050  a commitment underscoring the countrys determination to contribute to the global climate agenda.

Director General of the Department of Climate Change Tang The Cuong said this goal would be implemented primarily through a strong domestic energy transition and greenhouse gas reduction, supported by international cooperation and funding.

One of the key mechanisms supporting this transition is the development of a carbon market. The 2020 Law on Environmental Protection has laid a legal groundwork for carbon trading, requiring greenhouse gas-emitting entities to measure and trade carbon credits.

Subsequently, Decree No. 06/2022/N-CP provides further guidance on the carbn markets organisation and operation. In January, the Prime Minister approved a scheme to establish and develop a domestic carbon market, with pilot operations beginning this year and full implementation expected after 2028.

While Viet Nams compliance carbon market is still under construction, domestic businesses have participated in voluntary carbon markets since the mid-2000s through mechanisms such as the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) from 2006, the Gold Standard and Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) from 2008, and the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) with Japan since 2013, Cuong added.

LNG: a crucial pillar

Alongside renewables, Viet Nam is accelerating the development of LNG power as a key transitional energy source on the pathway to lower emissions.

Deputy General Director of PV GAS Nguyen Phuc Tue said that, under the Power Development Plan VIII, Viet Nam aims to build 23 gas power projects by 2030, including 13 using imported LNG, with a total capacity of about 22,400MW and peak demand reaching 15 million tonnes per year.

However, Tue acknowledged delays in project implementation, noting that actual LNG demand by 2030 may only reach 34 million tonnes per year.

In this context, the Governments decision to cut LNG import tariffs from 5 per cent to 2 per cent under Decree No. 73/2025/N-CP is seen as a positive move, enabling access to LNG sources from non-FTA countries.

This reduction will allow PV GAS to diversify its LNG supply portfolio, optimising costs for LNG power plants and industrial consumers  ultimately benefitting end-users, Tue emphasised.

PV GAS is concurrently developing key infrastructure including the Thi Vai LNG terminal, a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU), and LNG hubs across the central and northern regions.

It has also signed framework agreements with major global LNG suppliers such as Shell, Total, Petronas, Sumitomo, PetroChina and US partners.

In 2024, PV GAS supplied regasified LNG to EVN at prices 15 per cent lower than global market averages.

Investment in renewables and LNG

Viet Nam is also ramping up efforts to attract large-scale investment in clean energy.

Vingroup, one of the countrys leading private conglomerates, recently proposed investing US$30 billion between 2025 and 2030 to develop 25,500MW of renewable energy and 5,000MW of LNG power. An additional 27,000MW is expected in the 20312035 phase.

Tran Anh Thai, deputy general director of ATS JSC, highlighted the need for clear, long-term and stable policy frameworks, noting that energy sector investments are costly, time-consuming, and slow to recoup capital. He also stressed the importance of a specialised workforce, sufficient financing, and appropriate technology selection.

Thai pointed to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as a benchmark, where a 2GW solar project recently began operations with a record-low tariff of just $0.0132 per kWh.

This issue becomes more urgent in light of the draft National Power Development Strategy to 2030.

Under the base scenario, Viet Nam will need to invest approximately $136.3 billion from 20262030  equivalent to $27.3 billion per year. In higher growth scenarios, annual investment requirements could rise to $36.5 billion or even $40.7 billion.

To meet its ambitious energy development goals while supporting economic growth, Viet Nam has little choice but to diversify its clean energy sources  from solar and wind to LNG and biomass. Achieving this will require a suite of coordinated policies, from financial incentives and regulatory stability to infrastructure development and carbon market mechanisms.

Tue concluded: Finalising a coherent mechanism for LNG offtake to serve power generation is critical. It will help unlock LNG power projects, add valuable green electricity to the grid, ensure national energy security, support the energy transition, and fulfil Viet Nams net-zero commitment by 2050.  VNS
HA NOI  Corruption, poverty and employment issues have emerged as the top concerns among Vietnamese citizens in 2024 regarding national and local governance, public administration and service delivery, with corruption identified as the most pressing issue requiring urgent government attention.

This was highlighted at the launch event of the 2024 Viet Nam Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI 2024), held on Tuesday in Ha Noi.

The event was jointly organised by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia, the Embassy of Ireland, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Viet Nam.

The 2024 PAPI Report  now in its 16th edition  reflects the perspectives of 18,894 randomly selected respondents nationwide on various aspects of governance, public administration, and public service delivery.

According to the report, 22.58 per cent of respondents cited corruption as the most critical issue that the State should prioritise, an increase of 17 per cent from 2023. This notable rise may be attributed to a series of high-profile corruption trials this year, which have drawn strong public attention to the Governments intensified anti-corruption campaign.

Interestingly, while public concern about corruption has surged, citizens also reported fewer instances of having to pay informal fees or bribes for public services compared to the previous year. This suggests a positive shift in local-level service delivery, even as broader concerns persist.

The report recommends that government authorities at all levels enhance transparency in public service provision, strengthen law enforcement and ensure protection for whistleblowers, particularly following the recent restructuring of administrative units.

The report highlights notable improvements in household economic conditions compared to 2023. The proportion of survey respondents rating their households economic situation as 'poor' or 'very poor' dropped to 10.2 per cent in 2024, the lowest level since 2019.

Despite this progress, poverty remains the second most pressing concern, cited by 14.2 per cent of respondents, followed by employment issues, which 12.64 per cent of respondents believe should be prioritised by the Government.

Viet Nam recorded a GDP growth rate of 7.09 per cent in 2024, yet economic insecurity at the household level, particularly among vulnerable groups, remains a significant issue. The report underscores a strong correlation between perceptions of household economic well-being and access to social insurance.

Social insurance coverage in Viet Nam is expanding, but it still remains limited, said Deirdre Ni Fhalluin, Irish Ambassador to Viet Nam.

The 2024 PAPI survey shows that only 29 per cent of respondents are covered by social insurance, with much lower rates among agricultural workers, informal sector employees and ethnic minorities. Expanding coverage under the 2024 Social Insurance Law will help address citizens' concerns about poverty and economic instability.

The report also emphasises the impact of climate-related disasters on peoples economic outlook. Nearly 40 per cent of respondents reported that their households or communities were directly affected by extreme weather events over the past year, reflecting growing public vulnerability as climate change intensifies.

To address this, the report calls for strengthening disaster preparedness, investing in resilient infrastructure and tailoring climate response strategies to the specific needs of local communities, especially in vulnerable and hard-to-reach areas, to enhance long-term resilience.

The 2024 PAPI also shows encouraging progress made by local governments in several areas of governance and public service delivery.

Despite important progress, there remains significant room for further improvement in overall public governance in Viet Nam.

The findings reveal gaps in citizen satisfaction across different demographic groups. Women, ethnic minorities, temporary residents and people living in rural or remote areas, reported lower levels of satisfaction with local governance and public services compared to other groups.

While digital governance in Viet Nam has made significant progress nationwide, disparities remain, particularly in access to the internet and digital public services among different gender groups, between Kinh and ethnic minority communities and across urban and rural areas.

Findings from the 2024 PAPI survey highlight both the urgent need and tremendous opportunity to promote gender equality, social inclusion and equitable access to public services through ongoing governance reforms in 2025, said Ramla Khalidi, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Viet Nam.

These insights pave the way for an evidence-based, people-centred approach to governance reform that ensures current and future initiatives bring tangible benefits to all Vietnamese citizens.

According to experts, as Viet Nam embarks on a historic reform of its public administration system, including the rollout of a two-tier Government model and the restructuring of provincial-level administrative units, this moment presents a crucial opportunity to enhance inclusive governance and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of policy implementation in response to citizen feedback captured through the PAPI Index. VNS
Vu Hoa

HAI PHONG  As Viet Nam accelerates its journey toward becoming a regional industrial powerhouse, the challenge is no longer just about attracting investment - its about building smarter, more sustainable, and people-centric ecosystems, where both industry and communities can thrive.

This shift reflects a global trend. Multinational companies are no longer content with merely low-cost production bases. They seek stable, efficient and future-ready environments where technology, sustainability and livability converge. For Viet Nam, which currently hosts more than 400 industrial parks, the competition is fierce - not only globally, but also domestically.

Amid this landscape, DEEP C Industrial Zones has emerged as one of the pioneers pushing the boundaries of what industrial development can - and should - look like.

Smart in the development of an industrial park is not just about technology. Its about people, said Koen Soenens, General Sales and Marketing Director of DEEP C.

We talk a lot about land and power and water and concrete, but behind all these investments are people. And that is the real key to sustainable development.

For DEEP C, the cornerstone of its success starts with something simple - location.

When I joined the company almost six years ago, the first thing we told investors was that there are three things that matter: location, location and location, Soenens said.

This isnt just a cliche. DEEP Cs industrial parks are located in strategic logistics hubs in Hai Phong City and Quang Ninh Province, two northern localities positioned at the crossroads of major sea, land and rail routes. Tenants benefit from proximity to Lach Huyen deep sea port, roads that connect to Ha Noi and the Chinese border, and a growing inland waterway and railway network.

Location makes or breaks the success of any investment, he added.

And here, our parks are embedded in what is rapidly becoming a state-of-the-art logistics network.

But DEEP Cs ambition goes far beyond capitalising on favourable geography.

Before any investor breaks ground, DEEP C has already laid the foundation - literally and figuratively. The company invests heavily in infrastructure - roads, energy grids and water supply systems - and increasingly, in smart technologies to manage them.

We invest massively upfront, he said.

You cant sell a factory site without first preparing the land. In Viet Nam, you dont own the land - you only get the rights to use it. So legal clarity, environmental permits, compensation - all of that must be resolved first. Only then can you talk to investors.

From there, the journey moves into smart zone management, powered by technology. In partnership with companies, DEEP C is incorporating digital power monitoring systems, predictive maintenance and smart metering - all of which help tenants reduce waste, increase uptime, and operate more efficiently.

Our tenants dont just want land anymore, said Bruno Jaspaert, CEO of DEEP C.

They want a reliable, efficient environment where their operations can thrive sustainably. Thats the future.

What sets DEEP C apart is its evolving vision of what a 'smart industrial zone' actually means.

A lot of people, when they hear the word smart, they immediately think of high-tech sensors or AI, he said.

But smart also means knowing what investors truly need - and helping them with things like talent recruitment, workforce training and integration into the local ecosystem.

Thats why DEEP C works closely with vocational schools, colleges and government bodies to help its tenants find not just the right quantity of workers - but employees of the right calibre.

Nguyen Thi Thu Hang, Deputy Director of the Hai Phong Department of Industry and Trade, said that this approach aligns with the citys vision of inclusive growth:

Industrial zones must not exist in isolation. They need to be part of a broader urban strategy that brings opportunities to local communities. DEEP Cs efforts in workforce development, education and CSR are examples of how the private sector can play a vital role.

Its also why DEEP C has embraced the concept of the eco-industrial park, a model officially recognised by the Vietnamese Government through Decree 35 in 2022, with support from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

The word eco can be misleading. Its not only about being green and clean. Its about creating an ecosystem where industries can share resources, reuse waste and power themselves more efficiently. Thats the real meaning of eco.

According to Nguyen uc Hien, Deputy Director of the Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM), eco-industrial parks are no longer a niche idea but a national strategy.

Viet Nams future competitiveness will depend not only on cost, but on how we use energy, how we manage waste, and how we build partnerships across industries. DEEP C is a pioneer that others can learn from, he said.

One of Deep Cs most ambitious sustainability projects is unfolding in Quang Ninh, where the company is building a unique inland port system within its industrial park - a move almost unheard of in Viet Nam.

In order to do this, DEEP C will dredge several kilometres of river - a massive infrastructure undertaking typically reserved for State authorities.

When we first proposed it, officials in Ha Noi literally asked, Why would a private company spend its money dredging one of our rivers?' said Soenens.

The result will become a direct inland waterway connection to Lach Huyen deep sea port, reducing logistics costs, cutting emissions and reinforcing the industrial parks position as a smart logistics hub - both for Viet Nam and the region.

Green hubs

The transformation from traditional industrial zones to smart eco-industrial parks is also about energy transition.

DEEP C has committed to generating 50 per cent of its power from renewables by 2030, including investments in on-site wind and solar, biogas and battery storage systems.

We help our clients reduce power and water consumption. Even a simple thing like installing sensors to detect water leaks can lead to huge savings - both financially and environmentally, said Soenens.

These efforts are already yielding results. DEEP Cs tenants include a growing number of renewable energy firms, EV suppliers and high-tech manufacturers - all seeking a greener, more efficient operating environment.

The Vietnamese Government's support for DEEP C's initiatives is instrumental in the company's success.

Hai Phong authorities have recognised DEEP C's contributions to the city's development and have encouraged the expansion of its industrial zones. Secretary of the Hai Phong Party Committee, Le Tien Chau, commended DEEP C for attracting quality investors and contributing positively to the city's growth. This collaboration between the private sector and government underscores the importance of public-private partnerships in achieving sustainable industrial development.

DEEP C is preparing for its most ambitious project yet: a new expansion in Viet Nam.

This new area will be a blank canvas - allowing planners, investors, and policymakers to apply everything learned so far: smart infrastructure, sustainable energy, efficient zoning and inclusive development.

Were starting from a white sheet of paper. And we have the chance to design what could be the most future-proof industrial zone in Viet Nam, said Soenens.

As industrial zones continue to shape Viet Nams economic trajectory, DEEP C is also advocating for a more responsible approach to development - one that shares benefits with the local community.

We understand that as developing industrial park utilises resources and occupies a significant amount of land. We actively strive to give back to the community and environment we operate within, first and foremost by pioneering the concept of a smart eco-industrial park. In addition, we are contributing through DEEP C Farm project and other initiatives focused on the well-being of our children. We want Hai Phong and Quang Ninh to remain livable, vibrant, and green.

In an era where investors are not just looking for cheap land, but for long-term partners, DEEP C is proving that sustainability, technology and community are not trade-offs - they are essential ingredients for success. VNS
HA NOI  The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has recently signed protocols for the export of chilli, passion fruit, birds nests and rice bran to China.

These documents were signed during the official visit of the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and President of China Xi Jinping to Viet Nam from April 14 to 15.

The signed protocols are the Protocol on plant quarantine for chilli exported from Viet Nam to China; the Protocol on plant quarantine for passion fruit; the Protocol on safety and animal-plant quarantine for rice bran and defatted rice bran used as animal feed ingredients; and the Protocol on quarantine, inspection and veterinary hygiene requirements for raw and cleaned birds nest products.

China is Viet Nams largest export market. Conversely, Viet Nam is Chinas largest trading partner within ASEAN. In the first quarter of 2025, bilateral trade between Viet Nam and China reached US$51.2 billion, up 17.5 per cent year-on-year, with expectations for continued growth throughout the year.

To date, the two countries have signed 24 memoranda of understanding and protocols on the import-export of agricultural, forestry and fishery products.

In 2024 alone, four protocols were signed, covering the export of frozen durian, crocodiles, monkeys and fresh coconuts.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, there is still significant room for growth in bilateral trade, thanks to numerous bilateral cooperation agreements and multilateral trade pacts, including the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

Last year, bilateral trade turnover between the two countries reached a record $205.2 billion, marking a new milestone in two-way trade. This represents an increase of $33.3 billion compared to 2023.

With this result, China has become the first trading partner with which Viet Nam has established trade exceeding $200 billion.  BIZHUB/VNS
HA NOI  Domestic and international experts shared experiences and proposed solutions to foster cooperation in green innovation and sustainable development, at the Policy Dialogue Forum on encouraging investment, business and promoting entrepreneurship in the field of green transition and sustainable development, held on Wednesday.

The session was hosted by the Ministry of Science and Technology within the framework of the Partnership for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Summit in Viet Nam, taking place during April 14-17.

Addressing the event, the Executive Director of P4G, Robyn McGuckin, stated that since its establishment in 2018, the summit has supported early-stage start-ups, particularly in developing countries. In addition to providing technical and financial assistance, P4G also connects businesses with public-private partnership (PPP) mechanisms to help them overcome challenges related to capital, policy, human resources and more.

P4G focuses on solutions that mitigate the impacts of climate change in sectors such as energy, water and agriculture. Over the years, the P4G framework has mobilised US$42 million in capital to support PPPs, boosting investment in member countries.

In Viet Nam, McGuckin noted that since 2018, P4G has supported around 20 start-ups, operating in the fields of energy and water, with a focus on innovative technological solutionsparticularly climate-smart approaches. These efforts have helped tackle issues related to clean energy, smart grids and rooftop solar energy. For example, EBOOST, a start-up providing intelligent charging solutions for all electric vehicle brands, has received P4G assistance and funding.

She affirmed that Viet Nam holds many advantages in developing technology and climate action. P4G fully supports Viet Nams green growth strategies across various sectors including economy, society, health and environment.

Sharing insights on start-up and innovation support, the Executive Director of Denmarks State of Green, Finn Mortensen, said the Danish Government has restructured its business development programmes to focus on innovation hubs in energy, science and technology. Denmark also provides financial support to small and medium-sized enterprises, SMEs and has developed extensive advisory and support programmes for start-ups. Notably, Denmark runs initiatives involving company clusters across the country.

Currently, Denmark has six business development centres in major cities, dedicated to supporting SMEs and start-ups. These centres offer free consultation services for start-ups at various stages.

Mortensen added that Denmark was heavily dependent on fossil fuels in the 1970s and 80s, but by fostering new business models, the country is on track to achieve net zero by 2045, with key targets by 2030.

A key takeaway from Denmarks experience is the importance of focusing on SMEs, so they can integrate into global partnerships, thereby enhancing ecosystems and securing leadership in green growth.

Mortensen said he has seen a strong spirit of innovation in Viet Nam, adding that they have many lessons and PPP models to share with Viet Nam and hope to strengthen cooperation

He believes that Viet Nams vibrant entrepreneurial and innovation spirit could inspire people in Denmark. His message to the P4G Summit 2025 is that Viet Nam and Denmark should deepen cooperation, especially in green sectors.

According to Pham Hong Quat, Director General of the Agency for Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialisation Development under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Vietnamese start-ups are making important strides in developing green technology solutions to protect the environment and promote sustainable development.

In the context of innovation being driven to solve environmental and sustainability challenges, various sectors hold strong green growth potential within Viet Nams start-up ecosystem.

These include Green IT (developing software and energy management systems to optimise resource use), eco-friendly products (designing and producing environmentally friendly goods, from biodegradable packaging to energy-efficient household items); sustainable services (offering consultancy and solutions for sustainable development for businesses and communities); clean technology (researching and applying pollution-reducing technologies and efficient waste treatment methods); renewable energy (developing and deploying solar, wind, and biomass energy projects).

Highlighting some of the challenges green start-ups face, Quat pointed to difficulties in securing finance due to high upfront investment costs and long capital recovery periods. While the Vietnamese Government has issued several policies to support green transformation, specific regulations for start-ups remain underdeveloped.

Viet Nam also lacks a workforce with deep expertise in circular economy, carbon management and biobased production technologies. Market awareness remains another hurdlealthough consumer interest in eco-friendly products is growing, price sensitivity and consumption habits are barriers.

To address these issues, Quat suggested conducting surveys and assessments to develop a comprehensive map of the green start-up ecosystem in Viet Nam. He also recommended developing a dedicated set of social-environmental-economic impact indicators for green tech start-ups, and promoting collaboration between universities, research institutes and enterprises in green technology development.

Moreover, he emphasised the importance of communication campaigns to promote green consumption, aiming to shift consumer behaviour towards the use of environmentally-friendly products.

Green innovation and start-ups are key to realising Viet Nams net zero commitment by 2050, the sci-tech official remarked.

As the body responsible for advising and implementing innovation support activities, the Agency for Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialisation Development pledges to continue serving as a bridge between government agencies, businesses, investors, support organisations and international partners. The agency will also work to promote the development of flexible, practical policies aligned with green and sustainable development trendsparticularly in this pivotal period.  VNS
In the wake of public outcry following the recent discovery of a major counterfeit powdered milk operation involving Rance Pharma International Pharmaceutical JSC and Hacofood Group Nutrition Pharmaceutical JSC, which allegedly produced and sold nearly VN500 billion in fake goods, Director of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)s Market Surveillance Agency Tran Huu Linh speaks to Vietnam News Agency about managing the market.

Could you please tell us about the management and product licences that Rance Pharma and Hacofood Group have violated? Is their operation under the MoIT's management?

According to the Government's Decree 15/2018/N-CP dated February 2, 2018 detailing the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on Food Safety, the authority of State management over dairy products is clearly defined for each product group and specialised agency.

The MoIT is therefore only responsible for managing regular processed dairy products.

Special processed dairy products that are supplemented with micronutrients, functional foods or pharmaceuticals with special nutritional ingredients, are currently managed by the Ministry of Health.

In addition, the MoIT does not have the authority to grant business registration certificates to enterprises. The establishment and registration of business operations are carried out by the provincial and municipal Departments of Planning and Investment in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Enterprises.

Therefore, the MoIT does not directly license and manage Rance Pharma or Hacofood Group products. According to current regulations, the MoIT can only conduct inspections of the companies when the ministry detects signs of violations within the scope of its assigned functions and tasks.

How has the MoITs Market Surveillance Agency inspected and controlled the production and supply of dairy products to the market in the past four years? What were the inspection results?

In the past four years, the MoIT has directed the market management authorities to monitor, supervise and coordinate with relevant agencies and departments in the inspection and control of the commodity market, including dairy products and functional foods.

However, Hacofood Group and Rance Pharma were enterprises that were not under the specialised management authority of the MoIT. Therefore, according to current law, the MoIT is not allowed to conduct specialised inspections, periodic inspections or post-inspections on the two companies' production and supply of milk products.

As mentioned above, under current laws the MoIT can only conduct inspections of the companies when the ministry detects signs of violations within the scope of its assigned tasks.

However, with its responsibility and role in State management, the MoIT has regularly directed market management authorities to conduct inspection and control of dairy products in recent years.

Specifically, from 2021 to 2024, market management agencies nationwide inspected and handled 783 violations involving a total of 58,187 boxes, 451 cartons and 20,394 bottles or cans, with fines totalling more than VN2.2 billion.

What were the causes preventing State management agencies from unveiling serious violations earlier, including a large number of fake dairy and food products supplied to the market in many locations?

The fact that some companies had many product lines distributed widely in the market and violations that were not detected for a long time may stem from a number of reasons.

Specifically, the companies carried out full business procedures and held documents in accordance with current laws to cover up their violations. Meanwhile, violations can only be detected when products are tested. The products had not yet received any feedback from consumers revealing potential violations for authorities to be able to take samples for testing.

In addition, the firms did not sell their products through supermarket systems, official agents or controlled retail chains, but sold directly to consumers through specialised seminars, hospitals and clinics. They also hired famous people, including movie actors and models, to advertise and sell directly to consumers through social networks such as YouTube, Facebook and Zalo, causing difficulties for supervision and inspection agencies.

What solutions are needed to strengthen the management of milk and dairy products and foods circulating on the market to prevent and handle violations?

Due to the above-mentioned incident, the MoITs Market Surveillance Agency will closely direct Market Surveillance Sub-Departments in provinces and cities to strengthen inspection and supervision of the circulation and distribution of dairy products, especially at small retail channels, unofficial agents, e-commerce platforms and social networks, where there are many potential risks of counterfeit goods or goods of unknown origin or poor quality.

Aside from field inspections, the agency will continue to collect feedback from consumers and coordinate with the health sector in managing quality, standards and food safety, as well as the agriculture sector in managing raw milk and agricultural products, to establish effective solutions to prevent the circulation of fake milk and sub-standard milk on the market.

Through this process, the MoIT is conducting a comprehensive review and assessment of management of circulation for dairy products with a focus on identifying loopholes after the distribution stage to propose a streamlined inter-sectoral coordination mechanism. This will help enhance efficiency in inspecting and handling commercial fraud, false advertising and food safety violations.

The MoITs overarching goal is to protect the legitimate rights of consumers, ensure market stability and tighten control over products that directly affect public health.  BIZHUB/VNS
HA NOI  The Government needs to streamline legal frameworks and infrastructure, as well as offer special incentive policies, to attract investment for international financial centres in Viet Nam.

That was the view of experts at a conference on international experiences and the role of the banking system in developing such centres, held in Ha Noi on Wednesday.

The Deputy Head of the Institute of Strategy and Economic-Financial Policys Financial Market Development Department under the Ministry of Finance Luu Anh Nguyet, said that the role of such centres is to connect the global financial market, attract international financial institutions and investment capital flows, create institutional breakthroughs and enhance national competitiveness.

Favourable factors for building an international financial centre in Viet Nam are its strategic geographical location and deep economic integration," Nguyet said. "In addition, Viet Nam is also actively improving its institutions, legal system and investment environment and stable macroeconomics. HCM City, which has been on the Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI) assessment list since 2022, also has modern financial market institutions and a dynamic economy.

However, Nguyet noted, there are also certain challenges. For example, in terms of infrastructure and institutions, though the countrys socio-economic infrastructure has made positive contributions, it still lacks synchronisation, with an overloaded traffic and an imbalance between types of transportation.

In addition, Nguyet said Viet Nams legal framework has not met international standards, and there is a lack of regulation on cross-border transactions and investor protection. Viet Nam also has not fully liberalised finance and has limitations in technology and cybersecurity.

The competition is increasingly fierce for the financial centres in Viet Nam, as they have to compete against those in other countries that have already have strong foundations and attractive investment policies.

According to Nguyet, given the above reality, HCM City is suitable for a semi-classical model that links trade, technology, capital markets and financial services. Meanwhile, a Nang is suitable for a new generation model that integrates free trade zones, green financial services, risk management and foreign exchange.

Nguyet proposes that the first thing to do when wanting to build an international financial centre is to perfect flexible and modern institutions. Specifically, the Government should build a transparent legal framework in line with international practices and allow for testing of new models such as fintech and digital platforms.

In addition it is necessary to apply the sandbox model like Singapore, with a fast licensing process and good investor protection. At the same time, it needs to strengthen risk monitoring according to international standards to ensure market stability and transparency.

Second is developing financial and technological infrastructure, including building a modern and globally connected payment system, developing a digital financial zone, supporting start-ups and fintechs to test new services and applying AI, blockchain and big data in transactions, data management and financial security, Nguyet said.

Third is tax policy, she said, noting the Government should exempt or reduce corporate income tax and personal income tax for organisations and individuals operating in the international financial centres.

It is possible to learn from the experience of some countries such as Turkey, which has exempted corporate income tax, banking transaction tax and insurance for businesses in the international financial centres. At the same time, outstanding incentives for foreign banks to move their headquarters and branches to Viet Nam should be proposed.

Finally, in addition to simplifying administrative procedures, and minimising registration and licensing procedures for foreign financial institutions, it is necessary to develop high-quality employees and attract international experts in finance, banking, fintech, technology and data analysis, Nguyet said.

Sharing the same view, Truong Thi Thu Ba, Deputy Director of the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnams Financial Institutions Department, said that to build international financial centres, it is necessary to have stable, transparent and internationally compatible institutions. They also need a modern physical and technological infrastructure, high-quality human resources and integrated and modern financial services.

Ba believed the establishment of financial financial centres in the country will be an opportunity for Vietnamese banks to attract international capital flows, access low-cost capital sources, expand the market and upgrade the financial services ecosystem. It will also be a chance to standardise according to international practices, enhance credibility, increase capital raising capacity, accelerate digital transformation and shape the platform banking model.  BIZHUB/VNS
Ly Ly Cao

HA NOI  As the need for climate emergency escalates and environmental challenges deepen, leaders and representatives from more than 40 countries gathered at the P4G Vietnam Summit held in Ha Noi on Wednesday to discuss solutions for a sustainable future while putting people at its core.

At the high-level talks chaired by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a long-standing regional leader in clean energy, used the P4G platform to reinforce its commitment to a people-first green transition.

People are and must always remain at the heart of our development plans, globally, regionally and nationally, said the UAE representative.

This principle is being actioned through the UAEs Net Zero Strategy 2050, which is positioned not just as an environmental blueprint but as a stimulus for economic and social advancement.

The UAE is investing heavily in clean transport and a circular economy, prioritising sectors like sustainable infrastructure, food systems and transportation.

At the technological frontier, the UAE is integrating AI and blockchain into renewable energy optimisation and smart agriculture.

AI offers us abundant opportunities, abundant practical solutions for many of the challenges posed by climate change, the representative added.

These innovations will be spotlighted at the Emirates Agriculture Conference and Exhibition next month, which will feature smart irrigation and agri-tech for sustainable food production.

Meanwhile, Japan echoed the urgency of immediate and collective climate action. With a focus on implementation, the representative of Japan introduced Japans updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), including a 60 per cent emissions reduction by 2035 and 73 per cent by 2040.

Japans approach rests on aligning environmental goals with stable energy supplies and economic growth.

We will promote the simultaneous realisation of decarbonisation, stable energy supply and economic growth, said the representative, adding that Japans Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM), operational in 29 countries, exemplifies technology-driven cooperation.

What sets Japan apart is its belief in the synergy between global collaboration and local innovation.

The synchronised data of P4G is a great opportunity to learn technologies and strengthen our collaboration, he said while encouraging all participants to engage deeply in technology exchange.

Chinas delegate shared President Xi Jinpings philosophy of ecological civilisation.

The country has demonstrated significant results. Since 2012, carbon emissions per unit of GDP have fallen by over 35 per cent, and by 2024 new energy vehicles exceeded 12.8 million units in sales.

Green productivity has become a driving force for Chinas economic growth, the representative said, adding that ecological red lines now protect 30 per cent of Chinas land and more than 300 endangered plant species have been reintroduced to the wild.

Crucially, China is advancing green technology integration, focusing on transforming traditional industries like steel and petrochemicals through innovation. The goal is to build "a green manufacturing system and service system", backed by robust green finance mechanisms and carbon markets.

China is also calling for a more equitable global approach to sustainability, criticising protectionist policies like carbon border adjustments.

"These increase the costs of global energy transition," the representative warned, reaffirming China's commitment to multilateral cooperation through initiatives like the green Belt and Road.

Green transitions

Singapore offered a pragmatic framework for a people-centred green transition, warning that the economic and social benefits of transition must be equitably shared and not unfairly borne by vulnerable populations.

To achieve this, Singapore focuses on three pillars: mitigating the social costs of climate action, workforce transformation and participatory policymaking, where communities and stakeholders shape transition plans.

"We must ensure that peoples lives are improved in the process," the Singapore representative concluded, reinforcing that sustainability is not just about the planet but also about prosperity, fairness and inclusion.

As a founding P4G partner country, Denmark highlighted Viet Nams role in P4G as a key market for the international business community.

Today's geopolitical reality sheds a new light on multilateral cooperation. By now, we know that business as usual is not enough. We need innovative solutions, said the representative of Denmark.

And P4G has proven that when we build strong partnerships between the public, private and civil sectors, we deliver on the green transition, she said, adding that with P4G, public funds have mobilised considerable private investments.

We believe looking at blended capital for partnerships is the right way to go. This enables P4G to directly intensify climate entrepreneurship across our economies. We look forward to following the exciting next steps of P4G's journey. And in this room, we share a commitment to mobilise investment for climate and to work together in multilateral cooperation.

Concluding the meeting, PM Chinh underscored the need for multilateral cooperation to address global threats, including climate change, pandemics, and environmental degradation.

No single country can resolve these issues alone, he said.

The transition to a green and sustainable economy is inevitable. It cannot be delayed.

The PM also laid out four foundational pillars of Viet Nams development vision: resources, motivation, strength and innovation, with people at the centre of it all.

People are both the goal and the driving force of development. They are our most valuable resource, he said.

We pursue growth without sacrificing social progress or environmental sustainability. No one should be left behind.  VNS
HA NOI  A delegation from the Vietnamese Embassy in France, led by Ambassador inh Toan Thang, paid a working visit to the Hauts-de-France region from April 13-16, aiming to boost local-level cooperation as Viet Nam and France recently upgraded their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

At a meeting with Bertrand Gaume, Prefect of the Hauts-de-France region, Thang praised the regions pivotal role in advancing Viet Nam-France economic relations. He noted that Hauts-de-France has a long-standing cooperative ties with Viet Nam and holds great potential in trade, investment and economic development.

Gaume affirmed the strong historical foundation of the bilateral ties, reflected in extensive collaboration in the fields of economy, culture and higher education. He highlighted the importance of this meeting in the context of preparations for French President Emmanuel Macrons upcoming visit to Viet Nam.

The two sides also discussed potential partnerships in economy, culture, education, science and technology, as well as migration management, with a shared commitment to closer coordination.

At the regional administration's headquarters, the Vietnamese delegation participated in a key roundtable focused on promoting economic cooperation.

Luc Doublet, President of Nord France Invest  the regions agency for foreign investment  emphasised the opportunities for two-way business collaboration and expressed his hope to welcome more Vietnamese enterprises to Hauts-de-France and vice versa.

Yan Pitollet, CEO of Nord France Invest, introduced the regions strategic advantages, including its central location in Europe, labour costs 30 per cent lower than those in other major French cities, and thriving sectors such as automobiles, electric batteries, agri-food, rail transport and logistics.

He voiced his confidence in strengthening connections between local businesses and Vietnamese partners, and proposed initiatives such as establishing representative offices, co-investing in innovation and industry or pursuing business acquisitions in the region.

Both sides agreed on the strong potential for cooperation in key areas including green industry, energy transition, logistics infrastructure, innovation, human resource development and technology transfer.

For his part, Thang stressed that Hauts-de-France, with its robust industrial base, well-developed seaport and logistics networks and open investment environment, represents a highly promising partner for Vietnamese localities and businesses aiming to deepen integration into the European Union market.

At the event, participants also discussed preparations for the 13th France-Viet Nam Decentralised Cooperation Conference, set to take place in France in 2026, and agreed to promote events under the France-Viet Nam Year of Innovation, including the upcoming French Tech Viet Nam Summit on May 27.

As part of the visit, the Vietnamese delegation toured leading economic and technological establishments in the region, including the European Centre for Innovative Textiles (CETI) and EuraTechnologies, one of France and Europes premier startup incubators.

A key highlight of the trip was a working visit to the Port of Dunkerque, where the delegation was welcomed by President of the Port Authority Maurice Georges. Discussions focused on potential collaboration in maritime transport, logistics and port infrastructure development.

The delegation also held working sessions with leaders of Decathlon, one of the worlds leading sportswear producers and distributors, which has maintained strong business presence in Viet Nam. Their discussions centred on strengthening supply chain connectivity and expanding sustainable cooperation in the European market.  VNS
HA NOI  Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung called on US chipmaker Qualcomm to join Viet Nam's efforts in developing an AI and semiconductor hub while receiving Jilei Hou, Vice President of Engineering at Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., in Ha Noi on Wednesday.

The Vietnamese Deputy PM highly evaluated Qualcomms acquisition of part of Movian AI of Vingroup, affirming that the firms decision to make a large and long-term investment in Viet Nam is both wise and well-founded.

He said Viet Nam boasts advantages for developing the AI and semiconductor industries, noting that the country already has a relatively strong ecosystem for the sector.

Viet Nam is also making major investments in technology infrastructure and has ambitious plans for training human resources, he said, adding that with all the essential factors in place, the country holds a competitive edge that few other nations have.

Dung highly appreciated Qualcomms contributions to Viet Nam in recent years, saying that the group is a partner that Viet Nam pays special attention to and is eager to strengthen cooperation with. He stressed that Qualcomm's collaboration will help Vietnamese enterprises grow stronger.

He outlined three key expectations for Qualcomm, including research and development, human resource training, and support for Vietnamese businesses to join global value chains.

Dung unveiled Viet Nam's plans to train semiconductor and AI human resources, and called on Qualcomm to take part in these efforts. He suggested the group implement programmes that help young people access AI early -- through initiatives like STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics) education -- to contribute to Viet Nam's talent development. Additionally, he encouraged Qualcomm to provide specific support programmes for Vietnamese experts, startups, and enterprises to develop and integrate into the global value chains.

Viet Nam aspires to become a regional and global hub for AI and semiconductors, and hopes that Qualcomm will help build and join hands with the Southeast Asian nation to realise this ambitious goal, he said.

The Deputy PM hoped that Qualcomm will soon position its strategy in Viet Nam and become an important strategic partner of the country in the AI and semiconductor sectors.

According to Jilei, Qualcomm has two representative offices in Ha Noi and HCM City, along with its first research and development centre in Southeast Asia, which was established in Ha Noi in 2020.

Notably, the group launched the Qualcomm Viet Nam Innovation Challenge (QVIC), an annual programme aimed at incubating and supporting Vietnamese tech startups with financial, technical, business, and intellectual property assistance, he said.

Jilei introduced a plan to acquire Movian AI, highlighting Qualcomms strong commitment to nurturing talents for Viet Nam, thereby creating contributing to the global development of artificial intelligence.

Regarding Dung's shared vision of making Viet Nam a hub for AI and semiconductors in the region and the world, he stated that these are two of Qualcomm's strongest areas, and the group is ready to collaborate with Vietnamese businesses to turn this ambition into a reality.  VNA/VNS
The high-level Summit on Partners for Green Growth and the 2030 Global Goals (P4G) is scheduled to take place on Wednesday and Thursday in Ha Noi, with the attendance of about 600 international delegates from over 40 countries and international organisations. Viet Nam is one of the seven founding members, an official partner of P4G and the host of the fourth P4G Summit in 2025.

In light of this major event, ambassadors of Denmark, the Netherlands, the European Union and the Republic of Korea to Viet Nam, were interviewed by Viet Nam News reporter Nguyen Hang about the impacts of the summit on global climate efforts, SDGs goals, and opportunities for P4Gs partners.

P4G was established in 2017 based on an initiative by the Government of Denmark. The theme this time is Global Partnership for Inclusive, Sustainable, Innovative and People-Centred Green Transition. Could you please tell us your opinion about the significance of the theme to the global climate efforts?

Ambassador of Denmark Nicolai Prytz: This years summit theme is highly important because a successful green transition demands a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach. The P4Gs objective places people at the centre of change and implies that there is a strong connection between the green transition and climate change.

From a global perspective, this years summit comes in a timely manner between COP29 and COP30. COP30 in Belem, coming up this November, coincides with each countrys obligation to submit updated and ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions. According to the latest International Panel on Climate Change reports, we must take action now if we are to prevent climate change from having irreversible consequences for the world and its inhabitants.

At the national level, the consequences of climate change are already evident, also in Viet Nam. The impacts of the Typhoon Yagi in 2024 caused widespread destructions in the entire country. According to the World Bank, Viet Nam is among the most vulnerable countries to climate change.

Achieving sustainable development depends on fostering innovation through collective action. Governments must set ambitious frameworks, businesses should invest in green solutions, and young people and start-ups need to drive fresh ideas. To develop the most efficient solutions, we need an inclusive, people-centred approach, which ensures that no one is left behind. Inclusive climate action is paramount, not only to tackle climate change but also to reduce socio-economic inequality.

Viet Nam has historically been a relatively minor emitter and accounts for "only" 0.8 per cent of current global emissions. However, rapid economic growth in recent decades has made Viet Nam one of the most greenhouse gas-intensive economies in Southeast Asia. It is therefore crucial that countries like Viet Nam take leadership that contributes to the global climate goals.

The Republic of Korea is one of the founding members of P4G initiative. Could you kindly share how the Republic of Korea has been and is currently supporting Viet Nam in organising the P4G Summit?

Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Viet Nam Choi Young Sam: As a founding member that has actively engaged in the P4G initiative since its early stages, South Korea is cooperating with the Vietnamese Government in various aspects to support the successful organisation of the fourth P4G Summit. In particular, South Korea has been sharing its experiences from organising the 2021 P4G Seoul Summit, including its participation in the Multilateral Preparatory Meeting of the 2025 P4G Viet Nam Summit held on April 11, 2024.

Taking into account the importance the Vietnamese government places on the 4th P4G Summit, South Korea has decided to dispatch high-level representatives to the event. Moreover, South Korea is maintaining close cooperation in the summits public outreach efforts, including the creation of a promotional video.

One of the key agendas of the P4G summit this year is showcasing innovations and developing actionable strategies that support and unlock investment for innovation and climate start-ups in emerging markets and developing economies. Could you please elaborate more on why innovations and climate start-ups are of enormous importance for achieving our climate goals?

Ambassador Nicolai Prytz: It is becoming increasingly clear that innovations and climate start-ups are crucial to overcome the obstacles we face in achieving our climate goals. We need entrepreneurs bringing their full capacity to the table, since the borderless problems require new, innovative solutions.

In Viet Nam, SMEs represent 98 per cent of all enterprises and are absolutely critical in promoting green growth and achieving the countrys ambitious climate goals. Similarly, in Denmark, SMEs have been pivotal in driving progress on the green agenda.

Climate start-ups are of enormous importance, because they can deliver the right solutions. Technological innovation, new investment models, and emerging markets are all expected to shape a future where sustainability is not just an option but a top priority. P4G responds to this need by helping early-stage businesses gain access to funding and has leveraged about US$100 million in investments across 19 climate businesses to date.

As we transition to a green economy, there is a growing recognition that trade activities, environmental protection and sustainable development are inseparable. In this context, P4G plays a vital role in promoting green and inclusive growth. With the global economy moving toward a greener, more circular and more innovative future, fostering opportunities for start-ups is essential. Rapid advancements in science, technology and innovation are shaping new solutions to global challenges.

Could you please evaluate the role of the summit in advancing the achievement of the goals set out in the Paris Agreement on climate change, as well as the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals?

Ambassador of the Netherlands Kees van Baar: As we confront the escalating challenges of climate change across our interconnected world, initiatives like P4G represent not just opportunity, but necessity. The innovative platform bridges the gap between ambitious climate commitments and practical implementation of both the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The Netherlands joined P4G as a country partner and core donor in 2018 and launched its National Platform in 2020.

I think what sets P4G apart from many other climate initiatives is, again, its strategic focus on public-private partnerships. By bringing together governments, businesses and civil society, P4G supports the development of market-based solutions across five key sectors: food and agriculture, water, energy, sustainable cities and the circular economy. This multi-stakeholder approach enables a more holistic and effective response to the climate crisis: one that no single actor could achieve alone.

For a rapidly developing country like Viet Nam, which has huge potential, but also faces significant climate risks, this summit is particularly important. Viet Nams involvement in P4G offers a model for other countries facing similar challenges. Its proactive approach shows the kind of forward-thinking leadership we need. By leveraging P4Gs partnership-driven model, countries like Viet Nam can steer away from carbon-intensive development phases, challenges that the Netherlands and many other European countries have previously navigated. This creates an opportunity for Viet Nam to leapfrog into a more sustainable and resilient growth trajectory.

With regard to the P4G Summit in Ha Noi, I firmly believe there is significant potential for new, meaningful partnerships that build on both Dutch and Vietnamese expertise. These partnerships can leverage private-sector solutions and knowledge-sharing to address Viet Nams specific environmental and economic priorities. The Netherlands is ready to deepen our collaboration with Viet Nam through P4G, offering the right tools, improving access to finance and sharing our experience and expertise. We are committed to strengthening the ties between Dutch and Vietnamese businesses, many of which are already showcasing with sustainable models that align closely with the SDGs and the Paris Agreement.

Ambassador Choi Young Sam: As the climate crisis deepens, the need for collective action and cooperation by the international community has become more urgent than ever. In this context, the 4th P4G Summit is expected to serve as an important turning point in accelerating the implementation of both the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals. This years summit, held under the theme 'Global partnership for an Inclusive, Sustainable, Innovative and Human-Centric Green Transition' is anticipated to play a pivotal role in both protecting vulnerable communities during the transition to carbon neutrality and creating new opportunities in the green industry.

The summit will include a high-level plenary and five parallel ministerial sessions, a green growth exhibition and a start-up pitch session. It is expected to serve as a multi-stakeholder cooperation platform with participation from governments, the private sector and civil society. Through this wide-ranging participation, we hope to discover innovative ideas and produce a rich set of policies and projects that can contribute to achieving the Paris Agreement and the SDGs.

Ambassador of the European Union Julien Guerrier: The P4G Summit can play a critical role in advancing the implementation of the goals outlined in both the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and SDGs by fostering collaboration between governments, businesses and civil society. The scope of the P4G initiative is extremely large. I can mention two broad areas that are important and in line with the EU priorities.

First, it is essential to accelerate climate action and carbon neutrality, in line with the Paris Agreement. The summit emphasises public-private partnerships, aiming to scale up climate solutions such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture and carbon-neutral technologies. This directly supports the Paris Agreements goal to limit global warming to well below 2C, ideally 1.5C, by promoting actions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

On energy transition in particular, which needs the increasing deployment of renewable energies, the P4G is aligned with the Just Energy Transition partnership (JETP), a partnership between Viet Nam, the IPG (G7 + EU + Denmark +Norway) and GFANZ aiming at contributing to decarbonise Viet Nams power sector.

Both initiatives have a shared goal of supporting the transition to sustainable, renewable energy systems in a way that is inclusive, equitable and financially feasible. Both emphasise collaboration, innovation and fair transitions, ensuring that no one is left behind in the global effort to combat climate change. The P4G's platform for public-private partnerships can significantly complement the JETPs focus on just energy transitions, helping mobilise the necessary resources, technologies and policies to accelerate this process.

The summit promotes innovative climate financing mechanisms that are crucial to meeting the $100 billion annual funding goal for climate change adaptation and mitigation, as outlined in the Paris Agreement. Countries participating in P4G, including Viet Nam, align their national climate strategies with the Paris Agreement. The summit serves as a platform to share best practices and initiatives for enhancing the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which are key commitments under the Paris framework. Viet Nam is currently undertaking studies to come with a new and more ambitious NDC to be presented this year before the COP30 in Belem, Brazil. We are eager to know more about it.

Second, we need to promote green and inclusive economic development, in line with the SDGs. The P4G Summit promotes partnerships that drive green growth, create jobs and enhance the livelihoods of vulnerable communities, contributing to SDG 8. By creating a space for governments and businesses to explore actionable climate solutions, the summit supports SDG 13, helping countries integrate climate change mitigation and adaptation into their policies and business models. One of the key aspects of the P4G Summit is fostering multi-stakeholder partnerships. It aligns with SDG 17, which emphasises strengthening the means of implementation and revitalising global partnerships for sustainable development.

The P4G contributes to supporting a just transition, tackling SDG 10, aiming at reducing inequalities, highlighting how a transition to a green economy can and need to be equitable and inclusive. Many sessions at the summit focus on creating a just transition, ensuring that climate action supports poverty reduction and equality.

Denmark has been a global leader in renewable energy and green technology. How do you see Denmark's role and contribution in shaping global green transition efforts, particularly through P4G?

Ambassador Nicolai Prytz: Denmark is already a pioneer in green transition, particularly within renewable energy and energy efficiency. Cooperation on energy has formed a significant part of bilateral relations between Viet Nam and Denmark since 2013 through the joint Energy Partnership Programme. Here, Denmark contributes by sharing knowledge from our own transition.

Denmark, along with the G7, EU and Norway, is also member of the Just Energy Transition Partnership between Viet Nam and the International Partners Group (IPG). This initiative has initially pledged a total of $15.5 billion to support the decarbonisation of Viet Nams energy system.

As P4G cofounder and funder, Denmark encourages collaboration across the globe, recognising that strong partnerships are essential in tackling climate change and ensuring energy security. Our contributions through P4G support Denmarks broader green transition and climate commitments.

Denmark is committed to shifting global financial flows from fossil fuels to green investments. We have reformed the Investment Fund for Developing Countries, significantly increasing its capital to boost climate financing. At least 30 per cent of Danish official development assistance now targets climate initiatives and we actively mobilise private investments.

Dutch businesses are currently very interested in the Vietnamese market and are planning to expand their investments and operations in Viet Nam. In your opinion, what opportunities will the summit provide for both Dutch and Vietnamese businesses, particularly in the areas of renewable energy and green transition?

Ambassador Kees van Baar: For decades, Dutch businesses have shown strong and sustained interest in the Vietnamese market, particularly in the areas of green investment and sustainable operations. The P4G Summit in Ha Noi offers a timely and strategic platform for the Dutch private sector to engage directly with Vietnamese partners and stakeholders, and to explore more opportunities for partnership and quality investment, especially in renewable energy and green transition initiatives.

As a relatively small country with a large economy, the Netherlands has long focused on developing green technologies and sustainable innovations that reduce environmental impact while supporting inclusive growth. We are home to many companies at the forefront of renewable energy solutions, circular economy models and climate-smart innovations across sectors such as agriculture, water management and logistics. The businesses are not only eager to share their expertise with other like-minded partners, but also committed to doing so through responsible, inclusive and forward-looking collaborations.

As Viet Nam accelerates its transition to a greener economy, Dutch companies are ready to partner with technologies, investment capital and practical know-how that can help scale local solutions and deliver measurable impact. The P4G platform offers Vietnamese businesses access to cutting-edge technologies and sustainable practices, while allowing Dutch businesses to better understand local needs and priorities, and to tailor their expertise accordingly. Beyond this, the P4G Summit creates an enabling environment for broader networking and new connections. It brings together financial institutions, businesses, NGOs and policymakers, creating space for matchmaking, knowledge exchange and the formation of new green partnerships. Such model of public-private partnerships aligns closely with what we Dutch call the 'Dutch Diamond' approach: bringing together government, business, knowledge institutions and civil society to co-develop practical, long-term and inclusive solutions to complex challenges.

To me, whats more crucial is that the summit is about more than just discussions. We are focused on achieving outcomes that deliver real benefits on the ground: through investment, capacity building and joint innovation. The Netherlands remains firmly committed to supporting Viet Nams green transition in a spirit of mutual learning and genuine partnership. As Viet Nams largest EU trade partner and leading EU investor, we view this summit as an opportunity to further deepen our economic ties and reinforce our shared ambition for inclusive, sustainable growth. And to me, the transition towards a green economy is not only beneficial for the health of the planet, but it indeed fuels economic growth and prosperity of the people by reducing long-term costs, driving competitiveness and ensuring economic stability in the long run.

What are your expectations regarding the role of the summit in further enhancing the cooperation between Viet Nam and South Korea, particularly in the areas of green economic development, carbon emissions reduction, carbon credit exchanges and climate change response in the future?

Ambassador Choi Young Sam: The upcoming P4G Summit will be a critical momentum for deepening cooperation between South Korea and Viet Nam in green economic development and climate change response.

In May 2021, on the occasion of the P4G Seoul Summit, the two countries signed the ROK-Viet Nam Framework Agreement for Cooperation on Climate Change, establishing an institutional foundation for implementing international carbon reduction projects. Furthermore, Korea and Viet Nam have expanded and deepened their P4G partnerships in key sectors such as food and agriculture (SDG2), energy (SDG6) and water (SDG7).

Based on these achievements, the summit will provide an opportunity for both countries to help shape the future vision of the P4G initiative. It will also be a critical opportunity to develop a mutually beneficial model for carbon reduction. In this regard, South Korea hopes to leverage its carbon reduction technologies and financial resources to implement greenhouse gas mitigation projects in Viet Nam.

Could you kindly share your expectations regarding the outcome of the summit?

Ambassador Kees van Baar: This year, Viet Nam is the host of the P4G Summit in Ha Noi. The organisation of this summit reflects Viet Nams growing leadership in advancing global green growth efforts. I believe the summit presents a timely and meaningful opportunity to convene a diverse range of stakeholders driving the climate transition  from innovative start-ups and financial investors to policymakers and public sector leaders. The Netherlands is a core donor of P4G. As a globally recognised pioneer in advancing long-term climate strategies, and a strong and committed partner to the summit, we hold high expectations for the outcomes of this years edition, with generate tangible and lasting results across multiple levels.

Firstly, it should facilitate connections between financially viable start-ups and investors, enabling these enterprises to scale up and maximise their impact on the green transition. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which form the backbone of every economy, should play a pivotal role in this process. It is essential that these businesses grow on a sustainable foundation  one that prioritises ethical practices, environmental stewardship and social responsibility. And by aligning financial incentives with environmental goals, I believe the P4Gs approach will help address Viet Nams challenges in various fields, for example in areas such as sustainable agriculture and access to clean energy.

Secondly, I hope the summit will reaffirm global multilateral ambition for a greener, more inclusive future and further underscore P4Gs vital role in fostering this transformation. Through the adoption of a concrete and forward-looking declaration, we can strengthen international cooperation and send a clear message: meaningful, lasting change for the people of Viet Nam  and around the world  must be rooted in bold, practical action on the ground.

Ambassador Julien Guerrier: The P4G is a very important initiative and comes with the right and timely approach of promoting public-private partnerships to accelerate sustainable development and address climate change. Global challenges can only be addressed by bringing together governments, businesses and civil society organisations to implement innovative solutions in areas such as climate-smart agriculture and forestry, renewable energy, water resilience and zero-emission mobility.

The EU commends Viet Nam as an active member of P4G since its inception, as a country committed to green growth and aiming for Net Zero by 2050. Viet Nam's commitment is further demonstrated by being the host nation for the fourth P4G Summit. VNS
HA NOI More creative destination spaces will be built this year at cultural and historical heritage sites in Ha Noi as part of a plan to boost the city's participation in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) this year.

The Ha Noi People's Committee [Administration] has recently issued a plan with a series of activities to be held in the capital city, including creative spaces for heritage education and traditional performances to be set up at sites such as Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam (The Temple of Literature), Thang Long Puppetry Theatre and Hoa Lo Prison.

The plan aims to promote the potential and strength of the capital in the fields of creative design, and implement a variety of the city's initiatives and commitments made when it joined the UCCN.

Ha Noi will carry out specific projects and programmes to effectively implement policies and mechanisms on investment and support for cultural industry centres.

According to the plan, the city also aims to protect and develop the capital's culture and arts scene, as well as promote cultural, historical and architectural values in the process of urban reconstruction associated with developing creative spaces to help build the capital's cultural industry.

The city will establish an advisory council for activities related to building a Creative City, cooperate with Viet Nam's Association of Architects and promote international cooperation with member cities in the UCCN.

Conferences, seminars and talks will be held for exchange experiences and to help promote creative activities. The establishment of a creative support fund for ideas and activities -- as well as the Ha Noi Creative Awards -- will also be studied.

Communication, promotion and marketing of creative activities will also be strengthened under the plan. Ha Noi will introduce creative ideas and raise public awareness of the Global Creative Cities Network.

Businesses and individuals are encouraged to organise competitions and build creative spaces at cultural and historical relics such as the Temple of Literature and Hoa Lo Prison.

The Ha Noi Creative Design Festival will become an interdisciplinary creative connection platform with an aim of developing a creative ecosystem to attract investment.

The city's culture authority has been assigned to coordinate with other relevant units to implement the tasks under the plan to fulfil Ha Noi's commitment in the UCCN.

Since joining the UCCN in 2019, Ha Noi has embarked on a journey to redefine its cultural identity and position creativity as a driving force for growth.

Local residents and the nation as a whole have increasingly recognised the importance of innovation in shaping the capital's evolving cultural landscape.

The city is not just preserving its rich cultural and historic heritage, but also leading the way in fostering creative values. Ha Noi has set a model for other Vietnamese cities by blending tradition with modern creativity to chart a new cultural path.

The capital city boasts numerous advantages in developing creative spaces, which have formed part of its distinct cultural identity. More than a hundred creative spaces are currently operating in Ha Noi, a positive sign that reflects the role and contributions of culture and the arts to the spiritual and cultural life of residents.

A few examples of factories have been converted into creative spaces over the past few years. Complex 01 on Tay Son Street, for example, is a community cultural centre rebuilt on the foundation of the Trade Union Printing Factory, while the 282 Workshop on Phu Vien Street was built in an old conical hat factory in Long Bien District.

Another prime example of creative transformation is the Tran Nhat Duat pedestrian bridge, which connects the Phuc Tan Public Art Project to Ha Nois Old Quarter.

The bridge offers more than just a physical link -- it provides a unique sensory experience, featuring illuminated installations reminiscent of an aquarium.

The vivid depictions of fish, Red River waves and other aquatic motifs, crafted from recycled materials, highlight the citys commitment to blending creativity with sustainability. VNS
MOSCOW  The distinctive cultural elements of Viet Nam and Russia were beautifully interwoven at the Viet Nam's Day programme recently held at Financial University (FA) under the Government of the Russian Federation.

The event featured intertwined performances by both Vietnamese and Russian students. They were arranged like the hat oi styles found in many regions of Viet Nam, with quan ho folk songs juxtaposing with songs about Cossack culture, and Bac Bling (Bac Ninh) dances paired with traditional Russian dances.

FA Rector Stanislav Prokofiev emphasised through a video message that the event took place in a year full of significant milestones, including the 80th anniversary of the victory over fascism, 50th anniversary of the Viet Nam's reunification, and 75th anniversary of the Russia-Viet Nam diplomatic relations.

FA's educational collaboration with Viet Nam has developed for over 70 years, with nearly 5,000 Vietnamese financial experts having graduated from the institution, he said, adding the Vietnamese culture has become increasingly recognised, appreciated, and attractive to international friends at the university. He noted that it could be said that the Vietnamese soul is now in the Russian heart and vice versa.

In his message to the programme, Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia ang Minh Khoi laid stress on the cultural aspect of international cooperation has been notably championed at education establishment. The experiences of traditional crafts, cuisine introduction, artistic products, and performances have helped Russian participants better understand the Vietnamese national spirit, long-standing traditions, and achievements in the modern era.

Since the two countries set up their diplomatic relations 75 years ago, generations of Vietnamese experts have been trained in Russia and made significant contributions to the bilateral ties. The Viet Nam's Day event is not just a cultural showcase but also a meaningful bridge of friendship during this anniversary year, he added.

Currently, 165 Vietnamese students are studying at the FA. Their academic achievements and integration into the university's communal life have been recognised by the institution's leadership. Ekaterina Popova, head of the FA's student affairs department, noted that the FA hosts students from over 90 countries. Among them, Vietnamese students have been particularly active in integration and have created their own "brand" with the Viet Nam's Day, demonstrating the cultural depth that Vietnamese people carry whether at home or abroad. VNA/VNS
HA NOI  Ramla Khalidi, UNDP Resident Representative in Viet Nam, has affirmed that Viet Nams national strategies on digital economy, green growth, and social protection reform reflect a deep understanding that transformation must be inclusive by design.

In her recent article, Khalidi said that, in Viet Nam, potential gains from investing in green policies are enormous.

Her writing follows:

"As world leaders gather at the P4G Summit in Ha Noi this week, we are reminded that the greatest transformations in history have come not only from bold ambition but from shared vision, one rooted in fairness and opportunity for all. For Viet Nam, a country rising rapidly on the global development stage, this is a defining moment. The path to net-zero is not only about emissions and energy. It is about people, and about creating a just transition, one that empowers every citizen to thrive in a new era of green and digital prosperity.

Viet Nams aspirations are as inspiring as they are urgent. By 2045, the country aims to become a high-income economy. Yet, the journey must be more than economic  it must be inclusive and equitable. A just transition ensures that workers are not left behind in coalfields and factories, that small businesses are not shut out of the green and digital economy, and that women, youth and vulnerable groups are not only protected, but uplifted.

This is not only the right thing to do  it is smart economics. There are many potential gains from investing in green policies. In Viet Nam, the potential is enormous: investments in renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure could generate up to half a million new jobs by 2030, especially in sectors such as solar power, energy efficiency, and clean transport.

Beyond job creation, the just transition ensures that new economic growth pathways are enjoyed equitably among different groups of population.

Already, Viet Nam is showing remarkable leadership. The Just Energy Transition Partnership, a landmark political declaration, is mobilising US$15.5 billion in public and private funds to help the country transition from coal while supporting communities and industries affected by the shift. Meanwhile, national strategies on digital economy, green growth, and social protection reform reflect a deep understanding that transformation must be inclusive by design.

We are proud to walk this journey with Viet Nam. As the partnerships secretariat support agency, we support the government to strengthen coordination with partners, broaden private sector engagement to mobilise sustainable finance, and provide the government with tools to ensure projects are socially inclusive and environmentally sound.

We are supporting the government to localise the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions, ensuring that social equity is at the heart of economic transformation. We are investing in digital public infrastructure, promoting climate and energy governance, and helping to expand access to finance, skills, and social protection, especially for the most vulnerable.

And we know that governance matters. Trust in public institutions is the bedrock of inclusive development. Through initiatives like PAPI, the largest governance and public administration survey in Viet Nam, we are helping strengthen transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement  critical pillars for a just transition that is owned by the people.

Viet Nam has what it takes: a dynamic population, a forward-looking government, and a growing ecosystem of innovators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers. The question before us is not if Viet Nam can lead in building a just and sustainable future, but how fast and how far we are willing to go together.

The success of this vision depends on our ability to turn policies into progress  to ensure, for example, that coal workers in Quang Ninh have real opportunities for retraining and reemployment, that women in rural areas can access digital tools and green jobs, and that informal workers have access to social protection and upskilling pathways.

The most powerful way to turn policies into real progress is to make the just transition a force for empowerment, dignity, and opportunity. It means ensuring that innovation thrives in every village, not just urban centres; that climate action delivers dignified livelihoods, not just targets; and that the green and digital economy leaves no one behind.

The world today faces new challenges and growing economic headwinds. The just transition is not a detour  it IS the catalyst that can turn disruption into opportunity, and ambition into lasting impact. We are committed to walking that path with Viet Nam, towards a more just, inclusive, and future-ready nation."  VNS
Chinese doctors implant world's smallest artificial heart in 7-year-old boy

Xinhua) 10:17, April 16, 2025

Medical workers implant a magnetically levitated biventricular assist device for a boy in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, March 30, 2025. (Photo by Zhao Jiong/Xinhua)

WUHAN, April 15 (Xinhua) -- A 7-year-old Chinese boy suffering from end-stage heart failure has become the world's youngest patient to receive a magnetically levitated biventricular assist device, the smallest and lightest artificial heart on the market.

The surgery, conducted earlier this month at Union Hospital affiliated with Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, central China, marks a breakthrough that could transform pediatric cardiac care globally, doctors said on Tuesday.

The boy, going by the pseudonym Junjun, received the newly developed heart weighing just 45 grams and measuring 2.9 cm in diameter.

He was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy in May 2024 and later suffered severe cardiogenic shock. Finding it difficult to find a donor heart that matched the boy's O blood type, doctors turned to a homegrown artificial heart.

A team led by cardiac surgeon Dong Nianguo performed the five-hour implantation operation. Junjun began breathing on his own the next day, and his heart function is steadily improving, doctors said.

"Thanks to the doctors, our child now has a chance to survive and wait for a transplant," Junjun's father said. "Once his inflammation clears, we'll be able to go home."

Pediatric heart failure remains a global medical challenge. In China, about 40,000 children with severe heart failure are hospitalized each year, with 7 to 10 percent urgently requiring heart transplants. However, fewer than 100 pediatric transplants are performed annually due to a chronic shortage of donor hearts.

Artificial hearts, or ventricular assist devices, can temporarily support cardiac function, but existing models either cause damage to the blood system or are designed primarily for adults.

"Children are not adults with smaller bodies. They need an artificial heart designed specifically for them," Dong said.

The hospital partnered with Shenzhen Core Medical Technology Co., Ltd. in 2021 to develop the third-generation magnetically levitated device, which boasts advantages such as low energy consumption, extended battery life, improved stability for emergency transfers, and precise control of rotational speed, adjustable in real time to meet patients' circulatory needs.

"China has made significant strides in end-stage heart disease treatment, progressing from a follower to a leader in select fields," said Xia Jiahong, president of the hospital.

This photo taken on April 14, 2025 shows the magnetically levitated biventricular assist device designed for children in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

A medical worker displays a magnetically levitated biventricular assist device designed for children in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, April 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

A doctor checks the condition of the boy who has received a magnetically levitated biventricular assist device during an implant surgery in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, April 14, 2025. (Photo by Liu Kunwei/Xinhua)

A medical worker connects artificial veins with the magnetically levitated biventricular assist device in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, March 30, 2025. (Photo by Zhao Jiong/Xinhua)

This photo taken on April 14, 2025 shows the magnetically levitated biventricular assist device designed for children in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu spoke to the press on the 4th Partnership for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Summit, being held in Ha Noi April 14-17, the first multilateral high-level conference in the field of green growth, green transition and sustainable development hosted by Viet Nam.

Could you please elaborate on this Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) as a multilateral mechanism? What are its significant contributions to sustainable development, green growth and climate change mitigation?

Compared to many long-established regional and international organisations, the P4G Forum is relatively new, having only been initiated in 2017 by Denmark. This time, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen of Denmark is not able to attend in person as he had to handle domestic issues, but will deliver a speech at the forum via video. The P4G Forums primary objective is to develop policies and foster public-private partnerships to promote green growth and contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Currently, the forum has nine member countries: Denmark, the Netherlands, South Korea, Viet Nam, Indonesia, Kenya, Ethiopia, South Africa and Colombia. While the number of members is modest, summits attract widespread international participation, including from other nations and global organisations.

Recently, P4G has focused on four main areas: reducing food loss and waste, promoting climate-smart agriculture, ensuring sustainable water management and encouraging zero-emission mobility and renewable energy.

The forum turns these areas into concrete cooperation programmes and provides financial and technical support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups tackling climate-related challenges. In its first phase, P4G invested around US$28 million in SMEs, and in its second phase, funding has exceeded $35 million. Though the financial scale may seem modest, the initiatives value lies in addressing issues vital to member countries through public-private partnerships.

Some private-sector-led projects inspired by P4G may not be fully accounted for in the forums official statistics, but they still contribute significantly. We consider this forum small in size, but highly focused and relevant, especially to the interests of participating nations.

What are the key expected outcomes of this P4G summit?

Although the summits outcomes are not finalised yet, based on ongoing sessions and the high level of engagement, we expect substantial results.

Firstly, the enthusiastic participation of member states and relevant international organisations shows the forums growing importance. It will certainly help raise awarenessamong policymakers and the public alikeabout the urgency of responding to climate change and advancing inclusive, sustainable green development.

Secondly, we anticipate the summit will adopt two key declarations: The Ha Noi Declaration on Sustainable and People-Centred Green Transition and The Declaration on Strengthening Multilateral and Institutional Partnerships to Promote Green Transition and Sustainable Development.

Both emphasise the inevitability of green transition in achieving the SDGsfocusing on emissions reduction, renewable energy use and the circular economy, while highlighting technology and the critical role of SMEs and start-ups.

These declarations reflect a people-centred approach, encompassing small and micro-enterprises, start-ups and individuals in agriculture and food production. The declarations also outline necessary policies, coordination mechanisms and multilateral engagement strategies.

Thirdly, we expect to see various cooperation agreements signed between international organisations, businesses, and localities in related sectors. For example, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank plan to sign major green growth and climate-related project agreements worth hundreds of millions of US dollars with Vietnamese stakeholders.

Why is the theme of Sustainable and People-Centred Green Transition chosen for this year's P4G edition?

The theme reflects an undeniable global trend. In practice, ensuring a sustainable green transition requires us to put people at the heart of the processbecause people are not only the driving force of production, business and innovation but also the ultimate beneficiaries.

Farmers must adopt eco-friendly methods like water-saving techniques and limiting the use of harmful chemicals. Manufacturers must apply resource-efficient, low-emission technologies. Workers must acquire skills to minimise resource use. Policymakers must ensure that economic growth strategies are environmentally sound and sustainable.

This people-centred approach aligns closely with the Party and State's philosophy, that people are both the subject and object of all development policies, which means people are not just passive recipients but they also can partake in the green development processes. So, to sum up - why this theme? Its all about awarenessraising awareness, reinforcing awareness and translating that awareness into action. Raising public awareness is critical to shaping a greener future.

What positive impacts has this summit had on Viet Nam, particularly in priority areas like green transition, climate change mitigation and sustainable development?

Viet Nam, as a developing country with per capita income just over $4,000, has strong economic development needs. But we also recognise the importance of environmental protection and climate response. The State of Viet Nam promotes rapid yet sustainable development.

Through this summit, we'd like to gain access to best practices and lessons from other countries and international experts on sustainable green transition. Additionally, the forum helps Viet Nam tap into external resourcesparticularly green finance onesfrom other countries and international institutions like the World Bank and ADB. These are vital for green growth and sustainable development.

Lastly, Viet Nam has been a successful model for implementing Millennium Development Goals and now the UN's SDGs, even though we are still a quite poor nation. We aim to be a responsible and active member of the global community in achieving shared human development goals.

As you mentioned, zero-emission transport is a priority area for P4G. What outcomes has the forum achieved in this sector and are any agreements or commitments expected during this summit?

As a forum, P4G mainly serves to launch ideaswhether about technology or cooperationrather than act as an implementing agency. Among its focal points is zero-emission mobility.

South Korea, a P4G member, has brought representatives from its specialised ministries and enterprises. Korea has strengths in areas like electric vehicle development and smart transportationexamples we hope to learn from. Denmark and Netherlands are also P4G members that have successes in low to zero-emissions transport, who can offer us their expertise.

Viet Nam currently has eight active P4G-funded projects totalling about $3 million, one of which focuses specifically on clean, zero-emission transport. We hope the summit will enable further expert exchanges and facilitate new partnerships in this crucial field.  VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam is a key partner of the Republic of Korea (RoK) in the latter's implementation of its foreign policy in the region, Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul affirmed during his talks with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son in Ha Noi on Tuesday.

Cho, who is paying an official visit to Viet Nam and attending the fourth Partnership for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Summit, said that the RoK will work with Vietnam to successfully achieve their development goals for 2045.

He expressed his hope that the two foreign ministries will continue bringing into play their role in coordinating the Viet Nam  RoK cooperation, thereby helping enhance bilateral relations in a more effective and substantive manner.

Welcoming Cho on his first official visit to Viet Nam in his new role, Son said the trip will contribute to the substantive development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries amid complex and unpredictable global and regional situations.

Regarding political relations, both sides expressed their pleasure at the Viet Nam  RoK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership flourishing across all fields. They agreed to continue increasing delegation exchanges and engagement at all levels, strengthen cooperation in diplomacy, defence, and security, and efficiently implement bilateral dialogue and cooperation mechanisms. They spoke highly of the close coordination between the two foreign ministries, especially the maintenance of the annual ministerial-level dialogue mechanism to review the realisation of the action plan for implementing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

In terms of economic cooperation, both sides agreed to strive for the bilateral trade target of US$150 billion by 2030 in a balanced and sustainable manner, and facilitate Vietnamese and Korean goods' access to each other's markets.

Son affirmed that Viet Nam always encourages RoK businesses to invest and expand their investments in Viet Nam, particularly in priority sectors such as infrastructure development, electronics, semiconductor, renewable energy, and smart city building.

Cho thanked the Vietnamese Government for its continuous support and favourable conditions for Korean businesses' long-term investments in the country. He emphasised the strong economic links, saying the RoK views Viet Nam's economic success as its own and that Korean businesses also wish to contribute to Viet Nam's economic development.

On other cooperation aspects, the two sides agreed to further reinforce collaboration in science and technology, labour, health care, culture, education, and people-to-people exchanges.

The Vietnamese Deputy PM and FM proposed the RoK increase quotas and sectors for receiving Vietnamese workers; promote ties in digital transformation, research and development, and human resources training for Viet Nam; and continue simplifying visa granting procedures for Vietnamese citizens travelling to the RoK.

In response, the Korean official noted he will work with relevant ministries and agencies of the RoK to step up bilateral cooperation as suggested by his host.

During the talks, the two sides also agreed to maintain close coordination and mutual support in addressing international and regional issues of common concern at multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations, the ASEAN  RoK cooperation, and the Mekong  RoK cooperation.

On this occasion, Son thanked the RoK's Government and Ministry of Foreign Affairs for actively supporting Viet Nam in hosting the P4G Summit. He also asked for cooperation to successfully organise the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) events in the RoK this year and APEC activities in Viet Nam in 2027.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  The ninth Viet NamChina Border Defence Friendship Exchange officially kicked off on Wednesday. The programme began in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China and will continue in Lang Son Province of Viet Nam the following day.

Vietnamese Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang and Chinese Minister of National Defence Senior Lieutenant General Dong Jun are co-chairing the event.

Key activities on Wednesday in China include an official welcome ceremony for the Vietnamese delegation, a visit to the Youyi Guan tourism area, a tour of the Youyi Guan border guard company, and a tree-planting ceremony.

The two defence ministers will witness online the 38th joint naval patrol in the Gulf of Tonkin. This marks the first time that the naval forces from both countries have taken part in the Border Defence Friendship Exchange.

The delegations will also visit the smart border gate model at the Youyi Guan Border Gate, Primary School No 4 in Pingxiang City, and the model village of Zhou Lian in Ningming County. The day concludes with a banquet and a farewell ceremony for the Vietnamese delegation.

On Thursday, in Viet Nam, the main activities are scheduled to include a welcome ceremony for the Chinese delegation, a tree-planting ceremony, a visit to the ong ang Primary School and the ribbon-cutting ceremony for a newly constructed multipurpose building, a visit to the border guard post of the Huu Nghi International Border Gate, a tour of the Viettel Military Industry - Telecoms Groups logistics park, official talks, and a signing ceremony for cooperation documents.

As an annual event held in the border provinces of both countries, the Viet NamChina Border Defence Friendship Exchange has seen continuous growth, with a diverse range of meaningful and practical activities. Over the years, the programme, which holds political significance, has contributed to bilateral defence cooperation, helping to deepen relations between the two countries and their militaries.

This years event follows the state visit to Viet Nam by Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping from April 14 to 15. During the visit, the two sides issued a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to deepening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and advancing the building of a Viet NamChina Community with a Shared Future that carries strategic significance.

In particular, the two sides reaffirmed the need to a more substantive pillar of defence and security cooperation, emphasising its role in strengthening the strategic trust between the two Parties and the two countries.

The ninth Viet NamChina Border Defence Friendship Exchange reaffirms the crucial role of defence cooperation and the two defence ministries in fostering the traditional friendship and the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Viet Nam and China.

The event also has special significance as it takes place in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the countries' diplomatic ties (January 18, 19502025) and the Year of Viet NamChina Humanistic Exchange 2025.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with his Lao counterpart Sonexay Siphandone in Ha Noi on Wednesday, on the sidelines of the 4th Partnership for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Summit, reaffirming their countries commitment to bolstering bilateral ties and regional cooperation.

The meeting, held at the Vietnamese Government headquarters, saw both leaders express appreciation for each countrys contributions to sustainable development efforts and multilateral collaboration.

Prime Minister Siphandone thanked his host for the invitation and praised Viet Nams initiative in hosting the summit, calling it a meaningful platform that reflected the countrys proactive role in addressing global green transformation and sustainable growth.

He noted the summits theme  'Global Partnership for Inclusive, Sustainable, Innovative and People-Centered Green Transformation'  underscored the urgency of climate and development challenges.

In return, PM Chinh extended new year greetings on the occasion of Laos' Bun Pi May and lauded his counterparts participation and address at the summits high-level discussion session.

The PM said Laos involvement demonstrated strong support for one of Viet Nams most significant multilateral events of 2025.

Viet Nam, one of P4Gs seven founding members and official partners, expressed hope that constructive input from Laos and other international delegations would enhance global efforts on climate change mitigation, digital transformation and innovation.

He stressed that the summit will continue serving as a vital platform for advancing green growth initiatives at the national, regional, and global levels.

The Vietnamese leader congratulated the Lao government for its achievements across political, economic, cultural and educational fronts, stating that Laos growing regional and international standing reflected its effective governance.

He voiced confidence that under the leadership of the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party, the country would attain further progress and enhance its role in regional and global forums.

PM Siphandone praised Viet Nams recent socio-economic accomplishments, saying they served as a valuable source of encouragement for Laos own development.

He also expressed deep gratitude for Viet Nams organisation of national mourning in memory of former Lao President Khamtay Siphandone, emphasising the emotional resonance and solidarity between the two nations.

On bilateral cooperation, both leaders acknowledged continued progress across key areas, including politics, defence, trade and education. They agreed to expedite implementation of high-level agreements, including outcomes from recent Politburo-level talks and the 47th meeting of the Viet Nam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee.

The two leaders pledged to deepen strategic trust, enhance defence and security cooperation and work toward raising two-way trade to US$5 billion. They also pledged to accelerate major Vietnamese-invested projects in Laos, strengthen infrastructure and tourism connectivity, and expand collaboration in culture, science and people-to-people exchanges.

Discussing international and regional issues, the two prime ministers affirmed the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the region. PM Siphandone praised Viet Nams swift engagement with the US regarding recent trade tariff matters.

Both leaders committed to continued coordination and mutual support at forums such as ASEAN, the UN and Mekong subregional mechanisms, particularly in fostering close trilateral ties among Viet Nam, Laos and Cambodia.  VNS
LANG SON  Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang on Wednesday led a high-ranking delegation from the ministry to attend the ninth Viet NamChina Border Defence Friendship Exchange at the Huu NghiYouyi Guan border gate pair.

The delegation included Deputy Defence Minister Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, who also serves as a member of Viet Nams Party Central Committee and standing member of the Central Military Commission, as well as representatives of the General Staff, the General Department of Politics of the Viet Nam People's Army, and leaders of Lang Son Province, where the border gate is located.

Chinese defence minister Sen. Lt. Gen. Dong Jun hosted the welcome ceremony for the Vietnamese delegation at Youyi Guan, which saw the participation of Chinese guards of honour, military bands and local citizens.

At the border, the Vietnamese and Chinese defence ministers were briefed on the units mission and functions and toured its facilities and equipment.

The two military leaders also witnessed an online report from Vietnamese and Chinese naval patrol ships on their exchange activities in Beihai City (China) and preparations for the 38th joint naval patrol in the Gulf of Tonkin, which began shortly after with the ministers approval.

This activity is considered to have practical significance, demonstrating the close and coordinated cooperation between the armed forces of the two countries in maintaining maritime order and security, contributing to the traditional friendship between the two neighbouring countries.

On the same day, the two ministers also visited the smart border gate model at Youyi Guan, which featured automated immigration management and the application of digital technology and artificial intelligence in monitoring, inspection and management.

They also toured an exhibition area at the site showcasing scientific and technological achievements, high-tech equipment, smart management models and optimal solutions for streamlining customs procedures, which helped facilitate trade and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

The exchange event will continue on Thursday on the Vietnamese side.

In 2023, Lang Son Province and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region signed a framework agreement to promote a pilot smart border gate, aiming to clearly define the shared understandings between the leaders of the two parties and states.

Their cooperation promotes substantive trade-economic ties at the local level between the two sides, and supports the building of a Viet NamChina community with a shared future.  VNS
HA NOI  The 4th Summit of the Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals (P4G) was held on Wednesday in Ha Noi, with the theme of Sustainable and People-Centered Green Transition.

Attending the opening were Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, along with leaders and representatives from various ministries, sectors, and localities. On the international side, participants included Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed Ali, co-chair of P4G this year, Prime Minister of Laos Sonexay Siphandone, Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia Neth Savoeun, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, and President of the World Resources Institute Ani Dasgupta.

In the opening speech, Party General Secretary To Lam stressed that Viet Nam has charted its development path based on principles of sustainability, inclusiveness, and harmony and that rapid development must go hand in hand with sustainability and high quality.

He said: "Development must also be accompanied by increasing international responsibility  contributing ever more to peace, stability, and global development, for the well-being of humankind and a civilised international order grounded in win-win cooperation."

The Vietnamese top leader underscored that Viet Nam is an active, responsible member of nearly all major multilateral mechanisms and initiatives related to green growth and energy transition, including the Paris Agreement on climate change and the Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETP), among others.

Nonetheless, as a developing country undergoing transition, Viet Nam continues to face considerable challenges in mobilising financial resources, acquiring advanced technologies, developing human capital, and enhancing resilience in the face of climate change and global geopolitical volatility, but Viet Nam is committed to translating political commitments into concrete actions, generating momentum for businesses and society to actively engage in green economic development.

In this regard, green institutions are the decisive foundation; green technologies, the breakthrough driver; and green human resources, the crucial factor, the Vietnamese top leader said.

"Viet Nams development path is inseparable from the shared trajectory of the global community and human civilisation. We are committed to embedding ourselves in the global flow, harmoniously combining national strength with the power of the times  to forge the strength of Viet Nam in a new era," he said.

He pledged to persist with open-door policies, proactively and positively engaging in international integration in a comprehensive, extensive, and effective manner.

He lauded the significance of the P4G Summit as it underscores Viet Nam's role as a good friend, reliable partner, and responsible member of the international community, as well as reaffirms their strong commitment to sustainable development, energy transition, and our net-zero emissions target by 2050. The summit also contributes to raising awareness of international cooperation and promoting the voice and role of developing nations in green growth and sustainable development.

He is confident that the P4G summit will "generate fresh momentum for strengthened collaboration  between P4G and its partners, between the Global North and South, and between governments and the private sector  to jointly promote green transformation, sustainable development, and green finance."

In his opening address, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh underscored the significance of the P4G 2025 as a premier global forum promoting publicprivate partnerships and connecting governments, businesses, and civil society organisations to jointly advance breakthrough solutions for green growth, thereby contributing to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

Amid a world still grappling with unprecedented challenges, natural disasters, climate change, pandemics, environmental pollution, resource depletion, population ageing and more, PM Chinh emphasised that green transition and sustainable development are not only inevitable trends but also top priorities and strategic choices for all nations and peoples across the globe.

The theme of this years Summit reflects our shared aspiration for a bright, green, clean and beautiful world, the Vietnamese Prime Minister affirmed.

The PM said: It highlights the centrality of people, who are not only the focus and beneficiaries of green transition, but also its driving force and key resource in building a sustainable future on our beautiful planet.

Recognising that challenges also present opportunities for shared development, PM Chinh shared several key lessons drawn from humanitys journey towards green transformation. First, there is a need for a people-centred, comprehensive, inclusive, and global approach to ensure that no one is left behind in the green transition. Second, science, technology, innovation and digital transformation must play a pivotal role; markets should act as the guiding force; and social awareness must serve as the foundation in promoting green transformation. Third, he called for the promotion of equality, fairness, and responsibility as guiding principles in the transition.

PM Chinh reiterated that Viet Nam regards green transition as an essential, objective requirement, and a decisive factor and breakthrough driver for fast growth and sustainable development. As host country of the 4th P4G Summit, and with a view to advancing a people-centred green transition, Viet Nam put forward three proposals: promote and refine green thinking, build a responsible green community, and strengthen international cooperation and develop robust, multi-stakeholder green partnership models.

Viet Nam called upon P4G to continue to capitalise on its position, potential and strengths to truly become an incubator of ideas and a global laboratory for sustainable development and green growth. PM Chinh affirmed that todays generation holds the noble responsibility and historic mission to safeguard and preserve the Earth.

Viet Nam hopes and firmly believes that the spirit of solidarity, unity, resilience, and creative intelligence of all nations will become an unrivalled force driving green transition and inclusive, sustainable development globally, for the people, by the people, and of the people, for the happiness and prosperity of all citizens on our beloved green planet," PM Chinh said.

Addressing the summit, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said this year marks a crucial inflection point, the 10th anniversary of both the UN SDGs and the Paris Agreement, but yet "we are nowhere near we need to be".

She also warned that intensifying climate shocks and geopolitical turmoil are threatening to derail the progress wins in the past decade.

However, there is still hope, in the presence of governments, businesses, investors and civil society from around the world in this summit and their commitments to building more resilient, inclusive societies, the relentless human endeavour for genuine collaboration, as well as the ever-stronger economic imperatives of taking climate actions, the UN official remarked.

She stressed that more countries are breaking the link between GDP growth and rising emissions.

"Experts are estimating US$2.4 trillion a year will need to flow to emerging and developing economies outside of China by 2030, that means around $1.6 trillion of that going to the Clean Energy Transition, around $250 billion to strengthen adaptation and resilience.

"These are resources that we do have in our world today, but accessing them in a free and fair world is a challenge that we must all rise up to, and I urge every government here to do so and use the tools at your disposal accelerate the readily available, cost effective solutions and drive change with smart policies and reforms at every level, locally, nationally and globally."

The Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed Ali said Ethiopia has committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050, aligning its strategy with the 2013 Sustainable Development Agenda and African Union Agenda 2063. The cornerstone of their environmental strategy is the Green Legacy Initiative, launched in 2019 as the world's largest forestation programme.

In the energy sector, Ethiopia has made remarkable progress, currently generating 98 per cent of its energy from renewable sources like hydro, wind, and solar.

The country has also implemented progressive reforms in transportation and urban development, including banning fuel-based car imports and introducing incentives for electric vehicles.

The Ethiopian Government leader also noted that adequate, predictable and sustainable financial resources are the cornerstone of effective climate action.  VNS

P4G is a multilateral cooperation mechanism initiated by Denmark in 2017, with the participation of eight other member countries: Viet Nam, South Korea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Colombia, the Netherlands, Indonesia, and South Africa. It also includes five partner organisations: the World Resources Institute (WRI), the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), C40 Cities, the World Economic Forum (WEF), and the International Finance Corporation (IFC).To date, three P4G Summits have been held, hosted by Denmark, South Korea, Colombia, and this year in Viet Nam, respectively. These gatherings aim to foster publicprivate partnerships and build a coalition of political leaders committed to implementing the Paris Agreement on climate change and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.Hosting this years Summit is seen as an opportunity for Viet Nam in general, and Ha Noi in particular, to promote green tourism, strengthen ties with international partners, mobilise resources for socio-economic development, respond to climate change, and advance the countrys sustainable development goals.
By Tran Trong Kien

HA NOI  The Green Growth Exhibition themed Small Innovations  Big Impact opened in Ha Noi on Wednesday as part of the 4th Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Summit, bringing together more than 50 domestic and international startups and the worlds leading organisations in green transition and sustainable development.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and leaders from various ministries and international organisations attended the opening of the exhibition, which was jointly held by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The two-day exhibition aims to highlight Viet Nam's innovation capabilities aligned with the development of a sustainable startup ecosystem and global green transition. It features prominent Vietnamese startups like Buyo Bioplastic, AirX Carbon, Alterno Vietnam, Yeast Era, and EBOOST along with international partners such as World Resources Institute (WRI), Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), Greeneration Foundation, and CIAT, bringing effective green transition models from across continents.

Exhibitors are showcasing practical solutions in key sectors such as renewable energy, smart agriculture in response to climate change, biomaterial technology, carbon management, green logistics, and environmentally friendly products for global supply chains.

The exhibition space features an open design that not only displays innovative solutions but also serves as a connection point between innovative startups and potential investors and partners both at home and from abroad.

The P4G forum was established in 2017 based on an initiative of Denmark with the goal of coordinating policies, promoting public-private cooperation, and connecting governments, businesses and socio-political organisations to promote green growth and contribute to sustainable development goals.

Viet Nam is one of the eight founding members and remains an active participant among nine members in the second phase in 2023-27.

The fourth P4G Summit is taking place in Viet Nam from April 14-17 under the theme "Sustainable and People-Centred Green Transition." The summit is hoped to attract international resources for development, especially in climate change mitigation, green transition, digital transformation, and science, technology and innovation to achieve the net-zero emissions goal.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  State President Luong Cuong on Wednesday welcomed Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali who is paying an official visit to Viet Nam and attending the 4th Partnership for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Summit.

At the meeting, President Cuong expressed confidence that PM Abiy's visit will usher in a new chapter of more substantive and effective friendly cooperation between the two countries.

He noted his admiration for Ethiopia as the oldest independent nation in Africa and praised its recent achievements, highlighting Ethiopia's position as an economic growth model, the largest economy in East Africa, and its growing position and reputation in Africa and worldwide.

Sharing Viet Nam's development journey, President Cuong recounted how the country has transformed itself from a war-torn nation into the world's 32nd largest economy, maintaining diplomatic relations with 194 countries. He underscored Viet Nam's determination to become an upper-middle-income country with modern industry by 2030, and a developed, high-income nation by 2045.

PM Abiy, for his part, stressed that Viet Nam has been a trustworthy friend of the Ethiopian people, expressing his impression on the country's comprehensive and great achievements in socio-economic development and growing international standing.

He briefed President Cuong on Ethiopia's socio-economic progress and emphasised that his visit demonstrates Ethiopia's determination to strengthen and develop multifaceted cooperation with Viet Nam.

To leverage both countries' potential, the leaders agreed to increase high-level delegation exchanges across all channels and effectively implement bilateral cooperation mechanisms.

President Cuong suggested relevant agencies actively negotiate to promptly sign agreements and complete the legal framework facilitating the bilateral cooperation, particularly in such promising areas as agriculture, mining, electronics, telecommunications, and digital transformation.

PM Abiy highly valued Viet Nam's agricultural strengths, hoping that Viet Nam will share experience and support Ethiopia in this sector, contributing to the country's sustainable food security.

President Cuong welcomed Ethiopian Airlines plan to launch a new route from Addis Ababa to Ha Noi in July.

The two sides concurred to bolster coordination, cooperation, and mutual support at multilateral forums, especially at the UN and developing countries' forums, while promoting relations with important organisations where they are members, such as ASEAN and the African Union.

On this occasion, President Cuong asked PM Abiy to convey his invitation to Ethiopian President Taye Atske Selassie to pay an official visit to Viet Nam.  VNS
HA NOI  A signing ceremony was held on Wednesday in Ha Noi for loan and grant agreements worth a combined US$400 million between Viet Nam and the World Bank (WB) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for three socio-economic development projects in central and southern Viet Nam.

The ceremony was witnessed by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang, ADB Vice President Scott Morris, ADB Country Director for Viet Nam Shantanu Chakraborty, and WB Country Director for Viet Nam, Cambodia, and Laos Mariam J. Sherman.

The biggest project involves water environment improvements for the southern province of Binh Duong, with total investment of VN7.2 trillion, and WB loan (from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, specifically) stands at about VN5.354 trillion ($230.76 million).

The project aims to address environmental pollution caused by urban wastewater in the three cities of Thuan An, Di An, and Tan Uyen. It will finance new urban wastewater collection and treatment systems in Tan Uyen, expand networks, and upgrade treatment capacities in the other cities, strengthen wastewater management capacity in Binh Duong, and enhance water security for downstream areas of the Saigon and ong Nai Rivers, including HCM City, which sources around 40 per cent of its water supply from the ong Nai River.

The second project, Southern Waterway Corridors and Logistics Development Project, has a total investment of VN3.9 trillion, with nearly VN2.5 trillion ($107.67 million) as loan from the World Bank's International Development Association.

The project will improve infrastructure, reduce congestion and accidents, and lower waterway freight transport costs by upgrading the EastWest and NorthSouth transport corridors, linking the Mekong Delta with the Cai Mep - Thi Vai port cluster. It will also facilitate connection to the future Can Gio International Transshipment Port, boosting socio-economic development and ensuring national defence and security in the Mekong Delta and Southeast regions.

The third project, Climate Resilient Inclusive Infrastructure for Ethnic Minorities Project II in Phu Yen - Quang Tri Provinces, has total investment of 1.8 trillion (about US$69.64 million).

ADB provides a loan of about $29 million plus an additional $1 million as grant for the Phu Yen sub-project ($39.4 million), while the rest is counterpart funding from Phu Yen.

For Quang Tri sub-project ($39.7 million in total), ADB brings a loan of $30 million and the rest is counterpart funding.

Mariam J. Sherman, World Bank Director for Viet Nam, Cambodia and Lao PDR, stated that these two projects represent strategic investments in Viet Nams future.

"Upgrading southern waterways will ease port congestion, lower transport costs, and make trade more efficient by shifting freight from road to water, reducing emissions while boosting competitiveness. At the same time, expanding wastewater treatment in Binh Duong will protect vital resources and improve living conditions for hundreds of thousands."

The projects will "boost activity, strengthen regional connectivity, and lay the groundwork for more resilient and inclusive development," the WB official for the three Indochinese countries noted. WB stands ready to support the projects' effective implementation and to partner with the Vietnamese Government "on even more ambitious and transformative investments that deliver lasting impact," she stated.

WB and ADB are long-standing strategic development partners of Viet Nam, having supported the countrys poverty reduction, infrastructure development, governance, and sustainable development goals for decades.

The WB is among the largest multilateral ODA and concessional loan providers to Viet Nam, meeting about 35 per cent of the Governments external financing needs. As of April 2025, the WB has committed over 180 projects (loans, grants, and technical support) worth about $26 billion, with signed loan agreements totalling around $23 billion. Its financing has focused on key infrastructure, transport, energy, education, health, water, environment, and agriculture.

Since 1993, the ADB has committed over $18 billion in loans and grants to Viet Nam, focusing on transport infrastructure, clean energy, vocational training, rural development, and climate change resilienceespecially in disadvantaged and ethnic minority regions.

Beyond financial support, both the WB and ADB also served as advisory partners for the Vietnamese Government through technical assistance, project preparation, policy advice, and capacity-building.

This signing ceremony was part of the sidelines of the P4G Summit (Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030) in Viet Nam, further enhancing the countrys international reputation and reaffirming the Governments strong commitment to sustainable development.  VNS
HA NOI  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hosted a reception in Ha Noi on Wednesday for Minister of Climate Change and Environment of the UAE Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, who is in Viet Nam to attend the 4th Partnership for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Summit.

Recalling positive impressions from his official visit to the UAE in October 2024, the Vietnamese leader expressed his admiration for the UAE's achievements, and his desire to learn from the countrys experience in economic transformation as well as rapid and strong development.

He urged ministries, sectors, and agencies of the two countries to actively cooperate and implement the outcomes of his visit to achieve specific results and projects in areas such as investment, high technology, artificial intelligence, financial centre development, food security, and rice cultivation.

The UAE minister affirmed that, in its role as the President of COP 28 in 2023, the UAE is deeply concerned about and prioritises response to climate change, and looks forward to further cooperation with Viet Nam in this field.

She welcomed Viet Nam's consideration of joining the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), headquartered in the UAE, affirming that joining the IRENA will demonstrate Viet Nam's commitment to promoting renewable energy use, contributing to the fight against climate change, and also show Viet Nam's support for the UAE's initiatives in this field.

The minister highlighted the recent strong development of the bilateral relationship between Viet Nam and the UAE, with several historical milestones, such as PM Chinh official visit to the UAE last year, the upgrade of the bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Partnership, and the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

The UAE highly evaluates its Comprehensive Partnership with Viet Nam, she stated, adding that UAE ministries and sectors are working closely with the Southeast Asian nation to ensure the implementation of high-level commitments in priority areas.

The UAE is willing to welcome Vietnamese agencies and businesses to visit the UAE for discussions on cooperation projects in energy, food security, education and training, she added.

The two sides agreed to continue promoting the exchange of high-level delegations, and enhancing coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums and international organisations; and accelerate negotiations and the signing of cooperation agreements in investment protection, and visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and official passports to create a favourable legal framework for cooperation, thus tightening and deepening the bilateral relations.

PM Chinh took this occasion to ask the minister to convey his greetings and invitations to the President and Prime Minister of the UAE to visit Viet Nam in 2025.  VNS
HA NOI  National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man on Wednesday met with Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed Ali, who is on a four-day official visit to Viet Nam and attending the 4th Partnership for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Summit.

The top legislator highlighted the fine friendship and cooperation between the two countries, built on the foundation of solidarity, and mutual support and respect, stating that the Viet Namese NA always supports and wishes to contribute to the relationship.

Man spoke highly of the outstanding socio-economic achievements that Ethiopia has achieved under the leadership of PM Abiy Ahmed, which have transformed Ethiopia into the largest economy in East Africa and the fifth biggest in Africa, and improved its role and reputation, particularly in promoting peace and cooperation in Africa.

He showed his belief that PM Abiy Ahmeds visit will help elevate the friendship and cooperation between the two countries to a new level.

The host welcomed the signing of several important cooperation agreements between the two countries in politics, diplomacy, economy, trade, and education. He said the Viet Namese NA will urge the government agencies to actively implement the documents.

Highly evaluating Ethiopia's strengths, especially its young and dynamic population and achievements in smart agriculture, climate change response, and renewable energy development, the Vietnamese leader suggested the two sides enhance experience exchanges and cooperation to achieve sustainable development goals, for the sake of their people, and for peace, stability, and prosperity in their respective regions and the world.

He affirmed that the Vietnamese legislature is committed to facilitating bilateral cooperation, especially in the areas where the two countries have strengths and potential such as agriculture, green technology, and education.

The Vietnamese NA stands ready to work with the Ethiopian parliament to strengthen relations, share law-making and monitoring experience, and cooperate at multilateral forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), to jointly promote initiatives for peace and development, he continued.

The Vietnamese top legislator asked the PM to convey his invitation to the upper and lower house speakers of Ethiopia to visit Viet Nam at an appropriate time.

For his part, PM Abiy Ahmed showed his impression of Viet Nams political stability, socio-economic achievements, and growing role and position in the international arena.

The PM affirmed that Viet Nam is a reliable friend of the Ethiopian people, and reiterated the Ethiopian governments determination to strengthen the bilateral relationship, opening a new chapter for Viet NamEthiopia cooperation, especially legislative ties.

He conveyed invitations from Ethiopian legislative leaders to NA Chairman Man to soon pay an official visit to Ethiopia.  VNS
HA NOI  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has underscored the importance of multilateralism and international solidarity, as well as the role that developing nations like Viet Nam and Kenya play in global efforts towards green and sustainable development.

Hosting a reception in Ha Noi on Wednesday for Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Defence Soipan Tuya, who is in Viet Nam for the 4th Partnership for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Summit, PM Chinh expressed confidence that the Kenyan delegation will contribute valuable green and sustainable development initiatives to the summit agenda, while strengthening bilateral relations.

Recognising vast untapped potential for collaboration, PM Chinh suggested the two nations intensify delegation exchanges, and expand cooperation in defence and security, trade, education and training, clean agriculture, food security, and people-to-people exchanges, especially among younger generations, among other fields.

He highlighted Viet Nams interest in science - technology, innovation and digital transformation, seeing them as essential elements in national development, and suggested the two countries enhance cooperation and experience sharing in these areas.

The Kenyan official handed over a letter from President William Ruto to PM Chinh, expressing Kenya's desire to further enhance its cooperation with Viet Nam, and commending the Southeast Asian country's sustainable development vision and its organisation of the summit which is of importance to developing nations.

She noted that digital transformation is also a priority in Kenya's socio  economic development strategy as the country aims to become a financial and technological hub in East Africa and across the continent as a whole. She affirmed Kenya's readiness to engage in effective digital transformation cooperation with Viet Nam.

The two sides expressed their delight at the robust Viet Nam  Kenya relations, with the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding on political and diplomatic cooperation, establishing a legal framework for regular dialogue, mutual understanding and trust, and comprehensive cooperation across various sectors of shared interest.

To facilitate connectivity and collaboration, both sides concurred to explore establishing diplomatic missions in each country, and to negotiate and sign cooperation documents in such areas as trans-national crime prevention, agriculture, and science  technology.  VNS
HA NAM  A medical worker has been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a female patient at a hospital in Ha Nam Province, authorities said on Tuesday night.

Vu Duy Cuong, 34, was arrested following a complaint filed on Monday, according to the police of the northern province. The incident allegedly occurred during a medical examination at the Ha Noi - ong Van General Hospital in Duy Tien Town.

Police said they received a report from a citizen claiming that a medical worker at the hospital had molested and sexually assaulted her during a visit. Cuong was identified as the suspect.

Authorities are continuing their investigation and gathering evidence to proceed with legal action, the police statement added.

The case sparked outrage on social media after a Facebook post, purportedly from the victim, described the incident as the 'most horrific experience' of her life.

Unverified online claims suggested the assault took place during a sedated stomach endoscopy.  VNS
SON LA  Viet Nam's first Sabo dam was officially inaugurated on Wednesday in Pieng Village, Nam Pam Commune, Muong La District, in the northern mountainous province of Son La.

A Sabo dam is considered one of the most effective civil engineering solutions, typically built in the upper reaches of rivers with steep slopes and high flow speeds. The dam helps to capture debris, rocks and logs, preventing damage to areas downstream.

The Sabo dam in Son La, which cost about VN9 billion (US$348,000), was built in September 2024, after the rainy season, under Japanese standards.

It is a gap-type concrete dam with a length of 61m, a width of three metres at the top and a height of nine metres.

The dam is part of the Technical Cooperation Project for Strengthening Capacity for Debris Flow and Landslide Risk Mitigation in the Northern Mountainous Areas, under the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The inauguration ceremony was co-organised by the Department of Dike Management and Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment and the JICA Viet Nam Office.

Speaking at the founding ceremony, Nguyen Truong Son, Deputy Head of the Directorate for Dike Management and Flood and Storm Prevention, said that as early as the mid-19th century, Japan had developed stone and wood structures to reduce the speed of debris flows, thus minimising damage to downstream areas.

The Sabo dam concept, designed to allow water to flow through while retaining soil, rocks and vegetation, has proven highly effective and is now implemented worldwide, including in countries like South Korea and other regions prone to landslides.

Son said Viet Nam, which frequently faces severe damage from mudslides, especially in the northern mountainous region, has recognised the effectiveness of Sabo dams.

The Sabo dam, designed as a pilot project in the Nam Pam stream basin in Son La, is expected to serve as a model for future dam construction in the region.

The dam is anticipated to protect 28 households, a local kindergarten and a cultural house located downstream on the left bank, Son said.

However, due to its small scale as a pilot project, it is clear that the Sabo dam alone may not fully protect the area, he added.

Therefore, the ministry has urged the Japanese Government to continue supporting Viet Nam in building a comprehensive system of Sabo dams all along the Nam Pam River.

If fully integrated, the system could serve as a model for Viet Nam to assess its effectiveness and consider mobilising resources for the broader implementation of Sabo dams in other high-risk areas, he said.

We hope Japan will continue to strengthen its assistance to help Viet Nam enhance its resilience to natural disasters, especially debris flows and landslides and safeguard vulnerable populations in remote areas, Son said.

Also at the event, the Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment, Le Thi Thu Hang, said that the project, including the pilot Sabo dam, holds significant importance.

It marks a new step forward in disaster prevention efforts, safeguarding both lives and property in Son La Province, she added.

The inauguration of the Sabo dam is not only a milestone in the completion of the critical infrastructure but also a symbol of the strong, enduring partnership between Viet Nam and Japan, as well as between Son La Province and JICA.

Head of the JICA Viet Nam Office, Kobayashi Yosuke, said it was wonderful to support the Vietnamese people, applying Japanese technical standards, he warned: "No single Sabo dam could effectively reduce debris flow.

We hope that the pilot construction of this dam is the reference for the Government of Viet Nam in formulating the technical standard for the construction of other Sabo dams in Nam Pam River basin and in other high-risk areas."

Tong Van Huong, head of the village, said: The local people feel very secure when they know the Sabo dam has been successfully built. We feel grateful.

Landslides and debris flows caused by heavy rainfall are common and have devastating effects in northern Viet Nam.

In early August 2023, continuous heavy rainfall led to debris flows and landslides in Muong La District, Son La, damaging 134 homes.

In August 2017, a series of debris flows and landslides resulted in 15 deaths, 15 injuries and an economic loss of VN705 billion ($27.2 million) in Muong La District.  VNS
SEOUL  With less than 50 days left until the June 3 presidential election, South Koreas two largest parties, the Democratic Party of Korea and People Power Party, have opened their primary races to choose their presidential nominees.

The early presidential election takes place after the Constitutional Courts unanimous ruling to confirm the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol over his botched martial law declaration in December.

The Democratic Party has so far seen just two candidates  Kim Kyung-soo, a close aide of former President Moon Jae-in, and Kim Dong-yeon, the Gyeonggi Province governor  joining the primary in addition to Rep. Lee Jae-myung, the partys former leader who appears on a glide path to win the nomination.

Lee, who still has court dates in the run-up to the election, is taking a low-key approach ahead of the partys primary, minimising in-person schedules until the nomination is finalised. He announced his presidential bid through a YouTube video.

Only a select few reporters have access to events he attends, unlike other candidates who give the press open access. He also is keeping a slim campaign team comprised of party insiders.

Gyeonggi Province Gov. Kim is targeting younger voters with policy proposals of flexible working hours and a gradual lifting of compulsory military service for men, with a move to volunteer recruitment that includes women.

The People Power Party, which has a larger pool of contenders, will hold a public vote to whittle down the field to four top choices by April 22, before getting that down to the final two by April 29. The nominee will be finalised on May 3.

So far high-profile names on the People Power Party primary ticket include Kim Moon-soo, who was until recently Yoons labour minister; Hong Joon-pyo, who resigned as mayor of conservative stronghold Daegu to run for president; Han Dong-hoon, who stepped down as People Power Party leader after Yoons martial law debacle; five-time Rep. Na Kyung-won; and Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, who headed Yoons transition team.

Acting President Han Duck-soo will not be entering the primary, Rep. Kweon Seong-dong, the People Power Partys floor leader, said Tuesday, ending speculation over whether he would.

"Lets remember that this presidential primary should be about picking the right person to bring Lee Jae-myung to justice. That is the common mission shared by all of us," Kweon said. "All of this ado about the acting president joining the race helps nobody."

The People Power Party candidates have been rallying around an "anti-Lee Jae-myung" agenda, each campaigning to defeat the former Democratic Party leader who currently holds a significant lead over his conservative challengers.

The rules for the Democratic Party primary, announced over the weekend, also sparked complaints from candidates who feel Lees popularity with the partys registered voters is a difficult hurdle to clear.

The Democratic Party is limiting voter eligibility in its primary to "block outside interference" in the nomination process. All primary contenders except Lee have pushed back against the decision, arguing that broadening participation among registered party members would help ensure the nominee reflects the will of all South Koreans.

The rules prompted one of the contenders, former lawmaker Kim Doo-kwan, to drop out. Kim said that the Democratic Party traditionally has opened up its primaries to all voters across party affiliations.

"When have we ever had a primary that restricted participation?" he posed Monday.

Rep. Park Chan-dae, the Democratic Partys acting leader, said at a meeting of the party leadership on Tuesday that the rules for the closed primary were meant to "ensure a winner who is more aligned with the party."

The Democratic Party will pick its final nominee on April 27 or May 1.

The People Power Party, on the other hand, said it would be opening up the first round of its primary to let unaffiliated voters participate in picking their preferred candidate for the party to nominate.

This was to have a "nonpartisan primary," the party explained.

Outside the two biggest parties, minor Reform Party Rep. Lee Jun-seok, who led Yoons presidential campaign when he was then leader of the People Power Party, has already hit the campaign trail.  ANN
BANGKOK  Thai health authorities have raised concerns about a possible increase in COVID-19 cases following the Songkran festival, citing factors such as close contact during water-splashing events and extensive nationwide travel.

Dr. Yong Poovorawan, head of the Clinical Virology Department at Chulalongkorn University, indicated that COVID-19 cases in Thailand tend to rise in early April, coinciding with the Songkran celebrations. This pattern differs from other respiratory illnesses like influenza, which typically surge during the rainy season or after the start of the academic year.

Drawing from a study of over 8,000 COVID-19 cases from the previous year, Dr. Yong noted that the virus's spread is facilitated by crowded gatherings in confined spaces and increased mobility during the festival period.

While acknowledging that the COVID-19 virus is more transmissible than the influenza virus, Dr. Yong emphasised that its current severity is comparable to that of the common flu. Consequently, treatment primarily focuses on symptom management, except for vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, individuals with obesity, or those with compromised immune systems. These populations may require antiviral medications and close monitoring to prevent complications.

As of now, the JN.1 Omicron subvariant remains the dominant strain in Thailand, accounting for approximately 65 per cent of COVID-19 cases, followed by the XEC and LP.B.1 subvariants. VNA/VNS
What has the performance of mergers and acquisitions (M&As) in Vietnams finance services sector looked like so far this year?

Oanh Tran, senior manager of Market Research & Consulting Services at FiinGroup

Following a volatile year for global markets, Vietnams financial services sector has entered 2025 with a renewed focus on targeted, strategic M&A transactions, rather than a broad-based surge. While overall volume and value have moderated, foreign investors remain active in digital finance, insurance, and capital market infrastructure.

To better assess foreign investor sentiment, it is essential to isolate inbound M&A transactions  those involving international acquirers  rather than relying on total transaction figures, which also include domestic restructuring.

In the first quarter of 2025, inbound M&A activity actually slowed considerably, with just two recorded transactions totalling $170.6 million in disclosed value. This marked a sharp decline from deals valued at $924.6 million during the same period in 2024. However, this reduction reflects timing rather than diminished interest.

Could you share some notable deals in the first quarter of this year?

Both volume and value in early 2024 were buoyed by the SCBX-Home Credit mega-deal  one of the largest in Vietnams financial services history  which significantly elevated the prior years base. In contrast, early 2025 has yet to reflect several significant inbound transactions that have already been signed but are pending regulatory approval.

Airwallex, a global payment and financial platform, has signed definitive agreements to acquire CTIN Pay, a licensed Intermediary Payment Service provider. The deal, pending regulatory clearance, will expand Airwallexs licensed footprint across Asia-Pacific.

Chubb Ltd. has announced agreements to acquire Liberty Mutuals insurance businesses in Vietnam and Thailand, strengthening its regional presence. The Vietnam transaction has been signed and is pending regulatory approval.

These developments reflect continued high-conviction interest from global players in Vietnams digital payments and insurance sectors.

While deal count and value are currently subdued, the nature of the transactions completed in Q1 highlights continued strategic depth.

Meanwhile, AEON Financial Services completed the acquisition of PTF, a licensed consumer finance company in Vietnam, in a transaction valued at $169.5 million. The deal reflects sustained foreign interest in Vietnams retail credit sector

What drives valuation for assets in financial services M&A?

Compared to more saturated markets like Singapore or South Korea, Vietnam offers growth at a discount. While premiums are rising for established players with strong market share or proprietary fintech capabilities, many mid-sized firms remain undervalued relative to their long-term potential.

Even as top-tier fintech and insurance companies command higher multiples, Vietnam still offers compelling entry points, especially when compared to regional peers like Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

Vietnams macroeconomic stability, favourable demographics, and an improving regulatory landscape are encouraging more assertive entry strategies from global investors. Additionally, the low-interest-rate environment in developed markets continues to drive capital towards emerging economies.

For global investors seeking higher returns, Vietnam presents an attractive mix of competitive pricing, policy stability, and structural growth. A key differentiator is the countrys balance between opportunity and reform, marked by gradually relaxed foreign ownership caps and ongoing regulatory enhancements that support capital market development.

What are some potential segments foreign investors are looking for?

Within the financial sector, foreign investors are primarily targeting these segments. First is digital financial services. With digital payments and e-wallet usage on the rise, Vietnams fintech sector remains a hotspot. Investors are particularly interested in companies with regulatory licences, strong user bases, and scalable platforms.

Second is the insurance and bancassurance segments. Strategic players are eyeing Vietnams underpenetrated insurance market. With only a small portion of the population currently holding insurance, the long-term growth runway is clear, especially for those with tech-driven distribution strategies.

Third is capital market infrastructure. Investments like S&P Globals in FiinRatings highlight demand for credit agencies, data analytics, and risk management services. These are essential for attracting global institutional investors and increasing the transparency of local debt and equity markets.

Across these segments, corporate governance, digital readiness, and regulatory alignment are key characteristics that foreign buyers prioritise. Theres a clear preference for targets that not only offer growth but also demonstrate long-term operational integrity.
The honour was announced at a ceremony on April 15 organised under the direction of Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee and hosted by Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the reunification of Vietnam.

Nguyen Van Duoc, Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee

Jointly organised by Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, Peoples Council, Peoples Committee, and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, the event honoured the contributions of businesses and organisations to the citys socioeconomic development over the past five decades. It also aimed to boost innovation, enhance competitiveness, and support international integration among local firms.

As one of Vietnams top construction companies, Coteccons takes pride in being part of Ho Chi Minh Citys journey to becoming a vibrant economic, cultural, and social hub. Being named among the Top 50 Outstanding Enterprises is not only a recognition of Coteccons achievements, but also motivation to continue contributing to the sustainable growth of both the city and the nation.

Nguyen Trinh Thuy Trang, deputy CEO of Coteccons, receiving the award

"When we undertake a development, we understand we are shaping lasting value  in terms of economic benefit and as a symbol of environmental stewardship and sustainable community development," said Nguyen Trinh Thuy Trang, deputy CEO of Coteccons.

"Each project is more than just concrete and steel; it is a legacy aligned with the countrys development journey. This recognition is a great honour, and also a reminder for us to keep delivering innovative projects that mark the citys evolution, creativity, and global integration," added Trang.

For more than two decades, Coteccons has consistently led the way in construction innovation, delivering landmark projects that shape the citys modern skyline. From iconic structures like Landmark 81  Vietnams tallest building  to high-end urban developments such as Lancaster Legacy, Lotus Tower, The Infiniti, The Metropole Thu Thiem, Eaton Park, Vinhomes Grand Park, Vinhomes Central Park, Vinhomes Golden River, Masteri Thao Dien, Sala Dai Quang Minh, Hilton Saigon, and more, Coteccons has contributed to advancing the citys infrastructure and solidifying its regional and global standing.

Beyond construction, Coteccons is committed to social responsibility, contributing to the community through initiatives that create thousands of jobs for local labour, improve living standards, support education with scholarships and training courses, and partnering with technical universities to develop high-quality talent. The company also engages in charitable ventures such as building homes for disadvantaged families and supporting victims of natural disasters, pandemics, and cancer patients.

Daewoo E&C signs deal with Coteccons to expand in Vietnam's construction market Daewoo Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd. (Daewoo E&C) announced on July 19 that it has signed an MoU on international cooperation with Coteccons Construction JSC.

Coteccons honoured with 'VNR Top 50 Vietnam' award for seventh year running At the VNR500 Awards Ceremony, co-organised by Vietnam Report on January 8, Coteccons was proud to receive the prestigious Top 50 Vietnam The Best 2024 award.
Photo: Duc Thanh

The first project is the Ta Nang wind power plant, which is expected to be implemented in Ta Nang and Da Quyn communes, with a designed capacity of about 100MW. The survey area for is up to 2,234 hectares and the investor has proposed connecting the plant via a newly built 220kV transformer station, linked by a nearly 30km transmission line to the existing 220kV Duc Trong substation.

The second undertaking, the Da Quyn wind farm, will have a capacity equivalent to 100MW and is to be located in Da Quyn commune, covering 3,837ha. The connection plan includes a 220kV transformer station built on site and a 220kV line about 8.8km long.

Lam Dong has significant potential for wind energy development, with just one currently operational wind power plant in the central highlands' province, located in Xuan Truong commune in Dalat city.

Envision Energy Singapore is also finalising procedures to begin construction of the 300-MW Envision Nam Po wind power plant in Vietnams northern mountainous province of Dien Bien in June. The company is aiming to have completed construction by the end of 2026.

The $420-million, 105-ha venture is set to connect to the 500kV Lai Chau transformer station via the 220kV power line in the northern mountainous region. It will feature 60 turbines of 5MW each, providing 900 million kWh per year on average.

Pacifico Energy eyes major wind energy investments in Vietnam Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with Nate Franklin, chairman of Pacifico Energy Group from the United States, on March 12 to discuss wind power projects.

Global Energy Flexibility Markets to Cut 1,100GW of Solar & Wind Curtailment by 2040, Unlocking 2,100TWh More Power Annually Grid operators are investing heavily in expanding infrastructure to adapt to the proliferation of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) and to mitigate the intermittency of renewable assets.
Finland is renowned for its high quality of life and diverse, attractive job opportunities. Could you share your experience in labour market development, as a reference for Vietnam?

Arto Satonen, Finnish Minister of Employment

Indeed, the work-life balance is considered good in Finland. This is very much based on the relatively high level of productivity, which enables us to keep our annual working time at moderate levels.

Our labour market and society at large are based on well-functioning institutions. This means the rule of law, minimal corruption, and large trust in the institutions and public authorities. In the labour market, both employers and employees are well-organised, even if trade union membership is decreasing. Collective agreements set the minimum wage levels and several work quality issues for specific sectors.

We also have a long tradition of encouraging the functioning of the labour market in our political decision-making system. Providing good information on job opportunities and potential candidates and work-related training for unemployed people are good policy instruments. Also, employment subsidies for employers promote recruiting unemployed people.

Its also important to prevent all kinds of discrimination, for example wages and other working conditions apply to domestic and foreign workforces equally. I have outlined some of the distinctive features of the Finnish labour market model, which has worked for us. Vietnam will define its own model, of course.

Vietnam is transitioning from a golden population phase with a young labour force to an ageing population. What do you think both workers and businesses should do to prepare for this change?

This is a challenge faced by many nations already today and in the years to come. Especially in the developed and industrialised countries, the population structure has changed. In Finland, the number of young people entering the workforce has been lower already for some years than the number of elderly people leaving the workforce. Immigration has filled this gap partially.

This is very much the motivation for my visit to Vietnam: we want to increase cooperation with your country so that motivated Vietnamese workers find suitable employers in Finland smoothly. However, this is not enough. We have to consider workforce participation not only at a certain point in time but longitudinally in terms of the length of the whole working life.

In the earlier decades, many elderly people left the workforce before their 60s. Today, we all understand that one should continue working longer. This is also motivated by longer education at a young age. The employment of the elderly population has continued to increase trendwise in Finland during the whole 2000s. And this is necessary. Also, many people work as part-timers on pensions as well. We also encourage people with partial workability to participate in the working life.

For employers, this change means that they need to keep the elderly people working longer, as the number of young people is more limited. This change needs new attitudes from us all. It is also important that the pension system gives incentives to continue at work.

Vietnam welcomed large foreign companies. Do you have any advice for Vietnam on how to prepare a skilled workforce to seize these great opportunities and drive economic development?

This is very much dependent on the specific sectors of the economy where foreign investment takes place. One of the issues that foreign investors consider carefully, is the availability of skilled workforce in the sector and region. Depending on the supply and demand of the workforce in the sector, good quality education is one key to success. This may take many years depending on the level of education.

Investments can also raise new technologies in companies, which may require new skills. Building relevant skills may take different forms, for example apprenticeships and different forms of learning at work. Educational institutes can participate in this process, but it is not always necessary to go to the classroom when learning for new skills could take place at work.

Under the shifting of labour from the public to private sector, hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese civil servants are transitioning roles. Do you have any recommendations for policymakers, businesses, and employees to help public servants leverage their strengths when joining the private sector?

Well, this is a remarkable change. There are specific conditions in Vietnam, but I could make some more general remarks on this issue.

Firstly, civil servants in general are a good workforce with some specific skills. However, the situation could be that in the private sector, the specific tasks will change. Planning types of tasks could suit well for many former civil servants, like good capacity to implement changes for others.

Secondly, depending on the educational background of the civil servants, they have a good ability to obtain new knowledge. Probably some educational measures are needed. Thirdly, it is always good to rely on the market mechanism in allocating the workforce.

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.

New policy promotes green banking development in Vietnam The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) is pushing all credit institutions to go green in terms of banking and credit.
As Vietnam undertakes historic governance reform, transitioning to a two-tier local government system and preparing for provincial mergers, it has a critical opportunity to enhance inclusive governance and policy implementation to address the challenges identified in the 2024 PAPI report.

This includes prioritising digital literacy and infrastructure investment to improve citizens' access to online public services and bridge the existing digital divide. The implementation of the Law on Social Insurance also presents a timely opportunity to expand social protection and improve access for vulnerable populations, ensuring that no one is left behind.

The 16th edition of the PAPI report captures the voices of 18,894 randomly selected respondents from across the country. The report offers insights into national and local governance, public administration, and service delivery in Vietnam.

As highlighted by Duong Trung Y, vice president of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, For more than a decade, the PAPI survey results provide a very useful source of data and insights for local governments to assess their performance, public services quality, thereby developing policies and action plans to improve their effectiveness.

Since 2018, PAPI has been co-funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) of Australia, the Embassy of Ireland, and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Vietnam.

"This is a trusted tool that supports evidence-based policymaking, a platform for citizens to engage with provincial authorities to improve their performance. PAPI has become even more relevant to support the government of Vietnam's effective re-structuring of the provinces," said Renee Deschamps, charge d'affaires of the Australian embassy in Vietnam.

Ramla Khalidi, UNDP resident representative in Vietnam

According to the PAPI report, in 2024, citizens reported greater satisfaction with governance and public administration, highlighting improvements in transparency in local decision-making, control of corruption in the public sector, environmental governance, and e-governance.

However, despite these gains, significant opportunities remain to further enhance governance performance. Only three of eight governance dimensions measured by PAPI, control of corruption in the public sector, access to and quality of public administrative procedures and access to and quality of public services, achieve high citizen scores nationally.

Moreover, disparities in governance satisfaction persist across gender, ethnicity, migration status, and regions. Women consistently rated governance lower than men, particularly in terms of participation and transparency in local decision-making. Ethnic minority groups also reported lower satisfaction across multiple dimensions, while non-permanent residents, especially in migrant-receiving provinces, faced limited access to public services.

At the provincial level, mountainous and highland regions lagged behind lowland provinces in terms of citizen engagement, transparency and e-governance. On the latter, despite nationwide advances in e-governance, a persistent digital divide remains, with disparities in access and usage across gender, ethnicity, and urban-rural lines.

Corruption emerged as the most pressing concern for citizens in 2024, cited by a record 22.58 per cent of respondents, a sharp 17 per cent increase from the previous year. This surge in concern is likely driven by high-profile corruption cases in 2024 and the continued visibility of the governments intensified national anti-corruption campaign.

Notably, this heightened concern contrasts with citizens growing recognition of local-level efforts to combat corruption, as reflected in fewer reports of bribe payments for services compared to 2023. The report recommends strengthening transparency, enforcement, and whistleblower protections as new administrative structures are implemented.

Reflecting an improving national economy, the percentage of respondents rating their households economic situation as poor or very poor dropped to 10.2 per cent in 2024, the lowest since 2019. This notwithstanding, poverty and hunger emerged as the second most critical concern for citizens (14.2 per cent), followed closely by jobs and employment (12.64 per cent).

Despite Vietnams robust economic growth of 7.09 per cent in 2024, economic insecurity remains a pressing issue, particularly for vulnerable populations. The report highlights a strong, and unsurprising, correlation between perceptions of household economic wellbeing and access to social insurance.

The report also highlights the impact of climate-related disasters on citizen perceptions of household economic wellbeing. As climate change intensifies, the 2024 PAPI survey highlights a growing sense of vulnerability among Vietnamese citizens, with nearly 40 per cent reporting direct impacts from extreme weather events over the past year.

The devastating effects of Typhoon Yagi and the increasing frequency of heatwaves, floods, and droughts underscore the urgent need for enhanced and preventive environmental governance. Strengthening disaster preparedness, investing in resilient infrastructure, and ensuring regionally tailored responses are critical to safeguarding communities and building long-term climate resilience.

The 2024 PAPI findings highlight the urgent need and opportunity to advance gender equity, social inclusion, and equitable access to public services through the ongoing governance reforms ,  said Ramla Khalidi, UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam. "These findings offer an evidence-based roadmap, improving citizen-centric governance and ensuring that ongoing and upcoming institutional reform translates into tangible benefits for all Vietnamese citizens.

Public administration performance index of five centrally run cities The 2022 Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI) Report on Vietnam was recently released by the Center for Community Support and Development Studies, the Vietnam Fatherland Front's Center for Research and Training, Real-Time Analytics, and the United Nations Development Program.

Where is environmental governance in FDI attraction? While Vietnam and businesses are moving towards sustainability, hubs of environmental concerns remain in attractive investment destinations, requiring a change in order to become competitive.

Northern provinces notch up e-governance progress The northern localities of Haiphong, Hai Duong, and Hung Yen have made improvements in e-governance, according to 2023 survey results announced last week in Hanoi.
The theme for the 2025 P4G Summit in Hanoi is A Global Partnership for Inclusive, Sustainable, Innovative, and People-Centred Green Transition. What is the significance of this theme to the global climate efforts?

Danish Ambassador Nicolai Prytz

This years summit theme is highly important because it recognises that a successful green transition demands a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach. It is in tone with P4Gs objective, which places people at the centre of change, and implies that there is a strong connection between the green transition and climate change.

From a global perspective, this years summit comes in a timely manner. COP30 in Brazil, coming up this November, marks the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, and coincides with each countrys obligation to submit updated and ambitious UN Nationally Determined Contributions, providing commitments to accelerate climate action and climate justice. According to the latest International Panel on Climate Change reports, it is clear that we must take action now if we are to prevent climate change from having irreversible consequences for the world and its inhabitants.

At the national level, the consequences of climate change are already evident, also in Vietnam. The impacts of Typhoon Yagi and the resulting floods in 2024 caused widespread destructions in the entire country. According to the World Bank, Vietnam is among the most vulnerable countries to climate change. Typhoons, floods, droughts, and landslides often threaten livelihoods, especially in rural areas. Vietnam also struggles with environmental issues, with, for example, Hanoi being ranked as one of the worlds most air polluted cities so far in 2025.

Tackling global challenges requires more than business as usual. Achieving sustainable development depends on fostering innovation through collective action. Governments must set ambitious frameworks, businesses should invest in green solutions, and young people and startups need to drive fresh ideas.

While action from historically high emitters is essential, it cannot stand alone  every country, including developing nations, must contribute. Vietnam has historically been a relatively minor emitter and accounts for only 0.8 per cent of current global emissions. However, rapid economic growth in recent decades has made Vietnam one of the most greenhouse gas-intensive economies in Southeast Asia when measured by emissions per unit of output.

Denmark has been a global leader in renewable energy and green technology. How do you see its role and contribution in shaping global green transition efforts?

Cooperation on energy has formed a significant part of bilateral relations between Vietnam and Denmark since 2009, particularly through the joint Energy Partnership Programme from 2013. With the purpose to support Vietnams transition to a low-carbon economy, Denmark contributes by sharing knowledge, competencies and Danish experiences from our own energy transition.

Denmark, along with the G7, EU and Norway, is also a member of the Just Energy Transition Partnership between Vietnam and the International Partners Group. This initiative initially pledged $15.5 billion, split between public and private funding, to support the decarbonisation of Vietnams energy system.

Denmark encourages collaboration between countries and sectors across the globe, recognising that strong partnerships are essential in tackling climate change, ensuring energy security, and other key agendas. Our contributions through P4G support our broader green transition and climate commitments that make Denmark a frontrunner in the green transition.

The country is also committed to shifting global financial flows from fossil fuels to green investments. We have reformed the Investment Fund for Developing Countries, significantly increasing its capital to boost climate financing. At least 30 per cent of Danish official development assistance now targets climate initiatives, and we actively mobilise private investments.

This year, the P4G summit is developing actionable strategies that can unlock investment for innovative and climate startups in emerging markets and developing economies. Why is this aspect vital for achieving our climate goals?

It is becoming increasingly clear that innovations and climate startups are crucial to a successful green transition, as cross-cutting solutions are needed to overcome the obstacles we face in achieving our climate goals. We need entrepreneurs bringing their full capacity to the table, since these borderless problems require new, innovative solutions.

In Vietnam, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) represent 98 per cent of all enterprises and are absolutely critical in encouraging green growth and achieving the countrys ambitious climate goals. Similarly, in Denmark, SMEs have been pivotal in driving progress on the green agenda where they make up a similar proportion of all enterprises.

Climate startups are of enormous importance because they can deliver the right solutions and thereby accelerate the green transition. Tech innovation, new investment models, and emerging markets are all expected to shape a future where sustainability is not just an option but a top priority. P4G responds to this need by helping early-stage businesses gain access to funding. It has provided grants averaging $350,000 to partnerships and has leveraged about $100 million in investments across 19 climate businesses to date.

As we transition to a green economy, there is a growing recognition that trade activities, environmental protection, and sustainable development are inseparable. In this context, P4G plays a vital role in boosting green and inclusive growth, serving as an inspiration for similar initiatives worldwide. With the global economy moving towards a greener, more circular and more innovative future, fostering opportunities for startups is essential.

Green-digital transition must start with proper mindset Firms are emphasising that effectively implementing green-digital transition strategies depends on understanding the core issues and priorities of the company, rather than merely following current trends.

Dual transition to help firms of all sizes The green and digital dual transition is bringing transformative changes to Vietnams business community, but significant challenges in financial resources and policy frameworks need to be addressed for greater acceleration.
On the last day of March, the domestic subsidiary of Victory Giant Technology Corporation received approval for its investment adjustment worth $260 million, bringing the total funding to $520 million.

Legos most environmentally conscious facility yet has just opened in Binh Duong province, photo Le Toan

A day previously, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for its factory, located at Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park in the northern province of Bac Ninh. It will specialise in the research, development, production, and trading of high-precision multilayer PCB boards, flexible circuit boards, and more. The products are widely used in fields such as AI, large-scale data centres, industrial internet, green energy vehicles, aerospace, and medical equipment.

On March 31, Hainan Goertek Company from China received approval for its new project, also located in Bac Ninh, to manufacture electronic components, printed circuit boards, product control devices, and smartwatches, with a total investment of $270 million.

On March 18, at Song Khoai Industrial Park in Quang Ninhs dynamic coastal economic zone, Lite-On Technology Group broke ground on a new factory.

The complex will cover 30 hectares with a total investment of $690 million, with two factories and one office building. Lite-on Technology is a provider of optoelectronic semiconductor components and power management modules from Taiwan.

The factory will specialise in manufacturing electronic computer components, cameras, wireless network connection devices, power converters, and many other devices.

Potential capital also comes from the connection between international organisations and their clients. On April 3, Standard Chartered Vietnam CEO Nguyen Thuy Hanh said that the group will enhance activities to connect foreign investors with the Vietnamese market.

With a network of several large-scale clients in over 50 markets, Standard Chartereds move will contribute to promoting high-quality foreign capital to the country.

Standard Chartered is supporting the entire supply chain, and we will continue to do so in Vietnam. We bring our clients from the network into Vietnam, supporting them when they have the initiative to invest in Vietnam. Furthermore, we also have a large client base of local Vietnamese companies, and we connect them with our network and support them to expand regionally and globally as well, said Hanh.

According to statistics published by the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Finance, in the first quarter, Vietnam attracted $10.98 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI), an increase of 34.7 per cent compared to last year.

The figure includes $4.33 billion in newly-registered capital, down 31.5 per cent from the same period last year.

Meanwhile, an addition of $5.16 billion was registered for 401 existing projects, over five times higher than that of the same period last year in terms of capital.

Capital contributions and share purchases increased by 83.7 per cent to more than $1.49 billion. The disbursed volume of FDI reached about just under $5 billion, up 7.2 per cent against the same period last year.

Many foreign investors are paying attention to Vietnams investment environment, and have repeatedly shared recommendations to address obstacles and unlock foreign investment flow into high-quality sectors.

Investors are increasingly interested in green, clean projects that apply advanced technology. On April 9, for example, Lego Group officially opened its much-lauded factory at Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park III in the southern province of Binh Duong, marking the companys sixth factory globally.

The $1 billion factory is the groups most environmentally sustainable factory to date, and will run on 100 per cent renewable energy by early 2026.

Niels B. Christiansen, Lego Group chief executive officer, said, This state-of-the-art site reflects our commitment to sustainable growth and innovation, bringing more Lego play experiences to children and our fans in Asia-Pacific through increased manufacturing capacity.

To fully seize these opportunities, Vietnam, particularly the Ministry of Finance, will study mechanisms to lure the targeted investors.

The ministry will continue working with others to address obstacles in attracting overseas funding by further improving the business environment to attract high-quality investment, Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang said. The ministry will also encourage public-private partnerships with corporations and investment funds that have sustainable capital, efficient operations, and strong management experience to invest in strategic infrastructure, AI, semiconductors, and more.

Vietnam's first Lego factory to open in early 2025 Construction and installation works of the $1 billion Lego Manufacturing Vietnam factory in Vietnam Singapore Industrial Park III in Binh Duong has been 90 per cent completed, according to a Lego announcement on November 6.

LEGO Group seeking hundreds of workers to start operation at Binh Duong factory LEGO Manufacturing Vietnam Co. Ltd. is seeking hundreds of workers for its 1.3-billion-USD factory in the southern province of Binh Duong which is expected to start operations in early 2025.
How are changes in domestic policy and tariff policies from other countries affecting the market?

Tran Van Trong, secretary general of the Vietnam E-commerce Association

Current policy changes are taking two directions. Some policies create better conditions to help businesses operate more conveniently through e-commerce. However, there are also many policies that create new regulations in business operations, requiring businesses to quickly grasp and adjust to comply with new regulations.

Businesses that are quick to grasp new policies and have well-trained personnel will have more opportunities to develop in the e-commerce environment. Specifically, from April 1, e-commerce platforms will be responsible for declaring deducted tax and paying on behalf of sellers.

As stipulated, e-commerce trading platforms, digital platforms with payment functions (including domestic and foreign organisations), and other organisations with digital economic activities as prescribed by the government shall deduct and pay taxes on behalf of, and declare deducted taxes for business households and business individuals who are eligible.

The Vietnam E-commerce Association and its member businesses have been invited by the tax authorities to a meeting to discuss plans to implement these provisions. The association and digital platforms also proactively shared this information with the online business community and received a lot of attention and problems from sellers about implementation methods, tax deduction rates for business groups and business goods groups, and tax refund procedures among others, so it is necessary to soon have a detailed guiding decree.

This is also a new and complex task, requiring time and careful preparation such as building and updating technology systems, requiring hundreds of thousands of sellers to update information to comply with regulations. To effectively implement this task, we hope that the tax authorities will coordinate to disseminate and guide the platforms, especially business households and individual businesses. It is also necessary to consider opening an online support channel to advise taxpayers.

What are the investment and business trends in the e-commerce sector amid growing interest from foreign players?

The investment and business trend in e-commerce is currently being focused on by many businesses, both in the group of businesses selling products and goods as well as the group of businesses providing business solutions on e-commerce.

In 2022, e-commerce accounted for about 8.5 per cent of the retail market share, increasing to 10 per cent by 2023. At the same time, e-commerce also contributed about two-thirds of the value of Vietnams digital economy, affirming its increasingly important role in commercial activities.

There are some prominent business trends in e-commerce today: strong application of IT and AI to support operations and commerce; new business solutions applied by many businesses in social and mobile commerce; and businesses focusing on improving customer experience to expand their potential new customer base as well as retain existing customers.

Cross-border e-commerce offers potential for Vietnamese products when they want to reach out to the world. This is also a solution to increase product value for Vietnamese goods. Besides this, the trend of cooperation to expand the market or improve the quality of products is also focused on by businesses.

With the changes in play, what are the driving factors for the development of the market?

According to estimates from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, e-commerce sales in 2025 could reach $45 billion, entering the top three countries with the largest e-commerce markets in Southeast Asia.

Cross-border e-commerce, sustainable e-commerce development, green trade development, and the rapid development of IT applications on business operations will continue to be the factors encouraging the development of the market in the upcoming time.

Moreover, competition between digital platforms will drive innovation and service improvements, benefiting consumers and businesses that sell through these platforms.

Online consumer behaviour and needs are changing every day, thereby creating many requirements for service improvement and innovation in providing goods and products to online consumers. Vietnams e-commerce has grown rapidly, at an average rate of over 20 per cent per year. Many large and small businesses in different fields are interested in joining this playground.

For the group applying e-commerce to business activities, they are facing competition in the quality of goods and services, product prices, and the level of application of IT and AI to optimise business efficiency.

Green e-commerce in Vietnam still faces challenges The lack of regulations and businesses reluctance to engage in environmental protection efforts have made it difficult for Vietnams e-commerce sector to transition to a greener model.
According to Deputy Minister of Finance Ho Sy Hung, a comprehensive revision of the Law on State Budget is, "A crucial and strategic task for the management and application of the nation's public finances."

Deputy Minister Hung made the statement at a national conference to solicit feedback on the comprehensive revision of the Law on State Budget, held in Hanoi on April 11.

The amended Law on State Budget has been developed to fully institutionalise the party and states guidelines and orientations; ensuring consistency and synchronisation across the legal framework; encouraging decentralisation and delegation of authority to enhance proactivity, flexibility, and autonomy at the local level; building upon the achievements of the current law; and amending outdated provisions to remove complexities.

Agreeing with the importance of revising the law, Kristina Buende, head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Vietnam, proclaimed that revising the Law on State Budget is a significant step forward in ushering the country into a new stage of development.

"In every country, the budget law is considered a fundamental legal instrument for economic development, infrastructure building, and attracting foreign investment. The EU believes that this law, if developed with a strong spirit of innovation and modernisation and a sound legal foundation, will help Vietnam achieve sustainable, inclusive, and comprehensive growth," said Buende..

Vu Duc Hoi, director general of the State Budget Department under the Ministry of Finance, noted that the draft law amends and supplements provisions for the reformation of the revenue assignment mechanism between the central and local budgets, aiming to strengthen the leading role of the central budget while enabling local budgets to exercise greater autonomy and initiative in mobilising and utilising resources for socioeconomic development.

Additionally, the draft law reviews and revises expenditure assignment regulations, clearly delineating the responsibilities and powers of each level in budget utilisation, prioritising resource allocation for key tasks-especially in science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation.

"The draft also reviews, reduces, and simplifies administrative procedures, optimising processes related to budget estimation, implementation, and finalisation," said Hoi.

Speaking at the conference, representatives from local Departments of Finance expressed overwhelming consensus for the need of a comprehensive revision of the law, highlighting several bold and necessary innovations.

According to Tran Van Mi, Vice Chairman of Binh Phuoc Peoples Committee, the draft law has resolved many issues faced by localities during implementation.

"For example, it resolves obstacles related to advances from the financial reserve fund, expands allowable expenditures from the budget contingency fund, and eliminates the requirement to develop a three-year financial plan, thereby facilitating both financial agencies and budget-using entities," said Mi.

Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Finance Le Huynh Mai proposed the inclusion of a provision allowing localities to implement inter-regional infrastructure expenditures and to expand support policies for both domestic and international localities, in accordance with the financial capacity of each locality, with decisions entrusted to local Peoples' Council.

Furthermore, delegates made several proposals and recommendations to remove existing obstacles and ensure that the draft law is practical and meets burgeoning development demands.

NA deputies expressed hope that the amended Law on State Budget will receive approval at the upcoming ninth session of the National Assembly, thereby establishing a legal framework that effectively supports budget management, contributes to economic stability and growth, addresses social welfare challenges, and resolves emerging issues effectively.

Financial discipline boosted through state budget agenda With the state budget targets fixed for 2025, the government plans to tighten spending and boost revenue collection, supported by significant borrowing to meet its financial needs.

Hanoi's state budget revenue surpasses projections Amidst the global and domestic challenges of 2024, the capital's economy has maintained recovery momentum, exceeding key targets and achieving remarkable progress across multiple sectors.
Global dynamics are becoming increasingly complex  with shifting geopolitical landscapes, shrinking development budgets, and uncertainties about the future climate policy commitments. In this context, how do you see the future of the global climate movement?

Sang-Hyup Kim, director-general of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI)

Climate change represents the defining challenge of our time, requiring unified global action, despite some governments reluctance to acknowledge it. As impacts become increasingly visible worldwide, citizens continue demanding protection and action against climate disasters.

Conversely, renewable energy has achieved a record-breaking surge in 2024, constituting over 92 per cent of new global electricity capacity - exceeding Brazil and Japans combined capacity - while powering economic growth, creating jobs, reducing costs, and offering compelling investment opportunities as prices continue to plummet.

COP30 President-Designate Ambassador Andre Correa do Lago recently called for partnerships among diverse stakeholders beyond the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change  in finance, subnational governments, private sector, civil society, academia, and technology  to leverage high-impact solutions.

At COP29 last year, developed nations committed to mobilising at least $300 billion annually for developing countries climate action by 2035, with an aspirational goal of $1.3 trillion  a target requiring a significant step up in private investment.

Hence, in these uncertain times, coalitions of the willing become crucial when nations face economic, political, or geopolitical paralysis. Organisations like ours are uniquely positioned to convene transformative public-private-philanthropic partnerships that can deliver the ambitious climate finance needed at unprecedented speed and scale to avert catastrophe.

What actions should the international community prioritise to stay on track?

Scientists confirm that limiting warming to 1.5C remains possible but requires urgent action and leadership on two critical fronts. First, countries must submit ambitious new national climate plans by September that align with the 1.5-degree limit, cover all emissions, and contribute to reducing global emissions by 60 per cent by 2035 compared to 2019.

These plans must provide investors with certainty while supporting a just green transition and the G20, as the largest emitters, must lead this effort.

Second, climate finance for developing countries must increase significantly. The COP29 finance agreement must be fully implemented, with a credible roadmap to mobilise $1.3 trillion annually by 2035. Developed nations must honour their commitment to double adaptation finance to at least $40 billion yearly, while ensuring the Loss and Damage fund becomes operational.

Success requires stronger collaboration across governments, society, and economic sectors. Despite challenges, the rewards of climate leadership are substantial. Green growth is the prize, and this turning point presents an opportunity we must seize.

In what ways can AI drive green growth and climate actions, particularly in developing countries like Vietnam, and which sectors stand to benefit the most?

The transformative power of AI lies in its ability to optimise processes, predict outcomes, and foster informed decision-making. AI has an immense potential to drive climate action. Applications of AI for climate action are multiple, across the time continuum of climate change: from improved climate modelling to mitigation in key emitting sectors, to climate disaster prevention and adaptation.

For example, in the energy sector, AI can optimise smart grids, improve renewable energy integration and enhance energy efficiency. A study from the Boston Consulting Group estimates that proven AI-enabled use cases could reduce global emissions by 5-10 per cent by 2030.

Another key area where AI can support the green transition is through the development of AI-powered measurement, reporting, and verification systems. These systems will help improve the accuracy and efficiency of emissions tracking and reporting, enabling governments to make better-informed decisions when developing their climate policies.

AIs environmental footprint, particularly data centre energy consumption, is a growing concern. How can we balance AIs benefits with its resource-intensive nature?

AI is driving a new industrial revolution with far-reaching implications for decades to come. When deployed responsibly, AI can significantly accelerate green, inclusive growth, making it a new strategic priority for the GGGI.

At the AI Action Summit in Paris, I emphasised the importance of multilateralism and sustainability in AI. AI should function as a global public good benefiting all countries, particularly in advancing sustainable development goals. The environmental impact of AI, especially energy and water consumption by data centres, has also rightfully gained international attention.

In Paris, the GGGI joined the Coalition for Sustainable AI with dual objectives: deploying AI to accelerate green growth and enabling sustainable, accessible AI across member states and partners. And we are also exploring support for greening digital infrastructure, including data centres.

Several Asian countries have implemented green data centre policies and standards. Singapores Green Data Centre Roadmap, for instance, supports sustainable digital economy growth. Access to green, reliable power supply is key for digital investments. With regards to Vietnam, the emerging data centre industry faces challenges from high power sector emissions but also presents opportunities for renewable energy expansion.

Tech giants like Google, AWS, Samsung Electronics, and Microsoft are pioneering renewable energy purchasing agreements, with Google becoming the worlds largest corporate consumer of clean energy. This new demand for clean, reliable power sources can become a driving force to green the power sector.

How do you foresee the potential of the carbon market, and what is the GGGIs approach in supporting development?

Carbon markets are evolving as crucial tools in the global fight against climate change. Domestically, cap-and-trade schemes allow emissions-reducing facilities to profit by selling allowances to higher-emitting counterparts, while requiring careful implementation to balance climate goals with economic competitiveness.

South Korea established Asias first mandatory Emission Trading Scheme in 2015, while Vietnam is making significant progress towards implementing a similar scheme, with a pilot starting in June.

The GGGI has been supporting the Vietnamese government by helping to introduce actors and stakeholders of the Korean ETS to Vietnamese government officials to share lessons learned in establishing such schemes.

In parallel to domestic schemes, international carbon trading, governed by Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, enables cross-border emissions reduction transfers. Negotiations on the rules for the mechanism were completed at COP29.

Article 6 carbon markets have tremendous potential to facilitate efficient climate finance flows between countries and accelerate progress towards net-zero. They build on lessons from the Kyoto Protocols Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and establish robust environmental integrity standards that may become the benchmark for both compliance and voluntary markets.

A global leader in technical support for Article 6, the GGGI has been working for over five years with governments, supporting their preparations for participating in markets, and shaping new ways to scale these up. The Carbon Transaction Facility, launched by the GGGI weeks before the COP29 decision, is a new vehicle to scale up carbon trading support and markets, from 20 countries to 30 by year-end.

Our work focuses on supporting potential selling countries, shaping policy and regulations, strengthening institutions through establishing processes and procedures for participation in Article 6, and developing a pipeline of mitigation activities that could generate trades.

The potential for Article 6 carbon markets is huge. Markets are the best way to incorporate the private sector as solution providers and, thanks to lessons from the CDM, Article 6 markets start from a much more robust position.

We believe Article 6 will be adopted by many mandating bodies or buying countries and even the private sector as the minimum standard for environmental integrity. This will further streamline activities, add to liquidity and therefore scale.

How has the GGGI been supporting Vietnams green transition so far, and what are your priorities moving forward?

Over the past decade, the GGGI has been a key partner to Vietnam in advancing green growth and supporting its net-zero goal by developing catalytic climate projects, mobilising investments, and driving implementation.

By 2024, we had provided policy support to 15 government agencies and technical assistance to over 20 corporate developers including startups, helping mobilise more than $300 million in climate finance.

In 2024, we supported the first green bond issuances of Vietcombank, the countrys largest state-owned bank, and Techcombank, the largest private commercial bank, in partnership with the Ministry of Finance and the Luxembourg government. Similar support was extended to the corporate thematic bond issuers, such as AquaOne (a water treatment company serving public needs) and IDISao Mai Group (focused on the sustainable seafood sector).

We also launched the Accelerating Innovative Startups for Energy Efficiency with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the European Union  the countrys first government-led energy efficiency startup accelerator. Building on this model, the GGGI is preparing to launch a new climate tech accelerator in 2025 with the Ministry of Finance and the Korea International Cooperation Agency, focusing on agriculture and the circular economy.

These accelerators promote startups that apply AI and digital solutions to drive green transitions in these key sectors. In parallel, the GGGI is actively originating projects that apply AI to measurement, reporting, and verification for carbon markets across multiple sectors.

Last December, the GGGI and the Vietnamese government also adopted the Country Planning Framework 20242028, aiming to mobilise $1 billion across seven priority areas. Building on this momentum, we will continue to support the countrys innovation through AI and the digital economy, clean hydrogen, and carbon transactions as part of its green growth initiatives.

Leading businesses key to spurring dual transformation The role of pioneering businesses, alongside government policies, is essential for driving systematic and effective dual transformation.

Wide-ranging support can ensure green-digital wins Digital transformation and the green transition are no longer a choice, but implementation is still a headache for both businesses and the government. Bui Thu Thuy, deputy director general of the Agency for Enterprise Development under the Ministry of Planning and Investment, told VIRs Nguyen Huong about government support for businesses, and the benefits for them.

Green consumption trends on the rise in Vietnam Green consumption is rapidly gaining momentum in Vietnam thanks to increased awareness of environmental protection and sustainability, impacting consumer purchasing habits and presenting both opportunities and challenges for businesses, particularly small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
WATERLOO  Facing a nearly $17 million budget deficit, Waterloo Schools on Monday laid off 19 employees, the first of an eventual 116 positions being eliminated.

The employees laid off include building and district substitutes, custodians and a system specialist. Elimination of the positions was approved unanimously by the Waterloo Community School District Board of Education, with board members Jonathan Cox and Krystal Madlock absent.

Troy Young, a system specialist at Central Middle School who works with technology like fire alarms and security cameras, spoke up at the meeting to fight for his job.

The reason why I think that Im being unfairly treated in this situation is because I got 17, 18 years of experience, Young said, holding a binder of certificates and credentials. I think my job is very important to these schools and the safety of these kids. How can you dismiss somebody with my credentials?

Young told The Courier he was told to start looking for another job in February but received no other guidance from the district until last Friday. He began working for the district in March 2024, according to the district.

Sam Kreassig, the interim human resources director, said the layoffs of 11 custodians and Youngs position were based on seniority. With Young working there less than a coworker, he was the one let go. But Young said he is more qualified than his counterpart.

The districts requirements for the system specialist include a current state of Iowa electrical license, and previous system management experience is preferred but not required. Since certifications are not required, position eliminations were based on who had been working with the district longer.

Their response is, your position doesnt require any qualifications. It took me three years to get certified (with) low voltage tech licenses in Iowa and Minnesota, Young said. The other guy has no credentials.

The credentials and experience of Youngs coworker could not be disclosed since it is a private personnel issue and is an irrelevant question in this situation since certifications are not required, according to Emily Frederick, the districts director of school and community relations.

I meet the police and fire departments in the middle of the night, answer fire alarms, do card access, fix cameras that dont work, but now youre telling me anyone could do this position? Young continued. Thats a lie. I know what it takes to be able to do (the job).

Young said the district has also been outsourcing projects he and the maintenance team could perform themselves.

One example he provided is the installation of new security cameras at East and West high schools. Last year, the district approved a contract with Hawkeye Alarm and Signal Company for $278,200 to install cameras. The funding came from a Stronger Connections Grant, a competitive federal safety program.

He is afraid when he leaves, the district will pay contractors to complete jobs he could do.

When (the remaining employee) cant fix it, theyll call in a contractor and hell spend the day shadowing that contractor, he said. They need a qualified person. Its sad were talking about an education system and theyre saying you dont need education to work here.

Young said the district will be missing out on nearly 20 years of electrical experience, as well as 20 years of experience in the construction trade.

Its a very demeaning and degrading feeling I have every day going to work, he said. For them to act like my whole life means nothing, to act like credentials dont matter (for something) as serious as something as the safety of these kids.

Kreassig said the layoffs of 11 custodians Monday were also based on seniority. Most were second-shift custodians  who work after the school day ends  hired during the COVID-19 pandemic for extra cleaning and safety precautions.

A total of 18 custodians will be cut before the start of the 2025-26 school year for a savings of $1.1 million.

The district said no additional custodial or maintenance layoffs are expected; 94 of those employees remain for the 2025-26 school year.

The last day for Young and the laid-off custodians will be June 30.

Seven building and district substitutes also were eliminated, employees who fill in for absent teachers at East High, West High and Central Middle schools. Over the next two years, the district will eliminate all of its full-time building substitutes. Each building has one person who is certified to be a substitute in any classroom. Those reductions will save $400,000.

The last day for the building substitutes is June 6.

The district previously said it plans to cut four middle school and three high school teachers for a savings of $560,000; 11 librarians for a savings of $825,000; 20 certified and/or classified employees for a savings of $1 million; and four family support workers for a savings of $240,000 for the 2025-26 school year.

All reductions for the upcoming school year must be made official by April 30.

Contract agreement

The district also approved a tentative agreement with the Waterloo Educational Support Personnel for the 2025-26 school year.

WESP staff will receive a 44 cent per hour wage increase across the board, including step movement and longevity  a 3% total package increase.

Kreassig said the increase is in line with the contract approved for the Waterloo Education Association for a 3% increase.

Base wages for the 2026-27 school year will be discussed during the upcoming school year.

When we go back to the negotiation table next year, the goal will be to talk about a less-than-3% increase, which kind of lines up with that whole reduction and budget presentation we had, Kreassig said.

The bargaining unit includes 550 employees.

In other business, the school board approved listing the former Castle Hill Elementary site for sale. The school at 1720 Maynard Ave. was used by the district from 1955 to 1989, and then leased to what is now Central Rivers Area Education Agency for special education students. The AEA stopped using the building in 2013.

No sale price estimate was provided, but Superintendent Jared Smith said there are parties interested in buying the school. The Black Hawk County assessors office values the six acre property at $350,000.

The district also plans to sell part of the former Greenbrier Elementary School at 1554 Oakwood Drive and the Expo Alternative Learning Center at 1410 Independence Ave. Most of Expos programming has moved to the Waterloo Career Center site.
Russian Defence Ministry reports on the progress of the special military operation (15 April 2025)

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.

In Belgorod direction, the Sever Group of Forces have engaged manpower and hardware of four mechanised brigades, a coastal defence brigade, an assault regiment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and a territorial defence brigade close to Miropolskoye, Malaya Rybitsa, Petrushevka, Krasnopolye, and Yamnoye (Sumy region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 90 troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, four motor vehicles, and four field artillery guns. Two ammunition depots and one materiel depot were eliminated.

Units of the Zapad Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. Russian units engaged three mechanised brigades, an assault brigade of the AFU, a territorial defence brigade, and a national guard brigade close to Kamenka, Doroshovka, Radkovka, Moskovka, Podoly, Senkovo, Boguslavka, Novay Kruglyakovka (Kharkov region), Karpovka, Redkodub, Kirovsk, and Yampol (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

The enemy has lost more than 250 troops, a UK-made Snatch armoured fighting vehicle, four motor vehicles, five NATO-made field artillery guns including two Polish-made 155-mm Krab self-propelled artillery system, a UK-made 155-mm Braveheart self-propelled artillery system, and a U.S.-made 155-mm M198 howitzer. Four electronic warfare stations and three ammunition depots were eliminated.

The Yug Group of Forces units improved the tactical situation. The Russian Armed Forces inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of three mechanised brigades, a mountain assault brigade of the AFU, two territorial defence brigades, and a national guard brigade close to Seversk, Minkovka, Markovo, Chasov Yar, Kurdyumovka, Ivanpolye, Yablonovka, Tarasovka, Ulyanovka, and Valentinovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 285 troops, a Swedish-made CV-90 infantry fighting vehicle, a M113 armoured personnel carrier, and a HMMWV armoured vehicle made in the USA.

Nine motor vehicles, ten field artillery guns including two UK-made 155-mm FH-70 howitzers and a U.S.-made Paladin self-propelled artillery system as well as five ammunition depots, two materiel depots, and a fuel depot were eliminated.

The Tsentr Group of Forces units took more advantageous lines and positions. Russian troops hit two mechanised brigades, an assault brigade, a jaeger brigade, an unmanned aerial vehicles brigade, an assault regiment of the AFU, and a national guard brigade near Lysovka, Zverevo, Kotlino, Udachnoye, Preobrazhenka, Bogdanovka, and Alekseyevka (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

The enemy lost more than 335 troops, four armoured fighting vehicles including a U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier, and two U.S.-made HMMWV armoured vehicles, two pick-up trucks, and seven field artillery guns including a U.S.-made 155-mm Paladin and a Polish-made 155-mm Krab self-propelled artillery systems.

Units of the Vostok Group of Forces continued advancing into the depth of enemy defences. Russian forces damaged manpower and hardware of a mechanised brigade, an airmobile brigade, an air assault brigade, and a territorial defence brigade near Bogatyr, Otradnoye, Burlatskoye, and Shevchenko (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

The enemys losses amounted to up to 155 troops, two armoured vehicles, a pick-up truck, and two field artillery guns including a U.S.-made 155-mm Paladin self-propelled artillery system.

The Dnepr Group of Forces units improved the tactical situation. Russian formations engaged a mechanised brigade, a mountain assault brigade, two coastal defence brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and two territorial defence brigades near Novodanilovka, Stepnogorsk (Zaporozhye region), Tokarevka, Sadovoye, Antonovka, and Dneprovskoye (Kherson region).

Up to 100 troops, nine motor vehicles, three artillery guns, two electronic warfare stations, a U.S.-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-fire radar, and three ammunition depots were neutralised.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged the infrastructure of a military airfield, assembly facilities for MLRS and strike drones, a drone training center as well as temporary deployment areas of the Ukrainian armed formations in 144 areas.

Russian air defence means have shot down four U.S.-made JDAM guided aerial bombs and five HIMARS MLRS projectiles during the day as well as 304 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.

In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 661 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 51,866 unmanned aerial vehicles, 601 anti-aircraft missile systems, 22,846 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,536 MLRS combat vehicles, 23,667 field artillery guns and mortars, and 34,127 units of support military vehicles have been neutralised.

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National skincare award a dream come true for Rossett clinic owner

This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Apr 16th, 2025

Receiving a prestigious national award was a dream come true for a cancer campaigner who battled back from adversity to grow one of the most successful skin clinics in Wales and the North West.

For almost two decades, Sara Cheeney, from Llangollen, has been a trailblazer in the UK skincare industry.

Owner of Pure Perfection Clinic in Rossett, the culmination of her hard work was rewarded with the Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner of the Year title at the Aesthetics Awards 2025.

Having won the Best Clinic Midlands and Wales category at the 2024 ceremony  held at Londons Grosvenor House and hosted by TV personality Vernon Kay  she and her colleagues will aim for the treble in 2026 and enter the Best Clinic Team category.

I am completely overwhelmed, said Sara, who suffered with psoriasis as a teenager and ran Pure Perfection while recovering from breast cancer and raising her two children, Tomi and Eve.

I am fortunate enough to have received several awards over the years, but this was the one I held in the highest regard as so many of my peers and mentors have won it, people I hugely respect who were an inspiration to me throughout my career.

This feels like such a huge accomplishment and is a dream come true, after everything Ive been through in past years, so thank you to my amazing team, I could not have done it without you.

With almost 500 entries and 900 guests at the venue, the ceremony brought together the very best in medical aesthetics.

Shannon Kilgariff, editor and content manager of Aesthetics, said We are absolutely delighted to recognise Sara as winner of the Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner of the Year category.

At The Aesthetics Awards, we are proud to stand at the forefront of excellence, with our 100 industry-leading judges deciding which individuals, clinics and companies are shining brightest in the UK medical aesthetics specialty.

Sara is a more than deserving winner for her valuable contributions to the sector.

An ambassador for the world-famous Hydrafacial aesthetic treatment and UK trainer and key opinion leader for Zo Skin Health  as well as recently undertaking Cadaver training at the illustrious Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh  Sara is very deserving of the award according to Pure Perfections Clinic Manager, Marianne Burrell.

This accolade is very personal to Sara, its a big deal in the industry and we are thrilled for her, she works tirelessly not only for Pure Perfection but in guiding and mentoring other clinicians UK-wide, said Marianne.

Reflecting on another busy period for the business, she added: Sara has been gaining further skills and experience and is now teaching for Neauvia, which is further CPD (Continuing Professional Development) on the facial anatomy.

The education side of aesthetics is very important to her as a nurse practitioner, and that keeps us at the forefront of the sector as a centre of excellence and benchmark for other clinics.

That in turn has impacted on our patient numbers, which are as strong as ever as so many people are prioritising their health and aiming to be the best version of themselves, which we will always be here to support.

Visit www.aestheticsawards.com for more information and a list of all the winners. For more information on Pure Perfection Clinic, visit the website or follow Pure Perfection Clinic (@purepclinic and @pureperfectionrossett) on social media.
Welsh Ambulance Service urges public to use its services responsibly this Easter

This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Apr 16th, 2025

The Welsh Ambulance Service Trust is urging the public to use its services responsibly over the upcoming four-day Easter Bank Holiday weekend.

To help preserve emergency services for those facing life-threatening conditions, the Trust is asking the public to consider alternative healthcare options available across Wales before calling 999.

These include NHS 111 Wales, pharmacies, GPs, and Minor Injury Units, which can provide advice and treatment for less urgent medical needs.

The NHS 111 Wales website offers health information, a symptom checker, and a 24-hour telephone advice line to support those seeking guidance.

WAST is also encouraging people to collect any necessary medication and stock up on first aid supplies to manage minor injuries at home.

Additionally, members of the public are urged to check in on elderly or vulnerable relatives, friends, and neighbours, ensuring they have the medication and the support they need during the holiday period.

Judith Bryce, Assistant Director of Operations at the Welsh Ambulance Service, said: As always, we anticipate a busy Bank Holiday period, which is why were urging everyone to help ensure our resources are available for those with the most serious or life-threatening conditions over Easter.

If you contact us for a non-emergency, you may be diverting critical time and resources away from someone in urgent need.

Its also important to understand that arriving at the hospital by ambulance does not guarantee faster treatment in the emergency department

Please make informed choices and consider the full range of healthcare services available to you.
Wrexham Miners Project awarded prestigious Honorary Fellowship by Wrexham University

This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Apr 16th, 2025

In a moving and historic moment, the Wrexham Miners Project has been formally awarded an Honorary Fellowship by Wrexham University in recognition of its outstanding contribution to heritage, education, and community regeneration.

This marks the first time in the Universitys history that an Honorary Fellowship has been awarded to a group.

Traditionally reserved for individuals, this landmark decision reflects the collective impact and spirit of the Wrexham Miners Project and its vital role in honouring and reinvigorating the regions mining legacy.

The award was presented during the Universitys formal Degree Awards ceremony by Professor Jo Yates, Vice Chancellor of Wrexham University, who paid tribute to the Projects deep-rooted connection to the regions industrial past and its powerful commitment to creating a vibrant and inclusive future. Drawing a direct line from the Gresford Colliery Disaster of 1934 to the present day, Professor Yates highlighted how the spirit of resilience, solidarity and progress that defined the miners community continues to live on through the work of the charity.

The Wrexham Miners Project honours the past while creating opportunities for the present and futuredemonstrating the power of heritage to unite, educate, and inspire generations to come, said Professor Yates.

As part of the ceremony, the Wrexham Miners Project presented the University with a Miners Safety Lampa symbolic gesture recognising the rich history of mining in the region, and marking the beginning of a deepening relationship with the University. The gift also reflects the Projects commitment to providing volunteering and academic placement opportunities for Wrexham University students across a wide range of courses.

The Fellowship recognises the Projects remarkable journey, from the restoration of the iconic Miners Rescue Station to its evolution into a dynamic community hub. The site now hosts the developing Miners Museum, vibrant arts initiatives, and inclusive learning programmes that support individuals of all backgrounds and abilities.

Special mention was made of the upcoming transformation of the Superintendents House into supported accommodation Humphreys House named in honour of actor and Wrexham AFC board member Humphrey Ker, whose advocacy and support have been instrumental.

As Patron of the charity, Humphrey was in attendance to give a heartfelt vote of thanks on behalf of the team, On behalf of the Wrexham Miners Project, Id like to thank Wrexham University for this tremendous honor, said Humphrey. This recognition is not only a tribute to our work, but a celebration of the strong ties between our charity and the University. Were proud to offer a wide range of volunteering and placement opportunities for students across multiple disciplines, and were excited to deepen this relationship moving forward.

Our doors are always open. We extend a warm invitation to all students and academic staff to pop over to the Rescue Cafetheres always a warm welcome waiting.

The ceremony also honoured Keith Hett, the last miner to leave Bersham Colliery before its closure, whose presence served as a living bridge between Wrexhams proud mining past and its vibrant future.

Also present were a group representatives of staff, volunteers and activity participants from across the different sections of the Wexham miners Project.

The Wrexham Miners Project reiterated their commitment to its mission: to remember those who came before, and to inspire those yet to come.
In recognition of the Month of the Military Child, Governor Joe Lombardo has formally declared April 2025 in its honor, with the American Red Cross of Northern Nevada partnering in the observance to support military families across the state.

This annual observance honors the strength and sacrifices of military children faced by more than 11,000 military children statewide, acknowledging the unique challenges they face, frequent relocations, changing schools, making new friends, extended parental separations, and, in some cases, coping with the loss of a parent.

Supporting their ability to build resilience is critical to their emotional and social well-being.

These brave kids often bear unseen burdens, such as stress, anxiety, and depression, said Heidi Ruster, CEO of the American Red Cross Utah/Nevada Region. When a service member takes the oath to serve, their entire family is impacted. For military children, this often means navigating unique social and emotional challenges that can have lasting effects without proper support; that's why we are committed to providing the resources and care they need to thrive.

Ruster brings a personal connection to the cause, she's a Navy veteran, the daughter of a servicemember, and the spouse of a retired Navy sailor. Having raised children during her husband's deployments and frequent moves, Ruster is deeply familiar with the trials military families endure. Her leadership at the Red Cross is shaped by this lived experience.

Nationally, the Department of Defense reports there are 1.6 million military children, who move three times more frequently than civilian children.

To support those living in Nevada, the American Red Cross offers several programs through its Services to the Armed Forces initiative:

Free and confidential mental wellness classes for children ages 517, led by licensed professionals, to build emotional resilience.

Family reconnection workshops that ease transitions after deployments and help strengthen communication.

Skill-building programs, including Roger That! Communication Counts and Operation 10-4: Confident Coping, which focus on developing self-confidence, communication, and stress management.

Reintegration planning resources that prepare families for both reunions and future separations.

These targeted efforts aim to ensure military children feel supported, understood, and empowered to thrive despite the challenges they face.

More information about these programs and the Red Crosss work with military families can be found at redcross.org/SAF.

The Month of the Military Child was established in 1986 by then-Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger to honor the immense sacrifices and strength of military children.

It has since become a nationwide tradition, with organizations, schools, and communities uniting to recognize and support the over 1.6 million U.S. military children worldwide.
Reno Police arrested a man accused of breaking into a business after spending nearly nine hours searching for him.

Officers first responded to the Crossroads Shopping Center around 5:45 a.m. near Kietzke Lane and Peckham Lane to investigate a possible break in.

Once police arrived, they say they found a man in one of the businesses; he then reportedly jumped into the rafters, hiding inside the ceiling. The mall was shut down, RPD's negotiators and the SWAT team were called, a perimeter was set and the search began.

Reno Police Department Public Information Officer Chris Johnson says, "I know it was a slow search. We wanted to make sure we were able to effectively search each business to make sure the individual wasn't there, and it was safe for the public to return. During the search we requested the assistance of the Washoe County Sheriff's Office SWAT team."

Johnson says with both SWAT teams working together found the suspect, identified as 34-year old Cody McCauley, hiding in the ceiling of the Washboard Coin Laundry and arrested him.

Police tell us the suspect claims he took narcotics. They had to make a quick exit by breaking an opening through the roof and carrying him out down a ladder so he could get treated by REMSA.

The suspect was arrested for one count of burglary, and obstructing and resisting an officer.

Johnson says, "We have to now conduct our investigation now that this area is safe, determine what was takenif anythingand what's been damaged to these various businesses."

Police do expect more charges to come later as they continue this investigation.
The City of Reno has denied a minor conditional use permit for a proposed Jiffy Lube near Hunter Lake and Mayberry Drives.

Ward 2 representative Naomi Duerr says the permit was denied "because the location selected is already in use as a required overflow parking location for the Raley's across the street."

In a Facebook post, she goes on to say, "In 1996, when Raley's wanted to expand at this location, one of the requirements was that they have a certain amount of parking to account for the loss of parking on site. That requirement is still in place."

APRIL 15, 2025:

The Ward Two Neighborhood Advisory Board held a meeting on Tuesday to discuss a plan to build a new Jiffy Lube on the southwest corner of Hunter Lake Drive and Mayberry Drive.

The meeting ran for close to three hours as there was a lot of public comment.

Developers that are looking to help build the Jiffy Lube were in attendance and did a question-and-answer session to address concerns.

Months ago, the real estate developer Terra Form Companies filed for a minor conditional use permit to build on the land and is in the process of purchasing it.

However, many neighbors are concerned with what might happen if the Jiffy Lube does get built.

"I think it is an absurd proposal, it is unbelievable," said Bridget Harmon.

"Most of the concerns in the neighborhood are about safety because this development does occur in a school zone on a fairly congested intersection that a lot of students use daily to walk to Hunter Lake Elementary School and Swope Middle school," said Dan Harmon.

We also heard about environmental concerns as there used to be a gas station where the proposed Jiffy Lube will go.

Managing partner for Terra Form Companies Elliot Smith declined an on-camera interview, but he addressed a few concerns.

He says the Jiffy Lube will be smaller than usual locations, meaning they will receive less business and cause less congestion.

He also says an environmental specialist deemed the lot safe for a new business to call home.

It is now up to city staff to review the proposal and decide if they want to approve or deny the minor conditional use permit.

Either way, people on both sides can appeal whatever the decision ends up being.

We should have an answer within a week or two, but in the meantime, residents say they plan to have a protest on Wednesday evening around 5:30 P.M. in front of the lot.
Washoe County Commissioners will again discuss the budget for next fiscal year at a later date, after commissioners called today's presentation from the manager's office "vague" and "confusing."

Library funds were a big part of today's conversations.

We heard from a lot of neighbors during the meeting about what they would like to see moving forward.

During public comment, one citizen said, "The library is an essential service for so many of your constituents of all ages. And while I prefer to support increases to the library budget, I am here to support level funding for fiscal year [20]26."

"We have to look at our budget in a whole, and stop burdening taxpayers who cannot afford to live in the area with their families anymore," said another concerned local.

As for where things stand now, the recommended budget for the library is to stay flat - meaning no reductions or increases.

What's left from the library fund expansion balance will also be spent in the next fiscal year.

Some with the library's board of trustees told commissioners they still have questions over how to move forward.

One trustee spoke in front of the commission, saying, "I'll be the first trustee to admit I need a better understanding on how to reconcile our budget and county budget, when balanced against the needs of our libraries to serve all our residents as desired and intended."

Commissioners have agreed to meet again at a later date when more details could be provided - not just for the library, but for all categories involved.
A Yerington man has been arrested on charges including distribution of child sexual abuse material.

An investigation that began in March of this year led the Lyon County Sheriff's Office to arrest 25-year-old Yerington resident Daniel Luke Kidwell Jr., according to a release from the LCSO.

The investigation was prompted by multiple tips received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

The tips received included screen/usernames, email addresses, and IP addresses linked to the reported distribution of CSAM.

Through their collaboration with NCMEC, detectives discovered that an email address was associated with several social media accounts believed to be involved in the preparation, advertisement, and distribution of pornography involving minors.

NCMEC reported that these activities took place between October 2024 and January 2025.

Additional investigation tied a specific IP address to an internet service provider, the LCSO release said. This ultimately confirmed the subscriber's identity and address.

Multiple search warrants were served on the relevant email and social media accounts, leading to the identification of Kidwell, according to the release.

On Tuesday, April 15, LCSO detectives in coordination with the Northern Nevada Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations executed a search warrant at Kidwells residence in Yerington.

During the operation, Kidwell was taken into custody without incident.

In serving the warrant, multiple electronic devices were seized. These devices are currently undergoing forensic analysis.

Kidwell has been booked into the Lyon County Jail on charges including unlawful to use minor in producing pornography and preparing or distributing materials depicting pornography involving minors.

His bail has been set at $120,000.
The Trump administration is reportedly considering cutting funding from National Public Radio and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

According to the New York Times, the White House plans to send a request to Congress to rescind $1.1 billion in federal funding for public broadcasting.

If approved, that could eliminate almost all federal funding for NPR and PBS.

However, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is forward-funded for two years, to insulate it from political maneuvering.
Update (4/15/2025, 7:39 p.m.):

The man accused of setting Tesla vehicles on fire at a Las Vegas collision center has pleaded not guilty to federal charges.

Suspect Paul Hyon Kim faces charges of arson, attempted arson and possession of an unregistered firearm.

Kim is accused of setting multiple Tesla cars on fire on March 15.

Two cars were fully engulfed in flames, and at least three rounds were fires into vehicles.

Kim's federal trial is set to start on June 17.

Original story (4/18/25, 3:30 p.m.):

The FBI and Las Vegas police are investigating after multiple Tesla cars were set on fire at a collision center in Las Vegas.

Today, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department reported that they obtained surveillance video showing a suspect using molotov cocktails and guns to damage at least five cars at a Tesla Service Center.

According to the report, two cars were completely engulfed.

This incident comes amid a rise in nationwide violence against Tesla facilities, thought to be caused by CEO Elon Musk's actions as part of the Trump Administration.

The FBI has deployed its Joint Terrorism Task Force - though what motivated the attack is still under investigation.
The Washoe County Sheriff's Office and Washoe County District Attorney have released an update on the ongoing investigation of Izabella Loving who died earlier this month.

Sheriff Darin Balaam:

On behalf of the Washoe County Sheriffs Office, I want to provide an update to our community regarding the ongoing investigation into the tragic death of Izabella Loving. Our detectives continue to work diligently and with unwavering commitment to uncover the full truth and secure justice for Izabella. We are collaborating closely with District Attorney Chris Hicks and his team to build a strong, evidence-based case for prosecution. This process involves a meticulous review of all available evidence, including forensic findings, witness statements, and the conclusions of the medical examiner. We recognize the profound impact this case has had on our community, and we want to assure the public that we are fully dedicated to achieving a just outcome.

District Attorney Chris Hicks:

Like so many in our community, we are devastated by the loss of Izabella Loving and remain fully committed to ensuring accountability for those responsible. Our most experienced prosecutors are working in close coordination with the Washoe County Sheriffs Office to support a comprehensive and thorough investigation. Once all evidence has been reviewed, we will carefully determine the appropriate charges in accordance with the law. We understand the communitys need for answers, and while certain details must remain confidential at this stage, we will continue to provide updates as legally permissible.

UPDATE - APRIL 9:

District Attorney Chris Hicks issued the following statement Wednesday regarding the ongoing investigation into the death of a child, with signs of physical abuse :

"Like so many in our community, my office was heartbroken to hear of the death of Izabella Loving and the terrible injuries she suffered.

A complete and thorough investigation is critical to pursuing justice for this victim and it is our highest priority. As such, my offices most experienced prosecutors are working closely with Sheriffs Office detectives as they complete their investigation.

The District Attorneys Office will then methodically review the evidence and ensure all legally viable charges are pursued. We will keep the community updated to the extent we can, but are not able to specifically comment on Lovings case.

Generally speaking, initial charges filed in a case can be amended or added at a later date. Prosecutors must meet high burdens of proof at every stage, particularly when filing charges. These additions or changes are often based on results from further investigation, advanced forensic testing or, in the case involving a death, a coroners report or expert reviews.

ORIGINAL STORY - APRIL 4:

The Washoe County Sheriff's Office says a man was arrested for child abuse after a child died on Thursday.

On April 3rd at around 6:50 a.m., deputies say they responded to a home in Cold Springs following a report of an unresponsive child.

Officials say when deputies and medical personnel arrived on scene, life-saving measures were unsuccessful, and the child was pronounced dead.

Investigators say during the investigation, detectives discovered significant signs of physical abuse on the child.

The child's father, Nicholas Loving, was arrested and booked into the Washoe County Detention Facility for alleged Child Abuse Resulting in Substantial Bodily Harm.

Sheriff Darin Balaam said, This is an unimaginable and heartbreaking case of abuse that tragically ended in the loss of a child. Our hearts are heavy for the loss of such a young, innocent life. As we all mourn this tragedy, we will remain steadfast in our commitment to justice. We will ensure that the victim is not forgotten and that accountability is fully pursued.

This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the WCSO Detective Division at (775) 328-3320 and reference case number #25-1634.
Anything that you can cook indoors, you can cook outside on a grill, says celebrated American chef, restaurateur, television personality and author Michael Symon, and hes debuted a new cookbook to show you just how: Symons Dinners Cooking Out: 100 Recipes That Redefine Outdoor Cooking. If you take the cover off a grill, its just like cooking on a stovetop. If you leave the cover on, your grill acts like an oven, Symon tells AARP over the phone on his way to Long Island from Manhattan before kicking off his book tour.

OK, well bite  what about pasta? Or desserts? I will admit that it might be easier to do some things indoors, like boiling water for pasta or baking a finicky cake, but where is the fun and adventure in that?! he writes in the books introduction.

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Symon, 55, who splits his time between Long Island and L.A., grew up in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, and his paternal grandfather, Preston Pap Symon, often cooked for him after school. I remember the smell of kielbasa sausage wafting through the air on Friday afternoons from Pap grilling sausages that he purchased earlier that day, Symon says. Pap lived to be 102 years old, proof that kielbasa and whiskey can lead to a long life, he notes, laughing.

Symon's Dinners Cooking Out: 100 Recipes That Redefine Outdoor Cooking features fan-favorite recipes from his popular Food Network show, Symons Dinners Cooking Out, and brand new recipes. Ed Anderson/Courtesy Penguin Random House Grill With Michael Symon shared three recipes from Cooking Out for AARP members to try: Sloppy Joe Tacos I love Sloppy Joes and I love tacos, so why not marry them together in (un)holy matrimony? Spicy Black Cod With Grilled Lime The longer the fish marinates, the better it will taste, so consider making the marinade a few nights ahead. French-Style Roasted Chicken When you first put the chicken in the pan, dont be tempted to mess with it. Let it sear until it takes on great color and releases from the pan.

Pap certainly inspired Symons love of grilling, but his book Cooking Out was born out of necessity. In mid-March 2020, Symon was scheduled to film a new television show for the Food Network in New York City. While en route, the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown went into effect, and life immediately changed for everyone. Later, when he was stuck at home in Long Island, he sought a way to lift people's spirits. Symon, his wife, Liz, and his social manager Olivia used an iPhone to do a live, unscripted cooking show out of Symons backyard that was simulcasted on Facebook and other social media platforms.

It was hard to get stuff from grocery stores at the time, so we focused on things that people already had in their home or would be easy to get, Symon recalls. The first meal they made was a version of Paps split pea soup. Those videos eventually led to a Food Network television show, Symons Dinners Cooking Out, for which the cookbook is named. Since then, Symons enthusiasm for grilling has blossomed beyond being a summertime indulgence. Now, one might find Symon any time of the year in his Cleveland backyard, cooking over charcoal in his Weber kettle grill or Gateway drum grill. Of the former, he says, I love a Weber kettle grill. Its insanely dependable, the heat flows good in it, its super accessible and affordable. Its a great starter grill.
Wink Martindale, the genial host of such hit game shows as Gambit and Tic-Tac-Dough who also did one of the first recorded television interviews with a young Elvis Presley, has died. He was 91.

Martindale died Tuesday at Eisenhower Health in Rancho Mirage, California, according to his publicist Brian Mayes. Martindale had been battling lymphoma for a year.

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He was doing pretty well up until a couple weeks ago, Mayes said by phone from Nashville.

Gambit debuted on the same day in September 1972 as The Price is Right with Bob Barker and The Jokers Wild with Jack Barry.

From the day it hit the air, Gambit spelled winner, and it taught me a basic tenet of any truly successful game show: KISS! Keep It Simple Stupid, Martindale wrote in his 2000 memoir Winking at Life. Like playing Old Maids as a kid, everybody knows how to play 21, i.e. blackjack.

Gambit had been beating its competition on NBC and ABC for over two years. But a new show debuted in 1975 on NBC called Wheel of Fortune . By December 1976, Gambit was off the air and Wheel of Fortune became an institution that is still going strong today.

Martindale bounced back in 1978 with Tic-Tac-Dough, the classic Xs and Os game on CBS that ran until 1985.

Overnight I had gone from the outhouse to the penthouse, he wrote.

He presided over the 88-game winning streak of Navy Lt. Thom McKee, who earned over $300,000 in cash and prizes that included eight cars, three sailboats and 16 vacation trips. At the time, McKees winnings were a record for a game show contestant.

I love working with contestants, interacting with the audience and to a degree, watching lives change, Martindale wrote. Winning a lot of cash can cause that to happen.

Martindale wrote that producer Dan Enright once told him that in the seven years he hosted Tic-Tac-Dough he gave away over $7 million in cash and prizes.
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Malibu, CA, April 16, 2025 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Blue Lagoon Resources Inc. ( CNSX:BLLG ) ( BLAGF:OTCMKTS ) is proud to announce it has received its final mining permit, clearing the way for full-scale underground gold production at its high-grade Dome Mountain Gold Project in British Columbia. The company is targeting initial annual production of approximately 15,000 ounces of gold, with operations expected to commence as early as July 2025.



With infrastructure, equipment, and personnel in place, and a toll milling agreement secured with Nikola Mining, Blue Lagoon is uniquely positioned for near-term production. Final preparations, including installation of a water treatment facility, are currently underway and are scheduled for completion within the next three months.



"Our team has worked relentlessly to bring this project to the production stage," said Rana Vig, CEO of Blue Lagoon Resources. "Achieving full permitting in British Columbia-where the average timeline can exceed 15 years-in just five years is a testament to our strategic planning, community engagement, and operational discipline."



A Strategic Approach to Gold in a Bull Market



With gold prices recently surging past $3,200 USD per ounce, Blue Lagoon is entering production at an opportune time. The company believes the current market reflects a broader structural shift as central banks and sovereign wealth funds move aggressively into hard assets amid declining confidence in fiat currencies.



"Retail investors haven't caught up yet," said Vig. "But smart money is already positioning for what could be the biggest gold rally in modern history."



As one of only nine fully permitted precious metal projects in British Columbia over the past decade-and with road access, a milling partner, and no need to construct new power infrastructure-Blue Lagoon is set apart from the field. In fact, with an initial capital expenditure of just $3-4 million, the company anticipates generating positive cash flow within the first year of operations.



Future Growth Without Dilution



Blue Lagoon's 22,000-hectare land package includes 15 known high-grade gold veins, covering only 10% of the total property, leaving significant untapped exploration potential. The company's strategy is to self-fund future exploration from production revenue, minimizing shareholder dilution.



Strategic investors including Crescat Capital, Phoenix Gold Fund, and Nikola Mining-who invested $1 million after an on-site visit-underscore confidence in the project's scalability and long-term value.



The Right Investment at the Right Time



"For investors seeking leverage to rising gold prices in a secure, tier-one jurisdiction, Blue Lagoon offers a rare combination: imminent production, clear growth trajectory, and disciplined capital management," added Vig.



To Listen to the Interview, please visit:

https://www.abnnewswire.net/lnk/38Z7Y5RT







About Blue Lagoon Resources Inc.





As of February 2025, Blue Lagoon Resources Inc. (CNSX:BLLG) (OTCMKTS:BLAGF) achieved a major milestone by securing its mining permit, making it one of only nine companies to receive such approval in British Columbia since 2015. With this critical permit in place, the company is now focused on completing its state-of-the-art water treatment plant-expected to be operational by the end of May 2025. This marks a pivotal step in Blue Lagoon's transition from an exploration company to a fully operational producer, with first production targeted for Q3 2025.

About The Ellis Martin Report

The Ellis Martin Report (TEMR) is an internet based radio program showcasing potentially undervalued companies to an audience of potential retail investors and fund managers that comprise our listening audience. TEMR is broadcasted on the VoiceAmerica Business Channel and The Opportunity Radio Network. CEO and company interviews are paid for by those represented on the program.

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Pune Businessman Lured, Abducted, and Killed in Bihar: Cyber Racket Behind Gruesome Murder 2

A horrifying interstate crime has come to light with the abduction and murder of Pune-based businessman Laxman Sadhu Shinde, who was lured to Bihar under the pretext of a high-value business deal. Shinde, owner of Centrifugal Casting Bearing in Pune, was found dead in Bihars Jehanabad district days after he landed at Patna airport on April 11. Bihar Police have arrested seven individuals, including a woman, and detained four others in connection with the case.

According to investigators, Shinde was targeted by a cybercrime gang posing as clients seeking mining equipment for operations in Jharkhand. After landing in Patna, Shinde messaged his daughter that he was heading to Jharkhand. That was the last communication from him. A missing persons complaint was filed by his family the next day in Pune, prompting a joint investigation by Pune and Patna police.

The gang allegedly demanded ransom from Shindes family, managing to extort 90,000 before murdering him and dumping his body in Ghosi, Jehanabad. The mastermind and other suspects were tracked down across multiple districtsNawada, Gaya, Nalanda, and Vaishali. Police recovered the vehicle used in the abduction and seized CCTV footage that helped crack the case.

Officials revealed that the gang was involved in a series of kidnappings and murders across Jharkhand, Gujarat, Karnataka, and other states. Some of those arrested are also cybercriminals with a history of online fraud. The kingpin of the gang has been sent to judicial custody, and further investigation is ongoing.
Demarcus Chandler, convicted in the 2020 murder-for-hire killing of his girlfriend, was sentenced to death on Tuesday.

A Jefferson County jury unanimously convicted Chandler, 27, of capital murder in the shooting death of 24-year-old Raven Swain in a Birmingham park.

The jury deliberated about three hours before handing down the guilty verdict.

After hours of hearing from defense psychologists about Chandlers troubled childhood and possible brain injury from a gunshot wound to the head when he was teen, the jury took only 15 minutes to sentence him to death.

Ten jurors voted in favor of execution, and two jurors voted for life in prison without parole.

Jefferson County Circuit Judge Michael Streety then formally sentenced Chandler to death.

Chandler showed no emotion.

The jury of seven women and five men found that Chandler, who has a lengthy criminal history and is locked up in state prison on parole violations from previous crimes, hired 28-year-old Solomon Minatee III to kill Swain.

Chandler, they say, allegedly orchestrated the murder, because he believed she had ripped him off while he was in prison.

Raven Lynette Swains life mattered.

Moments after Swain was killed in Birminghams Underwood Park, authorities said Chandler posted this to Facebook: God forgive. Papa dont.

Swains mother, Lolita Braxton, referenced that Facebook post when she gave her victim impact statement in court Tuesday.

No words can truly describe the heartbreak my family and I have carried since the day she was murdered, Braxton told jurors.

Raven was more than just a daughter. She was the light in our lives.

Raven was loved by so many people, Braxton said. Her smile, her kindness and her spirit brought joy around us.

Demarcus Chandler, left, Raven Swain, center, Solomon Minatee III, right. (Contributed)

Swain at the time of her death was a sterile processing technician for surgical instruments.

She had a dream. She had plans to go and be a traveling sterile processor, Braxton said.

She tried to change her life from the decision she had chosen to deal with that person.

Her dreams, her plans and her future were stolen in an instant by a senseless and heartless act, she said. Every birthday, every holiday, every ordinary day is filled with the ache of her absence.

Braxton told jurors that her family has been forever changed by the murder.

There is no sentence strong enough to undo what was done, but I ask this court to remember that Raven Lynette Swains life mattered, she said.

The choices of the persons responsible for her death shattered more than just one life. They shattered our entire family.

To Chandler, Braxton said, You caused her death, but you will never erase her. God is in control. Not Papa.

The trial began April 7, and jurors heard from 33 witnesses and saw roughly 250 pieces of evidence.

Chandler exercised his right to not take the stand during the trial, and the defense team did not call any witnesses.

Minatee has not yet gone to trial.

Killers are not born. Theyre made.

After the guilty verdict, a separate mini trial was held to determine Chandlers sentencing.

The defense team asked that the jury show mercy on Chandler and sentence him to life in prison without parole.

They pointed to multiple childhood traumas including a father in prison, a mother who struggled with drug use and depression, a head injury at the age of 6 when he was hit a car while riding his bicycle, and a gunshot wound to the head when he was injured in what he believed to be a drive-by shooting targeting him.

Killers are not born, said public defender Caty Swindall. Theyre made.

Chandler, his attorneys said, also struggled throughout school with writing and reading, ADHD, and changed drastically after he went to prison at age 16 following convictions for robbery and kidnapping at a Birmingham McDonalds.

Each of us is more than the worst thing weve ever done, Swindall said. By your verdict, Demarcus will never leave prison. Hell die there.

Mercy is a gift, she said. Mercy is given to those who dont deserve it.

Chandlers twin brother and his aunt testified on his behalf. His twin tearfully hugged Chandler after his testimony.

Deputy District Attorney Charissa Henrichs urged jurors to sentence Chandler to death, noting that he was already in prison when he not only orchestrated Swains murder but also made phone calls suggesting Minatee be killed to keep him from testifying.

And, she said, he was in prison when he allegedly ordered the killing of a state prison lieutenant who confiscated his cellphone after Swains murder.

Hes elevated himself to the status of God Almighty, Henrichs said. Nothing changes for him if he just goes back to prison. He deserves to die.

She also pointed out what she said was Chandlers lack of remorse.

Have you seen any tears from that man? she said. He smirked when Raven (crime scene and autopsy photos) was shown and thats who he is.

He was smirking in court, Henrichs said, because thats who he is.

Henrichs, Isabella Colombo and Neal Zarzour prosecuted the case.

Chandler was represented by the Jefferson County Public Defenders Office, including Blair Shores and Swindall.

Birmingham police Sgt. John Osborne was the lead detective.

Following the verdict and sentencing, District Attorney Danny Carr thanked the Birmingham Police Department, his staff of prosecutors and the jury.

Make no mistake, the jury spoke loud and clear and about the ramifications of the heinous act committed against that wonderful young girl, Carr said.

I hope the family can get to back some sense of normalcy and honoring her memory.

....to inflict as much pain and terror as possible.

The deadly shooting happened shortly after 7 p.m. on Tuesay, July 28, 2020, in Underwood Park on Birminghams Southside.

Swain, who worked at UAB Hospital, was found unresponsive in her Hyundai Sonata, which had rolled into foliage after she was shot.

She was slumped over in the drivers seat leaning toward the passengers seat.

Her car doors were locked, and she had been shot under the left arm, with the bullets penetrating her heart and lung.

Swain was pronounced dead on the scene.

Testimony throughout the trial showed that on the day that Swain was killed, Minatee sent Chandler a message with a screenshot shot of his Cash App.

Then, less than an hour after Swain was killed, Minatee sent Chandler a message saying, Bruh, we need the money. The work is done.

Following the murder, the Alabama Department of Corrections, at the request of police, searched Chandlers cell and recovered a contraband cell phone there as well.

After obtaining search warrants for the phones and examining them, police said, they found multiple phone calls in the minutes before and after Swains death to one number that they later determined to be a cell phone used by Minatee.

Technology also placed that phone to have been in the area of Underwood Park at the time of Swains killing.

Testimony showed that Chandler texted Minatee at 6:46 p.m. saying, Im on the phone with Raven.

At 6:57 p.m., Chandler texted Minatee, Ill call you when she pulls up.

Then, at 7:02 p.m., Chandler texted Minatee, She out there.

Chandler is also facing a conspiracy to commit murder charge after the home of an Alabama Department of Corrections lieutenant was shot up last August.

The lieutenant, at the direction of Birmingham homicide investigators, was the one who found the contraband phone in Chandlers prison cell that prosecutors say was used to orchestrate Swains murder.

Testimony throughout the week showed Chandler believed that Swain had taken $8,000 from him, and thrown his dope out of a window.

The two had a tumultuous, toxic relationship, prosecutors said, that clearly met the criteria for the cycle of domestic violence.

If somebody crosses this defendant, in his mind they must pay a price, Zarzour said Monday in closing arguments.

Raven Swain paid the ultimate price, Zarzour said. All because God forgive but Papa dont.

Demarcus Chandler (Jefferson County Jail)

Testimony and evidence, much of it through text messages between Chandler and Swain and Chandler and Minatee, showed that Chandler sent Swain to Underwood Park that night under the guise that she was doing a drug deal at his direction.

Raven had no idea she was being directed to her death, Zarzour said. He walked her right into it.

Chandlers defense attorney claimed that Minatee alone was responsible for Swains death, and said she was killed while she was doing a drug deal with Minatee.

Solomon Minatee had no motive to kill Raven Swain, Zarzour told jurors. He didnt know her. She didnt know him.

Only one man had the motive to murder Raven Swain, he said.

Shores, in his closing arguments, said prosecutors had not met the states burden to prove Chandler is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The states case is a bunch of hot air, he said, likening it to a hot air balloon. The case gets bigger but theres no weight.

At the time of Swains death, Chandler was still awaiting trial on felony charges of domestic violence strangulation/suffocation in which Swain was the victim.

Swain had also in 2019 sought a protection from abuse order against Chandler, citing multiple examples of violence including pistol-whipping and shots fired at her car.

That request was ultimately dismissed.

Swains mother testified at trial shots had been fired outside her home as Chandler was leaving and, in another incident, shots had been fired into her home, grazing Swains 13-year-old sister.

In some of the text messages shown in court, Swain and Chandler told each other they loved each other.

Others were more hostile, with one text from Chandler to Swain saying, Ho, Ima try calling one more time and if you dont pick up, oh well.

Another said, Bitch, call me now.

There were several messages from Chandler that indicated his intent to kill her, Henrichs said.

In one message, Henrichs said, Chandler told Swain, Play with me little girl and go get you some life insurance.

In a Facebook message to someone else, Henrichs said, Chandler wrote to that person, This ho going to make me kill her.

Prosecutors also said Chandlers calls to Swains family members and friends in the moments after she was killed proved his involvement.

To Swains mother, Chandler said, Are you looking for Raven?

To Swains best friend, Henrichs said, Chandler wrote, Bitch, you need to get up. Your best friend is in Southtown dead.

How the hell would he know that? Henrichs said. He knew it because he set it up.

Because of Chandlers calls to family and friends, she said, the family arrived at the crime scene at almost the same time as police.

Its horrific that he called them, she said. He had to inflict as much pain and terror as possible.

He took great pleasure in making sure, Henrichs said, that he had something to do with it.
A south Alabama woman is behind bars, accused of using a drone to drop marijuana into a state prison.

Twice.

Andrea Latrice Robinson, 36, of Mobile, is charged with two counts of attempting to commit a controlled substance crime, two counts of first-degree marijuana, two counts of illegal drone operation and second-degree promoting prison contraband.

Alabama Department of Corrections investigators say Robinson on Feb. 27 used a drone to drop 490 grams of marijuana  nearly one pound  into Holman Correctional Facility.

Charging documents state the FIMI drone crashed, and the drugs were found.

Then, on April 12, records state she again used a drone to drop 250 grams of marijuana  more than half a pound, also on the grounds of Holman, a maximum-security facility.

Robinson was taken into custody Tuesday and remains held without bond in the Escambia County Jail.
A Bessemer woman has been convicted in the 2022 killing of a 16-year-old boy who was found shot to death in a vehicle on a Birmingham interstate.

A Jefferson County jury on Tuesday convicted Alexus Marshea Jenkins, a 29-year-old mother and nail technician, of capital murder in the death of Kavas Jemison.

Jenkins trial began last week before Jefferson County Judge Kandice Pickett.

Jefferson County Deputy District Attorneys Jason Wilson and Varian Shaw prosecuted the case. Jenkins is represented by attorney Darryl Bender.

Sentencing for Jenkins is set for July 23. Because it was not a death penalty case, the only possible sentence is life without parole.

Kavas, who just completed the 10th grade at Jackson-Olin High School, was killed July 23, 2022.

He was found in the back seat of a sedan on Interstate 59/20 at the Bush Boulevard exit in Ensley, dead from a gunshot wound to the head.

Kavas Jemison, who just completed the 10th grade at Jackson-Olin High School, was killed July 23. He was found in the back seat of a sedan on Interstate 59/20 in Birmingham, dead from a gunshot wound to the head. (Contributed)

West Precinct officers responding just after 8 p.m. that Saturday found Kavas unresponsive in the back seat.

Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service pronounced the teen dead on the scene.

The shooting is believed to have happened in Pratt City, near Kavass home.

Police said at the time that whoever was driving the red or burgundy sedan was not at the location when police and fire medics arrived.

A short time later, a female showed up at the West Precinct and said she may have been involved in a shooting.

Investigators interviewed her but no arrests were immediately made.

A Jefferson County grand jury two months later indicted Jenkins on capital murder. The charge was capital because the victim was inside a vehicle when he was shot.

Testimony showed that Jenkins had been texting with Kavas for over a month about dealing in marijuana and guns, but they had never met up.

A man was found shot to death Saturday, July 23, 2022, in the back seat of a vehicle on I-59/20 southbound at the Bush Boulevard exit in Ensley. (Carol Robinson)

On July 23, 2022, Kavas asked to buy marijuana from Jenkins.

Jenkins agreed to the deal, Wilson said, and had her boyfriend, Walter Cunningham, drive her to the meeting in Pratt City.

Her text messages to Cunningham indicate that neither she nor Cunningham had any marijuana the day of the murder.

They picked up Kavas and Jenkins ended up firing two rounds, one of which hit Kavas in the cheek and one which entered the top of his head.

Jenkins claimed self-defense, but neither Jenkins nor Cunningham had any injuries, and, although Kavas did have a gun, he did not fire a shot, Wilson said.

They then drove their car with Kavas inside down I-59/20 and abandoned the car on the side of the interstate.

After the murder, Jenkins deleted some of her Facebook Messenger texts to Kavas. She also threw out the shirt she was wearing, which she admitted had blood on it, and claimed to have thrown out the marijuana that she intended to sell to Kavas.

Jenkins had been out on $250,000 since 2022 but was booked into the Jefferson County Jail Tuesday following her conviction.

Kavas mom, Akita Jemison, previously spoke with AL.com about her son.

Theres not a day that goes by I dont cry because he will be greatly missed forever as long as my beats, Jemison said.

Jemison, in an interview with AL.com, previously said she believes her son was set up to be killed. She said he had been involved in fights at school, for which he was sent to alternative school and eventually virtual learning.

About a year before his death, Kavas began taking part in the Offender Alumni Association, a non-profit group that began with formerly incarcerated people who wanted to help with re-entry into society.

It expanded to include a family support group and Youth Career Readiness Initiative with at-risk youth.

Kavas attended the youth program that met on Saturdays and involved mentoring.

I want people to know the steps I took as as a mom, said Jemison, a single mother who has two other children. Its hard when youre doing it on your own and trying to bring up your kids the right way.

It made me sick to hear them talk about my son and what they did to him, Jemison said. He was shot in the back of the head.

You killed him and then you moved him. Yall are cowards because you waited until his back was turned, she said. Whats justifiable about that?
The New Mexico property where actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in February appears to have been infested with rodents that carry the deadly hantavirus responsible for her death.

Rodent feces were found in three garages, two casitas, and three sheds on their Santa Fe estate, according to TMZ. The New Mexico Department of Public Health also reportedly discovered one living rodent and a dead one in those garages.

There was no sign of critter activity inside the house, though evidence of their presence was said to have been found in vehicles linked to the couple. Traps found on the property indicate it was known the area had a pest problem.

Hackman, 95, appeared to have died of heart disease couple with advanced Alzheimers around Feb. 18. Officials said Arakawa died several days earlier from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which is caused by a virus spread by rodents. She was 65.

Their bodies were discovered by authorities responding to a 911 call from someone who identified himself as a maintenance worker. The caller said he spotted a motionless figure from outside the home. Authorities said the couple had been dead for more than a week before they were discovered.

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2025 New York Daily News. Visit at nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The J.B.C-Squared at Cheeseburger Randy's is a double smashburger topped with chopped jalapenos, bacon and cream cheese. At right is an order of "Frings," a mix of fries and rings. Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com

Theres no sign over the entrance, there are five things on the menu, and the dining area doesnt even feel like a building, its more like the space between two buildings. But people start showing up a few minutes before the place opens and half an hour later, its packed.

Welcome to Cheeseburger Randys, a hip and fun little burger joint on a side street in Foley, a few miles from the beaches of Gulf Shores.

Saying there are five things on the menu is kind of stretching it. Theres a burger, a variation of the same burger with Conecuh sausage added, and another variation. There are fries and rings. This is not a place where it takes a while to make up your mind.

When you do essentially one thing, youd better do it well. Cheeseburger Randys measures up.

Cheeseburger Randy's in Foley offers a small open-area dining area tailor-made to serve as a community hangout spot. Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com

The basic Cheeseburger ($8.69) is a big double-decker smashburger with American cheese, pickles and sauce. The Randy ($10.69) tops all that with slices of Conecuh. The J.B.C-Squared (also $10.69) augments its two smashburger patties with chopped jalapeno, bacon and cream cheese.

I started with the J.B.C-Squared. Like all orders, it arrived at the table in a plain white back stamped with the word CHEESEBURGERS, and somehow that seemed to add to the sense of fun.

The once-exotic smashburger concept isnt hard to grasp. When it comes to the classic stereotypical big ol American burger, the standard is a thick, juicy, grilled patty. That concept has been taken to some ludicrous and/or delightful extremes.

But if the part you really like is the supercharged flavor and texture on the outer crust of a burger patty that has been seared on a griddle-type cooking surface, the smashburger gives you more of what you want the most. Instead of one thick patty that has to cook through, start with two as thin as you can make them. Sear, flip, sear again, layer with cheese and stack em, and indulge in a burger that panders to your flavor craving.

It only took one bite to establish that Cheeseburger Randys makes a fine smashburger. Beyond that, this variation showed that it was worthy of a spot on the very small menu. Cream cheese is an unusual choice for a burger, but its smoothness provides a textural counterpoint to all the crispy-crunchy elements, including the bacon. Using chopped jalapenos is a nice refinement. As weve all learned, flavor and heat levels can vary from one slice of jalapeno to the next. Chopping them fine evens things out and emphasizes even flavor over uneven pain.

The J.B.C-Squared at Cheeseburger Randy's is a double smashburger topped with chopped jalapenos, bacon and cream cheese. At right is an order of "Frings," a mix of fries and rings. Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com

The menu does not entirely put your choices in a straitjacket. If you cant choose between fries ($3.69) and onion rings ($4.69), ask for frings ($5.69) and get a mix. For an upcharge, you can add bacon or Conecuh, or sub in a meatless Impossible patty. You can add thin-and-crispy Randy style onions to any burger for free.

Dont ask for Randy. There is no Randy. Alex Warner said that when he and partner Marcus Owens were brewing up the concept, they liked the idea of using a persons name. They thought about maybe Cheeseburger Jennys, after Owens wife, and that did not go over well. So they started kicking around random names.

When they got to Randy, their wives said that Cheeseburger Randys sounded like a place where mechanics would go to smoke cigarettes. So they ran with it.

Marcus Owens, left, and Alex Warner aimed to keep it simple at Cheeseburger Randy's. That's the whole menu on the wall behind them. Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com

Its tempting to say that Cheeseburger Randys has a hipster vibe. But the sense of playfulness seems to draw a wide swath of customers, from local seniors to vacationing families with small children.

I feel like it hopefully hits people with nostalgia of what burger spots used to be, said Warner. Foods supposed to be fun.

That this hip, fun food is happening in Foley comes as a surprise to Warner. His family moved to the town from Michigan when he was 14 and he spent his high school years there. I hated it because there was just nothing to do, you know, its a tiny little small town, he said. I moved to Seattle, came back, hated it still.

Then he moved to Denver at 23 and spent around a decade there, working a variety of jobs in a developing big-city food scene. He said he felt as if hed arrived at the perfect time to see a bunch of awesome chefs pop up. He met Owens when they both worked at Lous Food Bar, a venue opened by prominent Denver chef Frank Bonanno.

I kept coming back because my family was here, he said. We would come back and Id be like, I dont know what it is, but theres something there. And then in 2018 I was like, Man, its time.

Warner made a splash with Bagel Boy, a business he parted ways with in mid-2024. By then, the alluring idea of running a small, fun smashburger place was well on its way to becoming a reality. Warner and Owens opened Cheeseburger Randys on Oct. 18.

Theres nothing new about the idea of smashburgers; there were smashburger places taking off in Denver when Warner moved there. He was drawn to the simplicity of the core concept, but also to the notion that a sublime smashburger offers simplicity with a flair.

You dont gotta put a bunch of [stuff] on a burger to make it good, Warner said. Im tired of biting into a burger that I cant get my mouth around.  We dont want too many competing flavors in anything. Texturally, its like this little dance that you had to do.

Using Conecuh sausage was a risk, because of its tendency to dominate anything its in. Warner wanted to find a way. Even though hes a Michigan native, spending part of his youth in Lower Alabama left him missing the regions favorite sausage when he moved to Colorado.

Whenever we did crawfish boils in Denver, I was like, Man, this kind of sucks. Why isnt this as good? he said. And its the Conecuh.

Owens had sampled burgers made with pork in Barcelona, Warner said, and suggested it would be worth a try. Picking out what sausage to use was a no-brainer; figuring out how to balance it was the challenge. The upshot is that the Randys beef patties are topped with thin slices of Conecuh, enough to bring some flavor without turning the burger into a sausage sandwich.

Cheeseburger Randy's opened on South Alston Street in Foley in October 2024. Other than a small sign that was a gift from a customer, it features no marquee signage. Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com

Cheeseburger Randys seems to have arrived in Foley at just the right moment, as the city develops into something more than a beach-adjacent retail center known for its outlet mall. Foley did kind of wake up, said Warner. I dont think we could have done this exact thing two years ago. I dont think it would have worked.

Theyve made some deliberate decisions that not everyone would make, he said, such as not being open for lunch. There are plenty of places where you can get a good burger for lunch, he said, mentioning Culvers as one he patronizes himself. But people are in more of a hurry at lunch, he said, and that changes the whole dynamic.

Limited, evening-only hours mean Cheeseburger Randys can be a low-pressure hangout. He and Owens can be there at the same time, rather than working different shifts. They can spend time with patrons, rather than answering the phone.

If we make it too big too quick  if we open too many hours, or I put too many things on the menu, it kind of changes what this is, which is just a place for me and Marcus to feed the community and hang out with people, Warner said. You know, thats it.

Probably, every other business person is like, Youre an idiot, he said. Youre not on DoorDash, you cant order online, you cant call the restaurant.

No, you cant, he said. You gotta come here. And thats okay, you know, thats how restaurants worked for decades. Surprisingly, you could get food without the internet, you know.

Some change is inevitable. Warner and Owens are seeking a license to serve beer and wine, and theyre plotting a handful of additions to the menu. Nothing much. Maybe some kind of loaded fries or a full-on poutine. Maybe a cookie-based dessert option. Maybe a soft-serve machine, to amp up the kid-friendliness of the vibe and to open up the possibility of root beer floats and grape Nehi floats.

He doesnt want to lose the simplicity. Similarly, though theres room to expand, Warner said he and Owens arent in a rush to add seating. They dont want to get too big too fast.

Keep it simple, keep it weird, keep it fun, he said. You know, I think we can do three burgers well if we stick to that.

Cheeseburger Randys is at 209 S. Alston St. in Foley and is open 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. daily. For updates visit the venue on Facebook or Instagram.
A set of six Frosty Swirls from Wendy's. Jeremy Schneider | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Wendys is shaking up its Frosty menu.

The burger chain has introduced a fresh take on the frozen dessert with Frosty Swirls and Frosty Fusions.

Frosty Swirls features a lineup of new sauces. Frosty Fusions include sauces and various sweet treat mix-ins such as Pop-Tarts and Oreo cookies.

Frosty has been on Wendys menu for 55 years and is one of the most iconic frozen treats in American culture. Were expanding on our beloved Frosty so when a sweet tooth strikes, the choice is easy for consumers: Its Gotta Be Wendys, said Lindsay Radkoski, the U.S. Chief Marketing Officer for The Wendys Company, in a press release. We know consumers are always on the lookout for new flavors and ways to customize their order with sauces and mix-ins. We cant wait for everyone to experience even more ways to enjoy our iconic Frosty!

Frosty Swirl flavors include:

Strawberry Frosty Swirl : Sweet, juicy strawberry sauce swirled and topped on a creamy Frosty.

Caramel Frosty Swirl: A Frosty in the style of a candy bar.

Brownie Batter Frosty Swirl: A decadent, chocolatey Frosty

Frosty Fusion flavors include:
By 1931, the man who coined the term Jazz Age and one of its brightest fringed flappers had given up the Roaring Twenties and settled into family life in Montgomery, Ala.

Famed author F. Scott Fitzgerald  whose best-known work The Great Gatsby was published 100 years ago  and his wife, Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald, rented a modest house on Felder Street and moved in with their daughter, Scottie, for the winter of 1931-32.

For Zelda and Scott, as her husband was known, it was a homecoming of sorts. Zelda was born in 1900 in Montgomery, where the Sayre family was well-known in society.

In 1918, Zelda and Scott, who was briefly stationed at the Army training facility Camp Sheridan, met at a Montgomery party. According to legend, the young couple met at a Montgomery complex known as Winter Place which included two beautiful mansions that still stand today.

Click the gallery at the top of the story to see more photos.

READ: Scenes from Cottage Hill, Montgomerys oldest community

This photo of Zelda Fitzgerald was taken in the Montgomery, Ala., home that is now a museum. Birmingham News

Stormy love story

Less than a month after graduating from Montgomerys Sidney Lanier High School, Zelda caught the eye of Scott, a dashing, 21-year-old soldier with few future prospects.

Zelda was among the citys social elite: Her father was Alabama Supreme Court Justice Anthony Dickson Sayre and her mother, Minnie, was the daughter of a Kentucky senator in the Confederate Congress.

The vivacious star of ballet recitals and country club dances, Zelda was popular among the young men in Montgomery and at the nearby Alabama Polytechnic Institute, now Auburn University, where she often socialized.

It would take Scott two years to convince his love he could support her financially by working as a novelist in New York. The success of his book, This Side of Paradise convinced her and two wed in 1920.

Their daughter Frances Scottie Fitzgerald, who would later be inducted into the Alabama Womens Hall of Fame as a writer and patron of the arts, was born in 1921.

Zelda Sayre and F. Scott Fitzgerald may have met at a party in these conjoined mansions known as Winter Place in Montgomery, Ala. The North House (foreground) was built in the Italianate style ca. 1870; the South House was built in the Second Empire Style ca. 1850. Kelly Kazek

For a time, the couple was happy but, for the Fitzgeralds, the course of true love was filled with ruts.

By the late 1920s, their often stormy relationship was tabloid fodder and Zelda would soon suffer the first of several mental breakdowns, for which she was institutionalized. Following a period in a Swiss hospital, Zelda returned to America and she and Scott moved to her hometown of Montgomery with Scottie in hopes of living a quiet and normal life.

Time in Montgomery

The Fitzgerald family arrived in Montgomery in fall of 1931 and stayed at the Greystone Hotel until their rental property was ready, according to an Oct. 8, 1931, article in The Montgomery Advertiser. The home where the couple resided is now a museum,

The article said Fitzgerald wanted to go to Montgomery, in part, because the city seemed immune to the pressures of the Great Depression.

The people here dont seem to recognize the existence of a depression, Scott told The Montgomery Advertiser. In the East, even at places where people seek recreation and at parties where one goes to forget the days work, it seemed that I hardly became acquainted with members of the party before they were talking of the depression. Im going to like it here in Montgomery, I know

Informal portrait of F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1937, three years before his death. Library of Congress

But he didnt like it in Montgomery. Scott, a well-known alcoholic, missed his glittering social whirl and soon took a job as a writer in Hollywood. Both left Montgomery by late March despite the fact that they had paid rent through June. According to a May 2, 1932, article in The Birmingham News, the couple left because Zelda was not well. Scott headed to Hollywood. The couple left Scottie in Montgomery with the nannie and Zeldas mother. It was the last home where the Fitzgeralds lived together as a family,

The hospitality extended by the Fitzgeralds during their Winter in Montgomery was delightfulso charming and continental, the article said.

While there, both Scott and Zelda, an author and artist, completed novels. His was Tender is the Night, while she released Save Me the Waltz. According to a Dec. 11, 1932, article in The Birmingham News, The story is based largely on their own lives and that oodles of Montgomerians are recognizable in this captivating story.

Zelda and Scott parted ways in 1934, but they never divorced. Each had some subsequent writing successes but they never again saw one another. Scott died Dec. 21, 1940, and Zelda would die in a fire at a North Carolina mental hospital in 1948. They were buried beneath a single headstone in a Rockville, Md., cemetery.
Alabama legislators have offered initial approval of a bill that would create a state registry of some immigrants and organizations who sponsor them.

The lawmaker who put forward the bill says he intends to stop labor trafficking and abuse of state welfare programs and to recoup costs of immigrants who may apply for state benefits. Advocates say the bill will not protect immigrants and will make it harder for them to find work.

HB302, sponsored by Rep. Ben Robbins, R-Sylacauga, would require labor brokers and organizations that sponsor immigrants, to keep track of people who are placed in Alabama workplaces. The registry would include people who have asylum and humanitarian parole visas. It does not require registration of people on temporary work visas.

Robbins argues that labor brokers, middlemen who agree to sponsor immigrants and help them come from their home country to the United States, need more oversight.

The labor broker term is really a term of art that will cover what I would call shadowy figures, that are in essence labor trafficking individuals, that are leasing people for every dollar that they have, said Robbins.

The legislation targets a small portion of immigrants in the state who hold humanitarian parole or asylum visas. The exact numbers are not publicly known.

Robbins told other lawmakers at a committee meeting this month that the legislation would not impact specific trades or industries in Alabama because it does not include workers with temporary visas.

Weve been able to work through definitions so it would not place burdens on business, he said.

Yet immigration advocates have taken issue with the bill, saying it will do little to address human trafficking and will create barriers to legal immigrants getting jobs in the state.

Asylum seekers already are vetted by federal agencies and must wait 150 days to apply for a work permit once in the United States, said Meredith Gartin, president of the Board of Directors for the Alabama Interfaith Refugee Partnership. Robbins legislation could hurt people who are legally eligible to find work after fleeing persecution in their home countries.

This bill outlines a number of steps that cost that employer more money to decide whether or not to hire this person seeking asylum, Gartin said. Were not talking about big, industrial employers. Were talking about the tire shop down the street.

Robbins said his bill was partly written in response to citizen concerns following rumors about a large increase in Haitian immigrants in his city. The rumors followed false claims from President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance about Haitian immigrants in Ohio eating pets.

Your feedback matters What should Alabama legislators work on during the 2025 session?

Sylacauga city officials told AL.com in September that there were only about 60 Haitian immigrants there.

Robbins said he visited some of those Haitian immigrants and found their living conditions to be poor and overcrowded.

You were supposed to help assimilate these individuals, he said of whoever might have sponsored the Haitians who ended up in Alabama, and help them with some of their basic needs, and youre not doing it. And now the state is doing it.

Robbins said he never learned who the sponsor of those immigrants was, so he filed the bill in an effort to address the issue.

He said the legislation aims to recoup tax dollars spent on immigrants who apply for benefits like Medicaid and food stamps. A spokesperson for Alabamas Medicaid office confirmed that non-citizens are not eligible for Medicaid unless it is an emergency situation. Immigrants with parole and asylum visas are eligible for food stamps.

Immigration advocates also told AL.com that businesses shouldnt have to go through additional red tape to fill jobs.

It is a bill thats very anti-immigrant, and its hiding behind the known issues, but does not offer the real protection needed, said Stephanie Richard, a law professor at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. Richard has worked on anti-trafficking legislation in California.

She said people who are vulnerable to labor trafficking are immigrants with temporary work visas. They may be who are recruited in their home countries by fraudulent people who take thousands of dollars in fees and then lie to them about helping them come to the United States legally. Once those workers arrive, they are vulnerable to further exploitation.

Labor trafficking is not a major concern with immigrants who have parole or asylum visas, those impacted by the Alabama bill, she said. She suggested a bill that focused on protecting temporary workers would do more to address labor trafficking in Alabama.

Since taking office, President Trump has blocked some refugees from entering the United States. He has rescinded the temporary visas that Haitians, Cubans, Afghans and other migrants had to live in the United States due to conditions in their home countries. Those efforts are being challenged in court.

In total, there are an estimated 183,500 immigrants in Alabama. An estimated 60,000 of them are undocumented, according to the American Immigration Council.

HB 302 requires employers to report new hires to the state within seven days. It creates a state directory of new hires.

Under the bill, labor brokers operating in the state must register annually. They must submit a list of all foreign workers, including details about the location they first established contact with the worker and the name of the Alabama employer. They must make a legal commitment to support those immigrants or will be required to reimburse the state for any benefits the immigrants receive that were promised by the sponsor.

The bill has passed the House and Senate committees. It now heads to the Senate.
State Rep. Barbara Drummond, D-Mobile, is the sponsor of a bill to strengthen enforcement of regulation of vape products and the sale of the products to people under 21. John Sharp/jsharp@al.com

A bill to add teeth to Alabamas law that prohibits the sales of vape products to people under 21 passed the Alabama House of Representatives on Tuesday.

By a vote of 89-9, the House approved the bill by Rep. Barbara Drummond, D-Mobile. It goes to the Senate.

Drummond and Rep. Shane Stringer, R-Mobile County, sponsored a bill in 2019 to regulate vape products and sales.

It required products to be placed on a registry before they could be sold.

But Drummond said a lack of money for enforcement has been a problem and said unsafe products are reaching the market.

Vaping is horrible when it comes to our children, Drummond said. We dont know whats in those products.

This years bill, HB8, would create fees for distributors that Drummond said it would generate $2.5 million for enforcement efforts.

The bill would establish the Tobacco Licensing and Compliance Fund in the State Treasury.

It would establish new penalties for distributors who violate the law. A third violation within a two-year period would carry a fine up of to $1,000 and the possibility of a suspension or revocation of a permit.

Small penalties would also apply to those under 21 who are in possession of vape products.

They would include written warnings for a first offense, followed by community service and fines for repeat offenders. Those younger than 18 would have their cases handled in juvenile court.

Drummonds bill would require the State Board of Education to establish a model vaping awareness, education, and prevention program.

The House has passed similar bills by Drummond twice before but they failed to pass the Senate.

Drummond said she is optimistic this year. She said Senate President Pro-Tem Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, will handle the bill in the Senate.

Its a good bill for the health and welfare of our children, Drummond said.
A Brood X 17-year cicada is photographed May 27, 2021, at Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve in Princeton, New Jersey. Brood XIV cicadas are set to emerge later this spring across the eastern United States. Andre Malok File Photo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Billions of cicadas will appear later this spring across 12 states, experts say, as the second largest brood of the noisy insects emerges for the first time in 17 years.

Brood XIV, as its known, is the Greater Eastern Brood, according to the University of Connecticut. The cicadas, which emerge from the ground every 17 years, come out when the soil reaches 64 degrees, according to USA Today.

There are 15 recognized broods of periodical cicadas in the U.S. These cicadas, which are native to the eastern United States, spend most of their life (13-17 years) living underground and feeding on roots, before emerging in the spring to mate. Periodical cicadas that emerge in the same year are grouped into broods.

Once theyre above ground, the cicadas spend a few weeks becoming adults, mating, and laying eggs before dying. When the eggs hatch, the babies head underground to begin the cycle again.

This years brood will be spread across at least 12 states, centered around Kentucky and southern Ohio. The cicadas will emerge starting later this month and into May. Other states where the brood is likely to emerge include Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

What makes Brood XIV unique among periodical cicada broods is that some of its cicadas will emerge in Cape Cod, Mass., and on Long Island in New York. Its unusual for the cicadas to live in the sandy soil.

Shown is a map of active periodical cicadas when and where they will emerge. Map courtesy U.S. Forest Service FS.USDA.gov

Alabama is not likely to see any Brood XIV cicadas. There was only one sighting of Brood XIV cicadas in the state the last time the insects emerged: in Jackson County in 2008, according to a map from the University of Connecticut.

Otherwise, Alabama residents will have to cross the border into Tennessee or Georgia to see the cicadas.

But Alabama is home to other cicada broods. Last year, two separate broods emerged during the spring across the Midwest and southeastern United States. Brood XIX cicadas emerged in Alabama and were spotted across the state, particularly in Black Belt counties and north Alabama, according to a map from USA Today.
Sewage overflow in Lowndes County. After the U.S. Department of Justice terminated a settlement agreement that would address sanitation issues in the county, the Alabama Department of Public Health says it will not resume issuing citations and fines for inadequate sanitation. Dennis Pillion

The Alabama Department of Public Health says it will not resume issuing fines and citations to Lowndes County residents for inadequate sanitation.

However, residents of the rural county are still left in limbo following the U.S. Department of Justices decision last week to terminate a settlement with ADPH to address sanitation in the county.

This is going to devastate a lot of people, said Stephanie Wallace, a resident of Lowndes County and project manager for the nonprofit Center for Rural Enterprise and Environmental Justice. It took forever for the help to come, and for it to just be cut off like that I was shocked.

Improper sanitation is an issue not just in Lowndes County but across Alabamas Black Belt, where dense soil makes it difficult for septic systems to function. Some residents have even resorted to straight piping wastewater directly into the ground, an unsafe practice that can lead to health problems as raw sewage can end up in yards.

Prior to the settlement agreement, residents could have faced criminal penalties, including fines and even jail time, for not having adequate sanitation at their home.

But in 2023, the Justice Department settled with ADPH, agreeing to suspend an investigation into possible civil rights violations in exchange for significant changes: ADPH would stop fining residents for improper sanitation issues and help evaluate proper sanitation systems for Lowndes County residents homes.

Following President Donald Trumps return to office in January, the Justice Department terminated the settlement, in line with Trumps move to end all initiatives supposedly related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, or DEI.

The DOJ will no longer push environmental justice as viewed through a distorting, DEI lens, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon said in a news release. President Trump made it clear: Americans deserve a government committed to serving every individual with dignity and respect, and to expending taxpayer resources in accordance with the national interest, not arbitrary criteria.

Ryan Easterling, a spokesperson for the state health department, previously told AL.com that ADPH would continue to carry out the agreement and install septic systems until funding that has already been appropriated expires.

After that time, ADPH will support and be available to provide technical assistance to other organizations that may choose to engage in this work, Easterling said in an email.

As part of the settlement, the department has asked Lowndes County residents with sewage problems to complete a survey to determine the risk to their health.

Residents will not be cited or fined for filling out the assessment, Easterling said.

But the end of the settlement still takes residents dealing with improper sanitation back to square one, Wallace said.

Since the settlement was implemented in 2023, the department has worked with the Lowndes County Unincorporated Wastewater Program, a nonprofit tasked with tackling the countys wastewater crisis.

The department and the nonprofit have worked to survey county residents and determine the urgency of their wastewater problem, then worked to design a system that matches the geology of their area, Wallace said.

But once the funding runs out, Wallace said, residents that have waited so long for a new septic system, and perhaps completed the necessary steps to receive one, could be left in limbo.

Im just waiting to see what the effects will be on local residents. How will ADPH move forward? Wallace said. Once the funds run out, are you going to revert back to the old ways?

Wallace said she hasnt heard from Lowndes County residents about the end of the settlement. She believes many people in the largely rural county havent heard about it yet.
South African police say a missionary was abducted by armed and masked men as he was preaching a sermon before a congregation in Eastern Cape province. The missionary was identified by family as Josh Sullivan of Tennessee. Facebook

An American pastor who was kidnapped last week by armed and masked men during a sermon in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa was rescued on Tuesday after three of his abductors engaged in gunfire with officials and were killed, police reported Wednesday.

The 45-year-old American citizen, Josh Sullivan from Tennessee, has been based in the Motherwell township branch of the Fellowship Baptist church since 2018 alongside his wife and two children.

The missionary was abruptly abducted on Thursday evening when four men broke into the Fellowship Baptist church in Motherwell. They stole two cellphones from members of the congregation before seizing Sullivan from the pulpit and bundling him out of the building. His truck was found abandoned a few hours later.

A multi-agency task force, including the Anti-Gang Unit and the Serious Organised Crime unit, took over the investigation. On Tuesday night they approached the location where they suspected Sullivan was being held, a house in KwaMagxaki, Gqeberha about 20 minutes drive from the Baptist church.

According to police, a shootout began when suspects in a car parked outside the house tried to escape and began firing at them. Three unidentified suspects were killed, police said.

The victim was found inside the same vehicle from which the suspects had launched their attack, Lieutenant Colonel Avele Fumba said in a statement. Miraculously unharmed, he was immediately assessed by medical personnel and is currently in an excellent condition.

The number of kidnappings in South Africa has risen by 264% over the past decade, police data showed.

According to the Institute of Security Studies, a think tank specializing in Africa, kidnapping has become a key tactic in armed robberies and carjackings. In its latest Africa report, the ISS notes that less than 5% of kidnappings in South Africa involve ransom demands.

Since his release, Sullivan, who describes himself as a church-planting missionary on his personal website, has been reunited with his wife Meagan and their two children.

A man named Tom Hatley, whom Sullivan describes on his personal blog as his childhood and training pastor, posted a picture of Sullivan and his family on Facebook. Explaining that he had received the go ahead to let it be known, Hatley said, Josh has been released.

Thank you for your support and prayers. Please do not stop praying for The Sullivans, his post read.

Also, PLEASE respect The Sullivans privacy and their parents. A lot of folks love The Sullivans, and they love you back, but give them some time.
Jefferson County District Attorney Danny Carr said employing people who are justice impacted can help lower recidivism rates by giving people a purpose. Alaina Bookman

This is another installment in AL.coms series Beyond the Violence," which explores solutions that could make Birmingham safer, healthier and happier. Sign up for the newsletter here.

With a handful of job opportunities, Tyshon Smith, 30, said the Jefferson County Second Chance Hiring Fair made him feel hopeful.

On Tuesday, job seekers with criminal backgrounds were given a second chance to have gainful employment at an event aimed at breaking employment barriers. While anyone was welcomed to attend, organizers said the hiring fair was an opportunity for people with misdemeanor or felony records to confront their pasts without shame.

A line of people with resumes in hand formed outside of the Boutwell Auditorium as more than 600 people attended this years Second Chance Hiring Fair. The event led to at least 200 people leaving the hiring fair with a new job and new hope for the future.

I spoke to about 10 different tables. Everybody was very helpful. The experience was great. Theres a lot of great opportunities here, Smith told AL.com.

A second chance is always great for everybody. It changes peoples mindsets. A lot of people do things in life that might set them back, so this opportunity gives people a better outlook on life.

The job fair was a collaboration between the Jefferson County District Attorneys Office, WorkFaith Birmingham, Alabama Career Center System, 60 local employers and 10 resource providers.

Staff members with WorkFaith Birmingham, a career development nonprofit, talked with hundreds of attendees about free workshops and certification programs they offer. One hiring fair attendee was a WorkFaith program graduate who got a job offer.

Lena Kappen, social services director with WorkFaith, said her inbox was filled with people who signed up for the workshop program by the end of the hiring fair.

We want to help individuals see that they do have talent, they do have gifts, that they are worthy and that they are valuable to employers, Crystal Parker, program director with WorkFaith, said. We are co-sponsors of this event, so we believe in it and we know that it is successful.

Roosevelt Morgan, vice president of workforce readiness with the Birmingham Society of Human Resource Management, gave tips to hiring fair attendees on how to make an impression during an interview and improve their resumes.

Giving people an opportunity, a second chance, could change the trajectory of our citizens livesThese are just respectable people who are looking for opportunity, Morgan said. It feels meaningful and purpose-driven to know that were able to help. I love being able to give hope. And thats what it felt like today: people walking out with a different mindset, a weight lifted off of them.

Jefferson County District Attorney Danny Carr said employing people who are justice-impacted can help lower recidivism rates by giving people a purpose.

I think todays event was important because we understand that there are a lot of people that need opportunities. We know that good people do dumb things sometimes, but should they follow them forever? I dont think so. Should they be granted another opportunity and have a space where they can have that opportunity? Yes, Carr told AL.com.

Giving people a second chance makes Birmingham betterI think if you want to fight crime, you change the trajectory of peoples lives. And this job fair does just that.
Chuck Winborn, an activist and a member of Tarrant Crime Commission, was arrested Tuesday night on a defamation charge against a former police sergeant on social media. Contributed mug shot

A vocal government activist in Tarrant was arrested Tuesday night over accusations he defamed a local police officer in Facebook posts.

Chuck Winborn, who is a member of the citizen-led Tarrant Crime Commission, turned himself in after a warrant was signed for his arrest.

The arrest stems from a video Winborn posted online that shows an officer going into the empty office of Tarrant Police Chief Wendell Major after he was suspended in 2023.

The officer entering Majors office in the video was former police Sgt. Derrick Williamson. He said Winborn illegally obtained the footage and used it to defame him by accusing him of breaking in.

Winborn denies the allegation.

The Tarrant Community Crime Commission, who answer to Police Chief Wendell Major, are not above the law, Williamson said. Although I accept constructive criticism, I will not accept blatant false statements of fact to the public to characterize me as a burglar or thief.

Winborns social media postings do not name Williamson. But Williamson said the footage includes identifying information that points to him.

The charges made against Winborn are a class B misdemeanor offense in the state. Alabama Code 13A-11-163 prohibits people from making false claims of a felony against private citizens.

Winborns lawyer, Scott Morro, called his clients arrest an attempt to silence him politically.

He speaks, and its not always pleasant, Morro said. Hes very critical of the mayor and many of the mayors associates who are helping the mayor to, what he believes is ruining the city of Tarrant.

Tarrant Mayor Wayman Newton declined to comment on Winborns arrest. In the meantime, Winborns bail was set at $500 and he was released several hours later.

A series of legal, political and personal fights has left the town of 6,000 just outside Birmingham bitterly divided.

This latest legal drama underscores a series of political battles that have resulted in arrests, civil and criminal cases involving citizens and elected leaders.

Williamson and Winborn are on opposite political sides. Williamson is an active supporter of Newton and posts frequently in his defense while Winborn supports Newtons opponents, which include the citys police chief and members of the city council. Winborn also blames Newton for the citys dysfunction.

Councilwoman and Mayor pro-tem Tracie Threadford called the case against Willborn a bully tactic that is designed to deter free political speech.

Citizens have reached out to me saying they are afraid to speak out against the mayor or any of his people because they dont want to be arrested, she said Wednesday afternoon. These people are literally afraid.

Threadford is challenging Newton for mayor in the citys August municipal elections. Winborn is among her political supporters.

Questions remain about how social media posts led to an arrest and a criminal charge.

In a report to the Jefferson County Sheriffs office obtained by AL.com, the investigator told Williamson that his complaint was a civil matter. However, he was able to obtain the criminal warrant from a county magistrate.

I never saw a defamation criminal case, so well deal with it, Morro said. Im certainly not going to tell Chuck to be quiet, because what theyre trying to do is shut him up and keep him from talking.

Winborns arrest is the second incarceration of a high-profile activist and critic of the mayor.

A 79-year-old woman was arrested in early 2024, a day after she accused the mayor of corruption and argued with a city employee during a council meeting.

Novillee Williams was arrested for harassment and disorderly conduct but was found not guilty. She was later applauded by council members when she was appointed to the citys crime commission  the same board that Winborn serves.
This is a guest opinion

Recently I attended a networking event for women business owners celebrating Womens History Month. We gathered into a hotel meeting room to drink mocktails, meet with friends old and new, and even dance a little. Why? Because we know we - and our businesses - thrive because of community.

In an era when the demands on our time pull us in so many directions seemingly all at once, the relationships that weve been able to weave together remind us that were not alone. People are rooting for us. The people were cheering on are seeing the impact of voices raised on their behalf. Being in that room reminded me that incredible stories are present all around us waiting to be told.

Thats why our team is conducting the Birmingham Black Business Census. This effort has been in the works for more than a year. Since we launched this January, hundreds of business owners have decided to stand up and be counted. The desire for the data is overwhelming. Were getting requests to see business censuses for other audiences and municipalities. Everywhere I go, business owners and non-business owners alike are hungry to hear what were learning. I plead for patience because were still in data collection mode.

This initiative is filling in a knowledge gap in our city. Federal census participation has been on the decline for years.

CPS Survey Response

The federal count of businesses takes place only every five years. We know that changes in business move much faster than that.

We often get asked, Why not rely on city business license data? Business license data can tell us who has a Birmingham business license, but might be silent on the businesses that are participating in our accelerator programs. They also miss the business owners who deeply identify with the city and its success but are licensed to a business owner who lives outside Birmingham city limits. We want to fill in the gaps.

We are inviting the broadest definition of Birmingham business owners to take the census. Were encouraging owners to take the census if they live in Birmingham, their business is located here, their customer is here, or their heart is here. Were interested in businesses regardless of licensing status. Ill share a personal story here. I moved to a home I had rented in Irondale after I started my business. I got an Irondale business license - because I was still home based at the time - and even met with the Irondale Chamber of Commerce representative to learn more about what they had to offer. It was only months later when I went to cast my ballot for Irondale mayor that I realized my house was actually physically located in Birmingham. Despite my easy mistake, Im still a huge champion of home-based businesses and would love to see them participate. Were want all stages and kinds of businesses to see themselves reflected in the story of Black business ownership in Birmingham, even if youre a business of one.

Were leading this project in partnership with a team of Black-owned, Birmingham-based businesses. We believe strongly in this work to continue to make Birmingham a great place to do business. With the right information at their backs, our ecosystem partners can shape programs, curate resources and engage new champions that speak to the actual needs shared through the Census.

As a researcher, I believe knowledge is the first step to meaningful change. Lets make sure your business is part of the conversation.

The Birmingham Black Business Census is a citywide initiative focused on gathering crucial data about Black-owned businesses in Birmingham. By collecting and analyzing this information, the Census helps strengthen support systems, improve resource allocation, and foster a more inclusive and sustainable business ecosystem. For more information, visit www.bhamblackcensus.com. The Birmingham Black Business Census will continue to run through April 30, 2025.

Autumn Sanders, of Quire Consulting, is leading the Birmingham Black Business Census effort.
The front window blew out debris about 15 feet and the front door landed 8 feet from the house, said rescuer Perry Gooch. Morgan Parker

Over the weekend, a Center Star veteran rescued his neighbor from an explosive house fire in what he said was an act of divine intervention.

Perry Gooch was walking in his front yard in Lauderdale County at around 6:30 Friday morning, earlier than he said he would normally be out and about, when he noticed his neighbor Bobby standing in front of her house, which was partially engulfed in flames.

Gooch said he immediately ran over, knowing that Bobby was in serious danger as soon as the flames reached the propane tanks inside the home.

Im ex law enforcement, ex-military, so it just kicked in, he said.

I ran over and grabbed her, trying not to hurt her, and swiftly took her to the north side of the house.

As soon as they were about 40-50 ft. away from the window Bobby had been standing at, Gooch said he heard a big explosion, like a small bomb.

The front window blew out debris about 15 feet and the front door landed 8 feet from the house, he said.

So, if we would have been standing there, it might have been a different story.

Bobby and her 60-year-old son who lives with her were able to make it out of the fire unharmed and are staying with family for the time being, Gooch said.

She didnt have any insurance, so were trying to help her out financially right now to start over, he said.

Shes got dementia, and her son is in bad shape too.

Bobbys granddaughter, Morgan Parker, has started a GoFundMe in an effort to help.

Shes owned this house for 40+ years and had no insurance, Parker wrote.

More was lost than could ever be replaced. Our goal is to be able to provide both of them with fresh start.

The page has raised over $1,300 so far.

The house also held a lot of sentiment for Gooch as the home he grew up in in the early 80s.

After leaving Center Star to enlist in the Navy over three decades ago, Gooch said he was always waiting for a chance to come back to his roots.

He was honorably discharged in 1994 after having both of his knees replaced, and said he frequently drove through the neighborhood over the years waiting on a home to go up for sale.

This is where we rode bicycles and three wheelers and go karts and swing sets back in the day when kids played outside, he said.

So, when God made it possible that the house across the street from where I was raised became available, I jumped on it with both feet.

After retiring, Gooch said his lifes purpose now is helping his community.

Ill trim their shrubs; Ill go up sometimes in the morning and take folks to breakfast and stuff like that, he said.

He said he believes that every step that brought him to rescuing Bobby, from buying his current house to being in the yard a little earlier than usual, was all part of a bigger plan.

I was just a tool, he said.

Im not a hero; I just did what I was supposed to.

The Florence Fire Department is currently investigating the cause of the fire, according to representatives.
This is a guest opinion column

Over the weekend, the superintendents of Autauga County Schools and Elmore County Public Schools authored a guest opinion column in which they called for the Alabama legislature to level the playing field between traditional district schools and public charter schools by giving districts some of the same flexibility as charter schools and by rejecting the $10,300,000 line item for charter schools that passed 31-0 in the Senates supplemental education budget last Thursday.

Where We Agree

Our organization, New Schools for Alabama, is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that supports the growth of excellent charter schools in Alabama to ensure that every child has access to a quality public education. We work with districts and public charter schools alike to provide innovative solutions that meet the needs of todays students. And we agree with the superintendents bold contention that the state should make it easier to convert district schools into public charter schools. Families in Alabama clearly want and need more opportunities to attend the school that works best for them, and public charter schools have proven to be an excellent option that remains in high demand.

It is worth noting that Elmore County has been a leader on charter schools among districts in Alabama, having authorized Ivy Classical Academy as the first public charter school to open in Prattville. Today, over 600 students attend Ivy Classical Academy with even more projected next year. And while the authors own districts have not yet taken advantage of the states conversion charter school opportunity, other districts have.

In 2019, Montgomery Public Schools approved the conversion of three historically underperforming schools in the district into public charter schools, all of which are overseen by the Montgomery Education Foundation, which serves as a local, independent governing board. And last week, Macon County Schools approved the conversion of D.C. Wolfe Elementary School to D.C. Wolfe Charter School, which will re-open as a conversion charter school in the fall of 2026 in partnership with Tuskegee University.

Where We Disagree

Despite the rapid growth of the charter school movement, over 2,000 students in Alabama remain on waitlists to get into charter schools today. By law, charter schools are open to all on a first-come, first-served basis, but they can only enroll as many students as their charter contract allows. Given the excess demand among Alabama families, we must give charters what they need to continue their success, not starve them of resources.

That is why we strongly disagree with the superintendents call for the legislature to reject the supplemental line item for public charter schools.

As the superintendents noted in their column, public charter schools in Alabama do not receive local tax revenue. As such, they are at a grave disadvantage financially. When combining state and local education dollars, every charter school receives less than its local district. On average, charter schools in Alabama receive approximately $2,700 less per student. Here in Birmingham, the gap between charters and the district is over $4,000 per student due to the absence of local revenue.

For the last two legislative sessions, the legislature has recognized this disparity and allocated additional resources to help. The line item that passed out of the Senate last weekwhile critical for charter schoolsmakes up only a portion of that gap.

When we divide the $10,300,000 line item by the 7,781 students represented in the Average Daily Membership of the charter schools that are included in the supplemental budget, we get a sum of $1,324 per student for each charter school. There is not a single case in the state of Alabama where that line item results in a charter school receiving more money than their local district.

Whats more, the difference in the amount of money charter schools receive is not their only disadvantagethe type of money charter schools receive also puts them at a disadvantage. For districts, local tax revenue is the primary source of unrestricted funds. These unrestricted funds are often used to pay for necessary facility upgrades or for student services that state and federal dollars cannot support.

But because charter schools in Alabama only receive state and federal dollarswhich are almost entirely restrictive in naturethey ultimately have even less flexibility in how they spend their money than traditional districts. Therefore, they are utterly dependent on philanthropy to cover such needs. This is neither sustainable nor equitable.

If the goal is truly to level the playing field, we must be clear-eyed about how far the scales are currently tipped in favor of traditional districts.

Public charter schools are in increasingly high demand among parents in our state, and they are showing promising early results. Despite being comparatively underfunded, and despite having existed on average for just over 3 years, most charter schools are already outperforming their local district in reading on the state test. This year, 3 of the Top 25 most improved schools in the state were charter schools, even though charters schools make up only 17 of the roughly 1,500 public schools in the state. Until we identify a long-term solution for the absence of local revenue, we need our legislative leadership to continue filling the gap. Even if it does not completely level the playing field.

Tyler Barnett is CEO of New Schools for Alabama and Russell Raney is CFO of New Schools for Alabama.
Sen. Clyde Chambliss, R-Prattville, is sponsoring a bill to expand the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles and change how the board chair is selected. (Mickey Welsh/Montgomery Advertiser via AP) AP

A Republican state senator who leads the Alabama Legislatures prison oversight committee said the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles refused for more than a year to answer the committees questions and only began to do so after he sought help from the attorney general.

Sen. Clyde Chambliss, R-Prattville, told a Senate committee about his frustrations with the parole board as he pitched a bill that would make some changes at the board.

The frustrations first surfaced last October, when parole board Chair Leigh Gwathney appeared before the prison oversight committee and gave what Chambliss said were evasive answers to the committees questions.

The real problem in my opinion, is number one, lack of response to an oversight committee, Chambliss told his fellow senators today. And if were OK with that, thats fine, we need to quit having oversight committees.

If were going to have oversight committees, we need to be responded to directly without delay, proper timing, but not some nine to 14 months later.

AL.com has reached out to the parole board for a response to Chambliss comments.

Chambliss bill, SB324, would expand the parole board from three to five members. Like current law, members would be appointed by the governor with confirmation by the Senate.

A key difference, Chambliss said, would be that the board, not the governor, would pick the board chair.

Chambliss said the chair needs to work in conjunction with other board members, not given this position and it doesnt matter what anybody else on the board says.

Gov. Kay Ivey appointed Gwathney, a veteran prosecutor, as parole board chair in September 2019, a move supported by Attorney General Steve Marshall.

Ivey and Marshall began calling for reforms after parolee Jimmy ONeal Spencer was charged with killing a 7-year-old boy and two women in Guntersville after his release on parole in 2018.

The percentage of paroles granted dropped sharply after the Spencer case and fell into single digits after Gwathney became chair.

Chambliss told the Judiciary Committee today that the boards rate of parole was not his concern.

He said prison oversight committee members attended parole hearings one day to better understand how the board worked and did not disagree with the boards decision to turn down all paroles that day.

Those were really tough guys that didnt need to get out, Chambliss said.

So, Im not really concerned about the parole rate. If we have more and more violent offenders, that rate probably should tend a little lower. If we have less violent, maybe it tends a little higher. Thats not my issue.

But Chambliss said he was concerned about the wide gap between the parole rate and the boards own guidelines that are designed to help determine who should be granted parole.

My issue is that the boards conformance with their own guidelines - guidelines that they can write, they can change - their conformance is 20% to their own guidelines, Chambliss said.

If we write the rules, we need to abide by the rules.

Chambliss said the prison oversight committee wanted to understand why the parole board did not follow its guidelines and had not followed a state law to revise the guidelines.

If were not going to abide by the rules, we need to change the rules, because we have the power to do that, the senator said. Not only do we have the power to do that. The Legislature has directed that to be done.

AL.com spent last year delving into Alabamas broken parole system , a system that had all but stopped releasing eligible prisoners in 2023.

But Alabamas parole rate dramatically shifted as the year progressed, rising at the end of 2024 to 20% and so far hitting an average of 23% in 2025.

In 2023, the states parole rate was just 8%  despite the parole boards own criteria showing about 80% of the eligible inmates should be let out.

The chairperson even denied parole to a quadriplegic inmate who couldnt speak and denied another inmate who had died a week earlier.

Read more: Denied: Alabamas broken parole system

The Judiciary Committee approved Chambliss bill on an 8-3 vote. That moves it into position for consideration by the full Senate.

Besides expanding the board and changing how the chair is picked, the bill would change how long some inmates have to wait for another hearing after being turned down for parole.

Under the bill, inmates serving a life sentence (with the possibility of parole) for a violent felony could wait up to 10 years for another hearing. The current maximum wait is five years.

There are people in prison that we know were not going to let out, Chambliss said. Yet, victims and families have to go through this every five years, reliving all of that.

The prison oversight committees scrutiny of the parole board followed a December 2023 public hearing where relatives of men and women in Alabama prisons described their loved ones being beaten, raped, and killed while incarcerated by the state and the difficulty of getting answers from the prison system, as well as concerns about the parole board.

Honestly, that was a difficult meeting, Chambliss said.

We were hearing some things that we dont want to hear. But we are required by law, the law that we passed, to have those hearings, and we did.

Chambliss sponsored legislation last year to create a unit at the Department of Corrections specifically to respond to families seeking information about relatives who may have been assaulted or injured behind bars.

Chambliss said the oversight committee met with the parole board in February 2024 to follow up on some of the families comments from the public hearing.

Thats when the board asked Gwathney and the board questions, which were put in writing, Chambliss said.

But Chambliss said as of March 2025, the committee still had no answers.

So he consulted with the attorney general, and soon received a memo dated November 2024 that restated the questions and started to provide some answers.

Im not sure why we never received that memo, Chambliss said.

For us not to get the answers to our questions is a real problem, in my opinion, he said.

AL.coms Ivana Hrynkiw contributed to this report.
Former U.S. President Joe Biden speaks at the Advocates, Counselors, and Representatives for the Disabled conference in Chicago, Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) AP

He didnt mention them by their names, but former President Joe Biden criticized his successor and billionaire Elon Musk over claims that 300-year-old folk are collecting Social Security.

In his first major speech since leaving office focused on protecting Social Security, the 82-year-old Biden referenced his age while attacking President Donald Trump and Musk for contending benefits are being paid to people older than the existence of the United States.

By the way, those 300-year-old folk getting that Social Security, I want to meet them, because Id like to figure out how they do that, Biden said Tuesday night at the national conference of Advocates, Counselors and Representatives for the Disabled in Chicago, according to CNN. Hell of a thing man, Im looking for longevity. Cause its hell when you turn 40 years old.

The debunked claim has been used as rationale to cut Social Security.

Meanwhile, the former president said Trump and Musk are harming Social Security.

In fewer than 100 days, this new administration has done so much damage and so much destruction. Its kind of breathtaking, Biden said, according to the Associated Press. Theyve taken a hatchet to the Social Security Administration.

Bidens defense of Social Security came as Democrats have increasingly focused on Trumps turbulent leadership over the popular government agency that provides benefits to more than 70 million Americans.

Speaking before a crowd of roughly 200 people, Biden largely stuck to his prepared remarks but also rambled at times as he told stories about growing up with working-class people.

He referred to the Republican president only as this guy. Trump, by contrast, continues to blame Biden for many of the nations problems and often attacks his predecessor by name.

Conservatives immediately seized upon a Biden reference to the countrys political divisions as an attack on Trump supporters.

We cant go on like this as a divided nation, as divided as we are, Biden said. As I said, Ive been doing this a long time. Its never been this divided. Granted, its roughly 30%, but its a 30% that has no heart.

The Associated Press contributed to this reprot.
Veronica Ayala, right, and other members of the Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice gather outside the Alabama State House after a committee approved a bill they say would unfairly target immigrant families. (Mike Cason/mcason@al.com)

A bill to create an Alabama law against human smuggling moved a step closer to passing today, winning approval by a committee after some changes to address claims that it would criminalize acts of kindness such as giving an undocumented immigrant a ride for medical care.

It is one of several bills backed by lawmakers who want state laws that they say would provide state officials more tools to complement President Trumps promises to crack down on illegal immigration.

SB53 by Sen. Wes Kitchens, R-Arab, says, A person commits the crime of human smuggling if he or she knowingly transports into this state another individual if he or she knows is an illegal alien.

Opponents of the bill said at a public hearing last week that it would put families who cross state lines for medical care, court hearings, work, and other obligations at risk of prosecution. Human smuggling would be a Class C felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Today, the House Judiciary Committee added three new exceptions before approving the bill on a voice vote.

The exceptions, added in an amendment by Rep. Ben Robbins, R-Sylacauga, would apply to healthcare providers, such as ambulance drivers; people acting on behalf of religious and charitable organizations; and travel across state lines for governmental purposes, such as a court hearing.

Another exception already in the bill applies to educators, such as teachers or bus drivers who carry students across state lines on a field trip.

Kitchens supported adding the exceptions and said they follow previous revisions he has made to his bill since he first introduced it.

We just want to make sure if we have more and more exemptions that it doesnt create a lot of loopholes there, to protect not only the citizens of Alabama but also the people that are immigrating here legally and doing everything the right way, Kitchens said.

Kitchens said he believes medical providers, such as ambulance drivers, would already have been exempt from the human smuggling prohibition because they would not know a patients immigration status.

The exemption for religious organizations comes after objections that the bill was at odds with Christian principles like the commitment to helping neighbors and strangers exemplified by the Good Samaritan parable in the Bible.

Members of the Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice were on hand for Wednesdays committee meeting, as they have been at previous meetings on the bill and other immigration legislation.

Veronica Ayala of Jemison, a community organizer for the ACIJ, said the exemptions do not resolve the problems that the bill will cause for families who have loved ones or friends who are or who might be undocumented.

I dont think it takes care of the normal family living within Alabama who take trips outside of the state, who now have to question their family, their friends, their childrens friends if they want to go on a family vacation and invite some of their friends, Ayala said.

The bill, should it become law, will cause problems for businesses and workers in construction and landscaping, for example, who do jobs outside the state and return to Alabama.

Ayala said it is disappointing that state lawmakers are not representing the interests of immigrants who have made Alabama their home for decades.

Theres people that have been here 25 years, 30 years, who have made a living, who have bought houses, who have put their children through college, and theyre not dangerous at all, Ayala said. They abide by all the laws. They pay taxes. Theyve done everything.

We are part of the community.

In addition to establishing the crime of human smuggling, Kitchens said SB53 would give state and local law enforcement more authority to verify the legal status of people who are arrested and jailed for other reasons.

Kitchens said the bill has a purpose similar to the Laken Riley Act, the first bill President Trump signed into law during his new term.

That bill, sponsored by Alabama U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, expanded the mandatory detention of immigrants who are in the country illegally and commit crimes.

The Alabama Senate passed Kitchens bill in February.

Approval by the committee today puts the bill in position for a vote by the full House of Representatives as early as next week.
Jimmy Kimmel was asked in a new Rolling Stone interview about what is acceptable in comedy today, which prompted the ABC late-night host to say that increasingly attacking what comedians can or cant say is one of the reasons Donald Trump is president again.

I dont put limits on what I laugh at, Kimmel said.

But for me personally, as Ive grown older, as Ive matured, I wont make a joke that I wouldnt make if a person of that color or persuasion was in the room. Thats how I look at it. I think a lot of the outrage is completely manufactured, and its like, a lot of these people who are angry arent really angry. I think these liberals whove done such a good job of viciously attacking comedians are a big part of the reason why Trump is the president right now.

Asked to clarify what he meant, Kimmel continued, I just think human beings in general, when you see something that makes you laugh and you see a bunch of other people laughing, and then somebody steps in with their arms folded and goes, Thats not funny, and heres why thats not funny, it just doesnt give you a good feeling about a person. And you want to say to that person, Lighten up. Theres no black and white when it comes to comedy. There is no line. The line is different for every person. Dave Chappelle can say things that somebody else might not be able to. I dont think anybody should be canceled. I really dont.

Kimmel is one of Hollywoods most outspoken critics of Trump, often using his late-night monologues to eviscerate the presidents behavior and lawmaking.

Rolling Stone ran a story in 2023 that reported the Trump administration allegedly called ABCs parent company Disney over Kimmels Trump jokes. The White House reportedly wanted Disney to rein in Kimmel.

I think its funny, Kimmel now reacted to the report.

I like when he admits Im bothering him. Here at the show, where we put a lot of work into lampooning him, for him to acknowledge our work is one of the few things he does that I appreciate. If he ignored us, it wouldnt be as much fun.

Kimmel admitted that part of the reason he refuses to let up on Trump jokes is because he is still shocked America elected him in the first place.

It was 2016, and I had Hillary Clinton on, he remembered.

I said to Hillary during a commercial break, I hope Trump gets the nomination. I think hell be a slam-dunk for you. And she said, Be careful what you wish for. Im not in the group of people who thought he might win. Listen, when O.J. was found not guilty, I was just absolutely shocked. I had that same feeling. I had this faith in America that was shaken, and I still am not over it. I thought that when it comes down to it, this country, we do the right thing. Thats obviously in the past.

Head over to Rolling Stones website to read Kimmels latest interview in its entirety.

 2025 Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC
A lifelong Alabama Republican and former two-time Donald Trump voter who bashed the president at last summers Democratic National Convention attacked Sen. Tommy Tubervilles residency while announcing a Senate run in 2026.

Its time to send Tommy Tuberville back to Florida and send someone to Washington who will actually fight for Alabama, Kyle Sweetser, a small businessman from Mobile, tweeted Tuesday while posting an ad introducing himself to Alabama voters.

Sweetsers ad included a 2017 clip of Tuberville saying he moved to Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. What a great place to live.

Tommy Tuberville  he doesnt get it," Sweetser said in the ad. He doesnt even live in Alabama.

The subject of Tubervilles residency came up during the race for the Republican nomination for Senate in 2020, Tubervilles first run for public office.

Former Sen. Jeff Sessions, who challenged Tuberville in the race, raised the issue of Tubervilles residential property in the Florida panhandle.

AL.com reported at that time that Tuberville and his wife, Suzanne, were both registered voters in Alabama, according to the Alabama Secretary of States Office. They also had owned a house in Auburn since March 31, 2017, according to Lee County property records reviewed by AL.com.

But by July 2023, the Tubervilles did not own a single square foot of property in Alabama after selling parcels in Macon and Tallapoosa counties for $1.4 million, according to a Washington Post report

And while a spokesman for Alabamas senior senator maintained to the Post that Tubervilles primary residence is an Auburn house owned by his wife and son, campaign finance documents and property records suggest Tubervilles main home is in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, the paper reported.

See also: Tubervilles residency raises questions, but do Alabama voters care?

While Tuberville has said he would run for re-election in 2026, the senator hasnt ruled out leaving Washington for the governors mansion in Montgomery.

Sweetser also slammed Alabamas senior senator for reneging on his promise to donate every dime I make to the veterans of the state of Alabama, for holding up hundreds of military nominations and touting funding for Mobiles I-10 Bridge despite voting against the bill that earmarked that money.

He is not working for us, Sweetser said.

A spokeswoman for Tuberville could not be reached for the senators response to Sweetsers ad.

The small business owner portrayed himself as just a regular guy whos lived in Alabama my whole life. I want my children and your children to do better than what weve done.

Sweetser landed a primetime speaking slot at the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, where he announced his support for Kamala Harris after voting for Trump in 2016 and 2020.

The lifelong Republican said MAGA began harassing him and his family over his outspokenness against Trump, which started after the presidents 2018 tariffs began harming his business.

As far as living a conservative lifestyle, Im one of the most conservative people you could know, Sweetser said at the time. Our kids are homeschooled  I have more guns than family members, and Im still backing Kamala Harris out of principle."

Sweetser is running for Senate as a Democrat, according to paperwork he filed with the Federal Election Commission.

In the video released Tuesday, Sweetser said he was running to save the American Dream to the next generation.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer walks near the Senate chamber, as the Senate works to avert a partial government shutdown ahead of the midnight deadline, at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) AP

A prominent Democrat is plunging in popularity.

More than half of Americans -- 51% -- have an unfavorable view of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York compared to just 23% who view the senator favorably -- a 10% spike in unpopularity since late January, according to an Economist/YouGov poll released Wednesday.

NEW Economist/YouGov Poll, Apr 13-15

23% of U.S. adult citizens have a favorable view of Chuck Schumer

51% have an unfavorable view

At the start of Trump's second term, 30% were favorable toward Schumer and 41% were unfavorable

(Links in reply) pic.twitter.com/xPDHMMKXfZ  YouGov America (@YouGovAmerica) April 16, 2025

Only Elon Musk -- at 55% -- had a worse unfavorable rating than Schumer in the Economist/YouGov poll.

In a Harvard University Center for American Politics/Harris poll released earlier this week, Schumer had lower unfavorables than Musk -- 39% to 49% -- but his favorables were also lower -- 26% to 40%.

Schumer had a -13% net favorability rating in the Harvard poll, the same percentage as Biden

Only Vladimir Putin, at 13% favorable to 65% unfavorable for a -53% net favorability rating, was more unpopular than Schumer among Americans.

Schumer has faced calls to step down from Democrats angry with how he handled a Republican spending bill.

Critics say the Senate minority leader has not been aggressive enough in thwarting President Donald Trumps agenda.

While Schumers popularity has taken a nosedive, Trumps numbers are sliding as well.

The president had a 50% favorable to 48% unfavorable rating in late January.

In mid-April, Trump is now underwater by 11 percentage points.

A majority of Americans -- 53% -- have an unfavorable view of the president compared to 42% who view Trump favorably.

The Economist/YouGov poll of 1,512 U.S. citizens -- including 1,329 registered voters -- was conducted between April 13 and April 15. It has a margin of error of plus-or-minus 3.4 percentage points.
Parkland survivor and activist David Hogg speaks to the crowd during the second March for Our Lives rally in support of gun control on Saturday, June 11, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) AP

A group dedicated to electing young progressives co-founded by David Hogg, the vice chair of the Democratic National Committee, is launching a $20 million effort to primary out-of-touch, ineffective incumbent House Democrats.

Leaders We Deserve, the organization founded by Hogg and Kevin Lata, who was the campaign manager for the first Gen Z member of Congress, Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Florida), will target representatives they do not view as meeting the moment in an effort to force generational change in the Democratic Party.

The initiative is particularly notable given Hoggs role in Democratic Party leadership. Hogg, a gun-control activist who co-founded March for Our Lives with classmates after surviving the 2018 school shooting in Parkland, Florida, was elected to the role in February and is the youngest person and first Gen Z member to serve as vice chair.

Hogg told The Washington Post that DNC members were aware of his role at Leaders We Deserve when he was elected and that he believes his group has the same goal as the DNC, just different routes of getting there.

The reason were doing this is to get the Democratic Party into fighting shape, Hogg said in an interview. Right now it has become abundantly clear that the base of our party feels like we are not doing anywhere near enough  to stand up to Donald Trump.

DNC Chair Ken Martin said in a statement that Hogg is a passionate advocate and we are grateful for his service to the Democratic Party, whether it be in his role as a DNC Vice Chair or in an outside capacity.

In order to ensure we are as effective as possible at electing Democrats to office, it is the DNCs longstanding position that primary voters - not the national party - determine their Democratic candidates for the general election, Martin continued.

All DNC officers have been asked to avoid activities in their party or personal capacity that would raise questions about their impartiality, but Hogg was the one DNC leader who did not sign the neutrality policy.

The group did not say whom it plans to primary, but Lata said it was looking at representatives who are asleep at the wheel and out of touch. Hogg and Lata stressed, however, that their effort will not challenge front-line Democrats who face competitive races. The campaign will focus on primarying Democrats in safe blue districts, and they said the age of members has nothing to do with their calculus.

For instance, Hogg and Lata dismissed the primary efforts against Reps. Nancy Pelosi (D-California) and Jan Schakowsky (D-Illinois), both of whom are in their 80s, saying that those lawmakers were not the type they were interested in targeting - although both have drawn young progressive challengers who share similar messaging as Leaders We Deserve about the need for younger leadership and for Democrats to fight harder against Trump.

Leaders We Deserve will also continue its efforts to elect young candidates - under 35 in federal races and under 30 at the state level - in open and GOP-held seats.

We do not want to risk losing the House by doing this, Hogg said. But simply being somewhere for a long time should not be the litmus test of whether or not you remain in that position, he added.

A growing cohort of Democratic candidates have launched 2026 campaigns around similar themes in recent weeks, arguing that the party is out of touch and needs younger leaders to meet the moment. Only 27 percent of registered voters have a positive view of Democrats, according to an NBC News poll in March.

Lata acknowledged that Leaders We Deserve is likely to face criticism that such an effort might distract from taking back the House or divert resources that could be used elsewhere, but he pointed to Kamala Harriss campaign loss in 2024 despite heavy spending and to grassroots donors who have said they dont want to give to the party in its current state.

If were not giving people something to want to be a part of and a real vision for the future, then there may not be a ton of money in the first place to go to winning a lot of these races, he said.
U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greenes town hall on Tuesday in Georgia was repeatedly disrupted by demonstrators who jeered the Republicans embrace of President Donald Trumps policies and her steadfast support for his budget-cutting, government-shrinking initiatives.

Two of the protesters at the Acworth Community Center were shocked with a Taser after resisting arrest, Acworth Police Sgt. Eric Mistretta said.

At least six people were ejected from the event, and three were charged in connection with the disruption, one of them with disorderly conduct, Mistretta said.

The altercations dominated the town hall, which also attracted dozens of demonstrators outside the event for hours, waving signs and protesting Greenes MAGA stances. Greene, meanwhile, thanked the roughly 30 law enforcement officers for the aggressive approach.

Im glad they got thrown out. Thats exactly what I wanted to see happen, she said after the roughly hourlong event. This isnt a political rally or a protest. I held a town hall tonight. You know who was out of line? The protesters.

Democrats promised to continue more confrontational tactics to protest Trump and his supporters. Essence Johnson, chair of the Cobb County Democratic Committee, condemned the arrests and said an attorney was already working to clear the three demonstrators who face charges.

At this time, we believe they were unjustly arrested, said Johnson. People are passionate now. Theyre upset. Theyre frustrated. They believe democracy is being taken away from them. Theyre at their wits end.

First elected in 2018, Greene has built a national brand around provocation and hard-line rhetoric  cementing her status as one of Trumps fiercest allies and a driving force behind his push to slash federal spending and dismantle government agencies.

Her firebrand politics have also made her a favorite target for Democrats, who see Greenes alignment with Trumps agenda as a potent foil to rally their base.

Greene and her supporters were prepared for disruptions at the event, one of the few in-person congressional town halls in Georgia since Trumps return to the White House. There was heavy police presence at the community center, with armed officers stationed throughout the building.

Access to the event was so tightly controlled by Greenes team that a few dozen seats were empty when she took the stage, even though there were crowds outside.

Soon, more seats would empty as a string of Greene critics protested the event  some walked out quietly holding signs, others struggled with authorities and were forcibly removed.

As Greene worked through a slideshow presentation, one man scuffled with several law enforcement officers trying to remove him from the room. After two jolts from a Taser, he was wrestled to the ground and then forced out of the room as the crowd applauded.

Police later said they had charged three people with offenses ranging from simple battery on a law enforcement officer, obstruction of a law enforcement officer to vulgar language.

Other Greene critics in the room steered clear of disruption. Wendy Davis, a former Rome city councilwoman who unsuccessfully ran against Greene in 2022, said she wanted to hear why extremist Republicans seek to cut government safety net programs.

As our representative she is supposed to stand up for the people of this district, and the chainsaw cuts to department after department of the federal government is not making groceries or housing more affordable, said Davis, who is now running to lead the Democratic Party of Georgia.

She produced the show she planned, Davis added, but there was no dialogue or real engagement with the people of her district.

Greene took prewritten questions rather than calling on attendees. She peppered her remarks with praise for Trump, critiques of brainwashed Democrats and attacks on the news media. At one point, she proudly showed the crowd a personal note from Trump.

Still, several of the questions she took were pointed, including one that asked why she was such a coward in the face of an obvious fascist takeover. Greene, smiling, replied shes yet to see a fascist gathering. That doesnt exist in the Republican Party.

Several protesters outside the community center held signs accusing Greene of improperly benefiting from Trumps decision last week to pause tariffs. Greene echoed a previous statement that a financial adviser manages her portfolio without her input.

He did a great job. He bought the dip, Greene said. And thats what anybody with any financial sense does when they know the market is going to be going down.

Once a standard part of Georgias political landscape, Greenes town hall Tuesday stood out in other ways beyond the arrests and disruptions.

After U.S. Rep. Rich McCormick was repeatedly heckled at a February town hall in Roswell, House Speaker Mike Johnson urged GOP members to avoid in-person events. Many scrapped or scaled back their plans.

Instead, Greene ventured to the bluest part of her northwest Georgia district for the town hall: a slice of suburban Cobb County that was redrawn into her otherwise solidly Republican territory in 2021.

The new lines shifted some of the most solidly Democratic, diverse parts of Cobb from U.S. Rep. David Scott  one of the longest serving Democrats in the South  to Greene, whose name has become synonymous with bomb-throwing rhetoric.

But the overhaul did little to dent her political standing. In 2022, Greene won two-thirds of the vote against Democrat Marcus Flowers, who raised more than $16 million. Last year, she defeated a lesser-known Democrat by a similar margin.

With Trumps reelection, Greenes influence in Congress has only grown. She leads a subcommittee tasked with carrying out Trumps cost-cutting, government-shrinking initiatives. She has more than $700,000 in her campaign coffers.

And she told Politically Georgia that she is considering challenging Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff next year if Gov. Brian Kemp doesnt enter the race. She didnt directly mention her political future during Tuesdays event. But she made clear that the protests didnt faze her.

I have a job to do, and that job is extremely important, she said. Im not deterred.

_____

2025 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Visit at ajc.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
An Alabama lawmaker has filed a bill, HB579, that would ban the purchase of soda using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

Sponsored by Rep. Mack Butler, R-Rainbow City, the legislation would require the Department of Human Resources to annually request a waiver from the federal government to exclude soda from SNAP until the waiver is approved.

This bill would require the Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Human Resources to request a waiver from the United States Department of Agriculture to exclude soda from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program annually until the waiver is granted, the legislation reads.

Once the waiver is granted the ban would take effect. The bill defines soda as a carbonated beverage that contains more than one gram of added sugar or any artificial sweetener.

AL.com left a message with Butlers office seeking a comment.

The legislation comes as several other Republican-led states are pushing to submit waivers to ban soda and candy from SNAP.

The movement is part of a campaign by President Donald Trumps administration claiming to, Make America Healthy Again.

On Tuesday, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders submitted a waiver to the United States Department to ban the purchase of soda and candy under SNAP.

The decision was praised by USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins.

Todays waiver announcement is a welcome one, and I look forward to moving through the approval process swiftly, Rollins said. I encourage more states across the nation to follow the bold lead of states like Arkansas as we Make America Healthy Again.

But critics of this campaign by Trumps administration and conservatives nationwide say that the better way to incentivize healthy eating is by making healthier foods more affordable and giving people more money for groceries.

If we really want to improve public health, we ought to make healthier food more affordable, more physically available, and convenient, Joel Berg, CEO of Hunger Free America, told NPR.

Marion Nestle, a professor emeritus at NYU and author of Soda Politics: Taking on Big Soda (And Winning), told the Atlantic she believes that the current efforts by Republicans are merely, cover for what the real motivation is, which is to cut SNAP.

If passed Butlers bill is signed into law it would go into effect on, Oct. 1, 2025.
In the midst of so much technological and social change this century, it is strange to remember that there are a couple hundred ancient tribes on Earth that have maintained unique cultures by isolating from the rest of the world. They know nothing of President Trump, European war, McDonalds, or K-pop. They arent arguing over digital IDs, carbon rationing, personal pronouns, tariffs, Chinas intellectual property theft, or Ukraines borders. To the best that we can tell, their societies operate as they have for hundreds, if not thousands, of years.

For much of the last five hundred years, explorers and settlers did not particularly worry about preserving the indigenous cultures with which they came into contact. On the contrary, most felt they had a moral duty to spread their own civilizational values around the world. It was only after we had assimilated nearly every hidden tribe on the planet that we began to ask questions and pull back. Over the last forty years, prevailing opinion has held that by forcing modernity upon isolated peoples, we not only risk deleting distinct cultures, but also risk deleting valuable parts of our shared human story.

Needless to say, nobody is advocating today that multiculturalism should take precedence over these ancient tribes self-determination. In fact, nations go to great lengths to respect hidden peoples sovereignty. Every once in a while, some outsider is killed after getting too close to one of these groups, yet no punitive measures are undertaken in response. Authorities in Brazil, Bolivia, India, and Indonesia use such incidents as stark warnings to keep misguided visitors away.

For decades, proponents of globalism have torn down national borders, mocked the moral tenets of certain religions, and dismissed the concerns of communities that would rather maintain their own traditional values. Many of the same international institutions that protect Amazonian tribes from outside contact are outright hostile to the special cultures that bind citizens of unique nation-states. The European Union imposes its values upon Hungarian, Polish, and Italian natives. In many parts of the West, prosecutors target Christians who work to save unborn children from abortion procedures. When Democrats control the federal government, they relocate huge numbers of foreign migrants into small towns throughout the United States. Government agents do not attempt to understand local beliefs, and they certainly do not ask permission from local residents before upending their lives. Outsiders who see themselves as wise and all-knowing marginalize anyone who gets in their way.

Kind of makes you wonder whether one of Klaus Schwabs regal successors in the World Economic Forums expanding technocratic dynasty will decree a few centuries from now that some small tribe in Kansas, Missouri, or Tennessee should be protected from outside influence in an effort to safeguard the otherwise lost knowledge of Plato, Augustine, Aquinas, Shakespeare, Locke, or Jefferson. Maybe Christians will continue to be persecuted and killed around the world until some future do-gooding globalist convinces the aristocrats at the United Nations that a small tribe of Christs followers should be allowed to continue practicing their exotic faith. Perhaps Western civilization must first be demolished before cynical globalists take an anthropological interest in its numerous achievements. Maybe adventurous explorers a half-millennium from now will hike to the outskirts of American free zones where the natives are rumored to have original ideas, write new books, and question A.I.-generated beliefs. Perhaps those free peoples will have the good sense to raise their weapons and chase colonizing globalists far away.

Language is a sneaky beast. It allows us to categorize every detail we see, yet it reduces the infinitude of our observations to mere words. Phrases can be beautiful or ugly. Sentences can quicken heartbeats or steal breaths. Speeches can move listeners to their feet or reduce them to tears. The duality of language  its capacity to unleash great and terrible things  makes it both a blessing and a curse.

Globalism is a secular religion that specializes in the manipulation of language. It does not seek to explain the world truthfully, but rather to condition people to believe whatever its ecumenical priests need them to believe. It does not persuade, but conquers. It oppresses. And because its allegiance is not to truth, but to power, it revels in inconsistency.

The globalists have lectured us about the contradictory threats of global cooling and global warming for half a century  never humbled by their false predictions but always certain that new regulations and taxes are the answer. The globalists told us that the Soviet Unions empire was bad and that national self-determination was good; now they tell us that the European Unions empire is good and that national self-determination is bad. The globalists argued that WWII was necessary to preserve Western civilization and defend Europe from foreign invaders; now they argue that Western civilization should be destroyed and that native Europeans should be replaced with foreigners. When we started fighting wars on terror decades ago, all our enemies were overseas; now globalists insist that homegrown terrorists are the real threat. Globalists told us that the U.S.-backed ousting of Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych in 2014 was not a violent insurrection against a legitimately elected government but rather a Revolution of Dignity. Those same globalists told us that unarmed Americans protesting election fraud at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, were part of an insurrection attempting to overthrow the federal government!

Globalism is not a coherent worldview. It is the malleable sludge of incompatible priorities that change from one decade to the next  depending upon where the most power can be accrued and where the most money can be made. Its chief quality is hypocrisy. It stands for no greater principle than the preservation and enrichment of its most ardent defenders.

Globalism is a religion of buzzwords. It claims to protect free speech  so long as that speech is free of mis-, mal-, or dis-information. It claims to protect public debate and political dissent  so long as citizens say nothing that globalists deem hateful. It claims to protect freedom of thought and freedom of religion  so long as those thoughts and prayers arent too extreme. It claims to protect women  so long as delusional men wearing lipstick are considered women, too. It claims to protect democracy  so long as democracy is understood as the permanent E.U., U.K., and U.S. bureaucracies doing whatever they want with total disregard for the will of the voters they purportedly serve.

Globalists are excellent at defending freedom because they have simply redefined the word to mean, the publics right to do exactly what government agents demand. What Western globalists learned from WWII is straightforward: if you want to expand the power of government and reduce the people to timid serfs, fighting a war is unnecessary and expensive. It is much cheaper just to relabel totalitarianism as democracy. With the right buzzword and enough propagandists in the press, globalists can con the people into demanding their own oppression. As I said, language is a sneaky beast!

It certainly is ironic that the same woke globalists who love to denounce imperialism are busy turning towns, states, and entire nations into obedient colonies. Globalist conquistadors arrive under the guise of peace. They offer paper fiat currencies in exchange for real gold. They promise military protection so long as citizens hand over weapons for self-defense. They encourage local populations to take down their national flags and replace them with gay pride, NATO, Ukraine, or Black Lives Matter flags instead. They send out climate change missionaries to evangelize those who dont yet fear fossil fuels.

Our surviving indigenous friends learned an important lesson: when globalists arrive, toss their glass beads, burn their ships, run away, and never look back. Perhaps we should follow their example.

Image via Pexels.
They couldnt win at the ballot box, and they couldnt get Congress to repeal the Alien Enemies Act. So instead, they found a sympathetic judge in Manhattan and filed a class actionnot just on behalf of a few Venezuelan nationals contesting deportation under President Trumps proclamation, but on behalf of an entire, judicially imagined class.

If granted, the result would be a single district courtchosen not by chance but by designhalting enforcement of immigration law across the entire nation.

One bench, one judge, one political agenda. The real goal isnt relief. Its rerouting immigration enforcement into the courtroom of a carefully selected progressive jurist.

This isnt due process. Its due manipulation.

Call it what it is: Rule 23 meets the Resistance.

What Class Actions Were Meant to Be

Class actions were designed to streamline litigation involving large numbers of similarly situated plaintiffs. Under Rule 23(b)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, class-wide relief is permitted when the party opposing the class has acted or refused to act on grounds that apply generally to the class.

But immigration enforcement doesnt operate that way. The federal government doesnt act generally toward aliens in custodyit acts specifically and case-by-case, weighing factors such as manner of entry, gang affiliation, visa status, prior offenses, and national security risk. There is no uniform policy to enjoinonly the lawful execution of discretion authorized by statute and delegated to the executive branch.

And heres the irony: applying class-wide standards would actually undermine the very due process rights the progressive legal cartel claims to champion. If each alien is entitled to a unique factual inquiryas the plaintiffs insistthen bundling them into a procedural monolith isnt a safeguard. Its a violation. You cannot demand individualized constitutional protections while seeking collectivized judicial remedies.

According to the Lefts legal strategy, every alien deserves individualized due processso long as theyre treated collectively. Thats not legal consistency. Thats procedural schizophrenia.

Though styled as a habeas petition under 28 U.S.C.  2241, the plaintiffs invoke Rule 23 to obtain class-wide reliefan awkward procedural hybrid designed to bypass both statutory limits and constitutional structure. Their filing fuses habeas, APA claims, and constitutional arguments into a single vehiclenot to protect individual rights, but to engineer a nationwide injunction from a single, hand-picked court.

And even if Rule 23 were satisfied, class-wide immigration injunctions are explicitly barred by federal law. Under 8 U.S.C.  1252(f)(1), no court (other than the Supreme Court) shall have jurisdiction or authority to enjoin or restrain the operation of the provisions of part IV of this subchapter, except with respect to the individual alien before the court. That includes the Alien Enemies Act and the removal provisions at issue.

While the Alien Enemies Act is codified in Title 50, its enforcement occurs through the statutory machinery of immigration lawdetention, removal, and deportation authorities housed in Title 8. Attempts to enjoin AEA-based removals necessarily operate against this enforcement framework and fall squarely within the jurisdictional bar of  1252(f)(1).

Lower courts do not have the power to enjoin immigration law on a class-wide basis. Congress reserved that authority exclusively to the Supreme Courtand the Court made that explicit in Garland v. Aleman Gonzalez (2022). It held that  1252(f)(1) generally prohibits lower courts from entering injunctions that order federal officials to take or to refrain from taking actions to enforce, implement, or otherwise carry out immigration enforcement provisions.

To date, the Supreme Court has never exercised that power. Yet the lawfare cartel presses ahead, ignoring the statute and precedent in a calculated end-run around the Constitutions allocation of powers.

Whats happening instead is a procedural sleight of hand: use Rule 23 to manufacture jurisdiction where none exists, then bypass statutory limits with a cleverly framed class. Its not just wrongits unlawful.

From Procedural Mechanism to Policy Weapon

The ACLUs recent filing in the Southern District of New Yorkknown colloquially, and not without cause, as the Sovereign District of New Yorkis the latest deployed weapon in procedural lawfare. By seeking certification of a nationwide class of Venezuelan nationals subject to removal under President Trumps March proclamation, the ACLU isnt trying to streamline anything.

The objective is pure obstruction100% procedural sabotage.

The case doesnt challenge gang affiliation on a person-by-person basis. It seeks a judicial veto of presidential authority through blanket injunction. Thats telling. The same activist networks that vilify the Trump administration for targeting gang-affiliated foreign nationals now insist those same affiliations are too vague, too prejudicial, or too procedurally suspect to act on.

When it comes to national security, even violent criminal organizations designated as terrorist threats are suddenly entitled to the benefit of the doubtso long as it undermines this administration.

And to what end? What exactly is to happen to these aliens if they are not removed?

Heres a hint: its not to keep them in custody in perpetuity.

And this isnt their first attempt. They tried the same class-based maneuver before Judge Boasberg in Washington, D.C.a judge who lacked jurisdiction over most of the individuals affected, many of whom were already in Texas, on deportation flights, or outside U.S. borders altogether. The Supreme Court rightly struck down that overreach.

But rather than reevaluate their strategy, the plaintiffs picked a new venue and repackaged the same arguments for a new judge, this time in Manhattan.

Its the paradox of lawfare by class action: they want a unified legal collective when it suits their procedural aimsbut scatter into individualized claims the moment standing or jurisdiction becomes inconvenient. Its not about consistency. Its about strategy.

The radical legal cartel will weaponize any tool in the procedural toolbox to gum up the worksto stall enforcement, run out the clock, and bet on either a change in administration, a loss of public will, or a simple depletion of government resources.

Their aim isnt to win on the merits. Its to bury immigration enforcement under a landslide of litigation.

By pushing for class certification, theyre not seeking relief for individualstheyre constructing a judicial weapon. Win at the district court level, dare the appellate courts to reverse it, and then use that reversal to launch broader attacks on the judiciary itselfespecially the conservative majority on the Supreme Court. The goal isnt legal clarity.

Its political leverage.

At its core, this isnt about processits about power. And there is nothing democratic about it.

Why It Must Be Stopped

When the Left loses elections, it turns to the courts. The same legal networks have weaponized Rule 23 and other procedural contrivances to block immigration enforcement and regulatory rollbackfunneling national policy into the courtrooms of hand-picked judges.

At stake is something deeper than immigration. This is a test of whether we remain a constitutional republicwhether unelected judges can nullify executive action, longstanding law, and constitutional governance through procedural fiat.

This isnt just lawfare. Its medieval siege lawfare.

Rule 23 was never designed to override national security policy, rewrite immigration law, pause the Presidents enforcement powers, or nullify statutory law nearly as old as the Constitution itself. But thats exactly how its being wielded.

Unless Congress or the Supreme Court intervenes, well cede control of immigration enforcementand far moreone certified class at a time.

Charlton Allen is an attorney, former chief executive officer, and chief judicial officer of the North Carolina Industrial Commission. He is the founder of the Madison Center for Law & Liberty, Inc., editor of The American Salient, and the host of the Modern Federalist podcast. X: @CharltonAllenNC

Image from Grok.
For this Nation to remain true to its principles, we cannot allow any Americans vote to be denied, diluted, or defiled. The right to vote is the crown jewel of American liberties, and we will not see its luster diminished.

President Ronald Reagan, Statement about the Extension of the Voting Rights Act, November 6, 1981

With Tulsi Gabbards announcement last Friday that an ongoing intelligence agency investigation has evidence that election computers are vulnerable to cyberattack hackers, President Trumps actions suggest he is moving quickly to declare an election fraud national security emergency.

On March 24, 2025, when Trump issued Executive Order (EO) Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections, he did so under the auspices of his Article II executive powers as commander-in-chief, placing it beyond judicial lawfare. Nevertheless, 19 Democrat state attorneys general have already filed lawsuits charging that the EO violates the Constitutions mandate delegating to state legislatures the power to determine how presidential elections are held.

Trump, however, is correct that election fraud coming from outside America is an overriding national security concern. On January 7, 2021, John Ratcliffe, then the Director of National Intelligence, wrote a memo entitled Intelligence Community Assessment: Foreign Threats to the 2020 U.S. Elections. In it, he stated explicitly that the Peoples Republic of China sought to influence the 2020 U.S. federal elections, in a move that raised the need for the Intelligence Community to address the underlying issues with China.

Image by Pixlr AI.

Ratcliffe stressed that political bias, including from within the CIA under Obama, pressured analysts dissenting from Russian collusion narratives to downplay reporting that Chinas efforts to influence U.S. elections were undue influence or interference, leading to the false impression that Russia sought to influence the [2020] election but China did not.

Unfortunately, Radcliffes memorandum was issued one day after Vice President Pence allowed Congress to proceed to certify the 2020 presidential election without challenge. If it had been delivered two days earlier, history could have been changed. Assuming Pence had integrity and the courage of his convictions, he might have challenged the 2020 election when he presided over the joint meeting of Congress for certification. Had Pence challenged the 2020 election, we might never have had the J6 protest march on Congress that led to the radical lefts insurrection prosecutions.

Since then, theres been increasing evidence that Ratcliffe was correct about Chinas attacks on Americas information systems. In November, the Washington Post reported that China-linked hackers penetrated Verizon, AT&T, and Lumen Technologies to collect audio calls of U.S. politicians and their staff in an operation Microsoft characterized as Salt Typhoon. One month later, during a secret meeting in Geneva with Biden officials, China admitted to hacking American infrastructure due to U.S. support of Taiwan.

Armed with this information, on April 4, 2025, Trump fired National Security Agency Director Timothy Haugh and the NSA Deputy Director Wendy Noble. Made vulnerable by these moves were John Brennan, Obamas CIA Director, and Obamas Director of National Intelligence James Clapper.

Nevertheless, despite evidence that China has hacked into Americas systems, the media have relentlessly insisted that there was no fraud in the 2020 election.

A recent example is the APs reporting about the lawsuit challenging Trumps election integrity EO. Election officials have said recent elections have been the most secure in U.S. history, the AP reported. There has been no indication of any widespread fraud, including when Trump, a Republican, lost to Joe Biden, a Democrat, in 2020.

The AP referred to a much-repeated statement from Christopher Krebs, the former Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) director. However, the AP ignored entirely that Trump terminated Krebs on November 18, 2020, for making highly inaccurate remarks on vote integrity.

The mainstream media have also downplayed an April 9, 2025, presidential memo entitled Addressing Risks from Chris Krebs and Government Censorship. There, Trump revoked Krebss security clearance, stressing that Krebs, through CISA, falsely and basely denied that the 2020 election was rigged and stolen, including by inappropriately and categorically dismissing widespread malfeasance and serious vulnerabilities with voting machines.

In that same memo, Trump ordered Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem to investigate CISAs activities over the past six years to determine if CISAs conduct was contrary to his January 20 Executive Order about Restoring Freedom of Speech and Ending Federal Censorship. (EO 14149.)

This was the prelude to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbards startling announcement on April 11 during a televised Cabinet meeting. We have evidence of how these electronic voting systems have been vulnerable to hackers for a very long time and vulnerable to exploitation to manipulate the results of the votes being cast, which further drives forward your [i.e., President Trumps] mandate to bring about paper ballots across the country so that voters can have faith in our elections.

With this announcement, Gabbard made clear that the investigation into election fraud is now a national security investigation rather than one centered in the DOJ or the FBI. Her reference to manipulation of electronic voting systems was a nod to the work done by Dr. Andrew Paquette, who has found cryptographic algorithms embedded in State Board of Elections (SBOE) voter registration computer systems that allow bad actors to create duplicate voters, who then vote before being deleted. (See also GodsFiveStones.com.)

Gabbards statement was sufficiently broad to establish the truth of the work begun in 2020 by researchers such as Sidney Powell, Patrick Byrne, Mike Lindell, and many others, who have produced evidence that the electronic tabulation systems used to count votes in presidential elections are vulnerable to foreign interference.

With Gabbards statement, President Trump can declare that election fraud has created a national security emergency. He can then demand that the U.S. military secure all 50 state board election records, including impounding all computers and servers used to register voters and tabulate votes.

Centering the election fraud investigation in the office of the DNI allows Gabbard to probe all 17 U.S. intelligence agencies, including the CIAs and the FBIs counterintelligence powers. The NSA remains under the control of Secretary of Defense Hegseth.

A national security emergency declaration will also allow Trump to invoke 28 CFR Section 600.1 to demand that Attorney General Pam Bondi appoint a Special Prosecutor within the DOJ to organize and direct an FBI election integrity task force.

Thus, Gabbards announcement caps a series of events establishing that the Trump administration has already launched an election fraud investigation that focuses on foreign interference. All that remains to make this conclusion official is for Trump to issue a national security emergency declaration. With a national security investigation into election fraud already begun and a criminal investigation almost sure to follow, we can expect to see subpoenas issued, grand juries convened and, possibly, even charges of treason filed against those who held high positions of power and responsibility in both the Obama and Biden administrations.

We have reason to believe, from algorithms embedded in SBOE voter registration computer programs involving intelligence-grade complexity, that the CIA has hacked into SBOE computers. Therefore, its a reasonable investigative proposition that foreign nations have also done so. President Trump has repeatedly declared that he intends to prove election fraudsters stole the 2020 presidential election.

President Trump understands that our state voter registration lists are corrupted and the computers that run our elections are not secure, explained Peter Ticktin, the attorney to President Trump whose law firm in Deerfield Beach, Florida, has begun filing challenges in state court to down-ballot elections believed stolen in the 2024 election. Given the cornerstone of the importance of voting rights to our freedoms, President Trump also understands that we cannot sit by idly while our existing election computer systems are vulnerable to cyberattack by foreign nationals.

The brilliance of Trumps second term, not yet 100 days old, is that Trump, even though stymied by apparent DOJ and FBI foot-dragging, is determined to expose the 2020 election fraud. Pivoting from a DOJ/FBI criminal investigation, Trump saw more fertile ground exploring whether the CIA expanded its long-established interference in foreign elections into a possibly treasonous CIA conspiracy to subvert our elections.

President Trump is right. A national security emergency exists if the CIAs 1950s plan to intervene in foreign elections has morphed into an open door for foreign hackers to intervene in domestic elections. How can we continue to ignore that the Chinese Communist Partys continued cyberattacks aimed at undermining vital U.S. infrastructure, including the computer technology with which we currently conduct our elections, constitute a national security emergency of the highest order?

Note: Dr. Corsi and GodsFiveStones.com are working directly with Peter Ticktins law firm, The Ticktin Law Group, in Deerfield Beach, Florida, on election security. Peter Ticktins quotation in this article was given to the author for publication.

Lt. General Michael Flynn (Ret.) served under President Trump as the 24th U.S. National Security Advisor to the President. Flynns movie, Flynn: Deliver the Truth Whatever the Cost, is available on many platforms, both as a DVD for purchase and streaming on many platforms, as listed on FlynnMovie.com.

GodsFiveStones.com is a tax-deductible 501(c)3 foundation created by Jerome R. Corsi, Ph.D., and Karladine Graves, M.D., managed by Capstone Legacy Foundation. As reported on GodsFiveStones.com, Andrew Paquette, Ph.D., has discovered cryptographic algorithms in the State Board of Elections voter registration databases in New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Arizona, Florida, New Jersey, and Oklahoma.
The tepid subject matter of 19th-century French salon artists paled before the masterworks of the 16th and 17th centuries. Heroic visions of ancient myths and biblical events were supplanted by polished renderings of everyday life in antique suburbs, or insipid images such as youthful innocence awakening to Cupids whisper.

The counter-culture artists of 19th century France  the Realists and Impressionists  blamed academic training for this decline, and refused its dictates. As we all know, those newer artists were hammered by critics, a persecution inseparable from how theyve been perceived ever since. Young artists of the early twentieth century could imagine no higher ambition than such heroic martyrdom.

Before Picasso ever went to Paris, hed belonged to a Barcelona group that promised to translate eternal verities into wild paradox; to extract life from the abnormal, the extraordinary, the outrageous. ... We prefer to be ... crazy and decadent rather than fallen and meek. Rebellion had become a contagion, inspiring scorn for the uninfected.

But Picasso had a problem: His blue and rose periods  the finest work he ever did  were not rebellious. His first try at outrageousness was the 1907 Demoiselles DAvignon, which he showed to some friends, then put away for sixteen years. In 1908, a simplified, Cezannesque landscape by Braque may have provided the germ for the invention of Cubism, Picassos and Braques attempt to carry off the Most Radical prize.

It needs to be said: Cubism was a very stupid idea. Almost as stupid were the claims made for it. The Wikipedia entry summarizes the standard propaganda: In Cubist artwork, objects are analyzed. (How, exactly? Placed on a couch to free-associate?) Instead of depicting objects from a single viewpoint, the artist depicts the subject from a multitude of viewpoints. But the Cubists never represented objects from any viewpoint, let alone a multitude; instead, they made angular notations vaguely suggesting objects, or produced collage-like arrangements of odds and ends referring to but never depicting people or objects. Cubism flirted with reality without ever coming to grips with it, instead offering a game of subject-spotting: Look, its a woman  with a guitar! Lost were the nuances of individual character of the woman, or the guitar.

With rebel-hood pursued so intensely, traditional visual values became ducks in a shooting gallery, picked off by successive isms. Intellectuals formed an admiring chorus for each disruption, laying the groundwork for an eventual worldwide support system for Modernist Art, an establishment by now of such power and influence that artists catering to it are in no way rebellious, no matter how bizarre and unconventional their work. During its first fifty years, Modernism inspired some color, excitement, and original ideas, but its overall trajectory was a flame-out, a century-long trashing of artistic conventions, leaving a wasteland of artists foraging for material obnoxious enough to sustain a rebel self-image, with curators and critics encouraging further deconstruction.

Even though their artistic movement has been pretty well picked clean, and lost its power to disturb, Modernists persist in quirky, obscure attempts to satisfy notions of self-expression, newness, and confounding the establishment. But all artists, good or bad, have always expressed themselves  they dont have to try. To be new is equally inescapable, which is why forgery is so difficult. And acceptance or rejection by the powers-that-be is irrelevant, because either can happen to good or bad artists.

Quality can never be defined, but its the only thing that counts. Hatred from the rich does not guarantee it; love from the rich does not invalidate it.

The purpose of rebellion has historically been to right great wrongs. Applying this term to 19th-century artists already exaggerates, because academic standards, which had produced great masters for centuries, were not wrong; they were just not agreeable to artists who rejected them. Calling more recent artists rebels exaggerates even more, because academies no longer forbid Modernism; they teach it. With no artistic wrongs to correct, Modernist rebellion has become a pose, a fashion statement, like ripped jeans.

Image via Pexels.
Democrats have finally found a cause they can rally around, and they are falling over themselves to make themselves part of it:

According to Axios:

Two members of House Democratic leadership are trying to send an official congressional delegation to the El Salvadorian prison where the Trump administration is sending deportees, Axios has learned. Why it matters: Dozens of House Democrats have privately expressed interest in participating in such a trip to protest the Trump administration's deportation policies, sources tell Axios. But while lawmakers could travel to the Central American country informally, a Republican committee chair's approval is needed to send an official congressional delegation, or CODEL.

A CODEL would provide the members with crucial oversight powers and security resources. Driving the news: Reps. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) and Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) asked House Oversight Committee chair James Comer (R-Ky.), in a letter first obtained by Axios, to authorize a CODEL to El Salvador. They cited the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who is being held at El Salvador's Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT) despite the Supreme Court ordering him to be returned to the U.S.

"A Congressional delegation would allow Committee Members to conduct a welfare check on Mr. Abrego Garcia, as well as others held at CECOT," they wrote.

Did they say "dozens"? Dozens?

All to check on the "welfare" of a foreign national whose only accomplishment was to break into our country, engage in MS-13 gang activity, (verified by at least two judges), and then flout his final deportation order in 2019, eventually receiving a "stay of deportation," which protected him from a return to his native El Salvador, but not to any place else. The premise of that was his involvement in gang activity -- convincing a judge that his gang doings made him vulnerable to retaliation from rival gangs in El Salvador. That may mean he killed a few, which isn't a pretty picture. But the point of the stay is moot, because El Salvador got rid of its gang problem -- by building credible prisons. He's perfectly safe in that country, which is a far safer place now than any one-party blue city in the U.S.

Besides that group of would-be junketeers, there's also Sen. Chris van Hollen of Maryland, about whom Common Dreams, a leftist publication, has this report:

... U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen on Tuesday detailed his plans to go to the Central American country to demand his constituent's safe returnand several other Democrats indicated they would follow his lead. Van Hollen (D-Md.) announced his intention on Monday in a letter to El Salvador's ambassador to the U.S., saying he wanted to meet with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele during his visit to Washington, D.C. this week and that if Abrego Garcia is not home "by midweek," the senator would travel to El Salvador. On Tuesday, he told CNN that he had not heard back from Bukele regarding his request. "I hope to meet with officials of the government of El Salvador," he said, adding that it wasn't clear whether Bukele would be in the country during his visit. "I also hope to visit this notorious prison to see Abrego Garcia... I think the situation for both the Trump administration and the president of El Salvador is unsustainable."

So it's at least two of them leading this effort as all the Democrats scurry to their sides.

It's insane.

America just held an election. They voted for an explicit program of mass deportations, and those with criminal backgrounds the least welcome of all.

Now Democrats, who've been on the outs for the past half year have decided to rally around the welfare of a foreign national who has absolutely no respect for U.S. law. They're flying as a group to his country, to "check on his welfare," and "bring him back," which is the exact opposite of what voters voted for.

While they are unlikely to succeed in this endeavor, it's an odd choice of causes to unite around.

Few, if any of the loudest voices calling for Abrego-Garcia's return, have ever visited an American in prison abroad, and not one has visited the families of those whose loved ones have been murdered by illegal aliens, mostly gangbangers like Abrego-Garcia.

It's almost as if illegals are their political base, and Trump's mass deportations are a threat to their votes.

It makes no sense whatsoever, given the popularity of Trump's repatriations of lawbreakers. But as usual, they think of themselves first.

Any wonder their popularity is hovering around 20% now? This is why it's 20%.

Image: Screen shot from X video
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Rajeev Syal, an editor for The Guardian, recently wrote on the disproportionate use of force against Muslim convicts while incarcerated in English prisons:

Muslim prisoners are disproportionately subjected to force including pain-inducing techniques by jail staff, according to new data. Freedom of information requests found that in eight out of nine prisons with high Muslim populations, Muslim men were more likely than the average inmate to be confronted with batons, made to wear rigid bar handcuffs, or deliberately held in a painful position.

Syals lack of awareness and common sense is nearly indescribable though. He whines about unequal treatment, but then mentions a horrific instance in which a legitimate Muslim terrorist, one of the men responsible for the Manchester Arena bombing that killed 22 people and injured more than a thousand, attacked prison guards with burning oil and homemade knivesand somehow fails to make the connection that maybe stuff like that is why guards are more likely to opt for force compared to the non-Muslim prisoners who just go about their day, living out their sentences. Per Syal:

In one incident, the Manchester Arena bomber Hashem Abedi attacked three officers with hot cooking oil and homemade knives, leaving two of them in hospital.

Allow me to clarifythese two officers are in the hospital with life-threatening injuries, per a Telegraph article via Yahoo News.

This all comes amid other disturbing reports that Muslim gangs are taking over Britains jails, a power struggle which (un)ironically looks a lot like Muslim plans on the outside world too:

Former inmates have spoken about a war in a number of prisons between Islamist gangs and rival groups involving acts of grotesque violence. The skirmishes are not as frequent now, but its not because authorities have seized back control. Instead it is said to be because the Islamist gangs have won the power battle, with many inmates converting to their side and leaving others who will not increasingly [sic] fearful for their safety.

This is how they build the Caliphatecompel conversion through force, which all too often means under threat of death. Heres a little bit of how things are going for the English on the non-incarcerated front:

Here's WHY Megyn...bc the country is turning to ISLAM whether Brits like it or not. Check it out, it's being taught in Kindergarten. Britain has more than 3,000 mosques and 180 sharia courts or councils and that every school in the UK is required to teach lessons about Islam pic.twitter.com/G1mHapwagC  Catarina Senora Gatita (@WyattCatarina) April 16, 2025

And here:

They are literally subjecting our children to Quran recitation at school.



This is what is indoctrinating the influential young to turn to Islam and so many subsequently radicalised.



This has to stop but its in the hands of Islam at the very top of the Education Department.



 pic.twitter.com/2oPrC22dAM  Liam A Diss (@BritFirst) April 16, 2025

Also from The Telegraph piece, explaining the demographic changes across the prisons:

After a surge of law enforcement activity in the UK in the early 2000s, following the September 11 attacks in the United States and the July 7 bombings in London, the number of Islamist extremists in custody for terror-related offences increased sharply. By 2017, a year which featured four Islamist-inspired attacks in London and Manchester, there were 185 Muslims in jail for terrorism offences; the number has dipped only slightly since then, with at least 157 at the last count, in September  62 per cent of the total number of terrorist inmates.

Isnt the diversification of the West great?

Image generated by AI.
Euronews has reported that the first call European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made following President Trumps recent speech demanding reciprocal tariffs  was to China.

According to the Daily Express:

China responded warmly, stating, China is ready to work with the European side to promote the sound and steady development of China-EU relations.

The EU Commission stated that a significant concession had been agreed upon regarding the block on imports of Chinese-made electric vehicles, potentially through the introduction of a minimum pricing initiative.

Ah, so the significant concession was made by the EU, in potentially allowing the importation of more electric vehicles from China.

What a shock. This would also stick it to Elon Musk, as well.

An unnamed insider apparently told Euronews: "In response to the widespread disruption caused by the US tariffs, President von der Leyen stressed the responsibility of Europe and China, as two of the world's largest markets, to support a strong reformed trading system, free, fair and founded on a level playing field. The insider allegedly added that China is evolving because China is looking at us differently.

Yes, China is looking at Canada like Michael Moore looks at a cream-filled donut.

Note to world elites: the U.S. tariffs didnt cause the widespread disruption. You did. The disruption was the responsibility of Europe and China, among others, who have for far too long benefitted from the unequal tariffs and trade restrictions they have placed on the U.S. Period.

Moreover, according to Global News sources, China has been targeting Canada with a vast campaign of interference, which includes funding a clandestine network of at least 11 federal candidates running in the 2019 election. Oh, Canada!



But Canada is not alone in having been seduced and duped by China. Chinas notorious One Belt, One Road initiative seeks to effectively annex key harbors, chokepoints, natural resources, and bases of operations from nations around the world, even as those nations may somehow believe they are getting a fair return.

China has long stolen technology from the United States. For many decades it has been robbing, filching, pinching, purloining, misappropriating, burgling, and embezzling from American research institutions, corporations, companies, and universities.

And it has been targeting American politicians, too. (See also, Eric Swalwell.)

In fact, a Daily Caller News Foundation investigation recently discovered that Boston Democratic Mayor Michelle Wus 2021 campaign received hundreds of thousands of dollars from a fundraiser who is actually an official of a Chinese intelligence agency.

The result of such technology theft is obvious and dire.

As Victor Davis Hanson has noted, almost every Chinese jet fighter, armored vehicle, missile, or rocket; almost every EV automobile; and almost every solar panel have their origins in either U.S. and European research and development or from Western-trained Chinese engineers.

So, Europe and Canada are poised to choose China over the U.S., huh? (Wonder why they didnt similarly choose the Soviet Union over the United States during the Cold War?) Really? After China, through incompetence or malevolence, unleashed pandemic horror across the globe? After knowing that China sicced COVID on the world, halting flights inside China while letting flights jet around the rest of the planet for days on end? And never once apologized? Apparently, being Communist means never having to say you're sorry.

Europe may choose China over the U.S.? Thats certainly a nice thank you to Uncle Sam for rescuing Europe from the clutches of tyranny! Twice!! And incurring tens of thousands of deaths.

Europe abuts Russia with whom it apparently would like to be at war. Go it alone, chaps.

Canada may choose China over the United States? Canada is still Canada  and free -- purely due to its default location abutting the benevolent United States, rendering it immune to attack by our mutual foes. Or previously mutual foes.

Canada and Europe, and others around the globe, are going to align themselves with China against the United States?

This is mindful of Mark Steyns wonderful book, America Alone.

And this speaks volumes, none of it good. There has been -- and is -- a vast Marxist conspiracy. A pandemic of idiocy. A systemic degeneracy.

Let's see how other Western nations react after the United States prevails -- and they are halfway down the drain.

Whats that? Sorry, cant hear you.



Europe and Canada are in an utterly unprecedented and dangerous state, gradually succumbing to hyper-secularism, surging Islam, and Chinese malfeasance simultaneously. When will the majority of the people in these nations realize this is an existential crisis for them, their country  and the West in general?

Perhaps the better question is will they realize this soon enough to do anything substantive about it?

Tragically, I doubt it.





Image: Grok AI-generated picture, via X
The Muslim community is still giving us reasons to be concerned about their participation in American culture. A development in Texas has set off an alarm bell for several organizations in East Plano, and I dont think they are over-reacting:

A proposed housing development anchored by a mosque in Josephine, Texas, has triggered a wave of political and public backlash, with Governor Greg Abbott and other state officials launching multiple investigations into the project. While backers of the development say it is meant to foster community among all faiths, the involvement of the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC) has prompted accusations of religious separatism and even extremist intent  claims its leaders strongly deny, the New York Times reported.

The mosque in the community has assured Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton that their efforts are honorable, but theyve set off a wave of apprehension. They plan on having faith-based schools (the degree to which Islam will be part of the curriculum is unclear), and although non-Muslims are supposedly welcome, they have made clear that they want a place for Muslims to come to be together. Those who are concerned are told that they are over-reacting, and EPIC leaders say that ignorance and bigotry underlay these attitudes. Here is the reaction of one leader of the EPIC mosque:

It should go without saying that our community, like any other in this great state, will follow all local, state and federal laws, the post read. We would love for you to see the site and learn about our project over some Hutchins BBQ.

Is this just some fringe group of isolationists? Not quite:

The EPIC City developments are in unincorporated areas of Josephine, a nearly two-square-mile city between Collin and Hunt counties growing rapidly in recent years. In 2023, the population grew by nearly 5,000 peoplea 234% increase in the course of three years. Those numbers could increase even more with the help of EPIC City  the first 450 plots sold out within days of its announcements on the mosques website, [resident scholar Yasir] Qadhi said. The demand to move to our community is so high from across the country that we envision that demand would remain even if we created another parallel community, he said.

Muslims who move to this area will be living primarily (or entirely) with other Muslims. That decision will separate them from the greater community, and the non-assimilation will continue. Their adoption of Sharia law for the people will reinforce the Muslim beliefs, rather than build relationships with non-Muslims. They have already stated that Sharia law will be embedded in the community. Whether they intend to drop or ignore the tenets of Sharia law that conflict with Texas or local law is not clear.

Some progressive allies are trying to frame this development in a positive light:

Not everyone in the region supports the governors stance. Pastor Andy Odom of a nearby Presbyterian church, who frequently meets with Imam Bashir, defended the Muslim community as great neighbors. He admitted to having mixed feelings about the development itself but said the mosque had been a positive force in Plano. We all want the same things, Bashir said. Safe neighborhoods. Good schools. Peace.

Is that how Muslim communities around the world typically look? Safe and peaceful? One look at the Islamist third world would say no.

There are those who may say that the new community will resemble some Orthodox Jewish communities, so what is the problem? Keep in mind that the Orthodox Jews come together not only to make it easier to maintain their way of life, but they are not in the business of recruiting or converting others to Judaism under the threat of death.

Islam, on the other hand, wishes to create a new caliphate to rule the entire population.

Could that kind of effort be made in this country?

Perhaps we look to the European harbingers to anticipate where this might lead.

Image generated by AI.
We here at American Thinker have noted that the current Democrat plan regarding illegal aliens is to force them into the legal system to run out the clock. Now, Vice President Vance has chimed in to make the same point. (And no, much as Id like to think its true, he probably hasnt been reading American Thinker. Instead, what he says is common sense.)

The current Democrat approach is the immigration version of the Cloward-Piven policy: Overburden both the civil and immigration systems so much that they collapse under their own weight, allowing illegal aliens to stay in the country forever. Indeed, thats exactly what the brilliant Stephen Miller explained to a crew of reporters utterly ignorant about the actual rights illegal aliens have under the law:

I am SO GLAD the Trump administration decided to completely UNLEASH Stephen Miller on the media.



He regularly displays a masterclass in debunking their lies.



"Guys - do you know the difference between a deportation order and a withholding order? Do you know the difference? Any pic.twitter.com/sDmzpLtiyu  Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) April 14, 2025

I urge you to listen to the entire video because Miller delivers a masterclass in immigration law and the rights of illegal aliens, but this is the pertinent part at 7:35:

I just wish we lived in a country where the media gave the 1/10th a damn as much about Americans who were murdered and brutalized and savagely killed, beaten to death, as they did about whether illegal aliensthat we all agree are illegal aliensshould get a million days in court and a million trials and a million this and a million that. Theres 15,000,000 illegal aliens that Biden let into the country. If every one of them got the trial that youre asking for, it would take us centuries to remove them. Centuries. Wed be talking about this in three to four hundred years. Their great-great-great grandchildren would be the ones representing them in court. Thats how long it would take.

Today, Vice President Vance took up precisely the same point, which is that we cannot give every one of the unknown number of illegal aliens in America (estimates range from about 20 million to as high as 40 million) a full American-style range of due process rights:

Consider that Joe Biden allowed approximately 20 million illegal aliens into our country. This placed extraordinary burdens on our country--our schools, hospitals, housing, and other essential services were overwhelmed. On top of that, many of these illegal aliens committed  JD Vance (@JDVance) April 16, 2025

... violent crimes, or facilitated fentanyl and sex trafficking. That is the situation we inherited. The American people elected the Trump administration to solve this problem. The President has successfully stopped the inflow of illegal aliens, and now we must deport the people who came here illegally. To say the administration must observe "due process" is to beg the question: what process is due is a function of our resources, the public interest, the status of the accused, the proposed punishment, and so many other factors. To put it in concrete terms, imposing the death penalty on an American citizen requires more legal process than deporting an illegal alien to their country of origin. When the media and the far left obsess over an MS-13 gang member and demand that he be returned to the United States for a *third* deportation hearing, what they're really saying is they want the vast majority of illegal aliens to stay here permanently. Here's a useful test: ask the people weeping over the lack of due process what precisely they propose for dealing with Biden's millions and millions of illegals. And with reasonable resource and administrative judge constraints, does their solution allow us to deport at least a few million people per year? If the answer is no, they've given their game away. They don't want border security. They don't want us to deport the people who've come into our country illegally. They want to accomplish through fake legal process what they failed to accomplish politically: The ratification of Biden's illegal migrant invasion. President Trump and I will not stand fori t [sic].

Instead of the full due process rights Democrats demand, there are really only a few questions to ask, and the answers can be proven with ease. The first is, Are you here legally? There are two answers to that question. The first is yes and the second is no.

If the answer is yes, the second question is whether that person has violated the requirements for immigration to this country. For example, one violation is supporting terrorist groups or activities or arguing for Americas overthrow. If thats proven (and these people have usually been open about their activities or were previously arrested for actual crimes such as human trafficking), there is no defense. That person is out.

Alternatively, if the answer is no (that is, the person is here illegally), that person must be deported. The only defense is if the person falls within a legitimate refugee class. As to that, I believe that most Americans would say that a person is a refugee if that person is facing genocide in their home country or mass death through famine.

Moreover, even in those cases, America should not be the first point of refuge. Instead, America should look to working with neighboring countriescountries with shared values (i.e., Islam)to see if they can take in the refugees. Heck, Id even be willing to cough up a good bit in foreign aid to make it so.

And then there are the people who arent fleeing imminent death but just want to leave their poverty-stricken, dysfunctional countries. We all understand why they want to do so, but that cannot be the metric for Americas refugee policy. That standard would make the entire Third World a legitimate refugee class. Thats why we recognize that Bidens ex post facto declaration that hundreds of thousands of people from places such as Haiti or Venezuela are actually refugees is simply a way to circumvent Americas immigration laws.

Biden sought to bring in the Third World, complete with its pathologies and ideologies. If we lived in an age of assimilation, we might be able to make this work. But we dont...so Trump, JD Vance, Stephen Miller, and most Americans are right in saying that they must go back to their homes, and that we cannot create a system that makes it impossible for our government to send them there.

X screen grab (edited).
When President Trumps presidential message on Holy Week popped up on my phone a couple of days ago, I kept checking to see if it was legit.

The wording was so blatantly Christian, so charismatic in its call for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit  I thought it might be some kind of spoofed website aimed at mocking the presidents Christian supporters.

Upon realizing it was real; I texted my friends: This is unprecedented! Ive never seen anything like it!

One replied, Yes! Unprecedented! Good word!

Another said, What an awesome message. It feels incredible that being openly Christian is okay again.

And a pastor wrote back, Beautiful. And lets believe its a sign of good things to come!

We werent alone.

Rev. Franklin Graham confirmed the message as historic when speaking with CBN News saying, I think this proclamation is historic and there has not been, in my lifetime, a president that has communicated the gospel as clearly as he has. Hes not a preacher but [in] this proclamation he gave one of the best sermons that many pastors will give from the pulpit. He added, Donald Trump is not afraid of his faith. Hes not ashamed of his faith, and hes willing to let the world know it.

On his social media accounts, Rev. Graham added, What a contrast to Easter last year at the White House when President Biden declared the most holy day of the year on the Christian calendar Transgender Day of Visibility.

In his column at The Federalist, Logan Washburn contrasted Trumps Holy Week message with King Charles III in the U.K., saying the head of the Church of England, and defender of the faith  apparently failed to even issue a statement for Holy Week or Palm Sunday.

Instead, he noted that both the Royal Family and Prime Minister Starmer honored the Sikh holiday Vaisakhi and the birth of Sikhism on April 14.

Evangelical pastor Greg Laurie, senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship, wrote on X, In a time when truth is blurred, what a contrast to see the resurrection of Christ honored  especially after last years Easter was marked by Transgender Day of Visibility. Pray that we honor God and point people to Christ.

Laurie will be joining Rev. Franklin Graham and Pastor Jentezen Franklin for a special worship service at the White House on Holy Thursday. The service was reportedly organized by the new White House Faith Office.

(Its interesting to note that Jentezen Franklin is author of a new book, Why Bless Israel, and his ministry is currently collaborating with the Jewish National Fund on projects such as a state-of-the-art medical emergency center in the Upper Galilee, near the borders with Lebanon and Syria.)

Charisma News reported, President Trumps holy week statement is taking the world by storm and The Catholic News Agency declared, Trump issues Holy Week messages: He is risen!

The latter is a reference to the presidents Truth Social post which was separate from his official Holy Week Message. In the post, he spoke of the pain and sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross, adding that America is a Nation of Believers. We need God, we want God and, with His help, we will make our Nation Stronger, Safer, Greater, more Prosperous, and more United than ever before.

Predictably, the Freedom From Religion Foundation criticized both posts, saying they reflected the White Houses desire to institutionalize Christian nationalism.

They further lamented that The overt iteration of extreme Christian dogma in a presidential message directed only to the 62 percent of Americans who are at least nominally Christian (few of whom attend church even a few times a year) signals fealty to Trumps white evangelical Christian base.

This hilariously brings to mind Whoopi Goldbergs recent characterization of how the Trump administration only represents a narrow band of people  despite winning every swing state, the popular vote, and the Electoral College:

When they say America, theyre not talking about us. They are talking about that very narrow band of America that they think they represent.

This Easter, Im guessing that a very large narrow band of American Christians are enthusiastically applauding a president who openly acknowledges Jesus Christ's death and resurrection, reflecting the majority faith of the nation.



Image: Screen shot from The National Desk video, via YouTube
Summary: Google has started rolling out a new feature to Google Wallet, allowing users to see real-time status updates about arrival times for their train. The feature has limited availability for the time being, though, and only works with one railway in the supported regions.

Google Wallet can now reportedly inform you about your train times with real-time status updates, so youll never be left wondering whether or not youll make it to wherever that train is taking you. Google Wallet has been upgraded with several new features over the past few years (such as passport storage), including the ability to store more types of cards and work in more places.

You can also now use it for transportation passes, which makes it all the more useful that its gaining the ability to give you updates on arrival times. That being said, Google Wallet is only getting this feature for two countries at the moment. In addition, itll only currently work for one railway in each of those countries.

Google Wallet real-time status updates for train times are not available in the US

Unfortunately for users in the US, this new feature for real-time status updates isnt available in the Google Wallet app. As reported by 9To5Google, this feature is enabled for users in India and users in Canada.

As for the supported railways, in India, the updates will be available for Indian Railways, while Canadian users will be able to see these arrival time updates via Rail. There is no word at the moment on whether or not this will be coming to the US, or when it will arrive if Google does plan to release it here. That being said, Google I/O 2025 is coming up soon, so there is a chance Google could announce something there.

Google Wallet website now lets you add loyalty passes

While US users cant check Google Wallet to see if their trains are arriving on time, they can use the desktop website to add loyalty passes and gift cards to their digital wallet. Google seems to have recently added this feature to the website version of Google Wallet, so you wont have to whip out your phone to do so. In most cases, it might feel like second nature to use your phone for this.

However, if youre already sitting in front of your laptop or desktop, its probably more convenient to type everything in on your laptops keyboard.
Summary: Huawei has unveiled its Ascend 910C AI chip, powering the new CloudMatrix 384  Chinas most powerful AI cluster to date  and a direct competitor to NVIDIAs GB2000 NVL72. This breakthrough not only signals Chinas growing independence in AI compute, but also comes at a critical moment as U.S. tariffs and chip restrictions tighten.

Huawei just put the AI world on notice, with its new next-gen Ascend AI chip. This chip is said to disrupt competition from the West. The new Ascend 910C will power Chinas most potent, CloudMatrix 384 AI cluster. This solution from Huawei successfully competes with NVIDIAs most powerful AI server, thats the GB2000 NVL72.

This essentially shows that China no longer needs to rely on the US or any other country, for computational needs. And its perfect timing, as Trump just raised the tariffs on China to 245%.

The CloudMatrix 384 apparently has 384 Ascend 910C chips, that are connected in an all-to-all topology configuration. Huawei has also managed to cover the architectural flaws by housing five times as many Ascend chips as NVIDIAs GB2000. Showing that Huawei doesnt care about the costs, performance efficiency, or stability ratios. Instead, it is looking to only beat out NVIDIA.

This launch comes as NVIDIAs H20 has been restricted in China

The US is forcing NVIDIA to require an export license for sales of its H20 chip to China. Which is going to drastically reduce how many chips it can sell to China. And, obviously, thats going to help a number of Chinese brands that are competing with NVIDIA, specifically Huawei.

This is the latest move by the US to limit Chinas access to advanced semiconductors, as the US seeks to maintain its edge in AI technology. Apparently, some major Chinese cloud companies were still anticipating NVIDIA H20 deliveries before the end of 2025, unaware of these restrictions being on the horizon.

On the back of this news, NVIDIAs stock dropped even more, currently down almost 8% for the day. Its also down over 42% from its all-time high in November.
Interview: Chinese technologies set to boost agricultural production, household incomes in Uganda, official says

Xinhua) 10:41, April 16, 2025

KAMPALA, April 15 (Xinhua) -- The technologies being shared by Chinese experts in the crop, livestock, and fisheries sectors in rural Uganda are set to enhance production and ultimately improve household incomes, according to a Ugandan official.

"These technologies are all being introduced here, tried, produced, and adopted. A number of varieties have been officially released, including rice and foxtail millet," Julius Twinamasiko, head of the Ugandan side of the South-South Cooperation (SSC) project between China and Uganda, supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, told Xinhua in a recent interview.

Since the SSC project began in 2012 and is now in its third phase, China has dispatched more than 60 experts to assist Ugandan farmers in transitioning from subsistence to commercial farming. In addition, China has set up three agricultural technology transfer hubs focusing on crop varieties, livestock, and fisheries, according to Twinamasiko.

Figures from Uganda's Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries show that 248 new varieties of rice, millet, and sorghum have been introduced through the SSC framework. One major achievement in the crop sector is the introduction of the WDR-73, a new high-yielding and drought-resistant rice variety developed jointly by China's Shanghai Agrobiological Gene Center and Uganda's state-run National Agricultural Research Organization.

The variety, according to Twinamasiko, is now being promoted nationwide and has benefited nearly 5,000 households. It has resulted in the production of 15,000 tons of rice and increased the average household income by 4 million Ugandan shillings (about 1,100 U.S. dollars).

Twinamasiko said that this year, the project is prioritizing the completion of 300-acre rice demonstration sites and 60-acre foxtail millet demonstration sites.

Technologies have also been introduced in the livestock sector, particularly in poultry and dairy farming. Aquaculture has also benefited from the introduction of rice-fish farming and fingerling production.

The project aims to set up 1,400 broiler demonstration sites and 200 beef cattle demonstration sites. The process of importing big-ear goats from China has also been initiated, according to Twinamasiko.

"There is a tremendous impact not only on incomes but also on food and nutrition security," the official said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Summary: During his testimony, internal emails reveal that Mark Zuckerberg considered wiping everyones Facebook friends lists annually to regain relevance. The emails also showed he once entertained spinning off Instagramironically, the very breakup the FTC now seeks to enforce.

Social media networks are a trend. They come and go. How many of you remember the classics like Friendster and MySpace? Facebook also used to be relevant until other social media platforms came around, like Vine, Snapchat, TikTok, and so on. This is why its actually illuminating to see what goes on behind closed doors at Meta.

During Metas antitrust trial, several internal emails revealed some of the wilder ideas Metas CEO Mark Zuckerberg has had over the years.

Wiping Facebook friends lists

One of Zuckerbergs more outlandish ideas was back in 2022. The emails show that the CEO worried about Facebooks decreasing cultural relevance, so much so that he suggested deleting everyones friends lists. It wasnt even going to be a one-time thing, either. According to the email, Zuckerberg proposed doing it once a year and having everyone start from scratch again.

The CEO noted that even if other Meta-owned platforms like WhatsApp and Instagram do well, I dont see a way for our company to succeed in the way we need if FB falters, so we need to get this right. Luckily, cooler heads prevailed. The head of Facebook, Tom Allison, replied to Zuckerbergs idea by saying he wasnt sure how viable the idea was. Mark Zuckerberg confirmed during his testimony that the company never put this plan into action. The CEO was quoted as saying, As far as I can tell, we never did that.

Spinning Instagram off

But the ideas dont stop there. It also seems that at one point in time, Meta had the idea of spinning Instagram off into its own company. Ironically enough, this is something Meta is fighting the FTC to keep from happening.

If the FTC wins its antitrust case against Meta, it could force the company to sell Instagram and WhatsApp. Meta is arguing that it shouldnt have to. However, in the email from 2018, Zuckerberg was quoted as saying, While most companies resist break-ups, the corporate history is that most companies actually perform better after theyve been split up.

However, it seems that Zuckerberg might have had the hindsight that this day could come. His memo noted that there was a non-trivial chance we will be forced to spin out Instagram and perhaps WhatsApp in the next 5-10 years. He also warned his team of executives that, We should keep in mind that theres a real chance that all our work to build a family of apps may be something we dont get to keep.

Its not too hard to imagine the calls increasing to break up the tech companies, and the next democratic president taking action to do so. At that point, we will face extremely high pressure, brand damage and distraction.

A feed full of ads

One way that Facebook and Instagram make money for Meta is through ads. It is estimated that in 2025, Instagram could bring in $37.13 billion in ad revenue, which accounts for more than half of Metas ad revenue in the US.

This is why Meta doesnt want to break up its company. Losing Instagram could cause irreparable damage to Metas bottom line. In fact, the companys reliance on ads is also the basis for another one of Zuckerbergs wild ideas.

During his testimony, Mark Zuckerberg said that Meta even considered making a feed that consisted only of ads. Apparently, this is because users think these ads are as good as regular content. However, were skeptical of those claims.

Its probably still too early to tell what the outcome of this trial will be. However, a report from The Wall Street Journal suggests that Zuckerberg is eager to settle. Zuckerberg reportedly called the head of the FTC in late March and offered to pay $450 million. He later bumped it up to $1 billion. The FTC chair, Andrew Ferguson, declined. Instead, the report claims that Ferguson told Zuckerberg he wouldnt settle for anything less than $18 billion but later upped it to $30 billion.
Summary: A leak has surfaced showcasing what are alleged to be the wallpapers for the Pixel 10 series phones. The leak includes multiple wallpapers for the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and Pixel 10 Pro XL, with a mix of bright and vivid colors and more neutral or muted colors.

Googles Pixel 10 series is due to launch in the second half of this year, but that hasnt stopped leak after leak from popping up, and the latest seems to be of the wallpapers Google will be using on these new devices. In total, there are twelve wallpapers, four from each of the different Pixel 10 phones. Specifically, in this case, the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and Pixel 10 Pro XL. Absent are wallpapers for the Pixel 10a and Pixel 10 Pro Fold.

The wallpapers provide an almost glass-like aesthetic, or that of colorful lenses, as 9To5Google points out. This seems like a reasonable assumption for the design theme. Though its not quite where my mind went when looking at these for the first time. My weird brain immediately looked at these wallpapers and went huh, those kind of look inspired by the shape of red blood cells.

That clearly isnt what Google was going for here. But I doubt Im the only one who saw it. Now, it goes without saying that images in the leak cant be confirmed to be the Pixel 10 wallpapers. However, they provide the familiar spectrum of colors and designs based around a series of shapes that were used to seeing from Pixel phones. And really, any top-end phones from other manufacturers.

Pixel 10 wallpaper leak hints at possible new color options for the phones

Its worth noting that this is based purely on speculation, as the leaker, Mystic Leaks on Telegram, merely proposes the idea. That being said, this wouldnt be the first time that Google ended up using wallpapers in a color scheme that matches the color of the actual hardware. That doesnt mean it will do that here, but its an interesting thought.

Especially when you consider the colors. The Pixel 10 wallpapers feature a mix of very bright colors with vibrant and saturated hues. Whereas the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL have more muted colors, like a neutral blue, green, and light brown or tan.

In fact, the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL wallpaper colors are exactly the same. Their shapes and overall designs are slightly different from each other, however.

Colors may not change at all

While the idea of new colors to match these wallpapers is a nice thought, its worth remembering that there have already been leaks showcasing the possible colors. CAD renders for the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro XL surfaced back in March. And surprise, surprise, the colors are the same as the Pixel 9 series. At least on whats shown. For example, the Pixel 10 CAD render shows off the phone in Peony, one of the new colors that came with the Pixel 9 series.

Another render, this one of the Pixel 10 Pro XL, showcases the phone in Hazel. This is also a color available on the Pixel 9 series phones. So it goes without saying that Google may be sticking mostly with the same colors here. If it does, this wouldnt really be uncharacteristic of the company. The Pixel 8 also came in a Hazel color. Although the shade of the Hazel on that older series was slightly different. This also doesnt mean that there wont be one new color, as there typically has been with each new series.
The raid on Xiaofeng Wangs home has driven fear into the hearts of Bloomingtons Asian community of faculty and students. Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images

When FBI and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents descended recently on two homes owned by Xiaofeng Wang, a Chinese national and cybersecurity professor at Indiana University, many in the idyllic college town of Bloomington were shocked.

In December, Wang had been questioned by his employers about allegedly receiving undisclosed funding from China on a project that also received US federal research grants. On the same day of the home raids, Wang was fired from his longstanding post at Indiana University over email  a move that goes against the universitys own policy.

But Wang hasnt been charged with any offence, and his lawyer says no criminal charges are pending.

The incident has driven fear into the hearts of Bloomingtons Asian community of faculty and students who fear a political motivation.

I study at the computer science department, and Ive overheard Chinese professors talking about how worried they are that something similar could happen them, too, says a Chinese PhD student who came to Bloomington from Suzhou, Jiangsu province, last September and who asked not to be named given the sensitivity of the issue.

During the first Trump administration, the Department of Justice created the China Initiative in an effort to find and prosecute spies for Beijing working in US research and development sectors. At the time, it was criticized by rights groups for fueling racial profiling and violence against Asian Americans, and a review by the Biden administration saw the effort ended in 2022.

Now as before, Trump has made targeting universities whose leadership and faculty he believes run against his own agenda a key element of his second term.

For the Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Gang Chen, what happened to Wang brings chills to our spines.

What is particularly troubling in this case is that Indiana University fired him and his wife without due process, presuming guilt instead of innocence, Chen says.

Chen, who has US and Chinese nationality, found himself charged by the Department of Justice for allegedly failing to disclose links to Chinese organizations on a grant application for a federally funded project, with just weeks remaining in Trumps first term, in January 2021.

The charges were dismissed a year later.

The investigations on Professor Wang and his firing creates huge fear among researchers of Chinese descent, especially students and postdoctorates from China. It is clear that such events, together with legislation and hostile rhetoric, are driving out talents. I learned that many Chinese students and postdoctorates here are considering leaving the US.

More students from China come to the US to study and research at third-level institutions than from any other country.

The fear of Chinese spies operating in the US isnt completely unfounded.

A report released recently by US intelligence agencies found that China remains the top cyber threat to America, and many politicians on the right believe smaller colleges in low-key parts of the country such as the midwest could be used as gateways into the US by the Chinese Communist party.

In October, five Chinese students at a college in Michigan were charged with spying on a military training camp where Taiwanese soldiers participate. This month, information on several Chinese students at Purdue University, also in Indiana, was sought by members of Congress, claiming national security interests, though no charges have been brought.

But the vast majority of the estimated 300,000 Chinese academics and students in the US today are in the country to legitimately contribute to research and to learn, say experts who fear that Trumps targeting of colleges deemed to be antisemitic may now be shifting to the midwest.

Last month, the Department of Education named Indiana University Bloomington among 60 colleges under investigation for alleged antisemitic discrimination, a move that could result in funding cuts.

Its not only Chinese academics and students who could be affected.

Universities in Illinois, Indiana and other heartland states are home to some of the largest Chinese student populations in the country.

Nearly half of Urbana-Champaigns combined population of 130,000 people in neighboring Illinois is made up of college students and staff. Nearly six thousand are students from China.

In Bloomington, which has a population of under 80,000 people, close to 50,000 are students, with nearly 10% coming from overseas.

Midwestern colleges and the communities around them are keen to attract international students and rely heavily on the money they bring with them; about 2,000 Chinese students enroll at Indiana University every year. International undergrad students are charged an average of $42,000 in tuition and fees, alongside $14,000 in housing and food, bringing hundreds of millions of dollars into the college and town.

Over the years, these and other small university towns have come to rely on international students to prop up their economies.

A couple of blocks west of the Indiana University Bloomington campus, a grouping of Chinese, Korean and Asian eateries cater to the colleges large Asian community. The sidewalk in front of the Longfei Chinese restaurant is dotted with food signs written in Mandarin. The restaurants manager, however, says he believes that the political problems between Washington and Beijing have seen the number of Chinese students coming to the US  and through his doors  fall in recent years.

The Chinese PhD student, who one recent morning is here grabbing lunch, says his student visa status allows him to stay in the US for up to five years, but he and his Chinese colleagues are worried that the Trump administration may cut that short.

Im concerned with President Trumps hostility against China and this kind of hostility may affect Chinese students and professors, and the funding that we get, he says.

Im concerned about the impact on my life.

Faculty at the department where Wang worked for more than two decades have called for Indiana University to revoke his dismissal. His profile page on the Universitys website has been removed and college authorities have not commented on his firing.

Neither Prof Wang nor Ms Ma [his wife, who worked as a library analyst at the same university] have been arrested  further, there are no pending criminal charges as far as we are aware, says Jason Covert, a lawyer at Taft Stettinius & Hollister, a firm representing Wang and Ma.

They look forward to clearing their names and resuming their successful careers at the conclusion of this investigation.

Covert would not say whether Wang planned to remain in the US.
In a video shared on social media, a fringe right-wing group claims to have confronted the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, in a Melbourne hotel lobby during the election campaign. Composite: Facebook

Anthony Albanese and his team were confronted by two men associated with the fringe rightwing freedom movement at their Melbourne hotel overnight, with one man who claimed responsibility saying they just walked straight through the lobby door.

But the prime minister said he would not be deterred from interacting with the public, despite a growing number of protesters managing to discover the location of political leaders and evade security at election events  even though campaign schedules have been tightly held.

Nothing stops me, Albanese said on Wednesday.

In video shared on social media app Telegram, two men managed to intercept the prime minister as he was walking through the hotel in Melbournes CBD on Tuesday afternoon. Both men were stopped by security and Albaneses staff before they could reach the prime minister, but managed to get relatively close.

The videos were attributed on Telegram to Melbourne Freedom Rally, a large right-wing group that led protests against Covid restrictions during the pandemic.

Daniel Jones of self-defence company Tactical Force Combatives claimed on Facebook to have taken part in the stunt. In a video posted this morning, Jones claimed to be asking Albanese some questions, and said there was nothing James Bond about tracking down the prime minister.



We walked straight through the lobby door, he said. It is what it is.

Jones, who has posted images of himself on social media with various weapons including what he claimed was a grenade launcher, has a history of associations with the far right, including acting as a bodyguard to activist and content creator Avi Yemini.

One of the men asked the prime minister about Australians who were unable to afford housing, saying when are you going to put Australians first? In the second clip, which appears to be filmed around the same time as the first but in a different part of the hotel, the other man asked Albanese about the rise in immigration, saying do you think its fair?

In the first video, filmed in the hotel lobby, the man approached Albanese, who was accompanied by one security guard and a staffer. Filming with a phone, the man managed to get within a few metres of the prime minister and ask his question, before Albaneses team created a physical barrier and several more security guards arrived to escort the man from the building.

In the second video, Albanese was heading for a lift inside the hotel when a second man saw him. Also filming on his phone, the man yelled to the prime minister before being quickly shut down by security.

Neither man involved in the incident was carrying weapons and there was no suggestion Albanese was at risk of physical harm. Jones has been approached for comment.

The incident is the latest in a long line of protests and confrontations in the election campaign. Albanese and Coalition leader Peter Dutton have been continually interrupted by pro-environment protesters at press conferences and public events. On the first morning of the campaign, a Rising Tide protester managed to enter a closed factory and stand close to Dutton before criticising his nuclear and gas plans.

Federal police and security agencies have warned of safety risks to politicians during election campaigns.

Questions have been raised about how protesters have discovered the locations of political leaders, with campaign plans and movements a tightly held secret. Even journalists travelling with Dutton and Albanese are not told the location of press conferences until shortly before they begin.

Albanese wouldnt publicly discuss that issue when asked on Wednesday, saying it probably wouldnt be a good idea to broadcast it, frankly. He has previously said he was concerned about others copying protests.

I have faith in the AFP. As Ive said before, I have no intention of going into security discussions. Thats not in the interests of security, Albanese said on Wednesday.

Asked if the situation had limited his public movements, Albanese said he had made numerous public appearances during the campaign.

I go into uncontrolled environments. Youve seen it happen time and time again.

Albanese last week revealed he had been the subject of a range of issues, at least one of which is before legal processes  There was a pretty serious incident. Dutton was allegedly the target of a terror plot planned by a Brisbane schoolboy last year, who was later arrested, according to News Corp.
The bodies were recovered after Israeli troops buried them in a mass grave in Gaza. Photograph: PRCS

The doctor who carried out the postmortems of the 15 paramedics and rescue workers who were killed by Israeli troops in Gaza in March has said they were mostly killed by gunshots to the head and torso, as well as injuries caused by explosives.

There was international outcry last month after it emerged that Israeli troops had launched a deadly attack on a group of paramedics from the Palestinian Red Crescent, civil defence and United Nations workers, as they carried out a rescue operation in southern Gaza.

Their bodies, along with the crushed vehicles, were buried in a sandy mass grave in Gaza by Israeli troops. After digging up the bodies days later, the UN claimed they had been executed one by one.

Ahmed Dhair, the forensic pathologist in Gaza who carried out autopsies on 14 out of the 15 victims, told the Guardian he had found lacerations, entry wounds from bullets, and wounds resulting from explosive injuries. These were mostly concentrated in the torso area  the chest, abdomen, back, and head.

Most had died from gunshot wounds, including what Dhair said was evidence of explosive bullets, otherwise known as butterfly bullets, which explode in the body upon impact, ripping apart flesh and bone.

We found remains of explosive bullets, said Dhair. In one case, the bullet head had exploded in the chest, and the rest of the bullet fragments were found within the body. There were also remnants or shrapnel from bullets scattered on the back of one of the victims.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) did not immediately respond to allegations that these bullets had been used in the attack.

Details of the incident have remained disputed. Video footage that emerged from the beginning of the attack shows the convoy of ambulances coming under fire, but the subsequent events that led to the bodies of 15 workers being buried in a mass grave are still unclear.

Israels military admitted carrying out the killings but was forced to change its version of events after evidence emerged that contradicted its account that the vehicles had been moving suspiciously without lights.

Israel has claimed, without publicly presenting evidence, that six of the unarmed workers killed were Hamas operatives, which has been denied by Red Crescent.

Related: IDF unit involved in Gaza paramedics killing was under command of brigade led by notorious Israeli general

Dhair said his findings did not suggest the paramedics had been shot at close range, but emphasised he was not a munitions expert. He said the shrapnel found in the bodies also suggested they had been hit with some form of explosive devices. In some cases, the injuries seemed to be a mix of explosive and regular gunfire wounds, he said.

Responding to the allegations that some of the bodies had been dug up with their hands tied, suggesting they were captured or held before they were killed, Dhair said he had not seen visible signs of restraint.

Only in one case, there were discoloration and bruising on the wrists that could possibly be due to restraints, he said. All the men were clearly in their work uniforms and their bodies had begun to decompose.

The findings are likely to increase pressure on Israel to give a full account of the incident amid accusations of a war crime. Israel has said it is still under investigation.

This week it emerged that one of the two paramedics who survived the incident, Assad al-Nsasrah  whose whereabouts had been unknown since  was being held in Israeli detention.

The medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres said on Wednesday that Gaza was becoming a mass grave for Palestinians.

Aid supplies including food, fuel, water and medicine have been blocked by Israel from entering Gaza since 2 March, more than two weeks before the collapse of the ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group with a return to air and ground attacks on the territory.

Israel has said it will keep blocking humanitarian aid from entering Gaza, as it vowed to force Hamas into releasing the remaining hostages from the 7 October 2023 attacks.

The Israeli defence minister, Israel Katz, said: Israels policy is clear: no humanitarian aid will enter Gaza, and blocking this aid is one of the main pressure levers preventing Hamas from using it as a tool with the population.

No one is currently planning to allow any humanitarian aid into Gaza, and there are no preparations to enable such aid, said Katz, who threatened to escalate the conflict with tremendous force if Hamas did not return the hostages.

Amnesty International is among the aid agencies that have described Israels blockade on all supplies going into Gaza as a crime against humanity and a violation of international humanitarian law. Israel has denied any violations.

More than 51,000 Palestinians have died in Gaza since the conflict began, including more than 1,600 since Israel resumed airstrikes and ground operations on 18 March. The Gaza health ministry does not distinguish between combatants and civilians but has said more than half of those dead were women and children.

Another 13 people were killed in airstrikes overnight, with a well-known photographer, Fatema Hassouna, among those reported dead in the northern area of the strip.

Doctors and aid groups on the ground said the humanitarian situation in Gaza was becoming graver by the day.

The situation is the worst it has been in 18 months in terms of being deprived of your basic necessities and the resumption of hostilities and attacks against Palestinians in all of Gaza, said Mahmoud Shalabi, a director at Medical Aid for Palestinians, a British charity.

Israel has been accused of worsening the humanitarian situation by targeting hospitals and medical personnel working in Gaza, with two hospitals struck and debilitated by airstrikes this week. Israel has claimed Hamas has used medical facilities as a cover for terrorist operations.

The resumption of aid into Gaza has become a highly inflammatory political issue in Israel. There are 58 hostages still in Gaza, who were taken captive after the Hamas attacks on southern Israel in October 2023, with 24 believed to still be alive.

Far-right figures in prime minister Benjamin Netanyahus government have said no aid should be restored to the civilians of Gaza until Hamas agrees to the hostages release.

As long as our hostages are languishing in the tunnels, there is no reason for a single gram of food or any aid to enter Gaza, the national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, said on Wednesday.
Even if you love working from home, it can be hard to focus sometimes. Whether youre trying to engage your brain in the morning or finishing off a dull admin task, distractions can easily pull you off course.

There are many different ways to stop your mind wandering and stay productive. Some people rely on regular schedules, or create a dedicated distraction-free workspace. But others swear that having a "body double"  someone to work alongside them physically or virtually  helps them stay on track.

Body doubling is a productivity strategy in which you work alongside someone else. Its thought to help you stay focused, engaged and motivated by creating an environment of shared presence and accountability.

The other person doesnt need to engage in the same task, or even provide direct help. Instead, body doubling relies on the simple principle that having company can make a hard task easier.

Body doubling is frequently recommended as a useful technique for individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as engaging in positive social interactions may boost dopamine levels and support task completion. Studies indicate that people with ADHD might have naturally lower dopamine levels or problems with dopamine regulation, which could contribute to challenges with maintaining focus.

Read more: How to work multiple jobs without burning out

The idea is to work alongside someone  whether youre tackling the same task or completely different ones. Just being near another person whos working can help you stay focused and fight off distractions, says Peter Duris, CEO and co-founder of Kickresume.

You dont need to have someone physically next to you for it to work. A lot of remote workers hop on Zoom with colleagues, friends, or even strangers, while some use virtual co-working apps to stay motivated and beat loneliness.

Just being near another person whos working can help you stay focused and fight off distractions (Pekic via Getty Images)

How does body doubling work?

Despite the popularity of body doubling on social media, much of the evidence supporting the benefits is anecdotal.

However, researchers have proposed several theories to explain how body doubling works. First, it may cultivate a sense of gentle accountability that draws you to your work, says Nic Smith, a consulting director at Step Inside Group.

It may lead to a reduction in cognitive load, says Smith. The presence of a body double creates accountability, therefore reducing the need to self-monitor. This, in turn alleviates strain on the prefrontal cortex.

Body doubling may also enhance dopamine levels and motivation, particularly for those with ADHD or other conditions affecting executive functioning. This is thought to be due to social interactions stimulating the brain's reward circuitry.

We know that ADHD is associated with impaired motivation and task initiation which is often attributed to dopamine dysregulation, says Smith. Having a body double may stimulate social reward  a sense of recognised self-satisfaction  and indirectly boost dopamine which makes perceived mundane tasks more engaging.

Read more: How 'mum brain' stigma is holding women back at work

Social Facilitation Theory, a concept first proposed in 1898 by American psychologist Norman Triplett, may also be at play. It refers to the finding that people sometimes show an increased level of effort and improved performance when theyre around other people, or they think theyre in the presence of others.

There are two key effects thought to be underpinning the theory  the "co-action effect", the idea that your task performance increases purely from having another person present doing the same task, and the "audience effect" which suggests that the presence or idea of an audience can affect your performance. So when were working alongside a friend, we may be more likely to get things done  and do them well.

While the exact science behind body doubling isn't fully understood, it's clear that humans are inherently social beings. With loneliness and isolation on the rise, particularly among remote workers, mental health is taking a hit. Thats why collaborating with others, even in a virtual space, can have a positive impact.

Body doubling is thought to help you stay focused, engaged and motivated by creating an environment of shared presence and accountability. (filadendron via Getty Images)

How to engage in body doubling

If you have a few friends who work remotely, organise somewhere to work together once or twice a week. Or, if youre a hybrid worker, ask a colleague if they want to do body doubling sessions on your work-from-home days.

For in-person body doubling, you can find a colleague, housemate, friend, or family member to join you, says Smith.

For virtual or hybrid options, you can set up video calls. There are also YouTube channels dedicated to "working" or "studying" alongside other people to create passive, background doubling. Co-working spaces, cafes and libraries can offer subtle body doubling too, as well as ambient background noise. There are even apps and platforms, like Cofocus or Focusmate, which match users for virtual coworking sessions.

Having someone nearby, even virtually, while you work can make it easier to start and stay focused, says Heather Darwall-Smith, a psychotherapist and spokesperson for the UK Council for Psychotherapy. It is great for tackling boring or overwhelming tasks. Try virtual co-working sessions or connect with a friend on speakerphone.

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Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, on 10 May 2024. The state is the USs largest importer and second-largest exporter, and relies heavily on trade with Mexico, Canada and China. Photograph: Rich Pedroncelli/AP

California is preparing to ask a court to block Donald Trumps illegal tariffs, accusing the president of overstepping his authority and causing immediate and irreparable harm to the worlds fifth-largest economy.

The lawsuit, to be filed in federal court on Wednesday by Californias governor, Gavin Newsom, and attorney general, Rob Bonta, is the most significant challenge yet to Trumps flurry of on-again-off-again tariffs.

In the complaint, California officials argue that the US constitution explicitly grants Congress the power to impose tariffs and that the presidents invocation of emergency powers to unilaterally escalate a global trade war, which has rattled stock markets and raised fears of recession, is unlawful.

No state is poised to lose more than the state of California, Newsom said, formally unveiling the lawsuit during a press conference at an almond farm in the Central valley on Wednesday. Its a serious and sober moment, and Id be  lying to you if I said it can be quickly undone.

Related: After losing homes and businesses, LA wildfire victims face a hurdle to rebuilding: Trumps tariffs

Invoking a statute known as the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 (IEEPA), Trump has issued a series of declarations imposing, reversing, delaying, restarting and modifying tariffs on US trading partners.

The complaint argues that the law does not give the US president the authority to impose tariffs without the consent of Congress. It asks the court to declare Trumps tariff orders unlawful and void and to order the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection to stop enforcing them.

The president is yet again acting as if hes above the law. He isnt, Bonta said at the press conference on Wednesday, noting that it was the states 14th lawsuit against the Trump administration in less than 14 weeks. Bottom line: Trump doesnt have the singular power to radically upend the countrys economic landscape. Thats not how our democracy works.

Trump has said tariffs are necessary to ensure fair trade, protect American workers and turn the US into an industrial powerhouse.

In a statement responding to the lawsuit, White House spokesman Kush Desai said the administration was committed to the presidents trade strategy. Instead of focusing on Californias rampant crime, homelessness and unaffordability, Gavin Newsom is spending his time trying to block President Trumps historic efforts to finally address the national emergency of our countrys persistent goods trade deficits, he said.

Newsom said his office had informed the White House in advance that it was bringing this lawsuit, but that the governor has not spoken to the president directly about it.

Earlier this month, on what he called liberation day, the president imposed a sweeping 10% tariff on nearly all imported goods and higher tariffs for a host of countries, most of which he later paused for 90 days.

A 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico, the USs largest trading partners, remains in effect, while Trumps actions have provoked a trade war with China, its third-largest trading partner, subject to US tariffs of 145%.

California, the USs largest importer and second-largest exporter with an economy larger than most countries, relies heavily on trade with Mexico, Canada and China, the states top trading partners. The complaint says the economic consequences of Trumps tariffs on the state will be significant.

California is the first US state to bring a lawsuit against the Trump administrations tariff policies. Earlier this week, a legal advocacy group filed a similar lawsuit on behalf of US businesses that import goods from countries targeted by the levies, asking the US court of international trade to block Trumps tariffs.

Newsom said said the economic consequences of the tariffs would be reflected in a revised budget proposal he will submit next month. Across the spectrum, the impacts are off the charts.

Regardless of all the scientific and engineering advances, farming is still hard work, and the weather makes every year a gamble, said Christine Gemperle, who hosted the governor and attorney at her almond farm. The last thing we need is more uncertainty and not knowing whether we can ride this one out.

California is the nations top agricultural exporter, shipping nuts, tomatoes, wine and rice around the world. Californias agricultural exports totalled nearly $24bn in 2022.

After Trumps announcement of across-the-board levies, Newsom said his administration would pursue new trade deals with international partners to exempt California from retaliatory tariffs. It also launched a campaign to encourage Canadian tourism to California, which has fallen dramatically in response to the Trump administrations policies. Newsom called the effort a sign of the times.

We talk about own goals. We talk about stupidity, he said of Trumps pursuit of a global trade war. This needs to be updated in the next Wikipedia or the next encyclopedia as a poster child for that.
There are signs that in some areas of England fewer children are gaining places at their first choice of primary school, a survey suggests.

Hundreds of thousands of families across England are finding out which primary school their child will be joining this September, on what is commonly known as national offer day.

Early indications from a PA news agency survey of local authorities in England, which excludes London, suggest that a youngsters chances of winning a place at their preferred school varies significantly depending on where they live.

As of midday on Wednesday, 18 out of 39 councils in England, which provided comparable data to PA, reported a fall in the proportion of children securing their preferred school compared with 2024.

Meanwhile, 18 councils have seen a rise in the proportion of families securing their top choice and three councils reported no change.

Of 29 councils that provided information, 15 had seen a fall in applications this year, while 14 had seen a rise.

Early figures indicate more than one in 10 families missed out on their first choice in some parts of the country.

In Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, 82.2% of children got their first preference, a fall from last year, while in Wokingham 90% got their top choice.

Among the areas where high proportions obtained their first preference were Westmoreland and Furness at 97.9%, and Hartlepool with 97.7%.

Official data shows that last year 93.2% of pupils across England were offered their first choice of primary school  up from 92.5% in 2023.

A population bulge in England has been moving from primary schools into secondary schools.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders union NAHT said: While most parents will be happy to have found out that they have got their first choice, that doesnt take away from the difficulty and disappointment experienced by those families who have missed out.

And there is a concern this year that overall offer figures may mask quite big regional variations.

Many primary schools are seeing falling pupil numbers, for example in cities like London, where primary age families are moving away.

But in some schools competition for places will still be very high, for example in areas with large amounts of new house-building.

This regional volatility in populations means that unfortunately many families are still at the mercy of a postcode lottery when it comes to getting their first choice of school place.

The current government has taken some steps to address this, for example restoring local authorities with the power to open new schools where they are most needed.

However more could be done to shield primary schools from demographic fluctuations and protect their funding, to ensure all families have a suitable local school place available for their child.

A Department for Education spokesperson said: Today is a big day for families across the country as they receive their primary school offers.

Parents should be reassured that last year almost 99% of children were accepted to one of their top three choices, but through our plan for change this government is determined to make sure every family, wherever they live, has access to a good local school.

Thats why we are deploying expert school improvement teams to raise standards where they have been persistently low, alongside making sure theres a brilliant teacher at the front of every classroom, teaching a national curriculum that sets young people up for success.
Jonathan Reynolds, the Business Secretary, is trying to secure raw materials to keep the countrys last steel-making blast furnaces running in Scunthorpe - Darren Staples/Getty Images

China has attacked MPs for their arrogance, ignorance and twisted mindset amid a growing diplomatic row over British Steel.

A spokesman for Beijings embassy in London criticised the anti-China rhetoric of certain politicians and warned it could damage economic and trade cooperation between Britain and the Communist country.

In a statement, he said British Steels plan to close its blast furnaces and build electric arc furnaces instead was a normal decision and had only happened as a result of Ed Milibands net zero plans.

The spokesman warned that instead of slandering the Chinese government and Chinese enterprises, MPs should be criticising Donald Trump over tariffs.

He said: Any words or deeds that politicise or maliciously hype up business issues will undermine the confidence of Chinese business investors in the UK and damage China-UK economic and trade cooperation.

The comments threaten to deepen a diplomatic rift with Beijing after the Government stepped in to prevent British Steels Chinese owner Jingye from shutting blast furnaces at its Scunthorpe plant.

A number of MPs, led by Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former Tory leader, have called on the Government to ban China from owning any more critical infrastructure in the UK.

Earlier this week, Sir Iain said: This is a country which is committing genocide and where there is slave labour, the forced sterilisation of Uyghur women They are about to dump steel, electric cars and batteries into our country.

British Steels Chinese owners were accused of planning to close the steelworks in Scunthorpe - Adam Vaughan/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

On Sunday, Jonathan Reynolds, the Business Secretary, said he did not want to see another company from China in control of the steel company.

He also accused Jingye of trying to shut down the British steel industry following claims from unions the company had cancelled orders for vital raw materials.

Government officials were forced to take control of the Scunthorpe site and ensure vital raw materials were delivered in time to keep the blast furnaces going.

The spat threatens to jeopardise the Governments efforts to strike a new partnership with the Chinese.

Sir Keir Starmer was the first British leader in six years to meet Xi Jinping, the Chinese president, while Mr Reynolds will visit the country for high-level trade talks later in the year.

Anti-China rhetoric

The spokesman for the Chinese embassy in London said: The anti-China rhetoric of some individual British politicians is extremely absurd, reflecting their arrogance, ignorance and twisted mindset.

He went on to state basic facts about British Steel, which he said undermined the views of Sir Iain and others.

The Jingye Group is a private Chinese enterprise that makes business investments in the UK on the basis of market principles and conducts operation on its own, he said.

It is well-known that British Steel had been losing money for many years before its acquisition by Jingye in 2020 and actually went into compulsory liquidation in 2019.

After taking over, Jingye put in substantial funding to keep the company afloat to this day. Had it not been for the involvement of this Chinese company, British Steel workers might have already faced the risk of unemployment.

He said: It is understood that under the UK governments net zero strategy, steel companies that use iron ore to make steel must achieve net zero emissions by 2035.

To that end, British steel companies including British Steel have all negotiated with the Government to find a path to decarbonisation transition.

The spokesman said that generally speaking, Chinese companies in the UK have operated in compliance with law and achieved steady progress.

Chinese companies in Britain have contributed over 115 billion to the UK economy and created nearly 60,000 jobs, he said.

The spokesman said: At a time when the US is wielding the tariff stick against all countries, the UK included, and engaging in unilateral and protectionist trade bullying, those British politicians just keep slandering the Chinese government and Chinese enterprises instead of criticising the United States. What on earth are they up to?

He added: We urge the British government to follow the principles of fairness, impartiality and non-discrimination and to make sure that the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies in the UK are protected.

At the same time, it is hoped that the British government will continue to engage in consultations and negotiations with Jingye to actively seek a solution acceptable to all parties. We will continue to follow the development of this situation.

Ban China from owning UK infrastructure

Earlier this week, Sir Iain called on the Government to bar China from owning any national infrastructure at all, such as nuclear power stations.

He said: We cannot have other nations which are not part of the alliance owning Britains national infrastructure, he said.

We cannot continue allowing access to countries which do not play by the rules, and which do not have democracy and the rule of law.

Not just steel but nuclear, the manufacture of high tech equipment, tanks and engineering, aircraft manufacture.

All these things have got to be run in the UK and we should only welcome investment from countries we can trust.

Zengwei An, the chief executive of Jingye British Steel, said that since his company acquired the business on March 9 2020, we have stayed unwavering in our commitment to improving the operation and sustainable development of British Steel.

He said: We have made crucial project investments to ensure British Steels normal production and operation. Despite unprecedented challenges such as Brexit, Covid-19 and the energy crisis, we have safeguarded over 4,800 jobs and provided high-quality products and services to domestic and international customers, thus contributing to the economic growth of local communities. This is a fact evident to all.

We express our understanding for the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act 2025 the UK Government introduced on April 12 2025.

We will engage in active communication with the UK Government to seek a proper solution that ensures a bright future for British Steel. We request that the UK Government respect and protect the legitimate rights and interests of Jingye as a foreign investor throughout this process.
Craig David has returned to his childhood council house to push for social housing, which he said heartbreakingly many kids do not have access to.

The singer lived on the Holyrood Estate near Southampton city centre from the age of one until his music career took off in his early 20s.

He has made a film for Shelters campaign, going back to the estate with his mother Tina.

David, 43, said: Growing up in a social home meant everything to me. It wasnt just a place to live  it was a space where I felt secure, supported and able to be myself. The sense of community was so strong too  we looked out for each other and that made all the difference.

I remember how, in that very home, I could sit down, play my melodies and dream. That home was where I wrote some of the most important songs of my life  songs that went on to shape my career and touch so many peoples hearts.

Going back with Shelter to visit my old home, and still feeling that same energy, reminded me just how powerful the foundation of a stable, loving home can be. Im proud to support Shelters campaign, because its heartbreaking to think so many children today dont have that same chance.

Every child deserves the security, support and sense of belonging I was lucky enough to grow up with  and that means investing in social housing.

While living in the area, he came up with songs for his 2000 debut album, Born to Do It, which included the hits 7 Days, Walking Away and Fill Me In.

A young Craig David (David/Shelter/PA)

The chart-topping album became the fastest-selling debut by a British male solo act at the time, making David the face of the UK garage genre.

The Shelter film follows David meeting the family who now live in his former home, as well as speaking about his childhood and his early career.

Mairi MacRae, director of campaigns and policy at Shelter, said the housing and homelessness charity is grateful to David for showing how powerful and life-changing a social home can be  providing the solid foundation for a successful career and future.

She added: Thats a world away from what growing numbers of homeless children are facing today  living in temporary accommodation where instability looms over them, never knowing if theyll be forced to move again, leaving their schools and communities behind.

The Government must use the June spending review to commit to invest in 90,000 social homes a year for 10 years.

She said decades of underinvestment in social house building has left us with a chronic shortage, pushing more and more families into expensive, unstable private rentals or overcrowded, often grim temporary accommodation.

Craig David recreates his childhood photo (Millie Harvey/Shelter/PA)

David, who was born to an Afro-Grenadian father and Jewish mother, previously recalled how he was bullied at school and how this informed his music, including the 2005 song Johnny.

His father played bass in a reggae band called the Ebony Rockers and, as a teenager, David would accompany him to local clubs where DJs would let him take the microphone.

He found mainstream success singing on Re-Rewind (The Crowd Say Bo Selecta) by garage duo Artful Dodger, which reached number two in the charts in 1999.

The pair later helped him write and record his debut record including the tracks Fill Me In and 7 Days.

After his later records failed to reach the same heights, his comeback album Following My Intuition returned him to number one in 2016.

He has performed on Glastonburys Pyramid Stage and at the late Queens Platinum Party at the Palace.

Craig David with his mother (Millie Harvey/Shelter/PA)

David has had high-profile collaborations with artists including Bastille and AJ Tracey, and was made an MBE for services to music in 2021.

Office for National Statistics figures from last September showed that the number of households with children in temporary accommodation had increased to 80,530, up more than 15% on the previous period.

Between 2014/15 and 2023/24, the number of families waiting for a house with three or more bedrooms increased by 36.6%, according to the National Housing Federation, Crisis and Shelter.

A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said the Government is taking urgent action to fix the broken system we inherited.

They said ministers are doing this through our Plan for Change, injecting 2 billion to help deliver the biggest boost in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation, investing in homelessness services, and bringing forward overdue reforms to the Right to Buy scheme that will protect the stock of existing social housing.

In March, the Government said the funding would mean 18,000 additional new social and affordable homes.
The claim has been filed by Or Brook, a competition law expert, who said Google had been leveraging its dominance. Photograph: Hayoung Jeon/EPA

Google is being sued in the UK for up to 5bn in damages over allegations it shut out rivals in the internet search market and abused this dominance to overcharge businesses for advertisements.



A class action filed at the competition appeal tribunal on Wednesday argues that the US company has taken actions that enable it to charge higher prices for the promotions that appear in search queries than it otherwise could in a fair market.



It is alleged that Google, which is owned by Alphabet, contracted phone makers to pre-install the Google search app and Chrome browser on Android devices and paid Apple to make it the default search engine on iPhones, with the intention of shutting out competition.



The claim is filed by a competition law expert, Or Brook, on behalf of thousands of businesses and alleges Google ensured its search engine had better functionality and more features for Googles own advertising offering than that of its competitors.

Related: UK competition watchdog investigates Apple and Googles mobile platforms

A Google spokesperson said: This is yet another speculative and opportunistic case and we will argue against it vigorously. Consumers and advertisers use Google because it is helpful, not because there are no alternatives.

Brook said businesses had almost no choice but to use Google ads to advertise their products and services.

Regulators around the world have described Google as a monopoly and securing a spot on Googles top pages is essential for visibility, she said in a statement. Google has been leveraging its dominance in the general search and search advertising market to overcharge advertisers.

The Competition and Markets Authority launched a UK investigation into Googles search services in January, which is still ongoing, including into their impact on advertising markets. It said at the time that millions of people and businesses relied on Googles services, which accounted for 90% of searches and were used by more than 200,000 UK businesses to advertise.

Google is facing several competition investigations and lawsuits around the world that relate to its digital advertising market dominance.

Since September, it has been embroiled in a second antitrust trial in the US over whether it has illegally monopolised the digital advertising industry, after losing a landmark case in August, which it is appealing against.

One Google ad executive quoted in the US governments complaint compared the companys business model to Goldman Sachs or Citibank owning the New York Stock Exchange.

A loss in that trial could force Google to break up parts of its business and divest some of its advertising technology, hitting its primary source of revenue. It would also have far-reaching implications for the wider tech industry and online publishers.

In March, the European Commission accused Google of breaking its competition rules for digital markets by prioritising search engine results that pointed to Alphabets own services over those of rivals, breaching the requirement to treat third-party services in a transparent, fair and non-discriminatory way.

Breaches of the EUs Digital Markets Act can result in companies being fined 10% of worldwide revenue, or 20% if they reoffend.

Donald Trump has been seeking to press governments and institutions into dropping competition lawsuits against tech companies by indicating that he will factor any regulatory action against US companies into his decisions about imposing sweeping tariffs on foreign goods.

It emerged this month that the UK government was considering a reduction in the headline rate of its digital services tax  a 2% levy introduced in 2020 on the revenues of tech companies including Amazon, Google and Apple that raises about 800m a year  in an attempt to placate the US president.
Every animal thats in every shelter is just one day away from finding their forever home. Which is why we need to find sweet Samwell a permanent place. The gray cat is an absolute stunner with the cutest white socks. Sadly, no one has offered to adopt the cat. Which is why the Little Guild Animal Rescue in Cornwall, Connecticut is now trying to find the kitty a home.

When we say that Samwell is the cuddliest cat weve ever seen, we arent lying. This domestic shorthair would look pur-fect snuggled up on a loving humans lap.

Just take a look at how affectionate Samwell is with his handler. The cat loves to snuggle! We all know cats that run from human affection  not this guy! The domestic shorthair loves all that lovin. Hell be sure to accept all sorts of love from the lucky person who takes him in.

Related: Senior Shelter Cat Who 'Only Wants to Be Pet' Has the Internet Falling in Love

All Samwell needs is for the right person to see this video and fall in love with him. That could be you!

The comments section was hoping that Samwell would find his forever home soon.

Sending positive thoughts that Samwell gets the perfect most loving forever home, wrote one person.

Please someone adopt this sweet baby, begged someone else.

Hopefully he finds his FURever home soon, chimed in another commenter.

How to Adopt From the Little Guild

As we said above, every minute thats wasted in another minute that Samwell has to languish in a rescue. It doesnt have to be this way! The cat could go home with a human today, if only the right person takes a look and adopts him.

The way to make this good boy yours is to head to The Little Guilds website and send in an application for adoption.

Samwell is 2 years old and according to the rescue, He is still very energetic and will keep himself occupied with swatting around his toys, they wrote online. After hes done playing he will curl up in your lap and purr so loudly to let you know how content he is.

Sounds like the purr-fect pet to us!



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.
The Israeli foreign minister, Gideon Sa'ar, at the countrys embassy in Paris earlier this month. Photograph: Nicolas Garriga/AP

The UK Foreign Office has confirmed that the foreign secretary, David Lammy, met his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Saar, while Saar was on an unannounced visit to London.

The Foreign Office described Saars visit as private, though it said Lammy had discussed a full range of Middle East issues with the Israeli foreign minister. News of Saars presence in the UK  at a time when Israel is intensifying its offensive in Gaza, having ended a ceasefire last month  has triggered outrage among critics of Israel, and a formal request from activists for an arrest warrant to be issued against him on charges of alleged complicity in war crimes.

The Global Legal Action Network (Glan), a London-based group seeking legal redress for disadvantaged and persecuted communities, and the Brussels-based Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF), which focuses on legal accountability for Israeli war crimes, wrote joint letters on Wednesday to the UKs attorney general and the director of public prosecutions to seek their consent for a private prosecution against Saar in the UK.

They also said an application for an arrest warrant had been prepared for Westminster magistrates court.

Related: Members of leading British Jewish body condemn Israels latest actions in Gaza

Glan and the HRF cited Saars position in the Israeli security cabinet and his public statements on Gaza as grounds for alleging the foreign ministers complicity in war crimes carried out by Israeli forces.

Saars visit to London was not publicised by him or his ministry, and the Israeli embassy did not reply to a request for comment on Wednesday afternoon. The Israeli government has denied committing war crimes, and has rejected the jurisdiction of the international criminal court (ICC) and the international court of justice (ICJ).

The HRF has been particularly criticised in Israel for its legal pursuit of Israeli soldiers when they travel abroad. The organisations founders, Dyab Abou Jahjah and Karim Hassoun, have been accused of expressing public support for Hezbollah and Hamas.

A spokesperson for the HRF said: Since our formation, there has been a baseless campaign to smear our founders, led mostly by the Israeli government. Dyab Abou Jahjah is not, nor has he ever been, a member of Hezbollah. Karim Hassoun is originally from Morocco. While both support and respect the rights of all people to resist occupation  as is their human right under international law  neither adhere to any political party in Lebanon.

The UK Foreign Office confirmed that Lammy met Saar on Tuesday to discuss Gaza and other pressing Middle East issues, during what it described as the latters private visit to the UK.

Saar was spotted by an Israeli journalist leaving Israel for the UK on Monday. His meeting with Lammy was first reported by the UK-based news website Middle East Eye, and Ynet in Israel.

Zarah Sultana, the independent MP for Coventry South, said Saars visit was a direct affront to both international law and the Palestinian people enduring genocide, military occupation and apartheid under his government.

Related: No plans to allow any aid into Gaza, says Israeli minister

Saar has openly justified the denial of life-saving aid to a besieged civilian population, Sultana said. That is why I fully support the initiative by humanitarian law groups to demand an arrest warrant. The UK must stand firmly with international law and ensure all those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity are held accountable, no matter how powerful they are.

In the submissions presented on Wednesday, Glan and the HRF said the ICC had issued arrest warrants for the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the former defence minister Yoav Gallant for their involvement in the military campaign in Gaza, in which an estimated 51,000 people have been killed over 18 months, and in the restriction of humanitarian aid supplies to Gazas population of 2.2 million.

On Wednesday, the ICC called on the Hungarian government of Viktor Orban to formally explain its actions earlier this month, when it hosted Netanyahu in Budapest, ignoring the arrest warrant. During Netanyahus visit, Hungary announced it was leaving the ICC, though under the courts founding Rome statute, it takes a year for withdrawal to take effect.

The ICJ is also reviewing an allegation of genocide, first brought by South Africa, directed at Israels war in Gaza. The ICJ issued provisional orders last year calling for Netanyahus government to halt its offensive and urgently address the humanitarian situation. In March, the Netanyahu government ended a ceasefire agreement and intensified its military operations and aid blockage of Gaza.

Glan and the HRF said in a joint press statement: As a senior member of Israels security cabinet alongside Benjamin Netanyahu  wanted by the international criminal court for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza  Gideon Saar is deeply implicated in the collective decisions that led to mass civilian death and suffering following October 7, 2023.

His central role in shaping and defending the governments military policy makes him a key figure in the leadership responsible for a campaign the ICJ has found plausibly genocidal.

The UK Foreign Office passed on a question about the arrest warrant request to the attorney generals office. It said that in Lammys meeting with Saar on Tuesday, the British foreign secretary raised the ongoing hostage negotiations, protection of aid workers, the need to end the humanitarian blockade of Gaza and stop settlement expansion in the West Bank, and the Iranian nuclear issue.

Related: Keeping people alive: Gazas last working bakery forced by Israel to keep on moving

Lammy also raised the importance of visits by UK members of parliament to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, after two Labour MPs were denied entry by Israeli authorities.

In their submission, Glan and the HRF said Saar had been a member of Israels security cabinet and an informal consultative group around Netanyahu since he rejoined the governing coalition in September.

Among their list of alleged war crimes committed by the Israel Defense Forces in Gaza is the siege of the Kamal Adwan hospital in northern Gaza between October and December last year and the detention of its medical director, Dr Hossam Abu Safiya, who the organisations say has been subjected to torture while in Israeli prisons.

Israel, the complaint says, is responsible in general for the wanton destruction of Gazas infrastructure, aimed at destroying the fabric of Gazas society and for the purpose of starving Gaza. It also pointed to the harm caused to civilians by the Israeli blockade of medical supplies and basic provisions into Gaza.

As well as citing Saars membership of the Israeli security cabinet, the groups submission in support of the arrest warrant request quotes Saars public statements on seizing territory in Gaza and cutting off humanitarian aid. They also argued that he did not have immunity from arrest on the basis of his government position.

The Israeli government and Saar himself have previously denounced attempts to pursue prosecutions against Israel in international courts as antisemitic. In January, Saar said: What we are witnessing is a systematic and antisemitic campaign aimed at denying Israels right to self-defence.

Countless international actors and many countries are complicit in this, he added.
Emily Thornberry and Liam Byrne, who said: It would be both reasonable and responsible for parliament to have its say. Composite: Alicia Cantor & Antonio Olmos/Guardian Composite

The Labour chairs of the foreign and trade committees have called for parliament to have a vote on any UK trade deal with the United States.

Emily Thornberry, who chairs the foreign affairs committee, and Liam Byrne, who chairs the business and trade committee, said MPs should have a say on the deal ministers are hoping to strike with Donald Trump.

The government is hopeful of finalising an agreement that would exempt the UK from some of Trumps most punishing tariffs, including on cars and pharmaceuticals, after positive signals from Washington.

Trumps press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, on Wednesday said the US would be announcing its first deals very soon and the vice-president, JD Vance, said this week there was a good chance of the US agreeing one with the UK.

But ministers have offered controversial concessions, including slashing the digital services tax on US tech giants and reviewing the enforcement of online safety laws, as part of their negotiations.

Byrne said: The new US-UK agreement may not be a full-blown free trade agreement, but it will still be a treaty of strategic consequence. Its provisions could touch sensitive areas of domestic policy  even legislation like the Online Safety Act.

Some may see such a deal as a means for economic alignment; others may raise the spectre of economic coercion.

Related: JD Vance says US hopeful of great trade deal with UK

In light of its significance, its controversy and its speed, it would be both reasonable and responsible for parliament to have its say. Our democratic institutions deserve no less.

Thornberry said: Since Brexit we have had responsibility for our own trade policy. Some trade deals can have a profound effect on Britain and yet parliament does not have the automatic right to vote on them. This is a huge hole in our democratic system and I have long campaigned to change this.

The Liberal Democrats have also called for a vote and warned that avoiding one would be deeply undemocratic.

Ed Davey, the partys leader, said: Trump is an unreliable partner who breaks deals whenever he feels like it. He and his sidekick JD Vance must not be allowed to bully their way into a bad trade deal for the UK.

In 2021, Labour called on the Conservative government to give MPs a vote on its proposed trade deal with Australia because of its implications for farmers and food standards. Ministers have insisted they are sticking by their manifesto commitment not to compromise food safety standards in their talks with the US.

There are fears that Washington could seek to exact further concessions from the UK, including by pressuring ministers to stop pursuing closer economic ties with China.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Trumps administration planned to use ongoing tariff negotiations to pressure countries to limit their dealings with Beijing, and had already broached the subject in some of their talks. Trump told Fox News on Tuesday that we dont like the China influence.

Besides the UK, the countries thought to be close to agreeing trade deals with the US are Australia, India, Japan and South Korea.

The Guardian reported that Jonathan Reynolds, the trade secretary, is due to travel to Beijing later this year to revive a trade dialogue that has not taken place since 2018. Douglas Alexander, a trade minister, is the latest government minister to have visited the country for talks last week.

The Lib Dems wrote to David Lammy, the foreign secretary, on Wednesday arguing that ministers should stop making official visits to China until its government explained why Lib Dem MP Wera Hobhouse was denied entry to Hong Kong last week.
Manchester bomb plotter Hashem Abedi has been moved to Belmarsh prison after an attack on three prison officers, it is understood.

The guards were attacked with hot oil and homemade weapons at HMP Frankland in Co Durham on Saturday.

Abedi has since been transferred out of the prison to the high security jail in south-east London.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has said it will carry out a review and the Prime Ministers spokesman said the Government will urgently investigate what happened.

But Mark Fairhurst, national chairman of the Prison Officers Association, told the PA news agency the Government havent even announced whos doing it yet or released the terms of reference for the review.

After his visit to Frankland, he said the separation unit where the attack had taken place had been decanted because its a crime scene.

The union boss said he will be meeting Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood next Wednesday to discuss the incident.

He told PA: It highlights how dangerous our job is.

We need protective equipment issued to us. The Government need to lower our retirement age.

Enough is enough: Open Letter from Manchester Arena Survivor Martin Hibbert to the Justice Secretary @ShabanaMahmood & @MoJGovUK My name is Martin Hibbert. I am a survivor of the Manchester Arena bombing, the devastating act of terror that changed my life forever on 22nd May  Martin Hibbert (@MartinHibbert) April 15, 2025

Of the staff at Frankland he said they are traumatised, they are fragile and they were angry over the appeasement of very violent offenders.

He said while strike action is banned for prison officers, there is health and safety legislation that could be considered.

Everyone deserves to be safe at work, he said.

One staff member remains in hospital, while two others have been discharged.

Mr Fairhursts comments come as the attack by Abedi was described as a catastrophic failure of duty by the Justice Secretary, in a letter from one of the survivors of the Manchester Arena bombing.

In an open letter to Ms Mahmood and the MoJ, Martin Hibbert said he was absolutely disgusted  beyond words to hear about the attack.

Lets call this what it is: a catastrophic failure of your duty to protect prison staff and the public from an unrepentant terrorist, he wrote in the letter posted on social media.

Not only was Abedi allowed the freedom to move around and use facilities that should never be available to someone like him  he was able to track and target three prison guards using boiling oil and homemade weapons.

Mr Hibbert suffered life-changing injuries at the Ariana Grande concert in May 2017, and was left with a spinal cord injury. His daughter, Eve, suffered severe brain damage in the attack, which killed 22 people.

I was told justice would be served. What I see now is not justice. Its a shameful lack of accountability and basic prison security said Mr Hibbert.

Im not just angry. Im broken by this. And I am furious that the pain of survivors like me is being so blatantly disrespected by your inaction.

This morning I visited HMP Frankland to thank and support our prison officers. Like everyone I was appalled by the attack at the weekend. As an immediate response we have suspended the use of kitchens for prisoners held in separation centres. We have also launched an  James Timpson (@JamesTCobbler) April 16, 2025

He called for Abedi to be stripped of access to any areas where he could make or find weapons.

This cannot continue. Something drastic needs to be done. Not tomorrow. Not next month. Now, he wrote.

Because right now, it feels like youve forgotten us.

Families of five of the victims, Megan Hurley, Eilidh Macleod, Chloe Rutherford, Liam Curry and Kelly Brewster, wrote to the Justice Secretary expressing absolute disbelief at the attack, the BBC reported.

The broadcaster said it had seen the letter, which read: In our view, he should not be allowed any privileges whatsoever while serving a sentence for the deaths of 22 innocent lives and the injuring of many more.

He should not have access to anything that he can weaponise, such as hot oil or items he can turn into blades.

The families have called for Abedi to be put in permanent solitary confinement.

Labour MP Mary Foy, whose Durham City constituency covers HMP Frankland, has also written to the Justice Secretary to back calls for officers at Category A prisons to be equipped with stab vests.

She also said prison staff should have better pay and pensions, adding: Category A prisons like Frankland hold inmates who represent the highest threat to society, and the officers who manage them deserve far better protection and recognition for their work, without having to fear for their lives daily.

Prisons minister Lord James Timpson visited HMP Frankland on Wednesday and said in a post on X that the Government will do everything it can to protect staff in prisons.

He added that the scope and terms of reference for the independent review will be set out in the coming days and that he valued constructive conversations with the POA.

The Ministry of Justice has also suspended access to kitchens in separation and close supervision units, where inmates are kept apart from the general prison population.

Abedi planned and prepared the attack with his brother, the suicide bomber Salman Abedi, and was extradited from Libya to the UK.

He was sentenced to a record 55-year minimum term before he could be considered for parole, in 2020, for 22 counts of murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to cause an explosion likely to endanger life.
The Great Barrier Reef has suffered consecutive years of coral bleaching for the second time. Photograph: Grumpy Turtle Films

The Great Barrier Reef was hit by a sixth widespread coral bleaching event since 2016 this summer  the second time the worlds biggest coral reef has seen the phenomenon strike in back-to-back years  according to government authorities.

Scientists and conservationists reacted with dismay that widespread bleaching  driven by global heating  was becoming normalised, with one saying Australias next term of government may be the natural wonders last shot at survival.

Its awful, said Prof Tracy Ainsworth, of the University of New South Wales and vice-president of the International Coral Reef Society.

The impact to the reef of these consecutive and severe bleaching events now for a decade is fundamentally changing nature and the reef ecosystem.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority released an update on Wednesday saying data suggested the reef had experienced widespread coral bleaching across the north and far north.

This event is the sixth since 2016 and, while less extensive than the coral bleaching event in 202324, it is the second time the reef has experienced widespread bleaching events across consecutive summers, the update said.

The authority said in an accompanying report that the severe and widespread coral bleaching had been caused by marine heatwaves driven by the climate crisis.

Coral bleaching describes a process whereby the coral animal expels the algae that live in its tissues and give it its colour and much of its nutrients.

Without its algae, a corals white skeleton can be seen through its translucent flesh, giving off a bleached appearance.



Mass coral bleaching over large areas, first noticed in the 1980s around the Caribbean, is caused by rising ocean temperatures.



Some corals also display fluorescent colours under stress when they release a pigment that filters light. Sunlight also plays a role in triggering bleaching.



Corals can survive bleaching if temperatures are not too extreme or prolonged. But extreme marine heatwaves can kill corals outright.



Coral bleaching can also have sub-lethal effects, including increased susceptibility to disease and reduced rates of growth and reproduction.



Scientists say the gaps between bleaching events are becoming too short to allow reefs to recover.



Coral reefs are considered one of the planets ecosystems most at risk from global heating. Reefs support fisheries that feed hundreds of millions of people, as well as supporting major tourism industries.



The worlds biggest coral reef system  Australias Great Barrier Reef  has suffered seven mass bleaching events since 1998, of which five were in the past decade.

The previous back-to-back bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef happened in the summers of 2016 and 2017.

Last years bleaching was the most widespread on record. Subsequent surveys in the months afterwards found record annual losses in coral cover in several areas.

The Albanese government has previously budgeted $1.2bn for reef conservation until 2030, but there was no new money in the most recent budget earmarked for its recovery. Last week Labor pledged an extra $10m for reef eduction projects.

So far, the reefs decline has not been one of the elections topical issues discussed in detail by either the prime minister or Peter Dutton, whose home state is Queensland.

The authority said there was also evidence that flooding from record rainfall in Queensland during the summer had damaged corals on reefs close to shore in the central and northern areas.

It will take time to fully understand the extent and implications of these compounding climate-driven events, the authority said.

Australias other World Heritage-listed reef on the Ningaloo coast in Western Australia has also been hit by extreme levels of bleaching and heat stress since February.

A study last year found temperatures over the Great Barrier Reef were now at their hottest in at least 400 years.

Bleaching at Ningaloo and the Great Barrier Reef has been part of the ongoing fourth global mass bleaching event that has hit 83% of the planets coral reefs across at least 82 countries and territories between 1 January 2023 and 10 April, according to US government data.

Prof Morgan Pratchett, a coral reef expert at James Cook University in Townsville, said: Bleaching is prevalent now nearly every year. People are just not impacted by it as they used to be because its become the new normal and it doesnt resonate the way it used to.

The biggest cause of coral mortality is climate change. From a triage perspective, thats where we have to start. These impacts will keep getting worse until we do something serious about it.

The head of oceans at WWF Australia, Richard Leck, said the reef was crying out for climate action.

Coral bleaching is becoming the new normal, he said. Year after year the reef is being cooked by underwater heatwaves. The next term of government could be the last opportunity to give the reef a fighting chance.

Simon Miller, reef campaigner at the Australian Marine Conservation Society, said the reef was still trying to recover from last years mass bleaching event.

These reports continue to show the damage climate change is causing, but they must lead to action. Monitoring is essential, but it cannot be where our response ends. Australia must rapidly slash climate pollution and stop new fossil fuel approvals.

The number one thing the Australian and Queensland governments must do is adopt reef-safe climate policies.

That means cutting climate pollution by 90% by 2035 and stopping approvals for new fossil fuel projects. Without tackling the root cause of the problem, the reefs long-term health and resilience are seriously jeopardised.
For Women Scotland campaigners Susan Smith and Marion Calder celebrate outisde the Supreme Court - REUTERS/Maja Smiejkowska

Transgender women are not legally women, the Supreme Court declared in a landmark ruling on Wednesday.

The judges unanimous decision follows a years-long legal battle between gender-critical campaigners and the Scottish Government over the definition of a woman.

Kamal and Camilla were at the court to get reaction from Julie Bindel and Helen Joyce  feminist writers and activists who say despite todays win, the fight against trans ideology in UK institutions is not over.

They also hear from Joanna Cherry, the former SNP MP who went to war with her party colleagues over trans issues. She calls for an apology from some of the politicians who pushed this ideology, including Nicola Sturgeon.



Watch episodes of the Daily T here. You can also listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts, and subscribe to The Daily T newsletter for updates
The Oui Oui patch indoor dog toilet designed by Laurencia Walker-Fooks - Champion News

A Dragons Den winner who invented an indoor toilet for her pooch has become embroiled in a trademark battle with a rival.

Rebecca Sloan, 39, appeared on the television show in 2022, having first trademarked her product, which consists of real turf in a biodegradable litter tray for housetraining dogs, in 2016.

Four dragons made her an offer and she eventually accepted 50,000 from Steven Bartlett for a 20 per cent stake in her company.

But Ms Sloan - through her company Makeality Ltd - is now locked in a High Court trademark fight with Laurencia Walker-Fooks, 34, and her company City Doggo Ltd.

Ms Sloan says Ms Walker-Fooks has infringed her trademark by selling her own similar product - a real grass litter tray - under the name Oui Oui Patch since November 2020.

Rebecca Sloan found success on Dragons Den - Champion News

Her company is suing for damages for trade mark infringement and passing off, as well as an injunction to prevent City Doggo doing so in future.

Ms Walker-Fooks is fighting the case and denies any trade mark infringement.

According to online marketing materials, the inspiration for Ms Sloans product - known as Piddle Patch - came during a visit to the park.

The dogs were happy to be in their natural environment and the stress associated with toilet time melted away because the dogs knew instinctively where to do their business, she says.

Wouldnt it be great if we could replicate the outdoor experience indoors? Piddle Patch was born from that desire to bring a natural dog toilet solution into the home.

Piddle Patch is a biodegradable litter tray with real grass, which allows pooches to urinate indoors without making a mess while being housetrained.

Its made from fresh grass and grown in recycled textiles, instead of soil, to produce a longer lasting grass with a thick root system, she says.

Ms Walker-Fooks says she came up with her real grass indoor dog toilet - known as Oui Oui Patch - after experiencing the stress and anxiety of housetraining her dog, Tinkerbell.

Laurencia Walker-Fooks is the director of City Doggo Ltd - Champion News

With our real grass pet potties, toilet training my second pup, Bambi, took half the time and half the effort, she says in her own marketing materials.

She knew the only place she was supposed to relieve herself was on grass from the day I got her.

The case reached the Court of Appeal after a decision in the intellectual property division of the High Court by Judge Richard Hacon to transfer the case to the small claims category.

The judge said Ms Sloans company had not put forward sufficient evidence to show that the case is worth more than 10,000 to them, or that it is a complex case.

Her company appealed, arguing that the case should not have been categorised as small claims, which limits the amounts in damages and lawyers costs which might be recoverable.

But Lord Justice Arnold, sitting with Lord Justice Holroyde and Lord Justice Dingemans, rejected the appeal, meaning that the case will proceed as a small claims dispute in the High Court.
Martin Hibberts daughter suffered severe brain damage in the bombing at an Ariana Grande concert - Jon Super for The Telegraph

A Manchester Arena survivor has accused the Justice Secretary of a catastrophic failure of duty, after a jihadists savage attack on prison staff.

Martin Hibbert said he was absolutely disgusted  beyond words to hear that Hashem Abedi, who plotted the arena bombing, had attacked three guards with hot oil and homemade weapons.

In an open letter to Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary, he called for Abedi  the brother of suicide bomber Salman Abedi  to be stripped of access to any areas where he could make or find weapons.

Abedi has been moved to high-security Belmarsh prison after an attack on three prison officers, it is understood.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said it would carry out a review following the attack at HMP Frankland in County Durham on Saturday, which left the victims with life-threatening injuries, including burns, scalds and multiple stab wounds that severed one officers artery and punctured a lung.

Hashem Abedi was sentenced in 2020 to a minimum term of 55 years - AP

The MoJ has also suspended access to kitchens for inmates kept apart from the general prison population in separation and close supervision units.

However, in the letter posted on social media, Mr Hibbert said: Lets call this what it is: a catastrophic failure of your duty to protect prison staff and the public from an unrepentant terrorist.

Not only was Abedi allowed the freedom to move around and use facilities that should never be available to someone like him  he was able to track and target three prison guards using boiling oil and homemade weapons.

Mr Hibbert suffered a life-changing spinal cord injury at the Ariana Grande concert in May 2017. His daughter Eve suffered severe brain damage in the attack, which killed 22 people.

He continued: I was told justice would be served. What I see now is not justice. Its a shameful lack of accountability and basic prison security.

Hashem Abedi pictured in Belmarsh in 2020, shortly before he launched a savage attack on a prison guard, for which he received extra prison time

Mr Hibbert added: Im not just angry. Im broken by this. And I am furious that the pain of survivors like me is being so blatantly disrespected by your inaction.

This cannot continue. Something drastic needs to be done. Not tomorrow. Not next month. Now. Because right now, it feels like youve forgotten us.

His comments come after families of five of the victims  Megan Hurley, Eilidh Macleod, Chloe Rutherford, Liam Curry and Kelly Brewster  wrote to the Justice Secretary expressing absolute disbelief at the attack.

The BBC reported that it had seen their letter, which read: In our view, he should not be allowed any privileges whatsoever while serving a sentence for the deaths of 22 innocent lives and the injuring of many more.

He should not have access to anything that he can weaponise, such as hot oil or items he can turn into blades.

Martin Hibbert accused Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary, of a catastrophic failure - Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future via Getty

The families have called for Abedi to be put in permanent solitary confinement.

This was echoed by Russell Hayward, the boyfriend of victim Martyn Hett, who said it was sickening and outrageous that Abedi had been able to cause more suffering because he had access to prison kitchens.

Abedi planned and prepared the Manchester Arena attack with his brother and was extradited from Libya to the UK where he was sentenced in 2020 to a record 55-year minimum term for 22 counts of murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to cause an explosion likely to endanger life.

The 28 year-old was sentenced to a further three years and 10 months for a vicious attack on a prison officer in May that year.

He and two other inmates attacked prison officer Paul Edwards, 57, in his office at the high-security Belmarsh jail in south-east London.

Meanwhile, a prison officer at HMP Frankland in County Durham told the BBC there needs to be an urgent change in security measures in prisons or staff will die.

The anonymous worker added: I think stab vests would help us feel safer and I dont get why they wont give us those. There needs to be an urgent change in security measures or someone is going to die.
The Cambridge guided busway had opened with an operating speed of 56mph - Chris Radburn/PA

A judge has fined a Lib Dem-led council 6 million over a 56mph busway.

Cambridgeshire county council was fined for health and safety breaches following three deaths and multiple injuries.

All but one of the cases happened under the previous Conservative administration.

The Cambridgeshire Guided Busway, which involves a modified bus guided along a track, uses 16 miles of old railway lines to link Cambridge, Huntingdon and St Ives.

Judge Mark Bishop said the council had taken a rigid and blinkered approach to safety issues in its management of the system.

He said the incidents spanned 11 years and noted that when the busway opened in 2011 the operating speed was to be 56mph  clearly too fast a speed for buses to move in an urban or semi-urban environment.

On guided sections, buses follow the track and cannot steer.

Parts of the route have a busy pathway alongside, and originally there was no fence to separate it from cyclists and pedestrians.

Jennifer Taylor, 81, Kathleen Pitts, 52, and Steven Moir, a 50-year-old cyclist, all died in incidents on the transport link.

At Cambridge Crown Court on Wednesday the sentencing judge said: I acknowledge the financial challenges that face the defendant.

But he said the council had a turnover equivalent to more than 1 billion per year and had set aside more than 18 million in a fund to cover legal risks.

A guided bus and a car collided and caught fire in May 2019 at Longstanton but only one person was injured - Geoff Robinson

Ben Compton KC, for Cambridgeshire county council, requested it be given six years to pay the 6 million.

But the judge allowed only three years and also ordered the authority to pay more than 292,000 in costs.

He paid tribute to the dignity of family and friends of those killed or injured who attended court.

Nothing that can be said in court can take away the loss that youve suffered but I want to express publicly our condolences to the bereaved and also to wish you well for the future, he said.

And let us hope that nothing like this will happen again.

Mrs Taylor, who was fatally struck by a bus in 2015, had been trying to cross the carriageway.

Father-of-three Mr Moir died in 2018 after his bike clipped a kerb separating him from the busway and he fell into the path of a bus travelling at 55mph.

Ms Pitts died after she was struck on the head by a passing bus.

The judge said the defence submitted that on the balance of probabilities her death was caused by her own volition.

But he found that the risk Ms Pitts faced from the busway more than minimally contributed to her death.

Reductions in speed limits

At an earlier hearing, the council admitted two charges under Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

The judge noted that since 2022 there had been reductions in speed limits and the installation of fencing.

Mr Moirs brother, Rob Moir, said outside court afterwards: There are no winners here. Its taxpayers money at the end of the day.

Hopefully it will be sufficient to make sure that not just this county council but other people, other councils, make sure they apply the due diligence that they should to health and safety.

Graham Tompkins, a principal inspector for the Health and Safety Executive, said the death of Mrs Taylor should have been a wake-up call.

This is a significant moment for the families, he said. I hope that finally this outcome gives them some closure.

However, a few hours after the court hearing on Wednesday there was another accident on the busway.

A crash occurred between two guided buses and a fire engine on the B1050 Station Road in Northstowe, near Cambridge, at around 2pm.

Eleven people were taken to hospital. The road was closed in both directions and buses were diverted.

A witness said the collision looked pretty horrendous.

The busway tracks have raised concrete sides and can only be used by modified vehicles, but have junctions with normal roads.

The council said it was working with the emergency services and the bus operator.
The rare letter was acquired from a buyer in the United States - via Patrick Sawer

Bram Stokers Dracula was not the immediate success one might have expected for such a haunting gothic horror.

Critics gave the novel mixed reviews on publication and it was not until after Stokers death in 1912 that it became a bestseller, and has never been out of print since.

The discovery of a rare letter has revealed Stoker himself was confident his novel would grab the publics attention and go on to stand the test of time.

The letter was recently discovered by a rare books dealer among a private collection acquired from a buyer in the United States. It was written by Stoker to a friend weeks after its initial publication in 1897.

In it, he describes his confidence that Dracula will be regarded as high literature and not just a piece of pulp horror.

Writing to the friend, referred to only as Mr Williams, Stoker states: I send you Dracula & have honoured myself by writing your name in it.

He adds: How is enclosed for high? Lord forgive me. I am quite shameless. Yours ever, Bram Stoker.

Bram Stoker: I am quite shameless - Hulton Archive

Letters by Stoker are rare and, according to experts, those in which he mentions his novel Dracula by name are virtually unheard of. Fewer than a handful are known to exist, and those are typically formal acknowledgements.

By contrast, this letter is informal and prescient, making it one of the earliest and most candid authorial commentaries on the novel, according to Oliver Bayliss, the rare book dealer who acquired it.

This letter gives us something weve never really had before: Stokers own voice, responding to Dracula around the moment it entered the world, not as an icon of horror but as a new, uncertain work, he said.

Stoker clearly, and with just cause, felt it was a high watermark in his writing. However, early reviews were mixed and Dracula didnt become the legend it is for many, many years thereafter.

Stokers letter is expected to fetch thousands when it goes on sale in the next few weeks. In the world of literary collecting, letters by authors commenting on their most significant works, especially so close to publication, are among the most sought-after artefacts.

When those letters contain the title itself, in the authors own hand, and offer some flavour of personality or insight, they are considered exceptionally rare, says Mr Bayliss.

The 1992 film Bram Stokers Dracula starred Winona Ryder and Gary Oldman - Film Stills

Stokers humorous aside  Lord forgive me. I am quite shameless  has the ring of an artist knowingly pushing the boundaries of the gothic and enjoying it. Its theatrical, cheeky, and utterly authentic. That tone simply doesnt appear in his other known correspondence on the subject, he adds.

Mr Bayliss said Mr Williams was probably a friend or colleague in the London theatre world, where Dublin-born Stoker worked at the time.

Its rather special for me to bring the letter back to London, the city where Dracula was first published and where the letter was, in all likelihood, written while Stoker was managing the Lyceum Theatre, Mr Bayliss said.

Dracula was published while Stoker worked at The Daily Telegraph in London as one of this newspapers literary staff.

In 1890, he had travelled to Whitby, where the North Yorkshire coastal town provided him with the setting for Count Draculas arrival in England.

After coming ashore at Whitby, the Count, transmogrified into the shape of a black dog, runs up the 199 steps to the graveyard of St Marys Church in the shadow of Whitby Abbeys ruins.
Mountain rescuers are being kept busy with the increasing number of call-outs - Jeff J Mitchell/Getty

Social media and poor-quality navigation apps have been blamed for a record number of call-outs for mountain rescue services, a study suggests.

Last year was the first time rescue teams in England and Wales were called out every day of the year.

Whereas in pre-pandemic times the most rescued age group was 50-54, today it is 18 to 24 year olds who are most likely to run into difficulties, partly driven by the craze for selfies at remote beauty spots.

Overall, data from Mountain Rescue England and Wales (MREW) and visualised by Ordnance Survey revealed a 24 per cent rise in the number of rescues over the past five years  reaching almost 4,000.

Hikers watch as a Coastguard search and rescue helicopter arrives in Snowdonia - Gordon Hulmes Travel/Alamy

The service has attributed the change to a growth in the popularity of honeypot locations promoted and shared on social media, as well as younger audiences relying on mobile phone apps that lack the accurate detail required to navigate safely in remote areas.

Mike Park, the MREW chief executive, said: To say that there wasnt a single day in 2024 without a call-out shows one aspect of how busy mountain rescue teams have been.

But its only part of the story. The busiest teams are often seeing multiple call-outs running in parallel with all the demands that puts on unpaid volunteers, their employers, friends and families.

Referencing the change in demographics, Mr Park said: Its hard for us to give a definitive reason for the age group change.

But we know from incident reports that more and more people are tempted into risky locations by Instagram posts and the navigation apps being used arent always suitable for an outdoor environment.

Add to that a tendency to follow popular routes online without knowing the hazards and context, and its not surprising that those likely to be relying most on their phones are the ones getting into difficulties.

The locations with the largest increase in call-outs between 2019 and 2024 were Snowdonia in North Wales, the Lake District and Peak District. The busiest teams were in Llanberis and Ogwen Valley in the Snowdonia National Park.
A centuries-old oak tree in Enfield, north London, was cut down earlier this week, prompting public outcry. Photograph: James Veysey/Rex/Shutterstock

Ancient and culturally important trees in England could be given legal protections under plans set out in a UK government-commissioned report.

Sentencing guidelines would be changed so those who destroy important trees would face tougher criminal penalties. Additionally, a database of such trees would be drawn up and they could be given automatic protections, with the current system of tree preservation orders strengthened to accommodate this.

There was an outpouring of anger this week after it was revealed that a 500-year-old oak tree in Enfield, north London, had been sliced almost down to the stumps. It later emerged it had no specific legal protections, as most ancient and culturally important trees do not.

After the Sycamore Gap tree was felled in 2023, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs asked the Tree Council and Forest Research to examine protections for important trees and to see if they needed to be strengthened. The trial of two men accused of felling the Sycamore Gap tree is due to take place this month at Newcastle crown court.

The report, seen by the Guardian, found there was currently no definition of important trees, and that some of the UKs most culturally important trees have no protection whatsoever. The researchers have advised ministers to create a taskforce within the next 12 months to clearly define important trees and swiftly prepare an action plan to save them.

Defra sources said ministers were evaluating the findings of the report.

Jon Stokes, the director of trees, science and research at the Tree Council, said: Ancient oaks can live up to 1,000 years old and are as precious as our stately homes and castles. Our nations green heritage should be valued and protected and we will do everything we can to achieve this.

The main protection for trees is a tree preservation order (TPO), which is granted by local councils. Failure to obtain the necessary consent and carrying out unauthorised works on a tree covered by a TPO can lead to a fine of up to 20,000.

The Woodland Trust has called for similar protections, proposing the introduction of a list of nationally important heritage trees and a heritage TPO that could be used to promote the protection and conservation of the countrys oldest and most important trees. The charity is using citizen science to create a database of ancient trees.

The reports authors defined important trees as shorthand for trees of high social, cultural and environmental value. This includes ancient trees, which are those that have reached a great age in comparison with others of the same species, notable trees connected with specific historic events or people, or well-known landmarks.

It could also include champion trees, which are the largest individuals of their species in a specific geographical area, and notable trees that are significant at a local scale for their size or have other special features.

Richard Benwell, the CEO of the environmental group Wildlife and Countryside Link, said: Ancient trees are living monuments. They are bastions for nature in an increasingly hostile world and home to a spectacular richness of wildlife. We cannot afford to keep losing these living legends if we want to see nature thrive for future generations.

The government should use the planning and infrastructure bill to deliver strict protection for ancient woodlands, veteran trees, and other irreplaceable habitats.

Felled ancient trees
Wildflowers, which are vital food sources for pollinators in cities, can accumulate arsenic, cadmium, chromium and lead from contaminated soils Photograph: Toni Faint/Getty Images

Wildflowers could be absorbing toxic metals from soil in urban areas and passing toxins on to pollinators, a study has found.

Researchers from the University of Cambridge found that common plants including white clover and bindweed, which are vital forage for pollinators in cities, can accumulate arsenic, cadmium, chromium and lead from contaminated soils.

These metals have been found in previous studies to damage the health of bees and other pollinators, which feed on the contaminated nectar. This leads to reduced population sizes and death. Even low metal levels in nectar can hinder bees learning and memory, which degrades their foraging abilities.

The contaminated soils tend to be on land previously used for buildings and factories, which have leached these pollutants into the land. The scientists who carried out the study are now recommending that urban areas are tested for contaminants and potentially cleaned before wildflowers are planted.

Related: Scientists hoping to target queen bees in search of secret to longer life

The study, published in Ecology and Evolution, was carried out in the post-industrial US city of Cleveland, Ohio, which has more than 33,700 vacant lots left as people have moved away from the area. It was once a hub for iron and steel production, as well as oil refining and car manufacturing. These are all industries that potentially contaminate land with trace metals.

The researchers extracted and tested nectar from a range of self-seeded flowering plants that are popular with pollinators, and were found growing across the city. Lead was consistently found at the highest concentrations, but different species of plant accumulated different amounts and types of metals.

The bright blue-flowered chicory plant (Cichorium intybus) accumulated the largest total metal concentration, followed by white clover (Trifolium repens), wild carrot (Daucus carota) and bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis).

Cities worldwide face metal contamination in soils, and the level of contamination usually increases with the age of the city. Sources include cement dust and mining.

But people should not be discouraged from planting wildflowers for bees, the report authors said.

Dr Sarah Scott, from the University of Cambridges Department of Zoology and first author of the report, said: Its really important to have wildflowers as a food source for the bees, and our results should not discourage people from planting wildflowers in towns and cities.

We hope this study will raise awareness that soil health is also important for bee health. Before planting wildflowers in urban areas to attract bees and other pollinators, its important to consider the history of the land and what might be in the soil  and if necessary find out whether theres a local soil testing and cleanup service available first.
Ofsted is placing teachers in imminent serious danger and its proposed report cards will not address the crisis in trust and reliability, a union has said.

The recent appointment of former Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman to the House of Lords was deemed an insult to teachers, delegates at the annual conference of the National Education Union (NEU) heard.

A motion, which was passed at the conference in Harrogate on Wednesday, called on the unions executive to renew its campaign to expose the harm, damage and cover up from the watchdog, and to instead call for an effective and fair school improvement system with no ranking and shaming.

It added that members who take action to protect themselves to keep safe where they have evidence that Ofsted is placing them in serious and imminent danger of harm or death should be supported.

The Government announced, last year, that headline Ofsted grades for overall effectiveness for schools in England would be scrapped.

Previously, Ofsted awarded one of four single-phrase inspection judgments: outstanding, good, requires improvement and inadequate.

The move came after Ofsted faced criticism following the death of headteacher Ruth Perry.

Mrs Perry took her own life in January 2023 after an Ofsted report downgraded her Caversham Primary School in Reading from the highest to the lowest overall effectiveness rating over safeguarding concerns.

During the debate, delegate Jennifer Cooper, an executive member of the NEU, said: We hoped that Ruth Perrys death would result in change.

But instead, the new Nando-style spice chart with its patronising ratings just reinforces to us that we and our children are judged as data, numbers and colours on an AI chart.

Lets be clear, Ofsted hasnt listened, the Government hasnt listened.

In February, Ofsted launched a consultation on its plans to introduce a report card system for grading schools in England.

Schools could be graded across eight to 10 areas of a provision  including attendance, inclusion and behaviour  using a colour-coded five-point scale.

They would receive ratings, from the red-coloured causing concern to orange-coloured attention needed, through the green shades of secure, strong and exemplary  for each area of practice.

Last week, it was confirmed that Amanda Spielman, who was chief inspector of Ofsted when the inspectorate faced scrutiny following the death of Mrs Perry, has been awarded a peerage after being nominated by the Tories.

During the debate on Ofsted on Wednesday, delegate Paul Arnold, from Reading, where Mrs Perry had worked, said Ms Spielmans admission to the House of Lords was an insult to all of us.

Delegate Alice Butterton, from Brent in north London, gave an emotional speech at the conference about her negative experience of an Ofsted inspection and the subsequent inadequate rating.

She said it gave her a small insight into what Ruth Perry must have felt.

Ms Butterton, who received a standing ovation from delegates after she broke down in tears, added that the school had turned into an unsmiling and fearing institution as a result of the inspection.

She said: Ofsted is random, unaccountable and dangerous.

A survey of more than 12,000 NEU teacher members in English state schools, released at the unions annual conference, suggests that the majority (57%) feel inspection negatively affects their mental health.

Professor Julia Waters, Mrs Perrys sister, said: Ofsted continues to ignore the coroners findings regarding Ruths death and overlooks multiple reports recommending change.

Their inspection system still prioritises transparency and ease of message to parents over teacher welfare, putting educators in serious danger.

She added: Ofsted has proven incapable of meaningful reform. Their proposed system must be rejected.

But, last month, a YouGov survey suggested that more than two in three (67%) parents in England prefer Ofsteds proposed report cards for schools over current inspection reports.

The majority of parents who were surveyed said the report cards were easy to understand (86%) and they found the use of colour coding to grade schools helpful (84%), according to the poll commissioned by the watchdog.

The findings came after education unions criticised Ofsteds proposed inspection reforms as being worse than the system they would replace.

Addressing the NEU conference on Wednesday, Pepe DiIasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: The new inspection system proposed by Ofsted is a car crash waiting to happen.

He added: It is a system which is doomed to quickly fall into disrepair and disrepute.

Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the NEU, said: The reality is that Ofsteds culture of fear leads to unsustainable workload, damages mental health and drives many out of the classroom.

It is a broken model. We need to see radical reform  but reform must be right and cannot be rushed through for the sake of it.

He added: We call on Ofsted and the Education Secretary to pause and listen closely to the profession before it is too late.

The aim for all of us must be a new system that is supportive, effective and fair.
Every rescue animal has a story worth sharing, whether they're learning to trust people again or recovering from an illness that left them blind. You'll never meet two animals who are exactly the same, and it's thanks to kindhearted rescuers like Tracy from Asha's Farm Sanctuary that they get to begin life anew in an environment where they'll be safe and healthy.

Asha's Farm Sanctuary in Newfane, New York, is a safe haven for rescue cows like Phoenix who are getting a whole 'moo' lease on life. Tracy is an animal caretaker who spends each day showing Phoenix and the other rescued farm animals some much-needed TLC, and he recently thanked her for saving his life in the most beautiful way.

Good job, Phoenix! Not every rescue animal would stand up for their mom and friends without hesitation, but this massive steer didn't think twice. Between his intimidating size and his 'roaring and growling' as he ran toward the fence, it's no surprise that the intruder ran away with their tail between their legs!

Related: Moment Rescue Cow Finally Realizes She's Safe Tugs at the Heartstrings

"I can so relate to Phoenix," a commenter named Cruise admitted. "He is amazing and so valued." His bravery is impressive enough, but the way he stood up for his forever family is admirable in so many ways.

The way Phoenix and the rescue farm animals love and support their mom is beautiful to see. It's hard to believe that not long ago, they were on their way to market to be sold and likely killed.

Joaquin & Phoenix

Phoenix arrived at Asha's Farm Sanctuary with his brother, Joaquin. The two may be named after a famous actor, but there's nothing scripted about the way their life turned upside down for the better.

Shortly before the cows were about to be sold, their original owner passed away. The farmer's daughter was unable to care for the cows, but instead of bringing them to market like everyone told her to, she found an animal sanctuary to bring them to instead.

Needless to say, Joaauin, Phoenix, Tracy, and all their fans are so grateful for the daughter's selfless decision. Her love helped these brothers find a forever home where they'll always be safe and loved.

Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos.

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Sir Keir Starmer has hauled the Labour party back to the common sense position, a Labour Party source said on Wednesday, following the Supreme Courts ruling that the terms women and sex in the Equality Act refer to a biological woman and biological sex.

The Government has said that the decision delivers clarity on the matter for hospitals and refuges of whether or not a person with a gender recognition certificate (GRC) identifying as female should be treated as a woman under equality law.

It comes after the Prime Minister has faced repeated questions over his definition of a woman in the five years since he became Labour leader, amid an increasingly heated culture war over transgender rights.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn launches Workplace 2020  a discussion on what the world of work should look like in 2020, at Ecotricity, Woodchester, Stroud (Steve Parsons/PA)

On Wednesday, justices at the UKs highest court unanimously ruled that a GRC does not change a trans persons legal sex under the Equality Act.

This means that transgender women with a gender recognition certificate can be excluded from single-sex spaces if deemed proportionate.

The Labour source said on Wednesday that Sir Keir had brought the party to a common sense position on the subject from an activist stance, and it was one of the reasons the electorate felt that they could back the party after the disaster of 2019.

But Independent MP Rosie Duffield, who resigned from Labour last year, said the party was trying to backtrack and pretend that they were always on board, but added that she hoped there would be a change.

Asked whether she thought there might be a broader shift in the way it approached gender, Ms Duffield told Sky News: Possibly, I mean Id like to think so.

Certainly women like me and all of the gender-critical so-called feminists who have been very silent, very quiet in Labour and havent supported me, perhaps theyll feel braver now about speaking up.

Before Sir Keir, former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn had asserted that transgender women should be treated as women, telling the BBC in 2018 that the position of the party is that where you have self-identified as a woman, then you are treated as a woman.

The issue was a hot-button topic during the 2020 leadership election to replace Mr Corbyn, as the Prime Minister did not say whether he backed a series of pledges from a Labour campaign group which included a call for members deemed to be transphobic to be expelled from the party.

MPs Lisa Nandy and Rebecca Long-Bailey both gave their backing to the 12-point pledge card from the Labour Campaign for Trans Rights during their leadership campaigns.

Sir Keir did express his support for pledges from the LGBT Labour group, which included the assertion that trans women are women, that trans men are men, and that non-binary gender identities are valid and should be respected.

When he won the partys leadership election in the early weeks of the Covid pandemic, he inherited a policy of committing to include self-identification for transgender people and reforming the Equality Act to fully enforce single-sex exemptions to allow for women-only spaces.

These pledges and @LGBTLabour have my full support. I stand in full solidarity with our LGBT+ members and the wider community, will defend LGBT+ rights and protections, and campaign with you for the changes rightly prioritised here. Look forward to the hustings! https://t.co/umSzlHfRbu  Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) February 13, 2020

Ms Duffield resigned the Labour whip in September 2024, accusing the Prime Minister of hypocrisy and pursuing cruel policies.

Relations between the Canterbury MP and the party leadership had long been strained, particularly over transgender rights.

In 2020 Ms Duffield said on Twitter that only women have a cervix, something Sir Keir later said was not right.

In 2023 Ms Duffield wrote a piece for the UnHerd website accusing the party of believing the transgender debate is nothing more than a culture war issue, and claiming that her treatment by Labour reminded her of a former abusive relationship.

When I come home at night, I feel low-level trauma at my political isolation, she wrote.

Sir Keir said he wanted to see respect and tolerance in response to her comments.

The Prime Minister was asked repeatedly about his position on the matter in opposition.

In 2023, Sir Keir told the Sunday Times that for 99.9% of women of course they havent got a penis but later that year he told BBC Radio 5 Live: Firstly, a woman is an adult female, so lets clear that one up.

MP Rosie Duffield speaking during the first LGB Alliance annual conference at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in central London (Kirsty OConnor/PA)

In April 2024 he said Ms Duffield was right to say only women have a cervix.

He told ITV: Biologically, she of course is right about that.

On policy, the Labour leader said in 2023 he disagreed with doomed proposals in Scotland that would have allowed 16 and 17-year-olds to apply for a gender recognition certificate.

The plans, which contributed to the downfall of Scotlands first minister Nicola Sturgeon, were part of a wider package of measures that would have made it easier to self-identify.

They were passed by MSPs in Holyrood but later blocked by scottish secretary Alister Jack using an unprecedented Section 35 order.

UK ministers said the legislation could infringe on the existing UK-wide Equalities Act.

The Labour leaders position was ridiculed by then prime minister Rishi Sunak in early 2024, as part of a wider series of U-turns by the Labour leader since winning the leadership election.

The joke by Mr Sunak was made while the mother of Brianna Ghey, a teenager whose murder was motivated by transphobic hate, was in the chamber.

Saying trans women are women was never true in fact and now isnt true in law, either. A victory for all of the women who faced personal abuse or lost their jobs for stating the obvious. Women are women and men are men: you cannot change your biological sex. The era of https://t.co/IKjTxwkgoB  Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) April 16, 2025

Mr Sunak refused to apologise in response to a request by Ms Gheys father.

Questions from the Conservative side of the Commons on the matter followed Sir Keir into Government.

The Prime Minister has faced repeated questions on the issue from the Conservatives, including leader Kemi Badenoch.

Reacting to the Supreme Courts ruling on Wednesday, Mrs Badenoch said that her party would be holding the Governments feet to the fire on the issue.

She also appeared to call for further action from ministers, writing in The Telegraph that it is clear that single sex changing rooms for women in workplaces are not just permitted, but required by law.

She accused Labour of having bent the knee to ideology on the matter, and reacting to the ruling, said that The era of Keir Starmer telling us that some women have penises has come to an end. Hallelujah!
On Wednesday, a magistrate at Blacktown local court rejected a request to have an interim non-publication order which had guarded Lauren Tesolin-Mastrosas identity and pen name extended. Photograph: Dave Hunt/AAP

An erotica author charged with child abuse offences over content in an unreleased book has had a bid to conceal her identity rejected, despite her lawyer arguing all she has done is written a fictional novel.

Sydney woman Lauren Tesolin-Mastrosa, 33, who works as a marketing executive at a charity and writes under the pen names Lauren Ashley and Tori Woods, has pleaded not guilty to the three charges: one count of producing, one count of possessing, and another of disseminating child abuse material.

On Wednesday, magistrate Rami Attia in Blacktown local court rejected a request to have an interim non-publication order which had guarded Tesolin-Mastrosas identity and pen name extended.

Her solicitor, Mickaela Mate, had argued in a hearing before the same court on Monday that the order should be extended because of the undue distress and embarrassment and threats her client had faced, as well as the nature of the charges.

Mate argued the matter was completely different to other child abuse allegations because there was no victim.

The novel, titled Daddys Little Toy, has been described in media reports as being about a relationship between an 18-year-old and her fathers friend.

It is a fictional book where they [the characters] are consenting adults, Mate told the court.

The words produce child abuse material usually infer there is a child being made to or having sexual acts done to them  but that is entirely not the case.

That association with child abuse material, paedophilia  causes in my respectful submission undue respect and embarrassment when really all [Tesolin-Mastrosa] has done is written a fictional novel.

The court heard the book had not yet gone on sale to the public and had only been made available to a pre-release group of 20 advance readers.

Mate also said that the allegation was applied by the police before even reading the book or obtaining a copy of the book.

Mate had also argued that her clients identity should be concealed, given Tesolin-Mastrosa and the allegations were so memorable.

Its my submission that it is so memorable because my client is otherwise so ordinary, Mate said.

It is a young woman who has a family, and works at a Christian charity as a marketing executive.

The fact is now my client is being referred to and thought of as a paedophile.

Mate said that her client was being harassed and threatened by people online and that the majority of them had not read the book. Mate also said that Tesolin-Mastrosa had been followed by a person with a camera.

I have read the book and some of the comments that are here are just entirely wrong, Mate said.

Matthew Lewis SC, who challenged the non-publication order on behalf of News Corp, had argued the horse had bolted over concealing Tesolin-Mastrosas identity, with news of who she was already going viral throughout the world.

The image, name, facts, pen name  Its already in the international community, he told the court.

Tesolin-Mastrosa is on conditional bail and will face court again on 5 June.
US warships can rapidly empty their missile tubes - US Central Command

Credit: USNavyEurope/X

Warily eyeing a Chinese fleet thats growing and modernising faster than ever, the US Navy is casting about for any and all ideas for preserving its naval edge. Now one American marine engineering company is proposing something creative and new: floating arsenals for rearming American warships at sea.

Engineering firm Leidos Gibbs and Cox has identified around a dozen surplus oil platforms  and has drawn up plans to convert them into self-propelled sea bases with space for nearly 450 missiles plus cranes and other equipment to load those missiles into the vertical launch cells of frigates, destroyers and cruisers.

A single Arleigh Burke-class destroyer  the Navy has more than 70 of these ships  packs 96 cells, each 14 feet tall. The missile canister which slots into the cell weighs more than four tons. Fleet commanders are worried that, in a major war with China, American ships would quickly run out of missiles as they swat down Chinese rockets and aircraft and also target Chinese ships.

At present, all but one USN vessel  a recently and specially outfitted cruiser  must return to a safe port for the painstaking process of loading fresh missiles, a port that might be hundreds or thousands of miles from the maritime line of contact. A ship with no missiles, idle for days or even weeks as it labours through the reloading process, is worthless to a fast-moving naval campaign.

The arsenal platforms Leidos Gibbs and Cox is pitching could motor across the open ocean at a top speed of 11 knots and, using a new crane system, slide fresh missiles into warships tied up alongside them at a rate of eight rounds per hour  an eightfold improvement over existing fleet reloading methods at large ports. Theyd use special frames to slot in missiles in batches rather than individually. If the sea was too rough for safe reloading, the platforms could move inside the coral reefs of remote atolls, if necessary flooding their pontoons down to rest firmly on the sea bed as they might during oil operations.

The converted platforms could solve a longstanding problem. Deterring or defeating our competitors will demand more than new platforms and new aircraft, then-US Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro said in 2023. It will demand that we make maximum use of our impressive arsenal, even as we fire missiles or take damage.

We must pay attention to the logistics side for our fleet in the Pacific in particular, Del Toro added.

The first initiative to result from Del Toros demand for reform was the so-called Transferable Reloading Mechanism, a crane the fleet installed on the cruiser USS Chosin last year. The TRAM does allow the vessel to receive fresh missile cells via taut cables from logistics ships sailing alongside, but the process of moving the cells into position is still as slow as it would be in port  and even more awkward given the inevitable rocking of a ship ploughing through potentially high sea states.

The mobile platforms could meet ships midway between the front line and safe ports and reload them while stationary using cranes with much greater capacity.

As a bonus, the platforms would have plenty of excess space, which the fleet could fill with 3D printers capable of churning out small attack drones. The platforms are so large and flexible that most of these missions can coexist, Leidos says.

The concept is promising, but it may also be a non-starter as the new administration of US president Donald Trump swings a wrecking ball at existing US strategy and force structure. Seeking to reprogram tens of billions of dollars a year in order to spend more on border patrols, a border wall and deportations, the Trump White House has reportedly ordered the armed services to cut current programs by eight percent a year for five years.

Cuts of that magnitude would not only cripple the existing US fleet, they would obviously preclude additive efforts such as mobile arsenals.
Sullivan was rescued by the Hawks, a police unit that deals with particularly serious crimes. Photograph: Kim Ludbrook/EPA

South African police have rescued an American pastor who was abducted last week while he was conducting a sermon, as kidnappings have soared over the last decade in the country.

Three unidentified suspects were killed during the high-intensity shootout on Tuesday in which Joshua Sullivan, a missionary from Tennessee, was rescued, the Hawks, the police unit that deals with serious crime in South Africa, said in a statement.

Kidnappings in the country have more than trebled in the past decade, according to police statistics, with 17,061 recorded in the year to March 2024. South Africa, one of the worlds most unequal countries, also has one of the worlds highest murder rates, with more than 27,000 that year, 50% higher than a decade earlier.

Sullivan was seized on Thursday night while he was preaching at the Fellowship Baptist church, where he had been a missionary since 2018 in the township of Motherwell outside the city of Gqeberha in Eastern Cape province.

Four gunmen stormed the church, stealing two mobile phones from congregation members before taking Sullivan. A few hours later, his truck was found abandoned.

The kidnappers were eventually tracked to a house in KwaMagxaki, about a 20-minute drive from the church, across the Swartkops River. Suspects inside a vehicle opened fire while attempting to flee, the police said.

The Hawks statement said: The victim was found inside the same vehicle from which the suspects had launched their attack. Miraculously unharmed, he was immediately assessed by medical personnel and is currently in an excellent condition.

Sullivans mother, Tonya Morton Rinker, said in a Facebook post: My Baby is free! Joshua was rescued earlier today!! He is home with Meagan and the kids  Thank you for your support and prayers.

An earlier post by Rinker described Sullivan as a big-hearted gentle giant. It said the 34-year-old had first travelled to South Africa with his wife, Meagan, for six months in 2015, before returning as church-planting missionaries and becoming fluent in Xhosa, the most common language in the Eastern Cape. The couple have four children and have taken in two Xhosa children.

A report by the Institute of Security Studies, a local thinktank, found 44% of kidnappings were during vehicle hijackings to extort money quickly. Another 22% were tied to robberies, while only 5% were for ransom. It was not immediately clear what the motive for Sullivans kidnapping was.

Additional reporting by Associated Press
Rutgers students wait for a bus on the morning that faculty and students began a strike at the university's main campus on 10 April 2023 in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Photograph: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Faculty members from US universities  including public ones which do not receive endowments  are banding together in attempts to resist the Donald Trump administrations attacks on academic freedoms.

This month, Indiana Universitys Bloomington faculty council followed in the footsteps of Rutgers University in passing a resolution to establish a pact with all 18 universities under the Big 10 academic alliance to defend academic freedoms.

The resolution comes as a result of recent and escalating politically motivated actions by governmental bodies [which] pose a significant threat to the foundational principles of American higher education including the autonomy of university governance, the integrity of scientific research, and the protection of free speech.

The 18 universities part of the Big 10 academic alliance include the University of Illinois, Indiana University, University of Iowa, University of Maryland, University of Michigan, Michigan State University, University of Minnesota, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Northwestern University, Ohio State University, University of Oregon, Pennsylvania State University, Purdue University, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, University of California Los Angeles, University of Southern California, University of Washington and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The resolution says the preservation of one institutions integrity is the concern of all and an infringement against one member university of the Big Ten shall be considered an infringement against all.

This move from Indiana Universitys Bloomington faculty council comes after FBI and Department of Homeland Security agents raided the homes of Xiaofeng Wang, a Chinese national and cybersecurity professor who taught at the university for 20 years.

On the same day of the raid, Wang  who has not been charged with any offenses  was fired from the university over email in a move that contradicts the universitys own policy.

Wangs firing was condemned by faculty as well as the Bloomington chapter of the American Association of University Professors which said: The mere fact of an investigation or of unadjudicated allegations cannot justify failure to comply with university policies on the part of the administration It is fundamental that individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

In order for a pact to be formed, university leaders across the Big 10academic alliance would have to convene a summit and initiate its implementation, Indiana Daily Student reports.

If a pact is formed, the universities shall commit meaningful funding to a shared or distributed defense fund. The fund will be in turn used to provide immediate and strategic support to any member institution under direct political or legal infringement.

In recent weeks, Trump has come after dozens of universities, including private institutions such as Harvard University, which has a large endowment, unlike most public universities, as part of his administrations crackdowns on alleged antisemitism and civil rights violations. Many of the Big 10 academic alliance schools have also been targeted by Trump.

Indiana University Bloomington is among 60 schools under federal investigation over alleged violations relating to antisemitic harassment and discrimination. The administration has also come after the University of Washington and Penn State University which saw over a dozen of their international students visas cancelled. Meanwhile, federal authorities are investigating University of Oregons partnership with the PhD Project, a non-profit organization that supports students from marginalized communities in obtaining degrees.

The Guardian has reached out to the Big 10 academic alliance schools.

In a statement to the Guardian, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaigns associate chancellor Robin Kaler said: Free speech and academic freedom are foundational to our universitys missions of discovery and exploration The university remains committed to protecting the first amendment rights of all individuals. This is a legal obligation of any public entity and, we believe, an ethical responsibility for an institution like ours that values diverse perspectives and academic interrogation.

Meanwhile, Rutgers Universitys assistant vice-president, Dory Devlin, said: The university appreciates the guidance of the university senate to encourage the efforts of universities across the Big Ten, and more broadly, to find common ground and shared values during a time of shifting federal policies, while recognizing that each school in the conference has its own local dynamics and pressures.

In addition to demanding universities close their diversity, equity and inclusion programs, Trump has frozen funding to universities and issued a slew of extortive and broadly-worded demands to the institutions.

Most recently, Trump ordered Harvard University to conduct audits on study bodies, faculty and leadership on their views about diversity, ban face masks, as well as halt the recognition and funding of any student group or club that endorses or promotes criminal activity, illegal violence or illegal harassment.

Harvard has refused to capitulate to the Trump administrations demands, prompting support from Barack Obama, as well as further complaints from Trump who called Harvard a joke that teaches hate and stupidity.

 This article was amended on 1 May 2025 because an earlier version incorrectly suggested that public universities do not have endowments.
Harvey Weinsteins lawyers asked a judge on Wednesday to allow the ailing ex-studio boss to spend his nights at a New York City hospital instead of jail for the duration of his rape retrial.

Weinsteins lawyers made the request as jury selection resumed for a second day. The 73-year-old disgraced film mogul arrived in court in a wheelchair, as he has at all his recent court appearances.

In court papers, his lawyers argued that Weinsteins stay at New York Citys Rikers Island jail complex is exacerbating his health issues and that he would be better off in the prison ward at Bellevue Hospital. He been back and forth to Bellevue several times in recent months for various treatments.

Weinstein has numerous health conditions, including chronic myeloid leukaemia, heart issues, diabetes, obstructive sleep apnoea, sciatica and severe limitations on his ability to walk.

A recent tongue infection was misdiagnosed at Rikers, requiring a hospital stay, and he has gained nearly 20 pounds (nine kilograms) in the past month, his lawyer Imran Ansari said.

In a statement, Mr Ansari said Weinstein is also subjected to freezing temperatures at Rikers and is not provided with clean clothing.

Because of this mistreatment, he has been worn down considerably health-wise, and now faces the stress of trial in this condition, which may very well lead to serious health complications, even death, Mr Ansari said.

Weinsteins lawyers filed a legal claim against New York City last November, alleging he was receiving substandard medical treatment in unhygienic conditions at Rikers.

The claim, which seeks five million dollars (3.77 million) in damages, argues that Weinstein has been returned to Rikers each time before fully recovering at hospital.

The troubled jail complex has faced growing scrutiny for its mistreatment of detainees and dangerous conditions. Last year, a federal judge cleared the way for a possible federal takeover, finding the city had placed inmates in unconstitutional danger.

Judge Curtis Farber has yet to rule on the transfer request, and the issue was not discussed in court before jury selection resumed on Wednesday morning.

Harvey Weinstein in court in Manhattan during jury selection in his retrial (Angelina Katsanis/Pool Photo via AP)

The first day ended on Tuesday with no one chosen for the panel of 12 jurors and six alternates. Wednesday kicked off with two dozen prospective jurors being brought to the courtroom for more questioning after making it through an initial round a day earlier.

Weinstein is being tried again after New Yorks highest court, the Court of Appeals, last year overturned his 2020 conviction and 23-year prison sentence and ordered a new trial, finding that improper rulings and prejudicial testimony tainted the original one.

Weinstein is being retried on two charges from his original trial. He is accused of raping an aspiring actor in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 and a criminal sex act by forcing oral sex on a film and TV production assistant in 2006.

He is also charged with one count of criminal sex act based on an allegation from a woman who was not a part of the original trial. That woman, who has asked not to be named publicly, alleges that Weinstein forced oral sex on her at a Manhattan hotel.

Weinstein has pleaded not guilty and denies raping or sexually assaulting anyone.

Nine jurors were selected on Wednesday.
UTICA, N.Y. (AP)  Ten New York prison guards were charged Wednesday in connection with the fatal beating of a 22-year-old inmate last month  including two charged with murder. It's the second time a group of correctional officers in the state was indicted for a death behind bars this year.

Messiah Nantwi, a prisoner at the Mid-State Correctional Facility, died March 1 from injuries he sustained in a series of beatings by guards that began in his room and continued even when he was lying handcuffed on the floor of the infirmary, the indictment says.

Six of the officers charged Wednesday were accused of assaulting Nantwi, while the other four were accused of participating in a cover-up that included filing false reports, plotting to plant a makeshift knife and cleaning up blood in Nantwis room in an effort to destroy evidence. All entered not guilty pleas.

Nantwis death came several months after Robert Brooks was fatally beaten at the Marcy Correctional Facility just across the street from the Mid-State prison. Six guards have pleaded not guilty to murder charges in Brooks death and other prison employees have been charged.

The Utica-area facility was one of many state prisons struggling to function during a three-week wildcat strike by guards upset over working conditions, which forced the governor to send in National Guard troops to maintain operations. Incarcerated people and their advocates complained that services and conditions deteriorated during the walkout, while the indictment notes the guards had little training on how to deal with prisoners.

Mid-State guards Jonah Levi and Caleb Blair are charged with second-degree murder. They and three others  Thomas Eck, Craig Klemick and Daniel Burger  also are charged with first-degree manslaughter. Two sergeants, Francis Chandler and David Ferrone, are charged with second-degree manslaughter, accused of doing nothing to stop the assaults while supervising.

Levi and Blair were part of an emergency response team called to Nantwis room to help National Guard members, the indictment says. At a news conference after the hearing, Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick said the inmate drew the Guard members' concern when he interjected into another inmate's effort to obtain medication and was resistant to a prisoner headcount.

Fitzpatrick said the situation had resolved itself by the time the response team arrived, but the correctional officers spoke with the Guard members for only a few seconds before entering Nantwi's room.

Nantwi's hands were raised when the officers first entered the room but he objected to being handcuffed for no apparent reason and grabbed a guards vest, the indictment says. Several guards immediately rained blows on his head and body using their fists, batons and boots, the document says. The attack intensified when Nantwi bit Blair and Eck on their hands well after guards began assaulting him, according to Fitzpatrick and the indictment.

Nantwi became unresponsive and guards transported him toward the infirmary, but he was assaulted a second time in a stairwell and dumped in a holding cell at the infirmary and further assaulted by Blair, the indictment says.

Fitzpatrick added that guards on the team were not wearing mandated body cameras, while others working there either turned off their cameras or simply looked the other way.

Guards met a local diner the next morning to develop and coordinate a false narrative, an attempt at an amateurish and ineffective cover-up, Fitzpatrick said.

Part of the cover-up involved taking a weapon that had been confiscated in an unrelated incident and planting it in Nantwi's room, the indictment alleges. Ferrone was caught discussing the weapon on a bodycam hanging up in the mens room at the infirmary, it says. When he spotted the camera, he uttered an expletive.

In addition to the 10 guards, six other correctional officers agreed to cooperate with the investigation, Fitzpatrick said. Two will plead guilty to felonies and four will plead guilty to misdemeanors.

Prison officials said all 10 guards charged Wednesday have either resigned or been suspended without pay.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has ordered the commissioner to begin the termination process for workers involved in Nantwis death.

Nantwi entered the state prison system last May and had been serving a five-year sentence for second-degree criminal possession of a weapon related to an exchange of gunfire with police officers in 2021. He was shot multiple times, while the officers were uninjured.

Prosecutors in Manhattan say Nantwi shot and killed Jaylen Duncan, 19, on a Harlem street in April 2023. The following evening, they say, he shot and killed Brandon Brunson, 36, at a Harlem smoke shop after an argument.

___

Collins contributed from Hartford, Connecticut.
An Arizona toddler who had been missing for 16 hours was found safe by a rancher's dog on Tuesday, according to the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office.

Boden Allen, 2, was first reported missing just before 5 p.m. on Monday, after he wandered off from his family's home in Seligman, a rural area approximately 8100 miles north of Phoenix, officials said.

The incident began after Boden was playing with his mother outside their home and followed her back inside when she went to change his sibling's diaper, according to Yavapai County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Jeff Newnum. Boden returned outside to play and "just disappeared," Newnum told ABC News.

PHOTO: A 2-year-old who was missing for 16 hours in Arizona was found on Tuesday by a Buford, a rancher's dog. (Yavapai County Sheriffs Office)

"Within 10 minutes of her changing the diaper, having him right next to her, she looks down, he's nowhere to be found inside," he said.

Deputies, accompanied by over 40 search and rescue members, arrived on the property and scanned the area for Boden for about 16 hours, officials said. During their search, officials noted that they spotted two mountain lions "among the terrain the boy traveled."

On Tuesday morning, rancher Scotty Dunton reported that "a young child had walked onto his property," according to the sheriff's office.

MORE: Boy kidnapped by mother 7 years ago found in Colorado: Police

The rancher said his dog, Buford, spotted the boy while he was patrolling the property -- which is approximately seven miles away from the Allen family home -- for coyotes.

"He loves kids so I can imagine he wouldn't leave him when he found him," the rancher said in a video shared by the sheriff's office.

Buford, an Anatolian Pyrenees, remained at Boden's side, garnering Dunton's attention. The boy told the rancher he had slept under a tree, officials said.

PHOTO: A 2-year-old who was missing for 16 hours in Arizona was found on Tuesday by a Buford, a rancher's dog. (Yavapai County Sheriffs Office)

"This dog did not obviously view Boden as a threat, but realized that there was something wrong, and instinctively went to this child," Newnum said.

Dunton, who was aware of the search and rescue efforts going on in the area, quickly notified officials that he found Boden, according to Newnum.

MORE: Missing 2-year-old Dane Paulsen found dead in Oregon

"I can't believe that kid made it that far, it's seven miles and that's if he walked in a straight line," Dunton said. "There's three big mountain ranges between here and his house and big valleys. For a 2-year-old to do that, that's insane."

Newnum said the sheriff's office plans on visiting Buford in about a week with a big steak wrapped in a bow.

2-year-old spends night in Arizona terrain, found by rancher's dog originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
LONDON  The online influencer and self-described misogynist Andrew Tate could face a civil trial in the United Kingdom over allegations of sexual and physical abuse as early as January 2027, according to the judge who oversaw the case's first preliminary hearing.

Four women in Britain accuse Tate of subjecting them to sexual violence, including rape, choking and forms of coercive control when he was living in England from 2013 to 2015. Two of the women worked for Tate's webcam business. Two are former girlfriends. The court has granted them anonymity.

Tate, 38, denies all the allegations in the civil case. He did not attend the hearing. In Tate's written testimony denying the allegations, obtained by USA TODAY, he said all the sexual activity with the women was consensual.

'Who do you belong to?': Disturbing new details in Andrew Tate's UK sex assault case

The hearing April 15 was presided over by Judge Richard Armstrong at the Royal Courts of Justice in London. It dealt with with matters such as the timeline for the disclosure of key documents and reports; which experts might be called to testify; the numbers of witnesses; and legal costs. Armstrong said the damages sought by the women "would likely reach six figures."

Vanessa Marshall, a lawyer for Tate, said he intended to give evidence in his defense at trial.

Anne Studd, a lawyer for the four women bringing the suit, said the case may be the first of its kind in Britain involving allegations of coercive control. Studd described the allegations as "a form of grooming and manipulation where the victim becomes less and less able to respond in what might be perceived as a normal way; in particular, she may not leave even if the door is open."

The women say that when they first met Tate he was polite, charming and caring. They said he boasted about his success and appeared to be wealthy. He had luxury cars and designer clothes. He encouraged them to see him as a protector and confidante, not a predator. Over time, Tate changed, they say. They claim he became controlling and ever more threatening, restricting their movements and access to food.

Andrew Tate and brother: Tates return to US after travel ban lifted amid Romanian investigation

Andrew Tate, right, delivers a press statement in front of his house after landing back in Romania, near Bucharest, on March 22, 2025.

Tate and his brother Tristan face separate criminal cases connected to alleged sexual offenses and trafficking in Britain and Romania. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier recently opened a criminal investigation into the Tates, characterizing its scope as "what very much appears to be soliciting, trafficking, preying upon women around the world." The brothers deny all the allegations against them made in cases in Britain, Romania and the United States.

They are believed to be in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates after briefly traveling to the United States from Romania after authorities there lifted a travel ban on them pending that country's criminal investigation.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Andrew Tate could face 2027 UK trial
Alessandra Amodio/Travel + Leisure Looking out an airplane window as they fly over snow capped mountains.

A low-cost airline has been named the best overall carrier in the U.S., according to a new report.

For the rankings, WalletHub evaluated the largest airlines in the country on metrics like safety and affordability.

Experts also found that U.S. airlines should prioritize on-time departures over other amenities.

Spirit Airlines' giant yellow planes are sometimes the butt of jokes on social media, as the budget airline's a la carte service isnt as popular as some of the larger, more established airlines. But in reality, Spirit is actually the best airline you can fly with, beating out Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, and American Airlines. This conclusion is based on the new WalletHub 2025 Best Airlines ranking.

WalletHubs ranking evaluated the nine largest U.S. airlines and two regional airlines and evaluated the carriers across 14 different metrics. The metrics were all within the following four categories: baggage and departures, animal incidents, in-flight comfort and cost, and safety. Based on this evaluation, Spirit Airlines came out on top, scoring 69.12 out of 100.

Related | What to Know Before Flying Spirit Airlines | Learn More

Here are the best airlines ranked overall, and their scores.

Spirit Airlines, 69.12 Skywest Airlines, 68.08 Delta Air Lines, 64.24 JetBlue Airways, 63.38 Southwest Airlines, 62.19 Alaska Airlines, 58.38 Hawaiian Airlines, 57.32 United Airlines, 56.58 Frontier Airlines, 47.02 American Airlines, 45.81 Envoy Air, 38.56

The WalletHub ranking also named the best airline for other more specific categories, including most affordable airline, most reliable airline, and safest airline. Spirit Airlines was named the most affordable airline, Delta Air Lines was named the most reliable airline, and JetBlue Airways and Hawaiian Airlines were tied for the most comfortable airlines. Skywest Airlines, United Airlines, and Envoy Air all tied for the best airline for pets, and Spirit Airlines came out on top again as the safest airline.

If any airlines are looking to improve their ranking on WalletHubs list in 2026, there are some easy ways to do so. One that would benefit both the airlines and passengers? Keep improving flight reliability by reducing delays. One of the easiest strategies is prioritizing being on-time more than just about anything else except safety, Joseph P. Schwieterman, professor at DePaul Universitys School of Public Service, told WalletHub. Achieving this is easier than overhauling fleets, reconfiguring gates, or adding airport lounges.

If youre looking to switch over to this years top airline, theres more good news about flying Spirit. The airline announced back in March that it was expanding its service and added dozens of routes across the U.S. While Spirit might rank as the most affordable airline, youll need to factor more into your planning than just the cost of your ticket. Because the budget airline offers such cheap fares, youll need to plan on paying extra for your luggage or any other additional services.

Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
AP Photo/Ed Reinke 'Casaniova Killer' Glen Rogers in 1995

A self-proclaimed serial killer who once boasted of killing 70 women to a member of law enforcement is set to be executed in Florida next month.

Glen Rogers, also known as "The Casanova Killer," will be put to death on May 15 by lethal injection after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed his death warrant on April 15.

A jury sentenced Rogers, 62, to death back in 1997 after convicting him of first-degree murder, armed robbery and grand theft of a motor vehicle following the death of 34-year-old Tina Marie Cribbs.

The final moments of Cribbs' life are detailed in a motion filed by prosecutors in response to the second of Rogers' three failed attempts to overturn his guilty verdict.

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS Glen Rogers

Rogers met Cribbs at a bar in Tampa and convinced her to drive him home, according to the motion.

Cribbs informed her three friends she would only be gone for 15 minutes because she was set to meet her mother at the bar, the motion says.

But she never returned that night.

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"When Cribbs mother, Mary Dicke, arrived twenty minutes later to meet her daughter as they had planned, Cribbs had not yet returned," the motion reads. "Dicke waited for her daughter at the bar for nearly an hour and a half. "

Related: Married Mom Who Decapitated Lover and Molested His Corpse Attacks Lawyer at Assault Charge Hearing

Dicke also sent 30 messages to her daughter's beeper but got no response, according to the motion, which also notes that the mother-of-two failed to show up to work the next day.

Her body was discovered a few days later in a motel room rented by Rogers, according to the motion.

"Cribbs was found lying on her back in the bathtub. She was clothed, wearing a damp T-shirt, underwear, and socks. On the bathroom floor, authorities found a damp pile of clothes an bloodstained towels," the motion reads.

She had been stabbed in the chest and buttocks, and there was evidence of defensive wounds, the motion reads.

Missing were a ring and watch that Cribbs often wore and her car, which Rogers was driving a week later when arrested in Kentucky, per the motion.

Bei/Shutterstock Nicole Brown Simpson

It was while in custody in Kentucky that Rogers boasted of killing 70 women. Years later, his brother claimed that Rogers said he was responsible for the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman.

Related: Fla. Mom Dead, Daughter in Critical Condition After Person Breaks Into Home and Goes on Stabbing Spree in Middle of the Night

The Los Angeles Police Department dismissed that claim, but it did inspire a made-for-TV movie starring Mena Suvari as Brown Simpson.

Despite his claims, Rogers was only convicted in two murder cases, the second after a 1999 trial in the state of California.

That trial also ended with the jury sentencing him to death, but he remained incarcerated in Florida.

Court records show that lawyers for both sides are now rushing to wrap up any and all lingering legal proceedings with just one month until Rogers' execution. Given the timeline, prosecutors have requested that Rogers file a post-conviction motion by April 19 in court filings.

Rogers is the father of two adult children from his first marriage to high school sweetheart, Deborah Nix.

Read the original article on People
Wallace Huang, export business director of Weking, talks about the Chinese manufacturer of rice cookers and heaters at the 137th Canton Fair in Guangzhou in southern China's Guangdong province on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

BANGKOK (AP)  China's economy expanded at a 5.4% annual pace in January-March, the government said Wednesday, supported by strong exports ahead of U.S. President Donald Trumps rapid increases in tariffs on Chinese products.

With the trade war clouding the outlook, analysts are forecasting that the worlds second largest economy will slow significantly in coming months, however, as tariffs as high as 145% on U.S. imports from China take effect. Beijing has hit back at the U.S. with 125% tariffs on American exports, while also stressing its determination to keep its own markets open to trade and investment.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping's visits is visiting several other Asian countries this week as he makes a case for free trade, presenting China as a source of stability and certainty in uncertain times.

Xi was visiting Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia, while the U.S. announced that a senior State Department official, Sean ONeill, would be traveling this week to Vietnam's capital Hanoi and to Ho Chi Minh City, to Cambodia's Siem Reap and to Tokyo.

China also has been highlighting its focus on trade with countries other than the United States at various trade fairs that are showcasing its vast market and competitiveness as a manufacturing giant.

At Chinas Canton trade fair, in the southern city of Guangzhou, exporters were emphatic about the need to look beyond selling to Americans.

We need to diversify our market. When the West is dark, the East is bright. The global market is huge, said Wallace Huang, the export business director of Guangdong Weking Group, which makes rice cookers. In recent years, our exports to the U.S. have slowly been declining.

The trade factor

Exports helped China's economy expand at a 5% annual rate in 2024 and this year's official target is about 5%.

In the near term, the tariffs will put pressure on China's economy, but they won't derail long-run growth, Sheng Laiyun, a spokesperson for the National Bureau of Statistics, told reporters. He noted that China's exports to the United States have fallen to less than 15% of total exports from more than 19% five years ago.

Chinas economic foundation is stable, resilient and has great potential. We have the confidence, ability and confidence to cope with external challenges and achieve our established development goals, Sheng said.

In quarterly terms the economy grew 1.2% in January-March, slowing from 1.6% in the last quarter of 2024.

Chinese exports surged more than 12% from a year earlier in March and nearly 6% in U.S. dollar terms in the first quarter, as companies rushed to beat Trumps tariffs. That has supported robust manufacturing activity in the past several months.

China's industrial production rose 6.5% from a year earlier in the last quarter, led by a nearly 11% increase in output of equipment manufacturing.

The strongest growth was in advanced technologies, such as production of battery electric and hybrid vehicles, which jumped 45.4% year-on-year. Output of 3D printers soared almost 45% and of industrial robots surged 26%.

Weaker property investment and consumer prices

Despite relatively fast growth by global standards, the Chinese economy has struggled to regain momentum since the COVID-19 pandemic as downturn in the property market has pushed unemployment higher, leaving families wary about spending.

Consumer prices fell 0.1% in the first quarter, suggesting that demand is not keeping up with supply for many industries. Investment in real estate also remained weak, falling nearly 10% from a year earlier despite government efforts to spur more lending for housing purchases.

The tariffs crisis looms as another massive blow at a time when Beijing is striving to get businesses to invest and hire more workers and to persuade Chinese consumers to spend more.

The outlook

Both private and public sector economists have remained cautious about what to expect, given how Trump has kept switching his stance on the details of his trade war.

Given the events over the past two weeks, it is extremely difficult to predict how the U.S. and China tariffs on each other might evolve, Tao Wang and other UBS economists said in a report.

The International Monetary Fund and Asian Development Bank have stuck with more optimistic forecasts of about 4.6% growth this year.

After taking office, Trump first ordered a 10% increase in tariffs on imports from China. He later raised that to 20%. Now, China is facing 145% tariffs on most of its exports to the United States.

UBS estimates that the tariffs, if they remain roughly as they are, could cause Chinas exports to the United States to fall by two-thirds in coming months and that its global exports could fall by 10% in dollar value. It cut its forecast for economic growth this year to 3.4% from an earlier 4%. It expects growth to slow to 3% in 2026.

China has stepped up efforts to spur more consumer spending and private sector investment over the past seven months, doubling down on subsidies for auto and appliance trade-ins and channeling more funding for housing and other cash strapped industries.

___

AP researchers Yu Bing and Shihuan Chen contributed.
By Casey Hall and Sophie Yu

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Chinese sellers of items from lunch boxes to appliances have taken to social media platform Rednote to generate sympathy purchases, telling domestic consumers they are offloading stock at bargain prices amid U.S. tariffs.

Over the past week, dozens of sellers have broadcast livestreams showing goods produced for U.S. customers, which they said they could no longer sell because of tariff rates of 145% for made-in-China goods imposed by President Donald Trump's administration.

In one livestream, user "Dingding Cloud Foreign Trade Warehouse" sells small appliances, including rice cookers, juicers and toasters by telling viewers: "The U.S. has breached its contract. No more shipments! Everything is on sale at 90% off!"

In another video, by user "Muzi Has Good Goods," a host hawked appliances while surrounded by boxes marked "trade transit containers", saying they had no more space in their warehouse because of orders they could no longer send to the U.S.

Some of the sellers sold items such as Costa Coffee mugs, but most were brands not widely known abroad, such as OSTMARS and APLX, which are sold on Amazon.

The push comes as China has declared that it will help Chinese exporters sell goods domestically, touting its giant, though of-late sluggish, domestic consumer market as an alternative to the U.S. market after Trump's tariffs.

JD.com and Alibaba-owned supermarket chain Freshippo have been among retailers and e-commerce platforms that have joined the push, with JD.com saying it would launch a 200 billion yuan ($27.35 billion) fund to help the country's exporters to sell their products domestically over the next year.

At the Canton Fair, China's biggest trade expo held twice a year in the southern city of Guangzhou, exporters told Reuters on Tuesday that U.S. markets were "frozen" for them.

Some sources involved in the export business said they were skeptical of the Rednote sales livestreams, describing them as pure marketing. Exporters tended to have a variety of target markets and would shift focus to other countries if the United States were not an option, one Chinese exporter, who declined to be named for privacy reasons, told Reuters.

Reuters reached out to 12 of the Rednote sellers but did not receive any responses.

Analysts said that the livestreams were in line with how China reacted to external pressure and that even if they were just marketing, it would be effective.

"In China, there is this sentiment that we need to come together and we need to resist U.S. bullying," said Ashley Dudarenok, founder of digital consultancy Chozan, adding that hashtags like "resist", "China can make it" and "save factories" have all emerged in the wake of the newest outbreak of trade conflict between the world's two largest economies.

"Somehow Trump tariffs might actually help China's boost consumer sentiment, it will give people a very strong reason why they should consume ... because it's now bigger than just about themselves," she said.

(Reporting by Casey Hall and Sophie Yu; Editing by Brenda Goh and Gerry Doyle)
The man who was allegedly held in captivity in his Connecticut home for more than 20 years said he is "much better and stronger" than the day first responders carried him out of the residence in February.

The "severely emaciated" 5-foot-9 man weighed just 68 pounds when he was found in the home in Waterbury on Feb. 17 by authorities who had responded to a report of an active fire at the residence, according to officials. The man told first responders he intentionally set the fire in his room and alleged that his stepmother had held him captive since he was 11, officials said.

MORE: Connecticut man held captive by stepmom for 20 years weighed only 68 pounds: Police

"I am a survivor of more than 20 years of captivity and domestic abuse. I was held prisoner in my home from the time I was taken out of the fourth grade at age 11 until two months ago at age 31 when I purposely set the fire that helped set me free," he said in his first public statement on the matter. "I am speaking out today to begin the process of reclaiming my life and to have my say in how my story is told."

The statement was released on Tuesday through his volunteer spokesperson, David Guarino of the organization Survivors Say.

The now-32-year-old man, whose name has not been released, referred to himself as "S" in the statement, saying, "This is not the name given to me by my parents when I was born. I am choosing a new name for myself, and I will use that name as I reclaim control over my life and my future. My name is my choice, and it is the first of many choices I will make for myself now that I am free."

PHOTO: Kimberly Sullivan has been arrested after allegedly keeping her stepson captive in their Waterbury, Conn., home for more than 20 years. The stepson allegedly started a fire in February 2025 in order to escape. (WTNH)

"S" thanked first responders and law enforcement as well as the health care professionals "who have helped and nurtured me."

"In addition to all of your care, I appreciated the chance to have my first ever birthday party to celebrate turning 32," he said.

He also thanked the public for their prayers and donations to a GoFundMe fundraiser organized by Safe Haven of Greater Waterbury, which has raised nearly $270,000. The funds will be used to pay for medical and dental care, counseling and therapy for physical and emotional recovery, housing and daily living expenses and support for legal fees, the nonprofit said.

MORE: Crowdfunding campaign raises over $100,000 for Connecticut man held captive in home for 20 years

"Much has already been said that tells part of the story of the abuse I endured. Someday, perhaps my whole story will be told," "S" said. "I ask everyone involved in my story to fully cooperate with the authorities who are helping me seek justice for these crimes. I also ask the public and the media to respect those investigations and my privacy as this process plays out. This isn't just a story. It's my life."

His stepmother, Kimberly Sullivan, was arrested and faces multiple charges, including unlawful restraint, reckless endangerment, assault and kidnapping. She has pleaded not guilty.

PHOTO: Kimberly Sullivan was charged for allegedly holding her severely emaciated stepson in captivity for over 20 years, and forcing him to endure prolonged abuse, starvation, severe neglect, and inhumane treatment, police said. (Facebook / Waterbury Police Department)

In response to the statement from "S," her attorney, Ioannis Kaloidis, said his narrative "lacks both specifics and credibility."

"It appears timed to sway public opinion and its only purpose can be to poison the well of a future jury panel rather than seek justice through proper legal channels," Kaloidis said in a statement. "As Ms. Sullivans attorney I am obliged to denounce it as an unsavory tactic, filled with half lies and distorted facts, prejudice wielded like a weapon, a rush to judgment prioritized over truth."

Following her arrest, Sullivan's lawyer defended his client and said it was the victim's late father who was responsible.

"He was not locked in the room. She did not restrain him in any way. She provided food. She provided shelter. She is blown away by these allegations," Kaloidis told New Haven ABC affiliate WTNH following her arrest.

ABC News' Nadine El-Bawab contributed to this report.

Connecticut man allegedly held captive for over 20 years releases 1st public statement originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
NEW YORK  Over his half-century career, David Foster has written and produced hits for every legend imaginable: Whitney Houston. Celine Dion. Chaka Khan. Madonna.

Now, the 16-time Grammy winner is adding a doe-eyed cartoon pinup to his inimitable list of divas. "Boop! The Musical" is a blissful, toe-tapping spectacle that imagines if Betty Boop (Jasmine Amy Rogers) left her black-and-white animated world for the colorful chaos of modern-day Manhattan. The kid-friendly Broadway comedy opened at the Broadhurst Theatre (235 W. 44th Street) in April, earning rave reviews for Rogers star-making turn and Fosters eminently hummable score.

Composing Boop! was a great new challenge, says Foster, 75, who has scaled the Top 40 charts through his collaborations with Chicago, Kenny Loggins and Earth, Wind & Fire.

I havent written hits in a couple decades now and Im OK with that, because Ive done other things, Foster says. With Broadway, it was so liberating not having that pressure of the radio, so you can literally write anything. You can start off slow, speed up in the middle, change keys, have a different character sing something  its really awesome.

Betty Boop (Jasmine Amy Rogers) discovers where she wants to be in New York City.

David Foster wrote to Stephen Sondheim about 'Boop! The Musical'

Foster was first approached about Boop! 15 years ago by producer Bill Haber. The goal was to write music that you couldnt put a time frame on, he explains, with numbers that feel both contemporary and of Bettys 1930s heyday.

The first song Foster wrote for the musical was the swoony Why Look Around the Corner, performed by Betty and her trumpeter sweetheart Dwayne (Ainsley Melham). He initially met with Haber and lyricist Susan Birkenhead at a Steinway piano store, where he essentially auditioned for the job on the spot.

Bill said, What kind of feel would you give Betty Boop? Foster says. I walked over to the piano and literally the chorus fell out. He was like, Youre in, and that song survived all these years later.

The entire score is just so gorgeous, Rogers says. To get to sing Davids songs  especially his ballads  feels so magical. Her current favorite is My Hero, an emotional duet between Betty and the precocious young Trisha (Angelica Hale), who looks up to the trailblazing flapper. Its so heartfelt and honest, and its got that beautiful melody where it just dances along.

Theres also the dizzying second-act opener Where is Betty?, which riffs on the cartoons boop-oop-a-doop catchphrase. I mean, how could you not get that in there? Its perfect, Rogers says with a laugh. That song was a later addition, but its so catchy.

"I guess I could become a Broadway guy," says David Foster, who composed the score for "Boop! The Musical."

Foster wrote more than four dozen songs for Boop!, which he eventually whittled down to 20. He turned to his friend, musician Chris Botti, for support on the show-stopping I Speak Jazz. Smash powerhouse Katharine McPhee, who is Fosters wife, also lent her electrifying vocals to anthems such as Portrait of Betty, helping workshop new lyrics and melodies throughout the shows development.

"I swear to God, this poor woman," Foster jokes. Every day, "I'd be like, 'Hey, get in here! I got to try this out!' I bet you she sang 40 demos. It was a lot of work, but she was always there.

Foster is perhaps proudest of Bettys Act 1 I want song Ordinary Day, as the vivacious screen vixen longs for some respite from the flashing cameras and rabid admirers.

As you well know, when I lay my hands on the piano, its schmaltzy, Foster says good-naturedly. My whole life has been schmaltzy  Rolling Stone called me the king of bombastic pop kitsch. My stuff is soft, but Ordinary Day is not soft. It has a couple musical twists that I even surprised myself with; theres a twinge of irregularity to it.

Grampy (Stephen DeRosa, left), Betty (Jasmine Amy Rogers) and dog Pudgy (Phillip Huber) are stuck in a two-dimensional world.

The song is Fosters tribute of sorts to the late Stephen Sondheim, whom he emailed five years ago for advice on Boop!

I said, Mr. Sondheim, you dont know me, but Im the guy who produced your song Somewhere for Barbra Streisand, Foster recalls writing. Im working on a musical now, and if theres ever a chance to meet, I would love that. He wrote back, David, dont be so (expletive) modest, of course I know who you are. Lets meet.

Although they never got the opportunity before Sondheims death in 2021, I still thought it was pretty cool.

Foster is hitting the road with Katharine McPhee, their 4-year-old son

David Foster, left, and Katharine McPhee have introduced their son to the original Betty Boop cartoons: "He truly loves them!"

Boop! recently recorded its cast album, and Foster hopes to soon get some major artists to cover the shows signature tunes. Next up, hes embarking on a summer tour around the U.S. with Botti and McPhee, which launches June 13 in Selbyville, Delaware. Itll also double as a family road trip for McPhee and their son Rennie, 4.

The best way to tour is by bus  the country folks got it right, Foster says. I talked to Tim McGraw, who was like, Yeah, we just set up shop at every show, the kids run around and its great. You walk off stage and youre in your house, rather than perpetually shuttling between hotels and airports.

The couple hope to travel with Rennie as much as they can before he starts kindergarten next year. In the meantime, Foster is already hard at work on his next musical: an adaptation of Amy Blooms 2014 novel Lucky Us. His golden-years pivot to theater is something Foster once manifested in his 2019 documentary, Off the Record.

At the end, I walk through Shubert Alley and look up at all the Broadway posters, Foster says. The director goes, So what do you want? And I say, I want to be on Broadway one day. Theres something to be said for the vision board!

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: David Foster called on Stephen Sondheim for 'Boop! The Musical'
GoFundMe; New Haven Police Department; Help find Michele Romano/Facebook Paige Fannon; Denise Leary; Michele Romano

Since March, bodies of six people have been discovered in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, police say

Three of the remains were identified and belong to women ages 35, 56 and 59, police say

News of the disturbing discoveries is fueling speculation about a serial killer - or killers - preying on New England residents

The rumblings started on social media in early April.

Posts about bodies mysteriously turning up in sleepy towns in the coastal New England states of Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts began hitting For You pages on TikTok and the newsfeed on X.

Since early March, the remains of six people have been found in towns close to one another in the three states, ramping up speculation about a serial killer in the area.

"This has serial killer written all over it," one commenter on TikTok wrote.

Social media users claim the disturbing discoveries are connected. But police say they havent yet found any links between the cases. Police are also cautioning the public not to jump to any conclusions.

I would tell people, Dont rush to judgment, Groton Police Chief Louis Fusaro told WTNH on April 11.

Given the relative proximity of the towns where the remains were found, people are telling each other to stay aware of their surroundings and report any suspicious behavior.

"I live in Rhode Island," says another TikTok commenter. "This is definitely happening. Definitely scary. And the places aren't far from each other."

On March 19, human remains were found near the Colonel Ledyard Cemetery in the seaside Connecticut town of Groton, NBC Connecticut reports.

The remains belong to a female between the ages of 40 and 60 and were left near the cemetery in mid-February, investigators said, NBC Connecticut. The woman may have been missing before that, they said.

Her remains were found in a suitcase, police said, WTNH reports.

Residents concerned about the discovery became spooked when they learned that the bodies of two other women had recently been found in two other Connecticut towns  Norwalk and New Haven.

On March 6, the remains of a woman identified as Paige Fannon, 35, of West Islip, N.Y., were found in the Norwalk River near the abandoned Grist Mill Road Bridge in Norwalk, near the Wilton border, police said, The Hour reports.

That same day, March 6, a human skull was found in the woods off Route 3 in Plymouth, on the Massachusetts coast, Boston 25 News reports. Authorities have not yet determined age or gender.

Weeks later, on March 21, the body of a third Connecticut woman, identified as Denise Leary, 59, was found in New Haven, about 40 minutes away from Norwalk, according to New Haven Police, NBC Connecticut reports.

Leary, a mother of two from New Haven, was reported missing in August. People who were clearing brush behind their house on Rock Creek found her remains, police said.

Five days after that, the body of a woman was found in the woods in Foster, R.I., police said.

Michele Romano, 56, was reported missing from the coastal town of Warwick in August, police said. Her death has been determined to be suspicious in nature, police said. Authorities have not yet said how she died.

Related: Human Remains Identified as Woman Missing Since August

Most recently, on Wed., April 9, human remains were found on Woodward St. in Killingly, the Connecticut State Police told PEOPLE in an email. They have not yet been identified.

This investigation is in the early stages, remains active and ongoing, and there is no information at this time suggesting any connection to similar remains discoveries actively under investigation by CSP or other CT law enforcement agencies, the email continued.

The statement also said there is no known threat to the public at this time.

Officials are still trying to determine the cause and manner of all of their deaths.



Read the original article on People
Demi Moore photographed in Los Angeles on Mar. 21 Credit - Adrienne Raquel for TIME

This story is part of the 2025 TIME100. Read Ryan Murphys tribute to Demi Moore here.

Heres what you already know: at the 2025 Oscars, Demi Moorethe favorite for Best Actress, for her performance in The Substancelost the award to Anora star Mikey Madison. It was a surprising result in an awards season that saw Moore win at the Golden Globes, the Screen Actors Guild Awards, and the Critics Choice Awards. You already know that this was a heartbreaking finish for a woman who was at the center of Hollywood in the 90s but never received this level of acclaim. And, if you saw Coralie Fargeats body-horror fable, you know how thoroughly Moore embodied the character of Elisabeth Sparkle, an actress turned television fitness instructor who loathed her aging body so much that she resorted to using an ominous treatment to create a younger, better version of herselfMargaret Qualleys Sue. You saw the tension in Moores jaw when Madisons name was called and recognized that losing this most important award to a 25-year-old starlet must have stungthe very dynamic of The Substance brought to life.

But what you dont know is this: Moore put her money on Madison. Three weeks after the Oscars, and after a brief vacation to decompress, Moore is cozy in a sweatshirt and glasses at her home in Idaho, her 1 1/2-lb. Chihuahua Pilaf resting beside her on an ivory couch. Reflecting on that night over Zoom, Moore says that during the commercial break right before the Best Actress announcement, she was hit with a premonition. I leaned over and whispered to my manager, I think its going to Mikey. So when the big moment arrived and her name wasnt called, she felt like it only confirmed what she already knew. I dont know why I knew, but I did, Moore says. I was so centered and calm. I didnt feel gutted. I didnt feel any of those kinds of things. I just trusted, and am in trust of, whatever is going to unfold.

Photograph by Adrienne Raquel for TIME

Order your copy of the 2025 TIME100 issue here

Which is a way of talking about a lossgracious, flatteringthat a publicist might script. But Moores apparent acceptance of the way her awards season ended rings true, because its how she talks about every hard thing in her life. She is a person who has been through hell multiple timesthrough a difficult childhood, a rape by a man her mother invited into their home, addiction, infidelity, three divorces, tabloid cruelty, and a midlife relapse and temporary estrangement from her daughtersand shes developed a way of understanding the world that allows her to take blows in stride. She wrote about it in her 2019 memoir, Inside Out; she spoke about it to Andrew McCarthy when they reunited for his 2024 documentary Brats, a movie that examined the damaging effects of the Brat Pack label; shes applying it now. Moores philosophy is that all of lifes events happen for us, rather than to us. Sure, she can admit that losing sucks. The physical, human part that has ego, of course, has disappointment, she says. It certainly would have been wonderful to have won. But she believes theres something in this loss that shes meant to take and move forward with. The way Moore sees it, a door that would feel closed if shed wona story completehas been left open. She just needs to walk through it.

Moore, now 62, has always been a trailblazer. As a member of the so-called Brat Pack, with roles in St. Elmos Fire and About Last Night, she was part of a wave of films that put the perspectives of young people front and center, ushering in a cultural shift. After establishing herself as a commercially successful star in movies like Ghost and Indecent Proposal, Moore asked for a paycheck commensurate with that of her male peers and, with a $12.5 million deal for the 1996 movie Striptease, became the highest-paid woman in Hollywood. Though she was still making less than Bruce Willis, her husband at the time, the media saddled her with the nickname Gimme Moore. To this day, she describes the label as very hurtful and quite damaging in terms of her professional reputation.

There are women now who have broken a $20 million-per-movie salary, and it's not on the front page of anything, says Gwyneth Paltrow, a close friend of Moores who, a decade behind in age, at first idolized Moore from afar. They always say when you're first through the thicket, you get all the scratches. She was that person.

Offscreen, Moore created a media sensation with a Vanity Fair cover, where she was photographed nude, embracing her pregnant bodya shocking image by 1991 standards. At 40, her body again became the subject of headlines when she dared to wear a bikini onscreen in Charlies Angels: Full Throttle, defying notions of what a woman should look like at her age. The same year, she made a statement about the meaning of family by appearing on a red carpet with Willis, their three daughters, and her much-younger then-boyfriend, Ashton Kutcher. Though Moore was more often gawked at or judged than she was applauded for pushing the boundaries, looking back, her impact is clear. She helped trigger cultural debates that still roil us: pay equity, objectification and body acceptance, the politics of motherhood, even age-gap romances. Historically, whether I've chosen this or it's just been part of my story in this lifetime, it seems that I have always been part of challenging certain status quo, Moore says.

Paltrow says Moore brought Wall Street energy to the way she approached the business in her early career. It was a kind of movie stardom we hadn't seen for a woman before, she says. Look at Julia Roberts, look at Sandy Bullock, all the way to today, to Margot Robbieshe cut a path for women to be remunerated properly for their work.

Now, Moores work on The Substance has brought to the fore conversations about how society devalues women with age. The moment in the movie that people cant stop talking about is not one of the jump scares or gross-out shots. Its a scene with Moore alone in front of a mirror. Elisabeth, grasping for a reminder of her worth now that shes seen the way people fawn over Sues youth and beauty, makes a date with a former schoolmate. In the bathroom when its time to go, she paints red lipstick onto her mouth, a finishing touch. But the presence of Sue, unconscious and glowing nearby, haunts her. Elisabeth returns to the mirror, adds some blush to her cheeks. Gloss on her lips. Shes nearly out the door when she turns back. Maybe a scarf to cover the skin on her chest. Some concealer to brighten and smooth her complexion. More blush to bring her cheeks to life. With each new adjustment, she gets more aggressive, until shes clawing at her face, rubbing her skin raw. The scene ends with her hunched on the edge of her bed in the dark, her phone pinging with messages from her date. If every horror movie has a moment when the audience screams at the protagonist not to walk into that dark basement, for The Substance, this is it. The viewer knows that Elisabeth is beautiful and worthythe horror lies in the violence she inflicts on herself because she can no longer see it.

Demi Moore in The Substance Everett Collection

There is a really interesting aspect to redefining how we see women in their 60swhat that really means, and the limitations that have been imposed upon us societally, but even more importantly, what we've imposed on ourselves, Moore says. She knows the world wants women to think of themselves as less vital as they age, but she insists it doesnt have to be this way. In fact, this is an incredibly powerful, exciting, and alive time.

That Moore would have a platform to engage in these conversations at all was hardly a given. After a tumultuous upbringing across multiple states, she left the Los Angeles home she shared with her mother at 16. At 19, she was cast in the soap opera General Hospital, at 20 she booked the role of Michael Caines daughter in Blame It on Rio, and at 21 came St. Elmos Fire. By then she was addicted to cocaine. She got clean during the production of Elmo, thanks to studio executive Craig Baumgarten and director Joel Schumacher, who required her to attend a truncated rehab program then work with a counselor throughout filming. To Moore, this was a moment of divine intervention from the universe: if she hadnt had the movie to fight for, she might not have gotten clean.

In the span of just seven years in the 90s, she starred in Ghost, A Few Good Men, Indecent Proposal, Disclosure, The Scarlet Letter, Striptease, G.I. Jane, and more. Success gave her the opportunity to reframe the traumas and challenges of the way she grew up. Would being raised in a more nurturing, reliable family have been nice, and would it have helped her develop better self-esteem? Maybe, she says. But it also might have kept her content, lacking the motivation to make a better life on her own. While I may not have realized that as I was in survival mode, I can really see I have a certain strength and drive and determination, and I had, as a very young person with no safety net, a willingness to take risks because I had nothing to lose, she says. It's given me things that, if I look back, I wouldn't change.

Making The Substance showed Moore how far shes come in other ways too. In Inside Out, she wrote candidly about the ways she tried to control her body throughout her career, striving to create a physical form that would make herself feel comfortable being seen on camera. While nursing her second child, she exercised so intensely to prepare for the military uniform shed be wearing in A Few Good Men that her daughters growth was stunted. Now shes taken every opportunity to share the message of the film, one she believes deeply: that whats most damaging is not the shame or expectations that other people put on us, but the decision we make to let those forces shape how we see ourselves.

Onstage accepting the best actress award at the Golden Globes, Moore shared a story about a producer who once told her she was merely a popcorn actress, the kind of performer who could draw a crowd but would never be taken seriously as an artist. The way she looks back on that comment now is not with anger or resentment toward the person who said it, but with recognition that it was her own choice to believe him. I gave a portion of my power away, thereby I did close possible opportunities. I limited myself, she says.

Moores friend Jamie Lee Curtis watched her accept awards and walk red carpets for The Substance with a sense of pride that hit close to home. I know what it feels like to all of a sudden have people pay attention to the same work I've been doing since I was 19, says Curtis, who won an Oscar for her role in Everything Everywhere All at Once at 64. It was beautiful to watch because she also showed up. She did not shrink from itthis bitch threw down. She came to play.

Though Moore has been working consistently for more than four decades, she has spent the past two playing less prominent roles. Now, with the success of The Substance, the phone is ringing more, and she and her team are thinking through the best path forward. To go from the beginning of this last year feeling like I was never part of the conversation to being acknowledged in a critical way for my work has just allowed me to open up my belief in greater possibilities, she says.

Moore is hesitant at first to say what she hopes the future will look like, aside from working with great directors, great writers, and great actors. I'm always careful about not projecting too much into the future. That doesn't mean that I'm excluding having goals or desires. It's just to keep me staying present, she says. She does, however, throw out one thing, hoping it might stick. Shed like to do an irreverent, slightly absurd action film with Michelle Yeoh, whom she bonded with while they promoted their films. Cynthia Erivo, another actor shes gotten to know this year, and Gwendoline Christie would also be welcome on this ride.

In the meantime, shooting the second season of Taylor Sheridan and Christian Wallaces Landman for the next few months will buy her some time. And she recently filmed Boots Rileys I Love Boosters, billed as an sci-fi adventure comedy about a shoplifting crew targeting a cutthroat fashion maven, Moores character. Demi just picks cool things she wants to be involved in, Riley says, adding that his films are not the type that big Hollywood agents push their A-list clients to do. Her participation makes this probably a bigger film, he says, because people know she's back and they recognize the kinds of choices she's making. They trust her.

The Boosters ensemble primarily comprises actors in their 30s, like LaKeith Stanfield and Keke Palmer. Some of the other actors on set pride themselves on being crazyand she'd one-up them in their banter and improv, Riley says. Shell go there. Shes just an artist in that way.

She can do this not only because shes Demi Moore and shes always had range, even if the depth of her talent was not recognized, but also because shes learned enough to embrace the moment, whatever might be in front of her. That's the beautiful thing when you really open up to how the universe really works, as opposed to gripping so tight, trying to force things to happen, she says. You really move with the flow.

She may not have gotten the storybook ending to her Oscar campaign, but as Paltrow points out, Shes still going. What Moore knows now, that her character in The Substance never comes to understand, is that with age comes wisdom, and with experience comes confidence, and a woman in the second half of her life is brimming with possibility.

Styled by Brad Goreski; set design by Gille Mills; hair by Hos; make-up by Kara Yoshimoto Bua; production by Petty Cash

On the cover:

Suit by Victoria Beckham, shoes by Christian Louboutin, earrings by De Beers

On the inside:

Top and shorts by Dolce & Gabbana, shoes by Nina Ricci, ring and earrings by De Beers and Boucheron

Contact us at letters@time.com.
A man who federal prosecutors said is part of a nationwide "sprawling criminal enterprise" called the Almighty Vice Lords Nation was convicted Monday of an attack in the aid of racketeering at a Michigan prison.

Anthony Zigler, a member of the Conservative Vice Lords branch of the Almighty Vice Lords Nation, could face up to 20 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of violent crime in aid of racketeering, the Justice Department announced Tuesday.

Federal prosecutors said that Zigler, who is known in the gang as "Footz" and "Vampire," stabbed an inmate 15 times at a Michigan prison in 2017 to maintain or promote his status within the vice lords gang.

No information was available on whether the inmate survived the stabbing.

"Violent acts in furtherance of a criminal organization will not be tolerated in Detroit or in our prisons and will immediately result in delayed freedom, because youre not going anywhere but back to prison . . . for an extended period of time, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive Detroit Special Agent in Charge James Deir said in the announcement.

The Almighty Vice Lords Nation is a criminal network that has "committed acts of violence, drug dealing, and other crimes, across the country," federal prosecutors said. The Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, reported in 2021 that the gang also provides money to jailed members and preserves power through fear and intimidation.

The gang started in the 1960s in Chicago and has used branches to spread across the country, according to court papers. The branches are: Conservative Vice Lords, Traveling Vice Lords, Insane Vice Lords, Mafia Insane Vice Lords and Cicero Insane Vice Lords.

"A common symbol of the AVLN is the five-pointed star, which represents the fact that the Vice Lords belong to the 'People Nation,' an alliance of various street gangs including the Bloods, the Latin Kings, and Latin Counts," according to court papers.

This is the department's third trial stemming from a sweeping 40-person indictment that included charges for racketeering, murder, conspiracy and other crimes, the Justice Department said.

The thorough and dedicated work of attorneys in our office combined with the detailed investigation done by our ATF and DPD partners convinced a jury to find a violent and dangerous gang member guilty of serious crimes. With this conviction, our community is safer. Our districts approach to violent crime investigations and prosecutions works, said Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan Julie A. Beck, noting the Detroit Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives helped in the investigation.

Jury indicts 40 AVLN members in 2021

According to court papers, Zigler's charge stems from the 40-person indictment that accuses members of the Almighty Vice Lords Nation of racketeering, conspiracy, Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act violations, and drug and firearms crimes.

Federal prosecutors said in court papers that Zigler told a CVL leader in a July 2017 recorded phone call that he wanted to kill a prisoner identified as F.W. The inmate and Zigler were both jailed at a Michigan Department of Corrections facility. Days later, Zigler used a prison-made knife to stab the inmate 15 times in the head, neck and abdomen, puncturing the inmate's lungs, prosecutors added.

Violence or threats of violence are how AVLN members maintain their power, according to court papers. Prosecutors wrote that a gang member approved of Zigler's kill order.

"Members must follow orders from higher-ranked AVLN leaders," federal prosecutors wrote. "AVLN literature requires that members must 'never deny [an] order from [a] superior officer of this nation. You will carry it out immediately[.]' This includes orders to commit violent acts like murder."

They added that AVLN adheres to a strict chain of command and if someone falsifies the gang's rank, they can face "a physical violation, up to and including death." Kings and Princes rule the gang, while Universal Elites run sections of a city or area.

People are expected to serve in the gang until death, according to court papers.

Dier said that Zigler's conviction proves that the "Almighty Vice Lord Nation has been crippled locally and nationally."

In 2024, three people who federal agents called "the worst of the worst" were sentenced 60 to 70 years for RICO and witness intimidation charges, according to the Detroit Free Press. They were Detroit residents Terry Douglas, Schuyler Belew and Devun Baskerville. In 2023, three more high-ranking leaders of the gang were convicted of a RICO conspiracy, the Free Press reported. Those members were Kevin Fordham and Eddie Reid of Detroit and Martin Murff of Chicago. A jury acquitted Kenneth Johnson of his charges in the 2023 trial.

Thirty-three other members of the gang still have pending court cases, according to court papers.

Contact reporter Krystal Nurse at knurse@USATODAY.com. Follow her on X @KrystalRNurse, and on BlueSky @krystalrnuse.bsky.social.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Detroit 'Vice Lords' gang member guilty of prison racketeering attack
Crystal Hefner and boyfriend James Ward are celebrating their first anniversary together with a luxurious getaway to Africa, and the former Playboy model is sharing the special photos exclusively with Us Weekly.

Were celebrating in a way that reflects who we are as a couple  with adventure, heart and purpose, Hefner, 38, tells Us of the April 2 milestone. We planned a month-long trip to Africa.

Honestly, it feels like time flew and stood still at the same time, she adds. I can believe weve come this far because weve been so intentional, but its still wild to look back at how much weve built and been through in just one year.

Crystal, the widow of famed publisher Hugh Hefner, shares that she connected with Lush Africa Safaris to organize the most life-changing experience. The couples trip to Africa included stops in Rwanda, Uganda, Botswana and Zimbabwe. In addition to sightseeing, Crystal and Ward also have been giving back via charity work on their extended journey abroad.

We donated to help build housing for a school orphanage in Uganda and had the privilege of seeing chimpanzees and gorillas up close in their natural habitat, she says. Now, were continuing the journey to Botswana to stay at some of my favorite camps with Machaba.

Crystal and Ward started dating last April and as their connection has grown stronger, she gushes about how this romance is freeing compared to her five-year marriage to the Playboy founder.

This time around Crystal admits doesnt need to always be on in a relationship.

Im not trying to be perfect or polished. Im more myself than Ive ever been, she reveals. Ive done the work to heal, and now Im in a relationship where I can show up with all my layers, and thats welcomed, not judged. Its incredibly freeing.

And while Hefner and Ward  who call themselves best friends who cant stop flirting -- have talked about marriage, theyre taking their time.

Weve definitely had those conversations  and were on the same page. Were not in a rush, but were also not afraid of forever, Crystal says. We both value building a strong foundation, and I think thats what makes the idea of the future together feel so exciting and grounded.

For now, theyre celebrating getting this far: We laugh constantly, hype each other up, and make space for both deep talks and spontaneous fun, she says. We really like each other, and thats the magic. Love with [James] feels like an adventure wrapped in inside jokes, shared dreams, and the kind of connection that makes life feel lighter and brighter.

Keep scrolling for an inside look at Crystal and Wards African adventure:
Robert Shiver/Facebook

Before his romance with Savannah Chrisley, Robert Shiver was married to Lindsay Shiver. Since their split, the pair have been entangled in a messy divorce.

Robert and Lindsay who share sons Grayson, Landon and Rhett  filed for divorce in April 2023 after 13 years of marriage. According to court documents obtained by Us Weekly, Robert cited adulterous conduct as the reason for their split. Lindsays filing claimed that she and Robert incurred debt far beyond her means to pay.

Four months after submitting the legal paperwork, Lindsay was arrested in Abaco, Bahamas, and charged with conspiring to kill her husband. Lindsay has denied the alleged murder plot.

After news broke of Lindsays arrest, Chrisley reached out to Robert via social media, telling him he was too hot to die. The pair started dating shortly after. In April 2025, the Chrisley Knows Best alum revealed that Robert broke up with her, claiming his estranged wife and ongoing divorce played a role in their relationships demise.

Hes no farther along in his divorce today than he was the day that I met him, which is absolutely insane. And thats a whole other thing, she said during an April 2025 episode of her Unlocked podcast. I will never ever forgive her for what she has put Robert and [his three sons] through. I dont believe that Robert and I would be where we are at today if she wouldnt have caused so much mass destruction. And its really caused me to sit back.

Keep scrolling for a breakdown on Robert and Lindsays divorce:

When Did Robert and Lindsay Shiver File for Divorce?

Robert filed for divorce in April 2023, stating his and Lindsays marriage was irretrievably broken due to adulterous conduct on behalf of his wife.

One day later, Lindsay subsequently filed her own paperwork, also stating the marriage was irretrievably broken with no hope whatsoever for reconciliation. She also requested that her and Roberts marital debts be equally divided since she could not financially handle the amount on her own.

What Did Lindsay Shiver Say About the Cheating Allegations?

In a May 2023 legal response, Lindsay denied cheating on Robert during their marriage. She stated that any extramarital relationship she had was done during her and Roberts separation and, as a result, he legally condoned it.

What Financial Aspects Did Lindsay Shiver Ask For?

According to a May 2023 filing obtained by Us, Lindsay claimed that Robert had cut her off financially. The paperwork stated that she and her family had an expensive lifestyle as they lived in a mansion and owned a private jet for personal and business travel purposes. Lindsay claimed that amid their divorce, Robert barred her from using the plane and that she did not have access to the funds she once had.

What Happened in The Bahamas?

Law enforcement was investigating a break-in at Grabbers Bar and Grill on Guana per the Bahamas Court News in August 2023. Authorities found a series of WhatsApp messages on a cellphone belonging to someone suspected to be in connection with the restaurant break-in. The messages allegedly included texts from Linday, which detailed an alleged plan to murder her husband.

Lindsay was arrested alongside two men, Terrance Bethel and Farron Newbold. Jr. Bethel was alleged to be Lindsays lover, while Newbold Jr. was a suspected hitman, per the Thomasville Times-Enterprise.

Following her arrest, Lindsay was released on a $100,000 cash bail. She agreed to wear an ankle monitor and remains in Nassau, Bahamas, ahead of her trial, which is scheduled for October 2025, according to The New York Post.

Lindsay has denied the murder plot allegations while Bethel and Newbold Jr. have pleaded not guilty.

What Did Robert Shiver Do After Lindsay Shivers Arrest?

In May 2024, Robert filed for a protective order against Lindsay, which was granted. Lindsay is also prohibited from contacting or coming within 100 feet of Robert.

How Was Savannah Chrisley Involved in Robert Shivers Divorce?

Jason Davis/Getty Images

After Chrisley began dating Robert, the former reality star claimed that Lindsay tried to get her involved in the court battle, which she speculated led to their breakup.

There was a time where she tried to get the courts to say I wasnt allowed around the children. I think with all the chaos that she brought her way  or she brought our way  it was too much for Robert to handle, she claimed on an April 2025 episode of her podcast. I know it was too much for him to handle. And so she got what she wanted. Its that simple. You once again destroyed another thing in your life and other peoples lives.

Chrisley continued: He says he did it because he loves me. I do know and believe that he loves me. So that sucked and I will never forget driving away from Roberts house and just sobbing hysterically in tears. I cried the whole way home, seven to eight hours. I just cried. I didnt know what to do.
Do CT scans raise your risk of cancer? A new study weighs in. (Getty Images)

Radiation is everywherein the air we breathe, the water we drink, the walls of our homes and offices, emanating from microwaves, at the dentist, and at the doctor if we break a bone. And were told, for the most part, that a certain amount of exposure is safe.

But what if some of that turns out to be wrong? It may just beat least when it comes to one common diagnostic procedure, the computed tomography scan, commonly known as a CT scan.

A new study published in JAMA International Medicine found that CT examinations in 2023 are projected to result in approximately 103,000 future cancers over the course of the lifetime of exposed patients.

And if current practices persist at these same utilization and radiation dose levels, the researchers believe, CT-associated cancer could eventually account for 5% of all new cancer diagnoses each yearplacing CT on par with other significant cancer risk factors, the researchers note, such as alcohol consumption (5.4%) and excess body weight (7.6%).

CT is frequently lifesaving, yet its potential harms are often overlooked, and even very small cancer risks will lead to a significant number of future cancers given the tremendous volume of CT use in the United States, writes lead author Rebecca Smith-Bindman, MD, of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco.

The safety of CT scans has long been debatedparticularly since what we know about cancer risks of low to moderate radiation doses come primarily from long-term studies of Japanese atomic bomb survivors or populations exposed to nuclear radiation leaks.

But evidence that CT damages DNA in adults already exists, the study points out, noting that a 2009 analysis estimated that approximately 29,000 future cancers would result from routine CT exposures in the U.S. in 2007. And since then, the number of CT examinations performed annually in this country has increased by more than 30%.

This new study is just the latest to question the safety of CT scans.

How do CT scans work?

These scans work like an X-ray, creating a window into your body. But instead of producing a flat, 2D image, according to the Cleveland Clinic, a CT scan takes dozens to hundreds of images of your body as the machine revolves around you as you are lying flat.

Its used to help health care providers see what regular X-rays cant show, taking pictures of bones, muscles, organs, blood vessels, certain types of cancer, fractures, heart disease, blood clots, bowel disorders, kidney stones, internal bleeding, and brain or spinal cord injuries.

It works by radiationwhich, simply put, is energy that moves from one place to another in the form of waves or particles, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency. Nonionizing radiation is a lower-energy formmicrowaves, radio waves, and visible lightand for the most part, does not pose harm to ones health.

Ionizing radiationfrom sources including CT scans, X-rays, and nuclear power plantscauses changes at an atomic level when interacting with living organisms. High levels can damage cells or organs or even cause death.

But, explained medical physicist Lawrence Dauer of Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York City in a story on the topic, radiation exposure is measured in units called millisieverts, or mSv, and typically ranges from one to 10 mSv per CT scan.

To put that in perspective, he said, radiation protection experts estimate that the average person in the U.S. receives about three mSv per year from natural background radiation, which includes cosmic radiation from outer space.

How did the scientists come to their conclusions?

To arrive at their projections, researchers looked at anonymous data from 143 hospitals and outpatient facilities across the U.S. as documented in the University of California San Francisco International CT Dose Registry. Using statistics from 2016 to 2022, researchers predicted 93 million CT examinations were carried out on roughly 62 million patients in 2023.

And based on the associated radiation risks, they estimated that CT scans in 2023 may be tied to 103,000 future cancersespecially those of the lungs, colon, bladder, and breast (for females), as well as leukemia.

Whats a patient to do?

While the current study does not offer patient guidance on how to limit CT radiation exposure, past studies, including an older one published in the New England Journal of Medicine, have suggested the following:

That radiologists reduce the radiation dose delivered by a scanner, if possible, and especially for children

Use alternative imaging whenever possible, including ultrasounds and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

Limit CT scans to medically necessary situations, particularly if there are no symptoms

We do consider alternatives for certain cases when appropriate, said Dauer. However, not all imaging gives us the same information. We cant replace all CTs with MRIs for example, but when it makes sense, and its justified, we should.

More on cancer risk:

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
A high-speed bride was caught on bodycam footage "racing to the altar" when police clocked her hasty driver flying down a Florida highway to get the tardy newlywed to her wedding.

Caught wed handed.

A high-speed bride was caught on bodycam footage racing to the altar when police clocked her hasty driver flying down a Florida highway to get the tardy wife-to-be to her wedding.

The bride and her dapper wedding guest told cops they were running late to the ceremony when they were caught by an unmarked police car traveling at 105 mph on the Crosstown Parkway in Port St. Lucie Friday afternoon, according to the Port St. Lucie Police Department.

The bride and her wedding guest were caught speeding at 105 miles per hour in Florida. Port St. Lucie Police Department

Whose wedding is it? the officer asked the duo while approaching the gray Tesla, according to the footage shared by police on social media.

Its mine, said the bride, who was sitting in the passenger seat, dolled up in a long white gown. The driver was sporting a white collared shirt with a black vest, according to the video.

The woman told the cop she was supposed to tie the knot at 2:30 p.m. in Stuart  but was stopped several minutes later at 2:42 p.m., the footage showed.

The delayed bride told the cop her nuptials were supposed to begin at 2:30 p.m.  but was pulled over a 2:42 p.m. Port St. Lucie Police Department

Youre already late, the officer told the delayed bride, who nervously giggled and told the cop, Were trying to get there.

Police issued the driver a mandatory court date for speeding and allowed the pair to move along so the bride could get hitched.

The cop issued the driver a mandatory court date for speeding and allowed the pair to proceed. Port St. Lucie Police Department

This stop gives a whole new meaning to racing to the altar, police wrote in a Facebook post.

Not exactly the best way to start your wedding.
WASHINGTON  The Trump administration has been accused of ignoring or flat-out defying recent federal court orders, including a Supreme Court decision that it must facilitate the release of a Maryland man who was sent in error to a Salvadoran prison.

The federal judge presiding over Kilmar Abrego Garcia's case Tuesday chastised the administration for its inaction.

Ive gotten nothing, said Judge Paula Xinis of the U.S. District Court for Maryland. Ive gotten no real response and no real legal justification for not answering.

If Xinis or another federal judge decides that President Donald Trump and federal officials have failed to comply with their orders, what action can they take to enforce them?

Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

One way is a process known as civil contempt. That involves a judge issuing an order holding either the government writ large or an officer of the government in contempt. The judge could impose daily fines or even order someone jailed until the contempt is purged, which would happen when the offending party does what the judge wants.

Criminal contempt requires charges by the Justice Department, which the president oversees, so it is a less viable option. A president can also revoke criminal contempt by issuing a pardon. Civil contempt, though, is not pardonable.

Judges are generally reluctant to hold U.S. government litigants in contempt, but they have done so. During the Obama administration, a judge held the Interior Department in contempt for imposing a moratorium in 2011 on offshore oil drilling after the Deepwater Horizon disaster.

In the 1990s and the early 2000s, both Clinton and Bush administration officials were held in contempt during litigation over the federal governments mismanagement of funds held in trust for Native Americans.

Neither of those cases involved threats of jail  only fines levied against the U.S. government.

Under long-standing precedent, the president cannot be held in contempt because the president is not bound by court injunctions against the federal government.

Is jail an option?

What if a judge decided that jailing an officer of the government would be the only way to enforce a court order?

The option is complicated by the fact that federal contempt orders are enforced by U.S. marshals. The marshals are part of the executive branch, not the judicial branch, but their mission is to both "enforce federal laws and provide support to virtually all elements of the federal justice system."

The president, who oversees the marshals, could order them not to enforce a contempt order against an executive branch official  although that would violate the law.

For the president to call off the marshals would flagrantly violate the statute charging the marshals to carry out court orders, as well as a norm unbroken since the 1800s that presidents do not defy federal court orders, wrote Nicholas Parillo, a professor at Yale Law School who reviewed data on thousands of court filings in an extensive 2018 article on contempt.

David Noll, a professor at Rutgers Law School, noted in a recent Democracy Docket article that federal rules appear to allow judges, if needed, to bypass the marshals and hire other parties to enforce their contempt rulings.

The federal rules of civil procedure, Noll added, specify how certain types of process  the legal term for orders that command someone to appear in court  are to be served. The rule states that, as a general matter, process must be served by a United States marshal or deputy marshal or by a person specially appointed for that purpose.

To be sure, a court that appointed someone other than the marshals to enforce a civil contempt order would be breaking new ground, Noll wrote.

Because of the marshals long and honorable history of respecting their legal obligation to enforce federal courts orders, the courts have rarely, if ever, had to turn to other parties to have their orders enforced," he said.

Local police and sheriffs could do the job, he added, and "unlike the marshals, these individuals would be responsible to the court alone.

The Supreme Court factor

Another question is what appeals courts, and ultimately the Supreme Court, would do with a contempt ruling against the Trump administration.

Parillos research found that while district court judges are willing to issue contempt findings, sanctions are rarely upheld on appeal.

There are no opinions of the Supreme Court on the subject," he wrote. "When the courts of appeals hear a potentially relevant case, they usually dispose of it on narrow, case-specific grounds in a deliberate attempt to avoid the bigger and more portentous issues about whether and when judges can use contempt sanctions against the federal government."

In a 1911 ruling, in Gompers v. Bucks Stove & Range Co., the Supreme Court described the need for courts to be able to enforce their orders through contempt but do so sparingly.

The power of courts to punish for contempts is a necessary and integral part of the independence of the judiciary, and is absolutely essential to the performance of the duties imposed on them by law, the opinion says. Without it, they are mere boards of arbitration, whose judgments and decrees would only be advisory."

The justices warned that without the power of contempt, the authority of the court would be derided.

"If a party can make himself a judge of the validity of orders which have been issued, and by his own disobedience set them aside," the opinion warns, "then are the courts impotent, and what the Constitution now fittingly calls the judicial power of the United States would be a mere mockery.
Waukegan Police Department Jose Luis Mendoza-Gonzalez's mugshot.

Jose Luis Mendoza-Gonzalez, 52, of Waukegan, Ill. has been charged with concealment of a death, abuse of a corpse and obstructing justice, per the Waukegan Police Department.

Mendoza-Gonzalez was charged after the WPD allegedly discovered the body of Megan Bos, 37, in a container in his yard in Waukegan. Bos was previously reported missing from Antioch, Ill., on March 9. Her body allegedly remained in the storage container for nearly two months.

Mendoza-Gonzalez appeared in court for the first time on Saturday, April 12, per ABC 7 Chicago.

Lake County Judge Randie Bruno, who authorized the search warrant and called the offense very serious, released Mendoza-Gonzalez from custody following his court appearance. He was placed on Level 4 pre-trial services monitoring as he doesn't have a prior criminal history, per Lake & McHenry County Scanner.

Courtesy Village of Antioch Police Department Megan Bos had been missing since February, police said.

Police questioned Mendoza-Gonzalez at a local Waukegan business on Thursday, April 10. He allegedly had frequent contact with Bos before her death, per ABC 7 Chicago. He later told police that he did not want to be arrested at the store, without specifying why. Mendoza-Gonzalez initially told authorities that Bos had come to his home on Feb. 19, but that she left after her visit, police said. He spoke to authorities in Spanish, with the help of a translator.

Related: Man Allegedly Hid Dad's Body in Fridge, Then Impersonated Him on Ring Camera When Cops Came Looking: Police

Mendoza-Gonzalez claimed under interrogation that Bos overdosed on a mystery drug that she snorted in his home on Feb. 19 before asking to go sit in his basement, NBC 5 Chicago reports. After returning from fixing a leaking pipe upstairs, Mendoza-Gonzalez told police he found Bos dead. Fearing he would get in trouble, he allegedly concealed her body in his basement for days before moving her to a storage container in the yard.

Related: Man Who Hid Murdered Girlfriend's Body in Garbage Bags at Ravine Sentenced to Life in Case That Shocked Italy

Mendoza-Gonzalez also allegedly claimed to have destroyed her phone after she died. The Lake County Coroner's Office conducted an autopsy on Bos' body on Friday, April 11, and did not find signs of struggle or trauma. However, the police are conducting further testing, including a toxicology report, and the investigation remains ongoing.

PEOPLE reached out to the Waukegan Police Department and the Lake County State's Attorney's Office for further comment.



Read the original article on People
It was still months before the 2016 presidential election that Jimmy Kimmel says an early warning from then-candidate Hillary Clinton stopped him cold.

The late night host was chatting with the former secretary of state on his TV program when he said her comment about Donald Trumps presidential prospects left him as surprised as when he heard O.J. Simpson was acquitted of murder, according to an interview published Tuesday with Rolling Stone.

I said to Hillary during a commercial break, I hope Trump gets the nomination. I think hell be a slam-dunk for you, he recalled, suggesting that Trump would be an easy candidate for her to beat.

Jimmy Kimmel interviewed then-presidential candidate Hillary Clinton several times ahead of the 2016 election. She's seen here with him on March 24. Randy Holmes via Getty Images

And she said, Be careful what you wish for, he said, calling that his Oh, shit, this is serious moment.

Listen, when O.J. was found not guilty, I was just absolutely shocked. I had that same feeling. I had this faith in America that was shaken, and I still am not over it. I thought that when it comes down to it, this country, we do the right thing. Thats obviously in the past, he said.

Kimmel, who today routinely lampoons Trump and his administration on his TV program  reasoning theres always material  said his disillusionment with politics has only grown in recent years.

Rather than hoping he can educate viewers who may not be paying attention to whats occurring around them, as he may have done a year ago, he said, Now I see myself more as a place to scream.

Kimmel, seen during a break in taping of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" on Aug. 22, 2016, said Clinton's warning about Donald Trump's candidacy was eye opening. via Associated Press

One such early disappointment, he said, was him feeling like he had made headway on his program in 2017 with Sen. Bill Cassidy while discussing Republicans efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act. The Louisiana Republican on air assured Kimmel, whose son was born with a congenital heart defect, that any health care bill proposed by his party would pass the Jimmy Kimmel test. Kimmel later accused Cassidy of lying to his face.

When I spoke to Bill Cassidy on the air, I thought, This man is a doctor. He understands this better than most politicians, and I felt that he was going to seize that moment and make himself a hero to Americans by doing the right thing, and I was quite surprised that he didnt, he told Rolling Stone.

Kimmel said he will always be grateful to the late Arizona Sen. John McCain (R) for breaking with his party to vote against repealing so-called Obamacare, despite it drawing never-ending scorn from Trump.

Its that unrelenting vindictiveness that Kimmel said has left Republicans fearful of standing up to Trump. But thats not to say that he doesnt think liberals also played a role in giving Trump the power that he has today.

Liberals faux outrage and use of cancel culture, particularly when it comes to criticism of comedians, is a big part of why Trump was elected a second time, Kimmel said.

I think a lot of the outrage is completely manufactured, and its like, a lot of these people who are angry arent really angry. I think these liberals whove done such a good job of viciously attacking comedians are a big part of the reason why Trump is the president right now, he said.

But the biggest reason he thinks Trump beat Kamala Harris, more than anything, he said, is that Trumps a celebrity, and its hard to compete with that.

Related...
Four students were wounded in a Dallas high school shooting on Tuesday, a school police official said, while a teacher's quick thinking is being credited for thwarting further violence.

The students were injured at Wilmer-Hutchins High School, said Assistant Chief Christina Smith of the Dallas Independent School District Police Department. She said the suspect has not been arrested, a reversal from an earlier news conference in which an official said a person had been captured.

Police have identified the suspect but were not disclosing the identity to the public, Smith said.

All four students were taken to nearby hospitals to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries, Smith said. Jason Evans, a Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesman, told the Dallas Morning News that three of the students were between the ages of 15 and 18 and that all were injured by gunfire.

Officials did not explain how the shooter got the gun onto campus, which requires students to walk through metal detectors and carry only clear backpacks. However, Smith said the gun was brought in outside of regular intake hours.

"So it was not a failure of our staff, of our protocols, or of the machinery that we have," Smith said.

Teacher directed suspect away from campus

Dallas Independent School District Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde said at a news conference that a teacher in the classroom directed the suspect away from the school, preventing the situation from escalating.

"The teacher is a very humble individual, and he was able to direct the student away from the campus so that he could take care of, first, the injured students, and secondly, to ensure that the alleged suspect did not enter into the rest of the school building," Elizalde told reporters. "So that's why I know how much more was avoided because he was directed away from the school."

Police responded to the shooting shortly after 1 p.m. local time. Students were seen leaving the campus and heading toward the nearby Wilmer-Hutchins Eagle Stadium as frantic parents arrived to look for their children.

"This is absolutely unacceptable and unimaginable but it is happening across schools in America," Elizalde said.

Classes were canceled for the rest of the week. She urged the public not to normalize the shooting, adding that students not only need to be safe but also feel safe.

"I refuse to say that we will normalize these behaviors. I refuse and I hope that everyone joins me," she added. "This can never become acceptable. We can and we must eradicate these types of situations. We must all come to grips with the fact that the solution is a collective responsibility. This is not something that a school can individually do."

Parent after shooting: 'This is going on too much at this school'

On April 12, 2024, another shooting happened at the same high school when a student was shot inside a classroom in a targeted attack stemming from a dispute, according to CBS News. After the shooting, students participated in a walkout to protest a failure in campus security, KXAS-TV reported.

Tara Dobbin said her oldest son was at Wilmer-Hutchins during last year's shooting, and that her youngest was there on Tuesday and had to jump from a classroom window after hearing gunfire, escaping to a nearby elementary school, KXAS-TV reported.

"This is going on too much at this school," Dobbin told the outlet. "Last year, my oldest son was a senior here, and there was a shooting. Now hes here with same thing going on. Its ridiculous."

Freshman Salondra Ibanez told KDFW that she heard gunshots while her teacher was going over classwork but that it took a while for her to realize what the sounds were.

"I was processing it and it went off again and it was faster this time," Ibanez told the outlet. "So thats when me and my classmates, we got up and we went behind the teachers desk and I was making sure my classmates were OK and then we went into the storage room and we waited there until we got escorted out."

Gov. Greg Abbott calls shooting 'senseless act of violence'

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called the shooting a "senseless act of violence" and said he has offered support to law enforcement in bringing justice to the person responsible.

"I offered to support the school district families, students, and staff and to provide law enforcement with the tools they need to arrest the criminals involved and bring them to justice," Abbott said in a statement. "Since Ive been governor, Texas has provided over $3 billion in school safety funding. This session, I am seeking an additional $500 million to further safeguard schools across the state."

Critics have long condemned Abbott's handling of gun violence at schools, especially after the May 2022 mass shooting that killed 19 elementary school children and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas. The governor declined to make 21 the minimum age to legally purchase combat-style rifles, like the one used by 18-year-old Salvador Ramos.

"We want to end school shootings, but we cannot do that by making false promises," Abbott said during a debate at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on Sept. 30, 2022. "We need to get to the bottom of what is really ailing our communities, and that is the mental health that is leading people to engage in school shootings."

This story has been updated to add new information.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dallas high school shooting: 4 students injured; suspect at large
A 38-year-old Texas man was arrested after police say his dogs attacked his neighbor "unprovoked," resulting in her harrowing death. The man is also reportedly linked to a separate murder case.

According to a criminal complaint obtained by USA TODAY, Marshall Garrett was charged with three counts of criminal failure to secure his Staffordshire-mix dogs in connection with the March 23 incident.

The victim, Harriette Phillips, 65, was mauled when the three dogs "broke through the shared fence in the backyard" at her Houston residence, the court document stated. Garrett did not witness the attack, but called the Houston Police Department.

During their investigation, detectives learned from neighbors that Garrett's dogs, described as "aggressive," have dug holes, broke fences, and clawed their way into other people's yards several times before. One recounted one of the dogs nipping her finger when she was trying to repair her fence.

'Doors are being shut': Fake service dogs hurt real service animals' credibility, advocates warn

A neighbor warned Garrett about dogs before the attack: court docs

On the day of the attack, another neighbor who lived behind Garrett texted him to inform him that his dogs were in Phillips' backyard, the complaint alleged.

In text messages obtained by police, the neighbor told Garrett that the dogs "are starting to go to our neighbor's backyard and now, they are digging holes on my side of the fence."

"Oh lord, I'm about to get it resolved," Garrett responded, per the documents.

Detectives accessed footage from Phillips' home surveillance system, which captured the attack. In the videos, the victim is seen in her backyard with a hammer trying to defend herself against the dogs.

"(Phillips) was walking towards the left side of her backyard, where it appeared that (Garrett's) dogs had broken through her fence," the court records said, adding that she was scanning the area.

Phillips was captured striking the fence with the hammer before the dogs "returned through the broken fence and attacked her," prompting her to scream "Help, help," per the complaint. She died at the scene. According to KTRK and ABC News, the three dogs were euthanized.

Garrett is reportedly connected to a murder case

According to the Harris County Sheriff's Office, Garrett, who has a criminal past, was taken into custody on April 15.

Per the reports, Garrett was out on bond in connection with a murder case where a 69-year-old man died from his injuries after being allegedly assaulted by him and a woman during a money dispute outside a Houston Family Dollar last October.

Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Marshall Garrett charged after his dogs fatally maul neighbor
A man serving a 45-year sentence for the September 2024 killing of a South Carolina woman has confessed to killing a 19-year-old missing since 2020.

Tyler Wilkins, 23, confessed this year to killing Jorden Nebling, who was reported missing in October 2020, the Greenville County Sheriff's Office announced on April 15.

Prison authorities told the sheriff's office about Wilkins' confession, according to the the Greenville News, part of the USA TODAY network. Wilkins later confessed to homicide investigators that he fatally stabbed Nebling, the sheriffs office said.

Wilkins and Nebling were in an on-again-off-again relationship before her death, the sheriff's office told the Greenville News.

Neblings body has yet to be found, and investigators are still searching for her, the sheriff's office said. The office did not say when he would be charged, but he faces charges of murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.

Jorden Nebling, who at 19 years old was reported missing out of Greenville County, South Carolina on Oct. 10, 2020. In April 2025, the Greenville County Sheriff's Office announced that convicted killer Tyler Wilkins confessed to her murder.

Wilkins previously pleaded guilty to the November 2022 killing of 22-year-old Clarissa Winchester, who he was in a relationship with and had become pregnant with his child, according to the 13th Circuit Solicitor's Office.

South Carolina woman was reported missing in 2020

Nebling was the first of Wilkins victims, authorities said. She was first reported missing on Oct. 10, 2020, the sheriffs office said.

Investigators said she often spent time in Travelers Rest and Marietta, and had a tattoo on her left forearm that said Live free.

Jorden Nebling, who at 19 years old was reported missing out of Greenville County, South Carolina on Oct. 10, 2020. In April 2025, the Greenville County Sheriff's Office announced that convicted killer Tyler Wilkins confessed to her murder.

In March 2023, Greenville County Sheriff Hobart Lewis let members of the public know they'd be canvassing those areas looking for information on her whereabouts and passing out missing person fliers.

Weve got reason to believe we have a person of interest who is incarcerated, he said at the time. However, we have not found Jorden herself or her body.

Cold case: Remains found 29 years ago near Charlotte stadium ID'ed as woman last heard from in 1991

Man that confessed to killing Nebling is serving time for murder

After the killing of Nebling, Wilkins was in a romantic relationship with Winchester, according to the solicitors office.

On Dec. 2, 2021, Winchester went to Wilkins home with her father to get some of her belongings, the office said. As she tried to get her items, Wilkins shot in the direction of her and her father.

Winchester later got pregnant with Wilkins child, and on Nov. 9, 2022, nearly a year after the shooting incident, Wilkins beat Winchester to death inside a home they were both staying at, the office said.

Winchesters father contacted deputies when he wasnt able to reach her, the solicitors office said. When investigators questioned Wilkins, he said he didnt know where she was. Her phones location at the time showed she was inside the home though.

When deputies secured a search warrant and searched the home, they found Winchester inside Wilkins bedroom, dead on the floor. Her baby was deceased on the bed, the solicitors office said.

Wilkins confined pregnant woman to home, killed her: Prosecutors

According to the sheriffs office, Wilkins would not let Winchester leave the home and assaulted her. The office added that he failed to seek medical attention for the recently born fetus as well.

Subsequent medical examination revealed that the baby did not have any apparent trauma and had never taken a breath, the office wrote. The autopsy of Clarissa Winchester revealed the cause of death to be blunt force trauma to the head and neck.

Wilkins pleaded guilty on Sept. 26, 2024 to murder, assault and battery in the first degree, and pointing and presenting a firearm, per the solicitors office.

Clarissa Winchester, a 22-year-old woman who was killed on Nov. 9, 2022.

The sheriffs office also said that two of Wilkins relatives were in the house at the time of the attack. The pair failed to act, call 911, or provide any other assistance, the office wrote in November 2022.

The man and woman were arrested and charged with misprision of a felony but later bonded out. The charges against the man and woman were eventually dismissed after prosecutors took into account Wilkins' guilty plea, and talking to the victim's family.

Regarding Wilkins recent confession to the killing of Nebling, Greenville County Sheriff Lewis said in a statement that his team showed a relentless pursuit of justice.

While it wont bring Jorden back or ease the never-ending heartache that her family and loved ones continue to endure, we hope this arrest offers a measure of closure in this horrific case, he said. I am very proud of the diligent, tireless work of our investigators and everyone involved.

This story has been updated with new information.

Contributing: Terry Benjamin II, The Greenville News

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia  the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Convicted killer Tyler Wilkins confesses to murder of Jorden Nebling
Should You Get a Measles Booster? We Asked a Doctor

As of this month, there have been 1,088 confirmed cases of measles this year in the U.S., according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The majority can be traced back to an outbreak that began among a largely unvaccinated population in western Texas.

Measles is a highly contagious virus that typically results in a cough, fever, and rash, but it can also cause more severe issues, like pneumonia and swelling of the brain. So far this year, 133 people have been hospitalized with measles and three have died, per the CDC.

Experts say the best way to protect yourself is to get vaccinated, which should provide immunity for many years. But some adults  even those whove had two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine  may also benefit from a booster. Heres what you need to know.

Who should consider getting a measles booster?

Barbara Bawer, MD, a primary care physician at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, told us that people born between 1963 and 1968 may want to think about getting another shot. Thats because during this period, a version of the vaccine that used an inactivated form of the virus was administered and later withdrawn because it was found to be less effective. Its thought that 600,000 to 900,000 people in the U.S. received that shot, says Bill Moss, MD, executive director of the International Vaccine Access Center.

Some people born between 1968 and 1989 may have also received just one dose of the MMR vaccine, the Washington Post reports. The CDC considers that sufficient for most adults, but experts say you may want to get a booster if you live in an area where theres been an outbreak or youre planning to travel abroad. (Heres more on where cases are spiking.)

Are people born before 1957 considered immune to measles?

Most people born before 1957 were infected naturally in childhood and are presumed to have immunity, Dr. Bawer said. Its generally thought that these people dont need the MMR vaccine, but even if you do have natural immunity, its not harmful to get an additional dose.

How can you find out if youve already gotten the measles vaccine?

If you cant find anything in your medical records, you might be able to get the information you need by contacting your states health department. According to the Post, some states and cities have vaccine registries.

Dr. Bawer said you can also contact your primary care physician to request a blood test, which can confirm if you have positive antibodies. But if youre still not sure, it also doesnt hurt to simply get vaxxed again, Priya Sampathkumar, an infectious-disease specialist at the Mayo Clinic, told the Post.

The post Should You Get a Measles Booster? We Asked a Doctor appeared first on Katie Couric Media.
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Wednesday that Mexico would not renew diplomatic relations with Ecuador as long as Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa remains in office.

The rift is a result of Ecuador's raid on the Mexican embassy in Quito in April of 2024, after which Mexico recalled its diplomats from the South American country.

Former Ecuadorean Vice President Jorge Glas, accused of graft, had been living in the Mexican embassy since December of 2023 and received diplomatic asylum shortly before Ecuadorean police stormed the embassy and took him into custody.

Ecuador at the time contended the asylum offer was illegal, because under international law, people facing charges should not be granted asylum.

Incumbent Noboa won a presidential runoff by a wider-than-expected margin on April 13.

Sheinbaum had publicly backed Noboa's opponent Luisa Gonzalez, who called for a recount. Her request was denied by election monitors.

(Reporting by Rafael Escalera Montoto, editing by Cassandra Garrison)
American Keith Richardson paid $111,000 for a house in the pretty southern Italian town of Nardo. - Keith Richardson

For travel tips, recipes and more insight on Italian culture, sign up for CNNs Unlocking Italy newsletter. This eight-part guide will have you packing your bags in no time.

A bargain-price home in a beautiful town  with a cleaner and a handyman thrown in for good measure  would be enough of a deal for many people to make the leap to Italy, but American Keith Richardson had one other key requirement.

The property where he intended to start his new life must not be anywhere near a McDonalds or Starbucks, for him two symbols of the commercialized world he was trying to escape in the US.

Once hed decided on Puglia, the mainly rural region that stretches down into the heel of Italys boot, after viewing online properties, an expat friend introduced him to an American real estate consultant living in the area, who directed him toward Nardo, a quiet town just inland from the coast.

I gave her a list of homes I like, Richardson, who used to work in the US education system, told CNN. She suggested including Nardo because I told her that I didnt want to be anywhere near a McDonalds or Starbucks.

And, after some shrewd low-ball bidding, he secured the property he hopes to spend the rest of his retirement in for barely one-tenth of the cost of a similarly situated property back home in Southern California.

The house was listed for 138,000 euros ($153,000) but I negotiated and paid 100,000 ($111,000). I put in another 3,800 euros to restyle it to my liking and give it a fresh look, he tells CNN.

It was a very pleasant surprise. I was willing to pay more, but started at 100,000 euros to see if the sellers would counter offer.

They did not.

The 667-square-foot house (62 square meters) he bought is a two-bed, two-bath home on the ground floor of what was originally storage or dwellings for the servants working in Palazzo Tafuri, one of Nardos landmarks.

The dwelling is made with Puglias typical pinkish-golden stone blocks. It came with a fireplace, three stellar ceilings, limestone walls, and had been completely renovated by the original owners.

Richardsons only major addition was a permanent roof over the patio, and strong, long-lasting bamboo privacy screens. A very small price to pay, he says, considering the value for money the house represents.

Homes in Southern California within three miles from the coast, in such a desired area, would cost anywhere from $700,000 to $1.4 million, he says.

Italys Maldives

Nardo is located close to some of Italy's prettiest beaches. - robertharding/Alamy Stock Photo

Nardo is off the beaten track, far from the crowds and unknown even to many Italians. Located at the heart of Puglias pristine Salento area, its close to Italys Maldives, some of the countrys best tropical-style beaches. Richardson says its the perfect spot to soak up seaside vibes while enjoying a less hectic, carefree life.

Puglia is definitely the place to live and invest in, if youre searching for that dolce vita coastal lifestyle, he says.

Ive fallen in love with the Italian lifestyle and domani (tomorrow) attitude. No need to worry because there is always domani. No worries, it will be taken care of domani, so for now, lets just have a coffee and watch the people promenade by.

Other plus points were the affordability and lower cost of living compared to the US, the fresh chemical-free produce on sale in local shops, and the gorgeous coastlines and olive groves.

Its reminiscent of Southern California in the 1960s, Richardson adds. I remember as a child passing through orange groves to get to Disneyland, Riverside, Santa Barbara.

He says his love for Italy originally stemmed from his passion for learning languages  he taught Spanish for several years at university before working in administration.

Richardson retired as director of research and curriculum for a high school district in the Los Angeles suburbs in 2015 and then later began to travel to Italy twice a year, exploring by rental car with friends and falling in love with the countrys lifestyle and what he calls the candidness of locals.

By 2023, he was home-hunting and narrowed his search down to Puglia, eventually choosing Nardo for its non-touristy appeal  and its absence of US fast food chains.

He says he wanted a place where everything was authentic and local, with nothing linked to mass tourism or major brands. Puglia was the obvious answer: Beautiful beaches and coastlines, picturesque cities and towns, great weather (even in winter), and not full of the tourists that are found throughout Tuscany, Venice, Milan and Rome. In fact, most tourists tended to be Italians or other Europeans. The Dolce Vita was genuine.

After almost a year of looking around, in March 2024 he flew over from Orange County and in just a few days bought the house of his dreams in Nardos historical center, surrounded by majestic churches and lavishly decorated palazzos.

A different way of life

Nardo is one of several picturesque towns in the Puglia region. - Image Professionals GmbH/Alamy Stock Photo

Part of the propertys attraction was its proximity to the main Piazza Salandra, lined with cafe terraces. Another plus was that it was located on the ground floor with a patio, without any stairs  older properties in Italys historic centers are often spread over multiple floors, with steep, narrow staircases that are difficult to navigate with shopping or other items.

Richardson currently comes and goes between South California and Nardo, but plans, once he gets his visa, to spend more time in Italy, though not on a permanent basis at first. My parents are currently still living and I do so much want to spend several months out of the year near them in the US, he adds.

He plans to apply for an elective residence visa in May 2025, which is based on a minimum pension income requirement. At this point, he will have to surrender his passport to the Italian Consulate in Los Angeles for three months for processing and approval of the visa.

In Nardo, he loves the small-town vibe and enjoys experiencing cultural clashes as he adapts to local ways of life. He now spends his days in Italy visiting nearby villages, sipping coffee in the morning at the many bars, and savoring local dishes at trattorias in Nardo, where foreign tourists are a rare sight.

Adjusting to the Italian way hasnt been all smooth sailing though. Particularly when it comes to frank conversational exchanges.

Several individuals have actually told me that theyre not being rude, but trying to save me time and money in getting things sorted out.

He says it also took him a while to adapt to local closing times  with stores closing in the middle of the day.

I still havent gotten used to shops closing and opening when the proprietor feels ready. I now just shrug it off, go for a coffee and relax. Its part of the dolce vita.

Richardsons path to a new life in southern Italy also seems to have avoided many of the bureaucratic pitfalls that some people complain of when moving to the country.

The process of buying a house was a breeze, he says.

Horror stories only exist because most people dont do their homework. Before purchasing, the consultant and friends told me about the need of a codice fiscale (tax identification number). When I arrived in Italy I was told where to go to obtain an Italian number, which is mandatory as well.

He says the real estate agency in Nardo assisted him in obtaining a bank account, which proved more difficult and time consuming than buying the house.

Banks need either your SSN (national health insurance number) or federal tax code number or both. The process took some three hours, but even now I am greeted with smiles from the representative that set up my account.

Genuine and sincere

Keith Richardson, center, with his twin brother Kelvin, right, and a friend. - Courtesy Keith Richardson

The agency also found him a housekeeper who comes regularly to clean his place and keeps in touch with him. Her boyfriend, who works in construction, has become his go-to handyman, fixing any problems that come up at the house while Richardsons away.

One big issue for Richardson has been the fact hes not allowed to buy a car in Italy before acquiring a residence card.

I really cant grasp that part of Italian law, he says. In the meantime, hes buying an e-bike and using rental cars.

Once he will relocate full-time to Puglia, Richardson says hell lease his home in Southern California to his twin brother, so as to always have somewhere to stay when he visits the United States.

He says hes looking forward to enjoying Puglias mild winters, vast olive groves, quaint towns and villages, architectural beauty and amazing cuisine.

If you havent tried a bombette, you havent lived!, he says. These are one of Puglias iconic recipes and street foods: savory fresh pork meatballs stuffed with cheese and pepper.

Above all, he says he has been won over by the open friendliness of the people, who are genuine and sincere and look out for one another.

I love the fact that on my small L-shaped lane there is a typical Italian alarm and neighborhood watch. It is a little old man that lives at the bend on the lane. He is out every morning investigating and greeting all throughout the day. He talks to and watches the gas delivery man and construction workers.

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A Mississippi church deacon was fatally shot while trying to protect people from a dispute that broke out during an Easter egg hunt hosted by his church, witnesses and law enforcement said.

Empowerment Ministries Christian Center in Gulfport, Mississippi, identified the deacon as Eddie Shed and said he died on April 12 while trying to "save others from harm" at the church's Easter egg hunt at Jack and Florence Goldin Park in Gulfport.

The Gulfport Police Department said the shooting stemmed from a "child custody dispute" and that two people who tried to "de-escalate the fight" were hit by gunfire, as well as the suspect. Shed was pronounced dead at the scene and another person was airlifted to an out-of-state hospital.

Eddie Shed, the deacon and head of security at Empowerment Ministries Christian Center, in Gulfport, Mississippi, was fatally shot on April 12 while trying to protect people from a dispute that broke out during an Easter egg hunt.

The following day, police arrested Tyran Deion Gable, 24, of Saucier, Mississippi, on charges of murder and aggravated assault, according to the Gulfport Police Department. Gable was hit by gunfire during the shooting and was taken to a hospital for treatment, police said.

In a statement posted to social media, the church said Shed was killed "in a senseless act of gun violence."

"Deacon Shed epitomized the virtues of a hero, displaying selfless courage and bravery that ultimately saved others from harm," said the statement from Empowerment Ministries Christian Center, which describes itself as non-denominational. "He paid the ultimate price for his valor, and we are deeply saddened by this loss."

Deacon was 'a hero,' witnesses say

Eddie Shed, the deacon and head of security of Empowerment Ministries Christian Center, in Gulfport, Mississippi, was fatally shot on April 12 while trying to protect people from a dispute that broke out during an Easter egg hunt.

Witnesses of the shooting said Shed didn't hesitate to protect children at the Easter egg hunt.

I wouldnt expect nothing less from him to do something like that, nothing less. He was just a hero, longtime church member Shatondria Ball told WLOX.

He died a hero doing what he does best, and thats protecting and thats loving and thats looking out for everyone, fellow church member Alexis Weathersby told the outlet. He was just a wonderful man that was willing to do any and everything for anyone.

Gregg S. Magee, senior pastor of Empowerment Ministries Christian Center, described Shed in a statement as "a pillar of strength within our community and a beacon of light and hope."

"His unwavering faith, kindness, and dedication to serving others have left an indelible mark on all who knew him," the pastor said.

Shed is survived by his wife and three children. A GoFundMe for his family has raised nearly $16,000 as of April 15.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Church deacon killed protecting others from shooting at Easter event
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker Friday in Oak Lawn Illinois.gov

(The Center Square)  The Indiana Senate has passed a bill that, if signed by the governor, would create a commission to study the possibility of a relocation of the Illinois-Indiana state line to annex disgruntled Illinois counties.

Were just signaling to those Illinois counties that Indiana is open for business and wed be happy to accept them, said the bills sponsor, state Sen. Scott Baldwin, R-Noblesville. He added that the economies of the counties would grow under Indianas low regulation, low-tax business environment.

Thirty-three counties have passed an advisory referendum indicating their desire to leave Illinois, with seven voting in the most recent November election. No county, most of which are located in rural areas of central and southern Illinois, has voted down a secession referendum, with the election results averaging 74% in favor.

"Essentially, were Illinois and Indiana to redraw their border, the matter of Illinois secession of counties would be of minor national impact, said Ryan McMaken, executive director of the Mises Institute and author of the book "Breaking Away: The Case of Secession, Radical Decentralization and Smaller Politics.

An analysis by RedStateSecession.org shows that certain groups of counties would be a financial benefit to Indiana, such as the eastern half of central Illinois with 1.1 million people, because they have a higher average income than Indiana does.

The group notes that although Illinois officials have dismissed the idea, a debt crisis could force Illinois to reconsider the option, as relocating state lines could provide an influx of cash to state coffers.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he is skeptical about the prospect of any county leaving the state.

Its a stunt and its not going to happen, but Ill just say that Indiana is a low-wage state that doesnt protect workers, does not provide health care for people when theyre in need, said Pritzker.

The Indiana House will now consider changes in the legislation before it is sent to the governor.
University of Illinois President Timothy Killeen speaks at a news conference on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020. Courtesy of BlueRoomStream

(The Center Square)  Public university officials are asking for more money from Illinois taxpayers as lawmakers raise questions about school finances.

University of Illinois system President Timothy Killeen said U of I officials requested a 13.2% increase in state funding this year over last year, or another $804.4 million. Killeen said Gov. J.B. Pritzkers proposed budget called for a 3% increase.

Killeen and other U of I system officials addressed the Illinois Senate Appropriations Education Committee on Tuesday. The committee also heard from Illinois State University and Southern Illinois University administrators.

Illinois Senate Bill 13 would shift the states funding model for public universities to one recommended by the Illinois Board of Higher Education Commission on Equitable Public University Funding.

Killeen explained why the U of I system opposes the commissions funding formula.

We have 53% of the students attending public universities, but under that proposal, we would receive only 28% of the state investment in public higher education looking forward, according to that. We feel that is an undervaluation of the role of the U of I given all of the other assets that we bring to the table, Killeen said.

According to Killeen, the equitable funding formula fails to include metrics for graduation.

Maybe its a philosophical difference, but there ought to be an outcome orientation to the overall methodology to support public higher education in the state of Illinois. That includes graduation. It includes participation in civil society, Killeen said.

Killeen said he hoped state lawmakers would see U of I as a profit center and not a cost center. He said university officials have been busy working through executive orders and potential funding cuts by the federal government.

State Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, offered a series of questions and comments about the U of I systems finances, including budget items for the University of Illinois Chicago hospital.

Youre asking the taxpayers to cover UICs hospital bed tax because your patient mix doesnt come with private insurance to cover the bed tax, Rose said.

Rose added that tuition from Urbana students was covering hospital expenses in Chicago.

In an earlier exchange, Illinois State University president Aondover Tarhule told Rose that ISU supports the states proposed equitable funding formula, even though his school would remain last among Illinois universities in per-student funding of operations.

Its an improvement, Tarhule said.

Its an improvement, sure. Its more money, I get it, Rose said.

It doesnt get us to where we would like it Tarhule admitted.

I get that. Its more money, Rose interrupted.

Its an improvement, Tarhule said.

But youre still coming in last, Rose said, referring to ISUs per-student funding from state taxpayers.

Tarhule said ISU requested a 20% increase in funding from the state this year. Pritzkers budget provided a 3% increase.

Both Tarhule and SIU President Daniel Mahony expressed concerns about the governors proposal that community colleges in Illinois be allowed to offer four-year degrees.

Mahony called it unproductive competition.
Passover began on April 12 and will continue through the upcoming weekend.

Passover is a Jewish holiday during the month of Nisan on the Hebrew calendar. It usually falls on a day in March or April.

The week-long holiday celebrates the Jewish Festival of Freedom, which commemorates the liberation of Israelites from ancient Egyptian slavery. It begins with a traditional seder meal, allowing people who practice the Jewish faith to reflect on their rich background.

What is Passover? Here's what to know about the Jewish holiday.

When is Passover 2025?

This year, Passover began on Saturday, April 12, and ends after nightfall on Sunday, April 20.

Every year, Passover begins on the 15th day of Nisan, the first month of the Jewish calendar. The celebrations last for seven or eight days, depending on where the holiday is celebrated. In 2024, Passover was April 22-30.

The faithful celebrate during the Pensacola Chabad Jewish Center's Passover Seder Celebration Saturday, April 12, 2025.

Easter: Prices too high for dyeing eggs this Easter? Try these budget-friendly 'eggternatives'

What is Passover?

Passover, also known as Pesach, is a Jewish holiday that celebrates the story of Exodus, when the Israelites were liberated from slavery in ancient Egypt by Moses.

How is Passover celebrated?

On the evening before Passover starts, Jewish people hold a special meal at home with friends and family called Seder. During Seder, the story of Exodus is read from the book "Haggadah," which includes stories, prayers, poetry and other teachings. Everybody takes part in this reading.

6 recipes and cooking essentials you need to host a perfect Passover Seder

Typically, a Seder plate is made up for the special gathering and contains six parts that symbolize Exodus. These parts include:

Beitzah: Hard-boiled egg symbolic of the festival sacrifice in spring and the spring season

Chazeret: Lettuce representative of the bitterness of slavery

Zeroa: Shank bone symbolic of the Paschal lamb offered as the Passover sacrifice during biblical times (chicken neck and beets are typical substitutes)

Charoset: Mixture typically made of apple, nuts, spices and win symbolic of the mortar used by Hebrew slaves to build Egyptian structures

Karpas: Celery or parsley dipped in salt water represents tears shed during Egyptian slavery

Maror: Bitter herbs, typically made from horseradish, symbolic of the bitterness of slavery

In addition to the Seder plate, Matzah (flattened bread) and wine are also served.

What foods are eaten (and not eaten) during Passover?

During Passover, most Jewish people refrain from eating foods made from fermented grains, or chametz  wheat, spelt, barley, oats, and rye. This means no rolls, bread, pasta, flour tortillas, or cookies.

Chametz is avoided during Passover to reflect "the plight of the Israelites as they left Egypt," Aaron Kaufman, executive director of Penn State Hillel, previously told USA TODAY.

"As the story goes, the Israelites had to leave Egypt so quickly, they didn't have time to bake their breads," Kaufman said. "They needed provisions for the long journey through the desert, so they had their dough, and they just threw it in their packs, and it baked on their backs in the heat of the sun into this flat cracker-like substance."

Matzah is made from wheat, but when it is made, the wheat flour is kept dry until it is mixed with water and immediately baked. According to Reform Judaism, it takes 18 minutes for flour to ferment and rise, so matzah must be prepared and baked in fewer than 18 minutes.

Should I say 'Happy Passover' or other greetings?

"Happy Passover" is an appropriate sentiment. You can also say, "chag sameach," which means happy holiday in Hebrew or "chag kasher v'semeach," which means have a happy and kosher Passover.

Contributing: Marina Pitofsky and Julia Gomez, USA TODAY

Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Passover 2025: What is the Jewish holiday? And when did it start?
The homicide occurred at the Comfort Inn hotel at 171 West 500 South early Tuesday morning (Google Street View/Comfort Inn)

Two men who were sent to a downtown Salt Lake City hotel to provide security for a sex worker after a payment dispute with a client ended up being shot dead, police say.

Salt Lake City Police officers were called to a Comfort Inn in the early hours of Tuesday after receiving a report about a shooting. Upon arrival, officers found two men suffering from gunshot wounds. Despite efforts to save them, both were pronounced dead at the scene.

The killings made them the first and second homicides in Utahs largest city of 2025.

It has since emerged that officers arrested three people at the scene, none of whom is the man who pulled the trigger, the SLCPD said in a statement Tuesday. The gunmans identity has not been made public.

At the scene, Kendra Mitchell 38, told officers that she was working as a sex worker and had booked the gunman as a client. When the pairs appointment was finished, there was a dispute over payment.

The Salt Lake City Police Department is conducting an investigation into the double homicide (Salt Lake City Police Department/Facebook)

Mitchell was arrested for aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary and Kevin Thrower, 56, was booked for obstruction of justice, police said. Tiffany Papach, 40, was arrested on similar charges, as shown by the online arrest records.

After Mitchell got into the dispute, she contacted Papach and urged her to send two men to the location for security and protection, police said. When Papach and the two men arrived at the hotel, they forced their way into the room.

The two menone of whom police said was armed with a handgunassaulted the suspect, demanded money, and stole his car keys.

Police have not revealed exactly what happened next, but at some point, the gunman gained the upper hand on the two so-called security men and shot them, according to authorities.

Thrower has been accused of lying to police at the scene by telling them that Mitchell fled the scene, even though an officer could see her. Later, he denied even knowing her or knowing anything about the shooting.

For her part, Mitchell told the detectives that she had told Thrower everything that happened before the police arrived. She claims he told her not to talk to the police.

An unnamed guest told KSL that they heard a loud commotion coming from a first-floor room in the hotel, prompting him to call 911. The station reported that a white sedan was seen being towed from the hotel parking lot on Tuesday.

Woke up and found crime tape curled around my door. It kind of made me nervous, to see if it was even finished yet, to be honest with you, another guest visiting from Nevada said.

The shooters identity has not been made public by authorities. The investigation into the crime is continuing at the Comfort Inn.
By Jonathan Landay and Humeyra Pamuk

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House budget office has proposed eliminating funding for United Nations peacekeeping missions, citing failures by operations in Mali, Lebanon and Democratic Republic of Congo, according to internal planning documents seen by Reuters.

Washington is the U.N.'s largest contributor - with China second - accounting for 22% of the $3.7 billion core regular U.N. budget and 27% of the $5.6 billion peacekeeping budget. These payments are mandatory.

The proposed peacekeeping cuts are included in a so-called "Passback," the response by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to State Department funding requests for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins on October 1. The overall plan wants to slash the State Department budget by about half.

The new budget must be approved by Congress, and lawmakers could decide to restore some or all of the funding the administration has proposed cutting.

The State Department was due to respond to the OMB proposal on Tuesday. During U.S. President Donald Trump's first term he proposed cutting about a third of diplomacy and aid budgets. But Congress, which sets the federal government budget, pushed back on Trump's proposal.

"There is no final plan, final budget," State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters on Tuesday when asked about the OMB proposals.

The OMB has proposed ending Contributions for International Peacekeeping Activities (CIPA).

"For example, Passback provides no funding for CIPA, ending contributions for international peacekeeping due to the recent failures in peacekeeping, such as with MINUSMA, UNIFIL, and MONUSCO, and the disproportionately high level of assessments," according to an excerpt from the Passback.

U.S. IN ARREARS

The United Nations peacekeeping budget funds nine missions in Mali, Lebanon, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Western Sahara, Cyprus, Kosovo, between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and Abyei, an administrative area that is jointly run by South Sudan and Sudan.

The OMB Passback also proposed the creation of a $2.1 billion America First Opportunities Fund (A1OF), which it said would be used to cover a limited set of foreign economic and development assistance priorities.

"Should the Administration seek to pay any assessments for the United Nations Regular Budget or peacekeeping assessments, we would look to provide that funding from the A1OF," read the OMB Passback.

U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric on Tuesday declined to comment on "what appears to be a leaked memo that is part of an internal debate within the U.S. government."

The U.S. owes - for arrears and the current fiscal year - nearly $1.5 billion for the regular U.N. budget and nearly $1.2 billion for the peacekeeping budget. A country can be up to two years in arrears before facing the possible repercussion of losing its vote in the 193-member General Assembly.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres last month said he is seeking ways to improve efficiency and cut costs as the world body turns 80 this year amid a cash crisis.

(Additional reporting and writing by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Don Durfee and Sonali Paul)
Maple syrup producer Jim Judd looks a sample of maple syrup at Judd's Wayeeses Farms in Morgan, Vt., on Friday, April 11, 2025 (AP)

New England maple syrup producers are facing fears over international trade and tariffs, adding to the usual uncertainties of a weather-dependent business.

Fluctuating trade policies under President Donald Trump are creating new challenges for an industry reliant on global supply chains.

"Any kind of disruption with our cross border enterprise, we feel it," said Jim Judd, a fourth-generation sugarer at Judds Wayeeses Farms in Morgan, Vermont. "Its uncertain enough making maple syrup."

Judd, a veteran syrup producer since the 1970s, explained the complex international network behind each container of Vermont's signature product.

From the stainless steel fixtures, often sourced from China, used in sap collection and boiling, to the packaging frequently imported from Italy, the process is far from self-contained. Adding to the complexity, much of the equipment itself comes from Canada, the world's maple syrup powerhouse.

A bottle of maple syrup is placed on a shelf at Judd's Wayeeses Farms in Morgan, Vt., on Friday, April 11, 2025. (AP)

Canada produces approximately 80% of global maple syrup, with nearly two-thirds of its production exported to the United States.

That's why this spring's whiplash is so concerning to Judd and many other U.S. producers in Vermont as well as New York, Maine and Wisconsin.

Trump backed off the stiffest tariffs on most nations for 90 days earlier this month while increasing the taxes on Chinese imports to 145% and engaging in a lengthy back and forth with Canada and Mexico about tariffs on their countries' goods.

Donna Young checks the Canadian-made maple syrup evaporator in the sugarhouse at Judd's Wayeeses Farms in Morgan, Vt., on Friday, April 11, 2025. (AP)

Allison Hope, executive director of the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers' Association, said they're assuming that Trump's latest position means there is no tariff on finished maple products for now  but the situation gets murkier when considering that necessary packaging, equipment and materials may originate in China.

It's like the weather in New England. You wait five minutes and it might change, Hope said. Now it matters how Canada makes its equipment and gets its materials. ... It's hard for businesses to run on a growth mentality when there's no sense of what the industry is going to look like in a way, in a year.

The uncertainty is arriving in a time of relative growth for syrup producers in the U.S. as well as Canada. Vermont has seen an increase in production of nearly 500% over the last 20 years as producers scaled up, new businesses formed and U.S. consumers sought local and natural alternatives to refined sugars, Hope said.

Maple syrup producer Jim Judd checks on the levels of sap in a stainless steel tank imported from Quebec, Canada, at Judd's Wayeeses Farms in Morgan, Vt., on Friday, April 11, 2025. (AP)

But disrupting trade with Canada, the maple syrup powerhouse, could be devastating. Judd, for one, said he has spent countless amounts of hours and lots and lots of money buying equipment in Canada over the decades. Import taxes could sharply increase his costs, and since syrup is, at essence, a luxury good, he thinks he can't raise prices.

We can't do this without Canadian help. We can't buy what we need at another outlet because it's all in Canada, Judd said. We've been crossing this border all my life. The recent changes we see being imposed on the people here  we're not sure that they're all necessary."
A worker holds potash fertilizer at the Nutrien Cory potash mine in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022. Credit - Heywood YuBloombergGetty Images

As the U.S.-Canada trade war intensifies one of Americas greatest vulnerabilities is an unassuming mineral: potash. As a key source of potassium, potash is essential to plant growth, boosting crop yields, and preventing soil depletionmaking it irreplaceable in modern industrial farming and vital to global food security. Without it, agricultural output would plummet, driving up food prices and exacerbating shortages. Yet with few domestic sources, the U.S. imports over 80% of its supply from Canadamaking the mineral a potential economic weapon for Canada. Recognizing this vulnerability, Ontario Premier Doug Ford has floated the idea of cutting off U.S. exports entirely in response to the Trump administrations promise of escalating tariffs.

Even President Donald Trump has belatedly recognized the importance of Canadian potash. In Feb., he lowered his initial 25% tariff to 10%. Yet Trump's willingness to gamble with this critical resource stands in stark contrast to past leaders, who went to great lengths to secure these supplies.

Potash, technically a term for a variety of potassium-rich minerals, became essential in the 19th century as industrialization drove the need for chemical fertilizers. With soils depleted by intensive farming, and populations growing rapidly in urban centers, agriculture could no longer rely solely on traditional methods for accessing potassium, such as crop rotation and wood ash. Potassium, along with nitrogen and phosphorus, became one of the three key nutrients in modern fertilizer, and demand for it soared.

Germany, with vast deposits in places like Stassfurt, quickly became the dominant global supplier of potash. Long a pioneer in chemical fertilizer, Germany backed its industry with aggressive state intervention. In the early 20th century, the government forced all domestic producers into a centralized, state-supervised cartel. This allowed Germany to regulate output, fix prices, and undercut international competitorsconsolidating near-total control over the global potash market and leaving other nations dangerously dependent.

Read More: How Trump Revived Canada's Liberals

The risks of this monopoly became clear during World War I, when Germany cut off exports to weaken the Allies. It worked. The price of potash soared fifteenfold. As countries scrambled by tapping into fertilizer reserves and using alternatives such as sea kelp, the embargo put a serious strain on global food supplies. Potash also was an essential ingredient in gunpowder, adding to the strain of the embargo.

The wartime potash shortage left an indelible mark on other European nations, which emerged from the conflict determined to secure their own supplies. For France, the answer lay in Alsacea region it had previously controlled and the location of a major potash mine once integrated into the German cartel. When Alsace was returned to French control under the Treaty of Versailles, French authorities quickly seized the mine and took over operations, transforming it into a reliable domestic source and a safeguard against future foreign dependence.

Britain, however, had no such ready solution. Lacking domestic reserves, its leaders looked farther afieldto the Dead Sea, whose mineral-rich salts contained one of the worlds most promising untapped sources of potash. The region around the Dead Sea (part of the Ottoman Empire prior to WWI) held enormous economic appeal for imperial powers; a 1929 New York Times article estimated the Dead Seas salts to be worth a staggering $100 to $200 billionin 1925 dollars. One member of the UK's House of Lords, Viscount Templeton even described the Dead Sea, Haifa Bay, and the Jordan Valley as a unique industrial trilogy, arguing that their value made permanent British control essential.

The economic promise of Dead Sea potash played a key role in Britains insistence on governing Palestine after World War I. But extracting the mineral posed a challenge. Elsewhere, potash was mined from rock, while its viability as a large-scale waterborne extract remained uncertain. Rather than take on the financial risk directly, Britain sought private investors, offering a monopoly concession to exploit the Dead Seas resourcesa move that would allow private capital to absorb the risk while the empire reaped the benefits.

The strongest bid for the Dead Sea potash concession came from Moshe Novomesky, a Siberian engineer and the only applicant with a proven extraction method. Backed by deep-pocketed New York investors from the Palestine Economic Corporation, Novomesky had already built a small experimental plant that successfully demonstrated a low-cost process for extraction that relied on solar evaporation of Dead Sea waters. His results convinced British officials in Palestine that he was the best choice to secure this critical resource.

Yet Novomeskys bid also posed a problem: he was Jewish and an active Zionist. British officials fearedhis loyalties lay more with the Zionist movement than the Empirea concern that blended legitimate strategic considerations with antisemitic suspicions of Jewish disloyalty. More pressing, they worried that granting such a lucrative concession to a Zionist would inflame Arab opposition.

To ease British concerns, Novomesky partnered with several respected British citizensMajor Thomas Gregorie Tulloch, and Victor Bulwer-Lytton, the second Earl of Lyttonand agreed to various export and production guarantees. While this reassured London of his loyalty, it did little to address the second problem. Still, the value of an independent potash supply outweighed the risks. Despite significant parliamentary pushback, Britain awarded Novomesky the concession, convinced he was the best option to develop the resource.

Read More: Why Trumps Tariffs Could Raise Grocery Prices

That decision proved economically sound for the British. Novomeskys company, Palestine Potash Limited, exceeded its production quotas, vindicating British faith in his methods. But fears of unrest were well-founded. As historian Jacob Norris has shown, Palestinian Arabs viewed the concession as yet another example of British favoritism toward Zionists and a plundering of their country's resources, fueling nationalist anger and Palestinian unrest. Britain even faced the threat of embarrassing potential legal challenges to the concession in The Hague.

Yet, despite the backlash, the government held firm and Britains gamble paid off when World War II broke out. As Germany once again cut off potash exports, Britain invoked an emergency clause in Novomeskys concession, diverting nearly all Dead Sea production to the Empire. What had once been a geopolitical riskinvesting in a Zionist-led extraction enterprisebecame a strategic advantage, ensuring Britains uninterrupted supply of a critical wartime resource. While the conflict devastated numerous supply lines worldwide, Britain had secured its potash lifeline.

The lesson? The British Empire understood that securing a reliable supply of potash was essential to its survival. So essential that it subordinated other national goals to ensure access to the minerala kind of Britain First policy. While Britains rule in Palestine is rarely judged a success, its decision to prioritize potash helped Britain safeguarded its supply.

In contrast, Trump appears willing to gamble with the U.S. supply of potash, even as major alternative producersRussia, Belarus, and Chinapose geopolitical challenges. Meanwhile, Israel, a U.S. ally, supplies only 5% of the global market, and its reserves, still harvested through Novomeskys solar evaporation method, are literally drying up.

Jacob Beckert is a doctoral candidate at the University of Washington, Seattle, where he researches American investment in Mandatory Palestine and its ties to capitalism and conflict in the region.

Made by History takes readers beyond the headlines with articles written and edited by professional historians. Learn more about Made by History at TIME here. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of TIME editors.

Write to Made by History at madebyhistory@time.com.
By Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military is set to consolidate its presence in Syria over the coming weeks and months, two U.S. officials told Reuters on Tuesday, in a move that could reduce the number of troops it has in the country by half.

The U.S. military has about 2,000 U.S. troops in Syria across a number of bases, mostly in the northeast. The troops are working with local forces to prevent a resurgence of Islamic State, which in 2014 seized large swathes of Iraq and Syria but was later pushed back.

One of the officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that consolidation could reduce the number of troops in Syria to about 1,000.

Another U.S. official confirmed the plan for a reduction, but said there was no certainty on numbers and was skeptical of a decrease of that scale at a time when President Donald Trump's administration has been negotiating with Iran and building up forces in the region.

The United States has recently sent aircraft including B-2 bombers, warships and air defense systems to reinforce the Middle East.

Trump said on Monday that he believes Iran is intentionally delaying a nuclear deal with the United States and that it must abandon any drive for a nuclear weapon or face a possible military strike on Tehran's atomic facilities.

Meanwhile, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is carrying out a global review of U.S. military troops around the world.

The Islamist-led government in Syria that took over after Bashar Assad was ousted in December has sought to rebuild Syria's ties in the region and further afield.

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, backed by the U.S., last month signed a deal with Damascus on merging Kurdish-led governing bodies and security forces with the central government.

The U.S. gave Syria a list in March of conditions to fulfill in exchange for partial sanctions relief but the Trump administration has otherwise engaged little with the country's new rulers.

Some White House officials have been keen to take a more hardline stance, pointing to the new Syrian leadership's former ties to Al-Qaeda as reason to keep engagement to a minimum.

(Reporting by Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
Kathy McCabe has traveled to Italy multiple times a year for nearly three decades. However, on a recent British Airways flight from Heathrow to Milan, she was caught off guard by an announcement she'd never heard before.

Right before landing, the pilot of her April 2 flight said the crew would spray a pesticide inside the cabin, so passengers should close their eyes.

"I go to Italy two or three times a year, more sometimes when I'm doing a show or filming, and I was just really taken aback," the "Dream of Italy" host said. "I was just really surprised."

How safe is air travel? Are planes really falling from the sky, or are we just paying more attention?

McCabe, 51, has a chronic condition known as Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), and immediately became alarmed. About 17 years ago, McCabe was living in a Washington, D.C., condo that housed toxic mold, which got her sick and triggered the genetic condition in which her body can't naturally process toxins.

"For me, it turned into chemical sensitivity, where the body thinks chemicals, you know, these toxins are all bad, and so I'm very reactive," she said. "I haven't worn perfume in like 12 years. I don't use any scented products."

As host of "Dream of Italy" and "Dream of Europe" on PBS and founder of Dream of Italy Magazine, McCabe is a frequent traveler who always asks for her hotel rooms to be fragrance-free. If she is exposed to chemicals, her throat can close, and she could experience brain fog or blurry vision, she said.

Kathy McCabe was caught off guard when the pilot announced her flight would be sprayed with pesticides.

Fearing what could happen if she reacts to the pesticides, McCabe got up and asked a crew member if she could stand in the front of the plane while the cabin is sprayed, otherwise, she'll likely have an adverse reaction. She said the crew was accommodating and spoke with the pilot, who decided against spraying the permethrin, a chemical commonly used as an insect repellent, and is used on planes to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases.

British Airways told USA TODAY it complies with the health regulations set by international agencies to maintain safe travel for its employees and passengers.

McCabe turned to social media to share her experience, which she called "ironic," given that she was heading to the small Italian town called Saturnia to heal her body in its natural hot springs. McCabe hopes to bring awareness so that the travel industry becomes more transparent about spraying pesticides.

"I think that travelers are entitled to know more," she said. "I wish they would even say something before you boarded or before you flew."

Story continues below.

Are airplanes sprayed with pesticides?

Yes, some are. It depends on the country you're flying into and its public health regulations. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, spraying pesticides in commercial airplanes has been in place to some degree since the mid-1940s.

Preventing the spread of insect-borne diseases like Zika, dengue fever and malaria by spraying pesticides or wiping down the cabin before boarding is a practice called disinsection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It can happen before or during the flight.

A picture shows the economy cabin of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner passenger jet.

Several countries require disinsection on all inbound flights or if the aircraft has recently been to a region where these diseases are prevalent. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, those that require pesticide sprays on all flights while passengers are on board include:

India

Grenada

Ecuador (only for Galapagos and Interislands)

Madagascar

Seychelles

Trinidad and Tobago

Uruguay

Other countries accept wiping down or spraying without passengers on board on all flights coming in, like Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Jamaica, and Chile.

Some countries  such as Indonesia, France, Thailand, the United Kingdom, Korea and Italy  only disinsect flights arriving from regions where these diseases are widespread within a specific timeframe. For all flights to Italy, the airplane will be disinsected if it has been in a country identified by the World Health Organization within 28 days, according to its National Plan for the Prevention, Surveillance, and Response to Arboviral Diseases 2020-2025.

However, in the United States, the CDC has concluded there is no evidence that pesticides are effective in preventing these diseases and does not recommend this practice. In 2016, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency set several restrictions, including that this can only happen when the aircraft is completely empty, with at least one hour before anyone boards. The plane must also be ventilated for 30 minutes until someone gets on.

Story continues below.

Is this pesticide dangerous to humans?

The pesticide most typically used to disinsect planes is permethrin, a synthetic chemical that kills and repels mosquitos, ticks and mites, according to Dr. Michael Policastro, a toxicologist and emergency medical physician in Cincinnati. It's also used as an insect repellent on clothes and outdoor gear.

"Simplistically speaking, its goal is to disrupt the nervous system of insects and spare humans the same level of effect," Policastro said, adding that humans have a greater capacity to metabolize and eliminate the chemical.

However, children, elderly passengers, and those with respiratory illnesses or neurological conditions may suffer irritant exposure when sprayed in the cabin. This can result in coughing, eye watering, nasal congestion, or potential skin irritation.

Some health organizations say more scientific research should be done on the impacts of long-term or high-concentration exposures to permethrin, especially for crew members. Although it requires more study, Policastro said permethrin is considered a potential carcinogen and possibly causes neurological effects.

"There's a limited amount of literature that looks at long-term exposures in low concentrations to the air flight staff, meaning pilots and flight attendants," he said. "So I think it does warrant further study." A 2025 report by the WHO agreed, stating that existing scientific evidence is outdated and that there is "scant literature" of high-quality studies on the human health effects.

Policastro suggests travelers who may be sensitive to chemicals talk to their doctor before boarding a flight that qualifies for disinsemination. They can also wear long-sleeve shirts and pants to limit any skin contact with the chemicals.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Airlines are still spraying flyers with bug-killing chemicals midair
By Stephen Nellis and Karen Freifeld

(Reuters) - Nvidia on Tuesday said it would take $5.5 billion in charges after the U.S. government limited exports of its H20 artificial intelligence chip to China, a key market for one of its most popular chips.

Nvidia's AI chips have been a key focus of U.S. export controls as U.S. officials have moved to keep the most advanced chips from being sold to China as the U.S. tries to keep ahead in the AI race. After those controls were implemented, Nvidia began designing chips that would come as close as possible to U.S. limits.

Nvidia shares were down about 6% in after-hours trading.

A U.S. Commerce Department spokesperson said late on Tuesday that it was issuing new licensing requirements for exports of chips including Nvidia's H20, AMD's MI308 and their equivalents.

"The Commerce Department is committed to acting on the President's directive to safeguard our national and economic security," said the spokesperson of the department that oversees U.S. export controls.

AMD did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Its shares were down 7% in after-hours trading.

For Nvidia, the H20 is its most advanced chip available for sale in China and is central to its efforts to stay engaged with China's booming AI industry. Chinese companies including Tencent, Alibaba and TikTok parent ByteDance had been ramping up orders for H20 chips due to booming demand for low-cost AI models from startup DeepSeek, Reuters reported in February.

While the H20 chip is not as fast at training AI models as Nvidia's chips for sale outside China, it is competitive with some of those chips at a step known as inference, where AI models serve up answers to users. Inference is fast becoming the biggest part of the AI chip market. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang last month argued that Nvidia is well positioned to dominate that shift.

But Nvidia said on Tuesday that the U.S. government was restricting H20 sales to China because of the risk the chips could be used in a supercomputer. While the H20 has lower computing capabilities than other Nvidia chips, its ability to connect to memory chips and other computing chips at high speeds is still high.

Those memory and connectivity aspects could make the H20 useful in building supercomputers in China, and the U.S. has placed restrictions on selling chips for use in supercomputers in China since 2022. The Institute for Progress, a nonpartisan think tank in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday argued for restricting H20 chips, writing that Chinese firms were likely already building such systems.

"At least one of the buyers, Tencent, has already installed H20s in a facility used to train a large model, very likely in breach of existing controls restricting the usage of chips in supercomputers exceeding certain thresholds. DeepSeeks supercomputer used to train their V3 model is also likely in breach of the same restrictions," the group wrote.

Nvidia said on Tuesday that the U.S. government informed it on April 9 that the H20 chip would require a license to be exported to China and on April 14 it told Nvidia those rules would be in place indefinitely.

It is unclear how many, if any, of those licenses the U.S. government might grant.

Nvidia declined to comment beyond its filing.

The $5.5 billion in charges are associated with H20 products for inventory, purchase commitments and related reserves, Nvidia said.

The news comes after Nvidia said on Monday it was planning to build AI servers worth as much as $500 billion in the U.S. over the next four years with help from partners such as TSMC, in step with the Trump administration's push for local manufacturing.

(Reporting by Stephen Nellis in San Francisco, Karen Freifeld in New York, and Utkarsh Shetti in Bengaluru; Editing by Lisa Shumaker and Jamie Freed)
The industry-leading AI chip designer has been caught in the crossfire in recent years as the US seeks to block Chinas use of American technology to advance its military and AI systems. - Ann Wang/Reuters

Nvidia is caught in the middle of an escalating trade war between the worlds two largest economies.

Nvidia on Tuesday said it will take a $5.5 billion financial hit after Washington placed fresh restrictions on the export of its H20 artificial intelligence chips to China, in the latest escalation of a growing battle for AI dominance.

Nvidia (NVDA) slumped 6.87% Wednesday after tumbling during premarket trading. The export restrictions on Nvidia come as President Donald Trumps tariffs are roiling global markets and raising concerns about the prospects for global economic growth.

The World Trade Organization on Wednesday said its expectations for global trade this year have deteriorated sharply owing to the battery of new tariffs on goods and uncertainty around future trade policy.

The H20 chip, released just last year, was purposefully made to accommodate stringent US export controls to China and allowed Nvidia to continue selling to the country. The model has less computing power than the more powerful H100 AI chip, which has already been banned for sale to China.

Nvidia specifically designed the H20 to comply with US exports restrictionsnow the rules change and they lost $5 billion, said Jay Hatfield, chief executive at Infrastructure Capital Advisors. So this inconsistent trade policy is costing companies a lot of money.

The H20 is believed to have contributed to DeepSeeks successful development of its ChatGPT-like reasoning AI model, R1, which was said to be trained at a fraction of the cost of American equivalents. The development stunned the tech industry and sparked an AI revolution in China.

Nvidia said in a Tuesday regulatory filing that it was informed by the US government last week the H20 chips would now require a special license to be exported to China, which accounted for 13% of sales last year.

The chipmaker said it will report approximately $5.5 billion worth of charges in its first quarters earnings on May 28, associated with H20 products for inventory, purchase commitments, and related reserves.

Analysts led by Dan Ives, global head of technology research at financial services firm Wedbush Securities, said the financial impact is small relatively, but the restrictions mark a strategic blow for Nvidias efforts to continue engaging its Chinese customers.

This disclosure is a clear sign that Nvidia now has massive restrictions and hurdles in selling to China as the Trump Administration knows there is one chip and company fueling the AI Revolution and its Nvidia, they said in a Tuesday research note.

New export rules

The industry-leading AI chip designer has been caught in the crossfire in recent years as the US seeks to block Chinas use of American technology to advance its military and AI systems.

The US Commerce Department confirmed on Tuesday it was issuing new export licensing requirements on China-related exports of Nvidias H20 and another American AI chipmaker AMDs MI308 chips, as well as their equivalents, according to Reuters.

The Commerce Department is committed to acting on the Presidents directive to safeguard our national and economic security, a Commerce Department spokesperson was quoted as saying.

Nvidia was told the license requirement would be in place indefinitely, the company said in the filing. It is unclear how the US government would grant the licenses. The company declined to comment beyond its filing.

While the Trump administrations imposition of curbs on the H20 chips was widely expected, the restriction was more abrupt than anticipated, analysts at Morgan Stanley said in a Wednesday note.

Since DeepSeeks R1 model shook global markets earlier this year, American lawmakers on both sides of the aisle jointly called for tighter export controls on AI chips.

In the months since, China has seen an AI boom, with DeepSeeks reveal galvanizing investment and pressure on Chinese companies to advance its AI sector. Investor confidence in the countrys tech sector has surged, driving rallies in China and Hong Kong stocks.

DeepSeek, along with many of Chinas established tech giants, have been major consumers of Nvidias H20 graphic processing units. While Chinese tech heavy weight Huawei and AI chipmaker Cambroon have developed alternatives to H20s, those China-made chips generally lag in performance, particularly in software maturity, according to Brady Wang, associate director of Counterpoint Research, a market analysis firm.

The performance gap between Chinese chips and Nvidias is expected to widen, Wang said, because of Nvidias superior ecosystem and manufacturing advantages, even as DeepSeeks rise demonstrates that high-performing AI models can be trained with lower-spec hardware.

Tariffs will sharply reduce global and US economic growth, WTO forecasts

The prospects for the global economy have taken a knock because of Trumps trade war, according to a new report by the WTO.

The WTO projects global economies will grow more slowly than they would without tariffs  especially in North America, a region dominated by the United States, which will see a greater slowdown than other areas.

The WTO said it expects global gross domestic product to expand by 2.2% this year. That growth would be 0.6 percentage points lower than the rate it would expect in a scenario with no additional tariffs.

In North America, the impact will be more severe still, with GDP growth expected to be 1.6 percentage points below what it would be otherwise.

More trade restrictions coming

With the escalation of an aggressive trade war between the US and China, Ives said further restrictions may be coming.

While the Nvidia news is concerning, its not a shock as we are in the middle of a trade war between the US and China and expect more punches thrown by both sides, he said.

In 2022, President Joe Biden began curbing the sale of advanced semiconductors from chipmakers like Nvidia to China over concerns that they could power its military. The controls have subsequently expanded to include restrictions on sales of chipmaking equipment, high-bandwidth memory chips and products manufactured outside the US using American technology in order to limit Chinas technological progress.

Before Biden stepped down, his administration also broadened the geographic scope of those restrictions, unveiling a global export framework that subjects countries to different restrictions in a bid to prevent advanced AI technology from getting into the hands of adversaries like China through third countries. The new rules are expected to take effect next month.

The series of restrictions have come under repeated criticism from US tech giants, particularly Nvidia, which says they will undercut US competitiveness.

Ned Finkle, Nvidias vice president of government affairs, wrote in a company blog post that the adoption of AI around the world fuels growth and opportunity for industries at home and abroad. But the restrictions put that global progress in jeopardy and threatened to derail innovation and economic growth worldwide, he said.

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A Red Crescent ambulance with its emergency lights flashing drives behind a fire truck and other ambulances in Rafah, Gaza, on March 23, in a video recovered from the cellphone of an aid worker killed in the attack on the convoy.

A Palestinian medic who has been missing for almost three weeks since a deadly attack by Israeli troops on a convoy of emergency vehicles in the Gaza Strip is being detained by Israel, the International Committee of the Red Cross said Wednesday.

The ICRC received information that Assad al-Nassasra was being held in an Israeli place of detention, chief spokesperson Christian Cardon said in a statement Wednesday.

He added that the organization had informed Nassasra's family along with his employer, the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS).

The PRCS said Monday in a post on X that until it was informed by the ICRC that Nassasra was alive, his fate had remained unknown since he was targeted along with other PRCS medics in Rafah.

The Israel Defense Forces would not confirm if Nassasra was in its custody when asked about his whereabouts by NBC News.

The Israeli military has been widely criticized after it walked back its account of the incident March 23, which saw 15 Palestinian paramedics and emergency workers killed.

The bodies of four medics who came under Israeli fire while on a rescue mission are mourned outside Nasser Hospital in Gaza's southern city of Khan Younis.

The IDF  having initially said that its soldiers opened fire as the vehicles approached its position suspiciously without headlights or emergency signals, killing what it described as nine Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants  later changed its account after contradicting video of the incident emerged.

Recovered from the phone of one of the paramedics killed, the footage which has been reviewed by NBC News shows an ambulance with its lights on and its emergency lights flashing.

The vehicle was also marked with the Palestine Red Crescent Societys insignia. Lights on two other vehicles can also be seen flashing when soldiers opened fire on the convoy.

The bodies of the killed workers were found buried in a mass grave in the southern Gaza Strip a week later.

Autopsy reports for 14 of the 15 people killed revealed that they had died mainly from gunshots to the head or chest, according to The New York Times, which obtained the results and published the findings Wednesday.

It did not obtain the autopsy result for one United Nations worker who was also killed.

The reports showed that four had been shot in the head, while at least six were shot in their chests or backs, the newspaper reported, adding that 11 had gunshot wounds and had been shot multiple times.

All 14 had been wearing either part of or their whole Red Crescent or Civil Defense uniforms at the time they were killed, the Times reported citing the reports about the autopsies. The autopsies were carried out between April 1 and April 5 by Ahmad Dhair, the forensic head of the Health Ministry in Gaza.

Norwegian pathologist Arne Stray-Pedersen, who had been in Gaza earlier in March, subsequently reviewed photos of the autopsies and consulted with Dhair to write the summary report, the Times reported.

NBC News has not been able to view the autopsy reports.

The IDF did not comment on the reported autopsy findings but said in a statement to NBC News on Wednesday that the incident had been transferred to the General Staffs Fact-Finding and Assessment Mechanism for investigation.

Meanwhile, Cardon of the ICRC said the organization had not been granted access to Nassasra or any other Palestinian detainees since the Hamas-led terrorist attacks on Oct. 7, 2023 which saw 1,200 killed and around 250 people taken hostage, according to Israeli counts, marking a major escalation in a decadeslong conflict.

More than 51,000 people have been killed in the Israeli military assault on the Gaza Strip since then, according health officials in the enclave, which has been run by Hamas since 2007.

The ICRC continues to call for access to all places of detention and reiterates publicly and privately that all detainees must always be treated humanely and with dignity, Cardon said.
Rebel Wilson sent Pitch Perfect fans spiraling as she reunited with co-stars Anna Kendrick and Chrissie Fit for a series of photos that have fans itching for a new installment.

The trio hit the streets of London late at night for the photoshoot, with Wilson posing in the middle in a camel-colored sweater over a white button-up and a pair of jeans. On either side, Fit wore a black-and-white striped blouse with a black miniskirt, cardigan and tights, while Kendrick wore a lacy black dress or two-piece set with cut-outs showing off slivers of her abdomen.

The photos were slightly grainy, embodying the chaotic energy their friend group in the films always brought.

"Yes Bellas!" Wilson cheered in her caption. "While London sleeps we roam the streets singing in perfect harmony #bellas4life."

Fans may have read into the caption a little too much, wondering if it was a "sneak peek" at another sequel.

"4 life? Is this a sneak [peek]?? Are we getting pp4?" one asked.

"We live for Bella reunions ," another gushed, as someone else dubbed it, "the best reunion."

"Iconic! ," another commenter declared.

"I love us!!!" Fit joined in the conversation. "What a magical movie moment, but in real life! ."

"My looooves! ," co-star Kelley Jakle also contributed.

Wilson previously confirmed that a fourth installment was in development, but there have been no further updates since.
Although many Caribbean islands are extremely safe to visit, that isnt the case for all of them. In fact, there are generally at least a few Caribbean islands that are under U.S. travel advisories at any given time.

For example, Jamaica  which features popular cruise ports such as Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, and Royal Caribbean staple Falmouth  is under a Level 3 travel advisory, which suggests that U.S. citizens reconsider their travel plans to the nation.

Related: Royal Caribbean quietly fixes two major passenger problems

In Jamaicas case, the major reason is crime. While the advisory specifies that tourist areas (like all of the cruise ports) generally have lower violent crime rates than the rest of the country, things like armed robberies are still rather common. Plus, health care isnt nearly as readily available in Jamaica, and the advisory specifies that if you get sick or injured, it can be very difficult and costly to find adequate care.

Even some of the most popular cruise ports in the world are under elevated travel advisories. The Bahamas, including the heavily trafficked Nassau area, are under a Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution advisory. In fact, the advisory mentions certain (non-tourist) parts of Nassau where there is an elevated level of gang activity.

However, despite these warnings from the U.S. Department of State, major cruise lines still visit both Caribbean nations frequently. To be clear, they certainly do a good job of advising passengers of what not to do and where not to go. But the point is they dont necessarily avoid areas where a heightened level of danger exists.

(Although they do make every effort to ensure passenger safety and cruise ports, as well as cruise-line sponsored excursions) are broadly considered safe).

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Harmony of the Seas as viewed from Labadee, Haiti.Image source: Daniel Kline/ComeCruiseWith.com

This Caribbean island is an exception

Haiti has been under the highest level of travel advisory for well over a year, which is Level 4: Do Not Travel. The entire nation has been under a State of Emergency since March 2024 due to political unrest. The State Departments warning says that crimes involving firearms are common, kidnapping is widespread, and that violent protests and mob killings are on the rise.

To be clear, there are no major cruise ships that maintain ports in Haiti that are accessible to the general public, or anything close to it.

However, one of Royal Caribbeans fan-favorite private destinations, Labadee, is technically located in the country.

Labadee is located far from Port-au-Prince and any other areas where violence is widespread, and is in a remote area of the country. Plus, the port itself is inaccessible to local residents and is heavily guarded by private security. In short, going to Labadee and going to Haiti are two very different things.

Labadee visits are being cancelled

Although Labadee isnt nearly at the same level of safety concern as Haiti in general, its tough to ignore the security concerns. The gang violence and political unrest in the island nation has escalated recently, and Royal Caribbean Blogs Matt Hochberg reports that the cruise line is once again canceling visits to Labadee.

More Royal Caribbean news:

Scheduled stops by Voyager of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas on current sailings have been cancelled and replaced with other destinations. Voyager is going to visit Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic instead, while Oasis will add a stop in Nassau to its itinerary.

At this point, we dont know how long Royal Caribbeans Labadee pause will continue. But its worth noting that stops in Labadee were suspended beginning in March 2024 (when the violence originally caused the Level 4 advisory) and the suspension was extended several times before Labadee visits finally resumed in October. It remains to be seen if this will be an extended pause as well.

(The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.)

Make a free appointment with Come Cruise With Me's Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel, or email Amy Post at amypost@postcardtravelplanning.com or call or text her at 386-383-2472.
Billy the spaniel is reported to have run towards troops after hearing them speaking Hebrew - Instagram

A Cavalier King Charles spaniel feared abducted by Hamas in the Oct 7 attacks has been rescued in Gaza 18 months later.

The female dog, called Billy, is reported to have run towards Israeli troops operating in the southern city of Rafah after hearing them speaking Hebrew.

The three-year-old pet belongs to Rachel Dancyg, whose ex-husband Alex Dancyg was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz and murdered in captivity.

Notices were put up after the massacre and a website was launched dedicated to finding the dog, which went missing after the Hamas attack on the kibbutz, but nothing was heard until its reappearance a year and a half later.

The soldier reported to have found Billy was Aviad Shapira, who has served more than 300 days in Gaza since the beginning of the war between Israel and Hamas.

He told Israels Channel 12 that Billy ran into his arms when he and his unit were operating in Rafah, which has been cleared of civilians by the Israel Defense Forces to become part of a buffer zone.

The soldier said that he cared for the dog for four days, then insisted on being allowed to take it out of Gaza.

Billy spent Passover Seder, the traditional Jewish dinner, with Mr Shapira and his family, and was then taken to a vet.

It was at this point that the animal was found to have a microchip implant, confirming it belonged to the Dancyg family. The dog was due to be reunited with its owner on Wednesday.

Billy the dog with its owner Rachel Dancyg after being reunited - AP Photo/Ariel Schalit

Yaron Maor, Ms Dancygs son-in-law, told Ynet, an Israeli news outlet: We are in complete shock and overwhelmed with emotion to see her tomorrow. We didnt believe she had survived.

We got the kids another dog of the same breed. Now the two dogs will live together with us. Its a miracle from heaven.

The website dedicated to finding Billy said: Our beloved Billy was the heart of the cousins gatherings at Grandmas house. We love her and miss her dearly.

The story came to light after the account of Billys rescue was posted on Facebook.

Billy, a three-year-old female, was due to be reunited with its overjoyed owners on Wednesday

She heard Hebrew and she came out

Hanoch Daum wrote: Want to hear a story? A is in the reserves in Gaza.

A purebred dog came out of the rubble and came to him. He took her and today we checked her and she has a chip.

She is from Nir Oz. She heard Hebrew and came out. We are trying to call the owner. I pray that someone will bring her back.

Nir Oz, 400 metres from the Gaza perimeter, was one of the hardest hit communities on Oct 7, with 117 of its 400 residents either kidnapped or killed.

A picture shows Mr Shapira standing in the ruins of Rafah, his face obscured, holding the dog.

The city has now been absorbed into Israels expanded buffer zone, thought to comprise around one third of the entire Gaza Strip.

At least 11 Palestinians have been killed in the military assault there since Tuesday, according to the Hamas-controlled health ministry in Gaza.

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Reviewed by Dietitian Kelli McGrane, M.S., RD

valentinrussanov/Getty Images







"Key Takeaways"

U.S. tariffs may cause increased food prices at the grocery store.

CSAs may be a more reliable and affordable source of produce during economic instability.

Joining a CSA can help your family eat more produce while supporting your local economy.







Whether youre paying attention to the news or not, higher-than-normal grocery bills have likely made you aware of recent changes in the economy. The status of tariffs is frequently evolving, making it confusing to understand how these policies might affect your wallet. Community-supported agriculture (CSA) is a subscription service to a local farm. Besides supporting your local community, these boxes are a dependable way to receive fresh produce regularlythey may even save you money, depending on where you live and how tariffs continue to affect food costs. Here, we explain why now is the time to sign up for a CSA.

What Are Tariffs?

Simply, tariffs are taxes charged on goods imported from other countriesand some or all of the additional costs are borne by consumers. For example, if a U.S. company imports a $10 product from another country on which the U.S. has imposed 125% tariffs, they pay a $12.50 tax on top, making the total cost of the item $22.50. And the U.S. shopper who buys this item at the store will see that increased cost reflected in the price tag.

So, when our country imposes tariffs, we have to pay more for goods made outside the United States. We are also seeing whats called retaliatory tariffs or reciprocal tariffs, which is when the U.S. imposes a tariff on goods from a particular country, and they impose a tariff right back. When retaliatory tariffs are imposed, its not uncommon to see U.S. companies increase prices on domestically produced goods to safeguard against future losses or to compensate for less supply and demandfurther driving up the cost of goods.

Regardless of who imposes the tariff and whether theres retaliation, the key take-home message is that tariffs have major effects on the economy, including how much we pay for food.

What Are the Recent Tariffs Imposed on Agricultural Goods?

Countries that export agricultural goods to the United States may be subject to U.S.-imposed tariffs of varying percentages. Some countries have percentages over 100%, while others have none. These tariffs have ripple effects, as anything produced in a country with tariffs imposed by the United States will cost more for us to import.

Tariffs recently went into effect for Mexico, from where many U.S. grocery stores get their fruits and vegetables. Theyve also been placed on China, which has made farming equipment more expensive. The status of tariffs imposed by the U.S. government continues to change, and the best way to fully understand how and which agricultural goods are affected is by reading recent news reports.

How Can Tariffs Affect Prices and Availability?

As a result of tariffs, farms may pass their increased expenses onto their consumers, making U.S.-grown agricultural goods cost more for Americans despite being grown in our own country. As for goods grown or produced internationally, these items may become more expensive or harder to find.

The unfortunate larger picture is that U.S. farms may fail due to the economic fallout of these changes. For example, China is the largest international buyer of U.S. soybeans, and soybean farmers in the United States are concerned that if their soybean exports decrease significantly, the financial impact could be devastating.

Related: 12 Ways to Save Money on Groceries, According to a Food Writer

What Are the Benefits of Signing Up for a CSA?

Aaron Nichols of Stoneboat Farm, a CSA in Hillsboro, Oregon, says the reasons to join a CSA are always the same, regardless of current economic trends: health, quality and community.

It May Have Benefits for Your Health

Nichols says that local farmers are very careful with their soil. He explains that they pay close attention to carefully balance the nutrients, which makes the vegetables healthier, which makes them healthier for you.

Besides the produce being potentially more nutrient-rich, Nichols points out that CSA boxes can help the whole family increase their fruit and vegetable intake. For kids specifically, he says that being involved in the process of picking up the box and sifting through its contents can make kids more excited to eat the produce than if youd just brought it home from the grocery store.

Related: What Happens to Your Body When You Eat Enough Fruits & Vegetables

The Food May Taste Better

Taste is another key considerationafter all, if a food tastes good, youre more likely to eat it. When you eat produce from a CSA box, youre eating it shortly after its harvested, which is when the flavorsand nutrientsare at their highest. In contrast, most grocery store produce has spent days, if not weeks, being transported and stored before it arrives on your plate. Two-week-old lettuce does not have the quality for your health or taste buds that fresh lettuce does, says Nichols.

It Supports Your Community

Nichols says that when you have a CSA, Youre part of a local system and community that is a little bit more resilient compared to international supply chains. We take care of each other. He adds, Supporting local farms keeps the infrastructure right here where we need it. In addition to supporting local farmers, produce from a CSA has fewer miles to travel before it reaches your kitchen, making it a win for the environment.

How Does the Cost of a CSA Compare to Buying Imported Produce under Tariffs?

Its hard to know the exact price difference between locally grown and international produce because the tariffs are in flux. Tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China could have a major effect on food prices. However, its too soon to say exactly how your grocery bill will be affected.

Vegetable quality and price varies greatly [regardless of tariffs], says Nichols. However, he adds, The best value for quality of price to cost is a CSA model because consumers are sharing the risk with us, so were giving them a better price.

According to Nichols, organic produce from the supermarket is almost always going to be more expensive than your local CSA, whereas conventional produce will likely be cheaper at the grocery store because labor costs are lower in many other countries. As for farmers markets, while the food is more local, the price varies greatly depending on the vendor.

When determining the best value for your buck, its important to factor in the overall quality of the produce. Because it hasnt traveled as far and may be grown in more nutrient-rich soil, Nichols says that produce from a CSA offers a better overall deal for your wallet and health.

Related: 5 Grocery Swaps That Can Help You Avoid Tariff Price Increases

The Bottom Line

We dont yet know the full effect of tariffs on agricultural goods. However, taking part in your local CSA can have numerous benefits. Besides being potentially more reliableand affordableduring this time of economic uncertainty, produce from local farms may be more flavorful and encourage your family to eat more fruits and vegetables. Plus, opting into a CSA is an excellent way to support your local community and the environment.



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When my daughters friends swing by our house after school, they look for one smell. Their excitement levels rise and fall based on the presenceor lackof the aroma of freshly baked sourdough bread.

My wife and some lovely friends of our three daughters have been on a sourdough journey that began during the height of the breads boom in 2020. We have sourdough starter overflowing on the counter, resting in the fridge, and proofing on the floor in the laundry room during winter because that vent delivers the best heat. Weve used the bubbling concoction to make crackers, homemade pizza with sourdough crust, and, of course, loaves that we keep or send home with friends.

Although the tangy, naturally leavened dough was popular during the pandemic, it wasnt just a fad: Sourdough is still proving its appeal. Social conversations around sourdough have increased nearly 50% in the last year; the market for sourdough is expected to grow from $2.5 billion in 2024 to $3.8 billion by 2029; and Whole Foods sold 60% more sourdough last year than projected, the health-food chain tells Delish.

Why The Renewed Interest In Ancient Bread-Baking?

Sourdough is "the healthiest form of bread we can eat," and its signature "chew and flavor is impossible to resist," says Elaine Boddy, founder of the sourdough blog Foodbod Sourdough, cookbook author, and sourdough advisor for Matthews Cotswold Flour.

Its taste, which ranges in sourness based on fermentation time and oven temperature, among other factors, offers a more interesting flavor profile than many other types of bread, and the rustic, round loaf is simply an appealing look, explains Frederic Monti, team leader of Whole Foods Florida Bake House. Plus, the simple ingredients and natural fermentation make it easier to digest than traditional store-bought bread.

"From the baking angle," Boddy says, "there is huge satisfaction in making your own sourdough, from nurturing your own starter from nothing but flour and water to baking your first loaf."

"The bacteria and wild yeast in sourdoughcombined with a long fermentation processbreak down certain carbs that are commonly thought to be associated with digestive issues," explains Delish Senior Food Director Robert Seixas . "Sourdough also tends to be lower in gluten."

Fernando Padilla, a Boudin master baker with 45 years of experience, agrees that sourdough is one of the more nutritious breads you can eat. He believes that as people learned about the benefits of fermentation while struggling to find packaged yeast during the pandemic, it helped create awareness about sourdough. "People got excited about it," he says. "I think the benefits of sourdough keep [the popularity] going."

Curious about (finally) baking your first loaf? I tapped the experts for their best advice.

Essential Tips For Sourdough Starters Beginners

Start With A Healthy Starter

Seixas says the miracle of a sourdough starter is that it takes no special training and is just about always composed of two ingredients: flour and water. The flour can be either whole grain, such as whole wheat flour, or all-purpose. However, note that whole grain flours contain more yeast and bacteria, which help jump-start the process. As for water, room temperature is ideal. Just stir them together, cover the mixture loosely (at room temperature), then follow the specific guidelines of your sourdough recipe.

Use Top-Shelf Ingredients

Once you have your starter, (more) flour and water are the main ingredients. Their quality matters. While Padilla prefers bread flour, Boddy notes, "Not all flours are created equal. If budget is an issue, keep your best flour for your starter, as that is the crux of all of your sourdough."

Then theres the water. "Regular old tap water is totally fine," says Seixas.

But as you get more advanced, you can start to experiment with different types of water. Mineral-rich water (hard water) helps activate the sourdough starter, and water low in minerals (soft water) does little to help the starter. Some bakers say you can use distilled or purified water, even though it is low in minerals. No matter which type of water you use, knowing what youre working with can help you understand how your starter will react.

Monitor Your Room & Water Temperature

Understanding how room temperature impacts sourdough making can be "the turning point" for home bakers, Boddy says. A room thermometer helps you manage this. "If you are working with any sourdough information that does not refer to your room temperature or give you any understanding about it," she says, "you are missing crucial information for your success."

Water temp is also important. Padilla says his San Francisco bakery keeps the dough at 78 to 80 degrees and the water at 60 degrees, but a home baker needs warmer water since the batches of dough are so small. Warmer waterideally between 78 and 82 degreeshelps the bread rise.

Opt For Weight Measurements

Buy a scale. "It is about being exact, Padilla says, noting that weighing ingredients in grams and ounces makes recipe building easier. Having a simple $5 scale does the trick. For example, he says that his typical dough recipe of 100 grams of flour, 60 grams of water, 30 grams of starter, and 2.25 grams of salt can be easily scaled up or down using weight. And if you want to interchange different types of flours, just make sure they still add up to your target weight.

Timing Matters

The water and flour mixture needs to rest, a process called "autolyse" in bread terminology. "This process helps make the dough more stretchy and shortens kneading time," Seixas says. After resting, the stretch-and-fold process needs to be properly spaced. "Fold the dough three times, once an hour," Monti says. "After the final fold, let the dough rest at room temperature for six hours."

Steam Is The Dream

To get a nice crust, Monti says to "use steam when you bake the dough." There are two strategies for this: Heat your oven to 475F with an empty sheet pan inside. Once heated, pour a cup of water into the pan. Place your bread dough in a different pan and put it in the oven to bake. The pan with water will create steam as the bread bakes.

Padilla suggests another method using a Dutch oven. Heat the oven and the Dutch oven together and then drop ice cubes in the Dutch oven to create immediate steam before adding the dough. "The crust will get nice and moist so the bread can expand nice and easy," he says.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Boddy suggests focusing your efforts on your dough, not your education. She believes in finding a suitable, single source to learn from and not overburdening yourself with conflicting advice. And once youve learned enough to understand the basics of sourdough, get started. "By all means, read, experiment, play with it, but right now, stop reading everything you can find," she says. "If you are new to making sourdough, you will only become overwhelmed and confused by too much available information and too much conflicting advice. Sourdough is fun, fulfilling, and endlessly forgiving. And so worth it."

Padilla says that once youre locked in on your basics, you can really start to "get fancy and get creative," mixing in different types of flour for any creation you want.

While the simplistic making of sourdough is fun, its the eating of the sourdough that brings the greatest amount of joy. Freshly baked, homemade bread is not only special to the baker but also to those around youwhether your daughters friends are streaming by after school or not.

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I spent a year visiting all seven continents, and some countries stood out to me more than others. Jenna DeLaurentis

I traveled to every continent in a year. Some countries won me over more than others.

Countries like Australia and Argentina were my favorites to visit, and I'd happily go back.

I'd skip returning to Ghana or Japan and instead visit other places on their respective continents.

Between October 2023 and September 2024, I visited all seven continents.

I had been to most continents, like Europe, several times before, but it was my first time visiting Australia and Antarctica.

During the year, I visited new-to-me countries like Vanuatu, and I also stuck to tried-and-true favorites like Italy and Spain.

All in all, I visited 18 countries. Three were my favorite stops, but there are two I'd skip on my next trip around the world.

I loved visiting Australia.

I had fun scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef. Jenna DeLaurentis

I kicked off my year of travel with a visit to Australia. I was blown away by the country's landscapes, both above and below the water.

I loved getting to scuba dive in the Great Barrier Reef, where I swam with turtles, friendly sharks, and thousands of colorful fish.

The highlight of my visit to the country, however, was a three-day stay in the Australian Outback. I was especially astonished by the cultural significance of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, home to cave drawings estimated to be nearly 30,000 years old.

Even still, I feel like there's so much more I want to see in Australia.

I can't wait to return to Argentina.

Argentina won me over in a short period of time. Jenna DeLaurentis

South America is my favorite region of the world, and a short visit to Argentina had me longing for more.

From Patagonia's iconic hiking trails to Buenos Aires' late-night dining scene to Mendoza's picturesque vineyards, Argentina offers an ideal blend of everything I love about South America.

After Australia, I headed to Argentina to board an expedition cruise to Antarctica. Before embarking, I made time to quickly see some of the country's highlights.

I explored the cafe culture of Buenos Aires, indulging in delectable alfajores, which are shortbread-like cookies filled with creamy dulce de leche. Later, I headed to the world's southernmost city, Ushuaia, and hiked through Tierra del Fuego National Park.

My short, four-day visit to Argentina barely scratched the surface, and I can't wait to plan another trip back.

Turkey was amazing, too.

I saw hot-air balloons in Cappadocia, Turkey. Jenna DeLaurentis

Turkey quickly became one of my favorite countries during my visit to all seven continents.

Its major city Istanbul was a gift to my senses. Labyrinthine bazaars took me back in time, while modern, jam-packed shopping centers were just a few blocks away.

Visiting the Cappadocia region left me further impressed as I watched a dazzling display of hot-air balloons fly over the unique landscape and rock formations.

Also, booking a traditional cave hotel is a must-do in the region  it's as cozy as it is magical. Overall, there's so much I'd love to revisit and still explore in Turkey.

However, I'd skip Ghana next time.

I stopped at Ezile Bay Ecolodge in Akwidaa, Ghana. Jenna DeLaurentis

To visit all seven continents in one year, I needed to plan a trip to Africa. Having previously traveled to Egypt and Morocco, I visited Ghana to try something new.

During my 10-day trip, I hopped along the coast to busy cities and off-the-grid beach towns. I was in awe of the organized chaos of Ghana's markets and I appreciated how the cuisine featured textures and flavors completely foreign to my American palate.

A visit to its Cape Coast Castle, used in the Atlantic slave trade, was both heavy and insightful. It was one of the most perspective-shifting moments during my entire year of travel.

Despite loving my trip to Ghana, I feel I saw most of the country's main tourist attractions in one visit. On my next trip to the African continent, I might visit somewhere like Tanzania or South Africa instead.

If I'm in Asia, I'd rather go back to South Korea instead of Japan.

I rode a bicycle around Osaka in Japan. Jenna DeLaurentis

I had high expectations for my trip to Japan, but I think I'd skip the country next time I head to Asia.

My final trip of the year was to South Korea and Japan, where I traveled by bicycle to lesser-visited regions of each country. After over 600 miles of riding, I found I preferred South Korea to the latter.

Not only did I think South Korea had better bicycle infrastructure, with car-free bike paths spanning much of the country, but also I preferred the country's cuisine, weather, and culture.

Japan's temples and cities were awe-inspiring, but the oppressive summer heat made exploring miserable.

Additionally, as a vegetarian, I found the country's cuisine options limited as many focused on fresh seafood. On the contrary, I loved South Korea's spicy dishes and communal dining culture.

I'm not opposed to visiting Japan again in the future, although certainly not in the summer. Regardless, I'd probably pick South Korea instead if I'm in Asia.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A federal judge has found probable cause that the Trump administration acted in contempt of court when officials last month defied his order to turn around two planes carrying alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador.

The administration's "willful disobedience of judicial orders" without consequences would make "a solemn mockery" of "the Constitution itself," U.S. District Judge James Boasberg wrote Wednesday.

Boasberg last month ordered that the government turn around two flights carrying more than 200 alleged Tren de Aragua members to El Salvador after the Trump administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act -- a wartime authority used to deport noncitizens with little-to-no due process -- by arguing that the gang is a "hybrid criminal state" that is invading the United States.

MORE: Judge Boasberg says he's contemplating 'contempt proceedings' over Trump deportations

Authorities failed to turn the flights around, but have insisted that they "complied with the law" while questioning the legitimacy of Boasberg's order. According to the DOJ, Boasberg's oral instructions directing the flight to be returned were defective, and his subsequent written order lacked the necessary explanation to be enforced.

Boasberg faulted the Trump administration for conducting a "hurried removal operation" on March 15 and 16 in the hours after he issued an order blocking the deportations and ordering the men returned to the United States.

"As this Opinion will detail, the Court ultimately determines that the Government's actions on that day demonstrate a willful disregard for its Order," he wrote.

Boasberg noted that he gave the Trump administration "ample opportunity to rectify or explain their actions" yet "none of their responses has been satisfactory."

The Department of Justice is appealing Boasberg's decision.

In a statement earlier Wednesday, a DOJ spokesperson said: "The Supreme Court ruled that Judge Boasberg has no right to seize control of the President's authority to conduct foreign policy  he should have never issued his order. His underhanded attempt to maintain power over this case is a judicial power grab that the Department of Justice will fight by all means necessary."

PHOTO: President Donald Trump in Washington, April 14, 2025 and James Boasberg, chief judge of the US District Court for the District of Columbia. (AFP via Getty Images/Reuters)

While the Supreme Court ultimately vacated his court order, Judge Boasberg concluded that the Trump administration still defied the order during the three weeks it was in effect, even if the order suffered from a "legal defect."

"The Constitution does not tolerate willful disobedience of judicial orders -- especially by officials of a coordinate branch who have sworn an oath to uphold it. To permit such officials to freely 'annul the judgments of the courts of the United States' would not just 'destroy the rights acquired under those judgments'; it would make 'a solemn mockery' of 'the constitution itself,'" he wrote.

Boasberg gave the Trump Administration a one-week deadline to file "a declaration explaining the steps they have taken and will take to do so."

The way to "purge" the potential finding of contempt, Boasberg said, would be to obey his initial order.

"The most obvious way for Defendants to do so here is by asserting custody of the individuals who were removed in violation of the Court's classwide TRO so that they might avail themselves of their right to challenge their removability through a habeas proceeding," Boasberg wrote, referring to the temporary restraining order he issued.

PHOTO: U.S. military personnel escort an alleged member of the gang Venezuelan Tren de Aragua and the MS-13 gang to be imprisoned at the CECOT prison, at the El Salvador International Airport in San Luis Talpa, El Salvador April 12, 2025. (Secom/via Reuters)

"Per the terms of the TRO, the Government would not need to release any of those individuals, nor would it need to transport them back to the homeland. The Court will also give Defendants an opportunity to propose other methods of coming into compliance, which the Court will evaluate."

MORE: Judge Boasberg cancels hearing on Trump deportations after Supreme Court ruling

If the Trump Administration does not wish to purge Boasberg's contempt finding, the judge said he will "proceed to identify the individual(s) responsible for the contumacious conduct by determining whose "specific act or omission" caused the noncompliance."

Boasberg said he will begin by requiring declarations from the government, and if those prove to be unsatisfactory, he will "proceed either to hearings with live witness testimony under oath or to depositions conducted by Plaintiffs."

As a final potential step, Boasberg raised the prospect that he could appoint an independent attorney to prosecute the government for its contempt.

"The next step would be for the Court, pursuant to the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, to request that the contempt be prosecuted by an attorney for the government," Boasberg wrote.

If the Government "declines" or "the interest of justice requires," the Court will "appoint another attorney to prosecute the contempt," he wrote.

In a separate filing Wednesday evening, lawyers with the ACLU representing the noncitizens removed to El Salvador urged Judge Boasberg to keep the case in D.C. following the Supreme Court's ruling that effectively threw out the case.

They asked Judge Boasberg to issue a nationwide order that requires the Trump administration to provide 30-days' notice before attempting to remove anyone else under the Alien Enemies Act. They argued the relief is urgent because some noncitizens might be deported with less than a day's notice, "making it virtually impossible" for them to challenge their removal.

In its 5-4 decision earlier this month, the Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration could resume deportations of alleged Venezuelan gang members under the Alien Enemies Act, but said detainees must be given due process to challenge their removal.

"This Court continues to have jurisdiction over all class members' claims that adequate notice is required under the Supreme Court's ruling, the AEA, and due processwhether those individuals are in immigration custody, in criminal custody, or not detained," the ACLU lawyers wrote.

They also plan to refile more than a hundred habeas claims in D.C. for the men who were deported on March 15, according to the filing.

Trump administration likely acted in contempt of court by not turning around deportation flights, judge says originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
American pastor Josh Sullivan was rescued Tuesday amid a shootout between South African police and his captors that left three suspects dead, authorities said Wednesday. Sullivan, originally from Tennessee, was abducted at gunpoint during a prayer meeting at his church in South Africa on the evening of April 10.

According to a statement issued by the the South African Police Service, a specialized unit dedicated to serious crime, known as the Hawks, they led the operation to rescue the 45-year-old.

The American was abducted from his Fellowship Baptist Church in Motherwell Township, outside the coastal city of Gqeberha, and was rescued from a safehouse being used by his captors in that city.

"The operation followed verified intelligence wherein a coordinated team (of several police units) moved swiftly to the identified location," police said. "As officers approached the house, they observed a vehicle on the premises. The suspects inside the vehicle upon seeing law enforcement allegedly attempted to flee and opened fire on the team. The officers responded with tactical precision, leading to a high-intensity shootout in which three unidentified suspects were fatally wounded."

Pastor Josh Sullivan in an undated photo. / Credit: Fellowship Baptist Church

Police said Sullivan was discovered in the same vehicle and "miraculously unharmed, he was immediately assessed by medical personnel and is currently in an excellent condition."

Police have said that four armed, masked male suspects entered the church on Thursday, stole two cellphones and then abducted Sullivan, in his car, a Toyota Fortuner, which was found a short time later in Motherwell.

Rev. Jeremy Hall, a local pastor, told French news agency AFP that Sullivan's abduction was likely "financially related."

Police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge told AFP that cases are typically turned over to the Hawks unit when ransoms are demanded. Kidnappings, including by criminal gangs taking people they think can command large ransoms, have increased in South Africa in recent years.

Sullivan was holding a prayer meeting with about 30 people, including his wife and six children, when the armed kidnappers entered his church, Hall said.

Sullivan arrived in South Africa with his family from Tennessee in November 2018, according to his personal website.

"We are looking to finish language school soon and plant a church to the Xhosa speaking people," he wrote on the site.

Sullivan has been on the staff at Fellowship Baptist Church in Maryville, Tennessee, since February of 2012, according to the website.

Sullivan's wife Megan released a statement through a family spokesperson on Saturday thanking people for "the outpouring of love and prayers."

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Fellowship Baptist Church/Facebook US pastor Josh Sullivan

A U.S. pastor who was allegedly kidnapped by a group of armed during a church service in South Africa has been rescued

Missionary Josh Sullivan, 45, was found in a vehicle at a safe house on April 15, five days after he was believed to have gone missing

The South African Police Service said the pastor was rescued following a "high-intensity shoot-out" that left three dead

A U.S. pastor who was allegedly kidnapped by multiple armed men during a service at his church in South Africa has been rescued, according to local police.

Missionary Josh Sullivan, 45, was found in a vehicle at a safe house in the city of Gqeberha on Tuesday, April 15. PEOPLE previously reported he was believed to have been abducted on the evening of April 10 at the Fellowship Baptist Church in Motherwell, outside of Gqeberha.

In a statement released on April 16, the South African Police Service (SAPS) said the pastor was rescued following a "high-intensity shoot-out" that left three unidentified suspects dead.

Authorities said officers approached the safe house where Sullivan was allegedly being held and spotted a vehicle on the premises, per the statement.

The suspects inside the vehicle, upon seeing law enforcement, allegedly attempted to flee and opened fire on the team, the SAPS said. The officers responded with tactical precision, leading to a high-intensity shootout in which three unidentified suspects were fatally wounded.

Fellowship Baptist Church/Facebook US pastor Josh Sullivan and his family

After being found miraculously unharmed in the vehicle, Sullivan was immediately assessed by medical personnel" and is currently in "excellent condition.

As investigations continue, we respectfully request privacy for the victim and his family as they navigate this period of recovery, the statement added.

The BBC and AFP (via CBS News), citing local police in South Africa, reported that the alleged kidnapping took place when "four armed and masked male suspects entered" the church during a sermon.

Police spokesman Captain Andre Beetge told the BBC that the men allegedly stole two phones before fleeing the scene in Sullivan's silver Toyota Fortuner. Police later found the vehicle abandoned with no trace of Sullivan.

Rev. Jeremy Hall, a pastor in the same city, told AFP (via CBS News) that the alleged kidnapping was likely "financially" motivated. He claimed it took place during a prayer meeting attended by about 30 people, including Sullivan's wife and six kids.

"They knew him by name," Hall said of the men who allegedly kidnapped Sullivan.

Getty Gqeberha, South Africa

On April 10, Tennessee-based Fellowship Baptist Church shared a Facebook post asking for prayers for Sullivan.

"Please pray for Josh Sullivan, missionary to South Africa," the church wrote in a statement. "He was kidnapped at gunpoint by six men during their church service this evening."

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.

This was followed by a post in the early hours of April 16 commenting on Sullivans rescue.

Praise the Lord! the church wrote as they reshared a post from Tom Hatley, a pastor at Fellowship Baptist Church in Tennessee.

Josh has been released, Hatley wrote. Thank you for your support and prayers. Please do not stop praying for the Sullivans.

PEOPLE previously reported Sullivan has been on staff at the Fellowship Baptist Church since February 2012, training under Hatley. The following year, he "accepted the call to go the mission field in South Africa," before arriving in November 2018, the church said in a social media post.



Read the original article on People
TAIPEI (Reuters) - Three U.S. senators are visiting Taiwan this week and will discuss trade and other issues with President Lai Ching-te, a trip that comes as Taipei pushes ahead with tariff talks with Washington.

The American Institute in Taiwan, the de facto U.S. embassy in Taipei, said in a statement on Wednesday that two Republican senators, Pete Ricketts and Ted Budd, along with a Democrat senator, Chris Coons, were visiting until Saturday as part of a broader visit to the region.

While U.S. lawmakers regularly visit the island, this is the first since President Donald Trump took office in January.

Taiwan, which had been due to be hit with 32% levies as part of Trump's now paused tariff regime, held its first round of direct talks with U.S. officials last week to discuss the issue.

"The delegation will engage in a series of high-level meetings with senior Taiwan leaders to discuss U.S.-Taiwan relations, regional security, trade and investment, and other significant issues of mutual interest," the institute said.

"Their visit underscores the United States' commitment to its partnership with Taiwan and reaffirms our shared commitment to strengthening a Free and Open Indo-Pacific."

The United States is Taiwan's most important international backer and arms supplier, despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties.

Taiwan's foreign ministry said the senators will meet with Lai and other senior leaders to discuss the "close partnership" between Taiwan and the United States, the security situation in the Taiwan Strait and strengthening of security in the Indo-Pacific.

Ricketts is chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Edwina Gibbs)
A view of an elephant near a fishing village. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

On a three-week trip to East Africa, I mainly experienced safaris by vehicle.

One afternoon in Uganda, I swapped the safari truck for a boat.

It was an unexpected highlight of the trip and offered new perspectives on animals.

Within an hour in Tanzania's Serengeti National Park, I witnessed a giraffe's treacherous water crossing. Minutes later, I was a few feet away from a male lion with a shaggy mane.

These were the moments I had dreamed of.

For years, these dreams were limited to a traditional safari. I pictured myself bumping along on dirt roads in an open-air vehicle, searching for zebras, elephants, and rhinos.

One of the most unexpected highlights of a three-week safari trip wasn't in a safari vehicle. It was on a boat.

The boat the reporter boarded for a safari cruise. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

I spent an afternoon in Uganda on a safari cruise

After a week in Tanzania, I headed to Uganda for a safari with the outfitter Volcanoes Safaris. The focus of the weeklong trip was gorilla trekking at Bwindi Lodge and chimpanzee trekking near Kibale Lodge.

Tucked into my itinerary was a cruise through the Kazinga Channel, a 20-mile-long channel that links Uganda's Lake Edward and Lake George.

It was a nice break from the safari vehicle. I was on week three of enjoying "African massages," a joke you'll hear from nearly every guide about how the bumpy rides mimic a vibrating massage chair.

For one afternoon, I got to float on the King Fisher, a Sun Tracker pontoon. The experience was booked through Volcanoes Safaris with Mweya Safari Lodge, where a private cruise for two people costs $210 per person. (Business Insider received complimentary admission to the cruise.)

After settling into comfy leather chairs, we left the dock and adventured out.

Two elephants in the distance while the reporter sits on a boat. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

We cruised while spotting new animals in a new environment

Floating on the water offered a new perspective compared to driving through open plains and bushy areas.

If you're on a safari around the Serengeti National Park, you might be limited to staying on designated roads, waiting in traffic for an opportunity to view animals, and watching animals quickly disappear behind foliage.

That wasn't the case in the water. There was no traffic or waiting. We had the whole channel to explore. During the three-hour experience, I spotted one other safari cruise, and sure, animals could disappear beneath the water's surface, but they eventually had to pop back up.

Plus, seeing animals in a new habitat was thrilling. I watched an elephant bathing in shallow waters a few hundred feet away from a small fishing village. I watched baby hippos swim and hide from our enormous boat. There were crocodiles  a creature I hadn't seen yet  and unfamiliar reptiles and birds I had yet to spot.

A hippo in Uganda. Monica Humphries/Business Insider

A safari is more than just a drive

While a traditional game drive is a quintessential element of a safari vacation, the cruise was a refreshing reminder that it can involve more than just a vehicle.

During my three weeks, I traveled in the bush on foot, by boat, and by car. Each experience provided new perspectives, new animal sightings, and a new appreciation for these valuable ecosystems.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Six organisations in the border town of Moreh have asked residents not to give up their land for the construction of a border fence. The project by the central government, backed by ethnic Meitei, would mark the end of the free movement regime for tribal populations. Protests break out in Nagaland as well, where the Naga fear a new division of their land.

Imphal (AsiaNews)  Kuki organisations in Manipur have asked border residents to refuse to give their land to build a fence with Myanmar.

On Monday, at least six groups in the border town of Moreh (scene of past intercommunal violence) issued a public appeal against plans by the Indian government a border fence, saying that the structure threatens the lifestyle and culture of local communities on both sides of the border, the Deccan Herald reports.

The groups also rejected allegations that Kukis are illegal migrants from Myanmar.

Moreh is located in Tengnoupal district, a strategic area on the border with Myanmar and a long-standing major hub for cross-border trade.

Tensions remain high in the town since the imposition of the Presidents rule on the northeastern state of Manipur following the outbreak of violence in 2023 pitting predominantly Catholic Kuki and the mostly Hindu Meitei (who are the largest ethnic group in the state).

The Indian government is investing more than 300 billion rupees to build the barrier along the 1,643 kilometres of the Indo-Burmese border line.

The project, proposed following the Meitei's requests, also provides for the cancellation of the so-called free movement regime (FMR), an agreement that allows tribal populations to cross the border without a visa within a limit of 16 kilometres for family or religious reasons.

According to Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah, this is aimed at stemming illegal migration and trafficking. However, the initiative has aroused strong opposition among several ethnic communities living along the border.

Ethnic Mizo and Naga immediately joined the Kuki to oppose the decision. Protests have also taken place in the neighbouring state of Nagaland, which is part of Indias northeastern region.

In the past, the Naga Students' Federation (NSF) slammed the central government for failing to consult with local communities. Naga civil societies and every Naga will continue to object to border fencing and scrapping of FMR in the Naga areas, K. Tep, former president of the NSF, had told The Wire.

Every Naga village is divided as per their customs and traditions. And yet, without consulting them, an international boundary was settled. In spite of that border, Nagas still consider themselves as one people. Naga people will, therefore, not accept anything which will further divide the Nagas and their traditional land, he added.
Today's news: Hong Kong post office blocks parcel shipments to the United States, while Xi Jinping is in Malaysia on the second leg of his trip to Southeast Asia; Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia accused of laundering 0 million; The Chinese authorities arrest Tibetans guilty of sharing photos of a Buddhist leader on the internet; Supreme leader Ali Khamenei neither optimistic nor pessimistic about talks with the USA, second round in Oman on 19th April.

PHILIPPINES

The approval and trust rating of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. suffered a drastic decline in March, according to the results of a survey by Pulse Asia Research, Incorporated. Based on data collected from 23 to 29 March and released today, the consensus stood at a meagre 25% approval rating, with 53% of Filipino adults disapproving of his actions and 22% declaring themselves undecided. This is a drop of 17 percentage points compared to the 42% approval rating of the previous month. Between the two surveys, former President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested with the political repercussions that followed.

HONG KONG  UNITED STATES

Hong Kong Post will stop accepting parcels for delivery to the United States. The suspension comes as the United States prepares to increase tariffs on postal items from Hong Kong and China starting on 2 May, according to an executive order signed by Trump. The order eliminates the de minimis exemption that exempts small packages valued at less than 0 from duties.

MALAYSIA - VIETNAM - CHINA

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, where he was received by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. This is the second stop on his tour of Southeast Asia, after Vietnam, and the last stop will be Cambodia. On the table is the escalation of the trade war with the United States triggered by US President Donald Trump's tariffs. The signing of memoranda of understanding and bilateral agreements with the head of government is scheduled for this afternoon.

INDIA

The opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia, senior members of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, are accused of money laundering by the financial crime agency, the Enforcement Directorate (Editor's note). The Gandhis - who deny the charges - are alleged to have set up a shell company to appropriate 300 million dollars belonging to a company that published the newspaper National Herald. The Congress talks of a policy of revenge and intimidation.

CHINA - TIBET

The Chinese authorities have interrogated and arrested the Tibetans guilty of having published photos and messages on the internet to honour the memory of the Buddhist leader Tulku Hungkar Dorje , who died at the age of 56 while in custody in Vietnam. In addition, officials from Gade County, Golog Prefecture, Qinghai Province have placed the monastery under surveillance.

IRAN - UNITED STATES

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said yesterday that he was neither overly optimistic nor pessimistic about the talks with the United States on the nuclear programme. This is a move by Tehran to meet the growing public expectations for an agreement. After last weekend's talks between Tehran and Washington, which both sides described as positive, expectations have risen. The two sides agreed to hold further meetings on 19 April, again in Oman.

RUSSIA

In the Siberian region of Kemerovo, the number of underage girls who have become pregnant has increased by a third over the last year, as reported by the local children's rights officer Valentina Bogatenko. There are 515 girls under the age of 18, including four under the age of 15, compared to 388 in 2023. Furthermore, the regional authorities have decided to further increase the compensation for the pregnancies of female students with sums of up to 100 thousand roubles (almost one thousand euros).

ARMENIA - TURKEY

The torchlight procession will be organised again this year in Yerevan on 23 April, in memory of the 110th anniversary of the Armenian genocide in the Ottoman Empire. An initiative of the Arfd youth union and the Nikol Agbanyan student association, to symbolically insist on the international recognition and condemnation of the genocide against any attempt to deny and forget it.
In today's catechesis, released in written form, Francis began a new series of reflections on parables: "They provoke us." Speaking about the story of the father and his two sons, the pope notes that even if we are lost, God comes looking for us! His love welcomes, like the embrace depicted by Rembrandt. This morning Francis met with the staff of the Gemelli Hospital. His health is improving.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  The cycle of Jubilee catechesis prepared for the Wednesday general audiences continues. As in previous for several weeks, only the text was released due to Pope Francis' ongoing convalescence after treatment at Romes Gemelli Hospital.

After discussing some of the most significant figures Jesus met in the Gospel (such as Nicodemus and Zacchaeus), the popes reflections today turned to parables, which also touch our lives, and provoke us. And they ask us to take a position: where am I in this story?

Francis appeared in St Peter's Square the last two Sundays, last time without oxygen support, a sign that his health is improving.

The Pope continues to improve from the motor, respiratory and voice points of view," the Holy See Press Office announced yesterday. He can go without oxygen for longer periods of time. Compared to high flows, a residual use continues for therapeutic purposes, always in the evening hours.

This morning the pontiff met with 70 people working at the hospital, the Catholic University and the Health and Hygiene Directorate of Vatican City, at the Paul VI Hall, the community that welcomed him during his treatment for 38 days.

The first catechesis on the parables is dedicated to the most famous parable, the one that we perhaps all remember from when we were children: the parable of the father and the two sons (Lk 15:1-3, 11-32), Francis said.

In this we find the heart of the Gospel of Jesus, namely Gods mercy. Jesus, evangelist Luke says, tells this parable for the pharisees and the scribes, who lamented that He ate with sinners. This is why it could be said that it is a parable addressed to those who are lost, but do not know it, and judge others.

The story tells of a father who has two sons. The youngest asks for the inheritance, leaves and squanders it. Reduced to poverty, he returns and his father welcomes him with joy, while his older brother is indignant.

The Gospel is intended to give us a message of hope, because it tells us that wherever we are lost, and however we are lost, God always comes looking for us! he added.

This story shows that love "is always a commitment, there is always something that we must lose in order to go towards the other.

The youngest son feels "hungers for affection, [. . .] But love is a precious gift; it must be treated with care. Instead, he squanders it. Like him we may to it with the first master we chance upon, the pontiff explained.

Believing that one can be in a relationship only as servants" is a "false vision of love", from which it is possible to free oneself. In the relationship with God, we have precisely this experience, the pope said.

Francis went on to speak about the depiction of the episode by Dutch painter Rembrandt (pictured), who beautifully depicted the return of the prodigal son.

The young mans head is shaven, like that of a penitent, but it also looks like the head of a child, because this son is being born again. And then the fathers hands: one male and the other female, to describe the strength and tenderness in the embrace of forgiveness.

The eldest son represents those for whom the parable is told. Paradoxically, it is precisely the eldest son who in the end risks being left out, because he does not share his fathers joy.

Even if the one who has always stayed at home with his father, even if distant from him, distant in heart. [. . .] The father goes towards him too. He does not reproach him or call him to duty. He wants only that he feels his love. He invites him to enter and to leave the door open.

Indeed, this is the reason for hope: we are able to hope because we know that the Father is waiting for us, He sees us from afar, and He always leaves the door open.
by Shafique Khokhar

An unidentified man is alleged to have left bait, presumably intended for stray dogs, in his rickshaw. Two children are still in critical condition. The episode rekindles attention on the vulnerability of religious minorities in Punjab, already affected by violence and accusations of blasphemy. Civil society is calling for justice and accountability, including for the health authorities.

Hafizabad (AsiaNews)  Three children have died and five others have been hospitalised following a case of poisoning that occurred two days ago, on 14 April, in the Christian neighbourhood of Qila Sahib Singh, in Hafizabad, in the province of Punjab in Pakistan.

According to statements collected by the police, an unidentified man on board a rickshaw left sweets, presumably poisoned and intended for stray dogs, in a plastic bag inside the vehicle. The children, who were playing in the street, noticed the sweets and, taking advantage of the fact that the driver was not there, they took them and ate them.

The victims are Danish, 10 years old, David, 7 years old, and Samson, 8 years old. Five other children of the same age who had started vomiting on the spot were rushed to the children's hospital in Lahore, where two of them are still in critical condition.

An investigation has been opened based on the complaint filed at the Hafizabad police station. The authorities have promised to arrest those responsible within 48 hours, but so far there have been no developments.

The incident has been criticised by civil society and organisations for the rights of religious minorities. Joseph Janssen, activist and president of the non-profit organisation Voice for Justice, defined the episode as part of a wider pattern of unchecked religious extremism and systemic injustice. According to the activist, when the judicial system refuses to act, it encourages those responsible and normalises hatred.

According to Salestine Bhatti, a Christian resident of the area, the poisoned sweets are actually bait used to kill stray dogs. This is total negligence on the part of the Health Department, he told AsiaNews.

A doctor has the responsibility to administer this drug to dogs in person, but unfortunately our doctors allow their staff to go into the field for this purpose. An untrained person cannot do this job, but in this case it was a driver who administered the drug, and because of his negligence three children lost their lives. Bhatti has asked that health officials also be held accountable.

The district police chief, Atif Nazir Kadhar, visited the families to express his condolences and assured them that the investigation would continue on all fronts. This is a deeply tragic and heartbreaking incident, he told the Dawn newspaper. The police are investigating from every angle to bring those responsible to justice.

In the days following the incident, several residents demonstrated, calling for the arrest of the perpetrators and greater protection for minors. However, this is not an isolated incident: in recent months there have been several cases of violence and discrimination against the Christian community in Punjab. The most serious incident occurred in August 2023, in Jaranwala, where 26 churches and over 200 Christian homes were destroyed following accusations of blasphemy which later proved to be unfounded.

We are facing a worrying trend, concluded Janssen. Pakistan must face the reality of institutional discrimination, or more innocent lives will be lost.
90 individuals awarded for contributions in safeguarding national security

10:42, April 16, 2025 By Liu Caiyu ( Global Times

Staff from the legal education promotion ream of the People's Procuratorate of Xinghua, East China's Jiangsu Province, go to Wenfeng Junior High School to teach students about national security through interactive Q&A sessions on April 14, 2025. (Photo/Xinhua)

China's Ministry of State Security (MSS) awarded about 90 individuals for their efforts in safeguarding national security, ranging from 16-year-old high school students to 70-year-old retired teachers, to mark the National Security Education Day that falls on Tuesday.

The recipients come from all walks of life, including PLA soldiers, teachers, doctors, engineers, civil servants, workers, students, farmers, fishermen and individual business owners, said the MSS in a statement.

National security agencies across the country provided both moral and material rewards to the recipients in accordance with the Anti-Espionage Law and Measures on Rewarding Citizens for Reporting Conduct Endangering National Security, it said.

Among them, a taxi driver surnamed Kang from the border region bravely fought against suspected foreign spies, disregarding his personal safety, and assisted in cracking down on a major espionage case, earning a special contribution award.

Wang, a film industry worker from East China's Shandong, promptly identified a significant leak risk and reported it to related authorities, receiving a major contribution award.

Lu, a fisherman from the coastal region, salvaged a foreign spying device from the sea, earning a major contribution award.

Xu, a university student from Beijing, reported someone selling state secrets and helped eliminate security risks in a timely manner, receiving a major contribution award.

Liu, a company employee from Northeast China's Liaoning Province, reported suspicious individuals photographing military facilities, earning an important contribution award. Shi, a scholar from East China's Zhejiang Province, discovered that foreign organizations were illegally stealing sensitive information and data from China, receiving an important contribution award.

The MSS said that those 90 individuals have "played an irreplaceable and important role" in discovering, preventing, stopping and punishing various activities that threaten national security.

Guided by the overall national security concept, these individuals, with a sense of "the greater good of the nation," a commitment to national righteousness and a focus on national security, have consciously fought against actions that threaten national security, the MSS said.

The ages, occupations and other information regarding the specific cases involved reveal that people from all walks of life are quietly supporting the national security work, Li Baiyang, an associate professor of intelligence studies with Nanjing University, told the Global Times.

In the work of national security, the timely discovery of hidden issues by the individuals is an important source of frontline clues, in addition to the core role of security agencies at all levels, he said.

On Tuesday, in observance of National Security Education Day, various themed activities were held to raise public awareness about the importance of safeguarding national security.

The Security Bureau of the Security Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, with its disciplined services, held a flag-raising ceremony at the Hong Kong Police College on Tuesday, China News Service reported.

Starting from April 12, the eight disciplined services and auxiliary services under the HK Security Bureau held open days on different weekends and holidays in April to enhance the public's understanding of the armed forces and enhance their awareness of safeguarding national security, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

On Monday, staff from the legal education promotion ream of the People's Procuratorate of Xinghua, East China's Jiangsu Province, went to Wenfeng Junior High School to teach students about national security through interactive Q&A sessions, according to Xinhua.

Li told the Global Times that, with the dedication and capability of national security agencies  along with proactive publicity efforts, a strong sense of appeal, attraction and influence has been fostered in safeguarding national security in recent years.

"More and more people are now able to consciously uphold national security, actively identify risks in society and promptly report them to the authorities. Public awareness and understanding of national security continue to grow," Li said.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
by Andrew Law

The incident took place on 23 March in the Diocese of Luliang, but the authorities tried to hush it up. The intervention of special forces attracted other Catholics from the nearby village of Xinli, home to an old Catholic community. An officer was also wounded in the incident. The parish priest and some parishioners were arrested. The community was forced to engage in "self-criticism", but the increasingly inflexible rules on religions are the real problem.

Luliang (AsiaNews)  On 23 March, a middle-aged man suffered severe head wounds during a clash with police in a parish in the Diocese of Luliang, Shanxi province.

The parishioner, Francis Zuo Shangwang, lives in Xinli, a village in Wenshui County. At present, he is in a coma in a local hospital. The incident that put him in the intensive care unit occurred in Zhaizi, a village about 70 kilometres southwest of Taiyuan, the provincial capital.

Three or four years ago, a devout parishioner in Zhaizi bought land and built a house to be used for prayers. A few days before the incident, the authorities informed parishioners that the building had not been correctly registered and could not be used for religious activities.

During Lent, however, parishioners gathered there anyway to pray the rosary. On Sunday, 23 March, special police forces arrived at the site and pushed around some elderly people. One fell to the ground causing a head wound.

The priest who was there to distribute the Eucharist informed the parishioners of the nearby village of Xinli by phone and they came to the site. As the number of faithful coming to show their solidarity rose, so did the number of police agents. While the latter tried to disperse the crowd with tear gas and batons, Zuo Shangwang was injured and fell to the ground unconscious.

At that point, the angry crowd attacked an officer left alone in a police car, seriously injuring him. The three injured (the two Catholics and the special police officer) were urgently taken to hospital.

Three days later, the parish priest  who also serves the prayer house in Zhaizi  and the head of the Xinli parish council were arrested. On 31 March, four other parishioners were also detained on charges of assaulting a police officer.

The villages of Xinli and Zhaizi are about 2.5 kilometres apart and belong to different counties: Zhaizi to Jiaocheng and Xinli to Wenshui. In Xinli, which according to official data has 1,026 residents, the Christian presence dates to the 17th century, and is the largest Catholic centre in the Diocese of Luliang.

Saint John Wang Rui, one of the Chinese martyrs canonised by John Paul II, grew up here. The history of the faith in Zhaizi is more recent; it has only 40 to 50 Catholics, who are often helped by those from Xinli.

Jiaocheng County is also the birthplace of the Pure Land School, an important branch of Buddhism; the local Xuanzhong Temple has a history of 1,500 years, unlike the Catholic Church, which has a small community and a more recent history.

According to local parishioners, neighbours reported the meetings in Zhaizis prayer house, perhaps because they felt that the people coming and going were too noisy.

Other parishioners believe that a group in the village profits from beliefs in spirits and is inexorably at odds with Christians, and, for this reason, filed a complaint.

In Jiaocheng County, Catholics are said to number only 500 and hitherto the local Communist Party paid no attention to them. The summary way in which they have now been treated and the use of the special police have now brought into the open a major problem.

Some Catholics believe that the recent tightening of rules on religion in recent years and the fear of local officials of making mistakes is fuelling conflicts.

In Xinli, the stories of the many parishioners who preferred death to apostasy during the Cultural Revolution are handed down from one generation to the next. Over the years, many vocations to the priesthood have come from the village.

Bishop Ji Weizhong of Luliang, who was ordained last 20 January under the agreement between the Holy See and China, was born in the village into a family that had been Catholic for generations.

He said that when he was a child, at the end of the Cultural Revolution, before the church was reopened, his mother would take her children to neighbours' houses to pray together; his family never stopped teaching catechism in the morning and evening.

For many years, this is how the faith was handed down in the village. For this reason, when people hear that their neighbours in the nearby village of Zhaizi are in difficulty, parishioners go to support them without hesitation.

The wounded man, Francis Zuo Shangwang, comes from a simple family that loves the Lord. A lorry driver by profession, he is the father of three girls, the youngest just two years old.

Last year, due to too much work, he fell and broke his spine; on 6 December, he underwent surgery from which he had not yet fully recovered.

When he heard about the incident in the village of Zhaizi, however, he did not hesitate to follow young people from his village to go and help fellow Catholics.

After being seriously injured in the clash, he underwent two craniotomies, but so far he has not woken up. The cerebral oedema has subsided, but a series of life-threatening complications persist.

The incident that took place on 23 March in Zhaizi was followed by greater exposure. The head of the parish council in Xinli and other members of the community are seemingly under strict surveillance, government agents are constantly entering the village to check out the situation, while all the priests of the diocese have been forced to undergo a week of study to learn about government rules and regulations, and the parishs financial accounts of the last five years have been audited.

The priest under arrest, Fr Zhang Jinliang, was reportedly moved to another place of detention and villagers were told not to talk about the wounded. This explains why the outside world has not been able to obtain precise information so far.

Following the arrests, parishioners in Xinli and Zhaizi calmed down, and engaged in self-criticism, saying that the Church herself had faults, that she had not done her job well, continuing to hold meetings after being told that the prayer house had not been legally registered. Catholics should not have faced off with special police officers and harm them, especially those who did not hit anyone.

However, they cannot understand why the local administration did not take the initiative to help the prayer house to register since it had been in operation for years, but instead chose to enforce the law during Lent, the most important month in the Catholic Church's liturgical year, sending a team of special agents with pepper spray and firearms against unarmed worshippers.

Some Catholics called the Zhaizi village incident a "religious disaster", noting that In the current circumstances, we can only pray more, hoping that government departments will apply the law impartially.

"When we were confronted by the police in the village, we neglected prayer and chose confrontation, forgetting that prayer is the best weapon we can have. In this Holy Week, we must follow the example of Jesus, who went on to suffer. We must learn from his patience and pray for our brother Francis, who is suffering in the Passion of the Church, and anxiously wait for his reawakening.

People are also concerned about the detention of Fr Zhang Jinliang, who is a committed evangeliser. There are fears that the local Church will become increasingly restricted in the future and that plans to build a church in the county may come to naught.
Str8Curious: What Gay Guys Could Teach Straight Guys About Sexy Underwear

Straight Men Have an Underwear Problem  It's Time for Us to Start Wearing Sexier Ones

Str8Curious is a monthly AskMen column where out and proud lifestyle expert Joey Skladany answers burning questions from heterosexual men about sex, dating, and the LGBTQ+ community. No topic is off limits as he candidly lends advice, debunks stereotypes, and gives it to you straight  err  gay. Should you be interested in submitting a question for editorial consideration (and we will respect anonymity), feel free to ping Joey directly on Instagram or email him at [email protected]).

The Question

I really want to step up my underwear game but I feel like the more expensive options look way too uncomfortable and, frankly, a bit too feminine. Is there a happy medium here? What can I wear that will look sexy for the ladies but also give me the support that I need? - Keith, Rochester, NY

The Answer

Hey-hey, ho-ho, those old Hanes boxers have got to go. Hey-hey, ho-ho, those old Hanes boxers have got to go. Seriously. A future love interest may not be able to get a glimpse of whats underneath your pants right away but the goal is that she will eventually, right? Right.

Not only does nicer, well-constructed underwear enhance your lower half in all the right places, theyre also generally more comfortable. In fact, the fabrics are usually of higher quality (like microfiber) and come with built-in bulge support so that your flaccid manhood isnt flopping around like a salmon pulled from an Alaskan river. It also lifts the booty, in case youve been slacking during leg day at the gym and want to give the illusion that you actually love to squat and lunge on the regular.

Do yourself a solid and retire anything that is oversized, ancient, youthful, stained, pilling, ripped, stretched, and/or prone to holes. The straight boy undergarments, much like the rest of a lackluster, overworn wardrobe, will show that you simply dont care about your personal style or appearance. This, in turn, will make any woman drier than a glass of sauvignon blanc on a hot summer day.

RELATED: Exploring the World of Male Lingerie

Remember, underwear is the first thing a prospective hook-up will see before you whip out your schlong and get down to business. Would you gift a Cartier in a Walmart shopping bag? Of course not. Thats why its important to make sure that the entree looks just as good as the dessert so that shes not startled when the last course, if you will, is served and revealed. Would you eat out a vag dressed in frilly granny panties? Though Im not here to yuck anyones yum, chances are no. Keep things sexy.

This doesnt mean you must surrender to a lifetime of briefs and even thongs. There are many sensible trunks and boxer briefs that dont look like they were purchased in a pack of 10 during a clearance sale. It also doesnt mean you need to rock a flashy and often metallic Calvin Klein, Versace, or Hugo Boss label. There are plenty of inexpensive, brandless, and neutral options that will absolutely get the job doneand for half the price!

RELATED: Best (and Sexiest!) Jockstraps

If youre still clueless, ask a lady friend to assist in an Amazon shopping spree and buy a few cheaper varieties to test. This will help you narrow down the fits that provide the utmost in breathability, moisture-wicking, and ball support. From there, you can splurge on a few designer duds for date nights and special occasions.

But at the very least, gents, I implore you to ditch anything that may read as cheap, unflattering, and/or hanging on by a literal thread. If you even have to question the state of your drawers, in the trash they should go (along with the action figures, posters of Playboy Bunnies, and Axe body spray, but I digress).

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16 April 2025 14:42 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, in a recent address to the National Assembly, claimed that Armenia and Azerbaijan have completed negotiations on a draft peace agreement and are now entering the phase of signing it. He expressed his readiness to sign the document on behalf of the people of Armenia and proposed that both countries simultaneously sign a joint petition to dissolve the OSCE Minsk Groupan initiative he framed as a necessary step to close the chapter on the Garabagh conflict.

While Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan recently declared that peace talks with Azerbaijan have reached the signing phase, a closer look reveals that Yerevan is once again resorting to manipulative tacticsparticularly around the issue of the OSCE Minsk Group.

Despite the group's long-standing irrelevance following Azerbaijans full restoration of its territorial integrity, Armenia continues to play games around its formal dissolution. In his latest remarks, Pashinyan proposed a joint signing of the peace treaty and a petition to dissolve the Minsk Group. Undoubtedly, it is a big and a positive sign. On the surface, this may appear to reflect a desire for closure. In reality, its a diplomatic trap.

Mechanism of conflict dressed as diplomacy

The Minsk Group, in its current form, serves no constructive purpose. As long as it exists, it acts as a shadow over the process, preserving the illusion of an unresolved conflict. Armenia knows this. Its refusal to decisively endorse the group's dissolution only prolongs the status quo. Yerevan, despite lacking the strategic leverage to dictate terms, is trying to use this mechanism as a bargaining chipfailing to acknowledge that it is no longer in a position to do so.

Constitutional contradictions and selective interpretations

Another layer of this manipulation lies in Armenias constitutional stance. The preamble to its Declaration of Independence includes a direct reference to the unification of Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia. This language is not symbolic; it has had real legal implications. For instance, in 1998, Armenias Constitutional Court deemed that Robert Kocharyan, despite residing in Garabagh, met the residency requirement to run for presidentblurring the line between Armenia and Azerbaijani territory.

If Yerevan is serious about peace, a constitutional amendment is essential. Similar steps have been taken in global precedents. Ireland, for example, revised its constitutional claim to Northern Ireland via a referendum in 1998 to advance its peace process with the UK. Likewise, North Macedonia held a referendum on its name changean unpopular but necessary move to resolve regional disputes.

Meanwhile, Armenias attempts to drag Azerbaijans Constitution into the discussion fall flat. There are no territorial claims against Armenia in any Azerbaijani state documentnot in the Constitution, nor in the Declaration of Independence. Even references to the First Republic of 1918-1920 have been taken out of context. If that line of argument were valid, Georgias own Declarationreferencing its 1918-1920 republic when it controlled parts of modern Armeniawould provoke similar concerns, which it does not.

Pashinyan also insists that the dissolution of the Minsk Group requires OSCE consensus. However, Armenia, along with its traditional backers France and the United States (under the Biden administration), already opposed the group's termination at the 2024 OSCE Ministerial Council in Malta. If the matter were raised again, the same trio would likely block consensus. This reveals the real concern: preserving the Minsk Group as a diplomatic lever, not a peacebuilding tool.

The time for games is over. For any peace treaty to be durable, the Minsk Group must be formally dissolved. Half-measures or conditional proposals will only serve to stall the process further. Unless Armenia meets Azerbaijans key conditionsstarting with constitutional clarity and dismantling outdated diplomatic structurespeace will remain a mirage.

There are no alternative paths forward. Azerbaijan has moved beyond the post-Soviet frameworks that allowed frozen conflicts to linger. Its time for Armeniaand its alliesto do the same.
16 April 2025 19:00 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

Relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia have long transcended the typical framework of neighborly cooperation. They stand today as a model of strategic partnership, bound by deep-rooted historical ties, mutual respect, and shared visions for the South Caucasus. The recent official visit of Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili to Bakuhis first foreign trip since taking officeunderscored the continued importance of this alliance.

Symbolic first visit reflects enduring trust

President Kavelashvilis decision to make Azerbaijan the destination of his inaugural state visit is more than a diplomatic formalityit is a reaffirmation of the special relationship between the two countries. In a region often defined by shifting alliances and external pressure, this visit signals continuity, trust, and a shared commitment to regional ownership of development and security agendas.

President Ilham Aliyev welcomed the visit warmly, noting:

This once again demonstrates the essence of Georgian-Azerbaijani relations, the friendship and brotherhood of our peoples... Our relations will continue to develop on an upward trajectory.

These sentiments were echoed by President Kavelashvili, who emphasized the historical bond and strategic alignment between the two nations:

This visit emphasizes the strategic and special good-neighborly relations between Georgia and Azerbaijan... Our friendship is based on mutual respect and consideration of each others national interests.

A strategic transit corridor connecting continents

At the heart of AzerbaijanGeorgia relations lies a shared vision for turning the South Caucasus into a globally significant transport and energy hub. Over the years, joint projects such as the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline, and the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway have redrawn the energy and transit map of Eurasia.

Azerbaijans access to Europe through Georgian seaports and transport corridors like the Middle Corridor (Trans-Caspian International Transport Route) positions the two countries as pivotal players in EastWest connectivity. The development of Alat Port and modernization of Georgian port infrastructure are key enablers in expanding this role.

As President Aliyev noted:

If we talk about the energy security of Europe today, it is impossible to imagine it without Azerbaijan and Georgia... These are projects that redraw the transport and energy map not only of the South Caucasus, but of the Eurasian region.

This infrastructure synergy not only facilitates the flow of energy and goods but also strengthens both countries' geopolitical relevance amid growing global competition for access to Central Asia and the Caspian Basin.

Shared values and joint resistance to external pressure

Both presidents emphasized a common stance on protecting sovereignty and national interests amid increasing foreign interference and double standards. As President Kavelashvili remarked:

It is impossible for any third country or organization to know better than us what is best for our peoples.

This sentiment reflects a broader regional pushback against external influence, particularly when it threatens to disrupt traditional values or destabilize domestic politics. Georgia and Azerbaijan are increasingly coordinating to resist such pressures while promoting a regional model of development based on mutual respect and strategic autonomy.

Peace, stability, and responsibility in the South Caucasus

The leaders also addressed the changing security dynamics in the South Caucasus. With progress in the ArmeniaAzerbaijan peace negotiations, both countries see a window of opportunity for lasting stability and integration in the region.

Georgias declared policy of neutrality and its offer to facilitate peace processes complements Azerbaijans assertive regional diplomacy. Their cooperation in this area reinforces the idea that the South Caucasus should be shaped by its own actors, not by distant powers.

I hope that from now on the black pages of the South Caucasus will be closed and will remain in history, President Aliyev stated optimistically.

Azerbaijan and Georgia are more than strategic neighborsthey are co-architects of a new South Caucasus. By aligning on infrastructure, trade, energy, and values, they have laid the foundation for a partnership that not only serves their national interests but also offers a framework for regional cooperation and independence.

Their ability to speak with a united voice on critical issuesfrom territorial integrity to economic resiliencesends a powerful message. In an era of global uncertainty, Azerbaijan and Georgia are proving that strong, principled partnerships can define the future of entire regions.
16 April 2025 12:24 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

A high-level Turkish delegation led by Mustafa Tuzcu, Deputy Minister of Trade of the Republic of Turkiye, paid a visit to Azerbaijans Agdam Industrial Park to explore opportunities for economic cooperation and investment in the countrys liberated territories, Azernews reports, citing the Economy Ministry.

The Ministry noted that the delegation was briefed by Samad Bashirli, Deputy Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan, on the reconstruction and development efforts underway across the liberated areas. The guests were informed about the favorable business environment, including infrastructure development, tax and customs incentives, and other support mechanisms provided to entrepreneurs.

Particular emphasis was placed on the Agdam Industrial Park, which was established under the Decree of President Ilham Aliyev on May 28, 2021. The park plays a vital role in unlocking the economic potential of the post-conflict region, contributing to the development of the non-oil sector, boosting employment, and enhancing production of competitive goods.

Strategically located at the crossroads of Garabagh and other regions, Agdam Industrial Park currently ranks second nationwide by number of resident companies, with nine enterprises actively operating. Products manufactured in the park are supplied to both domestic and export markets.

During the visit, the Turkish delegation also toured various production facilities within the park to gain firsthand insights into local manufacturing capabilities.

Beyond Agdam, the delegation visited Khankendi and Shusha, explored historical landmarks, and observed the ongoing restoration and reconstruction works as part of Azerbaijans broader regional redevelopment strategy.
16 April 2025 12:57 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

bp on behalf of its co-venturers in the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli, Baku Tbilisi-Ceyhan, Shah Deniz and South Caucasus Pipeline projects  SOCAR, TPAO, LUKOIL, SGC, NICO, MOL, INPEX, ExxonMobil, ITOCHU, ONGC Videsh, Eni, MVM and TotalEnergies  are pleased to announce the successful completion of three community development projects along the bp-operated export pipelines, Azernews reports.

The projects reflect bp and its co-venturers' commitment to supporting local communities and fostering educational and technological advancements in Azerbaijan.

Bakhtiyar Aslanbayli, bps vice president for the Caspian region, accompanied by a group of representatives from bp and co-venturer companies, visited Kurdamir, Ganja and Tovuz on 14-16 April to celebrate the completion of the three successful projects.

" bp and our co-ventures are committed to fostering strong, resilient communities along our pipeline routes. Our ongoing support reflects our dedication to helping ensure the well-being and prosperity of these communities as we work together towards a sustainable future. We believe that the three projects whose completion we celebrate today will make a remarkable contribution to the affected communities enhancing their growth and development, Bakhtiyar Aslanbayli said.

The three completed projects are:

1. Vocational skills development project for internally displaced persons, funded by bp and its co-venturers

This project aimed to equip internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Garabagh with vocational skills, enhancing their income generation opportunities upon their return to their homes after the 30-year occupation. This initiative specifically targeted IDPs

temporarily residing in the Kurdamir district. A group of 25 IDP women were selected for the project to be trained as certified tailors and make-up artists. In addition to vocational training, the participants were taught business management and development

techniques.

Aligned with the Azerbaijan government's sustainability goals, the project supports the "Great Return" initiative, which envisions IDPs returning to their liberated homes to lead prosperous and sustainable lives.

The cost of the project is 77,090 AZN (around $45,347).

The project was implemented by the public union Economic and Social Development Centre.

2. Ganja Technological University cybersecurity capacity-building project, funded by bp and its co-venturers

This project aimed to equip various stakeholders, including individuals and organizations from both the public and private sectors, with the knowledge, skills, and capabilities to address cybersecurity risks. It included the establishment of a new

scientific, methodological, research, and training centre at Ganja Technological University to enhance the cybersecurity capacity of the university and the entire Ganja- Gazakh economic region.

The project cost is over 72,200 AZN (USD $42,475), which includes the purchase of necessary equipment and applications.

3. Restoration of traditional water sources in the Tovuz district, funded by bp

The project aimed to address the decline in access to freshwater by restoring traditional water sources known as kahrizes at two locations - the Dovshanly and Mahammadaghali kahrizes, near the Ashagi Gushchu village of the Tovuz district.

The project began in 2024 with the training of kahriz specialists called kankans. Following this, in June, refurbishment works commenced to clean and stabilize both kahriz systems. These works have now been successfully completed, supplying the Ashagi Gushchu community of about 15,000 people with freshwater.

The Dovshanly kahriz has been routed through pipe systems to the village, and the water from this source is now used for household consumption purposes.

The Mahammadaghali kahriz has been routed to the farming areas of the village and is used for the irrigation of 636 hectares of community land.

The project was implemented by Puls-R LLC. The project is part of the wider Community managed water systems programme with the total cost of 1,282,227 AZN ($754,251 USD).
16 April 2025 20:20 (UTC+04:00)

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In JanuaryMarch of this year, Azerbaijan produced 12.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas, Azernews reports, citing the State Statistical Committee. It should be noted that during the first quarter of this year, the total value of production in the mining industry amounted to...

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16 April 2025 18:19 (UTC+04:00)

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Azerbaijan has significantly increased its import of Kazakh grain, becoming one of the top-growing destinations for Kazakhstans agricultural exports in the 20242025 season, Azernews reports. According to the Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan, grain exports to Azerbaijan reached ...

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16 April 2025 13:36 (UTC+04:00)

TikTok, the leading platform for creating and watching short videos, has announced the results of the first-ever #Novruz2025 online festival held in Azerbaijan.

This initiative attracted great interest among platform users: more than 12,000 videos were created with the project hashtag. TikTok also announced the winners of the competition: the authors of the best videos received valuable gifts.

Notably, the online festival held on TikTok took place with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

For two years now, TikTok has been implementing initiatives in Azerbaijan aimed at promoting local culture and educational content. Azerbaijan's rich cultural heritage has become a source of inspiration for many content creators and organizations in the country. They prepare unique and engaging videos that are interesting for both local and international audiences.

Among TikToks previous initiatives in this direction, the cultural project Night at the Museums holds a special place. Within the project, 10 leading museums of the country organized live broadcasts, giving users the opportunity to join virtual tours, travel through the world of art, and get more detailed information about the exhibits preserved in Azerbaijans museums without leaving home. In addition, TikTok also presented the Literary Living Room project. Within this project, poetry readings were held on the platform together with museums of famous Azerbaijani literary figures. One of TikToks largest-scale projects was the #LearnOnTikTok initiative. This project brought together 22 cultural institutions of Azerbaijan. The project included 14 theaters, 6 museums, the National Library of Azerbaijan, and the Icherisheher State Historical-Architectural Reserve.

#Novruz2025 on TikTok

For the first time this year, the platform celebrated the arrival of spring and the Novruz holiday together with users in Azerbaijan. On this occasion, TikTok became the main platform where a large-scale online holiday festival was held. Within the hashtag #Novruz2025, users created more than 12,000 videos showing how they prepared for the holiday and how they celebrated it, sharing recipes related to the holiday table and showcasing the beauty of the rich traditions of their country.

Holiday recipes

National culinary traditions have an important place during the Novruz holiday. Users shared recipes of their favorite national dishes and sweets, such as shekerbura, pakhlava, and plov, and also showed how to set a beautiful and rich table for guests. All of this carries deep cultural meaning and symbolizes prosperity and strong health.

Novruz with Your Loved Ones

It is important to spend time with family and loved ones during the holiday. Users from different parts of Azerbaijan showed how they celebrated their favorite holiday in the warm circle of family and friends. For some, it was even their first Novruz.

National Music and Dances

One of the main aspects of Novruz is its music. During the holiday, national melodies sounded even louder on TikTok: users created videos with Azerbaijani national music, shared reports from musical performances in the streets of the city, and shared the holiday atmosphere with each other.

National Fashion

One of the striking trends of the festival was the increased interest in national fashion. Users actively recreated national clothing, presented modern interpretations of traditional outfits, wore these clothes while walking around the city during the holiday, and demonstrated the connection between generations and respect for cultural heritage.

Folk Festivities

The platform became colorful thanks to folk festivities. Thousands of people took to the streets to celebrate the arrival of spring, tasted national dishes, participated in various activities, and shared the holiday spirit on TikTok.

Art and Traditions

Artists and craftsmen on TikTok dedicated their works to the holiday. They created drawings and handicrafts inspired by Azerbaijani culture and traditional Novruz elements.

The Power of Fire

Fire is the symbol of Novruz, representing warmth, renewal, and the triumph of light over darkness. TikTok users shared moments of gathering around bonfires in Azerbaijan and performing inspiring dances. It is believed that these traditional Novruz rituals cleanse the soul and bring success in the coming year.

Authors of most creative videos about Novruz announced

Among all users who participated in the project, the authors of the most creative videos were selected. The winners received gifts presented by the projects partner  the resort town Sea Breeze:

1st place: User @chinivibess Chinara Akhundova and @aydankhalilzada Aydan Khalilzada. They won with a beautiful video in the format of a city walk, in which they shared the holiday atmosphere and showcased the beauty of national traditions and clothing. As a prize, the content creators were awarded 2 fan zone tickets for all days of the DREAM Fest 2025 festival.

2nd place: Artist Firuza Imanova @firca.darbesi presented a video showing the process of creating a painting inspired by Novruz and its traditional elements. As a prize, Firuza won a voucher for a 2-night stay in an apartment at Sea Breeze Resort on the coast of the Caspian Sea.

3rd place: The author of the channel @food_channel, Rahima Yusunova created a video that presented the process of making pakhlava in a detailed and aesthetic way. As a prize, the author received a 6-month membership card to one of the Crocus fitness clubs located in Baku.

As mentioned, the online festival held on TikTok took place with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan. On this occasion, the advisor to the Minister of Culture, Jahangir Selimkhanov, was also invited to the event. In his speech, the advisor spoke about TikToks exceptional role in introducing our culture to the world and preserving it. He also expressed satisfaction with the high-level implementation of this initiative.

We are very pleased with how beautifully the #Novruz2025 online festival on TikTok was held. It is commendable that everyone celebrated Novruz with such love and creativity, and shared our traditions in such a joyful and lively way. This is like a big, cheerful family holiday, and it is a real pride that our culture is being kept alive with such a beautiful initiative!  said Jahangir Selimkhanov, advisor to the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Among the participants of the event was also Melis Caglar, TikToks Head of Operations in Azerbaijan, Turkey, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. She said that she celebrated Novruz with TikTok users in Azerbaijan and enjoyed the richness of Azerbaijani culture.

This year, we celebrated Novruz for the first time together with our users in Azerbaijan and became a bright, colorful platform for the online festival. We thank our users for filling TikTok with all the colors, melodies, delicious dishes, dances, and great moods of the holiday! Thanks to you, people from all around the world were able to get a closer look at how beautiful and unique Azerbaijani culture is, said Melis Caglar, Head of Operations for TikTok in Azerbaijan, Turkey, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia.
16 April 2025 16:47 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

The organizers of the first International Baku Culture and Creative Fashion Week  the head of the Center for National Clothing of Azerbaijan, member of the Eurasian Association of Ethno-Designers, Doctor of Philosophy in Art Studies Gulnara Khalilova, and the founder of AFWEU (representing Asia, Africa, America, and Europe) Aydin Acik  awarded certificates to young designers, Azernews reports.

They visited the Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Arts and the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts, where they presented certificates to 13 students for their participation in the project. The events were held with the involvement of university teachers.

During the meeting, the organizers noted that designers from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Russia, and Turkiye, as well as local young talents, participated in the first International Baku Culture and Creative Fashion Week. Initially, it was planned for the best works of young designers to be showcased at the AFWEU Fashion Week Atlas  the fashion week in Antalya, but it was later decided to give this opportunity to all participants.

The importance of further developing the abilities of youth in the fashion industry was emphasized during the meeting.

The AFWEU Fashion Week Atlas, scheduled for May 29-30 with the participation of Azerbaijani young designers, will be a significant event. And all this is being done without any financial costs! Thus, young talents will be able to present their collections alongside well-known designers at the international Fashion Week in Turkiye!

Such important support for young designers from Aydin Acik and Gulnara Khalilova, as well as the opportunity to gain international experience, deserves high praise.

Media partners of the event are Azernews.Az, Trend.Az, Day.Az and Milli.Az.
16 April 2025 17:51 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

A memorial evening was held at the Azerbaijan State Film Fund in honor of the 80th anniversary of the prominent theater and film actor, laureate of the State Prize of the Azerbaijan SSR, and Honored Artist Samandar Rzaev, Azernews reports.

As part of the event, a photo exhibition dedicated to the life and work of the Master was inaugurated.

The director of the Azerbaijan State Film Fund, Honored Artist Jamil Guliyev, the Chairman of the Azerbaijan Film-Makers Union, People's Artist Rasim Balayev, People's Artists Shafiga Mammadova, Rafik Azimov, Tariel Gasimov, Doctor of Art Studies, Professor Ilham Rahimli, and Honored Artist, film scholar Aydin Kazimzade spoke about the artistry and shared their memories of the renowned actor. In conclusion, his daughter Rubaba Samandar expressed gratitude on behalf of the artist's family to the management and staff of the State Film Fund for organizing the event. Guests were shown video clips from films, television plays, and performances featuring the actor.

Samandar Rzaev was born on January 2, 1945, in Agsu and passed away at the age of 41 on March 27, 1986, forever remaining in people's memories through vivid characters. He studied at the Faculty of Drama and Film Acting at the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts where he was taught by prominent figures in theatrical arts such as Rza Takhmasib, Mehkti Mamedov, Adil Iskenderov, and Nasir Sadikhzade. While still a student, the future actor performed on television as a master of artistic reading. He became the first host of a newly launched radio program called Bulaq ("Spring"), which gained widespread popularity and was even referred to as Smndr Bulag ("Samandar's Spring").

A year before graduating from the institute, the chief director of the Azerbaijan State Dramatic Theater, Tofig Kazimov, invited him to the theater, entrusting the young actor with the role of Horatio in William Shakespeare's "Hamlet." Rzaev's very first role on the big stage was a success and opened the way to his artistic Olympus.

He played significant roles in performances based on works by Huseyn Javid, Jafar JabbarlI, Alexander Shirvanzade, Shikhali Kurbanov, Anar Rzaev, Said Ordubadi, Jalil Mammadkulizade, and others.

In cinema, Samandar Rzaev played roles of various genres and characters. In total, he appeared in around 20 films, including such cult classics as "Nasimi," "Babek," "In the Fire," "Knights of the Black Lake," and "The Grandfather of Our Grandfather."

Each of his roles, across various genres, was distinguished by special color and character, with no boundaries to his transformations, which guaranteed the unwavering trust of the audience. He was also a master of artistic reading, hosting the radio program "Spring," often personally editing the text and broadcasts. Notably, Rzaev's distinctive voicestrong, loud, and richwas a hallmark, causing the walls of the theater to tremble, and it was impossible to confuse it with any other.

He was also a true master of dubbing. For example, in the film "King Lear" (in the Russian version, the role of Lear was played by the Baltic actor Yuri Yarvet, who was dubbed by Zinoviy Gerdt), the main role was dubbed by Samandar Rzaev. The work of the Azerbaijani actor was highly praised at the All-Union dubbing competition. Furthermore, it was Rzaev's voice that represented the investigator Seifi Ganiev in the detective drama by Rasim Ozhagov, "Interrogation," a role played by Russian actor Alexander Kaliagin.

The actor passed away on March 27, 1986, from cirrhosis of the liver. On the day of his death, while already ill, Rzaev took to the stage to play his last role in the performance "Smoldering Coals" by M. Ibrahimov. He arrived for the performance directly from the hospital.

After finishing the play and exiting backstage, he fell and passed away.Moreover, that day was the International Theater Day.
16 April 2025 16:33 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

The Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum holds a new project aimed to develop the intercultural dialogue between Switzerland and Azerbaijan and foster inclusivity in the museums, Azernews reports.

The main objective of the project that is the result of cooperation between the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum, the Embassy of the Swiss Confederation in the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Swiss Association of Women and Empowerment is to create more accessible and useful museum environment for the individuals with special needs.

Within the two-month project, the Traditional Technologies Department of the ANCM will hold master-classes on carpet weaving for children with autism and for members of the Azerbaijan Children Union. On top of that, Valeria Biben, Head of AI and Art Projects of the Swiss Association of Women and Empowerment holds special trainings.

The training is based on the educational program on creating a carpet sketch using AI. This new methodology provides children with opportunity to study the carpet art in a modern and interactive way, along with that it gives them creative and practical educational experience.

Is should be noted, that this project is of great significance in terms of sharing the cutting-edge experience aimed to foster accessibility for the individuals with special needs, preservation of cultural heritage and its passing to the future generations, and strengthening partnership between Switzerland and Azerbaijan.

Founded in 1967, the National Carpet Museum holds more than 14,000 exhibits of the finest Azerbaijani carpets.

Initiated by eminent carpet artist Latif Karimov, the museum is beautiful inside and out.

The museum's new building is designed in the form of a rolled carpet. Now, the museum hosts multiple events, including international symposiums, conferences, and various exhibitions.

In 2019, the museum received national status for its significant contribution to promoting Azerbaijani carpet weaving art.

In 2020, the Carpet Museum enriched its collection with a beautiful pile of carpets purchased by the Culture Ministry at the Sartirana Textile Show in Italy.

The 19th-century Guba carpet "Ugakh" was donated to the Carpet Museum, while the Garabagh carpet "Chelebi" enriched the collection of the museum's Shusha branch.

For four years, the Carpet Museum won the Travellers' Choice Awards. The award proves once again that the professional activity of the National Carpet Museum is highly appreciated by visitors from all over the world.
16 April 2025 14:33 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

A meeting was held at the Ministry of Health with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to our country, Dmitry Pinevich, Azernews reports.

Welcoming the guests, Minister of Health Teymur Musayev congratulated Dmitry Pinevich on his recent appointment as the Ambassador of Belarus to Azerbaijan.

The minister emphasized that relations between Azerbaijan and Belarus have expanded in many areas, noting that regular meetings between the heads of state, as well as mutual visits by government officials, play a significant role in the development of relations between the two countries in various fields, including healthcare.

Teymur Musayev also expressed satisfaction with the level of effective cooperation between the two countries in the field of healthcare. According to the minister, regular mutual visits are organized for specialists and doctors working in oncology, transplantology, cardiology, neurosurgery, and other medical fields to participate in experience exchange and professional development programs.

Highlighting the global importance of the pharmaceutical industry in terms of innovative development, Teymur Musayev also noted the successful cooperation between the two countries in this area.

In turn, Dmitry Pinevich stated that Belarus places special importance on the development of relations with Azerbaijan. The ambassador pointed out that cooperation between Belarus and Azerbaijan has developed with positive momentum in recent years and that over time, the relationship has reached the level of strategic partnership.

During the meeting, the parties discussed prospects for cooperation in the pharmaceutical industry, medicine, and healthcare. They also exchanged views on improving the training of medical personnel, establishing cooperation on the implementation of digitalization in healthcare systems, and other issues of mutual interest.
15 April 2025 22:48 (UTC+04:00)

On April 15, Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ali Asadov met with the President of Georgia, Mikheil Kavelashvili, who is on an official visit to Azerbaijan.

During the meeting, both sides expressed satisfaction with the comprehensive development of friendly relations and strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Georgia.

They also discussed opportunities for expanding mutually beneficial cooperation across various sectors.
16 April 2025 11:24 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

An international conference titled Decolonization: A Quiet Revolution was held on April 15 at the UN Headquarters in New York, organized by the Baku Initiative Group (BIG) in cooperation with the International Decolonization Front, as part of the 4th session of the Permanent Forum of Peoples of African Descent, Azernews reports.

The event brought together experts, politicians, and activists from territories still grappling with the legacy of colonialismincluding Guadeloupe, Martinique, Kanaki (New Caledonia), Sint-Martin, Reunion, Bonaire, Aruba, Maohi Nui (French Polynesia) and French Guiana. Participants highlighted the social, economic, and political harm caused by French and Dutch colonial policies, and emphasized the need to raise the voices of colonized peoples on the global stage.

In his opening remarks, BIG Executive Director Abbas Abbasov declared that their support for national and independence movements would persist. He noted that a second wave of decolonization, sparked by Azerbaijans chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement and the activities of BIG, has already begun to yield tangible progress.

Sessions such as Public Memory, Erasure and Resistance of Indigenous Peoples of African Descent and Dynamics of Geopolitical Decolonization in Territories Under Colonial Rule examined the continued struggle of colonized peoples and the failure of former colonial empires to reckon with their past.

At the conclusion of the conference, BIG and participating delegates launched a global petition titled Recognition of Colonial Oppression and Demand for Compensation, calling for:

International recognition of the material and moral damage caused by colonialism

Official apologies from former colonial powers

Provision of reparations and debt relief

Support for cultural, social, and environmental rehabilitation

The petition can be accessed online here.

The final declaration of the event strongly condemned the ongoing refusal of colonial powers such as France and the Netherlands to acknowledge their historical crimes, and expressed support for NGOs like BIG working within international legal frameworks to expose and confront colonial legacies. The declaration also condemned the resolution passed by the French National Assembly on March 28 targeting the Baku Initiative Group.

The conference concluded with expressions of gratitude to BIG for its leadership in promoting decolonization efforts and raising global awareness of this urgent cause.
16 April 2025 10:37 (UTC+04:00)

President of Georgia Mikheil Kavelashvili has commemorated martyrs in Baku, Azernews reports.

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16 April 2025 13:18 (UTC+04:00)

"Georgia and Azerbaijan firmly support each others sovereignty and territorial integrity, and for that, I would like to once again express my gratitude to Mr. President."

Azernews reports that Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili said this during a joint press conference with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

Mikheil Kavelashvili underscored that Georgia has consistently been a strong supporter of Azerbaijans territorial integrity and sovereignty.
16 April 2025 15:11 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

ADA University has launched its Career Readiness Week, a multi-day initiative designed to help students transition more confidently and effectively into the labor market. The opening ceremony took place on April 14 with the participation of public and private sector leaders, university faculty, and students, Azernews reports.

The program is organized with the main sponsorship of ABB (International Bank of Azerbaijan) and supported by the ADA University Foundation. It serves as a platform for students to engage directly with professionals, gain insights into various industries, and develop critical soft skills essential for career success.

ADA University Vice-Rectors Gunay Ziyadova and Elkin Nurmammadov, as well as Ilham Habibullayev, First Deputy Chairman of ABB's Board of Directors, emphasized that the initiative not only supports student development but also enhances Azerbaijans national human capital.

This year, over 850 students applied, and 500 were selected through interviews to join the program, which runs for 8 days. They will participate in interactive sessions led by managers and experts from sectors including banking, consulting, IT, telecommunications, and more.

Participating companies include Deloitte, Baker Tilly, Ernst & Young, Nobel Energy, Azerbaijan Airlines, Azercosmos, and about 20 other institutions. The sessions cover topics such as emotional intelligence, job interview strategies, business ethics, personal branding, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

"Through this initiative, ADA University supports our students in entering the business world more quickly and competently," said Nigar Ismayilova, a student participant. "Inviting leaders of well-known companies to ADA is an invaluable opportunity for them to get to know us better."

Career Readiness Week will conclude on May 2 with a Career Fair featuring up to 150 local and international companies and government agencies. Over 100 students who complete the training will receive awards, and each participating institution will select five students for internship and employment opportunities.
16 April 2025 14:41 (UTC+04:00)

On April 16, Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, held an expanded meeting with Mikheil Kavelashvili, President of Georgia, over luncheon.

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16 April 2025 15:32 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

On April 15, the Executive Director of the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), Ms. Maimunah Mohd Sharif (Anaklaudia Rosbach  as in your text), paid a courtesy visit to the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Republic of Kenya, Azernews reports, citing the Embassy.

The Executive Director and her accompanying delegation first visited the memorial room dedicated to National Leader Heydar Aliyev and the statehood corner established in the administrative building of the Embassy. The memory of the National Leader was honored with deep respect.

During the meeting, Ambassador Sultan Hajiyev informed the guests about Azerbaijans history of statehood, culture, the life and activities of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, his mission as a savior, the achievements of modern Azerbaijan under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, and the restoration of territorial integrity following the glorious Victory in 2020. The Ambassador emphasized that Azerbaijan is the only country conducting large-scale post-conflict reconstruction and restoration efforts based on national resources and in accordance with modern urban planning standards. He also provided information about landmines in the restored territories, which pose a threat to human life, and about the ongoing humanitarian demining efforts.

The meeting expressed satisfaction with the dynamic cooperation between Azerbaijan and UN-Habitat. Views were exchanged on shared priorities and goals regarding the global significance and international recognition of the 13th session of the UN World Urban Forum (WUF13), which will be hosted by Azerbaijan from May 18 to 22, 2026. Ms. Rosbach expressed appreciation for the efforts and support of the Government of Azerbaijan in the WUF13 preparatory process.

The UN-Habitat Executive Director acknowledged Azerbaijans successful hosting of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) and emphasized the importance of joint initiatives carried out with the COP29 Presidency, as well as the positive outcomes of the meetings held during her visit to Azerbaijan. She noted that Azerbaijans global initiatives on the interaction between sustainable urban development and climate change, as well as efforts to connect the COP and WUF platforms, contribute to advancing international cooperation to the next level. UN-Habitat is committed to expanding its partnership with Azerbaijan in this direction.
16 April 2025 18:40 (UTC+04:00)

Ahmad Ismayilov, Executive Director of the Media Development Agency of Azerbaijan, met with Asadjon Khodjaev, Director of the Agency for Information and Mass Communications under the Administration of the President of Uzbekistan, on the sidelines of the Central Asian Media Forum themed Central Asia in the Era of Global Challenges: Media as a Tool for Strategic Development in Astana, Kazakhstan, Azernews reports.

The meeting underscored the importance of holding conferences, workshops, and working group meetings to facilitate information exchange and discuss mechanisms for mutual coordination between the two countries.

The sides exchanged views on a "Road Map" aimed at advancing media cooperation between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.

The discussion also touched upon the upcoming second AzerbaijanUzbekistan Media Forum to be held in Baku, as well as the organization of reciprocal visits for heads of communication divisions and journalists from both countries.
16 April 2025 18:22 (UTC+04:00)

President Ilham Aliyev expressed condolences to the family of Richard Armitage on his death.

According to Azernews, the letter reads:

We were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Richard Armitage  an eminent statesman, distinguished diplomat, dedicated public servant, and a great friend of Azerbaijan.

His years-long, productive service in international politics and diplomacy, coupled with his extensive experience and unwavering professionalism, earned him great acclaim in the United States and around the world. He contributed immensely to promoting peace, security, and stability worldwide, working to eliminate the sources of conflict and tension, and prevent global threats.

Richard Armitage was also a friend of Azerbaijan, and in Azerbaijan, he will always be remembered with esteem and affinity. I would like to highlight Richard Armitages significant role in advancing relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the United States, and in solidifying the ties of friendship between our nations. I recall our meetings with the fondest impressions.

His dear memory will always be cherished in our hearts.

At this difficult moment, I share your grief and extend my profound condolences to every member of your family.

Ilham Aliyev

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Baku, 16 April 2025
16 April 2025 20:06 (UTC+04:00)

A delegation led by Mikheil Kavelashvili, President of Georgia, who is on an official visit to Azerbaijan, visited the Milli Majlis on April 16.

President Kavelashvili began his visit with a tour of the plenary session hall of the parliament, followed by a visit to the Heydar Aliyev Memorial Hall, where he viewed the exhibits and signed the Guest Book. An expanded meeting between the two sides took place afterward.

Sahiba Gafarova, Speaker of the Milli Majlis, described President Kavelashvilis first foreign visit as President to Azerbaijan as a reflection of the friendship and brotherhood between the two nations. She noted that the visit is also a testament to the strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Georgia and expressed confidence that it would further strengthen and expand bilateral relations.

Highlighting the strong parliamentary relations between the two countries, Gafarova emphasized the role of the interparliamentary friendship groups in fostering cooperation. She also underscored the importance of collaboration between parliamentary committees and commended the close cooperation between the two countries deputies within international parliamentary organizations. She added that, given the biased approaches of certain international organizations towards both countries, parliamentary collaboration at the international level is especially crucial.

President Kavelashvili expressed his gratitude for the warm reception and stressed the significance of his first foreign visit as President to Azerbaijan. He shared his impressions of earlier meetings with President Ilham Aliyev, noting that these discussions were beneficial in deepening bilateral ties. He emphasized that the Georgia-Azerbaijan relationship and strategic partnership serve as a model for other countries.

The Georgian President also praised the high level of parliamentary relations between the two nations and highlighted the importance of reciprocal visits in this regard.

Both sides agreed on the importance of strengthening ties between the youth of both countries for future cooperation.

President Kavelashvili welcomed the agreement on the text of the peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia, expressing hope for its swift signing, which would contribute to regional stability.

The President of Georgia also emphasized the vast potential of the South Caucasus region and the importance of utilizing this potential efficiently.

The meeting concluded with an exchange of views on other mutual topics.
16 April 2025 09:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

South Korea announced on Tuesday an expanded support package worth more than $23 billion for its vital semiconductor industry, Azernews reports.

According to a government statement, the measures are being implemented in response to growing political uncertainty under the current U.S. administration and rising competition from Chinese firms. The announcement follows industry calls for the government to take stronger action to maintain South Koreas global edge in chip manufacturing.

Asia's fourth-largest economy is home to the world's leading memory chip producer, and semiconductors remain a cornerstone of the country's export economy. In 2024, South Koreas semiconductor exports totaled $141.9 billionaccounting for 21 percent of its total exports, according to official data. Of that, $46.6 billion went to China and $10.7 billion to the United States.

Adding to global trade tensions, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he would announce new tariffs on imported semiconductors next week. He added that some companies in the sector may receive flexibility, though details remain unclear.

Just last week, South Korea also rolled out emergency support measures for its automotive industry to cushion the blow from proposed U.S. tariffs. The package includes financial aid, tax cuts, and subsidies to stimulate domestic demand. The government has also pledged to intensify diplomatic efforts with the U.S. and seek new market opportunities abroad.

In addition to financial backing, the semiconductor support package includes plans to accelerate R&D in next-generation chips and boost workforce training. The government aims to strengthen South Koreas role in the global supply chainnot just as a memory chip powerhouse, but as a leader in system semiconductors and AI-related technologies.

South Koreas strategic investment highlights its ambition to remain at the forefront of the global tech race, as semiconductors increasingly underpin everything from smartphones to electric vehicles and advanced AI systems.
16 April 2025 22:25 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

The United Arab Emirates has secured the top position globally in terms of the number of accredited medical institutions, further cementing its status as a global leader in healthcare, Azernews reports.

According to official data, as of 2025, the UAE ranked among the top 10 countries worldwide in 21 key healthcare indicators. The countrys healthcare system is recognized as the highest-rated in the region and ranks 20th globally in terms of overall quality.

These impressive achievements are the result of strategic, long-term investments. In the 2025 federal budget, 5.745 billion dirhams  equivalent to 8% of total spending  was allocated to healthcare development and disease prevention.

Looking ahead, healthcare expenditure in the UAE is projected to reach approximately 151 billion dirhams by 2029, with an average annual growth rate of 6.7%. By 2027 alone, the government plans to invest 118 billion dirhams into the sector, aiming to expand medical infrastructure, support innovation, and boost preventative care.

The UAE is also pioneering digital health transformation  integrating AI, robotics, and telemedicine to deliver world-class care. With medical tourism on the rise, the country is quickly becoming a global hub for advanced treatments and wellness services.
16 April 2025 19:36 (UTC+04:00)

A delegation from Azerbaijan, led by Ahmad Ismayilov, Executive Director of the Media Development Agency, is participating in the second Central Asian Media Forum, which has commenced in Astana, Kazakhstan, Azernews reports.

Organized by Kazakhstans Ministry of Culture and Information, the event is held under the theme Central Asia in the Era of Global Challenges: Media as a Tool for Strategic Development.

Speaking at a panel session titled Central Asian Media: New Growth Points and Cooperation, Ahmad Ismayilov highlighted the rapid transformation of the media landscape driven by current geopolitical dynamics. He noted that the media plays a critical role in shaping public opinion, influencing political discourse, and managing socio-political processes.

Ismayilov emphasized the importance of advancing media literacy, promoting ethical journalism, and enhancing regional media cooperation to effectively address global challenges and build societal resilience against disinformation in a fast-evolving information environment.

Over the course of two days, the forum will explore key issues in media operations, including new opportunities for growth and collaboration among Central Asian nations, the evolution of global media, the future information landscape, and the digital transformation of media in the age of artificial intelligence and big data.
16 April 2025 23:30 (UTC+04:00)

British officials have confirmed a pilot scheme is being considered to deport migrants who cross the English Channel, in exchange for the UK accepting asylum seekers in France with legitimate claims, Azernews reports, according to Sky News.

Talks are underway between the two countries over a one-for-one swap, enabling undocumented asylum seekers who have reached the UK by small boat to be returned to France.

Britain would then receive migrants from France who would have a right to be in the UK, like those who already have family settled in the UK.

Government minister Lillian Greenwood told Sky News: "I can confirm there are discussions ongoing with the French government about how we stop this appalling and dangerous trade in people that's happening across the English Channel

"We want to make sure that we are returning people, as we have been since the election, in record numbers, where people don't have a right to be here."

While she did not elaborate on the details, the measure does form part of Labour's policy on illegal immigration, announced in May 2024, in which Sir Keir Starmer argued for "fast-track reforms" to the asylum system with "an enforcement unit and a returns agreement with the EU".

Sir Keir vowed in the election campaign to tackle people smuggling by "smashing the gangs" and deter migrants making the potentially dangerous, and sometimes deadly, crossing to the UK by small boat.

On Wednesday, a government source told Sky News: "We have always said we would explore options to increase returns to Europe, particularly prioritising family reunion and respect for the rules... so safe to assume conversations are happening with a range of countries including France."

A Home Office spokesperson added: "The prime minister and home secretary have been clear the UK and France must work closely together to prevent dangerous small boat crossings, particularly on vital law enforcement cooperation.

"We have already secured agreement from the French to deploy a new elite unit of officers at the coast, launch a specialist intelligence unit, increase police numbers and introduce new powers for the French authorities to intervene in shallow waters."

"We are intensifying our collaboration with France and other European countries who face the same challenges by exploring fresh and innovative measures to dismantle the business models of the criminal smuggling gangs."

The start of 2025 has been the busiest year so far for crossings since records began in 2018.

On Tuesday, the number of people arriving in the UK by boat since January stood at 8,183 - 31% higher than the same point last year.
The situation is f***ed up, we dont have many options: Inside the bungled 157m cocaine operation onboard the MV Matthew
Northern Ireland

Heroic NI firefighter who pulled driver from burning car seconds before it exploded to receive one of UK's highest bravery honours
George Brennan, from Co Mayo, was last seen on Wednesday April 2 in Ballycastle

The PSNI is working alongside An Garda Siochana in a bid to locate a missing man from the Republic of Ireland.

George Brennan, who 38 years old is from Co Mayo. According to his family and friends, he was last seen on Wednesday 2nd April 2025 in Ballycastle, Co. Antrim.

The sighting was via CCTV in the Spar shop on Moyle Road in the area, with Mr Brennan wearing a black zip up top, dark jeans, runners and was carrying a blue hiking backpack. He is described is 62, 100kg, with brown hair and blue eyes.

It is believed the Co Mayo man may have travelled onwards from Ballycastle, by foot, hitchhiking or public transport. He family describe him as an avid sea swimmer and hiker and could have run into trouble doing these activities.

They also said his disappearance is completely out of character, and his family and friends are deeply concerned for his wellbeing.

Speaking on behalf of the family, a spokesperson said: We are heartbroken and desperate for any news. George is deeply loved, and we just want to know that he is safe. We urge anyone who may have seen him, spoken with him, or has any informationno matter how smallto come forward.

In a statement, a PSNI spokesperson said: Police are currently assisting colleagues in An Garda Siochana with a missing person. George Brennan, 38 years old, is missing from Co Mayo in the Republic of Ireland.

George may have links to the Causeway Coast and Glens area, and also the Mid and East Antrim area.

If anyone has any information relating to George, please contact police on 101, quoting reference number 831 of 12/04/25.

For those outside Northern Ireland, information can also be shared with Gardai or Crimestoppers (1800 25 00 25).
A Castlereagh councillor whose daughter had to be rushed to hospital twice in the last year has expressed concerns over reports a nearby ambulance station could close.

The DUPs Brian Higginson quizzed a Belfast Health Trust director after fears were expressed that the ambulance station at Purdysburn, on the outskirts of south Belfast, is to close.

Mr Higginson described the station as vital at a special meeting of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council (LCCC) on Monday night.

He told the meeting at Lagan Valley Island: I know the Trust owns the building at Purdysburn, and from what I am hearing they dont want the ambulance service there.

They (ambulances) are currently down at Bridge End operating out of there. And I have been approached by them in the last week, saying they are concerned to the point some of them have started a petition to stop it being closed. Do you know any more about it? Because there is word that there is going to be a public consultation on closing the ambulance station. If closed, it would severely impact response times into Castlereagh South.

The ambulance station at Purdysburn is close to the Knockbracken health care park on the Saintfield Road.

The health minister recently said it sits on land owned by his department that is under review, to determine if it is surplus to requirements.

This review is considered appropriate given the current condition of the facilities at the Purdysburn site. The existing infrastructure does not provide adequate accommodation for NIAS staff due to the deteriorated condition of the building.

Recent assessments, following storm damage, have deemed the structure unsafe. Given its age and condition, substantial capital investment would be required to refurbish it to acceptable standards. NIAS is actively seeking suitable alternative locations.

Mr Higginson added: Since August last year, my daughter who suffers from FND (Functional Neurological Disorder), has had to be blue lighted by ambulance to the Royal (Victoria Hospital) after an attack. And on two occasions the ambulance came from Purdysburn.

But Belfast Trust director of performance, planning and informatics Alastair Campbell replied: This is not something I know anything about. I am not sure about the Trusts involvement either. I will check with the Trust and the NI Ambulance Service and will let you know.

The NIAS was contacted for comment.
The father of a woman in north Antrim who was critically injured in a road crash died the day after his daughters accident.

A GoFundMe page has been created by Mosside Presbyterian Church to raise funds for the family.

The church also held a prayer vigil for Shelley Feeney, who remains in hospital after the single-vehicle collision in Ballymoney on Monday.

Emergency services attended the scene in the Knockmore Road area shortly after 10.30am and rushed the casualty, who is aged in her 30s, to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.

A PSNI spokesperson said a child also sustained minor injuries in the crash.

Mosside Presbyterian Church opened its doors on Tuesday evening, inviting residents to pray for Ms Feeney and her family after inviting as many people as we can fit into the church hall to attend.

Rev Andre Alves-Areias said the young womans father James died a day after the crash and thanked the local community for their response to the double tragedy.

The community is obviously shocked and saddened at what has happened to Shelley, and the news that her father passed away the day after is just heart-breaking, he said.

James Feeney

According to a death notice, Mr Feeney died suddenly at the Royal Victoria Hospital on Tuesday.

He has been remembered as the dearly loved husband of the late June as well as the much loved father of Bobby and Shelley and devoted granda of Jake, Sophie, Rowan and Rory, beloved son of Elsie and the late James and dear brother of Brian.

Shelley Feeney

News Catchup - Wednesday 16th April

Mr Feeney will be laid to rest in Mosside Presbyterian Graveyard on Friday afternoon.

Rev Alves-Areias said Shelley is a much-loved and big part of the Mosside community and well known in the area.

The community are really feeling the weight of what has happened, but are rallying round in an amazing way to help support the family, he continued. Even in this time of tragedy, it was heart-warming to see the community come together for Shelley and her family in a time of prayer.

When I started the meeting, almost every seat was taken, with many people standing.

The clergyman urged the community to continue to pray for Ms Feeney and the doctors and nurses taking care of her, and appealed for the privacy of her family to be respected and urged people not to speculate on what happened which is never helpful.

There is a long road ahead for this family and they need all the help and support they can get, Rev Alves-Areias added.

That said, Im confident that the people in Mosside will do that and then some.

The fundraiser web page says Ms Feeney sustained severe injuries and is bravely fighting for her life in intensive care.

It adds: This is an incredibly difficult and worrying time for everyone who knows and loves Shelley, especially for Stephen.

At this critical time Stephen needs to be with her as much as he can. However, being constantly present at the hospital often involves significant unexpected costs  things like travel back and forth, parking, meals, and time off work.

The last thing Stephen should have to worry about right now is the financial strain of being there for Shelley.
President and Vice-Chancellor of Queen's Professor Sir Ian Greer and Chief Executive of Historic Royal Palaces John Barnes are pictured at Hillsborough Castle signing a new strategic partnership harnessing expertise from both Queen's University Belfast and Historic Royal Palaces

Pictured left to right is Vice-President for Governance and External Affairs and Registrar Dr Ryan Feeney, Chair of Queen's Senate and Pro-Chancellor Dr Len O'Hagan, Queen's Pro-Chancellor Orla Corr Nixon, Queen's Chancellor Emeritus Senator George Mitchell, Chair of Historic Royal Palaces Sir Nicholas Coleridge, Head of Hillsborough Castle and Gardens Laura McCorry, President and Vice-Chancellor of Queen's Professor Sir Ian Greer and Chief Executive of Historic Royal Palaces John Barnes

The man who chaired the peace talks that led to the signing of the Good Friday Agreement was back in Belfast today to preside over a new deal.

Queens University, Belfast and Historic Royal Palaces (HRP) at Hillsborough Castle have announced a new strategic partnership harnessing expertise from the two leading institutions in Northern Ireland, with the shared ambition to inspire positive change.

The partnership, which spans several areas including collaborative research, student placements, and joint programming, will build on the existing relationship between the two institutions.

A signing ceremony to mark the partnership took place during a special event held at Hillsborough Castle  the royal residence in Northern Ireland  with leading political and business leaders in attendance, including special guest Senator George Mitchell and Queens Chancellor Emeritus, who chaired negotiations that led to the Agreement in 1998.

A spokesperson said the new partnership aims to foster dialogues that result in tangible, positive outcomes for communities in Northern Ireland and beyond.

They added that Senator Mitchells involvement in the event underscores the importance of Northern Irelands peace process as a valuable model for other regions recovering from conflict.

Professor Sir Ian Greer, Queens President and Vice-Chancellor said: Queens University values the importance of partnership work and collaboration to drive positive change. We have enjoyed a strong working relationship with Hillsborough Castle, and we are delighted to formalise our commitment to pursue joint outcomes in areas including collaborative research; cultural promotion and exchange; as well as building deep dialogues that support societal change.

By bringing together academic excellence and a rich cultural history, we hope to not only create a stronger understanding of Northern Ireland but also provide a platform for other societies around the world to learn from our experiences.

John Barnes, Chief Executive of Historic Royal Palaces, added: This collaboration represents a unique opportunity to transform how we engage with history. Its about expanding our narratives, creating spaces for difficult conversations, and fostering an environment of learning that empowers communities to heal and grow.
If you were hoping for sunshine with your chocolate eggs, think again as the Met Office has said umbrellas might be the Easter essential this year as it predicts rain for most of Northern Ireland.

Despite Northern Ireland enjoying spells of sunshine and warmer temperatures across the past few weeks, the weather group has warned the sunshine will not return this weekend and into early next week.

Last week, the region saw unseasonably high temperatures, as temperatures hitting the 20C mark across all six counties on Thursday. Friday also broke the record for Northern Irelands hottest day of the year so far, with Castlederg in Co Tyrone reaching up to 22C.

According to the Met Office, Friday, which is Good Friday, will start on a dry note, but any sunshine will be short-lived, said a spokesperson for the group.

"Initially there will be a dry start but quickly turning cloudy from the southwest with a band of rain spreading northeast across the country, turning heavy and persistent at times, they said.

"It will also turn windy throughout the day, particularly at the coasts, with highs of 11C.

Read more Rory McIlroy homeward bound as private jet lands in London amid speculation over NI return

Although it wont be as wet, the spokesperson continued that Saturday will have winds easing through the day.

"It will be drier than Friday, but still rather cloudy with the odd shower or longer spell of rain, mainly in the south, there will be highs of 11C.

Earlier this week, the Met Office said it expected a much more changeable forecast for this week with a mix of showers and the potential for hail and thunder following the higher temperatures.

Easter Sunday will have showery rain and will remain rather cloudy with outbreaks of showery rain, most frequent in the west.

However, the Met Office added: There may be some brighter intervals possible later, but it will be breezy, with highs of 12C.

Easter Monday will also offer a drier start, but rain is likely to return by the afternoon as showers or longer spells push northeast. Coastal areas could see another blast of blustery winds, and temperatures will hover near 12C.

The outlook for Easter comes as a yellow weather warning was put into force across all of Northern Ireland with a caution of potential for flooding on Wednesday.

The Met Office yellow weather warning started at 2am and is expected to end at 9pm, with the Met Office warning of the potential to bring interruption to power supplies while flooding of a few homes and business was rated as possible.

In an update issued on Wednesday morning, the Met Office has confirmed the warning was extended across all of Northern Ireland and to cater for heavier rainfall across the west.

A spokesperson for the Met Office added: "Most areas within the warning will see 20-30 mm of rain, but a few spots could see 50-60 mm particularly over the high ground of Antrim, Down and Londonderry.

"Rain will ease from the west Wednesday evening.

Northern Ireland will join the rest of the UK in a wet Easter weekend, with showers, cloud and windy conditions also expected across the north and south west of England.
The club allowed the family to place a photo of Tony on Mikel Arteta's dugout seat.

A tribute to Tony in the matchday programme as Arsenal took on Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter final.

A photo of Tony on the chair where Mikel Arteta delivers his weekly press conferences.

A woman whose son was murdered has spoken of her familys gratitude that Arsenal included a tribute in their matchday programme for their Champions League quarter final clash with Real Madrid.

Father-of-six Tony McDermott (38) died in October 2023.

Tonys mum Marie Arbuckle, who is originally from Derry, recently spoke to the Belfast Telegraph when she sought to assure other bereaved mothers that, although there is no grief like losing a child, there is life after.

Tony will always be close to his mothers heart with Marie remembering him as the colourful young man who enjoyed life to the full and as a devoted supporter of Arsenal.

The family all learned the club song The Angel (North London Forever) to sing as a tribute at his funeral.

Marie has also taken photos of Tony to the Emirates Stadium.

The club was very accommodating, Marie said, and allowed them to rest a photo of Tony on manager Mikel Artetas seat in the dugout and where he delivers his weekly press conferences.

A photo of Tony on the chair where Mikel Arteta delivers his weekly press conferences.

When speaking to this newspaper Marie had said she would love it if her son appeared in the matchday programme when Arsenal took on Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter final first leg last Tuesday, April 8  which would have been Tonys 40th birthday.

True to their word, Arsenal included a tribute to Tony on what was an historic night for the club and one that fans will remember for many years, as they beat the Spanish giants 3-0 in the first leg.

It read: Happy heavenly 40th birthday TONY MCDERMOTT, son, brother, dad, uncle, family friend, legend.

"Forever our angel xx taken way too soon xx.

A tribute to Tony in the matchday programme as Arsenal took on Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter final.

Marie hopes Arsenal now make it through to the semi-final with the second leg taking place this tonight.

She was overjoyed to receive a copy of the programme on Wednesday.

Tony will be foremost in her thoughts as she watches the match tonight.

Tony's favourite player in the current team is Bukayo Saka.

Marie said: I'm just imagining Tony up there buzzing his name was on an Arsenal programme.

The family are so excited and will be eternally grateful to Arsenal that we have been allowed to do it.

We were looking to get a tile for Tony on the celebration of life wall at the Emirates but they haven't any available at the minute.

A couple of the family also went to Amsterdam where Tony always wanted to go to put locks on the bridge there, so both together is more than we could have asked for.
A decision by the UK Supreme Court on the definition of a woman has been welcomed by Unionists in Northern Ireland.

It comes after the countrys highest court unanimously ruled that the terms woman and sex in the Equality Act "refer to a biological woman and biological sex" following a dispute centred on whether someone with a gender recognition certificate (GRC) recognising their gender as female should be treated as a woman under the UK 2010 Equality Act  which does not apply in Northern Ireland.
Hazel Behan, who has waived her right to anonymity, lodged an application before the ECHR on Wednesday (Alamy/PA)

An Irishwoman who alleged she was raped at knifepoint by the main suspect in the disappearance of toddler Madeleine McCann is bringing a case to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) against the Portuguese authorities over their handling of her attack.

Hazel Behan has claimed that the Portuguese authorities failed to properly investigate rapist Christian Bruckner over her serious sexual assault in 2004.

Ms Behan, who has waived her right to anonymity, lodged an application before the ECHR on Wednesday.

Bruckner, a convicted sex offender who is serving a jail sentence in Germany for rape, was acquitted by a German court in relation to the charge of violent rape of Ms Behan.

Ms Behan is accusing the Portuguese authorities of alleged inaction in identifying and prosecuting Bruckner.

Ms Behan, who was violently raped in her apartment in Praia da Rocha, Algarve, has consistently maintained that the handling of her case by Portuguese authorities was condemned due to their investigative failings.

She claims that their failings include the alleged failure to seize blood-stained bed sheets and false nails broken from the struggle which plainly contained important forensic evidence.

She further claims that there was a failure to provide a translator so she could understand the process or provide a detailed witness statement.

In a statement from Belfast law firm Phoenix Law, they added the claim also included: The imposition of surveillance on Hazel after the incident which included a direct approach by the Portuguese police to return to Ireland due to the damage her allegations had on the tourism industry and the closing of the case without notice.

Despite striking similarities between her case and other offences that occurred in the area, to which Bruckner is now accused, the Portuguese authorities failed to pursue any clear lines of inquiry.

The systematic failings in the Portuguese investigation from the time have directly affected the ability of the German authorities to prosecute Bruckner for the rape of Ms Behan.

Solicitor Darragh Mackin is acting for Hazel Behan (PA)

Ms Behan is bringing a case alleging violations of Article 3 (prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment) and Article 8 (right to private life).

She said: Lodging my case with the European Court of Human Rights is not just about seeking justice for myself  its about standing up after being silenced and ignored for far too long.

I carry the pain of how I was treated every single day but I hope the court will ensure that my human rights are protected in line with the very standards that is expected right across Europe.

And that maybe, through this, Portugal, and other countries, will treat victims of rape, both domestic and foreign, with the decency and respect we deserve.

Darragh Mackin, solicitor for Ms Behan, said: The European Court of Human Rights exists for a reason. It exists to ensure victims like Hazel Behan are guaranteed a minimum level of protections across the various member states.

Through this action, Hazel has highlighted the systematic and inexcusable failings by the Portuguese authorities has denied her and many other victims, justice for nearly two decades.

These failings have ultimately contributed to the acquittal of one of the most high-profile perpetrators in modern history.

This case is about ensuring that victims of sexual violence are not ignored, dismissed, or silenced by the very systems that are meant to protect them.
Missing ordnance which was recovered following a public appeal did not contain any explosives, the Defence Forces said.

An appeal over the whereabouts of a possible live Army round was issued on Tuesday.

The possible live ordnance was seen by a member of the public on a walking trail on Lugnaquilla mountain in the Glen of Imaal, Donard.

A white illumination round is about 12in (30cm) long and weighs nearly 7lb (3.1kg). It is used by the military to illuminate an area at night.

Issuing the appeal, An Garda Siochana said the casing may still contain explosive and incendiary material, which would pose significant danger to the public.

Gardai said the location is inside the signposted Range Danger Area along Route 2.

The Glen of Imaal, in the western Wicklow Mountains, is used by the Defence Forces as an artillery firing range and a training location for Irish soldiers going on UN peacekeeping missions.

Gardai said the round was seen partially buried in the ground and appeared to have been in the location for some time.

However, it was no longer at that location and was believed to have been removed.

On Tuesday, gardai said the round had been recovered following the appeal.

The Defence Forces Explosive Ordnance Team arrived at the scene were deployed to the Hacketstown Area, Co Carlow, to assist gardai.

They arrived on scene shortly before midnight on Monday and found the remains of a left-over casing, with no explosives found in the object.

After ensuring the area was safe, the team handed the scene back over the An Garda Siochana and returned to base at 1am on Tuesday.
St Julian's is a popular holiday spot on the coast of Malta

An Irish man has drowned after getting into difficulty while swimming at a popular holiday spot in Malta.

The 76-year-old had reportedly been swimming off the seaside town of St Julian's, near the Cavalieri Hotel, in St Julians Bay, when he got into difficulty.

Police were notified of the incident at around 12.40pm yesterday afternoon and requested the assistance of members of the Civil Protection and the Armed Forces of Malta.

The man was brought to shore and received medical assistance but was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

In a statement, Maltese police confirmed that they are continuing to investigate the incident and an inquiry has been launched.

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade told the Irish Independent it is aware of the case and is providing consular assistance.

The spokesperson said that it does not comment on the details of individual cases.
Pupils at Mallusk Integrated Primary School celebrate recent poll findings that 65% of people in Northern Ireland agree that integrated education should be the norm

Polling released last week once again showed widespread public support for integrated education in Northern Ireland  65% of people want integrated schools to be the main model for our education system.

These latest findings from LucidTalk are in line with other surveys carried out over many years. The question is why popular opinion hasnt been followed up by change. Despite some growth, the integrated sector still only educates 8% of pupils in Northern Ireland.

One major obstacle is the combined impact of wider divisions in society. The choices made by ministers, schools, communities and even parents can put up barriers to change. These issues are explored in a recent report from Pivotal, the independent think tank focused on Northern Ireland.

Achieving greater integration in education and housing found that, on one level, the lack of progress is a failure of education policy in Northern Ireland to keep pace with what the public wants. Existing demand for places in integrated schools has not been met. Strong political leadership has been lacking, despite the statutory requirement on the Department of Education to encourage, facilitate and support the integrated sector. But this is not the only issue.

Many who support integrated education in principle also have other priorities when it comes to choosing schools for their children  most notably the reputation and success of the school, convenience to home, family or community ties, and religious ethos. The sentiment that integrated education is an ambition for the future, but perhaps unrealistic for our specific local situations now, is widespread.

Ann Watt, Pivotal

]LucidTalks polling also found that three-quarters of the public believe all types of schools in NI should aim to have a religious and cultural mix of pupils, teachers and governors. Pivotals research shows that this is already happening, although only to a limited extent and not in all schools.

A significant minority of schools outside the integrated sector have a good mix of Protestant and Catholic pupils. This is especially true within state schools which have historically been seen as Protestant. Fewer Catholic schools have achieved this kind of mix.

Overall Northern Irelands schools remain largely divided, with only 14% of children attending schools which have a mix of pupils, even when relatively modest representation is required for schools to meet this definition of mixed  meaning at least 10% Protestant and at least 10% Catholic pupils.

Pivotals report argues that if policymakers and the public truly hold breaking down barriers in education as a priority then we need both growth in the integrated sector and more diversity within all types of schools. It should not be either/or.

The paper also explores an overlooked issue  the relationship between educational and residential segregation. Divisions in schools and in housing reinforce each other. Many single-identity schools are simply representative of their local communities. These schools are justified in feeling that their successes as strong community schools, often in challenging circumstances, can go unnoticed in discussions about integration.

Across much of Northern Ireland, housing remains very divided. Visions of greater integration are hampered by housing shortages and the subsequent slowdown in market mobility. Its hard to increase the amount of mixing in communities when simply getting and maintaining a roof over peoples heads is itself a challenge. One of the best ways to boost housing integration is through new-build shared developments but, with house completions at their lowest since 1959, this route is partly closed off.

Looking ahead at future population change, what may be seen as a threat is in fact an opportunity. Northern Ireland is set for a dramatic fall in the number of school-age children over the next 10 years. The Education Authority already considers many small schools unsustainable. However, if schools have to be rationalised, this provides an opportunity to promote integration as the preferred model.

Change requires political commitment. Without politicians signing up to a unified aim, it is unrealistic to expect change to happen on the scale that is needed.

Greater integration, based on respect for difference alongside the desire to build a more cohesive society, requires cross-community leadership and a new vision of what a more integrated society could resemble and achieve. Only then could we move closer to the levels of sharing and integration anticipated in the Belfast Good Friday Agreement, and still widely hoped for by the public.

Ann Watt is director of Pivotal, whose report Achieving greater integration in education and housing can be found online at www.pivotalppf.org/our-work/publications
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Dr. Kimberley Sampson is a board-certified OB/GYN and Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington. She serves as Chair of the Vermont section of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), providing care to patients across southern Vermont and advocating for improved maternal health in rural communities. Opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of Vermont News & Media.
Cj Garner and Marcus Lyon, who together own The Common Table, plan to keep the lease on the current space just up the road and are contemplating reimagining the original location as a breakfast and lunch spot.
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One of the busiest and most important School Committee meetings of the year is set for Wednesday, with three items directly tied to its immediate future up for discussion and votes.
Whatever mandate President Trump might claim, and whatever overreaches his sycophants enable, it must be asked: Who honestly voted for this? Did a plurality or even a significant fraction of Americans vote to hobble already straining public school budgets, crush Head Start, undermine rural infrastructure and facilitate an autocratic police state? We think not  at least, we hope not.
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Canada's T&D Diagnostics starts manufacturing Starkwert FIA range in India

April 16, 2025 | Wednesday | News

Genenest will be the exclusive manufacturer in India

T&D Diagnostics, headquartered in Canada with a manufacturing unit in the Netherlands, recently updated its plans to manufacture more products in India.

T&D entered into a strategic partnership with Genenest  A Noida-based biotech company to manufacture its Fluorescence Immunoassay Analyzer (FIA) range in India. Under this strategic partnership, Genenest will be the exclusive manufacturer in India for T&Ds StarkWert range of FIA products that are gaining rapid popularity in India.

StarkWert is a Fluorescence Immunoassay Analyzer which works based on the detection of fluorescence emitted during an immunoassay with antigen antibody interaction.

Manish Varma, CEO of T&D Diagnostics Canada, the parent company of T&D Diagnostics India and T&D Diagnostics Europe shared his vision of making India hub to serve international markets, especially Asian markets. Depending on various regulatory approvals, T&D can introduce IVD kits manufactured in India to different countries.

Varma said, "Global supply chains including manufacturing and distribution hubs that conform to stringent quality control norms would form the basis of any IVD company with global aspirations. Gone are the times, when a single countrys base could serve internationally. We have seen the supply disruptions during times of COVID-19 and with potential tariff war coming up, we can see organisations with multinational operations having an advantage in terms of seamless supply maintaining the same quality by replicating the standards, thus leading to the same customer experiences over and over again. This in the long run creates a high brand equity, something every successful company pursues."


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A new documentary about the 2015 killing of Limerick man Jason Corbett by his American wife Molly Martens and her father is due to be streamed on Netflix next month.

A Deadly American Marriage premieres on May 9th with interviews with Martens, her father Tom and Mr Corbetts children, Jack and Sarah.

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The streaming service has described the documentary as a chilling exploration of love and betrayal featuring interviews with those closest to the case.

It also promises to shed a bright light on the many questions that have lingered since the shocking events of that night.

Molly Martens (40) and her father Tom (73), who is a retired FBI agent, were released from prisons in North Carolina last June after serving four years and three months behind bars for the killing of Mr Corbett in 2015.

In their original 2017 trial, the Martens were convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to between 20 and 25 years in prison.

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Their 2017 second-degree murder conviction was overturned on appeal in 2020 and the retrial was moved to Forsyth County due to the intensity of the media and public interest in the story.

Before the retrial began, the Martens accepted a plea deal for voluntary manslaughter in October 2023 and were released from prison last year.

Ireland Daughter of Jason Corbett killed by American wife... Read More

Mr Corbetts daughter Sarah Corbett Lynch has described, in recently-released memoir A Time For Truth, the volatile atmosphere her stepmother created within their home.

My dad was abused, he was a victim, she told The Irish Times Womens Podcast last month.

By writing the book, Ms Corbett Lynch said she wanted to highlight that men could be victims of domestic violence too. Its an important message that anyone can be a victim. Anyone could be abused. It doesnt have to be someone who is quiet or who is vulnerable. Sometimes its the guy who is the bright ray of sunshine.

The Netflix documentary is produced and directed by Jessica Burgess and Jenny Popplewell.
Tucker Carlson was in Dublin this week, where he was hosted by Conor McGregor at his Black Forge Inn pub in Crumlin.

McGregor, who is appealing a High Court civil jurys finding that he raped a woman in a Dublin hotel, was interviewed by the controversial former Fox News host as the pair donned Maga hats.

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We had a great chat with Tucker Carlson highlighting the issues Ireland is facing, Irelands plight, Irelands fight and also Irelands delight, McGregor told The Irish Times.

Its not all doom and gloom and we want to keep a positive outlook and move incrementally, step by step, to a better Ireland.

McGregor described Carlson as a "good listener" and said he was looking forward to the interview being absorbed by the Irish public.

I spoke from my heart, and well see how it goes, he said.

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McGregor's unlikely bid for the Irish presidency undoubtedly featured in the interview.

The UFC fighter would need to secure the backing of 20 Oireachtas members or four local authorities to get on the ballot.

Responding to the interview on Wednesday, Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers said: "I think most political parties and independents completely reject his politics, his rhetoric, his divisive approach to public debate, and I'm sure that will be reflected in his interview with Tucker Carlson.

"That type of extreme politics isn't something most Irish people accept. I think it will be widely rejected if he attempted to run for the presidency."

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So, who is Tucker Carlson?

Fox News fame

The 54-year-old became a household name in the United States with his prime-time Fox News show.

Tucker Carlson Tonight, which debuted in 2016, gave Carlson a platform to voice his opinions, and he became a hit in Republican and right-wing circles in the US.

He often pushed conspiracy theories, including denial of the Covid-19 vaccine, while he also spoke in favour of Russia around the time of the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

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Carlson was a favourite of US President Donald Trump and played a role in his electoral success in 2016 and 2024.

Dominion court case

Carlson left Fox News in April 2023 after the high-profile Dominion court case.

Fox Corp agreed to pay $787 million (691 million) to Dominion Voting Systems to avoid a defamation trial.

Dominion had sued Rupert Murdoch's media giant over Fox's false claims that voting machines were rigged in the 2020 US election, a claim often pushed by Mr Trump.

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Carlson, who gave regular coverage to the claims on his show, was due to testify at the trial.

Text messages and emails from Carlson were revealed in the trial in which he admitted the claims were baseless. In other messages, he admitted he "passionately" hated Mr Trump.

While he remains a Trump ally, their relationship cooled for a period, and Mr Trump did more interviews with Carlson's former Fox colleague Sean Hannity.

Move to Twitter/X and streaming service

In 2023, Carlson moved his show to Twitter, now X.

He conducted interviews with Mr Trump and other prominent figures on the platform.

In December 2023, he launched the streaming service Tucker Carlson Network.

Vladimir Putin interview

Carlson travelled to Russia in February 2024 to interview Russian President Vladimir Putin.

It was Putin's first one-on-one interview with a Western journalist since he launched the invasion of Ukraine.

Carlson was widely criticised over a lack of journalistic integrity as he appeared to pander to Putin.

He did not question misinformation from the Russian president, and failed to question him about Russia's war crimes in Ukraine.
Victims of disgraced surgeon and paedophile Michael Shine have met the Taoiseach as part of their bid to have a Commission of Investigation into alleged sexual abuses.

The group has urged Micheal Martin to authorise a public inquiry into alleged sexual abuses by Shine, aged 93, who was convicted of assaulting nine boys at two trials in 2017 and 2019.

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The group, Dignity4Patients, is calling for a public inquiry to probe claims that authorities knew about the decades of abuse that happened at a hospital in Co Louth and at Shines private practice and failed to prevent it.

He had worked as a senior registrar at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda from 1964 to 1995.

Many of the survivors claim that the Medical Missionaries of Mary religious order, which was in charge of the hospital, was aware of the alleged abuse for years.

More than 200 victims have settled civil actions against the Medical Missionaries of Mary.

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The victims met with Mr Martin at his office in Dublin, where they spoke of the abuse they suffered as young boys and teenagers.

Cianan Murray, from Duleek, was the first survivor to go public about his abuse in 2009.

He was aged 16 when he was abused after he received treatment for a cut to his eye at the hospital.

I was abused in 1972 and gave a statement to the guards in 1995. They never came back to me and in 2009 I got on to the guards again. I said, whatever happened to my statement? They said, we couldnt find your records, they went missing in the hospital, so were not pursuing your case and you anymore, Mr Murray said.

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He is Europes most prolific paedophile. Jimmy Savile had 300 victims. Theres a French surgeon (Joel Le Scouarnec) on trial who had 300 victims. At the moment, Shine has 366 victims.

We need to find out how could this have happened, and please, God, make sure it never happens again.

Id like to truth to come out because so many people have been involved in covering this up.

He had 360 victims and nobody said nothing. Since 1995 Ive been on depression and sleeping tablets.

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What Shine did has been an open secret.

Gerard Murray was aged four when he was allegedly raped by Shine.

He attended hospital as a child for a hernia operation.

He sexually abused me and I can still remember his breath whispering over my shoulder as he was raping me, he said.

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I cant really put into words how it effects me, but I grew up with a sense of shame, guilt, feeling unsafe and had a overpowering sense of self hatred.

I became addicted to alcohol and drugs and became homeless and attempted suicide. My life was destroyed.

Were looking for a Commission of Investigation because people knew Michael Shine was sexually abusing children and young boys, yet was never stopped.

It happened over decades. Im 26 years clean and sober, thats despite the State. Ive been failed by every institution in this country.

The Taoiseach didnt say yes but didnt say no either, and we need some form of accountability, truth and justice.

Peter OConnor, who was originally form Dundalk, was allegedly abused by Shine in 1975 after undergoing an operation as a teenager.

I was a teenager, and I knew what had happened was wrong, he said.

I was very innocent then and I suffered a lot of jokes from people, about being one of Shines boys. The dogs on the street knew he was abusing boys.

Mr OConnor said he became a heavy drinker and only stopped drinking alcohol in recent years.

He is sceptical the State will agree to a public inquiry.

I never had any form of help whatsoever from the State, he said.

The meeting with the Taoiseach went pretty much as I expected, a lot of airy talk.

If theres a Commission of Inquiry, Id be really surprised.

The dogs in the street knew what he was doing. It wasnt a world that I was aware of. I was really, really innocent and we had such a huge respect for doctors and Shine was many, many levels above that again.

Ian Armstrong, from Drogheda but who was living in Meath at the time he was abused, attended hospital for treatment to a hand injury when he was around the age of 18.

He said: Mr Shine was the best surgeon around and he performed surgery on my hand. I had appointments with him after that and he seriously abused me.

I havent felt the same since. I am broken. I couldnt understand why he was doing a full body check at the appointment.

I knew what he was doing was wrong. I cant get out of my head what happened. It happened to so many of us.

We just want a Commission of Investigation. Time doesnt matter. Its healing in the head and its good to be listened to.

Larry Torris, who lives in Dundalk, was a 10-year-old when he was allegedly abused by Shine in 1994.

It was during hospital treatment in 2022 that he discovered he was a former patient of Shine, and began having flashbacks while undergoing treatment a year later.

I have panic attacks and have been diagnosed with PTSD. I was only 10 when it happened, he said.

I slowly came to understand why I always had darkness over me and didnt particularly who I was.

The first instance of Mr Shine happened in 1964, for me it was 1994, 30 years after it first happened.

How is it possible this can happen over a long period of time by one individual?

Adrienne Reilly, chief executive of Dignity for Patients, said they remain cautiously optimistic that Mr Martin will agree to a public inquiry.

We feel that he listened and heard what we said, and in particular, we made it known to him that we have expertise about inquiry models, Ms Reilly said.

Were not starting from zero. Were an organisation that comes with 50 per cent of the work already done.

Weve done a lot of deep thinking and had extensive discussions with the group about an inquiry model and what that may look like, how long it would take, where money should come from, costings and all the things that are a concern to the government.

We made that very clear to the Taoiseach today and I think he really heard us on that front.

A spokesperson for Mr Martin said: The Taoiseach welcomed the opportunity to meet with members of Dignity4Patients today.

Ireland Sinn Fein calls for 2009 review into Michael Shine... Read More

The accounts of the abuse so many people suffered over the years were truly harrowing and enormous in scale.

The Taoiseach thanked them for telling their stories. They discussed the need for answers, and the best ways to achieve those answers.

The groups said they plan to meet with the Minister for Health and the Taoiseach agreed to reflect on the issues raised in todays meeting and to continue to engage.
Bafflement and shock has been expressed at the outcome of the long-awaited report into the Grace case.

A non-verbal child with profound intellectual disabilities, given the pseudonym Grace, was placed in the care of a foster family by the State when she was 11.

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In 2017, a commission of investigation was set up to examine her case after allegations of sexual abuse were levelled against her foster father.

The Farrelly Commission report, published on Tuesday, made no findings that she had experienced sexual or emotional abuse while in the care of the foster family from 1989 until 2009.

It did find that Grace was subjected to neglect through insufficient dental care and financial mismanagement.

In relation to seven other people in the care of the same foster family, the Commission said they should potentially be investigated further, while 40 others who had not made allegations should not.

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Politicians have expressed shock at the findings of the utterly anaemic 2,000-page report, which is expected to cost a total of 20 million and took years to complete.

Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, Irelands Special Rapporteur on Child Protection, said she was horrified by what the report contained, calling it quite impenetrable.

She said that key questions she had around Graces care and disability services in the south east were not adequately addressed by the report.

She added: It seems to me that this report does not give answers to many questions, does not provide accountability, and fundamentally, does not deal with the million dollar question of whether children and vulnerable adults will be safer going forward.

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Fianna Fail TD John McGuinness, who has raised the Grace case in the Dail, said he was stunned and baffled by the content of the report.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said she was deeply shocked and disappointed that the report is so lengthy and has no answers in it.

I feel that Grace and the others are being let down all over again. To me, the passage of time, the delay, the prevarication, the failure to act when clearly there was evidence of abuse, that abuse had been reported, and yet Grace was left in a very, very dangerous and abusive situation.

The hurt, the damage and the trauma of all of that, I think, is doubled today.

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We had hoped that after eight years, that this report would bring some answers, some clarity, but above all else, accountability. Somebody somewhere has to be answerable for this.

I think its very disappointing, and as I say, shocking, that we now see this report which seems to have nothing to say about accountability.

Ms McDonald said she did not find the report credible and added: Im really shocked to hear that the report is so utterly anaemic, has no conclusions that tally in any way credibly with the information and complaints that was brought forward decades ago.

Green Party leader Roderic OGorman, former childrens minister, said that much better care infrastructure for vulnerable children and adults had been put in place.

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I do think the steps that were announced today in terms of an analysis and examination of all our safeguarding laws are really important for both children and vulnerable adults.

Asked if the government accepts the findings of the report, Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan said it would be inappropriate for him as a minister to reject the findings.

In 2017, the Oireachtas set up a commission of investigation to inquire into and to reach findings of fact on issues, he told RTE Radio.

The reason we set it up is because as Oireachtas members we didnt have access to the information, we didnt have the ability to compel witnesses to attend before us.

People are perfectly entitled to say they dont agree with the report, but as a member of government I think it would be inappropriate of me as a government minister to reject the findings of the report, particularly as I havent read the report in detail yet.

Ireland Minister cannot second-guess findings of Grace r... Read More

He said it was appropriate that the second phase of the inquiry, into 40 other cases, would not continue when there was no issue or raised no complaint about their care.

He said it would be inappropriate to order inquiries into seven other people referenced in the report.

I think it would be inappropriate to order another investigation into seven other individuals in circumstances where this inquiry into one has taken seven years to complete and an extra year to publish on top of that.
A young mother who stole thousands of euro from the restaurant where she worked, forcing the owners to sell the business, has been jailed for one year.

Rachel Kenny (29), of Longstone, Pallasgreen, Co Limerick, pleaded guilty at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court to 10 sample counts of theft from the Milk Thistle restaurant in Mungret.

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The charges formed part of a broader Garda investigation into 81 separate incidents of theft from the business over an 18-month period.

The court heard that Kenny, who began working at the restaurant in 2019 and was later promoted to supervisor, abused her position of trust by manipulating the restaurants cash online register system and pocketing 150 a week after allegedly helping an accomplice.

Detective Sergeant Fiona OConnell told the court the thefts came to light in late 2022 after Kennys boss and owner of the restaurant, Denis Cregan, noticed a drastic downturn in the businesss turnover. Initially attributing the losses to rising energy costs, Mr Cregans accountants later flagged inconsistencies that raised suspicions of the internal theft.

After reviewing excellent quality CCTV footage, Detective Sergeant OConnell found that Kenny was falsely recording cash transactions as gift voucher redemptions or, in some cases, failing to record sales altogether.

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The financial impact was stark. Gift voucher redemptions in 2022 totaled 31,689.87, despite only 5,305 worth of vouchers being sold, the court heard.

The restaurants bank balance plummeted from 149,000 in 2020 to 69,000 in 2022. Accountants estimated the total loss was around 55,000, though not all of it could be blamed on Kenny, the court heard.

Prosecuting counsel John OSullivan BL described Kennys thefts as relatively modest in isolation, but, he pointed out, they were persistent and carried out in a supervisory role.

[Kenny] was essentially dipping into the till week after week, he said.

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Kenny made full admissions when questioned by gardai.

Although her bank account showed no significant activity, and there was no evidence of a lavish lifestyle, her actions had lasting consequences for her employers, the court heard.

Reading a victim impact statement on behalf of Mr Cregan and his wife Mary Lane, who co-owns the restaurant, Mr OSullivan said the couple had decided to put their beloved restaurant up for sale.

It has destroyed our trust in people, wrote Mr Cregan. We worked hard to keep the doors open and were always fair to [Kenny]. This has had a severe psychological and financial toll on us both.

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Defence barrister Erin OHagan BL said Kenny was exceptionally remorseful and had been deeply affected by the criminal proceedings.

She has found the process daunting. This is her first time before a court, she has no previous convictions, and her mental health has suffered as a result, Ms OHagan said.

Describing Kennys relationship with the owners as almost parental, Ms OHagan added that the betrayal had caused Kenny deep personal anguish.

She was married recently but spent her wedding day thinking about this day, that D-Day was going to come.

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Ms OHagan said Kenny had since found work in another restaurant and was trying to rebuild her life. She wasnt living a lavish lifestyle  she is ashamed, shes taken full responsibility for her own actions.

Ireland Ex-employee charged with stealing over 70,000 fro... Read More

Judge Colin Daly said the breach of trust could not be understated.

She deliberately set out to steal from friends who trusted her, the judge said. The cumulative effect was considerable, especially at a time when small businesses are struggling.

While the maximum sentence for each count of theft is 10 years, the judge opted for a five-year headline sentence, reducing it to three years with two suspended. Mitigating factors included Kennys guilty plea, her remorse and lack of prior offences.

[Kenny] financially gained and she abused the trust they placed in her, Judge Daly concluded.
Two men and a juvenile male who were arrested in connection with the discovery of a man's body in Co Wicklow have been charged.

The three males are due to appear before Arklow District Court on Wednesday.

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Gardai said they are continuing to investigate all circumstances surrounding the death of the man following an incident in Bray on Sunday, January 19th.

On Tuesday, two men, aged in their 20s and 30s, a male juvenile and a woman in her 50s, were arrested.

The woman has been released without charge. A file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Gardai say investigations are ongoing.
The findings of the Grace report and the fatal stabbing of a man in Cork make the headlines of Wednesday's papers.

The Irish Times leads with the report into 'Grace' finding no evidence of abuse.

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The Irish Examiner leads with John McGuinness accusing the state of burying the failure of care to 'Grace', a child placed in the care of a foster family by the State when she was 11.

The Echo leads with the fatal stabbing of a man in Youghal, Co Cork on Monday night.

The Irish Independent reveals the new climate plan will limit local objections to wind farms and solar panels.

The Irish Daily Mail revals the fury in cabinet over 'weak' report into the Grace abuse.

The Irish Daily Mirror leads with tributes to a man who died in a fatal stabbing in Cork.

The Irish Daily Star leads with the Dubai two, who were cleared after they went abroad during Covid restrictions.
Israels defence minister has said troops will remain in so-called security zones in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Syria indefinitely.

The remarks by Israel Katz could further complicate talks with Hamas over a ceasefire and hostage release.

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Mr Katz said Israeli forces will remain in the security zones as a buffer between the enemy and (Israeli) communities in any temporary or permanent situation in Gaza  as in Lebanon and Syria.

He said: Unlike in the past, the (Israeli military) is not evacuating areas that have been cleared and seized.

Lebanese president Joseph Aoun said that Israels continued presence in some areas in Lebanon was hindering the Lebanese armys full deployment as required by the ceasefire negotiated with Israel. The war left over 4,000 people dead, many of them civilians.

Two Israeli drones strikes on Wednesday in southern Lebanon killed two people, the health ministry said. The UN said Israeli strikes in Lebanon have killed more than 70 civilians since the ceasefire took effect in November.

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Also on Wednesday, Israeli strikes across Gaza killed another 22 people, according to local health officials, including a girl who was not yet one year old.

Ahlam Seiams mother, who was injured in the strike, embraced her daughter, still wearing a bloodied blue and white dress, before she was taken for burial.

Israeli forces have taken over more than half of Gaza in recent weeks in a renewed campaign to pressure Hamas to release hostages after Israel ended their ceasefire last month.





UNRWA continues to provide health and psychosocial support services in #Gaza, despite the ongoing forced displacement and Israeli-imposed siege.



Eight UNRWA health centres and 39 UNRWA medical points remain operational.



Medicines are rapidly running out in Gaza. Aid and pic.twitter.com/SUDcfptvzt  UNRWA (@UNRWA) April 15, 2025

Israel has also refused to withdraw from some areas in Lebanon following a ceasefire with the Hezbollah militant group last year, and it seized a buffer zone in southern Syria after the overthrow of President Bashar Assad.

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Israel says it must maintain control of such territories to prevent a repeat of the Hamas attack that triggered the latest conflict.

The war began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on October 7 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251.

Fifty-nine hostages are still inside Gaza, 24 of whom are believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals.

On Wednesday, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group released a video of hostage Rom Braslavski.

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It was the first sign of life of him, though recently released hostages had said they had seen him in captivity.

In the video, which was filmed under duress, Mr Braslavski says he was held in terrible conditions and pleads with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stop the war and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.

The main organisation representing families of the hostages said earlier in a statement: They promised that the hostages come first. In practice, Israel is choosing to seize territory before the hostages.

There is one solution that is desirable and feasible, and that is the release of all the hostages at once as part of an agreement, even at the cost of ending the war.

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Health authorities say more than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed (AP)

Israels retaliatory offensive has killed more than 51,000 people, according to an updated toll released by Gazas health ministry on Tuesday.

That includes more than 1,600 people killed since Israel ended a ceasefire and resumed its offensive last month to pressure Hamas to accept changes to the agreement.

Mr Netanyahu has vowed to annihilate Hamas and return the 59 hostages still in Gaza.

He has said that Israel will then implement US President Donald Trumps proposal for the resettlement of much of Gazas population in other countries through what Mr Netanyahu refers to as voluntary emigration.

Mr Netanyahu helms the most nationalist and religious government in Israels history, and his coalition partners have called for the reestablishment of Jewish settlements in Gaza.

Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005 and dismantled its settlements there.

Arab countries and Palestinians have universally rejected Mr Trumps proposal, which human rights experts say would likely violate international law.

Palestinians in Gaza say they do not want to leave, and fear another mass expulsion like the one that occurred during the war surrounding Israels creation in 1948.
A US federal judge has said he has found probable cause to hold the Trump administration in criminal contempt of court for violating his orders to turn around planes carrying deportees to El Salvador.

US District Judge James E Boasberg warned he could refer the matter for prosecution if the administration does not purge its contempt by voluntarily obeying his order.

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The administration could do so by returning to US custody those who were sent to the El Salvador prison in violation of his order so that they might avail themselves of their right to challenge their removability, Judge Boasberg said.





If the Justice Department declines to prosecute the matter, Judge Boasberg said he will appoint another attorney to prosecute the contempt.

The Constitution does not tolerate wilful disobedience of judicial orders  especially by officials of a co-ordinate branch who have sworn an oath to uphold it, Judge Boasberg wrote.

It marks an escalation in a battle between the judicial and executive branches of government over a presidents powers to carry out key White House priorities.

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The Republican president has called for Judge Boasbergs impeachment while the Justice Department has accused the judge of overstepping his authority.

Judge Boasberg, who was nominated to the federal bench by Democratic president Barack Obama, ordered the administration last month not to deport anyone in its custody under the Alien Enemies Act.

Mr Trump invoked the 1798 wartime law over what he claimed was an invasion by the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.

When Judge Boasberg was told there were already planes in the air heading to El Salvador, which has agreed to house deported migrants in a notorious prison, the judge said the aircraft needed to be returned to the United States.

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But hours later, El Salvadors president, Nayib Bukele, announced that the deportees had arrived in his country. In a social media post, he said, Oopsietoo late above an article referencing Judge Boasbergs order.

The Trump administration has argued it did not violate any orders, noted the judge did not include the turnaround directive in his written order and said the planes had already left the US by the time that order came down.

The Supreme Court earlier this month vacated Judge Boasbergs temporary order blocking the deportations under the Alien Enemies Act, but said the immigrants must be given a chance to fight their removals before they are deported.

The conservative majority said the legal challenges must take place in Texas, instead of a Washington courtroom.

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Judge Boasberg wrote that even though the Supreme Court found his order suffered from a legal defect, that does not excuse the Governments violation.

He wrote that the governments conduct betrayed a desire to outrun the equitable reach of the judiciary.
Shares in computer chipmakers slumped on Wednesday after Nvidia said tighter US government controls on exports of computer chips used for artificial intelligence will cost it an extra 5.5 billion dollars (4.15 billion).

The company, which announced on Monday that it will produce its artificial intelligence supercomputers in the United States for the first time, said the government told it that its H20 integrated circuits and others of a similar bandwidth would be subject to the licensing requirements for the indefinite future.

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In a regulatory filing, Nvidia said the government said the controls addressed risks that the products may be used in or diverted to, a supercomputer in China.

Shares in Nvidia and rival chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) each fell about 6% in morning trading on Wednesday.

AMD said in a regulatory filing on Tuesday that the export controls could potentially result in a charge of around 800 million dollars (604 million) in inventory, purchase commitments and related reserves.





The US Commerce Department said on Wednesday that its new export licensing requirements pertain to Nvidias H20, AMDs MI308 chips and their equivalents.

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It said it is committed to acting on the Presidents directive to safeguard our national and economic security.

Asian technology giants also saw big declines. Testing equipment maker Advantests shares fell 6.7% in Tokyo, Disco Corp lost 7.6% and Taiwans TSMC dropped 2.4%.

The news of the new controls came after Senator Elizabeth Warren urged Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to impose restrictions on exports of Nvidias H20 and other advanced AI chips to China.

I write with great concern regarding reports that the Commerce Department has paused its plan to restrict the export of powerful advanced AI chips like Nvidias H20 to the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), Ms Warren wrote in a letter posted on the website of the US Senates Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs.

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It said former president Joe Biden had not included the H20 chips in controls his administration placed on exports of advanced AI chips.

The emergence of Chinas DeepSeek AI chatbot in January renewed concerns over how China might use the advanced chips to help develop its own AI capabilities.

Nvidia said on Monday it has commissioned more than one million square feet of manufacturing space to build and test its specialised Blackwell chips in Arizona and AI supercomputers in Texas  part of an investment the company said will produce up to half a trillion dollars of AI infrastructure in the next four years.

The announcement came after President Donald Trump and other officials said tariff exemptions on electronics such as smartphones and laptops were only a temporary reprieve until officials develop a new tariff approach specific to the semiconductor industry.

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Mr Trump claimed Nvidias decision as a victory for his effort to expand manufacturing in the US.
Tommy Robinson has lost an appeal against his 18-month sentence for the civil offence of contempt of court at the UK Court of Appeal.

Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was jailed in October last year after admitting multiple breaches of a High Court order made in 2021, which barred him from repeating false allegations against a Syrian refugee who successfully sued him for libel.

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He is set to be released from custody on July 26th, at the halfway point of his sentence.

The 42-year-old appealed against his sentence on Friday, with the Court of Appeal told that his mental health, combined with his segregation in prison, is making him ill and is having a demonstrable effect on him.

The Solicitor General opposed the appeal, with its barristers stating there are no grounds for altering the sentence.

In a ruling on Wednesday, Lady Chief Justice Baroness Carr, Lord Justice Edis and Lord Justice Warby dismissed the appeal.

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They said: The judges application of the law and his reasoning on the appropriate sanction in this case both exhibit a meticulous approach.

The decision marks Robinsons second court defeat in less than a month, after a bid to bring a legal challenge against the UK government over his segregation at HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes was thrown out of the High Court in March.

He was jailed at Woolwich Crown Court after admitting 10 breaches of the injunction, the Solicitor General having earlier issued two contempt claims against him last year.

The first alleged he knowingly breached the order on four occasions, including by having published, caused, authorised or procured a film called Silenced, which contains the libellous allegations, in May 2023.

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The film was pinned to the top of Robinsons profile on the social media site X, while he also repeated the claims in three interviews between February and June 2023.

The second claim was issued in August concerning six further breaches, including playing the film at a demonstration in Trafalgar Square in central London last summer.

Handing down the sentence in October, Mr Justice Johnson said nobody is above the law, and he described Robinsons breaches of the injunction as flagrant.

The judge said Robinson could reduce his sentence by four months if he took certain steps to purge his contempt, such as removing the film from his social media pages.

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Tommy Robinson is set to be released from custody on July 26 (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

At the Court of Appeal, Alisdair Williamson KC, for Robinson, said he has ADHD and complex post-traumatic stress disorder, which the sentencing judge was not fully aware of.

He said: (Mr Justice Johnson) did not have before him this additional factor, which in of itself means that the conditions that Mr Yaxley-Lennon faces are more onerous.

He continued: He is being kept safe by the authorities in segregation, but being kept safe is making him ill, and more ill than Mr Justice Johnson could have foreseen on the basis of the information before him.

Aidan Eardley KC, for the Solicitor General, said in written submissions there is no evidence that the conditions in which the appellant is being held are more severe than was anticipated by Mr Justice Johnson.

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He said: Legally, there is no basis for arguing that conditions unforeseeably imposed by the prison authorities could found a ground of appeal.

He continued: There are no grounds for altering the sentence in this case.

In a 15-page ruling, Baroness Carr, Lord Justice Edis and Lord Justice Warby said new evidence about Robinsons mental health does not on analysis show either a significant exacerbation of a known medical condition or a material new factor.

They said: Even taking the appellants case at its highest, we see no reasonable basis for the contention that the conditions that he is experiencing are so substantially worse than the judge anticipated at the time of the sanction decision as to call for a downward adjustment.

They continued: The evidence falls far short of the standard for a successful criminal appeal based on fresh medical evidence.

They added that Robinson could still reduce the period he has to spend in custody by taking the steps identified by Mr Justice Johnson.

After the ruling a spokesperson for the Attorney Generals Office said: Stephen Yaxley-Lennon repeatedly ignored judges orders and continued to spread libellous allegations.

His 18-month sentence reflected how gravely the court considers contempt.

We respect the courts decision to refuse permission to appeal the sentence imposed.

The injunction was issued after Robinson was successfully sued by Jamal Hijazi, a then-schoolboy who was assaulted at Almondbury Community School in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, in October 2018.

After a clip of the incident went viral, Robinson made false claims on Facebook, including about Mr Hijazi attacking girls in his school, leading to the libel case.

Mr Justice Nicklin ordered Robinson to pay Mr Hijazi 100,000 in damages and his legal costs, as well as making the injunction preventing Robinson from repeating the allegations.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trumps special envoy, will travel to Paris this week for talks with European allies on US efforts to negotiate a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.

The US State Department said Mr Rubio and Mr Witkoff would be in the French capital on Thursday for the meetings.

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The officials will have talks with European counterparts to advance President Trumps goal to end the Russia-Ukraine war and stop the bloodshed, department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said in a statement on Wednesday.

Mr Rubio also will discuss ways to advance shared interests in the region, she said.

French President Emmanuel Macron will meet Mr Rubio and Mr Witkoff, according to Mr Macrons office. They also will hold talks with Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on the war in Ukraine, the Middle East and the Iranian nuclear programme.

Vice President JD Vance is visiting Italy later in the week, meeting Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. She is scheduled to visit the White House on Thursday.

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US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands prior to their talks in St Petersburg last Friday (Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

The meetings come as concerns grow about Mr Trumps readiness to draw closer to Russia as the US seeks to broker a ceasefire in Ukraine.

There is wariness about other Trump administration moves, from tariffs on some of its closest partners to rhetoric about Nato and Greenland.

Mr Rubio and Mr Witkoff have helped lead US efforts to seek peace more than three years after Russia launched the war. Several rounds of negotiations have been held in Saudi Arabia, and Mr Witkoff met last week with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Moscow and Kyiv agreed last month to implement a 30-day halt on strikes on energy facilities, but Russia has kept up daily strikes.

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Both parties have differed on the start time for stopping strikes and alleged daily breaches by the other side. Moscow has effectively refused to accept a comprehensive ceasefire that Mr Trump has pushed and Ukraine has endorsed.

Russia has made it conditional on a halt in Ukraines mobilisation efforts and Western arms supplies, which are demands rejected by Ukraine.

In a sign of Mr Witkoffs broad portfolio as Mr Trump seeks to broker peace deals from Ukraine to the Middle East, the envoy held negotiations last weekend with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi over Tehrans advancing nuclear programme. More talks are expected on Saturday.
The top United Nations official in South Sudan urged the UN Security Council on Wednesday to use its clout to prevent the worlds newest nation from again plunging into civil war.

Nicholas Haysom warned that the escalating rivalry between South Sudan President Salva Kiir and one of the countrys vice presidents has degenerated into direct military confrontation between their parties.

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Recent fighting in the countrys north, the arrest of First Vice President Riek Machar and a campaign of misinformation, disinformation and hate speech are fuelling political and ethnic tensions  particularly on social media, he said.





Mr Haysom, the UN special envoy and head of the almost 20,000-strong UN peacekeeping mission in the country, warned that these conditions are darkly reminiscent of the 2013 and 2016 conflicts, which took over 400,000 lives.

There were high hopes for peace and stability after oil-rich South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011.

But the country slid into civil war in December 2013 when forces loyal to Mr Kiir, who is from the largest ethnic group in the country, called the Dinka, started battling those loyal to Machar, who is from the second-largest ethnic group, called the Nuer.

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A 2018 peace deal has been fragile, and implementation has been slow. A presidential election has been postponed until 2026.

Mr Haysom said, however, that the 2018 agreement remains the only viable framework to break this cycle of violence in South Sudan.

The overriding imperative now is to urgently avert a relapse into full-scale conflict, refocus efforts on accelerating the implementation of the agreement, and advance the transition towards South Sudans first democratic elections, he said.

Another war is a risk South Sudan simply cannot afford, nor can the wider region.

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Mr Haysom said the peacekeeping force is engaged in intensive diplomatic efforts with the African Union, the regional group Intergovernmental Authority on Development, or IGAD, the Vatican and UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres to broker a peaceful solution.



South Sudans President Salva Kiir (Florence Miettaux/AP)

He called on the Security Council, the UNs most powerful body, to urge the rival parties to adhere to the ceasefire, exercise restraint and address differences through public dialogue.

Edem Wosornu, the UN humanitarian offices operations director, reminded the council of her August warning of a perfect storm of humanitarian, economic, political, security and environmental crises unfolding simultaneously.

Eight months later, she said, the situation has deteriorated dramatically.

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Ms Wosornu said 9.3 million South Sudanese, three-quarters of the population, need humanitarian assistance, half of them children.

Almost 7.7 million people are acutely hungry, up from 7.1 million in the same period in 2024, she said.

Ms Wosornu said the UN humanitarian office projects that 650,000 children under five are at risk of severe acute malnutrition this year.

If the political crisis is not averted, she warned, the humanitarian nightmare will become a reality very quickly.
A federal judge has said she will order sworn testimony by Trump administration officials to determine if they complied with her orders to facilitate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly deported to a notorious El Salvador prison.

US District Judge Paula Xinis issued her order after Trump officials continually refused to retrieve Mr Abrego Garcia. She said they had defied a clear Supreme Court order.

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She also disregarded Mondays comments by White House officials and El Salvadors president that they were unable to bring back Mr Abrego Garcia, describing their statements as two very misguided ships passing in the night.



A man identified as Kilmar Abrego Garcia is led by force by guards through the Terrorism Confinement Centre in Tecoluca, El Salvador (US District Court for the District of Maryland/AP)

The Supreme Court has spoken, Judge Xinis said, adding that what was said in the Oval Office on Monday is not before the court.

She said she will call for the evidence of government officials, including Robert Cerna, the acting field office director for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. She expects the process to last about two weeks.

The bottom line is it was a very simple directive, Judge Xinis said of her own order for the US to return Mr Abrego Garcia. Ive got nothing. Ive got no real response.

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The hearing came a day after White House advisers repeated the claim that they lack the authority to bring back the Salvadoran national from his native country. The president of El Salvador also said on Monday that he would not return Mr Abrego Garcia, likening it to smuggling a terrorist into the United States.

Mr Abrego Garcias deportation has become a flashpoint as President Donald Trump follows up on campaign promises of mass deportations, including to an El Salvador prison.



A man identified as Kilmar Abrego Garcia in an El Salvador prison (US District Court for the District of Maryland/AP)

After Tuesdays hearing, a crowd outside the federal court house in Maryland chanted: What do we want? Due process. When do want it? Now!

A lawyer for Mr Abrego Garcia said contempt proceedings could be the logical next step after the discovery phase. This is still a win, and this is still progress, Rina Ghandi said. Were not done yet, though.

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Mr Abrego Garcias wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, said shortly before Tuesdays hearing that he was working hard to achieve the American dream for his family.

That dream was shattered on March 12 when he was abducted and disappeared by the United States government in front of our five-year-old-child, she said. Today is 34 days after his disappearance I will not stop fighting until I see my husband alive.

Mr Abrego Garcia, 29, lived in the US for roughly 14 years, during which he worked in construction, got married and was raising three children with disabilities, according to court records.



Jennifer Vasquez Sura (Jose Luis Magana/AP)

A US immigration judge had shielded him from deportation to El Salvador in 2019, ruling that he was likely to face persecution there by local gangs who had terrorised his family.

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He was also given a federal permit to work in the US, where he was a metal worker and union member, according to Mr Abrego Garcias lawyers.

But the Trump administration expelled him to El Salvador last month anyway. Administration officials later described the mistake as an administrative error but insisted that Mr Abrego Garcia was a member of the MS-13 gang in Long Island, New York  where he has never lived.

He was never charged with a crime and has denied the allegations.

Judge Xinis had ordered the Trump administration in early April to bring Mr Abrego Garcia back, and the US Supreme Court agreed last week that the government must facilitate his release.

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But the White House has baulked at trying to broker his return, arguing the courts cannot intrude on the presidents diplomacy powers.

In a filing on Tuesday afternoon, Trump administration lawyers said the government is prepared to facilitate Mr Abrego Garcias return, but they said his protection from being deported to El Salvador would be removed, and he could be deported again to El Salvador or to a third country.

In a court filing on Tuesday, his lawyers rejected the idea that the US lacks the authority to retrieve him. They noted that the US is paying El Salvador to hold prisoners, including Mr Abrego Garcia, and can exercise those same contractual rights to request their release.

Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen arrived in El Salvador on Wednesday to push for the release of Mr Abrego Garcia.

The goal of this mission is to let the Trump administration, to let the government of El Salvador know that we are going to keep fighting to bring Abrego Garcia home until he returns to his family, Mr Van Hollen said.

After arriving in San Salvador, Mr Van Hollen posted a video from the back of a moving car, saying he was traveling into the city and planned to meet officials at the US embassy. He said he would have a better idea later in the day whether he can meet Mr Abrego Garcia.
Harvey Weinsteins lawyers asked a judge on Wednesday to allow the ailing ex-studio boss to spend his nights at a New York City hospital instead of jail for the duration of his rape retrial.

Weinsteins lawyers made the request as jury selection resumed for a second day. The 73-year-old disgraced film mogul arrived in court in a wheelchair, as he has at all his recent court appearances.

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In court papers, his lawyers argued that Weinsteins stay at New York Citys Rikers Island jail complex is exacerbating his health issues and that he would be better off in the prison ward at Bellevue Hospital. He been back and forth to Bellevue several times in recent months for various treatments.

Weinstein has numerous health conditions, including chronic myeloid leukaemia, heart issues, diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, sciatica and severe limitations on his ability to walk.





A recent tongue infection was misdiagnosed at Rikers, requiring a hospital stay, and he has gained nearly 20 pounds (nine kilograms) in the past month, his lawyer Imran Ansari said.

In a statement, Mr Ansari said Weinstein is also subjected to freezing temperatures at Rikers and is not provided with clean clothing.

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Because of this mistreatment, he has been worn down considerably health-wise, and now faces the stress of trial in this condition, which may very well lead to serious health complications, even death, Mr Ansari said.

Weinsteins lawyers filed a legal claim against New York City last November, alleging he was receiving substandard medical treatment in unhygienic conditions at Rikers.

The claim, which seeks five million dollars (3.77 million) in damages, argues that Weinstein has been returned to Rikers each time before fully recovering at hospital.

The troubled jail complex has faced growing scrutiny for its mistreatment of detainees and dangerous conditions. Last year, a federal judge cleared the way for a possible federal takeover, finding the city had placed inmates in unconstitutional danger.

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Judge Curtis Farber has yet to rule on the transfer request, and the issue was not discussed in court before jury selection resumed on Wednesday morning.



Harvey Weinstein in court in Manhattan during jury selection in his retrial (Angelina Katsanis/Pool Photo via AP)

The first day ended on Tuesday with no one chosen for the panel of 12 jurors and six alternates. Wednesday kicked off with two dozen prospective jurors being brought to the courtroom for more questioning after making it through an initial round a day earlier.

Weinstein is being tried again after New Yorks highest court, the Court of Appeals, last year overturned his 2020 conviction and 23-year prison sentence and ordered a new trial, finding that improper rulings and prejudicial testimony tainted the original one.

Weinstein is being retried on two charges from his original trial. He is accused of raping an aspiring actor in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 and a criminal sex act by forcing oral sex on a film and TV production assistant in 2006.

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He is also charged with one count of criminal sex act based on an allegation from a woman who was not a part of the original trial. That woman, who has asked not to be named publicly, alleges that Weinstein forced oral sex on her at a Manhattan hotel.

Weinstein has pleaded not guilty and denies raping or sexually assaulting anyone.
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) says the volume of trade in goods worldwide is likely to decrease by 0.2% this year because of US President Donald Trumps shifting tariff policies and a stand-off with China, but it would take a more severe hit if Trump carries through on his toughest reciprocal tariffs.

The decline in trade will be particularly steep in North America even without the stiffest tariffs, the global trade forum said on Wednesday, with exports there this year expected to fall by 12.6% and imports by 9.6%.

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The WTO based its report on the tariff situation as of Monday. Initially, 2025 and 2026 were expected to have continued expansion of world trade, but Mr Trumps trade war forced WTO economists to downgrade their forecast substantially, the forum said.





Trade in goods worldwide would slump by 1.5% if Mr Trump follows through on his stiffest tariffs on most nations, thanks to the uncertainty unsettling businesses.

Mr Trump suspended the toughest set of tariffs for 90 days earlier this month so more than 70 countries have a chance to address US trade concerns.

Meanwhile, he is increasing taxes on Chinese imports to 145% and engaging in a lengthy back and forth with Canada and Mexico about tariffs on their goods.

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Despite the 90-day pause, the enduring uncertainty threatens to act as a brake on global growth, with severe negative consequences for the world, the most vulnerable economies in particular, WTO director-general Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said in a statement.

Our simulations show that trade policy uncertainty has a significant dampening effect on trade flows, reducing exports and weakening economic activity, WTO chief economist Ralph Ossa said in the statement.

Moreover, tariffs are a policy lever with wide-ranging and often unintended consequences.

In a world of growing trade tensions, a clear-eyed view of those trade-offs is more important than ever.
A render of the STH BNK project. Multiplex, which built Londons Wembley Stadium, confirmed that it was no longer involved with the project  despite still devoting a page on its website to STH BNK saying their partnership follows years of anticipation of who will be tasked with building an awe-inspiring project that pushes the boundaries. A Multiplex spokesperson said the firm was appointed in an early contractor involvement capacity, and was now bound by confidentiality agreements. Today, a massive placard that declares Australias Tallest Tower is Coming remains the most visible sign that something is even planned for the site of an empty BMW dealership that Beulah paid $101 million for in 2017. The only evidence that people have been there is graffiti, litter and some cardboard mattresses. A glitzy showroom diagonally across the road was locked on a weekday afternoon, with a promotional video playing continuously on a wall-attached television. We have been diligently working behind the scenes on securing a builder, and have been in discussion with a few international and local groups who can build the project within an acceptable timeframe and budget, said Chan. While Beulah declined an interview, it provided written responses to questions from Bloomberg.

Beulah says the buyers of the unbuilt apartments have so far been incredibly supportive of the project as we navigate these changes. Most buyers are local to Melbourne, with others from around Australia and overseas, Chan said. Sydney-based Deric Ly, client service manager at real estate agent Global RE, said he helped secure a number of deposits for STH BNK in the past few years, mainly from local clients who put down 10 per cent of the purchase price. Everyones just being kept in limbo at the moment, Ly said. Every customer that Ive spoken to in the last two, three months is still optimistic and hopeful that the project will proceed. Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece. Credit: Joe Armao The development provides a stark example of the cocktail of factors behind Australias housing crisis that have accelerated since the pandemic.

Many projects around Australia have been shelved or stalled as firms that locked in fixed-price contracts got caught out as building costs soared, said Denita Wawn, chief executive of industry body Master Builders Australia. Weve had construction costs going up by 40 per cent over the last five years, said Wawn, speaking generally. Weve had productivity decline by 20 per cent over the last 10 years. Loading As Beulah agreed deals with buyers of unbuilt apartments, construction and borrowing costs kept rising, making the project too expensive to even start. Thats despite the collective will of city officials and the weighty ambition of Teh and Chan, who had never built anything on such a grand scale, though they came from a background that promised a path to success. Teh is the daughter of Teh Kean Ming, who was once CEO of IJM Corp, one of Malaysias biggest developers. He is now the managing director of Kuala Lumpur-listed developer JKG Land, and has been described in the Malaysian press as a formidable property magnate with four decades of real estate experience.

Chan, 38, is the son of Chan Kong Choy, a former deputy president of the Malaysian Chinese Association political party who once served as transport minister. The elder Chan is now chairman of two Kuala Lumpur-listed firms including Fajarbaru Builder Group, which has worked with Beulah on some projects. The men, who arent named as backers of STH BNK, did not reply to requests for comment sent to their respective employers. Rising to 319 metres, Australia 108 dominates Melbournes skyline. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui Teh and Jiaheng Chan both went to the University of Melbourne, where Teh obtained a masters of architecture degree. Chan studied engineering and initially did not anticipate going into real estate, he said in a 2020 interview. But that changed when his brother-in-law, who was co-developing a glass skyscraper of apartments in Southbank, invited the couple to help raise funds for the venture as part of a Malaysian syndicate. The building, called Australia 108, is one of the nations tallest towers, and is a short walk from the site planned for STH BNK.

But the couple decided that building was their future, and that would be in Melbourne. In 2015, they began developing their debut project as a duo, an upmarket 11-storey apartment building with Australias first private dog park. Beulah went on to build a smattering of similar-scaled residential developments around the city. Maybank funded some of Beulahs projects, and another backer was Malaysian tycoon Kong Hon Kong. Requests for comment sent to Maybank and KHK Group, Kongs holding company, went unanswered. Loading As we have spent more than half our lives in Melbourne, we are passionate about this city, said Teh, Beulahs co-founder. We are driven to do what we can to continue to contribute to Melbourne as one of the most liveable cities in the world. Even as Beulah was making plans for Australias tallest building, in 2021 it completed a 48-level apartment tower in Melbournes CBD called Paragon. The same year, it bought an adjoining site next to the BMW dealership that allowed it to modify plans for STH BNK, including increasing the space between the twin towers.

In February this year, STH BNKs financial troubles were publicly laid bare. The project manager vehicle for the towers entered voluntary administration after some creditors issued wind-up orders against it. Beulah then agreed a Deed of Company Arrangement that ended the administration, giving it 18 months to repay creditors by either selling the BMW site or finding an alternative financial solution for the project. One scenario is to raise capital for the project, lock in a builder to activate construction financing to keep it progressing; another scenario would be to secure a JV partner, said Teh. Another scenario is to sell the site and explore other opportunities. All three avenues are currently being explored. And while Beulah hasnt yet given up on STH BNK, neither has the councillor who so vividly championed the project five years ago. I remain hopeful Beulah can overcome its financial challenges and deliver its bold vision for Southbank, Lord Mayor Nick Reece said in an emailed response to questions. No one wants empty sites in the city. Bloomberg
Chinas decision to direct its airlines to halt deliveries of aircraft and parts from Boeing, the latest shot in the tit-for-tat trade war between China and the US, will hurt the already-struggling aircraft manufacturer. In the longer term, it might also rebound on China.

In the near term, the impact on Boeing, Americas largest exporter of manufactured goods, will be relatively modest, but still painful.

A Boeing 737 Max jet. China has banned deliveries of aircraft and parts from Boeing. Credit: nna\advidler

It had planned delivery of 27 Boeing 737 Max planes to China this year, along with some 787s and 777Fs and has about 10 Boeing 737 Max aircraft built and ready, or almost ready, for delivery.

It is unclear if some of those planes, ordered and built before Chinas directive, can still be delivered. If they cant, there is an estimated $US1.2 billion ($1.9 billion) of cash at risk for Boeing, although, if the orders are cancelled, it could redirect those planes to other buyers.
The corporate regulators inquiries into WiseTech Global founder Richard Whites share trading and the software giants market disclosures have progressed from a preliminary stage to a formal investigation.

The billionaire was forced to resign as chief executive and from the board of the logistics platform company in October after a joint investigation by The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Australian Financial Review revealed a $2 million settlement with a former lover, and allegations of bullying and intimidation by a former director.

Richard White founded WiseTech Global and turned it into a major logistics software business. Credit: Bloomberg

The revelations prompted the WiseTech board to commission a review to examine the allegations of inappropriate conduct made by women against White. Preliminary findings of the review cleared White in November.

However, this masthead reported in February that two women  one an employee and the other a contractor  had complained to the company about his conduct. The final report, authored by Seyfarth Shaw and Herbert Smith Freehills and only partially released last month, found White misled the company over his relationship with employees.
Well it looks like we can reset the old days since embarrassing screw-up at Seven West Media dial back to zero.

Just when its torrid 2024 began disappearing in the rearview mirror, Seven has been quietly working through a staff underpayments controversy.

The Seven Network has been dealing with staff underpayments. Credit: Bloomberg

One staff member told us the company had quietly organised Zoom meetings with affected journalists, sometimes trying to spin the fact as good news that it had discovered some staff were owed upwards of $25,000. Okaaay.

We know that many television viewers think free-to-air TV exists in a time warp, but really Seven, underpayment scandals are so five years ago.
A woman has died after running through a glass door to flee an alleged domestic violence incident in Sydneys eastern suburbs.

NSW Police has launched Strike Force Lyndoch to investigate the death of marketing and events manager Claire Austin, 38, who died in St Vincents Hospital on Tuesday, after three days in a critical condition.

Police have launched an investigation into the suspicious death of 38-year-old Randwick woman Claire Austin (left).

Police were called to Austins Randwick unit about 7.40am on Saturday after a neighbour reported hearing an argument.

When officers arrived, they found Austin with a severe laceration to her arm. NSW Ambulance paramedics treated her at the scene before taking her to hospital. Police believe she was trying to escape a domestic violence incident when she was injured.
One woman in the Honda died at the scene. The 10 other travellers were hospitalised, with three men in a life-threatening condition.

A Toyota HiAce reportedly hit a stationary Honda Odyssey and Hyundai iMax from behind. Early reports suggested passengers in the two parked cars may have been attending to a mechanical failure.

The collision occurred on Gympie Arterial Road at Bald Hills about 9.40pm on Sunday.

A man has been charged with drug driving after a three-car crash killed a woman and left 10 people injured.

Queensland police revealed on Wednesday the driver of the Toyota van  a 36-year-old man from Kallangur  has been charged with dangerous operation causing death, grievous bodily harm, drug driving, and drug possession.

He is due to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on April 17.

Following the crash, police inspector Gareth Bosley said: Its always an extremely confronting scene for our personnel.

We would ask for anyone who has dashcam footage along that stretch of road last night around 9.40pm to  come forward.
Right about now in the election cycle, you would be expecting the Coalition to double down on its energy policy. Labor made a whopping announcement to bring down the cost of batteries for all Australian households, but we have had radio silence from the Coalition on its much-touted nuclear policy.

We have had radio silence from the Coalition on its much-touted nuclear policy. Credit: Monique Westermann

Why? Because Australians know it wont bring down bills. And this is a cost-of-living election. Despite what Peter Dutton and other pro-nuclear forces would have you believe, polling consistently shows strong public support for renewable energy. In some places, its even growing.

In my own polling from February this year, 70 per cent of Australians supported a shift to renewables such as solar, wind and hydro. But whats even more interesting is that even amid the escalating attacks on renewables from fossil fuel interests, almost half of people we surveyed said they felt more supportive of renewables now than they did a year ago.

Australians see renewables delivering tangible benefits in their daily lives. They notice solar panels slashing bills on rooftops across their neighbourhoods. They hear about large-scale battery projects stabilising the grid during peak demand. They understand that wind and solar, paired with storage solutions, offer a clear path to lower power costs  one thats clean and safe.
Thousands of teenagers would have more options to learn trades such as construction, plumbing and engineering during their senior school years under a Coalition plan to build a national network of vocational colleges to rebalance the education system towards skills.

The Coalitions $260 million election pledge to build 12 new technical colleges for students in years 10 to 12  its first major education investment of the campaign  signals the oppositions approach to education will emphasise vocational training rather than pushing students into university.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton will link the plan for new vocational training colleges to the Coalitions other policies on skills and housing. Credit: James Brickwood

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton will unveil the policy on Thursday, linking it to other Coalition commitments on skills and housing, as he pitches a vision for keeping students in education while training them to meet the countrys future needs, particularly in construction.

Dutton, who has been promoting himself as the candidate to restore the dream of home ownership, said he also wanted to see more students taking up careers in trades. Part of our plan will mean building the workforce we need to tackle the housing and construction challenges head-on, he said.
A tax write-off for property? Where have I heard that before?

Launching the Coalitions signature housing policy over the weekend, prime ministerial hopeful Peter Dutton said something along those lines while unveiling his plan to give first home buyers tax breaks on mortgage interest, to the tune of $12,000 a year for five years.

Peter Dutton formally announced the Coalitions housing policy on Sunday. Credit: James Brickwood

The policy has distinct echoes of another such scheme brought in more than 25 years ago  one that helped turn Australias property market into an investors paradise and create the crisis we find ourselves in today. I am talking, of course, about negative gearing.

Though this financial manoeuvre was first introduced to Australian taxpayers about 90 years ago, most Australians associate negative gearing with John Howard and then-treasurer Peter Costello, who made the policy much more attractive and popular by halving the capital gains tax on all investment properties if owned for a minimum of 12 months.
The days of a party leader shouting from the back of a truck to a crowd of prospective voters have long gone.

Pre-arranged trips to shopping centres or greeting people along main streets are also in the past.

Carefully choreographed (and security assessed) media events, with vetted ordinary Australians or, in the most recent case the son of a candidate, had been du jour to illustrate the particular MP is in touch with punters and their concerns.

But the 2025 election, in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks, of the global financial crisis, of astro-turf lobby groups, the COVID/sovereign citizen cooker phenomena, of increasingly angry climate activists, and the conflict in Gaza, has taken a step into a much darker place.
Brisbane house prices have finally cracked, dipping by an ever-so-slight $3300 in the March quarter, ending one of the longest streaks of price rises in the citys history.

The median house price dropped 0.3 per cent to $1,022,026 in the three months to March, halting two full years of growth  the longest upswing in 17 years.

The latest Domain House Price Report, to be released on Thursday, shows a welcome shift for fatigued house buyers, but experts warn the reprieve may be short-lived, with looming rate cuts tipped to reignite demand and fan the flames of one market sector that continues to fire  units.

Brisbane house prices dipped slightly in the March quarter. Credit: Dan Peled

In contrast to houses, the citys unit sector has continued its record-breaking run. The median unit price rose for the 16th consecutive quarter, the citys longest-ever stretch of uninterrupted growth.
Since we launched our Release the Pressure series in May last year weve seen the evidence grow to confirm what weve been saying for years  rising government taxes, charges and fees are making it harder to get projects off the ground, she said.
13 monks receive doctorate-equivalent degrees in Tibetan Buddhism

Xinhua) 10:42, April 16, 2025

LHASA, April 15 (Xinhua) -- Thirteen monks were on Tuesday awarded the prestigious Tibetan Buddhist academic degree Geshe Lharampa, equivalent to a doctorate in mainstream higher education, in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region.

The monks, who hail from temples across Xizang and its neighboring Yunnan Province, participated in a formal debate and award ceremony at the Jokhang Temple, the most revered monastery in Lhasa, the regional capital. The Geshe Lharampa recipients, who have an average age of 45, earned their degrees after years of rigorous study and assessment.

In the Tibetan language, "Geshe" means "intellectual." The "Lharampa" title is the highest of four levels in the degree system that regulates the exoteric teachings of the Gelug school -- also known as the Yellow Sect -- of Tibetan Buddhism.

The academic tradition of Geshe degrees dates back roughly 900 years, with the Lharampa title established about 400 years ago.

For many monks, the Geshe degree is a sacred honor and a lifelong aspiration. The assessment of the academic degree and the reincarnation of living Buddhas are regarded as key pillars in work to continue and develop Tibetan Buddhism.

Ranking first in this year's exam, Changpa Yongnor, a 42-year-old monk from the Yendum monastery in Qamdo City, told Xinhua that receiving his degree in front of the Jokhang Temple after 29 years of study was a deeply meaningful moment.

"Looking ahead, I will continue to study Buddhism while remaining engaged with society and serving the people to the best of my ability," the monk said.

According to data from the Xizang branch of the Buddhist Association of China, a total of 202 Tibetan Buddhist monks have been awarded the prestigious degree since 2004.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
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CARLOW Fire Service has issued an appeal to people to be vigilant after multiple fires broke out on Mount Leinster over a three-day period last week, drawing firefighters from across the county and beyond to tackle the blazes.

Huge damage has been caused to wildlife, vegetation and the environment by the fires, but thankfully no-one was hurt.

Bagenalstown fire crew on Mount Leinster last Wednesday

Fire services from Bagenalstown, Tullow, Bunclody and Graignamanagh fought six separate fires over Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday last week and at one point on Wednesday they had to be assisted by two helicopters dropping water directly onto the wildfires. The flames were spreading towards a forest owned by Coillte on the Rathanna side of Knockroe so swift action was needed to prevent the fire from burning the forest, or from putting human life in danger.

Fire were spreading across the gorse on Mount Leinster last week, near Rathanna village

It all took significant resources to get the fires under control, said Ger Griffin, acting senior assistant chief fire officer with Carlow Fire Service.

Wednesday was significant in that we collaborated with officers from the National Parks and Wildlife Service as well as Coillte personnel. It was decided to call in two Coillte helicopters for assistance because a property owned by them was under threat. The whole idea was to get water to the fire as quickly as possible. The helicopters dropped water every two minutes directly onto the fire, after which the firemen beat down the gorse. They have to get very close to the fire to do that, continued Mr Griffin.

Fortunately there was a good local source of water on Eric Osbornes land in Rathanna so that meant that every two minutes the helicopters could fill their buckets from the pond and return to the hillside. It still took the firefighters  with the assistance of the helicopters  ten hours to put out the fire and they only left the mountain at 9pm on Wednesday night. Over the three days, about 30 firemen worked 180 hours tackling the fires.

It takes so many resources and its also incredibly draining on our staff. Its very remote there, so it takes a long time to get there and to deploy the firemen and the equipment. They also have to cope with the heat from getting so close to the fire, continued Mr Griffin.

He refused to say if the fires were started deliberately or not because, as he pointed out, by the time the fire services reached Mount Leinster the fires were already established. However, he did warn people to be extra vigilant if they see any suspicious behaviour there or anywhere else and to be very careful not to litter, drop cigarette buts or use naked flames for picnics.

Mr Griffin appealed to the public to report any signs of fire and not to presume someone else would call it in. He also said that he was very proud of all the firefighters, who worked so hard all across Co Carlow in tackling fires during Irelands first sunny spell this year.
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On 15 April an official ceremony was held at the Jbel Oust cement plant in Zaghouan governorate, Tunisia, to mark the US$140m purchase of the Votorantim Ciment stake in the plant by Sinoma Cement.

Chaired by the Governor of Zaghouan, Karim Brinji, and attended by the Chinese Ambassador to Tunisia, Wan Li, the Director General of FIPA, Jalel Tabib, as well as senior representatives of both companies, the ceremony was hailed as a major step in strengthening the Tunisian-Chinese economic partnership.

Wan Li described this acquisition as a "beneficial commercial partnership for both countries," specifying that it is part of the bilateral cooperation agreements signed for the period 2025-2028. He also emphasised the importance of the Memorandum of Strategic Partnership for Development as the foundation of this new industrial dynamic between Beijing and Tunis.

Long Yaokun, CEO of Sinoma, expressed the groups commitment to modernising the plants production technologies. He also announced plans to strengthen local skills through technical training programmes, considering the project a driving force for future Chinese investment in the north African country.
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Aalborg Portland (Cementir Holding) has reduced its CO 2 emissions by more than a third in the last three years, it has announced. The company reduced its CO 2 emissions by 269,100t in 2024 and, with similar significant reductions in 2022 and 2023, has now achieved a total of 36 per cent. Moreover, the cement producer's reduction of 812,494t of CO 2 already corresponds to 63 per cent of the total reduction target for the industry in 2025, established under the Danish Parliament's green tax reforms in 2022. The reforms oblige the industry to reduce its emissions by 1.3Mt of CO 2 in 2025 and 4.3Mt in 2030.



Aalborg Portland emitted 1.43Mt of CO 2 in 2024, and last year's CO 2 reduction of almost 16 per cent compared to 2023 means that Aalborg Portland has, six years ahead of schedule, exceeded the reduction target of 660,000t of CO 2 that was agreed upon with the then government in 2020. Aalborg Portland raised the target considerably in 2022 with the launch of the company's new climate plan, which entails a reduction of 1.6Mt of CO 2 in 2030.

The company has an ambitious plan to reduce its CO 2 emissions towards 2030, and in just three years we can now demonstrate a reduction of more than 800,000t, or what corresponds to the emissions from all residents of Denmark's fifth-largest city, Esbjerg, in a whole year, said the company's CEO, Sren Holm Christensen.

Reduction initiatives

Last year's CO 2 reduction was achieved through a number of different initiatives. This applies in particular to an increased use of alternative and biogenic fuels such as meat and bone meal, industrial waste and nut shells, replacing part of the company's fossil fuels use. Increased sales of CO 2 -reduced cements and lower production, due to a decrease in market activity and leakage effects, also contributed.

Aalborg Portland has worked intensively to develop its production so that it can use large amounts of alternative fuels rather than fossil fuels, and it is largely this work that now enables the company to ensure some significant CO 2 reductions, explained Mr Holm Christensen.
A mystery hole on Mars could be hosting alien life.

A hole on Mars could be hosting alien life

NASA scientists have captured a deep pit on the Red Planet from above that could be hiding tons of extraterrestrial beings.

The US space agency wrote of the 'An unusual hole in Mars' image: "There are numerous holes pictured in this Swiss cheese-like landscape, with all but one of them showing a dusty, dark, Martian terrain beneath evaporating, light, carbon dioxide ice."

It is not clear what caused the hole, but the experts are convinced that they are prime spots for life on the Red Planet.

NASA explained: "Holes such as this are of particular interest because they might be portals to lower levels that extend into expansive underground caves.

"If so, these naturally occurring tunnels are relatively protected from the harsh surface of Mars, making them relatively good candidates to contain Martian life.

"These pits are therefore also prime targets for possible future spacecraft, robots, and even human interplanetary explorers."
Harvey Weinstein is petitioning a New York court to move him from Rikers Island to Bellevue Hospital during his ongoing criminal retrial.

Harvey Weinstein is petitioning a New York court to move him from Rikers Island to Bellevue Hospital during his ongoing criminal retrial

The disgraced film producer is currently incarcerated on Rikers Island while facing retrial following the 2024 overturning of his 2020 rape conviction, and his legal team has now cited serious medical conditions and what they described as deplorable treatment behind bars in his bid for a transfer out of the facility.

Weinsteins lawyer, Imran H Ansari, said in a statement issued on Wednesday (16.04.25): Harvey Weinstein is suffering from cancer and other serious medical conditions, yet he is consistently mistreated for serious infections, medication is given incorrectly, or not at all, he is experiencing unhealthy and atypical weight gain, and he is forced to endure freezing temperatures while not even being provided clean clothing.

The attorney continued: Because of this mistreatment, he has been worn down considerably health wise, and now faces the stress of trial in this condition, which may very well lead to serious health complications, even death.

I have requested that at the very least he be housed at Bellevue Hospital during the pendency of the trial, yet have not received any response to this request from the attorneys for the city agencies.

As such, we have filed an emergency petition in court requesting that the court order that he be housed in Bellevue Hospital during the pendency of the criminal trial.

Weinstein, who was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer in 2024, has also been receiving treatment for a range of other conditions including leukemia, diabetes, coronary artery disease and sleep apnea. In September last year, he underwent emergency heart surgery at Bellevue Hospital.

Jury selection for his retrial began on Tuesday (15.04.25) and resumed on Wednesday morning.

By the end of the first day of proceedings, around 30 potential jurors remained in contention.

Mr Ansari added in his statement: Mr Weinstein has also filed a claim against the City of New York and its relevant agencies because the treatment he has received on Rikers Island has been horrific and he intends to aggressively pursue his lawsuit. He has suffered considerably from deplorable conditions, and the system has failed him in providing him the most basic medical care, and deprived him of even the most elemental humane treatment.

In April 2024, the New York Court of Appeals vacated Weinsteins 2020 rape conviction, ruling the inclusion of testimony from three women not involved in the charges prejudiced the jury.

A retrial was ordered.

In a separate development, Weinstein was indicted in September on an additional charge of sexual assault.

The allegation stems from an incident said to have occurred in a Manhattan hotel between 29 April and 6 May 2006. He pleaded not guilty to the charge.
First Horizon Bank recently named Jamie Huggins as Banking Center Manager in Chattanooga. Ms. Huggins leads the First Horizon banking center located on East 3rd Street at Erlanger Medical Center.Ms. Huggins comes to First Horizon after serving as a mortgage specialist with Chattanooga Area Schools Federal Credit Union. In her new position, Ms. Huggins will be responsible for the oversight of all banking center functions which include the development of new business, expanding existing client relationships and providing customer service.Ms.Huggins said, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as the banking center manager for First Horizon at Erlanger Medical Center. Im looking forward to taking inspiration from my peers and making a difference in the work environment.Chattanooga Market President Jay Dale said, Were pleased to welcome Jamie to First Horizon and excited about the impact she will make with the team. Jamie brings many years of industry experience and commitment to this position and we are thrilled to see her thrive in her new role at First Horizon.Ms. Huggins received her associates degree from Monroe Community College. A Northwest Georgia resident, Ms. Huggins enjoys spending time with her children, boating, hiking and walking downtown.
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga senior Durand Henderson, a United States Air Force veteran and adult learner majoring in business administration with a concentration in economicsto go with minors in personal finance and political sciencehas been selected for the prestigious Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Spark program for Korean.Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, CLS Spark is a competitive opportunity that provides intensive language instruction and cultural enrichment experiences to American students, building future leaders with global engagement skills.Henderson, who is on pace to graduate from UTC in December, will spend nine weeks immersed in virtual Korean language courses taught by faculty from Chonnam National University in Gwangju, South Korea.The program runs from June 9 to Aug. 8.I chose Korean because Ive always had a fascination with East Asian culture, especially from a military and security standpoint, Henderson said. Even though Im no longer serving, I still have that military hat on. I want to help out my nation in any way I can. Learning Korean is a step toward that.Classes will be held live online daily, complemented by one-on-one consultations, weekly cultural activities and extensive independent study. Participants also connect with language partners from the host university for conversational practice.A native of Detroit, Henderson enlisted in the Air Force in 2014attaining the rank of E-4 and serving as an HVAC technician. His time in the Air Force included being deployed to Qatar in 2017.While stationed at Travis Air Force Base in California, Henderson completed an associate degree in electrical and mechanical systems from the Community College of the Air Force. After separating from the Air Force in October 2018, he initially stayed in Californias Bay Area before relocating with his wife, Troyaa Navy veteranto the Chattanooga area in 2021 to be closer to both of their families.Henderson enrolled at UTC in August 2022 and quickly became involved as a Veteran and Military Affairs Student Ambassador.The CLS Spark will be Hendersons first formal step toward a career in diplomacywith aspirations to join the U.S. foreign service after graduation.
Our nation was founded on principles that support legal immigration. All immigrants should learn and embrace American culture and values. Those who come to our shores should uphold American ideals and support our Constitution and laws of the United States.

The federal government regulates U.S. immigration policy, with Congress having the ultimate authority. The Executive Branch, particularly the Department of Homeland Security, enforces these laws but has faced criticism for its performance. The federal government is essential for securing our borders.

In the 1982 case Plyler v. Doe, the Supreme Court ruled that states cannot deny undocumented children access to free public education. This decision arose from a Texas law that denied funding for their education and allowed local districts to refuse enrollment. The Court found that such a denial based on immigration status violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. As a result, undocumented children have the same right to attend public schools as citizens, and this ruling affects all states, including Tennessee.

Tennessee's General Assembly is reviewing legislation, SB0836/HB0793, that challenges Plyler v. DOE. The House version allows school districts to check a child's immigration status for enrollment, while the Senate version requires checking every student's status and demands proof of U.S. citizenship or legal immigration status. If the state is serious about the legislation, it must cover the cost to enforce it and defend districts if they face lawsuits. The bills impact on school funding and the costs of educating undocumented children in Tennessee is still unclear. The state should also bear the cost of any loss of funding.

Transitioning from an initial trial to the Supreme Court incurs various costs, including filing fees, court expenses, and attorney fees. While the Supreme Court generally does not charge filing fees for most cases, legal representation and preparation can be expensive, potentially reaching millionseven if victorious. This issue would escalate to federal courts and possibly the Supreme Court, burdening local communities with legal costs.

Interestingly, even the dissenting opinion in Plyler suggested that denying education to undocumented children is unreasonable, noting that the long-term costs of excluding them could outweigh the expenses of providing an education. If the state wishes to challenge this ruling, it should be prepared to shoulder all financial implications. Public schools can overcome challenges, but personnel involved in student enrollment face significant constraints.

Since the 1982 Plyler ruling, various states and localities have attempted to implement measures that breach the spirit of the decision. For example:

 In 1994, California's Proposition 187 sought to stop public schools from enrolling students who were not legally present in the U.S. and required reporting to immigration authorities. It was later overturned in federal court for violating Plyler v. DOE.

 In 2006, a school district in Elmwood Park, Illinois, initially denied a student's enrollment due to an overstayed tourist visa but reversed its decision after intervention from the Illinois State Board of Education.

 In 2011, Alabama passed a law mandating school administrators to verify the immigration status of all new students and report this annually. A federal appellate court later halted the law's implementation, and it was ultimately blocked after Alabama settled the lawsuit.

 Local school districts have created unofficial policies that bypass Plyler v. Doe by requiring immigrant students or their parents to provide Social Security numbers or additional documentation for enrollment. A 2011 letter from the Department of Education and the Department of Justice stated that students cannot be denied enrollment for lacking a Social Security number or foreign birth certificates. Additionally, the number of English as a Second Language students does not necessarily indicate the number of undocumented students, as many legal citizens also need language assistance.

Since the Plyler decision, schools have not been able to collect or report on students' immigration status. Disclosing this information without parental consent may violate the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. To receive federal funding, the Tennessee Department of Education must comply with civil rights laws like Title VI, as violations could risk over $1.1 billion in federal support for the state.

Federal policymakers need to create a practical immigration policy that secures borders and offers legal pathways to citizenship. Otherwise, ineffective policies will continue, and should this legislation pass, public education will be at the center of the immigration debate.

JC Bowman

Executive Director of Professional Educators of Tennessee
The Chattanooga Police Department is asking for the public's assistance in locating LaJeffery Romane Sparks, who is wanted for first-degree murder of a 42-year-old man.





On Oct. 5, 2024, at 12:38 a.m., police responded to a Person Shot call in the 4100 block of Fagan St. Once on scene, officers conducted life saving measures until EMS arrived and transported the victim to a hospital. The victim was later pronounced deceased at the hospital.





The Chattanooga Police Department has an active arrest warrant for LaJeffery Romane Sparks. The charges include first-degree murder, possession of a firearm during a felony, and unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon. He was also named to the TBI's Most Wanted list on Nov. 18, 2024.





Anyone with information about Sparks' whereabouts is urged to call the Chattanooga Police Homicide Tipline at 423-643-5100, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-TBI-FIND, or Greater Chattanooga Area Crime Stoppers at 423-698-3333. Currently there is a reward of up to $7500 for information leading to his arrest. Anyone providing information can remain anonymous.




The teens who drowned after jumping from an I-75 bridge have been identified as two Brainerd High School students. The incident happened in Loudon County after a police pursuit last Wednesday morning.



One of the teens was identified as Ma'Rico Johnson and another as Mykel Anderson.

GoFundMe accounts have been set up for their burial expenses.



They are at https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-marico-johnsons-burial-expenses
Cleveland State Community College invites the community to the annual spring concert performed by the colleges Vocal Rhapsody Choir and the Choir Club on Thursday, April 24 at 6 p.m. in the auditorium of the George R. Johnson Cultural Heritage Center at Cleveland State.The program will center on themes from popular movies and will include well-known songs such as Eye of the Tiger and A Million Dreams, as well as What Was I Made For and Pure Imagination.Were excited to offer you a chance to enjoy some of the wonderful moments from movies, said Andie Phillips, Vocal Rhapsody director.Bring your loved ones and join us for this special event. We look forward to seeing you there.The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Ms. Phillips at aphillips1@clevelandstatecc.edu.
The Tennessee General Assembly unanimously passed legislation that prohibits school boards from removing books from school libraries solely because they are religious.House Bill 1085, sponsored by State Representative Greg Martin, protects religious freedom provided by the First Amendment by requiring schools to maintain religious materials in their libraries.This bill reaffirms Tennessees commitment to protecting religious beliefs in line with the First Amendment, Rep.Martin said. It ensures that the fundamental right to religious freedom is upheld in the state.A 2021 survey by the Becket Fund found that 83 percent of people believe the freedom to express or share religious beliefs is an essential part of religious freedom, officials said.The legislation guarantees equal access to religious content in schools.House Bill 1085 now heads to the governors desk for his signature.
The Lee University School of Music will present Dr. Muen Vanessa Wei, piano, in a faculty recital on Wednesday, April 28, at 7:30 p.m. The performance will take place in Squires Recital Hall, in the Humanities Building on Lees campus.

The recital, Immortal Beloved, is the sixth recital in Dr. Weis Complete Beethovens Piano Sonatas Concert Series, which showcases all 32 of Ludwig van Beethovens Piano Sonatas over six semesters. The performance will feature Sonatas Op. 7 Grand Sonata, Op. 14, No. 2, Op. 27, No. 1, "Quasi una fantasia," Op. 27, No. 2, Moonlight, and Op. 78, "a Therese."

This program delves into the emotional depth of Beethovens sonatas and reflects the intimate side of his music, said Dr. Wei. This special program includes five piano sonatas, all of which were dedicated to women who played significant roles in Beethovens life.

Dr. Wei joined Lees School of Music in 2021 as an assistant professor of piano and teaches courses such as applied piano, piano seminar, and piano for ministry. Prior to Lee, she served as a guest professor at China West Normal University and piano faculty at New Tampa Piano and Pedagogy Academy. She has collaborated with many great musicians such as Lynn Harrell, Ian Hobson, Peter Lloyd, and Joel Smirnoff. Dr. Wei also has a debut album titled Im 3/4 Takt that was considered one of Centaurs finest releases to date by Fanfare.

Dr. Wei earned a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Illinois at Urbana, a Master of Music from the Cleveland Institute of Music, and a Bachelor of Music from the China Conservatory of Music.

The recital is free, non-ticketed, and open to the public. Livestream viewing will be available at leeu.live/.

For more information about the recital, contact the School of Music at music@leeuniversity.edu or call 614-8240.
7/4/2025

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 ) ARMOUR,JOHNNY ... more
Katharine Katie Michelle Patterson, 39, of Chattanooga, went home to be with the Lord on April 2, 2025, with family and friends by her side. She valiantly fought a brain tumor and cancer for nearly 15 years.

Katie was born on January 27, 1986, in Decatur, Al. She grew up in Chattanooga, where she graduated from Chattanooga Christian School in 2004. She went on to study elementary education at Union University in Jackson, Tn., where she graduated in 2008.

Katie had an adventurous spirit and a love for the outdoors. After graduating college, she worked for two seasons at Keystone Ski Resort in Colorado and in the off season was a river rafting guide on the Pigeon River in East Tennessee. She also worked as a crew member at LeConte Lodge in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for two seasons. Despite being diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2011, Katies zeal for life never waned. Between treatments, she continued hiking, travelling, going on mission trips, crafting and living life to the fullest. Her faith sustained her in both good and bad times. She grew up attending Woodland Park Baptist Church where she surrendered her heart to Jesus, her Savior. She regularly attended Citizens of Heaven Church, as well as a Silverdale Baptist singles group. She also worked at a downtown street ministry, an outreach of her parents church, Woodland Park Baptist.

Katie was preceded in death by her father, Michael Mickey Patterson; her maternal grandparents, John R. and Mae Belle McAliley; her paternal grandparents, William E. and Alba Richie R. Patterson; uncles, Joseph and Jeffrey McAliley, Wayne Patterson and Kim Morris.

She is survived by her parents, Linda and Ken Hill and Kelly Patterson; brothers, Kenneth Trey Hill III, Michael and William Patterson; aunts and uncles, Mike and Sandy Jennings, Sherry Webber, Robin McAliley, Debbie McAliley, J.R. and Mary McAliley, Mike and Beth Morris; and many treasured cousins.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Katies memory to the mission programs of either Woodland Park Baptist or Citizens of Heaven Church in Chattanooga. Katie had a heart to share Gods love to others. She continued to minister to children on mission trips, to the elderly and homeless at the downtown street ministry, even when she was suffering from chemo and the effects of the treatments.

Her favorite Bible passages are:

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8

A service will be held on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Woodland Park Baptist Church. Visitation will start at 1 p.m. and the service will start at 3 p.m.

Arrangements are by the Cremation Center of Chattanooga, 1345 Hickory Valley Road, Suite B, Chattanooga, Tn. 37421.
Katie Price is to make her acting debut in 'Jackie the Stripper'.

Katie Price will make her acting debut in Jackie the Stripper

The 46-year-old former glamour model will make a cameo appearance in the film, which also features stars such as Patsy Kensit and Jamie Lomas.

'Jackie the Stripper' is a modern adaptation of Jack the Ripper, with flashbacks to 19th-century Whitechapel. The picture  which is being written and directed by Michael Head and filmed in south east London  is described as an amalgamation of various genres, including comedy, action, horror and even some rom-com scenes.

The film sees Jackie (Charlotte Kirk) lead the fight back against 'The Court', a secret organisation once run by Ripper. Jackie and her band of female assassins take it upon themselves to disband the court of 'darkness'.

Charlotte told Southwark News: "On the surface it's just a bunch of strippers, right? But I love the fact that it's a bunch of badass female, strong women... taking revenge on disgusting, sleazy men."

An exact release date for 'Jackie the Stripper' is yet to be confirmed, although it is planned to be released in October.

Meanwhile, Katie expressed her delight at "finally" being able to move on after being discharged from her second bankruptcy last month.

The order  relating to an unpaid tax bill of over 750,000  was dissolved in March following the discharge of her previous bankruptcy on February 11.

Katie told The Sun newspaper: "I'm so happy. I can finally move on and put these bankruptcies behind me and now only focus on the positive.

"Thank you to everyone that has supported me through this process."

The star previously insisted that she was no longer frightened of losing everything because she knows that she will able to bounce back.

In her latest book 'This Is Me', Katie explained: "Bankruptcy doesn't hold the same fear now I can see a way out of it. If material stuff is taken from me, I know I can earn it back."

Price declared that she would do anything to earn a living and quipped that she would even be willing to make money as an escort.

She added: "I will get into escorting if I need to, not to sleep with the men, just for company. To be on their arm. I think I'd be good at that.

"My mum would tell me I need to work on my table manners first though. And by the way, that is a joke."
The Tennessee House and Senate on Wednesday passed the states $59.8 billion budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year, fulfilling the General Assemblys only constitutional duty.

Officials said, "This years spending plan, which recognizes a two percent growth rate, "reaffirms the General Assemblys commitment to conservative budgeting, while prioritizing the needs of Tennesseans across the state. The balanced budget advances the states efforts to improve public safety, invest in infrastructure, advance education, support rural healthcare, and increase disaster relief funding for Hurricane Helene recovery.

"The legislative amendment makes fiscally responsible adjustments to the administrations initial budget proposal by shifting $19.94 million in recurring allocations to non-recurring, allowing the state to better manage long-term spending obligations.

"Additionally, the General Assembly repurposed funds for legislative initiatives to support critical community needs, while maintaining Governor Lees major priorities."

The administration gave this assessment of the budget:

Grant Pool for Critical Community Services

In the 2025-26 budget, the General Assembly created a $42.5 million grant pool, with nonrecurring funds, for important emergency and community services. The grants include:

$20 million for Volunteer Fire Departments

$5 million for Rescue Squads

$5 million for Emergency Medical Services

$5 million for Senior Centers

$5 million for Local Museums for capital improvements

$2 million for Courthouse Restoration

$500,000 for Second Harvest Food Bank

Disaster Relief for Hurricane Helene

The General Assembly continued to support victims of Hurricane Helene by providing $26 million nonrecurring for disaster relief for Helene victims in Northeast Tennessee and $20 million nonrecurring for local match funds for FEMA disaster relief.

Rural Hospital Support and Healthcare Investments

Lawmakers made significant investments in hospitals by using TennCare Shared Savings to provide an additional $78 million to help hospitals, particularly in rural areas, with uncompensated care and $4 million to complete capital projects at county health departments.

Additional healthcare investments include:

$4 million recurring to increase pediatric dental rates

$3 million nonrecurring to the Adult Healthcare Safety Net

$500,000 nonrecurring to assist those living with epilepsy and their caregivers statewide

$1.4 million recurring to provide scholarships for the joint public-private partnership in the Medical School Early Acceptance Program between MTSU and Meharry Medical College

$1 million nonrecurring to Live Like Lou Foundation for ALS research

$1 million nonrecurring for Volunteers in Medicine

Safety and Security Improvements

The Legislative amendment also provides additional allocations in safety and security:

$5.4 million nonrecurring to improve campus safety and security at the University of Memphis

$500,000 nonrecurring to establish and operate the UT Law Enforcement Innovation Center

$400,000 nonrecurring to support the East Tennessee Regional Forensic Facility and Training Program

Major investments secured

In addition to the adjustments made to fund legislative priorities, the budget maintains important investments proposed by Governor Lee including:

$1 billion into the road fund to address the states transportation infrastructure needs

$62.7 million for K-12 infrastructure and facilities funding

$244 million to strengthen education through the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) formula growth, including teacher pay raises

$198.4 million for teacher bonuses in recognition of their hard work and dedication and for leading the nation in student achievement and growth

$35.6 million investment into the Rainy Day Fund, bringing Tennessees reserves to nearly $2.2 billion, the largest in state history

$25 million for FastTrack grants to recruit new business to Tennessee and support workforce development

Expanding choices for parents

In the January special session, the General Assembly passed historic legislation to provide Education Freedom Scholarships to empower parents with the freedom to pick the right school for their child and have a say in where their tax dollars are spent  regardless of income or zip code. This school choice initiative invests $145.9 million in Education Freedom Scholarships.

Statements from Legislative Leadership

Senate Finance, Ways and Means Chairman Bo Watson (R-Hixson):

With revenues at more typical levels after years of historic growth, this budget reflects the careful discipline needed to protect Tennessee's financial future. Weve kept recurring spending in check and preserved low taxes, while supporting critical community services and investing in rural hospitals that serve some of our most vulnerable populations. Tennessee is a shining example of fiscal conservatism, and this budget reflects that lasting commitment.

House Finance, Ways and Means Chairman Gary Hicks (R-Rogersville):

Our focus is on lasting financial strength and stability for the Volunteer State. This budget reaffirms our commitment to Tennesseans to keep our state on a conservative path to greater prosperity. We have tightened our belts, kept government spending low, and addressed a diverse range of needs, benefiting all Tennesseans.

Lt. Governor Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge):

Tennessee's strong and historical commitment to fiscal responsibility continues to serve taxpayers well. Despite slow revenue growth and a national economy in reset, Tennessee is investing in education, cutting spending and making strong commitments to public safety. We are also redoubling our support for infrastructure by allocating additional money for our roads. While other states struggle to stay afloat financially, we are operating with little debt and our rainy day fund remains at historic levels. Once again, Tennessee is leading the nation in fiscally responsible, conservative budgeting.

House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville):

This budget reflects Tennessees strong commitment to responsible leadership and forward-thinking investment. Were addressing core priorities like education, public safety, and transportation while maintaining our conservative fiscal principles. Its a budget that balances our needs today with a vision for tomorrow.

Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin):

This budget prioritizes critical investments for Tennesseans, keeps our state financially secure, and advances us toward a prosperous future. It continues our commitment to education and infrastructure, while also streamlining government operations and eliminating hundreds of vacant positions to protect taxpayer dollars. I commend Governor Lee and my colleagues in the General Assembly for their work to craft a budget that meets the needs of our citizens and upholds Tennessees legacy of fiscal responsibility.

House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R-Portland):

This is a spending plan that serves all citizens by prioritizing investments in education, strengthening public safety, maximizing our infrastructure and ensuring Tennessee remains one of the lowest-taxed states in the nation. I am proud of the collaborative work by members in both chambers to balance our budget needs of today with our obligation to future generations. Tennessee is on solid financial footing.
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Home News 3 children die, 5 hospitalized after eating poison-laced sweets

Tragedy struck a Christian neighborhood housing mostly sanitary workers just days before Easter, after three children died and five others were hospitalized from eating sweetmeat laced with poison intended to kill stray dogs.

The incident occurred the night of April 14 in Qila Sahib Singh, a suburban area of Punjabs Hafizabad district in Pakistan. Videos on social media showed families pleading for help as dozens of Christians gathered at a hospital in Lahore, where the children had been taken for treatment.

According to a First Information Report (FIR) registered by police on the complaint of Shahbaz Masih, a Christian resident, unidentified suspects allegedly fled after distributing the poisoned sweets to children playing in the street.

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All eight children fell seriously ill after consuming the poisonous sweets and were immediately taken to the District Headquarters Hospital in Hafizabad, the FIR stated. Three children  10-year-old Danish, 7-year-old David Shehzad, and 8-year-old Samson  died while the remaining five children, due to their critical condition, were transferred to the Childrens Hospital in Lahore.

These children include 10-year-old Aatishna, 8-year-old Harry, 10-year-old Kailash, 7-year-old Shehroz, and 10-year-old Shalom, the FIR continued. The case was registered under Sections 302 (murder) and 337-J (administering poisonous substances) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

The FIR urged police to arrest those responsible for poisoning the children.

A statement by Hafizabad District Headquarters Hospital confirmed: Two children were received dead, one died during the course of treatment, and the other five were managed accordingly and were referred later to the Childrens Hospital in Lahore by Rescue 1122.

The statement added that the victims were accompanied by a team of government doctors for continuous medical attention.

However, Christian Daily International has learned that, contrary to the FIRs initial claim, the incident may have been the result of severe negligence by a sanitary worker, whose identity remained unknown at the time of reporting.

I individually interviewed the three children who have regained consciousness, and all of them told me that they had eaten the sweetmeat from a transparent bag left hanging on a rickshaw parked in their street, said Ejaz Alam Augustine, a Christian lawmaker in the Punjab Assembly, speaking to Christian Daily International. One of the deceased boys opened the bag and invited the others to join him. As soon as they ate from the bag, they started falling unconscious one after the other.

Augustine said the poisoned sweetmeat had been handed to a sanitary worker to throw into the streets, but was instead left hanging on the rickshaw.

He confirmed the deaths of three children and said the condition of two others was critical. Their lungs have been severely damaged by the poison, but the doctors are trying their best to save the innocent lives. We all need to pray for these children.  May God bless them with life and a complete recovery from the effects of the poison.

According to Augustine, the Hafizabad Municipal Corporation launched a campaign to cull stray dogs using poison that is not easily available on the open market.

Culling is a common practice in Pakistan to control the stray dog population. However, animal rights activists have long called for the government to adopt birth control methods such as neutering or spaying instead of poisoning the animals.

Theres a dog extermination unit in every municipal authority in Pakistan, and it is made up of sanitary workers, Augustine said. This tragic incident was caused by sheer negligence for which the persons responsible must be punished as per the law.

He added that the Hafizabad Municipal Corporation was trying to conceal the identity of the supervisor who handed over the poisonous sweetmeat for distribution.

This incident must be investigated thoroughly to prevent such a tragedy from happening again, he said.

This article was originally published by Christian Daily International.
Home News Americans are swapping organized religion for personal truth: study

While respected Christian researchers like George Barna have been sounding the alarm on the dangers of syncretism to a biblical worldview in recent years, a new study published Monday suggests more Americans are leaving organized religion in search of personalized faith perspectives that embrace syncretism  a fusion of different religions.

The study, Breaking Free of the Iron Cage: The Individualization of American Religion, was published in the peer-reviewed open access academic journal Socius.

Landon Schnabel, associate professor of sociology in the College of Arts and Sciences at Cornell University, is the lead author. His co-authors are Ilana Horwitz, assistant professor of Jewish studies at Tulane University; Peyman Hekmatpour, teaching assistant professor of sociology at Oklahoma State University, Tulsa; and Cyrus Schleifer, associate professor of sociology at the University of Oklahoma.

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In the study, the researchers tracked 1,348 individuals born in the late 1980s from adolescence through early adulthood using longitudinal surveys to examine how young adults manage tensions between institutional religion and personal authenticity as they came of age during the rise of religious nones.

The individuals, who participated in the National Study of Youth and Religion, completed four rounds of surveys between 2003 and 2013, from ages 13 to 17. During that period, they were asked a series of questions about their religious practices. Some of the respondents also had to do in-depth interviews with the researchers to help them understand patterns of institutional disengagement alongside the meaning-making processes underlying them.

Our analysis shows how young people are responding to the bureaucratization and rationalization that [German sociologist Max] Weber predicted would create an iron cage in modern institutions, developing new forms of religious and spiritual expression outside formal institutions, the researchers wrote.

We bring the iron cage argument back to religion, making the case that rising individualization and autonomy reflected in the 1960s countercultural movement set the stage for a revolution against the bureaucratization and politicization of religion, they added.

The researchers argued that the religious marketplace had expanded beyond competing denominations to include options outside formal institutions altogether, from personalized spirituality to individually crafted approaches to faith and meaning.

People are breaking free not with bolt cutters but with deeply personal acts of spiritual rebellion, rejecting the rationalized, systematized, and institutionalized religious constructs of modernity in favor of more dynamic, diverse, and syncretic expressions, they argued.

When it comes to younger Americans, the researchers said their findings suggest politics and concern for autonomy on issues like gender and sexuality are key factors in their decision to abandon organized religion. The main driver, however, appears to be general individual freedom.

People arent leaving religious institutions passively or only because of partisan politics, but because of more deeply held values  about the sacredness of the individual, their concern for others and feeling that their participation in an institution doesnt align with being the type of person they want to be, Schnabel said in an interview with the Cornell Chronicle. Theyre more intentionally choosing to follow what they really believe in.

In 2023, Barna, who serves as director of the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University, shared research showing that America is under threat from syncretism and urged churches to respond.

The ideological and philosophical confusion that characterizes America is perhaps the biggest reflection of the nation's rejection of biblical principles and its decision to replace God's truth with personal truth,' he warned.

Citing data from the American Worldview Inventory, which is the first-ever national survey conducted in the United States measuring the incidence of both biblical and competing worldviews, Barna showed how the four adult generations in the U.S.  millennials, Gen X (baby busters), baby boomers and elders  had very different spiritual responses to the pandemic.

The research, which involved the tracking of a nationally representative sample of 2,000 adults, showed the lowest incidence of adults with a biblical worldview among the youngest cohorts, millennials, adults born between 1984 and 2002, and Gen X, adults born from 1965 through 1983. Only 2% of millennials were shown to have a biblical worldview, while among Gen X, it was slightly higher at 5%.

Biblical churches must see this as a time for an urgent response to the direction society is taking. While the Left pursues the Great Reset, it is time for the Church to pursue the Great Renewal  leading people's hearts, minds, and souls back to God and His life principles, Barna warned.

The authors of Breaking Free of the Iron Cage: The Individualization of American Religion argue that the religious revolution underway in America is a reflection of a familiar ebb and flow between organized religion and individual spiritual expression that has happened across centuries.

"Americans are increasingly doing religion their own way, almost like DIY," Schnabel said in his statement to the Cornell Chronicle. "Spiritual innovation occurs when traditional ways of being religious don't seem tenable anymore. People come up with new ways of exploring their faith, new types of spirituality, new beliefs and practices."
Home News Kidnapped US missionary Josh Sullivan rescued miraculously unharmed after shootout left 3 dead

Five days after he was kidnapped by armed men from his church in Motherwell, South Africa, Tennessee missionary Josh Sullivan was rescued and miraculously unharmed following a high-intensity shootout that left three people dead.

A statement from the South African Police Service said the shootout happened at a safe house in KwaMagxaki, Gqeberha, where the 34-year-old pastor was being held captive.

As officers approached the house, they observed a vehicle on the premises. The suspects inside the vehicle upon seeing law enforcement allegedly attempted to flee and opened fire on the team. The officers responded with tactical precision, leading to a high-intensity shootout in which three unidentified suspects were fatally wounded, the statement said.

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The victim was found inside the same vehicle from which the suspects had launched their attack. Miraculously unharmed, he was immediately assessed by medical personnel and is currently in an excellent condition.

The statement said the investigation of the kidnapping is still underway and asked for privacy for the victim and his family as they navigate this period of recovery.

Sullivan, who leads Fellowship Baptist Church in Motherwell, near Gqeberha, formerly known as Port Elizabeth, was kidnapped by multiple armed men during a sermon at his church on April 10. The kidnappers had demanded an undisclosed ransom.

The kidnapping triggered a global prayer rally starting with Sullivans home church, Fellowship Baptist Church in Maryville, Tennessee, led by Pastor Tom Hatley.

Hatley celebrated the rescue in a statement on Facebook Wednesday while urging his followers to continue praying for Sullivan and his family.

Josh has been released. I just got the go ahead to let it be known, he wrote. Thank you for your support and prayers. Please do not stop praying for The Sullivans. Praise The Lord Jesus Christ!

Church secretary Heather Shirley told The Christian Post in an interview Wednesday that the only message shared with the church about Pastor Sullivans rescue so far is that he had been rescued. They hadnt gotten into the details highlighted by local police just yet. She also noted that the miraculous rescue is exactly what they had been praying for and praised God.

He (God) was the one protecting him and taking care of him. And that's what we were praying for all along, that He would take care of him and bring him home, Shirley said while noting they are looking forward to hearing Sullivans testimony firsthand.

We prefer to get it firsthand, you know. Everything's more correct if you're getting it [firsthand]. We want to let Josh tell the whole story as he wants to or give us something to give to our people so that they understand exactly how he felt, Shirley added.

I don't think any of us can understand how he felt in that situation. I mean, there had to just be a hedge of protection around him, provided by God, that's the only explanation for it.

Fellowship Baptist Church in Maryville noted in a previous statement, that Sullivan and his wife, Meagan, first traveled to South Africa in 2015 for a six-month internship as part of their Bible training.

It was during this time that the Lord began to stir their hearts specifically for the Xhosa people. They returned in 2018 as full-time church planting missionaries, determined to share the Gospel, and see lives changed, the bio from the church states.

Sullivan spent two years at a language school to become fluent in Xhosa so he could preach, disciple, and minister more effectively.

That dedication led to the planting of Fellowship Baptist Church in the township of Motherwell  a community that has become home to their hearts, the church said. The couple have also taken in two Xhosa children to be a part of their household in South Africa.
Home News New Mexico man charged with arson attacks on Tesla dealership, GOP office

A New Mexico man has been charged in connection to arson attacks on a Tesla dealership and an office of the state chapter of the Republican Party.



Federal prosecutors filed charges against Jamison Wagner, a 40-year-old resident of Albuquerque, last Saturday in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico.



Wagner is accused of setting fires at the Tesla Albuquerque Showroom in Bernalillo in February and at the Republican Party of New Mexico Party Office in Albuquerque late last month, according to the court documents.



In the Tesla attack, two vehicles were damaged by fire. Additionally, graffiti was spraypainted on the building and some of the cars, which included the messages "Die Elon," "Tesla Nazi Inc" and "Die Tesla Nazi."



"In several instances, some letters in the phrases were replaced with symbols resembling a swastika," states the criminal complaint. "The damaged vehicles in the parking lot were spray painted with similar swastika symbols on the windshields, windows, or body panels."

"Several Tesla vehicles also had mechanical damage to the windows, consistent with attempted or successful forced entry."

During the GOP office attack, Wagner allegedly set fire to the front entrance of the facility, heavily damaging the front door and the lobby area. He also spray-painted graffiti that included a stenciled "ICE=KKK" on a wall.

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Investigators eventually connected the two events based on the spraypaint and types of incendiary devices used, with surveillance footage depicting an individual who resembled Wagner, as well as other footage showing what looked to be his car at both places.

During a search of his residence last week, investigators found materials Wagner owned that indicated that he was responsible for the arson and vandalism, including a stencil board with the message "ICE=KKK," homemade incendiary devices and a hoodie with red spraypaint on it.

"Let this be the final lesson to those taking part in this ongoing wave of political violence," said U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi in a statement issued Monday. "We will arrest you, we will prosecute you, and we will not negotiate. Crimes have consequences."

The arrest was "part of the FBI's aggressive efforts to investigate and hold accountable those who have targeted Tesla facilities in various states across the country," Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel said in a statement.

"Under Attorney General Bondi's leadership, we will continue to locate and arrest those responsible for these acts of domestic terrorism, and the FBI will work with partners at the Department of Justice to ensure such lawbreakers face justice," stated Patel.

Over the past few months, several violent attacks have been carried out against Tesla dealerships across the United States due to Tesla owner Elon Musk's working with the Trump administration to cut programs and lay off large numbers of federal employees.

On New Year's Day, 37-year-old Matthew Livelsberger exploded a Tesla Cybertruck in front of the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, injuring several people. He killed himself shortly before the explosion.

An investigation later revealed that Livelsberger likely committed the suicidal action because of PTSD issues rather than any political grievances, according to The Associated Press.
Home News There is no greater partnership than Israel, believing Christians, Netanyahu tells Trump's faith advisor

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu talked about the role of Israel in the End Times, the friendship between the U.S. and Israel and the critical role of Evangelical Christians in the alliance between the nations in a wide-ranging interview with Paula White, the senior advisor to the White House Faith Office.

The interview was recorded during his visit to Washington, D.C. and published on the YouTube channel of the Christian Daystar Television Network this week.

White began by noting that The Christian vision of the end of days foretells of some profound transformation and redemption, asking the premier whether he saw signs of this vision being realized in current events.

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That vision of the return of the dispersed people to the Holy Land, the reconstitution of Jewish sovereignty in our ancient land  That's a miracle. I think this is a string of miracles by itself. You can explain it in various ways, but I think there is something that defies, you know, it sort of defies the laws of history because according to the laws of history, if you're gone, you're gone, Netanyahu said.

In addition, he listed U.S. President Donald Trumps moves to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, the transfer of the embassy to Jerusalem and the mediation of the Abraham Accords as near-miraculous events in the Jewish peoples historic mission.

And I know that we have, in this effort, the support of our Christian friends around the world. You know, we've not had greater friends, Netanyahu emphasized.

At another point in the interview, the premier reiterated: There is no greater partnership than the State of Israel and the believing Christians around the world.

Netanyahu also argued that Trump is already working to further strengthen the bond with Israel with several significant moves he made in the first days of his presidency.

Israel is fighting our common enemies, the enemies of America, Netanyahu said, They call America the great Satan. They call us the small Satan.

Despite this fact, Netanyahu said the Biden administration had imposed an arms embargo on Israel. One of the first things President Trump did was knock out that embargo, restore the weapons and ammunition shipped into Israel, which is so needed.

Second thing he did was he removed these sanctions that were put on Jewish residents of Judea, Samaria, the heart of our historical homeland, Netanyahu continued. The third thing he did was issue these forceful orders for measures against anti-Semitism, which is really anti-Americanism, anti-Israel, on America's campuses and elsewhere.

Finally, Netanyahu said Trump rescinded this thing that was protecting the ICC, the so-called International Criminal Court, which itself became criminal, and is targeting American soldiers and Israeli soldiers, me, and potentially any leader of America.

The Israeli leader also called on Christians to engage with Israel more deeply, especially by traveling to Israel to understand how the Bible is really being played out in real time on this piece of earth that is so critical to our common civilization.

One thing I heard of recently, and this is spreading to the Christian friends of Israel and America, is (the accusation) that Israel is persecuting Christians in Israel. My God, how can people believe these lies? The only place in the Middle East where the Christians are fully safe  not [just] to engage in their faith, but well beyond that, to flourish, to thrive  is in Israel, he stressed.

Despite false news and reports of declining support for Israel among Christians, Netanyahu offered a vision of hope not just for the relations between the U.S. and Israel but for Christianity and traditional values in America.

Recounting the example of Israels young generation, which heroically rose to the task of fighting a war, contrary to the expectation of some, Netanyahu emphasized that such trends can be reversed.

People here say the next generation of Christians are waning in their support for Israel.  Who says that's got to continue? I think there's a change happening right now, the prime minister said.

People seek spiritual content for their lives, and many are coming back to religion, and when they do, and when they look for the sources, the wellsprings of our civilization, our societies, they'll come back to the roots.

And the roots came from that land that you visit, that piece of land at the edge of Asia, the edge of the Mediterranean is where it all started.

Netanyahu added that every time he speaks to the U.S. Congress, I stand on that podium and I look at that hall.  Smack looking at me is the tablet that says Moses, the lawgiver, and actually has a quote from the Bible.

They spoke about a city on a hill, the Founding Fathers of America. That city was Jerusalem. America was founded as the new Jerusalem, connected to the original Jerusalem. And that's a partnership that I think is not going to disappear. I think we may be at a cusp, at a turning point, where that enthusiasm, in fact, is re-energized. And I think it's going to happen.

This article was originally published by All Israel News.
Home News Karoline Leavitt rebukes media outrage over deported Salvadoran man: Despicable

WASHINGTON  White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday rebuked mainstream media outrage over the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran migrant sent to his home countrys Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT) prison over an admitted administrative error.

Leavitt pushed back against descriptions of Garcia as a Maryland father, and contrasted the attention he has received with Rachel Morin, a Maryland mother who was killed in 2023 by an illegal immigrant in an unrelated case.

It is despicable that many in the fake news media and the Democrat Party are more outraged over the deportation of an MS-13 illegal alien criminal than they are over the rape and murder of American women and children by illegal aliens who should have never been in our country in the first place, Leavitt said during a press briefing.

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Karoline Leavitt just SHREDDED the media for defending the so-called "Maryland father" illegal MS-13 gang member over a real Maryland Mother, Rachel Morin, who was brutally murdered by a different illegal.



Why does the left always side with criminals over Americans?! pic.twitter.com/v02Y8KQs5d  Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) April 15, 2025

Leavitt suggested the press has attempted to glamorize Garcia.

Based on the sensationalism of many of the people in this room, you would think we deported a candidate for Father of the Year, she said.

A Salvadoran native who unlawfully entered the U.S. during the Obama administration, Abrego Garcia was deported last month under the allegation that he is a member of MS-13.

In a statement to the Daily Caller News Foundation, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin claimed that "intelligence reports" support the government's assertion that Abrego Garcia is involved in human trafficking, stating that he should be locked up.

A federal judge and the U.S. Supreme Court directed the administration to "facilitate" Garcia's return, but Leavitt explained that the governments responsibility did not extend to releasing him from Salvadoran custody.

Her remarks came a day after Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele met with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, during which he said he would not be returning Abrego Garcia to the U.S.

In an unsigned order released last Thursday, the Supreme Court told the government to begin the steps of returning Garcia, denying in part the government's application to vacate a lower court ruling.

Abrego Garcia filed a lawsuit against several federal officials, including Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Todd Lyons, claiming he was denied due process.

Garcias case underscores tensions over immigration, executive authority and judicial oversight. On Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge Paula Xinis  a Barack Obama appointee  admonished the U.S. Department of Justice for not complying with her order regarding Garcia.

Xinis has been considering issuing contempt proceedings against the Trump administration over Garcia's situation.
Home News Sisters sue Coastal Church, former youth group assistant for $300M for childhood sex abuse

Two Virginia sisters have filed separate lawsuits seeking $150 million each against the Southern Baptist Bethany Place Church, the multi-campus Coastal Church and a former youth group assistant for the childhood sexual abuse they suffered at the hands of the youth group worker beginning when they were just 6 and 10 years old.

The sisters, now adults, are identified in their lawsuits as 25-year-old R.T. of Richmond and S.T., 29, of Chesterfield, Virginia.

In addition to Bethany Place Church and Coastal Church, which acquired Bethany Place as one of its campuses two years ago, both lawsuits name the youth group worker, Gerald R. Thomas, as a defendant.

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Thomas pled guilty to aggravated sexual battery of both sisters on Aug. 17, 2010. He also pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual battery of a Jane Doe on Nov. 12, 2020.

"Defendant Thomas's charges and guilty pleas of Aggravated Sexual Battery all involved his sexual abuse of S.T., R.T., and Jane Doe, who were minors, while he served as a youth group assistant at Bethany Place. Thomas is on indefinite supervised probation and has been Court ordered to participate in sex offender treatment," the lawsuits declare.

Thomas, now 75, was accused of abusing the sisters between 2006 and 2009 at the then Bethany Place Church on South Providence Road. When Coastal Church took control in 2023, the church was renamed the Bethany Campus of Coastal Church.

The sisters are suing all three defendants for assault and battery, negligent, gross negligence and reckless disregard-breach of common law duty of supervision and care, breach of duty arising from special relationship, reckless retention and vicarious liability.

The sisters seek $50 million in compensatory damages and $100 million in punitive damages plus pre-judgment and post-judgment interest from the first date they were harmed.

Kevin Biniazan, an attorney for the sisters, alleges that while Thomas abused them over multiple years, the church did nothing to stop the abuse even though they were aware.

"The effects of those acts aren't fully appreciated and aren't fully understood until they grow older and they start to recognize the lasting effects that that has on their day-to-day lives, and that's the case here," Biniazan told WWBT.

Thomas is accused of grooming the sisters by separating them from other children in weekly youth group meetings and sexually abusing them for three years.

"And in some instances, in front of and in the presence of other persons while he placed his hand beneath their clothing, which is the most upsetting to imagine the mind of a young child looking around and experiencing these abuses and what they perceive to be in everyone's line of sight and thinking, who's here to save me, who's here to protect me?" Biniazan said.

The lawsuits state that the younger sister told her mother in the presence of a church staff member about the abuse in October 2009. The mother of the sisters was allegedly told that Thomas would be removed from youth activities. But that did not happen, and a report was not made to the police.

An official investigation of the abuse reportedly did not happen until the sister told a school counselor about the abuse.

"It was time to say something and not just hold this man responsible for what he did to them, but to hold these institutions responsible for permitting it to take place," Biniazan said.

Coastal Church said in a statement to WWBT that abuse had nothing to do with their church.

"Bethany Place Church began a relationship with Coastal Church two years ago. The lawsuit concerns a tragic incident that occurred at Bethany Place 16 years ago involving the abuse of children. The individual responsible was identified, convicted, and incarcerated," the church said.

"Bethany Place Church is now under different leadership than at the time of the incident 16 years ago. At Coastal, the safety of our children is a top priority. We take all matters involving abuse and sexual misconduct with utmost seriousness. We are committed to protecting our congregation and honoring the name of Jesus Christ in all we do."

The attorneys for the sisters argue that Coastal Church's acquisition of Bethany Place Church equates to an "agreement to assume all existing and future liabilities."
Sami Sheen has opened up about the tumultuous relationship shes had with both her parents Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen.

Sami Sheen has opened up about the tumultuous relationship shes had with both her parents Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen

Describing her journey through family conflict and personal independence as one marked by emotional upheaval and a search for stability, the OnlyFans creator laid bare their rollercoaster life while speaking on Gia Giudices podcast Casual Chaos.

Sami, 21, said: about how her bond with her actress mother broke down in 2021, during a period when she moved out of Denises home and in with her father, Charlie, 59: I was living at my moms, obviously, with (Denises husband) Aaron (Phypers) and Lola and we were all fighting constantly.

I did not get along with anyone. I kind of felt like the odd one out and being the older sister, the blame was like always thrown on me for everything.

I was really struggling mentally in that house and theres obviously a lot that I wish I could say, but Ill get in trouble for saying.

Sami said she eventually moved in with Charlie, believing it to be a more peaceful environment.

She added: I wanted to try out living there and like, it was great until it wasnt.

The move sparked headlines when Sami, then 17, posted on TikTok referring to her mothers house as a hell house and claimed she had been trapped in an abusive household.

At the time, a source told People Denise was saddened by the situation and had simply set normal rules.

Charlie responded publicly, saying: Sam is amazing. I love her and all my children unconditionally. Were having a ball.

After some time at her fathers house, Sami said she grew really lonely and eventually left to live with a friend, before briefly returning to Denises home.

She added: I was like, this is not working. My moms is not working.

Sami added she moved into her own apartment shortly after turning 18, funding it with earnings from joining OnlyFans.

She said: I started OnlyFans and I got an apartment a month later and Ive been living in an apartment ever since.

Reflecting on how the public reacted to her decision to leave home, Sami said she expected support from peers, but was surprised by the backlash.

She added: People were like, How dare you have it so nice. Im like, you guys have no idea. What goes on behind closed doors is crazy.

Sami also said Charlie loved that I was taking his side now after all these years and he was the favourite parent  but stressed her decision to live independently was about more than choosing between parents.

She added: I just wanted to start to find myself and have my own space and my own environment.
Home News Man who set fire to Gov. Josh Shapiro's home as family slept was enraged by Gaza war

A man suspected of setting fire to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiros home at night while his family slept reportedly committed the arson attack in response to the governor's support for Israel amid the war in Gaza, according to a search warrant.

Early Sunday morning, an individual entered the property of the Pennsylvania governors mansion and set fire to the home, causing extensive damage and threatening the lives of Shapiro and his family.

The news outlet PennLive reported that 38-year-old Cody Balmer, who was recently arrested and charged with attempted murder over the arson, was motivated by the war in Gaza.

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According to PennLive, the warrant said Balmer had called 911 after setting the fire, explaining that he will not take part in [Shapiros] plans for what he wants to do to the Palestinian people, perceiving that Shapiro supported the Israeli military's actions in Gaza.

Balmer went on to say that Shapiro needed to stop having my friends killed and that ... our people have been put through too much by that monster, and that he was not hiding and also will confess to everything that I had done.

Shapiro, who is Jewish, expressed support for Israel shortly after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks on Southern Israel, in which nearly 1,200 people were tortured and killed, including some 40 Americans, and over 254 others were taken hostage, many also raped or tortured.

I know this is painful for so many to watch and to experience. Its painful to me and I know its painful to thousands of Pennsylvanians who keep showing up and rallying, said Shapiro on KDKA Radios Big K Morning Show back in 2023.

This is an incredibly challenging time, and were praying for the Israelis, and we stand firm with them as they defend themselves as they have every right to do.

Balmer has been charged with eight crimes, including attempted murder, aggravated arson and terrorism. If found guilty on all counts, he could be sentenced to over 100 years in prison.

A resident of Harrisburg, Balmer reportedly has a history of mental health issues. Two years ago, he was charged with assaulting his ex-wife and their two children, The New York Times reported.

After the reported assault, Balmer was temporarily involuntarily committed to a mental health facility. His ex-wife was able to get a protection order.

Additionally, Balmer was given 18 months probation and fined $500 in 2015 after pleading guilty to putting his name on another persons payroll check and was sued in civil court in 2022 when he defaulted on a mortgage, the NY Times added.
Home News UK Supreme Court rules men are not women in For Women Scotland victory Kemi Badenoch: 'Saying 'trans women are women' was never true'

A ruling by the highest court in Britain declaring that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex has been welcomed by Christians.

Peter Lynas, the U.K. director of Evangelical Alliance, said the landmark ruling was a sign that "the vibe shift is real"  a reference to the increasing sense that a cultural shift is underway from strident progressive ideology.

There were scenes of celebration outside the Supreme Court as the ruling was handed down, making clear that men who self-identify as "trans women" do not fall within the scope of what it means to be a woman in legal terms.

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In a video shared on his X account, Lynas, a former barrister, said the ruling brought much-needed "clarity" to an area that has become highly contested in recent years. He said that women have "regained" their hard-won rights.

"The vibe shift is real  I don't think this decision would have been made two or three years ago," he said. "I think this is reflective of the continuing shift in our culture towards things like reality."

He expects the judgment to have "big implications" for policy in businesses and workplaces but he also encouraged Christians to see it as a "missional moment" to have conversations with their colleagues about what it might mean.

The victory was secured by For Women Scotland after they took on the Scottish government and trans activists over the legal definition of a woman.

The judgment has been welcomed by campaigners and feminists who have spent years challenging the encroachment of men being allowed in women-only spaces.

JK Rowling said she was "proud" of For Women Scotland: "It took three extraordinary, tenacious Scottish women with an army behind them to get this case heard by the Supreme Court and, in winning, theyve protected the rights of women and girls across the U.K."

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said, "Saying 'trans women are women' was never true in fact and now isnt true in law, either. A victory for all of the women who faced personal abuse or lost their jobs for stating the obvious."
Home News Washington 1 step away from requiring priests to report abuse disclosed in confessional

Lawmakers in Washington state have passed a bill that would require clergy to report sexual abuse even if it was admitted to in the Catholic confessional.

Last Friday, the Washington House voted 64-31 to pass Senate Bill 5375, sending the proposed legislation to Democratic Gov. Bob Ferguson for his signature.

"It's long past time for this protection for children," said Democrat Sen. Noel Frame of Seattle, the sponsor of SB 5375, as quoted by The Washington State Standard.

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"Members of the clergy play such an important role in the lives of children, like teachers and doctors do, and just like those other trusted adults, clergy should be mandatory reporters."

However, others, among them Republican state Rep. Jeremie Dufault of Selah, argued that the bill violated religious liberty, calling it "an attack on the Catholic and other faiths."

Introduced in January, SB 5375 adds religious clergy among the group of professionals that are required by law to report any suspicion of sexual abuse of children to authorities.

The bill garnered controversy for not exempting situations like the Catholic confessional from the mandatory reporting of abuse, even though the Catholic Church requires priests to maintain secrecy for things admitted during confession.

"Except for members of the clergy, no one shall be required to report under this section when he or she obtains the information solely as a result of a privileged communication," stated the bill.

SB 5375 had the backing of the interfaith advocacy organization The Clergy Accountability Coalition, which argues that it is necessary to combat child abuse.

"If a state cannot regulate religions," said Sharon Huling of CAC in a statement released in January, "then they should not be able to provide religions with exemptions either."

According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, "The Code of Canon Law forbids priests from divulging information received in confession," and the punishment "for a priest who directly violates the seal of confession is excommunication."

Washington state lawmakers considered a similar bill last year, Senate Bill 6298, which had overwhelmingly passed the state Senate in a vote of 44-5.

However, in February of last year, SB 6298 died in the Washington House Committee on Human Services, Youth & Early Learning, mainly due to its failure to exempt the Catholic confessional.

The Washington State Catholic Conference, which was critical of SB 6298, released a bulletin last year predicting that "a new version of SB 6298 will be introduced, most likely without a clergy-penitent privilege."

The WSCC claimed that admonitions of child abuse in the confessional are "rare" and that the Catholic Church already "supports mandatory reporting outside of the confessional."

"Many legislators are unaware of the grave impacts of holding priests criminally liable for maintaining their vow to protect the Seal of Confession," warned the conference in 2024.
Home News Why are American Christians less antisemitic, more pro-Israel than believers in UK?

A new study showing British Christians are less likely to have a high opinion of Jews or express support for Israel compared to their American peers is making headlines.

But what's driving these findings  and why do they matter?

Christian Post reporter Samantha Kamman breaks it all down with Billy Hallowell on the latest episode of "The Inside Story" podcast. Read more about the findings and data here.

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And listen to the episode:

The Inside Story takes you behind the headlines of the biggest faith, culture, and political headlines of the week. In 15 minutes or less, Christian Post staff writers and editors will help you navigate and understand whats driving each story, the issues at play  and why it all matters.

Listen to more Christian podcasts today on the Edifi app  and be sure to subscribe to The Inside Story on your favorite platforms:

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A 14-year-old boy from Rockford, Michigan, died by suicide in August after he was targeted in a sextortion scheme and believed he was in trouble with police.

His devastated family is now speaking out to raise awareness, hoping to prevent other tragedies.

Sextortion is an increasingly frequent scam that often targets minors online. The offender coerces their target into sending sexually explicit images either with a threat or by posing as a desirable peer, then they use the threat of exposure to make more demands.

According to the family's attorney, Marc Lipton, Henry had realized he was being manipulated online by someone posing as a girl, who had tricked him into sending an explicit photo, abc10 reported. That person then threatened to distribute the image unless Henry sent more.

"He reached out to a friend, telling that his life had been ruined and it was over and he was in trouble," Lipton said. " Alarmed, the friend told his mother, who contacted police for a wellness check. But when Henry saw officers arriving at his home, he panicked.

"He thought he was in trouble, and he took his own life," Lipton said. "That's not to blame Henry or his own parents, or the friends' parents, everyone doing it all they could to protect them."

Described by loved ones as "kind-hearted" and "charismatic," Henry was an athlete, who had worked his first job as a caddy and dishwasher over the summer, and was just days away from beginning high school when he committed suicide.

The investigation following his death led law enforcement to the arrest of another Kent County teen, who was charged with six felony counts in October. The perpetrator, also a 14-year-old male, pleaded guilty to victimizing 17 children through sextortion.

Henry's parents are urging other families to talk to their children about online safety and to understand that victims of sextortion are not to blame.

"Sending inappropriate pics is a bad decision," they said, "but if someone threatens to spread your photo, they are committing a crime and you deserve to be protected."

Law enforcement officials say cases like Henry's are sadly becoming more common. "We take three to five of these cases a month," said Chief Deputy Jason Kelly of the Kent County Sheriff's Office. "Most victims are boys aged 12 to 17."

The FBI urges teens and parents to be cautious about online interactions, and to ask for help if something doesn't feel right.

"If someone is trying to control and humiliate you," Henry's parents said, "please reach out for help."

Originally published on Lawyer Herald
IT leaders are stepping into a new era, shifting from reactive problem solving to proactively building the future. According to a report from Canon Europe, IT job roles in 2025 will focus more on strategic innovation, supported by robust partnerships with the different business areas they serve. While the road ahead is exciting, it is not without its challenges.

From tactical problem solvers to strategic thinkers

During the early phases of flexible working, IT leaders roles were mainly characterised by resolving day-to-day operational issues. However the landscape has changed significantly. Today, over three quarters (79%) of ITDMs feel more fulfilled in their job than ever before[1], largely due to a greater emphasis on strategic work.

For example, in 2019 less than a fifth of ITDMs (19%) reported dedicating significant time to IT strategy, compared to almost half (46%) today. Similarly, the focus on automation has grown, enabling IT teams to optimise day to day operations, while driving productivity, efficiency and profitability.

Fine tuning flexible working for the future

While much progress has been made, flexible working remains a priority for IT teams, as 98% of ITDMs continue to prioritise the enhancement of remote and hybrid work set-ups.[2] However, challenges have evolved from simply keeping the lights on.

For IT leaders today, challenges centre around fine tuning the workplace to foster collaboration and productivity. Nearly half (47%) are focused on better integrating office infrastructure for seamless workflows.[3]

Flexible working has also intensified security concerns. Security has topped IT leaders list of challenges, with flexible working models only exacerbating those concerns. [4] In fact, 45% of respondents identified it as a key area for investment in 2025.[5] However, with more headspace to think strategically about the future, IT leaders are proactively addressing barriers with new technologies instead of reactive measures.

Strategic priorities for ITDMs in 2025

The experiences of the last few years have defined a forward-looking agenda for 2025, with over two thirds (68%) reporting a sense of excitement in their role.[6] Next year will be defined by:

AI Adoption: Over two thirds of ITDMs predicting AI will become their top investment priority by 2025, up from 55% in 2019.[7]

Automation: Expected to revolutionise the IT function, liberating leaders from routine tasks to focus on high value initiatives. More than half of ITDMs (51%) see automation as a tool to shift to more strategic work and 50% note it would enable faster resolution of employee issues.[8]

Sustainability: While still niche, energy-efficient technology is gaining traction, with 38% of ITDMs predicting it will be a key focus in 2025.[9]

Entering a new proactive future for IT

As we shift into this new era, IT will not only adapt to the demands of a flexible, digital first world but will have a hand in redefining what it means to lead in production, innovation and strategic impact.

[1] Canon Europe, IT Transformation Barometer Report, 2024

[2] Canon Europe, IT Transformation Barometer Report, 2024

[3] Canon Europe, IT Transformation Barometer Report, 2024

[4] Canon Europe, IT Transformation Barometer Report, 2024

[5] Canon Europe, IT Transformation Barometer Report, 2024

[6] Canon Europe, IT Transformation Barometer Report, 2024

[7] Canon Europe, IT Transformation Barometer Report, 2024

[8] Canon Europe, IT Transformation Barometer Report, 2024

[9] Canon Europe, IT Transformation Barometer Report, 2024
In todays rapidly evolving business landscape, the role of the enterprise architect has become more crucial than ever, beyond the usual bridge between business and IT. In a world where business, strategy and technology must be tightly interconnected, the enterprise architect must take on multiple personas to address a wide range of concerns. These include everything from technical design to ecosystem management and navigating emerging technology trends like AI.

A multi-persona approach

An enterprise architect is much more than a designer, their role is multifaceted taking on many personas (to name but a few!):

Trusted advisor: While enterprise architects can often be seen as the catalysts for technology they must provide credible guidance to business leadership, offering insights into technology trends, risks and opportunities and avoid repeating mistakes of the past. They ensure that decisions are aligned with both short-term goals and long-term sustainability

While enterprise architects can often be seen as the catalysts for technology they must provide credible guidance to business leadership, offering insights into technology trends, risks and opportunities and avoid repeating mistakes of the past. They ensure that decisions are aligned with both short-term goals and long-term sustainability Strategist: The enterprise architect aligns technology initiatives with the businesss vision, ensuring that technology choices drive value and competitive advantage.

The enterprise architect aligns technology initiatives with the businesss vision, ensuring that technology choices drive value and competitive advantage. Innovator/experimenter: enterprise architects look for new innovative opportunities to bring into the business and know how to frame and execute experiments to maximize the learnings.

enterprise architects look for new innovative opportunities to bring into the business and know how to frame and execute experiments to maximize the learnings. Navigator: As technology landscapes and market dynamics change, enterprise architects help businesses navigate through complexity and uncertainty, ensuring that the organization remains on course despite evolving challenges.

As technology landscapes and market dynamics change, enterprise architects help businesses navigate through complexity and uncertainty, ensuring that the organization remains on course despite evolving challenges. Designer: Enterprise architects craft solutions that balance business needs with technology capabilities, given constraints and often with trade-offs.

Enterprise architects craft solutions that balance business needs with technology capabilities, given constraints and often with trade-offs. Jenga builder: Enterprise architects piece together both reusable and replaceable components and solutions enabling responsive (adaptable, resilient) architectures that accelerate time-to-market without disrupting other components or the architecture overall (e.g. compromising quality, structure, integrity, goals). There are trade-offs of consistency and maintainability versus agility that need to be carefully decided upon.

Enterprise architects piece together both reusable and replaceable components and solutions enabling responsive (adaptable, resilient) architectures that accelerate time-to-market without disrupting other components or the architecture overall (e.g. compromising quality, structure, integrity, goals). There are trade-offs of consistency and maintainability versus agility that need to be carefully decided upon. Observer-optimiser: Continuous monitoring, review and refinement is essential. enterprise architects ensure systems are performing at their best, with mechanisms (e.g. tagging, component/application mapping, key metric collection) and tools incorporated to ensure data can be reported on sufficiently and efficiently  without creating an industry in itself!  to identify opportunities for optimizations that reduce cost, improve efficiency and ensure scalability. With hybrid on-prem and cloud-deployed solutions and differences of capability and alignment between organizations and their suppliers, this can be a real challenge!

Continuous monitoring, review and refinement is essential. enterprise architects ensure systems are performing at their best, with mechanisms (e.g. tagging, component/application mapping, key metric collection) and tools incorporated to ensure data can be reported on sufficiently and efficiently  without creating an industry in itself!  to identify opportunities for optimizations that reduce cost, improve efficiency and ensure scalability. With hybrid on-prem and cloud-deployed solutions and differences of capability and alignment between organizations and their suppliers, this can be a real challenge! Collaborator: Enterprise architects work with business stakeholders, development teams, vendors and other key players to ensure business outcomes are being met. They encourage seamless communication and collaboration across all levels of the organization and in some cases playing mediator.

Enterprise architects work with business stakeholders, development teams, vendors and other key players to ensure business outcomes are being met. They encourage seamless communication and collaboration across all levels of the organization and in some cases playing mediator. Ecosystem warrior: Enterprise architects manage the larger ecosystem, addressing challenges like sustainability, vendor management, compliance and risk mitigation. They ensure that all systems and components, wherever they are and who owns them, work together harmoniously.

Next, I want to delve into a couple of areas that demonstrate the depth and breadth of the demands of an enterprise architect.
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In the introduction to his most recent book, Copaganda, which was published yesterday, Alec Karakatsanis describes watching incarcerated parents in Flint, Michigan, press their faces against their prison windows, straining to read messages that their children have scrawled in chalk on the sidewalk below. Over the past twenty years, he writes, many jails have eliminated free in-person visits, and phone calls are often prohibitively expensive, so families resort to writing messages on the groundthings like love u, and ur not alone, and a drawing of a birthday cake decorated with candles. Karakatsanis describes watching jail employees with hoses wash some such messages away: The vibrant chalk drawings, he writes, were reduced to splotches of muted color, like an abstract expressionists representation of bureaucratic cruelty.

Its all part of what Karakatsanis calls the punishment bureaucracythe system by which the American political establishment devotes immense resources to policing the violation of certain laws by certain people. Karakatsanis writes that offenses that involve wealthier perpetratorsthings like wage theft and corporate negligenceare rarely addressed with the brute force and cruelty meted upon poor people. Punishment bureaucrats have produced a structure of mass human caging that is unlike anything that any other society has ever attempted, he told me recently. Let alone any other society that thinks of itself as a democracy.

In 2016, Karakatsanis, a public defender, started Civil Rights Corps, a nonprofit that litigates against prosecutor and police abuse, and that mounts challenges against privatization within the legal system. While doing this work, he became increasingly disturbed by the ways in which news coverage was shaping the American legislative agenda. He began documenting pro-police bias in prominent outlets, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the LA Times, as well as within local newspapers and broadcast stations. Copaganda is the culmination of his research to date. In the book, he argues that journalists have been essential to the construction of a system that villainizes the poor, neglects stories about white-collar crime, and prioritizes punishment over public safety. Among the forces shaping this narrative is a jaw-droppingly robust police public-relations apparatus. (ICYMI, Alexandria Neason wrote for CJR back in 2019 about how police PR departments have often misled the press.)

Karakatsanis and I met recently in the sunny Washington, DC, office from which he runs Civil Rights Corps. We discussed the role of reporting in creating public panic, about what makes a story newsworthy, and how journalists can mitigate pro-police bias in their own work. Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.



YRG: Where did the idea for this book come from? Why did you decide to make the news media a primary focus?

AK: I wanted to write a book about how institutions that think of themselves as being liberal contribute to the mythologies that underlie the authoritarian turn in our society. It concerned me that punishment bureaucratspolice, prosecutors, judges, probation and parole officers, prison guards and their unions, the constellation of multibillion-dollar companies that profit off of every single stage of this systemwere setting the agenda around what the problems were and who was to blame for them. I became interested in how mainstream media institutions were either ignoring or paying a lot of attention to certain kinds of issues, and what they were telling their audiences about the solutions for those problemsthings like body cameras, which were pitched as a reform [despite the fact that] theres overwhelming evidence that they dont make police less violent or more accountable. The news was manufacturing a consensus around certain quote-unquote reforms that actually wouldnt solve any of the problems that impacted the lives of my clients, but that would perpetuate and even grow the power of the punishment bureaucracy.

In the book you focus your analysis on institutions that purportedly hold progressive values, rather than on right-wing outlets like Fox News. Can you tell me about that decision?

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This is part of a larger project of explaining how elite institutionsfrom universities to nonprofits to mainstream news outletsperpetuate many of the most harmful, unjust, and even authoritarian aspects of our world by putting a veneer of liberal progressiveness on them. Their most dangerous function is they take well-meaning people and co-opt them to think that the actual solution is tweaking the levers of the governments repressive institutions while maintaining their structure in all material respects. Im so obsessed with these outlets because they are the ones that are siphoning off people in our society who would support fundamentally more egalitarian, liberatory policy.

You talk about excessive shoplifting coverage around 2021 and 2022 as an example of the problematic ways in which well-respected mainstream outlets report on public safety. What does this example reflect about the media ecosystem? What was the impact of this coverage?

Shoplifting actually wasnt increasing, and the [coverage] created a real wave of panic. I became obsessed with the volume of news, because volume is actually how you control levels of fear and panic in our society in a way that sows the seeds of an authoritarian mindset. Once youve made people afraid, you can [convince] them that the solution to their fears is not investing in things that people actually need, like healthcare and education and housing, but instead in the tools of state repression. I started talking to journalists about covering issues like debtors prisons, people being jailed because they cannot make a payment on old tickets. This is happening hundreds of thousands of times a week in the United States, and they are totally different instancesdifferent families being separated by each of these decisionsbut I was having editors say to me, Oh, well, somebody else already covered the debtors prison story a few weeks ago. And that fascinated me, because no editor in these institutions was saying, Well, we covered a shoplifting from CVS last week, so its not worth covering this shoplifting from Walmart today. Why [is unlawful imprisonment] viewed as a story to be covered with one investigative piece but the issue of shoplifting is thought of as [many] individual stories?

A lot of people made a lot of money off [the shoplifting coverage]. Stores were able to socialize the cost of their security to public dollars. It was very, very useful in some of the midterm elections and the recall campaigns of progressive district attorneys. You could imagine if instead we all got push alerts on our phones every time the police illegally searched somebody, every time a judge illegally detained someone and separated a family, every time someones pet died because they were illegally put in jail because they owed money on a ticket. Our society would have a fear of different kinds of things and a different sense of what the urgent issues of our time are.

You write in the book about the ways in which the agenda of police departments and others within the punishment bureaucracy ends up shaping coverage. Why does this happen?

Some of it is [journalists] failure to interrogate who their sources are and what [their] biases might be. For example, I found in my research that most news organizations dont have a rigorous process for tracking their sources; theyre not [asking], Hey, are all the sources that brought us this collection of stories for the last six months actually people with a certain agenda? It also became really clear to me that editors and reporters had no rigorous intellectual justification for the decisions they were making concerning the volume of news on certain topics. They werent doing very basic things like auditing the number of stories they were covering and then asking, Does the level of attention that were paying to certain stories match the amount of social harm that the issue is actually causing? There are a lot of cultural and ideological norms that many journalists have been taught or have absorbed. For example, when you report as an objective fact that theres a shortage of prison guards as opposed to too many people in prison, youre actually taking a side in a very consequential political debate. [Theres also the fact that] a lot of local newsrooms are really resource-strapped, and they have to figure out how to fill a lot of content every day. The multibillion-dollar police public-relations industry is extremely good at feeding these reporters content. They dont just give reporters a list of people who are arrested; they give them pictures, video, quotes, charts, graphs. They actually intervene in the newsgathering process to make the path of least resistance for coverage of certain types of crimes committed by certain kinds of people.

Can you tell me about your work trying to change the way news outlets cover crime? How have your critiques been received by journalists?

I started talking to people who train journalists, working with journalism professors and foundations. I did a talk to the New York Times editorial board. Some people were incredibly defensive and didnt even really want to engage. I understand, emotionally; who in this busy, stressful world has time for some random person spewing their thoughts about your work? But at the same time, its life and death for the people that I represent: children who are unable to even hold their parents hands, people who are brutally sexually assaulted and physically beaten in jail, people who are lying around naked in pools of feces, blood, mucus, mold, and urine. Those people are being told that their stories are not important enough to cover. By and large, though, I was really encouraged by how many journalists engaged with me and helped improve my own analysis. There are many young reporters who didnt sign up to work at the Washington Post or the New York Times so that they could do unhinged crime panic stories fed to them by police union sources. The book is really built from hundreds of conversations with people actually doing this work. Their insights furthered my own.



Other notable stories:

Yesterday, the White House finally allowed a reporter from the Associated Press to attend an event, in the buildings East Room, two days after a court order went into effect banning the administration from discriminating against the agency over its refusal to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, as Trump would like. Officials not only failed to restore the AP to the White House press pool, however, but formalized rules eliminating a designated daily slot for wire services altogether, effectively curbing access not only for the AP, but for its competitors Reuters and Bloomberg as well. The White House said that wire services would remain eligible for inclusion at its discretion, but as CNNs Brian Stelter and Samantha Waldenberg report, the move looked like an attempt to continue disadvantaging the AP without breaching the court order.

The Houston Landinga nonprofit news startup that launched two years ago to great fanfare and with significant fundingannounced that it is shutting down and laying off all forty-three of its staff; CJRs Sewell Chan reflects on the reasons for the sites demise. In other local-news news, the Spokesman-Review, a paper in Spokane, Washington, is converting to nonprofit status, contingent on raising two million dollars from donors; it will be handed off to an existing nonprofit that is housed at Gonzaga University, according to Poynter. And a small paper in Maine published an ad purchased by a white supremacist about a book-burning event. The papers publisher cited free speech grounds.

And Liz Trussthe short-lived British prime minister, who was famously outlasted in the post by a head of lettucesays that she is following in the footsteps of Trump and launching her own social media platform, championing free speech against a supposed woke deep state and its Soviet-style censorship. We need a media network to be able to communicate to people, to be able to have a grassroots movement that is actually really demanding change of our leaders, Truss said. The Guardian has more.
The crash of a small plane in New York over the weekend killed all six on board  a physician couple and their accomplished children and partners  during a family trip to the Catskills.

Its the latest in a series of aviation disasters at a time of heightened scrutiny of aircraft collisions and near-misses.

The most deadly was the collision of a passenger jet and a military helicopter over the Potomac River that that killed 67 people in January. In February, one airliner clipped another while taxiing at the Seattle airport. In March, an American Airlines plane caught fire after landing in Denver, sending 12 people to the hospital.

Federal officials have tried to reassure travelers that flying is the safest mode of transportation, and statistics support that. But the cascade of headlines about things going wrong is drawing increasing attention amid declining confidence in air travel and cuts at the Federal Aviation Administration, part of President Donald Trumps efforts to downsize the federal government.

Here is a look at some of the recent aircraft tragedies and mishaps.

Fatal Crashes

 The twin-engine Mitsubishi MU-2B went down shortly after noon Saturday in a muddy field in Copake, New York, near the Massachusetts line, shortly after the pilot radioed air traffic control at Columbia County Airport to say he had missed the initial approach and requested a new landing plan.

 Six people were killed this month when a sightseeing helicopter broke apart and crashed into the Hudson River. The helicopter lifted off from a New York City heliport, flying north along the Manhattan skyline and then south toward the Statue of Liberty before hitting the water. The pilot was killed along with a family from Spain that was celebrating the ninth birthday of one of their children.

 Three people were killed and one was injured when a small plane crashed Friday morning near an interstate highway and pushed a car onto railroad tracks in Boca Raton, Florida.

 Two small planes collided near an Arizona airport in mid-February. One managed to land uneventfully, but the other hit the ground near a runway and caught fire, killing two people at Marana Regional Airport near Tucson.

 A small commuter plane crashed in western Alaska in early February, killing all 10 people on board. The crash was one of the deadliest in the state in 25 years. Radar data indicated that the plane rapidly lost elevation after an air traffic controller told it to slow down in icy weather so the runway at their destination could be de-iced.

 A medical transport plane plummeted into a Philadelphia neighborhood after taking off in January, killing all six people on board and one person on the ground. The National Transportation Safety Board said its cockpit voice recorder likely hadnt been functioning for years. The crew made no distress calls to air traffic control.

 The collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and an Army helicopter above the nations capital killed everyone aboard both aircraft in late January. It was the deadliest plane crash in the U.S. since Nov. 12, 2001, when a jet slammed into a New York City neighborhood just after takeoff, killing all 260 people on board and five on the ground.

 A jetliner operated by Jeju Air skidded off a runway, slammed into a concrete fence and burst into flames in December after its landing gear apparently failed to deploy, killing all but two of the 181 people aboard in one of South Koreas worst aviation disasters.

Incidents with Injuries

 The American Airlines plane that caught fire at Denver International Airport in March had been diverted there because the crew reported engine vibrations. While taxiing to the gate, an engine caught fire, prompting slides to be deployed so that passengers could evacuate quickly. The people taken to hospitals had minor injuries.

 A single-engine plane carrying five people crashed and burst into flames in the parking lot of a retirement community near a small airport outside Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in March. Everyone on board survived. Three people were taken to a burn center.

 A Delta Air Lines jet flipped over while landing at Torontos Pearson Airport in February. All 80 people on board survived, but some people received minor injuries. Witnesses and video from the scene showed the plane landing so hard that its right wing was sheared off. Investigators were examining the weather conditions and the possibility of human error.

Close Calls

 In April, on the same day as the fatal New York helicopter crash, a wing tip of an American Airlines plane struck another plane from the same airline on a taxiway of the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. There were no reported injuries. Multiple members of Congress were aboard one of the flights.

 A FedEx cargo plane made an emergency landing at a busy New Jersey airport in March after a bird strike caused an engine fire that could be seen in the morning sky. The plane landed at Newark Liberty International Airport. There were no reported injuries.

 Pilots on a Southwest Airlines flight about to land at Chicagos Midway Airport were forced to climb back into the sky to avoid another aircraft crossing the runway in February. Video showed the plane approaching the runway before it abruptly pulled up as a business jet taxied onto the runway without authorization, federal officials said.

 In February, a Japan Airlines plane was taxiing on the tarmac of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport when it apparently clipped the tail of a parked Delta plane. There were no injuries reported.

 In January, passengers panicked when a man aboard a JetBlue plane that was taxiing for takeoff from Bostons Logan International Airport opened an exit door over a wing, trigging an emergency slide to inflate. Other passengers quickly restrained the man and the plane didnt take off.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
A consumer advocacy group has sued the California Department of Insurance and Commissioner Ricardo Lara to block hundreds of millions of dollars in surcharges that could soon appear on California homeowners insurance bills.

Consumer Watchdog said in a press release that those surcharges come from a decision reached by the commissioner last summer to allow the insurance companies that comprise and operate the California FAIR Plan, the states insurer of last resort, to pass through costs to policyholders when the FAIR Plan is forced to assess those companies for funds after a catastrophe.

Consumer Watchdog said that because of that decision, homeowners across the Golden State are on the hook to pay up to $500 million of the $1 billion FAIR Plan assessment approved on Feb. 11 after the Palisades and Eaton Canyon wildfires ravaged parts of Southern California.

The commissioners decision to allow pass-throughs is unjustified on multiple levels, said Consumer Watchdog staff attorney Ryan Mellino. Homeowners and renters across the state will be charged more and the FAIR Plan wont be depopulated. The real beneficiaries of this decision are the insurance companies that make up the FAIR Plan. We look forward to defending the rights and pocketbooks of Californians and stopping this socialization of FAIR Plan losses at the publics expense, while the FAIR Plans profits will wholly remain with the insurance companies.

In a statement responding to the announced litigation, a spokesperson from the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA) called the lawsuit a reckless and self-serving stunt that threatens to make Californias insurance crisis even worse and harm the consumers Consumer Watchdog purports to represent.

Blocking recovery of the costs insurers have paid to safeguard the FAIR Plan would jeopardize the last-resort coverage option for homeownersand push our fragile insurance market closer to total collapse, said Denni Ritter, APCIA department vice president of state government relations. It is critical that recovery costs be spread equitably across a broader pool of insured customers to help restore Californias insurance market and protect access to coverage for all consumers.

Gabriel Sanchez, press secretary at the California Department of Insurance, said in an emailed statement the litigation negatively impacts homeowners, small businesses, and nonprofits that require access to genuine insurance options, while failing to address the ongoing insurance crisis.

Additionally, it undermines our efforts to enhance competitiveness across the market, which would allow people to transition from the costly and limited FAIR Plan back to the standard insurance market, he said.

Consumer Watchdogs petition alleges the commissioners decision to allow insurance companies to shift costs to homeowners was reached without any public input or participation, in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act.

The petition also alleges that the pass-throughs directly violate the FAIR Plan statutes, which contain no authorization for pass-throughs and require insurance companies to proportionally share in both the profits and losses of the FAIR Plan, and that the commissioner lacks any discretion to permit insurance companies to shift assessment costs onto homeowners, Consumer Watchdog said.

We recognize that the FAIR Plan has dramatically grown in recent years and agree with the commissioner that something must be done to address the situation, Mellino said. But the answer is not a unilateral bailout of hundreds of millions  and in the future, potentially billions  of dollars for insurance companies at the expense of their policyholders. California homeowners have suffered enough, and unlawful pass-throughs are just another insult on top of the significant injuries theyve already faced.

In the APCIAs response, Ritter said that insurers are committed to helping Californians recover and rebuild from the devastating Southern California wildfires. Insurers have already paid tens of billions in claims and contributed more than $500 million to support the FAIR Plans solvencyeven though they do not collect premiums from FAIR Plan policyholders.

Consumer Watchdogs petition can be found here.
Jamie Foxx and Alyce Huckstepp are giving love another try, just two months after their public breakup.

The 57-year-old actor was spotted enjoying a night out with his 30-year-old girlfriend in Malibu on Monday, April 14, sparking buzz that the couple is back together.

According to DailyMail, Foxx and Huckstepp were seen leaving the popular celebrity hotspot Nobucoincidentally, the same restaurant where they first debuted their relationship in August 2023.

While they left separately, they shared a light-hearted moment as Foxx showed her something that made her laugh.

The sighting comes after their January breakup, which followed Foxx's controversial comments during his Netflix comedy special "What Had Happened Was...." In the special, he jokingly declared he was "done with white girls," sparking criticism and speculation about its impact on his relationship with Huckstepp.

In the special, Foxx sang, "No more white girls," and added, "I'm back on the Black side of town!" Though the remarks drew laughs, many questioned whether the comedian was serious. Soon after, multiple sources confirmed Foxx and Huckstepp had parted ways.

Jamie Foxx Rekindles Romance After Stroke Recovery

Huckstepp had been a steady presence in Foxx's life following his near-fatal stroke in April 2023, which left him in a coma for 20 days.

She was reportedly by his side during his recovery, even visiting him on set during projects like his BetMGM commercial shoot, People said.

Despite their split earlier this year, signs of a reunion had been building. Huckstepp attended the taping of Foxx's Netflix special in October and later joined him on a romantic getaway to Mexico. Their reappearance together at Nobu now appears to confirm their rekindled romance.

Foxx, who previously dated actress Katie Holmes for six years, has largely kept his relationships out of the public eye. Still, his relationship with Huckstepp has drawn attention, especially due to the timing of his recent health challenges and career comeback.

The "Back In Action" starwho appears in the new Netflix film alongside Cameron Diazhas said he's focused on recovery and family.

He recently credited his daughter Anelise with helping save his life during his stroke recovery by playing guitar at his bedside, calling her his "spiritual defibrillator."

Originally published on Enstarz
A wave of posts on TikTok have made a significant impact on the United States recently, and these videos are about luxury or designer products that are all made in China.

The said posts allege that brands like Louis Vuitton, Lululemon, Hermes, and more are producing their expensive items in mainland China factories for dirt cheap but sells them egregiously after being labeled with their respective brands.

However, this latest phenomenon did have a significant effect on American shoppers who have now panicked because they think that these claims are the real deal, with some already looking to buy directly from these sources instead of the actual brands themselves.

Chinese Suppliers Troll US Customers: 'Cheap' Luxury

According to a report from The Verge, many Chinese suppliers are now taking over TikTok with their erroneous claims that most of the luxury brands that we know of are manufacturing their goods right in Mainland China.

All in all, the message that they want to share with the world is how most of these brands that sell at a premium are all "Made in China," and only given the company's branding to evoke luxury.

This latest campaign from Chinese TikTokers is calling to "cut out the middleman," which are the said brands or companies that sell these under their luxury branding and are significantly more expensive.

A specific account on TikTok called "@china.yiwu.factor" showed in its now deleted video a collection of China-made Birkenstock Boston clogs, which it only sells for $10 a pair, while usually, users would buy it for $165 retail.

Are Their Claims Fake? Chinese TikTok Cause Panic

However, Birkenstock is known for claiming that their products are "Made in Germany" and avoids having it made in other countries apart.

As argued by The Verge, many brands claim to have their products made in the country of origin, e.g. "Made in Italy," but in reality, they source parts or components of their products from China and then finish them in their home country to label them as such.

That being said, many American buyers are now panicking because of these TikToks, with many wanting to opt to buy directly from these Chinese suppliers despite their unsubstantiated claims online.

Trump's US Tariffs and Its Effects

President Donald J. Trump spared no country when he announced the tariffs to be imposed on all imported goods coming to the United States, and these include products from Canada, Europe, Mexico, and more.

However, the most affected by this new "trade war" started by Trump is China as a massive rate was imposed against them, and they were not given any leeway.

Because of this, many tech companies who rely on China and other countries for the manufacturing of components and parts, assembly, and other processes are set to suffer, with many already stockpiling units of their devices to curb the effects.

That being said, there is also a grave effect on the e-commerce industry of the country, particularly with Amazon Haul refocusing its "cheap" storefront to items readily available in its US warehouses instead of China.

There is currently a 90-day pause for the tariffs imposed by Trump of President Trump, but it does not include China in these exemptions, with the East Asian superpower still facing the 145% tariffs from the administration.

Apart from this, there is also a temporary exemption for most digital goods like smartphones, laptops, and their semiconductors, which gives tech companies breathing room for now.

Originally published on Tech Times
A U.S. pastor was kidnapped in South Africa and rescued by local authorities after a gunfight that left three men dead.

Josh Sullivan, 45, a missionary, was kidnapped on April 10 at the Fellowship Baptist Church in Motherwell, outside of Gqeberha, PEOPLE reported.

According to police, authorities were able to locate the safe house where he was being held and dispatched law enforcement to that location on April 15. As they approached the house, police officers saw a vehicle at the location.

"The suspects inside the vehicle upon seeing law enforcement allegedly attempted to flee and opened fire on the team. The officers responded with tactical precision, leading to a high-intensity shootout in which three unidentified suspects were fatally wounded," police said. "The victim was found inside the same vehicle from which the suspects had launched their attack. Miraculously unharmed, he was immediately assessed by medical personnel and is currently in an excellent condition."

Following the kidnapping, which reportedly happened during a sermon, Fellowship Baptist Church asked for prayers in a social media post: "Please pray for Josh Sullivan, missionary to South Africa. He was kidnapped at gun point by six men during their church service this evening."

In a follow up post on April 16 following Sullivan's successful rescue, the church proclaimed "Praise the Lord!"

In their statement, police said they are continuing their investigation into Sullivan's kidnapping.

Originally published on Lawyer Herald
U.S. Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) (L) and Rep. Juan Vargas (D-CA) (R) hold pictures of Kilmar Abrego Garcia during a news conference to discuss Abrego Garcias arrest and deportation at Cannon House Office Building on April 9, 2025 in Washington, DC.

A U.S. judge on Tuesday demanded U.S. officials provide documents and answer questions under oath about what it had done to secure the return of a man wrongly deported to El Salvador, ramping up an inquiry into whether the Trump administration defied a court order.

U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis said at a hearing in Greenbelt, Maryland that she would not immediately hold the government in contempt of court, but said the documents and closed-door testimony would help her weigh the Trump administration's compliance with her earlier order to "facilitate" Kilmar Abrego Garcia's return.

The judge last week ordered Republican President Donald Trump's administration to provide her with daily updates about the steps it was taking to get him back. On Tuesday, she said the administration had not given her any information of value about what it had done.

"There will be no tolerance for gamesmanship or grandstanding," said Xinis, an appointee of Democratic President Barack Obama. "To date, what the record shows is that nothing has been done. Nothing."

At the same time, the judge said she was not ordering the administration to ask El Salvador's government to return Abrego Garcia - even though she called its refusal to ask for his release "stunning."

"I'm not ordering you to do that," Xinis said. "I don't know if I'll ever be there."

Abrego Garcia was deported on March 15 despite an order protecting him from removal to El Salvador. His case is one of several that have sparked concerns among Democrats and some legal analysts that Trump's administration is willing to disregard the judiciary, an independent and equal branch of government.

Administration officials have accused the judiciary of overstepping and interfering with the executive branch's ability to conduct foreign policy.

The administration's confrontations with the judiciary come as it is also applying what critics say is unprecedented pressure on other U.S. institutions that have long cherished their independence from partisan politics.

On Tuesday, Trump threatened to strip Harvard of its tax-exempt status after it rejected what it called unlawful demands to overhaul academic programs or lose federal grants, part of a broader push to punish universities over their handling of pro-Palestinian student protests.

Trump has also targeted law firms he says have ties to his legal and political adversaries with executive orders restricting their ability to conduct their work. On Tuesday, a federal judge blocked most of an order targeting law firm Susan Godfrey, but lamented that other firms had "capitulated" by reaching deals with the administration to avoid becoming targets themselves.

Abrego Garcia's case is one of several in which Trump, who ran for president on a platform of stepping up deportations, is testing the legal limits of immigration enforcement.

Abrego Garcia was sent to El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center alongside hundreds of Venezuelan migrants deported under the Alien Enemies Act, a 1798 law that had only previously been invoked when the U.S. was at war. Several judges have since blocked further deportations under the law.

Judges have also temporarily blocked the Trump administration's efforts to deport several university students in the country legally over their participation in pro-Palestinian protests. On Monday, Columbia University student Mohsen Mahdawi was arrested in Vermont upon arriving for an interview for his U.S. citizenship petition.

Depositions by next week

On Tuesday, Xinis said she would require the four officials with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement who had submitted sworn declarations in the case to sit for depositions by April 23.

Government lawyer Drew Ensign said officials may respond to certain questions by asserting the attorney-client privilege, which protects lawyers from being compelled to disclose information their clients have told them.

Ensign also said the administration interpreted Xinis' order to "facilitate" Abrego Garcia's return to mean they should remove any U.S. barriers to his return to the United States.

He said the administration had done that by officially asserting in a court filing earlier in the day that if Abrego Garcia were to show up at a port of entry or a U.S. embassy, he would be allowed into the United States and then immediately taken back into custody.

Xinis said that interpretation of the meaning of 'facilitate' is contrary to "the plain meaning of the word."

'Political games'

The U.S. Supreme Court last week largely upheld Xinis' order to "facilitate and effectuate" Abrego Garcia's return following a challenge by the Trump administration, but said the term "effectuate" was unclear and might exceed the court's authority.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said during a meeting with Trump and El Salvador President Nayib Bukele at the White House on Monday that the president, not courts, conduct U.S. foreign policy.

Bukele told reporters at the meeting he did not have the power to return Abrego Garcia to the U.S.

At Tuesday's hearing, Ensign cited Bukele's comments, saying "ascertaining the position" of the Salvadoran government was "an important part of compliance" with Xinis' order.

Before the hearing, Abrego Garcia's wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, urged Trump and Bukele to return her husband.

"I find myself pleading with the Trump administration and the Bukele administration to stop playing political games with the life of Kilmar," Vasquez Sura told a crowd of protesters.

After the hearing, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, a Democrat, said in a statement he would travel to El Salvador on Wednesday to check on Abrego Garcia's wellbeing and discuss his release with government officials there.
ChatGPT maker OpenAI named members to its newly formed nonprofit commission on Tuesday, which will guide the company's philanthropic efforts.

Microsoft-backed OpenAI in December outlined a plan to revamp its corporate structure, saying it would create a public benefit corporation to manage its growing business and ease the restrictions imposed by its existing nonprofit parent.

OpenAI, which last month said it would raise up to $40 billion in a new funding round valuing the company at $300 billion, named Daniel Zingale, who has held senior leadership roles across California, as the commission's convener.

Dolores Huerta, Monica Lozano, Robert Ross and Jack Oliver, all of whom have prior experience with community-based organizations, have been appointed as advisors to the new commission, formed earlier this month.

"The advisors will receive learnings and input from the community on how OpenAI's philanthropy can address long-term systemic issues, while also considering both the promise and risks of AI," OpenAI said in a blog post.

They will advise OpenAI's board on directing community engagement processes, drawing insights from people and organizations involved in health, science, education, and public services. The commission is expected to submit its findings to the board within 90 days.

Last year, Elon Musk, who co-founded OpenAI in 2015, sued the AI startup and its CEO, Sam Altman. Musk accused OpenAI of straying from its original mission of developing AI for the benefit of humanity, and focusing on corporate profits instead.

A dozen former-OpenAI employees last week filed a legal brief backing Musk's lawsuit.

OpenAI countersued Musk last week, citing a pattern of harassment by him, and asking a federal judge to stop him from any "further unlawful and unfair action" against OpenAI in a court case over the future structure of the firm that helped launch the AI revolution.
Between Germany's new coalition agreement and the country's recent fiscal U-turn, stimulus is set to soar in Europe's biggest economy. The fiscal package enshrined in Germany's constitution in March includes changes to long-standing debt rules, paving the way for higher defense spending and a 500 billion euro ($548 billion) infrastructure and climate fund. Germany's coalition agreement , meanwhile, suggests the new government could establish a further 100-billion-euro fund to boost growth and innovation, adjust tax rules for businesses, work to adjust energy prices and more. "Now the question is how investors can participate in this deal and ride along the stimulus wave for the German economy," Deutsche Bank strategists and analysts led by Maximilian Uleer said in a note on Tuesday, naming their top stocks. Tech "Increased digitization spending" as part of upcoming stimulus is expected to boost the German IT industry, especially businesses with a strong public sector presence, Deutsche Bank said. That includes leading German IT services firm Bechtle . "Business with the public sector accounts for ~40% of revenue and the company generates ~60% of revenue in its home market, hence should benefit significantly from the money earmarked to be spent on digitization in Germany," research analyst Lars Vom-Cleff said. Deutsche Bank suggested Bechtle's upside potential was 37%, with a target price of 48 euros. Sixth largest independent IT services firm Cancom , meanwhile, has upside potential of 38%, according to the analysts. Public sector business accounts for around 35% of its revenue, and around 65% is generated in Germany, they said. Industrials Lower energy costs and higher infrastructure spending could boost manufacturing and industrials companies, Deutsche Bank said. Two of the companies named as potential beneficiaries are German materials handling manufacturer Kion and Austrian technology and machinery manufacturing business Palfinger. Kion, which is a leader in forklifts and warehouse automation, should not only benefit from infrastructure investment and a wider economic recovery in Germany, but is also "relatively well protected against tariffs," Deutsche Bank research analyst Gael de-Bray said. Palfinger, meanwhile, a crane and lifting company, is expected to benefit from its exposure to building construction, infrastructure, the public sector and railways. Around 15% of its revenue is generated in Germany. Deutsche Bank gives the companies 36% and 50% upside potential, respectively. Autos While Germany's auto sector is expected to be hit hard by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs and has been struggling with competition from China, it could be boosted by domestic measures, according to Deutsche Bank. "Improving economic activity, higher transport demand and broader incentives for e-mobility to provide tailwinds," the analysts said. Volkswagen is one company that could benefit, the bank said, with its passenger car business set to get a boost from fresh electric vehicle incentives, while its vans and trucks divisions could be strengthened by rising economic activity. Deutsche Bank puts the carmaker's target price at 125 euros, with 43% upside potential.
Shares of Abbott Laboratories jumped Wednesday after the diversified health-care company delivered strong first-quarter results and left its earnings guidance intact  a big sign of confidence in an uncertain time. Revenue in the three months ended March 31 rose 4% to $10.36 billion, narrowly missing the consensus of $10.4 billion, according to estimates compiled by LSEG. Organic sales, excluding Covid testing results, rose 8.3%, beating the 7.7% estimate, according to FactSet. Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) increased 11.2% on an annual basis to $1.09, topping expectations by 2 cents, LSEG data showed. ABT YTD mountain Abbott Laboratories YTD Abbott's earnings rally extends what has already been a good year for the stock in a brutal overall market. Shares of Abbott entered Wednesday's session as the second-best performing Club stock, advancing 11.6%. Only CrowdStrike , with a 14.8% gain, had done better. Abbott has also significantly outperformed a basket of medical device stocks this year. Bottom line Abbott turned in an excellent quarter in a difficult, tariff-fueled environment. The company topped Wall Street expectations on its three primary profitability metrics  earnings per share, adjusted gross margin, and adjusted pretax income margin  while also delivering better-than-expected organic sales growth when excluding Covid tests. The miss on topline revenue is not concerning. For starters, it was just $40 million below consensus. Plus, the shortfall is tied to its diagnostics segment, which faces pressures largely outside its control  specifically, low-margin Covid test sales were down $120 million from a year ago, and then China's national strategy to control health-care costs remained a drag on the prices paid to Abbott. "We're seeing growth in our growth in our diagnostic business everywhere except China," CEO Robert Ford said on the earnings call. "Outside of China this quarter, we grew around 7%." Abbott is looking at ways to stoke growth in other geographies to offset the realities of doing business in China, Ford said. "We're just going to have to go through this. [China] is still an important market. It's still got good profitability." Abbott Laboratories Why we own it : Abbott is a high-quality medical technology company growing at a fast clip for its industry. The stock has dealt with various overhangs since we've owned it, such as litigation concerns tied to its specialized infant formula; falling Covid testing sales; and concerns that GLP-1 adoption will disrupt its continuous glucose monitor business. However, As Abbott's organic sales growth continues to shine. Competitors : Dexcom , Boston Scientific and Edwards Lifesciences Most recent buy : May 29, 2024 Initiated : Jan. 29, 2024 The cherry on top of the quarter was that Abbott reaffirmed its 2025 earnings guidance of $5.05 to $5.25 per share despite a considerably different tariff picture than in late January . Abbott estimates a tariff hit this year of a "few hundred million dollars," with the impact really starting to be felt in the third quarter, Ford said. The company is looking at all sorts of mitigation plans, Ford said, though not at the expense of pulling back investments in future growth such as lowering research and development spending. For example, a weaker U.S. dollar helps Abbott, which generates about two-thirds of its revenue overseas. With 90 manufacturing sites around the world, Abbott also has the ability to "considerably" mitigate the tariff impact on a long-term basis. "Prior to the whole tariffs ... given the momentum that we were seeing in the base business, we were even considering raising our EPS guidance," Ford said. "But tariffs are here, so we felt reaffirming our guidance is already a pretty strong statement." We agree. For that reason, we're reiterating our price target of $145 a share  no small feat in a market where PTs are being cut left and right  and keeping our hold-equivalent 2 rating on the stock. We know Abbott's tariff exposure is marginal, and it has other drivers to offset those headwinds. Abbott could be a stock to buy if we see another day where tariff headlines drive down the entire stock market. Commentary The chart above illustrates the quality of Abbott's quarter. Diagnostics was the only one of Abbott's four reporting segments to miss on sales, but as discussed, it's not a material concern. Nutrition  home to brands such as Ensure protein powder and PediaSure drinks for kids  topped expectations, and Ford said the company is making progress on regaining market share it lost a few quarters ago due to execution misfires. Sales in established pharmaceuticals  its generic pharmaceutical products business that only operates internationally  also came in better than expected. Medical devices  its largest and most important segment  delivered strong year-over-year growth, up 9.9% on a reported basis and 12.6% organically, which excludes foreign-exchange headwinds. In its fast-growing diabetes portfolio, sales of continuous glucose monitors, or CGMs, totaled $1.7 billion in the first quarter, up more than 20% year over year and 30% in the U.S. In 2024, the CGM business, which includes FreeStyle Libre for diabetes patients, grew 22% annually and 27% in the U.S. This is the kind of "base business" momentum that Ford referenced when explaining how Abbott contemplated its earnings guidance for the year. As far as tariffs go here, Ford also mentioned that Abbott has two manufacturing sites for Libre in the U.S. to serve customers in its home market. Another important product for Abbott is its Volt PFA System, which in March secured an earlier-than-expected approval from European regulators. Volt, which is used to treat abnormal heart rhythms, helps Abbott compete against the likes of Boston Scientific and Medtronic in the market for pulsed field ablation (PFA) devices. The legacy way to treat conditions such as atrial fibrillation used extreme heat (radiofrequency ablation) or cold (cryoablation). PFA devices, by contrast, use an electrical pulse to destroy the cells that cause abnormal heart rhythms  an approach that is billed as safer and quicker than traditional treatment options. Abbott plans to submit for U.S. approval for Volt later this year, with clearance possibly coming in early 2026. "The initial feedback that my team has shared with me has been very, very positive," Ford said of Volt's launch in Europe. "Obviously, we're going to start with a rollout where we'll focus a little bit on the users that were part of our clinical trial, and then we'll start to kind of ramp up that as we go into the second half of the year." He added, "I think the product is going to do really well. I think it's going to do what we intended it to do." Abbott's effort to shed a litigation overhang from its stock suffered a setback during the first quarter  though our belief is that it will just be temporary. In mid-March, a judge in Missouri ordered a re-trial in a case that Abbott and its rival Reckitt won in November , beating back allegations that their specialized formulas for premature babies caused a severe intestinal illness known as necrotizing enterocolitis, or NEC. Abbott has said it will appeal the re-trial ruling, which was based on alleged misconduct from the lawyers for the defendants during the initial proceedings. Executives did not really discuss the NEC proceedings on the call, other than to say it does not influence the way they are evaluating its entire business. The main takeaway here: Abbott's NEC litigation has not gone away, but we continue to believe the risks are far more manageable than what the market previously estimated. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long ABT. 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.
Trade tensions between the world's two largest economies have escalated in the last two weeks.

China on Wednesday appointed Li Chenggang as vice minister of commerce and a top representative for international trade negotiation, according to an official statement, replacing Wang Shouwen.

The appointment makes Li, 58, a key member of China's trade negotiation team as Beijing deals with trade disputes with the U.S. So far, there have not been any sign of near-term trade talks as both sides have ratcheted up tariff tensions.

"In the view of China's top leadership, they may need someone else to deescalate tensions," said Alfredo Montufar-Helu, head of the China Center at The Conference Board, while it would be difficult to understand Beijing's move at this precise moment.

"This is certainly a very abrupt and potentially disruptive change given how quickly trade tensions have escalated," he said.

While giving credit to Wang's experience in negotiating with the U.S. since Trump's first presidential term, Montufar-Helu said that Li has the "right track record to take over this new role given his extensive experience on trade issues within the Ministry of Commerce."

Li has worked for China's commerce department since 2010 and served as China's representative to the World Trade Organization and several other international organizations.

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng is the lead negotiator on China-U.S. trade, according to official documents. Previously, China's former vice premier Liu He had held a similar role where he facilitated the trade talks with Trump's last administration and eventually signed the Phase-One deal.

"Wang was a key supporting player last time around because of his position," said Kenneth Jarrett, senior advisor at Albright Stonebridge Group. "Presumably the same will be true of Li if and when talks get off the ground," he added.

U.S. President Donald Trump is open to making a trade deal with China but wants Beijing to make the first move, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday. "The ball is in China's court: China needs to make a deal with us, we don't have to make a deal with them," she said.
Former Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Director Chris Krebs testifies before a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs hearing to examine claims of voter irregularities in the 2020 election, in the Dirksen Senate Office Building, in Washington, U.S., December 16, 2020.



A week ago, President Donald Trump signed an executive order targeting former Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Chief Chris Krebs, and calling on the government to suspend the security clearances of any entities with whom he's associated. The order specifically named SentinelOne , Krebs' employer.

On Wednesday, Krebs announced his resignation from SentinelOne, a cybersecurity company with a $5.6 billion market cap. While Krebs said the choice was his alone, his swift departure is the latest example of the effect Trump is having on the private sector when it comes to pressuring people and institutions that he personally dislikes.

Krebs had served as SentinelOne's chief intelligence and public policy officer since late 2023, when the company acquired his consulting firm.

"For those who know me, you know I don't shy away from tough fights," Krebs wrote in an email to SentinelOne staffers that the company posted on its website. "But I also know this is one I need to take on fully  outside of SentinelOne. This will require my complete focus and energy. It's a fight for democracy, for freedom of speech, and for the rule of law. I'm prepared to give it everything I've got."

Krebs served as the first CISA director from 2018 until he was fired in November 2020 after declaring that the presidential election, which Democrat Joe Biden won, was "the most secure in American history." CISA is part of the Department of Homeland Security.

In his executive order on April 9, which took the extraordinary approach of going after a specific individual, Trump called Krebs a "bad-faith actor who weaponized and abused his Government authority."

"Krebs' misconduct involved the censorship of disfavored speech implicating the 2020 election and COVID-19 pandemic," the order said. "Krebs, through CISA, falsely and baselessly denied that the 2020 election was rigged and stolen, including by inappropriately and categorically dismissing widespread election malfeasance and serious vulnerabilities with voting machines."

Trump directed the attorney general, director of national intelligence and "all other relevant agencies" to suspend "any active security clearances held by individuals at entities associated with Krebs, including SentinelOne, pending a review of whether such clearances are consistent with the national interest."

The Wall Street Journal was first to report on Krebs' departure from SentinelOne, publishing a story on Wednesday based on an interview with Krebs. He told the Journal that he was leaving to push back on Trump's efforts "to go after corporate interests and corporate relationships."

The demands on SentinelOne resemble campaigns that President Trump has waged against law firms and universities that he's tried to strongarm into making significant changes in how they operate or else lose government contracts or funding.

SentinelOne, which uses artificial intelligence to detect threat and prevent cyberattacks, doesn't disclose how much of its revenue comes from the government. But the company acknowledges in the risk factors section of its financial reports that it relies on government agencies for some of its business and can be hurt by changes in policy.

"Our future growth depends, in part, on increasing sales to government organizations," the latest quarterly filing says. Specific to Trump, SentinelOne said that the establishment of the Department of Government Efficiency, which Elon Musk is running, could lead to budgetary changes that "adversely affect the funding for and purchases of our platform by government organizations."

SentinelOne CEO Tomer Weingarten told employees in a memo, also posted to the company's site on Wednesday, that Krebs "helped shape important conversations and strengthened public-private collaboration." The company previously said, in a blog post after the executive order, that fewer than 10 employees had security clearances.

"Accordingly, we do not expect this to materially impact our business in any way," the post said.

WATCH: Krebs on cyberthreats
International crypto exchange OKX is expanding its presence to the United States.

On Wednesday, the company launched its trading platform in 46 states and Washington, D.C. OKX also announced the appointment of a new U.S. CEO: Barclays and PricewaterhouseCoopers alumnus Roshan Robert. The crypto exchange also set up new headquarters in San Jose, Calif.

Further, OKX unveiled a new self-custody wallet that supports more than 130 blockchains and allows users to swap tokens, move assets across different chains, explore non-fungible tokens and access popular Web3 apps.

The push is part of a rebranding effort: The old Okcoin exchange, OKX's U.S. entity, will fold its brand and operate under the OKX name going forward. Existing users of the old platform will now have access to deeper liquidity, lower fees and advanced trading tools, Robert said.

OKX was established in China in 2013 and is now based in the Seychelles. It operates in more than 100 countries.

'A new alternative' in the U.S.

The news comes as the regulatory tides are shifting, with a pro-crypto U.S. government since President Donald Trump took the reins in January.

So far in 2025, the Securities and Exchange Commission has dropped several cases against crypto firms, including dismissing a civil enforcement action against Coinbase. The agency also said that most memecoins are not securities, paving the way for exchange operators to list more coins without the risk of regulatory enforcement. Further, the Department of Justice ended its National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team.

Robert told CNBC the company is "well poised to take a leadership role" in the U.S. and spoke about the importance of customer choice and compliance.

"What we are bringing to the U.S. is a new alternative, where we give [them] more freedom to choose," he said. "We're doing this with a strong compliance and risk management architecture that we've built over the last year or so  We'll provide retail users with capabilities of fiat on ramps, low fees, deep liquidity  and we'll provide institutional customers with institutional rate compliance."

OKX is the world's fifth-ranked cryptocurrency spot exchange based on traffic, liquidity, trading volumes, and confidence in the legitimacy of reported trading volumes, according to CoinMarketCap. Binance, Bybit, Coinbase and South Korean Upbit rank higher.

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Algeria eyes closer economic ties with China

Xinhua) 10:45, April 16, 2025

The Algeria-China Business Forum on Investment is held in Algiers, Algeria, April 15, 2025. The Algeria-China Business Forum on Investment was held in Algiers on Tuesday. The event, organized by the Algerian Investment Promotion Agency (AAPI), aims to attract Chinese investment and deepen bilateral economic ties. During the forum, eight cooperation agreements were signed between Algerian and Chinese companies in various sectors, including automotive manufacturing and agriculture. (Xinhua)

ALGIERS, April 15 (Xinhua) -- Algerian Industry Minister Sifi Ghrib on Tuesday stressed the government's support for partnerships between Chinese and Algerian investors to strengthen economic cooperation between the two nations.

Ghrib made the remarks during his opening address at the Algeria-China Business Forum on Investment held in Algiers.

According to the minister, 1,311 Chinese companies are operating successfully across Algeria's various economic sectors, and bilateral trade reached 12.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2024.

Director of the Algerian Investment Promotion Agency (AAPI) Omar Rekkache revealed that the agency approved 42 Chinese projects worth 4.5 billion dollars since its launch in 2022, which include 22 direct investments and 20 joint ventures.

The Algeria-China Business Forum on Investment, organized by the AAPI, aims to attract Chinese investment and deepen bilateral economic ties. During the forum, eight cooperation agreements were signed between Algerian and Chinese companies in various sectors, including automotive manufacturing and agriculture.

Representatives from Algerian and Chinese enterprises sign an agreement at the Algeria-China Business Forum on Investment in Algiers, Algeria, April 15, 2025. The Algeria-China Business Forum on Investment was held in Algiers on Tuesday. The event, organized by the Algerian Investment Promotion Agency (AAPI), aims to attract Chinese investment and deepen bilateral economic ties. During the forum, eight cooperation agreements were signed between Algerian and Chinese companies in various sectors, including automotive manufacturing and agriculture. (Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
The World Trade Organization warned on Wednesday that the outlook for global trade has "deteriorated sharply" in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs regime.

"The outlook for global trade has deteriorated sharply due to a surge in tariffs and trade policy uncertainty," the WTO said in its latest "Global Trade Outlook and Statistics" report out Wednesday.

Based on the tariffs currently in place, and including a 90-day suspension of "reciprocal tariffs," the volume of world merchandise trade is now expected to decline by 0.2% in 2025, before posting a "modest" recovery of 2.5% in 2026.

The decline is anticipated to be particularly steep in North America, where exports are forecast to drop by 12.6% this year.

The WTO also warned that "severe downside risks exist," including the application of "reciprocal" tariffs and a broader spillover of policy uncertainty, "which could lead to an even sharper decline of 1.5% in global goods trade," particularly hurting export-oriented, least-developed countries.

The recent tariff disturbances follow a strong year for world trade in 2024, during which merchandise trade grew 2.9% and commercial services trade expanded by 6.8%, the WTO said.

The new estimate of a 0.2% decline in world trade for 2025 is nearly 3 percentage points lower than it would have been under a "low tariff" baseline scenario, the WTO added, and marks a significant reversal from the start of the year when the trade body's economists expected to see continued trade expansion supported by improving macroeconomic conditions.

"Risks to the forecast include the implementation of the currently suspended reciprocal tariffs by the United States, as well as a broader spillover of trade policy uncertainty beyond U.S.-linked trade relationships," the WTO said.

"If enacted, reciprocal tariffs would reduce world merchandise trade growth by an additional 0.6 percentage points, posing particular risks for least-developed countries (LDCs), while a spreading of trade policy uncertainty (TPU) would shave off a further 0.8 percentage points. Taken together, the reciprocal tariffs and spreading TPU would lead to a 1.5% decline in world merchandise trade volume in 2025."
An attendee takes a photograph using a Google Pixel 9 smartphone during the CP+ trade show in Yokohama, Japan on February 27, 2025.

The Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) on Tuesday issued a cease and desist order against Google for unfair trade practices regarding search services on Android devices a move that aligns with similar crackdowns on firms in the UK and the U.S.

In a statement, the Commission said the American tech giant violated Japan's anti-monopoly law by requiring Android device manufacturers to prioritize its own search apps and services through licensing agreements.

While Google develops the Android operating system, separate manufacturing companies like Samsung and Lenovo produce handheld Android products, such as smartphones and tablets. Thus, licensing agreements are necessary to grant these manufacturers permission to preinstall Google apps, including its Play Store, onto devices.

However, JFTC said Google also used licenses to require manufacturers to preinstall and prominently feature Google Search and Chrome on devices, with at least six such agreements in effect with Android makers as of December 2024.

The Commission added that the company required manufacturers to exclude rival search services as a condition of its advertising revenue-sharing model.
In a volatile moment for the market, we took a modified approach to our Monthly Meeting for April, with Jim Cramer and Director of Portfolio Analysis answering more questions from members than usual. We used their responses to put together a rapid-fire update on most stocks in the portfolio  and while a few names were not covered during the meeting, we circled back on them afterward to provide our latest thinking on them, as well. Those stocks were: Broadcom, BlackRock, Disney and Home Depot. Apple : This stock continues to get harder and harder to defend. Trump's China tariffs remain an existential threat for Apple's device sales. Although the White House announced a tariff exemption on Chinese electronics, which includes the iPhone, the reprieve is unlikely to last. That's why we no longer endorse our "own, don't trade" stance on the tech stock. Abbott Laboratories : The company's quarterly results released earlier Wednesday showed that its business should remain resilient in a higher-tariff environment. It left its earnings guidance unchanged, a big sign of confidence in its underlying momentum. Amazon : We just bought more of the stock Tuesday with shares down around 25% from their highs reached earlier this year. For such a great company, that just looked like an opportunity that was too good to pass up. Broadcom : Its $10 billion share buyback announcement was a clear signal from management that the stock had gotten too cheap. We agree, but we are waiting to see if there will be restrictions on what it can export to China. BlackRock : The weak stock market this year has been a problem for the asset manager's own stock. When the asset it manages go down in value, that's bad news for its fee income. Consequently, investors have not yet given the company credit for its private markets push. Bristol Myers Squibb: We remain on guard about potential tariffs on pharmaceuticals and what those could mean for the drugmaker's business. Big picture, though, new schizophrenia drug Cobenfy still has incredible potential. Near term, its dividend payout offers some protection. Capital One: There's a key catalyst ahead for this stock due to the company's blockbuster merger with Discover Financial . The deal will help Capital One better compete with rival operators Visa and Mastercard . In the case that the deal falls through on regulatory issues, the company may still be well-positioned given all the excess capital it has built up. Costco : The retailer is one of our stocks most insulated from the tariff chaos. It's shown over the years to be able to work in pretty much any environment, and when people are worried about higher prices, Costco shines. Salesforce : Although this enterprise software name has recently lagged, we remain upbeat on the company's generative artificial intelligence efforts, dubbed Agentforce. Investors should try to remain patient. The financial upside from these AI offerings will take some time to materialize. Plus, management has done a solid job keeping costs down to improve margins. CrowdStrike : We'd consider a trim of this cyber name if it reaches the $400 level, roughly 2% higher than its Tuesday close. That would be purely out of discipline after such a big move, rather than a change in our thesis. Demand for cybersecurity isn't going anywhere. Coterra Energy: We're keeping the oil-and-gas producer in the portfolio. While commodity prices heavily influence its day-to-day trading, we like its ability to switch up its production resources based on where the more favorable prices are. Its dividend payout is solid, too. DuPont : The Chinese government's investigation into DuPont  resulting from Washington and Beijing's trade war  is a problem for the stock. But Jim said he doesn't want to bet against Chairman Ed Breen's plan to spin-off its electronics division. Breen's value-creation track record is strong. Danaher : This stock is in brutal shape. Shares have been dinged because there hasn't been a turnaround in the biotech sector that we anticipated, and its exposure to China is a big drag. Disney : The company has done a good job cutting expenses, and we are pleased to see its direct-to-consumer unit finally making money. But its experiences business needs a strong consumer, creating risks if tariffs lead to an increase in unemployment. Dover : Although the stock isn't a safe haven from escalating recession concerns or Trump's tariff moves, we're staying long for now. Dover is remaking its portfolio to focus on more attractive areas, and it has plenty of dry powder to make more moves. Eaton : The entire data center trade is on rocky ground right now, though in a recent note, JPMorgan's longtime industrials analyst said he likes the company's order backlog but wants more information on the impact of tariffs. Price hikes is one option to offset any hit. Goldman Sachs: We are standing by our bank stocks during the market turmoil. We're sticking with our bank stocks despite the market chaos. A recession would hurt Goldman's business and potentially limit its ability to buy back stock. However, Jim is still hopeful that a more accommodative environment for dealmaking will come around, which would be great for the investment bank. Home Depot : The company is doing a great job controlling what it can, even in this high mortgage rate environment. The stock is a coiled spring if the mortgage rates drop below 6.5% Honeywell : There's reason to be optimistic about this industrial conglomerate as it splits its three publicly traded entities following pressure from activist investor Elliott. Once this is complete, Jim hopes that Honeywell can make up for its several quarters of lackluster organic revenue growth. Still, the macro backdrop right now does complicate things. Linde : The industrial gas giant is technically a cyclical company, meaning that it is sensitive to economic cycles. However, Jim said it is probably the best run cyclical company in the world. The stock has acted quite defensively this year. Eli Lilly : Executives believe tens of millions of Americans will eventually be on GLP-1 weight loss drugs, and we don't want to bet against that prospect, especially with an oral pill version potentially hitting the market in the not too distant future. We could see data on the pill alongside Lilly's upcoming earnings report. Meta Platforms : We'd consider buying more of this stock if it pulls back further. It's the one of the least expensive of our "Magnificent Seven" holdings. The social media giant has done a great job of monetizing AI within its advertising business. . Microsoft : Another purchase of Microsoft also is on the table. The company continues to cut back spending on ChatGPT creator OpenAI, which could actually be helpful for Microsoft's own finances. The big risk, though, is a slowdown in cloud unit Azure. Nvidia : Like Apple, Jim has wavered on his long-time "own, don't trade" stance on Nvidia because the company can't seem to get Washington off its back even after the company announced massive investments into the U.S. on Monday. Still, after having developed a rapport with the White House, Nvidia took a $5.5 billion inventory charge due to a new licensing agreement that will block sale of its H20 AI chip. Palo Alto Networks : There's little direct impact of tariffs on this company. While companies could slow IT spending in a recessionary environment, cyber spending should prove more resilient. Starbucks : We're staying upbeat on this coffee giant's turnaround story under new CEO Brian Niccol, given his record running Chipotle. It will likely take more time for these plans to materialize in the firm's financials. The stock also faces headwinds due to its China presence as well. TJX Companies : Few companies are better positioned to benefit from tariff chaos than TJX. Too much inventory at other retailers is great news for TJX, which can buy it off them at better prices. After how well the stock has performed lately, we did book profits Tuesday. Texas Roadhouse: The stock has not been able to buck the market downturn in recent weeks. Perhaps some investors are worried that it may have to raise food prices, hurting its appeal to value-hungry diners. However, we're not concerned about that and are willing to be patient with the stock. Wells Fargo : This is one of Jim's favorites in the portfolio right now. The bank derives 100% of its sales domestically, dodging any direct impact from tariffs, though recession risks are problematic for banks. Plus, CEO Charlie Scharf recently assured us that loan growth remains solid. (See here for a full list of the stocks in Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust.) 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.
Nvidia 's China problem reared its head once again, underscoring why Jim Cramer said this week that the AI chipmaker's stock has been difficult to own during the second Trump administration. In a securities filing Tuesday night, Nvidia said the U.S. government will require the company to obtain an export license to ship its H20 artificial intelligence chips to China. The requirement will be "in effect for the indefinite future," Nvidia said. Accordingly, the company said it will book a $5.5 billion charge in its fiscal 2026 first quarter, which ends this month, tied to H20 inventory, purchase commitments, and "related reserves." The inventory charge suggests Nvidia does not expect to be granted a license, analysts said. Shares of Nvidia were down more than 6% on the news in premarket trading. The development reinforces the notion that Nvidia  the driving force of the generative AI boom on Wall Street for the past two years, turning in extraordinary sales, profit and share-price growth during that time  finds itself in an increasingly precarious moment. Nvidia has run into geopolitical roadblocks before  in fact, the made-for-China H20 was designed to comply with restrictions instituted when Joe Biden was president. They prohibited the company from sending its most powerful AI chips to customers in China, citing national security concerns. On its way out the door, in January, the Biden administration also created a new set of export rules that created global licensing requirements for AI chips and related technology. At the time, Jim called the move "absurd." Nevertheless, as of Wednesday, those so-called "AI diffusion" rules were still set to go into effect next month, which is another geopolitical overhang on Nvidia's stock. President Donald Trump 's tariff battle with China and broader concerns about AI investments created a turbulent backdrop even before Tuesday's disclosure. Jim said Tuesday evening on CNBC that the H20 export controls were exactly why he has recommended trimming Nvidia in recent days. "You can't own it like you used to, meaning you have to trim," he said. "It's really kind of shocking, but is it really?" Jim said. "I wrote [my Sunday column] because I expect stuff like this to happen. ... It's a different world." The $5.5 billion in inventory charges likely corresponds to at least $12 billion in revenues, based on gross margin assumptions of nearly 60%, analysts at Morgan Stanley estimated in a note to clients Wednesday. While analysts reiterated their overweight buy rating on Nvidia stock, they nevertheless lowered their sales estimates for the "next couple of quarters to remain conservative." For its current fiscal year, analysts now expect Nvidia to generate about $190.8 billion in revenue. "This should derisk a known concern, but we aren't completely out of the woods yet. We have said that export controls, not tariffs, are the main risk for [Nvidia]," Morgan Stanley analysts wrote, adding that "demand is price insensitive, but not allowing customers to buy their products is a limitation." Elsewhere on Wall Street, a few firms including Piper Sandler and Bank of America lowered their price targets on Nvidia, but kept their buy ratings. Analysts at TD Cowen said despite Nvidia's near-term challenges in China, they "remain confident" that the company is the leader in AI computing. NVDA YTD mountain Nvidia's year-to-date stock performance. The world for Nvidia investors started to change earlier this year when, in late January, Chinese AI startup DeepSeek unveiled a capable, efficient AI model that was supposedly built at a fraction of the cost compared with similar models developed by American tech firms  causing a dramatic sell-off in shares of Nvidia and other companies tied up in the AI trade For a brief period in February, Nvidia's stock bounced back to erase nearly all those DeepSeek losses, and CEO Jensen Huang would later make a compelling case that some of the startup's innovations will ultimately lead to more computing demand and, by extension, more of Nvidia's market-leading AI chips. Merits of Huang's argument aside, the tenor of the AI trade clearly changed in a post-DeepSeek world, with more skepticism around the sustainability of AI spending and Nvidia's blistering growth. DeepSeek's successes may have, at least partially, contributed to the Trump administration's crackdown on the H20. In the days following its emergence, multiple U.S. lawmakers called for tighter export controls on Nvidia chips. A report from Reuters in late February also said that Chinese tech companies such as Tencent and Alibaba were boosting their orders for the H20 due to demand for DeepSeek's models. Sales to customers in China and Hong Kong represented 13% of Nvidia's companywide revenue of $130.5 billion in the 12 months ended in January. In its annual report filed in February, Nvidia said its sales in China as a percentage of data center revenues  the segment that covers AI chips  remain "well below levels seen prior to the onset of export controls in October 2023." That's when the Biden administration toughened its first round of AI tech restrictions from the prior year. On top of DeepSeek and export controls, Trump's tariffs and trade war with China have exacerbated investors' concerns about Nvidia this year. The reasons are essentially two-fold. The first is about the company's direct tariff exposure, and there's been a lot of moving parts here since Trump initially imposed import duties on Canada and Mexico  and then granted exemptions for goods compliant with a North American trade agreement  because many AI servers contain Nvidia's chips are assembled in Mexico then enter into the U.S. Those servers appear to be compliant with the trade deal known as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, Bernstein chip analyst Stacy Rasgon said Monday on CNBC. However, uncertainty about Nvidia's tariff impact remains elevated despite newly revealed exemptions for chips entering the U.S from China. That is because Trump has said he will soon announce so-called sectoral tariffs that apply to chips and other electronics products. Nvidia's AI chips are mostly produced by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in Taiwan, though some recently started to be made at TSMC's new plant in Arizona. Nvidia made that TSMC announcement on Monday alongside a pledge to produce AI supercomputers entirely in the U.S. for the first time  with production expected to be worth $500 billion over the next four years . Nvidia's commitment evidently "buys them nothing" from the Trump administration, Jim said Tuesday night, though it's worth noting that, according to Nvidia's securities filing, it was first informed about the H20 license requirement on April 9. Then, on Monday, it was informed of the "indefinite future" timeline, the filing said. The second reason that Trump's trade war has weighed on Nvidia's share price is tied more to economic concerns, which led investors to shift toward defensive stocks that should hold up better in a recession. At a high level, the fear is that slowing economic growth could weigh on semiconductor demand overall and eventually force some of Nvidia's biggest customers to moderate their investments into AI. "There's risk for everybody. That's not an Nvidia question or a Broadcom question," Rasgon said, referencing another AI chipmaker that we also own for the Club. "Semiconductors are macro-related. Their correlation to GDP is very high, and in a recession, semiconductors tend to not do all that well. Now, I might argue, that at least for AI spending, that may be something that continues to get prioritized, particularly as it relates to productivity enhancements and things like that." It's too early to answer that question. How investors should treat Nvidia's stock at this moment, however, has been clear to Jim for a few days. The new export controls that further dent its China business make that all the more apparent. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long NVDA. 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.
When the facts change, I have to change my mind, lest be caught in some sort of homegrown dogma that will hurt us all. That's how I feel about a phrase that has withstood all sorts of markets but I fear may have finally lost its usefulness: "own it, don't trade it." Those of you who read my Sunday column know that to ignore the actions of President Donald Trump , who has become determined to stop globalism and put an embargo around China, is to cost us money. That's why I said that I could no longer endorse an "own, don't trade" stance on either Nvidia or Apple, and I told you that you needed to sell some even as I couldn't for the Club because our trade restrictions, which are detailed at the bottom of all of our stories. On Tuesday night, after having developed a rapport with the White House, Nvidia revealed in a securities filing a $5.5 billion inventory charge as it bowed to a new licensing requirements that will block sale of its dumbed-down China-specific H20 chip. That was the one that was thought to be safe enough to export to Chinese customers both militarily and technologically. Now, if you didn't know better, you would say that's impossible given the cadence of events: the embrace of Nvidia's chips and their exemption from other kinds of tariffs as well as commitments of support after Nvidia announced a commitment to produce up to $500 billion of AI infrastructure in the U.S. through partnerships within the next four years. You would presume goodwill, correct? That assumption would have been wrong. You would have assumed that all of the news would come out at once so you could make an informed judgment. That presumption would also be wrong. There is no such thing as "buying goodwill" from the Trump administration when it comes to China. I have to presume that Apple will be next to be whacked and that stay of execution late Friday  when guidance went out on "reciprocal" tariff exemption for certain electronics, including smartphones and semiconductors  was little more than a short stay and Apple could be walking the "Green Mile" any day now. So, you ask yourself in this environment, is it wise to continue to embrace a shibboleth that puts you at odds with what you see and know, which is to say that our government does not want companies to do business in China? There are a lot of other countries than China, and this government is saying go do business with them. For its part, China is fighting back. Apple and Nvidia are not the only ones being hurt by China exposure. We owned Estee Lauder, a once-tremendous cosmetics and skin care company, that got shredded when China clamped down on expensive goods. Brutal beatdown. We owned GE Healthcare and managed to eke out a nice profit on all but our last sale. But then, China sanctioned its machines. We own DuPont, a terrific breakup candidate until the Chinese government criticized it and destroyed a huge chunk of value. Then there's Danaher, the worst of all, which has been brutalized by a lack of Chinese biotech offerings. Did it matter that these were great companies, too, albeit not as good as Apple and Nvidia? No. Not at all. We should have obeyed a corollary, "Got China: Sell it, don't trade it." And, that's where we find ourselves now. What's really going on here? And how can we deal with it better? Believe me, I have thought a lot about it. I have come to believe that the most important point, top of the agenda of the Trump administration, is to wean us off of globalism and stop free trade in favor of fair trade. This is an incredible turn from the 2016 Trump when my old pal and partner Larry Kudlow was the chief economic advisor to the president. In our "Kudlow & Cramer" days on CNBC, even as I was meant to be "the liberal" and Larry "the conservative," I embraced "fair trade" while Larry was a stalwart "free trade." To me, one meant highway robbery and the other meant equal pain, equal pleasure. Larry is not in this White House. He is not there to counterbalance current Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick or trade advisor Peter Navarro. One of the most important books I have ever read is called "Death by China: Confronting the Dragon," which Navarro wrote a dozen years ago. It's about how this country that we compete with is actually no better than the old Soviet Union, maybe worse, because it has co-opted us. He has convinced Trump that companies like Apple are aiding and abetting the enemy. Navarro does not care for talk about the stock market. He has his view, and the president is dependent on it, and on that of Lutnick, although the latter is more cognizant of the world of stocks. In that world, where Navarro has pledged everything to Trump, witness his willingness to go to prison for him, the president is going to go with Navarro. I am furious at myself that I both know it and refused to change my mind, even as John Maynard Keynes, the great economist, reminds us that when the facts change, you must change, too. If I ignore that, I am not a portfolio manager, I am a cheerleader. It's brutal and Jeff Marks, my righthand as director of portfolio analysis for the Club, and I have no intention of taking all of Apple and Nvidia off the sheets, a Wall Street way of saying kick out of the portfolio. For all I know, the president tomorrow will say that he's reconsidered his stance. But go back to Monday's Morning Meeting when I said that these two stocks are "renting too much of my brain." Am I missing McKesson because I am focusing on Nvidia? Did I overlook United Healthcare because of Apple? I don't know the answers. But I have lost more sleep on Apple and Nvidia than any two stocks in my life. And, the only solution is to make them smaller before they become smaller themselves. Worse, these two have become crutches. They have kept me from finding good domestic companies that fit this market better. Given that Trump's term is in its infancy, waiting for something to happen to change things seems foolish. I made the call during our April Monthly Meeting on Wednesday. Watch the full replay below. (See here a full list of the stocks in Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust, the portfolio used by the CNBC Investing Club.) 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.
A person uses an ATM at a Chase bank in New York City on November 19, 2024.

JPMorgan Chase this week began suing more customers it has accused of stealing funds from the nation's largest bank in last year's so-called infinite money glitch.

The bank is now going after customers who allegedly stole amounts below $75,000, which means it is filing complaints in state courts, instead of the federal venues it chose last year, according to a person with knowledge of the company's deliberations.

The glitch, which went viral in late August in videos posted to social media, allowed customers to withdraw the entire value of a fraudulent check before it bounced.

"On August 29, 2024, a masked man deposited a check in Defendant's Chase bank account in the amount of $73,000.00," the bank said in a suit filed Tuesday afternoon in Gwinnett County, Georgia.

By the time the check bounced six days later, a series of cash withdrawals at two Chase branches in the state totaling $82,500 had been made, according to the bank.

The accused, whose name is being withheld by CNBC until she can respond, owes the bank $57,847.69, and hasn't complied with requests to return the funds, according to the lawsuit.

Besides the Georgia case, the bank is filing lawsuits in state venues in Miami; the Bronx, New York; and two Texas counties, said the person, who declined to be identified speaking about the bank's plans.

The episode highlights the lengths JPMorgan will go to to claw back funds it is owed and to deter future crimes. The bank looked at thousands of potential cases, choosing to litigate the largest amounts with the clearest pattern of theft, said the person familiar.

The bank has also sent letters to more than 1,000 customers demanding they repay funds since October, this person said. Some people returned money on their own after CNBC reported in October that the bank was going after potential fraudsters who had drawn down the largest amounts, said the person.

The lawsuits are separate from potential criminal cases that both federal and state law enforcement may be pursuing, according to the bank.

"We're still investigating cases of fraud and cooperating with law enforcement  and we'll do that for as long as it takes to hold fraudsters accountable," Drew Pusateri, a spokesman for the New York-based bank, said in a statement.
watch now

President Donald Trump's tariffs are creating a divide in the medical community. Medical devices and protective gear made in China, Mexico and Canada were exempt from duties during the first Trump administration, but so far have not gotten a reprieve from his newest round of levies. While device makers who would take a big hit from the tariffs are pushing for a new carve out, the makers of personal protective equipment  who stand to benefit from the barriers  are not. The duties could also increase costs for hospitals  and therefore patients  and reduce access to critical equipment and care. "MedTech supply chain leaders are already reporting supply chain concerns, and we cannot afford to drive up the cost of health care for patients, or on the health care system," said Scott Whitaker, CEO of AdvaMed, the trade group which represents medical technology and device makers. "The reality is, any increased costs will be largely borne by taxpayer-funded health programs like Medicare, Medicaid and the VA." Hospital trade groups have also been sounding the alarm, saying that tariffs could reduce the quality of care. "The AHA has and will continue to share with the Administration, disruptions in the availability of these critical devices  many of which are sourced internationally  have the potential to disrupt patient care," said Rick Pollack, the CEO of the American Hospital Association. "AHA continues to push for a tariff exemption for medical devices to ensure that hospitals and health systems can continue to serve their patients and communities."

Tariffs add pricing complexity

WUHAN, CHINA - APRIL 08: Models of United Imaging medical devices are on display during the 7th World Health Expo on April 8, 2025 in Wuhan, Hubei Province of China. Zhang Chang | China News Service | Getty Images

Trump in February imposed 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, but later delayed duties on many items that fall under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. There has been no reprieve for goods from China. Trump's new levies on imports from the country during his second term have brought the tariff rate up to 145%. Dozens of other countries face 10% tariffs after Trump delayed proposed steeper rates.

Medical equipment seller squeezed

Many businesses can simply raise their prices to help offset increased costs from tariffs. That doesn't apply to a range of hospitals and other organizations buying medical equipment. Many of those groups will have trouble passing on higher costs under current insurance coverage contracts, which they say have locked in prices for the year. "With the level of tariffs that we're looking at in China, businesses are going to be completely upside down on these products ... they can't pass those costs on to the consumer.," explained Casey Hite, CEO of Aeroflow Health, a firm which provides insurance-covered medical devices ranging from breast pumps for nursing mothers to CPAP machines for sleep apnea patients. Hite spent last week lobbying members of Congress on Capitol Hill for an overall MedTech tariff exemption  or at the very least more time to adjust. "I think what we would like to see, more than anything, is a runway or some predictability," Hite said, adding "let's do this over the next 12 months, next two years, so that U.S. organizations can prepare."

PPE makers see tariff boost

On the opposite end of the tariff divide, U.S. companies that produce personal protective equipment have applauded the Trump administration's latest levies on China. "I don't know if it's going to help the economy overall, but I do know that in our case, successive administrations  both Republican and Democratic  have recognized that these products are not competing on a level playing field," said Eric Axel, CEO of the American Medical Manufacturers Association, the trade group which represents PPE Makers. Analysts at Boston Consulting Group estimate roughly half of PPE used in the U.S. is produced in China, with roughly 10%-15% in Canada and Mexico. The latest tariffs will add to duties imposed on PPE by the Biden administration last fall, which included 100% levies on syringes and needles imported from China. Those items will now face a total 245% tariff. Altor Safety, which manufactures masks, N95 respirators and gloves in the U.S., has welcomed the tariffs on China. The PPE maker contracts with the U.S. government and companies like FedEx , but has not been able to gain much market share with health systems because Chinese manufacturers subsidized by Beijing undercut U.S. manufacturers on price. Altor president Thomas Allen said the new tariffs could help the company win new contracts, adding that as Altor increases capacity, "we can actually lower our prices."

The challenges of U.S. manufacturing

Trump has said he has imposed tariffs in large part to encourage manufacturing in the U.S. In the case of PPE, that may not happen. But near term, consulting firms say multinational producers are looking to shift manufacturing away from China to other countries with lower tariffs rather than bring it back to the U.S. "Managing that and the complexity there becomes super hard," explained Vikram Aggarwal, a BCG managing director and partner. For American-based medical device and protective gear manufacturers, one strategy now is to shift international production to Mexico and Canada, where they can potentially secure exemptions for products made under USMCA. Many of the major medical technology and device makers produce many of their goods in the U.S., but do have multiple points for manufacturing internationally. Analysts at Canaccord Genuity note Zimmer Biomet and Stryker , two of the largest makers of knee replacements, have dozens of facilities across North America, Europe and Asia that help them navigate tariffs, but will still face a financial impact.

J&J sees $400 million tariff impact
Nissan Motor's new Americas leader said the automaker is aiming to "max out" production at its largest American production plant amid President Donald Trump's 25% auto tariffs.

Christian Meunier, who started as chairman of Nissan Americas in January, said the tariffs are accelerating already needed plans for the automaker to increase domestic production to assist in a turnaround of its embattled U.S. operations.

"We have big facilities, big capacities and today we don't have max capacity. We still have more room to improve our capacity," Meunier told CNBC during a virtual interview Wednesday. "We're looking into selling more of the U.S. products, and adjusting, along the way, vehicles that are coming from Mexico and from Japan."

Meunier said his "ultimate goal" is to "max out" capacity at the automaker's 6-million-square-foot facility in Smyrna, Tennessee. The facility is capable of producing 640,000 vehicles a year on three shifts, he said. It produced more than 314,500 vehicles last year on two shifts with about 5,700 people.

"We're looking at maxing out capacity and making Smyrna the powerhouse that it used to be," he said. "That's my ultimate goal  to get the plant full and make a lot of money again."

Meunier declined to speculate on a timeframe for hitting that maximum production at the plant, which currently makes four products, including the automaker's Nissan Rogue  its top-selling vehicle domestically. He said it takes time to change plans and move production.

"We can increase production, as I described on the existing models that we have in the U.S., and commit to a plan to bring a product the next two years ... or a couple products to the U.S. market. But it cannot happen overnight," he said.

Meunier's comments come two days after Trump said he's looking to potentially "help" some automakers, saying the companies need time to alter production plans.
Jensen Huang, co-founder and chief executive officer of Nvidia Corp., during the opening ceremony of the Siliconware Precision Industries Co. (SPIL) Tan Ke Plant in Taichung, Taiwan, on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025.

A day after Nvidia revealed it would incur $5.5 billion in costs related to canceled orders for the H20 chip, which the government said this week requires a license to export to China, the company said it abides by rules on where it can sell its artificial intelligence processors.

"The U.S. government instructs American businesses on what they can sell and where  we follow the government's directions to the letter," an Nvidia representative said in a statement.

Nvidia said the statement was in response to a House Select Committee focused on national security threats from China, which opened an investigation into Nvidia's sales on Wednesday. The H20 was introduced by Nvidia after the Biden administration restricted AI chip exports in 2022. It's a slowed-down version intended to comply with U.S. export controls.

Nvidia's brief comment is an indication of how the company is going to defend its business in Washington, D.C., as its technology draws increased scrutiny related to national defense and security. The company's stock price tumbled almost 7% on Wednesday.

Nvidia's chips have the vast majority of the market for AI applications, and some were used by China's DeepSeek to build R1, which upended markets in January.

On Wednesday, the chipmaker touted the taxes it paid, its U.S.-based workforce, and its role as a technology leader.

The company's exports even help the U.S. fix its trade deficit, the statement said, directly addressing President Trump's stated reason for introducing tariffs earlier this month.
Nvidia warned it will record a $5.5 billion quarterly charge linked to exporting H20 graphics processing units to China, as well as other destinations, leading some analysts to trim their outlook on the chipmaker. Bank of America and Piper Sandler were among the shops that lowered their price targets on Nvidia following the company's announcement. In a regulatory filing, Nvidia disclosed that the the federal government told Nvidia it would need a license to export the chips to China and other countries. The news sent Nvidia shares tumbling more than 4%, pressuring other semiconductor names as well. Major tech stocks such as Meta Platforms and Alphabet also pulled back. But while some analysts trimmed their price targets, many maintained their buy-equivalent ratings on the stock. Here's what some of the biggest firms are saying in response to the announcement: Bank of America: buy rating, price target reduced to $160 from $200 Analyst Vivek Arya's updated target reflects more than 42% upside from Tuesday's close. The analyst also estimates a "manageable" impact of 5% to 8% on sales and a 6% to 10% EPS impact as a result of the H20 charge. "We continue to find NVDA stock compelling, trading < 1x its earnings growth, since global demand for leading-edge AI and NVDA's unmatched platform leadership can continue to offset regional headwinds.  One could also argue the immediate stock decline would be unwelcome but perhaps reduce the overhang that has existed on the stock since late last year when the Biden administration increased AI chip controls." Piper Sandler: overweight rating, price target cut to $150 from $175 Analyst Harsh Kumar's new target implies more than 33% upside potential. "This is surprising to us given the H20 chip was originally designed to meet export control restrictions originally set out by the USG. We see this incremental restriction as a part of the Trump Administration's effort to keep chip sales and computing capabilities down in China following H20's original clearance previously." Morgan Stanley: overweight rating, price target at $162 Analyst Joseph Moore's target calls for more than 44% upside ahead. Moore did trim estimates for data center revenues over the next couple of quarters. "We remain very bullish on Blackwell, but the constraint there is supply, so a more sudden reduction in H20 - and given the inventory writedown, a higher revenue expectation going forward for H20 - will likely be disruptive to revenue and earnings. The last time the company was impacted by export controls, it was for the same product in China that was shipping everywhere else, so the supply could just be re-routed, but here, a shutdown of H20 has no impact to the Blackwell ramp." Raymond James: strong buy, cuts price target to $150 from $170 Analyst Srini Pajjuri's updated target implies more than 33% upside from here. The analyst also lowered first-quarter 2026 revenue by about $900 million and is calling for "flattish" revenue growth for the second quarter. "H20 restrictions aren't entirely unexpected in our view even though recent media reports suggested no imminent ban. At 27x P/E, we believe the stock is already reflecting the H20 risk (NVDA traded at a 5-year average P/E of ~40x prior to ChatGPT-driven AI spending boom). More importantly, our recent conversations in Asia point to no slowdown in AI spending at hyperscale customers. Blackwell (GB200) is ramping in volume and GB300 is on track for F3Q shipment, which should help sustain momentum through the year." TD Cowen: buy rating, $140 price target Analyst Joshua Buchalter's target points to nearly 25% upside. "While we acknowledge near-term headwinds for NVIDIA (and peers alike) related to sales into China, we remain confident that NVIDIA is the leader in accelerated computing. We believe the CPU/GPU/DPU combination of Grace/ Blackwell (eventually to Vera/Rubin) systems positions the company to sustain strong Datacenter growth in the coming years irregardless of any potential China-related issues longer-term."
Alexandr Wang, CEO of Scale AI, arrives for a meeting with international investors in IA at the Elysee Palace as part of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit in Paris, France, Feb. 10, 2025.

Scale AI is working with Qatar to develop artificial intelligence tools for education, civil service, contact centers, tourism, health care and transportation in the Middle Eastern nation, according to a list viewed by CNBC.

The five-year deal will include creating an AI personalized learning platform and AI teacher assistant for some schools within the country. But the details could change.

Scale AI, which provides training data to key AI players like OpenAI, Google, Microsoft and Meta, expects revenue to more than double in 2025 to about $2 billion, up from about $870 million in 2024, according to a person familiar with the matter, who asked not to be named because the financials are confidential.

The company told CNBC that its work with governments in countries in Asia and Europe could account for a significant piece of sales over the next two quarters.

Scale AI is also planning a tender offer for employees and early investors at a valuation of $25 billion, the person said. Business Insider reported on the potential tender offer late last month.

The deal with Qatar, signed in February, will include developing AI voice, chat and email agents for contact centers. In the civil service space, the company is planning to work on automated construction permits, an AI agent for drafting and reviewing contracts, an agent for legal and regulatory guidance and automated licensing portals.

In health care, Scale AI will work on developing AI-powered appointment scheduling and an "AI-powered medical scribe," according to the list. And in transportation and logistics, the company plans to automate the customs process, as well as AI-powered monitoring for road service and incident detection, such as car accidents. It will also work on AI for tourism, creating a personalized "visitor experience app" and interactive experiences, per the list.

Trevor Thompson, Scale AI's global head of growth, said a key consideration is, "Are we actually building something that will integrate into and make your life easier?" He said there are solutions that can work but are "never going to get adopted."

"Really meeting enterprises and governments where they are is sort of an ongoing challenge," Thompson said, in an interview at Scale's office in London.

Scale AI has been ramping up its work with governments, including in the U.S.

Last month, the company announced a deal with the Department of Defense for a flagship AI agent program, a significant move in the controversial military use of AI. Scale AI was awarded a prototype contract from the Defense Department for "Thunderforge," the DOD's "flagship program" to use AI agents for U.S. military planning and operations, according to the release.

It's a multimillion-dollar deal, according to the source familiar with the matter.

Other fast-growing AI startups are targeting government work as well.

In January, OpenAI announced ChatGPT Gov, built specifically for U.S. government use. The product allows government agencies to feed "non-public, sensitive information" into OpenAI's models while operating within their own secure hosting environments, OpenAI product chief Kevin Weil told reporters during a briefing at the time.

WATCH: OpenAI considering building social network
Check out the companies making headlines in premarket trading: Nvidia  Shares slipped more than 6% after the chipmaker said it will take a quarterly $5.5 billion charge tied to exporting H20 graphics processing units to China, as well as other destinations. Nvidia said in a filing that the U.S. government informed the company it would require a license to export the chips to China and several other countries. J.B. Hunt Transport Services  The transportation stock pulled back 6% despite beating analysts' estimates on the top and bottom lines in the first quarter . However, J.B. Hunt reported a 1% drop in revenue and operating income year over year. United Airlines  The travel stock jumped more than 7% after United's first-quarter results topped analysts' expectations. The company earned an adjusted 91 cents per share, beating the 76 cents per share expected by Wall Street, according to LSEG. United also gave two full-year outlooks and called the economy "impossible to predict." Interactive Brokers  Stock in the electronic trading platform fell 8% after the firm missed earnings estimates. Interactive Brokers reported first-quarter earnings of $1.88 per share, excluding items, while analysts polled by LSEG were looking for $1.92 per share. Adjusted revenue of $1.40 billion was in line with forecasts. The company also announced a four-for-one stock split and an increase to its dividend of 7 cents to 32 cents per share. Travelers  Shares popped 2.9% after Travelers posted better-than-expected first-quarter results. The insurance company reported earnings of $1.91 per share, exceeding the 79 cents per share expected by analysts polled by FactSet. Revenue of $11.81 billion topped the FactSet consensus estimate of $10.84 billion. Tesla  Shares of the electric vehicle maker dipped about 2%. A Reuters report on Tuesday night, citing sources with direct knowledge on the matter, said President Donald Trump's suspension of importing components from China for Cybercab and Semi electric truck production in the U.S. could disrupt Tesla's efforts to mass produce the vehicles domestically. ASML  Shares of the Dutch semiconductor equipment firm tumbled 5.1% after ASML posted disappointing quarterly bookings. The company's CEO said tariff-driven "uncertainty with some of our customers" could take the company into the lower end of its full-year revenue guidance. U.S. Bancorp  The bank stock rose slightly on better-than-expected results for the first quarter. U.S. Bancorp earned $1.03 per share on revenue of $6.96 billion. Analysts polled by LSEG expected a profit of 98 cents per share on revenue of $6.91 billion.  CNBC's Jesse Pound, Sarah Min and Pia Singh contributed reporting. Get Your Ticket to Pro LIVE Join us at the New York Stock Exchange! Uncertain markets? Gain an edge with CNBC Pro LIVE , an exclusive, inaugural event at the historic New York Stock Exchange. In today's dynamic financial landscape, access to expert insights is paramount. As a CNBC Pro subscriber, we invite you to join us for our first exclusive, in-person CNBC Pro LIVE event at the iconic NYSE on Thursday, June 12. Join interactive Pro clinics led by our Pros Carter Worth, Dan Niles and Dan Ives, with a special edition of Pro Talks with Tom Lee. You'll also get the opportunity to network with CNBC experts, talent and other Pro subscribers during an exciting cocktail hour on the legendary trading floor. Tickets are limited!
U.S. President Donald Trump arrives for a presentation of the Commander-in-Chief trophy to the U.S. Navy Midshipmen football team of the United States Naval Academy, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 15, 2025. Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters

A federal judge found probable cause to hold the Trump administration in criminal contempt for ignoring his order barring the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members to a notorious El Salvador prison. "The Court ultimately determines that the Government's actions on that day demonstrate a willful disregard for its Order, sufficient for the Court to conclude that probable cause exists to find the Government in criminal contempt," Judge James Boasberg wrote in a court opinion Wednesday. "The Court does not reach such conclusion lightly or hastily; indeed, it has given Defendants ample opportunity to rectify or explain their actions," Boasberg wrote. "None of their responses has been satisfactory." Boasberg gave the administration one week to submit a declaration explaining its plan to "purge" the contempt finding. That means "voluntarily obeying the court order" by giving the deported people the opportunity to challenge their removal through proper legal proceedings, he wrote. But if the government decides not to take that step, Boasberg said, it must instead file a declaration identifying the person or people who "made the decision not to halt the transfer" of the Venezuelans on March 15 and 16, in spite of the judge's orders.

U.S. military personnel escort alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and the MS-13 gang recently deported by the U.S. government to be imprisoned in the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) prison, as part of an agreement with the Salvadoran government, in San Luis Talpa, El Salvador, in this handout image obtained March 31, 2025. Secretaria De Prensa De La Presidencia| Via Reuters

If declarations are "unsatisfactory," the judge said that he will order sworn witness testimony or depositions conducted by plaintiffs' lawyers. He would then ask the Justice Department to prosecute contempt. If the DOJ declines to do so, or says it cannot, Boasberg will appoint another attorney to take over the prosecution. The White House plans to seek "immediate appellate relief," communications director Steven Cheung wrote on X after the court opinion. "The President is 100% committed to ensuring that terrorists and criminal illegal migrants are no longer a threat to Americans and their communities across the country," Cheung wrote. American Civil Liberties Union lawyer Lee Gelernt, the lead attorney for the plaintiffs, said in a statement to NBC News that Boasberg is "rightly laser focused on the return of the individuals sent to the notorious Salvadoran prison with no due process and that also remains our concern." Boasberg's opinion is the latest legal development stemming from the Trump administration's efforts to carry out mass deportations of undocumented immigrants. Last month, Trump invoked a wartime law from 1798 known as the Alien Enemies Act to deport a group of Venezuelans who were alleged to be members of the gang Tren de Aragua. Five of them, who all deny being gang members, swiftly filed a lawsuit seeking to block their removal from the U.S.
US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are greeted by California Governor Gavin Newson upon arrival at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, California, on Jan. 24, 2025, to visit the region devastated by the Palisades and Eaton fires.

California on Wednesday sued President Donald Trump to halt his sweeping tariff regime, arguing that he is implementing his protectionist trade agenda illegally.

The federal lawsuit makes California the first state to challenge the Trump administration over its wide-ranging tariff plans, which have whipped up historic market volatility and frayed America's relationships with its allies and trading partners.

"Donald Trump does not have the authority to unilaterally impose the largest tax hike of our lifetime with his destructive tariffs," California Gov. Gavin Newsom wrote on X. "We're taking him to court."

The lawsuit argues that Trump's use of the International Economic Emergency Powers Act  which he recently invoked to impose his so-called reciprocal tariff plan  is "unlawful and unprecedented," Newsom's office told NBC News.

The situation creates "immediate and irreparable harm to California, the largest economy, manufacturing, and agriculture state in the nation," the office said.

The suit filed in U.S. District Court in northern California seeks to have Trump's tariffs declared void.
TAIPEI, TAIWAN - MARCH 26: A circuit board featuring technologies of Snapdragon and semiconductor firm Qualcomm is seen at the AI Expo Taiwan, in Taipei, Taiwan, on March 26, 2025.

The U.S. Commerce Department said on Tuesday it was issuing new export licensing requirements for Nvidia's H20, AMD's MI308 artificial intelligence chips, as well as their equivalents, to China.

"The Commerce Department is committed to acting on the President's directive to safeguard our national and economic security," a Commerce spokesperson said.

Nvidia said earlier Tuesday that it would take $5.5 billion in charges after the U.S. government limited exports of its H20 artificial intelligence chip to China, a key market for one of its most popular chips.
Trade tensions between the world's two largest economies have escalated in the last two weeks.

This report is from this week's edition of CNBC's The China Connection newsletter, which brings you insights and analysis on what's driving the world's second-largest economy. Each week, we'll explore the biggest business stories in China, give a lowdown on market moves and help you set up for the week ahead. Like what you see? You can subscribe here.

The last time Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke was just before the January 20 U.S. presidential inauguration.

Less than two weeks after becoming president for a second time, Trump added 10% tariffs on Chinese goods, and said he would talk to Xi in the next 24 hours.

"We called the White House. 'How did the call go?'" a senior U.S. business executive who wished to remain unnamed told me last week. The White House said, "'The Chinese didn't call.'"

"What's just been patently clear from the beginning, the administration dramatically overestimates how much leverage tariffs give them on China," the executive said

The U.S. jacked up new tariffs on Chinese goods last week, effectively taking them to 145%.

After retaliating with a 125% increase in tariffs on U.S. goods, Beijing went into the weekend by calling the tariffs a "numbers game" that they planned to ignore. That's according to a CNBC translation of the Chinese text.

So far, both sides have publicly indicated little intent to take any tangible first step to resolve the impasse and limit the global economic fallout from tit-for-tat measures.

Xi, who is now in an unprecedented third term as China's president, has also shown he is committed to defying any perception that he is giving up leverage to the U.S.  even if it means short-term pain for the economy. On the 70th anniversary of China's Communist Party rule, Xi proclaimed that "no force can stop the Chinese people and the Chinese nation."

Trump, on the other hand, has backtracked on even some of the latest tariff plans, while stating his end goal is to build up the U.S.

A confluence of economic and cultural differences have led to the standoff, with China's global positioning changing significantly in the last several years.

"I think people in the U.S., both investors and policymakers, their mindset [on China] is still something similar to 10 years back," Bruce Liu, CEO of asset manager Esoterica Capital, said Monday. He splits his time between New York and China.

China's economic situation in 2018 meant the country had to make a deal with Trump after bilateral tensions escalated during his first term, but Beijing has less reason to this time around, Liu said. "They are not in a rush to have a conversation, or initiate a conversation with the U.S. side at this moment."

Beijing's official stance has reinforced that thinking, with spokespeople stressing that any talks must be conducted on the basis of "mutual respect." DeepSeek's AI breakthrough in late January has also fueled a belief in China that the country can withstand U.S. restrictions.

Per capita disposable income in China has climbed by 38% since 2018. When I moved to the country that summer, Starbucks was by far the best option for coffee and most cars were gasoline-powered. Nearly seven years later, artisanal coffee shops are the norm and even smartphone company Xiaomi has electric cars on the streets.

That's not to say everything has been rosy.

Unfinished apartment buildings stand scattered on the outskirts of large cities. It's been tough for businesses trying to navigate the Covid-19 restrictions and the subsequent economic slowdown. The frenetic growth I witnessed before the pandemic is largely gone.

Major Wall Street investment firms have reacted to the escalation in U.S.-China trade tensions by cutting their forecasts for Chinese economic expansion this year, with UBS slashing expectations to just 3.4% growth this year. For now, Beijing has maintained its target of around 5% growth for the year, and indicated it could ramp up stimulus to support the economy.

But in pockets of the economy, a persistence remains, to keep trying despite the circumstances.
Brand new KIA cars are displayed on the sales lot at Serramonte Kia on March 26, 2025 in Colma, California.

DETROIT  Supplies of new and used vehicles for sale in the U.S. are declining rapidly as consumers flock to purchase cars and trucks ahead of potential price increases due to tariffs, according to auto dealers and industry analysis.

The days' supply of new vehicles  calculated by an estimated daily retail sales rate  dropped from 91 days at the beginning of March to 70 days this month, according to Cox Automotive. Used vehicle days' supply, which had already been low, declined by four days to 39 days, the company said.

"Consumers are trying to get ahead of tariffs on imports," Cox's chief economist, Jonathan Smoke, said Tuesday during an online update. "The decline in [new] days' supply was one of the largest drops we've seen in several years."

That compares with a typical monthly days' supply move in a normal market of roughly five days to seven days, according to Cox.

New vehicle sales are running 22% above the seasonally adjusted pace of last year and are up more than 8% on a year-to-date volume basis, Smoke said. In the used vehicle market, Cox estimates sales are "up sharply," with a 7% increase thus far this year compared with 2024.

Increased sales are good for the automotive industry, which many analysts expected to be roughly level heading into the year. But there's concern that the sales could come to a grinding halt once automakers and dealers sell out of their tariff-free inventories.

Auto advisory firm Telemetry expects the higher costs for production, parts and other factors to result in upward of 2 million fewer vehicles sold annually in the U.S. and Canada, in part due to higher costs and associated price increases.
A handout photograph taken and released by the World Health Organization (WHO) on April 16, 2025 shows WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus smiling after a consensus on the Pandemic Agreement at the WHO headquarters.

Members of the World Health Organization reached an agreement to prepare the world for future pandemics after more than three years of negotiations, the organization said early Wednesday.

The legally binding pact is intended to shore up the world's defenses against new pathogens after the COVID-19 pandemic killed millions of people in 2020-22.

The proposal outlines measures to prevent future pandemics and strengthen global collaboration. This includes establishing a pathogen access and benefit sharing system and building geographically diverse research capacities among others.

The agreement also proposes a global supply chain and logistics network while emphasizing stronger health system resilience and preparedness.
Wasted food is a big problem. More than 1 billion tonnes was thrown away in 2022 by households, retailers and food service companies, according to figures published by the U.N.'s Environment Program in 2024. It's expensive too: The World Bank estimated that lost or wasted food cost $1.2 trillion in 2020.

It's an issue that food entrepreneur Chloe Stewart first became aware of as a young adult traveling to different parts of the world. Seeing plates piled high in places like Beijing and Boston and having a sense that "there's no way someone's going to finish all that" made her angry, she said.

"This is actually criminal, the fact that we're not mandated to find better use for the food that's ending up in landfill," she said in a video call with CNBC.

Stewart's food business, Nibs etc., began as a blog where she wrote about "misunderstood" ingredients such as cacao nibs  the small pieces of fermented cacao beans that are used to make chocolate  as well as explored how to cook with the parts of fruit and vegetables that are typically discarded, like the scraped out seeds of a pumpkin. Stewart calls these "upcycled," rather than waste products, because of their potential as ingredients in their own right.

In 2018, Stewart started making granola, savory crackers and banana loaves in her kitchen, selling them at London's upscale Borough Market. A freshly squeezed juice stand was close by, and she began to make recipes from the leftover pulp  the seeds and skin that would otherwise be discarded.

"Juice pulp is only 'waste' because it comes out the wrong end of a juicer, but actually it's where all the good stuff is, and it's full of fiber," Stewart said. As her business grew, she experimented with different fruits, settling on apple pulp that she sourced from a cider-maker in the English county of Kent. It became the key ingredient for Nibs etc.'s granola and makes up 25% of its crackers, and Stewart now sells Nibs etc. products at high-end U.K. retailers including Selfridges and Waitrose.

Other types of so-called food waste can be upcycled in this way, Stewart said, and Nibs etc. is developing a chip-style snack made from potatoes as well as spent grain from the brewing process, an ingredient that might otherwise become animal feed. She's also working on a digestive biscuit  a flour-based sweet snack popular in the U.K.  using rapeseed meal, the byproduct of rapeseed oil production. Both of these new products have the potential to be made from 40% to 50% upcycled ingredients, Stewart said.
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The European Commission has issued so-called burner phones and simple laptops to certain staffers traveling to the US to reduce the risk of espionage, according to The Financial Times.

The Commission issued the new guidelines to commissioners and senior officials traveling to the International Monetary Fund and World Bank spring meetings next week. The EU has in the past used the same approach for staffers traveling to China.

They are worried about the US getting into the Commissions system, an anonymous source told the Times.
The international award ceremony that controversial tech mogul Mark Zuckerberg co-founded with his billionaire buddies just censored Seth Rogen like theyre our Health and Human Services Secretary covering up measles cases.

Back on April 5th, the comedy film giant and star/creator of The Studio was one of numerous A-list entertainers to participate in the annual Breakthrough Prize ceremony where Zuckerberg, Russian-Israeli entrepreneur Yuri Milner and Google co-founder Sergey Brin honor the greatest scientific advancements of the past year. This year, the Breakthrough Prizes billionaire co-founders find themselves in the awkward position of simultaneously cozying up to the blatantly anti-science Trump Administration while pretending to champion the advancement of life sciences, a contradiction that became painfully obvious when they uploaded the politically edited livestream of the event earlier this week.

While presenting a special Breakthrough Prize to Dutch theoretical physicist Gerardus t Hooft alongside Edward Norton, Rogen pointed out the hypocrisy of the events founders, commenting, Its amazing that others in this room underwrote electing a man who, in the last week, single-handedly destroyed all of American science.

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Its amazing how much good science you can destroy with $320 million and RFK Jr. very fast, Rogen added  and, just like that, he found himself unfriended.

Following Rogens not-so-veiled criticism of the events politically opportunistic co-founders, the official Breakthrough Prize YouTube account edited his jabs at the tech moguls continued support of a regime that gutted federal science funding and put an anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist in charge of public health against the urging of 75 Nobel Laureates out of the livestream recording before posting it online. Even the clip of Rogen and Norton presenting the award, shown above, contains no mention of the HHS Secretary who continues to defy overwhelming scientific consensus on topics such as vaccines and autism.

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In a laughably mendacious and completely cowardly statement for The Hollywood Reporter, a spokesperson for the Breakthrough Prize Foundation claimed of the decision to cut Rogens critical comments out of all official recordings, This years ceremony lasted longer than the prior few years, and several edits were made in order to meet the originally planned run time.

Considering that the Breakthrough Prize ceremony was a livestream and the internet famously doesnt have time slots like TV, this excuse doesnt hold up to a single ounce of scientific skepticism.

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Additionally, if the move to edit out Rogens defense of American science from the science prize ceremonys livestream really was an issue of runtime, why, then, did the Breakthrough Prize Foundation also censor Rogen in the sub-five-minute clip of him and Norton presenting the award to Hooft?

It would be marginally more respectable if Zuckerberg and his cronies stuck to their guns and admitted that they cut Rogens unexpected outburst to maintain the guise of apoliticality. But to surreptitiously cut a comment calling out your hypocrisy is almost as bad as secretly cutting your CFO out of Facebook.
Following the breakthrough success of Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia, every TV network in the 2010s wanted to emulate its crass, punchy, anarchic humor, but some networks werent ready to pay the troll toll.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia star Kaitlin Olson is finally enjoying her well-deserved moment in the spotlight now that she's smack-dab in the middle of the zeitgeist following two straight decades of TV excellence. Between the return of Hacks, the upcoming 17th season of Always Sunny and the swift renewal of High Potential, Olson is now ubiquitous in the TV world, despite the inability of some networks to make her distinct style of comedic performance work for their delicate, corporate sensibilities. While the ascension of Olson to the top of the TV A-list has been a long time coming, her road to multi-network superstardom wasnt without its pitfalls, as anyone who watched the unjustly canceled Fox sitcom The Mick knows all-too-well.

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In a recent interview with Emmy Magazine, Olson, who earned her third Emmy nomination at last years awards ceremony, recalled how she was originally wary of returning to network TV for the ABC hit High Potential after Fox tried to dull her edge during The Mick. Maybe Fox would have been better off building a sitcom around the waitress at Suds.

Foxs The Mick centered around Olsons character Mackenzie Mickey Molng, a rough-living Rhode Islander who has to move to the pampered community of Greenwich, Connecticut to take care of her sisters three children after the FBI arrests her sister and brother-in-law for fraud and tax evasion. While The Mick amassed a cult following with all favorable reviews highlighting Olsons performance, as Olson revealed during her talk with Emmy Magazine, Mickeys foul mouth and flagrant disregard for decency didnt just put her at odds with New Englands upper crust  it also caused Olson to butt heads with the suits upstairs.

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Fox wanted to bring a little edge to their comedies, Olson said of the original deal she struck with the network to bring a bit of her Always Sunny flair to The Mick. However, as Olson quickly discovered, Fox decided that getting what they wanted wasnt worth it if it meant allowing cuss words and shouting on a TV-14 series. Said Olson of the networks feedback to The Mick, There were a lot of notes like, Oh, you cant say that. I was like, Well, weve got to find a way to say that in a way that I find funny, otherwise you picked the wrong person.

While Olsons decision to stick to her guns made The Mick exactly the kind of edgy comedy that Fox thought they wanted, Fox ended up canceling the sitcom after just two seasons, and the unceremonious ending to the underappreciated series made Olson distrustful of the dull softness of network TV. The truth was we were both very wary of returning to network television, admitted High Potential creator Drew Goddard, who previously served as a director, writer and producer on network shows such as Lost and The Good Place.

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Kaitlin said, Do you think you can protect this show? Goddard explained of his High Potential stars hesitance, I said, I dont know, but I promise you, we will be fighting this fight together. Either were going to make it the way we want to make it, or theyre going to fire us, and then we wont have to worry about it.

Thankfully, ABC has no problem letting Olson be Olson, as they understand that, in order to create a star vehicle, you have to build around your stars strengths instead of suppressing what makes them great in the first place. After all, putting Olson in a comedy and asking her to keep it clean is like inviting Frank to a funeral and expecting him to be sober.
Important update April 16, 2025: Since this story was first published, CISA signed a contract extension that averts a shutdown of the MITRE CVE program.

A CISA spokesperson sent CSO a statement saying, The CVE Program is invaluable to cyber community and a priority of CISA. Last night, CISA executed the option period on the contract to ensure there will be no lapse in critical CVE services. We appreciate our partners and stakeholders patience. Sources say the contract extension will last 11 months.

Yosry Barsoum, vice president and director of the Center for Securing the Homeland at MITRE, commented: Thanks to actions taken by the government, a break in service for the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) Program and the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) Program has been avoided. As of Wednesday morning, April 16, 2025, CISA identified incremental funding to keep the Programs operational. We appreciate the overwhelming support for these programs that have been expressed by the global cyber community, industry, and government over the last 24 hours. The government continues to make considerable efforts to support MITREs role in the program and MITRE remains committed to CVE and CWE as global resources.
On Saturday, April 19, 2025, Marketplace on Main will be brimming with creativity as it hosts the Artistic Expression and Connections Art Exhibition. This event features the exceptional work of Cut Bank High School honors art students, each of whom has dedicated at least two years to honing their craft or possesses a strong body of work.

The exhibition serves as the culminating showcase of a yearlong journey where students have not only refined their technical skills but also developed a distinctive artistic voice. Throughout the year, these emerging artists have documented their processes, capturing the evolution of their work through photography and written reflections. This commitment to artistic inquiry, content exploration, and quality craftsmanship has prepared them to present their pieces to the public with confidence and purpose. The exhibition will feature Artists; Mylee Barry, Ashlyn Brown, Max Gannon, Paige Poulton, Luis Spotted Eagle, Destini Anderson, Jayce Fey, Brooklynn Michaels, and Jocelyn Taylor.

Attendees can expect to see a diverse range of mediums and styles, reflecting the unique perspectives of each artist. From striking paintings and intricate drawings to thought-provoking mixed media and sculpture, the collection showcases not only skill but also the passion and dedication these students have poured into their work.

Marketplace on Main provides the perfect backdrop for this exhibition, offering an inviting space where the community can connect with the next generation of artists. Visitors will have the chance to engage with the artists, learn about their creative journeys, and even purchase original pieces to support their burgeoning careers.

The Artistic Expression and Connections Art Exhibition is a must-see event for art enthusiasts and community members alike. Whether youre a longtime supporter of the arts or a casual admirer, this showcase promises to inspire and impress.

Doors open at 11 a.m., at 13 E Main St, Cut Bank. Dont miss this opportunity to witness the power of emerging talent and the artistic voices of tomorrow.
A Browning attorney accused of sexual assault appeared for arraignment, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

The defendant, Nathan Nicholas Johnson St. Goddard, 44, of Browning, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse, abusive sexual contact and making a false statement. If convicted of the most serious crime, St. Goddard faces life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and at least five years of supervised release.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. St. Goddard was released on conditions pending further proceedings.

The indictment alleges that on June 22, 2024, St. Goddard knowingly engaged in sexual acts with Jane Doe by using force and threatening and placing Jane Doe in fear, and without Jane Does consent. Additionally, the indictment alleges he made a materially false, fictitious and fraudulent statement and representation to the FBI.

The U.S. Attorneys Office is prosecuting the case. The FBI, Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services and Glacier County Sheriffs Office conducted the investigation.

The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
By BHS Ag Instructor Jimi Champ

Last week the Vo-Ed department of Browning High School was bustling with activity as the Auto Shop was turned into a hide processing facility. The air was filled with excitement, even if it was just a little stinky. This weeklong workshop was a collaboration of the Vo-Ed, Science and Blackfeet Studies departments. The brainchild of Mrs. Biga Marshall-Klauk and Lea Whitford came to fruition with the help of so many people.

Students enjoyed classroom workshops of hair and fiber analysis, traditional foods cooking, traditional games, a bear aware presentation, winter count drawings, parflesch bag making and so much more. But the crown jewel of the week was the traditional tanning of buffalo, elk and deer hides.

BHS students started with fresh hides and worked diligently to tan them the way our ancestors did with actual brains and a lot of elbow grease. Using traditional methods taught to them by Craig Falcon and Andrzej Gussman, the students soon became the teachers and taught their classmates the fine art of tanning.

For four entire school days, the students worked to transform the hides. The end result was beautiful buffalo robes, soft as butter buckskin and an absolutely beautiful winter count on a buffalo hide, portraying each student's personal growth. The winter count hide will be displayed at BHS so future students will not only understand our culture but will remember the hard work that one group of students put in to relearn our traditional ways.

They say it takes a village to raise a child, and we know that this huge undertaking could not have been possible without the support of our entire community. A heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone who had a hand in this amazing, life changing project: Craig Falcon and Andrzej Gussman for taking time out of their week to teach the students and teachers their life-long learning of our traditional ways; Lea Whitford and Biga Klauk for organizing the project and working tirelessly to bring this dream to reality; C and C meats for donating eight hides; James Evans for donating hides and brains; Robert Hall and the Blackfeet Studies Department for providing funding; teachers Biga Klauk, Kami DeRoche, Shaylea Tatsey, Kevin Kicking Woman, Sonya Gobert and Jimi Champ for creating stations and lessons to occupy the students and bring traditional learning to the forefront; students Kylie Gobert, Jaylin Aimsback, Meera MadMan and Lyneah Williams for starting out as students and finishing as teachers to carry on this tradition; FAST Blackfeet (Makenzie and Keshawn) for a full-day workshop on cooking traditional foods; Fish and Game (Annie, Chris and Steve) for the Bear Aware presentation; Glacier National Park Rangers (Jordan, Sarah, Eli) for providing fun traditional games for the students to participate; Browning Volunteer Fire Department (Chris Gray and Casper Rutherford) for proving a fire truck and water; Sonya Gobert and Nick Peters for providing knives and water; Mark Magee for the jerky, meat and sausage; Grama Shirley Wippert for sharing her berries for Berry Soup; and Mrs DeRoche and her classes for making the soup!

It was a whirlwind week of excitement and learning, and we appreciate everyone who took part. If we left anyone out, it is totally unintentional.
Montana's Department of Revenue (DOR) Alcoholic Beverage Control Division (ABCD) is a member of the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association (NABCA) and received an alcohol education grant from this organization. NABCA's mission is to support member jurisdictions in their efforts to protect public health and safety and ensure responsible and efficient systems for beverage alcohol distribution and sales.

ABCD is pleased to announce its second year in awarding five, one-time, $2,000 scholarships to Montana students who came up with an essay and design dedicated to the question: What does "Alcohol Responsibility Matters" mean to you and your community?

This opportunity was for all Montana high school seniors who were willing to take the time to write a brief essay about what the message meant to them and with an original design idea. To receive the scholarship, students must attend a Montana postsecondary school/apprentice program/certificate institute of higher learning after graduation (including homeschooled students). Fifty-five qualified submissions were received by the deadline. Luis Spotted Eagle of Cut Bank has been named as one of the scholarship recipients for his entry.

Their designs may be used on materials for alcoholic beverage establishments and billboards in hightraffic areas across Montana to promote the importance of responsible alcohol consumption. The billboards will have a consistent theme centered on Montana with the tagline "Alcohol Responsibility Matters" and the ABCD-designed logo, along with the student's original artwork.

ABCD hopes to provide community-centered messages that remind individuals 21 and over of the importance of being responsible when consuming alcohol. This will support the overall theme of ABCD Alcohol Responsibility Matters resources for licensees and the public.
With national implications, Montana Senator Susan Webber and Blackfeet Reservation rancher Jonathan St. Goddard have filed suit against the current Administration's tariff sanctions against Canada, among other countries. Charging the Administration with violating the U.S. Constitution and treaty rights of Native Tribes, on April 4 they named Secretary Kristi Noem of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the United States as defendants in the suit. Recent Congressional candidate Monica Tranel is representing the pair.

The suit references the Jay Treaty which recognized the rights of Native Americans freely crossing the U.S.-Canadian border, as well as their not paying duties or taxes on their own goods when crossing. They further challenged the authority of the Administration's use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act in instituting the tariffs, noting tariffs are not mentioned in the Act. In addition, they note the power to regulate commerce lies with Congress, not the Executive Branch.

Senator Webber explained in detail the basis of the lawsuit for this week's edition, and it follows. -ed

Oki, my friends and relatives. You have heard or read about the lawsuit I initiated against the United States for myself and the constituents I represent. I thank Jonathan St. Goddard for agreeing to sign on with me.

The tribes have been observing the dismantling of our nation's economy with fear and trepidation. We are so heavily reliant on the federal government and funding that our existence is at risk. Do we merely await our uncertain future, or do we take action?

I have stepped into the fray, choosing to at least fight for our rights under our treaties and the Constitution of the United States. I have done this so my tribe doesn't have to. Should it go sideways, I alone am to blame.

The brief challenges the Executive orders signed by the president in February, March and April were based on a supposed "national emergency." Executive Orders 14193, Proclamation 10896 and 10895, and the Executive Order on Reciprocal Tariffs of April 2, 2025, are collectively referred to as the Canada Orders.

Our history supports my claims. The Blackfeet have lived in this area for millennia, as do the Kootenai of Montana and Canada. The Border between Canada and the United States is the longest international border in the world. The 49th Parallel bisected many historic tribal territories, not just the Blackfeet or Kootenai.

Further, this border was subject to many tariffs and treaties. On June 21, 1788, the U.S. Constitution was ratified and enacted on March 4, 1789. Article 1, Section 8, Clause 1 gave Congress exclusive power to collect taxes and duties and to regulate Commerce with foreign nations among several states and with the Indian Tribes.

On Nov. 19, 1794, the Jay Treaty between the U.S. and Britain resolved continuing trade and border disputes and established the border. Article III of the treaty excluded Indigenous peoples from paying duty on goods across the border.

On March 2, 1799, Congress passed the Tariff Act of 1799, which exempted Indians from tariffs (Sec. 104) and duties (Sec. 105). The Ghent Treaty of 1814 would affirm the Jay Treaty.

The important words here are that the Native American people were recognized in, not granted, the right to conduct commerce and trade by the Jay Treaty and the Treaty of Ghent.

In 1818, the U.S. and Britain made a treaty establishing the 49th Parallel to allow for joint occupation and settlement of the Oregon Country (Columbia District of Hudson's Bay Company). It did not address the rights of Native Americans and did not limit or address their rights under the Jay Treaty.

In 1823, Iron Shirt of the Blackfeet proposed a trading post at the mouth of the Marias River to trade with the Missouri Fur Company, creating economic competition between Canada and America. The geopolitics and economy of the Blackfeet integrated commerce across the border. The Blackfeet operated as one nation with no border.

Following treaties and agreements between the U.S. and Britain consistently did not address or limit the trade and passage rights to Native Americans as set out in the Jay Treaty.

Congress revised the Tariff Act of 1799 in the 1873-74 Session. It continued to recognize the duty exemption for Native Americans.

Five years later, Treaty 7 (1877) was signed between the First Nations and the Canadian Government. It was a peace treaty, allowing settlement and promoting peaceful cohabitation. It was understood that the treaty did not surrender any tribal lands.

The 1883 Tariff Act included specific language in Section 105 of the previous 1799 Tariff Act. In Sec. 2512, "...no duty shall be levied or collected on the importation of peltries brought into the Territory of the United States by Indians, nor on the proper goods and effects, of whatever nature, of Indians passing and repassing the boundary-line aforesaid, unless the same be goods in bales or other large packages unusual amount for Indians."

Tariffs comprised 50% to 90% of the federal income until the 16th Amendment established a federal income tax (Feb. 3, 1913).

Tribal lands diminished during the 19th Century. Still, none of the orders or agreements between the federal government and the tribes changed the northern border or the transnational interaction of the tribes. They also did not change the exemption from tariffs regarding the tribes.

Through the 20th and 21st centuries, the tribes continued to do business across the border without duties or national identification cards. No Treaty has abrogated the rights conferred by the Jay Treaty, which was reaffirmed by the Treaty of Ghent.

In 2014, the Montana tribes joined the First Nations in signing the Iinii Treaty or Buffalo Treaty. The tribes included the Blackfeet Nation, Assiniboine and Gros Ventre Tribes of Fort Belknap, Assiniboine and Dakota Tribes of Fort Peck, the Confederated Tribes of the Salish and Kootenai, and the Tsuut'ina Nation.

In 2024, Senator Steve Daines cosponsored the "Tribal Border Crossing Parity Act," acknowledging protections and the Jay Treaty of 1794 and eliminating the 50% blood quantum requirement for members of federally recognized tribes when exercising their treaty-protected rights to cross between the U.S. and Canada.

The lawsuit is based on the fact that the unpredictable, uncertain and increased costs of the imposed U.S. tariffs are directly harmful to the tribes and tribal peoples who operate indigenous-owned businesses in construction, energy, tourism, resource extraction and management.

This is just a historical narrative of the lawsuit. I do not want you to have any misconceptions or misunderstandings about what I am trying to do. It is time for us to quit being "Fort Indians" who stand at the gates with our hands out, asking for morsels thrown out with the trash. Those days are over.
Dan Severson grew up on a dairy farm in Delaware. As he explains it, life or destiny, has led him to Dupuyer, Mont. where he plans to carry on the "welcoming vibe" that first drew him to the town and Dupuyer Cache.

Severson applied for a fellowship with the University of Delaware Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE) program and landed in Sheridan, Wyo. where he claims, "the mountains called to me." Continuing his agricultural work with Montana State University, he moved to Conrad in November 2022. While on assignment spraying noxious weeds in the Swift Dam area, Dan remembers wandering into the Dupuyer Cache.

"I bought an ice cream sandwich and ate it on this bench," he shared while gesturing to the bench in front of the store. "I just loved the vibe of Dupuyer."

Severson describes himself as an entrepreneur at heart. Readers may recognize him as Mystik Dan the Pizza Man with his mobile pizza shop. Dupuyer Cache, however, is his first venture into retail.

"I'm working with Montana Small Business Development and they've been very helpful," Severson continued. "I'm new to the industry and have a lot to learn about marketing, sales, networking and what demographics to expect as customers."

Dan Severson plans to continue to showcase local vendors promoting what Montana has to offer. Familiar names such as Windrift Hill, Folklore Coffee, Beaverslide Dry Goods, and Made in Montana products will continue to grace the shelves of Dupuyer Cache. Shoppers can look forward to new items as well, particularly Dupuyer Cache coffee mugs, hats, and keychains sporting the store's new logo.

Although the store's listed hours are 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Tuesday thru Saturday, Severson is flexible. "I'm right here," Dan admitted, "People can call and I can open up." He admitted that the days may change as the tourism season gets underway to take better advantage of the weekend traffic on Highway 89.

Severson's enthusiasm is obvious, "We just need to get people to slow down. There's so much here - Buffalo Joe's, Swift Dam, the Bob Marshall area, and Dupuyer is home to Jones Memorial Park. They have free camping and a creek right there!"

He did mention that they may have bears, "but we have bear spray at the store!"

In addition to Dupuyer Cache's retail and his Mystik Dan's Pizza operation, Severson also plans to open an online store once the summer rush has subsided.

In the meantime, Dan Severson welcomes customers new and old to Dupuyer Cache where he is sure to spend some time chatting and sharing his love for the area. He may even persuade one to purchase an ice cream sandwich and enjoy it on a bench in front of the store.
A Cut Bank man who assaulted a 17-year-old girl was sentenced to 24 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Elijah John Bullcalf, 21, pleaded guilty in December 2024 to assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian Morris presided.

The government alleged in court documents that on May 25, 2023, Bullcalf assaulted Jane Doe in her bedroom at her parents home. They got into an argument after Bullcalf saw a text message he didnt like on Does cell phone. Bullcalf bit Does hand and then punched her one time in the face, breaking her jaw.

Bullcalf didnt want her to go to the hospital and took her to his house instead. After several hours, Doe was in so much pain that Bullcalf relented and took her to the hospital. He told Doe to tell everyone she slipped and fell on the porch. Doe had to have two metal plates surgically placed in her jaw, one of which is permanent. Doe told law enforcement that one month after the assault, Bullcalf hit her again in the same part of the jaw, causing pain and bleeding. During a recorded interview with law enforcement in March 2024, Bullcalf admitted the assault.

The U.S. Attorneys Office prosecuted the case and the investigation was conducted by the FBI and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services.
Whether its a nonprofit organization, church council, school board, government board, or other group, rural Montanans are deeply involved in their communities. These organizations rely on strong leadership to run effective meetings, make informed decisions, and move their missions forward to the next generation.

To support this need, community members are invited to attend Local Leadership  Practical Skills for Productive Meetings on Wednesday, April 23, from 5:308:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church (201 S. Central Ave., Cut Bank, MT).

Montana ranks second in the nation for leadership demand per capita. According to University of Minnesota Extension rural sociologist Ben Winchester, one in every 13 Montana adults must serve in a leadership role just to maintain existing nonprofits and local government boards. Training current and future board members in effective practices helps these groups function more efficiently and make a greater impact.

This interactive, hands-on session will explore key strategies for running smooth, productive meetings and making sound decisions. Attendees will also learn how to navigate group dynamics, engage members, onboard new volunteers, build trust, and stay aligned with their organizations mission.

There is no cost to attend, and dinner will be provided courtesy of MSU Extension.

Please RSVP by Monday, April 21 by visiting http://tiny.cc/9c3g001 or by calling the Glacier County Extension Office at 406-873-2239.

For anyone currently involved in a group or organization, please bring a copy of your groups bylaws to be eligible for a special prize. For more information, please visit with Kari Lewis or Lisa Terry at the MSU Extension  Glacier County office ([email protected] or [email protected]).
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Not since Britain voted to leave the sinking European project have we been offered such an opportunity. Yesterday, US Vice-President JD Vance was unequivocal.

The President really loves the United Kingdom, he said in an interview. He loved the Queen. He admires and loves the King. And hes a businessman and has a number of important business relationships in [Britain].

But I think its much deeper than that. Theres a real cultural affinity... I think theres a good chance that, yes, well come to a great agreement thats in the best interest of both countries.

JD Vance was, of course talking about a trade deal. And making it clear that President Trump is offering a once-in-a generation chance to forge a seriously bright future for Brexit Britain on the world stage, with potentially enormous economic and political benefits.

In 2016 the British people voted to leave an EU that trampled upon their sovereignty for nearly half a century. And it is because Britons are free of the shackles of Brussels that the United States is offering this economic lifeboat at a time it is so desperately needed.

This is a moment for the UK to seize the day and embrace an agreement that can only enhance prosperity in both the worlds largest and sixth-largest economies.

Indeed, the benefits of a trade deal cannot be overstated. The US is our largest import and export partner for services, and the second largest importer of British goods after Germany, with transport and pharmaceutical products playing a crucial role in trade.

A deal would maintain and enhance this crucial commercial relationship, while generating jobs and promoting genuinely open trade.

Yesterday, US Vice-President JD Vance was unequivocal. 'The President really loves the United Kingdom,' he said in an interview

What is more, it would steer Britain away from increasingly dangerous overtures from Communist China  overtures to which the Starmer government still appears worryingly susceptible.

This weekend business minister Douglas Alexander visited Hong Kong for trade-linked talks, while the furore over British Steels Chinese owner Jingye trying to shutdown blast furnaces at Scunthorpe continue to blaze back home.

Beijings tentacles reach deep into Britains strategic assets in all manner of areas from green energy to nuclear power and utilities. Yet the Starmer government seems more interested in striking deals with the enemy in the East while it should be concentrating all efforts on its most powerful ally in the West.

The economic benefits from a potential zero tariff agreement between the United States and the United Kingdom would give the UK a huge strategic advantage over its EU competitors  and thats before we even consider the huge political advantages this would have for Britain, with a privileged position in working with Washington that would be the envy of Paris and Berlin.

A trade deal would also further strengthen the already deep-seated military, defence and intelligence relationships between the US and UK, and cement the most powerful bilateral partnership of the modern era.

I met Donald Trump during his first presidency and have seen first-hand his admiration for Britain. Hes the most pro-British president since Reagan, and an enormous fan of Brexit. Trump is the most powerful Brexiteer in the world today, and recognises that sovereignty and self-determination are vital to the future of Europe.

Downing Street says talks on a trade deal have been productive, but I see another danger: the Prime Minister cannot help his love affair with Brussels which could yet jeopardise everything.

Yesterday Bloomberg reported that British officials are indicating to their EU counterparts they might be prepared to accept regulatory alignment on some EU rules for food and drink, as well as allow the oversight of the European Court of Justice, in order to ease trade friction.

The PM with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen in October. Yesterday, Bloomberg reported that British officials are indicating to their EU counterparts they might be prepared to accept regulatory alignment on some EU rules

This will not go down well with Trump who scorns the EU and its protectionist, dysfunctional ideology  both when it comes to trade and politics. He has thrown down the gauntlet to the European Commission because, in his view, the EU was formed in order to screw the United States.

It is true that Trumps announcement of tariffs against the EU and dozens of countries from Asia to Latin America sent shockwaves across the world. But his ensuing declaration of a 90-day pause on those tariffs has stabilised global markets, and prompted at least 75 nations to seek negotiations with the United States, in a sign to my mind that his strategy is working.

His administration will also soon embark on an ambitious programme of tax cutting and deregulation of the US economy, which will boost growth and job creation.

Trump wants to see a level playing field between the United States and Europe, and an end to the EUs trade barriers. In several crucial areas, including automobiles and agriculture, the EU discriminates heavily against US producers. At the end of the day he wants to see real free and fair trade with Americas European allies.

Unfortunately for the EU, it is led by arrogant and delusional officials such as Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, who appears determined to fight a disastrous trade war with the US that could potentially sink the EUs economy.

Keir Starmer must be smart in these circumstances and get this deal over the line  and be aware, too, that he must give something in return. And that includes a fully opened British market for US exports.

For too long, he has flirted with both the US and the EU, previously stating he is not choosing between the two.

He now must pick a side  and, with this offer of a deal, that side must be the United States.

For too long, Starmer has flirted with both the US and the EU, previously stating he is 'not choosing' between the two. He must now pick a side

If Starmer chooses to align himself and Britain with the unelected and out of touch ruling elites of the European Commission instead of with the elected and fully accountable government of the United States he will be making a huge mistake.

In the next four years the worlds superpower will be embarking upon a massive agenda of economic revitalisation, involving a wave of tax cuts, the elimination of vast amounts of red tape and regulation, the securing of Americas borders and the biggest drive in the post war era to bring jobs back to the United States.

In contrast, the EU offers higher taxes, ever increasing levels of government spending, expanding layers of bureaucracy, and growing powers for Brussels at the expense of nation states.

While the US will see an economic renaissance based upon growing economic freedom and competitiveness, the EU looks to a future of socialism, supranationalism, steep decline and rampant mass migration.

I am in no doubt that my former boss Lady Thatcher would have strongly encouraged the British Prime Minister to strike a deal with the US, one that would greatly benefit the British people.

The Iron Lady loved the United States and believed the Special Relationship with Washington must lie at the very heart of British foreign policy and strategic thinking. She would have mightily cheered Brexit and have urged her successors in Downing Street to work closely with President Trump to secure the best deal possible for both sides.

Her message to the British PM would be simple: show some backbone, stand close to the Americans, and stop kowtowing to the EU.

Sir Keir is no Margaret Thatcher, and his Labour government has been disastrous on many fronts. But it has an opportunity now to do what is right for the people of the United Kingdom. And that means delivering on the tremendous opportunities that Brexit offers, and strengthening the partnership with a president who is serious about doing a deal with a nation he deeply respects and trusts.

Nile Gardiner is a former aide to Margaret Thatcher and is based in Washington, DC
The Scunthorpe steelworks are barely a few dozen miles from the rich coal deposits of South Yorkshire.

Yet perversely the future of virgin steelmaking in this country is dependent on two shiploads of coal that have chugged half way around the world, one from the US (which finally offloaded its cargo at Immingham yesterday) and the other from Australia.

It defies all practical sense, given that transportation over such distances takes longer  hardly ideal for a steelworks that is days from closure  is more costly and emits vastly more carbon into the atmosphere. Yet this is where our fraudulent drive to reach net zero has led us.

Consider these figures. Shipping a tonne of coal 1,000 miles emits 5kg of carbon, according to estimates from research firm Thunder Said Energy. By that token, the 55,000 tonnes of coal sitting in the Navios Alegria  the ship that will reach Britain in a few days having journeyed the 11,000 miles from Australia  will have cost the environment over 3,000 tonnes of carbon.

By comparison, the average Briton will be responsible for 4.4 tonnes of carbon in a year.

Seven years ago, mining company H J Banks & Co commissioned a study into how much extra carbon emissions are generated by importing coal as opposed to feeding our steel and brick industries with coal mined in Britain. It calculated that producing 800,000 tonnes of coal would emit 51,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide in Britain. By contrast, shipping the same amount from Russia would emit 57,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide  and that figure excludes emissions from the mining operation itself.

The future of virgin steelmaking in this country is dependent on two shiploads of coal that have chugged half way around the world, one from the US (which finally offloaded its cargo at Immingham yesterday) and the other from Australia

Coal and coke mounds at the British Steel bulk terminal site at Immingham Docks

In other words, if you want to minimise global carbon emissions, it is better to use local coal.

However, the Governments net zero target, driven by Energy Security Secretary Ed Miliband, gives a contradictory incentive to close our mines and import coal instead  because emissions from coal mines in Russia, Australia or elsewhere do not count on Britains carbon ledger.

So it is little wonder the planning application for a Whitehaven coal mine on the Cumbrian coast was formally withdrawn last week. The previous government gave it a green light, which environmental campaigners had successfully challenged in the High Court, convincing judge Mr Justice Holgate that ministers had not considered whether the emissions from burning the coal would breach Britains net zero commitments.

But even if we did have an operational mine at Whitehaven, British Steel two years ago closed its coking works  the process which is crucial for steelmaking  with 230 job losses.

The company said it was driven to close the energy-intensive plant because its electricity bill and carbon levies had increased its costs by 190million in a year.

It is a complaint familiar to all sectors of our heavy industry.

Britain has some of the highest industrial electricity prices in the West at almost 26p per kilowatt-hour. In the US, it is the equivalent of 6p. German firms pay an average of 17.7p per kilowatt-hour and the French 17.8p.

It is embarrassing  and tragic  that a once-great industrial power is scrabbling around the world for coking coal in an 11th-hour bid to save the last remnant of our virgin steel industry.

Even so, it will take rather more than a couple of shiploads. We need to completely rethink industrial policy by championing our native mines and slashing punitive carbon levies. There is no point in cutting Britains territorial CO2 emissions if all we are doing is offshoring yet more emissions to other countries.

It is a farcical process that makes the environment suffer more than it needs to  and kneecaps British steelmaking.
Just how far is Kemi Badenoch planning to go to stop Nigel Farage? Based on her support for Lucy Connolly, the wife of a Tory councillor who was given a 31-month jail sentence for inciting racial hatred during the 2024 summer riots, the answer is: as far as she has to.

Last week British Steel was teetering on the brink of collapse. China had just announced it was hitting back at Donald Trump's tariffs. The Government had revealed it was allocating a further 350million for aid to Ukraine.

But the Leader of His Majesty's Opposition took the time to express her anger at the news Connolly had recently been denied prison leave.

'Having reviewed the background of Lucy Connolly's case, her denial of Release On Temporary Licence (ROTL) appears unjust,' Badenoch declared. She added: 'The bigger issue is the perception of bias in the application of the law. Lucy's sentence, disproportionately severe compared to those for actual violence in the riots and other contexts, suggests she's being treated as "low-hanging fruit."'

It's not clear precisely how long Kemi Badenoch spent examining the details of Connolly's conviction and incarceration. But it doesn't appear she took the time to fully read and comprehend the sentencing remarks of His Honour Judge Melbourne Inman KC, Recorder of Birmingham.

If she had, she would have become aware that in his summation of her case, Judge Melbourne Inman explained how Connolly pleaded guilty to the offence of distributing material with the intention of stirring up racial hatred. More specifically, that in the immediate aftermath of the Southport murders she had taken to social media to declare 'Mass deportation now, set fire to all the f****** hotels full of the b******* for all I care, while you're at it take the treacherous government and politicians with them. I feel physically sick knowing what these families will now have to endure. If that makes me racist so be it.'

A Kemi Badenoch spokesman angrily insisted: 'This isn't about Reform. It's about right and wrong. What Kemi's saying isn't just some pound-shop commentary'

Lucy Connolly, 41, was sentenced for inciting racial hatred against asylum seekers on Twitter on the day of the Southport attacks

Badenoch would also have known that the 'disproportionate sentence' imposed by the judge came after both the prosecution and Connolly's own defence lawyer agreed she was guilty of a Category A offence - of actively intending to incite serious violence that encouraged activity that had endangered life. And that despite its severity, mitigating factors such as the fact Connolly had no previous convictions, had a young child and had lost another very young child in tragic circumstances, were all taken into account.

It may have been that the Tory leader was swayed by claims from Connolly's supporters that she had immediately shown terrible remorse for her post. But if so, she doesn't seem to have picked up on the message Connolly sent in the day prior to her arrest, in which she laughingly stated 'raging tweet about burning down hotels has bit me on the arse lol'.

Perhaps Badenoch was influenced by arguments Connolly was suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following her bereavement 12 years previously. In which case, she should have acquainted herself with the missive Connolly sent to friends stating she intended to 'play the mental health card' if arrested.

Or maybe the clinching factor was the insistence Connolly's racist diatribe was entirely out of character. Even though in another social media intervention she commented on a video posted by the far right activist Tommy Robinson, 'Somalian I guess' followed by a vomiting emoji.

But who am I kidding? Kemi Badenoch knows the full facts of the Lucy Connolly case. She just doesn't care.

Seven days ago Labour ministers cynically announced they were watering down the already limited inquiries into the northern child-rape gangs. Evidence of the disproportionate number of Pakistani heritage men complicit in the crimes was dismissed as the construction of a 'hierarchy' of victims.

It was done primarily for political purposes. Labour councils and councillors were complicit in the cover-up. Labour MPs are terrified of a collapse in support among their Muslim base. And with local elections only a few weeks away, Downing Street opted to try to bury the issue.

Badenoch is making a similarly cynical political calculation. The primary motivation for her own intervention in the Connolly case is to jump aboard the bandwagon currently being hauled by Connolly's social media supporters, appeal to Reform UK voters angered by her incarceration, and outflank Nigel Farage.

Tory councillor Raymond Connolly and wife Lucy

Nigel Farage speaks at Newton Aycliffe Working Men's Club, Durham this month

That's not the official explanation, of course. A Badenoch spokesman angrily insisted: 'This isn't about Reform. It's about right and wrong. What Kemi's saying isn't just some pound-shop commentary. She's considered Lucy's case in detail. And she's deeply concerned this is another example of two tier-justice. It's going to form a central plank of her policy review.'

But a supporting shadow minister of Badenoch who I spoke to was more candid. 'Farage is calling for the re-nationalisation of British steel to try and pretend he sits on the Left. At the same time he's pandering to the Right on issues like Southport. We're going to call his bluff. And we're going to remind people the only authentic Right-wing party in British politics is the Conservative Party.'

In truth, there is little authentic about Badenoch's conversion to the campaign to frame Lucy Connolly as a prisoner of conscience. The first black, female leader of a major British political party is not instinctively sympathetic to people who advocate violent random mass deportations, and a pogrom against politicians. Yet she feels she has little choice.

Her party is flatlining in the polls. Her poor parliamentary performances are generating increasing alarm among her Shadow Cabinet colleagues. Robert Jenrick has skilfully positioned himself as a leader in waiting. And the local elections are increasingly being seen as Badenoch's last chance to turn her political fortunes around.

Whether embracing someone who called for refugees to be burnt out of their hotels, then laughed about it in a message and declared she would 'play the mental health card' if confronted is the best way of maximising those chances remains to be seen.

The local elections are just over two weeks away. That's the moment we'll learn whether the British people agree with Kemi Badenoch that Lucy Connolly has been unjustly treated.
Starbucks baristas are threatening to quit en masse after the wildly popular chain made a major announcement on Monday.

The Seattle-based company revealed a brand new dress code for its coffee makers this week, after months of speculation on social media.

Starting on May 12, employees will have to wear any solid black short and long-sleeved crewneck, collared, or button-up shirts. Starbucks is also making a new line of company branded t-shirts available to partners, who will receive two at no cost  including partner network options.

They'll be given two shirts from a new company line - with many employees complaining they previously purchased tees in different colors to wear at work and believe it's an expensive undertaking to have to buy more.

Instead of wearing gray or brown pants or skirts, which was previously allowed, they will now have to stick to khaki, black, or denim bottoms.

'We're evolving our dress code in all stores to focus on simplified color options that allow our iconic green apron to shine and create a sense of familiarity for our customers, no matter which store they visit across North America,' Starbucks said in a statement.

When speculation of the strict dress code first emerged, it received major pushback on Reddit, where employees threatened to quit their jobs over what was then a rumored change.

Many social media users worried there could be more future changes, like no longer having visible tattoos and piercings, as others pointed out that the new uniform was more 'conservative' than what they were used to.

Starbucks baristas are threatening to quit en masse after the wildly popular chain made a major announcement on Monday (stock image)

The Seattle-based chain revealed a brand new dress code for its coffee makers that's set to spotlight the green apron

One worker said 'it would ABSOLUTELY be a deal breaker for me if the dress code reverted to its conservative roots.'

They revealed: 'I'm already on the verge of quitting and genuinely this would be my final straw and I'm sure many others feel the same way.'

'I'd actually quit if this happens,' another employee claimed, calling it 'the last f**king straw.'

Staff members explained they previously had to follow strict dress codes at specific locations, including wearing collared shirts and 'fancy' hats, calling it 'hell.'

'I'm hoping and praying my interviews go well next week so I can quit,' a Florida-based latte artist wrote, adding, 'There is absolutely no reason for a neighborhood location to wear collars and khakis at 4:15pm on a Tuesday, serving fraps to middle school kids. I refuse.'

However, not everyone hated the new branded T-shirt change, with some people saying it would make their life easier and others saying they already followed a similar dress code at their particular branch.

'Having a work uniform can be amazing. Never have to think about what you're going to wear and you don't have to constantly buy clothes to be wearing something new that your co-workers haven't seen. Simplifies getting ready for work so much,' one said.

Some Reddit users appreciated that the green apron would match their outfit more easily, with one writing, 'having a uniform streamlines a lot of nonsense and confusion.'

Staff members explained they previously had to follow strict dress codes at specific locations, including wearing collared shirts and hats (stock image)

This isn't the only major change from the new CEO, Brian Niccol, who was previously the Chipotle boss before taking over in September (stock image)

In a separate Reddit thread announcing the change, workers were equally furious and hinted at a potential barista boycott.

An angry employee took to Reddit to muse, 'Hypothetically speaking what if we all just refused to follow dress code and they sent us all home because that's the protocol for partners showing up out of dress code and the company lost millions because of arbitrary dress code standards.'

Another unhappy employee wrote, 'If its a polo, this might actually be the reason I quit.' They continued, 'A lot of people, especially queer people, are going to quit because of this. Not to be dramatic, but it honestly kind of feels like surveillance and control at this point. Why are we going backward?'

The Starbucks official statement reads: 'Weve made progress in our efforts to get Back to Starbucks and create a warm and welcoming coffeehouse experience for our customers.

'Were evolving our dress code to focus on simplified color options that highlight our iconic green apron and create a better sense of consistency and familiarity for our customers.'

This isn't the only major change from the new Starbucks CEO, Brian Niccol, who was previously the Chipotle boss before taking over the coffee chain in September.

In October, the CEO said that he will simplify the 'overly complex menu' as another way to speed up the service.

Niccol has also promised that customers will get a brewed coffee in under 30 seconds.
Kmart employees have revealed the unexpected item that's constantly selling out - and it's so popular they're only available upon request.

Pokemon Cards, which were hugely popular in Australia from the late 1990s to the early 2000s - especially in schools where students would trade them - have been flying off the shelves around the country in recent months.

The collectable trading cards, which range between $6 and $199, are typically kept behind the gaming and photo printing counter inside Kmart stores.

However, workers have been struggling with high demand, with one store selling out of the sought-after cards within half an hour of going on sale.

'Wow I didn't know they were so popular. Every register shift I get, half a dozen customers asking if we have Pokemon Cards... We never do,' one anonymous Kmart employee said in a Reddit thread.

'But today we got a new shipment, behind the counter, available at request, and they were gone within 30 minutes - wow.'

Many workers chimed in, sharing their own experiences from their stores.

'Yes, it's crazy, Before we had limits set up on ours, this one person came in and bought three, then came back and bought 10, and then came back and asked to buy all the ones we had. I never knew people were this crazy for them,' one said.

Pokemon Cards have been constantly selling out at Kmart stores around Australia

'Our store has a limit on in-store purchases as previously people would literally buy the entire box at one time. The new release the other day was gone by 9am,' another revealed.

'There was a stampede at my store during opening time for Pokemon Cards,' one added.

And it's not just Kmart selling out of Pokemon Cards.

'Someone came and spent $700 at Target on Pokemon Cards the other day. I had to double check with my manager if was ok,' one revealed.

'I have have spoken to staff members from EB Games and they said nothing in stock. They said it's the rare Pokemon cards that making none exist,' another shared.

Some fans pointed out that the lack of Pokemon cards was caused by scalpers bulk-buying boxes and reselling them for more.

Angeline Devera was among the crowd to successfully secure the sought-after Pokemon collectible set at Kmart earlier this year - after lining up at her store at midnight

Earlier this year, hundreds of shoppers were spotted lining up at Kmart stores at midnight hoping to grab the $79 Pokemon Trading Card Game: Scarlet & Violet - Prismatic Evolutions edition.

Angeline Devera, from Sydney, was among those who successfully secured the Elite Trainer set in January.

Upon arriving at the 24-hour Kmart store in Campbelltown at 11.30pm, she was greeted by dozens of shoppers, all vying for the same product.

'Thought I had the genius idea to go at 12am to get the new Pokemon release... Definitely wasn't the only one with the same thought,' Angeline said in a video.

Fans were spotted scrambling to get their hands on the sought-after collectible box at Kmart

She shared a video showing a long queue of shoppers patiently waiting to buy the new Pokemon box, which was limited to one per customer.

'Definitely worth the line up,' Angeline said, adding that she thought it was wholesome to see Pokemon fans in real life.

However, not everyone was lucky, with many reporting the playing cards were sold out within 20 minutes at their local store.

'My kid just wanted one set he saved up for. We left six stores empty handed. Should be sale on the day with purchase limits. Now it's on Facebook Marketplace for $90 to $160 a set,' one parent said.

'My local Kmart sold out all their stock in 15 minutes,' another shared.
In the quiet country town of Benalla, Victoria, a slice of Australia's wild colonial past is officially up for grabs.

The unassuming site at 64A Arundel St might look quaint on the outside, but behind its historic walls lies one of the more jaw-dropping chapters in our nation's outlaw lore.

The property comes complete with a fireplace, a charming shopfront, and a violent Ned Kelly showdown tale etched into its brickwork.

Back in September 1877, a 16-year-old Edward 'Ned' Kelly was arrested for drunkenness and riding his horse on the footpath.

While being escorted from the lock-up by four police officers, the rebellious teen made a daring dash and burst into the nearby bootmaker's shop.

What entailed was a brawl that ended with bootmaker Robert John King physically helping police restrain the future bushranger - who, legend has it, warned an officer: 'If I ever shoot a man, you'll be the first'.

That officer in question was Constable Thomas Lonigan, who would go on to meet that very fate just over a year later in the infamous Stringybark Creek shootout - one of the most brutal moments in Kelly Gang history.

Today, the very shopfront where it all went down stands as a time capsule of Australia's outlaw past, and it's on the market with a price guide of $270,000 to $290,000.

In the quiet country town of Benalla, Victoria, Ned Kelly himself once made a daring dash from four police officers and burst into this very bootmaker's shop.

Edward 'Ned' Kelly (December 1854  11 November 1880) was an Australian bushranger, outlaw, gang leader, bank robber and convicted police-murderer. Pictured.

A plaque out front, erected by the Benalla & District Historical Society, marks the exact location of Ned's bold escape and subsequent capture.

Inside the heritage site and former saddler and bootmaker's cottage, includes period details like a fireplace, laneway access, and undercover parking for two cars.

For less than the cost of a Sydney car space, Aussies could own the building where Australia's most legendary bushranger threw fists and made threats that would echo through time.

Inside the heritage site and former saddler and bootmaker's cottage, includes period details like a fireplace, laneway access, and undercover parking for two cars.

There's also a separately metered two-bedroom residence out back, built in the 1940s, featuring a lounge, bathroom with corner bath, and functional kitchen.

It's a rare dual-purpose investment with rental potential of up to $580 per week combined.

But it's not just about real estate - it's about legacy.

A plaque out the front, erected by the Benalla & District Historical Society, marks the exact location of Ned's bold escape and subsequent capture.

The property has housed a string of businesses over the years, from an antique shop to, more recently, a cosy cafe.

'It's steeped in history,' Ray White auctioneer Jeremy Tyrrell said.

The residence has a large bathroom with corner bath, and an open plan functional kitchen.

The property has housed a string of businesses over the years, from an antique shop to, more recently, a cosy cafe.

'Hopefully here in 2025, a fair fight will result in a new owner.'

Although the property passed in on a $250,000 bid, negotiations are ongoing, and interest remains high.

With tourism booming in regional Victoria and true crime lovers, history buffs, and investors all eyeing Benalla as the next go-to weekend spot, this might be a spot to watch.
A British mother has revealed why she chose to move from the UK to California - and why she's not looked back since.

Ellis Cochlin, 24, moved to Orange County, California, from Newport, Wales, with her daughter and her partner two years ago.

The family-of-three decided to pack up their bags and relocate to the States because the thought of raising a family in rainy Britain 'stressed' Ellis out.

The content creator also made the decision because she believes it will give her two-year-old daughter 'more opportunities' compared to what she would receive back home.

Talking on Instagram, Ellis opened up on why she made the move, saying it was 'to make a better life for ourselves.'

She said: 'Not everyone will understand this and that's ok not everyone has to. The world would be crazy if we all did the same thing.'

The mother-of-one also said that she wants her family to 'chase the American dream that everyone thinks is dead.'

Ellis explained: 'I love the idea of the American dream even if it's crazy. I love the idea of no dream being too big or too small.'

Ellis Cochlin (pictured), 24, moved to Orange County, California from the Newport, Wales, along with her daughter and her partner two years ago

The mother-of-one said that she doesn't feel silly for having 'dreams and goals' in America and that she wants to 'try and build a better life' in the States.

Ellis also said that she is currently experiencing 'a life we could never get in the UK', thanks to frequent sunshine, warm weather, and sandy beaches.

'Orange County is the best place on this planet, it's just a little bubble of happiness,' she said.

'You just don't get these days like this in the UK, especially in March. This type of lifestyle is what makes me happy, is what makes me relaxed, being by the sea and the beach.'

In another clip, Ellis said that she thinks living by the sea and swimming often has made her child 'love the water'.

However, the family might not stay in America forever. Ellis said that they could head back to the UK in the future after they've explored what Orange County 'has to offer'.

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Ellis posted a video showing the contrast between rainy days in Wales and the sunny weather in California, writing: 'POV: The thought of living and raising a family in the UK stressed you out so much so you left.'

The post racked up almost 800,000 views, with viewers commenting their thoughts on the short clip.

The content creator said that she made the decision because she believes it will give her two-year-old daughter 'more opportunities' than she would receive back home

The first time mother said that she doesn't feel silly for having 'dreams and goals' in the America and that she wants to 'try and build a better life' in the States

The mother-of-one's clip racked up almost 800,000 views, with viewers commenting their thoughts on it

One wrote: 'I'd take clouds and rain any day when it comes with free healthcare, maternity leave, and no guns. I'm from Greece and I've in both America and the UK and I'm a lot happier in the UK.'

Another penned: 'I couldn't think of a place I'd want to live less than the US right now.'

A third said: 'This is such a wrong representation of the UK, which is a beautiful place and has so much to offer.'

A fourth commented: 'You filmed the greyest days in the UK and the sunniest days in the US, what a great comparison.'

Elsewhere, Ellis revealed that she lives in a Homeowners Association (HOA) area where there are certain rules that neighbours must follow, such as keeping their grass trimmed to ensure each property looks tidy.

If homeowners want to update their houses, such as painting the outside of their home, they must seek permission from HOA first.

Ellis said that she calls her neighbourhood a 'Wisteria Lane dupe' because all the picturesque houses look like they could be from the set of Desperate Housewives.

'So many houses have the American flag outside just like you see in the movies,' she said.
A father who was so overweight that he collapsed in a supermarket and came close to a heart attack has lost 22 stone - shedding almost two thirds of his body weight.

Kenny Higgins, from Blackpool, was 'barely living' when he was at his heaviest of 34st 7lbs.

He was struggling to cope with 'overwhelming' health problems, ranging from severe joint pain to frequent chest infections.

When the 48-year-old was shopping with his daughter, Hope, six, he collapsed in the supermarket and was rushed to hospital, where he spent three weeks in Intensive Care.

The situation appeared so grave that Kenny, who relied on food for 'comfort', even recorded a 'goodbye message' for his loved ones.

Yet the experience proved to be a turning point for Kenny, who used to live on junk food and takeaways - spending at least 140 a week on the unhealthy meals - and gave him the 'wake-up call' he needed to finally lose weight.

'I was rushed to hospital and the doctors told me I was the verge of having a heart attack,' Kenny said.

'I was initially put on a "Do Not Resuscitate" order because they didn't believe I'd be able to survive.

'By some miracle, I managed to pull through. This was the wake-up call I needed to make a change - and this time, for good.'

Kenny Higgins (pictured) weighed 34st 7lbs at his heaviest and was struggling to cope with 'overwhelming' health issues

He relied on food as 'a source of comfort' and would spend a minimum of 140 on takeaways every week

But, when Kenny (pictured post his 22st weight loss) came close to a heart attack after collapsing in a supermarket, he became determined to lose weight and improve his life

Kenny's incredible weight loss won him the title of Slimming World's Greatest Loser 2025, which is awarded to the member with the biggest weight loss across the organisation's 13,000 groups.

He said: 'I was always the "biggest" kid at school and was bullied because of it - and it only continued to get worse as I got older.

'I was barely living before joining Slimming World.

'I was too scared to leave the house, and when I did, it was usually for one of my many visits to the hospital.

'I reached a point where all my health problems became too overwhelming.

'The extra weight I was carrying caused so much pain in my joints, I could barely walk down the road without struggling.

'On top of that, I suffered from severe back pain, my asthma was out of control and I was constantly battling chest infections.'

While Kenny had tried various weight-loss methods in the past, nothing worked for him long-term.

When he was severely overweight, Kenny had to make frequent hospital visits and was suffering with severe joint pain, asthma and recurrent chest infections

He lived on junk food and takeaways before he joined Slimming World

Diet before weight loss Breakfast: Bacon and sausages on two white bread rolls Lunch: A takeaway or snacks like chocolate and cake Dinner: Chinese takeaway or two large pizzas from the local takeaway Snacks: Chocolates, energy drinks, lemon meringue pie Advertisement

Diet after weight loss Breakfast: Fresh fruit, such as apple and mixed berries, with fat-free Greek yogurt Lunch: Jacket potato with beans and cheese or chilli Dinner: Homemade chicken curry or Slimming World Lasagne with vegetables Snacks: Slimming World Triple Choc Hi-fi bars, fat-free creme fraiche with raspberries and mini meringues Advertisement

He explained: 'I had been referred to nutritionists and other weight-loss groups through my doctor in the past, however I never felt like I was getting any actual support.

'In the end I'd revert back to my old habits and would be back at square one in no time.'

Kenny had been a Slimming World member 10 years ago and lost 17st on the programme.

Unfortunately, however, 'life got in the way'. Kenny stopped going to the group and found it hard to keep going without the support of his fellow members.

A few weeks after his hospital dash and serious health scare, Kenny's friend, Bev Houlihan, encouraged him to attend Slimming World again and the pair joined a group in Blackpool.

Kenny said: 'I was worried I'd be judged for regaining the weight I'd lost all those years ago, but I needn't have been.

'My Consultant, Natalie, helped me look at the positives and reminded me that as I'd done it once before, I could do it again - and that's stuck with me throughout my whole journey.'

Kenny set a weight he wanted to achieve and hasn't looked back since.

Kenny lost 22st through Slimming World, shedding almost two thirds of his body weight

'Being able to chat to some of the other members about their journeys gave me the boost I needed to stay hopeful, especially in those early weeks,' he said.

'I was so lonely before joining my group, and for the first time in a long time, I felt part of a community of people who understood me - it was the best feeling knowing that everyone is genuinely rooting for you.

Kenny's weight loss statistics Name: Kenny Higgins Age: 48 Height: 5ft 5ins/165.1cm Starting weight: 34st 7lbs/219.1kg/483lbs Current weight: 12st 7lbs/79.4kg/175lbs Weight loss: 22st/139.7kg/308lbs Waist size before: 70in/177.8cm Waist size now: 38in/96.5cm Joined current Slimming World group: April 2023 Advertisement

'We help keep each other accountable too - something I know I'd struggle with on my own.'

Familiar with the programme from his previous attempt, Kenny was able to embrace the healthy eating plan right away.

He explained: 'In the beginning, I felt too embarrassed to go to the shops in case I couldn't manage the walk.

'So, instead, I did an online food shop and stocked up on some meals from the Slimming World Free Food range, from my local Iceland store, to get me through the days when cooking wasn't an option.

'And as I started losing weight and feeling more confident - both in myself and in the kitchen - I began walking to the shops to pick up the ingredients to make my own version of some of my favourite meals, like the Chicken Madras, from scratch, in the air fryer.

'I'll still keep a bag of Slimming World Chips in the freezer for those days when I need something quick to throw in with my dinner.'

Reflecting on the Slimming World programme, Kenny added: 'To this day, one of the things I love most about Food Optimising is that I never feel restricted, and that I can enjoy tasty, real food that I actually want to eat - like a lasagne or chicken curry.

'So many weight loss methods focus on limiting what you eat or suppressing your appetite, but I know that wouldn't have worked for me at all.

Post weight loss, Kenny stands at a very healthy 12st 7lbs and feels confident in his body

'With Slimming World, I've learned how to consume fewer calories in a way that doesn't make me feel deprived - quite the opposite in fact, I'd say I enjoy food more nowadays.

'Looking back, I realise I used food as a source of comfort, and lived on takeaways and junk food.

'I used to spend a minimum of 140 a week on takeaways, when I stopped getting them the takeaway owner actually contacted me to check I was okay.

'Now, I have a better relationship with food and make sure I'm filling myself with healthier, more nutritious food.'

With the help of Slimming World's physical activity support programme, Kenny was able to steadily incorporate more activity into his day.

He recalled: 'At the start, I couldn't even entertain the idea of any exercise. As time went on though, I noticed I had more energy and began walking.

'Each week I'd walk for a little longer, and now I can easily walk five miles a day. I recently started running too, and I'm working my way up to a 5k.'

Since his weight loss, Kenny's life has transformed and he's excited about making new memories.

'My health has improved dramatically. I'm able to move now without being in crippling pain, and I'm no longer dependent on other people to help me get by,' he enthused.

'I also don't have to think twice about simple tasks that once felt impossible - like doing my food shopping or tying my shoelaces.

'I used to fear going out in public before, now one of my favourite things to do is treating myself to a nice coffee from my local coffee shop - being able to fit in the chairs comfortably is the best feeling too.'

Kenny concluded: 'I wanted to be the best dad I could be for my children, and now I can be the version they deserve. I've finally found that silver lining that people talked about - this is just the beginning for me.'
This week's Blue Origin flight saw a glamorous sextet of stars, activists and entrepreneurs - including founder Jeff Bezos' partner Lauren Sanchez, Oprah Winfrey's best pal Gayle King and pop star Katy Perry - weightless for four minutes after being rocketed through the Karman line, the international boundary recognised as space.

The flight on NS-31 marked the first launch with an all-female crew since Russian astronaut Valentina Tereshkova's solo space flight in 1963 - but many have said the perfectly coiffured passengers wearing couture spacesuits have done little for women in STEM - with critics calling the flight 'gluttonous' and 'a waste of space'.

On the ground, there are plenty of women making waves in space without nearly as much lustrous fanfare.

One such woman is Brit Dr Katie King, who earlier this month addressed the Select Committee at the House of Lords about her space company Bio Orbit, which hopes to use zero-gravity production to change the face of cancer treatment.

The glamourous 32-year-old nanoscientist, who has worked for NASA and is described by her famous TV star mother as 'brilliant' and 'stunning', focused on antibody cancer treatments - which include immunotherapy drugs for lung, skin and breast cancer.

She aims to make antibodies in a crystalline structure - using space - which could transform the method in which they are delivered to patients.

If successful, it could lead to cancer patients being able to inject drugs at home rather than spending hours in hospital on a drip every few weeks.

Dr King's technology already has the backing of the European Space Agency, and she is in negotiations for her work to undergo trials on the International Space Station (ISS) next year.

British space entrepreneur Dr Katie King, 32, has a Ph.D from Cambridge and is hoping to use space to transform the way immunotherapy and other drugs are administered

The 32-year-old, whose love of STEM subjects was instilled in her from an early age by her famous mother, addressed the Select Committee at the House of Lords earlier this month with her plans to create a factory in space that could create cancer-beating drugs

Blue Origin's all-women crew (pictured from left, Kerianne Flynn, Katy Perry, Lauren Sanchez, Aisha Bowe, Gayle King and Amanda Nguyen) have divided opinion after their 11-minute space flight this week on New Shepherd, with some calling their adventures 'gluttonous'

Real deal: Dr King has worked at NASA and now runs Bio Orbit; she grew up with her TV star mother; and her father is management consultant Patrick King

While the British scientist doesn't share the surname of her mother taking King from her father, Patrick King, she's clearly inherited plenty of her intellect from her famous mother, who has also crafted a stellar career thanks to her love of a STEM subject.

The Bio Orbit founder is the daughter of Carol Vorderman and while Dr King's mathematician whizz mother, who shot to fame on Channel 4's Countdown, rarely features on Dr King's social media accounts, Vorderman, 64, recently shared her pride at her her daughter's success on her own Instagram account.

Sharing a clip of Dr King, who has a Ph.D. in Nanotechnology from Cambridge, addressing the Select Committee at the House of Lords, she wrote: 'My pride is my daughter knows no bounds, because she is driving this through even though there are many more barriers to her as a woman than to the men.'

The TV star and author said she'd tried to instill a love of STEM subjects from a young age, writing: 'Its something which, as a mother, I gave to my daughter from a very young age.

'A command of numbers and maths, and a passion for space and wonder. She adores her science.'

Vorderman, who also shares son Cameron with Patrick King, who she divorced in 2000 after a ten-year marriage, referenced her own journey to success, saying that when she was growing up, girls were actively discouraged from pursuing careers in education in favour of marriage and children.

The star wrote: 'When I was young (secondary school in the 1970s) girls were put off science and maths in school deliberately as they just needed to have kids and settle down (the road the far right politicians would love to recreate - DO NOT LET THEM).

'I fought it and became the first kid on free school meals in North Wales to get to Cambridge. It was 1978, I was only 17 years old and I became one of the first 100 women to read Engineering at Cambridge.'

Dr King is the daughter of Carol Vorderman; her maths-loving mum recently gushed with pride on her Instagram account about her daughter, writing: 'My pride is my daughter knows no bounds, because she is driving this through even though there are many more barriers to her as a woman than to the men'

Mother-and-daughter: Vorderman, 64, said she tried to instill a love of STEM subjects into her daughter from a young age - because she faced her own struggles to be allowed to pursue her dream of becoming a mathematician

Dr King was named UK Female Innovator of the Year 2024 and the Codex Worlds Top Female Innovator Award 2024

When Dr King was awarded her PHD in 2022, her mother posted: 'My girl katie.science. Grafter. Brilliant. Scientist. Funny. Stunning. She passed her PHD in nanotechnology @cambridgeuniversity, I couldn't be prouder or more hungover.'

Last year, Dr King was named UK Female Innovator of the Year 2024 and the Codex Worlds Top Female Innovator Award 2024.

Dr King explained to the Select Committee how her company plans to help revolutionise cancer treatment, saying that antibodies are very hard to crystallise on Earth, but carrying out the process in space makes them highly reproducible with no imperfections.

She explained to the House of Lords how the high-tech process works, saying: 'If you form them [antibodies] into tiny crystals, you can get a concentration high enough to then inject into the skin in a few minutes.

'You can just do it at home, just like diabetics inject themselves with insulin.'

Along with colleagues, she is building an automated unit that will be taken to the ISS early next year.

A second trial will take place in 2025 if the proof-of-concept demonstration works. She hopes to one day have her own factory orbiting the Earth that can make the medicine without human involvement.

The process should work for any antibody, she said, and could be used in a range of drugs for the treatment of migraines, osteoporosis and even Alzheimer's.
TRACEY COX speaks to men who visit a dominatrix to satisfy their kinks

Many, many people have secret BDSM kinks they are hiding from their partner.

How do I know? Because they regularly write to me  often in despair.

They're nearly always men who are terrified to admit their kink for fear of their partner judging and leaving them.

Instead, they visit sex workers or 'Dommes' (a nickname for a dominatrix) or find like-minded people to satisfy what are often overwhelming urges.

This causes great distress.

These men don't want to cheat or lie to a much-loved partner but find it impossible to fight a desire they've had since their teens or early childhood.

BDSM (bondage, discipline, submission and masochism) is still mainly hidden despite a growing understanding that it's not something that needs to be 'fixed' but rather something people get pleasure from.

Here, I look at the world of BDSM from different perspectives, in a bid to help people understand what it's about.

MailOnline's sex columnist Tracey Cox spoke to swingers about how their friends and family reacted to their sex habit

'THE FIRST TIME I EVER FELT SAFE WAS IN A DUNGEON'

*Ivan, 37, has been seeing a professional 'Domme' since he was in his early 20s.

'I can pinpoint when I made the link between pain and pleasure.

'I was about seven and my parents locked me in my room for doing something I shouldn't have.

'I felt guilty and started hitting my head against the wall to punish myself. It felt strangely good.

'My first ever girlfriend spanked me on the bottom during sex very early into our relationship.

'She did it as a joke and was shocked when I orgasmed quickly and hard because of it. I guess it all developed from there.

'Sadly, my relationships after her were all vanilla and I went online to find a Domme when I was in my early 20s.

'She led me to her dungeon, tied me to a chair and beat me for about an hour.

Geoff, 44, is happily married with two children. His wife has no idea he has a kink (stock image)

'I was horrified at first  it hurt and I had bruises for a month afterward - but the high you get from the endorphins is like nothing else you've ever experienced.

'It was the first time I felt safe enough to expose who I really was - a masochist who gets pleasure from pain.

'But it's not just about that, it's about relinquishing all control.

'When you're experiencing that level of pain, the clarity of focus you need to survive is extraordinary.

'I don't do psychedelic drugs, but I'd imagine the feeling is something like that.

'I've seen professional Domme's since then and am active in the BDSM community, helping young men who are freaked out by what they're craving, and trying to normalise it.

'It's interesting that men of all ages, classes and religious and ethnic backgrounds find a dungeon to be the only place they feel safe enough to take off the mask and reveal their true selves.

'There's a lot of trauma in this world: these men are seeking pleasure but they're also trying to heal wounds.

'I have been in a monogamous, long-term relationship for a long time.

Ivan, 37, has been seeing a professional 'Domme' since he was in his early 20s (stock image)

'My partner is aware of my kink because I told her very early on.

'She made it clear she wasn't interested but said what I did in my own time was my own business.

'She never pries.

'I would much prefer to be with someone who shared my preferences, but I know I'm lucky not to have to sneak around.'

'THERE'S NO SEX  WE DON'T KISS AND SHE DOESN'T TOUCH ME AT ALL'

*Geoff, 44, is happily married with two children. His wife has no idea he has a kink.

'I visited my first dominatrix when I was 25.

'I didn't tell my girlfriend because I had only just gotten to grips with it myself.

THE WIFE WHO FOUND OUT *Kayla, 29, has two children to her ex-husband. 'I used to always say to my husband that he was a bad liar: that I always knew when he was lying to me. 'Little did I know he was keeping a huge secret that would destroy our family. 'I found out when he told me he was going away to do a course related to his work - something didn't ring true. 'For the first time ever, I looked through his emails and found a folder called 'house receipts'. 'He wasn't an organised man, and this seemed out of character. I clicked on it and the world I knew disappeared. 'They were emails from a 'Domme'. The latest involved her enforcing a regime which entailed him masturbating twice daily for her and sending photos as proof. 'There were others where she made him swear off having any type of sex for months or weeks. (We were still having sex, but it was infrequent, so I didn't notice.) 'His emails back to her made me feel physically sick. He'd call her 'Miss' and beg for her approval for stupid things. She had such power over him: power I thought only I had. 'I rang my best friend first and she came over immediately. Then I rang him and told him I knew everything. He didn't deny anything. 'Just went quiet and said he'd come home immediately. (I was right: the course was a cover to give him time to indulge his fetish.) I was surprised at how long it had been going on with this dominatrix  around four years. But I did know he had a kink. 'When he turned 40, he asked if I would explore BDSM with him because the thought of it turned him on. I said I'd give it a try  I'm no prude  but I hated it. Looking back, maybe because I sensed how much he needed it. 'I told him it wasn't for me, and we went back to 'normal' sex after that. I asked him if he missed it about a year later and he said he didn't. That he was happy watching BDSM porn. I believed him. 'It wasn't just the betrayal of him interacting sexually with another woman: I know he didn't have intercourse with her but, come on, it's still sex. 'The length of the relationship and his commitment to her hurt more. I'd have preferred him have sex with a prostitute or see a different Domme each time. 'It was the lying and the money. He was paying her to do this and as a family we were doing it tough. 'The kids went without a summer holiday so he could get his kicks elsewhere. We divorced and it's not amicable. I pray to God this isn't something passed on through his genes.' Advertisement

'This isn't like having a hooker on a stag night; paying someone to whip and humiliate you means admitting to yourself that you aren't like other people.

'Looking back, the Domme wasn't very good.

'But at the time, it was the most thrilling thing I'd ever experienced.

'I've always played power games with girlfriends who were willing  tie-up, light spanking, handcuffs.

'But I didn't dare delve into the submission or humiliation side.

'Women are fine with you being the dominant person, not so happy when you want to be called names and ridiculed.

'That's not 'manly'.

'I knew how risky it was confessing to a partner. It freaks women out and that makes me hate myself more than I already do.

'The people who do know I'm into BDSM ask me why I didn't try to marry someone who could fulfil my fantasies.

'My answer is this: it's hard enough finding someone you respect and love enough to want to have children and spend your life with, let alone try to find that person within a very specific, tiny proportion of the female population who openly admit to enjoying BDSM.

'I met my wife six years ago and fell instantly in love and the thought of jeopardising that in any way was unthinkable.

'I vowed to myself that I'd satisfy that part of me by masturbating to porn and I managed it for five of those years.

'But this year, I went to see the dominatrix I used to see before I met her. It so intensely enjoyable, it felt like an out of body experience.

'I have seen her twice since then. I have painful mixed emotions about it. I don't just want what the dominatrix gives me, I need it.

'But it distresses me greatly that I am lying to my wife to experience it.

'She's not at risk of contracting anything: there's no 'sex'.

'We don't kiss, she doesn't touch me at all.

'She whips me, she stands on my back with pointy heels on, she puts weights on my testicles, and she verbally abuses and humiliates me. It's still cheating though because sharing anything this intimate is a betrayal.

I know I am risking a wonderful marriage. I wish I didn't have this desire within me. I believe you're born with it. I've had contact with other men online through the BDSM community and am yet to meet a man who doesn't agree. Most men who do it behind the back of their wives  and that's most of us - also hate themselves. I wish masochism was more accepted as a healthy, natural part of sex.'

BUT WHAT DOES THE DOMINATRIX HERSELF SAY?

Mistress Vivienne, 38, has worked as a dominatrix for seven years and is based in London.

'The biggest myth is that I have sex with these men. I don't.

'A lot of men don't even ejaculate or orgasm.

'They bank the experience and use it to fuel future masturbation sessions or the sex they have with their wife.

'The second is that these men are unhappy in their relationships or marriages.

'They're not, they're just scared to have the tough conversation with their partner and don't want to lose their family.

'Most of the men I see are very nice and gentle.

'It's a misnomer that men who are into BDSM want to physically dominate women.

'Most of the men I see want me to dominate them. It's more about submission.

'Lots want to experience extreme pain  the sort only a professional is willing to administer.

'We don't all look like what you'd expect either  big lips and breasts, done up in a corset and dog collar.

'My clients want specific things: one guy wants bright red toenail polish; another likes me to wear a cowboy hat while I'm whipping him.

'My clients are a mix of ages and relationship status. Some of them have wives or partners who know they come to see me and are happy about it.

'But most are doing it secretly. All pay me in cash. I am paid for my discretion as much as I am for the service I provide.

'Over the years I have seen powerful men who are in the public eye. No-one ever challenges men like that, and this is why it's such a kick when I do.

'I feel sorry for some of my clients.

'They're desperate to see me but they also don't want to. They're like drug addicts needing a fix.

'It would do me out of a job, but it's time society recognised that these men aren't perverts just because they have a fetish.

'Most of my clients long to be able to come clean and experiment with their partners and have them satisfy these needs

Tracey's podcast, SexTok, comes out every Wednesday. Find it wherever you listen to your podcasts.
George Clarke was left speechless by the 'best' campervan renovation he'd ever seen on Tuesday night's Amazing Spaces.

Back in 2019, James Catling had left his job as a property developer to follow his lifelong dream of restoring old Airstream silver bullet campervans in Oxfordshire.

When he appeared on the Channel 4 show, he'd flown to Boston in the hope of claiming one of the most priceless models of them all - a 1947 Airstream, currently the seventh oldest in the world.

His find was incredibly rare - with original Airstream signs on the back and front, only used in the first few years of their production.

But battered and lacking in its famous shine, the prized find needed hours of work and 'deep pockets' to restore to its original state.

The episode witnessed James polishing the metal to make it look brand new, adding 800 new rivets and new panels, all while staying within his 40,000 budget.

And when George returned to see the final result at the end of the episode, he was simply blown away.

'This looks absolutely amazing,' he said, adding it was 'the best' he'd ever seen 'without a shadow of a doubt'.

George Clarke was left speechless by the 'best' campervan renovation he'd ever seen on Tuesday night's Amazing Spaces. Pictured: The campervan after renovation

James's Airstream camper is pictured before he began renovations

The flawless renovation, in George's eyes, made it look 'brand new' once more, and he even said the interior looked like 'the inside of a luxury private jet'.

James had managed to 'breathe new life' into an 'abandoned piece of trailer history', with the aluminium coating glistening once more with its classic mirrored finish.

Every dent and scratch had gone, and the camper looked incredible sat upon new wheels, with no detail spared.

Inside, the 'magnificent' interior had a polished ceiling, bouncing rays of light all over the furniture.

At one end, there was a glamorous and cosy bedroom, while the other featured a high spec kitchen.

'It's the best Airstream restoration project I've seen,' concluded George, as he reluctantly left the trailer.

George Clarke gasped that the interior even resembled a 'luxury private jet'

At one end of the vehicle was a cosy bedroom, again with a reflective ceiling

James had also installed a high spec kitchen to make the best use of his space

Airstream is an American brand of travel trailer, known for their polished aluminium surfaces.

They have been staples of the camper van industry since they were founded by Wally Byam in the late 1920s.

Last week, Amazing Spaces viewers were left baffled by a couple's 'bonkers' 1970s-themed apocalyptic glamping pods.

Nicky and Dom Ackland-Snow, who previously helped design the sets for Hollywood blockbusters including Alice Through The Looking Glass and Fast & Furious, had turned their attention towards holiday lets.

The couple invested all their savings to build a Mad Max dystopian-themed glamping site in a remote woodland in Amersham, Buckinghamshire.

For 75,000, they hoped to create two mid-century inspired timber pods, coated in aluminum and made to look rusty for an apocalyptic feel, as well as a camper van 'chillout' zone and amenities such as shuffleboard and a hot tub.

The start of the project saw a battered van in need of much attention (pictured before)

James Catling (pictured) had left his job as a property develop to pursue his passion

When George Clarke visited at the start of the programme, there was a lot of work to be done

But he was left speechless when he visited at the end, even calling it the 'best ever' camper renovation he'd seen

The risks were high, as Nicky and Dom had not only put their house on the market to fund it, but their son's house too.

Despite going over budget and spending 100,000, by the end of the show, Nicky and Dom had completed the build - and have since named their business Lights Camera Glamping - renting out the site for 350 a night.

Though host George Clarke described the finished result as 'bonkers', he maintained that it was an 'unbelievable' achievement and noted that it really felt like 'walking onto a film set'.

But viewers were unconvinced by one stand-out feature, and didn't understand why the couple had purposefully made the exterior look 'rusty'.
A mom-and-daughter duo have revealed the harrowing story behind their lost luggage - and one travel lesson they've learned for life.

In a new, first-person piece written for Business Insider, Arizona-based writer Jill Schildhouse shared the story of how what was supposed to be a relaxing vacation to Mexico with her mom turned into a bit of a nightmare.

The two were looking forward to a few days away in the sun, but things took a turn when they landed in Puerto Vallarta and her mom's suitcase was nowhere to be found at baggage claim.

'I spotted my suitcase right away. However, as we waited for my mom's small pink bag to appear, the crowd thinned, and our anxiety grew,' Schildhouse wrote.

After it was clear that the luggage wasn't going to turn up, they went to go file a report with airport staff - and Schildhouse did something that she never typically does.

She reached into her bag to pull out the luggage-tag stickers she got before she boarded her flight in Arizona, and found a shocking surprise.

It turns out that her mom's suitcase was thousands of miles away in India, as her luggage tag had a destination of Delhi, India, on it and the name of a different passenger.

The writer explained that a staff member must have accidentally swapped her mom's luggage tag with another passenger's.

A mom-and-daughter duo have revealed the harrowing story behind their lost luggage - and one travel lesson they've learned for life

Arizona-based writer Jill Schildhouse explained how her mom's suitcase ended up in India after the airline put the wrong tag on it (stock image)

She explained that this travel experience taught her a lesson that she would never forget - and something she hoped others would also start doing to avoid the same mishap.

She suggested travelers always make sure to check the luggage stickers they get from the airline before walking away from the check-in counter.

Schildhouse admitted that she never checked those stickers before this trip.

But thankfully, the story has a happy ending.

Her mom's suitcase was returned to them about a week later at home, and American Airlines reimbursed them for the new items they had to buy in Mexico.

Her mom was able to buy a new curling iron, a few tops, and some sandals.

The airline paid them back for the $610 that they had to spend to get her new vacation wardrobe sorted out.

Schildhouse's story comes just a few days after airlines warned vacationers about suitcase colors they should never use.

She suggested travelers always make sure to check the luggage stickers they get from the airline before walking away from the check-in counter

European airline Ryanair recommended avoiding checked bags that are black, gray, and navy, as they can be easily confused with other passengers belongings.

The budget airline said: 'Make it easier to spot your checked-in luggage on the carousel, especially if your luggage is black, navy or grey.

'Add a colorful luggage tag or ribbon to the handle so that there's no confusion on arrival.'

Frankfurt Airport boss, Stefan Schulte, has also urged people to avoid black luggage while travelling, as his airport has struggled with those that are 'hard to distinguish from each other.'

'Many people travel with black suitcases on wheels which makes identifying them very time-intensive,' he said.
Fashion freebies certainly helped to shape Labour's look during the election campaign last year.

Now, wearing a 2,845 outfit, the Culture Secretary has suggested that the clothing industry is better than politics at 'shaping the country'.

For a magazine photoshoot, Lisa Nandy posed in a 1,295 camel trench coat, a 750 black wool blazer and a 625 silk shirt by British designer Laura Pitharas.

Ms Nandy, 45, told Elle: 'One of the things I've learned about fashion since I got appointed to this job, that I hadn't really understood before, is just how good it is at interpreting and shaping the country and the world we live in.

'It defines what comes next... I find it really curious how good fashion is at that and how bad politics is.'

Pointing to her outfit, she added: 'I think the great thing for me when I wear something like this, it's not just that these are incredibly beautiful clothes, it's that I'm helping showcase something that Britain is really good at.

For a magazine photoshoot, Lisa Nandy posed in a 1,295 camel trench coat, a 750 black wool blazer and a 625 silk shirt by British designer Laura Pitharas

In October, Ms Nandy got into hot water after it was discovered she got a 'loan of clothing' from a luxury fashion brand, a day before saying she had never accepted free clothing from donors

'There's not much you can say about what I wear nowadays that isn't water off a duck's back.'

In October, Ms Nandy got into hot water after it was discovered she got a 'loan of clothing' from a luxury fashion brand, a day before saying she had never accepted free clothing from donors.

She also appeared on TV to defend Sir Keir Starmer after he accepted more than 20,000 worth of clothes and glasses from Labour peer Lord Alli.

A spokesman for Elle said no freebies were given to Ms Nandy as everything she wore on the shoot was either 'her own or borrowed and returned'.
How does it feel when your teenager suddenly declares to you that they think they are 'trans'? That they were born in the wrong body, and they want to change sex?

It's now five years since my daughter first told me, at the age of 15, that she wanted to be referred to by the male pronouns 'he' and 'him' and be called by a boy's name. And I can tell you, it's hell.

I lie awake most nights worrying about when, if, or how this will ever end.

At first I was completely blindsided because, growing up, she had always been such a girly-girl. So girly, in fact, that she chose to go to an all-girls secondary school at 11  but then it was as if a switch suddenly flicked.

First came a short haircut and then the demand for a boy's name (she has used five different ones over the years) and pronouns, which my husband and I refuse to use.

The signs came thick and fast after that. Boys' clothes. A binder was delivered home  a compression garment worn like a bra which is designed to completely flatten the breasts. I came across it when it arrived in the post, and it's not a healthy item of clothing, that's for sure.

As a parent you try to dig deeper, asking why? My daughter told me she hated her female body, wanted to take testosterone and, at some future point, remove her breasts  a double mastectomy, euphemistically termed 'top surgery' by the trans community.

She also said she wanted to remove her womb, a prospect I find terrifying.

The anonymous woman describes her daughter's desire to transition to a man as 'hell' and that she 'lies awake most nights worrying about when, if, or how this will ever end'

I've had horrifying mental images of my daughter with a beard and scars across her chest where her breasts used to be. My GP prescribed me an antidepressant for the first time in my life when this all started.

At 14, my daughter had auditioned and obtained a place at a performing arts school to study acting.

She loved it there for the first six months and remained steadfastly female that whole time.

The 'switch' that flicked things, we believe, was the first Covid-19 lockdown in 2020  confined to her room and Zoom classes, instead of attending exciting acting classes, she found 'Transland'. She was a lone kid at home, with her elder sister away at university.

Suddenly our house  rather than being a place of refuge  became a battlefront. There have been massive, screaming arguments as I have tried to reason with my daughter that transitioning isn't something she should be contemplating at such a young age.

My daughter has punched me, stolen money from me and told me to 'f*** off' so many times I have lost count.

She ran away at one point and told our older daughter that I had 'thrown her out on the street'. Not true.

But I can't stand back and say nothing. When I looked up the side-effects of the hormones my daughter told me she intended to take to start medical transition in the future  in her case, testosterone  I found she would grow facial hair, her voice would deepen, she could get terrible acne and male-pattern baldness. Not to mention painful thinning of the vaginal walls (atrophy).

Most changes are not reversible, even if the person stops taking the hormones, and many proceed to surgery  which, of course, is completely irreversible.

We did arrange for our daughter to see a therapist to help her explore why she suddenly hated her female body. She was also diagnosed, at the age of 17, with inattentive attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). (This is a form of ADHD characterised by a lack of attention and focus, rather than hyperactivity.)

A large proportion of young people claiming a trans-identity are neurodiverse with ADHD or autism diagnoses, a fact highlighted in the Cass Report  the independent review into gender identity services for children in the UK.

Some are same-sex attracted and confused about this. I don't know or care what my child's sexuality is, but I believe her ADHD has contributed to her confusion about her sex.

I have shared stories of de-transitioners with my daughter  young people who medically transitioned and/or had surgery before changing their minds and now struggle with the repercussions of what they have done to their bodies, while being abandoned by the same medical profession that was so eager to transition them in the first place. But she does not listen.

And the name thing. She now refers to the name I gave her at birth as her 'deadname', yet another trans term I've had to learn.

The school instituted changes to my daughter's name and pronouns without our consent, or even informing us, when she was just 15. They seemed to think social transitioning  swapping pronouns and clothes  was a bit of a joke.

One teacher even told me they once had a student whose chest binder was so tight that she passed out. The teacher laughed while relating that... I didn't find that particularly funny.

The school persisted with calling our daughter 'he' and whatever boy name she was currently using, despite our protests. For this, I reported them to Ofsted. I also avoided families from the school who thought it was 'cool' to call her 'he' and the latest boy name.

My child has stopped arguing with us about names and male pronouns. She knows we won't budge and has never asked my mum (her nanna  who sadly died recently), my dad nor any of our extended family to call her anything other than her real name.

However, she has cajoled her older sister, who's in her mid-20s, so that we use a family nickname for her instead when we're together. My eldest refers to her sister as her 'sibling'.

The use of testosterone as a woman can lead to facial hair, a deeper voice, terrible acne and male-pattern baldness (STOCK IMAGE)

At first, I pleaded with her to help her younger sister see sense, but then I realised it wasn't a responsibility I could place on her shoulders.

Now she does a great job of walking a tightrope between both sides on this topic.

My friends have been mostly sympathetic, but of course they don't really understand how it feels to have a child who is considering life-ruining consequences. It can be a very lonely journey.

Thankfully, I found an online support group of other heartbroken parents from all over the world who, like me, don't believe the answer to this is medicalisation and surgery.

I have heard stories of young people threatening their parents that they will commit suicide and/or will estrange themselves if they are not allowed to 'medicalise' (medically transition).

Infinitely worse, other parents had been told by therapists and medics who are 'captured' by this whole phenomenon that unless they let their child transition, they risk losing them.

Many parents in the US and Australia tell me they are terrified of being labelled 'transphobic' by family and friends if they don't agree to medical transition for their child.

Aged 17, our daughter developed panic attacks and depression  if she did want to be viewed as a boy, it certainly wasn't making her happy.

She suddenly begged to leave her performing arts school and so changed institutions again, miraculously securing one A-level, but then spent the next year in her bedroom. Masquerading as a boy just seemed to make her sad and depressed.

This was the summer she turned the 'dreaded 18'  something many parents of teens with gender dysphoria fear as, legally, they are then adults and can access hormones and surgery.

My daughter ordered testosterone after one 'consultation' with a private doctor online. I know because I found it in her bedroom, dispensed by a pharmacist miles away from where we live and mailed to our home.

I had been on the look-out for it for months, searching her room every day while she walked the dog.

When she realised I had found it and thrown it away she came screaming into our bedroom first thing in the morning, yelling at me at the top of her voice, and then proceeded to kick all the dining room chairs over before storming out of the house. This was one of the lowest points in my five years of this living hell.

It was when she returned later that day that I decided to invoke a crystal-clear boundary.

I told her quietly and calmly that she was not allowed to take testosterone while living under our roof and financially dependent on us.

She needed to be a proper adult  working and paying for her own upkeep and bills  before making such a life-altering decision as pursuing medical transition. To my amazement, she said; 'OK, I understand.' That was exactly one year ago.

Last September, at 19, she decided to go to university. She had enough UCAS points (having also amassed some at the performing arts school) to scrape in on a foundation year.

I was nervous but again told her that if there was any sign that she was trying to transition while at university, we would withdraw all financial support. 'Ok, ok, ok, I hear you,' she snapped.

And so we are in a holding pattern for the next few years. She is registered at university in her birth name but she's still going by some preferred name there, still wears the binder and still has short hair.

But she is much happier, out in the real world. She has friends. Our relationship has improved. I FaceTime her, text her and tell her 'I love you'. She says the same back.

I am hoping that the seeds of doubt I have tried to plant in her brain will grow a little bigger every year she matures.

My husband is on the same page as me, but tells me not to worry, saying: 'It's just a phase.' Ultimately, only time will tell if he's right.

But she can never tell me I didn't try to stop or slow her down, and I can live with that.

For help and support for detransitioners, visit beyondtrans.org. For parents, visit genderdysphoriasupportnetwork.com and genspect.org for more information.
An Australian mother got more than she bargained for when she went to buy supplies for her child's arts and crafts project.

Searching for materials to make an Easter-themed hat for her child to wear during the annual hat parade, the mother headed to a nearby branch of Kmart.

However, when she reached for a packet of yellow shredded paper to create straw for the hat, she noticed that there was an X-rated 'free extra' nestled in the packaging.

The unexpected item was a piece of pink paper cut in the shape of a penis.

Taking to the Facebook group 'Kmart Hacks & Decor', the mother shared her shocking discovery.

According to Australian website Kidspot, she joked: 'Thanks Kmart for the free extra in my shredded paper. This is perfect for my child's Easter hat parade.'

And, with the post receiving 11,000 reactions and more than 700 comments, she clearly wasn't the only person who found the X-rated addition hilarious.

One Facebook user commented on the woman's find: 'Who doesn't need a bit of c**k in their lives?'

A mother shopping for supplies for her child's arts and crafts project found an X-rated item within a bag of yellow shredded paper, namely, a pink paper penis

While another chimed in: 'I think it is a sign that you need your eggs fertilised for Easter.'

A third person added: 'I didn't know Kmart sold confetti like that.'

In light of the discovery of the pink paper penis, other mothers were disappointed that they weren't tasked with a similar arts and crafts project.

One laughed: 'Now that's the kind of Easter hat I wanna make!'

While another joked: 'It's a new game... find the penis in the haystack!!'

A third person exclaimed: 'Shake the bag up and down to see what happens!!'

A fourth amused shopper added: 'The warehouse team would have had a laugh hahahaha!'

Earlier this month, Kmart customers shopping for their children got excited about another item - although this time it was more age appropriate.

The mother posted her discovery on Facebook, attracting a huge response from amused social media users

Nostalgic shoppers were obsessing over a 'must-have' $39 (19) item, with many saying they were struggling to get their hands on one.

The new Kids Camcorder has landed in stores and, available in two colours - pink and blue - and it's perfect for creating fun home videos.

Designed for young explorers or big kids, the easy-to-use camera features simple controls, allowing them to capture photos and videos.

Other features include full HD 1080P resolution, expandable micro SD memory up to 32GB, rechargeable battery, USB charger and support for JPEG and AVI formats.

What shoppers love about the new gadget was that it brings back childhood memories of making amusing amateur videos with family and friends.

The camera comes with 15 stickers, three special effects, six filters and five in-built games - including the classic Snake.

Many parents couldn't wait to get the camcorder for their children, with one saying: 'Ooh I know what I'm buying and saving for Christmas for my kid now.'

However many revealed they haven't been able to buy one as they are already flying off the shelves or are yet to launch in their local stores.

Kmart is a popular department store found in Australia and other countries

'Already all sold out. Perfect for my son's birthday too,' one said.

A Kmart Australia spokesperson told shoppers on social media: 'We hope more stock will arrive soon.

'We're working hard to make sure there are lots of products you love to shop in-store and online.'

Many expressed their excitement over the new product, with one saying: 'looks like a great item to help little ones to even start journaling.

'Running to Kmart,' another said.

'What a great idea,' one shared.

'It's so cute - definitely going to buy it,' another added.

Last month, Kmart surprised shoppers with the return of a retro-inspired digital video recorder, priced at just $39.

The Digital Video Recorder sparked a frenzy on social media, with customers calling it an 'iconic' blast from the past.

Kmart has launched a nostalgic range of camcorders, perfect for creating fun home videos

The compact camera features a two-inch LCD screen, up to 16x digital zoom, and records in 720p HD, making it a perfect throwback to home movies of the 90s and early 2000s.

Melbourne content creator Coco Devile rushed to snap one up before they sell out.

'I wanted to find one before anyone else gets their hands on it because I know it's going to be popular,' they said.

'The quality is very bad, and I like that... Do a Cathy Freeman and run to Kmart for the Y2K vibe camera.'
Queen Margrethe of Denmark beamed on Wednesday as she took part in her official 85th birthday celebrations in Fredensborg.

The former monarch abdicated the throne in January last year after reigning 52 years, and was succeeded by her eldest son King Frederik, and his wife Queen Mary.

At the time, she referenced a successful back surgery the previous February, saying it had given rise to 'thinking about the future'.

Today, Margrethe appeared in bright spirits as she waved to crowds from the steps of Fredensborg Castle, accompanied by her family and beloved dachshund, Tillia.

The queen, dressed in a bright tartan ensemble, was helped up and down the steps by her grandson, 19-year-old Crown Prince Christian who, as the eldest child of Frederik and Mary, is heir to the Danish throne.

She was joined by a whole host of royals, including Christian's siblings Isabella, Josephine and Vincent and the Queens sisters, Queen Anne-Marie of Greece and Princess Benedikte.

Notably watching on were Count Nikolai, 25, and Count Felix, 22, who were stripped of their titles by Margrethe in 2023 - in what was a very controversial decision.

Later, the Royal House provided a chair for Margrethe while the royals attended a concert by the Royal Life Guards Band in the Inner Palace Courtyard.

Her birthday celebrations this year are thought to be 'toned down' from previous years, according to Danish outlet DR.

Queen Margrethe of Denmark beamed on Wednesday as she took part in her official 85th birthday celebrations in Fredensborg. Pictured centre with Princess Isabella, Princess Josephine, Queen Anne-Marie, Princess Benedikte, Crown Prince Christian and Queen Mary

The Queen, dressed in a bright tartan ensemble, was helped up and down the steps by her grandson, 19-year-old Crown Prince Christian

Previously, Margrethe's birthday events were held at Amalienborg Palace Square, but have in recent years become a more intimate celebration - though huge crowds were still present.

Born in 1940, Margrethe stepped down from the Danish throne in a shock abdication on January 14 last year.

After taking over the throne in 1972, she was the longest-serving monarch in Europe following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022.

'The surgery naturally gave rise to thinking about the future - whether the time had come to leave the responsibility to the next generation,' she said in her New Years' speech, referencing an operation the previous February.

'I have decided that now is the right time. On January 14, 2024, 52 years after I succeeded my beloved father, I will step down as Queen of Denmark.

'I leave the throne to my son, Crown Prince Frederik.'

The monarch had previously hit the headlines in 2023 when she removed royal titles from the four children of her younger son Prince Joachim.

In September, Margrethe was hospitalised following a fall at Fredensborg Castle.

Also present were Counts Nikolai and Felix - after Margrethe stripped them of their titles in 2023

Later, the Royal House provided a chair for Margrethe while the royals attended a concert by the Royal Life Guards Band in the Inner Palace Courtyard

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark (C) is surrounded by family members Princess Josephine, Princess Isabella, King Frederik X of Denmark, Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, Princess Benedikte, Crown Prince Christian, and Queen Mary of Denmark

She waved from the steps of Fredensborg Palace, while accompanied by her beloved dachshund, Tillia

Queen Mary (pictured with Christian) looked stunning in a flowing top and tailored trousers

Princess Josephine (left) and Princess Isabella were smartly turned out to celebrate their grandmother's birthday

She was discharged after one day but had sustained injuries to her neck and left hand.

She returned to work in November after recovering in private and taking time away from royal duties.

'If you feel good enough, then you feel good enough. Even though I have now fallen down a flight of stairs and am not quite as mobile as I used to be, I feel well enough,' she told Danish paper Kristeligt Dagblad after the fall.

King Frederik spoke publicly on the news that his mother had been hopsitalised shortly after news broke.

Speaking to reporters, he revealed he had spoken to his mother and was confident she was 'in good hands'.

He added: 'We take it day by day. The doctors are the ones who decide.'

It's been a week of celebrations for the Danish royal family, as Princess Isabella is set to turn 18 on April 21.

Last night, she looked as stunning as ever in a sparkling navy gown and matching clutch, with her locks pulled back into a sleek bun, as she arrived at the Royal Danish Theatre's Old Stage in Copenhagen.

Despite the 'toned down' celebrations, huge crowds turned out to see the family

The Crown Prince was also on hand to help Margrethe up the stairs in touching photographs

19-year-old Crown Prince Christian is the eldest child of Fredrik and Mary, and is heir to the Danish throne

Queen Margrethe attends a concert by the Royal Life Guards Band in the Inner Palace at Fredensborg Palace

She was accompanied by her mother Queen Mary, 53, and twins Princess Josephine and Prince Vincent, 14.

Mary was elegant as ever in an off-the-shoulder black and silver ensemble, with a glittering skirt and brooch catching the eye.

Meanwhile Isabella's very dashing cousins, Count Nikolai, 25, and Count Felix of Monzepat, 22, the sons of Prince Joachim, were also in attendance, wearing velvet suit jackets with smart bow-ties.

King Frederik meanwhile appeared very dapper in a royal blue suit.

Tensions had risen between the family in 2023, after Queen Margrethe stripped Prince Joachim's four children - Nikolai, Felix, Henrik and Athena, of their titles - but, as they beamed on arrival, any feelings of resentment appeared long gone.

At the time, Margrethe insisted the move would be 'good for them in their future' and allow the children - who have maintained their positions in the line of succession - to 'shape their own lives without being limited by the special considerations and duties' that a formal affiliation with the Danish Royal Family involves.

But Prince Joachim publicly spoke out against his mother's decision in the days that followed - claiming that his children had been 'harmed' in the process.

Nikolai has since launched his own Instagram account to promote his modelling career - and has seldom been seen with his cousins and aunt since the announcement.
My dad often told me how hard school was for him. He was considered thick and always made to sit at the back of the class. He never passed any tests and was advised to leave school at 14 and just get a job.

Yet he was a bright man, who went on to enjoy a successful career and a happy home life.

The reason for the sluggish start? Deafness that went undiagnosed for more than 40 years.

No one thought to have his hearing tested when he was a child. It would be a long time before the NHS offered such things for free and I guess it never occurred to his parents that strong, healthy Alvin  the youngest of six  would need to see a doctor at considerable expense.

Meanwhile, the schools misunderstanding of my dads struggles held him back considerably. Only the bright ones sat at the front. But nothing could have been worse for him than being relegated to the back. He found the teacher hard to hear even when he was close to her. So what chance did he have?

I thought of Dad when I read that Health Secretary Wes Streeting has ordered an inquiry into what he has described as an unforgivable child hearing scandal. It seems botched NHS hearing tests may have blighted the lives of thousands of children.

Jenni Murray as a baby with her parents in 1951. Her father confided in her how hard school was for him

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has ordered an inquiry into what he has described as an unforgivable child hearing scandal

Hundreds have already been recalled by hospitals across England amid fears they were misdiagnosed after having hearing tests between 2018 and 2023. Over a thousand more need to be seen in the next two months.

So far, 107 have been found to have suffered serious harm after being classed as deaf when they may have just needed hearing aids or cochlear implants.

Others faced delays in receiving a diagnosis, meaning they were denied the help that would have benefited them.

The errors could have hampered the learning and communication skills of those affected with devastating and lifelong consequences, Streeting has said.

I know only too well how difficult it can be for a child who is considered what, in my fathers day, was called hard of hearing. His experience is a case in point.

Dad had enough hearing in his teenage years to just about get by with people he was close to. He showed a keen interest in electronics, a passion that would see him succeed in spite of his school writing him off.

His talent at fixing radios got him a job at the only television repair shop in town. He was paid peanuts but loved the work.

It was when he was invited to do the lighting for a play performed by a local drama group that he fell in love with a beautiful young woman playing the lead role  my mother Win.

Handsome and charming, Dad seems to have heard my mothers yes to his invitation for a date and the two young lovers, aged 19, would manage for many years by whispering sweet nothings in each others ears.

Then came the engagement, preparations for marriage and my organised, civil servant mother had no fear of applying her somewhat bossy nature to the man she loved.

She was not going to have a husband who couldnt hear, had no qualifications and worked in a pretty lowly job for very little money.

First the hearing aid. The GP accepted he had a problem and prescribed a bulky NHS hearing aid which he hated and wore only when it was absolutely necessary.

Then education became her priority. She knew he was far from thick and determined that he should go to night school. He did brilliantly and became a qualified electrical engineer. It makes me sad that he spent all those years thinking he was stupid. What might he have achieved if his school had picked up on his problem and given him the care he needed?

He got a wonderful job with a company who did huge building contracts all over the world. It would mean travelling a lot and being away from home a great deal, but he was a successful, well paid and greatly respected engineer.

My mother was happy that her ambition had worked out perfectly. Sometimes she would travel with him, sometimes stay home with me. Theirs was the happiest of marriages.

But the scars from his formative years never left him and the hearing aid was not much of a help.

Throughout my childhood Dad spoke very quietly and listened intently and, for my mother and I, it meant living in a very noisy world. The radio and television were always at full volume.

We shouted rather than spoke to him and begged him to wear his hearing aid whenever we were in the company of other people. We didnt want anyone to think he was stupid, making wholly inappropriate responses to what they had said.

Then, when hed just turned 40, he underwent a surprising transformation.

I was 16 or so when he was asked to carry out a big engineering contract in Belfast. He would leave for work on a Sunday evening and often spend two or three weeks in Northern Ireland.

Water, water... everywhere! Id feel better about being told to save water if the companies were not wasting three billion litres a day through leaking pipes. Three years ago, I had a bill for 1,500. It had to be a leak. They came twice to fix a pipe in the garden. Finally, I had a renovation of my meter. This years bill, 600. Still an outrageous cost and Im not sure I trust the leak is fully fixed. Advertisement

After a few months of coming and going, he arrived home one Friday night. I greeted him with my usual full volume, Hi Dad, hows it going? only to be astonished at his response. Hush, love. No need to shout.

Mum was told to tone down the level of her voice along with the volume of the radio and television.

What was going on?

The story was astonishing. On the flight to Belfast, the man next to him had turned to face Dad, who had some talent at lip-reading and told him he recognised he was deaf because of his odd way of trying to conduct a conversation.

The man was an ear, nose and throat surgeon. He was pioneering an operation where the stirrup bone in the middle ear, often coated in hardened mucus in some deaf patients, would be removed and replaced by a plastic one.

Only a week after that chance encounter, Dad was admitted to hospital where they discovered this was indeed his problem. A simple procedure and his hearing would be restored for the first time in his life.

He said nothing to us about it but we could not have been more delighted when he came home and told us we didnt have to shout anymore.

He did tell me that he thought his deafness had been rather positive for me. All that shouting and clear articulation had done my voice no end of good.

But from that day on, my fathers life changed immeasurably. After half a lifetime of struggling with semi silence, he was able to socialise in a way he had never been able to do before. He became quite chatty. He enjoyed going to the theatre because at last he could hear the performance.

He developed a passion for classical music concerts and at work he was able to control progress, clearly in charge and never embarrassed by not quite catching what was said.

All these years on, all children should have the right to be tested, properly analysed and given the correct treatment for whatever is causing their hearing loss. Its essential for them to be able to listen, speak and socialise.

No one should have to wait until their 40s to get the right treatment and have a world of sound finally opened up for them.

I was difficult to date too Florence

Florence Pugh has suggested her busy schedule means shes tricky in a relationship.

Declaring sympathy for anyone falling in love with her  her partner is thought to be Peaky Blinders Finn Cole  she told Harpers Bazaar magazine her hectic life means she can never make dates. Yet she doesnt want to end up alone.

I know the feeling, Florence. I was pretty tricky in my relationships at the height of my career, rarely able to commit to being there.

Remember, the work matters and youre never alone with a good job.

Declaring sympathy for anyone falling in love with her  her partner is thought to be Peaky Blinders Finn Cole  she told Harpers Bazaar magazine her hectic life means she can never make dates

Bravo for plus-size ballerinas

Bless the new artistic director of the Royal Ballet school, Iain Mackay, who says audiences want dancers they can relate to and that could include plus-size ballerinas. If only hed been there when I was a girl. I loved ballet, but gave up because I was big.
Meghan Markle's 'Easter Edit' on MyShop features - along with seasonal homeware - a selection of festive pastel toys, shoes and clothes for children.

And some royal fans may spot a familiar design in one of the Duchess of Sussex's recommendations - an adorable 'Baby Bella Bunny Petal Dress' from Trotters, retailing for $76 (43).

The sweet blue frock, adorned with bunnies and perfect for the upcoming holiday, is reminiscent of similar ensembles worn by the royal's niece - Princess Charlotte, nine - whose mother, the Princess of Wales, is also a fan of the brand.

For her fourth birthday portrait in 2019, Kate Middleton's daughter beamed as she posed in a very similar piece from the company, down to the ornate pattern and peter-pan style collar.

She once again wore an ensemble from the store in 2023 - this time a white 'sun dress' - as she turned eight years old.

It's not the only time Prince William's child appeared to inspire the Duchess, whose shopping edit also included a $49 (27) 'Gathered Woven Dress from Boden'.

The colourful frock was adorned with bright blue flowers, which harked similarities to Charlotte's monochrome Easter Sunday look from two years ago.

She wore a navy dress teamed with cobalt tights - to match her mother's cool-hued look for Mattins Service at Windsor Castle.

Meghan Markle's ' Easter Edit' on MyShop features - along with seasonal homeware - a selection of festive pastel toys, shoes and clothes for children

For her fourth birthday portrait in 2019, Kate Middleton 's daughter beamed as she posed in a very similar piece from the company, down to the ornate pattern and peter-pan style collar

And some royal fans may spot a familiar design in one of the Duchess of Sussex 's recommendations - an adorable 'Baby Bella Bunny Petal Dress' from Trotters, retailing for $76 (43)

Charlotte has worn Boden clothing several times over the years, including a 34 striped jumper, as well as Trotters - with one burgundy coat being amid the young Princess's most seen wardrobe staples.

Other clothing items on Meghan's shopping link included bunny-shaped 'baby booties' from Meri Meri, a boy's linen suit from J. Crew and gingham pajamas from Petit Plume.

Last month, Meghan took to Instagram to announce that she would be using ShopMy to post affiliate links to her clothing items and accessories, some of which she would earn commission from.

The app is popular with influencers, as they can profit by simply linking and sharing certain items with followers.

'Many of you have asked, so here you go!' Meghan wrote in text on top of the story. 'A little shopping to start the week. More to come. Link in bio.'

The first wardrobe edit comprised mostly of elevated basics, including linen shirts, crewneck sweaters, sunglasses, and handbags, in neutral shades like beige, brown, white, black, and navy blue.

It's not the only time Prince William 's child appeared to inspire the Duchess, whose shopping edit also included a $49 (27) 'Gathered Woven Dress from Boden'

The colourful frock was adorned with bright blue flowers, which harked similarities to Charlotte's monochrome Easter Sunday look from two years ago.

In a 2023 photograph released to mark Charlotte's birthday, she had worn a white 70 Trotters dress

Princess Charlotte is known for wearing floral inspired dresses. Pictured in her birthday portrait, in 2021

Among the items she has linked was a $1,415 beige cashmere crewneck from designer Loro Piana, an ivory silk maxi dress by Heidi Merrick listed $1,350, and a pair of loose brown pants for $388 from Brochu Walker.

However, just 24 hours later, Meghan had added a few more clothing items to the page, and an entirely new category for her beauty products.

'You've asked me about my nail polish on "With Love, Meghan," - one coat of each, plus a few of my other essentials! Enjoy,' she wrote in an Instagram story Tuesday.

Of the beauty items linked included a $245 Multi-Masking set from Tata Harper, an $88 Root Replenish Active Growth Serum from Highbrow Hippie, and Dewy Skin Cream by Tatcha, which retails for a cool $72.

Meghan also generously let followers in on what nail polish she was wearing on the show, adding links to a website called Beyond Polish where you could purchase her $17 light-pink colors from CND, Romantique and Satin Slippers.

But that's not all.

She even shared some more affordable beauty items, like the $9 Lucas PawPaw oil that can be found on Amazon, and the Weleda Skin Food, linking a double pack of the tubes for $40.

Meghan included TikTok-favorite beauty items as well, such as the $10 Medicube Collagen Jelly Cream and $24 Laneige Sleeping Mask.

Pictured: Charlotte has worn this smart Trotters coat on serveral occasions (pictured in 2022 and 2023)

The Princess of Wales dressed Charlotte in a 34 jumper from Boden for one of her annual birthday portrait

Other clothing items on Meghan's shopping link included bunny-shaped 'baby booties' from Meri Meri, a boy's linen suit from J. Crew and gingham pajamas from Petit Plume

The eight-episode series saw her welcome famous friends like Mindy Kaling and Abigail Spencer into her home as they cooked together and even made certain home decor items, like beeswax candles

On the 'my closet' section of her ShopMy, she added a few more understated pieces.

Not only did Meghan include a $345 black wool blazer from Theory, but also a pair of black sunglasses from Heidi Merrick for $225.

But interestingly enough, some of Meghan's beauty picks seem to stray from her previous tried-and-true favorites.

During a 2017 interview with Allure, Meghan said that her favorite mascara was by Dior - namely, their Diorshow Iconic mascara, which retails for $33.

She also praised the $39 Makeup Forever HD Powder and peachy-pink colored Nars Orgasm Blush, which comes out to $34.

'I play around,' Meghan said when asked about her beauty routine at the time. 'I love Jan Marini skincare products. I've been using their serum lately. It's a nice glycolic one that makes your skin really glow-y.'

She also gave a shout-out to Tatcha, a brand she appears to still use today.

'And I really love the Tatcha Rice Enzyme Powder. It just sort of foams on your face and gives you a really subtle exfoliation,' she shared with Allure.

'I also use Revitalash on my eyelashes, and I swear they are as long as they could ever be,' she added.

Meghan's ShopMy debut came just weeks after her show premiered on Netflix in early March.

But despite her new show being panned by critics, it has already been renewed for a second season on Netflix.

The eight-episode series saw her welcome famous friends like Mindy Kaling and Abigail Spencer into her home as they cooked together and even made certain home decor items, like beeswax candles.

Meghan made the announcement via Instagram just a few days after the show premiered, as she shared a video of some different snippets from various episodes.

'If you're loving Season 1, just wait until you see the fun we cooked up on Season 2!' the mom-of-two wrote in the caption.

'Thanks for joining the party, and an endless thanks to the amazing team and crew who helped bring it all to life!' her message continued, as she tagged the Netflix Instagram account.

At the same time as her Netflix premiere, the Duchess also revealed some of the products that she will be selling in conjunction wit her new lifestyle brand, As Ever, which launched earlier this month.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have whisked their children away on a celebratory Spring holiday.

The Duchess of Sussex, 43, has celebrated her recent business ventures - including her Netflix cookery show, launch of her As Ever products and recent podcast - with a family trip away.

According to People Magazine, the family has enjoyed a 'sunsoaked getaway' with Archie, five, and Lilibet, three - though the exact destination was not confirmed.

Insiders also told the outlet that the couple's two children are the 'centre of their happy bubble' back at home in Montecito in California.

'The kids are adorable. Theyre incredibly smart, articulate, and fun,' the source said.

Elsewhere in the magazine cover, which hits shelves on April 28, insiders close to Prince Harry said his rift with the Royal Family is deepening  claiming he was left in the dark about his father King Charles's cancer battle.

The Duke of Sussex's calls to family members including his elder brother Prince William are also ignored, the reports suggested.

People magazine in the US quotes sources close to Harry as describing the ongoing 'strained' relationship with his father five years after the Duke and his wife Meghan Markle quit frontline royal duties and moved to California.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have whisked their children away on a celebratory Spring holiday (pictured together previously)

According to People Magazine, the family has enjoyed a 'sunsoaked getaway' with Archie, five, and Lilibet, three - though the exact destination was not confirmed. Harry and Lilibet pictured together previously

The Pro-Sussex magazine has increasingly been given access to the couple over recent months, with Meghan even giving an interview ahead of the launch of With Love, Meghan in March - where she declared she wasn't 'an influencer'.

Palace insiders were also quoted on the estrangement since so-called 'Megxit' in 2020  with the last face-to-face encounter between Charles and Harry being a 30-minute meeting in February last year.

Sources close to the Duke have told of his calls and letters to relatives being left unanswered.

And he is said to have only known his father the King was recently admitted to hospital on March 27 through media reports rather than being told directly.

Harry spent some time in the UK last week, attending a hearing at London's High Court in his continuing battle over financing personal protection officers.

His legal team is arguing that he, Meghan and their two children are not safe to come to Britain.

Meghan has been increasingly showing her children on social media as she launches her various business endeavours.

However, it has been suggested that Meghan and Harry have different views about sharing their two children on social media.

Insiders also told the outlet that the couple's two children are the 'centre of their happy bubble' back at home in Montecito in California. Meghan is pictured with Archie and Lilibet

When appearing on the Drew Barrymore Show last month, Meghan revealed she had enlisted the help of her children to make cookies for the show's crew and audience - and shared a short video clip (here, she is seen with Archie)

On a recent episode of Hello! magazine's Right Royal podcast, Matt Wilkinson, the royal editor of The Sun, said Harry took a much more cautious approach to posting their children online.

'My understanding of this is that, up to a certain stage, Harry would much rather his children were not seen,' Matt said.

He added: 'Whereas Meghan grew up in California, she once said she would like to have a more California style lifestyle, take them down the beach, go out, do stuff. She doesn't want to hide them away.'

He noted that the Duchess does not share her children's faces in images and videos she posts - something the panel said Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie also do when it comes to images of their children.

For example, one of her posts, shared several days before the launch of her Netflix show, showed Meghan and her three-year-old daughter joined by 'Auntie' Serena Williams, with the trio playing a game of Candy Land.

Another video the Duchess shared featured Archie's voice, as he helped her to water some plants.

Insiders close to Prince Harry (pictured) say his rift with the Royal Family is deepening

The Duke of Sussex is said to have only learnt his father King Charles (pictured) was hospitalised last month through media reports

Harry (left) and his elder brother William (right) have become estranged in recent years

Elsewhere in the court case, Harry's barrister claimed the prince, who is believed to have earned $120million from Netflix and Spotify and lives in a $15million Montecito mansion, must have his full taxpayer-funded bodyguards restored when in the UK because his 'life is at stake'.

His lawyers said, 'Al Qaeda called for the duke to be murdered'  saying 'his assassination would please the Muslim community'.

The prince says he was 'singled out' for 'inferior treatment' when the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) stripped him of his top-level security in February 2020 after he moved out of the UK.

But Sir James Eadie KC, representing the Home Office, said it had discretion to strip his guaranteed full time police security without consulting the Risk Management Board quango.

People magazine suggested insiders close to the Duke feel Charles is intentionally staying distant  partly to avoid being embroiled in questions over security.

Prince Harry made a surprise visit to the Ukrainian city of Lviv on Thursday last week

His brother Prince William previous made a trip to a Nato base in Estonia last month

Charles and his sons are seen here during a ski break in Klosters, Switzerland, in March 2005

After last week's hearing, Harry then left the UK secretly and without informing Buckingham Palace early last Thursday.

He was then understood to have landed at an unnamed airport in Poland ahead of a surprise visit to Ukraine.

He was given a police escort to and from the Polish border and former Ukrainian military personnel accompanied him to the Superhumans rehabilitation centre in Lviv where he met adults and children who have been injured since war broke out in 2022.

His visit came after William visited a Nato base in Ukraine's neighbour Estonia last month.

MailOnline previously contacted Kensington Palace for comment.

Representatives for Prince Harry previously declined to comment.
Kacey Musgraves went viral this week after she shared a sexually-charged post to social media.

In the shocking message, which was posted to X (formerly Twitter), the 36-year-old country superstar wrote, 'Is it possible to die of horniness? Asking for a friend.'

Thanks to the steamy post, the High Horse hitmaker has now attracted the attention of X-rated webcamming site CamSoda.

Not only has CamSoda offered Kacey a free lifetime subscription, but they're also willing to give her $100,000 in credit to spend on the site.

A CamSoda spokesperson said that they want to give Kacey 'the opportunity to explore her randy side.'

Kacey's raunchy social media post has caused quite the stir online, racking up six million impressions in 24 hours.

The comments section was filled with fans who were confused by the wild post.

A Wicked fan account posted a GIF of Ariana Grande looking stunned with the caption: 'Girl, did you forget to switch accounts?'

Kacey Musgraves has received a six figure offer from adult website CamSoda following her viral social media post about 'dying of horniness'

In the shocking post on Monday, which was shared to X (formerly Twitter), the 36-year-old country superstar wrote, 'Is it possible to die of horniness? Asking for a friend'

Another fan said, 'Had to double check who tweeted this.'

A third wrote, 'Must be difficult being famous and horny. If you want a normie experience we can hook up then Ill ghost you.'

Kacey has appeared to be single for nearly a year and a half as she was last romantically-linked to poet Cole Schafer, but the reportedly broke up in November 2023.

The Grammy winner is certainly no stranger to using her sex appeal.

Last year, she posed completely naked in a field to promote her new music.

She also performed in the nude on an episode of Saturday Night Live, using nothing more than a guitar to protect her modesty.

Last June, she also shared a selfie in her birthday suit while covered completely in mud.

Her glam team was seen attentively painting her entire body and fixing her hair in the image.

Not only has CamSoda offered Kacey a free lifetime subscription, they're also willing to give her $100,000 in credit to spend on the site

Last year, Kacey shared a racy snap of her nude body covered in mud during a photoshoot

In December, Kacey slammed a fan who grabbed her during a concert in Tampa amidst her Deeper Well World Tour.

In a viral TikTok clip, an audience member captured the moment when the country star had strolled amongst the crowd in Tampa when a fan suddenly grabbed hold of her.

Kacey was stopped in her tracks and quickly turned to mouth, 'What the f**k?' towards the fan before heading back towards the stage.

The Butterflies songstress addressed the incident while on stage the next night in Hollywood, Florida.

She stated, 'Last night - this Tampa b***h...' before trailing off.

The audience began to boo in reference to the incident, prompting the star to add, 'I know. She kind of ruined it. She kind of ruined it for everybody.'
A bartender has revealed the most 'diabolical' thing that she witnessed a customer do - and shared tips for how you could avoid finding yourself in a similar situation.

Nashville-based server Ashlee recently went viral after she detailed a scenario that she witnessed at work that left her completely horrified in a video posted to TikTok.

She explained that she saw a patron leave their partner alone at the bar with no phone following a fight, and passionately warned against abandoning someone intoxicated even if you're mad at them.

Her cautionary tale began innocently with a couple, which she guessed were between 21 to 24 years old, enjoying a night out together.

'I actually didn't serve them because they sat at a table, but at some point they close out, and the girl gets up and leaves,' she explained.

She said after that, the man came over and sat at the bar and immediately putting his head down at the bar, so it looked like he was sleeping.

'So I go over and I'm like do you need a water and he looks up at me, he's clearly intoxicated, he says, "Yeah, water,"' she recounted.

She said at that point, a coworker told Ashlee that the man needed help.

Nashville-based bartender Ashlee has revealed the most 'diabolical' thing that she witnessed a customer do - and shared tips for how you could avoid finding yourself in a similar situation

'I was like, "What do you mean?"' Ashlee continued. 'She's like, "Well apparently him and his girlfriend were at the table and they had fight about something, and the girl takes his phone and everything he has and leaves."'

Ashlee theorized that the couple had been traveling, and slammed the woman for leaving her partner in a 'strange city' he was not familiar with while intoxicated.

'I have a message for that girl and anyone traveling with a partner or a friend - I don't care if you had a fight, as long as a relationship is not abusive don't ever do that,' she said sternly.

Ashlee continued: 'Your job is being with that person ... what you take on agreeing to travel with somebody is keeping them safe.'

'Part of that is, [it] doesn't matter what happens, you need to make sure have a way to contact someone or at least get back to where they're staying in a safe way,' she insisted.

Ashlee added that she doesn't care what their fight was about, as she pointed out the dangers to being left alone at a bar with no phone.

'If you're in a highly populated area - especially a tourist area - and you leave somebody intoxicated with no way to contact somebody if they need help, you're opening the door for really bad things to happen,' she lectured.

'There are people that lurk the streets - not in Nashville specifically - [that] are just waiting for other intoxicated people to walk alone so that they can do sinister things,' she claimed.

She explained that she saw a patron leave their partner at the bar with no phone following a fight, and warned against abandoning someone intoxicated even if you're mad (stock image)

She then pointed out the Riley Strain case, a University of Missouri student who died on a College trip to Nashville last year.

Strain's relatives have accused University of Missouri Delta Chi members of failing to follow policy by leaving their intoxicated son 'abandoned and alone' on March 8, 2024, which they say 'ultimately resulted in his death.'

Strain went missing after he was kicked out of a bar in the Tennessee city on March 8, prompting a high-profile search. He was found eight miles away, face-down in the Cumberland River 14 days later.

A medical examiner concluded that Strain died as a result of drowning and intoxication in a tragedy which was deemed an accident. He had a blood alcohol content of .228 - almost three times the legal driving limit.
International experts have carried out a training scenario guarding against a threat of what they believe could be the source of next pandemic  frozen ancient animals.

Dubbed Exercise Polaris the World Health Organisation (WHO) event pitted experts from 15 countries against a fictional virus called 'Mammothpox'.

The team was tasked with containing the spread of a pathogen that had emerged from the frozen carcass of a mammoth  infecting the scientists and a film crew that had discovered it  before spreading around the world.

While the scenario and the virus were completely fictitious, scientists warn the threat of 'zombie viruses' emerging from permafrost thawing due to climate change is very real.

Experts have found these so-called 'Methuselah microbes' can remain dormant in the soil and the bodies of frozen animals, like mammoths, for tens of thousands of years.

If such a disease emerged from the ice our bodies wouldn't have any natural defences to fight off an infection, much like when the Covid virus first emerged.

The exercise comes mere days after an international team of scientists warned global warming was increasing the opportunities for these frozen microorganisms to make the jump to living animals and people.

Dr Khaled Abass, an expert in environmental health sciences at the University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates and co-author of the study, said: 'Climate change is not only melting iceit's melting the barriers between ecosystems, animals, and people.

International experts have carried out a training scenario guarding against a threat of what they believe could be the source of next pandemic  frozen ancient animals. While a fictional scenario scientists warned viruses emerging from animals locked in in ice for thousands of years is a possibility. Pictured scientists performing a necropsy on the 50,000-year-old baby mammoth in March this year

'Permafrost thawing could even release ancient bacteria or viruses that have been frozen for thousands of years.'

The WHO documents provided as part of Exercise Polaris also lay out the potential risks of such an event occurring.

'Scientific research has demonstrated that ancient viruses can remain viable in permafrost for thousands of years,' The Telegraph reported.

'The thawing of permafrost due to climate change has raised concerns about the potential release of pathogens previously unknown to modern medicine.'

In Exercise Polaris, Mammothpox was a deadly pathogen closely related to the now extinct smallpox and the currently spreading monkeypox, also called mpox, with a mortality rate between the two viruses.

Smallpox is estimated to have killed about one in three people it infected, killing about half a billion people in the century before it was eradicated in 1980 as part of a global vaccine drive.

Mpox has a much lower fatality rate but can still be deadly. A new strain, spreading mainly in Africa, is particularly dangerous to children, killing up to one in 10 of those infected.

The Mammothpox scenario was designed to be controllable provided countries worked together to contain the spread.

So-called 'Methuselah microbes' can remain dormant in the soil and the bodies of frozen animals for tens of thousands of years. Scientists have managed to revive some of these ancient diseases in the lab, including this Pithovirus sibericum that was isolated from a 30,000-year-old sample of permafrost

Scientists warn that pathogens from frozen animals, such as this 39,500-year-old cave bear from Siberia, could jump to modern species. If this happened, there is a serious risk of humans becoming infected by the ancient disease

The Arctic is an especially dangerous region for zoonotic diseases because health monitoring services are so limited. The researchers point out that diseases like Toxoplasma gondii are already spreading widely through people and animals in the region (illustrated)

Among the participating nations were representatives from Denmark, Somalia, Qatar, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and Ukraine.

Each country was intentionally only given part of the puzzle, with their respective Mammothpox outbreaks differing slightly to see how well they shared information.

For example, one group was told one of the infected Arctic researchers was on a cruise ship, which gave them a quarantined environment they could use to see how fast the virus could spread.

Which zombie viruses could be released? Influenza Scientists have found strains of influenza in the lungs of frozen victims from as far back as 1918. Pithovirus sibericum Despite being frozen for 30,000 years the virus was still infectious. Mollivirus sibericum While not a threat to humans and animals, scientists found this virus can survive for thousands of years. Pandoravirus and Megavirus mammoth These viruses were found in a clump of frozen mammoth wool and are able to infect both human and mouse cells. 'Wolf' virus - Pacmanvirus lupus An ancient relative of African swine fever virus, this was found thawing from the 27,000-year-old intestines of frozen Siberian wolf. Advertisement

Other countries were given scenarios such as an outbreak at a large gathering or within a single household.

While held over two days, the exercise was designed to mimic three weeks of a hypothetical outbreak.

On the second day, participants were told that progress in containing the virus was being hampered by politics and divergent strategies between states.

They then had to adapt to some countries going into international lockdown, banning all arrivals, while other maintained open borders but relied on measures like contact tracing.

Eventually, the team did manage to bring the Mammothpox outbreak under control.

But the WHO has acknowledged a real-life outbreak is likely to be much more complicated in terms of international cooperation.

For example, countries like the US, under President Donald Trump, and Argentina announced their departure from the global health body earlier this year.

Meanwhile, the threat of frozen pathogens infecting humans is increasing.

As the ice recedes teams of scientists are hunting for frozen extinct animals, as are ivory hunters looking to make a fortune on mammoth tusks.

For over a decade, scientists have known that bacteria and viruses frozen in the Arctic could still have the potential to infect living organisms.

In 2014, scientists isolated viruses from the Siberian permafrost and showed they could still infect living cells, despite being frozen for thousands of years.

Similarly, in 2023, scientists successfully revived an amoeba virus that had been frozen for 48,500 years.

Scientists estimate that four sextillion  that's four followed by 21 zeros  cells escape permafrost every year at current rates.

While researchers estimate that only one in 100 ancient pathogens could disrupt the ecosystem, the sheer volume escaping from the ice makes a dangerous incident more likely.

And there have already been some incidents that demonstrate the potential risks.

In 2016, anthrax spores escaped from an animal carcass that had been frozen in the Siberian permafrost for 75 years, leaving dozens hospitalised and one child dead.
It might be painful helping ageing parents get to grips with modern technology.

But using gadgets such as smartphones and computers in later life could lower the risk of dementia, according to a study.

There have been growing concerns about the widespread use of digital devices, with Oxford University Press choosing 'brain rot'  used to describe someone's mental state after spending too much time on their phone  as its phrase of the year in 2024.

However, researchers found digital technology use was linked with a 58 per cent lower risk of cognitive impairment, which encompasses issues with problem-solving, memory, language or attention.

The team, who reviewed data from 400,000 people with an average age of 68, said that for those introduced to computers, smartphones and the internet past their childhood, using such devices is cognitively challenging.

Professor Michael Scullin, from Baylor University, Texas, said: 'One of the first things that older adults were saying is 'I'm so frustrated by this computer. This is hard to learn'.

Researchers found digital technology use was linked with a 58 per cent lower risk of cognitive impairment, which encompasses issues with problem-solving, memory, language or attention (stock image)

The team, who reviewed data from 400,000 people with an average age of 68, said that for those introduced to computers, smartphones and the internet past their childhood, using such devices is cognitively challenging (stock image)

'That's actually a reflection of the cognitive challenge, which may be beneficial for the brain even if it doesn't feel great in the moment.'

He said technology requires constant adaptation, such as understanding new software, adding: 'If you're doing that for years... even though you might experience frustration, that may be a sign of you exercising your brain.'

Video calls, emails and messaging apps help maintain social networks, which Professor Scullin said can also protect against cognitive decline.

And he said it's never too late to introduce older family and friends to technology, adding: 'Start simple, and be very patient while they learn.'

The research, also carried out by scientists at the University of Texas in Austin, was published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour.
An active, healthy 25 year-old has issued an alarming warning about the hidden nature of bowel cancer  after a chance test spotted pre-cancerous growths, despite her lack of symptoms.

Caty Abitz, from Wisconsin in the US, does not smoke, drink or eat unhealthily, nor does she have a family history of the disease, she said in an Instagram clip that's been watched 19,000 times.

Yet, doctors said if they hadn't had spotted the pre-cancer when they did, and removed it, she'd end up with full-blown disease 'in a few years'.

Her warning comes amid a mysterious and global rise in cases of the disease among young adults, with scientists currently unable to determine the cause.

Some scientists have suggested increasing pollution might be to blame, while others say the trend is due to growing consumption of ultra-processed food.

Ms Abitz's ordeal began last autumn when she visited the doctor for help with abdominal pain related to endometriosis  an agonising condition where tissue from the womb lining grows in other parts of the body.

She subsequently underwent surgery to remove the excess tissue.

However, doctors advised her to undergo an examination of her bowel, just to ensure the pain was not related to her digestive system.

The teacher underwent a colonoscopy  where a flexible camera is inserted into the back passage to inspect the bowel.

To her surprise, medics discovered two polyps  small abnormal growths that can become cancerous.

Around 80-90 per cent of bowel cancers begin as polyps, studies show. However, only around five to 10 per cent of polyps go on to become cancer, according to Yale Medicine.

'I got a colonoscopy this week on Thursday and the doctor found some pretty sizable polyps in my colon,' Ms Abitz said in her clip.

'[My doctor] shared with me that if I had waited just a few more years it would have most likely turned into cancer.

'My family does not have a history of colon cancer, I am active, I eat relatively well, I do not drink , I don't smoke...and yet I'm now on the list of people who have to get a colonoscopy every three years to keep my health in check.'

Ms Abitz urged other young people to never dismiss the potential signs of colon cancer, and to not let medics dismiss their concerns.

'If you are a young person and you are experiencing any abdominal pain, bloating, irregular bowel movements and especially rectal bleeding...if you are pushing it off or chalking it up to haemorrhoids go to the doctor and get a colonoscopy,'

'If you find a doctor who's like, "oh you're too young, you're fine", find a new doctor.

'If I would have waited and not got this checked out I would have had full blown cancer, so please take it seriously. It could happen to anybody.'

Over the last 30 years, diagnoses of the disease in the under 50s have shot up by 80 per cent across the globe, research suggests.

Bowel cancer can cause you to have blood in your poo, a change in bowel habit, a lump inside your bowel which can cause an obstructions. Some people also suffer with weight loss a s a result of these symptoms

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Cancer Research UK data suggests bowel cancer, also called colon cancer, has seen a 52 per cent increase in incidence rates for adults aged 25 to 49 since the early 1990s.

The charity, while acknowledging the rise, stresses that bowel cancer rates in younger adults are still low, with only around one in 20 diagnosed in people under 50.

There are around 2,600 new bowel cancer cases in people aged 25-49 in Britain every year, and around 44,100 new cases among all ages.

Commenting under Ms Abitz's clip multiple young social media users shared their own stories of being diagnosed with colon or related cancers.

One wrote: 'I had to fight for my colonoscopy cause I was "too young" and I am going through rectal cancer treatments right now. Found out on Halloween 2024.'

Another chimed in: 'Stage 4 colorectal cancer diagnosed at 24 years old' before adding their own warning of 'GO TO THE DOCTOR'.

One user even said they had experienced a very similar situation to Ms Abitz.

Dame Deborah James, nicknamed 'bowel babe', raised more than 11.3million for Cancer Research and is credited with increasing awareness of the disease, which killed her in 2022 aged 40

Zu Rafalat, 38, of Finsbury Park, whose bloating left her looking 'six months pregnant', was horrified to be diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer. She is pictured on holiday

'Same thing happened to me when I was 18,' they wrote.

'They removed 20 massive precancerous polyps that were not benign and I have since had to have a colonoscopy every year to remove these polyps.

'Colonoscopies save lives and the testing process should be widely available for younger people given the rising rate of colon cancer in young patients like us.'

Multiple heartbreaking stories of young people in the prime of their lives being diagnosed with bowel cancer have emerged in recent years.

Perhaps the most recognisable victim of the trend is Deborah James  known as 'bowel babe'  who was diagnosed at just 35 and raised millions for charity in her final days in 2022.

Another example of a fit and healthy women being hit by the disease was Zu Rafalat, of Finsbury Park, London, who died in 2020 aged 39.

The super-fit globetrotter initially thought she had caught a stomach bug in Central America where she went on holiday in December 2018.

It later turned out to be stage four bowel cancer which had spread to other organs.

Symptoms of the disease include changes in bowel movements such as diarrhoea or constipation, needing or feeling the need to empty your bowels more or less frequently, blood in the stool, stomach pain, bloating, unexpected weight-loss and fatigue.
British officials have sparked fears of a cholera outbreak after bottles of contaminated 'holy water' imported from Ethiopia left several Britons hospitalised.

The water, taken from a sacred well and flown back to the UK earlier this year, contained a drug-resistant strain of the deadly water-borne disease, according to reports.

The well, known as Bermel Giorgis, is near Ethiopia's northwestern border with Sudan and is famed for its sacred or holy water.

It is revered for its supposed ability to cure illness and exorcise demons.

But researchers affiliated with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said four people who returned to the UK between January and mid-February and later drank the water required hospital treatment for cholera, leaving one in intensive care.

The east African nation has been battling an outbreak of the disease, caused by the Vibrio cholerae bacterium, since 2022 with almost 60,000 cases and 726 deaths reported to date.

Of the patients, aged between 20 and 70, two had recently travelled to the Amhara region  where the well is located  with 'one specifically mentioning a nine-day trip to Bermel Georgis'.

The researchers added: 'A third patient had not travelled to Ethiopia, but reported that they had drunk holy water from the well brought back by the fourth patient, who had also become ill after consuming the water in the UK.'

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Three patients in Germany were also diagnosed with the same strain of cholera.

'Two had travelled to Ethiopia in January and acquired a small plastic bottle of water with water from the holy well in Bermel Giorgis,' the scientists said.

'Upon their return to Germany, both people consumed the water.

'A third person received splashes of water to the face, including the lips, and possibly ingested some of it.'

In early February, all three adults developed diarrhoea and vomiting, and were hospitalised, with one again requiring intensive care treatment.

Faecal samples from all seven sickened patients were sent to British and German labs for in-depth testing.

Investigations revealed the water was contaminated with multidrug-resistant bacteria Vibrio cholerae O1.

The strain has previously been linked to outbreaks of cholera in Kenya as well as Sub-Saharan, eastern and middle Africa.

The east African nation has been battling an outbreak of cholera, caused by the Vibrio cholerae bacterium (pictured), since 2022 with almost 60,000 cases and 726 deaths reported to date

Of the patients, aged in their 20s to 60s, two had recently travelled to the Amhara region (pictured)  where the well is located  with 'one specifically mentioning a nine-day trip to Bermel Georgis'

Writing in the journal Eurosurveillance, the researchers said: 'The holy water was heavily contaminated and bacteria remained viable during the flight and in Europe.'

They added that preventive measures, including training and community engagement around the risks of holy water were undertaken in the region in 2024.

'However, the spread of cases into Europe related to a cholera outbreak in Africa is unusual.'

After all four UK patients developed cholera symptoms, the water was 'disposed of', they added.

The scientists also urged medics treating patients of Ethiopian heritage who are displaying severe diarrhoea symptoms to ask about any 'consumption of holy water'.

Cholera is an intestinal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.

It has a short incubation period, of less than one day to five days, and produces an enterotoxin that causes a copious, painless, watery diarrhoea.

This can quickly lead to severe dehydration and death if treatment is not promptly given. Vomiting also occurs in most patients.

Cholera is rarely found in the UK anymore, despite causing terrifying outbreaks in the 1800s.

It was flushed out by access to safe drinking water and improved sanitation facilities.

Cholera is does not spread directly from person to person via casual contact, such as coughing or sneezing, like many contagious diseases.

But when people drink contaminated water, use it to prepare food or use it to wash their hands, the infection spreads.

Washing hands with soap and water can cut the risk, as can only drinking tap water that's been boiled.
At least six employees at a Harvard-linked hospital have been diagnosed with brain tumors in what could be a cluster of disease.

Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Newton, Massachusetts, said this week a sixth employee working on the hospital's maternity floor has been diagnosed with a non-cancerous brain tumor.

Five other employees, many of whom are nurses, working on the same floor for 'varying durations' have been struck with non-cancerous tumors in the past several years.

Officials from the hospital, part of the Harvard-affiliated Mass General Brigham system, said officials had found 'no environmental risk' to patients or staff since starting its investigation in December.

However, the Massachusetts Nurses Association slammed the hospital's testing as 'not comprehensive' and said it is also investigating.

It's unclear what types of brain tumors the workers have or exactly when they were diagnosed. However, contaminants in water and older buildings have been blamed for past clusters.

Nurses working on the floor have also suggested the hospital is downplaying the situation, estimating as many as 10 staff members have developed cancerous and non-cancerous brain tumors.

They called on hospital administrators to be more transparent and offer support to staffers who have had to undergo surgery and other treatments.

Six healthcare workers on a maternity floor Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Newton, Massachusetts (pictured here), have been diagnosed with brain tumors

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Ellen Moloney, president and chief operating officer of Newton-Wellesley Hospital, said in a statement: 'To date, through their employee interview process, OHS has identified six staff members who have worked for varying durations on the fifth floor and report developing benign (non-cancerous) brain tumors.

'While the Department of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) investigation is ongoing, we have found no evidence that these medical conditions were caused by the work environment.

'As always, your health, wellbeing, and safety  along with that of our employees  remain our top priority. While there has been a great deal of misinformation shared on social media and in other forums, we want to make sure you have the facts.'

Moloney said the OHS investigation is being led by a 'multi-disciplinary group of experts' and has involved interviews with impacted staff, a review of air and water quality and testing for potential radiation, chemical or pharmaceutical exposures.

All of these exposures can increase the risk of certain brain tumors by damaging cell DNA and triggering inflammation, both of which can cause cells to multiply and become cancerous.

Some hospital staff have expressed doubt that the facility's conditions are not to blame.

One nurse diagnosed with a brain tumor after working on the maternity ward said she would go into work every day with a sinking feeling in her gut.

She claimed as many as 10 of her colleagues had been diagnosed.

An anonymous nurse who was affected told local media: 'We want reassurance because this has not been a reassuring past few months for a lot of the staff members' (stock image)

Ellen Moloney (pictured here), president and chief operating officer of Newton-Wellesley Hospital, said in a statement: 'We have found no evidence that these medical conditions were caused by the work environment'

The woman, who asked to remain anonymous, told WBZ-TV: 'It's getting to the point where the number just increases, and you start saying am I crazy thinking this. This can't just be a coincidence.'

She told the outlet three of her colleagues have had surgery, but believed the hospital has not been supportive enough.

'We want reassurance because this has not been a reassuring past few months for a lot of the staff members,' she said.

'We want to feel safe, the same way we want to make our patients feel safe.'

The Massachusetts Nurses Association said it expects to share the results of its separate investigation with the hospital and the public in one to two weeks.

The union told the Boston Herald in a statement: 'We are glad to see the hospital is continuing to look into this situation.

'Our investigation is ongoing, and we will share the results when our health and safety division completes its review of the diagnoses reported to the MNA.'
Fifty people are feared to have been exposed to measles in Michigan after a baby visited multiple locations while contagious.

The one-year-old girl from Ingham County, was confirmed to be infected on April 14 - marking her as the county's first and the state's fifth case this year.

Over 700 cases of measles and three deaths from the disease have been reported this year, according to the CDC, and experts fear it could be the worst outbreak in decades.

The baby recently traveled out of state and may have potentially exposed others to the virus from April 4 to April 8 at multiple sites in Okemos, Lansing and East Lansing, including the Michigan State University campus.

While she had received her first dose of MMR vaccination a few days before being diagnosed, medical officials are warning that she did not develop full immunity against the virus due to the short time span between immunization and exposure.

Officials from the Ingham County Health Department later confirmed that the child had only shown mild symptoms of the illness.

Dr Nike Shoyinka, Ingham County's medical health officer, said during a news conference: 'Usually, what we expect is that our body's immune system, would have developed full immunity at about a two-week mark' after vaccination.

'Even though this child was vaccinated, she was still relatively susceptible given the short period of time. However, I will say that this child's symptoms were very mild, presumably because she had received at least one dose.'

A one-year-old girl from Ingham County was found suffering from measles this week and has traveled to multiple locations while contagious

She added that officials have been in contact with the family and praised their willingness to provide information 'about potential exposures, about where they've been.'

'I want to also emphasize that they did exactly what they were supposed to do in terms of making sure that their child was protected as they took her out of state.

'This individual is doing well currently and is isolating at home with family,' Dr Shoyinka said.

The CDC states that the best way to protect children and adults against measles is to get two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

The measles vaccine is 93 percent effective at preventing infections after one dose, and 97 percent effective after two doses.

Data from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services shows that about 69.8 percent of children between 19 to 35 months in Ingham County have received one dose of the MMR vaccine while on average, 92.7 percent of them have been given shots across the country.

Measles is transmitted through direct contact with airborne droplets that spread when a person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. Without vaccination, it is thought to be the most infectious disease in the world.

It causes tiny white spots inside the mouth, flat red spots on the neck, torso, arms, legs, and feet, ear infections and an intense fever.

The illness is extremely contagious. If one person has measles, up to 90 percent of the people close to that person who are not immune will also become infected.

The average measles patient would infect up to 18 others, if they were also not vaccinated. People who had the original Covid strain, by comparison, infected on average just two people, though this number rose considerably with new variants.

In children unvaccinated against measles, about one in five are hospitalized, while one in 20 suffer from pneumonia, according to the CDC.

Pictured: Dr Nike Shoyinka, Ingham County's medical health officer

The measles vaccine is 93 percent effective at preventing infections after one dose, and 97 percent effective after two doses

One in 1,000 will also develop encephalitis, a swelling on the brain that can lead to convulsions, going deaf and intellectual disability, and about one to three in every 1,000 die from the disease.

In recent months, physicians have treated several of these children for liver damage believed to be caused by excessive vitamin A intake.

Since confirmation of the baby being infected, the Ingham County Health Department has issued a press release asking people to check and be updated on their MMR vaccinations.

The Department said in an official notice: 'Measles is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable illness that spreads through airborne transmission and direct contact.

'To help protect the community, we strongly encourage all individuals aged 1 year and older to ensure they are up to date on the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine. The MMR vaccine is safe and effective, providing approximately 97 percent protection with two doses.'

This comes a week after Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr turned on his vaccine skepticism and told the public that the MMR vaccine is the 'most effective way' to stave off the potentially dangerous virus.

Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr recently turned on his vaccine skepticism and told the public that the MMR vaccine is the 'most effective way' to stave off the potentially dangerous virus

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The 'Make America Health Again' movement's frontman made the announcement during a visit to West Texas to comfort families whose children had died due to measles infection.

He added: 'In early March, I deployed a CDC team to bolster local and state capacity for response across multiple Texas regions.

'Since that time, the growth rates for new cases and hospitalizations have flattened. The most effective way to prevent the spread of measles is the MMR vaccine.'

Kennedy has previously said that the MMR vaccine, which is estimated to have prevented around 60 million measles deaths worldwide, was not the cause of a drop in deaths. He had also claimed that malnutrition is the cause of measles deaths.

But he began shifting his perspective in March and began asking parents to vaccinate their children.
Cecilia Wichmann counts herself lucky to be alive.

The 45-year-old from Wills Point, Texas, has almost died twice following two cardiac arrests and the first time, her heart stopped beating for 10 minutes.

By all accounts she should be dead.

Nine in 10 survive if treatment starts within the first minutes after sudden cardiac arrest, but the rate drops by about 10 percent each minute longer.

While on death's door, Wichmann said she had profound experiences that have gone on to change her life forever and she no longer fears death.

While she cannot recall any strong visions of the afterlife she believes this was because she 'wasn't ready' and still has things she needs to 'accomplish on Earth'.

Cecilia said: 'I believe in God and I think that's one of the reasons I'm still alive. I felt a stronger bond to God because I figured there must be a reason to survive this because otherwise he would've taken me home.

'I'm also trying to find the reason why I didn't go home those days. I pray a lot more than I did before all this.

Cecilia Wichmann counts herself lucky to be alive. The 45-year-old from Wills Point, Texas , has almost died twice following two cardiac arrests and the first time, her heart stopped beating for 10 minutes

'I could've gone to the afterlife but instead I stayed on earth, I think it's a sign I have a purpose that I need to fulfil. I'm not sure I've found the exact purpose yet.'

Cecilia experienced her first near-death experience while she was on the phone to a friend and she suddenly collapsed.

The Texan credits her friend for saving her life by calling paramedics who performed emergency CPR and raced her to hospital.

Defying the odds, the healthcare professional survived a second cardiac arrest the following year, when her heart stopped while she was waiting for a pacemaker to be fitted.

Cecilia says she had numerous fainting episodes before her cardiac arrests but doctors merely put them down to 'stress' and never investigated.

They're still unsure what triggers them.

Cecilia was diagnosed with Postural tachycardia syndrome (PoTS) in 2019, a condition in which the person's heart rate increase quickly after getting up from sitting or lying down, which can lead to symptoms like dizziness or lightheadedness.

But PoTS isn't directly linked to cardiac arrest.

Doctors can't rule out that she has underlying heart problems that affect the way the organ beats and pumps blood.

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Cecilia says her brushes with death in September 2017 and March 2018 inspired her to become an emergency medical technician (EMT) and 'give back'.

She also says the experiences went on to make her faith 'stronger'.

Touching on what happened when she nearly died further, she revealed: 'I imagine I could have had contact with God and the afterlife but what happened, I have no clue. I probably saw something. What I saw and what I experienced - I wasn't ready for it. I'm just grateful that I actually came back.

'Then you hear other peoples stories of them dying and what they saw and I think "oh that's not fair". I think when the day comes that I'm not coming back I will. I was just not ready for it at that time.

'I think I still have things to accomplish in this world and mentally am not ready to see the other side just yet but if God wants me back I want to know I've lived as fulfilling a life as I possibly can.

While on death's door, she said she had profound experiences that have gone on to change her life forever and she no longer fears death

Cecilia seen in hospital following her first cardiac arrest in September 2017

'Being in the EMS has given me the opportunity to give back to people. To teach CPR and let people know how important it is to know and not to be the person freaking out and not knowing what to do. I think that's part of my purpose on earth.'

She's now sharing her story to raise awareness of PoTS - which affects an estimated 1 to 3 million people in the US - and the importance of knowing CPR.

Cecilia said: 'My friend saved my life, I'm glad I was on the phone with her. I would absolutely not be alive if I hadn't.

'We were just catching up and laughing, it wasn't a heated conversation or drama or anything.

'I remember coming into my house and I was walking around and petting my dog and letting him out, just normal stuff you do when you're on the phone to a friend.

'I wasn't dizzy, I wasn't warm or cold and I didn't have any pain anywhere. There was nothing that could have pointed to what was about to happen.

'[My friend] said "you were talking fine and then mid-sentence you disappeared. You didn't hang up but I heard some weird noises".

'She called the sheriff department and said to them "I have her on the line and can hear she is breathing in some way but she's not responding to me".

'Thankfully my door was open and I had two big windows so he saw me lying inside.'

After CPR was performed on Cecilia for 10 minutes she was rushed to hospital where she stayed for 10 days.

Despite running a gauntlet of tests, baffled doctors couldn't determine what caused it.

Cecilia said: 'My chest was hurting after the CPR. I thought "what in the holy moly world has happened? Why is my chest hurting this bad?"

'I think it was a couple of days of denial. It's not supposed to happen at the age of 37 to someone living a "normal" life.

'Then it was all these questions: "Why am I alive? Why didn't I die? What's my purpose? Why am I here?" Because I know the statistics aren't good.

Cecilia said her experiences inspired her to become an EMT in April 2019 and she is now urging people to learn CPR

'There were more questions than answers and many of those questions have not been answered yet.'

The survivor began experiencing random fainting episodes in May 2017 but was told it was merely 'stress' every time she went to the doctors.

Cecilia said: 'They were just random and it was weird. I could be standing talking to somebody and just collapse.

'I went to the ER every time and they always said it was stress or depression. It was never investigated what actually happened.

'There wasn't anything I could connect to stress.'

The healthcare professional had a second cardiac arrest in March 2018 in hospital as she waited to get her pacemaker fitted where her heart stopped for a minute.

Cecilia said: 'The statistics to survive cardiac arrests aren't good but I survived two.

'What is it that God wants me to do on this planet earth that keeps me here? It's got to be something.

'It was a strength for me to know that now I had a pacemaker, I was grateful for getting that little piece of equipment.'

Cecilia said her experiences inspired her to become an EMT in April 2019 and she is now urging people to learn CPR.

Cecilia said: '[My cardiac arrests] inspired me. It was nothing that I had in mind before the first cardiac arrest. It's my way of giving back, I'm honored to be able to do this job.

'I don't take tomorrow for granted, I try to live every day to the fullest and not just wait.

'Get to know your CPR. If it wasn't or the officer that knew what to do, I would probably not be here. I thank him everyday for being here as well.

'You will probably never use it but you can be anywhere at any time and if somebody goes down you need to know what to do.'
Pfizer has stopped the development of its weight loss pill after a patient experienced a liver injury that was potentially caused by the drug.

The pharmaceutical giant halted the creation of danuglipron, an oral GLP-1 drug that was hoped would work like Ozempic in pill-form.

Dr Chris Boshoff, Pfizer's Chief Scientific Officer, confirmed in statement on April 14: 'While we are disappointed to discontinue the development of danuglipron, we remain committed to evaluating and advancing promising programs in an effort to bring innovative new medicines to patients.'

The patient, who was not identified, did not experience any liver-related symptoms or side effects and their injury.

Pfizer officials noted in an official statement that the rate of elevated liver enzymes in over 1,400 participants who took Pfizer's danuglipron was in line with other approved GLP-1 drugs for weight loss.

However, there was one person who experienced a 'potential drug-induced liver injury' which was was 'resolved' after they stopped taking the pill.

It remains unclear what kind of injury the patient suffered and if it was related to the enzyme levels in their liver. But elevated enzymes can lead to liver cancer over time.

The once-a-day version of the pill was in early-stage testing as researchers were trying to figure out the best dose for patients.

Pfizer has stopped the development of its weight loss pill after a patient experienced a liver injury that was potentially caused by the drug

The company intended to move the drug into late-stage testing which is the last phase of development before a company submits the treatment to government regulators for approval.

However, it decided to cancel development of danuglipron once the liver injury in a patient was identified.

But despite the setback, Dr Boshoff assured that the company is still looking to develop a weight loss pill.

The statement continued: 'Cardiovascular and metabolic diseases including obesity remain important areas of unmet medical need, and we plan to continue applying our global capabilities to advance a pipeline of investigational treatments that have the potential to fill critical gaps in patient care, including continued development of our oral GIPR antagonist candidate and other earlier obesity program.'

Pfizer also said that the data from danuglipron's development program will be presented at a scientific forum or submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal in the future.

Weight loss medication has recently seen a huge rise in demand but most are in the form of injections.

Pictured: Dr Chris Boshoff, Pfizer's Chief Scientific Officer

Ozempic, an anti-diabetic medication that also helps in weight loss, recorded about $16.7 billion sales of sales in the US in 2024.

As of 2024, over 15 million (one in 17) Americans have a prescription for this blockbuster drug.

Mounjaro, Ozempic's sister drug which shot to fame for its weight loss capabilities by the of 2024, brought in $3.5 billion in sales in the last quarter.

The only oral GLP-1 approved by the Food and Drug Administration so far is Novo Nordisks Rybelsus, which treats Type 2 diabetes and raked in about $3.38 billion in sales in 2024.

In 2023, Pfizer announced that it would abandon the twice-a-day oral version of danuglipron after more than half the patients in a clinical trial dropped out due to frequent episodes of nausea and vomiting.
CNN's Scott Jennings had a tense back and forth with left-wing rabbi Jay Michaelson, who appeared intent on deflecting instances of antisemitism on college campuses last year.

While on a panel discussing President Donald Trump's decision Monday to freeze $2.2 billion in federal funds that had been set to go to Harvard University, Jennings said he agreed with the move.

Jennings, who is also a columnist for the DailyMail.com, referenced the letter from the government to Harvard sent out last week that in part demanded the private university 'prevent admitting international students hostile to the American values,' which included 'students supportive of terrorism or antisemitism.'

During the heat of the protests last year against Israel's war in Gaza following the October 7 attack by Hamas, there was a pro-Palestine encampment on Harvard's campus that lasted for 20 days.

'I think that this is all about antisemitism,' said Jennings.

'I believe that what has happened on these campuses in the Ivy League and in other places, mostly private institutions, has been an abomination. And someone has to stand up for these Jewish kids.'

Michaelson, who is a journalist on top of being a rabbi, said he wouldn't be the one standing up for Jewish students, some of whom were prevented from going to class by protestors at places like UCLA.

'It's not going to be the rabbi at the table and it's not going to be the entire Jewish community and it's not going to be my friends in Jewish Studies who just had their grants canceled,' Michaelson said.

After Harvard announced it would not comply with Trump's demands, which also included ending all affirmative action and DEI programs, the Department of Education's Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism swiftly announced the freeze on $2.2 billion in multi-year grants and $60 million in multi-year contracts.

Scott Jennings (left) and Jay Michaelson got into a heated debate on a CNN panel about President Donald Trump's decision to yank federal funding from Harvard University after it allowed a pro-Palestine encampment last spring

In the fall semester, Harvard students also came together to protest Israel's war in Gaza after Hamas attacked civilians on October 7, 2023 (Pictured: A graduate-student organized rally outside Widner Library on October 14, 2023)

'Until Donald Trump came along and his administration decided to connect federal funds to stamping out the scourge of antisemitism on these campuses, nobody was willing to stand up for [Jewish students],' said Jennings, an alum in the George W. Bush administration.

'I think the American people don't want a private university with a $53 billion endowment to get a dollar while a Jewish kid is being discriminated against on campus,' he added.

Michaelson quickly fired back by saying, 'What a joke. What a complete joke.'

He argued that the Republican party has its own problem with antisemitism, pointing to Nick Fuentes who has promoted white supremist ideologies.

Michaelson also made not-so-subtle references to Elon Musk, who donated nearly a quarter of a billion dollars to Trump's 2024 campaign and subsequently became the head of the cost-cutting DOGE department.

He pointed out that Musk publicly supported German far-right party AfD, which has been accused of using Nazi slogans. Michaelson also reminded the panel that Musk was highly-criticized for doing a 'salute' during Trump's inauguration.

Jennings then steered the conversation back to its original topic, pressing Michaelson on whether he condoned 'what's happening to these Jewish kids' on college campuses.

Michaelson didn't give a clear answer and host Abby Phillip jumped in to reign in her guests who were now shouting over one another.

Pictured: The pro-Palestine encampment at Harvard University, which lasted for 20 days during the spring semester last year

The heated cable news clash comes as the Trump administration already brought down the hammer on Columbia University, which last year had to have its pro-Palestine encampment disbanded by NYPD officers in riot gear (pictured)

'Scott, I think the issue is not whether these universities should adjust antisemitism, the question is how is the government using government power to do it,' Phillip said.

'There is a complete distinction between the university addressing its own problems and the government forcing them to do it in a particular way.'

Jennings hit back: 'If Harvard wants to give up the federal money, you can do all the antisemitism I guess you want at Harvard or any other school.'

The heated cable news clash comes as the Trump administration already brought down the hammer on Columbia University, which last year had to have its pro-Palestine encampment disbanded by NYPD officers in riot gear.

Trump pulled $400 million in federal funding from Columbia in the beginning of March. By March 21, university administrators caved and agreed to change their policies when it comes to student protests.

The university's interim president said in a letter that Columbia will bar protests inside academic buildings. Students will also not be permitted to wear face masks on campus 'for the purposes of concealing one's identity.'

In an effort to expand 'intellectual diversity' within the university, Columbia will also appoint new faculty members to its Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies department.
Gayle King is not pleased with those calling her Blue Origin trip a 'space ride.'

'They call it a ride, which I find very irritating because they never say men went for a ride,' King, 70, said on Tuesday, a day after she her 11-minute, all-woman trip - which has been slammed as a frivolous publicity campaign for Jeff Bezos' space company.

Responding to accusations that the suborbital flight had no real scientific purpose, King spoke with fellow crewmate, former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe on CBS Mornings.

'Theres so many things that have been developed in space that benefit Earth... from pharmaceuticals to, like, research on agriculture,' Bowe said.

'And, you know, I paused there because we did research and it was emotional... Part of what I accomplished in my flight was I was looking at the future of being able to produce crops that can withstand harsh environments so we can look at food security here on Earth, and simultaneously, we also were able to certify that device so more people could do research on New Shepard.'

It's unclear what specific research Bowe conducted, but footage of the flight showed the all-female crew floating, marveling at the view, and holding personal items.

Bowe held a small Bahamas flag and pop star Katy Perry carried a daisy and a list of the setlist of her upcoming tour while shrieking the lyrics to Louis Armstrong's 'What a Wonderful World.'

King had previously clapped back at those calling the space flight a 'ride,' saying 'you have never said to a [male] astronaut, "What a ride." [Don't] call it a ride.'

She added: 'It's called a flight or a journey. A ride implies it's something frivolous or light hearted. There's nothing frivolous about what we did.'

Gayle King, seen on Tuesday with former NASA scientist Aisha Bowe, suggested it is sexist to say the all-female Blue Origin crew took a 'space trip'

Katy Perry, Lauren Sanchez, Gayle King, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, former rocket scientist Aisha Bowe and filmmaker Kerianne Flynn are seen in space

'This is what bothers me, I've certainly read some of the stuff being said online and it's coming from people I know, people I consider friends,' King said of the criticism of her trip

The women's quick trip to space was not exactly well-received, with a slew of stars publicly slamming it, including Emily Ratajkowski, Olivia Wilde, Olivia Munn, and Amy Schumer.

'That space mission this morning? Thats end time s**t. Like, this is beyond parody,' Ratajkowski said in a TikTok video.

'That you care about Mother Earth and its about Mother Earth, and youre going up in a spaceship that is built and paid for by a company thats singlehandedly destroying the planet?' she went on.

Ratajkowski continued, wondering about the purpose of the quick space journey. 'Look at the state of the world and think about how many resources went into putting these women into space. For what? What was the marketing there?'

'This is what bothers me, I've certainly read some of the stuff being said online and it's coming from people I know, people I consider friends,' King said.

'Space is not an either/or ... Just because you do something in space doesn't mean you're taking anything away from Earth.'

The star also insisted that Blue Origin is fiercely dedicated to 'make the planet cleaner.'

It's still unclear who - if anyone - footed the bill for the expedition, with a non-celebrity facing a $300,000 fare to make the same trip.

Emily Ratajkowski, 33, joined a growing number of stars criticizing Blue Origin for its star-studded, all-female space flight that took place on Monday

Amy Schumer jokingly claimed she scored a last-minute invite to join the mission

Bezos certainly got huge exposure for his fledgling space exploration company and was seen opening the capsule door to welcome his friends back to Earth.

Breathtaking footage showed King and other celebrities including Lauren Sanchez and Katy Perry screaming while weightless and peering into the vast emptiness of space.

The flight itself lasted just 11 minutes, but there was plenty of build-up to blast-off and screaming excitement after the A-List crew touched back down in West Texas, with CBS alumnus Oprah Winfrey among those waiting to greet the crew.

A fleet of Rivian cars - whose largest shareholder is Bezos' company Amazon - helped ferry the astronauts to their spacecraft.

It is unclear if Bezos personally authorized a freebie for his fiancee Sanchez and her friends.

But Tuesday's trip bought Blue Origin the type of free coverage equivalent to hundreds of millions of dollars of advertising spending.

Many of the ultra-rich will now likely be lining up to pay for their own flight into space after viewing the stunning footage.

Bezos will also have caught the eye of the federal government, whose ultra-lucrative space exploration contracts to SpaceX owner Elon Musk have helped make him the richest man in the world.

Ex-CNN media analyst Oliver Darcy in February aired curiosity about who green-lighted King's part in the project, writing how her seemingly free ride into space 'seem(s) like a conflict of interest' in his Status newsletter.

He and others pointed out CBS News's strict policies against anchors accepting high-priced handouts for ethical reasons - a dynamic seemingly absent from statements issued by CBS since, before the network aired the Texas-based mission for all to see.

The network extensively interviewed Gayle about the mission as well, covering her training, inventory, and the rocket's technology all the way until its launch Monday.
Elon Musk has publicly belittled The Wall Street Journal after the paper published an extensive report claiming the billionaire is secretly trying to create a 'legion' of offspring.

The article included an in-depth account from 26-year-old conservative influencer Ashley St. Clair, who claims Musk bought her silence after she gave birth to a baby supposedly belonging to him back in February.

Musk, within hours, was bashing the Journal - touting it as worse than TMZ.

'TMZ >> WSJ,' the billionaire wrote.

It wasn't his first time panning the paper, which he branded as 'trash' back in January. The barb came in direct response to a separate report surrounding his alleged pervasive drug use and concerns it was causing his companies' directors.

The Wednesday report alleged the billionaire is building a massive brood ahead of a prospective population collapse - a clandestine campaign now creating 'harem drama'.

On paper, Musk has fathered at least 14 children by four women - but the Journal report suggests the true number is much higher.

Armed with a paternity test said to be '99.9999 percent' accurate, St. Clair claimed Musk allegedly offered her $15million and $100,000 a month to not disclose he is the father of her child - an arrangement she says is in place with several other women.

Elon Musk ( Seen here at UFC 314 in Miami with son X  A-12 Musk) belittled The Wall Street Journal Wednesday after the paper published a report claiming he is secretly trying to create a 'legion' of offspring with multiple women

Within hours, Musk was bashing the Journal - touting it as worse than well-known tabloid TMZ

She said Musk strategically recruits 'candidates' like her through X - before hitting them with NDAs.

'The Tactics Elon Musk Uses to Manage His Legion of Babies - and Their Mothers,' the WSJ piece's headline blasted, bolstered by a portrait style photo of St. Clair and her son, Romulus.

'The worlds richest man juggles more than a dozen children and harem drama along with running his companies and advising Trump,' a subhead insisted as well.

'[Musk] recently took a paternity test in a battle with one woman over money and privacy.'

The report them jumps directly into St. Clair's perspective, and her efforts to get Musk, 53, to take a paternity test before giving birth.

That put her into contact with Musk's fixer, Jared Birchall, whom fielded her concerns during a two-hour phone call that took place in December, according to the Journal.

'I dont want my son to feel like hes a secret,' St. Clair told Birchall at the time

Birchall, Musk's longtime fixer, told the 26-year-old how his boss was a 'very big-hearted, kind and generous person,' but that her going 'the legal route', from his experience, 'always, always leads to a worse outcome for that woman'.

The article included an in-depth account from 26-year-old conservative influencer Ashley St. Clair, who claims Musk bought her silence after she gave birth to a baby boy back in February and is running a clandestine compound in Austin, Texas, filled with kids and Musk baby mamas

St. Clair revealed Tuesday that the newborn, a boy, is named Romulus (seen here), and that there is a 99.9999 percent chance the boy is Musk's, according to a paternity test. He was born in February

Jared Birchall, Musk's fixer, demanded St. Clair sign papers that would keep Musk's parentage a secret as an exchange for the $15 million and $100,000 a month, St. Clair said. She reportedly refused the offer

She went on to give birth the following February, before which Musk - whom helped name the child after some reservations as to whether it was actually his - reportedly offered her the $15 million and $100,000-a-month.

She nearly accepted, after being told the stipend was similar to what Musk has agreed with the known mothers of his children, such as the popular musician Grimes and Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis.

The article includes tidbits like Musk demanding she deliver the baby via a caesarian section - based on the belief that doing so allows for a baby to have a larger brain.

He also required he not undergo a circumcision. St. Clair is Jewish and wanted a natural birth so she rejected both, the Journal reported.

St. Clair did comply, however, with the request of leaving Musk's name off of Romulus' birth certificate - which Birchall made while she was inducing labor.

She did, however, prepare by hiring an attorney - a move that reportedly went against Birchall's wishes.

Birchall then demanded St. Clair sign papers that would keep Musk's parentage a secret in exchange for the aforementioned pay - and agreement that reportedly prevented her from ever saying anything negative about Musk.

The alleged document, however, did not stipulate the same for him about her, and Musk even tried to sway her decision by saying he was under threat of assassination due to his support of a now president Trump.

She refused to sign, allowing her the ability to speak out.

She recalled how she met Musk in spring 2023 when he reached out vie the website he bought for $44billion the year before to invited her to visit its offices then in San Francisco.

At the time, St. Clair was the operations manager and conservative humor site The Babylon Bee.

He eventually invited her to a trip on his private plane to Rhode Island to visit one of his children at school, the Journal reported.

During and in between these meet ups, Musk spoke frequently about having children with St. Clair, even going as far to tell her to 'pick a name' after the first time they had sex, the Journal reported.

On a vacation over New Year's heading into 2024, St. Clair revealed she had been ovulating - an admission that allegedly led Musk to ask her: 'What are we waiting for?'

St. Clair said that they conceived Romulus soon after, after which Musk allegedly tried to get her to move to an Austin 'compound' to spend time with himself and an array of other women and children he is calling 'kid legion.'

One of the mothers who lives in the gated community is Neuralink exec Shivon Zilis, seen as a 'steadying force' within the cult-esque compound, St. Clair claimed

Grimes - whom Musk never married but was met with a custody battle over their three kids - reportedly rejected the request. She is seen here with XAE-12 in Portofino in 2023

Musk allegedly wanted multiple residencies in the gated community, essentially seeking take it over.

One of the mothers who lives in the gated community is Zilis, seen as a 'steadying force' within the cult-esque compound, St. Clair claimed.

As for Musk, he 'comes and goes' as he pleases, she said.

Grimes - whom Musk never married but was met with a custody battle over their three kids - reportedly rejected the request.

Musk, meanwhile, enjoys a 'special status' when he is there, said St. Clair - recalling her time there spent as well and Musk bringing her to big events at the White House.

St. Clair recalled being consistently texted updates on the custody case between Musk and Grimes from Musk himself.

Grimes settled a custody lawsuit with Musk last August, with the pair alternating weeks with their three children, including X  A-1, seen with his father at the UFC fights in Miami Saturday and in the Oval Office several times.

Grimes settled a custody lawsuit with Musk last August, with the pair alternating weeks with their three children, including X  A-1, seen with his father at the UFC fights in Miami Saturday and in the Oval Office in February

St Clair further claims Musk is still seeking out new mothers, including well-known, much younger crypto journalist Tiffany Fong, 30, who denied claims she is pregnant with Musk 's child following St. Clair's reveal.

St Clair conceded she even experimented with becoming a part of the 'kid legion' during her pregnancy, arranging playdates between her son from a previous relationship and some of Musk's younger kids.

She says she has even met Musk's elusive mother Maye.

In November, she sent Musk a selfie, to which he reportedly responded: 'I want to knock you up again.'

DailyMail.com spotted St. Clair handing over the keys to her black Model S outside her Manhattan apartment in late March.

She claimed Musk recently cut her child support by more than half, and was now selling her black Model S Tesla to make ends meet.

He addressed the rumors on X on X, before the Journal report published two days later.

'I dont know if the child is mine or not, but am not against finding out. No court order is needed,' Musk said at the time, before detailing the amount of money he claims to have sent the conservative influencer.

'Despite not knowing for sure, I have given Ashley $2.5M and am sending her $500k/year,' he said, spurring a response from St. Clair - on that branded him 'petulant man-child' who needed to take responsibility.

St Clair first went public with her claims in February, claiming Musk first slid into [her] DMs' in May 2023.

'Elon, we asked you to confirm paternity through a test before our child (who you named) was even born. You refused,' she said.

She also clarified that it wasn't sending her money but 'sending support for your child that you thought was necessary until you withdrew most of it to maintain control and punish me for disobedience. But youre really only punishing your son.'

She also referenced his most recent move in court - one she framed as an attempt to silence her, while he posts on X.

'Its ironic that your last effort in court was to try to gag me while you use a social media channel you literally own to distribute derogatory messages about me and our child to the entire world,' she wrote this week.

'Its all about control with you, and everyone can see it.'

Musk has yet to respond directly to St. Clair on social media.

St Clair first went public with her claims in February, claiming Musk first slid into [her] DMs' in May 2023.

At the time, she only named Romulus by his initials 'R.S.C.', saying he was conceived early January 2024 on a trip to the island of Saint Barthelemy in the Caribbean.

Elon Musk and his first wife Justine Wilson (pictured right) had six children, including one who died of sudden infant death syndrome in 2002

Musk, 53, has not publicly acknowledged the child as his own - only responded with characteristic cryptic emojis to posts on X about St. Clair's claims.

St. Clair filed a paternity and a custody lawsuit in a New York court on February 21, claiming Musk told her to keep the baby secret.

A source close to the case told DailyMail.com that since going public, Musk 'retaliated' by slashing her payments in half 'unilaterally', leaving St. Clair struggling.

She also has a three-year-old son from a previous partner, New York chiropractor Johnny Alexander.

She has been raising the toddler and baby with the help of a full-time nanny at her rented three-bed apartment in downtown Manhattan.
The long Easter weekend is anticipated by many, but it can also be expensive.

The typical Briton spends 147 over the bank holiday, according to finance website NerdWallet, with the cost of meals, travel and chocolate eggs all adding up.

Many would jump at the chance of taking home free chocolate - and unfortunately that is the latest ruse being used by online scammers.

One scam shared on X earlier this year saw a victim targeted with a promotion which impersonated the chocolate maker Cadbury.

It read: 'We would like to offer you a unique opportunity to receive a new Ultimate Selection box! To claim, simple take this short survey about your experience with Cadbury.'

They would then be asked to follow a link and hand over personal information, or their payment details - allowing the fraudsters to access their cash.

Experts warn of a spike in this kind of scam leading up to Easter, and NerdWallet has said they typically result in a loss of 7,448 per victim.

Don't get too egg-cited: Offers of free Easter treats online could turn out to be a scam

Adam French, consumer finance expert at NerdWallet, said: 'With Easter approaching, consumers should be extra alert for scam social media giveaways.

'These scams, often mimicking well-known chocolate brands like Cadbury, can spike at this time of year.'

He added: 'In recent years, scammers have circulated fake Cadbury Easter promotions on platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp, offering free chocolate hampers in exchange for completing surveys or following suspicious links.

'While the giveaways may look convincing - using brand logos, fake comments, and cloned web pages - these posts are not affiliated with the real Cadbury brand, which has previously confirmed that it does not run any promotions in this way.'

How does the 'free chocolate' scam work?

French said: 'These scams are designed to harvest personal data, trick users into signing up for costly subscriptions or hand over payment details.'

In some cases scammer might request victims to input payment details. Doing so could allow scammers to steal money directly from a victims account.

However, the scammer is more likely intending to target your personal information instead. French said this could make victims more susceptible to impersonation scams in the future.

Some scammers may also sign victims up to expensive subscriptions.

French said: 'As scammers become more sophisticated, we as consumers must stay alert. Businesses also need to clearly communicate which giveaways are legitimate.

'This is especially important during holidays when we can be more tempted by free gifts and seasonal offers.'

To avoid becoming a victim, French says the key is to ensure the source of a promotion is genuine.

On social media, this means looking out for verified social media accounts.

He said: 'If in doubt, go directly to the brand's official website or contact its customer service team before engaging with any online promotion.'
Guangzhou displays city image in Kathmandu

Xinhua) 10:47, April 16, 2025

Binod Prakash Singh, secretary of Nepal's Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, speaks at the "Charming Guangzhou Meets Nepal" city image showcase in Kathmandu, Nepal, April 15, 2025. The Chinese city of Guangzhou on Tuesday showcased its city image in the Nepali capital in efforts to deepen cultural exchanges and cooperation. (Photo by Hari Maharjan/Xinhua)

KATHMANDU, April 15 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese city of Guangzhou on Tuesday showcased its city image in the Nepali capital in efforts to deepen cultural exchanges and cooperation.

At the "Charming Guangzhou Meets Nepal" city image showcase, a city image film was screened, a Cantonese opera excerpt and an acrobatic show were performed, Cantonese cuisine was presented and two delicacies were made for tasting at the scene, and a photo exhibition was held to highlight different aspects of the capital of south China's Guangdong Province.

Guangzhou and Nepal have been deepening cooperation in the fields of the economy, trade, culture, tourism and education in recent years, with the city's electronic and light industrial products constantly entering thousands of households in Nepal, and Kathmandu's thangka paintings and handicrafts well sold at international platforms in Guangzhou, noted Wang Xin, a counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Nepal.

A total of 11 direct flights per week have shortened distance between Kathmandu and Guangzhou to four hours, making "the world is so small" a reality, Wang said at the event hosted by the Information Office of Guangzhou Municipal Government.

At a new starting point for the Belt and Road cooperation, the two sides work hand in hand to actively explore new opportunities for cooperation, said Du Xinshan, member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Guangzhou Municipal Committee and director general of the Publicity Department of the CPC Guangzhou Municipal Committee.

"We must use clean energy to promote green development, use the digital economy to empower trade and commerce and interconnection, and build consensus through dialogues on cultural heritage," Du said.

As 2025 marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Nepal and China, Binod Prakash Singh, secretary of Nepal's Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, spoke of a "deep and enduring" friendship between the two countries over the past seven decades.

And the friendship was built "not only on shared geography but also on mutual respect, cultural affinity and close people-to-people ties," he stressed at the event.

"This city showcase is more than just a presentation, it is a bridge between our peoples, highlighting the vibrancy of Guangzhou and the warmth, diversity and timeless beauty of Nepal," he said.

Guests watch a city image film at the "Charming Guangzhou Meets Nepal" city image showcase in Kathmandu, Nepal, April 15, 2025. The Chinese city of Guangzhou on Tuesday showcased its city image in the Nepali capital in efforts to deepen cultural exchanges and cooperation. (Photo by Hari Maharjan/Xinhua)

A photo exhibition is held at the "Charming Guangzhou Meets Nepal" city image showcase in Kathmandu, Nepal, April 15, 2025. The Chinese city of Guangzhou on Tuesday showcased its city image in the Nepali capital in efforts to deepen cultural exchanges and cooperation. (Photo by Hari Maharjan/Xinhua)

A Cantonese opera excerpt is performed at the "Charming Guangzhou Meets Nepal" city image showcase in Kathmandu, Nepal, April 15, 2025. The Chinese city of Guangzhou on Tuesday showcased its city image in the Nepali capital in efforts to deepen cultural exchanges and cooperation. (Photo by Hari Maharjan/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
A major energy supplier is offering cheaper rates for its customers - provided they can shift their power use to off-peak times.

Eon Next has launched the first fixed time-of-use tariff for all customers, offering up electricity at close to half-price between 2am and 5am.

The 12-month fixed tariff will also charge households cheaper rates than the energy price cap in other off-peak periods.

These 'time of use' deals are usually only offered to those who have green gadgets such as heat pumps and electric vehicle charges - but Eon's is open to all.

How do these tariffs work, and are they worth it?

Time-of-use: These tariffs help shift demand on the electricity grid during peak hours

What are time-of-use tariffs?

The electricity grid is powered by different energy sources, including gas and renewables, and more is used when there is more demand.

It means that during peak periods, usually in the evenings, more gas is burned to meet the increased need.

Energy companies are subject to various targets and penalties which incentivise them to reduce the gas they use.

That's why they introduced time-of-use tariffs, charging a lower rate to encourage households to use less electricity during peak times.

Unlike a standard variable rate tariff or fixed tariff, electricity prices will vary between peak hours, off-peak hours and super off-peak hours.

What is Eon's new tariff?

Eon's 'Next Smart Saver' tariff acts like any other time-of-use tariff, offering customers lower rates at certain times of the day.

The 12-month fixed tariff offers cheaper rates than a standard variable tariff and higher rates during peak hours when demand is higher.

Customers using electricity between 5am-4pm and 7pm-2am will pay the off-peak tariff charged at 20.11p/kWh, nearly 7p cheaper than the price cap rate of 27.03p/kWh.

The super-off-peak rate is 16.33p/kWh between 2am and 5am, while the peak rate will cost 38.48p/kWh between 4pm and 7pm.

That means that customers will pay less than the price cap if they can shift their usage away from the peak period, but if they're unable to, they will pay 10p more than the price cap.

Crucially, there are no exit fees on Eon's new tariff which means customers can leave if their circumstances and usage habits change.

Ramona Vlasiu, chief operating officer at Eon Next, says: 'With energy prices fluctuating, we know customers are looking for ways to take control of their bills.

'However, this isn't just about individual savings; it's about smarter energy use for the whole country. As the UK moves towards a greener, cleaner grid, shifting demand away from peak times will play a crucial role in reducing strain on the network.'

Will this new tariff work for you?

To sign up for a time-of-use tariff, you'll need a smart meter and crucially, be able to move your electricity use to off-peak periods.

Typically people who use a time-of-use tariff have an electric car, or a battery storage system for their home.

This means they can charge their car or home battery overnight when demand is lower, and avoid using the grid - but still have power - during the day.

However, Eon's tariff means that any customer - even those without an EV or battery - will be able to benefit from the cheaper rates. If you're able to shift your usage away from the peak hours of 4pm to 7pm then you will stand to benefit.

A spokesperson for Uswitch said: 'These tariffs won't be right for everyone. The super off-peak window is between 2am and 5am  a time when most households are asleep and unlikely to use appliances, but it could suit those who can schedule when they run.

'Electric vehicle owners should also be cautious  although the tariff includes lower overnight rates, they're still not as competitive as the 7p/kWh available on some specialist EV charging deals.'

If a time-of-use tariff won't work for you, you might be better off opting for a fixed deal tariff and locking in your savings for between 12 and 24 months.

The cheapest fixed deal currently available from a large supplier is priced at 1,549, 300 cheaper than the price cap.
My brother-in-law died on Christmas Day 2023. My husband had to organise probate on his estate, which took almost nine months.

His brother had several bank accounts to close and investments to sell.

We were advised by our solicitor to open an executors account for the proceeds for around 880,000 as they were too large to be held in their account.

We opened one with Barclays, which was the bank used by my late brother- in-law.

But weve discovered that no interest was being paid despite being told that it was an interest-bearing account. Barclays blamed us for not requesting a savings account. Can you help?

S. M., Slough, Berks.

Zero returns: Barclays paid no interest on a reader's 880,000 after they inherited the money following the death of their brother-in-law

Sally Hamilton replies: Lucky Barclays. It had your late brother-in-laws cash pile sitting in its vaults for many months and did not add a penny of interest to it.

You told me that the balance rose from an initial 116,093 when the account was opened 15 months ago to 767,000 in December last year as accounts were consolidated and investments sold.

By February this year, it had risen to nearly 880,000  which was when your husband rang to double-check it was earning interest.

You recounted how, 15 months ago, you visited your local Barclays to set up an executor account.

You said it was done quickly as the clerk needed to collect her children from school. She completed the form and asked your husband to sign.

Fast-forward to February this year, and with the time for sharing out the estate nearing, your husband rang Barclays to check that interest was being paid on the account. He was told it was.

But more recently, when you spoke to Barclays again, it told you no interest had been earned. It said it was your husbands fault for not asking for a savings account at the start.

Your husband complained and asked why it hadnt been fully explained that there were two accounts available  a savings one that pays interest and a current account that does not.

Its excuse was the bank isnt allowed to offer financial advice and that your husband should have checked the form before signing.

I am sceptical that it constitutes advice for a bank clerk to point out that one account earns interest and the other doesnt. Rather, I see it as good service to provide appropriate facts to customers so they can make their own informed decisions.

Bank account guru Rachel Springall, of financial website Moneyfacts, tells me that opening a bank executor account is not a legal requirement for someone managing the affairs of a deceased person, but says they are usually recommended to make it easier to carry out the financial tasks involved.

An executor account can only be used for the business of dealing with the deceased estate, making everything transparent.

Alternatively, executors can open any bank account for this purpose  as long as it is kept separate from their own personal financial affairs.

Scam Watch Families jetting off on Easter breaks should beware a scam email offering a free package of sun cream, consumer website Which? warns. Tricksters impersonating retailer Boots claim you can win the bundle, which contains 18 Nivea items, by filling out a short survey. But the link in the email will instead lead you to a malicious website which will ask for your personal and financial details  which can then be used for fraudulent purposes. Do not click on the link. Instead, forward the email to report@phishing.gov.uk.

Banks typically demand executors provide a grant of representation (England or Wales) or a confirmation (Scotland). These prove an individual has the authority to act as executor. Banks may also request the death certificate, will and the executors ID.

Taking the current average saving rate of 3.1 pc, I calculate that just the initial balance on the proceeds of the estate could have earned about 4,500 gross by the time you wrote to me. For two months at 880,000, the interest could have reached more than 4,500.

Barclays informed me that its executor savings account pays just 1.25 pc gross. Even at that lowly rate you could have received at least 1,813 on the initial balance alone and 1,833 for the couple of months when it peaked at 880,000, plus a few thousand pounds in between.

Barclays stated that from its end everything was above board and that your husband had not only selected the current account by signing the forms but should have been alerted to the lack of interest when statements came in.

Barclays agreed to pay interest from the date of the phone call in February when your husband had been led to believe the account was receiving interest. The redress amounts to 901 in interest, plus 100 as an apology.

A Barclays spokesperson says: We are sorry for the misunderstanding and have made a payment to the customer to compensate them for the loss of interest.

New kitchen hob is a fire risk

I bought a Bertazzoni gas hob via kitchen company Howdens in November last year. I soon found that the hob retained excessive heat for an extended period after use, creating a safety hazard.

Within just three weeks the cast-iron pan supports began showing signs of wear, too. I have complained but feel I am not being properly listened to. Please can you help?

B .L., London.

Sally Hamilton replies: You made complaints to the manufacturer Bertazzoni, pointing to the Consumer Rights Act 2015, which says goods sold must be fit for purpose.

You claimed this meant you were entitled to a repair, replacement or refund as it was defective. Your preference was for a replacement as you had lost confidence in the hob.

Bertazzoni offered various suggestions as to why you were experiencing overheating, including that you may have been using the wrong-sized pots for each burner. You were insistent that your pots and pans were the right size and had been used correctly.

It was clear to me the better course of action was to approach Howdens. The Consumer Rights Act states when there is a faulty product involved, it is the retailer who is responsible and should be a customers first port of call.

I asked Howdens to intervene. This it did swiftly, offering to cover the cost of removing the hob, which it returned to Bertazzoni, installing a new one (a Bosch appliance that you paid for) as well as refunding the price of the original  a total of 1,104. You were delighted.

A spokesman says: We are sorry it took so long to reach a satisfactory solution in this case.

Straight to the point I purchased a phone in October 2023 and recently discovered I had been paying for both my old tariff and the new one. Tesco Mobile refunded the extra I had been paying, but now says I owe 444.27. J. T., via email. Tesco Mobile apologises. It says there is no payment due so it has been cancelled, and a goodwill gesture has been offered. *** I have had Virgin broadband for years, but they recently hiked the price by 10 per cent so I cancelled. It is now charging me more than 300 in cancellation fees despite its terms stating there are no such costs for customers of more than two years. N. C., Bingley. Virgin says that as you agreed a new 18-month contract in June last year an early termination fee applies. No exemption for customers of more than two years exists. *** I booked an 847 six-night stay in a hotel in south-east England for my nieces wedding last September. My wife became ill and I asked the hotel if I could cancel. She unfortunately passed away two weeks later. I again asked the hotel for a refund and it said it would only charge me for the first night  but it later took the remaining amount anyway. A. O., California. You have now had a full refund. *** I bought a washing machine from Currys and took out a service plan. After four washes my kitchen was flooded. Currys gave me a number for the manufacturer, which sent out an engineer who said the machine had been wrongly plumbed in. The manufacturer has now demanded 70 for the callout as it wasnt an appliance fault, but says if we take out its insurance plan it would cancel the bill. M. N, Wishaw. Currys apologises. It will reimburse the callout charge and installation fee as a goodwill gesture.
US President Donald Trump's threat this week to slap tariffs on drug companies could leave your pension looking a lot less healthy and deal a body blow to Britain's leading life sciences sector.

If the tariff-loving leader goes ahead with his plans, it will hit AstraZeneca  the most valuable company on the UK stock market. It will also affect rival GSK, another stalwart of the FTSE 100.

Shares in the two companies have already been sliding, even before any tariffs are introduced. AstraZeneca shares are down nearly 10 per cent this month and the GSK share price has fallen 9 per cent, too.

This is a worrying development for an army of British savers who hold shares in the pharmaceutical titans, which are two of the most respected businesses on the UK stock market.

Millions more Britons have a stake indirectly in these companies through their pension pots.

Sir Pascal Soriot, the boss of Astra, and Dame Emma Walmsley, his counterpart at GSK, are scrambling to deal with the looming threat of US tariffs.

Medicines escaped the initial barrage announced by Trump on his so-called 'Liberation Day' two weeks ago.

But this week the President launched an investigation into imports of pharmaceuticals that is seen as the first step in a bid to impose tariffs.

US President Donald Trump's threat this week to slap tariffs on drug companies could leave your pension looking a lot less healthy

Trump suggested the levy could be 25 per cent and could take effect in the 'not-too-distant future'.

As well as causing concern among shareholders in AstraZeneca and GSK, this risks serious damage to Britain's life sciences industry.

This is one of the jewels in the crown of the UK economy, which directly and indirectly supports more than 200,000 high-value jobs.

These tariffs could act as a catalyst for the drug giants to carry out more manufacturing as well as research and development in the US.

Such a switch may mean they avoid the tax  but at the cost of jobs and innovation here in the UK.

Ministers have prioritised the issue of pharma tariffs in frantic negotiations for a wider trade deal with the US.

The move on drugs giants is not a total shock, however. The thinking in the Trump camp appears to be that Americans are being ripped off by foreigners.

Patients overseas are, on this view, receiving cheaper medicines that are effectively subsidised by the US  it has the largest expenditure on research anywhere in the world. Drug prices are higher, sometimes much higher, in the US than elsewhere, too.

Whatever the merits or otherwise of this argument, Trump clearly sees the pharma sector as a potentially lucrative target from which he could raise revenues through tariffs.

It was previously exempt under an agreement struck in 1994 at the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the international body which regulates the rules surrounding global trade.

Under that pact, the US, the UK, the EU, Japan, Canada, Norway and Switzerland agreed not to put tariffs or similar charges on pharmaceuticals and some of the ingredients and chemicals used to make them.

In the eyes of many, tariffs on essential medical treatments are morally dubious, because they could make drugs dearer for patients.

But the WTO agreement now looks fragile in the face of Trump's tariff-raising zeal.

If so, it will hit the UK particularly hard. Pharmaceuticals are the UK's second-largest export to the US after cars.

In 2023, medicinal and pharmaceutical products accounted for 8.8billion worth of British exports to America, nearly 15 per cent of the total.

Cambridge-based AstraZeneca is the most highly valued stock market company in the UK at about 160 billion. It employs some 10,000 people in Britain and many more around the world. Meanwhile, London-based GSK is worth 55 billion and boasts 11,000 UK staff.

Both companies also rely on America's vast drug market for a huge chunk of their sales. AstraZeneca last year made 44 per cent of its sales from the US market. For GSK, the share was even higher at 52 per cent.

Both firms already have extensive operations and manufacturing facilities in the US but remain vulnerable to tariffs on imports.

American drug prices are the most costly in the world. Unlike in the UK, where the NHS offers treatment free at the point of need, patients may have to shoulder the cost themselves if it is not covered by their health insurance.

Cambridge-based AstraZeneca is the most highly valued stock market company in the UK at about 160 billion and employs some 10,000 people in Britain

Policies, which are often provided by employers, can cost thousands of dollars a year in premiums.

Drug prices are typically lower in the UK owing to price controls limiting the amount pharma companies can charge the taxpayer-funded Health Service.

In the US, by contrast, this is mostly left to market forces, which usually results in vastly higher drug prices.

It is not self-evident that tariffs would result in lower medicine prices in the US.

Tariffs could, critics say, push up drug prices even higher for patients in the US, which could leave some without the medication they need.

It also makes it more expensive to bring drugs to market and could harm pharma companies' profits if they absorb some of the increased costs.

As for investors, GSK and AstraZeneca are trying to reassure shareholders that they are adapting to the threat of tariffs.

They are pouring increasing investment into the US to build more factories in the country to make drugs there, allowing them to avoid import levies.

Over the past year, AstraZeneca has announced plans to invest $3.5billion into the US. GSK said in the autumn it would inject another $800million into a factory in Pennsylvania.

It has also axed plans for a 450million investment to expand one of its vaccine factories near Liverpool following a row with the Labour government about the amount of state support for the project.

Ms Walmsley said last week that the US was a 'priority for investment' for the drugs giant.

Sean Conroy, analyst at City broker Shore Capital, said the uncertainty over tariffs is 'accelerating' decisions by the pharma companies to invest more into the US.

At the same time, the dispute between Astra and the Government had not helped the industry's relationship with Labour ministers.

Pascal Soriot, chief executive officer of AstraZeneca, wants to pledge more money into his firm's US production and research

Mr Conroy added: 'The UK Government obviously hasn't been creating that environment to incentivise investment, which is disappointing. This chatter over tariffs is also just encouraging them to onshore manufacturing in the US.'

If pharma tariffs would be bad news for Britain, they would be terrible for Ireland, whose low corporation tax rate has helped it become a hub of international drug manufacturing.

Trump recently accused Ireland of stealing the US pharmaceutical industry and taking tax revenue that should have gone to the American treasury.

It sparked fears that US drug makers with operations in Ireland, such as Pfizer, could leave the country if tariffs were imposed.

What should investors do? Richard Hunter, head of markets at Interactive Investor, said it is 'too early' fully to consider the impact of any tariffs. He added the fact they are being considered has added to investor nerves and that some appear to have sold until more clarity on Trump's intentions emerges.

'Everyone  from management to staff to politicians to patients to doctors to investors  is waiting to see what form and degree US 'sectoral tariffs' on the pharma industry may or may not take,' he said.

'Investors are taking no chances, which is why shares in GSK and AstraZeneca are both trading near one-year lows,' said AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould.

But despite the recent decline in the share price, stock market analysts remained upbeat about the prospects for AstraZeneca.

Of the 26 experts who cover the drugs giant, 21 of them rank the shares a 'buy' compared with just one 'sell' and four at 'hold'. That indicates they believe the outlook for the business is still positive.

For GSK, the assessment is more muted, with 15 of the 24 experts rating it as a 'hold' compared with 5 who label it a 'buy' and 4 saying 'sell.'

Many have their eyes fixed on the results from both AstraZeneca and GSK later this month. These are widely expected to contain more information on how they are planning to adapt to the tariff threat.

AstraZeneca is due to deliver results for the first quarter of this year on April 29, with GSK's a day later.
The London stock market clocked up a fourth day of gains and the pound rallied after Donald Trumps right-hand man said there was a good chance of a great UK-US trade deal.

In another welcome boost for investors reeling from the US Presidents on-off tariff war, the FTSE 100 jumped 1.4 per cent, or 114.78 points, to 8249.12.

That took gains since Thursday morning to more than 7 per cent, though the blue-chip index remains down over 4 per cent this month over fears a new era of protectionism will tip the global economy into recession.

Sterling was also on the march, rising as high as $1.3252, a level last seen in early October before Rachel Reeves 40billion tax raising Budget.

Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at AJ Bell, said: Its been another strong day for London markets, and whether the softening of the White House stance on tariffs was part of some grand design or rapid and panicked back-pedalling, investors on this side of the Atlantic are feeling cautiously optimistic.

The gains were echoed across Europe with the Dax up 1.4 per cent in Frankfurt while the Cac 40 ticked 0.9 per cent higher in Paris.

Bounce back: The FTSE 100 jumped 1.4% or 114.78 points to 8249.12, taking gains since Thursday morning to more than 7%

HOW THIS IS MONEY CAN HELP How to choose the best (and cheapest) stocks and shares Isa and the right DIY investing account

The rally follows a brutal sell-off on equity markets last week as an escalation in the trade war between the US and China sent shockwaves around the world.

Shares bounced back later in the week as Trump offered a reprieve to other nations by pausing the steepest reciprocal tariffs for 90 days  though a baseline 10pc levy still applies along with other duties on sectors including steel and cars.

The mood on London trading floors was lifted a little further yesterday after Vice-President JD Vance said the US administration was certainly working very hard with Sir Keir Starmers government on a trade deal.

I think theres a good chance that, yes, well come to a great agreement, he said.

But the outlook remains unclear and Wall Street bosses have lined up in recent days to warn Trump that he risks tipping the US  and possibly the world  into recession.

And a flurry of reports yesterday laid bare the damage Trumps trade war has done to investor confidence.

A survey of fund managers by Bank of America found 82 per cent expect the global economy to weaken  the bleakest outlook for three decades.

Hargreaves Lansdown warned investor confidence has plummeted across the board this month with a 35 per cent drop in North American markets and a 28 per cent slump in the UK.

Victoria Hasler, head of fund research at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: The extent and level of tariffs imposed sent shockwaves through markets and our survey shows that investors lost confidence in droves.

Morale among investors has also tumbled in Germany, according to the Zew institute.

The erratic changes in US trade policy are weighing heavily on expectations in Germany, said Zew president Achim Wambach.

Recruiter Robert Walters has warned that a new era of protectionism will cost jobs, as firms put off hiring.

Increased uncertainty regarding the flow of global trade due to tariffs is likely to be a further headwind to client and candidate confidence in the near term, said Robert Walters chief Toby Fowlston.

The warning comes a week after rival Page Group withheld its financial forecast, and outlined plans to cut costs due to increasingly unpredictable conditions resulting from tariffs imposed by Trump.
De La Rue is at the centre of a bidding war as a City financier seeks to hijack a takeover by a US private equity firm.

The 211-year-old banknote printer yesterday backed a 130p a share offer worth 263million from buyout company Atlas Holdings.

But pensions and private equity tycoon Edi Truell has indicated he is willing to offer 132.17p a share for De La Rue, having unsuccessfully tabled a 125p proposal in January.

De La Rue  which printed the new King Charles notes said it was sticking to its guns and backing the bid from Atlas.

A spokesman added there can be no certainty that any firm offer will be made by Truell, 62, and his companies Disruptive Capital and Pension Super Fund Capital.

De La Rue shares jumped 14.7 per cent to a three-year high of 128.5p  though they remain well below the 905p a share offered by French rival Oberthur in 2010.

New offer: Pensions and private equity tycoon Edi Truell indicated he would offer 132.17p a share for De La Rue, after an unsuccessful bid in January

That approach  which valued De La Rue at 900million  was fought off by company bosses at the time.

Steve Clayton, head of equity funds at Hargreaves Lansdown, said investors who saw De La Rue shares sink as low as 30p two years ago will be relieved at the recovery since then.

But those with longer teeth are more likely to remember that De La Rues directors fought off an approach valued at over 900p per share. Whoops, he added.

De La Rue prints banknotes for over half the worlds central banks, including the Bank of England, but suffered a major setback in 2018 when it lost the contract to make the UKs post-Brexit passports.

The company has also printed newspapers, playing cards and greetings cards, and listed in London in 1947.
Plans to water down second class post will decimate the service and could result in Royal Mail becoming the next victim of a taxpayer bail out, businesses have warned.

Watchdog Ofcoms proposals to cut second-class deliveries to every other working day come as Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky is about to take over Royal Mails owner International Distribution Services this month.

But the Greetings Card Association (GCA), which represents more than 500 companies, has said the changes could leave Royal Mail in a financially precarious position.

The regulator risks increasing the likelihood that the taxpayer could be called upon to bail out Royal Mail in future, the group said.

But the GCA says this paves the way for Royal Mail to charge more for first class deliveries as they would still be six days a week.

Cards are the most frequent form of post, with one in four Britons only using the postal service to send them.
America and Canada were until recently the world's leading 'BFFs'  they share the longest border on the planet, have fully integrated armed forces, and routinely voted for the other as their 'favorite' foreigners.

That goodwill has evaporated within weeks, as President Donald Trump slaps tariffs on its northern neighbor, threatens to annex a '51st state,' and as Canada scrambles to find new defense buddies.

As the $762 billion US-Canada trade relationship hits a crisis point, security chiefs on both sides of the border are asking whether their decades-old military alliance, perhaps the tightest tie-up to date, has a future.

The rupture comes as international competition heats up in the nearby Arctic, with its coveted minerals and shipping lanes, and where Russia builds bases and America eyes another land grab in Greenland.

Analysts told the Daily Mail that US-Canada ties would not collapse overnight, but that military cooperation was already suffering and could get worse, perhaps even hurting mutual defenses from a Russian or Chinese nuclear attack.

The stakes could not be higher. Just a single nuclear warhead hitting New York, Toronto, or another North American city would claim tens of thousands of lives and leave many more burned, maimed and sickened by radiation.

Against this scary backdrop, Christopher Hernandez-Roy, a former official at the Organization of American States, says Trump's threats are eroding defense ties just weeks before a pivotal Canadian election on April 28.

'The first couple of times he spoke about annexing the 51st state, it might have been funny. When you say it over and over, that's a form of coercion,' Hernandez-Roy told the Daily Mail.

Military training exercises like this one at the North Pole in Alaska are becoming more common as Arctic competition heats up

US Vice President JD Vance last month toured the US military's Pituffik Space Base in Greenland on March 28. The US says the Danish territory must come under Washington's control

'The trouble is, there are ill feelings now, and broken trust, which makes it harder for whoever leads Canada to be seen to appease the US, even if it's on something like missile defense that's in Canadians' interests.'

Trump has in recent weeks slapped 25 percent tariffs on Canadian automobile, steel, and aluminum imports, and called Ottawa a burden on the US that lets migrants and fentanyl spill across their shared border.

He says the US subsidizes Canada by some $200 billion a year, a disputed figure, and that it relies on Washington for security  with some justification, as Ottawa devotes just 1.4 percent of its economy to defense.

Trump in January said 'we take care of their military' and offered Canada the use of a 40 planned US Coast Guard big icebreakers if it became a US state, adding: 'But I don't like doing that if they're a nation.'

He is meanwhile making a play for the wider Arctic region.

Vice President JD Vance last month visited Greenland, a mineral-rich, strategic Danish island that Trump says must fall under US control.

Canadians have reacted angrily to Trump's hectoring. After he became prime minister last month, Mark Carney, a banker, said the long-standing amity with the US was 'over,' meaning an end to economic integration and shifts on security cooperation.

He's started to loosen military links with the US, bolster other alliances, and moved to boost Canada's military and security presence in the Arctic, a frozen and mineral-rich expanse that is of increasing interest to Trump.

Carney announced a review of a $13.3 billion deal to buy 88 F-35 stealth fighter jets from US defense giant Lockheed Martin, while talking to the UK, France and other European allies about boosting mutual defense and joint procurement projects.

He could yet scrap the F-35 deal with America in favor of buying the Eurofighter Typhoon, France's Dassault Rafale or Sweden's Saab Gripen, and even building one of those fighters in Canada as a boost to its economy.

The US and Canada have enjoyed decades of tight defense cooperation through Northcom and Norad, both headquartered in Colorado

Canada could yet scrap a $13.3 billion deal to buy 88 F-35 stealth fighter jets from US defense giant Lockheed Martin

Nuclear submarines, such as this American vessel, can hide beneath the Arctic ice and unleash doomsday weapons on unsuspecting enemies

Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly says it's time for 'new partnerships.' Ottawa suffered from an 'over-reliance on American procurement, particularly in the defense sector' and now faced a threat to its sovereignty from the White House.

Carney has also announced plans to buy an early warning radar system from Australia  not the US  at a cost of $4.2 billion. Still, it will be deployed under the joint US-Canadian command, known as Norad.

He's now under pressure to retreat from a roughly $22-billion deal for three River-class missile-carrying destroyers that use the Lockheed Martin-designed and built Aegis system, which is made in the US.

Hernandez-Roy, a fellow at the Washington-based think tank, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), says Canadians are so offended by Trump that politicians of all stripes must now toughen their talk against the US.

US tariffs on Canada have helped to revive the fortunes of the Liberal Party, now led by Carney, in the election, and dented the appeal of the Conservative Party's populist 'Canada First' leader Pierre Poilievre.

The vote is now a referendum on which leader can go head-to-head against Trump and defend Canada's interests, says Hernandez-Roy.

This favors Carney, who previously led both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England.

The top concern for Canadian and US generals is whether the gulf between the two countries widens further, penetrating the core of their military alliance  the North American Aerospace Defense Command (Norad).

Established in 1957 and headquartered in Colorado, Norad is the world's only bi-national command, which detects and controls all air and maritime foreign threats to the North American landmass.

Donald Trump says the US subsidizes Canada by some $200 billion a year, a disputed figure, and that it relies on Washington for security

US Navy SEALs undergo grueling cold weather training in Kodiak, Alaska, in the increasingly contested Arctic

Canadian prime minister Mark Carney says the long-standing amity with the US was 'over'

US Army Special Forces and Danish special operators train on snowmobiles at Fort Wainwright military base in North Pole, Alaska

Carney's moves away from the US so far have focussed on military procurement, says Hernandez-Roy, and do not yet threaten to undercut common missile defense. There are even US-Canada talks about expanding cooperation under Trump's 'Golden Dome' scheme.

Henry Ziemer, another CSIS analyst, says a 'complete unraveling' of US-Canadian military ties IS 'unlikely,' even if Washington walks away from the European members of the NATO alliance.

'The threats both countries face, especially in the Arctic, where Russia and China have been making more aggressive moves, remain the same,' Ziemer told the Daily Mail.

'Neither country can afford to lose the other when it comes to defending the airspace, oceans, and access to early-warning radars for incoming missile attacks.'
When billionaires Barry and Honey Sherman were found strangled and 'staged' like macabre human statues beside their indoor swimming pool there was no shortage of suspects.

Had the notoriously litigious pharmaceutical magnate, 75, finally made an enemy he couldn't sue into submission?

Or was a simmering, years-long family feud the trigger for a grisly double homicide in the basement of the couple's upscale Toronto mansion?

With a $35 million reward on offer from the couple's children, it seemed a matter of time until police closed in on the killers of the Apotex founder and his 70-year-old wife.

But the best part of a decade later detectives haven't made a single arrest in the December 2017 slayings  and Barry's cousin Kerry Winter insists they never will.

'It will never be solved because it never happened,' Winter, 63, explains. 'There were no footprints in the snow. No fingerprints. No knives, no weapons. There's not a shred of evidence that it was a double homicide.'

Winter offers an explosive alternative to the established police narrative that would turn Canada's most notorious unsolved crime on its head: murder suicide.

The true mystery, he tells DailyMail.com, is why nobody will admit that Barry killed Honey, his wife of 46 years, then took his own life.

After eight-year-long police investigation, Toronto police still have drawn a blank on a suspect for the murders of Barry and Honey Sherman, the billionaire couple who were found dead in their $5.5million home

The Sherman bodies being taken out of the home on December 15, 2017, after they were found dead, hanging from a railing on the edge of their basement swimming pool

The couple's $5.5million suburban mansion was on the market because Honey, who served on the board of various charities, wanted to build a new home closer to the city

'You have to understand this. Barry had dementia. Barry was losing his mind,' Winter alleges.

'He was losing big lawsuits. His kids weren't talking to him. His two major plants were being shut down. It goes on and on and on.

'There was a perfect storm circling around my cousin's head. Everything was pointing in one direction: He was about to snap and kill his wife.'

Winter was once so close to Barry  formerly Canada's 12th richest man with a $3.2billion fortune  that he considered him a father figure.

But the pair were bitterly estranged at the time of the killings and Winter later admitted that he disliked the mogul so much that he should be considered the 'prime suspect'.

It would be easy to dismiss the recovering drug addict's allegations as embittered and unreliable, especially his unsubstantiated claims of dementia.

And yet homicide detectives gravitated toward a similar conclusion when Barry and Honey were found dead on the icy morning of December 15, 2017.

The couple's $5.5million suburban mansion was on the market because Honey, who served on the board of various charities, wanted to build a huge new home closer to the city.

Barry's cousin Kerry Winter insists his cousin was responsible for Honey Sherman's murder and that Barry staged their deaths to look like a homicide rather than a murder-suicide

Renowned philanthropists Barry and Honey gave away hundreds of millions of dollars to charity and enjoyed a close association with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Police released a neighbor's CCTV footage in 2021 of a 'suspicious individual' in the neighborhood that aligned with the timeline when they believe the murder took place

A realtor was showing prospective buyers the swish lap pool and hot tub when he stumbled across the bodies.

They were seated side by side, held upright by leather belts looped around their necks and tied to the stainless-steel pool railing.

A report in the Toronto Star suggested the corpses could have been 'staged' to resemble an abstract art sculpture.

Honey's face was bruised but no other injuries were recorded.

Police agreed the deaths were 'suspicious' but said there were no signs of forced entry and they were not 'currently seeking a suspect'.

It was another six weeks until they changed their mind and designated it a double homicide by 'ligature neck compression'.

'Both Honey and Barry Sherman were in fact targeted,' Detective Susan Gomes told reporters, saying the about-turn was prompted by a review of the evidence.

The move was welcomed by their children, Jonathon, Lauren, Alexandra and Kaelen, who had hired their own team of investigators and ordered a second autopsy.

Police agreed the deaths were 'suspicious' but said there were no signs of forced entry and they were not 'currently seeking a suspect', until six weeks later when they designated the Sherman's death a double homicide

The couple was among Canada's most generous philanthropists, and their deaths shocked Canadian high society and the country's Jewish community

Today there is only an empty and boarded up lot where the Sherman home once stood. Despite the open investigation, the family was granted permission to demolish the crime scene

Dr. David Chiasson, formerly Ontario's chief forensic pathologist, suggested his counterpart had overlooked markings on Barry and Honey's wrists consistent with being tied up.

Winter believes the Sherman brood  heirs to billions and deeply invested in their parents' legacy  leaned on the authorities because they couldn't accept the truth.

'The family don't want the stigma of their dad going off the deep end and killing their mom so the story has to be murder,' he says.

'That's why there's a $35million reward. And that's why it'll never be collected  because there was no double murder.'

Renowned philanthropists Barry and Honey gave away hundreds of millions of dollars to charity and enjoyed a close association with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

But Winter claims his cousin's kindness masked a frightening temper.

'They say that people with dementia can, not always, but often, lose their tempers very easily. And Barry had a terrible temper,' Winter alleges.

'Maybe they were fighting about the new house. Who knows? She started to ridicule him and he snapped.

The Sherman's posing with one of their grandchildren. Winter believes their children are deeply invested in their parents' legacy and pushed the theory of an outsider murderer which is why they put up a $35million reward

The Sherman mansion surrounded by police tape in the leafy North York area of Toronto

'I think he smashed her over the head with a frying pan. Then he dragged her down to the pool and set it up to look like a lovers' pact.

'There aren't any defensive wounds, scratches or bruises on Barry at all which is the obvious fact that points to murder suicide.'

It's a mind-boggling theory that Winter first voiced during an exclusive 2018 interview with DailyMail.com.

Barry had hated his wife so much, Winter told us, that he had once considered hiring a hitman to have her 'whacked'.

The Sherman children responded with a statement saying the allegations were hurtful and 'completely absurd'.

They had been at loggerheads for years after Winter sued Barry in 2006 for allegedly conning him out of a share of his pharmaceutical empire.

The seeds of the feud were sown back in 1951 when Barry's father, Herbert, died from a heart attack.

The nine-year-old was taken in by his uncle Louis Winter who ran a successful biochemical company, Empire Laboratories.

Louis Winter and his wife Beverly took in Barry. Winter ran a successful biochemical company, Empire Laboratories

Barry began working at Empire Laboratories in the 1960s and acquired the company after Louis and his wife Beverly died within 17 days of one another in 1965

Barry Sherman founded Apotex in 1974 and turned it into one of the largest generic drug makers before stepping down as chief executive in 2012

Barry began working there in the 1960s and acquired the company after Louis and his wife Beverly died within 17 days of one another in 1965.

He struck a deal with his uncle's estate which guaranteed jobs for the Winter orphans  Kerry, Paul, Jeffrey and Dana - when they turned 21 and an option for them to buy 20 percent of the company.

Barry would later claim, however, that he was absolved of any 'fiduciary duty' to the four siblings because he merged with a drugstore chain and relinquished control.

By the time he and Winter reconnected in the late 1980s, the latter was struggling with cocaine addiction. Dana had died from a heroin overdose.

Barry was an enormously wealthy businessman after selling Empire and founding Apotex, now Canada's premier pharmaceutical firm. He offered to help his cousins.

Barry co-signed millions of dollars of credit, mortgages and loans supposedly to help Winter expand his home-building business, bankrolling him to the tune of $20,000 to $30,000 a month.

Their close bond soured, however, when Jeffery started asking questions about the sale of their father's business.

The Winter siblings sued Barry in 2006 for $500million and again in 2007 for $1billion, arguing that he owed them a slice of Apotex because he'd stolen their share of Empire.

Barry and Honey posing with two out of their four children, Jonathon and Kaelen. Their four surviving kids have continuedly pushed back against Winter's hypothesis

The Winter siblings sued Barry in 2006 for $500million and again in 2007 for $1billion, arguing that he owed them a slice of Apotex because he'd stolen their share of Empire - the case was thrown out three months before the couple's death

Their complaint was thrown out in September 2017  three months before the Sherman's were found slain.

Winter denied any involvement but told DailyMail.com in January 2018 that the longstanding feud would likely make him a potential suspect.

He even wondered why cops hadn't hauled him in for questioning given that he had such an obvious axe to grind.

That was to change within weeks of our article.

Winter was interviewed in February 2018  but was never charged with anything.

'I went to the 31 Division without a lawyer. I handed over my phone and I sat down for three hours with Detective Brandon Price,' Winter says.

'He says to me, did you have anything to do with the murder of Brian and Honey Sherman?

'And I said, for God's sake Brandon, how could I have anything to do with the murder? You and I both know he killed her.'

Winter says he's supplied a letter of consent to a Canadian journalist who is trying to get a transcript of his police interview released to the public.

Developments in the beguiling murder mystery have otherwise been few and far between as each year passes.

Toronto Star journalist Kevin Donovan recently claimed to have viewed potentially significant CCTV footage that cops seized in the early days of the investigation.

Donovan said the clip showed two SUVs pulling into the next-door neighbor's house and four people walking, at times running, around the driveway on the night of December 13, 2017.

That's the day Barry and Honey were last seen alive.

Police insist the murder investigation remains 'active and ongoing' but have refused to say whether or not the footage has any relevance.

Regardless, Winter isn't backing away from his dark, uncomfortable theory.

'There's no doubt Barry Sherman killed himself,' he said. 'And there's no doubt in my mind that he killed his wife.'
A 'devoted' father-of-two left in a coma after a 'devastating' motorbike crash is now being forced to wait three months for NHS rehabilitation - despite doctors warning that early treatment is critical.

John Jeffrey, 42, from Harlow, Essex, spent two weeks in a coma following the March 15 smash. Hes now breathing without assistance, but remains unresponsive and urgently needs specialist neurological care.

His heartbroken wife Julia, 49, said: 'My one wish is for him to wake up and know who I am.'

The family have launched a GoFundMe to help cover the cost of private rehabilitation while they wait for an NHS bed to become available.

Doctors have warned them that getting treatment now is critical because his brain is more malleable and the earlier stages are best for recovery.

'It's just so frustrating not being given that option,' Julia told MailOnline, adding that she felt 'helpless'.

Now that 'hard-working' John was out of 'immediate danger', King's College Hospital (KCH) - where he was airlifted to after he 'cartwheeled' of his bike - said they were no longer able to look after him.

With no space in a neurological hospital that offers intensive rehabilitation in the next three months, KCH want to send him to the family's district hospital in Harlow which does not have the suitable therapies for such a complex brain injury.

The 'devoted' father-of-two was left in a coma after a 'devastating' motorbike crash but is now being forced to wait three months for NHS rehabilitation

John Jeffrey's heartbroken wife Julia, 49, said: 'My one wish is for him to wake up and know who I am'

The family have launched a fundraiser to help cover the cost of private rehabilitation while they wait for an NHS bed to become available

The family said it was not the NHS's fault there was no bed available but just showed it was a 'broken system'.

'Surely the funding should follow the patient and it not be about postcodes where we are governed by red tape,' Julia said.

She added that 'the hardest part is being stuck in limbo,' explaining 'if someone passes, you can grieve and try to let them go but we're not able to move on without getting help for John'.

While holding back tears, she said 'I know I'm probably not going to get my John back, the doctors say it's not clear if he'll even wake up but we need the rehab to give it a shot.'

'Who's going to walk Jessica down the aisle? Who's going to teach James to shave?' she asked wistfully.

She said her daughter, 11, is getting frustrated because they don't know what the outcome will be, while their 13-year-old son fainted when he saw his father attached to the ventilator.

'Frightened' James - who saw his dad fly off his bike - had to sit in the hall before finding the strength to see his 'fun' dad again and has now even helped wash him over the weekend.

Where as Jess hasn't been able to go back since the first time she saw him, but Julia hopes she will go in next week to see her dad on his birthday.

'All I can think is to tell people: "Make the most of now because you're not guaranteed tomorrow",' Julia said

John's sister, Georgina Howell, said their world has been 'destroyed' and revealed she 'can't even look at pictures of him anymore'

The family have launched a fundraiser to help cover the cost of private rehabilitation while they wait for an NHS bed to become available

Julia's children, 11 and 13, wrote poignant mother's day cards for her saying they 'know this month hasn't turned out as we wanted but you'll always have me' and 'I hope dad can wake up asap so he can wish you a happy mother's day'

The Montessori-owner admitted she was trying to keep it together for her children's sake, but knew she was 'going to break down' soon: 'it's just one foot in front of the other.'

John was racing with motorbikes for the first time when he came off his and hit his head on the floor 'time and time again', needing to be intubated at the scene and put into a coma by the paramedics before being flown to hospital.

John's sister, Georgina Howell, said he 'fought with every ounce of strength, displaying an unbreakable spirit' and 'showed remarkable resilience'.

Three weeks later, he can open his eyes and is breathing on his own but remains unresponsive thanks to his diffuse axonal injury (a brain injury where there is widespread damage tot he white matter).

Georgina told how their world has been 'destroyed' and revealed she 'can't even look at pictures of him anymore'.

'It's horrible, you don't know if you'll ever hear his voice again - you go about your day and then you remember and it's like a punch to the gut.'

'Every day we're just hoping something happens and he responds to us - this whole thing has been surreal. You never think this kind of thing will happen to you.'

Georgina said she was 'really angry' and 'let down' at the lack of availability, adding that 'you pay taxes all your life and then you can't get the treatment you need'.

John 'fought with every ounce of strength, displaying an unbreakable spirit' and 'showed remarkable resilience' when he was in a coma

While holding back tears, Julia said 'I know I'm probably not going to get my John back, the doctors say it's not clear if he'll even wake up but we need the rehab to give it a shot'

'It's made us so depressed, but we want to to fight it which is why we're fundraising'.

The family have set up an online fundraising page to help support them as they try move him to a private hospital which will provide the specialist treatment he needs - raising nearly 10,000 in four days.

Julia said 'you think the world is becoming a horrible place but then people come together like this and are absolutely amazing. There's people that I don't even know who are donating, it just restores your faith in humanity a bit'.

The mum said that John, who worked in tunnel construction, 'used to work loads of hours so he could retire early and we had all these plans for our future' but now she is 'heartbroken' because 'that future might not there'.

'It makes me think: "What was the point of it all?" when he could have just spent those moments with me and the kids,' she admitted.

'All I can think is to tell people: "Make the most of now because you're not guaranteed tomorrow".'

Julia said she couldn't 'take biking away from him, even now' because he 'loved it'.

'Sometimes you feel anger that he put me and the kids in this position but then I get so sad because he wouldn't have done this if he knew this would happen'.

John 'used to work loads so he could retire early and we had all these plans for our future' but now Julia is 'heartbroken' because 'that future might not there'

'Who's going to walk Jessica down the aisle? Who's going to teach James to shave?' Julia asked wistfully

'Hard-working' John - who worked in tunnel construction - took on extra hours so that he could retire early

The Department for Health and Social Care said this is 'a tragic example of the broken NHS we inherited, and our thoughts are with John and his family'.

'Millions of patients have been waiting too long for essential treatment, but we are on a mission to turn this situation around,' they continued.

'Since taking office, we have cut waiting lists by over 200,000, ended the resident doctor strikes to keep staff on the front line, and delivered the extra three million appointments we promised.

'There is a long way to go but through our Plan for Change we will deliver the investment and reform needed to get our NHS back on its feet and delivering for patients once again.'

Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust explained that 'when patients who have been brought to Kings for specialist major trauma care have been stabilised and treated for their physical injuries, a plan is put in place for the next stage of their care'.

They continued: 'This can include a return to their local hospital or transfer to a specialist unit for rehabilitation.

'This ensures beds are available for other patients who require the highest levels of specialist major trauma care.'

The NHS declined to comment on individual cases.
The model ex-girlfriend of rock star Daniel Johns had been set to defend a string of domestic violence charges stemming from her tumultuous relationship with a top restaurateur.

Estelita Huijer arrived at Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday clutching her belly and it was soon revealed she was carrying her former partner Andrew Becher's unborn child.

When Becher did not turn up to give evidence against Huijer, the case against the fashion designer collapsed and police withdrew all but one of seven charges.

Huijer dated Johns for about four years from 2013 after the Silverchair frontman had quit the chart-topping band to concentrate on his solo career.

In the past nine months, she has been charged with assault, stealing, fraud, possessing drugs, trespassing, vandalism and repeatedly breaching an apprehended violence order.

The domestic violence charges relate to her relationship with Becher, who owns fashionable inner-east eateries Franca, Parlar and Armorica.

Becher has been a star on the Sydney hospitality scene for more than a decade.

His celebrated Double Bay restaurant and bar Pelicano was forced to shut in 2016 but was relaunched at Potts Point on the site of the old Hugo's Lounge late last year.

Estelita Huijer was facing a string of domestic violence charges related to her relationship with restaurateur Andrew Becher. When she appeared in court on Wednesday, it was revealed she is carrying Becher's unborn child

Huijer dated Daniel Johns for four years from 2013 after the Silverchair frontman had quit the chart-topping band to concentrate on his solo career. The former couple is pictured

Huijer and Becher have had an 'on and off intimate relationship' for the past four years, according to statement of facts tendered in court.

She was arrested on August 1 last year over a series of events which allegedly took place earlier that day and during the previous night at Becher's Piper's Point home.

The 33-year-old was originally charged with common assault, trespass, stealing more than $2,000 in cash and contravening an apprehended violence order.

She was also accused of intentionally damaging property and intentionally marking a premises without consent in relation to an accusation she used a permanent marker to deface Becher's wardrobe.

Huijer was arrested again the following month after a disturbance at Becher's Wolseley Road unit.

On September 9, she called Triple Zero to report a domestic violence incident, according to a statement of facts tendered in court.

Huijer was taken to St Vincent's Hospital with a head injury and later charged with common assault as well as breaching an AVO.

All those charges were due to be heard on Monday but the prosecutor withdrew each count except one of the AVO breaches after Becher did not turn up to court.

Huijer and Becher have had an 'on and off intimate relationship' for the past four years, according to statement of facts tendered in court. Becher is pictured

Huijer pleaded guilty to that single offence and solicitor Jessica Tohi said her client had gone to Becher's home with his consent the night it occurred.

Ms Tohi said Huijer was seven months' pregnant to Becher and was facing 'significant personal challenges' with 'limited familial or social support'.

She said Huijer was 'navigating a complex and often unsafe dynamic' with Becher and submitted an appropriate punishment would be a conditional release order.

Mr Nash said Huijer's offending was at the lower end of the scale and granted Ms Tohi's request, imposing a 12-month CRO with a conviction, as well as a two-year AVO.

Huijer spent a night in custody before she first faced Waverley Local Court over the alleged incident at Huijer's home in August.

She sobbed that day as Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge granted her bail, along with delivering a stern warning.

'You breach any of these conditions, you have any contact with him again, bail will be taken off you,' Ms Milledge had said.

'This constitutes a very serious breach of the order and it's an indication that it's escalating, and you're becoming more desperate.'

Huijer was arrested on August 1 last year over a series of events which allegedly took place earlier that day and during the previous night at Becher's Piper's Point home.

Separately, Huijer has pleaded not guilty to dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception at Point Piper in January last year and that matter will be heard by a magistrate in December.

Another set of charges stemming from an alleged confrontation at Becher's home in the early hours of December 30 has been set down for a three-hour hearing in October.

Huijer has pleaded not guilty to common assault, possessing a prohibited drug and contravening an AVO in relation to those alleged offences.

She has also pleaded not guilty to contravening an AVO at Point Piper on January 18.

Huijer's latest bail conditions require her to live at an address in Sydney's eastern suburbs, not to go near or contact Becher and not to enter Potts Point.

She must not drink alcohol take any drugs unless prescribed by a doctor.

Huijer was first made the subject of an AVO to protect Becher in June 2021.

That order, which included a requirement she not approach Becher within 12 hours of drinking alcohol or taking illicit drugs, was put in place for two years.

At the same time she was found guilty of resisting a police officer and sentenced to a 12-month conditional release order without proceeding to conviction.

Another two-year AVO protecting Becher from Huijer was made in March last year.

On that day, an assault charge was withdrawn and Huijer pleaded guilty to contravening an AVO. She was not convicted but was sentenced to another 12-month conditional release order.
At first glance, it looks much like any mid-20th century factory scene.

Women seated at tables, hard at work making clothes.

But it is their shell-shocked expressions that are the giveaway - signs that they are unwilling participants in one of the lesser-known horrors of the Second World War.

As a new exhibition highlights, it was amidst the death and disease of the Lodz Ghetto in occupied Poland that Jewish men, women and children were forced to make clothes and luxury goods for the Nazi regime and Third Reich civilians.

These luxury items included dresses, underwear, hats, footwear and ties made from materials taken from Jews murdered in the nearby Kulmhof am Nehr extermination camp just 30 miles away.

Other chilling photos show displays of children's clothes and ladies dresses; a well-dressed man inspecting ties while standing next to a Jew with the Star of David pinned to his jacket; and a 'look book' for a man's suit and a women's jumper.

Yet others show Nazi uniforms and insignia and a pile of clothes from the extermination camp strewn across a street in the ghetto.

Taken for propaganda purposes by Walter Genewein, the Nazis' chief accountant in the Lodz ghetto, the photos reveal a hideous exploitation of Jewish slave labour to benefit the Nazis.

Jewish women in the Lodz Ghetto in Nazi-occupied Poland are seen making clothes

Amidst the death and disease of the Lodz Ghetto in occupied Poland that Jewish men, women and children were forced to make clothes for the Nazi regime and luxury goods for Third Reich civilians. Above: Jewish women sort through piles of garments

The images appear in new Lodz exhibition, 'The Fashion System. Clothing in Violence Strategies and Survival Tactics in the odz Ghetto'.

Curator Karolina Sulaj said: 'So-called departments were established in the ghetto, and most of them were involved in textile production.

'Jewish men, women and children worked there because they wanted to live.

'They worked for a bowl of soup and a chance to survive.

'This ghetto was established as a production basin for the Reich's economy, and in particular its clothing industry.

'Fashion was created in departments, produced for the occupier in the hope that talented manufacturers and artists would buy themselves out of death in this way and the ghetto would survive.

'Fashionable clothes, luxury accessories, footwear, conceptual exhibitions of things, artistic albums and fashion catalogues, which were produced and presented in the ghetto, hid the immensity of suffering of its inhabitants, their slave labour, exploitation and fear under the gilt of beauty.'

Art historian Anna Sanczuk added: 'The odz ghetto was a large factory of luxury clothing and accessories.

Displays of ladies' dresses in a store. Jewish people were forced to make garments for the Nazi regime

Piles of clothes from Kulmhof am Nehr extermination camp seen strewn across the streets in the Lodz Ghetto

'Very little has been said about it. This is the first time the topic has been presented in the form of an exhibition.'

Established in October 1939 following Hitler's invasion of Poland a month earlier, what was called the Litzmannstadt Ghetto by the Nazis grew to become the second largest in Nazi-occupied Europe.

By the time it was liquidated five years later, an estimated 45,000 Jews had died from famine and disease.

More than 140,000 others were murdered after being deported to Kulmhof am Nehr and its better-known counterpart, Auschwitz-Birkenau.

Of the 200,000 Jews incarcerated in the ghetto, by the end of the war less than 10,000 were left alive.

Lodz had for decades been home to highly skilled Jewish tailors, cobblers, textile workers and designers.

So once the Nazis took over, their talents were forcibly utilised.

The ghetto was overseen by Hans Biebow, a former coffee importer from Bremen.

A display of children's clothes made by Jewish people in the Lodz Ghetto

The ghetto was overseen by Hans Biebow, a former coffee importer from Bremen

Jewish men seen using sewing machines to make clothes

Women working with clothes from death camp victims

A well-dressed man inspects ties as he stands next to a Jewish local who is wearing the Star of David

The Nazi saw that the ghetto could make a profit for the Germans if it were converted into a slave labour complex.

The head of the city's Jewish council of elders, insurance agent Chaim Mordechaj Rumkowski, dealt directly with the German authorities.

One of the first clothing factories to be set up produced luxury dresses, underwear and bed linen.

After starting production at the beginning of 1941 with 77 machines and 157 workers, by January 1942 there were 800 machines and more than 1,500 people working two shifts.

In addition to creating uniforms and insignia for the Wehrmacht, the ghetto's textiles department found itself functioning like a legitimate fashion house, with its own look-books, fashion shows and photo shoots involving Jewish 'models' whose faces were later removed or silhouetted.

Co-curator of the exhibition, Pawel Michna, said: 'According to Biebow, 90 percent of the ghetto's production was intended for military purposes.

'But the latest research shows that 50 percent of production went to the civilian market.

'And this was the production of luxury items: hats, dresses, underwear - also for companies that still exist today and sell their underwear in Poland.'

The head of the city's Jewish council of elders, insurance agent Chaim Mordechaj Rumkowski (pictured above left with Biebow), dealt directly with the German authorities

Jewish people seen wearing the Star of David in the Lodz Ghetto

Bodies of Jews murdered at the Kulmhof am Nehr extermination camp

Karolina Sulaj said: 'What happens to the goods when they leave production? They have to be sold and in order to sell, they have to be properly presented to customers.

'In the Lodz ghetto, the role of catalogues was replaced by artistically made albums, but there were also fair stands, exhibitions, fancifully arranged to present products, to highlight their quality and beauty.

'Like pages in albums or catalogues, the stands were carefully designed to make the greatest impression, draperies, signs, structures and scaffolding on which objects were mounted, mannequins made of artistically bent wire, as well as decorations that were to include the exhibition in the history of culture and civilisation, hence, for example, the plaster sculpture of the Venus de Milo.'

She added: 'Such ghetto compositions were regularly visited by both the Jewish and German administration, as well as by officials and merchants from the Reich.

'They tried to make these visual stories about products as sophisticated and spectacular as possible.

'The lives of the ghetto inhabitants and their safety depended on sales successes and production orders, or at least that was what Rumkowski thought at the time.'

The meagre offer of an extra bowl of soup, however, didn't stop the deaths and starvation.

With food rations often less than 600-800 calories a day, people were forced to eat anything they could find, including tree bark and potato skins.

Disease spread rapidly in the overcrowded and unsanitary conditions and a lack of proper medical care and medicines meant that simple ailments became deadly.

Working in the 'high end' fashion departments didn't stop the slave workers from being deported to the death camps either.

Beginning in January 1942 and continuing non-stop until the ghetto's liquidation in August 1944, the selection process was brutal and chaotic with roundups seeing victims chosen at random.

Survivor Eva Libitzky later recalled: 'Rumkowski understood the difficult situation we were in.

'So he concluded a unique agreement with the Germans, which was in force for the next four and a half years: he proposed that the ghetto, with its many factory buildings and skilled craftsmen, become a production centre for the needs of the Germans.

'He believed that there was no other way for us to survive.

'Faced with the threat of death, we became one of the largest industrial centres in the Reich.'

Ms Sulaj said: 'Why has such a widely documented, important issue concerning the ghetto been hidden from mainstream knowledge about the Holocaust?

'Unfortunately, because of our perception of how we define fashion today, as a trivial, commercial area.

'The lens of fashion is a way to see the Lodz ghetto precisely and to see the essential dimension of its suffering and the previously unknown dimension of its resilience.'
Firms have been ordered to stop irresponsibly promoting liquid Brazilian butt lifts in the UK amid fears they could expose people to harm.

The Advertising Standards Authority has upheld rulings against six companies who touted the risky procedure on Facebook or Instagram.

Officials say the adverts fell foul of the watchdogs rules, which are designed to protect the public.

This includes putting consumers under pressure with time-limited offers, creating unrealistic expectations of the results, exploiting womens insecurities around body image and trivialising the risk of cosmetic procedures.

The ASA said it was concerned by the apparent disregard some companies showed for the advertising code, with some even failing to respond to the censure.

A liquid BBL is a cosmetic procedure that involves using dermal fillers to enhance the shape and size of the buttocks without surgery.

If done incorrectly, it risks blocking blood flow, which can lead to tissue death and stroke, while poor hygiene practices can lead to infections and potentially fatal sepsis.

Beautyjenics tried to entice customers on Facebook with an advert that said: Dont miss this exclusive opportunity to get that perfect peachy look.

Beautyjenics tried to entice customers on Facebook with an advert that said: Dont miss this exclusive opportunity to get that perfect peachy look.

Firms have been ordered to stop irresponsibly promoting liquid Brazilian butt lifts in the UK amid fears they could expose people to harm

CCskinlondondubai offered women the chance to get the curves and contours youve always wanted with our safe and effective body filler treatments.

It added: Feel confident every step of the way! Safe, proven and beautifully natural results.

And an advert by Bomb Doll Aesthetics said: Black Friday Bomb Deals. Dont miss out on these big savings - up to 70 per cent off on our signature treatments!

Meanwhile, EME Aesthetics told potential customers they could achieve huge savings and minimal pain.

And Dr Ducu, another provider, posted on Instagram: 'Safe and effective, our treatments come with no downtime and minimal discomfort.

Rejuvenate Clincs said: Achieve your body goals with 20% BLACK FRIDAY Discounts!

Get instant results. Treat Hip Dips. Increase bum volume. Tailored treatment plan.

The advertisers have been told that their ads must be removed and can not appear again in their current form.

The Advertising Standards Authority has upheld rulings against six companies who touted the risky procedure on Facebook or Instagram

An advert by Bomb Doll Aesthetics said: Black Friday Bomb Deals. Dont miss out on these big savings - up to 70 per cent off on our signature treatments!

Unlike the traditional Brazilian butt lift, which involves taking fat from other areas of the body and injecting it into the buttocks, a liquid BBL uses injectable products to achieve a similar volumising and contouring effect.

The results of a liquid BBL are temporary, lasting around one to two years depending on the product used and how the body metabolises it.

A traditional BBL provides more long-lasting results.

The procedure hit the headlines in September last year when Alice Webb, a 33-year-old mum-of-five, became the first to die following a liquid BBL performed in the UK.

Ashton Collins, director of Save Face, which campaigns for higher industry standards, said: I am pleased to see the ASA acting against the irresponsible advertising of liquid BBLs.

'These procedures are marketed online as risk-free, painless, and inexpensive alternatives to surgery, but these claims are dangerously misleading.

We have supported over 750 women who underwent liquid BBLs; over 55 per cent suffered from sepsis, and more than 40 per cent required corrective surgery.

All these women believed they were opting for a minor beauty treatment, not something that would inflict such severe physical and psychological harm.

The results of a liquid BBL are temporary, lasting around one to two years depending on the product used and how the body metabolises it

CCskinlondondubai offered women the chance to get the curves and contours youve always wanted with our safe and effective body filler treatments

Since 2023, we have been campaigning for the government to ban these procedures from the high street, warning that a lack of swift action would lead to fatalities.

A staggering 98 per cent of those weve supported found their practitioners via social media.

Much more needs to be done to police and prevent the organic posts that also trivialise these procedures and pressurise people into booking them by using discounts and time limited offers.

We are working with Alices family to support them and to ensure no other family has to endure the loss of a beloved family member.

We launched a petition in her name calling for the immediate enactment of Alices Law, which would make it a criminal offence for anyone other than GMC-registered plastic surgeons to perform liquid BBL procedures.

An ASA spokesperson said: One of our key commitments is to protect vulnerable audiences, which is why were undertaking proactive work in this area.

Choosing to undergo a cosmetic procedure is a serious decision, so ads that trivialise this, exploit insecurities, or pressure consumers can cause real harm.

We're particularly concerned about these type of ads for liquid BBLs, given the procedure is currently unregulated and is known to be high risk.

Dr Ducu posted on Instagram: 'Safe and effective, our treatments come with no downtime and minimal discomfort.

Officials say the adverts fell foul of the watchdogs rules, which are designed to protect the public

A liquid BBL is a cosmetic procedure that involves using dermal fillers to enhance the shape and size of the buttocks without surgery

We expect advertisers to exercise a high level of caution when promoting procedures that carry significant risks and currently lack formal regulation, and todays rulings send a clear message that we won't hesitate to take action if they break the rules.

We plan to continue this work through follow-up monitoring and compliance action to make sure the cosmetic surgery and non-surgical cosmetic interventions industries are advertising responsibly.

Rejuvenate Clinics said they had not realised their advert was in breach of the advertising code and Dr Ducu said they would ensure they follow guidelines.

EME Aesthetics said all their clients were given a full consultation and were under no obligation to book any procedures. They therefore considered that their ad had not pressured consumers or trivialised the risks of cosmetic procedures.

Beautyjenics, Bomb Doll Aesthetics and CCskinlondondubai did not respond to the ASAs enquiries.
Caught on camera battering a woman with a hammer during a vicious ambush, Coleen Campbell's propensity for violence is obvious.

Yet just three days later she would be involved in an even more horrific act - the torture and killing of her drug baron ex-husband.

Footage of Campbell and two other female accomplices raining down blows during the street brawl was played to a court in Manchester this week.

But rather than appearing in the dock to face charges over the assault on June 29, 2022, Campbell attended via a video link from jail - where she is currently serving a 13-year sentence for helping to orchestrate her ex's murder on July 2, 2022.

Father-of-two Thomas Campbell, 38, was ambushed by three men as he opened his front door on July 2, 2022 before being subjected to prolonged torture before his death.

Coleen - furious at him for cheating before their split - had shared his whereabouts despite being warned that he would be robbed and 'violence would be necessary'.

After playing the 'perfect' grieving widow, she eventually exposed her involvement by describing the exact nature of Thomas' injuries to his mother - details she claimed he had relayed from the grave after being summoned by a clairvoyant.

But if this is how her sordid criminal career came to an end, how did it begin?

Coleen Campbell attacked a woman in the street three days before organising her ex husband's killing

Thomas Campbell, 38, (pictured with Coleen on holiday) was ambushed by three men as he opened his front door in Mossley, Greater Manchester

Coleen was caught on a CCTV camera plotting the attack at her home

Pictured is the moment Campbell and two other woman attacked Niamh Wasik in Ashton-under-Lyne on June 29, 2022

While it's unclear exactly when she first became involved in Manchester's underworld, Coleen was already heavily involved when she married Thomas in 2011.

Police began investigating the couple in 2014 and uncovered their role in the area's cocaine trade.

The probe also honed in on their lavish lifestyle, with the pair found to have spent more than 100,000 on luxury cars and holidays, despite their only legitimate income being benefits and Coleen's part-time job at Matalan.

Police later seized a Mercedes C63 and a BMW X5 from their house, which had been fitted by a double-storey extension funded by dirty money.

The pair both pleaded guilty to money laundering and at Manchester Crown Court in 2019, with Thomas jailed for two years and Coleen handed a 16-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

As is usual for such cases, police sought to claw back the couple's wealth by beginning an investigation under the proceeds of crime act.

But three years later, their attention would be diverted to a far more pressing matter - Thomas' disappearance and murder.

Given his status as a major drug dealer, Thomas had many enemies, meaning suspicion did not at first focus on Coleen, who had by then broken up with him after accusations of cheating.

Coleen and Thomas (pictured on holiday, above) initially became notorious over a string extravagant trips abroad funded by their family-run cocaine trafficking racket

The pair were open about the glitzy lifestyle they briefly enjoyed using the profits of their crimes

Coleen was found guilty of manslaughter in 2023 after a five-week trial

The Facebook messages Coleen posted after Thomas' murder in an effort to appear innocent

Coleen also helped arrange a balloon release in memory of her drug dealer ex - who posed as a personal trainer

Indeed, Facebook posts at the time show she put on a show of grieving by posting a series of 'tributes' featuring broken heart emojis and warm words for the father of her two children.

One read: '13 years and 2 beautiful children. Forever grateful. I would do anything to hear your giddy laugh or your none [sic] stop moaning just one more time.'

Coleen also helped to photograph and arrange the ceremonial releasing of balloons in his memory.

But she went on to give away her role in Thomas' killing in a bizarre way - by visiting a psychic.

At this meeting - four days after his death - Coleen claimed his spirit had been summoned and shared intimate details about his murder and the injuries he had sustained.

Coleen relayed them all to the victim's suspicious mother, who alerted police.

At the time of the seance, little information had previously been made public by police about the fatal assault - but Coleen fell under suspicion as only the killers could have known the details about Thomas' fatal wounds.

Inquiries revealed she had been tipping off the killers about her ex-husband's movements in the run up to the attack, with a phone conversation she had with one of them caught on her home CCTV.

Coleen (pictured) broke up with Thomas after he cheated on her with a friend

Thomas Campbell, 38, was ambushed by three men as he opened his front door in Mossley, Greater Manchester

Coleen and Thomas met in 2008 and married in 2011 before splitting up ten years later

He would go on to die in the most horrific manner possible, suffering 61 separate injuries during a drawn-out, sadistic assault at his 350,000 townhouse in Mossley that also saw him robbed of drugs, cash and valuables.

He was stabbed, punched and stamped on before boiling water was poured on his buttocks. Neighbours found his body in the hallway naked except for his socks.

Coleen was found guilty of manslaughter in 2023 after a five-week trial.

Texts the killer exchanged with friends after her split from Thomas in 2021 following an affair threw light on her motivation.

Initially she put on a show of defiance, telling one: 'Best thing this man did was sh*g my baggy mate 12 months ago. Roll on new beginnings.'

But in another text she hinted at plans for revenge, writing: 'Never let the actions of a man that cannot be loyal to his own family and a woman with no morals and has to sleep with other women's husbands, change and provoke you. Karma is best served cold - and then tables turn real fast. I be the coldest MF you ever met.'

Reece Steven, 29, was convicted of murder and was jailed for life with a minimum of 37 years while Stephen Cleworth, 38, was found guilty of manslaughter and jailed for 12 years. Both were also found guilty of conspiracy to rob.

Another man, John Belfield, 28, was charged with murder last year and is awaiting trial.

Thomas dealt cocaine and was prosecuted for money laundering offences

Campbell is pictured outside Manchester Crown Court during an earlier hearing on a different matter in 2019

Reece Steven (left), 29, was convicted of murder and was jailed for life with a minimum of 37 years whilst Stephen Cleworth (right), 38, was found guilty of manslaughter and jailed for 12 years

During Monday's hearing relating to the earlier - unrelated -street assault, Minshull Street Crown Court heard that Coleen attacked Niamh Wasik alongside two other women, Hannah Derbyshire, 27, and Chloe Bamford, 30, and a 38-year-old man, Simon Bowden.

The court heard how one of the attackers had been in a relationship with a man called James Heaney at the same time as Ms Wasik, prompting Campbell to take part in what appears to be a reckless attempt to scare her off.

Prosecutor Danielle Gilmour told how Campbell was driving the three other defendants in a VW Tiguan before they ambushed Ms Wasik at the junction of Rutland Street and Granville Street in Ashton-under-Lyne.

Derbyshire leapt out the car and began 'raining down blows and kicks' on the victim, the court heard, while Bowden - armed with a 'two foot long drill bit' - pulled a balaclava down over his face.

Campbell, wearing all black and armed with a hammer, hit the victim 'multiple times' before dragging the woman to the ground where she was kicked by Campbell and her two female accomplices.

The assault lasted about 90 seconds before Campbell and the three other attackers fled the scene in the Tiguan, with a rock being hurled at the vehicle's windshield as it sped away.

Campbell allegedly stole the victims handbag, which was found in her home when police raided it, the Manchester Evening News reported from court.

She and her three accomplices all lied or made no comment when questioned by police, a judge said.

Lynn Campbell, Thomas' mother, revealed to police that Coleen had shared intimate details of her son's injuries and information on his attackers

Police outside Campbell's home in Mossley, Greater Manchester, in July 2022

Bamford claimed she had been acting in self-defence, while Bowden said he had been in Manchester city centre at the time. It is not known whether the victim suffered any injuries, as she refused to co-operate with police.

All four defendants pleaded guilty to violent disorder. Campbell also admitted theft.

Defending Campbell, who is being held in HMP Drake Hall, Bob Elias said she appeared an 'amiable, bright and pleasant woman'.

Sentencing, Recorder Michael Blakey said: 'On June 29, 2022, the four of you went in a car, clearly a planned adventure, to a place, Granville Street in Ashton-under-Lyne, where the victim in this case was assaulted.

'The motive behind this appears to be the relationship that there was between you, Hannah Derbyshire, and somebody called James Heaney.

'The victim was involved in a relationship with him also. The four of you went in the car, three of you armed, Ms Campbell with a hammer, you Hannah Derbyshire didn't arm yourself, and you Ms Bamford with a rolling pin. Mr Bowden you had a two foot long drill bit in your possession.

'It must have been a very frightening and scary situation which arose, and no doubt put people who were watching what was going on in fear themselves.'

He told Campbell: 'You armed yourself with a hammer, you in fact used the hammer on the victim in this case. I have read information which suggests you while you have been in custody have developed insight, that you have attended courses and are doing all you possibly can to reform yourself. That is to be commended.'

Campbell and Bowden, both of no fixed address, were sentenced to 18 months in prison each.

Derbyshire, of Clayton, and Bamford, of Openshaw, were both handed suspended prison sentences.
Do you have more on Jordan's trip? Email

A taxpayer-funded senior attorney for a fiercely Democratic city is spending four months working onboard a luxury ship touring the oceans and glamorous destinations on a world cruise.

Jean Jordan, 65, who earns a whopping $300,000 a year as Assistant City Attorney of San Diego, has been on her epic high seas adventure since late January after agreeing to stay on in her position instead of retiring.

She is reportedly being paid her salary and is accruing full benefits including vacation time.

The trip was approved by her boss, City Attorney Heather Ferbert, a Democrat, who told Daily Mail in a statement through her spokesperson that she is in constant communication with Jordan - despite the fact she is at sea and believed to be many time zones removed from the sun-kissed California city.

When contacted by Daily Mail via her work email on a Monday morning, an automatic email response bounced back from Jordan saying: Thank you for your email. I am out of the office today April 14, 2025. I will not have access to email or voicemail. I will return April 15, 2025. If you have an urgent matter please contact Leslie FitzGerald.'

Jordan included her colleague's email address, which had incorrect spelling of her name.

The following day, the automatic reply feature had been removed but Jones - seemingly busy enjoying the open waters - still did not reply to a request for comment.

Marlea DellAnno, a former lawyer for the city, was shocked by Jordans lavish working conditions, telling DailyMail.com: I can't tell you how many people have called me or emailed me about this. People are outraged!

San Diego Deputy City Attorney Jean Jordan - who earns close to $300,000 a year - is currently enjoying an epic world cruise on high seas....while still working and being paid

A cruise ship pictured in San Diego Bay

I don't understand how as a leader you could ever think that's a good idea.

How is the work getting done? You're talking about an executive and a taxpayer funded position.

There's an expectation of being physically present to lead your team.

Remote work has its place - but there's a significant difference between working from home and working from a global cruise.

This stretches the definition of telework beyond what is reasonable.

That kind of a leadership role requires that your direct reports have access to you and you have regular face-to-face interactions with staff attorneys city officials.

It's really questionable how effectively you can address those responsibilities and fulfill them from the middle of the ocean.

According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, Jordan is scheduled to return from her grand tour at the end of next month.

She is currently paid $282,651 per year and she was paid $239,000 a year prior to her recent promotion in, per the outlet. She was paid $155,000 in her previous job as attorney for Sutter County, north of Sacramento.

The City Attorney stays in constant communication with all members of her executive team and has not experienced any delays or other negative impacts on the work of the Office,' a spokesperson for Heather Ferbert, pictured, told DailyMail.com

The working trip was approved by her Jordan's boss, City Attorney Heather Ferbert

She is being paid her full-time salary, benefits, and vacation time.

According to her LinkedIn profile, Jordan is a Level 1 CrossFit trainer and has a real estate license.

A spokesperson for Ferbert, elected to the cop attorney role in November, told DailyMail.com: We do not comment specifically on personnel matters.

As the head of an independent City department, the City Attorney has the authority to allow temporary teleworking arrangements for Office employees on a case-by-case basis.

In this case, the City Attorney thoroughly examined the job responsibilities of the position and determined that all required work could be performed remotely on a temporary basis with no impact on Office operations.

The City Attorney stays in constant communication with all members of her executive team and has not experienced any delays or other negative impacts on the work of the Office.

But DellAnno, who won a $6 million settlement for wrongful-termination from the City Attorneys office, is utterly unconvinced by the assertions.

Its not just about whether the work gets done - its about the message it sends the rank-and-file employees, she says.

Her promotion just before she goes on this four-month absence suggests poor planning and a lack of transparency about how public funds are being managed.

Imagine a parent wanting to save up all of their vacation and their sick leave to go on maternity or paternity leave so you can spend time with a child.

I would have a hard time being in a leadership role and looking at my direct reports and saying yeah too bad, so sad - you keep saving up for your paltry little time off and I'll be on a cruise

It sends a bad message on so many levels.

The Mayor of San Diego, Todd Gloria, his Chief of Staff Paola Avila and Glorias Director of Communications, Rachel Laing, did not respond to a request for comment.

Shelley Webb, a deputy in the criminal division of the City Attorneys Office and president of the Deputy City Attorneys Association of San Diego, the union representing city lawyers, did not respond to an email regarding the matter.

But she told the San Diego Union-Tribune: The DCAA was previously unaware of this arrangement for Executive Assistant City Attorney Jean Jordan and has no statement at this time.

Jordan is reportedly being paid her salary and is accruing full benefitsincluding vacation time

That kind of a leadership role requires that your direct reports have access to you have regular face-to-face interactions with staff attorneys city officials,' Marlea DellAnno, a former lawyer for the city of San Diego, told Daily Mail. 'It's really questionable how effectively you can address those responsibilities and fulfill them from the middle of the ocean'

DellAnno called the automatic response email to Daily Mail from Jordan 'outrageous' - specifically the claim that she is working from her office.

Clearly that email is almost an acknowledgment of how wrong this is, she said. Why not just say, Hey, I'm on a trip around the world.

The response is pretty indicative of the fact that thats a $300,000 position that you could cut. That's what it seems like to me.

Shes totally gone for four months. Its like nobody needs her.

Just how out of touch can you be?

Especially at a time when so many people are losing their jobs. When there's so much uncertainty in the economy and when San Diego, in particular, is facing a huge budget crisis.'

Amid DailyMail.com's probe, a memo was sent to all staff defending the decision to let Jordan work from the boat.

The note explained to employees they 'will continue to be allowed to regularly work remotely with their supervisors approval' and advised the Office has always had the 'discretion to grant requests for temporary remote work in extraordinary circumstances'.

City Attorney Ferbert explained that Jordan is 'an experienced, well-respected professional' who had worked at the City Attorney's Office for the past, and was given permission to work on the ship.

'I have worked closely with her during her time with the Office. Ms. Jordan had previously planned to retire at the end of my predecessors term. With that plan in mind, Ms. Jordan scheduled a trip to begin in January 2025 after leaving employment with the City,' Ferbert wrote.

'During my first weeks in office, Ms. Jordan offered to stay on with the office and it became clear to me and others within the leadership team that her continued service to the City was greatly needed for continuity during the transition.'

The memo also outlined a claim that Jordan had turned down a pay increase after agreeing to continue to work during her holiday.

An email reply to Daily Mail from Jean Jordan said she is working from her 'office'

In this case, the City Attorney thoroughly examined the job responsibilities of the position and determined that all required work could be performed remotely on a temporary basis with no impact on Office operations,' according to a statement on behalf of Ferbert, pictured

'At that time, I discussed the Executive Assistant City Attorney position with Ms. Jordan and she expressed her willingness to delay her retirement and continue working for the Office in that capacity,' Ferbert said.

'We also discussed whether a raise might be appropriate with her taking on more responsibilities. Given the circumstances and timing, Ms. Jordan declined to accept any increase in her salary.

'We discussed her pre-scheduled trip in detail and Ms. Jordan has made every effort, at her own expense, to ensure her continued ability to complete the duties of her job and communicate with City staff and the attorneys she supervises.

'I have been in constant contact with Ms. Jordan since taking office. Like most attorneys, Ms. Jordan generally works more than a 40-hour schedule each week and uses accrued vacation time on any weekdays she does not work.

'She takes calls at all hours of the day. I have seen and reviewed her work product and discussed cases and legal matters with her, and I have every confidence that she is completing her work well above the expectations set for all the attorneys in this Office.'
The polls have narrowed leading up to the April 28 Canadian election

Canada's election later this month is neck and neck just two weeks out as voters are split over the major party leaders.

The latest DailyMail.com/J.L. Partners Poll of over 1,000 Canadian adults between April 9 and 11 found that Liberal leader Mark Carney holds a slight edge over Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre.

Respondents backed Carney with 39 percent of the vote while 37 percent went for Poilievre.

The remaining 22 percent was split among fourth other candidates from different parties. The margin of error was 3.4 percent.

Carney's narrow two-point lead comes as the nation galvanizes against President Donald Trump, who has seen his popularity plummet in the country following his tariffs on the U.S. neighbor.

The Republican is pushing for Canada to become the '51st state' which has prompted a widespread political appetite to push back against the president.

According to the poll, the number two issue for voters in the election, behind installing a stable government, is to pick a candidate for Prime Minister who will stand up to Trump.

Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney is leading Conservative Pierre Poilievre by two points with two weeks until the election

The race has been dubbed the 'Trump Election' because of the president's tariffs on Canada and 51st state threats looming large

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'It is too close to call, with the Liberals with a two-point lead over the Conservatives,' J.L. Partners co-founder James Johnson told DailyMail.com of the results.

The pollster pointed out that the lead was well within the survey's margin of error.

'One of the top asks of a new government is to stand up to Donald Trump,' he added.

'This has become the Trump Election.''

Other top issues for voters are how leadership will address immigration, get spending under control and building more housing.

Liberal leader Carney is the former head of the Bank of Canada and has positioned himself as fit to deal with the country's trade tensions with the U.S.

Conservative leader Poilievre has run on a 'Canada First' agenda, similar to Trump's MAGA 'America First' platform.

Though emulating Trump's style has become a sticking point and may or may not resonate with voters.

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'Carney is the most popular candidate of all standing  smart and intelligent. Poilievre is positively viewed as a leader, but there are concerns about arrogance,' Johnson shared.

'And he is associated with Trump  47 percent say he is the leader most similar to Donald Trump,' he added.

The survey results show that Carney also beats Poilievre in younger and older demographics while those who are working age opted for the conservative.

The majority of respondents, 56 percent, say the country is on the wrong track.

The election will take place on April 28.

If Carney's Liberal party wins a majority in parliament it would extend its decade-long hold on power.

Speaking on the campaign trail this week, Harvard-educated Carney said: 'His (Trump's) strategy is to break us so America can own us.

'We are over the shock of the betrayal. But we should never forget the lessons.'
Fears are mounting that a serial killer is stalking quaint New England towns after the remains of three women were found in the span of six weeks.

Residents across Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island are on high alert following the discoveries.

On March 6, the remains of 35-year-old Paige Fannon of West Islip, New York, turned up in New Haven. Her body had been found in a fast-moving Norwalk River the night after a heavy deluge.

Then on March 21, police found another set of human remains, later confirmed to be that of missing 59-year-old mother-of-two Denise Leary.

On March 25, Rhode Island State Police found another set of remains in a wooded area of Foster, which were later identified as missing 56-year-old Michele Romano.

Several other sets of unidentified remains have also been located in New England towns during a similar time period.

And despite mounting speculation and theories these deaths may be linked, authorities have insisted there is no evidence suggesting it is the work of a serial killer.

'There is no information at this time suggesting any connection to similar remains discoveries, and there is also no known threat to the public at this time,' Connecticut State Police said.

There are mounting fears that a serial killer is on the loose and stalking quaint New England towns after the remains of three women were found in the span of six weeks. In total, six sets of remains have been found in the area from March to April

The remains of Paige Fannon (right) were found on March 6, and just weeks later on March 21, Denise Leary's (right) body was found

This hasn't prevented residents from speculating on social media, with the inception of a Facebook group titled New England Serial Killer.

The group has amassed 57,000 members in just a few weeks and is alight with theories about potential victims, suspects and hunting grounds.

And authorities' insistence that these disappearances and deaths likely aren't the work of a serial killer has only spurred armchair detectives on even further, prompting some of them to question if cops are turning a blind eye or failing to cooperate with their interstate counterparts.

New Haven police officer Christian Bruckhart told MassLive that he understands the 'mystique' and speculation surrounding a potential local serial killer.

'There's certain things that have a mystique about them, and I think serial killers are one... A serial killer is this almost mythical figure in the zeitgeist  I mean, how many Hannibal Lecter movies have been done?' he said.

He is part of the team investigating Denise Leary's death, and said that the evidence so far does not suggest she died by homicide.

'They're out there, we know that they exist,' he said, generally speaking about serial killers.

'But I can only speak to my department's investigation, in the missing person case, that there's no indication there was any homicide.'

Paige Fannon, whose body was the first to be found and identified, disappeared on March 4, just two days before she was found

On March 25, Rhode Island State Police found another set of remains in a wooded area of Foster, which were later identified as missing 56-year-old Michele Romano

Officers were pictured during the search for Michele Romano

There are mounting fears that a serial killer is on the loose and stalking quaint New England towns after the remains of three women were found in the span of six weeks

Separately, authorities have also pointed out that while the remains have been discovered during a specific time period, they didn't all go missing at the same time.

Paige Fannon, whose body was the first to be found and identified, disappeared on March 4, just two days before she was found.

Meanwhile 56-year-old Romano disappeared on August 18, 2024, and Leary just a month later on September 29.

Romano's family issued a statement on Tuesday to confirm that they do not believe her death is the work of a serial killer.

'Micheles passing is in no way related to any type of serial killer,' the family said in a statement.

'We have complete faith in the Rhode Island State Police and our Private Investigator that the person responsible will be brought to justice sooner rather than later.'

In addition to the three identified sets of remains, police in Groton Connecticut on March 19 uncovered the remains of a woman they believe to be aged between 40 to 60.

Authorities have repeatedly said they do not believe the womnen's deaths are connected

In spite of authorities' assurances, concerned residents have taken to social media to suggest the bodies are the work of a serial killer

They said the woman appeared to have lightly pigmented skin, and features typically associated with a person with Turner syndrome.

On April 9, another set of possible human remains were discovered in Killingly. Police did not reveal the identity of the remains but said there is no known threat to the public relating to the discovery.

The next day, firefighters in Massachusetts discovered more remains in Framingham. The decomposition of the remains suggested they had been there for at least several months.
A gorgeous California city has been plagued with a foul odor due to a stomach-churning problem in the Tijuana River.

The stink started after Mexico announced it was forced to dump around five million gallons a day of sewage into the river.

Mexico is attempting to replace a section of an ageing sewage pipeline with a newer one made of concrete.

The only way to rebuild the pipeline with minimal pollution was to allow sewage waste to run through the river during the construction.

The International Boundary and Water Commission, a federal government agency monitoring the waterways between Mexico and the US, announced on April 9 that the team in Mexico would be working around the clock to fix the pipeline.

The US side of the IBWC said Mexico had informed them that the decision to dump five million gallons of wastewater a day into the river was a 'difficult decision,' but there were no other alternatives to fixing the sewage problem.

On Thursday, the IBWC said that even though the sewage dump was 'bad news,' the decision was the best way to prevent wastewater from polluting the Tijuana River long-term.

The construction project is on the Mexico side of the river and will be split into two phases, scheduled to be completed by April 17.

San Diego has been plagued with a foul odor and poor air quality due to sewage pollution in the Tijuana River

The Mexico side of the IBWC informed the US that they would be dumping 5 million gallons of waste into the Tijuana River for five days to fix a sewage system problem

Mexico said the dumping was a 'difficult decision' and the best way to fix the sewage problem

As a result of the sewage dump, residents who live alongside the river in Imperial Beach, San Ysidro, Nestor, and South Bay have been faced with pungent smells.

The recent construction has caused an increase in pollution and a foul odor

Officials are advising residents to stay inside, keep their doors and windows closed, and use indoor fans or air purifiers. Residents who live in qualifying zip codes can order an air purifier for free.

Those who have lung conditions including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have been encouraged to keep emergency medications on hand as the odor persists.

The Tijuana River has been a major source of pollution for decades, with San Diego Coastkeeper estimating 31 billion gallons of raw sewage has been dumped into the water since October 2023.

The impacts of the sewage have forced beaches to close down and posed a health risk to locals.

In Imperial Beach, the San Diego community closest to the border, public beaches were forced to close down for over 1,000 days due to high levels of contamination.

The construction has been split into two phases and is scheduled to finish by April 17

The recent construction is the latest news in a string of problems involving the sewage infrastructure near the Tijuana River

The waste problem has resulted in pollution, contamination of public waters, and odors that have caused public beaches to close

The persisting problem was exacerbated in January when the Hollister Wastewater Treatment Plant malfunctioned and around 30,000 gallons of sewage spilled into the river.

Donald Trump's new Environmental Protection Agency chief Lee Zeldin previously said his department would crack down on Mexico to confront the pollution crisis in the Tijuana River.

A spokesperson for Governor Gavin Newsom's office said at the time that they would welcome collaboration from the federal government in addressing the pollution problem.

DailyMail.com reached out to the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District for comment but didn't immediately hear back.
A university study has been slammed for suggesting the government should 'decolonise' Australia's healthcare and add cultural medicines like song and dance.

A research paper from Southern Cross University found 90 per cent of Indigenous people would like to access cultural medicine, but many have difficulty doing so.

It also highlighted that cultural medicines were largely absent from policy which guides medical practice.

Research fellow Alana Gall, who led the study, said cultural medicine was often seen as not being 'equally relevant' in medical policy.

Cultural medicines included topical, ingested or inhaled medicines derived from plants and animals, foods with medical properties, hands-on healing like massage, ceremony, dance and song, spiritual healing and Country as a healer.

Conservative commentator Prue MacSween told Daily Mail Australia cultural medicine was 'not equally relevant in any way' to Western medicine, but admitted learning about it was 'informative as part of an education'.

'Learning about proven treatments used by other cultures can be useful, but what I find offensive about this, is the underlying intent by yet another woke university to attack and undermine our colonial history,' she said.

'They seek to continue the insidious indoctrination and "edu-grooming" of young people to create resentment and hate of our past.

Cultural medicines included hands-on healing like massage, ceremony, dance and song (stock image)

'Universities have become dangerous places for young minds.

'They are churning out so-called "social justice" warriors who are peeved and angry about Western society and armed with a degree in indignancy and ignorance.'

Ms Gall said Australia should adopt 'medical pluralism' that involved 'using both biomedicine, which is our standard type of healthcare in Australia, as well as cultural medicine'.

'There was little to no guidance on what health professionals should do if their patients are either using or wanting to use cultural medicine,' she said.

'It shouldn't be one at the exclusion of the other. I see it as decolonising healthcare, but we need to do things in the right order.

'We need cultural medicines to be integrated into mainstream healthcare, but we also need to put the work into defining, understanding and protecting the knowledge associated with them.'

Dr Gall said including cultural medicines in Medicare and on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme could also empower practitioners and patients.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Health Minister Mark Butler and Shadow Minister for Health Anne Ruston for comment.

Conservative commentator Prue MacSween said cultural medicine was 'not equally relevant in any way' to Western medicine

The university is the latest to come under fire over its 'wokeness'.

Macquarie University students studying Age and the Law under course organiser Holly Doel-Mackaway spoke out in March after being asked to perform a heartfelt Welcome to Country and a 'privilege walk' to pass a law module.

In an exercise intended to teach law students about social and economic power, class participants were randomly assigned personalities ranging from 'poor children with diseases to CEOs of large companies', The Australian reported.

The students were asked to step forward when they felt a statement - for example, 'I eat three meals a day' - applied to their character.

Those who were assigned 'privileged positions' managed to cross the classroom while the 'oppressed people stayed behind'.

'We were then made to feel bad for having these positions. The convener told those of us with jobs or positions of power that we had achieved our positions by "stepping on the shoulders of others",' the anonymous student said.
A thug in a balaclava nabbed a 20,000 camera from a London film crew as they shot a music video.

My Laundress laundry in Hackney caught the shocking moment on its CCTV cameras, which was then shared online by cinematographer and camera-owner Chaimuki.

In the footage, the team can be seen standing around on the side of the road in Lower Clapton just after 10.30pm on Monday, assumedly reviewing the content they have created so far.

The group had been filming a music clip when out of nowhere a white car screeches into the shot and a thug jumps out of the back car door.

They then grab one of the massive tripods, later identified as a Arri Alexi Mini which costs around 20,000, and tries to drag it into the car.

However, it is too big - so is hanging out the side of the door scratching along the road as the car makes its getaway.

In the footage you can see the team standing around on the side of the road in Lower Clapton just after 10.30pm, assumedly reviewing the content they have created so far

The group had been filming a music video when out of nowhere a white car screeches into the shot and a thug jumps out of the back car door

The balaclava-clad person grabs one of the massive tripods, later identified as a Arri Alexi Mini which costs around 20,000, and tries to drag it into the car

Despite the crew shouting at, and a few trying to physical grab the tripod and camera as it whistles past - they are unsuccessful.

Later when posting on her Instagram for help finding it, Chaimuki claimed: 'I chased them on an electric bike. Imagine a 5ft 3 unarmed girl chasing down 4 criminals on bike.'

She later posted again saying: 'Honestly couldn't be thankful enough for all the support all of you are giving. I've been trying to get back to you all bare with me.

'I'll keep you updated with any outcome just remember to stay safe. All the love.'

A Met Police spokesperson said: 'Police were called at 22:33hrs on Monday, 14 April to reports of a theft in Chatsworth Road, E5.

'It was reported a man in a balaclava ran into the venue and stole camera equipment before making off in a car towards Dunlace Road, E5.

'Officers attended and searched the area for the suspects, the vehicle or discarded items, but nothing was found. No arrests have been made.

'Anyone with information or footage is asked to call police on 101 quoting CAD 7958/14APR.

'Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.'

It comes amid an epidemic of phone snatching in cities across the UK, with a particular focus on London, where mobile phone thefts have tripled in the last four years.

Shocking images show how two thieves, with their faces covered, riding a moped mounted the pavement and grabbed the phone out a man's hand.

The man attempted to chase after the moped-riding thieves, but to no avail

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More than 70,000 phones were snatched in the streets of London alone in 2024, out of an estimated 100,000 thefts across the UK.

Some 70,137 devices were reported stolen amid a scourge of criminal gangs using e-bikes and scooters to tot up high numbers of phones to sell abroad for parts.

It is thought phone snatching could cost consumers up to 70 million each year.

Last month two brazen thieves snatched three phones in just minutes while riding past pedestrians on a black moped.

The pair, both clad all in black and wearing balaclavas that revealed just their eyes, worked as a slick team to grab phones out of users' hands before they realised they were at risk.

One man was seen trying desperately to hold on to his handset as it was swiped, before the speed and momentum of the moped got the better of him.

The man attempted to chase after the moped as it careered down the pavement, but the driver rejoined the road and weaved in and out of traffic and away.

The thieves drove off in the direction of Camden, with witnesses stating they snatched another two phones along the way.
Karoline Leavitt tore into Democrat lawmakers and the media for their coverage of a Salvadorian migrant who was deported back to El Salvador.

'Based on the sensationalism of many of the people in this room, you would think we deported a candidate for Father of the Year,' Leavitt, 27, told reporters.

The White House Press Secretary was critiquing the press for their coverage of a migrant the administration accidentally deported named Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

The 29-year-old migrant has an American son and wife but he was sent back to El Salvador by mistake.

He was alleged to have ties to MS-13, but the Trump administration is now saying they cannot bring him back, and Abrego Garcia is not subject to U.S. jurisdiction.

He has commonly been referred to as a 'Maryland man' in the coverage about his removal to El Salvador's most notorious prison CECOT.

'It's atrocious that you have Democrats in Congress on Capitol Hill who swear an oath to protect their constituents and to serve them in Washington DC, spending more time defending illegal immigrant gang members than their own constituents and law abiding American citizens like Rachel Morin,' the press secretary said.

Morin, a Maryland mother-of-five, was murdered by an illegal migrant in 2023. Her mother, Patty Morin, spoke during Trump's campaign about the tragic loss of her daughter.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt ripped the press for their glowing coverage of a Salvadorian migrant that the Trump administration accidentally deported despite him having an American wife and kid

Martinez-Hernandez was found guilty of rape and murder on Monday in a Maryland court

Leavitt noted how many reports call the migrant, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a 'Maryland man' while the same outlets hardly covered the murder of Rachel Morin, a Maryland mother of five, who was murdered by an illegal migrant in 2023

'The Democrat and media outrage over the deportation of Abrego Garcia, an MS-13, El Salvadorian, illegal alien, criminal who is hiding in Maryland, has been nothing short of despicable,' Leavitt blasted.

'That's because ultimately, many in this country care more about this quote, unquote, Maryland father, illegal alien, MS-13 gang member, than a Maryland mother and an American citizen who was brutally murdered at the hands of a different illegal alien.'

On Monday, a Maryland court found Morin's killer, Salvadorian Victor Antonio Martinez Hernandez, guilty of rape and murder.

It was found that Martinez-Hernandez planned the murder ahead of time before strangling Morin and leaving her body in a ditch.

DNA testing was able to match the migrant to the scene.

'President Trump and our administration will not rest until every single highly illegal alien is removed from our country,' the press secretary continued.

Abrego Garcia, on the other hand, fled to come to the U.S. in 2011 and was granted status to stay in 2019.

However, he was deported as a result of an 'administrative error' on March 15.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran migrant who lived in the U.S. legally with a work permit and was erroneously deported to El Salvador

Trump invites Patty Morin, mother of Rachel Morin, to speak during a campaign event

Patty Morin arrives at the Harford County Circuit Courthouse with attorney Randolph Rice for the opening statements in the trial of Victor Martinez-Hernandez

He has been at the high security CECOT prison in El Salvador ever since while his wife and attorney have been calling for his release.

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele visited the White House on Monday and during an Oval Office meeting with Trump announced that he would not return Abrego Garcia to the U.S.

His commitment bolsters the Trump administration claim that El Salvador has sole jurisdiction over Abrego Garcia.
A DNA expert has laid out the critical evidence that threatens to make or break the case against the Gilgo Beach serial killer suspect.

Rex Heuermann, a 61-year-old architect, returned to a courtroom in Riverhead, Long Island, on Tuesday for the latest in a series of hearings about whether bombshell evidence tying him to the murders of seven women can be presented at his trial.

Heuermann has been tied to the killings in part through advanced DNA testing which identified hairs on several of the victims as belonging to his now ex-wife Asa Ellerup, daughter Victoria Heuermann and another individual connected to him.

The man behind this crucial DNA testing - Astrea Forensics founder Dr Richard Green - was flown in from California for Tuesdays hearing as the prosecution fights to keep this evidence in the trial.

Dressed in a dark suit and yellow tie, Heuermann was led into court in ankle shackles and with his hands cuffed behind his back.

Ellerup and Victoria Heuermann - dressed head to toe in a vibrant, multicolored outfit - looked on from the fourth row of the courtroom.

The mother and daughter were flanked by their attorneys who hours earlier exclusively told DailyMail.com that Ellerup believed her husband may have been framed for the serial killings - after she watched the new Netflix docuseries Gone Girls about the case.

The show documented the corruption that plagued the case in the early days, with the then-Suffolk County Police Commissioner James Burke botching the investigation and forcing the FBI off the case. He was then sentenced to 46 months in prison for 2012 beating of a man who stole sex toys and paraphernalia out of his vehicle. The then-Suffolk County DA Tom Spota was also convicted for corruption, obstruction and witness tampering in connection to Burke.

Rex Heuermann, a 61-year-old architect, returned to a courtroom in Riverhead, Long Island, Tuesday

The suspected serial killer is seen with his attorney Michael Brown in the courthouse for a Frye hearing about critical DNA evidence in the case

Heuermann in the courtroom sitting near his legal team during Tuesday's Frye hearing

Attorney Bob Macedonio told reporters outside the courthouse that after watching the Netflix series it raises more concerns and questions about how this investigation was conducted and procedures that were used to extract that DNA.

Asa has said from the beginning that Rex Heuermann, the man she married and had two children with was not capable of committing these crimes, Macedonio said, while Ellerup stood next to him nodding in agreement.

Inside the courtroom, the family members did not appear to make eye contact with the man who they once lived with before he was unmasked as a suspected serial killer who preyed on multiple women. They looked on as he was carted in and out of court, before he was cuffed and led back to jail at the end of the day.

Heuermann is currently charged with the murders of seven women over a two-decade reign of horror running from 1993 to 2011.

The Gilgo Beach serial killer case had haunted the Long Island community for more than a decade, ever since the first of multiple bodies were discovered along Ocean Parkway in December 2010.

More than a decade later, in July 2023, the Massapequa Park local was then dramatically arrested as he left his office in midtown Manhattan.

Heuermann was initially charged with the murders of three women: Amber Costello, Melissa Barthelemy and Megan Waterman.

Since then, he has been charged with the murders of four more victims: Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Sandra Costilla, Jessica Taylor and Valerie Mack.

Rex Heuermann's wife Asa Ellerup, daughter Victoria Heuermann and their attorneys attend a hearing for Rex Heuermann at the Arthur M. Cromarty Criminal Courthouse in Riverhead, Long Island

Asa Ellerup and Victoria Heuermann - dressed head to toe in a vibrant, multicolored outfit - looked on from the fourth row of the courtroom at the hearing

All the victims were working as sex workers when they vanished after going to meet a client.

Their bodies were found dumped along Ocean Parkway near Gilgo Beach and other remote spots on Long Island.

Some of the victims had been bound, others had been dismembered and their remains discarded in multiple locations.

The 61-year-old has pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him.

On Tuesday, key prosecution witness Dr Green took the stand to deliver his hotly-anticipated testimony which could play a key role in shaping what evidence will be seen at trial.

Green - who has worked as a professor in biomolecular engineering at University of California in Santa Cruz since 2010 - laid out his expertise and experience in the field of genetics and testified how his company Astrea Forensics has become the go to for the specific DNA testing used in the Gilgo Beach serial killer case.

He told the court how his research largely focuses on developing technology which can extract DNA from old or difficult samples - such as ancient bones that are tens of thousands of years old or rootless hairs.

Through his research, he went on to found the lab Astrea Forensics in 2019 - the lab that carried out the DNA testing in the case against Heuermann.

The home of Rex Heuermann in Massapequa Park, Long Island, during a search of his home

Law enforcement on the scene of Rex Heuermann's home following his arrest in July 2023

Police search a marsh in Oak Beach for the remains of Shannan Gilbert in December 2011

Green explained that the company was born out of his work on a case where a girls body was found in a casket buried underneath a home in San Francisco.

He was sent a lock of the girls hair and was asked to use it to try to identify her.

Ultimately, he was able to use the hair to identify the girl as Edith Howard Cook.

After that, Green said he kept being sent cold cases to work on, leading him to eventually launch the lab.

Green testified that Astrea Forensics is now the go-to lab for identifying DNA from rootless hairs and ancient bones.

The lab is regularly sent cases to work on from the FBI, local law enforcement agencies as well as other forensic labs. In total, he estimated the company has analyzed hundreds or thousands of samples for law enforcement.

Astrea, he testified, specializes in getting DNA from rootless hairs and very old or ancient bones.

Everybody knows we are the go-to lab for this kind of thing, he testified.

Astrea Forensics founder Dr Richard Green (pictured) testified about the DNA technology used to tie Heuermann to the killings

Green explained how the technology developed by his lab is able to develop a DNA profile from a rootless hair - like the hairs found on the bodies of several of the Gilgo Beach victims.

A hair, he explained, has small amounts of DNA that are fragmented - making it more difficult to obtain a profile from.

But, he said that DNA is easily recoverable from rootless hairs using his labs technology.

It is then compared to a DNA sample taken from a known individual using a buccal swab, to see if matches.

Green laid out his lengthy experience of working on DNA and genetics, including his post-doctoral training where he worked on technology to sequence the genes of Neanderthals. His boss on this project went on to win a Nobel Prize.

Green also testified that he had received $1.5 million in grants for work on forensics and DNA evaluation of rootless hairs.

Astrea has been paid around $190,000 from Suffolk County for work on cases - $130,000 of which for the work on the Gilgo Beach serial killer case, he said.

Heuermanns defense attorney Michael Brown is seeking to sow doubts in the DNA technology used in the case - branding it magic that has never been used before in a criminal case in New York.

Melissa Barthelemy (top left), Amber Costello (top right), Megan Waterman (bottom left), and Maureen Brainard-Barnes (bottom right) became known as the 'Gilgo Four'

Valerie Mack (left) disappeared in 2000 and parts of her body were discovered in Long Island that November. Jessica Taylor (right) vanished in 2003 with some of her remains being found in Manorville that year

Sandra Costilla (left) was murdered in 1993, making her the earliest known victim. Karen Vergata's (right) remains were identified in 2023. Heuermann has not been charged in connection to her death

He is asking the judge to throw out the DNA evidence allegedly tying Heuermann to the murders.

Prosecutors are fighting back, arguing the method is well-regarded in the scientific community.

Brown will cross-examine Green when the hearing resumes Wednesday morning.

It is not clear when Judge Mazzei will rule on whether or not the DNA evidence can be presented at trial.

Heuermann was linked to the murders following a tip about a pickup truck.

According to a witness, Costello had disappeared after going to see a client who drove a green Chevy Avalanche in September 2010.

Following the launch of a new taskforce, investigators learned that Heuermann drove that same type of vehicle at the time of the murders, prosecutors say.

He also matched the description of the client seen by the witness.

Rex Heuermann in selfies submitted as evidence in the case. The accused serial killer is charged with murders dating from 1993 to 2011

This pizza crust was used by investigators to obtain the DNA of Rex Heuermann prior to his arrest

The backyard of Rex Heuermann's home in Massapequa Park during a search in June 2024

As well as the DNA evidence, prosecutors said investigators also found a chilling planning document on a hard drive in the basement of Heuermanns family home in Massapequa Park.

In the haunting document, he allegedly had a section detailed PREP and noted that small women were preferred.

Heuermann has lived his entire life in Massapequa Park and would commute to his architecture job in Midtown Manhattan, where some of the victims worked and were last seen alive.

He was especially familiar with Ocean Parkway, where the victims bodies were dumped, thanks to a job he had at Jones Beach in his 20s, according to prosecutors.

Fears that a serial killer or killers were at large on Long Island began back in May 2010, when Shannan Gilbert vanished in bizarre circumstances one night.

The 24-year-old, who was working as an escort, had gone to see a client in the Oak Beach Association community when she made a terrifying 911 call, saying that someone was trying to kill her.

During a search for Gilbert in December 2010, officers came across the body of Barthelemy in the marshes by Gilgo Beach.

Within days, three more bodies - Costello, Brainard-Barnes and Waterman - had been found.

Suspected serial killer Rex Heuermann is led into the courtroom in shackles and handcuffs on April 15

Heuermann is accused of murdering seven women whose remains were found between 1993 and 2011

The four victims, who became known as the Gilgo Four, had been dumped within a quarter mile of each other, some of them bound and wrapped in burlap.

Over the following months, the remains of seven other victims were found.

Gilberts body was found last. Investigators maintain that she was not a victim, but died by accidental drowning after she fled into the dense thicket that night.

Heuermann has not been charged in connection to the deaths of the other four victims: Karen Vergata and three still-unidentified victims, known only as Asian Doe, Peaches, and Peaches toddler daughter.

Costilla, meanwhile, had never been linked to the Gilgo Beach serial killer case until Heuermann was hit with charges for her murder in 2024.

Her murder expands the timeline that the accused serial killer is alleged to have been actively preying on victims.

Heuermann has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
A flashy real estate agent has come under fire after admitting to using a dodgy sales technique to attract competitive purchase bids.

A-Class Estate Agents Parramatta founder Amir Jahan, 27, claimed all agents use 'imaginary buyers' to drive up sales prices whether they admit it or not.

'Whenever there's a serious buyer, and they make a serious offer, then we say, "You need to hurry up because I'm talking to another buyer, and you're going to miss out". It is a magical phrase and it does work,' he told news.com.au.

'I had a property six months ago, there wasn't even a single buyer, then a serious buyer came in and said, "I'd like to put in an offer" and two hours later I called him and said, "I have another serious buyer".'

His comments have attracted significant backlash from industry insiders who claim Mr Jahan had painted the profession with an unethical brush.

'I completely disagree with Mr Jahan's comments. Not only are they untrue, but they're also a poor reflection of the agent himself,' Metro Realty agent Joseph Fairchild told Daily Mail Australia.

'Statements like this are exactly why some agents struggle to gain trust and respect in the industry, especially long term. Unfortunately you bring down the industry and other operators also when you operate in this mindset.

'Integrity is everything in real estate. While you may secure a few listings with questionable tactics, you only have one name and reputation to uphold  and that's what truly lasts.'

Parramatta real estate agent Amir Jahan (pictured) has claimed all agents use 'imaginary buyers' to drive up sales prices whether they admit it or not

Mr Jahan's comments have drawn widespread criticism among industry insiders who accused him of misleading potential buyers (the agent is pictured posing beside sold signs)

If authentic buyers ask how much their imaginary competition has offered to pay, Mr Jahan said he will usually answer that he cannot say.

Ideally, the interested buyer will then attempt to outbid themselves.

'When we know the buyer is serious and likes it, we then use the magic words of "the other buyer" and we increase the price for the vendor,' he said.

'From there, it is just about negotiation; sometimes it increases by $50,000. The most I ever got was $70,000, but a lot of buyers will pay more than what they were expecting.'

Mr Jahan has attracted widespread social media attention for his flashy sales techniques, particularly his use of luxury vehicles in ads.

His Instagram profile is flooded with videos of the 27-year-old behind the wheel of Lamborghinis, Rolls-Royces and Mercedes-Benz G-Wagons.

According to realestate.com.au, Mr Jahan has overseen the sale of t10 properties as the lead agent in the past 12 months with a median price of $700,000.

The western Sydney agent went so far as to say an agent who claims not to use the imaginary buyer tactic is 'not a good agent'.

Mr Jahan (pictured) has attracted a strong social media following for his flashy sales techniques including the use of luxury vehicle in property ads

Chief executive of the Real Estate Institute of New South Wales Tim McKibbin said it was 'ridiculous' to suggest all agents use imaginary buyers (pictured, an auction in Sydney)

His job, he claimed, is to represent the interests of the vendor. That said, he often uses the technique simply to achieve the vendor's reserve price.

'As an agent, it is my job just to be honest and help both parties, the seller and the buyer; the reality is I'm getting paid from the owner and not the buyer,' he said.

'If you're getting paid by someone, you work for them. I'm not saying we've got to rip off the buyers, but at the end of the day, I'm getting paid from the vendor.'

Chief executive of the Real Estate Institute of New South Wales Tim McKibbin said it was 'ridiculous' to suggest all agents use imaginary buyers.

'To make false and misleading comments... is contrary to the Property and Stock Act 2002,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'Every trade, calling and profession, have people in their industry that do the wrong thing. Sadly, we have people in our industry that bring the profession into disrepute.

'However, the data clearly shows that they constitute a very small percentage. Again, this is consistent with other industries.'

Real estate author Neil Jenman said it was a 'bit of a broad sweep' to claim every agent uses imaginary buyers but that most had used the technique at some point.

'I remember once, when I was looking to buy a house, that I got so sick of hearing the "we have another buyer" statement that I used to respond to agents by saying, "That other buyer, he follows me around everywhere".

'There is a reason that 95 per cent of the public don't trust real estate agents. Misleading conduct is endemic throughout the industry.

'There are many worse and equally as common tricks than the "other buyer" trick.'

Mr Jahan (pictured) went as far to say that any agent who doesn't know the 'imaginary buyer' technique is 'not a good agent'

Century 21 real estate agent Amit Thaker categorically rejected the 'sweeping' claim that every agent has an imaginary buyer, or that the tactic is universally applied.

'These statements are not only inaccurate but also unfairly discredit the countless agents across Australia who uphold ethical standards and work tirelessly to deliver genuine results for their clients,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

With more than eight years experience in the industry, Mr Thaker said the industry is 'highly regulated with agents bound by strict codes of conduct, consumer protection laws, and professional obligations under state and federal legislation'.

'Fabricating buyers is not only unethical - it is deceptive conduct and could attract serious consequences, including disciplinary action, fines and loss of license. Blanket generalisations like these erode public trust and undermine the professionalism of agents who consistently act in the best interests of their clients,' he said.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Jahan for comment.
A retail expert has explained why Mexican fast-food giant Taco Bell struggled to gain a foothold in the Australian market - as it faces going under.

On Tuesday, ASX-listed Collins Foods, which also operates KFC outlets across the country, announced it will exit its Taco Bell business, plunging the chain's local operations into jeopardy.

'If a new operator cannot be identified and/or an agreement cannot be reached, other exit options will be explored,' the company said in a statement.

'Collins Foods intends to complete the transition within the next 12 months, subject to formal terms being agreed.'

Retail expert Professor Gary Mortimer pinned Taco Bell's failure in Australia on the cost of living crisis and also intense competition from household name Mexican takeaway store Guzman y Gomez and homegrown giant Zambrero.

Prof. Mortimer, from Queensland University of Technology's Faculty of Business & Law, said Taco Bell stores were mainly located in less affluent suburbs, which favour 'big meals at a great value low price'.

However, he said those areas had been hit hardest by rising living expenses, forcing families to tighten their budgets and cook at home instead of dining out.

'If you are facing increasing rents or mortgage payments, you're less likely to go out and spend 50 or 60 dollars for takeaway for the family,' he said.

The cost of living crisis has been partially blamed for the demise of Taco Bell in Australia

Professor Gary Mortimer from the Queensland University of Technology's Faculty of Business & Law believes Taco Bell's failure in Australia comes down to a combination of factors

Many of the suburbs where Taco Bell has set up shop are also among the hardest hit by mortgage stress.

Data from S&P Global Ratings shows areas like Blacktown in New South Wales and Narre Warren in Victoria ranking among the worst in the country for mortgage arrears.

Both are suburbs with Taco Bell locations, with Blacktown having two stores.

Professor Mortimer also noted that Taco Bell entered the Australian market 'too little, too late,' given how well established local Mexican outlets are.

'The perception being driven by competitors like Guzman Y Gomez and Zambrero is more around fresh, authentic, real Mexican fare,' he explained, while Taco Bell was more 'Tex-Mex' - American-style Mexican.

Prof Mortimer said these rivals had already carved out strong brand identities, positioning themselves around food quality and authenticity, while also securing customer loyalty as go-to destinations for Mexican cuisine.

Guzman y Gomez, which joined the ASX in 2024, has a market capitalisation of around $3.4billion.

The company reported a $7.3million profit in the first half of last year and continued its rapid expansion, opening 19 new locations during that period.

Taco Bell faced setbacks over a number of decades while trying to break into Australia

In contrast, Taco Bell recorded a $1.1million loss in the six months leading up to October 13.

Despite launching in Australia in 2017 with ambitious plans to open 51 stores by 2021, the chain had only reached 27 locations before yesterday's announcement of its planned exit.

Taco Bell's Australian journey has been marked by a long-running legal feud over naming rights.

In 2019, Collins Foods revealed that Taco Bill, a Victorian-based Mexican chain, tried to block Taco Bell's expansion into Victoria and southern NSW.

The dispute followed a previous legal battle in the late 1990s, when Taco Bell registered its trademark but became entangled in a four-year standoff with Taco Bill over use of the similar names.

Even earlier, in 1981, an attempt to launch the brand in Sydney was halted after a local restaurant, Taco Bell's Casa, took legal action over the name.

Despite the setbacks, Taco Bell finally opened its first Australian store in Brisbane in November 2017, drawing crowds that queued for months.

First opening in 2017, Taco Bell stores saw lines out the door for the first few months

The Mexican-themed fast food chain is famous for its bargain burritos, quesadillas and nachos.

Collins Foods operates 27 Taco Bells and 285 of the 750 KFC stores across Australia. It also runs KFCs in the Netherlands and Germany.

Further details, including the cost of selling off the Mexican-themed chain will be released at a later date.

Taco Bell's local failure came less than a year after US burger chain Carl's Jr also went into administration in Australia.

In a statement to Daily Mail Australia, Taco Bell Corp. said 'Australia remains a priority market for our brand, and we are committed to Taco Bells long-term growth in the region.

We are actively exploring a transition to new ownership and will continue to invest in the market alongside the right franchise partners.

Building on the strong foundations already in place, we will continue to deliver the bold flavours and unique experiences that Taco Bell fans know and love across Australia.'
Donald Trump wants to give money and an airplane ticket to any illegal migrant who chooses to 'self-deport' to help solve the border crisis, and then work to get those who are 'good' back in the US.

Trump, who campaigned on a pledge to carry out mass deportations, said in a taped interview with Fox Noticias that aired Tuesday that his administration is focused right now on getting 'murderers' out of the country.

But for others in the US illegally, he said, hes going to implement 'a self-deportation program.'

Trump offered few details about the plan, including timing, but said the US would provide immigrants airfare and a stipend.

'Were going to give them a stipend. Were going to give them some money and a plane ticket, and then were going to work with them - if theyre good - if we want them back in, were going to work with them to get them back in as quickly as we can,' Trump said.

Fox Noticias interviewer Rachel Campos-Duffy, who is married to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, played Trump a clip of a Mexican man who she said arrived in the US illegally more than 20 years ago and has children who are American citizens.

It is not clear if the man now has legal permission to be in the country, but Campos-Duffy said the man said that even though he cannot vote, he would have supported Trump.

She played a clip of the man saying he agrees that if someone commits a crime, they should be returned to their countries - including himself.

Donald Trump (pictured left) wants to give money and an airplane ticket to any illegal migrant who chooses to 'self-deport,' and then work to get those who are 'good' back in the United States

Trump, who campaigned on a pledge to carry out mass deportations, said in a taped interview with Fox Noticias that aired Tuesday that his administration is focused right now on getting 'murderers' out of the country

'I look at this man. I say, this is a guy that we want to keep,' Trump replied. 'Ill probably take heat for saying it.'

He then asked if the man was supposed to be deported and answered his own question: 'No, he didnt say that. Good.'

'I dont think hes in any danger of it,' Trump said.

The Republican president also said wants to help hotels and farms get the workers they need and recommend people to fill needed positions.

He said that would be 'very soothing' to farmers and said he ultimately wants workers who are in the US illegally to leave and come back with legal permission, but he did not outline any steps to do that.

'Were doing a self-deportation and were going to make it comfortable for people,' he said. 'And were going to work with those people to come back into our country legally.'

Fox Noticias said the interview with Trump was taped Monday.

The news comes as the White House battles back against liberal fury over migrants being deported to prisons in El Salvador.

Trump (pictured left) did the interview with Fox Noticias' Rachel Campos-Duffy (pictured right), who is married to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy

The Republican president also said wants to help hotels and farms get the workers they need and recommend people to fill needed positions

Karoline Leavitt tore into Democrat lawmakers and the media for their coverage of a Salvadorian migrant who was deported back to El Salvador.

'Based on the sensationalism of many of the people in this room, you would think we deported a candidate for Father of the Year,' Leavitt, 27, told reporters.

The White House Press Secretary was critiquing the press for their coverage of a migrant the administration accidentally deported named Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

The 29-year-old migrant has an American son and wife but he was sent back to El Salvador by mistake.

He was alleged to have ties to MS-13, but the Trump administration is now saying they cannot bring him back, and Abrego Garcia is not subject to US jurisdiction.

He has commonly been referred to as a 'Maryland man' in the coverage about his removal to El Salvador's most notorious prison CECOT.

'It's atrocious that you have Democrats in Congress on Capitol Hill who swear an oath to protect their constituents and to serve them in Washington DC, spending more time defending illegal immigrant gang members than their own constituents and law abiding American citizens like Rachel Morin,' the press secretary said.

Morin, a Maryland mother-of-five, was murdered by an illegal migrant in 2023. Her mother, Patty Morin, spoke during Trump's campaign about the tragic loss of her daughter.

The news comes as the White House battles back against liberal fury over migrants being deported to prisons in El Salvador

'The Democrat and media outrage over the deportation of Abrego Garcia, an MS-13, El Salvadorian, illegal alien, criminal who is hiding in Maryland, has been nothing short of despicable,' Leavitt blasted.

'That's because ultimately, many in this country care more about this quote, unquote, Maryland father, illegal alien, MS-13 gang member, than a Maryland mother and an American citizen who was brutally murdered at the hands of a different illegal alien.'

On Monday, a Maryland court found Morin's killer, Salvadorian Victor Antonio Martinez Hernandez, guilty of rape and murder.

It was found that Martinez-Hernandez planned the murder ahead of time before strangling Morin and leaving her body in a ditch.

DNA testing was able to match the migrant to the scene.

'President Trump and our administration will not rest until every single highly illegal alien is removed from our country,' the press secretary continued.

Abrego Garcia, on the other hand, fled to come to the US in 2011 and was granted status to stay in 2019.

However, he was deported as a result of an 'administrative error' on March 15.

He has been at the high security CECOT prison in El Salvador ever since while his wife and attorney have been calling for his release.

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele visited the White House on Monday and during an Oval Office meeting with Trump announced that he would not return Abrego Garcia to the US.

His commitment bolsters the Trump administration claim that El Salvador has sole jurisdiction over Abrego Garcia.
A disturbing photo has emerged of one of the right-wing figures who confronted Anthony Albanese in a Melbourne hotel lobby on Tuesday night.

Daniel Jones has posted images online of him toting various firearms, including a rocket launcher.

The Melbourne man took credit for a video in which Mr Albanese was confronted in the Grand Hyatt Hotel, sparking security concerns.

'Albo! How do you feel about the rise in immigration, mate? Do you think it's fair?' Mr Jones called out to Mr Albanese as a bodyguard stepped in.

A second man also ambushed a stunned Mr Albanese and asked him about housing while filming on his phone.

'There are hundreds of thousands of Australians around the country, who are unable to afford housing when are you going to put Australians first?' the man asked, while media staffer Fiona Sugden, and then a bodyguard, intervened.

Melbourne Freedom Rally, protesters who have previously held out-of-control anti-vaccination demonstrations, laid claim to the second video.

It's unclear how the pair managed to slip past security or approach Mr Albanese in the hotel lobby.

A stunned Mr Albanese did not reply to questions from the men before his security intervened

Daniel Jones has posted images online of him toting various firearms, including a rocket launcher

Mr Jones' self-defence school, Tactical Force Combatives, has posted several photos of him posing with firearms on social media.

'Bit of fun with a rocket launcher,' one photo was captioned in December, which appeared to show him aiming the weapon.

Another photo appeared to show him holding an 'M79 grenade launcher'.

The self-defence instructor defended his actions on Thursday, posting to the school's social media account: 'I didn't realise non threatening asking of questions was considered "political extremism" these days.'

'At no point was the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese ever in danger, I was simply wanting some questions answered about things that are concerning every day Australians,' Mr Jones said in another post.

He also defended Mr Albanese's bodyguards, saying they had not assaulted him and were 'just doing their job'.

The ambush is the latest in a string of headlines about threats to politicians' security as they travel across the country in lead up to the May 3 election.

Dozens of activists dressed in black yelled racist slogans outside Coalition Senator James Paterson's office in South Melbourne on Sunday.

One photo appeared to show Mr Jones aiming an 'M79 grenade launcher'

Last week, it was also revealed Peter Dutton was the alleged target of a private school student's terror plot which reportedly involved the use of a drone.

Mr Albanese later revealed that authorities have launched legal proceedings to protect him after a 'serious incident'.

The AFP had issued a sobering warning about concerns for politicians' safety only a few weeks before.

'The number of reports of threats to high office holders, federal parliamentarians, dignitaries and electorate offices continue to grow,' Commissioner Reece Kershaw told the Senate on March 27.

Citing data from the last few years, he revealed reports of threats to politicians had doubled from 555 in 2021-22, to 1009 in 2023-24.

'In Australia, we are recording an increase in issue-motivated extremism, and offenders who are quickly willing to use violence to further their cause.'
Rute Cardoso, who only married the 28-year-old footballer on June 22, walked into Sao Cosme Chapel in Gondomar after returning with her husband's body from Spain late last night ahead of tomorrow's funeral. The town overlooking Porto is where the couple met and started dating as teenagers. They married less than two weeks ago and have three young children. It is believed the bodies of Diogo and Andre Silva are lying in the Chapel of Rest, which is behind the main church. It came as Diogo's friend, former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson , wiped away tears as he laid flowers and a scarf outside Anfield this afternoon. Diogo and Andre's mother Isabel, father Joaquim and their grandfather were emotional on arriving at the chapel. Joaquim hugged several people and was supported by his brother and later raised a hand to mourners as he left with his wife. They returned around an hour later. Portugal's Prime Minister Luis Montenegro also attended the wake along with Diogo's agent Jorge Mendes. The President of Portugal, Marcelo de Sousa, came later.
A man who was allegedly held captive for 20 years by his wicked stepmother has broken his silence and revealed the rite of passage he's now experienced as he attempts to get his life back.

The 32-year-old man, who now goes by S, released a statement through the support services group, Survivors Say, revealing that he's finally enjoyed his first birthday party.

In the statement, S thanked the first responders and health care professionals who have helped him heal, adding, 'In addition to all of your care, I appreciated the chance to have my first ever birthday party to celebrate turning 32.'

The emotional statement detailed his healing journey since he purposefully lit his Connecticut home on fire in February so that he could be rescued from the house of horrors where the alleged abuse occurred.

The statement began by declaring that his first decision since his newfound freedom was to change his name to 'S' reclaim control over his life.

'I am speaking out today to begin the process of reclaiming my life and to have my say in how my story is told,' S continued.

'I am much better and stronger than I was the day the first responders carried me out of my home.'

He went on to express gratitude for law enforcement, first responders, and Safe Haven of Greater Waterbury, an agency that provides resources for victims.

A man who was allegedly 'held captive for 20 years' in a 'house of horrors' said that since he was rescued he's finally had a birthday party to celebrate turning 32

Kimberly Sullivan, 56, was arrested and accused of holding her stepson captive for 20 years and keeping him in conditions that resulted in severe malnutrition. Authorities said he resembled an 'Auschwitz survivor' when he was rescued

The victim was rescued from the alleged abuse and captivity on February 14 after law enforcement responded to a house fire call

Safe Haven is also organizing a fundraiser for S through GoFundMe to provide him with medical and dental care, therapy, housing, and support for legal fees.

S was rescued from the alleged abuse at the hands of his stepmother, Kimberly Sullivan, 56, on February 17 when law enforcement responded to his Waterbury home after reports of a fire.

First responders discovered the alleged victim hiding in a fetal position. Prosecutors have now alleged that his condition was similar to a 'survivor of Auschwitz's death camp.'

He was only 68 lbs. when first responders rescued him and doctors later told investigators that when S attempted to eat, 'pieces of his teeth would break off' due to 'severe tooth decay.'

Investigators noted that there was 'clearly an issue with his hygiene,' after the victim had allegedly 'not bathed in a year or two,' according to a police affidavit.

Law enforcement believes that S was taken out of school at 11 years old and was allegedly held captive in the home for over 20 years.

During this time, Sullivan allegedly kept the victim hidden away in a small room without heat or air conditioning and limited access to food and water.

He allegedly was only given two water bottles a day, which he occasionally used to clean himself because he wasn't allowed frequent access to a bathroom.

Body camera footage released by authorities revealed the fire department rescuing the victim after he purposefully set his house on fire in Waterbury, Connecticut

Photos revealed the horrific conditions of the home that led police to arrest Sullivan for the alleged abuse of her stepson for over two decades

The victim, who now goes by S, recently released a statement thanking law enforcement, first responders, and victim support services for helping him after the alleged abuse

An investigation revealed that the victim's father died last year and his biological mother had relinquished custody when S was a child.

His biological mother, Tracy Vallerand, 52, previously told DailyMail.com that the last time she saw her child was when he was only six months old.

I had my own problems going on, I didnt give him away. His father took custody of him. He was supposed to be safe there,' Vallerand said.

She went on to say that her child's father never let her see him and she lost contact with the family.

So many people have failed him. he was supposed to be safe, he was supposed to be cared for, he was supposed to be loved,' Vallerand added.

He was denied that, and that makes me angry, that makes me upset. He shouldn't have ever had to deal with that, and he shouldn't have ever been afraid because they terrorized him.

Sullivan was arrested and charged with assault, kidnapping, and cruelty. She was later released on a $300,000 bond.

Sullivan was charged with assault, kidnapping, and cruelty for the alleged abuse against of her stepson. She attended a bond hearing on March 13 (pictured) and was released with GPS monitoring

Sullivan has pled not guilty to the charges and her lawyer previously said that the abuse was perpetrated by her late husband

At a court hearing in March, she pled not guilty to the crimes and her lawyer said that she was receiving threats from the community.

A judge ordered Sullivan to be electronically monitored, and said the allegations against Sullivan were arguably the worst he's seen during his career and demonstrated an 'unthinkable amount of lack of empathy.'

Assistant State Attorney Donald Therkildsen told reporters at the hearing that S 'lives in fear.'

'I introduced myself to the victim, explained who I was. His first question in this fear is, "Why is she out walking around when I was locked up in a room for 20 years?"' Therkildsen told local NBC affiliate, WVIT.

Sullivan's attorney Ioannis Kaloidis previously told DailyMail.com that her husband was responsible for the treatment of his son.

'She completely maintains her innocence, from our perspective. These allegations are not true. They are outlandish,' Kaloidis said. He added that Sullivan was 'blown away' when she heard the allegations.
The brother of the Manchester Arena suicide bomber has been handed a plastic spork to eat with and moved back to Belmarsh prison despite his shocking record of vicious assaults on guards.

Hashem Abedi, 28, who is serving a 55-year sentence for helping his brother Salman carry out the devastating 2017 terror attack that killed 22 people, is now back in the infamous Category A jail in southeast London, after allegedly launching a brutal assault on three officers with boiling oil and makeshift blades just days ago.

Abedi, one of Britain's most dangerous inmates, is believed to have hurled scalding oil at the guards before stabbing them with improvised weapons made from baking trays, during a attack in the kitchen area of the high-security Frankland prison in County Durham.

The rampage is thought to have been pre-planned, with other extremist inmates allegedly smirking and gathering in the gym to distract staff and leave Abedi unsupervised in the kitchen.

Despite the horror, Abedi has now been transferred back to Belmarsh, where he previously assaulted two officers in 2020.

Yet shockingly, prison insiders say he has been given a spork  a hybrid plastic spoon-fork  to eat with, raising serious concerns about the risk of further violence.

One prison expert told the Times: 'Sporks can be sharpened. Right now he should have nothing in his possession capable of being used as a weapon.'

A Manchester Arena terrorist has 'attacked three prison officers with cooking oil and makeshift weapons', according to the Prison Officers' Association (POA). The officers received life-threatening injuries after being assaulted by Hashem Abedi (pictured) at HMP Frankland, County Durham, the union said

The 22 people killed in the Manchester Arena bombing in May 2017

Prison staff at Belmarsh are said to be deeply uneasy about the decision, particularly given Abedi's history of violence.

In the 2020 attack, Abedi and two other inmates ambushed officer Paul Edwards in his office, an incident that added almost four years to his sentence.

He is now being held under the 'multi-unlock protocol', meaning five officers must be present each time his cell door is opened, alongside another who must wear riot gear and film the interaction.

In response to the latest incident, the Ministry of Justice has suspended kitchen access for inmates in specialist extremist wings, known as separation centres, at Frankland and HMP Woodhill.

These units house some of the UK's most dangerous ideologues and were designed to stop radicalisation behind bars.

Counterterrorism police are investigating the Frankland attack, and a full independent review is expected to be launched by the end of the week.

There are also questions over whether Abedi may have been influenced by notorious Islamist extremist Anjem Choudary, who was also housed at Frankland. Officials have dismissed such claims as 'speculation'.

A view of HMP Frankland in Durham, where the police officers were attacked earlier today

Salman Abedi, Hashem's brother, at Victoria Station making his way to the Manchester Arena, on May 22, 2017

This picture shows police interviewing Hashem following the horrific 2017 Manchester Arena terror attack

Speaking to Times Radio, Prisons Minister Lord Timpson described the incident as 'absolutely shocking' and vowed a thorough investigation, adding: 'But, you know, my heart goes out to the staff  The whole thing is terrible.'

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a riot erupted at HMP Lowdham Grange in Nottinghamshire on Tuesday, with inmates taking a prisoner hostage, climbing onto roofs, and scaling netting.

The chaos was eventually brought under control by specialist prison response teams.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: 'Prison staff rapidly resolved this incident, and I would like to pay tribute to them for doing so.

'But this is another sign of the problems we are facing in our prisons, with prisons that are overcrowded and violent.

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood posted on X, formerly Twitter: 'I am appalled by the attack of three brave officers at HMP Frankland today. My thoughts are with them and their families.

'The police are now investigating. I will be pushing for the strongest possible punishment. Violence against our staff will never be tolerated.'

Hashem (pictured posing with a gun) was in Libya at the time of the bombing, having left the UK weeks earlier. He offered no defence to the charges that he had helped his brother plan the attack on the Manchester Arena in May 2017, killing children, teenagers and adults as they poured out of an Ariana Grande concert or waited for their loved ones, and critically injuring dozens more

Emergency services responded in force (pictured) to the attack during the Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena

Calls are now growing from families of Manchester Arena victims for Abedi to be placed in permanent solitary confinement.

Abedi was jailed for life in August 2020 and is currently serving at the category A HMP Frankland.

He offered no defence to the charges that he had helped his brother plan the attack on the Manchester Arena in May 2017, killing children, teenagers and adults as they poured out of an Ariana Grande concert or waited for their loved ones, and critically injuring dozens more.

Abedi was charged with the murders in a bold move by the Crown Prosecution Service even though he was in Libya at the time of the suicide attack by his older brother, Salman who died in the attack.

Duncan Penny QC, prosecuting, told the jury Hashem Abedi was 'just as responsible for this atrocity, as surely as if he had selected the target and detonated the bomb himself'.
The owners of a naughty dachshund who's been on the run for almost 500 days have revealed there's been a new sighting of the troublesome pet.

Valerie the dachshund went missing in November 2023 after escaping from her pen while on holiday with her carers at Stokes Bay on Kangaroo Island off the South Australian coast.

Owners Georgia Gardner and Josh Fishlock spent five days searching for their beloved pet to no avail with Valerie last being spotted fleeing into the bush following locals' attempts to catch her.

Georgia and Josh returned home to Albury on the NSW-Victoria border without her, but wildlife rescuers have resumed the search after she was spotted last month.

Her owners understandably doubted she would survive alone in the wild but Valerie has defied the odds.

They are desperate to be reunited with their canine companion and have enlisted the help of Kangala Wildlife Rescue, run by Jared and Lisa Karran.

The rescue team have been doing everything they can to lure Valerie into the area so they can capture the little dog. In adorable footage released on Tuesday, Valerie can be seen playing with a food box.

'It was such a joy to see Valerie playing with one of the food boxes, that we have been using to help encourage her to come into the site,' the clip was captioned.

Georgia and Josh are desperate to be reunited with Valerie (pictured)

Valerie went missing on a camping trip at at Stokes Bay on Kangaroo Island off the South Australian coast (pictured)

'Although Valerie wasn't able to open it, she did still manage to find some of the food treats we have hidden around the place.'

Speaking on Channel Nine's Today Show on Wednesday, Ms Gardner said she was hopeful she and and her partner will be reunited with Valerie soon.

'We're really excited,' she said. 'We're trying to keep our emotions under wraps.

'But, with her coming in and out of the traps and being more comfortable we're pretty excited. It's just a matter of time now.'

Wildlife rescuers have been working tirelessly to capture Valerie and find a way for her to return home safely.

Explaining why it's been so difficult to trap the pooch, Jared and Lisa explained the abundance of other animals in the area has made it impossible for them to secure her in the trap using their usual methods.

The team's usual trap prompts the dog to trigger the trap themselves but Valerie's 'constantly changing schedule' and the presence of animals has complicated efforts.

The couple revealed they are very close to setting up a new trap for Valerie which will be remotely triggered, allowing them to capture her without the risk of her running off.

Georgia and Josh are hopeful Valerie will be captured soon (pictured)

Valerie has been visiting the wildlife rescue team's trap regularly in recent weeks (pictured)

'Valerie is now attending at our trap site on a regular basis, even is that means she disappears for five or six days we now know she will return,' they shared.

The large dog trap has been set up like Valerie's own personal room with toys, hidden food and challenges to keep her entertained.

Owners Georgia and Josh have also sent over Valerie's bed from home and clothing to help the dog associate the trap with home.

'We have seen an amazing change in Valerie's demeanour recently as she begins to remember all those familiar smells, tastes and sounds,' the rescuers added.

Valerie's story has captured hearts around the world.

The little dachshund surprised locals when she was first spotted - in her distinctive pink collar - a year after she went missing, about 15km from the Stokes Bay campsite.
Three Dallas high school students were shot and another was grazed in a shooting believed to be ignited over dice game gone wrong.

The first reports of a shooting at Wilmer-Hutchins High School came in around 1pm local time, and authorities believe it occurred inside the school.

An 11th grade student told NBC DFW suggested that a dispute over a dice game led to the gunfire.

'They said that they were playing a dice game, I guess that's what it was over, I guess he lost his money, the boy that was shooting,' she said.

'We were in class and I saw him walk by and then two seconds later I heard like six shots, and the teacher ran to the door and closed it and told us to hide in the corner.'

Police have not confirmed reports of what started the incident, however have confirmed a suspect has been identified. The gunman remains at large, according to the Dallas Independent School District Police.

Dallas Fire-Rescue said that three students were shot inside the school and another was grazed. The condition of the victims, aged 15 to 18, ranged from non-life-threatening to serious.

Police were dispatched to the school at 1:06pm local time after getting multiple reports of gunfire.

Students from Wilmer-Hutchins High School in Dallas, Texas, were seen fleeing school grounds any way they could after a shooting took place on Tuesday afternoon

This 11th grade student said that the shooting, which injured four students aged 15 to 18, happened after a dice game went wrong. Police have not yet confirmed this

Although the suspect hasn't been identified or captured, the 11th grader who spoke to the media seemed to suggest that the shooter was a student.

'We were in class and I saw him walk by and then two seconds later I heard like six shots, and the teacher ran to the door and closed it and told us to hide in the corner.'

The student said the shots she heard were loud because she was sitting at the front of the classroom.

'Everybody just started running and I was like "was that a gunshot?" and this girl next to me she started falling down,' she said.

She added that the school has a clear bag policy, however, she said that the student she believes committed the shooting brought in a brown bag on Tuesday.

She also said the school's metal detectors were working, raising questions about how the weapon got on school grounds.

Harrowing images have circulated of students fleeing for their lives on a local road and across the school's field toward the Wilmer-Hutchins Eagle Stadium.

By 1:45pm local time, the active shooter threat had reportedly ended, but helicopter footage still showed a heavy police presence around the school.

Another student, a senior, claimed to be even closer to the shooting, telling NBC DFW that she was just seven feet away when the shots rang out.

Police cars swarmed the school minutes after reports of a shooting came through

This is the second shooting students at this high school have had to endure in the last two years. The last one happened in a classroom and one student was injured (Pictured: Students sit on stadium bleachers after Tuesday's shooting)

Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde gave a news conference just after 5pm and explained that all students had been reunited with their parents

'I was really scared and I was panicking really bad. It was bad, I was really afraid,' she said.

'I was actually in the cafeteria getting my lunch and I thought maybe it was some balloons popping or something from my airpods and then I saw a whole lot of kids running the opposite way.'

LaTara Dobbin, the mother of a freshman boy, said her son jumped out of his classroom window when the shots rang out and ran to a nearby elementary school.

'This is going on too much at this school. Last year my oldest son was a senior here, and there was a shooting. Now he's here with same thing going on. It's ridiculous,' Dobbin said.

One student was injured in the shooting that took place in a classroom at the same school last year.

Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde gave a news conference just after 5pm and explained that all students had been reunited with their parents.

School will be canceled for the rest of the week, she said, adding that mental health counselors would be made available to students and staff.

'You don't ever just get used to this and I'm very aware of that,' Elizalde said. 'It certainly weighs very heavy on my heart. But I can't begin to imagine, as a parent myself, I'm trying to put myself in those shoes.'
A book bound by the skin of one of the UK's most notorious murderers has been found in a museum office.

The skin is from the late-Georgian murderer William Corder who was hanged at Bury St Edmunds in 1828 for killing his lover Maria Marten and burying her beneath the floor of a Suffolk barn.

After telling her they would elope to Ipswich, Corder shot Miss Maria in what became known as the Red Barn Murder of 1827.

Corder was later found, tried and publicly executed the following year before being dissected.

Some of his skin was used to bind a book telling the story of his crime and has been on display at Moyse's Hall Museum in Bury St Edmunds since 1933.

A second copy of the book, also made with Corder's skin, has since been found on a bookshelf of the museum's office and is now on display alongside the original book.

The second book was discovered last year and, unlike the original, only has skin on the books binding and corners.

Dan Clarke, heritage officer at Moyse's Hall Museum, said it would have been made using 'left over pieces of skin'.

The skin from the late-Georgian murderer William Corder bounds the book that tells the story of his crime and trial

The book was discovered last year and uses Corder's skin on the bindings and corners

Corder was hanged at Bury St Edmunds in 1828 for killing his lover Maria Marten and burying her beneath the floor of a Suffolk barn

He told BBC Radio Suffolk that the books had an 'incredibly important' historical value.

However, Horrible Histories author Terry Deary described the books as 'sickening artefacts'.

'A lot of criminals really dreaded this. This was worse than the hanging, the thought their body would be dissected after death,' he told the Telegraph.

Mr Deary added that he is 'not sure that I'd want them on display'.

The 1827 murder in Polstead, Suffolk, shocked Georgian Britain and has since been the subject of many films, books and plays.

Corder had been having an affair with Miss Marten and told her to meet him at the Red Barn, a local landmark, so they could run away to Ipswich to get married.

However, Corder shot and killed Miss Marten, burying her in the barn and was eventually caught and publicly executed on August 11, 1828.

Part of his skin was used to bind a book telling the story of his trial.

A drawing of Corder's public hanging in Bury St Edmunds that attracted a crowd of thousands

Horrible Histories author Terry Deary described the books as 'sickening artefacts'

It is understood the second book was donated decades ago by a family with close connections to the surgeon who anatomised Corder's body.

Using human skin to cover book is known as anthropodermic bibliopegy and was commonly seen in the 19th century as a way punish executed prisoners or for doctors who wanted a keepsake.

In March 2024, Harvard University removed a book that was bound with the skin of an unidentified woman who died in a French psychiatric hospital while acknowledging 'past failures in its stewardship'.

But Mr Clarke said in his 11 years at the museum he had never had a complaint about the first book being on display.

He said: 'We see human remains in every museum across the country.'

Heritage assistant Abbie Smith added: 'If you did not tell people it was bound in human skin, I do not really think you would realise.'
German high school students have caused outrage after they made neo-Nazi gestures at Auschwitz and sang a nationalist chant at Bergen-Belsen in two separate incidents.

Pupils from a school in the western city of Bielefeld, aged 14 and 15, were heard singing 'Germany for the Germans, foreigners out' at the Bergen-Belsen memorial. The chant is popular with neo-Nazis.

The students from Helmholtz school were confronted by staff at the site last summer, but the incident has only now been made public, The Times reported.

Headmaster Joachim Held said the pupils involved had been disciplined but not expelled.

He told public broadcaster WDR: 'This is a problem for society as a whole. Incidents like this happen to us more often than we would like.'

Around 52,000 people were killed at the site Bergen-Belsen concentration camp near Hannover during the Nazi regime - including Anne Frank.

In a separate incident at Auschwitz, four pupils from a school in the eastern city of Gorlitz were pictured making the 'OK' hand gesture, a signal made by neo-Nazis.

The photo was taken in March but has only been reported this week, after the photo appeared on one of the pupil's Instagram accounts.

Teenage pupils from a German school were pictured making the 'OK gesture', which is synonymous with neo-Nazis and white supremacists

The pupils were on a school trip to Poland to learn about the events of the Second World War (pictured: Auschwitz Concentration Camp)

A spokesperson for the Scultetus high school said the four pupils have been disciplined and told to spend time assisting in a workshop for disabilities.

Clemens Ardnt, of the Saxony state education office told German newspaper Bild that the pupils were 'made aware of their misconduct' by the school's headmistress.

The 'OK' hand gesture, where the thumb and index finger touch while the others are held outstretched, is used by the far-right.

The gesture is used because the sign can depict a W and a P to signify White Power.

Making the gesture is not illegal in Germany, unlike making a Hitler salute.

The children were visiting Poland on a school trip to the Nazi camp. More than 1.1million people were killed at the camp during the Second World War.

Jens-Christian Wagner, director of the Buchenwald memorial site near Weimar, said antisemitic or offensive behaviour is now almost a daily occurrence at the sight.

He said some visitors have made Hitler salutes, shouted 'Seig Heil' and comparing the suffering of the victims to German soldiers at the hands of the Allied forces.

The former prisoner of war and Nazi concentration camp in Bergen-Belsen, northern Germany

In 2018 three girls took a picture giving Nazi salutes outside Auschwitz before uploading it to Instagram

He said the rise of Alternative for Germany (AfD) in February's general election has been a contributing factor.

Children have recently been seen laying down in the ovens of the crematorium for photographs, Mr Wagner said.

One of the two boys involved is the son of an AfD politician, who urged the school not to punish them.

In 2018, three girls caused outrage when they posed with Nazi salutes outside Auschwitz.

While giving a Nazi salute is not explicitly banned in Poland, the law does forbid hate speech based on religion and promoting fascist ideology, with prison sentences of up to three years for offenders.

The girls deleted the image shortly after it appeared on Instagram, but it was picked up by museum authorities.

In 2017, a group of Swedish teenagers were filmed making inappropriate gestures and remarks while visiting the memorial complex.

Meanwhile, an Israeli student ended up in hot water when he dropped his trousers at the Majdanek concentration camp close to the Polish capital Warsaw.

In that case, the Israeli Ministry of Education intervened and made the culprit pay a 250 fine.
A marketing executive who died after trying to escape an alleged domestic violence attack had an AVO provisionally taken out on her behalf by police.

Claire Austin, 38, partially severed her arm running through an internal glass door and was found bleeding profusely in her top-floor apartment on Randwick Street in Randwick, Sydney's eastern suburbs, just after 7.30am on Saturday.

A concerned neighbour rang Triple Zero and paramedics rushed her to St Vincent's Hospital where she was placed on life support for three days before she died.

A 44-year-old man known to Ms Austin assisted police with their inquiries and was admitted to a mental health facility.

'He has since been released without charge and no arrests have been made at this time,' a NSW Police spokesman said.

Daily Mail Australia can reveal an application for an apprehended violence order on behalf of Ms Austin was made at Waverley Local Court on Thursday.

It is not suggested the person named in the order was linked to the incident that led to her death. Police sources said the application will be dismissed tomorrow.

On Wednesday, a bouquet of flowers was left at the front of the apartment complex in a touching tribute to Ms Austin, who held down different jobs in events, marketing and media companies.

Claire Austin, 38, was found inside her top-floor apartment bleeding profusely from a partially severed arm

It's understood Ms Austin severed an artery in her arm on the top floor by forcing herself through an internal glass door

In a touching tribute, a bouquet of flowers was left with a card apologising to Ms Austin that Australia's justice system had failed to protect her

Accompanying the flowers was a card with a heartbreaking apology to Ms Austin for what had happened.

'I am so sorry that this happened to you, especially on the shores of a foreign country,' the card read.

Ms Austin, who was originally from the UK, had been living in Australia for the past 10 years.

After being told Ms Austin would not survive her injuries, her family immediately flew from the UK to Sydney and arrived on Tuesday morning just hours before she passed away.

NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Peter Thurtell said Ms Austin's death was being treated as a criminal matter.

'This is a tragic loss of life and we are determined to work out exactly what happened,' Deputy Commissioner Thurtell told the Daily Telegraph.

Police launched Strike Force Lyndoch to investigate the exact circumstances surrounding Ms Austin's death.
Darin Selnick, the Pentagon's deputy chief of staff, has been suspended as part of an investigation into leaks in the wake of the Signal group chat scandal.

A defense official confirmed the shocking removal of a member of Hegseth's inner circle to DailyMail.com.

Selnick is the second official to be removed as the scandal grips those closest to Trump and his allies.

Dan Caldwell, a senior adviser to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, was placed on administrative leave as part of the same probe, the official said.

Caldwell was escorted out of the Pentagon on Tuesday after allegedly being identified during the investigation.

Selnick, who has long been a Hegseth ally and served in the White House under the first Trump administration, was also escorted from the Pentagon Tuesday, Politico reported.

'The investigation remains ongoing,' the official said without providing details about the nature of the alleged disclosure, including whether it was made to a journalist or to someone else.

The move comes after a March 21 memo ordering a Pentagon investigation into leaks ordered by Hegseth's chief of staff Joe Kasper.

President Donald Trump has railed against leakers, particularly those leaking information about his administration. He has ordered them found.

Darin Selnick (pictured), the Pentagon's deputy chief of staff, has been suspended as part of an investigation into leaks at the department

The suspension follows news that Dan Caldwell (pictured right), a senior adviser to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (pictured left), has been placed on administrative leave Tuesday as part of the same probe, a defense official confirmed to DailyMail.com

Caldwell was the staff member designated as Hegseth's point person in the Signal messaging chat that top Trump administration national security officials, including Hegseth, used to convey plans for a military strike against Houthi militants in Yemen.

The chat, set up by national security adviser Michael Waltz, included a number of Cabinet members and came to light because Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was added to the group.

The officials did not disclose what leaks are being investigated, but there has been a crackdown across the Pentagon and the Trump administration on the disclosure of sensitive or classified information, starting even before news of the Signal chat emerged on March 24.

Caldwells ties to the secretary go back to Hegseths time as the head of Concerned Veterans for America, a nonprofit that fell into financial difficulty during his time there. Caldwell worked at CVA beginning in 2013 as policy director and later as executive director.

He and Hegseth have a longtime friendship. Caldwell was by Hegseth's side on Capitol Hill as the former Fox News host fought to keep his nomination alive during questions about his treatment of women.

Before joining Hegseth's team, Caldwell worked for Defense Priorities and Concerned Veterans for America.

Defense Priorities, a conservative think tank funded by the Koch brothers, advocates for more restrained US foreign policy.

Concerned Veterans for America has strong ties to Republican lawmakers on the veterans and armed services committees  and it has enjoyed a friendly relationship with President Donald Trump in the past.

Caldwell (pictured) was escorted out of the Pentagon on Tuesday after allegedly being identified during the investigation

Caldwells ties to the secretary go back to Hegseths (pictured) time as the head of Concerned Veterans for America, a nonprofit that fell into financial difficulty during his time there

It's also funded by the Koch brothers and is where Hegseth and Caldwell met.

Selnick has also served as acting under secretary of Defense for personnel and readiness earlier this year.

During the first Trump administration, he worked in both the White House and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

He also served a senior advisor to the Hegseth-led organization Concerned Veterans for America.

On March 21, Hegseth's chief of staff, Joe Kasper, said in a memo that the Pentagon was investigating what it said were leaks of national security information. Defense Department personnel could face polygraphs.

The memo referred to 'recent unauthorized disclosures' but provided no details. Kasper warned that the investigation would begin immediately and result in a report to Hegseth.

'I expect to be informed immediately if this effort results in information identifying a party responsible for an unauthorized disclosure, and that such information will be referred to the appropriate criminal law enforcement entity for criminal prosecution,' Kasper said in the memo.

Caldwell, who graduated from Arizona State University in 2011, also worked as a public policy adviser at Defense Priorities, a think tank based in Washington.

President Donald Trump (pictured) has railed against leakers, particularly those leaking information about his administration. He has ordered them found

Hegseth (pictured) was one of Trump's most controversial cabinet nominees

Kasper's order left open the possibility of a polygraph, although it was unclear if Caldwell was subject to one.

The Pentagon chief of staff said the probe would examine 'recent unauthorized disclosures of national security information' and said polygraphs would be used.

'The use of polygraphs in the execution of this investigation will be in accordance with applicable law and policy,' Kasper wrote in a memo. 'This investigation will commence immediately and culminate in a report to the Secretary of Defense.'

He wrote that 'information identifying a party responsible for an unauthorized disclosure' would be referred for criminal prosecution.'

Kasper ordered the probe one day after the New York Times reported the Pentagon set up a briefing with Elon Musk on a potential war with China.

Although Caldwell is not as well known as other senior Pentagon officials, he has played a critical role as an adviser to Hegseth.

His importance was underscored in a leaked text chain on Signal disclosed by The Atlantic magazine last month.

In it, Hegseth named Caldwell as the best staff point of contact for the National Security Council as it prepared for the launch of strikes against the Houthis in Yemen.

That article came out on March 24th, three days after Kasper ordered the probe into leaks.
You can donate to the family's GoFundMe here

A young man who tragically drowned at a popular beach died just one day short of his 25th birthday.

Rajkumar Bohora drowned at Zenith Beach in Shoal Bay, on NSW's Mid North coast, on Tuesday, in a devastating incident that has left his friends and family in shock.

The 24-year-old from Nepal was an aspiring student who had been living in Australia for several years in pursuit of a brighter future.

He had not seen his mother, his only parent and closest relative, for seven years.

She had raised him alone and he had been supporting her financially from Australia.

In the wake of his sudden passing, his family is raising funds to repatriate his body to Nepal so that his mother can see her beloved son one last time.

His cousin, Sakhina Adhikari KC, has launched a heartfelt fundraising appeal to help cover the costs involved in laying Rajkumar to rest in his homeland.

'Rajkumar was her only child, and she raised him alone with immense love and sacrifice,' Ms Adhikari wrote.

Rajkumar was just one day shy of his 25th birthday when he drowned at a NSW beach

His body will be repatriated to Nepal where his single mother will say her final goodbye

A second man who was pulled from the water has since been released from hospital

'No mother should have to go through this, but the least we can do is make sure he returns home to her.'

The funds will go directly toward repatriating his body, covering transport, legal paperwork, embassy processes, and funeral costs in Nepal.

Rajkumar is being remembered as a kind-hearted, respectful, and hardworking young man who touched the lives of many both in Australia and back home.

Friends and family said he who always put others first and pursued his dreams with quiet determination.

A second man known to Rajkumar was also pulled from the water during the incident.

He was rushed to hospital in critical condition but has since been released.

Rajkumar's family hopes to raise $30,000 for the cause.
A disgruntled customer has slammed his mechanic and claimed repairs on his car cost just as much as the purchase price.

The man went to pick up his Mazda CX-5 Diesel from the repair shop on Tuesday and filmed himself walking in and confronting an employee at the front desk.

The customer claimed he was charged $12,000 for repairs despite being initially told his car had a 50,000km warranty.

'Who are you?' he asked an employee in the garage's office.

The man gave his name and politely asked the man to put his phone away.

'This is going on social media, bro,' the man replied.

Another employee was heard asking if he was there to pick up his car.

'Yeah but I can't f***ing drive it. 'It's another fail, another $12,000 of fails,' he replied.

The disgruntled customer filmed the mechanic as he collected his car from the repair shop

The employee told the man: 'All you're doing is upsetting our staff'.

But the warning had little effect on the man, who launched into an angry rant.

'That car wasn't going when the motor got fixed, we've got f****g recordings of it. The car was a piece of s**t,' he said.

'It wasn't us, mate,' the employee replied.

'But you've got $12,000 to fix it. You gave us a 50,000km warranty,' the man said.

It then got physical when the employee tried to take the man's phone away, resulting in a minor push and shove.

'Give me my f****g phone,' the man yelled.

'Stop recording us. We're just trying to give you your car so you can go,' the employee replied.

It's understood the man complained after the alternator apparently failed after the engine was replaced after the car spent 14 weeks in the shop (stock image)

It's understood the man complained after the alternator apparently failed after the engine was replaced after the car spent 14 weeks in the shop.

'Where's the alternator that came out of it?' the man demanded after he was handed the keys to his car.

'You didn't tell me you wanted that, I'll go and get it for you. It's probably been thrown away,' the employee replied.

'Well, that's f***g evidence, bro. I told you I wanted that, I put it on email,' the man said before walking off.

'Paid them more for repairs than I did when I bought it.'

Aussies were quick to criticise the man's approach to the situation.

'No need to behave like that. The disputes tribunal is the correct path. You also have MTA mediation. There are systems in place,' one person said.

'Wait, so they replaced your engine and then the alternator failed? Sorry to say bro, but you're in the wrong in this situation,' another said.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to the repair shop for comment.
Role was created in 2024 in response to independent review

The ABC has appointed professor Jackie Huggins as its inaugural Elder-in-Residence.

Professor Huggins is a Bidjara and Birribi-Gubba Juru woman and prominent author and historian.

She has built a distinguished career through her work across the community and through government and non-government sectors.

Professor Huggins became a Member of the Order of Australia in 2001 and was recognised for her work in women's issues, literacy, reconciliation and social justice.

The ABC announced that Professor Huggins will be its Elder-in-Residence for a two-year tenure, which has an option for review.

In her role as Elder-in-Residence, Professor Huggins will provide support to the ABC's First Nations employees.

Professor Huggins described her appointment as 'one of my highest badges of honour'.

'My new role is something that I never imagined I would do when I started my employment at the ABC when I was 16 years of age,' she said.

Bidjara and Birribi-Gubba Juru woman Professor Jackie Huggins has been appointed as the ABC's Elder-in-Residence

'I have been a long-time audience member and contributor to the ABC.

'I look forward to deepening that connection through taking up the position of the ABC's inaugural Elder-in-Residence and to meeting and yarning with people across the divisions and offices of our national broadcaster.

'I am also looking forward to working with the Director First Nations Strategy, the Bonner Committee and the ABC Leadership team in setting the stepping stones for the work ahead.'

Professor Huggins told the ABC she was looking forward to 'taking care of, speaking up for and mentoring' First Nations people, just as Elders mentored her.

The Elder-in-Residence role was created in 2024 in response to the Listen Loudly, Act Strongly report - an independent review of the ABC's systems and processes in support of staff who experience racism.

The review found only one of the 120 participants - comprising of current and former ABC staff - described not personally experiencing racism in the workplace.

The participants including First Nations, Allies and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse people.

The review 'overwhelmingly' indicated racism existed within the ABC's workplace and that staff were 'subjected to racism from external individuals and organisations in connection with their work'.

The Elder-in-Residence role was created in 2024 in response to the Listen Loudly, Act Strongly report - an independent review of the ABC's systems and processes in support of staff who experience racism

In her role, professor Huggins will provide cultural guidance to management and leadership teams through the implementation of the report's 15 recommendations.

Professor Huggins will report to the ABC's acting director of First Nations strategy Kelly Williams.

Newly appointed ABC Managing Director Hugh Marks welcomed Professor Huggins, claiming the national broadcaster was now 'well placed to act strongly' on the report.

'We must ensure our approach to addressing issues of racism and any form of inequity reaches into every part of the organisation,' Mr Marks said.

'This is a priority for me in my new role as Managing Director.'

It comes after SBS appointed Widjabal Wiyabal Bundjalung woman Rhoda Roberts AO as the broadcaster's Elder-in-Residence in 2021.
A witness claims he heard a man screaming 'somebody help me' and a loud crash come from an apartment of a marketing executive who died after running through a glass door in her apartment.

Claire Austin, 38, partially severed her arm by running through an internal glass door in her top-floor apartment on Randwick St, Randwick, in Sydney's east, just after 7.30am on Saturday.

A concerned neighbour rang Triple Zero and paramedics rushed her to St Vincent's Hospital where she was placed on life support for three days before she died.

Her boyfriend, recruitment executive Lee Loughlin, 44, has reportedly told police the pair were having an argument, then she ran through the glass door.

Mr Loughlin assisted police with their inquiries and was admitted to a mental health facility.

'He has since been released without charge and no arrests have been made at this time,' a NSW Police spokesman said, with the police investigations continuing.

A neighbour who lives in the same street as the late Ms Austin said he heard the pair shouting right before the incident and it was 'at a different level than usual'.

The neighbour said he had heard Claire and Mr Loughlin 'fighting constantly', but this fight last Saturday morning 'sounded way worse'.

Marketing executive Clair Austin (pictured right) tragically died after she cut her arm running through a glass door at a Randwick unit on Saturday

Emergency crews rushed to the block of flats in Randwick following a Triple Zero call

Boyfriend Lee Loughlin told police the pair had an argument before the incident

'They both sounded (like) something wrong would happen.

'I heard the woman at first and it worried me. Then I heard the man. I think I heard a crash and then I didn't hear the woman again.'

The neighbour added that he then heard a man screaming 'somebody help me' over and over.

The sound of the fight, which began at around 7am on Saturday, caused another neighbour to go out on the street to investigate because he was so alarmed.

He said after the crashing sound and the woman going quiet, someone had called Triple Zero and soon after the ambulance and police had arrived in the street.

On Wednesday, a bouquet of flowers was left at the front of the apartment complex in a touching tribute to Ms Austin, who held down different jobs in events, marketing and media companies.

Accompanying the flowers was a card with a heartbreaking apology to Ms Austin for the failure of Australia's justice system.

'I am so sorry that this happened to you, especially on the shores of a foreign country,' the card read.

Claire Austin, 38, was found inside her top-floor apartment bleeding profusely from a partially severed arm

Detectives scoured the block of flats on Wednesday as a bouquet of flowers was left with a card apologising to Ms Austin that Australia's justice system had failed to protect her

Ms Austin, who was originally from the UK, had been living in Australia for the past 10 years.

After being told Ms Austin would not survive her injuries, her family immediately flew from the UK to Sydney and arrived on Tuesday morning just hours before she passed away.

NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Peter Thurtell said Ms Austin's death was being treated as a criminal matter.

'This is a tragic loss of life and we are determined to work out exactly what happened,' Deputy Commissioner Thurtell told the Daily Telegraph.

Police launched Strike Force Lyndoch to investigate the exact circumstances surrounding Ms Austin's death.
Ashley St. Clair has revealed the wild amount of money Elon Musk offered for her silence after she gave birth, as a paternity test determined he is '99.9999%' likely to be the father of the newborn.

The conservative influencer, 26, revealed that she'd given birth to Musk's child in early February, the 14th of his offspring that is publicly known. She revealed Tuesday that the baby, a boy, is named Romulus.

Musk has never publicly admitted the child is his and the pair are currently locked in a legal battle that involved the 'First Buddy' and Tesla CEO taking the test to prove he's the father.

DailyMail.com spoke to St. Clair in March about the financial difficulties she was facing during her tussle in court with Musk, even going as far as selling her Tesla.

Now, St. Clair is revealing Musk - who claimed he's provided her at least $2.5 million to date in March - offered her $15 million and $100,000 a month to not publicly disclose that he is the father of the child until he turns 21.

Jared Birchall, Musk's fixer, told St. Clair that this is similar to what Musk has agreed with the other mothers of his children, who include pop star Grimes and Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis.

Musk demanded that she deliver the baby via a caesarian section - he believes doing so allows for a baby to have a larger brain - and not undergo a circumcision. St. Clair is Jewish and wanted a natural birth so she rejected both, The Wall Street Journal reported.

St. Clair did comply, however, with the request of leaving Musk's name off of Romulus' birth certificate - which Birchall made while she was inducing labor - but she did prepare by hiring an attorney, against Birchall's wishes.

Ashley St. Clair (pictured) revealed the financial and insider details behind the creation of her newborn baby with Elon Musk, as a paternity test determined he is 99.9999% likely to be the father

The conservative influencer, 26, revealed that she'd given birth to Musk's (pictured) child in early February

Birchall then demanded St. Clair sign papers that would keep Musk's parentage a secret as an exchange for the $15 million and $100,000 a month.

The agreement prevented her from ever saying anything negative about Musk but did not stipulate the same for him about her.

Musk even tried to influence her decision by saying he was under threat of assassination due to his support of Donald Trump. She refused to sign.

The pair met in spring 2023 via social media and Musk invited her to visit the X offices in San Francisco, when St. Clair was the operations manager and conservative humor site The Babylon Bee.

He eventually invited her to a trip on his private plane to Rhode Island to visit one of his children at school.

Musk spoke frequently about having children with St. Clair, telling her 'pick a name' after the first time they had sex.

On a vacation over New Year's heading into 2024, St. Clair revealed she had been ovulating.

Musk asked: 'What are we waiting for?'

St. Clair revealed Tuesday that the newborn, a boy, is named Romulus

Musk allegedly wanted multiple residencies in the same community where all of the women and the children - which insiders suggest is 'much higher' than the known about 14 - would live. The one of the mothers who lives in the gated community is Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis (pictured center left)

St. Clair said that they conceived Romulus soon after.

Ironically, St. Clair is credited with one iconic piece of Musk merchandise tying him to Trump: his infamous 'Dark MAGA' gothic styled hat which he wore to several events leading up to the election.

That wasn't the end of Musk's plans for St. Clair, however, as he tried to get her to move to an Austin 'compound' to spend time with himself and the rest of what he calls his 'kid legion.'

Musk allegedly wanted multiple residencies in the same community where all of the women and the children - which insiders suggest is 'much higher' than the known about 14 - would live.

The one of the mothers who lives in the gated community is Zilis, as even Musk only 'comes and goes' and Grimes rejected the request.

Zilis is seen as a 'steadying force' for Musk who has 'special status' in his life, with Musk both spending time with her on the compound and bringing her to big ticket events, including ones at the White House as Musk has run the Department of Government Efficiency.

Grimes appears to have the worst relationship of Musk's mamas, who has publicly aired her anger at the SpaceX CEO for having their son X out at public events with his father and President Trump.

St. Clair said Birchall told her that, while Zilis often experiences 'contentment' with the situation, he felt Grimes isn't 'ever going to find true happiness.'

Grimes (pictured left) appears to have the worst relationship of Musk's (pictured center) mamas, who has publicly aired her anger at the SpaceX CEO for having their son X out at public events with his father and President Trump

Crypto journalist Tiffany Fong (pictured), 30, was forced to deny rumors that she is pregnant with Elon Musk's child

She settled a custody lawsuit with Musk last August with the pair alternating weeks with their three children, including X.

St. Clair notes the irony of having been consistently texted updates on the case between Musk and Grimes while now being ensnared in her own tumultuous tussle with the X CEO.

All of this is going on as Musk continues to seek out new mothers, including glamorous crypto journalist Tiffany Fong, who has been forced to deny rumors that she is pregnant with Elon Musk's child after St. Clair's reveal.

She was sent a direct message by Musk in November, after interacting with him on social media, which had earned her $21,000.

Musk asked if she wanted to join the legion before ever meeting in person. Fong rejected him on the basis that she wanted a more traditional family.

Fong vehemently denied the claims to DailyMail.com in February, and said she has never even met Musk in person.

She also took to her social media page to fight the claims, writing on Saturday: 'Wow, according to the Internet I'm 'pregnant.' Congrats to me, this is huge news!!!

'As far as I know, I am not pregnant, but thank you!!!' she wrote in a follow-up post.

Jared Birchall, Musk's fixer, demanded St. Clair sign papers that would keep Musk's parentage a secret as an exchange for the $15 million and $100,000 a month

Ironically, St. Clair is credited with one iconic piece of Musk (pictured left) merchandise tying him to Trump (pictured right): his infamous 'Dark MAGA' gothic styled hat which he wore to several events leading up to the election

Musk is yet to respond to all of the specific claims in the bombshell report. He posted this snarly insult on X, chipping away at the Journal's credibility, last night

Birchall appeared as an ominous go-between for St. Clair with Musk during the entire ordeal.

St. Clair said that Birchall explained what Musk wanted out of the arrangement.

'Privacy and confidentiality is the top of the list in every aspect of his life, every aspect, and his entire world is set up to be, like, a meritocracy,' he allegedly told her.

Birchall - who Musk employs to handle negotiations with his potential baby mamas - added that 'when people do good work' the benefits flow.

Despite all this, St. Clair said that Musk was often quite nice during her pregnancy, having sent her flowers on Mother's Day and her birthday.

She even experimented with being around the 'kid legion,' arranging playdates between her son from a previous relationship and some of Musk's younger kids. St. Clair has even met Musk's mother Maye.

In November, she sent Musk a selfie. He responded: 'I want to knock you up again.'

DailyMail.com spotted St. Clair handing over the keys to her black Model S outside her Manhattan apartment in late March.

St. Clair told DailyMail.com in March she's been forced to sell her Tesla after the world's richest man cut her child support in half

And she had some choice words for the man she says is father to her son.

'I need to make up for the 60% cut that Elon made to our son's child support,' she told a DailyMail.com reporter who witnessed her handing the $100,000 car over to a representative from the online auto sales giant Carvana.

When asked if she felt Musk was being 'vindictive' toward her, St. Clair, responded: 'Well, that's his modus operandi, when women speak out.

'You can check the stocks, I'm not the only one who is cleaning up after his messes.

She said of anti-Tesla protests: 'The markets are catching up to what I have known for a long time.

DOGE chief Musk - who is currently entangled in a custody lawsuit with St. Clair - addressed the rumors on X, the social media platform he owns, on Monday.

'I dont know if the child is mine or not, but am not against finding out. No court order is needed, he said.

He then spelled out the amount of money he has provided the conservative influencer.

The one of the mothers who lives in the gated community is Zilis (pictured left), as even Musk only 'comes and goes' and Grimes rejected the request

St. Clair said Birchall told her that, while Zilis often experiences 'contentment' with the situation, he felt Grimes (pictured left) isn't 'ever going to find true happiness'

'Despite not knowing for sure, I have given Ashley $2.5M and am sending her $500k/year.'

St. Clair immediately clapped back, calling Musk a 'petulant man-child' who needed to take responsibility.

'Elon, we asked you to confirm paternity through a test before our child (who you named) was even born. You refused,' she said.

She also clarified that it wasn't sending her money but 'sending support for your child that you thought was necessary until you withdrew most of it to maintain control and punish me for disobedience. But youre really only punishing your son.'

St. Clair then referenced his most recent move in court, an attempt to silence her, while he posts on X.

'Its ironic that your last effort in court was to try to gag me while you use a social media channel you literally own to distribute derogatory messages about me and our child to the entire world. Its all about control with you, and everyone can see it.'

She dropped one last insult to the CEO of multiple companies and Donald Trump's closest ally in Washington: 'America needs you to grow up, you petulant man-child.'

Musk has yet to respond directly to St. Clair on social media.

Musk last commented on the child and his arrangement with St. Clair in an X post on March 31

St. Clair went public in a bombshell post on Musk's social media site X in Februray, sensationally revealing the Tesla and SpaceX owner to be the father of her baby boy, born in September last year.

She says Musk 'slid into my DMs' in May 2023, and that the child, who has been named publicly only by his initials 'R.S.C.', was conceived early January 2024 on a trip to the island of Saint Barthelemy in the Caribbean.

Musk, 53, has not publicly acknowledged the child as his own, but has responded with cryptic emojis to posts on X about St. Clair's claims.

St. Clair filed a paternity and a custody lawsuit in a New York court on February 21, claiming Musk told her to keep the baby secret, then ghosted her and their son in the middle of child support negotiations, forcing her to go public and take legal action.

A source close to the case told DailyMail.com that since going public, Musk 'retaliated' by slashing her payments in half 'unilaterally', leaving St. Clair struggling to make ends meet.

The source described the billionaire's actions as 'shocking and shameful' but did not acknowledge the alleged payments admitted by Musk on Monday.

'Ever since she got pregnant and then had the baby, Elon's been providing support money to her,' the source said. 'But he had a fairly specific list of requirements, including not acknowledging he's the father.

'Since the moment she objected to the level of control he demanded, he's withdrawn from her completely. When she went public with the fact that the baby was his, he's never spoken to her again.

Musk (pictured center), Zilis (pictured left) and three of his children were pictured during a meeting with the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (pictured right) on February 13

Elon Musk and his first wife Justine Wilson (pictured right) had six children, including one who died of sudden infant death syndrome in 2002

'When this thing went into court for custody and paternity, he cut the support payments way back. He cut it by more than half.

'It's a substantial reduction, and he obviously did it as a form of retaliation for her going into court,' the source claimed.

St. Clair also has a three-year-old son from a previous partner, New York chiropractor Johnny Alexander.

She has been raising the toddler and baby with the help of a full-time nanny at her rented three-bed apartment in downtown Manhattan.

'She bought a Tesla so she'd have a car to transport both the children in. Now she's selling it because she needs to raise money to cover the expenses she has that Elon has simply not paid.

'She's been living on her own. She gets no logistics assistance from Elon. And all of a sudden, she's punitively given much less money to raise this child than she's ever had.'

The alleged behavior has given some close to St. Clair a low opinion of Musk.

'The richest guy in the world, to treat a woman that he made a baby with this way, is shocking and shameful,' the close source told DailyMail.com.

Musk and his four sons Griffin, Damian, Kai and Saxon are seen here with Pope Francis in 2022

Musk's lawyers successfully petitioned the New York judge to seal the case on March 14, keeping its details secret and limiting St. Clair's ability to speak out.

'This guy, who is supposedly dedicated to transparency and accountability in government, the first thing he did when he went into court was to try to gag Ashley so that she couldn't say anything, even as he was unilaterally cutting her support,' the source said.

St. Clair's custody petition, obtained by DailyMail.com before the case was sealed, made damning claims against the confirmed father of 12 by three women.

She stated she was ready to go all-in on the relationship, agreeing to 'relocate to Austin, Texas upon the child's birth', then switching to remaining in New York at his request from July last year.

But the court documents paint a callous picture of Musk, claiming he chose not to be present at his son's birth, that he has only met him three times, and 'has had no involvement in his care and upbringing'.

She claimed Musk 'first met R.S.C. on September 21, 2024 in New York City for two hours. He then spent one hour visiting R.S.C. and me the next day, September 22, 2024.'

'The next, and last time that Respondent saw our child was on November 30, 2024 in Austin, Texas, for only thirty minutes,' the February 21, 2025 filing said.

'Respondent has never asked to see our child on any other occasion, he has never communicated to me about our child without my prompting, he has never asked for photos of our child or checked in after doctor's appointments.'

Though filings are now sealed, the case dockets are still visible  and contain hints that the judge is sympathetic to St. Clair's case.

Her attorney Karen Rosenthal filed a proposed 'order to show cause' in St. Clair's custody case on March 20, likely asking the judge to order Musk to provide responses and engage in the case or face a default judgment, along with 12 exhibits.

Eight days later, Judge Jeffrey Pearlman appears to have acquiesced, issuing the order.

The only filings from Musk's lawyers in the case, Alyssa Rower and Jennifer Isaacman of Rower LLC, are about having it sealed.
A man whose mother was killed in a horror drive-by shooting has been arrested.

Kim Duncan, 65, died when bullets were fired into her Ambarvale home in Sydney's southwest about 11pm on Monday.

The grandmother suffered a gunshot wound to her leg and couldn't be revived by paramedics.

Her son James Shaine Dowd, 34, was arrested along with a 32-year-old man during a vehicle stop on Copperfield Drive in Ambarvale about 8am on Wednesday.

Officers from Campbelltown Police Area Command and Strike Force Raptor arrested the pair who were take to Campbelltown Police Station.

Neither man is accused of being involved in Ms Duncan's death.

Dowd was at his mother's home along with his partner, 21, when the bullets flew through the living room but neither were injured.

The 34-year-old man allegedly failed to co-operate as detectives attempted to bring his mother's killers to justice.

Kim Duncan (pictured with her son Shaine) was shot in the leg and died at the scene

Kim Duncan died on her living room floor after three gunmen shot a flurry of bullets at her home in south-west Sydney (pictured, her son Shaine outside the home)

Ms Duncan suffered a gunshot wound to her leg and couldn't be revived by paramedics

'Initially, they were [co-operating], but at this point we're trying to work with them to get some more information,' detective superintendent Grant Healey told reporters.

'We haven't been able to interview them properly yet, so we're just waiting a little bit longer so we've got time to process and come back to us.'

Police sources told The Daily Telegraph on Tuesday Ms Duncan was not the intended target of the shooting and, instead, the gunmen were sending a 'warning' to someone in the house.

Superintendent Healey said Ms Duncan's 'very upset' family were assisting police.

'It's tragic. Your mother and the grandmother of your children has been shot by cowards that stood out the front of her house,' he said.

He added 'three people got out of a dark-coloured sedan before firing several shots at the house and then leaving'.

Neighbours reported hearing multiple gunshots followed by screams for help from Ms Duncan's son.

'As we came outside, we just heard the son yelling "My mum's been shot",' Shaun Burridge told 9News.

'He was pretty upset, devastated, and then her daughter turned up a bit later on. She was a mess.'

NSW Police has set up Strike Force Apslawn to investigate the shooting.
Vice President JD Vance said it was 'absurd' for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to claim that the US government has sided with Russia in its war against Ukraine.

Vance's comments came after Zelensky gave an interview to 60 Minutes this past weekend, where he reflected on the explosive confrontation he had in the Oval Office with the vice president and President Donald Trump.

'I think its sort of absurd for Zelensky to tell the [American] government, which is currently keeping his entire government and war effort together, that we are somehow on the side of the Russians,' Vance told British news outlet UnHerd in a interview published Tuesday.

Vance added that what the Ukrainian leader said 'is certainly not productive.'

Discussing his earlier showdown with Trump and Vance, Zelensky insisted that Ukraine was the 'victim' of the war and that Putin was the aggressor.

'I tried to explain, "You can't look for something in the middle. There is an aggressor and there is a victim. The Russians are the aggressor, and we are the victim,"' he said.

'It's a shift in tone, a shift in reality, really yes, a shift in reality, and I don't want to engage in the altered reality that is being presented to me.'

Zelensky also accused Vance of 'somehow justifying' Russia's invasion. Vance disputed this, saying he has condemned Russia since 2022.

Vice President JD Vance denied that the US government has side with Russia in its invasion of Ukraine

Vance was asked about the US government's stance after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky argued that Vance justified Russia's invasion during an appearance on 60 Minutes

'Ive also tried to apply strategic recognition that if you want to end the conflict, you have to try to understand where both the Russians and the Ukrainians see their strategic objectives,' Vance said.

'That doesnt mean you morally support the Russian cause, or that you support the full-scale invasion, but you do have to try to understand what are their strategic red lines, in the same way that you have to try to understand what the Ukrainians are trying to get out of the conflict.'

Vance's press secretary, Taylor Van Kirk, previously issued a statement to DailyMail.com clarifying the vice president's position following Zelensky's 60 Minutes appearance.

'The Vice President has repeatedly said that this war was not justified to begin with and is the product of Joe Bidens weakness and incompetence,' Kirk said.

Trump said much the same thing on Sunday.

'If Biden were competent, and if Zelensky were competent, and I don't know that he is... that war should never have been allowed to happen,' he told reporters at the White House.

'I went four years and Putin wouldn't even bring it up and as soon as the election was rigged and I wasn't here, that war started.'

He doubled down on his assertion that 'everybody's to blame' for the war, as he repeated: 'Biden could have stopped it, and Zelensky could have stopped it, and Putin should have never started it.'

Trump's most recent comments came after Russia fired a ballistic missile at the Ukrainian city of Sumy. The April 13 attack killed dozens and injured more than 100 people.

Pictures show destroyed buildings and burned out civilian cars at the site of a Russian ballistic missile strike on the city center, killing many civilians on April 13, 2025 in Sumy, Ukraine

A man cries as he leans on the bus that was hit by a Russian missile on Sumy, Ukraine

Tempers flaring up once again between the three leaders comes nearly two months after their showdown at the White House on February 28.

Trump and Vance repeatedly accused Zelensky of not being grateful for America's sustained military support of Ukraine, which has totaled to roughly $100 billion according to one estimate.

Meanwhile, Zelensky showed pictures of the devastation of his country to Trump while also arguing he had thanked the American people for their aid.

The yelling match was unlike anything ever seen publicly in the Oval Office. And it played out on TV screens across the world.

Zelensky was set off when Vance claimed Trump was attempting to engage in diplomacy, whereas President Joe Biden wasn't able to stop the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and spent four years 'talking tough about Vladimir Putin.'

'He occupied big parts of Ukraine. Parts of the east and parts of Crimea. He occupied it in 2014,' Zelensky responded, referring to Putin. 'During 2014, nobody stopped him. He just occupied and took. He killed people.'

Zelensky added that he signed a ceasefire agreement with Russia in 2019 - a treaty also signed by Germany and France. He claimed Putin has been violating that agreement by launching incursions and also not abiding by a prisoner-swap deal.

'What kind of diplomacy, JD, are you speaking about?' Zelensky asked the vice president.

The February 28 meeting turned sour especially after Zelensky made a comment about the US having a 'nice ocean' separating it from conflict in Europe

Trump and Zelensky are seen in the Oval Office arguing over how a wind down to the war between Ukraine and Russia should look like

'I'm talking about the kind of diplomacy that's going to end the destruction of your country,' Vance said.

When Zelensky tried to cut in, Vance continued with: 'Mr. President, Mr. President, with respect, I think it's disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media.

'Right now, you guys are going around and forcing conscripts to the front lines because you have manpower problems.'

'You should be thanking the president for trying to bring an end to this conflict,' Vance added.

Zelensky further angered Trump and Vance when he made a comment about the US having 'a nice ocean' separating it from conflict.

'First of all during the war, everybody has problems. Even you, but you have a nice ocean and don't feel it now but you will feel it in the future.'

Trump jumped in to say, 'Don't tell us what we're going to feel. We're trying to solve a problem. Don't tell us what we're going to feel... You're in no position to dictate what we're going to feel.'

'You're gambling with World War III,' Trump bellowed at Zelensky at one point.

Trump also repeatedly reminded the Ukrainian leader that he needs US support to continue the war effort against Putin.

'You don't have the cards. With us, you have the cards. But without us, you don't have any cards,' Trump said.
A young university student working two jobs has claimed she can barely stay afloat while some of her peers get enough from Centrelink they don't even need to work.

Alisha Hall, 18, called out the government agency which she is not eligible for, begging them to 'change the system' in a now-viral TikTok.

'Everyone's equal. Yet some uni students are getting so much Centrelink they don't need to work,' she captioned the video.

'While I'm here working two jobs and still not making rent because I'm not eligible. All while falling behind because I don't have time.'

The video struck a chord online, quickly racking up hundreds of comments and sparking a heated discussion around Centrelink eligibility, youth welfare payments, and the challenges faced by those who aren't eligible.

While payments vary on circumstances, the maximum a single person living out of home without children and is aged between 18 and 24 can get is $663.30 a fortnight.

Ms Hall, who juggles her time between studying a Bachelor of Health and Science and working shifts in retail and at a pizza restaurant, doesn't qualify for Centrelink.

She explained this was because she was under the age of 22 and her parents' earnings were over the threshold.

A young university student working two jobs has claimed she can barely stay afloat while some of her peers get enough from Centrelink they don't even need to work

'My parents make too much BUT I'm completely financially independent from them. They don't give me a cent and we have legally proven this but you're considered a 'dependent child' until 22 years old,' she said.

Many Aussies pointed out that the support provided through Youth Allowance and Austudy is simply not enough.

'Girl, Centrelink is like $500$700 a fortnight unless you're on a pension - that is nothing,' one commenter wrote.

'Youth Allowance is below the poverty line. So no they aren't getting so much Centrelink they don't need to work,' another claimed.

'Who on God's green earth gets enough from Centrelink to even pay rent? Youth Allowance isn't even $650 a fortnight,' a third agreed.

Others took aim at the system itself, criticising rules that classify students as dependents until the age of 22, even when they are living independently and receiving no financial support from their families.

'I'm with you. Centrelink screwed us with parents who can't help but earn over,' one sympathetic commenter wrote.

Another slammed the requirement, saying 'I wasn't eligible for youth allowance because my dad made too much money. I hadn't spoken to my dad in two years'.

University of Sydney SRC President Angus Fisher says life for students on Centrelink is 'dire' (pictured, the Queensland University of Technology)

'Parents have no obligation to provide financial support after you turn 18, so Centrelink shouldn't consider your parents income after 18,' said another.

Ms Hall said it was frustrating to see her friends who still live at home receive welfare payments while she struggled to make ends meet.

'99 per cent of the money I make goes straight towards rent and the rest I use for fuel and very rarely I get any form of excess for food,' she told news.com.au.

The student said she often relied on free food being handed out at her university or from other organisations.

A typical day for her could include working 10am to 3pm in retail followed by another seven-hour shift at the pizza restaurant later that night.

'People complain Centrelink doesn't pay well but even just $200 a week would allow me to only work one job and give me time for university work,' she told the publication.

The video has sparked broader discussions about the cost of living crisis, housing insecurity, and the mental toll placed on students juggling study, work and rent.

While payments vary on circumstances, the maximum a single person living out of home without children and is aged between 18 and 24 can get is $663.30 a fortnight (stock)

University of Sydney Student Representative Council President Angus Fisher described the situation for students on Centrelink as 'dire'.

'Centrelink rates are far too low to meet basic needs, especially for students in a cost of living crisis,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'A single person on JobSeeker gets just $390 a week, which is over $220 below the poverty line. For students, it's even more dire, the youth allowance rate is $330 for a student living out of home.

In a country as wealthy as Australia, no one should be forced to choose between food, rent, and survival.'

Mr Fisher also called on the federal government to lift the payment amount.

'It's time for a real increase that lifts people out of poverty, not just barely keeps them there,' he said.
A Liberal candidate who styled herself as a renter despite owning multiple properties is a beneficiary of a family trust worth $20million, Daily Mail Australia can reveal.

Amelia Hamer, 31, came under scrutiny last week when it was revealed she owns two apartments in London and Canberra despite pitching herself to voters as a renter who lived in a one-bedroom apartment.

Now Daily Mail Australia can reveal that Ms Hamer is also a beneficiary of a trust established by her great-grandmother which owns assets worth about $20million.

Details of the trust were included in a December Supreme Court of Victoria decision by Justice Claire Harris.

The trust was established by Ms Hamer's great-grandmother, Ethel McPherson, in 1972.

The late Liberal politician David Hamer and his wife Barbara were the beneficiaries along with their descendants, which include their granddaughter Ms Hamer.

Shares in a family investment company were transferred to the trust and over time its assets had 'grown in value to around $20million,' Justice Harris said.

There were distributions of $60,000 to all beneficiaries in 2020, and also unspecified distributions to beneficiaries including Ms Hamer in 2021 and 2022.

Amelia Hamer (pictured), standing in the teal-held seat of Kooyong in Victoria, was profiled as a 'renter wanting to get into the housing market'

Ms Hamer (pictured right) is the beneficiary of a trust established by her great-grandmother which owns assets worth about $20million

Ms Hamer owns a $1.46million flat in south-west London (pictured)

The matter had reached court because the trustee wanted to extend the vesting date of the trust, among other changes to the deed of settlement which the judge approved.

In response to queries on Wednesday afternoon, Ms Hamer told Daily Mail Australia: 'I am listed as a beneficiary in a family trust via my late great-grandmother, along with 11 other relatives.

'I have no oversight or control of the trust.'

It comes after the Oxford-educated Ms Hamer, standing in the teal-held seat of Kooyong in Victoria, was profiled in the Australian Financial Review last year as a 'renter wanting to get into the housing market'.

During her campaign Ms Hamer repeatedly said she was renting an apartment without mentioning she was also a landlord.

'I know my rent's gone up significantly, I'm a renter,' she told Nine's Today Show.

She also suggested on the podcast Madame Speaker that her apartment was so small it had put her off having children.

'I'm looking around my flat and going, well, I don't actually know where the kids would go,' she said.

Ms Hamer's grandfather David served as a Liberal MP and a Senator for Victoria, and her great uncle, Rupert Hamer, was a Liberal Victorian Premier

Although Ms Hamer does rent in Hawthorn, she also owns an apartment in Canberra and a $1.46million flat in south-west London, according to property records seen by The Age.

It's possible Ms Hamer used distributions from her family trust to make deposits on her apartments.

She lived in London between 2014 and 2020 while she worked for Bank of America Merrill Lynch and investment firm DST Global.

She also worked in Canberra as a policy adviser to then-cabinet minister Jane Hume between January 2021 and July 2022.

Her profile on the Liberal Party website describes her as a 'fintech executive' who has also worked as a director of strategy at payment platform Airwallex.

Ms Hamer's family has a storied political history.

Her grandfather David Hamer served as a Liberal MP and a Senator for Victoria, and her great uncle, Rupert Hamer, was a Liberal Victorian Premier.

The race in Kooyong had already heated up before revelations emerged about Ms Hamer's trust and property holdings, when the husband of teal incumbent Monique Ryan was filmed taking down one of Ms Hamer's signs.

An agitated Peter Jordan was caught on video marching away with one of Ms Hamer's placards under his arm, refusing to say who he was - though his teal shirt was something of a giveaway.

Mr Jordan later apologised and admitted he had made a 'mistake'.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ms Hamer for comment.
A group described as the Pentagon's 'SWAT team of nerds' is quitting the Department of Defense after being pressed by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency.

The Defense Digital Service was founded in 2015 to bring 'Silicon Valley-style innovation' to the Pentagon.

Director Jennifer Hay said that her team was ready and waiting to be a part of DOGE, helping bring further efficiency to DOD by adopting automation and AI.

'The reason we stuck it out as long as we have is that we thought we were going to be called in,' Hay told Politico.

However, they were instead not used at all and a former Pentagon senior official said that Musk's DOGE working with the Defense Department has been destructive.

'They're not really using AI, they're not really driving efficiency. What they're doing is smashing everything,' the anonymous official said.

DOGE reportedly pressured DDS members to make a decision on their futures and now the entire staff is set to quit over the next month.

Every employee claimed that they would have stuck it out had it not been for DOGE's intrusion.

The Digital Defense Service (pictured in 2019), a group described as the Pentagon's 'SWAT team of nerds,' is quitting the Department of Defense after being pressed by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency

Director Jennifer Hay said that her team was ready and waiting to be a part of Musk's (pictured) DOGE, helping bring further efficiency to DOD by adopting automation and AI

The program will be shut down with the last of the employees either quits or accepts Donald Trump's deferred resignation package at the end of April.

After that, Hay will leave on May 1, effectively ending the program.

'The best way to put it, I think, is either we die quickly or we die slowly,' she said.

Employees said that the department had been dying slowly in recent years, not being able to work at full strength due to hiring freezes, government bureaucracy and politics, making it an obvious target for DOGE.

There were even audits claiming that DDS had corruption afoot, with directors giving out unauthorized waivers for various tech instruments.

DailyMail.com has reached out to the Pentagon and the Defense Digital Service for comment.

A Pentagon spokesman told Politico the DDS functions would be taken over by the Department of Defense's Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office.

While Musk has said the Department of Government Efficiency is only auditing the federal government for signs of fraud and waste, much of the public sees it as a national security threat.

While Musk (pictured left) has said the Department of Government Efficiency is only auditing the federal government for signs of fraud and waste, much of the public sees it as a national security threat

'They're not really using AI, they're not really driving efficiency. What they're doing is smashing everything,' the anonymous official said of Musk's intrusions into the Pentagon

According to President Trump in March, around 100 people currently work for DOGE, with many of them being in the middle or very beginning of their careers as software developers, Supreme Court clerks, consultants, or corporate financiers.

Despite receiving praise from some in the tech industry like Knight, violent protests disrupting the billionaire's businesses have pushed President Trump to admit that Musk will need to return to the private sector and oversee his companies in the near future.

Although the president said each federal agency would keep working with the DOGE team, there's already speculation that the workers streamlining America's computer systems will disappear too - leaving the US in the same tech mess it's been in.

The White House has already pushed back on Musk quitting his budget-slashing role in Washington, with Trump saying he wants the Tesla and SpaceX CEO in charge 'as long as possible.'

DOGE was officially signed into existence on January 20, 2025 by executive order of President Trump, with a mission to 'modernize Federal technology and software to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity' by July 4, 2026.

As of April 4, DOGE reported that their cost-cutting measures have saved taxpayers $140 billion.

Much of this savings comes from canceling diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) contracts, auditing government credit card use, and reducing fraudulent spending - such as social security payments to individuals listed as being over 150 years-old.

However, the DOGE experts assigned to various agencies throughout Washington have also cut down on mind-boggling expenses for repairs to the government's cyber systems.

DOGE advisor Sam Corcos said that the US government is decades behind schedule and billions of dollars over budget in their efforts to modernize their digital technology

Musk recruited Corcos and other tech experts to audit the government and recommend major cost cuts to improve efficiency

This includes one DOGE employee discovering the US Department of Veterans Affairs was 'paying ~$380,000/month for minor website modifications.'

'That contract has not been renewed and the same work is now being executed by 1 internal VA software engineer spending ~10 hours/week,' DOGE wrote on their blog.

Despite finding a fortune in government waste, the DOGE staff has drawn intense criticism in just two months - mainly because many people don't know who they are.

Musk and the White House have been slammed by political opponents for the unconventional recruitment of the DOGE team (largely through X), the lack of transparency in the process, and their unprecedented access to sensitive government systems.

Moreover, actions like terminating thousands of IRS employees, canceling over 1,000 government contracts, and targeting agencies like USAID for closure have disrupted services nationwide and brought lawsuits from both Democrats and federal unions.
The husband of a mother-of-two who died in a 'suspicious' house fire has been remanded in custody after being hit with a murder charge.

Louise Hunt died in the towering blaze at her Gehan home, 150km west of Brisbane, in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

The couple's two children were found uninjured nearby and are understood to be staying with relatives.

Cameron Hunt, 45, was arrested about 12 hours later at a home in Redcliffe 200km away and charged with murder domestic violence offence and arson.

A judge ruled at Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Wednesday Hunt would remain in custody until his next court appearance on July 16.

Magistrate Kyna Morice adjourned the case for three months to give police time to prepare a brief of evidence.

Firefighters were called to the giant blaze about 3am on Tuesday morning where they spent several hours combatting the flames.

Ms Hunt's body is believed to have been found in the ashes of the home, though a formal identification has not yet been made.

Cameron Hunt (right) has been charged with murder over the 'suspicious' house fire death of his wife Louise Hunt (left) in the early hours of Tuesday morning

Before her death, Ms Hunt (pictured) worked alongside her brother as the marketing coordinator at a family-owned vehicle accessory producer, TUFF Group

Forensic testing is underway and police have yet to make a formal identification of the body believed to have belonged to Ms Hunt

Before her death, Ms Hunt worked alongside her brother as the marketing coordinator at a family-owned vehicle accessory producer, TUFF Group.

In a statement provided to Daily Mail Australia, the company wrote: 'TUFF Group has suffered a devastating loss with the tragic death of Louise.

'The impact on the TUFF family has been enormous and incomprehensible.

'We are together grieving the loss of a work colleague, friend and an exceptional human being.'

She was described as the brand's 'creative force' on the company's website.

'When Louise isn't busy crafting compelling marketing campaigns, she cherishes time spent with her family,' it said.

'From a backyard BBQ to a beach getaway, Louise is happiest when she is with her husband, kids and adorable pets. She also loves spending time with friends, enjoying delicious food, and pairing it with a good glass of wine.'

'Louise's adventurous spirit was evident from a young age.'

Louise Hunt has been remembered fondly by members of her south Queensland community

Firefighters spent several hours combatting the blaze at the Hunt family's Gehan home

Local Mayor Geoff McDonald said the community had been left heartbroken by the 'tragic and senseless loss'.

'Our deepest condolences go out to all who are grieving. May the memory of Louise be a light in the darkness,' he wrote in a Facebook post.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

Lifeline 13 11 14
Barnaby Joyce has vented his frustration that he has spent the election campaign cooped up in his own seat after his leadership rival brought in a new rule to keep him out of the spotlight.

But the twice former Deputy Prime Minister has insisted he is not being a 'f***ing sook' over the ban and is still prepared to go wherever is required at the drop of a hat to help the Coalition's cause.

The National Party brought in a rule late last year that required shadow ministers to get permission from party leader David Littleproud - Mr Joyce's rival - to travel to other electorates during campaign season.

It was widely interpreted as a bid to hide Mr Joyce, the member for New England in northern NSW, in his electorate amid fears he was a turn-off for voters, particularly women.

One Nationals MP - a detractor - said: 'Of course we want to keep him in New England! He's a loose cannon who could derail campaigns in other states by serving as a reminder of just how messy his own career in politics has been.'

And the ploy seems to have mostly worked - with the high-profile former party leader, 57, rarely straying outside New England and cutting a conspicuous absence from the Coalition's campaign aside from his weekly Sunrise appearances.

Daily Mail Australia witnessed the one-time party leader strolling into a shopping mall in Tamworth at lunchtime on Wednesday, before he visited a McDonald's outlet and picked up a six-pack of beer from an IGA with wife Vikki and their two young sons.

When approached by this publication for his thoughts about having his wings clipped by the party leadership, Mr Joyce said: Youll have to talk to Littleprouds office about that.

Daily Mail Australia witnessed Barnaby Joyce strolling into a shopping mall in Tamworth at lunchtime on Wednesday, before he visited a McDonald's outlet and picked up a six-pack of beer from an IGA with wife Vikki and the couple's two young sons

They stopped at a local IGA en route home around 2pm where Mr Joyce appeared to buy a bottle of Chardonnay and a six-pack of James Boags' premium beer

Barnaby Joyce is seen exiting an IGA food and liquor store with a bag containing a six pack of James Boags premium lager. Despite giving up booze, Mr Joyce he insisted he is not a 'wowser': ' Maybe at some stage Ill have a beer again, but at the moment, nah'

Mr Joyce appeared to be carrying a bag containing a six pack of James Boags Premium Lager

'It doesnt worry me, Im back with my people,' he added.

I just walk humbly and never taken anything for granted. That sounds like a trite line but its true.

When quizzed on the experience he might have been able to bring to the Coalition's lacklustre campaign so far, Mr Joyce grew reflective.

'Id hate to see us lose some seats by 100 votes or 50 votes,' he said.

This is egotistical, right. But Ive won back a Senate seat, which we lost. I won it back off One Nation.

'I won back a lower house seat, down here against Tony Windsor, with one of the biggest swings in Australian political history - 28 per cent. And I did it in two different states.'

Mr Joyce insisted his aim was to just 'be humble, (to) try and talk straight' and that he had helped where he could by sending 'a swag of money to a couple of electorates'.

Look Ill go where Im asked. If somebody said last week, oh, s**t. Were in trouble. We need you to go here, here and here. Im not a f***ing sook. Id immediately do it,' he added.

The former Nationals leader, 57, has been curiously quiet this campaign, rarely straying outside New England and only occasionally appearing on Seven's Sunrise (pictured: Mr Joyce and his journalist wife, Vikki Campion)

Mr Joyce was mobbed by supporters in the shopping mall opposite his office (pictured)

He was happy greeting voters, several of whom came up to him to tell them he had their vote and to 'keep up the good work'

'I had the Hunter Valley campaign saying please, please, please come down so I went down and Lyne said please, please, please come across, so I went across, Im not a sook - Ill go if Im asked.

'But if Im not asked, Im not going to just turn up. Thats in their hands. In the meantime, Ill try to turn this into the safest seat in Australia.

A Nationals campaign spokesperson insisted that 'all MPs are part of a co-ordinated approach to give The Nationals the best chance of winning seats and getting Australia back on track'.

'Barnaby Joyce was asked by the campaign to go to the Hunter Valley and Lyne. Mr Joyce has also been to seats in Queensland, Northern Territory and throughout New South Wales,' the spokesperson added.

But Mr Joyce was certainly playing the role of local MP, rather than twice former Deputy Prime Minister, on Wednesday.

He was happy greeting voters, several of whom came up to him to tell them he had their vote and to 'keep up the good work'.

A short time later, he met his wife Vikki and their two boys at his campaign office before they all got into the car for a family McDonalds' drive-thru lunch.

They stopped at a local IGA en route home around 2pm where Mr Joyce appeared to buy a bottle of Chardonnay and a six-pack of James Boags' premium beer.

Infamously, Mr Joyce gave up the grog when Daily Mail Australia published a video of him sprawled on a Canberra pavement mumbling obscenities into his phone late at night in February last year.

He blamed the embarrassing episode on mixing prescription pills with alcohol and in an interview with Nine Newspapers last June, said he had quite the booze and lost 15kg in the process.

A short time later, he, his wife Vikki and their two boys stopped by his campaign office before they headed to McDonalds

Infamously, Mr Joyce gave up the grog when Daily Mail Australia published a video of him sprawled on a Canberra pavement mumbling obscenities into his phone late at night in February last year

But he insisted he was not a 'wowser', adding: 'Maybe at some stage Ill have a beer again, but at the moment, nah'.

Asked on Thursday whether he thought he would lose his front bench role as spokesperson for Veterans' Affairs, Mr Joyce was tight-lipped.

Thats a choice for the leadership at the time,' he said.

Ill do whatever job Im given. People think I get all bent and twisted out of shape but (it doesnt). It allows me greater liberty to speak my mind on other issues.

One key issue in his sights is intermittent power in rural areas which he blames on renewable energy.

He has copped some flack locally for failing to attend two 'meet the candidate' events but Mr Joyce accused some of them of being 'set-ups.

Ill go to a couple but Im not going to go to 20 meet the candidates because a lot of the times its just the Labor party stacking it up with their mates and you walk in there and they go: Is it true you punched Debbie Tenassi in 1973 at primary school?

Mr Joyce insisted his aim was to just 'be humble, (to) try and talk straight' and that he had helped where he could by sending 'a swag of money to a couple of electorates'

In the meantime, Ill try to turn this into the safest seat in Australia,' he added

'And you go, what the f**k? You know, whats the point of this s***?

Asked if hed consider stepping down at the next election, he said: Ill take everything in my own time.' I take advice from the people.

'I've had an incredible career. Ive been Deputy Prime Minister of Australia twice, so Ill take advice from people around me,' he said.

You dont want to go stale in the job. Whilst your enthusiasm and your energys there, you do it. But... you just listen to these people.

A Nationals MP, who did not want to be named so they could speak their minds freely, defended the decision to keep Mr Joyce out of sight.

If Joyce campaigned in other seats, they seat, he would serve as a reminder of 'just how messy his own career in politics has been.

'The party has moved on from his leadership and the last thing we want is voters being reminded hes still hanging around and wont retire,' they added.
Two Irish mothers accused of breaking Covid rules by not complying with quarantine laws after a 'boob job' trip to Dubai have walked free from court.

Kirstie McGrath, 34, and Niamh Mulreany, 29, both from Dublin were arrested upon their return from the United Arab Emirates on April 2, 2021.

The duo claimed they had travelled to the Middle Eastern country to undergo cosmetic surgery, but later did not go through with the procedure.

However upon their return to Ireland they refused to stay at a designated hotel for a mandatory 14 days quarantine, despite having pre-booked their rooms.

As such, McGrath and Mulreany were charged with breaching Health (Amendment) Act, a law temporarily brought into force during COVID-19, and faced a fine of 2,000 (1,714.10) as well as a month behind bars.

In an attempt to bring criminal proceedings to an end, the two later challenged the constitutionality of the law, but it was later dismissed at the Supreme Court in September.

However, the criminal case against the mothers was also dismissed yesterday following a four-year legal battle, after Judge John Hughes ruled it had not been explained to the women they could face criminal punishment for violating quarantine rules.

Elaborating on his ruling, the Judge said there was no evidence to suggest the penalties of the 'complex and complicated' quarantine law had been explained to McGrath and Mulreany, which is required in line with Irish legislation.

Kirstie McGrath pictured in a white hoodie and pink joggers at Tallaght District Courtin 2021

Niamh Mulreany pictured in multicoloured joggers and a light pink hoodie outside of Tallaght district court in 2021

He told the court that when the power of compulsion is enacted, Garda must inform an individual that failing to obey can result in criminal conviction as well as penalties, in line with the Public Order Act.

Garda Karl Carroll told the court that he had spent 90 minutes discussing the rules with the two women upon their arrival at the Irish airport.

In accordance with Mark Lynam SC, defending, the officer said the duo had pre-booked accommodation at the hotel.

But Carroll explained McGrath and Mulreany refused to go to the hotel after returning from the Middle Eastern country.

Garda Robert Barba, who was also present, told the court the women said they would prefer to be arrested, while alleging 'the people minding their children would not be able to keep minding them for much longer.'

He added that the duo refused to reconsider and there was no other option 'but to arrest them'.

Mark Lynam, defending (instructed by solicitor Michael French), told the court that neither of his clients had committed an offence, arguing that there was no evidence to suggest that the UAE fell under the COVID-19 restrictions.

He also argued there was no evidence to say his clients were resisting the quarantine law.

Judge John Hughes dismissed their criminal case, ruling had not been explained to the women they could face criminal punishment for violating quarantine rules (Pictured: Kirstie McGrath)

Neither McGrath nor Mulreany spoke during the hearing or gave evidence, and they smiled after they were acquitted (Pictured: Niamh Mulreany)

He also contested that the duo should have been detained in a bid to get them to their hotel, and then prosecuted if they failed to comply at that point.

Neither McGrath nor Mulreany spoke during the hearing or gave evidence, and they smiled after they were acquitted, according to the Irish Mirror.

The pair were initially remanded in custody with their bail set at 2,800, but the terms were changed by the High Court the next day.

The two then stayed in a quarantine hotel for ten days before being able to go back to their respective homes.

McGrath and Mulreany have always denied the charges. It was also heard they had three negative PCR test a week prior to their return to Ireland.
An elderly man has been rushed to hospital after flipping his car and narrowly avoiding dozens of pedestrians in a busy coastal suburb.

Police have closed roads along Manly Beach, in Sydney's Northern Beaches, after a 75-year-old man crashed into a tree and flipped about 2pm on Wednesday.

The incident occurred on South Steyne beside the Manly Beach promenade.

A spokesperson for NSW Ambulances told Daily Mail Australia emergency services were called to the scene of a single-vehicle collision.

The man was freed from his vehicle after becoming trapped and was then rushed to Royal North Shore Hospital after suffering 'minor lacerations'.

A spokesperson for the Royal North Shore Hospital confirmed the driver remained in a 'stable condition'.

Balgowlah resident Tim Hewson, 51, was having lunch with his sons at a nearby restaurant when he heard the unmistakable sound of a crash.

'I heard that sound of screeching and spinning wheels and by the time I looked up I saw the car hit what's called a scissor lift, a lift used at building sites, then the car bounced off, sped across the pedestrian crossing before hitting the tree', he said.

Pedestrians narrowly avoided being hit after an out-of-control car hit a tree instead (pictured)

Emergency services were called to the scene of the incident on South Steyne near Manly Beach before rushing the 75-year-old driver to hospital

'It's lucky there was no one there because it's normally a very busy crossing, it runs from the shops to the beach.'

Mr Hewson described the crash as 'jarring', adding he was impressed by the number of pedestrians who rushed in to assist the driver.

'It's obviously a shame he [the driver] was injured but, at the same time, you realised when you saw the amount of people that ran in just how serious it could have been,' he said.

Drivers have been advised to avoid the area where a clean-up remains ongoing, the Manly Observer reported.

A number of local residents remarked the dramatic crash was surprising given the narrow street has a speed limit of 30km/h.
A whistleblower who helped derail a charity fraudster has labelled her 'soft' jail sentence as a 'f---ing joke'.

Angela Stathopoulos, 49, will spend only six months behind bars, despite admitting conning a charity for underprivileged kids and the homeless out of $531,111.

Melbourne County Court was told that Stathopoulos paraded her luxury family holidays - paid for by the stolen money - on Instagram.

The court heard that Stathopoulos 'acted like the charity's money was hers to spend' as she drained the Prahran Community Learning Centre dry.

At the time, Stathopoulos was the highly-paid boss of the inner-east Melbourne charity - which survived on a shoestring budget - while she siphoned off the cash between May 2011 and March 2022.

The court heard Stathopoulos was on a six-figure salary with a $20,000 annual fuel allowance, and spent $155,274 on lavish trips, including several first-class jaunts to the US.

A whistleblower contacted by the Daily Mail Australia expressed their dismay after Wednesday's sentencing.

'I heard, it's disappointing, it's disappointing, I can't believe it, six months, for everything she stole and the pain she caused,' they said.

Holiday snaps feature Angela Stathopoulos and her children living it up at premium locations including Disneyland. There is no suggestion that Stathopoulos's family or any other third person was involved in any wrongdoing

Stathopoulos arrived at last month's court appearance dressed casually before she was remanded in custody

Stathopoulos also took her family on an expensive holiday to Hawaii. There is no suggestion that Stathopoulos's family or any other third person was involved in any wrongdoing.

'It's soft, actually, it's a f---ing joke, she's apiece of work.'

Stathopoulos, who was jailed after pleading guilty to theft, proudly displayed her illegally-funded holidays in a series of Instagram postcards featuring happy snaps from the exotic locations.

The holiday pics feature Stathopoulos and her husband and children living it up on premium trips to Disneyland, New York, Universal Studios and Hawaii.

There is no suggestion that Stathopoulos's family or any other third person was involved in any wrongdoing.

Stathopoulos also bragged about her trips and showed off the photos to the hardworking, honest staff at the not-for-profit charity.

The court heard she went on the luxury jaunts as charity staff back in Melbourne struggled to make ends meet and crucial programs were cancelled.

Stathopoulos appeared in court last month dressed casually compared to her usual designer vintage outfits which she showcased online.

The court was told that she had repaid the entire amount in a last-ditch bid to avoid jail, but the judge questioned how she managed to pay back the cash.

Judge Gavan Meredith wanted to know where the cash had come from, after previously hearing Stathopoulos had spent the proceeds on travel and designer gear.

Stathopoulos described the Universal Studios VIP Experience Tour was 'amazing'.

Stathopoulos also spent vast amounts on jewellery, school books, excursions and activities

Stathopoulos bought herself vintage designer clothes and accessories and splashed out on beauty and styling

'Can I enquire how the money was repaid?' Judge Meredith said.

Most people dont have 530-odd thousand of savings available.

Defence barrister Joshua Sheppard said Stathopoulos had used her family's savings but later added that she had also sold a property which was gifted to her by in-laws.

The court had earlier been told Stathopoulos paraded her luxury family holidays on Instagram which were paid for by the stolen money.

The court heard Stathopoulos, who sobbed as she pleaded guilty at last month's plea hearing, took 10 separate overseas holidays between August 2011 and May 2019, illegally paid for by charity funds.

In one single transaction, Stathopoulos paid $29,040 for flights for a Melbourne to Los Angeles return via New York and Nashville trip for her and her family in 2015.

Stathopoulos spared no expense as she laid down for deluxe accommodation including a seven night stay at the Westin Hotel Times Square New York City and the Sheraton Music City Hall in Nashville.

During another holiday, Stathopoulos spent almost $30,000 on a US trip where the jetsetters stayed at Disneyland Anaheim.

Stathopoulos and her family also visited Legoland California and stayed at five-star hotels at Beverly Hills, San Diego and the Grand Hyatt San Francisco in 2017.

Stathopoulos also lavished the stolen cash on airport transfers, hire cars, premium rail tickets and other travel expenses.

Stathopoulos and her kids also visited Harry Potter World using stolen money

Back home in Melbourne, Stathopoulos spent more than $6000 on a Harry Styles and Miley Cyrus concerts

Stathopoulos spent big at the Big Apple New York City

Back home in Melbourne, Stathopoulos spent more than $6000 on a Harry Styles and Miley Cyrus concerts, a Wizard of Oz stage show and WWE Live events.

The remorseless Stathopoulos hid her thefts as 'legitimate business expenses' but the court heard it was estimated only 12-18 percent of funds were actually spent on the charity.

Stathopoulos, who brandished a vintage PELLE di GIADA Croco Italian black patent purse at an earlier court appearance, also spent vast amounts on jewellery for her kids and school books, excursions and activities.

She also paid top money for dancing lessons for her daughter, bought herself vintage designer clothes and accessories and splashed out on beauty and styling, personal fitness and Netflix.

Stathopoulos, who lives in a $1.7million house in Murrumbeena in Melbourne's south-east, funnelled money onto untraceable Load & Go cards and bought luxury accessories via PayPal.

The disgraced boss also spent $32,575 on unauthorised fuel cards, despite having a $20,000 per year vehicle allowance as part of her employment contract.

Her crime spree finally ground to a halt when a new board took over in 2020, headed by Neil Pharaoh.

In the end, a forensic accounting investigation was launched and Stathopoulos was stood down, sacked and then reported to police.

Stathopoulos, who later worked as a teacher and a manager at a South Yarra vintage clothing store, eventually admitted to her offending.

'I've always had a problem with this sort of thing,' she told investigators.

Stathopoulos also posted pics of herself at the 'VIP Ultimate Prince Experience'

Stathopoulos was on a huge six-figure salary and spent $155,274 she stole on lavish trips including several first-class jaunts to the US

'Some people turn to alcohol and drugs but this is my problem.'

The court heard the charity, which has since changed its name, suffered repercussions beyond financial loss including severe reputational damage.

The federal government also withheld funds and Stonnington Council now defers any PCLC funding decisions to its lawyers.

Programs and classes were also disrupted and the charity is now 'viewed as a high-risk grant applicant'.

Stathopoulos locked down her social media accounts after her crimes were exposed in the media last year.

The previously public posts, obtained by the Daily Mail Australia before they were made private, showed Stathopoulos poolside at the Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort Honolulu and Vegas hotel The Bellagio.

Stathopoulos also boasted about visiting pop star Prince's 'Paisley Park' residence multiple times and how the Universal Studios VIP Experience Tour was 'amazing'.

The proud mum also posted pics of her and her family at a School of Rock show, the Melbourne Grand Prix and the 'VIP Ultimate Prince Experience'.

Stathopoulos also posed for media opportunities supporting charities, including the Feed Melbourne Appeal during her time as charity boss.

Her last court hearing was adjourned until Wednesday for a psychologist's report which found she was 'addicted to stealing money'.

It was a pattern of behaviour, (she was) covering her tracks,' Dr Carla Lechner said in her report.

Dr Lechner also said Stathopoulos has a 'lot of cognitive dissidence' who believed she was 'an honest and good person' but also knew it was dishonest'.

(Stathopoulos wanted) to feel better about herself and positively present herself to others, Dr Lechner said.

Stathopoulos (pictured at a previous court appearance) will only spend six months behind bars

Stathopoulos also boasted about her trips on Instagram

(She was) filling a hole of emotional deprivation, she had the means to do this legally, and couldve got the same satisfaction.

Stathopoulos' barrister said his client poured her heart and soul into the charity and is 'deeply sorry about the negative consequences'.

She feels deep and genuine regret and she hates herself for what she has done, Mr Sheppard said.

Mr Sheppard also compared his client to Dylan DiPierdomenico, the disgraced fraudster son of AFL legend Robert DiPierdomenico, who was handed a nine-month jail term in January for stealing $140,717 from a family-run Melbourne business.

Judge Meredith said Stathopoulos' 'breach of significant trust 'was committed against an institution that could ill-afford the losses'.

'(It was) persistent calculated offending revealing an egregious breach of trust,' he said.

Stathopoulos, who has a prior conviction for theft, was jailed for three years but 30 months of the sentence was suspended.

She will be freed in October.
Wittner - one of Australia's leading footwear brands - has gone bust after more than 100 years in business.

The iconic women's shoe company, established in 1912, has over 20 branded stores in Australia and New Zealand, and 25 stores within David Jones and Myer.

It also trades on its own website and The Iconic.

Insolvency experts Sal Algeri and David Orr from Deloitte were appointed joint administrators on Wednesday, the Australian Financial Review reported.

Mr Algeri said the company will continue to trade as normal as they 'conduct an urgent review of the group's finances'.

'We understand the appointment of administrators will be particularly concerning to Wittners employees, as well the very loyal customer base it has built over decades,' he said.

'Please be assured that trade will continue on a business-as-usual basis as we conduct an urgent review of the groups finances and seek expressions of interest from parties interested in the sale or recapitalisation of this iconic Australian brand.'

A statement from Wittner said sales growth in the past 12 months couldn't keep up with rising wages and rental costs.

Wittner - one of Australia's leading footwear brands - has gone bust

Insolvency experts Sal Algeri and David Orr from Deloitte have been appointed joint administrators of Wittner

'The growth in sales has been eroded by cost pressures from rising wages and occupancy costs, and more recently challenging trading conditions and supply-chain disruptions,' management said.

'We have invested in our range and teams over the last twelve months and remain committed to the Wittner business.

'We will work closely with the administrators to achieve the best outcome for the business and its stakeholders.'

The news follows an announcement that all 87 Jeanswest stores across Australia will close their doors in the next six weeks.

The Aussie fashion giant announced last month that up to 90 stores would close and up to 600 jobs would be axed after its parent company Harbour Guidance collapsed.

Last month, administrator Lindsay Bainbridge said the news of the closure of stores and job losses was 'a hard day' for staff.

'The owners have done everything they can to keep Jeanswest going, but market conditions mean sustaining bricks-and-mortar stores is not viable and unlikely to improve,' he said.

'They deeply regret the impact of store closures on their team members and their customers, and we will be working now with teams across the country.

Wittner will trade as normal as they 'conduct an urgent review of the group's finances'

Shoppers will only have weeks to visit Jeanswest after it announced it would close their doors

'This is a hard day for hundreds of Jeanswest team members and we will be working directly with the team members to provide clarity and information about the next steps.'

The administrators previously said they'd identified a related party debt of about $40million.

Administrators put the company's failure down to an 'unsustainable business model'.

The stores have cut prices on all stock in a bid to partially repay its creditors.

Last week, administrators revealed more than 53,000 pairs of jeans had been sold in the first week of a nationwide discounting campaign.

Administrators are looking to shift more than $20million worth of stock.

Jeanswest had been operating across Australia for more than 50 years, after opening its first store in Perth in 1972.

In 2017, the owner of Jeanswest claimed Australians were forking out their money for 'lifestyle spending' on travel and televisions, rather than buying new clothes.

He said this led to 'lethargic' and 'slothful' retail habits.

The brand has three stores in New Zealand, which are not part of the administration process and will remain open for business.
The author of a 'taboo' novel about a relationship between a girl and her father's friend has been refused anonymity in court despite receiving death threats online.

Lauren Tesolin-Mastrosa, who writes under the pen name 'Tori Woods', came under fire for her book Daddy's Little Toy, which has children's building blocks on the cover.

The book describes a man speaking about how he desired a now 18-year-old since she was a toddler.

The 33-year-old Christian charity employee had issued a pre-release of the novel to around 20 advanced readers in March.

The Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation received complaints about the book and the Australian Federal Police referred them to NSW Police who arrested her on March 21.

Ms Tesolin-Mastrosa has pleaded not guilty to possessing, disseminating, and producing child abuse material.

At a hearing on Monday, her lawyer Mickaela Mate said the allegedly offensive content was between fictional characters who were two consenting adults.

'[It] is a fantasy within a fiction and hence there are no victims,' the solicitor said.

Lauren Tesolin-Mastrosa (pictured), 33, who writes under the pen name 'Tori Woods', has been refused anonymity during a court case regarding her 'taboo' novel

Ms Tesolin-Mastrosa's book, called 'Daddy's Little Toy', describes a man speaking about how he desired a now 18-year-old since she was a toddler

As the author's husband Adam Mastrosa watched on, Ms Mate argued it was necessary for the court to prevent the publication of her client's details and the case.

But on Wednesday, Ms Tesolin-Mastrosa lost her bid at Blacktown Local Court.

Online threats made against the woman and her husband, including from a TikToker who referred to the electric chair, were high enough that her safety was at risk, the court was told.

Ms Tesolin-Mastrosa had experienced distress due to these comments against her because child abuse material was seen as heinous.

'Being called a pedophile online is something that sticks in the community,' Ms Mate told the court.

She also argued that any magistrate who heard the matter in the future could be influenced because they had read about the widely reported 'memorable' case.

The case stuck out because her client worked for a Christian charity, BaptistCare, while writing about allegedly taboo material, the court heard.

'It is so memorable because my client is otherwise... so ordinary,' Ms Mate said.

Ms Tesolin-Mastrosa (pictured) has pleaded not guilty to possessing, disseminating, and producing child abuse material

Barrister Matthew Lewis SC, representing News Corp, opposed any suppression, saying details about the case had already gone viral worldwide.

'It's almost akin to trying to stop the tide - it's gone,' he said.

Magistrate Rami Attia declined to make the orders, saying there was no expert evidence Ms Tesolin-Mastrosa was at risk of harm or self-harm from further reporting.

This was despite the author's 'deep-seated fear' of attending court and her solicitor's genuine concerns for her wellbeing, the magistrate said.

He also said none of the online threats were elevated enough to warrant the court shielding her identity.

Any suggestion a magistrate could be influenced by media reports of the matter was also rejected.

Ms Tesolin-Mastrosa did not appear in court for the hearings. Her matter will return to court on June 5.

A BaptistCare spokeswoman has previously said the organisation would not comment on individual employees' circumstances.

Magistrate Rami Attia at Blacktown Local Court heard that online threats had been made against Ms Tesolin-Mastrosa, including from a TikToker who referred to the electric chair

'We can confirm that we received complaints regarding an unnamed employee,' the spokeswoman said.

'As a result of these complaints, the employee was stood down effective March 20 while we undertake an internal investigation.'

Prior to her arrest, Tesolin-Mastrosa took to social media to say the backlash from her book was a 'big misunderstanding'.

'DLT is definitely not promoting or inciting anything ever to do with (child sexual abuse) or pedophilia,' she wrote.

'What is being said is grossly disturbing and breaks my heart as well as makes me sick.'

Ms Tesolin-Mastrosa then took down her social media accounts and her book was also removed from Amazon and GoodReads.
The legal definition of a woman will be ruled on today by the UK Supreme Court after a challenge brought by women's rights campaigners.

The decision could have far-reaching implications on how sex-based rights apply, including how women-only spaces are allowed to operate.

It marks the culmination of a long-running legal battle between the Scottish government and a women's group.

The case centres on whether somebody with a gender recognition certificate (GRC) recognising their gender as female should be treated as a woman under the 2010 Equality Act.

The Scottish government argues that such people are entitled to sex-based protections, while campaign group For Women Scotland (FWS) argues they only apply to people that are born female.

The latest action is seeking to overturn a decision by the Scottish courts in 2023 which found that treating someone with a GRC as a woman under the Equality Act was lawful. The outcome will have implications in England, Scotland and Wales.

The Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Act 2018 is a piece of legislation intended to increase the proportion of women on public boards in Scotland.

The legal definition of a women will be ruled on today by the UK Supreme Court (pictured) after a challenge brought by women's rights campaigners (File image)

In 2022, FWS successfully challenged the original act over its inclusion of trans women in its definition of women.

The Court of Session ruled that changing the definition of a woman in the act was unlawful, as it dealt with matters falling outside the Scottish Parliament's legal competence.

Following the challenge, the Scottish Government dropped the definition from the act and issued revised statutory guidance - essentially, advice on how to comply with the law.

This stated that under the 2018 Act the definition of a woman was the same as that set out in the Equality Act 2010, and also that a person with a GRC recognising their gender as female had the sex of a woman.

FWS challenged this revised guidance on the grounds sex under the Equality Act referred to its biological meaning and said the Government was overstepping its powers by effectively redefining the meaning of 'woman'.

However, their challenge was rejected by the Court of Session's Outer House on December 13 2022.

The Inner House upheld that decision on November 1 2023 - but did grant FWS permission to appeal to the UK Supreme Court.

Judges are to rule on whether transgender people can have access to single-sex spaces such as public toilets and hospital wards (Stock photo)

Maya Forstater (pictured) has campaigned for women's rights and gender self-ID

The appeal at the Supreme Court before Lord Reed, Lord Hodge, Lord Lloyd-Jones, Lady Rose and Lady Simler was heard last November and, after the two-day hearing, the judges said they would 'take time to consider very carefully' before issuing their judgment on April 16.

When the group's legal argument was published ahead of the appeal last year, FWS director Trina Budge said: 'Not tying the definition of sex to its ordinary meaning means that public boards could conceivably comprise of 50% men, and 50% men with certificates, yet still lawfully meet the targets for female representation.

'However, the ramifications of this case are much more far-reaching and all sex-based rights protected by the Equality Act are at risk.

'The stakes are high and the court's decision will have consequences for everyday single-sex services such as toilets and hospital wards.

'It will determine whether a pregnant woman with a GRC is entitled to maternity leave, what it means to be same-sex attracted, and whether a man with a GRC's entitlement to join a group of lesbians takes priority over their right to freely associate with only women.

'Trans rights are protected under the separate category of gender reassignment but to fully guarantee women's rights it is increasingly clear that a consistent, biological and factual understanding of sex is the only workable solution.'
A US missionary kidnapped after being pistol whipped as he gave a sermon and dragged from his church has been dramatically rescued.

A heavily armed team of over 20 officers of a South African Police unit known as The Hawks ambushed the gang at their safe house.

Three gunmen had just moved pastor Josh Sullivan, 34, into their car to drive him to another safe house as police approached.

When the kidnappers saw the officers with their weapons drawn a 'high-intensity' shootout took place with the officers killing them all.

The gunmen had leapt from the car to flee and opened fire on cops.

Incredibly the officers had seen where the kidnapped pastor had been placed inside the car so were able to avoid hitting him with gunfire.

The Hawks came under sustained fire from the gang who had seized Pastor Sullivan in front of his wife Meagan and four children last week.

A South African Police source said: 'There was incredible gunfire but within 15 seconds it was over and the three gang members were lying dead.

Josh Sullivan (pictured) was kidnapped by four armed men from his church

The pastor was giving a service at the time of his kidnapping

He has been living in South Africa since 2018

'No officers were injured but we are still missing three gang members so when we identify who these men are we will go after the rest of the gang.'

The dramatic shootout happened yesterday at KwaMagxai in Gqbertha, after the police received a tip off where the armed gang had been holed up.

Pastor Sullivan was attacked at 7pm at the Fellowship Baptist Church Motherwell in the Mandela Bay township of what was once Port Elizabeth by four masked gunmen.

Two more stood guard on the door as one of the gang pistol-whipped the pastor and dragged him up the aisle while others of the gang gang robbed the congregation.

The Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Avela Fumba said: 'As officers approached the safe house they observed a vehicle was parked outside the premises with people in it.

'The suspects inside the vehicle attempted to flee and opened fire on the team and officers responded leading to a high-intensity shoot out and the 3 suspects were killed.

'The victim of the kidnapping was found inside the vehicle from which the suspects launched their attack but was miraculously unharmed and immediately assessed.

'Medical personnel reported he was in excellent condition and he said he just wanted to be reunited with his wife and kids and we facilitated him of course on that.

'The operation demonstrates the critical importance of inter-agency collaboration and timely intelligence in being able to tackle serious organised crime in South Africa.

'The Hawks commend the bravery and professionalism of all officers and all the support personnel present who helped to secure the safe rescue of the kidnapped victim' he said.

The suspects appeared to know Sullivan by name, and threatened his wife before abducting him in front of his family

His supporters flooded the church's website and social media platforms with messages of hope and prayer

It was revealed that just 24 hours after Pastor Sullivan was abducted in front of his wife Meagan and four children as he gave a sermon the armed gang contacted her

A neighbour who asked not to be named said: 'I was just sitting watching TV and what sounded like World War 3 broke outside with over 100 bullets fired in a few seconds.

'There were police everywhere and dogs and a man was pulled from a car that had been shot up and taken away surrounded by officers and then a perimeter was put up.

'We were told it was the gang who had kidnapped a churchman last week' he said.

It was revealed that just 24 hours after Pastor Sullivan was abducted in front of his wife Meagan and four children as he gave a sermon the armed gang contacted her.

The mortified mother answered her mobile at a friend's home where she and her family are staying whilst the police are in a desperate race against time to find the churchman.

A South African Police source said: 'Meagan got the call on Friday afternoon a day after the kidnap so the gang obviously had her mobile number and told her they had Josh.

'She was distraught and a friend who was with her took the phone and was told unless the family or church came up with what is a very large ransom it would not end well.

'A time to raise the funds by was given and then the gang member hung up' he said.

The ransom demand on the Friday afternoon activated a specialist elite squad known as The Hawks who were called in and the Anti-Gang-Unit in a desperate bid to trace him.

The police source said: 'Mr Sullivan knows too much to be simply let go so the situation is that either the ransom is paid for his safe release or The Hawks find the gang first'.

A fellow pastor Mark Coffey who runs a Fellowship Baptist Church in the USA told the SA Sunday Times: 'There were six of them and three were armed and entered the church.

'It was while evening service was taking place and they went straight to his wife Meagan and grabbed her and one turned to the Pastor and said: 'Is this your wife Josh?'.

'Josh and Meagan's 4 children started crying and Josh tried to run to them but a man grabbed him and pistol-whipped him and dragged him to his own car parked outside'

The family were taken in by close friends after police raced to the scene and later found Mr Sullivan's Toyota Fortuner dumped a few miles away but the gang had fled.

The family lived in fear as the kidnapper's maintained no contact until the Friday call when the chilling threat was made to come up with the money or he would be killed.

The missionary said on his website he felt a calling from God in 2013 and in 2015 went to South Africa for a six-month internship at the church as part of his Bible training studies.

In 2018 he moved full time to Port Elizabeth, now known as Gqeberha, and spent two years learning the Xhosa language so he could add the local tongue into his sermons.

His wife and young family moved with him and they have also taken in two Xhosa children who live with them and has become a popular and loved community member.

He moved from Maryville, Tennessee to become a 'church planter' which is a Baptist missionary who focuses on establishing new churches and congregations in new areas.

His US friend pastor Coffey added: 'Josh's love for the Xhosa people is evident in everything he does. He doesn't just serve them he walks with them and learns from them'.

His mother Tonya Morton Rinket from Tennessee said on her Facebook page: 'My heart is breaking please continue to pray for my son, daughter-in-law and all of our family.

'Joshua is still missing but our congressman and the American Embassy are aware and working on find them and I know he is doing God's work and he will be kept safe'.

The US Embassy in South Africa has made no comment thus far.

Kidnappings in South Africa have increased by 260% in a decade with ransoms being seen as big and easy money with mainly wealthy businessman or prominent people taken.

In the year 2023/4 there were 17,061 kidnappings though many were by family members taking members of their own family not for ransom and young girls taken for trafficking.

South Africa is one of the most dangerous countries in the world with 76 murders a day and 125 rapes a day but mostly in poor townships and relate to turf wars and drug gangs.

Only 5 tourists have been killed in the last 8 years mainly due to walking alone close to townships or driving by mistake into township areas and being attacked and killed.
British officials are in talks with the French about a deal that would see one Channel migrant being deported in return for receiving one person from France.

Under the pilot scheme, the UK would look to accept migrants seeking to reunite with their families.

Transport minister Lilian Greenwood confirmed there were 'discussions ongoing with the French government' but did not say what a future deal could look like.

Record numbers of small boat migrants have crossed the Channel so far this year, with critics insisting Labour's 'smash the gangs' strategy will fail to stop the small boat arrivals unless there is a viable deterrent.

During the general election campaign, Sir Keir Starmer said he wanted to strike a returns agreement with the EU, but this has not materialised.

While the French would prefer a returns deal involving the whole EU, they are said to be willing to test a more limited agreement first.

Currently, asylum seekers are able to cross the Channel in a small boat to the UK in the knowledge that they are unlikely to ever be deported even if their asylum claim is rejected.

Of the 150,000 migrants who have crossed since 2018, three per cent have been deported to their home country.

A group of small boat migrants are brought into Dover after crossing the Channel yesterday

A total of 8,183 migrants have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel as of yesterday

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The new proposed one for one swap scheme is expected to involve only a small number of Channel migrants.

It will be based on a 'a one-for-one principle' with the aim of discouraging people smuggling gangs, the French interior ministry said.

'It is based on a one-for-one principle: for each legal admission under family reunification, there would be a corresponding readmission of undocumented migrants who managed to cross [the Channel]', a spokesman told the BBC.

Asked about the arrangement this morning, Lilian Greenwood told Sky News: 'We are absolutely focused on fixing the broken asylum system that we have inherited from the Conservative government.

'That's why we've got the (Border Security, Asylum and Immigration) Bill currently going through Parliament.

'We know that we're only going to be able to fix that... It's not a short-term issue, this is going to take really hard work to tackle those organised gangs that are preying on people, putting their lives in danger as they try to cross the Channel to the UK.

'Of course, that's going to involve conversations with our counterparts on the European continent.'

Pressed on the returns agreement, Ms Greenwood said: 'I can confirm that there are discussions ongoing with the French government about how we stop this appalling and dangerous trade in people that's happening across the English Channel.'

Critics insist Sir Keir Starmer's 'smash the gangs' strategy will fail to stop the influx unless there is a viable deterrent

She later said that 'where people don't have a right to be here, they need to be returned'.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said Labour's decision to drop the Rwanda agreement had removed a deterrent to illegal immigration.

'It's time that Labour got serious and stops making things easier for the gangs that are smuggling people across the Channel,' she said.

Speaking to GB News, Ms Greenwood claimed the previous Conservative government's plan to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda 'delivered absolutely nothing but just cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of pounds'.

Asked about there being 'no deterrent', she told the broadcaster: 'We've come in, we've taken swift action in setting up the Border Security Command.

'We know that there are organised criminal gangs exploiting people who are absolutely desperate, and we are committed to smashing those gangs.'

Reform UK MP Lee Anderson said: 'Instead of negotiating trade-style agreements concerning migrants, the focus should be on securing and closing our borders.

'Such a strategy would be more effective, less costly, and far simpler.'

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A total of 8,183 migrants have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel as of yesterday.

The total figure of crossings this year is already higher than the 7,567 people who crossed the Channel over January, February, March and April in 2024 - at the time, a record number for that period.

On Saturday, a record 656 migrants were picked up attempting to illegally enter the United Kingdom - the highest number to cross in a single day so far in 2025.

A Home Office spokesman said: 'The prime minister and home secretary have been clear the UK and France must work closely together to prevent dangerous small boat crossings, particularly on vital law enforcement cooperation.

'We have already secured agreement from the French to deploy a new elite unit of officers at the coast, launch a specialist intelligence unit, increase police numbers and introduce new powers for the French authorities to intervene in shallow waters.'

'We are intensifying our collaboration with France and other European countries who face the same challenges by exploring fresh and innovative measures to dismantle the business models of the criminal smuggling gangs.'

Last week, a fisherman claimed that French officials were handing out lifejackets to Channel migrants instead of intercepting and turning them back.

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Matt Coker, owner of Coker Seafishing in Dover, told Times Radio: 'They're giving them life jackets now because so many of them are not getting in the boats with life jackets.

'I suppose... they're trying to avoid another tragedy. Then they ask for the life jackets back off the British once they've picked them up.'

The claim was denied by the French, who said that supplying life jackets to migrants trying to reach Britain would be illegal.
One of the UK's wealthiest businessmen has revealed why he still flies with budget airline easyJet while serving a warning to his children over his 2.6billion fortune.

Phones 4u founder John Caudwell, 72, has opened up about his personal thriftiness despite his vast resources including three mansions - in London, Staffordshire and Monaco.

Mr Caudwell was placed in 109th place in last year's Sunday Times Rich List rankings of Britain's wealthiest people, up eight places on 2023.

But he still feels the instinct to fly as cheaply as possible when travelling overseas, he revealed today in an interview on ITV's Good Morning Britain.

And the Birmingham-born, Staffordshire-based entrepreneur also publicly cautioned his seven children, from three different relationships, on what to expect from his wealth when he dies.

Mr Caudwell was a past donor to the Conservative Party before switching his support to Sir Keir Starmer's Labour ahead of last July's general election.

Caudwell has previously told of how he still shaves his own head and beard with a pair of clippers, rarely spends more than 30 on a bottle of wine and would far rather cycle than take a taxi.

He does also own three homes, a yacht, a helicopter and a fleet of luxury cars.

British billionaire John Caudwell has revealed how he is a fan of budget airline easyJet

The Phones 4u founder has shared photos online of his journeys with the airline

He is pictured here with his partner Modesta Vzesniauskaite and their son William at the charity Butterfly Ball event in Leicester Square, central London, in July 2022

Mr Caudwell set up Midlands Mobile Sales in 1987, becoming Phones 4U in 1996, before selling the enterprise to two private equity firms in 2006, pocketing 1.46billion.

He was married to Kate McFarlane for 25 years before their divorce in 2001, having three children together.

He later had a daughter with violinist Jane Burgess and a son with former model Claire Johnson before their 15-year relationship ended in 2014.

His current partner is Lithuanian-born former Olympic cyclist Modesta Vzesniauskaite, who gave birth to their son William in March 2021 and daughter Isabella in March 2023.

Yet he has publicly revealed that 70 per cent of his wealth will be left to charity when he dies - urging his offspring to 'make their own money'.

He also described how easyJet airline staff are surprised to see him taking the budget option when flying.

Mr Caudwell prompted laughter from GMB presenters Richard Madeley and Charlotte Hawkins when he said: 'In some ways I live a very privileged and luxurious life - in other ways I'm quite frugal, as people on easyJet will tell you when they say, "I never thought I'd see you on easyJet".

'I'm there all the time  taking a 50 or 100 flight.

The businessman shared this picture alongside his partner Modesta Vzesniauskaite on an easyJet flight

John Caudwell provoked laughter from GMV hosts Richard Madeley and Charlotte Hawkins

John Caudwell, who grew up in Stoke-on-Trent, is pictured outside his Staffordshire home

'I'm a bit of a dichotomy, really, of wealth and frugalism  I'm a mixed bag but I've still got my feet very much on the ground and my big interest is helping make the world a better place in whatever way I can.'

In a separate interview with Sky News, he spoke more about where his inheritance will head - suggesting his children were accustomed to his intentions.

When asked how they felt about him leaving 70 per cent of his fortune to charity, Mr Caudwell said: 'Oh, theyre perfectly happy because I told them from an early age that it was all going to the cats home, that they were going to have to work for their living.

'Thats my philosophy, you know  all my children, I want them to be happy, successful, if that's what they want.

'Leave the world a better place, but make their own money and have their own satisfaction.'

When asked whether other billionaires were being 'selfish with their wealth', Caudwell replied: 'Well, a lot are, yes.'

Mr Caudwell has shared on social media in the past his favouring of easyJet, including how during lockdown in 2020 their planes felt 'a bit like a private jet, considering how few passengers there were as Covid hit Europe'.

He also posted on X, formerly Twitter, in October 2023: 'We like low-budget and usually fly @easyJet!'

John Caudwell and his daughter Libby are seen here at the Together for Short Lives Winter Ball in November 2019

John Caudwell was quizzed about his plans to leave 70 per cent of his wealth to charity on Sky News - and asked how his children felt about such intentions

Mr Caudwell was one of the biggest donors to the Tories ahead of the 2019 general election, when he gave 500,000 to Boris Johnson's campaign.

But he announced last June he would be voting Labour and encouraged others to do the same - declaring he was 'amazed by how Keir Starmer has transformed the Labour Party and brought it back from that Corbyn brink'.

He said he had supported the Conservatives for 51 years but had been 'despairing' about their performance for many years - however, he did add that he held reservations over Labour's plans to impose VAT on private school fees.

He said: 'I don't think putting VAT on school fees is the right thing to do. We will have more kids going into the state system.

'If too many kids leave the private school system not only have you got greater cost on the public sector. It almost seems like a negative action against a meritocracy.'

He said he was concerned that it could hit private schools in less wealthy areas, adding 'I'm not convinced that this is a positive policy.'

Mr Caudwell grew up in Stoke-on-Trent as the son of an engineering products salesman and a mother who worked in a post room to make ends meet.

Caudwell abandoned his A-levels to become an apprentice at Michelin, and worked for several years there as an engineering foreman while gaining a HNC in mechanical engineering.

John Caudwell's homes include a 250million mansion in Mayfair, central London, which featured in a 2020 Channel 4 documentary called Britain's Most Expensive Home

John Caudwell is pictured here with partner Modesta Vzesniauskaite and son William at the 21st Annual Caudwell Children Butterfly Ball at north London's Roundhouse in November 2021

While working at Michelin he also ran a corner shop and started a mail order business selling clothing to motorcyclists.

In 1987 Caudwell registered Midland Mobile Phones as a mobile phone wholesaler, initially taking 26 Motorola mobiles at 1,350 each.

It took eight months to sell these 26 phones to local plumbers, taxi drivers and television repairmen at a price of 2,500 each.

The company made a loss every month for the first two years of operations.

But then the business became the Caudwell Group, which included an independent mobile phone network service provider called Singlepoint and high street mobile shop Phones4U which he sold for 1.5billion in 2006.
A palliative care doctor in Germany has been charged with the murder of at least 15 people, with prosecutors fearing he may have killed even more patients under his care.

Berlin-based physician Johannes M. was first arrested in August last year on suspicion of killing four people.

But as investigations progressed, the number of suspected victims continued to rise - first to eight, then ten, and now to 15.

The 40-year-old doctor is said to have begun his killing spree in 2021 when he administered a lethal cocktail of drugs to a 25-year-old female patient.

He is believed to have repeated this practice as many as 15 times in the three years leading up to his arrest.

Though the suspected killer worked in a palliative care unit designed to alleviate the pain of severely ill and terminally ill patients, none of the suspected victims were 'in the acute phase of death' when the crimes were committed, the prosecutor's office told German media.

Prosecutors allege the physician administered an anaesthetic to his patients without their knowledge before injecting a lethal concoction of drugs, including a muscle relaxant, to end their lives.

He also stands accused of carrying out arson attacks on the properties of several of his suspected victims to destroy evidence.

Berlin's prosecutors have scheduled the case to go before the Berlin Regional Court, even as investigators continue to uncover the true extent of his crimes.

He has not admitted to the charges.

Image shows Johannes M., 40, undated photo. The doctor is believed to have killed at least 15 people

The Berlin-based doctor was first arrested in August last year on suspicion of killing four people via lethal injection

This image shows the entrance to the apartment of one of the doctor's suspected victims

Image shows one of the apartments that the doctor is alleged to have set on fire to cover his tracks

German police only became aware of the alleged killing spree during the summer of 2024, when the doctor allegedly began killing patients in their apartments.

They were alerted to the killings after the doctor reportedly set fire to the victims' properties to cover his tracks, according to Die Welt.

Videos and images obtained by German media showed firefighters tending to the scene of a fire at one suspected victim's flat.

Detectives were initially probing the cases as death by arson, but in the course of their investigations received tips from the nursing service to which the doctor was attached and decided to dig deeper.

As the nature of the doctor's alleged crimes became clearer, officials set up a specialist investigative team at the Berlin State Criminal Police Office to uncover the extent of his actions.

Several bodies of his patients were exhumed and examined by forensic pathologists, who quickly discovered many of them had died of unnatural causes.

The investigators will continue to delve into the doctor's patient records as the case is heard.

Prosecutors are seeking a lifelong professional ban for the 40-year-old suspect in addition to any punitive sentences connected with the alleged murders.

Initially, prosecutors cited the doctor's 'lust for murder' as the motivation for the crimes.

They later rescinded that claim as investigations revealed the doctor only appeared to have killed palliative care patients and is not yet suspected of murdering any other victims.
The UK is scrambling for a deal to stop Donald Trump imposing tariffs on medicine imports amid fears of thousands of job losses.

The US president has said he is drawing up levies on foreign drugs, suggesting they could be 25 per cent and take effect in the 'not too distant future'.

That has sparked alarm about Britain's life sciences industry, which directly and indirectly supports more than 200,000 workers.

Ministers have confirmed the issue is being prioritised in frantic negotiations for a wider Transatlantic trade deal.

The government hopes that could wipe out all tariffs - although Mr Trump's allies have played down the prospect of the UK being exempted from the 10 per cent 'baseline' charge, while 25 per cent is being levied globally on car and steel imports.

However, Keir Starmer is facing growing tension between his pursuit of closer ties with the US and his Brexit 'reset'.

Brussels has made clear that any concessions to Mr Trump in areas such as food standards could jeopardise an agreement.

Donald Trump has said he is drawing up levies on foreign drugs, suggesting they could be 25 per cent and take effect in the 'not too distant future'

Keir Starmer is facing growing tension between his pursuit of closer ties with the US and his Brexit 'reset'

Exports to the US account for around 20billion of AstraZeneca's revenue

There have been claims that the PM is moving towards aligning with the bloc's food and veterinary standards - as well as accepting the jurisdiction of the European courts - in order to do away with border checks.

The UK's ambassador in Washington, Lord Mandelson, regards pharma as a 'big deal' and is 'very focused' on getting an exemption, according the The Times.

Exports to the US account for around 20billion of AstraZeneca's revenue.

Mr Trump has backed off some of his toughest trade threats amid a meltdown on global stock markets, and fears of a sovereign debt crisis in the US.

US vice president JD Vance raised hopes of a trade deal in an interview with the UnHerd website yesterday.

'We're certainly working very hard with Keir Starmer's government,' he said. 'The president really loves the United Kingdom. He loved the Queen. He admires and loves the King...

'I think there's a good chance that, yes, we'll come to a great agreement that's in the best interest of both countries.'

The UK has a trade surplus with the US on pharmaceuticals, and Mr Trump has insisted he wants to move manufacturing to America - where prices are often far higher than Europe.

Transport minister Lilian Greenwood said negotiators were 'working night and day to secure a trade deal'.

'We want to have open trading relationships with the world. That's what's in the interests of our British industry. We want to be able to export to the US with the minimum level of tariffs possible,' she told Times Radio.

Brussels has made clear that any concessions to Mr Trump in areas such as food standards could jeopardise an agreement. Pictured, commission president Ursula von der Leyen

'Obviously, the minimum tariff possible would be zero tariffs altogether.'

Ms Greenwood said: 'We know how important the life sciences sector is in the UK...Pharmaceuticals, obviously, very important to us.

'And that's sure to be part of the discussions that we're having on a trade deal, as is the UK automotive sector.

'And we, as a UK government, are doing all we can to protect those British industries.'
JK Rowling's barrister friend is suing a vets' practice for 25,000 after she was banned as a client because of her 'rude' and 'unacceptable' behaviour.

Criminal defence lawyer Allison Bailey was 'expelled' from the client register of Palmerston Veterinary Group's practice in Walthamstow, east London, in January 2023 after complaints from staff.

One worker claimed 'she has never had to deal with such a rude client ever'.

But Ms Bailey denies being rude - and alleged the actual reason she was told not to return and to find another vet was due to her gender-critical activism.

She claims there was no justification for the vets 'deregistering' her - nor any basis for claims about her alleged overbearing conduct towards staff - and is now suing Linnaeus Veterinary Ltd, trading as Palmerston Veterinary Group, for compensation.

The high-profile barrister insists she had a good relationship with the practice throughout the 13 years they treated her two dogs, Poppy and Jonty, and had received a condolence card with flower seeds from them after Poppy had to be put down.

Her lawsuit is based on claims her 'protected characteristic' rights of being gender-critical have been breached by the ban, which she blames on a senior staff member opposing her beliefs.

However, the practice is fighting her claim and says the reason she was told not to come back was because her actions had triggered its 'zero tolerance policy' on behaviour towards staff.

JK Rowling's barrister friend Allison Bailey is suing the vets' practice who banned her over 'rude' and 'unacceptable' behaviour for 25,000 as she claims the real reason is over her gender critical beliefs

The criminal defence lawyer was 'expelled' from the client register of Palmerston Veterinary Group's practice in Wyatts Lane, Walthamstow, in January 2023 after complaints about her 'vile' behaviour

The high-profile barrister insists she had a good relationship with the practice throughout the 13 years they treated her two dogs, Poppy and Jonty, and had received a condolence card with flower seeds from them after Poppy had to be put down (Pictured: Ms Bailey and Poppy)

Ms Bailey was previously involved in a high-profile legal clash with her barristers' chambers and the gay rights group, Stonewall, over claims she was discriminated against due to her belief that being female is an 'immutable biological fact'.

During her campaign she won the support of Harry Potter author JK Rowling, who praised her as 'a heroine to me and innumerable other feminists'.

In court documents, Ms Bailey's barrister Jeffrey Jupp says she claims she was 'directly discriminated against' by her vets due to beliefs which are protected by the 2010 Equality Act.

She added that an internal memo which branded her 'absolutely vile' was probably prompted by disapproval of her beliefs, rather than concerns about her conduct towards staff.

Ms Bailey insists she was a long-standing client who had always treated staff with respect, praising the practice in 2020 for the support she received leading up to her Airedale Terrier, Poppy, being put down.

And just a month before her expulsion, she had sent the practice an emailed Christmas card featuring her other dog Jonty, said her barrister.

'She also praised the practice in 2020 for the support she received in relation to both the illness and subsequent euthanising of her late dog, Poppy, at the practice, sending it an email and a photograph of Poppy when she was a puppy, commenting that Poppy and her surviving dog Jonty were always happy to visit the practice because everyone was so kind,' he said.

'In response, the practice sent the claimant a condolence card and forget-me-nots to plant in memory of Poppy.'

Ms Bailey was previously involved in a high-profile legal clash with her barristers' chambers and the gay rights group, Stonewall, over claims she was discriminated against due to her belief that being female is an 'immutable biological fact'

During her campaign she won the support of Harry Potter author JK Rowling, who praised her as 'a heroine to me and innumerable other feminists'

But the relationship rapidly nosedived after she 'raised concerns by email about an interaction she had with a staff member on reception' in January 2023, said Mr Jupp.

'She sent a follow-up chasing email at 7.48pm as she had not had the courtesy of a response,' he said.

'By the end of the following day, she had still not received a reply.

'In an email at 6.31 on January 19, 2023, she raised the issue of this lack of response and, having complimented the service she had previously received, and in light of the lack of response, stated, "I've approached Goddard's with a view to transferring vets after over 11 years at Wyatt Lane".'

Mr Jupp said that subsequently, an internal email within the practice emerged, written the following day, which read: 'I don't know what happened in this particular time, but this woman is absolutely vile.

'She is one of the worst Walthamstow clients, she is very rude and treats everyone really badly at every interaction. Everyone at the practice is scared of her and avoids dealing with her whenever possible.'

Ms Bailey received a letter 'de-registering' her as a client on January 28, followed by a letter reading: 'A satisfactory professional relationship between a client and his/her veterinary surgeon must be founded on the basis of mutual trust and confidence.

'It is clear that there is no longer such a basis to our relationship. Professional services will no longer be provided for your animals and we ask you to seek the services of another veterinary practice.'

In court documents, Ms Bailey's barrister Jeffrey Jupp says she claims she was 'directly discriminated against' by her vets due to beliefs which are protected by the 2010 Equality Act

JK Rowling previously tweeted a picture of her 'inspirational' friend to mark Lesbian Visibility Week

Ms Bailey says she had visited the practice in relation to her two dogs around 120 times over the course of 13 years and 'estimates there were a handful of times, around half a dozen times, when issues emerged regarding aspects of the service which the claimant at the time felt were not up to the usual standard,' said her barrister.

'From time to time, she raised these issues, as any client is entitled to do so, and which were then resolved to her satisfaction.'

But lawyers for the Palmerston Practice say the decision to stop treating Ms Bailey's pets had nothing to do with her beliefs on gender, but was made after the barrister's actions triggered its 'zero tolerance policy' on behaviour towards staff.

Rebutting Ms Bailey's claims that her 13-year relationship with the practice was 'professional, friendly and largely unremarkable', defence barrister Gus Baker alleged: 'she repeatedly behaved in an unacceptable manner towards reception staff, which caused distress to those staff'.

Practice staff say that Ms Bailey was a 'difficult' client, highlighting an alleged key incident on January 19, 2023, when she went in to order worming and flea treatment for Jonty.

Mr Baker alleged Ms Bailey became 'very angry' when told the medication she wanted wasn't available, asking the practice receptionist 'what she was going to do about it'.

Records from Jonty's notes referred to Ms Bailey also allegedly stating, 'when I ask you to do something for me, I expect it to be done'.

On top of that, lawyers for the practice insist the volatile behaviour was 'not a one-off', citing previous conduct which led to one receptionist branding her 'very rude'.

'On August 19, there is a note of the claimant being very rude to reception staff.'

There had been also been occasions when she had been asked to 'manage her communication skills,' while a team member had remarked that, 'she has never had to deal with such a rude client ever', he added.

The case reached court for a pre-trial hearing last week and is due to return for trial at a later date.
An American pervert who flew to Wales to 'marry' a schoolgirl whom he met and groomed online has been jailed.

Jacob Ewing, 44, forced the young girl from the Gwent area of Wales to perform 'degrading' acts on herself and watch him masturbate online.

As the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was turning 16, the paedophile flew to Britain to be with her and even brought wedding rings.

The twisted US national was caught by police at Cardiff Airport, was arrested and was found to have several paedophilic images, including one of a baby being raped as well as knife and a wooden cosh.

Yesterday, he was jailed for seven years and eight months at Newport Crown Court. He previously pleaded guilty to the offences.

The court heard how the two met online using a video chat site which connects users randomly.

During this, he told the girl he was a 'paedophile hunter' and a Christian and convinced her to let him watch her fall asleep while they were on a live stream.

Jacob Ewing, 44, pictured, forced the young girl from the Gwent area of Wales to perform 'degrading' acts on herself and watch him masturbate online.

In the morning, he told her he had masturbated while she slept, and while she reported this to the police, she kept in contact with him and over the next months he began to control her life.

The girl's parents did not know who she was speaking t,o and she initially told them it was just someone local and her age.

Judge Hughes said: 'He began to control her, being alternately kind and then unpleasant to her, including saying she shouldn't sleep covered up at night, even when she was cold. At one point, she saw that the defendant had her initials tattooed on his chest.'

At one point, Ewing even showed her a firearm.

The judge said he 'directed her behaviour online' and made her watch him perform vile sex acts on himself more than 20 times, which led her to feel 'overwhelmed'.

Adding: 'The defendant said he would come to the UK as she was soon to be 16, so they could get married and have children.

The twisted US national was caught by police at Cardiff Airport, pictured, was arrested and was found to have several paedophilic images

'We know that he brought rings with him when he came to the airport.'

Police in the UK were alerted to Ewing by the US authorities, and the parents were then informed.

The judge explained: 'A sheath knife and a wooden cosh were found in the defendant's luggage on arrival at the airport - I really fear to what use the defendant might have put those weapons bearing in mind he was planning to meet a teenage girl he had groomed and controlled.'

The judge said the girl and her family have been 'devastated' by Ewing's actions.

He had insisted to probation officers that he had 'permission' from the girl's mother to act as he did.

Sentencing Ewing, the judge said: 'You have portrayed yourself as the victim and haven't taken responsibility for your actions.'

She added: 'It is very fortunate that you were stopped at the airport.'

Reading the victim's personal statement to the court, Ieuan Bennett, prosecuting, said: 'Even when I first started speaking to him, things were odd in the sense that he wanted me to sleep on webcam.

The twisted paedophile, from Hubert, North Carolina, pictured, travelled to Wales to 'marry' the victim

'Over the period we were speaking, this became a daily occurrence, which caused me significant stress.'

She said she began to struggle to sleep unless she was on the webcam and, once he realised that, 'he almost used it like a game'.

The victim said Ewing started controlling what she wore and even now she thinks about how he would respond.

'I struggle to cope with the stress that Jacob put me under. This resulted in a deterioration of my mental health,' she said.

'I regularly felt suicidal due to the way he was treating me.

'Jacob didn't care about this and encouraged me to kill myself on a number of occasions.

'This confused me - I couldn't understand why he would tell me he loved me and tell me to hurt myself.'

Yesterday, Ewing was jailed for seven years and eight months at Newport Crown Court. He previously pleaded guilty to the offences

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Superintendent Philip O'Connell, of Gwent Police, said: 'Ewing struck up a relationship with a 15-year-old girl online, grooming and exploiting her for over a year before travelling thousands of miles to meet her.

'Working closely with US authorities and UK Border Force, he was detained at Cardiff Airport before being arrested and interviewed by our officers.

'The collaboration between agencies meant Ewing was intercepted before he was able to cause any physical harm to the victim.

'However, his actions, driven by his sexual gratification and the fear he imposed on his victim, will have a profound impact.

'We'd like to commend the victim in this case, who's shown strength and great fortitude throughout the investigation and hope that today's sentence helps in processing and moving forward with her life.'

In total, Ewing of Wildcat Pound Road, Hubert, North Carolina, was sentenced for 13 offences, including causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

The court heard he may be deported during his sentence but that this is a matter for the Home Office.
A teenage boy has been charged after being accused of running an alleged hitman syndicate overseas that police allege he operated from his family home.

The 15-year-old foreign national was arrested at a western Sydney home on Wednesday morning.

Australian Federal Police officers executed a search warrant at the home and seized electronic devices, which will undergo forensic examination.

Police will allege the teen used an encrypted application to facilitate plans for overseas contract killings in Europe on behalf of a transnational criminal syndicate.

AFP were first alerted to the alleged activity by Danish Police earlier this month.

'Crime-as-a-service contract killings involve individuals or groups outsourcing criminal activities to third parties and using online platforms and social media to plan and execute the illegal acts,' a AFP statement read.

The 15-year-old boy was charged under both Australian and Danish law.

Under the Australian Criminal Code, he was charged with one count of using a device connected to a telecommunications network with intention to commit a serious offence, namely conspiracy to murder.

A teenager was arrested in western Sydney on Wednesday over an alleged hitman syndicate police allege he ran from his family home

The 15-year-old boy (pictured with police) was charged under both Australian and Danish law

Australian Federal Police officers seized electronic devices during a search warrant of the western Sydney home

Under the Danish Penal Code, he was charged with using a device connected to a telecommunications network with intention to commit a serious offence, namely murder.

Both charges carry a maximum sentence of life behind bars.

The boy appeared in Surry Hills Children's Court on Wednesday, where he was refused bail.

He is scheduled to reappear before the same court on June 11.

AFP Commander Brett James warned criminals using encrypted chat services that law enforcement will always be a step ahead.

'The AFP regularly works with foreign policing partners, such as the Danish Police, and the identification of these alleged international criminal links is a testament to the enduring partnership and collaboration between our agencies,' he said.

'If you think you can use geography to evade law enforcement, you're mistaken.

'The AFP and its partners are always watching, sharing intelligence and ready to apprehend those who wish to harm our communities.'

Australian and Danish police allege the teenage used encrypted messaging services to organise hits. Pictured are some of the electronic devices seized during the search warrant

The 15-year-old foreign national faced two charges, both of which carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment

The boy was refused bail when he appeared in Surry Hills Children's Court on Wednesday

Danish Police Deputy Chief Superintendent of the National Special Crime Unit, Lars Feldt-Rasmussen attributed the arrest to close and effective cooperation between Australian, Swedish and Danish police.

'While in Australia, the young man is suspected of having attempted to recruit people to commit contract killings in Denmark and Sweden as part of ongoing gang conflicts in the Nordic region,' he said.

'This case highlights our collaborative and effective international police cooperation and shows that we are united in our fight against cross-border crime.'
The Maldives has imposed a blanket ban on citizens from a major UK and US ally entering the country.

The Muslim-majority nation has barred Israelis from visiting to protest against 'ongoing acts of genocide' in Gaza and to show 'solidarity' with the Palestinian people.

President Mohamed Muizzu approved legislation that was passed by the country's parliament on Tuesday.

A statement from his office said: 'The ratification reflects the government's firm stance in response to the continuing atrocities and ongoing acts of genocide committed by Israel against the Palestinian people.'

'The Maldives reaffirms its resolute solidarity with the Palestinian cause,' the statement added.

It remains unclear whether the ban extends to dual nationals holding both Israeli and other passports.

Israel, which firmly rejects accusations of genocide, previously warned its citizens not to travel to the Maldives because of mounting anti-Israeli sentiment following the October 7 Hamas attacks and the war in Gaza.

Official data showed that only 59 Israeli tourists visited the luxury tourist archipelago in February, among 214,000 other foreign arrivals.

The Maldives has barred Israelis from entering the country to show 'solidarity' with Palestinian people and to protest against 'ongoing acts of genocide' in Gaza. The president of the Muslim-majority Indian Ocean nation approved legislation that was passed by the country's parliament on Tuesday

The office of Mohamed Muizzu (pictured) said: 'The ratification reflects the government's firm stance in response to the continuing atrocities and ongoing acts of genocide committed by Israel against the Palestinian people'

Gaza's health ministry said Sunday at least 1,574 Palestinians had been killed since March 18 when a ceasefire collapsed

Israel, which strongly rejects accusations of genocide, previously warned its citizens not to travel to the Maldives because of growing anti-Israeli sentiment following the Oct 7 Hamas attacks and the war in Gaza (stock image of a beach in the Maldives)

However, nearly 11,000 Israelis visited the luxury tourist hotspot last year, accounting for a tiny 0.6 percent of the Maldives' total tourist arrivals.

The ban will take immediate effect and apply to all of the country's 1,192 coral islets.

The Maldives, whose population of 530,000 is more than 98 per cent Muslim, previously lifted a ban on Israeli tourists in the 1990s and tried to resume normal relations in 2010, though diplomatic efforts stalled in 2012.

Opposition parties and government allies in the Maldives have been pressuring Mr Muizzu to ban Israelis as a statement of opposition to the Gaza war.

Israelis have had to be cautious when travelling to foreign countries since the Oct 7 attacks, as some pro-Palestinian groups have tried to identify Israeli service personnel while they were abroad with the aim of having them arrested on war crimes charges.

Last year Israel warned citizens against visiting the Maldives, citing increased anti-Israel sentiment during the war with Hamas.

The warning came 'due to the heightened anti-Israel atmosphere', including public comments by officials.

At the time, the Maldives government announced a cabinet decision to change laws to prevent Israeli passport holders from entering the country and establish a sub-committee to oversee the process.

The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza said on Sunday at least 1,574 Palestinians had been killed since March 18 when a ceasefire collapsed, taking the overall death toll since the war began to 50,944.

It comes as an Israeli air strike early Sunday heavily damaged one of the few functioning hospitals in the war-ravaged city, as the Israeli military said it targeted a Hamas 'command and control centre' operating from within the facility.

Since the outbreak of war, tens of thousands of Gazans have sought refuge in hospitals across the territory, many of which have suffered severe damage in ongoing hostilities.

The strike on Al-Ahli Hospital in northern Gaza - also known as the Baptist or Ahli Arab Hospital - caused no casualties, but came a day after Israeli forces seized a key corridor in the territory and signalled plans to expand their campaign.
It's rare to get the naked truth from politicians - but Connor Rouse could change all that.

The 28-year-old, who is standing in a Norfolk by-election next month, once appeared on Channel 4 dating show Naked Attraction.

The controversial programme has a contestant choose a partner from a group of brave people who expose parts of their naked bodies, with their faces hidden.

Mr Rouse took part in the series in 2023 but finished runner-up after a woman called Allanah picked another suitor.

In an exchange with Allanah, he said: 'You've got a great smile and, with all the language of love that I have, I'd like to make it wider.'

She returned the compliment by referring to his 'nice, manly voice'.

The very Liberal Democrat, who is contesting a by-election for a seat on North Norfolk District Council in his home town of Holt, has been maintaining professional composure while out on the stump in the upmarket seaside town with North Norfolk Lib Dem MP Steff Aquarone.

And he has refused to address the public undressing, sticking to local politics when questioned about it.

Connor Rouse bared all on Channel 4's controversial dating programme Naked Attraction

The programme first aired in 2016 and has attracted hundreds of complaints to Ofcom. Channel 4 announced the show was ending last month

Connor Rouse (right) with Lib Dem North Norfolk MP Steff Aquarone (left)

But there have been titters in the community about his naked ambition, with one online commentator dismissing him as 'the chap who got his twig and giggle berries out on the TV'.

Other locals have expressed astonishment, with resident Peter Bone saying: 'Could I take him seriously as a councillor? Well, it depends on where I was looking.'

Jack Horwood, 93, who has lived in Holt for 28 years, added: 'Anything seems to go these days. I don't agree with it, I am too old to do anything about it, and it is crazy.

'You can't take him seriously. Who on earth could take him seriously, standing naked on television for the whole world to see.'

Chris Branch, a resident of Halifax in West Yorkshire who was visiting the town, said: 'It is very bizarre but it is a sign of where things are going. It is like Andy Warhol's 15 minutes of fame.

'People who might say that Naked Attraction is a joke... well, politics is becoming more of a joke than ever now.'

Mr Rouse, a care home housekeeper, avoided discussing his appearance.

He said in a statement: 'Holt's my home town. It's a beautiful place to live, but that doesn't mean it can't be even better.

Naked ambition: Mr Rouse shed his clothes for the racy dating programme before throwing his hat into the ring for local politics

'As Holt's next councillor, I'll fight hard to ensure the new primary school gets built without delay.

'The county Conservatives have let us down badly by breaking their promise to build us a much-needed new, modern primary school.

'I'll also campaign for safety improvements along the dangerous A148, and work with Steff Aquarone MP to ensure first-class health services are within easy reach for local people.'

Fellow Lib Dems are backing Mr Rouse, with Mr Aquarone saying: 'I've known Connor a while and I know he'd make an excellent councillor for Holt. He has my full backing.

'Only Connor will push to get the new primary school built after years of Tory delay and excuses.

'Only Connor will secure safety improvements along the A148 after years of inaction by the Tories at County Hall.

'Only Connor will stand up for Holt and make it an even better place to live.'

North Norfolk District Council Lib Dem leader Tim Adams added: 'Connor can speak for himself but from what I know he is a man who has set himself a lot of different challenges in his life and this [by-election] could be another one of those which he has taken on.'

Mr Rouse, 28, appeared on the programme in 2023. He made it to the last two but ended up runner-up

Martin Batey, who is already a Lib Dem councillor for Holt, defended Mr Rouse when the 'giggle berries' comment emerged online, responding: 'What's the problem with that? It's all down to personal choice. He did nothing wrong.

'It takes a lot of guts to do something like that, if you ask me. It shows he is not afraid to show who he is as a person.'

Last month, it emerged Channel 4 was shelving Naked Attraction after nine years. the programme, hosted by Anna Richardson, had triggered hundreds of complaints to Ofcom.

The by-election, which will take place on May 1, was triggered by the resignation of Conservative councillor Eric Vardy.

The council is controlled by the Lib Dems, who have 25 of the 40 councillors. There are 13 Conservatives and two independents at present.
Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton will go head-to-head for the second time in tonight's ABC leaders' debate.

It marks the halfway point in the campaign and will be a must-win clash for the Opposition Leader who trails the Prime Minister in the polls.

The debate, which will be moderated by Insiders host David Speers and held at the ABC's new Parramatta studios, will air on the national broadcaster's main channel at 8pm (AEST).

Follow Daily Mail Australia's live coverage below.
Donald Trump has reportedly scaled back his demand that Ukraine repay $300 billion in exchange for US war aid, as negotiations over a controversial minerals deal make progress.

Trump insisted in the early days of his administration that his opposite number in Kyiv, Volodymyr Zelensky, must compensate the US for all the aid provided to Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression.

In February, he dispatched US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to Kyiv to propose a highly exploitative resources-for-aid deal that would hand vast Ukrainian oil, gas, and mineral reserves to Washington.

The plan drew sharp criticism from Kyiv and European allies, who noted that the sum of US aid packages to that date amounted to $175 billion - around $70 billion of which was spent domestically on US weapons manufacturing.

Zelensky swiftly rejected the proposal, declaring he would not 'sell his country' and challenging claims Ukraine had received so much aid, which he also stressed was not a loan.

Tensions peaked days later in a now infamous Oval Office clash in which Zelensky's visit to the White House devolved into a bitter spat between him, Trump and US Vice President JD Vance.

Now, however, both sides are citing positive progress in negotiations toward a new version of the mineral deal, as Bloomberg reported Trump had lowered his demand for repayment to $100 billion.

Zelensky said further talks were planned in the coming days, while US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Bloomberg the deal could be signed 'as early as this week'.

Donald Trump has reportedly softened his demand that Ukraine must hand over $300 billion in return for war aid provided by the United States as the two parties continue to negotiate a beleaguered minerals deal

Zelensky issued a statement in February in which he refused to 'sell his country' and challenged Trump's claims that Ukraine had received so much aid

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) talks with US President Donald Trump (C) and US Vice President JD Vance (R) in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 28 February 2025

Russia staged a double Iskander-M missile strike on Ukraine on Sunday, killing at least 34 people and leaving more than a hundred injured

Suggestions that talks on the minerals deal were progressing mark a notable change in tone after sources last week said negotiations were 'antagonistic'.

Ukrainian and American delegates met on Friday, but a source with knowledge of the negotiations told AP that there was 'scant' chance any breakthrough would be made.

The strains in the talks stemmed from the Trump administration's latest draft proposal of the minerals deal, which is more expansive than the original version, the source said.

'The negotiating environment is very antagonistic' due to the 'maximalist' draft submitted by the Trump administration, the source said.

The latest draft would give the US privileged access to Ukraine's mineral deposits and require Kyiv to place all the income from the exploitation of natural resources by Ukrainian state and private firms in a joint investment fund.

But the text presented last month does not include any mention of concrete security guarantees to prevent further Russian aggression, something Zelensky has said is of paramount importance.

Zelensky last week said his negotiators were continuing to work with their American counterparts to hash out a deal but added any agreement must be profitable for both countries and should be structured in a way that would help modernise Ukraine.

It is hoped the talks will progress ahead of a flurry of International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings scheduled for next week, including a Ukraine-focused ministers' meeting on April 25.

Top Ukrainian officials including Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko are expected to visit Washington to participate in the talks.

Negotiations on the prospective mineral deal between Washington and Kyiv run concurrently with ongoing efforts to secure a temporary ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.

Russia on Sunday unleashed a pair of devastating missile strikes on the Ukrainian city of Sumy which left 34 people dead, including two children, and injured 117.

Moscow claimed its missiles had struck a meeting of Ukrainian army commanders.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomes US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to Kyiv, Ukraine, on Wednesday, February 13, 2025

Strains in ongoing talks over a mineral deal stemmed from the Trump administration's latest draft proposal, which is more expansive than the original version, a source said

Bodies of people killed in a Russian ballistic missile strike lie covered with emergency blankets at the strike site on April 13, 2025 in Sumy, Ukraine

A man cries as he leans on the bus that was hit by a Russian missile on Sumy, Ukraine

When asked for comment by a reporter aboard Air Force One, Trump said of the strike: 'I think it was terrible. And I was told (Russia) made a mistake. But I think it's a horrible thing. I think the whole war is a horrible thing.'

Asked to clarify what he meant by a 'mistake,' Trump said that 'they made a mistake... you're gonna ask them' - without specifying who or what he meant.

Zelensky meanwhile lambasted Moscow for the strike and went on to invite Trump to pay a visit to Ukraine to personally see the destruction wrought by Russia's war.

'Only completely deranged scum can do something like this,' Zelensky said.

'Please, before any kind of decisions, any kind of forms of negotiations, come to see people, civilians, warriors, hospitals, churches, children destroyed or dead,' he said in a message to Trump published by CBS.

Following the broadcast, Trump hit back against CBS on his Truth Social platform, saying the war in Ukraine 'would never have happened if the 2020 Election had not been RIGGED, in other words, if I were President.'

The strike on Sumy this weekend came two days after US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff travelled to Russia to meet Vladimir Putin and push Trump's efforts to end the war.

Trump earlier said the visit showed that the efforts to secure a ceasefire 'might be going OK - and you're going to be finding out pretty soon'.

But Poland's foreign minister declared earlier this week that Putin is 'mocking' Donald Trump's goodwill by continuing to attack Ukraine.

'Ukraine unconditionally agreed to a ceasefire over a month ago,' Radoslaw Sikorski told a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg.

'The heinous attacks on Kryvyi Rih and on Sumy are Russia's mocking answer. I hope that President Trump and the US administration see that the leader of Russia is mocking their goodwill and I hope the right decisions are taken.'
They thought they could pull off what would have been the biggest diamond heist in history - snatching gems worth an eye-watering 350m from the Millennium Dome.

But much like the dome itself, the dramatic raid to steal the stunning De Beers diamond collection ended in ignominious failure.

Months of planning and meticulous preparation went into the audacious heist. It would see a JCB smashing into the dome and a speedboat used to escape.

However, the would be robbers behind the daring raid were thwarted by an informer who tipped off police - with some 300 officers lying in wait for the gang to strike.

In the end, the diamonds remained safely under lock and key - with the crooks behind the heist also finding themselves securely caged away in prison.

The story behind the Millennium Dome raid, how it was carried out and ultimately foiled, has now been revealed in a new Netflix show, 'The Diamond Heist'.

Produced by legendary crime film director Guy Ritchie, the three-part docu-drama is the latest true crime smash to hit the streaming giant.

It features first-hand accounts from former gang member Lee Wenham and the Met's ex-Flying Squad task for catching them.

Pictured is one of the planners behind the heist, Lee Wenham, who was jailed for nine years for his part in the raid. Wenham is pictured on Netflix's The Diamond Heist

Raiders used a JCB to smash their way into the Millennium Dome as part of the audacious raid

Crooks believed they were just inches away from a mega pay day, smashing through a heavily armoured display containing diamonds using a nail gun and then a hammer

Among the gemstones was the Millennium Star, worth millions of pounds. It had been replaced by a fake after police caught wind of the raid

Armed with ammonia and smoke grenades, the gang bulldozed their way into the Greenwich attraction in November 2000.

They intended to seize the fabulous Millennium Star - which was owned by specialists De Beers - along with 11 other blue diamonds rated among the finest in the world, before escaping by speedboat, James Bond-style.

Unfortunately for them, however, their every move had been anticipated thanks to a meticulous and detailed police sting.

The gems had been replaced with fakes. And as the gang smashed their way into the display cases, an army of cops - some armed - were waiting to swoop, with surveillance cameras capturing every stage of the drama.

As one member of the gang ruefully put it at the time: 'We would have got away with it but for the fact there were 140 police waiting for us.'

The Millennium Dome - which is now known at the London O2 - was opened to huge fanfare in 2000, with VIPs including the late Queen Elizabeth and former Prime Minister Tonty Blair, among those at its launch.

But the attraction was met with a lacklustre reception from the British public, with only half the number of visitors expected to attend actually doing so.

Inside its remarkable curved roof, the dome featured some of the rarest gemstones in the world - including the De Beers Millennium Jewels exhibit, which showcased priceless blue diamonds and the 203.04 carat Millennium Star diamond.

Pictured is the Millennium Dome where the audacious raid was staged in November 2000

Mugshot of Dome gang member (top left), Lee Wenham (top right), Terence Millman (bottom left) Ray Betson (bottom right) William Cockram

A JCB was used as a battering ram to smash through the dome's defences

Pictured is one of the gang members as they tried to smash their way through the container holding the diamond

This was the damage done to the container which was used to keep the diamonds safe

And it was this glittering array of gems, which would be worth some 700m in today's money, that caught the eye of the criminal underworld.

By the summer of 2000, south-east London gangsters were already plotting an assault of the dome to snatch the gems.

Gathering experts from the criminal underworld, crooks spent months studying the building's layout and day-to-day routine of workers, before then seeking to get a JCB and speedboat for the raid.

Much of the planning took place on the grounds of a rural farm, near Maidstone in Kent, with the gang believed to be stealing to order for the Russian mafia.

Despite the farcical outcome of the heist, there was nothing comical about the gang's background. Detectives described them as 'extremely ruthless'.

The mastermind, Raymond 'Black Ray' Betson, of Chatham, Kent and his righthand man William Cockram, from Catford, south-east London, were jailed for 18 years each for conspiracy to rob.

Regarded by police as 'career robbers', they were behind a series of other raids in London and the south east.

Robert Adams and Aldo Ciarrocchi, of south-east London, got 15 years each. Adams, a cocaine smuggler who tried to murder his first wife, belonged to Britain's most notorious crime dynasty - the Adams Family of North London, who amassed a multi-million-pound fortune through drugs.

Raymond Betson was the mastermind behind the Millennium Dome heist in 2000

Pictured is the scene after police caught the gang following months of surveillance

Pictured is Lee Wenham after the raid (left) and Wenham in the Netflix documentary (right)

Items, including a gas mask and a nail gun, recovered by police in the aftermath of the abortive raid on the Millennium Dome in November 2000

Lee Wenham, who was part of the gang and was close with Betson, was jailed for nine years for helping to plan the robbery. He proposed using a JCB to breach the dome and even cased the site during a visit to it with his young daughter.

Ciarrocchi, who stayed outside the Dome vault throwing smoke bombs to shield the other raiders, planned to use the 50,000 he was promised for the raid to start a new life in America with his middle-class fiancee, who a US model that had no idea he was a criminal.

A fifth man, speedboat driver Kevin Meredith, from Brighton, who was cleared of conspiracy to rob but convicted of conspiracy to steal, was jailed for five years.

Behind the cheeky Cockney image presented during their trial, was a gang ruthlessly determined to succeed.

After investing tens of thousands planning the heist they stored the equipment they needed at a disused commercial yard in Plumstead, south-east London, and two remote Kent farms near Maidstone.

A JCB was chosen as a battering ram - the gang guessing a digger would not attract unwelcome attention near the dome because of constant building work going on nearby.

As they continued their build-up - using 'pay-as-you-go' mobile phones to arrange meetings - they even posed as tourists with their families to film the object of their desires in the Money Zone.

Ammonia gas was purchased to knock out any potential 'have-a-go heroes', and smoke bombs bought to cause chaos.

They were certainly not short of confidence.

Gang member Terry Millman - who died of cancer while awaiting trial - used the name 'T. Diamond' when he handed over 3,700 in cash to buy the getaway speed-boat at a yard in the seaside town of Whitstable, Kent. In the weeks before the raid two aborted attempts were made to steal the diamonds.

John Swinfield, a detective chief inspector in the Met's Flying Squad which busted the gang

This was the stunning diamond that was among those crooks wanted to steal

On October 6, 2000 the plan was called off after the speedboat developed engine problems.

A month later on November 6, the second raid was cut short when the Thames tide meant a getaway would be impossible.

But the following day they put their plan into action shortly after 9am.

Once inside the dome the gang faced what should have been their most difficult problem in overcoming the 'impregnable' diamond display cases.

Built to resist the force of a 60-ton ram raid, the explosive-resistant glass was also designed to foil any 'known tool' for at least 30 minutes. Cockram, however, had the answer. The idea was to weaken the glass with three shots from a powerful Hilti nailgun. Robert Adams would then use a sledgehammer to break the 'warmed' glass.

As Adams smashed his way through, the plan appeared to be working to perfection. The world's most fabulous collection of diamonds was within arm's reach in just 27 seconds.

'I was 12 inches from pay day,' Adams later said. 'It would have been a blinding Christmas.'

Within three minutes the gang should have been ferried by the 55mph speedboat across the Thames to a rendezvous with Russian gangsters at the Mayflower pub in Rotherhithe. But the police had other ideas.

Gangsters Bill Cockram (left) and Ray Betson at a celebration for Millennium night 1999 in New York ahead of the heist at the dome

After stealing a diamond worth 350m, thieves hoped to whizz off down the Thames in a boat

The policeman who oversaw 'Operation Magician', Detective Chief Superintendent John Shatford, traces the story of the dome raiders back to another audacious robbery attempt three years ago.

In February 1999 armed men tried to pull off a 10million raid on a security van in Nine Elms, South London.

Gunmen had stopped a cashladen lorry by blocking off both ends of Nine Elms Lane. The plan was to use a lorry carrying Christmas trees nearby as a battering ram.

In fact, the foliage camouflaged a huge metal spike welded into the chassis with which the thieves planned to split open the security van's rear doors.

However, an irate motorist who was late for work removed the ignition keys from the unattended Christmas tree van. At a stroke, the robbers' plan had been left in tatters and they fled emptyhanded, making their escape in an inflatable speedboat.

'What that day did was inform me that there was a gang with a sufficient organisation and capability to carry off a robbery of an intense magnitude,' said Mr Shatford.

Fifteen months later a gang tried to pull off another multimillion-pound robbery using similar techniques.

Details of this unsuccessful attack, which cannot be revealed for legal reasons, gave detectives a vital breakthrough.

Police tracked some of the vehicles used in this raid to two isolated farms in rural Kent and the properties were immediately put under 24-hour surveillance.

Police followed the gang on CCTV as they made their way towards the dome in a van

By now officers had also received a tip-off about the Dome raid from an informer, whose identity remains a closely guarded secret but is thought to be an associate of Brink's-Mat robber and M25 road rage killer Kenneth Noye.

Two months before the raid, Betson and Cockram were caught on film visiting the Dome posing as tourists. Their intention suddenly became clear.

At a meeting of detectives hunting the Nine Elms robbers, a detective inspector who had recently visited the Dome quipped: 'Maybe they are after the Millennium jewels?'

'Christ, that's it' cried another. The penny had finally dropped and the police counter-attack was put into action. More than 100 officers from the Flying Squad were placed on constant standby, backed up by armed officers. But Mr Shatford admits: 'What I did not know - and I never knew until it happened - was how they were going to do it.'

The four men found guilty of the robbery charge had admitted the lesser charge of conspiring to steal, which carried a maximum sentence of seven years.

Meredith denied conspiracy to rob and conspiracy to steal.

The jury of seven women and five men reached majority verdicts after almost seven days of deliberation. Betson and Cockram showed no emotion as they were led off to start their 18-year sentences.

Judge Coombe told them: 'It was a wicked and highly professional crime. It was a very well-planned and pre-meditated attempt to rob the diamonds' owners, De Beers, of what would have been the most gigantic sum in history.'
Police have launched an urgent manhunt to track down a stranger accused of sexually assaulted an elderly woman in her own home.

NSW Police were told the 83-year-old woman was walking home from the shops when she was approached by an unknown man near Charles Mance Reserve in Merrylands in western Sydney about 12.30pm on Tuesday.

The man is believed to have offered assistance in wheeling her shopping trolley home.

He then allegedly forced entry inside the woman's home and sexually assaulted her, police said.

The man allegedly cleaned the scene afterwards and stole her keys before leaving.

The alarm was raised five hours later after the woman told a neighbour about the incident.

The woman was taken to hospital for assessment.

Police established a crime scene at the home, where police believe the man left behind DNA evidence.

NSW Police have released images of man they believe can assist with their inquiries into an alleged sexual assault

The woman (pictured) was on her way home from the shops when she was approached by a stranger who offered to help her with her trolley

Detectives have released images of a man wheeling a shopping trolley who they believe can assist with their inquiries.

News of the incident has horrified locals.

'I felt so sick on the stomach,' one told Nine News.

Another said the act would be 'disgusting' even if she were younger, but 'especially if she's in her 80s, it's even worse'.

The incident has been referred to the State Crime Command's Sex Crimes Squad under Strike Force Bena.

Detectives believe it was an isolated incident and are confident somebody will come forward and identify the man.

'The man has approached her, he has gained her trust,' Detective Acting Superintendent Rachel Fawcett said.

'Then he has broken that trust by breaking into her home and assaulting her.

Police are hopeful of tracking down the man they'd like to speak to

'It is particularly appalling when the most vulnerable members of our community are preyed upon and in a place that should feel safe.'

She added police are doing 'everything they can' to get him off the streets.

The man who police believe can assist with their inquiries is described as having a fair complexion, dark hair and a slight beard.

He was wearing a black shirt with white panels, dark blue pants, and white shoes.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
The country's biggest education union is facing a furious backlash after condemning Reform UK as 'racist and Far Right'.

Delegates at the NEU's annual conference demanded its political funds be used to oppose Nigel Farage's candidates.

A motion passed by the gathering yesterday lashed out at Reform's 'policies around immigration and its campaigns against migrants'.

It suggested the party 'builds on the despair, poverty and alienation in our society by scapegoating refugees, asylum seekers, Muslims, Jews and others who do not fit their beliefs'.

Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the NEU, described Mr Farage as a 'pound shop Trump' who had made a career out of 'dog whistle politics'.

However, the Reform leader lashed back that the union was trying to 'indoctrinate' schoolchildren and 'poison' them against Britain.

Polls have been showing Mr Farage's insurgents effectively neck and neck with Labour and the Tories, raising the prospect that he could be installed in Downing Street at the next election.

Survation research published yesterday suggested a Reform surge in traditional Labour strongholds across the North and Midlands - from 18 per cent at the general election to 30 per cent.

Meanwhile, Keir Starmer has seen his party slide from 39 per cent to 27 per cent, with his own popularity nosediving.

Delegates at the NEU's annual conference demanded its political funds be used to oppose Nigel Farage's (pictured) candidates

Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the NEU (pictured at the conference yesterday), described Mr Farage as a 'pound shop Trump' who had made a career out of 'dog whistle politics'

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Speaking to the media at the union's annual conference in Harrogate in North Yorkshire, Mr Kebede said: 'I think there's an awful lot of racists who are getting involved in Reform.

'I think Nigel Farage is a right-wing populist.'

In another jibe at the Reform leader, Mr Kebede added: 'I'm surprised that our union seems to be living rent free in his head, to be honest.

'But this is just lifted directly from the Donald Trump playbook.

'Both Elon Musk and Donald Trump have been directly attacking the AFT and the NEA, the American teachers' unions, and this is what Nigel Farage is.

'He's a pound shop Donald Trump.'

Asked about the NEU's stance on a visit to County Durham yesterday afternoon, Mr Farage accused Mr Kebede of being a 'self-declared Marxist' who was determined to 'poison' children against Britain.

Mr Farage said: 'He is encouraging literally indoctrination of teenagers in our schools by telling kids that Reform is a racist party.'

He added: 'If we win the 2029 General Election we will go to war with the National Education Union and all the left-wing teaching unions'.

A motion passed at the NEU's conference suggested that some young people are being drawn towards racist beliefs and far-right activity, and it called on the union 'to educate and challenge them'.

It added that the growth of Reform UK's membership had led to 'an influx of racist and fascist views'.

During the debate on the motion on opposing the far right, delegate Kathryn Norouzi, from Nottingham, suggested that Reform UK's statements were 'designed to incite fear and division'.

She said: 'As a union we must have the courage and clarity to oppose them.

'And we must be willing to use our political fund  the very fund created specifically to persuade people not to vote for political parties and their candidates who promote racist, fascist or similar views  to do just that.'

Speaking about Reform UK, Ms Norouzi added: 'We must call this party out for what it is, a racist party, and we must campaign against them.'

Delegate Simon Clarkson, from Leicester, who spoke against the motion, said he suspected that Mr Farage would be 'delighted' with the debate as it would give him 'more weapons' to use against the NEU.

He said: 'We have the tools to fight Reform without having to use our political fund.'

A motion passed by the gathering yesterday lashed out at Reform's 'policies around immigration and its campaigns against migrants'

Reform MP Lee Anderson said: 'The National Education Union has shown its true colours.

'Rather than focusing on educating Britain's youth, it seems more interested in political indoctrination, silencing free speech, and spreading divisive rhetoric.

'The union has abandoned its legal duty of political neutrality, choosing instead to openly endorse partisan positions  completely undermining its credibility.

'This isn't just morally wrong; it's unlawful.

'I have deep sympathy for the children of this country, who deserve an education that encourages critical thinking  not one shaped by teachers who appear to hold our nation and its history in contempt.

'We will take on the NEU  not out of desire, but out of necessity. Our children deserve better, and this is yet another sign that our education system is in desperate need of reform.'
A beloved craft brewery has entered voluntary administration following the collapse of its financial backer.

Tasmania's Fox Friday Craft Brewery announced on Wednesday with 'heavy hearts' that McGrathNicol had been appointed as the administrator.

The company started as a nano-brewery in the Hobart suburb of Moonah six years ago but has since grown to open venues across the city as well as Melbourne and Perth.

The brewery will continue to operate for now.

'It's with heavy hearts that we share some tough news. Sarah and I have made the difficult decision to place Fox Friday and subsidiaries into voluntary administration,' owner Benn Hooper wrote online.

'When we purchased Fox Friday in March 2019, it was just the two of us in a small factory unit located in Moonah, brewing beer during the week and running a makeshift taproom on the weekends.

'In late 2020, we opened our Hobart Taproom, and from there, our team grew. We added new venues and breweries, and welcomed incredibly dedicated people to the Fox Friday family.'

Mr Hooper added he and his team were 'immensely proud of' the company they'd created.

Tasmania's Fox Friday Craft Brewery will remain open, despite entering voluntary administration (stock image)

Fox Friday started as a nano-brewery in Moonah, Hobart, six years ago but has since grown to open venues across the city as well as Melbourne and Perth

'Unfortunately, we've faced significant financial challenges that have brought us to this point,' he wrote.

'Our financial lender could not meet their obligations for our capital projects.'

Fox Friday's financial backer, Falcon Capital, is currently under investigation by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, The Australian reported.

It had provided the brewer a $10million loan facility, which was later upped to $30million.

'While funding was confirmed, we experienced continual delays extending to March 2025, and now they have been placed into liquidation,' Mr Hooper continued.

'This left us covering major capital projects with operational funds, based on assurances that support was still coming.'

Mr Hooper also issued an apology to Fox Friday's suppliers, writing the company 'deeply regret any uncertainty' news of the administration brings.

'We tried everything we could to quickly pivot to new lenders and/or equity partners, but quite simply, time and the complex nature of the situation were not on our side,' he wrote.

Fox Friday said it was 'committed to keeping it business as usual' but warned changes to its operating days and hours could be on the way

'To our incredible team: words can't express how sorry we are. You've poured your hearts into these businesses, and we're so grateful for your talent, passion, and dedication.

'To our customers and community: thank you for believing in us, for sharing a beer with us, and for being part of this journey.'

The owners said they were 'committed to keeping it business as usual' at the brewery but warned changes to trading hours could be on the way.

'While we understand that there will be some uncertainty as a result of this decision, we very much intend to come through the other side of this and we hope that Fox Friday and its subsidiaries will continue to operate well into the future,' they wrote.

The latest news comes days after cost of living challenges and increased costs claimed a beloved bar and brewery.

The craft brewery entered voluntary administration following the collapse of its financial backer

Molly Rose Brewing's owners announced earlier this month that the award-winning Collingwood venue in inner-city Melbourne had entered liquidation.

Its doors will remain closed while liquidator DBA Reconstruction & Advisory decides how to carve the business up among its creditors.

Industry advocates expect the bloodshed to continue as high operating costs and upward price pressures force out hospitality operators
Drug gangs in France have carried coordinated machine-gun and arson attacks on seven prisons in response to the country's harsh new crackdown on the trafficking of illegal substances.

Prisons in Toulon, Aix-En-Provence, Marseille, Valence and Nimes in southern France, and in Villepinte and Nanterre, near Paris, have been attacked since Sunday.

Police vehicle were set alight at several locations, while at La Farlede prison gunmen opened fired on the prison gate with a Kalashnikov rifle.

Bullet holes would be seen at the prison's entrance, while shattered glass was seen still in their frames.

French police unions called for increased protection for prison staff.

The country's anti-terrorism prosecutor's office has launched an investigation into these attacks to see exactly who was responsible.

France's justice Minister Gerald Darmanin said that 'significant means' would be deployed to investigate the spate of attacks, and that the perpetrators would be given 'extremely severe sentences.'

'I am delighted that the national anti-terrorism prosecutor's office has taken action because this is extremely serious. These are terrorist attacks', he added

Drug gangs in France have carried coordinated machine-gun and arson attacks on seven prisons

Police vehicle were set alight at several locations

At La Farlede prison (pictured), gunmen opened fired on the prison gate with a Kalashnikov rifle

'Clearly people are trying to destabilise the state by intimidating it,' he told the CNews/Europe 1 broadcaster on Wednesday morning.

'They are doing it because we are taking measures against the permissiveness that existed until now in jails,' he said.

While no group has yet claimed responsibility, anarchist symbols were seen at some sites while the letters 'DDPF', meaning 'French prisoners' rights', were seen at others.

Darmanin and Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau have in recent months vowed to intensify the fight against narcotics and drug-related crime.

Darmanin said he was seeking to crack down on 'drug networks that continue to operate from prison cells.

'They order killings, launder money. They threaten police officers, judges, prison guards, and they escape,' he said.

The justice minister has so far proposed several measures to tighten prison security, including setting up dedicated high-security jails for drug lords to isolate them from their gangs.

A prison administration officer shows bullet impacts and letters 'DDFM' spray-painted on a door of the Toulon-La Farlede prison ahead of a visit of the French Minister of Justice in La Farlede, near Toulon, southern France on April 15, 2025

Bullet impacts on a wall of the Toulon-La Farlede prison in La Farlede, near Toulon, southern France

Shots were fired at prisons across France

This photograph taken on April 15, 2025 shows the surrounding wall of the Toulon-La Farlede prison in La Farlede, near Toulon, southern France

France's parliament is currently passing a law that would great a special prosecutor's office to deal with drugs crimes, which would be equipped with new investigative powers.

In February, France a record number of cocaine seizures in the first 11 months of 2024 - 53.5 tonnes, a rise of 130% on the 23.2 tonnes seized in 2023.

The plan comes after assailants last year attacked a prison van carrying suspected drugs baron Mohamed Amra at a highway tollbooth, freeing him and killing two prison guards.

He has since been re-arrested in Romania and extradited back to France.
China will no longer build a nuclear power station in Essex amid fresh scrutiny over Beijing's involvement in critical UK infrastructure, it has emerged.

The state-run China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN) had been looking to develop the proposed Bradwell B site in conjunction with French-owned EDF.

It was due to be located close to a decommissioned nuclear power station in Bradwell-on-Sea and provide electricity for around four million homes.

But Government and industry sources told The Times that they no longer expected planning applications to be submitted by CGN for the site.

EDF, the owners of the Bradwell site, will now look to take back the lease from CGN at the earliest opportunity, the newspaper reported.

It comes after the Government's public row with the Chinese owners of British Steel sparked new concerns about China's involvement in key British industries.

Ministers were forced to seize control of British Steel's plant at Scunthorpe from Jingye in a bid to keep the crucial blast furnaces going.

Fears have previously been raised about CGN - who hold a majority stake in the Bradwell B project - having a role in Britain's nuclear sites.

The state-run China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN) had been looking to develop the proposed Bradwell B site in conjunction with French-owned EDF

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds pictured during a visit to the British Steel site in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire

In 2022, the previous Tory government paid around 100million to CGN to exit the Sizewell C nuclear project in Suffolk.

The next year, CGN halted its funding for Hinkley Point C in Somerset, although it continues to hold a minority stake in the project.

CGN has been sanctioned by the US and, in 2016, the US Department of Justice charged the state-owned company with stealing nuclear secrets.

Following the row over British Steel, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds yesterday said he would 'look at a Chinese firm in a different way' when it comes to future involvement in the UK steel sector.

'In this case, our difference of opinion on the future was with a specific company,' he added.

'I know there's a lot of interest in the wider UK-China relationship, understandably so but this was about this company.

'I think we've got to recognise that steel is a sensitive sector.'

This appeared to be a softening of Mr Reynolds' stance from the weekend, when he told broadcasters he would not 'personally bring a Chinese company into our steel sector' again.

Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith has called on the Government to define which industries are 'strategic' and prevent China from being allowed to invest in such sectors.

'Personally I think the whole Net Zero project is an energy project, therefore is strategic including therefore the nuclear industries,' he said.

'Steel and steelmaking are a strategic industry, all the arms manufacturers are strategic industries, and anything to do with water and various other areas, they're all strategic industries.'

It is understood the Government is not currently involved in the planning process for Bradwell B, with all future nuclear projects subject to rigorous national security tests.

CGN was contacted for comment.

A spokesman for the Chinese embassy in London said: 'Chinese nuclear energy companies have state-of-the-art technology and strong investment capabilities.

'The co-operation between China and the UK on nuclear energy is mutually beneficial.

'We are firmly opposed to political interference or obstructions from a third party that restrict Chinese companies' normal access to the UK market.

'China-UK business co-operation has huge potential and serves the interests of both sides.

'We hope the UK side will provide a fair, just and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese companies in this country.'
A schoolgirl was drugged and repeatedly raped by three men who lured her into their car with the promise of a cigarette after spotting her alone in an Asda car park, a court heard.

Ivan Turtak, 38, Kevin Horvath, 25, and Ernest Gunar, 27, allegedly passed the child around 'like a receptacle' as they subjected her to sexual abuse, jurors were told.

Canterbury Crown Court heard the men were 'complete strangers' to the girl who was 'targeted and exploited'.

They drove her in Horvath's Skoda to Turtak's flat in Dover, Kent, after promising to give her a cigarette, the court was told.

It is alleged she was then taken to Gunar's caravan on Arthur Street in Folkestone, Kent, where she was plied with illicit substances, subjected to more rape and other sexual acts.

It was said the men threatened to kill her if she tried to escape or call for help and took a picture of her standing naked in a bath tub.

Turtak has pleaded guilty to taking an indecent image of a child but denies raping her, reports KentOnline.

Horvath admitted three charges of rape and one of assault by penetration of the girl but pleaded not guilty to sexual assault of a child.

Ivan Turtak (pictured), 38, Kevin Horvath, 25, and Ernest Gunar, 27, allegedly passed the child around 'like a receptacle' as they subjected her to sexual abuse

Turtak has pleaded guilty to taking an indecent image of a child but denies raping her, reports KentOnline

Gunar pleaded guilty to one offence of rape but denies assault of a child by penetration, sexual assault of a child and two offences of rape.

Prosecutor Hannah Llewellyn-Waters said by virtue of those pleas, the men had demonstrated not only their 'sexual interest' in the child but also 'as a matter of fact' that offending behaviour had occurred.

She added that the issue for the jury to decide was whether the exact sexual activity they denied had in fact taken place.

Horvath allegedly abused the girl in his car, and the court heard she was not wearing her own clothes when police found her.

Tests revealed traces of crystal meth and THC - the psychoactive compound in cannabis - in her system.

On Monday, Ms Llewellyn-Waters told the jury the defendants' conduct towards the child was 'callous, degrading, and exploitative'.

She described how the young girl was led to the car, plied with drugs and abused in her 'vulnerable' state.

The court was told the girl did not initially tell police the truth about the abuse when she spoke to them.

She instead told them she had been in Folkestone and, having not slept, changed into clothes she found in charity donation bag left on the street.

When she was later challenged over this, it came to light she had given various accounts to both her family, police and in an entry in her diary, including being attacked and abducted in a park.

It was said the men threatened to kill her if she tried to escape or call for help and took a picture of her standing naked in a bath tub (Pictured: Ivan Turtak)

Tests revealed traces of crystal meth and THC - the psychoactive compound in cannabis - in the child's system (Pictured: Ivan Turtak)

It is alleged she was then taken to Gunar's caravan on Arthur Street in Folkestone, Kent, where she was plied with illicit substances, subjected to more rape and other sexual acts

She initially told her parents she had been abducted from the park before being sexually assaulted but later told the police she got in the car in the Asda car park and described the sexual abuse.

The jury also heard the girl had been seen appearing to be 'having fun' with Horvath and Gunar at a hotel swimming pool, according to police enquiries.

Ms Llewellyn-Waters said while the child gave differing accounts, the central part of her claim that the defendants targeted her and gave her drugs to make her compliant for their sexual abuse still ran true.

She added: 'We say that she was passed around and treated effectively as a receptacle for their own sexual gratification, and the defendants' conduct, in the Crown's case, was callous, degrading, and it was entirely exploitative.'

The prosecutor argued the three men demonstrated both their sexual interest in the little girl and that the offending behaviour occurred, in light of them admitting to specific offences.

The trial continues.
A water-stained ticket stub for the third class restaurant on the Titanic that was found on the body of a passenger who was only on the doomed ship because of a twist of fate has been discovered 113 years later.

The item belonged to Ernest Tomlin and is part of a remarkable unseen archive of documents relating to him and the Titanic disaster his family have kept hold of.

Ernest had originally purchased a third class ticket for the RMS Adriatic, but was moved to the Titanic - which was bound for New York on its maiden voyage from Southampton - along with some other passengers because of a coal strike.

The change of ship is evidenced by Ernest's immigration health card, which lowly third class passengers were given as they boarded the luxury liner.

It shows the name of the Adriatic crossed out and replaced with the Titanic.

Had the vessel reached its destination, the card would have been shown to US authorities to prove Ernest had a clean bill of health.

But it was instead used to identify his body.

Also recovered from his body were two one dollar bills he had sewn into the inside of his waistcoat that he intended to use in the US.

A water-stained ticket stub for the third class restaurant on the Titanic that was found on the body of a passenger has been discovered 113 years later

The item belonged to Ernest Tomlin and is part of a remarkable unseen archive of documents relating to him and the Titanic disaster his family have kept hold of

There are also letters sent from the White Star Line to Ernest's grief-stricken mother Harriet back home in England.

One confirms to her the death of her son and says that his body had been identified using the immigration card.

He was among 1,517 passengers and crew who died when the Titanic sank on April 15, 1912 after hitting an iceberg.

There is a letter dated May 13, 1912, from the Salvation Army in Halifax, Canada, confirming to his family that Ernest had been buried at sea.

Another letter was sent from the White Star Line passenger department on May 23 that states that Ernest's effects were still with the Halifax coroner but they would be forwarded on in due course.

And there is a handwritten note made by Ernest's brother, William, detailing the items that were later returned.

The archive was previously unknown to Titanic experts and collectors, having been passed down through descendants of the Tomlin family over the last century.

It is now being sold at Henry Aldridge & Son Auctioneers of Devizes, Wilts, for 150,000.

Ernest Tomlin's immigration health card, which third class passengers were given as they boarded the luxury liner. It shows a line through Tomlin's original form of transport, the SS Adriatic

A letter sent by the passenger manager of the White Star Line to Ernest Tomlin's family, telling them that he had drowned

One of the 14 US dollars that Ernest Tomlin was carrying when he drowned in the disaster

Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge said: 'It is one of the most complete Titanic archives to have come to market in the past 30 years.

'It has been within the Tomlin family since 1912, having only been looked at sporadically over the past 113 years.

'The items have been kept in a locked safety box and have never been seen before. They are fresh to the market and previously unknown to Titanic collectors.

'The table ticket is remarkable and is a very rare object.

'There are obvious signs of it being immersed in water having been in Ernest's possession when that ship went down.

'Third class passengers had to show these tickets whenever they went to eat during the crossing, so it was very important.

'The immigration inspection card is printed 'SS Titanic' with his ticket number '364424' and his full name.

A letter sent from the executor of Ernest Tomlin's will

Water-stained letters that were found on the body of Ernest Tomlin

'It also bears significant signs of water damage.'

The national coal strike that hit Britain in 1912 began at the end of February and lasted until early April.

A lack of coal was a severe problem for liners such as the Titanic, which needed hundreds of tonnes of it to power the engines.

The Titanic's maiden voyage was set for April 10.

Because it was the biggest and most luxurious ship in the world, its owners the White Star Line did not want to delay its departure.

So they took coal from other ships, including the liner the Adriatic.

It meant the Adriatic's voyage to New York was cancelled and its passengers were transferred to other Whit Star liners.

Mr Aldridge added: 'All of a sudden he was going to America not on the Adriatic, which was just another ship, but on Titanic, the most luxurious ship in the world.

'I bet he couldn't have believed his luck.'

Ernest was aged 21 at the time of the disaster.

He was born to parents, Edwin and Harriet who lived in Notting Hill, London, and had six siblings.

In 1907 he moved to Des Moines, Iowa, US, where he enrolled at The Bible College of Drake University in the city.

He later returned to England but by early 1912 he had decided to go back to Drake University and complete his degree.

His body was recovered by the recovery ship the Mackay Bennett.

The sale takes place on April 26.

At just before midnight on April 14, 1912, the RMS Titanic hit an iceberg while travelling on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York. Within three hours, the 'unsinkable' ship had slipped beneath the waves of the freezing Atlantic Ocean, killing more than 1,500 people
A pensioner died after spending two hours in agony waiting for an ambulance while lying in a GP surgery car park following a fall, an inquest heard.

Josephine Ellis, 76, had just attended a mobile clinic at the medical centre when she lost her footing on the way to her car.

No blankets were brought out by staff to help keep her warm, despite it being a cold October day, the hearing was told.

It also emerged a call handler who took a second 999 call after her condition deteriorated treated it as an estimated time of arrival call instead of re-triaging the patient.

When paramedics finally arrived at Hoveton and Wroxham Medical Centre in Norfolk, they took Mrs Ellis to hospital where she was found to have broken her hip. Her condition worsened and she died three days later.

Coroner Jacqueline Lake halted the inquest on Monday to get more information after the widows family raised concerns about her treatment.

In a harrowing statement, Mrs Elliss daughter told the hearing: She was left lying on the cold car park floor in severe pain for over two hours before the ambulance arrived.

Although she was near a GP surgery, no blankets or other means of warmth were provided.

Josephine Ellis, 76, was left lying on the ground in a GP surgery car park on a cold day for more than two hours

The widow was taken to Norfolk and Norwich Hospital after her ordeal and operated on for a broken hip but died the following day

A doctor from the nearby surgery attempted multiple times to lift my mother without adequate support, which caused additional pain and distress.

Some staff at the medical centre did try to reassure and help her, she added, with one providing a coat used to prop up her mothers leg.

Retired soldering technician Mrs Ellis had been to a hearing appointment in the grounds of the medical centre just before 2pm on October 23 when she turned quickly and fell, the inquest heard.

Her daughter, a healthcare assistant, was unable to move her and called 999 at 2.20pm.

But by 4pm Mrs Ellis, who had spent years as a fundraiser for the Royal British Legion and the Royal Navy Association, was still lying in the same spot.

Chris Hewitson, a patient safety specialist officer at the East of England Ambulance Service Trust, told the hearing in a statement that Mrs Ellis was correctly classed as a Category three patient, meaning an emergency crew should be with her within two hours. CAT 3 calls are common for people who have suffered falls.

She was upgraded to a CAT 2 response  which requires a response within 40 minutes  at 3pm following a call from an ambulance service clinician.

The ambulance service received another 999 call at 3.23pm to say Mrs Elliss condition had deteriorated but instead of re-triaging, the call handler treated it as an estimate time of arrival call.

Mrs Ellis was a committed fundraiser for the Royal British Legion and Royal Navy Association

Mr Hewitson said: It is noted that as the caller had stated Mrs Elliss condition had worsened, a triage should have been undertaken.

We would like to apologise for this omission and feedback has been provided to the call handler.

For information, had a re-triage taken place, this would not have affected the response as CAT 2 is the highest category for a patient who has fallen, unless the patent is unconscious.

The Trust was under significant pressure at the time due to the volume of 999 calls it was handling and problems with ambulances dropping patients off at hospital, he added.

But he continued: I appreciate this will offer very little comfort to Mrs Ellis family.

Mrs Ellis, who lived in Sprowston, was eventually taken to Norfolk and Norwich Hospital in Norwich, where her broken hip was identified with an X-ray.

She had surgery on October 25 but died the following day.

The ambulance trust said it had taken action since her death, including recruiting additional staff and introducing care co-ordination hubs.

The coroner said the inquest would be reopened at a date yet to be set.
A former police officer has fought in court after a jury found him not guilty of stealing luxury watches seized in an anti-gang raid.

Zac Aaron Chudleigh faced trial in Brisbane District Court this week accused of taking three luxury watches from an evidence lock-up and selling them to a jeweller for more than $90,0000.

Mr Chudleigh formerly served as a senior constable in the Queensland police crime and intelligence command.

The jury members handed down their decision on Wednesday after deliberating for four hours.

Mr Chudleigh wiped tears from his eyes and his supporter in court audibly sobbed as the not guilty verdicts for the charges of stealing and fraud were read out.

He represented himself during the trial and told the jury during his four-minute closing address on Wednesday that there were flaws in the testimony given against him.

'(The prosecution) must prove each element of the offence beyond reasonable doubt,' he said.

'It is my submission that from my cross-examination of the witnesses I have proven reasonable doubt ... if you have any reasonable doubt, you must acquit.'

Zac Aaron Chudleigh (pictured) was accused of taking three luxury watches from an evidence lock-up and selling them to a jeweller for more than $90,0000

Mr Chudleigh (pictured outside court) formerly served as a senior constable

Mr Chudleigh said police property officer witnesses had given vague and differing accounts about the details of the watches.

He said another witness had seen images of him in the media before identifying him in court as someone who sold the watches.

The watches at the centre of the case were seized during a raid at the Gold Coast home of Jordan Roman Brennan in August 2020.

Brennan later took action in the Brisbane Supreme Court against the State of Queensland seeking the return of the items with a claimed total value of at $410,085.

The Commissioner of Police was not able to return the watches, including a high-end Audemars Piquet piece, located during the search at the Robina property, the Crown Solicitor said in response to the lawsuit.

Mr Chudleigh wiped tears from his eyes as the not guilty verdicts for the charges of stealing and fraud were read out

Brennan was jailed in June 2024 for 11 years over his attempt to retrieve 48 kilograms of cocaine hidden in a shipping container at the Port of Brisbane.

After the jury handed down its verdicts, Judge Suzanne Sheridan told Mr Chudleigh the charges against him had been discharged.

Mr Chudleigh declined to comment as he left the court building.
A 15-year-old schoolgirl died after having a seizure while she was waiting for an appointment with an epilepsy clinic, an inquest heard.

Tragic teenager Sydney-Jade Harris drowned after having a fit in the bath. She was found unresponsive by her devastated mother and step-father when they broke into the bathroom to check on her.

At the time of her death, she had been waiting about a month for an appointment at an NHS epilepsy clinic.

Following tragic Sydney-Jade's death, Salisbury District Hospital in Wiltshire has 'sped up' its referral process 'significantly', it was heard.

The period between referral and an appointment being made is now just two weeks.

Sporty Sydney-Jade was a talented snowboarder who dreamed of becoming an instructor.

Area coroner for Hampshire, Nicholas Walker, gave a narrative conclusion that she died from 'drowning in a bath after a likely seizure of unknown origin'.

The inquest at Winchester Coroner's Court heard Sydney-Jade, who lived in a home worth around 750,000 in an affluent area of Ringwood, Hants, had her first seizure in July 2023.

Schoolgirl Sydney-Jade Harris , 15, drowned after having a fit in the bath. She had been waiting for an appointment to attend an epilepsy clinic at the time of her death

Sporty Sydney-Jade was a talented snowboarder who dreamed of becoming an instructor

She was on holiday visiting her father in Guernsey at the time of this incident.

Her mother Samantha Legg said in a statement to police she had another seizure in September that year.

The teen - described as having a 'heart of gold - had type one diabetes but neither of her first two seizures or her death were thought to be linked to the condition.

Consultant paediatrician Dr Julian Sandell told the inquest Sydney-Jade had been referred to the epilepsy clinic at Salisbury Hospital, and was 'waiting for a first appointment with the team' at the time of her death.

Ms Legg said of the events of October 31 in 2023: 'I woke her up and told her that she had to wash her hair, her tutor was coming.'

This was at around 8am in the morning, and Sydney-Jade then ran a bath.

She didn't respond later on when her step-father, Matt, called her and asked her to get out of the bath.

Ms Legg said she 'used a pair of scissors' to open the door after her daughter failed to respond - and found her collapsed in the bath.

Sydney-Jade had her first seizure in July 2023 during a family trip to Guernsey to see her dad

'Matt managed to pull her out of the bath, we started doing CPR,' she said.

The couple called 999, and an ambulance arrived after about 15 to 20 minutes, and paramedics found Sydney-Jade in cardiac arrest.

They were unable to resuscitate her, and she was declared dead that morning.

The inquest heard Sydney-Jade had not been diagnosed with epilepsy at the time of her death.

Concluding, Mr Walker said: 'What we do know is that there were concerns in the family, concerns as far as the doctors were concerned, so it was at the end of September Sydney-Jade was referred to the epilepsy clinic in order to see if that was an explanation for the seizures she had been suffering.

'I am grateful that the processes of referral have been sped up significantly since the experience the doctors had with Sydney-Jade and that the period now is a two-week window where the referral and appointment was made.

'Back when Sydney-Jade died in 2023, the referral had been made about a month prior to that and she still hadn't had an appointment with the team.

'I can't say what would have happened in that appointment, it seems likely that would be an initial appointment.

The teenager had her second seizure in September 2023 before suffering a third fit in October that led to her death. Sydney-Jade is pictured with her snowboard on a dry slope

'In any event, it is difficult for me to speculate that would have made a difference in any case.'

Sydney-Jade's father Jeff Harris said 'she was a typical teenager, who lived life to the fullest'.

He said she was 'sociable' and a 'talented guitarist' who had a 'heart of gold'.

Since her daughter's death, Ms Legg has started a business in Fordingbridge, Hants, selling rubber ducks, including specially made ones which have dyed hair that match Sydney-Jade's.

On a GoFundMe to fund the ducks, her mother said that she liked hunting rubber ducks which are often hidden around cruise ships when the family would go on holiday together.

She also said that her daughter aspired to be a snowboarding instructor.

Ms Legg has set up a Facebook page titled Sydney-Jade's Travelling Ducks in which people take photos of rubber ducks across the world in memory of the teenager.
A Michigan man who was upset that he had to watch pets while his girlfriend's family went on a cruise was sentenced to eight months in prison for making a false bomb threat.

Joshua Lowe, 19, was sentenced to the stint in prison during an appearance in federal court in Kalamazoo.

He was found to have sent an email to Carnival Cruise Lines in in January 2024 which read: 'Hey, I think someone might have a bomb on your Sunrise cruise ship.'

The Sunrise cruise he referred to in his email had just departed Miami, Florida, on its way to Jamaica as part of a Caribbean cruise. Onboard was his girlfriend and her family, who had left Lowe to look after their pets as they went on holiday.

The hoax email forced the crew of the vessel to check more than 1,000 rooms after the ship had departed, prosecutors said.

The cruise company also had to call the US Coast Guard, as well as Jamaican authorities, whose Marine Police were forced to escort the ship to port.

'FBI agents traced the email address to Lowe, who was living with his girlfriend's family,' Assistant US Attorney Nils Kessler said in a court filing.

'Lowe admitted he sent the message because he was upset that the family went on the cruise, while leaving him behind to care for their pets.'

Joshua Lowe sent an email to Carnival Cruise Lines in in January 2024 which read: 'Hey, I think someone might have a bomb on your Sunrise cruise ship' (pictured)

Lowe apologised in a letter to US District Judge Paul Maloney.

'This is all my fault and take full responsibility,' he said.

'Anyone making a bomb threat should expect to be taken at his word. Fortunately, this particular hoax did not result in physical injury,' Kessler said.

Lowe's sentence of eight months is far lower than the maximum five years he was facing.

'Bomb threats are not a laughing matter and are extremely irresponsible,' Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan, said in the district attorney's office press release.

'When individuals make false hoax threats, they divert critical law enforcement resources and spread unnecessary fear.

'The FBI takes all threats to life seriously and will ensure that those who resort to this kind of intimidation face the appropriate consequences,' Gibson added.
A pet dog kidnapped during Hamas' October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel has been rescued by an Israeli soldier almost 18 months after it was dragged back to Gaza.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Billy was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz in southern Israel by Hamas gunmen as they stalked through the settlement and slaughtered Israeli civilians.

Billy belongs to Rachel Dancyg, the ex-wife of Alex Dancyg who was one of several Israeli hostages to die in captivity after being kidnapped by Hamas.

Rachel assumed her dog was also killed amid the brutal attack on Nir Oz.

But the three-and-a-half-year-old hound miraculously reappeared in Gaza last week nearly a year and a half after its abduction.

Aviad Shapira, an Israeli reservist operating in southern Gaza, claimed the dog bounded up to him as his unit was clearing buildings near the city of Rafah.

Shapira took the dog with his unit for four days before he was able to return to Israel, at which point he took Billy to a veterinarian.

The vet found the dog had been given a microchip implant, and further investigation revealed its owners were the Dancyg family.

That shock discovery set the stage for a surprise reunion today. The family were delighted to see Billy, who hastened up to a teary Rachel and the kids as they greeted him in the street.

Rachel later embraced soldier Shapira and thanked him for recovering the family pooch.

An Israeli reservist operating in southern Gaza explained how the dog bounded up to him as his unit was clearing buildings near the city of Rafah. An Israeli soldier is pictured holding Billy

The dog was returned to its owners today

Billy is seen greeting the family who thought their dog was killed on October 7

The three-and-a-half year old hound miraculously reappeared in Gaza last week nearly a year and a half after its abduction

Soldiers snap pictures with the spaniel

Billy's return to the Dancyg family was heralded as a 'miracle from heaven' by Rachel's son-in-law Yaron Maor, who told Israeli media about the reunion.

'We are in complete shock and overwhelmed with emotion to see her tomorrow. We didn't believe she had survived.

'We got the kids another dog of the same breed. Now the two dogs will live together with us.

'It's a miracle from heaven,' he concluded.

Though Billy's returned warmed the hearts of the Dancyg family, 58 hostages still remain trapped in Gaza which has not received any humanitarian aid since March 2, even in the face of incessant Israeli attacks.

Israel confirmed this morning it would keep blocking humanitarian aid from entering the demolished territory indefinitely, despite warnings from various aid agencies and activist groups that conditions for the Palestinians living there were dire.

Israel's forces resumed air and ground attacks across the Gaza Strip from March 18, ending a two-month ceasefire with Hamas that had largely halted hostilities in the territory.

Defence Minister Israel Katz today said: 'Israel's policy is clear: no humanitarian aid will enter Gaza, and blocking this aid is one of the main pressure levers preventing Hamas from using it as a tool with the population.

'No one is currently planning to allow any humanitarian aid into Gaza, and there are no preparations to enable such aid.'

Rachel Dancyg hugs the soldier who found her dog in Rafah

Soldiers snap pictures with the spaniel

Palestinians check the damaged following overnight Israeli strikes on a residential neighbourhood in Jabalia's southwestern district of Nazla in the northern Gaza Strip on April 16, 2025

A Palestinian woman reacts as others carry the body of their relative, killed in an Israeli airstrike, in preparation for burial

A Palestinian man cries as bodies of relatives are prepared for burial following overnight Israeli strikes on Jabalia's southwestern district of Nazla, that hit the Hessi family residence, in the northern Gaza Strip on April 16, 2025

Palestinian men check the damage following overnight Israeli strikes on Jabalia's southwestern district of Nazla in the northern Gaza Strip on April 16, 2025

Top Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have repeatedly cited military pressure as the only way to secure the release of the remaining 58 hostages held in Gaza.

But medical aid agency Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said Israeli military operations and the blockage of aid had transformed Gaza into a graveyard.

'Gaza has been turned into a mass grave of Palestinians and those coming to their assistance,' said MSF coordinator Amande Bazerolle.

'With nowhere safe for Palestinians or those trying to help them, the humanitarian response is severely struggling under the weight of insecurity and critical supply shortages, leaving people with few, if any, options for accessing care,' she said.

The statement came as Israel continued to pound Gaza overnight into Wednesday.

A pre-dawn air strike in Gaza City killed 10 people, including women and children, the Strip's civil defence agency said.

The renewed assault has so far killed at least 1,630 people in Gaza, the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory reported.

The Gaza war erupted after Hamas's October 7, 2023 attacks which resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians.

Since then at least 51,000 people, the majority of them civilians, have been killed in Gaza in the Israeli offensive, the territory's health ministry said.
Some of Britain's most elite policing units have come under criticism after organising an Easter egg hunt for staff at a major London hub for counter-terrorism.

Officers employed at the Empress State Building in west London, which includes teams specialising in organised crime and counter-terror, are being offered the activity on Thursday.

Staff from any level of the building - including non-police partner agencies - are free to attend the hunt, but their children are not welcome, MailOnline understands.

The Easter egg hunt has been advertised to staff through posters on display throughout the 31-storey building.

Former Met Police detective Peter Bleksley told MailOnline the decision was 'ludicrous' and made for terrible optics for a police force under pressure to increase crime-solving rates.

'While London burns and people don't get an investigation into their burglaries, car theft, the theft of tools from their van, harassment on the Tube, having their phones snatched.

'All those kind of things the Met Police think it appropriate to have an easter egg hunt.

'While victims of crime are getting emails and phone calls saying your investigation is being closed.

Officers employed at the Empress State Building (pictured) in west London, which includes teams specialising in organised crime and counter-terror, are being offered the Easter egg hunt tomorrow

Former Met Police detective Peter Bleksley told MailOnline the decision was 'ludicrous' and made for terrible optics

'I mean it's ludicrous that they've arranged it in the first place. There's work to be done.

'There's millions of unsolved crimes in this city. Victims are being created as we speak, there are tens of thousands of crimes committed in this city every day.

'No wonder there's a crime wave'.

Londoners also expressed concern over the move, sarcastically saying it made them feel 'a whole lot safer'.

One said: 'Is this a joke? Have we been put into a time machine and returned to April 1st?

A second added: 'So they hunt Easter Eggs now? That makes me feel a whole lot safer.'

A third said it showed police are 'pandering to adults and ignoring crime'.

But a Met Police source insisted no officers dealing with routine crimes such as burglaries and thefts will be affected by the move as they are not employed in the building.

They added officers would only be permitted to take part in the hunt during their break time, and not their allotted working hours.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: 'Every day our officers work round the clock to keep London safe and they will always prioritise urgent jobs and core policing work.'

The Empress State first opened as a counter-terror hub in 2021, and is complete with an operations suite and state-of-the-art forensics laboratory.

A 412 million investment in counter-terror operations in the capital was announced following a series of terror attacks in 2017 that led to the deaths of 36 people and injuries to many more.

This included the acquisition of firm Empress State Holdings Ltd and purchasing of the Empress State Building for 250 million.

The building brings together the Met's counter-terrorism command and specialist crime and operations under one roof.

Justifying the investment at the time, police chiefs ruled: 'Counter-terrorism threats are multiplying and the style of attack is changing; Organised Crime grows more complex and demands new responses.

'There is an urgency to create a single Ct and OC Hub.'

They added: 'Doing nothing is not an option.'

The hunt at the building is the latest stunt to draw criticism for the Met, following an earlier incident in January in which the force advised residents plagued by drugs gangs to 'play classical music'.

Amid a scourge of anti-social behaviour and crime thought to be driven by drugs in St John's Wood, a local resident reported incidents to the Met using photographs.

He reported receiving an email back stating he should film any incidents he witnesses and call 999.

The email added: 'You can also contact your housing association/the council and ask them to play classical music as this has proven to deter and prevent crimes.'
A 13-year-old boy accused of stabbing his mother to death as she slept in front of her newborn child was eerily calm as he was arrested, new bodycam footage shows.

Derek Rosa, now 14, is awaiting trial for first-degree murder after allegedly confessing to stabbing his 39-year-old mother Irina Garcia over 40 times with a kitchen knife in October 2023.

Now bodycam footage obtained by NBC6 has emerged from the moment police stormed his Hialeah, Florida home and arrested the former honor roll student.

'Hands up! Hands up, come here, get on the ground!' One cop yells as Rosa emerges in pajamas.

He is forced to the ground and placed in handcuffs while officers rush into the apartment.

'There's a knife in my room,' Rosa tells the cop, who then shouts the information to his colleagues. 'There's a baby,' the teen adds.

'How's the baby? Did you do anything to the f***ing baby?' the cop demands, but Rosa says he left the infant unharmed.

Police said once they entered Garcia's room they found the 39-year-old mom dead in her bed next to the crib containing her 14 day old baby.

Derek Rosa, a Florida teenager accused of stabbing his mom to death as she slept next to her newborn daughter, was eerily calm following his arrest bodycam footage shows

The teen emerged from his Hialeah apartment in pajamas and was immediately swarmed by cops

In the footage he can be heard telling officers that there is a baby inside who he did not harm

So far there has been no indication of a motive. Rosa's lawyers has recently indicated that they may seek an insanity defense.

In other bodycam footage, Rosa's devastated grandmother can be heard explaining in Spanish to a cop of her grandson never appeared to have any issues.

'I've never seen him with any mental problems or anything like that, he's a normal kid, intelligent,' she said in Spanish. 'I don't know what happenedall I know is I don't have a daughter anymore.'

The teen entered a not guilty plea in December 2023 after his arrest in October.

However, interrogation footage showed the teen describing the size and color of the knife he allegedly used to commit the crime.

He was further questioned by detectives who asked: 'Your mom was sleeping?'

Rosa went on to confirm: 'Yeah, she was sleeping.'

The video showed the teenager showing detectives his bloody hands and pointing to his neck when asked where he stabbed his mother.

The 13-year-old was allegedly seen in eerie black and white images looming over his mom with a time stamp at 11 pm. Rosa called 911 to report the murder around 11:30 pm

Rosa's mom Irina Garcia was stabbed more than 40 times, investigators said

Derek Rosa, now aged 14, is awaiting trial over the killing and is being held in an adult detention center

He also told the detective that his mother screamed when he attacked her, before he then asked for an attorney.

On December 15, 2023, a pre-trial hearing saw prosecutors playing a recording of Rosa allegedly speaking to a detective directly after the stabbing, where he said: 'I woke up, I grabbed one of the kitchen knives and I went to her room... I killed her.'

After hearing the disturbing tape, Miami Dade Circuit Judge Richard Hersch ordered the teen to be held in an adult jail until his trial commences.

At a separate hearing, baby-cam footage showed Rosa standing over his sleeping mother in her bed, moments before he allegedly stabbed her 46 times.

The 13-year-old was seen in eerie black-and-white images looming over his mom with a time stamp at 11 pm. Rosa called 911 to report the murder around 11:30 pm.

Rosa is also accused of taking a smiling selfie to a friend directly after the killing, where he was sticking his tongue out with what appears to be blood smeared on his hands.

Police said after taking the pictures, Rosa asked a dispatcher if the move was 'bad'.

He also allegedly claimed that he found two guns owned by his stepfather after the stabbing and planned to commit suicide but didn't go through with the plan.

Interrogation footage showed the teen describing the size and color of the knife he allegedly used to commit the crime

The video showed the teenager showing detectives his bloody hands and pointing to his neck when asked where he stabbed his mother. He also told the detective that his mother screamed when he attacked her, before he then asked for an attorney

Hersch said in trial on Friday that he wanted Rosa's case to go to trial as soon as possible, and set June as a tentative date

Rosa's family expressed shock over the charges and said he was a 'good kid' and that 'no one could imagine this would ever happen'.

The detective who interviewed Rosa after he allegedly carried out the murder, Hialeah Police officer Joseph Elosegui, said that investigators found additional evidence after looking through Rosa's internet activity.

He claimed the 13-year-old researched the best way to kill someone and whether a small knife would be able to cut through bone.

Rosa will stand trial as an adult and has had multiple requests for transfers to a juvenile prison denied.
Anthony Albanese failed to answer a simple but pressing question at least four times during a fiery second election debate.

The Prime Minister and Peter Dutton clashed during ABC's leaders debate in Parramatta on Wednesday evening, hosted by Insiders presenter David Speers.

But it was Mr Albanese's multiple attempts to dodge a question bothering thousands of Australians that has been slammed by viewers.

You and (energy minister) Chris Bowen keep saying renewables are the cheapest form of power. When will we see our power bills come down? Speers said.

Mr Albanese claimed that renewables are the cheapest form of power, with no suggestion of a timeline, but Speers cut him off to ask the question again.

The Labor leader tried to criticise Mr Duttons nuclear plan but it failed to satisfy Speers.

Stick with your plan, Mr Albanese. When will the bills come down? he said.

The Prime Minister repeated the refrain that renewables are the 'cheapest form of power' whilst again taking aim at the previous government for higher gas bills.

During the second leaders debate, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured) failed to answer the simple question: 'When will we see our power bills come down?'

ABC host David Speers (pictured) doubled down on the Prime Minister's failure to answer the question, pressing him on a response four times before eventually moving on

'Gas is $13. It was $30 when we came to office; $13 is cheaper than $30,' Mr Albanese said.

Asked a fourth and final time when Aussies will see bills slashed, Mr Albanese stuck to his focus on the Labor government's renewable policy.

What we need do is to roll out renewables, he said.

[We need to] make sure there's energy security, make sure it's backed up by batteries, by hydro and by gas.

Furious viewers took to social media to slam the Prime Minister's failure to give an answer to Speers' repeated question.

One described his responses as 'rambling'.

Others were still left asking when power bills would drop after the debate ended.

'He sidestepped every time.not a good look,' another said.

ABC viewers slammed the Prime Minister for not answering the question on everyone's lips

Addressing Australians' sky-high power bills is a key pillar in the Labor government's manifesto.

If re-elected, Labor has promised to give two further $75 reductions to power bills in the last two quarters of the year.

Before the 2022 election, Anthony Albanese had promised to bring down the price of power by $275, but this has been called a failure by the Opposition.
Port Sudan, Sudan (PANA) - The Foreign Minister of the G7 countries and the High Representative of the European Union, have unequivocally" denounced the ongoing conflict, atrocities and grave human rights violations and abuses in Sudan since the beginning of the devastating war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)
China today hit out at 'arrogant' and 'ignorant' British politicians over their 'slandering' of Beijing in the row over British Steel.

MPs this weekend passed emergency laws allowing the Government to seize control of British Steel's plant in Scunthorpe from its Chinese owners.

The dispute between ministers and Jingye over the proposed closure of Scunthorpe's blast furnaces brought fresh scrutiny over China's role in critical UK infrastructure.

It saw calls for the Government to block China from being allowed to further invest in 'strategic' sectors in Britain.

There were also accusations that the Chinese government deliberately sabotaged British Steel to damage the UK, although these were dismissed by Downing Street.

In a deepening war of words between Beijing and London, the Chinese embassy in the UK has now offered a furious retort.

As reported by the state-owned Global Times, an embassy spokesperson insisted that Jingye is a 'private Chinese enterprise'.

The firm 'makes business investments in the UK on the basis of market principles and conducts operation on its own', they added.

MPs this weekend passed emergency laws allowing the Government to seize control of British Steel's plant in Scunthorpe from its Chinese owners

There have been accusations that the Chinese government, led by Xi Jinping, deliberately sabotaged British Steel to damage the UK

The dispute between ministers and Jingye over the proposed closure of Scunthorpe's blast furnaces brought fresh scrutiny over China's role in critical UK infrastructure

The spokesperson claimed that Chinese companies had contributed more than 115billion to the UK economy and created nearly 60,000 jobs.

They also pointed to US President Donald Trump's tariffs assault on other nations, including China and the UK.

'Those British politicians just keep slandering the Chinese government and Chinese enterprises instead of criticising the US,' the spokesperson continued.

'What on earth are they up to? Any words or deeds that politicise or maliciously hype up business issues will undermine the confidence of Chinese business investors in the UK and damage China-UK economic and trade cooperation.

'We urge the British Government to follow the principles of fairness, impartiality and non-discrimination and to make sure that the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies in the UK are protected.'

They added: 'The anti-China rhetoric of some individual British politicians is extremely absurd, reflecting their arrogance, ignorance and twisted mindset.'

The spokesperson also claimed Jingye had put 'substantial funding' into British Steel to keep it afloat and said UK workers might already have lost their jobs without that cash.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds yesterday said he would 'look at a Chinese firm in a different way' when it comes to future involvement in the UK steel sector.

'In this case, our difference of opinion on the future was with a specific company,' he added.

'I know there's a lot of interest in the wider UK-China relationship, understandably so but this was about this company. I think we've got to recognise that steel is a sensitive sector.'

This appeared to be a softening of Mr Reynolds' stance from the weekend, when he told broadcasters he would not 'personally bring a Chinese company into our steel sector' again.
The ABC hosted the second leaders debate of the election campaign, which was extremely hard to get excited about.

We all know that the ABC are masters of making the interesting boring, and this campaign hasn't even been interesting to begin with.

With no political editor to speak of at the public broadcaster - they made their former political editor Andrew Probyn redundant a few years back, that left Insiders host David Speers to moderate the debate.

The only problem with that was that he needed to use his GPS to find the new ABC studios in Parramatta, where the debate was held.

The meant he couldn't host his own program immediately after the debate.

That's right, the geniuses at ABC management decided to air a special edition of Insiders straight after the debate.

If he was still working at Sky News, Speers would have happily strolled offstage to take his place to host the post-debate program.

But not at our ABC, which couldn't even dream of letting the Insiders program leave Canberra.

The ABC's David Speers hosted the second leaders debate on Wednesday night

Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton shook hands before facing off

That's right, Speers hosted the debate but was left out in the cold when it came to analysing it afterwards on his own show! How ridiculous.

And to add insult to injury, management dragged in Patricia Karvelas to fill incruel and unusual punishment for those of us who already were forced to sit through an hour of Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton squaring off.

So what about the debate itself, and what the leaders had to say?

It's tempting to say Dutton needed a win to regain momentum after what's been a poor start to the campaign. And that is certainly true.

But given this is debate two of four, with the remaining two debates on networks that rate far better than either Sky or the ABC, Dutton has more opportunities to lift his game.

He did OK in this debate, but so did Albo. Neither leader was especially convincing.

Dutton's best sales pitch was to hammer the point that Australians need to ask themselves if they are better off now than they were three years ago when Labor was elected.

The data tells us few are, but the problem is that as Albo pointed out time and time again, plenty of Australians worry about the alternative PM.

Dutton did OK in this debate, but so did Albo. Neither leader was especially convincing

Whether that's his nuclear policy, his climate change skepticism or indeed some of his looser comments such as the ones recently about Indonesia and Russia.

One of the more surprising admissions was by Dutton that he doesn't even know Donald Trump. He's never even met the man. How does he hope to shift the dial on tariffs if elected?

Both leaders sold their respective housing policies early on, and the moderator worked hard to remind viewers why journalists are only mildly less hated than politicians by continuously interrupting as they tried to provide details.

Of course to be fair, most journalists have the attention span of a child. When details get listed, they tend to glaze over, waiting for the next opportunity to ask a 'gotcha' question.

The key debate topics were cost of living and national security, both of which are supposed to be Coalition strengths.

But interestingly, Albo probably got the better of Dutton on both fronts.
A pastor was shockingly found in 'excellent' health after he was kidnapped from his church and later dramatically rescued by a group of armed officers in South Africa.

Josh Sullivan, 45, was saved in a valiant rescue mission by officers in the Eastern Cape province on Tuesday after being abducted on Thursday last week.

Sullivan, from Tennessee, has been based in the Motherwell township branch of the Fellowship Baptist church since 2018 alongside his wife Meagan and children.

Twenty officers of a police unit known as The Hawks ambushed his captors at their safe house in KwaMagxaki, around 20 minutes away from the church.

When the kidnappers saw the officers with their weapons drawn a 'high-intensity' shootout took place with the officers killing them all.

Local police spoke out after the perplexing ordeal - specifically pointing out that the pastor was 'miraculously' found in 'excellent condition,' despite everyone fearing the worst for five days.

What Sullivan experienced during his time in captivity - and how he seemingly came out completely unscathed - is still unclear.

Lieutenant Colonel Avele Fumba said in a statement: 'The victim was found inside the same vehicle from which the suspects had launched their attack.

Sullivan, seen here alongside his wife Meagan and their young family, was abducted while giving a sermon last Thursday

Sullivan, from Tennessee , has been based in the Motherwell township branch of the Fellowship Baptist church since 2018

'Miraculously unharmed, he was immediately assessed by medical personnel and is currently in an excellent condition.'

Sullivan was pistol-whipped by one of the gang and dragged up the aisle while others robbed members of his congregation during his abduction.

The gang had made ransom demands for the release of Sullivan, which prompted the involvement of the Hawks.

A police source said: 'Meagan got the call on Friday afternoon a day after the kidnap so the gang obviously had her mobile number and told her they had Josh.

'She was distraught and a friend who was with her took the phone and was told unless the family or church came up with what is a very large ransom it would not end well.

'A time to raise the funds by was given and then the gang member hung up' the source added.

Sullivan said on his website he felt a calling from God in 2013 and in 2015 went to South Africa for a six-month internship at the church as part of his studies.

In 2018 he moved full time to Port Elizabeth, now known as Gqeberha, and spent two years learning the Xhosa language so he could add the local tongue into his sermons.

His wife and family moved with him and they have also taken in two Xhosa children who live with them and has become a popular and loved community member.

He moved from Tennessee to become a 'church planter' which is a Baptist missionary who focuses on establishing new churches and congregations in new areas.

Sullivan said on his website he felt a calling from God in 2013 and in 2015 went to South Africa for a six-month internship at the church as part of his studies

The pastor was giving a service at the time of his kidnapping

Tom Hatley, who Sullivan has described on his site as his childhood and training pastor, shared news of his rescue to his Facebook page.

Sharing a picture of Sullivan, he explained he had received 'the go ahead to let it be known that Josh has been released.'

His US friend pastor Coffey said: 'Josh's love for the Xhosa people is evident in everything he does. He doesn't just serve them he walks with them and learns from them'.

His mother Tonya Morton Rinket from Tennessee had been posting on her Facebook page saying her 'heart is breaking' after his abduction.

On Tuesday, she said: 'HES HOME, My Baby is free! Joshua was released earlier today!!

'He is home with Meagan and the kids. PRAISE GOD FOR HIS GRACE AND MERCY. Thank you for your support and prayers.

'Please continue to pray for him, Meagan and the kids and our family. Praise The Lord Jesus Christ!

Kidnappings in South Africa have increased by 260 percent in a decade with ransoms being seen as big and easy money with mainly wealthy businessman or prominent people taken.

In the year 2023/4 there were 17,061 kidnappings though many were by family members taking members of their own family not for ransom and young girls taken for trafficking.

South Africa is one of the most dangerous countries in the world with 76 murders a day and 125 rapes a day but mostly in poor townships and relate to turf wars and drug gangs.

Only 5 tourists have been killed in the last 8 years mainly due to walking alone close to townships or driving by mistake into township areas and being attacked and killed.
A British tourist who sparked fears for his wellbeing after disappearing for a month in Thailand has been found safe in a dingy hostel.

Daniel Davies, 26, from Llanelli, Wales, had been staying at the Hangover Hostel in Bangkok before he was last seen on the island of Koh Phi Phi.

His desperate family say they have not heard anything from Daniel since March 13, which is 'highly out of character'.

They filed a missing person's report with Dyfed-Powys Police, but officers in Southeast Asia were yet to locate him.

However, following international attention yesterday, police were mobilised and checked the island, before being sent to the nearby mainland in Krabi province.

Daniel was woken up from his bunk bed at The Guest Hotel and Hostel, where a police officer told him his family were 'a little bit worried'.

The backpacker shrugged off the concerns and said he was fine and had 'no problem' staying in the backpacker destination, renowned for its bars and parties.

He then put on his clothes before walking away down the street, with it unclear if he had been in contact with his relatives.

Daniel Davies (pictured) had been staying at the Hangover Hostel in Bangkok before he was last seen on the island of Koh Phi Phi

His desperate family said they hadn't heard anything from Daniel since March 13, which was 'highly out of character'

Daniel was woken up from his bunk bed at The Guest Hotel and Hostel, where a police officer told him his family were 'a little bit worried'

Police said they would inform the British Embassy in Bangkok to coordinate with Daniel's relatives

Police Colonel Soratat Iamlauor said: 'Officers travelled to investigate and found the tourist staying at the hotel alone.

'However, he initially refused to give any information to officers. When we asked tourists at the same hotel who had spoken to the British man, it was learned that he was having a problem with his family.

'He told his friends that he did not want to go home. No one knows what the problem was.'

Police said they would inform the British Embassy in Bangkok to coordinate with Daniel's relatives.

Despite its tropical appeal, Thailand has become one of the most dangerous destinations for tourists, with dozens dying or being seriously injured every month.
A Georgia mother of two LGBTQ+ children was carried out of a school board meeting by police after she challenged a decision to scrap diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) measures.

Lena Kotler was forcibly removed from the City Schools of Decatur Board of Education meeting on Tuesday.

The mom-of-three claims she was asked to leave after she called the board members 'cowards' during a discussion about slashing DEI initiatives.

'It's beyond evil that anyone is threatening these programs,' Kotler told Atlanta New First.

'Our children spend a huge chunk of their lives at school, where they develop their sense of self and self-worth.

'If we stop programs and policies that make those spaces inclusive and safe for everyone, we know what happens.'

Kotler is a mom to an autistic child, a trans child and a non-binary child. She said that during the meeting, the board said it has a 'fiduciary duty' to reevaluate DEI in light of the Trump administration's pledge to roll back funding for schools which support the policies.

Video taken by Decaturish.com reporter Jim Bass shows a security officer explaining that Kotler has to leave because of the outburst.

A mother of two LGBTQ + children was carried out of a school board meeting by police after she interjected to challenge the board's decision to scale back on DEI

Lena Kotler was forcibly removed from the City Schools of Decatur Board of Education meeting on Tuesday

'I said one word, I have already stated I have no intention of speaking again until public comment,' Kotler calmly states.

'I'm going to sit here, I have offered that if it makes the board feel comfortable you as a security employee are welcome to sit next to me. If I speak again outside of public comment, I will leave.

'I have the right to be here, I have not used harsh language or threats.'

However, her promises fell on deaf ears and Kotler was quickly surrounded by police officers.

Appearing to accept her fate, the mom then began removing her jewelry as an ally in the audience tried to appeal to the board to allow her to stay.

'It's in the statute that we can have you removed based on speaking out of turn. You're only allowed to speak during public comment,' a board member says.

'You're only allowed to speak for three minutes during public comment if you signed up. She spoke twice and repeated herself, she's already made public comment so it's time to go.'

Kotler tells the officer she called out in 'an emotional moment', but only repeated herself when asked to do so by the board.

Kotler was speaking out about the board's reevaluation of its DEI policies in light of the Trump administration's threats to axe funding to schools who don't comply with its outlook

Kotler is a mom to an autistic child, a trans child and a non-binary child

The tense stand off continues as a police officer explains that she no longer has a right to be at the meeting since she violated its guidelines.

Kotler continues to insist she is exercising her civil rights, but her defense goes unacknowledged.

Eventually, the cops move in and start picking her up to carry her out of the hall.

'I'm practicing my rights as a parent. I'm in no way resisting,' she repeats as four officers scoop her out of her chair and bundle her away.

'I'm not resisting and this is what fascists do!' she shouts as she is carried out of the door.

In a post ahead of the meeting, Kotler accused Superintendent Dr Gyimah Whitaker of, 'throwing the well being of literal children out the window rather than take a stand and risk her quarter of a million dollar salary'.

Following her removal, Kotler posted a video on Instagram where she said she was, 'physically fine but emotionally distraught'.

The Trump administration has made dismantling DEI in public bodies one of its top priorities.

Many of the policies were enacted following the murder of black man George Floyd in 2020, with supporters saying they help level the playing field for disadvantaged minorities.

Critics say they're divisive and often racist towards white and Asian Americans.

DailyMail.com has contacted the school board for comment.
President Donald Trump was furious when he learned Elon Musk was getting a secret briefing at the Pentagon about war plans with China and personally cancelled the event.

'What the f*** is Elon doing there? Make sure he doesn't go,' Trump said, according to an official who relayed his words to Axios.

The president was reportedly angry that Musk was being given the briefing because the SpaceX founder has billions of dollars of business interests in China.

Trump had pledged that Musk, in his role as head of DOGE, would not be involved in any areas where he could have conflicts of interest.

'POTUS still very much loves Elon, but there are some red lines,' an official told Axios. 'Elon has a lot of business in China and he has good relations there, and this briefing just wasn't the right thing.'

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth greets Elon Musk at Pentagon ahead of their March 21 meeting

The New York Times reported on March 20 that Musk would be getting briefed on the U.S. military's plans for what to do should any war break out with China.

Shortly after the report was posted online, Trump and Pentagon officials denied the session would be about military plans involving China.

'They said, incorrectly, that Elon Musk is going to the Pentagon tomorrow to be briefed on any potential 'war with China,'' Trump wrote on his Truth Social account. 'How ridiculous? China will not even be mentioned or discussed. How disgraceful it is that the discredited media can make up such lies. Anyway, the story is completely untrue!!!'

According to Axios he posted that message after he ordered officials not to talk to Musk about China.

Musk's Tesla company operates its biggest factory, Gigafactory Shanghai, in China. It produced about half of all Tesla vehicles last year.

The Pentagon meeting still took place. Musk arrived via motorcade on March 21, where Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth greeted him at the door.

The two men - along with aides and military personnel - met for 80 minutes. China was not discussed but Musk wouldn't give more details.

'Why should I tell you,' he told a reporter who asked him about the sitdown.

Trump was still angry the day of the meeting, blasting the New York Times story as 'fake news.'

At the White House after the Musk-Hegseth sitdown, Trump said he didn't want anyone to see the United States' plans for a potential war with China and hinted at Musk's potential conflict of interest.

'We don't want to have a potential war with China, but I can tell you if we did, we're very well-equipped to handle it, but I don't want to show that to anybody but certainly you wouldn't show it to a businessman,' Trump said. 'Elon has businesses in China and he would be susceptible perhaps to that.'

Hegseth said he had an informal conversation with Musk that focused on innovation and efficiencies.

'There were no war plans, no Chinese war plans. There were no secret plans,' Hegseth said.

President Donald Trump personally cancelled Elon Musk's briefing on China

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth welcomes Elon Musk to the Pentagon

Much of the administration's ire was focused at the New York Times, which broke the story.

Musk warned people would pay for the leak.

'I look forward to the prosecutions of those at the Pentagon who are leaking maliciously false information to NYT. They will be found,' he wrote on his X platform.

The day after the New York Times story ran, Pentagon chief of staff Joe Kasper ordered an investigation into leaks, including the use of polygraphs.

Kasper said the probe would examine 'recent unauthorized disclosures of national security information.'

'The use of polygraphs in the execution of this investigation will be in accordance with applicable law and policy,' Kasper wrote in a memo. 'This investigation will commence immediately and culminate in a report to the Secretary of Defense.'

He added that 'information identifying a party responsible for an unauthorized disclosure' would be referred for criminal prosecution.'

Then, on Tuesday, about a month after the probe was ordered, two Pentagon aides were placed on administrative leave for 'an unauthorized disclosure' of information.

Both Dan Caldwell, a senior adviser to Hegseth, and Darin Selnick, the Pentagon's deputy chief of staff, were escorted out of the Pentagon by security.

Part of the reason was reportedly Musk's Pentagon meeting.

The leaks under investigation also included military operational plans for the Panama canal, a second carrier headed to the Red Sea, the pausing the collection of intelligence to Ukraine, and Musk's sit down with Hegseth, an official told Politico.

Top Defense aides Dan Caldwell (left) and Darin Selnick (right) were escorted out of the Pentagon on Tuesday after allegedly being identified during the leak investigation

Although Caldwell is not as well known as other senior Pentagon officials, he has played a critical role as an adviser to Hegseth.

He was the staff member designated as Hegseth's point person in the Signal messaging chat that top Trump administration national security officials, including Hegseth, used to convey plans for a military strike against Houthi militants in Yemen.

The chat, set up by national security adviser Michael Waltz, included a number of Cabinet members and came to light because Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was accidentally added to the group.

Caldwell and Hegseth have a longtime friendship.

His ties to the secretary go back to Hegseth's time as the head of Concerned Veterans for America, a nonprofit. Caldwell worked at CVA beginning in 2013 as policy director and later as executive director.

Caldwell was by Hegseth's side on Capitol Hill as the former Fox News host fought to keep his nomination alive during questions about his treatment of women.

Selnick also performed the duties of the under secretary of Defense for personnel and readiness. He served in the White House and the Department of Veterans Affairs in the first Trump administration.

And he also has ties to Concerned Veterans for America, where he served as a senior adviser.
A woman killed outside her Florida office predicted that her ex-husband would murder her in a chilling Facebook post.

Indiana del Socorro Guzman Mendoza, 32, was found dead outside of the Del Toro Insurance building in Miami on Monday in an apparent murder-suicide.

Police believe her former partner, 61-year-old Reynaldo Sandoval, shot her and then himself, reported WSVN.

Indiana's social media accounts showed that she had been living in fear of her ex and even posted an alarming video warning that if something happened to her, Sandoval was to blame.

'Whatever happens to me, he is responsible. There is a report made by local police here in the U.S.,' she said.

Court records show the couple had been together for nine years. They got married in Nicaragua before moving to the U.S. three years ago.

The relationship had recently grown violent, and Sandoval was arrested and charged with stalking and violating a domestic violence injunction on April 2.

'It's been a long time already that things have not been going right. More than six months of separation,' said Indiana's sister, Maria Guzman Mendoza.

Indiana del Socorro Guzman Mendoza (pictured), 32, was found dead outside of the Del Toro Insurance building in Miami on Monday

Police believe her former partner, 61-year-old Reynaldo Sandoval (right), shot her and then himself

Indiana posted an alarming video warning if something happened to her that Sandoval is to blame before her death

Guzman Mendoza told Local 10 that her sister had multiple restraining orders against Sandoval, and he had used GPS to track her down.

'He didn't know where she lived and he knows what he did. He put a GPS on my brother's car, and he got to where she lived,' the grieving sister said.

On March 8, Indiana made a 911 call and told police that Sandoval had been showing up at her home and even followed her to the supermarket.

Her sister said he also showed up at her home in February in the middle of the night, and they had to escape after being attacked.

'On February 6, he broke down the door at four in the morning. He was choking her, left bruises on her face and she had bruises all over her body,' she said.

'He was looking for a knife to kill her right then, but she managed to run out of the house.'

The police report stated, 'The victim also stated that the defendant had been harassing her through phone calls, social media, and texts.'

'I lived in that house for four months, and I know what my sister went through. I'm the only one who can speak about it because now that b*****d killed himself and took her with him,' Guzman Mendoza said.

Sandoval was arrested and charged with stalking and violating a domestic violence injunction on April 2

Indiana was shot outside of her employer, Del Toro Insurance, in an apparent murder-suicide

Court records show the couple had been together for nine years, and they got married in Nicaragua before moving to the U.S. three years ago

'He wasn't a real man - that he made the decision because he didn't think about his family or my mother, and that he knew he was going to kill her.'

Sandoval's daughter issued a statement to the local news station, asking people to refrain from 'prematurely judging' her father.

'Both families involved are mourning the loss of someone very dear to them, and while I do not condone my fathers actions, I believe it is unjust to single him out for blame,' she said.

Indiana's family has set up a GoFundMe to help raise money to have her transported back to Nicaragua for a funeral.

Del Toro Insurance, Indiana's employer, released a statement sending their condolences to her family.

'A reprehensible and regrettable incident occurred at the headquarters of Del Toro Insurance. A completely unjustifiable crime of passion took place against one of our employees, who was on duty and serving the community,' the company said.

'At this time, Del Toro Insurance sends its condolences to the victims family and reiterates its total condemnation of this abominable act of extreme violence against a young and hardworking woman. May her memory be honored as she deserves.'
President Donald Trump's White House is ruthlessly bashing a Democratic lawmaker for planning a visit to a deported 'MS-13 gang member' in El Salvador.

Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., announced Wednesday that he had landed in the Central American country to visit Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadorian migrant accidentally deported by the Trump administration earlier this year.

Posting multiple videos on his X account, the Democrat shared he intends to visit Abrego Garcia, 29, and advocate for his swift release.

But, in response, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung wrote: 'Chris and his bedwetting friends have shown more concern and sympathy for an illegal MS-13 gang member than victims of horrific migrant crimes.

'He is a complete disgrace to his office and should be thoroughly shamed for his disgusting actions.'

Kaelan Dorr, one of Cheung's deputies, also bashed the visit in a post on X Wednesday, writing: 'Homie is simping for a literal gang member who is already "home".'

Trump 'Border Czar' Tom Homan also sent an uncompromising message to Van Hollen and Democrats keen on visiting Abrego Garcia.

'Im just as disgusted that any congressional representative is going to run though El Salvador to his aid.' the border czar said Wednesday. 'Its just disgusting.'

White House 'Border Czar' Tom Homan speaks to the media at the White House on Tuesday. He told reporters that Democrats should 'fix the problem' of illegal immigration before visiting deported migrants abroad

The Supreme Court ordered Trump to 'facilitate' the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran migrant who lived in the U.S. legally with a work permit, to the U.S.

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung flashes a thumbs up while wearing a bowler hat

When asked by a reporter outside of the White House on Tuesday what his message is to Democrats planning trips to see Abrego Garcia, Homan suggested that the lawmakers reform immigration policies instead.

Abrego Garcia first entered the U.S. in 2011 but was granted permission to stay by a judge in 2019. He later settled down in Maryland and has an American wife and son.

However, the Trump administration deported Abrego Garcia on March 15 after files indicated that he had connections with MS-13, a vicious Salvadorian-American gang.

His wife and lawyer deny his gang affiliation and have sued the administration for improperly removing him from the U.S.

The outrage over the migrant's removal prompted Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat, to travel to El Salvador on Wednesday.

But Homan says the visit is futile and will not change the Trump administration's decision to leave Abrego Garcia in El Salvador.

'We're not going to change anything,' Homan warned Democrats. 'We remove terrorists in this country where they should be.'

'I can't believe that any Democrat politician does not want public safety threats out of the community,' Homan fumed. 'Their number responsibility is protection of the community.'

U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., speaks at Dulles International Airport as he is headed to El Salvador to push for the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia on Wednesday

I just landed in San Salvador a little while ago, and I look forward to meeting with the team at the U.S. embassy to discuss the release of Mr. Abrego Garcia.



I also hope to meet with Salvadoran officials and with Kilmar himself. He was illegally abducted and needs to come home. pic.twitter.com/MzKe7U8Wwr  Senator Chris Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen) April 16, 2025

'But they would they rather go down to El Salvador than fix the problem and just talk about in Maryland, fix the problem of Boston, fix the problem of Washington state,' the border czar said of the migrant sanctuaries.

Homan also took issue with the media referring to Abrego Garcia as a 'Maryland man,' something the border czar himself admitted before backtracking swiftly.

'The Maryland father, the Maryland illegal alien, not a father. The Maryland illegal alien ... was arrested for murder and released to the public,' Homan stated.

It makes 'zero sense' why Democrats want him to be released, the border czar continued.

Van Hollen, meanwhile, pushed back on the administration in a video Wednesday morning noting how he is visiting El Salvador to support his constituent and chart a path forward for his return to the U.S..

'The goal of this mission is to let the Trump administration, to let the government of El Salvador know that we are going to keep fighting to bring Abrego Garcia home until he returns to his family,' the senator said.

'I hope to meet with representatives of the government, I hope to have the chance to actually see Kilmar and see what his condition is, but we are going to keep fighting because this is a miscarriage of justice.'

Despite his hopes to see the migrant, El Salvador's government has already declared that they will not be letting Abrego Garcia go.

President Donald Trump meets with El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, April 14, 2025. During the meeting Bukele affirmed that his administration will not seek to return Abrego Garcia to the U.S.

Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., is reportedly planning a trip to El Salvador

On Monday El Salvador President Nayib Bukele visited Donald Trump at the White House to discuss immigration and the U.S. sending migrants to the country's Terrorism Confinement Center, known as CECOT, where thousands of suspected gang members are held.

The Trump administration has been paying the country millions to send deported migrants to the maximum-security prison.

Bukele confirmed during the meeting that his administration has no intention of letting the 'Maryland man' go.

Complicating the matter for the White House is an order from the Supreme Court demanding that Trump 'facilitate' the return of Abrego Garcia. The Trump administration claims it has no jurisdiction to return the Salvadorian man.

In addition to Van Hollen, Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., are also planning trips to the Central American country, Axios reported.

'We need to spring into action,' Garcia told the outlet. 'You can't just put up statements. That doesn't mean anything.'

'I think that it's important to say what we're thinking and what our next steps are, but we've got to show action,' the California lawmaker said.
A Chinese husband and wife have been killed in a mafia-style execution in Rome.

Zhang Dayong, 53, dubbed 'Asheng,' was found dead alongside his partner Gong Xiaoqing, 38, outside their home in an eastern Roman neighbourhood, according to Italian police.

The killing comes as Triad gang warfare erupted in the capital after spilling over from the Tuscan city of Prato.

At least six gunshots were fired late on Monday evening near the Pigneto district of Rome, police said.

The pair were returning home when the killers approached on a motorcycle and opened fire just a few meters from the building where they lived.

The couple both died from gunshot wounds to the backs of their heads.

Prosecutors said the double homicide could be a 'revenge killing' and may be linked to the so-called 'Coat Hanger Wars' which has escalated in recent years.

The wars represent a violent struggle between Chinese criminal factions originally centered in Prato for the lucrative fashion logistics market.

Prato alone has seen the rate of violent incidents soar, including assaults, arson attacks and attempted murders.

A Chinese husband and wife were executed after a gunman opened fire on them as they cycled home in Rome (stock image)

The killing comes as Triad gang warfare has erupted in the capital after spilling over from Prato. At least six gunshots were fired late Monday evening in via Prenestina, near the Pigneto district of Rome, police said (stock image of Rome)

According to investigators Dayong, nicknamed Asheng, worked for Naizhong Zhang (pictured) - a Chinese-Italian boss on trial in Florence following accusations he coordinated illegal operations across Italy, France, Germany and Spain

Such criminal activity has now spread beyond the Tuscan city and has infiltrated other parts of Europe, like Madrid and Paris.

According to investigators Dayong, nicknamed Asheng, worked for Naizhong Zhang - a Chinese-Italian boss on trial in Florence following accusations he coordinated illegal operations across Italy, France, Germany and Spain.

Zhang had accumulated a near-monopoly in distribution of goods across much of Europe through threats and violence against Chinese company owners, anti-mafia prosecutors revealed.

Dayong was involved in managing underground gambling, loan-sharking and enforcement operations in the capital, according to prosecutors.

He was seen as a central figure in a 2018 investigation dubbed 'China Truck' - an anti-mafia operation led by Florence prosecutors that unveiled the activities of Chinese trafficking gangs in Prato, close to Florence.

It comes after earlier this month MailOnline revealed how Chinese triad gangs operate in many of Britain's Chinatowns - while also exerting control much further afield.

One experienced detective described them as 'by far the most sophisticated and organised criminal gangs' in Britain, with operations spanning the entire country.

The detective claimed that all the UK's urban police forces have 'huge issues' with triad activity, namechecking London, Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool in particular.

'They have a huge influence and use fear and violence to extort, tax and control,' he warned.

David McKelvey, who spent nearly 30 years with the Met, said there was an urgent need for police to recognise the threat they pose and clamp down on their activities.
A counselor of vulnerable teenagers accused of engaging in a sexual relationship with one of her patients professed her love to him over text messages.

Alicia Kaye Stowe, 36, is currently on trial in Washington state after prosecutors say she had sex with the then 16-year-old.

She had been working at the now-shuttered Daybreak Youth Services facility when she met the teenager, who is now 20. She was 32 at the time of the alleged molestation.

Her victim claims he was abused by Stowe during one of his 90-day stays inside the rehab facility, which he had been inside for drug use.

During the trial, prosecutors have revealed love letters written by the victim that he gave Stowe, and text exchanges between the two, according to KOIN.

In a text message exchange shown to the court, the then-teenager said to her: 'I love you Kaye', before calling her 'baby'.

She responds: 'Yes', to which he then asks 'say it back, [c'mon] I know you wanna', to which she says 'I love you'. The teenager responded 'yay'.

Stowe was charged in January of 2023, with court documents alleging that she had a sexual relationship with the man between May 2020 and March 2022.

Alicia Kaye Stowe, 36, is currently on trial in Washington state after prosecutors say she had sex with the then 16-year-old

She had been working at the now-shuttered Daybreak Youth Services facility when she met the teenager, who appeared in court earlier this week (pictured with his identity protected)

In an affidavit seen by the outlet, police started investigating her after her wife reported her interactions with the teenager.

Police interviewed the teen, who told officers he and Stowe had sex three times while he was a patient and that it continued after he was discharged.

Taking the stand on Tuesday, the now 20-year-old said the pair would take walks around the facility and he started sending her notes, according to KGW.

One of those was shown to the court, in which he wrote: 'Every day your gone I think about you and I think how I can make this work after I get out.

'I want to continue seeing you and you're the only person that got so close that made me start thinking about marriage and I know that it will have to wait till I'm 18.'

The letter continued: 'I really care about you, every time I'm with you I get butterflies and that's never happened to me.'

He also told the court that Stowe performed oral sex on him inside a bathroom, and that she drove two hours to meet him at a motel for sex.

Stowe's defense lawyers argued in court that his statements are unreliable due to him having been inside the facility for abusing crystal meth.

In a text message exchange shown to the court, the then teenager said to her: 'I love you Kaye', before calling her 'baby'

Taking the stand on Tuesday, the now 20-year-old said the pair would take walks around the facility and he started sending her notes, a part of one of those notes is seen here

Attorney Jon McMullen said: 'He doesnt always know when hes telling the truth and when hes not telling the truth, because hes lied on a number of occasions to law enforcement about this case.'

The man admitted that he was not forthcoming with officers when originally questioned in 2022, saying he wanted to protect Stowe.

Prosecutor Melinda McMahon said in her opening statement that during the teenager's first stay their relationship was professional.

In his second stay however, McMahon said that: '[Stowe] violated her position of authority to have sexual intercourse with [the accuser].'

Stowe has maintained her innocence throughout the case, with the trial expected to last the rest of the week.

She was fired from Daybreak in 2022 on unrelated reasons according to the Washington State Department of Health. Her counseling license was suspended in February of last year.
Antananarivo, Madagascar (PANA)  Malagasy authorities and the International Monetary Fund staff have reached a staff-level agreement on policies to complete the Second Reviews of Madagascars 3-year Extended Credit Facility (ECF) and Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) arrangements
Police believe an organised criminal gang have posted a series of dating profiles on Grindr featuring handsome men hoping to lure in victims who are then tricked into inviting the burglars into their own home for a 'date'.

In many cases, once their 'date' arrives, the unsuspecting victims are shocked to find they are accompanied by a group of men who quickly demand their mobile phone and PIN numbers.

Within a short time, the gang are able to drain victims' bank accounts, taking large sums of cash before stealing other valuable items of property from their home.

Officers have linked the 50 cases due to the large number of burglary and fraud victims targeted in the same way through the app, but they believe the true number of those conned may be far higher as some victims may be too embarrassed to come forward.

Detectives have now issued an urgent warning about the 'Grindr gang'- and are appealing for any potential victims to contact them.

Superintendent Owen Renowden, the Met's hate crime lead who is overseeing the investigation, said: 'This is a series of pre-planned offences where unsuspecting victims have been targeted, often in their own homes, resulting in high-value items being taken.

'In the majority of cases, the suspects would arrange to meet the victims at their homes via the Grindr app, and once inside, would steal high value items including mobile phones.

'In other reports we have received, they build a rapport with the victim while paying close attention to the pin number they enter into their phones before using distraction techniques to steal them, going on to make various digital payments and transactions.

Police believe a gang of criminals are using gate dating app Grindr to target a string of men as part of a crime wave that has gripped London (file image)

Police believe gangs of criminals are ambushing unsuspecting victims at their homes after arranging dates on Grindr (file image)

Superintendent Owen Renowden, the Met's hate crime lead who is overseeing the investigation, is now appealing for other victims to come forward and get in touch

'Due to the volume of these offences and the serious impact on the safety of both individuals and communities, we are treating them as potential hate crimes.'

The investigation has resulted in three arrests so far, the Met said.

A 22-year-old man from Potters Bar in Hertfordshire was arrested on Thursday, 3 April on suspicion of burglary and fraud offences. He was charged and remanded in custody.

Two other men, aged 27 and 28 and both from Harrow, have been arrested on suspicion of burglary and are on bail while the investigation continues.

However, detectives believe there could still be more victims.

Superintendent Renowden, added: 'Our investigation is progressing at pace, but we believe there are a number of offences that have not yet been reported to us, so I urge anyone who may have been targeted, or may have crucial information that will help us with our enquiries, to contact us as soon as possible.'

'I understand some people may be apprehensive about getting in touch with us, but I'd like to provide reassurance that all reports will be thoroughly investigated.

'We are working closely with our LGBT+ Independent Advisory Group and the LGBT+ anti-abuse charity, GALOP, to ensure we conduct our investigation with sensitivity and care.

Scotland Yard believes their could be at least 50 incidents as part of the reported crime spree

'The Met Police is fully committed to ensuring all our communities in London feel safe, as well as continuing to enhance the trust and confidence LGBT+ people place in us.

'Organised crime has a devastating impact on society and your help will be key in helping us bring those responsible to justice.'

Victims or those with information are urged to call the police on 101, quoting the refence CAD 5090/15APR.

Alternatively, contact independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Tiktok has banished a user who posted a 'starter kit' meme targeting Gisele Pelicot, a Frenchwoman who survived nearly a decade of rapes by dozens of men amid a campaign of abuse orchestrated by her husband.

Social networks have been awash with AI-generated 'starter pack' or 'starter kit' memes in recent weeks.

These images display a toy-like figurine wrapped in plastic packaging along with various accessories to describe someone's experience in a given scenario, for example, in their job.

The account reportedly posted the AI-generated 'starter pack' meme that showed a pyjama-clad doll in the likeness of 72-year-old Gisele Pelicot, along with a bed, a pill and a camera.

The meme also featured a '4+' age grading symbol, the words 'pre-order your Gisele' and a link to a dating website.

French broadcaster BFMTV said the man behind the image had previously posted content denigrating Pelicot, and 'even a photo of a board game called 'don't wake Gisele'.'

Tiktok deleted the user's account on Tuesday and the content is now inaccessible on the app, a representative of the social network told AFP.

The user in question courted harsh criticism.

'A man is using Gisele Pelicot's image to promote a libertine dating site,' feminist account Ovairestherainbow said on Instagram.

'It is clearly an apology for rape,' said the account with more than 90,000 followers.

The account reportedly posted the AI-generated 'starter pack' meme that showed a pyjama-clad doll in the likeness of 72-year-old Gisele Pelicot, along with a bed, a pill and a camera

Gisele Pelicot poses in Avignon, on October 23, 2024, during the trial of her former partner accused of drugging her for nearly ten years and inviting strangers to rape her at their home in Mazan

This courtroom sketch by Valentin Pasquier shows Gisele Pelicot, left, and her ex-husband Dominique Pelicot, right, during his trial at the courthouse in Avignon, southern France, on Sept. 17, 2024

BFMTV said the AI-generated image had racked up at least 30,000 views before the user who posted it was taken offline.

Pelicot garnered international acclaim for refusing to be ashamed in the trial of her ex-husband last year over him orchestrating her sexual abuse for almost a decade.

Dominique Pelicot, her now former husband, drugged her for nearly a decade so he and dozens of strangers he recruited online could rape her.

A French court in December sentenced Dominique Pelicot to 20 years in prison.

His 50 co-defendants were also found guilty and handed sentences of between three and 15 years.

The outrage over the AI-generated likeness of Gisele comes just weeks after her son David delivered a wide-ranging interview about the impact his father's depraved actions had on the family.

David Pelicot told Sky News that his mother had called her children in late 2020 after police showed her photographs of her abuse at their home in Mazan, France.

It was a harrowing call to make. For a decade, Ms Pelicot had been oblivious to how her husband had coordinated dozens of men to rape her while she was unconscious in her bed - abuse that Dominique filmed in the couple's retirement home.

'It's a moment that will remain etched in my memory forever,' David told the outlet.

He said his wife picked up the phone and turned pale as she spoke to her mother-in-law. David took the phone and was asked to go somewhere quiet for them to speak.

'What she told me was like a tsunami,' he recalled. Overwhelmed by emotion, he began feeling nauseous.

'I hung up the phone and it felt like the floor gave way under my feet, and I felt sick,' he said. 'I went to the bathroom and threw up.'

David explained how the image of his father was shattered when his mother called to explain how she had been drugged and assaulted.

He 'was the backbone of the family', he said. 'He'd taught me to respect women, so when I heard what he'd done to our own mother, as the eldest son, I was filled with anger and total incomprehension'.

David cut off all contact with his father after police exposed the crimes. He said he will never be able to forgive his father, who he now refers to by his full name.

The only question he still wants answered is why the father committed such acts of cruelty against his wife, children and grandchildren.

David Pelicot revealed his anguish at learning of his mother's abuse first in 2020

Gisele Pelicot leaves the courthouse after hearing the verdict on December 19, 2024

Dominque Pelicot was found to have organised the repeated rape and sexual abuse of his wife online, sedating her with drugs laced into her food and drink

Gisele Pelicot was heralded as a national hero after she bravely waived her anonymity to face her rapists during the trial.

She sat in court, listened and watched as stories, images and videos of the abuse she suffered were replayed again and again during the three month trial in Avignon last year.

She told the court how she wanted to 'disappear' when police first told her of the evidence they had compiled in late 2020, after arresting her husband for taking photos up the skirts of female shoppers.

'I only wanted one thing and that was to disappear. I told myself - I am going to get in my car with my dog and end it all,' she said.

She also revealed her children were terrified she was going to take her own life before they could reach her.

'When I told my sons about this, I don't think they really understood, they were withdrawn... I think they were in a state of shock. They said: 'Don't say such silly things'.

'[That] evening, the children rang all the time saying 'don't disappear'... they were worried I might die.'
Elon Musk allegedly offered to impregnate right-wing influencer Tiffany Fong - then retaliated by harming her X earnings when she declined his approach, per a new report.

The SpaceX founder, 53, is said to be creating a 'legion' of offspring, offering women he deems as intelligent the chance to discreetly bear his children in exchange for millions of dollars.

Fong, who gained notoriety during Sam Bankman-Frieds downfall, was one of the women approached by Musk on X, according to a bombshell report on the Wall Street Journal.

Musk reportedly began liking and replying to the 30-year-old's posts last summer. As Fong ramped up her support of Donald Trump, the Tesla boss followed her.

A follow from Musk, whose $370 billion fortune has made him the world's richest man, gave Fong's account massive visibility.

Months ago, Fong caused a stir on X by sharing the huge sums of money she had been earning from the platform's ad-sharing program, sometimes receiving as much as $21,000 over a two-week period.

During the height of her X income, Musk allegedly sent her a direct message asking if she was interested in having his baby, even though they two had never met in person, sources told the WSJ.

Fong declined the offer and shared the incident with another right-wing influencer, Ashley St Clair, who says she had Musk's son last year.

When Musk learned that Fong shared the information with St Clair, he slammed her for not keeping his offer quiet and unfollowed her, which led to a fall in her X engagement and thus her income.

Elon Musk allegedly offered to impregnate right-wing influencer Tiffany Fong- and then retaliated when she declined the officer

Musk, 53, is said to be creating a 'legion' of offspring, offering women he deems as intelligent to carry quietly his children in exchange for millions of dollars

Musk is yet to respond to all of the specific claims in the bombshell report. He posted this snarly insult on X, chipping away at the Journal's credibility, last night

Back in February, Fond spoke to DailyMail.com to deny viral rumors that she was carrying Musk's child as X users wondered how she could make so much money on the ad-share program.

In the same WSJ report, St Clair claimed that Musk offered her $15million for her silence after she birthed his son last year.

The report also revealed that a paternity test determined Musk is '99.9999%' likely to be the father of the newborn, even though he has said he is not sure about the paternity.

Musk slammed the WSJ on Tuesday by essentially saying that the celebrity gossip website TMZ was a better publication.

He wrote on X: 'TMZ >> WSJ'

St. Clair claimed Musk - who says he's provided her at least $2.5 million to date in March - offered her $15 million and $100,000 a month to not publicly disclose that he is the father of the child until he turns 21.

Jared Birchall, Musk's fixer, told St. Clair that this is similar to what Musk has agreed with the other mothers of his children, who include pop star Grimes and Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis.

Fong (pictured), 30, was forced to deny rumors that she is pregnant with Elon Musk's child

St. Clair revealed Tuesday that the newborn, a boy, is named Romulus

Musk allegedly wanted multiple residencies in the same community where all of the women and the children - which insiders suggest is 'much higher' than the known about 14 - would live. The one of the mothers who lives in the gated community is Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis (pictured center left)

The pair met in spring 2023 via social media and Musk invited her to visit the X offices in San Francisco, when St. Clair was the operations manager and conservative humor site The Babylon Bee.

He eventually invited her to a trip on his private plane to Rhode Island to visit one of his children at school.

Musk spoke frequently about having children with St. Clair, telling her 'pick a name' after the first time they had sex.

On a vacation over New Year's heading into 2024, St. Clair revealed she had been ovulating.

Musk asked: 'What are we waiting for?'

St. Clair said that they conceived Romulus soon after.

St Clair also said Musk tried to get her to move to an Austin 'compound' to spend time with himself and the rest of what he calls his 'kid legion.'

Musk allegedly wanted multiple residencies in the same community where all of the women and the children would live.

The tycoon is known to have fathered 14 children but insiders say the real number is much higher.

The one of the mothers who lives in the gated community is Zilis, as even Musk only 'comes and goes' and Grimes rejected the request.

Musk has repeatedly said that he considers declining birth rates a grave threat to human kind.

According to the WSJ, sources said he is 'driven to correct the historic moment by helping seed the earth with more human beings of high intelligence.'
A mother killed in a house fire allegedly lit by her husband volunteered for a domestic violence charity.

Queensland mother-of-two Louise Susannah Hunt was allegedly murdered by Cameron Robert Hunt, 45, at their Geham home in a rural community north of Toowoomba, just before 3am on Tuesday.

Authorities discovered a body inside the charred home and while police are yet to make a formal identification with forensic testing is still underway, the remains are believed to be that of the 42-year-old wife and mother.

Two children at home at the time managed to escape unharmed.

Hunt has been charged with domestic violence murder and arson.

His wife Louise was a passionate supporter of Protea Place, a Toowoomba charity that helps vulnerable women.

It's where she struck up a close bond with charity chief executive Amanda Dalton, who fought back tears as she paid tribute to her late friend.

'Louise was the epitome of the most amazing and beautiful woman,' she told Seven News.

Queensland mother-of-two Louise Hunt was allegedly murdered by her husband Cameron Hunt (pictured together) in a house fire on Tuesday

Authorities discovered a body inside the charred home and while police are yet to make a formal identification, the remains are believed to be that of the 42-year-old wife and mother

'When it's someone you know personally, it just knocks the absolute wind out of you on an even deeper level.'

Despite being surrounded by the horrors of domestic violence every day, Ms Dalton said having an alleged victim in her inner circle added 'a whole new layer of grief'.

'She absolutely lived for her children and her family,' Ms Dalton told the Courier Mail.

'They were her everything and will always be her everything. Our hearts are just broken for her children and her family.'

She said that Ms Hunt will be remembered as a kind-natured woman with the friendly and cheeky smile who always wanted to help people.

Ms Hunt regularly attended Protea Place events with her family and parents.

'The (family) are at every event, they believe in supporting the work that we do and Louise was there, flying the banner at every opportunity,' Ms Dalton said.

'May is Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month and we have a candlelight vigil  Lou would have been there, supporting others and now here we are.'

Protea Place CEO Amanda Dalton said Louise Hunt (pictured) 'absolutely lived for her kids'

The fire ripped through the Geham home early Tuesday morning

Ms Dalton vowed to ensure her friend's death won't be in vain.

'We dont want her just lost as another statistic or another name on a chair,' she said.

Police said there was no previous reported domestic violence history between the couple. Nor was there an active domestic violence order in place.

Neighbours were woken by flashing blue and red lights and the smell of smoke early Tuesday morning.

One family, who didn't want to be named, were shocked and devastated when they learned of Ms Hunt's death

They told AAP that the Hunts as a 'lovely family', who mostly kept to themselves, but added that they 'could be a lot of fun.'

The neighbours added Ms Hunt was kind, caring and a hard-working mum while her husband always checked in on those around him.

'We never saw it coming  it rattles you,' they said.

'What should we have done as a community to see the signs?'

Another neighbour added: 'We're still coming to terms with it - it's so close to home.

Others took to social media to mourn the loss of the beloved mother, led by Ms Hunt's sister.

Ms Hunt (pictured with her husband) regularly attended Protea Place events with her family and parents

Two children were home at the time of the blaze but are safe and well

'Loved beyond measure forever and always, fly high my beautiful sister, I love you so much,' Savannah Griffiths wrote.

Toowoomba Mayor Geoff McDonald said that the community was heartbroken by the 'tragic and senseless' loss.

'Our deepest condolences go out to all who are grieving,' he posted on Facebook.

'No one should ever have their life taken by violence.'

'May the memory of Louise be a light in the darkness.'

Ms Hunt's colleagues also paid tribute to the marketing specialist, who worked for vehicle accessory company Tuff Australia.

'The impact on the Tuff family has been enormous and incomprehensible,' the company said.

'We are together grieving the loss of a work colleague, friend and an exceptional human being.'

Cameron Hunt (pictured) will remain in custody after his case was adjourned for three months

On their website, Tuff Australia described Louise as someone who embraced life.

'Louise's adventurous spirit was evident from a young age.

'Growing up in Zimbabwe, she had encounters that not many can boast about, including being chased by an elephant and a warthog.'

'As for her dream holiday destination, Louise's ideal retreat involved a beach and cocktails.

'Any place that combines the soothing sound of waves with the clink of glasses was her idea of the perfect getaway.'

There was no previous reported domestic violence history between the couple (pictured)

Hunt's matter was briefly mentioned at Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Wednesday, where he was excused from appearing.

The case has been adjourned for three months for police to prepare a brief of evidence.

Hunt was remanded in custody and will appear in court on July 16.

If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au.
A young family's peaceful night's sleep in a quiet Georgia suburb was disturbed in the most nightmarish way...until a quick-thinking father sprang into action.

Justin Couch, 38, and his wife Allison faced every parents' nightmare when a deranged man broke into their children's bedroom in Jackson, Georgia at 11:30pm Monday.

The couple and their three children were asleep when their 15-year-old son was awoken by the sound of his window shattering.

He then ran to his parents room to warn them, waking his dad.

'I've got to protect my kids, that was all that was in my mind,' Couch explained. 'In that moment I was terrified, I'm going to be honest with you.'

The suspect, identified by police as Abdil Aquil, had allegedly smashed his teen's window and began threatening to murder the family inside.

Couch grabbed his gun and opened fire as his children looked on.

The bullet did not strike the suspect, but it was enough to send him flying back through a window he was trying to crawl through.

But the ordeal did not end there, as the intruder then jumped back up and started stalking off down the street.

Georgia father Justin Couch has recalled the terrifying moment he was forced to shoot at a stranger who tried to break into his home in the dead of night whilst his family were inside

Abdil Aquil has been identified as the suspect by police and has been charged with a slew of offences

It took multiple taser-wielding to subdue Aquil and place him under arrest, Butts County Sheriff Gary Long said.

Couch recalled the terrifying moment he knew his family's lives were at stake.

'He starts yelling at me, telling me he's going to kill me and 'I'm going to beat your ass' and then he took off and started lunging towards my front door,' Couch said.

'I came around and he pushed my window so hard and with so much force that the entire casing of the window blew in and it flew about five feet, all way down the basement stairs.'

All the while, Couch's ten-year-old daughter was on his hip and his 15-year-old son was by his side. His wife had run to find their oldest son.

'The whole time they are beside me and I'm pointing my gun,' Couch added. 'He stepped back and then his hands went up and he shouted, 'come on motherf***er'.

'He was about three quarter in the house and he was shouting, 'I'm going to kill you' so I shot him one time'.

With his adrenaline pumping, Couch managed to keep his calm even after seeing the suspect flee down the street.

'I was just thinking I've got to protect my kids, but I don't want to kill someone in front of my kids,' Couch added.

'I've always been that person that said if anyone ever came in my house I'd shoot them and I'd kill them, but it's a little different in the moment when you've got your kids watching. I just wanted him out of the house.'

Couch's bullet did not strike the suspect, who was then brought to the ground by police with tasers

But Couch said that within minutes, the suspect had been surrounded by police.

'In that moment I was terrified I'm going to be honest with you. I know I was shaking,' he added.

He praised the Butts County Sheriff's Office as the 'best in the world', as well as his son's quick-thinking.

'I was so proud of him, he was probably the calmest one there,' Couch said. 'He knew to come in and wake me, all he said was 'someone has busted my window' and then he went and made sure the front door was locked and tried to wake up his older brother.'

But he revealed the ordeal has taken its toll on the family, who are currently too scared to spend the night in their own home.

'It's been rough,' he explained. My daughter's thing was that she was always scared to sleep in her room in case someone came in and now somebody did and now I don't think my daughter will ever sleep in her room again.

'I mean I don't really want to go into my own home right now and I'm 38 years-of-age.'

The incident has stunned the sleepy community where it unfolded.

The heroic dad, pictured with wife Allison, said he was 'terrified' in the moment but just wanted to protect his kids

The terrifying ordeal took place at Couch's home in Jackson, Georgia

Couch explained that his cars were unlocked on the driveway and his older son's window was open at the time of the attack.

'I moved out of Atlanta to get away from all that,' he said. 'Nothing was taken from us, this happened at 11.30pm at night, this person was just trying to hurt my family.'

But he is just grateful things did not end in more tragedy.

'The sheriff's response was phenomenal, but for him to say that in all his 28 years without doing what I did it he would have been dealing with a homicide.

'He told me the guy is going to jail for a very long time.'

Aquil is charged with burglary, home invasion, terroristic threats, three counts of cruelty to children in the 1st degree, criminal damage to property in the 2nd degree, and obstruction of law enforcement, Atlanta News First reports.

Butts County Sheriff Gary Long told the outlet Aquil was previously given probation for busting into another homeowner's residence.
Vice President JD Vance issued a staunch defense of President Donald Trump's deportation strategy as he lambasted 'bulls*** arguments' from those demanding due process for illegal immigrants.

Vance kicked off a discussion on social media about deportations, noting that former President Joe Biden allowed 'approximately 20 million illegal aliens' into the United States during his four years as president.

He argued that providing due process and legal proceedings for every illegal immigrant deported would only slow down Trump's attempt to fix the problem.

'The American people elected the Trump administration to solve this problem. The President has successfully stopped the inflow of illegal aliens, and now we must deport the people who came here illegally,' he wrote.

Vance argued that Democrats and 'people weeping over the lack of due process' had no solution to the problem of massive illegal immigration, citing the need for drastic action to 'deport at least a few million people per year.'

The system was 'overwhelmed' he argued, forcing the need for widespread immigration enforcement that he acknowledged would have errors.

'What I am OK with is the reality that any human system will produce errors. Further, I accept the actual tradeoff: between not enforcing the law and enforcing the law. And I choose the latter despite the inevitable errors,' he concluded.

Vance grew frustrated by journalists on social media who suggested he was misleading people by arguing against court proceedings for deportees.

US Vice President JD Vance answers reporters' questions next to US President Donald Trump

Pam Bondi, U.S. Attorney General, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio (2nd R) sit nearby as U.S. President Donald Trump meets with President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador in the Oval Office

'I'm sick of abstract bulls*** arguments,' Vance fired back at reporter and documentary filmmaker Leighton Woodhouse on Wednesday morning. 'What your proposal does, whether you know it or not, is ratify the presence of millions of illegals aliens in our country. I reject that.'

Vance commented as Democrats and the establishment media spent the week focusing on the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, 29, who was living in Maryland after arriving to the United States illegally from El Salvador.

He was sent back to El Salvador by the Trump administration in March even though he had been granted legal protection from deportation by an immigration judge in 2019.

The Trump administration deported Garcia to a prison in El Salvador on the grounds that he was accused by a police informant of being a member of the gang MS-13.

The Supreme Court ruled in April in a 9-0 decision that the United States government had to 'facilitate' Garcia's release from custody, as he was 'improperly' sent to El Salvador.

The White House contends that Garcia is no longer in their custody and so there is nothing that can be done to facilitate his release.

President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance pause near the Oval Office

U.S President Donald Trump, right, poses with Salvadorian President Nayib Bukele, left, during their bilateral meeting at the Oval Office of the White House,

'That's up to El Salvador if they want to return him,' Attorney General Pam Bondi said at the White House on Monday. 'That's not up to us. The Supreme Court ruled that if El Salvador wants to return him  we would facilitate it: meaning, provide a plane.'

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele said Monday at the White House he had no intention of returning Garcia.

'The question is preposterous. How can I smuggle a terrorist into the United States?' Bukele said, referring to accusations that Garcia is a member of the gang MS-13.

The battle between Democrats and Republicans has consumed the administration as they struggle to defend their decision to deport Garcia.

Vance's comments solidified the president's position on the issue as Democrats continue highlighting Garcia's case as an example of the Trump administration shredding due process for illegal immigrants.

Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland announced Wednesday that he was leaving on a plane for El Salvador to advocate for Garcia's release.

'We are going to keep fighting to bring Abrego Garcia home until he returns to his family,' Van Hollen said.
CCTV footage revealed the dramatic moment a 'Rolex ripper' gang mistakenly target a pair of undercover police officer posing as a wealthy couple kitted with designer watches.

The police officers, who cannot be named, were wearing expensive garments and accessories as they played their part as bait for the shameless criminals on October 10, 2024.

One of the yobs, Yakob Harket, 21, can be seen snatching a replica Patek Philippe Rose Gold watch from the female officer's wrist in Berkeley Square, Mayfair.

An officer wearing a suit slips over as he attempts to arrest Harket, but the criminal quickly races away as two of his accomplices were caught by police.

However he was swiftly brought to justice, and was arrested by police shortly afterwards.

Harket later confessed to robbery at Southwark Crown Court, with his accomplice Mohammed Naas, 34, was convicted of robbery by a jury after a three day trial.

Yanis Amri, 37, and Adel Mohamdi, 31, were convicted in their absence after they absconded.

Henry Laidlaw, prosecuting, said the undercover officers, referred to as A and B, were 'tasked with walking around while posing as a wealthy couple.'

CCTV footage revealed the dramatic moment a 'Rolex ripper' gang mistakenly target a pair of undercover police officer posing as a wealthy couple kitted with designer watches

The police officers, who cannot be named, were wearing expensive garments and accessories as they played their part as bait for the shameless criminals on October 10, 2024

Yakob Harket (pictured) later confessed to robbery at Southwark Crown Court, with his accomplice Mohammed Naas, 34, was convicted of robbery by a jury after a three day trial.

'He [Harket] ripped the Patek Philippe watch off her wrist but dropped it, so it was recovered,' said Mr Laidlaw.

'You will have seen there, there were a large number of plain clothes officers who sprang into action.

'Mohamadi and Naas were arrested right next to the offence.'

Jurors were shown several clips showing the officers walking from Berkeley Square to Hays Mews on the evening of 10 October, where they had been followed by the thieving trio.

When asked by police, Naas claimed he had woken up at a friend's house in Edgware Road, had lunch and went to Tottenham Court road for cigarettes.

He alleged he and Mohamdi had wound up in Shepherd's Market after meeting for a coffee earlier that day.

'Mr Naas said the robbery happened right in front of him. He said he knew Harket but they had never had a conversation,' said Mr Laidlaw.

'The prosecution's case, as evidenced by the phone is he knew Harket well and had a lot of communication in the months leading up to the robbery.

'Phones were downloaded and a number of internet searches had been made by Naas on 9 October for Richard Mille watches,' said Mr Laidlaw.

'Mr Naas did exactly what he was required to do, make sure they were under observation at all times,' he added.

'It is the prosecution's case that Naas was an essential cog in a machine and played a knowing and willing part in the robbery.'

Jurors were shown several clips showing the officers walking from Berkeley Square to Hays Mews on the evening of 10 October, where they had been followed by the thieving trio

Pictured left to right: Mohammed Naas, Yanis Amri and Adel Mohamdi

Naas, who appeared in the dock today aided by an Arabic interpreter, denied but was convicted of robbery.

Mohamdi and Amri were convicted in their absence while Harket admitted robbery, with sentencing adjourned until June 2, 2024.

Arrest warrants have been issued for Mohamdi and Amri.

Earlier this week Algerian Anis Benemri, 28, was jailed for 32 months for robbing tourist Karl Christian Septien of his 250,000 'Bubba Watson' watch in front of his children outside the Novikov Restaurant on Berkeley Street.

A spokesperson for the Met said: 'Tackling violent crime is one of the Met's priorities and we are determined to reduce the number of robberies.

'Uniform and plain clothes officers proactively patrol robbery hotspots to identify offences taking place, but more importantly to help prevent and deter offenders from committing robberies in the first place.'
Police should stop wasting their time investigating guff and tell people reporting fluff and nonsense on social media to grow up, one of Britains top chiefs has said.

Stephen Watson, Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police believes officers should not be detaining people for using tasty language online and suggested the public lose confidence in police when forces are pontificating on social media issues like gender identity.

The leader of one of Britain's biggest police forces spoke out after another force came under fire for arresting parents who complained about their child's school on a WhatsApp group.

Last month it emerged that six officers from Hertfordshire Police had arrested two parents in Borehamwood who complained about their daughter's school on a private group.

The force later discontinued the case due to lack of evidence.

But Mr Watson told Times Radio: I, like the rest of the public, I'll see an image of half a dozen officers turned up to what is apparently a perfectly innocuous thing.

It might be that people have used tasty language online but it's not unlawful and it's not actually for the police to involve themselves. So, of course one is concerned.

Chief Constable Stephen Watson outside GMP Police HQ

Maxie Allen and Rosalind Levine who were arrested for messages on their school WhatsApp.

Mr Watson stressed that police should investigate all reports of crime, but quickly tell people reporting fluff and nonsense to grow up.

He said officers need to stop dealing with guff after a number of high-profile cases of people being arrested for minor infractions have caused outrage.

In February, the Metropolitan Police arrested six female supporters of Youth Demand, an activist group, at a Quaker meeting house in London, before later releasing the suspects without charge.

Mr Watson added: The officers don't necessarily know in advance of visiting that, actually, this is all going to come to mean a load of guff that ought never to have been touched by the police.

He said: Those process-type systems ought to be capable of differentiating between, yes, taking reports seriously, reacting appropriately, looking after the public and also being able to have the confidence to say, That is guff, it's not for the police, let's speak to whomsoever reported it and candidly tell them to grow up.

In a wide-ranging interview, he was also critical of police getting caught up in issues of critical race theory and gender identity- inflamed by social and political activists.

The outspoken chief, whose back-to-basics approach has transformed his forces approach to crime, claims officers should concentrate on what is important to victims.

He said: If we are seen to be pontificating on social media issues, we lose the public.

When he took over in the summer of 2021, Greater Manchester Police had been placed in special measures after failing to record 80,000 crimes and emergency 999 response times were the worst in the country.

Now Mr Watson says every crime is investigated and emergency response times are among the best in England and Wales

Last year Mr Watson declared that policing is not about going down all manner of contemporary rabbit holes, and responding to woke causes on social media.

Whether it be through adulterating the uniform with pins and badges and having all manner of florid social media accounts  these are all things that I dont think have a place in policing, he concluded.
A Palestinian-born Columbia student who was arrested by ICE earlier this week at his US citizenship interview has spoken out from jail.

Mohsen Mahdawi, 34, was arrested in Vermont after showing up to the interview.

Mahdawi came to the US as a refugee from the West Bank in 2014. He has been living in the country on a green card ever since.

He was arrested as part of the Trump administration's sweeping crackdown on students who they say hamper the Middle East peace process by consistently protesting against Israel and in favor of Palestine.

His lawyers, speaking on his behalf this week, said he was 'relieved' not to have been deported yet.

They told The Associated Press that he 'believes in peace and unity', and that his arrest should 'outrage us all.'

Mahdawi insists he is being unfairly targeted.

Columbia University graduate Mohsen Mahdawi, who organized pro-Palestine protests, has broken his silence from ICE jail after agents arrested him at his US citizenship interview

Mahdawi made two peace signs with his hands as officers walked him away from the USCIS Burlington Field Office into a police cruiser on Monday. He is now in an ICE facility

Demonstrators marched in New York City on Tuesday to protest Madhawi's arrest

In a statement before his arrest, he told CBS News that none of his protests were intended to stoke division.

'I want people to know that the work and the activism that we have done was centered in the energy of love,' he said.

'I want people to know that my compassion extended beyond the Palestinian people. My compassion is also for the Jewish people and for the Israelis as well.'

ICE agents arrested the Palestinian student at the USCIS Burlington Field Office building in Vermont on Monday, where he had been applying for US citizenship.

Video shows the moment Mahdawi made two peace signs with his hands as agents escorted him out of the building into a police cruiser.

He has filed a habeas corpus petition against the deportation attempt, which says he is a 'lawful permanent resident of the US' who has held a green card for 10 years.

Mahdawi grew up in a West Bank refugee camp, and his attorneys have said that if he is deported he will face 'harassment, detention and torture' in his home country.

The legal document also accuses the government of violating his First Amendment rights via the 'retaliatory and targeted detention' and attempt to remove him from the country.

At Columbia University, where he is due to graduate next month, he was an 'outspoken critic of Israel's military campaign in Gaza', his petition says.

In 2023, he co-founded the university's Palestinian Student Union, which 'serves to engage with and celebrate Palestinian culture, history, and identity', along with fellow student Mahmoud Khalil, who was recently deported after a tense court battle.

Mohsen Mahdawi, a Columbia University graduate who organized pro-Palestine protests, has been detained by ICE agents during his US citizenship interview

ICE agents arrested the Palestinian student at the USCIS Burlington Field Office building in Vermont on Monday, where he had been applying for US citizenship

The duo organized several protests, but Mahdawi stepped back from the demonstrations in March 2024, according to his petition.

In December 2023, Mahdawi spoke with CBS show 60 Minutes. He told interviewers that 'as a child, he watched an Israeli soldier shoot and kill his best friend in the West Bank,' his petition said.

'Mr. Mahdawi is fearful that, if he loses his lawful permanent resident status and he is removed to the West Bank, he will experience the same harassment, detention, and torture that his family has experienced, and would be in even more danger in light of the campaigns that have targeted and spread lies about him,' his attorneys wrote.

During his 60 Minutes interview, he said he 'could not believe what he was seeing' when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, and that he was worried about the 'huge level of revenge' Israel would wreak on his home country.

Mahdawi also condemned anti-Semitic remarks made by one person at the protests on the Columbia University campus who shouted 'death to Jews'.

'I was shocked,' Mahdawi said. 'I walked directly to the person and told him, you don't represent us, because this is not something that we agree with'.

'To be anti-Semitic is unjust and the fight for the freedom of Palestine and the fight against anti-Semitism go hand in hand, because injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,' he added.

In 2023, Mahdawi co-founded the university's Palestinian Student Union, which 'serves to engage with and celebrate Palestinian culture, history, and identity', along with fellow student Mahmoud Khalil (pictured), who was recently deported after a tense court battle

Mahdawi grew up in a West Bank refugee camp, and his attorneys have said that if he is deported he will face 'harassment, detention and torture' in his home country

According to his habeas corpus petition, Mahdawi was born and raised in a refugee camp in Palestine's West Bank, where he lived until he moved to the US in 2014.

Mahdawi has completed his undergraduate degree at Columbia University and is due to graduate in May 2025.

He plans to return to the university this fall to complete a master's in International Affairs at Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs.

His petition says the Department of Homeland Security, led by Marco Rubio, is using the same provision to deport Mahdawi as was used against Khalil.

A judge recently ruled that Khalil, 30, who was born in a Syrian refugee camp to Palestinian parents, could be deported

Rubio said Khalil should be removed because his presence in the US has 'potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences,' citing a 1952 law called the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Mahdawi's fate now hangs in a similar balance.

His lawsuit says that he transferred to Columbia after studying computer science for two years at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania.

The document says that he was also the president of the Columbia University Buddhist Association for two years, adding that he 'believes in non-violence and empathy as a central tenet of his religion'.


Have you missed out this year? Email eleanor.harding@dailymail.co.uk

More than one in four children have missed out on their first choice primary school place in some areas  but it's good news for those in the North, data suggests.

Early survey results on National Offer Day reveals parents in London had a worse chance of getting their top school than those in other parts of the country.

The worst-hit area was Hammersmith and Fulham, where 26 per cent missed out, followed by Kensington and Chelsea, where 25 per cent did.

Meanwhile, no-one in North East Lincolnshire missed out, as the local authority had an unprecedented 100 per cent success rate this year.

Across London, fewer children overall got their first choice than was the case last year  despite a fall in applications due to the birth rate falling and families leaving.

Paul Whiteman, General Secretary of school leaders union NAHT said: While most parents will be happy to have found out that they have got their first choice, that doesnt take away from the difficulty and disappointment experienced by those families who have missed out.

And there is a concern this year that overall offer figures may mask quite big regional variations.

This regional volatility in populations means that unfortunately many families are still at the mercy of a postcode lottery when it comes to getting their first choice of school place.

More than one in four children have missed out on their first choice primary school place in some areas  but Northern parents are winning, data suggests.

The survey of 39 non-London councils by PA news agency found 18 reported a fall in the proportion of children securing their top school compared with 2024.

Meanwhile, 18 councils have seen a rise, and three councils reported no change.

Competition for places was hot in Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, where 18 per cent missed out on their first choice, while in nearby Wokingham it was 10 per cent.

However, it was a different picture in some Northern councils, with only 2 per cent missing out in Westmoreland and Furness, and the same proportion in Hartlepool.

The 100 per cent success rate in North East Lincolnshire was described by a council spokesman as unprecedented and may be due to a drop in applications, from 1,398 in 2024 to 1,354 this year.

Across all London boroughs, 12 per cent of children missed out on their first choice, compared with 11 per cent last year.

This is despite the number applications falling by 2.1 per cent to 83,581 since last year.

Jon Abbey, chair of the Pan-London Admissions Board, said: Overall, analysis suggests that falling birth rates and family migration from London have led to a continued decrease in demand for school places and resulted in a reduction in total applications this year.

Early survey results on National Offer Day reveals parents in London had a worse chance of getting their top school than those in other parts of the country (pictured: Paul Whiteman, Gen eral Secretary of the NAHT union)

A London admissions source added the fall in pupils getting their first choice in the capital could be mainly due to reductions in Londons surplus capacity which included closure of schools.

A number of schools in London have closed or merged due to falling pupil numbers  meaning less choice for families in those areas.

Last year, across the nation 93.2 per cent of pupils were offered their first choice of primary school  up from 92.5 per cent in 2023.

A population bulge in England has been moving from primary schools into secondary schools.

A Department for Education spokesman said: Parents should be reassured that last year almost 99 per cent of children were accepted to one of their top three choices, but through our plan for change this government is determined to make sure every family, wherever they live, has access to a good local school.

Thats why we are deploying expert school improvement teams to raise standards where they have been persistently low, alongside making sure theres a brilliant teacher at the front of every classroom, teaching a national curriculum that sets young people up for success.
Canadian academics advised against non-essential travel to U.S.

Xinhua) 10:47, April 16, 2025

OTTAWA, April 15 (Xinhua) -- Canadian academics are being advised against all non-essential travel to the United States, the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) said in a travel advisory to its members on Tuesday.

Given the rapidly evolving political landscape in the United States and reports of individuals encountering difficulties crossing the border, CAUT strongly recommended that academic staff travel to the U.S. only if essential and necessary, said the association, which represents more than 72,000 professors, researchers and other academics at Canada's public universities and colleges.

CAUT said academics of a country where there are diplomatic tensions with the United States, or with passport stamps evidencing recent travel to countries that may be subject to a travel ban or where there are diplomatic tensions with the United States, should be particularly cautious about U.S. travel.

The warning is particularly targeted to academics who have expressed negative opinions about the current U.S. administration or its policies, or those whose research could be seen as being at odds with the position of the current U.S. administration.

The group also recommended travelers who identify as transgender or whose travel documents indicate a sex other than their sex assigned at birth exercise particular caution.

Academics should carefully consider what information they have, or need to have, on their electronic devices when crossing borders and take actions to protect sensitive information where necessary, said CAUT.

According to local media, CAUT executive director David Robinson said the warning is the first time his group has advised against non-essential U.S. travel in the 11 years he's worked with them.

The Canadian government recently updated its U.S. travel advisory, warning residents they may face scrutiny from border guards and the possibility of detention if denied entry.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Port Sudan, Sudan (PANA) -Thousands of families have arrived injured, traumatized and with no food or water in the town of Tawila after journeys of up to 70km (40 miles) on foot to flee attacks in Sudans Zamzam and Al Shouk camps, the United Nations Relief Website reported quoting Save the Children
Florida officials have called for the end of spring break on Panama City Beach following weeks of violence and carnage brought by partygoers.

Panama City Beach Police Chief J.R. Talamantez declared that the waterfront city's time as a spring break destination is over on Sunday.

'Panama City Beach can no longer be a Spring Break town. That time is over. Every year we try to manage it, and every year it brings more challenges,' Talamantez said.

'I'm not willing to risk the safety of our city to hold onto something that no longer works.'

There were multiple shootings and disorderly crowds at the gorgeous Florida Panhandle beach this season, reported Panama City News Herald.

Police said they seized firearms and illegal drugs from individuals within those rowdy crowds, according to WJHG.

Talamantez condemned those bad actors and vowed to work with other officials to find a way to permanently ban spring break.

'If you came with guns, bad intentions, and no respect for this city, we saw you. You thought you could blend in and get away with it. You were wrong. Our officers were ready, and many of you ended up in handcuffs,' he said

Panama City Beach (pictured) officials have declared that the city's time as a spring break destination is over

There were multiple shootings and disorderly crowds at the gorgeous Florida Panhandle beach this season

Panama City Beach Police Chief J.R. Talamantez (pictured) said the waterfront city's time as a Spring Break hotspot is over

'Some of you fired shots over petty arguments and social media drama. And when the cuffs went on, the tough act disappeared. Our officers didn't see hardened criminals. They saw scared kids crying in the interview room. TikTok doesn't show that part, but our body cameras do.

'In the coming weeks, we will be having serious discussions with stakeholders and city leadership about the future of the Spring Break season.'

Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford joined Talamantez in calling for action to be done to end the violence.

'Spring break still draws some visitors with bad intentionsfolks bringing guns, starting fights, or disrupting our community, Ford said.

'We're committed to deterring this behavior and ensuring everyone feels secure. In the coming weeks, we'll need open discussion and honest debate with residents, business owners, and community leaders to sharpen our strategies.'

Panama City Beach Mayor Stuart Tettemer told the local news outlet his administration is 'fully committed to making Panama City Beach as safe as it can be for the people who live here and those who visit.'

'I support our law enforcement and am working with those who care about keeping the beach safe and strong.'

Panama City Beach appears to be on track to crack down on spring breakers like Miami Beach did.

Police said they seized firearms and illegal drugs from individuals within those rowdy crowds

Talamantez condemned those bad actors and vowed to work with other officials to find a way to permanently ban spring break

As Miami Beach Police continued to crack down on stringent rules, enforcing a hefty $100 parking fee, midnight curfews, security checkpoints, DUI enforcement and a bolstered police force, many decided to take the party elsewhere.

Gregory Turovsky, 24, of TripleTGetaways, a student-organized travel agency based in Florida, said many of his clients are looking towards other warm, coastal destinations for 2025 Spring Break.

'Miami will always be a popular destination, however, for Spring Break, the city of Miami and the Miami Beach Police Department are cracking down, installing harsher penalties, curfews and DUI checkpoints, all aimed at trying to curb rowdy Spring Break behavior,' Turovsky told the DailyMail.com.

'They are doing a lot of work to deter 'Spring Breakers' because in past years celebrations have unfortunately caused property damage and even worse, people have gotten hurt and even killed in the past.'

He recommended partygoers looking to stay in Florida to visit Daytona Beach and Fort Lauderdale - just 30 miles from Miami.
Unite has been accused of 'grandstanding' after the agenda for its upcoming conference failed to mention the bin strikes in Birmingham - but featured 16 motions about Gaza.

The union is spearheading the strikes which have left rubbish pilling up in the streets of England's second city.

It has been accused of prolonging the action, now in its sixth week, to the anger of local residents.

But the issue does not make the preliminary agenda detailing the motions up for discussion at its Policy Conference in Brighton in July.

Areas of interest include workers' rights, economy and industry as well as Global Solidarity and International motions.

There are 16 for Israel-Palestine and just seven for all other countries and peoples in the world.

Out of 176 motions, Israel-Palestine accounts for one in ten.

The Unite union is behind the all-out strike in Birmingham which has brought chaos to the city's streets for the past six weeks

More than 20,000 tonnes of litter has been dumped on pavements since binmen walked out over proposed reforms from the council

But despite the dispute making headlines internationally and striking binmen carrying the union's flag, it is not mentioned once in an agenda for a forthcoming conference

Saqib Bhatti, MP for Meriden and Solihull East said: 'Unite's priorities are all wrong. While Birmingham's bins overflow, they would rather grandstand on Gaza.

'The people of Birmingham deserve better than a union distracted by international affairs and a Labour run council in their back pocket.

'Unite should clean up its own mess before meddling in foreign affairs.'

Kevin Hollinrake MP, Shadow Local Government Secretary, said: 'It's no surprise that grandstanding unions have zero interest in delivering for people.

'It goes to show unions are more interested in the West Bank than the West Midlands.

'Clearly they won't stop holding Birmingham to ransom, but Labour are too weak to do the right thing and break the strike at once.'

One resolution 75 includes a call for the 'seizure of UK held or traded assets including housing and corporate holdings, of targeted supporters of the Netanyahu regime' and 'immediate sanctions to be placed on the Israeli economy including the seizure of Israeli state assets held in the UK'.

Saqib Bhatti, MP for Meriden and Solihull East said: 'Unite's priorities are all wrong. While Birmingham's bins overflow, they would rather grandstand on Gaza.'

Resolution 78 is from the West Midlands Young Members Committee and states a 'people's arms embargo necessitates organising those workers to resist their own exploitation, alongside corporate complicity in the genocide, recognising that workers liberation is intrinsically linked to Palestinian liberation.

Resolution 127 from the Birmingham Area Activists Committee - 'call on the union and the TUC to open consultation with the Labour Government to bring in legislation to make redundancy legislation much more robust and more expensive thus taking the incentive away from big corporations whose only interest in investing in the UK is to strip the assets and move the work abroad because it is easy and cheap to sack UK workers.'

A Unite spokesman said: 'Saqib Bhatti's and Kevin Hollinrake's constituents will be asking themselves if their MPs really have nothing better to do but to comb through prospective motions for a Unite conference.

'Unite is a democratic organisation. And as they know, it is Unite members who decide what motions will be debated at conference.

'It goes without saying, that what will or won't be debated at a policy conference in July, has no influence whatsoever on the current Birmingham bin dispute.

'The union is engaged in intensive negotiations with Birmingham council and has put forward fair and reasonable solutions to bring the strikes to an end.

'Unite makes no apologies for standing up for workers and will continue to do so wherever necessary.'
A Democrat senator has been blasted for traveling to El Salvador to free a deported illegal migrant routinely being referred to as a 'Maryland man'.

Senator Chris Van Hollen flew to El Salvador in an attempt to 'rescue' Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, who was deported by the Trump administration earlier this week.

Garcia entered the US illegally in 2011. A judge blocked his return to El Salvador in 2019, citing the fact that gangsters were after him, but said he could be deported elsewhere.

In court filings this week, the Trump administration said he was deported to El Salvador in error. The Supreme Court has since ordered the Trump administration to facilitate his return to the US.

However, Trump officials insist Garcia is not an innocent American, as claimed. They say he's an MS-13 gangster who deserves to be sent back to El Salvador.

Democrats, furious about his deportation, are up in arms.

Van Hollen is among them. Determined to save Garcia, he flew to El Salvador in an effort to get him out of jail and back in America.

But when he showed up asking for a meeting, he was denied.

He is now being mocked by Republicans and Conservative Americans, including the mother of a woman who was murdered by an illegal migrant.

'Senator Van Hollen has done more to bring a MS-13 gang member, human trafficker and illegal alien back to Maryland than he has to help keep his American constituents safe or advocate for the victims of these vicious gangs like MS-13.

Van Hollen shared a clip of himself to X before boarding a flight to the country where Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, 29, is being held

On March 12, Garcia was pulled over outside of an IKEA in Baltimore with his son

'While Senator Van Hollen and the mainstream media peddle a sob story about a brutal MS-13 gang member, Secretary Noem stands with the victims of illegal alien crime, like Maryland mom Rachel Morin.

'We hear far too much about the gang members and criminals sob stories and not enough about their victims,' the Department of Homeland Security said in a post on X.

The efforts by Van Hollen have also been criticized by Morin's mother Patty who spoke about the lack of any correspondence from state officials when her daughter was murdered.

Speaking on Fox News with anchor Sean Hannity, she said: 'I'm very angry, I'm outraged. I'm too sad at the moment to show anger at the same time.

'He did not call our family, he did not give condolences. There was no action [from] the Democratic party in anyway.

'From Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, anyone here in Maryland, none of the Senators did anything to help search for the murderer of my daughter.'

Rachel Morin's illegal immigrant killer Victor Martinez-Hernandez was found guilty of first degree murder, first degree rape and kidnapping on Monday - and is now awaiting sentencing.

Her body had been stuffed in a tunnel drain. An autopsy revealed Morin died from a combination of strangulation and blunt-force trauma.

Rachel Morin, seen here, was raped and murdered by Victor Martinez-Hernandez in 2023

Patty Morin, Rachel's mother, hit out at Van Hollen - saying he offered her no condolences when her daughter was murdered

In a follow up video about his 'mission' to El Salvador, Van Hollen said: 'I just landed in San Salvador a little while ago, and I look forward to meeting with the team at the U.S. embassy to discuss the release of Mr. Abrego Garcia.

'I also hope to meet with Salvadoran officials and with Kilmar himself. He was illegally abducted and needs to come home.'

Border czar Tom Homan also hit out at the trip by Van Hollen, saying he was 'disgusted'.

He told Fox News: 'He wasn't abducted. He's an MS-13 gang member, classified as a terrorist that was removed from this country, so we got rid of a dangerous person.

Abrego-Garcia, who is a legal resident, arrived at the notorious supermax prison CECOT in El Salvador March 15 on one of three planes from the US.

Abrego Garcia first entered the U.S. in 2011 but was granted permission to stay by a judge in 2019. He later settled down in Maryland and has an American wife and son.

The Trump administration deported Abrego Garcia on March 15 after files indicated that he had connections with MS-13, a vicious Salvadorian-American gang.

Van Hollen later shared an update on his X that he had landed in the country, seen here

Abrego Garcia first entered the U.S. in 2011 but was granted permission to stay by a judge in 2019

His wife and lawyer deny his gang affiliation and have sued the administration for improperly removing him from the U.S.

The Trump administration initially said his removal was a mistake. The Supreme Court then ordered the facilitation of his return.

But the Trump administration is standing firm.

In the Oval Office on Monday, Trump and El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele led a united defense of their actions in the case of Abrego Garcia.

Bukele argued he couldn't return, saying: ''How can I return him to the United States?

'I smuggle him into the United States or what do I do? Of course, I'm not going to do it.

'The question is preposterous. How can I smuggle a terrorist into the United States? I don't have the power to return him to the United States.'

Trump supported Bukele's claim and went further, lobbying the El Salvadorian leader to take more migrants and build more prisons hold them.

'I just asked the president, you know, it's this massive complex that he built, a jail complex. I said, 'Can you build some more of them, please?'' Trump said.

He asked Bukele to take 'as many as we can get out of our country that were allowed in here by incompetent Joe Biden, through open borders, open borders.'

The Justice Department, in its latest filing, argued the courts lack the ability to dictate steps that the White House should take in the matter of the return of Abrego Garcia.

Attorney General Pam Bondi, who joined Trump and Bukele in their Oval Office meeting, said the decision was in El Salvador's hands.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was also in the Oval Office, backed Bondi, saying the administration was not bound to follow court orders.
Enfield Council is pursuing legal action against Toby Carvery after the roast dinner chain felled a 500-year-old oak tree.

Leader of Enfield Council Ergin Erbil this afternoon said that the committee was 'seeking advice and will take appropriate legal action.'

And if criminal breaches are found, the matter will be re-reported to the Met Police, he added.

It comes after the ancient oak tree, located in Whitewebbs Park, north London, was felled earlier this month, sparking fury among locals and prompting the council to report the matter to police.

The tree is situated next to a car park on land leased to Mitchells & Butler, the pub chain owner of the nearby Toby Carvery.

Spokesperson for Mitchells & Butler said yesterday the huge tree, which has a girth of 6.1 metres, was cut back after advice it posed a 'serious health and safety risk'.

But Erbil condemned the act saying: 'I am outraged that the leaseholder has cut down this beautiful ancient oak tree without seeking any permissions or advice from Enfield Council.'

He also said that police were treating the felling of the tree as a civil matter, and that that the council will continue to take appropriate legal action.

Enfield Council is pursuing legal action against Toby Carvery after the roast dinner chain felled a 500-year-old oak tree

The tree, which is believed to have been felled on April 3, was only discovered by Enfield Council workers last week in Whitewebbs Park surrounded by its severed branches and trunk

The chopping of the oak tree has left locals and environmental campaigners 'devastated', however

'As the land owner we believe this action has broken the terms of the lease which requires Toby Carvery to maintain and protect the existing landscape', Erbil said.

The council leader also claimed that tree experts had checked the tree in December 2024 and found it was healthy and posed no risk to the neighbouring car park and its users.

'This tree would have been home to countless wildlife, fungi, and pollinators. This tree is a part of our ecological and cultural heritage.

'We're therefore seeking advice and will take appropriate legal action. If any criminal activity is found during our investigation, we will not hesitate to report this to the police again.

'As the tree shows clear signs of life we will also do everything we can to help the tree regrow.'

It comes as the Woodland Trust said it was exploring whether other laws had been breached.

Experts there said businesses have a legal requirement to check with the Forestry Commission before felling more than five cubic metres of timber thanks to the Forestry Act 1967, adding they 'have not yet seen any evidence that this took place.'

A spokesperson added: 'We are shocked and devastated by the felling of the ancient Whitewebbs Oak tree by contractors working for Mitchells and Butlers, the pub and restaurant chain that own Toby Carvery.

Enfield Council are now reportedly looking into the possibility of regrowing what was one of London's biggest oak trees

The oak tree was described as 'one of Enfield's most iconic trees' before it was chopped down

The illegal tree felling is believed to have occurred on April 3, but it was not discovered until last week

'The Whitewebbs Oak was a tree of significant ecological, cultural and historic value, more than 450 years old and home to a huge range of scarce and important wildlife habitats.

'We want to see justice for the felling of this ancient and nationally significant oak tree.

'That includes an investigation into whether felling licence laws were breached and whether standard practices were followed.

The Met has said that no evidence of criminality has been found because the tree was not subject to a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) when it was felled.

However, that doesn't mean that civil action could not be taken against those responsible.

The police could also look again at what happened if further evidence comes to light.

Locals have been left heartbroken by the felling of the historic tree.

Local tree surgeon Henry Jordan, 21, who travelled to the park after hearing about the felling, called it a disgrace.

He said: They have absolutely annihilated the oak. When I was younger, I came here with my friends and we used to run about in the woods and this tree was one of the larger ones.

It is a disgrace to see it like this. You can tell it was not dying because there is still foliage growing on it.

Ed Allnut, a local resident and secretary of the Guardians of Whitewebbs group, said: The tree belonged to Enfield and to our national heritage.

'I am personally devastated. We want answers, and we want guarantees the other trees here are being protected properly.

He added: 'This was a special tree, there are probably only 100, of its age left in London.'

The tree is thought to have been planted in the 1600s, before the English Civil War.
Best-selling author Peter Hitchens surprisingly defended the binmen on strike in Birmingham despite the protestations of co-host Sarah Vine on the latest episode of Alas Vine & Hitchens.

A major incident was declared in Birmingham in March after the Unite union encouraged binmen to strike over pay.

The dispute has dragged on into April, leaving heaps of rubbish strewn all over the city. The strikers claim about 170 affected workers could lose up to 8,000 a year if planned cost-cutting measures from the bankrupted Birmingham City Council go ahead.

'Having been a Labour industrial correspondent in those key battle times of the late Callaghan and early Thatcher years, I can tell you there are quite often two sides to these things', Hitchens said.

'You hear, for instance, that Birmingham councilors have increased their allowances at a time when they are reducing the pay of binmen.

'If someone comes along and tells a working person, you've had certain conditions up till now and we're taking them away; you've had a certain level of pay and it's going down; you can see why people get annoyed.'

Mail columnist Sarah Vine clapped back on the show, arguing that the Labour government is at fault for the unnecessary strike that only functions to hurt people uninvolved in the dispute.

Alas Vine & Hitchens: What's the big idea? Get the Mail's new politics podcast, hosted by columnists Sarah Vine and Peter Hitchens - wherever you listen to podcasts now.

The dispute has dragged on into April, leaving heaps of rubbish strewn all over the Birmingham

Sarah Vine: 'This is a story about Unions and Labour.' Listen here

'This is a story about Unions and Labour', Vine declared.

'As in the 1970s, we have a Labour government totally in the thrall of the unions. Angela Rayner has been giving them more and more power with her new employment rules.

'I think we're talking about seven jobs here in total, which were all brought in as the result of another strike in 2017. The people involved have already been offered new jobs.

'You say these are reasonable employment requests  this is really about political power and who is running Britain.'

The latest pay offer issued by Birmingham City Council to end the strikes was resoundingly rejected last Tuesday.

Unite labeled the proposed deal as 'totally inadequate' and it was denied by 97% of the membership.

While Hitchens conceded that some strikes are 'just stupid', citing the steel strike of 1980, most actions against employers do have some basis away from politics.

'What I learned over and over again', Hitchens began.

The latest pay offer issued by Birmingham City Council to end the strikes was resoundingly rejected last Tuesday

Peter Hitchens: 'A society where you are not able to withdraw your labour, is not a free society.' Listen here

Sarah Vine: 'Sometimes in life, things do get taken away from you  but for good reasons.' Listen to Alas Vine & Hitchens here

'There are some strikes that are just plain stupid. The strike against the closure of the steel plants there was a moronic strike. Or Arthur Scargill's mining strike, which was effectively a coup d'etat that needed to be defeated.

'But there are other strikes where there is something on either side. I think that might be the case here.

'Although striking is a form of blackmail, a society where you are not able to withdraw your labour, is not a free society.'

Vine replied: 'But not everybody has the freedom to withdraw their labour: that's the key thing.

'Sometimes in life, things do get taken away from you  but for good reasons.'

Listen to Alas Vine & Hitchens, with Sarah Vine and Peter Hitchens wherever you get your podcasts now. New episodes are released every Wednesday.
Many in the mainstream media and academia are cheering on Harvard University as this storied institution has, in the words of the New York Times, 'decided to fight the Trump administration.'

But as a Harvard faculty member for more than 60 years, I can tell you that's not quite what is actually happening.

Don't tell Harvard's left-wing professors, but the university seems ready to make a deal with President Trump.

On Wednesday morning, the president upped the ante after threatening to withdraw the university's tax-exempt status and gut nearly $2.3 billion in federal funding over a list of grievances, including Harvard's failure to address an explosion of antisemitic hatred in classrooms and on campus.

'Everyone knows that Harvard has "lost its way",' Trump posted on Truth Social. 'Harvard is a JOKE, teaches Hate and Stupidity, and should no longer receive Federal Funds.'

You may have expected Harvard's President Alan Garber, a man I know and admire, to be defiant in the face of such an onslaught, and while he is putting up a combative front, he seems to be preparing to negotiate a settlement.

That's something that legions of far-left academicians and advisers may find abhorrent. But it's the reality.

While Harvard University is older than the US, richer than many countries (with its $50 billion endowment), and among the most influential academic institutions in the world, it depends on federal research grants, tax-deductible contributions from alumni and tax exemptions on its profits to perform its educational and research functions.

Many in the mainstream media and academia are cheering on Harvard University (pictured) as this storied institution has, in the words of the New York Times, 'decided to fight the Trump administration.'

Don't tell Harvard's left wing professors, but the university seems ready to make a deal with President Donald Trump.

Indeed, Garber has issued a bellicose response to Trump in the form of a letter, publicly refusing to compromise the academic independence of the institution, writing: 'No government  regardless of which party is in power  should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue.'

That is a sentiment that I largely agree with.

But at the same time, Harvard has retained lawyers who are close to Trump and his administration and have a history of arranging complex agreements.

Garber's missive is clearly intended to placate Harvard's largely left-wing faculty and administrators, for whom any capitulation to Trump would be academic treason. Defending the independence of the university from any governmental interference, especially from the Trump administration, is required for any university president to survive.

Witness what happened when Columbia University's temporary president, Dr Katrina Armstrong, appeared to capitulate to White House demands last month and, among other reforms, appoint a new official to oversee departments that offer biased courses on the Middle East.

Armstrong was unceremoniously pressured to resign.

For all of Garber's maneuvering, he surely realizes that he is unlikely to emerge victorious from a long drawn-out courtroom confrontation with Trump. He also must know that the Trump administration would benefit politically from a courtroom fight with Harvard, regardless of the legal outcome which is anything but certain. So, instead, Harvard has sent a more subtle message to the Trump administration by retaining lawyers that he can work with.

Perhaps the Trump administration has been overbroad in demands to 'audit' the views of students and staff, exert more influence over course material and slash funds from legitimate research projects.

Pictured: Harvard professor Alan Dershowitz

But these are complex and nuanced issues, but for many academics, that choice is simple: whatever side Trump is on is wrong.

Well, reforming our corrupted academic elitist class and fighting antisemitic bigotry is not wrong. That is why I support a negotiated compromise. In fact, it is essential.

The truth is that many of the government's demands are quite reasonable and necessary.

Harvard does have a serious lack of intellectual, ideological, and political diversity. It is largely a left-wing institution where many points of view are effectively muzzled, largely by self-censorship and peer pressure.

To give one very personal illustration: for 50 years, I was among the most popular faculty members, teaching and lecturing to over 10,000 students.

But since October 7, 2023, when Hamas perpetrated the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust, I have never once been invited to present my centrist pro-Israel position on campus. Even before that, the one time I was invited by a student group, my talk had to be moved off campus for fear of my safety.

Dozens of students have communicated with me in recent years about how they feel silenced. These include not only Jewish and Zionist students but also Christian and conservative students. The same is true for some faculty members.

Harvard's culture is infected by a deeply rooted cultural bias that even President Trump cannot quickly cure.

This is largely attributable to Harvard's tenured faculty, whose rehabilitation is nearly impossible and utterly impractical, because these professorswhose jobs are contractually protectedare essentially accountable to no one. That academic freedom, while justified in many ways, has been abused for decades.

While Harvard is older than the US, richer than many countries, and among the most influential academic institutions, it depends on federal research grants, tax-deductible contributions from alumni and tax exemptions on its profits. (Pictured: Students protesting on campus).

You may have expected Harvard's President Alan Garber (pictured), a man I know and admire, to be defiant in the face of such an onslaught, and while he is putting up a combative front, he seems to be preparing to negotiate a settlement.

The oppressive campus culture is also due to 'programs' and departments that are inherently ideological. These include Women Studies, Gay Studies, Black Studies, and yes, Jewish Studies departments. These divisions and similar ones tend to be more ideological than academic. In addition, there are the racial, ethnic and gender offices, such as diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). These entrenched bureaucracies have undue influence.

Harvard has already settled two lawsuits brought by several Jewish students and organizations alleging antisemitism on campus, and - without admitting any wrongdoing - the university has pledged to do more to confront the biases that result in de facto discrimination against certain students and faculty.

A negotiated settlement between Harvard and the Trump administration may be another step toward reform, but it cannot be the last.

Finally, for those who claim that their defense of university autonomy and academic freedom is ideologically neutral, it is important to remember the 1950s, when I was a college student. In those bad old days, many recalcitrant southern universities had been forced by the federal government to integrate their student bodies, yet the schools were still tolerating the harassment of African American students and teaching racist curricula.

Had the federal government threatened to withhold funding from such racist universities unless there were changes, many liberals, civil libertarians and advocates of academic freedom would have applauded.

Now that the shoe is on the other foot, many progressive academics are taking exactly the opposite position they would've taken back in the 1950s.

For them, it's about politics, not principles.

For me it's about principles, consistency and neutrality.
The Manchester Arena bomber plotter who attacked three prison officers has been moved to one of 12 'super cells' within the UK's most secure jail unit, it's understood.

Hashem Abedi is accused of attacking the three officers at HMP Frankland in County Durham with boiling oil and makeshift blades on Saturday March 12th.

Since the attack the 28-year-old, who is serving a 55-year sentence for helping his brother Salman carry out the devastating 2017 terror attack that killed 22 people, has been placed under the highest security.

This is understood to have involved transferring him to Belmarsh prison in London where he is now caged in the High Dependency Unit (HDU) at the Category A facility which holds the majority of the UK's terror suspects and other major organised crime figures.

The HSU consists of 48 single cells, with a dozen of these being used to house Britain's most dangerous criminals.

Past inmates in the HSU included feared gangster Colin Gunn, serving 35-years for drugs and conspiracy to murder and Michael Adebolajo, then 28, one of the killers of Fusilier Rigby, in May 2013.

In more recent times, Metropolitan Police constable Wayne Couzens, who kidnapped, raped and strangled Sarah Everard, 33, in 2021, was held in one of the 12 super secure cells for his own protection. Couzens, then 48, was given a whole-life sentence.

The 12 highest security cells are collectively known as Special Secure Unit (SSU) for 'exceptional risk' prisoners. Hook-handed hate preacher Abu Hamza was held in the SSU before being deported to a US jail.

Hashem Abedi is accused of attacking the three officers at HMP Frankland in County Durham with boiling oil and makeshift blades on Saturday March 12th

Since the attack the 28-year-old has been placed under the highest security. This is understood to have involved transferring him to Belmarsh prison in London (pictured)

A source said: 'The HSU has the highest security status as it holds the worst-of-the-worst criminals, who are isolated from the main prison population because they present a constant danger.'

The decision to transfer Abedi to Belmarsh is controversial as he had previously been held at the maximum security jail and in 2020 had assaulted two officers.

For the attack, a further three years and 10 months was added to his sentence.

Under his new regime in the SSU, he will be locked and unlocked by a minimum of five prison officers.

Security on the HDU includes x-ray machines, numerous CCTV cameras and at least five locked doors before getting inside.

Visitors and prison officers must go through the same searches before they enter.

MailOnline previously reported that prison staff at Belmarsh are said to be deeply uneasy about the decision, particularly given Abedi's history of violence.

In the 2020 attack, Abedi and two other inmates ambushed officer Paul Edwards in his office.

Hashem (pictured posing with a gun) was in Libya at the time of the bombing, having left the UK weeks earlier. He offered no defence to the charges that he had helped his brother plan the attack on the Manchester Arena in May 2017, killing children, teenagers and adults as they poured out of an Ariana Grande concert or waited for their loved ones, and critically injuring dozens more

Salman Abedi, Hashem's brother, at Victoria Station making his way to the Manchester Arena, on May 22, 2017

The 22 people killed in the Manchester Arena bombing in May 2017

This picture shows police interviewing Hashem following the horrific 2017 Manchester Arena terror attack

He is now being held under the 'multi-unlock protocol', meaning five officers must be present each time his cell door is opened, alongside another who must wear riot gear and film the interaction.

In response to the latest incident, the Ministry of Justice has suspended kitchen access for inmates in specialist extremist wings, known as separation centres, at Frankland and HMP Woodhill.

These units house some of the UK's most dangerous ideologues and were designed to stop radicalisation behind bars.

Counterterrorism police are investigating the Frankland attack, and a full independent review is expected to be launched by the end of the week.

There are also questions over whether Abedi may have been influenced by notorious Islamist extremist Anjem Choudary, who was also housed at Frankland. Officials have dismissed such claims as 'speculation'.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said it did not comment on the location of prisoners.
Ruthless ICE agents have been caught on camera smashing through a man's car window while he was cowering inside with his wife.

Video shows the moment federal immigration officials shattered the vehicle window in New Bedford, Massachusetts, while detaining Guatemalan native Juan Francisco Mendez, 29, on Monday.

The man's lawyer, Ondine Galvez Sniffin, said both Francisco Mendez and his wife are lawfully in the US after his wife was granted asylum while fleeing persecution in her home country. Francisco Mendez has the same protection as her legal partner.

Sniffin said she received a call from the couple during the ordeal, and they told her the ICE agents were looking for someone called 'Antonio'.

'I said, "Tell them you have your attorney. Tell them I'm on my way,"' Sniffin told 12 News.

Video shows how ICE agents surrounded the terrified couple's car as they apparently waited for Sniffin to arrive.

One of the agents can be heard telling them he could handle things 'the easy way or the hard way', while gesturing for them to roll down the windows.

After waiting a few moments, another agent then grabbed what appeared to be a large pick-axe, and used it to smash through the backseat window.

ICE agents have been caught on camera smashing through a man's car window while he was cowering inside with his wife - despite his attorney saying they had the wrong person

Video shows the moment federal immigration officials shattered the vehicle window in New Bedford, Massachusetts , while detaining Guatemalan native Juan Francisco Mendez (shown above), 29, on Monday

Sniffin said she thought the misunderstanding could be easily resolved, as her clients told her the officials were looking for an 'Antonio' - which is not his name.

'I said, "Well, that's great, because your name is not Antonio, so you should be fine. Show them the paperwork that you have and you should be fine,"' she told 12 News.

'But the agents didn't pay attention to that.'

Sniffin outlined how Francisco Mendez and his wife were made lawful residents in the US.

'She came to the US with the belief that she would be safe here, that she would not have to endure the impunity of state actors the way she endured in her own country - and this is what she's facing,' the attorney said.

Sniffin added that Francisco Mendez 'has the same benefits that she does because they are legally married', and neither has a criminal record.

Francisco Mendez is now being held in New Hampshire, with a court hearing pending.

Sniffin said attorneys are gathering evidence and letters of support to prepare for his bond request.

'They're trying to live the American dream. They're doing everything right,' Sniffin told 12 News.

'What they were doing, sitting in their car, in a parked car, respectfully speaking with these agents. That's what every American should do: respect law enforcement.

'In response, what they got was violence, brutality, impunity.'

Their immigration lawyer, Ondine Galvez Sniffin (pictured above), said Francisco Mendez and his wife are lawfully in the US after his wife was granted asylum while fleeing persecution in her home country. Francisco Mendez has the same protection as her legal partner

The couple have a child in school, and their lawyer said explaining to the boy why his father is in custody has been an upsetting ordeal for his wife.

'As she was here in my office, as we're strategizing to request bond, her son calls her on the cellphone, "Mommy, when are you going to be home? Please don't forget to bring daddy when you come home,"' Sniffin told News 12.

The New Bedford Police Department sent officers to the scene but said they could not intervene because it was a federal issue.

'Neither the City nor the New Bedford Police Department were briefed or given notice from ICE regarding enforcement activity in New Bedford,' city spokesperson Jonathan Darling told 12 News.

DailyMail.com has contacted ICE for comment on the case.

Donald Trump has ordered DHS Sec. Kristi Noem to increase the speed of deportations

New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell demanded answers from the government.

'The incident raises questions that require clearer answers,' he wrote on X.

'Recently ICE appears to have broken from its long standing practice of alerting our police department ahead of planned operations, a decision that poses safety risks to officers, ICE agents, and the public alike.

'It may also preclude opportunities for local police to help deescalate tense situations like this last one.

'Nor has there been an indication from ICE whether agents are focusing on apprehension of convicted criminals  as the Trump administration has insisted  or is instead in an indiscriminate round up of individuals with uncertain immigrant status.

'The public deserves an explanation from the administration.'
An American woman who stabbed a man to death at a German railway station after she said he had sexually harassed her has been spared jail.

Fallyn Ball, 21, was facing a maximum of ten years in prison but judges ruled that as she was still technically a juvenile under German law when the offence was committed, she should be given a lower sentence which was then suspended.

Judges agreed she had 'acted in self-defence but then deliberately advanced' on Alem Tekeste, 64, 'shifting from defence to attack' in the incident near the top of an escalator killing him within seconds.

Eritrean born Alem had lived in Germany since 1980 and was a German citizen - but the case still caused a furore in a country where issues around immigration are increasingly fraught.

Relatives said they were shocked at the lenient sentence.

Their lawyer Dawit Stifnos told MailOnline:' There was never going to be justice for Alem, a father of two and a German citizen, the prosecutor was better than her defence.

'The court acknowledged it was manslaughter but still only gave her two years suspended sentence, she walked out, with her passport and will now just go back to America.

'Alem was a father, husband, brother and this is how he was treated after paying his German taxes, the verdict implies that his life is worth nothing.

Fallyn Ball (pictured), 21, was facing a maximum of ten years in prison but judges ruled that as she was still technically a juvenile under German law when the offence was committed, she should be given a lower sentence which was then suspended

Eritrean-born Alem Tekeste, 64, had lived in Germany since 1980 and had long been a German citizen

'His family are devastated by the verdict, and I will be appealing, the fact she was walking round in broad daylight with a knife should have been addressed.

'The court agreed that she adopted a defence stance and then later changed to attack and footage shows her stabbing him in the chest.

'He was a 64-year-old man, she was half his age, she didn't need to stab him with a knife.'

The court in Kaiserslautern was shown footage of the attack which happened at the city's train station last summer.

As part of the proceedings Ball was taken to the concourse where the attack happened as exclusive pictures obtained by MailOnline show.

The trial heard that Aken had grabbed Ball from behind and that he had sexually harassed her before.

As footage of the stabbing was played in court Alem's wife and children fled in tears.

Ball said she had tried to push him away but then reached for the knife and plunged it into his heart in one swift movement.

As part of the proceedings Ball (black top and blue jeans) was taken to the concourse where the attack happened as exclusive pictures obtained by MailOnline show

Fallyn Ball (wearing a black leather jacket) is pictured above at Kaiserslautern station scene of the fatal stabbing from last year with members of the court

Fallyn Ball, 21, was standing on an escalator at Kaiserslautern train station (near the underpass pictured above), in the southwestern state of Rhineland-Palatinate, when the 64-year-old man allegedly grabbed her backside on June 29

Prosecutors said the woman had stabbed the man but not with the intention of killing him asked for a sentence of 21 months.

But the court raised it to 24 after deciding it was manslaughter, and she was also ordered to do 500 hours community service and undergo drug rehabilitation treatment.

Last autumn when prosectors announced they would be bringing the case to trial Elon Musk wrote on X:' What is wrong with Germany ?' adding Ball was 'being held hostage for stabbing a migrant'.

The comment sparked outrage from Alem's family who told MailOnline:' What does he know. Did what he (Alem) did warrant such a violent extreme reaction?

'He was stabbed once directly through the heart as he was backing away.'
Eight years ago they had never met and only knew they shared the same desire: to protect the rights of women and girls.

The unlikely trio - a Highland farmer, an NHS worker and a former financial advisor - were all members of online forum Mumsnet.

It was here Trina Budge, Marion Calder and Susan Smith began sharing their frustrations at the erosion of female rights in Scotland and proposed government policies 'wedded to the idea that people can self-identify on sex'.

Ms Budge was in Caithness, while the other two women were based in Edinburgh, but as concerns grew, small groups formed and out of that For Women Scotland (FWS) - a campaign group centred on protecting women's rights - was born.

The group's co-director Ms Budge, 54, admitted that she never imagined herself having to do anything like it.

But she said: 'We were all looking at what was happening in parliament and quite horrified and we couldn't do anything about it.

'It wasn't until the consultation on the Public Boards Act that we started looking at this quite seriously and thought, 'Right, we have a three-month opportunity to get organised'. We spoke to a lawyer...and one thing led to another.'

Susan smith (left) and Marion Calder (right) co-directors of For Women Scotland celebrate outside the Supreme Court in London after terms "woman" and "sex" in the Equality Act refer to a biological woman and biological sex

Susan smith (left) and Marion Calder

Trina Budge. The unlikely trio - a Highland farmer, an NHS worker and a former financial advisor - were all members of online forum Mumsnet

After 18 months of legal action, in 2022 they won the appeal of their judicial review when the Court of Session ruled that the Scottish Government exceeded its powers by including transwomen in the definition of woman in the Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Act 2018.

The group's stance has been seen as 'anti-trans' by some transgender activists.

But on FWS's website their message for what they stand for could not be clearer: 'We believe that there are only two sexes, that a person's sex is not a choice, nor can it be changed. Women are entitled to dignity, safety and fairness.'

And since the group's conception in 2018, the three co-directors have received support from thousands of women across the country in a 'tremendous uprising'.

They have campaigned to Scottish politicians over the SNP's Gender Recognition Reforms, have given evidence at consultations for the Census Amendment Bill and the Hate Crime Bill, and held public meetings across the country.

The women have received praise from Harry Potter creator JK Rowling, one of the most famous advocates for women's rights, who in 2021 tweeted: 'Thank you, my sisters xxx' for their support.

They have campaigned to Scottish politicians over the SNP's Gender Recognition Reforms, have given evidence at consultations for the Census Amendment Bill and the Hate Crime Bill, and held public meetings across the country

Marion Calder celebrates, as the Supreme Court rules on an appeal by For Women Scotland

People celebrate, as the Supreme Court rules

Writing in The Sunday Times the following year, the multi-millionaire author described FWS as 'a grassroots feminist group that has emerged as a leading voice for Scottish women over the past few years'.

Ms Smith was even appointed to the board of Ms Rowling's Edinburgh-based Beira's Place, a women only support centre where victims of rape and violence receive counselling and support in a space free from men.

But even after the group's victory in the UK Supreme Court which yesterday ruled that biology determines the legal sex of a woman, they say there is still work to be done.

Ms Budge, who has farmed in Caithness for 30 years, said: 'It would be good to retire but I don't think we're there just yet. This goes against Scottish Government policies which are wedded to the idea that people can self-identify on sex.'

And she stressed: 'We certainly intend on holding them to account.'
Utah's new social media law was meant to crack down on exploitative family vloggers  but child safety experts say it could actually make life more dangerous for vulnerable kids by giving abusive guardians more control over their online presence.

The law officially titled SB 194 and signed on March 13 was introduced in response to growing public concern over children being monetized and overexposed in family vlogs. Specifically, in the wake of high-profile scandals like the "8 Passengers" case, where Utah mom Ruby Franke was convicted of child abuse after years of profiting off videos featuring her kids.

Lawmakers framed the bill as a way to protect minors from being exploited online, with an emphasis on requiring parents to share earnings and obtain permission before featuring their children on monetized platforms like TikTok and YouTube, as reported by User Mag.

"This law is like the fox is guarding the hen house," Maureen Flatley, a child exploitation and safety expert said. "Ruby Franke was abusing her kids, so why would you have the abuser be the trustee of anything?"

While the bill was designed to curb parental exploitation, experts like child safety advocate Ifeoma Ozoma warn that it may unintentionally harm children in abusive households. Since the law gives legal guardians more power over a minor's content and earnings, it could silence kids who use social media as an outlet or a form of independence  especially older teens trying to document abuse, advocate for themselves, or simply express their identities.

The law also doesn't apply retroactively, meaning kids who were already exploited for years won't see any restitution.

"This bill is not going to solve a problem, and it may even lead to more exploitation. This is what we've seen all over the place with these kids and social media bills," Flatley said. "They're almost unfailingly written by people who have an axe to grind or are interested in virtue signaling and not what would actually be effective."

SB 194 is set to go into effect in 2026, giving platforms and families time to adjust  but advocates are urging lawmakers to revise the law to account for cases where guardians are the abusers.

Originally published on Latin Times
A 15-day-old girl was found dead inside a cabinet at her home in northeast Brazil after her own mother confessed to killing her.

Eduarda de Oliveira provided the Alagoas Civil Police five different versions of Ana de Oliveira's disappearance before she finally told family members of the baby's whereabouts Tuesday.

Little Ana was stuffed into a plastic bag that was hidden in a wooden cabinet in the laundry room of Eduarda's residence in Novo Lino.

The 22-year-old mother first told investigators that Ana's death was an accident.

She alleged that her daughter choked while she was breastfeeding her and that she was unable to revive her.

Eduarda then admitted to suffocating Ana because the baby's cries and the noise from a bar near the family home had deprived her of sleep on two consecutive nights.

Eduarda was arrested for concealing a body and has not been charged with murder.

Authorities were led on a citywide search Friday after Eduarda reported that Ana was ripped out of her hands by four men.

Ana de Oliveira (pictured) was found dead at her home in Alagoas, Brazil on Tuesday, four days after her mother, Eduarda de Oliveira, told cops the 15-day-old baby had been kidnapped

Cops found 15-day-old Ana de Oliveira stuffed in a bag that was hidden inside a cabinet in the laundry room at her mother's home in Alagoas,

The mother-of-two claimed she was approached by the suspects in black vehicle while she was waiting with her five-year-old son for his school bus to arrive.

She then changed her story and reported that a blonde woman sitting in the back of the car had aimed a gun at her and forced her to hand over Ana through the car window before the driver sped off.

Eduarda later retracted the version of the event and claimed the four men flashed knives at her and kidnapped the baby.

Her story unraveled even more as she claimed she was intercepted by two men on foot on a highway and snatched Ana away from her.

Eduarda then told investigators that she forgot to lock the front gate to her home and that two hooded men broke into the residence Friday around midnight and sexually abused gunpoint while her children were sleeping.

Surveillance cameras inspected by the police discredited each of her accounts.

Eduarda de Oliveira gave police five different versions of her 15-day-old daughter's disappearance before she confessed to murdering the baby

Ana de Oliveira was reported kidnapped by her mother last Friday. But police investigators in Alagoas, Brazil continued to press the 15-day-old baby's mother for information until they got a confession from her Tuesday and found the baby in the home

Police carried a bag containing the body of 15-day-old Ana de Oliveria out of her family home in the northeastern Brazil city of Novo Lino on Tuesday

Police used a sniffer dog and searched the home Monday but were unable to locate the baby.

Investigators are looking into whether another person helped Eduarda hide Ana's body.

'The mother may have become desperate and asked for help from a family member to do this,' Alagoas Civil Police chief Igor Diego said, according to Brazilian news outlet G1.

'And taking advantage of this moment when there was no one in the house, no one on the street, because the child's mother was in another region of Novo Lino, this person may have taken the body and put it in the closet,' Diego added. 'These are things that the investigation will still work on.'
The United Nations has warned that Iran is 'not far' from possessing a nuclear bomb, just days after Donald Trump told the Islamic Republic to give up its drive for nukes.

Western countries have long suspected Iran of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, an allegation Tehran has consistently denied, insisting that its programme is for peaceful civilian purposes.

'It's like a puzzle. They have the pieces, and one day they could eventually put them together,' nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi told French newspaper Le Monde in an interview published on Wednesday.

'There's still a way to go before they get there. But they're not far off, that has to be acknowledged,' he said.

The UN watchdog was tasked with overseeing Iran's nuclear programme and its compliance with a 2015 nuclear deal which collapsed three years later when the United States withdrew from it in President Donald Trump's first term.

'It's not enough to tell the international community 'we don't have nuclear weapons' for them to believe you. We need to be able to verify,' said Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

He arrived on Wednesday in Tehran and met Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. He will also meet Mohammad Eslami, who heads Iran's nuclear energy agency.

Grossi's visit comes ahead of a second round of talks between Iran and the United States on Saturday, a week after the two countries held their highest-level talks since Trump abandoned the nuclear deal in 2018.

Both sides called the first meeting 'constructive'.

UN nuclear watchdog Rafael Grossi has warned that Iran is not far off from having a nuclear bomb

Iranian missiles are displayed at the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force Museum in Tehran, Iran, November 15, 2024

It comes just days after Trump said that Iran must abandon any drive for a nuclear weapon

Grossi's remarks come after Trump said on Monday that he believed Iran is intentionally delaying a nuclear deal with the US and that it must abandon any drive for a nuclear weapon or face a possible military strike on Tehran's atomic facilities.

'I think they're tapping us along,' Trump told reporters after U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff met in Oman on Saturday with a senior Iranian official.

'Iran has to get rid of the concept of a nuclear weapon. They cannot have a nuclear weapon,' Trump said.

Asked if U.S. options for a response include a military strike on Tehran's nuclear facilities, Trump said: 'Of course it does.'

Trump said the Iranians need to move fast to avoid a harsh response because 'they're fairly close' to developing a nuclear weapon.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei holds a meeting with senior officials at his residence in Tehran, Iran on April 15, 2025

The U.S. and Iran held indirect talks during former President Joe Biden's term but they made little, if any progress.

The last known direct negotiations between the two governments were under then-President Barack Obama, who spearheaded the 2015 international nuclear deal that Trump later abandoned.
Sex and the City actress Cynthia Nixon is being slammed for appearing to wear a Palestine flag shirt in the new season three trailer of the controversial spinoff And Just Like That.

The trailer, released on Tuesday, featured Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristin Davis and Nixon all back in their beloved respective roles of Carrie Bradshaw, Charlotte York and Miranda Hobbes.

In one scene of the nearly three-minute clip, Nixon appears on screen wearing a bifurcated button-down shirt, with one half bearing the colors and pattern of the Palestinian flag.

'What's in store for season three?' Nixon asks while wearing the controversial shirt paired with a red tie.

Nixon denied the shirt was a subtle tactic to share her support for Palestine, but the one-time New York Gubernatorial candidate has been outspoken about her stance on the Israel-Hamas war.

'The shirt was provided to Cynthia at an And Just Like That marketing shoot by the series wardrobe department. Any similarities to the colors are coincidence,' a representative for Nixon told Newsweek.

Social media users were quick to criticize Nixon for wearing the flag of a country whose leadership does not support gay rights.

Cynthia Nixon is being slammed for appearing to wear a Palestine flag shirt in the new season three trailer of the controversial spinoff And Just Like That

Nixon appears on screen wearing a bifurcated button-down shirt, with one half bearing the colors and pattern of the Palestinian flag (pictured)

The trailer, released on Tuesday, featured Sarah Jessica Parker , Kristin Davis and Nixon all back in their beloved respective roles

'Actress and LGBTQI+ activist Cynthia Nixon, who is a lesbian, wears Palestine flag colored shirt to show solidarity with Palestine despite LGBT people being persecuted in Gaza and the West Bank,' one person said.

'Cynthia Nixon has unofficially crowned herself the Grand Marshal of the next Hamas Pride Parade - because siding with anti-progressives is now a progressive credential,' said another.

'As a lesbian, I cannot fathom ever donning the flag of a country that wants me dead. This is selling out,' a third person added.

Nixon has been married to a woman, Christine Marinoni, since 2012. She also revealed in February that her son, her sister's kids, and her best friend's kid are all proudly trans during a protest in New York City.

The Hamas-led Islamic Middle Eastern state follows sharia law, and as noted by Amnesty International, it is not safe for the queer community.

Others slammed her using her outfit in the promo to send a political message and some even said they would stop watching the show.

'Im sorry, are we in a contest for the most clueless virtue signal of the year? Check out Cynthia Nixon playing dress-up with her little Palestine flag shirt, trying to be the wokest lesbian in the room. Whats next, a rainbow keffiyeh to really drive the irony home?' one person said.

Actor Michael Rapaport said, 'Look at this animal. This animal is wearing a Chic Terror outfit, the animal probably took the time to have it custom made. This animal is wearing a chic outfit with the inverted red triangle.

Nixon denied the shirt was a tactic to share her support for Palestine, but the one-time New York Gubernatorial candidate has been outspoken about her stance on the Israel-Hamas war

'Does this animal know that an inverted red triangle is the symbol used by terrorists to mark targets they want to take out. My dumb animals of SAG list is starting today.'

'And just like that Im likely not watching this show or skipping over the boring Miranda parts because her story line is boring,' said a third person.

Others expressed their support for the fashion choice and Nixon's outspoken liberal values.

'Cynthia Nixon you will always be famous,' one person said. 'I saw it and instantly knew MY QUEEN,' said another.

A third person said, 'Miranda never goes out of stylea time-tested classic.'

Newsweek reported that the shirt appears to be designed by Calvin Klein, based on a 2018 Facebook post from the designer that shows actress Cate Blanchett wearing a similar shirt to that year's Festival de Cannes.

In the wake of the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, Nixon went on a three-day hunger strike.

Nixon, who is the mother of two Jewish children with her ex-husband, demanded that Former President Joe Biden call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

She also signed an open letter that was signed by 260 other artists and addressed to the president and Congress demanding a ceasefire in the region.
Jaw-dropping video captured the violent rampage of a gas-masked man who charged into a Massachusetts courthouse, savagely attacking and pepper spraying several people inside.

The dramatic incident unfolded when a frightening figure, sporting a gas mask, a helmet, tactical boots and sunglasses, busted into Woburn District Court on Monday around 10:30 am.

Later identified as 28-year-old Nicholas Akerberg of Yarmouth Port, the culprit was seen on security footage charging toward the building's entrance armed with pepper spray.

A guard frantically tried to shut the door to prevent him from getting inside, but her efforts were unsuccessful.

Akerberg pried open the door and shoved passed the guard, who was trying to stop him, attacking her with the pepper spray along the way.

He sprinted through the lobby full of baffled and terrified court-goers and employees as the guard tried chasing him down.

The guard managed to briefly tackle him onto a bench, right near where two visibly unsettled women were sitting during the chaotic ordeal.

Several other people inside the building stepped in to try to stop this unexplained attack.

Jaw-dropping video captured the violent rampage of a gas-masked man who charged into a Massachusetts courthouse

A guard frantically tried to shut the door to prevent him from getting inside the building, but her efforts were unsuccessful

Akerberg had blasted pepper spray at multiple court officers, a police officer and an assistant district attorney, according to a statement from the Middlesex district attorney's office.

After his relentless episode of pepper spraying, punching and kicking, he was finally thrown to the ground by police officers who piled on top of him, Tased him and arrested him.

Akerberg, a police officer and two court officers were transported to a hospital and later released.

Courtroom proceedings were delayed several hours as a result of the incident.

Akerberg appeared in court later that day, showing hardly any emotion as he blankly stared - now wearing blue jail attire instead of his tactical gear.

The courthouse-tormenter was charged with six counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and several other charges, according to the district attorney's office.

An investigation later revealed Akerberg had eight canisters of pepper spray and two smoke canisters on him.

'The rule of law is not just a fancy, academic concept, it is the foundation of democracy,' Marian Ryan, Middlesex District Attorney told NBC on Tuesday.

Nicholas Akerberg, 28, of Yarmouth Port (pictured in court) faces multiple charges in connection to the shocking attack

Akerberg had blasted pepper spray at multiple court officers, a police officer and an assistant district attorney

'Anyone who is desecrating those scared spaces is going to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.'

Ryan added that this situation was somewhat of a wake-up call for courthouse security measures.

Police and the district attorney's office didnt respond to email messages seeking information about a lawyer for Akerberg.

Akerberg was ordered held at his arraignment, and his bail was revoked. He is set to have a competency evaluation and is due back in court on May 2.

This shocking ambush comes about two months after a melee broke out in a New Mexico courtroom after relatives of a murdered woman lunged at her accused killer.

The violence erupted when Carlos Lucero, 40, and Pete Ysasi, 51, leaped over a barrier at Bernalillo County District Court and charged at murder suspect Alexander Segura Ortiz, 21, during a February hearing.

Security cameras captured the calamity, starting with the dramatic moment Lucero sprinted towards Ortiz while a police officer tried to protect the the alleged murder.

As Lucero, Ortiz and the officer all toppled over onto the ground, Ysasi walked over and joined in on the attack.

After his relentless episode of pepper spraying, punching and kicking, he was finally thrown to the ground by police officers who piled on top of him, Tased him arrested him

Other family members and cops rushed to try and diffuse the altercation, which only escalated from there.

Eventually, everyone dispersed when the officer pulled out a gun. But just as the brawl seemed to come to an end, Ortiz's father gave Ysasi a final kick in the face.

Lucero and Ysasi were arrested from the courtroom and charged with battery on a peace officer and assault on a jail. They were both later released on their own recognizance.
A third official is out at the Pentagon as part of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's massive crackdown on leaks.

Colin Carroll, chief of staff to Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg, was suspended a day after two other political appointees were shown the door, Politico reported.

The internal Pentagon investigation is looking into allegations of unauthorized disclosures of information.

Dan Caldwell, a senior adviser to Hegseth, and Darin Selnick, the Pentagon's deputy chief of staff, were put on administrative leave and escorted out of the Pentagon by security on Tuesday.

'This is a purge of people who had disagreements with the Pentagon chief of staff,' a defense source told CNN.

President Donald Trump has railed against leakers, particularly those leaking information about his administration. He has ordered them found.

Colin Carroll (right), chief of staff to Deputy Defense Secretary, has been suspended as part of a leak investigation

Carroll, a former Marine Corps intelligence officer with deep AI expertise, served in Afghanistan. He is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy.

Ahead of his tenure at the Pentagon, Carroll worked at Anduril, a defense contractor that specializes in autonomous systems.

And he was fired by the Biden administration for creating a hostile environment while chief operating officer of the Pentagon's former Joint Artificial Intelligence Center.

The inspector general conducted an investigation in 2021 into how Carroll treated his employees, sources told Politico last month.

The staff told the IG that Carroll said they 'weren't smart,' 'dumb' or 'idiots.' He was also said to have called colleagues 'fucking idiots' or 'morons.'

Carroll told the outlet he was asked to resign but claimed he was winnowing down DOD projects, which frustrated some colleagues, and fighting against an entrenched bureaucracy.

'I was three years too early in attempting to drive the necessary revolutionary change required to deliver tangible outcomes to warfighters,' Carroll said.

The leak investigation at the Pentagon began on March 21 when Hegseth's chief of staff, Joe Kasper, ordered the probe.

The probe included military operational plans for the Panama canal, a second carrier headed to the Red Sea, the pausing the collection of intelligence to Ukraine, and the leak that Elon Musk's would meet with Hegseth about the U.S. war plans for China, an official told Politico.

Kasper said the probe would examine 'recent unauthorized disclosures of national security information' and said polygraphs would be used.

'The use of polygraphs in the execution of this investigation will be in accordance with applicable law and policy,' he wrote. 'This investigation will commence immediately and culminate in a report to the Secretary of Defense.'

He noted that 'information identifying a party responsible for an unauthorized disclosure' would be referred for criminal prosecution.'

Kasper ordered the probe one day after the New York Times reported the Pentagon set up a briefing with Elon Musk on a potential war with China.

Top Defense aides Dan Caldwell (left) and Darin Selnick (right) were escorted out of the Pentagon on Tuesday after allegedly being identified during the leak investigation

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (foreground) with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Donald Trump in the Oval Office

Caldwell played a critical role as an adviser to Hegseth.

He was the staff member designated as Hegseth's point person in the Signal messaging chat that top Trump administration national security officials, including the defense secretary, used to convey plans for a military strike against Houthi militants in Yemen.

The chat, set up by national security adviser Michael Waltz, included a number of Cabinet members and came to light because Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was accidentally added to the group.

Caldwell and Hegseth have a longtime friendship, going back to Hegseth's time as the head of Concerned Veterans for America, a nonprofit. Caldwell worked at CVA beginning in 2013 as policy director and later as executive director.

Additionally, Caldwell was by Hegseth's side on Capitol Hill as the former Fox News host fought to keep his nomination alive during questions about his treatment of women.

Selnick also performed the duties of the under secretary of Defense for personnel and readiness. He served in the White House and the Department of Veterans Affairs in the first Trump administration.

And he also has ties to Concerned Veterans for America, where he served as a senior adviser.

All three suspended aides are close in age and share the same isolationist view of foreign policy. That view is also shared by Vice President J.D. Vance and Don Trump Jr., the president's oldest son.
An outspoken Republican congressional candidate was hospitalized just hours after announcing her campaign.

Mayra Flores, 39, a former congresswoman from Texas, announced her candidacy for the 2026 election on Tuesday.

'I am deeply honored to announce my candidacy for Congressa chance to serve the people and uphold the values that make our nation great,' she posted on X.

'This campaign is driven by a love for our country and a commitment to fight for justice, opportunity, and unity for all.'

Then just hours later her team shared a more dire message.

'Former and future Congresswoman Mayra Flores, a devoted conservative fighting corruption in Texas's 28th District, has been hospitalized,' a post on her X signed 'Team Mayra,' shockingly stated.

'During this challenging time, we humbly ask for your prayers and support. We pray that Mayra will return stronger than ever, ready to continue her unwavering commitment to serving our country.'

'Mayra's passion for building a brighter future for our children, grandchildren, and generations to come is at the heart of everything she does. Guided by faith and determination, she remains steadfast in her mission during this critical moment.'

Former Rep. Maya Flores, R-Texas, announced her bid for re-election on Tuesday. Just hours later her team announced she was in the hospital

Flores is a staunch gun rights advocate and featured firearms in some of her campaign videos

Flores laughs during her campaign watch party in 2022

The former representative won a special election in 2022 and served just several months before losing to Texas Democrat Rep. Vicente Gonzalez. She is famous for carrying guns in her campaign ads and backing Trump's immigration agenda.

Flores is the first Mexican-born American to serve in Congress and has her eyes set on reclaiming a seat long-held by Democrat Rep. Henry Cuellar.

Cuellar is facing criminal charges related to allegations that he and his wife accepted $600,000 in bribes from entities in Azerbaijan and Mexico.

The shocking announcement of her hospitalization led her supporters to post messages of support as they wondered what could have happened.

'Sending prayers for strength and comfort to Mayra and her family,' Iowa Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson posted on X.

'Get well soon,' other posts online said.

Flores' campaign staff eventually posted an update late Tuesday evening that the Republican was released from the hospital.

'Earlier today, Mayra Flores faced a sudden health scare, but thanks to the incredible care she received and the support of her loved ones, she is now fully recovering and feeling stronger than ever,' the campaign statement said.

Staff for Flores' campaign announced late Tuesday evening that the Republican 'will be back on the campaign trail soon'

'While she is taking time to recover, her passion for serving TX-28 has not slowed down one bit,' the statement continued.

'Mayra will be back on the campaign trail soonstronger than ever and ready to fight for the people of South Texas.'

On Wednesday Flores began responding to well wishes on X thanking supporters for their prayers.

'Thank you so much, Amiga,' Flores responded to Hinson.

'Im now home feeling so much better.'
President Donald Trump hit former President Joe Biden Wednesday over the Democrat's immigration policies, hours after the former president stepped back into the public eye for the first time since leaving office.

'Sleepy Joe Biden, THE WORST PRESIDENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, has allowed millions and millions of Criminals, many of them murderers, drug dealers, and people released from prisons and mental institutions from all around the world, to enter our Country through its very dangerous and ill conceived Open Border,' Trump wrote on Truth Social.

'Sorry, but its my job to get these killers and thugs out of here,' the president added. 'THAT'S WHAT I GOT ELECTED TO DO. MAGA!'

On Tuesday, Biden made his first post-presidential address but didn't touch Trump's controversial immigration policies.

Instead the Democrat - who was addressing the Advocates, Counselors and Representatives for the Disabled national conference in Chicago - took on Trump and Elon Musk for DOGE's dismantling of Social Security.

'Who in the hell do they think they are?' Biden loudly asked.

While it was clear he was aiming his ire and Trump and Musk, he refused to say their names during his nearly 30-minute speech.

'Why are these guys taking aim at Social Security now?' the former president asked. 'They're following that old line from tech startups - the quote is "move fast, break things." They're certainly breaking things. They're shooting first and aiming later.'

President Donald Trump (left) hit former President Joe Biden (right) Wednesday over the Democrat's immigration policies, hours after the former president stepped back into the public eye for the first time since leaving office

Trump called Biden 'THE WORST PRESIDENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES' and took him on over immigration. During Biden's speech in Chicago, he hit Trump and Elon Musk for dismantling Social Security

Biden said they were creating 'needless pain and sleepless nights.'

The ex-president quoted Martin O'Malley, the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration during his administration and the man who introduced the former president at Tuesday's event.

'My friend Gov. O'Malley knows what they're really up to, he says, and I love this quote - they want to wreck it so they can rob it,' Biden went on. 'Why do they want to rob it? To deliver huge tax cuts to billionaires and big corporations and keep it going.'

Biden also commented more broadly on the state of the country and took on the MAGA movement.

'I said I've been doing this a long time, it's never been this divided. Granted it's roughly 30 percent, but it's a 30 percent that has no heart,' the former president said.

Prior to Biden's speech Tueday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt mocked the 82-year-old former president.

'My first reaction when seeing former President Biden was speaking tonight was: I'm shocked that he is speaking at night time,' Leavitt said from the podium Tuesday.

Following Biden's disastrous Atlanta debate performance last June, Axios reported that the president was 'dependably engaged' between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Outside those hours, aides told the news site, Biden would 'have verbal miscues and become fatigued.'

'I thought his bedtime was much earlier than his speech tonight,' Leavitt cracked to the press corps.

The White House has also been ruthless toward critics of Trump's hardline immigration policy.

Communications Director Steven Cheung ripped Democratic Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen for going to visit Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadorian migrant accidentally deported by the Trump administration earlier this year.

'Chris and his bedwetting friends have shown more concern and sympathy for an illegal MS-13 gang member than victims of horrific migrant crimes,' Cheung said. 'He is a complete disgrace to his office and should be thoroughly shamed for his disgusting actions.'

Vice President J.D. Vance posted a rant on X Tuesday night where he lambasted 'bulls*** arguments' from those demanding due process for illegal immigrants.
President Donald Trump's aggressive approach toward Canada has not ingratiated himself to his neighbor to the North according to a new poll, as citizens overwhelmingly view him a threat to the future of their country.

The latest DailyMail.com/J.L. Partners Poll shows that 73 percent of Canadian voters view Trump as the global leader who poses a greatest threat to Canada.

Of the 73 percent, 61 percent who cited Trump as the biggest threat to Canada are from the Conservative Party, 81 percent of the Liberal party, and 82 percent of the New Democratic Party.

The poll was conducted of over 1,000 Canadian adults between April 9 and 11.

Canadians in the poll identified the second greatest threat is Chinese President Xi Jinping with just nine percent of voters agreeing and six percent declaring Russian President Vladimir Putin as the greatest threat.

Just 16 percent of Canadians gave a positive rating for Trump while 72 percent feel negative about him.

Of the words used to describe Trump, 'arrogant,' 'idiot,' and 'bully' were among the words most commonly according to the polls.

Sixty-one percent said they viewed Trump as 'most like' Russian President Vladimir Putin.

U.S President Donald Trump at the White House

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Canadian Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre faces Prime Minister Mark Carney in the upcoming election

Since Trump returned to the presidency for his second term, he has routinely bullied Canada with rhetoric urging the country to join the United States as the '51st state.'

The president has also sparked anger from the populace by enacting punishing tariffs on Canadian exports.

'We cannot pay the deficits of Canada, Mexico and so many other countries. We used to do it; we can't do it anymore,' he said during a White House event on tariffs.

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The poll found that Liberal leader Mark Carney holds a slight edge over Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre.

Respondents backed Carney with 39 percent of the vote while 37 percent went for Poilievre.

The election will take place Monday, April 28, 2025

The remaining 22 percent was split among fourth other candidates from different parties.

The margin of error was 3.4 percent.

The second most importation issue for Canadian voters behind installing a stable government, is to pick a candidate for Prime Minister who will stand up to Trump.

'It is too close to call, with the Liberals with a two-point lead over the Conservatives,' J.L. Partners co-founder James Johnson told DailyMail.com about the results, describing the upcoming election as the 'Trump election.'
The United States consulate looks set to fall victim to Elon Musks chainsaw as Donald Trumps administration earmarks it for closure amid a wave of spending cuts.

Leaked US government plans revealed the American presence in Edinburgh is set to end after more than 200 years as part of a raft of closures designed to save money.

It comes as the Mr Musk-backed Department of Government Efficiency makes dramatic attempts to slash the size of the US state.

The consulate, which has been in Edinburghs Regent Terrace for the past 74 years, provides services for American citizens in Scotland and helps maintain cultural and business ties.

Staff based at the building played a vital role in responding to the Lockerbie disaster in 1988, with the consulates American officials and local staff racing to the scene and working there in the weeks and months after.

In leaked internal documents, reported by various US media outlets, some 10 embassies and 17 consulates are recommended to be shut - they include five consulates in France and the one in Edinburgh.

Tammy Bruce, spokesman at the US Department of State, did not deny the authenticity of the documents but insisted there was no final plan, final budget, final dynamic.

She said: That is up to the White House and the President of the United States as they continue to work on their budget plan and what they will submit to Congress.

The American presence in Edinburgh is set to end after more than 200 years as part of a raft of closures spearheaded by Elon Musk

What we tend to see is reporting that is early, or wrong, or based on leaked documents from somewhere unknown.

It would be wise to be cautious before acting on every single element you see leading up to something as important as this budget coming in from President Trump.

There has been an American presence in Edinburgh since 1798, and it was among a large number of consulates the US established during the closing years of the 18th century.

The first known address for the consulate was in James Place, next to Leith Links, before moving to various addresses around the city.

In 1951 in settled at the current address, which is near the Scottish Government headquarters and Edinburghs Old Royal High School.

But it could be the last. Other American outposts which look set to close, according to reports, include those in Malta, Luxembourg, and the Central African Republic.

The move is part of aggressive attempts to slash government spending from the Trump administration.

Mr Musk, who gleefully posed on stage with a chainsaw after being handed it by Argentine president Javier Milei at a conservative conference, has also been pushing spending cuts.

The US consulate in Edinburghs Regent Terrace

Holding the machine in the air last in February, Mr Musk declared: This is the chainsaw for bureaucracy. Chainsaw!

Former SNP MP Hannah Bardell, who had worked at the Edinburgh consulate when Barack Obama was in office, said the closure would be a devastating blow.

The nationalist said: Consulates provide vital support to citizens and businesses, and more broadly foster important cultural relationships and understanding.

Diplomatically they are a vital place for governments to exchange views, disagree and lobby on issues.

It is not the first time the Scottish consulate has been under threat. In 1995 it was slated for closure amid deep cuts to American budgets.

There was an outpouring of support from Americans and Scots, and former presidents George Bush and Jimmy Carter joined the campaign to save it.

But with just days to go it was saved from closure.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: Scotland and the United States share strong and lasting social, cultural and economic ties, and we do all we can to ensure those links remain strong and continue to thrive.
A Palm Beach nurse was beaten within an inch of her life by a young man who police say launched a racist attack against her as she was treating him.

Leela Lal, 67, nearly died after being attacked by a 33-year-old psychiatric patient, Stephen Scantlebury, in February at HCA Florida Palms West Hospital, where she has worked for 21 years.

Scantlebury was charged with attempted second-degree murder. Officials placed a hate-crime enhancement on the charge, which means he will face a first-degree felony, because, they say, Scantlebury 'made utterances' about Lal's Indian ethnicity following the attack.

According to The Palm Beach Post, Scantlebury told investigators after the attack that he believed someone had killed his family as he spoke poorly about people of Indian descent. He had called 911 the previous day saying he was feeling paranoid.

After fearing that the attack had left her blind, Lal can now see through one eye and has been transferred to a rehabilitation facility, where she will remain until doctors determine her next medical steps.

Lal's family told the local outlet that she is in great pain after a facial reconstruction surgery but has started asking about her grandchildren.

'Make sure you call my job and tell them Im in the hospital so they dont fire me,' Lal reportedly told her daughter when she regained consciousness one month ago.

The brutal attack left nurse Leela Lal in critical condition, with almost every bone in her face broken and the very likely possibility that she will never have the use of both of her eyes again

Stephen Scantlebury, 33, had suffered a psychiatrist break before the attack . He is seen in bodycam footage the day before the assault. He had called 911 to say he had been feeling paranoid

The 21-year veteran nurse at the HCA Florida Palms West Hospital was left in critical condition but has since shown signs of improvement

While doctors removed the tube that was in her neck to help her breathe, Lal is still being fed through a syringe because her jaw is wired shut.

The suspect was a Baker Act patient under Florida law - one who is admitted involuntarily for a 72-hour psychiatric mental health hold as they are believed to be a danger to themselves or others.

However, instead of going to a Baker Act facility, the suspect had voluntarily checked himself into Palms West hospital where he was then admitted to the third floor of an unsecured patient room.

Police said that while he was undergoing telemetry with Lal, he leaped out of his bed, jumped on her and brutally beat her before running barefoot out of the hospital.

After the horrific attack, Lal had to be airlifted by helicopter to St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach where she was required ICU level care upon arrival.

'Essentially, every bone in the victim's face is broken and the victim is likely to lose the use of both of her eyes,' the affidavit states. Doctors also found brain bleeds.

Officers later found and arrested Scantlebury after he was spotted running barefoot along a busy highway.

The day before the near-death assault, he had called 911 to say he had been feeling paranoid. He and his family then met with deputies at a Dunkin Donuts near their home, but they did not force him to seek any mental health help.

Megan Scantlebury, the wife of the accused, testified that he was a loving father and husband who had worked for his family's construction business for 20 years

Officers later found and arrested Scantlebury after he was spotted running barefoot along a busy highway

Lal's family said that she is in great pain after a facial reconstruction surgery but has started asking about her grandchildren

Megan Scantlebury, the wife of the accused, testified that he was a loving father and husband who had worked for his family's construction business for 20 years.

She also testified that her husband had never displayed any warning signs of aggression towards her or those around him until two days before the attack, when he began showing signs of paranoia and hallucinations - behaviors she said 'followed a car crash.'

Lal's loved ones have raised concerns about the safety of hospital staff, as they believe warning signs were ignored that could have prevented the tragic outcome.

'I read that he was acting delusional in the days leading up to the attack,' Cindy Joseph, Lal's daughter, said.

'Those would have been flags for people to step in or maybe add security before this incident happened. It was preventable, for sure.'

Officials said Scantlebury 'made utterances' about Lal's race following the attack

Dr. Carol Milliken, president of the Florida Emergency Nurses Association, explained that nurses in Baker Act facilities must undergo hands-on training to be able to manage psychiatric patient care, according to WPTV.

On the other hand, nurses in other medical settings receive broader psychiatric training online in a module that covers several areas of care.

'The knowledge and ability to care for these patients is different than it is in a receiving facility,' Milliken told the outlet.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Sunday embarked on a visit to Brazil to participate in the 11th BRICS Parliamentary Forum where he is scheduled to prese ...


Ministerial pay rises will not cost the public purse a penny, Holyroods social care minister has claimed.

Maree Todd also insisted the 19,000 boost given to Cabinet members and junior ministers was fair.

The First Minister decided to partially end the pay freeze for ministers which has been in place for 16 years.

Junior ministers will now be paid 100,575 a year while Cabinet secretaries will earn 116,125.

John Swinney has said he will not accept the 19,126 increase.

A voluntary pay freeze has been in place since 2009 when Alex Salmond was First Minister.

Ministers have since declined to accept the rise, instead donating it back into the public purse, with around 2.2million raised.

The latest decision means they will now be entitled to their full MSP salary, although their ministerial salary will remain at 2009 levels.

Appearing on BBC Radio Scotlands Good Morning Scotland programme, Ms Todd said the move does not count as a pay rise.

Maree Todd made the bizarre claim that 20,000 pay rises for Scottish Government ministers will not cost the public purse a penny

John Swinney has said he will not accept the 19,126 increase being handed to members of his cabinet

The MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross said: Its not a pay rise, it wont cost the public purse a penny extra, and I think its very important that people understand that.

Since 2008 ministers have been, instead of accepting their pay rise every year, they have been taking it off their pay and putting it back into a public pot.

So ministers have donated 2.2 million to the public purse since that pay freeze came in.

That means ministers like me were paid 55,000 a year for their MSP work.

Whats happened now is that I am now going to be paid the same as my other backbench colleagues.

Mr Swinney said the decision to raise ministerial salaries was made out of fairness, but added he will not take the increase to ensure Scots do not think he made the change to benefit personally.

Opposition parties have attacked the Government over the rise, with Scottish Labour describing it as a reward for failure.

Ms Todds comments came as one of Scotlands largest trade unions warned the Government of its impact on public sector workers.

In a letter to the First Minister, the Scotland Secretary of GMB, Louise Gilmour, said the increase was unjustifiable.

She said: This increase sends a clear message to our members, particularly the lowest paid in our public services who are still fighting for a 15 an hour minimum which was promised years ago.

They have endured 14 years of Tory austerity, a global pandemic and a cost-of-living crisis where they watched the rich get richer during national and global crises whilst those on the front line of our public services - our waste workers, social carers and school staff to name a few - continued to attend their work.

Now, at the first opportunity, their political leaders have stuffed their pockets.
Disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein appeared in a New York City courtroom clutching an inhaler, after pleading with a judge to have him moved from jail.

The 73-year-old arrived in court on Wednesday in a wheelchair after his lawyers filed a request that he spend his nights at a hospital in the city instead of Rikers Island for the duration of his rape retrial.

His lawyers made the request as jury selection resumed for a second day, saying conditions in the jail complex are making his health issues worse.

They say he'd be better off in the prison ward at Bellevue Hospital, where he has been appearing in recent months for treatment of a myriad of health issues.

Weinstein has numerous health conditions, including chronic myeloid leukemia, heart issues, diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, sciatica and severe limitations on his ability to walk.

A recent tongue infection was misdiagnosed at Rikers, requiring hospitalization, and he has gained nearly 20 pounds in the past month, his lawyer Imran Ansari said.

In a statement, Ansari said Weinstein is also subjected to freezing temperatures at Rikers and isn't provided with clean clothing.

Ansari say that if he is not allowed to leave Rikers he could die as a result of his health conditions.

Weinstein appeared in court on Wednesday as jury selection continued, and clutched an inhaler at one point

Weinstein has numerous health conditions, including chronic myeloid leukemia, heart issues, diabetes , obstructive sleep apnea, sciatica and severe limitations on his ability to walk

He said: 'Because of this mistreatment, he has been worn down considerably health wise, and now faces the stress of trial in this condition, which may very well lead to serious health complications, even death.'

Judge Curtis Farber has yet to rule on the transfer request, and the issue wasn't discussed in court before jury selection resumed on Wednesday morning.

The first day ended on Tuesday with no one chosen for the panel of 12 jurors and six alternates.

Wednesday kicked off with two dozen prospective jurors being brought to the courtroom for more questioning after making it through an initial round a day earlier.

Weinstein is being tried again after New Yorks highest court, the Court of Appeals, last year overturned his 2020 conviction and 23-year prison sentence.

A new trial was ordered after finding that improper rulings and prejudicial testimony tainted the original one.

Weinstein is being retried on two charges from his original trial. Hes accused of raping an aspiring actor in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013.

He is also accused of a criminal sex act by forcing oral sex on a movie and TV production assistant in 2006.

His lawyer said Weinstein is subjected to freezing temperatures at Rikers, seen here, and isn't provided with clean clothing

Weinstein is seen here as he arrived at the Oscars ceremony in Los Angeles, February 28, 2016

He is also charged with one count of criminal sex act based on an allegation from a woman who was not a part of the original trial.

That woman, who has asked not to be named publicly, alleges that Weinstein forced oral sex on her at a Manhattan hotel.

Weinstein has pleaded not guilty and denies raping or sexually assaulting anyone.

Rikers has come under growing scrutiny for its mistreatment of detainees and dangerous conditions.

Last year, a federal judge cleared the way for a possible federal takeover, finding the city had placed inmates in 'unconstitutional danger.'

Weinstein's lawyers filed a legal claim against New York City last November, alleging he was receiving substandard medical treatment in unhygienic conditions at Rikers.

The claim, which seeks $5 million in damages, argues that Weinstein has been returned to Rikers each time before fully recovering at the hospital.

Speaking with DailyMail.com last month, Weinstein described the conditions inside the complex as being 'unbearable'.

He said: ''This is inhumane, horrifying and needs to be torn down.'

As well as the New York case, he also has an appeal pending in California, where he received a 16-year-sentence for a separate rape conviction in Los Angeles in 2022.
Both the prosecution and defense on Wednesday relied on evocative images during closing arguments in the trial of Daniel Krug, the 44-year-old Colorado father charged with murdering his wife after allegedly posing as her stalker and framing her ex-boyfriend.

Prosecutors showed the Colorado jury a picture of the beaming victim, engineer and mother-of-three Kristil Krug  along with a still from her husbands video interview with detectives in the hours after her death.

Jurors stared at the image of the defendant, his head thrown back and eyes rolled to the ceiling, as prosecutors reminded them how he huffed to investigators: It has to be the husband.

Krugs defense, meanwhile, displayed a photo from the crime scene of a bloody footprint that prosecutors argue didnt exist.

After eight days of testimony, each side synopsized the cases theyd laid out before the jury was sent to deliberate.

The courtroom was packed with relatives of both victim and defendant; Kristils parents have been in the front row behind prosecutors every day of the trial.

She had just turned 43 when she was found bludgeoned and stabbed in the garage of the family home in Broomfield, Colorado on December 14, 2023.

Her husband was arrested for the murder two days later.

Mother-of-three Kristil Krug was found bludgeoned to death in the garage of her suburban Denver home on December 14, 2023. Prosecutors say her husband posed as her stalker before killing her

Krug, prosecutors argued, was losing control over his family. His wife wanted a divorce and theyd been essentially only cohabitating and coparenting for more than a year in the Broomfield home they shared.

Instead of accepting his marriage was over  he decided that he was going to play puppet master over his wife and over his children by impersonating Jack Anthony Holland, stalking and terrorizing his wife and family for months before murdering Kristil 11 days before Christmas, Senior Deputy District Attorney Kate Armstrong said on Wednesday, naming the ex-boyfriend and a key witness in the trial.

Holland, who dated Kristil 25 years ago, testified on April 9 that hed been completely unaware that vile threats and messages were being sent in his name for more than two months in the fall of 2023.

When officers arrived at the door of his home in Utah on the day of her murder, he was shocked  and told them hed been buying a sweatshirt at Kohls, an eight-hour drive from the Krug home, at the time of the crime.

The prosecution argued that Krug began the stalking campaign in October 2023 in the hopes that he would be able to bring her back to him and that, in that state, he could be her hero and protector, and they could come back together as a united front.

Using burner phones and emails created to point to Holland, Krug sent his wife threats, vile messages and surveillance photos suggesting the family was being watched, prosecutors allege.

One of those emails was also used to set up a fake ad on a hookup site inviting strange men to run a train on Kristil and send photos of male genitalia to her number, which was listed on the ad, jurors heard during the trial.

But Kristil went to police, who interviewed Krug in addition to drafting search warrants for Holland  which prosecutors argue the defendant knew would lead to his unmasking.

Krug is accused of subjecting his wife to a terrifying campaign of threatening emails and stalking before stabbing her to death, because they were heading for divorce

By December 2023, Armstrong said Wednesday, the walls are closing in on Dan Krug, because not only are those [investigation] results going to come back, but Kristil is on to him.

Shes figuring it out. She is telling family members: I cant even rule out my husband.

She even confronted Krug, who denied it, she reminded jurors.

At that point, Armstrong argued, Krug knows its only a matter of time before hes going to be in not only legal trouble for stalking but hes also going to be exposed to his friends and his family and everyone hes trying to present this picture [to] as this great family man and great father.

At this point in time, all hope of rekindling the relationship is over . His ruse has not worked, she said.

Then the only thing left to do was to end Kristils life, both to silence her and to punish her for not wanting to be with him.

The defense, meanwhile, continued to chip away at investigators credibility during closing arguments  while reminding jurors that no physical evidence had tied Krug to the crime.

Krugs attorney, Phillip Andrew Geigle, pointed to what the defense painted as mistakes or missteps during the investigation  particularly the failure of anyone at the Broomfield Police Department to contact Holland even once before Kristils murder.

Do you think that guy, when called about the love of his life, wouldnt pick up his phone  wouldnt say: Thats not me? Geigle asked jurors on Wednesday.

He pointed to conflicting statements and even an officers slouching on the witness stand.

On top of that, he reiterated to the jury that it was the defense bringing up DNA evidence, not the prosecution  pointing to neck swabs that ruled out his client.

He pulled up a magnified photo of the crime scene, pointing out what he insisted was a bloody footprint in the garage of the Krug home where Kristil was murdered to indicate that the killer must have stepped in her blood, then showed a picture of the defendants clean shoes.

In addition, the defense pointed out errant charges and a change of address on Krugs credit card following the murder, while he was in custody  charges that Geigle argued were pointed out to the district attorney but never investigated.

The Broomfield, Colorado, home where Krug's body was found. Prosecutors say Kristil was suspicious her soon-to-be ex-husband could have been behind the stalking campaign

Is it connected? I have no idea, but the timing certainly is suspicious, he said Wednesday.

In conclusion, he told jurors: We know Mr Krug and Mrs Krug were together from 7.56 to 8.24 on December 14, that morning.

We know the physical evidence  and there is an enormous disconnect between that and the circumstantial picture the prosecution wants you to believe, Geigle said. And it aint my job to reconcile it.

Thats their job, and they have failed wholeheartedly  and I will I look at each and every one of you, and Im telling you: Mr Krug did not kill his wife. He did not commit these crimes, period.

Rebutting many of the defense points during final arguments, Chief Deputy District Attorney Stephanie Fritts told jurors on Wednesday that Krugs final decision to murder her wasnt hasty.

It wasnt impulsive, Fritz told the court. He deliberated. He reflected. He planned. He created a coverup  and on December 14, 2023, he made the decision to brutally murder his wife.

Were asking that you hold the defendant accountable, she told jurors. The people have proven beyond a reasonable doubt that it was the defendant alone, and no one else, that murdered Kristil Krug  and stalked her and impersonated Anthony Holland in the months preceding her murder.

The jury began deliberating before noon on Wednesday.
British travellers returning from Europe are now banned from bringing meat and dairy products into the country under strict new rules introduced by the Government.

The sweeping restrictions, which came into force on Saturday 12 April, mean popular items such as cheese, butter, cured meats and even ham and cheese sandwiches are no longer allowed to be brought into Great Britain from EU or EEA countries.

The ban is part of a Government effort to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease, a highly contagious virus affecting livestock, which has recently been detected in parts of Europe.

In a social media post, the Government said: 'You can no longer bring meat or dairy products from EU or EEA countries into Great Britain for personal use.

'This includes beef, pork, lamb, mutton, venison and goat meat, and all dairy products like cheese, butter or yoghurt.

'If you're travelling over Easter weekend, check what you can and can't bring back before you go.'

The move has left many holidaymakers surprised, particularly those returning from short breaks who may have purchased local food as souvenirs or snacks.

The sweeping restrictions, which came into force on Saturday 12 April, mean popular items such as cheese, butter, cured meats and even ham and cheese sandwiches are no longer allowed to be brought into Great Britain from EU or EEA countries

The ban is part of a Government effort to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease, a highly contagious virus affecting livestock, which has recently been detected in parts of Europe

Items now prohibited include sandwiches containing meat or cheese, raw or cured meats, milk and dairy-based products, even if sealed and store-bought.

The ban applies only to Great Britain  England, Scotland and Wales  and will not affect travellers entering from Northern Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, where the rules remain unchanged.

The Government said the changes are 'to protect the health of British livestock, the security of farmers, and the UK's food security', as a precaution against the risk of importing the disease from affected regions in the EU.

While there are no current cases of foot-and-mouth in the UK, officials say the risk has increased due to recent outbreaks on the continent.

The restrictions build on existing rules already in place for countries such as Hungary, Germany, Austria and Slovakia.

According to the official guidelines, travellers may still bring in up to 2kg per person of powdered infant milk, infant food, or specialised food for medical reasons, provided the product is in branded, unopened packaging and does not require refrigeration before use.

While there are no current cases of foot-and-mouth in the UK, officials say the risk has increased due to recent outbreaks on the continent

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) poses no risk to humans but can have devastating consequences for the farming industry, affecting animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep and deer.

The last major UK outbreak in 2001 led to widespread culling and serious economic losses for farmers.

Travellers planning European holidays in the coming months are being urged to check the latest regulations before packing food items in their luggage to avoid having them confiscated at the border.
A serial criminal turned 'community leader' attacked an Ohio state trooper, stole his car and led cops on a high speed highway pursuit before being shot dead.

The terrifying incident unfolded after DeShawn Leeth commandeered the vehicle and took off towards Pennsylvania on Friday.

Dramatic bodycam footage obtained by CBS showed Leeth, 30, rushing at a state trooper who had pulled him over for crashing another car, police said.

'Next time you touch me, you gonna die, next time you touch me, you gonna die,' Leeth was heard shouting repeatedly at the trooper.

He then charged at the officer and the two began brawling, with the trooper deploying a stun gun against him.

However, it did not work. Leeth began throwing punches and was eventually able to overpower him.

'I'm stronger than you!' he grunts while forcing him to the ground and knocking the bodycam off.

Another driver stepped in and urged him to let the trooper go.

One free Leeth hopped into the police vehicle and began racing down the Ohio Turnpike.

Community leader DeShawn Leeth, who stole an Ohio state trooper's car, led cops on a high speed pursuit before he was shot dead by police

Leeth commandeered the vehicle and took off towards Pennsylvania on Friday

The heart-stopping chase was captured on the car's dash cam and showed Leeth dangerously weaving in and out of traffic for 11 minutes.

He muttered to himself throughout and could be heard saying that he 'rebuked' anyone driving in front of him or behind him.

Eventually Pennsylvania State Police caught up with him and put a stop to the chase in North Sewickley Township by bumping into the stolen cruiser and flipping it over.

Dramatic footage shows Leeth slam into the road median before veering back across the lanes of traffic and crashing onto an embankment.

The car is seen rolling multiple times before ending up on its roof.

Miraculously Leeth survived the crash and was pulled from the wreck still babbling.

But he quickly turned violent again and began trying to fight the state troopers who rescued him. He was then shot dead by law enforcement officers.

It was not the first time Leeth had a brush with the law having been sent to prison at the age of 18 for two home invasions.

Leeth claimed he had been trying to turn his life around in recent years and had even set up a youth outreach non-profit, Underdawg Nation, to try and prevent others from going down a similar path.

The state trooper got into a fight with Leeth after he pulled him over following a previous car crash

The state trooper attempted to taser Leeth, but he managed to overpower him and steal his car

Leeth took off down the Ohio turnpike and eventually crashed just over the border with Pennsylvania

Leeth was the leader of Underdawg Nation, a youth violence prevention non-profit, he set up after getting out of prison for home invasions he committed as a teen

He credited a faith-based group at the prison he was placed in with helping him get back on his feet.

A GoFundMe set up by his family said Leeth lived to 'inspire change' and has raised close to $13,000 as of Wednesday afternoon.

'He was a pillar of hope, a champion for the overlooked, and a beacon of unwavering faith,' the fundraiser said.

'He lived to uplift others, to pour into his community, and to reflect Gods love in everything he did.'
The wife of deported Salvadorian migrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia accused her husband of violently beating her multiple times in a 2021 court filing exclusively obtained by DailyMail.com.

Abrego Garcia, 29, was deported from Maryland to El Salvador by the Trump administration on March 15 over connections to the violent MS-13 gang.

Since his removal, which the Trump administration admits was due to an 'administrative error,' Democrats have been pleading for 'Maryland father' to be released, arguing that he was unlawfully removed from the U.S. and that he is not a criminal.

But a 2021 petition for protection from domestic violence filled out by Abrego Garcia's wife, Jennifer Vasquez, which was obtained first by DailyMail.com, states that the alleged MS-13 member beat his wife multiple times over the years.

In November 2020, Abrego Garcia hit Vasquez with his work boots, and in August 2020 he hit her in the eye, causing her to get a black eye, according to her petition.

That same day Abrego Garcia started driving quickly, scaring his wife, as their one-year-old was in the back seat. 'In the recording you can hear him yelling, insulting me, driving extreme fast,' Vasquez told authorities.

Later that day she left the residence they shared after being 'afraid to be close to him,' her request continued.

Then in May 2021, after an argument at a gas station, the Salvadorian migrant punched and scratched his wife, 'leaving me bleeding,' Vasquez wrote.

Jennifer Vasquez Sura, wife of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, requested protection from her husband in 2021 after years of domestic violence incidents, court documents show

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran migrant who lived in the U.S. legally with a work permit and was erroneously deported to El Salvador

Jennifer Vasquez, the wife of Kilmer Abrego Garcia, speaks at a press conference on Tuesday

'I have multiple photos/videos of how [violent] he can be and all the bruises he has left me,' she wrote.

Despite her past testimony against her husband, Vasquez has been publicly supporting her husband amid his detention in El Salvador.

On Tuesday she appeared at a press conference to call for her husband's release.

'Stop playing political games with the life of Kilmar,' she told the press.

Her newly uncovered testimony comes the same day that the Department of Justice released a report indicating Abrego Garcia was an active gang member.

According to documents released Wednesday by Trump's Attorney General Pam Bondi, Maryland police stated in a 2019 report that they believe the Salvadorian was a member of MS-13.

During the interaction, authorities found Abrego Garcia alongside other MS-13 members outside of a Home Depot in Maryland. At the time, he was wearing a Chicago Bulls hat and a hoodie, which police say is indicative of gang activity.

The associates he was with were confirmed MS-13 members and one of them even discarded two containers of cannabis once they saw authorities approaching, according to the report.

Senator Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., speaks to the media during a visit to El Salvador to advocate for the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man deported without due process by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump as an alleged MS-13 gang member and sent to the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), in San Salvador, El Salvador, April 16, 2025

'Officers know such clothing to be indicative of the Hispanic gang culture,' a gang interview sheet from the Prince George's County Police Department stated.

'Wearing the Chicago Bulls hat represents [that] they are a member in good standing with the MS-13.'

Upon further investigation, Prince George's County police determined Abrego Garcia was an active member of the cartel.

'Officers contacted a past proven and reliable source of [information], who advised Kilmar Armando Abrego-Garcia is an active member of MS-13 with the Westerns clique,' the PGPD wrote. 'The confidential source further advised that he is the rank of 'Chequeo' with the moniker of 'Chele.'

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt tore into Abrego Garcia during a press briefing on Wednesday.

'Kilmar Abrego Garcia is an illegal alien, MS-13 gang member and foreign terrorist who was deported back to his home country,' she told reporters.

'So not only are Democrats rushing to defend an illegal, criminal, foreign terrorist gang member, but also an apparent woman beater,' she added.

'If he ever ends up back in the United States, he would immediately be deported again.'

The new documents shed light on the migrant's past as Democratic lawmakers work to 'rescue' the migrant from El Salvador's most notorious prison, the Terrorism Confinement Center, known as CECOT.

For example, in a stunt meant to draw attention to Abrego Garcia's detention, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., traveled to El Salvador on Wednesday to advocate for the man's release.

Leavitt was joined at the briefing by 'special guest' Patty Morin, the mother of slain Maryland mother Rachel Morin, who was raped and murdered by a Salvadorian illegal alien in 2023.

Morin slammed Van Hollen at the briefing Wednesday for caring more about Abrego Garcia than her slain daughter, calling him 'a senator from Maryland who didnt even acknowledge - or barely acknowledged my daughter.'

The mother also derided the Democrat for spending 'money to fly to El Salvador to bring back a person some who isnt even an American citizen.'

Further, on the same day of Van Hollen's Wednesday trip, new allegations came to light that Abrego Garcia's wife, Jennifer Vasquez, requested a protective order against her husband in 2021, indicating that Abrego Garcia allegedly has a violent past.

'Kilmar Abrego Garcia had a history of violence and was not the upstanding 'Maryland Man' the media has portrayed him as,' The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) posted on X alongside court documents filed by Vasquez.

'This MS-13 gang member is not a sympathetic figure.'

The court documents posted on the DHS X account do include allegations that Abrego Garcia punched, scratched and bruised his wife.

The temporary protective order was deemed credible and was signed off on by Maryland Judge Lakeecia Renee Allen, the forms show.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed Abrego Garcia had two domestic violence incidents with his wife in 2021

In this undated photo provided by the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland in April 2025, a man identified by Jennifer Vasquez Sura as her husband, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, is forced to sit with other prisoners by guards in the Terrorism Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador

Immediately after the temporary restraining order against Abrego Garcia came to light social media lit up with criticism slamming Democrats for supporting a 'wife-beater.'

'The accused MS-13 member that Cory Booker and other elected Democrats are demanding be released from El Salvador, is accused of assaulting his wife,' Trending Politics co-owner Colin Rugg posted on X.

'Imagine flying to El Salvador to demand the release of an alleged wife-beater who isn't even a citizen,' he added.

Author and journalist Andy Ngo first posted about the court filings on X.

'The wife of deported suspected gang terrorist Kilmar Abrego Garcia either lied to the court when she petitioned for a domestic violence protective order against him or she is lying now on the GoFundMe claiming he is an excellent husband as over $162K has poured in,' he wrote Tuesday evening.
A Seattle woman has been arrested after she allowed her pit bull to attack and maul other dogs, claiming her pet was the bloodthirsty beast 'Chupacabra.'

Sydney Kelly, 30, was charged with animal cruelty for failing to intervene in the disturbing attack on Friday.

The viral video showed Kelly - who was wearing a camouflage sweatshirt and pajama pants - standing on the sidewalk of Dexter Ave while her brown pit bull, who was off leash, bit another dog.

Kelly appeared to be shouting at the other owner who was trying to separate the dogs while her pup whimpered in agony.

A Seattle Police Department report obtained by DailyMail.com said multiple people called in the attack, including the victim who stated she had to take her dog to an animal hospital to be treated.

'[The victim] stated multiple people tried to break up the fight, However, the owner of the pit bull attempted to stop people from helping to break up the fight,' the police report stated.

'She was shouting "let him do his thing" insinuating that she was complacent in her dog mauling other animals.'

When officers found Kelly, police said her pit bull was walking in the direction of two other dogs on the sidewalk and appeared to be charging at them.

Sydney Kelly (pictured with her hands on her head), 30, was charged with animal cruelty for failing to intervene in the disturbing attack on Friday

Kelly appeared to be shouting at the other owner who was trying to separate the dogs while her pup whimpered in agony

'The dog was not leashed, and the apparent owner of the dog (later identified as Kelly) was highly elevated,' the police report said.

'Officers asked if Kelly was the one who owned the dog, to which she stated "it is not a dog, it's the Chupacabra."'

A Chupacabra is a legendary vampire-like animal that attacks and sucks the blood of livestock, according to folklore.

After she was read her Miranda rights, police said Kelly admitted to officers she has been on 'fetty and clear' (fentanyl and methamphetamines).

She also allegedly admitted to police that it was her dog attacking the other animals.

Alyssa Maenza, who lives in the neighborhood, told Fox 13 that she witnessed Kelly's dog attack another canine earlier that day.

'The dog was off-leash and out of control. [The pit bull owner] was just kind of screaming, and running around following it, but then not grabbing him. Then she would intermittently grab him and let him go,' Maneza said.

When police ran Kelly's name, they found she had an outstanding warrant from February for operating a motor vehicle without ignition interlock.

Her next court date for both charges is scheduled for April 28. She is being held at the King County Correctional Facility on $3,500 bond.

When officers found Kelly, she told them her dog is 'the Chupacabra,' and admitted to being high on fentanyl and methamphetamines

Seattle Animal Control told the local news station that Kelly's dog is in their custody.

The agency said there were at least 637 dog attacks in Seattle in 2024. That number includes dogs attacking dogs, dogs attacking humans and dogs attacking other animals.

However, that does not account for the cases that Seattle Police respond to or incidents were no case is filed.
The teenage boy who shot up a Texas high school on Tuesday was let in by another student, according to an arrest affidavit.

Tracy Haynes Jr., 17, has been charged with aggravated assault mass shooting after he injured five students amid the rampage at Wilmer Hutchins High School in Dallas.

Surveillance video obtained by CBS News captured the moment Haynes entered the school hallway. He was let in by a student using an 'unsecured door' just after 1pm, according to his arrest affidavit.

Haynes then approached one student and appeared to shoot them at point-blank range. Five students, aged 15 to 18, were taken to local hospitals with injuries, according to the affidavit.

The suspect turned himself into authorities later on Tuesday and was booked into the Dallas County Jail, where he is being held on a $600,000 bond.

First responders were called to the school at 1:06pm according to Dallas Fire-Rescue personnel. By 1:45pm the active shooter threat had reportedly ended, but helicopter footage showed a heavy police presence around the school.

An 11th grade student told NBC DFW that a dispute over a dice game led to the gunfire.

'They said that they were playing a dice game, I guess that's what it was over, I guess he lost his money, the boy that was shooting,' she said.

Tracy Haynes Jr., 17, has been charged with aggravated assault mass shooting after he injured five students amid the rampage at Wilmer Hutchins High School in Dallas

The teenage boy who shot up a Texas high school on Tuesday was let in by another student, as shown on surveillance video (shown above) according to an arrest affidavit

Surveillance video obtained by CBS News captured the moment Haynes entered the school hallway. He was let in by a student using an 'unsecured door' just after 1pm

'We were in class and I saw him walk by and then two seconds later I heard like six shots, and the teacher ran to the door and closed it and told us to hide in the corner.'

The student said the shots she heard were loud because she was sitting at the front of the classroom.

'Everybody just started running and I was like "was that a gunshot?" and this girl next to me she started falling down,' she said.

She added that the school's metal detectors were working that day, raising questions about how the weapon got on school grounds.

Harrowing images have circulated of students fleeing for their lives on a local road and across the school's field toward the Wilmer-Hutchins Eagle Stadium.

By 1:45pm local time, the active shooter threat had reportedly ended, but helicopter footage still showed a heavy police presence around the school.

Another student, a senior, claimed to be even closer to the shooting, telling NBC DFW that she was just seven feet away when the shots rang out.

'I was really scared and I was panicking really bad. It was bad, I was really afraid,' she said.

'I was actually in the cafeteria getting my lunch and I thought maybe it was some balloons popping or something from my airpods and then I saw a whole lot of kids running the opposite way.'

This 11th grade student said that the shooting, which injured four students aged 15 to 18, happened after a dice game went wrong. Police have not confirmed this

Students from Wilmer-Hutchins High School in Dallas, Texas, were seen fleeing school grounds any way they could after a shooting took place on Tuesday afternoon

LaTara Dobbin, the mother of a freshman boy, said her son jumped out of his classroom window when the shots rang out and ran to a nearby elementary school.

'This is going on too much at this school. Last year my oldest son was a senior here, and there was a shooting. Now he's here with same thing going on. It's ridiculous,' Dobbin said.

One student was injured in the shooting that took place in a classroom at the same school last year.

Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde gave a news conference just after 5pm and explained that all students had been reunited with their parents.

School will be canceled for the rest of the week, she said, adding that mental health counselors would be made available to students and staff.

'You don't ever just get used to this and I'm very aware of that,' Elizalde said. 'It certainly weighs very heavy on my heart. But I can't begin to imagine, as a parent myself, I'm trying to put myself in those shoes.'
A politician who donated blood to the victims of the tragic Dominican Republic nightclub collapse has died.

Wilmy Nova reportedly suffered a heart attack Monday, according to local reports.

Nova, who was known for spearheading social programs in the Santo Domingo neighborhood of La Caleta, visited a Red Cross center on April 9, a day after the roof collapsed at Jet Set, killing 231 people and injuring more than 200.

However, former Santo Domingo councilwoman Elin Rosario raised doubts over Nova's cause of death and claimed that he was beaten at a local police station.

'Wilmy did not die from anemia, Wilmy did not from a heart attack. Wilmy apparently was allegedly abused, beaten by the National Police,' she said.

Rosario, who hosted a local television program with Nova, called on Attorney General Yeni Reynoso and President Luis Abinader to investigate Nova's case.

'It is not possible for the Red Cross to decide to take blood from a donor, from a person who has anemia,' she said. 'Wilmy's death was not natural, it was provoked.'

A video posted on his Facebook page showed Nova, a father-of-one, lying on a bed as blood was being drawn and supporters of the Social Justice party to do the same.

Politician Wilmy Nova suffered a heart attack and died Monday in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, according to local reports

Wilmy Nova was known for promoting social initiatives in La Caleta, a neighborhood in Santo Domingo, the capital city of the Dominican Republic

'We have responded to the call for mass blood donations in response to the tragedy that occurred last night at the Jet Set, a tragedy that has impacted us all,' Nova said.

'We ask all young people in our Party to join us and go to any nearby blood donation center  Come, today for you, tomorrow for me.'

Nova, who had dreams of becoming a member of the Santo Domingo city council, reportedly had been diagnosed with anemia, which had gone untreated prior to donating blood, his family said.

Authorities are waiting for the results of an autopsy to confirm his cause of death.

Nova said he was motivated by Social Justice party leader Julio Cesar Valentin to donate blood in the hours following the Jet Set accident that killed merengue icon Rubby Perez, who was performing during the early hours of April 8.

Former Santo Domingo councilwoman Elin Rosario (pictured) revealed that her friend and fellow politician Wilmy Nova was beaten at a police station and questioned whether his death was caused by a heart attack a week after he had donated blood

Video footage showed Perez singing alongside band vocalists, his daughter Zulinka Perez and her husband, when the ceiling suddenly crashed over them and the attendees.

A second video showed what appeared to be a tile hanging from the ceiling as several attendees looked up before the roof caved in.

The tragic incident claimed the lives of former MLB World Series winner Octavio Dotel and Nelsy Cruz, the governor of the northwestern province of Monte Cristi, who is the sister of former major league superstar Nelson Cruz.
A young woman has been left in tears after she went through a gruelling recruitment process to land her dream job, just for the offer to be rescinded days later.

Lorin Deveaux, 21, was informed on Monday that she had landed a marketing role at a media agency after a legnthy interview process.

The Sydneysider was excited to have secured a job in media after just finishing her university degree, and shared the good news with her family and friends.

However, while waiting for her contract, Ms Deveaux received a phone call just two days later informing her the offer was rescinded and the role removed.

A devastated Ms Deveaux shared the crushing blow in a tearful video on TikTok with a warning to young Australians to be careful of the grim recruitment trend.

'Normally I don't like to cry on camera but I just want to warn people because I've never even heard of that happening before,' Ms Deveaux said.

'Do be careful. Make sure you don't make any moves before you have everything down in writing. It's just ridiculous.'

Ms Deveaux said she decided to wait for her new contract before informing her current employers - a decision she describes as lucky.

@lorindevx normally I never record myself crying but wanted to warn everyone on my negative experience with a job i recently applied to. Has anyone heard of anything like this before? #job #jobsearch #jobseeker  original sound - loz 

'I was waiting for my contract before I told my employers and luckily - because they've just given me a call and told me that they've rescinded the offer, they don't need anyone anymore,' Ms Deveaux said.

'Thank goodness I didn't tell my employers and thank goodness I waited for my contracts instead of telling them straight away.'

Ms Devaux explained the recruiter told her the contract would be sent to her on Tuesday, however when she did not receive it she followed up with a message.

The recruiter then informed her that the person who handles the contracts was unwell.

By Wednesday afternoon, Ms Deveaux received a call from a 'deeply apologetic' recruiter who told her the company had a meeting and decided to remove the position.

Ms Deveaux said it seemed as though the company had dumped the offer as they did not have the budget or funds for a new hire.

'They had mentioned in the phone call that if they had hired me they would have had to make me redundant in a few months' time,' Ms Deveaux told news.com.au.

The young marketing hopeful said the long and rigorous interviewing process had made the outcome even more upsetting.

Lorin Deveaux, 21, shared a tearful video to TikTok explaining she had landed her dream job in marketing only for the employer to rescind the offer and remove the role

She explained the interviewing process was a five-step endeavour which took almost three weeks.

After applying for the job, Ms Deveaux had a recruiter call her for a 15-minute phone screening.

Following the phone screening, she had to undertake a video screening with similar questions which was recorded and sent to the media agency.

Ms Deveaux then had a Zoom interview with two members of the team, which lasted about 40 minutes.

She then was required to complete an online aptitude test, which took her another 45 minutes.

Finally, Ms Deveaux had a meeting with the agency's CEO - an interview which lasted for about an hour.

'Obviously it was very upsetting as I had been put through a lengthy process and dedicated so much of my personal time to completing the steps, just for them to rescind their offer,' Ms Deveaux said.

'I have realised it is extremely competitive, and after reading the comments of other industry professionals, it seems that it will only get worse in the future.'

Ms Deveaux said the long and time-consuming interview process, which took almost three weeks, made the end result even more frustrating (stock image)

Social media users consoled Ms Deveaux, with many sharing their own similar experiences.

'This happened to me!!! I got a contract, accepted it, then put in my resignation, to then only be told they no longer need me! My current employer at that point would not take me back. I was so angry,' one person wrote.

'Girl the same thing happened to me last month. It's crushing,' a second person commented.

'Just went through this myself, except at the last minute I was told I was not the "right fit". It crushed me. Spend a few days crying to get it out,' a third chimed.

A fourth added: 'This is exactly what happened to me. So discouraging after like 100 applications.'

Others told Ms Deveaux that it was for the best she did not land the role, claiming a better opportunity was waiting for her.

'It's so disappointing! Clearly they aren't good employers if they can do something like that to someone! Dodged a bullet in the long run I'm sure,' one person wrote.

'Take it as a sign that it wasn't right for you, and the way they handled it says more about them , so unprofessional and just plain wrong,' a second person added.

A third commented: 'I feel you big time on this, but it's ok this just means there's a better and bigger role for you out there.'
A man will spend life behind bars after he stabbed a transgender actress and model to death in the South Caucasus country of Georgia last year.

Beka Jaiani, 26, was sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of murdering Kesaria Abramidze, 37 on September 18, 2024.

Abramidze was stabbed in the neck more than 50 times in the horrific attack, which took place in her own home in the capital Tbilisi.

Jaiani had partially admitted guilt but rejected accusations of particular cruelty or that there were gender-based motives for his actions.

He was not in the Tbilisi courtroom for the verdict today, saying his psychological and emotional state prevented his being there, but added he regretted his actions.

His lawyer, Giorgi Mdinaradze, denounced the verdict as 'based solely on moral considerations rather than moral grounds,' and said he would appeal the conviction.

According to local media reports, Jaiani and Abramidze were in a relationship for about two years and fought a lot before the killing in September 2024.

CCTV footage captured on the day of the horrific murder showed Jaiani waiting by a lift in Abramidze's apartment block, and then running down the stairs in the same building less than 10 minutes later.

A man was sentenced to life iin prison today after being found guilty of murdering trans actress and model Kesaria Abramidze (pictured)

Kesaria Abramidze, 37, from Tbilisi Georgia, was killed the day after parliament in the Eastern European state had passed a law banning LGBT propaganda

Neighbours heard screams and went to her apartment where they found her blood-drenched body.

The victim was a well-known and popular figure in Georgia after undergoing gender reassignment surgery in 2014.

She had represented Georgia at Miss Trans Star International in 2018 and had more than half a million online followers.

Her killing is the third high-profile murder of a transgender woman in Georgia in recent years.

The murder of Abramidze came a day after parliament in the Eastern European state passed a law banning LGBTQ+ propaganda, with her death sparking widespread outrage.

A day after the killing, dozens of mourners brought flowers and candles to a makeshift memorial in central Tbilisi to Abramidze, whom members of the LGBTQ+ community praised as a symbol of strength and freedom.

Although activists did not link the killing to the passage of the legislation, some feared the new laws could lead to an increase in hate crimes.

Abramidze's killer Beka Jaiani, 26, was captured on CCTV waiting for his victim in her apartment block and then running down the stairs in the same building 10 minutes later

Abramidze's killing is the third high-profile murder of a transgender woman in Georgia in recent years

She was a well-known popular figure in Georgia after undergoing a sex change operation in 2014

Her death was also a chilling reminder of the LGBTQ+ community's vulnerability in Georgia, a country of 3.7 million people where the Orthodox Church wields significant influence, and demonstrations against gay rights are common.

LGBTQ+ rights were severely curtailed by the laws that banned same-sex marriage, adoptions by same-sex couples and public endorsement and depictions of LGBTQ+ relationships and people in the media.

The laws also banned gender-affirming care and changing gender designations in official documents.

The bill was introduced by Georgia Dream, the longtime ruling party, which opponents have accused of steering the country toward Russia's orbit despite popular sentiment for closer ties with Europe.

Georgian Dream was set up by Bidzina Ivanishvili, a billionaire who made his fortune in Russia and served briefly as Georgia's prime minister in 2012.

It promised to restore civil rights and 'reset' relations with Moscow, which fought a brief war with Georgia in 2008 over the breakaway province of South Ossetia. Russia then recognized the independence of South Ossetia and another breakaway Georgian province, Abkhazia, and established military bases there.

Russia has also severely curtailed LGBTQ+ rights in the last decade by banning public endorsement of 'nontraditional sexual relations' and adopting laws against gender-affirming care, among other measures.

Its Supreme Court effectively outlawed LGBTQ+ activism by labeling what authorities called the LGBTQ+ 'movement' operating in Russia as an extremist organization and banning it.

She had also represented Georgia at Miss Trans Star International in 2018 and had more than half a million online followers

A portrait of Kesaria Abramidze, a transgender actor and model who was stabbed to death, is displayed at a vigil near parliament in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Sept. 19, 2024

Opponents of gay rights burn LGBTQ+ flags to counter a pride event in Tbilisi, Georgia, on July 8, 2023

The actress' death is a chilling reminder of the LGBTQ+ community's vulnerability in Georgia

The measure restricting LGBTQ+ rights in Georgia came shortly after the parliament adopted the 'foreign influence' law that critics denounced as borrowed from Moscow's playbook.

The measure requires media and nongovernmental organizations to register as 'pursuing the interests of a foreign power' if they receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad.

That measure ignited weeks of protests and was widely criticized as threatening democratic freedoms and jeopardizing Georgia's chances of joining the European Union.

It formally applied for membership in 2022, after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, but the bloc halted its accession in response to the 'foreign influence' law and froze some of its financial support.

The United States imposed sanctions on dozens of Georgian officials in response to the law.

With opposition lawmakers boycotting, the Georgian Dream-dominated parliament adopted a law earlier this month that made not registering as a foreign agent a criminal offense punishable by up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.

Georgian Dream said the measure matched the Foreign Agents Registration Act in the U.S.

Parliament also adopted amendments to existing laws replacing the word 'gender' with 'the equality of women and men.'
It was invented around 1750 by William Oliver, a Somerset doctor; it was the great grand-mammy of all water-biscuits  the plainest, thinnest, high-baked crackers, traditionally enjoyed with cheese  and they graced even the late Queens table.

She had perhaps another reason to cherish them. At the height of our battle for national survival, in 1940, the Crown Jewels were broken up and secreted away.

But the critical precious stones  the Black Princes Ruby, the Koh-I-Noor diamond and so on  were packed separately in a repurposed Bath Oliver tin. To be whisked away as the Wehrmacht stormed Windsor, as the essence of new Coronation regalia in a happier future.

Well, Bath Oliver biscuits are no more. Production became fitful amidst Covid and ceased late last year.

The hecatomb of lost British brands is quite something. Recent funerals include the 2023 demise of our favourite blond chocolate, Cadburys Caramac.

Sugar Puffs were gathered unto their fathers in 2014, chased to oblivion by growing concerns about overly sweet cereals. (Honey Monster Puffs briefly assumed the throne, but I havent seen them on sale for years.)

You remember slogans and jingles better, often, than products themselves. It may have had a hazelnut in every bite, but Mars stopped making Topic in 2021.

Precious jewels such as the the Koh-I-Noor diamond were packed in a repurposed Bath Oliver tin during the Second World War

Spira  not quite only the crumbliest, flakiest chocolate, nor a solid and reassuring bar, but launched around 1981  bit the dust in 2005. Others were barely a blink.

I was partial to Bendicks Mingles, introduced in 2002, but by 2012 they had stopped making them. Kit Kat Senses  begotten around 2008 and with a Girls Aloud commercial  didnt even last a decade and much confectionery did not long survive the Seventies.

Sometimes some unforeseen and truly epic PR disaster has sunk a product.

Coca-Colas bid into the bottled water industry  Dasani  did not long survive a 2004 double-whammy. First, it emerged that, far from being drawn from bubbly crystal springs by far pavilions, the product was plain, if filtered, Sidcup tap.

The corporation doubled down by stressing the pure, virginal purity of the product. Which naturally invited the interest of trading-standards officials. Who soon found a large batch of Dasani contaminated by bromates, a suspected carcinogen  and that was that.

Coca-Cola had previous. In 1985, with imprudent publicity, they announced they were changing the magic formula of their core product.

Millions of Americans rose as one to hoard away crates of Coke Classic, as others denounced New Coke and Pepsi cheekily came out with the jingle, The taste too good to change.

Folk still dispute if the episode was a marketing debacle or, rather, a fiendishly conceived publicity stunt: New Coke did not last very long. Similar cynicism surrounded the 1999 announcement that Heniz Salad Cream was to be withdrawn  spoiler-alert; it wasnt  and then, in 2018, that it was to be renamed.

The publicity on both occasions was oceanic and, twice, Heinz sententiously bowed to the will of the people.

It is still there, it is still Heinz Salad Cream and the yummy ingredients still include spirit-vinegar, cornflour, guar gum and xanthan gum. I wouldnt use it to grout the bathroom. Nor did Bernard Matthews hyper-processed Turkey Twizzlers survive Jamie Olivers 2005 war against yucky school dinners. And, now and again, a product seems determined to dowse itself in petrol and strike a match.

Two creative giants both passed away, in great old age, in February. Peter Sichel, 102, of German Jewish stock and whose wine-making family escaped the Third Reich in the nick of time, in 1960 launched a fantastically successful new glug  the delicious wine thats correct with any dish.

It was a perfectly pleasant Liebfraumilch  even James Bond swigged it in an early Ian Fleming novel  but, over the decades and despite astonishing sales, Blue Nun became a national joke.

Its fate was sealed when Steve Coogans hapless Alan Partridge, in a Batemanesque moment, ordered a bottle when lunching with a BBC executive.

Andrew Neil latterly was sending up Blue Nun in every outing of This Week. Panicked, its manufacturers first changed the formula, and then the famous label.

I havent seen Blue Nun on supermarket shelves for years and in any event  especially when you recall how much we knocked it back in the Eighties  the British market for German white wines has collapsed.

Production of the sweet shop favourite Caramac was recently stopped

Francesco Rivella, who also died in February  a food-chemist, and friend of the novelist Primo Levi  gave the world Nutella, among other noted achievements.

But he also invented Ferrero Rocher. Nobbly, foil-wrapped and perfectly inoffensive chocolates which, despite the swanky advertising, are largely manufactured in Ireland.

Unfortunately, the swanky advertising these days has never lived down the disastrous 1990s commercial which, at least in Britain  keenly tuned into the pretensions sent up by Hyacinth Bucket and Margo Leadbetter  made Ferrero Rocher a laughing-stock.

At the ambassadors receptions  noted for their exquisite good taste  an elderly butler trotted around with a great silver-trayed pyramid of the chocs, as massed diplomats and their plus-ones enthused.

Ambassador, wiz zeez Rocher you are really spoilink us, simpered a willowy lady, in this worst British ad of all time  though the maniacally dancing housewife in the Shake N Vac number would run it close.

Both adds are now as mercifully dead as Heinz Toast Toppers. (Which were not without their devotees  cans can still be sourced, presumably on the dark Web, for 50 a pop.)

Entire dishes, too, have all but perished; or that strange postwar way of life when restaurants appeared for people who were really rather scared of going to restaurants.

The pioneer was the late, great Reo Stakis, and when I was thirteen my brothers and I, in matching Blue Peter jumpers, were once treated to a meal at his popular Pond Hotel on Glasgows Great Western Road.

Binghams Pond is still there, and so is the hotel  now the Leonardo Inn  and we dutifully chewed through prawn cocktail, steaks so well done mine rocked on the plate, and barely defrosted Black Forest gateau.

At merrier tables  ours was, after all, a Free Church one  guests poured themselves what one suspects was rather awful wine ordered by the carafe.

Few would dare to whip up a prawn cocktail today. Or chicken Kiev  daring for its day, with that oozing garlic butter  or baked Alaska. If they do, its probably with a knowing, Nigella Lawson sort of irony.

In fact, forty years ago and almost overnight, there was a sea-change in British dining, towards much fresher and lighter fare and away from the rich, Frenchified nosh of whom the Dark Lord was Robert Carrier.

Carrier was so huge for his day  our first great celebrity chef; a restaurateur; a television personality and whose cookbooks sold in millions  that it is hard to believe he is now almost completely forgotten.

The gushing American, all cashmere sweaters and mid-Atlantic drawl  loved cognac. And cream. He especially loved butter. Robert Carrier loved butter the way small children love puppies.

I still cook from Carriers books  they can be sourced second-hand, these days, for trifling sums  and miss his era.

I dont know about you, but I could happily live in a world without salted caramel anything.

ENDS
Police are desperately searching for a missing 37-year-old woman who vanished last week.

Paria Veisi hasnt been seen since leaving her place of work in the Canton area of Cardiff at around 3pm on Saturday.

She was caught on CCTV driving her black Mercedes GLC 220, which was later found just a couple on miles away on Dorchester Avenue, Penylan, on Tuesday evening.

A man, 41, and a woman, 48, have been arrested in connection with her disappearance and are in police custody.

South Wales Police issued an appeal to locate the missing woman on Wednesday night.

The force said her disappearance is totally out of character and officers are concerned for her welfare.

It has also released an image of Paria, who is described as having has long, curly, black hair.

She was last seen wearing a black zip-up gym top over a red top, black trousers, and trainers and carrying a small handbag.

Police are desperately searching for missing 37-year-old Paria Veisi (pictured) who vanished on Saturday

She was caught on CCTV leaving work in her black Mercedes GLC 220, which was later found just a couple on miles away on Dorchester Avenue (pictured), Penylan, on Tuesday evening

Officers said: 'South Wales Police is investigating the disappearance of a 37-year-old woman from the Cathays area of Cardiff.

'Paria Veisi hasnt been seen since approximately 3pm on Saturday, April 12, when she left her place of work in Canton.

'She was reported missing the following day.

'Her disappearance is totally out of character and officers are concerned for her welfare.'

The force has asked for any information and video footage such as from mobile phones, CCTV cameras, doorbells or dash-cams to be submitted via this link: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/62SWP25C05-PO1

Anyone with information is also being asked to contact South Wales Police quoting reference 2500116906.
Heading to court, I couldnt help but think back to January 2004, when my first column on the trans issue was published. I railed against the idea that men can decide to be women because of some internal feeling.

At the time, the trans rights movement was gathering pace, and although this pre-dated social media, online groups were already facilitating the men lurking on lesbian community groups demanding to be validated as lesbians.

Increasing numbers of reasonable people are now recognising what weve been through.

For me, these 20+ years have been both life-changing and career-changing and I could never pretend that it has not had the most profound effect. Shunned from liberal society, mysteriously disappeared from shortlists for journalism prizes, having invitations to events such as the Sydney Literary Festival rescinded, being offered weekly columns only to then be told the decision had been put on hold.

The list goes on and on.

Turning up to events at which I was billed to speak (pro bono) as an activist about issues such as child sexual abuse, domestic violence, rape, and all aspects of male violence against women  only to find a 200-strong, screaming, angry demonstration against me.

Being shouted at as I sat on a panel, having things thrown at me. The death and rape threats came thick and fast, and in 2019, I was attacked by a 6- foot-tall, bearded man in a dress outside Edinburgh University, where I had been speaking, alongside other feminists, about the importance of single-sex spaces.

I recount this not to elicit sympathy but to outline the reality of a feminist like me who speaks out against the abuse of women. But the problem with this terrible war (I cant call it a debate, because the other side refused to engage) is that the liberals have been on the wrong side of history, claiming it was like another Section 28 (even though they werent there, unlike me) and remaining woefully ignorant of what trans activists were demanding.

Leading feminist Julie Bindel says she was threatened by an angry mob for speaking out against the trans rights lobby

They already had their own rights, but they wanted to take our rights from us, demanding to invade the physical spaces we had carved out for ourselves precisely because a significant minority of men pose a danger and a threat to women and girls.

At the time we set up rape crisis centres, domestic violence shelters and single-sex hospital wards and prison wings, barely a peep was heard from mens rights activists; they knew they had no credible argument against such facilities. Womens lives literally depended on those spaces, and this remains the case today. Those men didnt make a fuss because they knew they had the rest of the world as their own playground. Trans activists, however, have posed as progressive, demanding that we lose all those spaces, including those earmarked for lesbians.

As a young woman, being able to hang out in lesbian only spaces was a lifesaver. The open hostility that resulted from being recognised as such by mainstream society meant that it was difficult for us to ever be ourselves. We couldnt relax, enjoy each others company, have a drink and get to know each other, date and have fun. But those spaces gave us all of that, and then the transactivists came along, demanding that men be allowed not just to be included in those spaces  but to dominate them.

Sadly, many liberals jumped on board the transactivist train, and betrayed us by failing to apply any critical thinking.

Led along like a load of sheep, they acted stupidly. But we were the lambs that were slaughtered. Theyre still sitting round at dinner parties, their reputations intact. And maybe the non-binary-identified girl child in their life hasnt yet experienced the horrors of testosterone  unlike some of those Ive spoken to.

Some incredibly good things have also happened  such as the amazing new friendships Ive made across a number of divides, which will be lifelong. I co-founded The Lesbian Project with Kathleen Stock, the former philosophy professor at Sussex University who was hounded out of her job for holding perfectly reasonable (and factually correct) views on sex and gender.

The What is a woman? question has now been put to the highest court in the land, after the feminist group For Women Scotland challenged the Scottish governments interpretation of the 2010 Equality Act as meaning that anyone with a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) was entitled to the sex-based protections of their acquired gender.

The Supreme Court gave us the opportunity to intervene, to tell the judges exactly why it is both obscene and absurd to hand a man a certificate that allows him to pretend hes a woman (and in many cases that hes also a lesbian).

Our intervention was simple. We said: lesbians are women who are attracted to other women, lesbians are never men, lesbians dont have a penis, lesbians are not attracted to men just because theyve got a certificate, and lesbians must be allowed to gather together in places where men are not present.

As Kate Barker of LGB Alliance posted on X: Men arent lesbians. Even if they really want to be. Even if it makes them sad when we say no. Even if they have cosmetic surgery and take hormones. Even if they have paid 5 for a certificate. Men arent lesbians. Not now. Not ever.

The Supreme Court has ruled that in the Equality Act, sex means biological sex  NOT legal sex as modified by a GRC. And sexual orientation refers to who people are attracted to: same sex, opposite sex, or both.

For example, a lesbian is defined as a biological female who is attracted to other biological females. If the law counted trans women (who are biological males) as female, a trans woman attracted to women would be considered a lesbian.

Lesbian clubs and associations are allowed by law to restrict membership to women, but if we had lost, they would have to admit biological males who are legally female and attracted to women (that is, heterosexual). The lesbian interveners submitted to the court that this is having a chilling effect on lesbians, discouraging them from using these spaces.

So where do we go from here? Which institutions can we save, and which should be metaphorically burned to the ground? First on my list would be universities  with Edinburgh University at the very top.

We must now ensure that newspapers report the sex of perpetrators of crime accurately, because many such men have been described as women after committing acts of violence and abuse  including downloading child abuse images.

Police and prosecutors must also stop recording the preferred gender identity of those arrested and charged  for every crime, not just crimes against females.

Employers must undergo proper training on the Equality Act and todays clarification of it, including on the law as it relates to biological sex and gender identity.

Venues hosting feminists for public events must stop caving into transactivist complaints about women daring to assemble without including men claiming to be women. They need to hold firm and defend free speech, not capitulate to bullies who, having smelt blood, come after us.

There must be recognition and apologies for all of us who have lost jobs, been forced to endure expensive, painful court cases, been gaslit or publicly cancelled from events, told we are bigots and on the wrong side of history.

The suffering has been horrendous  yet, in the spirit of feminist pride, we have soldiered on. It has taken its toll, but we have always known we are on the right side of history.

Julie Bindel is the UKs leading feminist campaigner who has written a new book Lesbians:Where Are We Now?
The accused terrorist who targeted the Governor's Mansion in Pennsylvania while Josh Shapiro and his family slept inside may have been motivated by the war in Gaza.

Cody Balmer was arrested on Sunday hours after he allegedly torched the luxury mansion, and charged with attempted homicide, aggravated arson and terrorism.

Search warrants reveal that Balmer called 911 and told the operator he'd targeted Shapiro partly because of his supposed views on the crisis in the Middle East.

Shapiro is Jewish and his family were celebrating Passover on the night of the arson attack. Balmer allegedly blames him for the deaths of Palestinians.

Balmer allegedly told the operator Shapiro needed to 'stop having my friends killed', adding 'our people have been put through too much by that monster,' the documents state.

Law enforcement officials are still working to determine a motive and haven't definitively blamed hate or antisemitism, but have also not yet ruled it out.

During his 911 call, Balmer allegedly also said Shapiro must know that he 'will not take part in his plans for what he wants to do to the Palestinian people.'

But Balmer's loved ones have maintained the root cause of his problems, and the incident on Saturday, is mental health issues.

Cody Balmer was arrested on Sunday hours after he allegedly torched the luxury mansion, and charged with attempted homicide, aggravated arson and terrorism

Search warrants reveal that Balmer called 911 and told the operator he'd targeted Shapiro partly because of his supposed views on the crisis in the Middle East

Relatives had indicated he recently 'came off his meds' and had fallen off the rails.

Authorities reportedly believe mental illness was a factor in his alleged offending.

The warrants allowed officials to seize several smartphones belonging to Balmer, along with a laptop and a swab of his DNA.

Elsewhere in the warrant, it was noted that the 'intonation and cadence' of his voice during the 911 call indicated he may have been 'reading from a script.'

Balmer allegedly used two beer bottles filled with gasoline to make homemade Molotov cocktails to light fire to Shapiro's Harrisburg mansion, the official property where Pennsylvania governors reside.

He then turned himself into Pennsylvania State Police, telling officers he was 'harboring hatred towards Governor Shapiro' and that he had removed the gasoline from a lawnmower.

And according to the police affidavit seen by DailyMail.com, Balmer told police he 'would have beaten him with a hammer' if they had crossed paths.

Balmer's social media profile was littered with political commentary and criticism about American institutions, without any direct reference to anti-Semitism.

Balmer allegedly told the operator Shapiro needed to 'stop having my friends killed', adding 'our people have been put through too much by that monster,' the documents state

Balmer's social media profile also offers an insight into his state of mind. The 38-year-old Harrisburg father had made chilling posts about former president Joe Biden and his supporters, arguing that they 'shouldn't exist' and even suggesting Biden was going to be killed

Shapiro is Jewish and his family were celebrating Passover on the night of the arson attack. Balmer allegedly blames him for the deaths of Palestinians

The 38-year-old Harrisburg father had made chilling posts about former president Joe Biden and his supporters, arguing that they 'shouldn't exist' and even suggesting Biden was going to be killed.

'Biden supporters shouldn't exist,' he wrote in one post dated January 2021.

'RIP Joe Biden... whoops that's in May. #notmypresident,' another read, while another added that 'knowing is half the battle... the other half is extreme violence.'

Balmer had separately noted during Biden's presidential term that gas was cheaper under President Donald Trump. He insisted at the time he did 'not play favorites especially since they all suck.'

Trump was asked about the suspect's political leanings on Monday, and said he was likely 'just a whack job.'

'The attacker was not a fan of Trump, I understand,' Trump told reporters. 'Just from what I read and what I've been told.

'The attacker basically wasn't a fan of anybody, probably just a whack job, and certainly a thing like that cannot be allowed to happen.'

Extraordinary photos show the sheer extent of the damage to Shapiro's home.

Cody Balmer has been charged with attempted homicide, aggravated arson and terrorism for the Saturday night attack on the Pennsylvania Governor's home

Shapiro, his wife Lori and their four children (pictured) were in the home at the time of the blaze

Extraordinary photos show the sheer extent of the damage to the Governor's Mansion, which has housed Pennsylvania's leaders since the building was completed in 1968

Governor Shapiro's mansion was torched to a crisp

Fire crews were dispatched to Democrat Shapiro's home in Harrisburg around 2am Sunday, the town's Fire Chief Brian Enterline said.

Everyone inside the home was in a separate part of the residence when the flames broke out and were able to evacuate safely.

The shocking images show the charred remnants of the once-stunning rooms. The living areas and common spaces have been left blackened with ash and soot with what's left of the furniture scattered haphazardly around the rooms.
Elise Stefanik, one of the rising stars of the MAGA movement, may be readying a run to challenge unpopular New York Governor Kathy Hochul in a race that could shake up the country.

A source close to the Congresswoman told reporters Wednesday that she was considering making a play. Stefanik put out a statement slamming Hochul's performance, weak poll numbers and saying she could 'WIN AND SAVE NEW YORK.'

Stefanik also sported what some observers called a 'new look' and a 'MAGA makeover' in appearances on Fox News that was celebrated by conservatives and loathed by the left.

She made her biggest overtures speaking forcefully about Hochul's failed leadership at the New York State GOP gala on Tuesday.

Curtis Sliwa, the Republican nominee for mayor of New York City who was in attendance for the address, said Stefanik 'eviscerated' the Democrat and called it 'a great opportunity to test out a campaign speech.

'[She] brought down the house,' Sliwa told DailyMail.com. 'Ten percent of her speech was about DC and obviously she had to give up being US ambassador to the United Nations. The other 90% was clearly her campaign speech against Kathy Hochul.'

He called it 'fiery' and 'nonstop' and warned candidates thinking of challenging her on either side of the party.

'If she's serious, she's gotta' be the odds on favorite.'

Elise Stefanik, one of the rising stars of the MAGA movement, may be readying a run to challenge unpopular New York Governor Kathy Hochul in a race that could shake up the country

Stefanik also sported what some observers called a 'new look' and a 'MAGA makeover' in appearances on Fox News that was loved by conservatives and loathed by the left

One person in agreement may just be Donald Trump, who posted to Truth Social Wednesday morning: 'Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is GREAT!!!'

Stefanik, a close ally and fierce defender of the president, had been nominated to represent the US at the United Nations.

But her nomination was pulled last month amid concerns about leaving a Republican House seat vacant when the party has such a narrow majority in the chamber.

Stefanik, who represents a sprawling congressional district in northern New York, released a statement Wednesday afternoon that didn't address a potential run for governor but lambasted Hochul as the 'Worst Governor in America' and said 'we must FIRE Kathy Hochul in 2026 to SAVE NEW YORK.'

If Stefanik does enter the race, she might face off in a Republican primary against Rep. Mike Lawler, who has been teasing a run for several months.

The last Republican governor in New York was former Gov. George Pataki, who served three terms and left office almost two decades ago.

Lee Zeldin, current head of the federal Environmental Protection Agency and former congressman from Long Island, mounted a serious challenge to Hochul in the governor's race in 2022, nearly landing what would have been a major upset in the heavily Democratic state.

Asked by reporters about a possible Stefanik candidacy, Hochul said, 'No matter the GOP nominee next year that I'll be running against, it's going to be an extreme MAGA Republican, and I look forward to that fight.'

One person in agreement may just be Donald Trump, who posted to Truth Social Wednesday morning: 'Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is GREAT!!!'

Hochul's recent polling has been disastrous - a majority told a Marist University survey that they don't want her to run again and her approval ratings are underwater - and she herself is expected to face a contested primary.

Her lieutenant governor, Antonio Delgado, earlier this year announced he would not run for reelection alongside the governor next year, hinting instead at his own gubernatorial candidacy.

Rep. Ritchie Torres is also rumored to be considering a run and has emerged as one of the governor's most pronounced Democratic critics.

'New York Republicans can't field a serious candidate from their pathetic crew of Trump minions. New Yorkers want nothing to do with the clown show of Trump loyalists who are only focused on enabling Trump's agenda that is raising costs, gutting health care, and attacking New Yorkers' freedoms,' State Democratic Party spokesperson Addison Dick told DailyMail.com in a statement.

Stefanik served as the House Republican Conference chair from 2021 to 2025, but she did not seek to return to the position having been nominated to serve in the Trump administration.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has spoken about bringing Stefanik back into leadership.

Stefanik has represented New York's 21st Congressional District since 2015, which includes a mostly rural region in the northernmost part of the state. Prior to her 2014 victory for the open seat a decade ago, the district was represented by a Democrats.

Her rise was fueled by her performance blasting elite university presidents over their handling of campus antisemitism in hearing just months after Hamas' attack on an Israeli music festival.

Hochul's recent polling has been disastrous - a majority told a Marist University survey that they don't want her to run again and her approval ratings are underwater - and she herself is expected to face a contested primary

Representative Mike Lawler, 38, (pictured) is seen as a possible Republican primary rival for Stefanik

She may just be bringing that same attitude to a challenge to win back an office Republicans haven't held since 2006.

'When she takes aim at you, as we saw those chancellors of the various universities, that she eviscerated, she took aim at Kathy Hochul and completely eviscerated her,' Sliwa noted.

Stefanik was first elected in 2015, after the party's so-called 'woman problem' was well-documented in the Republican National Committee's 2012 post-election report, which suggested that the party was completely out of touch with female voters.

It helped spawn a program instituted by House Republicans last summer, Project Grow, which renewed focus on recruitment, training and fundraising for promising female candidates nationwide.

Stefanik is among the program's beneficiaries, who are spread across the country, and is viewed by many as being an example of what young women working within the party can achieve.
A new poll shows that California political elites are not thrilled by the idea of former Vice President Kamala Harris returning to Golden State and running for California governor.

Harris lost the presidential election in 2024 and returned to her home in California with her husband Doug Emhoff, but has not indicated what she plans to do with her political future.

Politico California published a poll of 'policy influencers' conducted in tandem with UC Berkeley's Citrin Center as well as regular voters in the state.

Influencers were reportedly 'notably blase' about the possibility of Harris becoming the next governor of California, according to Politico citing 36 percent of them choosing 'indifferent' to describe their feelings about the idea.

Twenty-two percent of influencers said they would feel 'mostly excited,' while 20 percent selected 'irritated.'

The 'influencer' sample was drawn from Californians who subscribe to Politico's premium journalism platform and lawmakers and staffers in the state and federal government, according to Politico.

Registered Democratic voters in the state were more warm to the idea.

Thirty-three percent of registered voters in the poll revealed feeling joyful about her possible candidacy and 41 percent feeling mostly excited." About a quarter of regular voters were indifferent.

Independent voters in the poll are more skeptical of the idea as 26 percent said they felt irritated by the prospect and 21 percent selected 'hopeless.'

Former Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at the Leading Women Defined Summit

Kamala Harris on the phone during her failed presidential campaign

Significant margins of voters were more skeptical including 18 percent of Asian American voters in the polls chose irritated to describe their reaction while 19 percent of Latinos felt 'hopeless' about the idea.

Harris remains non-committal about entering the 2026 race, as advisors say she is taking her time about making decisions about her political future.

The former vice president still maintains popularity in California despite the nationwide rejection of voters in swing states and her loss of the popular vote against Trump.

Former Biden HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra announced his decision to run for the position, as the highest-ranking Democratic political figure in the state.

'I watched my parents  a construction worker and a clerical worker  achieve the California dream,' Becerra said in his announcement video in early April. 'Can we do that today with this affordability crisis?'

The former secretary emphasized his record as Attorney General of California, reminding voters he took on the first administration of President Donald Trump in court.

'[I]'ve taken on these tough fights,' he said. 'We can do that, but you need a leader who can be tough.'

If Becerra wins, he would be the states first Latino governor in 150 years.

Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra announced his decision to run for Governor of California

President Joe Biden hands a pen to Vice President Kamala Harris after signing an executive order on abortion access during an event in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Friday, July 8, 2022, in Washington. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, right, looks on.

Becerra's entrance into the race suggests he is not worried that Harris will run for governor or that he can still be a competitive candidate if she does.

Other potential candidates are waiting for Harris to reveal her intentions before making their decision.

The Democratic primary for the race is scheduled for June 2, 2026, with the general election scheduled for November.

Harris has always been popular in California, easily beating Democratic challengers in her race for Attorney General and her race for Senator of California.

Her 2020 race for president, however, failed spectacularly as she ended her campaign before the Iowa caucuses and the California primary.

After losing her presidential campaign, Harris organized some of her trusted aides into the organization Pioneer49, while she explores her political future.

Harris and Newsom have long been considered 'frenemies' in California, each trying to avoid competing with each other in political races.

Both candidates were considering a run for California governor in 2016, but ultimately went in different directions.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is eying the 2028 Democratic primary for president

Former Vice President Kamala Harris has not yet announced her plans for her political future

Newsom chose to run for governor of California while Harris ran for the state's Senate seat to replace the retiring Sen. Barbara Boxer.

Harris could finally face Newsom in the 2028 Democratic presidential primary, if she chooses to run again for president after coming up short in 2024.

The former vice president warned of the 'flames on our horizons,' the 'rising waters in our cities,' and 'the shadows gathering over our democracy,' during a speech to the NAACP in February.

'Our strength flows from our faith  faith in God, faith in each other, and our refusal to surrender to cynicism and destruction,' she said. 'Not because it is easy, but because it is necessary. Not because victory is guaranteed, but because the fight is worth it.'
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt slapped back at critics of President Donald Trump's deportation policy by bringing a 'special guest' to her briefing on Wednesday.

The administration added the event to its schedule after Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen landed in El Salvador to try to visit Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man and father of three who who was mistakenly deported along with dozens of other migrants on March 15.

Leavitt slammed Van Hollen's trip as 'appalling and sad.' She repeated the administration's claim that Garcia is a gang member.

'Maryland Democrat Senator Chris Van Hollen rushed to Dulles Airport this morning to fly to El Salvador, potentially using taxpayer dollars to demand the release of deported illegal alien, MS 13 terrorist,' she said.

'The Democrats and the media in this room have continually and wrongly labeled Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia as a Maryland father. There is no Maryland father.'

Patty Morin, Rachel Morin's mother, speaks as White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stands by her side during an event at the White House

Leavitt then introduced Patty Morin, the mother of Rachel Morin, a Maryland mother of five who was brutally raped and murdered while hiking a popular trail. Victor Martinez-Hernandez, a fugitive from El Salvador, was convicted of the crime.

Morin blasted Van Hollen for his trip, saying the 'senator from Maryland who didn't even acknowledge  or barely acknowledged my daughter and the brutal death that she endured, leaving her five children without a mother' chose to 'use my tax money to fly to El Salvador to bring back a person who isn't even an American citizen.'

Van Hollen put out a statement after Martinez-Hernandez's conviction.

'While the conviction of Rachel Morin's killer will not return Rachel to her family where she rightfully belongs, this verdict brings a measure of justice that they so deserve,' he said.

'The American people deserve meaningful action to reform our broken immigration system, improve public safety, and strengthen our border security. We can do this while also supporting our immigrant communities and respecting the rights of individuals who are here legally,' he added.

Patty Morin said it was people like her daughter's killers that President Donald Trump wants removed from the country.

'These are the kind of criminals President Trump wants to remove from our country,' she said. 'These are the kind of criminals that we need to remove from our country. We are American citizens. Why should we allow people like this, violent criminals that have no conscience at all to murder our mothers, our sisters, our daughters? I don't understand.'

It's unclear what Morin's case and Garcia's case have in common.

And the White House didn't allow any questions at the event they called a 'press briefing.'

Leavitt asked reporters if they had any questions for her or Morin but then declined to call on any journalist, several of whom had their hands raised and one who vocally called out that she had a question.

Instead, she ended the event.

Patty Morin also met with President Trump in the Oval Office, according to video the White House posted on social media.

'Your daughter is looking down proud of you, you know that,' the president told her and urged her to 'keep going.'

Rachel Morin, seen here, was raped and murdered by Victor Martinez-Hernandez in 2023

Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia was deported and put in an El Salvadoran prison

MUST WATCH!



President @realDonaldTrump hugs and comforts Patty Morin 



Your daughter is looking down proud of you, you know that pic.twitter.com/o83N2CYtOl  Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) April 16, 2025

Meanwhile, Garcia has denied being a member of the MS-13 gang. He has no criminal record in the U.S. The Department of Homeland Security said it has court records alleging that he abused his wife.

His case is being fought in the courts.

Garcia and the others were deported under the Alien Enemies Act, which some Trump critics have argued is illegal because that law can only be used when the country is at war.

The U.S. deported about 240 Venezuelans and a handful of Salvadorans, who were members of Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang.

Trump designated that gang and MS-13 as 'foreign terrorists organizations,' which the administrations argues meets the 'at war' requirement.

However, US District Judge James Boasberg ruled Wednesday that 'probable cause exists' to hold Trump administration officials in criminal contempt for violating his orders in mid-March halting the use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport alleged Venezuelan gang members.

The administration is appealing his ruling.

Boasberg had also ordered all planes bound for El Salvador to be 'immediately' returned to U.S. soil  which did not happen.

Democratic Senator from Maryland Chris Van Hollen speaks to the press in Antiguo Cuscatlan, El Salvado

Karoline Leavitt hugs Patty Morin

Van Hollen, while in El Salvador, met with Vice President Felix Ulloa, who declined to let the senator visit Garcia at CECOT, or Center for the Compulsory Housing of Terrorism, in Tecoluca, San Vicente, El Salvador.

The prison is heavily overcrowded and faces allegations of human rights abuse.

'Why is the government of El Salvador continuing to imprison a man where they have no evidence that he's committed any crime and they have not been provided any evidence from the United States that he has committed any crime?' Van Hollen told reporters after the meeting. 'They should just let him go.'

'We have an unjust situation here,' Van Hollen said. 'The Trump administration is lying about Abrego Garcia. The American courts have looked at the facts.'

Other Democrats are considering a trip to El Salvador.

Garcia's deportation has been acknowledged by Justice Department Officials as a mistake.

On March 12, Garcia was pulled over outside of an IKEA in Baltimore with his son, according to court documents obtained by NBC News.

Garcia called his wife from jail and said authorities had been questioning him on MS-13 and queried his family's visits to a restaurant serving Mexican and Salvadoran food.

He is a Salvadoran citizen who has lived in Maryland for almost 15 years. While he initially entered the U.S. illegally, a federal judge in 2019 granted him protection from being deported, due to concerns for his safety if he were to return to El Salvador.

The Trump administration has held firm about Garcia's deportation, insisting it was legal and he was a criminal.
Anthony Albanese and Jim Chalmers made a stop at the Paddo Tavern in Brisbane this afternoon where it appears the Treasurer made a new friend.

Eddie Platt shook hands with Mr Chalmers on the pub's balcony and delivered some off-the-cuff gold.

'I hope you guys win the f***ing election,' he told Mr Chalmers.

'I do too mate,' he replied.

Then, with Mr Albanese not too far away in the same building, Mr Platt went a step further.

'I hope you're the next PM,' he fired off.

Mr Chalmers smiled and nervously posed for pictures, though he was likely sweating under the collar considering Labor's history.

When it was last in power back in the early 2010s, the party famously went through a period where it knifed two sitting prime ministers - Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard.

'To your question about whether I regret the Rudd-Gillard years in the broad sense and the instability, of course I do. I think we all do,' Labor minister Chris Bowen told the National Press Club in 2019.

'We got that wrong, and so we changed the rules. That's not unimportant, but more importantly, we changed the culture.'

High profile entrepreneur Mark Bouris shared an interview with Mr Chalmers earlier this week in which he directly asked him if he had ambitions to be the next PM.

'Could we be looking at the next Prime Minister at some stage?' Bouris asked.

'The way I think about it is, knocking around Logan City as a teenager that you would get the oppourtunity to be the Treasurer of Australia, then I'm really happy with that,' Mr Chalmers replied.

'I genuinely am. From time to time someone will ask me a question like that.

'My expectation is that we win the election, that Anthony is the Prime Minister all the way through and that I get to be the treasurer.

'You have to have the humility to say where can I make the best contribution to this team.
UK defence firms have been given a boost after Emmanuel Macron dropped demands for a post-Brexit defence and security deal to be linked to fishing rights.

The French president has been told by some EU leaders to treat the issues separately because of the war in Ukraine.

It would mean UK companies being able to bid for contracts under the EUs 150billion defence fund, unveiled last month.

One EU source said: Even Emmanuel Macron isnt stupid enough to let fish get in the way.'

The fund allows EU countries to borrow cash to invest more in defence and is aimed at enabling countries to re-arm quicker.

At present, British arms manufacturers are locked out until a deal has been struck, potentially delaying a joint UK-EU military response to the invasion of Ukraine.

Hopes are now growing that a deal can be thrashed out with Brussels in time for a summit in London next month.

However, the leaders of Italy and Spain still need to be won over.

French president Emmanuel Macron dropped demands for a post-Brexit defence and security deal to be linked to fishing rights

French Fishermen blockaded the entrance to the Port of Calais in a protest designed to increase pressure on the UK Government to grant licenses to European boats for licenses to fish within British waters (pictured in 2021)

Major EU fishing nations had been hoping to use the situation as leverage in post-Brexit reset talks to get a better deal on catching rights for EU trawlers in UK waters.

By 2026 Britain will have seized back 25 per cent of catching rights in its waters that were surrendered before the 2016 Brexit vote.

France and Spain had wanted the status quo to be extended beyond 2026.
George Clooney believes Maryland Governor Wes Moore is a 'proper leader' who he sees as the next Democrat standard-bearer after he led the movement to push Joe Biden out in 2024.

The actor, a longtime Democrat supporter and fundraiser, wrote an op-ed in the New York Times July 10 of last year titled 'I Love Joe Biden. But We Need a New Nominee.'

Clooney, who in June last year raised $30million at a fundraiser for Biden's 2024 campaign, is largely credited as being the nail in the coffin to Biden dropping his re-election bid.

As part of the promotion for his new Broadway staging of Good Night and Good Luck, CNN asked the Oscar-winner who he thought should lead the Democrats going forward.

'There's one person in particular I think is spectacular,' he said, before singling out Maryland Governor Moore, who he says is 'levitating above' the rest.

'I think he is a guy that handled this tragedy in Baltimore beautifully. He's two tours of active duty in Afghanistan. He speaks sort of beautifully, he's smart. He's a proper leader.'

Clooney is referring to Baltimore's Key Bridge collapse in early 2024 which killed six maintenance workers.

'I like him a lot, I think he's someone we could all fall in behind,' Clooney added.

George Clooney (pictured) believes Maryland Governor Wes Moore is a 'proper leader' who he sees as the next Democrat standard-bearer after he led the movement to push Joe Biden out in 2024

The actor (pictured left), a longtime Democrat supporter and fundraiser, wrote an op-ed in the New York Times July 10 of last year titled 'I Love Joe Biden. But We Need a New Nominee.'

He also cited Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear - Clooney is a native of the state - and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer as two possible contenders.

'We have to find somebody rather soon,' Clooney warned Jake Tapper.

Moore has been seen as a potential standard-bearer, with some even referring to him as the 'next Obama.'

John Ronquillo, the director of the Institute for Public Leadership and a professor at the University of Maryland, said Moore could be on the same path as Barack Obama - rising rapidly through the political ranks to ascend to the White House.

'While I want to be careful with comparisons  Barack Obama is Barack Obama and Wes Moore is Wes Moore  there's no denying that they've both had a meteoric ascent to political prominence,' Ronquillo told The Hill newspaper.

Obama endorsed Moore's bid for governor and cut a campaign ad for him.

Moore's ascendency comes as polls show voters are infuriated with the current Democratic leadership. Recent polls from NBC News and CNN showed the party is at its lowest approval rating ever: 27 percent and 29 percent, respectively.

This is Clooney's first thoughts on the future of the Democrat Party after he pushed its past out the door last year.

'There's one person in particular I think is spectacular,' he said, before singling out Maryland Governor Moore (pictured), who he says is 'levitating above' the rest

He also cited Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear (pictured) - Clooney is a native of the state - and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer as two possible contenders

Back in early July - just over a month before the 2024 Democratic National Convention - Clooney penned the New York Times op-ed weeks after Biden's troubling performance in the June Presidential debate.

'I love Joe Biden. As a senator. As a vice president and as president. I consider him a friend, and I believe in him. Believe in his character. Believe in his morals. In the last four years, he's won many of the battles he's faced,' Clooney said in the op-ed, just weeks after he hosted a fund-raiser for Biden himself.

'But the one battle he cannot win is the fight against time. None of us can. It's devastating to say it, but the Joe Biden I was with three weeks ago at the fund-raiser was not the Joe 'big f***ng deal' Biden of 2010. He wasn't even the Joe Biden of 2020. He was the same man we all witnessed at the debate,' Clooney opined.

He also plainly stated, 'We are not going to win in November with this president. On top of that, we won't win the House, and we're going to lose the Senate.'

'This isn't only my opinion; this is the opinion of every senator and Congress member and governor who I've spoken with in private. Every single one, irrespective of what he or she is saying publicly,' Clooney continued.

The actor thought removing Biden from the ticket would, 'enliven our party' and 'wake up voters' who had 'checked out' even before the debate.

The op-ed was just part of a growing chorus among Democrats for Biden to step down, which he ultimately did just 11 days later on July 21, officially endorsing his Vice President Kamala Harris to run in his stead.

Clooney was quick to thank Biden for stepping out of the way, likening the move he helped foist on the commander in chief as 'saving Democracy' - and said he was excited for Harris and her 'historic quest'.

Back in early July - just over a month before the 2024 Democratic National Convention - Clooney penned the New York Times op-ed weeks after Biden's troubling performance in the June Presidential debate

'I love Joe Biden. As a senator. As a vice president and as president. I consider him a friend, and I believe in him. Believe in his character. Believe in his morals. In the last four years, he's won many of the battles he's faced,' Clooney said in the op-ed

He then doubled down on his endorsement of Harris by narrating a campaign advertisement that urged men to consider how voting for Trump would affect the women in their lives.

Clooney reaffirmed that seeing Biden at a Hollywood fundraiser being led off the stage by Barack Obama in June last year triggered him to write the piece.

He said he'd met with Biden and spoke to him for hours just a year before at the Kennedy Center and on that night in Hollywood, he 'saw someone much less sharp.'

The actor then took a shot at the press, saying: 'The media, in many ways, dropped the ball.'

Clooney reaffirmed that 'I've always liked Joe Biden and I like him still' but said that his obvious incapacities made it impossible to defend his record.

'The Biden administration was terrible at explaining that we're a world economy, where we were actually doing better than all the other G7 countries.'

'They were bad at telling the story because their messenger was not working at his best, to say the least,' Clooney told NYT this week.
More than 700 migrants arrived in the UK yesterday, setting a record for the highest number of daily crossings this year.

The Home Office said 705 migrants made the journey in 12 boats, exceeding the previous high for this year which was set on Saturday when 656 crossed in 11 boats.

More arrivals have been recorded in January to April 2025 than in the equivalent four-month period in any year since data on Channel crossings began in 2018, putting ministers under further pressure to find a solution to the small boats crisis.

The latest figures bring the number of 2025 arrivals to a provisional total of 8,888 which is 42 per cent higher than the 6,265 at the same point last year.

Yesterdays arrivals figure of 705 is still below the record number for a single day, which was 1,305 on September 3, 2022.

But it means more than 32,000 people have made the crossing since Labour came to power in July last year and threw out the Rwanda asylum deal.

The Government has vowed to crack down on people-smuggling across the Channel by working with France and others to tackle the gangs behind it.

The FT reported that talks have begun to develop a pilot scheme based on a one-for-one principle which could see a person deported from the UK in exchange for a person with a right to be in Britain sent from France. Asked about the reports, minister Lilian Greenwood did not rule out plans for a migrant removals agreement with the French.

More than 700 migrants arrived in the UK yesterday. Pictured: A group of small boat migrants are brought into Dover after crossing the Channel yesterday

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The Prime Minister has vowed to smash the gangs but yesterdays figures suggest his policies are having little impact

She told Sky News: This is going to take really hard work to tackle those organised gangs that are preying on people, putting their lives in danger as they try to cross the Channel to the UK.

Of course, thats going to involve conversations with our counterparts on the European continent.

Meanwhile, French coastguards said 30 migrants were rescued on Tuesday after a number of small boats were reported to have left the coast between Walde Lighthouse and Dunkirk, in northern France, and got into difficulty.

The numbers come after Labour scrapped the Tory plan to send small boat migrants to Rwanda.

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Since then, the Prime Minister has vowed to smash the gangs but yesterdays figures suggest his policies are having little impact.

Last month, Sir Keir said he wanted to stop the vile trade of people smuggling at an international summit on migration.

Though Sir Keir has claimed the Government has returned more than 24,000 migrants since the election, figures suggest only around 6,000 of these were forced returns. A Home Office spokesman said: We all want to end dangerous small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security.

Thats why this Government is investing in border security, increasing returns to their highest levels for more than half a decade, and imposing a major crackdown on illegal working to end the false promise of jobs used by gangs to sell spaces on boats. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: Labour scrapped our deterrent before it even began and replaced it with nothing.

Now, crossings are surging, extremists and criminals are slipping through the net, and British taxpayers are picking up the bill.

Cancelling Rwanda was a catastrophic mistake, and now Britain is paying the price.
As Queen Margrethe II of Denmark celebrates her 85th birthday, there is much to reflect upon.

Just over a year ago, the monarch stunned the nation by announcing her decision to abdicate in favour of her eldest son, Prince Fredrik - an unprecedented move in modern Danish history.

In January 2024, Queen Margrethe formally signed the declaration that would mark the end of her 52-year reign.

Rising from her seat, she turned to Frederik and invited him to take her place, solemnly proclaiming 'God save the King,' before leaving the room.

Moments later, against the backdrop of Christiansborg Castle in Copenhagen, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen officially declared Frederik as Denmark's new monarch with the words, 'Long live his majesty, King Frederik the 10th'.

Throughout her reign, Margrethe remained a beloved figure both at home and abroad. A close friend and distant cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II, she steered Denmark through decades of change while maintaining the respect and admiration of her people.

Even after stepping down, she continues to be the nation's favourite royal.

A recent opinion poll conducted by Danish broadcaster DR underscores her enduring popularity - while King Frederik and his wife Queen Mary each received an 85 per cent approval rating, Margrethe surpassed them with an approval score of 88 per cent.

Queen Margrethe II and her husband Prince Henrik arrive for the wedding of their son Prince Frederik with Mary Elizabeth Donaldson at Copenhagen Cathedral in May 2004

Just over a year ago, the monarch stunned the nation by announcing her decision to abdicate in favour of her eldest son, Fredrik - an unprecedented move in modern Danish history

It's a testament to the deep affection the Danish people still hold for their former queen, who, even in retirement, remains a towering figure in the country's history.

Celebrated for her hands-on approach, attending government meetings and writing her own speeches, Queen Margarethe is among the few sovereigns of her generation who hold multiple university diplomas.

After graduating, she challenged social norms by studying at five European universities between 1960 and 1965.

Considering disciplines to assist in her future role as head of state, Margrethe enrolled in a political science programme, which she carried out in three institutions: Aarhus University in Denmark, the Sorbonne University in Paris, and the London School of Economics.

It was at the latter that Margrethe met her husband, French diplomat Henri de Laborde de Monpezat.

She also studied philosophy at Copenhagen University and earned a diploma in prehistoric archaeology from Cambridge University.

Margrethe re-vitalised the monarchy - not least with a new era of fashion.

Thanks to her knack for colour and prints, she carries off eccentric looks both during official engagements and at leisure.

Queen Elizabeth ll and Prince Philip wave from the balcony with Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik of Denmark in Copenhagen in 1979

On January 14, 2024, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen officially declared Frederik as Denmark's new monarch with the words, 'Long live his majesty, King Frederik the 10th'

Margrethe arrives for the presentation of Ebbe Munck's honorary award at an event at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen in November 2024

Margrethe makes a sartorial statement at the New Year's Gala at Amalienborg Palace in 2025

Arguably at the peak of her fashion portfolio, Margrethe designed this mac in 1995 (pictured at the Ringsted horse ceremony in 2017)

The royal's fascination with ornate clothing was ignited during her childhood as she observed her father, King Frederik IX, and his passion for the theatre.

At the age of eight, attending August Bournonville's ballet Napoli with her parents, she was entranced by the set and costumes.

Similar to her third cousin, Queen Elizabeth, Margrethe valued a vibrant colour palette and remained loyal to her nation's design talents.

She showcased sleek velvet dresses, silk taffeta gowns, luxurious brocades, patterns and an abundance of furs, embodying her authoritative and adventurous nature.

Margrethe shared a close relationship with Elizabeth - they are both great granddaughters of Queen Victoria.

The pair shared such a strong bond that they would begin all correspondence with 'Dear sister and cousin'.

In public, Elizabeth and Margrethe addressed each other as 'Your Majesty', but in private, the Danish Queen was affectionately known to her cousin as 'Daisy'.

This nickname originated from Margrethe being named after her British-born grandmother Princess Margaret 'Daisy' of Connaught.

Queen Margrethe and Queen Elizabeth II, who was her third cousin, shared a close relationship (pictured at The Natural History Museum in 2000)

(L-R) King Frederik, Queen Mary, Queen Margrethe and Prince Joachim attend the Danish Parliament's celebration of the succession of the throne at Danish Parliament in January 2024

Mary and Margrethe celebrate Frederick's birthday at Frederik VIII's Palace, Amalienborg, in Mary 2024

Frederik and his mother Margrethe attend a session of the Folketing, the Danish parliament, at the Folketingsalen at Christiansborg Palace in January 2024

Queen Margrethe is greeted by pupils with flags as she arrives together with the chairman of the board of Prins Henriks Skole's Property Fund, Anders Torboel, for the inauguration of the new Prins Henriks Skole in Frederiksberg in February 2024

Margrethe arrives as a celebratory service at Holmens Church in Copenhagen, as Denmark celebrates the 175th anniversary of the first Danish Constitution, in June 2024

Margrethe waves to well-wishers at Fredensborg Castle ahead of festivities of her 84th birthday in 2024

Meanwhile, Margrethe called Elizabeth 'Lilibet'. She once explained: 'That's the way we have known each other always. That is what we call each other when we see and speak to one another. We are definitely affectionate, but I don't want to splash it all over the place!'

Stepping away from the throne has given Queen Margrethe the freedom to devote more time to her passion for the arts.

Despite having no formal training in visual arts, she has created an impressive body of work across various mediums, including watercolour, oil chalk pastels and acrylic painting.

Ever the keen observer, Margrethe carries small sketchpads during her travels, capturing intriguing motifs and fresh ideas in the moment.

Her artistic talents continue to flourish, as seen in her recent design for a limited-edition anniversary mug for Royal Copenhagen, featuring two hand-painted fish to mark the brand's 250th anniversary.

In his first New Year's speech, Frederik reassured the Danish people that 'my mother enjoys her new life,' embracing her new-found independence while maintaining a connection to the royal family.

Though she retains the title of queen, Margrethe now ranks after King Frederik, Queen Mary, and their four children.

Her royal household has been reduced in scale, with fewer ladies-in-waiting and a smaller state-provided income. Despite these changes, Margrethe remains at Fredensborg Palace, where she has lived for years.

Frederik and Mary reside in the side wing of the palace, ensuring that while the monarchy has entered a new era, the former queen remains an integral part of its legacy.
Although Diana died long before she could meet Meghan Markle, royal fans often wonder what she would make of her daughter-in-law.

Now, in the latest episode of Palace Confidential, one of Diana's closest confidantes, has theorised that she would have found the American actress 'intriguing'.

Richard Kay, the Editor at Large for the Daily Mail, has reported on the Royal Family since the 1980s, becoming Diana's close friend 'in the last five or six years of her life'.

The pair would go for dinner, watch films at the cinema and take scenic drives along the Norfolk coast where the late Princess of Wales grew up.

'The Diana I knew was amusing,' Richard said. 'Not at all as she came across often in public. What I mean by that is she had a wry sense of humour.'

Indeed, Richard and Diana were so close that he was the last person she called before her tragic death in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel in Paris.

Richard is, therefore, well positioned to answer questions from Palace Confidential viewers about Diana - the woman he described as both 'remarkable' and his 'very good friend'.

Writing in the comments of the Daily Mail Royals YouTube channel, a viewer by the name of Debster asked: 'About how long after meeting Meghan Markle would she [Diana] have sent her packing? I think five minutes, tops.'

Richard Kay, the Daily Mail's Editor at Large, answers questions from Palace Confidential viewers

Richard became close friends with Diana 'in the last five or six years of her life'

Taking off his glasses, Richard said he had to 'disagree' with Debster.

'None of us really know,' he said. 'But I think there is something about Meghan that Diana would have found not just intriguing but slightly liberating.

'I think she would have liked Meghan's independence and the fact that she was able to offer Harry an escape route, if you like, from royal duty.'

But Diana's close friend was also quick to point out just how 'disappointed' she would have been by 'how things panned out' between her sons.

The brothers have had a 'strained relationship' since Harry and Meghan quit frontline royal duties and moved to California in 2020.

Recent reports have suggested that the Duke of Sussex's calls to family members including his elder brother Prince William are ignored.

'I think she would have admired Harry's decision to settle in America,' Richard clarified. 'She wouldn't have admired, however, the rift with William.

'I I think she would have been very disappointed by how things panned out but I think initially she would have been very welcoming to [Meghan]. That's my view.'

Debster asked Richard what Diana would have thought of her daughter-in-law Meghan Markle

'I think there is something about Meghan that Diana would have found not just intriguing but slightly liberating,' he said

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announce their engagement in November 2017. Diana would have been 'very welcoming' to the American actress, according to Richard

Although Diana would have 'admired Harry's decision to settle in America', Richard said she would not have been pleased with the rift between her boys

Elsewhere in the episode, Richard spoke of Diana's own desire to live in the United States.

'She talked about it right at the very end of her life to me - about settling for a time in the U.S,' he said.

'She loved the U.S. I think that if she could, she would have moved there and lived there.

But what was holding Diana back?

Richard believes it was her commitment to William and Harry who were 15 and 12 respectively at the time of her death.

'She couldn't just abandon them - they were young boys,' he said.

'I don't think she had quite worked out how she could live in New York or California, for example, and maintain that close contact that she needed to have with William and Harry.

'As they got older, that might have changed and I could see her living there.'

Diana had a desire to live in America, according to her confidante Richard

The Princess of Wales speaks at the Council of Fashion Designers of America Ball in New York on January 31, 1995

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the ESPY Awards in Hollywood on July 11, 2024

Remembering conversations with his dear friend, Richard revealed that Diana thought America would give her greater freedom than she had in Britain.

'I often asked her what it was about America that attracted her to the country,' he said.

'It was this idea that she felt she would be freer somehow, that they took a more nuanced attitude towards celebrity.

'She based that assumption on the fact that there were so many Hollywood stars who lived their lives pretty much unhindered and she thought that she would just be one among many.

'When I pointed out that she would be the number one among many, she didn't agree but that has always been my view.

'In fact, I think that's really what Prince Harry has found, that there was huge interest in him when he moved to California, quite above all those home-based American celebrity and Hollywood stars.

'I think that would have plagued Diana just as much as it plagued her really living in the United Kingdom.'

For more fascinating insights from Richard Kay, watch the latest episode of Palace Confidential in full now and subscribe to the Daily Mail Royals YouTube channel.
Speaking to People magazine this week, a source close to Prince Harry has revealed that his calls and letters to the King go unanswered. Indeed, the pair are distant. Most shocking of all is that Harry only hears news of his fathers health through the media.

Father and son last met in person over a year ago following Charles's diagnosis, and that was a brief, if private, meeting (it has since been confirmed Camilla was not in the room). It must have been humiliating for the once darling boy.

Part of the reason for Charless froideur is Harrys current unedifying fight in the courts for his UK security to be upgraded; his own, privately-funded bodyguards are not allowed to be armed when here.

Why this would anger Charles? Yes, his State visit to Italy was pushed off the front pages last week by images of his son striding warrior-like and painfully lonely into court.

But it seems odd for the King to object to his sons claim because, if he wins, Harry has indicated he and his family would visit Britain more often. Any father would welcome that. Particularly one who is head of the Church. It has been claimed that Charles cannot forgive Harry for comparing Camilla to a wicked stepmother in his memoir, Spare. But you dont put a woman before your own child, surely?

A ruling is expected over the next few weeks, but could Charles not have greased the wheels of Harrys bid for security. This makes Charles look unyielding and - if he cannot overrule the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (the body that decides on the levels of security) - powerless and weak. He might not want Harry here, but many do. Charles seems cold, a killjoy, unable to move on.

The King has been trained to be a diplomat since birth, to set an example, yet it seems he cannot extend a hand of friendship to his son? Is he worried that a note, or a kind word, will make it into the public sphere via his loquacious second-born? Perhaps, but surely a photo opportunity showing a hug, a handshake, would speak volumes.

Harry is currently fighting the UK courts to have his security upgraded, as his own bodyguards are not allowed to be armed when in his native country

Harry's brother, Prince William, is also giving him the cold shoulder since his Spare came out

Even a warm post on social media would cause us to breathe a collective sigh of relief. And, given the accusations of bullying, mismanagement and misogynoir swirling around Harrys charity, Sentebale, perhaps now is the time to give Harry some seasoned advice from experts who have been fire-fighting scandal for the Royals for years. But no, the prince has been thrown to the wolves, apparently.

There is no hand of friendship being extended by William, either. If he can forgive his fathers historic indiscretions - in 1994 he confessed to infidelity in a televised interview with Jonathan Dimbleby - surely he can forgive his brother for that Oprah interview and writing a memoir, however candid.

Does he fear his and Kates life will be made a living hell, or that the Wales family will be overshadowed by the Sussexes? I think the latter. He must realise that high-profile visits from Harry and Meghan, Archie and Lilibet in tow, would enliven our interest and affection for the Royal Family. It would certainly be more fascinating, glamorous and fun than being drip-fed badly shot photos of Kate in a baker boy cap talking to Scouts on a windswept hillside.

The lack of trust in Harry from the Palace is remarkable. Again, if the King had any real intention to lead by example, he could overrule his lily-livered minions, put safeguards in place, show leniency.

Isnt a life-threatening disease supposed to put petty squabbles and past hurt into perspective? Harry is clearly trying - his fight to feel safe in his own homeland is a clear cry for reconciliation. Its natural to want to show off his family here. An unearthed letter showed the late Queen wanted Harry to have 'effective security' even after he and Meghan left as working royals.

King Charles with Queen Camilla at Clarence House in London. His Majesty has not met his youngest son in over a year and Harry only hears news of his father's health through the media

Could a cornered Harry lash out in desperation? As People magazine reports, he is exhausted and overwhelmed, shocked by what he claims has been held back in court. He wants to get under the bonnet and fix what is broken. I fear his fingers are about to be squashed.

All things aside, family matters. What will the cousins - Archie and Lilibet, and George, Charlotte and Louis - think when they are old enough to appreciate the bickering that kept them apart?

To quote the lyricist Hal David, What the world needs now is love. And Charles, we need it ASAP.
NASA has admitted that an over 300-foot-wide hole in the surface of Mars could be a 'portal' leading to an underground world of alien life.

The American space agency shared the shocking image of a massive opening in the Martian landscape on Sunday for its Astronomy Picture of the Day.

Rather than leave people with a mystery, NASA speculated that the giant hole appears to lead to a mysterious 'lower level' that may support life.

'Holes such as this are of particular interest because they might be portals to lower levels that extend into expansive underground caves,' NASA researchers said.

'If so, these naturally occurring tunnels are relatively protected from the harsh surface of Mars, making them relatively good candidates to contain Martian life,' they added.

It's quite a statement by NASA, which has consistently tried to manage the public's expectations of finding extraterrestrial life both on other planets and here on Earth.

So far, the focus has been on microbial life that may be hiding in frozen oceans on Earth's neighboring planets and moons.

However, researchers noted that there could be 'expansive underground caves' on the other side of this hole, adding that this area could soon become a major target of future astronauts landing on Mars.

NASA released an image of a massive hole in the surface of Mars on April 13 as part of the agency's Astronomy Picture of the Day series

NASA pointed out that this image, originally taken in 2017 by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, actually shows several holes in the planet's surface.

'There are numerous holes pictured in this Swiss cheese-like landscape, with all-but-one of them showing a dusty, dark, Martian terrain beneath evaporating, light, carbon dioxide ice,' the researchers wrote.

That most noticeable ditch is the perfectly rounded hole in the upper-right portion of the satellite photo - a giant cavity spanning roughly 328 feet.

Making the discovery even more mysterious is the fact that this hole also has a circular crater surrounding it.

As for what caused it, the NASA team speculated that it may have been created by a meteor impact, but the bigger question now is what's sitting at the other end of this pit.

'These pits are therefore also prime targets for possible future spacecraft, robots, and even human interplanetary explorers,' NASA added.

Although scientists believe Mars was once more Earth-like billions of years ago, the best hope of finding signs of life today rests in NASA's rovers, satellites, and future astronauts discovering underground caves or lava tubes in the long-dead Martian surface.

Since Mars now lacks a strong magnetic field and thick atmosphere, its surface is constantly bombarded by high levels of cosmic and solar radiation, which can be deadly to life as we know it.

Mars is believed to have several similar holes that may be craters from meteor impacts, potentially leading a vast system of underground caves and lava tubes

The USGS Astrogeology Science Center has mapped hundreds of possible sites that experts believe could be entry points to subterranean caves on Mars

However, life may have been able to survive below the soil thanks to the natural shielding of these caves and tubes - meaning astronauts might be able to find evidence or even fossils of living organisms here.

America's experts on underground mysteries and seismic activity - the US Geological Survey (USGS) - were even brought in to find these caves.

In 2019, the USGS Astrogeology Science Center revealed a stunning map detailing over 1,000 candidates that their experts believe could be cave entrances scattered throughout the surface of Mars.

Unfortunately, USGS noted that their review used data coming in from probes flying 250 miles above the Martian surface.

Glen Cushing, a space scientist from the USGS Astrogeology Science Center, said: 'It is impossible to see how far any of them extend beneath the surface.'

'Not knowing which instances are caves and which are merely alcoves with modest lateral extent, we are careful to express that these are 'candidate' cave entrances,' he added in the 2019 release.

Other space missions, including the European Space Agency's Mars Express, have also found evidence of ancient lava tubes beneath the planet's dormant volcanoes.

However, this newly released photo makes it undeniably clear that there's at least one hole on Mars which leads to an unknown subterranean layer.

The soonest human astronauts may be able to see this enormous hole for themselves could be in 2028.

SpaceX founder Elon Musk recently appeared on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, where he rapidly accelerated the timeline for people arriving on the Red Planet.

Previously, the goal was to land the first astronauts on Mars by 2030 at the earliest.

Musk said that SpaceX's 'default plan' was to 'launch several Starships to Mars at the end of next year.'

These are the same type of space vehicles SpaceX has been testing, with some of the recent tests ending in a fiery explosion.

These missions would also have no crews and would see if the vehicles could successfully land on the Red Planet. Musk added that he's hoping his company will launch a total of five of these remote-controlled starships to Mars in 2026.
READ MORE: Terrifying 'doomsday' fish found on beach in Canary Islands

One of nature's mightiest beasts has never before been documented in its natural environment  until now.

Scientists have captured the first ever footage of a live colossal squid  the largest invertebrate on the planet.

The stunning 4K video film, captured in the deep sea by California's Schmidt Ocean Institute, shows the rare creature's transparent body and eight pink tentacles.

Colossal squid can grow up to 23 feet (7 metres) and weigh as much as 500kg, making them the heaviest invertebrate on the planet.

But this specimen, which looks like a delicate glass sculpture, is just a 'teenager'  measuring 11 inches (30cm).

Dying colossal squid adults have previously been filmed by fishermen, but the species has never been seen alive at depth before.

Expedition chief scientist, Dr Michelle Taylor at the University of Essex, called the footage 'stunning' and 'beautiful'.

'The squid is a teenager and none have ever been filmed alive before in their natural habitat, juvenile or adult,' she told MailOnline.

This is the first confirmed live observation of the colossal squid, Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, in its natural habitat

The species can reach 23 feet (7 metres) in length, but this specimen is a baby - just 11 inches (30cm)

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'Adults likely shy away from remotely operated vehicles; we probably caught this teenager unawares and its response was to sit very still and hope we werent a predator.'

It comes 100 years after the first colossal squid specimens were found and described in 1925  based on specimens from the stomach of a hunted sperm whale.

This incredible new sighting occurred on March 9 this year during an expedition near the South Sandwich Islands in the South Atlantic Ocean.

Schmidt Ocean Institute's remotely operated vehicle (ROV) SuBastian was at a depth of 1,968 feet (600 metres) as it was livestreaming the footage.

However, those watching, including Dr Taylor, did not know the significance of what they were seeing on the screen.

'At the time, not being a squid expert and regrettably having none on board the ship, we did not realise that we had seen a colossal squid,' Dr Taylor told MailOnline.

'We knew it was a beautiful glass squid so paused on the descent to watch it; why would you not, its stunning.'

Only later when a team of scientists including Dr Bolstad and Dr Aaron Evans, an independent squid expert, reviewed the footage could its identity be verified.

The colossal squid was first described in 1925 based on specimens from the stomach of a commercially hunted sperm whale. A century later, an international voyage captured the first confirmed video of this species in its natural habitat

The remotely operated vehicle (ROV) SuBastian, which captured the historic footage, is recovered onto Research Vessel Falkor (too)

Colossal squid can grow up to 23 feet (7 metres) and weigh as much as 500kg, making them the heaviest invertebrate on the planet

Distinguishing characteristics of colossal squid are hooks on the ends of the two long tentacles and in the middle of each of the eight shorter arms.

When they saw the arm hooks, Dr Evans 'started hyperventilating', he told a press briefing announcing the footage on Tuesday.

Fortunately no attempts to catch the creature and bring it to shore were made, unlike other colossal squid specimens.

Back in 2007, the largest recorded colossal squid, a female, was captured by a New Zealand fishing boat in the Ross Sea off Antarctica.

The squid was dying when it was captured and photographed before its corpse was taken back to New Zealand for scientific study.

Dr Taylor said seeing a live specimen in its natural habitat is so important because we get to observe finally observe its biology and ecology.

'For example, see how it holds itself in the water column, how is moves, its behaviours  none of this is possible with dead specimens,' she said.

As well as being the world's largest invertebrate, the colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) is the world's largest squid species and a member of the glass squid family (scientifically known as 'Cranchiidae').

A preserved colossal squid on display at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington

Back in January, another expedition filmed the first confirmed footage of the glacial glass squid (Galiteuthis glacialis) in the Southern Ocean near Antarctica

It is not to be confused with the giant squid (Architeuthis dux), which is similarly large and elusive but has been seen in its deep sea habitat before.

Little is known about the colossal squids life cycle, but eventually, they lose the transparent appearance of the juveniles, as seen in this new clip.

It comes shortly after the first confirmed footage of the glacial glass squid (Galiteuthis glacialis) in the Southern Ocean near Antarctica, taken in January.

G. glacialis is another glass squid species that has never been seen alive in its natural environment before  although adults only reach a maximum mantle length of 20 inches (50 cm).

'The first sighting of two different squids on back-to-back expeditions is remarkable and shows how little we have seen of the magnificent inhabitants of the Southern Ocean,' said Dr Jyotika Virmani, Schmidt Ocean Institutes executive director.

'Fortunately, we caught enough high-resolution imagery of these creatures to allow the global experts, who were not on the vessel, to identify both species.'
Spotify is down for tens of thousands of users worldwide.

Downdetector shows the outage hit around 9am ET.

Users are citing issues with the app, audio streaming and website.

Nearly 50,000 Spotify American users have issued outage reports to Downdetector, a site that monitors online services.

New York City, Los Angeles, Houston and Chicago have reported problems.

Users in the UK, parts of Europe, China and South America are also experiencing issues.

Even the Spotify Support website is down, showing users a 'server error' message.

Spotify has more than 675 million users worldwide. It is unknown how many have been impacted.

Spotify is down for tens of thousands of users across the US

Spotify has acknowledged the outage, saying: 'We're seeing reports from users that the app isn't loading properly or that they're experiencing playback issues.

'Others report that they're having issues accessing the Support site.

Spotify users flocked to X to see if others were also experiencing issues.

Some joke about the outage, saying they are 'switching to Apple Music since Spotify is down.'

'Spotify down while at work... This is my 13th reason why,' one user posted.

Another shared: 'Yes spotify is down. Why having CDs, vinyls and Youtube is a must.'

Some users on social media said they could still play downloaded music but could not search or view artists on the app.

'We're aware of some issues right now and are checking them out,' Spotify said in a post on social media platform X.

Downdetector shows 61 percent of problems stem from the app, 24 percent audio streaming and 15 percent of users reported issue with the website.
A massive solar storm due to hit Earth today could cause radio blackouts and power grid disruptions.

Officials are tracking a powerful burst of solar plasma and magnetic fields, which made impact Tuesday and continues to affect our planet.

The G3 geomagnetic storm could interfere with power grid operations in the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, and Midwest regions of the US.

It may also lead to GPS outages, satellite malfunctions and other system disruptions.

A geomagnetic storm is a temporary disturbance of Earth's magnetic field caused by a massive eruption of plasma from the sun's outermost layer.

Dr Tamitha Skov, an independent space weather physicist, told DailyMail.com that if the storm persists for another 10 hours, power outages could occur.

Scientists have also predicted that the event will produce colorful aurora displays in 19 states.

Northern lights are forecasted as low as New York to Wisconsin to Washington state.

The sun unleashed powerful streams of energy this week, which hit Earth Tuesday. Experts say the powerful storm could disrupt power grids

Northern lights have been forecasted in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

Parts of northern Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, New York and Pennsylvania may also get a view.

The best time to see the colorful lights is between 10pm and 2am local time.

To see the spectacle, wait for clear skies to get dark and then go outside, ideally away from bright city lights.

Taking a picture with a smartphone camera may also reveal hints of the aurora that arent visible to the naked eye.

The coronal mass ejection (CEM) hit Tuesday, triggering northern lights in the upper northern hemisphere and a moderate 'G2' level geomagnetic storming overnight, which was upgraded to G3 today.

This space weather scale is much like the scale for measuring hurricanes, tracking how intense a geomagnetic storm will be when it collides with Earth, ranging from G1 (minor) to G5 (extreme).

A G3 geomagnetic storm can cause minor disruptions to radio and satellite communications, potentially leading to a few hours of lost radio contact, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

'Power grid fluctuations can occur. High-latitude power systems may experience voltage alarms,' SPWC shared in the alert.

The SWPC predicts a high risk in electrical grid disruptions in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern, specially Virginia, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, US. Parts of the Midwest, like Minnesota and the Dakotas, also show elevated activity

'HF (high frequency) radio propagation can fade at higher latitudes.'

The SWPC predicts a high risk in electrical grid disruptions in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern, specially Virginia, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, US.

Parts of the Midwest, like Minnesota and the Dakotas, also show elevated activity.

The Western region mostly shows low levels, meaning little risk.

'The key is the length of the G3,' said Dr Skov 'So guaranteed, the grid operators are paying close attention right now.

'Storms like this one that have sustained strong southward fields are the hardest on the grids for sure.

'I would check Sweden, Norway and possibly New Zealand for reports of grid strain and outages.

'Higher latitudes always suffer more than lower latitudes during these storms and typically, the higher latitudes countries are the proverbial 'canary in the coalmine' for lower latitudes.'

The last Geomagnetic Storm Warning was issued in October 2024 over a G4 storm set to hit Earth.

There were concerns about potential disruptions to power grids, especially in areas already weakened by recent hurricanes that hit Florida and North Carolina.

While no widespread outages were reported, utilities were on high alert for voltage control issues
A U.S. missionary kidnapped after being pistol whipped as he gave a sermon and dragged from his church has been dramatically rescued.

A heavily armed team over 20 officers of a South African Police unit known as The Hawks ambushed the gang at their safe house.

Three heavily armed gunmen had just moved pastor Josh Sullivan, 34, into their car to drive him to another safehouse as police approached.

Freed: Josh Sullivan was kidnapped by armed men from his church in South Africa

When the kidnappers saw the officers with their weapons drawn, a 'high-intensity' shootout took place with the officers killing them all.

The gunmen had leapt from the car to flee and opened fire on cops.

The officers had spotted where the pastor had been hidden inside the car, so were able to avoid hitting him with gunfire.

The Hawks came under sustained fire from the gang who had seized Pastor Sullivan in front of his wife Meaghan and four children last week.

A South African Police source said: 'There was incredible gunfire but within 15 seconds it was over and the three gang members were lying dead.'

Pistol-whipped at church: The pastor was giving a service at the time of his kidnapping

'No officers were injured but we are still missing three gang members so when we identify who these men are we will go after the rest of the gang.'

The shootout happened yesterday at KwaMagxai in Gqbertha, after the police received a tip-off about where the armed gang had been holed up.

Pastor Sullivan was attacked at 7pm at the Fellowship Baptist Church Motherwell in the Mandela Bay township of what was once Port Elizabeth by four masked gunmen.

Two more stood guard on the door as one of the gang pistol-whipped the pastor and dragged him up the aisle while others robbed the congregation.

The Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Avela Fumba said: 'As officers approached the safe house they observed a vehicle was parked outside the premises with people in it.'

Working abroad: The pastor has been living in South Africa since 2018

'The suspects inside the vehicle attempted to flee and opened fire on the team and officers responded leading to a high-intensity shoot out and the three suspects were killed.

'The victim of the kidnapping was found inside the vehicle from which the suspects launched their attack but was miraculously unharmed and immediately assessed.

'Medical personnel reported he was in excellent condition and he said he just wanted to be reunited with his wife and kids and we facilitated him of course on that.

'The operation demonstrates the critical importance of inter-agency collaboration and timely intelligence in being able to tackle serious organized crime in South Africa.

'The Hawks commend the bravery and professionalism of all officers and all the support personnel present who helped to secure the safe rescue of the kidnapped victim.'

Terrifying ordeal: The suspects appeared to know Sullivan by name, and threatened his wife before abducting him in front of his family

Shock: His supporters flooded the church's website and social media platforms with messages of hope and prayer

A neighbor who asked not to be named said: 'I was just sitting watching TV and what sounded like World War III broke outside with over 100 bullets fired in a few seconds.

'There were police everywhere and dogs and a man was pulled from a car that had been shot up and taken away surrounded by officers and then a perimeter was put up.

'We were told it was the gang who had kidnapped a churchman last week.'

It was revealed that just 24 hours after Pastor Sullivan was abducted, the armed gang contacted his wife Meaghan.

A South African Police source said: 'Meaghan got the call on Friday afternoon a day after the kidnap so the gang obviously had her mobile number and told her they had Josh.

'She was distraught and a friend who was with her took the phone and was told unless the family or church came up with what is a very large ransom it would not end well.

'A time to raise the funds by was given and then the gang member hung up.'

Family: Pastor Sullivan with his wife Meaghan and three of their four children

The ransom demand on the Friday afternoon activated a specialist elite squad known as The Hawks who were called in with the Anti-Gang-Unit in a desperate bid to trace him.

The police source said: 'Mr Sullivan knows too much to be simply let go so the situation is that either the ransom is paid for his safe release or The Hawks find the gang first.'

A fellow pastor Mark Coffey who runs a Fellowship Baptist Church in the U.S. told the SA Sunday Times: 'There were six of them and three were armed and entered the church.

'It was while evening service was taking place and they went straight to his wife Meaghan and grabbed her and one turned to the Pastor and said, "Is this your wife Josh?"

'Josh and Meaghan's four children started crying and Josh tried to run to them but a man grabbed him and pistol-whipped him and dragged him to his own car parked outside.'

The family were taken in by close friends after police raced to the scene and later found Mr Sullivan's Toyota Fortuner dumped a few miles away.

The missionary said on his website he felt a calling from God in 2013 and in 2015 went to South Africa for a six-month internship at the church as part of his Bible training studies.

In 2018 he moved full time to Port Elizabeth, now known as Gqeberha, and spent two years learning the Xhosa language so he could add the local tongue into his sermons.

His wife and young family moved with him and they have also taken in two Xhosa children.

Kidnappings in South Africa have increased by 260% in a decade with ransoms being seen as big and easy money with mainly wealthy businessman or prominent people taken.
A young girl screamed 'Mommy, please no!' before her mother allegedly drowned her in the bathtub.

Rebecca Castellanos, seven, was found dead Friday in her Los Angeles apartment and her mother Graciela Castellanos was arrested on suspicion of murder.

The girl's plaintive cries and screams were heard by a neighbor at the apartment complex in the Van Nuys neighborhood, NBC 4 reported.

Tragic: Rebecca Castellanos, 7, was found dead in a bathtub on Friday evening inside her California apartment, with a neighbor reportedly hearing the haunting cries of a child screaming, 'Mommy, please no. Mommy, please no' before the tragic discovery

Scene: The Los Angeles Medical Examiner's Office ruling the girl's death as asphyxiation due to neck compression and drowning

The Los Angeles Medical Examiner's Office ruled her death as asphyxiation due to neck compression and drowning, NBC 4 reported.

Identified as the primary suspect, her 37-year-old mother was arrested and taken into custody on $2 million bail.

'With passive bipolar disorder and the depression of potentially being unable to become a legal resident, all of this drove her to do what she did,' Rebecca's stepfather and Graciela's fiance, who wished to remain anonymous, told NBC 4.

'I'm sure she was out of her mind when she attacked the girl.'

Shortly after the neighbor reported hearing the child's distraught cries, Los Angles police and paramedics arrived at the apartment in the 6800 block of Sepulveda Boulevard at around 5.40 pm.

Rebecca was pronounced dead at the scene.

Detained: Identified as the primary suspect, her mother, 37-year-old Graciela Castellanos, is being held on a $2 million bail (pictured: Castellanos handcuffed in transport chair)

Castellanos's fiance, whose name has not been released, arrived home around 7 pm to find police surrounding their upstairs unit - initially unaware of the horrors inside.

He said Castellanos struggled with mental and emotional issues, which at times led her to scream and isolate herself.

However, the fiance - who had planned to adopt Rebecca after marrying Castellanos in two months - emphasized she was never violent during her episodes and was able to calm herself down, ABC 7 reported.

'First, I want to say that my wife was an almost perfect mom,' he said to the outlet in Spanish.

'She never told a bad word, yelled at the girl, didn't hit her. She was the sweetest mom in the world.'

Additionally, he revealed to NBC4 that the 37-year-old mother allegedly attempted to take her own life on the evening of her daughter's murder.

He believes Castellanos's mental health struggles, combined with the growing realization she might never obtain legal residency in the U.S., may have pushed her over the edge.

'She was the most loving person in the world,' he told the outlet.

Police on scene: Castellanos's fiance said she struggled with mental and emotional issues, which at times led her to scream and isolate herself - yet she was never violent

Horror: It's thought the woman's mental health struggles, combined with the realization she might never obtain legal residency in the U.S., may have pushed her over the edge

Shocked neighbors described the family as 'humble' throughout their friendly interactions, NBC 4 reported.

'It's a feeling of sadness because my thought is that she was a mother who perhaps had no support at all,' Ana Diaz, a neighbor, told the outlet.

Norma Amador, another neighbor, concurred, adding: 'It's like a state of shock, something in my stomach and in my heart. It feels like a feeling because I'm a mother.'

Castellanos was handcuffed to a transport chair and taken into custody where she remains behind bars.

An investigation led by the LAPD is ongoing.

The tragic death comes amid Donald Trump's mass crackdown on illegal immigrants.

Earlier this month, the 78-year-old president revealed that more than 100,000 illegal immigrants have been deported from the U.S. since he took office on January 20, Newsweek reported.

Less than three months ago, an 11-year-old girl from Texas took her own life after classmates threatened to call Immigration and Customs and Enforcement (ICE) to have her deported.

On February 3, Jocelynn Rojo Carranza was found unresponsive in her Gainesville home and spent five days in intensive care in Dallas before dying.

Her family believed relentless bullying drove her to suicide, according to a GoFundMe page, as Jocelynn feared ICE would deport her family.

'The kids said because your family is Hispanic, that they were going to call ICE so her parents could be taken away and she would be left alone,' grieving mother Marbella Carranza told the local Univision station.

Tough stance: Earlier this month, President Donald Trump revealed more than 100,000 illegal immigrants have been deported from the U.S. since he took office on January 20
Scientists have for the first time captured on camera a live colossal squid - the world's largest invertebrate.

Filmed in deep ocean waters, the creature's transparent body and eight pink tentacles are clearly visible in the spectacular 4K video film.

But though colossal squid can grow to nearly 25ft and weigh up to 1,100lb, this one is just a 'teenager,' measuring 11 inches.

SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO

Exciting development: This is the first confirmed live observation of the colossal squid, Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, in its natural habitat

Deep sea delight: The species can reach 23ft in length, but this specimen is a baby - just 11 inches

Dying colossal squid adults have previously been filmed by fishermen, but the species has never been seen alive at depth until now.

The latest footage was captured by California's Schmidt Ocean Institute.

Expedition chief scientist, Dr Michelle Taylor at the University of Essex in England, called the images 'stunning' and 'beautiful.'

'The squid is a teenager and none have ever been filmed alive before in their natural habitat, juvenile or adult,' she told DailyMail.com.

'Adults likely shy away from remotely operated vehicles; we probably caught this teenager unawares and its response was to sit very still and hope we werent a predator.'

It comes 100 years after the first colossal squid specimens were found and described in 1925  based on specimens from the stomach of a hunted sperm whale.

This incredible new sighting occurred on March 9 this year during an expedition near the South Sandwich Islands in the South Atlantic Ocean.

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Schmidt Ocean Institute's remotely operated vehicle (ROV) SuBastian was at a depth of 1,968ft as it was livestreaming the footage.

However, those watching, including Dr Taylor, did not know the significance of what they were seeing on the screen.

'At the time, not being a squid expert and regrettably having none on board the ship, we did not realize that we had seen a colossal squid,' Dr Taylor said.

'We knew it was a beautiful glass squid so paused on the descent to watch it; why would you not, its stunning.'

Only later when a team of scientists including Dr Bolstad and Dr Aaron Evans, an independent squid expert, reviewed the footage could its identity be verified.

'Beautiful': The colossal squid was first described in 1925 based on specimens from the stomach of a commercially hunted sperm whale. A century later, an international voyage captured the first confirmed video of this species in its natural habitat

Making history: The remotely operated vehicle (ROV) SuBastian, which captured the historic footage, is recovered onto Research Vessel Falkor (too)

Distinguishing characteristics of colossal squid are hooks on the ends of the two long tentacles and in the middle of each of the eight shorter arms.

When they saw the arm hooks, Dr Evans 'started hyperventilating,' he told a press briefing announcing the footage on Tuesday.

Fortunately no attempts to catch the creature and bring it to shore were made, unlike other colossal squid specimens.

In 2007 the largest recorded colossal squid, a female, was captured by a New Zealand fishing boat in the Ross Sea off Antarctica.

The squid was dying when it was captured and photographed before its corpse was taken back to New Zealand for scientific study.

Dr Taylor said seeing a live specimen in its natural habitat is so important because we get to finally observe its biology and ecology.

'For example, see how it holds itself in the water column, how is moves, its behaviors  none of this is possible with dead specimens,' she said.

As well as being the world's largest invertebrate, the colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) is the world's largest squid species and a member of the glass squid family (scientifically known as 'Cranchiidae').

Exhibit: A preserved colossal squid on display at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington

Murky world: In January, another expedition filmed the first confirmed footage of the glacial glass squid (Galiteuthis glacialis) in the Southern Ocean near Antarctica

It is not to be confused with the giant squid (Architeuthis dux), which is similarly large and elusive but has been seen in its deep sea habitat before.

Little is known about the colossal squids life cycle, but eventually they lose the transparent appearance of the juveniles, as seen in this new clip.

It comes shortly after the first confirmed footage of the glacial glass squid (Galiteuthis glacialis) in the Southern Ocean near Antarctica, taken in January.

G. glacialis is another glass squid species that has never been seen alive in its natural environment before  although adults only reach a maximum mantle length of 20 inches.

'The first sighting of two different squids on back-to-back expeditions is remarkable and shows how little we have seen of the magnificent inhabitants of the Southern Ocean,' said Dr Jyotika Virmani, Schmidt Ocean Institutes executive director.

'Fortunately, we caught enough high-resolution imagery of these creatures to allow the global experts, who were not on the vessel, to identify both species.'
New research has revealed the countries with a higher annual salary than the UK

Looking to move abroad and earn more while you do it?

New research from Remitly has revealed the countries that have a much higher average annual wage than the UK.

The experts looked at global data to find out where Britons could earn the most as a digital nomad.

And it turns out that Luxembourg is the best option for Brits looking to bump up their annual salary.

The average annual wage in Luxembourg is 71,042. according to Remitly - more than 25,000 higher than the UK's (45,555).

One of the smallest countries in Europe, Luxembourg is bordered by France, Germany and Belgium.

While the country is known for its high prices, public transport is completely free which means expats living there will at least be able to save on petrol.

Iceland ranks second on the list with an average annual wage of 69,120 - more than 23,000 higher than the UK.

New research from Remitly has revealed the countries that have a much higher average annual wage than the UK. Luxembourg (pictured above) tops the list

Iceland ranks second on the list with an average annual wage of 69,120, more than 23,000 higher than the UK

Rounding off the top three is the USA which has an average annual salary of 63,343 - 17,788 more than the UK's average salary a year.

Belgium ranks fourth (57,880), Norway comes fifth (56,905) and Austria is sixth (56,268).

The rest of the top 10 is made up of the Netherlands (7th, 55,492), Denmark (8th, 54,970), Australia (9th, 53,054) and Canada (10th, 52,350).

At the other end of the scale is Greece which has an average annual salary of just 24,000.

Digital nomads will need to be earning higher than the country's average salary to qualify for a visa in Greece as the application requires expats to earn at least 26,455.

And if you're looking for an easy and quick move overseas, it's Latvia that's the best option, according to Remitly.

The team explain that Latvia's digital nomad visa costs just 83 and takes around 10 working days to process.

Applicants also only need to be earning 20,500 per year to qualify for the Latvian visa.

Rounding off the top three is the USA which has an average annual salary of 63,343, 17,788 more than the UK's average salary a year

THE COUNTRIES WITH THE HIGHEST ANNUAL SALARY 1. Luxembourg (71,042) 2. Iceland (69,120) 3. USA (63,343) 4. Belgium (57,880) 5. Norway (56,905 6. Austria (56,268) 7. Netherlands (55,492) 8. Denmark (54,970) 9. Australia (53,054) 10. Canada (52,350) Source: Remitly Advertisement

Italy's visa is the most affordable option as it only costs applicants 41.

On the flipside, Australia is the most expensive option for digital nomads who will need to fork out 1,569 just to apply.

Looking to retire abroad instead? New research has revealed which cities are the cheapest for expats.

According to InterNations, Valencia, a gorgeous city on the Spanish coast is the most affordable place to live as a foreign resident.
British tourists on a popular Croatian island have been warned they'll need to stick to strict clothing rules or face a fine.

Hvar, a beautiful island in Croatia's Adriatic Sea, is known for its nightclubs and beaches.

But tourists could face hefty fines if they're caught wearing swimwear away from designated areas.

Wearing speedos or a bikini away from the pool or beach in Hvar could see tourists fined 600/513.

Tourists could also face a 500/428 on-the-spot fine if they're walking around shirtless in the island's town centre.

Visitors are also required to cover up while visiting religious sites, museums and cultural landmarks.

Travel expert and commercial director at Good Travel Management, Laura Busby, has now shared some advice for travellers.

She says: 'To avoid fines or negative experiences while visiting Croatia, research any landmarks or local attractions and their dress codes before you visit, so you are not caught off guard.

British tourists on a popular Croatian island have been warned they'll need to stick to strict clothing rules

Wearing speedos or a bikini away from the pool or beach in Hvar could see tourists fined 600/513

'There's nothing worse than being refused entry for incorrect attire when you've already travelled to your destination.'

Laura recommends carrying a 'scarf, shawl or long-sleeved jacket' that can be worn if you decide to visit a church or museum.

'Learn about the local customs, traditions and cultural norms of the country you're visiting,' says Laura. 'Understanding the basics will help you navigate your trip more smoothly, without risking any potential hiccups.

'Keep an eye on how locals behave in different situations and environments, like cafes, restaurants and tourist sites.

'Mirror their actions where possible, to show your respect for their values.'

The travel expert also recommends learning a few phrases of the local language before visiting as 'people will appreciate the effort'.
When holidaying in Europe as a big group, it can often be much better value  and more fun  to get an Airbnb rather than a hotel.

But picking the city to travel to is usually the hardest part of booking a holiday.

Luckily, researchers looked at the average price per night for an Airbnb in 50 European cities to find out where has the cheapest - and most expensive - accommodation per night.

They found Warsaw in Poland is where youll get the most bang for your buck, with Airbnbs costing just over 65 (74) per night.

Depending on the location and the time of your stay, some Airbnbs are available for less than 30 (25.73) per night in the stag do hotspot.

In second place is Istanbul with the average price per night for an Airbnb being 76.25 (66.76).

The capital of Slovakia completes the top three, as the average price per night for an Airbnb in Bratislavia costing just under 70 (80).

When it comes to the most expensive European city for Airbnbs, the the team at OLBG found, unsurprising, that London was in the top three  although it wasnt the dearest.

Its Warsaw in Poland where youll get the most bang for your buck, with Airbnbs costing just over 65 (74) per night

In second place is Istanbul with the average price per night for an Airbnb being 76.25 (66.76)

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The average price of an Airbnb in the UK capital is 187.50, making it the third most expensive on the list.

Paris was the second most expensive, with Airbnbs costing a whopping 205.49.

But its Amsterdam where youll have to fork out the most.

Airbnbs in the Netherlands tourist hotspot charge 208 a night on average.
Garcelle Beauvais flat out refused to take a cast photo after taping the upcoming third (and final) part of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills season 14 reunion, which airs Tuesday night on Bravo.

'I'm out,' the 58-year-old reality star announced to her co-stars as she put down her cocktail and slowly walked out of the studio.

'I'm not. I'm not.'

RHOBH executive producer and reunion moderator Andy Cohen protested: 'For real?!'

'Nope, I'm not doing it,' replied Garcelle while not breaking her stride.

'Garcelle, that's really unprofessional,' Dorit Kemsley scolded her. 'That's not cool. Garcelle!'

Garcelle Beauvais flat out refused to take a cast photo after taping the upcoming third (and final) part of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills season 14 reunion, which airs Tuesday night on Bravo

Beauvais - glammed up in a pearly Yousef Al Jasmi gown - had previously threatened to leave during the lunch break of the reunion special, which actually taped on March 24.

'Can I go home?' the Survival of the Thickest actress asked aloud.

'I thought Sutton [Stracke] was gonna be in the hot seat. I didn't realize I was gonna be in the hot seat. Jesus Christ. I can't have an opinion. I can't say how I feel. I just have to go along just to go along. Everybody can go f**k themselves. I don't care.'

Garcelle added: 'I am just so f***ing sick of it. I can't be friends with people like that. I don't trust them. They're all f***ing a**holes.'

During the prior episodes, Beauvais held firm on her belief that Dorit and her husband Paul 'PK' Kemsley's break-in at their house was a set-up, shrugging: 'It's just my instinct.'

Kyle Richards accused called the twice-divorced grandmother-of-two and Sutton of being 'mean girls' when they get together, and she was anrgy over the continuous speculation over her relationship with camera-shy gal pal Morgan Wade.

When Garcelle insisted 'there's nothing I'm not showing' on the Bravo reality show, Erika 'Jayne' Girardi scoffed: 'I wish you were more interesting, I guess.'

The very next day, March 25, Beauvais officially announced her exit from RHOBH after a 'wild ride' over the last five years.

'I mean, some amazing things have happened, and some hard things have also happened, but it's been a ride nevertheless,' the Haitian-born beauty said via Instagram.

The 58-year-old reality star announced to her co-stars as she put down her cocktail and slowly walked out of the studio: 'I'm out. I'm not. I'm not'

RHOBH executive producer and reunion moderator Andy Cohen protested: 'For real?!'

'Nope, I'm not doing it,' replied Garcelle while not breaking her stride

'Garcelle, that's really unprofessional,' Dorit Kemsley scolded her. 'That's not cool. Garcelle!'

Beauvais - glammed up in a pearly Yousef Al Jasmi gown - had previously threatened to leave during the lunch break of the reunion special, which actually taped on March 24

The Survival of the Thickest actress asked aloud: 'Can I go home? I thought Sutton [Stracke] was gonna be in the hot seat. I didn't realize I was gonna be in the hot seat. Jesus Christ. I can't have an opinion. I can't say how I feel. I just have to go along just to go along. Everybody can go f**k themselves. I don't care'

Garcelle added: 'I am just so f***ing sick of it. I can't be friends with people like that. I don't trust them. They're all f***ing a**holes'

During the prior episodes, Beauvais was attacked by Dorit, Kyle Richards, and Erika 'Jayne' Girardi

The very next day, March 25, the twice-divorced grandmother-of-two officially announced her exit from RHOBH after a 'wild ride' over the last five years (pictured February 1)

Garcelle said: 'I mean, some amazing things have happened, and some hard things have also happened, but it's been a ride nevertheless' and teased: 'I have the most exciting projects that I am developing, producing and acting in'

Beauvais thanked the crew and 'the ladies' before teasing that Cohen told her she can 'come back any time, the door will always be open. You never know, I might pop in sometime!' (pictured November 27 on set)

On Monday, the Tempted by Love producer-star posted a cryptic black square reading: 'YOU CHANGED. No. I healed. I learned. I grew. I set boundaries. I stopped settling. I put myself first'

Garcelle went on to explain that her 17-year-old twin sons Jax Nilon and Jaid Nilon (with second ex-husband Mike Nilon) will be graduating high school next year.

'I want to be a part of that, and Jaid is starting a new career, and I want to be a part of that too,' Beauvais continued.

'Secondly, I have the most exciting projects that I am developing, producing and acting in. I can't tell you anything right now, but you'll know soon.'

The Tempted by Love producer-star thanked the crew and 'the ladies' before teasing that Cohen told her she can 'come back any time, the door will always be open. You never know, I might pop in sometime!'

On Monday, Garcelle posted a cryptic black square reading: 'YOU CHANGED. No. I healed. I learned. I grew. I set boundaries. I stopped settling. I put myself first.'
Neighbours lost one of its most iconic characters this week after legendary actor Ian Smith appeared in his final episode as Harold Bishop, amid his real-life cancer battle.

The veteran Aussie actor, 86, appeared in his last episode of the long-running series on Monday night, in a tear-jerking scene as he bid farewell to his beloved Ramsay Street friends.

'Interesting is one word for it, privileged I think is better. I ended up making the best possible friends a man could ever have this has been more than a street to me,' Harold told a full house.

'You've been more than Neighbours. My life has been enriched by every one of you. You are always in my heart. Always.'

The episode saw Harold make the difficult decision to leave Erinsborough for good and move to Port Douglas in Queensland to be with his granddaughter.

Heartbroken fans took to social media to share their sadness over Harold's departure.

Neighbours lost one of its most iconic characters this week after legendary actor Ian Smith appeared in his final episode as Harold Bishop, amid a real-life cancer battle

The veteran Aussie actor appeared in his last episode of the long-series on Monday night, in a tear-jerking scene as he bid farewell to his beloved Ramsay Street friends

'Harold... Ian Smith... the legend. Feels like losing a member of my household seeing you go. It's been a wonderful 40 years. I wish you much happiness and love,' one person wrote.

'Harold's goodbye was perfect. It made me cry. The characters on Neighbours become like family,' a second added.

'Ohhhhh Harold!! What a treasure. An absolute pleasure over all these years watching you,' a third person chipped in.

The character's exit coincides with actor Ian Smith providing a remarkable health update, revealing he's feeling better than ever  despite being diagnosed with terminal cancer just months ago.

The actor, who first appeared as Harold in 1987, was told late last year he had just weeks to live.

But in a miraculous turn of events, the 86-year-old says he feels like he's been 'reborn' following a ground-breaking immunotherapy treatment.

'I was supposed to die in March. I didn't. So I'm here to talk about me dying last month,' Smith said in an emotional interview on The Project.

'I know I've got cancer because doctors keep telling me I have. That's the only way I know. I've got no pain  none of that.'

The actor, who first appeared as Harold in 1987, was told late last year he had just weeks to live. But in a miraculous turn of events, the 86-year-old says he feels like he's been 'reborn' following a ground-breaking immunotherapy treatment

Smith was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of lung cancer called pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma, which doctors initially told him was 'non-fixable'.

But after being put on a revolutionary treatment plan  which he cheekily described as being a 'guinea pig' for  he's defied expectations and is now hoping for 'a year, maybe two' of extra life.

'I want to go forever,' he said, beaming.

'I don't want to play Harold anymore, but I don't want to stop acting.'

And while Harold may have officially bid farewell to Ramsay Street this week, Smith's final scenes had viewers across the country in tears  with his character announcing he was moving to Queensland, in a sentimental send-off that featured a heart-warming flashback montage of fan favourites.

Smith admitted filming those last episodes was deeply emotional, especially surrounded by his co-stars  who he described as nothing short of 'family'.

'I love them all dearly,' he said.

The veteran performer first stepped into Harold's shoes in 1987 and went on to become one of Neighbours' most iconic faces.

He was known for his wholesome charm, slow-burning romances, and multiple disappearances - including being presumed dead after falling off a cliff in 1991  only to return five years later with amnesia.
Netflix has dropped the first trailer for Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story - and viewers have already shared complaints weeks before it even hits screens.

The new documentary series will delve into the lives of Britain's most notorious and prolific pair of serial killers.

Rose was convicted of ten murders, while Fred was charged with 12 but died before facing a trial.

Among their known victims are their eldest daughter Heather, 17, and Fred West's eight-year-old stepdaughter, Charmaine.

Set to air on the popular streaming platform from May 14, the three-part show will feature family members of some of the 12 victims.

For some, it will be the first time they have spoken about the case and opened up on camera about the trauma they experienced.

Netflix has dropped the first trailer for Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story - and viewers have already shared complaints weeks before it even hits screens

The new documentary series will delve into the lives of Britain's most notorious and prolific pair of serial killers

Rose was convicted of ten murders, while Fred was charged with 12 but died before facing a trial

The series will look into exactly how Gloucestershire police officers unearthed the remains of the couple's victims and collect evidence against them.

Directed by Dan Dewsbury, each of the three episodes dives into the different aspects of the case.

The first instalment, called 'Fred', will look specifically at the moment Fred West was taken into custody and questioned about his missing daughter.

While the second, named 'Rose', explores the pair's 'dark, twisted relationship' and how police realised Fred didn't commit the heinous crimes alone.

The third, called 'The Trial', then looks at further evidence that brought Rose further into the case.

Released on Wednesday (April 16), the trailer offers a sneak peak of the documentary series.

The show will feature previously unseen police video footage and audio recordings - providing an even deeper look into the case.

However, some viewers took to the comments of the trailer to express how they felt 'tired' of true crime.

Set to air on the popular streaming platform from May 14, the three-part show will feature family members of some of the 12 victims

The series will look into exactly how Gloucestershire police officers unearthed the remains of the couple's victims and collect evidence against them

Released on Wednesday (April 16), the trailer offers a sneak peak of the documentary series

One penned: 'Anybody else tired of this true crime crap?'

'I have no idea why people enjoy watching sick things like this. Someone please enlighten me how you get joy from watching this?'

'I can just catch the news headlines for a few seconds to know how sick the world is. I dont need to watch a whole doc.'

'Im not knocking it. Each to their own. I just dont understand how people get excitement from watching this.'

'I'll pass.'
A guest on Antiques Roadshow faced an emotional reunion with figures from her past in a BBC first after sharing her story.

In a previous episode of the BBC show which was recently repeated, a guest called Kate brought along her prize possessions from her early childhood to Aston Hall in Birmingham.

She explained how she became a refugee as a young infant during the 'Great Leap Forward' in China between 1958 and 1962 after she was abandoned on a stairwell in Hong Kong.

Kate was then discovered by police officers and taken to a children's home before flying to the UK in 1963.

It was during the flight that Kate was photographed in the arms of an air stewardess and she brought along the precious image, as well as an identity bracelet and the jacket she wore.

'It's an extraordinary story and as I say, these simple items are instantly bestowed with such an enormous power and poignance and it's a privilege to see them and to hear your story,' the Antiques Roadshow expert commented.

In a previous episode of the BBC show, a guest called Kate who brought along her prize possessions from her early childhood to Aston Hall in Birmingham

She explained how she became a refugee as a young infant during the 'Great Leap Forward' in China between 1958 and 1962 after she was abandoned on a stairwell in Hong Kong

When she flew to the UK in 1963, Kate was photographed in the arms of an air stewardess and she brought along the precious image as well as an identity bracelet and the jacket she wore

Then, in a following instalment first aired in 2023, the show revisited the guest, because after the first episode aired, a surprising person got in touch with the programme.

Fiona Bruce revealed during the episode that the two daughters of the kind air stewardess, Helen Childs, had reached out.

Though Helen had sadly passed away, her daughters still came to meet Kate in a touching reunion.

Mandy, one of the daughters, described how they were 'stunned' to recognise their mother on Antiques Roadshow.

She revealed they had a copy of it themselves and hadn't known 'its heritage'.

Mandy added: 'She [Helen] would have been thrilled to see that and to know about Kate.'

Kate said: 'One of the things that is lovely is I now know their mum's name all these years I've just thought, 'Oh, it's the air hostess'.'

Mandy appeared to be tearful as she described how 'brilliant' it was to meet Kate and said: 'We feel like we have a friend'.

The two daughters gave Kate a compact mirror that their mother used when flying and Kate emotionally said: 'I'm really touched actually, I'm really grateful.'

It comes after another Antiques Roadshow guest was stunned into silence after an expert revealed the eye-watering value of her paintings.

Then, in a following instalment aired in 2023, the show revisited the guest because after the first episode air, a surprising link got in touch with the programme

Fiona Bruce revealed during the episode that the two daughters of the kind air stewardess, Helen Childs, had reached out

Though Helen (pictured) had sadly passed away, her daughters still came to meet Kate in a touching reunion

The episode, which originally aired in 2023, saw many antique owners arrive at Ebrington Square in Derry to find out how much their ornaments were worth.

Picture specialist Frances Christie confessed that she was 'really excited' when she realised that the show guest had brought in Norah McGuinness pieces for her to look at.

The guest confessed that she bought them just because she liked the look of them and knew Norah's sister 'very well'.

Frances said: 'I love that you managed to get your hands on two, because Norah, I mean she was a pretty pioneering artist for her time. She was obviously born around here, but spent most of her life in and around Dublin.

'She went to art school in Dublin, then London, then Paris.

'They're both oil on canvas. And when you stand back and you see the bold combinations of colours that she's used in them. Over here, behind the birds, this sort of bright green, with red flashing across the composition.

'And then over to the seagull in this painting, that combination of purple with blue, and then this lovely ochre, sand colour.'

Antiques Roadshow guests stunned into silence as expert reveals eye-watering value of her paintings - while BBC crowd gasp in awe

Picture specialist Frances Christie confessed that she was 'really excited' when she realised that the show guest had brought in Norah McGuinness pieces for her to look at

The episode, which originally aired in 2023, saw many antique owners arrive at Ebrington Square in Derry to find out how much their ornaments were worth

Frances was keen to know if the guest remembered how much she paid for them and how many years ago.

The woman said: 'About 120 for that one, and the price is on the back of that...'

Frances looked on the back of the painting and explained that it said 600 on the back of the frame.

She continued: 'So today at auction, I'd put a value of 8,000 to 12,000 on this one.'

The guest was left lost for words and simply said: 'Wow!'

Antiques Roadshow airs Sundays on BBC One and is available to stream on iPlayer.
It says something about the speed and intensity of the global news cycle that Aimee Lou Wood has in the space of ten days become the most talked about celebrity on the planet.

Woods performance as Chelsea in black comedy drama The White Lotus won her universal acclaim, with viewers falling for the hippie chick who is eternally and delusionally devoted to her older boyfriend, Rick.

Her disappointed reaction to a taster of wine at dinner  I dont mean to complain, but thats not very much  was widely celebrated as an instant classic, and her many disappointed faces have launched a staggering number of memes. Twenty million TikTok videos, and counting, reference Wood and her character Chelsea.

Her distinctive teeth became a talking point, and her refreshing open energy  and habit of talking with absolute sincerity about star signs  was a hit on the chat show circuit, too. She opened up about everything from her previous eating disorders to her belief that she is ugly and her diagnosis with ADHD.

As one colleague said to me this week, shes an intense and dramatic person... in a way which is very Millennial. Not that shes difficult to deal with, Im told. She is simply a drama in her own right, a very sensitive person.

Late on Monday night she was making emotional posts about her reaction to a mean sketch on the US comedy show Saturday Night Live, which referred to her teeth during a skit called The White POTUS (about politicians living inside a version of The White Lotus show). Wood shared how much she appreciated the support of fans in the face of apparent bullying about her appearance. Earlier that day she had been in tears on the street.

What has really turned the interest in the actress into a phenomenon, though, is the unsolved riddle of just what has passed between her and her co-star Walton Goggins, 53, who plays her older White Lotus boyfriend.

Aimee Lou Wood's performance as Chelsea in black comedy drama The White Lotus won her universal acclaim

Having appeared very close on set  of which more later  by the time the last episode went out earlier this month they were no longer following each other on social media.

Around the shows finale, which streamed on April 6, both of them posted dozens of photos, including of them together, on social media.

Goggins farewell to The White Lotus post ran: To me, ours was a love story. It was only ever a love story, hindered by unresolved, childhood trauma. We all have them... but can we move past them. In the depths of our despair there is always beauty around us. If we can sit with our pain, just sit with it... not react... not be defined by it... Its there... the love the world is constantly giving in any given moment is there. Always waiting for us to see it... Trust me I know. Thank you Mike White [the writer and director of The White Lotus] for your imagination, your tender heart, for the privilege of giving us the opportunity to tell it. Thank you Aimee Lou for being my partner... a journey I will never forget.

The soundtrack to this post was the Fleetwood Mac song Silver Springs, written by Stevie Nicks about her tumultuous breakup with band guitarist Lindsey Buckingham.

As soon as he posted it, the internet went wild with completely unsubstantiated theories. Goggins, they ran, was lamenting some kind of complicated situation with his much younger co-star, despite the fact he has been married for years to filmmaker Nadia Conners, 55.

Goggins did not comment on the speculation, but  perhaps spooked by the intensity of the online reaction  later changed the music from Silver Springs to John Lennons Love.

Meanwhile, Aimee Lou posted a black and white photo of her and Goggins on set, under the caption: The perfect storm.

Co-star Walton Goggins, who plays her older boyfriend, posted dozens of photos of them together  soundtracked by Fleetwood Mac song Silver Springs

Another post featured graffiti on a garage door reading: I love you R+C forever  presumably for Rick + Chelsea  and was set to... Fleetwood Macs Silver Springs.

Fuel was added to the gossip swirling around their real-life relationship when Goggins did not attend a cast viewing party along with Wood and the others.

Wood told the Hollywood Reporter on April 7: I was sad that Walton wasnt there because it was something that we did together, but also its so f******g Rick and Chelsea. She added: Like, of course Walton had to watch it alone and of course I had to watch it in the group because there is so much Aimee in Chelsea and so much Walton in Rick.

Rick barely shows any emotion or interest towards Chelsea throughout the series, whereas she is seen as upbeat and free-spirited even in the face of repeated danger.

And the tantalising mystery only deepened when it was noticed that both Wood and Goggins were tagging the rest of the cast in posts, but not tagging each other.

Indeed, by April 10, Goggins appeared to have blocked Wood as her comments on his posts also disappeared.

Then, on Monday, Goggins did something perhaps even stranger. He reacted positively to the SNL White POTUS spoof, with its very specific send-up of Woods teeth, writing: Hahahahahhahaha amazzzingggg.

He also shared the sketch to his Instagram story, describing it as smashing. Both the comment and story were deleted after a few hours, with some speculating that it was removed after Woods feelings were made known. The show has since apologised for the joke.

Wood plays Chelsea, the hippie chick who is eternally and delusionally devoted to her older boyfriend, Rick

Meanwhile there also seems to be some unexplained tension between Goggins wife and his co-star Leslie Bibb, who stars as Kate Bohr, one of three central female characters in a rekindled friendship group. Bibb is married to Goggins best friend, the actor Sam Rockwell  who also guest starred in the series  and Goggins has called her his sister. The two couples have known each other for 15 years.

However, although Bibb currently follows Goggins and Wood on Instagram, she doesnt follow Goggins wife Nadia Conners. Nor does Goggins wife follow Bibb, 51.

In all it seems a painful end to what most of the cast agree was a beautiful experience on the show which has become, by the time of its third series, a genuine cultural phenomenon.

Wood, the breakout star of Sex Education and innocence personified in the film Living, was cast by the shows writer Mike White because she was so perfect for quirky, spiritual Chelsea.

She told an interviewer: Someone told me how much Mike had fought for me. They said: It had to be you, no matter what HBO said. It was honestly from the nicest place, but my little head goes: HBO didnt want me. And I know why HBO didnt want me, its because Im ugly. Mike had to say please let me have the ugly girl! That was the thing that was in my head.

Of course, what White had wanted was her unique combination of beauty and open-hearted naivete and optimistic energy. He had her keep her distinctive Mancunian accent and told Wood that she had a shared essence with Chelsea  basically that the character was her and she was the character.

By contrast, Goggins Rick was miserable and cynical, the yin to her yang on screen. But off it they had a lot of fun.

In an interview before the show went out in February, she said: I had fun with everyone when I was filming The White Lotus. However I am a Scorpio Moon and Leslie Bibb and Walton Goggins are Scorpio Suns so we were the Scorpio three.

There also seems to be some unexplained tension between Goggins' wife, Nadia Conners (pictured) and his co-star Leslie Bibb

We have a group [on Whatsapp] called Jackson Browne because we would just sit and listen to Jackson Browne and drink cocktails and eat fries.

All of the cast have confirmed that there was a party-hard atmosphere after filming as they soaked up the best of what the holiday resorts had to offer  a perk of filming in five-star resorts. Goggins posted pictures of himself and the cast sharing carefree nights dancing and drinking and wrote: We had a F***ing TIME!. In an interview he complained that the Four Seasons in Koh Samui had charged $150 (113) for a humble bottle of prosecco.

He said: Six weeks into filming, I go to pay my bill. Youre telling me Thai-spiced cashews cost that much? I thought I had maybe, like, five. And they said, No, you had 30.

Wood concedes that the atmosphere became claustrophobic at times between the cast and crew  a combination of heat, proximity and partying. She said: It was like nothing Id ever experienced. It did feel like a bit of a social experiment... I had a slow and steady disintegration of my sanity.

Actor Jason Isaacs, 61, who plays White Lotus resort guest Timothy Ratliff, said of the filming: Its a kind of crucible, a five-star gilded cage. Theres no question that sometimes it is absolutely fabulous, and sometimes its Lord of the Flies.

It was a theatre camp, but to some extent an open prison camp: you couldnt avoid one other. There are tensions and difficulties, I dont know if they spilled from on screen to off-screen, or if it would have happened anyway.

There were alliances that formed and broke, romances that formed and broke, friendships that formed and broke. Its a long period of time for people to be away from their family with an open bar and all the wildness being in Thailand allows.

I cant pretend I wasnt involved in some off-screen drama. Dave [producer Dave Bernad] has seen it before, twice, and so has Mike [White]. I cant speak for them, but I imagine they think it feeds into the on-screen drama, and they might well be right.

I think the heat contributed to these fissures appearing. Well all see one other again [for the premiere] and Im sure well be hugging and kissing and remembering it fondly. But there were times when things were not quite so fond.

I was in some ways used to it, but within a couple of weeks my wife [who was with him on set and used to be an actor] went, Some of these people are f***ing mad. I said, No, its just a bunch of actors away on location, love. Youve forgotten what its like.'

Dave Bernad added: People are away from home and, you know, theres a lot of bacchanalian behaviour going on. Im not telling stories out of school. Its just grownups doing whatever we like. Thailand is a place full of parties, and we are not immune.

On August 10 last year, while the cast celebrated the end of filming, Goggins posted the following comment on Woods Instagram: You are the brightest light in every room. A Humans Human. Miss you.

This loving post was completed with two fox emojis  one of a number of times that Goggins referred to his co-star as a fox. Another time he called her a natural born (fox emoji) inside and out.

When the show had its launch in Los Angeles in February, Wood turned up in a custom maroon burgundy Burberry dress, decorated with pictures of foxes. Possibly just a coincidence rather than a reference to her co-stars fond characterisation. But it makes the current state of affairs appear all the odder.

Its not unusual, of course, for intense friendships to blossom on set, only to fall away to nothing once the director has called cut. Reflecting on the experience, Goggins said: We all were invited to this part... and we partied our asses off. It was a collective experience, an individual experience.. an experience of real growth I believe for us all. Certainly it was for me. I think we all lost our minds willingly or otherwise somewhere along the way. I know I did. It was a wild ride.
Poppy Delevingne is due to give birth in May to her first child with boyfriend Archie Keswick  but that hasnt put a stop to her life as a social butterfly.

The actress and model, 38, hosted a brunch yesterday at The Orangery in London to celebrate her collaboration with online fashion brand Nobodys Child.

She was joined by pals including socialite Alice Naylor-Leyland, DJ Lady Mary Charteris and actress Lady Clara Paget, who all could be seen huddling in with her for a selfie.

Actresses Josephine de La Baume and Jaime Winstone also joined in, wearing identical denim jackets, left  all in the name of style, of course.

Poppy Delevingne hosted brunch yesterday at The Orangery in London to celebrate her collaboration with online fashion brand Nobodys Child

Jodie Kidd shudders at the idea of packing her son Indio, 13, off to boarding school.

The 46-year-old modelturned publican boarded at now closed St Michaels School in Petworth, West

Sussex, and reveals: I probably have loads of abandonment issues. You were dropped off and that was it. If Indy wanted to go to boarding school Id be mortified.

Lordy! Emma, 83, to wed

Critics claim the House of Lords is a gilded day centre for octogenarians who snooze through debates.

But theres action beneath the ermine if you know where to look  as Baroness Nicholson demonstrates splendidly. Emma Nicholson, as shes better known, has just become engaged  at 83.

We met at one of the Reform Clubs musical events, Nicholson tells me from Utah, where shes immersed in discussions between her charity, the Amar Foundation, and its US counterpart.

Her fiance is widower Brian Plunkett, a trichologist from Bedfordshire and, at 79, something of a toyboy. We hope to be married by Bishop Alastair Redfern in early September in London, to give our large families time to come together, adds Nicholson, whose first husband died in 1999. We are enormously happy.

Prue Leith seems far from proud to be British.

The South African-born chef and broadcaster, 85, recently visited Turkmenistan, central Asia. Praising its capital, she says: Ashgabat astonished me  a beautiful city. These countries make you ashamed to be British.

Dame Prue, who became a UK citizen in 1995, explains: If you walk around London its absolutely filthy.

Wheres the love, Meghan?

He's known as the godfather of hospitality, but Robert Walton refuses to give With Love, Meghan  the Duchess of Sussexs Netflix lifestyle and cookery series  his blessing.

Theres no love there, he says at the International Restaurateurs 8 Hand Dinner, sponsored by Visit Malta and Neft Vodka, at Londons Rosewood Hotel. Walton, president of the Restaurant Association, is married to fashion designer Donna Ida (pictured at the dinner).

He tells me: We can all make jam, and we can bake some bread  if you are in that position where youve got a $100million Netflix deal, you can make it look very pretty. But it takes people in this field years of grafting to become good, and thats what we should be instilling in the next generation.

The godfather of hospitality Robert Walton refuses to give With Love, Meghan  the Duchess of Sussexs Netflix lifestyle and cookery series  his blessing

Jameela Jamils new career in comedy could be no laughing matter.

Next month, the British actress, 39, who starred in the US TV series The Good Place, is starting a comedy podcast. But she doesnt seem hopeful, saying: This could be a disastrous flop. The odds are not in my favour.
Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick showed signs of 'awkwardness' while promoting their new film, Another Simple Favor, a body language expert has claimed.

Lively, 37, and Kendrick, 39  who are rumored to have a 'secret feud'  posed together at the London special screening of the film on Tuesday, at the Ham Yard Hotel, after an earlier morning photocall at the Corinthia Hotel.

Awkward interactions during their press tour have fueled speculation of a rift between the stars.

Body language expert Judi James exclusively told DailyMail.com that the two actresses 'lack synchronization' as she noted an air of 'awkwardness or self-consciousness' about them along with 'rigid-looking' poses on red carpet events.

Discussing the photos from Tuesday's events, Judi said: 'Blake seems to be investing more when it comes to doing the heavy lifting of looking happy and amiable.'

'It could be the pressure to visually deny rumors of some kind of a rift that is causing their un-relaxed-looking poses, but they're not seeming to project any sense of an easy-going relationship here,' the expert added.

Blake Lively, 37, and Anna Kendrick, 39, showed signs of 'awkwardness' while promoting their new film, Another Simple Favor, on Tuesday, a body language expert has claimed

Lively and Kendrick  who are rumored to have a 'secret feud'  posed together at a photocall at Corinthia Hotel in London (pictured) before attending a screening at the Ham Yard Hotel

According to the expert, when Blake poses alone, she 'goes into preen mode, luxuriating and purring in front of the cameras with some preening hair flicks and some puckered, confident, self-satisfied smiles.'

Referring to Lively's plunging leather tasseled coat, underneath which she was braless, Judi said: 'Her eye expression glows and she works the dramatic leather coat as she soaks up the camera attention.'

Judi noted that posing with a co-star is usually the time to 'have some fun as you're with a colleague you've been working with for months.'

However, that did not appear to be the case for Blake and Anna, though James pointed out that their height differential could be part of the issue.

'Blake and Anna do have a height differential to deal with but there are few signs of relaxed and authentic fun or rapport here.'

She went on to observe that 'their torsos adopt rigid-looking angles with no inward leaning or playful touches or movement.'

'They also seem to lack synchronization. Standing almost face-to face the arms round each other's backs looked self-consciously placed rather than part of a partial hugging ritual.'

Judi further examined how in some photos the stars seem to be chatting 'but with both apparently talking at once, as both their mouths are open.'

Body language expert Judi James exclusively told DailyMail.com that the two actresses 'lack synchronization' as she noted an air of 'awkwardness or self-consciousness' about them along with 'rigid-looking' poses on red carpet events

Judi further examined how in some photos the stars seem to be chatting 'but with both apparently talking at once, as both their mouths are open'

'Blake seems to be investing more when it comes to doing the heavy lifting of looking happy and amiable,' she said

'It could be the pressure to visually deny rumors of some kind of a rift that is causing their un-relaxed-looking poses, but they're not seeming to project any sense of an easy-going relationship here,' the expert added

'In one pose they look as though they are singing opera, with their rigid torsos and the way Anna's mouth is opened wide as though hitting the high note while her eyes are equally wide open in what looks like a stare.'

She said earlier in the day during their morning photocall Blake used 'an eye-smile' as she gazed at Anna and adopted 'an animated hand gesture to signal enthusiastic conversation.'

She concluded that the awkwardness could be caused by the pressure to visually deny rumors of some kind of a rift between them.

Blake went braless in a plunging leather tasseled dress as she beamed while walking out of her hotel to head to the screening.

Anna kept her head down as she strutted out of the building in a glamorous black mesh dress.

The stars are currently promoting the upcoming movie sequel Another Simple Favor.

Earlier in the day, Blake and Anna looked to be in a tense exchange at the Corinthia Hotel as they promoted the new film ahead of its launch on Prime Video on May 1.

Meanwhile fans accused Blake of pulling a 'power move' on Anna by wearing a pair of knee-high Chanel boots that highlighted the height difference between the two stars.

The pair were joined by fellow stars Paul Feig, Laura Fischer and Henry Golding as they posed for photos.

She said earlier in the day during their morning photocall Blake used 'an eye-smile' as she gazed at Anna and adopted 'an animated hand gesture to signal enthusiastic conversation'

'Blake and Anna do have a height differential to deal with but there are few signs of relaxed and authentic fun or rapport here,' she added

Judi noted that posing with a co-star is usually the time to 'have some fun as you're with a colleague you've been working with for months', but Blake and Anna appeared more 'awkward'

The stars are currently promoting the upcoming movie sequel Another Simple Favor

It comes amid swirling rumors of tension between Blake - who has also been locked in a legal battle with It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni - and Anna ahead of the A Simple Favor sequel.

Its South By Southwest premiere last month was overshadowed by controversy including a protestor brandishing a 'Justice for Justin Baldoni, Blake lied' sign and a seemingly icy reunion with Anna.

The pair have reunited for the much-anticipated film, which follows Stephanie Smothers (Anna) and Emily Nelson (Blake) as they 'head to the beautiful island of Capri, Italy, for Emily's extravagant wedding to a rich Italian businessman,' per IMDB.

The leading stars have been hit by rumors of a 'secret feud' after reuniting on set - five years after the original movie came out.

Proving that the PR disaster of It Ends With Us is far from over, a woman was seen wearing a shirt that said 'Blake lied' and holding the opinionated sign, as the star walked the red carpet nearby.

To make matters worse, there were more excruciating moments as Blake's co-star Anna had an awkward response to a question about working with her on the film.

'Oh you know...' Anna cryptically said on the red carpet when asked what it was like to work with Blake again.

There were also no photos of Blake and Anna posing solo together, aside from a picture with their director.

The film's South By Southwest premier last month was overshadowed by controversy including a seemingly icy reunion with co-star Anna

It was previously reported that Anna is less than thrilled that her co-star's legal drama is overshadowing their film, which will begin streaming on Prime Video staring May 1

It was previously reported that Anna is less than thrilled that her co-star's legal drama is overshadowing their film.

Inside the event, the stars were pictured awkwardly standing next to each other, with Anna holding her head down as she listened to the Gossip Girl star speak.

A source told People: 'The comments on Instagram have upset her, especially the ones saying fans are now refusing to watch the movie because they don't want to support Blake.'

They further explained that the Pitch Perfect star is 'not used to being caught up in any drama'.

The timing is a publicity nightmare for the movie, which will no doubt be over shadowed by Blake's ongoing legal drama with her It Ends With Us co-star Baldoni.

Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign against her in a lawsuit filed in December while Baldoni accused Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, 48, and publicist Leslie Sloane of defamation and extortion in a $400 million suit filed in February.

Baldoni has denied the allegations from Lively, while Lively, Reynolds and Sloane have denied the accusations made by Baldoni.

Baldoni's team has also released a website which includes private communications such as text messages that were included in court filings detailing his interactions with the Hollywood power couple over the making of romantic drama.

Blake filed a sexual harassment lawsuit in December against Justin Baldoni, who also co-starred in the hit romantic drama It Ends With Us; they are seen on set in 2024

He claimed in court filings they made efforts made to usurp and undermine his input as the director of It Ends with Us.

After Prime Video released a promotional post for Another Simple Favor on February 5 - a number of commenters implicated that Lively might have tried to assert her influence over director Paul Feig, 62, over that movie, leading the filmmaker to respond to the speculation.

Amid Baldoni's claims that Lively and her inner circle used their considerable clout to commandeer changes to the script - even enlisting Taylor Swift to lean on him at one point - and re-cut the motion picture, a user asked in the comment section, 'Is it Paul Feig's cut or Blake's cut?'

Feig - whose other cinematic credits include 2011's Bridesmaids, 2016's Ghostbusters and 2024's Jackpot! - made clear he had full creative control over the film, replying, 'Its my cut. There is no other cut ... just wanted to clear that up.'
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Nadia Bartel spoke out in defence of Indy Clinton on Tuesday after the mummy blogger was brutally slammed by online trolls for her recent nose job, forcing the influencer to take a short hiatus offline.

The TikTok star, 27, has since made a slow return to her social media accounts, saying she feels 'nervous' about facing her bullies, but it seems she has an ally in a former AFL WAG, 39, who has been in her shoes before.

Nadia found herself the victim of 'disgusting' abuse when she was married to ex-husband AFL great Jimmy Bartel, now she has stepped in to defend 'brave' Indy, begging her critics to have some 'empathy'.

'She has decided to do something to her own body and she was very public with that which I think is very brave... we can all connect with that because it's nice to see someone being so real,' the former WAG said in a TikTok video.

'I can't believe, this is mums and sisters and daughters out there, writing things about her appearance. Please just have a bit of empathy and just really think before you write something like that online.

'If you have something negative to say, you're allowed to have your opinions and say whatever you want, why do we continually have to tear women down? Why can't you keep that opinion to yourself?'

Nadia Bartel spoke out in defence of Indy Clinton on Tuesday, after the mummy blogger was brutally slammed by online trolls for her recent nose job, forcing the influencer to take a short hiatus offline

It comes after controversial influencer Indy returned to the online space after she was relentlessly bullied by followers for the results of her recent rhinoplasty.

The mummy blogger underwent a nose job in March to correct an injury she suffered while surfing in 2020, but soon after she was hit with a 'barrage of hate' which forced her offline.

She returned to TikTok on Wednesday with a candid video blog explaining to her fans she was 'nervous' about coming back online, but was doing so for an important cause.

Her partner Ben Azar kicked off the video as he was seen making coffee using the couple's espresso machine.

'Good morning. Indy is really nervous about being back online because of all the haters out there. Everyone with an opinion that probably shouldn't have one,' he said.

Moments later, Indy came into the frame as she and Ben attempted to wrangle their three childrenNavy, four, Bambi, two, and Soul, 14 monthsfor their morning routine.

'I feel a little bit nervous about being back online because of the barrage of hate,' Indy began, before she was interrupted by one of her young ones dropping something heavy on her foot.

'I'm not fully back online just because of the barrage of hate I've received and I'm just feeling like I'm a bit flat and just not fully back into my groove yet. But I'm back online now.'

It comes after controversial influencer Indy returned to the online space after she was relentlessly bullied by followers for the results of her recent rhinoplasty

Indy went on to film the rest of her blog video as usual, taking her viewers along with her as she prepared to participate in the 2025 Witchery White Shirt campaign to raise awareness for ovarian cancer.

While fans flocked to the comments of the video with overwhelming support, there were a few critics who couldn't help but lash out at the mummy blogger yet againhowever, Indy was more prepared to combat them this time.

'You were way more happier before all this nose s**t. Should of [sic] left it alone,' one person wrote, to which Indy responded: 'Crazy what bullying can do to someone's mental health right?'

'If you live your life online, it's expectedalmost granted [sic] to expect unwanted opinions... I love yas [sic]... just saying,' said another.

'I don't, I live my life offline. Sad, bullying is expected because I have an online profile. If that's your mindset, you should change,' Indy hit back.
They're part of a rare group of celebrities who've defied the curse of doomed Hollywood romances by remaining married for nearly three decades.

And now Barbra Streisand's actor husband James Brolin is revealing the secrets to their long-lasting relationship.

Streisand, 82, and Brolin, 84, tied the knot in 1998 two years after being setup on a blind date.

During a recent appearance on the Today show, the Westworld star credited an essential bedroom item for keeping their marriage alive.

'The best investment we've ever made is our mattress,' he confessed Tuesday, as per PEOPLE. 'And don't misunderstand me. We're both lazy. We love to sleep late.

'We do a lot of our work on the phone, on paper, reading, right next to each other.'

Barbra Streisand 's actor husband James Brolin is revealing the secret to their 30-year relationship; the couple seen in 2019

Brolin also said that he and Streisand's frequent walks together have helped keep them bonded.

'You learn to take a walk. Both of us, not just me! I just think you gotta say, "Okay, take a deep breath, take a walk,"' Brolin told the Today hosts.

'Because animals do the same thing, you know? Humans do it to each other, animals do it to each other.'

This isn't the first time that Brolin has spoke on his and Streisand's 30-year romance.

Back in 2022, he told PEOPLE that 'patience' is key to a successful marriage.

'I think everybody needs to be a negotiator. Everybody needs to have patience and know when to take a walk,' Brolin shared.

Brolin and Streisand were first introduced in July 1996 after being setup on a blind date by mutual pals at a dinner party.

Streisand recounted her and Brolin's first date during a candid interview with W Magazine in 2016.

During a recent appearance on the Today show, the Westworld star credited an essential bedroom item for keeping their marriage alive; the couple seen in 2016

'I met him at a dinner and expected a bearded mountain-man type, and he had cut off all his hair and was clean-shaved. I asked him, "Who screwed up your hair?"' she recalled.

Streisand said that that was the moment that Brolin fell in love with her.

'He later told me that's when he fell in love with me. My fella likes to hear the truth, which is unusual,' the Oscar-winner shared.

She admitted during an appearance on The Tonight Show in 2021 that she was 'so shy' to meet Brolin.

'We were set up as a blind date, and I was so shy that I came into the house and I went downstairs to be with the children and play with them until I had to sit down at the table,' she told host Jimmy Fallon.

The couple made their first public appearance together in November 1996 and later walked the red carpet together at the 69th Academy Awards in March 1997.

Streisand and Brolin tied the knot on July 1, 1998 in the backyard of their home in Los Angeles, according to PEOPLE.

The A-list couple's wedding was a star studded Hollywood event with guests including Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson, Marlon Brando, Quincy Jones, John Travolta and Kelly Preston.

Before finding love again with each other in their 50s, both Brolin and Streisand were not stranger to marriage.

'The best investment we've ever made is our mattress,' he confessed Tuesday. 'And don't misunderstand me. We're both lazy. We love to sleep late. 'We do a lot of our work on the phone, on paper, reading, right next to each other'; the couple seen in 2010

Streisand, 82, and Brolin, 84, tied the knot in 1998 two years after being setup on a blind date; the couple seen in 2018

Brolin was first married to Jane Cameron Agee, with the couple tying the knot 12 days after they first met in 1966.

The couple went on to welcome two sons, actor Josh Brolin, 57, and Jess Brolin, 53, and divorced in 1984.

Jane tragically died in a car accident on February 13, 1995, one day after their son's 27th birthday.

Brolin then tied the knot with Jan Smithers in 1986, after meeting on the set of Batman.

The pair welcomed a daughter Molly, 38, and Jan later filed for divorce in 1995.

His third marriage was to Barbra and took place on July 1, 1998.

Previously, Barbra was married to the Long Goodbye star Elliott Gould in 1963 and welcomed a son, Jason Gould. The couple divorce in 1971.
Famed game show host Wink Martindale, who presided over TV hits such as Tic-Tac-Dough, High Rollers and Gambit, died at 91 on Tuesday at his Rancho Mirage, California home.

Martindale was 'surrounded by family and his beloved wife of 49 years, Sandra Martindale,' his spokesperson said, according to Deadline. The cause of death has not been revealed at this time.

Martindale's legendary career spanned more than seven decades, as he began working with a stint in radio in his Jackson, Tennessee hometown.

His professional contributions also earned him a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 2006 and a Beale Street Note in Memphis in 2024.

Martindale, whose full name was Winston Conrad 'Wink' Martindale, had previously worked as a disk jockey in Memphis.

The TV personality's family said he was involved in the first time Elvis Presley's music was featured on the radio while working at the WHBQ station, Deadline reported.

Famed game show host Wink Martindale, who presided over TV hits such as Tic-Tac-Dough, High Rollers and Gambit, died at 91 on Tuesday at his Rancho Mirage, California home; Pictured 2019

The affable TV star appeared on Tic-Tac-Dough from 19781985; pictured in 1972

'Wink was the last living witness to "Presleymania" and the birth of Rock & Roll,' a press release said.

'He was so nervous about his record being played on the air that he'd gone to the theater,' Martindale remembered about Presleys visit during a Television Academy Foundation interview in 2018.

'They found him sitting there by himself and brought him to the station. Dewey put him in front of a microphone and just started talking to him. So I met Elvis that night. He became my friend and he continued to be my friend until the day he died.'

After hosting mornings at KHJ in Los Angeles, Martindale worked at KRLA (1959), KFWB (1962), KGIL-AM (1968-1971), KKGO-FM/KJQI and KMPC (Gene Autry's station) during 1971-1979 and 1983-1987, KABC (1989), and finally KJQI (1993-1994).

Martindale's early TV roles included hosting Mars Patrol and Teenage Dance Party, which featured Elvis on June 16, 1956.

Martindale's game show career began with NBC's What's This Song? (1964-1965) and included hosting popular programs like Gambit, Tic-Tac-Dough, and Trivial Pursuit.

Besides hosting Headline Chasers, Martindale was also a producer for the show.

'I like people, and you get to meet so many different people in the world of game shows,' he said in an interview with Television Academy Foundation.

'I enjoy finding out what makes people tick. As you play a game, you see why one person is more successful than another. But I just love working with people, and I love talking. I could sit here and talk all day.'

Besides his successful TV career, Martindale was a recording artist, whose 1959 spoken-word hit 'Deck of Cards' charted in the US (No. 7) and UK (No. 5).

Martindale was 'surrounded by family and his beloved wife of 49 years, Sandra Martindale,' his spokesperson said, according to Deadline; Wink and Sandy pictured in 2012

His career spanned more than seven decades, as he began working with a stint in radio in his Jackson, Tennessee hometown; Pictured 2006

Martindale's game show career began with NBC's What's This Song? (1964-1965) and included hosting popular programs like Gambit, Tic-Tac-Dough, and Trivial Pursuit

'I like people, and you get to meet so many different people in the world of game shows. I enjoy finding out what makes people tick,' he previously said in an interview with Television Academy Foundation; pictured in 1997

His legendary career also earned him a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 2006 (pictured) and a Beale Street Note in Memphis in 2024

Martindale is survived by his wife Sandra, sister Geraldine, daughters Lisa, Lyn, and Laura, as well as 'a large extended family'; he and Sandy pictured in 2020

More recently, he appeared on shows like The Bold and the Beautiful, Most Outrageous Game Show Moments, and The Chase.

His alma mater, the University of Memphis, honored him with a Distinguished Alumni Award, and he was among the first inducted into the American TV Game Show Hall of Fame.

Following news of his passing, Ana Martinez, Hollywood Walk of Fame Producer and Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Media Relations, wrote on X: 'Memorial flowers for Walk of Famer Wink Martindale will be placed on his star today at 5 pm at 7018 Hollywood Blvd.'

'The Hollywood community extends its sympathy to the Martindale family. Flowers are placed by Hollywood Chamber of Commerce & sponsored by Hollywood Historic Trust.'

Wink married his second wife, Sandy, in 1975. He was previously married to Madelyn Leech from 1954 until their divorce in 1972. They had four children together.

Throughout his career, Martindale supported many charities and created annual telethons for Cerebral Palsy and St. Jude Childrens Hospital, among others.

Martindale is survived by his wife Sandra, sister Geraldine, daughters Lisa, Lyn, and Laura, as well as 'a large extended family full of grandchildren and great grandchildren, his honorary son Eric and his beloved Chihuahua Dude.'
Blake Lively couldn't wipe the smile off her face as she shared a friendly encounter with fans in London on Tuesday.

The Hollywood actress, 37, is currently promoting her upcoming movie sequel Another Simple Favor with co-star Anna Kendrick.

The pair have hinted at a possible rift after enduring plenty of awkward interactions during their press tour.

Blake proved to be a hit with fans as she took the time out of her busy schedule to sign autographs and take photos.

The blonde beauty looked incredibly glamorous in a glitzy denim blue set and strappy top as she stepped out in her second look of the night.

Blake attempted to shut down drama with Anna as she flashed a huge smile at the London's screening of Another Simple Favor earlier in the night.

Blake Lively, 37, couldn't wipe the smile off her face as she shared a friendly encounter with fans in London on Tuesday

The Hollywood actress is currently promoting her upcoming movie sequel Another Simple Favor with co-star Anna Kendrick

After the pair looked to be in a tense exchange at the Corinthia Hotel in the afternoon, they made sure not to break a smile as they promoted the new film ahead of its launch on Prime Video on May 1.

Blake went braless in a plunging leather tasseled dress while Anna cut a chic figure in a black mesh co-ord.

It comes amid swirling rumours of tension between Blake - who has also been locked in a legal battle with It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni - and Anna ahead of the A Simple Favor sequel.

Its South By Southwest premiere last month was overshadowed by controversy including a protestor brandishing a 'Justice for Justin Baldoni, Blake lied' sign and a seemingly icy reunion with Anna.

Despite the drama, the Gossip Girl star gushed about the event, comparing it to a 'rock concert' on in an Instagram post.

In the caption she wrote: 'Watching @asimplefavor opening night @sxsw felt like a rock concert. Thank you to the very best audience. Texas turns it out.

'Making this movie was already the gift, every element of it. To share it with you all and feel the love returned to us was the best feeling. Thank you for having us Austin.'

In March, Blake was accused of beefing up the crowd at the premiere after she was seen posing for a selfie with Laurie Feig, the wife of Another Simple Favor director Paul.

Blake proved to be a hit with fans as she took the time out of her busy schedule to sign autographs and take photos

The blonde beauty looked incredibly glamorous in a glitzy denim blue set and strappy top as she stepped out in her second look of the night

She looked dazzling in the glitzy denim set

Blake (L) and Anna (R) have hinted at a possible rift after enduring plenty of awkward interactions during their press tour

Blake went braless in a plunging leather tasseled dress while Anna cut a chic figure in a black mesh co-ord

Some of the star's critics became convinced based on photos that Laurie was pretending to be a fan in the crowd, despite being married to the filmmaker.

'Why is the director of Another Simple Favors wife pretending to be a fan in the crowd waiting for Blake on the red carpet to take a selfie?' wrote a YouTuber critical of Blake.

The pair have reunited for the much-anticipated film, which follows Stephanie Smothers (Anna) and Emily Nelson (Blake) as they 'head to the beautiful island of Capri, Italy, for Emily's extravagant wedding to a rich Italian businessman,' per IMDB.

The leading stars have been hit by rumors of a 'secret feud' after reuniting on set - five years after the original movie came out.

'Watch how many PR bots reply that this is normal, internalized misogyny, and why do you care?' the poster added.

The premiere also started off on the wrong foot, as Blake was greeted by a protestor.

Proving that the PR disaster of It Ends With Us is far from over, a woman was seen wearing a shirt that said 'Blake lied' and holding the opinionated sign, as the star walked the red carpet nearby.

To make matters worse, there were more excruciating moments as Blake's co-star Anna had an awkward response to a question about working with her on the film.

'Oh you know...' Anna cryptically said on the red carpet when asked what it was like to work with Blake again.

The film's South By Southwest premier last month was overshadowed by controversy including a seemingly icy reunion with co-star Anna

There were also no photos of Blake and Anna posing solo together, aside from a picture with their director.

It was previously reported that Anna is less than thrilled that her co-star's legal drama is overshadowing their film.

Inside the event, the stars were pictured awkwardly standing next to each other, with Anna holding her head down as she listened to the Gossip Girl star speak.

Blake excitedly recounted the filming of the movie in Capri, Italy, as her colleague stood by and only glanced over once in a video shared by Variety.

While talking to Variety, Anna shared a vague response when questioned about how the movie has been affected by 'everything going on in the world.'

'Why, what happened? I did ayahuasca and the last year of my life is just gone,' the star replied, referencing to the plant-based psychedelic.

The actress then continued, 'But I've heard the movie is amazing,' before walking away.

Blake and Anna were also seen on the red carpet together in March, but director Paul Feig noticeably stood in between the pair for the photos.

Last month, Blake was also accused of beefing up the crowd at the premiere after she was seen posing for a selfie with Laurie Feig, the wife of Another Simple Favor director Paul

It was previously reported that Anna is less than thrilled that her co-star's legal drama is overshadowing their film

The filmmaker reflected on working with the stars once again following the 2018 film A Simple Favor and gushed to People that it was 'too much fun.'

Meanwhile a fan asked the Gossip Girl star: 'Blake, what does it mean to be back with Anna?'

'Oh, it's the best! I'm so happy,' she gushed before being guided to take additional photos during the festivities.

A source told People last month: 'The comments on Instagram have upset her, especially the ones saying fans are now refusing to watch the movie because they don't want to support Blake.'

They further explained that the Pitch Perfect star is 'not used to being caught up in any drama'.

However another insider shared: 'The film is in the early stages of planning what press will look like, and Blake and Anna will be doing some things together.'

A separate source explained to DailyMail.com: 'These movies are basically all Anna and Blake have in common. They have a working relationship, by no means a close friendship or bond.

'Last-minute talks are underway with execs as Anna would prefer to distance herself from Blake going forward.'

It comes a month after the two stars continued to keep their distance while promoting their sequel Another Simple Favor during the SXSW Film Festival in Austin

A separate source explained to DailyMail.com, 'These movies are basically all Anna and Blake have in common. They have a working relationship, by no means a close friendship or bond' (pictured: the duo in 2018)

The insider added: 'It was originally planned that the two would do much of the promotion together. That's what the studio requested, and Anna and Blake agreed to it. But Anna could go it alone over fears she will get caught up in the drama.'

Anna and Blake are also rumored to have clashed over their billing on the sequel and Blake failing to address the effect of her lawsuit on the movie.

In regards to the position of their names when it came to the billing, another source shared, 'In the original film Anna got top billing over Blake. She thought it was a no-brainer that the same would happen this time around. But Blake didn't see it that way.

'She fought, through her reps to get top billing over Anna, who refused to bow to Blake's demands. Finally, after weeks of negotiations a deal was struck between the actresses.

'They agreed on staggered billing, which meant Anna's name would read first and Blake's would be above hers but on the right-hand side. In the business that's considered equal billing,' the source explained.

Meanwhile, Blake is continuing to slam It Ends With Us director Justin, 41, amid their raging legal war.

The pair have been locked in a court battle since December 2024 after she accused him of sexual harassment and launching a 'smear campaign' against her.

He responded by filing a $400million defamation lawsuit against Blake, her husband Ryan Reynolds, 48, and her longtime publicist Leslie Sloane.

Blake filed a sexual harassment lawsuit in December against Justin Baldoni, who also co-starred in the hit romantic drama It Ends With Us

Justin also filed a $250m libel lawsuit against the New York Times for its reporting on Blake's claims. All parties have denied the allegations against them.

And as Blake and Ryan attempt to get Justin's 'retaliatory' lawsuit thrown out, the actress' legal team is hurling more accusations the 41-year-old actor's way.

On Thursday, the star accused Justin and his legal team of using 'scorched earth litigation' tactics to silence sexual harassment accusers.

In a statement to Us Weekly, Blake's lawyers claimed that Justin is trying to 'tear down' California laws that were put in place to protect victims from being sued 'into oblivion' by their perpetrators.

'Mr. Baldoni has gone from monetizing a brand devoted to believing and supporting women, to leading the charge to tear down the very law that protects women who come forward about sexual assault, harassment and discrimination,' Blake's team's statement began.

'California's sexual harassment privilege, AB 933, was enacted to stop perpetrators of sexual harassment from abusing defamation lawsuits to sue their accusers into oblivion.'

Team Blake continued: 'The chilling message scorched earth litigation sends to victims is stay silent or be destroyed.'

Her attorneys then went on to mention the 'reply brief' that they filed Thursday on Blake's behalf as part of her ongoing attempt to have Justin's lawsuit dismissed.

'As demonstrated in the reply brief Ms. Lively filed today, the Wayfarer Parties' attempt to slap Ms. Lively with a retaliatory lawsuit for her decision to speak out against the sexual harassment she experienced on set has not only failed miserably but exposes them to substantial economic damages,' the statement continued.

The pair have been locked in a court battle since December 2024 after she accused him of sexual harassment and launching a 'smear campaign' against her

'Ms. Lively will continue to show all victims that they are not alone, that they do not have to stay silent, and that the law is on their side.'

According to Thursday's reply brief, which was also obtained by Us Weekly, Blake's lawyers stated that Justin and the 'Wayfarer Parties have tied themselves in knots trying to state a defamation claim against Ms. Lively that is not barred by the statute of limitations or wholly contained within her Legal Complaints, which they concede cannot form the basis of any actionable claims.'

Blake's latest statement came just days after insiders exclusively told DailyMail.com that she is now privately struggling with creeping 'regret' over her legal war with Justin.

Justin accused Blake of staging a PR stunt against him which he claimed was 'designed to ruin the reputations and careers of the Wayfarer parties' after she filed to dismiss his $400 million lawsuit on March 20.

In his recent filing, Justin stated he was 'exercising' his First Amendment right 'to petition the court to clear their names from her false and harmful claims.'

Blake's attorneys Mike Gottlieb and Esra Hudson told TMZ last Friday: 'That's right: Justin Baldoni, the man who has built his brand on supposedly speaking up for victims, believes that the First Amendment rights of victims of sexual assault and harassment to speak out should give way to the rights of perpetrators to sue their victims "into oblivion."'

Her legal team further stated that Justin and his lawyer Bryan Freedman are trying to 'shed' a law that protects victims and also prevents others from speaking out in the future.

In response, Freedman told DailyMail.com: 'This convoluted statement makes it abundantly clear that Ms. Lively and team are rattled and once again resorting to making inflammatory remarks to steer focus away from the actual facts.

'Clearly they want to divert the public's attention from the receipts, the actual documents, video footage and additional evidence shown that make it irrefutable that there was no sexual harassment.'

Freedman added it is 'surprising that Ms. Lively and her team are suddenly speaking so passionately about the hard won rights of the survivor community, considering she sidestepped this topic for the entirety of the film campaign...

'Focusing instead on her hair care and alcohol products which at that time caused the organic backlash that she received. She does not need discovery to find out who smeared her. Just a mirror will do.'

Justin's attorney also recently told TMZ, 'Ms. Lively and her circle of Hollywood elites cannot prevent my clients from exercising their constitutional right to petition the court to clear their names from her false and harmful claims.'
Comedian Sarah Sherman has come under fire following her cruel impression of Aimee Lou Wood in a Saturday Night Live sketch, which mocked the actress' teeth.

Fans of the 31-year-old English actress, who most recently starred in the third season of HBO's hit series The White Lotus, have flooded her social media accounts to call out how she portrayed Wood.

'Mocking Aimees appearance is honestly so gross. Youre personally attacking her and not her characters,' one angry Instagram user wrote under one of Sherman's posts.

Another wrote: 'Mocking a womans appearance? Do better.'

'Will Aimee be getting an apology for your really unfunny impersonation?' A third asked.

A fourth accused Sherman of not being a 'a girl's girl' for participating in bodyshaming in 2025.

Comedian Sarah Sherman has come under fire following her cruel impression of Aimee Lou Wood in a Saturday Night Live sketch, which mocked the actress' teeth

'That Aimee Lou bit was a rare miss. Pointlessly cruel. We expect better,' a fifth chimed in.

In response to the comment, one Instagram user stepped in to defend Sherman as he reminded others that while it was in 'bad taste' it wasn't just 'Sarahs choice.'

'There are writers and producers to consider as well. And for Sarahs responsibility, Aimee literally posted that apologies were made and she has no hard feelings towards Sarah. So lets bring a little peace to the comment section, please,' he continued.

On Sunday night, The White Lotus star shared a series of posts condemning the sketch show after Sherman wore huge prosthetic teeth while parodying Aimee.

In response to being mocked on the show, the Sex Education star took to her Instagram Story to slam SNL and address rumours about HBO.

After the actress went viral for her takedown of the 'mean and unfunny' skit, she claimed that SNL had reached out to extend an olive branch.

Alongside a selfie distorted to make her eyes and mouth larger, she penned: 'I've had apologies from SNL'.

In the sketch, named The White Potus, it imagined the Trump family and various political figures on holiday at the famous retreat.

Fans of the 31-year-old English actress, who most recently starred in the third season of HBO's hit series The White Lotus, have flooded her social media accounts to call out how she portrayed Wood

'Mocking Aimees appearance is honestly so gross. Youre personally attacking her and not her characters,' one angry Instagram user wrote under one of Sherman's posts

Walton Goggins' character Rick was reimagined as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. who was seen on a rambling rant debating they take 'all the fluoride out of the water'.

The camera then cut to Aimee's character Chelsea - played by Sarah - with exaggerated buck teeth, who exclaimed: 'Fluoride? What's that?'

In response, Aimee took aim at the 'cheap' joke, as she wrote: 'Such a shame cuz I had such a great time watching it a couple weeks ago. Yes, take the p**s for sure - that's what the show is about- but there must be a cleverer, more nuanced, less cheap way?'

She also shared messages of support from her followers and sister Emily, admitting she'd received 'thousands' of messages backing her up.

Aimee continued: 'Last thing I'll say on the matter. I am not thin skinned. I actually love being taken the p**s out of when it's clever and in good spirits. But the joke was about fluoride. I have big gap teeth not bad teeth.

'I don't mind caricature - I understand that's what SNL is. But the rest of the skit was punching up and I/ Chelsea was the only one punched down On... Okay end of.'

To conclude, she shared a comment from a fan that read: 'It was a sharp and funny skit until it suddenly took a screeching turn into 1970's misogyny', she added: 'This sums up my view'.

Earlier in the day, Aimee shared more thoughts on the matter, admitting: 'Whilst in honest mode - I did find the SNL thing mean and unfunny,' she told her followers.

After noting she was feeling 'righteous' but 'might delete' her post later, fans encouraged her not to remove it.

'Don't delete it, one comment read. 'It was mean and unfunny and saying it out loud removes their power.

After the actress went viral for her takedown of the 'mean and unfunny' skit, she claimed that SNL had reached out to extend an olive branch

'You're unreal in every way, I have a big gap in my teeth and an overbite and you've genuinely made me feel so much better about myself.

'I was going to spend thousands on fixing it all which I'm not doing now because I look at you and think how gorgeous you look so why not try and apply that logic to myself,' they concluded.

Another commenter wrote, 'I agree- everyone else in that parody was a political figure who was being mocked.

'The only character who wasn't political was Chelsea, and they were clearly just taking the piss out of your appearance/accent, which is extremely c***y and uncalled for.'

Earlier, she clarified that 'nobody at HBO called' her 'ugly.'

'That was my own paranoid thought' she explained, referring to a recent interview, which she says was misconstrued.

The star continued: 'Nobody at HBO would say that. My point in the article was about how our mind plays tricks on us. Please read carefully before getting angry for me.'

'So to conclude today's rant: @hbo - kind and supportive and never wronged me so leave them alone. @nbcsnl - mean.'

MailOnline has contacted NBC for comment.

She insisted HBO had been 'super supportive' but she was suffering from 'imposter syndrome'

In a recent interview with British GQ, Aimee explained that White Lotus creator Mike White had to 'fight' to cast her, which made her feel insecure.

She continued: 'When someone (not a producer) told me Mike fought for me it was said in a nice way.

'I just spiraled about it because of my own imposter syndrome. That was my point. Just really wanted to clear that up because hbo have been nothing but super supportive.

In the GQ article, Aimee dove into the insecurity, saying, 'My little head goes: "HBO didnt want me. And I know why HBO didnt want me, its because Im ugly."'

'Mike had to say, "Please let me have the ugly girl!" That was the thing that was in my head,' she continued.

Elsewhere in the interview, Aimee spoke about the interest in her natural overbite and gapped buck teeth, which she worried had progressed to the point that it was stealing attention from her performance.

She worried that her teeth were now seen by some White Lotus fans as something 'goofy' that she hadn't yet had 'fixed.'

'It makes me really happy that its symbolizing rebellion and freedom, but theres a limit,' she said.

Alongside a selfie distorted to make her eyes and mouth larger, she penned: 'I've had apologies from SNL'

In the sketch, named The White Potus, it imagined the Trump family and various political figures on holiday at the famous retreat

'The whole conversation is just about my teeth, and it makes me a bit sad because I'm not getting to talk about my work.

'They think its nice because theyre not criticizing,' she said of those focused on her smile, before pausing and suggesting that the whole discussion might be tied in with sexism.

'And, I have to go there I dont know if it was a man would we be talking about it this much? Its still going on about a womans appearance,' she added.

Aimee has been praised online for leaving her buck teeth natural, instead of caving into the artificial beauty standards of Hollywood.

During an appearance on The Jonathan Ross Show, the actress marveled: 'I cant believe the impact my teeth are having. Americans cant get over them.

'Even the way White Lotus fans are talking about me and my teeth  that I dont have veneers or Botox  it feels a bit rebellious.'
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It appears that, when it comes to home renovation, Andy Lee likes to take the hands-on approach.

The funnyman, 43, is currently restoring a 150-year-old derelict mansion by the Yarra River in Hawthorn, Melbourne with fiancee Rebecca Harding.

As the protracted build continues, Andy took to Instagram this week to show a clip of him operating a large crane.

Perched atop the crane, high above the treetops, workers on the build stood precariously in a large metal cage as they left their fate to Andy's skill with heavy machinery.

It was a fact not lost on Andy either who said, 'This is incredible,' laughing, as he sat in the machine's cabin.

'Gosh, I've got five people in my hands up there. It's a powerful thing,' Andy added as he cast his eyes skyward.

Andy Lee took to Instagram this week to show a clip of him operating a large crane

The clip then cut to the cage and a rather nervous worker could be seen clinging onto the rails.

'How do you feel about your boss sending you 40-50 metres into the air,' another worker asked off-camera.

The nervous staff member was not shy with her reply either, admitting she did not have much faith in Andy's hand-eye coordination.

'So bad,' she replied through gritted teeth. 'I feel spectacularly bad about it.'

The clip then cut back to Andy in the cabin who admitted that he was more nervous manipulating the cage than he was when standing in it himself.

'The heart rate is going more than when I was up there,' he laughed.

Thankfully, Andy's worksite tomfoolery appeared to occur without major incident.

Captioning the humorous clip, Andy hinted that his presence own-site may be a reason why the build is not yet finished.

Perched atop the crane, high above the treetops, workers on the build stood precariously in a large metal cage as they left their fate to Andy's skill with heavy machinery

It was a fact not lost on Andy either who said, 'This is incredible,' laughing, as he sat in the machine's cabin

'All my years playing skill testers in shopping malls have prepared me for this moment,' he joked.

'People have asked why the build is taking so long, I can assure you we only have time on site for the essentials.'

Fans were quick to comment on the clip with many taking umbrage with Andy's apparent unsafe work practices.

'WorkSafe enters the chat,' one fan said, referring to the government body that focuses on workplace health and safety.

Another suggested that there was no issue, offering; 'Under very strong supervision. Nothing to see here.'

However, others were quick to argue that similar leeway would not be extended to 'everyday' un-ticketed individuals.

'Could you imagine if any other homeowner said, Hey let me operate your crane even though I havent got my tickets must be nice,' one follower said.

Another chimed in with their own experience, adding: 'I got spear tackled for putting a string line up when my fencing guy was here the other day. Imagine fanging around on a crane.'

'WorkSafe enters the chat,' one fan said, referring to the government body that focuses on workplace health and safety

Another chimed in with their own experience, adding: 'I got spear tackled for putting a string line up when my fencing guy was here the other day. Imagine fanging around on a crane'

The funnyman, 43, is currently restoring a 150-year-old derelict mansion by the Yarra River in Hawthorn, Melbourne with fiancee Rebecca Harding

Andy and Rebecca have grand plans for their Italianate manor, with the planned renovation worth an estimated $5million having begun in 2023.

The comedian has been hard at work on the derelict Melbourne mansion, called Ravenswood, he bought in 2021, in a Block-style rebuild.

The couple won council approval for their development application back in June 2023.

Plans for the site include adding a second building which will be connected by a tunnel to the original Italianate mansion, which was built around 1876.

Other highlights planned for the 1950square metre holding include a home theatre, a gym, a swimming pool and a 'mega bedroom'.

In a statement to the Herald Sun, Boroondara Council confirmed it had issued a notice of decision to grant a planning permit for the Yarra Grove address.

One neighbour told the Sydney Morning Herald in December that the construction cacophony had caused the couple to lose 'a lot of community goodwill'.

'The noise is just horrendous,' the disgruntled neighbour told the publication.

'Some residents just leave  they go away for a week at a time and come back on the weekend.'

The publication also reported that residents are angry over construction noise that had continued for 26 weeks.

The noise was due to piling reinforced steel pillars and it was also reported that dust from 'constant' rock breaking, had coated the solar panels on nearby houses.
Katy Perry's music experienced a slight boost this week despite the criticism she's received for being a glorified space tourist whose 11-minute 'joyride for the super-rich' on Monday left a significant carbon footprint here on planet Earth.

The 40-year-old pop star's 2011 hit Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) just landed the No. #142 spot with 1.4M total streams on the Global Spotify chart - according to Pop Base's X account.

Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) - produced by Dr. Luke and Max Martin - marked Katy's sixth number-one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 when it was originally released.

Marc Klasfeld's eight-minute music video featured cameos from Corey Feldman, Debbie Gibson, Darren Criss, Rebecca Black, Kenny G, Hanson, and Kevin McHale.

Perry - who's amassed 115B streams in her 24-year career - averages 60.5M monthly listeners on the popular, subscription-only Swedish music-streaming platform.

The 13-time Grammy nominee is 'still processing this incredible journey' on Blue Origin's New Shepard NS-31 mission during which she experienced three-four minutes of weightlessness at the Karman line (62 miles above Earth).

Katy Perry's music experienced a slight boost this week despite the criticism she's received for being a glorified space tourist whose 11-minute 'joyride for the super-rich' on Monday left a significant carbon footprint here on planet Earth

The six-person all-female crew also included NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, bioastronautics research scientist Amanda Nguyen, CBS Mornings host Gayle King, film producer Kerianne Flynn, and Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos' fiancee Lauren Sanchez.

Blue Origin spokesperson Bill Kircos told CNN on Monday that 'some passengers' flew 'free of charge' while others shelled out the refundable deposit of $150K normally required to start the process of reserving a seat.

Katy (born Katheryn Hudson) was supported on the ground in West Texas by her fiance of six years, Orlando Bloom, and their four-year-old daughter Daisy Dove Bloom making her public debut.

'My mama!' the cherubic child - sporting a NASA suit - exclaimed as she watched Perry ascend toward space at more than three times the speed of sound.

'Daisy is her life, and she is so protective of her but it was time to introduce her to the world,' an insider exclusively told DailyMail.com.

'This was the perfect way to let the world see her.'

The source continued: 'They had to acknowledge that something could go wrong. If it did, Daisy would have been traumatized. Ultimately, Jeff was able to convince them that the risk was incredibly low.'

The former American Idol judge told reporters on Monday: 'I'm full up from being able to get that gift of being a mom and go to space is incredible and I wanted to model courage and worthiness and fearlessness.'

Katy is next scheduled to kick off her 84-date The Lifetimes Tour with a three-night stand at Arena CDMX in Mexico City spanning April 23, 25, and 26.

The 40-year-old pop star's 2011 hit Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) just landed the No. #142 spot with 1.4M total streams on the Global Spotify chart

Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) - produced by Dr. Luke and Max Martin - marked Katy's sixth number-one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 when it was originally released

Marc Klasfeld's eight-minute music video featured cameos from Corey Feldman, Debbie Gibson, Darren Criss, Rebecca Black, Kenny G, Hanson, and Kevin McHale

Perry - who's amassed 115B streams in her 24-year career - averages 60.5M monthly listeners on the popular, subscription-only Swedish music-streaming platform

The 13-time Grammy nominee is 'still processing this incredible journey' on Blue Origin's New Shepard NS-31 mission during which she experienced three-four minutes of weightlessness at the Karman line (62 miles above Earth)

The six-person all-female crew also included (from L-R) Kerianne Flynn, Lauren Sanchez, Amanda Nguyen, Aisha Bowe, and Gayle King

Blue Origin spokesperson Bill Kircos told CNN on Monday that 'some passengers' flew 'free of charge' while others shelled out the refundable deposit of $150K normally required to start the process of reserving a seat

Katy was supported on the ground in West Texas by her fiance of six years, Orlando Bloom (L), and their four-year-old daughter Daisy Dove Bloom (R) making her public debut

'My mama!' the cherubic child - sporting a NASA suit - exclaimed as she watched Perry ascend toward space at more than three times the speed of sound

The former American Idol judge is next scheduled to kick off her 84-date The Lifetimes Tour with a three-night stand at Arena CDMX in Mexico City spanning April 23, 25, and 26 (pictured April 5)

'I last toured in 2017 and now I have a four-year-old [daughter Daisy Dove Bloom], so this time will be a bit different,' Perry said on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in January.

'It will be [her first time around the world]. She's not going to go everywhere! But what I've decided is... I used to start my shows around 9/9:15 maybe a little bit 9:30 and I was a punisher!

'I'm going to start these shows at 8:30 cause I now understand that bedtime takes over an hour-and-a-half. I'm going to be considering all mothers around the world and fathers too.'

It marks the Kamala Harris supporter's first tour in seven years in support of her dismally-reviewed seventh studio album 143 featuring the tone-deaf feminist anthem, Woman's World.

Katy was reportedly contractually-obliged to work with producer Dr. Luke, whose nine-year legal battle against Kesha involved sexual assault allegations (which he denied).
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Elizabeth Sobinoff has revealed she is all but moments away from giving birth to her second child this week.

The former Married At First Sight star, 34, who also shares a 17-month-old baby girl with her husband Alex Vega, told her Instagram followers on Tuesday she was 'dilated' but 'still waiting' for her newborn boy to come.

She assured fans she is 'not overdue' and the pregnancy is progressing in a healthy manner, adding she was being 'monitored closely' by her doctors.

'Still waiting. I'm not overdue,' the ex-reality TV star wrote alongside a gallery of images as she flaunted her huge baby bump.

'Baby boy is measuring very big for where he should be (which is amazing and everything we wanted because I actually had to be monitored closely because he could of potentially been growth restricted) and I'm dilated.

'He's given me some trouble this pregnancy so I'm very excited to meet him soon! I had been speaking to some people who had no idea how difficult it has been because I post a lot of glam fun pictures.'

Elizabeth Sobinoff, 34, has revealed she is all but moments away from giving birth to her second child this week

'Broken record here, but please remember there is a life beyond social media. Thank you so much for all the well wishes I've been receiving,' she continued.

It comes after Elizabeth gave her fans another pregnancy update just a few weeks ago.

The soon-to-be mother-of-two took to Instagram late last month to show off her baby bump while also lamenting on the often harsh reality of pregnancy.

'I got dressed up to get Easter chocolate for the family and a frappe,' she captioned the post, before adding: 'I walked for 10 min and started cramping.

'I wanted to feel remotely good,' she said in the caption, along with a snap of her wearing a pink floral frock and a full face of makeup.

The reality star went on to say she knew it would be 'all worth it' in the end.

'Hormones you are MEAN,' she wrote, adding: 'That sliding door of excitement and joy but emotional energy sucking the life out of me.'

She posted a number of snaps in the photo dump, including a few selfies and some snaps with her daughter, whom she welcomed with her husband Alex in November 2023.

The former Married At First Sight star who also shares a 17-month-old baby girl with her husband Alex Vega, told her Instagram followers on Tuesday she was ' dilated' but 'still waiting' for her newborn boy to come

She assured fans she is 'not overdue' and the pregnancy is progressing in a healthy manner, adding she was being 'monitored closely' by her doctors

Elizabeth also recently revealed a debilitating health condition she suffered during her second pregnancy.

After first believing the problem was conjunctivitis, she said she was alarmed to learn from doctors her eyelid was infected by cold sores.

In her accompanying caption of the Instagram post, she said the condition could lead to serious issues.

'The beginning of last week started off with knowing I was rundown but I was powering through,' she said in the post.

'Then as the week progressed, my eye swelled shut and I thought "conjunctivitis" which I don't think I've ever had before.

'[A] doctor's appointment and a swab later, I have cold sores in my eyelid and what looks to be a secondary infection, the swab didn't indicate conjunctivitis. Antibiotics and antivirals and rest is what I need.'

Elizabeth announced her pregnancy in January.

The former MAFS bride, who appeared in seasons six and seven of the hit Australian series, is expecting a baby boy any day now.
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A controversial celebrity chef is making his long-awaited return to MasterChef Australia.

Channel 10 announced on Tuesday that Gordon Ramsay, 58, will be appearing as a guest judge on the new season's Back to Win competition which is set to premiere on April 28.

The notoriously hot-tempered Ramsay will be joined in the kitchen by regular judges Andy Allen, Sofia Levin, Poh Ling Yeow and Jean-Christophe Novelli.

Ramsay last appeared on the hit cooking competition in 2018.

This season sees 24 past contestants come back to win the MasterChef trophy and $250,000 in prize money.

Among the cast are MasterChef fan favourites, including season one's Andre Ursini, Sarah Todd from 2022's season 14 and Tim Bone from season 11.

Controversial celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay is making his long awaited return to MasterChef Australia. Pictured: Gordon Ramsay in a scene from his show Kitchen Nightmares

The 58-year-old food guru with be appearing as a guest judge on the new season's Back to Win competition which drops April 28. He last appeard on the hit cooking competition in 2018. (Gordon Ramsay is pictured with Andy Allen, Poh Ling Yeow and Jock Zonfrillo)

Also among the contestants is season 6 runner-up Laura Sharrad.

Andre Ursini, who made his TV debut in 2009 as a contestant on MasterChef Australia, recently announced his return to the show.

The 44-year-old chef and restaurateur posted the news on his Instagram, along with a fresh trailer for the Back To Win season.

The preview features the dramatic moment he was booted off the show in season one.

'I got eliminated on a Sri Lankan curry taste test,' the Adelaide-based chef says in the voice over.

Also included is new footage of a now bearded Andre working on a recipe.

'I haven't been in the MasterChef kitchen for about 16 years...bloody long time,' he continues.

'I'm back, time to start cooking again.'

This year sees 24 past contestants come back to try out for the MasterChef trophy and $250,000 in prize money including season 1's Andre Ursini (pictured)

He also teased his hopes for the new season.

'I've ticked all my food creative goals, my work goals, my life goals,' he said.

'But I've never held that [MasterChef] trophy.'

The former reality star has opened several notable eateries in South Australia, including the award-winning Andre's Cucina & Polenta Bar in Adelaide, ORSO, Villetta Porcini, Lost Phoenix Farm and Willmotts Gastronomia.

It comes after Ramsay opened four new establishments in his home base of London in February.

The TV chef expanded his culinary empire in the form of the 120-seat Lucky Cat on level 60 at 22 Bishopsgate, the tallest building in the City of London.

Additionally, he has also launched Restaurant Gordon Ramsay High, the Gordon Ramsay Academy, and Lucky Cat Bar in the building.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs' legal team has expanded by one.

Brian Steel, an Atlanta-based attorney who has past represented musical artist Young Thug, is the latest heavy hitter to provide his services to the embattled music mogul in his upcoming sex trafficking trial.

Steel submit paperwork to the United States District Court in the Southern of New York Tuesday indicating his intent 'to appear as counsel' for the Grammy-winning artist when the trial kicks off in three weeks.

'I am a member in good standing of the Bar of the State of Georgia and there are no pending disciplinary proceedings against me in any state or federal court,' Steel told the court in a document reviewed by Dailymail.com. 'I have never been convicted of a felony.

'I have never been disbarred or denied admission or readmission by any court. I have been administratively suspended (then reinstated) and censured (but then vindicated) by courts and provide the facts and circumstances surrounding those instances in the attached the affidavit pursuant to Local Rule 1.3.'

Dailymail.com has reached out to Diddy's legal team and Steel for further comment on his joining the team.

The legal team repping Sean 'Diddy' Combs (pictured 2018 in NYC) has expanded by one

Brian Steel, an Atlanta-based attorney who has past represented musical artist Young Thug, is the latest heavy hitter to provide his services to the embattled music mogul in his upcoming sex trafficking trial

In a bio page on his website, Steel says he 'has tirelessly defended those accused of criminal misconduct since 1991.

The lawyer said he 'has built a national criminal defense practice in state and federal courts based on exhaustive preparation, creative and novel motions, skillful appellate advocacy and zealous courtroom showdowns' - all traits that will serve him well in the upcoming Combs trial.

Steel has made appearance in courts in both his native Georgia as well as states including California, Florida, Missouri, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Michigan, New Jersey and Oregon.

He was praised by his colleague Douglas Weinstein to Rolling Stone as 'a legend' as 'his insights, tenacity and character will be a phenomenal addition to Mr. Combs team.'

Combs has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking charges after his September arrest.

He has remained incarcerated at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn awaiting a May 5 trial, after he was refused bail on multiple occasions.

Prosecutors in Combs' federal case say the music mogul used blackmail and violence in his efforts to silence victims.

Among the claims made against the entertainer is that he persuaded women to participate against their will in group sexual exhibitions referred to as 'Freak Offs.'

Combs (pictured in LA on March 7, 2016) has denied all of the allegations against him

Combs pictured with ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in March of 2016 in LA

Prior to his arrest, Diddy was in the headlines for much of 2024 year after video of him assaulting his ex-girlfriend Cassie surfaced on CNN in May

The Can't Nobody Hold Me Down performer remains in federal custody nearly five months after his September 16 arrest in Manhattan in connection with sex trafficking and racketeering charges.

Combs, who is also charged with transportation to engage in prostitution, has made a trio of attempts in vain to be granted bail, amid concerns from the court he would attempt to flee or tamper with his case.

Prior to his arrest he was in the headlines for much of 2024 year after raids on multiple properties in March; and video of him assaulting Cassie surfacing on CNN in May.

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline can be reacted at 800.656.HOPE (4673) and Hotline.RAINN.org and en Espanol RAINN.org/es.
Rebel Wilson has reunited with her Pitch Perfect co-stars Anna Kendrick and Chrissie Fit.

The Bridesmaids star, 45, recently shared a gallery of photos to social media which captured her posing up a storm on a London street with her famous friends.

The Sydney-born actor cut a casual figure in a cream jumper and jeans.

Meanwhile, both Anna, 39, and Chrissie, 34, exuded style and sophistication in chic all-black outfits.

Rebel appeared in all three Pitch Perfect movies alongside Anna from 2012 - 2017, while Chrissie appeared in parts two and three.

Rebel captioned the gallery: 'Yes Bellas! While London sleeps we roam the streets singing in perfect harmony #bellas4life.'

Rebel Wilson has reunited with her Pitch Perfect co-stars Anna Kendrick and Chrissie Fit

Meanwhile, Chrissie took to the comment section with her own praise.

'I love us!!! What a magical movie moment, but in real life!' she wrote.

'We need another Pitch Perfect! You all look great,' a second person added.

The reunion marked a special moment for fans of the franchise, who have eagerly followed the careers of its stars since the original film's debut.

Known for their infectious music, humour, and heartwarming camaraderie, the Pitch Perfect movies continue to resonate with fans worldwide.

Rebel's presence alongside Kendrick and Fit served as a reminder of the trilogies undeniable charm and enduring popularity.

It comes after Rebel shocked fans with her dramatic transformation in the adrenaline-pumping trailer for her upcoming action-comedy film Bride Hard.

Last month, the veteran actress posted a clip of the new movie to social media, which shows her in a role that breaks away from her comedic roots.

The Bridesmaids star, 45, recently shared a gallery of photos to social media which captured her posing up a storm on a London street with her famous friends

The actress stunned in a striking low-cut red dress as she uses a variety of martial arts moves and improvised weapons to overpower a legion of assassins.

One scene has Rebel striking a bad guy repeatedly with a cake as they fight in a commercial kitchen and another shows her brawling with gunmen at a wedding.

Known for her comedic talents in films like Pitch Perfect and Isn't It Romantic, Rebel's shift into the action genre marks a bold career evolution.

She plays a secret agent who takes on the role of Maid of Honour at her best friend's wedding.

But when a group of ruthless mercenaries crash the celebrations and take guests hostage, it's up to Rebel to save the day.

The movie is helmed by Con Air director Simon West and also features Rebel's Pitch Perfect 3 co-star Anna Camp.

She captioned the footage with some exciting words: 'I've got a lot of FIGHT in me! BRIDE HARD. Save the date! June 20th'.
Edwina Bartholomew has made a shock confession about her unique living situation with husband Neil Varcoe following her chronic myeloid leukemia diagnosis.

The Sunrise presenter, 41, told The Australian Women's Weekly on Wednesday that they only see each other on the weekends and public holidays.

Neil's chronic fatigue syndrome diagnosis prompted him to leave Sydney and relocate to regional New South Wales - a move she claims 'genuinely healed him'.

'That was a decision we had to make for ourselves a few years ago because what we were doing clearly wasnt working,' she told the publication.

'He lives three hours away from us, and we see him on weekends and holidays and back and forth, but its been the best thing, and probably the only way we would have survived as a family.'

Edwina Bartholomew (pictured) has made a shock confession about her unique living situation with husband Neil Varcoe following her chronic myeloid leukemia diagnosis

The couple share two children, daughter Molly, five, and son Tom, three.

Last year, Edwina revealed to Stellar Magazine that she and Neil had entered a long-distance relationship after he moved out of the family home to become a farmer.

'My husband lives in the country with the dog and I live in the city with the kids,' she said.

'Each weekend, we traipse back and forth between the two or meet somewhere in the middle.'

It comes after Edwina shared an emotional cancer update at Marie Claire's International Women's Day luncheon in March.

The TV star got candid at the event about how CML - a type of blood and bone marrow cancer - had impacted her life.

'I was fortunate that I had a month where I knew about it before I told everyone. I had this experience without having to go through the trauma of chemotherapy,' Edwina began.

'[The cancer] was a gift, because it put things into perspective... I didn't have to go through a really intense experience of being "in" cancer and absorbed by it.'

The Sunrise presenter, 41, told The Australian Women's Weekly on Wednesday she only sees her husband Neil on the weekends and public holidays. Pictured with Neil and their daughter Molly, five, and son Tom, three

Edwina added she was extremely grateful her symptoms were manageable and she was able to continue with most of the activities in her daily life.

'I had a meeting with my specialist this week and I forgot to go get my blood test. So, it is not front of mind for me,' she said.

'I am so conscious of what a gift that is, that I have been able to continue on semi-normal... I haven't had to tell my young kids, because I still look the same. It's been a real re-think in slowing myself down.'

Edwina's diagnosis is a 'mild' form of leukaemia and can often be managed without having to undergo chemotheraphy.
Ashley Graham struggled to hold back the tears as she made her Broadway debut in Chicago on Tuesday night.

The iconic model, 37, looked emotional while receiving a rousing reception after putting in a stunning display on the opening night of the musical.

She donned a thick black collared jacket as she took in the adulation of a packed crowd in New York City.

The former Vogue cover star wowed in a sheer bodysuit with sleeves over a black v-neck bodysuit.

Ashley added some jazzy silver heels for the performance and showed them off backstage by doing some moves.

She paired red lipstick with red nail polish and accessorised with a couple of simple silver stud earrings on each ear.

Ashley Graham struggled to hold back the tears as she made her Broadway debut in Chicago on Tuesday night

The iconic model, 37, received a rousing reception after putting in a stunning display on the opening night of the musical

The star had her brunette hair tied up in a glamorous 1920s style updo and she certainly looked the part for her role as iconic lead Roxie Hart in the musical.

After the incredible showing, Ashley was showered with flowers including bouquets of white and red roses.

She enjoyed the special moment with co-star Sophie Carmen-Jones, who looked nothing short of sensational in a black mini dress, teamed with sheer tights and a similar black coat.

Max von Essen joined the duo in another cute snap and cut a dashing figure in traditional evening dress.

In Chicago, which is the longest-running musical in Broadway history, nightclub dancer Roxie murders her on-the-side lover before hiring the city's niftiest lawyer to dupe everyone.

Ashley joins a glittering list of celebrities to have played the legendary character, from Pamela Anderson to Christie Brinkley, and it is certainly a rapid start to her stage career.

She told the New York Theatre Guide: 'There has always been this performer in me.

'I'm going from zero to 100, and I couldn't be more ecstatic about it.'

She donned a thick black collared jacket as she took in the adulation of a packed crowd in New York City

The former Vogue cover star wowed in a sheer bodysuit with sleeves over a black v-neck bodysuit

Ashley added some jazzy silver heels for the performance and showed them off backstage by doing some moves

She paired red lipstick with red nail polish and accessorised with a couple of simple silver stud earrings on each ear

The star had her brunette hair tied up in a glamorous 1920s style updo and she certainly looked the part for her role as iconic lead Roxie Hart in the musical

After the incredible showing, Ashley was showered with flowers including bouquets of white and red roses

It comes after Ashley's fans asked if she is on a weight loss drug after looking slender in a bright yellow bikini from Norma Kamali.

The 37-year-old Vogue cover girl posed for snaps while on vacation with her husband of 15 years, Justin Ervin, in South Beach, Miami, earlier this month.

Fans were quick to comment on her shape with one follower named Wegovy_101 saying, 'U lost so much weight.'

Model Evelyn Hernandez shared that Ashley is her role model: 'Such an inspiration for new curve models. I got signed because of you!' Evelyn is represented by Curve Models.

Ashley wrote back to Hernandez, 'Ah yay!! Congrats!!!' which made Hernandez reply, 'You made my day, thank you!'

In March, the model shared the incredible news that she is starring in Chicago. 'Its official. I AM BROADWAY-BOUND!!!

'I cant believe Im finally able to share that Im making my Broadway debut in @chicagomusical! Ill be playing THE Roxie Hart (!!) at the Ambassador Theatre from Tuesday, April 15, through Sunday, May 25EEEEK!!!

'Be careful what you wish for, because dreams do come true. See you on Broadway!!! .'

She enjoyed the special moment with co-star Sophie Carmen-Jones, who looked nothing short of sensational in a black mini dress

Max von Essen joined the duo in another cute snap and cut a dashing figure in traditional evening dress

In Chicago, which is the longest-running musical in Broadway history, nightclub dancer Roxie murders her on-the-side lover

The character then hires the city's niftiest lawyer to dupe everyone, including the press and even her friends

Ashley joins a glittering list of celebrities to have played the legendary character, from Pamela Anderson to Christie Brinkley, and it is certainly a rapid start to her stage career

She told the New York Theatre Guide: 'There has always been this performer in me. I'm going from zero to 100, and I couldn't be more ecstatic about it'

It comes after Ashley's fans asked if she is on a weight loss drug after looking slender in a bright yellow bikini from Norma Kamali

In January, the model, who was on red carpet hosting duties for fashion bible WWD, looked incredible in a custom gown by Bach Mai during the Golden Globes

In January, Ashley put on a stunning display as she took to the red carpet at the Golden Globes 2025 at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles.

The model, who was on red carpet hosting duties for fashion bible WWD, looked incredible in a custom gown by Bach Mai on the night.

Ashley's deeply plunging dress showed off her assets as she posed up a storm in the elegant number before getting to work on the live stream.

The American star's dress fanned out into a dramatic skirt and was styled with a pair of diamond drop earrings and strappy heels.

Ashley wore her glossy brunette locks in a sleek updo and completed her awards look with a flawless pallet of make-up.
Paul Hollywood and his wife Melissa Spalding posed with unlikely pal Blake Lively at the Another Simple Favour screening in London on Tuesday night.

The Great British Bake Off judge, 59, formed an unlikely friendship with Hollywood star Blake, 37, in recent years after she revealed her and husband Ryan Reynolds were fans of the cooking show.

Paul looked smart in a navy jacket as he enjoyed a rare public outing with Melissa - who rocked a satin blue and white polka dot suit and busty white shirt.

Blake looked delighted as she posed with the duo - wearing a sexy plunging leather dress with tassel detailing at the screening held at the Ham Yard Hotel.

Blake has been busy promoting film which also stars Anna Kendrick and the leading ladies have been hit by rumors of a 'secret feud' after reuniting on set - five years after the original movie came out.

Last year speaking to The Times, Paul opened up about his bond with Blake as he said: 'I've got a lot of time for Blake.

Paul Hollywood and his wife Melissa Spalding posed with unlikely pal Blake Lively at the Another Simple Favour screening in London on Tuesday night

The Great British Bake Off judge, 59, formed an unlikely friendship with Hollywood star Blake, 37, in recent years after she revealed her and husband Ryan Reynolds were fans of the cooking show

Sparking up a friendship in June 2023, self-proclaimed Bake Off superfans Blake and Ryan, 48, posed for snaps with judges Paul and Prue Leith during a trip to the UK

'She texts occasionally, sort of to catch up on what she's been up to, what Ryan's up to, and it's lovely, because regardless of their job, they're just a normal family, mum and dad to some great kids. They're really nice people.'

Sparking up a friendship in June 2023, self-proclaimed Bake Off superfans Blake and Ryan, 48, posed for snaps with judges Paul and Prue Leith during a trip to the UK.

Blake cosied up to Paul in a photo shared to his Instagram, with Paul even joking that she should replace his co-judge Prue, 85.

He captioned his post writing: 'Sorry Prue, Blake (@blakelively) has taken your seat welcome to cake corner Blake #legendinthetent #getbaking'

The Gossip Girl star looked radiant in a black and white polka dot dress as she beamed to the camera while affectionately touching Paul's arm - with fans hoping Paul's joke was true.

But husband Ryan needn't be jealous as he too posed with Bake Off stars Paul and Prue.

The Deadpool star and self proclaimed fan of the series, beamed in the photo as fans begged him to guest host the show.

Ryan captioned the Instagram snap: 'A full and unconditional hug of pure serotonin'.

Paul looked smart in a navy jacket as he enjoyed a rare public outing with Melissa - who rocked a satin blue and white polka dot suit and busty white shirt

Blake looked delighted as she posed with the duo - wearing a sexy plunging leather dress with tassel detailing at the screening held at the Ham Yard Hotel

Blake has been busy promoting film which also stars Anna Kendrick and the leading ladies have been hit by rumors of a 'secret feud' after reuniting on set

Last year speaking to The Times, Paul opened up about his bond with Blake as he said: 'I've got a lot of time for Blake

Melissa boosted her height with pointed white heels and clutched a designer bag

Ryan and Blake, along with his Deadpool co-star Hugh Jackman visited the famous tent which features on the Channel 4 show

The Deadpool star and self proclaimed fan of the series, beamed in a photo with Prue and Paul as fans begged him to guest host the show

Just two months later, Blake and Paul reunited as they both appeared in an amusing advert for her alcoholic drinks brand Betty Booze

Just two months later, Blake and Paul reunited as they both appeared in an amusing advert for her alcoholic drinks brand Betty Booze.

The actress roped in the Great British Bake Off judge to be the face of her high-end bourbon and tequila cocktails, after becoming unlikely friends.

And Blake took to Instagram to share the advert for her brand Betty Booze featuring none other than celebrity chef Paul.

Blake joked that she had 'finally made it in Hollywood' as she showed herself to be an avid Great British Bake Off fan with the skit.

The video kicked off with Blake arriving at Paul's house carrying boxes of her cocktail cans, desperate to get the Bake Off judges approval on her product.

A surprised Paul opened the door and uncertainly said: 'Hello Blake! Nice to see you again... at my home.'

To which Blake replied: 'Don't mention it. Here we go, Betty Booze, which I just launched using all of my own recipes, and I would love your professional opinion, if you don't mind.'

Cracking open one of the drinks as Blake put more boxes in his fridge in the kitchen, Paul referenced the fact that Blake doesn't drink but has created cocktail cans as he asked: 'I thought you don't drink alcohol.'

To which Blake jokingly replied: 'Oh I don't drink alcohol, I eat it. Bourbon and whipped cream, sherry vinaigrette. Really hard pressed to find anything I cook without alcohol. Do you like it?'

Putting on his serious judging face, Paul mimicked his own Bake Off judging tactics as he declared: 'I really like it, it is absolutely beautiful, really good. The tang, the balance with the ginger, it's spot on.'

Melissa put on a confident display in the polka dot suit

She wore her brunette tresses in loose curls

Paul carried some shopping bags with him as he later left the hotel

He had changed into a more casual ensemble

A thrilled Blake asked: 'Really?', to which Paul replied: 'Yeah.'

An amusing moment then saw Blake's face light up as Paul leant towards her with his hand outstretched, as she thought she would get a rare Paul Hollywood handshake.

But as she moved her hand out to take Paul's, he simply reached behind her to grab another drink, saying: 'It's so easy, to grab and go!'

The amusing skit came to an end with a red-faced Blake left awkwardly scratching her head at her faux pas, as she missed out on his highest level of praise.

The clip ended with Blake saying: 'Try new Betty Booze, or I'll come over and make you try them.'
Stoney-faced Anna Kendrick departed the Another Simple Favour screening separately from her co-star Blake Lively after string of painful press interviews for their new film.

The leading stars have been hit by rumors of a 'secret feud' after reuniting on set - five years after the original movie came out.

The pair have hinted at a possible rift after enduring plenty of awkward interactions during their promotional events.

Blake looked stylish as she headed back to her hotel - wearing a sparkly denim co-ord and busty grey vest.

While Anna remained in the black lace dress from the screening red carpet earlier in the night.

Blake attempted to shut down drama with Anna as she flashed a huge smile at the London's screening of Another Simple Favor earlier in the night.

Stoney-faced Anna Kendrick departed the Another Simple Favour screening separately from her co-star Blake Lively after string of painful press interviews for their new film

The leading stars have been hit by rumors of a 'secret feud' after reuniting on set - five years after the original movie came out

After the pair looked to be in a tense exchange at the Corinthia Hotel in the afternoon, they made sure not to break a smile as they promoted the new film ahead of its launch on Prime Video on May 1.

Blake went braless in a plunging leather tasseled dress while Anna cut a chic figure in a black mesh co-ord.

It comes amid swirling rumours of tension between Blake - who has also been locked in a legal battle with It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni - and Anna ahead of the A Simple Favor sequel.

Its South By Southwest premiere last month was overshadowed by controversy including a protestor brandishing a 'Justice for Justin Baldoni, Blake lied' sign and a seemingly icy reunion with Anna.

Despite the drama, the Gossip Girl star gushed about the event, comparing it to a 'rock concert' on in an Instagram post.

In the caption she wrote: 'Watching @asimplefavor opening night @sxsw felt like a rock concert. Thank you to the very best audience. Texas turns it out.

'Making this movie was already the gift, every element of it. To share it with you all and feel the love returned to us was the best feeling. Thank you for having us Austin.'

In March, Blake was accused of beefing up the crowd at the premiere after she was seen posing for a selfie with Laurie Feig, the wife of Another Simple Favor director Paul.

The pair have hinted at a possible rift after enduring plenty of awkward interactions during their promotional events

Blake looked stylish as she headed back to her hotel - wearing a sparkly denim co-ord and busty grey vest

She boosted her height with sparkly strappy heels

Anna meanwhile remained in the black lace dress from the screening red carpet earlier in the night

Anna looked as radiant as ever as she stepped out

Blake attempted to shut down drama with Anna as she flashed a huge smile at the London's screening of Another Simple Favor earlier in the night

Blake went braless in a plunging leather tasseled dress while Anna cut a chic figure in a black mesh co-ord

Some of the star's critics became convinced based on photos that Laurie was pretending to be a fan in the crowd, despite being married to the filmmaker.

'Why is the director of Another Simple Favors wife pretending to be a fan in the crowd waiting for Blake on the red carpet to take a selfie?' wrote a YouTuber critical of Blake.

The pair have reunited for the much-anticipated film, which follows Stephanie Smothers (Anna) and Emily Nelson (Blake) as they 'head to the beautiful island of Capri, Italy, for Emily's extravagant wedding to a rich Italian businessman,' per IMDB.

The leading stars have been hit by rumors of a 'secret feud' after reuniting on set - five years after the original movie came out.

'Watch how many PR bots reply that this is normal, internalized misogyny, and why do you care?' the poster added.

The premiere also started off on the wrong foot, as Blake was greeted by a protestor.

The film's South By Southwest premier last month was overshadowed by controversy including a seemingly icy reunion with co-star Anna

Proving that the PR disaster of It Ends With Us is far from over, a woman was seen wearing a shirt that said 'Blake lied' and holding the opinionated sign, as the star walked the red carpet nearby.

To make matters worse, there were more excruciating moments as Blake's co-star Anna had an awkward response to a question about working with her on the film.

'Oh you know...' Anna cryptically said on the red carpet when asked what it was like to work with Blake again.

There were also no photos of Blake and Anna posing solo together, aside from a picture with their director.

It was previously reported that Anna is less than thrilled that her co-star's legal drama is overshadowing their film.

Inside the event, the stars were pictured awkwardly standing next to each other, with Anna holding her head down as she listened to the Gossip Girl star speak.

Blake excitedly recounted the filming of the movie in Capri, Italy, as her colleague stood by and only glanced over once in a video shared by Variety.

While talking to Variety, Anna shared a vague response when questioned about how the movie has been affected by 'everything going on in the world.'

'Why, what happened? I did ayahuasca and the last year of my life is just gone,' the star replied, referencing to the plant-based psychedelic.

The actress then continued, 'But I've heard the movie is amazing,' before walking away.

Blake and Anna were also seen on the red carpet together in March, but director Paul Feig noticeably stood in between the pair for the photos.

The filmmaker reflected on working with the stars once again following the 2018 film A Simple Favor and gushed to People that it was 'too much fun.'

It was previously reported that Anna is less than thrilled that her co-star's legal drama is overshadowing their film

Meanwhile a fan asked the Gossip Girl star: 'Blake, what does it mean to be back with Anna?'

'Oh, it's the best! I'm so happy,' she gushed before being guided to take additional photos during the festivities.

A source told People last month: 'The comments on Instagram have upset her, especially the ones saying fans are now refusing to watch the movie because they don't want to support Blake.'

They further explained that the Pitch Perfect star is 'not used to being caught up in any drama'.
Princess Isabella of Denmark has stunned the world overnight during her arrival at the second of two 18th birthday celebrations held in her honour  more than a week before her actual birthday on April 21.

King Frederik X and Queen Mary's eldest daughter was the picture of poise and elegance as she arrived at The Royal Danish Theatre's Old Stage in Copenhagen on Monday evening.

A special gala performance was held in her honour, with Denmark's entire royal family in attendance.

Easter Monday official festivities were brought forward to avoid clashing with the public holiday.

Isabella looked breathtaking in a deep navy ball gown that shimmered under the lights.

She completed the look with a navy clutch, a soft updo, and a pair of sparkling diamond earrings borrowed from her mother, Queen Mary.

Princess Isabella of Denmark has stunned the world overnight during her arrival at the second of two 18th birthday celebrations held in her honour  more than a week before her actual birthday on April 21

The glamorous young royal was the picture of poise and elegance as she arrived at The Royal Danish Theatre's Old Stage in Copenhagen on Monday evening

It was expected that the princess would wear the Order of the Elephant insignia for the first time.

But instead, she kept it simple and sentimental - opting for heirloom jewellery over royal regalia.

Standing proudly beside her were her parents, King Frederik and Queen Mary.

The royal couple were joined by their other children  Prince Christian, 19, and 14-year-old twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine.

Queen Mary looked radiant in a black satin off-the-shoulder top, paired with a glittering silver-sequinned skirt.

She completed her look with a diamond brooch and a ruby necklace.

King Frederik looked sharp in a classic navy tuxedo with black lapels and a crisp white pocket square.

The gala was a full family affair.

Isabella looked breathtaking in a deep navy ball gown that shimmered under the lights

She completed the look with a navy clutch, a soft updo, and a pair of sparkling diamond earrings borrowed from her mother, Queen Mary

It was expected that the princess would wear the Order of the Elephant insignia for the first time. But instead, she kept it simple and sentimental - opting for heirloom jewellery over royal regalia

Former monarch Queen Margrethe was also in attendance. The beloved royal abdicated just over a year ago, handing the throne to her son, King Frederik.

Princess Isabella's cousins Count Nikolai and Count Felix of Monpezat were also there.

The pair had their HRH and princely titles stripped in early 2023, sparking public debate.

Count Nikolai has been living in Australia since 2023 while attending university in Sydney.

He is believed to have flown into Denmark just hours before the gala to celebrate with Isabella.

Crowds of well-wishers gathered outside the theatre, waving Danish flags and cheering for the royal family.

Isabella smiled and waved as she greeted them, soaking in the special moment.

The event marked a major milestone for the young royal.

Now officially second in line to the throne behind her brother Prince Christian, Isabella is stepping into her role as a senior royal.
Oasis mania is well and truly taking over the nation ahead of the iconic Britpop band's first reunion concert at Cardiff Principality Stadium on Friday. After 15 years, the once warring Gallagher brothers will finally reunite for 41 shows across Europe with Welsh fans queuing all night, while those at home were left 'cringing' by This Morning's tribute to Noel and Liam. But some music lovers have been left scrambling for last minute seats, with some that boast a 489 face value being sold for as much as 2,500.
Travis Barker's ex Shanna Moakler is happily dating Days of Our Lives star Greg Vaughan after ending a tumultuous relationship and going through a 'tough' divorce.

In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, the former Playboy model spilled all about her relationship with the famous actor that she kept a secret for a year-and-a-half, what her kids - Atiana De La Hoya, 26, Landon Barker, 21, and Alabama Barker, 19 - think of her new love interest and revealed whether she's ready for marriage again.

Shanna debuted her new boyfriend, Greg, 51, on her 50th birthday on March 28, sharing with her followers a photo of her and the TV personality as they wore matching cowboy hats and gazed into each other's eyes.

Greg also shared with his followers his new relationship as he gave Shanna a birthday shoutout and wrote, 'The human heart has potential for deep contentment, joy and confidence some stories dont fade with time they wait for the right moment to be found again.'

Little do people know that they first met years ago and reconnected at an event that took place in November 2023 in Los Angeles hosted by Jason Momoa.

'Greg and I actually first met in 1994 in South Beach when we were both aspiring models. It was such an electric time to be there - full of energy, opportunity, and a lot of hustle.

Shanna Moakler is telling all about her new relationship with Days of Our Lives star Greg Vaughan in an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com

Shanna, 50, and Greg, 51, went public with their relationship on the former Playboy model's birthday last month when they both shared photos of each other on Instagram

Shanna revealed to DailyMail.com that she met Greg nearly 30 years ago in South Beach, Florida, where they were hanging out at a pool hall with mutual friends

'We were just two kids figuring it all out, and its wild to think our story started way back then,' Shanna revealed to DailyMail.com in a new interview.

The pool hall in South Beach, Florida, is where the two initially connected and the Miss Nevada USA executive director beat him at a game of pool, which she jokes, 'He'll never live that down.'

She went on to say that the pair 'had a little Miami moment and briefly dated,' but then life pulled them in different directions.

They actually starred together in 1997's thriller Poison Ivy: The New Seduction, which was one of the first films either of them ever starred in.

'Over the years, wed run into each other in Los Angeles, on set, or through mutual friends, but nothing ever really lined up... until Jason Momoas vodka launch in November 2023,' she continued.

The night of the Aquaman's Meili Vodka launch event, which took place at Hyde Sunset Kitchen + Cocktails on November 20, 2023, was a 'game-changer.'

She gushed, 'Life really came full circle, and I think thats what makes this all feel so special.'

Shanna and Greg kept their romance a secret for nearly a year-and-a-half - despite sparking rumors that they were an item in April 2024 when they were spotted in Los Angeles at a Black Keys Album Release Party.

Greg and Shanna have been secretly dating for nearly a year-and-a-half. 'We really just wanted something for us. No pressure, no headlines - just real moments, privately shared'

Shanna told DailyMail.com about dating Greg: 'Life really came full circle, and I think thats what makes this all feel so special'

'Weve both been through the highs and lows of public relationships, and after living in the Hollywood spotlight for so long, we really just wanted something for us.

'No pressure, no headlines - just real moments, privately shared,' she explained.

'Its been so refreshing to build something healthy, peaceful, and full of joy without the noise. Sometimes the best love stories grow quietly and thats exactly what we needed.'

With Greg based in Texas and Shanna based in California at the time, the first six months of their relationship were long distance.

She told DailyMail.com that, at first, it 'wasn't easy,' but the General Hospital star has 'always' made her feel 'like a priority' and his 'communication is solid.'

He even got to spend time with her children - she shares her oldest child Atiana with ex Oscar De Lay Hoya and her youngest children, Alabama and London, with her ex Travis Barker.

Despite being an empty nester, Greg joined Shanna and her kids after the first six months they were together for 'casual things like dinners and movie nights.'

She revealed, 'I think my kids are really happy to see me with someone whos grounded, close to my age, and shares so many of the same values.

Greg and Shanna reconnected at Jason Momoa's Meili Vodka launch event on November 20, 2023. The model called the night a 'game changer'

The pair sparked romance rumors in April 2024 when they were spotted getting cozy at the Black Keys Album Release Party held at Bar Marmont in Los Angeles

Shanna told DailyMail.com about Greg: 'Hes my best friend, my safe space, and the person I can totally be myself around, no filter needed. Plus, hes a hardworking, loving dad with that classic southern charm. Chivalry is definitely not dead with him'

'More than anything, they see how well he treats me, and that matters most. They genuinely like Greg and respect him, both as a man and as a father. That kind of connection means a lot to all of us.'

Greg has three kids of his own - sons Jathan, Cavan and Landan - from his ex-wife Touriya Haoud, who he was married to from 2006 to 2014.

'Honestly, I was more nervous meeting his kids since theyre younger, but we all just kind of clicked. It felt easy and natural, which is rare and really special,' Shanna told DailyMail.com.

With Greg's kids based in Texas and hers based in California, she said that they 'havent had a ton of time together yet,' but have 'said hello over FaceTime.'

She added, 'Everyones been really kind and open. Im definitely looking forward to the day we can all meet in person. Fingers crossed for a big blended-family dinner soon!

'Were both back and forth between Texas and Los Angeles for work and family, but weve found a rhythm that really works.'

Shanna moved to Texas in September 2024 to be closer to the soap opera star.

After Greg's marriage to Dutch model Touriya, he went on to date and then get engaged to Rizzoli & Isles actress Angie Harmon. Their engagement ended in 2021.

Shanna said about her kids (pictured with son Landon, 21) meeting Greg: 'I think my kids are really happy to see me with someone whos grounded, close to my age, and shares so many of the same values

She added, 'More than anything, they see how well he treats me, and that matters most. They genuinely like Greg and respect him, both as a man and as a father. That kind of connection means a lot to all of us' (pictured with daughter Alabama, 19)

Shanna revealed that Greg has spent time with her kids after the first six months they were together for 'casual things like dinners and movie nights' (Alabama, Landon and Atiana are pictured in 2022 with Reign Disick, Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker)

Meanwhile, Shanna was married to Travis Barker - who's now married to Kourtney Kardashian - from 2004 to 2008.

She went on to date biker Bryan Sollima from 2014 to 2019 and then model Matthew Rondeau from 2020 until 2023.

Matthew was arrested and charged with felony domestic violence in 2022 after an alleged altercation with Shanna.

The 31-year-old pleaded not guilty to all counts, including one count of domestic violence, one count of vandalism and one count of battery. His charges were later dismissed.

Shanna told DailyMail.com about the lessons she's learned from her last relationship with the model: 'I learned that forcing a connection never works - it only drains you.

'That relationship pushed me to do some serious internal work and really ask myself why I accepted something that didnt align with my values.

'I came out of it stronger, with a better sense of boundaries and a deeper love for myself. Sometimes the hardest chapters teach you the most.'

Reflecting on her past relationships altogether, she said that she's noticed a big difference with her relationship with Greg.

Shanna was married to Travis Barker from 2004 to 2008. Comparing her past relationships with her current on, she said, 'This feels like a mature love built on honesty, mutual respect, and real communication. In the past, those things werent always present. With Greg, theres no drama, no guessing'

The Miss Nevada USA Executive Director dated model Matthew Rondeau from 2020 until 2023

Before dating Shanna, Greg was engaged to Rizzoli & Isles actress Angie Harmon from 2019 to 2021 (pictured with his sons and her daughters in 2019)

'This feels like a mature love built on honesty, mutual respect, and real communication. In the past, those things werent always present. With Greg, theres no drama, no guessing,' she explained.

'We just show up for each other in the most genuine way. Its calm, steady, and exactly what I didnt know I needed.'

She continued, 'Greg is one of those rare souls who just gets you. He didnt break my heart, but somehow he managed to heal it, and that says everything.

'Hes my best friend, my safe space, and the person I can totally be myself around, no filter needed. Plus, hes a hardworking, loving dad with that classic southern charm. Chivalry is definitely not dead with him!'

She said the pair have a lot in common and can opt for a simple date night - like a 'great movie and some quality time' together - since they're both 'easy to please.'

'We love discovering new food spots, listening to country music, and getting a little competitive over backgammon, pool, or darts. We definitely bond over our love of games,' she shared.

When asked if she's open to marriage again, Shanna told DailyMail.com that it's certainly not 'off the table.'

'I definitely still believe in marriage and all the beauty that comes with it,' she spilled.

Shanna told DailyMail.com, 'I truly feel like Im in the best place Ive ever been'

'Greg and I have both been married before, and weve both gone through some really tough divorces, so its not something either of us is rushing into.

'But its not off the table for me. I cant speak for him, but I do know that what we have now is real, and were taking things one meaningful step at a time.'

For now, Shanna is relishing this time with Greg and enjoying this next chapter of her life in her 50s.

'I truly feel like Im in the best place Ive ever been,' she gushed.

'After going through a lot of loss - losing my parents and some friendships along the way - this chapter feels like a new beginning.

'Gregs working on some amazing projects and Im diving into producing and creating as well. Its exciting to be building something alongside someone who not only understands the industry, but genuinely supports and celebrates my goals.'

She concluded, 'Making new memories with that kind of partner is everything.'
Aimee Lou Wood has playfully taken aim at her co-star Jason Isaacs' 'overshare' about the intense relationships that were formed on the White Lotus set.

The cast of the Mike White-directed HBO series filmed at the Four Season Resort on Koh Samui in Thailand, where they also stayed during their downtime.

And whilst the setting was intense, thanks in part to the stifling Thai temperatures, the blurred boundaries between work and play meant the friendships formed during filming also took on an unusual closeness.

Jason, who plays troubled family patriarch Tim Ratliff, summed up the shoot as 'a cross between summer camp and Lord of the Flies but in a gilded cage'.

Fans have already been speculating about off-screen relationships, specifically Aimee and her on-screen lover Walton Goggins - who plays Rick Hatchett.

Jason's comments only added fuel to the rumour mill fire, as many surmised that he was referring to the relationship between Aimee Lou and Walton.

Aimee Lou Wood has taken aim at her co-star Jason Isaacs' 'overshare' about the intense relationships that were formed on the White Lotus set

However Aimee Lou herself made light of Jason's remarks as she reshared a meme to her Instagram Story on Tuesday

The cast of the Mike White-directed HBO series filmed at the Four Season Resort on Koh Samui in Thailand , where they also stayed during their downtime

However Aimee Lou herself made light of Jason's remarks as she reshared a meme to her Instagram Story on Tuesday.

Reposting a meme of someone who spills all of their secrets without even being asked where the person had written 'interviewer: so did you enjoy Thailand? Jason Isaacs:....'

Aimee Lou shared the X post on her story and tagged Jason in the post alongside a laughing face.

The person who had shared Aimee Lou's repost, mused: 'Looks like she's poking fun at the fact Jason Isaac's implied some people fell out and that some shady stuff went down on set: 'There were alliances that formed and broke, romances that formed and broke, friendships that formed and broke...'

Aimee Lou, who plays the tragic fan favourite Chelsea, meanwhile has described how the cast 'wrap and walk five steps to your room. You're living where you're filming. It is the Truman Show'.

This week fans speculated that Walton has blocked Aimee Lou on Instagram, amid rumours of a huge feud.

Aimee Lou, who boasts 2.6m Instagram followers, has been passionately sharing behind the scenes photos and reposts from her co-stars throughout the third season, with Walton also sharing his own set memories.

And in their posts they have both enthusiastically tagged their co-stars - every one but each other.

Fans have already been speculating about off-screen relationships, specifically Aimee and her on-screen lover Walton Goggins - who plays Rick Hatchett.

This week fans speculated that Walton has blocked Aimee Lou on Instagram, amid rumours of a huge feud

They are both still following all the other cast members from the show.

Several online gossip sites have posted blind items purported to be about the pair which has fuelled speculation of a falling out.

Now, Reddit, TikTok, and X are full of threads dedicated to theories about why the pair may have had a behind-the-scenes falling-out.

One user shared on Reddit: 'I feel like no one is talking about the falling out of them?

'They unfollowed each other on Insta a couple weeks ago, Walton posts White Lotus stuff and tags everyone in the photos except Aimee Lou Wood, posts a whole tribute to White Lotus and still doesn't tag her, posts tons of pictures of her on his story in a commemorative tribute to the show. What happened?'

Another X user wrote in amazement: 'Aimee Lou Wood follows 5,160 people on instagram and none of them are Walton Goggins

On X, one viewer weighed in on an album of behind-the-scenes photos Walton had posted to Instagram.

'Walton Goggins not tagging Aimee but tagging everyone else WHAT HAPPENED,' they wrote.

Particularly perplexing to some fans was how Walton had apparently posted a sweet  and extensive  set of photos of himself and Aimee to his Instagram Stories, set to the soundtrack of a famous break up song.

'Obsessed with Walton Goggins posting an 18 slide instagram story of photos of him and Aimee Lou Wood set to Silver Springs by Fleetwood Mac.' one X user wrote in astonishment.
Christie Brinkley gets candid about her red-hot romance with ex-husband Billy Joel in her upcoming memoir Uptown Girl.

The supermodel, now 71, and the legendary musician, 75, ignited a fan frenzy when they met at a dive bar in St. Barts in 1983, launching a whirlwind relationship that seamlessly fused fashion and music.

Their love story played out in the public eye and Joel famously cast Brinkley in the music video for his 1983 hit song Uptown Girl, which was inspired by her.

They married in 1985, welcomed daughter Alexa Ray that same year, and were hailed as pop culture royalty throughout their nearly decade-long union.

But behind the glamorous facade, the marriage began to unravel, with Brinkley revealing that Joels battle with substance abuse ultimately led to their split.

'To be clear,' she wrote in the book, per an excerpt from People, 'I never wanted to end things with Billy. But his drinking was bigger than the both of us.'

Christie Brinkley gets candid about her red-hot romance with ex-husband Billy Joel in her upcoming memoir Uptown Girl; (seen in January 2025)

The supermodel, now 71, and the legendary musician, 75, ignited a fan frenzy when they met at a dive bar in St. Barts in 1983, launching a whirlwind relationship that seamlessly fused fashion and music; (pictured 1990)

But behind the glamorous facade, the marriage began to unravel, with Brinkley revealing that Joels battle with substance abuse ultimately led to their split; (pitctured 1983)

Reflecting on the breakup, she added, 'In the end, when the relationship isnt functioning the way you want it to be anymore  thats the worst kind of loneliness because you just cant make it work together and thats painful.'

Joel has spoken openly about his struggles with alcohol, having entered rehab twicefirst in 2002 and again in 2005.

In 2023, Joel told the Los Angeles Times that he stopped drinking 'a couple of years ago.'

He said, 'It wasnt a big AA kick. I just got to a point where Id had enough.

'I didnt enjoy being completely inebriated, and it probably created more problems in my life than I needed.'

Brinkley also made sure to highlight the beautiful moments of her romance with Billy Joel, recalling how she fell 'hopelessly in love' with the legendary musician.

'We laughed like you couldn't believe,' she told People. 'But also he was so sensitive and he did all the old-fashioned thingsthe flowers, the notes and the poems and the songs.

'He was going into the recording studio and he was writing all these songs and saying This ones for you. How could I not fall in love with him?'

She added, 'When I heard him sing on stage, I found myself undeniably attached to this physically hot and charismatic man.'

Despite their split, Brinkley and Joel have remained on good terms, and she describes their relationship today as 'great.'

'He lives mainly in Florida so we dont see him as much as when he lived in Sag Harbor,' she noted to the outlet, 'but when he comes by to see Alexa, hell come in and say hello.'

'To be clear,' she wrote in the book, per an excerpt from People , 'I never wanted to end things with Billy. But his drinking was bigger than the both of us,' (pictured 1990)

Reflecting on the breakup, she added, 'In the end, when the relationship isnt functioning the way you want it to be anymore  thats the worst kind of loneliness because you just cant make it work together and thats painful,' (with daughter Alexa Ray circa 1988)

Despite their split, Brinkley and Joel have remained on good terms, and she describes their relationship today as 'great'; (seen in 2011)

Both went on to pursue other serious relationships after parting ways.

Brinkley married real estate developer Richard Taubman in 1994, with whom she had a son, Jack, though they divorced a year later.

She later wed architect Peter Cook in 1996, but their marriage ended in a highly publicized split in 2008 following his infidelity.

They had welcomed a daughter named Sailor Brinkley-Cook in 1998.

'There were some doozies,' Christie said of her relationships to the outlet.

Joel, meanwhile, began dating food writer and TV personality Katie Lee in 2003, when she was 22 and he was 55.

The pair married in 2004 and divorced in 2010 after five years together.

He eventually found lasting love with Alexis Roderick, 42, whom he married in 2015; the couple now share two daughters.
She welcomed her first child with her husband James Dunmore in March 2024.

And one year into her motherhood journey, former Made In Chelsea star Lucy Watson, 34, has opened up about her struggle to conceive her son Willoughby during an appearance on the Happy Mum Happy Baby podcast this week.

Speaking to host Giovanna Fletcher, Lucy revealed she was 'definitely surprised' by how long it took her to fall pregnant.

She admitted: 'I found out that, on average, it takes a couple a year to get pregnant. And there was me thinking, "Two or three months, it will happen." When you're trying, every month feels like a year.

'You can have friends around you who got pregnant on their first try, and then you might have friends around you who are going through fertility issues.

She recalled: 'My friends and I are very open with everything. I was probably one of the last ones to start trying,

Lucy Watson has opened up about her struggle to conceive her son Willoughby, whom she shares with husband James Dunmore

During an appearance on the Happy Mum Happy Baby podcast, Lucy revealed she was 'definitely surprised' by how long it took her to fall pregnant

'So a lot of my friends had already had their first or even their second. 50 per cent of my friends had it really easy, and then 50 per cent really struggled.

Lucy continued: 'You never go into something thinking negatively, and thinking, "This is going to be really hard for me", but I did go into it open-minded and knowing that it could go any way.

'I think that's why I was very proactive with testing and getting everything checked after six months of trying. I was like, "I just want to check everything is okay because if its not, it could be years."

The reality star then went on to describe her fertility tests as 'invasive' and 'not enjoyable'.

She added: 'I think it was every appointment I'd go into, there would be something negative that would be told to me, about me.

'It was a very anxiety-inducing time. A lot of tears, a lot of feeling sorry for myself and thinking, "Why me?". In retrospect, I actually had a really good journey, but you dont know what your journey is going to be like when you're in it.'

In March last year, Lucy announced to her followers that she had welcomed her first child, though she chose not to reveal her son's name at the time.

She took to Instagram to share a sweet black-and-white snap of herself cradling the newborn, as her husband James planted a tender kiss on her forehead.

She admitted: 'I found out that, on average, it takes a couple a year to get pregnant. And there was me thinking, "Two or three months, it will happen." When you're trying, every month feels like a year'

The reality star went on to describe her fertility tests as 'invasive' and 'not enjoyable', adding: 'It was a very anxiety-inducing time. A lot of tears, a lot of feeling sorry for myself and thinking, "Why me?"

Lucy captioned the heartwarming post: 'Hes here [heart emoji] 2/3/24'

Her followers and friends were quick to send their congratulations, with her sister Tiffany writing: 'My beautiful nephew love him so much'

The influencer announced in September 2023 that she was pregnant with their first child as she posed with her husband James during their holiday in Mykonos.

She showed off her blossoming baby bump in the snap and told how the former co-star couple were expecting their 'little miracle' after a three-year battle to conceive.

Lucy announced her engagement to James in September 2020, after meeting on the E4 set of Made In Chelsea in 2015.

The former reality stars tied the knot in a romantic ceremony in Kefalonia, Greece, in the summer of 2021.

Last January, Lucy shared pictures of her bare bump as she showed off how much her body had grown in the last three months.

As she was heading into her eighth month of pregnancy, Lucy posted an up-to-date picture of her tummy in a full-length mirror.

In March last year, Lucy announced to her followers that she had welcomed her first child, though she chose not to reveal her son's name at the time

Sharing a sweet black-and-white snap on Instagram, Lucy captioned the heartwarming post: 'Hes here [heart emoji] 2/3/24'

The influencer announced in September 2023 that she was pregnant with their first child as she posed with her husband James during their holiday in Mykonos

She compared this with a picture from three months before and was 'mind blown' by the progress and how much a female body changes during pregnancy.

A few months earlier, in October, Lucy and James shared snaps of their gender reveal party - which took place in September - in which they found they would be having a baby boy.

Sharing pictures from her joyful gender reveal as she gathered her closest friends and family, the influencer took to Instagram in delight knowing she will have a son 'so close in age' to her nephew, her sister Tiffany Watson's son Jude.

In a sweet snap during the gender party, the mother-to-be posed for a sweet photo with Tiffany and Jude, who she shares with husband Cameron McGeehan.

Tiffany's little boy looked adorable in the little shirt that read: 'I might be little but I'm going to be a big cousin'.

In awe of her gender reveal, Lucy thanked her fans the following day for their kind messages after sharing the happy news on Instagram.

She penned: 'Thank you so much for all the lovely messages. We're very excited about our baby boy... boy mumma coming in hot!

'Here are some more pics from the (very) mini gender reveal we did last month...'
A bankrupt healthcare giant is shifting services to other providers as it braces for a full shutdown.

Prospect Medical Holdings - which filed for bankruptcy in January - has started moving key services from its two Pennsylvania hospitals, Crozer-Chester Medical Center and Taylor Hospital, to other providers in the state.

A lawyer for Prospect said in bankruptcy court on Thursday that services including obstetrics and gynecology would move out of the hospitals.

The move comes as the healthcare company prepares for a full shutdown of its Pennsylvania facilities that it has been threatening for months, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Prospect operates 16 hospitals and more than 165 clinics across California, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.

Once an aggressive acquirer of struggling hospitals, Prospect collapsed under mounting debt earlier this year.

In Rhode Island, two of its facilities - Roger Williams Medical Center and Our Lady of Fatima Medical Center - are expected to be sold to another healthcare provider.

But Prospect has been trying to hammer out a similar deal with an unnamed buyer who could rescue the Pennsylvania facilities for months, but with no luck. Doctors have warned that their closure would 'devastate' local residents.

Some obstetrics and gynecology services are moving out of Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Pennsylvania

Some services will move out of Taylor Hospital as Prospect Medical Holdings prepares for a possible full shutdown of the facility

In recent months, Prospect received $40 million in aid from state and local governments and local nonprofit Foundation for Delaware County, The Wall Street Journal reported.

But requests for additional funding were denied, William Curtin, a lawyer for Prospect, said at a bankruptcy hearing in Dallas on Thursday.

The hospital operator raised an additional $6 million - mostly from a potential buyer willing to assume leases and equipment at two medical offices, the court heard.

This should help Crozer-Chester Medical Center avoid an 'abrupt closure', Judge Stacey Jernigan said at the hearing.

She also ordered Pennsylvania state officials to hold meetings with Prospect representatives and the Foundation for Delaware County to come up with a long-term solution to save Crozer.

Prospect plans to raise additional funds through the sale of minor Crozer assets in the coming weeks, the outlet reported.

The operator hopes this will keep the sale negotiations going and prevent a full hospital shutdown.

Prospect operates 16 hospitals and more than 165 clinics across California, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island

Prospect Medical Holdings filed for bankruptcy in January (Pictured: CEO Von Crockett)

Doctors at Crozer said in a letter in March that closure of the facility 'will devastate not only our residents but also the thousands of employees and patients who rely on this network for their wellbeing,' Bloomberg reported.

State Rep. Leanne Krueger, whose district includes Crozer-Chester, told CBS News in March: 'All of the hospitals around us will feel the pain if Crozer closes, especially if it's a disorderly closure, which is what we've been trying to prevent.'

'So in the meantime, we've been expecting this could happen for quite a while because this isn't the first time Prospect has threatened a closure, they have been doing this for months.'

Prospect did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment on a potential closure of the facilities.

Prospect is not the only major hospital chain which has filed for bankruptcy in recent years.

Landmark, which operates six specialty hospitals across Florida, Missouri and Georgia, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last month.

The company, which is run by CEO Bryan Day, filed for bankruptcy in Florida on March 9 with debts of between $50 million to $100 million.

It is not yet known whether Landmark plans to close any hospitals as part of its bankruptcy proceedings, or if facilities will continue to operate as normal.

Problems at Landmark also came less than a year after the collapse of Steward Health Care, a major hospital system backed by private equity.

Steward, which owned more than 30 hospitals across eight states, was reported by CBS to have been drained of hundreds of millions of dollars by private equity investors, potentially contributing to shortages of life-saving medical equipment.

The Steward bankruptcy drew government scrutiny and prompted debate about the regulation of private-equity owned hospitals whose failure could lead to devastating consequences for local communities.
A Spirit Airlines traveler was outraged after the airline denied their mishandled baggage claim, despite their checked bag having a wheel missing.

The flier, who has the username Hetz_ on Reddit, expressed their frustration about the matter in a post.

The customer said they had flown from Maryland to Texas earlier this month and spotted the issues after picking up their bag at the luggage carousel.

The traveler found the checked bag missing a wheel with a newly broken handle.

'I spoke to a spirit worker near the carousel, she guided us to go to the spirit office and to use the QR code on the window to file for damaged luggage,' the Reddit user wrote.

'I filed, with these pictures and it was instantly denied and deemed "normal wear and tear."'

The Reddit user decided to call customer service. A representative told them there was nothing they could do and they advised the flier to visit a Spirit desk on departure day.

But on departure day, the traveler still did not have any luck resolving the matter after speaking with a Spirit employee.

A flier discovered their checked bag's handle was broken after retrieving it from the luggage carousel

The traveler also noticed one of the bag's wheels was missing

'The supervisor laughed at us and said there's nothing she can do about it, the FAA policy states that anything less than TWO wheels broken off is considered normal wear and tear, even if the airport/flight crew causes the damage,' the Reddit user wrote.

'She said "it's a stupid rule and I don't agree with it" but continued on about how she couldn't do anything about it.'

The traveler added that Spirit would not give them a checked-bag refund totaling $150.

'We then went up to check the bag for our departure flight, we were given a tag that the agent wrote "one missing wheel" and we had to sign for it, saying that we gave them the bag already damaged and that they didn't do it,' they continued.

'I explained what happened and the young agent looked shocked and said "that's crazy that they won't do anything for y'all."'

Despite slamming Spirit's customer service, the flier understood it being an airline policy.

But they hinted that they would not fly with Spirit again anytime soon.

'We wanted at least the $150 refunded for the carry on, replacing it would have been glorious lol,' they joked.

The traveler spoke with multiple Spirit employees about their damaged bag but the matter was not resolved in the flier's favor

Spirit fliers whose bags are damaged can file a mishandled bag claim if they meet specific qualifications.

The airline is not responsible for existing issues, wear and tear, inadequate packing, or the bag's size and weight.

Customers looking to file claims must create an incident report within four hours after arriving for domestic travel.

Travelers will have seven days to create an international damage report and 21 days for international losses, delays, and pilferage reports.

Once the customer creates the report, Spirit will email them a Baggage Irregularity Receipt with a file ID and directions on how to proceed.

The affected flier must then submit the documents after filling them out.

Most of the claims filed by fliers are processed within 30 days after submission, according to the airline.

Customers with damaged bags are asked to submit proof of purchase for the item if it's valued at $50 or more.

Spirit exited bankruptcy last month after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2024

Checked bags have been a talked-about topic following Southwest's decision to end its free checked bag policy.

However, Spirit's most recent baggage change was a maximum weight increase rather than a rule elimination.

Spirit has also shown signs of financial struggles and was forced to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2024.

Sprit managed to bounce back and made its bankruptcy exit last month.

Daily Mail has reached out to Spirit Airlines for comment about the matter.
Every year, seven million Americans fail to file their taxes properly  mostly by accident, with a few hoping to outsmart Uncle Sam.

Ever wondered what happens when you mess up? As Business Insider editor Zak Jason recently found out, a 'dumb mistake' can quickly turn into a nightmare.

In his column titled 'I cheated on my taxes', Jason told how he forgot to include his W-2 and failed to declare income from a new job  a slip that got him flagged by the IRS.

'There are moments in life when your own stupidity dumbfounds you. The letter I got from the IRS  on my birthday, no less  was one of those moments,' Jason, who ended up owing more than $10,000, wrote.

The IRS pointed out that the information on Jason's tax return did not match the information they had available.

That was because he had filed a salary of zero, but the IRS's systems showed he in fact was employed. Jason himself admitted 'It was dumb mistake  and the beginning of a nightmare.'

'Not only had I forgotten to attach my W2 in my filing, but I hadn't even declared my salary at BI, which I had joined midway through the year' he explained.

'Without meaning to, I had cheated on my taxes.'

Business Insider editor Zak Jason revealed he forgot to attach his W2 to his latest tax return

Many who 'cheat' on their taxes are stressed workers who made an earnest mistake

Even accountants have been known to slip up on their own filings.

'It happened to me once, I hate to confess,' retired accountant Richard Rampell told Business Insider.

The IRS sends notices asking recipients to confirm whether they agree or disagree with discrepancies it finds.

But the agency doesn't include how much is owed  and the bill can take months or even years to arrive.

The IRS has up to three years to review filings, and wait times have got longer and longer since the pandemic. During that time, penalties and interest continue to build up.

Jason ultimately chose to refile and pay more than $10,000 in taxes, penalties, and interest.

He described the process as a game of chicken, saying the IRS essentially waits for people to admit their mistake before issuing a final bill.

Frustratingly, the IRS often already has the correct income data on file. Employers are required to submit W-2s directly to the agency, even if taxpayers forget to include them.

Every year seven millions Americans fail to file their taxes properly

Many countries  including the UK, Denmark, and New Zealand  have systems that pre-fill tax returns for individuals based on the information employers already provide.

A Dartmouth College study found that about half of all U.S. tax returns are simple enough to be handled this way.

Still, Americans spend an average of nine hours preparing their taxes each year, according to the Tax Foundation.

Jason argued that automating returns could help eliminate avoidable errors, save time, and increase revenue  all without hiring more IRS staff.
Arab-China traditional medicine forum held in Cairo to enhance mutual learning, innovation

Xinhua) 11:02, April 16, 2025

CAIRO, April 15 (Xinhua) -- The 2025 Arab-China International Forum on Traditional Medicine concluded on Tuesday in Egypt's New Cairo, where experts from the medical communities of China and Arab states exchanged views on promoting mutual learning and innovation-driven development of traditional medical cultures.

The two-day forum was co-hosted by Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population, the Egyptian Chinese University (ECU), Sun Yat-sen University Institute of Advanced Studies Hong Kong, and Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine.

During the event, the participants gave special reports on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and physiotherapy, had discussions on the use of traditional medicine in treating intractable diseases, and visited TCM projects at the ECU where seminars were held on talent cultivation.

Sami Nassef, dean of the faculty of Physiotherapy at ECU, told Xinhua on Monday that the faculty had been incorporating TCM into its physiotherapy programs since 2017 and had launched cooperation projects with several Chinese universities with TCM majors. He expected the forum to help more people in the Middle East and Africa understand TCM's methods and efficacy of treating intractable diseases and promote the TCM culture.

Diwu Yongchang, head of the delegation from Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, said after the opening ceremony that the forum was expected to strengthen the cooperation between the university and the ECU, promote the development of traditional Chinese and Arab medicine, and boost friendly exchanges between the two peoples.

Jamil Hodeib, a Lebanese doctor who has been running a TCM clinic in Beirut for over 30 years, told Xinhua during the forum that he had successfully treated many patients with TCM and hoped that traditional Chinese and Arab medical practitioners will work together to further spread TCM knowledge so as to benefit more people.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
The capitalist swine of America, under the bourgeois scum Donald J. Trump want to make a trade deal with the UK, but comrades, they are not politically aligned with the Peoples Republic of Soviet Britain, whereas the bloc of the European Soviet Union are aligned with our socialist, communist framework and interoperability of soviet regulations.

British soviet negotiators are close to signing up to Brussels food and veterinary standards that will ensure that our communist nation is fully aligned and under the rule of our soviet masters  the EU. This action will shut out American products, which Donald Trump wants to sell to Britain. Soviet Britain does not want products from the stinking capitalist scum country, the USA.

By moving under the yoke of the Soviet EU, Britain will cut out any so-called trade deal with America, who want access to our agriculture and food market.

Even though we are being urged to deal with the American capitalist pigs, which could bring great riches to Soviet Britain, I emphatically reject these imperialist, bourgeois capitalist jackals from dealing with us under any capacity.

I am instead proud for Soviet Britain to be selling away our ability to set our rules for no real benefit, making it more difficult to do Free trade agreements with countries like America.

Yes, comrades, it is good to be back under the yoke of the Soviet EU, and to adhere to their regulations, and their strict diktats.

As a celebration of our reunion with the EU, and the defeat of those fascist Brexiteer vandals, I thus propose that every citizen will receive a rotten cabbage, one roll of used toilet paper, and an extra 0.5 grams of sugar rations this month. You cannot say that I, Comrade Starmer, do not spoil the beloved citizens of the Peoples Republic of Soviet Britain.

INGSOC NOTICE 7609456-00000008987-432875900065776873-12G

ERNIE CRINKLEBOTTOM, 49, OF 204 BLACKLIVESMATTER ROAD, EAST GRIMSTEAD, SECTOR 41, ENGLAND, WILL BE PUBLICLY HANGED IN SOVIET RED SQUARE ON WEDNESDAY AT 4 PM FOR COMMITTING THE CRIMES OF FREE SPEECH, FRATERNISING WITH AMERICANS AND SUPPORTING DEMOCRACY. ALL CITIZENS ARE URGED TO JOIN THE CROWDS TO JEER AND THROW STONES AT THE CONDEMNED CRIMINAL OF THE BIG STATE. REMEMBER COMRADES, LOOK, LISTEN, REPORT!
Who would have thought it, biological women are actually women, and thinking you are a woman or trying to dress like one, or mutilating your body to attempt to be one does not make you a biological woman. It should not take a multimillion pound taxpayer funded Supreme Court case to come to the conclusion that biological women are women.

Women have two X chromosomes and men have X and Y chromosomes. Women have hips for child bearing, and a totally different bone structure to men. Women have wombs that bear children, and fallopian tubes and all that stuff. Women have smooth hairless skin, and female genitals, as well as breasts and all sorts of nice parts that were naturally created and not artificially forced or added on.

Seriously, if you want to be a trans, go do it, but please dont for one second think that you are anything else apart from trans.

Hijack someone elses sex

Dont impinge on other peoples humanity and biological sex, which were given to people at birth.

Good luck in your mutilations, by all means chop off all the parts that you want, but these cosmetic alterations do not make you something that you are not. You will always have the chromosomes, and bone structure that you were born with.

J. K. Rowling said Wednesdays judgment would protect the rights of women and girls across the UK.

The Tory leader, Kemi Badenoch, said the ruling meant that the era of Keir Starmer telling us women can have a penis had come to an end. What an utter shister, and wanker Keir Starmer is.

It followed a years-long legal battle between campaign group For Women Scotland and the Scottish Government over the definition of a woman.

Lord Hodge told the court: The unanimous decision of this court is that the definition of the terms woman and sex in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman and biological sex.

In its 88-page ruling, the court added that the concept of sex is binary under the Equality Act 2010, but at the end of the day, it should not have had to come to this ridiculous fiasco to admit something that is so obvious to so many. Biological women are women, and anyone who disputes that fact is delusional.

You cannot change 100,000s of years of human evolution, just because you are an arrogant imbecilic woke fuckwit.
Concerns over regional stability in the Indo-Pacific took center stage during a recent House Armed Services Committee hearing. Top defense officials detailed the challenges posed by Chinas rapid military modernization and aggressive actions, as well as threats emanating from North Korea and Russias increasing influence. Officials emphasized the need for the United States to bolster deterrence through strengthened alliances and enhanced military readiness.

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Chinas Unprecedented Military Advancement

Testifying before the committee, John Noh, currently performing the duties of assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs, described Chinas military expansion as an unprecedented buildup. He outlined Beijings development of a formidable arsenal spanning nuclear, conventional, cyber, and space domains. According to Noh, Chinas strategic objective extends beyond regional influence, aiming to supplant the United States as the preeminent global power and achieve dominance within the Indo-Pacific. A point highlighted was Chinese President Xi Jinpings directive for the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) to possess the capability to invade Taiwan by 2027.

Adding to this assessment, Navy Adm. Samuel Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), characterized the security environment as facing a confluence of challenges, with Chinas behavior being the most prominent. Foremost among them is Chinas increasingly aggressive and assertive behavior, Adm. Paparo stated. He specified that Chinas military modernization includes significant advancements in cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, hypersonic missiles, and space-based systems, collectively posing a real and serious threat to the U.S. homeland and its regional allies and partners.

Taiwan Strait: A Focal Point of Concern

The waters surrounding Taiwan have become a particular area of heightened activity and concern. Adm. Paparo revealed a dramatic increase in PLA operations targeting Taiwan, noting a 300% escalation in 2024 compared to previous periods. He stressed that these actions should not be viewed as routine exercises. Chinas aggressive military actions near Taiwan are not just exercises; they are rehearsals, Paparo asserted. These maneuvers, he explained, are designed to intimidate Taiwans population and showcase Chinas coercive capabilities.

However, Paparo suggested these actions might have unintended consequences, potentially galvanizing international attention and spurring Taiwan to accelerate its defensive measures in response to the overt displays of military pressure. The admiral also pointed out that China is outpacing the U.S. in the production capacity for certain key military assets, including air, maritime, and missile capabilities, while simultaneously accelerating its space and counter-space programs. While acknowledging these developments present serious challenges to U.S. military superiority, Paparo framed them as opportunities for reform and establishing enduring advantages.

U.S. Strategy: Deterrence Through Strength and Partnerships

In response to this evolving threat terrain, the U.S. strategy focuses heavily on re-establishing deterrence. John Noh outlined a multi-pronged approach: deploying combat-credible military forces in the region, enhancing burden-sharing arrangements with allies and partners, and making critical investments in the U.S. defense industrial base. The importance of alliances was a recurring theme. Stronger allies lead to stronger alliances, and stronger alliances deter aggression and create dilemmas for our adversaries, Noh emphasized, underlining the collaborative nature of the U.S. approach to regional security.

Adm. Paparo echoed this sentiment, stating that INDOPACOMs primary mission is to deter aggression, maintain regional stability, and remain prepared to prevail in conflict. He highlighted the commands active engagement in cooperative security efforts, citing 120 joint exercises conducted last year alone, including 20 major exercises involving allied and partner nations.

Broader Regional Threats Compound Challenges

Beyond the primary focus on China, officials addressed other significant security concerns within the Indo-Pacific. Adm. Paparo explicitly identified North Korea as a direct threat, pointing to its ongoing development of advanced nuclear weapons and sophisticated ballistic missiles. He mentioned a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of reaching the United States, posing a danger to the U.S. homeland and its key regional allies, South Korea and Japan.

Furthermore, Russias growing strategic alignment with China and Russias support for North Korea add layers of complexity to the security equation. Paparo noted that North Korea is receiving military assistance that aids its military advancements. This deepening military cooperation, he explained, creates a compounding challenge for the U.S. and its partners in navigating the intricate regional dynamics.

Maintaining Resolve Despite Complexity

Despite the array of challenges outlined during the hearing, from Chinas military assertiveness and technological leaps to North Koreas nuclear ambitions and Russias disruptive influence, the U.S. military remains steadfast. Adm. Paparo concluded his testimony on a note of confidence. Though we face serious challenges, the joint force remains confident, resolute, and determined to prevail, he affirmed. Deterrence remains our highest duty. The hearing underscored the complex, dynamic, and increasingly contested security environment in the Indo-Pacific, reinforcing the critical need for sustained U.S. engagement, strong alliances, and continued military readiness to preserve peace and stability in the vital region.
The East Derry Ulster Unionist Party Association has said everyone in the community should use the Easter period as a springboard for pressure on paramilitary groups so that a lasting peace and permanent political stability can be achieved in Northern Ireland.

In its Easter message to constituents, Chairman Robert Carmichael, speaking on behalf of the Association, said the Risen Lord could bring about an everlasting spiritual solution. So too, all of us in Northern Ireland should follow the example of Jesus Christ when preaching His sermon on the mount when He said - blessed are the peace makers.

Mr Carmichael said the people of Northern Ireland deserve real and lasting peace and should not constantly be having their hopes dashed by paramilitary gangs.

He added: In the republican calendar, for example, Easter is a political commemoration in terms of their failed coup in Dublin in 1916. The best gift which republicans could give the people of Northern Ireland this Easter is to publicly announce a disbanding of the dissident IRA factions.

Mr Carmichael said the prospect of real political progress leading to genuine and long-term peace in the Province was what everyone was hoping for. He said all the constitutional parties had done as much as possible to bring about genuine democratic political progress in Northern Ireland, yet the dissident republican movement was still dragging its heels.

So-called dissident republicans must become fully committed to the Northern Ireland Parliament, or they are merely hood-winking the people in terms of their desire to participate in the democratic process. Also, the actions of Sinn Fein in publicly commemorating dead IRA terrorists are sending one clear message to the Unionist community - that Sinn Fein continues to be the puppet of the Provisional IRAs Army Council.

Mr Carmichael said that whilst Easter was a family occasion, everyone should spare a thought for the families of those who had been murdered by terrorists as well as the families who had lost members of the security forces as a result of terrorist attacks.

At this time, too, we must also remember in our prayers our security forces and emergency services who will remain in duty during the Easter holidays.

Mr Carmichael said, on behalf of the East Londonderry UUP Association, he also wished everyone in the constituency a very happy, relaxed and peaceful Easter.
Police are currently assisting colleagues in An Garda Siochana with a missing person.

George Brennan, 38 years old, is missing from County Mayo in the Republic of Ireland.

George may have links to the Causeway Coast and Glens area, and also the Mid and East Antrim area.

George was last seen on Wednesday, April 2 in Ballycastle, and there has been no contact from him since.

The last known sighting of George was on CCTV in the Spar shop on Moyle Road, where he was wearing a black zip up top, dark jeans, runners and was carrying a blue hiking backpack. George is 62, 100kg, with brown hair and blue eyes.

It is believed that George may have travelled onwards from Ballycastle, by foot, hitchhiking or public transport. George is an avid sea swimmer and hiker and could have run into trouble doing these activities.

George's family say his disappearance is completely out of character, and they are deeply concerned for his wellbeing.

Speaking on behalf of the family, a spokesperson said: We are heartbroken and desperate for any news. George is deeply loved, and we just want to know that he is safe. We urge anyone who may have seen him, spoken with him, or has any informationno matter how smallto come forward.

The family is asking members of the public across Ireland and Northern Ireland to share Georges photo and appeal widely on social media to help raise awareness.

If anyone has any information relating to George, please contact police on 101, quoting reference number 831 of 12/04/25.
A UK-developed invisible radio wave weapon has taken down drone swarms in the largest trial of its type to date.

British soldiers have successfully tracked, targeted and neutralised swarms of drones in the latest trial of a new directed energy weapon developed in the UK.

The trial was completed at a weapons range in west Wales in what the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is hailing as the largest counter-drone swarm exercise the British Army has conducted to date.

The weapon system demonstrator is a type of Radiofrequency Directed Energy Weapon (RF DEW) and has proven capable of neutralising multiple targets simultaneously with near-instant effect, the MoD said.

The Government has invested more than 40 million in RF DEW research and development to date, supporting 135 jobs in Northern Ireland and the South East of England.

The weapon uses high frequency radio waves to disrupt or damage critical electronic components inside drones, causing them to crash or malfunction.

At an estimated cost of 10p per shot fired, if developed into operational service the MoD claims it could provide a cost-effective complement to traditional missile-based air defence systems.

RF DEW systems can defeat airborne targets at ranges of up to 1km and can be used against threats which cannot be jammed using electronic warfare.

Defence minister Maria Eagle said the experiment exemplifies the strength of British innovation  driven by our home-grown industry, technology firms and scientific talent.

She added: We continue to strengthen our defence sector, adding more cutting-edge capabilities to keep the UK secure at home and strong abroad, while making defence an engine for growth across our towns and cities.

Successful experiments included the Army taking down two swarms of drones in a single engagement, and the project saw more than 100 drones being tracked, engaged and defeated using the weapon across all trials.

The MoD has further said the development of RF DEW systems could help to protect the UK from unidentified drones at security sensitive areas such as defence bases, and could play a role in preventing disruption at airports.
By KiviCore

Intro

In todays rapidly advancing technological landscape, System-on-Chip (SoC) designs have become the backbone of numerous industries, powering everything from medical devices to aerospace systems, telecommunications, and automotive solutions. As these chips integrate more functions and performance into a single unit, the need for robust security has never been more critical. For ASIC and SoC design companies, ensuring that chips are secure from the outset is not just a technical challenge; it is an imperative to safeguard intellectual property, user data, and system integrity. As these devices become more interconnected, the risks associated with vulnerabilities in SoC designs have grown exponentially.

In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the essential components of secure SoC design and explain how a robust security subsystem can protect sensitive assets throughout the chips lifecycle. Additionally, we will dive into how KiviCores specialized consultancy services can help ASIC and SoC design companies navigate the complex security landscape, ensuring the creation of secure and reliable chips that meet the rigorous demands of industries like IoT, data processing, consumer, telecommunication and beyond.

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Why Security in SoC Design is Critical for ASIC/SoC Designers

SoC designs have become the heart of most modern electronic devices, integrating processors, graphical and AI accelerators, memory, data communication peripherals, and other hardware into a single chip. However, this integration, while offering tremendous efficiency and cost savings, also introduces security vulnerabilities. A compromised SoC could lead to catastrophic consequences, such as data breaches, theft of intellectual property, or even physical damage to the hardware.

For ASIC and SoC designers, ensuring the security of the entire design processfrom conception through to post-deploymentis paramount. A single weak link in the design chain could leave the system open to attack, rendering it vulnerable to exploitation. Therefore, integrating security at every phase of the SoC lifecycle is critical for protecting the chip's integrity and the systems that rely on it. This is especially important in highly regulated industries, where failure to meet security standards can result in non-compliance and legal ramifications.

Furthermore, with the increasing sophistication of cyberattacks, the risk of malicious actors exploiting vulnerabilities in SoC designs is rising. Attack vectors such as side-channel attacks, firmware vulnerabilities, and unauthorized access to cryptographic keys have become more prevalent, making it essential to build robust defense mechanisms into the chips architecture from the very start.

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Key Components of a Secure SoC Design

1. Security Subsystem Architecture: The Foundation of SoC Security

The security subsystem is the central component of any secure SoC design. Its primary purpose is to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of critical assets such as cryptographic keys, software, firmware, and data. By isolating these sensitive assets from the rest of the chip's operations, the security subsystem creates a secure environment that prevents unauthorized access.

The architecture is typically divided into two main parts:

Application: This part of the SoC comprises the main application logic, user data, and peripherals. It is where most of the chips computational tasks occur.

This part of the SoC comprises the main application logic, user data, and peripherals. It is where most of the chips computational tasks occur. Security Subsystem: This part is isolated from the application part and comprises sensitive elements such as cryptographic keys, trusted execution environments (TEEs), and security configurations. By keeping critical assets separate, the security subsystem ensures that even if the application part is compromised, the sensitive data remains secure.

This separation is essential for preventing unauthorized access to critical security components, ensuring that even if an attacker gains control over the application domain, the security subsystem is still protected.

2. Cryptographic Key Management: Securing the Core of Confidentiality

Cryptographic key management is fundamental to securing SoC designs. Keys are used in many functions, from encrypting communication to authenticating firmware. The key management system should ensure that keys are securely generated, stored, and managed throughout the chips lifecycle. Importantly, keys should never leave the secure boundaries of the security subsystem.

Key Generation : Cryptographic keys should be generated within the security subsystem to minimize the risk of exposure during key creation. The process must involve strong random number generation techniques to ensure key unpredictability and security.

: Cryptographic keys should be generated within the security subsystem to minimize the risk of exposure during key creation. The process must involve strong random number generation techniques to ensure key unpredictability and security. Key Derivation : To prevent key exposure during transmission, key derivation processes should be employed. This allows the system to generate temporary keys based on master keys without exposing the master key itself.

: To prevent key exposure during transmission, key derivation processes should be employed. This allows the system to generate temporary keys based on master keys without exposing the master key itself. Key Import/Export: In many use cases, keys are imported from trusted sources or exported for secure storage. To ensure security, key import and export operations should be cryptographically protected, and only authorized processes should have access to these operations.

By implementing a robust key management system within the security subsystem, SoC designers can ensure that cryptographic keys are handled securely and are not exposed to potential attackers at any point in the devices lifecycle.

3. Secure Boot: Protecting the SoC from the First Moment

Secure boot is one of the most critical security features in modern SoCs. It ensures that the chip boots only trusted and authenticated code by verifying the integrity and authenticity of the firmware before it is executed. Without secure boot, a malicious actor could exploit the boot process, loading their own firmware or modifying legitimate code to compromise the system.

Firmware Verification : During secure boot, the bootloader verifies the integrity of the firmware using cryptographic techniques like digital signatures or hashes. If the firmware does not match the expected signature, the system either prevents booting or takes corrective actions, such as resetting the device or switching to a safe mode.

: During secure boot, the bootloader verifies the integrity of the firmware using cryptographic techniques like digital signatures or hashes. If the firmware does not match the expected signature, the system either prevents booting or takes corrective actions, such as resetting the device or switching to a safe mode. Chain of Trust: Secure boot creates a "chain of trust," where each component in the boot process is verified before execution. Starting with the hardware root of trust, each stage of the boot process verifies the next stages integrity, ensuring that only verified and trusted code can be executed.

By employing secure boot, SoC designers can prevent unauthorized code from running on the device, which is crucial for protecting against rootkits and other malicious attacks.

4. Runtime Integrity Protection: Securing the Application in Operation

After the SoC has been booted, it must remain secure during its operational lifecycle. Runtime integrity protection ensures that the SoC remains in a secure state while executing its functions, preventing unauthorized modifications or tampering during normal operation.

Memory Protection : Memory protection mechanisms ensure that critical data, such as firmware and configuration settings, are protected against unauthorized access and modification. This is especially important for preventing attacks like buffer overflow exploits, where an attacker attempts to overwrite memory to execute malicious code.

: Memory protection mechanisms ensure that critical data, such as firmware and configuration settings, are protected against unauthorized access and modification. This is especially important for preventing attacks like buffer overflow exploits, where an attacker attempts to overwrite memory to execute malicious code. Security Sensors: Security sensors within the SoC monitor the chip for signs of physical attacks, such as voltage manipulation or electromagnetic interference (EMI) attacks. If any such anomalies are detected, the security subsystem can trigger countermeasures like resetting the device or shutting down certain components to prevent further exploitation.

These runtime protection mechanisms help to ensure that the SoC remains secure throughout its entire operational lifecycle, minimizing the risks of real-time attacks.

5. Data Protection and Encryption: Ensuring Confidentiality

One of the primary functions of a secure SoC is to protect sensitive data from unauthorized access. This is achieved through encryption, which ensures that data remains confidential whether it is being stored or transmitted. SoCs should support both symmetric and asymmetric encryption techniques, depending on the use case.

On-the-Fly Encryption : On-the-fly encryption automatically encrypts or decrypts data as it is read from or written to memory, with these operations transparently handled by dedicated hardware components. This transparent process ensures that the application does not need to explicitly call for encryption, simplifying development and enhancing security.

: On-the-fly encryption automatically encrypts or decrypts data as it is read from or written to memory, with these operations transparently handled by dedicated hardware components. This transparent process ensures that the application does not need to explicitly call for encryption, simplifying development and enhancing security. Data Authentication: In addition to encryption, data authentication mechanisms like message authentication codes (MACs) or digital signatures can be used to verify the integrity and authenticity of data. This ensures that data has not been tampered with while in transit or while stored.

By employing both encryption and data authentication, SoCs can safeguard sensitive information from unauthorized access or alteration.

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Designing for Platform Integrity

Platform integrity ensures that the SoC remains trustworthy not just in terms of data confidentiality but also in terms of maintaining the security of the system as a whole.

System Configuration and Policies : The security subsystem defines and enforces policies for how system resources can be accessed and used. These policies can specify which components of the system can be accessed, which firmware versions are allowed to run, and whether certain operations (like debug access) are permitted.

: The security subsystem defines and enforces policies for how system resources can be accessed and used. These policies can specify which components of the system can be accessed, which firmware versions are allowed to run, and whether certain operations (like debug access) are permitted. Monotonic Counters: Monotonic counters provide a reliable way to ensure the freshness of data and prevent rollback attacks. Typically implemented in hardware or secure firmware, these counters increment with each significant system event, enabling the system to detect and reject outdated or replayed data, especially during firmware updates and secure transactions. These counters can be used to track system state changes and ensure that each event is counted only once.

By employing platform integrity techniques like these, SoC designers can ensure that the chip remains in a secure state throughout its lifecycle.

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Secure System Lifecycle Management

An SoC's lifecycle spans from its initial design and manufacturing to its deployment and eventual decommissioning. Throughout each phase of this lifecycle, security measures must be enforced to ensure that the device remains secure.

Initial Configuration : During the manufacturing process, SoC designers provision the device with cryptographic keys and firmware. The security subsystem ensures these assets are securely stored and protected against unauthorized modification.

: During the manufacturing process, SoC designers provision the device with cryptographic keys and firmware. The security subsystem ensures these assets are securely stored and protected against unauthorized modification. In-Field Lifecycle : Once the SoC is deployed, it enters the in-field lifecycle, where security measures continue to be enforced. This includes controlling access to firmware updates, managing key rotations, and ensuring secure communication with other devices in the system.

: Once the SoC is deployed, it enters the in-field lifecycle, where security measures continue to be enforced. This includes controlling access to firmware updates, managing key rotations, and ensuring secure communication with other devices in the system. Failure Analysis: In the event of a breach or hardware failure, the security subsystem can transition the device into a failure analysis mode, where sensitive data is wiped and the system is returned to a safe state.

By managing security throughout the SoC's entire lifecycle, from manufacturing to deployment and beyond, designers can ensure that the device remains secure against evolving threats.

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How KiviCore Can Help ASIC/SoC Design Companies

At KiviCore, we specialize in providing services that help ASIC/SoC design companies build secure chips from the ground up. Our team of experts works closely with clients to integrate security into every phase of the design and development process, ensuring that chips meet the rigorous security standards required by industries like aerospace, medical devices, and telecommunications.

Our services include:

Security Architecture Design : We help integrate robust security subsystems that protect critical assets and platform integrity throughout the SoCs lifecycle.

: We help integrate robust security subsystems that protect critical assets and platform integrity throughout the SoCs lifecycle. Cryptographic Key Management : We provide solutions to securely handle, generate, store, and manage cryptographic keys within your SoC design.

: We provide solutions to securely handle, generate, store, and manage cryptographic keys within your SoC design. Secure Boot and Runtime Integrity : We assist in implementing secure boot and runtime integrity features to protect the system from unauthorized code execution.

: We assist in implementing secure boot and runtime integrity features to protect the system from unauthorized code execution. Data Protection and Encryption Services : Our team ensures your SoCs meet modern encryption standards to secure data in storage and during transmission.

: Our team ensures your SoCs meet modern encryption standards to secure data in storage and during transmission. Lifecycle Security Management: We provide end-to-end solutions to manage the secure lifecycle of your SoC, from initial design to deployment and beyond.

Learn more about ASIC/SoC Services

Conclusion

Designing secure SoCs is essential for protecting not only the devices themselves but also the sensitive data and intellectual property they handle. By incorporating robust security features such as secure boot, cryptographic key management, and runtime integrity protection, designers can safeguard against a growing range of cyber threats. KiviCores expertise in embedding security across all phases of SoC design ensures that chips meet the highest industry standards, delivering resilience against vulnerabilities and enhancing overall system integrity. As the demand for secure and efficient SoCs continues to rise, integrating comprehensive security solutions from the outset is no longer optional but a critical necessity. Through our specialized consultancy services, KiviCore is committed to helping ASIC and SoC design companies navigate the complexities of this evolving landscape, ensuring that their designs are not only cutting-edge but also secure and future-proof.
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Beyond tariffs: Taiwan's tech titans call for global focus, strategic patience

As the US continues to recalibrate its trade posture with sweeping reciprocal tariffs, Taiwanese technology leaders are urging measured responses amid the escalating uncertainty. Their message: Stay agilebut don't lose sight of the long game.

Flexibility and resilience: Taiwan's strength in the face of global trade shifts

Tzu-Hsien Tung, chairman of Pegatron and president of the Monte Jade Science and Technology Association, said recent developmentsranging from abrupt tariff hikes to the introduction of a 90-day grace period and an evolving exemption listhave created policy whiplash for the global supply chain. Despite this volatility, Tung voiced confidence in Taiwan's capacity to adapt.

US tariff policy can shift dramatically in the span of a week, Tung said during a business forum held by Deloitte & Touche in Taipei on April 15. They still don't know whether tariffs are a tool or the ultimate objective. But what he knew was that Taiwanese firms have the flexibility and resilience to manage either outcome.

While acknowledging the US remains an influential economic partner, Tung pushed back against overdependence. The US accounts for roughly 26 percent of global GDP, which leaves 74 percent elsewhere, he pointed out. Taiwan's firms cannot allow tariffs from one market to disrupt our strategy in the rest of the world.

He also cautioned against making hasty, reactionary decisionssuch as relocating production or realigning supply chainsbased solely on short-term trade pressures. Establishing a factory, securing contracts, or developing a product is not something that happens in three or six months, he said. It takes years of planning and capital investment. Taiwan's overseas footprintfrom Vietnam to Mexicois a result of long-term vision, not trade retaliation.

Tung added that while companies should prepare for a range of outcomes, tariff clarity may not emerge for another one to three months. In the meantime, he said, Taiwan's firms needed to respond to short-term changes with short-term strategies, without compromising our long-term foundation.

Stan Shih's strategic vision over panic

Tung's remarks were echoed by Stan Shih, founder of Acer and one of Taiwan's most respected industrial figures, who also addressed the issue at an event in Palau. Shih aimed at the broader rationale behind the tariff regime.

There's a misconception that trade imbalances mean exploitation, Shih mentioned. Trade is supposed to be mutually beneficial. Politicians may frame it differently, but those who work in industry and economics know better.

Shih emphasized that the world, not just the US, depends on Taiwan's technology sector. He stated that if the US becomes too difficult to work with, Taiwan should pivot. Taiwan is too small, too resource-limited, to rely on its domestic market alone. Taiwan's growth has always been outward-looking.

He urged Taiwan's businesses to fall back to the "mainstream" mindseta focus on global value creation and long-term collaboration, rather than reactionary maneuvering. If doing business with the US becomes a losing proposition, then Taiwan's firms must look to Europe, to Asia, to the rest of the world.

Both leaders framed the current moment not as a crisis, but as a test of vision. For Taiwan, a global player in chips, devices, and design, the challenge now is not just weathering policy shiftsbut proving, once again, that its real strength lies in strategic composure.

Article edited by Jack Wu
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KING COUNTY  Comcast has over $3 million in monetary, marketing, and technology grants available to small businesses in King County through the company's RISE grants program. Each grant package includes a technology makeover, creative production, a media schedule, educational resources, $5,000, and business consultation services.

Eligible small businesses can learn more and apply for the program at http://www.ComcastRISE.com from May 1 through 31. Winners will be notified in August. Comcast intends to award 100 King County businesses a grant package.





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Three is the magic number, according to scientists who have confirmed that a drink Irish people consume every day is packed with health benefits, anti-aging properties and best of all, it's cheap.

The humble cup of tea that thousands of people start and end their day with may be boosting our gut and brain health while giving us a good dose of antioxidants.

A study carried out in the Sichuan University in Chengdu, China, found that three cups of black tea a day was the benchmark for reaping all of the possible health benefits.

Black tea in particular boosts our brain, gut and heart health, found the study.

READ NEXT: Irish homeowners urged to dry clothes inside amid expert warning

A team of scientists looked at two groups of participants, nearly 6,000 British people between the ages of 37 and 73 and nearly 8,000 Chinese people aged between 30 and 79.

Those in the study were asked how many cups they drank a day and was their preferred tea of choice, black, green, oolong etc.

Scientists then examined blood pressure, body fat percentage and cholesterol to work out each participants age.

Their findings discovered that dinking up to three cups of black tea a day offered the most evident anti-ageing benefits. Researchers also found that polyphenols, a component in tea, is the key to it's anti-ageing properties while also having a beneficial impact on the gut, immunity and cognitive function.

Antioxidants in tea can slow down the skins ageing process while shielding the skin from damage.

The study discovered very little differences in ageing between green tea drinkers from China and black tea drinkers from Britain.
The chief executive of the HSE has reiterated an apology to a disabled woman who experienced neglect and a lack of oversight of her foster care.

The Farrelly Commission was set up in 2017 to examine the case of a woman, given the pseudonym Grace, who has been in the care of the State all her life.

It came after allegations of sexual abuse were raised against her foster father relating to another person who had lived with the family, and the length of time it took to remove Grace from the home thereafter.

The Commission ultimately found Grace had been neglected and that there was a lack of oversight for her care.

However, it said it was not satisfied the evidence established she had been subjected to physical, sexual, or emotional abuse.

The Commission also examined whether further investigation should be carried out into the care of the 47 people who had lived with the foster family in question.

Politicians have expressed shock at the findings of the utterly anaemic 2,000-page report, which took eight years and is expected to cost a total of 20 million euro.

The report has been criticised by opposition politicians and some Government backbenchers.

On Tuesday, HSE chief Bernard Gloster said: My predecessors did apologise to Grace. There can be no question but today that we would sincerely restate that apology to Grace, to her mum, and indeed to the 47 who were comprehended by the various inquiries into this family.

Mr Gloster acknowledged there was a lot of anxiety and concern about a perception of an absence of findings in some areas, but said the HSE had provided all the information it had.

Asked about allegations the HSE took a heavily adversarial approach to the Commission, Mr Gloster said it was not something that has been raised to him since taking the job in 2023.

He said he was assured the HSE had an expectation people conduct themselves well and that he had no doubt people were treated fairly by the Commission.

Pressed on whether the HSE had refused to provide documents, he added: Im aware of one difficulty that the chair of the Commission expressed about the availability of some documents, and the HSE team met with the chair well early back in the inquiry, and I think she accepted the bona fides of the position  and all of the documents that could be produced, were.

Speaking to RTE, Mr Gloster said every report into the Grace case has found shortcomings and a lack of clarity on decisions made in her care.

Asked if there were no files on HSE communication on why Grace had stayed in the home after a decision was made not to send any other children there, he said: I would expect that there were, and I would expect that there were some, and whatever was there should have been made available.

My understanding is everything that was available was made available to the Commission.

A settlement of 6.3 million euro was previously paid by the HSE towards Grace following a High Court ruling into the matter.

Asked why the sum was paid if there was no sexual, physical or emotional abuse, Mr Gloster said the settlement was managed by the State Claims Agency and accounts for her future care.

There was no need to wait for the Commission to know she was neglected, he said. We published reports in 2017 that said that.

He said he agreed with the judge in the case that her treatment was a scandal.

Asked if this was an acknowledgement that she had been sexually abused, he said: I cant say that based on the evidence of what the Commission found.

What I can say is this  and if you allow me just a moment to say it  there was a finding of significant neglect and lack of oversight.

When you combine those two factors, it is more likely the case that we will never know the full life experience of Grace.

We have to accept that in many different ways she was wronged and harmed  but I cant be specific beyond that.

But what I can be specific about is her care was bad. Her care was wrong and the failure to oversee it was wrong.

Speaking to Newstalk, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said he felt extreme sadness and anger that Grace had experienced an absence of fundamental care by the State.

He said the process was simply far too long, adding: We do need to reflect on this, because this is not the only inquiry that goes on for an undue length of time and costs an enormous amount of money.

Asked about the lack of findings of physical or emotional abuse, Mr Martin said: Far more serious allegations had been made, which gave rise to the Commission being established, they have not been upheld  so to speak  or the language is that no evidence has been found, so that  for all concerned  has to be deeply unsatisfactory.

He said uncertainty on the provenance of Graces injuries was ultimately unsatisfactory, but added the Government accepts the findings of the report.

The foster parents at the centre of the report died prior to its publication.
A teenage disability rights campaigner from Co Tipperary is to stage a 50-hour protest outside Leinster House in May.

Cara Darmody is campaigning for the Government to carry out autism assessments of need for children within the legal limit of six months.

The 14-year-old, from Ardfinnan, is an older sister to Neil and John, who are autistic and non-verbal.

She will start her protest at 10am on Tuesday May 20 and stay for 50 hours outside the front gates of Leinster House in a specially cordoned-off area.

The schoolgirl intends to study while protesting, because her summer exams start the following week.

I actually think that Ill get way more study done than normal as Ill have very little else to do! she said.

In June, she regularly protested outside the Taoiseachs Department and has met several taoisigh to discuss disability rights.

Cara has also written to both Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Tanaiste Simon Harris to criticise the disgraceful breach of the assessments of need timeline.

So, I assume that they thought that Id just vanish  big mistake, she said.

They are breaking the law, they are law-breakers, theres no nice way to frame this.

Permanent damage is being caused to children by the States failure to assess children in a timely manner and it must end now. I have called for this to happen for several years, but it just falls on deaf ears.

How can the Cabinet expect children of this country to grow up and respect the law, when the only law-breakers I can see are the Cabinet themselves?

Theyre not going to want to hear that type of criticism, I get that, but its true and they cant hide from that. They are law-breakers, and Im going to call that out big time.

Cara said failures are permanently damaging children and are unacceptable.

To remedy the problem, she has called on the Government to declare a national crisis and to appoint a task force to seek solutions to any barriers around recruitment.

She has also called for the allocation of further funding to provide financial relief to parents paying privately for assessments.

She said: The time has come for someone to draw a line in the sand and say that enough is enough.

There isnt a single politician out there that isnt getting flak from the public over this issue so the time has come for everyone to come together and to stop breaking the law. It really is as simple as that.

In December, the teenager was flown to Chicago to address an event organised by the Colin Farrell Foundation.
Conor McGregor would be widely rejected by the Irish public if he ran for president, a Cabinet minister has said.

Last November, Nikita Hand, also known as Nikita Ni Laimhin, won her claim against McGregor in a civil trial after accusing the professional fighter of raping her in a Dublin hotel in December 2018.

Ms Hand, 35, was awarded damages and costs after a three-week trial in which the jury found him civilly liable for assault.

McGregor, who is appealing against the decision, hosted American conservative political commentator Tucker Carlson in Dublin on Tuesday.

The fighter has previously stated an intent to run for the Irish presidency and has criticised the Irish Governments policies on immigration and public safety.

The Dubliner also voiced these concerns in a meeting with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office last month.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers said: When it comes to Tucker Carlson and Conor McGregor, I think youve seen the resounding rejection of Conor McGregors attempt to run for the presidency.

I think most political parties and independents completely reject his politics, his rhetoric, his divisive approach to public debate, and Im sure that will be reflected in his interview with Tucker Carlson.

But that type of extreme politics isnt something that most Irish people would accept, and I think it will be widely rejected if he attempted to run with the presidency.

Id be surprised if he received a nomination.
The ship has sailed for accountability in the Grace case, the Ombudsman for Children has said following the final report of the Farrelly Commission.

The Commission was set up in 2017 to examine the case of a woman, given the pseudonym Grace, who has been in the care of the State all her life.

It came after allegations of sexual abuse were raised against her foster father relating to another person who had lived with the family, and the length of time it took to remove Grace from the home thereafter.

The Commission ultimately found Grace had been neglected and that there was a lack of oversight for her care.

However, it said it was not satisfied the evidence established she had been subjected to physical, sexual, or emotional abuse.

Childrens Ombudsman Dr Niall Muldoon said Grace had suffered at the hands of the State as he expressed sadness and disappointment for her family.

Asked if there would ever be accountability in the Grace case, Dr Muldoon said: I think that ship has sailed. I dont think thats going to happen.

I think were we are here now, which means that this is the end of the reporting side of things.

But the lessons that can be learned from this, I would be quite happy if  this will be money well spent  if this is the last time we ever have to put a review together to look at how a child has been harmed in the care of the State.

Speaking to RTEs Drivetime, he added: I think its clear that we as a State have let Grace down in numerous different ways, and we need to find answers to that for the future, so that this isnt happening again, we dont have a Grace situation now or into the future and I cant be sure that thats the case.

Referencing a 2018 interview involving Graces birth mother, Dr Muldoon said: What she wanted from the Commission was to understand where the problems were and why her child suffered so much at the hands of the State  and theres nothing there for them, as far as I can see.

Dr Muldoon said the report offers no clarity as to who decided to leave Grace with her foster family despite allegations of sexual abuse within the home, adding that it was not satisfactory.

He also said it was horrific and that there was no excuse that no social worker visited Grace for a period of six years.

The Ombudsman said it was chilling and horrible that a whistleblower involved in the case, Iain Smith, had warned that the State will try to crush other whistleblowers.

Dr Muldoon said: What hes saying there is that the system is built around protecting the system, and thats not the way it should be.

Particularly for child protection and child care, children should be at the centre of these things. And if something goes wrong, which it always will, mistakes are normal, then its part and parcel of everybodys life. But the reality of those mistakes should be highlighted very, very quickly, should be transparent, and they should be fixed quickly.

Meanwhile, Irelands Special Rapporteur on Child Protection said the Farrelly Commission report does not answer core questions about what happened to Grace.

Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC said the report was impenetrable and difficult to follow.

Speaking to RTEs News At One, she added: From the time Ive had with it, it seems to me that it doesnt answer core questions about what happened to Grace and why, and accountability for what happened to Grace and why.

And most importantly, it doesnt address ongoing issues about risks to children.

Asked if the report explained why no qualified social worker visited Grace for a six-year period, Ms Gallagher added: In short, no, and this was one of the most horrifying parts of the report, really.

She added: This is an utterly horrifying case, shocking in so many ways, and I am appalled by what Ive read, and Im appalled by what Ive not read with the answers to questions that are simply not in the report, despite people waiting for almost a decade.
Steel manufacturers EliteForm marked a significant milestone recently as they celebrated the turning of the sod on their brand new 3.2 acre site in Castlebellingham.

We were honoured to be joined by Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke, who helped us officially break ground and mark the beginning of this exciting new chapter, an EliteForm spokesperson said.

The day kicked off with a guided tour of their manufacturing facility, where Minister Burke had the opportunity to see first-hand the innovation, craftsmanship, and precision engineering that goes into every EliteForm product.

From cutting-edge machinery to our passionate and skilled team on the floor, it was a proud moment to showcase the heart of our operation the spokesperson continued.

READ NEXT: Four Seasons Hotel Carlingford celebrates their 20th Birthday

A special highlight of the day was the presentation of a custom-made plaque, designed and manufactured in-house by our talented team.

This one-of-a-kind piece symbolises not just the occasion, but the quality and creativity that define EliteForm.

It was our honour to present it to Minister Burke as a token of appreciation for his visit and support.

Louth TD Paula Butterly, several local councillors, and Kevin Nash of Meegan Builders and Brian Hughes and his daughter from Brady Hughes also attended the event.

And of course, we celebrated with our incredible team, many of whom have been with us since the early days.

As a proud, family-run Irish business, this expansion represents more than just physical growthit's a tribute to the people, values, and vision that brought us here.

Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrateheres to the next chapter of EliteForms journey!
A private investigator whose car struck a customs officer, who was knocked to the ground - hitting his head, after he attempted to stop him driving his unregistered car, has been jailed for 18 months at Dundalk Circuit Court.

Sean Hearty (39) of Boyle OReilly Terrace, Dundalk had pleaded guilty to a charge of endangerment arising out of the incident in Dundalk on July 17th 2023 but the court heard the offence was admitted on the basis of recklessness, rather than intention.

The defendants British registered car had been stopped by Revenue and drove off at speed twice before and on the day in question, after it was spotted parked in a bicycle lane on Jocelyn Street, two customs officers parked up and waited to speak to the driver about paying VRT and importing the car.

CCTV footage played to the court showed the victim, who was in uniform and carrying a high viz vest, put up his hand to stop the driver as he walked towards the car but it made contact with the left side of his body and drove off at speed down Chapel Street.

READ NEXT: Gardai investigating after a man was discovered seriously injured in Louth

The injured party outlined to the court how he suffers PTSD and cant get out of his head, knowing the impact was going to happen and he couldnt get out of the way.

Mr. Hearty had 15 previous convictions, all but one as a juvenile and one for no insurance in 2023, after a 20 year gap.

The Defence barrister said his client, who has received threats in his work as a private investigator, thought it was work related, his two year old child was in the back of the car, and he claimed he didnt realise that hed hit the man, or that he was a customs officer.

The lawyer added a significant beating at the hands of subversives as a juvenile 25 years ago had a lasting effect on the defendant's mindset in terms of how he perceived the situation in regards to his own safety and that of his child.

Retired Garda Inspector Gerry OBrien, who is also a private investigator, said Mr Hearty had assured him he wasnt aware the man was an officer of the State, and added having been one himself he wouldnt support him, if he thought it was a deliberate act.

In finalising the matter last Thursday, Judge Dara Hayes said the defendant had attempted to evade the customs officer, who was clearly directing him to stop the car.

He imposed a two and a half year sentence, but given he had otherwise not come to adverse attention apart from the insurance offence, he suspended the final twelve months on him entering a good behaviour bond.
A County Down woman who hit a local door man with a glass on the side of the head, while on a night out in Louth before her younger sister went to Australia, was given a suspended sentence at Dundalk Circuit Court last week.

Aideen Matthews (31) of Haywood Way, Kilkeel had pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at a licensed premises on Park Street, Dundalk on October 31st 2022.

The original sentencing date heard that the security man became aware that the defendant was becoming abusive to other customers in the pub and had tried to remove a glass from her hand, which she was swinging around.

A man who was nearby had to duck to avoid being hit. The glass broke on the left side of the victims head  cutting the top of his ear and an inch behind the ear lobe.

READ NEXT: Drunk driver jailed for killing best friend in Louth crash

The Defence barrister said his client, who had no previous convictions, had been out socializing since lunchtime with her sister who was going to Australia two days later and stressed that her conduct was reckless rather than intentional.

The case was put back to establish the victim's attitude to a sum being offered, and the adjourned hearing last Thursday was told he was willing to accept the 2,300 that was in court.

It was also confirmed that the defendant has not come to the adverse attention of the PSNI.

Judge Dara Hayes noted the injured party suffered flashbacks, struggled to sleep, had panic attacks and anxiety following the assault.

The judge said he had seriously considered whether an immediate custodial sentence was required, but it appears to have been out of character for the defendant, a single mum of four children.

He suspended the two and a half year sentence he was imposing, in its entirety, on her entering a good behaviour bond and warned "If you come back before this court - no matter how minor that matter might be, you'll serve that sentence.
Its vital that pharmacies in Louth come on board to deliver the free HRT that women need, local Fine Gael TD Paula Butterly has said.

Deputy Butterly has said that she is calling on pharmacies across Louth to sign up to the HRT scheme, to ensure women receive the medication and healthcare they need and have been promised.

I am grateful to Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill for engaging with all stakeholders including the Irish Pharmacy Union. Implementing the free HRT scheme announced by her predecessor was always a priority for the Minister since she took office", Deputy Butterly commented.

Minister Carroll MacNeill is committed to supporting each participating community pharmacy by paying them a 5 dispensing fee per HRT medicine/product dispensed to all eligible patients, including those existing patients under the GMS/DPS Schemes and for all other patients prescribed HRT (private patients), and 1,000 once-off grant to every participating community pharmacy.

The symptoms women encounter during perimenopause and menopause are varied and womens lives can be hugely impacted. HRT is such an important medicinal regime for women and can positively improve their lives and make daily living much easier."

The local TD added: I would urge all pharmacies in Louth including those the Irish Pharmacy Union represent to engage with the scheme proposed by the Minister. Women need the support of their local trusted pharmacist when embarking on any medication and if any changes are needed during their treatment. I expect that they will contact their own pharmacies in their droves to ask that they be provided with the free medication they are now entitled to.

I would ask all pharmacies in Louth to join the scheme and to continue to deliver quality healthcare for their communities."
329,643 in funding to protect four archaeological monuments in Louth has been announced today by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage under the 2025 Community Monuments Fund.

The funding is part of a 7.5 million package for 122 projects nationwide, to help owners and custodians of archaeological monuments to safeguard them into the future.

In Louth, 100,000 has been allocated each to Taaffe's Castle, Bellew's Castle, and Glaspistol Towerhouse through Stream 1 of the fund, which is aimed at essential repairs and capital works for the conservation and repair of archaeological monuments.

A further 29,643 has been allocated to Hatch's Castle in Ardee through Stream 2, which is aimed at development of Conservation Management Plans/Reports that are aimed at identifying measures for conservation of archaeological monuments and improving public access.

Read next: Plans finally revealed for traffic calming in north Louth

Announcing the funding, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD said that "the importance of our archaeological heritage cannot be overstated and this fund has a very real and profound impact on the custodians and communities in our cities, villages, towns and countryside.

Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher OSullivan TD, added that this scheme helps to build robustness in our heritage against the extremes of weather, addressing key actions in our Climate Adaptation Plan as well as under Heritage Ireland 2030.

"These awards also deliver jobs for the heritage sector and traditional skills craftspeople, providing thousands of hours of employment every year.
Missing ordnance which gardai said may have contained explosive material has been recovered following a public appeal.

The appeal over the possible live Army round seen near a walking trail in Co Wicklow was issued on Tuesday.

A white illumination round is about 12in (30cm) long and weighs nearly 7lb (3.1kg). It is used by the military to illuminate an area at night.

The possible live ordnance was seen by a member of the public on a walking trail on Lugnaquilla mountain in the Glen of Imaal, Donard.

Issuing the appeal, An Garda Siochana said the casing may still contain explosive and incendiary material, which would pose significant danger to the public.

Gardai said the location is inside the signposted Range Danger Area along Route 2.

The Glen of Imaal, in the western Wicklow Mountains, is used by the Defence Forces as an artillery firing range and a training location for Irish soldiers going on UN peacekeeping missions.

Gardai said the round was seen partially buried in the ground and appeared to have been in the location for some time.

However, it was no longer at that location and was believed to have been removed.

On Tuesday, gardai said the round had been recovered following the appeal.
The Philippine Childrens Medical Center (PCMC) is looking for people to become a part of their Human Milk Bank.

Did you know that most hospitals in the country get the supply of their breast milk from PCMC Milk Bank? Honestly, they dont have enough supply but are trying their best to cope with the needs.

Did you know that frozen breastmilk, as in the consistency of an iced candy, can be stored and used for months? So if you know anyone who is lactating and has excess milk to store then maybe they can be a donor.

If you wish to fund their promotions, operations and research projects and help Milk Bank expand you can do so by being a benefactor.

Or if you get get more lactating moms to join, get milk from donors, bring milk from donors to PCM Milk Bank or help promote and educate people on Milk Bank then you can be a volunteer.

PCMC Milk Bank also welcomes allies like hospitals, insitutions, organizations and communities to be a part of this program.

For more information on how to be a donor you can contact the Alay Gatas Headquarters Human Milk Bank 2/F PCMS, Quezon Avenue Quezon City and look for Mercy del Rosario or Cecille Cayabyab (9246601) loc. 288.
I have no sad story to tell. I felt so bless to know that while other were cold, hungry and submerged in flood water during typhoon Ondoys devastation my family and I were safe and warm inside our home. The only inconvenience I had was the intermittent to no internet connection I experienced but that does not compare to what the others were experiencing.

I was aware of what was happening all over Metro Manila because despite my internet was down, I was logged in at Facebook and Plurk via my mobile device. I was checking and getting updates from my network of friends including the Facebook page of LopezLink. My heart bled as I heard stories of people crying for help because they were stranded on their roof with no food or dry clothes to keep them warm.

The next morning, when I turned on the television Sunday morning of Sept. 27, 2009 ABS-CBN has a live telethon on behalf of Sagip Kapamilya. Kris Aquino was leading the pack, and was shameless than ever to ask not just the company she endorses but her co-celebrities to donate something in cash or in kind. Who could ever resist her.



Kris Aquino, Fr Tito Caluag, Tina Monzon-Palma and Piolo Pascual originally uploaded by LopezLink

Thats when mom and I decided to rummage through our closet and got a sack full of clothes for donation. I also went through my daughters wardrobe and got a luggage full of childrens clothes that I immediately brought to the DSWD headquarters at Batasan Hills, Quezon City that day. I was saddened to know that they need a lot of volunteers and donations of food, water, and dry clothes, especially for kids who were also a victim of Ondoys wrath.

I went to the grocery same day and most of the basic necessity were gone. People lining up at the ATM machines were telling their sad story, where all their properties were wiped out.

During these trying times I feel so proud to be a Filipino, because despite not having much, our countrymen were able to share and spare time, money and effort to help their countrymen. Some would even want to become a part of Sagip Kapamilya Volunteers and I think this question posted in a LopezLink forum about having an after office hours volunteering time is valid.
A programme which sees Cork City Council acquire properties a landlord is planning to sell is to be ceased due to inadequate government funding, despite it helping 224 people avoid homelessness last year.

A circular was issued by the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage on March 31, which said there would be a capital funding allocation of 20m for Cork city in 2025.

Alison ORourke, the director of the housing directorate, explained: The councils initial review of the circular, the programme parameters, conditions, and the allocation indicates that the funding received will be insufficient to adequately cover current commitments from 2024 into 2025.

135 homes were acquired by the council in 2024, including 79 tenant-in-situ acquisitions. A further 33 homes were at the sale agreed stage at the end of the year.

Funding exhausted

The tenant-in-situ scheme allows local authorities to purchase rental properties from landlords who are selling, ensuring tenants facing eviction due to the sale can continue to rent from the authority.

Ms ORourke said: The impact of funding will unfortunately mean that the 2025 Acquisition Programme is now ceased. We have determined that the allocated funding has been exhausted.

The refurbishment programme for tenant-in-situ properties, to bring them up to lettable standards, will be required to be reduced or terminated."

Ms ORourke said this is expected to have a significant effect on homeless preventions.

In 2024, tenant-in-situ accounted for 37.7% of homeless preventions in Cork city  including 37 single households and 51 families, comprising 87 adults and 100 children.

In 2024, there were 257 compliant notices of termination issued where the landlord had intention to sell. In Q1 of 2025, a further 104 notices were issued  a 47% increase on average per quarter this year.

To date in 2025, 39 new households have been placed in emergency accommodation due to receipt of compliant notices to quit  23 single households and 16 families, comprising of 25 adults and 35 children. Ms ORourke said the council will pursue all avenues to assist with homeless prevention in such circumstances.

Limited

However the availability of suitable and immediately available property for such large numbers will be limited, she said.

The council is discussing the matter with the Department of Housing, and we envisage that commitments will be honoured.

However, the progression of any additional purchases under the 2025 Acquisitions Programme is ceased with immediate effect.

Sinn Fein councillor Kenneth Collins, to whom the information was provided in response to a written question, said: This is absolutely shocking. There are families in Cork city right now who will be made homeless because of this. We stand in full solidarity with Cork City Council in fighting against this.

They have worked tirelessly to implement the tenant-in-situ scheme to prevent homelessness over the last 18 months. That work has now been undermined and dismissed.

It is very worrying that the council is even being forced to fight to honour existing commitments. The funding allocation is clearly nowhere near sufficient, and the minister must have known this.
The licensee of a popular pub in Ballintemple has said they are in panic mode following the publication of the proposed route for the Cork Luas line.

Con Dennehy, who runs the Venue Bar on the Blackrock Rd with his partner Kate, expressed his shock following the announcement of the route which, under the current plans, would see his premises demolished.

The proposed line, published by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and launched by Taoiseach Micheal Martin on Monday, shows the emerging preferred route spanning 18km and 25 stops from Ballincollig to Mahon Point.

As outlined by Transport Infrastructure Ireland, the proposed line will see the route travel from Pairc Ui Chaoimh southbound to the Blackrock Rd before travelling further across Churchyard Lane, where a portion of land take will be required to facilitate the alignment  which includes the demolition of the Venue Bar.

The plans, published on the dedicated Cork Luas website, state that it is proposed to reinstate this corner site as part of the works, in keeping with the architectural conservation area status of the village.

Speaking to The Echo, Mr Dennehy said that neither he nor his partner were contacted prior to the launch of the plans regarding the potential demolition of his business.

Unprofessional

I think the way they went about this was shoddy and unprofessional, said Mr Dennehy.

Those plans have been rattling around in somebodys office for months  they should have brought us aside and given us a heads up.

Theyre launching this with great fanfare, but theyre now after blowing the value of the building out of the water  whos going to buy it.

I dont know what my address is going to be, but I intend to go about [contesting] this  even if it takes 15 years to go ahead.

My partner is extremely upset, shes in panic mode. We took that place over 10 years ago, when it was a derelict site, and weve put our hearts and souls into it.

Nobody contacted us about this prior to the launch  they [National Transport Authority] have contacted us subsequently, [but] its a total shock.

A spokesperson for the authority said that the body informed Mr Dennehy of the plans to demolish his business at the earliest opportunity.

Informed

Any acquisitions that are considered will be managed in a sensitive and fair manner, and all affected parties will be dealt with individually, said the spokesperson.

We informed Mr Dennehy at the earliest opportunity about the impact which the proposed scheme would have on his property. It is TIIs policy to inform all affected stakeholders at the same time, and Mr Dennehy was treated no differently to any of the other affected stakeholders.

Our intention is to be fair and transparent and, therefore, we advise all at the same time. Having said that, we are most keen to engage with affected stakeholders, and have invited any such stakeholder to contact us at their earliest convenience so we can discuss their individual situations.
Further progress has been made as part of the Ballyphehane Tidy Towns Pearse Square Rejuvenation Project, as pedestrian only access is restored in the square.

The construction of a barrier at the Father Dominic Road entrance of the square comes following concerns raised by residents and business owners and is hoped to further improve the safety of the area.

Since starting our Pearse Square Rejuvenation Project over three years ago weve been listening to local concerns and working closely with Cork City Council, and were happy to share that a barrier has now been installed to help restore Pearse Square as the pedestrian zone it was originally designed to be, a representative for Ballyphehane Tidy Towns said.

The Pearse Square Rejuvenation Project aimed to revitalise a once-neglected public space in Ballyphehane, transforming it into a vibrant community hub. The project addressed several challenges, including the squares appearance, lack of community engagement, and safety concerns.

Since 2020, vehicles entering the square have damaged tiles, created trip hazards, damaged drainage and even reversed into light poles and planters  making the area unsafe, especially for children and older residents.

We know some will be disappointed and angry that parking is no longer allowed in the square, but public safety has to come first.

Locals are assured that emergency services have been notified of the change and have full access to the barrier 24/7, as do community gardai who Ballyphehane Tidy Towns have said are aware and supportive of the change.

Were now continuing to work with the council to improve road markings around the square so that nearby parking is used as efficiently as possible.

Thank you to the residents, local businesses, Cork City Council, and everyone who helped make this happen. Were committed to making Pearse Square a safer, more welcoming space for families, shoppers, and the entire community.

The success of the Pearse Square Rejuvenation Project to date has been largely due to the active involvement of the local community.

Volunteers from all walks of life came together to contribute to the project, from planting flowers and painting murals to maintaining the squares features.

The project has also fostered partnerships with local businesses and organisations, such as Ballyphehanes Men Shed, and Cork City Council, who provided resources and support.

Lough Playground refit

An online campaign has been launched to secure funding for the refurbishment of the Lough Playground.

Taking to Change.org, petition starter Katie ORegan wrote: As a resident who deeply values the communal essence of our area, the Lough holds a special place in our hearts. However, the current state of the playground is in need of renovation and improvement to make it accessible and engaging for all.

Instead of patching up the various holes in the playground we need to properly renovate, whilst also including something such as a sand pit area to make it more inclusive and appropriate for sensory seekers. Neglecting this playground means failing our community and the generations to come.

More can be found at https://shorturl.at/1dJ21.

A great year at the Change Cafe

The Change Cafe celebrated one year since its inception with a special anniversary event last week.

Created as a safe space where women can find out more about menopause and female health, it is open to all and free to attend. Its a collaboration between the HSE and several local community organisations.

Grainne OConnell, representative for the Change Cafe committee said: A year ago, we launched a community initiative set up to empower and support women with free information to help them navigate positively through their journey of menopause and general health.

We are really proud of our achievements over the past 12 months.

We have had some wonderful speakers, we have learned so much, we have supported and encouraged each other, and have had some great fun along the way.

The cafe attendees celebrated their anniversary in style with a demonstration from local beautician Kim McAuliffe.

Student council hosts schools for day of teamwork

Members of the Colaiste Eamann Ris Student Council welcomed fellow students from a number of Cork schools for a day of teamwork and collaboration.

The student council hosted students from Edmund Rice Schools such as Midleton CBS, Christian Brothers College, Nagle Rice, Doneraile, and Edmund Rice College Carrigaline.

Colaiste Eamann Ris Student Council welcomed fellow students from a number of Cork schools. Picture: Colaiste Eamann Ris Facebook

The students worked together, shared ideas, discussed their projects, and explored solutions to challenges faced by their peers.

It was a great day of bonding, fostering a caring school community and inspiring creativity and co-operation among everyone involved, said event organisers.

Parent group seeks leader

Turners Cross Parent and Toddler Group is seeking an individual to take over its running.

We are looking for people who would be willing to take on the responsibilities of running the group or assisting with running the group every Friday from September. Without this, the group may no longer be able to continue.

The group runs each Friday morning in Turners Cross Community Centre.

Contact Ann for details on 087-6654387.

Bealtaine collaboration

Ballyphehane Togher Community Development Project CLG is delighted to announce a new collaboration with Tory Top Library, Cork City Libraries, and Cork City Partnership as part of the 2025 Bealtaine Festival.

The groups will work together to present an intergenerational project which will include artists from Ballyphehane Arts Network, Ballyphehane Togher Community Arts and Crafts Initiative, Cork 2nd Scout Group, and Foroige Youth Project Togher as part of the month-long festival.

Established in 1995, Bealtaine is one of Irelands largest co-operative festivals and the worlds first national celebration of creativity in older age. The festival is run by Age and Opportunity, the leading national development organisation working to enable the best possible quality of life for all as we age.

The Ballyphehane project will be titled Every Day is a New Chance and will be displayed on the wall of Tory Top Library. This art display will become a focal point for people, young and old, to interact within the community.

As part of the initiative, a workshop was held with Cork artist Davy Dummigan.

The launch of the project will be held in Tory Top Library on May 21.

Community forum

The public is invited to attend Togher Community Forum in co-operation with An Garda Siochana. The event is to be held on Tuesday, April 29, at 7pm in Togher Community Centre.

Cherry Blossom Festival

Ballyphehane Tidy Towns urges locals to save the date as the renowned Cherry Blossom Festival returns to Ballyphehane from May 2 to 4.

Expect community fun, flowers in full bloom, and great vibes all weekend long.

Have Ballyphehane, Togher and Turner's Cross news to share? Contact elaine.whelan@theecho.ie
A man has been charged in relation to a fatal assault in Youghal on Monday.

The man, who died after an assault in Youghal, has been named locally as Daniel Dano OSullivan, who had been jailed for manslaughter in 2016.

A post-mortem examination was carried out at Cork University Hospital (CUH) by Dr Margot Bolster on Tuesday.

Gardai in Midleton commenced a murder investigation after receiving preliminary results.

A 29-year-old man, arrested on Monday night for questioning in connection with the death, remained in custody last night under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at Midleton Garda Station.

He was charged this morning and is due to appear in court.

Victim Dan Dano OSullivan was transferred to Cork University Hospital suffering from serious injuries and was later pronounced dead.

A Garda spokesperson said this morning: "Gardai continue to investigate all of the circumstances surrounding the death of a man following a fatal assault that occurred in Youghal, Co. Cork on Monday night, 14th April 2025.

"The male, in his 20s, arrested in connection with this investigation has since been charged.

"He is expected to appear before Midleton District Court this morning, Wednesday 16th April 2025, at 10:30am."
Cork County Council have launched a new five year plan that sets out the vision and strategic goals of council.

The Corporate Plan (2025  2029) was passed recently by the Council. In the plan there is a focus on community development, housing sustainable economic growth and climate action.

The plan was developed following a series of stakeholder and public consultations, surveys and submission invitations. More than 20 workshops were also held throughout the county last year.

The feedback, along with the wider policy context in which Cork County Council operates, has resulted in the creation of seven strategic pillars which will underpin the strategy of the organisation for the next five years.

Cork County Councils seven strategic pillars are: Community and Place; Community and People; Health, Wellbeing and the Environment; Economic Growth and Green Economy; Strategic, Critical and Enabling Infrastructure; Organisational Development; and Collaboration and Partnership.

Cork County Council have included high-level performance measures in the Corporate Plan from the outset, signposting the relevant work programme areas through which the plan will be delivered. While the plan also aims to provide sustainable opportunities for everyone through vibrant and inclusive communities, inspired by a progressive economic environment.

Mayor of the County of Cork Joe Carroll thanked everyone who contributed to the plan.

There are huge opportunities over the next five years for us to deliver for the people of County Cork which will be achieved by everyone working together.

I particularly welcome the emphasis in this plan upon supporting both younger and older members of our communities.

Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Moira Murrell added: The Corporate Plan sets out the vision for Cork County Council to achieve the ambitious programme for growth and development across County Cork.

It is our roadmap for the next five years to sustain an increased population. Cork County Council will be engaging with a range of agencies to achieve the objectives in the Plan.

The plan is available to view online at www.corkcoco.ie
Corks historic St Annes Shandon clock tower is to receive 130,000 in funding under the Governments Community Monuments Fund (CMF), a northside TD has announced.

The funding, which is part of an over-all national allocation of 7.5m to protect archaeological monuments, comes after an investment last month of 250,000 under the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritages Historic Structures Fund (HSF).

The CMF allocation is earmarked for capital conservation works, and follows an estimate by Cork City Council, which is responsible for the maintenance of the clock, that the cost of repairs to the damaged clock would likely start at 400,000, with final costs to be determined before any works would commence.

According to locals, the four-faced liar, as the iconic clock has been known for generations in Cork, has been telling the wrong time since last May, and its eastern face has been stopped on six oclock for as long.

For many years the clock mechanism, which was installed in 1847 by the then Cork Corporation, was maintained by Philip Stokes of Stokes Clocks and Watches on MacCurtain St.

However, at the start of this year, Mr Stokes said he had stepped away from the maintenance of the clock mechanism, due to safety concerns relating to structural issues in the clock tower.

Announcing the fresh funding allocation, Padraig OSullivan, Fianna Fail TD for Cork North Central, said it had been delivered by his party colleagues, housing minister James Browne and Cork South West TD Christopher OSullivan, minister of state at the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage.

Its fantastic news for Shandon, and its great to see coming on top of the earlier 250,000 allocation, Padraig OSullivan said.

This allocation coincides with World Heritage Day, which is on Friday, and it will mean that the city council should now be able to carry out the majority of works needed to restore St Annes Shandon to its former glory.

Shandon St butcher James Nolan, a third-generation trader and a member of Shandon Area Renewal Association, said news of the latest grant was most welcome.

Itll be fabulous to get the clock back up and running, its such an iconic part of the city, its one of the picture postcard images of Cork city, Mr Nolan said.

Hopefully, everything else will fall into place as well.

We have an application in for funding for the Butter Market and the Weighmasters House as well, so hopefully it will snowball rejuvenation for the Shandon area.

Sinn Fein councillor Kenneth Collins said he was delighted at news of the latest funding allocation, having raised the issue of funding for Shandon several times at council level.
A 24-year-old man who had been getting the support of Cork Simon Community for a year caused criminal damage at the hostel twice in one day when he was not admitted.

The judge dealing with the case said it was a case of biting the hand that feeds.

Judge Philip OLeary commented that Cork Simon is a highly reputable organisation, doing their best to help people, as he imposed a total sentence of five months on Alex Ioanovici at Cork District Court.

The accused pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to a doorbell camera at Cork Simon Community on Andersons Quay.

The first charge of damage related to 3.40pm that day  June 9, 2024  and the second incident of a very similar nature occurred at 8.20pm.

Sergeant Aisling Murphy told the judge that the accused came to the rear of the premises and asked to avail of services at the hostel in the afternoon.

However, the accused was told he could not do so until later in the evening.

Ioanovici then proceeded to smash the camera doorbell, the court heard.

When Ioanovici returned a few hours later, he was told that he would not be allowed in due to the damage he caused earlier, Sgt Murphy added.

Ioanovici then reacted by carrying out more less the same offence again.

Solicitor Killian McCarthy said: [Ioanovici] wants to apologise.

This is something that should not have happened. It was not something he intended to do, he said.

He is a 24-year-old man who came from Romania six years ago.

The embassy has his passport, and he is finding it difficult to access services, Mr McCarthy added.

He was residing in Carlow previously, he said.

Judge OLeary said: I appreciate the man has difficulties but there is a degree of this being self-inflicted.
A prisoner became ill after drinking prison hooch and was taken to hospital for treatment but he turned on a prison officer by spitting in his face and trying to bite him.

23-year-old Michael Troy of Ardmore Terrace, Cork Road, Waterford, was serving a sentence at Cork Prison when he had to be taken by ambulance to hospital and carried out the assault.

Sergeant John Kelleher said the incident occurred at Mercy University Hospital on February 2 2024 when the prison officer was assaulted while restraining the disruptive prisoner.

He had become ill in the prison while drinking what is called prison hooch and had to be taken by ambulance to hospital.

Mr Troy spat in the prison officers face and also tried unsuccessfully to bite the officers hand. No injuries were sustained.

The prison officer received treatment at the hospital where his face, eyes and mouth were cleaned by medical staff and did not sustain any other injuries.

Michael Troy stated he had poor recollection of the night due to intoxication but he did not dispute the allegation that he did carry out the assault.

The accused man is serving a five-year sentence for aggravated assault from Waterford Circuit Criminal Court and is not due for release until July 31 2027.

Solicitor Shane Collins-Daly said the date of the incident was his mothers anniversary and he acknowledged that he was brought to hospital for his own good.

He took something that got him into this shocking behaviour, Mr Collins-Daly said.

Judge Treasa Kelly said: That is totally unacceptable behaviour that you would turn on a prison officers in the course of his duty, particularly in a hospital setting where people go for help.

I note you have apologised to the injured party and in the circumstances of a very long sentenced that you are serving I will impose one month consecutive to your existing sentence.

Fruit, bread and water are sometimes combined in a sealed container in prisons in an attempt to make alcohol by fermentation.
Met Eireann issued a status yellow rain warning for Cork this evening, which is set to come into effect tomorrow night.

The warning, which covers the counties of Cork and Kerry, will be valid from 11pm tomorrow, and will remain in effect until 12pm on Friday.

As a result of the weather conditions, the national forecaster is advising that predicted spells of heavy rain may result in localised flooding.

Additionally, a small craft warning for all coasts of Ireland has also been issued by Met Eireann today, which will come into effect from 7pm tomorrow, and will remain in effect until 1am on Saturday.

The forecaster is advising that those utilising Irish waterways during these times be vigilant of easterly or cyclonic variable winds, which will reach force 6 or higher.
Cork Chamber, the voice of business in Cork, is delighted to welcome the publication of the emerging preferred route for the light rail network in Cork.

This landmark project will play a pivotal role in transforming Corks transport infrastructure, creating a well-connected, efficient and sustainable network that aligns with Corks ambitious climate goals.

The emerging preferred route includes 17km of light rail from Mahon Point in the east of the city to Ballincollig in the west, with 24 stops, including Kent station.

This interconnected transport network will allow passengers to change between tram, rail and bus services when travelling to city centre and suburban destinations.

The publication of the route is a major step forward for the project.

The development of a light rail network in Cork has been a priority for Cork Chambers members for a long time.

We have seen the benefits of investment in the suburban rail and bus networks, both of which have seen significant increases in passenger numbers as a result, and we believe the delivery of a light rail system will have a transformative impact on Cork city, removing traffic congestion and offering commuters, shoppers and visitors to the city a reliable alternative mode of transport.

It is vital that this key project is delivered at pace and we believe with the right support, this can happen.

We encourage all stakeholders to pull together to make this happen.

I must also emphasise the importance of this initiative in achieving Corks carbon neutrality goals.

Cork has signed up to be carbon neutral by 2030 and a sustainable, environmentally-friendly transport network is essential in achieving that.

We encourage the Cork community and businesses to have their say in the development of this crucial piece of infrastructure and contribute to the public consultation process.

A computer generated image of a Cork Luas tram on Main Street, Ballincollig.

Cork Chamber is also delighted to welcome the opening of the new platform 6 at Kent Station, marking the completion of the first of a series of interrelated projects to be delivered as part of the wider upgrade of the Cork commuter rail network.

Recent improvements to the commuter rail network in Cork have already led to a significant increase in passenger numbers.

This 23m platform project, funded by the European Union Recovery and Resilience Facility, is a crucial step in the series of projects which will ultimately facilitate a 10-minute service frequency for the Cork rail network.

The first phase of the Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme includes the new platform as well as twin-tracking and signalling upgrades on the wider network, which are set for completion in 2026.

These will allow for a significant increase in train frequency on each of Corks three commuter lines, to Cobh, Midleton, and Mallow, and ensure that Cork is equipped with the rail network to support the city and countys development.

Continued momentum is needed with regard to suburban rail expansion and the delivery of the rail services outlined in the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (CMATS).

The electrification of the suburban rail line is essential to move towards a more sustainable future for Cork, and new stations and improved frequencies will further increase Corks attractiveness as a place to live and work.

Cork Chamber is committed to making Cork the best place for business.

As the leading business organisation in the south of Ireland, it supports and represents the interests of almost 1,200 businesses employing more than 130,000 people across the region.

Founded in 1819, Cork Chamber is one of Irelands largest and longest established Chambers and is the nations No.1 regional lobby group.

Supporting sustainable development in the region, Cork Chamber is championing the UN Sustainable Development Goals, through which the Chamber priorities and activities are framed.
Sean McCarthaigh

The proportion of people with problematic use of opioids like heroin is three times higher in Dublin than the rest of Ireland, according to the findings of a new study.

Research on the prevalence of problematic opioid use carried out by the Health Research Board and University College Cork estimated there were approximately 19,460 people nationwide at risk of harm from their use of opioids in 2022.

It represents 5.8 per 1,000 population nationally affected by such drugs, which include morphine, methadone, fentanyl, codeine and tramadol.

The HRB report said the estimate is high compared with the results of comparable international studies which suggests the rates of problematic opioid use in Ireland are among the highest in Europe.

It calculated that Ireland has the 6th highest rate among EU countries behind Denmark, Finland, Italy, Latvia and Portugal.

More than two-thirds of all those affected in the Republic are males, while more than three-quarters are in the older age-group of 35-64-year-olds.

The study found that more than half of all individuals addicted to opioids  53% of the total  are based in Dublin.

It calculated the prevalence rate of problematic opioid use in Dublin city and county at 11.2 per 1,000 population  more than three times the rate of the rest of Ireland at 3.5 per 1,000 population.

The problem is particularly acute in Dublin city, where the rate is just over 17.0 per 1,000 population.

Outside Dublin, the highest prevalence rates are found in other cities and the midlands, including Limeric,k where problematic opioid use affects 13.7 per 1,000 population.

The rate for Cork is 5.6 per 1,000 population, Galway (4.8) and Waterford (7.5).

Overall, there has been a slight decrease in the number of problematic opioid users between 2020 and 2022, although the reduction is not considered statistically significant.

However, the report said it was notable that the prevalence of problematic opioid use among 15-24-year-olds appears to be decreasing.

Researchers found that a third of all people accessing drug treatment services in the Republic in 2022 were treated for problematic opioid use, with heroin accounting for almost 9 out of every 10 such cases.

The study noted that while synthetic opioids like methadone and fentanyl are used less often than heroin, their misuse may be on the rise.

However, the proportion of people accessing drug treatment services who reported opioids as their main problem has fallen from 47.8 per cent in 2015 to 33.1 per cent in 2022.

The HRB report said measuring the prevalence of problematic opioid use is challenging because of the hidden population of at-risk drug users, which can include homeless persons and individuals who may have no contact with service providers.

It was observed that the overall picture in relation to problematic opioid use over the past decade appeared to be relatively stable.

The authors of the study said changes in drug use behaviours are evident with users starting opioid use later in life, reducing injection practices, using opioids less frequently and seeking treatment at later stages.

They added: Heroin is the primary opioid misused in Ireland, but qualitative research in Dublin indicates that many young people now view heroin extremely negatively. Furthermore, even among adolescents engaged in extensive polydrug use, a significant number avoid heroin.

Ongoing research in this area will be crucial for effective service planning and to allow policy-makers to evaluate the impact of strategies aimed at reducing drug-related harms, they observed.

The report noted that similar trends across Europe suggested younger people may be wary of opioid use after witnessing its harmful effects on previous generations.

However, it stated it was important to consider other findings, which showed a notable increase in the use of stimulant-type drugs like cocaine and ecstasy by young people that indicated a shift towards more accessible and inexpensive drugs that are perceived to be less harmful.
One in four pregnancies will end in a first-trimester miscarriage, which is the first 12 weeks of a pregnancy.

Since 2023 in Ireland, recurrent miscarriage is defined as two consecutive pregnancy losses in a row. It affects between 1% and 5% of the population.

These stark figures illustrate how common miscarriages are. But despite the frequency of miscarriages, the topic remains taboo in a lot of cases, with many women and couples feeling like they have nowhere to turn to when they experience pregnancy loss.

While miscarriage is referred to as common for many, its still unexpected, and it can be upsetting and sometimes even traumatic, explains Professor ODonoghue, Consultant Obstetrician, CUMH and Lead at the Pregnancy Loss Research Group at University College Cork.

Our research with people who experience miscarriage also shows that the silence and stigma thats still around pregnancy loss can be made worse by the lack of reliable and accessible information.

The care that people receive after they experience a miscarriage can have a significant impact, says Professor ODonoghue.

It can make a real difference to how they cope with that experience of miscarriage. So even the care they get after one or any miscarriage is really important, and we know that for women, being aware of their treatment options and what support is available to them may improve that feeling of control during that sometimes horrible event and afterwards.

How theyre looked after, and the information they get, the support they have access to, but also how they can drive that themselves as a person experiencing this type of pregnancy complication, that can also have a positive effect on future pregnancy or future pregnancy outcomes.

A focus on accessible information and support is the driver behind a series of new resources that are now available for women who experience miscarriages or recurrent miscarriages.

They include a series of booklets that provide accessible and wide-ranging information for people who have experienced a miscarriage, answering questions such as what happens next, what supports are available, and providing important snippets of real-world experiences.

The resources include a booklet about miscarriage.

To ensure inclusivity, the resources also include videos in multiple languages such as Arabic, Polish, Romanian, French and Irish Sign Language.

There is also an appointment letter template for recurrent miscarriage clinics, a checklist for use within emergency departments for staff to use when people initially present with signs of miscarriage, and case studies.

The resources have been developed as part of the Health Research Board-funded RE:CURRENT study, and crucially, the development also includes information from people who have experienced miscarriage and recurrent miscarriage, together with health professionals and decision-makers in the countrys maternity services.

Historically, information, care and support for people who have experienced miscarriage has been inconsistent, and at times difficult to come by. This situation was borne out in RE:CURRENT, a national care service evaluation conducted by the Pregnancy Loss Research Group over four years.

A survey within the study revealed that almost one in four of those who participated rated their overall care after a miscarriage as poor, and one in five said it was worse than they expected.

We found that people were more likely to say they had a better care experience if they got standardised or structured information, if they got answers about investigation, if they got support afterwards, and if they had improved care in a future early pregnancy as well, says Professor ODonoghue.

For Professor ODonoghue and her team, the study highlighted the real need to provide information about miscarriage and recurrent miscarriage.

Although we set out to study recurrent miscarriage, when youre talking to people about their experience, theyre giving you their experience of each individual miscarriage and often how they were managed or treated during their first pregnancy loss.

Information and support is also provided around recurrent miscarriage.

Recurrent miscarriage is now defined as the loss of two or more pregnancies in a row before 12 weeks of pregnancy.

This has been updated within the last two years to make sure care is available after every miscarriage, instead of women having to experience three or more miscarriages before they were able to access a certain type of care or have certain investigations carried out.

In speaking to women with lived experiences, Professor ODonoghue and her team found that information was so important to the women experiencing miscarriages; information about their management choices, what might happen to them around the time of pregnancy loss, what might happen if that was at home or in hospital? What decisions should they make around miscarriage care? What happens at clinic appointments?

Words like empowerment sometimes get a bit overused, but its really important that people have access to reliable, accurate health information, rather than just random medical pieces they might get off a search through a social media channel or Dr Google.

All of the resources are available via the Pregnancy and Infant Loss Ireland website: www.pregnancyandinfantloss.ie.

The booklets and videos also available on the Cork Miscarriage website: www.corkmiscarriage.com.

Copies of the booklets have also been distributed to maternity hospitals/units with the support of the National Women and Infants Programme.
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.

A satellite Image from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows Hurricane Katia in the Atlantic Ocean on Sept. 1, 2011. NOAA via Getty Images

The Trump administration plans to eliminate the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)s research arm, close climate and weather labs and slash the budgets of several NOAA offices, internal documents said.

If Congress approves the plan, funding for NOAAs Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) office would be drastically reduced from $485 million to $171 million, reported The Guardian.

Retired OAR Director Craig McLean told The Guardian the cuts would compromise the safety, economic competitiveness, and security of the American people.

One document stated all budgets for weather, ocean and climate labs would be emptied, with that level of funding resulting in OAR being eliminated as a line office.

The elimination of NOAAs research line office and all of its research capabilities is a crushing blow to the ability of our country to protect our citizens and also to lead the world, said former NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, who called the recommendations extraordinarily devastating.

Under the proposed reductions, more than $324 million would be cut from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), with instructions for the agency to follow administration priorities in its work to unleash American energy.

Grants for habitat restoration, conservation and species recovery, as well as the fisheries grant program, would all lose their funding.

The uncertainty at NOAA has been felt all over the world, as researchers from other countries become more concerned about potential interruptions to crucial climate data from the many NOAA Earth-observing missions, Inside Climate News reported.

Argo, an important international ocean monitoring program, could be vulnerable due to the large role the U.S. plays in the operation, according to Jochem Marotzke, director of the climate variability department at the Max Planck Institute of Meteorology in Germany.

The U.S. is funding a bit more than half of Argo, Marotzke said. You could say the U.S. is carrying more than its fair share, which means that if the U.S. pulls out, it will leave an inordinately large gap.

The Argo network is made up of roughly 4,000 ocean floats that monitor the temperature and salinity of the oceans top layers up to approximately one mile deep  where over 90 percent of the heat trapped by the worlds greenhouse gases is stored.

Argo is an example of how resolutely the U.S. has long assumed the leading role in climate research and how admirably much has been invested in it, Marotzke said. Thats why so many of us in climate science have gone to the U.S. to conduct research. If the United States decides no longer to invest in climate research, it will be a disaster.

The plan reduces the overall budget for NOAA by more than 27 percent, reported CNN. It eliminates funding for sea grant programs, regional climate data and climate competitive research, and cuts OARs funding by roughly 75 percent. OAR includes the National Severe Storms Laboratory, responsible for studying destructive storms like tornadoes and working to increase the lead time of storm warnings.

The plan will put American communities in harms way, Democratic Senator from Maryland Chris Van Hollen said in a statement, as CNN reported. This move has nothing to do with efficiency  and in fact, it will endanger our communities and leave us all more vulnerable to destructive and costly natural disasters.

The National Ocean Service would also be cut in half, reported The Guardian.

Its a really disturbing and concerning development  but I would say it is not all that surprising, Spinrad said of the plans. But it also has an element of randomness associated with it. There are specific programs called out, the reasons for which are absolutely not clear.

Plans to drastically reduce NASA funding would result in a series of missions being scrapped, including some that have already received billions of taxpayer dollars.

This is an extinction-level event for NASA science, Casey Dreier, the Planetary Societys chief of space policy, told The Washington Post. It needlessly terminates functional, productive science missions and cancels new missions currently being built, wasting billions of taxpayer dollars in the process. This is neither efficient nor smart budgeting.

The documents are part of the governments budget process and must be finalized by Congress.

Industries that rely on the services and tools provided by U.S. scientists, along with the public, are likely to push back against the cuts, which Spinrad is confident many legislators wont support.

Many of the actions put forward by [the White Houses office of management and budget] are in direct contradiction to congressional intent, Spinrad said, as The Guardian reported. Zeroing out programs that Congress has worked hard to authorize over the years  thats a clarion call to specific members and sponsors.

However, experts say the extreme nature of the funding reductions shows the administrations determination to hamper research and illustrates its position on climate science.

McLean said the document will cost lives if enacted.

When a room full of doctors tell you that its cancer, firing the doctors does not cure you, he added.
As TikTok continues to wait for a deal that will secure its future in the United States, the company is embracing a crowd-sourced approach to fact-checking. The service is adding Footnotes, a Community Notes-like feature that will allow contributors to add more context to videos on the platform.

Footnotes offers a new opportunity for people to share their expertise and add an additional layer of context to the discussion using a consensus-driven approach, TikToks head of operations and trust and safety Adam Presser wrote in a blog post.

The update, which has apparently been on the company's roadmap since last year, makes TikTok the latest platform to add a version of the crowd-sourced notes popularized by X. However unlike Meta, which recently began publishing Community Notes on its apps, TikToks update isnt coming with a change to its moderation policies or its fact-checking partnerships. Instead, the company describes the change as a way for users to add helpful details that may be missing. Footnotes wont affect a videos algorithmic ranking or its ability to appear on the For You page.

Presser says that the company will use a bridge-based ranking system designed to find agreement between people who usually have different opinions, inspired by the open-sourced system that other platforms use. Thats clearly a reference to X, which created a ranking system that requires contributors to rate each others notes before they become publicly visible. Meta has adopted Xs Community Notes algorithm for its own apps. But while TikToks approach may be inspired by X, the company plans to use its own algorithm for Footnotes.

Its not yet clear exactly what Footnotes will look like on TikTok or how prominent they will be. Like Community Notes on X, Footnotes are required to cite a source, whether it's another TikTok video or a third-party website.

The company is kicking off its experiment by allowing users in the US to sign up to become contributors. Footnotes contributors must be 18 or older with an account at least 6 months old and without a recent history of a Community Guidelines violation. Over the next few months, contributors will be able to start writing notes and rating notes from others. It will be a few months before any Footnotes appear publicly in the US. The company hasnt indicated when Footnotes may roll out globally.

The change comes at a time when TikToks future in the US is still somewhat uncertain. President Donald Trump recently gave the company another 75-day extension to strike a deal that will allow it to remain in the US. Reports indicate that the White House favors a deal involving TikToks existing US investors, though its unclear how Trumps tariffs on China have affected the negotiations.
"Saturday Night Live" is holding its ground as the controversy surrounding a seemingly mean-spirited sketch mocking British actress Aimee Lou Wood's looks grew in the following days, with insiders saying no official apology was made or is coming.

Wood sparked controversy after confronting the NBC show on Instagram for mocking her with buck teeth during a sketch called "The White POTUS." In the skit, the political figures were reimagined as characters from "The White Lotus" in a Thai resort, with Jon Hamm playing Robert F. Kennedy Jr and SNL cast member Sarah Sherman performing as Wood's character Chelsea.

"Fluoride? What's that?" As she adjusted her oversized prosthetic teeth, a made-up version of Sherman said. British celebs, as well as fans, slammed the skit, with Wood calling it "mean and unfunny" shortly afterward.

Although Wood claimed she had an apology from the show, several insiders close to the production claimed otherwise to Daily Mail, saying that SNL had never issued an official apology and that it had no plans to do so.

"No one needed her approval," one insider said. "Far worse has been said about other celebrities, and everyone knows that this is what SNL does. It's comedy. It is meant to entertain."

The source emphasized that if Wood received any message of regret, it may have come from someone involved in the sketch personally  not from NBC or show leadership.

A second source said most of the cast and crew view the uproar as "ridiculous," and added that should Wood want to take part in the show and respond in a comedic manner, she would be welcomed. Instead, "they'd be happy to let her get her so-called revenge," according to the source.

A Deeper Struggle with Body Image and Public Scrutiny

Wood wrote in her Instagram posts after the episode aired that it made her feel targeted. "I did find the SNL thing mean and unfunny," she explained. "Yes, take the p**s for sure  that's what the show is about  but there must be a cleverer, more nuanced, less cheap way?"

She said her issue was not with comedy, saying, "The joke was about fluoride," she wrote. "I have big gap teeth, not bad teeth."

The 32-year-old has long been candid about her issues with body image, ADHD, and regular therapy, and told The Sunday Times she wishes that the public would not focus so much on her looks.

"It's still the thing that's defining me," she said. "Cool, and now I want to stop f***ing talking about it. Can I talk about my character? Why am I talking about my gnashers?"

This sketch won support from "White Lotus" co-star Walton Goggins, who referred to it as a "SMASHING" success on Instagram. The controversy, of course, was not mentioned; instead, he praised Hamm as RFK Jr.

This has led fans to believe that Goggins has a strained relationship with Wood. Apparently, the two have unfollowed each other on IG, and Goggins didn't tag Wood in recent cast photos he posted.
Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick seemed to present a united front at a recent stop on the promotional trail for their movie "Another Simple Favor"  but one body language expert says their red carpet reunion was not quite as amicable as it appears.

The pair, who headline the upcoming sequel to 2018's "A Simple Favor," posed together Tuesday at the Corinthia Hotel for a photocall before heading to a special screening later at the Ham Yard Hotel. Despite appearing to smile for the camera, some fans and critics remarked that the chemistry between the co-stars appeared to be missing.

Body language expert Judi James told the Daily Mail that their posture and expressions hinted at possible tension.

"There's an awkwardness or self-consciousness about them," James said. "Their poses look rigid, and they seem to lack synchronization. Standing almost face-to-face, the arms around each other's backs appear self-consciously placed rather than part of a genuine hug."

Photos from the London Photo Call for ANOTHER SIMPLE FAVOR.



Another Simple Favour will launch globally on Prime Video on 1 May 2025. pic.twitter.com/S58Y580eO0  MR. WILL WONG  (@mrwillw) April 15, 2025

'Not Much Rapport Here'

Lively, 37, seemed to have more life in her and seemed at ease, as James noted.

"Blake seems to be investing more when it comes to doing the heavy lifting of looking happy and amiable," she said. "It could be the pressure to visually deny rumors of some kind of a rift that is causing their un-relaxed-looking poses."

In solo shots of Lively, she was also analyzed by the expert, who claimed the actress was exhibiting confidence in a plunging tasseled leather coat sans a bra. James, in turn, noticed, "Her eye expression glows, and she works the dramatic leather coat as she soaks up the camera attention."

Anna Kendrick (@AnnaKendrick47) and Blake Lively attend a screening of "Another Simple Favor" in London.



: ambravernuccio pic.twitter.com/U2T0kXEZyE  Anna Kendrick Rocks (@AnnaKRocks) April 15, 2025

Kendrick walked with a reserved body language by comparison. "There are few signs of relaxed and authentic fun or rapport here," James said, adding that a significant height difference between the two may have made their poses more challenging.

"At one point, it even looks like they're both talking at the same time  their mouths are open  which can signal a lack of connection or a struggle to sync," she noted.

Rumors Swirl Amid Ongoing Drama

The awkward dynamic comes amid months of speculation surrounding the pair's working relationship. At last month's South by Southwest premiere of "Another Simple Favor," a protester holding a "Blake lied" sign disrupted the red carpet amid Lively's ongoing legal feud with "It Ends With Us" co-star Justin Baldoni.

When asked about Lively in particular, Kendrick did little to quench the rumor mill, answering the question as though it were a multiple-choice, "Oh, you know..." She said that on the red carpet but didn't elaborate.

During the screening, the actresses were said to be standing stiffly next to each other, and Kendrick was looking at the floor while Lively was talking. The time has also come as People is reporting that Kendrick has been "disturbed" by online remarks, worried that the backlash against Lively will harm the film's success.

"She's not used to being caught up in any drama," a source told the outlet.

"Another Simple Favor," set to premiere on Prime Video May 1, follows Kendrick's character Stephanie and Lively's Emily as they head to Capri, Italy, for Emily's lavish wedding to a wealthy Italian businessman.
A new book, History Leading to 50th Anniversary of Day, Book 2: My Journey Thru World & Family History Landed at Omaha Beach, 6/6/94, is set for release on April 20, 2025 on Amazon, and later in the month at Barnes & Noble.

50th D-Day Overview Book Trailer





Book Trailer About 1940 German Campaign in Western Europe





Dedicated to 15 military/combat veterans in his family, from the Civil to Korean War, Book 2 centers on the European War and centuries before while Book 1 deals with the Pacific War and the fascinating history of that vast region. Each book ends with stories of his last minute excursions to each of the 50th Anniversaries and what he experienced during those major commemorations.

Pearl Harbor and D-Day, for the United States, represents the beginning and the beginning of the end of World War II, and thus these bookend 50th Anniversaries allowed Michael B. Butler to explore far and wide in his quest to encase them, as the book titles suggest, in relevant World & Family History. Each yielded a wealth of interesting experiences and set the foundation for this book series, which was originally going to be a single volume but was split up and expanded decades later.

Book Trailer About Great Uncle Henry Olivas, 5th Armored Division





Book Trailer about Uncle Roy Larson, B-17 Pilot Lost April 1944





Book Trailer About British in North Africa and Germans in the West





Wanting to showcase the great historians who populate his own library, Butler sought to include history going back 500 years while remaining largely focused on World War II and those who participated in that world changing conflagration. His family includes combat Veterans that span nearly every aspect of the World War II; from bomber pilots to infantrymen, from Pearl Harbor Survivors to U.S. Navy sailors to armored and infantry soldiers to a communication specialist and a railroad technician.

Direct testimony from Combat Veterans is deployed to try and explain what is totally unexplainable, for unless one has been there it is impossible to understand. Five chapters were created to highlight the outfits and experiences of family members and one person who helped Michael Butler attend the 50th Anniversary of D-DayWWII 8th Air Force Veteran P-47 fighter-bomber pilot Pat Murphy. Obscure materials, some published right after the conflicts, were mined for use in creating these multi-faceted chapters.

300 images all of kinds populate the text; from maps to drawings to diagrams, from historical photographs to book covers, from combat photos to thumbnail portraits of those lost during various points in divisional and regimental histories. This gives the book wider scope by paying tribute those whose service and sacrifice should be recognized again and again.

History Leading to 50th Anniversary of D-Day, Book 2 available at Amazon in pre-order in Kindle (B0F4GH8679)

www.50thDDay.com

Michael B. Butler's second book, released in 2022, is Without Redemption: Creation & Deeds Freeway Killer Bill Bonin, His Five Accomplices & How One Who Escaped Justice. In 2024-26 three books are slated for release: Round the World & Across Russia in 21 Days, 30 Years Later and the two-book history set dedicated to 15 wartime military veterans, many who saw combat, from his familyHistory Leading to 50th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor, Book 1 and History Leading to 50th Anniversary of D-Day, Book 2.
As Tax Day rolled around this week, most Americans were focused on forms, figures, and frustration. But according to comedian and keynote speaker Jan McInnis, they may have missed the silver liningor rather, the comedy gold.

"Tax Day may cause groans, but it also offers a universal moment we all experienceand that's where the humor lives," says McInnis, who has spent over two decades showing professionals how to use humor in their business communication.

McInnis outlines five simple ways to uncover humor in any eventTax Day included:

Tap Into the Pain  "Shared pain is comedy gold," McInnis says. Everyone hates doing taxes, so it's a perfect setup for a relatable joke. No need for explanationpeople instantly "get it." Ask: What Would You Rather Be Doing?  Humor often comes from contrast. "In my joke, I compared doing taxes to going to the operaanother activity many people dread. That comparison alone gets a laugh." Find the Characters  Is there a figure or stereotype tied to the event? "Who is associated with that event? Do some research and find out the people involved. Use Acronyms Creatively  Take familiar terms and twist them. "IRS stands for Internal Revenue Service... or Intimidate, Runover, Scare," McInnis quips. "These 3 words are words that people may associate with the IRS." Dig Into the Origin Story  Sometimes the history is funny. "Taxes were invented in ancient Egyptbefore coins even existed. Sounds like something only the government could pull off."

McInnis encourages professionals to use humor not just for laughs, but for visibility. "Whatever your industry, finding the funny in national moments like Tax Day is a great way to connect with your audience and make your message memorable."

For more on how to bring humor into your business, visit www.TheWorkLady.com.
A US judge said Wednesday he had found "probable cause" to hold President Donald Trump's administration in contempt in a deportation case, raising the stakes in the White House's confrontation with the justice system.

The White House said it planned an "immediate" appeal to the decision by District Judge James Boasberg, who had ordered the government to halt flights of more than 200 alleged gang Venezuelan members to El Salvador.

Boasberg issued a temporary restraining order on March 15 to halt the deportations, which were carried out under an obscure wartime law, the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, which strips away the usual legal due process.

In a written opinion, the judge cited evidence that the government had engaged in "deliberate or reckless disregard" of his order when it proceeded with the flights.

"Defendants provide no convincing reason to avoid the conclusion that appears obvious... that they deliberately flouted this Court's written Order and, separately, its oral command that explicitly delineated what compliance entailed," he wrote.

The administration's actions were "sufficient for the court to conclude that probable cause exists to find the government in criminal contempt," Boasberg wrote.

The judge said the government would be offered a final chance to "purge such contempt" or face further court action.

Since his return to the White House in January, Trump has flirted with open defiance of the judiciary following setbacks to his right-wing agenda, with deportation cases taking center stage.

"We plan to seek immediate appellate relief," White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said in a statement after the judge's ruling.

"The President is 100 percent committed to ensuring that terrorists and criminal illegal migrants are no longer a threat to Americans and their communities across the country."

- 'Administrative error' -

In invoking the Alien Enemies Act -- which had only been used previously during the War of 1812, World War I and World War II -- Trump said he was targeting transnational gangs he had declared foreign terrorist organizations.

That included the Venezuelan group Tren de Aragua, but lawyers for several of the deported Venezuelans have said that their clients were not gang members, had committed no crimes and were targeted largely on the basis of their tattoos.

Trump has routinely criticized rulings that curb his policies and power, and attacked the judges who issued them, including Boasberg.

The Republican president said Wednesday that US courts are "totally out of control," writing on his Truth Social platform: "They seem to hate 'TRUMP' so much, that anything goes!"

His administration is also under fire over its admission that Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was living in the eastern state of Maryland and married to a US citizen, was deported to a notorious prison in El Salvador due to an "administrative error."

A judge has ordered Trump to "facilitate" his return, an order upheld by the Supreme Court, but his government has said the court did not have the authority to order it to have him returned.

Trump has alleged that Abrego Garcia is "an MS-13 Gang Member and Foreign Terrorist from El Salvador," while Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed that he was "engaged in human trafficking."

The man has never been charged with any crimes.

sst-dk/bjt/tgb
Xi calls for deepening China-Malaysia friendship in signed article

Xinhua) 08:12, April 16, 2025

KUALA LUMPUR, April 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday that he looks forward to meeting with Malaysian friends to celebrate the friendship between China and Malaysia and plan for future cooperation.

He made the remarks in a signed article titled "May the Ship of China-Malaysia Friendship Sail Toward an Even Brighter Future" published in local media including the English-language newspaper The Star ahead of his arrival in Malaysia for a state visit.

The two countries must work together to give fresh momentum to their ship of friendship that has sailed through the long river of history, and ensure that it forges ahead steadily toward brighter horizons, he said.

He also expressed the hope that the two peoples will visit each other as often as family.

Xi urged China and Malaysia to advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and strengthen cooperation on industrial and supply chains.

The two sides must uphold the multilateral trading system, keep global industrial and supply chains stable, and maintain an international environment of openness and cooperation, he said.

Xi said that China will work with Malaysia and other ASEAN countries to combat the undercurrents of geopolitical and camp-based confrontation, as well as the countercurrents of unilateralism and protectionism.

Noting that China-ASEAN cooperation is the most results-oriented and most productive in the region, Xi said that China firmly supports ASEAN unity and community-building, and supports ASEAN centrality in the regional architecture.

He also said that China fully supports Malaysia in its role as ASEAN chair for 2025.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Xi calls on China, Malaysia to ensure good implementation of major projects, foster cooperation in future industries

Xinhua) 14:54, April 16, 2025

KUALA LUMPUR, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday called on China and Malaysia to ensure good implementation of major projects such as the "Two Countries, Twin Parks" program and the East Coast Rail Link.

Xi also called on the two sides to actively foster cooperation in future industries such as artificial intelligence, digital economy and green economy.

Xi made the remarks when meeting with Malaysian King Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar during a state visit to the country.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
SALEM, Ohio  The war on cannabis still lingers in the corners of the Ohio Statehouse as legislators craft new bills to reform the state voter-passed Issue 2 statute.

Issue 2, passed in November 2023 by 57% of Ohio voters, legalized recreational marijuana in Ohio for ages 21 and older. Lawmakers recently introduced two bills  Ohio Senate Bill 56 and House Bill 160  which aim to further regulate the industry.

However, Ohio voters and many in the cannabis industry believe some of the proposed changes could hamstring the already struggling industry, including a cap on the number of licenses in the state and increased criminal penalties that could put Ohio consumers at risk.

There are a minefield of new criminal penalties that are attached with both of these bills, said Cat Packer, an Ohio resident and the director of drug markets and legal regulation at the Drug Policy Alliance, a national non-profit organization that advocates for polices to reduce the harms of drug use and prohibition.

I think consumers and voters have an expectation of legalization to mean a reduction of those criminal penalties. Somehow, Republicans in the Ohio legislature seem to imagine legalization that includes more criminal penalties than existed prior to legalization, Packer said.

Industry after Issue 2

Ohio Senate Bill 56, introduced by state Sen. Steve Huffman (R-Tipp City) in January, and House Bill 160, introduced by state Rep. Brian Stewart (R-Ashville) in March, would set additional rules on licenses, increase restrictions on homegrowing cannabis and public smoking and protect minors from cannabis products.

The proposed changes aim to protect Ohio children while keeping the core, adult-use features of Issue 2 in place, Stewart said.

Both bills put limits on how dispensaries design packaging so that it doesnt appeal to children and establish criminal penalties for those who give cannabis to persons under 21. The bills also put a cap of 350 licenses, including cultivator, processor and dispensary licenses, in the state.

There are currently 139 licensed dispensaries in Ohio and an additional 12 with provisional licenses. According to the Ohio Division of Cannabis Control, marijuana sales topped $90 million in January and produced $240 million in 2024. Recreational cannabis dispensaries opened in August 2024.

Currently, there is a 10% adult-use tax on cannabis products, which goes towards the social equity and jobs programs, mental health and addiction services, local governments and the administrative costs of the Ohio Department of Taxation and the Division of Cannabis Control.

Cannabis sales could increase as more dispensaries are allowed to open. Licenses, however, have only been given to dispensaries that sold medical cannabis prior to the passing of Issue 2.

Restrictions

The Issue 2 statute creates pathways for others to become part of the industry, including 50 licenses set aside for social equity and job applicants  individuals and groups who have been historically and disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition.

The Senate and House bills, however, would eliminate these licenses. Packer says the inability to get a license and a cap on licenses could encourage people to continue to sell cannabis on the illegal market. Already, the limited number of licenses is having an impact on the industry.

There still hasnt been an opportunity for new entrants to the market and I think thats part of the reason why prices are so high because we are dealing with a suppressed and limited market where competition is stifled, Packer said.

Many Ohio users continue to travel to Michigan dispensaries for cheaper prices, something lawmakers are aware of.

Our tax policy should incentivize Ohioans to buy affordable, regulated, state-grown marijuana rather than pushing them to the black market, or even worse yet, to Michigan, Stewart said.

House Bill 160 and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWines 2026-27 Executive Budget originally proposed to double the tax on cannabis sales, but this was struck down on April 1. The House Bill and DeWines budget would, however, change where these taxes will go.

Instead of a social equity fund or going to local communities, as designated by Issue 2, the bulk of the cannabis tax will go to a general fund, which would fund training for law enforcement and build jails, among other objectives.

If you are an Ohio consumer, and you are purchasing cannabis in the legal and regulated market and paying taxes, you will literally be funding, potentially, your own incarceration and criminalization, Packer said. Because remember, at the same time that the legislature is trying to direct all of these resources to law enforcement, theyre also establishing a dozen plus new criminal penalties for cannabis activity specifically.

Criminal penalties

Current Ohio cannabis law allows Ohio residents to grow six cannabis plants per individual and 12 per household.

Senate Bill 56 would lower the number of plants a household can have to six, and both pieces of legislation would prohibit home growers from giving and selling cannabis products to others. Under the proposed bills, cannabis consumers would be forbidden from transporting marijuana unless it is in its unsealed, original package or stored in a trunk.

Marijuana advocates state this could put consumers at risk if they dont have receipts, original packaging or other ways to prove they obtained their products legally.

What really surprised the cannabis community was how they attack their own clients, their own people, the consumer and the patient. Were are the ones who go into the dispensary and buy their products, (but they) want to enhance penalties and mandatory sentencing, said Tim Johnson, a retired law enforcement officer in Franklin County and founder of Cannabis Safety First, which provides policy advising services on cannabis reform.

Johnson helped draft Ohios medical marijuana bill in 2016 and has been working with legislators at the Ohio Statehouse to reform the Senate and House bills. He is particularly concerned about proposed criminal penalties for driving under the influence.

First-time offenses for driving under the influence of cannabis are the same as pre-legalization, with a three-day jail stay. Both bills add stricter penalties for repeat offenses of driving while high, but Johnson says driving impaired by cannabis is an unproven science.

Marijuana THC (the psychoactive chemical in marijuana) metabolites are found in urine, blood and saliva tests and can last in the body anywhere from a few hours to months. This means regular cannabis users are likely to have a high THC metabolite count, even if they havent smoked recently.

To me, it is kind of like an entrapment clause. Until the sciences can prove the impairment of cannabis on an individual, its something as far as statutes that needs to be looked at differently, Johnson said. Legalization is not legalization until youre free from prosecution.

Legislators like state Sen. Nathan Manning (R-North Ridgeville) agree with Johnson, which is why he introduced Ohio Senate Bill 55 that increases THC limits for driving to take into account these metabolites.

Manning, however, is still a strong proponent for cannabis roadside testing, which law enforcement officers say would be expensive. Manning is in favor of additional funding going toward law enforcement to offset these new costs; this could happen as proposed in DeWines 2026-27 state budget.

Both bills also establish public smoking restrictions: Senate Bill 56 allows cannabis users to smoke only inside their private residences, as long as the landlord approves, and House Bill 160 restricts smoking cannabis to privately-owned residential or agricultural properties. The legislation also addresses delta-8-THC products, which are not currently regulated by the state.

Senate Bill 56 was passed by the state Senate in February, despite numerous opponent testimonies from Ohio organizations like the Ohio Municipal League, Ohio Veterans Alliance for Medical Cannabis, Ohio Mayors Alliance and more. Hearings on House Bill 160 will continue later this month. The bills will most likely be merged; lawmakers hope to pass a final bill by June.

(Liz Partsch can be reached at epartsch@farmanddairy.com or 330-337-3419.)
A new plan aims to accelerate the transition away from farrowing crates in UK pig farming, marking a significant step toward higher welfare standards in the sector.

The plan, by Compassion in World Farming (CIWF), outlines a collaborative roadmap to scale up the use of alternative farrowing systems.

Specifically, these flexible systems that allow sows more freedom of movement while ensuring piglet safety.

The action plan identifies three primary barriers to change: economic pressures, knowledge gaps, and a lack of alignment across the supply chain.

The strategy proposes targeted actions to address each of these challenges, with an emphasis on industry-wide cooperation.

Farrowing crates, which restrict sows movement during and after giving birth, were first introduced in the 1960s and have faced increasing scrutiny for their impact on animal welfare.

In 2021 the European Commission made a commitment to introduce a legislative proposal to ban the use of cages for farmed animals within the EU.

In February 2025, this commitment was reaffirmed, with the Commission looking to table proposals for an EU wide cage ban by species and sector in 2026.

In the United Kingdom, while farrowing crates are still legally permitted, the industry is voluntarily transitioning toward higher welfare systems.

CIWF has long campaigned for a ban on the system, arguing it is outdated and no longer compatible with evolving welfare standards.

Their support sets an example for the wider industry, and we are looking for others to join," the animal welfare charity said.

"Achieving industry-wide change will require a shared vision and collective action to ensure a successful and sustainable transition."

CIWF highlighted growing scientific evidence that restrictive farrowing crates significantly compromise the welfare of both sows and their piglets.

The organisation described the systems as outdated and increasingly out of step with modern animal welfare expectations.

In contrast, CIWF said well-designed indoor pen systems already in commercial use offer a practical alternative, giving sows greater freedom of movement while still ensuring the safety of piglets.

Investing in spacious, purpose-built systems that deliver long-term welfare benefits is essential to success, it added.

According to CIWF, the transition to higher-welfare farrowing systems is no longer a matter of if, but when.

It said: The transition is inevitable, and the key to making it a reality lies in the collective action from all stakeholders, from farmers and policymakers to retailers and consumers."
Derbyshire farmers are being encouraged to prioritise their health with a free drop-in health MOT event taking place at Bakewell Agricultural Centre.

The event, timed to coincide with the centres busy livestock sale day, is designed to make health services more accessible to farmers and agricultural workers.

Many farmers do not regularly seek medical advice due to time constraints or the demands of rural life.

Attendees at the centre will have the opportunity to speak to healthcare professionals and receive a variety of free health checks.

These include blood pressure monitoring, cholesterol testing, and height and weight assessments.

General health guidance and support from over a dozen services will also be available, covering everything from mental health to cancer awareness.

The initiative is led by the rural health team from Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust.

Rural health nurse Karen Allen emphasised the importance of reaching out to the farming community, particularly men who may be less likely to seek healthcare proactively.

She said: We hope that the day will provide information and actual hands on interventions that will support and increase awareness on a range of services that are relevant to improving health and wellbeing.

"We are targeting men mainly, as the majority of the farming community who attend the market are men and they are well known to be stoic and less likely to attend health services for a variety of reasons."

The free health check-up is taking place at Bakewell Agricultural and Business Centre on 19 May 2025, from 9 am to 1pm.
A family has launched a fundraiser in support of a young farmer who was diagnosed with testicular cancer following an incident in which he was kicked in the groin by a cow.

Thomas Page, 29, was diagnosed with testicular cancer in January 2024, and just a month later, he underwent surgery to remove the affected testicle.

Following the procedure, the Warwickshire farmer began chemotherapy in March, which continued through to June 2024.

However, during his fourth cycle, he developed sepsis, making everyday life a significant challenge.

Despite the complications, he remained determined in his fight against the illness.

In late June, the family received the difficult news that the cancer had spread to lymph nodes in his abdomen, and multiple lesions had also developed on his liver.

This led to a further round of chemotherapy in the hope of reducing the tumours to a size suitable for surgical removal.

Sadly, this round of treatment was unsuccessful. In November, Mr Page began an even stronger course of chemotherapy, which continued until Christmas, but again, the cancer did not respond as doctors had hoped.

A subsequent scan revealed that further action was needed, and he was referred to St Bartholomews Hospital in London for stem cell treatment combined with more chemotherapy.

In February 2025, he underwent a stem cell harvest in preparation for the next phase of treatment.

However, during this second cycle of chemotherapy, Mr Page again developed sepsis. This latest complication meant he had to first overcome the infection before continuing with further treatmentbringing the family to the current stage of his battle.

Mr Pages family said: Illness isnt something Tom is used to, neither is sitting still having been brought up on our family tenant farm. Tom truly meets the stereotype of the over-worked under-paid farmer.

This has taken a significant mental toll on Tom going from being an imperative part of the family business to not being able to physically help at all.

"This being said, he still answers the phone to customers and lorry drivers, trying to take some of the strain and keep some sort of involvement whilst going through all he is having to deal with.

Throughout the journey, Toms mindset hasnt faulted away from the farm and keeping the wheels turning, amongst checking in with local farmers and friends always thinking of others wellbeing over his own."

They added: Toms diagnosis has hit us all especially hard after our mum sadly lost her long battle with cancer in 2017.

"Never did we think we would have to go through something similar as a family again after that, but it seems we are to be tested yet again."

Nearly 60,000 has been raised so far via an online fundraising page as of Wednesday (16 April), with donations still being accepted.
The NFU has unveiled a long-term vision for the British beef sector, setting out a series of policy and industry priorities to ensure a profitable and sustainable future for producers.

The plan, launched ahead of Great British Beef Week, lays out a ten-year strategy aimed at strengthening the sectors reputation for high-quality, high-welfare and environmentally responsible production.

As part of it, the NFU is calling for a collaborative approach involving government, supply chains, and levy boards to deliver lasting change.

Among the core pillars of the vision is the creation of a fair and functioning supply chain.

The NFU says building trust between producers, processors and retailers is essential to restore confidence and encourage long-term investment in the sector.

The union's strategy also highlights the need to accelerate sustainability efforts by supporting and empowering beef farmers.

It is urging supply chain partners to adopt a more enabling approach that allows farmers to innovate and implement environmental practices more effectively.

Trade policy is another key focus, with the union emphasising the importance of securing access to new export markets while maintaining strict biosecurity at UK borders and ensuring British standards are not undermined by future trade deals.

The NFU also calls for policy frameworks that equally support food production, sustainability, and trade, warning that a lack of clarity in current agricultural and environmental schemes has left many farmers facing uncertainty.

Further, the plan proposes the development of a stronger evidence base to demonstrate the sectors high standards in animal health and welfare.

This includes responsible use of veterinary medicines and antibiotics, and the ongoing commitment to disease prevention and traceability.

NFU Livestock Board Chair, David Barton said the beef sector was ready to grow, but urgent action was needed to restore confidence among producers.

He warned: Confidence is at an all-time low due to acute challenges facing the wider industry, such as uncertainty about the future of environmental schemes, the acceleration of direct payments and changes to inheritance tax."

He added that the the 10-year vision was developed in recognition of these challenges, and with the right support from government and the supply chain, the plan could help build a resilient beef industry.
The NFU has outlined its next steps in delivering key reforms to the UKs farm assurance system, following the findings of a wide-ranging independent review published earlier this year.

The review made 56 recommendations aimed at improving the transparency, effectiveness, and relevance of farm assurance schemes.

Of those, thirteen require direct involvement from the NFU, either in a leading or supporting role.

The review, published in January, was a turning point for farm assurance in the UK, as it was a call to action for all farm assurance schemes to deliver better outcomes for farmers.

It called for a "fundamental reset" in order to rebuild confidence amongst farmers, after heavy industry criticism over Red Tractor's Greener Farms Commitment (GFC) environmental module, which had to be scrapped last year.

Farm leaders said that more granular, technical and practical elements of the GFC should have been consulted on more widely with the industry before it was unveiled.

Fears were also raised that the GFC would slowly evolve into a requirement for market access and would mean farmers footing the bill for putting in place sustainability measures on behalf of retailers.

The NFU has now committed to progressing the review's recommendations, working closely with industry stakeholders to drive improvements across the food supply chain.

Among the priorities for the organisation is clarifying the overall purpose and scope of farm assurance.

The NFU says it will help define the future direction of assurance schemes while preserving the autonomy and value specific to each farming sector.

The union also plans to address concerns around data ownership, pledging to work alongside AHDB to create a more streamlined and transparent system that avoids duplication and ensures the value of farmers data is recognised and protected.

Environmental standards form another key focus, with the NFU stressing the importance of developing standards that are clear, purposeful, and communicated effectively.

The organisation says lessons from past schemes must be taken on board, with farmers and growers involved from the outset of any new proposals.

Efforts will also be made to bridge knowledge gaps among UK farmers regarding international assurance standards.

The NFU has committed to improving awareness of how overseas schemes operate and how they compare with domestic practices.

In the combinable crops sector, the NFUs national crops board will take a prominent role in shaping reforms.

The board is calling for greater transparency around imported grain and substantial changes to existing assurance protocols.

As a member of the Red Tractor Ownership Body, the NFU said it will continue working with the Red Tractor Board and other owners to ensure a balanced approach between leadership and operational delivery, with a strong emphasis on transparency.

NFU President Tom Bradshaw said the steps outlined reflect the concerns of farmers and the need for meaningful, long-term change.

He said: Work is already underway on multiple aspects of the recommendations but there is a lot of work to do and change will not happen overnight.

"Thats why its important that progress is carefully monitored and reported on, something the NFU is glad to support through funding.

An interim progress report is scheduled for publication in autumn 2025, with a full review due in spring 2026.
Ananya Panday at the Chanel SS25 show in a head-to-toe tweed look from the Cruise collection

Bollywoods women are girlbossing, hard. After Deepika Padukone s appointment at Louis Vuitton as the brand ambassador a few years ago, followed by Alia Bhatt at Gucci and Sonam Kapoor at Dior last year, its actor Ananya Pandays turn. The actor, 26, is the newly-minted brand ambassador for Chanel, and also the first-ever Indian personality to have the coveted position.Image: ChanelAnanyas appointment was long-time coming. For industry insiders who were observing her association with the French fashion house  it was not a matter of it, but when. Her appearances in Chanel and the eventual interest displayed by her audiences in these looks would have generated the required EMV (Earned Media Value: a social media metric to track the value of exposure and engagement) for the storied brand to consider the young actor for the prestigious role. In October 2024, Ananya attended the Chanel Spring/Summer 2025 show in Paris. She wore a tweed look  a button-down jacket with short sleeves and matching bermuda shorts  from the Cruise collection generating a lot of buzz, too.Image: InstagramAnanya Panday is no stranger on the international fashion circuit. The actor has walked the ramp for Rahul Mishra in Paris for the designers couture shows held in Paris. Shes the Indian ambassador for the luxury footwear brand Jimmy Choo and for the jewellery brand Swarovski, for whom she also fronts annual Diwali campaigns especially shot for the Indian subcontinent where the festival is celebrated.Ananyas appointment as the brand ambassador comes at a time when more and more luxury brands want to establish their stronghold in the Indian market. One of the youngest actors with such international visibility (she has 25.9 million followers on Instagram and counting!), she's a great vehicle for attracting younger audiences towards the brand that sells both ready-to-wear and beauty in India. Much like Zendaya for Louis Vuitton.
China now faces up to 245 per cent tariffs on its exports to the US as a result of its retaliatory actions, President Donald Trump has said in a recent Executive Order. The high tariffs are aimed to counter Chinas retaliatory trade measures and reduce US dependence on foreign supply chains. The latest statement has been released by the White House in the wake of Chinas decision to suspend exports of several heavy rare earth elements critical to US defence and tech industries.

As part of his America First trade policy, Trump reinstated a 25 per cent tariff on steel and aluminium and introduced a universal 10 per cent tariff on all importswith higher rates targeting countries with which the US has significant trade deficits. While over 75 countries have entered talks to negotiate new trade terms, China remains excluded due to its ongoing retaliations.

Chinese exports to the US now face up to 245 per cent tariffs due to China's retaliatory actions and suspension of key rare earth exports to the US, President Trump has said in an Executive Order. A universal 10 per cent tariff and reinstated 25 per cent steel and aluminium duties form part of Trump's 'America First' agenda. A Section 232 probe into critical mineral imports is also underway.

Trump has also signed an Executive Order launching a national security investigation into the US reliance on imported processed critical minerals, directing the Commerce Secretary to evaluate vulnerabilities under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act. The investigation may result in new tariffs replacing existing reciprocal rates if national security risks are confirmed.

Critical minerals such as gallium, germanium, and rare earths are vital for defence systems, semiconductors, and aerospace technologies. Trumps administration warned that China's export bans on these materialsdeemed strategic and high-riskpose a direct threat to national security and economic stability.

The administrations Fair and Reciprocal Plan also aims to counter digital service taxes and other discriminatory practices levied against US companies abroad, reinforcing Trump's broader effort to close trade loopholes and safeguard American innovation.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KD)
Vietnam and South Korea recently agreed to boost cooperation in trade, industry and energy to support businesses amid global economic uncertainties.

The commitment was made during the 14th meeting of the Vietnam-South Korea Joint Committee on Trade, Industry and Energy Cooperation and the eighth meeting of the Joint Committee on Implementation of the Vietnam-South Korea Free Trade Agreement (VKFTA).

The meeting was co-chaired in Hanoi by Vietnamese minister of industry and trade Nguyen Hong Dien and South Korean minister of trade, industry and energy Ahn Dukgeun, according to domestic media reports.

Vietnam and South Korea have agreed to boost cooperation in trade, industry and energy to support businesses amid global economic uncertainties. Both sides agreed to push forward with the bilateral action plan to raise trade turnover to $150 billion by 2030. Bilateral trade reached $81.5 billion in 2024up by 7.3 per cent YoY. Key areas of cooperation include logistics, distribution and textile.

Bilateral trade reached $81.5 billion in 2024up by 7.3 per cent year on year.

Both sides agreed to push forward with the bilateral action plan to raise trade turnover to $150 billion by 2030.

Key areas of cooperation include logistics, distribution, textile and multilateral trade frameworks. Energy cooperation covers electricity, oil and gas, clean energy and nuclear power.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) remained China's largest trading partner in the first quarter (Q1) this year, with total trade reaching 1.71 trillion yuan (~$234.17 billion)a 7.1-per cent year-on-year (YoY) increase and accounting for 16.6 per cent of China's overall foreign trade, according to Chinas General Administration of Customs (GAC).

In recent years, ASEAN has maintained its position as China's largest trading partner, GAC spokesperson Lu Daliang told a recent press conference.

The ASEAN bloc remained China's largest trading partner in Q1 2025, with total trade reaching $234.17 billiona 7.1-per cent YoY rise and accounting for 16.6 per cent of China's overall foreign trade, official Chinese data show. Chinese exports to ASEAN countries rose by more than 20 per cent during Q1 2025, while imports from ASEAN that include textile raw materials also witnessed steady growth.

Since 2017, ASEAN has remained China's largest trading partner for agricultural products for eight consecutive years.

Chinese exports to ASEAN countries rose by more than 20 per cent during Q1 2025, while imports from ASEAN that include textile raw materials also witnessed steady growth, the GAC data showed.

In Q1 2025, China imported agricultural products worth 52.65 billion yuan from ASEAN countriesa 13.8-per cent YoY increase, while exporting 37.92-billion-yuan worth agricultural products to ASEAN countriesup by 1.4 per cent YoY, Lu was cited as saying by state-controlled media outlets.

In the same quarter, China's imports to ASEAN via rail transport grew by 37 per cent YoY, while imports via road transport increased by 23.2 per cent YoY.

The negotiations for the Version 3.0 China-ASEAN Free Trade Area have now been substantively concluded.

Both sides will expand mutually beneficial cooperation in emerging industries like digital economy, green economy, and supply chain connectivity, while enhancing integration in areas like standards and regulations, Lu added.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Ananya Panday created history by becoming the first-ever brand ambassador of Chanel from India. The actress announced the same on social media. Ananya also attended the Chanel Spring Summer Show at Paris Fashion Week recently. Needless to say, her friends and industry colleagues were quick to congratulate her on this massive feat. Suhana Khan, Navya Nanda, Karan Johar, Samantha, Shanaya Kapoor, Maheep Kapoor, Khushi Kapoor and Masaba Gupta were among the many celebrities who hyped her up. She also got a sweet reaction from her rumoured boyfriend, Walker Blanco. The former American model took to Instagram's story section to share the news. Then he shared another photo of Ananya and wrote, " Congrats Annie" and tagged Ananya.





View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ananya AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA (@ananyapanday)



See Also: Ananya Panday Attends a Party With Rumoured Boyfriend Walker Blanco

The actress responded to the story by writing, "Thanks Walkie".



The actress responded to the story by writing, "Thanks Walkie".

Ananya Panday never confirmed dating Walker Blanco, however, reports suggest that they met during Anant Ambani's wedding festivities. He attended Ananya's birthday celebration last year in October. Earlier this month, when the trailer of Ananya's film Kesari 2 was dropped, Walker was one of the first few people to extend his support to his rumoured girlfriend. Blanco re-shared the films trailer on Instagram's story section. He also re-posted a carousel of Ananya's look from the trailer launch event in Delhi.

Who is Walker Blanco?

Ananya and Walker have sparked dating speculations on several occasions. For the unversed, Walker is a former model from Chicago and a wildlife enthusiast who is currently working at Vantara. More recently, Ananya and her sister Rysas comments on Walkers post further fuelled rumours about their relationship.

Ananya's Work Updates



On the professional front, Ananya Panday will be seen in Kesari 2 with Akshay Kumar and R Madhavan. The film is based on C. Sankaran Nair (played by Akshay), a lawyer tasked with uncovering the dark truth behind the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. R Madhavan plays the opposition lawyer Neville McKinley. Meanwhile, Ananya plays Dilreet Gill, a female lawyer in a male-dominated field. Directed by Karan Singh Tyagi, Kesari Chapter 2 will be released in theatres on April 18, 2025.
Olivia Colman on Paddington in Peru

About Paddington in Peru

Academy Award-winning actress Olivia Colman is all set to bring her signature charm and depth to Paddington in Peru. She has joined the franchise as The Reverend Mother, who oversees the Home for Retired Bears. Directed by Dougal Wilson, the film also features Hugh Bonneville, Emily Mortimer and Julie Walters, among others. Ahead of the films release, Colman shared her experience of working on the project.A long-time fan of the series, Colman was immediately drawn to the project. I have absolutely adored the Paddington films. When the option came up for this new Paddington film, I was in. I'd have done anything, she shared.The role also gave her the chance to work alongside the iconic Julie Walters, who returns to the franchise as Mrs. Bird. Opening up about what it was like on set, she shared, Meeting Julie Walters was terribly exciting, and she is as wonderful as I'd hoped. When Julie comes on set and opens her mouth, its gold... She just doesn't know how to not do it. To not be funny and not brilliant. She's amazing and has not lost any of her legendary status. It was very exciting.Colman also reflected on what makes Paddington so special. "Paddington always thinks the best of people. Even when they've done a bad thing, he understands that they're just people. Imagine if the world was full of Paddingtons, if we were all Paddington. There'd be no war, there'd be no unkindness, she concluded.In the upcoming instalment, polite bear Paddington discovers that his aunt has gone missing from the Home for Retired Bears. He then heads to the jungles of Peru to find her. The film will arrive in cinemas on April 18, 2025, in English and Hindi.
It seems Malavika Mohanan is going to have a busy 2025 and we support that. The actress is gearing up to star in three movies, namely Hridayapoorvam, Sardar 2 and Rajasaab. Fans are specially intrigued she has always brought a rare mix of beauty and emotional depth to every character she plays.







See Also: Malavika Mohanan Joins Mohanlal For Hridayapoorvam



Now, our sources have revealed, Malavika Mohanan is currently shooting the next schedule of Hridayapoorvam with Mohanlal in Pune, where shell be stationed for the rest of the month. The actress is juggling a packed slate this year with three major releases across three different languages  The Rajasaab with Prabhas (Telugu), Sardar 2 with Karthi (Tamil), and Hridayapoorvam with Mohanlal (Malayalam).



According to our trusted sources, Malavika is busy filming Hridayapoorvam, opposite Mohanlal. Filmfare had exclusively revealed that she had signed on with director Sathyan Anthikad, who is considered the King of comedy and social films. Our sources had previously revealed, "Malavika has been looking for a good opportunity in Malayalam films for some time now and she's signed on for Sathyan sir's film. His past movies with Mohanlal sir are the stuff of legends." Previous reports also stated that the filming started on February 10 in Kochi with a traditional pooja. Mohanlal joined the cast and the crew around February 14.Now, our sources have revealed, Malavika Mohanan is currently shooting the next schedule of Hridayapoorvam with Mohanlal in Pune, where shell be stationed for the rest of the month. The actress is juggling a packed slate this year with three major releases across three different languages  The Rajasaab with Prabhas (Telugu), Sardar 2 with Karthi (Tamil), and Hridayapoorvam with Mohanlal (Malayalam).

Hridayapoorvam reunites her with Malayalam cinema and the legendary Mohanlal. It promises a deeply rooted narrative. She is also a part of two other high-profile releases, The Rajasaab, a big-budget film with Prabhas and Sardar 2, the sequel to the Tamil spy-thriller blockbuster starring Karthi. Each film belongs to a different language and genre. They showcase her versatility and her steady climb to pan-India stardom. Stay tuned for more updates on Malavika and her films.
State Award-winning Malayalam actress Vincy Aloshious has responded to the backlash surrounding her recent comments about refusing to work with co-stars who use drugs. In a detailed Instagram video, Vincy provided clarification on her earlier statement, made at an anti-drug campaign event, where she expressed that she would not act alongside individuals involved in narcotics use.During the opening of the 67th operational year of the KCYM Ernakulam-Angamaly Major Archdiocese at Pallippuram Church, Vincy had stated, "I will not work with anyone in a film if I know they are using drugs." Following online murmurs regarding her statement, Vincy took to Instagram to explain her stance.In the video, Vincy recounted a disconcerting experience during a film shoot involving a male lead, who she alleged had a history of drug use. She described how his behaviour, which she found erratic and inappropriate, made it increasingly difficult for her to continue working on the set. One such incident occurred when, during a minor costume adjustment, the actor publicly offered to "fix it" for her in front of the entire crew, making her uncomfortable. On another occasion, she claimed to have witnessed him using a white powdery substance during a rehearsal.Vincy emphasized that her criticism was not aimed at individuals' private decisions, but rather at how such behaviour disrupts a professional environment. "It's one thing to use drugs privately, but doing so on set and causing disruption is unacceptable," she stated.She also revealed that she completed her work on the project only after repeated apologies from the team, including the director, who requested her to stay. "There were just a few days left of shooting, and I pushed through to finish," she shared.In response to claims that her comments were attention-seeking or the result of a lack of opportunities, Vincy openly acknowledged that she currently does not have a surplus of film offers. "Im honest about waiting for good roles," she said, emphasizing that her statement was not motivated by professional insecurity. She further rejected the idea that only superstars have the right to make principled statements, insisting that every individual in the industry deserves respect.Reaffirming her values, Vincy stated that she has deliberately chosen to stay away from substances like alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs. "Acting is a part of my life, but it doesn't define my entire existence," she concluded.See Also: Birthday Special: Allu Arjuns Best Moments With His Family
The sample preparation of the one-metre sampling for Barton Gold's 2021 RC drill program was conducted by Intertek Genalysis (Adelaide) using method SP1 where the 2-3kg split sample received at the laboratory is weighed, dried, crushed to 3mm, pulverized to 75 micron and split to provide a 50g sample for fire assay and adequate pulverized material for possible future multi-element analysis.

The sample preparation for drilling conducted in 2023 and 2024 of the one-metre sampling for Barton Gold's RC and diamond drill program was conducted by Bureau Veritas (Adelaide) using method FA1 where the 2-3kg split sample received at the laboratory is weighed, dried, crushed to 10mm, pulverized to 75 micron and split to provide a 40g sample for fire assay analysis.

Historic RC samples were collected using various splitting methods over the project's history. A splitter was generally used; however, spear samples were taken for a period of time in some holes.

Diamond core for drilling has been sawn in half using an automated core saw. Field duplicates were derived from using quarter core for the designated interval.

The drilling program used a Metzke cone splitter (or similar) attached to the cyclone. One-metre splits were constrained by chute and butterfly valves to derive a 2-4kg split on the cyclone. Samples above 1m depth were not collected.

Rotary air-blast (RAB) and aircore drilling has also been completed. These holes were used to guide interpretation but were not used for previous grade estimations or modelling of the results reported in the accompanying Announcement.

Sampling during Barton Gold's drill programs at Tarcoola was obtained through reverse circulation (RC), Aircore (AC) and diamond drilling methods. Historic RC and diamond drilling methods were also used in drilling campaigns completed since the mid-1990s.

3m composite samples were sieved to -1mm with a 250g sample presented for in-field analysis via the detectORE analytical method provided by Portable PPB Ltd & for analysis of a comprehensive multielement suite by pXRF. Selected 1m samples from anomalous 3m composite sample results were presented for fire assay analysis following drying, weighing, pulverising to -75um and deriving a 40g charge for analysis.

Sampling for Barton Gold's drilling program reported in this release was derived from RC drilling. Samples were collected via a cyclone mounted rotary splitter to derive both 1m samples with a nominal 2-4kg weight and 3m composite samples with a nominal 3kg weight.

Aspects of the determination of mineralisation that are Material to the Public Report. In cases where 'industry standard' work has been done this would be relatively simple (e.g. "RC drilling was used to obtain 1 m samples from which 3 kg was pulverised to produce a 30 g charge for fire assay"). In other cases, more explanation may be required, such as where there is coarse gold that has inherent sampling problems. Unusual commodities or mineralisation types (e.g. submarine nodules) may warrant disclosure of detailed information

Nature and quality of sampling (e.g. cut channels, random chips, or specific specialised industry standard measurement tools appropriate to the minerals under investigation, such as down hole gamma sondes, or handheld XRF instruments, etc.). These examples should not be taken as limiting the broad meaning of sampling.

Historically, HQ triple tube (HQ3) drilling was used for some holes to maximise core recovery. Re-entry holes were not triple-tubed as they were drilled straight into fresh bedrock. Drilling rates were controlled, and short drill runs were often used through the oxide zone to maximise core recovery.

The RC drilling was closely monitored by the site geologist to ensure optimal recovery and that samples were considered representative.

Diamond core recoveries were recorded by TGL. Local zones of core loss were noted in the oxide zone however core recoveries were generally good.

TGL RC drilling programmes noted good recoveries, with weights of 30-40kg achieved in fresh material. Within the weathered zone, sample weights were more variable. Holes collared in the Quaternary overburden yielded poor or no recovery from the upper unconsolidated cover sequence, which does not host gold mineralisation.

Drilling recoveries were qualitatively described for each drilled interval in the field database along with an estimation of moisture content. In general recoveries were good, in the order of 30-40kg for each one-metre interval. Water was encountered in some drill holes and wet samples were collected from some intervals, although wet samples comprise <1% of sampling overall. No reduced sample weights were recorded with wet intervals and a review of results does not indicate contamination between adjacent samples. Samples submitted to the laboratory were weighed on a dry, as-received basis and reported along with assay results.

Logging practices varied over the project's history, however AngloGold attempted to standardize the logging by relogging holes in 2002. Approximately 17,000m of diamond and RC drilling and conversion of historical data into a consistent coding system. Some inconsistency in the logging is evident in the current database, however significant mapping has been completed in the pit which, in conjunction with the logging, provides a sound geological basis to prepare a Mineral Resource estimate.

The total length and percentage of the relevant intersections logged.

Sample sizes are considered to be appropriate to the grain size and volume of the material being sampled.

To the best of the Competent Persons knowledge, no RC field duplicates were taken prior to 1995. After 1995, field duplicates have generally been inserted in the sample stream at a rate of one in every 20 samples. No data was provided for the AngloGold drilling program however (2001-2002). Results generally give confidence in sampling procedures .

During the RC drilling program primary samples were collected from a shute on the cyclone splitter. Field duplicates were obtained from a secondary shute on the splitter.

AngloGold (2001-2002) - RC holes were sampled at 1m intervals. Detail surrounding the RC subsampling techniques was not provided to CSA Global. Diamond core was apparently half- cored, with samples generally taken at 1m intervals.

Grenfell (1995-1997) - RC holes were sampled at 1m intervals were collected in full in a plastic bucket, and then poured through a three-tier riffle splitter. Buckets were emptied through the splitter at 0.5m intervals. A 3kg sample was collected in a calico bag for assay, and the remaining sample collected in a large plastic bag. Poor sample recovery was apparently only noted within a small number of drillholes.

Grenfell (1991-1993) - RC holes were sampled at 1m intervals were collected in full in plastic bags. The plastic bags were rolled several times to help ensure mixing prior to collecting a 1-2kg sample using a short plastic tube inserted diagonally several times into the material. A 4 m composite was initially submitted for analysis. 1m samples were only submitted if the original 4m sample returned a value of >0.3 g/t Au. Diamond core was apparently half-cored, with samples generally taken at 1m intervals.

BHP (1987-1989) - RC holes were sampled at 1m intervals with rock chips homogenized via a cyclone before being split and sampled. A 4m composite sample weighing approximately 2.5kg was initially submitted for analysis. The 1m samples were only submitted if the original 4m sample returned a value of >0.5 g/t Au. Diamond core was apparently half-cored, with samples generally taken at 1m intervals.

Approximately 3kg was collected for analysis. RC samples from TRC026-TRC138 were collected over 1m intervals and riffle split to collect a sample. The weight of the sample was approximately 2kg.

Aberfoyle (1979-1985) - Samples of open holes TP001-021 were collected in a PVC bag via a cyclone, and then split downto approximately 1.5kg.

Sample sizes are considered to be appropriate to the grain size and volume of the material being sampled.

The RC drilling program used an Ox sampling system cone splitter mounted on the cyclone with one-metre splits constrained by chute and butterfly valves to derive a 2-4kg split on the cyclone. The majority (>99%) of samples were dry and when samples were wet they were recorded in the sampling records.

Whether sample sizes are appropriate to the grain size of the material being sampled.

Measures taken to ensure that the sampling is representative of the in-situ material collected, including for instance results for field duplicate/second-half sampling.

For all sample types, the nature, quality and appropriateness of the sample preparation technique.

Quality of assay data and laboratory tests The nature, quality and appropriateness of the assaying and laboratory procedures used and whether the technique is considered partial or total. For geophysical tools, spectrometers, handheld XRF instruments, etc., the parameters used in determining the analysis including instrument make and model, reading times, calibrations factors applied and their derivation, etc. Nature of quality control procedures adopted (e.g. standards, blanks, duplicates, external laboratory checks) and whether acceptable levels of accuracy (i.e. lack of bias) and precision have been established.
HIGHLIGHTS:

Targeting model validated: Review of historical data and early reconnaissance mapping by Benz proposed a shallow plunging fold control on the gneissic rock at the Glenburgh gold Project, Western Australia. This concept was successfully tested by drilling the NE-plunging continuity of the Zone 126 orebody in March 2025. Significant intercepts include: 1 11m at 19.9g/t gold from 274m (GBZ126_010) 5m at 10.2g/t gold from 222m (GBZ126_001) 4m at 12.2g/t gold from 319m (GBZ126_009) 8m at 5.6g/t gold from 243m (GBZ126_013)

Preliminary fieldwork and geological analysis have identified several untested NE-plunging fold targets along the Glenburgh mineralised corridor that closely resemble the structural and geological setting of the known Zone 126 high-grade gold zone.

The newly identified targets exhibit similar fold geometries, host lithologies, and surface gold anomalism, suggesting they may represent analogous targets to Zone 126. Importantly, these areas have never been explored with the benefit of this refined targeting model.

This will be the first time drilling steps away and down plunge of the surface gold anomalism.

A campaign of structural mapping is underway to refine understanding of this fold architecture, providing a powerful tool to pinpoint the next round of untested down plunge drill targets.

Drill rig secured to recommence drilling in the later part of May 2025.

Figure 1 Plan view. Fold geometries in green interpreted from historical surface Au sampling and early reconnaissance mapping by Benz. Red arrows indicate the plunge direction of inferred folds. New targets to be verified in upcoming mapping campaign prior to drill testing.

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Targeting Model:

Figure 2 Left: Plan view of new Zone 126 discovery lens. Right: Outcrop of gneissic rock taken as hand specimen displaying representative structural features observed across the Glenburgh Gold Project. The image highlights structural features of the gneissic rock at Glenburgh which informed targeting of Benz first drilling program at Zone 126

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Figure 3 Extensive outcrop exposure across the project area enables detailed geological and structural mapping to resolve the geometry of mineralisation from surface, providing a powerful tool to pinpoint the next round of untested down-plunge drill targets

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Qualifying Statement:

The above images are provided for illustrative geological context only and do not represent visual evidence of gold mineralisation. The outcrop is shown to demonstrate the structural architecture (e.g. fold style, orientation, and fabric) that underpins the Company's refined targeting model. No economic minerals are inferred from this visual, and no assay data is associated with the rocks photographed.

Benz CEO Mark Lynch-Staunton Commented:

"This refined targeting model marks a major leap forward in our understanding of the Glenburgh gold system. For the first time, we believe we can see clear structural controls that link known mineralisation at Zone 126 to multiple untested targets along the 18km mineralised corridor.

"What's particularly exciting is that these new targets share similar geological features as Zone 126 - and they've never been drilled with our refined model. With a rig secured and drilling planned for later part of May, we're now positioned to put this model further to the test and potentially unlock a much larger gold system at Glenburgh."

First Pass Mapping to Commence

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 15, 2025) - Benz Mining Corp. (TSXV: BZ) (ASX: BNZ) (Benz or the Company) is pleased to announce that following a recent site visit by Benz's new technical team, a detailed first-pass structural mapping program is set to commence at the Glenburgh Gold Project in Western Australia. The program will focus on measuring and interpreting the geometry of NE-plunging folds observed in outcrop, which are believed to play a key role in controlling gold mineralisation.

This level of detailed structural mapping has not previously been undertaken at Glenburgh, and the Benz team is applying a new geological model that differs from historical exploration approaches. The mapping campaign is expected to run for approximately six weeks, with data progressively integrated into a 3D model. This model will directly inform ongoing drill targeting, supporting a pipeline of new exploration targets across the project area for the remainder of the year.

Remaining results from 8 holes of the 21 hole program are expected during May 2025.

This announcement has been approved for release by the Board of Benz Mining Corp.

About Benz Mining Corp.

Benz Mining Corp. (TSXV: BZ) (ASX: BNZ) is a pure-play gold exploration company dual-listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and Australian Securities Exchange. The Company owns the Eastmain Gold Project in Quebec, and the recently acquired Glenburgh and Mt Egerton Gold Projects in Western Australia.

Benz's key point of difference lies in its team's deep geological expertise and the use of advanced geological techniques, particularly in high-metamorphic terrane exploration. The Company aims to rapidly grow its global resource base and solidify its position as a leading gold explorer across two of the world's most prolific gold regions.

The Glenburgh Gold Project features a Historical (for the purposes of NI 43-101) Mineral Resource Estimate of 16.3Mt at 1.0 g/t Au (510,100 ounces of contained gold)2. A technical report prepared under NI 43-101- Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101) titled "NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Glenburgh - Egerton Gold Project, Western Australia" with an effective date of 16 December 2024 has been filed with the TSX Venture Exchange and is available under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

The Eastmain Gold Project in Quebec hosts a Mineral Resource Estimate dated effective May 24, 2023 and prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and JORC (2012) of 1,005,000 ounces at 6.1g/t Au3, also available under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca, showcasing Benz's focus on high-grade, high-margin assets in premier mining jurisdictions.





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For more information, please visit: https://benzmining.com/.

Qualified Person's Statement (NI 43-101)

The disclosure of scientific or technical information in this news release is based on, and fairly represents, information compiled by Dr Marat Abzalov. Dr Abzalov, who is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, and member in good standing as a Fellow of The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (#202718). Dr Abzalov has reviewed and approved the technical information in this news release. Dr Abzalov owns shares in Benz Mining Corp.

Historical Mineral Resource Estimates

All mineral resource estimates in respect of the Glenburgh Gold Project in this news release are considered to be "historical estimates" as defined under NI 43-101. These historical estimates are not considered to be current and are not being treated as such. These estimates have been prepared in accordance with the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves prepared by the Joint Ore Reserves Committee of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Australian Institute of Geoscientists and Minerals Council of Australia (JORC Code) and have not been reported in accordance with NI 43-101. A qualified person (as defined in NI 43-101) (Qualified Person) has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimates as current mineral resources. A Qualified Person would need to review and verify the scientific information and conduct an analysis and reconciliation of historical data in order to verify the historical estimates as current mineral resources.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking information" or "forward looking statements" (collectively Forward-Looking Information) as such term is used in applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-Looking Information includes, but is not limited to, disclosure regarding the exploration potential of the Glenburgh Gold Project and the anticipated benefits thereof, planned exploration and related activities on the Glenburgh Gold Project. In certain cases, Forward-Looking Information can be identified by the use of words and phrases or variations of such words and phrases or statements such as "anticipates", "complete", "become", "expects", "next steps", "commitments" and "potential", in relation to certain actions, events or results "could", "may", "will", "would", be achieved. In preparing the Forward-Looking Information in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, that the accuracy and reliability of the Company's exploration thesis in respect of additional drilling at the Glenburgh Gold Project will be consistent with the Company's expectations based on available information; the Company will be able to raise additional capital as necessary; the current exploration, development, environmental and other objectives concerning the Company's Projects (including Glenburgh and Mt Egerton Gold Projects) can be achieved; and the continuity of the price of gold and other metals, economic and political conditions, and operations.

Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause plans, estimates and actual results to vary materially from those projected in such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause the forward-looking information in this news release to change or to be inaccurate include, but are not limited to, the early stage nature of the Company's exploration of the Glenburgh Gold Project, the risk that any of the assumptions referred to prove not to be valid or reliable, that occurrences such as those referred to above are realized and result in delays, or cessation in planned work, that the Company's financial condition and development plans change, and delays in regulatory approval, as well as the other risks and uncertainties applicable to the Company as set forth in the Company's continuous disclosure filings filed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca and www.asx.com.au. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on Forward-Looking Information. The Forward-looking information in this news release is based on plans, expectations, and estimates of management at the date the information is provided and the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, other than as required by applicable law.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS RELEASE.

________________________

1 See announcement dated 3 April 2025: Benz delivers a new high grade gold discovery at Glenburgh.

2 Indicated: 13.5Mt at 1.0g/t Au for 430.7koz; Inferred: 2.8Mt at 0.9g/t Au for 79.4koz. See Historical Mineral Resource Estimates, below

3 Indicated: 1.3Mt at 9.0g/t Au for 384koz; Inferred: 3.8Mt at 5.1g/t Au for 621koz

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/248688

SOURCE: Benz Mining Corp.
Premium energy drink 28 BLACK known for its unique flavours and empowering slogan "The day has 28 hours" enters the Indian market with a mid-year launch. Already a popular choice in 26 countries, including the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Australia, 28 BLACK aims to energize the Indian market with its distinctive taste and brand philosophy. The launch shows 28 BLACK's dedication to providing energy drinks for India's lifestyle-oriented consumers.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250415477585/en/

People with 28 BLACK Energy Drink attending music festival

28 BLACK stands out in the competitive energy drink market by focusing on taste and quality, attracting loyal consumers who appreciate its more natural flavours. The brand's slogan, "The day has 28 hours" embodies its commitment to empowering consumers to achieve more and live life to the fullest.

"We are thrilled to introduce 28 BLACK to India, a dynamic market with a vibrant and energetic consumer base," said Daniel Geuther, CEO of Yinbev Beverages India Private Limited, exclusive importer of 28 BLACK in India, "We believe that 28 BLACK's unique taste and brand ethos will resonate strongly with Indian consumers who are looking for a delicious and effective energy boost to fuel their ambitions."

The brand's appeal extends beyond just providing energy; it represents a lifestyle. 28 BLACK is synonymous with individuals who live life to the fullest and appreciate the special moments. They are modern, open-minded, educated, brand savvy, lifestyle-orientated and stand for an urban, active and dynamic lifestyle. The brand is involved in various cultural spheres, including sports, car racing, music festivals, and fashion.

28 BLACK is known as the taste expert and distinguishes itself through its commitment to taste innovation. The brand's signature acai flavour has become a global favourite, and the company plans to introduce a range of exciting flavours to the Indian market, catering to local preferences while maintaining its high-quality standards.

The company believes that its brand identity will resonate with Indian consumers who value both functionality and style. "We are confident that 28 BLACK will quickly become a favourite among Indian consumers," added Priyal Kilachand, COO at Yinbev Beverages India Private Limited. "We are committed to building a strong presence in the Indian market through strategic partnerships with retailers and distributors, as well as engaging marketing campaigns that show the lifestyle and unique benefits of 28 BLACK."

About 28 BLACK

28 BLACK is a leading global energy drink brand, available in 26 countries across the globe. Known for its taurine-free formula and bold, fruit-forward flavours, the brand offers a fresh take on energy with a lifestyle focus and a mission to help consumers achieve their dreams. The slogan "The day has 28 hours" embodies 28 BLACK's belief in making the most out of every single day.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250415477585/en/

Contacts:

Press Contact:

Amrat Mehta, Media Relations Manager at Yinbev

Amrata.mehta@yinbev.com

+918657827493
The UK's No.1 Argentinian Malbec wine Trivento is urging Brits to get back to the dinner table and enjoy the South American ritual of Sobremesa, engaging in the art of conversation savoured over great food and wine.

Easter (20th April) & World Malbec Day (17th April) provide Brits with the opportunity to get back to the dinner table with friends and family.

LONDON, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Research conducted by leading Malbec wine brand Trivento has shockingly revealed that three-quarters (74%) of UK households spend less than 30 minutes - or no time at all - at the dinner table, as modern life, busy schedules, and time pressures undermine family connection and conversation during mealtimes.

In a world that constantly rushes forward, the latest stats highlight how little time we spend truly enjoying the moment. But there's a time-honoured tradition from Argentina which invites us to slow down and savour life's simplest pleasures, known as Sobremesa. Sobremesa is a ritual that unfolds long after the meal is over, when friends and family remain around the table, sharing stories, reflecting on memories, and creating new ones. With a glass of Trivento Malbec in hand, Sobremesa becomes more than just a ritual - it transforms into a celebration of life, rich in flavour, connection, and joy.

72% of people expressed a wish to experience Sobremesa, pointing to the tradition's potential to grow, with Brits eager and ready to adopt it. However, despite this enthusiasm, the data also reveals that social gatherings are becoming less frequent, with 31% of people hosting friends or family only a few times a year, and 18% never doing so at all. This research highlights a significant shift in how we approach mealtimes and underscores the growing desire for more meaningful, intentional moments spent together at the table.

There's good news, though - there's still a strong opportunity to rediscover these moments of connection, especially with events like Easter and World Malbec Day just around the corner. In fact, 58% of respondents believe that putting away phones or turning off the TV would help them enjoy more quality time at the dinner table, highlighting a real desire for genuine connection. The importance of sharing a bottle of wine also shines through, with 52% considering it a key element of social dining. What's more, 71% bring a bottle of wine when visiting friends or family. Trivento produces many excellent and affordable wines, including their Reserve Malbec which, is the nation's favourite red wine making it an ideal choice to elevate those moments of togetherness.

Preety Johl, Senior Marketing Manager for Trivento at VCT Europe, says: "Our recent research serves as a gentle reminder of how modern life can sometimes take a toll on the quality of family time, especially during mealtimes. While meaningful connections may be slipping away, at Trivento, we believe that good wine, great conversation, and time spent together can help bring us back to what truly matters. Inspired by the Argentine tradition of Sobremesa, we celebrate the joy of lingering at the table, enjoying wine, and connecting with loved ones."

As we approach Easter and World Malbec Day Trivento invites you to savour more than just wine - savour the Sobremesa.

Buy Trivento nationwide from 8

About Trivento:

Trivento is the leading Argentinean wine brand worldwide *(IWSR value sales since 2020).

It is the #7 wine brand in UK value sales ***NielsenIQ, Scantrack Total Market (GB), Value Sales 52 W.E. 22.02.25.

Trivento Reserve Malbec is the #1 selling red wine in this market.

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To accelerate Spark's strategy of enabling digital and AI-driven customer experiences

Information Technology (IT) collaboration forms part of technology delivery model transformation

Collaboration will contribute to reduced IT operating costs, supporting Sparks Operate Programme

BENGALURU, India and AUCKLAND, New Zealand, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Infosys (NSE: INFY) (BSE: INFY) (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, and Spark New Zealand (Spark), New Zealand's largest telecommunications and digital services company, today announced a strategic agreement that will support the transformation of Spark's technology delivery model through digital innovation.

Leveraging Infosys Topaz, an AI-first set of services, solutions, and platforms using generative AI technologies, and Infosys Cobalt, a set of services, solutions and platforms for enterprises to accelerate their cloud journey, the collaboration will contribute to reduced IT operating costs while accelerating Spark's strategy of enabling digital and AI-driven customer experiences.

Under the collaboration, Infosys will provide its global DevOps and software engineering capabilities to help build, test, integrate, and deliver Spark's systems and applications, along with monitoring and support.

Spark will still retain its IT assets, and control its technology architecture strategy, product design and innovation roadmap, and business applications, supported by Infosys global reach and expertise.

Matt Bain, Data and Marketing Director, Spark, said, "Infosys has collaborated with Spark for over 16 years, working alongside our local teams to support the applications that enable Spark to deliver new products and digital experiences for our customers. We are now building on this relationship to allow our teams to focus on our technology strategy and the product roadmaps that will grow our competitive advantage, while leveraging Infosys' global scale to execute these plans quickly and efficiently, and accessing Infosys' investment in AI and innovation to enable us to keep delivering great experiences for our customers."

Raja Shah, EVP and Industry Head, Global Markets, Infosys, said, "We are thrilled to deepen our long-standing collaboration with Spark and contribute to its ambitious digital transformation journey, leveraging Infosys Topaz and Infosys Cobalt. Our global capabilities and innovative solutions will aim to deliver significant cost efficiencies, and over time we will work together to enhance customer experience through AI-driven insights and automation. This collaboration underscores our commitment to driving impactful change and supporting Spark in achieving its strategic goals."

As part of the agreement, Infosys will also enhance its local workforce to complement its global operations and ensure that critical local support and expertise is retained in New Zealand.

About Spark

As New Zealand's largest telecommunications and digital services company, Spark's purpose is to help all of New Zealand win big in a digital world. Spark provides mobile, broadband and digital services to millions of New Zealanders and thousands of New Zealand businesses.

www.spark.co.nz

About Infosys

Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. Over 300,000 of our people work to amplify human potential and create the next opportunity for people, businesses and communities. We enable clients in more than 56 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With over four decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer clients, as they navigate their digital transformation powered by cloud and AI. We enable them with an AI-first core, empower the business with agile digital at scale and drive continuous improvement with always-on learning through the transfer of digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem. We are deeply committed to being a well-governed, environmentally sustainable organization where diverse talent thrives in an inclusive workplace.

Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NSE, BSE, NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next.

Safe Harbor

Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects, or our future financial or operating performance, are forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding the execution of our business strategy, increased competition for talent, our ability to attract and retain personnel, increase in wages, investments to reskill our employees, our ability to effectively implement a hybrid work model, economic uncertainties and geo-political situations, technological disruptions and innovations such as Generative AI, the complex and evolving regulatory landscape including immigration regulation changes, our ESG vision, our capital allocation policy and expectations concerning our market position, future operations, margins, profitability, liquidity, capital resources, our corporate actions including acquisitions, and cybersecurity matters. Important factors that may cause actual results or outcomes to differ from those implied by the forward-looking statements are discussed in more detail in our US Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company unless it is required by law.

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International Council of Nurses calls for immediate action: "caring for the wellbeing of nurses strengthens economies"

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) today launched a landmark report backed up by a new survey, warning of a deepening crisis in the wellbeing of the global nursing workforce and providing compelling evidence for urgent investment in nurses to improve health outcomes, strengthen ec

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) today launched a landmark report backed up by a new survey, warning of a deepening crisis in the wellbeing of the global nursing workforce and providing compelling evidence for urgent investment in nurses to improve health outcomes, strengthen economies, and build more resilient societies. ICN says the report and survey launched ahead of International Nurses Day (IND) 12 May, provide concrete evidence of both the depth of the crisis in nursing and the solutions. ICN, the global voice of nursing, says International Nurses Day this year should be both a celebration of nurses but also a rallying cry for action based on the new evidence from the report and survey.

ICN Report and related survey

Cover image of ICN IND2025 Report and related survey

The survey, authored by the Rosemary Bryant AO Research Centre, Assessing the Global Sustainability of the Nursing Workforce: A Survey of National Nurses' Association Presidents, collects firsthand reports from 68 NNAs on trends in the stability and sustainability of the nursing workforce between 2021-2024. ICN's IND2025 report Our Nurses. Our Future. Caring for Nurses Strengthens Economies provides further evidence of the strain many nurses are experiencing due to chronic underinvestment and presents evidence-based solutions for strengthening nurse wellbeing as a path to population health and economic productivity.

ICN's President, Dr Pamela Cipriano, said:

"The publications we are launching today show that many of the world's nurses are at breaking point, pushed into burnout and facing enormous physical, mental, and emotional pressures. Unacceptable working conditions, inadequate compensation, and a failure to protect nurses from workplace violence and occupational hazards or provide opportunities to advance and practice at full scope are driving this crisis, which affects not only nurses but the health of entire populations.

'The survey results also underscore a failure to protect nurses' safety. A shocking 86.2% of nurses' associations reported experiences of violence from patients or the public, yet a third of countries had no policies in place to protect nurses from workplace violence. Our IND report highlights how direct attacks on nurses and healthcare workers in conflict settings have also dramatically increased.

'This situation is unacceptable and untenable. We must take urgent and decisive action to put nurse wellbeing at the centre of health systems and enable nurses to provide essential care, support thriving populations and economies, and advance Universal Health Coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals."

ICN's CEO, Howard Catton, noted that despite mounting evidence of the nursing workforce crisis, many leaders and decision makers continue to make the wrong choice by prioritizing short-term solutions over the sustainable investments needed to address the root causes of the health workforce emergency.

He commented:

"We are used to nurses safeguarding society from catastrophic health outcomes when disaster strikes, just as airbags deploy to protect us in a collision. But without immediate action to invest in and care for our nursing workforce, we risk a dangerous future where no airbag will inflate, where we won't have nurses to come to the rescue when we need them most. Recent developments such as US funding cuts to education, health, and international aid only adds to this risk.

'It is a smart and strategic investment in the health and prosperity of all people, with the total potential value of initiatives to improve nurses' wellbeing is estimated at $100-300 billion based on capturing lost workforce productivity alone."

SOURCE: International Council of Nurses
Sartorius Stedim Biotech SA / Key word(s): Quarter Results/Forecast

Sartorius Stedim Biotech publishes unaudited first quarter results for 2025



16-Apr-2025 / 07:00 CET/CEST



Aubagne, France | April 16, 2025

Sartorius Stedim Biotech publishes unaudited first quarter results for 2025

Sales revenue at 745 million euros, up 10.4 percent in constant currencies1 (reported: 11.7 percent) High demand for consumables for biomanufacturing, while customer investment in equipment is still muted; book-to-bill ratio 1 well above 1

well above 1 Underlying EBITDA 1 at 229 million euros, EBITDA margin at 30.8 percent; net profit of 85 million euros

at 229 million euros, EBITDA margin at 30.8 percent; net profit of 85 million euros Full-year guidance 2025: Sales revenue increase of approximately 7 percent and underlying EBITDA margin of around 30 to 31 percent projected

Sartorius Stedim Biotech, a leading partner to the biopharmaceutical industry, started the fiscal year 2025 with a strong first quarter and achieved double-digit profitable growth in sales revenue.



"The first three months of the year underline the positive momentum we already saw in the second half of 2024, and we are satisfied with our achievements. While customers remained cautious with their investments in equipment, our high-margin recurring business with consumable products is performing very well across all regions," said Dr. Rene Faber, CEO of Sartorius Stedim Biotech. "Looking ahead, we are confident about the development of the biopharma market and the increasing demand for innovative technologies that help bring new therapies to patients faster and at affordable prices. For the full year 2025, we expect to grow our sales revenue by around 7 percent and to continue to significantly expand our profit margin."



Business development1

In the first quarter of the fiscal year, Sartorius Stedim Biotech recorded double-digit sales revenue growth of 10.4 percent in constant currencies (reported: 11.7 percent) to 745 million euros. The book-to-bill ratio, which reflects the proportion of order intake to sales revenue, was well above 1.



All business regions contributed to the positive trend in sales revenue: The Americas region recorded a gain of 13.8 percent in constant currencies over the prior-year period, while EMEA2 increased by 8.9 percent. Sales revenue in the Asia/Pacific region was up 7.8 percent; excluding China, the region grew by 14.2 percent.



Underlying EBITDA rose overproportionately to sales revenue by 19.9 percent to 229 million euros between January and March. In addition to higher volumes and product mix effects, the previous year's efficiency program made a positive contribution. The underlying EBITDA margin increased to 30.8 percent (PY 28.6 percent).



Underlying net profit1 was up 34.5 percent to 113 million euros, compared with 84 million euros in the first quarter of 2024. Net profit amounted to 85 million euros against 56 million euros in the prior-year period, a plus of 51.8 percent. Underlying earnings per share stood at 1.16 euros (PY 0.86 euros) and earnings per share at 0.88 euros (PY 0.58 euros). The number of employees worldwide was 9,961 as of March 31, 2025, slightly exceeding the figure for year-end 2024 (December 31, 2024: 9,901).



Key financial indicators

Sartorius Stedim Biotech's key financial indicators remain at very robust levels. Equity totaled 4,008 million euros as of March 31, 2025, with an equity ratio1 of 48.3 percent (December 31, 2024: 4,024 million euros and 48.7 percent, respectively). Net operating cash flow rose significantly by 116 percent to 120 million euros, compared with 55 million euros in the prior-year period.



Investments in research and the company's global production infrastructure were, as planned, disproportionately low in the first quarter and amounted to 65 million euros (PY 109 million euros). The ratio of capital expenditure (capex) to sales revenue stood at 8.8 percent (PY 16.4 percent).



Gross debt totaled 2,933 million euros, net debt 2,225 million euros (December 31, 2024: 2,869 million euros and 2,191 million euros respectively). The ratio of net debt to underlying EBITDA1 was 2.7 (December 31, 2024: 2.8).



Guidance for fiscal 2025

Based on the first quarter results and the expected continued positive market developments, management projects sales revenue growth of around 7 percent for fiscal 2025, at this point in time with a forecast range of around plus/minus two percentage points due to the continued above-average volatility.



In terms of profitability, management anticipates an underlying EBITDA margin of around 30 to 31 percent compared with the prior-year figure of 28.0 percent. The margin forecast does not include possible effects of tariffs or related mitigating and corrective measures, which, depending on their design, scope, and duration, could impact margin development temporarily to a limited extent. Management does not expect any influence on the strong market position and competitiveness of Sartorius Stedim Biotech.



The ratio of capital expenditure to sales revenue is expected to be around 13 percent (PY 12.2 percent), and the ratio of net debt to underlying EBITDA1 2.5 (PY 2.8).





1 Sartorius Stedim Biotech publishes alternative performance measures that are not defined by international accounting standards. These are determined with the aim of improving the comparability of business performance over time and within the industry. Constant currencies: figures given in constant currencies eliminate the impact of changes in exchange rates by applying the same exchange rate for the current and the previous period

Organic: organic growth figures exclude the impact from changes in exchange rates and changes in the scope of consolidation

Order intake: all customer orders contractually concluded and booked during the respective reporting period

Underlying EBITDA: earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization and adjusted for extraordinary items

Underlying net profit: profit for the period after non-controlling interest, adjusted for extraordinary items and amortization, as well as based on the normalized financial result and the normalized tax rate

Equity ratio: equity in relation to the balance sheet total

Ratio of net debt to underlying EBITDA: quotient of net debt and underlying EBITDA over the past 12 months, including the pro forma amount contributed by acquisitions for this period 2 EMEA = Europe, Middle East, Africa



This media release also contains forward-looking statements about the future development of the Sartorius Stedim Biotech Group. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Sartorius Stedim Biotech assumes no liability for updating such statements in light of new information or future events. Sartorius Stedim Biotech shall not assume any liability for the correctness of this release. The original French media release is the legally binding version.



Forecasts have been prepared based on historical information and are consistent with accounting policies. All forecast figures are based on constant currencies, as in the past years. Management points out that the dynamics and volatilities in the industry have increased significantly in recent years. In addition, uncertainties due to the changed geopolitical situation, such as the emerging decoupling tendencies of various countries, are playing a greater role. This results in higher uncertainty when forecasting business figures.





Conference call

Dr. Rene Faber, CEO of the Sartorius Stedim Biotech Group, will discuss the company's first quarter results with analysts and investors in a conference call at 1.00 p.m. CEST on April 16, 2025.

Register here: https://sar.to/Investors_Call_Q1_2025





Financial calendar

July 22, 2025 Publication of the half-year results January to June 2025

October 16, 2025 Publication of the nine-month results January to September 2025



For detailed results, please see the tables in the attached file.





A profile of Sartorius Stedim Biotech



Sartorius Stedim Biotech is a leading international partner to the biopharmaceutical industry. As a provider of innovative solutions, the company based in Aubagne, France, helps its customers to manufacture biotech medications, such as cell and gene therapies, more safely, rapidly, and sustainably. The shares of Sartorius Stedim Biotech S.A. are listed on the Euronext Paris. The company has a strong global reach with manufacturing and R&D sites as well as sales entities in Europe, North America, and Asia. Sartorius Stedim Biotech regularly expands its portfolio through acquisitions of complementary technologies. In 2024, the company generated sales revenue of around 2.8 billion euros. More than 9,900 employees work for customers around the globe.



Visit our newsroom and follow us on LinkedIn .





Contact

Petra Kirchhoff

Head of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations

+49 (0)551.308.1686

petra.kirchhoff@sartorius.com

Attachment



File: Sartorius Stedim Biotech publishes unaudited first quarter results for 2025 | Media Release





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The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.




Allschwil, Switzerland, April 16, 2025

Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd, Allschwil (SIX: BSLN), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to meeting the needs of patients with severe bacterial and fungal infections, announced today scientific presentations on Basilea's clinical-stage novel antifungal fosmanogepix given at ESCMID Global 2025, the annual meeting of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, which took place from April 11 to 15, 2025 in Vienna, Austria. Further presentations covered the antifungal isavuconazole (Cresemba) and the antibiotic ceftobiprole (Zevtera).

Dr. Marc Engelhardt, Chief Medical Officer of Basilea, said: "Invasive fungal infections are an increasing global health problem and novel antifungals are urgently needed. To date more than 250 patients suffering from difficult-to-treat invasive fungal infections have received fosmanogepix via expanded access. The data presented at ESCMID highlight the potential of fosmanogepix as a life-saving treatment option in severe fungal infections, based on the results from a large cohort of patients with invasive fusariosis, as well as from patients with mucormycosis, who received fosmanogepix via expanded access. We look forward to the start of our second phase 3 study with fosmanogepix covering a broad range of mold infections, including aspergillosis, fusariosis and mucormycosis."

More than 250 patients from 11 countries with serious or life-threatening invasive fungal infections, who progressed on antifungal standard-of-care treatment, experienced treatment-limiting toxicities, or had infections with resistant fungal pathogens, received fosmanogepix via expanded access to date (NCT06433128). As presented at ESCMID, treatment with fosmanogepix resulted in favorable response rates of 70% or higher in patients with invasive fusariosis or mucormycosis and it was tolerated for long treatment durations.

Further presentations reported on the activity of fosmanogepix against diverse yeast and mold species collected as part of a worldwide surveillance program.

Fosmanogepix data presented at ESCMID Global 2025



- Presentation IPT13: Fosmanogepix - a novel clinical phase 3 stage antifungal agent - M. Engelhardt



- Presentation O0419: Fosmanogepix expanded access in patients withFusariuminfections - S. Dadwal, A. Baluch, J. Dickter, J. R. Newman, M. H. Nguyen, R. Weihe, H. Schlamm, L. Ostrosky-Zeichner



- Poster P4164: Fosmanogepix expanded access case series in patients with mucormycosis - A. Puing, A. Kaur, Y. J. Lee, P.Chang, A. Koff, D. Tyungu, M. Oldham, M. Shaughnessy, A. Tande, H. Schlamm, J. Maertens



- Poster E0237:Activity of manogepix against a worldwide collection of mould isolates from 2023-M. Winkler, S. Edeker, A. Klauer, P. R. Rhomberg, M. Castanheira



- Poster P2891:Activity of manogepix against a worldwide collection of yeast isolates from 2023-M. Winkler, S. Edeker, A. Klauer, P. R. Rhomberg, M. Castanheira









Isavuconazole (Cresemba) data presented at ESCMID Global 2025



- Poster P2944: Deciphering Connections between Isavuconazole (ISAV) Drug Exposures and Responses Among Different Infections: Mucorales - L. Kovanda, A. Desai



- Poster P2945: Deciphering Connections Between Isavuconazole Drug Exposures and Responses Among Different Infections: Dimorphic Fungi/Mould/Other Filamentous Fungi and Mixed Infections - A. Desai, L. Kovanda



- Poster P2946: Deciphering Connections Between Isavuconazole Drug Exposures and Responses Among Different Infections: Invasive Candidiasis - L. Kovanda, A. Desai



- Poster E0050: Enhancing Isavuconazole Pharmacokinetics: A Comprehensive Population (PPK) Model from Three Phase 3 Trials and Covariate Exploration - A. Desai, L. Kovanda



- Poster E0055: High-dose isavuconazole therapy is well-tolerated and significantly improves survival in a fruit fly model of invasive mucormycosis - S. Wurster, N. D. Albert, N. P. Wiederhold, R. E. Lewis, D. P. Kontoyiannis









Ceftobiprole (Zevtera) data presented at ESCMID Global 2025



- Poster E0792: Ceftobiprole alone versus in combination with ampicillin against borderline penicillin-resistant, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis - O. Funk, I. Khan, J. Li, J. Cusumano







About fosmanogepix

Fosmanogepix is a clinical-stage broad-spectrum antifungal. It has a novel mechanism of action and its active moiety has shown activity against common species of Candida and Aspergillus, including multi-drug-resistant strains, such as Candida auris and Candida glabrata, as well as rare difficult-to-treat molds including Fusarium spp., Scedosporium spp., and some fungi from the Mucorales order.1 Fosmanogepix intravenous and oral formulations have been evaluated in clinical phase 2 studies for the treatment of patients with Candidemia, including Candida auris infections, and invasive mold infections.1 A phase 3 study evaluating fosmanogepix in the treatment of adult patients with candidemia and/or invasive candidiasis is ongoing.2 Fosmanogepix has received Fast Track and Orphan Drug designations from the US Food and Drug Administration for seven separate indications, and is designated as a Qualified Infectious Disease Product (QIDP).

This project has been funded in part with federal funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); Administration of Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR); Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), under OT number: 75A50124C00033. The contract and federal funding are not an endorsement of the study results, product, or company.

About Cresemba (isavuconazole)

Cresemba, with the active ingredient isavuconazole, is an intravenous (i.v.) and oral azole antifungal. In the 27 European Union member states, as well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, isavuconazole is approved for patients aged from 1 year of age and older for the treatment of invasive aspergillosis and for the treatment of mucormycosis in patients for whom amphotericin B is inappropriate.3 Isavuconazole is also approved in the United States (US)4 and several additional countries in Europe and beyond, including the United Kingdom5, the Middle East and North Africa region, the Asia Pacific region, China and Japan.6 It has orphan drug designation in the US, Europe and Australia for its approved indications.

About Zevtera (ceftobiprole medocaril sodium for injection)

Ceftobiprole, the active moiety of the prodrug ceftobiprole medocaril, is an advanced generation cephalosporin antibiotic for intravenous administration, with rapid bactericidal activity against a wide range of Gram-positive bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus, including methicillin-resistant strains (MRSA), and Gram-negative bacteria.7 In several countries in Europe and beyond, the brand is currently approved and marketed as Zevtera and Mabelio for the treatment of adult patients with hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia (HABP), excluding ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (VABP), and for the treatment of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP).7 In the United States, ZEVTERA is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections (bacteremia) (SAB), including right-sided infective endocarditis, and adult patients with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) and for adult and pediatric patients (3 months to less than 18 years old) with community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP).8

About Basilea

Basilea is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company founded in 2000 and headquartered in Switzerland. We are committed to discovering, developing and commercializing innovative drugs to meet the needs of patients with severe bacterial and fungal infections. We have successfully launched two hospital brands, Cresemba for the treatment of invasive fungal infections and Zevtera for the treatment of bacterial infections. In addition, we have preclinical and clinical anti-infective assets in our portfolio. Basilea is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX: BSLN). Please visit basilea.com.

Disclaimer

This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements, such as "believe", "assume", "expect", "forecast", "project", "may", "could", "might", "will" or similar expressions concerning Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd, Allschwil and its business, including with respect to the progress, timing and completion of research, development and clinical studies for product candidates. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd, Allschwil to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd, Allschwil is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For further information, please contact:

Peer Nils Schroder, PhD



Head of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations

Basilea Pharmaceutica International Ltd, Allschwil

Hegenheimermattweg 167b

4123 Allschwil

Switzerland Phone +41 61 606 1102 E-mail media_relations@basilea.com (mailto:media_relations@basilea.com)

investor_relations@basilea.com (mailto:investor_relations@basilea.com)

This press release can be downloaded from www.basilea.com.

References

K. J. Shaw, A. S. Ibrahim. Fosmanogepix: A Review of the First-in-Class Broad Spectrum Agent for the Treatment of Invasive Fungal Infections. Journal of Fungi (Basel) 2020 (6), 239 Fosmanogepix Against Standard-of-care Treatment in Invasive Candidiasis (FAST-IC): ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05421858 European Public Assessment Report (EPAR) Cresemba: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/cresemba (https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/cresemba) [Accessed: April 15, 2025] Full US prescribing information: https://www.astellas.us/docs/cresemba.pdf (https://www.astellas.us/docs/cresemba.pdf) [Accessed: April 15, 2025] Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) Cresemba: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/search?q=cresemba (https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/search?q=cresemba) [Accessed: April 15, 2025] The registration status and approved indications may vary from country to country. Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) Zevtera: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/9164/smpc (https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/9164/smpc) [Accessed: April 15, 2025] Full US prescribing information: https://www.basilea.com/ZEVTERA_US_prescribing_information_46b9y4wk (https://www.basilea.com/ZEVTERA_US_prescribing_information_46b9y4wk)



Press release
Hunting PLC (LSE: HTG), the precision engineering group, issues the following Trading Update for Q1 2025, ahead of its Annual General Meeting that will take place today at 10:30a.m. BST in London.

Q1 2025 Trading Update

The Group has traded in line with expectations during the quarter, delivering an EBITDA of c.$38.7 million (Q1 2024 c.$28.9 million) at an EBITDA margin of 14% (Q1 2024 12%).

All product groups have traded in line with management's expectations in the quarter.

As is typical for this time of year, the Group has invested in working capital in the period to satisfy committed orders, which has led to a net cash outflow in the quarter, leading to a cash and bank (borrowings) position of c.$58.0 million (31 December 2024 $104.7 million). This outflow also includes the maturity of certain bank acceptance drafts, in relation to working capital instruments utilised in 2024, and the purchase of Ordinary shares by the Company's Employee Benefit Trust to satisfy the vesting of future long-term incentive awards, with $3.4 million absorbed purchasing 849,701 Ordinary shares in Q1 2025.

In line with the Hunting 2030 Strategy, in the quarter the Group completed the acquisition of the Organic Oil Recovery technology from its founding shareholders for a consideration of $17.5 million and disposed of its non-core interest in Rival Downhole Tools for a consideration of $13.1 million.

Management continues to assess bolt-on acquisitions, with a number of transactions being progressed during the period. Areas of focus remain subsea and intelligent well completion businesses.

The restructuring of the EMEA operating segment continues, with a projected $10 million annualised cost saving being targeted.

International Trade Tariffs

The Group has assessed the potential international trade tariffs proposed by the US administration and presents in the table below a high-level analysis of the potential impact of these tariffs if they are introduced. The analysis is qualitative and has not been audited.

Operating Segment Potential Impact Hunting Titan Minimal impact, given the majority of revenue and costs are derived from US- based supply chains. North America Minimal impact, given the majority of revenue and costs are derived from US- based supply chains. Subsea Technologies Minimal impact, given majority of revenue is derived from non-tariffed countries such as Guyana. EMEA No impact, given no sales are into North America. Asia Pacific No impact, given no sales are into North America.

The Directors believe that, subject to international supply chains settling following the announcements made by the US administration in recent weeks, the ongoing impact of tariffs on the Group's prospects and trading are immaterial and broadly align to the potential impact noted above. This is before taking into account any indirect impact of commodity pricing on the global economy.

Sales Order Book and Commodity Prices

At 31 March 2025, the Group's sales order book was $439.3 million (Q4 2024 $506.8 million), which includes the recently announced new subsea orders, totalling $38 million. The order book also reflects the continued work-off of larger orders for clients including Kuwait Oil Company and ExxonMobil. Management currently estimates that 77% of the current order book balance will be traded in the remainder of the current financial year, which supports a good proportion of our targeted revenue. The Group remains focused on reducing working capital and increasing cash generation.

The Directors have also assessed the impact of the decline in commodity prices since 2 April 2025, with the WTI crude oil price trading at c.$61 per barrel as of 15 April 2025. To date, we have not seen any negative response to the lower pricing environment from our client base, but management continues to monitor the situation closely and will provide a further update in the H1 2025 Trading Update. The Group's consolidated balance sheet remains strong, with the above working capital and cash initiatives providing ongoing flexibility and optionality during this time of increased market volatility.

The H1 2025 Trading Update will be issued on Wednesday 16 July 2025.

About Hunting PLC

Hunting is a global, precision engineering group that provides precision-manufactured equipment and premium services, which add value for our customers. Established in 1874, it is a listed public company, quoted on the London Stock Exchange in the Equity Shares in Commercial Companies ("ESCC") category. The Company maintains a corporate office in Houston and is headquartered in London. As well as the United Kingdom, the Company has operations in China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, United Arab Emirates and the United States of America.

The Group reports in US dollars across five operating segments: Hunting Titan; North America; Subsea Technologies; Europe, Middle East and Africa ("EMEA"), and Asia Pacific.

The Group also reports revenue and EBITDA financial metrics based on five product groups: OCTG, Perforating Systems, Subsea, Advanced Manufacturing and Other Manufacturing.

Hunting PLC's Legal Entity Identifier is 2138008S5FL78ITZRN66.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250415679326/en/

Contacts:

For further information please contact:

Hunting PLC

Jim Johnson, Chief Executive

Bruce Ferguson, Finance Director

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7321 0123

Burson Buchanan

Ben Romney

Barry Archer

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7466 5000

or

lon.IR@hunting-intl.com
Real-Time, 360-Degree Imaging Enhances Precision and Confidence in Cardiac Procedures

DUBLIN, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- LUMA Vision Ltd., an innovative leader in advanced cardiac imaging and navigation, today announced the FDA clearance of its VERAFEYE Visualization Platform. This novel catheter-based imaging system provides real-time, two and four-dimensional, 360-degree visualization, significantly enhancing clinician precision and confidence during complex electrophysiology and structural heart procedures. The system is prepared for magnetic tracking and navigation of third-party catheters, which in the future, will further empower clinicians to perform complex procedures with greater precision and control.

The VERAFEYE system combines state-of-the-art imaging technology with advanced digital maneuverability, enabling clinicians to capture highly detailed, four-dimensional images that update in real time. With imaging depths up to 120 mm away from the catheter, it allows for dynamic high-resolution navigation and visualization of the heart, crucial to performing today's advanced electrophysiology and structural heart procedures with a wide variety of technologies. Traditional imaging catheters provide only two-dimensional imaging, often limiting clinicians' ability to view cardiac anatomy from all angles during procedures. The VERAFEYE catheter introduces a new era of intracardiac imaging, allowing for comprehensive, 360-degree visualization with enhanced depth and clarity.

"Our clinical experience with VERAFEYE is exciting, with the potential to simplify procedural workflow and efficiency," said Dr. Shephal Doshi, Director of Electrophysiology at Pacific Heart Institute/Cedars Sinai and investigator of the VERAFEYE system. "Real-time visualization and rapid creation of cardiac anatomy can facilitate de novo procedures with greater simplicity."

Fionn Lahart, CEO, at LUMA Vision, expressed excitement about the technology's potential: "We are incredibly proud of this achievement and the potential impact VERAFEYE will have in areas such as cardiac arrhythmias, left atrial appendage closure and structural heart. Our team and partners have worked tirelessly alongside clinicians to develop a product that can be the future of cardiac navigation, and this FDA clearance is a testament to their dedication and expertise. We look forward to seeing the positive difference VERAFEYE will make in the lives of patients and healthcare providers alike".

The successful approval of the VERAFEYE system and catheter represents a significant step toward improving procedural workflows and broadening the potential for many of the innovative technologies that need precise visualization to deliver effective treatment. By providing real-time, volumetric images of the heart in combination with magnetic navigation, the interactive visualization of the VERAFEYE system enables clinicians to make more informed decisions, potentially reducing procedure time and minimizing risks.

"The approval of VERAFEYE is a major advancement in intraprocedural cardiac imaging," said Dr. Anish Amin, System Medical Chief for Cardiac Electrophysiology, OhioHealth Heart and Vascular. "VERAFEYE's imaging capabilities demonstrate a necessary path forward in precision imaging and a strong foundation to further advance the standard of care."

About LUMA Vision

LUMA Vision is a privately held, medical device company based in Dublin, Ireland and Munich, Germany. LUMA Vision designs and develops cutting edge innovative technologies to significantly advance healthcare and solve truly global unmet clinical needs. VERAFEYE is a novel ultrasound based cardiac visualization and navigation platform for generating a 360-degree view, navigating and imaging all structures and devices around the catheter with an unprecedented field of view. With a commitment to advancing patient care, LUMA Vision focuses on delivering groundbreaking products that enhance clinical outcomes and improve lives around the world. LUMA Vision was founded by CEO Fionn Lahart and CTO Christoph Hennersperger. Learn more about LUMA Vision and VERAFEYE at www.lumavision.com

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2597555/LUMA_Vision_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/luma-vision-receives-fda-clearance-for-verafeye-2d4d-cardiac-visualization-platform-302429817.html
BlackRock Frontiers Investment Trust Plc - Changes to Portfolio Management Team

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, April 16

Blackrock Frontiers Investment Trust Plc

5493003K5E043LHLO706

Changes to Portfolio Management Team



16 April 2025

BlackRock Frontiers Investment Trust plc (the "Company") has been informed of changes being made to BlackRock's Global Emerging Markets ("GEM") team structure. The changes are designed to enhance investment focus, with a greater alignment of expertise and portfolio management responsibilities.

Sam Vecht and Emily Fletcher will continue in their roles as co-managers of the Company's portfolio, supported by the extensive resources available through BlackRock's global footprint of research, technology and risk analytics, stewardship and corporate access. Sudaif Niaz will step down as a co-manager of the Company's portfolio.

No changes are being made to the way the Company's portfolio is managed on a day-to-day basis as a result of this change.

Katrina Hart, Chair of the Company commented:

"The Board supports the changes being made to BlackRock's wider GEM team, which it believes will be positive and should enhance focus and efficiency.It values the continuity provided by Sam and Emily highly, given that they have managed the portfolio since inception and will continue as lead co-managers. The Board thanks Sudaif for his commitment and contribution to the Company since his appointment as co-manager in February 2023, and wishes him all the best in his future endeavours."

Enquiries:

Sarah Beynsberger - 020 7743 2639

Bart Nash - 020 7743 5777

BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited
Heineken N.V. reports on 2025 first quarter trading

Amsterdam, 16 April 2025 - Heineken N.V. (EURONEXT: HEIA; OTCQX: HEINY) announces

First quarter performance as anticipated, full year outlook unchanged

Key Highlights

Revenue 7,784 million, decreasing 4.9%

Net revenue (beia) organic growth up 0.9%; per hectolitre increasing 3.3%

Beer volume organic decrease of 2.1%

Premium beer volume organic growth of 1.8%; Heineken  volume growth of 4.6%

volume growth of 4.6% Outlook for the full year unchanged; operating profit (beia) expected to grow organically 4% to 8%

CEO Statement

Dolf van den Brink, Chairman of the Executive Board / CEO, commented:

"In the first quarter, we delivered a 0.9% organic increase in net revenue. As anticipated, primarily due to calendar-related factors, organic beer volume declined by 2.1%. Despite volatile consumer and geopolitical trends, we are performing within the range of expectations.

Our EverGreen strategy continues to shape the business. We maintained the delivery of high quality growth, with premium beer volume growing by 1.8% and Heineken volume up by 4.6%, outpacing overall volume growth. Vietnam, India, and Ethiopia delivered promising volume growth, benefitting from the strategic actions taken. The strength of our brand portfolio keeps improving, as shown across markets like Brazil and China. We are increasing our marketing and selling investments to further unlock the biggest opportunities. Furthermore, we are firmly on track to achieve our 0.4 billion gross savings target for 2025.

As the year progresses, we will be navigating a macroeconomic environment increasingly in flux, requiring us to stay agile and proactively adapt to changing circumstances. Considering the current conditions, we confirm our full year outlook to organically grow operating profit (beia) by 4% to 8%. This reflects our adaptability, whilst standing by our commitment to invest in growth and future-proofing our business."

Enquiries





Media Investors Christiaan Prins Tristan van Strien Director of Global Communication Global Director of Investor Relations Marlie Paauw Lennart Scholtus / Chris Steyn Corporate Communications Lead Investor Relations Manager / Senior Analyst E-mail: pressoffice@heineken.com (mailto:pressoffice@heineken.com) E-mail: investors@heineken.com (mailto:investors@heineken.com) Tel: +31-612200009 Tel: +31-20-5239590





Conference Call Details

HEINEKEN will host an analyst and investor conference call with Harold van den Broek, Chief Financial Officer, in relation to its First Quarter 2025 Trading Update on 16 April at 14:00 CET/13:00 GMT. The call will be audio cast live via the company's website: www.theheinekencompany.com . An audio replay service will also be made available after the conference call at the above web address. Analysts and investors can dial-in using the following telephone numbers:

United Kingdom: +44 203 936 2999

Netherlands: +31 85 888 7233

United States: +1 646 664 1960

All other locations: +44 203 936 2999

For the full list of dial in numbers, please refer to the following link: Global Dial-In Numbers

Participation password for all countries: 522422

Attachment
SYDNEY, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading online FX and CFD broker Axi participated in the 2025 Invest Cuffs conference, which took place on March 28-29, 2025, at the ICE Krakow Congress Center, in Krakow, Poland.

Event attendees had the opportunity to explore the Axi brand, and their products and services, learn more about their yearslong partnership with Premier League Champions, Man City, as well as win exciting prizes and snap exclusive photos with Man City's Premier League memorabilia and the club's mascot, brought in especially for the event.

Santiago Vazquez-Munoz, Regional Head, UK, Europe, and LatAm at Axi, shared his excitement for the event, "We extend our appreciation to the event organisers for a seamless conference experience, and to all event attendees who visited our booth to meet with our team. Our pledge has remained unchanged over the years: to provide our clients with the ultimate edge to maximise every trading opportunity. We were thrilled to showcase Axi's exceptional trading conditions to those in attendance and demonstrate how they can sharpen their trading performance with us."

Further to the long-standing partnership with Premier League club, Manchester City FC, the broker also partners with LaLiga club, Girona FC, Brazilian club, Esporte Clube Bahia, and named England international John Stones as their Brand Ambassador in 2023. In 2024, the broker was recognised with the 'Most Reliable Broker - Europe' award at the 2024 Global Forex Awards, emphasising the broker's commitment to transparency in the trading industry.

Watch video : https://youtu.be/uih6_6sAtLk

CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage.

71.46% of retail client accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

About Axi

Axi is a global online FX and CFD trading company, with thousands of customers in 100+ countries worldwide. Axi offers CFDs for several asset classes including Forex, Shares, Gold, Oil, Coffee, and more.

For more information or additional comments from Axi, please contact: mediaenquiries@axi.com
A reduction in the provision of globally sourced reinsurance capacity to markets in Central and West Asia has prompted some domestic insurers to step up to try to fill the gap, according to a new report released by AM Best

In its new Best's Market Segment Report, "Riskier Exposures for Central and West Asian Insurers as They Turn to Reinsurance to Drive Overseas Growth," AM Best notes that the withdrawal of Russian capacity following the imposition of economic sanctions in 2022 created a gap in the market upon which other local carriers have been looking to capitalise.

The report also states that the operating environment in most of these markets remains highly competitive. This limits the ability to achieve domestic organic growth, with primary insurance companies in the region increasingly turning to international reinsurance business as they seek to diversify their existing domestic books of business and establish a presence in foreign markets.

"This could be beneficial for the carriers' overall market profiles should they successfully achieve profitable growth," said Todor Kitin, senior financial analyst at AM Best. "But also poses substantial risks for those insurers that lack appropriate expertise or knowledge in the segment or market into which they are expanding."

To access a complimentary copy of this special report, please visit http://www3.ambest.com/bestweek/purchase.asp?record_code=353044.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com

Copyright 2025 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250416966548/en/

Contacts:

Todor Kitin

Senior Financial Analyst

+44 20 7397 0335

todor.kitin@ambest.com

Valeria Ermakova

Associate Director, Analytics

+44 20 7397 0269

valeria.ermakova@ambest.com

Richard Banks

Director, Industry Research EMEA

+44 20 7397 0322

richard.banks@ambest.com

Edem Kuenyehia

Director, Market Development Communications

+44 20 7397 0280

edem.kuenyehia@ambest.com
Second time a KAUST scientist receives Japan Prize, making it the only university in MENA region to be honoured with global accolade

THUWAL, Saudi Arabia, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is proud to announce that Professor Carlos M. Duarte, Ibn Sina Distinguished Professor of Marine Science, has been awarded the internationally acclaimed Japan Prize for his groundbreaking contributions to marine ecology and his pioneering research on the crucial role of blue carbon ecosystems as a nature-based climate solution. Professor Duarte's work has transformed the world's understanding of ocean-based climate solutions and their potential to address global environmental challenges.

The Japan Prize, often referred to as the "Japanese Nobel Prize" and regarded as one of the world's most prestigious awards in science and technology --honours exceptional achievements that contribute to global peace and prosperity.

Professor Duarte's award acknowledges his decades of research on blue carbon ecosystems, including seagrasses, mangroves, and salt marshes. Despite covering only 0.2% of the ocean floor, these ecosystems store approximately 50% of all carbon buried annually in marine sediments. His findings have played a critical role in shaping international strategies for leveraging these ecosystems to combat climate change and restore biodiversity.

Professor Duarte will receive the award in a formal ceremony in Tokyo on April 16th this year, presided over by His Majesty Emperor Naruhito.

"Receiving the Japan Prize is a deeply humbling moment," said Professor Carlos Duarte. "This honour recognises the extraordinary potential of our oceans in restoring planetary health. I hope this spotlight on blue carbon inspires a new wave of ambition, particularly among younger generations of scientists and leaders, to embrace nature-based solutions and work collaboratively to address the climate crisis".

"Professor Duarte's recognition is a testament to KAUST's commitment to cutting-edge research and to Saudi Arabia's growing impact in sustainability and environmental science globally," said Professor Sir Edward Byrne, President of KAUST. "His work exemplifies KAUST's role in advancing Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and the Saudi Green Initiative, driving innovation in marine conservation, climate innovation, and scientific leadership, both regionally and internationally."

Beyond his research, Professor Duarte has been instrumental in advising Saudi Arabia on its national marine conservation efforts and national sustainability strategies, ocean stewardship. He has also played a pivotal role in shaping global ocean policy, serving as the Executive Director of the G20 Backed Coral Research & Development Accelerator Platform (CORDAP), which aims to fast-track innovation in coral reef restoration around the world. His expertise continues to influence climate negotiations and marine conservation frameworks worldwide.

Duarte is the second person from KAUST to win the prize. In 2013, a former Vice President of Research, Jean M. J. Frechet, won for outstanding achievement in the development of chemically amplified resist polymer materials for innovative semiconductor manufacturing process.

About KAUST

Established in 2009, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is a graduate research university devoted to finding solutions for some of the most pressing scientific and technological challenges in the world as well as Saudi Arabia in the areas of food and health, water, energy, environment and the digital domain. KAUST is a curiosity-driven, interdisciplinary

KAUST brings together the best minds from around the world to advance research. More than 120 different nationalities live, work and study on campus. KAUST is also a catalyst for innovation, economic development and social prosperity, with research resulting in novel patents and products, enterprising startups, regional and global initiatives, and collaboration with other academic institutions, industries and Saudi agencies.

About CORDAP

The Coral Research & Development Accelerator Platform (CORDAP) is a G20 initiative dedicated to accelerating research and development to safeguard coral reefs globally. CORDAP serves as a global hub, fostering collaboration between scientists, policymakers, and the private sector to develop and deploy innovative solutions for coral reef conservation, restoration, and adaptation to climate change.

KAUST is a key funder and strategic partner of CORDAP, demonstrating its commitment to coral reef conservation. KAUST's financial support enables CORDAP to drive critical research and develop innovative solutions for protecting these vital ecosystems.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/kaust-professor-carlos-duarte-wins-prestigious-japan-prize-for-pioneering-marine-science-research-302429142.html
Bitwise adds London as trading hub for four of its European products, providing access to its best-in-class crypto ETPs for UK professional investors.

providing access to its best-in-class crypto ETPs for UK professional investors. Products to be traded at LSE include Bitwise Core Bitcoin ETP, Europe's only Bitcoin ETP with extended primary market liquidity window and 0,20% TER, and the Bitwise Physical Bitcoin ETP with approximately 5-year track-record.

Europe's only Bitcoin ETP with extended primary market liquidity window and 0,20% TER, and the Bitwise Physical Bitcoin ETP with approximately 5-year track-record. LSE is premier trading venue for ETPs in Europe, with members of more than 20 countries having access to its order books





April 16, 2025. Frankfurt, London: Bitwise has listed four of its Germany-issued crypto Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) at the London Stock Exchange (LSE), expanding access to its institutional-grade product suite for Bitcoin and Ethereum investors, and widening its footprint across European markets. The lineup includes BTC1, the Bitwise Core Bitcoin ETP, one of Europe's most cost-efficient Bitcoin ETPs with a total expense ratio (TER) of just 0.20% and the Bitwise Physical Bitcoin ETP, which has a five-year track record and ranks as Europe's most liquid Bitcoin ETP. While these products remain restricted to professional and wholesale investors in the UK, the London listing significantly improves access for qualified market participants. Bitwise is a pure-play digital asset manager, yet our ETPs are designed by experts with deep expertise in both digital assets and traditional financial markets-making them ideally suited to the needs of institutional investors.

Bradley Duke, Managing Director, Head of Bitwise Europe, said: "I am very pleased to see the debut listings of Bitwise products on the London Stock Exchange, one of Europe's most esteemed trading venues. Investing in crypto is rapidly becoming mainstream and institutional investors increasingly allocate digital assets to their portfolios. Bitwise offers secure, transparent, and best-in-class crypto investment products, supported by a team with expert knowledge of the market and the needs of institutional investors. We will continue to innovate our product range, in dialogue with investors to bring products that suit their needs in this rapidly developing asset class.

The four products listed in London as of 15 April are:

The Bitwise Core Bitcoin ETP (BTC1, ISIN: DE000A4AER62), a cost-efficient Bitcoin ETP option without fee holidays, with a TER of 0.20% per year, making it ideal for strategic allocations. The product is designed for long-term institutional investors seeking cost efficiency and benchmark reliability. The NAV is calculated three times daily using Bitwise's unique Triple-Daily NAV Method, which integrates primary market liquidity from Hong Kong, the European Union, and the United States.

(BTC1, ISIN: DE000A4AER62), a cost-efficient Bitcoin ETP option without fee holidays, with a TER of 0.20% per year, making it ideal for strategic allocations. The product is designed for long-term institutional investors seeking cost efficiency and benchmark reliability. The NAV is calculated three times daily using Bitwise's unique Triple-Daily NAV Method, which integrates primary market liquidity from Hong Kong, the European Union, and the United States. The Bitwise Physical Bitcoin ETP (BTCE, ISIN: DE000A27Z304) the most liquid crypto ETP on the XETRA trading platform of Deutsche Borse, with one of the lowest bid-ask spreads, and the second-highest assets under management (AUM) of any physical Bitcoin ETP in Europe. It is often used by traders and short- to mid-term investors looking for flexible exposure to Bitcoin. Launched in June 2020 as the first ever crypto ETP on the German stock exchange in Frankfurt, BTCE is one of the largest Bitcoin products in terms of assets under management in Europe.

(BTCE, ISIN: DE000A27Z304) the most liquid crypto ETP on the XETRA trading platform of Deutsche Borse, with one of the lowest bid-ask spreads, and the second-highest assets under management (AUM) of any physical Bitcoin ETP in Europe. It is often used by traders and short- to mid-term investors looking for flexible exposure to Bitcoin. Launched in June 2020 as the first ever crypto ETP on the German stock exchange in Frankfurt, BTCE is one of the largest Bitcoin products in terms of assets under management in Europe. The Bitwise Physical Ethereum ETP (ZETH, ISIN: DE000A3GMKD7), an institutional-grade Ethereum product that gives investors pure exposure to Ethereum performance, equipped with institutional-grade custody. The assets backing the ETP are kept in cold-storage, and are secured by an independent trustee, thus mitigating issuer default risk.

(ZETH, ISIN: DE000A3GMKD7), an institutional-grade Ethereum product that gives investors pure exposure to Ethereum performance, equipped with institutional-grade custody. The assets backing the ETP are kept in cold-storage, and are secured by an independent trustee, thus mitigating issuer default risk. The Bitwise Ethereum Staking ETP (ET32, ISIN: DE000A3G90G9), an institutional-grade, low cost, and liquid vehicle with staking rewards accumulating in the ETP daily leveraging ETH staking for maximum investor outcome. It has seen consistent positive net inflows while maintaining competitive bid-ask spreads, and aims at offering the lowest total cost of ownership among ETH Staking ETPs. As the only ETH staking ETP tied to a real benchmark, it enables investors to accurately evaluate Ethereum staking opportunities and clearly assess performance against industry standards.

Bitwise has accelerated its activities in Europe since its acquisition of ETC Group last year, continuing to launch innovative new products regularly, such as the Bitwise Solana Staking ETP in November 2024, the Bitwise Aptos Staking ETP in December and the Bitwise Diaman Bitcoin & Gold ETP just last month. Its products trade on several of Europe's largest stock exchanges. Committed to transparency, expert product design, and professional management, Bitwise frequently publishes crypto research and market insights to educate and inform investors of the emerging opportunities in the digital assets space.

Bitwise enables investors to gain exposure to digital assets without the need for a crypto wallet, as our ETPs trade on regulated exchanges, just like traditional stocks or ETFs. Each ETP is fully backed by the corresponding digital asset, securely held in institutional-grade cold-storage custody. Structurally comparable to precious metal ETCs, Bitwise's crypto ETPs also feature a physical redemption mechanism. Investor protection is further enhanced through the presence of an independent trustee and an audited issuer structure, ensuring that the underlying assets are held off the issuer's balance sheet, thereby minimizing insolvency risk. Bitwise ETPs can be seamlessly integrated into standard brokerage or ETF portfolio accounts and are often eligible for SIPP and ISA inclusion, making them accessible for long-term investment planning in the UK.

LSE Listed ETPs Trading Information

Instrument Name ISIN Issuer Trading currency BITWISE CORE BITCOIN ETP (https://www.londonstockexchange.com/stock/BT1U/bitwise-europe-gmbh)

DE000A4AER62 (https://etc-group.com/products/bitwise-core-bitcoin-etp/)

Bitwise Europe GmbH USD BITWISE CORE BITCOIN ETP (https://www.londonstockexchange.com/stock/BT1G/bitwise-europe-gmbh)

DE000A4AER62 (https://etc-group.com/products/bitwise-core-bitcoin-etp/)

Bitwise Europe GmbH GBP BITWISE PHYSICAL BITCOIN ETP (https://www.londonstockexchange.com/stock/BTUS/bitwise-europe-gmbh)

DE000A27Z304 (https://etc-group.com/products/bitwise-physical-bitcoin-etp/)

Bitwise Europe GmbH USD BITWISE PHYSICAL BITCOIN ETP (https://www.londonstockexchange.com/stock/BTUK/bitwise-europe-gmbh)

DE000A27Z304 (https://etc-group.com/products/bitwise-physical-bitcoin-etp/)

Bitwise Europe GmbH GBP BITWISE PHYSICAL ETHEREUM ETP (https://www.londonstockexchange.com/stock/ZETU/bitwise-europe-gmbh)

DE000A3GMKD7 (https://etc-group.com/products/bitwise-physical-ethereum-etp/)

Bitwise Europe GmbH USD BITWISE PHYSICAL ETHEREUM ETP (https://www.londonstockexchange.com/stock/ZETG/bitwise-europe-gmbh)

DE000A3GMKD7 (https://etc-group.com/products/bitwise-physical-ethereum-etp/)

Bitwise Europe GmbH GBP BITWISE ETHEREUM STAKING ETP (https://www.londonstockexchange.com/stock/ET3U/bitwise-europe-gmbh)

DE000A3G90G9 (https://etc-group.com/products/bitwise-ethereum-staking-etp/)

Bitwise Europe GmbH USD BITWISE ETHEREUM STAKING ETP (https://www.londonstockexchange.com/stock/ET3G/bitwise-europe-gmbh)

DE000A3G90G9 (https://etc-group.com/products/bitwise-ethereum-staking-etp/)

Bitwise Europe GmbH GBP

About Bitwise

Bitwise is one of the world's leading crypto specialist asset managers. Thousands of financial advisors, family offices, and institutional investors across the globe have partnered with us to understand and access the opportunities in crypto. Since 2017, Bitwise has established a track record of excellence, managing a broad suite of index and active solutions across ETPs, separately managed accounts, private funds, and hedge fund strategies - spanning both the U.S. and Europe.

In Europe, for the past four years Bitwise (formerly ETC Group) has developed an extensive and innovative suite of crypto ETPs, including Europe's most traded bitcoin ETP, or the first diversified Crypto Basket ETP replicating an MSCI digital assets index.

This family of crypto ETPs is domiciled in Germany and issued under a base prospectus approved by BaFin. We exclusively partner with reputable entities from the traditional financial industry, ensuring that 100% of the assets are securely stored offline (cold storage) through regulated custodians.

Our European products comprise a collection of carefully designed financial instruments that seamlessly integrate into any professional portfolio, providing comprehensive exposure to crypto as an asset class. Access is straightforward via major European stock exchanges, with primary listings on Xetra, the most liquid exchange for ETF trading in Europe. Retail investors benefit from easy access through numerous DIY/online brokers, coupled with our robust and secure physical ETP structure, which includes a redemption feature. For more information, visit www.bitwiseinvestments.com/eu



Media contacts:



JEA Associates

John McLeod

00 44 7886 920436

john@jeaassociates.com

Important information

This press release does not constitute investment advice, nor does it constitute an offer or solicitation to buy financial products. This press release is issued by Bitwise Europe GmbH ("BEU"), a limited company domiciled in Germany, for information only and in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. BEU gives no explicit or implicit assurance or guarantee regarding the fairness, accuracy, completeness, or correctness of this article or the opinions contained therein. It is advised not to rely on the fairness, accuracy, completeness, or correctness of this article or the opinions contained therein. Please note that this article is neither investment advice nor an offer or solicitation to acquire financial products or cryptocurrencies.

Before investing in crypto Exchange Traded Products ("ETPs"), potential investors should consider the following:

Potential investors should seek independent advice and consider relevant information contained in the base prospectus and the final terms for the ETPs, especially the risk factors. ETPs issued by BEU are suitable only for persons experienced in investing in cryptocurrencies and risks of investing can be found in the prospectus and final terms available on www.bitwiseinvestments.com./eu. The invested capital is at risk, and losses up to the amount invested are possible. ETPs backed by cryptocurrencies are highly volatile assets and performance is unpredictable. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The market price of ETPs will vary and they do not offer a fixed income or match precisely the performance of the underlying cryptocurrency. Investing in ETPs involves numerous risks including general market risks relating to underlying, adverse price movements, currency, liquidity, operational, legal and regulatory risks.
Birkel has extensive experience in the car rental industry, including as CEO of SIXT's North American business

Sebastian Birkel (42) will take over the management of the company from May 1st, 2025.

The experienced manager is moving from the top of the profection Group to Europcar Mobility Group. Birkel succeeds Olivier Baldassari, who is currently acting as interim CEO following the departure of Alain Favey. Baldassari remains Chief Operating Officer of Europcar Mobility Group.

With Sebastian Birkel, Europcar Mobility Group is gaining an internationally experienced top manager who has made a name for himself through his successful reorganization of SIXT's North American business, among other things. There he led the operational development and turnaround of the region for five years more than three of them as CEO. Under his leadership, the SIXT brand was successfully established in a highly competitive market and grew profitably.

After his time in North America, Birkel took over responsibility for global vehicle purchasing as well as Group accounting and controlling as a divisional board member at SIXT. Most recently, he was CEO of profection Group, an international personnel and property services provider with over 30,000 employees. He began his career in 2007 at Roland Berger, where he provided strategic support to companies undergoing restructuring.

Dr Christian Dahlheim, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Europcar Mobility Group and CEO of Volkswagen Financial Services AG, says: We are delighted to have gained an experienced leader for Europcar Mobility Group in Sebastian Birkel. In view of the current challenges, he brings with him the ideal mix of operational strength, strategic vision and international experience. With his expertise, he will lead Europcar Mobility Group on a sustainable growth path. Welcome to the driver's seat of Europcar Mobility Group!

Sebastian Birkel commented: "I'm looking forward to joining an historical player of this industry, which is also one of the largest mobility services providers in Europe today. As the entire industry is currently facing strong headwinds, my priority will be to steer the Group through this period, but also to build on our strengths for a sustainable future, hand in hand with our teams".

From May 1st, the Management Board of Europcar Mobility Group will consist of Sebastian Birkel as Group CEO, Joachim Hinz as the new Chief Financial Officer joining from SEAT, with 25 years of experience at international level in the automotive and mobility industry and Olivier Baldassari, as Chief Operating Officer.

About Europcar Mobility Group

Europcar Mobility Group is a global mobility player, with 75 years of mobility services expertise and a leading position in Europe.

"We help to change the way you move" is what we stand for and brings us together. More than ever, we're committed to delivering simple, seamless, innovative solutions that make mobility easy, enjoyable and increasingly eco-friendly.

To do this, we offer to individuals and businesses a wide range of car and van rental services, be it for a few hours, a few days, a week, a month or more, on-demand or on subscription, relying on a fleet of more than 280.000 vehicles, equipped with the latest engines including an increasing share of electric vehicles.

Our brands address differentiated needs, use cases and expectations: Europcar a global leader of car rental and light commercial vehicle rental, Goldcar a frontrunner at providing low-cost car rental services in Europe, Fox-Rent-A-Car, one of the main players in the car rental market in the US, with a "value for money" positioning, and Euromobil, a German car rental player. The Group also operates the "myEuropcar" platform for vehicle subscription.

Customers' satisfaction is at the heart of the Group's ambition and that of our more than 9,000 employees, everywhere we deliver our mobility solutions, thanks to a strong network in over 130 countries (including 15 wholly owned subsidiaries completed by franchisees and alliance partners).

www.europcar-mobility-group.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250416703501/en/

Contacts:

Media

Valerie Sauteret: valerie.sauteret@europcar.com

Vincent Vevaud: vincent.vevaud@europcar.com
ASM Automation Group Berhad ("ASM" or the "Group"), an established specialist of automation machinery solutions in Malaysia, is pleased to announce that the Group has formally signed an underwriting agreement with M & A Securities Sdn. Bhd. ("M & A Securities") in preparation for its Initial Public Offering ("IPO") on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad ("Bursa Securities").

L-R: (From ASM Automation Group Berhad) Mdm. Kamalam A/P Kurup Krishnan, Executive Director; Mr. Leong Weng Khin, Executive Director; Mr. Chan Kok Heng, Managing Director; (from M & A Securities Sdn Bhd) Mr. Gary Ting, Head of Corporate Finance and Mr. Danny Wong, Deputy Head of Corporate Finance.

ASM, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Arrow Systems Sdn Bhd, operates as a full-service automation machinery solutions provider, offering design, development, fabrication, installation, and commissioning of custom equipment. Its core offerings include Front-of-Line ("FOL") processing solutions, which automate the conversion of raw ingredients into finished food products, and End-of-Line ("EOL") packaging solutions, which streamline packaging from primary to tertiary stages. While the Group mainly serves the food and beverage ("F&B") manufacturing sector, it has also extended its capabilities to applications such as currency note sorting and packaging, as well as poultry inspection, sorting and packaging. Complementing its machinery solutions, ASM also provides equipment modification and upgrading services, maintenance services, as well as components and spare parts supply, enabling long-term partnerships with brand owners and contract manufacturers seeking to enhance productivity and reduce manual labour.

According to the exposed prospectus available on Bursa Securities' website, ASM's IPO comprises a public issue of 128.34 million new shares, representing 24.0% of the Group's enlarged issued share capital of 534.77 million shares, as well as an offer for sale of 53.48 million existing shares, equivalent to 10.0% of the enlarged issued share capital.

The structure of the IPO is as follows:

Public Issue

Malaysian Public: 26.74 million shares or 5.0% of the Group's enlarged issued share capital, with 2.5% made available to public investors and the remaining 2.5% made available to Bumiputera public investors.

Pink Form Allocations: 10.70 million shares or 2.0% of the enlarged issued share capital will be allocated to eligible directors, key senior management, employees and persons who have contributed to the success of the Group (collectively known as "Eligible Persons") through Pink Form Allocations.

Private Placement to Bumiputera Investors Approved by MITI: 66.85 million shares or 12.5% of the enlarged issued share capital are reserved for private placement to Bumiputera investors approved by the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry Malaysia (" MITI ").

Private Placement to Selected Investors: 24.06 million shares or 4.5% of the enlarged issued share capital are reserved for private placement to selected investors.



Offer for sale

Offer for sale of 53.48 million shares or 10.0% of the enlarged issued share capital by way of private placement to selected investors.

Under the underwriting agreement, M & A Securities will underwrite 37.44 million shares, comprising shares allocated to the Malaysian public and Eligible Persons under the Pink Form Allocations. The remaining 144.39 million shares will be placed out to selected and Bumiputera investors by M & A Securities.

A report prepared by the independent market research firm Providence Strategic Partners Sdn Bhd forecasts the F&B automation machinery solutions industry in Malaysia will increase from RM1.7 billion in 2023 to RM3.7 billion in 2027 at a compound annual growth rate ("CAGR") of 21.5%. The forecasted growth of the F&B automation machinery solutions industry in Malaysia is supported by growth drivers such as increasing demand for processed F&B products, increasing demand for automation machinery, potential demand for automation machinery from other end user industries, and the government's initiatives to promote the adoption of automation among micro, small and medium enterprises ("MSMEs").

Mr. Chan Kok Heng, Managing Director of ASM Automation Group Berhad, commented, "The signing of the underwriting agreement with M & A Securities marks another pivotal milestone in our IPO journey. The capital raised will enable us to further strengthen our operational footprint, particularly through the expansion of our manufacturing facility, purchase of new machines, assembly of demonstration machineries, and enhancement of our design and development capabilities. This listing not only validates our growth journey thus far but also sets the stage for ASM to scale up its impact across Malaysia and our overseas markets."

With a customer base spanning across Southeast Asia, India, China, and parts of Africa, and a portfolio of customised FOL and EOL automation machinery solutions, ASM is well-positioned to capitalise on growing industrial automation demand in the region. The IPO proceeds will be channelled into expanding its production capacity, acquiring advanced machinery, and intensifying Design and Development ("D&D") efforts to support next-generation automation technologies.

ASM obtained Bursa Securities' approval for the listing on ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia on 20 February 2025. M & A Securities Sdn Bhd is the Principal Adviser, Sponsor, Underwriter, and Placement Agent for the IPO while Eco Asia Capital Advisory Sdn. Bhd. is the Financial Adviser.

ABOUT ASM AUTOMATION GROUP BERHAD

ASM Automation Group Berhad ("ASM" or the "Group"), through its wholly owned subsidiary Arrow Systems Sdn Bhd, has been in the automation machinery solutions industry since 1994. The Group specialises in designing, developing, fabricating, installing and commissioning Front-of-Line ("FOL") processing and End-of-Line ("EOL") packaging solutions, primarily for the food and beverage ("F&B") manufacturing sector. ASM also provides complementary services such as equipment modification and upgrading services, maintenance services, and the supply of spare parts and components. With a strong track record serving both local and international clients, including the Liwayway Group, ASM is set to continue expanding its capabilities and market presence in line with growing demand for industrial automation across Asia and beyond.

For more information, visit https://arrowsystemsonline.com/

Issued By: Swan Consultancy Sdn. Bhd. on behalf of ASM Automation Group Berhad

For more information, please contact:

Jazmin Wan

Email: j.wan@swanconsultancy.biz

Xinyi Ching

Email: x.ching@swanconsultancy.biz

SOURCE: ASM Automation Group Berhad
Discover an exclusive selection of the colorful flavors of Asia

in a palatial European-style marketplace

MACAO, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Wynn's exciting new Asian culinary landmark - Gourmet Pavilion - is set to open on April 29, 2025, presenting an exciting selection of colorful and diverse flavors from all across Asia. One need not travel thousands of miles to enjoy the very best of Asian cuisine, as Wynn invites guests to explore all the tantalizing flavors of Asia right here in Macao. Discover Michelin-starred Chaoshan fish congee, the best laksa from Singapore's celebrity-favorite noodle shop, perfectly prepared unagi from a revered century-old Japanese restaurant, and the most sought-after beef noodles from the almost impossible-to-book restaurant in Taiwan. At Gourmet Pavilion, each new discovery is bursting with surprises that are hard to find anywhere else in the world and is exclusive to Wynn.

Created by the world-renowned David Collins Studio, the design of Gourmet Pavilion is a combination of the elegance of European architecture with the world's finest craftsmanship, setting the stage for an exceptional gastronomic experience that excites the senses. In celebration of the opening from April 29 to May 31, Wynn is pleased to present a "Savor the Flavors & Reap Rewards" special offer for guests to receive exclusive gifts and discounts while enjoying a variety of delicious dishes.

The "joy" of eating an array of "rich" and diverse cuisines

Fu Le Ting, the Chinese name for "Gourmet Pavilion", cleverly conveys the double-meaning of "rich in flavor" and "the joy of eating". The word Fu sounds like the same word for "rich" in Chinese, symbolizing that Gourmet Pavilion offers guests an abundance of rich and diverse cuisines. The word Le is the "joy" of sharing delicious dishes with friends and loved ones. As an exciting new culinary landmark where Asian cuisine takes center stage, the new Gourmet Pavilion is brimming with the sights, sounds, aromas, and flavors of the region's most vibrant cuisines.

Asia's top culinary brands gather in Macao at Gourmet Pavilion

Gourmet Pavilion brings together unique flavors from all over Asia, including Leela, the whimsical Indian cuisine; Fat Boy Dumplings, signature dumplings from celebrity Chef Henry Zhang Zhicheng; Sushi Masa, Omakase for everyone; Unagi Yondaime Kikukawa, 100 years of renowned eel rice; Wumamii Beef Noodles, Taiwan's most sought-after noodles; Ximen Jin FongBraised Pork Rice, world-renowned Taiwanese braised pork rice; 328 Katong Laksa, the celebrity-favorite noodle shop; Ann ChinPopiah, MICHELIN Recommended popiah from Singapore; Tuan YuanSingapore-style Pork Ribs Soup, Singapore's national favorite Bak Kut Teh; Tian TianHainanese Chicken Rice, world-renowned chicken rice; Yong ZuoFish Congee, MICHELIN Recommended fish congee; Tao Xiao ChuaNortheast-style Skewers, popular Northeast-style skewers; Tanyu Grilled Fish, king of spicy grilled fish; Zhu Guang Yu Hot Pot, Chongqing's hotpot phenomenon; Xita Lao Tai Tai Clay Stove Barbecue, Korean-style clay oven barbecue; Buns & BubblesBakery, delectable fresh-baked bites; and Little 8Cantonese Barbecue, sumptuous Cantonese roast. This is just the start. Even more brands will be coming to Gourmet Pavilion soon for Macao residents and visitors from around the world to discover. From high-end, award-winning dishes to down-to-earth street fare, Gourmet Pavilion gathers a myriad of colorful Asian cuisines under one roof.

Globally inspired design showcases the finest European craftsmanship

From the magnificent archways to the ornate flooring patterns, the Gourmet Pavilion interiors take inspiration from some of Europe's most famous marketplaces. Reminiscent of grand European concert halls and theatrical spaces, Gourmet Pavilion takes diners on a journey through time to discover the vibrant and rich cultural heritage of Europe. It is a culmination of global collaborations, where the finest craftsmanship by artisans from around the world is on full display. The ornate mosaic arches, originally handcrafted by a renowned family of Italian artisanal makers, look remarkably like exquisite European oil paintings; the feature chandelier, which blooms above the food hall, is a masterpiece made by Bohemian glassmaking artisans; and "The Allsphyr", a custom mirrored sculpture, was specially designed by an American artist to show things through a distorted lens and create a fun space for photo-taking. At Gourmet Pavilion, visitors will discover vivid colors, live kitchens, bustling activity and exquisite architectural craftsmanship in one exciting location. More than just a dining destination, Gourmet Pavilion invites guests to linger longer and explore a myriad of dishes in vibrant, culturally rich surrounds.

Rewarding surprises for guests of Gourmet Pavilion

To celebrate the grand opening of this highly anticipated new Asian culinary landmark, Gourmet Pavilion will launch a special "Savor the Flavors & Reap Rewards" offer from April 29 to May 31, featuring innovative online and offline experiences and exclusive offers that are tailormade for a variety of consumers. Throughout the promotional period, all guests of Gourmet Pavilion can enjoy MOP 15 off on all purchases over MOP 80 for a limited time and Wynn Insider members are eligible to enjoy 5% off exclusive offers all year long. Diners who spend MOP 20 or more at Gourmet Pavilion and share their experiences on Xiaohongshu or Dianping will also receive a complimentary "dining voucher" worth MOP 20.

Starting April 29, Gourmet Pavilion invites diners from around the world to raise their chopsticks and gather together for an amazing Asian dining experience in Macao.

For more details on all of the exciting dining offers and promotions at Wynn and Gourmet Pavilion, please visit: https://www.wynnresortsmacau.com/en/wynn-palace/dining/gourmet-pavilion

Gourmet Pavilion

Location: Right of the South Atrium at Wynn Palace, Avenida Da Nave Desportiva

Hours: Daily from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm

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BreachBits today announces it has received investment from Lloyd's, the world's leading insurance and reinsurance marketplace, through its central fund. This is Lloyd's 3rd strategic innovation investment from among over 150 alumni of the Lloyd's Lab. This investment follows BreachBits' successful co-development project in Lloyd's Lab cohort 13, which ran from September to December 2024.

BreachBits, founded by former US military cyber warfare veterans, is a cyber hacking innovation company that has co-developed two unique products tailored by and for the Lloyd's market: The Cyber Questionnaire Validator and Cyber Pre-Claim Intervention. These automated solutions aim to improve the efficiency and accuracy of cyber risk underwriting while enhancing profitability for carriers and brokers.

Rosie Denee, Head of Innovation, Commercial Education and Engagement at Lloyd's, commented: "BreachBits is revolutionising cyber risk assessment by providing insurers with key visibility into their clients' security posture. Their time in the Lloyd's Lab helped refine their approach from concept to market-ready solution, demonstrating exceptional results during pilot testing. We're proud to support their continued growth through this investment strengthening data-driven cyber solutions that enable our market to underwrite with greater confidence and precision."

The investment comes as the cyber insurance market is growing rapidly, with premiums increasing from over $15 billion to potentially more than $55 billion in the near future. BreachBits' technology aims to address key market challenges, including the need for faster policy issuance and more effective active risk management and intervention capabilities.

J. Foster Davis, co-founder of BreachBits, stated: "We're honored by Lloyd's investment and proud to help facilitate Lloyd's mission of sharing risk to create a braver world. Our team is committed to addressing real-world challenges in cyber insurance and risk management especially in complex situations and where false-positives cannot be tolerated."

BreachBits' products are powered by BreachRisk a.i., a mature backend technology that has performed over 50,000 hacker assessments since 2020. This technology can detect, verify, and test over 95% of actual attacker pathways identified in the Verizon 2024 Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR), providing a hacker's view of cyber risk.

During the Lloyd's Lab accelerator program, BreachBits conducted a successful pilot with leading carriers and brokers. The pilot indicated that The Cyber Questionnaire Validator product could help reduce underwriting time and improve risk selection. Additionally, the Cyber Pre-Claim Intervention product showed promise in helping insurers proactively manage potential cyber incidents through active risk management, potentially reducing claims frequency and severity.

This investment demonstrates Lloyd's commitment to fostering innovation that supports its market participants' success. By backing BreachBits, Lloyd's aims to provide its syndicates and brokers with tools to:

Streamline the ability for brokers to identify and prepare applicants for market with a superior experience Improve the underwriting process, allowing for faster policy issuance to meet the growing demand Improve risk selection accuracy, potentially leading to better loss ratios Enhance customer service for brokers through quicker turnaround times on applications Provide added value to policyholders through proactive risk management

For more information about BreachBits cyber insurance solutions, please visit www.breachbits.com/partners/insurance.

About Lloyd's

Lloyd's is the world's leading marketplace for insurance and reinsurance. Through the collective intelligence and expertise of the market's underwriters and brokers, we're sharing risk to create a braver world.

The Lloyd's market offers the resources, capability, and insight to develop new and innovative products for customers in any industry, on any scale, in more than 200 territories.

We're made up of more than 50 leading insurance companies, over 380 registered Lloyd's brokers and a global network of over 4,000 local coverholders. Behind the Lloyd's market is the Corporation: an independent organisation and regulator working to maintain the market's successful reputation and operation.

About BreachBits, Inc.

BreachBits provides revenue-generating capabilities for managed service providers and cyber insurance brokers and carriers. Products are powered by BreachRisk a.i. the only automated cyber risk detection, verification, and testing from the hacker's point of view.

We're headquartered in Greater Washington, D.C. with offices in Annapolis, Minneapolis, and Little Rock. BreachBits also partners with providers located in the United States, Tokyo, and London.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250416228076/en/

Contacts:

Kiana Waits

Marketing Coordinator

press@breachbits.com
Accelerate Polpharma Biologics biosimilar program from IND to commercial manufacturing

Includes a commitment to producing for US FDA BLA submission

Expand global market presence through launch in EU and other regions

GDANSK, Poland and SHANGHAI, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Chime Biologics, a leading global CDMO that enables its partners' success in biologics, is pleased to announce a strategic cooperation agreement with Polpharma Biologics to advance the end-to-end development and manufacture of a biosimilar product for the global market. This partnership underscores Chime Biologics' commitment to delivering high-quality, cost-effective biologics and further strengthening Chime Biologics' presence in Europe.

Under this agreement, Chime Biologics will provide Polpharma Biologics with end-to-end support for a biosimilar development, spanning from investigational new drug (IND) to commercial supply.

Meeting Global Supply Needs

Polpharma Biologics, a major player in the global biosimilar market and the largest biotechnology company in Poland, brings a robust pipeline that includes multiple early-stage and late-stage biosimilars, along with two FDA/EMA-approved biosimilar products.

With an extensive track record in delivering biosimilars for global markets, Chime Biologics is well-positioned to meet the growing global demand for biosimilars. Through Chime's true end-to-end offerings, from our state-of-the-art cell line, process and analytical development capabilities, expanding manufacturing capabilities and regulatory support activities, Chime Biologics offers clients fast-tracked CMC development to commercial supply to ensure fast market entry for our clients.

"We are thrilled to contribute to Polpharma Biologics' growth as we provide all-in-one solutions to accelerate biosimilar development and reduce the time-to-market," said Dr. Jimmy Wei, President of Chime Biologics. "This collaboration reinforces our strategy of delivering high-quality, affordable biologics to patients worldwide."

"Partnering with Chime Biologics supports our strategic vision to swiftly bring affordable biosimilars developed in Europe to global markets," said Konstantin Matentzoglu, Member of the Supervisory Board of Polpharma Biologics Group BV. "By working with Chime Biologics, we can accelerate patient access to biosimilar therapies. This partnership further strengthens Polpharma Biologics' global position as a leading biosimilars developer, while leveraging Asian partners with optimized cost-benefit ratio".

About Polpharma Biologics

Polpharma Biologics is an international biotechnology company, with integrated operations in the European Union (EU), developing and manufacturing biosimilar medicines. Polpharma Biologics develops biosimilar therapies to treat a range of conditions in major therapeutic areas. Programs at Polpharma Biologics start in cell line development and transition through technical and clinical development to commercial-scale production, preparing drugs for future commercial partnerships with global pharmaceutical organizations. Under partnerships agreements, the company manufactures two approved biosimilars from its pipeline; ranibizumab and natalizumab. With its cell line development center in The Netherlands, and two centers of development and manufacturing in Poland, Polpharma Biologics creates development opportunities for biotechnology specialists. For more information, please visit https://polpharmabiologics.com/en/.

About Chime Biologics

Chime Biologics is a leading global CDMO, focused on ensuring its partners' success in delivering innovative biologics to the world. Chime Biologics is a biologics service provider, from pre-clinical support and cell line development to clinical and commercial manufacturing of DS and DP. Employing our innovative and state-of-the-art development and manufacturing capabilities and proven success in supporting our clients with their clinical and commercial authorizations across the globe, Chime Biologics is a true end-to-end solution provider for the global biologics industry. We share a common goal to make cutting-edge biomedicines affordable and accessible to all patients globally, fulfilling our commitment to human health. For more information, please visit www.chimebiologics.com.

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An additional 2 million in new funding from private investors takes the company's Series A round to 5.6 million total

CAMBRIDGE, England, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Healthera, the leading patient experience platform, has secured 2 million in strategic investment from a consortium of private and health-tech investors, boosting its current Series A round to 5.6 million and accelerating its mission to transform digital pharmacy services.

With a sustainable foundation set in 2024, the company - which already provides technology for over 1,700 UK pharmacies and over a million patients - is now poised for significant expansion across the UK and North America and into new revenue verticals, including private medicine prescribing and the end-to-end management of clinical services.

"This investment is a catalyst for Healthera's next phase of growth," said Quintus Liu, CEO and co-founder of Healthera. "We're excited to build on our UK success, deepen our technological offerings and bring our innovative solutions to the Canadian market."

Founded at Cambridge University, Healthera is the UK's most-popular digital pharmacy platform connecting patients with the medicines and healthcare services they need. In 2024, Healthera processed over 5 million digital prescriptions, with partners outperforming the market by 10% (source).

Navid Ghasemi, owner of Newport Pharmacy, a Healthera partner, praised the platform's impact: "Healthera has significantly increased our prescription volume and helped us reach new patients. Their technology and personalised service are exceptional."

This funding round was completed by private investors through the network of Committed Capital, who led the investment. Else Thomson, Investment Director at Committed Capital commented - "We are proud to lead this latest investment round in Healthera. Healthera has consistently demonstrated strong vision and execution in redefining digital pharmacy services, and we believe the company are uniquely positioned to lead the sector's evolution both in the UK and internationally. We're excited to back Quintus and the team as they continue to expand throughout the UK and support pharmacies and customers with their market leading technology."

Previous investors in Healthera include Cambridge Enterprise, Accelerated Digital Ventures (Legal and General), NHS England and Innovate UK.

ABOUT HEALTHERA

Healthera is on a mission to transform the pharmacy sector through next generation technology. The Cambridge-based company, founded in 2015, provides digital services for more than 1,700 pharmacies, giving over 1 million patients access to repeat prescriptions, pharmacy services and private medicines through their highly-rated pharmacy app and white label solutions. For more information, visit healthera.co.uk.

MEDIA ENQUIRIES

Quintus Liu

press@healthera.co.uk

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 16, 2025) - Independence Gold Corp. (TSXV: IGO) ("Independence" or "the Company") is pleased to announce assay results from the winter drill program at its 100%-owned 3Ts Project, located in central British Columbia. Drilling continues to confirm the high-grade nature of the Larry Vein System and expand known mineralization across multiple target areas, including a new discovery at the Daisy target and deeper intercepts in the Ted-Mint Vein System. The 3Ts Project is located approximately 185 kilometres ("km") southwest of Prince George, British Columbia and is comprised of thirty-one mineral claims covering approximately 35,486 hectares ("ha") in the Nechako Plateau region of central British Columbia. The project is situated 16 km southwest of Artemis Gold Inc.'s Blackwater Mine and covers a low-sulphidation epithermal quartz- carbonate vein district within which nineteen individual mineralized veins, ranging from 50 m to more than 1,100 m in strike length and with true widths up to 32 m have been identified.

Figure 1: 3TS-25-10 and 3TS-25-13 Drill Collar Locations

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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High-Grade Gold Intercept at Larry Vein System

Drill hole 3TS-25-10 targeted the Larry Vein System (approximately 145 metres ("m") east of the Tommy Vein System) and intersected a mineralized zone grading 5.95 grams per tonne ("g/t") gold and 23.09 g/t silver over 7.45m, including a high-grade interval of 1.86m grading 20.48 g/t gold and 80.11 g/t silver. This intercept was approximately 25m below the vein interval discovered in 3TS-25-09 and was designed to test for down-dip mineralization potential (see news release dated March 26, 2025). These results continue to demonstrate the potential of the Larry Vein to host high-grade, vein-hosted gold and silver mineralization near surface and at depth, and the potential of being included in the updated resource model (please see news release dated August 18th, 2022 for further details; "Technical Report on the Mineral Resource Estimate Update for the 3Ts Gold Project, Omineca Mining Division, British Columbia, Canada", authored by Armitage and Miller).

New Vein Discovery at Daisy Target and Deeper Ted-Mint Intercepts

Hole 3TS-25-13 tested the Daisy target area 230m east of the southern Ted-Mint Vein System and intersected previously unknown mineralized structures (see Table 1 below). Highlight intercepts from the Daisy veins include 2.85m grading 4.60 g/t gold and 94.74 g/t silver. These veins are interpreted as tensional offshoots located in the hanging wall of arcuate fault systems, reinforcing the Company's structural model developed from earlier discoveries at the Tommy, Ian, Johnny, and Larry Vein Systems. Veins associated with the Daisy Vein System can be traced on surface for 565m and are open along strike and at depth.

Hole 3TS-25-13 also intersected the Ted-Mint Vein at depth within a transitional zone between epithermal precious metals and deeper base metal mineralization. At a depth of 464.21 metres, the Ted-Mint Vein returned 3.54 metres grading 2.67 g/t gold and 26.55 g/t silver, immediately transitioning into a brecciated zone with base metal enrichment, including 5.25 metres with 0.12% lead and 0.20% zinc and anomalous copper up to 771 ppm. These results confirm the classic zonation pattern expected in low-sulphidation epithermal systems and will assist in defining the vertical and lateral extent of the Ted-Mint Vein System.

Drill Hole Target From

(m) To

(m) Interval

(m) Gold

(g/t) Silver

(g/t) Lead (%) Zinc

(%) 3TS-25-10

including Larry Vein System 32.64 40.09 7.45 5.95 23.09



34.00 35.86 1.86 20.48 80.11



3TS-25-13

and

including

and

and

and

and Daisy Vein System 130.06 132.91 2.85 4.60 94.74



131.50 132.00 0.50 14.82 280.00



Ted-Mint Vein System 446.00 447.00 1.00 0.2 16.00



455.21 457.21 2.00 2.66 17.00



464.21 467.75 3.54 2.67 25.66



467.75 473.00 5.25 - - 0.12 0.20



Table 1: Highlighted intercepts for drillholes 3TS-25-10 and 3TS-25-13



"The winter drill program continues to return excellent results and demonstrates the scale of the 3Ts system," said Randy Turner, President and CEO of Independence Gold. "High-grade intercepts at Larry, a new discovery at Daisy, and base metal transition zones at depth in Ted-Mint are all validating our exploration model and setting the stage for resource growth and future development plans."

About Independence

Independence Gold Corp. is a well-financed mineral exploration company with holdings ranging from early-stage grassroots exploration to advanced-stage resource expansion in British Columbia and Yukon. The Company is positioned to add shareholder value through systematic project advancement, while management continues to evaluate additional gold and silver projects for possible acquisition. For additional information, visit the Company's website www.ingold.ca.

Andy Randell, P.Geo., the Company's Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and who is an independent consultant for the Company, has reviewed the technical information in this news release.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF INDEPENDENCE GOLD CORP.

"Randy Turner"

Randy Turner, President and CEO

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Drill Hole Location Data

Drill Hole Target Zone Easting Northing Elevation Azimuth Dip Total Meterage 3TS-25-10 Larry 363770 5877066 1151 90 50 102 3TS-25-13 Ted-Mint 365100 5876523 1111 265 60 534 *All drill hole locations are in NAD83, Zone 10 Datum

All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking information" with respect to Independence within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements with respect to the Company's planned drilling and exploration activities. The Company provides forward-looking statements for the purpose of conveying information about current expectations and plans relating to the future and readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. By its nature, this information is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to those identified and reported in Independence's public filings under Independence Gold Corp.'s SEDAR profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Although Independence has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results 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. Independence disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise unless required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/248680

SOURCE: Independence Gold Corp
XUANCHENG, China, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Huasun Energy, the leader in high-efficiency heterojunction (HJT) solar technology, proudly unveils its Kunlun Series HJT solar modules, a next-generation product with bifaciality approaching 100%, designed for vertical photovoltaic (PV) installations. It marks a major step toward solving land-use constraints while boosting energy yield, project economics, and system reliability.

Huasun Chairman and CEO Xiaohua (Jimmy) Xu emphasized the industry's growing need for high-efficiency solutions in constrained environments. "Traditional PV systems face increasing land limitations and electricity price fluctuations. The Kunlun Series introduces a revolutionary approach by optimizing revenue with 'dual-peak power generation' in vertical installations, enhancing energy security and economic returns." Xu stated.

In AgriPV, Huasun collaborates with Germany's Next2Sun on vertical PV projects, including a 5.2 MW installation in Merzig-Wellingen. "Huasun HJT modules boost performance by reducing snow and dust impact while capturing reflected sunlight, exceeding our power generation expectations by 12%," said a Next2Sun project manager. "Their bifacial symmetrical design enhances solar absorption, improving vertical PV efficiency while minimizing light pollution, noise, and land disruption for seamless, low-impact integration."

A 96.8 MW AC Agri-PV simulation in Blankenfelde, Germany demonstrates that Huasun's 720 W HJT modules (23.2% efficiency) outperformed TOPCon panels, boosting operating hours by 7.91%, reducing land use by 10 hectares, and cutting BOS costs by 1.92%. These gains led to an 8.72% lower LCOE and a 3.76% higher IRR, solidifying Kunlun Series' edge in vertical solar application.

In addition, Huasun Kunlun Series HJT solar modules are engineered to optimize performance across diverse space-constrained environments, including transportation systems, buildings, offshore locations and more. With ultra-low degradation rates (=1% in the first year, =0.3% annually) and an optimized -0.24%/C temperature coefficient, they ensure long-term efficiency. Their advanced encapsulation technology-featuring EVA, light conversion film, butyl adhesive, and glass-glass design-enhances durability, maintains stable power output, and lowers O&M costs, making them a reliable solution for vertical PV applications.

About Huasun Energy

Anhui Huasun Energy Co., Ltd, specializes in the R&D and large-scale production of high-efficiency n-type silicon-based HJT ingots, wafers, cells, and modules. With over 11 GW of HJT products supplied to 60+ countries and an annual capacity of 20 GW, Huasun stands as the largest HJT manufacturer in the world.

Website: www.huasunsolar.com

Follow "HUASUN HJT" on LinkedIn for more heterojunction updates.

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Ahead of the Event, the GSMA has Published its Findings on the Impact of Taxation on Digital Expansion

Registration is open

LONDON, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Registration is now open for M360 Eurasia which will be held for the first time in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, 21-22 May 2025. Ahead of the event, the GSMA has announced key findings from its upcoming taxation report, Mobile Sector Taxation Report in Eurasia.

With countries such as Turkmenistan (51%), Tajikistan (42%), and Uzbekistan (40%) experiencing significant barriers to mobile internet usage despite network availability, the report finds that reducing tax burdens on mobile adoption and investment across the region could unlock substantial socio-economic benefits and accelerate digital transformation across Eurasia.

M360 Eurasia 2025, organised in partnership with the Ministry of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Host Sponsor Beeline Uzbekistan, a subsidiary of VEON, will serve as a platform to explore policies, investments, and technological advancements shaping the future of connectivity. Located at the InterContinental Tashkent, M360 Eurasia will bring together regional and global leaders from the mobile ecosystem to discuss the latest innovations in 5G, AI, cybersecurity, and digital infrastructure.

The GSMA has confirmed that its newly appointed Director General, Vivek Badrinath, will deliver his inaugural keynote address in his new role at M360 Eurasia 2025.

This year's edition will feature high-level discussions, thought-provoking panels, and keynote addresses from influential industry leaders and policymakers. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with mobile operators and technology innovators, forging strategic partnerships to drive digital growth across Eurasia.

With digital transformation playing a critical role in economic development, M360 Eurasia 2025 will provide a unique opportunity to address key challenges and opportunities shaping the future of mobile technology in the region.

Registration for M360 Eurasia 2025 is open, and we welcome industry professionals, policymakers, and technology leaders to secure their place at this transformative event. We invite you to learn more about the M360 Eurasia and the GSMA, click here for more insights.

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Data Privacy Remains Key Barrier for Firms, According to StarCompliance Research

ROCKVILLE, Md., April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- StarCompliance ("Star"), a global leader in employee compliance technology solutions, has released findings of its AI & Compliance Market Study, which examines how financial services firms are integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into their employee compliance operations. The study clarifies how ready the industry is to adopt AI for enhancing regulatory compliance monitoring.

The results show a sector still in the early stages of AI adoption - but building momentum. While 52% of firms report using preliminary AI tools for tasks such as information retrieval and data enrichment, only 9% have adopted more advanced "automated regulatory intelligence" platforms. This number is expected to grow significantly with over 60% of firms responding they anticipate using more sophisticated AI tools by 2030.

Despite this optimism, data privacy remains a top concern with 65% citing data protection as the primary barrier to AI adoption. Additionally, 71% of firms noted these concerns are driven by the volume of sensitive data required to support AI models.

"At Star, we're committed to responsible AI-both in how we build it into our products and how our teams use it internally," said Kelvin Dickenson, Chief Product Officer at Star. "Our AI governance policy ensures the right checks and balances are in place to accelerate innovation safely, while maintaining the highest standards of data protection."

Other Key Findings:

47% take a "learn as I go" approach to AI education

70%+ have formal AI usage policies; 51% block open-access AI tools entirely

43% are concerned about bias in AI-generated outputs

Closed-source AI (e.g., Gemini) is more popular (41%) than open-source (e.g., ChatGPT at 32%)

50% don't factor AI capabilities into vendor evaluations

Industry Experts Weigh In

As part of Star's commitment to advancing employee compliance efforts around the globe, the company will host a webinar, AI in Compliance: Regulatory and Risk Management, on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at 10:00 AM EST featuring Alan Morley, Director, Anti Financial Crimes and BSA Advisory at Huron, and Steve Brown, Head of Business Development at Star. They'll examine how AI is transforming risk management and how to navigate ethical and regulatory gray zones.

Visit www.starcompliance.com to learn more about building a smarter, safer compliance culture.

Media Contact

Greg.tarmin@starcompliance.com

+1 917-868-7791

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TORONTO, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In an era of rising trade barriers, geopolitical upheaval, environmental catastrophes, and social inequality, corporate boards are facing unprecedented pressures. A new book, The Future Boardroom, provides a playbook for directors and executives to steer their companies through these turbulent times while maintaining resilience and long-term value.

Written by Helle Bank Jorgensen, a leading expert in corporate governance, The Future Boardroom - How to Transform in Turbulent Times offers strategic insights and actionable solutions for boardrooms navigating today's most pressing challenges. Addressing challenges such as supply chain disruptions and the complexities of managing reputational risks in an era of heightened social expectations, this book is an essential resource for business leaders determined to future-proof their organizations.

"In a world where volatility is the only certainty, board directors must evolve from stewards of compliance to stewards of the future," says Helle Bank Jorgensen. "This book equips them with the insight and foresight needed to lead in an unpredictable world."

The book leverages insights from global business leaders such as:

David Craig (Co-chair, Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures)

Francesca Ecsery (NED: Air France, Haffner Energy and more)

Martin Wolf (Chief Economics Commentator: Financial Times)

Paul Polman (Former CEO, Unilever; Former Chair, International Chamber of Commerce)

Mervyn King (Chair Emeritus: King Code of Corporate Governance South Africa)

Ron O'Hanley, CEO and chair of State Street calls it "a significant rethink of what is required of boards and board members to execute their oversight mandate."

The Future Boardroom is available on Amazon and local bookstores.

About Helle Bank Jorgensen

Helle Bank Jorgensen, the CEO and founder of Competent Boards , is an internationally recognized voice on governance, sustainability, climate, and nature. Helle frequently contributes to Financial Times' Agenda, Board Agenda, and has been featured in interviews by numerous prominent publications.

Among numerous awards, she received the Corporate Governance Hall of Fame by IR (Investor Relation) Magazine in 2024, the Corporate Governance Lifetime Achievement Award 2024, the Peter Dey Governance Achievement Award from the Governance Professionals of Canada 2024, and the Globe and Mail 50 Changemakers for 2023 list. Learn more about Helle here .

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Die Finanzwelt ist im Umbruch! Nach Jahren der Dominanz erschuttert Donald Trumps erratische Wirtschaftspolitik das Fundament des amerikanischen Kapitalismus. Handelskriege, Rekordzolle und politische Isolation haben eine Kapitalflucht historischen Ausmaes ausgelost.



Milliarden stromen aus den USA  und suchen neue, lukrative Ziele. Und genau hier kommt China ins Spiel. Trotz aller Spannungen wachst die chinesische Wirtschaft dynamisch weiter, Innovation und Digitalisierung treiben die Markte an.



Im kostenlosen Spezialreport stellen wir Ihnen 5 Aktien aus China vor, die vom US-Niedergang profitieren und das Potenzial haben, den Markt regelrecht zu uberflugeln. Wer jetzt klug investiert, sichert sich den Zugang zu den neuen Wachstums-Champions von morgen.



Holen Sie sich den neuesten Report! Verpassen Sie nicht, welche 5 Aktien die Konkurrenz aus den USA outperformen durften, und laden Sie sich das Gratis-PDF jetzt kostenlos herunter.



Dieses exklusive Angebot gilt aber nur fur kurze Zeit! Daher jetzt downloaden!
Fund II continues strategy of partnering with lower middle-market entrepreneur and family-owned businesses across the Built Environment

BD Investment Partners, LLC ("BDI Partners"), a Raleigh-based private equity firm focused on making investments in the Built Environment, today announced the final closing of BDIP Fund II, L.P. ("Fund II") at ~$159 million in capital commitments. Fund II was significantly oversubscribed and received commitments from a diverse group of global institutional investors, in addition to strong support from BDI Partners' existing investor base.

BDI Partners



BDI Partners is led by Chris Burnham and Adam Daigle who began investing Fund I in 2020 and have since made seven platform investments. Fund II maintains a singular focus on the Built Environment, encompassing professional services, specialty services, operations & maintenance, and building products, distribution, & materials. Most of the platform companies targeted by BDI Partners have EBITDA between $1 million and $7 million, with smaller add-on acquisitions considered for existing portfolio companies. BDI Partners leverages its specialized knowledge, expertise, and relationships in the industry to actively add value to its partner businesses.

"We are honored by the support, confidence, and trust that our existing and new capital partners have placed in us. We are also grateful for the founders, families, and management teams at our portfolio companies, whose continued success reflects the strength of our shared goals and commitment to partnership," said Chris Burnham.

"We take pride in applying our combined investing and operational sector expertise to build and manage a focused portfolio of resilient, durable, and growing businesses. We believe the current environment presents a compelling opportunity to invest in targeted themes across our priority sub-sectors," said Adam Daigle.

Probitas Partners acted as the exclusive placement advisor to Fund II. Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A. served as fund counsel.

About BDI Partners

BDI Partners, headquartered in Raleigh, NC, is a lower-middle market investment firm focused on private companies providing services, products, and technologies that support the Built Environment in the United States and Canada. The firm engages with high-quality, entrepreneur and family-owned companies who share the desire to build great enterprises that make a positive impact on their employees, customers, communities and the Built Environment. For additional information, please visit www.bdipartners.com.

SOURCE: BDI Partners
In a world where health and sustainability increasingly intersect, ITEN and Baracoda are forging a path toward innovation. ITEN, a leading innovator and manufacturer in micro solid state battery technology, and Baracoda, a daily healthtech pioneer, are proud to announce their collaboration, bringing unparalleled energy efficiency to the next generation of health tracking devices.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250416888792/en/

BHeart, Baracoda's self-powered health tracker, uses ITEN's POWENCY micro solid state batteries.

The partnership's first breakthrough comes in the form of BHeart, Baracoda's self-powered health tracker. Designed to be worn as a bracelet or seamlessly integrated into a watch band, BHeart uses ITEN's POWENCY micro solid state batteries to redefine what's possible in wearable tech. The device harnesses energy from body heat and environmental light, creating an "endless" battery life without the hassle of frequent charging.

This innovation marks a pivotal moment in wearable technology. As connected health devices become smaller and more efficient, energy management remains a critical challenge. BHeart's compact design integrates multiple sensors PPG, temperature, step counting, and more leaving minimal space for energy storage. ITEN's batteries, with their solid-state design and ability to handle peak currents >150C (25mA), ensure consistent performance even during intensive data collection, like continuous heart rate monitoring.

The new generation of BHeart also features a flexible silicone wristband, expanding its potential for sports, fitness, and everyday wear. This versatile design is a direct response to the evolving needs of users who expect both comfort and cutting-edge technology in their wellness devices.

Vincent Cobee, CEO of ITEN, stated, "Our collaboration with Baracoda exemplifies how innovative battery technology can redefine health tracking and more broadly connected devices. Together, we're making health monitoring smarter, more sustainable, and more accessible."

"By integrating ITEN's battery solutions, we're pushing the boundaries of connected health tech," said Thomas Serval, CEO of Baracoda. "BHeart's self-sufficient energy model is more than just a technical achievement-it's a commitment to sustainability and user convenience."

The BHeart device, along with other POWENCY-based innovations, will be showcased at ITEN's booth during COMPUTEX in Taiwan, from May 20-23, 2025. Attendees will get an exclusive look at how Baracoda and ITEN are shaping the future of wellness technology.

About ITEN

ITEN is a French industrial gem, leader in the development and production of "solid state" micro-batteries with unrivalled power density. It is one of the few global players with the capacity for industrial production of this technology, mastering the entire design and production chain. These revolutionary batteries meet the power and miniaturization needs of electronic systems used in connected objects, autonomous sensors and wearables. At the heart of the DeepTech ecosystem, ITEN holds over 200.patents. Based in Dardilly, near Lyon, it is a two-time winner of the global innovation competition (2015 and 2017) and the French Tech 120 winner in 2023. It has just won the CES 2024 Best of Innovation Awards in Las Vegas for its 250 A.h micro-battery (the second French company to be honored since CES was founded in 1967).

https://www.iten.com/

About Baracoda

Established on three continents, Baracoda is a leader in Daily Healthtech. Baracoda infuses connected tech into the everyday routine, leveraging AI, data analysis, machine learning, app development, gamification and more. Baracoda launches products and scale business alongside global market leaders, relying on a unique B2B2C business model. Its CES-awarded innovation model is driven by quantitative indexes, developed in-house to recognize daily habits that improve health and wellness. Discover more at https://baracoda.com/en/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250416888792/en/

Contacts:

Media contacts

ITEN

Corinne Cosma

corinne.cosma@iten.com

Baracoda

Nadia Biryukova

nadia.biryukova@baracoda.com

+33 (0)610-398-200
LONDON, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Markel, the insurance operations within Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL), today announced it has entered into an agreement to purchase The MECO Group Limited (MECO), subject to regulatory approval.

Founded in 1974, MECO is a leading, independent specialist marine managing general agent (MGA) based out of London, Dubai and Shanghai. It specialises in providing marine insurance products and services to a diverse range of global marine clients, including charterers and traders, shipowners and entities engaged in maritime operations and global supply chains. It wrote US$63 million GWP in 2024.

MECO provides coverage through its three core insurance brands - The Charterers P&I Club, Transmarine, Aurora P&I and offers complementary legal services through its law firm True North. Its insurance business brings in-depth expertise of underwriting several specialist marine classes that are complementary to Markel's existing marine business, including charterers P&I; freight, defence and demurrage; trade disruption; loss of hire; strikes delay; small vessels owners' P&I; contractual extension liabilities; as well as ancillary marine insurance products.

"This agreement presents a unique opportunity to strengthen our marine footprint and capabilities with new products, complementary services and client relationships in the fast-growing Asia-Pacific economies as well as in Europe," said Andrew McMellin, Managing Director of Wholesale - International, at Markel. "MECO will integrate into Markel but will continue to operate utilising its existing core insurance brands, leveraging Markel's capabilities to build on existing successful relationships in its core regions. The evident synergies between our two companies will allow us to provide a more comprehensive and competitive offering for clients."

Chris Else, Chief Executive of MECO, commented: "We're excited to be joining forces with Markel. Today's announcement marks a new chapter for MECO, our colleagues and clients, as we continue to expand on the strong foundations we've built in many key markets over the past 50 years. There are clear strategic and cultural similarities between the two businesses. Ensuring MECO will continue operating its brands within Markel International recognises the value of our team and provides lasting benefit to clients."

About Markel

We are Markel, a leading global specialty insurer with a truly people-first approach. As the insurance operations within Markel Group Inc. (NYSE: MKL), we operate the Markel Specialty, Markel International, and Markel Global Reinsurance divisions. Our broad array of capabilities and expertise allow us to create intelligent solutions for the most complex risk management needs. However, it is our people-and the deep, valued relationships they develop with colleagues, brokers and clients-that differentiates us worldwide.

About MECO

We are the MECO Group, a specialist marine insurance MGA that celebrated its 50th Anniversary last year. Founded in London in 1974, the Group now operates across three key hubs in London, Dubai and Shanghai. Headquartered in London, the MECO Group is owned and controlled by its executive board. We are a service-based business that offers clients the best of both worlds, first-rate insurance security, backed by an experienced and knowledgeable team of specialists that is professional, dedicated and trusted.

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Leading Independent Proxy Advisory Firm ISS Recommends Calibre SecurityHolders vote FOR the Proposed Arrangement with Equinox

Deadline to vote your shares and stock options is Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. (Vancouver time)

The Board of Directors of Calibre recommends that Securityholders vote FOR the Arrangement Resolution.

the Arrangement Resolution. Leading independent proxy advisory firm has recommended in favour of the merger.

For assistance in voting, please contact Laurel Hill Advisory Group by phone at 1-877-452-7184 (North American toll-free) or 1-416-304-0211 (outside North America), or by email at assistance@laurelhill.com (mailto:assistance@laurelhill.com)

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Calibre Mining Corp. (TSX: CXB; OTCQX: CXBMF) (the "Company" or "Calibre") reminds holders of Calibre common shares (the "Shareholders") and holders of options issued under Calibre's amended and restated long-term incentive plan (the "Optionholders", and together with Shareholders, the "Securityholders") to vote ahead of the proxy voting deadline for the upcoming Special Meeting of Securityholders (the "Meeting") scheduled for Thursday, April 24, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. (Vancouver time). The resolution on the agenda is the proposed business combination (the "Arrangement") between Calibre and Equinox Gold Corp. ("Equinox") (TSX: EQX; NYSE-A: EQX).

ISS Recommends Voting FOR the Arrangement

Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. ("ISS"), a leading independent proxy advisory firm, has recommended that Securityholders vote FOR the Arrangement Resolution. This recommendation follows a thorough and independent review of the transaction. ISS believes that the proposed merger will deliver significant strategic benefits, including increased scale, diversification, and substantial synergies. They also highlight the opportunity for strong production growth and a potential re-rating in the market, making the merger a favorable outcome for Calibre Securityholders.

The Calibre Board of Directors fully supports the transaction and unanimously recommends that Securityholders vote FOR the Arrangement.

Strategic Rationale for the Business Combination

An industry-leading team: Proven track record of delivery and shareholder value creation led by Ross Beaty, Blayne Johnson and Doug Forster of Featherstone Capital, who will all serve on the board of directors of the combined company. In total, six directors of Equinox and four directors of Calibre will serve on the board of directors of the combined company. Greg Smith, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Equinox, will continue as Chief Executive Officer of the combined company, and Darren Hall, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Calibre, will serve as President and Chief Operating Officer of the combined company with full responsibility of the combined operations going forward.

Substantial free cash flow: Immediate increase in production at record high gold prices is expected to drive superior free cash flow, enabling the combined company to quickly deleverage and expediting the return of capital to shareholders.

Immediate increase in production at record high gold prices is expected to drive superior free cash flow, enabling the combined company to quickly deleverage and expediting the return of capital to shareholders. The second largest gold producer in Canada: Greenstone Gold Mine and Valentine Gold Mine, two new long-life, low-cost, open-pit gold mines, are expected to produce collectively 590,000 ounces 1 of gold per year when at capacity.

Greenstone Gold Mine and Valentine Gold Mine, two new long-life, low-cost, open-pit gold mines, are expected to produce collectively 590,000 ounces of gold per year when at capacity. Significant re-rate potential based on valuation of peers: Greater scale, lower risk, near-term production growth, and superior free cash flow relative to peers, providing significant revaluation potential.

Greater scale, lower risk, near-term production growth, and superior free cash flow relative to peers, providing significant revaluation potential. A major diversified gold producer in the Americas: Potential for more than 1.2 million ounces 2 of annual gold production from a portfolio of mines in five countries in the Americas.

Potential for more than 1.2 million ounces of annual gold production from a portfolio of mines in five countries in the Americas. Exceptional growth profile: Additional production growth from the ramp-up of Valentine Gold Mine and a pipeline of development and expansion projects.

Your Vote is Important, No Matter How Many Shares or Stock Options You Hold.

The proxy voting deadline is Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. (Vancouver time). Calibre strongly encourages all Securityholders to vote well in advance of the deadline.

Why ISS Supports the Arrangement

ISS concluded that the Arrangement provides a compelling strategic rationale and issued a positive recommendation for shareholders to vote FOR the proposed arrangement with Equinox. The basis for ISS's recommendation outlined in their report includes several reasons including:

The strategic rationale for the deal is sound. They believe the combined company will be able to harness benefits from diversification and scale, with potential further upside to be captured through re-rating and an enhanced capital markets profile.

The company will be led by an experienced board and management team. The proposed leadership of Calibre and Equinox have a demonstrated track record of successfully acquiring and integrating other gold mining assets and creating substantial shareholder value.

The transaction is fair to shareholders of Calibre. Calibre board of directors received an independent Fairness Opinion from both National Bank Financial Inc. and Canaccord Genuity Corp. who each found the transaction to be fair from a financial point of view to shareholders of Calibre.

The valuation is credible, and the combined company will receive leadership and oversight from members of Calibre and Equinox boards and leadership teams which have a proven track record in M&A.

Additional benefits to Calibre shareholders. Calibre shareholders will benefit from enhanced scale and diversification across a portfolio of high-quality mines that provide strong expected growth in production, particularly with the ramp-up of the Valentine Gold Mine.

Operational synergies that will contribute to a stronger financial position.

While Glass, Lewis & Co. recommends an against vote, Calibre's Board remains confident in the strategic merits of the merger and believes that the transaction will drive long-term value for Shareholders. The combination with Equinox will position the company to capture substantial value through economies of scale, operational synergies, and diversification, which aligns with Calibre's long-term growth strategy.

Meeting and Voting Information

The Meeting will be held on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. (Vancouver time) at the offices of Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP, Suite 2200, RBC Place, 885 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia. The Meeting can also be accessed via live webcast at meetnow.global/MZLUU6Z. Securityholders accessing the Meeting virtually will not be able to participate or vote. For complete details and access to all relevant documents related to the Meeting, please visit the Calibre website https://www.calibremining.com/investor-relations/agm-materials/default.aspx (https://www.calibremining.com/investor-relations/agm-materials/default.aspx).

Securityholder Assistance

Securityholders who have questions about voting their shares or stock options, or need assistance may contact the Company's proxy solicitation agent, Laurel Hill Advisory Group:

Toll-Free (North America): 1-877-452-7184

1-877-452-7184 International (Outside North America): +1-416-304-0211

+1-416-304-0211 Email: assistance@laurelhill.com





About Calibre

Calibre (TSX: CXB) is a Canadian-listed, Americas focused, growing mid-tier gold producer with a strong pipeline of development and exploration opportunities across Newfoundland & Labrador in Canada, Nevada and Washington in the USA, and Nicaragua. Calibre is focused on delivering sustainable value for Securityholders, local communities and all stakeholders through responsible operations and a disciplined approach to growth. With a strong balance sheet, a proven management team, strong operating cash flow, accretive development projects and district-scale exploration opportunities Calibre will unlock significant value.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Darren Hall"

Darren Hall, President & Chief Executive Officer

For further information, please contact:

Ryan King

SVP Corporate Development & IR

T: 604.628.1012

E: calibre@calibremining.com

W: www.calibremining.com (http://www.calibremining.com)

Calibre's head office is located at Suite 1560, 200 Burrard St., Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 3L6.

YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@calibreminingcorp) / Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/calibremining/) / LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/calibre-mining-corp-cxb-/?originalSubdomain=ca) / Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/CalibreMining) / X (https://twitter.com/CalibreMiningCo)

The Toronto Stock Exchange has neither reviewed nor accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Information

This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. All statements in this news release that address events or developments that we expect to occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are identified by words such as "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "project", "target", "potential", "schedule", "forecast", "budget", "estimate", "assume", "intend", "strategy", "goal", "objective", "possible" or "believe" and similar expressions or their negative connotations, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could", "should" or "might" occur. These include, without limitation, statements with respect to: the approval of the Arrangement by the Calibre Securityholders; application for a final order of the court approving the Arrangement and the approval thereof by the court; timing for closing the Arrangement; Calibre and the combined company's plans and expectations with respect to the proposed Arrangement, the expectations regarding exploration potential and production capabilities of the combined company; the potential valuation of the combined company following completion of the Arrangement; the accuracy of the pro forma financial position and outlook of the combined company following completion of the Arrangement; the expected benefits of the new board and management team of the combined company; and the anticipated impact of the proposed Arrangement on the combined company's results of operations, financial position, growth opportunities and competitive position.

These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, including, but not limited to, the possibility that Calibre Securityholders may not approve the Arrangement or Securityholders of Equinox may not approve the share issuance; the risk that any other condition to closing of the Arrangement may not be satisfied; the risk that the closing of the Arrangement might be delayed or not occur at all; the risk that the either Calibre or Equinox may terminate the Arrangement Agreement and either Calibre or Equinox is required to pay a termination fee to the other party; potential adverse reactions or changes to business or employee relationships of Calibre or Equinox, including those resulting from the announcement or completion of the Arrangement; the diversion of management time on transaction-related issues; the ultimate timing, outcome and results of integrating the operations of Calibre and Equinox; the effects of the business combination of Calibre and Equinox , including the combined company's future financial condition, results of operations, strategy and plans; the ability of the combined company to realize anticipated synergies in the timeframe expected or at all; changes in capital markets and the ability of the combined company to finance operations in the manner expected; the risk that Calibre or Equinox may not receive the required court, stock exchange and regulatory approvals to effect the Arrangement; the risk of any litigation relating to the proposed Arrangement; the risk of changes in laws, governmental regulations or enforcement practices; the effects of commodity prices, life of mine estimates; the timing and amount of estimated future production; the risks of mining activities; the fact that operating costs and business disruption may be greater than expected following the public announcement or consummation of the Arrangement; and other risks and uncertainties set out in Calibre's annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2024, its management discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2024 and other disclosure documents of the Company filed on the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. (http://www.sedarplus.ca/)

Calibre's forward-looking statements are based on the applicable assumptions and factors management considers reasonable as of the date hereof, based on the information available to management at such time. Calibre does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change other than as required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.

1 Average annual production as estimated in the most recent technical reports for each project, which are available for download on each company's website and on SEDAR+.

2 Mid-point of Equinox Gold's 2025 guidance plus mid-point of Calibre's 2025 guidance, on a full-year basis, plus an additional 65,000 ounces with Greenstone at capacity and 200,000 ounces with Valentine at capacity. Does not include any production from Equinox's Los Filos Gold Mine or either company's expansion projects.
BEIJING, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The opening ceremony of a series of cultural tourism activities featuring the culture of the Three Kingdoms period (220-280) was recently held in the city of Xuchang, central China's Henan Province.

Hosted by the Xuchang municipal government, the activities highlight themed brands and creative cultural experiences, including discussion sessions on the Three Kingdoms culture, cultural gatherings on Hanfu (traditional Chinese attire), public art festivals, gaming carnivals, esports contests, immersive role-playing games, historical character parades, light shows and spring sightseeing tours.

As an ancient capital city during the Three Kingdoms period, Xuchang has so far held 15 annual sessions of the Three Kingdoms Cultural Tourism Week. Starting this year, the event period has been expanded from a week to nearly a month, with this year's activities running from April 10 to May 5.

During the opening ceremony, Xuchang also collaborated with the cities of Zhengzhou, Luoyang, Anyang, Nanyang, Jiaozuo, Zhoukou and Luohe to promote Three Kingdoms-themed tourism offerings within Henan Province.

Over 12 sessions of the Three Kingdoms Cultural Tourism Week, Xuchang City had held investment promotion activities and seen the signings of 288 investment projects totaling 197.79 billion yuan. Industrial promotion activities, tourism promotions and project signing ceremonies are planned to be held during this year's event as well.

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The first phase of Omio's expansion in Southeast Asia has unlocked over 14,000 bus routes from more than 1,800 transportation providers across Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Cambodia

The Omio app unifies transportation across three continents and 45 countries.

BERLIN, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Omio, the leading multi-modal travel booking platform, today announced its growing inventory in Southeast Asia. This marks a significant step in Omio's global expansion plans and mission to digitise travel.

Adding to Omio's flight options in this region, international travellers can now seamlessly search, compare, and book tickets for over 14,000 bus routes from 1,800 local transportation providers across six Southeast Asian countries: Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Cambodia.

Omio will add ferry and rail services to the platform over the following months, aiming for comprehensive multi-modal coverage to be available before Q4 2025, just in time for the peak season of SEA travel.

Travel Information and Support in Your Language, All in One App

Travellers looking to explore the vibrant Southeast Asia region benefit from an unmatched booking experience, which includes navigating in their local languages, paying in their preferred currency and payment method, and selecting a seat via Omio's Seat Map feature, along with 24/7 Customer Support.

Unifying Travel Across the Globe

The Asia-Pacific region is the second-largest tourist destination in the world, following Europe, with Southeast Asia attracting approximately 120 million inbound tourists each year. Building on its presence in Europe and North America, Southeast Asia has added a new dimension to Omio's global inventory and reflects the company's mission to make travel by train, flight, bus, and ferry easy and enjoyable everywhere in the world. Omio now operates in 45 countries across three continents. With millions of bookable routes and 80,000 tickets sold daily, Omio is the leading global source of inventory for multi-modal travel.

Veronica Diquattro, President B2C Europe & Supply at Omio, comments:

"Our offering radically simplifies the travel experience for international travellers in this vibrant key travel region. The transportation landscape in Southeast Asia - particularly for bus travel - is incredibly fragmented and complex for international visitors to navigate. We are excited to help them explore this beautiful region with ease, and we are working tirelessly to integrate further regional mobility providers into our travel platform to create an unparalleled multi-modal inventory for travellers to search and book."

Media Contact

Amy Van Schalkwyk

amy.vanschalkwyk@thisisnovos.com

About Omio

Since its foundation in 2013, the Omio Group has helped customers discover new ways of travelling. Thanks to its two interconnected platforms, Omio and Rome2Rio, Omio is the world's leading travel platform for searching, comparing, and booking. Omio B2B Partnership services OTAs and mobility providers with bespoke business solutions. Omio supports its customers in their desire to explore Europe, the US, Canada and Southeast Asia by train, bus, flight, and ferry. Omio sells more than 80,000 tickets daily, employs over 430 staff from more than 50 countries and maintains offices in Berlin, Prague, Melbourne, London and Bangalore. The Omio Group offers its customers journeys that move them. omio.com

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Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. (TSX:ASM)(NYSE American:ASM)(FSE:GV6) a long-standing silver producer in Mexico, achieved strong first quarter 2025 production of 678,458 silver equivalent ounces.

PRODUCTION HIGHLIGHTS - Q1 2025 (COMPARED TO Q1 2024)

Silver Equivalent Production Increased 8%: Avino produced 678,458 silver equivalent ounces in Q1 2025, representing an 8% increase from Q1 of 2024. The increase was driven by improved grades in all three metals (silver, gold and copper) and offset by slightly lower mill throughput. All three metals saw increased production compared to Q1 of 2024.

Gold Production Increased 25%: Q1 2025 production of 2,225 gold ounces represented a 25% increase compared to Q1 2024. Improved feed grade of 17% accounted for the majority of the increase, alongside significant improvements in recoveries to 75% from 70% in Q1 of 2024.

Copper Production Increased 19%: Avino produced 1.6 million pounds of copper in Q1 2025, a 19% increase compared to Q1 2024. The increase was driven by improved copper feed grade of 17%, as well as an increase in recoveries to 87% from 84% in Q1 of 2024.

Silver Production Increased 6%: Silver production for Q1 2025 was 265,681 ounces, representing a 6% increase compared to Q1 2024, with feed grade increases of 10% driving the improvement overall. The increase was offset by a slight decrease in silver recoveries.

Jaw Crusher Upgrades Completed: In Q1 2025, replacement of the main jaw crusher was completed with limited down time.

Avino Mine Production - Q1 2025 (Compared to Q1 2024 and to Q4 2024)

Q1

2025 Q1

2024 Change Q1

2025 Q4

2024 Change 167,853 169,595 -1% Total Mill Feed (dry tonnes) 167,853 181,733 -8% 58 52 10% Feed Grade Silver (g/t) 58 56 4% 0.55 0.47 17% Feed Grade Gold (g/t) 0.55 0.59 -7% 0.50 0.43 17% Feed Grade Copper (%) 0.50 0.52 -4% 85% 88% -3% Recovery Silver (%) 85% 87% -2% 75% 70% 8% Recovery Gold (%) 75% 74% 1% 87% 84% 3% Recovery Copper (%) 87% 86% 1% 265,681 250,642 6% Total Silver Produced (oz) 265,681 283,794 -6% 2,225 1,778 25% Total Gold Produced (oz) 2,225 2,560 -13% 1,603,343 1,347,110 19% Total Copper Produced (lbs) 1,603,343 1,773,694 -10% 678,458 629,302 8% Total Silver Equivalent Produced (oz)1 678,458 735,557 -8%

"2025 is off to a strong start, with solid quarterly production of 678,458 ounces - keeping Avino on track to meet our annual production target," said David Wolfin, President and CEO of Avino. "I am proud of our exceptional operations team, who executed a jaw crusher replacement while maintaining regular mill operations and keeping us on track with our 2025 production guidance. Looking ahead, our team will be in expansion mode as we move forward with executing at La Preciosa. With blasting of the decline already underway following the receipt of operating permits in January, development at La Preciosa is progressing as anticipated and we are on track with our transformational growth plans."

La Preciosa Update

Significant progress continues at La Preciosa mine. Blasting and construction of the relatively short 360 metre decline is underway and equipment mobilization has been swift, allowing development to advance on plan. The new jumbo drill is working on the San Fernando haulage ramp as it progresses toward intercepting the Gloria and Abundancia veins. Recent photos showcasing the work at La Preciosa are available on the Avino website - click here to view them.

As previously announced on January 15, 2025, Avino has started underground development work at La Preciosa after receiving all required permits.

Earnings Announcement

The Company's unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the First Quarter 2025, will be released after the market closes on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.

A conference call to discuss the Company's Q1 2025 operational and financial results will be held on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. PT / 11:00 a.m. ET. To participate in the conference call or follow the webcast, please see the details below.

Shareholders, analysts, investors, and media are invited to join the webcast and conference call by logging in here Avino's Q1 2025 Financial Results or by dialing the following numbers five to ten minutes prior to the start time.

Toll Free: 888-506-0062

International: +1 973-528-0011

Participant Access Code: 480429

Participants will be greeted by an operator and asked for the access code. If a caller does not have the code, they can reference the company name. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions during the Q&A portion.

The conference call and webcast will be recorded, and the replay will be available on the Company's website later that day.

Quality Assurance/Quality Control

Mill assays are performed at the Avino property's on-site lab. Check samples were submitted to SGS Labs in Durango, Mexico for verification. Gold and silver assays are performed by the fire assay method with a gravimetric finish for concentrates and AAS (Atomic Absorption Spectrometry) methods for copper, lead, zinc and silver for feed and tail grade samples. All concentrate shipments are assayed by one of the following independent third-party labs: Inspectorate in the UK, LSI in the Netherlands, and AHK.

Qualified Person(s)

Peter Latta, P. Eng, MBA, Avino's VP Technical Services, is a qualified person within the context of National Instrument 43-101 who has reviewed and approved the technical data in this news release.

About Avino

Avino is a silver producer from its wholly owned Avino Mine near Durango, Mexico. The Company's silver, gold and copper production remains unhedged. The Company intends to maintain long term sustainable and profitable mining operations to reward shareholders and the community alike through our growth at the historic Avino Property and the strategic acquisition of the adjacent La Preciosa which was finalized in Q1 2022. Avino currently controls mineral resources, as per NI 43-101, with a total mineral content of 371 million silver equivalent ounces, within our district-scale land package. Early in 2024, the pre-feasibility Study on the Oxide Tailings Project was completed. This study is a key milestone in our growth trajectory. As part of Avino's commitment to adopting sustainable practices, we have been operating a dry-stack tailings facility for more than one year now with excellent results. We are committed to managing all business activities in a safe, environmentally responsible, and cost-effective manner, while contributing to the well-being of the communities in which we operate. We encourage you to connect with us on X (formerly Twitter) at @Avino_ASM and on LinkedIn at Avino Silver & Gold Mines. To view the Avino Mine VRIFY tour, please click here.

For Further Information, Please Contact:

Investor Relations

Tel: 604-682-3701

Email: IR@avino.com

This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (together, the "forward looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including the mineral resource estimate for the Company's Avino Property, including La Preciosa, located near Durango in west-central Mexico (the "Avino Property") with an effective date of October 16, 2023 as well as the Pre-feasibility Study dated January 16, 2024 and references to Measured, Indicated Resources, and Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves referred to in this press release. This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements" are made as of the date of this document. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect current estimates, predictions, expectations or beliefs regarding future events and include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: (i) the estimated amount and grade of mineral reserves and mineral resources, including the cut-off grade; (ii) estimates of the capital costs of constructing mine facilities and bringing a mine into production, of operating the mine, of sustaining capital, of strip ratios and the duration of financing payback periods; (iii) the estimated amount of future production, both ore processed and metal recovered and recovery rates; (iv) estimates of operating costs, life of mine costs, net cash flow, net present value (NPV) and economic returns from an operating mine; and (v) the completion of the full Technical Report, including a Preliminary Economic Assessment, and its timing. 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 "expects", "anticipates", "plans", "projects", "estimates", "envisages", "assumes", "intends", "strategy", "goals", "objectives" or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and the dates of technical reports, as applicable. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the future circumstances, outcomes or results anticipated in or implied by such forward-looking statements will occur or that plans, intentions or expectations upon which the forward-looking statements are based will occur. While we have based these forward-looking statements on our expectations about future events as at the date that such statements were prepared, the statements are not a guarantee that such future events will occur and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors which could cause events or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Cautionary note to U.S. Investors concerning estimates of Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources

All reserve and resource estimates reported by Avino were estimated in accordance with the Canadian National Instrument 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM") Definition Standards. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") now recognizes estimates of "measured mineral resources," "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources" and uses new definitions of "proven mineral reserves" and "probable mineral reserves" that are substantially similar to the corresponding CIM Definition Standards. However, the CIM Definition Standards differ from the requirements applicable to US domestic issuers. US investors are cautioned not to assume that any "measured mineral resources," "indicated mineral resources," or "inferred mineral resources" that the Issuer reports are or will be economically or legally mineable. Further, "inferred mineral resources" are that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade are estimated on the basis of limited geologic evidence and sampling. Mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.

Neither TSX nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Footnotes:

1. In Q1 2025, AgEq was calculated using metal prices of $31.91 per oz Ag, $2,862 per oz Au and $4.24 per lb Cu. In Q1 2024, AgEq was calculated using $23.36 per oz Ag, $2,072 per oz Au and $3.83 per lb Cu. In Q4 2024, AgEq was calculated using metal prices of $31.34 per oz Ag, $2,662 per oz Au and $4.17 per lb Cu. Calculated figures may not add up due to rounding.

SOURCE: Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd.
DELRAY BEACH, Fla., April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The biostimulants market is estimated at USD 4.46 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 7.84 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 11.9% from 2025 to 2030, according to a report published by MarketsandMarkets.

The global biostimulants market is being driven by the increasing use of sustainable Agri-solutions, increased usage of organic agriculture, and improved awareness of biostimulant benefits in augmenting crop yields, quality, and tolerance towards abiotic stress. Favourable government policies on green farming processes, including the European Union Farm to Fork plan, are contributing further to driving the market upward. Also, developments in biostimulant formulations and extraction technology are enhancing the performance of the products and their applications for more crops. Increasing needs to increase the efficiency in nutrient utilization, improve soil health, and reduce chemical fertilizer reliance are encouraging farmers to adopt biostimulants in agriculture. Also, increasing consumer demands for residue-free, high-quality fruits and vegetables are encouraging growers to adopt biostimulants as organic and sustainable agricultural practices.

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By active ingredients, the amino acids segment holds a significant market share in the global biostimulants market.

Amino acids hold a significant market share under the active ingredient segment of the biostimulants market due to their role in driving plant growth, nutrient uptake, and stress resistance. Amino acids are the precursors of major plant hormones, enzymes, and proteins, which assist in maintaining essential physiological processes like photosynthesis, nutrient assimilation, and root development. Their efficacy in facilitating plant recovery from abiotic stresses like drought, temperature stress, and salinity has earned them the attention of farmers seeking to boost crop productivity and resistance. One such company tapping into this market is Germany's Aminocore, which offers amino acid-based natural fertilizers and biostimulants. Its products, which are developed from a natural pharmaceutical production method of mild enzymatic hydrolysis, provide an excellent free amino acid profile, which is twice as effective as other solutions without including synthetic amino acids and toxic elements.

By form, the liquid segment will hold the highest market share in the biostimulants market during the forecasted period.

The liquid segment possesses the largest market share in terms of form in the biostimulants market, mainly attributed to its simplicity of application, improved absorption, and high efficiency in improving plant growth and stress resistance. Liquid biostimulants have broad acceptance among farmers since they can be easily applied using foliar sprays, fertigation, and soil drenching, providing even distribution and quick uptake by plants. Liquid biostimuants have high compatibility with agrochemicals and fertilizers which helps in increasing their uptake by different crops.

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Based on region, North America holds a significant share in the biostimulants market.

North America holds a significant market share in the global biostimulants market because of large-scale commercial agriculture, advanced Agri-tech, and extensive application of fertilizers. The US and Canada are the major players, with intensive production of wheat, corn, and soybeans, which require continuous nutrient delivery. Government policies favoring organic farming, in addition to increased awareness of the advantages of biostimulants in enhancing soil fertility and crop yields, have further contributed to market growth. Major players in the region are continuously investing in research and development to develop sophisticated biostimulant products, improving their efficacy and increasing their scope of application for different crops.

The report profiles key players such as UPL (India), FMC Corporation (US), Corteva (US), Syngenta Group (Switzerland), Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. (Japan), Nufarm (Australia), Novonesis Group (Denmark), Basf SE (Germany), Bayer AG (Germany), PI Industries (India), T.Stanes and Company Limited (India), Gowan Company (US), J.M. Huber Corporation (US), Haifa Negev technologies LTD (Israel), and Koppert (Netherlands).

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Browse Adjacent Reports @ Agriculture Industry Market Research Reports & Consulting

Related Reports:

Agricultural Biologicals Market by Type (Biocontrol, Biostimulants, Biofertilizers), Source (Microbials, Macrobials, Semiochemicals, Natural Products), Mode of Application (Foliar Spray, Seed Treatment, Soil Treatment) - Global Forecast to 2029

Plant Growth Regulators Market by Type (Auxins, Cytokinins, Gibberellins, and Ethylene), Function (Plant Growth Promoters, And Plant Growth Inhibitors), Crop Type (Cereals, Oilseeds Fruits, Turfs), By Formulation (Liquid, Granular, Powder, Tablet) and Region - Global Forecast to 2029

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Kapsch TrafficCom is proud to announce the successful completion of the Henry E. Kinney Tunnel Rehabilitation and Pedestrian Plaza project in downtown Fort Lauderdale.

This transformative project, led by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), enhances both transportation infrastructure and community spaces, setting a new standard for urban integration.

"The Henry E. Kinney Tunnel project is a shining example of how we can blend safety, mobility, efficiency, and community enhancement. It represents a commitment to creating spaces where people can connect and thrive," says Kapsch TrafficCom North America President JB Kendrick. "We're incredibly proud to be part of this initiative, and it truly shows how North American leaders look to Kapsch when they need reliable, innovative solutions for critical infrastructure."

Begun in 2021, the three-mile tunnel features a state-of-the-art SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system that incorporates multiple systems for tunnel safety, traffic management and core elements like lighting and air conditioning in the tunnel. The system also provides real-time data, automated alerts and remote system controls.

This allows transportation authorities to detect and respond to incidents quickly, ensuring minimal disruptions and greater efficiency. The systems are designed to improve traffic management and safety, ensuring a seamless flow of vehicles through the tunnel and surrounding areas.

Additionally, the project included milling and resurfacing SR 5/US-1 from Rio Vista Boulevard to the southern end of the tunnel, the installation of intelligent transportation systems along SR5/US-1, an extension of the tunnel top to accommodate a pedestrian plaza with new fountains, seating facilities, redesigned brick pavers, artificial turf, and landscaping.

The tunnel is just one of many major tunnel, bridge, airport, and major highway projects led by Kapsch TrafficCom in North America, where the company handles more than 650 million vehicle crossings in the Northeast alone.

More information on Kapsch TrafficCom SCADA projects in North America can be found here:

Press | Kapsch TrafficCom

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Kapsch TrafficCom is a globally renowned provider of transportation solutions for sustainable mobility with successful projects in more than 50 countries. Innovative solutions in the application fields of tolling, tolling services, traffic management and demand management contribute to a healthy world without congestion.

With one-stop-shop-solutions, the company covers the entire value chain of customers, from components to design and implementation to the operation of systems.

Kapsch TrafficCom, headquartered in Vienna, has subsidiaries and branches in more than 25 countries and is listed in the Prime Market segment of the Vienna Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: KTCG). In its 2023/24 financial year, about 4,000 employees generated revenues of EUR 539 million.

Press contact:

Sandra Bijelic

Head of Corporate Communications?

Kapsch TrafficCom AG?

Am Europlatz 2, 1120 Vienna, Austria?

P +43?664?628 1720?

sandra.bijelic@kapsch.net

SOURCE: Kapsch TrafficCom AG
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 16, 2025) - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. (CSE: HBFG) (OTCQB: HBFGF) ("Happy Belly" or the "Company"), a leader in acquiring and scaling emerging food brands across Canada, is proud to announce the promotion of Randall Papineau from Brand President of iQ Foods to President of Emerging Brands of Happy Belly, effective immediately.



"I am very thankful for the opportunity to work with Randall again. His hands-on approach has been key in transforming our operational strategies of iQ Foods and contributing to our continued success," said Sean Black, Chief Executive Officer of Happy Belly. "Previously in my career we were partners with Recipe Unlimited in Fresh Restaurants which is now owned by Fairfax Financial. Randall previously joined us at Fresh Restaurants and quickly took over leading that brands growth. He did an incredible job with the people, product and driving profitability of Fresh, and as brand president of iQ Foods for Happy Belly he has done a tremendous job with consecutive back-to-back months of profitable growth and operational efficiency. He has directly increased unit profitability and optimized our brands operations. As a direct result of Randall exceeding expectations, and his deep experience with coffee brands, we have now intrusted Randall to oversee our emerging Smile Tiger Coffee Roasters brand in additional to iQ Foods."



"With a proven track record in building strong brands, teams, and profitable operations, Randall's entrepreneurial mindset and hands-on approach make him a perfect fit for leading our emerging brands division at Happy Belly. His leadership experience in the coffee industry, notably as Vice President of Retail Operations at Balzac's Coffee, aligns seamlessly with our strategic roadmap for 2025-2026 of integrating and growing our Smile Tiger Coffee Roasters brand both organically within our existing brands service offerings, but through franchising as well. Randall's leadership will be instrumental in scaling our emerging brands vertical and advancing our strategic roadmap for 2025-2026, driving significant growth for IQ Foods and Smile Tiger.

"Randall's leadership has been pivotal during a time of significant corporate growth for Happy Belly. Randall brings the right mix of operational excellence, culture, and entrepreneurial spirit to Happy Belly. His promotion is a testament to his outstanding leadership and dedication. As we expand our iQ Foods retail presence, along side our Smile Tiger Coffee presence, Randall is the perfect choice to lead both brands."



"In his new role, Randall will oversee the end-to-end operations for Happy Belly's emerging brands division, both corporate and franchised, ensuring alignment with our overall strategic objectives. He will lead initiatives to optimize operational systems, drive profitability, and deliver an exceptional guest experience across our portfolio of brands."



"Our asset-light franchise model enables Happy Belly to continue accelerating growth across all our brands. With a strong foundation, strategic leadership, and a dedicated franchise support system, we are well-positioned to drive sustained success in the Canadian QSR market. This is another step forward in our mission to become a predictable and disciplined growth company, Canada's leading restaurant consolidator."

We are just getting started.



Additional Updates:

The Company announces that it has granted 1,000,000 performance stock options (the "Options") to Randall Papineau in accordance with its Option Plan. The Options are exercisable at $1.14 per common share (the "Shares") and are subject to the following vesting triggers, aligning the performance Options to the board performance warrants earning out at $2.00/share of Happy Belly Shares, all expiring June 2026.



These Options shall vest as follows:

Options Vesting Trigger 500,000 Immediate 250,000 $1.50 250,000 $2.00

Franchising

For franchising inquiries please see www.happybellyfg.com/franchise-with-us/ or contact us at hello@happybellyfg.com.



About Happy Belly Food Group

Happy Belly Food Group Inc. (CSE: HBFG) (OTCQB: HBFGF) ("Happy Belly" or the "Company") is a dynamic multi-branded restaurant company focused on acquiring and scaling emerging food brands across Canada. With a robust portfolio of brands Happy Belly is dedicated to delivering quality, efficiency, and exceptional customer experiences nationwide.





Happy Belly Food Group Inc.



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Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release, which has been prepared by management.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking information" with respect to the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-Looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur and include the future performance of Happy Belly and her subsidiaries. Forward-Looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. There are no assurances that the business plans for Happy Belly described in this news release will come into effect on the terms or time frame described herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis and other disclosure filings with Canadian securities regulators, which are posted on www.sedarplus.ca.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/248713

SOURCE: Happy Belly Food Group Inc.
Comau announced today that it has entered into a binding agreement with Trasma S.r.l. (" Trasma ") under which Comau will acquire full ownership of Automha S.p.A. (" Automha ") and its subsidiaries globally

The strategic investment by Comau is a further step in building a forward-focused Italian automation Hub and will leverage the strong synergies between the two brands to create value for customers and shareholders in different markets around the world

Automha will continue to operate post-acquisition with the same structure, management and strategic vision in addition to enhanced growth prospects

Comau has signed a binding agreement for the acquisition of Automha, an Italian company operating in the warehousing and intralogistics automation industry, owned by Trasma. The closing of the transaction is subject to the satisfaction of customary conditions precedent in transactions of this type, including necessary regulatory approvals, and is expected to occur in the second quarter of 2025. Under the terms of the agreement, Comau will acquire 100% of Automha shares, paving the way for new opportunities within the rapidly growing warehousing and logistics sector and establishing a further step toward the creation of a forward-focused Italian industrial automation hub able to innovate and compete in multiple markets.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250415280060/en/

To ensure business continuity, Automha will continue to operate with the same structure, management and strategic vision, keeping people, quality and innovation at its core. Franco Togni will retain his position as CEO while Gianni Togni and Roberta Togni, in addition to continuing in their current roles, will join the Comau Executive Committee to contribute to the ongoing development of both companies.

This binding agreement is coherent with the strategy behind the recent change in Comau's shareholder structure whose majority share is now held by One Equity Partners, an international private equity firm which has allowed Comau to become a standalone company. With this acquisition, Comau reconfirms and strengthens its Italian roots and operations while enhancing its global offer and international presence. In parallel, Automha will be able to scale-up and further develop its business by leveraging an enhanced geographical footprint and in-house technology competencies. Furthermore, given that Comau and Automha are fully complementary, the relationship will strengthen the mutual portfolio of projects.

"Expanding our reach, know-how and technology portfolio through the acquisition of innovative companies such as Automha is a crucial step in Comau's growth strategy, as defined when we became a stand-alone company and implemented immediately after the closing phase," said Pietro Gorlier, CEO of Comau. "In addition to capitalizing on the strong growth potential of warehousing and intralogistics markets, the integration of Automha within Comau will allow us to leverage our combined expertise and resources, to accelerate innovation and growth across a wide range of global industrial sectors."

"When we invested in Comau, we saw a clear path forward to help the company expand strategically and gain scale. M&A is a main driver for this, and we identified warehouse, logistics and handling automation systems as a significant opportunity for this business," said Ante Kusurin, Partner at One Equity Partners. "The acquisition of Automha is a move toward diversification of Comau's operations and further taps the company into industrial automation trends improving productivity across many industries. We are excited for the opportunity ahead of us as these two complementary companies join forces."

"In Comau we have found a partner who shares our values of quality, innovation, and commitment to customer success," added Franco Togni, Founder of Automha. "This new chapter represents not only a moment of growth for Automha but also a continuation of the journey that began in 1979. I look forward to the future that lies ahead, knowing that together with Comau, we will continue to build excellence, expand our global impact and to reach a proper size to keep a leading position in a market that is increasing competitiveness and project dimensions."

About Comau

Comau is a worldwide leader in delivering sustainable advanced automation solutions. With 50 years of experience and a global presence, Comau is helping companies of all sizes in almost any industry leverage the benefits of automation. Backed by a continuous commitment to designing and developing innovative and easy to use technologies, its portfolio includes products and systems for vehicle manufacturing, with a strong presence in e-Mobility, as well as advanced robotics and digital solutions to address rapidly growing markets in industrial sectors. The company's offering also extends to project management and consultancy. Through the training activities organized by its Academy, Comau is committed to advancing the technical and managerial knowledge necessary to face the challenges related to automation and leverage the opportunities of a constantly changing marketplace. Headquartered in Turin, Italy, Comau has an international network of 7 innovation centers and 11 manufacturing plants that span 11 countries and employ 3,800 people. Together with its wide network of distributors and partners, the company is able to respond quickly to the needs of its customers, no matter where they are located throughout the world. www.comau.com

About One Equity Partners

One Equity Partners ("OEP") is a middle market private equity firm focused on the industrial, healthcare, and technology sectors in North America and Europe. The firm seeks to build market-leading companies by identifying and executing transformative business combinations. OEP is a trusted partner with a differentiated investment process, a broad and senior team, and an established track record generating long-term value for its partners. Since 2001, the firm has completed more than 400 transactions worldwide. OEP, founded in 2001, spun out of JP Morgan in 2015. The firm has offices in New York, Chicago, Frankfurt and Amsterdam. www.oneequity.com

About Automha

Automha is an Italian company with 40+ years experience and a global leader in warehousing and intralogistics solutions, recognized for its cutting-edge technology and relentless pursuit of innovation. Automha develops intelligent, high-performance automated storage and retrieval handling systems that optimize efficiency and reliability across industries. Driven by a vision of seamless automation, Automha combines Italian engineering excellence with a forward-thinking global approach, delivering customized solutions that enhance operational agility for businesses worldwide. With four subsidiaries worldwide and manufacturing facilities in Italy and China, Automha is shaping the future of logistics with precision, intelligence, and a commitment to technological excellence. www.automha.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250415280060/en/

Contacts:

Comau

Giuseppe Costabile Corporate Communication

giuseppe.costabile@comau.com +39 338 7130885



One Equity Partners

Thomas Zadvydas

Stanton

646-502-3538

TZadvydas@StantonPRM.com



Automha

Andrea Pernice

Pernice Editori

+393389309563 pernice@pernice.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 16, 2025) - Sixty North Gold Mining Ltd. (CSE: SXTY) (FSE: 2F40) (OTC Pink: SXNTF) (the "Company" or "Sixty North Gold") announces the first drilling results in its Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide ("VMS") drill program. It has intersected three sulphide zones within diamond drill hole ("DDH") DDH VMS1, and two in DDH VMS 2 testing the targets identified from the VTEM Plus  geophysical survey and subsequent analysis of that data by Mira Geosciences ("Mira").

Dr. Dave Webb, CEO, states, "We are very encouraged from these first two drill holes and will be submitting cores to a certified, independent laboratory for assays shortly. We have additional drill holes planned on the Upper Horizon, and plan to test the Lower Horizon when ice breakup reduces our operating costs. We have confirmed significant concentrations of sulphides where our geophysical surveys had identified them. These conductors are on strike of other known economically encouraging VMS mineralization in a belt that hosts other silver and gold-rich lead, zinc, +/- copper sulphide concentrations. Our proximity to the Bluefish Hydroelectric Power Plant, and the road network from Yellowknife makes these targets appealing for potential development in the future, with reduced infrastructure costs. The VMS zones provide the Company with an exciting diversification and a potential portfolio of strategic metals, in addition to our planned underground Mon Gold Mine on the same property."

VMS deposits are polymetallic and produce 27% of Canada's copper, 49% of it's zinc, 20% of its lead, 40% of its silver and 3% of its gold (ref. Dr. J. Franklin, "Volcanic-associated massive sulphide metals; in Geology of Canadian Mineral Deposits, 1996", Galley et al., 2007). VMS deposits often occur in clusters of sedimentary or near sedimentary deposits formed at or near the ocean floor and generally thin as they become more distant from the source or vent area. In addition they are often zoned from copper and gold enriched near the vent to lead and zinc enriched farther away. Conceptually, a typical VMS target might average between nil to 3% copper, nil to 7% zinc, nil to 3% lead, nil to 4.0 gpt gold, and nil to 160 gpt silver, and average between 3 to 9 million tonnes.

VMS 1 was drilled west to east at -50 degrees to test the strong conductor in the Upper Horizon at Ewe Lake within the Sito Lake mixed mafic to felsic tuff horizon. It was collared in mafic tuffs, transitioned into felsic crystal tuffs at 71.2 m and ended at 130 m in felsic tuffs, intersecting three mineralized horizons.

DH VMS 1

Zone From (m) To (m) Mineralization Alteration 1 8.7 9.8 6-8% po>aspy>py Chl, bio 2 59.5 63.0 4-15% po>py>cpy>aspy Chl, bio 3 71.2 76.2 0.1 to 1% po>py Chl, bio

po=pyrrhotite; py=pyrite; cpy=chalcopyrite; aspy=arsenopyrite; chl=chlorite, bio=biotite

Zone 2 is thought to explain the conductor with multiple iron and base metal sulphides within mafic and felsic tuffs over 3.5 m. The true width is estimated to be 3.0 m. Three 1 cm thick massive sulphide domains within up to 15% disseminated sulphides were observed. Fine-grained brown sphalerite may be present but the abundance of brown biotite complicates its identification.

VMS 2 was drilled at the same set-up and azimuth as VMS 1 but at a -65 degree inclination to intersect the target zone at a deeper level. The drill hole was collared in mafic tuffs, transitioned into felsic crystal tuffs at 81.2 m and ended at 182 m in gabbro, intersecting two mineralized horizons.

DH VMS 2

Zone From (m) To (m) Mineralization Alteration 2 58.4 69.2 1-2% po>py>cpy Chl, bio 3 81.2 91.0 8-20% po=py>cpy Chl, bio

po=pyrrhotite; py=pyrite; cpy=chalcopyrite; aspy=arsenopyrite; chl=chlorite, bio=biotite

Zone 2 correlates with the sulphide-rich zone intersected in VMS 1. It contains more sulphides including four 1 cm massive sulphide zones and what is believed to be fine-grained brown sphalerite. The true width of this horizon is estimated to be 7 m.

Six conductors were modeled by Mira, including an exposed VMS showing, the 5656 Zone which grades 1.0 gpt gold, 203 gpt silver, 0.59% lead and 0.96% zinc over 0.45 m in trench samples (see NR November 6, 2018). A cluster of much larger, more prominent conductors along strike include the Lower Horizon which includes the Mac Tuff showing 2 km to the south (not on the Mon Property). The Upper Horizon occurs in a mixed mafic and felsic tuff horizon, 300 m stratigraphically above the Lower Horizon.

Dr. D.R. Webb, Ph.D., P.Geol., P.Eng., President & CEO of the Company, is the Qualified Person for this release and has reviewed and approved of its technical content.

About the Company

Sixty North is developing mining operations for gold on its 100-per-cent-owned Mon Gold Project. Historically, the Project has extracted 15,000 tonnes of ore to depths of only 15 metres below surface, recovering an estimated 15,000 ounces of gold in the 1990s (NI 43-101, August, 2023). The North ramp has been reopened and has been extended to the target portion of the vein. The company plans to develop stopes in the East Limb, West Limb and DD Zone to extract and stockpile the vein material on surface. Upon confirmation of the grade and tonnage, the Company plans to bring a permitted mill in to process this and continuing mined material.

The VMS target, and the shear zones are separate targets on the property and will be tested when it is appropriate to do so.

For more information, please refer to the Company's public filings available on SEDAR ( www.sedarplus.ca ), under the Company's profile.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"Dave Webb"

Dave Webb, President & CEO

Statements about the Company's future expectations and all other statements in this press release other than historical facts are "forward-looking statements". Such forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including risks inherent in mineral exploration and development, which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any projected future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Further details about the risks applicable to the Company are contained in the Company's public filings available on SEDAR ( www.sedarplus.ca ), under the Company's profile.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/248627

SOURCE: Sixty North Gold Mining Ltd.
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Previously reported intercept of 162 g/t Ag, 15.5% Pb and 4.1% Zn over 3 metres interpreted to be the extension of the Curlew Vein from the Blackhawk Mine

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 16, 2025) - Silver Dollar Resources Inc. (CSE: SLV) (OTCQX: SLVDF) (FSE: 4YW) ("Silver Dollar" or the "Company") is pleased to report geologic modeling results correlating to the recently reported near-surface drilling discoveries at the Ranger-Page Project located in northern Idaho's prolific Coeur d'Alene Mining District.





Figure 1: Plan map showing faults, veins and drill pad locations from Phase-1 exploration at Ranger-Page, including the east extension of the Curlew Vein.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://silverdollarresources.com/images/Ranger-Page/Figure-1_Exploration-Update.jpg

Curlew Vein Extension

Geologic modeling of Silver Dollar's phase-1 exploration drilling results indicate that the Curlew Vein extends east from the Blackhawk Mine into the vicinity of the Wyoming Complex (Figure 1). The structural complexity of the area was likely the reason the Wyoming Complex proved to be a challenge for past producers on the property. Phase-1 drilling discovered mineralization in the footwall of the 96 Fault, which was the primary structure worked at the Wyoming Complex. Silver Dollar believes this footwall mineralization is the Curlew Vein and demonstrated its continuity between the Wyoming Complex and the Blackhawk Mine during Phase-1 exploration drilling (Figure 2).





Figure 2: Long section looking northeast showing the location of Phase-1 exploration drilling results relative to the Curlew Vein projection east from the Blackhawk Mine.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://silverdollarresources.com/images/Ranger-Page/Figure-2_Exploration-Update.jpg

The planning of near-term exploration activities is ongoing and includes:

Blackhawk (Curlew Vein)

Drill planning is underway to expand the Curlew Vein along strike, up and down dip of the known extent of the Blackhawk Mine. Upper Curlew exploration is relatively inexpensive and can be done from drill pads requiring minimal effort to establish. Further success exploring the uppermost Curlew Vein could justify deep exploration below the Blackhawk mine, which can be done via deep surface drilling programs, or underground drill pad development. The next phase of drilling should focus on expanding mineral continuity between the Phase-1 drilling (Figure-2) and the Blackhawk mine to the west.

West Buckeye

The West Buckeye target is a prominent polarization anomaly identified during the ground IP survey completed in 2022 (Figure 3). The anomaly is significant because it has a 260-metre dip extension, and the same polarization and resistivity response as the Curlew Vein discovery between the Blackhawk Mine and the Wyoming Complex. To validate West Buckeye for drilling, Silver Dollar plans to complete a geochemical survey over the anomaly, update geologic mapping and develop a budget to drill the target. West Buckeye exploration efforts can begin later this spring when the snow has melted from the target area and access is re-established.





Figure 3: Plan view showing the location of the West Buckeye target and supporting polarization data.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://silverdollarresources.com/images/Ranger-Page/Figure-3_Exploration-Update.jpg

Crown Point

Phase-1 Exploration drilling at Crown Point extended mineralization west of the historic mine workings by 100 metres (See news release of March 11, 2025). Geologic modeling, drilling, and trenching results indicate there are up to three veins present at Crown Point (Crown Point 1, 2 and 3 Veins) (Figure 4). Phase-1 drilling identified two of the three veins at Crown Point. To drill the third vein (Crown Point 3), a drilling platform to the south would be necessary. Exploration planning at Crown Point will focus on expanding the Crown Point veins down dip to the west, where the mineralization remains open for exploration drilling.





Figure 4: Plan view showing the projections (red) for Crown Point veins 1/2/3.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://silverdollarresources.com/images/Ranger-Page/Figure-4_Exploration-Update.jpg

Omega and 85 Veins

The Omega and 85 Veins sit in the footwall of the Tony Vein, which was the primary ore host for the Page Mine. The Omega and 85 Veins were discovered below the 2,770 level of the Page Mine, and the up-dip extension of the veins have not been properly explored. Ongoing geologic modeling is expected to improve the vein projections of the Omega and 85 Veins, allowing Silver Dollar to prospect for the surface expression of the veins. If exploration work on this target is promising, Silver Dollar will include the Omega and 85 Veins in future exploration drill planning.





Figure 5: Plan map of the Page Mine area showing the surface projection of the Tony, Omega and 85 Veins, which have been underexplored near surface.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://silverdollarresources.com/images/Ranger-Page/Figure-5_Exploration-Update.jpg

"Geologic modeling is providing a clearer understanding of our Phase-1 exploration drilling results at Ranger-Page and how they fit within the broader scope of the project," said Greg Lytle, president of Silver Dollar. "We are focused on carefully evaluating our targets to scale the project through continued success at the drill bit and delivering the best possible returns for our shareholders."

Qualified Person

Dale Moore, P.Geo., a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this news release on behalf of the Company.

About the Ranger-Page Project

Located in a world-class silver district, the Ranger-Page land package covers six historic mines and is ideally situated near Interstate 90 with year-round access to power, water, local infrastructure and a workforce in the Silver Valley skilled in exploration and mining. The primary target areas are up and down plunge from historic underground mining, along strike where ground IP surveys have identified anomalies, and where surface trenching identified near surface mineralization. Additional exploration targets have also been identified away from historic mine infrastructure, using soil geochemical data, mapping, and ground IP survey data.





Figure 6: Ranger-Page claim groups, underground mine workings, and new target areas.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://silverdollarresources.com/images/Ranger-Page/Ranger-Page_Claims-Targets.jpg

About Silver Dollar Resources Inc.

Silver Dollar is a dynamic mineral exploration company focused on two of North America's premier mining regions: Idaho's prolific Silver Valley and the Durango-Zacatecas silver-gold belt. Our portfolio includes the advanced-stage Ranger-Page and La Joya projects, along with the early-stage Nora project. The Company's financial backers include renowned mining investor Eric Sprott, our largest shareholder. Silver Dollar's management team is committed to an aggressive growth strategy and is actively reviewing potential acquisitions with a focus on drill-ready projects in mining-friendly jurisdictions.

For additional information, you can download our latest presentation here and follow us on X here.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release may contain "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this news release and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise.

The Canadian Securities Exchange (operated by CNSX Markets Inc.) has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/248639

SOURCE: Silver Dollar Resources Inc.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 16, 2025) - Rua Gold Inc. (TSXV: RUA) (OTCQB: NZAUF) (WKN: A40QYC) ("RUA GOLD" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on its gold-antimony exploration at the Auld Creek project in the Reefton Goldfield on the South Island of New Zealand, reporting improved gold grades from current drilling in diamond drillholes ACDDH026, ACDDH027, ACDDH028.

Highlights:

Following up on the last high grade results from the Company, the next holes intersected broader zones of gold in hole ACDDH027 and narrow but strong gold-stibnite (antimony sulphide) mineralization in ACDDH028.

Assay results show: ACDDH026: 2.1m @ 1.25g/t Au from 175m depth ACDDH027: 9m @ 5.9g/t AuEq 1 (5.2g/t Au & 0.16% Sb) from 159m depth ACDDH028: 1.25m @ 48.3g/t AuEq 1 (13.3g/t Au & 8.1% Sb) from 210m depth

ACDD024,025 confirmed higher grade antimony mineralisation on the Fraternal shoot, the recent drilling ACDDH27,28 indicates an improvement in gold grade with depth.

The gold grades on the Fraternal shoot plunge to the south, current drilling is testing 80-100m below the current resource envelope, before pivoting to testing the northerly extensions of the Fraternal ore body.

Auld Creek has an inferred resource hosted by two ore shoots, Bonanza and Fraternal. This resource outcrops at surface and is continuous to 160m vertically and open at depth.

Surface soil geochemistry strongly endorses extensions to the Fraternal north prospect and Bonanza northeast prospect, confirming the system is traceable over a 2.5km length.

Robert Eckford, CEO of RUA GOLD commented: "It is encouraging to see an improvement in gold grades with depth on the Fraternal lode, and the continuation of high-grade antimony accompanying the gold in narrow plunging shoots.

Drilling to date on Auld Creek antimony-gold prospect has increased confidence in the existing gold-antimony resource and highlighted higher-grade plunging shoots that remain open to the south. We are focused on expanding the Auld Creek resource both north and south, with intensified surface exploration showing early promise in identifying additional mineralization over its 2.5km length."

Figure 1: Overview of the Reefton Goldfield.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10755/248701_e728e92b44814a54_012full.jpg

Figure 2: Fraternal and Bonanza ore shoots at Auld Creek.

Note that AuEq amounts have been calculated using recent spot prices of gold and antimony and applying a ~30% discount. The gold equivalent formula is based on AuEq = Au g/t + 4.3 x Sb% using a Au price of US$2065/oz, Sb price of US$34,300 per tonne and 85% recovery.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10755/248701_e728e92b44814a54_013full.jpg

GLOBAL SUPPLY AND VALUE OF ANTIMONY

Antimony is a critical metalloid primarily sourced from the mineral, stibnite. It is highly valuable and increasing in demand due to its versatility and has essential applications across renewable energy, liquid battery metals, defence and technological sectors.

Due to its limited supply, predominantly controlled by China, Russia & Tajikistan, antimony is considered a strategic material essential for supply chain security, particularly during periods of geopolitical instability. This was heightened in August 2024, when China announced export controls on processed antimony products. In response to these controls, nations have accelerated their efforts to secure alternative sources of antimony to mitigate the risk of significant supply chain vulnerabilities.

The US, EU, UK, Japan, Canada and Australia all designate antimony as a critical mineral. On January 31, 2025, New Zealand also announced their Critical Mineral List which included antimony.

Reflecting heightened demand, the price of antimony has reached new highs, currently trading over US$50,000 per tonne, a significant increase from US$11,350 per tonne at the start of 2024. This market shift has intensified interest in the strategic antimony potential held by RUA GOLD.

EXPLORATION POTENTIAL

RUA GOLD commenced drilling at Auld Creek in December 2024. It has a targeted program to drill four mineralised shoots identified from historical surface exploration work interpreted by the RUA GOLD team over the past 3 months.

Auld Creek is situated between two past producing mines, Globe Progress mine, and the Crushington Group of mines which collectively produced 933,000oz at 14.0g/t Au (Barry 1993). Auld Creek has three historic adits but no commercial production from the reefs.

RUA GOLD has an inferred resource at Auld Creek indicating 700,000 tonnes at 3.1g/t Au and 1.1% Sb for 67,000oz of gold and 8,000 tonnes of antimony2 (AuEq 110,000oz3). The resource is restricted to two of the four known shoots. Soil geochemistry indicates the potential for discovery of additional mineralised shoots over a strike length of 2.5km.

Four of the eight holes completed to date intersected 4-5m of strong visible stibnite (antimony sulfide) mineralization in the Fraternal-Bonanza structure.

Results from ACDDH024, ACDDH025 confirm the approximate average gold grades, but report higher antimony grades than the current resource estimate. Results from ACDDH027, ACDDH028 highlight above average gold grades with narrow but high-grade antimony in ACDDH028.

Ongoing drilling is targeting the southern plunging Fraternal gold-antimony shoot which remains open along strike and at depth.

Intensified surface exploration is showing very encouraging strong trends both north and north-west confirming additional targets on the Fraternal North and Bonanza north-west extensions.

Figure 3: Arsenic soil geochemistry over Auld Creek area.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10755/248701_e728e92b44814a54_019full.jpg

ABOUT RUA GOLD

RUA GOLD is an exploration company, strategically focused on New Zealand. With decades of expertise, our team has successfully taken major discoveries into producing world-class mines across multiple continents. The team is now focused on maximizing the asset potential of RUA GOLD's two highly prospective high-grade gold projects.

The Company controls the Reefton Gold District as the dominant landholder in the Reefton Goldfield on New Zealand's South Island with over 120,000 hectares of tenements, in a district that historically produced over 2Moz of gold grading between 9 and 50g/t.

The Company's Glamorgan Project solidifies RUA GOLD's position as a leading high-grade gold explorer on New Zealand's North Island. This highly prospective project is located within the North Islands' Hauraki district, a region that has produced an impressive 15Moz of gold and 60Moz of silver. Glamorgan is adjacent to OceanaGold Corporation's biggest gold mining project, Wharekirauponga.

For further information, please refer to the Company's disclosure record on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Simon Henderson CP, AUSIMM, a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and Chief Operating Officer and a director of RUA GOLD, has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure contained herein. Mr. Henderson has participated in the geochemical sampling, and mapping programs to verify that they have been conducted in accordance with standard operating procedures. Mr. Henderson has verified the data disclosed by running checks on the location, analytical, and test data underlying the information in the technical disclosure herein.

QA/QC Drill Core

Rock samples were sent to SGS Laboratories, Westport for sample preparation. Samples were crushed and pulverized to 85% passing 75 m. The pulverized rock-chips were split into two samples: a ~50 g sent for laboratory analysis, and the reject returned to RGL for pXRF analysis and storage. Pulverized rock-chip samples were analyzed for gold (Au) by 50-g fire assay with AAS finish at SGS Waihi (SGS Code FAA505); and for antimony (Sb) by Sodium Peroxide Fusion Analysis by ICP-MS at SGS Waihi.

QA/QC Soil Samples

Pre-planned soil sampling points on a 20 m x 100 m grid were loaded onto a handheld GPS for guidance. A spade was used to acquire a ~1.0 kg sample from the C horizon, which was put in a wet-strength paper sample bag with wire ties. Sample information was logged in a notebook in the field, including sample ID, depth, color, horizon, slope, sample description, sampler, basement, and comments. Each sample was photographed in the field alongside the GPS with coordinates visible and each sample site marked in the field with biodegradable flagging tape. Samples were taken back to RUA GOLD's Reefton facility for preparation. The sample information was entered on.csv files and uploaded to an SQL database.

Samples were dried in a customized incubator, set at 38C, for a minimum of two days. Once the samples were fully dried, they were sieved to <180m in size. A sub-sample of 30-50g was scooped from the <180 m size fraction for analysis. The remaining material was retained and stored in Reefton. The fine-sieved (<180m) soil sub-sample was first analyzed in RUA GOLD's Reefton facility using a Olympus Vanta pXRF analyzer; and then on to ALS Brisbane, Australia, for low-level gold analysis using Au-TL43; trace level Au by aqua regia extraction with ICP-MS finish. Detection limit 1 ppb Au.

Field duplicates were collected every 20th sample and underwent the same sample collection and preparation process outlined above. Duplicates were checked and validated by RUA GOLD's Isogonal data validation system to ensure compliance.

This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this new release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-Looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur and specifically include statements regarding: the Company's strategies, expectations, planned operations or future actions, including but not limited to exploration programs at its Reefton and Glamorgan projects and the results thereof. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements.

Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. A variety of inherent risks, uncertainties and factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control, affect the operations, performance and results of the Company and its business, and could cause actual events or results to differ materially from estimated or anticipated events or results expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Some of these risks, uncertainties and factors include: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; risks related to the effects of the Russia-Ukraine war; risks related to climate change; operational risks in exploration, delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration projects or capital expenditures; the actual results of current exploration activities; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; changes in labour costs and other costs and expenses or equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, including but not limited to environmental hazards, flooding or unfavorable operating conditions and losses, insurrection or war, delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing, and commodity prices. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements and reference should also be made to the Company's short form base shelf prospectus dated July 11, 2024, and the documents incorporated by reference therein, filed under its SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca for a description of additional risk factors.

Forward-Looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

Table 1: Location of Auld Creek drill holes from RUA 2024-2025 program

Hole ID Easting Northing rL Total

Depth Site _ID Dip Azimuth

(true) Year ACDDH022 1507212 5333199 508 108.5 Pad 10 -54 193 2024 ACDDH023 1507212 5333199 508 51.5 Pad 10 -60 85 2024 ACDDH024 1507290 5333146 539 150 Old 13 -37 220 2025 ACDDH025 1507290 5333146 539 180.9 Old 13 -54 248 2025 ACDDH026 1507290 5333146 539 200 Old 13 -59 231 2025 ACDDH027 1507290 5333146 539 193.4 Old 13 -45 212 2025 ACDDH028 1507079 5332952 607 243.5 Pad 18 -50 104 2025 ACDDH029 1507079 5332952 607 256 Pad 18 -50 120 2025 ACDDH030 1507079 5332952 607 268.5 Pad 18 -53 85 2025

Table 2: Significant drilling intercepts at Auld Creek, full mineralized zone composites (1.5g/t Au cut-off)

Sample No From To Interval Au (g/t) Sb (%) ACDDH026 175 175.9 0.9 0.96

ACDDH026 175.9 177.1 1.2 1.55

ACDDH027 152 153 1 2.52

ACDDH027 153 154 1 1.88

ACDDH027 154 155 1 3.44

ACDDH027 155 156 1 2.25

ACDDH027 156 157 1 1.84

ACDDH027 157 158 1 0.37

ACDDH027 158 159 1 0.15

ACDDH027 159 160 1 2.38 0.013% ACDDH027 160 161 1 2.39 0.802% ACDDH027 161 162 1 4.75 0.008% ACDDH027 162 163 1 2.84 0.016% ACDDH027 163 164 1 8.42 0.010% ACDDH027 164 165 1 4.7 0.010% ACDDH027 165 166 1 3.77 0.009% ACDDH027 166 167 1 15 0.178% ACDDH027 167 168 1 3.11 0.428% ACDDH028 209.5 210.15 0.65 0.92

ACDDH028 210.15 210.6 0.45 18.4 11.600% ACDDH028 210.6 211.4 0.8 8.28 4.680% ACDDH028 211.4 212 0.6 1.68



1.Using recent spot prices of gold and antimony, and applying a ~30% discount, the gold equivalent formula is based on AuEq = Au g/t + 4.3 x Sb% using a Au price of US$2065/oz, Sb price of US$34,300 per tonne and 85% recovery.

2.Please see the Company's technical report entitled, "Technical Report on Reefton Project, New Zealand", dated October 30, 2024.

3.Based on gold equivalent formula of AuEq = Au g/t + 1.9 x Sb% using a Au price of US$2025/oz, Sb price of US$15,000 per tonne and 85% recovery.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/248701

SOURCE: Rua Gold Inc.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 16, 2025) - Galleon Gold Corp. (TSXV: GGO) (FSE: 3H90) (the "Company" or "Galleon Gold") is pleased to announce it has commenced surface site preparations for advanced exploration development ("Bulk Sample") at its 100% owned West Cache Gold Project in Timmins, Ontario (the "Project" or "West Cache").

David Russell, President and CEO of Galleon Gold commented, "It is with great satisfaction that we announce the start of groundwork preparation and detailed planning for the West Cache Bulk Sample. We look forward to providing periodic updates on our progress over the next twelve to eighteen months as the next phase of exploration and development at West Cache gets underway."

First Steps Underway

The Company announces it has received a Permit to Remove Forest Resources. With this permit in hand, the Company has commenced the required timber harvesting operations to prepare the Project site for future development. The majority of the trees harvested will be used on site for construction purposes, with the balance being sold to the lumber industry. The Company awarded the tree harvest contract to Caron Equipment Ltd. of Timmins, Ontario.

The Company has contracted Knight Piesold Ltd. to complete the Issued for Construction (IFC) drawings for the construction and detailed Requests for Proposal (RFP) for the box cut, pond and water management systems, which are anticipated for release in June 2025. In addition, J.L. Richards and Associates Ltd. has been awarded the contract to complete the final detailed design and RFP for the high voltage and secondary electrical distribution lines for the West Cache Project.

Operating permit applications for Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA), which includes air, noise, waste, and industrial sewage, along with the Permit to Take Water (PTTW), which regulates the usage of surface water and the dewatering of underground mine workings, are all in the works and proceeding accordingly.

Technical Content and Qualified Person

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by West Cache Gold Project Manager Leah Page, P. Geo. (GNS #217) a "Qualified Person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About Galleon Gold

Galleon Gold is an advanced exploration and development company focused on the West Cache Gold Project in Timmins, Ontario. The West Cache Gold Project is located 7 km northeast of Pan American Silver's Timmins West Mine and 14 km southwest of Newmont's Hollinger Mine. The Company's Closure Plan for an 86,500-tonne underground bulk sample has been accepted and initial work at the Project site has begun.

For further information:

Galleon Gold

R. David Russell

Chairman and CEO

T. (416) 644-0066

info@galleongold.com

www.galleongold.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements," as defined under applicable Canadian securities laws, that reflect the current views and/or expectations of Galleon Gold with respect to its long-term strategy, proposed work, plans, bulk sample program and other reports including the PEA for its projects. Forward-looking statements are based on the then-current expectations, beliefs, assumptions, estimates and forecasts about the business and the markets in which Galleon Gold operates. Some of the statements contained herein may be forward-looking statements which involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization and resources, exploration results, expectations, plans, and objectives of Galleon Gold are forward-looking statements that involve various risks. The following are important factors that could cause Galleon Gold's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements: changes in the world-wide price of mineral commodities, general market conditions and uncertainty of access to additional capital, risks inherent in mineral exploration, delays in the receipt of government approvals, risks associated with development, construction, mining operations and third party contractor activities, risks related to unanticipated events related to health, safety and environmental matters. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events may differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Galleon Gold undertakes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/248625

SOURCE: Galleon Gold Corp.
Irvine, California and Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - April 16, 2025) - Quantum eMotion Corp. (TSXV: QNC) (OTCQB: QNCCF) (FSE: 34Q0) ("QeM" or the "Company"), a leader in quantum-powered cybersecurity solutions, is proud to announce the appointment of Farrah N. Khan as Senior Vice President of Business Development. This strategic hire further strengthens QeM's U.S. operations following the recent launch of its American subsidiary, Quantum eMotion America (QeMA), in Irvine, California.

From 2020 to 2024, Ms. Khan served as Mayor of Irvine-a city recognized as a global innovation hub with an estimated GDP ranging between $32 and $50 billion annually. During her tenure, she spearheaded initiatives that attracted substantial investments in emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, quantum communications, biotechnology, and cybersecurity. Her vision and leadership helped position Irvine as a magnet for high-impact ventures and Fortune 500 partnerships.

"Farrah Khan is a dynamic leader with a proven track record in fostering economic development and technological transformation," said Francis Bellido, CEO of Quantum eMotion. "As we enter a critical commercialization phase for our quantum-safe cybersecurity solutions, Farrah's deep expertise in government relations, corporate engagement, and innovation ecosystems will be instrumental in building strategic alliances across defense, healthcare, financial services, and infrastructure sectors-especially in light of the growing urgency surrounding Q-Day threats."

Khan's appointment comes on the heels of QeM's U.S. expansion and the recent onboarding of cybersecurity veteran John Young as Chief Operating Officer of Quantum eMotion America. Together, they form a powerhouse leadership team poised to rapidly scale QeM's presence and impact in the American cybersecurity market.

"I'm honored to join Quantum eMotion at such a transformative time," said Farrah Khan. "Quantum threats are no longer theoretical-they are imminent. QeM's quantum random number generation (QRNG) technology is a critical building block for national security, data privacy, and enterprise resilience. I look forward to helping organizations across the U.S. prepare for the quantum era by adopting next-generation cybersecurity solutions."

QeM's proprietary QRNG technology delivers true quantum randomness, forming the cryptographic foundation for quantum-resistant architectures that protect against both classical and quantum cyberattacks. With its expansion into the U.S. and a growing leadership team, Quantum eMotion is well-positioned to become a global force in quantum-secure communications.

About Quantum eMotion

The Company's mission is to address the growing demand for affordable hardware and software security for connected devices. Thanks to its patented Quantum Random Number Generator, QeM has become a pioneering force in classical and quantum cybersecurity solutions. This security solution exploits quantum mechanics' built-in unpredictability and promises to provide enhanced protection for high-value assets and critical systems.

The Company intends to target highly valued Financial Services, Healthcare, Blockchain Applications, Cloud-Based IT Security Infrastructure, Classified Government Krown Technologies and Communication Systems, Secure Device Keying (IOT, Automotive, Consumer Electronics) and Quantum Cryptography.

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.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to vary materially from targeted results. Such risks and uncertainties include those described in the Corporation's periodic reports including the annual report or in the filings made by Quantum from time to time with securities regulatory authorities.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/248716

SOURCE: Quantum eMotion Corp.
PROPOSED CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT

DID YOU ACQUIRE COMMON SHARES OF TREVALI MINING CORPORATION IN THE PRIMARY MARKET AND/OR THE SECONDARY MARKET BETWEEN OCTOBER 9, 2020 AND AUGUST 15, 2022 INCLUSIVE, AND HOLD SOME OR ALL OF SUCH COMMON SHARES AS OF THE CLOSE OF TRADING ON APRIL 14, 2022 AND/OR AUGUST 15, 2022?

THIS NOTICE MAY AFFECT YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS

VANCOUVER, BC and TORONTO, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A class action settlement has been reached in Demmer et al. v. Trevali Mining Corporation et al., SCBC S-228113. The action was certified by the Supreme Court of British Columbia.

The settlement is a compromise and is not an admission of liability or wrongdoing or fault by the Defendants. The proposed settlement is subject to court approval. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined have the same meanings as are ascribed to them in the Settlement Agreement.

The class action has been certified on behalf of all persons and entities, wherever they may reside or may be domiciled, who purchased or otherwise acquired the common shares of Trevali in the primary market and/or in the secondary market between October 9, 2020 through to August 15, 2022 inclusive, and held some or all of such common shares as of the close of trading on April 14, 2022 and/or August 15, 2022.

For the payment of $2,800,000 by the Defendants, the Class will release the Defendants from all claims. The settlement funds, after payment of Class Counsel's fees, expenses, and any honorariums to the plaintiffs, will be distributed to the class in accordance with the Distribution Protocol.

The representative plaintiffs have entered into a contingency fee agreement with class counsel providing for a maximum fee of 30%. Class Counsel will seek approval of their fees at or after the settlement approval hearing. The Court will determine the amount to be paid to Class Counsel for legal fees and disbursements.

You are automatically included in the Class, and will be bound by the Settlement if approved by the Court, unless you opt out. If you do not want to be part of the lawsuit, you must opt out of the proceeding by delivering an opt out form to Class Counsel by no later than May 20, 2025.

For members of the Class that wish to object to the Settlement, Distribution Protocol, Class Counsel Fees or the plaintiffs' honorariums, you must notify Class Counsel no later than May 20, 2025, in the manner set out in the long form notice.

Class Counsel are KND Complex Litigation. More information on the settlement (including the opt-out form and Settlement Agreement) is available at https://www.knd.law/class-actions/trevali-mining-corp/ .

This notice has been authorized by the Supreme Court of British Columbia.

Sage Nematollahi, KND Complex Litigation, trevali@knd.law

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/notice-of-proposed-settlement-and-settlement-approval-hearing-302429861.html
MANILA, Philippines, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Philippine Heart Center has reached a significant milestone by successfully performing six Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) procedures in a single day. This groundbreaking technique offers a minimally invasive alternative to open-heart surgery for patients with severe aortic stenosis, transforming lives and improving outcomes. The procedures were led by an expert heart team, including Dr. Ronaldo Estacio, Dr. Jhoanna Marcelo, and Dr. Kent Tan, who adhered to global standards to ensure safe and effective results.

Understanding Aortic Stenosis

Aortic stenosis is a serious heart valve condition characterized by narrowing and stiffening of the aortic valve, restricting blood flow from the heart to the body. This forces the heart to work harder, potentially leading to complications like heart failure. Symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, and fainting, though some patients may remain asymptomatic until the disease progresses.

The Promise of TAVI

TAVI is a revolutionary procedure that replaces the damaged valve without removing it. A catheter is inserted through an artery in the groin or chest to deliver a new valve that expands and begins functioning immediately.

Benefits of TAVI:

Minimally invasive: Avoids large incisions or sternotomy.

Faster recovery: Patients typically return home within days.

Improved quality of life: Symptoms improve rapidly post-procedure.

Commitment to Excellence

The team at the Philippine Heart Center followed rigorous international protocols for patient selection, procedural planning, and safety measures. Their adherence to global standards ensured optimal outcomes while minimizing risks such as paravalvular leaks or vascular complications. Advanced imaging techniques and newer-generation devices contributed to the success of these procedures.

Compassionate Care

Recognizing the financial barriers many patients face, the Philippine Heart Center extended support to those unable to afford this life-saving treatment. This initiative ensures that cutting-edge therapies like TAVI are accessible to all, regardless of economic status.

Raising Awareness

Aortic stenosis can be managed effectively with timely intervention. Innovations like TAVI provide safer alternatives for high-risk patients who may not be candidates for traditional surgery. By increasing awareness about symptoms and treatment options, early diagnosis can save lives.

The Philippine Heart Center's achievements set a benchmark for heart health in the region, combining medical innovation with compassionate care to transform lives.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2666205/TAVI_procedures.jpg

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2666206/Aortic_Stenosis.jpg

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/transforming-lives-with-tavi-a-milestone-in-aortic-stenosis-treatment-302430297.html
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 16, 2025) - ArcWest Exploration Inc. (TSXV: AWX) ("ArcWest") is pleased to report results from the Company's first phase drill program at its Rip copper-molybdenum (Cu-Mo) project, located in central British Columbia approximately 30 km northeast of Imperial Metals' past-producing Huckleberry mine and Surge Copper's advanced stage Ootsa and Berg projects.

First phase drill testing at Rip, funded by Copper Quest Exploration (formerly Interra Copper), has confirmed that a largely covered geophysical anomaly at the North target defines a Cu-Mo mineralized porphyry system

Zones of anomalous Cu-Mo mineralization are hosted in multiple phases of porphyritic intrusions and associated vein stockwork, with drill hole RP24-001 intersecting 24.6m of 0.13% Cu and 109ppm Mo

While most assays are only anomalous in Cu-Mo, the presence of intense quartz-sericite-pyrite alteration and strongly developed vein sets resembling D veins indicates the presence of a significant porphyry system that has only been partially tested.

The majority of geophysical targets at Rip remain untested. ArcWest looks forward to working with Copper Quest to explore these targets in 2025.

Tyler Ruks, President and CEO of ArcWest commented, "Porphyry Cu-Mo mineralization has been intersected in both holes of the initial Rip drill program. Limited drill testing this year in a largely covered area revealed that a portion of the northern target chargeability high is host to impressive porphyry style D vein-like stockwork that has potential to improve in grade down plunge and laterally. The majority of the system, including the entirety of the south target, remains untested and is highly deserving of additional exploration. We look forward to this further work as Copper Quest continues to earn-in to the project.

ArcWest remains in a strong financial position with approximately $2.73 million hard dollars in the treasury as of March. 13th, 2025, in addition to marketable securities in partner companies valued at approximately $185,000. The company has zero warrants, significant insider ownership and an exceptionally low burn rate. The company anticipates additional income in 2025 from option payments and operatorship fees. As of April 15, 2025 the company has a market capitalization of only $7.1 million.

The company is currently in discussions with potential funding partners for its additional porphyry Cu-Au projects, and is actively evaluating porphyry Cu-Au projects for potential acquisition. The company looks forward to the 2025 field season, which will include a first phase drill program on its Todd Creek copper-gold project, funded by Freeport-McMoRan."

ArcWest Exploration Inc. (TSXV: AWX) has received all assays from its two-hole, 1033 metre drill program at the Rip copper-molybdenum porphyry project in central BC, funded by Interra Copper Corp. (named changed to Copper Quest Exploration Inc., 26 Feb 2025). ArcWest's 100% owned Rip project is situated approximately 30 km northeast of Imperial Metals' past-producing Huckleberry mine and Surge Copper's advanced stage Ootsa and Berg projects.

The Rip project is interpreted as a highly underexplored porphyry Cu-Mo system that is predominantly covered by overburden. A small outcrop area contains variably altered porphyritic intrusions which cut strongly hornfelsed Hazelton Group volcano-sedimentary rocks. Porphyritic intrusions and hornfelsed country rock are both host to porphyry style stockwork, including magnetite-chalcopyrite and quartz-chalcopyrite-molybdenite veins. Historical exploration drilling on the project included shallow, predominantly percussion holes targeting a large IP anomaly; within the IP anomaly, the holes intersected predominantly QSP altered lithologies (including altered porphyritic intrusions) with anomalous Cu-Mo mineralization. Multiple holes failed to reach bedrock.

An airborne magnetic survey flown earlier in 2024 revealed for the first time two separate circular magnetic highs within the historical chargeability high, suggesting that Rip contains two porphyry centers. The southern mag high is significantly larger than the northern one but does not crop out. Following the airborne mag survey, a 3D-DCIP induced polarization and resistivity survey was completed over the Rip target in 2024. The new IP survey resolved the original 1980 chargeability anomaly into two chargeability "donuts" around the two separate magnetic highs, the classic "pyrite halo" signature of porphyry systems. This suggests potential for Rip to contain two adjacent porphyry systems.

Table 1. Summary of assay results

DDH

From

(m) To

(m) Interval

(m) Au

g/t Ag

ppm Cu

ppm Mo

ppm CuEq

% RP24-001

21.4 148 126.6 0.026 0.5 514 43.2 0.095 RP24-001 incl 21.4 94 72.6 0.035 0.7 659 63.4 0.127 RP24-001 incl 21.4 46 24.6 0.074 1.6 1285 109.0 0.247 RP24-001 and 464 532 68 0.018 0.5 665 38.1 0.102 RP24-001 incl 500 516 16 0.022 0.6 886 36.8 0.114 RP24-002

33.6 147.9 114.3 0.023 0.5 615 49.8 0.106 RP24-002 incl 33.6 106 72.4 0.029 0.6 724 63.9 0.129 Notes on Table 1: Average of assays from selected intervals with values continuously >500ppm copper equivalence (CuEq), with allowance for inclusion of single sample gaps <500ppm CuEq. These intervals are mostly not considered to be ore grade, but rather are included to illustrate the extent of the mineralizing system. Cu equivalents are calculated based on the following US$ price assumptions: copper, US$4 per pound; gold, US$2,500 per troy ounce; silver, US$30 per troy ounce; and molybdenum, US$20/kg. Recovery factors used: Cu 91.2%; Mo 85.8%; Au 73.1%; Ag 70.1%; these are averages from metallurgical tests on five porphyry deposits which represent regional analogues (Huckleberry, Poplar, Seel, Ox and Berg).

Two drill holes were completed on the North geophysical target from a single setup, both intersecting anomalous to low-grade Cu-Mo porphyry mineralization from surface, and also at depths >400m in RP24-001 (Figures 1 and 2). Mineralization in both holes is hosted in three distinct phases of porphyritic intrusions with potassic to phyllic alteration and multistage veining (e.g. magnetite-chalcopyrite; quartz-chalcopyrite-molybdenite, pyrite-chalcopyrite with sericite haloes).

RP24-001 (Figures 1 and 2) drilled eastwards towards the core of the geophysical anomaly, targeting the magnetic high within the high chargeability ring. Between upper and lower mineralized zones lies a central barren zone of strongly magnetic crowded porphyry (148-284m), major quartz pods and segregations (284-334m) and UST (369-374m). These coincide with the magnetic high and are interpreted to comprise a central magmatic cupola near the magmatic-hydrothermal transition.

RP24-002 (Figures 1 and 2) drilled westwards away from the core of the geophysical anomaly, targeting the strongest portion of the high chargeability ring. Below an upper zone of weak Cu-Mo mineralization, the lower portions of the hole intersected strong to intense sericite-pyrite alteration with D-style veins but negligible Cu-Mo. This abundant pyrite alteration explains the chargeability ring and is interpreted to be a portion of the pyrite halo of the North target.

In summary, the 2024 mag, IP and drill program successfully demonstrated that geophysical anomalies comprising the North target are the product of a multi-phase porphyry Cu-Mo system with long intervals of low-grade Cu-Mo mineralization. The North target has been partly defined as a 600m wide subvertical cylindrical mineralized zone between a magnetic barren core and a chargeable pyrite halo. The North target has only been tested by three diamond drill holes (two by ArcWest in 2024, one historical in 1975). The South geophysical target is equivalent in size and has no diamond drill testing.

Drill hole locations

Table 2: 2024 drill hole locations (NAD83 Zone 10)

DDH Easting Northing Elevation (m) Total Depth (m) Azimuth Dip RP24-001 647857 5967278 1065 533.40 75 -60 RP24-002 647857 5967278 1065 499.87 270 -60

ArcWest and Interra Copper (now Copper Quest Exploration), signed an Earn-in Agreement on ArcWest's Rip Copper-Molybdenum Porphyry Project, B.C. Details of the agreement can be found in ArcWest's news release from December 8, 2023.

More details of the Rip project can be found in the technical presentation on the ArcWest website.

Assay Methods and QA/QC

The core was logged and sampled at the nearby Huckleberry Mine by ArcWest personnel. A diamond saw was used to split HQ diameter core in half, with one-half of the core put back in the core box and the other half sampled. Samples were cut at a nominal 2m interval. One standard, one blank and one duplicate sample were added to each batch of 30 samples. Samples were shipped by Bandstra directly to the ALS Geochemistry prep lab in Terrace, BC. Final geochemical analysis was completed at the ALS Geochemistry lab in North Vancouver, BC using the methods PREP-31, ME-MS61, and Au-ICP21. Crush to 70% less than 2mm, riffle split off 250g, pulverise split to better than 85% passing 75 microns. Four acid digestion, ICP-MS finish, gold by fire assay. The standards, duplicate and blanks returned results within the expected tolerances of the method.

About ArcWest Exploration Inc.

ArcWest Exploration is a project generator focused on porphyry copper-gold exploration opportunities throughout western North America. The company is in possession of seven 100% owned copper-gold projects throughout BC's premier porphyry copper-gold districts. These include ArcWest's Todd Creek and Oweegee Dome projects, which are two of the largest and most prospective land positions for copper-gold exploration in BC's prolific Golden Triangle. Oweegee Dome neighbours Seabridge Gold's supergiant KSM-Iron Cap-Snowfield porphyry copper-gold deposit and Todd Creek adjoins Newmont's Brucejack mine property. Several ArcWest projects are currently being advanced through earn-in and joint venture agreements; this includes an agreement with mining giant Freeport-McMoRan to advance ArcWest's 100% owned Todd Creek copper-gold project. By conducting partner funded exploration on multiple exploration projects simultaneously, ArcWest's chances of discovery are enhanced while exposing shareholders to minimal dilution. The company is managed by an experienced technical team with a track record of discovery and a reputation for attracting well-funded senior partners, including Freeport-McMoRan, Robert Friedland group companies, ITOCHU, Antofagasta and Teck.

Qualified Person

ArcWest's disclosure of a technical or scientific nature in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Scott McBride, PGeo, Senior Geologist, who serves as a Qualified Person under the definition of National Instrument 43-101.

Investors are cautioned that ArcWest Exploration Inc. has not verified the data from the Huckleberry, Ootsa, or Berg deposits. Further, the presence and style of mineralization on these properties is not necessarily indicative of similar mineralization on the ArcWest Exploration Inc. property. Historical assays from drill programs on its properties have not been verified by ArcWest but have been cited from sources believed to be reliable. Assay results reported by ArcWest in this news release range from trace amounts to the values stated.

This news release contains statements about ArcWest's expectations and are forward-looking in nature. As a result, they are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. Although ArcWest believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them as actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof, and ArcWest undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, except as required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/248665

SOURCE: ArcWest Exploration Inc.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 16, 2025) - Caprock Mining Corp. (CSE: CAPR) ("Caprock" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce details of a systematic exploration and resource expansion plan for its flagship Destiny gold property ("Destiny" or the "Project" or the "Property") located near Val D'Or, Quebec, following the completion of a substantial open pit-constrained mineral resource estimate ("MRE") at the Property - see Company's press release dated March 24, 2025.

Caprock's President & CEO, Mr. Vishal Gupta, stated, "Having completed a sizeable, open pit-constrained, mineral resource of approximately one million ounces at Destiny ahead of schedule, we are now focusing our efforts towards substantially growing this initial resource over the next 12 months. The current mineral resource resides on only two kilometres out of a total six kilometres of strike over which the Despinassy shear zone is interpreted to extend on the Property. Additionally, previous exploratory drilling has returned high-grade gold mineralized intercepts at depths greater than 500 metres below the surface, demonstrating potential for underground mineable resources."

Mr. Gupta goes on to say, "Based on our technical analysis, we are compiling a list of high-priority areas within the mineralized strike that represent low-risk opportunities for significant resource expansion through our upcoming exploration program. We also plan to de-risk Destiny by conducting initial metallurgical test-work on previously drilled diamond core to develop a preliminary process flow-sheet."

Background Technical Information

Management would like to highlight certain aspects of the recently completed MRE, limitations of the drilling conducted to-date, relative location of previously identified mineralized zones, and metallurgical characteristics of the mineralization on the Property to provide a contextual understanding of the Company's upcoming exploration program. Please refer to Figures 1, 2 and 3 below for additional support of the following background information:

Previous drilling has identified numerous mineralized zones along the ~6.0 km long Despinassy shear zone on the Property, including the DAC, Gap, Darla, 20 and 21 zones;

The vast majority of the current MRE is comprised of mineralization at the DAC zone alone, since this zone experienced the highest intensity of drilling by previous operators;

Although continuity of the mineralized domains has been established for ~2.0 km covering the DAC, Gap and Darla zones, these three zones have not been connected into a single conceptual open pit due to a lack of drilling between the zones;

Significant high-grade mineralization has been identified just below the floor of the conceptual open pit that constrains the MRE - this mineralization could not be included in the MRE primarily due to insufficient drilling in this area;

The adjoining Gap and Darla zones have experienced much lower resolution and shallower drilling that extends to an average of only ~150 m depth below surface - for reference, the conceptual open pit at the DAC zone extends to just over ~300 m depth below surface;

There is a ~1.5 km gap in previous drilling between the Darla zone and zones 20-21 to the east;

Two deep holes were previously drilled below the DAC zone that intersected mineralization up to 26.6 g/t Au at depths of over 500 m below surface - although these high-grade intercepts demonstrate the potential for a significant underground resource at Destiny, these deep holes were drilled too far apart from each other (300 m apart) for them to demonstrate continuity of the high-grade mineralization; and

No metallurgical test-work has been conducted on material from the Property by previous operators to-date.

Figure 1: Map demonstrating the East-West trending mineralized strike at Destiny illustrating the relative location of the mineralized zones identified by previous exploration drilling.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8515/248668_be97dec454d538bf_001full.jpg

Figure 2: Longitudinal Section demonstrating the East-West trending mineralized strike at Destiny and illustrating the potential to expand the Project's mineral inventory through future resource definition drilling.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8515/248668_be97dec454d538bf_002full.jpg

Figure 3: Cross-section illustrating high-grade intercepts over significant widths in deeper drilling at Destiny.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8515/248668_be97dec454d538bf_003full.jpg

Resource Expansion & Exploration Program

On the basis of its comprehensive understanding of Destiny's technical background, some of which has been outlined above, the Company's management team has a high degree of confidence in its ability to materially expand the current MRE at the Property. With this objective in mind, the following three-phased resource expansion and systematic exploration program is being planned:

Phase 1: Preliminary Gap Analysis, Metallurgy & Geophysics - Q2 / Q3 2025

High-resolution geophysics to better understand the potential extent of mineralization on the Property;

Preliminary metallurgical test-work in order to develop a conceptual process flow-sheet;

Gap analysis to determine specific drill hole locations for resource expansion; and

Comprehensive program design and budget for upcoming drill program targeting resource expansion.

Phase 2: Resource Expansion Drill Program - Q4 2025 / Q1 2026

~5,000 m of drilling consisting of ~20 diamond drill holes averaging ~250 m in length, each;

Step-out drilling at Gap and Darla zones to extend mineralization beyond current ~150 m depth of drilling;

In-fill drilling at DAC to extend the MRE below the floor of the current conceptual open pit; and

In-fill drilling between DAC, Gap and Darla zones to connect all three into a single, longitudinally continuous, conceptual open pit.

Phase 3: Along-Strike, At-Depth and Regional Exploration Drill Program - Q1 / Q2 2026

A series of deep holes that will target deep-seated, high-grade mineralization with the aim of establishing a high-grade component of the MRE constrained by underground mining methods;

A series of short exploratory drill holes testing near-surface mineralization that will fill in the ~1.5 km gap between the Darla zone and Zones 20-21 to the east; and

A handful of exploratory drill holes testing near-surface mineralization at regional targets on the Property, including Targets 1 and 2 depicted in Figure 4 below.

Figure 4: Geological map illustrating extent of mineralization and location of regional targets at Destiny.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8515/248668_be97dec454d538bf_004full.jpg

Management cautions that the above 3-phased exploration program is subject to modifications and adjustments as further technical analysis is conducted on the Project.

About Caprock Mining Corp.

Caprock Mining Corp. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on exploring precious metals in Quebec and Ontario.

The Company has an option to earn a 100% interest in the Destiny gold property that comprises 127 mineral claims and encompasses an area of 5,013 hectares located less than two hours' drive from Val D'Or, Quebec. Destiny lies along a major deformation corridor in the Abitibi greenstone belt that includes the prolific Cadillac-Larder Lake, Destor-Porcupine and Casa Berardi fault zones which host numerous producing and development-stage gold deposits. The Project overlies a 6.0 km long segment of the poorly explored Despinassy shear zone which is a splay off the regional Chicobi Fault. Destiny hosts a significant, open pit-constrained, NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate published in March 2025.

Additionally, the Company holds a 100% interest in three gold exploration properties in the historical Beardmore-Geraldton Gold Belt of Ontario - a belt that has produced over four million ounces of gold historically (Reference: Beardmore-Geraldton Gold Camp - Tashota Resources), and contains the sizeable Greenstone gold project (formerly known as the Hardrock gold project) which is being brought to production by Equinox Gold (TSE:EQX) (Reference: Greenstone Gold Mines - Mining & Processing).

The scientific and technical information disclosed in this release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Vishal Gupta, the Company's President & CEO. Mr. Gupta is a P.Geo. registered with the Professional Geoscientists of Ontario (PGO) and considered a "Qualified Person" as defined under NI 43-101.

Historical drill intercepts displayed in Figure 3 have been referenced from the "NI 43-101 Technical Report And Resource Estimate Of The DAC Deposit , Destiny Property, Quebec" prepared for Alto Ventures Ltd. and Pacific Northwest Capital Corp. by Todd McCracken, P.Geo. of Wardrop a Tetra Tech Company, with an effective date of March 1, 2011.

Forward Looking Statements

All statements in this press release about anticipated future events or results constitute forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, statements with respect to: the Company's plans and expectations for the Property, the potential for underground mineable resources at the Property, the timing of the exploration on the Property and the timing of the completion of the expansion of the MRE, the potential for additional gold mineralization on the Property and the timing of the announcement of the Company's exploration plan for the Property. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. Although Caprock believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements and/or information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements since Caprock can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements, including the risks, uncertainties and other factors identified in Caprock's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. Forward-looking statements are subject to business and economic risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results of operations to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Caprock's expectations include risks associated with the business of Caprock; risks related to reliance on technical information provided by Caprock; risks related to exploration and potential development of the Company's mineral properties; business and economic conditions in the mining industry generally; fluctuations in commodity prices and currency exchange rates; uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results and the geology, continuity and grade of mineral deposits; the need for cooperation of government agencies and First Nation groups in the exploration and development of properties and the issuance of required permits; the need to obtain additional financing to develop properties and uncertainty as to the availability and terms of future financing; the possibility of delay in exploration or development programs and uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones; uncertainty as to timely availability of permits and other governmental approvals; and other risk factors as detailed from time to time and additional risks identified in Caprock's filings with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR+ in Canada (available at www.sedarplus.ca). Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and opinions of management at the date the statements are made. Caprock does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Neither Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this Release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/248668

SOURCE: Caprock Mining Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 16, 2025) - DARK STAR MINERALS INC. (CSE: BATT) (FSE: P0W) (the "Company" or "Dark Star") announces it has completed sampling program on its Ghost Lake property located in the prolific Central Mineral Belt ("CMB") in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador (the "Ghost Lake Property" or "Property").

As part of its ongoing exploration efforts, the Company successfully collected 19 rock samples and 52 lake sediment samples across the highly prospective Ghost Lake Property. These samples have been submitted to Actlabs and Eastern Analytical, both leading independent analytical laboratories, for comprehensive geochemical analysis. The results are expected in May and will provide valuable insights into the Property's mineral potential and help guide the next phase of exploration.

Marc Branson, President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of Dark Star Minerals Inc. stated, "Now that the sampling program is complete, we are looking forward to taking the next step in unlocking the full potential of the Ghost Lake Property. These samples could provide important geological data that will help us better understand the Property and guide our next steps in exploration, including identifying potential targets for follow-up exploration."

Figure 1. - Ghost Lake Uranium Project Map

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9815/248675_6dffeddd44651867_002full.jpg

A historic radiometric survey conducted across the Anna Lake and Ghost Lake B grids delivered promising results, successfully outlining multiple anomalous regions. At Anna Lake, the survey provided well-defined data, identifying two prominent radiometric trends that may represent a single, continuous prospective body.

These findings support the potential presence of a large uraniferous system, warranting further follow-up exploration to the northeast and southwest to determine its full extent. Similarly, the anomalies identified on the Ghost Lake B grid merit additional investigation in all directions to better understand the scope and significance of the radiometric signatures.

Figure 2. Ghost Lake B Zone Survey outline on Radiometric U response with structure zones and major structures

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9815/248675_6dffeddd44651867_003full.jpg

About the Property and Central Mineral Belt

Located in the prolific CMB of Labrador, the Ghost Lake Property consists of 28,575 ha of contiguous claim blocks. The Property is bound on three sides (N, W, E) by properties held by Atha Energy Corp. (the "Atha Properties") and overlaps structural trends with known deposits such as Paladin Energy Ltd.'s ("Paladin Energy") Michelin Project, Labrador Uranium Inc.'s, and the Mustang Lake and Jacques Lake deposits. The CMB is a diverse geological environment and is host to widespread uranium mineralization. The neighboring Atha Properties host a number of uranium deposits, including the Anna Lake, Moran Lake, and Mustang deposits while Paladin Energy hosts the Michelin Uranium Project.

Mineralization on the neighbouring properties is not indicative of potential mineralization on the Ghost Lake Property.

Figure 3. Ghost Lake Property Anomalies and Neighbouring Deposits

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Equity Incentive Grants

The Company would like to announce the grant of an aggregate of 5,300,000 options (each, an "Option") to purchase common shares (each, a "Share") in the capital of the Company and the award of an aggregate of 2,600,000 restricted share units (each, a "RSU") to certain directors, officers and consultants of Dark Star.

Each Option is exercisable at an exercise price of $0.05 per Share and vested immediately upon the date of grant. An aggregate of 4,100,000 Options have a two (2) year term, while the remaining 1,200,000 Options have a one (1) year term. Dark Star has received a waiver from the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") of the four (4) month exchange hold period for an aggregate of 3,000,000 Options granted to directors and officers of the Company. All other Options are subject to the four (4) month exchange hold period.

All of the RSUs vest 100% on the date this is four (4) months from the date of award. Upon vesting, each RSU represents the right to receive one Share in accordance with the Company's Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan.

The grant of the Options and award of the RSUs is subject to acceptance by the CSE.

Qualified Person

Jeremy Hanson, P. Geo., a Qualified Person as that term is defined under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"), has reviewed and approved the technical aspects of this news release.

About Dark Star Minerals Inc.

Dark Star Minerals Inc. is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition and development of critical mineral resources, specifically the rare earth complex. Dark Star has an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Ghost Lake claims located in the prolific CMB of Labrador, which consists of 28,575 ha of contiguous claim blocks, and has signed a non-binding agreement to acquire a 100% interest in in the Bleasdell Lake uranium project consisting of over 515 ha in Northern Saskatchewan, Canada.

Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/248675

SOURCE: Dark Star Minerals Inc.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 16, 2025) - ESGold Corp. (CSE: ESAU) (OTCQB: ESAUF) (FSE: Z7D) ("ESGold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the closing of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Offering"), which closed on April 11, 2025, for gross proceeds of C$3,453,940.38. The Offering consisted of 16,064,839 common shares (each, a "Common Share") and 16,064,839 common share purchase warrants (each, a "Warrant") issued at a price of C$0.215 per Unit. Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one additional Common Share at a price of C$0.30 for a period of 24 months from the date of closing.

This successful closing represents a pivotal point for the Company, as it provides the necessary capital to initiate mill circuit construction and mobilize the final phase of development at the Company's fully permitted Montauban Gold-Silver Project in Quebec. The financing supports ESGold's broader strategy to become one of Canada's next gold and silver mining producers through near-term production and long-term district-scale exploration.

Use of Proceeds

The net proceeds from the Offering will be allocated to:

Commencement of mill circuit construction and related assembly;

Final project mobilization for the Montauban Gold-Silver Project; and

General working capital requirements.

"This financing represents a major inflection point for the Company. With construction and processing circuit assembly now advancing, we are delivering on our commitment to build a scalable, profitable mining operation in one of the best jurisdictions in the world. I want to acknowledge the New York-based hedge funds who participated, as well as the loyal shareholders who have stood with us throughout the life of the company. Together, we are now making Montauban a reality," states Brad Kitchen, President of ESGold.

Management participated in the Offering, with insider subscriptions totaling 1,250,000 Units. Participants included Brad Kitchen (President and Director), Paul Mastantuono (Chief Executive Officer and Director), and Anthony Giuliano (Chief Financial Officer). Their continued support underscores strong internal confidence in ESGold's strategic direction and operational readiness. The insider participation in the Offering constitutes a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is relying on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to subsections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a), respectively, as the value of the securities to be issued to insiders does not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization.

In connection with the Offering, the Company paid finder's fees totaling C$165,628 and issued 770,361 non-transferable broker warrants, each exercisable at a price of C$0.30 for a period of 24 months.

All securities issued in connection with the Offering are subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws.

Looking Ahead

With funding now secured and production on the near-term horizon, ESGold is entering a new phase of development. The Company is fully aligned around a clear mission: to begin generating gold and silver revenues from Montauban while laying the groundwork for long-term exploration and growth. As the mill circuit moves into construction and we await subsurface imaging that has the potential to define the true scale of the mineralized system, ESGold is aggressively executing on a plan designed to create lasting value and position itself as one of Canada's next gold and silver producers.

About ESGold Corp.

ESGold Corp. (CSE: ESAU) (OTCQB: ESAUF) (FSE: Z7D) is a fully permitted, pre-production resource company at the forefront of clean mining and exploration innovation. With proven expertise in Quebec, the Company is advancing its Montauban Gold-Silver Project toward near-term production while delivering long-term value through sustainable resource recovery and strategic exploration. The Montauban Project, located 80 km west of Quebec City, combines production-readiness with untapped district-scale exploration potential.

For more information, please contact ESGold Corp. at +1-888-370-1059 or visit www.esgold.com for additional resources, including a French version of this press release, past news releases, a 3D model of the Montauban processing plant, media interviews, and opinion-editorial pieces.

Stay connected by following us on X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, and joining our Telegram channel.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements are based on assumptions and expectations that involve a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially. Forward-looking information includes statements regarding the expected use of proceeds, the development and construction timelines of the Montauban Project, future production, and anticipated project milestones. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. All forward-looking information contained in this release is qualified by these cautionary statements.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider 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/248697

SOURCE: ESGold Corp.
Ronn Inc. (OTC PINK:RONN), following its recently announced Phase One Strategic Agreement in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, today announced the execution of a Phase Two strategic investment joint venture agreement with prominent Saudi partners.

Mr. Ronn Ford, CEO of RONN Inc., stated:

"This agreement outlines a 50/50 Joint Venture structure and a 90/10 financial commitment with a highly respected Saudi infrastructure group. This milestone represents a pivotal advancement in Ronn's strategic expansion into the Middle East and strengthens our positioning as a leader in global hydrogen innovation."

Key Structure of the Joint Venture:

50/50 Equity Ownership between Ronn Inc. and its Saudi partner

90/10 Capital Commitment, with the Saudi group providing 90% of the funding for infrastructure, including office setup and early-stage manufacturing development in both the U.S. and Saudi Arabia

Initial funding to support completion of Class 3-6 hydrogen logistic truck prototypes with Roush, manufacturing tooling, and the launch of production in the U.S.

Development of a secondary plant in Saudi Arabia for the deployment of logistic vehicles across major Saudi cities

Creation of hundreds of manufacturing and R&D jobs across both the United States and Saudi Arabia

Completion of Hypercar engineering and tooling in the U.S., with final assembly and factory development in Saudi Arabia to meet regional demand

Ronn Inc. will contribute executive leadership, intellectual property, proprietary hydrogen technology, and strategic relationships with U.S. manufacturers such as Roush and Magna.

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Mr. Ford continued:

"This JV and the financial commitment arrive at a time when Saudi Arabia is accelerating its multi-trillion-dollar economic transformation, including a publicly announced $1 trillion investment initiative targeting U.S. strategic industries. World-scale hydrogen projects like the $8.4 billion NEOM Green Hydrogen Plant-the largest of its kind-are transforming the global energy landscape. With hydrogen positioned as a cornerstone of Vision 2030, this joint venture is engineered to move at the speed of Saudi ambition."

"Our partner's commitment to funding 90% of this venture, including boots-on-the-ground support from office setup to manufacturing infrastructure, represents the kind of visionary alignment we've been building toward. Vision 2030 is accelerating. This is the moment-and this is the region. This partnership will help fuel the next era of hydrogen transportation."

Engineer Fouad and his investment team bring decades of experience in infrastructure development, including leadership roles in Saudi Arabia's national high-speed rail systems, industrial city construction, and sovereign-backed innovation corridors. While the partner has requested discretion in public-facing media, their influence in the Kingdom's transformation is well-documented within institutional and government circles.

For media inquiries contact:

Ronn Ford

Ronn.ford@ronnmotorgroup.com

ABOUT RONN MOTOR GROUP

Ronn Motor Group has spent over a decade developing a complete line of luxury, high-performance hydrogen-powered vehicles. Its portfolio includes the Q-Series MystSUV (delayed), a line of Class 3-5 Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (HFCEV), and next-generation hydrogen Hypercars-expected to begin roll-out in 2026.

Ronn Motor Group's headquarters are in Scottsdale, Arizona. Its Engineering and Innovation Center is scheduled to open in Detroit in late 2025.

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Forward-Looking Statements:

This release may contain forward-looking statements relating to future events or anticipated performance. Actual results may differ materially due to various risk factors, including but not limited to changes in market conditions, regulatory environments, final deal execution, manufacturing delays, and geopolitical events. Ronn Inc. undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements publicly.

SOURCE: RONN Inc.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 16, 2025) - Sitka Gold Corp. (TSXV: SIG) ("Sitka" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has closed its previously announced "bought deal" brokered private placement and a non-brokered private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of $11,862,243. The Brokered Offering was led by Beacon Securities Limited on behalf of a syndicate of underwriters including Agentis Capital Markets Limited Partnership, Paradigm Capital Inc. and Cormark Securities Inc. (collectively, the "Underwriters"), consisting of 14,705,882 common shares that will qualify as "flow-through shares" within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "FT Shares") of the Company at a price of $0.68 per FT Share for gross proceeds of $10,000,000. The Non-Brokered Offering was comprised of 2,738,593 FT Shares issued at a price of $0.68 per FT Share for gross proceeds of $1,862,243.

The Company will use an amount equal to gross proceeds from the sale of the FT Shares 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 RC Gold Project in the Yukon Territory, Canada on or before December 31, 2026. All Qualifying Expenditures will be renounced in favour of the subscribers effective December 31, 2025.

The FT Shares issued under the Brokered Offering were issued on a private placement basis pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions ("NI 45-106"), and as such will not be subject to resale restrictions under applicable Canadian securities laws. The FT Shares issued under the Non-Brokered Offering were offered by way of the accredited investor exemptions provided under section 2.3 of NI 45-106 and are subject to a four-month hold period from the closing date of the Non-Brokered Offering under applicable Canadian securities laws.

In connection with the Brokered Offering, the Company (i) paid to the Underwriters a cash commission of $600,000; and (ii) issued to the Underwriters 882,352 compensation options (each, a "Compensation Option"). Each Compensation Option entitles the holder thereof to acquire one common share of the Company at a price of $0.68 for a period of 24 months from the closing date of the Brokered Offering. The Compensation Options will be subject to a four month hold period under applicable Canadian securities laws. No finder's fees were paid in connection with the Non-Brokered Offering.

The Brokered Offering and Non-Brokered Offering are each subject to the final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

The securities offered pursuant to the Brokered Offering and the Non-Brokered Offering have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (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.

About Sitka Gold Corp.

Sitka Gold Corp. is a well-funded mineral exploration company headquartered in Canada with over $25 million in its treasury and no debt. The Company is managed by a team of experienced industry professionals and is focused on exploring for economically viable mineral deposits with its primary emphasis on gold, silver and copper mineral properties of merit. Sitka is currently advancing its 100% owned, 431 square kilometre flagship RC Gold Project located within the Tombstone Gold Belt in the Yukon Territory. The Company is also advancing the Alpha Gold Project in Nevada and currently has drill permits for its Burro Creek Gold and Silver Project in Arizona and the Coppermine River Project in Nunavut.

*For more detailed information on the Company's properties please visit our website at www.sitkagoldcorp.com.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements

This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or "occur". This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements about the tax treatment of the FT Shares, the timing to renounce all Qualifying Expenditures in favour of the subscribers, the use of proceeds of the Brokered Offering and the Non-Brokered Offering, statements regarding discussions of future plans, estimates and forecasts and statements as to management's expectations and intentions and the Company's anticipated work programs.

These forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, that the Company will use the proceeds of the Brokered Offering and Non-Brokered Offering as anticipated; that the Company will receive all necessary approvals in respect of the Brokered Offering and Non-Brokered Offering, market uncertainty, changes to the Company's business plans and exploration targets and the results of the Company's anticipated work programs.

Forward-looking statements are based on certain material assumptions and analysis made by the Company and the opinions and estimates of management as of the date of this news release, including, among other things, that the Company will use the proceeds of the Brokered Offering and Non-Brokered Offering as anticipated; and that the Company will receive the final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange in respect of the Brokered Offering and the Non-Brokered Offering.

Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. We seek safe harbor.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/248718

SOURCE: Sitka Gold Corp.
Kiwi Ears Spark is the second-generation Open Wearable Stereo (OWS) Bluetooth earphones, featuring a fully upgraded design for better comfort, sound, and connectivity. Engineered for active lifestyles, Spark delivers a secure fit, open-ear comfort, and reliable performance wherever you go.

The Kiwi Ears Spark is built for those constantly on the move, combining high-quality audio, stable Bluetooth connectivity, and a sport-oriented, open-wearable design. Whether you're working out, commuting, or simply enjoying everyday listening, Spark offers all-day comfort, situational awareness, and clear stereo sound with enhanced durability.

Kiwi Ears Spark



With A2DP support, these earphones deliver balanced audio with deep bass, making them ideal for music lovers. AAC and SBC decoding ensure compatibility with various devices while maintaining sound clarity. For calls, ENC noise cancellation reduces background noise, allowing for clear communication even in busy environments.

The intuitive voice control and Siri integration offer seamless hands-free operation, while the charging case with an LED battery display keeps you informed of power levels. With an IP45 rating, Kiwi Ears Spark is resistant to dust, moisture, and sweat, ensuring durability for everyday use.

Combining performance, convenience, and durability, Kiwi Ears Spark is the perfect companion for those who need a reliable audio solution on the go.

General Specifications:

Chipset: QCC3040

Bluetooth Version: V5.2

Bluetooth Profiles: a2dp 1.3.2, avctp 1.4, avdtp 1.3, avrcp 1.6.2, hfp 1.8, spp 1.2, hid 1.1.1

Supported Audio Codecs: SBC, AAC, APTX

Transmission Range: 12 m

Music Playback Time: Approx. 7 hours (at 70% volume)

Talk Time: Approx. 5 hours (at max volume)

Standby Time (Earbuds): Approx. 240 hours

Earbud Battery Capacity: 60 mAh

Charging Case Battery Capacity: 1000 mAh

Microphone Specifications:

Microphone Type: 2718 Silicon Microphone

Directivity: Omnidirectional

Sensitivity (0dB = 1V/Pa at 1kHz): -38  1 dB

T.H.D. (94 dB SPL @ 1kHz, VDD = 2.2V): =0.15%

Frequency Range: 100 Hz - 10 kHz

Operating Voltage: 1.6 - 3.6 V

Current Consumption: =100 A

Signal-to-Noise Ratio (S/N): 62 dB

About Kiwi Ears

Kiwi Ears is a leading audio brand dedicated to crafting innovative, high-quality audio solutions for audiophiles, music enthusiasts, and professionals. From IEMs to headphones, Kiwi Ears combines cutting-edge technology with a passion for sound to create products that inspire and delight.

The Kiwi Ears Spark is now available at the Kiwi Ears official website and through authorized retailers worldwide. This Easter season is a great time to explore and find the right product at a better value.

For more information about the Kiwi Ears Spark, please visit:

Kiwi Ears website

Linsou website

SOURCE: LINSOUL INC
Revolutionizing Medical Packaging Development

Brentwood proudly announces the launch of its New Product Development (NPD) Lab, created to accelerate innovation and streamline packaging development. Outfitted with advanced design and manufacturing tools-including a 3D scanner, semi-automatic thermoformer, and other cutting-edge equipment-the lab enables seamless transitions from concept to prototype to production.

Brentwood Medical - New Product Development Lab

Brentwood's new space for collaborating with customers on the development of their medical packaging!

The lab, which officially opened this month, offers advanced capabilities including rapid prototyping, precise 3D scanning for accurate measurements, and production-quality sample creation all in one location. These features enable Brentwood's designers and partners to refine packaging designs quickly, accelerating time to market for products in the medical, dental, electronic, and pharmaceutical industries.

"Our NPD Lab is an intentional investment in our customer's needs," said Tim Joseph, Vice President of Medical and Custom Solutions. "We have made significant progress bolstering our design engineering experience by adding new talent with a cumulative 60+ years of thermoform design and tooling expertise. We are well positioned to partner with customers and help them grow faster."

Located at Brentwood's 621 Brentwood Drive facility in Reading, PA, adjacent to its ISO Class 7 cleanroom, the new NPD Lab reinforces Brentwood's leadership in thermoformed packaging solutions. To learn more about how Brentwood can support your packaging needs, visit our website or contact our team at medical@brentwoodindustries.com.

SOURCE: Brentwood Industries, Inc.
Allvue Systems, LLC, a leading provider of technology solutions for investment managers, today announced the launch of the Allvue Nexius Intelligent data platform, an AI-ready, cloud-native solution designed to eliminate data silos, automate workflows, and deliver real-time insights for private capital markets.

Private capital markets are increasingly data-driven, yet according to Allvue's 2025 GP Outlook report, only 6% of firms report being "very satisfied" with their current data platform. Additionally, 88% of firms flag data and reporting as being "very important." Other industry research suggests that 65% of fund managers struggle with data consolidation, and 53% of leading private capital firms cite data management as a top three technological challenge, according to CSC Global (Intertrust Group). With firms utilizing 50% more data sources than they did five years ago, as reported by S&P Global Market Intelligence, managing investment data has become more complex than ever.

At launch, seven fund administrators and 30 individual General Partners opted into the Nexius platform, representing 250 GPs total. Nexius arms firms with the platform to meet those challenges. By providing a centralized data warehouse with seamless API integrations, and modern data sharing technologies such as Snowflake Share. The platform enables simplified data sharing and enables firms to eliminate inefficiencies, automate reporting, and access real-time, self-service analytics-all while maintaining enterprise-grade data governance.

"Private capital markets run on data, but managing it shouldn't be this hard," said Ivan Latanision, Chief Product Officer at Allvue Systems. "With Nexius, firms can move beyond outdated, fragmented processes and leverage a modern, purpose-built platform that ensures data accuracy, automates complex workflows, and delivers the real-time insights firms need to scale and succeed."

Solving Data Fragmentation with an Intelligent Unified Platform

Many firms rely on disparate systems and manual processes, creating data silos that slow operations and introduce errors. Allvue Nexius seeks to eliminate these challenges by acting as a "golden source of truth", seamlessly integrating data across systems, automating workflows, and enabling faster, smarter decision-making.

"Allvue Nexius has the power to transform how funds manage data. Instead of struggling with fragmented systems and manual reporting, which slows firms down, Nexius offers a centralized platform that delivers real-time insights. The platform has the potential to save firms hours of manual work, and ensure data is accurate," said Davit Harutyunyan, Head of Product, Data. "Nexius excels at helping firms make better decisions that impact profitability faster by providing them with a better platform to streamline data usage and management."

Key Features Benefits

Eliminate Data Silos - Unify investment data, accounting, and operational data into a single, structured ecosystem.

- Unify investment data, accounting, and operational data into a single, structured ecosystem. Gain Deeper Insights, Faster Real-time portfolio analytics and self-service reporting deliver instant decision-making power.

Real-time portfolio analytics and self-service reporting deliver instant decision-making power. Automate Workflows Reduce manual workflows, automated capital call booking, investor onboarding, and deal pipeline management.

Reduce manual workflows, automated capital call booking, investor onboarding, and deal pipeline management. Enterprise-Grade Data Security Compliance Built on Snowflake technology, ensuring security, traceability, and full auditability.

Built on Snowflake technology, ensuring security, traceability, and full auditability. Seamless API Integrations Vendor-agnostic bi-directional connectivity with fund accounting, CRM, and third-party solutions.

Vendor-agnostic bi-directional connectivity with fund accounting, CRM, and third-party solutions. AI Ready Designed to prepare, manage, and deliver data in a way that's optimal for AI and machine learning models, ensuring data is clean, structured, and accessible.

Proven Impact Scalability

Unlike rigid, legacy platforms, Allvue Nexius is a turn-key solution that scales with firm growth. Whether managing private equity, private debt, or hybrid investment strategies, Nexius adapts to evolving data requirements without operational disruption. Use cases for the Nexius platform include self-service analytics for instant decision making for portfolio managers, enterprise data sharing, consolidated reporting for CFOs, and deal pipeline management. The platform also supports deal pipeline management, investor onboarding workflows, investor allocations, shadow accounting, and general and subledger use cases.

"Allvue is making a significant investment in AI-first cloud data management and analytics that meet the evolving needs of our customers," said Latanision. "We have increased our investment in our data platform by 66% year-over-year. Our trusted software solutions, coupled with deep portfolio and industry insights, empower private market participants with greater transparency, faster value realization, and smarter decision-making. Nexius is the latest in a series of innovative products driven by this effort." Nexius is now available to investment firms worldwide, visit www.allvuesystems.com for more information.

About Allvue Systems

Allvue is headquartered in Miami with locations globally throughout North America, Europe and India. Allvue is a recognized leader of cloud-based technology, data, and services solutions for alternative investment managers in the private capital markets. Our integrated suite of software empowers firms of all sizes-including private equity managers, private debt managers, public credit managers, fund administrators, and banks-to streamline operations, enhance data accuracy, and drive superior investment decisions. Allvue has made deep investments in AI research and development as part of its commitment to innovation, which will enable clients to optimize workflows, automate processes, and gain deeper analytical insights across the entire investment lifecycle.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250416062550/en/

Contacts:

Laura Sankowich

Allvue Systems

484.354.3918

lsankowich@allvuesystems.com

Michelle Wu

Allvue Systems

347.384.9775

press@allvuesystems.com

Jide Adesesan

Allvue@madebygiants.io

Made By Giants
Discovery Education presents a new collection of free, high-quality digital resources and a unique virtual event to support students' exploration of the natural world on Earth Day and beyond. Discovery Education is the creator of essential K-12 learning solutions used in classrooms around the world.

The resources in Discovery Education Experience, the essential companion for engaged K-12 classrooms, include:

Earth Day Channel: This curated collection features on-demand events, videos, images, Virtual Field Trips, and fun activities, empowering students to explore environmental issues in the classroom for students of all ages.

Fix-it: Taking Care of Earth: In this lesson, 1-2 grade students practice properly using commas while learning about taking care of Earth.

Celebrate Earth Day Holiday Lesson: Students in grades 3-5 celebrate Earth Day's history and influence, and learn about Earth's natural resources.

Celebrate Earth Day Teacher Choice Board: Use this choice board for students to explore Earth Day topics. Students in grades 6-8 can demonstrate understanding by completing one of the recommended activities.

Users of the award-winning Mystery Science by Discovery Education can access 5-minute mini-lessons in the Celebrating Earth Day collection designed to inspire K-5 students to ask questions about Earth's natural processes and diverse lifeforms.

Discovery Education also offers free resources created in collaboration with corporate partners to celebrate Earth Day. These resources include:

Video Topic Series: This 3-part video topic series, created with Trane Technologies, showcases the human imagination, ingenuity, and passion behind environmental initiatives. Accompanying classroom and at-home resources take learning even further, inspiring students to learn, explore, and innovate.

Digital Lesson Bundles: This collection of standards-aligned classroom lessons and educator guides helps students create a more resourceful world through STEM investigations. Created with Itron, these resources are designed to help foster dialogue on the importance of energy and resource utilization.

Career Videos: This collection of career videos of employees working for the planet supports educators' efforts to drive deeper student engagement by connecting classroom lessons to the real-world. This content is available from the STEM Careers Coalition, an alliance of industries and non-profit organizations, reaching 11M+ students with equitable access to STEM resources and career connections since its launch in 2019.

In addition, the Environmental Education Initiative - the first-of-its-kind effort to help students engage in environmental science - offers a new collection of resources. The new content includes a video series that introduces students to regional facts and knowledge, as well as student-driven videos showcasing authentic stories of everyday students tackling problems. Additional resources include ready-to-use lessons and student activities exploring subjects such as energy, forestry, water, and more.

Finally, elementary and middle school educators and students are invited to the Earth Day Career Connect Spotlight Event on April 25, 2025. Starting at 10 AM ET, students will have the opportunity to connect with leaders from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Mount Washington Observatory, the LEGO Group's Build the Change, Bat Conservation International, and more. During these connections, students will discover various career paths as they learn about important scientific topics, such as vulnerable species, manufacturing, and weather. This event is brought to you by Discovery Education's award-winning Career Connect feature, which is now available to all users of Discovery Education Experience. Learn more and register here.

"Discovery Education is thrilled to provide students with dynamic digital resources that encourage them to be curious about the world they live in," said Lance Rougeux, Senior Vice President of Curriculum Instruction and Student Engagement at Discovery Education. "This new collection of resources empowers educators to engage their classrooms in explorations of nature and connect what is learned in the classroom to the wider world."

For more information about Discovery Education's award-winning digital resources and professional learning solutions, visit www.discoveryeducation.com, and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through X, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

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About Discovery Education

Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art, K-12, digital solutions support learning wherever it takes place. Through award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, innovative classroom tools, and strategic alliances, Discovery Education helps educators deliver powerful learning experiences that engage all students and support higher academic achievement on a global scale. Discovery Education serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 100 countries and territories. Through partnerships with districts, states, and trusted organizations, Discovery Education empowers teachers with essential edtech solutions that inspire curiosity, build confidence, and accelerate learning. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.

Contacts

Grace Maliska

Discovery Education

Email: gmaliska@dicoveryed.com

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Discovery Education on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Discovery Education

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/discovery-education

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Discovery Education
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

Organto Foods Inc. (TSX-V:OGO)(OTC PINK:OGOFF)(FSE:OGF) ("Organto" or "the Company"), today announced that is has closed its previously announced private placement (see press releases dated March 20 and April 1, 2025) in the amount of 53,099,910 common shares at a price of C$0.10 per share (the "Private Placement Shares") for gross proceeds of C$5,309,991 (the "Private Placement"). Of the total raised the Company received C$468,000 in subscriptions in August 2024, and additional C$150,000 and US$200,000 in October 2024 (collectively the "Initial Tranches") however due to the imposition of a Failure to File Cease Trade Order ("FFCTO") by the British Columbia Securities Commission (the "BCSC") on July 16, 2024, the Company was not permitted to close a private placement at that time. The FFCTO was revoked on January 2, 2025, and the Company's shares were reinstated for trading on the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") on March 12, 2025. The Company then recommenced efforts to raise equity capital and has now raised gross proceeds of C$5,309,991, inclusive of the Initial Tranches. The Company notes that funds received by the Company under the Initial Traches have been used by the Company for its ongoing operations.

The Company has also settled outstanding debt in the aggregate amount of C$2,243,300 comprised of:

all principal amounts and interest owing on promissory notes and short-term loans in the aggregate amount of C$2,186,906; and

accounts payable owed to creditors in the aggregate amount of C$56,394,

via a shares for debt settlement through the issuance of 22,432,990 common shares at a price of C$0.10 per common share (the "Debt Settlement Shares").

In addition, the Company has completed the previously announced amendments (the "Convertible Note Amendments") to convertible notes in the aggregate principal amount of approximately C$2,543,350 plus unpaid interest, bearing interest at the rate of 10% per annum (the "Convertible Notes") (see press releases dated March 20 and April 1, 2025). The Convertible Notes had an original term of 24 months from the date of issuance and incurred interest at a rate of 10% per annum to be paid annually in arrears on the first anniversary of the date of issuance (the "First Interest Date") and the second anniversary of the date of issuance (the "Second Interest Date"), respectively and could be converted, at the holder's sole discretion, into common shares of the Company at a price of C$3.00 per share (the "Conversion Price"). In the event that the closing price of the Company's common shares equals or exceeds C$4.50 per share for a period of 10 consecutive trading days or more on the TSXV, the Company could force conversion of the Convertible Notes into common shares (the "Acceleration Price").

As a result of the Convertible Note Amendments, the terms of Convertible Notes have been amended as follows:

interest payments that were payable, as of the First Interest Date and Second Interest Date, respectively, were settled through the issuance of 1,695,568 common shares (the "Convertible Note Settlement Shares") at a price of C$0.30 per Convertible Note Settlement Share to settle interest payable on each of the First Interest Date and the Second Interest Date in the aggregate amount of C$508,670; the maturity dates of the Convertible Notes were extended by one (1) year in respect of 50% of the principal amount and by two (2) years in respect of the remaining 50% of the principal amount; the C$3.00 Conversion Price was replaced with a C$0.60 Conversion Price; and the C$4.50 Acceleration Price was replaced with a C$0.90 Acceleration Price.

Certain directors and/or officers of the Company acquired a total of:

2,570,310 common shares under the Private Placement for a total purchase price of C$257,031, representing 4.8% of the total Private Placement Shares issued;

381,023 common shares under the Debt Settlement for a total issue price of C$38,102.30, representing 1.7% of the total Debt Settlement Shares issued; and

67,966 common shares under the Convertible Note Amendments for a total issue price of C$20,389.80, representing 4.0% of the total Convertible Note Settlement Shares issued.

Each such participation is considered to be a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 ("MI 61-101") and is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 as neither the fair market value of any shares issued to, or the consideration paid by such directors and officers, exceeds 25% of the Company's market capitalization.

Finder's fees of C$255,568 were paid in respect of the Private Placement. $236,968 was paid via the issuance of 2,369,680 common shares (the "Finder's Fee Shares") at a deemed price of C$.10 per share, and $18,600 was paid in cash. The Company will use the net proceeds of the Private Placement to fund general working capital. The Private Placement Shares, Debt Settlement Shares Convertible Note Settlement Shares and Finder's Fee Shares are subject to a hold period of four months and one day from their date of issuance.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to sell any securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY,

Steve Bromley

Chair and Chief Executive Officer

For more information contact:

Investor Relations

info@organto.com

John Rathwell, Senior Vice President, Corporate Development and Investor Relations

647 629 0018

ABOUT ORGANTO

Organto is a leading provider of branded, private label, and distributed organic and non-GMO fruit and vegetable products using a strategic asset-lighter business model to serve a growing socially responsible and health-conscious consumers. Organto's business model is rooted in its commitment to sustainable business practices focused on environmental responsibility and a commitment to the communities where it operates, its people, and its shareholders.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release may include certain forward-looking information and statements, as defined by law, including without limitation, Canadian securities laws and the "safe harbor" provisions of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act ("forward-looking statements"). In particular, and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements respecting the Company's use of net proceeds from this Private Placement. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions that may prove to be incorrect, including, without limitation, the assumption that the Company will use the net proceeds from the Private Placement for general working capital purposes. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements in this news release include, among others, uncertainty regarding the outcome of negotiations with the Company's creditors; regulatory risks; risks related to market volatility and economic conditions; risks related to unforeseen delays; and risks that necessary financing will be unavailable when needed. For further information on these and other risks and uncertainties that may affect the Company's business, see the "Risks and Uncertainties" and "Forward-Looking Statements" sections of the Company's annual and interim management's discussion and analysis filings with the Canadian securities regulators, which are available under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Except as required by law, Organto does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking statements contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

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: Organto Foods, Inc.
HONG KONG and SHANGHAI, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On April 14 and 15, the inaugural World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit 2025 was held in Hong Kong. Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. ("Ping An", the "Company" or the "Group", HKEX: 2318; SSE: 601318) co-hosted a "Digital Finance" sub-forum to discuss the new landscape of digital inclusive finance with global government and business representatives. The subforum included presentations by Dangyang Chen, Chairman of OneConnect Financial Technology, a member company of Ping An, and Ambrose Wong, Chief Executive and Chief Risk Officer of PAObank Limited, a subsidiary of Lufax Holding. Richard Sheng, Board Secretary and Brand Director of Ping An engaged with government officials from China and abroad, as well as senior representatives of industry corporations, on topics such as cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) technology and digital finance development.

At the government-enterprise dialogue session, Mr. Sheng said that it is the mission and responsibility of all enterprises to construct an inclusive, efficient, and sustainable economic system, with a focus on the integration of the digital and real economies and promoting global sustainable development. Ping An has taken the lead, and has initiated comprehensive digital transformation by implementing data-driven operations, data-driven business, and data-driven management.

Data-driven operations can achieve efficiency and automated processes through machines, AI, and human assistance. Data-driven management enables the integration of users and diverse scenarios. Data-driven business means enterprises can identify customer needs through data analysis and be proactive in providing the right products and service. Ping An's team of technology professionals has built a foundation for AI large model technology. As of the end of 2024, Ping An had a first-class technology talent team of over 21,000 developers and over 3,000 scientists. It has built a three-layer large model system of general models, vertical domain models, and application models. It has created three major financial databases and five major healthcare databases, making them some of the world's largest financial and healthcare databases. As of the end of 2024, the Group had filed 55,080 patent applications, ranking first globally in patent applications in fintech and healthcare, and second globally in patent applications in generative AI.

Ping An provides digital enablement for integrated finance, health and senior care, and industry institutions. In digital finance, Ping An has an end-to-end smart system to enhance customer service experience, cybersecurity, and risk control capabilities. The AI investment and credit risk control system covers nearly 100 million enterprises and individual businesses nationwide, providing early warnings of default risks. The volume of services provided by Ping An's AI service representatives reached over 1.5 billion times, accounting for 80% of Ping An's total customer service volume. In auto insurance, Ping An developed the world's first image-based Smart Quick Claim system. The system enables loss assessment within seconds after relevant photos are uploaded, speeding up the loss assessment process by 4,000 times. In health and senior care, Ping An created a leading domestic health and senior care solution to help develop the medical and healthcare service system. Ping An Health (also known as Ping An Good Doctor) developed an AI-based medical system to support medical professionals, with medical expertise covering over 2,000 diseases, an AI-powered recommendation accuracy rate of 99% in triage - guiding patients to the appropriate medical department, and an AI-assisted diagnosis accuracy rate above 95%. In terms of AI doctors, Ping An Health has created 12 AI-driven models, improving the efficiency of the "Ping An Family Doctor" service by about 30%. Ping An's innovative AI health manager helps improve chronic disease management rates by 90%. For empowerment of financial institutions, Ping An created AI-powered smart financial service solutions to help them improve quality and efficiency. Solutions launched by OneConnect have been implemented in the retail wealth management, corporate business, and remote banking service scenarios of multiple banks.

Ping An continues to integrate technology R&D with business scenarios for innovative business development. At the "Digital Finance" sub-forum, Mr. Chen explained that OneConnect serves dozens of Ping An subsidiaries, such as Ping An P&C, Ping An Life, and Ping An Bank, providing solid technical support for their digital transformation. Externally, it empowers external enterprises with the digital technology applications, covering 100% of state-owned banks and joint-stock banks, 99% of city commercial banks, and 65% of property insurance companies, as well as 197 overseas financial institutions in 20 countries and regions. Ambrose Wong shared PAObank's experience and achievements in exploring digital applications in the Hong Kong market. Based on Ping An's leading fintech and AI risk control technology, PAObank's credit risk identification efficiency improved by 40% year-on-year (YoY), and operating costs were reduced by 25% YoY. Among the approved loans, approximately 25% of SME customers received bank loans for the first time, and 8.2% of startups received unsecured loans, both achievements in innovative inclusive financial services.

Promoting a comprehensive digitalization strategy and seizing new opportunities, Ping An will continue to advance its technology-driven "integrated finance + health and senior care" strategy. It will continue to promote comprehensive data-driven operations, data-driven management, and data-driven business. It aims to pursue high-quality business development, improve the quality and efficiency of financial businesses, and use the "worry-free, time-saving, and money-saving" value proposition to guide the development of its businesses and services. Ping An will continue to promote product upgrades and technological innovation in technology finance, green finance, inclusive finance, pension finance and digital finance. It will work with stakeholders to continue to integrate AI and digital technologies into Asia-Pacific's finance sector.

- End -

For more information, please visit www.group.pingan.com and follow us on LinkedIn - PING AN.

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Arrow Electronics recently teamed with the Colorado Rockies to champion Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver and its innovative approach to building affordable housing.

On Opening Day, Arrow and the Rockies celebrated the nonprofit by highlighting its newest local development, Mountain View Community Homes - Habitat's first affordable smart home project. Habitat is developing the community in collaboration with Arrow. The company is working with its suppliers and customers to equip each of the community's 20 homes with a bundle of smart home products designed to enhance security and safety, save energy, conserve water, improve air quality and reduce energy costs.

"We're so proud to be working with Habitat to build the first affordable smart home community in its history. The technology we are deploying in this community will improve the performance of the homes and enable residents to live more comfortably and safely," said Arrow President and CEO Sean Kerins.

Arrow employees also contributed over 700 hours building homes and training residents to use the technology. The community's first residents will begin moving into the three-and-four-bedroom duplexes in May.

A mother of five and first-time homeowner, will soon call the Mountain View community home. As part of the Opening Day festivities, Yareni and her daughter threw out the ceremonial first pitch at Coors Field to kick off the 2025 Colorado Rockies season.

"Opening Day was a great celebration of Habitat's partnership with Arrow, and our collaboration to build affordable and smart homes for families in our community," said Jaime G. Gomez, CEO of Habitat Metro Denver. "The energy and excitement of the home opener and first pitch mirrors our excitement for the 20 homeowners who will soon buy and move into their new Habitat smart homes at Mountain View."

Arrow has served as an official sponsor of the Rockies for a decade and has worked with the team to highlight organizations who have positively impacted the local community.

Habitat has helped more than 2,200 Denver-area families build and buy affordable homes over the last 46 years.

About Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver is part of a global, non-profit housing organization that seeks to build strength, stability, and self-reliance through affordable homeownership, founded on the belief that everyone needs a decent place to live. Habitat homeowners help build or repair their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage or reduced cost for repairs. To learn more, visit HabitatMetroDenver.org.??

About Arrow Electronics

Arrow Electronics (NYSE:ARW) sources and engineers technology solutions for thousands of leading manufacturers and service providers. With global 2024 sales of $28 billion, Arrow's portfolio enables technology across major industries and markets. Learn more at arrow.com.

###

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Arrow Electronics on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Arrow Electronics

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Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Arrow Electronics
Clario's Advanced AI-Powered Platform Streamlines Clinical Document Processing to Facilitate Faster Drug Development Timelines

PHILADELPHIA, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Clario, a leading provider of endpoint data solutions to the clinical trial industry, today announced a multi-year agreement with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to advance its generative AI platform. By leveraging AWS's AI and machine learning technologies, Clario is enabling healthcare and life sciences organizations to process complex documents and trial data with enhanced speed and accuracy, reducing clinical trial startup times.

"Our collaboration with AWS represents a pivotal step forward in Clario's mission to streamline operations and deliver regulatory-grade data faster," said Jay Ferro, Chief Information, Technology and Product Officer at Clario. "By harnessing the power of AI, we're not only reducing operational burdens, but also improving data accuracy and quality to help our customers achieve greater compliance, and ultimately, improved patient outcomes."

Clario has long been dedicated to investing in AI to support our customers as they adapt to the ever-evolving clinical trial landscape. This collaboration demonstrates an innovative approach that applies AWS capabilities to create a robust multi-modal data analysis pipeline. Clario's proprietary generative AI platform orchestrates multiple large language models and deep learning models using AWS infrastructure to achieve best in class results. This scalable system enables the rapid processing of clinical documents and multi-modal data, transforming vast volumes of unstructured information into actionable insights, empowering life sciences companies to accelerate innovation.

A vision for scalable innovation

Working with AWS, Clario is successfully implementing AI in life sciences. By adopting an iterative approach to model development and optimizing each phase of analysis, Clario is delivering a scalable solution tailored to the unique challenges of clinical trials.

"AI, and specifically generative AI, is a game changer for our industry," said Marko Topalovic, Chief AI Officer at Clario. "Our commitment to using cutting-edge technology like AWS's comprehensive suite of services, combined with strategic, future focused approach to redefine clinical trial conduct, allows us to experiment, refine, and deploy solutions that meet the evolving needs of our clients while maintaining the highest standards of quality and compliance."

"We're excited to work with Clario to support the advancement of clinical trial data management using generative AI to analyze endpoint data across imaging, cardiac safety, eCOA, and respiratory assessments," said Allyson Fryhoff, Managing Director of Healthcare & Life Sciences at AWS. "Their work underscores the huge opportunity that advanced technologies bring to drug development by transforming unstructured data into insights that help sponsors get effective therapies to patients faster than ever before."

To discover more about this collaboration, visit this AWS Architecture Blog co-authored by Clario's Director of AI, Alex Boudreau, and AWS's Principal Solutions Architect, John O'Donnell.

About Clario

Clario is a leading provider of endpoint data solutions to the clinical trials industry, generating high-quality clinical evidence for life sciences companies. We offer comprehensive evidence generation solutions that combine medical imaging, eCOA, precision motion, cardiac solutions and respiratory endpoints.

For more than 50 years, Clario has delivered deep scientific expertise and broad endpoint technologies to help transform lives around the world. Our endpoint data solutions have supported over 26,000 clinical trials in more than 100 countries. Our global team of science, technology, and operational experts have supported over 60% of all FDA drug approvals since 2012.

For more information, visit Clario.com or follow on LinkedIn .

Media Contact:

media@clario.com

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DELRAY BEACH, Fla., April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The US Precision Farming market is expected to reach USD 3.42 billion by 2031, up from USD 1.92 billion in 2023, at a CAGR of 7.5% from 2023 to 2031 according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets." The US precision farming market has been experiencing consistent growth over the past few years on the back of improved productivity needs, shortage of manpower, and increasing focus on cost reduction and environmental conservation. The market is supported by the presence of large and well-established players like AGCO Corporation, Deere & Company, Caterpillar, and Ag Leader Technologies that keep developing advanced products based on agriculture technologies.

View detailed Table of Content here - https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/precision-farming-market-1243.html

The increasing usage of sensor technologies, software platforms, and automation tools is driving market expansion as US farmers adopt digital approaches to better manage crops and resources. Additionally, organizations such as the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) and the American Society of Agronomy (ASA) encourage the development of precision agriculture practices. Overall, the US precision farming market is likely to grow further, increasing its position in the global agricultural sector.

Guidance technology segment to dominate the technology segment of the market during the forecast period.

Guidance technology is a key aspect of the US precision farming market, enabling for precise navigation of farm equipment to improve efficiency and reduce waste. GPS/GNSS guidance devices help farmers maximize planting, fertilization, and pesticide treatment to ensure precise coverage and eliminate overlap. The technology enables farmers to monitor soil condition, crop health, and production patterns in real time, allowing them to make more accurate decisions. By combining guidance systems with auto-steering and variable rate application technologies, farmers can become more operationally effective, less labor-dependent, and environmentally friendly. The US market is witnessing an ever-growing demand for precision farming solutions as large-scale operations aim at optimizing productivity and cost-cutting. With continuous innovations in geospatial technologies, guidance-enabled precision farming is set to further enhance the US market, leading to greater yields and effective farm management in diversified agricultural fields.

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Weather tracking and forecasting segment to register the highest CAGR in the market during the forecast period.

Weather tracking and forecasting constitute an essential application segment of the US precision farming industry, spurred by the increasing demand for real-time data-driven decision-making in agriculture. The segment uses cutting-edge technologies like weather stations, satellite imagery, sensors, and predictive analytics software to track major environmental parameters, such as temperature, humidity, precipitation, and solar radiation. These solutions enable farmers to optimize planting plans, irrigation cycles, and pest management strategies for higher crop yields and better resource utilization. Simple equipment like soil moisture sensors, UV sensors, and handheld weather probes are being integrated into precision farm systems to aid in proper weather analysis at the field. With unstable weather patterns impacting farm yields, farmers in the US are increasingly turning to these systems as a strategy to counter risk, diminish crop loss, and safeguard agricultural operations. Thus, the market for weather tracking and forecasting is expected to witness the fastest growth rate in the US precision farming market, to make it a strong player in enabling sustainable and resilient farm practice across the country.

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Key Players

The report profiles key players US precision farming companies in such as include Deere & Company (US), Trimble Inc. (US), AGCO Corporation (US), Raven Industries, Inc. (US), AgJunction LLC (US), AG Leader Technology (US), AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc (US), Topcon (US), TeeJet Technologies (US), and Climate LLC (US). These players have adopted various organic and inorganic growth strategies such as product launches, agreements, partnerships, acquisitions, and collaborations to strengthen their position in the market.

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Browse Adjacent Market: Semiconductor and Electronics Market Research Reports &Consulting

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. With the widest lens on emerging technologies, we are proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients across the globe.

Today, 80% of Fortune 2000 companies rely on MarketsandMarkets, and 90 of the top 100 companies in each sector trust us to accelerate their revenue growth. With a global clientele of over 13,000 organizations, we help businesses thrive in a disruptive ecosystem.

The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion in new revenue streams that are replacing existing ones within this decade. 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 collaborate with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies to keep them future-ready. Our insights and strategies are powered by industry experts, cutting-edge AI, and our Market Intelligence Cloud, KnowledgeStore, which integrates research and provides ecosystem-wide visibility into revenue shifts.

In addition, MarketsandMarkets SalesIQ enables sales teams to identify high-priority accounts and uncover hidden opportunities, helping them build more pipeline and win more deals with precision.

To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

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Paul Holmes, Lord Evans of Sealand, WCFA President Maxim Behar, Mary Beth West, Catherine Blades and many others spoke of what they called it "Global communications event of the year"

DAVOS, Switzerland, April 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The World Communications Forum Association (WCFA) successfully concluded the Davos Communications Summit & Awards 2025, held on April 10-11 at the Davos Congress Centre in Davos, Switzerland. The two-day event gathered nearly 100 senior communication professionals, CEOs, policy advisors, and academics from over 20 countries across Europe, Africa, Asia, and North America.

The program featured a diverse range of speakers addressing critical topics such as AI integration, trust in public institutions, values-driven leadership, and the evolving role of PR in politics and business. Keynote speeches were delivered by Paul Holmes, founder of PRovoke Media, Lord Evans of Sealand, former General Secretary of the UK Labour Party, and Mary Beth West, a senior strategist and communications ethicist.

WCFA President Maxim Behar summed it up perfectly: "This event didn't just reflect where the communications industry is today, but also where we're heading. From digital transformation to future trends and AI, we've just seen the beginning of what will define the next decade. We're already looking ahead to the next edition of Davos Communications Summit in April 2026, where more brilliant minds will come together to explore the future and how we can shape, lead, and master the digital landscape."

Paul Holmes emphasized that public relations are no longer just about crafting messages or managing media - it's about helping organizations see what's coming and prepare for it. That means developing new skills: understanding global issues, advising leaders during difficult moments, and helping companies protect their reputations in a world that moves fast. He warned that tools like AI might make everyday tasks easier but could also weaken critical thinking - something PR professionals can't afford to lose.

Lord Evans of Sealand, current senior advisor to the Progressive Policy Institute and House of Lords member, focused on how influence is built through the alignment of values and identity. Referencing the "funnel of causality," he argued that decisions - whether political or corporate - are shaped by a wide range of factors, from cultural conditions and social loyalty to personal beliefs. He stressed that communicators must engage people where their values live, not just where campaigns are visible.

The summit tackled some of the most urgent challenges facing the communications profession today - particularly the tension between narrative control and ethical responsibility in a polarized world. Mary Beth West offered a compelling reflection on the dangers of narrowing public discourse. She emphasized that protecting ideological diversity is essential to maintaining trust, warning against the growing tendency to label dissent as misinformation.

The event also featured six panel discussions, led by industry experts Stuart Bruce (Purposeful Relations, UK), Mike Southon (The Beermat Entrepreneur, UK), Guntram Kaiser (KaiserCommunication GmbH, Germany), Catherine Hernandez-Blades, Independent Board Director, and Tatevik Simonian (SPRING PR, Amrenia), with over 30 speakers exploring topics such as AI, political messaging, crisis communication, digital marketing, and culturally tailored PR strategies. Day one included contributions from Sanjiv Winayak (Milk & Honey PR, UK), Kateryna Doroshevska (BECOME PR, Ukraine), Sophie Reymond (SRPR, Switzerland), Diego Biasi (BPRESS, Italy), Iryna Zolotarevych (Advisor to the Minister of Social Policy, Ukraine), Melissa Buch (Brandbuch, Switzerland), and Lima Alhawamdeh (AIWIZ Digital Marketing, UK).

On day two, panelists such as Laura Baxter (Castle Mount Media, Germany), Mihael Cigler (MC Public Affairs, Slovenia), Veronique Haller (furrerhugi, Switzerland), Rodrigue Soffo (RS Intelligence & Lobbying, Cameroon), Katja Fasink (key7 Communications, Slovenia), Syed Bukhari (American University of Sharjah, UAE), Andre Williams (University of Louisiana at Lafayette, USA), and Barbel Hestert-Vecoli (Edelman, Germany) offered insight on political and crisis communications. The final panel focused on regional adaptation strategies with Thabisile Phumo (Sibanye-Stillwater, South Africa), Chetna Krishna (CERN, Switzerland), Viroslava Novosylna (Slova Tech PR, Ukraine), Lebo Madiba (PR Powerhouse, South Africa), and Kobi H. Osisiadan-Bekoe (Ghana-India Kofi Annan Center of Excellence, Ghana).

The event also welcomed WCFA Controller Mina Nazari, who serves as Public Relations Manager at Tabriz Power Distribution Company (Iran).

On the evening of April 10, the summit hosted the first in-person Davos Communications Awards Gala, recognizing excellence across 24 categories in strategic communications. A complete list of winners is available here: davosawards.com. In a historic first, Lord Evans of Sealand and Paul Holmes were inducted into the WCFA Hall of Fame, recognizing their contributions to the global communications industry. The United PR Association of Ukraine, led by Sergii Bidenko, was also honoured for its outstanding work in wartime conditions.

The Davos Communications Summit & Awards 2025 is in cooperation with the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) and is proudly supported by The PREthics Community as the gold sponsor and Brain 4 Strategy as the silver sponsor. The official media partner is PR Newswire, part of Cision Group Ltd.

For further information, images, or access to speakers and award winners, please contact: mainoffice@wcfaglobal.com.

About World Communications Forum:

Founded in 2010 in Davos, Switzerland, the World Communications Forum Association is a premier global platform for networking, knowledge exchange, and industry development, focused on upgrading its members' expertise and to be an active voice in business, society and politics. WCFA's flagship event, the World Communications Forum, has been hosted in major cities worldwide, including Istanbul, Prague, Moscow, New York City, Kuala Lumpur, Mumbai, Mexico City, Lusaka, Cape Town, and Geneva. In 2020, the association launched the Global Communications Summit on Zoom, bringing together over 450 global experts to establish the Tenets for Ethical Communications, endorsed by 135 industry leaders from 36 countries.

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For more information, contact:

Maxim Behar, WCFA President

mainoffice@wcfaglobal.com

+359 888 50 31 13

www.wcfaglobal.com

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GOTHENBURG, Sweden, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The shareholders of Minesto AB (publ), reg. no. 556719-4914, ("Minesto" or the "Company") are hereby given notice to attend the Annual General Meeting on Thursday 22 May 2025 at 10.00 a.m. at Hotel Riverton, Stora Badhusgatan 26 in Gothenburg. Registration for the general meeting begins at 9.30 a.m.

Exercise of voting rights at the general meeting

Shareholders who wish to participate at the Annual General Meeting must:

be entered in the share register kept by Euroclear Sweden AB as per Wednesday 14 May 2025, and, if the shares are nominee-registered, request that the nominee register the voting rights no later than Friday 16 May 2025, and

have notified their intention to participate at the Annual General Meeting to the Company in accordance with the instructions under the heading "Registration of personal participation or participation by proxy", in such time that the notification is received by the Company no later than Friday 16 May 2025.

Registration for participation in person or participation by proxy

Shareholders wishing to attend the Annual General Meeting in person or by proxy shall notify the Company no later than Friday 16 May 2025 either:

by e-mail to ir@minesto.com, or

by post to Minesto AB, J A Wettergrens Gata 14, 421 30 Vastra Frolunda, Sweden (mark the envelope "Annual General Meeting 2025").

The notification must state the name or company name, personal identification number or corporate registration number, address, telephone number as well as, where applicable, the number of assistants (maximum two).

Anyone who does not wish to attend in person may exercise their right at the Annual General Meeting by proxy with a written, signed, and dated power of attorney. If the power of attorney has been issued by a legal entity, a copy of certificate of registration or equivalent document of authorisation for the legal entity must be attached.

To facilitate access to the Annual General Meeting powers of attorney, certificates of registration and other authorisation documents should be received by the Company at the address Minesto AB, J A Wettergrens Gata 14, 421 30 Vastra Frolunda, Sweden (mark the envelope "Annual General Meeting 2025") well in advance of the Annual General Meeting and preferably no later than Friday 16 May 2025.

Please note that the notification of participation at the Annual General Meeting shall take place even if a shareholder wishes to exercise its rights at the Annual General Meeting by proxy. Submission of power of attorney will not constitute a valid notification to the Annual General Meeting.

A proxy form will be available on the Company's website, www.minesto.com.

Nominee registered shares

To be entitled to participate at the Annual General Meeting, shareholders who have caused their shares to be registered with a nominee must request that they be temporarily registered in their own name in the shareholders' register maintained by Euroclear Sweden AB. The shareholder should provide notice to the nominee thereof in due time so that entry in the share register has taken place on Friday 16 May 2025.

Business

Proposed agenda:

Opening of the general meeting; Election of chairperson of the general meeting; Preparation and approval of the voting register; Election of one or two persons to verify the minutes; Determination of whether the general meeting has been duly convened; Approval of the agenda; Presentation by the CEO; Presentation of the annual report and the auditor's report for the company and the group; Resolutions regarding: adoption of the income statement and balance sheet for the company and the group; allocation of the company's results according to the adopted balance sheet; discharge from liability for the directors and the CEO; Jonas Millqvist (chairperson of the Board of Directors); Bengt Adolfsson (director); Goran Linder (director); Joel Lybert (director); Git Sturesjo Adolfsson (director); Martin Edlund (director, CEO); Andreas Gunnarsson (deputy director); Resolution regarding determination of the number of directors and deputy directors; Resolution regarding determination of the fees payable to the directors and the auditors; Election of the Board of Directors;

Proposal of the Nomination Committee: Martin Edlund (director - re-election); Goran Linder (director - re-election); Joel Lybert (director - re-election); Jonas Millqvist (director - re-election); Git Sturesjo Adolfsson (director - re-election); Andreas Gunnarsson (deputy director - re-election); Election of chairperson of the Board of Directors; Election of auditor; Resolution regarding determination of principles for the Nomination Committee; Resolution regarding guidelines for compensation to senior executives; Resolution on change of terms regarding warrants of series 2021:1 associated with LTI 2021; Resolution regarding performance-based incentive program for management and employees (LTI 2025); Resolution on delivery and hedging measures for LTI 2025: Directed issue of warrants of series 2025:1; Transfer of the warrants to participants in LTI 2025; Transfer of warrants to cover costs for LTI 2025 and authorisation to enter into swap agreements; Resolution regarding authorization of the Board of Directors to issue shares and/or warrants and/or convertibles; Resolution regarding adjustment authorization; Closing of the meeting.

Nomination Committee

In accordance with the principles adopted by last year's Annual General Meeting, the Nomination Committee is composed of three directors, whereof two directors are appointed by the Company's largest shareholder as per 30 September 2024, and one director who has been convening. The Nomination Committee appoints a chairperson from amongst its members

The Nomination Committee has consisted of Git Sturesjo Adolfsson (appointed by BGA Invest AB), Goran Linder (appointed by Corespring New Technology AB) and Jonas Millqvist (appointed director of the Board of Directors). The chairperson of the Nomination Committee has been Git Sturesjo Adolfsson.

The Nomination Committee's proposal for resolutions

2. Election of chairperson of the general meeting

The Nomination Committee proposes attorney Eric Ehrencrona or, in the event of an impediment, the person appointed by the Nomination Committee to be elected as the chairperson of the general meeting.

10. Resolution regarding determination of the number of directors and deputy directors

The Nomination Committee proposes that the number of directors for the period until the next Annual General Meeting is five and that one deputy director shall be appointed.

11. Resolution regarding determination of the fees payable to the directors and the auditors

The Nomination Committee proposes that the fee per director elected shall be distributed as follows (the same price base amount level as last year): annual fee of four price base amounts to the chairman of the Board of Directors and annual fee of two price base amounts to directors not employed by the Company. The price-base amount per 2025 shall be applied upon resolution under this item.

If the meeting resolves according to the Nomination Committee's proposal as regards the composition of the Board of Directors, the total fee will amount to ten (ten) price base amounts.

It is proposed that no fee shall be paid to the board of director's remuneration committee and auditors committee respectively since these are made up of members of the board of directors.

It is proposed that fees be paid to the auditor according to invoice approved by the Company.

12. Election of the Board of Directors

The Nomination Committee proposes re-election of the Board members Martin Edlund, Goran Linder, Joel Lybert, Jonas Millqvist and Git Sturesjo Adolfsson. The Nomination Committee further proposes re-election of the deputy Board member Andreas Gunnarsson.

The proposed composition of the Company's Board of Directors fulfils the rules of the Corporate Governance Code regarding independence. All members other than Martin Edlund are independent in relation to the Company and its management. Jonas Millqvist, Martin Edlund and Joel Lybert are independent in relation to the Company's major shareholders.

13. Election of chairperson of the Board of Directors

The Nomination Committee proposes the re-election of Jonas Millqvist as Chairman of the Board.

14. Election of auditor

The auditing firm Grant Thornton Sweden AB ("Grant Thornton") is proposed to be re-elected as auditor for the period until the end of the next Annual General Meeting. Grant Thornton has announced that if Grant Thornton is appointed as auditor, Victor Cukierman will continue as principal auditor.

15. Resolution regarding determination of principles for the Nomination Committee

It is proposed that the Company shall have a nominations committee consisting of three persons in accordance with last year's principles according to the following.

Each of the Company's two largest shareholders in terms of voting power as of 30 September 2025 shall each have the right to appoint a member of the nomination committee. In addition, the nomination committee shall consist of the chairman of the Board of Directors who shall convene the first meeting. The nominations committee appoints the chairman of the committee.

The nomination committee shall submit proposals to the 2026 Annual General Meeting for: a) election of chairman of the Annual General Meeting, b) resolution regarding number of board members, c) resolution regarding compensation to the chairman of the Board of Directors and each of the other directors d) election of board members, e) election of chairman of the board, f) resolution regarding remuneration to auditor, g) election of auditor, h) resolution regarding principles for appointing the nomination committee and i) resolution regarding principles for the nomination committee.

If any of the two members of the nomination committee appointed by the two largest shareholders by voting power resign from the nomination committee prior to completion of its work, the shareholder appointing the resigning member shall have the right to appoint a new member. In case any of the two largest shareholders by voting power sells all, not only a portion, of its shares in the Company prior to the nomination committee completing its work, instead of such shareholder the third largest shareholder shall have the right to appoint a new member etc.

Fees shall not be paid to members of the nomination committee. Upon request of the nomination committee, the Company shall, however, provide personnel resources to facilitate the work of the nomination committee, such as, for example, a secretary. If necessary, the Company shall also pay for other reasonable costs necessary for the work of the nomination committee.

Proposed resolutions by the Board of Directors

9.(b) Resolution on allocation of the company's results according to the adopted balance sheet

The Board of Directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting resolves that the Company's results be allocated according to the Board of Directors' proposal in the annual report. The Board of Directors accordingly proposes that no dividend be paid for the financial year 2024.

16. Resolution regarding guidelines for compensation to senior executives

The Board of Directors proposes the following guidelines for compensation to senior executives, which correspond to the guidelines that was adopted by the Annual General Meeting 2024.

Compensation to senior management

Senior executives in the Company refer to the CEO and other members of the management group. The remuneration committee, which consists of the Board of Directors excluding the CEO, prepares the issue of adoption of guidelines for compensation and other terms of employment for senior executives, and proposes them to the board of directors

The Board of Directors proposes the following guidelines for the determination of salaries and other compensation to senior management. For the purpose of ensuring that the Company is able to recruit and retain qualified senior executives, the fundamental principle is that the senior executives must be offered employment terms and compensation on market terms.

Salaries and other benefits: Compensation to the senior executives shall be comprised of a fixed salary and pension. The fixed salaries are normally reviewed on a calendar year basis. In addition to fixed salary, a variable salary may be implemented under the pre-requisite that the variable part never exceeds 25 percent of the yearly salary. In addition, senior management shall be entitled to customary non-monetary benefits such as, company cars and occupational healthcare. Other benefits may also be offered on an individual basis.

Pension: Senior executives shall be offered pension terms that include a defined plan for provisions with premiums based on the entire basic salary. The pension provisions are individual and shall be in relation to the basic salary.

Notice of termination period and severance pay: The notice period shall be a maximum of six months, if the Company gives the notice and a maximum of six months if the notice is given on the initiative of the senior executive. In the event of termination by the Company, severance pay may, in addition be paid in an amount corresponding to a maximum of six-monthly salaries.

Incentive program: Resolution regarding share and share price-related incentive programs directed to senior executives shall be made by the Annual General Meeting.

Remuneration Committee: The remuneration committee, i.e., the board excluding the CEO, shall prepare issues regarding compensation principles, compensation, and other terms of employment for senior executives. The more detailed principles for salary setting, pensions and other benefits shall be found in the salary policy established by the Remuneration Committee regarding senior executives.

Deviations in individual cases: The Board of Directors shall be entitled to deviate from these guidelines where there is special cause for such an individual case.

Compensation to Board of Directors

Compensation to the Board of Directors is determined by the Annual General Meeting based on proposals from the nomination committee. However, the Board of Directors is entitled, in specific cases, to commission an individual director to perform consultancy services on behalf of the Company within their respective areas of competence. Directors elected by the Annual General Meeting shall, in these specific cases, be eligible to receive fees for services, which do not constitute board work. With respect to the services, a fee on market terms will be payable, which must be approved by the Board of Directors. This shall also be applicable if the work is carried out through a company wholly or partially owned by a board member.

17. Resolution on change of terms regarding warrants of series 2021:1 associated with LTI 2021

The board of directors of the Company proposes that the terms and conditions for the warrants of series 2021:1 (associated with LTI 2021), which were issued at the Annual General Meeting on 2 June 2021, shall be adjusted as follows.

The current terms and conditions for the warrants mean that the warrants shall be granted rights to subscribe for shares in the Company from the time the warrants are registered with the Swedish Companies Registration Office up to and including 31 July 2025. This is proposed to be adjusted so that the last day for subscription shall instead fall on 31 December 2025. A consequence of such change of terms is that the Company, within the framework of LTI, thereby can allot the warrants of series 2021:1 to the participants in LTI 2021 during an extended period. The Board of Directors is proposed to be authorised to enter into a supplemental agreement with the participants in LTI 2021 regulating the now extended allotment period.

The commercial and legal terms of the LTI 2021 are otherwise proposed to remain unchanged.

18. Resolution regarding performance-based incentive program for management and employees (LTI 2025)

The Board of Directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting resolves on the implementation of a performance-based long-term incentive program for certain senior executives and key persons in the Company ("LTI 2025") as described below. Should the Annual General Meeting resolves on LTI 2025, the Board of Directors of Minesto (the "Board") intends to provide information about target levels and the outcome of LTI 2025, no later than at the 2029 Annual General Meeting.

Summary and motive

The program comprises a maximum of 60 employees in the Company (the "Participants"). The Board may also, if the Board deems it to be in the Company's interest, offer one or more newly hired employees (or, where applicable, a current employee who is not initially offered participation in LTI 2025) to participate in LTI 2025 in accordance with the terms and conditions described herein. After a qualifying period of four years the participants will be allotted warrants in the Company without any consideration, provided that certain qualifying terms and conditions are fulfilled (the "Performance Share Right"). In order for these so-called Performance Share Rights to entitle the Participant to an allotment, the Participant must have chosen to retain his/her assignment in the Company under the current Qualifying Period (as defined below). In order for allotment to occur, it is further required that certain performance targets based on established milestones are achieved by the Company. The volume of allotted Performance Share Rights is further based on the annual development of the Company's share price in relation to the index on the exchange where the Company's shares are listed.

The maximum number of Performance Share Rights that can be allotted in accordance with LTI 2025 shall be limited to 4 017 487 (corresponding to the same number of shares in the Company). In addition to these Performance Share Rights, it is proposed than an additional

1 262 294 warrants be issued to cover the Company's costs through the hedging measures proposed below. This means that LTI 2025, in the event of a maximum outcome, entails that the Participants receive Performance Share Rights corresponding to shares represented approximately 1,91 percent of all shares and votes in the Company and that the program in its entirety (including issue of cost-covering warrants) may entail a maximum dilution of approximately 2,50 percent.

The motives for the Board's proposal of LTI 2025 are to reinforce the Company's ability to retain existing workforce and recruit key personnel to the Company. The proposal has also been developed with the aim of spreading and increasing shareholding among the Participants and ensuring a common focus on long-term and sustainable growth for the Company, which would ensure that the shareholders' and Participants' interests are further consolidated. Through a performance-based incentive program, the Participants' compensation can be linked in a relevant way to the Company's future development and growth.

In order to enable the implementation of LTI 2025 in a cost-effective manner, the Board's proposal for LTI 2025 is conditional on that the Annual General Meeting also resolves on the delivery and hedging methods proposed under item 19 a) - c) in the agenda.

Performance Share Right

The Performance Share Rights mean that Participants in the program are entitled to acquire one warrant in the Company for each Performance Share Right with a right for its holder to acquire one share in the Company at a price corresponding to the quota value of the share at the time the shares are subscribed (currently SEK 0.05), provided that the qualifying terms and conditions stated below are fulfilled. The Performance Share Rights are allotted with no payment of consideration.

Terms of Participation

LTI 2025 comprises a maximum of 60 employees and additional employees in the Company, who the Board resolves to offer participation in the program. The Participants are divided into four categories as follows:

Category 1: One participant - the CEO Category 2: Eight participants - Management team Category 3: Nine participants - Key competences Category 4: Forty-two participants - Employees

The number of Performance Share Rights that a Participant may be granted depends on the category of the Participant.

Category 1: 1 004 372 Performance Share Rights Category 2: Up to 350 000 Performance Share Rights per Participant (the total number of Performance Share Rights that can be granted to all the Participants in Category 2 may never exceed 1 406 123) Category 3: Up to 175 000 Performance Share Rights per Participant (the total number of Performance Share Rights that can be granted to all the Participants in Category 3 may never exceed 803 496) Category 4: Up to 30 000 Performance Share Rights per Participant (the total number of Performance Share Rights that can be granted to all the Participants in Category 4 may never exceed 803 496)

Conditions for qualifying

In order for Participants to be able to exercise their Performance Share Rights and receive an allotment, the following qualifying conditions must be fulfilled:

Maintained assignment

To be granted Performance Share Rights, the Participant must, during each of the relevant Qualifying Periods (defined below) have retained their employment or assignment in the Minesto Group. This requirement shall, however, not be applied if the Participant's employment or assignment within the Minesto Group has been terminated due to disability, death, retirement or that the Company has sold the subsidiary where the Participant is employed.

In the event the Company terminates Participants' employment in the Minesto Group prior to a qualifying date, previously earned Performance Share Rights may be exercised at regular time for exercise as described below, but no further earning shall take place. If the Participants' employment is terminated due to dismissal by the employer or termination by the employer and objective grounds for dismissal for personal reasons, all the earned Performance Share Rights shall, however, expire.

In order to exercise the maximum number of Performance Share Rights under LTI 2025 it is thus required that the Participant is employed within the Minesto-Group up to and including 1 January 2029 (the "Qualifying Period").

The Performance Share Rights are gradually earned over approximately four years, corresponding to four periods until 1 January 2029 (each such period is a "Qualifying Period"). The Performance Share Rights are earned according to the allotment below at the end of each Qualifying Period, provided that the Participant is still employed on that day. In addition to these qualifying conditions, the Performance Share Rights are subject to performance-based earnings based on the development of Minesto's share price, in accordance with the conditions for performance-based qualifying below.

Close of Qualifying Period 1 (1 January 2026) - 1/4 of allotted Performance Share Rights

Close of Qualifying Period 2 (1 January 2027) - 1/4 of allotted Performance Share Rights

Close of Qualifying Period 3 (1 January 2028) - 1/4 of allotted Performance Share Rights

Close of Qualifying Period 4 (1 January 2029) - 1/4 of allotted Performance Share Rights

Performance and index weighing

In addition to the above conditions for qualifying, the Performance Share Rights are subject to performance-based earning based on the extent the Company achieves certain milestones set by the Board for respective Qualifying Period ("Performance Targets"). The Performance Targets relate to the tangible and objective ascertainable targets for long-term and sustainable growth in the Company, which have been prepared and set by the Board in consultation with management. The Performance Targets can be achieved in whole or in part (0-100 percent).

In addition to fulfilling the Performance Targets, the annual outcome of LTI 2025 depends on the annual development of Minesto's share price (the "Company Development") in relation to average annual share price development for all companies whose shares are listed for trading on the stock exchange where Minesto's shares, at any given time, are listed ("General Development"). The principle can be exemplified as follows:

Qualifying Period 1 - The Participant's fulfilment rate of the Performance Targets amounts to 80 percent. The Company's Development amounts to plus 7 percent compared with that the General Development amounts to plus 10 percent. The Company's Development constitutes 97.27 percent (107/110) percent of the General Development. This means that 77.82 (97.27*0,80) percent of 1/4 of the Performance Share Rights shall be allotted to the Participants for this period.

Qualifying Period 4 - The Participant's fulfilment rate of the Performance Targets amounts to 90 percent. The Company's Development amounts to minus three percent compared with that the General Development amounts to minus 8 percent. The Company's Development constitutes 105.43 percent (97/92) percent of the General Development. This means that 94.89 (105.43*0.9) percent of 1/4 of the Performance Share Rights shall be allotted to the Participants for this period.

Other conditions for Performance Share Right

The following conditions otherwise apply for the Performance Share Rights:

Participants shall not have the right to transfer, pledge or sell the Performance Share Rights or to exercise any shareholder rights regarding the Performance Share Rights during the Qualifying Period.

The earliest time at which earned Performance Share Rights may be exercised is the day after the 2029 Annual General Meeting.

The Company will not compensate the Participants for any dividends in the Company.

The Performance Share Rights may be allotted by the Company and by other companies within the Minesto Group.

In the event of a public takeover bid, sale of the Company's operations, liquidation, merger or other similar transaction that affects Minesto all Performance Share Rights for the current Qualifying Period shall be earned in connection with such transaction being completed against any remaining Qualifying Periods maturing and no additional Performance Share Rights can be earned.

Maximum quantity

The maximum number of Performance Share Rights that can be issued in accordance with LTI 2025 is 4 017 487, which corresponds to approximately 1,91 percent of the outstanding shares and votes in the Company.

The number of shares included in LTI 2025 shall, in accordance with the detailed terms and conditions resolved by the Board, be subject to recalculation due to the Company carrying out a bonus issue, consolidation or division of shares, rights issue or similar measures, taking into consideration customary practice for corresponding incentive programs. It must be possible for recalculation to take place so that extraordinary dividend is taken into account.

Structure and administration

The Board is responsible for the detailed structure and administration of LTI 2025, as well as the detailed terms and conditions that shall apply between the Company and the Participant in the program, within the framework for the terms and conditions and guidelines set out herein. In connection therewith, the Board shall have the right to determine deviating terms and conditions for the program regarding, among other things, the Qualifying Period under certain conditions. The Board shall also have the right to make adjustments to fulfil special rules or market conditions.

In certain cases, the Board shall have the right to reduce final allotment of shares or, wholly or partially, terminate LTI 2025 prematurely without compensation to the Participants if there are significant changes in the Company or the market.

Delivery and cost-hedging measures

To secure the Company's undertakings as a result of the Performance Share Rights the Board proposes that the Company shall issue and resolve to transfer warrants to the Participants (in accordance with items 19 a) and b) on the agenda). It is further proposed that the Board shall have the right, if necessary to hedge certain costs, to enter into so-called swap agreements with a third party (e.g. a shareholder or a financial institute, in accordance with items 19 a) and c) on the agenda).

Costs for LTI 2025 and impact on important key ratios

As a result of the proposed delivery and cost-hedging measures (item 19 a) - c) on the agenda) the Company's liquidity will only be affected by administrative costs and VAT that arise in relation to LTI 2025. Delivery and cost-hedging measures thus ensure that the potential salary costs that the program may entail will be covered by the additional 1 262 294 warrants that the Board proposes to be issued.

There are no additional costs for the Company or its shareholders, except for the fact that the program at maximum outcome means that the Participants receive Performance Share Rights corresponding to shares representing approximately 1,91 percent of all shares and votes in the Company and that the program in its entirety (including issue of cost covering warrants) can entail a maximum dilution of approximately 2,50 percent.

The Board has the right to reduce the number of Performance Share Rights that the Participants can exercise if, for example, the expected taxation of LTI 2025 deviates from the actual taxation and leads to increased costs for the Company. However, such costs are secured, as stated above, by the measure proposed in item 19 c) below.

Overall, the Board assesses that the positive earnings effects that may finally arise through LTI 2025 will outweigh the costs related to LTI 2025.

Dilution effect

The total number of warrants issued to enable delivery and secure costs is 1 262 294. Upon full exercise of the warrants the number of shares in the Company will increase by 1 262 294. These shares constitute 0.59 percent of the number of shares and votes after full dilution, calculated as the number of additional shares in relation to the total of current and additional shares in the Company.

Preparation of the proposal

LTI 2025 has been prepared by the Company's Board of Directors in consultation with external advisors. The Board has subsequently resolved to present this proposal to the Annual General Meeting. Except the salaried employees who prepared the matter in accordance with the instruction from the Company's Board, no employee who may be included in the program participated in the preparation of terms and conditions.

Other long-term incentive programs

The Company currently has one ongoing performance-based and long-term incentive programme for employees (LTI 2021), which was resolved on at the Annual General Meeting on 2 June 2021. LTI 2021 covers a maximum of 64 employees in the Company. The maximum number of performance share rights that can be granted under LTI 2021 is limited to 943 207 (corresponding to the same number of shares in the Company). The so-called performance share rights entail that participants in the programme are entitled to receive one warrant in the Company for each performance share right free of charge with a right for its holder to subscribe for one share in the Company at a price corresponding to the quota value of the share at the time the shares are subscribed for (currently SEK 0.05) provided that the vesting conditions are fulfilled. After the vesting period, the participants will be allotted warrants in the Company free of charge provided that certain vesting conditions are fulfilled. In order for the performance share rights to entitle the participants to allotment, it is required that the participants have chosen to maintain their employment in the Company during the current vesting period until 1 January 2025. The performance share rights have vested gradually over approximately four years, corresponding to four periods until 1 January 2025.

In addition to the maximum 943 207 warrants that can be allotted to the participants in LTI 2021, the AGM also resolved to issue an additional 377 043 warrants of series 2021:1. These additional warrants shall be available for use to cover the Company's cash-impacting costs for LTI 2021.

Based on the maximum theoretical outcome of LTI 2021, a total of 1 320 250 warrants of series 2021:1 may be exercised, corresponding to a dilution of approximately 0,63 percent calculated based on the number of shares in the Company as of the date of the notice.

The Board's proposal for resolution

With reference to the above-mentioned description, the Board proposes that the Annual General Meeting resolves on the implementation of LTI 2025.

Majority requirement

The Board's proposal for resolution regarding the implementation of LTI 2025 is conditioned on the Annual General Meeting approval of the Board's proposal under item 19 a) - c) on the agenda. The Board therefore proposes that the Annual General Meeting resolves regarding item 18 and 19 a) -c) jointly and that a resolution shall only be valid if it is supported by shareholders representing at least nine tenths of both the votes cast and the shares represented at the general meeting.

19. Decision on delivery and hedging measures for LTI 2025

(a) Directed issue of warrants, series 2025:1

The Board of Directors proposes that the Meeting resolves on a directed issue of 5 279 782 warrants of series 2025:1 with the right to subscribe for new shares in the Company, mainly in accordance with the proposal below.

The warrants are issued without consideration. Each warrant shall entitle the holder to subscribe for one new share in the Company, thus the share capital, upon full exercise of the warrants, will increase by a maximum of SEK 263 989,10.

The right to subscribe for warrants shall, with deviation from the shareholders' preferential rights, be granted to the Company's wholly owned subsidiary Minesto Warrants One AB

Oversubscription is not possible.

Subscription of the warrants shall be made via a separate subscription list no later than 5 June 2025. The Board shall be entitled to extend the subscription period.

The warrants shall provide the opportunity to subscribe for shares from the time the warrants are registered with the Swedish Companies Registration Office until 31 July 2029.

The subscription price for the shares subscribed for by virtue of the warrants shall correspond to the quota value of the share at the time the shares are subscribed for.

The shares subscribed for by virtue of the warrants shall entitle the holder to dividends for the first time on the first record date for dividends that occurs after the subscription of shares through the exercise of the warrants has been executed..

The number of shares that can be subscribed for each warrant may be recalculated in accordance with customary recalculation principles due to, among other things, a bonus issue, reverse share split or share split, rights issue or similar measures.

The reasons for deviating from the shareholders' preferential rights are that the company wishes to implement LTI 2025.

The full terms and conditions of the warrants of series 2025:1, including recalculation terms, are set out in the special terms and conditions that will be made available in accordance with what is stated below under "Other".

(b) Transfer of the warrants to participants in LTI 2025

The Board of Directors proposes that the meeting resolves to approve that the Company, on one or more occasions, may transfer the warrants of series 2025:1 to the participants in LTI 2025 in accordance with the terms and conditions of LTI 2025.

(c) Transfer of warrants to cover costs for LTI 2025 and authorisation to enter into swap agreements

The Board of Directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting resolves to approve that the Company, on one or more occasions, transfers warrants of series 2025:1 to a third party to cover costs for LTI 2025. This can be achieved, for example, by the Company entering into a swap agreement with a third party.

Specific authorisation

The board of directors proposes that the board of directors or the person appointed by the board of directors shall be authorised to make such minor adjustments to the above-mentioned proposed resolution as may be required in connection with the registration of the resolution with the Swedish Companies Registration Office or due to other formal requirements.

Majority requirements and conditions for resolutions

The Board's proposal under item 19 a) - c) is conditional upon the Annual General Meeting approving the Board's proposal on LTI 2025 under item 18 on the agenda. The Board of Directors therefore proposes that the Annual General Meeting resolves on items 18 and 19 a) - c) together and that the resolution shall only be valid if supported by shareholders representing at least nine tenths of both the votes cast and the shares represented at the meeting.

20. Resolution regarding authorization of the Board of Directors to issue shares and/or warrants and/or convertibles

The Board of Directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting authorizes the Board of Directors to resolve, on one or several occasions, on issue of shares and/or warrants and/or convertibles during the time until the next Annual General Meeting for payment in cash and/or with terms regarding set-off or issue in kind or otherwise with terms and thereby deviate from the preferential right of the shareholders.

The number of shares that may be issued and the number of shares that may be subscribed for with the support of option rights to subscribe for new shares and the number of shares to which convertibles shall entitle subscription shall amount to a maximum of 22 879 000 new shares, corresponding to a dilution of approximately ten percent.

The purpose of the authorisation and the reasons for any deviation from the shareholders' preferential rights is to enable issues to be made for the financing of the Company's operations, commercialisation and development of the Company's products and markets and/or acquisitions of businesses, companies or parts of companies, and/or to enable a broadening of the shareholder base in the Company.

If the Board of Directors consider it appropriate to enable delivery of shares in connection with an issue as described above, the issue can be made at a subscription price corresponding to the share's quota value.

The approval by the Annual General Meeting of this proposal in accordance with the above is valid only if supported by shareholders representing at least two-thirds (2/3) of both the votes cast and the votes represented at the meeting.

21. Resolution regarding adjustment authorization

The Board of Directors, the Managing Director or any other person appointed by the Board of Directors shall be authorised to make such minor adjustments to the resolutions adopted by the General Meeting as may prove necessary for their registration.

Number of shares and votes

As of the date of the notice, the total number of shares and votes in the Company amounts to 205 911 488.

Other

The notice, accounting documents, auditor's report and other documents to be considered at the meeting as well as form of power of attorney will be available at the Company's offices at J A Wettergrens Gata 14 in Vastra Frolunda, Sweden, and on the Company's website, www.minesto.com, no later than three weeks prior to the meeting. The documents will also be sent free of charge to shareholders who so request and who provide their e-mail or postal address. The share register will be available at the Company's office at the above address.

Shareholders are reminded of their right to request information from the Board of Directors and the CEO at the Annual General Meeting in accordance with Chapter 7, Section 32 of the Swedish Companies Act.

Processing of personal data

Personal data obtained from the share register maintained by Euroclear Sweden AB, notification of and attendance at the meeting and information about proxies, representatives and assistants will be used for registration, preparation of the voting list for the meeting and, where applicable, minutes of the meeting. Personal data is processed in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2016/697 of the European Parliament and of the Council). For full information on how personal data is processed, please refer to the privacy policy available on Euroclear's website, www.euroclear.com/Integritetspolicy-bolagsstammor-svenska.pdf.

Gothenburg in April 2025

Minesto AB

The Board of Directors

The English version of the notice is an uncertified translation and in the event of any inconsistency between the English notice and the Swedish notice, the Swedish text shall prevail.

For additional information, please contact

Cecilia Sernhage, Chief Communications Officer

+46 735 23 71 58

ir@minesto.com

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The second stop was the Tlaxcala plant, where a remarkable achievement was celebrated: two decades without a lost-time accident. Team members were recognized for working tirelessly to foster a strong safety culture. Covia's leadership truly values this achievement, as it is a significant reflection of the dedication, responsibility and commitment to health and safety of every employee at the plant.

70th Anniversary of Operations at Covia's Jaltipan Plant

The last stop was Covia's Jaltipan plant, which celebrated its 70th anniversary, a significant milestone for the plant. The event brought employees together, fostering a sense of community and shared history. During the celebration, a powerful message was delivered, emphasizing that this achievement is the culmination of the collective dedication of generations of team members who have shaped who we are today. The tour not only honored 70 years of history but also celebrated the employees who contribute to the company's future every day.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Covia on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Covia

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/covia

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Covia
DELRAY BEACH, Fla., April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The US Edge Computing Market is expected to reach USD 43.59 billion in 2029 from USD 24.17 billion in 2024, at a CAGR of 12.5% during the forecast period, according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets.

The edge computing market in the US is expanding as organizations seek faster data processing, lower latency, and enhanced security. Industries such as telecommunications, healthcare, and manufacturing deploy edge solutions to support real-time analytics, IoT applications, and AI workloads. The growing adoption of 5G, cloud-edge integration, and autonomous systems drives demand, enabling businesses to process data closer to the source and reduce reliance on centralized data centers.

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The hardware segment accounted for the largest share by component segment in the US Edge Computing Market in 2024.

The hardware segment held the largest share of the US Edge Computing Market in 2024, driven by increasing demand for high-performance edge devices, servers, and networking equipment. The rapid expansion of IoT, 5G networks, and AI-driven applications has fueled investments in edge infrastructure, enabling businesses to process data closer to the source and reduce latency.

For instance, major cloud providers such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud have expanded their edge hardware offerings with specialized servers and edge nodes for low-latency computing, such as AWS Outposts and Azure Stack Edge, which bring cloud capabilities closer to end users.

Government initiatives, such as the CHIPS and Science Act, signed in 2022, support domestic semiconductor manufacturing and innovation, fostering the development of edge AI chips that enable real-time processing, reduce latency, and enhance data privacy in the edge computing space. Companies across sectors, including retail, energy, and transportation, are investing in edge hardware to reduce reliance on centralized cloud processing, enhance security, and improve operational efficiency.

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The data management segment accounted for the largest share by software segment in the US Edge Computing Market in 2024.

In the US Edge Computing Market, the data management software segment holds the largest share in 2024, driven by the growing need for efficient data processing, storage, and security at the edge. Businesses are adopting data management solutions to handle real-time analytics, optimize bandwidth usage, and ensure data integrity across distributed edge environments.

For instance, industries such as healthcare and finance rely on edge data management to process sensitive information locally, reducing latency and ensuring compliance with regulations like HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and GLBA (Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act), which mandate data security privacy, and controlled access to sensitive records.

The IoT & sensor data utilization segment by application is expected to grow at the highest rate during the forecast period.

The IoT and sensor data utilization segment in the US Edge Computing Market is expected to grow at the highest CAGR, driven by the increasing deployment of connected devices, smart infrastructure, and real-time analytics. Businesses across industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, and transportation, are leveraging edge computing to process vast amounts of IoT-generated data locally, reducing latency and enhancing operational efficiency.

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Rising adoption of industrial IoT (IIoT), such as GE's(US) Predix platform, which integrates with edge computing to enable real-time equipment monitoring and predictive maintenance, is accelerating demand for IoT and sensor data utilization solutions.

Top Key Companies in US Edge Computing Market:

Key players in the US Edge Computing Market are IBM (US), HPE (US), Microsoft (US), Dell Technologies (US), Google (US), AWS (US), Cisco (US), NVIDIA (US), Intel (US), Huawei (China), VMware (US), Nokia (Finland), Fastly (US), ADLINK Technology (Taiwan), Juniper Networks (US), Oracle (US), Semtech (US), Moxa (US), Belden (US), GE Digital (US), Digi International (US), Litmus Automation (US), StackPath (US), ClearBlade (US), Vapor IO (US), and SixSq (Switzerland).

Browse Adjacent Markets: Cloud Computing Market Research Reports & Consulting

Related Reports:

Cloud FinOps Market - Global Forecast to 2029

Cloud AI Market - Global Forecast to 2029

Serverless Computing Market - Global Forecast to 2029

Visual Cloud Market - Global Forecast to 2029

Cloud ITSM Market - Global Forecast to 2029

About MarketsandMarkets

MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of America's Best Management Consulting Firms by Forbes, as per their recent report.

MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. With the widest lens on emerging technologies, we are proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients across the globe.

Today, 80% of Fortune 2000 companies rely on MarketsandMarkets, and 90 of the top 100 companies in each sector trust us to accelerate their revenue growth. With a global clientele of over 13,000 organizations, we help businesses thrive in a disruptive ecosystem.

The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion in new revenue streams that are replacing existing ones within this decade. 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 collaborate with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies to keep them future-ready. Our insights and strategies are powered by industry experts, cutting-edge AI, and our Market Intelligence Cloud, KnowledgeStore, which integrates research and provides ecosystem-wide visibility into revenue shifts.

In addition, MarketsandMarkets SalesIQ enables sales teams to identify high-priority accounts and uncover hidden opportunities, helping them build more pipeline and win more deals with precision.

To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter , LinkedIn and Facebook .

Contact:

Mr. Rohan Salgarkar

MarketsandMarkets INC.

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Traditional recruiting does not always enable people who are neurodiverse to demonstrate strengths and qualifications. That's because while many people with neurological conditions such as autism spectrum disorder and dyslexia have extraordinary skills, many struggle to feel comfortable in a company's hiring process.

Benefits of neurodiversity

Research shows there are business benefits to hiring employees with autism. People on the spectrum often demonstrate exceptional trustworthiness, sharp abilities to remember, reliability, adherence to rules and attention to detail.

They are also often good at coding, a skill that is in high demand at Rockwell and in many talent markets. Strong coding skills include "pattern recognition," "strong attention to detail" and a "very direct" communication style. People with autism have special gifts when it comes to thinking outside the box and can be extremely creative.

Rockwell's focus on neurodiversity

Rockwell partnered with CAI Neurodiverse Solutions, a neurodiversity employment program that brings neurodivergent people into the workforce.

Program participants begin as contractors at Rockwell. Two employees hired on full time through this program commented on its strengths and unique approach:

"I am surprised at how good I feel working here," said Alice Ruel, a senior technician in Rockwell's Mequon, Wisconsin manufacturing facility. "It is comforting to know my talents and skills are in full use here."

"I am very proud to work with such a renowned company assisting in the development of technology that drives industry and improves lives across the globe," added Craig Benedict, a senior technician also in Mequon.

"An important part of our culture is to empower every one of us-and our unique talents-because inclusive thinking drives both our engagement and innovation," said Gabe Kinzer, team lead at the Rockwell Mequon facility. "Through this program, applicants engage in an extended interview process that focuses on workability, team projects, and skills assessment. This approach relieves candidates of the time pressures and anxiety of having only one chance to impress."

Our neurodiversity hiring pilot program has had 100% success in the retention rate of new employees hired through this partnership.

Craig Benedict (left) and Alice Ruel (right) are senior technicians who joined Rockwell through its neurodiversity hiring pilot program.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Rockwell Automation on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Rockwell Automation

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/rockwell-automation

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Rockwell Automation
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 16, 2025) - BELGRAVIA HARTFORD CAPITAL INC. (CSE: BLGV) (OTC Pink: BLGVF) (FSE: ECA) ("Company" or "Belgravia"), its wholly-owned subsidiary, NodeVest IO Inc. ("NodeVest") and Parallel Logic Corporation ("PLC") are all pleased to provide a corporate update on the funding and sale of seed round tokens ("Seed Round Tokens") through the launch of Ethpar tokens ("Ethpar Tokens") on the Ethpar Blockchain ("Ethpar Blockchain").

Ethpar Token Sale

Dr. Victor Cook, the CTO of NodeVest and Founder of the Ethpar Blockchain, stated: "Today PLC can announce that its initial funding of the Ethpar Blockchain has raised a total of US$725,000 to PLC. This amount is inclusive of capital raised by PLC following Ethpar's official launch of its Seed Round followed by the immediate sale of 1,250,000 Ethpar Seed Round Tokens by PLC at US$0.10 for US$125,000 to finance the build-out and expansion of the Ethpar Blockchain as well as general working capital for PLC. There are currently 8,750,000 Ethpar Tokens currently available for strategic partners. As early interest remains strong the Seed Round remains open for a limited time as discussions continue with select investors. The 1,250,000 Seed Round Tokens sold were placed to U.S. and Canadian accredited investors on a first-come-first-served basis and no finder's fee or commission was payable by PLC to any related or third parties."

Dr. Cook continued: "Following the full sale of all Seed Round Tokens we plan to rollout Ethpar Tokens on a decentralized exchange ("DEX"), currently anticipated for July, 2025, which will immediately allow for liquidity and free-tradability of Ethpar Tokens."

Dr. Cook further stated: "Although the overall crypto market remains volatile, demand for projects with good fundamentals has allowed us to team with discerning early angel investors, which include some of Canada's most well-known and seasoned crypto investors and digital asset funds, providing us impressive third-party validation of the Ethpar Blockchain."

The partnership between Belgravia and PLC continues to be managed by NodeVest where more details about the Ethpar Blockchain and our partnership may be found.

NodeVest & Potential Spin-Out Update

Mehdi Azodi, CEO of the Company, discussed NodeVest and Ethpar: "Belgravia and PLC are working towards a fully integrated partnership in the buildout of the Ethpar Blockchain and the sale of Ethpar Tokens as we approach an anticipated launch date on a DEX in July of this year. We are excited to join with Dr. Cook now to participate fully in the potential future increase in value of Ethpar Tokens."

Mr. Azodi went on to comment about the future of NodeVest: "From its creation as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Belgravia, NodeVest has been focused on bespoke crypto investments largely unavailable to the wider retail community. Our expectation being progress towards a potential spinout of NodeVest as a separate listed-issuer ("Potential Spinout")."

Additionally, the Potential Spinout is intended to effect a reorganization of the Company's current business into two separate corporate entities. This would allow Belgravia to continue to operate as a Canadian Securities Exchange listed Investment Issuer focused on the tech and finance sectors of the worldwide economy, while NodeVest continues to operate in the wider blockchain and digital currency community. Shareholders are cautioned that there is no certainty that the Potential Spinout will be completed on the terms currently proposed or at all.

A Special Committee comprised of certain Officers, Directors and Advisory Board members has been created to study the process and timeline of the Potential Spinout. Currently this Special Committee is comprised of: Andy Le (CFO); Ava Tahmasebi (Director); and Robert De Jaray (Advisor). As well, Belgravia has retained Dentons Canada LLP to advise and manage this process.

SUI Coin Holdings in NodeVest

As announced by the Company on December 19, 2024 and January 20, 2025, the Company has purchased SUI cryptocurrency tokens as follows:

Purchase 1: 18,936.07134698 at US$5.2532

Purchase 2: 3736.70960314 at US$4.6032

Purchase 3: 7,849.17632983 at US$2.1732

To date, Belgravia has made three investments totaling US$133,735.49 and will increase or decrease its positions based on market conditions.

In addition, the Company and its crypto advisors are pursuing new and evolving scenarios related to SUI, including potential opportunities resulting from the launch of the Canary SUI ETF announced by SUI and Canary Capital on April 8, 2025.

*******************************

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the "United States" or to "U.S. persons" (as such terms are defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration requirements is available.

Neither CSE nor its Regulation Services accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

About Belgravia Hartford

Belgravia Hartford Capital Inc. is an investment issuer, listed for trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange, focused on the tech and finance sectors of the worldwide economy. The Company's focus, as set out in its 2018 Investment Policy, specifies cryptocurrencies, artificial intelligence, media and digital streaming opportunities. Belgravia invests in a portfolio of private and public companies located in jurisdictions governed by the rule of law. It takes a multi-sector investment approach with emphasis in the resources and commodities sector. Belgravia and its investments are considered high risk holdings and it may expose shareholders to significant volatility and losses.

For more information, please visit www.belgraviahartford.com and https://nodevest.io/

Neither CSE nor its Regulation Services accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements that use forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "potential" or the negative thereof or other variations thereof or comparable terminology. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the structure of the Investment, anticipated risk mitigation strategies, Dr. Cook's planned appearance on TraderTV, and other statements that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company, including, but not limited to, changes in market trends, the completion, results and timing of research undertaken by the Company, risks associated with resource assets, the impact of general economic conditions, commodity prices, industry conditions, dependence upon regulatory, environmental, and governmental approvals, and the uncertainty of obtaining additional financing. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/248725

SOURCE: Belgravia Hartford Capital Inc
Strengthening a Doctor-Led Network Rooted in Clinical Excellence and Shared Values

Phase 1 Equity, a doctor-owned, doctor-led, and doctor-governed platform for orthodontists and pediatric dentists, is excited to welcome a leading multi-site provider of orthodontics practice in Texas to its growing network.

Known for delivering exceptional care through advanced technology - including 3D imaging, an in-house lab, and a wide range of treatment options - the practice brings with it a strong culture of innovation, trust, and patient-first values.

"This partnership reflects exactly why we built Phase 1 Equity," said Mike Rice, CEO of Phase 1 Equity. "We're creating a network where like-minded doctors can retain full clinical control, continue to build on what they've already created, and access the resources they need to grow - without giving up any ownership of their practice. With this new addition, we're now twelve locations strong, and still guided by the same principles: autonomy, collaboration, and a shared commitment to doing what's best for our patients."

Dr. Bryan Williams, DDS, MSD, a Phase 1 Equity founder and board member, added, "We are excited to welcome our newest practice and doctor to the Phase 1 Equity family. The doctor and their teams are well known in their communities for providing innovative, effective treatments and an outstanding patient experience, and all of us at Phase 1 Equity look forward to collaborating, sharing best practices, and supporting their excellent work."

About Phase 1 Equity

Phase 1 Equity is a doctor-owned platform created specifically for orthodontists and pediatric dentists. Our distinctive Doctor Equity model successfully combines private practice with private equity, allowing doctors to retain complete control over clinical and practice decision-making, while benefitting from the collective power of a nationwide network of like-minded practitioners. Doctors have access to decades of expertise and resources that optimize practice operations, reduce costs, enhance profitability, and maximize practice value. Unlike a sale to a traditional DSO, Phase 1 Equity's partnership approach works with doctors to build substantial practice value and increase EBITDA before a sale to private equity. This ensures doctors receive a significantly larger share of the financial rewards in a future sale, compared to a traditional DSO model.

We're not a traditional DSO. We're a community of doctors building something meaningful - together.

Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Visit www.Phase1Equity.com or contact info@phase1equity.com to learn more.

SOURCE: Phase 1 Equity
Deceptively genuine voices generated by artificial intelligence pose a significant security risk, from fraud to identity theft to fake calls imitating people in distress. With the increasing use of synthetic voices, such as for chatbots, it is becoming more difficult to distinguish fake voice content from real.

KOBIL, a leading provider of digital identity and mobile security solutions, is working with the Technical University of Darmstadt to improve the detection of such voice deepfakes.

The System Security Lab at TU Darmstadt has developed an innovative AI-based method called VoiceRadar for detecting voice deepfakes. As part of the collaboration, KOBIL will integrate VoiceRadar into its Secure SuperApp platform. The goal is to strengthen the trustworthiness of voice content and ensure comprehensive cybersecurity through AI.

Through the KOBIL Venture Studio in Silicon Valley, a customised version of VoiceRadar will also be made available to prospective founders via the Secure SuperApp platform. This will optimise identity verification and reliably detect deepfake voices in real time. Users will benefit from an advanced layer of protection against identity fraud and social engineering attacks based on AI-powered voice manipulation.

"We live in a time where you can no longer trust everything you see or hear-even if it appears real. In the wrong hands, deepfake technologies can cause immense economic, human and social damage."

- Ismet Koyun, CEO and Founder of KOBIL Group

VoiceRadar further enhances the security and authenticity of all business transactions on the SuperApp platform, providing a trusted environment where communication, transactions, and authentication are protected from manipulation, including voice deepfakes.

"Our research shows that conventional detection systems have reached their limits. With VoiceRadar, we are taking a new approach to reliably distinguish AI-generated voices from real ones. The cooperation with KOBIL makes it possible to put this technology into practice and create real added value for companies and consumers,"

- Prof. Ahmad-Reza Sadeghi, TU Darmstadt

About KOBIL Group

Founded in 1986 by Ismet Koyun, KOBIL is a global leader in digital identity and mobile security solutions. KOBIL develops technologies for application protection, user authentication, and transaction authorization. It is the only company that enables seamless identity and security management across all platforms and communication channels.

More than 1,000 organizations-including Microsoft, VISA, Mastercard, Dropbox, Airbus, and Siemens-use KOBIL's solutions. The company is headquartered in Worms, Germany, with offices in San Diego and San Jose (USA), Zurich (Switzerland), Istanbul (Turkey), and London (UK).

www.kobil.com

About the Systems Security Lab at TU Darmstadt

The Systems Security Lab at Technische Universitat Darmstadt is one of the world's leading IT security research institutes. The team focuses on AI security and developed VoiceRadar using deep learning algorithms to analyze acoustic patterns and frequency deviations. By combining radar system modeling with machine learning, AI-generated voices can be distinguished more reliably than ever.

The research received the Distinguished Paper Award at the NDSS Symposium 2025.

Award-winning paper

About KOBIL Ventures

KOBIL Ventures is a venture capital firm based in San Jose, California, backed by KOBIL Capital, a Swiss family office in Zurich managing over $6 billion in assets.

www.kobilventures.com

Press Contact

Direnc Koyun

Direnc.Koyun@kobil.com

 KOBIL GmbH. All trademarks are the property of their respective holders

SOURCE: KOBIL
BANGALORE, India, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- CVD Graphene Market is Segmented by Type (Single Layer Graphene, Multilayer Graphene), by Application (Electronics, Transparent Conductive Film, Solar Battery, Separation Membrane).

The Global Market for CVD Graphene was valued at USD 64.8 Million in the year 2024 and is projected to reach a revised size of USD 210 Million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 18.5% during the forecast period.

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Major Factors Driving the Growth of CVD Graphene Market:

The CVD Graphene market is transitioning from R&D-centric to volume manufacturing, buoyed by parallel momentum in flexible electronics, energy storage, and advanced sensing. Multilayer sheets capture immediate, high-tonnage opportunities, while single-layer films command premium niches that shape long-term profitability. Companies that master scalability, transfer-free growth and defect metrology are poised to dominate as graphene evolves from wonder material to industrial staple.

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TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF THE CVD GRAPHENE MARKET:

Multilayer CVD graphene delivers tunable bandgaps and mechanical robustness, positioning it as the preferred architecture for structural composites, EMI shielding, and energy-storage electrodes. Automotive and aerospace OEMs incorporate multilayer sheets into carbon-fiber panels to reduce weight while maintaining crash performance, driving bulk-scale orders. Battery makers coat copper foils with few-layer stacks to boost anode conductivity, extending cycle life in EV cells. Because multilayer films tolerate transfer defects better than monolayers, yield losses are lower, accelerating commercialization. Equipment vendors capitalize by marketing larger-diameter CVD reactors and roll-to-roll furnaces tailored to thick films, multiplying hardware and consumables revenue across the value chain.

Monolayer graphene's exceptional carrier mobility underpins next-generation RF transistors, flexible OLED electrodes, and quantum Hall resistance standards. Semiconductor fabs integrate single-layer sheets on 300?mm wafers using remote-plasma CVD, aligning with existing lithography flows. Display makers adopt transparent graphene anodes to replace indium tin oxide, sidestepping critical-material supply risks. Although production yields remain challenging, end-device ASPs justify premium pricing, funneling capital toward advanced precursor chemistries and in-situ metrology tools. Start-ups offering transfer-free, direct-growth techniques secure strategic funding, signalling robust demand for pristine monolayers in high-margin electronics and sensing applications.

From high-frequency IC interconnects to wearable e-textiles, electronics companies seek ultra-thin, conductive, and mechanically resilient materials. CVD graphene meets these needs while fitting within subtractive fabrication processes, unlike solution-exfoliated flakes. As IoT nodes proliferate, designers favor graphene antennas for their miniaturized form factor and broad bandwidth. Simultaneously, printed-circuit-board houses experiment with graphene vias to cut signal loss in 112?G?PAM4 channels. Each design-win propagates upstream demand for wafer-scale, uniform graphene films, incentivizing reactor upgrades and precursor optimization that lift both equipment and material sales.

Foldable phones, rollable displays, and smart clothing require conductors that survive repeated bending without cracking. CVD graphene's atom-thin lattice distributes strain uniformly, outperforming metal oxides and carbon nanotube films. As brands race to differentiate with flexible form factors, procurement pipelines lock in graphene supply, translating consumer-electronics trends into steady material orders.

Graphene's high surface-to-volume ratio enables gas, bio, and strain sensors with parts-per-billion sensitivity. Start-ups bundle these sensors into environmental-monitoring platforms and medical wearables, while industrial firms deploy them for predictive maintenance. Each application demands wafer-scale consistency and CMOS-compatible growth temperatures, channeling investment toward refined CVD processes and scaling infrastructure.

Lithium-sulfur and solid-state batteries benefit from graphene's conductive networks and dendrite-suppressing barriers. Gigafactories allocate pilot lines for graphene-enhanced cathodes and separators, driving bulk purchases of multilayer powders and films. Government incentives for domestic battery supply chains further amplify demand, ensuring long-term offtake agreements for CVD suppliers.

As semiconductor heat fluxes exceed 1?kW?cm?, device makers adopt graphene heat-spreaders to maintain junction temperatures. CVD-grown, large-area foils integrate directly onto dies or package lids, creating a pull market for high-thermal-conductivity grades. The shift toward chiplet architectures multiplies interface surfaces, scaling demand proportionally.

Graphene Josephson junctions and ballistic-transport channels promise qubit designs with longer coherence times. National labs and tech giants fund dedicated cleanrooms equipped with ultra-high-vacuum CVD reactors optimized for defect-free monolayers. Though volumes remain modest, the strategic nature of quantum programs secures premium pricing and accelerates process innovation.

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CVD GRAPHENE MARKET SHARE

Global CVD Graphene core manufacturers include Wuxi Gefei, Shenzhen Six carbon Technology and General Graphene. The top three companies have about 37% of the market.

The Asia-Pacific region is the world's largest CVD graphene market with a market share of about 72%. Asia-Pacific leads in installed CVD reactor capacity, with China dominating bulk multilayer production and South Korea focusing on display-grade monolayers.

Europe leverages Horizon-funded pilot lines in Sweden and the Netherlands to target automotive and aerospace composites.

In terms of product type, electronics is the largest segment with approximately 32% market share, while

In terms of applications, multilayer graphene is the largest downstream segment with approximately 60% market share.

Key Companies:

Graphenea

ACS MATERIAL

CHARMGRAPHENE Co., Ltd

SixCarbon Technology

Wuxi Graphene Film.

General Graphene

2D Carbon

Chongqing Graphene Technology

Vigon Technology

G6 Materials

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- Graphene Nano Platelets Market

- CVD Vacuum Furnace Market was valued at USD 86.3 Million in the year 2024 and is projected to reach a revised size of USD 123 Million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 5.2% during the forecast period.

- Graphene & 2D Materials Market

- CVD Graphene Film Market

- CVD-grown Graphene Market

- Nano-graphene Platelets Market

- Hybrid Graphene-Carbon Nanotube Film Market

- Graphene Magnetic Memory Market

- Graphene Film on Nickel Market

- Single Crystal Graphene on Copper Market

- Semiconductor CVD Equipment market is projected to grow from USD 9816.7 Million in 2024 to USD 13230 Million by 2030, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.1% during the forecast period.

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Dieppe, New Brunswick--(Newsfile Corp. - April 16, 2025) - Colibri Resource Corporation (TSXV: CBI) ("Colibri" or the "Company") is pleased to share the assay results from the last three holes drilled in its recent 10-hole diamond drilling program (1,167.5 metres) at the advanced exploration stage project El Pilar Gold & Silver Project in Sonora Mexico. Colibri holds a 49% interest in the El Pilar along side its 51% partner Tocvan Ventures, which was the operator of this recent drill program. Colibri is relying on the accuracy of Tocvan's news release dated April 16th, 2025.

Colibri President & CEO Ian McGavney commented: "We are pleased with overall results from this recent diamond drilling program. The footprint of the gold & silver mineralization at Pilar has been expanded and opens the doors for potential future drilling along the Main Zone trend as well as the less understood 4T and North Hill trends. Our attention will now be focussed on working with our partner to advance a maiden estimate as well as finalizing plans and permitting for our upcoming up to 50,000 tonne test mine/bulk sample."

From Tocvan News Release - April 16 th , 2025

Highlights:

Step-out Drilling 70 meters South, Extends Main Zone High-Grade Vein Returns 2.6 meters of 7.2 g/t Au and 80 g/t Ag Duplicate Sample Analysis of High-Grade Vein returns 18 g/t Au over 1.1 meters Within Broader zone averaging 0.5 g/t Au over 46.9 meters, starting from 54.5 meters depth Remains Open and Untested to the South



April 16, 2025 / Tocvan Ventures Corp. (the "Company"), is pleased to announce the remaining results from core drilling at the Gran Pilar Gold Silver Project in mine-friendly Sonora, Mexico. Ten core drillholes totaling 1,167.5 meters were completed earlier this year within the majority owned (51%) Main Zone held in partnership with Colibri Resource Corp. Today's results are highlighted by 7.2 g/t Au and 80 g/t Ag over 2.6 meters, within a mineralized zone that averages 0.5 g/t Au over 46.9 meters starting from 54.5 meters downhole (drillhole JES-25-112). Drill hole JES-25-112 is located 70 meters south of past drill hole JES-22-62, which returned 108.9 meters of 0.8 g/t Au (see April 26, 2022 News Release). Mineralization is hosted in a stockwork of quartz veining, with high grade zones associated with shear zones with quartz and iron oxides filling fractures. JES-25-112 marks the southern most successful hit of significant mineralization to date, the trend remains open to the south. A core duplicate sample through the high-grade zone returned 18 g/t Au over 1.1 meters, the original sample returned 4.4 g/t Au. The variance has been noted as a product of coarse gold in the system. The Company is evaluating additional studies to determine the impact of high-grade variance on resource estimation. Hole JES-25-111, located 450 meters northeast of the Main Zone, within the 4-T Trend returned an anomalous zone of gold and silver that included 0.7 meters of 0.8 g/t Au and 24 g/t Ag. Hole JES-25-110 located 300 meters from the Main Zone, within the North Hill Trend returned an anomalous zone that includes 7.8 meters of 0.1 g/t Au. Intervals reported are drilled widths, true estimated widths are not known at this time.

"Step-out drilling south of the Main Zone has extended the high-grade corridor where we previously thought mineralization stopped." commented, CEO Brodie Sutherland. "This has opened up the opportunity to further extend mineralization to the south adding near surface resource potential. We have been very pleased with the success rate of the core program, adding key geological information for resource modelling whilst enhancing our understanding of high-grade zones and the true size potential of mineralization..."

Figure 1. 3D Long Section View on Main Zone Trend looking east.



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4269/248738_a7af8fcdd4039b5f_001full.jpg

Table 1. Summary of Drill Results in today's release. Intervals reported are drilled lengths, currently there is insufficient information to determine true widths.

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Cu (%) Pb (%) Zn (%) JES-25-110 35.80 43.60 7.80 0.09 0.8 0.02 0.00 0.01 and 105.45 105.95 0.50 0.15 3.2 0.00 0.02 0.01 also 111.30 112.10 0.80 0.11 17.4 1.58 0.00 0.04 JES-25-111 27.80 37.10 9.30 0.12 2.5 0.00 0.00 0.02 including 27.80 28.45 0.65 0.84 24.2 0.00 0.04 0.09 JES-24-112 11.40 136.90 125.50 0.20 2.3 0.01 0.01 0.08 including 54.50 101.35 46.85 0.48 5.0 0.01 0.02 0.18 including 54.50 78.30 23.80 0.89 9.2 0.02 0.04 0.34 including 56.00 58.55 2.55 7.21 80.4 0.09 0.26 2.96

Table 2. Summary of drill collar locations and orientations. Coordinates are in UTM NAD 27, Zone 12N

Hole ID Easting Northing Elevation (m) Depth (m) Azimuth Dip JES-25-110 617466 3144855 430 134.30 235 -70 JES-25-111 617853 3144729 436 101.40 0 -90 JES-25-112 617486 4144370 418 137.60 55 -80

Photo 1. Core Photo of quartz veining from hole JES-25-112, 56.0 to 58.55 returned 7.2 g/t Au, 80.4 g/t Ag and 2.96% Zn.



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4269/248738_a7af8fcdd4039b5f_002full.jpg

Table 3. Summary of Drill Results from 2025 Core Program. All intervals reported are drilled widths.

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) JES-25-103 19.70 29.30 9.60 0.15 11.64

50.70 54.40 3.70 0.40 38.80

19.70 54.40 34.70 0.09 7.73 JES-25-104 87.83 97.55 9.72 10.31 4.85

23.25 54.00 30.75 0.14 1.21

14.10 97.55 83.45 1.27 1.24 JES-25-105 0.00 97.35 97.35 0.65 3.60 including 0.00 66.00 66.00 0.95 4.93 including 0.00 36.30 36.30 1.59 8.08 including 9.00 12.00 3.00 5.75 5.60 and 35.1 36.3 1.20 15.35 4.30 JES-25-106 0.00 121.50 121.50 0.03 0.98 including 112.60 115.55 2.95 0.42 0.77 JES-25-107 29.70 108.20 78.50 0.26 6.78 including 51.55 64.10 12.55 0.85 20.31 and 81.20 88.55 7.35 0.47 8.06 also 101.50 105.75 4.25 0.55 7.06 JES-25-108 0.00 64.90 64.90 1.23 13.69 including 8.30 11.30 3.00 21.58 208.50 and 46.40 53.50 7.10 1.55 20.67 including 50.50 51.90 1.40 7.33 101.00 JES-25-109 50.30 51.65 1.35 0.16 0.60 and 57.75 58.60 0.85 0.20 0.70 also 110.10 110.90 0.80 0.17 1.00 JES-25-110 35.80 43.60 7.80 0.09 0.8 and 105.45 105.95 0.50 0.15 3.2 also 111.30 112.10 0.80 0.11 17.4 JES-25-111 27.80 37.10 9.30 0.12 2.5 including 27.80 28.45 0.65 0.84 24.2 JES-24-112 11.40 136.90 125.50 0.20 2.3 including 54.50 101.35 46.85 0.48 5.0 including 54.50 78.30 23.80 0.89 9.2 including 56.00 58.55 2.55 7.21 80.4

Note: Please refer to the following news releases for detailed information on each hole.

JES-25-103 & 104, March 11, 2025

JES-25-105 - 106, March 19, 2025

JES-25-107 - 109, March 26, 2025

JES-25-110 - 112, April 16, 2025

Pilar Drill Highlights:

2024 RC Drilling Highlights include ( all lengths are drilled thicknesses ): 42.7m @ 1.0 g/t Au, including 3.1m @ 10.9 g/t Au 56.4m @ 1.0 g/t Au, including 3.1m @ 14.7 g/t Au 16.8m @ 0.8 g/t Au and 19 g/t Ag

2022 Phase III Diamond Drilling Highlights include ( all lengths are drilled thicknesses ): 116.9m @ 1.2 g/t Au, including 10.2m @ 12 g/t Au and 23 g/t Ag 108.9m @ 0.8 g/t Au, including 9.4m @ 7.6 g/t Au and 5 g/t Ag 63.4m @ 0.6 g/t Au and 11 g/t Ag, including 29.9m @ 0.9 g/t Au and 18 g/t Ag

2021 Phase II RC Drilling Highlights include ( all lengths are drilled thicknesses ): 39.7m @ 1.0 g/t Au, including 1.5m @ 14.6 g/t Au 47.7m @ 0.7 g/t Au including 3m @ 5.6 g/t Au and 22 g/t Ag 29m @ 0.7 g/t Au 35.1m @ 0.7 g/t Au

2020 Phase I RC Drilling Highlights include ( all lengths are drilled thicknesses ): 94.6m @ 1.6 g/t Au, including 9.2m @ 10.8 g/t Au and 38 g/t Ag; 41.2m @ 1.1 g/t Au, including 3.1m @ 6.0 g/t Au and 12 g/t Ag ; 24.4m @ 2.5 g/t Au and 73 g/t Ag, including 1.5m @ 33.4 g/t Au and 1,090 g/t Ag

15,000m of Historic Core & RC drilling. Highlights include: 61.0m @ 0.8 g/t Au 21.0m @ 38.3 g/t Au and 38 g/t Ag 13.0m @ 9.6 g/t Au 9.0m @ 10.2 g/t Au and 46 g/t Ag



Pilar Bulk Sample Summary:

62% Recovery of Gold Achieved Over 46-day Leaching Period

Head Grade Calculated at 1.9 g/t Au and 7 g/t Ag; Extracted Grade Calculated at 1.2 g/t Au and 3 g/t Ag

Extracted Grade Calculated at Bulk Sample Only Included Coarse Fraction of Material (+3/4" to +1/8")

of Material (+3/4" to +1/8") Fine Fraction (-1/8") Indicates Rapid Recovery with Agitated Leach Agitated Bottle Roll Test Returned Rapid and High Recovery Results: 80% Recovery of Gold and 94% Recovery of Silver after Rapid 24-hour Retention Time



Additional Metallurgical Studies:

Gravity Recovery with Agitated Leach Results of Five Composite Samples Returned 95 to 99% Recovery of Gold 73 to 97% Recovery of Silver Includes the Recovery of 99% Au and 73% Ag from Drill Core Composite at 120-meter depth.



Based on management's strong belief in the project's potential, the Company is outlining a permitting and operations strategy for a pilot facility at Pilar. The facility would underpin a robust test mine scenario with aims to process up to 50,000 tonnes of material. Timelines and budget are being prepared with the aim of moving forward with the development early in 2025. With gold prices hitting all-time highs, the Company believes the onsite test mine will provide key economic parameters and showcase the mineral potential of the area. In 2023, the Company completed an offsite bulk sample that produced important data showcasing the potential to recover both gold and silver through a variety of methods including heap leach, gravity and agitated leach (see August 22, 2023, news release for more details).

Quality Assurance / Quality Control

Rock and Drill samples were shipped for sample preparation to ALS Limited in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico and for analysis at the ALS laboratory in North Vancouver. The ALS Hermosillo and North Vancouver facilities are ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC 17025 certified. Gold was analyzed using 50-gram nominal weight fire assay with atomic absorption spectroscopy finish. Over limits for gold (>10 g/t), were analyzed using fire assay with a gravimetric finish. Silver and other elements were analyzed using a four-acid digestion with an ICP finish. Over limit analyses for silver (>100 g/t) were re-assayed using an ore-grade four-acid digestion with ICP-AES finish. Control samples comprising certified reference samples and blank samples were systematically inserted into the sample stream and analyzed as part of the Company's robust quality assurance / quality control protocol.

Brodie A. Sutherland, CEO for Tocvan Ventures Corp. and a qualified person ("QP") as defined by Canadian National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this release.

ABOUT COLIBRI RESOURCE CORPORATION:

Colibri is a Canadian-based mineral exploration company listed on the TSX-V (CBI) and is focused on acquiring, exploring, and developing prospective gold & silver properties in Mexico. The Company holds four high potential precious metal projects: 1) 49% Ownership of the Pilar Gold & Silver Project which is believed to hold the potential to be a near term producing mine, 2) 100% of EP Gold Project in the significant Caborca Gold Belt which has delivered highly encouraging exploration results and is surround by Mexico's second largest major producer of gold on four sides, and 3) two highly prospective interests in the Sierra Madre (Diamante Gold & Silver Project and Jackie Gold & Silver Project.

For more information about all Company projects please visit: www.colibriresource.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements". These statements are based on information currently available to the Company and the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward- looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan". Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results relating to, among other things, results of exploration, project development, reclamation and capital costs of the Company's mineral properties, and the Company's financial condition and prospects, could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements for many reasons such as: changes in general economic conditions and conditions in the financial markets; changes in demand and prices for minerals; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; technological and operational difficulties encountered in connection with the activities of the Company; and other matters discussed in this news release. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements. These and other factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by the Company or on its behalf, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/248738

SOURCE: Colibri Resource Corporation
HBM Healthcare Investments AG / Key word(s): Monthly Figures

Key Figures 15.04.2025



16.04.2025 / 17:47 CET/CEST



in CHF Performance in % 15.04.2025 MTD FYTD CYTD NAV 225.97 -7.5 -7.5 -10.0 Share Price 174.20 -3.8 -3.8 -1.0 Total Net Assets (in million) 1'519 HBM Healthcare Investments AG Bundesplatz 1 CH-6300 Zug - Switzerland Tel. +41 41 710 75 77 hbm@hbmhealthcare.com hbmhealthcare.com Wenn Sie keine Mitteilungen von HBM Healthcare Investments mehr wunschen, konnen Sie diese hier a bbestellen . Should you wish to unsubscribe from all HBM Healthcare Investments news, please unsubscribe here. Disclaimer: This message may contain confidential or privileged Information and is intended only for the use of the addressee named above. If you are not the intended recipient of this message, you are hereby notified that you must not use, copy, disclose or take any action based on this message or information herein. If you have received this message by error, please advise the sender immediately and delete this message. This document constitutes marketing material and is intended to be for information purposes only and should not be construed as an offer or recommendation for transactions. The information does not take into account any personal circumstances and does not qualify as general or personal investment recommendation or advice. Statements regarding the past performance may not be understood as indication for the current or future performance. The value of investments and the income therefrom may fluctuate. A good past performance may possibly not be repeated in the future. It is possible that the investor will not be paid back the full amount invested. Performance data does not take into account any commissions and costs charged when units of the Fund are issued and redeemed. An investment entails risks, which are fully described in the individual offering documents. Some information quoted was obtained from external sources HBM considers to be reliable. HBM cannot guarantee the adequacy, accuracy, timeliness or completeness of or be held responsible or liable for errors of fact regarding such data and information obtained from third parties, and this data may change with market conditions. 10/2024

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End of Media Release


Press release

Paris, 16 April 2025 at 18h

Exail Technologies had a very good start to 2025 thanks to advances in drone programs and a significant increase in the production of navigation systems. Revenues increased by 18%, marking growth across all of the group's activities. This strong momentum is supported by the expansion of Exail's application markets and the group's ability to gain market share thanks to its technological differentiators.

Orders reached 487 million, primarily due to a new contract for drone systems worth several hundred million euros, but also driven by excellent sales of navigation systems, which had a strong quarter.

Exail Technologies also recorded significant cash inflows in the first quarter of 2025, well above those of the first quarter of 2024. The growth in activity was effectively converted into cash. Additionally, Exail Technologies received a 40 million down payment for the new flagship drone system contract won last February. The contractual entry into force of this program is scheduled for summer 2025.

Revenue for of the 1st quarter 2025 by segment

(in millions of euros) Q1

2025 Q1

2024 Var. % Order intake 487 79 +519% Consolidated revenues 94 80 +18% Navigation & Maritime robotics segment 71 61 +16% Advanced technologies segment 26 21 +21% Structure & intra-group eliminations -3 -3 - Backlog at the end of the period 1 102 630 +75%

Order intake of the 1st quarter 2025: 487 million, more than a year of revenue

The first quarter of 2025 was marked by the acquisition of a transformative contract worth several hundred million euros for the supply of drone systems (read the dedicated press release). This success consolidates the company's position in current and future tenders for mine-hunting programs. In April 2025, Exail Technologies also won a new tender worth around 25 million from a navy in the Asia-Pacific region, already a customer, for the delivery of MIDS drone systems (Mine Identification and Disposal Systems), once again confirming the group's leadership in this sector.

Beyond this major success, commercial momentum continued across all of the company's activities. Exports represent 96% of these orders. The United States of America represents 1% of the orders for the quarter.

New significant orders in robotics

Exail won several notable drone system contracts in the first quarter 2025, both in the defense and civil sectors. They include:

- Exail Technologies' "demining" project was selected as a winner by the Ukraine Fund, which aims to support the restoration of infrastructure in Ukraine. This project is one of the 19 winners chosen from over 70 applications received during the call for projects. It includes land and underwater drones.

- The DriX O-16, the largest drone in Exail's range, achieved its second commercial success. Following an international tender, the Madeira Hydrographic Institute selected this drone to enhance its autonomous data collection capabilities. The integration of the DriX O-16 into the client's fleet, already equipped with an 8-meter DriX, will enable it to carry out advanced multi-drone collaboration missions.

Navigation system: over 40 million in orders

The dynamism of sales of navigation and positioning systems continues, with over 40 million in orders signed during this quarter. Although this figure is lower than the sales of the first quarter of 2024 - a period during which Exail had obtained an exceptional land defense order of over 1,000 units from Rheinmetall - it represents an excellent commercial performance, allowing the order book for this activity to grow with multi-year volume orders.

Among the notable orders of the quarter, we can mention:

- A new contract concluded with an existing customer in the civil maritime transport sector for several hundred navigation systems. This multi-year volume contract is established with a major partner in the sector. With this new order, the order book with this customer reaches 1,000 units to be delivered between 2025 and 2027.

- Increasing commercial successes in land defense, particularly in Europe. Exail is leveraging the momentum gained about a year ago to gain market share in this expanding field. The average size of orders has increased significantly, with several orders between 1 million and 3 million this quarter in Northern and Eastern Europe.

- Nearly 100 compact Rovins navigation systems were sold to about ten civil maritime operations actors based around the North Sea. These sales are generally accompanied by complements, such as acoustic systems, to ensure underwater communication during missions. The quality of Exail's systems and the strong commercial presence in this region allow the group to benefit from the dynamism of this market.

The Advanced technologies segment recorded 27 million in orders in the first quarter of 2025, an increase of nearly 15 million. The fundamental trends supporting the demand for advanced laser sources are maintained and generate growth in orders for photonic and optical components of over 15% this quarter. Additionally, a multi-million euro order was recorded this quarter in the defense sector in France in the field of simulation.

For the first time in its history, the group publishes a 10-figure financial aggregate with an backlog at the end of the period exceeding 1.1 billion. This order book concerns more than 75% of orders for the defense sector.

Revenue up by +18% in the 1st quarter 2025

Exail Technologies achieved a revenue of 94 million in the first quarter 2025, an increase of 18%. This performance is all the more notable as the group had achieved a very good start to 2024 (with growth of +16%) last year.

Navigation & Maritime robotics segment: 71 million, up by +16%

This segment is the main driver of activity growth, representing approximately 75% of the group's revenues. The revenue growth in the first quarter is the result of significant orders in 2024, the ramp-up of drone programs towards production phases, and the good progress of inertial navigation system production capacities.

Programs for the Belgian and Dutch forces as well as the Latvian navy are entering the production phase for the delivery of operational systems in the short term. Additionally, programs for the Emirati and French navies, which had modestly contributed to revenues in 2024, are now generating increased activity volume, which will continue to grow over the coming years. Exail will supply all these navies with drone systems assembled in its factory located in Ostend, Belgium.

Unit sales of drones also contributed to revenues this quarter, particularly the production of DriX drones following commercial successes at the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025.

The production of navigation systems has been increasing for over 4 years thanks to continuous investments in industrial capacities. The beginning of 2025 is marked by mastery of inertial navigation system production in a high-growth environment. The good execution of the teams allows for the delivery of a significantly higher volume of units to customers compared to the same quarter last year. This momentum is also found in the Advanced technologies segment, which serves the Navigation & Maritime Robotics segment.

Advanced technologies segment: 26 million, up by +21%

The activity of this segment consists of developing advanced components and products (including special optical fibers, optical modulators, embedded equipment) that are sold directly to third parties or integrated into the systems of the first segment. The increase in activity volume comes partly from growing internal demand but mainly from a resurgence of activity with external customers. This dynamism is the result of improved production capacities, which have reduced delivery times, as well as orders won in 2024, particularly from defense sector customers.

This performance includes approximately 0.8 million in revenue from the company Leukos, acquired at the end of December 2024 and integrated into the Advanced technologies segment.

Outlook

Exail Technologies benefits from strong demand for its drone and navigation systems. This successful start to the year allows Exail Technologies to confirm its 2025 objectives announced at the beginning of the year: double-digit revenue growth and higher current EBITDA growth.

Upcoming financial communications:

23 July 2025: activity of the 2 nd quarter 2025

quarter 2025 22 September 2025: half-year results 2025

22 Octobre 2025: activity of the 3rd quarter 2025

About Exail Technologies

Exail Technologies is an industrial company specializing in high-tech navigation systems and autonomous robotics with vertical integration across its operations. The group offers complex systems including drones, navigation equipment, as well as products for the aerospace and photonics sectors. Exail Technologies ensures performance, reliability, and security for its civil and military clients operating in harsh environments. The company generates its revenues in nearly 80 countries.

Exail technologies is listed on Euronext Paris Compartment B (EXA) and is part of the Euronext Tech Leaders segment.

www.exail-technologies.com

Contacts : Investor Relations

Hugo Soussan

Tel. +33 (0)1 44 77 94 86

h.soussan@ exail-technologies.com



Anne-Pauline Petureaux

Tel. +33 (0)1 53 67 36 72

apetureaux@actus.fr Media Relations

Manon Clairet

Tel. +33 (0)1 53 67 36 73

mclairet@actus.fr

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Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-91059-cp_exail-technologies_ca-q1-2025_en.pdf
Non-adoption of key financial delegations at the Combined General Meeting held on February 11, 2025 resulted in an adverse and uncertain situation regarding the continuation of the Company's activities Event of default triggered by this non-adoption under the financing agreements with IRIS and IPF Partners, allowing each of them to request immediate redemption of the outstanding bonds they hold (EUR 4.3 million and EUR 13.4 million respectively as of March 31,2025) With a cash position of EUR 2 million as of March 31, 2025, the Company is unable to repay IRIS and IPF Partners if they redeem their outstanding bonds, which significantly compromises its ability to continue as a going concern The Board of Directors and the Management are actively engaged in negotiations with Poxel's creditors to find potential solutions

Pending the outcome of ongoing negotiations with its creditors, the Company postpones the approval and release of its 2024 annual accounts

Regulatory News:

POXEL SA (Euronext: POXEL FR0012432516), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative treatments for chronic serious diseases with metabolic pathophysiology, including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and rare metabolic disorders, today reported its cash position as of March 31, 2025, provided an update on its financial situation and ongoing negotiations with its creditors, and announced the postponement of its 2024 full-year results approval and publication, pending the outcome of ongoing negotiations.

Consolidated cash and cash equivalents (unaudited)

As of March 31, 2025, total consolidated cash and cash equivalents amounted to EUR 2 million (USD 2.1 million1), as compared to EUR 3.7 million as of December 31, 2024.

EUR (in thousands) Q1 2025 Q4 2024 Cash 1,958(1) 3,657(2) Cash equivalents Total cash and cash equivalents 1,958 3,657

(1) Including EUR 550 thousand corresponding to cash held in security trusts bank accounts to secure their financing for several years, in accordance with the royalty monetization agreement

(2) Excluding OrbiMed deposit for an amount of EUR 4,8 million (USD 5 million) allocated, in Q1 2025, to the reimbursement of the IPF Partners debt as per bonds documentation

Financial risk and update on negotiations

The non-adoption of the financial delegations at the Combined General Meeting held on February 11, 2025, and, in particular, on the issuance of new shares in redemption for bonds redeemable into new or existing shares (ORANE) held, or to be potentially issued and held by IRIS, triggered an event of default under the IRIS and IPF Partners bond financing agreements allowing each of them to request mandatory redemption of the bonds they hold (EUR 4.3 million and EUR 13.4 million respectively as of March 31, 2025).

Since then, the Board of Directors and the Management of Poxel have been actively negotiating with the Company's creditors, with the aim of reaching a structuring solution that would ensure the continuity of the Company's operations. In parallel the Company is also progressing discussions with several potential partners for its pipeline products.

Notwithstanding the recent restructuring of the Company's debt made possible in particular by the royalty monetization transaction with OrbiMed, and based on the cash position as of March 31, 2025, Poxel's financial outlook remains highly constrained with a cash runway currently estimated between mid to end Q2 2025, depending on the outcome of current discussions with creditors. The situation and the uncertainty surrounding the outcome of ongoing negotiations represent a material risk to the Company's ability to continue as a going concern.

Given the potential impact of the negotiations on the Company's financial statements, Poxel announces the postponement of the approval and publication of its 2024 Full-Year Results, initially scheduled for April 22, 2025. A new date will be communicated once the negotiations are finalized.

About Poxel SA

Poxel is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative treatments for chronic serious diseases with metabolic pathophysiology, including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and rare disorders. For the treatment of MASH, PXL065 (deuterium-stabilized R-pioglitazone) met its primary endpoint in a streamlined Phase 2 trial (DESTINY-1). In rare diseases, development of PXL770, a first-in-class direct adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activator, is focused on the treatment of adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). TWYMEEG (Imeglimin), Poxel's first-in-class product that targets mitochondrial dysfunction, is now marketed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in Japan by Sumitomo Pharma and Poxel expects to receive royalties and sales-based payments. Poxel has a strategic partnership with Sumitomo Pharma for Imeglimin in Japan. Listed on Euronext Paris, Poxel is headquartered in Lyon, France, and has subsidiaries in Boston, MA, and Tokyo, Japan.

For more information, please visit: www.poxelpharma.com

All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release about future events are subject to (i) change without notice and (ii) factors beyond the Company's control. These statements may include, without limitation, any statements preceded by, followed by or including words such as "target," "believe," "expect," "aim," "intend," "may," "anticipate," "estimate," "plan," "project," "will," "can have," "likely," "should," "would," "could" and other words and terms of similar meaning or the negative thereof. Forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties beyond the Company's control that could cause the Company's actual results or performance to be materially different from the expected results or performance expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not endorse or is not otherwise responsible for the content of external hyperlinks referred to in this press release.

_________________________________

1 Converted at the exchange rate on March 31, 2025

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250416205452/en/

Contacts:

Contacts Investor relations Media

NewCap

Aurelie Manavarere, Theo Martin Arthur Rouille

investors@poxelpharma.com

+33 1 44 71 94 94
Rightmove Plc - Transaction in Own Shares

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, April 16

16 April 2025

Rightmove plc

Share buy-back programme

Rightmove plc - transactions in own shares

Rightmove plc ('Rightmove'), announces that today it purchased 195,000 of its 0.1p ordinary shares at a volume weighted average price paid per share of 738.463p. The highest price paid per share was 744.400p and the lowest price paid per share was 734.000p. Rightmove purchased these shares through UBS AG London Branch.

The number of shares purchased represented 0.0250% of the voting rights attributable to the total ordinary shares in issue prior to such purchase. The purchased shares will be cancelled.

Since announcing a share buy-back programme on 28 December 2007, Rightmove has purchased in aggregate 529,047,246 ordinary shares.

The total number of ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury shares) following this announcement is 779,186,651. Rightmove holds 10,820,183 shares in treasury.

In accordance with Article 5(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (the Market Abuse Regulation) as amended by The Market Abuse (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (the 'UK MAR'), the schedule below contains detailed information about the purchases made by UBS AG London Branch on behalf of the Company as part of the buyback programme.

Contact: Michelle Palmer, Assistant Company Secretary

CompanySecretary@rightmove.co.uk

Schedule of Purchases - Individual Transactions
Rotterdam, the Netherlands, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) today hosted an inaugural Ambassadors' Forum galvanizing global support for accelerating adaptation at speed and at scale. The event, hosted at the GCA's Rotterdam Headquarters, called on governments, industries and civil society to redouble efforts to build "resilient economies" as the growth engine for the 21st century.

Ambassadors and senior diplomatic representatives from 50 nations gathered in a show of support and unity for the adaptation and resilience agenda. Delegates committed to spurring sustainable growth, fostering new industries, driving innovation, and unlocking private finance to ease mounting pressures on development aid and public climate finance. The global market for climate adaptation solutions-such as advanced weather analytics, parametric insurance, and water-efficient infrastructure- is projected to be worth USD 2 trillion annually by 2026.

Welcoming the attendees, Professor Patrick V. Verkooijen, President & CEO of the Global Center on Adaptation, lauded the diplomatic community for recognizing that adaptation is not merely a defensive measure but an essential component of global economic strategy: "We are already in the 'Resilience Endgame'. We must prepare today for the 1.5-degree world. The devastating global impacts we see today need not define the society of tomorrow. The escape plan is to double down on adaptation and capture its incredible economic dividends." He added that "the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program, our flagship initiative, the largest adaptation program in the world, has shown us that growth and building resilience are intrinsically linked. But we can do so much more - together. Adaptation is about future-proofing our economies, protecting critical infrastructure, safeguarding food supplies, and ensuring that new opportunities can thrive in changing conditions. By rallying together, we multiply the impact of innovative investments and encourage the 'resilience dividend'-the powerful, compounding benefits that flow from forward-thinking action."

Delivering remarks, Professor Jan Peter Balkenende, Former Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Minister of State, and Executive Board Member of the GCA, emphasized that genuine progress on climate resilience will unlock broad-based dividends: "What happens in the most vulnerable countries does not stay there. Climate change amplifies food insecurity, migration, and conflict. In fragile states, environmental stress can become a security threat. Europe and the world must take this seriously. Investing in resilience is not only right - it is wise." He added that "This is why we need true global cooperation, based on shared interest and shared responsibility."

Reflecting on adaptation efforts in Africa and beyond, H.E. Halima Mucheke, Ambassador of the Republic of Kenya in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, spoke about the significance of GCA's new headquarters in Nairobi: "Kenya is proud to host the GCA's new headquarters in Nairobi which will intensify support for adaptation programs across Africa, leading these programs North-South. Around the world, resilient infrastructure is the hot new investment class. Climate adaptation is a framework for protecting infrastructure, securing food systems and creating new business and job opportunities. And it is being aided by a thriving market in climate solutions." He added that "The continent's leading initiative in this area - the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Programme (AAAP) - has already channelled more than $15bn to strengthen essential systems against climate shocks. These funds are helping to secure the adaptability and livelihoods of nearly 60 million vulnerable people in 40 countries. We need to keep scaling this up, working as a global community, North-South, South-South, South-North-all together."

Following the opening remarks delegates also heard from the lead architect and founder of Powerhouse Company, Nanne de Ru, about how GCA's European headquarters at the Floating Office Rotterdam is an award-winning sustainable building recognized worldwide as a model for climate-resilient infrastructure.

The reception forms part of GCA's broader advocacy strategy to advance climate adaptation solutions worldwide-focusing on protecting infrastructure, securing food systems, catalysing economic growth, and fostering global collaboration. By bringing together high-level diplomats, GCA reinforced its role as a leading international organisation in developing and implementing adaptation strategies that bolster economies against intensifying climate shocks.

Participating Countries and Representatives

A wide cross-section of the diplomatic community participated in the reception:

Afghanistan: H.E. Mr. Mohammad Asif Rahimi (Ambassador) Algeria: Ms. Ghalia Benziouche (Minister Counselor) Australia: H.E. Dr. Greg French (Ambassador), Ms. Milena Arsic (First Secretary), Mr. Sybren Holt (Research Officer in Charge of Investment and Trade) Austria: Mr. Oliver Crazzolara (Ambassador's Assistant - Policy & Research Officer) Azerbaijan: H.E. Mr. Mammad Ahmadzada (Ambassador) Barbados: H.E. N. Simone Rudder (Ambassador) Belarus: H.E. Andrei Yeudachenka (Ambassador) Bolivia: H.E. Roberto Calzadilla Sarmiento (Ambassador) Brazil: Mr. Gaetan Spielmann Moura (Secretary) Burkina Faso: H.E. Mr. Leopold Tonguenoma Bonkoungou (Ambassador) Burundi: H.E. Ms. Isabelle Ndahayo (Ambassador) Cameroon: H.E. Mrs. Liguemoh Ondoua Madeleine (Ambassador) Chile: H.E. Jorge Carvajal (Ambassador), Mrs. Maria Fernanda Vila (Minister Counselor) China: Mr. Gu Yanbin (Second Secretary), Ms. Zhan Leilei (Second Secretary) Comoros: H.E. Mohamed Chatur Badaoui (Ambassador) Costa Rica: H.E. Arnoldo Brenes Castro (Ambassador) Croatia: H.E. Dubravka Plejic Markovic (Ambassador) Cuba: H.E. Mrs. Eva Yelina Silva Walker (Ambassador) Czech Republic: Mr. Stanislav Benes (Minister Counsellor) Denmark: Ms. Anniek Barnhoorn (Academic Officer) El Salvador: H.E. Agustin Vasquez Gomez (Ambassador) Ethiopia: H.E. Ambassador Eshete Tilahun (Ambassador) Ghana: H.E. Francis Kotia (Ambassador) Greece: Ms. Antigoni Bampi (Scientific Collaborator) Guatemala: H.E. Mrs. Ana Cristina Rodriguez Pineda (Ambassador) Hungary: Mr. Daniel Csonka (Deputy Head of Mission) India: H.E. Mr. Kumar Tuhin (Ambassador) Kenya: H.E. Halima Mucheke (Ambassador) Lithuania: H.E. Neilas Tankevicius (Ambassador) Malaysia: H.E. Roseli Abdul (Ambassador) Malta: Mr. Matthew Grima (Deputy Head of Mission) Montenegro: Mr. Milisav Raspopovic (Charge d'Affaires) Morocco: H.E. Mr. Mohamed Basri (Ambassador) Nepal: H.E. Sewa Lamsal (Ambassador) Nigeria: Mrs. Nnenne E. Ibekaku (Charge d'Affaires) Pakistan: H.E. Ambassador Syed Haider (Ambassador) Panama: H.E. Mrs. Sally LOO HUI (Ambassador) Peru: Mr. Carlos Diaz (International Cooperation and Cultural Attache) Philippines: H.E. J. Eduardo Malaya (Ambassador) Qatar: Mr. Saad Yousif Saad Al-Mana (First Secretary) Rwanda: Mr. Jean Hugues Mukama (Charge d'Affaires) Saudi Arabia: H.H. Prince Jalawi Al Saud (Ambassador) Senegal: H.E. Madame Ramatoulaye Ba Faye (Ambassador), Mr. Henry Pierre Sarr (First Secretary) Somalia: H.E. Khadija O. Ali (Ambassador) South Africa: H.E. Mr. Vusimuzi Philemon Madonsela (Ambassador) Turkiye: Mr. Bilal Kose (Consul) Yemen: H.E. Sahar Ghanem (Ambassador)

Notes to Editors

About the Global Center on Adaptation

The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is an international organization that promotes adaptation to the impacts of climate change. It works to climate-proof development by instigating policy reforms and influencing investments made by international financial institutions and the private sector. The goal is to bring climate adaptation to the forefront of the global fight against climate change and ensure that it remains prominent.



Founded in 2018, GCA embodies innovation in its approach to climate adaptation as well as in its physical presence. It operates from the largest floating office in the world, in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. GCA has a worldwide network of regional offices in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire; Dhaka, Bangladesh; and Beijing, China. The Center will open a new office in Nairobi, Kenya in 2025.

Alexandra Gee Global Center on Adaptation +447887804594 alex.gee@gca.org
Partnership Expands Alkaline88's Footprint Across Key U.S. Regions, Fueling Market Penetration

The Alkaline Water Company, Inc. (OTC Pink:WTER) (hereinafter referred to as the "Company"), a leader in the beverage industry known for its purified alkaline water, enhanced with Himalayan rock salt, today announced a national distribution agreement with a leading wholesale grocery distributor. This strategic partnership marks a pivotal step in establishing the Company's position as a leading premium water company in the United States and significantly expanding its reach and visibility across the nation.

Strategic Significance

Building on the momentum of the Company's recent $1.5 million inventory agreement, this new distribution deal marks a pivotal inflection point in the Company's growth strategy. It positions the Company for accelerated market penetration and enhanced visibility within the premium water category.

"We are excited about this transformative distribution partnership for The Alkaline Water Company," stated Ricky Wright, CEO. "This strategic arrangement represents a significant advancement in building our rapidly growing market presence. Our wholesale partner services over 7,500 independent supermarkets, chain stores, military bases, and institutions across the Midwest, South, and Northeast regions. Their impressive reach and proven distribution capabilities makes them an ideal partner for our growth strategy.

Wright added, "As we continue to strengthen our position in the premium water category, their established infrastructure and supply chain expertise will be instrumental in helping us reliably serve our retail partners and consumers."

About The Alkaline Water Company, Inc.

The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (OTC: WTER), is a leader in the premium beverage industry, committed to providing superior, clean, and pure hydration solutions to consumers nationwide. The company's flagship Alkaline88 brand has built strong recognition and consumer loyalty due to its simple, clean ingredient profile. Alkaline88 is crafted using a proprietary electrolysis process that infuses purified water with Himalayan rock salt, trace minerals, and electrolytes, achieving a perfectly balanced 8.8 pH, free of chemicals and additives. Under the leadership of returning co-founder Ricky Wright as CEO, the company is implementing disciplined strategies to drive operational improvements, market expansion, and sustainable profitable growth.

Disclaimer Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are identified by the use of the words "could," "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "expect," "may," "continue," "predict," "potential," "project" and similar expressions that are intended to identify forward-looking statements and include statements. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that its plans, objectives, expectations and intentions reflected in or suggested by the forward-looking statements are reasonable, the Company can give no assurance that these plans, objectives, expectations or intentions will be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties (some of which are beyond the Company's control), assumptions and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical experience and present expectations or projections. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements and the trading price for the Company's common stock may fluctuate significantly. Forward-looking statements also are affected by the risk factors described in the Company's filings with the SEC. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. The information in this release is provided only as of the date of this release, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release on account of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

Contact Information

The Alkaline Water Company Inc.

5524 North 51st Avenue

Glendale, Arizona 85301

Telephone: 800-470-5750

Website: www.thealkalinewaterco.com

Email: IR@thealkalinewaterco.com

SOURCE: ALKALINE WATER Co INC.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 16, 2025) - Reagan Glazier, President & CEO Pacific Bay Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: PBM) ("Pacific Bay" or, the "Company") reports that the shares of the Company will be reinstated for trading by the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") on commencement of trading, Monday April 21st, 2025. The shares of the Company were halted upon the Company disclosing in its January 7th, 2025 news release that is had signed a letter of intent to acquire a property in Brazil that was deemed to be a Fundamental Acquisition under Exchange policies and therefore a reviewable transaction. The resumption follows provision to the Exchange of certain information, such as a 43-101 compliant Technical Report on the Pereira-Velho gold prospect (the "Project") in Alagoas State, Brazil, which report remains subject to further comment and review by the Exchange, and a draft of the definitive option agreement with Appian Capital Advisory ("Appian") whereby Pacific Bay proposes to acquire 100% of the Project (the "Agreement"). The Agreement is nearing completion and has not yet been signed. Further details of the Agreement and the Project are outlined below. The transaction remains subject to final review and approval from the Exchange.

"Pacific Bay looks forward to completing this transaction as soon as possible and opening an exciting new chapter of gold exploration in Brazil," said Pacific Bay President & CEO Reagan Glazier. "The markets are volatile, but gold has remained strong and I believe this is a great time to be taking on such a promising property."

The Pereira-Velho Gold Prospect

The following are key findings from the Technical Report on the Project, located in Coite do Noia, Alagoas, Brazil.

Covering 14,596 hectares in the gold-rich Borborema Province, the project benefits from excellent road access and proximity to the commercial hub of Arapiraca, supporting year-round exploration in a tropical climate.

The Technical Report, prepared by RBM Servicos Tecnicos Ltda., highlights significant gold discoveries driven by past exploration, including soil sampling, trenching, and two drilling campaigns totaling over 6,300 meters. These efforts confirmed gold in quartz veins and pyrite-rich zones, with continuous mineralization at depth-pointing to a promising orogenic gold system. Sample testing followed strict industry standards, verifying reliable gold grades and visible gold in drill cores.

Metallurgical tests suggest strong gold recovery potential from oxidized ores using methods like cyanidation or heap leaching, though sulfide-rich ores may require additional processing to unlock their value. The project's geology features ancient metamorphic rocks-gneisses, quartzites, and banded iron formations-ideal for hosting gold deposits.

The Technical Report recommends a US$1,560,000 budget including further drilling studies to expand resources and assess economic potential. Ongoing environmental and community efforts will ensure sustainable progress.

With an eight-month exploration plan proposed, Pacific Bay is poised to unlock the full promise of Pereira Velho, delivering value to shareholders and stakeholders alike.

Activity Cost (US$) Drilling 850,000 Lab assaying 150,000 Metallurgical tests 25,000 Resources statement report 38,000 Vehicles/rent/facilities/IT 55,000 G&A 300,000 Continency (10%) 142,000 Subtotal $1,560,000





Figure 1 Location Map

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3362/248745_b369a68ba47c6ac7_002full.jpg





Figure 2 Hills formed by quartzites, facing southeast

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3362/248745_b369a68ba47c6ac7_003full.jpg





Figure 3 Geological map with the main lithologies and structural features within the Pereira Velho Project area.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3362/248745_b369a68ba47c6ac7_004full.jpg





Figure 4 (a) Outcrop of fractured quartzite with the presence of (b) folded structure (flexural?); (c) quartzite with foliation trending to the NE and with boxwork and (d) outcrop of the quartzite with foliation trending to the SW

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3362/248745_b369a68ba47c6ac7_005full.jpg





Figure 5 (a, b) Drill core composed of biotite gneiss with propylitic alteration; (c) quartzo-feldspathic gneiss with argillic alteration.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3362/248745_b369a68ba47c6ac7_006full.jpg





Figure 6 (a) Free gold (VG-visible gold) identified in hole PVDH-045, at a depth of 49.50 meters; (b) Free gold (VG-visible gold) in hole PVDH-015, at a depth of 95.65 m

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3362/248745_b369a68ba47c6ac7_007full.jpg





Figure 7 Visible gold (VG) in drill core sample, PVDH-007

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3362/248745_b369a68ba47c6ac7_008full.jpg





Figure 8 Map with the compilation of soil geochemistry campaigns carried out by MVV and PVE. First-order anomalies for gold marked in magenta with values between 100 and 1090 ppb.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3362/248745_b369a68ba47c6ac7_009full.jpg

The Agreement

As previously announced, key terms of the Agreement are:

Payment to Appian of CND$710,000 in cash and CDN$700,000 in either common shares or cash, at the company's discretion. These payments are structured in two tranches:

Upon signing the definitive agreement and obtaining necessary approvals: CDN $280,000 in cash. CDN $250,000 in cash or common shares.

On the first anniversary of the definitive agreement: CDN $430,000 in cash. CDN $450,000 in cash or common shares.



Appian is to retain a 1.5% NSR on production from the project. Pacific Bay has the option to buy back this royalty at any time for a total of USD $3.5 million.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. David Bridge, P.Geo., a consultant of the Company, who is a "Qualified Person" as defined in NI 43-101

This News Release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "will", "may", "should", "expects", "plans", or "anticipates" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward looking statements, including but not limited to the Company's expectations regarding, the closing date of the Financing, the use of proceeds of the Financing and other matters. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking-statements. While these forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith, and reflect the Company's current judgment regarding the direction of its business, actual results will may vary, sometimes materially, from any estimates, predictions, projections, assumptions, or other future performance suggestions herein. Except as required by applicable law, the Company does not intend to update any forward-looking statements to conform these statements to actual 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 release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/248745

SOURCE: Pacific Bay Minerals Ltd.
Wearable robotics bring a high-tech edge to hiking in China

15:46, April 16, 2025 By Fan Haotian, Tian Xianjin, Wang Zhe ( People's Daily

With crisp spring air and sun-drenched skies drawing crowds into the mountains, many hikers across China are finding that their treks now come with a new companion: cutting-edge robotic assistance.

High above the forested valleys of central China's Hubei province, the Enshi Grand Canyon draws visitors with jagged cliffs and towering peaks, creating a dramatic and awe-inspiring landscape. During this year's Qingming Festival holiday, the area welcomed 25,000 tourists - a year-on-year increase of over 30 percent.

At Helan Mountain National Forest Park in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region, staff members demonstrate how to strap on hiking exoskeletons. (Photo from the publicity department of CPC Yinchuan municipal committee)

For Mr. Yang, a local resident recovering from a leg fracture, the journey to the Qixingzhai scenic area of the canyon began with a cable car ride. But the real challenge came after: a daunting staircase carved into the mountainside. Still hesitant to push his limits, Yang was offered something unexpected - a wearable robotic exoskeleton.

In seconds, the lightweight device was strapped to his waist and legs. To his surprise, each step grew easier. "It's like wearing a waist pack," he said. "You can really feel the push going uphill - even on level ground, it helps you move forward."

Recently, the scenic area brought in more than ten robotic exoskeletons from Shenzhen, the tech hub in south China's Guangdong province. Lightweight at just around 1.8 kilograms, the devices offer three to five hours of battery life and six power levels, allowing users to fine-tune their experience - dialing up for steep climbs, or easing off on gentler paths.

In parks and peaks across China, high-tech hiking aids are no longer a novelty - they are quickly becoming part of the outdoor experience. The rise of wearable robotics reflects a broader wave of innovation sweeping through the country's tourism and fitness industries, making trails more accessible to a wider public, including those with limited mobility.

At Helan Mountain National Forest Park in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region, more than 20,000 tourist visits were recorded during this year's Qingming Festival holiday. About 300 of them strapped into robotic hiking gear.

Elsewhere, iconic destinations like Mount Taishan and Huangshan Mountain are also embracing the shift. Visitors can now rent not only robotic exoskeletons but also smart trekking poles and robotic walking assistants - all designed to ease the burden of steep inclines and long trails.

"This product is incredibly popular and often booked out in advance," said a staff member at Mount Taishan scenic area. Since January, the scenic spot has offered robotic hiking assistants for rent at 80 yuan ($10.92) for a three-hour session - and demand has been brisk.

A tourist climbs stairs with a hiking aid device in Yunmen Mountain scenic area in east China's Shandong province. (Photo provided by Yunmen Mountain scenic area)

Mile Bot, a robotics company, has developed a smart walking robot tailored for outdoor hiking and stair climbing. The device recently underwent field trials on the slopes of Huangshan Mountain.

"We gathered a great deal of user feedback during the trials," said Zuo Zongsheng, a company executive, adding that now they're refining the design to make the product more intuitive and user-friendly.

The robot's core design draws from Mile Bot's experience in rehabilitation robotics, where the company has developed medical-assist products, including exoskeletons for lower-limb paralysis recovery and treadmill-based recovery devices in medical setting. The hiking model, by comparison, is sleek and compact: a battery pack, motorized power arm, thigh straps and fasteners make up the entire unit.

"Flip the switch, and the motor kicks in, guiding your leg forward with every step," Zuo explained. "It takes less than 30 seconds to put on, and users can select from five power levels based on the terrain."

What sets the device apart, Zuo said, is its flexible drive system - designed to mimic natural movement more smoothly than traditional rigid mechanisms. It not only feels safer but also more responsive to the user's stride.

Looking ahead, Mile Bot plans to trim the device's weight, bolster its durability, and introduce seasonal versions with breathable or insulated materials for different weather conditions.

While tourists are the primary market, the company also sees broader applications: the devices are already being tested for use by sanitation crews and goods porters in scenic areas, promising a high-tech lift for more than just hikers.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
April 16, 2025: Russia continues to have problems with local or foreign hackers committing major crimes. For the last three years there have been massive thefts of billions of dollars from financial institutions and individuals. Local gangsters as well as foreign hackers are responsible for this mayhem. In 2024 the known losses were over $2.2 billion. In 2023 the figure was $1.6 billion. This year appears to be headed towards record losses. Some Russians blame all this on Ukrainian special operations groups. That may be true for some of the thefts, but most are the work of Russian gangsters and foreign hackers.

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The "Europe Coffee Machine Market Size and Share Analysis Growth Trends and Forecast Report 2025-2033" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Europe Professional Coffee Machine Market Size

Europe Professional Coffee Machine market is expected to reach US$ 3.69 billion by 2033 from US$ 2.07 billion in 2024, with a CAGR of 6.64% from 2025 to 2033, driven by a number of factors, including the rise in the number of people choosing coffee over other drinks, the growing popularity of instant coffee makers, particularly in offices, and the rising levels of disposable money.

Europe Professional Coffee Machine Industry Overview

Due to the growing demand for specialty coffee and the changing cafe culture in the region, the professional coffee maker market in Europe is expanding significantly. High-quality, dependable coffee makers are becoming more and more in demand as coffee consumption continues to rise in both residential and commercial settings. The market is being further stimulated by the growth of coffee shops, high-end dining establishments, and lodging facilities that provide superior coffee options.

Demand for cutting-edge and complex coffee equipment is still being driven by Europe's deeply ingrained coffee culture, particularly in nations like Italy, France, and the UK. The use of sophisticated coffee makers in a variety of professional contexts is being driven by the growing emphasis on efficiency, convenience, and quality in coffee production. The substantial market size is demonstrated by the fact that coffee imports by EU member states totaled 8.4 billion in 2022, according to Eurostat, the EU's statistical office.

The European market for professional coffee makers has been significantly shaped by technological developments. To increase machine usability, accuracy, and efficiency, manufacturers are progressively integrating cutting-edge technologies like touchscreens, automated brewing systems, and Internet of Things connectivity. Additionally, as coffee machine users want to lower operating costs and their impact on the environment, advancements in sustainability and energy efficiency are impacting consumer choices. Many manufacturers are building machines that use eco-friendly materials, reduce energy usage, and assure longer product lifecycles as a result of the increased attention on sustainability. In addition to improving coffee quality, these technological developments help businesses operate more efficiently and satisfy the increasing demand for quicker, higher-quality coffee services.

A booming market for coffee machine leasing and rental is also helping the European professional coffee machine business. In order to avoid large upfront expenses, many small businesses particularly those in the foodservice sector that are just getting started choose rental arrangements. Strong after-sales services, such as routine maintenance and machine repairs, also support market expansion. Opportunities for manufacturers are also presented by the growing use of single-serve and capsule-based coffee makers in workplaces and the hospitality industry. The European professional coffee machine market is expected to grow further, with a greater focus on sustainability and technological innovation as consumer preferences change and businesses place a higher priority on efficiency and sustainability.

Growth Drivers for the Europe Professional Coffee Machine Market

Rising Coffee Consumption

One of the main factors propelling the expansion of the European professional coffee maker market is rising coffee consumption. Coffee is an essential component of everyday life in the area, which has a rich coffee culture. The demand for sophisticated coffee makers that can make premium beverages is rising as consumer tastes shift toward specialty and high-quality coffee.

Customers are looking for distinctive, tasty coffee experiences, and this trend is especially noticeable in cafes, restaurants, and hotels. Professional-grade machines are becoming more and more in demand as gourmet coffee and artisanal drinks like lattes, cappuccinos, and cold brews gain popularity. Due to rising coffee consumption in both residential and business settings, the demand for convenient, high-quality coffee is fueling the growth of the coffee maker market in Europe.

Growth of Coffee Shops and Cafes

The market for professional coffee makers is growing at a substantial rate due to the quick proliferation of specialized cafes and coffee shops throughout Europe, especially in cities. These businesses are investing in cutting-edge coffee makers in response to the growing need for superior, portable coffee in order to satisfy patrons' demands for high-end drinks.

Market expansion has been further fueled by the appeal of artisanal coffee and the emergence of cafe culture, which have resulted in a greater number of new coffee shops. Nowadays, customers are more likely to look for distinctive and customized coffee experiences, which is driving companies to provide a large selection of beverages. Coffee shops and cafes are emerging as major forces behind the European professional coffee machine market as the demand for specialty coffee keeps growing.

Consumer Shift Toward Convenience

The European market for professional coffee makers is being greatly impacted by consumers' preference for convenience. Easy-to-use, fast, and adaptable coffee makers that can satisfy a range of tastes are becoming more and more popular in both commercial and office settings. In addition to contemporary single-serve choices like pod-based systems, businesses and offices are looking for machines that can produce classic espresso-based beverages like cappuccinos and lattes.

This change is a result of a desire for both superior coffee and effective operations. Machines that provide speed, simplicity, and customization are growing in popularity as consumers place a higher value on convenience. The adoption of multipurpose and easy-to-use coffee makers is being fueled by this trend, which allows companies to cater to a larger clientele with a variety of coffee tastes.

Key Players Analysis: Overview, Key Persons, Recent Developments, Financial Insights

Nestle Nespresso SA

Koninklijke Philips N.V.

Illycaffe S.p.A.

Dualit Limited

AB Electrolux

De'Longhi S.p.A.

BSH Hausgerate GmbH

Schaerer AG

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 90 Forecast Period 2024 2033 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $2.07 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2033 $3.69 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 6.6% Regions Covered Europe

Key Topics Covered:

1. Introduction

2. Research Methodology

3. Executive Summary

4. Market Dynamic

4.1 Growth Drivers

4.2 Challenges

5. Europe Professional Coffee Market Overview

6. Market Share Analysis

6.1 By Product

6.2 By End User

6.3 By States

7. Market Segmentation

7.1 By Product

7.1.1 Espresso Machines

7.1.2 Bean-to-Cup Machines

7.1.3 Filter Coffee Machines

7.1.4 Others

7.2 By End User

7.2.1 Hotels

7.2.2 Restaurants

7.2.3 Cafes/Catering

7.2.4 Others

8. Countries

8.1 France

8.2 Germany

8.3 Italy

8.4 Spain

8.5 United Kingdom

8.6 Belgium

8.7 Netherlands

8.8 Russia

8.9 Poland

8.10 Greece

8.11 Norway

8.12 Romania

8.13 Portugal

8.14 Turkey

8.15 Rest of Europe

9. Porter's Five Forces Analysis

9.1 Threat of New Entrants

9.2 Bargaining Power of Suppliers

9.3 Bargaining Power of Buyers

9.4 Threat of Substitutes

9.5 Competitive Rivalry

10. SWOT Analysis

10.1 Strengths

10.2 Weaknesses

10.3 Opportunities

10.4 Threats

11. Key Players Analysis

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/4oze2b

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General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) is pleased to announce two businesses that it will invest in from the inaugural Blue Magic Netherlands (BMN) event last November: Emergent Swarm Solutions and Saluqi Motors.

"The technologies presented by Emergent and Saluqi really stood out to us, and we're proud to be working with them," said Brad Lunn, managing director for GA-ASI. "I expect several other companies from the Blue Magic Netherlands event to emerge and we hope to make additional announcements in the near future."

At the Blue Magic investment and innovation conference in the Netherlands, GA-ASI and its partners heard pitches from innovative Dutch companies about the important technologies they are developing. The event was organized collaboratively between GA-ASI, the Dutch Ministry of Defense, the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Brainport Development in Eindhoven, and Brabant Development Agency (BOM). The key areas of focus were Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning, Autonomy, Advanced Materials, Sensors, Advanced Manufacturing, and Space. Close to 50 companies applied and after reviewing the applications, 16 companies were selected to pitch their capabilities.

Emergent Swarm Solutions and Saluqi Motors were selected by GA-ASI to make investments after both companies made compelling pitches about their respective technologies at the BMN event and following months of detailed business and technology discussions with the two companies.

Emergent Swarm Solutions develops innovative software solutions for autonomous flight and intelligent, decentralized swarming capabilities for a variety of unmanned vehicles. GA-ASI is partnering with Emergent to develop critical autonomy skills for GA-ASI's current and future portfolio of aircraft.

"It is a pleasure to partner with General Atomics to develop and deploy our autonomy and swarming capabilities on the current and next generation of unmanned aircraft," said Lennart Bult, Co-founder and Managing Director at Emergent Swarm Solutions. "Collaborating with the General Atomics team has been a fantastic experience, and we look forward to delivering advanced capabilities through this partnership."

Saluqi Motors builds high-density motors with integrated electronics that significantly increase power and torque in small packages, which is well-suited for airborne platforms. GA-ASI is partnering with Saluqi to qualify their existing products within the strict environmental demands of aerospace applications and to develop new products for specific applications.

"We are deeply honored to be selected by GA-ASI from such a strong field of innovative companies," said Matthijs de Haan, CEO at Saluqi Motors. "Our ultra-compact and high-performance motors are engineered to meet the demanding requirements of aerospace applications. This collaboration enables us to further validate our technology and develop new solutions for the defense and aerospace industries."

GA-ASI is a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems and related mission systems. The company hosted its first Blue Magic event in 2019 in Belgium, with subsequent events held in 2020, 2021, and 2023. GA-ASI is delivering eight MQ-9A aircraft to the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF).

"GA-ASI is committed to continue working with the Dutch government and Dutch industry in supporting the growth of technology innovation in the Netherlands. GA-ASI anticipates holding additional BMN events in the near future," Lunn added.

About GA-ASI

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., is the world's foremost builder of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). Logging more than 8 million flight hours, the Predator line of UAS has flown for over 30 years and includes MQ-9A Reaper, MQ-1C Gray Eagle 25M, MQ-20 Avenger, and MQ-9B SkyGuardian/SeaGuardian. The company is dedicated to providing long-endurance, multi-mission solutions that deliver persistent situational awareness and rapid strike.

For more information, visit www.ga-asi.com.

Avenger, EagleEye, Gray Eagle, Lynx, Predator, Reaper, SeaGuardian, and SkyGuardian are trademarks of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., registered in the United States and/or other countries.

# # #

Contact Information

GA-ASI Media Relations

asi-mediarelations@ga-asi.com

(858) 524-8101

SOURCE: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.
Russell Dean Dupuis, Ph.D. in the Field of Materials Science and Production

Carlos M. Duarte, Ph.D. in the Field of Biological Production, Ecology/Environment

The Japan Prize Foundation (President: Ryozo Nagai) held an award ceremony on Wednesday, April 16 at the New National Theatre, Tokyo in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward to confer the Japan Prize on scientists who have made creative and dramatic achievements in the global scientific and technological fields and who have contributed significantly to realizing peace and prosperity for all humanity.

Russell Dean Dupuis, Ph.D. (USA), the winner in the field of Materials Science and Production, and Carlos M.Duarte, Ph.D. (Spain), the winner in the field of Biological Production, Ecology/Environment, were in attendance at the award ceremony, and each field was awarded 1 million Yen together with a certificate and a medal.

Each year, the winners of the Japan Prize are recommended by approximately 15,500 prominent scientists and engineers from around the world, and decided by a rigorous examination taking about one year. For 2025, the Foundation received 149 nominations for the field of Materials Science and Production and 72 nominations for the field of Biological Production, Ecology/Environment. This year's winners were selected from that total of 221 candidates.

The ceremony was attended by about 1,000 guests, starting with Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, heads of the three branches of government and other related officials, and representatives from various other elements of society. His Majesty the Emperor delivered remarks, followed by speeches by the two winners and congratulatory remarks by Fukushiro Nukaga, Speaker of the House of Representatives.

This year's award ceremony can be viewed from the links below.

Japanese Version: https://youtube.com/live/zTknLtGyoBQ

English Version: https://youtube.com/live/EnexU3HBJjY

Profile photos of the Japan Award winners and photos from the day of the award ceremony will be uploaded to this link.

https://www.japanprize.jp/press_photo.html

*When publishing these photos, please include a credit that reads "Courtesy of Japan Prize."

About the Japan Prize

The establishment of the Japan Prize in 1981 was motivated by the Japanese government's desire to create an internationally recognized award that would contribute to scientific and technological development around the world. With the support of numerous donations, the Japan Prize Foundation received endorsement from the Cabinet Office in 1983. The Japan Prize is awarded to scientists and engineers from around the world who have made creative and dramatic achievements that help progress their fields and contribute significantly to realizing peace and prosperity for all humanity. Researchers in all fields of science and technology are eligible for the award, with two fields selected each year in consideration of current trends in scientific and technological development. In principle, one individual in each field is recognized with the award, and receives a certificate, a medal, and a monetary prize. Each award ceremony is attended by Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, heads of the three branches of government and other related officials, and representatives from various other elements of society.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250416565239/en/

Contacts:

For inquiries about this release: The Japan Prize Public Relations Office

E-mail: japanprize@ml.prap.co.jp
Grenoble, April 16, 2025 - HRS, French designer and manufacturer, and European leader in hydrogen refueling stations, praises the Government's presentation of the National Strategy for the Development of Low-Carbon Hydrogen (SNH II). This reaffirms France's ambition to become a European leader in the entire hydrogen value chain, and in particular to make hydrogen a lever for energy sovereignty and decarbonisation. It also sends a very positive signal to HRS, demonstrating the relevance of its industrial positioning.

As a leading industrial player in large-capacity hydrogen filling stations, HRS designs, manufactures and installs stations with refueling capacities ranging from 1 to 4 tonnes per day. The stations are specifically adapted to the needs of heavy and intensive mobility: fleets of lorries, buses, refuse collection vehicles, refrigerated vehicles, agricultural and construction machinery.

The French strategy makes these uses a national priority, considering that only hydrogen-powered vehicles can meet the constraints of range, availability and energy output in these segments.

For several years now, HRS has been developing systems and equipment that enable it to be fully in line with the strategic directions announced. In particular:

For industrial needs , HRS has developed a Filling Center & Export Trailer for hydrogen conditioning from 200 to 500 bar , compatible with all hydrogen gas transport technologies. This flexible solution is ideal for industrial sites or decentralized production infrastructure projects.

, has developed a for hydrogen conditioning from , compatible with all hydrogen gas transport technologies. This flexible solution is ideal for industrial sites or decentralized production infrastructure projects. For high-speed, heavy-duty mobility, HRS is currently the only station manufacturer participating in the European RHEADHY project, a strategic program aimed at validating new filling protocols at 700 bar. The aim is to deliver 100 kg of hydrogen in under 10 minutes, and a twin nozzle technology developed in partnership with Toyota[1]which is scheduled to go into service in 2026.

The government is also planning to create hydrogen hubs in the main industrial areas and along major roads, in line with the European AFIR (Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Regulation). In particular, the new strategy includes the presence of around a hundred distribution stations, which will supply 13,000 tonnes a year of carbon-free hydrogen to power more than a thousand heavy goods vehicles.

For the record, the AFIR regulation requires at European level:

One station every 200 km on the TEN-T network and one station per urban node by 2030;

Each station should deliver 1 tonne/day at 700 bar;

According to Hydrogen Europe[2], this will mean between 700 and 1,200 hydrogen stations in Europe by 2030.

This move confirms the strategic importance of high-capacity stations, where HRS has outstanding expertise, with 4 HRS40 stations installed in Franceincluding the latest at Saint-Sulpice[3] (Occitanie, France).

With a fleet of 28 installed stations and a proven ability to produce and install stations to short lead times, HRS is positioned as a key partner in this French and European industrial dynamic, with proven technology, industrial facilities at full capacity, and a clear vision: to accelerate the transition to zero-emission, sustainable and sovereign mobility.

ABOUT HRS (HYDROGEN REFUELING SOLUTIONS)

HRS is a world leader in large-capacity hydrogen refueling stations. HRS offers a complete and unique range of modular and scalable stations, from 200 kg/day to 4 tons/day.

Pure player from design to commissioning, HRS boasts state-of-the-art industrial production facilities capable of assembling up to 180 stations a year, with lead times of 6 to 12 weeks. This industrial site includes a test area, the only one of its kind in Europe, to test and trial the range of stations and develop future products and solutions for the hydrogen mobility market.

HRS has a hydrogen agnostic approach, allowing the use of any type of hydrogen (green, blue, grey, etc.). Our stations are compatible with all hydrogen production solutions and independent of manufacturers. This flexibility enables customers to choose the hydrogen supplier best suited to their needs in terms of cost, availability and carbon footprint.

HRS also offers a comprehensive service package, including 24/7/365 on-call maintenance. The performance of stations installed in Europe and around the world is monitored in real time from the state-of-the-art control room.

Today, HRS has one of the largest installed bases of high-capacity stations on the market, with twenty-eight stations ranging from 200 kg to 1 ton/day, representing a cumulative capacity of over 6 tons/day. All station terminals are bi-pressure and equipped with 350-bar, 350-HF and 700-bar nozzles, meeting all the needs of hydrogen mobility.

HRS stands out for its rigorous economic discipline, offering long-term financial solidity while continuing to allocate adequate resources to R&D, thus ensuring its position at the forefront of innovation.

ISIN code: FR0014001PM5 - mnemonic: ALHRS.

For further information, visit our website www.hydrogen-refueling-solutions.fr

CONTACTS

Investor Relations

ACTUS finance & communication

Pierre JACQUEMIN-GUILLAUME

hrs@actus.fr

Tel. +331 53 67 36 79 Financial press relations

ACTUS finance & communication

Deborah SCHWARTZ

hrs-presse@actus.fr

Tel. +331 53 67 36 35 Corporate press relations

ACTUS finance & communication

Anne-Charlotte DUDICOURT

hrs-presse@actus.fr

Tel.: +331 53 67 36 32

[1] See the press release dated January 28, 2025.

[2] https://hydrogeneurope.eu/a-new-dawn-for-h2-mobility-in-eu/

[3] See the March 3, 2025 press release.

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Conserving healthy lands and waters within the Wildlife Corridor has potential to bring a 6-to-1 return on investment

The amount of land conserved in and around the Wildlife Corridor with state funding has steadily grown each year since lawmakers established the Corridor in 2021 - and 2025 is poised to be yet another record-breaking year for Corridor conservation.

Fort Island Trail - Credit Sara Sheehy

Fort Island Trail - Credit Sara Sheehy

More than 133,000 acres of Corridor lands were conserved last year under Florida's two largest conservation programs, Florida Forever and the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program (RFLPP). That acreage beat the amount of Corridor land conserved with state funding in 2023 (110,465 acres) which, in turn, was nearly three times the amount conserved in 2022 (36,602).

"Investing in nature is investing in the economy of Florida," said Lisa Shipley, CEO of Live Wildly. "Florida has become a national example of how conserving natural lands and waters can lead to healthier communities and provide for a robust future."

A 2021 study found that the Corridor supports at least 114,000 jobs and provides at least $30 billion in annual value from tourism, agriculture, forestry, and other industries. That same study found that conserving Corridor lands most at risk of destruction from development could bring Florida a 6-to-1 return on investment from increased tourism revenue and the sale of carbon credits.

Other studies have shown that protecting the Wildlife Corridor can shield communities from devastating floods and heat waves. The Corridor is home to about two-thirds of Florida's floodplains which absorb water and act as natural buffers against flooding. The Corridor's healthy forests keep temperatures cooler than in surrounding urban areas, offering tourists and Floridians a refuge from soaring heat and the health risk it brings.

"The name 'Wildlife Corridor' may lead some to think it's focused solely on helping Florida's iconic animal species," said Shipley. "But the Corridor's green infrastructure also serves as the foundation of Florida's economy and quality of life."

This year, the state is once again on track to conserve more lands and waters within and around the Wildlife Corridor than in previous years.

In March, state policy leaders approved a ground-breaking $84.5 million for the permanent conservation of 19,486 acres across 7 properties within the Corridor. The funding, which comes from Florida Forever and the RFLPP, will connect fragmented natural areas across the Corridor while supporting agricultural production as well as habitat for gopher tortoise, sandhill crane, the Florida panther, and other species.

Also in March, Florida opened its first new state park in seven years. The Upper Shoal River Park was established on 2,500 acres of land adjacent to the Corridor, purchased with funding from Florida Forever. It will protect habitat for numerous wildlife species while offering Florida residents and tourists new hiking, fishing, and paddling opportunities.

"We applaud the state's commitment to keeping the Wildlife Corridor healthy and productive," said Shipley. "The future of Florida's communities and economies depend on it."

Created with unanimous approval of the state legislature in 2021, the Florida Wildlife Corridor is the nation's largest state-wide conservation effort of its kind spanning 18-million-acres from the Florida Panhandle to the Everglades.

Contact Information

Meredith Budd

Deputy Director

meredith@livewildly.com

Michelle Yepez

Brand Campaign & Events Advisor

michelle@livewildly.com





SOURCE: Live Wildly Foundation

Related Images

Ochopee, Florida - Credit Live Wildly

Ochopee, Florida - Credit Live Wildly
Kelowna, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 16, 2025) - F3 Uranium Corp. (TSXV: FUU) (OTCQB: FUUFF) (FSE: GL7) ("F3" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Haywood Securities Inc., on behalf of itself and a syndicate of underwriters (collectively, the "Underwriters") who have agreed to purchase, or arrange for substitute purchasers, on a "bought deal" private placement basis, 29,200,000 flow-through shares of the Company (the "FT Shares") at a price of C$0.24 per FT Share (the "Issue Price"), for gross proceeds to the Company of C$7,008,000 (the "Offering").

Each FT Share will qualify as a "flow-through share" within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and will qualify as an "eligible flow-through share" as defined in The Mineral Exploration Tax Credit Regulations, 2014 (Saskatchewan).

In addition, the Company has agreed to grant the Underwriters an option (the "Over-Allotment Option"), exercisable in whole or in part by the Underwriters at any time up to 48 hours prior to the Closing Date (as defined below), to purchase up to an additional number of FT Shares equal to 15% of the total FT Shares issuable pursuant to the Offering at the Issue Price.

The gross proceeds from the sale of FT Shares will be used by the Company to incur eligible "Canadian exploration expenses" that qualify as "flow-through critical mineral mining expenditures" as such terms are defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada), and to incur "eligible flow-through mining expenditures" pursuant to The Mineral Exploration Tax Credit Regulations, 2014 (Saskatchewan) (collectively, the "Qualifying Expenditures") related to the Company's uranium projects in the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, on or before December 31, 2026. All Qualifying Expenditures will be renounced in favour of the subscribers of the FT Shares effective December 31, 2025.

The FT Shares will be offered to purchasers pursuant to National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions in all of the provinces of Canada, other than Quebec, and/or in other jurisdictions as agreed to between the Company and the Underwriters. The FT Shares will be subject to the statutory hold period of four months and one day from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws.

The Offering is expected to close on May 7, 2025 (the "Closing Date"). The Company will pay to the Underwriters a cash commission of 5% of the gross proceeds raised in respect of the Offering.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

About F3 Uranium Corp.

F3 is a uranium exploration company, focusing on the recently discovered high-grade JR Zone on its Patterson Lake North (PLN) Project in the Western Athabasca Basin. F3 currently has 3 properties in the Athabasca Basin: Patterson Lake North, Minto, and Broach. The western side of the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, is home to some of the world's largest high grade uranium deposits including Paladin's Triple R project and NexGen's Arrow project.

On Behalf of the Board



"Dev Randhawa"

Dev Randhawa, Chairman & CEO

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, identified by words or phrases such as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "is expected", "scheduled", "estimates", "pending", "intends", "plans", "forecasts", "targets", or "hopes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "will", "should" "might", "will be taken", or "occur" and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information herein includes, but is not limited to, statements that address activities, events or developments that F3 expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future including the closing date of the Offering, proposed use of proceeds of the Offering and the tax treatment of the FT Shares.

Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information relating to any future mineral production, liquidity, enhanced value and capital markets profile of the Company, future growth potential for the Company and its business, and future exploration plans are based on management's reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the price of metals; costs of exploration and development; the estimated costs of development of exploration projects; the Company's ability to operate in a safe and effective manner.

These statements reflect the Company's respective current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of other assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information and the Company has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: the future tax treatment of the FT Shares, competitive risks and the availability of financing; uranium price volatility; risks associated with the conduct of the Company's exploration activities; regulatory, consent or permitting delays; risks relating to reliance on the Company's management team and outside contractors; the Company's inability to obtain insurance to cover all risks, on a commercially reasonable basis or at all; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; risks relating to project financing and equity issuances; risks and unknowns inherent in all mining projects; contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties; laws and regulations governing the environment, health and safety; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining, development or exploration activities; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; the Company's interactions with surrounding communities; the speculative nature of exploration and development; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; litigation risk; and the factors identified in the Company's public disclosure documents. Readers are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to 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 cause results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements or information, other than as required by applicable law.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/248769

SOURCE: F3 Uranium Corp.
Allschwil, Switzerland, April 16, 2025

Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd, Allschwil (SIX: BSLN), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to meeting the needs of patients with severe bacterial and fungal infections, reported that shareholders approved all proposals of the board of directors at today's annual general meeting (AGM) for the financial year 2024.

At the AGM, the shareholders approved the annual report, the financial statements and the consolidated financial statements for the financial year 2024. They also endorsed carrying forward the accumulated deficit and approved the discharge of the members of the board of directors and the management committee.

Mr. Stephan Schindler was elected as chairman and Mr. Leonard Kruimer, Dr. Martin Nicklasson, Dr. Nicole Onetto, Dr. Carole Sable and Dr. Thomas Werner were re-elected as members of the board of directors. In addition, Mr. Kruimer was elected, and Dr. Nicklasson and Dr. Onetto were re-elected to the compensation committee. The term of all board members lasts until the AGM 2026.

The shareholders also approved the proposed maximum aggregate amount of compensation for the board of directors for the period from the AGM 2025 to the AGM 2026, and the maximum aggregate amount of total compensation (fixed and variable) for the management committee for the financial year 2026. In a non-binding advisory vote, the shareholders endorsed the compensation report for the financial year 2024.

Finally, the shareholders re-elected Dr. Caroline Cron as independent proxy until the end of the next AGM and elected Ernst & Young Ltd, Basel, as auditors for the financial year 2025.

Domenico Scala said: "I would like to thank our shareholders for their strong support of the motions proposed by the board of directors. In particular, I congratulate Stephan Schindler on his election as the new chairman. After serving on the board since 2011, including the last nine years as chairman, and with Basilea in a strong position, I am proud to pass the baton to Stephan. As an accomplished Life Sciences leader, I am confident he will help guide Basilea to continued success."

At the AGM, 31.9% of the share capital, equivalent to 56.1% of the shares entitled to vote, was represented. In total, 66.6% of the share capital is currently registered in Basilea's share register.

About Basilea

Basilea is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company founded in 2000 and headquartered in Switzerland. We are committed to discovering, developing and commercializing innovative drugs to meet the needs of patients with severe bacterial and fungal infections. We have successfully launched two hospital brands, Cresemba for the treatment of invasive fungal infections and Zevtera for the treatment of bacterial infections. In addition, we have preclinical and clinical anti-infective assets in our portfolio. Basilea is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange.

Disclaimer

This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements, such as "believe", "assume", "expect", "forecast", "project", "may", "could", "might", "will" or similar expressions concerning Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd, Allschwil and its business, including with respect to the progress, timing and completion of research, development and clinical studies for product candidates. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd, Allschwil to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd, Allschwil is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For further information, please contact:

Peer Nils Schroder, PhD



Head of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations

Basilea Pharmaceutica International Ltd, Allschwil

Hegenheimermattweg 167b

4123 Allschwil

Switzerland



Phone +41 61 606 1102



E-mail media_relations@basilea.com (mailto:media_relations@basilea.com)

investor_relations@basilea.com (mailto:investor_relations@basilea.com)



(mailto:investor_relations@basilea.com)

This press release can be downloaded from www.basilea.com.

Attachment
Calling of shareholders to a joint general meeting on Thursday, May 22, 2025

Paris, April 16, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.

ODIOT Holding (Euronext Access, FR0004152700 - MLODT) announces the convening of the joint general meeting to approve the 2024 financial statements.

The shareholders of the company ODIOT HOLDING (the " Company ") are invited to participate in the joint general meeting which will be held on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at 10:30 a.m., at Cercle France-Ameriques, Hotel Le Marois 9-11, avenue Franklin D. Roosevelt - 75008 Paris.

The exact text of the resolutions which will be submitted to the shareholders for a vote will be made available to the shareholders of the Company in accordance with the legal procedures and deadlines.

A notice of shareholders' meeting at the joint general meeting of Thursday, May 22, 2025 was published in the Bulletin des Annonces Legales et Obligatoires (BALO) of Wednesday, April 16, 2025. This notice can be consulted on the ODIOT HOLDING website https://www.odiotholding.com/investor-relations .

The preparatory documents for this shareholder's meeting will be made available in accordance with the legal procedures and deadlines.

About ODIOT HOLDING

ODIOT HOLDING is the controlling holding company of ODIOT, a French luxury brand founded in 1690, and one of the most prestigious goldsmiths since the 18the and 19th centuries. A royal supplier to the Empire and all European courts, it boasts unique expertise in creating exceptional decorative pieces and cutlery in precious metals (solid silver, vermeil, silver, etc.). ODIOT is certified as a Living Heritage Company.

Investor Relations Contact: investors@odiotholding.com

Press Relations: odiotholding@aelium.fr

ODIOT HOLDING (Euronext Access, FR0004152700 - MLODT) www.odiotholding.com

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Athena Gold Corporation (CSE:ATHA)(OTCQB:AHNR) ("Athena Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the completion of its redomicile from the State of Delaware to the Province of British Columbia, Canada, by way of a merger into its British Columbia subsidiary, Nova Athena Gold Corp. ("Nova Athena") under section 275 of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia), together with concurrent name change, to form the amalgamated corporation which will continue under the name "Athena Gold Corporation" (the "Resulting Issuer") (the "Redomestication").

The Redomestication was approved by the holders of the Company's common shares at its Annual General and Special Meeting (the "Meeting") held March 27, 2025, by an affirmative vote of approximately 78.75% of the votes cast in respect thereof by shareholders present in person or by proxy at the Meeting.

The Company has set April 24, 2025, as the "Record Date", subject to approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange. At that time, the Resulting Issuer's common shares will commence trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange under its new ISIN/CUSIP Number. The new ISIN Number is CA04684R1055 and the new CUSIP Number is 04684R105.

Under the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger and Amalgamation dated February 4, 2025, the Company's shareholders will receive one common share in the capital of Nova Athena for each common share of the Company with the Resulting Issuer retaining its current name, Athena Gold Corporation, and current trading symbol "ATHA" on the Canadian Securities Exchange and on the OTCQB under trading symbol "AHNR".

As a result of the Redomestication, the Resulting Issuer's authorized capital consists of an unlimited number of common shares and an unlimited number of preferred shares. Prior to the Redomestication the Company's authorized capital consisted of (i) 250,000,000 common shares, of which 194,803,633 common shares were issued and outstanding and 30,490,303 common shares were reserved for issuance, consisting of an aggregate of 25,260,303 share purchase warrants and 5,230,000 stock options; and (ii) 5,000,000 preferred shares, of which none were issued. On the Record Date of April 24, 2025, the Resulting Issuer will have 238,668,850 common shares issued and outstanding including 43,865,217 common shares previously issued to acquire the Laird Lake and Oneman Lake gold projects in Ontario and 30,490,303 common shares reserved for issuance, consisting of an aggregate of 25,260,303 share purchase warrants and 5,230,000 stock options. No preferred shares will be issued. The common shares held by Athena Gold in Nova Athena will be cancelled without payment of capital.

The Company's transfer agent, Endeavor Trust Corporation ("Endeavor"), has mailed out a letter of transmittal ("Letter of Transmittal") to all registered shareholders of Athena Gold whose common shares are held in the form of physical share certificates. Registered shareholders are required to deposit their original share certificate(s), together with a duly completed Letter of Transmittal, with Endeavor. Once received, Endeavor will deliver shares in the name of the Resulting Issuer to the registered shareholder in accordance with the terms of the Letter of Transmittal. A copy of the Letter of Transmittal will be available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca or can be obtained by contacting Endeavor. If a shareholder holds their common shares through the Direct Registration System (DRS), no action is required. Shareholders who hold their common shares through an intermediary (i.e., a bank, trust, company, securities broker, trustee, or other) should contact that intermediary for instructions or questions.

Further details regarding the terms and conditions of the Redomestication are set out in the Proxy Statement dated February 4, 2025, which is available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The Redomestication is expected, among other things, to significantly reduce Athena Gold's regulatory compliance costs, enhance its ability to access the capital markets and increase the number of potential investors.

About Athena Gold Corporation

Athena is engaged in the business of mineral exploration and the acquisition of mineral property assets. Its objective is to locate and develop economic precious and base metal properties of merit and to conduct additional exploration drilling and studies on its projects across North America. Athena's flagship Excelsior Springs Au-Ag project is located in the prolific Walker Lane Trend in Nevada. Excelsior Springs spans 1,675 ha and covers at least three historic mines along the Palmetto Mountain trend, where the Company is following up on a recent shallow oxide gold discovery, with drill results including 5.35 g/t Au over 33.5 m. Meanwhile, the Company's new Laird Lake project is situated in the Red Lake Gold District of Ontario, covering 4,158 hectares along more than 10 km of the Balmer-Confederation Assemblage contact, where recent surface sampling results returned up to 373 g/t Au. This underexplored area is road-accessible, located about 10 km west of West Red Lake Gold's Madsen mine and 34 km northwest of Kinross Gold's Great Bear project.

For further information about Athena Gold Corporation and our Excelsior Springs Gold project, please visit www.athenagoldcorp.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Koby Kushner

President and Chief Executive Officer, Athena Gold Corporation

For further information, please contact:

Athena Gold Corporation

Koby Kushner, President and Chief Executive Officer

Phone: 416-846-6164

Email: kobykushner@athenagoldcorp.com

CHF Capital Markets

Cathy Hume, CEO

Phone: 416-868-1079 x 251

Email: cathy@chfir.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. Securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, including, without limitation, statements regarding future exploration plans, future results from exploration, 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. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: "believes", "will", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", 'plans", "may", "should", '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. In making the forward-looking statements in this press release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that there will be investor interest in future financings, market fundamentals will result in sustained precious metals demand and prices, the receipt of any necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in connection with the future exploration and development of the Company's projects in a timely manner.

The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various risk factors as disclosed in the final long-form prospectus of the Company dated August 31, 2021.

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 in this press release or incorporated by reference herein, except as otherwise stated.

SOURCE: Athena Gold Corp
Originally published in Lenovo's 2023/24 ESG Report

Stakeholder engagement: Lenovo 360 Circle - Unveiling the origins and mission

As part of Lenovo's stakeholder engagement efforts, Lenovo 360 Circle was established to increase collaboration and enhance its relationships with channel partners. Lenovo's robust network of channel partners helps to deliver smarter technology to millions of customers around the world. When it comes to devices, infrastructure, and services and solutions, Lenovo provides channel partners with the resources needed to succeed in a highly competitive market. In 2021, Lenovo expanded that partner support to include sustainability resources through a partner community called Lenovo 360 Circle.

Built with inputs from channel partners, Lenovo 360 Circle was established as a community for partners to come together for collective learning opportunities and collaboration on addressing key issues in sustainability. The community is based on a self-service portal that follows a similar structure to the engagement process established by the UN Global Compact for private and public sectors.

Partners can apply for membership to Lenovo 360 Circle with their company's sustainability lead and, through the application, identify where they stand in their sustainability efforts into one of three stages: "Connect" partners, who are just starting out and need some help getting their strategy up and running, "Learn" partners, who have a structure in place and are ready to expand their strategies, and "Lead" partners, who are considered 'advanced' in their strategies and may already have a track record of goals and success in their sustainability efforts. Once the partner stage is identified, partners are then connected with a set of resources that are tailored to their specific needs - from assessment tools to tailored curriculums, to access to subject-matter experts and community events and webinars.

Lenovo envisions the Lenovo 360 Circle not only as a strategic advantage, but also expediting the shift to more sustainable business practices and models. As a community, the Lenovo 360 Circle addresses sustainability as a new business driver, while unlocking new business opportunities and aligning on common ESG goals.

Thriving together: Collective learning, collaboration, and partnerships in action

FY 2023/24 Lenovo 360 Circle in a few numbers:

Since September 2023, 343 members joined. The community now counts 363 members representing 2,181 local partners in 43 countries

379 sustainability experts as part of the Lenovo 360 Circle community coming from members, from third party's advisors as well as from Lenovo, representing a year-to-year increase of 102%.

The community forum participation increased by 179% since the broader opening of the community (~50% panelists coming from members).

280+ hours of collaboration through focus groups, sustainability workshops, regular interlocks.

5.5 hours training resources developed to support channel sellers and sustainability experts representing 14 courses and 65 modules (~50% industry agnostic content).

The overall engagement of Lead partners into the community common goals4 keeps improving year over year:

Percentages of Lead partners engaged5 in or reached common goals in FY 2023/24

(percentage changes compared to prior year)

Goal-category Renewable Energy Alignment with SBTi Circular economy Philanthropy Women in Leadership Engaged 65% (+5%) 65% (+0%) 91% (+1%) 57% (+2%) 78% (+3%) Reached 33% (+13%) 33% (+2%) n/a6 54% (+18%) 67% (-6%)

FY 2023/24 key projects linked to Lenovo 360 Circle Priorities:

Scope 3 inventory management: The Mode of Transportation (MOT) dashboard is providing detailed emissions data for transported goods for channel partners. It allows them to move away from spend-based assumptions to more accurate calculations, consolidating Scope 3 emissions from transportation based on real logistics data, depending on MOT (including air, sea, and truck) and detailed route from manufacturing location to destination. The MOT dashboard has been developed by Lenovo's Global Supply Chain, while integrating partner feedback.

Products sustainability attributes: Facilitating access to product sustainability attributes while ensuring transparency and reliability is a key focus of the Lenovo 360 Circle. For this reason, in Spring 2023 the community has joined the "Product ESG Data Transparency" project led by Global Technology Distribution Council (GTDC) and CONTEXT. This project has been built in consultation with IT vendors, IT distributors, and IT resellers to create an ESG data platform, primarily focusing on environmental attributes as a first step.

Packaging: The Lenovo 360 Circle supported Lenovo's EMEA Education team to design and launch an initiative called 'Turning Waste into Educational Wonder', which encourages students and educators to sustainably repurpose Lenovo's packaging. This initiative comprised a dedicated webpage, instruction booklet in multiple languages and a STEM competition for students to promote skills such as design, engineering, and problem-solving. Overall, there were 160+ submissions from 4,000+ students in 23 countries with nine winners.

Learning and Development: Leveraging the dedicated focus group and answering to a requirement coming from founding partners, Lenovo has developed the Lenovo 360 Sustainability Learning Paths. The training, primarily targeted at sales and sustainability leaders, offers four learning paths, comprised of courses and interactive, bite-sized modules, to provide essential sustainability knowledge and skills. Learners embark on a journey from sustainability fundamentals, to understanding Lenovo's ESG approach, and skills to embed sustainability within their business practices. Upon completion, individuals will receive credentials and partners receive Lenovo 360 Accreditation and progression through the levels of Lenovo 360 Circle membership status, where applicable.

As an active participant of the UN Global Compact, Lenovo 360 Circle is also consistently promoting the initiative's solutions amongst the members of the community while supporting the SDG 17: partnerships for the goals.

Championing sustainability across the value chain

Lenovo 360 Circle has been recognized with Champion status in the 2023 Canalys Global Sustainable Ecosystems Leadership Matrix for outstanding achievement in sustainability-focused partner programs and robust sustainability strategies at an organizational level. Lenovo 360 Circle was also awarded the Best Value Chain Initiative of the Year at CRN's inaugural Sustainability in Tech summit. This award recognizes a company, or partnership of companies, which are taking steps to reduce emissions across their entire supply chain, reduce waste and resource usage, and provide tangible results of the impact they are making on the environment.

Testimonials from participants:

"Connection is honored to participate as a charter member of Lenovo 360 Circle initiative. Participating in this community has been a tremendous learning experience and has served as a tipping point for Connection to invest in the creation of policies and develop executive sponsored initiatives focused on Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility." Brian Hicks, Senior Vice President Product Management and Operations at Connection

"Tackling complex social and environmental challenges is a team sport. The Lenovo 360 Circle systemic approach is a visionary and ambitious, yet complex journey we can all learn from". Arnaud Mourot, VP - Global Corporate Alliances and Changemaker Companies at Ashoka

Embracing tomorrow: Mapping out the year ahead for Lenovo 360 Circle

As Lenovo embarks on its journey forward, Lenovo 360 Circle commits to:

Actively seek out new members who share its vision and values,

Prioritize and cultivate strategic partnerships that amplify its mission and magnify its impact,

Quantifying its impact and enhancing its methodologies and tools.

Stakeholder engagement: Corporate Compliance Summit

Lenovo continues to focus on engaging its various stakeholders who may be impacted by its ESG efforts and whose actions can affect Lenovo's value. On January 15, 2024, Lenovo held a Corporate Compliance Summit in Beijing, inviting guests from the government, industry, university, and research field to discuss corporate compliance issues, jointly exploring new trends, challenges and opportunities, promoting internal compliance management, enhancing risk prevention awareness, and promoting high-quality development of enterprises to create a healthy market environment together

Read more

4To become a Lead member, companies must set at least three out of the five common goals relevant to five topics.

5Engaged is defined as companies who have set a goal.

6"n/a" as circularity goal for each partner is defined individually thus incomparable between the companies.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Lenovo on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Lenovo

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/lenovo

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Lenovo
Afghanistan April 2025

April 16, 2025: Afghanistan released U.S. citizen Faye Hall in March, after being held prisoner by the Taliban since February. The Taliban said Hall was arrested for unauthorized use of a quadcopter drone. Hall, along with a British couple and a translator were arrested in the central Afghanistan province of Bamiyan. The British couple ran training programs for women for several years. Last year the Taliban began to suppress all female activity outside the home. This made the British training program untenable.

Pakistan continues to send Afghan illegal immigrants back to Afghanistan. Since the 1970s Pakistan has had to deal with millions of Afghans who fled their homeland because of poverty and war. Several million Afghans are currently legal residents of Pakistan. But there are still several hundred thousand illegals and these Pakistani police want to send them back to Afghanistan.

Tension between Pakistan and Afghanistan continues because Islamic terrorists continue to attack Pakistan from bases in Afghanistan. The Taliban continue to have problems with several foreign economic projects. There continues to be an armed resistance to the Taliban government. This is one reason why the Taliban government, headquartered in Kabul, does not control the entire country.

Despite all the problems the new Islamic Afghan government still has some economic opportunities. One was a pipeline. In 2015 construction of the 1,814 kilometers TAPI Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India natural gas pipeline finally began in Turkmenistan. Work in Afghanistan didnt begin until early 2018. The work is currently stalled in Afghanistan because the current government, the Islamic Emirate Afghanistan, has been unable to control violence against the pipeline work. Another reason is that the nations the TAPI pipeline passes through, do not want the radical and disruptive IEA to benefit from the pipeline.

There have been several false starts for TAPI. For example, in 2018 ten Afghan tribesmen surrendered to the government and said they had just returned from Iran after several weeks of training on how to carry out an attack on the ceremony celebrating the start of construction of TAPI pipeline in Afghanistan. After years of negotiations over transit fees and natural gas prices Afghanistan, Pakistan and Turkmenistan agreed and construction of TAPI will move natural gas from Turkmenistan natural gas fields to the Afghan border. Pipeline construction originally began in 2015. Back then it was believed that, if construction is not interfered with, the pipeline would be operational in Afghanistan by the end of 2019.

Troublesome tribal militias and some Islamic terrorist groups disrupted construction efforts to the point where work was abandoned. Five years later work resumed. In Afghanistan you cant depend on extended periods of peace. Thats why Afghanistan has so little infrastructure. For example, there are no railroads, which are difficult to build and operate here. Many local tribal militias, organized for self-defense, could quickly transform into armed train robbery gangs. This is Afghanistan, where anything can happen, especially if it involves unexpected violence and attacks on industrial efforts, like building railroads or pipelines.

After passing through Afghanistan, TAPI goes into Pakistan and to the Indian border. Initially the Afghan Taliban agreed to leave TAPI alone. That was because the pipeline was a popular project with most Afghans as it would bring cheap natural gas to many Afghans. Some Taliban factions near the Iranian border who work for the Iranian IRGC Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps were told to attack pipeline construction efforts.

Officially Iran does not oppose TAPI, even though Iran also wants to build a gas pipeline into Pakistan and to India. Inside Iran the attitude is that TAPI is not good for Iran and that something should be done. Inside Afghanistan the Taliban promised not to harm the 800 kilometer long Afghan portion of the pipeline. This assurance turned out to be the opening round of negotiations about how much the Taliban will be paid to ensure the pipeline is unharmed. About a quarter of the pipeline runs through or near areas dominated by Taliban activity.

In August 2021 the elected Islamic Republic of Afghanistan collapsed and was replaced by the Pakistan backed Islamic Emirate Afghanistan Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. The new IEA declared a great victory but found that few people, not even most Afghans, saw this as a win. Foreign aid ceased. Nearly $10 billion of IRA cash held in foreign banks, to reduce corruption, was frozen and no one would recognize the IEA as the successor to the IRA. Countries in the region expect the IEA to collapse in a few years, which will leave the country a narco-state without any central government. Drug production in Afghanistan depends on the Pakistan military for support. The drugs are winning as they usually do wherever they get established. There are not too many narco-states because they all follow the same script. Eventually locals get fed up with the local violence and the growing number of addicts. That leads to more violence and the drug gangs are crushed, although usually not completely eliminated. Eventually can take a long time and such is the case with Afghanistan. Compare that to how it worked in Colombia from 2000 on, and Burma after World War II and Iran in the 1950s.

The only thing that nearly everyone in Afghanistan can agree on is that opium and heroin are bad. Nearly ten percent of the population is addicted to drugs, mostly opiates and another ten percent make a better living or get rich from the drug trade. Most Afghans consider drug gangs the biggest threat and these are largely run and staffed, like the Taliban, by Pushtun tribesmen from four southern provinces. The Pakistan-backed Afghan Taliban want to create a heroin-producing Islamic terrorist and gangster sanctuary in Afghanistan. If you want to know how that works, look at Chechnya in the late 1990s and Somalia or Yemen in the early 21st century. No one has come up with any cheap, fast or easy solution for that. Meanwhile, Afghanistan's core problem is that there is no Afghanistan, merely a collection of tribes more concerned with tribal issues than anything else.

Naturally the TAPI efforts in Afghanistan ran afoul of local politics and terrorism. There is no central authority for all the troublesome tribal militias and Islamic terrorist groups in Afghanistan. With no one in charge, anything can happen and that is the obstacle the TAPI construction effort is up against. So far, all those armed opponents to TAPI are winning.

The IEA government is unable to control the armed groups disrupting work on TAPI. The IEA is also having a hard time ruling Afghanistan. The overthrow of the IR A meant an end to the billions in foreign aid that the presence of the IRA justified. Since the IEA took over, the situation in Afghanistan has gotten much worse. The once again stalled TAPI project is one of many victims of the upsurge in violence and anarchy throughout the country.
LOS ANGELES, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- It was announced today that the 2008 lawsuit and the resulting $3.2 million 2012 default judgment obtained against German Hedge Fund Manager Florian Homm by Pricaspian Development Corporation has been thrown out. In Grynberg, et. al. v. Ficeto, etc., et. al., Case No. BC 396756, where Homm was represented in the case by Jan Lawrence Handzlik, Esq. of Jan Lawrence Handzlik, APC, Los Angeles, California, with litigation and research assistance from Kravitz & Co. PA, of Miami Beach, Florida, the Los Angeles Superior Court dismissed Pricaspian's 18-year-old lawsuit, ruling that Homm had never been properly notified. The dismissal is now final.

In the case, Pricaspian had served Homm by publishing a notice in a Los Angeles newspaper. However, a few months earlier, Pricaspian had filed an identical lawsuit against Homm in Colorado. When Homm defended against that lawsuit, Pricaspian dismissed it and refiled in California. Although, Homm had filed an affidavit in the Colorado case disclosing his location, Pricaspian did not inform the California Court of this fact.

First, the California Court found that Pricaspian's lawyers failed to make a valid request to serve Homm by publication and vacated the default judgment. This first ruling meant that Pricaspian had failed to serve the lawsuit within three years of the original filing. As a result, the California Court then dismissed Pricaspian's lawsuit against Homm in its entirety.

Since Mr. Homm was never served, he was unable to defend himself at trial. His co-defendant, Todd Ficeto, went to trial won because the Court found that Pricaspian suffered no damages as a result of Ficeto and Homm's conduct. Since Mr. Homm was unable to participate in the trial, he did not benefit from this ruling.

"This now sets the record straight. Pricaspian did not have a valid claim for damages against me, yet it pursued me to Germany with the default judgment. If I had been properly served, I would have defended against it and won", Homm said. "I am delighted that my effort to overturn this multi-million-dollar judgement succeeded."

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/florian-homm-wins-bid-to-vacate-multi-million-california-judgment-302430752.html
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - April 16, 2025) - Blacksteel Energy Inc. ("Blacksteel" or the "Corporation") announces that, further to a news release issued on March 21, 2025 (the "Dissident Shareholder News Release") by a group of shareholders (the "Dissident Shareholder Group") requisitioning a special shareholders' meeting to replace the Corporation's current board of directors, it would like to provide clarification on several misstatements and inaccuracies in the Dissident Shareholder News Release along with an update to the Corporation's situation.

Key Highlights

Dissident Shareholder Response

Jeff Callaway, principal of the Dissident Shareholder Group, was part of previous management when financial reporting deadlines missed, resulting in a cease trade order against Blacksteel securities.

Additional delays and costs incurred as a result of poor financial record keeping and oversight from previous management.

Financial Challenges:

Working capital deficit of $1.77 million as of January 31, 2024.

Total liabilities exceeding $3.35 million.

Environmental and Operational Issues:

Past spills requiring cleanup costs exceeding $0.7 million.

Current production at 45 barrels of oil per day with ongoing regulatory deficiencies.

Strategic Review Process:

Detailed review and exploration of joint ventures, capital raising and asset sales.

Perthro's offer deemed superior to other proposals, including one from Energize Natural Resources Ltd.

Proposed Transaction with Perthro (Canada) Inc.

Sale of Girouxville assets for $2.6 million in cash.

Perthro assumes environmental remediation liabilities and decommissioning obligations.

Proposed transaction not subject to any financing conditions and only standard closing conditions.

$0.5 million bonus payment if the transaction closes by July 15, 2025.

Response to Dissident Shareholder Group

The Dissident Shareholder Group has alleged that the Blacksteel board of directors (the "Board") has not managed the Corporation's business and affairs in a manner that benefits all stakeholders. It has formally requisitioned the Corporation to call a special shareholders' meeting to reconstitute the Board. In response to this request, Blacksteel has filed notice to hold an annual and special shareholders' meeting on June 26, 2025 (the "Shareholders' Meeting").

The Dissident Shareholder News Release made several statements and inferences containing serious inaccuracies, painting a flawed picture of the Corporation's current state. In this light, the Corporation is pleased to provide the following up-to-date information to its shareholders:

Jeff Callaway, the spokesperson for the Dissident Shareholder Group, served as President and CEO of the Corporation from September 21, 2020, to November 2, 2022, and as Executive Vice-President and CFO from November 2, 2022 until his departure on November 8, 2023. As outlined below, certain filing deadlines were missed during this time leading to a Cease Trade Order (the "CTO") against Blacksteel.

On August 28, 2022, two months before the departure of Mr. Callaway, the Corporation announced that it had filed an application for a Management Cease Trade Order (the "MCTO") with the Alberta Securities Commission ("ASC") as a result of defaulting in its Continuous Disclosure Obligations under National Instrument 51-102 ("NI 51-102") specifically its audited annual financial statements, management's discussion and analysis and related CEO and CFO certifications for the financial year ended April 30, 2023 (the "Required Filings").

The MCTO was granted on September 1, 2023, and later revoked by the ASC, which ordered a CTO on November 7, 2023, for all trading in Blacksteel securities. At this point, the default in its Required Filings had expanded to include the corresponding interim financial statements, management discussion and analysis, and certifications for July 31, 2023.

Mr. Callaway during his tenure as Executive Vice-President and CFO, made the following decisions that further contributed to the delays in filing the Required Filings on a timely basis:

Mr. Callaway changed external auditors on August 17, 2023 while the April 30, 2023 audit was being conducted. When a company changes auditors, the newly appointed auditor must review previous filings and, if required, advise on recommendations for restatement of current and prior years' consolidated financial statements. The review resulted in the new auditor suggesting restatements to the previous auditor of the prior years' financial statements. This decision resulted in duplication of audit fees and extended audit timeline resulting from the regulated process and procedures audit firms must adhere to when a change of auditors occurs. Replacing a corporate external auditor during a financial year audit is unusual as it creates complexity in meeting continuous disclosure rules.

The engagement of an external public accounting firm in September 2023 as a financial advisor to assist management with financial reporting, accounting and audit preparation services.

The failure of previous management to properly account for the Drakkar Energy Ltd. ("Drakkar") acquisition was an additional cause for the delays, which resulted in the CTO.

Since November 2023, the current management has been addressing the Corporation's default in its Required Filings which included completing the 2023 year-end audit and related year-end disclosures, the restating its financial statements as at April 30, 2022 and April 30, 2021 and auditing such adjustments to restate the comparative information.

Blacksteel's book and records received by current management were disorganized and out of date, requiring significant reconciliation work and increased review time by the auditors, resulting in additional costs, particularly in light of Blacksteel's acquisition of Drakkar.

The CTO cannot be revoked until the Corporation is up to date with its filing obligations under NI 51-102. The Corporation is currently preparing to file its audited annual financial statements and related disclosures for the year ended April 30, 2024.

Financial Challenges

According to its third-quarter interim financial statements that ended January 31, 2024, the Corporation had a working capital deficit of $1,767,757 and $33,839 in cash.

The company's total liabilities on January 31, 2024 exceeded $3.35 million, including the environmental liability and decommissioning obligations.

The Corporation and its current management have been working to resolve the issues described above while managing production operations of its assets, in a continually increasing cashflow deficit position.

In January 2024, to maintain funding for the Corporation's primary activities to rectify its financial situation, the Corporation issued a secured debenture (the "Debenture") through its wholly owned subsidiary, Drakkar. The Debenture has been drawn in stages and is currently at $1.35 million. Funds from the secured Debenture have been used to rectify the issues mentioned and ensure safe operations in the field. The Debenture matures on August 1, 2025 and accrues interest at a rate of 18% per annum.

Environmental and Operational Issues

On January 23, 2020, 57 barrels of oil and 50 barrels of produced water were spilled from a mechanical joint failure. Furthermore, on September 28, 2020, another 188 barrels of produced water were spilled at the same site due to mechanical pump failure. Additionally, on August 26, 2022, an AER inspection revealed a saltwater leak from the water disposal pump. Again, at the same site, the Corporation's third-party environmental consultant has estimated site clean-up costs to be more than $0.7 million.

Funds from the secured Debenture have been used to rectify the issues mentioned and ensure safe operations in the field.

Drakkar had several outstanding non-compliance items dating back to 2020, including unfinished spill remediation at their central production facility at 09-03-76-21W5. Consequently, Drakkar had been placed on global refer by the Alberta Energy Regulator ("AER"), which led to heightened scrutiny (or a red light on all activity). Since its acquisition of Drakkar in March 2023, Blacksteel has continuously worked to address all outstanding non-compliance issues to satisfy the AER's remediation requirements. Blacksteel was deemed fully compliant in 2024. The Corporation was removed from the AER's global refer status and has a green light to proceed with all activity unimpeded and without restrictions.

Reserves

As previously disclosed, Blacksteel engaged GLJ Ltd. ("GLJ") to prepare its oil and natural gas reserves report as at April 30, 2024. (the "2024 Reserve Report"). The 2024 Reserve Report values the Total Proved Reserves, before tax, discounted at 10% at -$0.039 million, a significant decrease from the $21.885 million at April 30, 2023.

Although no additional or new work had been undertaken on the property, the reserve volumes estimated in the 2024 Reserve Report represent a significant reduction from those in the April 30, 2023, report. GLJ attributes the reduction, amongst other things, to the following factors:

Lower gas prices, estimated in the 2024 report, coupled with the cost of facilities to operate, transport, and process the gas, rendering gas conservation uneconomic.

Higher-than-anticipated lease operating costs resulted from the frequency of battery and well repairs, due to the age and condition of the assets acquired in 2023.

The oil price differential compared to WTI pricing also decreased the economics of the existing wells and, therefore, the assigned reserves.

Strategic Review Process

With a skeleton staff and through the uncompensated time of the Board, since January of 2024, the Corporation has worked on a thorough process to examine strategic alternatives for the Corporation (the "Strategic Review"). This has included, but not been limited to:

approaching joint venture partners to develop the Corporation's Assets;

attempting to raise additional capital to develop the Assets further internally;

reviewing transactions involving the acquisition of assets not only domestically within Canada, but also internationally in jurisdictions such as Africa and Eastern Europe;

and a sale of the Assets or the Corporation itself.

The Board did not dismiss any potential alternatives without first examining the possibility of a successful transaction.

During the Strategic Review, it was highlighted that the Corporation is in a CTO position and a non-listed public company with approximately 600 shareholders, so the Corporation is severely limited in how a potential transaction can be structured. Therefore, many traditional solutions that are usually available to a financially distressed company are not readily available in this instance. For example, an asset or corporate sale that would attract shares as compensation, or partial compensation, is not available unless the shares are easily and transparently valued.

In July of 2024, the management of Blacksteel commenced discussions with representatives of Perthro (Canada) Inc. ("Perthro") about a potential transaction. Over several months, Perthro undertook due diligence on the Assets and had extensive negotiations with the Board, culminating in a signed agreement for the sale of the Girouxville assets (the "Assets") (the "Proposed Transaction") earlier this year. As part of its Strategic Review, the Board carefully considered all transactions, including an offer from Energize Natural Resources Ltd. ("Energize"), a private company of which Mr. Callaway is Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and majority shareholder. The Board believes that the Proposed Transaction is superior, in every way, to any other offer that has been presented to it, including the offer from Energize and believes that it is in the Corporation's best interests to proceed with the Proposed Transaction. Further details on the Proposed Transaction and Perthro are set out below under "Proposed Transaction and Perthro (Canada) Inc."

Proposed Transaction and Perthro (Canada) Inc.

Perthro (Canada) Inc, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Perthro AB, a private Swedish oil & gas company. As the regulatory issues mentioned above constrain Blacksteel, a cash offer for the Assets was negotiated. The Proposed Transaction involves; (a) Perthro paying Blacksteel $2.6 million in cash at closing, (b) assuming the saltwater spill and environmental remediation liability at the production site in Girouxville, (c) the decommissioning obligations of the Assets ($0.77 million), and (d) providing a $0.5 million cash bonus provided the transaction closes prior to July 15, 2025.

Further, Perthro has paid Blacksteel a $0.25 million cash deposit and has forwarded $0.225 million through the secured Debenture to Drakkar. The Proposed Transaction provides a break fee of $0.5 million in the event Blacksteel decides to terminate the Proposed Transaction.

The cash received from the Proposed Transaction will allow Blacksteel to honor its liability commitments, avoid potential costly environmental clean-ups and leave sufficient cash to revitalize the Corporation.

Arthur Madden stated: "Given the circumstances and today's market conditions, we believe that selling the assets to Perthro for cash is the only viable path forward for Blacksteel to come back and fight another day. We are working diligently to close this Proposed Transaction as fast as possible."

Blacksteel Energy Inc.

Blacksteel is a junior oil and gas company that explores, develops and produces petroleum and natural gas resources.

Forward-Looking Information Cautionary Statement: This document contains forward-looking statements regarding the business and operations of Blacksteel. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained herein are forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. In particular, statements as to the Corporation's anticipated transactions are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon various assumptions. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "seek", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "suggest", "indicate" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur, and include, without limitation, statements regarding: the completion of the Corporation's audited financial statements and associated management discussion and analysis for the year ended April 30, 2024 and completion of the Proposed Transaction. The Corporation's actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements and, accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the plans, intentions or expectations anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits the Corporation will derive therefrom. 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 legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with oil and gas exploration; risks related to the listing and 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 drilling results; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; the possibility that future exploration and development results will not be consistent with the Corporation's expectations; risks related to commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Corporation's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Corporation's disclosure record. All subsequent forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, attributable to the Corporation or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. Furthermore, the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release and the Corporation does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws.

Not for distribution to U.S. Newswire Services or for dissemination in the United States of America. Any failure to comply with this restriction may constitute a violation of U.S. Securities Laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/248814

SOURCE: Blacksteel Energy Inc.
Recommendation of first chikungunya vaccine for persons as young as 12 years old expands access for US travelers to regions with outbreak or elevated risk of chikungunya.

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, April 16, 2025 - Bavarian Nordic A/S (OMX: BAVA) announced today that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to recommend the virus-like particle (VLP)-based, single-dose vaccine, VIMKUNYA (Chikungunya Vaccine, Recombinant) for injection, for the prevention of disease caused by chikungunya virus.

ACIP recommends VIMKUNYA for persons aged 12 and older traveling to a country or territory where there is a chikungunya outbreak. In addition, VIMKUNYA may be considered for persons traveling or taking up residence in a country or territory without an outbreak but with elevated risk for US travelers if planning travel for an extended period of time. ACIP also recommends VIMKUNYA for laboratory workers with potential for exposure to chikungunya virus.

According to CDC, there has been evidence of chikungunya virus transmission to humans in more than 50 countries within the last five years.

Paul Chaplin, President and CEO of Bavarian Nordic said: "The ACIP's recommendation of our chikungunya vaccine for Americans aged 12 and older is a big step forward to expanding access to this vaccine in the United States. Chikungunya is an emerging public health threat around the world, and today's decision is another milestone in our mission to protect more people from this virus."

The recommendation from ACIP is pending final approval by the Director of the CDC and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

About chikungunya

Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne disease caused by the chikungunya virus (CHIKV). In the past 20 years, the virus has emerged across several regions in Asia, Africa, and the Americas, including many popular travel destinations, often causing large unpredictable outbreaks. Since its discovery, CHIKV has been identified in more than 110 countries, with evidence of transmission confirmed in more than 50 countries over the past five years1. Chikungunya typically presents with acute symptoms, including fever, rash, fatigue, headache, and often severe and incapacitating joint pain. Most patients recover within 1-2 weeks, but 30-40% of those affected may develop chronic arthritis that can last for months or even years2. In 2024, 620,000 cases of chikungunya were reported worldwide, an increase of more than 20% compared to 20233,4. Recent data suggest that chikungunya is severely underreported and often misdiagnosed as dengue fever due to a similar symptom profile5.

About VIMKUNYA (Chikungunya Vaccine, Recombinant)

VIMKUNYA is a vaccine for prevention of disease caused by chikungunya virus in people 12 years of age and older.

VIMKUNYA was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Commission in February 20256,7. Bavarian Nordic has also filed for approval of the vaccine in the United Kingdom and Canada.

Additional clinical trials are required to confirm the clinical profile.

VIMKUNYA is supplied as a single-dose 1-mL glass pre-filled syringe with 0.8 mL dose volume.

Important Safety Information

The following information is based on the U.S. Prescribing Information for VIMKUNYA. Please consult the full Prescribing Informationfor all the labelled safety information for VIMKUNYA.

You should not get VIMKUNYA if you are allergic to any of the ingredients of the vaccine or if you have had an allergic reaction following a previous dose of VIMKUNYA.

People with a lowered immune system, including people receiving medications that affect the immune system, may have a diminished response to VIMKUNYA. Tell your healthcare provider about all medications you are taking.

Fainting may occur with administration of injected vaccines including VIMKUNYA.

The most common side effects were pain at the injection site, fatigue, headache, and muscle pain. These are not all the possible side effects.

Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.

Tell your healthcare provider about any side effects that concern you. To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Bavarian Nordic at 1-844-4BAVARIAN or the US Department of Health and Human Services by visiting www.vaers.hhs.gov/reportevent.htmlor call 1-800-822-7967.

About Bavarian Nordic

Bavarian Nordic is a global vaccine company with a mission to improve health and save lives through innovative vaccines. We are a preferred supplier of mpox and smallpox vaccines to governments to enhance public health preparedness and have a leading portfolio of travel vaccines. For more information, visit www.bavarian-nordic.com

Forward-looking statements

This announcement includes forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of our control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning our plans, objectives, goals, future events, performance and/or other information that is not historical information. All such forward-looking statements are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements and any other cautionary statements which may accompany the forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances after the date made, except as required by law.

Contact investors:

Europe: Rolf Sass Srensen, Vice President Investor Relations, rss@bavarian-nordic.com, Tel: +45 61 77 47 43

US: Graham Morrell, Paddock Circle Advisors, graham@paddockcircle.com, Tel: +1 781 686 9600

Contact media:

Nicole Seroff, Vice President Corporate Communications, nise@bavarian-nordic.com, Tel: +45 53 88 06 03

Visit www.bavarian-nordic.com/media/chikungunyafor additional media information.

Company Announcement no. 14 / 2025







1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Areas at Risk for Chikungunya. https://www.cdc.gov/chikungunya/data-maps/index.html.

2 European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Chikungunya virus disease. https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/chikungunya-virus-disease.

3 European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Chikungunya virus disease case notification rate per 100 000 population, January 2024-December 2024. https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/chikungunya-virus-disease-case-notification-rate-100-000-population-january-2024.

4 European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Chikungunya virus disease cases January - December 2023. Chikungunya virus disease cases January - December 2023.

5 Ribas Freitas AR, Pinheiro Chagas AA, Siqueira AM, Pamplona de Goes Cavalcanti L. How much of the current serious arbovirus epidemic in Brazil is dengue and how much is chikungunya? Lancet Reg Health Am. 2024 Apr 30;34:100753. doi: 10.1016/j.lana.2024.100753. PMID: 38711542; PMCID: PMC11070701.

6 Bavarian Nordic Receives U.S. FDA Approval of Chikungunya Vaccine for Persons Aged 12 and Older. https://www.bavarian-nordic.com/media/media/news.aspx?news=7053

7 Bavarian Nordic Receives Marketing Authorization in Europe for Chikungunya Vaccine for Persons Aged 12 and Older. https://www.bavarian-nordic.com/media/media/news.aspx?news=7056

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Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 16, 2025) - Gunnison Copper Corp. (TSX: GCU) (OTCQB: GCUMF) (FSE: 3XS0) is pleased to announce that the company is presenting a live virtual corporate update hosted by Red Cloud Financial Services on April 22nd, 2025 at 2:00 PM ET.

We invite our shareholders, and all interested parties to register for the webinar and participate in the live Q&A session at the end of the presentation moderated by Red Cloud.

The replay will be emailed out to all webinar registrants proceeding the event and will also be available on the Red Cloud website.

For more information and to register: https://redcloudfs.com/events/rcwebinar-gcu/.

Join Gunnison Copper's Senior VP & Chief Financial Officer - Craig Hallworth & Robert Winton - Senior VP Operations and General Manager for a live webinar to get an update on the Company's Gunnison and JCM projects in southeast Arizona.

Commodities to be covered: Copper

About Gunnison Copper Corp.

Gunnison Copper Corp. is a multi-asset pure-play copper developer and producer that controls the Cochise Mining District (the district), containing 12 known deposits within an 8 km economic radius, in the Southern Arizona Copper Belt.

About Red Cloud Financial Services Inc.

Red Cloud Financial Services Inc. is a globally focused capital markets advisory firm that provides a full range of executive strategy, media, marketing, and corporate access services. Our breadth of services combines with our significant knowledge of the junior mining industry combine for unique product offering. The company was founded by capital markets professionals with extensive experience in the junior mining industry.

www.redcloudfs.com

www.facebook.com/RedCloudFinancialServices

www.twitter.com/RedCloudFS

www.linkedin.com/company/red-cloud-financial-services-inc

www.youtube.com/c/RedCloudFinancialServicesInc

www.instagram.com/redcloudfs

SOURCE: Red Cloud Financial Services
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 16, 2025) - Cindy Bush, Chief Human Resources Officer, TMX Group, and other representatives from TMX Group, joined researchers from The Inclusion Initiative (TII) at the London School of Economics, to close the market to celebrate the launch of the RISE report on gender inclusion.





Cannot view this video? Visit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFA6iJauAiY

TMX and researchers from The Inclusion Initiative (TII) at the London School of Economics will host a panel discussion and market close to launch the RISE report on gender inclusion. Authored by TII's Dr. Grace Lordan and Dr. Anne Theunissen, the report focuses on actionable strategies to grow gender inclusion in Canada's capital markets. It was developed in partnership with TMX and VersaFi (formerly WCM), The Prosperity Project, and Women in Governance.

TII's Dr. Anne Theunissen will present the report's key findings, then Dr. Grace Lordan will moderate a conversation about gender inclusion in Canada's capital markets, featuring Tanya Van Biesen, CEO, VersaFi; Shona Eakins, Technology Consulting Manager, Accenture; Michelle Tran, President, TMX Datalinx; and John McKenzie, CEO, TMX Group.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/248826

SOURCE: Toronto Stock Exchange
Oakville, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 16, 2025) - FendX Technologies Inc. (CSE: FNDX) (OTCQB: FDXTF) (FSE: E8D) (the "Company" or "FendX"), a nanotechnology company developing surface protection coatings to reduce the spread of pathogens, announces it has completed a share for debt transaction previously announced on April 7, 2025, pursuant to which it issued 400,000 common shares at a price of $0.17 per share to settle $68,000 of debt with an arms length creditor. The shares issued pursuant to the share for debt transaction are subject to a hold period expiring four months and one day from the date of issuance, in accordance with applicable securities laws.

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.

ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY

"Carolyn Myers"

Carolyn Myers

Chief Executive Officer and Director

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; and 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 to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "aims," "potential," "goal," "objective," "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 involve several 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. Accordingly, the reader is urged to refer to the Company's such 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.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/248822

SOURCE: FendX Technologies Inc.
PARIS, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On the second day of an official visit to France, His Excellency Fahad Abdulrahman AlJalajel, Minister of Health of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, held bilateral meetings with senior French officials including Minister for Labour, Health, Solidarity and Families Catherine Vautrin, Minister for Health and Access to Care Yannick Neuder and Laurent Saint-Martin, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and French Nationals Abroad.

Discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in health innovation, research, workforce development, investment promotion, and supply chain resilience, aligned with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 Health Sector Transformation.

A highlight of the visit was the signing of several agreements, witnessed by Their Excellencies, designed to strengthen and expand the health partnership between Saudi Arabia and France. The first between Seha Virtual Hospital and Gustave Roussy aims to enhance cancer care and digital health through AI-powered telemedicine.

Another, signed between the Health Holding Company (HHC) and France Biotech, focuses on accelerating the development of the Health Tech and Life Sciences ecosystems in both countries by supporting healthcare startups and promoting the integration of innovative technologies.

A third agreement, between the Saudi Red Crescent Authority and Assistance publique-hopitaux de Paris, will strengthen cooperation in Emergency Medical Services, including joint training, knowledge exchange, and best practices in emergency response.

His Excellency Minister Aljalajel stated: "I welcome the strengthening of these collaborative ties with France's leading institutions, which reflect our commitment to advancing excellence and innovation across the health sector. These partnerships not only strengthen international ties but also position the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a dynamic and innovation-friendly ecosystem - one that is actively attracting global innovators and creating significant opportunities for transformative impact within our evolving healthcare landscape. They represent an important step forward in achieving the goals of Vision 2030, as we continue to transform our health system to deliver world-class care and foster a thriving life sciences sector."

The Minister's three-day visit to Paris and Lyon demonstrates the shared commitment of Saudi Arabia and France to enhance healthcare services and innovation, while further strengthening their bilateral relationship in support of global health goals.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2666968/Ministry_of_Health_Saudi_Arabia.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/saudi-arabia-and-france-strengthen-health-cooperation-through-strategic-agreements-in-biotech-and-digital-health-302430909.html
Woodside has signed LNG sale and purchase agreements with Uniper for the supply of 1.0 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) from Louisiana LNG LLC and up to 1.0 Mtpa from its global portfolio (Woodside Energy Trading Singapore Pty. Ltd.), demonstrating ongoing strong demand for LNG globally.

Woodside CEO Meg O'Neill said these agreements represent another important milestone to move Louisiana LNG towards a final investment decision.

"We are delighted to advance our longstanding relationship with Uniper through these milestone supply agreements. Uniper's commitment speaks volumes about Woodside's track record as a trusted LNG provider, built on decades of delivering reliable and flexible supply solutions for our global partners.

"Louisiana LNG is Woodside's largest growth project. It leverages the robust US gas resource, an outstanding site, best-in-class EPC and technology partners and Woodside's track record of successful project delivery. The addition of Atlantic Basin LNG supply to our established position in the Pacific strengthens Woodside's portfolio and allows us to tailor contract structures based on various price indices and tenures to better meet our customers' diverse needs.

"As we continue to progress sell-down opportunities for Louisiana LNG, these agreements reinforce the project's unique advantages and its economic competitiveness.

"Uniper's leadership in European energy markets make them an ideal counterparty, and this builds on Woodside's existing offtake arrangements, underscoring our shared commitment to delivering value for all companies and the economies in which each operate.

"In an environment of increasing demand for dependable sources of LNG, particularly in Europe, we remain focused on delivering reliable energy supply that will benefit our partners and stakeholders for years to come," she said.

Michael Lewis, Uniper CEO said, "We are very pleased to secure additional LNG supplies for our customers in Europe from a reliable LNG supplier like Woodside. This deal will support our security of supply and flexible generation strategy together with the potential development of additional gas-fired power plants in Germany to complement the renewable build-up. Woodside is one of our biggest LNG suppliers globally with a solid track record of deliveries of LNG to us from their existing projects.

"With this new project in Louisiana, we are further extending the cooperation with Woodside. Long-term LNG contracts like this contribute directly to the competitiveness of European industry. Reliable and cost-effective energy supply is a cornerstone of a strong industrial base, and deals like this help ensure our customers can count on both."

Louisiana LNG LLC will supply 1.0 Mtpa of LNG on a free-on-board basis for up to thirteen years from the commercial operations date (COD) of Louisiana LNG.

In addition, Woodside Energy Trading Singapore Pty. Ltd. will supply up to 1.0 Mtpa of LNG on a delivered ex-ship basis from Woodside's global portfolio into Europe commencing with Louisiana LNG's COD over a term until 2039.

The sale and purchase agreements are subject to Woodside's final investment decision on the three train 16.5 Mtpa foundation development of Louisiana LNG.

About Woodside

Woodside is a global energy company providing reliable and affordable energy to help people lead better lives. We leverage our track record of world-class project execution and operational excellence as we build a diverse global portfolio to meet the world's growing energy needs.

We have over 35 years of experience in the LNG industry including pioneering Australia's LNG industry as operator of the North West Shelf Project where we shipped our first LNG cargo to Japan in 1989. We are executing major projects today, while pursuing growth opportunities that will deliver long-term value for our shareholders. We maintain a strong balance sheet and a disciplined investment approach.

About Uniper

Dusseldorf-based Uniper is a European energy company with global reach and activities in more than 40 countries. With around 7,500 employees, the company makes an important contribution to security of supply in Europe, particularly in its core markets of Germany, the UK, Sweden and the Netherlands. Uniper's operations include power generation in Europe, global energy trading, and a broad gas portfolio.

This announcement was approved and authorised for release by Woodside's Disclosure Committee.

[1] See "Woodside announces Louisiana LNG partnership with Stonepeak" announced 7 April 2025 for details. Closing of the transaction is targeted in the second quarter 2025.

Forward-looking statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements with respect to Woodside's business and operations, market conditions, results of operations and financial condition, including, for example, but not limited to, statements regarding the transaction (including statements concerning the timing and completion of the transaction, the expected benefits of the transaction and other future arrangements between the parties) expectations regarding future expenditures and future results of projects. All forward-looking statements contained in this announcement reflect Woodside's views held as at the date of this announcement. All statements, other than statements of historical or present facts, are forward-looking statements and generally may be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as 'guidance', 'foresee', 'likely', 'potential', 'anticipate', 'believe', 'aim', 'estimate', 'expect', 'intend', 'may', 'target', 'plan', 'forecast', 'project', 'schedule', 'will', 'should', 'seek' and other similar words or expressions.

Forward-looking statements in this announcement are not guidance, forecasts, guarantees or predictions of future events or performance, but are in the nature of aspirational targets that Woodside has set for itself and its management of the business. Those statements and any assumptions on which they are based are only opinions, are subject to change without notice and are subject to inherent known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of Woodside, its related bodies corporate and their respective officers, directors, employees, advisers or representatives.

Details of the key risks relating to Woodside and its business can be found in the "Risk" section of Woodside's most recent Annual Report released to the Australian Securities Exchange and Woodside's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and available on the Woodside website at https://www.woodside.com/investors/reports-investor-briefings. You should review and have regard to these risks when considering the information contained in this announcement.

Investors are strongly cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Actual results or performance may vary materially from those expressed in, or implied by, any forward-looking statements.

All information included in this announcement, including any forward-looking statements, speak only as of the date of this announcement and, except as required by law or regulation, Woodside does not undertake to update or revise any information or forward-looking statements contained in this announcement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250416376640/en/

Contacts:

INVESTORS

Sarah Peyman

M: +61 457 513 249

E: investor@woodside.com

MEDIA

Christine Forster

M: +61 484 112 469

E: christine.forster@woodside.com
Bauplan, a San Francisco, CA- and NYC-based provider of a Python-first serverless data platform, raised $7.5M in Seed funding.

The round was led by Innovation Endeavors with participation from Wes McKinney, Aditya Agarwal, and Chris Re.

The company intends to use the funds to expand operations and its development efforts.

Founded by Ciro Greco, Jacopo Tagliabue and Mattia Pavoni, Bauplan offers a serverless runtime that processes large datasets directly on object storage in pure Python. Developers can build applications using simple serverless Python functions and familiar git-like concepts like branch, commit, and merge. This programmable, code-first platform is built for automation to empower new data developers and eliminates the need for Kubernetes, Spark, and special infrastructure management.

It is ideal for infrastructure and data science teams in medium sized and large enterprises with data intensive use cases involving machine learning and AI applications, especially in B2B software, media, financial services and healthcare tech. It is already used by enterprise design partners, such as MFE-MediaForEurope, a European broadcaster.

FinSMEs

16/04/2025
Blue Onions CEO and co-founder Lyndsey Bunting

Blue Onion, a NYC-based subledger used by retail and ecommerce brands, just announced a $10M in Series A funding round. In conjunction with the funding, CEO and co-founder Lyndsey Bunting participated in our Q&A.

FinSMEs: Hi Lyndsey, can you tell us a bit more about yourself? Whats your background?

I initially became interested in finance and accounting through my grandfather and my dad, who were both small business owners. I was inspired by their journeys and excited to follow in their footsteps, so it felt natural to pursue those subjects during my college years at The Wharton School at UPenn. To me, finance and accounting are the language of business.

I founded Blue Onion in May of 2020, during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. I had been working as VP of Finance at Birchbox, where I observed accounting teams dealing with the same issues time and time again  costly, complex and time-consuming processes to obtain clean and accurate financial data. This also came up while I was doing consulting work for other direct-to-consumer brands, helping them build out their accounting and finance functions. I knew there had to be a better way.

At first, I set my sights on Y Combinator (YC) to get the project off the ground in 2019, but it didnt stick the first go around. The stars eventually aligned, though. My co-founders, Charley McMillan and Manav Malhotra, happened to be in New York City at the same time in 2020. We had breakfast on a whim and I brought up my concept for Blue Onion. We decided to aim for YC again. We had no customers, no product. It was just the three of us, but we got accepted into YC and then COVID lockdowns happened. So we rented a house down in Charlotte so that the three of us could work in person. We did that for months. It was an incredible experience. We knew we were onto something when we asked, if we built this, would you sign a contract? We got five yes responses and realized theres something here! Complete strangers are willing to sign on to this product because the pain points were solving for are real.

FinSMEs: Lets speak about Blue Onion. What is the market problem you want to solve? What is the real opportunity?

We are empowering companies with accessible, accurate and actionable financial data. For the first time, we are allowing companies to close their books daily instead of struggling at month and year end. Blue Onion is making financial information less intimidating and more actionable. The focus is on reconciliation, booking entries and clean data. I truly believe reconciliation is essential for ensuring that financial data is accurate and trustworthy, which allows organizations to make informed decisions. Booking entries correctly is crucial for maintaining the integrity of financial records, as errors can lead to significant discrepancies and misinterpretations of a companys financial health.

Clean data serves as the foundation for effective financial analysis and reporting, enabling teams to derive actionable insights and improve overall business performance. There is a huge opportunity for AI in this space currently, many companies are too blocked by bad data to even use AI. We provide the clean data needed to truly automate and get outcomes you can trust.

FinSMEs: What are the features differentiating the product from competitors?

Its all in our approach to building finance and accounting tools. Data cleanliness and accuracy are at the foundation of our product. I remember the first couple customers that we had; I would log into every instance of the application and I would manually check all of the journal entries.

Thats essentially how we did QA, and that was such an important piece because the idea was, which I think is still true, is that if people cant trust the data, they cant trust the product. The data needs to be correct before anything else.

Reconciliation and data cleanliness are what make us different. We built a repository of clean financial data ready for GAAP financial statements. We take responsibility for data correctness at every level, from the source of the data to owning the movement and consolidation of the data, to booking the entries and automating the workflows. Its a simple idea and its hard but we believe that to truly provide value and automate workflows its necessary.

FinSMEs: You just raised a new funding round. Please, tell us more about it.

Were announcing a $10M Series A led by Viola FinTech, bringing our total funding to $17.6M. It includes participation from existing investors YC, Entree Capital, Green Visor and Vinyl Capital.

Were excited to use this capital to broaden our reach and to continue to deliver fully reconciled, transaction-level data thats accurate, auditable and ready for automation.

FinSMEs: Can you share some numbers and achievements for the business?

Of course! Were proud to have reconciled over $30 billion of transactions to date.

At present, we work with over 200 leading retail and ecommerce brands, including Supergoop!, BarkBox and a.k.a Brands. Another fun fact: We average 99% data accuracy post onboarding.

FinSMEs: What are your medium-term plans?

First, wed like to expand the number of integrations that we offer, allowing us to provide clean data for more financial statement accounts and to more ledgers. Were also working on allowing third-party applications to build on top of clean financial data. Were also hoping to become the clean data financial platform for other consumer verticals and expand geographically to Latin America, Europe, Middle East and Asia.

FinSMEs

16/04/2025
Luma Financial Technologies, a Cincinnati, OH-based structured products and insurance solutions provider, raised $63M in Series C funding.

The round was led by Sixth Street Growth. Existing strategic investors including Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, UBS, and TD Bank Group also participated.

The company intends to use the funds to enable the acceleration of its expansion across key markets, deepen its investment in product innovation, and further enhance its global client support capabilities.

Led by CEO Tim Bonacci, Luma Financial Technologies provides a fintech software platform that has been adopted by broker/dealer firms, RIA offices, and private banks around the world. By using it, institutional and retail investors have a customizable, independent, buy-side technology platform that helps financial teams more efficiently learn about, research, purchase, and manage alternative investments as well as annuities.

The company has offices in New York, NY, Miami, FL, Zurich, Switzerland, and Lisbon, Portugal.

FinSMEs

16/04/2025
Sonix, a Yverdon-les-Baines, Switzerland-based ultra-low-latency and AI-Audio communication provider for gamers, raised CHF 1.8M in funding.

Backers included participation from undisclosed business angels, entrepreneurs, and family offices.

The company intends to use the funds to further scale its gamified engagement features, and expand its reach to gaming creators, Esports teams, and gaming brands.

Led by CEO Nicolas Abele and COO Olivier Muller, Sonix is a provider of an AI-voice communication system for gamers, creators, and brands to interact and engage within the gaming ecosystem. The solution operates across multiple platforms (Windows, IOS and Android).

The raise brought the total financing to date to CHF 6M.

FinSMEs

16/04/2025
Securities law plays a crucial role in regulating financial markets and protecting investors from fraudulent activities.

In New Orleans, the significance of this field is highlighted by recent legal actions, such as the Securities and Exchange Commissions (SEC) charges against a local investment adviser representative for fraudulent activities, underscoring the necessity for vigilant legal oversight.

When facing complex investment disputes or allegations of misconduct, consulting a New Orleans securities lawyer from Meyer Wilson can provide essential guidance. Their expertise in navigating securities regulations and advocating for investor rights ensures clients receive informed representation tailored to their financial situations.

A Laymans Guide to Securities Law

Securities law regulates nearly all financial instruments, from stocks and bonds to mutual funds. Its establishment protects investors, ensures markets operate transparently and prohibits fraud. However, the rules change constantly, making it difficult to stay updated. Securities lawyers provide important assistance by interpreting these laws and fiduciary regulations and advising clients accordingly.

Handling Investments and Transactions

Involvement in complicated investment transactions almost always requires professional legal support. Deals like mergers, acquisitions, or Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) need extensive legal paperwork, contracts, and compliance. Lawyers reduce the chances of costly mistakes in these cases. A securities lawyer ensures that every element of such deals meets regulatory standards. They save time and resources and smoothen the process through their expertise.

Compliance and Regulatory Filings

Companies must comply with strict regulatory standards to operate legally in financial markets. Securities lawyers assist businesses in complying with these regulations and provide required filings and documentation. They also offer insights on reporting to regulatory organizations to avoid penalties. This support is vital for any business that wants to maintain integrity and trust in the market.

Building a Future and Avoiding Legal Trouble

Disagreements in the securities sphere may originate from fraud claims or contractual disputes. An early consultation with a securities lawyer can prevent the issue from escalating. Securities lawyers provide dispute resolution techniques, seeking amicable solutions whenever possible. When litigation becomes necessary, they offer unwavering representation, consistent with their zealous commitment to safeguarding the interests of their clients.

Applying Due Diligence and Risk Assessment

Measuring potential risks is extremely important for investors and companies. Securities lawyers perform extensive due diligence, pinpointing possible landmines in investment choices. This analysis informs clients decisions and minimizes exposure to financial risk. Such analysis also makes lawyers valuable as companies navigate unpredictable financial markets.

Focusing on Investor Protection Rights

Securities law is primarily focused on investor protection. Securities lawyers fight legal battles for people who have lost money to securities frauds and scams. They work tirelessly to recover funds and ensure justice for affected parties. Having a securities lawyer by your side makes investors more powerful and helps soothe the insecurities in uncertain times.

Advisory Services for Compliance

Following the securities rule book is compulsory for companies seeking market credibility. Compliance helps businesses avoid various pitfalls that may lead to penalties and fines. Securities lawyers provide advice on compliance with legal standards, which is important for organizations interested in keeping a good reputation in the field.

International Securities Regulations

Financial markets are not the same worldwide, and this diversity adds a layer of complexity to statutory regulations and compliance. Securities lawyers have specialized knowledge of these nuances and can provide advice on cross-border transactions and compliance. Their expertise helps clients take advantage of global business opportunities while managing relevant risks. A global outlook is vital for firms seeking expansion to new markets.

Keeping Up with Securities Laws

Securities law is not static but continuously evolving to meet market needs and serve regulatory purposes. Whether you are a business or investor, keeping up with changes is important. Securities lawyers can explain new rules and enable clients to compete within the law. This proactive approach is essential to growing internationally.

Bespoke Legal Solutions to Address Client Challenges

Every client has different requirements and goals, and securities lawyers base their legal strategies around these goals. This client-centric approach means they can continue to give relevant and effective legal advice. Working on a personal level with different clients, securities lawyers can provide tailored services that exceed clients expectations.

Conclusion

In many cases, hiring a securities lawyer is an advantage. From dealing with complex transactions to compliance with regulations, they can help companies and individuals handle every aspect of their finances. With their extensive knowledge, they offer invaluable assistance to ensure clients can navigate the securities landscape with confidence. Hiring a securities lawyer helps individuals and businesses safeguard their interests, mitigate risk, and ensure compliance with the law. A securities lawyers guidance proves invaluable in achieving success in financial markets.
Arjun Kapoor recently expressed his interest about European and Korean cinema. In a latest interview, the actor talked about his DVD collections, revealing that hes had a collection of over 1000 DVDs, highlighting his knack for delving into international cinema and observing its nuances. Beyond this, Arjun also spoke about his interest in collecting films, recommending films through Arjun Recommends, and watching classic films with commentary.

I do this thing called Arjun Recommends. Previously, I used to do it a lot, but now have reduced doing it. Recently, I have removed all of my DVD collections. I have over 1000 DVDs. Previously, when I used to travel a lot, there was quite a boom in European cinema, and I have been quite interested in European and Korean cinema. Anurag Kashyap had told me about Memories of Murder. If you see old videos of Anurag, you could see his cabinet, and even I had that type of cabinet. I was quite interested in collecting films and watching them with commentary. I have watched all three parts of Oceans by Steven Soderbergh - with commentary, shared Arjun Kapoor.

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In the interview, Arjun made striking observations about cinema - both Bollywood and Hollywood. He drew comparisons between Indian films and classic international films, leaving viewers spellbound by his flair for observation. Moreover, he also recalled memories of watching the iconic film Mr India and spoke about the creative visionary directors of modern Indian cinema.
Blue Origins New Shepard rocket took Katy Perry and five other women to the edge of space and back in around 11 minutes on Monday. As the star-studded spaceflight drew attention, it sparked a debate about the exorbitant costs of space tourism and its impact on the environment read more

Blue Origins all-female spaceflight has created history. The New Shepard rocket took American pop star Katy Perry, journalist and billionaire Jeff Bezos fiancee Lauren Sanchez, CBS presenter Gayle King, and three other women to the edge of space and back on Monday (April 14).

The spaceflight which lasted around 11 minutes cost $150,000 (Rs 1.3 crore) for the deposit alone. This was the first time since 1963 that an all-women crew went to space. While the star-studded flight attracted eyeballs, space tourism is criticised by many for its exorbitant cost and harm to the environment.

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Lets take a closer look.

What is space tourism?

Space tourism is the latest craze among the wealthy. It entails private individuals paying money to go to space for fun.

Most space travellers reach the Karman line, the globally recognised boundary of space that lies 100 kilometres above sea level. The female crew on Bezos-owned Blue Origins sub-orbital flight crossed this line, allowing the six women to experience weightlessness for a few minutes before the rocket descended.

The orbital spacecraft takes passengers aboard much above the Karman line, with astronauts usually spending a couple of days to more than a week at an altitude of roughly 1.3 million (13 lakh) feet.

Space tourism is different from space exploration. While the formers main purpose is to take normal people to space, the latter was conducted by government space agencies like Nasa to better understand space and develop useful technologies.

The major private companies offering space travel include Elon Musks SpaceX, British entrepreneur Richard Bransons Virgin Galactic and Amazon founder Bezos Blue Origin.

Why space tourism is not all bad

The attention received by Blue Origins all-woman flight underscores the growing interest in space tourism. Valued at $848.28 million in 2023, the industry touched $1.3 billion last year, according to a report by Research and Markets.

It is projected to increase at a rate of 31.6 per cent between 2024 and 2030, projected to reach $6.7 billion in the next five years. Supporters of space tourism say it will renew interest in space exploration, bringing more investment to the industry that will aid innovation.

We have gotten a lot of products that are safe in a space environment that we copy in a safe way for the benefit of people on Earth, Annette Toivonen, a space tourism lecturer at Helsinkis Haag-Helia University of Applied Sciences and author of Sustainable Space Tourism: An Introduction, told DW in 2021.

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Some of the technological innovations may likely lead to the discovery of more sustainable fuel sources. Now, theres a lot of money for trying to create alternatives for fossil fuels. Then they might discover some kind of hydrogen fuel system that could be copied for airplanes, Toivonen added.

Bezos, who was on the maiden flight of Blue Origins New Shepard rocket in 2021, defended the mission, telling CNN that it was about building a road to space for the next generations to do amazing things there, and those amazing things will solve problems here on Earth.

Billionaire American businessman Jeff Bezos (3rd-L) shakes hands with Wally Funk, who became the oldest person in space with other crew mates Oliver Daemen (L) and Mark Bezos (2nd-L) at a post-launch press conference after they flew on Blue Origins inaugural flight to the edge of space, in the nearby town of Van Horn, Texas, US July 20, 2021. File Photo/Reuters

Promoters say that space tourism is also inclined towards developing technologies.

Space tourists are taking part in experiments, such as studying the effects of microgravity on human health, plant growth and material properties, as per S_pace.com_.

Why space travel draws flak

Space tourism costs at least a million dollars, which makes it only for the uber-rich of the world. Critics argue the high price makes it unaffordable for the general public, is highly wasteful and does not add to our understanding of the space.

Passengers on a Virgin Galactic spacecraft have to pay about $450,000. Blue Origin has not shared its full prices for a seat on its spacecraft. Elon Musks civilian-only trip to space in 2021 cost $55 million per seat.

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Blue Origins all-female flight has been condemned for its environmental impact, given the short amount of time it remained in space.

One of the critics is American actor Olivia Munn. Its so much money to go to space, she said. Theres a lot of people who cant even afford eggs I think its a bit gluttonous.

Munn questioned the point of this space travel. Space exploration was to further our knowledge and to help mankind. What are they going to do up there that has made it better for us down here?

A major criticism of space tourism is its contribution to pollution. It is well-known that launching rockets into space damages the environment.

Rockets pollute the higher layers of the atmosphere  the stratosphere which has the ozone layer protecting us from the Suns harmful ultraviolet radiation. Nitrogen oxides emitted during rocket launches can deplete the ozone layer by converting ozone to oxygen.

The aspect that has been most focused on is the depletion of ozone in the protective stratospheric ozone layer. The advantage, at least with the Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin rockets, is that they dont have chlorine, but they do have other components that can produce nitrogen oxides. And when thats released into the stratosphere, that can contribute to ozone depletion, Eloise Marais, an associate professor in physical geography at the University College London, told DW.

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Virgin Galactics SpaceShipTwo uses a hybrid engine that burns rubber, leaving behind a cloud of soot. Hybrid engines can use different types of fuels, but they always generate a lot of soot, Filippo Maggi, associate professor of aerospace engineering at Politecnico di Milano, Italy said, as per Space.com.

Blue Origins rockets are fuelled by a combination of liquid oxygen and hydrogen, which does not cause that much pollution. However, Marais told DW both will impact the environment. Hydrogen and oxygen can produce water and water released into the dry stratosphere can influence the climate.

Carbon dioxide, the primary greenhouse gas causing climate change, is also a big worry.

Speaking to Space.com, Dallas Kasaboski, principal analyst at the space consultancy Northern Sky Research, said a single Virgin Galactic suborbital spacecraft that lasts about an hour and a half can produce as much pollution as a 10-hour trans-Atlantic flight. Even if the suborbital tourism market is launching at a fraction of the number of launches compared to the rest of the [tourism] industry, each of their flights has a much higher contribution, and that could be a problem, he said.

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Some also say that experiments by space tourists have not majorly helped take human spaceflight forward.

According to scientists, there is a lot unknown about the harmful effects of space tourism. With space travel set to increase exponentially, there is not enough data to know when rocket launches will begin having a significant impact on climate.

The amount of fuel currently burned by the space industry is less than one per cent of the fuel burned by aviation, Martin Ross, an atmospheric scientist at the Aerospace Corporation told Space.com. So there has not been a lot of research, and that makes sense. But things are changing in a way that suggests that we should learn about this in more detail.

With inputs from agencies
The United Arab Emirates is planning to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to develop and monitor laws. The announcement was made by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and ruler of Dubai, following a meeting of the UAE Cabinet. But what do we know? And how will it work? Lets take a closer look read more

The cabinet has given the nod for the creation of a new Regulatory Intelligence Office under its general secretariat. Reuters

The United Arab Emirates is planning to use AI to develop and monitor laws.

The announcement was made by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, following a meeting of the UAE Cabinet.

This new legislative system, powered by artificial intelligence, will change how we create laws, making the process faster and more precise, Maktoum wrote on X.

But what do we know? How will it work?

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Lets take a closer look

What do we know?

As per MiddleEastAINews.com, the decision was taken by the UAE Cabinet.

The cabinet has given the nod for the creation of a new Regulatory Intelligence Office under its general secretariat.

Today, I chaired the Cabinet meeting at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi, where we made key decisions to advance legislative processes. We approved the establishment of the Regulatory Intelligence Office within the Cabinet. This office will work on creating a comprehensive legislative plan that brings together all federal and local laws in the UAE, connecting them through artificial intelligence with judicial rulings, executive procedures, and public services, Maktoum said, as per Gulf Today.

As per the Middle East AI News, the system will examine the effect of laws on the economy and society in real time.

The AI ecosystem will recommend updates and reforms based on data.

It will fast-track the legislative process by up to 70 percent  bring down the time and effort required for research, drafting, evaluation, and enactment of laws.

It will also construct a centralised legislative map linking all federal and local laws with judicial rulings, executive procedures and public services.

It will link global research centres to bring UAE laws in line with best international practices.

The new system will allow us to track the daily impact of laws on our people and economy using large-scale data, and it will regularly suggest updates to our legislation. The system will be linked to leading global research centers to follow the best international policies and legislative practices, adapting them to suit the UAEs unique circumstances,

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Image Courtesy: @narendramodi

said.

As per Economic Times, Maktoum called the new AI office as a paradigm shift.

This new legislative system, powered by artificial intelligence, will change how we create laws, making the process faster and more precise. It will ensure that our legislative framework stands out, aligning our laws with the best global practices while staying true to the unique path of our rapid development, Maktoum concluded.

As per Middle East AI News, the move comes as part of a wider thrust in the UAE to bring AI to government services, economic planning and infrastructure. The UAE judiciary and courts have already invested in AI.

The UAE government hopes its early investment in legal-tech will give it a strategic edge over other nations.

With inputs from agencies
Are you thinking of applying to a US university? It may be time to rethink your decision. Donald Trump is waging a long war against some of the countrys most reputable colleges, including Cornell, Brown, Princeton, Columbia and Harvard. Moreover, the administration is targeting foreign students by terminating their visas as well as their legal status read more

Students holds a sign during a rally in front of the US Department of Education in Washington, DC. Since Trump's return to power, he has waged war against many universities making it unsafe for foreign students. AFP

For millions and millions of international students, studying in a US university is the pinnacle of their educational life. Many consider it the first step in achieving their American Dream. However, since the return of Donald Trump to the White House this January, many foreign students, including Indians, seeking higher education in the US are reconsidering their decision, and looking at other options.

This comes as several US universities have come under siege, facing funding cuts, as well as the Trump administrations sweeping deportation drive, prompting waves of fear and confusion at schools across the country.

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Trumps war on universities

In his second term as US president, Donald Trump has cracked down on US universities. He has threatened the countrys most elite colleges such as Brown, Columbia, Princeton, Northwestern and Harvard with funding freezes.

Trump and his allies contend that some of these institutions have become bastions of anti-semitism and ideological indoctrination. And since March 13, he has gone after seven universities, pausing their funding.

For instance, Trump has suspended $400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia University. The Trump administration has also informed Brown that it could lose up to $510 million in federal funding. The Trump administration has linked its decision to claims that Brown is not doing enough to address antisemitism on campus.

Students walk on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The university is locked in a battle with the US president, who has declared a funding pause as well as threatening to revoke its tax-exempt status. Reuters

Cornell University is also facing the risk of losing at least $1 billion in federal support, while Princeton University has said that dozens of its grants have been suspended and that $210 million in federal funds is at risk.

Trump has also suspended $2.2 billion in grants to Harvard University and another $60 million freeze in government contracts after the college refused to comply with the US presidents demands. Moreover, on Tuesday (April 15), Trump even threatened to revoke the universitys tax-exempt status.

Dozens of other schools are under also scrutiny, largely by the Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights, and are aware that some of their federal funding is imperiled.

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While the Trump administration has maintained that the crackdown is to target the growing anti-semitism, critics note that the hostility has deeper roots conservatives in the US have been suspicious of higher education, disturbed by affirmative action admissions programmes, high tuition costs, the liberal views of professors and the proliferation of DEI initiatives on campuses.

As New York Times reports, many conservatives say their views have been marginalised in lecture halls, and regard top schools as incubators of so-called wokeness. They have said they want universities to emphasise academic programs that will lead students to the kind of jobs that are essential to the economy.

For foreign students, this is a huge concern. Thats because funding cuts could result in fewer professors willing to take risks in research, and a stifled intellectual environment.

Demonstrators rally on Cambridge Common in a protest organised by the City of Cambridge calling on Harvard leadership to resist interference at the university by the federal government. Reuters

Cancelling student visas and deporting them

Apart from targeting elite schools, the Trump administration has also begun targeting hundreds of foreign students, terminating their visas as well as their legal status.

Think Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil, who was detained last month over his role in pro-Palestinian protests. The student has been held at a Louisiana detention centre since March 8, when immigration officers told him he was being deported for taking part in protests against the war in Gaza.

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Theres also the case of Tufts graduate student Rumeysa Ozturk, who was arrested by immigration authorities and whose visa has been revoked. Her crime, as the US Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin claimed, was to engage in activities in support of Hamas, a foreign terrorist organisation that relishes the killing of Americans.

Hundreds turn out outside of a New York court to protest the arrest and detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a green card holder and recent Columbia graduate in New York City. AFP

But Khalil and Ozturk arent alone. According to an Associated Press report, at least 600 students at more than 90 colleges and universities have had their visas revoked or their legal status terminated in recent weeks. And advocacy groups collecting reports from colleges say hundreds more students could be caught up in the crackdown.

Whats even more concerning for international students is that officials are cancelling students status directly. This is unlike the past when legal statuses were updated after colleges told the government the students were no longer studying at the school.

One such instance was when the Massachusetts Institute of Technology said that visas and immigration statuses for nine of its international students and researchers were revoked without any prior warning or explanation.

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Since April 4, nine members of our community  students, recent graduates and postdocs  have had their visas and immigration status unexpectedly revoked, wrote university president Sally Kornbluth, adding that it remained extremely concerned about the broader implications.

These actions are interfering with the normal functioning of MIT, Kornbluth said. They diminish our ability both to serve the nation and to attract the worlds finest talent.

Theres also a heightened fear among international students as some Republicans have proposed a new bill, which looks at eliminating an important work programme  the Optional Practical Training  that allows foreign students to stay in the US and pursue their dreams. If passed, it could adversely impact foreign students.

Interest dips in US colleges, increases for Canada

Immigration attorney Clay Greenberg noted in a Science.org report, The Trump administrations actions are putting fear in the hearts of hundreds and hundreds of students who shouldnt be having to deal with this at this time.

And owing to such circumstances, Canadian universities are seeing a spike in interest from not only students from across the world but also Americans. Canadian universities like the University of British Columbia (UBC), University of Toronto, and University of Waterloo are experiencing an increase in applications and interest from American students.

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Family members take photographs at the entrance of the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Reuters

According to The Guardian, UBCs Vancouver campus saw a 27 per cent boost in graduate applications from US citizens by March 1 compared to the whole 2024 cycle. The institution even reopened admissions for a short time this week for some programmes, so more US applicants could join by September 2025.

The University of Toronto also saw a higher number of US applications than normal. At the University of Waterloo, US web traffic has increased 15 per cent since September 2024, and more American students tour the campus in person, reports claim.

Officials note that the rising interest in Canadian colleges comes owing to Trumps policies, which include monitoring of social media activity of foreign students, and reduction of federal funding to colleges.

For many, fears outweigh the benefits

With federal funding cuts and visa cancellations, educators in the US worry that the country may no longer be a viable option for international students.

Foreign students are already worried if theyll be able to get visas, travel freely, pursue research or even express an opinion. It has a chilling effect, said Clay Harmon, executive director of AIRC, a membership organisation focused on recruiting and enrolling international students. Even if theres no direct consequence or direct limitation right now, all of this cumulatively produces an impression that the US is not welcoming, its not open or that you may be in some kind of danger or jeopardy if you do come to the US.

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Akshay Chaturvedi, founder and CEO of Leverage Edu, was also quoted as telling the Times of India, Students are asking more questions than before about immigration policies, job prospects, and the broader political climate. The US is still seen as a top destination, but theres a growing need for clarity around long-term pathways.

With inputs from agencies
After announcing a $2.2 billion freeze in funding, Donald Trump has threatened to revoke the tax-exempt status of Harvard University. This comes amid the heated battle between the US president and the countrys oldest and richest college. What if this ultimatum, however, turns into reality? read more

Demonstrators rally on Cambridge Common in a protest organised by the City of Cambridge calling on Harvard leadership to resist interference at the university by the federal government in Cambridge. Following Harvard's non-compliance, the Trump administration announced a $2.2 billion funding freeze and the US president also threatened the tax-exempt status. Reuters

The face-off between Harvard University and US President Donald Trump is heating up. A day after the Trump administration announced a federal funding freeze of $2.2 billion, the US president threatened to strip the elite college of its tax-exempt status.

This latest clash between Trump and Harvard could test the limits of the governments power and the independence that has made US universities a destination for scholars around the world.

As the war hots up between the two, we take a closer look at whats going on and what benefits Harvard gains from being a tax-exempt institution.

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Trump threatens to revoke Harvards tax-exempt status

On Tuesday morning, in a Truth Social media post, US President Donald Trump wrote, Perhaps Harvard should lose its tax-exempt status and be taxed as a political entity if it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting sickness? Remember, tax-exempt status is totally contingent on acting in the public interest!

The social media post is part of Trumps continued intimidation tactics against the wealthiest college in the world. Last Friday, this battle heated when the Trump administration sent a list of demands it said must be met, or risk losing some $9 billion in federal funding.

People enter and exit the Harry Elkins Widener Memorial Library on the Harvard University campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Elite US university Harvard was hit with a $2.2 billion federal funding freeze on April 14 after rejecting a list of sweeping demands that the White House said was intended to crack down on campus anti-Semitism. AFP

Trumps demands of Harvard were:

>> Eliminate any consideration of demographic diversity in its hiring and admissions, and shutter all diversity, equity, and inclusion programmes.

>> Submit to an external audit that ensures hiring and admissions include sufficient intellectual diversity.

>> Harshly punish students involved in protests against Israel and its war in Gaza, and ban several pro-Palestinian groups from campus.

>> Reorganise its leadership to elevate staff devoted to complying with the administrations demands.

However, Harvard Universitys president seemed to be in no mood to comply. Alan Gerber, the colleges president, said the school would not negotiate over its independence or its constitutional rights.

In a letter to the Harvard community on Monday, Garber claimed the demands violated the universitys first amendment rights and exceed the statutory limits of the governments authority under Title VI, which prohibits discrimination against students based on their race, colour or national origin.

This, in return, prompted the federal government to announce a freeze of more than $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in contracts to Harvard. Notably, this is the seventh time that the Trump administration has taken such a step  it has suspended funding of several of the countrys most elite colleges, including Columbia, Brown and Cornell.

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Harvard receives praise for standing its ground

Harvard, the oldest and wealthiest university in the United States, is now the most prominent institution to stand its ground against Trump. This has prompted many higher leaders to praise the US college  former US President Barack Obama wrote on X, Harvard has set an example for other higher-ed institutions  rejecting an unlawful and ham-handed attempt to stifle academic freedom. Lets hope other institutions follow suit.

Ted Mitchell, the president of the American Council on Education, an organisation that represents more than 1,600 colleges and universities, told NPR that by taking the lead, Harvard paved the way for other institutions to oppose the administrations demands. If Harvard hadnt stood up, it would have sent a chill across higher education that would have really hampered the ability of other institutions to define for themselves where that red line is.

Meanwhile, Trump and his team have justified their pressure campaign on universities as a reaction to what they say is uncontrolled anti-Semitism and support for the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Trump wants to see Harvard apologise. And Harvard should apologise, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told journalists. The anti-Semitism allegations are based on controversy at protests against Israels war in Gaza that swept across campuses last year.

Harvard sweatshirts are displayed for sale in a school store window on the Harvard University campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts. AFP

Harvards tax-exempt status

But what does Trump mean by revoking the tax-exempt status of Harvard?

In the US, nearly all colleges and universities are tax-exempt organisations as defined by IRC Section 501(c)(3). They are given non-profit status along with charities, religious institutions and some political organisations. This is because colleges have long been recognised as fundamental to fostering the productive and civic capacity of their citizensand/or the fact that they are state governmental entities.

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What this means is that the charitable contributions Harvard receives and its investment income on its $50 billion-plus endowment are not subject to federal income tax. It also means other income it receives is exempt.

Owing to its tax-exempt status, Harvard enjoys several benefits; it doesnt have to pay traditional property taxes on educational buildings. According to realtor.com, Harvard avoids levies on $4 billion worth of buildings and land in Boston and $8.7 billion in Cambridge that currently arent subject to property taxes.

Additionally, it can sell bonds that pay interest thats exempt from federal taxes, which lures investors and helps lower borrowing costs. Donors can also gain tax benefits for gifts to charitable institutions. As per Bloomberg, Harvard gained at least $465 million in 2023 owing to its tax-exempt status.

If Trump does revoke Harvards tax-exempt status, it would face increased taxation and financial aid programmes, faculty hiring, and University-funded research would likely bear the brunt of the effects, a Harvard spokesperson said.

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Students walk on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Reuters

Losing tax-exempt status

Amid the threats to revoke Harvards status, the one question that emerges is: Can the US president actually do it?

The decision to scrap an institutions tax-exempt status lies in the hands of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which is supposed to enforce federal tax laws independent of partisan pressure. According to the IRS, an organisation can lose its status if theyre involved in political campaign activity or are heavily involved in lobbying. A group can also lose their designation if they have excessive income unrelated to their core mission or fail to file annual returns with the IRS.

It is yet to be seen how long can Harvard fend off Trumps increasing pressure, but it does set up a likely long-running, high-profile fight.

With inputs from agencies
Over 42,000 pilgrims will not be able to perform the sacred Hajj pilgrimage this year. After the Indian governments intervention, Saudi Arabia has allowed private operators to complete arrangements for 10,000 Indian pilgrims, less than the allotted private quota of over 52,000 read more

Muslim pilgrims pray around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca on June 16, 2024. File Photo/AFP

More than 42,000 pilgrims in India will miss the Hajj this year. After the Indian government stepped in, Saudi Arabia has allowed private operators to send 10,000 Indian pilgrims for the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, much less than the allocated quota.

Over 52,000 slots were allotted to the Combined Haj Group Operators (CHGOs) this year. The development comes after Saudi Arabia reportedly slashed the private Hajj pilgrim quota for Indian pilgrims by 80 per cent, leading to politicians in India calling for the Centres intervention.

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Lets take a closer look.

What happened?

As per reports, Saudi Arabia cancelled more than 52,000 slots for Indian pilgrims to the Hajj this year.

This led to the ruling and opposition parties in Jammu and Kashmir urging the Central governments intervention. Two days back, J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah asked External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to take up the matter with authorities in Saudi Arabia.

The reported cancellation of Hajj slots for over 52,000 Indian pilgrims, many of whom have already completed payments, is deeply concerning. I urge the Honble Minister of External Affairs Dr S Jaishankar to engage with the Saudi authorities at the earliest to explore a resolution in the interest of all affected pilgrims. This measure is crucial to ease the distress of thousands hoping to undertake the sacred pilgrimage this year, Abdullah wrote in a post on Instagram.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti called it disturbing news that is causing immense distress for pilgrims and tour operators.

I urge the Ministry of External Affairs to immediately intervene by taking up this matter with the Saudi government to seek a resolution, she said in a post on X on April 13.

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Disturbing news emerging from Saudi Arabia. Reports indicate that 80% of Indias private Haj quota has been cut abruptly. This sudden decision is causing immense distress for pilgrims and tour operators across the country.

Urge the Ministry of External Affairs to immediately  Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) April 13, 2025

The Hajj is the annual sacred Muslim pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca, which every able-bodied Muslim who has the financial means is required to perform once in their lifetime.

The Saudi Arabian government allocates country-wise quotas for pilgrims to attend the Hajj. This figure is decided on the basis of the number of Muslims living in a particular country.

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Hajj 2025 is likely to take place from June 4 to June 9.

What has the govt said?

Saudi Arabia has agreed to allow 10,000 Indian pilgrims from the private Hajj pilgrim quota for the holy pilgrimage, the Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) said on Tuesday (April 15).

It also noted that the country-wise allocation of the Hajj quota for India has gradually increased from 1,36,020 in 2014 to 1,75,025 in 2025.

The MoMA said Indias total quota for Hajj pilgrims this year is 175,025. Of this, the Haj Committee of India, under the Minority Affairs Ministry, is managing arrangements for 122,518 pilgrims under the main quota.

All necessary preparationsflights, transport, Mina camps, accommodation, and serviceswere completed per Saudi guidelines, the ministry said in a series of posts on X.

The Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA), through the Haj Committee of India is managing arrangements for 122,518 pilgrims in the current year under the main quota. All necessary preparationsflights, transport, Mina camps, accommodation, and serviceswere completed per Saudi  Ministry of Minority Affairs (@MOMAIndia) April 15, 2025

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The remaining quota was allotted to private tour operators, with the Minority Affairs Ministry merging over 800 operators into 26 CHGOs.

Despite repeated reminders, these private operators did not meet the deadlines of the Saudi authorities, failing to finalise the necessary contracts for Mina camps, accommodation, and transportation.

Mina, a tent city just outside of Mecca, is where Hajj pilgrims stay for a day.

Muslim pilgrims arrive to perform the symbolic stoning of the devil ritual as part of the Hajj pilgrimage in Mina, near Saudi Arabias holy city of Mecca, on June 16, 2024. File Photo/AFP

The ministry said that the Indian government engaged with Saudi authorities. Saudi Arabias Ministry of Hajj and Umrah expressed concerns about the safety of pilgrims, especially in Mina, where Hajj rituals are done under extreme heat in limited space.

The Saudi side informed that due to delays, Mina space was already occupied and no deadline extensions would be given to any country this year, the ministry wrote in its post.

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However, after the ministerial-level discussions, the Saudi Hajj Ministry gave a nod to reopen the Haj Portal (Nusuk Portal) for CHGOs to accommodate 10,000 Indian pilgrims.

Thanks to the Governments intervention, the Saudi Haj Ministry has agreed to re-open the Haj (Nusuk) Portal for CHGOs to accommodate 10,000 pilgrims, based on current availability in Mina. MoMA has issued urgent directions to CHGOs to complete their process without delay. India remains appreciative of any further gesture from Saudi authorities to accommodate more pilgrims, the statement read.

Saudi Arabia has tightened rules for the Hajj pilgrimage this year, suspending the issuing of certain visas to citizens from 14 countries, including India. These travel restrictions have been imposed to manage the sea of crowds expected during the Hajj pilgrimage and prevent those from performing the holy pilgrimage who do not have proper registration.

With inputs from agencies
China has ordered its airlines not to take any further deliveries of Boeing aircraft. The move comes in response to the US decision to impose 145 per cent tariffs on Chinese goods. But what does this mean for Indian carriers? read more

, China has ordered its airlines not to take any further deliveries of Boeing aircrafts. Reuters

China has banned its airlines from taking Boeing planes, according to several media reports.

The development comes in response to US President Donald Trump levying tariffs on Beijing.

But what happened? And will the move help Indian carriers?

Lets take a closer look:

What happened?

As per Bloomberg, China has ordered its airlines not to take any further deliveries of Boeing aircraft.

The move comes in response to the US decision to impose 145 per cent tariffs on Chinese goods, the outlet quoted people familiar with the matter as saying.

Beijing has also asked that Chinese carriers halt purchases of aircraft-related equipment and parts from US companies, the report added.

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As per The Times of India, Chinese airlines are currently anticipating the delivery of around 100 Boeing 737 MAX jets as well as 11 Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

Chinas top three airlines  Air China, China Eastern Airlines, and China Southern Airlines  had planned to take delivery of 45, 53 and 81 Boeing planes respectively between 2025 and 2027.

The Chinese government is considering ways to provide assistance to airlines that lease Boeing jets and are facing higher costs, Bloomberg News reported.

As per The Times of India, China may now turn to Airbus for its carriers.

Analysts said a short-term halt in deliveries to China would not have a major impact on Boeing, since the planemaker could redirect those jets to other airlines and because Airbus does not have capacity to supply the country alone.

China would have more difficulty banning imports of new US parts to support its existing fleet of aircraft, including Chinas C919.

A Boeing 737 Max aircraft during a display at the Farnborough International Airshow, in Farnborough, Britain, July 20, 2022. Reuters

If China stops buying aircraft components from the US, the C919 program is halted or dead, wrote Bank of America analyst Ron Epstein in a note to clients.

It was China that first grounded Boeings 737 MAX jets after two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019 killed nearly 350 people. China also suspended most orders and deliveries of the jet in 2019.

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Beijings action follows its decision last week to hike levies on U.S. imports to 125 per cent in retaliation against US tariffs, which would significantly raise the cost of Boeing jets bound for Chinese carriers and potentially lead airlines to consider alternatives such as Airbus and domestic player COMAC.

The development is a fresh blow to Boeing  which is facing a slow recovery following a challenging year marked by a labour strike, enhanced regulatory scrutiny and persistent supply chain disruptions.

Boeings shares have shed more than a third of their value since a mid-air door panel blowout on a brand-new MAX 9 jet last year, which triggered a fresh wave of challenges for the company.

The escalating tit-for-tat tariffs between the worlds two biggest economies risk bringing goods trade between the two countries to a standstill. That trade was valued at over $650 billion in 2024.

Will India benefit?

As per The Times of India, Akasa, which is Indias newest airline, has been substantially impacted by Boeings late deliveries.

This is resulting in unhappiness among pilots and cockpit personnel.

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Experts think the orders will be redirected to buyers such as AI Express and Akasa .

Akasa, which is Indias newest airline, has been substantially impacted by Boeings late deliveries. PTI

We anticipate some of these aircraft, originally destined for Chinese carriers, will be redirected to Indian customers. The previous year or two witnessed a similar occurrence, with white tails (aircraft manufactured for specific customers but acquired by others) being allocated to AI Express and Akasa, airline industry specialists told The Times of India.

AI Express bought 25 white tail MAX last year and was slated to receive 25 additional aircraft.

The Seattle final assembly line capacity designated for Chinese carriers MAX production will now remain unutilised. Consequently, Indian carriers including AI Express and Akasa might receive additional aircraft, either specifically manufactured or white tails, industry sources added.

As per News18, if more aircraft are made available to Akasa and AI Express, it will increase their capacity.
After US President Trump on Tuesday threatened the tax-exempt status of Harvard  the oldest and among the most prestigious Ivy League schools in America  leadership of the university has vowed to not surrender its independence or its constitutional rights. But how is Harvard fighting back? And what about other elite US schools like Columbia, Princeton and Cornell? read more

Harvard University is standing up to US President Donald Trump.

Trump on Tuesday threatened the tax-exempt status of Harvard  the oldest and among the most prestigious Ivy League schools in America.

This development comes after US officials froze $2 billion in federal grants to Harvard.

Trump has made similar funding cut threats to other universities including Columbia  which acceded to the presidents demands amid an outpouring of criticism.

The Trump administration has accused elite universities of being woke and allowing anti-Semitism to run rampant on their campuses.

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But Harvard is unmoved by Trumps threats.

But how and why is Harvard standing up to Tump? Where do the other universities stand?

Lets take a closer look:

What do we know?

Harvard is no pushover.

In fact, with an endowment of $53 billion, Harvard is the US most wealthy college, as per Bloomberg.

Harvards leadership has vowed to defend the institution.

As per Politico, Harvard has refused to halt student protests, change its hiring and admission programmes, eliminate DEI programmes, and ban masks.

The university will not surrender its independence or its constitutional rights, Harvard president Alan M Garber was quoted as saying by CNN.

Garber on Monday said the Trump administrations demands violate Harvards First Amendment rights and [exceed] the statutory limits of the governments authority.

No government  regardless of which party is in power  should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue, Garber wrote.

Harvard president Alan Garber has warned the cuts would stop life-saving research and imperil important scientific research and innovation. Reuters

The university has hired two powerhouse lawyers  William A Burck and ex-alum Robert Hur to represent it.

Harvard  by virtue of its resources, its history and its commitment to free speech  is in a position to defend itself, Steven Hyman, who previously served as Harvards provost, the schools top academic officer, told the website_._

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Ex-Treasury Secretary and former Harvard president Larry Summers told CNN, One should not comply with a government that is being extra-lawful.

Universities are in need of a great deal of reform, and its come too slowly, but thats not a reason why the government can entirely suspend the law and make up self-serving political demands and impose them on universities.

Where do other universities stand?

Columbia

Columbia, which has been the epicentre of many anti-Israel protests after the October 7, 2023 attacks, has bowed to several demands of the Trump administration.

This came after the government froze $400 million in funding and detained Mahmoud Khalil, who led anti-Israel protests at Columbia.

Khalil, a legal permanent resident, is in the custody of immigration authorities.

He now faces deportation for his part in the protests.

As per BBC, protesters at Columbia are no longer allowed to conceal their faces.

They must present student ID when asked to.

Our response to the government agencies outlines the substantive work weve been doing over the last academic year to advance our mission, ensure uninterrupted academic activities, and make every student, faculty, and staff member safe and welcome on our campus, Interim president Katrina Armstrong said in an email.

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Columbia has announced that new official will head up its Middle Eastern, South Asian and African Studies department. A new official will now lead that department.

In this role, the Senior Vice Provost will review the educational programs to ensure the educational offerings are comprehensive and balanced, it said, as per BBC.

People hold signs and Palestinian flags as they protest the arrest of former Columbia University student activist Mahmoud Khalil and show support for Palestinians. File image/AFP

The senior vice provost will conduct a thorough review of the portfolio of programs in regional areas across the University, starting immediately with the Middle East.

The university has also promised to take relook at admission procedures to ensure unbiased admission processes.

Columbia has been roundly criticised for toeing the line.

Princeton

Princeton has announced that it is backing up Harvard.

University president Christopher Eisgruber, taking to LinkedIn, wrote, Princeton stands with Harvard.

This came after Eisgruber told the New York Times there were serious problems with anti-Semitism at Columbia and Princeton.

However, Eisgruber insisted it is not appropriate for the government to intervene this way in institutes of higher learning.

We began to see precipitous threats to funding streams early on in the new presidential administration," Eisgruber was quoted as saying.

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Then a couple of weeks ago, something happened at Columbia that introduced a new, and, in my view, very dangerous element to this, which is that the government came in, and without any due process or any apparent investigation, said  Were going to take away a bunch of your grants  and were not going to restore them to you unless you do things like admissions reform.'

As per Yahoo.com, the Trump government in April suspended research grants worth $210 million to Princeton.

The government further cut $4 million in funding for climate change research.

Princeton in 2024 took in $455 million in federal funding.

This includes money for its Department of Energy national laboratory.

The Donald Trump government in April suspended research grants worth $210 million to Princeton. Reuters

Eisgruber has vowed not to bow to the Trump administrations demands.

We would not do that, he said. We believe that would be unlawful, and we would contest that in court.  I really think we all need to be speaking up right now.

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Its important for me to be using my voice, and its why, in response to a number of your questions, Ive said, Hey, I can tell you about whats going on at Princeton, but I dont think this is all about Princeton. Its about whats happening in the United States, Eisgruber said. I think this would be so much stronger if many more of my fellow presidents were speaking up.

Americas universities [are] under threat.

Eisgruber in an op-ed for The Atlantic decried the Trump administrations moves as the greatest threat to American universities since the Red Scare of the 1950s.

Stanford

Stanford has also expressed support for Harvard.

The strength of the nations universities has been built on government investment but not government control, Stanford University president Jonathan Levin and provost Jenny Martinez told the student newspaper The Stanford Daily.

The Supreme Court recognised this years ago when it articulated the essential freedoms of universities under the First Amendment as the ability to determine who gets to teach, what is taught, how it is taught, and who is admitted to study.

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**Cornell and Northwestern

**

Cornell and Northwestern have not come out in support of Harvard.

The Trump government has moved to freeze $1 billion in federal funding for Cornell and $790 million in funding for Northwestern University

Both schools are being investigated for civil rights violations.

The funding being paused includes mostly grants and contracts with the federal departments of health, education, agriculture and defence, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

As per CNN, Cornell has said it is joining a lawsuit challenging the Energy Departments proposed cuts to indirect costs.

That seems to be different than the frozen funding.

However, Risa Lieberwitz, president of Cornells chapter of the American Association of University Professors, who is also a professor in the School of Labor and Relations, has spoken up against the Trump regime.

This is a time to act on principle, and its a time to be brave, she said.

History also tells us that when institutions capitulate to autocratic demands, then the authoritarian government simply demands more, Lieberwitz said.

Lieberwitz too drew a comparison to the McCarthy era.

Momodou Taal, a British-Gambian student at Cornell University in New York left the US after being asked by immigration officials to turn himself in. X via The Cornell Daily Sun

Institutions that stood up are remembered for standing up to that power and that coercion, theyre remembered for their acts of bravery, Lieberwitz said. Institutions that capitulated are remembered for their willingness to cave to autocratic demands.

Cornell University said that while it had not received formal notification of the worth or total amount of funding freeze from the government, it did receive stop work orders from the defence department related to research on defence, health and cybersecurity. It added that it was seeking more information from the government.

Northwestern said it was aware of media reports about the funding freeze but had not received any official notification from the government and that it has cooperated in the investigation.

Federal funds that Northwestern receives drive innovative and life-saving research, like the recent development by Northwestern researchers of the worlds smallest pacemaker, and research fueling the fight against Alzheimers disease. This type of research is now in jeopardy, a Northwestern spokesperson said.

Brown

Brown University has not released a statement on the situation.

In April, the US government said it planned to freeze grants to Brown University.

A US official, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said the administrations action would block $510 million in grants for Brown.

Experts say America is in a strange place at the moment.

Human rights advocates have raised free speech and academic freedom concerns over the crackdown by the Trump administration.

Politicians have traditionally, bottom line, been proud of the fact that American higher education was the envy of the world, Thomas Parker, a Harvard alum who is a senior associate at the Institute for Higher Education Policy, a Washington-based advocacy organization, told Politico. It is unprecedented for the view to be the opposite.

Historically, universities in general have been pretty good at fending off government intervention, Parker said. What Ive been asking myself lately is, Harvard has made this historically important and grand gesture  but wheres everybody else? Wheres the coalition?

With inputs from agencies
Yet another ruling by the Allahabad High Court has reached the Supreme Court. The high court granted bail to a man accused of rape and said that the complainant herself invited trouble by visiting the accuseds home after drinking. The case was brought before the Supreme Court on Tuesday, where the apex court strongly criticised the high courts objectionable remarks in such cases, referring to a previous ruling that said grabbing breasts did not constitute to rape read more

A huge controversy broke out once again after the Allahabad High Court granted bail in a rape case, stating that the woman had herself invited trouble.

The ruling reached the Supreme Court on Tuesday, where the top court took strong exception to the high courts recent objectionable remarks in rape cases.

What is happening in this High Court? asked Justice BR Gavai, who was heading a bench with Justice AG Masih in the Supreme Court.

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This is not the first time the high courts remarks have been criticised. In an earlier case, it had ruled that grabbing the victims breasts and pulling at her pyjama strings did not amount to rape or even attempted rape, but rather a serious form of sexual assault.

ALSO READ | How huge pile of cash was found at Justice Varmas house and why he calls it a conspiracy

The Supreme Court later put that ruling on hold.

In this explainer, we break down what the Allahabad High Court said in its order, how the Supreme Court responded, and revisit the earlier controversy involving another rape case.

She herself invited trouble: What the Allahabad High Court said

The Allahabad High Court granted bail to a man accused of rape, stating that the complainant herself invited trouble by choosing to go to the accuseds home after drinking.

The incident is reported to have taken place on September 21 last year, but the ruling by Justice Sanjay Kumar Singh came on March 11.

The woman, a postgraduate student, was competent enough to understand the morality and significance of her act, the court observed in the bail order.

According to her complaint, the woman told the police that the accused, also a student, had promised to drop her to Noida. Instead, he allegedly took her to a flat in Gurgaon where he raped her.

In court, it was submitted on behalf of the accused that the woman was an adult, living in a PG hostel, and had voluntarily gone to a restaurant with friends, both male and female. All of them consumed alcohol and she became heavily intoxicated.

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The accuseds lawyer argued that the woman and her friends remained at the bar until 3 am, after which she chose to go to the applicants residence to rest, as she was unable to manage on her own.

ALSO READ | How wealthy are Supreme Court judges? We may know soon

The court said, The allegation of the victim that the applicant instead of his house took her to his relatives flat and raped her twice is false and against the evidence on record. On the strength of said facts, it is argued that considering the facts of the case as disclosed by the victim, it is not a case of rape but may be a case of consensual relationship between the parties concerned.

The order concluded with the observation: This court is of the view that even if the allegation of the victim is accepted as true, then it can also be concluded that she herself invited trouble and was also responsible for the same.

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What Supreme Court said on the ruling

The apex court came down heavily on the Allahabad High Court over its remarks in the rape case, stating that judges must be careful when handling sensitive matters.

There is another order passed by another judge of the same high court, noted a bench of Justices BR Gavai and Augustine George Masih.

The apex court came down heavily on the Allahabad High Court. PTI/File Photo

What is happening in this High Court? Now this is another judge from the same High Court saying such things Why make all these observations? One has to be very careful with these cases which are so sensitive, Justice BR Gavai said.

He added, If one wants to grant bail that is okay but why make such observations that she invited trouble and all that One has to be very careful on this side (bench) also.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said that the impact of such remarks on ordinary people should be taken into account.

The Supreme Court has tagged the matter with the suo motu case it had taken up earlier over a March 17 order of the Allahabad High Court. What message does this send? While we deal with this case, we will see other cases also, Justice Gavai said.

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The bench has now postponed the hearing in the suo motu case by four weeks.

ALSO READ | Is kanyandan relevant today? Why Allahabad HC said ritual is not essential in Hindu marriage

What happened in Allahabad HCs earlier controversial ruling?

The high court had passed an order in a Pocso case after the accused challenged a special judges decision in Kasganj that had summoned them under Section 376 (rape) of the IPC, among other charges.

In its ruling, the Allahabad High Court said that grabbing the victims breasts and snapping her pyjama strings did not amount to rape or attempted rape, but was still a serious form of sexual assault.

Justice Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra, who gave the decision, said that after going through the details of the case involving an 11-year-old girl, it was an attack on her dignity, but it could not be seen as an attempt to rape.

The court noted, In the present case, the allegation against accused Pawan and Akash is that they grabbed the breasts of the victim and Akash tried to bring down the lower garment of the victim and for that purpose, they had broken string of her lower garments and tried to drag her beneath the culvert, but due to intervention of witnesses they left the victim and fled away from the place of incident.

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The court said that these actions alone did not show the accused had made up their mind to commit rape, since no further steps were taken to further their alleged desire to commit rape on the victim.

It also said, There is no allegation that the accused tried to commit penetrative sexual assault against the victim.

On March 26, the Supreme Court put the high courts March 17 order on hold, which means the ruling cannot be used in any court to seek relief by these accused or anyone else.

The top court took up the matter on its own after it was brought to the attention of Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna.

A bench of Justices BR Gavai and AG Masih came down strongly on the high courts decision, calling it shocking.

ALSO READ | Cash-at-home row: Whats the 2018 CBI case involving Delhi HC judge Yashwant Varma?

We are at pains to say that some of the observations made in the impugned judgment, particularly paras 21, 24, and 26, depict a total lack of sensitivity on the part of the author of the judgment, the bench said.

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The bench further said that since the observations in question were totally unknown to the tenets of law and depict total insensitivity and inhuman approach.

With inputs from agencies
The Supreme Court has upheld the use of Urdu on the signboard of a municipal council building in Maharashtra. In its key verdict, the court said it is a misconception that Urdu is alien to India, adding that language is culture and must not be used for dividing people. It dismissed the petition that challenged the use of Urdu, along with Marathi, on the nameboard of the Patur Municipal Council read more

The Supreme Court has ruled that Urdu can be used on signages. File Photo/PTI

Language is not religion. Language does not even represent religion. Language belongs to a community, to a region, to a people; and not to a religion, the Supreme Court ruled while upholding the use of Urdu on the signboard of a municipal council building in Maharashtra.

A Bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and K Vinod Chandran was hearing a petition by Varshatai Sanjay Bagade, a former councillor of Patur, who challenged the use of Urdu with Marathi on the signboard of the Patur Municipal Council building in Maharashtras Akola district.

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Lets take a look at what the Supreme Court said.

Whats the case?

The Supreme Court said in its judgement on Tuesday (April 15) that Urdu and Marathi have been accorded the same status under the Constitution, rejecting the petition that demanded the use of only Marathi on the signboard, as per a Bar and Bench report.

Urdu is the finest specimen of Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb, or the Hindustani tehzeeb, the court said.

Bagade had moved the top court claiming the use of Urdu was not permitted by the Maharashtra Local Authorities (Official Languages) Act, 2022. The court dismissed this, holding there was no legal provision that bans the use of Urdu along with Marathi.

In 2020, the Patur Municipal Council had dismissed Bagades plea, saying Urdu has been used since 1956 and was generally understood by the locals.

She went to the Bombay High Court, which also rejected her plea in 2021. The court said the use of Urdu is not barred by the Maharashtra Local Authorities (Official Languages) Act, 2022, or any other provision of law.

The former councillor then approached the Supreme Court.

Urdu is not alien to India

The top court declined to interfere with the Bombay High Courts judgement and has upheld the use of Urdu.

The bench observed that language is culture and should not be used to divide people.

Our misconceptions, perhaps even our prejudices against a language, have to be courageously and truthfully tested against the reality, which is this great diversity of our nation: our strength can never be our weakness. Let us make friends with Urdu and every language, the apex court said.

As per Bar and Bench, the Supreme Court said that the Patur Municipal Council had long been using local signage. It also noted that the challenge was filed by a councillor and not by the Chief Officer, who was solely empowered by the law to oppose under the Maharashtra Municipal Councils Act.

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The court said in its ruling that it is a misconception that Urdu is alien to India and that it is a language which was born in this land.

This photograph taken on October 14, 2024 shows a shopowner sitting inside his Urdu literature establishment at Urdu Bazar in the old quarters of Delhi. File Photo/AFP

Language is culture. Language is the yardstick to measure the civilisational march of a community and its people. So is the case of Urdu, which is the finest specimen of Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb, or the Hindustani tehzeeb, which is the composite cultural ethos of the plains of northern and central India, Justice Dhulia wrote for the bench in the judgement, reported Indian Express.

The Supreme Court said that the use of Urdu on the nameboard was for the purpose of communication, not politics or religion.

The purpose here for the use of Urdu is merely communication. All the municipal council wanted to do was to make an effective communication. This is the primary purpose of a language, which the Bombay High Court has laid emphasis on, the court said, as per Indian Express.

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We must respect and rejoice in our diversity, including our many languages. India has more than [a] hundred major languages. Then there are other languages known as dialects or mother tongues which also run into hundreds. According to the 2001 Census, India had a total of 122 major languages including the 22 scheduled languages, and a total of 234 mother tongues. Urdu was the sixth most spoken scheduled language of India. In fact, it is spoken by at least a part of the population in all States and Union Territories, except perhaps in our North-Eastern States, it added.

The court also lamented that the colonial powers, despite the Indian origin of Urdu, associated the language with Muslims and Hindi with Hindus. It also pointed out that Urdu has been adopted by many states and Union Territories as the second official language. When we criticise Urdu, we are in a way also criticising Hindi, as, according to linguists and literary scholars, Urdu and Hindi are not two languages, but one language, it said.

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Hindi and Urdu met a roadblock in the form of the puritans on both sides and Hindi became more Sanskritised and Urdu more Persian. A schism exploited by the colonial powers in dividing the two languages on religion. Hindi was now understood to be the language of Hindus and Urdu of the Muslims, which is such a pitiable digression from reality; from unity in diversity; and the concept of universal brotherhood, the court stated.

The apex court highlighted that Urdu has its origin in India and cannot be attached to any particular religion.

The prejudice against Urdu stems from the misconception that Urdu is alien to India. This opinion, we are afraid, is incorrect as Urdu, like Marathi and Hindi, is an Indo-Aryan language. It is a language which was born in this land. Urdu developed and flourished in India due to the need for people belonging to different cultural milieus who wanted to exchange ideas and communicate amongst themselves. Over the centuries, it attained ever greater refinement and became the language of choice for many acclaimed poets, the courts judgement was cited by Bar and Bench.

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The Supreme Court said that under Article 343 of the Constitution, Hindi is the official language, while the use of English was made permissible for official purposes for a period of 15 years. But this does not mean that Hindustani and Urdu have become extinct. This was never the intention of the framers of the Constitution.

The bench observed that the language used by the locals is full of Urdu words even if one is not aware of them. It would not be incorrect to say that one cannot have a day-to-day conversation in Hindi without using words of Urdu or words derived from Urdu. The word Hindi itself comes from the Persian word Hindavi. This exchange of vocabulary flows both ways because Urdu also has many words borrowed from other Indian languages, including Sanskrit, it said.

The court stated that a municipal councils job is to provide services to the local community and look after their daily needs. If people or a group of people, residing within the area covered by the municipal council are familiar with Urdu, then there should not be any objection if Urdu is used in addition to the official language i.e. Marathi, at least on the signboard of the municipal council. Language is a medium for exchange of ideas that brings people holding diverse views and beliefs closer and it should not become a cause of their division.

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Dismissing the petition, the top court ruled, The entire case of the appellant to our mind is based on a misconception of law. We see no reason therefore to interfere in the present case.

With inputs from agencies
As Ukraine battles Russias invasion, a controversial bill seeks to decriminalise pornography to boost wartime tax revenue. With creators already paying millions in taxes despite facing prosecution, the move could end legal contradictions and curb corruption read more

The logo for OnlyFans is seen on a device in this photo illustration in Manhattan, New York City, US, August 19, 2021. Representational Image/Reuters

As Ukraine continues to grapple with the human and economic toll of Russias ongoing invasion, an unusual legislative initiative has entered the national spotlight  the potential decriminalisation of pornography.

Led by Member of Parliament Yaroslav Zhelezniak, a proposal currently working its way through Ukraines legislative process aims to reform laws that many critics argue are relics of the Soviet era and incompatible with todays realities  both moral and financial.

While the countrys defence needs continue to escalate, some lawmakers believe taxing the adult content industry more effectively could provide a much-needed revenue stream to support Ukraines war effort.

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However, the bill has drawn polarising responses from lawmakers, state officials, adult content creators and citizens, raising questions about morality, legality and priorities during wartime.

What Ukrainian law says

Under current Ukrainian law  specifically Article 301 of the Criminal Code  the creation, distribution, and even possession of pornographic material is illegal and punishable by three to five years of imprisonment.

This law, stricter than those in many European countries, the United States, or even Russia, also prohibits the private exchange of nude images between consenting adults.

Yet paradoxically, Ukrainian tax authorities have been collecting revenue from adult content creators operating on platforms like OnlyFans.

Zhelezniak, who serves as the deputy chairman of the Ukrainian Parliaments finance committee, argues that this contradiction must end, reported The New York Times.

Its absurd, he said, especially in the midst of a full-scale war. According to him, many creators are currently being taxed for content that the state still criminalises  a situation that he believes not only undermines legal consistency but also drives corruption and wastes law enforcement resources.

A dire need for legislative reform

The legislative push to amend Article 301 began gathering serious momentum in late 2024 after revelations from Ukraines tax authorities sparked widespread attention.

Danylo Hetmantsev, head of the Parliaments Committee on Finance, Taxation, and Customs Policy, disclosed that hundreds of adult content creators had declared significant earnings.

In some cases, individuals reportedly made millions of dollars through OnlyFans  with one creator earning $4 million and another $3 million, reported The New York Times.

By November 2024, Zhelezniak had registered a draft law designed to decriminalise  but not necessarily legalise  pornography.

In short, were just amending Article 301 of the Criminal Code to ensure adults arent sent to prison for three to five years for creating and distributing intimate videos, he explained at the time.

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The bill, co-signed by 26 lawmakers, including members of President Volodymyr Zelenskyys party, gained further traction after the Parliamentary Law Enforcement Committee endorsed it in December with 11 votes in favour and two abstentions.

This is very important money for the country in the war and we are grateful to the girls for their responsible position and contribution to the victory, Hetmantsev wrote on Telegram, voicing his support for the bill.

The festival of hypocrisy, when society morally condemns with one hand and takes money for the army with the other, he added, must end.

While tax declarations from adult content creators have helped fill Ukraines wartime budget  with over 59 million UAH (approximately $1.6 million) collected from 350 creators in late 2024  the crackdown on such individuals continues.

Potential via tax revenue

From 2020 to 2022, Ukrainians reportedly earned a combined $123 million from OnlyFans, according to data from the State Tax Service cited by Zhelezniak.

In the first half of 2023 alone, the platform generated over Hr 34 million (approximately $920,000) in value-added tax revenue for Ukraines budget.

A logo for OnlyFans is seen in this illustration picture, February 29, 2024. Representational Image/Reuters

Dmytro Horiunov, an economist with the Center for Economic Strategies, emphasised that production of consensual erotic content should not be a criminal offence. Production of goods and services that dont hurt anyone shouldnt be banned nor prosecuted by the law, he had told The Kyiv Independent in September 2023.

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Independent analysts at the Better Regulation Delivery Office (BRDO), an EU-funded Ukrainian think tank, estimate that decriminalising adult content could result in an additional $12.3 million in annual tax revenue  enough to purchase 24,000 first-person view (FPV) drones or cover the full operational costs of Ukraines anti-corruption court for a year.

Instead, law enforcement continues to pursue criminal cases. In 2024, nearly 1,400 cases were filed under Article 301  almost double the 757 cases the year prior. BRDO called this a misallocation of state resources, especially during a time of war.

Exploitation, corruption and abuse

Beyond the financial costs, proponents of reform also cite rampant corruption and abuse tied to the underground adult industry.

Ihor Samokhodskyi, head of the IT bureau at BRDO, explained that a shadow market exists due to the current legal framework, allowing law enforcement officials to exploit and extort content producers and studios.

There are thousands of cases where policemen not only ask for money but also for sexual services, Zhelezniak told The Kyiv Independent in a September 2023 report. He also noted that webcam studios are frequently forced to pay for protection from law enforcement, which enables them to continue operating under threat of blackmail or prosecution.

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A 2020 investigation by the Ukrainian outlet Zaborona had earlier documented how webcam studios had become vulnerable targets for police harassment and corruption  evidence, advocates argue, that further reinforces the need for decriminalisation.

Will the bill pass?

Despite growing political support, the draft law has not gone unchallenged. Opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko strongly criticised the bills timing, stating in Parliament, What are you guys doing? Start living and working for the sake of Ukraine and for the people.

Ivan Vyhivskyi, head of the National Police, also voiced his opposition, claiming that changes to pornography laws would have a negative impact on moral values.

His position echoes a segment of Ukrainian society that still views pornography as fundamentally immoral or harmful, despite its widespread online availability and increasing economic significance.

Zhelezniak, however, remains undeterred. He said he has already secured 210 of the 226 votes needed to pass the bill in Parliament and expects it to come up for a vote soon.

To educate older lawmakers who may be unfamiliar with the realities of modern digital adult content, Zhelezniak said he often has to break out his iPad and show them what porn means in this century," reported The New York Times.

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While he admits to seeing the irony and humour in his advocacy, he underscores the seriousness of the issue: Its no laughing matter.

With thousands of adult content creators working under ambiguous legal conditions, and the state both benefiting from and criminalising their labour, the contradiction has reached a tipping point.

Also Watch:

With inputs from agencies
Global wine consumption has fallen to its lowest level since 1961, driven by shifting drinking habits, economic strain, climate disruptions and rising competition from other alcohol categories. As younger generations drink less and premium prices rise, the wine industry faces an uncertain future read more

Bottles of European wines are displayed in San Francisco, US. File Image/AP

The global wine industry recorded its weakest performance in over six decades in 2024, with both consumption and production experiencing steep declines.

The International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) reported that worldwide wine consumption fell to 214.2 million hectolitresa volume not seen since 1961, when the figure stood at 213.6 million hectolitres. This marked a 3.3 per cent decrease compared to 2023 levels.

This downturn is not a sudden occurrence but the culmination of long-term shifts in lifestyle, drinking habits, economic stress and environmental pressures.

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Consumption has contracted by 12 per cent since the 20192020 period, indicating a sustained trend rather than a temporary disruption.

Health concerns drive down consumption in many countries. Representational Image/Pixabay

The United States, still the largest wine consumer by volume, saw a drop of 5.8 per cent in 2024, reaching 33.3 million hectolitres.

Meanwhile, consumption in Europe  home to nearly half of the global wine market  slid by 2.8 per cent. France, one of the industrys traditional pillars, experienced a 3.6 per cent drop in domestic wine consumption.

In contrast, Spain and Portugal were among the few countries to buck the trend with marginal increases.

Whats behind the global wine decline?

While consumption has fallen, wine production also shrank in 2024 to 225.8 million hectolitres, the lowest output recorded in more than 60 years.

The decline of 4.8 per cent from the previous year was attributed to a range of climate-related issues, from excessive rainfall in some wine-producing regions to severe drought in others.

These weather extremes have made viticulture increasingly unpredictable and vulnerable.

France experienced one of the most significant setbacks, with its wine output falling by 23 per cent to just 36.1 million hectolitres  its lowest since 1957.

The United States also faced a steep drop in production, down 17.2 per cent to 21.1 million hectolitres, primarily due to prolonged heatwaves.

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Italy, however, maintained its position as the leading global producer with 44 million hectolitres, benefiting from both stable domestic consumption and strong demand for its sparkling varieties like prosecco.

Spain followed with 31 million hectolitres, although the overall global production figure was lower than the OIVs November 2023 forecast of 227235 million hectolitres.

Adding to this, the total area under vine cultivation contracted by 0.6 per cent to 7.1 million hectares. This marked the fourth year in a row of declining vineyard coverage, with reductions noted across both hemispheres.

Only Italy among the top seven wine-producing nations managed to expand its vineyard area, registering a growth of 0.8 per cent.

What about the trade war?

In addition to environmental challenges, the wine sector has come under financial strain from rising production and retail costs. The OIV noted that the average price per bottle has increased by approximately 30 per cent compared to 201920, placing additional pressure on consumer spending.

International trade volumes also took a hit. Global exports were recorded at 99.8 million hectolitres in 2024  matching the previous years figure but falling 5 per cent below the five-year average.

This marked the lowest export volume since 2010. Nonetheless, the market held steady in terms of value, with international wine trade reaching 35.9 billion ($38.9 billion), thanks to premiumisation and stable record-high prices averaging 3.60 per litre.

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A hectolitre is the equivalent of 133 standard wine bottles. Representational Image/Pixabay

The United States remained the largest importer by value, purchasing 6.3 billion worth of wine  an increase of 1.6 per cent over 2023. The UK and Germany followed with import values of 4.6 billion and 2.5 billion respectively.

However, geopolitical developments are threatening to undermine this stability. Giorgio Delgrosso, statistics director at the OIV, warned of looming risks from trade policies. Tariffs ordered by the US President Donald Trump could become another bomb for the wine industry, he told AFP.

How are consumption habits affecting wine sales?

The wine sectors challenges are not just external. Profound shifts in consumer behavior are reshaping the landscape from within. Traditional wine-drinking countries in continental Europe have seen falling consumption for decades.

Earlier this was offset by growth in newer markets such as the UK, USA, China, and parts of the Asia-Pacific. But over the past ten years, even these markets have started to decline in volume.

Key drivers of this shift include a growing emphasis on health, moderation, and controlled social environments. In 2023, one out of every two wine consumers across selected markets reported actively reducing their alcohol intake.

Approximately one-third of these consumers abstain from alcohol entirely on certain occasions, while another 20 per cent prefer low- or no-alcohol alternatives, according to IWSR, a global drinks data and insight provider.

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How is competition affecting wine sales?

Another factor reshaping the global wine landscape is rising competition from other alcoholic beverages. Data from IWSR Bevtrac suggests that Millennials and Gen Z consumers show less loyalty to specific drink categories and are more inclined to experiment with cocktails, craft spirits, ready-to-drink mixes, and functional beverages.

Given the huge changes in the beverage alcohol market in the past decade and a half wine has faced lots of competition from an increasingly adventurous alcohol consumer, Richard Halstead, COO Consumer Research at IWSR, said in a July 2024 report.

Even regular wine drinkers are shifting toward less frequent consumption. For instance, in Australia, monthly wine consumption among adults aged 1824 has halved between 2010 and 2023.

This change is partially attributed to lifestyle transitions, such as the decline of the traditional wine-with-dinner habit.

At the same time, many consumers are choosing to drink better rather than more. A growing number are opting for premium wines, such as organic or sparkling varieties, and are more willing to invest in quality experiences over quantity.

Also Read | Why the biggest wine brands are giving up on the business?

This divergence has led to a widening gap between the performance of lower-priced and premium-priced wine segments. While entry-level wines are losing significant volume, the top-tier categories have remained relatively resilient, even if their growth has recently slowed.

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AFP quoted wine retailer Nicolas who stated, People do not drink in a festive way any more and young people consume less than their parents people drink less, but better.

With inputs from agencies
A US-based gastroenterologist has put focus on the extensive use of Dolo-650 by Indians, who he said consumed it like it is Cadbury Gems. A brand name of paracetamol, the medicine used for fever and aches, gained popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic. But how much Dolo is too much Dolo? read more

Like Victoria Ratliff of The White Lotus could not stop popping her Lorazepams, Indians have developed an affinity for Dolo-650. Indias go-to medicine for fever and aches is back in the spotlight.

Dr Palaniappan Manickam, a US-based gastroenterologist and health educator, drew attention to the widespread use of Dolo-650, a brand of paracetamol. Indians take Dolo 650 like its Cadbury Gems, he wrote on X on April 14.

Indians take Dolo 650 like it's cadbury gems  Palaniappan Manickam (@drpal_manickam) April 14, 2025

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His tweet resonated with Indians who shared their experiences of the drug. Dolo-650 became a craze in India during the COVID-19 pandemic, with people hoarding the medicine and memes reflecting the newfound frenzy.

Lets take a closer look.

What is paracetamol?

Paracetamol is a common painkiller used to treat fever, aches and pain. It is available in the form of tablets, capsules, syrup and powder.

According to the UKs National Health Service (NHS), doctors usually recommend one or two 500 mg tablets at a time. The drugs maximum dose is eight 500 mg tablets in 24 hours.

Paracetamol should not be taken with other drugs that contain paracetamol as it can lead to overdose.

Dolo-650 is the brand name of 650 mg of paracetamol.

Dolos rise to fame

Dolo-650 became a common household name in India during COVID-19. Many people took the medicine even at the slightest hint of fever. Memes further captured the medicines popularity.

From Welcomes Uday Shetty selling Dolos in place of kandas (onions) to Devdas Paro dancing to Dolo Re, not Dola Re, the memefication of the over-the-counter drug further spread its popularity.

Were having a pandemic for the first time, so the whole universe taking it together is what makes Dolo so big right now, Dr Lancelot Pinto, a pulmonary disease specialist at PD Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai, had told The Swaddle in 2022.

The makers of the medicine, Bengaluru-based Micro Labs, struck gold with the Dolo fever. According to a Forbes report in 2022, Micro Labs sold over 350 crore tablets of Dolo-650 since COVID-19 began in 2020, earning revenue of Rs 400 crore in a year.

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Before the pandemic hit, the pharmaceutical company sold about 7.5 crore strips of Dolo-650 every year, as per the market research firm IQVIA. This figure jumped to 9.4 crore strips a year later. By the end of 2021, this increased to 14.5 crore sold strips, nearly double the 2019 amount.

While paracetamol has remained a part of Indian households over the years, Dolo-650s fame was fuelled by the pandemic.

Where no other drugs worked and variants after variants recurred, Dolo stayed constant and the common masses trust on it as a wonder drug solidified, Dr Siddhi Chaudhari, a public health researcher, told The Swaddle.

It has not lost its charm even now. The sale of Dolo-650 tablets doubled post-pandemic in Kerala, where the medicine was distributed in all the government hospitals during COVID-19.

According to the states health and family welfare department, 7,54,10,565 Dolo-650 tablets were sold in 2019-20. This figure saw a slight dip in 2020-21, the year when Covid-19 peaked, with 7,40,39,385 sold tablets.

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The amount of Dolo tablets sold doubled to 15,33,76,860 in 2021-22.

The popularity of Dolo-650 was fuelled by pop culture. Representational Image/Pixabay

Experts say this was because of increased awareness among the people. Dolo-650 has become an over-the-counter drug that has become a household name. Post-COVID, with constant advisories from the authorities not to go to the hospitals for any minor symptoms and the scare among the public to go to the hospitals have prompted the people to maintain paracetamol tablets in the houses. This is one main reason why the sales have gone up (sic), Amar Fettle, governments nodal officer for COVID-19, was quoted as saying by Times of India (TOI).

Pop culture has also contributed to Dolos popularity. Not everyone has the time and education to go through academic papers. So, it helps to have easily accessible information in the form of, lets say, Instagram reels, Dr Shivangi Shankar, a modern medicine doctor, said to The Swaddle.

How much paracetamol is too much?

Paracetamol rarely causes side effects if the right dose is taken. Paracetamol overdose could cause liver injury if it remains untreated. In rare cases, it may lead to coma and severe metabolic acidosis, as per The BMJ journal.

Speaking to The Swaddle, Dr Chaudhari pointed out that the Dolo-650 is just an analgesic and does not cure a disease. It is essential to note [Dolo] is no magic pill  it does not cure anything, simply provides symptomatic pain relief.

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If Dolo-650 is consumed in inappropriate doses, the drug will eventually become ineffective.

Its not like paracetamol is absolutely safe. When the entire population uses paracetamol together without any limitations whatsoever, you will potentially see the rarer side effects that happen, Dr Pinto said to the media outlet.

There is also the downside that people start self-medication when a drug becomes too popular. However, experts believe Dolos popularity will wane once it becomes generic and doctors start prescribing other brands, as per The Swaddle.

With inputs from agencies
Prime Minister Modi aims to make India a global defense exporter, targeting countries reliant on Russian arms, expanding EXIM Banks financing, and increasing defense attaches read more

Indian Army soldiers participate in a mock drill exercise during the Army Day parade in New Delhi, India. File image/ Reuters

Prime Minister Narendra Modis bid to transform India into a global factory floor has produced billions of dollars of low-cost iPhones and pharmaceuticals. Now he hopes to add missiles, helicopters and battleships to the shopping carts of foreign governments.

The worlds largest importer of weapons after Ukraine is expanding the ability of the state-owned Export-Import Bank (EXIM) to offer long-term, low-cost loans to clients, including those whose political or credit risk profiles may limit their access to conventional financing, according to two Indian officials and three industry sources.

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New Delhi will also sharply increase the number of defense attaches in its foreign missions as part of a new program that will see the government directly negotiate some arms deals, four Indian officials said. India is particularly targeting governments which have long relied on Russia for arms, two of the people said.

Indias plans, which were detailed to Reuters by 15 people and have not been previously reported, mark an unprecedented effort by the government to inject itself into the recruitment and financing of foreign buyers as the world is rearming and longstanding geopolitical relationships are being recast.

Indian bureaucrats have long focused more on buying fighter aircraft from Russias Sukhoi and howitzers from the United States to ward off China and Pakistan, Delhis two nuclear-armed neighbors. While India has long had a small-arms production sector, its private firms have only recently started to make higher-end munitions and equipment.

The Indian defense and external affairs ministries, as well as Modis office, did not respond to requests for comment. EXIM declined to comment.

India is marching towards achieving the target of increasing defence exports, defense minister Rajnath Singh wrote on X this month.

One turning point was Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, according to an Indian official tasked with growing arms exports. Like most of the people interviewed by Reuters for this story, the official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive government matters.

Spare Western arsenals were shipped to Kyiv while Russias factories churned out munitions almost exclusively for its war effort. That left other nations that had historically relied on Washington and Moscow - the worlds two largest arms exporters - scrambling for alternatives.

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With its history of buying and absorbing arms technology from both the West and Russia, Delhi started to get more inquiries, the official said.

In response to Reuters questions, Russian state arms exporter Rosoboronexport referred to previously issued statements that said it was in talks with India about jointly producing and promoting equipment to third-party states that are friendly to Russia.

The Pentagon had no comment.

India produced $14.8 billion of arms in 2023-2024 fiscal year, up 62% since 2020, government data show. Some Indian-made artillery shells were found on the frontline in Ukraine in support of Kyivs defense, Reuters previously reported.

Delhi has started brokering meetings between visiting delegations and domestic arms contractors, as well as demonstrating more sophisticated equipment like combat helicopters during military exercises, four officials said.

Viraj Solanki, a research fellow at Londons International Institute for Strategic Studies think-tank, said India faced challenges selling its newer and more high-end wares.

Unless it starts using its indigenous equipment more frequently and demonstrating its effectiveness, it is likely to struggle to convince potential buyers, he said.

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Fast and cheap

Modis government has set a target of doubling arms-and-equipment exports to $6 billion by 2029. It hopes sales will go beyond the ammunition, small arms and defense-equipment components that currently compose much of its military exports.

Delhi missed its target of $3.5 billion in arms sales for the latest fiscal year by about a third, but that still marks a significant increase from the $230 million in weapons and defense components it exported a decade ago.

At a time of stretched global budgets and burgeoning defense demand, India is pitching itself partially as a relatively low-cost producer.

India can produce 155 mm artillery ammunition for about $300 to $400 a piece, two Indian sources said, while European equivalents sell for upwards of $3,000.

Indian firms have also sold howitzers for about $3 million each, one of them said, or roughly half what a European-made version costs.

While Western nations that reduced artillery and other defense production after the Cold War are rushing to restart factories, state-owned Munitions India was among the Indian firms that kept such capacity.

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Delhi - which has in recent years faced off with Pakistan and China in combat - had a different strategic scenario, said retired naval Cdr. Gautam Nanda, who leads KPMGs Indian aerospace and defense consulting practice. There were no cuts on our production capacity.

Private manufacturers like Adani Defence and Aerospace and armor-and-ammunition maker SMPP are beginning to produce 155 mm artillery shells, which they said had already been ordered by foreign governments.

With this changing scenario, definitely we see a huge, massive demand for artillery ammunition, said SMPP chief executive Ashish Kansal, whose company is setting up a plant to manufacture large caliber 155 mm artillery ammunition.

Higher-end weapons

India plans to use increased financing of arms exports via EXIM, which had a loan portfolio of $18.32 billion in the 2023-24 fiscal year, to move its products up the value chain.

Such financing will largely be conducted by EXIMs commercial business, which has the state as a backstop but doesnt draw solely from the national budget. Indian arms makers lobbied heavily for the move, an industry source said.

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Most banks in India have been unwilling to offer commercial loans for arms exports because they dont want to deal with countries that may have higher credit and political risks, one Indian diplomat told Reuters.

That has long hampered India from competing on big deals with countries like France, Turkey and China, whose packages come with financing or credit guarantees, the diplomat said.

One market India is hoping to expand in is Brazil, where EXIM opened an office in January.

Delhi is in talks to sell Akash missiles to Brasilia, according to two industry sources and two Brazilian officials. Even as India faces shortfalls in its own shipbuilding capacity, it is also pursuing a deal to build battleships for Brazil, according to the two Brazilian officials and an Indian official.

Indias Bharat Electronics, which develops components for the Akash missile system, opened a marketing office in Sao Paulo this year, two Indian industry sources said.

EXIM was expected to help finance some of the deals in Brazil, they added.

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Brazils army said in an email to Reuters that the developers of Akash had responded to a request for information and that it had not made a decision on the purchase.

Bharat Electronics did not respond to requests for comment.

Strategic autonomy

Delhi is focusing its arms-export strategy on countries in Africa, South America and Southeast Asia.

India plans to dispatch at least 20 new defense attaches to foreign embassies by March 2026, three Indian defense officials said. Their host nations include Algeria, Morocco, Guyana, Tanzania, Argentina, Ethiopia, and Cambodia, they said, adding that Delhi believed it had the ability to significantly expand arms exports to those governments.

One of the officials said this would be accompanied by a reduction in the number of defense attaches posted to Western embassies, who would be sent elsewhere.

The attaches have been tasked with promoting Indian weapons and were given resources to analyze the arms requirements of their host governments, the officials said.

Like India, many of these nations have a history of buying military equipment from the Soviet Union and Russia, which differs from the NATO standards adopted by many Western producers.

One early success story is Armenia, where India posted a defense attache for the first time last year.

India has already eroded Russias monopoly over arming Armenia, which was part of the Soviet Union but has since said that it cannot rely on Moscow.

It sold 43% of the arms Armenia imported between 2022 and 2024, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, up from almost nothing between 2016 and 2018.

Rosoboronexport said in March that SIPRI, which relies on open-source information, does not have comprehensive data.
India is seizing a rare opportunity to boost its manufacturing sector, capitalising on the US-China tariff war while tackling long-term challenges like skill gaps and supply chain dependence read more

When US President Donald Trump raised tariffs on many foreign goods, India was one of the countries that got hit right away with higher levies. Indian exports to the USan important marketwere suddenly facing a 26 per cent tariff, which made it harder for Indian goods to compete and risked hurting Indias export plans.

Though this was worrying, India also saw a possible benefit. China was hit even harder  with new tariffs cumulating to 245 per cent on its exports to the US with Wednesdays announcement by the White House. This has made Chinese goods much more expensive, giving India a chance to fill the gap.

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This has opened a pathway to change how global trade works. Vietnam, another country growing fast in manufacturing, also faced higher tariffs than India, making the latters competitiveness higher. Business leaders and government officials in New Delhi, quoted in a The New York Times report, called this a significant opportunity to push forward Indias goal of becoming a global manufacturing centre.

A historic push toward manufacturing

Prime Minister Narendra Modis government has been working toward this goal for about 10 years. His flagship programme, called the Make in India initiative, was launched to make India a top choice for global manufacturing. To support this, the government set aside over $26 billion in incentives to boost local production in important areas like electronics, auto parts, textiles and chemicals.

There have already been real achievements. One big example is Apples shift in production. Foxconn, a major Apple supplier from Taiwan, has started making iPhones in India, moving a large part of its work out of China. As Bloomberg reported, India now makes 20 per cent of all iPhones sold around the world. This is a big step forward for Indias manufacturing growth. Recent reports suggest that planeloads of iPhones were shipped from India to the US just days before Trump was to announce reciprocal tariffs on April 2.

But this is just the start, says some analysts. The New York Times cited sources close to Apples supply chain to say that there are plans to increase production even more. India could end up making as much as 30 per cent of all iPhones globally. Tamil Nadu has become an important manufacturing area and electronic exports from the states main airport have reportedly doubled in recent months, as companies prepare for higher US tariffs.

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Structural challenges persist

This opportunity, however, does not come without challenges, some of them legacy policy issues in India. Analysts have spoken about pending structural reforms. Also, Indias economy has seen remarkable growth in services sector and signals of revival in agriculture.

This means the share of manufacturing in Indias gross domestic product has come come from 15 per cent to 13 per cent in recent years, as reported by The New York Times, even though the sector has grown remarkably both in terms of absolute volume and value. In contrast, Indias manufacturing rivals in Asia have manufacturing making up about 25 per cent of their economies.

Experts point to several deep-rooted problems. These include high land prices, changing government policies and not enough engineers trained for detailed, technical manufacturing jobs. Weak local supply chains and heavy reliance on imported partslike synthetic fibres and robotic machines makes the path challenging if not unsurmountable.

As The Core pointed out, Made in India doesnt always mean the materials or parts are from India. Because of long wait times and the need to import key items, Indian manufacturers can be at risk.

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However, theres reason to be hopeful. There are ongoing efforts to build local supply chains in areas like semiconductors, renewable energy and specialty chemicals. The governments production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme is designed to help India make more of these important materials at home and rely less on imports.

Industrial parks in Haryana now have almost constant electricity and some state governments have been able to copy important parts of Chinas successful manufacturing systems. The Modi governments push for digital systems has also seen India cutting down on bureaucratic delays and improving transport networks, making it easier for businesses to operate.

India-US factor: A strategic opening

Indias advantage in the current tariff war isnt just about money  its also about politics. President Trump has shown that he personally likes Prime Minister Modi and both leaders are expected to stay in power until at least 2029. The New York Times report said this shared time in office could help the two countries sign a trade deal, which is expected later this year. Such a deal could make Indias position even stronger as the US moves away from depending on China.

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This chance in diplomacy is more than just a nice gesture. It gives India a real opportunity to strengthen its manufacturing industry through long-term partnerships with the US. As China becomes more isolated and global companies rethink their supply chains, India can offer itself as a reliable, democratic and skilled option.

A workforce in transition

One of Indias biggest strengths is its large and young workforce. But this also brings a challenge. Even though India has plenty of workers, many of them dont have the right skills. However, India is taking steps to fix this. The governments Skill India programme is working to close the skill gap.

States such as Tamil Nadu are also building training systems that match what industries need. If the government and private companies work together, Indias young population could become a real strength for its manufacturing future.

India eyes the global defence market

As India grows its manufacturing sector and builds stronger ties with the US, its also stepping into a new role: becoming a major exporter of military equipment. This shift connects closely with Indias broader strategy of reducing its dependence on imports and increasing its global influenceespecially at a time when many countries are rethinking who they buy weapons from.

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Amid rising US-China tensions, India has moved closer to the West through strategic partnerships like the Quad, while still keeping defence ties with Russia. This reflects Indias long-standing policy of strategic autonomy  maintaining flexibility and independence in foreign policy decisions.

Now, with global demand for arms rising due to conflicts like the war in Ukraine, India sees a chance to supply countries looking for affordable and reliable alternatives to traditional players like Russia and the US.

According to a Reuters report, the Modi government is going beyond just making weapons  its actively trying to sell them worldwide. Its offering low-cost loans through the state-backed Export-Import Bank (EXIM), even to countries with financial or political risks that normally wouldnt qualify for big arms deals.

India is also planning to send at least 20 new defence attaches abroad by 2026 to promote its weapons and understand what foreign militaries need. These attaches will focus on countries in Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin Americaregions where India sees the most potential for growth.

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Indias defence production has surged, reaching $14.8 billion in the 202324 fiscal yeara 62 per cent increase since 2020. While it fell short of its $3.5 billion export goal, the rise from just $230 million a decade ago shows how far the country has come.

Indian weapons are also proving cost-effective: its 155 mm artillery shells cost just $300$400 per unit, compared to over $3,000 for European versions. Similarly, Indian-made howitzers sell for around half the price of Western models.

To help push deals forward, Indian defence companies are opening international offices. Even as India faces challenges like limited shipbuilding capacity at home, it is also exploring deals to build battleships for foreign clients.

Indias efforts are already paying off. In Armenia, where a defence attache was posted for the first time last year, India captured 43 per cent of the countrys arms imports between 2022 and 2024  up from nearly nothing a few years earlier, according to Sipri data cited by Reuters. This shows that India is not only entering the market but is starting to disrupt traditional arms supply chainsespecially those long dominated by Russia.

But while these early wins in defence exports and tariff-led trade shifts are promising, they also highlight a bigger challenge: how to turn short-term momentum into long-term strength.

Need for a long-term strategy

Many people in India were happy at first about the benefits from tariff changes and trade shifts. But some experts warn not to celebrate too soon. According to The Core, India might be relying too much on short-term tariff benefits as a strategy and in doing so, could be missing the forest for the trees.

Tariff advantages dont last forever. The global trade system is unstable and can change suddenly  especially with a president like Trump, who is known for unexpected decisions. If India doesnt have a clear and long-term plan, it could end up simply reacting to events instead of leading with a strong strategy.

Still, there are some positive signs. The Indian government has been pragmatic in quietly negotiating with US trade officials. More and more, theres an understanding that real global competitiveness comes not just from lower tariffs, but also from cutting production costs, simplifying rules and creating strong support systems for businesses.

A moment India must seize

Despite challenges, India looks set for a jump in manufacturing amid a global trade war on the back of US President Donald Trumps tariff blitz. The US-China trade war and President Trumps tough tariff policies have disrupted old supply chains and made global companies rethink where to set up their manufacturing. India, with its large market, growing labour force and political stability is now being seen as a strong alternative to China for manufacturing.
A Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna heard the pleas on Wednesday challenging the constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act. The hearing saw intense debate between Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and senior advocates representing the petitioners read more

Indias top court Wednesday (April 16) heard dozens of pleas challenging the constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. While the government of India, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, argues the act is meant to better regulate and manage Waqf properties, opposition parties say it targets fundamental rights of Muslims. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen Chief Asaduddin Owaisi in his plea said the law brazenly violates the fundamental rights of Muslims and the Muslim community.

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A Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and also comprising Justices Sanjay Kumar and KV Viswanathan heard the pleas on Wednesday, which saw intense debate between Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and senior advocates Kapil Sibal, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Rajeev Dhawan, and CU Singh, who were representing the petitioners.

Here are the questions that the Supreme Court and the CJI asked during the hearing.

### **Will the government allow Muslims to be part of Hindu religious trusts?**

The Waqf (Amendment) Act allows non-Muslims to be a part of Waqf board. Reacting to this, the Supreme Court asked whether the government was ready to allow non-Hindus in the bodies governing Hindu temples.

Mr. Mehta, are you saying that from now on, you will allow Muslims to be part of the Hindu endowment boards? Say it openly," the court asked addressing the solicitor general.

The court further added that regarding Waqf boards and Waqf Council, ex officio members can be appointed, but the other members have to be Muslims."

### **Inheritance**

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the petitioners, started off by reading the contested sections of the new law. Who is the State, he asked, to decide how inheritance should work in my religion? According to him, Islamic law says inheritance begins after death  not before.

Responding to this, the CJI said, But in Hindus it does happen so Parliament has enacted a law for Muslims. Maybe its not like the law for Hindus. Article 26 will not bar the enactment of the law in this case. Article 26 is universal  and it is secular in the fashion that it applies to all.

### **What dispute would mean?**

The Chief Justice of India also sought clarity on the condition that the property must not be in dispute.

Before the Britishers came, we did not have any registration. Many of the masjids are created in 14th or 15th centuries. To require them to produce a registered deed is impossible. Most of the cases, say Jama Masjid Delhi, the waqf will be waqf-by-user," CJI said.

### **Waqf-by-user**

As arguments continued, the CJI pointed to the provision on disputes with the government and questioned why the property shouldnt be treated as waqf until the dispute is resolved. Why will it not remain a waqf property? Let the civil court decide that, CJI said. Mr Tushar Mehta, tell us. Waqf-by-user, if accepted prior to 2025 Act, is it now declared to be void or non-existent? CJI asked.

Waqf by user refers to a property being treated as a religious or charitable endowment simply because its been used that way for a long time  even if the owner never officially declared it as waqf in writing.

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### **Concern over random properties being declared as waqf**

During Wednesdays arguments, CJI Khanna raised eyebrows over how certain properties ended up being classified as Waqf.

We have been told the Delhi high court building is on Waqf land, Oberoi Hotel is on Waqf land We are not saying all Waqf-by-user properties are wrongly registered, but there are some genuine areas of concern too, Justice Sanjiv Khanna observed.
Indias Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Sunday, April 13, 2025, announced the successful trial of the in-house developed Mk-II(A) Laser-Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) system. It thus demonstrated having mastered the technology for disabling missiles, drones and smaller projectiles. The success has put India in the exclusive and limited club of nations, which possess the high-power Laser-DEW systems.

The trial was carried at the National Open Air Range, Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh. Indigenously designed and developed Mk-II(A) DEW system was demonstrated in its entire spectrum of capability by engaging the fixed wing drones at long range, thwarting a multiple drone attack and destroying enemy surveillance sensors and antennae, the DRDO statement said. The lightning speed of engagement, the precision and the lethality delivered at the target within a few seconds made it the most potent counter drone system.

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DEWs are considered a cost-effective defence against low-cost drone attacks. DRDO press release further added, Cost of firing it for few seconds is equivalent to the cost of couple of litres of petrol. Therefore, it has the potential to be a long-term and low-cost alternative to defeat the target. The system was developed by DRDOs Hyderabad-based Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences (CHESS), along with other labs, academic institutions and Indian industries.

Once detected by a radar or by its inbuilt Electro Optic (EO) system, laser-DEW can engage targets at the speed of light and use an intense laser beam to cut through the target, burning its electro-optical sensors, causing structural failure or exploding its warhead. This type of cutting-edge weaponry has the potential to revolutionise the battle-space by reducing the reliance on expensive logistics-dependent ammunition. It could also lower the risk of collateral damage.

The proliferation of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and the emergence of drone swarms as asymmetric threats are driving the demand for DEWs as counter-UAS and counter-swarm capabilities. The DEW would soon be replacing traditional kinetic weapons and missile defence systems due to its ease of operation and cost effectiveness.

What is a DEW and its operational advantages?

A DEW is a ranged weapon that damages its target with highly focused energy. It has no solid projectile. It includes lasers, microwaves, particle beams, and sound beams. Potential applications of this technology include weapons that target personnel, missiles, vehicles, satellites, and optical devices. Many defence labs in the USs have been researching DEWs to counter ballistic missiles, hypersonic cruise missiles, and hypersonic glide vehicles.

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DEWs could have several advantages over conventional weaponry. These weapons are fairly discreet as radiation does not generate sound and is invisible. Light, for practical purposes, is unaffected by gravity, wind and Coriolis force (due Earths rotation), giving it an almost perfectly straight trajectory. This makes aiming much more precise and extends the range to line of sight. Of course, there could some beam diffraction and spread, which may dilute the power and weaken the effect, and absorption or scattering by intervening atmosphere.

Lasers travel at light-speed and have long range, making them suitable for use in space warfare. Laser weapons potentially eliminate many logistical problems in terms of ammunition supply, as long as there is enough energy to power them. Depending on several operational factors, DEWs may be cheaper to operate than conventional weapons. Use of high-powered microwave weapons, which are typically used to degrade and damage electronics such as drones, can be hard to attribute to someone.

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Ancient and early DEWs

In Hindu mythology, celestial weapons (Astra) are often described as wielding immense destructive power and are often depicted as being DEWs, capable of delivering devastating effects. Some notable examples include the Brahmastra, a highly destructive weapon, said to be capable of destroying entire worlds. It is associated with the deity Brahma.

Pashupatastra is considered one of the most devastating weapons, wielded by Shivas consort Mahakali. Narayanastra, a powerful weapon, said to be capable of even making Shiva fall asleep. Vaishnavastra, a weapon associated with Vishnu, said to be invincible to anyone except its creator. Bhargavastraa powerful weapon associated with the sage Bhargava, known for its immense destructive capabilities. Each is said to have unique capabilities and destructive potential. These weapons are not physical objects but manifestations of divine power, wielded by gods or skilled warriors.

According to a legend, Archimedes created a mirror with an adjustable focal length (or more likely, a series of mirrors) to focus sunlight on ships of the Roman fleet as they invaded Syracuse, setting them on fire. During the early 1940s German engineers developed a sonic cannon that could cause fatal vibrations in its target body. It caused vertigo and nausea at 200-400 metres by vibrating the middle ear bones and shaking the cochlear fluid within the inner ear. At distances of 50-200 metres the sound waves could act on organ tissues and fluids by repeatedly compressing and releasing compressive resistant organs such as the kidneys, spleen, and liver. At such close ranges, the weapon was highly vulnerable to enemy fire. Among the DEW, the Nazis investigated X-ray beam weapons. The intent was to pre-ionize ignition in aircraft engines and hence serve as anti-aircraft DEW and bring planes down into the reach of the flak.

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Who all have DEW?

These systems of missile defence are already being deployed by US and Israel. China, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Russia, India, and Pakistan are also developing military-grade DEWs Meanwhile, Iran and Turkey claim to have them in active service. The first use of directed-energy weapons in combat between military forces was claimed to have occurred in Libya in August 2019 by Turkey, which claimed to use the ALKA directed-energy weapon. Despite all this, most DEWs are still at the experimental stage and it remains to be seen if or when they will be deployed as practical, high-performance military weapons.

Anti-Personnel DEW

The microwave frequency is normally between 300 MHz and 300 GHz (wavelengths of 1 meter to 1 millimetre). Active Denial System developed by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory and Raytheon is a millimetre wave source that heats the water in a human targets skin and thus causes incapacitating pain. It was developed originally for riot-control duty. Though intended to cause severe pain while leaving no lasting damage, some contend that it could cause irreversible damage to the eyes. It can also destroy unshielded electronics.

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Aircraft-Based DEW

Raytheon developed Vigilant Eagle is a defence system that directs high-frequency microwaves towards any projectile that is fired at an aircraft. It is supposedly highly effective in defeating MANPADS missiles. The system consists of a missile-detecting and tracking subsystem, and a scanning array. It has a fixed grid of passive infrared (IR) cameras. The missile launch point is detected, and the scanning array projects microwaves that disrupt the surface-to-air missiles guidance system, deflecting it from the aircraft. Its actual deployment is not known.

The Counter-electronics High Power Microwave Advanced Missile Project (CHAMP) is an American joint concept technology demonstration program to develop an air-launched directed-energy weapon capable of incapacitating or damaging electronic systems by means of an EMP (electromagnetic pulse). Till now airborne platforms were constrained by need of high electric power generation on-board.

Surface-based DEW

Bofors HPM Blackout is a high-powered microwave weapon that is said to be able to destroy at short distance a wide variety of electronic equipment. The effective radiated power (ERP) of Israeli EL/M-2080 Green Pine makes it a hypothetical candidate for conversion into a DEW by focusing pulses of radar energy on target missiles. The energy spikes are tailored to enter missiles through antennas or sensor apertures where they can fool guidance systems, scramble computer memories or even burn out sensitive electronic components.

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The Tactical High-power Operational Responder (THOR) is an American high-power microwave DEW. Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapon (RFDEW) developed in the UK uses radio waves to fry the electronic components of its targets, rendering them inoperable. It is capable of engaging multiple targets, including drone swarms, and reportedly costs less than 13 cents per shot, making it a much cheaper alternative to traditional missile-based air defence systems. It was unveiled in May 2024.

DragonFire is a UK developed laser DEW reportedly in the 50 kW class and is capable of engaging any target within line-of-sight at a currently classified range. It has been tested against drones and mortar rounds and is expected to equip ships, aircraft and ground vehicles from 2027.

During the Iraq War, electromagnetic weapons, including high power microwaves, were used by the US military to disrupt and destroy Iraqi electronic systems and may have been used for crowd control. Types and magnitudes of exposure to electromagnetic fields are unknown.

Anti-drone DEW

A Pischal-Pro anti-drone gun, featured at the Dubai Airshow, 2019. It is a battery-powered electromagnetic pulse weapon held to an operators shoulder, pointed at a flying target in a way similar to a rifle, and operated. The device emits separate electromagnetic pulses to suppress navigation and transmission channels used to operate an aerial drone, terminating the drones contact with its operator. The out-of-control drone then crashes.

The Russian Stupor is reported to have a range of two kilometres, covering a 20-degree sector; it also suppresses the drones cameras. Stupor is reported to have been used by Russian forces during the Russian military intervention in the Syrian civil war.

Both Russia and Ukraine are reported to use DEW devices during the ongoing conflict. The Ukrainian army are reported to use the Ukrainian KVS G-6, with a 3.5 km range and able to operate continuously for 30 minutes. The manufacturer states that the weapon can disrupt remote control, the transmission of video at 2.4 and 5 GHz, and GPS and Glonass satellite navigation signals. Ukraine has also used the EDM4S anti drone rifle to shoot down Russian Eleron-3 drones.

Due to the threat posed by drones in regard to terrorism, several police forces have carried anti-drone guns as part of their equipment. These have an effective range of 3 km.

Sonic or acoustic weaponry

Sonic weapons or acoustic weapons, emit very loud sounds, often used for crowd control or to incapacitate individuals. These weapons can cause pain, discomfort, and potential hearing damage due to their high decibel levels. Long-Range Acoustic Devices (LRADs) are specialized loudspeakers covering long distances.

According to the manufacturers specifications, the systems weigh from 7 to 145 kg and can emit sound in a 30-60 beam at 2.5 kHz. They range in size from small, portable handheld units which can be strapped to a persons chest, to larger models which require a mount. The power of the sound beam which LRADs produce is sufficient to penetrate vehicles and buildings while retaining a high degree of fidelity, so that verbal messages can be conveyed clearly in some situations.

Some sonic weapons create a focused beam of sound or ultrasound to target a specific area or person. Others produce a broader area field of sound, affecting a larger number of individuals. The loud and painful sounds can cause intense discomfort, potentially leading to panic and disorientation. The unexpected and powerful nature of the sound can also cause psychological stress and fear. They can be used to communicate with or disorient individuals during siege situations. Even wearing earplugs or firmly blocking the ears with hands may not be sufficient to prevent injury. The powerful nature of sonic weapons raises concerns about their potential for misuse and abuse.

LRADs are often fitted on commercial and military ships. They have been used on several occasions to repel pirate attacks by sending warnings and by producing intolerable levels of sound. For example, in 2005 the cruise-liner Seabourn Spirit used a sonic weapon to defend itself from Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean. A few years later, the cruise-liner Spirit of Adventure also defended itself from Somali pirates by using its LRAD to force them to retreat.

Strategic defence initiative

In the 1980s, US President Ronald Reagan proposed the Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI) programme, which was nicknamed Star Wars. It suggested that lasers, perhaps space-based X-ray lasers, could destroy ICBMs in flight. Out of the SDI program came the Neutral Particle Beam Accelerator developed by Los Alamos National Laboratory, which was among several DEWs examined by the SDI Organization for potential use in missile defence. In July 1989, the accelerator was launched from White Sands Missile Range as part of the Beam Experiment Aboard Rocket (BEAR) project, reaching an altitude of 200 kilometres and operating successfully in space before being recovered intact after re-entry. Despite continued research into NPBs, no known weapon system utilizing this technology has been deployed.

The Soviet Union invested some effort in the development of ruby and carbon dioxide lasers as anti-ballistic missile systems, and later as a tracking and anti-satellite system. There are reports that the Terra-3 complex at Sary Shagan was used on several occasions to temporarily blind US spy satellites in the IR range. It has been claimed that the USSR made use of the lasers at the Terra-3 site to target the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1984. At the time, the Soviet Union was concerned that the shuttle was being used as a reconnaissance platform.

DEWs still evolving

Particle-beam weapons can use charged or neutral particles, and can be either endo-atmospheric or exo-atmospheric. Theoretical research has been on but practical weapons have not been demonstrated yet. Blooming is a problem in particle-beam weapons. Energy that would otherwise be focused on the target spreads out and the beam becomes less effective. Thermal blooming occurs in both charged and neutral particle beams, and occurs when particles bump into one another under the effects of thermal vibration, or bump into air molecules. Electrical blooming occurs only in charged particle beams, as ions of like charge repel one another.

Plasma weapons fire a beam, bolt, or stream of plasma, which is an excited state of matter consisting of atomic electrons and nuclei, and free electrons if ionized, or other particles if pinched. The MARAUDER (Magnetically Accelerated Ring to Achieve Ultra-high Directed-Energy and Radiation) used the Shiva Star project, a high energy capacitor bank which provided the means to test weapons and other devices requiring brief and extremely large amounts of energy, to accelerate a toroid of plasma at a significant percentage of the speed of light. Russia too is developing various plasma weapons.

To summarise

Closer home, there are claims and counter-claims regarding Chinese use of directed energy weapons, specifically microwave weapons, in eastern Ladakh in August 2020. While a Chinese academic suggested their deployment during a border standoff, the Indian military refuted these claims, calling them fake.

The future of DEW looks promising, suggesting significant growth driven by military investments in advanced technologies. DEWs, including lasers and high-power microwaves, offer advantages like rapid response, precision targeting, and cost-effectiveness, making them attractive for various military applications. However, the technology is still developing, and challenges like high cost and regulations need to be addressed. The DEW market is expected to expand rapidly, with projections indicating a CAGR of over 17.6 per cent between 2025 and 2034.

Increased military spending on advanced defence technologies is a major driver of DEW development. DEWs offer speed-of-light engagement, extreme accuracy, and the potential for non-lethal engagements, making them suitable for various scenarios. DEWs can effectively neutralise unmanned aerial systems. While challenges remain for intercepting advanced missiles, DEWs are being explored as cost-effective solutions against slower-moving cruise missiles. The precision targeting capabilities of DEWs are valuable in urban environments where minimising collateral damage is crucial. The integration of AI and ML is expected to enhance DEW capabilities, including faster target acquisition and energy utilisation.

The initial development of DEWs is expensive, posing a challenge for both military and private sector. Stringent regulations and ethical considerations surrounding DEW deployment need to be addressed. While progress has been made, many DEW systems are still at the experimental stage. Adversaries may develop countermeasures to neutralise DEW systems, requiring ongoing research and development. Overall, the future of DEWs is characterised by rapid technological advancements, increasing military interest, and a range of potential applications.

The writer is former Director General, Centre for Air Power Studies. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Globally, Google said it blocked 5.1 billion ads in 2024 and took action against 1.3 billion publisher pages. India, now the second-largest internet market after China by user base, saw 2.9 million account suspensions and 247.4 million ad removals read more

The Google logo is pictured at the entrance to the Google offices in London, Britain January 18, 2019. Reuters File

Google has tripled the number of advertiser account suspensions on its platform, taking down 39.2 million accounts in 2024 as part of its largest crackdown yet on ad fraud. The tech giant attributed the spike to advances in artificial intelligence and increased vigilance against scams, impersonations, and policy violations.

The company said it had leveraged large language models (LLMs) and signals, such as illegitimate payment methods and impersonation patterns, to detect and block malicious actors. A vast majority of the accounts were suspended before they could serve a single ad, Google claimed.

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We still have humans involved throughout the process, said Alex Rodriguez, general manager for Ads Safety at Google, during a virtual media roundtable, according to a report by TechCrunch. But these AI models are very important to Google and have delivered a series of impressive improvements, he added.

In 2024, Google launched over 50 enhancements powered by LLMs to strengthen safety enforcement across its platforms. The company introduced more than 30 policy updates and technical countermeasures, leading to the suspension of 700,000 accounts linked to deepfake scams. It claims this resulted in a 90 per cent drop in user reports of such content.

A cross-functional team of over 100 expertsincluding Googles Ads Safety and Trust and Safety teams, along with researchers from DeepMindwas tasked with analysing deepfake scams and impersonation techniques. Many of the scams involved public figures being falsely portrayed in fraudulent ads.

The US accounted for the highest number of suspensions, with 39.2 million advertiser accounts taken down and 1.8 billion ads removed. Violations included ad network abuse, trademark misuse, healthcare-related false claims, and misrepresentation in personalised advertising.

India, now the second-largest internet market after China by user base, saw 2.9 million account suspensions and 247.4 million ad removals. The top infractions in India related to financial services, gambling, personalised ads, and trademark abuse.

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Globally, Google said it blocked 5.1 billion ads in 2024 and took action against 1.3 billion publisher pages. These figures mark a slight decrease from 2023, when the company blocked over 5.5 billion ads and targeted 2.1 billion pages.

The decline, Google said, signals improved prevention mechanisms. By detecting and suspending bad actors earlier, we prevent a lot of harmful ads from ever being created or served, Rodriguez said.

In a year that saw half the worlds population head to the polls, Google also ramped up election-related enforcement. It verified more than 8,900 new election advertisers and removed 10.7 million election ads. However, Rodriguez downplayed the scale of this activity in relation to Googles overall ad volumes, saying it had a limited impact on broader safety metrics.

Overall, the company restricted 9.1 billion ads and suspended five million accounts for scam-related violations. Nearly 500 million scam-related ads were removed in total.
Two men from Telangana were brutally killed and another was injured in a sword attack at a bakery in Dubai, where they worked. The attacker was allegedly a Pakistani national who shouted religious slogans during the incident, according to the victims families. read more

Two men from Telangana were killed and another was injured in an attack at a Dubai bakery, where they worked. According to the victims families, the attacker was a Pakistani national who shouted religious slogans during the incident.

Ashtapu Premsagar (35), from Soan village in Nirmal district, was killed with a sword on April 11, his uncle A Poshetty told PTI. The incident happened at the bakery where he worked. Premsagar had been working there for the past five to six years and had last visited his family two years ago.

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Victims family in distress, seeks government help

Premsagar is survived by his wife and two children. Poshetty said that his family, who are in a poor financial condition, have not yet been informed about his death. His uncle has urged the government to help bring his body back to India and support the family.

Another man, Sagar, was injured in the attack and is currently in hospital, his wife Bhavani said.

Union Ministers react, G Kishan Reddy speaks to EAM Jaishankar

Union Minister G Kishan Reddy said the second victim was Srinivas from Nizamabad district. He expressed grief over the incident and said he had spoken to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who assured help in bringing the bodies back to India.

Deeply shocked by the brutal killing of two Telugu youth from Telangana in Dubai, Ashtapu Premsagar from Nirmal district and Srinivas from Nizamabad district. Spoke to Honble External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar ji on the matter and he has assured full support to the bereaved families, and the urgent repatriation of the mortal remains, Reddy said in a post on X.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) will also work to ensure the delivery of speedy justice in the matter, he said while thanking Jaishankar for his help.

Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar expressed his sadness over the killings and said he had spoken to MEA officials. He added that Union home ministry officials were in contact with them.

Deeply saddened by the tragic killing of Shri Ashtapu Prem Sagar and Shri Srinivas, two workers from Telangana, who were attacked by a Pakistani national at Modern Bakery LLC in Dubai on April 11, he wrote on X.

With inputs from PTI.
Germany recorded a significant growth in the number of atheists as compared to Catholics and Protestants in 2024. Experts have said that a growing number of people are drifting apart from Christianity owing to the rise in sexual scandals in churches read more

People attend a memorial service in solidarity with the people of Magdeburg, after a car rammed into a crowd of people at the Magdeburg Christmas market, at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in Berlin, Germany. Reuters

More and more Germans are losing their faith in religion as the number of atheists has outgrown the number of Catholics and Protestants combined for the first time in the countrys history.

According to new research by the group Weltanschauungen, the year 2024 saw a rise in people with no religious affiliations. Germany had 47 per cent atheists, 45 per cent Catholics and Protestants, and 4 per cent Muslims. The study is based on publications from the German Bishops Conference and the Protestant Church in Germany (EKD).

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Why are people losing touch with religion?

Explaining why people are denouncing their religions to Le Monde, Edgar Wunder, scientific mission officer at the Social Science Institute of the EKD in Hanover, said, The reason why people leave the Church is simply that they have lost the connection or religious faith.

He added that cases of sexual abuse, particularly of minors, in churches have also weighed in heavily on peoples faith. The scandals of sexual abuse of minors have weighed heavily, but in my view, its a temporary phenomenon. Primarily, there is always the fact that people no longer consider the Church necessary or see why they should be members, Wunder said.

Church and the state: An intertwined partnership

Unlike France, Germany does not separate its churches from the state, and therefore, leaving ones religion in the country requires some sort of government intervention.

Hartmut Zinser, a specialist in religious studies at the Free University of Berlin, said, We do not have, as in France, a separation of church and state. The two are mixed here; religion in Germany is a tripartite matter. To leave the Church, you have to go to the district court and declare that you no longer want to be a member, then you receive a paper, then there is supposedly a 26-week reflection period before the exit is effective.

The blending of religion and politics can occasionally spark controversy. During the electoral campaign for the legislative elections on February 23, 2025, representatives from the German Bishops Conference and the Protestant Church voiced criticism over conservative CDU candidate Friedrich Merzs decision to accept backing from the far-right. This support helped Merz pass a motion in the Bundestag on January 29 that called for stricter migration policies.

The move caused significant backlash within the CDU, a party traditionally aligned with the Catholic Church, despite its efforts to present itself as a multiconfessional Christian party. The controversy highlights the ongoing tensions between political strategy and religious values within the conservative ranks.
The lawsuit has been filed by Indian student Chinmay Deore, along with two students from China and one from Nepal. Chinmay studies at Wayne State University. In the lawsuit, the students have alleged that their legal status within the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) was illegally terminated without any explanation read more

India's Chinmay Deore was among four international students at Michigan public universities who filed the lawsuit(LinkedIn/Chinay Deore)

Four students, including one Indian, have sued the Donald Trump administration in US over their potential deportation after their student immigration status was terminated earlier this month. News agency PTI reported that the students are now seeking relief from the court in the form of regaining their legal status.

The Trump administration has recently started cracking down on campus activism. According to media reports, hundreds of foreign students in the US have received emails asking them to self-deport. Students accused of minor crimes, such as shoplifting and traffic violations, are also on the radar.

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More about the lawsuit

The lawsuit has been filed by Indian student Chinmay Deore, along with two students from China and one from Nepal. Chinmay studies at Wayne State University.

In the lawsuit, the students have alleged that their legal status within the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) was illegally terminated without any explanation. SEVIS is a database where information about non-immigrant students in the US is stored.

The students are now left with no legal status in the country, which effectively means they can be punished by law if they fail to self-deport from the US.

The lawsuit against the Trump administration has been filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on behalf of the students in the US District Court Eastern District of Michigan.

The demands of the students

In the lawsuit, the students have demanded their legal status be reinstated, arguing that they havent been involved in any crime or any violation of immigration law.

At most, what seems to connect the students is that they had some encounter with some American law enforcement official at some point in the past, no matter how innocuous  including receiving a speeding or parking ticket (or even a warning) or lawfully withdrawing an application to enter the US, the lawsuit read.

Loren Khogali, executive director of the ACLU of Michigan, was quoted as saying by the Detroit Free Press that through such moves, the Trump administration was seeking to sow chaos and fear among the students.

The aim of this administration is to sow chaos and fear by attacking some people to terrorise us all They are now coming for international students who provide critical perspectives and contributions to our academic communities and, through their spending, make a major contribution to our economy, Khogali said.

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The development follows closely on the heels of a US judges decision to temporarily block the Trump administration from deporting Krish Lal Isserdasani, a 21-year-old Indian undergraduate whose student visa had been cancelled. Krish, who is nearing the completion of his studies, is set to graduate in May.
Melonis allies insist she will act as a facilitator between Brussels and Washington. She has also aligned with the EU on some key votes, including retaliatory measures in response to earlier US levies. However, Meloni has taken divergent stands, too read more

Italys Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, is set to meet US President Donald Trump in Washington this week, becoming the latest European leader to seek influence in a White House increasingly at odds with the European Union. But her visit is attracting more scrutiny than most.

Melonis far-right credentials and her history of warm ties with Trump  she was the only European leader to attend his 2025 inauguration  have heightened speculation that she may prioritise Italys national interests over a united European front.

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The meeting comes as the EU struggles to respond to Trumps threat of sweeping new tariffs on European goods, which could hit industries from wine to machinery.

While some officials have welcomed her visit as a chance to mediate, others are wary. This is the moment of truth for our prime minister, The New York Times quoted Carlo Calenda, a former Italian minister and opposition figure, as saying. We will see whether she is a leader that keeps the European front united, or if she will give in to the flattery of the US president.

Melonis allies insist she will act as a facilitator between Brussels and Washington. Italys industry minister, Adolfo Urso, emphasised the strength of both the transatlantic relationship and what he called a personal connection between the two leaders. Still, the stakes are high. Meloni is the first European leader to have a meeting with Trump. Top EU officials have struggled to get face time with Trump European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has yet to secure a call.

Meloni, who has previously criticised Trumps tariffs as wrong, has aligned with the EU on some key votes, including retaliatory measures in response to earlier US levies. But she has also carved out her own space on the right, defending controversial US figures like JD Vance and calling for the EU to avoid escalating the trade dispute.

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Her tactics may soon face its biggest test. Italy will find out how much it can claim a special relationship with the United States, said Giovanni Orsina, a political analyst in Rome. And it may be an important [moment] for Europe, too.
University of British Columbias (UBC) Vancouver has reported a 27 per cent growth in applications from US citizens as Trump administrations policies on immigration rules and funding cutbacks threaten their education in the US read more

Family members take photographs at the entrance of the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada April 14, 2025. REUTERS

A growing number of students in the US are flocking to Canada to pursue higher education, as President Donald Trumps harsh policies against American schools threaten their courses. The Republican leader recently slashed funding for Harvard University after the institution rejected the governments demands to tackle antisemitism on campus.

Since March 1, the University of British Columbias (UBC) Vancouver campus reported a 27 per cent growth in applications from US citizens for programs starting in the 2025 academic year, compared with all of 2024.

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The influx of applications was so high that UBC Vancouver reopened admissions for US students looking to apply to its pool of courses this week, with plans to fast-track applications from US students hoping to begin studies in September.

University of Toronto, Canadas largest university by number of students, also reported more US applications by its January deadline for 2025 programs, while a University of Waterloo spokesperson reported an increase in US visitors to campus and more web traffic originating from the United States since September.

Why do US students want to study in Canada?

UBC Vancouvers provost and vice-president of academics, Gage Averill, blamed the Trump administrations decision to abruptly revoke visas of foreign students and increased scrutiny of their social media activity.

That, as a result, and especially as a result of the very recent crackdown on visas in the United States for international students, and now the development of a center thats reading foreign students social media accounts, Averill said.

Canadas immigration ministry said it expects learning institutions to only accept the number of students they can support, including providing housing options. Provinces and territories are responsible for distributing spaces under the cap, the ministry said.

Meaningful increase

The University of Toronto said it was seeing a meaningful increase in applications from those living or studying in the US over previous years. University of Waterloo, which is known for its technical graduate programs and churns out top-notch engineering talent, said some faculties including engineering have seen increased interest and applications from students in the US.

We have seen an increase in US visitors to the UW visitors centre on campus, and web traffic that originates in the US has increased by 15% since September 2024, a University of Waterloo spokesperson said.

With inputs from Reuters
Yarn imports via the Benapole, Bhomra, Sonamasjid, Banglabandha and Burimari land ports have been halted. This comes after Yunus sparked a row after he called the Northeastern region landlocked and drew criticism for calling on China to expand its control over Indian regions during his state visit to the country read more

Bangladesh has suspended yarn imports from India via land ports, days after New Delhi suspended transhipment facility for the countrys export cargo.

According to a report by the Times of India, Bangladeshs National Board of Revenue (NBR) has halted the import of yarn through the Benapole, Bhomra, Sonamasjid, Banglabandha and Burimari land ports.

The development comes weeks after Yunus sparked a row after he called the Northeastern region landlocked and drew criticism for calling on China to expand its control over Indian regions during his state visit to the country.

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Last week, Indias Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) issued a statement saying that the transhipment facility, which was opened in 2020 to facilitate the export of cargo from Bangladesh to third countries via the Indian Land Customs Stations en route to Indian ports and airports, will be terminated with immediate effect.

The move is likely to disrupt Bangladeshs trade with Bhutan, Nepal, and Myanmar. Furthermore, landlocked countries like Nepal and Bhutan are likely to raise concerns over the closure of the facility as it may affect their trade with Bangladesh.

Ajay Srivastava, former trade officer and Head of GTRI, highlighted that India has consistently backed Bangladeshs interests by offering preferential, zero-tariff access to Bangladeshi goodsexcluding alcohol and cigarettesinto its large market for the past 20 years.

However, Bangladeshs plans to establish a strategic base near the Chickens Neck area with Chinas assistance may have prompted this action. Bangladesh has invited Chinese investment to revitalise the airbase at Lalmonirhat, near Indias Siliguri Corridor, Srivastava said.
Li Chenggang has become the new international trade representative of China at a time when tensions between Beijing and Washington simmer as Trump and Xi go back and forth on tariffs read more

Li Chenggang, China's Ambassador to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), gestures during an interview. Reuters

China on Wednesday appointed a new international trade representative as tensions with the US continue to simmer. Li Chenggang, who will be working for the Ministry of Commerce (Mofcom), will now replace Wang Shouwen.

The new appointment comes at a time when the US and China are engaged in rapid tit-for-tat hikes in tariffs, with the direct consequences suffered by stock markets prompting investors to call for a de-escalation in trade tensions.

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US President Donald Trump has raised tariffs on China to a whopping 145 per cent, forcing Beijing to hit back with its own retaliatory tariff of 125 per cent.

Who is Li Chenggang?

Li, 58, brings decades of experience in international negotiations through his work at Chinas Ministry of Commerce. He played a major role in negotiating a trade deal with the US in 2020.

He also served as Chinas ambassador to the World Trade Organisation in Geneva starting in 2021. He holds a law degree from Peking University and a masters in law and economics from the University of Hamburg in Germany.

US-China trade tensions

Donald Trump believes it is up to China to come to the negotiating table on trade, the White House said Tuesday, after the US president accused Beijing of reneging on a major Boeing deal.

The ball is in Chinas court. China needs to make a deal with us. We dont have to make a deal with them, said a statement from Trump read out by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Theres no difference between China and any other country except they are much larger, she told a briefing.

China on Wednesday said its economy grew a forecast-beating 5.4 per cent in the first quarter as exporters rushed to get goods out of factory gates ahead of the US levies.

With inputs from agencies
Even as global sales of electric vehicles (EVs) rose 29% in March, Teslas sales fell in key markets of Europe and China as Elon Musk continued to pursue divisive, far-right politics across the world read more

Elon Musk gestures at the podium inside the Capital One arena on the inauguration day of Donald Trump's second presidential term, in Washington. Many likened his hand gesture to a Nazi salute. (Photo: Reuters)

Even though the electric vehicles (EVs) sales rose across the world in March, the sales of Elon Musks Tesla fell across Europe, China, and the United States.

Teslas decline in March is the continuation of the trend that began in the weeks after Donald Trumps victory in the 2024 election. Musks political rise has coincided with the decline of his business. The backlash to his politics has led to rejection of his cars.

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Between December and March, Teslas value fell by 50.5 per cent in the longest continuous loss-making streak.

In March, as global EV sales rose worldwide, Teslas sales dropped in France, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and the Netherlands, for a third consecutive month. Teslas sales in China also plunged, which is the worlds largest market for EVs and Teslas second-largest market.

In Europe, Musks promotion of far-right politics and regime change operations have upset moderates who are ditching Tesla in protest. There have also been protests and vandalism of Tesla facilities as backlash has spread in response to Musks extremist politics.

People embrace EVs, reject Tesla worldwide

In March, the sales of EVs and electric hybrids rose worldwide by 29 per cent, according to Reuters.

EVs sales grew 36 per cent in China, 24 per cent in Europe, 12 per cent in the United States and Canada, and 13 per cent in the rest of the world.

Musks Tesla, however, registered a decline in nearly all markets as backlash to his extremist politics continues to spread. In France and Sweden, Tesla sales fell for the third month straight.

Teslas sales fell by 36.83 per cent in France, 63.9 per cent in Sweden, 65.6 per cent in Denmark, 61 per cent in the Netherlands, and 1 per cent in Sweden, as per Reuters.

In France, Teslas market share fell to 1.63 per cent from 2.55 per cent a year ago.

In France, Teslas quarterly sales fell by 41.1 per cent. The companys quarterly sales were down by 55.3 per cent in Sweden, 12.5 per cent in Norway, 55.3 per cent in Denmark, and 49.7 per cent in the Netherlands.

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In China, Teslas sales fell by 11.5 per cent in March year-on-year, according to CNBC.

Musks politics a liability for Tesla

Musk has emerged as the most powerful politician in the United States after Trump and has pursued far-right politics at home and abroad.

In the United States, Musk has continued to pour money to get far-right figures elected at various levels. He has also presided over the dismantling over the US government in the name of cutting purported wasteful expenditures. An estimate has suggested that his Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) may end up leaving 1 million people as government departments, programmes, and contracts are gutted.

In Europe, Musk has been running a regime change juggernaut where he has backed far-right parties and has vowed to topple moderate elected leaders. In the United Kingdom, he has put his weight behind Reform UK and has vowed to topple Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. In Germany, he has backed far-right, neo-Nazi party AfD. In Canada, he had vowed to overthrow former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. In Spain, he has supported far-right party Vox.

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Analysts have said that Musks politics has become a liability for Tesla. While he has pursued a far-right agenda, most of the EV costumers have historically been moderates and leftists.

Stephen Gengaro, an analyst at investment bank Stifel, previously told Yahoo Finance that Musks extreme politics are plunging Teslas favourability.

We have seen the net favorability rating of Tesla fade to close to its lowest level in the existence of the data. I think it is causing a big, big problem with the near-term sales and just sort of the impact it has on peoples willingness to buy a Tesla, said Gengaro.

Jacob Falkencrone, the global head of investment strategy at Saxo, said that Musks biggest challenge is perception.

Teslas biggest challenge in 2025 isnt technology  its perception. Elon Musks political baggage is now weighing on sales, brand loyalty and investor confidence, Falkencrone previously told Bloomberg.
A day after he said Harvard University should lose its tax exempt status and be taxed as a political entity, President Donald Trump on Wednesday went on yet another rant about the elite institution, claiming that everyone knows Harvard has lost its way read more

A day after he said Harvard University should lose its tax exempt status and be taxed as a political entity, President Donald Trump on Wednesday went on yet another rant about the elite institution, claiming that everyone knows Harvard has lost its way.

In a lengthy post on Truth Social, Trump slammed the universitys hiring of former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, whom he labeled as the worst and the most incompetent.

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Everyone knows that Harvard has lost its way. They hired, from New York (Bill D) and Chicago (Lori L), at ridiculously high salaries/fees, two of the WORST and MOST INCOMPETENT mayors in the history of our Country, to teach municipal management and government. These two Radical Left fools left behind two cities that will take years to recover from their incompetence and evil. Harvard has been hiring almost all woke, Radical Left, idiots and birdbrains who are only capable of teaching FAILURE to students and so-called future leaders, Trump wrote.

He also took aim at Harvards former president, Claudine Gay, without naming her, referencing plagiarism allegations and congressional scrutiny.

Look just to the recent past at their plagiarizing President, who so greatly embarrassed Harvard before the United States States Congress. When it got so bad that they just couldnt take it anymore, they moved this grossly inept woman into another position, teaching, rather than firing her ON THE SPOT. Since then much else has been found out about her, but she remains in place, he added.

In a sweeping condemnation, Trump said Harvard can no longer be considered even a decent place of learning and should be removed from any list of the Worlds Great Universities or Colleges.

Many others, like these Leftist dopes, are teaching at Harvard, and because of that, Harvard can no longer be considered even a decent place of learning, and should not be considered on any list of the Worlds Great Universities or Colleges. Harvard is a JOKE, teaches Hate and Stupidity, and should no longer receive Federal Funds. Thank you for your attention to this matter! he added.

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The White House has demanded sweeping changes to Harvards hiring, admissions, and teaching practices, claiming they are needed to combat antisemitism. President Trump has threatened to pull federal research funds and even revoke the universitys tax-exempt status, accusing it of promoting terrorist-inspired sickness.

Harvard rejected the demands on Monday, calling them an attempt to control the academic community and vowing to protect its independence and free speech. The university warned that many of the proposed reforms, including faculty audits, student monitoring, and government-approved oversight, crossed constitutional lines.

Following Harvards refusal, the US Department of Education froze $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in contracts.

It condemned the universitys response as reflective of a troubling entitlement mindset, citing continued campus unrest and antisemitic harassment as unacceptable.

With inputs from agencies
The UN watchdog was tasked with overseeing Irans nuclear programme and its compliance with a 2015 nuclear deal which collapsed three years later when the United States withdrew from it in President Donald Trumps first term read more

In this photo released by an official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks in a meeting with a group of air force officers in Tehran, Iran, Friday, Feb. 7, 2025. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)

The United Nations nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi warned on Wednesday that Iran was not far from possessing a nuclear bomb, shortly before he arrived in Tehran for talks.

Western countries including the United States have long suspected Iran of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, an allegation Tehran has consistently denied, insisting that its programme is for peaceful civilian purposes.

Its like a puzzle. They have the pieces, and one day they could eventually put them together, Grossi told French newspaper Le Monde in an interview published on Wednesday.

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Theres still a way to go before they get there. But theyre not far off, that has to be acknowledged, he said.

The UN watchdog was tasked with overseeing Irans nuclear programme and its compliance with a 2015 nuclear deal which collapsed three years later when the United States withdrew from it in President Donald Trumps first term.

Its not enough to tell the international community we dont have nuclear weapons for them to believe you. We need to be able to verify, said Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

He arrived on Wednesday in Tehran and met Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. He will also meet Mohammad Eslami, who heads Irans nuclear energy agency.

Grossis visit comes ahead of a second round of talks between Iran and the United States on Saturday, a week after the two countries held their highest-level talks since Trump abandoned the nuclear deal in 2018.

Both sides called the first meeting constructive.

Conflicting positions

Earlier, Araghchi said Irans enrichment of uranium under its nuclear programme was non-negotiable after US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff called for it to end.

Irans enrichment is a real, accepted matter, he told reporters.

We are ready to build confidence in response to possible concerns, but the issue of enrichment is non-negotiable.

His remarks came after Witkoff said Tuesday Iran must stop and eliminate enriching uranium as part of any nuclear deal.

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The day before, Witkoff had urged only that Iran return to the 3.67 percent enrichment ceiling set by its 2015 accord with major powers.

In its latest report, the IAEA said Iran had an estimated 274.8 kilos (605 pounds) of uranium enriched to up to 60 percent.

That level far exceeds the 3.67 percent ceiling set by the 2015 deal, but still falls short of the 90 percent threshold required for a nuclear warhead.

After returning to office in January, Trump reimposed sweeping sanctions against Iran under his policy of maximum pressure.

In March, he wrote to Irans supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, urging talks but also warning of possible military action if these fail to produce a deal.

Ahead of Saturdays new round of talks, Araghchi condemned what he called the Trump administrations contradictory and conflicting positions.

We will find out the true opinions of the Americans during the negotiation session, he said.

Araghchi said he hoped to start negotiations on the framework of a possible agreement, but that this required constructive positions from the United States.

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If we continue to (hear) contradictory and conflicting positions, we are going to have problems, he warned.

Irans red lines

On Wednesday, Iranian state media said Saturdays talks will be in Rome with Omani mediation, as an Italian spokesman also confirmed the location.

However, US and Iranian officials have not officially confirmed the venue.

Araghchi is set to head to Irans ally Russia on Thursday, Tehrans ambassador in Moscow Kazem Jalili said.

Iran has said the visit was pre-planned, but will include discussions on the Iran-US talks.

The objective of (my) trip to Russia is to convey a written message from the supreme leader to President Vladimir Putin, Araghchi said.

In readiness for the US talks, Iran has engaged with Russia and China, which were both parties to the 2015 deal.

Ahead of Saturdays talks, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said he hoped a deal could be reached with the United States, the official IRNA news agency reported.

On Tuesday, Khamenei cautioned that while the talks went well in their early stages, they could still prove fruitless.

The negotiations may or may not yield results, he said, noting that Iran had already outlined its red lines.

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Irans Revolutionary Guards have said the countrys military capabilities are off-limits in the talks.

And late on Sunday, IRNA said Irans regional influence and its missile capabilities  both sources of Western concern  were also among its red lines.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.)
Irans enrichment is a real, accepted matter. We are ready to build confidence in response to possible concerns, but the issue of enrichment is non-negotiable, Iranian foreign minister Araghchi told reporters read more

This photo released on Nov. 5, 2019, by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran shows centrifuge machines in the Natanz uranium enrichment facility in central Iran. AP File

Iran has ruled out any compromise on its uranium enrichment programme ahead of a fresh round of high-level talks with the United States, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declaring the matter non-negotiable in response to renewed pressure from Washington.

Irans enrichment is a real, accepted matter. We are ready to build confidence in response to possible concerns, but the issue of enrichment is non-negotiable, Araghchi told reporters after a cabinet meeting in Tehran on Wednesday (April 16).

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The remarks came days before Araghchi and US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff are due to meet again in Oman. Their encounter on Saturday follows last weeks rare direct talks  the most senior engagement between the two countries since President Donald Trump abandoned the 2015 nuclear agreement and reimposed sweeping sanctions in 2018. Trump, who returned to office in January, has doubled down on his maximum pressure strategy against Tehran.

While both sides described last weekends meeting as constructive, Witkoff escalated tensions on Tuesday by insisting that Iran must stop and eliminate its uranium enrichment as part of any future deal. His latest remarks went beyond earlier demands for Tehran to return to the 3.67 per cent enrichment limit outlined in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the landmark accord that Trump withdrew from seven years ago.

Araghchi accused the Trump administration of sending mixed signals. We will find out the true opinions of the Americans during the negotiation session, he said, criticising what he called the contradictory and conflicting positions emerging from Washington.

Tehran has maintained that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes and that enrichment remains a sovereign right. The foreign minister said Iran was prepared to explore a framework for a potential agreement, but only if the US adopted a constructive approach. If we continue to hear contradictory and conflicting positions, we are going to have problems, he warned.

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Irans supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also offered a cautious assessment of the diplomatic efforts. Speaking on Tuesday, he said the talks had made a promising start but warned that the negotiations may or may not yield results.

With inputs from agencies
A press statement issued by the White House said the vice president, along with his wife Usha Vance, will hold a meeting with India Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will also travel to New Delhi, Jaipur and Agra read more

US Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance board Air Force Two after visiting the US military's Pituffik Space Base in Greenland on March 28, 2025. Image: Reuters

US Vice President JD Vance will travel to Italy and India this week, White House confirmed on Wednesday (April 16). He will be travelling to Italy in the first leg of his journey later this week. Then, starting Monday next week, he will embark on a four-day visit to India.

A press statement said the vice president, along with his wife Usha Vance, will hold a meeting with India Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will also travel to New Delhi, Jaipur and Agra.

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NEW:@VP JD Vance and @SLOTUS will visit Italy and India this week. pic.twitter.com/UYqTfNlvGt  Taylor Van Kirk (@VPPressSec) April 16, 2025

A press release later issued by Indias Ministry of External Affairs also confirmed the same, which said Vance will visit India from April 21 to 24.

He will be accompanied by Second Lady Mrs. Usha Vance, their children, and senior members of the U.S. Administration, the press release said.

The visit will provide an opportunity for both sides to review the progress in bilateral relations and the implementation of the outcomes of the India-U.S. Joint Statement issued on 13 February 2025 during the visit of the Prime Minister to the US. The two sides will also exchange views on regional and global developments of mutual interest, the statement added.

Earlier, Politico reported that Vance was supposed to travel to India in March but the visit was postponed several times.

As per media reports, this visit by the Vances will be largely private'.

The Vances are scheduled to arrive in India around the same time that US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz is expected to visit.

During his trip, Waltz will meet with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval and speak at the Indo-US Forum hosted by the Delhi-based Ananta Centre.

Later this summer, US Defense Secretary Peter Hegseth is also set to visit India, ahead of a planned trip by President Donald Trump to attend the Quad Summit.

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In the lead-up to these visits, U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard visited India last month, where she met with Doval and also held talks with Prime Minister Modi.

This also marks the first high-level engagement between the two nations since Trump announced and later paused his whopping reciprocal tariffs on global trading partners.

India is now seeking to finalise a trade deal with the US, with Indias Trade Secretary Sunil Barthwal saying earlier this week that there is very good progress on trade talks with the US.

So, I expect that a lot of opportunities will come, and there will be a higher trade with the US if the trade deal materialises, said Barthwal.

He stated that India is considering both tariff and non-tariff barriers as part of the agreement. Reducing these barriers on both sides, he noted, would help drive stronger trade growth between India and the United States.

According to Rajesh Agrawal, additional secretary in the trade ministry, virtual discussions between the two nations will begin this month, with the next round of in-person talks scheduled for mid-May. In February, both countries agreed to begin work on the first phase of the deal, aiming to finalise it by the end of 2025. This effort is part of a larger objective to raise bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030.

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As the war in Gaza continues, the Maldives has officially banned Israeli passport holders from entering the country. At the same time, mass protests have erupted in Bangladesh and Pakistan, with demonstrators expressing strong support for Palestine and anger towards Israels actions. read more

The Maldives has changed its immigration law to ban people with Israeli passports from entering the country, as a protest against the war in Gaza, news agency AP reported.

The new rule was passed by Parliament on Monday and approved by President Mohamed Muizzu the following day, the presidents office said in a statement.

However, the Maldives Immigration Service clarified that Israeli citizens who hold a second passport from another country will still be allowed to enter.

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Although the Cabinet decided on this move nearly a year ago, it was only made official this week.

The decision reflects the governments strong position against the ongoing violence and alleged genocide by Israel in Palestine, the statement further read.

The Maldives, a small island nation south of India, is known for its luxury tourism and is predominantly a Sunni Muslim country, where practising other religions is banned by law.

In February, 59 people with Israeli passports visited the Maldives, according to immigration data.

Anti-Israel sentiments grow in South Asia

Anti-Israel sentiment is growing in the Islamic countries in South Asia due to the Gaza war. As Male takes this step, Bangladesh and Pakistan have witnessed large protests against the war.

Bangladesh has also reinstated the phrase, This passport is valid for all countries of the world except Israel.

The main protest took place at Suhrawardy Udyan in central Dhaka, near Dhaka University. Many protesters beat pictures of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, blaming them for supporting Israel.

Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zias Bangladesh Nationalist Party, along with right-wing Islamic groups and parties, showed support for the rally. Large protests were also held in Bogra, Sylhet, and Coxs Bazar in recent days.

Similar protests in Pakistan

Similar violent protests were witnessed in Pakistan, as thousands of people marched in Karachi on Sunday to protest against Israels actions in Gaza.

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Pakistan does not have diplomatic relations with Israel and has repeatedly called for a lasting ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Just last week, anti-Israel protesters vandalised an American fast food restaurant in Rawalpindi.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte visited Odesa on Tuesday, reaffirming the alliances strong support for Ukraine. This comes as Ukraine continues to face deadly Russian missile attack. read more

Natos Secretary-General Mark Rutte visited the port city of Odesa on Tuesday and said the organisations support for Ukraine remains unwavering.

He also emphasised that Nato allies have already promised over 20 billion (about $22 billion) in security aid in the first three months of the year.

Mark Rutte also met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Odesa.

Russias deadly missile attack

His visit came just days after two Russian missiles hit the city of Sumy on Palm Sunday morning, killing at least 35 people, including two children, and injuring 119.

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The strike on the north-eastern city, located about 30 kilometres from the Russian border, was the second major attack in just over a week to cause heavy civilian casualties.

Ukraines people deserve real peace: Rutte

Im here today because I believe Ukraines people deserve real peace, real safety and security in their country, in their homes, Rutte said during a joint news conference with Zelenskyy. The two met with wounded Ukrainian soldiers at a hospital in Odesa.

This is Ruttes first visit to Ukraine since US President Donald Trump took charge of ceasefire talks between Kyiv and Moscow, which have included several rounds of discussions in Saudi Arabia.

These discussions are not easy, not least in the wake of this horrific violence, Rutte said, referring to the recent strikes. But we all support President Trumps push for peace. Ukraine has endorsed the broader US-proposed ceasefire deal, though Russia has effectively stalled the process by attaching far-reaching conditions.

Coalition of the willing

Ukraine and its European allies are working on building a coalition of the willing  a group that would provide long-term security to help prevent future Russian attacks after a ceasefire.

With the US urging Europe to take more responsibility for its own and Ukraines defence, the coalition is being seen as an early test of Europes ability to protect itself and its values.

The fact that these talks are ongoing, that we are preparing for this hopeful, soon-to-be-achieved eventuality  Nato tries to steer that in the direction we think would be advisable, Rutte said.

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The meeting in Turkey comes less than a month after the United States announced that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to eliminate the use of force in the Black Sea. However, key details remained unresolved, and the Kremlin has tied the deal to the lifting of certain Western sanctions.

Commenting on ongoing negotiations with the US over a revised draft of an agreement that would give the US access to Ukraines valuable mineral resources, Zelenskyy described last weeks technical talks in Washington as positive, with more consultations expected in the coming days.

He said the meeting was a technical session for expert teams and that both sides concluded the meeting on a positive note. Zelenskyy added that discussions  both online and in person  will continue throughout the week, and once the teams are ready, they will present the outcomes of their work.

With inputs from AP
Pakistans Foreign Secretary Amina Baloch will visit Bangladesh for the first Foreign Office Consultation in 15 years. Relations between Dhaka and Islamabad have improved since the Awami League-led government fell. read more

Pakistan foreign secretary in Bangladesh, a first in 15 years as Dhakha leans towards Islamabad. Image: X

Pakistans Foreign Secretary Amina Baloch is set to arrive in Bangladesh on Wednesday (16 April) for the Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) between the two nations, The Daily Star reported.

This is the first such diplomatic meeting between the two South Asian nations in 15 years, as Dhaka moves closer to Islamabad.

At the FOC meeting, which will be held on Thursday, Bangladeshs Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin is set to meet his Pakistani counterpart, Amina Baloch, and discuss ties. Diplomatic sources told The Daily Star that multiple bilateral issues will be discussed during the FOC.

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Pak FM set to arrive in Dhaka this month

Pakistans Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, is also expected to visit Bangladesh on 2728 April.

Relations between the two countries have been improving since the Awami League-led government fell last August following mass student-led protests. Meanwhile, Dhakas relations with New Delhi are on the verge of collapsing.

Sharif, Yunus met twice as ties began to improve

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus have met twice since then  once at the UN General Assembly in New York in September, and again at the D-8 summit in Cairo in December.

Since then, Bangladesh has eased visa rules for Pakistani nationals and launched direct shipping services.

Hasina in Delhi, Dhakas push for extradition

Meanwhile, Sheikh Hasina is currently staying in New Delhi, while Bangladeshi authorities are still trying to extradite her.

Yunuss remarks on Indias northeast

India-Bangladesh relations have worsened following recent developments, including the student-led protests leading to Sheikh Hasinas ouster and interim leader Muhammad Yunus taking charge as Chief Adviser.

During a recent visit to China, Yunus referred to Indias northeastern states as landlocked and suggested that Bangladesh could act as a gateway for Chinese trade in the region. His remarks were strongly criticised by Indian officials.

In response, India revoked a key transshipment facility that allowed Bangladeshi goods to be exported to third countries via Indian land routes. The move is expected to hurt Bangladeshs trade  especially in the readymade garments sector  by increasing logistics costs.

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President Donald Trumps administration has moved to aggressively pursue leaks, an effort that has been enthusiastically embraced by Hegseth at the Pentagon read more

One of U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths leading advisers, Dan Caldwell, was escorted from the Pentagon on Tuesday after being identified during an investigation into leaks at the Department of Defense, a U.S. official told Reuters.

Caldwell was placed on administrative leave for an unauthorized disclosure, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The decision has not been previously reported.

The investigation remains ongoing, the official said without providing details about the nature of the alleged disclosure, including whether it was made to a journalist or to someone else.

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President Donald Trumps administration has moved to aggressively pursue leaks, an effort that has been enthusiastically embraced by Hegseth at the Pentagon.

A March 21 memo signed by Hegseths chief of staff, Joe Kasper, requested an investigation into recent unauthorized disclosures of national security information involving sensitive communications.

Kaspers memo left open the possibility of a polygraph, although it was unclear if Caldwell was subjected to one.

Although Caldwell is not as well known as other senior Pentagon officials, he has played a critical role as an adviser to Hegseth.

His importance was underscored in a leaked text chain on Signal disclosed by The Atlantic last month.

In it, Hegseth named Caldwell as the best staff point of contact for the National Security Council as it prepared for the launch of strikes against the Houthis in Yemen.

Caldwell had drawn attention in Washington for past views that critics have called isolationist, but which advocates said sought to right-size Americas defense priorities.

A Marine Corps veteran who deployed to Iraq, Caldwell was quoted saying before going to the Pentagon that America would have been better off if U.S. troops had just stayed home.

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I think the Iraq war was a monstrous crime, Caldwell told the Financial Times in December 2024.

He was also a skeptic of U.S. military assistance to Ukraine and advocated for U.S. retrenchment from Europe.

The decision to put Caldwell on administrative leave is separate from a wave of firings since Hegseth, a former Fox News host and combat veteran, took over the Pentagon in January.

Those firings of top brass have included the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the top admiral in the Navy, the head of U.S. Cyber Command and the top U.S. military lawyers. Reuters was first to report last week the firing of the U.S. military representative to the NATO Military Committee.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.)
Humala and his wife were suspected of receiving payments from Brazilian construction company Odebrecht, now known as Novonor, during his victorious 2011 election campaign read more

Peru's former President Ollanta Humala arrives at court to hear the sentencing, in Lima, Peru. Reuters

On Tuesday, a Peruvian court sentenced former President Ollanta Humala to 15 years in jail for collecting illegal campaign contributions from a Brazilian construction business, making him the countrys most recent former leader to be imprisoned.

Humala and his wife were suspected of receiving payments from Brazilian construction company Odebrecht, now known as Novonor, during his victorious 2011 election campaign.

Nadine Heredia, Humalas wife, was also sentenced to 15 years in jail on Tuesday.

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According to Perus foreign ministry, Heredia went to the Brazilian embassy in Lima after the decision and requested refuge.

According to one of Humalas Brazilian lawyers, Marco Aurelio de Carvalho, Heredia had cancer and had previously asked permission to fly to Brazil for treatment, but the request was denied.

In talks with the Peruvian government, Brazil is negotiating a safe conduct path that would allow Heredia to leave Peru and travel to Brazil, a Brazilian government source said. The source declined to be named as the ongoing talks are confidential.

Humala, a retired military officer who led the Andean nation from 2011 to 2016, will likely carry out his sentence on a police base built specially to house Perus jailed leaders.

Former presidents Alejandro Toledo and Pedro Castillo are currently jailed at the site, while Alberto Fujimori stayed there until his release in 2023.

During his trial, which lasted three years after an investigation which kicked off in 2016, Humala decried the charges as political persecution.

Prosecutors alleged Humala received the illicit funds in his 2011 campaign against Keiko Fujimori - the other former presidents daughter - through Humalas Nationalist Party.

His imprisonment will be effective immediately, even if he appeals the conviction. The court is expected to continue reading out the full sentencing over the next several days.

Humalas lawyer, Wilfredo Pedraza, called the sentence excessive, saying prosecutors failed to prove the illegal origin of the funds. He said the defense plans to appeal once the final ruling is issued on April 29.

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Latest Lava Jato conviction

A one-time construction colossus, Odebrecht has admitted that it doled out bribes to governments across Latin America to help build its vast empire. It changed its name to Novonor in 2020 and is currently undergoing bankruptcy proceedings.

Humala is Perus second former president to be jailed and the fourth to be implicated for his role in the sweeping graft case known as Lava Jato.

In 2019, former President Alan Garcia killed himself by gunshot wound as police descended on his home to arrest him for alleged corruption related to the firm.

The year before, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski was forced to step down after just two years in office. Meanwhile, Toledo was sentenced to two decades in prison last year after receiving $35 million in bribes in exchange for public works contracts.

Former Odebrecht executives have said in Peruvian court that the firm had financed nearly all presidential candidates in the country for a nearly 30-year period.

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PM Narendra Modi will visit Oslo on May 15-16 for the 3rd India-Nordic Summit. Leaders from Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland will discuss trade and climate change. read more

PM Modi to visit Norway for India-Nordic Summit in May, geopolitics likely to be in focus. Image: Agencies

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Oslo on May 15-16 to attend the 3rd India-Nordic Summit, Times of India reported, citing sources. Leaders from all five Nordic countries  Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland  will join him at the summit.

The summit will focus on boosting ties in trade, innovation, green energy, climate change, and the blue economy, According to the report.

Geopolitics at the centre

Geopolitics is also likely to be at the centre of the talks, with discussions on global peace and security, as well as the Russia-Ukraine war, also possible.

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PM Modi speaks to Danish counterpart

Ahead of this development, PM Modi spoke with his Danish counterpart, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, and discussed both bilateral and global issues.

Recalling high-level exchanges between both countries ever since the launch of the Green Strategic Partnership in 2020, the leaders noted the expansion of the Green Strategic Partnership in various fields, which have created favourable conditions for Danish investments in India to contribute to the green transition. The leaders also discussed regional and global issues of mutual interest, said the Indian government in a statement.

India looking for more investment

India has been aiming to attract more investments from the sovereign wealth funds of Nordic countries.

At the first summit held in Sweden in 2018, the Nordic nations had supported Indias bid for membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and its push for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council.

Both India and the Nordic countries support a rules-based international order and want global institutions to be more inclusive, transparent, and effective. They are also exploring ways to work together on Arctic research and climate-related issues.

At the last summit in Denmark, PM Modi and the Nordic leaders expressed serious concern over the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and strongly condemned the killing of civilians. They also discussed how the conflict is affecting the region and the world, and agreed to stay in close contact on the issue.

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Nordic countries express strong concerns over Russias aggression

The Nordic countries have strong concerns about Russias ongoing aggression, due to their close geographical proximity to Russia.

Norway and Denmark are founding members of the alliance since 1949. Sweden and Finland, which were historically neutral, have recently applied to join NATO due to the security situation in Europe, especially following Russias invasion of Ukraine. Finland officially became a NATO member in April 2023, and Swedens accession is pending.
US President Donald Trump has said that it is upto China to strike a trade deal with Washington as tensions between the two countries grow. The presidents comments also follows a supposed Boeing deal between the two countries did not fall through after Beijing did not fulfil its promise read more

US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping are at loggerheads over tariffs. On Wednesday, US raised China's tariffs to 145 per cent and Beijing retaliated with 125 per cent levies on US imports. Now, Trump has exempted smartphones, computers and some other electronic devices from reciprocal tariffs, including the levies on Chinese imports. File photo/Reuters

US President Donald Trump has said the ball is in Beijings court to strike a trade deal with Washington after the Republican leader slammed China for revoking its terms on a major Boeing deal, as tensions between the countries simmer.

In a Tuesday briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt read out a statement from Trump that said, The ball is in Chinas court. China needs to make a deal with us. We dont have to make a deal with them."

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US and China are engaged in rapid tit-for-tat hikes in tariffs, with the direct consequences suffered by stock markets prompting investors to call for a de-escalation in trade tensions.

Meanwhile, China, on Wednesday, reported an economic growth of 5.4 per cent in the first quarter as exporters rushed to get goods out of factory gates ahead of the US levies.

Senior official Sheng Laiyun from Chinas National Bureau of Statistics said that the US tariffs will put certain pressures on our countrys foreign trade and economy.

China appoints new trade official

China has appointed a new international trade representative as tensions with the US continue to simmer. Li Chenggang, who will be working for the Ministry of Commerce (Mofcom), will now replace Wang Shouwen.

Li, 58, brings decades of experience in international negotiations through his work at Chinas Ministry of Commerce. He played a major role in negotiating a trade deal with the US in 2020.

He also served as Chinas ambassador to the World Trade Organisation in Geneva starting in 2021. He holds a law degree from Peking University and a masters in law and economics from the University of Hamburg in Germany.

Zero respect

Trump has once again slammed China, this time saying that the country did not fulfil its promise on a certain Boeing deal.

The US president said China bought only a portion of what they agreed to buy, charging that Beijing had zero respect for his predecessor Joe Bidens administration.

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Since the start of the year, Trump has imposed steep duties on imports from China, alongside a 10 per cent baseline tariff on many US trading partners.

With inputs from agencies
Amid the dismantling of the US government by Elon Musk, the Donald Trump administration is considering closing 30 embassies and consulates, according to reports read more

US President Donald Trump stands, after delivering remarks on tariffs, in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, DC, US, April 2, 2025. Reuters

The Donald Trump administration of the United States is considering shutting down nearly 30 embassies and consulates, according to reports.

The development comes as billionaire Elon Musk is leading efforts to dismantle the US government in the name of cutting wasteful expenditure. However, the mass-firings and shutdown of government departments and programmes have been criticised for being self-goals as they withdraw the United States from large parts of the world and allow China to expand its influence.

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The Trump administration is considering closing down 10 embassies, 17 consulates, and three other diplomatic missions, according to a memo from the Department of State cited by The New York Times.

These closures are expected to reduce US footprint in nearly every continent, including in critical regions like West Asia and Africa where the United States is heavily involved in counter-terrorism operations against jihadist groups.

At this moment, it is not clear if the proposal has been approved by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to CNN.

US diplomatic missions across continents proposed to be axed

The Trump administration is considering shutting down diplomatic missions in the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, and Asia, according to The Times.

In Africa, embassies in the Central African Republic, Eritrea, Gambia, Lesotho, Republic of Congo, and South Sudan are set to be shut down.

In Europe, the embassies in Luxembourg and Malta are set to be shut down.

The Trump administration is also set to shut down the embassy in Grenada in the Carribean and the Maldives in the Indian Ocean Region.

Among the consulates to be closed, five are in France (Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseilles, Rennes, and Strasbourg), two are in Germany (Dusseldorf and Leipzig), two are in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Mostar and Banja Luka).

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Other US consulates set to be closed as per plans reported by The Times are Thessaloniki, Greece; Florence, Italy; Ponta Delgada, Portugal; and Edinburgh; Scotland; Douala, Cameroon; Medan, Indonesia; Durban, South Africa; and Busan, South Korea.

The internal memo has also proposed to downsize or eliminate the embassy in Somalia and the mission in Iraq. While the missions in Iraq are critical in operations against the Islamic State (Isis) and mission in Somalia are critical to deal with Al Qaeda and other jihadist groups in Africa.

The closure of diplomatic mission would substantially reduce the global footprint of the United States and make way for China to expand its influence. This is the latest victory that Trumps withdrawal from the international stage would serve China. After Musk gutted US foreign aid programmes, China is understood to have swooped in to fill the vacuum. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is expected to get a boost from the gutting of US AID.

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US President Donald Trump is set to kill key space and climate sciences projects, potentially derailing critical programmes engaged in weather forecasting, climate monitoring, and satellite management read more

US President Donald Trump is about to kill key space and climate science projects across various agencies, according to documents accessed by media outlets.

Trumps proposed budget axes climate science research at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and key telescope and space traffic projects, among others, at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa).

The cuts come at a time when the Trump administration is dismantling the US government in the name of cutting wasteful government expenditures. While savings under efforts helmed by billionaire Elon Musk have been negligible so far at $150 billion, the harm is deemed to be immense.

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Abroad, the gutting of State Department programmes has reduced US footprint globally and allowed China to expand its influence. Domestically, environmental protection, consumer welfare, and even basics like postal services have been disrupted because of mass-firings.

The Trump administration has proposed to cut Nasas science budget for the fiscal year 2026 by nearly half to $3.9 billion and the key weather and climate science organisation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is set to have its budget cut by 27 per cent to $4.5 billion, according to documents cited by Nature.

Top space, climate science projects on Trumps chopping board

NOAAs climate science arm to be killed

The Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) at NOAA would be eliminated as a result of cuts, according to Guardian.

Former NOAA administrator Rick Spinrad told the newspaper that budget documents comprise an extraordinarily devastating set of recommendations.

The elimination of NOAAs research line office and all of its research capabilities is a crushing blow to the ability of our country to protect our citizens and also to lead the world, said Spinrad.

The work of OAR, which oversees a cost of critical climate research, would be absorbed in other NOAA entities upon its elimination.

The work of the OAR includes climate modelling, cloud monitoring, and hurricane forecasting, according to Nature.

As the NOAAs main research arm, the OAR runs 11 laboratories and 16 cooperative institutes that engage scientists at various universities.

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Trumps proposed budget would also terminate six regional NOAA centres that collect climate data and provide guidance about weather and climate for the areas they serve, as per Nature.

Nasas space telescope

Trumps proposed budget would shut down the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope that is about to be completed.

In the first term, Trump tried to kill the project, but Congress kept the funding for the telescope.

However, as a subservient Republican Party now controls both the houses of Congress, no such pushback is now expected.

Satellites of Nasa and NOAA

Funds for satellites used by both Nasa and NOAA are expected to be cut under Trumps proposed budget.

At Nasa, the Earth science budget is set to be cut to half that would derail the launch of new satellites for weather and climate monitoring purposes, according to Nature.

The outlet further reported that the programme at NOAA to build and launch weather satellites as part of US weather-forecasting efforts is also set to be shut down.

Missions to Venus face uncertain future

Trumps budget cuts are also set to affect the DAVINCI mission and VERITAS mission to Venus.

The DAVINCI mission involves sending a probe into Venus atmosphere and VERITAS mission intends to map Venus surface and interiors.

Space traffic management

As more and more satellites are crowding the low-Earth orbit, there have been calls for space traffic management.

In 2018, Trump in his first term took initial steps to set up a space traffic control office. Now, the Trump administration has proposed to move space traffic management outside of the governments control and reduce the said private initiatives budget from $65 million to $10 million.

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Japan has been hit with 24 per cent levies on its exports to the United States although these rates have, like most of Trumps tariffs, been paused for 90 days. But a 10 per cent universal rate remains in place as does a 25% duty for cars, a mainstay of Japans export-reliant economy read more

Japan is set to begin tariff negotiations with the United States in Washington on Wednesday, one of the first countries to test President Donald Trumps willingness to relent on sweeping duties that have roiled markets and stoked recession fears.

Tokyos top trade negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, will meet Trumps Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer for discussions that could also address energy projects and the thorny issue of exchange rates.

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Although Bessent has said there is a first mover advantage as more than 75 countries have requested talks, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has said the close U.S. ally wont rush to reach a deal and does not plan to make big concessions.

Japan has been hit with 24% levies on its exports to the United States although these rates have, like most of Trumps tariffs, been paused for 90 days. But a 10% universal rate remains in place as does a 25% duty for cars, a mainstay of Japans export-reliant economy.

Ishiba has, for now, ruled out countermeasures.

The difficulty for the Japanese team is that the United States has created a huge amount of leverage for itself, unilaterally, said Kurt Tong, managing partner at The Asia Group, a Washington-based consultancy.

The U.S. is offering to not hit Japan with sticks, and Japan is stuck in a position of offering a whole lot of carrots. And from their perspective, it feels like economic coercion, said Tong, an ex-State Department official.

Trump has long complained about the U.S. trade deficit with Japan and other countries, saying U.S. businesses have been ripped off by unfair trade practices and intentional efforts by other countries to maintain weak currencies.

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Bessent met Vietnams deputy prime minister last week to discuss trade and has invited South Koreas finance minister to Washington for talks next week. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will meet Trump at the White House on Thursday to discuss tariffs imposed on the European Union.

The scope of Wednesdays discussions remain unclear.

Bessent has said he is hoping to strike deals that would cover tariffs, non-tariff barriers and exchange rates, though Tokyo has lobbied to keep the latter separate.

Possible Japanese investment in a multi-billion dollar gas project in Alaska could also feature, Bessent has said.

Japan hopes that pledges to expand investment in the United States will help to convince the U.S. that the two countries can achieve a win-win situation without tariffs, Akazawa said ahead of his departure.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi sidestepped questions on whether Trumps proposal to deport US citizens to El Salvador is legal. Legal experts have called the idea clearly unconstitutional. read more

Trumps AG Bondi calls Tesla vandalism domestic terrorism, but US has no specific law for the crime. AP

US Attorney General Pam Bondi on Tuesday dodged questions about whether President Donald Trumps idea of sending US citizens to El Salvador was legal  a proposal experts say is clearly against the law.

Trump made the proposal on Monday while meeting El Salvadors president, Nayib Bukele, in the Oval Office. El Salvador has been accepting deported undocumented migrants from the US and locking them up in a massive prison, a place where a grave number of human rights violations have occurred.

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Violent offenders could be sent to El Salvador: Trump

Trump said that violent offenders in the US, such as those who attack strangers in subways or assault elderly women, could be sent to El Salvador and jailed there.

Pam Bondi dodges questions

When asked by Fox News host Jesse Watters if this plan was legal, Bondi chose not to give a clear answer.

These are Americans who he is saying have committed the most heinous crimes in our country, and crime is going to decrease dramatically because he has given us a directive to make America safe again, she said.

These people need to be locked up as long as they can be, as long as the law allows. Were not going to let them go anywhere, and if we have to build more prisons in our country, we will do it.

Earlier, Trump said that he loved the idea of deporting US citizens to El Salvador. Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said Trump had simply floated the idea.

At a White House briefing on Tuesday, Leavitt was asked by the press if it was legal to send US citizens to prisons in Central America. She responded, Its a legal question that the president is looking into.

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She further said that Trump was only considering the move for Americans who are the most violent, egregious repeat offenders.
Experts have warned that Trumps tariffs might push the cost of already expensive F-16 jets even further up, partly because several components that go into manufacturing are sourced from different nations which now face heavy levies read more

The Philippines has signalled it might call off a $5.6 billion deal for F-16 fighter jets with the US in the view of so-called reciprocal tariffs levied by the Donald Trump administration. Manila faced 17 per cent levies under Trumps reciprocal tariffs. Despite a global halt on tariffs except for China, the Philippines still faces a 10 per cent universal tariff on exports to US.

Last week, Philippine ambassador to the US, Jose Manuel Romualdez, said that his nation was pushing for a trade deal with the US and discussing how we can go through this whole process. He also warned that the new tariffs significantly hurt the Philippine economy, something that can render the expensive F-16 fighter jets unaffordable for the Southeast Asian nation.

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Its quid pro quo

Notably, the Trump administration earlier this month greenlighted the sale of Lockheed Martin-made F-16s to Manila, a security ally of the US through a 74-year-old mutual defence treaty.

However, Romualdez now warns that the deal may not go through since heavy tariffs have been imposed by the US despite the balance of trade being in Americas favour. He highlighted how the $5.6 billion deal would have actually meant a US$1 billion surplus in favour of the United States.

Its a quid pro quo, Romualdez said.

F-16s to become costlier

Experts have warned that Trumps tariffs might push the cost of already expensive F-16 jets even further up, partly because several components that go into manufacturing are sourced from different nations.

Lockheed Martin has over 500 suppliers around the world: youve got parts produced domestically, parts from places like the UK and the EU, and so on, highlighted Vincent Kyle Parada, a former defence analyst for the Philippine Navy and a graduate student at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

Its a global supply chain, and the back and forth between countries throughout that supply chain is going to raise manufacturing and maintenance costs for platforms like the F-16.

On the other hand, such strictly transactional approach, which might not be necessarily strategically sound, may sabotage USAs campaign in the Indo-Pacific region to deter China and dissuade it from launching an invasion of Taiwan.

Sherwin Ona, an international fellow at the Institute for National Defence and Security Research in Taiwan, was quoted by the South China Morning Post as saying, Eventually, the US will have to recalibrate its approach given the urgency of strengthening deterrence in the South China Sea and addressing a possible Taiwan contingency.

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Furthermore, Parada warned USAs reckless trade policy might push Indo-Pacific nations to diversify their co-operation and turn to other like-minded nations.

Natural response for Indo-Pacific states will be to diversify and enhance defence cooperation with other like-minded countries, warned Parada.
According to a statement by the White House, the move has come in response to Chinas retaliatory actions against US duties. read more

President Donald Trump on Tuesday (April 15) signed an Executive Order that, amid other things, raises the tariff on goods imported into the US from China to 245 per cent. According to factsheet released by the White House, the move has come in response to Chinas retaliatory actions against US duties.

The document points out that following the imposition of tariffs on what Trump has called Liberation Day, over 75 countries have reached out to discuss new trade deals, except for China, which retaliated. This has been cited as the reason for the substantial increase in the levies imposed on China.

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The Trump administration claims that the presidents actions are a step towards enhancing economic and national security, although economists have repeatedly said otherwise.

Interestingly, what stands out this time around is that the typical Trump showmanship around such announcements was missing.

Chinas stand so far

The US and China have entered a full-blown trade war. It started with Trump imposing tariffs on imports from China over its alleged role in the fentanyl supply chain. The levies have since been increased multiple times as China refused to capitulate.

This year, Trump has imposed an additional 145 per cent tariff on many goods from China, stacking on top of the duties from previous administrations.

On Wednesday (April 16), China said that it was not afraid to fight a trade war with the United States and reiterated calls for dialogue, after US President Donald Trump said it was up to Beijing to come to the negotiating table.

If the US really wants to resolve the issue through dialogue and negotiation, it should stop exerting extreme pressure, stop threatening and blackmailing, and talk to China on the basis of equality, respect and mutual benefit, foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian had said. The comments came before the tariffs on China were raised to 245 per cent.

With inputs from agencies
Abrego Garcias case is one of several in which Trump, who ran for president on a platform of stepping up deportations, is testing the legal limits of immigration enforcement read more

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran migrant who lived in the U.S. legally with a work permit and was erroneously deported to El Salvador, is seen wearing a Chicago Bulls hat, in this handout image obtained by Reuters on April 9, 2025. File image/ Reuters

A US judge on Tuesday ordered federal authorities to disclose documents and provide testimony under oath concerning efforts to return a man wrongfully deported to El Salvadorintensifying scrutiny over whether the Trump administration defied a court order.

At a hearing in Greenbelt, Maryland, US District Judge Paula Xinis said she would not yet hold the government in contempt of court. However, she mandated that the documents and private depositions would help determine if the Trump administration had complied with her earlier directive to facilitate Kilmar Abrego Garcias return.

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Last week, the court instructed the administration of Republican President Donald Trump to provide daily updates on steps taken to bring Abrego Garcia back. On Tuesday, Xinis said the administration had failed to present any meaningful information on its actions.

There will be no tolerance for gamesmanship or grandstanding, said Xinis, an appointee of Democratic President Barack Obama. To date, what the record shows is that nothing has been done. Nothing.

At the same time, the judge stated that she was not ordering the administration to urge El Salvadors government to return Abrego Garcia, despite her finding the governments failure to request his release stunning.

Im not ordering you to do that, Xinis explained. I dont know if Ill ever be there.

Abrego Garcia was deported on 15 March, despite a standing court order shielding him from removal to El Salvador. His case is one of several raising concerns among Democrats and legal scholars regarding Trumps apparent disregard for the judiciaryan independent and co-equal branch of government.

Administration officials have repeatedly accused the courts of overreach, claiming interference with the executive branchs foreign policy powers. These confrontations have emerged alongside broader efforts by Trump to exert pressure on traditionally independent US institutions.

On Tuesday, Trump threatened to revoke Harvard Universitys tax-exempt status after it resisted federal demands to reform academic programmespart of a wider campaign targeting universities for their handling of pro-Palestinian student protests.

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Trump has also taken aim at law firms perceived to have ties with his political or legal opponents. A federal judge on Tuesday blocked most of an executive order targeting the firm Susan Godfrey, although noting that other firms had capitulated by settling with the administration to avoid being targeted.

Abrego Garcias case is one of several in which Trump, who ran for president on a platform of stepping up deportations, is testing the legal limits of immigration enforcement.

Abrego Garcia was sent to El Salvadors Terrorism Confinement Center alongside hundreds of Venezuelan migrants deported under the Alien Enemies Act, a 1798 law that had only previously been invoked when the U.S. was at war. Several judges have since blocked further deportations under the law.

Judges have also temporarily blocked the Trump administrations efforts to deport several university students in the country legally over their participation in pro-Palestinian protests. On Monday, Columbia University student Mohsen Mahdawi was arrested in Vermont upon arriving for an interview for his U.S. citizenship petition.

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Depositions by next week

On Tuesday, Xinis said she would require the four officials with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement who had submitted sworn declarations in the case to sit for depositions by April 23.

Government lawyer Drew Ensign said officials may respond to certain questions by asserting the attorney-client privilege, which protects lawyers from being compelled to disclose information their clients have told them.

Ensign also said the administration interpreted Xinis order to facilitate Abrego Garcias return to mean they should remove any U.S. barriers to his return to the United States.

He said the administration had done that by officially asserting in a court filing earlier in the day that if Abrego Garcia were to show up at a port of entry or a U.S. embassy, he would be allowed into the United States and then immediately taken back into custody.

Xinis said that interpretation of the meaning of facilitate is contrary to the plain meaning of the word.

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Political games

The U.S. Supreme Court last week largely upheld Xinis order to facilitate and effectuate Abrego Garcias return following a challenge by the Trump administration, but said the term effectuate was unclear and might exceed the courts authority.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said during a meeting with Trump and El Salvador President Nayib Bukele at the White House on Monday that the president, not courts, conduct U.S. foreign policy.

Bukele told reporters at the meeting he did not have the power to return Abrego Garcia to the U.S.

At Tuesdays hearing, Ensign cited Bukeles comments, saying ascertaining the position of the Salvadoran government was an important part of compliance with Xinis order.

Before the hearing, Abrego Garcias wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, urged Trump and Bukele to return her husband.

I find myself pleading with the Trump administration and the Bukele administration to stop playing political games with the life of Kilmar, Vasquez Sura told a crowd of protesters.

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After the hearing, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, a Democrat, said in a statement he would travel to El Salvador on Wednesday to check on Abrego Garcias wellbeing and discuss his release with government officials there.
China has sharply rebuked the US, accusing it of playing the victim in the ongoing trade dispute and urging Washington to stop whining after having taken a free ride on the globalisation train", according to a report read more

A man dressed as the god of fortune walks through the 137th Canton Fair in Guangzhou in southern China's Guangdong province on Wednesday. AP File

China has sharply rebuked the US, accusing it of playing the victim in the ongoing trade dispute and urging Washington to stop whining after having taken a free ride on the globalisation train.

The comments came as Beijing reported stronger-than-expected economic growth, even as the country braces for the impact of tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump.

While last weeks escalation in tit-for-tat tariff hikes appears to have stalled, tensions between the worlds two largest economies remain high, with Beijing also reiterating its warning that it was not afraid to fight.

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According to The Guardian report, China Daily  the ruling Chinese Communist partys (CCP) English-language mouthpiece  published a sharply worded editorial on Tuesday evening, rejecting Trumps repeated claims that the US had been ripped off by China.

The state-run outlet described the allegations as misleading rhetoric aimed at deceiving the American public, calling them hoodwinking.

The US is not getting ripped off by anybody, The Guardian quoted the editorial as saying.

The problem is the US has been living beyond its means for decades. It consumes more than it produces. It has outsourced its manufacturing and borrowed money in order to have a higher standard of living than its entitled to based on its productivity. Rather than being cheated, the US has been taking a free ride on the globalisation train," the editorial added.

The US should stop whining about itself being a victim in global trade and put an end to its capricious and destructive behaviour, it further added.

The Chinese Communist Party has refused to yield to Trumps demands for new trade talks.

On Wednesday, Beijing announced a leadership change in its trade team, appointing Li Chenggang as the new international trade negotiator and vice commerce minister, replacing veteran Wang Shouwen. No official reason was given, but the move comes amid a broader government reshuffle, reported The Guardian.

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Responding to the ongoing stalemate, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said on Tuesday that the ball is in Chinas court.

China needs to make a deal with us. We dont have to make a deal with them, Leavitt was quoted as saying in a statement.

Theres no difference between China and any other country except they are much larger, she added.

On Wednesday, Chinas foreign ministry hit back, saying the US started the trade war and Beijing had been clear that it did not want to fight, but also was not afraid to.

If the US really wants to resolve the issue through dialogue and negotiation, it should stop exerting extreme pressure, stop threatening and blackmailing, and talk to China on the basis of equality, respect and mutual benefit, The Guardian quoted Lin Jian, a foreign ministry spokesperson as saying.

Analysts and officials warn that the trade war is likely to hit both economies hard, with China already facing challenges in its post-pandemic recovery, including sluggish consumer spending and high youth unemployment.

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Despite those headwinds, Beijing on Wednesday reported stronger-than-expected economic data, largely fueled by exporters rushing to ship goods to the US ahead of looming tariffs.

According to Chinas National Bureau of Statistics, the economy grew by 5.4% in the first quarter, surpassing analysts forecasts.

Speaking to The Guardian, Sheng Laiyun, a senior official at the statistics bureau, however warned that the US tariffs will put certain pressures on our countrys foreign trade and economy.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is on a tour of Asian nations, a trip that, although planned before the tariff war, has served to boost Beijings public and private efforts to strengthen trading relationships with other countries.

China would be willing to partner with Malaysia and other Asean countries, following the trend of peace and the development of history, fend off the undercurrent of geopolitics and tribalism, break the unilateralism and protectionism, and create high-level strategic alliance between China and Malaysia that leads to a close community of common destiny, Xi said in an editorial published ahead of his arrival in Malaysia on Wednesday.

While tariffs have paused at 145% on Chinese imports to the US and 125% on US goods to China, both governments are escalating the trade war through other means.

Beijing has reportedly ordered airlines to halt purchases of US aircraft parts, including from Boeing, and is exploring support for carriers leasing Boeing jets. Around 10 Boeing 737 Max jets are set for delivery to Chinese airlines, but only those cleared before reciprocal tariffs take effect may be allowed in, reported Bloomberg.

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In a further move, Hong Kong Post announced it will stop accepting US-bound packages, citing unreasonable and bullying acts by the US, though document-only mail remains unaffected. Hong Kong is covered by mainland Chinas tariffs but has not imposed its own.

Meanwhile, Trump has launched inquiries into potential new tariffs on pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and critical minerals  areas that would hit key US trading partners.

China, which dominates rare-earth supply chains, has already imposed export controls on several such elements.

With inputs from agencies
Under the terms being considered, Ukraine would channel revenues from the extraction of natural resources into a joint investment fund with the US. However, the arrangement does not include any provisions for future American security guarantees read more

US President Donald Trump shouts at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy during their interaction with the press at the White House in Washington, DC, on February 28, 2025. Reuters File

The United States has sharply reduced its estimate of the cost of assistance provided to Ukraine since the start of Russias full-scale invasion in 2022, cutting the figure from $300 billion to around $100 billion, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

The revised accounting comes as Donald Trump intensifies efforts to broker a settlement to the war. As part of that initiative, the US president is pushing for a bilateral minerals agreement with Kyiv.

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Trump views the proposed deal as a pathway to recoup a portion of the billions spent on military support for Ukraine. This, despite the fact that the aid was not initially structured as a loan.

What does the proposal say?

Details of the latest US proposal, floated last month by the Trump administration, point to a significant expansion of earlier discussions. Under the terms being considered, Ukraine would channel revenues from the extraction of natural resources including by private and state-owned enterprises into a joint investment fund with the US. However, the arrangement does not include any provisions for future American security guarantees.

The minerals sector has become increasingly central to Ukraines economic strategy, with rare earths and other critical materials viewed as a potential engine for postwar recovery.

For Washington, such a deal could offer a long-term strategic foothold in the regions resource landscape while softening criticism over the scale of wartime spending.

Minerals deal moving fast

Negotiations between Kyiv and Washington over a proposed agreement granting the United States preferential access to Ukrainian natural resources are advancing rapidly, AFP cited an official familiar with the discussions as saying on Wednesday (April 16).

Newer drafts of the accord appeared not to recognise US aid as a debt owed by Ukraine, the source said. This comment is in line with the report by Bloomberg News.

With inputs from agencies
The administrations strategy hinges on extracting commitments from trade partners in exchange for the removal of trade and tariff barriers currently imposed by the United States read more

US President Donald Trump attends a bilateral meeting with China's President Xi Jinping during the G20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan, June 29, 2019. File image/ Reuters

The Trump administration is planning to use ongoing tariff negotiations to pressure US trading partners to limit their dealings with China, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing individuals familiar with the discussions.

According to the report, US officials intend to engage with more than 70 countries to request that they disallow China from routing goods through their territories and prevent Chinese firms from establishing operations there, in order to circumvent US tariffs.

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The administrations strategy hinges on extracting commitments from trade partners in exchange for the removal of trade and tariff barriers currently imposed by the United States. This move aims to isolate the Chinese economy further and weaken Beijings position ahead of a potential meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Sources told the WSJ that officials have already begun discussions with several countries regarding this plan. The goal is to tighten the economic noose around China, which is already grappling with financial challenges, thereby reducing its options and forcing it to return to the negotiating table.

When asked about Panamas decision to withdraw from Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, President Trump hinted at the approach, suggesting he might consider compelling nations to choose between aligning with the US or with China.

As part of this broader effort, the administration has temporarily suspended reciprocal tariffs on approximately 70 countries, ranging from 10% to 50%. However, China has been excluded from this pause, with Chinese imports facing a punitive 145% tariff.
Von der Leyen comments came amid rapidly deteriorating relations with the US under Trumps administration, which has forced Europe to look elsewhere for allies and partners, according to a report read more

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said that the West as we knew it no longer exists, pointing to what she described as historic changes in the global landscape following Donald Trumps US presidency.

Von der Leyen comments came amid rapidly deteriorating relations with the US under Trumps administration, which has forced Europe to look elsewhere for allies and partners.

In the wake of Trumps sweeping tariffscondemned by Brussels as neither credible nor justifiedEuropean Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has been actively engaging with international partners, holding talks with officials from Norway, Iceland, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates.

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She has also spoken with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, a move that has sparked speculation about a potential thaw in EU-China relations after years of strained ties.

The world has become a globe also geopolitically, and today our networks of friendship span the globe, as you can see in the debate about tariffs, Euro News quoted von der Leyen as saying to German newspaper Die Zeit in a wide-ranging interview published on Tuesday.

Right now, I could have these conversations 24 hours a day. Everyone is asking for more trade with Europe  and its not just about economic ties. It is also about establishing common rules and it is about predictability. Europe is known for its predictability and reliability, which is once again starting to be seen as something very valuable, she was quoted as saying.

On the one hand, this is very gratifying; on the other hand, there is also of course a huge responsibility that we have to live up to, said von der Leyen.

Describing herself as a great friend of America and a convinced Atlanticist, von der Leyen maintained that the transatlantic bond remains strong  despite the upheaval triggered by Trumps presidency, from disruptive trade policies and disdain for multilateralism to annexationist rhetoric and a pivot toward Russia that strained traditional alliances.

When asked whether the US is still a friend, a former friend, or an adversary, she declined these kinds of classifications, acknowledging instead that the relationship is complicated.

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Von der Leyen stopped short of directly criticising Trump  his name came up only in the interviewers questions  but she hinted at a rejection of the America he is trying to shape through his wave of executive actions, Euro News reported.

Europe is still a peace project. We dont have bros or oligarchs making the rules. We dont invade our neighbours, and we dont punish them. On the contrary, there are twelve countries on the waiting list to become members of the European Union. Thats about 150 million people, she said, referring to the accession process.

In Europe, children can go to good schools, however wealthy their parents are. We have lower CO2 emissions, we have higher life expectancy. Controversial debates are allowed at our universities. This and more are all values that must be defended, and which show that Europe is more than a union. Europe is our home. And people know that, she added.

She defended the EUs position on regulating US digital services even in the face of threats of removing US nuclear umbrella.

On the subject of European security, she issued a stark warning about Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying While Putin may pause every so often, there is no limit to his imperial ambitions, underscoring what she described as existential threats facing the European Union.

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According to The Guardian report, whats is notable is that the interview  originally conducted in German - was translated for the newspaper by von der Leyens office  as if she and her team wanted it to be more widely read across Europe and beyond.

Either way, her comments come a day after the EU appeared to be growing frustrated with the lack of engagement on the US side when it comes to resolving the tariffs standoff, with commission spokesperson telling reporters that the bloc needed an additional level of engagement from the US to keep the ball rolling forward.

With inputs from agencies
The complaint, addressed to Republican Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton and his Democratic counterpart Mark Warner, is based on the testimony of Daniel Berulis, an information technology staffer at the National Labor Relations Board read more

The seal of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is seen at their headquarters in Washington, D.C., U.S. Representational image/ Reuters

According to a whistleblower complaint, billionaire Elon Musks team of technologists may have been responsible for a significant cybersecurity breach, most likely involving confidential case files at Americas federal labour inspector.

The complaint, addressed to Republican Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton and his Democratic counterpart Mark Warner, and made public Tuesday by Whistleblower Aid, is based on the testimony of Daniel Berulis, an information technology staffer at the National Labor Relations Board.

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The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), a New Deal-era institution entrusted with defending workers rights to organise and join unions, has long been a target of Americas business titans, including Musk, who are now attempting to have the organisations powers deemed illegal.

Berulis said in an affidavit that Doge employees were allowed extraordinary access to the NLRBs networks, which store sensitive case data. He stated that beginning in early March, logging methods used to audit users looked to have been tampered with, and that he discovered the removal of around 10 terabytes of data from the NLRBs network shortly later.

Berulis told Reuters in an interview on Tuesday that the material in question contains confidential business information from rivals, union organisations, and respondents to unfair labour practice cases, as well as their claims, including private affidavits.

In his affidavit, Berulis said, That kind of spike is extremely unusual because data almost never directly leaves NLRBs databases.

A spokesperson for Musks team - officially known as US Doge Service - didnt immediately return a message seeking comment. A message left with the NLRB also wasnt immediately returned, although NPR, which first reported the story, quoted an NLRB spokesperson as disputing Berulis claims and saying there had been no breach. Cotton and Warner didnt immediately return messages seeking comment.

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Berulis alleged in the affidavit that there attempted logins to NLRB systems from an IP address in Russia in the days after Doge accessed the systems. He told Reuters Tuesday that the attempted logins apparently included correct username and password combinations but were rejected by location-related conditional access policies.

Berulis affidavit said that an effort by him and his colleague to formally investigate and alert the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) was disrupted by higher-ups without explanation.

As he and his colleagues prepared to pass information theyd gathered to CISA he received a threatening note taped to the door of his home with photographs of him walking in his neighborhood taken via drone, Andrew Bakaj, Whistleblower Aids chief legal counsel, said in his submission to Cotton and Warner.

Unlike any other time previously, there is this fear to speak out because of reprisal, Berulis told Reuters. Were seeing data that is traditionally safeguarded with the highest standards in the United States government being taken and the people that do try to stop it from happening, the people that are saying no, theyre being removed one by one.

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Bakaj declined to share the note with Reuters Tuesday. The FBI declined to comment.

A message left with CISA wasnt immediately returned.
While Meloni positions herself as a mediator aiming to ease transatlantic trade tensions, her solo approach has drawn criticism from EU partners. Her upcoming meeting with Trump is expected to reinforce ideological alignments that contrast with the broader EU consensus read more

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Melonis recent diplomatic engagements with US President Donald Trump have stirred unease among European allies, who fear her actions may undermine the European Unions unified stance on critical issues such as trade and security.

Melonis upcoming visit to the White House on thursday (April 17) marks the first bilateral summit between a European leader and Trump since his re-election and subsequent announcement of a 90-day pause on planned tariff hikes targeting European goods.

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Meloni is positioning herself as a mediator aiming to ease transatlantic trade tensions. However, not everyone agrees especially not her European peers.

Her solo approach has drawn criticism from EU partners. French Industry Minister Marc Ferracci warned that such unilateral actions could fracture the EUs collective bargaining power, stating, If we start having bilateral talks, of course itll break this momentum.

There is another thing complicating matters for Meloni and EU: She is set to host US Vice President JD Vance in Rome shortly after her meeting with Trump. Vance, known for his critical views on the EUs policies regarding migration and free speech, had previously sparked outrage at the Munich Security Conference by accusing the EU of weaponising climate policy and likening its migration stance to social engineering.

Meloni defended his remarks, calling them a necessary provocation.

Now, their upcoming meeting is expected to reinforce ideological alignments that contrast with the broader EU consensus.

Melonis skepticism towards the coalition of the willing initiative, proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to deploy European troops in Ukraine, further showcases her divergent stance. She has expressed reservations about committing Italian forces without a broader UN mandate, emphasising the need for a more inclusive and internationally sanctioned approach to peacekeeping efforts.

While Melonis engagements with the US leadership aim to bolster Italys strategic position, they also risk creating rifts within the EU. Her actions are now the poster face of difficulty of managing national interests and the collective European unity, especially in the face of evolving geopolitical challenges.

With inputs from agencies
The Geneva-based body slashed its forecast for goods trade growth from 2.7% to a 0.2% decline, citing Washingtons aggressive trade stance, according to a report read more

A logo is pictured on the World Trade Organization headquarters (WTO) in Geneva, Switzerland, on March 4, 2021. Reuters File

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has warned that President Donald Trumps tariffs are set to push global trade into reverse this year, dragging down economic growth worldwide.

According to The Guardian, citing latest report, the Geneva-based body slashed its forecast for goods trade growth from 2.7% to a 0.2% decline, citing Washingtons aggressive trade stance.

WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala voiced alarm over the escalating economic rift between the US and China, calling the expected 81% to 91% drop in bilateral trade  excluding tech exemptions  a decoupling with far-reaching consequences.

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She added that the WTO is consulting member states on whether to hold an emergency meeting to address the growing crisis, added the report.

The outlook for global trade has deteriorated sharply due to a surge in tariffs and trade policy uncertainty, The Guardian quoted WTO as saying in its report.

It had previously forecast global GDP growth of 2.8% for 2025, but now expects a weaker 2.2%.

The US has imposed a blanket 10% tariff on imports, with steep 145% rates on Chinese goods and targeted sectors like cars and steel. While global trade with most regions is expected to grow, the WTO predicts a sharp drop in US-linked trade, reported The Guardian.

Trumps much higher reciprocal tariffs, paused for 90 days after rattling markets, could cause a 0.8% fall in global goods trade if reinstated. If this triggers broader trade policy uncertainty, that decline could worsen to 1.5%, with global GDP growth sinking to just 1.7%.

The WTO also warned that confusion following Trumps April 2 tariff rollout  marked by mixed signals from Washington  is fueling instability and compounding economic risks.

Uncertainty fosters an increased prudence in decision-making, The Guardian quoted WTO as saying, pointing to evidence that trade policy uncertainty can, among other things, dampen business confidence, reducing business investment and thereby impairing economic growth.

Ultimately, the degree to which uncertainty can be managed by firms will be a key determinant of whether the positive macroeconomic momentum observed in 2024 translates into sustained global trade growth in the coming years, it added.

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The WTO predicts some diversion of trade, as Beijing seeks new markets for its goods outside the US. Chinese exports to regions outside North America are expected to expand by between 4% and 9%, in 2025.

Services trade is not directly hit by Trumps tariffs, but the WTO expects it to be affected indirectly.

Tariff induced declines in goods trade weaken demand for related services such as transport and logistics, while broader uncertainty dampens discretionary spending on travel and slows investment-related services, the WTO report warns.

The WTO, once central to global trade negotiations, is facing growing doubts as globalisation slows and US tariffs bypass core rules.

Trumps tariffs violate the WTOs most favoured nation principle, which requires equal trade terms for all members.

China has called for a WTO investigation, warning: Reciprocal tariffs are not  and will never be  a cure for trade imbalances. Instead, they will backfire, harming the US itself.

With inputs from agencies

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Apple has announced the second edition of its MAMI Select: Filmed on iPhone program, created in collaboration with the Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI).

This year, the initiative spotlights four rising Indian filmmakersAmrita Bagchi, Rohin Raveendran Nair, Chanakya Vyas, and Shalini Vijayakumarwho are reimagining storytelling across diverse genres and languages using the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Mentorship from Acclaimed Directors

The program offers mentorship by acclaimed Indian filmmakersKonkona Sen Sharma, Vikramaditya Motwane, Lijo Jose Pellissery, and Vetri Maaran. Each of them guided the filmmakers through scripting, production, and post-production.

Konkona Sen Sharma, who served as a mentor for the second year, highlighted the creative freedom of mobile filmmaking:

With iPhone, theres so much power contained in such a compact package that you can bypass the conventions of mainstream filmmaking. All you need is a great idea and the guts to follow through.

Vikramaditya Motwane added, Shooting on iPhone allows for complete personal expression. He also noted that mentoring the next generation is a two-way experience: I learn as much as I teach.

Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, festival director at MAMI, emphasized the cultural depth in the films:

The unique voices of these filmmakers are beautifully contextualized through the four languages and regions of India in which they are rooted.

The Four Filmmakers and Their Vision

Each filmmaker used the iPhone 16 Pro Max, alongside the MacBook Pro with M4 Max chip, to explore different visual styles, camera perspectives, and editing workflows.

Amrita Bagchi  Tinctoria

Based in Kolkata, Amrita Bagchi previously earned the Grand Jury Prize at at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles for her short film Succulent. Her new short, Tinctoria, is a psychological thriller about a fashion mogul haunted by the colonial legacy of indigo farming.

Bagchi drew inspiration from Indias historical context of forced indigo cultivation and blended it with a modern narrative. She used the iPhones Cinematic mode to amplify tension and create a high-production look, while editing on the MacBook Pro for smooth playback of 4K ProRes footage.

The iPhone is extremely intuitive, and the output is super cinematic. Im able to constantly create and improviseits like visual rap, she said.

Rohin Raveendran Nair  Kovarty

Hailing from Kerala, Nairs work includes Netflixs The Song of Scorpions and short films like The Booth. His latest work, Kovarty, explores the emotional bond between a government typist and her typewriter.

Shot in Keralas scenic backwaters, the film uses the typewriters perspectivemade possible by the iPhones compact size and 13 mm lens. He paired a 4:3 aspect ratio for the typewriters close-ups with a 2:1 ratio for the surroundings.

Whats exciting about the iPhone is that its very liberatingit lets me focus on capturing the story rather than worrying about equipment, said Nair.

Chanakya Vyas  Mangya

Based in Ahmedabad, Chanakya Vyas was inspired by a news article on a bird flu outbreak in Maharashtra. His short film, Mangya, follows an 11-year-old boy and his rooster as they navigate impending loss.

To film a 300-meter chase sequence at dawn, Vyas used the iPhones Action mode and the 120 mm lens on a handheld gimbal, achieving crisp stability without professional rigs. The iPhones native microphones also captured layered environmental sounds clearly.

The mobility of the iPhone was key. And the studio-quality mics meant we could capture layered soundscapes with precision, he explained.

Shalini Vijayakumar  Seeing Red

A writer and filmmaker from Chennai, Shalini Vijayakumar explored horror-comedy in her short Seeing Red, which addresses the everyday rage of women within a Tamil household.

She used the iPhones 4K 120 fps capability and 120 mm lens to create exaggerated slow-motion sequences of women in various states of fury. She intentionally inverted a stereotypical Tamil cinema tropeusing slow-mo for female characters instead of heroic men.

This film is my way of saying its OK to be angry. And the iPhone helped me film everything in a non-intrusive way with complete creative control, she said.

Seamless Editing and Production Tools

All four filmmakers used the MacBook Pro with M4 Max chip to edit their films, praising its powerful performance in handling multiple layers of high-resolution footage. The tight integration between iPhone and MacBook made the entire production pipeline seamlessfrom shooting in Apple Log to color grading and exporting final cuts.

Availability

The short films are now available to watch on MAMIs official YouTube channel.
NVIDIA announced the GeForce RTX 5060 Desktop Family, featuring the Blackwell RTX architecture, DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation, neural rendering, and other innovations. The lineup includes the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti and GeForce RTX 5060, aimed at enhancing gaming performance.

Blackwell RTX Architecture and DLSS 4

NVIDIA stated that the Blackwell RTX architecture is designed for neural rendering, optimizing hardware for AI, neural shaders, ray tracing, and DLSS.

The company added that its engineers developed new software features, SDKs for developers, and AI models to leverage the hardwares capabilities. The DLSS 4 transformer AI model, used for Super Resolution and Ray Reconstruction, is trained on high-resolution game captures to improve image quality and performance.

According to NVIDIA, DLSS 4 enhances text clarity, reflection accuracy, and temporal stability, reducing shimmering and artifacts. The company noted that enabling DLSS lowers PC input latency, making gameplay more responsive.

DLSS 4s Multi Frame Generation, a neural rendering technology, generates up to three additional frames per traditionally rendered frame, boosting frame rates by up to 8X when combined with other DLSS features. NVIDIA said DLSS 4 is available in over 100 games and apps, with new integrations added weekly.

GeForce RTX 5060 Desktop Family

The GeForce RTX 5060 Ti and GeForce RTX 5060 bring DLSS 4 and Blackwell innovations to gamers. NVIDIA reported that these GPUs are twice as fast as the previous generation, thanks to enhanced hardware and DLSS 4 features like Multi Frame Generation, Super Resolution, and Ray Reconstruction.

The company expects these graphics cards to be a significant upgrade for over 50 million users of older 60 Class and 50 Class GPUs, introducing ray tracing and DLSS 4 benefits.

NVIDIA emphasized three key gaming performance factors: image quality, high frame rates, and low latency. The DLSS 4 transformer AI model ensures sharp visuals, while advanced Ray Tracing Cores deliver realistic lighting. Multi Frame Generation and other DLSS technologies maximize frame rates, and NVIDIA Reflex reduces latency in over 130 games, including competitive titles like VALORANT.

Performance Details

GeForce RTX 5060 Ti

NVIDIA shared that in games like Hogwarts Legacy, the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti with DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation, Super Resolution, Ray Reconstruction, and NVIDIA Reflex offers better image quality, smoother frame rates, and lower latency at 1440p max settings compared to native rendering.

The company added that frame rates are doubled, and latency is reduced compared to the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti, improving gameplay fluidity. In games without Multi Frame Generation, such as A Plague Tale: Requiem and Delta Force, performance improves by about 20% with lower latency.

GeForce RTX 5060

Set to launch in May 2025, the GeForce RTX 5060 delivers over 100 FPS at 1080p in graphically intensive games and over 300 FPS in competitive titles like Marvel Rivals, according to NVIDIA.

The company noted that it doubles the performance of the GeForce RTX 4060 in games with DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation and offers even greater improvements for users upgrading from older GPUs like the GeForce GTX 1660 or RTX 2060. Blackwells efficiency and Max-Q laptop technologies enable strong performance in mobile devices.

Hardware Specifications

The GeForce RTX 5060 series features advanced components, including Shader Cores, Tensor Cores, Ray Tracing Cores, and high-speed GDDR7 memory, designed to enhance gaming performance.

NVIDIA noted that these GPUs enable efficient video encoding and decoding, delivering improved quality compared to competing platforms. Additionally, they are compatible with DisplayPort 2.1 UHBR20, supporting the latest high-resolution displays.

Pricing and Availability

GeForce RTX 5060 Ti: Available in 8GB and 16GB configurations, starting at Rs. 42,000 in India / USD 379 (Rs. 32,460 approx.). Launched on April 16, 2025.

GeForce RTX 5060: Starting at Rs. 33,000 in India / USD 299 (Rs. 25,610 approx.). Available in May 2025.

Stock-clocked and factory-overclocked models are available from partners like ASUS, Colorful, Gainward, GALAX, GIGABYTE, INNO3D, KFA2, MSI, Palit, PNY, and ZOTAC, as well as system builders.

GeForce RTX 5060 Laptops

NVIDIA announced that GeForce RTX 5060 laptops, featuring all desktop innovations, will launch in May 2025, starting at $1,099. The company expects these laptops, available from major OEMs in designs as thin as 14.9mm, to offer strong performance for gamers.
The University of New Haven has announced an ambitious expansion with the establishment of a branch campus in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, set to open in Fall 2025. This strategic move marks a significant milestone in the university's global outreach, aiming to deliver its renowned academic programs to the Middle East.

The Riyadh campus will offer a range of undergraduate and graduate programs tailored to meet the needs of the region's growing workforce. Key areas of focus include engineering, business, cybersecurity, and health sciences, aligning with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 goals of economic diversification and innovation. The curriculum will blend New Haven's hands-on, experiential learning model with culturally relevant coursework, ensuring graduates are equipped for success in both local and global markets.

"This is a transformative step for our university," said University of New Haven President Jens Frederiksen. "Our Riyadh campus will foster cross-cultural collaboration, empower students with cutting-edge skills, and contribute to the Kingdom's dynamic educational landscape."

The campus will feature state-of-the-art facilities, including advanced laboratories, collaborative learning spaces, and digital resources, designed to support a modern, tech-driven academic experience. Faculty from both the U.S. and Saudi Arabia will deliver instruction, promoting a diverse and inclusive environment.

The University of New Haven's decision to expand into Riyadh reflects the increasing globalization of higher education and the growing demand for American-style learning in the Gulf region. The initiative is expected to strengthen ties between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, fostering academic and professional exchanges.

Prospective students can expect admissions processes to begin in early 2025, with further details available on the university's website. This new chapter underscores the University of New Haven's commitment to shaping global leaders and advancing knowledge across borders.
China's foreign trade maintains strong momentum with record Q1 highs

Ecns.cn) 16:08, April 16, 2025

The State Council Information Office holds a press conference on economic data for Q1 on April 14, 2025. (Yang Kejia/China News Service)

(ECNS) --In the first quarter of 2025, China not only maintained steady growth in imports and exports but also achieved multiple record highs, according to data from its General Administration of Customs (GAC) on Monday in Beijing.

Amid mounting global uncertainties and escalating protectionism, China's foreign trade has shown exceptional resilience and vitality, driven by a vibrant private sector and an increasingly diversified global trade network.

China's foreign trade reaches several new highs despite headwinds

GAC stated Monday that the total value of imports and exports reached a record high for the first quarter, maintaining over 10 trillion yuan ($1.37 trillion) for eight consecutive quarters. This stable performance is remarkable given the current complex global trade environment.

Besides, the number of private enterprises engaged in foreign trade reached a historical high for the same period.

In the first quarter, 529,000 enterprises recorded actual import or export activity, up 33,000 year-on-year. Among them, the number of private firms hit a record high of 455,000, accounting for 86.1 percent.

With private companies leading the way, the momentum of foreign trade remains strong.

The number of foreign-invested enterprises with import-export activity reached a new high in the recent three years. More than 67,000 foreign-invested firms healthy? recorded import or export performance, reaching 2.99 trillion yuan in total trade volume, and marking their fourth consecutive quarter of growth.

China's foreign trade demonstrates resilience across multiple dimensions

Global challenges have not shaken the confidence of foreign enterprises, thanks to China's innovative products and global diversified market.

New trending Chinese goods are constantly emerging. Exports of Chinese independent brands have increased by 10.2 percent in the first quarter to make up 22.8 percent of total exports.

Smart, digital, and green transformations are reshaping Chinese manufacturing, earning global consumer trust and recognition.

Moreover, China's global trade network is more diversified than ever. For the first time, Belt and Road Initiative countries reached 51.1 percent of China's total trade in the first quarter.

The country's trade with BRI countries reached 5.26 trillion yuan during the same period, up 2.2 year-on-year, setting a new record for the same period.

Today, China trades with over 170 countries and regions, while exports to all of them grew in the first quarter.

These facts leave no doubt: China's foreign trade is resilientit is evolving, expanding, and strengthening at every turn.

China's foreign trade continues to forge ahead

Amid rising global economic uncertainty, the United States' reckless imposition of tariffs is throwing the international trade order into disarray.

In the face of such external pressures, China has built a government-enterprise coordinated response system. State departments have created domestic sales platforms, easing market access, and strengthening financial support.

Meanwhile, enterprises are accelerating product upgrades and expanding into diverse markets. E-commerce firms are integrating domestic and international trade platforms, helping unleash robust domestic demand.

The current external environment for China's exports is indeed complex and challenging, but the sky would not fall, said GAC.

Looking ahead, the global trade environment will remain complex. But with innovation, market diversification, and a powerful domestic market as foundation, China's foreign trade is fully prepared to forge ahead and ride out the storm.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Larry Robinson/The Daily Sentinel

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About two weeks left for some unfinished business to get done. Property tax reform to relieve some pressure on homeowners primarily from Billings west, who have watched home values skyrocket as people fled states during covid primarily, controlled by democrats. These folks were looking for freedoms that still exist in a beautiful place like Montana. Unfortunately, Montanans that have lived here forever have been impacted by the resulting high property taxes and these inflated values. The education mills levied by the State received a windfall because of these inflated values. Local governments that levy the vast majority of the property tax mills also saw a windfall if they didnt adjust their mills. Some did, most did not.

The way the State levied mills law is supposed to work currently, more so after current legislation, is any funds not used to do court mandated spending equalization across the state, is to go towards reducing local levies for school transportation costs. A roundabout way for property tax relief across the state. The potential problem I see with that is, in the future more of those dollars will be shifted back out of local relief and into equalization. Equalization as you may recall resulted from a court settlement years ago to satisfy a suit brought to address the guaranteed equal education mandated by the 1972 version of the Montana Constitution, the so called lawyers litigation dream.

SB90 by Carl Glimm would have set up an ongoing mechanism to reduce residential taxes every year. It was a simple bill that would have redirected the flow of some of the $ collected through the Accommodations tax and vehicle rental tax and the interest earned off a couple of other accounts. As loud as the democrats are crying for the intended relief, all but one voted in the tax committee to kill this bill. They were joined by solutions caucus republicans at the behest of the Governors office and Appropriations chair Jones. There is no interest there to return the ongoing over collection of taxes to the people. Their favored bills just shift who pays.

As weve discussed here in the past, folks are really starting to feel the effects of decades of business destruction in Montana that has taken huge chunks out of the property tax base. Forest management that results in timber harvest that results in 2x4s for homes, has all but disappeared in Montana. Mining that produces copper for home wiring, coal for electrical generation and many other minerals has been severely reduced. Base load electrical generation that keeps the lights on dependably and affordably has been systematically shut down. Recently the Keystone Pipeline was scuttled. All of these things have been severely reduced or destroyed by the radical left that shows up every day of the Session with bills demanding the surviving taxpayers to spend more. Unfortunately, even though they have been voted into the minority by the citizens of Montana, willing republicans coalesce with them to grow government. As our Chair of Appropriations, Jones reminds us if conservatives dont join in for the SolutionsCaucus solution, he has to buy left. Conservatives have grown weary of the threats. There seems to be no desire by the big government republicans to buy right and hold government growth in check. This Solutions strategy unfortunately has gone on for decades and has cost struggling Montana taxpayers billions. What can be done? An informed electorate and elections. Are the citizens up for the challenge? I hope so.

HB924 by Chairman Lew Jones is another example of an effort to sweep away overpaid taxpayer dollars into a State savings account and not return to the taxpayers. It takes $600 million from the current over collection and combine it with a number of over collected taxes from the past to create a Legacy fund of about $1.5 billion. Any future overpaid taxes would also be swept into this fund with some of the interest earned used in future biennia for an assortment of projects. As you might imagine some uses we could all agree on, some not. The intent is to grow this fund into many billions of dollars. It was legitimized by comparing to our coal trust, North Dakota and Wyoming. A glaring difference of course is that they have robust natural resource production that creates wealth and a great opportunity to save. 924 just keeps picking the pockets of the same old tired taxpayers that have absorbed the tax shifts of a shrinking base. This bill passed the House with the democrats and a small minority Solutions of republicans. Its in the Senate. The vote buying this session has cost Montana taxpayers tens of millions on an ongoing basis.

Enough for one sitting? Tomorrow brings a new day and week, in what could be the second to last week of the 69th Legislature. I will continue to work to do what you sent me here to do, limit State governments intervention into your lives and pocketbooks, foster freedom and opportunity while funding the necessary responsibilities of government.

For Freedom,

Representative Jerry Schillinger HD34

406-974-2478 [email protected]
Chinese ministry staff member arrested for selling state secrets, stealing 300,000 internal documents: MSS

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Apr 15, 2025 04:14 PM

China has uncovered an espionage case involving a state ministry staff member who was arrested after proactively reaching out to foreign spy agencies, offering to leak state secrets in critical sectors and stealing nearly 300,000 internal documents, according to the Ministry of State Security (MSS) on Tuesday.

The suspect, surnamed Zhang, was a "phantom" in the conference room, repeatedly infiltrating classified meetings to plant recording devices. Her espionage was exposed when one of the devices fell, prompting alert attendees to report the situation, the MSS said.

The MSS published the case on its official WeChat account on Tuesday with a 5-minute documentary video revealing the details of the case.

The video shows that during a confidential meeting at a key official institution, a faint click was heard - an active voice recorder had fallen beneath a seat. Evidence showed it had been taped there with strong adhesive, but the weakened glue from repeated use caused it to drop.

This immediately raised suspicion among attendees, who reported it to leadership. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the institution notified state security authorities.

Investigations revealed Zhang as the prime suspect. Authorities also discovered she was closely linked to another suspect in an ongoing case.

In fact, over a month earlier, state security agencies had detected someone initiating contact with a foreign intelligence service, offering classified documents. Authorities swiftly launched an in-depth investigation, merging the cases. After conducting a surprise interrogation of Zhang in accordance with the law, they were shocked to confirm she was the same suspect of the two cases.

Zhang, a woman from an intellectual family, worked at a prestigious university, municipal agencies, and eventually a state ministry after graduating.

Since high school, Zhang secretly browsed foreign websites, actively seeking out and embracing subversive ideologies. Even after assuming a role with access to state secrets, driven by personal grievances, she resorted to stealing and selling classified information as a means of revenge against colleagues, her institution, and even the country.

Using technical methods to conceal her identity, she proactively contacted foreign spy agencies, pledging allegiance. Under their direction, she recklessly sold classified information from critical sectors.

Zhang exploited her institution's managerial loopholes, illegally downloading files from its internal system over an extended period. She smuggled her phone into secure areas to photograph classified documents, copied electronic files from colleagues' computers when offices were vacant, and repeatedly planted voice recorders in internal meetings to secretly record discussions.

By the time of her arrest, Zhang had stolen nearly 300,000 internal documents.

After the recorder was discovered, she hastily applied for an exit permit, preparing to flee with the trove of stolen secrets. With her institution's cooperation, state security authorities swiftly intervened, mitigating further risks. Zhang now awaits the full force of the law.

Zhang's case exposed severe lapses at her institution - a critical state-sector entity - including failures in counter-espionage accountability, lax enforcement of protocols, and significant deficiencies in staff education, management, and oversight. Disciplinary authorities launched a retroactive investigation, imposing penalties on 12 negligent officials and personnel involved in the case, the MSS stated.

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China condemns malicious cyber activities conducted by US govt during 9th Asian Winter Games: FM

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Apr 15, 2025 04:15 PM

In response to a media inquiry regarding the public security bureau in Harbin, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province on Tuesday issuing a wanted notice with a bounty for three agents from the US National Security Agency (NSA) for their involvement in cyberattacks targeting the event information system and the key information infrastructure of Heilongjiang Province during the 9th Asian Winter Games, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that these cyberattacks have caused serious harm to China's critical information infrastructure, national defense, finance, society, production, and the security of citizens' personal information, with highly egregious conduct.

China condemns the aforementioned malicious cyber activities by the US government, Lin said.

"China has expressed its concerns to the US through various channels regarding the US cyberattacks on China's critical infrastructure," Lin said, noting that "We urge the US to adopt a responsible attitude on cybersecurity, to cease its cyberattacks against China, and to stop its unwarranted smear campaigns and attacks against China."

China will continue to take all necessary measures to protect its own cybersecurity, he said.

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Oregon National Guard trains for Horn of Africa mission

By Maj. Wayne Clyne, Oregon National Guard April 14, 2025

warning echoes across the demolition range seconds before a deafening "whoomp" sends a cloud of smoke and debris skyward.

Soldiers rise from behind cover, faces breaking into exhilarated grins as they witness the raw power of battlefield demolitions.

This explosive training represents just one facet of Operation Djibouti Dawn, which brought more than 400 Oregon National Guard Soldiers to Yakima Training Center from March 28 to April 7, 2025, to prepare for an upcoming Horn of Africa deployment.

The operation assembled Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment; 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment; 741st Brigade Engineer Battalion ; and support elements to focus on fundamental infantry and combat engineer tasks.

"The end state was to master the basics, be able to fire and maneuver, and have the engineers integrated to support operations," said Lt. Col. Ryon Skiles, rear detachment commander of 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment.

Training included weapons qualification, demolitions, live fire training at Range 24 squad level room clearing in a 360-degree shoothouse and urban area platoon assault at Range 25. Units returned to home stations after field training for administrative tasks and recovery operations.

"We qualified with every weapon system in the infantry battalion, from the .50 caliber machine gun to AT-4s and claymores," Skiles said. "The goal was hands-on experience to allow Soldiers deploying to HOA to be competent and confident."

Approximately 150 Oregon Soldiers will join Task Force Baton, a 1,150-member joint force from four states. The task force will support Special Operations Command and Africa Command missions across three countries.

Lt. Col. Sergio Hands, incoming Task Force Baton commander, described their mission: "Our main task is to support operations against local violent extremists, protecting critical assets in the area."

The deployment begins at Fort Bliss, Texas, in May 2025, with an expected return in April 2026.

This annual training was unique because of its collaborative approach across units. Units pooled resources and personnel with multiple battalions operating at reduced strength because of concurrent deployments to Kosovo and Egypt.

Cooks from multiple units formed a single section to serve about 800 meals daily for roughly 400 Soldiers, while medical support included 18 combat medics who received specialized training with the U.S. Army Air Ambulance Detachment stationed at Yakima.

Training progressed deliberately from classroom to application.

"We went through a step-by-step three-day exercise, from crawling with dry fire to walking using blanks to the actual live fire," Skiles said.

For many Soldiers, this marked a return to fundamentals.

"The Soldiers were happy getting back to what they joined the Army to do," Skiles said. "It was about using your [military occupational speciality] to be successful."

Senior leaders consistently reported high morale among participants, which is especially significant for National Guard Soldiers who balance military service with civilian careers.

For the deployment, Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment, will form the core infantry element, supplemented by Soldiers from other units.

"We took on volunteers for this mobilization. This annual training was about getting everybody in the squads prepared," Skiles said.

"Annual training experiences like Operation Djibouti Dawn exemplify why the Oregon National Guard continues to be the military service of choice," said Brig. Gen. Alan Gronewold, The Adjutant General, Oregon National Guard. "Our Soldiers receive world-class training that prepares them for both federal missions abroad and emergencies here at home, all while maintaining deep connections to the communities they serve."

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Germany Federal Foreign Office

14.04.2025 - Press release

Foreign Minister Baerbock issued the following statement on the eve of the Sudan conference in London (15 April) that is being co-hosted by Germany, the United Kingdom, France, the EU and the African Union:

In large parts of Sudan, death is everywhere. Right before our eyes, the largest humanitarian disaster of our times is unfolding. Wide swaths of land have been destroyed, hundreds of thousands of families have had to flee their homes, millions are suffering hunger, and women and children are exposed to the worst sexual violence. The destructive effects of the conflict are shaking the entire region of north-eastern Africa.

In their lust for power, the two generals Burhan and Hemedti have for two years brought untold horrors on their own people. The most recent attacks on refugee camps in Darfur, where hundreds of thousands are seeking protection under terrible conditions, show that no one is safe - neither children nor humanitarian aid workers or doctors. Medical infrastructure is being intentionally destroyed, and the armies and militias are ruthlessly fighting for every village. Not only are they tearing apart their own country, but they are also responsible for tens of thousands of people starving to death. With support from abroad, they are engaged in a brutal war that has no winners and in which not only the 50 million people of Sudan are the losers. This results in displacement, suffering and death. The neighbouring countries are being stretched to the limit when it comes to dealing with the ever larger number of severely traumatised people seeking refuge there.

That is why, in London, in cooperation with our African partners, we will explore possibilities for establishing unrestricted humanitarian access, protecting the civilian population and finding a political solution to the violent conflict. Important actors from the region and the Gulf, as well as the United States and the United Nations, among others, will be gathering for this purpose in London. The only way to finally bring the parties to the conflict to the negotiating table is by exerting collective international pressure. The Gulf countries play a particularly important role in this context. They must bring their influence to bear, for example with a view to establishing humanitarian corridors.

To alleviate the suffering of people in the region and to stabilise the situation in the neighbouring countries, Germany, too, is assuming responsibility and will make available an additional 125 million euro in humanitarian assistance, so that international and local aid organisations can get urgently needed food and medicine to those in need.
Kingdom of Morocco - FIM-92K Stinger Block I Missiles

NEWS | April 15, 2025

Media/Public Contact: pm-cpa@state.gov

Transmittal No. 25-12

WASHINGTON, April 15, 2025 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Kingdom of Morocco of FIM-92K Stinger Block I missiles and related equipment for an estimated cost of $825 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.

The Kingdom of Morocco has requested to buy up to six hundred (600) FIM-92K Stinger Block I missiles. The following non-MDE items will also be included: U.S. Government and contractor engineering, logistics, and technical support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is $825 million.

This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a major non-NATO ally that continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in North Africa.

The proposed sale will improve Morocco's capability to meet current and future threats. Morocco intends to use these defense articles and services to modernize its armed forces and expand its existing army short range air defense options. This will contribute to the Moroccan Army's goals of updating capability and further enhancing interoperability with the U.S. and other allies. Morocco will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The principal contractors will be RTX Corporation, located in Tucson, AZ; and Lockheed Martin, located in Syracuse, NY. At this time, the U.S. Government is not aware of any offset agreement proposed in connection with this potential sale. Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor.

Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to the Kingdom of Morocco.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

The description and dollar value are for the highest estimated quantity and dollar value based on initial requirements. Actual dollar value will be lower depending on final requirements, budget authority, and signed sales agreement(s), if and when concluded.

All questions regarding this proposed Foreign Military Sale should be directed to the State Department's Bureau of Political Military-Affairs, Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, pm-cpa@state.gov.

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Philippines - TH-73A Training Helicopters and Support

NEWS | April 15, 2025

Media/Public Contact: pm-cpa@state.gov

Transmittal No. 25-20

WASHINGTON, April 15, 2025 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of the Philippines of TH-73A Training Helicopters and Support for an estimated cost of $120 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.

The Government of the Philippines has requested to buy the following defense articles and services: TH-73A training helicopters; aircraft simulator; spare engines; pack up kits; fuel tanks; aircraft hoists and lifts; commercial avionics; commercial flight management systems; commercial Global Positioning Systems; shipping containers; support and test equipment; consumables and accessories; integration and test support; repair and return support; spare and repair parts; unclassified software delivery and support; unclassified publications and technical documentation; personnel training and commercial training equipment; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, logistics, and transportation support services, including in-country representative support; studies and surveys; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is $120 million.

This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a strategic partner that continues to be an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in Southeast Asia.

The proposed sale will improve the Philippines' capability to meet current and future threats by providing an aircraft platform that will serve as the primary method of improving pilot training and skills, thus helping to ensure the development of a proficient rotary wing aviator corps. The Philippines will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The principal contractor will be AgustaWestland Philadelphia Corporation (Leonardo), located in Philadelphia, PA. At this time, the U.S. Government is not aware of any offset agreement proposed in connection with this potential sale. Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor.

Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of up to four additional U.S. Government and up to four U.S. contractor representatives to the Philippines for a duration of up to three years to support helicopter introduction, familiarization, fielding, and training.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

The description and dollar value are for the highest estimated quantity and dollar value based on initial requirements. Actual dollar value will be lower depending on final requirements, budget authority, and signed sales agreement(s), if and when concluded.

All questions regarding this proposed Foreign Military Sale should be directed to the State Department's Bureau of Political Military-Affairs, Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, pm-cpa@state.gov.

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EU and Member States pledge over 522 million to address Sudan crisis

European Commission

Press release

Apr 15, 2025

Brussels

To help address the difficult humanitarian situation in Sudan, the European Commission and Member States have pledged 522 million in aid for 2025 at the High-level Conference for Sudan, co-hosted in London today by the Commission alongside the United Kingdom, France, Germany and the African Union. This comes after two years of armed conflict which have strongly affected the population in the area.

Out of the overall EU pledge, the Commission pledged 282 million. The remaining funding was pledged by EU Member States: Austria, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Malta, Poland, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

EU aid will provide urgently needed health and nutritional care, food assistance, water and sanitation, shelter, protection, and education to the most vulnerable households - the internally displaced, refugee families, and host communities.

This conference comes on the heels of Commissioner Lahbib's visit to Chad, where she witnessed the devastating impact of this conflict on refugees, women and children. The conference aims to increase international attention of the long-lasting human tragedy in Sudan and provides a platform to address the devastating humanitarian consequences, including practical steps to improve humanitarian access.

Background

In 2025, the EU has allocated 160 million for humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable in Sudan. In addition, the EU has allocated 109 million for the humanitarian response to the Sudan crisis in neighbouring countries. An additional 13 million in stabilisation assistance is also being provided. This brings the overall EU contribution to the regional response to the Sudan crisis, both in Sudan and in the neighbouring countries affected by the crisis, to a total of 282 million in 2025.

This high-level conference builds on previous advocacy efforts, including a Senior Officials' Meeting convened by the EU in Brussels on 13 March and a joint EU/UNHCR event focusing on the regional dimension of the Sudan crisis held virtually on 10 April.

Quote(s)

Two years into the war, the situation in Sudan is devastating. The conflict brought famine to the country and led to the world's largest displacement crisis. More than 15 million people were already uprooted from their homes. Violations of International Humanitarian Law are rampant. Over the past weekend, the horrendous violence in Zamzam camp, North Darfur, killed numerous civilians - including humanitarian workers - and resulted in even more people fleeing. This is one example among many. Today, we need to keep Sudan high in the global agenda and uphold International Humanitarian Law. I am reaffirming EU's commitment, and I am grateful to all Member States that contributed to the cause, in a Team Europe spirit, to assist people in need in the country and across borders. Hadja Lahbib, Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management

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Statement by Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock at the Sudan conference in London

Germany Federal Foreign Office

15.04.2025 - Speech

"My stomach hurts. I want to go home and play with my friends."

That is what seven-year-old Zaki from Sudan said to his mother, shortly before he died in her arms.

He died of anaemia. His family did not have enough to eat. Zaki's family is one of millions of affected families in Sudan.

When we read the headlines in the European media about the so-called forgotten crisis in Sudan, I ask myself:

How can we forget about children like Zaki?

How can we forget about the world's largest humanitarian crisis? The 30 million who cannot survive without humanitarian assistance.

The horrific reports of women and children being raped. When I visited one of the refugee camps, speaking to a Sudanese mother telling me that her daughter cannot stand up anymore after being raped several times before coming to the refugee camp, I had no words left.

The reported atrocities, such as the people trapped in El Fasher and the hundreds of civilians and aid workers that have reportedly been killed this weekend.

We cannot forget them, because every life matters.

This war must end.

And if it continues, there will not be any winner, period.

Therefore, I would also like to underline three priorities. First: humanitarian assistance. Germany is pledging an additional 125 million euro today for Sudan and the neighbouring states. But we must ensure that humanitarian assistance can actually reach those in need. And I want to be crystal clear: No amount of humanitarian assistance will be sufficient if this war continues.

As said by the African Union, there cannot be any military solution. This war must end.

Therefore, second, all external actors must work towards de-escalation. Those who seek to gain power or influence through military or financial support are fanning the flames of conflict.

They should see the face of Zaki and the raped children and women every day. We therefore urge all external actors to use their power responsibly in order to shape a secure and peaceful region.

Third, the parties to the conflict must finally come to the negotiation table. We firmly support the African Union and the United Nations in taking the lead towards a lasting peace. I would like to underline the words of my French and my British colleagues. We had a good meeting in Paris, and today we are a couple of steps further down the road. We must continue to work on that roadmap.

The first step for a lasting ceasefire could be an agreement for the protection of critical infrastructure, as proposed by the European Union.

Those who are definitely ready for peace are the people of Sudan, the millions of innocent people. We need them. We need a political process that empowers the Sudanese people, so they can shape their own future.

Because the people of Sudan are not forgetting children like Zaki.

They are not forgetting the survivors of sexual violence, the millions of people who had to flee their homes.

We stand by their side.

We will continue our work until we see peace in Sudan.



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Philippine vessel stages provocative actions near Huangyan Dao

Global Times

By Xinhua Published: Apr 15, 2025 08:40 PM

China's coast guard authorities on Tuesday said one of its ships patrolling waters near Huangyan Dao was harassed by a Philippine vessel in an attempt to smear the Chinese side with staged photos.

The Philippine coast guard ship 4409 dangerously approached the Chinese vessel Zhongnan in waters near Huangyan Dao on Monday morning, crossing close to the bow of the Chinese vessel four times, said the China Coast Guard (CCG).

After repeated warnings and regulatory measures taken by the CCG, the Philippine vessel was eventually repelled from the area, the authorities said, adding that the Philippine side later disregarded the facts and distorted the truth, using media platforms to hype up the incident.

The actions of the Philippine side seriously violated relevant provisions of international law and maritime collision prevention regulations, the CCG said. By illegally and dangerously approaching the Chinese vessel, which was on a lawful mission, the Philippine ship threatened the safety of the Chinese personnel and ship, it noted.

The CCG responded professionally and in a lawful manner, the authorities stressed. In addition, the CCG vowed to resolutely counter any provocation by Philippine vessels to safeguard China's sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

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South China Sea a widely recognized, commonly used geographical name: FM responds to Google Maps label change

Global Times

By Chen Qingqing Published: Apr 15, 2025 03:46 PM

In response to a media inquiry that Google Maps now shows the label "West Philippine Sea," whereas it previously displayed "South China Sea," with some reports claiming that this change helps protect the Philippines' sovereignty, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Tuesday that the South China Sea has long been the widely recognized and commonly used geographical name by the international community.

"It is broadly accepted by countries all around the world and by international organizations, including the UN," Lin said on Tuesday's routine press briefing.

AFP reported on Monday that a Google Maps scan on Monday of the body of water directly west of the Philippines now shows a name once invisible to most users -- the West Philippine Sea.

The name South China Sea remains visible to the north and west of the area newly identified as the West Philippine Sea, AFP reported.

Responding to an AFP query, Google did not say why the change was made. "The West Philippine Sea has always been labeled on Google Maps. We recently made this label easier to see at additional zoom levels," a Google spokesperson was quoted as saying in the media report.

"As defenders of national sovereignty, the Armed Forces of the Philippines sees this as a valuable contribution to truthful representation and public awareness," the Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Francel Margareth Padilla was quoted as saying in a report by local news outlet PTV News.

Jay Tarriela, Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson, welcomed news of "the West Philippine Sea" label on Google Maps, the local news outlet The Philippine Star reported.

The hype around the so-called "West Philippine Sea" is nothing new and should not be taken too seriously as the South China Sea remains the widely accepted name used by the international community, Ding Duo, director of the Research Center for International and Regional Studies at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

Such hype will neither change history nor alter the fact that China holds indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea islands, the expert said.

The Philippines has been propagandizing it more than a decade ago. The recent change by certain map service providers might be related to Manila's lobbying efforts and coordination with some Western governments and media outlets, Ding said.

"However, this does not merit concern. The name 'South China Sea' has long been the internationally recognized name for the body of water," Ding noted.

In 2012, then-Philippine president Benigno Aquino III signed an administrative order renaming South China Sea waters within the western section as the "West Philippine Sea," local media Inquirer reported.

In 2015, Google Maps changed the name of Zhongsha Islands into "Scarborough Shoal," following a so-called online petition, the New York Times reported in July 2015.

Changing the name neither alters historical facts nor undermines China's sovereignty over the islands in South China Sea. It is just a political stunt, Ding noted.

For a long time, the South China Sea has been a universally accepted geographical name, widely recognized by countries around the world and international institutions including the UN, Ding pointed out.

According to the expert, major international organizations  including the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), and the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS)  as well as the vast majority of countries, consistently use "South China Sea" in their English-language official documents. The Chinese government has also long adopted this term in its own official English documents.

"The Philippines' attempts to hype up the term 'West Philippine Sea' do nothing to change the fact that China has indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea islands  including the Nansha Qundao and Huangyan Dao (also known as Huangyan Island)  and their adjacent waters," Ding added.

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Statement on the two-year mark of the Sudan Conflict

Government of Norway

News story | Date: 15/04/2025

April 15 marks two years since the start of the conflict in Sudan. Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide and Minister of International Development Asmund Aukrust express their condolences and support to the Sudanese people who have suffered greatly, and urge a rapid end to the conflict.

'We grieve with all Sudanese who have suffered, and for the humanitarian workers who have been killed while trying to help. These losses are all the more heartbreaking because they are a result of a manmade crisis. The scale of the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding every day in Sudan demands our immediate and collective attention'.



'We are deeply appalled by the many reports of brutal attacks on civilians. The deliberate obstruction of humanitarian access continues with few signs of improvement. Sexual and gender-based violence are endemic to the crisis and is used strategically as a method of warfare. Food and humanitarian access are instrumentalized in this brutal conflict as weapons of war. Sieges of cities and refugee camps are causing hunger and desperation. We remind all parties that they are obliged by international humanitarian law to protect civilians and to facilitate humanitarian access. International humanitarian law is not optional. Violations must have consequences'.

'Despite the devastations caused by war, the Sudanese have shown remarkable resilience - there are countless examples of courage and kindness. We are impressed by the efforts of Sudanese civil society and grassroots organisations mitigating the effects of the war. For instance, the young people, women and men working tirelessly in the Emergency Response Rooms stand out; they deserve our support and respect'.

'Only lasting peace can bring an end to the human suffering in Sudan. That requires a cessation of hostilities, followed by a Sudanese led and Sudanese owned inclusive political process. We want to see a new democratic transition led by a civilian government'.

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EU statement on Sudan

Government Offices of Sweden

Statement by Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Published 15 April 2025

Sudan: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union marking two years of war.

For the past two years, war in Sudan has brutally impacted the lives of millions of civilians. It has dimmed the hopes of the revolution of 2018/19. Fragmentation has deepened along political and ethnic lines. Sudan's unity and territorial integrity are in peril. The EU is concerned by the intentions expressed by the various actors to form governments unilaterally. A partition of the country must be prevented.

The EU reiterates its strong appeal to the warring parties for an immediate and lasting ceasefire. The responsibility for this war continues to be on the shoulders of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), as well as their respective affiliated militias. The EU calls on all states supplying arms and funds to the belligerents to cease their support immediately and unite in favour of peace. The EU urges the belligerent parties to negotiate in good faith for a sustainable peace, where territorial integrity, unity and sovereignty are respected. The EU continues to support the African Union's and other regional and international mediation efforts, including those of the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra.

The people of Sudan are facing the most catastrophic humanitarian crisis of the XXIst century. Famine has been confirmed and food insecurity is rampant, with almost 25 million people facing acute food insecurity. Sudan is also experiencing the largest protection crisis in the world with 12,6 million people forcibly displaced (more than 3 million across borders). The conflict spilling over into neighbouring countries can cause even greater human suffering and further destabilize the region. Our humanitarian partners will only be able to respond swiftly and fully if safe, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access (cross-border and cross line) is facilitated by the conflicting parties. The EU and the EU member states continue to demand to all parties at war that all bureaucratic and administrative impediments be lifted immediately and that safety of civilians, including humanitarian workers, be guaranteed.

The culture of impunity must stop. International humanitarian law and human rights violations are rampant and have been recorded throughout the country, in particular in the most conflict-affected areas of Darfur, Khartoum and Al Jazirah. Mass sexual and gender-based violence, starvation, arbitrary killings, child abductions, forced recruitment, and ethnically-based targeted attacks have been used as weapons of war at an unprecedented rate and scale, affecting notably women and children. The EU strongly condemns these severe mass atrocities.

The EU, in close coordination with the international community, will use its diplomatic tools and instruments, including restrictive measures, to seek a peaceful resolution to the conflict and a lasting inter Sudanese inclusive political process reflecting the aspirations of the Sudanese people. The people of Sudan have a right to freedom, peace and justice. The EU supports an inclusive political process towards this goal. The EU commends efforts by the Special Representative for the Horn of Africa, who, on behalf of the member states, will continue to proactively engage with all parties in support of a single mediation effort leading to a ceasefire, increased humanitarian access, and an inclusive transition. The protection of civilians and critical infrastructure remains paramount for our action and the EU is ready to support monitoring mechanisms.

The EU recognises the resilience and bravery of the Sudanese people amidst the worst humanitarian crisis we see today. It is high time to bring an end to this horrific bloodshed.

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Iran condemns Israel's intensified attacks on Gaza and West Bank

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Apr 15, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei has condemned the intensified attacks by the Israeli regime on the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, targeting innocent women and children.

Israel's killing of Palestinian people, destruction of vital infrastructure, and health and medical centers, blocking the entry of humanitarian supplies and basic items, imposition of a full siege on Gaza and cutting off the flow of water and electricity and fuel supply amounts to genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, Baqaei said.

He referred to recent remarks by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres about the catastrophic situation of Gaza, noting that the people in the Palestinian enclave are exposed to severe bombardment, widespread hunger, disease, forced displacement, and in overall a systematic eradication which is intended at ethnic cleansing.

The Foreign Ministry spokesperson also said that the deliberate killing of aid workers and journalists aims to silence the voice of the oppressed people of Gaza in an organized way.

He called on all the governments and international organizations and human rights agencies, particularly the UN Security Council, to act immediately to prevent the genocide and killing in Gaza and the West Bank.

9341**2050

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Israeli drone attack in southern Lebanon kills a civilian

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Apr 15, 2025

The Israeli regime has targeted a vehicle in southern Lebanon, killing a Lebanese citizen, according to local news outlets.

Al Mayadeen's correspondent in southern Lebanon reported on Tuesday that an Israeli drone struck a vehicle in Aitaroun, a town in the Bint Jbeil area close to the border with occupied Palestine.

The assault resulted in the death of one Lebanese civilian and injured another.

No further details have been released yet.

Israel persists in violating the truce with Lebanon by carrying out frequent attacks on southern regions, the Bekaa, and the southern outskirts of Beirut, in addition to occupying the five disputed border points.

3266**2050

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Iran expresses concern over dire situation in Sudan's el-Fasher

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Apr 15, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei expressed deep concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the besieged city of el-Fasher, Sudan.

Baqaei on Tuesday called for an immediate end to the siege, a halt to attacks, and the protection of civilians in accordance with international humanitarian law.

He condemned the blockade of el-Fasher in North Darfur, as well as the targeting of defenseless civilians seeking refuge in the Zamzam and Abu Shouk camps.

The spokesperson reiterated Iran's stance in support of Sudan's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.

According to Al Jazeera, at least 300 civilians were killed over the weekend in attacks by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on refugee camps in Sudan's Darfur region.

The assaults on Friday and Saturday around the Zamzam and Abu Shouk displacement camps, as well as the city of el-Fasher have also displaced about 400,000 people, according to the UN International Organization for Migration.

7129**9417

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Iran ready to facilitate signing of Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty: Takht-e-Ravanchi

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Apr 15, 2025

Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Majid Takht-e-Ravanchi says Iran, as a country having friendly relations with Armenia and Azerbaijan, is prepared to facilitate the signing of a bilateral peace treaty that has been finalized by the two neighbors.

The Islamic Republic is committed to the principle of good neighborliness and is ready to do everything necessary to help Yerevan and Baku reach the deal, Takht-e-Ravanchi said in an interview with Region Monitor, an Armenian news website on Monday.

He stressed that the signing of the agreement will be an important step not only for the stability of Armenia and Azerbaijan but for the entire region.

Expressing hope for a permanent end to military conflicts between the two South Caucasus neighbors, the Iranian deputy foreign minister urged them to focus now on the future. "The past is the past. We should focus on the future. The document is ready, and the sooner it is signed, the better," he said.

Commenting on any possible military scenarios, Takht-e-Ravanchi stressed that Iran is "against any violations of territorial integrity," adding that no one can rely on military force "to invade and occupy the territory of another country."

At the end, he emphasized the need for regional cooperation based on mutual respect and international law to build peaceful future for the next generation.

In late March, the Armenian Foreign Ministry announced that the country had finalized a draft peace agreement with Azerbaijan and was ready to negotiate the time and place for signing the deal to end decades of conflicts between the two neighbors.

4399**9417

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PM Netanyahu spoke with the President of France Emmanuel Macron

Israel - Prime Minister's Office

Media Statements

The 37th Government

15.04.2025

During the conversation, the Prime Minister expressed fierce opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state, and said that this would constitute a huge prize for terrorism.

The Prime Minister pointed out to the President of France that to this day, no Palestinian body - including those of the Palestinian Authority - has condemned the October 7th massacre; and that in the Palestinian Authority, the children are educated to destroy Israel, and the murderers of Jews are awarded monetary prizes.

The Prime Minister told the President of France that a Palestinian state that would be established just a few minutes from Israeli cities would become an Iranian stronghold of terrorism; that the vast majority of the Israeli public opposes that categorically - and that this has also been the Prime Minister's consistent and longstanding policy.

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NATO reaffirms its steadfast commitment to security in Bosnia and Herzegovina and to safeguarding the Dayton Peace Agreement

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

15 Apr. 2025

Today (15 April 2025), NATO's Deputy Secretary General, Radmila Shekerinska, hosted the Chair and members of the Tripartite Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zeljka Cvijanovic, Zeljko Komsic, and Denis Becirovic, at NATO Headquarters. They exchanged views with Allied Permanent Representatives on the latest developments in the country and across the region, and on NATO's partnership with Bosnia and Herzegovina.

NATO's North Atlantic Council underlined NATO's enduring commitment to stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina, to the country's territorial integrity and sovereignty, in accordance with the Dayton Peace Agreement, and to our enduring cooperation with Bosnia and Herzegovina. During the discussion, it was reiterated that the Alliance remains concerned about recent developments and their adverse implications, including for the country's constitutional order and the functionality of state institutions.

Against this backdrop, the Deputy Secretary General reaffirmed that "the Dayton Peace Agreement must be respected. It is a cornerstone of stability and Bosnia and Herzegovina's state architecture." She also underscored that "NATO remains closely aligned with its international partners," including the EU-led Operation Althea and the High Representative, and that NATO "will not accept any kind of security vacuum in Bosnia and Herzegovina. And we will not allow hard-won peace to be jeopardised."

Deputy Secretary General Shekerinska restated the Alliance's support for Bosnia and Herzegovina's progress "on its European and Euro-Atlantic path" and highlighted that it was important "to build upon this foundation, for the benefit of everyone living there."

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New Zealand Army Combat Team certified for major upcoming exercises

New Zealand Defence Force

For 19 straight days in the Waiouru Military Training Area close to 350 soldiers of Ngati Tumatauenga, the New Zealand Army honed their combat skills and sharpened their battlefield capabilities ahead of a crucial run of overseas exercises.

15 April, 2025

Exercise Sangro was the largest combined-arms live-fire activity held in New Zealand for a number of years, with elements of armour, infantry, artillery, engineers, signals and logistics from across the 1st (NZ) Brigade operating as an integrated Combat Team.

1st (NZ) Brigade Commander, Colonel Mike van Welie, says the significance of the exercise can't be understated.

"We know that we're currently operating in one of the most strategically competitive environments for decades, so we have to make sure our soldiers are fully prepared for whatever lies ahead."

The exercise tested commanders' abilities to make the right calls under pressure in the midst of very realistic and dynamic scenarios, and showed the effectiveness of the NZ Army's combat units as they defended, dominated and won various encounters both by day and night.

The exercise also saw one of the Army's newest capabilities - the armoured Bushmaster vehicle - successfully work alongside combat support units to move infantry and other personnel efficiently and effectively around the battlefield.

The exercise also saw one of the Army's newest capabilities - the armoured Bushmaster vehicle - successfully work alongside combat support units to move infantry and other personnel efficiently and effectively around the battlefield.

"This was the first real opportunity for us to test the Bushmaster in a large live fire activity, in partnership with other combat and supporting units. The vehicles and their crews performed incredibly well," Colonel van Welie said.

"There's no question that the nature of warfare has evolved in recent years, but one thing that hasn't is the need to still have highly skilled and highly trained soldiers on the frontline - that's where the Bushmaster is proving invaluable, offering protection to those units."

Over the course of the exercise more than 20,000 small arms rounds were fired, along with 7,350 25mm rounds, more than 600 artillery and mortar rounds, as well as three Javelin anti-tank guided missiles. Combat Engineers also utilised around 300kg of explosives and more than half a kilometre of detonation cord.

Supporting the exercise were a number of personnel from across both 2nd Combat Services Support Battalion and 3rd Combat Services Support Battalion who delivered more than 6,000 meals, 34 pallets of ammunition and 28,000 litres of diesel to support the frontline troops.

The Combat Team is now turning its attention to two major upcoming exercises in Australia, culminating with the multi-national, multi-domain Exercise Talisman Sabre, which will see New Zealand Defence Force soldiers, sailors and aviators link up with our ally Australia and 17 partner nations.

"We've seen just recently with the announcement of the Defence Capability Plan how integral our interoperability is with Australia, and will continue to be into the future. So for us, knowing our teams are ready to integrate and will perform well in combat is vital, and we can't wait to see it come to fruition later this year when we exercise as part of an Australian Brigade across the Tasman," Colonel van Welie said.

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New Zealand Defence Force deepens commitment to the South East Asian region

New Zealand Defence Force

The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and four other nations have joined forces in Malaysia and Singapore for Exercise Bersama Shield, which is designed to enhance cooperation and interoperability by working together in a warfighting scenario.

15 April, 2025

Bersama Shield is a Five Power Defence Arrangement (FPDA) annual exercise that operates from the Malayan Peninsula, and involves militaries from the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Singapore. This year, over 20 aircraft, three naval vessels and more than 800 personnel are involved, with NZDF contributing 10 personnel to the exercise headquarters.

The detachment commander, Wing Commander Craig Clark, said that NZDF personnel benefit from both the experience of working in an exercise headquarters in various roles, and from building relationships with personnel from the other countries.

"For some of our people, this is the first time that they have worked with foreign partners so closely, and this exercise really gives them an insight to what commonalities we have and also gives a great opportunity for learning.

"In a time of increased strategic competition, the importance of the NZDF cooperating with like-minded partners in the South East Asia region is especially important."

Squadron Leader Michael Gibbons is the lead planner for this multi-nation exercise and said that the challenge and reward of the lead planner role was its ever-evolving nature. "Each year the national training objectives are different. Each year the broader exercise aims of FPDA are evolving. All these elements need to be considered when planning the activities to maximise the training benefits.

"However, it is actually the human-to-human interactions that demonstrate the success of the exercise programme."

The FPDA was established in 1971, making it one of the longest-running defence arrangements in the world. The arrangements provide Malaysia and Singapore with a security umbrella while also aiding both nations in building their defence capabilities.

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Defence and Customs strengthen maritime security with uncrewed surface vessels

New Zealand Defence Force

The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and the New Zealand Customs Service have unveiled and named two new state-of-the-art Bluebottle uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) to help combat transnational serious and organised crime.

15 April, 2025

The two agencies have acquired the USVs to further enhance New Zealand's ability to patrol and protect its maritime interests and security.

Minister of Customs Casey Costello, alongside Defence and Customs officials, attended a naming ceremony at Devonport Naval Base this afternoon. The USVs are named Tahi and Rua.

Built by Sydney-based Ocius Technologies, the USVs were purchased following a successful seven-month trial last year. During the trial a USV played a critical role in an operation to recover a steel box with 7kg of cocaine hidden on the hull of a commercial vessel heading to Auckland.

The 7.4-metre USVs use solar, wind or wave motion to power its monitoring systems and propulsion. It has a top speed of five knots and can operate at sea for a significant period of time before returning to shore. Its sensors include radar, electro-optic and infrared cameras.

Customs Deputy Chief Executive Operations Jamie Bamford says organised crime groups exploit the Pacific to smuggle drugs to New Zealand, and this additional capability helps counter that threat and protect our coastline.

"New Zealand's maritime border faces growing threats from transnational serious and organised crime groups as they continue to focus on exploiting New Zealand and undermining the integrity of the international supply chain and trade routes.

"By investing in new technology that enhances our ability to monitor New Zealand's vast maritime environment, and can operate at sea for extended periods, USVs represent a, practical, cost-effective and future-ready capability to help protect New Zealand's interests.

"These vessels enable Defence and Customs to monitor in real time. This live intelligence strengthens our ability to better understand situations and enforcement requirements and enable faster decision-making. This allows Customs, Defence and our agency partners to respond more effectively."

NZDF Maritime Component Commander, Commodore Shane Arndell, says the USVs are an important part of the Defence Force's move towards smarter, more sustainable surveillance methods.

"From the outset, the success of the USV trials has come down to strong cooperation across agencies. The technology gives us a clearer maritime picture and helps improve safety and security in challenging environments.

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Israeli operations in Lebanon continue to kill civilians

Press briefing notes

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

15 April 2025

From

Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Thameen Al-Kheetan

Location

Geneva

Israeli military operations in Lebanon continue to kill and injure civilians, and destroy civilian infrastructure, raising concerns regarding the protection of civilians.

According to our initial review, at least 71 civilians have been killed by Israeli forces in Lebanon, since the ceasefire came into effect on 27 November last year. Among the victims are 14 women and 9 children. People remain gripped by fear, and over 92,000 are still displaced from their homes.

Most recently, for the first time since the ceasefire, the southern suburbs of Beirut have been hit in two different incidents. The area targeted was in the vicinity of two schools. A strike on a residential building in the early morning of 1 April killed two civilians and caused significant damage to neighbouring buildings. On 3 April, Israeli airstrikes hit a newly established medical centre run by the Islamic Health Society in Naqoura, southern Lebanon, completely destroying the centre and damaging two ambulances. And between 4 and 8 April, multiple Israeli airstrikes on several towns in the south of Lebanon reportedly killed at least 6 people.

Israeli strikes on Lebanese territory have hit civilian infrastructure since the ceasefire, including residential buildings, medical facilities, roads and at least one cafe reportedly hit in Aita Al-Shaab.

Also, since the ceasefire began, at least five rockets, two mortars and a drone have been launched from Lebanon towards the north of Israel, according to the Israeli army. Tens of thousands of Israelis are still reportedly displaced from the north.

The violence must stop immediately. All parties to the conflict must respect international humanitarian law, including the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution. There must be prompt, independent and impartial investigations into all allegations of serious violations of international humanitarian law, and those found responsible must be held to account.

All those internally displaced, in Lebanon and in Israel, should be able to safely return home. Unexploded remnants of war in southern Lebanon should be removed to ensure people can safely resume their lives upon return. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk urges all parties to respect the commitments they have made under the ceasefire - which needs to transition into a permanent cessation of hostilities - and to ensure full respect for and implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701.

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Pakistan Condemns Israeli Attack on Baptist Hospital in Gaza

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Pakistan strongly condemns the bombing of the Baptist Hospital in Gaza by Israeli occupation forces. This attack, part of a pattern of targeting medical facilities, constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. That it occurred on Palm Sunday, a sacred occasion for Christians, underscores Israel's blatant disregard for religious sanctity and civilian lives.

Pakistan demands an immediate end to Israel's ongoing atrocities, which have resulted in the indiscriminate killing of innocent and unarmed Palestinians, including women and children, and the systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure.

Israel's relentless assaults have crippled Gaza's healthcare system, depriving critically ill patients of vital medical care. Coupled with the blockade on humanitarian aid, these actions reflect a deliberate strategy to prolong suffering and entrench conflict.

Pakistan calls for an immediate halt to the hostilities by Israeli occupying forces and reiterates its support for the two-State solution, with a viable, independent and sovereign State of Palestine on pre-June 1967 borders with Al Quds Al Sharif as its capital.

Pakistan urges the international community to take decisive action to hold Israel accountable and protect Palestinian civilians from further violence.

Islamabad

15 April 2025

100/2025



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Harvard University rejects Trump administration's demands on sweeping changes

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 13:09, April 15, 2025

WASHINGTON, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Harvard University on Monday rejected the Trump administration's demands to make sweeping changes to its governance, hiring and admissions practices, despite billions of dollars in federal funding being at risk if it fails to comply.

"We have informed the administration through our legal counsel that we will not accept their proposed agreement. The University will not negotiate over its independence or its constitutional rights," Harvard University President Alan M. Garber wrote in a letter to members of the Harvard Community.

"The administration's prescription goes beyond the power of the federal government," Garber argued.

"Harvard is committed to fighting antisemitism and other forms of bigotry in its community," two attorneys representing the university wrote in a letter Monday, while noting that "Harvard is not prepared to agree to demands that go beyond the lawful authority of this or any administration."

Trump administration officials on Friday sent a letter to Harvard, demanding that the university make "meaningful governance reform and restructuring," noting that "an investment is not an entitlement."

"Harvard has in recent years failed to live up to both the intellectual and civil rights conditions that justify federal investment," the letter read.

"We therefore present the below provisions as the basis for an agreement in principle that will maintain Harvard's financial relationship with the federal government," according to the administration's letter.

The administration's demands include: adopting and implementing merit-based hiring and admissions policies, and ceasing all preferences based on race, color, and national origin; reforming the recruitment, screening, and admissions of international students to prevent admitting students hostile to the American values and institutions, including students supportive of terrorism or antisemitism; reforming programs with "egregious records of antisemitism"; and shutting down all diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.

The Trump administration has threatened to cut federal funding to the country's top universities, pressuring them to implement major changes.

It recently announced that it was reviewing 9 billion dollars in federal funding to Harvard and its affiliates.

Columbia University, which was at the heart of last year's pro-Palestinian protests, became the first institution to face consequences, losing 400 million dollars in federal funding last month. University officials said they are currently in ongoing discussions with the administration to have the funding reinstated.

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US anti-ship missile to take part in 'Balikatan' drills

Philippine News Agency

By Priam Nepomuceno

April 15, 2025, 4:25 pm

MANILA -- The US-made NMESIS anti-ship missile system will be taking part in one of the "Balikatan" exercises this year.

This was confirmed Tuesday by Balikatan assistant exercise director Brig. Gen. Michael Logico, in a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

"I will just say that it will take part in one of our exercises. That's all I can say," he said.

Logico declined to give other specific details on the weapon system for security reasons.

"The NMESIS, I will confirm that it's already in (the) country. I will not say where," he added.

The military official also refused to comment on what specific exercise the NMESIS anti-ship missile system would take part in.

NMESIS refers to the "Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System" and is described as a highly mobile coastal anti-ship missile with the ability to strike hostile surface vessels from land-based positions.

The weapon has a range of around 180 to 200 nautical miles.

On March 28, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the NMESIS and other "advanced capabilities" that US forces will train their Filipino counterparts on the use of, will greatly help the Philippines in defending its sovereignty.

Logico said around 14,000 military personnel from the Philippines, US and Australia will take part in the Balikatan exercise set from April 21 to May 9.

"The strength, we are looking at more or less 14,000 participants on both sides. We have an increase in the number of participants with the Australian Defense Force, the ADF. I think they're around 200," he added.

Logico said there would be observers coming from the Japan Self-Defense Force, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Colombia, to name a few.

When asked about reactions from China regarding the locations of the "Balikatan" exercises, Logico said that every country "has the absolute and inalienable right to defend itself."

"But as I've always said in all the previous exercises, every country, big or small, has the absolute and inalienable right to defend itself. That means that we also have a right to to train for that defense and with the partners, our treaty allies. So what we are just doing is in consonance with our Mutual Defense Treaty," he said. (PNA)

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CAAP, Air Force collab to boost air operations

Philippine News Agency

By Ma. Cristina Arayata

April 15, 2025, 4:28 pm

MANILA - The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and the Philippine Air Force (PAF) collaborated to boost operations through the PAF-CAAP Joint Steering Committee (PCJSC).

The PCJSC will oversee cooperation on air operations, safety, security, training, legal matters and other shared concerns, the CAAP said on Tuesday.

The two signed the implementing agreement to strengthen civil-military air operations on Monday.

"This accomplishment is the result of our tireless efforts and unwavering dedication, proving what we can achieve when we work, not just side by side, but hand in hand, towards our common goal," CAAP Director General Raul Del Rosario said in a statement.

CAAP will be responsible for ensuring the safe, orderly, and efficient management of air traffic within the Manila Flight Information Region.

PAF, on the other hand, will handle the detection, identification, interception and when necessary, the neutralization of hostile aircraft within the Philippine Air Defense Identification Zone (PADIZ).

The collaboration underscores both agencies' commitment to uphold the integrity and safety of Philippine airspace while fostering stronger coordination and shared responsibility in addressing current and emerging aviation challenges, CAAP said. (PNA)

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PH, US troops hold socio-civic programs ahead of Balikatan

Philippine News Agency

By Darryl John Esguerra

April 15, 2025, 2:29 pm

MANILA -- Filipino and American forces renovated a school building in Bulacan and held a medical and dental mission in Cagayan as part of socio-civic programs being carried out ahead of this year's Balikatan exercises.

The renovation at the Barangay Pulong Sampaloc Elementary School in Dona Remedios Trinidad town in Bulacan is nearing completion, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro announced Tuesday in a press briefing in Malacanang.

Castro emphasized that the goal of the initiative was to create a more comfortable and conducive learning environment for students."

"Patunay dito ito ang commitment ng AFP at ng US Armed Forces para makatulong sa lokal na komunidad," she said. (This is proof of the commitment of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the US Armed Forces to help the local community)," she said.

Meanwhile, Philippine and US troops also held a medical mission in Barangay Dagupan in Lal-lo, Cagayan where 129 residents received medical services and dental examinations

The Palace official said the activity supports the broader goals of the Balikatan Exercises, particularly in uplifting local communities.

The annual Balikatan Exercises aim to strengthen interoperability between Philippine and US forces and often include humanitarian and community development components.

This year's Balikatan drills are set to start on April 21. (PNA)

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Hamas: Surrender not an option; Netanyahu's murders aimed at securing political future

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 15 April 2025 11:26 PM

A senior Hamas official has reiterated the Palestinian resistance group's assertion that surrender was not among its options, while strongly condemning the ongoing Israeli war of genocide on the Gaza Strip and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu for committing war crimes in pursuit of his own political survival.

Sami Abu Zuhri, head of Hamas' Political Bureau abroad, said in a statement on Tuesday that the group "has never surrendered and continues its efforts to fulfill the demands of the Palestinian people."

He reaffirmed Hamas' commitment to using "all instruments of pressure" to confront the occupying regime and emphasized that the group had positively engaged with all ceasefire initiatives that were aimed at addressing the legitimate needs of Palestinians.

"The Hamas movement will never raise the white flag, and is using all its means to pressure the occupiers," he stressed.

Zuhri further denounced the Israeli regime's deliberate campaign of starvation and collective punishment against Gaza's population, which Tel Aviv has been employing through a suffocating siege that it has enforced on the coastal sliver concomitantly with the war.

"The occupiers have committed various massacres, targeted families, and continue the war of starvation against the children of the Palestinian nation," he said.

The official lambasted Netanyahu for leveraging the war on Gaza for personal political gain, referring to the Israeli premier's brandishing the warfare as the sole way of enabling the release of the Israeli captives that remain in Gaza, and working feverishly towards the brutal military onslaught's prolongation.

He also slammed US President Donald Trump for his role in enabling the Israeli campaign of bloodletting and destruction by heavily arming the regime and protecting it against punitive measures.

"Netanyahu is acting in line with his political future, and Trump is his partner in killing Gaza's residents," he said.

Abu Zuhri also directed strong criticism at Arab governments, blasting them for inaction in the face of Gaza's humanitarian catastrophe.

"I say to all the rulers of Arab countries: Shame on you, that for a month and a half not a single piece of bread nor a single bottle of water has entered the Gaza Strip, and the residents of this territory are living under such conditions. Why have you surrendered to Netanyahu's will?" he asked.

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Harvard-Trump dispute deepens as US president threatens to remove tax exemption

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 15 April 2025 6:43 PM

US President Donald Trump has threatened Harvard University to take away its tax exemption and treat it as a political entity if the Ivy League school continues to defy his administration's demands.

Trump attacked Harvard University on his Truth Social account on Tuesday and warned the school about its future funding.

"Perhaps Harvard should lose its Tax Exempt Status and be Taxed as a Political Entity if it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting "Sickness?" ... Remember, Tax Exempt Status is totally contingent on acting in the PUBLIC INTEREST!" said Trump.

Trump's harsh warning came a day after the Ivy League school rejected a number of his administration's demands, including reporting foreign students for code violations and removing diversity, equity and inclusion measures.

A few hours after Harvard University rejected these demands, the Trump administration announced it had frozen $2.3 billion in federal funding to the school.

University President Alan Garber wrote in a letter addressed to the school's community that while some of the Trump administration's demands "are aimed at combating antisemitism, the majority represent direct governmental regulation of the 'intellectual conditions' at Harvard."

That includes a demand to "audit" the views of the student body, faculty, and staff and "reduce the power" of certain individuals because of their ideological views.

"No government, regardless of which party is in power, should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue," said Garber.

The loss of federal funding is a significant blow to Harvard University and its affiliated institutions, including Boston Children's Hospital and Mass General Brigham.

Other universities, such as Columbia University, have decided to accept the administration demands in order to avoid aggravating Trump further and losing more of their financial and political exemptions.

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Maldives bans entry of Israelis in 'resolute solidarity' with Palestinians

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 15 April 2025 6:34 PM

In "resolute solidarity" with the people of Palestine, the Maldives Parliament has approved legislation ratified by President Mohamed Muizzu to ban the entrance of Israelis into the country.

President Muizzu announced on Tuesday that the country banned the entry of the Israelis into the archipelago, calling the move a "firm stance in response to the continuing atrocities and ongoing acts of genocide committed by Israel against the Palestinian people."

President Muizzu ratified the legislation shortly after it was approved by the People's Majlis (the Maldives Parliament).

He described the amendment as a "clear reflection of our stand against the ongoing atrocities in Palestine," adding that the Indian Ocean nation "reaffirms its unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people."

"The Maldives continues to advocate for accountability for violations of international law and remains vocal across various international platforms in its condemnation of Israel's actions," the statement said.

"The ratification reflects the government's firm stance in response to the continuing atrocities and ongoing acts of genocide committed by Israel against the Palestinian people," his office said in a statement.

A spokesman for Muizzu's office has said that the president firmly supports the legislation and the ban will take effect immediately.

President Muizzu has consistently reiterated the Maldives' principled support for the establishment of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions and international legal norms, the spokesman said.

Both government supporters and opposition parties have been pressuring Muizzu to ban the Israelis as a statement of opposition to the Gaza war.

Although the Maldives has had no diplomatic ties with Israel since the 1970s, travel to the country was previously permitted to the Israelis. According to the legislation, the ban will remain in effect until Israel halts its 'actions' in Gaza.

Last year, around 11,000 Israelis visited the Maldives. Israel issued a travel warning in December due to rising anti-Israel sentiment amid the Gaza war.

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Hamas calls for global protests against Israel's 'barbarism' in Gaza

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 15 April 2025 6:26 PM

Hamas has urged nations around the world to join a week-long global demonstration in protest against Israel's horrific acts of barbarism against the people of the Gaza Strip.

The Palestinian resistance group called on all nations, especially Arab and Islamic countries, to take to the streets and "demand an end to the war of genocide" in Gaza.

"We call for the mobilization of all energies and means during the coming week to support Gaza's steadfastness, condemn the aggression, and demand an end to the war of genocide by escalating all forms of solidarity action, including marches, sit-ins, and angry protests in capitals, cities, and squares around the world."

Hamas called for the protests hours after the United Nations warned that Gaza's humanitarian crisis was spiraling out of control, with no aid entering the territory for weeks and conditions rapidly deteriorating.

Israel unilaterally broke a two-month ceasefire deal with Hamas and resumed its airstrikes on Gaza on March 19. It is now six weeks since Israel allowed any supplies to enter through crossings into the Palestinian territory.

According to an updated toll released by the Gaza Health Ministry on Tuesday, the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in Gaza has climbed above the 51,000 mark.

Since early Tuesday morning, Israeli forces have killed at least 13 Palestinians across Gaza, according to health officials.

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Hamas says lost contact with group holding Israeli-American captive in Gaza

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 15 April 2025 6:23 PM

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas says it has lost contact with the group guarding an Israeli-American captive in the Gaza Strip following an Israeli strike on their location in the besieged territory.

Abu Obeida, spokesman for the group's military wing, the Qassam Brigades, made the remarks in a post on his Telegram channel on Tuesday.

"We announce that we have lost contact with the team guarding soldier Edan Alexander following a direct Israeli bombardment targeting their location. We are still trying to reach them," he said.

"It seems that the occupation army is deliberately trying to kill him and hence relieve themselves from the pressure caused by the dual-citizen prisoners in order to continue its genocide against our people," the spokesman added.

On April 12, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades released a video showing Edan Alexander alive, in which he criticizes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's regime for failing to secure his release.

Edan Alexander, who was a soldier with the Israeli military, is believed to be the last living American-Israeli captive held by Hamas in Gaza.

In March, Hamas expressed its readiness to release him, saying the move is conditional on beginning of the talks on the second phase of the ceasefire agreement towards a permanent end to the genocidal war.

Israel, however, accused Hamas of engaging in "psychological warfare at the time.

Hamas took about 250 people captive during its unprecedented operation against the occupied territories on October 7, 2023.

Israel launched the campaign of genocide in Gaza following the Hamas surprise attack. The regime has massacred over 50,900 Palestinians, injuring more than 116,200, and displacing almost 2.2 million people.

In January, the Israeli regime was forced to agree to a ceasefire deal with Hamas, given the regime's failure to achieve any of its objectives, including the "elimination" of the Palestinian resistance movement or the release of captives.

During the first phase of the deal, Hamas exchanged 33 Israeli captives and five Thais for some 2,000 Palestinians.

The 42-day stage of the truce, which was marred by repeated Israeli violations, expired on March 1, with Israel calling for an extension of the truce to allow the release of the remaining captives.

Hamas has insisted on proceeding to negotiations on a permanent ceasefire before agreeing to any further releases.

On March 18, Israel unilaterally broke the truce and resumed its relentless bombing of Gaza.

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Iran condemns Israeli war crimes in Gaza, West Bank

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 15 April 2025 5:40 PM

Iran has denounced in the strongest terms the "brutal massacre" by Israel of civilians across the besieged Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said in a statement issued on Monday that the destruction of vital infrastructure, attacks on health facilities, obstruction of humanitarian aid and essential supplies, and imposing a full blockade on Gaza by cutting off water and electricity constitute "clear instances of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity" that must be prosecuted.

He cited numerous recent reports by the UN and international aid organizations, including the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry, Doctors Without Borders, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

Referring to recent statements by the UN Secretary-General regarding the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, the spokesman said the defenseless people of Gaza, particularly women and children, are subjected to intensive bombardment, widespread hunger, disease, forced displacement, and systematic destruction daily.

Baghaei also warned that the deliberate targeting and killing of aid workers and journalists aim to silence the voice of Gaza.

While expressing appreciation for institutions, media outlets, and activists working to raise awareness on Israel's ongoing genocidal adventure in Gaza, the Iranian diplomat said the atrocities are carried out with the intention of ethnic cleansing and extermination of the Palestinian nation.

He called on all governments and international organizations, especially the UN Security Council, to take "decisive and immediate action to halt the ongoing genocide and massacre of innocent civilians in Gaza and the West Bank, and to facilitate the prosecution and punishment of the perpetrators of these horrific crimes."

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Hamas calls for 'serious steps' to end Israeli blockade of Gaza

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 15 April 2025 4:46 PM

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has strongly condemned Israel's ongoing blockade of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip, calling on the international community to take practical steps to end the occupying regime's siege in the besieged enclave.

Hamas made the remarks in a statement on Tuesday, as Israel has been preventing the entry of all lifesaving supplies, including food, medicine, and fuel into Gaza for seven weeks in a row.

The resistance movement said the Israeli blockade comes in addition to the military "targeting water wells and desalination plants, and obstructing relief operations and food distribution centers."

Hamas urged the international community to take serious action to stop the Israeli regime's policy of mass starvation, ensure the access of humanitarian aid to civilians in the blockaded territory.

The group reiterated its call on Arab and Muslim countries to stop the "unjust" blockade of Gaza.

Since March 2, the Israeli regime has closed off all crossings into Gaza and blocked the entry of essential supplies, including food, medicine, and water.

According to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Israel's ongoing siege of the region has had a "devastating impact" on children in the enclave.

Hamas rejects Israeli truce disarmament proposal

Meanwhile, Hamas has reportedly rejected an Israeli proposal for a six-week ceasefire in Gaza which called for the resistance group to give up its weapons.

Israel's proposal for a ceasefire is "completely rejected by consensus among all factions" and is non-negotiable, due to its conditions of disarming the group, a Hamas leader said.

Hamas also said the proposal failed to provide clear guarantees to end the war and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip.

This comes as Hamas is currently engaged in negotiations in Cairo with Egyptian and Qatari mediators.

High-ranking Hamas official Basem Naim has stated that talks held in Cairo concentrated on halting the Israeli aggression, reopening the border crossings of Gaza to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid, and establishing a committee to manage governance during the post-war phase.

The Israeli army launched a surprise aerial campaign on the Gaza Strip on March 18, killing hundreds of people, injuring many others, and shattering the ceasefire agreement with the Hamas and the deal on the exchange of Israeli captives from Palestinian prisoners.

According to the Health Ministry in Gaza, at least 50,944 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and another 116,156 individuals injured in the brutal Israeli military onslaught on Gaza since October 7, 2023.

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Medic killed, 10 patients wounded in Israel's attack on field hospital in Gaza

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 15 April 2025 4:45 PM

An Israeli airstrike hit yet another hospital in the Gaza Strip, killing a medic and wounding at least 10 people  all patients and medics.

According to the hospital's director, Dr. Suhaib al-Hamss, the regime's forces attacked the northern gate of the Kuwaiti Field Hospital in the al-Mawasi area in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday.

The deadly attack on the grounds of the field hospital was the second on a Gaza health facility in three days.

Gaza City's al-Ahli Hospital, a mainstay of Gaza's broken healthcare system, came under attack by an Israeli warplane early Sunday.

The United Nations said a child patient with a reported head injury died while being evacuated.

In a Tuesday statement, Gaza's Health Ministry said the Israeli regime intents "to inflict greater damage to the health care system" by attacking the enclave's health facilities,

It said Israeli forces "threatens the treatment of the wounded and sick, even in hospital beds."

"The occupation's crimes against medical facilities will not cease as long as there is no firm stance from international and humanitarian institutions."

In a separate statement, the Palestinian Mujahideen Movement also denounced the deadly attack on the field hospital, saying it came as a result of "the international community's complicity with the Zionist entity."

It reiterated that "the incompetence and silence of international institutions" has encouraged the Israeli regime to "continue targeting hospitals and medical personnel and perpetrate crimes of genocide."

Hospitals, protected under international humanitarian law, have repeatedly come under attack during Israel's campaign of genocide and ethnic cleansing since October 2023.

According to an updated toll released by the Health Ministry on Tuesday, the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in Gaza has climbed above 51,000 people,

Since early Tuesday morning, Israeli forces have killed at least 13 Palestinians across Gaza, according to health officials.

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Popular Front for Liberation of Palestine condemns new US-Israel arms deal

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 15 April 2025 3:56 PM

Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) has said in a post on Telegram that the US government uses the US taxpayer money to fund the Israeli regime's genocidal war in Gaza and denounced the new arms deal between the US and Israel.

The PFLP's Central Media Department in a statement on April 15 denounced the new multi-billion-dollar agreement between the Israeli regime and the US.

"The US administration's approval of a new multi-billion-dollar military deal for the Zionist occupation, which includes advanced equipment and munitions for the air force, is a continuation of direct American support for the genocidal war against our people" said the PFLP.

The PFLP has accused the US of supporting the Israeli regime's ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people, especially in Gaza.

According to PFLP, the US is deepening its role as a supporter of genocide by sending arms to the Israeli regime.

The PFLP has called on the "free" people of the US to create a united front against the current US administration and the Zionist lobby and their heinous crimes in Palestine and Yemen.

"We call on the free people of America to escalate political and popular confrontation with the U.S. administration and the Zionist lobby, and to continue pressuring for an end to the genocidal war against the Palestinian and Yemeni peoples."

In February, the US Congress approved the Pentagon to sell Israel precision-guided bombs, missiles, and associated equipment worth $7.41 billion.

The US is set to send a large shipment of munitions to Israel including 3,000 bombs and missiles as Israel intensifies its assault on Gaza.

The munitions package is intended to support the Israeli military to replenish its reserves, stretched thin by sustained military operations across multiple fronts for over 18 months.

The current agreement includes 3,000 AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, 2,166 GBU-39 guided bombs, over 13,000 JDAM guidance kits for aerial bombs of various sizes, and over 17,000 FMU-152A/B fuses.

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Harvard president says top university not to yield to federal demands over student rights

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 15 April 2025 11:19 AM

The president of Harvard University has refrained from complying with a new list of demands from the US administration to maintain access to federal funding as part of Washington's crackdown on pro-Palestine academic protests.

Alan Garber announced in a message to the Harvard community on Monday that the university officials would not yield to US President Donald Trump's administration's litany of "unprecedented" demands and pressure campaign over the funding.

Garber said the federal government had overstepped its authority by issuing an ultimatum after the Trump administration said it would review $9 bn of federal grants and contracts, including Harvard's research hospitals, as part of its proclaimed effort to "root out antisemitism."

In one case, the US government had demanded that a third party audit the viewpoints of students, faculty and staff and that Harvard curtail the power of certain instructors and administrators involved in activism.

The Trump administration had also demanded that Harvard ban face masks and close its diversity, equity and inclusion programs, which it claims teach students and staff "to make snap judgments about each other based on crude race and identity stereotypes."

The administration also called for Harvard's cooperation with federal immigration authorities to reform its admissions process for international students.

"The University will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights," Garber wrote in the community message.

"The administration's prescription goes beyond the power of the federal government. It violates Harvard's First Amendment rights and exceeds the statutory limits of the government's authority under Title VI. And it threatens our values as a private institution devoted to the pursuit, production, and dissemination of knowledge. No governmentregardless of which party is in powershould dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue."

The Harvard president's rejection would escalate the row between the Ivy League institution and the Trump administration, which threatened the university with the loss of $9 billion in federal funding over what it claimed was a failure to protect Jewish students from antisemitism.

Universities and academic institutions across the United States and Europe have been the scene of widespread pretests against Israel's atrocious onslaught on the Gaza Strip over the past year after the regime started ravaging the besieged Palestinian territory on October 7, 2023.

The Trump administration has begun following through on a threat to deport all non-citizen university activists with ties to the pro-Palestine protests, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently saying that Washington had revoked at least 300 foreign students' visas.

Trump officials have accused these students of being "adversarial to the foreign policy and national security interests" of the US over their condemnation of Israel's months-long genocidal war on Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip.

According to the Health Ministry in Gaza, at least 50,983 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and 116,274 other individuals have been injured in the brutal Israeli military onslaught on Gaza since October 7, 2023.

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Golani Brigade soldiers sign letter for end to war on Gaza, immediate talks over captives

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 15 April 2025 7:15 AM

Members of an infantry brigade of the Israeli military have signed a letter calling for an end to the gonging war in the Gaza Strip, as the regime is hit by a wave petitions expressing dissent against the protracted war.

Israeli Army Radio reported that 150 Golani Brigade soldiers have put their signatures on the letter demanding immediate negotiations aimed at securing the release of Israeli captives held in Gaza.

Since Thursday, at least ten petitions have circulated against the continuation of the Gaza offensive, saying the Tel Aviv regime should prioritize the return of Israeli captives even if it means ending the war.

The first petition was signed by nearly 1,000 current and former Israeli air force reservists who said the Gaza onslaught "serves mainly political and personal interests, not security interests."

They were referring to Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's insistence on continuing the brutal genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

In response, Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and Air dismissed active-duty reservists who had signed the petition.

Netanyahu supported the dismissal, claiming that the petition was written by a "small group of radicals, operated by foreign-funded organizations" who are trying to "overthrow" his cabinet.

Separate petitions were signed by some 150 retired naval officers, over 250 reservists and veterans of the military's Unit 8200, and 1,525 Armored Corps veterans, including former prime minister and chief of staff Ehud Barak.

About 500 entrepreneurs, investors and workers from Israel's high-tech sector, as well as 2,000 Israeli military doctors, and more than 6,000 academics and education officials also wrote similar letters.

Other petitions were signed by hundreds of veterans from Israel's Mossad and Shin Bet spy agencies, along with over 1,500 veterans of the Israeli military's infantry units, the paratroopers and special forces.

Israel launched its deadly bombing campaign on the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, after the Hamas resistance group carried out a historic operation against the usurping entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

In its operation, Hamas took 251 Israelis captive, 58 of whom now remain in Gaza, including the bodies of at least 34 confirmed dead by the occupation's military. Several of the captives have been killed in the regime's strikes on the besieged territory.

After one year and a half of war, the Tel Aviv regime has failed to achieve its declared objectives of eliminating Hamas and freeing captives, despite killing at least 50,983 Palestinians, mostly women and children.



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Renewed escalation: US conducts airstrikes on Yemen's Ma'rib, al-Jawf provinces

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 15 April 2025 6:15 AM

The United States has conducted more acts of aggression against Yemen by launching a new wave of airstrikes across multiple regions in the Arab country, targeting positions in the central province of Ma'rib and the northern province of al-Jawf, marking a renewed escalation in the ongoing conflict.

Yemen's official Saba news agency, citing local sources speaking on condition of anonymity, reported that two US airstrikes hit al-Abdiyah district in Ma'rib province early on Tuesday. No casualties have been reported so far.

Residents described the airstrikes as very powerful and violent.

Elsewhere in the al-Hazm district of al-Jawf province, US warplanes carried out three raids. There were no details on casualties or damage caused by the attacks.

Late on Monday, the US military conducted 15 airstrikes targeting several sites across Yemen's Ma'rib province.

The strikes hit areas in the Raghwan and Medghal districts. No immediate reports of casualties have emerged.

In response to Israeli atrocities in Gaza and US-UK aggression against Yemen, the Yemeni Armed Forces have launched a series of attacks targeting Israeli, American, and British interests in the Red Sea and surrounding areas.

As the genocidal war against Gaza intensified, the Yemenis implemented a strategic blockade of key maritime routes, aiming to disrupt the flow of military supplies to their adversaries and exert pressure on the international community to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The Yemeni Armed Forces have said they will not stop their attacks until Israel's ground and aerial offensives in Gaza end.





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EU Looks to Tighten Visa Rules: 61 Countries Face Visa-Free Travel Overhaul

By Rikard Jozwiak April 15, 2025

The European Union looks set to sharpen its visa suspension mechanism later this year, making it easier for Brussels to revoke visa-free travel for citizens of the 61 countries that currently enjoy it -- including all the EU hopefuls in the Western Balkans, as well as Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine.

The proposal to list more reasons for suspending visa-free travel was initiated by the European Commission back in 2023, and the Council of the EU -- which represents the 27 member states -- already adopted its position on the matter a year ago. However, due to the European Parliamentary elections in June 2024 and a heavy backlog of legislation, the European Parliament only recently obtained its negotiation mandate.

Last week, the first trialogue between the three institutions took place on the proposed legislation, with the goal of reaching an agreement during the Polish Presidency of the EU Council, which runs until the end of June. If all goes well, the new legislation should be up and running in early autumn.

Why Is This Happening Now?

Essentially, the bloc is becoming much more hard-nosed about visa liberalization, reflecting a broader shift: first, to combat any form of illegal migration into the EU; and second, to potentially use visa policy as a political tool to pressure third countries.

Visa liberalization -- which in this case includes all EU member states except Ireland, as well as non-EU countries Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland -- has long been one of Brussels' most significant political carrots, particularly for countries in its neighborhood.

It allows nationals from third countries to visit the EU for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. Kosovo was included on the list in early 2024 and Georgia and Ukraine in 2017 -- moves that were celebrated in all these countries.

To threaten to withdraw the privilege can therefore be seen as a real stick.

The current suspension mechanism, in place since 2018, can be triggered in cases of clear abuse -- for example, a surge in third-country nationals overstaying the 90-day limit or using the liberalization of travel to seek asylum in the EU. So far, the bloc has only suspended visa liberalization once: first temporarily, then permanently, for the South Pacific nation of Vanuatu.

So, what changes are likely in store? Broadly speaking, there are four key areas of change, as Brussels aims to make the visa suspension mechanism a more credible deterrent. First, visa liberalization could be suspended if there is a perceived lack of alignment between a visa-free third country and the EU's general visa policy.

This was the case in 2022, for example, when Serbia allowed visa-free travel for citizens of countries such as Burundi, India, and Cuba. Brussels suggested that many of those individuals were using Serbia as a backdoor into the EU. After pressure from the European Commission, Belgrade dropped some of these arrangements. Under the proposed legislation, however, such behavior could be punished more readily.

Hybrid Threats

Another reason for suspending visas is so-called hybrid threats. While still rather theoretical, this provision is inspired by cases such as Russia and Belarus, which the EU has accused of transporting migrants from Africa and Asia to EU frontiers, like Poland and Lithuania's borders.

Now, the EU's visa facilitation agreements with both Moscow and Minsk have already been suspended for several years, due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Belarusian strongman Aleksandr Lukashenko's crackdown on the opposition. However, if another visa-free country attempts a similar tactic, the new mechanism could be triggered in response.

Thirdly, if a country operates an investor citizenship scheme -- allowing individuals to buy citizenship without any genuine link to that country -- then visa liberalization with the EU could also be halted in the future.

However, the fourth new ground for suspension is perhaps the most interesting one, as it relates to the EU's political relations with third countries. The draft legislation states that the suspension mechanism can be triggered in cases of "serious human rights violations and abuses" or "serious breaches of international law and standards, including human rights law and noncompliance with international court decisions and rulings."

'Democracy Criterion'

If you ask EU officials, their reading has always been that a "democracy criterion" exists when it comes to visa liberalization -- but it has never been clearly spelled out what exactly this entails.

Another interesting and new aspect is that triggering the mechanism in this case should be the exclusive prerogative of the European Commission, after consultation with EU member states, as it deals with the external relations of the bloc.

Ultimately, however, it would still be up to the member states -- via a qualified majority -- to suspend visa liberalization with a third country. As EU officials put it, this remains "the nuclear option when all others have been exhausted," since the bloc is generally reluctant to penalize a country's entire population rather than its government.

That's why, earlier this year, the EU chose to suspend visa liberalization for Georgian diplomatic passport holders only, following democratic backsliding in the Caucasus country. Still, the option of targeting the entire population remains on the table -- and with the future expanded scope of the suspension mechanism, the bloc is clearly sharpening its toolbox.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-visa-suspension-mechanism- tightened-2025/33385948.html

Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Brussels' Sanctions Backup Plan; Visa-Free Travel Rules Face Overhaul

By Rikard Jozwiak April 15, 2025

Briefing #1: The EU's Creative Plan To Circumvent Hungary's Sanctions Veto

What You Need To Know: Extending sanctions against Russia has been one of the most pressing issues for the European Union, especially this year. These rollovers happen every six months and are split into two groups: sectoral sanctions -- such as import bans on various Russian goods -- and listings, meaning visa bans and asset freezes on more than 2,500 Russian individuals and firms.

The sectoral sanctions come up for renewal in January and July, while the listings are reviewed for prolongation in March and September. That adds up to four decisions each calendar year, all of which must be taken unanimously by the 27 EU member states.

In both the January sectoral renewal and the March listings rollover, Hungary -- long critical of EU sanctions on the Kremlin -- toyed with the idea of withholding approval. In the end, Budapest gave the green light, but not without securing some concessions from Brussels.

EU officials in Brussels told me there is already concern about the upcoming extension of sectoral sanctions in July and what Budapest might demand.

The issue is further compounded by a broader question about the West's sanctions policy toward Moscow and the ongoing cease-fire talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States.

Sanctions relief, in some form, has been dangled as a potential carrot in front of the Kremlin -- at least from Washington's side -- even though the Europeans, who are not involved in the talks, have dismissed the idea for now.

The question is if that will still hold in the summer.

"Three months is a lifetime in politics, and by that time Trump might be tired of Russia and ramping up sanctions instead," said one EU official I spoke to, though they also admitted more EU capitals could be tempted to scale down.

The ever-present threat of a transatlantic trade war hitting EU economies might, according to diplomats, reignite calls to ease sanctions on things like Russian gas, aluminum, steel, and broader trade with Moscow.

Deep Background: In order to circumvent a potential Hungarian veto this summer or to prevent other member states from cherry-picking elements they want removed, Brussels' brightest legal minds are now poring over legal texts to come up with a Plan B, in case Plan A -- a "clean" prolongation -- proves impossible in July.

And they might have found one.

The idea was already floated during the height of the listings rollover process in March. It remains untested, and it's questionable whether it's fully legal. It's also complicated, at least for those outside the "Brussels bubble." But it looks like this: EU sanctions consist of two legal documents, a decision and a regulation. These texts are essentially identical and function together; member states agree and adopt a decision, which is then implemented via a regulation.

The regulation must be extended every six months by unanimity, the decision does not. In fact, the decision remains in force unless a qualified majority votes to repeal it.

That would mean sanctions could stay in place without needing a formal extension, and it would sidestep Hungary's big opportunity to "blackmail" the rest of the club on this.

Drilling Down

This is very much a fallback option, and a temporary one, according to diplomats I've spoken with. Hungary, and potentially others, would likely take the EU to court over it, as the approach would be unprecedented. As one diplomat put it: "Happening on very shaky legal grounds, as we always have used unanimity to prolong sanctions -- that's just the way this has always worked."

But there are other Plan Bs in the works as well. Perhaps the most obvious involves the European Commission proposing more sanctions in the coming weeks, which would mark the 17th sanctions package since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago.

But the trick is that these new sanctions wouldn't actually be adopted. Instead, they'd be "horse-traded" in exchange for Hungary agreeing to the general sanctions rollover. In that scenario, Budapest could claim a win in that no new sanctions would be approved, while others would at least secure a prolongation of existing sanctions until the end of the year.

Another potential avenue would be to let the sanctions lapse, but to compensate for this by raising tariffs on Russia across all equivalent economic sectors. This type of decision wouldn't require unanimity, so it could fly, but what would the bloc do, for example, with all the export restrictions it has already imposed on Russia?

One option would be to let EU sanctions expire but replicate the same measures at the national level. However, far from all member states have national sanctions legislation and instead rely on a European framework. As a result, implementation would very soon become patchy and inconsistent across the bloc.

There is also another potential dilemma. Apart from sanctions extensions, most EU member states want the bloc to open accession talks with Ukraine in June at the very latest.

This means that another potential Hungarian veto would need to be overcome around the same time as the sanctions one. It's possible that some frozen EU funds withheld from Budapest over rule-of-law concerns may need to be heated up and sent its way to get both issues across the line.





Briefing #2: Suspending EU Visa Liberalization To Become Easier

What You Need To Know: The European Union looks set to sharpen its visa suspension mechanism later this year, making it easier for Brussels to revoke visa-free travel for citizens of the 61 countries that currently enjoy it -- including all the EU hopefuls in the Western Balkans, as well as Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine.

The proposal to list more reasons for suspending visa-free travel was initiated by the European Commission back in 2023, and the Council of the EU -- which represents the 27 member states -- already adopted its position on the matter a year ago. However, due to the European Parliamentary elections in June 2024 and a heavy backlog of legislation, the European Parliament only recently obtained its negotiation mandate.

Last week, the first trialogue between the three institutions took place on the proposed legislation, with the goal of reaching an agreement during the Polish Presidency of the EU Council, which runs until the end of June. If all goes well, the new legislation should be up and running in early autumn.

Deep Background: So why is this happening now?

Essentially, the bloc is becoming much more hard-nosed about visa liberalization, reflecting a broader shift: first, to combat any form of illegal migration into the EU; and second, to potentially use visa policy as a political tool to pressure third countries.

Visa liberalization -- which in this case includes all EU member states except Ireland, as well as non-EU countries Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland -- has long been one of Brussels' most significant political carrots, particularly for countries in its neighborhood.

It allows nationals from third countries to visit the EU for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. Kosovo was included on the list in early 2024 and Georgia and Ukraine in 2017 -- moves that were celebrated in all these countries.

To threaten to withdraw the privilege can therefore be seen as a real stick.

The current suspension mechanism, in place since 2018, can be triggered in cases of clear abuse -- for example, a surge in third-country nationals overstaying the 90-day limit or using the liberalization of travel to seek asylum in the EU. So far, the bloc has only suspended visa liberalization once: first temporarily, then permanently, for the South Pacific nation of Vanuatu.

Drilling Down

So, what changes are likely in store? Broadly speaking, there are four key areas of change, as Brussels aims to make the visa suspension mechanism a more credible deterrent. First, visa liberalization could be suspended if there is a perceived lack of alignment between a visa-free third country and the EU's general visa policy.

This was the case in 2022, for example, when Serbia allowed visa-free travel for citizens of countries such as Burundi, India, and Cuba. Brussels suggested that many of those individuals were using Serbia as a backdoor into the EU. After pressure from the European Commission, Belgrade dropped some of these arrangements. Under the proposed legislation, however, such behavior could be punished more readily.

Another reason for suspending visas is so-called hybrid threats. While still rather theoretical, this provision is inspired by cases such as Russia and Belarus, which the EU has accused of transporting migrants from Africa and Asia to EU frontiers, like Poland and Lithuania's borders.

Now, the EU's visa facilitation agreements with both Moscow and Minsk have already been suspended for several years, due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Belarusian strongman Aleksandr Lukashenko's crackdown on the opposition. However, if another visa-free country attempts a similar tactic, the new mechanism could be triggered in response.

Thirdly, if a country operates an investor citizenship scheme -- allowing individuals to buy citizenship without any genuine link to that country -- then visa liberalization with the EU could also be halted in the future.

However, the fourth new ground for suspension is perhaps the most interesting one, as it relates to the EU's political relations with third countries. The draft legislation states that the suspension mechanism can be triggered in cases of "serious human rights violations and abuses" or "serious breaches of international law and standards, including human rights law and noncompliance with international court decisions and rulings."

If you ask EU officials, their reading has always been that a "democracy criterion" exists when it comes to visa liberalization -- but it has never been clearly spelled out what exactly this entails.

Another interesting and new aspect is that triggering the mechanism in this case should be the exclusive prerogative of the European Commission, after consultation with EU member states, as it deals with the external relations of the bloc.

Ultimately, however, it would still be up to the member states -- via a qualified majority -- to suspend visa liberalization with a third country. As EU officials put it, this remains "the nuclear option when all others have been exhausted," since the bloc is generally reluctant to penalize a country's entire population rather than its government.

That's why, earlier this year, the EU chose to suspend visa liberalization for Georgian diplomatic passport holders only, following democratic backsliding in the Caucasus country. Still, the option of targeting the entire population remains on the table -- and with the future expanded scope of the suspension mechanism, the bloc is clearly sharpening its toolbox.





Looking Ahead

This week is less eventful in Brussels as we are approaching Easter, but look out for the meeting in the White House on April 17 between US President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.



Meloni is often considered to be one of Europe's "Trump whisperers," meaning that she has the American president's ear, but this has not prevented transatlantic tensions over trade or differing views on Russia's war in Ukraine.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-russia-sanctions- workaround-visa-rules-tighten-europe-jozwiak/33383733.html

Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Serbian Students Rally Against Protest Coverage In Front Of Public Broadcasters

By RFE/RL's Balkan Service April 15, 2025

Serbian students staged demonstrations late on April 14 in front of the buildings of public broadcasters in Belgrade and Novi Sad to express their dissatisfaction with their reporting of protests that have taken place almost daily since the fatal collapse of a concrete at train station in November.

The students accused the national broadcasters -- Radio Television of Serbia (RTS) in Belgrade and Radio Television of Vojvodina (RTV) in Novi Sad -- of ignoring their movement and the protests.

"The public broadcaster is working against all of us," the students wrote on Instagram. They pitched tents outside RTS and RTV and vowed a prolonged blockade.

Police officers were deployed in Belgrade, but no incidents were reported.

Belgrade students took to social media without notice earlier on April 14 to call for a blockade of RTS at two locations in Belgrade.

There has been criticism that the broadcasters failed to cover dozens of Serbian cyclists who earlier this month traveled some 1,300 kilometers to the European Parliament in Strasbourg to draw attention to their country's ongoing anti-corruption campaign.

The protests started after the collapse of a concrete canopy at Novi Sad train station killed 16 people. The deadly collapse triggered nationwide demonstrations in Serbia by people who blamed the government for corruption and poor oversight.

Gatherings have taken place almost daily, drawing hundreds of thousands of participants in major cities. The broader movement is drawing attention to what they says is the crumbling rule of law and systemic corruption under President Aleksandar Vucic.

The pressure led to the resignation of the prime minister and the collapse of the government.

The President of the National Assembly of Serbia, Ana Brnabic, has scheduled a special session of the parliament for April 15 at which members of the new government are expected to be elected, according to the website of the assembly.

Aleksandar Vulin, who held the position of vice president in the previous government, is not on the proposed list of new ministers. Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Vulin has visited Russia and met with high Russian officials, including Russian President Vladimir Putin. Vulin has been under US sanctions since 2023 for allegedly facilitating Russian activities in the Balkans.

Vucic on April 12 rallied his supporters in Belgrade, announcing that he will form a new political movement in the face of the growing wave of protests.

Vucic insists the student-led protests are threatening peace and stability in the country and accuses organizers of being paid by "foreign intelligence agencies."

He told thousands of supporters during the April 12 rally that authorities must begin procedures "to restore order in the country" and that "full respect for the Constitution [must take place] to ensure the security of Serbia."

He said a new movement for the people and the state is required "because we need new energy and new strength, a new plan, not a plan until 2027, but until 2035."

With reporting by AFP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/serbia-students-collapse-canopy- vucic-vulin/33385418.html

Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Secretary Rubio's Call with Hungarian Foreign Minister Szijjarto

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

April 15, 2025

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke today with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto. The Secretary informed Foreign Minister Szijjarto of senior Hungarian official Antal Rogan's removal from the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List, noting that continued designation was inconsistent with U.S. foreign policy interests. Secretary Rubio and Foreign Minister Szijjarto also discussed ways to strengthen U.S.-Hungary alignment on critical issues and opportunities for economic cooperation.

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G7 Foreign Ministers' Statement Marking Two Years Since the Beginning of the Devastating War in Sudan

US Department of State

Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

April 15, 2025

We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America and the High Representative of the European Union, unequivocally denounce the ongoing conflict, atrocities and grave human rights violations and abuses in Sudan, as the world marks two years since the beginning of the devastating war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

As a direct result of the actions of the SAF and the RSF, the people of Sudan, especially women and children, are enduring the world's largest humanitarian and displacement crises, and continued atrocities, including widespread conflict-related sexual violence, ethnically motivated attacks and reprisal killings. These must end immediately.

We strongly condemn the RSF attacks carried out in and around El Fasher on the Zamzam and Abu Shouk IDP camps, which have caused numerous casualties, including humanitarian workers. Civilians must be protected and allowed safe passage.

As famine continues to spread across Sudan, G7 members are disturbed by reports of the use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare and reiterate that such actions are prohibited under international humanitarian law.

We call on the warring parties to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law and their commitments under the Jeddah Declaration, which include the crucial responsibility to distinguish at all times between civilians and combatants and between civilian objects and military targets.

We call on all parties to the conflict to lift impediments to effective crossline humanitarian assistance, provide assurances of safety and security for local and international humanitarian actors, and allow humanitarian access through all border crossings into Sudan, including through South Sudan and Chad. We recognize the important role of Emergency Response Rooms in providing for and protecting civilians and call for their protection. We further call on all parties to refrain from attacks on critical infrastructure that civilians rely upon, including dams and telecommunications systems.

We call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and urge both the SAF and the RSF to engage meaningfully in serious, constructive negotiations. All external actors must cease any support that further fuels the conflict, in accordance with the Declaration of Principles adopted at the International Humanitarian Conference for Sudan and Neighbouring Countries in Paris in 2024 and the United Nations arms embargo on Darfur. We condemn all violations and unlawful attacks by the SAF, the RSF, and their allied militias.

For sustainable peace in Sudan, any resolution to the conflict must be rooted in the voices of Sudanese civilians. Women, youth, and civil society must be meaningfully included in all peace processes.

We reaffirm our support for a democratic transition and express our solidarity with the people of Sudan in their efforts to shape the future of their country that reflects their aspirations for freedom, peace and justice.

The sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Sudan are paramount.

G7 members remain committed to deepening collective diplomatic efforts to bring about an end to the world's largest humanitarian crisis and secure an end to the conflict, including through the London Sudan Conference.

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London Sudan Conference: Foreign Secretary opening remarks

The Foreign Secretary delivered opening remarks at the London Sudan conference.

From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and The Rt Hon David Lammy MP

15 April 2025

Location: London

Delivered on: 15 April 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

Two years on from this war starting, with frontlines shifting again, I fear many onlookers feel a sense of deja vu. The country's fraught history also means that some conclude that further conflict is effectively inevitable.

Many have given up on Sudan. That is wrong. It's morally wrong when we see so many civilians beheaded, infants as young as one subjected to sexual violence, more people facing famine than anywhere else in the world.

We simply cannot look away. And as I speak, civilians and aid workers in El Fasher and Zamzam IDP camp are facing unimaginable violence.

With over four million refugees having fled the country, and instability spreading far beyond Sudan's border, it's also strategically wrong to forget Sudan. And that's why, as Foreign Secretary, I refused to turn away. I felt a duty to confront this war's horrors head on.

I have been to the Sudanese border and met with survivors. I have called out attacks on civilians and humanitarian workers in the United Nations.

And I have doubled our aid to Sudan, and today I am announcing a further 120 million worth of support. But the biggest obstacle is not a lack of funding or texts at the United Nations, it's lack of political will.

Very simply, we have got to persuade the warring parties to protect civilians, to let aid in and across the country and to put peace first.

And so we do need patient diplomacy. Bringing together this group today, focusing of course on the areas where we agree and building out from there is very very important today, indeed. Today's goal is then to do just that. We all want to see Sudan's sovereignty and territorial integrity upheld.

We all want to see a united state, with functioning institutions. We all want to see Sudan's civilians protected, and the millions of displaced people able to return to their homes.

This is a strong basis to agree the steps needed then to relieve suffering and to end this awful war. I hope across our three sessions, we can agree a set of principles for our future diplomatic engagement.

When I met with Sudanese refugees in Chad I was frankly humbled by their resilience. In the face of unimaginable trauma, they had not given up on their country or the communities around them.

For their sake, we cannot resign ourselves to inevitable conflict. We cannot be back here one year from now, having the same discussion. So today, let's show them and the world we have not given up on them. We have not given up on Sudan.

I am hugely grateful for the support from the African Union, and to my colleagues from France, Germany and the EU in supporting the shared endeavour.



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UK announces new humanitarian funding for Sudan

The UK has announced new support to Sudan ahead of the Sudan conference which will bring together international representatives.



15 April 2025

the UK will commit further life-saving aid for over 650,000 people affected by the ongoing violence as Sudan faces the worst humanitarian crisis on record

a one-day conference will unite foreign ministers and leading humanitarian leaders at a conference in London to mark the 2-year anniversary of the brutal conflict in Sudan

international representatives will discuss how to achieve a peaceful end to the conflict and address the issues preventing aid reaching those most in need

Today (15 April) the UK will co-host a conference in London alongside the African Union, EU, France and Germany to mark the 2-year anniversary of the conflict in Sudan with attendees including major donors and multilateral institutions.

Bringing together foreign ministers from across the globe, the Foreign Secretary will step up international efforts to protect civilians and work towards an end to the conflict.

During a one-day conference, he will announce new life-saving aid to support over 650,000 Sudanese people. Alongside international counterparts, he will also identify steps to improve humanitarian access and find a long-term political solution.

Sudan is facing the worst humanitarian crisis on record, with over 30 million people in desperate need of aid, over 12 million people are displaced, and famine is spreading throughout Sudan. Over 12 million women and girls are also at risk of gender-based violence.

The new 120 million funding announced today will deliver lifesaving food and nutrition supplies, including for vulnerable children and will provide emergency support to survivors of sexual violence.

The Foreign Secretary, David Lammy said:

Two years is far too long - the brutal war in Sudan has devastated the lives of millions - and yet much of the world continues to look away. We need to act now to stop the crisis from becoming an all-out catastrophe, ensuring aid gets to those who need it the most. As I saw earlier this year on a visit to Chad's border with Sudan, the warring parties have shown an appalling disregard for the civilian population of Sudan. This conference will bring together the international community to agree a pathway to end the suffering. Instability must not spread - it drives migration from Sudan and the wider region, and a safe and stable Sudan is vital for our national security. The UK will not let Sudan be forgotten.

African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, HE Ambassador Bankole Adeoye said:

Achieving peace in Sudan depends on valuing every voice and everyone playing a role in building a prosperous Sudan. The African Union is committed to assisting all the people of Sudan build a brighter democratic future by working to silence the guns.

The ongoing conflict and instability risks spilling over into the wider region, driving Sudanese people away from their homes, with some taking dangerous onward journeys to the UK and Europe. Instability in Sudan also directly impacts the UK's national security.

The UK wants to help tackle instability in Sudan and reduce the level of irregular migration from the region to Europe and the UK as part of its Plan for Change.

In January 2025, the Foreign Secretary visited the Chad-Sudan border at Adre to see first-hand the impact of the conflict on refugees.

Background

countries and organisations attending the Sudan conference include the United Kingdom, the African Union (AU), the European Union (EU), France, Germany, Canada, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Norway, Qatar, South Sudan, Switzerland, Turkiye, United Arab Emirates, Uganda, United States of America, alongside high-level Representatives including the League of Arab States (LAS) and the United Nations (UN)

on 17 November 2024, the Foreign Secretary announced a 113 million aid package, which will support over a million people affected by violence in Sudan

the new 120 million funding announced today is for the 2025 to 2026 financial year and will deliver food including pulses, oils, salts and cereals

the UK welcomes the 13 February decision to keep the critical Chad-Sudan Adre border crossing open for 3 more months. But the Sudanese Armed Forces must keep it open permanently, and without restrictions

the parties to the conflict continue to obstruct the work of humanitarian agencies, through delaying visas for aid workers and limiting their movements throughout Sudan

funding announced today aims to reach over 600,000 people including: 670,000 people reached with food assistance for 3 months 205,000 people reached through a cash-based response 600,000 people reached through nutrition and water and sanitation







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Floods and conflict fuel an alarming humanitarian emergency in DR Congo

UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Eujin Byun - to whom quoted text may be attributed - at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

15 April 2025

GENEVA -- Severe flooding triggered by torrential rains in recent weeks has displaced almost 10,000 people in Tanganyika Province, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This unfolding emergency reflects the double crisis facing the DRC, where extreme weather shocks such as flooding compound the suffering caused by ongoing conflict and mass displacement.

The Rugumba River burst its banks, inundating large areas of Kalemie and Nyunzu territories. Homes, schools and agricultural land have been destroyed, leaving thousands without shelter or livelihoods. Stagnant and contaminated floodwaters are raising concerns over the risk of disease outbreaks, with reported cholera cases in the province already six times higher than during the same period last year.

The flooding has hit a community already under severe strain. Since January, Tanganyika has received around 50,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) fleeing violence in South Kivu. Many had been sheltering in local homes, churches, and schoolsnow damaged or destroyed. The floods also wiped out key crops like cassava, maize, and peanuts, worsening an already serious food insecurity situation in the country.

According to recent assessments, 2.3 million people across four provinces affected by ongoing conflict  South Kivu, North Kivu, Ituri, and Tanganyika  face life-threatening hunger in the coming months unless urgent action is taken.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and humanitarian partners are providing emergency support, including shelter, clean water, food, and medical care. However, response efforts are hindered by critical funding gaps, leaving thousands without the aid they urgently need.

In addition, reports indicate that some Congolese refugees who recently fled to neighbouring Burundi have since returned to DRC. Many cited dire living conditions, including limited access to food, shelter and basic services, as key factors influencing their decision to return even in the face of persistent conflict and uncertainty in the DRC.

However, Congolese refugees are still on the move as they continue to cross the border into neighbouring countries seeking safety. Nearly 120,000 people have so far arrived in Burundi, Tanzania and Uganda, with the latter having received over 5,500 refugees in the last week. This trend highlights the urgent need for increased support in both host countries and return areas to address the challenges faced by returnees and refugees in neighbouring countries.

With continued displacement caused by floods and conflict, food insecurity, and the looming threat of disease outbreaks, a coordinated and robust humanitarian response is critical to prevent further suffering and loss of life. UNHCR has received only 20 per cent of the funding needed to carry out its life-saving response in the DRC. The people of the DRC are in dire need of aid, and without timely and adequate intervention, the consequences of this tragic 'double crisis' will only deepen.

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News comment: Two years on, Sudan is a catastrophe the world cannot afford to ignore

UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

This statement is attributable to Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

15 April 2025

Sudan is bleeding. Its people have been suffering for too long.

Civilians are being bombed every day. Millions are trapped between conflict, neglect and the dilemma of flight.

Two years of war have created what is now the world's worst humanitarian and displacement crisis, intensified by extreme cuts to international aid. In the past few days, we have seen brutal attacks on vulnerable people in North Darfur. Aid workers were among those killed. These are flagrant violations of humanitarian law.

The Sudanese are besieged on all sides - war, widespread abuses, indignity, hunger and other hardships. And they face indifference from the outside world, which for the past two years has shown scant interest in bringing peace to Sudan or relief to its neighbours.

I have just returned from Chad, a haven for nearly a million Sudanese refugees fleeing this carnage.

People I met at the border shared stories of experiences no one should have to live. Yet despite the pain, they told me they no longer felt in danger. That is the quiet strength of asylum.

But severe funding shortfalls mean we will struggle to alleviate the suffering. Supplies of food and medicine are dwindling. Shelter is already rudimentary. We cannot move refugees to safer areas.

It's not just the Sudanese who have become invisible. The world has largely turned its back on the countries and communities that have taken in so many refugees. Chad has scarce resources yet has allowed refugees to seek safety on its territory. A huge number - 1.5 million - have fled to Egypt. Hundreds of thousands of South Sudanese, themselves once refugees, have returned to escape the violence in Sudan, only to find their homeland again on the brink of war.

The stability of the entire region is threatened. There is not just an urgent need for humanitarian protection, but also for development aid so that host governments can offer refugees and their own people better futures. They need an investment in peace, prosperity and stability, and they need it now.

But the impact of this emergency is being felt even further afield. Sudanese refugees are arriving in Uganda, and traversing through Libya - making journeys fraught with danger - to Europe. These refugees need and deserve their basic rights - to safety and dignity, to education and employment, to health and housing, to peace. Many have made these journeys in search of those rights, and many more will follow suit.

After two years of unrelenting suffering, the world can no longer afford to ignore this emergency. We must make every effort to bring peace to Sudan. Humanitarian and development support must be stepped up. Continuing to look away will have catastrophic consequences.

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External flow of weapons into Sudan must end, insists UN's Guterres

15 April 2025 - Two years to the day since Sudan's brutal war erupted between rival generals who rejected the peaceful transition to civilian rule after the overthrow of Omar Al-Bashir, UN chief Antonio Guterres insisted that the world "must not forget" the suffering of the country's people.

And amid spiralling violence and the massacre of civilians linked to advancing opposition forces in the Darfurs at the weekend, the UN chief called for an end to outside interference in Sudan that could lead to it breaking up into Government and opposition-held regions.

"I am deeply concerned that weapons and fighters continue to flow into Sudan, allowing the conflict to persist and spread across the country," the Secretary-General said.

"The external support and flow of weapons must end. Those with greatest influence on the parties must use it to better the lives of people in Sudan - not to perpetuate this disaster."

Tens of millions need help

Behind Tuesday's grim two-year anniversary is the largest displacement crisis in the world - and the worst humanitarian crisis - UN agencies say.

Basic infrastructure in the capital, Khartoum, has been devastated by fighting and aid teams have warned that help is needed urgently to support the estimated three million people who are expected to return there.

"The situation in Khartoum is extremely dire, especially in the areas where the conflict has been intense," said Luca Renda, UN Development Programme (UNDP) representative for Sudan, following the city's recent recapture by Sudanese Armed Forces.

Speaking to journalists in Geneva after an assessment mission to the capital, he reported seeing "massive destruction of infrastructure, no access to water, no electricity and of course a lot of contamination of unexploded ordnance".

The massacre accredited to opposition Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their affiliates in Darfur's Zamzam and Abu Shouk camp reportedly claimed the lives of 400 civilians and 10 medical workers from the NGO Relief International.

It is just the latest tragedy in a conflict marked by horrific levels of sexual violence.

According to the UN migration agency, IOM, an estimated 80,000 people have already fled Zamzam but this number could reach 400,000.

Male residents were the "main target" and they have been fleeing to reach the regional capital, El Fasher, which remains under control of the Sudanese army despite ongoing assaults by RSF.

Speaking from Port Sudan, IOM Chief of Mission in the country, Mohamed Refaat, said that women survivors of sexual violence told him how they had been attacked "in front of their injured husbands, in front of their screaming children".

Linked to this is a staggering 288 per cent increase in demand for lifesaving support following rape and sexual violence, said Anna Mutavati, UN Women Regional Director for East and Southern Africa.

"We have also seen what is beginning to look like systematic use of rape and sexual violence as a weapon of war. We have seen women's lives and women's bodies being turned into battlegrounds in this conflict."

The Sudan conflict was the focus of a meeting in London on Monday, which the UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for Sudan attended.

Ramtane Lamamra told participants that he intends to intensify his interactions with interlocutors in Sudan and the broader region.

He added that urgent political engagement is needed to forestall Sudan's permanent fragmentation, which would have obviously, grave consequences for the region and beyond.

The envoy reaffirmed UN commitment to continue to back all efforts that seek to launch an inclusive and credible political process.

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Sudan: 15 million children require humanitarian assistance after two years of war

14 April 2025 - The number of children in need of humanitarian assistance in Sudan has doubled as the war between rival militaries enters a third year on Tuesday.

The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) reports that 15 million boys and girls require support, up from 7.8 million at the start of 2023 - the year fighting erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and former ally the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

UNICEF said violence by warring parties against children, hunger and disease are surging, while displacement continues to disrupt lives. This is happening as both humanitarian access and funding are shrinking and as the rainy season approaches in May.

Step up support

"With the rainy season around the corner, children who are already reeling from malnutrition and disease will be harder to reach," said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.

She urged the international community "to seize this pivotal window for action and step up for Sudan's children."

Sudan is currently the world's largest humanitarian and child displacement crises. More than 30 million people overall need humanitarian assistance this year.

Young lives uprooted

The conflict has forced 12.4 million people to flee their homes and seek safety either elsewhere in Sudan or across the border. More than half are children, with nearly a third under the age of five. UNICEF noted that in areas where people can return, unexploded ordnance and limited access to essential services put children's lives at heightened risk. Meanwhile, famine is spreading, vaccination rates are dropping, and about 90 per cent of children are out of school.

The situation is being compounded by a deadly combination of interlinked factors, such as a ten-fold surge in the number of grave violations against children, namely killing and maiming; abduction; recruitment and use in hostilities; rape and other forms of sexual violence; attacks on schools and hospitals; and the denial of humanitarian access.

While grave violations were previously confined to regions such as Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan, incidents have now been verified in more than half of Sudan's 18 states.

The most recurrent verified grave violations include killing and maiming, abductions and attacks on schools and hospitals, with the highest numbers reported in the Darfurs, Khartoum, Aljazeera and South Kordofan.

Famine and disease

Furthermore, famine has been confirmed in 10 locations, according to the UN World Food Programme (WFP), with more places at risk. With the rainy season looming, UNICEF warned that some localities are also vulnerable to flooding.

The agency recalled that between 2022 and 2024, around 60 per cent of annual admissions for severe acute malnutrition occurred during the rainy season, meaning that up to 462,000 children could be affected this year if the trend holds.

Disease outbreaks are also expected to surge. Last year, 49,000 cholera cases and more than 11,000 cases of dengue fever were reported, mainly affecting mothers and children.

Outbreaks are worsened by the effects of the rainy season, including water contamination, poor sanitation, and increased displacement and population movement.

Funding shortfall fears

At the same time, humanitarian access to children in Sudan is deteriorating due to the intensity of the conflict and restrictions or bureaucratic impediments, whether by the Government authorities or other armed groups.

Funding for life-saving services is also critically low, putting essential health, nutrition, education and protection programmes at risk.

UNICEF is appealing for $1 billion for its operations in Sudan in 2025, which works out to just $76 per person for the year, or 26 cents per day. Currently, $266.6 million is available, though most of the funding was rolled over from 2024 with just $12 million received this year.

Last year, UNICEF and partners provided psychosocial counselling, education, and protection services to 2.7 million children and caregivers. They also reached nearly 10 million children and families with safe drinking water and screened 6.7 million youngsters for malnutrition, providing lifesaving treatment for 422,000 of them.

"Sudan is the biggest humanitarian crisis in the world today, but it is not getting the world's attention," said Ms. Russell.

"We cannot abandon the children of Sudan. We have the expertise and the resolve to scale up our support, but we need access and sustained funding. Most of all, children in Sudan need this horrific conflict to end."

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Marking two years of Sudan war: A call for peace, protection and humanity - Statement by the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami

UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

(Port Sudan, 15 April 2025) Today marks two years since conflict erupted in Sudan  a tragedy that continues to unfold before our eyes, leaving a trail of devastation and despair.

In these two years, the lives of millions have been shattered. Families have been torn apart. Livelihoods have been lost. And for many, the future remains uncertain. Over 30 million people need humanitarian assistance. This is not just a crisis of numbers  it is a crisis of humanity.

As we mark this grim milestone, we honour the remarkable courage of the Sudanese people. In the face of unimaginable suffering, they continue to care for one another, rebuild where they can, and strive every day to survive. Communities, even those displaced multiple times, share what little they have. Their resilience inspires us all.

But resilience alone cannot sustain them. Courage cannot fill empty stomachs or substitute for medical care. The people of Sudan need urgent support and solidarity. They need protection, access to essential services, and above all, peace.

This conflict has unleashed one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world today. Hunger is deepening. Health systems are in collapse. Water is scarce. Education has come to a halt for millions of children. Sexual and gender-based violence has soared. The psychological toll is immense.

Yet humanitarian partners  international, national and local  continue to serve on the front lines. Their dedication, often in the face of extraordinary danger, is saving lives every day. But their ability to reach communities is increasingly hampered by insecurity, access restrictions and limited funding.

To all those engaged in the conflict: civilians are not a target. Humanitarian workers are not a threat. Aid is not a bargaining chip. International humanitarian law must be respected in full  access must be granted and lives must be protected. Above all, the violence must end. Only dialogue, inclusion, and a commitment to peace can lead Sudan towards recovery.

And to all those who have supported the people of Sudan  governments, donors, partners, neighbours  we thank you. But we ask you not to stop now. The needs are growing, and so too must our response.

***

For more information, please contact: Dan Teng'o, dan.tengo@un.org; +249 91 253 2791

15 April 2025

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United Nations sounds the alarm for civilians in South Sudan

UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

(Malakal, 15 April 2025) The United Nations is deeply concerned by the rapidly escalating violence in South Sudan and reiterates its urgent call for the protection of the population and immediate, unimpeded access to lifesaving humanitarian aid.

During a visit to Malakal, the capital of Upper Nile State, the Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan, Ms. Anita Kiki Gbeho, said, "I heard first-hand accounts of the impact of the violence is having on people. All actors involved in the violence must refrain from harming the population including humanitarian personnel who risk their lives every day to deliver aid," said Ms. Gbeho.

Since March 2025, armed clashes and aerial bombardments have killed more than 180 people, injured over 250 others, and displaced an estimated 125,000 people. The violence has also claimed the lives of four humanitarian workers, and six health facilities have been forced to shut down due to looting and destruction.

As recently as yesterday, services at Ulang Hospital  a lifeline for 174,000 people  were suspended following extensive looting of several facilities in the area. Humanitarian access remains restricted, and critical medical supplies are rapidly running out amid an ongoing cholera outbreak that has already claimed 919 lives and infected nearly 49,000 people in South Sudan.

While in Malakal, Ms. Gbeho met with conflict-affected communities, the Governor of Upper Nile State, UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, and civil society representatives to assess the humanitarian situation and coordinate the response on the ground. She also visited a cholera treatment centre.

"This latest surge in violence must stop. This violence comes at a time when humanitarian funding is dwindling and urgent needs are rising  not only in Upper Nile but across South Sudan. Today, 9.3 million people across the country require assistance," she said.

The 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan for South Sudan is currently only 12.6 percent funded. The compounding impacts of conflict, food insecurity, disease outbreaks, economic crisis, climate shocks, and instability in neighbouring Sudan are fuelling a severe humanitarian emergency.

With the rainy season fast approaching and the cholera outbreak accelerating, rapid and unhindered access to vulnerable communities  along with the delivery of critical supplies  is urgently needed to save lives.

15 April 2025

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Open Letter to the International Community as the Sudan Conflict Enters Its Third Year : Two Years of Crisis: How the Sudan Conflict Has Disrupted Millions of Lives in Eastern Chad

UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Nearly one million people have sought refuge in Chad's eastern provinces over the past two yearsa staggering figure. Yet, even before this massive influx, two out of three people in Ouaddai, Wadi Fira, and Sila provinces were already in need of humanitarian assistance, according to joint analyses by the Chadian government and humanitarian organizations in early 2023. The outbreak of the Sudan crisis on April 15, 2023, dramatically worsened this situation, with the number of people in need rising from 1.1 million in January 2023 to nearly 2.4 million by January 2025.

Two years on, the ripple effects of Sudan's crisis have been devastating for Chad, a country already on the frontlines of the climate crisis, battling recurrent floods and droughts. These conditions have only deepened food insecurity and malnutrition. Today, in Chad's eastern provinces, access to water, land, and essential services is more strained than ever. Host communities report losing agricultural land to spontaneous refugee and returnee settlements and express growing frustration as their own vulnerabilities escalate while international attention remains focused on the displaced.

Yet, in the face of overwhelming challenges, the people and government of Chad have demonstrated extraordinary compassion and resilience. They have kept their borders open, welcoming Sudanese refugees, asylum seekers, and returning Chadians with open arms. The Chadian government has also facilitated cross-border humanitarian operations into Sudan, a lifeline for millions of people in desperate need.

Since April 15, 2023, UNHCR and IOM have recorded the arrival of over 769,000 Sudanese refugees and 216,000 Chadian returnees into Chad, adding to the 400,000 refugees who had fled Darfur in waves since 2003. This year alone, escalating violence and widespread hunger in Sudan have already forced nearly 50,000 more refugees and 24,000 returnees to seek safety in Chadnumbers that could climb to 250,000 and 40,000, respectively, by year's end.

The needs of those arriving are immense and heartbreaking. Many have endured or witnessed unimaginable violence on their journey to safety. Most arrive with nothing but clothes on their backs, in desperate need of shelter, clean water, food, and medical care.

In response, the 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan aims to assist over 2 million people in Chad's eastern provinces. The plan seeks to mobilize urgent support for life-saving interventions, including nutritional aid for 577,000 children and breastfeeding women, food assistance for 726,000 people, water and sanitation support for 580,000 people, and shelter for 112,000 people.

On this grim anniversary, my colleagues in the humanitarian community and I are deeply concerned about the global landscape, where multiple crises are competing for attention amid widespread cuts to aid budgets.

As the conflict enters its third year with no resolution in sight, I urge the international community to stand with Chad and support peace efforts in Sudan. Millions of lives are at stake.

Together, we can bring hope and relief to those who need it most.

Francois Batalingaya

Humanitarian Coordinator in Chad

15 April 2025

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Air Force, Army shaping the future of C2, together

Published April 15, 2025

By Morgan Brown

DAF PEO C3BM Public Affairs

FORT IRWIN, Calif. (AFNS) -- The Air Force is demonstrating its commitment to joint warfighting capabilities, integrating airpower into a vast network of sensors and shooters during Project Convergence Capstone 5, a large-scale military modernization experiment held amidst the desolate California desert, the Shadow Operations Center-Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, and other locations February through April.

Project Convergence Capstone 5, hosted by Army Futures Command, serves as a vital experimentation ground for the future of warfare. It focuses on the continued integration of joint and multi-national layered air and missile defense systems. The Air Force Futures Directorate is the primary organization responsible for the Air Force contributions to the Army's large force experiment. The event brings together forces from the Air Force, Space Force, Air National Guard, Army, Navy, Marine Corps and coalition partners from the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, France and Japan.

"We are in the middle of a generational evolution when it comes to developing operational concepts, fielding technologies, and pursuing new levels of force integration," said Lt. Gen. Dave Harris, deputy chief of staff for Air Force Futures. "These events are critical as we develop and deliver capabilities for the joint force that provide decision advantages that keep the U.S. well ahead of the threat."

A key program for the experiment is the continued development of the Tactical Operations Center-Light Major Release 1, a program managed by the Department of the Air Force Program Executive Office for Command, Control, Communications and Battle Management. Airmen used the system to refine integration with joint force systems, including Palantir's AI-driven Maven Smart System and the System-of Systems Technology Integration Tool Chain.

"PC-C5 brings multiple agencies together, allowing us to integrate diverse software and applications into a unified operating picture and troubleshoot systems like the TOC-L," said Tech. Sgt. Timothy Keefer, a weapons and tactics flight chief for the 752nd Operations Support Squadron, and acting as the advanced Joint Interface Control Center operator for the experiment. "Legacy systems offer some mobility, but not agility. The TOC-L moves us toward both, which is essential for future battlefields."

PC-C5 serves as a crucial operational venue for data-gathering, providing valuable insights into the effectiveness of these programs within the DAF BATTLE NETWORK, the Air Force's contribution to Combined Joint All Domain Command and Control. Air Force Futures creates the Air Force's strategy across multiple time epochs, develops the corresponding force design, and advocates for the necessary requirements to ensure the Air Force possesses the capabilities to deter, and if required, defeat strategic competitors. Their Advanced Battle Management System Cross Functional Team is leading the planning, management and execution of Air Force support to PC-C5.

The Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center is leading the Air Force's campaign of learning during the experiment.

"We're focused on delivering valuable data to senior leaders - data about both the systems and their human operators," said Kristopher Looney, AFOTEC's Experimentation Directorate director. "System data reveals precisely how operators and technology interact, highlighting successes and failures. Directly interviewing operators provides crucial context, helping us understand why things worked or didn't."

The shift from traditional, siloed testing to collaborative development in a real-world environment is central to the Air Force's modernization strategy. Project Convergence embodies this approach, allowing for rapid iteration and feedback loops that accelerate the development and refinement of tactics, techniques and procedures for multi-domain operations.

"We use mission threads focused on shortening the kill chain," said Tech. Sgt. Jeylend Kitchen, lead non-commissioned officer in charge of group evaluations for the 552nd Air Control Group and acting as the weapons director for the experiment. "Current mission threads involve extensive communication to verify information, which can create delays. We aim to automate this process, enhancing decision advantage. AI-enabled software like STITCHES and MSS helps ensure operators have accurate, readily available information based on established TTPs."

PC-C5 demonstrated the TOC-L MR1's interoperability with Army command and control systems and other joint assets, a key aspect of the DAF BATTLE NETWORK, the systems-of-systems that provides resilient decision advantage.

"This experiment continues to show us the critical importance of human-machine teaming within the CJADC2 structure," said Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Matthew Middlebrooks, a member of the Army's cross functional team for the 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade and acting as a JICC operator for the experiment. "While we've made strides in system integration, we must equally prioritize training and procedures that optimize human-machine teaming. This experiment allows us to observe our procedures in action, identifying areas for refinement and gain a clear understanding of the joint air and ground defense picture."

The lessons learned from PC-C5 will directly inform future readiness and modernization activities, ensuring the Air Force and its joint and coalition partners are equipped to address emerging threats. By analyzing data, refining TTPs, and identifying areas for improvement in technology, training and doctrine, the Air Force continues to evolve its capabilities to maintain its competitive edge in an increasingly complex global security environment.

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USS Minnesota Returns Home to Naval Base Guam

US Navy

15 April 2025

From Petty Officer 1st Class Nikita Custer

NAVAL BASE GUAM (April 14, 2025) -- The Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Minnesota (SSN 783) returned to its homeport of Naval Base Guam following its first operational tasking while forward-deployed in the Indo-Pacific region, April 14, 2025.

"This first operational tasking following Minnesota's recent homeport shift demonstrated the submarine's operational readiness and the capabilities the Virginia-class brings to the Indo-Pacific region," said Capt. Neil Steinhagen, commander, Submarine Squadron 15. "Their performance is a clear reflection of the high standards and strategic impact expected of our forward-deployed assets. Minnesota has proven itself ready to meet the sustained operational tempo of our Pacific Submarine Forcetruly living up to its motto, From the North, Power!"

Minnesota's operations included a port visit to Western Australia, marking the first of two planned U.S. Virginia-class fast-attack submarine visits to HMAS Stirling in 2025. While in the region, the crew took part in at-sea operations as part of the Submarine Command Course and participated in Exercise Lungfish, a tactical development exercise between the U.S. Navy and Royal Australian Navy. The submarine also visited Darwin in Australia's Northern Territory, supporting bilateral engagements and hosting tours for local officials.

"These port visits were an outstanding opportunity to strengthen international partnerships and reinforce the Navy's forward presence with our allies," said Cmdr. Jeffrey Cornielle, commanding officer, USS Minnesota. "Working side-by-side with our Australian counterparts helped sharpen our undersea warfighting skills. That kind of tactical development is vitalnot just for increasing our own readiness, but for enhancing interoperability with allied warfighters deployed shoulder-to-shoulder in support of a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific."

Beyond operations at sea, the crew engaged in community outreach throughout Australia, delivering STEM presentations at local schools and volunteering with programs for at-risk youth.

"The Sailors of Minnesota truly embodied what it means to serve, whether they were inspiring students with stories of life aboard a submarine or giving their time to support the local community," said Master Chief Missile Technician Kevin Lewis, USS Minnesota, Chief of the Boat. "What they did went beyond the uniform. Every connection they made helped build trust, show our values in action, and strengthen the relationships that support our presence in the region."

Commissioned on Sept. 7, 2013, in Norfolk, Virginia, Minnesota is the 10th Virginia-class submarine to enter service. On Nov. 26, 2024, Minnesota became the first Virginia-class submarine to join the U.S. Navy's only forward-deployed submarine squadron, along with four Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarines based in Guam. Assigned to Commander, Submarine Squadron 15 at Polaris Point, Naval Base Guam, Minnesota operates at the tip of the spear, reaffirming the submarine force's forward-deployed presence and supporting the vision of peace through strength and a free and open Indo-Pacific.

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US Lifts Sanctions Against Member Of Orban's Cabinet

By RFE/RL's Hungarian Service April 16, 2025

The United States on April 15 lifted sanctions imposed in January on the head of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's cabinet, Antal Rogan, over accusations of corruption and cronyism.

A statement posted on the Treasury Department website said Rogan had been deleted from the sanctions list.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio on April 15 spoke with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto and informed him of the move, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a statement.

Rubio told Szijjarto that Rogan had been removed from the Treasury Department's Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List, Bruce said, noting that continued designation was inconsistent with US foreign policy interests.

The two also discussed strengthening US-Hungary alignment on critical issues and opportunities for economic cooperation, Bruce said.

Orban and his Fidesz party have been among US President Donald Trump's most vocal supporters in Europe.

Washington earlier this year announced sanctions against Rogan for alleged involvement in corruption, saying he had "used his role to enrich himself and those loyal to his party," the department said in a news release on January 7.

Rogan "orchestrated schemes designed to control several strategic sectors of the Hungarian economy" and skimmed the proceeds from the sectors for himself and loyalists to the Fidesz party, the department said when it announced the sanctions.

The US ambassador to Hungary at the time, David Pressman, said the "systemic corruption...is affecting Hungary's decision-making on issues that impact the security of the United States of America and our allies."

Pressman stepped down before Trump was inaugurated on January 20.

Orban's government, which had called the sanctions against Rogan a "personal revenge of the ambassador," hailed the April 15 announcement that sanctions had been lifted as a "clear sign that the winds have changed in Washington."

Government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs said on X that the change "confirms a shift in US policy with President Trump's return, undoing what Hungary sees as unjust actions taken out of spite."

The United States previously said that throughout Rogan's tenure as a government official, he had orchestrated Hungary's system for distributing public contracts and resources to cronies loyal to himself and Fidesz.

He was designated under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, which targets perpetrators of serious human rights abuses and corruption around the world.

The department noted in January that public sector corruption in Hungary has been worsening for more than a decade, leading to Hungary receiving the lowest score of any European Union member state on Transparency International's 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index for the second consecutive year.

It also said whistleblowers in Hungary have criticized the government for operating a kleptocracy with a notable lack of transparency and equity in public and private expenditure deals made between administrators such as Rogan and loyalist business leaders.

"Hungary's failure to address transparency issues in its public procurement mechanisms has most recently led to a loss of over 1 billion Euros in future funding from the European Union, disadvantaging Hungarian citizens," the department said in announcing the sanctions against Rogan.

With reporting by AFP and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/hungary-orban-rogan-rubio- sanctions-lifted/33386511.html

Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Russo-Ukraine War - 15 April 2025 - Day 1147

Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Belgorod direction, the Sever Group of Forces have engaged manpower and hardware of four mechanised brigades, a coastal defence brigade, an assault regiment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and a territorial defence brigade close to Miropolskoye, Malaya Rybitsa, Petrushevka, Krasnopolye, and Yamnoye (Sumy region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 90 troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, four motor vehicles, and four field artillery guns. Two ammunition depots and one materiel depot were eliminated.

Units of the Zapad Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. Russian units engaged three mechanised brigades, an assault brigade of the AFU, a territorial defence brigade, and a national guard brigade close to Kamenka, Doroshovka, Radkovka, Moskovka, Podoly, Senkovo, Boguslavka, Novay Kruglyakovka (Kharkov region), Karpovka, Redkodub, Kirovsk, and Yampol (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy has lost more than 250 troops, a UK-made Snatch armoured fighting vehicle, four motor vehicles, five NATO-made field artillery guns including two Polish-made 155-mm Krab self-propelled artillery system, a UK-made 155-mm Braveheart self-propelled artillery system, and a U.S.-made 155-mm M198 howitzer. Four electronic warfare stations and three ammunition depots were eliminated.

The Yug Group of Forces' units improved the tactical situation. The Russian Armed Forces inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of three mechanised brigades, a mountain assault brigade of the AFU, two territorial defence brigades, and a national guard brigade close to Seversk, Minkovka, Markovo, Chasov Yar, Kurdyumovka, Ivanpolye, Yablonovka, Tarasovka, Ulyanovka, and Valentinovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 285 troops, a Swedish-made CV-90 infantry fighting vehicle, a M113 armoured personnel carrier, and a HMMWV armoured vehicle made in the USA.

Nine motor vehicles, ten field artillery guns including two UK-made 155-mm FH-70 howitzers and a U.S.-made Paladin self-propelled artillery system as well as five ammunition depots, two materiel depots, and a fuel depot were eliminated.

The Tsentr Group of Forces' units took more advantageous lines and positions. Russian troops hit two mechanised brigades, an assault brigade, a jaeger brigade, an unmanned aerial vehicles brigade, an assault regiment of the AFU, and a national guard brigade near Lysovka, Zverevo, Kotlino, Udachnoye, Preobrazhenka, Bogdanovka, and Alekseyevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy lost more than 335 troops, four armoured fighting vehicles including a U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier, and two U.S.-made HMMWV armoured vehicles, two pick-up trucks, and seven field artillery guns including a U.S.-made 155-mm Paladin and a Polish-made 155-mm Krab self-propelled artillery systems.

Units of the Vostok Group of Forces continued advancing into the depth of enemy defences. Russian forces damaged manpower and hardware of a mechanised brigade, an airmobile brigade, an air assault brigade, and a territorial defence brigade near Bogatyr, Otradnoye, Burlatskoye, and Shevchenko (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy's losses amounted to up to 155 troops, two armoured vehicles, a pick-up truck, and two field artillery guns including a U.S.-made 155-mm Paladin self-propelled artillery system.

The Dnepr Group of Forces' units improved the tactical situation. Russian formations engaged a mechanised brigade, a mountain assault brigade, two coastal defence brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and two territorial defence brigades near Novodanilovka, Stepnogorsk (Zaporozhye region), Tokarevka, Sadovoye, Antonovka, and Dneprovskoye (Kherson region).

Up to 100 troops, nine motor vehicles, three artillery guns, two electronic warfare stations, a U.S.-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-fire radar, and three ammunition depots were neutralised.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged the infrastructure of a military airfield, assembly facilities for MLRS and strike drones, a drone training center as well as temporary deployment areas of the Ukrainian armed formations in 144 areas.

Russian air defence means have shot down four U.S.-made JDAM guided aerial bombs and five HIMARS MLRS projectiles during the day as well as 304 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.

In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 661 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 51,866 unmanned aerial vehicles, 601 anti-aircraft missile systems, 22,846 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,536 MLRS combat vehicles, 23,667 field artillery guns and mortars, and 34,127 units of support military vehicles have been neutralised.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation also reported that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the operation to neutralise AFU formations on the territory of Kursk region.

During the offensive, the Sever Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on units of tank brigade, two mechanised brigades, two air assault brigades, two territorial defence brigades, and an assault regiment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Gornal and Oleshnya.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, UAVs, and artillery fire engaged AFU manpower and hardware close to Belovody, Velikaya Rybitsa, Zapselye, Kiyanitsa, Maryino, Miropolye, Mogritsa, Novaya Setch, Sadki, and Yablonovka in Sumy region.

In the past 24 hours, AFU losses amounted to up to 200 troops, a tank, an armoured personnel carrier, two armoured fighting vehicles, 13 motor vehicles, two HIMARS multiple rocket launcher systems with a transport-loading vehicle and an escort vehicle as well as two artillery guns, and a mortar.

Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk direction, the AFU losses amounted to more than 74,450 troops, 407 tanks, 333 infantry fighting vehicles, 304 armoured personnel carriers, 2,270 armoured fighting vehicles, 2,717 motor vehicles, 612 artillery guns, 57 MLRS launchers including 15 of HIMARS and seven of MLRS made by the USA, 26 anti-aircraft missile launchers, one self-propelled anti-aircraft system, ten transport-loading vehicles, 123 EW stations, 18 counter-fire radars, ten air defence radars, 57 units of engineering and other materiel, including 23 counterobstacle vehicles, one UR-77 mine clearing vehicle, five bridge launchers, one engineering reconnaissance vehicle as well as 15 armoured recovery vehicles, and one command post vehicle.

The operation to neutralise the AFU units is in progress.





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Joint Task Force Southern Guard protection cell secures the mission

By Sgt. 1st Class ShaTyra (Reed) Cox April 15, 2025

NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba -- Protection isn't just a task, it's a mission within the mission. The Joint Task Force Southern Guard (JTF-SG) protection cell has stood as the shield of the operation, safeguarding personnel, facilities, and the mission itself.

The protection cell is a dynamic blend of joint capabilities, with Soldiers, Marines, and Civilians working together to address every possible security and safety scenario in support of a Department of Homeland Security (DHS)-led illegal alien holding operation (IAHO).

"There are several aspects to protection, but here at JTF-SG, the heavy hitters have been safety, detention operations, and force protection," explained Sgt. Maj. William Morton, the JTF-SG protection sergeant major. "It's been a true joint effort, and a phenomenal one at that."

Bo Jacquet, the JTF-SG Anti-Terrorism and Force Protection specialist, has played a critical role in fortifying the task force's physical security posture. Conducting thorough assessments of the IAHO facilities and camps, Jacquet identified vulnerabilities and implemented solutions to meet force protection requirements.

"It wasn't just about fences or checkpoints," Morton said. "Bo looked at the big picture assessing what we needed, where we needed it, and how to execute it quickly and effectively."

Jacquet's efforts ensured that every aspect of the IAHO sites were evaluated and secured to prevent potential threats while preserving the integrity and safety of both personnel and illegal aliens (IA).

Safety didn't take a back seat during this mission. U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Shamus Kirschbaum, JTF-SG Safety Officer, focused on preventing catastrophes before they occurred, allowing mission leadership to operate with confidence.

"Promoting a proactive approach to mishap prevention not only safeguarded task force personnel and equipment, but it also ensured the commander and staff were able to maintain focus on the mission," Kirschbaum said

Like many military operations, the safety goal here is very complex.

"For the success of this mission, protecting the IAs from harm was an uniquely critical consideration of the safety program," Kirschbaum added.

One of the most visible elements of the protection cell came in the form of the Marines assigned to 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division, who provided external security for the IAHO facility and served as the quick reaction force (QRF).

"They got here fast, set up quickly, and were operational almost immediately," said Morton. "The way they hit the ground was seamless. It was phenomenal."

The Marines received escort and interpersonal communication skills training from the 28th Military Police Company of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, equipping them with vital de-escalation and conflict resolution skills to interact effectively with illegal aliens.

They also trained on riot control procedures, preparing them to respond swiftly and professionally to any disturbances.

"Usually, we do separate missions, but we trained them on everything from planeside escorts to camp operations," Morton said. "Their ability to adapt and integrate made them a vital part of the JTF-SG team."

Beyond their security duties, the Marines supported the mission in other ways including helping set up infrastructure with their embedded combat engineers with 2d Combat Engineer Battalion.

Within the first 72 hours on the ground, they went into action and established more than 1,000 feet of razor and concertina wire obstacles, reinforcing security for holding areas and protecting critical infrastructure. Within the first week, they had emplaced nearly 5,000 feet of wire obstacles and built 30 barriers in support of the DHS-led illegal alien holding operations.

The Marines have been a big presence for JTF-SG. At one point, you couldn't turn without seeing a Marine whether on the airfield assisting with illegal alien transport, securing the migrant holding operations center, or conducting training and any open field or empty building to ensure they stayed prepared for the mission.

"Outfitting ourselves with enablers to support the mission, as we saw the problem-set, paid huge dividends," said U.S. Marine Sgt. Maj. Jonathan Carranza, the senior enlisted leader of 6th Marine Regiment. "We injected ourselves in every facet of the operation. In every direction you looked, there were Marine uniforms moving at a break-neck pace."

While the Marines secured the perimeter, the Army's military police units handled the internal holding operations, particularly at Camp VI, which housed high-threat illegal aliens.

"This was a true joint and layered effort," Morton emphasized. "Each unit brought their expertise, and we worked as one. That's what protection looks like: everyone on the same page, doing their part."

JTF-SG protection cell has safeguarded every aspect of Operation Southern Guard. Their coordinated efforts have allowed commanders to focus on the broader mission, while knowing their personnel, facilities, and IAs remain protected.

After taking over internal security from the 28th Military Police Company, the New York Army National Guard's 206th Military Police Company provided their detention expertise within the DHS-led holding facility. They accomplished their mission with the support of the 67th Military Police Company who provided transfer teams and security for both high- and low-threat IAs. Over top of them all, the 508th Military Police Battalion out of Joint Base Lewis McChord provided detention leadership, direction and guidance.

"That's the level of presence and commitment we had," Morton concluded. "That's how you protect a mission!"

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Up to $8 Million in Reward Offers for Information Leading to Arrests and/or Convictions of Leaders of Foreign Terrorist Organization LNFM Cartel

US Department of State

Press Statement

Tammy Bruce, Department Spokesperson

April 15, 2025

Today, the Department of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs is announcing reward offers under the Narcotics Rewards Program (NRP) of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction, in any country, of Mexican narcotics trafficker Johnny Hurtado Olascoaga, a/k/a "Pez," and up to $3 million for information leading the arrest and /or conviction of his brother, Jose Alfredo Hurtado Olascoaga, a/k/a "Fresa." The Hurtado Olascoaga brothers are leaders of La Nueva Familia Michoacana (LNFM) cartel in Mexico, which was designated by the Secretary of State on February 20 as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). This is the first rewards announcement related to an FTO-designated cartel.

The LNFM is a drug cartel based in the State of Mexico, and parts of Michoacan and Guerrero. The DEA estimates the LNFM is responsible for the transportation, importation, and distribution of over 36 metric tons of methamphetamine, 12 metric tons of Mexican heroin, and 12 metric tons of cocaine per year from Mexico into the United States.

Today's reward offers complement the Department of Justice's indictment of the Hurtado Olascoaga brothers in the Northern District of Georgia. The charges include conspiracy to manufacture and distribute controlled substances (specifically, heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl) knowing they would be imported into the United States; importation conspiracy; and drug distribution conspiracy. The Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) also announced new sanctions today against the Hurtado Olascoaga brothers and two related LNFM members.

Today's reward offers are authorized by the Secretary under the NRP, which supports law enforcement efforts to disrupt transnational crime globally and bring fugitives to justice as a key pillar of President Trump's "America First" priorities. If you have information, please contact the DEA at +1 404-281-3220 (text/WhatsApp/Signal). If you are located outside of the United States, you can also visit the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. If you are in the United States, you can also contact the local DEA field office.

ALL IDENTITIES ARE KEPT STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL. Government officials and employees are not eligible for rewards.

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US has no right to point finger at China-LatAm cooperation: Chinese FM

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Apr 15, 2025 04:03 PM

In response to a question about US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's recent statement, in which he described China's investments in certain Global South countries as "rapacious," saying they take the countries' mineral rights and leave them with debts on their balance sheets, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian responded on Tuesday, saying that the US is not in a position to point fingers at the cooperation between China and Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) countries.

Lin emphasized that China is always an important member of the Global South and stays committed to promoting solidarity and revitalization of the Global South. The economic and trade cooperation between China and Global South countries as well as other countries follows international rules and market rules, and is characterized by complementarity and mutual benefit.

The cooperation not only improves the well-being of the people in developing countries, but also promotes economic transformation and upgrading in these countries, thus bringing tangible benefits to countries' prosperity and development and people's lives, according to Lin.

China carries out practical cooperation with countries in LAC on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, which greatly boosted socioeconomic development in LAC countries and was welcomed and commended by them, according to Lin. The US long-term bullying and plundering has left Latin America with open veins, Lin added.

The Chinese Embassy in Argentina said on Tuesday that it firmly opposes Bessent's remarks made during his visit to Argentina, accusing him of maliciously smearing China's legitimate cooperation with other nations.

The so-called "rapacious deals" and "debt traps" attributed to China are unfounded; however, it is true that some people with ulterior motives are attempting to sow discord between China and countries such as Argentina and those in Africa, the embassy stated via its official WeChat account on Tuesday.

China offers assistance to developing countries, including those in Latin America and Africa, within its capacity and without attaching any political conditions. Such cooperation has effectively promoted economic and social development, improved livelihoods in the respective countries, and been warmly welcomed by local governments and citizens, the embassy said.

The embassy emphasized that if the US cannot provide similar support, it should at least avoid hindering other countries' efforts in assisting developing nations and refrain from compromising their well-being for its own geopolitical interests, which not only lacks basic respect for developing countries and the Global South, but is also an extremely immoral act of hegemony, tyranny and bullying.

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China's central gov't pledges full support for Macao's high-quality development

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 08:39, April 15, 2025

BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhua) -- A spokesperson for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council on Monday pledged efforts to fully support the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) in achieving new progress in its high-quality development.

The spokesperson made the remarks following a speech that Sam Hou Fai, the sixth-term chief executive of the Macao SAR, delivered on Monday, which was Sam's first policy speech since taking office.

Noting that the chief executive's speech fully demonstrated the reform-minded, innovative, responsible and enterprising spirit of the SAR's new-term government, the spokesperson said that the central government will spare no effort in backing the SAR government and various sectors of Macao to complete the significant mission of advancing the "one country, two systems" practice.

The speech outlined a vision for -- as well as pathways to build -- a Macao that is ruled by law, and that is dynamic and brimming with culture and happiness. It also highlighted issues and challenges facing the SAR, and put forward a raft of new approaches and response measures to tackle them, the spokesperson said.

With the strong support of the central government and the mainland, the Macao SAR government and all sectors of Macao's society will surely give full play to the advantages of the "one country, two systems" policy, proactively seize opportunities, and continuously create new achievements, the spokesperson said.

Thus they will also make new and greater contributions to building a great modern socialist country and achieving the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation by pursuing Chinese modernization, the spokesperson added.

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Regular Press Briefing of the Ministry of National Defense on April 9, 2025

Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China

Source Ministry of National Defense

EditorLin Congyi

2025-04-15 23:51:57

(The following English text is for reference. In case of any divergence of interpretation, the Chinese text shall prevail.)

Zhang Xiaogang: I have three pieces of information to announce on the top.

Firstly, the Second Military Translation Challenge of the Chinese Armed Forces will be held at the College of International Studies, National University of Defense Technology from April to August. This year's contest features an innovative competition system, updated language categories, and expanded scope of participants. It aims to support stronger exchanges and cooperation with foreign militaries and the building of a world-class military by enhancing defense language capabilities of the PLA.

Secondly, the Ministry of National Defense will hold the 3rd International Security Cooperation Seminar for Foreign Military Attaches to China at the International College of Defense Studies of the National Defense University from April 10 to 11. Foreign defense attaches and the representatives of some international organizations will attend. During the event, civilian and military experts will be invited to deliver themed presentations, discussions and exchanges will be conducted on topics including strengthening international military cooperation and addressing regional security challenges, and a visit to model new rural communities will be organized. The seminar is to help foreign military attaches better understand China and the Chinese military, and to further enhance friendship and mutual trust.

Thirdly, at the invitation of the Pakistan military, the PLA Army will send a unit to Pakistan to participate in the Pakistan Army Team Spirit (PATS)-2025 international military skills competition. The main subjects include nighttime reconnaissance and infiltration, ambush and counter-ambush, combat swimming, etc. It aims to test and improve combat capabilities of participating troops and strengthen exchanges and mutual trust among militaries of all participating countries.

Journalist: It's reported that President Xi Jinping and the Indian President have exchanged congratulatory messages, and agreed to advance a sound and steady growth of bilateral ties. How will the Chinese side grow its military relationship with India?

Zhang Xiaogang: To celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and India, President Xi Jinping has exchanged congratulatory messages with the Indian President, which set the course of the bilateral relationship. As two ancient civilizations, major developing countries and important members of the Global South, China and India are both in a crucial stage of modernization. Being partners of mutual success serves the fundamental interests of the two countries and the two peoples. The Chinese military stands ready to work with the Indian side to implement the important consensus reached between the two state leaders, strengthen communication and strategic mutual trust, safeguard peace and tranquility in the border areas, promote a sound and stable mil-mil relations, and maintain peace in the region and beyond.

Journalist: According to reports, the China-Cambodia Joint Support and Training Center at Port Ream has been officially inaugurated and put into operation. China and Cambodia militaries launched the "Golden Dragon-2025" joint exercise at the center. Could you tell us more about that?

Zhang Xiaogang: The construction of the China-Cambodia Joint Support and Training Center at Port Ream embodies the principles of mutual respect and equal consultation between the two countries. It complies with domestic regulations of both countries, the relevant international law, and international practices, and will add new energy and dimensions to China-Cambodia mil-mil relations. The Chinese and Cambodian militaries will further strengthen substantive cooperation in areas such as joint training and exercises, personnel training, and professional exchanges, to continuously enhance their capabilities for maintaining regional peace and stability.

Journalist: It is reported that during his recent visit to Japan, the US Secretary of Defense said Japan as a "warrior country" was indispensable for tackling "Chinese aggression" and complimented the "valor" of Japanese soldiers in the Battle of Iwo Jima. His remarks have aroused controversies in the US. Do you have any comment?

Zhang Xiaogang: History shall not be forgotten, and the right and wrong must not be confused. The international community has long had a fair judgment on who launched wars, aggression and expansion, and who fought for peace during the Second World War. This year marks the 80th year of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Some people in the US are making a political stunt by distorting facts and whitewashing Japan's militarism. It is a betrayal to soldiers who died in fighting fascists and has aroused public anger back in the US. It will surely be opposed by the international community and disdained by history. We urge relevant countries to stop spreading erroneous narratives, stop turning the Asia-Pacific into a hunting ground for geopolitical rivalry, stop stoking bloc politics and military confrontation, and stop undermining security and well-being of people in the region.

Journalist: It is reported that the US Secretary of Defense reiterated US commitment to the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty to counter the so-called "China threat" on his visit to the Philippines. During his visit, the Philippines, the US and Japan conducted a joint patrol in the South China Sea. Recently, the US approved selling F-16 fighter jets to the Philippines. Do you have any comment?

Zhang Xiaogang: On the pretext of honoring bilateral treaties, the US is meddling in the South China Sea issue, undermining China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and attempting to threaten and coerce China. This approach will simply not work. It needs to be pointed out that the Philippine side has repeatedly made infringements and provocations against China. Outside countries led by the US have made continued efforts to destabilize the South China Sea through playing up tensions and providing weapons. It fully exposed their true intention of making troubles in the region. For the Philippine side, "relying on foreign support to make waves at sea" will backfire and a pawn will only be used and discarded. We urge the Philippine side to give up unrealistic illusions and come back to the right track of dialogue and negotiation at an early date.

Journalist: According to US media reports, the US Secretary of Defense signed a secret internal guidance memo, which identifies China as the "sole pacing threat," allegedly prioritizing "denial of the mainland's seizure of Taiwan" and strengthening US homeland defense. Please comment on that.

Zhang Xiaogang: We have noted relevant reports. It seems that the US side's "paranoia toward China" is increasingly severe. Viewing China as a threat is a serious strategic miscalculation that will only lead to disastrous consequences. It must be emphazised that China will and must achieve reunification. It is an unstoppable historical trend that no one or force can hold it back.

Journalist: It is reported that Taiwan has received the first F-16V fighter jet ordered from the US, with an additional 65 scheduled to be delivered by the end of 2026. Some analysts suggest that this move is aimed at countering the increasingly modernized air force of the Chinese mainland. Please comment on that.

Zhang Xiaogang: We have noted relevant reports. This is yet another instance of the double standard of the US where it broke its solemn political commitments, breached the one-China principle and the stipulations of the three China-US joint communiques, grossly interfered in China's internal affairs, and undermined peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. I want to underline that the US arms sales to Taiwan cannot change the strength contrast between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait much less impede the historical and inevitable trend of China's reunification. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities have squandered taxpayers' money, which should have been used to benefit the people, to fill the bottomless hole of harming and ruining Taiwan. The attempts to solicit US support for "Taiwan independence" and to resist reunification by force will only plunge Taiwan into a dangerous and precarious situation of war and ultimately lead to its own destruction.

Journalist: According to reports, the G7 Foreign Ministers and the European Union's High Representative issued a statement on the joint exercises around Taiwan island conducted by the PLA in early April. The statement accused China of making "provocative actions" that escalate tensions across the Strait, opposed any unilateral actions to threaten the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Please comment on that.

Zhang Xiaogang: Relevant countries and organizations blatantly violate the one-China principle and grossly interfere in China's domestic affairs. We strongly deplore and resolutely oppose this. The joint drills of the PLA Eastern Theater Command around Taiwan Island deter the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces with overwhelming power and safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. This is a firm commitment to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and safety and well-being of our compatriots in Taiwan.

The Taiwan question is purely an internal affair of China and how to resolve it brooks no foreign interference. The PLA remains in a combat-ready posture to fight against "Taiwan independence" separatist forces and pursue national reunification. We will resolutely thwart any separatist attempt for "Taiwan independence" and external interference.

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May the Ship of China-Malaysia Friendship Sail Toward an Even Brighter Future

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: April 15, 2025 21:04

H.E. Xi Jinping

President of the People's Republic of China

For Sin Chew Daily, The Star and Sinar Harian

At the invitation of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, I will soon pay a state visit to Malaysia. This will be my second visit to your beautiful country in 12 years. I look forward to experiencing Malaysia's remarkable progress and transformation in person, and meeting with Malaysian friends to celebrate our friendship and plan for future cooperation.

China and Malaysia are friendly neighbors across the sea. The maritime Silk Road stood witness to the millennium-old friendly exchanges between our countries. As a Malay proverb puts it, air dicincang tidak akan putus, or "water can't be cut apart." Through the ages, such strong bonds of friendship between our peoples have grown from strength to strength. Over 1,300 years ago, Chinese Buddhist monk Yijing (636-713) of the Tang Dynasty traveled to the Malay Peninsula on his pilgrimage voyage and produced the earliest known written account of the ancient kingdom of Kedah. More than 600 years ago, Chinese navigator and explorer Zheng He (1371-1433) of the Ming Dynasty and his fleet called at Malacca during five of his seven historic expeditions. His visits planted seeds of peace and friendship. To this day, the Sam Po Kong Temple, Bukit Cina, and Princess Hang Li Poh's Well endure as a living testament to the local community's everlasting veneration of the legendary Chinese navigator. Some 80 years ago, when the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression reached a critical juncture, the Nanyang Volunteer Drivers and Mechanics from Malaysia braved immense dangers to reach China's Yunnan Province, and helped keep the Burma Road operational, as it was a vital lifeline of China's wartime supplies. Today this remarkable story of courage still echoes in the hearts of both peoples. As we honor our shared past and embrace the future, our two countries must work together to give fresh momentum to our ship of friendship that has sailed through the long river of history, and ensure that it forges ahead steadily toward brighter horizons.

We must keep a firm grip on the strategic helm that guides our ship of friendship. Fifty-one years ago, breaking through the gloom of the Cold War, leaders of China and Malaysia made the decision to establish diplomatic relations, pioneering a groundbreaking new chapter in relations between China and ASEAN countries. China and Malaysia have since respected each other's development paths while maintaining strategic independence. We have provided mutual support on issues vital to our respective core interests and on our major concerns, setting an exemplary model for two countries to prosper together through mutually beneficial cooperation. In 2023, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and I agreed on building the China-Malaysia community with a shared future. The decision marked a new milestone in the bilateral relations. China and Malaysia must enhance strategic communication, increase mutual political trust, follow through on the Belt and Road cooperation plan between the two governments, strengthen synergy between our development strategies, expand experience sharing on national governance, and promote our bilateral relations through high-standard strategic cooperation.

We must expand results-oriented cooperation which serves as the ballast that steadies our ship of friendship. In 2024, China-Malaysia trade reached US$212 billion, up by nearly 1,000 times the level at the inception of our diplomatic relations. China has been Malaysia's No.1 trading partner for 16 consecutive years. Malaysian durians can now be delivered directly from orchards to Chinese supermarkets within 24 hours, and they are immensely popular among Chinese consumers. To date, the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park has received a total investment of over RMB11 billion yuan, and will create many long-term jobs when all its planned projects are completed with production reaching their designed capacity. Our bilateral cooperation potential is being progressively realized in the digital economy, green development, industrial investment, and transport infrastructure construction. We must deepen mutually beneficial collaboration, advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and strengthen cooperation on industrial and supply chains, with a focus on the digital economy, green economy, blue economy and tourism economy, so as to advance modernization of both countries.

We must fuel the engines of people-to-people exchanges to propel our ship of friendship forward. China and Malaysia have mutually granted visa exemption to each other's nationals. The year 2024 saw nearly 6 million mutual visits between the two countries, which exceeded the pre-COVID level. "Malaysia, truly Asia," the tourism promotional ad that highlights the unique charm of Malaysia's culture, history and landscape, has inspired numerous Chinese tourists to visit Malaysia for leisure vacations or sightseeing. More and more Malaysian tourists are traveling to China to appreciate its historical legacy and experience its contemporary vibe. I hope our peoples will visit each other as often as family. Our two countries must promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges so as to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between our two peoples, especially the younger generation.

We must harness the momentum of collaboration at the multilateral level. China and Malaysia are both major developing countries in the Asia-Pacific. We are also emerging market economies and members of the Global South. We have similar positions on safeguarding international fairness and justice and on advancing open and inclusive development. We have maintained close collaboration within multilateral mechanisms, including East Asia cooperation, APEC, and the United Nations. China welcomes Malaysia as a BRICS partner country. Its inclusion in the organization aligns with the historic trend of the Global South's pursuit of solidarity-driven collective advancement and serves the common interests of developing countries. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, the 80th anniversary of the founding of the U.N., and the 70th anniversary of the Bandung Conference. As we honor these milestones, our two countries must strengthen mutual cooperation in international and regional affairs, and champion the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and the Bandung Spirit. We must uphold the U.N.-centered international system and the international order underpinned by international law, and promote fairer and more equitable global governance. We must uphold the multilateral trading system, keep global industrial and supply chains stable, and maintain an international environment of openness and cooperation.

As a community with a shared future, China and Malaysia share the smooth times and the rough, stand united in peace and crisis, and thrive and endure together. "Share weal and woe," a popular proverb in both countries, defines the very essence of such a relationship. We must stay ahead of the times, surge forward with unyielding resolve, and jointly build a brighter future of development, growth, and prosperity.

Having weathered storms of the times, the friendly relations and cooperation between China and ASEAN countries have emerged stronger and more resilient. China was the first ASEAN dialogue partner to accede to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, and the first to establish a free trade area and a comprehensive strategic partnership with ASEAN. China-ASEAN cooperation is the most results-oriented and productive in the region. China and ASEAN pulled together in solidarity in response to multiple challenges, such as the Asian financial crisis, the global financial crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the growing headwinds against economic globalization. Our bilateral cooperation is more robust than ever. In 2024, China-ASEAN trade exceeded US$980 billion, making us each other's largest trading partner for five consecutive years. The China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 Upgrade Negotiations have substantially concluded. More and more premium specialty products from ASEAN countries are now finding their way into millions of Chinese families, while Chinese literary works, animations, films, and TV productions are increasingly captivating audiences in ASEAN countries with the rich tapestry of Chinese culture and the warm pulse of contemporary life in China.

China firmly supports ASEAN unity and community-building, and supports ASEAN centrality in the regional architecture. China fully supports Malaysia in its role as the ASEAN Chair for 2025 and looks forward to Malaysia serving as a stronger bridge between the two sides as the Country Coordinator for China-ASEAN Dialogue Relations. Through its modernization, China is striving to build itself into a great modern socialist country in all respects, and advancing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts. Chinese modernization follows a path of peaceful development. China will promote global peace, development and shared prosperity with other countries through mutually beneficial cooperation. The Chinese economy is built on a solid foundation, with multiple strengths, high resilience, and vast potential for growth. The core conditions supporting its long-term positive growth remain firmly in place, with the underlying upward trend unchanged. China has set its target for economic growth at around five percent for 2025. We will continue to pursue high-quality development, expand high-standard opening up, share development opportunities with other countries, and bring greater stability and certainty to the regional and global economy.

Unity brings strength, and cooperation leads to mutual success. China will work with Malaysia and other ASEAN countries to combat the undercurrents of geopolitical and camp-based confrontation, as well as the countercurrents of unilateralism and protectionism, in keeping with the historical trend of peace and development. We must brave the waves ahead and advance the high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future, and jointly build a stronger China-ASEAN community with a shared future.

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Xi Jinping Meets with Chairman of the National Assembly of Viet Nam Tran Thanh Man

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: April 15, 2025 16:29

On the evening of April 14, 2025 local time, President Xi Jinping met with Chairman of the National Assembly of Viet Nam Tran Thanh Man at the headquarters of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) Central Committee.

Xi Jinping noted that his state visit to Viet Nam once again gave him an opportunity to witness the new achievements in Viet Nam's cause of renovation and personally experience the profound foundation of China-Viet Nam friendship. At present, China is comprehensively advancing the building of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization, and Viet Nam will usher in a new era of national rise. Both sides are at a crucial stage of their respective development and revitalization. Facing an international landscape fraught with changes and turbulence, China and Viet Nam should strengthen confidence in their paths and systems, enhance solidarity and coordination, continue to deepen the building of a China-Viet Nam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, join hands to march toward modernization, and inject more stability and positive energy into the world.

Xi Jinping stressed that both China and Viet Nam are socialist countries led by a communist party, and the political direction is crucial to the future of the parties and countries, as well as the success of their causes. The top leaders of the two parties and countries should exchange views on bilateral relations and major issues of common concern in a timely manner, continue to build consensus, enhance mutual trust and steer the course steadily, so as to ensure the steady progress of China-Viet Nam relations. It is necessary to continue to maintain counterpart exchanges and cooperation between the two parties, legislative bodies and political consultative organizations, and to deepen the sharing of governance experience. The two sides should take the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Viet Nam and the China-Viet Nam Year of People-to-People Exchanges as an opportunity to carry forward the "red gene" and make good use of the revolutionary resources to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples, especially the young generation, and strengthen the friendly bond between the two countries.

Noting that the frequent exchanges and interactions and fruitful cooperation results between China's National People's Congress (NPC) and Viet Nam's National Assembly, Xi Jinping said the two countries' legislatures should make more efforts to strengthen traditional friendship, ensure the implementation of practical cooperation and enhance multilateral coordination, carry out exchanges on the development of socialist democracy and rule of law in their respective countries, and continuously enrich the substance of a China-Viet Nam community with a shared future.

Tran Thanh Man said that Viet Nam and China, connected by mountains and rivers, have forged a sincere friendship featuring "camaraderie plus brotherhood" under the careful nurturing of successive leaders of the two parties and countries, and the two sides have maintained long-standing friendly relations. General Secretary Xi Jinping's visit fully demonstrates the importance attached by the CPC, the country and the Chinese people to Viet Nam-China relations. General secretaries of the two parties have provided important strategic guidance on advancing the building of a Viet Nam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, which will open a new chapter in Viet Nam-China relations. Viet Nam's National Assembly warmly congratulated China on successfully convening the Two Sessions and looked forward to conducting close communication and cooperation with China's NPC, earnestly implementing the important common understandings reached between the top leaders of the two parties and countries, and making positive contributions to the common prosperity and development of the two countries and friendship between the two peoples.

Cai Qi, Wang Yi and Wang Xiaohong, among others, were present.

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Defence Secretary calls on Italian Defence Minister in Rome to further enhance bilateral defence cooperation

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

11th India-Italy Joint Defence Committee meeting held; Focus on closer defence collaboration especially in technology and armament production

MoU inked between SIDM & AIAD to foster closer cooperation between defence industries of both nations



Posted On: 15 APR 2025 7:32PM by PIB Delhi

Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh visited Rome, Italy from April 14-15, 2025 on an official trip. The visit started with the Defence Secretary calling on the Defence Minister of Italy Mr Guido Crosetto. During the meeting, the two sides held productive discussions aimed at further enhancing defence cooperation as a key pillar of India-Italy strategic partnership.

During his visit, Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh co-chaired the 11th India-Italy annual bilateral Joint Defence Committee meeting with his Italian counterpart, Secretary General of Defence Ms Luisa Riccardi. They discussed a wide range of defence, security and industrial cooperation issues including maritime cooperation and information sharing arrangements between India and Italy with emphasis on Trans Regional Maritime Network. The situation in the Red Sea and Western Indian Ocean Region also came up during the discussions.

The Defence Secretary stressed on closer defence collaboration especially in technology and armament production, which is a priority area for India. He also brought out that the Government of India is proactively building an ecosystem for defence production and innovation within the country through conscious policy initiatives. India has developed a vibrant innovation and industrial ecosystem.

In his keynote address during India-Italy Defence Industry Roundtable, Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh shared his views on how the Indian defence industry has witnessed significant changes, particularly in the past few years through progressive reforms. He said that these reforms have been marked by the creation of a conducive environment for the growth of the Indian Industry through transparency, predictability and Ease of Doing Business.

An MoU between Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) and the Federation of Italian Companies for Aerospace, Defence and Security (AIAD) was also signed, marking a significant step toward fostering closer cooperation between the defence industries of both nations.

The Defence Secretary was accompanied by a high-level Ministry of Defence delegation, comprising senior officials from Service Headquarters, Department of Defence and Department of Defence Production. A substantial industry delegation from SIDM also accompanied the Defence Secretary to foster closer B2B connections between the Indian and Italian defence industries.

*******

SR/Savvy

(Release ID: 2121937)

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US Envoy Says Any Deal With Iran Needs Proof Of Nuclear Enrichment Purposes

By RFE/RL April 14, 2025

US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said on April 14 that any diplomatic agreement reached with Iran will be centered on details related to verification of the country's uranium enrichment and weapons programs.

"This is going to be much about verification on the enrichment program, and then ultimately verification on weaponization," Witkoff said in an interview on Fox News. "That includes missiles, the type of missiles that they have stockpiled there, and it includes the trigger for a bomb."

Tehran and Washington held the first round of nuclear talks over the weekend in Oman, both saying afterward that the talks were "positive" and "constructive."

The Iranian Foreign Ministry on April 14 said a second round of talks between the United States and Iran will be held in Oman on April 19.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei was quoted by Iranian state news agency IRNA as saying that it was decided that Muscat will continue to host the talks.

The comment contradicted a statement by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who said the talks would be held in Rome. Tajani said Italy received the request from the interested parties and announced Rome would be the venue.

Tehran also confirmed on April 14 that Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi will visit Moscow ahead of the next round of talks.

Separately, Iran confirmed on April 13 that Rafael Grossi, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), will travel to Iran on April 16.

Araqchi met Witkoff met briefly after the first round of talks ended, adding to optimism relations between the two countries have taken a step forward.

US President Donald Trump has said he wants to ensure Iran will never acquire nuclear weapons. Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful and wants a deal that leads to the lifting of sanctions that have battered its economy.

Trump has said that in the absence of a deal, there will be military strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities, with potential Israeli involvement.

Estimates suggest Iran could enrich sufficient uranium for a single bomb in less than a week and enough for several bombs within a month.

Meanwhile, the European Union on April 13 introduced sanctions on seven Iranian prison and judicial officials over Tehran's detention of nationals from the bloc.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the sanctions were in response to Iran's "state-sponsored hostage-taking" of European citizens.

On Iran's nuclear program, she said there was a need for a swift resolution because the October deadline to reimpose UN sanctions on Tehran is approaching.

European powers have warned Iran that they will trigger the 2015 nuclear deal's "snapback mechanism" to reimpose UN sanctions if it fails to reach a new deal with the United States.

With reporting by AP and AFP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-nuclear-talks-italy-rome- witkoff-trump/33384657.html

Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Security forces dismantle oil smuggling network in southwestern Iran

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Apr 15, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- Security forces at the Marun oil field, located in southwestern Iran, have dismantled a major crude oil smuggling network.

During a targeted operation on Tuesday, authorities also intercepted two tankers carrying 60,000 liters of stolen crude oil and arrested three individuals linked to the smuggling ring.

Investigations revealed that the network had been siphoning oil by drilling holes into the Ahvaz-Omidiyeh underground export pipelines.

The smugglers were reportedly stealing and illegally transporting both crude oil and its derivatives.

The successful operation underscores the ongoing efforts by Iranian officials to combat fuel smuggling, which has been a persistent challenge amid economic sanctions.

In late October 2023, the largest fuel smuggling gang in Iran, with over 2,000 smugglers and five thousand trucks, trailers, and tankers, was identified and dismantled.

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Oman talks may or may not yield results; nation's affairs must proceed regardless: Ayatollah Khamenei

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Apr 15, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says Iran is "neither too optimistic nor too pessimistic" about ongoing negotiations with the United States.

Speaking in a meeting with top government officials on Tuesday, Ayatollah Khamenei said none of Iran's industrial, economic, construction-related, or cultural affairs are in anyway dependent on the talks with the U.S., which are being held indirectly in Oman.

"The negotiations may or may not yield results. We are neither too optimistic nor too pessimistic about them. Of course, we are very skeptical of the other party, but confident in our own capabilities," the Leader said.

Ayatollah Khamenei said the nation's affairs must not be conditioned on the Oman talks. He took issue with the management of affairs during negotiations that led to the Iran deal of 2015, and said the "mistake" of postponing all work until talks conclude should not be repeated "because the country would become conditioned, and everything, including investment, would be held up until the results of the negotiations are known."

"The removal of the sanctions is not in our hands, but neutralizing them is; there are many ways and [there is] great domestic capacity to do that. If this objective is achieved, the country will become impervious to sanctions," the Leader said.

Ayatollah Khamenei said the first steps in the current talks with the United States have proceeded satisfactorily. He urged officials to continue the negotiations with similar care hereafter.

Envoys from Iran and the United States held a brief round of preliminary indirect negotiations in Muscat on April 12. Oman's Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi shuffled between the Iranian and American delegations to relay messages. Both sides later described the talks as constructive, and agreed to continue next week.

The talks came after U.S. President Donald Trump wrote a letter to Ayatollah Khamenei, requesting that negotiations be opened. The Leader authorized indirect negotiations.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei told IRNA on Monday that the next round of the negotiations will be held in Muscat on April 19.

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Iran and Russia discuss developing oil cooperation

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Apr 15, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- Officials from the Iranian and Russia oil industries have met to explore a strengthening of bilateral cooperation.

Delegates from the Petroleum Engineering and Development Company (PEDEC) of Iran and Russia's ZN Vostok (ZNV) met on Monday on to discuss the development of cooperation in the field of oil.

The meeting was aimed at reviewing ways to develop oil fields and reinforce technical cooperation.

The Chief Executive Officer of PEDEC, Nasrollah Zareie, members of the PEDEC's board of directors, contractors from oil development projects, and senior officials from the ZNV attended the meeting.

ZNV is a contractor in a development project for Cheshmeh-Khosh, Dalpari, and East Paydar Oil Fields Development, as well as in the Aban and Paydar-e- Gharb Oil Field.

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Iran's oil output rose slightly in March, OPEC data show

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 15 April 2025 5:36 PM

Iran's oil production rose slightly in March, according to figures released by The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and despite a decline reported in the 12-member group's total output.

OPEC figures cited in a Tuesday report by the ISNA news agency showed that Iran had produced 3.335 million barrels per day (bpd) of oil in March, up 12,000 bpd from figures reported in February.

That came as total OPEC output in March had declined by 78,000 bpd to 26.776 million bpd.

However, production by members of a Russia-led bloc of oil-producing nations, which together with OPEC form the OPEC+ grouping, increased slightly by 41,000 bpd in March, as the 10-member group produced 14.244 million bpd of oil over the period.

Iran, along with Libya and Venezuela, are exempt from a series of cuts agreed by OPEC members in recent years to stabilize global oil prices.

The country has steadily increased its oil production in recent years despite a continued regime of US sanctions that restricts its ability to export crude oil.

Iran returned to its position as the third largest producer in OPEC in August last year after reports showed it had ramped up its exports to private refiners in China.

However, OPEC's March figures showed that the price of Iran's Heavy oil grade had dropped by 3.4% in March compared to August to trade at $74.76 per barrel, just above OPEC's March basket price and down from a 2024 average of $81.77 a barrel.

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Leader: Indirect Oman talks 'good' in early stages but lack of trust 'remains' about other side

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 15 April 2025 10:49 AM

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says the indirect talks between Iran and the United State in the Omani capital Musca, have been "implemented well in their initial steps," but added that the Islamic Republic is "very skeptical" of the other side.

Ayatollah Khamenei made the remarks on Tuesday, addressing the heads of the Islamic Republic's executive, judicial, and legislative branches.

The Leader, however, said, "We are neither excessively optimistic nor overtly pessimistic about these talks," and stressed, "Of course, we are very distrustful about the other side."

'Do not tie country's issues with talks'

The Leader identified the talks as one among the many affairs that had been addressed by the Foreign Ministry.

"After all, it is an action and a measure that has been decided upon and has been carried out."

Ayatollah Khamenei underlined that the development of the Islamic Republic's various affairs should not be linked to the issue of the talks, asserting that the country had to lead those various affairs independently and rely on its own resources.

"Let us not tie the country's issues to the talks," the Leader said, adding that despite Iran's sentiment of great skepticism regarding the talks, "We are optimistic about our own capabilities."

The remarks came after Iran and the US held talks in the Omani capital last Saturday, with Oman's foreign minister functioning as the mediator.

The Islamic Republic has stressed that the talks were solely aimed at addressing the US's illegal and unilateral sanctions against the country, and various aspects of the Iranian nuclear energy program, strongly rejecting speculation about the process's involving other issues.

The United States lifted some of the sanctions as per the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a historical 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers. Washington, however, returned the bans three years after conclusion of the deal, and even began piling up more coercive measures on the Islamic Republic. The US has termed the adversarial approach as "maximum pressure," which has also seen American officials' repeatedly threatening to use military force against the Iranian soil.

The Islamic Republic has, meanwhile, underscored that any direct negotiations with the US were neither useful nor acceptable for Tehran as long as Washington retained its hostile policies.

The Leader further insisted on the country's refusal to associate its growth to the issue of the talks, noting that it did so during the negotiations leading to the JCPOA's conclusion.

"During the era of the JCPOA, we tied everything to the progress of the negotiations."

Ayatollah Khamenei, however, cautioned that repeating the process would turn away investors, saying, "When an investor sees that the country is conditional on negotiations, they do not invest."

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China calls for new Iran deal based on JCPOA; urges US to stop 'maximum pressure'

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 15 April 2025 10:06 AM

China calls on parties to the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and the world powers as well as the US that has illegally left the historic agreement to seize the "critical opportunity" to revive diplomacy and reach a new agreement rooted in the previous one, urging Washington to end its pressure campaign against the Islamic Republic.

Addressing media outlets, Chinese Ambassador to Tehran Cong Peiwu said on Tuesday that Beijing had consistently advocated for a political and diplomatic resolution to outstanding issues between Iran and the United States, and stood firmly opposed to coercive measures and unilateralism.

"The Chinese side has always supported [the idea] that Iran's nuclear issue must be resolved through political and diplomatic means," he stated. "We request that an agreement should be reached based on the framework of the JCPOA."

The envoy was referring to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the official name of the nuclear deal, which the US ditched in 2018 before returning the illegal sanctions that it had lifted against Iran as per the accord and even piling up more coercive economic measures on the Islamic Republic. Washington has termed its hostile approach as the "maximum pressure" campaign.

He reiterated Beijing's position that any future deal had to be built upon the foundations of the original JCPOA.

'Time for diplomacy, not pressure'

Describing the current state surrounding the nuclear issue as a "crossroads," Cong said a vital opportunity existed for all sides to engage in constructive dialogue, stressing that contact and cooperation had to be strengthened, not undermined.

He sharply criticized Washington's approach, saying the United States bore full responsibility for the current impasse following its unilateral withdrawal from the JCPOA.

"The United States...must demonstrate political goodwill, participate in these talks (negotiations aimed at relieving the sanctions and resolving the nuclear issue as well as dialogue potentially leading to a new deal), and at the same time, stop using force and 'maximum pressure,'" the ambassador said.

Accordingly, he warned that without genuine commitment from Washington, diplomatic efforts would remain fruitless.

"Dialogue is always better than confrontation. But is this dialogue meaningful? That must be carefully examined."

He emphasized that Iran had remained committed to diplomacy, while it was the United States that had to prove its sincerity and uphold the principle of mutual respect.

'Recourse to snapback to neutralize diplomacy'

Cong, meanwhile, warned against attempts to bypass diplomatic channels through institutions like the United Nations Security Council.

Referring to an initiative forwarded by China on the issue, he expressed strong opposition to the re-imposition of Security Council mechanisms such as the so-called "snapback" that would return the Council's sanctions against the Islamic Republic, arguing that such moves sabotaged confidence-building efforts.

"Resorting to the snapback mechanism renders diplomatic efforts useless, and we must be cautious in this regard."

'Beijing stands firm, works alongside Iran against US bullying'

The envoy also took aim at Washington's broader geopolitical behavior, saying Beijing would not be swayed by external pressures and was committed to confronting global bullying.

"We stand firm to stop the 'powerful' and take necessary actions to confront US bullying," he asserted. "This is not only to protect China's rights, but also to safeguard the shared interests of the international community."

He warned against a return to "a jungle-like world where the strong prey on the weak," stressing that both China and Iran advocated for globalization, free trade, and a fair international order.

"We both seek to resist US hegemony and are willing to work with Iran to take measures against US bullying and unilateralism, and to support fairness and international justice."

The remarks came almost a month after a high-level trilateral meeting among Iran, China, and Russia in Beijing, during which the three countries underscored their collective opposition to American unilateralism and reaffirmed support for diplomatic mechanisms like the JCPOA.

In a joint statement following the talks, the three countries condemned the illegal sanctions and stressed the need for "a clear path forward" to resolve outstanding matters without interference from outside powers.

Tehran that has taken a number of legitimate retaliatory steps in the face of the United States acts of non-commitment to the JCPOA, has, for its part, repeatedly insisted that Washington, as the original violator of the 2015 accord, had to redeem its violations before Tehran resumed full compliance with its contractual obligations.

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IRGC: Iran's military capabilities 'non-negotiable'; national security 'red line'

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 15 April 2025 9:12 AM

A spokesman for the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has emphasized that Iran's national security and defense capabilities are not up for any negotiations.

"National security and defense and military power are among the red lines of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which cannot be discussed or negotiated under any circumstances," Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naeini said on Tuesday ahead of the second round of indirect talks between Iran and the United States in Oman.

He was speaking during a press conference marking the first anniversary of Iran's first anti-Israel operation in April 2024 that involved the firing of more than 300 drones and missiles at military bases in the occupied territories.

Dubbed True Promise I, the operation came less than two weeks after a terrorist Israeli strike killed seven IRGC members at Iran's consulate in the Syrian capital of Damascus.

Naeini hailed the retaliatory attack as the world's largest drone operation, with a flight radius of more than 1,000 kilometers.

The operation "displayed Iran's initiative and asymmetric offensive capability to strike the Zionist enemy and was the first direct and public military confrontation between the Islamic Republic and the Zionist regime," he added.

The IRGC spokesman also noted that True Promise I also demonstrated Iran's firm will to respond decisively to Israel, as well as the Armed Forces' power to confront the terrorist regime.

The anti-Israel raid, he emphasized, was a completely legitimate operation that was carried based on Article 51 of the UN Charter.

It exposed Israel's weak security foundation, proved Iran's offensive capabilities as a missile and drone power in the region and the world, and instilled a sense of hope in the resilient Palestinian nation and the oppressed people of Gaza, Naeini noted.

In October 2024, Iran launched a second anti-Israel operation in retaliation for the regime's assassination of resistance commanders.

Later that month, Israeli warplanes used the space available to the US military in Iraq to fire missiles at military installations in Iran in flagrant violation of the international law and the UN Charter.

The Israeli act of aggression was successfully intercepted and countered by Iran's air defense system. Iran has vowed a third anti-Israel operation in response to the assault.

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In Couched Comments, Khamenei Backs Iran-US Nuclear Talks

By RFE/RL April 15, 2025

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appeared to back the continuation of nuclear discussions between Tehran and Washington, though he said he is neither "overly optimistic nor overly pessimistic" about the talks as they head toward a second round this weekend.

In his first public comments on the initiation of talks between Iran and the United States last weekend, Khamenei on April 15 said Iranian negotiators need to proceed with caution.

"A decision was made [to enter the talks] and has been carried out well in the initial steps. Going forward, we need to move carefully. Our red lines -- and the other side's -- are clearly defined," Khamenei said at a gathering of the senior members of the three branches of power.

"The negotiations may or may not lead to a result. We are neither very optimistic nor very pessimistic about these talks. Of course, we are very pessimistic about the other side, but we are optimistic about our own capabilities," he added.

Khamenei, who has the final say on all state matters, urged officials "not to tie the country's affairs" to the negotiations.

The first round of talks, which were mostly carried out indirectly, were held in Muscat on April 12, with the next round scheduled for April 19.

Italy was initially set to host the second round, but Iran later said Oman would continue to host the talks. None of the parties involved have elaborated on why the venue was changed.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/khamenei-iran- us-nuclear-talks/33385812.html

Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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11 killed as Myanmar junta bombs Buddhist monasteries during new year festivities

The airstrikes come despite a ceasefire and as people gather at religious sites during Thingyan celebrations.

By RFA Burmese 2025.04.15 -- Myanmar junta forces have unleashed a series of Burmese New Year airstrikes on Buddhist monasteries, killing 11 people during festive days when people traditionally visit religious sites to make merit.

The latest and deadliest attack came Tuesday, when six civilians were killed and at least 25 others, including 10 monks, were wounded at Kanni village monastery in Kawkareik Township, Kayin (Karen) State, residents of the village told RFA Burmese.

The wounded are being treated at Mawlamyine General Hospital, said one resident, who like other sources in this article did not want to be named for safety reasons. Mawlamyine is the capital of neighboring Mon State.

The resident added that casualties would have been higher if the bombing had happened earlier in the day when more people were congregating at the monastery. He said there has been fighting in the vicinity since Monday evening between junta forces and the Karen National Liberation Army, which controls Kanni village.

According to reporting by RFA, airstrikes from Saturday - the eve of Thingyan, as the Burmese New Year is known - until Tuesday have killed a total of 11 people, and injured 51 others in Sagaing Region, Mandalay Region, Karen State and Rakhine State.

The attacks come despite a ceasefire declared by anti-junta and junta forces in the wake of a devastating March 28 earthquake in central Myanmar that killed more than 3,700 people.

During the pause, rebel forces have claimed gains in new territories, prompting retaliatory airstrikes from the military, often resulting in heavy civilian casualties. As well as being sites for religious homage, Buddhist monasteries often also serve as shelters for displaced people.

On Monday, in Sagaing region's Kani township, a junta aerial attack around Monday 8 a.m hit a monastery where people were due to arrive for the holiday, one resident said.

"Of the novice monks in Tha Min Chan village, two died and two were critically injured," the resident said.

"Because the bomb fell a bit early, it was only the monks in the monastery - those who came to make merit and perform duties for the monks had not arrived yet."

Another woman was critically injured when bombs fell on a nearby village, the Kani resident added.

Separately, Indaw township, which was captured in part by the shadow National Unity Government's militia, faced additional attacks around 11 a.m. on Monday, residents said. The attack injured two people.

On Sunday, junta attacks also hit monasteries in three townships in Sagaing region - Taze, Wuntho and Kawlin - killing one woman and injuring seven people, including a monk, according to the residents.

In a separate attack in Kyauktaw township, Rakhine state, three civilians were wounded: 10-year-old Chit Hnin Wai, 27-year-old Kyi Kyi Win and 34-year-old Oo Than May, the residents added.

In Mandalay region's Natogyi township, airstrikes Monday targeting another monastery injured three more monks, including a child, residents told RFA.

In Thabeikkyin township, attacks on Sunday killed a man and a woman and injured eight others, said a member of the Pyinoolwin People's Defense Force, one of the rebel groups.

"Around 10:21 p.m., they dropped four bombs on Chaung Gyi village that were around 200 or 300 pounds each," he said.

RFA contacted Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Htun, the spokesman for the military council, about the airstrikes, but he did not answer his phone.

Updated with six killed in air strike in Kayin state.

Copyright 1998-2025, 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 April not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Russian Journalists Handed Prison Terms For Alleged Ties To Navalny

By Merhat Sharipzhan April 15, 2025

Four Russian journalists have been sentenced by a Moscow court to 5 1/2 years in prison each for their activities linked to the late opposition leader Aleksei Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), which Russian authorities have designated as an "extremist organization."

The journalists -- Antonina Favorskaya, Sergei Karelin, Konstantin Gabov, and Artyom Kriger -- were convicted after a closed-door trial for their contributions to YouTube channels affiliated with FBK before it was outlawed in 2021.

The court on April 15 also barred the defendants from working as journalists for three years after their release.

After the verdicts and sentences were pronounced, the journalists' supporters started applauding and chanting: "Guys, you are the best!"

Kriger told supporters: "Everything will be okay, guys, do not worry, sooner or later all this will be over. Those who sentenced me will for sure be convicted themselves."

Bailiffs then started shouting at Kriger and cleared the courtroom.

All four journalists have repeatedly denied the charges.

The trial, which started in early October 2024, was held behind closed doors with supporters and journalists only allowed to attend the reading out of the verdicts and sentences.

Favorskaya and Kriger are reporters for the independent outlet SOTAVision, itself labeled a "foreign agent" by the Russian government.

'Independent Journalist Is Equated With Extremism'

Gabov and Karelin are freelance journalists who have contributed to major international media organizations, including Reuters and the Associated Press. Gabov has also contributed to Radio Liberty, Radio Free Europe's Russian-language service.

"I have never been a member of any political party and always considered it my duty as a journalist to objectively express the opinions of people with diverse views to help them be heard by the authorities," Gabov said in his final statement to the court.

"Independent journalism [in Russia] is equated with extremism."

Karelin stressed in his final statement that the channel he was accused of working with wasn't outlawed as extremist at the time he contributed to it.

"Remorse is considered to be a mitigating circumstance. It's the criminals who need to have remorse for what they did. But I am in prison for my work, for the honest and impartial attitude to journalism, FOR THE LOVE for my family and country," he said in a written statement to the court.

The prosecution had sought up to six years in prison for each defendant. The trial was closed to the public, with authorities citing warnings from Russia's Center for Combating Extremism, which claimed the FBK might attempt to disrupt proceedings.

The sentencing is part of a broader crackdown on journalists and former associates of Navalny, who died in prison in February 2024 under disputed circumstances while serving a 19-year sentence on charges widely regarded as politically motivated.

His death prompted international outrage and intensified scrutiny of Russia's treatment of political prisoners and independent media.

Human rights organizations report that dozens of journalists are currently detained in Russia on similar charges, as the government continues to tighten control over dissenting voices.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-journalists- navalny-fbk-sentenced-moscow-prison/33386407.html

Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Fico Asserts He Won't Be Stopped from Attending Victory Day Celebrations in Moscow

Sputnik News

20250415

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on Tuesday responded to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas' remarks on the European Union's participation in the May 9 celebrations in Moscow by saying he will attend the event and that no one can forbid him from doing so.

"I will travel to Moscow on May 9. Is Mrs. Kallas' warning blackmail or an announcement that I will be punished upon my return from Moscow? I do not know, but I know it is 2025 and not 1939," Fico said on social media.

Kallas' statement about European leaders' participation in the celebrations being unwelcome indicates that the EU should have some discussions on the nature of democracy, he added.

"Mrs. Kallas, I would like to inform you that I am the legitimate Prime Minister of Slovakia, a sovereign country. No one can tell me where I should or should not travel. I will go to Moscow to pay tribute to thousands of [Soviet] Red Army soldiers who died in liberating Slovakia," Fico said.

On Monday, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc would not take part in the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of Russia's victory in World War II, adding that any kind of participation "will not be taken lightly on the European side" and that Brussels did not want any candidate country to take part in the event.

 Sputnik

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Taiwan's defense minister says peace in Indo-Pacific U.S. 'core interest'

ROC Central News Agency

04/15/2025 08:25 PM

Taipei, April 15 (CNA) Taiwan's defense minister said Tuesday that a recent warning by the United States' top commander in the Indo-Pacific region about significantly increased Chinese military aggression toward Taiwan underscores that peace in the Indo-Pacific is a "core interest" of the U.S.

Before the start of a legislative hearing Tuesday, reporters asked Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo () to comment on recent remarks by Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, that aggressive military actions by China toward Taiwan have increased by 300 percent over the past year.

Closing the waterway separating Taiwan from China, one of the world's major trading channels, could be more devastating than the Great Depression in the 1930s globally, Paparo told the Senate Armed Services Committee Thursday when asked why Americans should care about Taiwan's future, according to the U.S. Naval Institute News.

Paparo said it would also expose the U.S.' dependence on Taipei for semiconductor production, which is essential to modernizing and growing the domestic economy, according to the report.

War in the Indo-Pacific region could cause "a 25 percent reduction in GDP in Asia, an effect of 10 to 12 percent GDP reduction in the United States of America, unemployment spiking at 7 to 10 percent" above normal levels, "and 500,000 excess deaths of despair," Paparo was quoted as saying.

Even a successful American intervention "would halve that impact, so still a grave result" and "a lot of human misery," the report quoted Paparo as saying.

Koo noted that Paparo's remarks were proof that stability and prosperity in the world hinge on stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

Further, it shows that maintaining the status quo in the Taiwan Strait is practically a consensus among countries around the world and something that requires an active effort to maintain.

Koo referenced a recently leaked Pentagon internal memo as proof of U.S. commitment to deterring the Chinese annexation of Taiwan.

The memo, leaked during U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's tour of Asia last month, reportedly directed the prioritization of deterring China's capture of Taiwan while scaling back its support for Ukraine in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

China is the Pentagon's "sole pacing threat," and denial of a "Chinese fait accompli seizure" of Taiwan while simultaneously defending the U.S. homeland is its "sole pacing scenario," the memo reportedly stated.

(By Lin Ching-yin and Sean Lin)

Enditem/AW

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China's CPTPP bid to block Taiwan's application: MOFA

ROC Central News Agency

04/15/2025 03:02 PM

Taipei, April 15 (CNA) A key factor pushing China's bid to join a regional trade bloc that Taiwan also aspires to is to "block Taipei's application," warned a senior Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) official on Tuesday.

With the United States rekindling a trade war with China, Beijing is now showing "renewed interest" in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), America scholar Scott Kennedy observed at a seminar in the U.S. on Monday.

Asked about Kennedy's comment, Lien Yu-ping (), head of MOFA's Department of International Cooperation and Economic Affairs, said at a weekly briefing that the trade war highlighted the importance of regional trade blocs like the CPTPP.

Lien said one of the reasons Beijing wants to join the CPTPP was simply "to block Taiwan's accession," and she pledged that Taiwan would use every available channel to try to mitigate Chinese threats and influence over Taiwan's potential accession to the trade bloc.

Such moves include rallying support from Taiwan-friendly CPTPP members as Taiwan tries to persuade the group to focus on whether or not an aspirant meets the "the Auckland principles."

She was referring to the requirements set by the CPTPP for new members, which include meeting the trade pact's high standards, demonstrating a strong track record of meeting trade obligations, and garnering a consensus among all members.

Lien said that based on these standards, China is clearly not qualified to join the CPTPP "given Beijing's extensive use of subsidies and the lack of transparency of state-owned companies."

In 2025, Australia is the chair of the CPTPP Commission, giving Taiwan a window of opportunity because Australia has always been open to accession requests by economies that are ready to meet the high standards of the agreement, she said.

China applied to join the CPTPP in Sept. 16, 2021, roughly a week before Taiwan applied to join on Sept. 22 that same year.

Beijing, which regards Taiwan as part of its territory, has opposed Taiwan's accession to the CPTPP. This has led Taiwanese officials to worry that a successful bid by China could sink Taiwan's hopes of joining the bloc.

During the Vancouver summit held in November 2024, CPTPP members did not reach an agreement on either Taiwan or China's application to join the trade bloc.

Instead the CPTPP greenlighted the launching of an accession process for Costa Rica, which applied to join the bloc in August 2022, a year later than China and Taiwan.

The CPTPP is one of the biggest trade blocs in the world, representing around 15 percent of the global economy.

It currently has 12 members -- Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam and the United Kingdom.

(By Joseph Yeh)

Enditem/ls

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Taiwan-friendly ex-U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Armitage dies at 79

ROC Central News Agency

04/15/2025 04:20 PM

Washington/Taipei, April 15 (CNA) Richard Armitage, the former U.S. deputy secretary of state known for being friendly toward Taiwan, has died at the age of 79 from a pulmonary embolism.

His death on Sunday was announced by Armitage International, his eponymous consulting firm, in a statement on Monday.

Armitage had long-held ties to Taiwan, visiting the country many times, most recently for the inauguration of President Lai Ching-te () in May 2024.

In a social media post on Tuesday, Lai said he was "deeply saddened by the passing of Ambassador Richard Armitage, a true friend to Taiwan."

"We will fondly remember his contributions to Taiwan-U.S. relations and support for our democracy, just as we will miss his genuine kindness and sincerity," Lai added.

Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) also mourned Armitage's death, describing him as a "steadfast friend of Taiwan," in a social media post on Tuesday.

"His lifelong commitment to democracy and regional stability strengthened our ties. His legacy will endure and inspire future generations," MOFA said.

Armitage served as U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell's deputy from 2001 to 2004.

He also worked as a senior Defense Department official during the administration of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan and as a special envoy under Reagan's successor, George H.W. Bush.

After leaving government service, Armitage worked as a private consultant for defense contractors involved in the sale of weapons to Taiwan, according to a 2008 Salon report.

(By Chung Yu-chen and Evelyn Kao)

Enditem/ASG

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Death of former top US official sparks mourning, tributes in Taiwan

Richard Armitage had helped strengthen the diplomatic bridge between the US and Taiwan.

By Alan Lu for RFA

2025.04.15

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- The death of Richard Armitage, a former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State and long-time advocate for Taiwan, has drawn an outpouring of condolences and reflection across the island, where he was widely respected for his steadfast support for democracy and peace in the Taiwan Strait.

Armitage, a former U.S. official under President George W. Bush, died of lung disease on April 13, aged 79. He had served several defense and foreign policy roles that helped shape U.S. defense and security policy in the Asia Pacific.

"A long-time advocate for peace in the Taiwan Strait and a staunch supporter of Taiwan's democracy, Armitage was a key friend to Taiwan and made significant contributions to U.S.-Taiwan relations and Indo-Pacific security," Taiwan's foreign ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

Taiwan faces growing military and diplomatic pressure from China, which claims the island as its territory and seeks to isolate it internationally. Armitage's advocacy helped keep Taiwan on the global agenda, strengthened ties with key allies such as the U.S. and signaled international backing for Taiwan's democracy and security amid rising cross-strait tensions.

Over the years, Armitage maintained close ties with leaders across Taiwan's political spectrum. He attended the inaugurations of both the former president Tsai Ing-wen and President Lai Ching-te, and also held direct conversations with former leader Ma Ying-jeou of the Kuomintang.

His bipartisan diplomacy also helped ensure continued dialogue between Washington and Taipei, regardless of Taiwan's domestic political shifts.

"Armitage had bipartisan friends in Washington, as well as bipartisan friends in Taipei," wrote Alexander Huang, a former senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, in a tribute on Facebook.

Beyond Taiwan

Beyond his ties to Taiwan, Armitage left a significant imprint on U.S. policy across the Indo-Pacific.

A U.S. Navy veteran, Armitage served three combat tours during the Vietnam War, working closely with Vietnamese forces. In 1975, as Saigon fell, he helped evacuate over 30,000 South Vietnamese refugees and naval personnel, leading them by sea to the Philippines and negotiating their safe landing at Subic Bay.

As a senior U.S. official, Armitage was a key figure in shaping the modern U.S.-Japan alliance. He co-authored bipartisan policy reports that guided strategic cooperation, encouraged Japan's expanded security role, and supported updates to joint defense guidelines.

In the Philippines, he played a central role in negotiating the future of U.S. military bases, a critical issue for U.S. strategy in Asia.

He also played a key role in Korea policy, working with South Korea's Kim Dae-jung administration while expressing skepticism toward the "Sunshine Policy." He urged caution in tying political fate to engagement with Pyongyang.

Known for a firm but flexible approach, Armitage advocated diplomacy with North Korea while preparing for containment if talks failed. His 1999 "Armitage Report" shaped U.S. strategy, warning that no option - negotiation, sanctions, or force - was without serious risk.

Edited by Taejun Kang and Stephen Wright.

Copyright 1998-2025, 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 April not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2025/04/15

PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

1.Date

6 a.m. Apr. 14 (Mon.) to 6 a.m. Apr. 15 (Tue.) (UTC+8)

2.PLA activities

10 sorties of PLA aircraft and 7 PLAN ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 6 out of 10 sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's northern, southwestern, and eastern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities.

1140415_PLA activities

1140415_PLA air activities in the vicinity of Taiwan

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Secretary Rubio's Call with Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

April 14, 2025

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan today the dangers to regional security and stability posed by Iran and its proxies. They agreed on the importance of counterterrorism cooperation and strengthening NATO.



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"Turkiye will definitely take its rightful place in the global system that is being restructured"

Presidency of The Republic of Turkey

15.04.2025

Holding a press conference following the Presidential Cabinet Meeting, President Erdogan said: "Turkiye is making its weight felt more and more as a main pole in a multipolar world. This time, Turkiye will definitely take its rightful place in the global system that is being restructured."

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a press conference following the Presidential Cabinet Meeting at the Presidential Complex.

"TURKIYE WILL CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE PEACE AND DIPLOMACY"

President Erdogan said: "The 4th Antalya Diplomacy Forum, held on April 11-13, offered yet another opportunity for us to see the power of the Turkish foreign policy. The forum, themed 'Reclaiming Diplomacy in a Fragmented World', was attended by over 6 thousand participants from 155 countries, including 21 heads of state and government. In 50 sessions throughout the forum, experts addressed a wide range of issues from the transformative power of education to clime crisis, from the rising wave of protectionism to multipolarity. At a time when tensions are escalating and new crises are constantly emerging, we, as Turkiye, will continue to prioritize justice, peace, and diplomacy."

President Erdogan stated: "One day before the forum, on April 10, we hosted President Prabowo Subianto of Indonesia and his delegation in our country. We were pleased to hear the messages my friend Subianto delivered from our parliament on the history and the relations between our countries. We are delighted by the momentum achieved in a broad spectrum in our relations with Indonesia, with which we enjoy brotherly ties spanning over four centuries. We are determined to increase our trade volume to $10 billion. We will inshallah achieve this target through new partnerships we will cultivate in areas such as defense industry, construction, healthcare, and energy."

"EVERY DEVELOPMENT IN THE MIDDLE EAST DIRECTLY CONCERNS TURKIYE"

"I would like to take this opportunity to underline the fact that every development, every crisis, and every problem in the Middle East directly concerns us, our country, our nation, our economy, and our security. We must analyze incidents with an enterprising, proactive and courageous approach and update our policies accordingly," President Erdogan stressed.

President Erdogan went on: "Turkiye is making its weight felt more and more as a main pole in a multipolar world. This time, Turkiye will definitely take its rightful place in the global system that is being restructured. I would like my nation and the whole world to know that Turkiye favors peace under all circumstances. Turkiye is a country every neighbor, every friend, and every brother of which feels secure about. This is the kind of country Turkiye is. However, at the same time, Turkiye is not a country to push its limits, to test its friendship or animosity. We, if need be, sacrifice our lives for our independence and future but never bow to the oppressor."

"AS SYRIA REGAINS PEACE AND STABILITY, THE WINNER WILL BE THE ENTIRE REGION"

President Erdogan said: "No one should make any miscalculations or consider our calm stance in the face of provocations to be a weakness. Particularly on the Syrian issue, some actors, instead of testing the limits of Turkiye's patience, should appreciate its friendship, adjust their rhetoric and policies accordingly, and act like a state not like an organization. Whoever tries to prevent Syria from achieving lasting peace and stability, I say this clearly, they will find themselves facing us along with the Syrian Government. Just as we did not allow Syria to be divided through a terror corridor, we will not allow this country to be divided through other corridors either."

"The possibility of returning to the period before 8 December in Syria has been eliminated," President Erdogan underlined. "With the 8 December revolution, a new era has now begun in the country. As Syria recovers and regains peace and stability, the winner will be the entire region, all the peoples in the region. Turkiye will do its utmost to ensure that the new process becomes successful. In Gaza as well, we will continue to provide our brothers and sisters with every kind of support to make sure that they live in their own homeland freely, peacefully and safely."

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Norway steps up efforts for Ukraine's reconstruction

Government of Norway

Press release | Date: 15/04/2025

Norway is contributing NOK 35 million to an international fund aimed at supporting Ukraine and facilitating reconstruction.

'This is a highly flexible fund, allowing Ukrainians to respond quickly to emerging needs. This could include setting up shelters in hospitals and schools, ensuring emergency aid reaches those in need, or providing legal assistance to people who have fled their homes. The funds are particularly targeted at areas hardest hit by the conflict and help lay the foundation for sustainable and inclusive reconstruction', says Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide.

The Partnership Fund for a Resilient Ukraine (PFRU) is an international fund established to support Ukraine's recovery and strengthen the country's resilience in the wake of Russia's invasion. The fund is a joint initiative between several international partners, aimed at coordinating and financing projects that promote stability, economic development, and institution building in Ukraine.

'Norway's support to this international fund is yet another contribution to our longstanding commitment to Ukraine. Through this funding, we want to support a robust and inclusive reconstruction that lays the groundwork for a stable Ukraine once the war is over', Eide says.

Through its support, Norway will contribute to the efforts of local authorities in Ukraine to provide healthcare, education for children, local infrastructure, and social and cultural activities in cooperation with local organizations. The support is also intended to strengthen the decentralization process and local democracy - as well as reinforce the role of central authorities in national processes.

A central component of PFRU's work is the fund's Rapid Response Mechanism, aimed at ensuring the swift delivery of critical resources to vulnerable communities along the frontlines and border areas, in the aftermath of Russian attacks. The mechanism prioritizes targeted support to areas within 30 kilometers of active combat zones, including the provision of essential equipment, and the strengthening of local emergency preparedness. In addition, it will enable rapid response across Ukraine through the distribution of equipment from strategically pre-positioned warehouses.

The fund is designed to respond swiftly to local challenges that may change on short notice, and serve as an important supplement to broader, long-term efforts led by central authorities through multilateral and large international organizations. One example of projects supported by the fund is the inclusion of local communities in decision-making processes on how reconstruction should take place.

The fund also supports more short-term initiatives, such as the purchase of fuel to provide electricity and heating for essential services and activities. The inclusion of vulnerable groups is a key priority.

'Additionally, the fund supports efforts to counter disinformation, which is vital for building local trust as part of promoting democratic values', Eide adds.

In addition to Norway, eight other donor countries support the fund: the United Kingdom, Canada, Estonia, Finland, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, and the United States. The UK established the fund and manages it on behalf of the other donors. With this latest contribution of NOK 35 million, Norway has now contributed a total of NOK 70 million through the PFRU.

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Statement from Ministry for Foreign Affairs on summoning of Russia's Ambassador

Government Offices of Sweden

Statement by Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Published 15 April 2025

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has today, 15 April, summoned the Russian Ambassador in Stockholm.

The summoning has taken place to take a clear stance against Russia's continuous attacks against Ukraine's cities and civilian population and the serious attacks against the cities of Sumy and Kryvyj Rih in recent weeks.

Russia's responsibility to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure in accordance with international humanitarian law was emphasised to the Russian Ambassador during his appearance.



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Minister Budrys: the EU priorities are clear - mobilised support for Ukraine and increasing pressure on the aggressor

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Updated 2025-04-15

On 14 April, Lithuania's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kestutis Budrys, attended the European Union's Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg. During the discussion on Ukraine, the Minister stressed that the EU's priorities are now obvious: focused diplomatic efforts in support of Ukraine and further increasing pressure on Russia. Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andrii Sybiha, joined the debate in Luxembourg remotely.

"With missile strikes like yesterday Russia demonstrates its unwillingness to seek peace. Europe must show very clearly through our diplomatic actions, military and other support for Ukraine, with sanctions, and increased pressure on the aggressor that we are on the side of attacked Ukraine," said the head of Lithuania's diplomacy.

According to Budrys, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whom he met two weeks ago during his visit to Kyiv, also called on the international community to speak out about Russia's brutal killing of civilians, which proves that Russia wants war.

The Minister stressed the need to include in the 17th package those sanctions that were left out of the 16th package, such as the liquefied natural gas sector, Rosatom, shadow fleet, the IT and banking sectors, as well as to expand targeted sanctions against individuals.

The EU Foreign Ministers discussed enhanced EU military support covering Ukraine's most urgent defence needs - the air defence capability enhancement, long-range missiles, ammunition, drones, and support for Ukraine's defence industry development.

When discussing security guarantees, the Minister underlined that Lithuania supports the relocation to Ukraine of the EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine) and would join the "coalition of the willing".

"Lithuania will participate in both formats and encourage others to join. This is important for the EU, not only in symbolic terms but also in practical terms, in terms of strengthening European security. We need to keep the Ukrainian army strong also after the peace agreement is reached," said Budrys.

The Minister also stressed that Ukraine's future is in Europe. Therefore, it is necessary to accelerate the EU's accession process by clearly setting the final date of Ukraine's membership for 1 January 2030.

Foreign Ministers also discussed the situation in the Middle East, cooperation between the EU and the African Union, the EU dialogue with the Western Balkan countries, Armenia-Azerbaijan relations, and the situation in Georgia.

At the request of the President of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili, Budrys spoke on behalf of the three Baltic states about the continued repression, eroding democracy and civil liberties in the country. The Minister called for increasing pressure and sanctioning those responsible for crackdowns on peaceful protesters.



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Joint press statement by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte with President Zelenskyy in Odesa, Ukraine

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

15 Apr. 2025

(As delivered)

President Zelenskyy, Dear Volodymyr,

It is important for me to be standing next to you today in Odesa, a city that has been under constant attack throughout Russia's war against Ukraine.

Only this weekend, Russia attacked residential buildings and a hospital here with kamikaze drones. Today we both visited a hospital where I talked with some of the people injured in the war.

Just two days ago, in Sumy on Palm Sunday -the holiest day in the Christian calendar - two Russian ballistic missiles killed over 30 civilians - men, women, children.

Over 100 were injured - many seriously.

This is simply outrageous. It's part of a terrible pattern of Russia attacking civilian targets and infrastructure across Ukraine. Even hundreds of hospitals and medical workers have been targeted over the last years.

I am here today because I believe Ukraine's people deserve real peace - real safety and security in their country. In their homes.

My heart goes out to the people of Ukraine.

Those who lost loved ones in these recent strikes. And so many over the years.

Those who have been injured. Or lost their homes. Or had their dreams shattered by this unjust and unlawful war.

So I am here with you today, dear Volodymyr,

To affirm to you and the Ukrainian people this simple message:

NATO stands with Ukraine.

You and I know that this has been true all along.

I also know that some have called NATO's support into question in the last couple of months.

But let there be no doubt.

Our support is unwavering.

NATO continues to provide political and practical support for Ukraine by delivering security assistance and training through our command in Wiesbaden. And we work closely together in Kyiv and in Brussels.

What's more, just in the first three months of 2025, NATO Allies have already pledged more than 20 billion euros in security assistance for Ukraine this year.

Our commitment is clear - and concrete.

We saw further contributions as you rightly said from Allies during the latest Ramstein meeting that was held in Brussels on Friday

Our support to Ukraine is designed to ensure that your country is strong and sovereign. Able to defend today and to deter any future aggression.

All of this to underpin the efforts towards a just and lasting peace.

Indeed, today we again spoke about the important talks that President Trump is leading with Ukraine as well as with Russia to try to end the war and secure a durable peace.

These discussions are not easy - not least in the wake of this horrific violence - but we all support President Trump's push for peace.

Other Allies - including through efforts led by France and the United Kingdom - are ready, willing and able to shoulder more responsibility in helping to secure a peace when the time comes.

So let me say again - to the people of Ukraine.

We stand with you.

And look forward to a day that the brave men and women of this incredible country can enjoy freedom without fear.

So dear Volodymyr, thank you for inviting me here today. I am grateful for your leadership, for our friendship, and for our continued cooperation.

Slava Ukraini.

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Children affected by war receive support in new OSCE-equipped spaces in Ukraine

OSCE | Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe

15 April 2025

Three dedicated centres equipped to provide psychological assistance to children affected by war and their caregivers were opened on 15 April  two in Vinnytsia and one in Pohrebyshche. The initiative is implemented by the OSCE Support Programme for Ukraine (SPU) in partnership with the National Social Service of Ukraine (NSSU), local authorities such as the Vinnytsia Regional Military Administration and local communities.

The support spaces  named "Tvii" after the Ukrainian word for "Yours"  offer a wide range of services: from group sessions, art therapy and individual consultations with professionals for children to legal, psychological and informational support for parents and guardians. The centres are located on the premises of municipal facilities, and staffed by trained psychologists and social workers.

"The 'Tvii' spaces are not about opening new institutions, but about meaningfully strengthening the existing support systems within communities. This is a new model of service delivery that becomes part of the local infrastructure and will remain with the community for the long term," said Vasyl Lutsyk, Head of NSSU.

The OSCE refurbished and equipped the rooms  with furniture, toys and books  and covered all staff expenses for the first year. Thereafter, the management and operation of the spaces will be transferred to local communities to ensure long-term sustainability.

"There are numerous studies stating that childhood traumas can seriously affect the rest of one's life. And what could be more traumatising than an ongoing war? While some things cannot be undone, it is important that we help the affected children overcome their tragic experiences," said Pierre Baussand, Chief of Operations at OSCE SPU. "Opening comfort spaces where children and their parents can get such assistance is an important step in this direction. We hope that, together with our Ukrainian partners, we will generate positive practices that inspire communities across the country to do everything in our power to mitigate the effects of the war on minors".

Nine more "Tvii" spaces are scheduled to open in the Lviv, Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi and Zakarpattia regions by the end of the year. To further strengthen the capacity of national and local authorities to provide assistance to those in need, the OSCE delivered 12 trainings for 350 social workers and psychologists in 2024.



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'Russia lied to us': Chinese fighters captured by Ukraine tell their story

Ukraine said last week 'several hundred' Chinese citizens were believed to be fighting for Russia.

By Taejun Kang for RFA

2025.04.15

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Two Chinese nationals captured while fighting for Russia in Ukraine said they were tricked by false promises and online recruitment ads into enlisting, and criticized Moscow for exploiting foreign fighters in its war effort.

"I wanted to make money, but I didn't expect to end up in a war," said Zhang Renbo, a former firefighter from China, during a Ukrainian government press conference on Monday.

He and Wang Guangjun, both born in the 1990s, are the first confirmed Chinese nationals captured fighting in the Russian ranks against Ukraine. Their capture was announced by President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier this month, who said "several hundred" Chinese citizens are believed to be fighting for Russia.

Wang said he lost his job last summer and came across a TikTok ad offering a lucrative opportunity to join the Russian military. The recruiter promised him a salary far above the Chinese average and offered to pay for travel and paperwork.

But soon after arrival, Wang claimed, the Russians confiscated his phone and bank card. He was unable to access the promised pay or contact anyone back home.

"Everything we heard from the Russians was a lie," Wang said.

Radio Free Asia has not independently verified the men's claims.

The two men said they signed enlistment contracts voluntarily but without any connection to the Chinese government.

Both claimed they were initially offered non-combat jobs - Wang in the military directly, Zhang through construction work - only to be placed on the battlefield later. Their route into the war passed through Moscow and Russian-occupied Donetsk before they reached the front lines.

Wang said he had been at the front for just three days before he was captured.

He described being sheltered by Ukrainian soldiers during a Russian gas attack after his capture and said he had been treated well ever since. In the video of the press conference, the two men appear to be in good health.

Zhang, who comes from a wealthier background, said he never saw any Ukrainian troops until the moment he was taken prisoner. Both men said they had not killed anyone during their time on the battlefield.

The two criticised Russia sharply during the press conference and discouraged other Chinese nationals from joining the conflict.

"It's better not to participate in wars at all," Wang said. "Real war is completely different from what we have seen in movies and on TV."

They also denied any involvement by the Chinese state in their recruitment.

When asked whether Beijing was aware of their actions, they said China had issued general warnings against travelling to conflict zones and noted that Chinese citizens who join foreign militaries could face legal consequences. Still, both said they hoped to return to China as part of a future prisoner exchange.

"I understand there may be punishment," Zhang said. "But I still want to return home and to my family."

Russia has increasingly turned to foreign nationals to fill its ranks in Ukraine, recruiting fighters from countries including India, Nepal, Syria, and reportedly North Korea.

As many as 12,000 North Korean soldiers are in Russia to fight Ukrainian forces who occupied parts of Kursk in an August counterattack, according to the U.S. and Ukraine. Neither Pyongyang nor Moscow has acknowledged their presence.

According to Wang, he was placed in a training camp alongside recruits from Central Asia, Ghana, and Iraq, and said communication with commanders was limited to gestures.

Edited by Stephen Wright.

Copyright 1998-2025, 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 April not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Ukraine Replaces Regional Governor As Sumy Buries More Victims Of Russian Strike

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service April 15, 2025

Ukraine's government approved the dismissal of the military governor of the Sumy region for holding an award ceremony that appears to have been the target of a Russian air strike that killed 35 people, including two children.

Volodymyr Artyukh, the head of the Sumy Regional Military Administration, is expected to be relieved of his position once President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signs the approval, confirmed by the cabinet on April 15, government spokesman Taras Melnychuk said.

Artyukh will be replaced by Oleh Hryhorov, a former law enforcement official.

The decision comes amid a public outcry over an apparent military award ceremony held in Sumy just hours before the strike on April 13.

Russian forces launched two ballistic missiles -- one equipped with cluster munitions, according to Ukrainian officials -- at the center of the city, injuring more than 100 people along with the 35 deaths.

Residents of Sumy on April 15 buried more of those killed in the attack in emotional ceremonies.

"My sister died in the attack. If I was handed a gun, I'd start killing Russians on the [front line]. I'm fed up with them. Please, stop. I can't take it anymore," said one grief-stricken relative at the funeral of two of the victims.

A 'Horrible Thing'

Officials from around the world condemned Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin, for the attack, which fell on Palm Sunday as many in the city marked one of the most religious days in the Christian calendar.

US President Donald Trump, who has made ending the war a top foreign policy priority since taking office less than three months ago, called the Russian strike on Sumy a "horrible thing."

But Bloomberg News reported on April 15 that the United States told its allies that it won't endorse a statement condemning Russia in the attack because it does not want to impact a peace process it is trying to bring the parties to sign to end Europe's largest conflict since World War II.

NATO chief Mark Rutte, in Odesa on April 15, said the alliance's support is "unwavering."

Calls for the Artyukh removal came after Artem Semenikhin, mayor of Konotopthe second-largest city in the Sumy region -- publicly accused the governor of organizing the ceremony honoring soldiers from the 117th Territorial Defense Brigade at the Sumy Congress Center.

"He [Artyukh] held an award ceremony for our heroes from the 117th Brigade right here. Everyone knows about it. It's not true that nothing was happening. It was. Thank God no soldiers were hurt -- they were in a shelter. But [the Russians] used a cluster bomb to cause as many civilian casualties as possible," Semenikhin said in a video statement recorded on the day of the attack.

In a subsequent interview with public broadcaster Suspilne, Artyukh acknowledged he had attended the event but denied organizing it.

"It wasn't my initiative. I was invited," he said.

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed the target of the strike was a "Ukrainian command staff meeting," while Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov alleged, without providing evidence, that NATO military personnel were present.

Ukrainian authorities have neither confirmed nor denied the presence of an army event in Sumy the day of the attack.

Ukrainian lawmaker Maryana Bezuhla stated on social media that there had been a leak of information concerning the ceremony.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-governor- dismissal-sumy-attack-trump-g7-putin/33385926.html

Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Comment by Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Antonio Guterres's statement regarding the developments in Sumy

15 April 2025 12:44

628-15-04-2025

On April 13, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made another statement on Ukraine via his Spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric. It concerns the developments in Sumy. He has accused of the April 13 missile attack, which allegedly "continues a devastating pattern of similar assaults on Ukrainian cities and towns." We are perplexed by such assessments by the UN Secretary-General. We would like to remind everyone that since the beginning of the special military operation Russian forces have never deliberately delivered, are not delivering and will not deliver strikes on civilian population. As the Russian Defence Ministry invariably points out, our targets are always and exclusively military facilities.

The UN Secretary-General also reiterated the UN's support to meaningful efforts towards peace that fully upholds Ukraine's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, in line with the UN Charter, international law, and relevant UN resolutions. As you can see, he never mentioned the right of nations to self-determination. This is yet another proof of Mr Guterres's selective approach to the provisions of the UN Charter. In this connection, we would like to point out that the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States, which was adopted by consensus at the UN General Assembly in 1970, sealed a connection between the principles of the UN Charter, which must be applied in their entirety and as a whole.

In addition, the Declaration states that the principle of territorial integrity shall be applied to all states who are conducting themselves in compliance with the principle of self-determination of peoples and are thus possessed of a government representing the whole people belonging to the territory. It is clear to everyone that the current Kiev regime does not comply with these criteria. Zelensky's gang has been systematically and flagrantly infringing on the fundamental freedoms of ethnic Russians and Russian-speaking citizens. We have to state that the UN Secretary-General, acting contrary to Article 1 of the UN Charter, which calls for promoting and encouraging respect for language, religious and other human rights, continues to shield the Kiev regime's open disregard for the principles of self-determination of nations and human rights.

Mr Guterres demonstrated a similar approach when he disregarded Russia's appeals in the context of investigation into the provocation in Bucha, which Kiev orchestrated three years ago. We have publicly appealed to the UN Secretary-General on numerous occasions to at least help encourage Kiev to publish the lists of those whose bodies the Western media demonstrated to the world in early April 2022 to the accompaniment of hysterical accusations against Russia. In September 2024, a relevant official request, which was prepared by Russia's Investigative Committee together with the Prosecutor General's Office, was submitted to the UN Secretariat via the Permanent Mission of Russia in New York. In January and April 2025, we urged the UN Secretariat to speed up reply to our request. All our efforts were in vain; we have not received a substantive answer to our request.

We again call on Antonio Guterres and his Secretariat to take an honest stance, to prevent biased comments in the context of the Ukrainian crisis, and to stop discrediting our country and covering up the Kiev regime's crimes.

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Statement by Russian Defence Ministry

15.04.2025 (12:10)

In violation of the Russian-American agreements to cease strikes at energy facilities for 30 days from 18 March 2025, the Kiev regime continues its daily unilateral attacks against the Russian energy infrastructure. Six AFU attacks on Russian power industry facilities have been recorded.

In Bryansk region:

On 14 April, at 17:20, the Armed Forces of Ukraine deliberately shelled and disabled the Solovyevka complete transformer substation of the Rosseti-Centre's branch Bryanskenergo.

On 14 April, at 20:36, as a result of an attack by a Ukrainian UAV against the Khvoshchevskaya complete transformer substation of Rosseti-Centre's branch Bryanskenergo, a 10kV high-voltage line was disabled. Household consumers were cut off electricity in Sevsky District.

In Kherson region:

On 14 April, at 21:12, a Ukrainian drone attacked the 150kV Vinogradovo power substation of the Rosseti branch - the Tavrichesky enterprise of main electric networks.

At 23:42, as a result of another attack by a Ukrainian strike drone against 150kV Vinogradovo power substation, a transformer was disabled and got on fire. About 56,250 people were left without power energy in 108 settlements.

In Kursk region:

On 15 April, at 01:30, as a result of an attack by a Ukrainian UAV in Kursk, on Tolstoy Street, a low-pressure distribution above-ground steel gas line was damaged. The gas supply was not available for 165 consumers.

On 15 April, at 02:40, as a result of an attack by a Ukrainian UAV in Kursk, at Pervomaysky avenue, a low-pressure distribution above-ground steel gas line was damaged. The gas was not available for 21 consumers.

Department for Media Affairs and Information

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Kremlin: Russia and US Strive for Peace but Europe Pushes for Conflict

Sputnik News

20250415

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia and US are working hard for peace, while Europe is working hard for war, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.

"Yes, here also you and I should clearly understand that at the moment there is intense work between Moscow and Washington. And it is taking place in the name of peace. And against this background, European countries continue to work for war," Peskov told reporters, adding that Russian-US economic cooperation may play a stabilizing role for the world.

European countries declare their intention to continue supporting Ukraine and the Kiev regime in its efforts to continue the war, Peskov added.

There is quite intensive work on the Ukrainian settlement, but immediate results should not be expected, Peskov said.

"Hard work is going on. Of course, it is such a complex substance that it is hardly possible to expect immediate results, but nevertheless. Of course, we would like to hope for the best, hope that this work will have positive results," Peskov told reporters.

There are no clear outlines of a future Ukrainian settlement agreement, but there is political will to work in its direction, he added.

"Once again, we are very, very positive about the constructive and meaningful contacts that have taken place," the spokesman said.

Peskov refused to comment on media reports about an alleged US offer to Iran to transfer its uranium reserves to Russia.

The Guardian reported earlier that the United States had allegedly offered Tehran to transfer uranium reserves to Russia during talks with Iran in Oman.

"I leave this issue without comment," Peskov told reporters.

Ukraine keeps launching strikes on Russian energy infrastructure on a daily basis, Kremlin spokesman said.

"The temporary moratorium has not been respected and is not being respected by the Ukrainian military. We see daily strikes on Russian energy infrastructure. It is important for everyone to know this," Peskov said.

Unlike the Kiev regime, Russia continues to abide by the order of Russian President Vladimir Putin, given a month ago, and does not target Ukrainian energy infrastructure, he added.

"I need to clarify [the dates of the moratorium's end]. I just need to get corresponding information from [the Russian] Defense Ministry. Of course all will depend on the orders of the Commander-in-Chief [Putin]," the spokesman said when asked about the moratorium's expiration date.

A conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump within the next few days is not on the schedule, Peskov said.

"There is no such conversation on the schedule within the next few days," Peskov told journalists.

Peskov specified that if such a conversation were to take place, the Kremlin would provide information about it.

"We will appropriately inform you the way we usually do it," Peskov said.

Russia expects leaders from more than 20 countries to visit Moscow on May 9 and take part in the Victory Day parade, Peskov said.

"We are ready to receive anyone who is willing to celebrate this extremely important date with us. It has a special meaning now, when Nazism has reestablished itself in Europe. When we do not see a unanimous European desire to eradicate it immediately. Therefore, this day is extremely important, and we will be happy to welcome everyone. We can already say that we are expecting more than 20 heads of state and government who will be here together with [Russian President Vladimir Putin] to celebrate this day," Peskov said.

Moscow will be happy to welcome anyone "who is ready to share the pride and joy of this day" and believes that everyone in Europe and the world should understand the significance of Victory Day, he added.

Russia has called the statement by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas about the presence of EU countries in Russia on May 9 very harsh, Dmitry Peskov said.

"As for Ms. Kallas you mentioned, we draw attention to her very, very harsh statements. We do not consider them correct and we cannot assess these threats. Those threats should be assessed by a sovereign state that is being threatened. And as it seems to us, there are states in Europe that do not accept such rhetoric," Peskov said, when asked about Kallas' calls for candidates for EU accession not to participate in the celebration of the 80th anniversary of Victory Day in Russia.

 Sputnik

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Joint Statement: 16th Ukraine Defence Contact Group - National Armaments Directors Format

Joint Statement from Ukraine, Germany and the United Kingdom, co-chairs of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG).

15 April 2025

On Friday 11 April the National Armaments Directors (NADs) from over 40 nations met at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels. They were supported by multiple international government organisations.

They agreed to ensure that the commitments made in the UDCG Ministerial Format are rapidly converted into contracts with industry and the tangible delivery of support to Ukraine to ensure Ukraine is able to sustain the resolute defence of her sovereignty and her people and negotiate a lasting and secure peace.

The UDCG NAD Format, co-chaired by Ukraine, Germany and the UK and building on the work of the US since its inception, will report its progress to the June ministerial meeting.

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Air Defense of the Odesa Region and Its Socio-Economic Development: The President Holds a Coordination Meeting

President of Ukraine

15 April 2025 - 18:11

In Odesa, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting on the security situation in the region and its socio-economic development.

The Head of State received a report from Head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration Oleh Kiper on the status of protective measures against Russian attacks. He also provided updates on the situation with grain exports, the operation of regional enterprises, and support for internally displaced persons.

Commander of the Air Command South Major General Dmytro Karpenko delivered a detailed report on the air defense coverage of the Odesa region.

Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Office in Odesa Region Viktor Dorovskyi provided a separate briefing on the operational situation in the region.

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Strengthening Ukraine's Air Defense and Maintaining Pressure on Russia: President of Ukraine Meets with NATO Secretary General in Odesa

President of Ukraine

15 April 2025 - 17:38

In Odesa, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to discuss the security of Ukraine and the whole of Europe.

The Head of State expressed gratitude for the unwavering support for Ukraine since the earliest days of the full-scale Russian aggression, when Mark Rutte was still serving as Prime Minister of the Netherlands. The President noted that just as many important things were achieved together back then, much can now be accomplished through joint efforts.

"Absolutely everyone sees how urgent Ukraine's need is for air defense systems and missiles for them. We discussed this at length today. Everyone sees how important it is to maintain pressure on Russia for this war and to push it toward a real willingness to move forward in diplomacy," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

In addition, the meeting addressed various formats of cooperation between Ukraine and NATO member states. Our country is grateful for the continued functioning of the Ramstein format. According to the President, it is important to preserve its effectiveness and the broad engagement of all partners.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Mark Rutte also dedicated a significant part of their conversation to relations with the United States and U.S. efforts in negotiations with Russia.

"For 35 days now, Putin has been ignoring the U.S. proposal for a full ceasefire. The recent Russian strikes on Kryvyi Rih, Sumy, and other cities show that the Russians are not only determined to continue the war but are rather the ones putting pressure on the West than feeling the strength of pressure themselves," the Head of State noted.

He also underscored that Ukraine counts on the implementation of all air defense-related agreements with partners in Europe and the United States.

"It is also important that we all keep working together within the framework of the coalition of the willing and capable of guaranteeing security. The United Kingdom, France, and other NATO countries are already actively laying the foundation for a security contingent in Ukraine," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

Mark Rutte condemned the Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities, including the attack on Sumy with two ballistic missiles on Palm Sunday.

"I am here today because I believe the people of Ukraine deserve real peace, real safety, and security in their country, in their homes. My heart goes out to the people of Ukraine. Those who have lost loved ones in these recent strikes and over the years. Those who have been injured, lost their homes, or had their dreams shattered by this unjust and unlawful war," said the NATO Secretary General.

He also reaffirmed that the North Atlantic Alliance will continue to stand with Ukraine. According to him, in the first three months of this year, NATO member states pledged over 20 billion in security assistance to Ukraine for 2025.

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Yermak-McFaul International Sanctions Group to Continue Strengthening and Enhancing Sanctions Against Russia

President of Ukraine

15 April 2025 - 09:15

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak held an online meeting with members of the International Working Group on Sanctions Against Russia, which he co-chairs together with Michael McFaul, Director of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies.

The meeting was also attended by Advisor - Presidential Commissioner for Sanctions Policy Vladyslav Vlasiuk, as well as Advisors to the Head of the President's Office Dariia Zarivna and Serhiy Leshchenko.

Andriy Yermak noted that since its establishment, the group has prepared 18 working papers and three comprehensive action plans.

"Each of these documents was shared with key partners and played an important role in shaping sanctions policy. Thanks to your efforts, an unprecedented package of sanctions has been developed against one of the largest violators of the global order in modern history," he emphasized.

The Head of the Presidential Office highlighted that the International Sanctions Group has been actively promoting an energy embargo against Russia, initiating the expansion and harmonization of export control lists, and proposing sanctions against Russian enterprises, banks, officials, and propagandists.

The group's recommendations have also led to action against Russia's shadow fleet, restricted access to critical components and CNC (computer numerical control) machines, imposed sanctions on the management of Rosatom, and disconnected additional Russian banks from SWIFT.

Andriy Yermak stressed that it is critically important to prevent any rollback of sanctions before a just end to the war is achieved. Therefore, the International Sanctions Group must continue its work to monitor and counter any risks of weakening sanctions pressure on Russia.

Michael McFaul noted that the International Sanctions Group will continue its efforts to increase pressure on Russia. In particular, the group will focus on issues related to frozen assets of the Russian Central Bank, new energy sanctions, and restricting the flow of technological components into Russia from around the world - especially from China.

Vladyslav Vlasiuk noted that the sanctions imposed on Russia have already led to a loss of $96 billion in oil export revenues since December 2022, significantly impacted Russia's mining, metallurgy, automotive, and aviation industries, as well as increased the cost of components for Russia's military production.

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Cherry Hill, NJ, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Charles & Faust, a new online legacy coffee brand, is proud to announce the release of its inaugural product: The Southside Select, a medium roast ground coffee inspired by New Jerseys rich diner culture and the enduring spirit of the American workforce. The launch marks the brands entry into the US specialty coffee market, with online orders now available nationwide.





The Southside Select was developed using a revived family recipe that dates back to the 1990s, reflecting the authentic flavor, feel, and familiarity of traditional diner-style coffee served throughout the region. Though the diner itself shuttered in the early 2000s, its legacy lives on through this inaugural roast. Southside Select delivers a balanced cup with a rich body and clean finish, crafted to preserve a moment in American food culture and honor the resilience of workers who appreciate the everyday ritual of a dependable, satisfying brew.

The idea behind The Southside Select was simple: reintroduce a classic flavor profile rooted in tradition, said RJ Charles Taylor, the Founder of Charles & Faust. What we have is not flashy  its dependable, comforting, and familiar. Thats the kind of coffee we believe still matters.

Mission Centered on Honoring Everyday Work

The brands mission is as much about the story as it is about substance. Its foundation lies in honoring both personal legacy and collective identity. Every roast is designed as a tribute to a segment of the American workforce.

The Southside Select recognizes the value of service work, the kind done on feet, on shifts, behind counters, and under pressure. By focusing on this often-overlooked segment, the company aims to reframe the coffee experience as a gesture of respect and recognition.

It makes a point to highlight the overlooked intersection between coffee and labor. While coffee is a staple for countless professions, it is often branded and marketed toward leisure or luxury. Charles & Faust flips that narrative  placing the American worker at the center of the coffee story.

Coffee has long been the fuel for the working class. Our coffee is made for the people whove earned it  the ones showing up before sunrise, working through weekends, and putting in the kind of effort that rarely gets the spotlight, added Taylor. Were not trying to reinvent coffee culture. Were preserving and honoring a piece of it, one thats rooted in grit, community, and consistency. Its about offering something familiar, dependable, and made with intention, just like the people its meant for.





Future Product Plans

The company intentionally launched with just one product to ensure every detail meets their standards. This focus on doing one thing well reflects the brands broader ethos: take pride in the work, no shortcuts.

As the company looks ahead, Charles & Faust plans to expand its lineup with future roasts that remain true to its founding values. Each upcoming blend will be developed with the same attention to detail and narrative depth as The Southside Select, crafted to honor the people and professions that inspire them. In doing so, the brand seeks to build a collection of coffee blends that are grounded in authenticity, shaped by legacy, and committed to quality without compromise.

The Southside Select is currently available in 12 oz bags and is exclusively available through the companys website. To learn more about the brand and its offerings, please visit https://charlesandfaust.com/.

About Charles & Faust

Charles & Faust is an independent coffee brand committed to preserving the American

coffee experience through every cup. The company was founded to fulfill a shared dream between two lifelong friends, one of whom passed away before the vision could be realized. Carrying that promise forward, Charles launched the brand as a tribute not only to their friendship but to the enduring values they both believed in. The mission is simple: revive the spirit of dependable, hardworking coffee using modern tools to reach customers nationwide. With each roast, Charles & Faust honors a legacy of effort, respect, and everyday grit  quiet strengths that deserve recognition.




DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eternex Network (eTRNX) introduces a next-generation blockchain ecosystem designed to transform how people save, invest, and transact. Built on the fast and efficient Tron blockchain and enhanced by AI-powered innovation, eTRNX is crafted to empower individuals and businesses across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East with accessible, transparent, and decentralized financial tools.





With the Initial Exchange Offering (IEO) currently live, early supporters have the unique opportunity to join a project focused on delivering real-world blockchain utility where it matters most.



The Mission: Financial Inclusion Without Borders

eTRNX aims to deliver secure, low-cost, and accessible financial services that go beyond conventional limitations. From tokenized investments in real estate to AI-driven risk assessments, eTRNX is setting the stage for the next evolution of digital finance.

Live IEO: Be Among the First Movers

The IEO of eTRNX is now live on p2p , offering investors early access to one of the most promising digital assets in the DeFi space. With only 1 million tokens currently in circulation out of a total supply of 2 billion, early adopters have the advantage of entering at the ground floor of a fast-scaling ecosystem.

Following the strong momentum on P2PB2B, eTRNX is expanding its Initial Exchange Offering (IEO) to more platforms.

The second phase of the IEO is now live on DEX-Trade and Bitstorage, giving even more early supporters the opportunity to join the movement and acquire eTRNX tokens before they hit major exchanges.

This multi-platform IEO approach ensures broader access and liquidity, further accelerating the adoption of the Eternex ecosystem.

What Sets eTRNX Apart

AI-Powered Fraud Detection & Risk Assessment



Multi-currency & cross-border payment support



Ultra-low transaction fees (as low as $0.000005)



Real-time settlements and asset tracking



Seamless staking and yield farming with up to 30% APY



Compliance-ready via CMAs Regulatory Sandbox





Real-World Use Cases: Blockchain That Touches Lives

1. Everyday Commerce  Seamless Local Transactions

Using eTRNX, users can pay for groceries and daily essentials at local markets through simple QR code scansno bank fees, no waiting times.

Impact: Transaction costs are reduced by over 50% compared to traditional mobile money services, making everyday purchases more efficient and affordable.

2. Real Estate Investing  Accessible and Automated

With a small initial investment, individuals can gain exposure to income-generating real estate properties through tokenized ownership. Monthly rental dividends are distributed automatically, powered by smart contracts.

How: Fractional ownership through eTRNX-powered Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs).

Impact: Democratizes property investment by eliminating high capital barriers and providing global access to real estate markets.

3. Cross-Border Remittances  Instant and Cost-Effective

eTRNX enables users to send funds internationally in seconds at negligible fees, improving the lives of families dependent on cross-border income.

Impact: Saves up to $30 per transaction compared to traditional remittance services, while ensuring faster and more secure delivery.

REITs: Fractional Ownership of Real-World Assets

eTRNX introduces tokenized Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) where users can:

Invest with as little as $10.



Own shares of residential and commercial properties globally.



Earn passive income from rental yields.



Trade these digital real estate shares on decentralized exchanges with instant settlement.





This opens the real estate market to small investors who previously lacked access to high-capital opportunities.

Money Market Funds (MMFs): Secure, Low-Risk Investments for All

Traditional MMFs are controlled by institutions and require large deposits. eTRNX disrupts this by offering tokenized digital debt instruments:

Start investing with just $10.



Earn consistent returns from low-risk money market assets.



AI ensures optimal fund management and real-time settlement.



All transactions are recorded transparently on the blockchain.





Staking & Governance: Earn and Influence

Earn Passive Income

Staking through TRC20 Native Wallets and other platforms provides up to 30% APY in the first year, adjusting gradually for long-term sustainability. This:

Incentivizes network security



Reduces token circulation, potentially increasing value



Rewards loyal community members





Govern the Future

Every eTRNX token equals one vote. Token holders can:

Propose changes



Vote on upgrades and treasury decisions



Participate in a fully decentralized and transparent governance system





AI Integration: Smart Finance for a Smarter World

eTRNX doesnt just run on blockchainits enhanced by artificial intelligence:

+70% improvement in real-time transaction efficiency



+40% boost in investment accuracy via AI-powered advisors



AI-driven asset monitoring, fraud prevention, and risk modeling





This combination creates a truly intelligent financial infrastructure.

Global Vision with Local Impact

eTRNX is committed to transforming real-world financial pain points into digital opportunities. Whether youre a farmer in the Philippines, a freelancer in Kenya, or an investor in the UAEeTRNX gives you access, empowerment, and opportunity.

Join the Movement  Participate in the Live IEO Today!

The Initial Exchange Offering is your chance to become a part of the financial revolution. Secure your stake in Eternex Network and help redefine the future of decentralized finance.

Visit the official IEO page: [ https://p2pb2b.com/token-sale/eTRNX-802/ ]



For latest update join and follow our socials:



Website: https://www.etronnetwork.org/

Twitter: https://x.com/eTRNX1

Telegram: https://t.me/etrnx01

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eTRNXNetwork

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/etrnxnetwork



Media Contact Details:



Company Name: Eternex Network

Company Email: esther@etronnetwork.org

Company Website: https://www.etronnetwork.org/

Disclaimer: This press release is provided by Eternex Network. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector--including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining--complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release.Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose.Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility.

Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an "as-is" basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7b629c3f-1c49-4098-b7a4-579ef012b0ba
HERE to showcase next-generation, AI-powered mapping and location solutions built for the connected, electric, automated and intelligent vehicle era

Working alongside 30 leading Chinese automakers globally, HERE is the trusted provider for high-quality location data

Shanghai  HERE Technologies, the leading location data and technology platform, today announced its debut participation in Auto Shanghai 2025, one of the worlds premier automotive industry events. HERE is a trusted partner to Chinas top automotive companies, delivering high-quality, AI-powered mapping and location data solutions for the Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) era.

Located at Booth #2B A052, HERE will showcase its latest technologies and offer a range of interactive demos including:

HERE Navigation: The turnkey customizable software solution that delivers a complete navigation experience fit for the digital cockpit.

The turnkey customizable software solution that delivers a complete navigation experience fit for the digital cockpit. HERE AI Assistant: The intuitive companion for contextual, real-time and predictive location-aware interactions that leverages generative large language models for an optimized total cost of ownership.

The intuitive companion for contextual, real-time and predictive location-aware interactions that leverages generative large language models for an optimized total cost of ownership. ADAS Cockpit Experience: The immersive experience spanning Navigation, ADAS, NOA and AD domains for a seamless and continuous experience for the driver.

The immersive experience spanning Navigation, ADAS, NOA and AD domains for a seamless and continuous experience for the driver. ThunderSoft Demo: Integration of cockpit-driving with multimodal large model capabilities to deliver enhanced functionality and performance.

Supporting Chinese Automaker Innovation and Global Expansion

HERE is a trusted mapping and location data provider for the leading Chinese automakers. Taken together, HERE customers account for 80% of Chinese OEMs export volumes in 2024, including BYD, Geely and SAIC Motor, who are partnering with HERE to accelerate their global expansion. HERE delivers a suite of products tailored to power EVs, Navigation on Autopilot (NOA) and digital cockpit vehicle experiences. HERE enables Chinese automakers to seamlessly scale their global operations, enhance driver safety, and deliver next-generation AI-powered driver experiences for international markets.

HERE delivers a suite of products tailored to power EVs, Navigation on Autopilot (NOA) and digital cockpit vehicle experiences. This includes HERE Automated Driving Zones which allows OEMs to precisely define the Operational Design Domain (ODD) for their ADAS and AD features. With it, they can specify the regions, roads and conditions under which these features can be activated. This tool is essential for safe deployments globally and regulatory compliance. HERE enables Chinese automakers to seamlessly scale their global operations, enhance driver safety, and deliver next-generation AI-powered driver experiences for international markets.

AI-Powered Technologies for the Future of SDVs

At the core of HEREs innovations is artificial intelligence, transforming how location data is processed, analyzed and delivered to enhance vehicle safety, efficiency and user experiences. HEREs AI-powered mapping architecture dynamically updates road attributes, delivers fresh speed limit information, traffic conditions, EV route calculations and charge point availability, ensuring drivers receive highly precise and context-aware insights.

Additionally, the recently-unveiled HERE AI Assistant provides natural language-powered, location-aware guidance, transforming the way drivers and passengers interact with vehicle cockpit and navigation experiences.

Deep Local Expertise, Enabling Global Success for Chinese Automakers

As a pioneer in mapping and location technology for 40 years, with digital maps data for more than 200 countries worldwide, HERE combines deep local expertise with global innovation. This unique positioning allows HERE to support Chinese automakers in scaling their technologies and expanding into international markets, and complying with international safety and navigation standards, including the European Unions Intelligent Speed Assistance regulation.

HERE has been a trusted partner to global and Chinese automakers for the past 40 years, and is thrilled to be an exhibitor at Auto Shanghai 2025, said Deon Newman, Senior Vice President and General Manager for Asia Pacific. We work with leading automakers globally to provide AI-powered location intelligence solutions that deliver the most innovative driver experiences, Navigation on Autopilot (NOA), and automated driving functions.

One of HEREs long-standing partners is the Neusoft Corporation. The companies are focused on delivering customized intelligent navigation solutions for global markets, supporting Chinese automakers in meeting diverse international requirements and expanding their global reach.

Guan Xin, General Manager, Neusoft Automotive Innovative Solutions said, Expanding beyond China comes with unique challenges, from meeting diverse regulatory requirements to ensuring a seamless navigation experience for drivers worldwide. With HERE, we have a trusted partner that helps us localize our solutions while maintaining global consistency. Their AI-powered location technology enables us to deliver smarter, safer and more connected driver experiences as we scale into new markets."

Attendees of Auto Shanghai 2025 are invited to visit the HERE booth #2B A052 to experience firsthand how HEREs location intelligence solutions are enabling smarter, safer, and more sustainable mobility.

Follow HERE on WeChat to stay updated on our latest innovations and developments.

Media contacts

HERE Technologies

Qifei Zhang

+86 186 181 18897

rico.zhang@here.com

Jordan Stark

+1 312 316 4537

jordan.stark@here.com

Dr. Sebastian Kurme

+49 173 515 3549

sebastian.kurme@here.com

About HERE Technologies

HERE has been a pioneer in mapping and location technology for 40 years. Today, HEREs location platform is recognized as the most complete in the industry, powering location-based products, services and custom maps for organizations and enterprises across the globe. From autonomous driving and seamless logistics to new mobility experiences, HERE allows its partners and customers to innovate while retaining control over their data and safeguarding privacy. Find out how HERE is moving the world forward at here.com.

Attachment
Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR

Allschwil, Switzerland  April 16, 2025

Idorsia Ltd (SIX: IDIA) today announced that the hearing by the higher cantonal composition authority (obere kantonale Nachlassbehorde) (the Court) in relation to its outstanding convertible bond (ISIN: CH0426820350) (the Bonds or CB 2025) with a nominal value of CHF 200 million and a conversion price of CHF 6.00 per Idorsia share, which matured on January 17, 2025, was held yesterday and that the Court approved the amendments of the Bond terms decided at the bondholder meeting held on February 25, 2025.

The amended terms will become effective, if no appeal is filed against the court decision, within 30 days from the official publication of the written statement of the grounds. All information related to the meeting can be found at the following link: www.idorsia.com/CB2025.

Approving this extension of the maturity of the CB 2025 until September 17, 2025 is the first step in a larger holistic restructuring to provide the time required for its implementation, as announced in a press release on February 26, 2025.

In the coming weeks, the company will provide an update on the implementation of the holistic restructuring, including the timing of the new money facility subscription process and exchange offer.

Notes to the editor

About Idorsia

Idorsia Ltd is reaching out for more  we have more passion for science, we see more opportunities, and we want to help more patients.

The purpose of Idorsia is to challenge accepted medical paradigms, answering the questions that matter most. To achieve this, we will discover, develop, and commercialize transformative medicines  either with in-house capabilities or together with partners  and evolve Idorsia into a leading biopharmaceutical company, with a strong scientific core.

Headquartered near Basel, Switzerland  a European biotech hub  Idorsia has a highly experienced team of dedicated professionals, covering all disciplines from bench to bedside; QUVIVIQ (daridorexant), a different kind of insomnia treatment with the potential to revolutionize this mounting public health concern; strong partners to maximize the value of our portfolio; a promising in-house development pipeline; and a specialized drug discovery engine focused on small-molecule drugs that can change the treatment paradigm for many patients.

Idorsia is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ticker symbol: IDIA).

For further information, please contact:

Investor & Media Relations

Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Hegenheimermattweg 91, CH-4123 Allschwil

+41 58 844 10 10

investor.relations@idorsia.com  media.relations@idorsia.com  www.idorsia.com

The above information contains certain "forward-looking statements", relating to the company's business, which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "estimates", "believes", "expects", "may", "are expected to", "will", "will continue", "should", "would be", "seeks", "pending" or "anticipates" or similar expressions, or by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions. Such statements include descriptions of the company's investment and research and development programs and anticipated expenditures in connection therewith, descriptions of new products expected to be introduced by the company and anticipated customer demand for such products and products in the company's existing portfolio. Such statements reflect the current views of the company with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated or expected.

Attachment
Allschwil, Switzerland, April 16, 2025

Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd, Allschwil (SIX: BSLN), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to meeting the needs of patients with severe bacterial and fungal infections, announced today scientific presentations on Basileas clinical-stage novel antifungal fosmanogepix given at ESCMID Global 2025, the annual meeting of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, which took place from April 11 to 15, 2025 in Vienna, Austria. Further presentations covered the antifungal isavuconazole (Cresemba) and the antibiotic ceftobiprole (Zevtera).

Dr. Marc Engelhardt, Chief Medical Officer of Basilea, said: Invasive fungal infections are an increasing global health problem and novel antifungals are urgently needed. To date more than 250 patients suffering from difficult-to-treat invasive fungal infections have received fosmanogepix via expanded access. The data presented at ESCMID highlight the potential of fosmanogepix as a life-saving treatment option in severe fungal infections, based on the results from a large cohort of patients with invasive fusariosis, as well as from patients with mucormycosis, who received fosmanogepix via expanded access. We look forward to the start of our second phase 3 study with fosmanogepix covering a broad range of mold infections, including aspergillosis, fusariosis and mucormycosis.

More than 250 patients from 11 countries with serious or life-threatening invasive fungal infections, who progressed on antifungal standard-of-care treatment, experienced treatment-limiting toxicities, or had infections with resistant fungal pathogens, received fosmanogepix via expanded access to date (NCT06433128). As presented at ESCMID, treatment with fosmanogepix resulted in favorable response rates of 70% or higher in patients with invasive fusariosis or mucormycosis and it was tolerated for long treatment durations.

Further presentations reported on the activity of fosmanogepix against diverse yeast and mold species collected as part of a worldwide surveillance program.

Fosmanogepix data presented at ESCMID Global 2025



 Presentation IPT13: Fosmanogepix  a novel clinical phase 3 stage antifungal agent  M. Engelhardt



 Presentation O0419: Fosmanogepix expanded access in patients withFusariuminfections  S. Dadwal, A. Baluch, J. Dickter, J. R. Newman, M. H. Nguyen, R. Weihe, H. Schlamm, L. Ostrosky-Zeichner



 Poster P4164: Fosmanogepix expanded access case series in patients with mucormycosis  A. Puing, A. Kaur, Y. J. Lee, P.Chang, A. Koff, D. Tyungu, M. Oldham, M. Shaughnessy, A. Tande, H. Schlamm, J. Maertens



 Poster E0237:Activity of manogepix against a worldwide collection of mould isolates from 2023M. Winkler, S. Edeker, A. Klauer, P. R. Rhomberg, M. Castanheira



 Poster P2891:Activity of manogepix against a worldwide collection of yeast isolates from 2023M. Winkler, S. Edeker, A. Klauer, P. R. Rhomberg, M. Castanheira









Isavuconazole (Cresemba) data presented at ESCMID Global 2025



 Poster P2944: Deciphering Connections between Isavuconazole (ISAV) Drug Exposures and Responses Among Different Infections: Mucorales  L. Kovanda, A. Desai



 Poster P2945: Deciphering Connections Between Isavuconazole Drug Exposures and Responses Among Different Infections: Dimorphic Fungi/Mould/Other Filamentous Fungi and Mixed Infections  A. Desai, L. Kovanda



 Poster P2946: Deciphering Connections Between Isavuconazole Drug Exposures and Responses Among Different Infections: Invasive Candidiasis  L. Kovanda, A. Desai



 Poster E0050: Enhancing Isavuconazole Pharmacokinetics: A Comprehensive Population (PPK) Model from Three Phase 3 Trials and Covariate Exploration  A. Desai, L. Kovanda



 Poster E0055: High-dose isavuconazole therapy is well-tolerated and significantly improves survival in a fruit fly model of invasive mucormycosis  S. Wurster, N. D. Albert, N. P. Wiederhold, R. E. Lewis, D. P. Kontoyiannis









Ceftobiprole (Zevtera) data presented at ESCMID Global 2025



 Poster E0792: Ceftobiprole alone versus in combination with ampicillin against borderline penicillin-resistant, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis  O. Funk, I. Khan, J. Li, J. Cusumano







About fosmanogepix

Fosmanogepix is a clinical-stage broad-spectrum antifungal. It has a novel mechanism of action and its active moiety has shown activity against common species of Candida and Aspergillus, including multi-drug-resistant strains, such as Candida auris and Candida glabrata, as well as rare difficult-to-treat molds including Fusarium spp., Scedosporium spp., and some fungi from the Mucorales order.1 Fosmanogepix intravenous and oral formulations have been evaluated in clinical phase 2 studies for the treatment of patients with Candidemia, including Candida auris infections, and invasive mold infections.1 A phase 3 study evaluating fosmanogepix in the treatment of adult patients with candidemia and/or invasive candidiasis is ongoing.2 Fosmanogepix has received Fast Track and Orphan Drug designations from the US Food and Drug Administration for seven separate indications, and is designated as a Qualified Infectious Disease Product (QIDP).

This project has been funded in part with federal funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); Administration of Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR); Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), under OT number: 75A50124C00033. The contract and federal funding are not an endorsement of the study results, product, or company.

About Cresemba (isavuconazole)

Cresemba, with the active ingredient isavuconazole, is an intravenous (i.v.) and oral azole antifungal. In the 27 European Union member states, as well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, isavuconazole is approved for patients aged from 1 year of age and older for the treatment of invasive aspergillosis and for the treatment of mucormycosis in patients for whom amphotericin B is inappropriate.3 Isavuconazole is also approved in the United States (US)4 and several additional countries in Europe and beyond, including the United Kingdom5, the Middle East and North Africa region, the Asia Pacific region, China and Japan.6 It has orphan drug designation in the US, Europe and Australia for its approved indications.

About Zevtera (ceftobiprole medocaril sodium for injection)

Ceftobiprole, the active moiety of the prodrug ceftobiprole medocaril, is an advanced generation cephalosporin antibiotic for intravenous administration, with rapid bactericidal activity against a wide range of Gram-positive bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus, including methicillin-resistant strains (MRSA), and Gram-negative bacteria.7 In several countries in Europe and beyond, the brand is currently approved and marketed as Zevtera and Mabelio for the treatment of adult patients with hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia (HABP), excluding ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (VABP), and for the treatment of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP).7 In the United States, ZEVTERA is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections (bacteremia) (SAB), including right-sided infective endocarditis, and adult patients with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) and for adult and pediatric patients (3 months to less than 18 years old) with community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP).8

About Basilea

Basilea is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company founded in 2000 and headquartered in Switzerland. We are committed to discovering, developing and commercializing innovative drugs to meet the needs of patients with severe bacterial and fungal infections. We have successfully launched two hospital brands, Cresemba for the treatment of invasive fungal infections and Zevtera for the treatment of bacterial infections. In addition, we have preclinical and clinical anti-infective assets in our portfolio. Basilea is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX: BSLN). Please visit basilea.com.

Disclaimer

This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements, such as "believe", "assume", "expect", "forecast", "project", "may", "could", "might", "will" or similar expressions concerning Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd, Allschwil and its business, including with respect to the progress, timing and completion of research, development and clinical studies for product candidates. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd, Allschwil to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd, Allschwil is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For further information, please contact:

Peer Nils Schroder, PhD



Head of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations

Basilea Pharmaceutica International Ltd, Allschwil

Hegenheimermattweg 167b

4123 Allschwil

Switzerland Phone +41 61 606 1102 E-mail media_relations@basilea.com

investor_relations@basilea.com

This press release can be downloaded from www.basilea.com.

References

K. J. Shaw, A. S. Ibrahim. Fosmanogepix: A Review of the First-in-Class Broad Spectrum Agent for the Treatment of Invasive Fungal Infections. Journal of Fungi (Basel) 2020 (6), 239 Fosmanogepix Against Standard-of-care Treatment in Invasive Candidiasis (FAST-IC): ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05421858 European Public Assessment Report (EPAR) Cresemba: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/cresemba [Accessed: April 15, 2025] Full US prescribing information: https://www.astellas.us/docs/cresemba.pdf [Accessed: April 15, 2025] Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) Cresemba: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/search?q=cresemba [Accessed: April 15, 2025] The registration status and approved indications may vary from country to country. Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) Zevtera: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/9164/smpc [Accessed: April 15, 2025] Full US prescribing information: https://www.basilea.com/ZEVTERA_US_prescribing_information_46b9y4wk



Press release (PDF)
Arowanas B Corp holding company will provide a succession and ownership transition pathway for B Corp founders seeking to exit but retain ethos of their businesses

Investment focus will initially be on ASEAN region but in time look to expand to other developing economies across MENA and Latin American regions with large and growing populations

SINGAPORE, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Arowana & Co. (Arowana), the global B Corporation investment group, announced today that it has launched a holding company headquartered in Singapore to specifically invest in companies committed to the B Corp triple bottom line of People, Planet and Profit across the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region.

The primary purpose of this holding company, AIC Group Holdings, is to provide companies that are B Corp or want to become B Corp with an ownership succession pathway, which will respect and perpetuate the B Corp ethos and culture instilled by their founders. AIC Group Holdings is privately held.

In tandem with the launch of the holding company, Arowana has appointed Andrew Kassoy, co-founder of B Lab Global, the non-profit behind the B Corp movement, to the Advisory Board of AIC Group Holdings. In addition, Thomas Ng, a leading B Corp entrepreneur and founder of Genashtim, a fast-growing global social enterprise, has agreed to join the Advisory Board.

Arowana founder and chairman, Kevin Chin, commented: We have been working on optimising a structure for two years and believe a holding company that has no restrictions in terms of investment entry and exit horizons is the best model that matches the succession and growth objectives of B Corp founders and their businesses. As a B Corp ourselves, we appreciate the dilemma that founders face in this regard. We consider Singapore to be the ideal headquarters for this holding company as we see many enterprises across the fast-growing ASEAN region that would be a good fit. This is consistent with Arowanas broader strategy of pivoting our focus to developing markets across ASEAN and, in due time, Africa and Latin America with large and growing populations and economies.

He further added: I am honoured that two luminaries of the B Corp movement, Andrew Kassoy and Thomas Ng, have agreed to join the Arowana holding company advisory board members. Not only are Andrew and Thomas great stewards, but also world-class entrepreneurs who have led the scale-up of high-growth global enterprises. We expect to announce further additions to the advisory board and the holding company team in due course. Meanwhile, our team is already in exclusive due diligence processes on four proprietary investment opportunities in the ASEAN region that have come about because of Arowanas veritable commitment to the B Corp ethos.

Andrew Kassoy, co-founder of B Lab Global, commented: Since the earliest days of the B Corp movement, we have seen first-hand the issues of succession and ownership transition faced by B Corp founders, especially when deliberating on acquisition proposals from non-B Corp entities. I am excited to join the Arowana B Corp holding company advisory board as I share the vision that Kevin Chin has in creating a permanent capital holding company structure with a genuine B Corp ethos that provides a compelling option for B Corp founders exploring succession and exit.

Thomas Ng, B Corp steward and founder, said: Having known Kevin Chin for some time and seeing first-hand his steadfast commitment to the B Corp values and mission, I am delighted to be joining the Arowana B Corp holding company advisory board. Across Genashtims operations in the ASEAN, African and Latin America regions, we see many businesses that the Arowana B Corp holding company would represent an attractive alternative to consider for succession and ownership transition.

About Arowana

Founded in 2007, Arowana is a global investment group that ranks amongst the worlds leading B Corporations. Arowana first certified as a B Corp in 2018 and recertified in 2023. Arowanas investment strategy today is focussed on developing markets with large and growing populations where it can best deliver on its core purpose of growing people, companies and value whilst maximising the B Corp triple bottom line of people, planet and profit. Arowana presently has operating companies and investments in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa, the United Kingdom, the European Union and Oceania regions.

Media Contact

Arowana Digital

DigitalContent@arowanaco.com

Attachment
Bitwise adds London as trading hub for four of its European products, providing access to its best-in-class crypto ETPs for UK professional investors.

providing access to its best-in-class crypto ETPs for UK professional investors. Products to be traded at LSE include Bitwise Core Bitcoin ETP, Europes only Bitcoin ETP with extended primary market liquidity window and 0,20% TER, and the Bitwise Physical Bitcoin ETP with approximately 5-year track-record.

Europes only Bitcoin ETP with extended primary market liquidity window and 0,20% TER, and the Bitwise Physical Bitcoin ETP with approximately 5-year track-record. LSE is premier trading venue for ETPs in Europe, with members of more than 20 countries having access to its order books





April 16, 2025. Frankfurt, London: Bitwise has listed four of its Germany-issued crypto Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) at the London Stock Exchange (LSE), expanding access to its institutional-grade product suite for Bitcoin and Ethereum investors, and widening its footprint across European markets. The lineup includes BTC1, the Bitwise Core Bitcoin ETP, one of Europes most cost-efficient Bitcoin ETPs with a total expense ratio (TER) of just 0.20% and the Bitwise Physical Bitcoin ETP, which has a five-year track record and ranks as Europes most liquid Bitcoin ETP. While these products remain restricted to professional and wholesale investors in the UK, the London listing significantly improves access for qualified market participants. Bitwise is a pure-play digital asset manager, yet our ETPs are designed by experts with deep expertise in both digital assets and traditional financial marketsmaking them ideally suited to the needs of institutional investors.

Bradley Duke, Managing Director, Head of Bitwise Europe, said: I am very pleased to see the debut listings of Bitwise products on the London Stock Exchange, one of Europes most esteemed trading venues. Investing in crypto is rapidly becoming mainstream and institutional investors increasingly allocate digital assets to their portfolios. Bitwise offers secure, transparent, and best-in-class crypto investment products, supported by a team with expert knowledge of the market and the needs of institutional investors. We will continue to innovate our product range, in dialogue with investors to bring products that suit their needs in this rapidly developing asset class.

The four products listed in London as of 15 April are:

The Bitwise Core Bitcoin ETP (BTC1, ISIN: DE000A4AER62), a cost-efficient Bitcoin ETP option without fee holidays, with a TER of 0.20% per year, making it ideal for strategic allocations. The product is designed for long-term institutional investors seeking cost efficiency and benchmark reliability. The NAV is calculated three times daily using Bitwises unique Triple-Daily NAV Method, which integrates primary market liquidity from Hong Kong, the European Union, and the United States.

(BTC1, ISIN: DE000A4AER62), a cost-efficient Bitcoin ETP option without fee holidays, with a TER of 0.20% per year, making it ideal for strategic allocations. The product is designed for long-term institutional investors seeking cost efficiency and benchmark reliability. The NAV is calculated three times daily using Bitwises unique Triple-Daily NAV Method, which integrates primary market liquidity from Hong Kong, the European Union, and the United States. The Bitwise Physical Bitcoin ETP (BTCE, ISIN: DE000A27Z304) the most liquid crypto ETP on the XETRA trading platform of Deutsche Borse, with one of the lowest bid-ask spreads, and the second-highest assets under management (AUM) of any physical Bitcoin ETP in Europe. It is often used by traders and short- to mid-term investors looking for flexible exposure to Bitcoin. Launched in June 2020 as the first ever crypto ETP on the German stock exchange in Frankfurt, BTCE is one of the largest Bitcoin products in terms of assets under management in Europe.

(BTCE, ISIN: DE000A27Z304) the most liquid crypto ETP on the XETRA trading platform of Deutsche Borse, with one of the lowest bid-ask spreads, and the second-highest assets under management (AUM) of any physical Bitcoin ETP in Europe. It is often used by traders and short- to mid-term investors looking for flexible exposure to Bitcoin. Launched in June 2020 as the first ever crypto ETP on the German stock exchange in Frankfurt, BTCE is one of the largest Bitcoin products in terms of assets under management in Europe. The Bitwise Physical Ethereum ETP (ZETH, ISIN: DE000A3GMKD7), an institutional-grade Ethereum product that gives investors pure exposure to Ethereum performance, equipped with institutional-grade custody. The assets backing the ETP are kept in cold-storage, and are secured by an independent trustee, thus mitigating issuer default risk.

(ZETH, ISIN: DE000A3GMKD7), an institutional-grade Ethereum product that gives investors pure exposure to Ethereum performance, equipped with institutional-grade custody. The assets backing the ETP are kept in cold-storage, and are secured by an independent trustee, thus mitigating issuer default risk. The Bitwise Ethereum Staking ETP (ET32, ISIN: DE000A3G90G9), an institutional-grade, low cost, and liquid vehicle with staking rewards accumulating in the ETP daily leveraging ETH staking for maximum investor outcome. It has seen consistent positive net inflows while maintaining competitive bid-ask spreads, and aims at offering the lowest total cost of ownership among ETH Staking ETPs. As the only ETH staking ETP tied to a real benchmark, it enables investors to accurately evaluate Ethereum staking opportunities and clearly assess performance against industry standards.

Bitwise has accelerated its activities in Europe since its acquisition of ETC Group last year, continuing to launch innovative new products regularly, such as the Bitwise Solana Staking ETP in November 2024, the Bitwise Aptos Staking ETP in December and the Bitwise Diaman Bitcoin & Gold ETP just last month. Its products trade on several of Europes largest stock exchanges. Committed to transparency, expert product design, and professional management, Bitwise frequently publishes crypto research and market insights to educate and inform investors of the emerging opportunities in the digital assets space.

Bitwise enables investors to gain exposure to digital assets without the need for a crypto wallet, as our ETPs trade on regulated exchanges, just like traditional stocks or ETFs. Each ETP is fully backed by the corresponding digital asset, securely held in institutional-grade cold-storage custody. Structurally comparable to precious metal ETCs, Bitwises crypto ETPs also feature a physical redemption mechanism. Investor protection is further enhanced through the presence of an independent trustee and an audited issuer structure, ensuring that the underlying assets are held off the issuers balance sheet, thereby minimizing insolvency risk. Bitwise ETPs can be seamlessly integrated into standard brokerage or ETF portfolio accounts and are often eligible for SIPP and ISA inclusion, making them accessible for long-term investment planning in the UK.

LSE Listed ETPs Trading Information

About Bitwise

Bitwise is one of the worlds leading crypto specialist asset managers. Thousands of financial advisors, family offices, and institutional investors across the globe have partnered with us to understand and access the opportunities in crypto. Since 2017, Bitwise has established a track record of excellence, managing a broad suite of index and active solutions across ETPs, separately managed accounts, private funds, and hedge fund strategies  spanning both the U.S. and Europe.

In Europe, for the past four years Bitwise (formerly ETC Group) has developed an extensive and innovative suite of crypto ETPs, including Europes most traded bitcoin ETP, or the first diversified Crypto Basket ETP replicating an MSCI digital assets index.

This family of crypto ETPs is domiciled in Germany and issued under a base prospectus approved by BaFin. We exclusively partner with reputable entities from the traditional financial industry, ensuring that 100% of the assets are securely stored offline (cold storage) through regulated custodians.

Our European products comprise a collection of carefully designed financial instruments that seamlessly integrate into any professional portfolio, providing comprehensive exposure to crypto as an asset class. Access is straightforward via major European stock exchanges, with primary listings on Xetra, the most liquid exchange for ETF trading in Europe. Retail investors benefit from easy access through numerous DIY/online brokers, coupled with our robust and secure physical ETP structure, which includes a redemption feature. For more information, visit www.bitwiseinvestments.com/eu



Media contacts:



JEA Associates

John McLeod

00 44 7886 920436

john@jeaassociates.com

Important information

This press release does not constitute investment advice, nor does it constitute an offer or solicitation to buy financial products. This press release is issued by Bitwise Europe GmbH (BEU), a limited company domiciled in Germany, for information only and in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. BEU gives no explicit or implicit assurance or guarantee regarding the fairness, accuracy, completeness, or correctness of this article or the opinions contained therein. It is advised not to rely on the fairness, accuracy, completeness, or correctness of this article or the opinions contained therein. Please note that this article is neither investment advice nor an offer or solicitation to acquire financial products or cryptocurrencies.

Before investing in crypto Exchange Traded Products (ETPs), potential investors should consider the following:

Potential investors should seek independent advice and consider relevant information contained in the base prospectus and the final terms for the ETPs, especially the risk factors. ETPs issued by BEU are suitable only for persons experienced in investing in cryptocurrencies and risks of investing can be found in the prospectus and final terms available on www.bitwiseinvestments.com./eu. The invested capital is at risk, and losses up to the amount invested are possible. ETPs backed by cryptocurrencies are highly volatile assets and performance is unpredictable. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The market price of ETPs will vary and they do not offer a fixed income or match precisely the performance of the underlying cryptocurrency. Investing in ETPs involves numerous risks including general market risks relating to underlying, adverse price movements, currency, liquidity, operational, legal and regulatory risks.
COMPANY ANNOUNCEMENT

Odense, April 16, 2025

Company Announcement no. 57  April 16, 2025

Reporting on transactions in Danish Aerospace Company A/S shares by persons discharging managerial responsibilities and persons closely associated with them

Danish Aerospace Company A/S

Company reg. (CVR) no.: 12 42 42 48

Danish Aerospace Company A/S (DAC or the Company) has received notification pursuant to article 19 of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) no. 596/2014 of the below transaction related to shares in DAC made by persons discharging managerial responsibilities in DAC and/or persons closely associated with them.

M. Goldschmidt Capital A/S, closely associated person to Sren Bjrn Hansen, Deputy Chair of the Board of Directors, has made the transactions described in the attached notification on the dates set out therein.

Please see the attached files for further details.

For further information, please contact:

Danish Aerospace Company A/S:

Thomas A.E. Andersen, CEO

Mobile: +45 40 29 41 62

Certified Adviser:

Baker Tilly Corporate Finance P/S

Poul Bundgaards Vej 1

DK-2500 Valby

Tel.: +45 33 45 10 00

www.bakertilly.dk

About Danish Aerospace Company A/S

Danish Aerospace Company A/S is a high-tech company operating in the area of advanced medical instrumentation and other engineering fields primarily within space applications. Our products are based on many years of specialized research and development. These consist of developing, integrating, and applying new as well as established medical technologies to the challenges of functioning and remaining reliable in space. These products and services bring the potential of space research and experience from space operations down to Earth for the benefit of all Mankind.

Danish Aerospace Company A/S employs engineers and technicians who deliver full engineering, production and technical services for our customers. We have specialized in customer specific design, development, manufacturing, certification, maintenance, testing, and operations.

The company has developed five generations respiratory equipment for spaceflight, cycle ergometers for astronauts countermeasures, adapted several commercial medical equipment for spaceflight and has participated in the development of the minus eighty-degree Celsius freezers.

The Companys quality system is certified in obligation to BS EN ISO 9001:2015, BS EN 9100:2018 technical equivalent to AS9100D that are the acknowledged standard in the area.

Note: This is a translation of the corresponding company announcement in Danish. In case of discrepancies between the Danish wording and the English translation, the Danish wording prevails.

Attachment
Dublin, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Legal AI Software Market by Offering (Legal AI Platforms, Generative AI Agents, Legal Drafting Tools, Report Generation Tools), Application (Ediscovery, Legal Research & Analytics, Contract Drafting & Review, IP Management) - Global Forecast to 2030" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.





The Legal AI software market is forecasted to expand from USD 3.11 billion in 2025 to USD 10.82 billion by 2030, registering a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 28.3% over the forecast period. Key advancements driving this growth include Generative AI for contract drafting and review, AI-powered e-discovery, and AI-driven virtual legal assistants. These innovations streamline contract management, enhance legal research, and improve litigation strategies, thereby accelerating legal processes.

Despite rapid advancements, the market growth encounters challenges such as resistance from traditional legal practitioners, lack of AI standardization in legal decision-making, and ethical concerns surrounding AI's role in legal processes. Additionally, skepticism about AI accuracy and job displacement concerns among lawyers, coupled with an absence of standardized AI regulations, contribute to uncertainty in legal interpretations.

BFSI Sector to Hold Largest Market Share During Forecast Period

The BFSI sector is anticipated to dominate the legal AI software market, particularly within corporate legal departments, due to escalating regulatory complexities and the necessity for efficient compliance management. Financial institutions, banks, and insurance companies require AI-powered solutions to automate contract analysis, risk assessment, and fraud detection. AI-driven legal tools enable BFSI firms to swiftly adapt to evolving regulations, such as AML, KYC, and GDPR, minimizing legal risks and ensuring compliance. The sector's significant litigation volume also calls for AI-powered e-discovery and case management tools to optimize legal workflows.

Generative AI Software to Register Highest CAGR During Forecast Period

Generative AI is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR in the Legal AI Software Market due to its capability to automate complex legal tasks, boost research efficiency, and produce high-quality legal documents. Law firms and corporate legal departments are increasingly adopting Generative AI for streamlined contract drafting, case analysis, and regulatory compliance, reducing both time and financial costs. The emergence of large language models, such as GPT-based AI, is transforming legal research by providing swift access to case precedents and interpretations. In addition, Generative AI enhances e-discovery and predictive analytics, aiding legal professionals in making informed, data-driven decisions.

Asia Pacific's Rapid Market Growth Fueled by Innovation

The Asia Pacific region is anticipated to grow rapidly in the legal AI software market, while North America is set to maintain the largest market share. The former's growth is spurred by digital transformation, increasing legal complexities, and the rising adoption of AI-driven legal solutions in countries such as China, India, Japan, and South Korea. Businesses and law firms in these regions are heavily investing in AI-powered tools for contract management, compliance tracking, and regulatory analysis across sectors like BFSI, healthcare, and manufacturing.

North America leads due to early AI adoption, robust legal tech presence, and high investment in legal automation. The United States, specifically, hosts major law firms and startups harnessing AI for contract analysis, e-discovery, and compliance. A complex regulatory framework, including GDPR, CCPA, and SEC/FTC guidelines, pushes legal teams to incorporate AI solutions for risk management and automation, maintaining the region's market share dominance.

Key Players and Market Insights

Prime market players include Microsoft, IBM, LexisNexis, Thomson Reuters, AWS, Everlaw, Litera, and more. The research covers in-depth insights regarding key drivers, restraints, and opportunities shaping the legal AI software market's growth trajectory. The study further analyzes competitive landscapes, product innovations, market development, and diversification opportunities.

Comprehensive Research Coverage

The report categorizes the legal AI software market by offering, technology, application, and end-user. It includes a detailed study of generative AI software, natural language processing, and machine learning technologies. The applications extend across legal research, contract drafting, e-discovery, and more, serving a diverse range of end users including corporate legal departments, law enforcement agencies, and law firms.

Key Benefits of the Report

This report will equip market leaders and new entrants with approximate revenue numbers for the legal AI software market and its subsegments. It is designed to help stakeholders comprehend the competitive landscape, grasp market dynamics, and devise effective market strategies, enabling them to tap into new opportunities.

Key Attributes:





Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 345 Forecast Period 2025 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2025 $3.11 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $10.82 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 28.3% Regions Covered Global





Key Topics Covered:



Market Dynamics

Drivers Significant Increase in Ediscovery Requirements Surge in NLP Adoption in Legal Operations Government Support for Judicial Efficiency Proliferation of AI-Driven Knowledge Management Systems

Restraints Ethical Concerns Over AI Decision-Making Lack of Skilled AI Talent in Legal Sector

Opportunities Emergence of Virtual Hearings and Online Dispute Resolution Use of Real-Time Sentiment Analysis in Courtrooms Expansion of AI-Driven Arbitration Platforms

Challenges Adapting AI to Non-Standardized Legal Processes Standardizing AI for Litigation-Specific Applications

Case Study Analysis Case Study 1: Clio Enhanced Efficiency for Aikyam Law Offices Case Study 2: Genie AI Reduced Drafting Time by 75% Case Study 3: Disco AI Improved Legal Document Management for Withers LLP Case Study 4: Lawpath Enhanced Legal Services Through Generative AI Case Study 5: Holland & Knight Heightened Legal Efficiency and Data Management with Litera Solutions



Company Profiles

Microsoft

IBM

Lexisnexis

Thomson Reuters

AWS

Everlaw

Litera

CS Disco

Relativity

Wolters Kluwer

Netdocuments

Donotpay

Luminance

Icertis

Clio

Robin AI

Consilio

Linksquares

Sirion

Ironclad

Contractpodai

Evenup

Knovos

Neota

Juro

Pocketlaw

Spellbook

Bluej

Legalsifter

Lawgeex

Ross Intelligence

Vlex

Genie AI

Harvey

Darrow

Leya

Ebrevia

Lawgpt

Legalmation

Lawpro.AI

Legalfly

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/1c0g1a

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
An Extraordinary General Meeting of Awilco Drilling PLC was held Wednesday 16 April 2025 at 10:00am (UK time), at the Companys registered office, Suite 1, 7th Floor, 50 Broadway, London, SW1H 0BL, United Kingdom.



The resolution set out in the Meeting Notice was duly passed. The signed minutes of meeting are attached hereto.

The Meeting Notice is available on our website www.awilcodrilling.com, under Investor Relations/General Meetings.



Aberdeen, 16 April 2025





For further information please contact:



Eric Jacobs, Interim CEO

Phone: +47 9529 2271



Cathrine Haavind, Investor Relations

Phone: +47 93 42 84 64

Email: ch@awilcodrilling.com





This information is subject of the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.





Attachment
ROCHELLE PARK, N.J., April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ZRG, the fastest-growing full-service global talent advisory firm, today announced a major step forward in expanding its data and AI expertise with the appointment of Deepali Vyas to lead the firms work in this critical space.

As Managing Director, Sector Head of AI and Data, Vyas brings more than 25 years of experience at the intersection of data, analytics, artificial intelligence, and executive leadership. She joins ZRG from Korn Ferry, where she served as Senior Partner and Global Leader for Data, AI, and FinTech. She previously held senior roles at Heidrick & Struggles and has worked across financial services, healthcare, technology, consumer, and industrial sectors.

Throughout her career, Vyas has built and placed transformative leadership teams, advising global enterprises, venture-backed disruptors, and private equity firms on executive hiring and strategy. Her expertise spans roles such as Chief Data Officer, Chief AI Officer, Chief Analytics Officer, and beyond, bringing a powerful combination of functional depth and market perspective to every engagement.

AI and data are no longer future considerationstheyre shaping business strategy right now, said Nate Frank, President of Executive Search at ZRG. Deepalis arrival marks a significant step forward in our ability to serve clients who are building data-centric, AI-enabled organizations. Her track record, credibility, and insight will help our clients find the leaders they need to navigate an increasingly complex digital future.

ZRGs growing focus in AI and data is in direct response to market demand. Clients are grappling with how to structure teams, where AI should sit in the organization, and who is best equipped to lead these evolving mandates. From data privacy to generative AI governance to building internal AI engines, companies are searching for answersand talent to lead the way.

This expansion also complements ZRGs broader investments in technology. Through the firms proprietary Zi platform and data-enabled search process, ZRG continues to deliver smarter, faster talent solutionsand now, with a deeper bench in AI and data, the firm is well-positioned to support clients driving innovation at scale.

With a strong following on social platforms and a regular presence in Bloomberg, CNBC, Forbes, and The Wall Street Journal, Vyas is also widely recognized as a thought leader and career strategist in emerging technologies. She will continue to share insights and trends in AI, data science, and the future of leadership as part of her work at ZRG.

This move underscores ZRGs commitment to serving the leaders building the futureand ensuring talent strategy keeps pace with technology.

About ZRG

ZRG is the fastest-growing global talent advisory firm, rethinking traditional models of executive search, interim solutions, and talent consulting. With a data-powered approach and a full suite of human capital offerings, ZRG delivers smarter, faster talent solutions across industries and geographieshelping clients compete and win in an increasingly AI-powered world.

With the backing of private equity investor RFE Investment Partners, ZRG is one of the fastest-growing firms in the search industry, offering retained search, on-demand talent, and consulting and advisory solutions across the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Australia.

Media Contact : John Mooney, Over the Moon PR, 908-720-6057, john@overthemoonpr.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/84a5bee6-a82a-4aeb-abc8-baeaf205d872
PRAGUE, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Skyvia , the most comprehensive data integration platform, has announced the beta release of its highly anticipated Public API. The new feature responds directly to customer requests for enhanced flexibility, programmatic control, and streamlined automation in managing their data workflows. Designed for IT professionals and business users, the Skyvia Public API beta is now available for testing, offering a robust solution to integrate, manage, and optimize data across 200+ supported cloud applications, databases, and services.

Businesses expressed a need for greater control over their Skyvia resources, such as integrations, automations, endpoints, and more, along with the ability to integrate Skyvia into their existing tech stacks. The Public API beta delivers on these demands, enabling users to programmatically manage Skyvia resources, said Oleksandr Khirnyi, Chief Product Officer at Skyvia. Skyvia has always been about simplifying and automating complex data processes. With the launch of our API Beta, were giving teams even more control, enabling them to trigger and manage Skyvia operations through custom scripts and build fully automated, end-to-end data workflows, he added.

Key Features of Skyvia API Beta:

Resource Management: Programmatically manage accounts, agents, automations, backups, connections, endpoints, integrations, and workspaces.

Secure Authentication: Requires an API token passed via the Authorization header, ensuring safe and controlled access (details available in the API Reference ).

). Seamless Integration: Connects Skyvia with external systems, enabling custom workflows and real-time data operations.

Beta Access: Free for all users during the beta phase, inviting feedback to refine and enhance the API before its full release.

Get Started with Skyvia API Beta

Skyvia API Beta is now available, with additional functionality planned for future updates. To learn more, visit the API Reference or explore the Swagger documentation for an interactive experience.

About Skyvia

Skyvia is a no-code cloud data integration platform for ETL, ELT, Reverse ETL, data migration, one-way and bi-directional data sync, workflow automation, real-time connectivity, and more.

With a vast library of 200+ connectors, Skyvia provides seamless integration among various cloud applications, databases, and data warehouses, including Salesforce, Dynamics CRM, QuickBooks Online, SQL Server, Amazon Redshift, Google BigQuery, and others.

Key Solutions:

ETL, ELT, and Reverse-ETL

Workflow Automation

SaaS Backup & Restore

Real-Time Connectivity

Online SQL Query Builder



For more information, visit Skyvias website .

Media Contact: Natalia Polomkina

nataliiap@skyvia.com

skyvia.com

Na zertvach St., 2230/44 suite

Prague

18000, CZ

CZ

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c9c84139-0011-4c1d-a90d-5b9728562993
Greenville, NC, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pilot John International  (PJi), a global leader in aircraft parts, ground support equipment (GSE), and GSE maintenance support, expands its advanced e-commerce platform with new in-demand product offerings from trusted aviation brands. Pilot John International proudly welcomes Gill by Teledyne and ADS as new partners in its growing supplier network, now offering their top-tier products such as Gill by Teledyne batteries and ADS hardware kits online. PJi also expanded its product inventory with the addition of the new Sesame Technologies, Inc. vertical engine covers, further enhancing its comprehensive selection of more than 100,000 aviation products.

Pilots, aircraft maintenance technicians, and ground support teams within corporate flight departments, business jets, general aviation, and military aviation can shop the new brands and products online at pilotjohn.com. PJis e-commerce platform enables users to search by brand, product category, part number, and specific aircraft make and model, ensuring maximum precision and efficiency in every search. Creating a free online account unlocks advanced features like a virtual aircraft hangar for compatible and personalized parts and equipment recommendations, real-time inventory and pricing, corporate discounts, streamlined order tracking, complimentary CofC document management, and same-day shipping.

Our goal is to simplify the sourcing of aircraft parts and ground support equipment and customer feedback guides every decision we make about expanding our product catalog, said John Werner, President and CEO of Pilot John International. With customer-informed product expansion and a continued investment in technology to deliver a seamless and user-friendly experience, were equipping aviation professionals with fast, reliable access to the equipment and service they need to maintain business continuity.

From individual aircraft owners to fleet operators, PJis online store provides access to a comprehensive selection of parts and tools, supported by a team of experienced aviation specialists. PJi offers more than 100,000 products, including GSE, avionics test equipment, tooling, pilot supplies, safety supplies, and consumables. PJis e-commerce shop is designed to simplify the aircraft maintenance and operations experience with aircraft-specific part sorting, and a fast and intuitive interface.

Create an account and explore the full range of new and existing products at pilotjohn.com .
Dublin, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "True Random Number Generator (TRNG) Market by Type (Noise-Based TRNG, Chaos-Based TRNG, FRO-Based TRNG, QRNG), Application (Security & Cryptography, Simulation & Modeling, Data Processing, Networking), Vertical - Global Forecast to 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.





The global true random number generator (TRNG) market is poised for significant expansion, with projections valuing the market at USD 3.81 billion in 2025 and an estimated surge to USD 7.71 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 15.1% from 2025 to 2030. A surge in demand for robust security solutions across industries such as cybersecurity, finance, and defense is propelling market growth. With organizations gravitating towards interconnected environments, there is an increasing need for reliable encryption, solidifying TRNGs' critical role in secure data transmissions.



Quantum Computing and Regulatory Impacts



The evolution of quantum computing is underlining the importance of quantum-safe cryptography and is expected to drive the adoption of TRNGs. Additionally, regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) are imposing stringent data protection requirements, thus bolstering the demand for TRNGs in various applications.



Targeted Applications and Verticals



The segment of security and cryptography is anticipated to witness the highest CAGR during the forecast period due to growing cybersecurity threats and regulatory mandates for data protection. TRNGs are invaluable in encryption, authentication, and key generation processes, ensuring the security of sensitive data across finance, healthcare, and defense sectors. The IT & Telecom vertical is also expected to hold a substantial share of the TRNG market by 2030, driven by increased digitalization of data exchanges and a higher emphasis on cybersecurity in the face of expanding 5G networks, cloud computing, and IoT.



Geographical Outlook



The Asia Pacific region is projected to experience the highest growth rate in the TRNG market during the forecast period, fueled by rapid digital transformation, IoT proliferation, and vigorous governmental initiatives aimed at fortifying cybersecurity infrastructure. Countries like China and India are catalyzing the demand with initiatives geared towards digitization and improved cybersecurity regulations.



Competitive Landscape



The true random number generator market comprises a diverse array of industry players ranging from component suppliers to Tier 1 companies, each contributing to the market's competitive dynamics. Notable companies such as Apple Inc., Intel Corporation, and Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. are at the forefront, offering advanced TRNG solutions to meet the rising security demands of the digital era.



Market Insights for Stakeholders



Stakeholders in the true random number generator market can anticipate comprehensive insights on market drivers, trends, and competitive strategies. With in-depth market analysis across various regions and industries, stakeholders are better positioned to capitalize on the growing opportunities in the evolving TRNG landscape.



The insights provided aim to assist market leaders and newcomers in shaping their strategic decisions and understanding the critical factors driving the growth, development, product innovation, and diversification within the TRNG market.



Key Attributes:





Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 289 Forecast Period 2025 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2025 $3.81 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $7.71 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 15.1% Regions Covered Global





Companies Featured

Intel Corporation

Apple Inc.

Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.

Infineon Technologies AG

Microchip Technology Inc.

Id Quantique

Quantumctek Co. Ltd.

Quintessencelabs

Terra Quantum

Crypta Labs Limited

Nxp Semiconductors

Stmicroelectronics

Quantinuum

Qunu Labs Private Limited

IBM

Eyl, Inc.

Quside Technologies

Qrypt

Kets Quantum Security Ltd.

Light Rider, Inc.

S-Fifteen Instruments Pte. Ltd.

Thinkquantum S.R.L.

Quanfluence

Alea Quantum Technologies

Quantum Emotion Corp.

Tectrolabs, LLC

Comscire

Quantum Dice

Synergy Quantum India Private Limited

Quantum Computing Inc.

Renesas Electronics Corporation

Sequre Quantum





For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/r7b9of

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ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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OXFORD, United Kingdom, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dr. Daniel Chen, at the University of Oxford and Chief Scientist at biotech startup Oxperial BioHealth , revealed their major breakthrough in cancer preventiona sunlight-powered technology that boosts the bodys natural defenses against cancer.

His teams innovation, known as GPDT (Green Products Photodynamic Technology), uses plant-derived compounds activated by natural sunlight to trigger cellular responses that help eliminate abnormal or cancerous cells. The research, which specifically targets human brain cancer, was recently published in the international journal Future Science OA .

Charging Cells Like Superman

Inspired by the idea of charging cells like Superman, GPDT works by using light-sensitive plant compoundsmainly chlorophyll derivativesthat respond to sunlight in the visible spectrum (400700 nm). Once activated, these compounds trigger a photodynamic response that boosts cellular energy and slows the growth of abnormal cells.

This chain reaction helps support the bodys natural immune and energy systems at the cellular level. While the concept is grounded in nature, the delivery is highly targeted. GPDT has already been granted patents in the UK and Taiwan, with more pending internationally.

A Fusion of Nature and Innovation

Dr. Chen was joined by fellow researcher from Oxperial BioHealth, Allison Huang, RPh, who explained how the technology strengthens the bodys innate energy systems and immunity. Co-authors Prof. Yao Kuan Chen and Dr. Jeff Liu added that light activation improves how plant-based compounds are absorbed and used by the body, increasing both their effectiveness and safety. According to the team, its this fusion of natural ingredients and scientific precision that sets GPDT apart. The team believes GPDT holds strong potential, not only as a functional food supplement for preventive health, but also as a future novel therapy for cancer prevention and immune modulation.

Bridging Science, Industry, and Public Health

At the launch event in Taipei, Dr. Chen showcased GPDTs potential applications in cancer prevention and wellness. The event drew strong interest from leaders in Taiwans biotech and healthcare sectors, many of whom expressed intent to collaborate on bringing this innovation to the public.

This is more than just a scientific discovery, said Dr. Chen. Were showing that natural compounds, activated by something as simple as sunlight, can create powerful effects in the fight against cancer. Its a leap forward in preventive medicine.

Meeting an Unmet Need in Holistic Cancer Care

Oxperial BioHealth is positioning itself at the forefront of a rapidly growing movement in integrative oncology, addressing the unmet demand for natural, non-invasive therapies that support conventional cancer treatments.

Many cancer patients today seek complementary approaches that enhance their quality of life, strengthen immunity, and reduce side effects associated with chemotherapy and radiation. However, the current supplement and wellness market often lacks options that are both scientifically validated and specifically designed for oncology support.

GPDT represents a timely response to this gap, offering a research-backed solution grounded in plant-based science and photodynamic principles. Oxperials goal is to develop safe, effective, and rigorously tested supplements and preventive health solutions that align with patient preferences for holistic, evidence-based care. By combining biotechnology with natures healing mechanisms, the company aims to empower individuals with choices that complement traditional medicine, supporting wellness before, during, and after treatment.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d7a28e7e-a44a-47da-8bb3-9b0d52d5d09f
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Endeavour Silver Corp. (Endeavour or the Company) (TSX: EDR, NYSE: EXK) is pleased to announce that, further to its prospectus offering of common shares of the Company (Common Shares) which closed on April 8, 2025 (the Offering), the Underwriters (as defined below) have exercised their over-allotment option (the Over-Allotment Option), in full, to purchase an additional 1,285,000 Common Shares at a price of US$3.88 per Common Share. Upon closing of the Over-Allotment Option, the Company received additional gross proceeds of US$4,985,800, resulting in total gross proceeds from the Offering of approximately US$50.0 million.

The Offering was led by BMO Capital Markets, as sole bookrunner, together with a syndicate of underwriters consisting of TD Securities Inc. and Raymond James Ltd (collectively, the Underwriters).

As previously announced, the Company plans to use the net proceeds of the Offering to fund part of the purchase price of the previously announced acquisition of all of the outstanding shares of Compania Minera Kolpa S.A., and its main asset, the Huachocolpa Uno Mine (Kolpa), from subsidiaries of its shareholders Arias Resource Capital Management and Grupo Raffo, in exchange for total consideration of US$145 million (the Transaction). In the event the Transaction is not completed for any reason, the Company will have discretion with respect to the use of net proceeds from the Offering.

Closing of the Transaction remains subject to Toronto Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange regulatory approvals, as well as customary closing conditions, and is expected to occur within 60 days.

About Endeavour Silver Corp.

Endeavour is a mid-tier precious metals company with a strong commitment to sustainable and responsible mining practices. With operations in Mexico and the development of the new cornerstone mine in Jalisco State, the Company aims to contribute positively to the mining industry and the communities in which it operates. In addition, Endeavour has a portfolio of exploration projects in Mexico, Chile and the United States to facilitate its goal to become a premier senior silver producer.

Contact Information

Allison Pettit, Director of Investor Relations Tel: (604) 640 4804

Email: apettit@edrsilver.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements



This news release 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. Such forward-looking statements and information herein include but are not limited to statements regarding the Companys use of proceeds; and the Transaction, including the expected closing date, the Companys receipt of required regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of closing conditions.

Forward-looking statements or information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual events, level of activity, performance or achievements of Endeavour and its operations to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. Such factors include, among others, the timing of, and ability to obtain, regulatory approvals; changes in production and costs guidance; the ongoing effects of inflation and supply chain issue on mine economics; ability to continue to comply with the terms of the project debt facility; changes in national and local governments legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments in Canada, Chile, the USA and Mexico; timing and content of work programs; results of exploration activities and development of mineral properties; financial risks due to precious metal prices; operating or technical difficulties in mineral exploration, development and mining activities; risks and hazards of mineral exploration, development and mining; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development; risks in obtaining necessary licenses and permits; fluctuations in the prices of silver and gold; fluctuations in currency markets (particularly the Mexican peso, Chilean peso, Canadian dollar and US dollar); and challenges to the Companys title to properties; as well as those factors described in the section Risk Factors contained in the prospectus supplement to which the Offering relates and in the Companys most recent form 40F/Annual Information Form filed with the SEC and Canadian securities regulatory authorities.

Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including but not limited to: the forecasted capacity and production estimates for Kolpa, and the reliability of mineral resource estimates, the continuation of exploration and mining operations, the continued operation of the Companys mining operations, no material adverse change in the market price of commodities, mining operations will operate and the mining products will be completed in accordance with managements expectations and achieve their stated production outcomes, resource and reserve estimates, metal prices, and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or information, there may be other factors that cause results to be materially different from those anticipated, described, estimated, assessed or intended. These forward-looking statements represent the Companys views as of the date of this release. There can be no assurance that any forward-looking statements or information will 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 information. The Company does not intend to and does not assume any obligation to update such forward-looking statements or information, other than as required by applicable law.
WALTHAM, Mass., April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rocket Software, a global technology leader in modernization software, is celebrating 35 years of innovation, growth, and excellence. Trusted by 43 of the Fortune 50, Rocket Software has grown from a start-up focused on enabling IBM solutions into a global enterprise driving the modernization efforts of over 12,500 customers and 750 partners. Founded in 1990 by Andy Youniss and Johan Magnusson Gedda, the company now proudly employs more than 3,200 employees worldwide. Over the decades, the company has modernized billions of lines of code, transformed countless databases, and helped organizations unlock the true potential of their IT infrastructure.

"Rocket Software has been a catalyst for modernizationand were just getting started," said Milan Shetti, president and CEO of Rocket Software. "We remain committed to bold innovation, empowering our global customers to solve complex IT challenges while modernizing without disruption. Our momentum is unstoppable, and were shaping the future of digital transformation. A heartfelt thank you to our incredible Rocketeers for their dedication over the past 35 years. Their hard work and passion are the foundation of our success, and together, well continue to push the boundaries of innovation."

A Legacy of Innovation and Growth

Over the last few years, the company has expanded its global partner program to include leading global system integrators, value-added resellers, and cloud service providers. While the company continues to grow its partner ecosystem, its relationship with IBM has deepened over 35 years. As a longtime IBM partner, the company has worked closely to enhance enterprise modernization solutions, helping businesses optimize their mission-critical IBM systems, ensuring seamless operations and future-ready innovation.

AI is fundamentally changing the mainframe experience, empowering developers, operations staff and business users, said Skyla Loomis, General Manager, IBM Z Software. IBM Z is built on a foundation of performance, resiliency and trust at the core to help clients create value from their mission-critical applications and data. Congratulations to Rocket Software on this anniversary. We look forward to innovating new AI use cases together that help our mutual clients take full advantage the newly released IBM z17.

Rocket Software has spent more than three decades modernizing IT infrastructure, applications, and data for some of the worlds most essential businesses. Building on this legacy, the company continues to drive innovation by helping organizations integrate with hybrid cloud environments, strengthen security, and unlock the power of metadata for AI and analytics-driven decision-making.

Since its founding, the company has acquired many organizations, including Aldon, ASG Technologies, D3, Key Resources, Shadow, and Zephyr, strengthening its solutions and teams to better serve mission-critical industries such as banking, healthcare, manufacturing, and government. In 2024, the company completed the $2.275 billion acquisition of OpenTexts Application Modernization and Connectivity (AMC) business.

A Culture of Excellence and Community Commitment

The company's success is driven by a strong culture, grounded in its core values of Empathy, Humanity, Trust, and Love. In line with its commitment to developing future software developers, the company established the NextGen Academy, a six-month program offering its employees the opportunity to take on full-time engineering roles. This program provides employees with valuable hands-on experience and mentorship from industry experts.

To celebrate 35 years of growth, the company is hosting a Community Day on April 16. This initiative, which began over two decades ago, provides employees with dedicated time off to volunteer and create a positive impact in their communities. In recent years, its employees have donated thousands of hours to philanthropic projects around the world.

Looking ahead, the company remains focused on its mission to help organizations modernize without disruptiontoday, tomorrow, and for many years to come.

A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on this link.

About Rocket Software

Rocket Software is a global technology leader in modernization and a partner of choice that empowers the world's leading businesses on their modernization journeys, spanning core systems to the cloud. Trusted by over 12,500 customers and 750 partners, and with more than 3,200 global employees, Rocket Software enables customers to maximize their data, applications, and infrastructure to deliver critical services that power our modern world. Rocket Software is a privately held U.S. corporation headquartered in the Boston area with centers of excellence strategically located throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Rocket Software is a portfolio company of Bain Capital Private Equity. Follow Rocket Software on LinkedIn and X or visit www.RocketSoftware.com.

IBM is a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.

Media Contact

Lacey Darrow

ldarrow@rocketsoftware.com
Atlanta, GA, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Tuesday, April 15, representatives from City of Refuge and Clark Construction Group joined project partners and crews to celebrate the topping out the City of Refuge - Transformation Center project, a 37,000-square-foot mixed-use facility in the Westside of Atlanta.

The Transformation Center, which broke ground in 2024, will further City of Refuges mission by providing economic, health, and wellness services that empower residentsincluding veterans and returning citizensto reach their full potential.

The three-story building will include 25 affordable housing units and community-focused amenities on the ground floor, including a clinic, a credit union, and a fresh food market.

The topping out ceremony marks the point at which the structure reaches its full height. To achieve this milestone, crews have worked more than 30,000 hours, imported over 5,000 cubic yards of dirt, and installed more than 130 tons of steel.

Our progress to date is a clear measure of the commitment and hard work of all the people involved in the project, said Jesse Rice, senior vice president and REO at Clark Construction. This achievement is a result of tireless efforts from our crews, and a seamless commitment alongside City of Refuge to enhance their mission of providing lasting resources and support for the Atlanta community.

We are incredibly grateful to Clark Construction and all of our dedicated partners and project teams who have helped bring the Transformation Center to this exciting milestone. The topping out of this facility marks far more than the completion of a structural phaseit represents a powerful step forward in our continued mission to bring hope, transformation, and opportunity to individuals and families on Atlantas Westside. With 25 affordable housing units and essential services like healthcare, financial access, and fresh food all under one roof, this center will be a place where lives are changed and futures are rebuilt, said Bruce Deel, founder and CEO of City of Refuge. This project is a reflection of what can be accomplished when people come together with purpose and passion. We look forward to the day we open the doors and welcome our community into a space built for empowerment, dignity, and lasting impact.

The Transformation Center is expected to be completed in late fall 2025.

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Austin, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oligonucleotide Synthesis Market Size & Growth Analysis:

According to a new report by SNS Insider, the global Oligonucleotide Synthesis Market was valued at USD 3.72 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 11.41 billion by 2032, expanding at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.27%. This unprecedented growth is driven by increasing oligonucleotide application in genomics research, diagnostics, targeted drug delivery, and therapeutic developmentparticularly for oncology and rare diseases. With more investments being made in synthetic biology and the development of new RNA-based medicines, demand is likely to increase exponentially in the coming years.

United States Oligonucleotide Synthesis Market Highlights

In the United States, the market was valued at USD 1.21 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 3.38 billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 12.13%. The nation enjoys a well-developed healthcare infrastructure, robust R&D pipelines, and early uptake of cutting-edge biotechnologies, and is thus one of the most rewarding markets in the oligonucleotide synthesis market.





Get a Sample Report of Oligonucleotide Synthesis Market@ https://www.snsinsider.com/sample-request/3722

Key Oligonucleotide Synthesis Companies Profiled in the Report

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

Merck KGaA (MilliporeSigma)

Danaher Corporation (Integrated DNA Technologies - IDT)

Dharmacon Inc. (Horizon Discovery, a PerkinElmer company)

Agilent Technologies

Bio-Synthesis, Inc.

Kaneka Eurogentec S.A.

LGC Biosearch Technologies

Biolegio

Twist Bioscience

Oligonucleotide Synthesis Market Report Scope

Report Attributes Details Market Size in 2023 US$ 3.72 billion Market Size by 2032 US$ 11.41 billion CAGR CAGR of 13.27% From 2024 to 2032 Base Year 2023 Forecast Period 2024-2032 Historical Data 2020-2022 Key Regional Coverage North America (US, Canada, Mexico), Europe (Eastern Europe [Poland, Romania, Hungary, Turkey, Rest of Eastern Europe] Western Europe] Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Rest of Western Europe]), Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Australia, Rest of Asia Pacific), Middle East & Africa (Middle East [UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Rest of Middle East]), Africa [Nigeria, South Africa, Rest of Africa], Latin America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia Rest of Latin America)

Segment Insights

By Product & Service

The services segment dominated the global oligonucleotide synthesis market in 2023, holding a market share of 37.4%. This is mainly attributed to the growing outsourcing of oligonucleotide synthesis with specialized service companies, which is allowing biopharmaceutical companies and research entities to save time, decrease costs, and ensure quality. Customized synthesis, purification, and modification services available for targeted research and therapeutic applications further facilitate this trend.

On the other hand, the oligonucleotide product segment is anticipated to expand at the highest rate during the forecast period. This growth is driven by the growing need for synthetic DNA and RNA sequences for therapeutic, diagnostic, and academic purposes. The scalability and enhanced stability of these oligonucleotides render them suitable for application in vaccines, antisense therapies, and gene editing, thereby driving the segment's expected growth.

By Application

In applications, the PCR primers segment led the market in 2023 with the largest share of its unavoidable position in gene amplification and standard molecular biology protocols. Representing a huge figure of global consumption, PCR primers are of great importance in diagnostics, disease surveillance, and research, supporting their sustained dominance.

Meanwhile, the sequencing segment is expected to grow at the highest rate throughout the forecast period. As next-generation sequencing is becoming more readily available, the demand for high-quality oligonucleotides customized for library preparation and genomic analysis is also increasing. It is fueled by increasing precision medicine programs and population-scale genome sequencing initiatives.

For A Detailed Briefing Session with Our Team of Analysts, Connect with Us Now@ https://www.snsinsider.com/request-analyst/3722

Oligonucleotide Synthesis Market Segmentation

By Product & Service

Oligonucleotides

Equipment/Synthesizer

Reagents

Services

By Application

PCR Primers

PCR Assays and Panels

Sequencing

DNA Microarrays

Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH)

Antisense Oligonucleotides

Other Applications

Regional Outlook

North America dominated the oligonucleotide synthesis market in 2023 due to robust biotech and pharma industries, substantial R&D spending, and key players providing innovative oligonucleotide-based solutions. The U.S., in particular, is a hotspot for RNA therapeutics, gene editing technologies, and clinical trials.

The Asia Pacific region is expected to register the fastest growth over the forecast period, spurred by increasing biotech investments, growing academic research, and positive government policies to enhance genomics and precision medicine. China, India, and South Korea are emerging as key players, with the help of enhanced healthcare infrastructure and rising demand for synthetic biology tools.

Recent Market Developments

December 2024  PeptiSystems raised 45 MSEK in funding, led by Sciety and Sciety Venture Partners, to scale peptide and oligonucleotide drug manufacturing, enhancing production and sustainable pharmaceutical processes.

 PeptiSystems raised 45 MSEK in funding, led by Sciety and Sciety Venture Partners, to scale peptide and oligonucleotide drug manufacturing, enhancing production and sustainable pharmaceutical processes. November 2024  Codexis, Inc. presented new data at the TIDES Europe 2024 conference, showcasing advances in its Enzyme Catalyzed Oligonucleotide (ECO) Synthesis platform for scalable RNAi therapeutic manufacturing.

 Codexis, Inc. presented new data at the TIDES Europe 2024 conference, showcasing advances in its Enzyme Catalyzed Oligonucleotide (ECO) Synthesis platform for scalable RNAi therapeutic manufacturing. July 2024  EnPlusOne Biosciences announced successful enzymatic synthesis of the antisense strand of Leqvio (inclisiran), an siRNA drug used in hypercholesteremia, marking a key step in enzymatic RNA synthesis.

 EnPlusOne Biosciences announced successful enzymatic synthesis of the antisense strand of Leqvio (inclisiran), an siRNA drug used in hypercholesteremia, marking a key step in enzymatic RNA synthesis. In June 2024 , Twist Bioscience launched its Twist Oligo Pools for CRISPR product line to streamline guide RNA synthesis for genome editing applications.

, Twist Bioscience launched its Twist Oligo Pools for CRISPR product line to streamline guide RNA synthesis for genome editing applications. In May 2024 , Bio-Synthesis Inc. expanded its manufacturing facility in Texas to accommodate the rising demand for clinical-grade oligonucleotides used in personalized therapies.

, Bio-Synthesis Inc. expanded its manufacturing facility in Texas to accommodate the rising demand for clinical-grade oligonucleotides used in personalized therapies. February 2024  Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT) launched its new Ultramer RNA Oligos product line, offering high-quality RNA oligonucleotides for research and therapeutic use.

Statistical Insights

Over 65 million custom oligonucleotide sequences were synthesized globally in 2023, with North America contributing to nearly 40% of this total volume due to high academic and commercial activity.

Global R&D spending in genomics and oligonucleotide therapeutics surpassed USD 7 billion in 2023, with the U.S. and EU accounting for over 60% of this investment.

More than 480 active clinical trials in 2023 involved oligonucleotide-based drugs, with a focus on antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), siRNA, and aptamers.

Between 2020 and 2023, the manufacturing capacity for therapeutic-grade oligonucleotides increased by approximately 90%, with key expansions in North America, Europe, and East Asia.

Academic and research institutes accounted for 46% of oligonucleotide usage in 2023, followed by pharmaceutical and biotech companies (38%) and diagnostics labs (16%).





Table of Contents  Major Key Points

1. Introduction

2. Executive Summary

3. Research Methodology

4. Market Dynamics Impact Analysis

5. Statistical Insights and Trends Reporting

5.1 Incidence and Prevalence of Targeted Diseases (2023)

5.2 R&D and Drug Development Pipeline Trends (2023- Present)

5.3 Synthesis Technology Trends (2023- Present)

5.4 Healthcare and Biopharma Investment Trends (2023)

5.5 Oligonucleotide-Based Drug Approvals (2023)

6. Competitive Landscape

7. Oligonucleotide Synthesis Market by Product & Service

8. Oligonucleotide Synthesis Market by Application

9. Regional Analysis

10. Company Profiles

11. Use Cases and Best Practices

12. Conclusion

Related Market Reports by SNS Insider

Synthetic Biology Market Outlook

Genome Editing Market Forecast

CRISPR Technology Market Analysis

Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) Market

Molecular Diagnostics Market Overview

About Us:

SNS Insider is one of the leading market research and consulting agencies that dominates the market research industry globally. Our company's aim is to give clients the knowledge they require in order to function in changing circumstances. In order to give you current, accurate market data, consumer insights, and opinions so that you can make decisions with confidence, we employ a variety of techniques, including surveys, video talks, and focus groups around the world.
TUCSON, AZ, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Liberty Star Minerals ( Liberty Star or the Company ) ( OTCQB: LBSR ) is executing on a vision that aligns with the long-term strategic needs of the United States. In a recent conversation with award-winning broadcaster Steve Darling of Proactive Investors, Board Chair Pete OHeeron and Director Gerardo King shared why critical mineral development is no longer optionalits essential.

Pete OHeeron recently returned from Washington, D.C., where he held high-level discussions with Congressional offices, including the teams of Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, as well as Representatives Brian Babin and Paul Gosar. The message was simple but urgent: the U.S. must take bold action to secure its own future.

We are at an inflection point, said OHeeron. From semiconductors to satellites, from electric vehicles to national defense, critical minerals are the backbone of modern civilization. We cannot outsource our future. Liberty Star is building for a future where the United States leadsnot followsin the global supply chain for strategic resources.

Director Gerardo King noted, Rising copper and gold prices are not a blipthey're a beacon. The opportunity is now. Government backing, combined with private investment, will create a resilient domestic supply chain and unlock long-term shareholder value.

The interview underscores three fundamental truths:

Time is not on our side. Domestic development of critical minerals must accelerate. Liberty Stars Hay Mountain Project in southeast Arizona represents one of the most promisingand overlookedassets in the country. We need a national strategy that prioritizes projects like this.

Domestic development of critical minerals must accelerate. Liberty Stars Hay Mountain Project in southeast Arizona represents one of the most promisingand overlookedassets in the country. We need a national strategy that prioritizes projects like this. These are not just rocks. Copper, lithium, and rare earth elements are foundational to clean energy, defense, and frontier technologies. The Hay Mountain Project is positioned to meet that demand at scale.

Copper, lithium, and rare earth elements are foundational to clean energy, defense, and frontier technologies. The Hay Mountain Project is positioned to meet that demand at scale. The market is signaling. As Liberty Star Minerals is not just exploring the groundwere helping chart the future of American industrial independence.



View the interview on LBSR.us and YouTube

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Liberty Star Minerals

Visit lbsr.us for more about Liberty Star Minerals, the Red Rock Canyon Gold Project & the Hay Mountain Project, including images, maps, and technical reports

About Liberty Star Liberty Star Uranium & Metals Corp. (LBSR: OTCQB), d/b/a Liberty Star Minerals, is an Arizona-based mineral exploration company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in Arizona and the southwest USA. Currently the company controls properties that are located over what management considers some of North Americas richest mineralized regions for copper, gold, silver, molybdenum (moly), and associated metals. The Companys premiere property is the Hay Mountain property (exploration stage) for porphyry copper, gold, moly and other commercially important minerals. Specific targets have been selected to explore for near-surface and deep-seated ore bodies, of which there are numerous analogs nearby. Contiguous with the primary Hay Mountain porphyry exploration target, and part of the overall Hay Mountain property, is an increasingly attractive area of exploration stage gold mineralization denominated Red Rock Canyon. Red Rock Canyon exhibits what we believe are extensive, promising hydrothermal associated gold-bearing structures that are documented in historical public and Company records. View numerous geoscientific reports on our website. The Hay Mountain & Red Rock Canyon properties are in Cochise County (southeast) Arizona, USA.



Follow Liberty Star Minerals on Facebook, LinkedIn & [X]Twitter
Investors can contact the law firm at no cost to learn more about recovering their losses

LOS ANGELES, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Portnoy Law Firm advises Canopy Growth Corporation ("Canopy" or the "Company") (NYSE: ATKR) investors of a class action representing investors that bought securities between May 30, 2024 and February 6, 2025, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Canopy Growth Corporation investors have until June 3, 2025 to file a lead plaintiff motion.

Investors are encouraged to contact attorney Lesley F. Portnoy, by phone 310-692-8883 or email: lesley@portnoylaw.com, to discuss their legal rights, or click here to join the case. The Portnoy Law Firm can provide a complimentary case evaluation and discuss investors options for pursuing claims to recover their losses.

On February 7, 2025, Canopy Growth released its financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2025, falling short of consensus estimates. The Company reported a 400 basis point decline in gross margin, bringing it down to 32%. Canopy attributed the decrease to increased costs associated with the launch of its Claybourne infused pre-rolls in Canada, as well as higher indirect costs related to its Storz & Bickel vaporizer devices.

Please visit our website to review more information and submit your transaction information.

The Portnoy Law Firm represents investors in pursuing claims against caused by corporate wrongdoing. The Firms founding partner has recovered over $5.5 billion for aggrieved investors. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Lesley F. Portnoy, Esq.

Admitted CA and NY Bar

lesley@portnoylaw.com

310-692-8883

www.portnoylaw.com

Attorney Advertising
RADNOR, Pa., April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Surgent CPE, a leader in continuing professional education for accounting and finance professionals, on April 16  in celebration of CPA Day  announced the launch of nearly 50 new CPE courses as the 2025 post-busy season begins.

These courses arrive just after the tax filing and year-end audit report deadlines  a critical time for CPAs to pivot their focus toward fulfilling their CPE credit requirements by the June 30 deadline and before summer breaks.

Understanding the pressing needs of our audience, Surgent is excited to offer a robust selection of timely and practical courses that empower accounting professionals to stay ahead in a dynamic industry, said Elizabeth Kolar, executive vice president and managing director of Surgent. Our new offerings include engaging webinars and on-demand options ensuring busy professionals can select learning paths that fit their schedules.

This new CPE lineup includes 30 live webinars starting April 22, along with 18 new on-demand Microsoft Excel and Power BI courses, which are available now for immediate access.

Nick Spoltore, vice president of tax and advisory content at Surgent, emphasized the importance of staying informed post-tax season. With new tax laws expected to emerge in 2025, our tax-focused courses provide essential tools for enhancing practitioner effectiveness and delivering value to clients, said Spoltore.

For professionals navigating the growing influence of technology in accounting, the addition of five specialized courses on artificial intelligence will enhance knowledge and skills in this critical area.

Jack Castonguay, Surgents vice president of learning and development, highlighted the relevance of the AI-focused courses, These courses are designed to help professionals harness the power of generative artificial intelligence and data analysis tools such as Excel and Power BI, thereby transforming how they analyze complex information.

The new CPE offerings cover a variety of fields of study, including courses on taxes (12), information technology (12), specialized knowledge (three), governmental auditing (two) and regulatory ethics (one).

New Live Webinars:

On-Demand Webcasts: The 18 new on-demand Microsoft Excel and Power BI courses can be accessed immediately via Surgents course catalog here.

Surgent CPE remains committed to delivering flexible, relevant and premium CPE content tailored for busy professionals. With a goal to keep accounting and finance professionals at the forefront of industry changes, Surgent offers unmatched resources to foster ongoing career development.

Professionals can now register for the nearly 50 new courses through the Surgent CPE website, providing the flexibility needed to earn CPE credits while balancing their busy schedules.

For further details about the new course offerings, please visit SurgentCPE.com.

About Surgent Accounting & Financial Education

Surgent Accounting & Financial Education, a division of KnowFully Learning Group, is a provider of the high-impact education experiences that accounting, tax and financial professionals need throughout their careers. For most of the companys 40-year history, Surgent has been a trusted provider of continuing professional education (CPE), continuing education (CE) and skill-based training that professionals need to maintain their credentials and stay current on industry changes. More recently, Surgent became one of the fastest-growing certification exam review providers, offering adaptive learning-based courses that help learners pass accounting and finance credentialing exams faster. Learn more at Surgent.com.

About KnowFully Learning Group

The KnowFully Learning Group provides continuing professional education, exam preparation courses and education resources to the accounting, finance and healthcare sectors. KnowFullys suite of learning solutions helps learners become credentialed, satisfy required credit hours to maintain credentials and stay informed on the latest trends and critical changes in their industries over the course of their careers. The company provides exam preparation and continuing education for accounting, finance and tax professionals headlined by the Surgent Accounting & Financial Education brand. KnowFullys healthcare education brands include American Fitness Professionals & Associates, ChiroCredit, freeCE, Impact EMS Training, Online CE, PharmCon, Rx Consultant and Psychotherapy.net. For more information, please visit KnowFully.com.

Contact:

marketing@surgent.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/362cc968-4df5-431f-bb4a-d5b2c183deed




Cambridge, MA USA, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BlueRock Therapeutics LP, a clinical-stage cell therapy company and wholly owned subsidiary of Bayer AG, today announced the publication of the 18-month data from its Phase 1 exPDite clinical trial for bemdaneprocel in the journal Nature.

The concept of rebuilding brain networks that have been lost to disease is compelling, said Claire Henchcliffe, MD, chair of the UC Irvine School of Medicines Department of Neurology at the University of California, Irvine and one of the studys Principal Investigators, The results of this early phase clinical trial demonstrate the promise of regenerative medicine and should provide hope for Parkinsons disease patients and their families.

The publication, which is available online, confirms that 18 months following surgery, treatment with bemdaneprocel did not cause any serious adverse events related to cell therapy. In addition, positron emission tomography (PET) imaging techniques demonstrated sustained neuron cell engraftment in the trials high and low dose cohorts following discontinuation of immunosuppression after one-year post-treatment. The publication also reports encouraging trends in secondary and exploratory subjective and objective endpoints related to motor function. These data were first presented in March 2024 at the Alzheimers and Parkinsons Diseases Conference in Lisbon, Portugal.

Cell therapy is a potential new treatment option for individuals with Parkinson's disease and our team is immensely proud of having bemdaneprocels 18-month Phase 1 data published in such a prestigious journal as Nature, said Amit Rakhit, MD, MBA Head of Development and Chief Medical Officer at BlueRock Therapeutics. Our efforts are now focused on maintaining our forward momentum to initiate and enroll the Phase 3 trial as we advance bemdaneprocels development to this exciting next stage.

The Phase 3 trial, called exPDite-2, is expected to be initiated in the first half of 2025.

About bemdaneprocel (BRT-DA01)

Bemdaneprocel (BRT-DA01) is an investigational cell therapy designed to replace the dopamine-producing neurons that are lost in Parkinsons disease. These dopaminergic neuron precursors are derived from human embryonic stem cells, developing into mature dopamine neurons after implantation. In a surgical procedure, these neuron precursors are implanted into the brain of a person with Parkinsons disease. When transplanted, they have the potential to re-form neural networks that have been severely affected by Parkinsons disease and to potentially restore motor and non-motor function to patients. In 2021 bemdaneprocel received Fast Track designation followed in 2024 by a Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) designation from the FDA. Data from the Phase 1 trials 12 participants presented at the 2024 International Congress of Parkinsons Disease and Movement Disorders (MDS) demonstrated good tolerability, with no serious adverse events related to drug product at 24 months post-surgery. Further, encouraging trends were observed in secondary endpoints related to motor impairments at 24 months post-surgery. These participants remain in a long-term Continued Evaluation Study. Bemdaneprocel has not been approved for treatment of any disease or medical condition by any health authority.



About Parkinsons disease

Parkinsons disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease. It has a significant impact on a persons daily life. In PD, the death of dopamine producing nerve cells in the brain leads to the continuous loss of motor function. Symptoms include tremors, muscle rigidity, and slowness of movement. Additionally, people with PD experience non-motor symptoms, including fatigue and lack of energy, cognitive issues, and depression. Symptoms typically intensify over time and make everyday tasks demanding. The prevalence of PD has doubled over the past 25 years. Today, more than 10 million people worldwide are estimated to be living with PD. This makes it the worlds second most prevalent neurodegenerative disease. It is also the most frequent movement disorder. At present there is no cure, and current treatment options lack the holistic management of symptoms so new therapies are needed.



About BlueRock Therapeutics LP

BlueRock Therapeutics LP is a clinical stage cell therapy company focused on creating cellular medicines to treat devastating diseases. We are harnessing the power of cell therapy to create a pipeline of new medicines for people suffering from neurological, ophthalmic, cardiovascular and immunological diseases. Two of our novel investigational cell therapies, bemdaneprocel (BRT-DA01) for the treatment of Parkinsons disease and OpCT-001 for the treatment of primary photoreceptor disease are clinical stage programs. Bemdaneprocel has RMAT (Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy) and Fast Track designation from the US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and is expected to begin a Phase 3 clinical trial in H1 2025. OpCT-001 is expected to begin Phase 1 clinical testing in H1 2025. BlueRock was founded in 2016 as a joint venture of Versant Ventures and Leaps by Bayer, the impact-investing arm of Bayer AG that invests in paradigm-shifting breakthrough innovation. In late 2019, BlueRock became a wholly owned, independently operated subsidiary of Bayer AG as a cornerstone of its newly formed Cell & Gene Therapy platform. Our culture is defined by the courage to persist regardless of the challenge, the urgency to transform medicine and deliver hope, integrity guided by mission, and community-mindedness with the understanding that we are all part of something bigger than ourselves. For more information, visit www.bluerocktx.com.



About Bayer

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. In line with its mission, Health for all, Hunger for none, the companys products and services are designed to help people and the planet thrive by supporting efforts to master the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. Bayer is committed to driving sustainable development and generating a positive impact with its businesses. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. The Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2024, the Group employed around 93,000 people and had sales of 46.6 billion euros. R&D expenses amounted to 6.2 billion euros. For more information, go to www.bayer.com.

Find information at www.bluerocktx.com

Follow us on LinkedIN: www.linkedin.com/company/bluerocktx

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking which may be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as anticipate, expect, believe, forecast, estimate and intend, among others. These forward-looking statements are based on BlueRocks current expectations and actual results could differ materially. There are a number of factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the outcomes from our clinical trials and ongoing FDA and other regulatory requirements, and interpretation of data by the FDA. As with any pharmaceutical under development, there are significant risks in the development, regulatory approval and commercialization of new products, and uncertainty in the outcome of clinical trials cannot be avoided. Except as expressly required by law, BlueRock does not undertake an obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement. All of BlueRocks forward-looking statements are expressly qualified by all such risk factors and other cautionary statements. The information set forth herein speaks only as of the date hereof.
Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses In e.l.f. Beauty To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options

If you purchased or acquired securities in e.l.f. Beauty between November 1, 2023 and November 19, 2024 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

[You may also click here for additional information]





NEW YORK, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (e.l.f. Beauty or the Company) (NYSE: ELF) and reminds investors of the May 5, 2025 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.

Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com.

As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: (1) contrary to its representations to investors, the Company was experiencing rising inventory levels as a consequence of flagging sales; (2) Elf falsely attributed the rising inventory levels to, among other things, changes in its sourcing practices; (3) to maintain investor confidence, Elf reported inflated revenue, profits, and inventory over several quarters; (4) accordingly. the Companys business and/or financial prospects were overstated; (5) all of the foregoing, once revealed, would likely have a material negative impact on the Company; and (6) as a result, the Companys public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant time

On November 20, 2024, Muddy Waters Research (Muddy Waters) published a report entitled e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. A Revenue and Inventory Mystery (the Muddy Waters Report), alleging that Elf had materially overstated revenue over the past three quarters, and that in Q2 FY24, ELF management realized its growth narrative was in trouble as its inventory built. It appears that ELF then began reporting inflated revenue and profits. Its reported inventory also appears materially inflated as a result - i.e., to account for cash that has not really come in. Further, Muddy Waters accused the Company of concealing its inventory challenges from investors by falsely attributing its rising inventory levels to supposed changes in its sourcing practices rather than the true causeinsufficient sales.



After the Class Period ended, on February 6, 2025, Elf released its fiscal Q3 2024 results and provided its fiscal 2025 outlook. Specifically, Elf revealed that it expected full-year fiscal 2025 net sales growth to be 27%-28%, down from the previous guidance of 28-30%, and also revised its adjusted EBITDA guidance to $289-293 million, down from $304-308 million, resulting in part from the updated sales outlook and a $7 million foreign currency loss. Further, the Company stated that it anticipated net sales growth was lowered to -1% to +2%, with management explaining that this reflected prudence amid softer consumption trends, challenging category conditions, and slower-than-expected new product performance

The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding e.l.f. Beautys conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.

To learn more about the e.l.f. Beauty class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/ELF or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, on X, or on Facebook.

Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.

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Nashville, Tennessee, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Long Beach City College (LBCC) was named the national winner of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Award of Excellence in the category of Advancing Institutional Equity and Belonging. This distinguished honor was presented at the AACCs annual national conference in Nashville and recognizes LBCCs trailblazing efforts to embed equity, belonging, and inclusion throughout its campus culture and operations.

This distinguishing accolade is a testament to the incredible dedication of our entire LBCC campus community, said Uduak-Joe Ntuk, LBCC Board of Trustees President. Our faculty, staff, and administrators have been intentional in transforming our college into a space where every student and employee feels seen, heard, and supported. LBCC is now recognized across the nation leader for what can be achieved when you center equity and belonging at the heart of everything you do.

LBCC Superintendent-President Dr. Mike Munoz accepted the award on behalf of the College on April 15 in Nashville, Tennessee.

We are deeply honored to receive this national recognition from the AACC, said Dr. Munoz. At Long Beach City College, equity is not just a commitmentit is a daily practice. This award affirms the extraordinary work of our employees and reflects the transformative change that happens when you build a culture where students know they matter and belong.

Under Dr. Munozs leadership, LBCC has experienced historic outcomes in student success and institutional culture, including:

A 43-point increase in student-reported mattering and belonging, rising from 49% to 92% in just two years.

Achieving the highest enrollment in the colleges nearly 100-year history.

Increasing the three-year completion rate by 50%, helping more students earn degrees, certificates, or transfer.

Closing racial equity gaps in first-year completion of transfer-level math and English, especially for Black and Latina/o/x students.

Increasing basic needs access by expanding food, housing, and mental health support, including Californias first Safe Parking program for housing-insecure students.

As a Hispanic-Serving Institution with significant Black/African American, Asian Pacific Islander Desi, and LGBTQIA+ student populations, LBCC has also launched and strengthened several equity-centered initiatives, including:

Establishing a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Public Art Advisory Group to ensure campus art reflects student identities and cultures.

Expanding Cultural Heritage Month celebrations with film screenings, speaker series, career panels, and arts activities across multiple communities.

Reinvigorating employee resource groups such as the Black Faculty & Staff Association and COLEGAS, while launching new spaces for LGBTQIA+, Disabled, and Asian Pacific Islander Desi employees.

Creating an Equitable Teaching Community that trains faculty to implement inclusive practices that support diverse learners in the classroom.

Partnering with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach to offer an on-campus afterschool program that provides child care support for student-parents while helping K-12 youth thrive.

These results are not coincidentalthey are the result of courageous, intentional leadership, said Dr. Munoz. We believe that student success and racial equity must be intertwined, and this award validates that belief.

# # #

About Long Beach City College

Long Beach City College consists of two campuses with an enrollment of more than 35,000 students each semester. The education programs primary purpose is to prepare students for transfer to baccalaureate-granting institutions, entry into work or career development, and to support businesses in economic development. Long Beach City College serves the cities of Avalon, Lakewood, Long Beach, and Signal Hill. Long Beach City College promotes equitable student learning and achievement, academic excellence, and workforce development by delivering high-quality educational programs and support services to our diverse communities. Visit www.LBCC.edu for more information on Long Beach City College.
Washington , DC, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --



Link to Article: https://thinkcarebelieve.blog/2025/04/15/trump-and-bukele-set-the-mainstream-media-straight-on-deportation/





ThinkCareBelieve has published an article discussing the White House meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and El Salvador President Nayib Bukele, emphasizing their unified stance on deportation policies and their rejection of mainstream media narratives. The article focuses on the deportation of Kilmar Arego Garcia, a citizen of El Salvador and illegal alien to the United States. The article covers the controversy surrounding the fulfillment of Garcia's deportation order and the discussion that ensued between the two presidents.

The article praises the collaboration between Trump and Bukele, highlighting El Salvadors willingness to help the U.S. with any deportees, including Venezuelan and Salvadoran gang members. It credits Bukele for reducing crime in El Salvador and President Trump's praise for his strong leadership. The article quesitons the spread of misinformation by the media ignoring the criminality of deportees and undermining efforts to prioritize public safety.

The article shows evidence of Garcia being a member of MS-13 by two Immigration Courts, which is corroborated by El Salvadoran Intelligence. The article discusses the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that states that Federal Courts have no authority to order the Executive Branch to conduct foreign relations. The article maintains that Garcia is a citizen of El Salvador and was in the United States illegally, was issued a Deportation Order in 2019 by an Immigration Court, and because he is a known MS-13 gang member, as stated by two Immigration Judges and the country of El Salvador, and because MS-13 gangs have been designated as foreign terrorists, Garcia's deportation back to his home country of El Salvador is lawful.

The article also covers a plea to advocate for the hundreds of thousands of children that were smuggled through the open southern border and are now missing because they were placed with unvetted gang member child traffickers. The article encourages concerned members of the public to contact their representatives and authorities to urge them to enact new anti-trafficking legislation on state and federal levels and toughen up policies to hold traffickers accountable, as well as cooperate with federal efforts going on now and work to protect the victims and survivors. The article stresses the importance of helping to rescue vulnerable children, prosecute traffickers and predators to the fullest extent of the law, and dismantle the trafficking networks fueling the child trafficking crisis. Networks being run by foreign terrorist criminal gang and cartel members on American soil.





ThinkCareBelieve is an outlook. ThinkCareBelieves mission for Peace advocacy facilitates positive outcomes and expanded possibilities. To achieve Peace, we will find the commonalities between diverse groups and bring the focus on common needs, working together toward shared goals. Activism is an important aspect of ThinkCareBelieve, because public participation and awareness to issues needing exposure to light leads to justice. Improved transparency in government can lead to changes in policy and procedure resulting in more fluid communication between the public and the government that serves them. America needs hope right now, and Americans need to be more involved in their government.

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Los Angeles, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HSF is delighted to share that The Coca-Cola Company confirmed their sponsorship of HSFs 50th Anniversary Celebration and Leaders in Education Awards that took place in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 10, 2025. As Diamante Sponsors, The Coca-Cola Company sponsored $1 million for the events, which follows Coca-Colas long-standing commitment to empowering communities and advancing educational opportunities for the next generation of leaders through HSF since 1998.

The sponsorship played a pivotal role in ensuring the success of this milestone event, which honored the achievements of HSF Scholars, students, parents, and organizations who have made extraordinary contributions in their fields. This momentous celebration marks not only the HSFs history of empowering students but also the collective effort of supporters, like Coca-Cola, who are committed to driving change and fostering educational excellence.

We are deeply grateful to The Coca-Cola Company for their significant support as a Diamante Sponsor of our 50th Anniversary Celebration and Leaders in Education Awards, said Fidel A. Vargas, President and CEO of HSF. Coca-Cola has been a dedicated partner for decades, and this commitment reinforces our shared vision of investing in the future of students.

The 50th Anniversary Celebration and Leaders in Education Awards was a memorable evening bringing together prominent business, civic, and community leaders to celebrate the impact of education on communities. The event featured keynote speakers, award presentations, and a recognition of the past, present, and future of the HSFs mission.

For more information on the event or to learn how to get involved, please visit our website.

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About HSF

Founded in 1975, HSF empowers students and parents with the knowledge and resources to successfully complete a higher education, while providing support services and scholarships to as many exceptional students, Scholars, and Alumni as possible. HSF strives to make college education a top priority for every family across the nation, mobilizing communities to proactively advance that goaleach individual, over a lifetime, in every way they can. HSF also seeks to give its Scholars all the tools they need to do well in their course work, graduate, enter, and excel in a profession, help lead our nation going forward, and mentor the generations to come. As one of the nations leading nonprofit organizations, HSF has awarded over $756 million in scholarships and provides a broad range of programs and support services for students, parents, HSF Scholars, and HSF Alumni. For more information about HSF, please visit HSF.net.

About The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is a total beverage company with products sold in more than 200 countries and territories. Our companys purpose is to refresh the world and make a difference. We sell multiple billion-dollar brands across several beverage categories worldwide. Our portfolio of sparkling soft drink brands includes Coca-Cola, Sprite and Fanta. Our water, sports, coffee and tea brands include Dasani, smartwater, vitaminwater, Topo Chico, BODYARMOR, Powerade, Costa, Georgia, Fuze Tea, Gold Peak and Ayataka. Our juice, value-added dairy and plant-based beverage brands include Minute Maid, Simply, innocent, Del Valle, fairlife and AdeS. Were constantly transforming our portfolio, from reducing sugar in our drinks to bringing innovative new products to market. We seek to positively impact peoples lives, communities and the planet through water replenishment, packaging recycling, sustainable sourcing practices and carbon emissions reductions across our value chain. Together with our bottling partners, we employ more than 700,000 people, helping bring economic opportunity to local communities worldwide. Learn more at https://www.coca-colacompany.com/
New York, USA, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global In-Vitro Diagnostics Market Predicted to Surpass the USD 90 Billion Mark by 2032 | DelveInsight

The in-vitro diagnostics market is projected to experience positive revenue growth due to factors such as the rising incidence of infectious diseases like COVID-19, an increasing prevalence of various cancers and hematological disorders, and a surge in product development activities related to in-vitro diagnostics, among other contributing elements.

DelveInsights In-Vitro Diagnostics Market Insights report provides the current and forecast market analysis, individual leading in-vitro diagnostics companies market shares, challenges, in-vitro diagnostics market drivers, barriers, trends, and key market in-vitro diagnostics companies in the market.

Key Takeaways from the In-Vitro Diagnostics Market Report

As per DelveInsight estimates, Asia-Pacific is anticipated to dominate the global in-vitro diagnostics market during the forecast period.

In the test type segment of the in vitro diagnostics market, the molecular diagnostics category is expected to register significant growth during the forecast period.

Notable in-vitro diagnostics companies such as F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Abbott, FUJIFILM Corporation, Sysmex Corporation, Siemens Healthcare GmbH, BD, Seegene Inc, Beckman Coulter, Inc ( Danaher Corporation), QIAGEN, bioMerieux SA, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc, Cisbio (PerkinEemer), ARKRAY, Inc, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, ACON Laboratories, Inc., Teco Diagnostics, EKF Diagnostics, Besurence GmbH, Savyon Diagnostics, HORIBA, Ltd., Palliance AB, Sugentech, Inc, Cypress Diagnostics, Salignostics, The Menarini Group, DxGen Corp, HUMAN, Nova Biomedical, Asahi Kasei Pharma Corporation, Agilent Technologies, Inc., and several others, are currently operating in the in-vitro diagnostics market.

and several others, are currently operating in the in-vitro diagnostics market. In March 2025, Accelerate Diagnostics announced the submission of its Accelerate WAVE system and positive blood culture gram-negative test kit to the FDA for 510(k) clearance, advancing rapid in vitro diagnostics for microbiology.

announced the submission of its Accelerate WAVE system and positive blood culture gram-negative test kit to the FDA for 510(k) clearance, advancing rapid in vitro diagnostics for microbiology. In January 2025, Tempus AI, Inc. announced the national launch of its FDA-approved, NGS-based in vitro diagnostic device, xT CDx. Starting today, xT CDx is available to all ordering clinicians nationwide, offering comprehensive insights through one of the largest reported gene panels.

To read more about the latest highlights related to the in-vitro diagnostics market, get a snapshot of the key highlights entailed in the Global In-Vitro Diagnostics Market Report

In-Vitro Diagnostics Overview

In-vitro diagnostics (IVD) refer to medical tests performed outside the human body, typically in laboratories, using samples such as blood, urine, or tissue. These diagnostics play a crucial role in detecting diseases, monitoring health conditions, and guiding treatment decisions. IVD encompasses a broad range of technologies, including molecular diagnostics, immunoassays, hematology, and clinical chemistry. By providing accurate and timely information, IVD supports clinicians in making informed medical decisions, ultimately improving patient outcomes and healthcare efficiency.

Advancements in IVD have revolutionized the healthcare industry by enabling early disease detection, personalized medicine, and real-time monitoring of therapeutic efficacy. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of rapid and reliable diagnostic tools, leading to increased innovation and adoption of point-of-care testing, digital diagnostics, and at-home test kits. As healthcare systems continue to shift toward preventive and precision medicine, the role of in-vitro diagnostics is expected to expand, supported by innovations in biomarkers, artificial intelligence, and next-generation sequencing.





In-Vitro Diagnostics Market Insights

The Asia-Pacific region is projected to experience the fastest growth in the overall in-vitro diagnostics market, driven by a combination of factors such as increasing healthcare demands, rising awareness of early disease diagnosis, and the expanding healthcare infrastructure. With a rapidly growing population and a surge in chronic diseases, the demand for advanced diagnostic tools and technologies is intensifying across the region. Moreover, the Asia-Pacific market benefits from improvements in healthcare access, including the expansion of medical facilities, which is fueling the adoption of IVD products.

Government initiatives in many countries within the region are also playing a significant role in driving the growth of the IVD market. For example, various national healthcare policies are focused on improving diagnostic capabilities and early disease detection, which further increases the demand for IVD technologies. Additionally, an increase in private-public partnerships, coupled with investments in healthcare research and innovation, is making cutting-edge diagnostic tools more accessible to a larger population. Countries like China, India, and Japan are particularly leading the charge, with Chinas healthcare sector rapidly modernizing and Indias growing middle class driving healthcare demand.

Another key factor contributing to the rapid growth in Asia-Pacific is the growing awareness about the importance of preventive healthcare. As populations in the region become more informed about health conditions, there is a stronger emphasis on regular health check-ups and disease screening, which boosts the demand for IVD products. This shift toward preventive care is also enhanced by the rise of chronic diseases, including diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases, which require ongoing monitoring and early detection, further propelling the growth of the IVD market.

Furthermore, technological advancements and the increasing focus on personalized medicine are providing significant opportunities for IVD market expansion in the region. Innovations such as point-of-care diagnostics, molecular diagnostics, and automation are reshaping the landscape and enabling more efficient, faster, and cost-effective testing. As the region continues to adopt these new technologies, it is expected to maintain its leadership in the global IVD market, benefiting from a mix of demographic, economic, and technological factors that drive demand and improve healthcare outcomes.

To know more about why APAC is leading the market growth in the in-vitro diagnostics market, get a snapshot of the In-Vitro Diagnostics Technology and Product Development

In-Vitro Diagnostics Market Dynamics

The in-vitro diagnostics market is experiencing rapid growth, driven by advancements in technology, the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, and rising consumer demand for personalized healthcare. The markets growth is being further propelled by the increasing focus on early detection, prevention, and precision medicine, which enables tailored treatments for patients. In addition, the integration of digital health technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, into diagnostic devices is opening up new avenues for innovation, improving diagnostic accuracy, and streamlining workflows.

Another key factor contributing to the market's expansion is the rising demand for point-of-care (POC) testing. POC devices allow for rapid and convenient diagnostics, reducing the need for extensive laboratory infrastructure. This trend is especially significant in emerging markets, where access to healthcare facilities is limited. Additionally, POC testing has become crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic, as it facilitates quicker results for infectious diseases, enhancing containment efforts and improving patient outcomes. With advancements in molecular diagnostics and a growing focus on home-based testing, the IVD market is expected to become even more diverse and accessible.

The increasing number of regulatory approvals and the introduction of novel biomarkers for disease detection are also fostering the development of new IVD products. However, regulatory complexities and stringent quality standards in various regions remain a challenge for companies looking to introduce new diagnostic tests. Manufacturers must navigate complex approval processes to ensure their products meet the necessary criteria for safety and efficacy. Despite these challenges, there is a rising trend towards collaboration between IVD companies and healthcare providers, as this partnership allows for the development of innovative and cost-effective diagnostic solutions.

Finally, the growing awareness around the importance of health monitoring and disease prevention is spurring investment in the IVD space. As consumers become more proactive about their health, they increasingly seek diagnostic tools to monitor conditions like diabetes, cholesterol, and fertility. This shift in consumer behavior, combined with favorable government policies in developed regions encouraging preventive care, is providing a conducive environment for the IVD market to thrive. Furthermore, the ongoing research and development into next-generation IVD technologies, such as liquid biopsy and molecular diagnostics, are poised to revolutionize the landscape, offering more accurate, non-invasive, and personalized diagnostic solutions.

Get a sneak peek at the in-vitro diagnostics market dynamics @ In-Vitro Diagnostics Instruments Market

Report Metrics Details Coverage Global Study Period 20222032 In-Vitro Diagnostics Market CAGR ~5% In-Vitro Diagnostics Market Size in 2032 USD 93.6 Billion Key In-Vitro Diagnostics Companies F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Abbott, FUJIFILM Corporation, Sysmex Corporation, Siemens Healthcare GmbH, BD, Seegene Inc, Beckman Coulter, Inc ( Danaher Corporation), QIAGEN, bioMerieux SA, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc, Cisbio (PerkinEemer), ARKRAY, Inc, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, ACON Laboratories, Inc., Teco Diagnostics, EKF Diagnostics, Besurence GmbH, Savyon Diagnostics, HORIBA, Ltd., Palliance AB, Sugentech, Inc, Cypress Diagnostics, Salignostics, The Menarini Group, DxGen Corp, HUMAN, Nova Biomedical, Asahi Kasei Pharma Corporation, Agilent Technologies, Inc., among others

In-Vitro Diagnostics Market Assessment

In-Vitro Diagnostics Market Segmentation In-Vitro Diagnostics Market Segmentation By Product Type: Instruments, Reagents, and Others In-Vitro Diagnostics Market Segmentation By Test Type: Immunodiagnostics, Hematology, Molecular Diagnostics, Clinical Chemistry, and Others In-Vitro Diagnostics Market Segmentation By Application: Oncology, Immunology, Infectious Diseases, Cardiology, Nephrology, and Others In-Vitro Diagnostics Market Segmentation By End User: Hospitals, Diagnostic Laboratories, and Others In-Vitro Diagnostics Market Segmentation By Geography : North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of World

Porters Five Forces Analysis, Product Profiles, Case Studies, KOLs Views, Analysts View

Which MedTech key players in the in-vitro diagnostics market are set to emerge as the trendsetter explore @ In-Vitro Diagnostics Product Development Company

Table of Contents

1 In-Vitro Diagnostics Market Report Introduction 2 In-Vitro Diagnostics Market Executive Summary 3 Competitive Landscape 4 Regulatory Analysis 5 In-Vitro Diagnostics Market Key Factors Analysis 6 In-Vitro Diagnostics Market Porters Five Forces Analysis 7 In-Vitro Diagnostics Market Layout 8 In-Vitro Diagnostics Market Company and Product Profiles 9 KOL Views 10 Project Approach 11 About DelveInsight 12 Disclaimer & Contact Us

Interested in knowing the in-vitro diagnostics market by 2032? Click to get a snapshot of the In-Vitro Diagnostics Market Trends

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ELISA Market Insights, Competitive Landscape, and Market Forecast  2032 report deliver an in-depth understanding of the disease, historical and forecasted epidemiology, as well as the market trends, market drivers, market barriers, and key ELISA companies, including Abbott, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Erba Mannheim, Synbiotik, Maccura Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific, DiaSorin, PerkinElmer Inc., Diatron, Werfen, ALPCO, Agilent, InBios International Inc., Awareness Technology Inc., Elabscience Biotechnology Inc., J. Mitra & Co. Pvt. Ltd., Rayto Life and Analytical Sciences Co., Ltd., BD, Trivitron Healthcare, among others.

Chemiluminescence Immunoassay Market

Chemiluminescence Immunoassay Market Insights, Competitive Landscape, and Market Forecast  2032 report deliver an in-depth understanding of the disease, historical and forecasted epidemiology, as well as the market trends, market drivers, market barriers, and key chemiluminescence immunoassay companies, including Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd, Beckman Coulter, Inc., Siemens Healthcare GmbH, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Maccura Biotechnology Co., DiaSorin, Autobio, Diatron, Daan Gene Co., Ltd, Trivitron Healthcare, Werfen, ALPCO, Medcaptain Medical Technology Co., Ltd., ZECEN Biotech Co., Ltd, PHC Holdings Corporation, Awareness Technology, Inc., Rayto Life and Analytical Sciences Co., Ltd., Shenzhen New Industries Biomedical Engineering Co., Ltd., Guangzhou Jinde Biotech Co., Ltd., 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.
TORONTO, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Montero Mining and Exploration Ltd. (TSX-V: MON) (OTCPK: MXTRF) (Montero or the Company) announces that it has finalized its planned uses of the net proceeds received from its settlement with the United Republic of Tanzania to resolve the dispute over the expropriation of its Wigu Hill rare earth element project (the Settlement).

Montero hereby provides notice that it intends to complete a consolidation (the Consolidation) of its common shares (the Common Shares) on the basis of six (6) pre-Consolidation Common Shares for one (1) post-Consolidation Common Share. As of the date hereof, there are 50,122,975 Common Shares issued and outstanding. It is expected that the Common Shares reflecting the Consolidation will commence trading on the TSXV on or around May 5, 2025. On a post-Consolidation basis, the Company shall have approximately 8,353,829 Common Shares issued and outstanding.

The Company is also seeking shareholder approval to distribute approximately C$15 million to shareholders through a reduction in stated capital (the Distribution), consisting of a cash distribution of C$0.30 per Common Share on a pre-Consolidation basis or C$1.80 on a post-Consolidation basis.

Dr Tony Harwood, President and CEO; After careful evaluation of the alternatives, we believe this is the appropriate course of action to deliver immediate value to shareholders who have supported Montero through some very challenging times. The return of capital provides shareholders with meaningful cash compensation for the expropriation of the Wigu Hill Rare Earth Project in Tanzania. Montero will retain approximately C$3.4 million in cash where further exploration is planned at our Avispa copper gold project and the Company evaluates new opportunities.

Shareholders will be asked to approve the Distribution at a special meeting of shareholders to be held on June 11, 2025 (the Meeting). Further details on the Distribution will be included in the management information circular of the Company pertaining to the Meeting and which is expected to be mailed to Shareholders and made available on the Companys issuer profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca on or around May 21, 2025. Approval of the Distribution will require the approval by at least two-thirds of the votes cast at the Meeting. The board of directors of the Company is unanimously recommending that Shareholders vote in favour of the Distribution. Completion of the Distribution is subject to certain conditions including but not limited to the receipt of all necessary shareholder and regulatory approvals including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the TSXV).

The Distribution is expected to be completed following the completion of the Consolidation, accordingly, the cash distribution on a per Common Share basis will be adjusted to approximately C$1.80 per Common Share on a post-Consolidation basis based on the issued and outstanding Common Shares as at the date hereof.

The Company will not be changing its name in connection with the Consolidation. Pursuant to the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) and the articles of the Company, shareholder approval of Consolidation is not required. Completion of the Consolidation is subject to the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals including the approval of the TSXV.

No fractional Common Shares will be issued as a result of the Consolidation. Any fractional interest in Common Shares that is less than 0.5 of a Common Share resulting from the Consolidation will be rounded down to the nearest whole Common Share, and any fractional interest in Common Shares that is equal to or greater than 0.5 of a Common Share will be rounded up to the nearest whole Common Share.

Registered shareholders will receive a letter of transmittal from the Companys transfer agent, Odyssey Trust Company, providing instructions on how to exchange their share certificates representing pre-Consolidation Common Shares for new share certificates or Direct Registration Advice (DRS) representing post-Consolidation common shares to which they are entitled as a result of the Consolidation. No action is required by non-registered shareholders (shareholders who hold their Common Shares through an intermediary) to affect the Consolidation.

The exercise or conversion price of, and the number of Common Shares issuable under, any convertible securities of the Company will be proportionately adjusted upon the completion of the Consolidation.

Settlement with Tanzania and Cash Position

On November 20, 2024, Montero announced that it had reached a US$27,000,000 settlement with the United Republic of Tanzania to resolve the dispute over the expropriation of its Wigu Hill rare earth element project. As part of this Settlement, the Company received an initial US$12,000,000 payment on November 20, 2024, followed by a second payment of US$8,000,000 on January 31, 2025. The final payment of US$7,000,000 was received on March 4, 2025, completing the settlement.

Following these payments, Montero now holds approximately C$18,400,000 in cash, net of litigation funding, legal fees, expenses, and current liabilities. The funds are currently kept in a high-interest bank account, and the Company is maintaining minimal general and administrative expenses to preserve its cash position.

The Company completed a comprehensive strategic review, with the support of an independent financial advisor, Cairn Merchant Partners LP, to explore opportunities from maximizing shareholder value. The board of directors has determined the Distribution is in the best interests of Shareholders. The Company anticipates retaining over C$3,400,000 of funds following the Distribution which is expected to be used to advance its mineral exploration project in northern Chile and for general corporate and working capital purposes. These shall be kept to a minimum as has been customary in previous years.

About Montero

Montero has successfully concluded a US$27,000,000 settlement with Tanzania, bringing an end to the dispute over the expropriation of the Wigu Hill rare earth element project. In addition to this settlement, the Company holds the Avispa copper-molybdenum project in northern Chile and is to advance its exploration. Monteros board of directors and management team have a strong track record in discovering and developing precious metal and copper projects. The Company is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbol MON and currently has 50,122,975 shares outstanding.

For more information, contact:

Montero Mining and Exploration Ltd.

Dr. Tony Harwood, President, and Chief Executive Officer

E-mail: ir@monteromining.com

Tel: +1 604 428 7050

www.monteromining.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.

All figures are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements, projections and estimates with respect to the Distribution and the Consolidation, the amount and timing of the Distribution, the timing of the Consolidation and the Consolidation ratio, statements with respect to the Meeting and matters related thereto and statements with respect to the use of the remaining Settlement proceeds following the Distribution. There can be no assurance the Distribution will be in the amount presently contemplated and that the Distribution will be completed at all. 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. Such information is based on information currently available to Montero and Montero provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward-looking information by its very nature involves inherent risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements of Montero to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Actual results relating to, among other things, the Corporations deployment of capital, business prospects, strategies, regulatory developments, future commodity prices, exchange rates, satisfactory arrangements for the payment of legal expenses, the ability of the Company to find suitable exploration projects, results of exploration, project development, reclamation and capital costs of Monteros mineral properties, and financial condition and prospects, all of which could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements for many reasons such as: failure to obtain regulatory and shareholder approval for the Distribution and Consolidation, as applicable, unanticipated expenses associated with the settlement; accounting review and other factors that may not be known to management of the Company at this time suggest an alternative strategy for the use of the Settlement proceeds; changes in general economic conditions and conditions in the financial markets; changes in demand and prices for minerals; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; technological and operational difficulties encountered in connection with Monteros activities; and other matters discussed in this news release and in filings made with securities regulators. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of Monteros forward-looking statements. These and other factors should be considered carefully and accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Montero does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
Allschwil, Switzerland, April 16, 2025

Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd, Allschwil (SIX: BSLN), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to meeting the needs of patients with severe bacterial and fungal infections, reported that shareholders approved all proposals of the board of directors at todays annual general meeting (AGM) for the financial year 2024.

At the AGM, the shareholders approved the annual report, the financial statements and the consolidated financial statements for the financial year 2024. They also endorsed carrying forward the accumulated deficit and approved the discharge of the members of the board of directors and the management committee.

Mr. Stephan Schindler was elected as chairman and Mr. Leonard Kruimer, Dr. Martin Nicklasson, Dr. Nicole Onetto, Dr. Carole Sable and Dr. Thomas Werner were re-elected as members of the board of directors. In addition, Mr. Kruimer was elected, and Dr. Nicklasson and Dr. Onetto were re-elected to the compensation committee. The term of all board members lasts until the AGM 2026.

The shareholders also approved the proposed maximum aggregate amount of compensation for the board of directors for the period from the AGM 2025 to the AGM 2026, and the maximum aggregate amount of total compensation (fixed and variable) for the management committee for the financial year 2026. In a non-binding advisory vote, the shareholders endorsed the compensation report for the financial year 2024.

Finally, the shareholders re-elected Dr. Caroline Cron as independent proxy until the end of the next AGM and elected Ernst & Young Ltd, Basel, as auditors for the financial year 2025.

Domenico Scala said: I would like to thank our shareholders for their strong support of the motions proposed by the board of directors. In particular, I congratulate Stephan Schindler on his election as the new chairman. After serving on the board since 2011, including the last nine years as chairman, and with Basilea in a strong position, I am proud to pass the baton to Stephan. As an accomplished Life Sciences leader, I am confident he will help guide Basilea to continued success.

At the AGM, 31.9% of the share capital, equivalent to 56.1% of the shares entitled to vote, was represented. In total, 66.6% of the share capital is currently registered in Basileas share register.

About Basilea

Basilea is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company founded in 2000 and headquartered in Switzerland. We are committed to discovering, developing and commercializing innovative drugs to meet the needs of patients with severe bacterial and fungal infections. We have successfully launched two hospital brands, Cresemba for the treatment of invasive fungal infections and Zevtera for the treatment of bacterial infections. In addition, we have preclinical and clinical anti-infective assets in our portfolio. Basilea is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX: BSLN). Please visit basilea.com.

Disclaimer

This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements, such as "believe", "assume", "expect", "forecast", "project", "may", "could", "might", "will" or similar expressions concerning Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd, Allschwil and its business, including with respect to the progress, timing and completion of research, development and clinical studies for product candidates. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd, Allschwil to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd, Allschwil is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For further information, please contact:

Peer Nils Schroder, PhD



Head of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations

Basilea Pharmaceutica International Ltd, Allschwil

Hegenheimermattweg 167b

4123 Allschwil

Switzerland



Phone +41 61 606 1102



E-mail media_relations@basilea.com

investor_relations@basilea.com





This press release can be downloaded from www.basilea.com.

Attachment
Calgary, Alberta, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wyman & Williamson, a Calgary-based criminal defence law firm, has released a revealing new study, The Importance of Legal Representation: Why You Need a Criminal Lawyer, which outlines why having professional legal support is essential when facing criminal charges in Canada. The study emphasizes that proper legal representation can drastically influence the trajectory of a case  protecting the rights, reputation, and future of the accused.

Criminal charges, whether minor or severe, carry serious consequences. Yet, many Canadians are unaware of how much they stand to lose without a seasoned defence lawyer by their side. Wyman & Williamsons study breaks down the common misconceptions around self-representation and sheds light on the advantages that a skilled criminal lawyer can offer.

Navigating the justice system without legal counsel is like walking a tightrope blindfolded, says the team at Wyman & Williamson. You may have the right to represent yourself, but that doesnt mean its in your best interest.

Key Highlights from the Study:





Legal Representation Matters: Experienced criminal lawyers understand complex procedures, evidentiary rules, and case law  giving clients a significant edge in both negotiations and trial.

Experienced criminal lawyers understand complex procedures, evidentiary rules, and case law  giving clients a significant edge in both negotiations and trial. Consequences Go Beyond Court: A criminal record can impact employment, housing, travel, family relationships, and immigration status, making proper defence vital.

A criminal record can impact employment, housing, travel, family relationships, and immigration status, making proper defence vital. Self-Representation is Dangerous: The study stresses that judges and prosecutors are not responsible for helping the accused. Without a lawyer, defendants may inadvertently waive important rights or make critical errors.

The study stresses that judges and prosecutors are not responsible for helping the accused. Without a lawyer, defendants may inadvertently waive important rights or make critical errors. Access to Justice Remains a Challenge: While legal aid exists, many Canadians fall into the justice gapunable to afford private counsel but ineligible for government-funded assistance.

The study also touches on the psychological strain of going through criminal proceedings alone. Having a defence lawyer not only strengthens your legal position but also provides emotional reassurance in high-stakes situations.

Ultimately, Wyman & Williamson advocate for a stronger public understanding of criminal defence as a safeguard of personal liberty and due processnot a luxury reserved for the few. If youve been charged with a crime, calling a lawyer isnt just an optionits your first line of defence, the firm emphasizes.

The full study is available at: The Importance of Legal Representation: Why You Need a Criminal Lawyer





Why Every Defendant Needs a Skilled Criminal Lawyer

About Wyman & Williamson | Criminal Defence Lawyers



Wyman & Williamson is a Calgary-based criminal defence law firm dedicated to protecting the rights of the accused across Alberta. The firm represents clients in a wide range of criminal matters  from DUI and assault to serious indictable offences  with a focus on smart legal strategy, transparency, and strong courtroom advocacy. Committed to justice and due process, Wyman & Williamson stands with its clients at every stage of the legal journey.

Press inquiries

Wyman & Williamson | Criminal Defence Lawyers

https://albertalegal.ca/

Shamil Shamilov

info@dnovogroup.com

647-771-3434

304 8th Ave SW, Suite 501, Calgary, AB T2P 1S2, Canada




LIBERTY TOWNSHIP, Ohio, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wawa, Inc., today announced a significant milestone in its history  the grand opening of its first store in Ohio! Located in Butler County at 7198 Cincinnati Dayton Road, Liberty Township, the location is the first of nine Wawa stores slated to open in Ohio by years end. To mark the milestone, Wawa was joined by hundreds of customers, local officials, first responders and community partners for a ribboncutting ceremony, parade of Wawa history and a Hoagies for Heroes hoagie-building competition.

The grand opening served as the feature event of Wawa Day, an annual, chainwide anniversary celebration of Wawas very first store opening in Folsom, Pennsylvania, on April 16, 1964. To celebrate this new milestone, honor Wawas 61 years in the convenience retail business and toast customers for their decades of support, Wawa offered free, any-size hot coffee, all day, at each of the companys 1,100-plus stores across its 10-state operating area. In addition, Wawa will offer free, any-size hot coffee through April 27 at the new Liberty Township store.

During the grand opening, The Wawa Foundation announced a $5,000 grant to the American Red Cross Central & Southern Ohio Region to support the local Sound the Alarm initiative. Another $5,000 grant was made to Cincinnati

Childrens Hospital to support Child Life Services. In addition, the Wawa Foundation launched its Lending a Helping Hoagie campaign, with a portion of the first week of hoagie sales, up to $5,000, in the new Liberty Township Ohio store benefitting Freestore Foodbank.

Were thrilled to fly into Ohio and bring our unique combination of fresh food and beverage, convenience, and service to new friends and neighbors in the Buckeye State. This historic milestone kicks off the next chapter of our growth in the Midwest, and were overjoyed at the warm welcome we continue to receive from so many communities were now proud to count as part of the Wawa flock, said Brian Schaller, President of Wawa. Its fitting that we mark our expansion into a 10th state on Wawa Day, the anniversary of our first store opening in Pennsylvania back in 1964. Today, we not only reflect on our roots but also look forward to opening our doors in new communities like Liberty Township, Ohio enhancing our offering and growing our Wawa Family!

About Wawas Liberty Township Grand Opening

At 8 a.m. on Wednesday, April 16, Wawas doors opened for the first time in Ohio to hundreds of new friends and neighbors. The first 250 customers received limited-edition Wawa Ohio Grand Opening Tour t-shirts. At 9 a.m., the grand-opening celebration began with an introduction of the store team and Wawas Parade of the Ages, showcasing important milestones achieved throughout the companys 200-year history. The Wawa Foundation announced grants to community partners, including $5,000 to the American Red Cross Central & Southern Ohio Region and $5,000 to Cincinnati Childrens Hospital. The ceremony ended with a ribbon cutting, officially marking Wawas entrance into Ohio. For a link to b-roll footage from the grand opening, click here.

Were thrilled to welcome Wawa to Liberty Township, said Tom Farrell, President of the Liberty Township Board of Trustees. Their decision to open their very first Ohio location right here is a testament to the strength of our community and the continued growth were experiencing. Wawas presence adds new energy and opportunity to our local economy, and were excited to be part of this important milestone."

The event also included Ohios first Hoagies for Heroes hoagie-building contest, with members of the Butler County Sheriffs Office and Liberty Township Fire Department facing off in a battle of bravery, skill and sandwich making expertise. Each team was challenged to build the most hoagies in three minutes in the traditional Wawa way. The competition concluded with Wawa presenting $1,000 checks on behalf of each team to their charities of choice. Tyler Morrow will serve as General Manager of the Liberty Township store, leading a team of 35 associates, new positions brought to the area through the new store.

Associates in these full- and part-time positions will not only receive competitive salaries and health benefits, but they will also participate in Wawas employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). Today, Wawa Associates own more than 39% of the company through the ESOP. Associates also have access to the ingredients that build a career, including training, development, educational assistance and a flexible, welcoming environment that helps everyone soar. Wawas expansion plans provide opportunities to join a growing company with opportunities and a culture where Associates take the lead in bringing joy to new friends and neighbors, and supporting their communities through volunteering, charitable giving and events. Soar with Wawa Video Gallery .

About Wawas Expansion in Ohio

By the end of 2025, Wawa expects to have nine stores open in Ohio. In subsequent years, Wawa projects opening four to ten stores per year, reaching 45-55 stores in Ohio over the next ten years. To build each store, Wawa will invest over $7.5 million and employ, on average, 140 contractors and local partners. Once open, each store will employ, on average, 35 Associates, with Wawa expecting to create 2,000 new, long-term jobs as a result of its Ohio expansion.

About Wawas Core Purpose

Wawas core purpose is Fulfilling Lives, Every Day. It captures Wawas special place in the world and recognizes Wawas higher calling beyond convenience and satisfaction. It inspires Wawa Associates to create meaningful, personal connections and make a real difference in the lives of customers, communities and each other, every day.

About Wawas and The Wawa Foundations Commitment to Local Communities

Through The Wawa Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded to support Wawas charitable giving and philanthropic activities, Wawa and The Wawa Foundation are committed to building stronger communities, specifically in the Foundations three focus areas of health, hunger and everyday heroes. To learn more, visit www.thewawafoundation.org .

About Wawa, Inc.

Wawa, Inc., a family and associate owned, privately held company, began in 1803 as an iron foundry in New Jersey. Toward the end of the 19th century, owner George Wood took an interest in dairy farming and the family began a small processing plant in Wawa, Pennsylvania, in 1902. The milk business was a huge success, due to its quality, cleanliness and certified process. As home delivery of milk declined in the early 1960s, Grahame Wood, Georges grandson, opened the first Wawa Food Market in 1964 in Pennsylvania as an outlet for dairy products. Today, Wawa is your all day, every day stop for freshly prepared foods, beverages, coffee, fuel services and surcharge-free ATMs. Wawa stores are located in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida, North Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Ohio and Washington, D.C., with more than 1,100 locations to date. The stores offer a large, fresh foodservice selection, including Wawa brands such as custom-prepared hoagies, freshly brewed coffee, hot breakfast sandwiches, hand-crafted specialty beverages, a dinner menu including burgers and pizza, and an assortment of soups, sides and snacks. Forbes.com ranks Wawa as #24 of Americas Largest Private Companies.
NEW YORK, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Genco Shipping & Trading Limited (NYSE: GNK) announced today that it will hold a conference call to discuss the Companys results for the first quarter of 2025 on Thursday, May 8, 2025 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The conference call will also be broadcast live over the Internet and include a slide presentation. The Company will issue financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025 on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 after the close of market trading.

What: First Quarter 2025 Conference Call When: Thursday, May 8, 2025 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time Link: https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/102367677

To access the call by phone, please register via the live call registration link above and you will be provided with dial-in instructions and details. Please dial in at least 10 minutes prior to 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time to ensure a prompt start to the call. The conference call will be broadcast live and available for replay on the Companys website: http://www.gencoshipping.com.

About Genco Shipping & Trading Limited

Genco Shipping & Trading Limited is a U.S. based drybulk ship owning company focused on the seaborne transportation of commodities globally. We provide a full-service logistics solution to our customers utilizing our in-house commercial operating platform, as we transport key cargoes such as iron ore, grain, steel products, bauxite, cement, nickel ore among other commodities along worldwide shipping routes. Our wholly owned high quality, modern fleet of dry cargo vessels consists of the larger Capesize (major bulk) and the medium-sized Ultramax and Supramax vessels (minor bulk) enabling us to carry a wide range of cargoes. Gencos fleet consists of 42 vessels with an average age of 12.4 years and an aggregate capacity of approximately 4,446,000 dwt as follows.

CONTACT:

Peter Allen

Chief Financial Officer

Genco Shipping & Trading Limited

(646) 443-8550
MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bird Construction Inc. (TSX: BDT) is pleased to announce that it has been awarded five projects with a combined value of over $650 million across its infrastructure, industrial and buildings businesses.

Defence Construction Canada has awarded Bird a modified design-build contract to design and construct 200 new residential housing units in Ontario. Managed by the Canadian Forces Housing Agency, this project is part of the Residential Portfolio Capital Investment Plan initiative that aims to provide suitable housing solutions for Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members and their families. It is also part of a broader $1.4 billion investment over 20 years to enhance housing for CAF members while alleviating local housing demands.



Bird was selected for a new contract award as part of Dows Path2Zero Program in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta to build the worlds first net zero integrated ethylene cracker and derivatives site with respect to scope 1 and 2 emissions. This new contract falls under the Utilities & Power Infrastructure group within the hydrocarbon production area and supports Dows commitment to sustainable and low-emission operations. Birds scope of work includes civil, mechanical, structural, piping, electrical and instrumentation, buildings and insulation works.



Bird was awarded a construction management contract for the multi-phase expansion and renovation of the Cottonwoods long-term care (LTC) facility in Kelowna, B.C. The initial phase of the project involves constructing a new four-storey, 234-bed LTC facility on the existing site, including all LTC support services and an operations centre for managing facilities across seven Interior Health locations. Phase 2 will involve demolishing the 1975 portion of the site and constructing a new one-storey mass timber amenity space, linking the new building with the remaining 1985 structure. This project will significantly modernize the existing facility, providing substantial benefits to the Kelowna community.



Further to the recently announced projects to support Ontario Power Generations (OPG) nuclear work program, Bird, through Indigenous-led joint venture Makhos Bird Joint Venture (MBJV), was awarded additional contracts for the design and construction of four projects that will support ongoing nuclear operations and refurbishment activities.



Bird, as part of a 50/50 general partnership, has executed a contract extension for early site development works at the Woodfibre LNG project. The agreement facilitates the site development, infrastructure, and foundations for the new LNG export facility, which is set to be the worlds first net-zero facility of its kind. This state-of-the-art facility will produce 2.1 million tonnes of LNG annually, supporting global energy transition efforts by supplying Canadian natural gas to international markets seeking cleaner fuel alternatives.



These new project awards underscore the continued demand in our infrastructure, industrial and buildings businesses in economically resilient sectors, and highlight our consistent presence in defence, chemicals, long-term care, clean power generation, energy and mining. Notably, the majority of these projects are with long-standing clients, an endorsement of the strong relationships we've forged through our consistent performance and collaboration, said Teri McKibbon, President and CEO of Bird. We also continue to increase our work program on large capital investment projects strengthening our risk-balanced combined backlog and further increasing our visibility to future additional scopes of work.

This press release contains forward-looking information (as defined in applicable Canadian securities legislation) that involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to materially differ from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information.

The Toronto Stock Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information, contact:

T.L. McKibbon, President & CEO or

W.R. Gingrich, CFO

Bird Construction Inc.

5700 Explorer Drive, Suite 400

Mississauga, ON L4W 0C6

Phone: (905) 602-4122

About Bird Construction

Bird (TSX: BDT) is a leading Canadian construction and maintenance company operating from coast-to-coast-to-coast. Servicing all of Canada's major markets through a collaborative, safety-first approach, Bird provides a comprehensive range of construction services, self-perform capabilities, and innovative solutions to the industrial, buildings, and infrastructure markets. For over 100 years, Bird has been a people-focused company with an unwavering commitment to safety and a high level of service that provides long-term value for all stakeholders. www.bird.ca
Irvine, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Irvine, California -

Atticus Injury Law recently secured a $2.7 million settlement for a client who was severely injured in a slip-and-fall accident in a commercial parking lot. This successful negotiation was accomplished without the need for a trial, highlighting the firm's ability to hold different parties responsible. The parties involved included a general contractor, a subcontractor, and the property owner. This settlement reinforces the firm's status as a dependable personal injury attorney in Irvine, CA.

The incident occurred as the client was leaving work, and unfortunately, due to poor maintenance, she slipped and fell in the parking lot. The lot was in disrepair and was even scheduled for demolition for an upcoming apartment complex. However, no safety measures were put in place to prevent accidents. This negligence led to the client suffering serious hip and spinal injuries, which required surgery and left her with a permanent disability and significant challenges in her everyday life.

"This wasn't just an accident. It was a preventable hazard ignored by multiple parties," explained lead attorney Atticus Wegman, who founded Atticus Injury Law. "We're proud to have held them accountable and secured the resources our client needs to move forward with dignity and support."

This case sheds light on the dangers that come with neglecting property maintenance, posing risks not only to employees but also to the public. The settlement serves as a strong reminder to commercial property owners of the consequences that come with ignoring safety rules. Such settlements highlight the necessity of keeping properties safe to prevent similar incidents in the future. For additional insights and reviews about how Atticus Injury Law manages such cases, visit Atticus Injury Law on Google.

The team at Atticus Injury Law, led by Atticus Wegman and supported by Senior Trial Attorney James Perry and Senior Paralegal Andrew Ampil, routinely defends clients facing similar circumstances. Their hard work is evident in the positive outcomes of cases involving property and premises liability as well as vehicle accidents. Atticus Injury Law is known as a committed Irvine personal injury attorney team, marked by thorough legal work and attentive client support.

Bringing attention to cases like these is vital for maintaining public safety and accountability. The actions of Atticus Injury Law show their active role in safeguarding client rights. The firm has developed a solid strategy where through detailed investigations and negotiations, they can often resolve matters without going through lengthy court battles while achieving positive results. Learn more about their approach and successes by exploring their profiles and reviews online.

While this settlement provides much-needed relief for the client involved, it also serves as a warning to others who encounter related situations. By choosing a skilled legal team, victims of negligence have the chance to seek justice. With the support of an Irvine personal injury attorney known for commitment and careful work, clients can address their grievances, encouraging safer environments for everyone.

About Atticus Injury Law:

Based in Southern California, Atticus Injury Law handles a range of personal injury cases, including those related to vehicle accidents and property issues. The firm has a seasoned team that advocates for clients' rights, boasting a track record of successful settlements and claims. They focus on a client-centered approach, emphasizing honesty and compassion while ensuring those at fault are held accountable and promoting safety. They offer detailed information about their services and track record on sites like Atticus Injury Law on Google, where potential clients can learn more about seeking justice through their experienced legal team.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2_BmwE7Wb0

For those interested in learning more about their services, Atticus Injury Law on Google offers additional information about the firm's accomplishments and services. They are available to assist individuals who require expert legal guidance in personal injury matters. The firm also provides support in multiple languages, helping clients confidently navigate their legal challenges. This availability reflects Atticus Injury Law's dedication to being a trustworthy personal injury attorney in Irvine, CA.

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For more information about Atticus Injury Law, contact the company here:



Atticus Injury Law

Atticus Wegman

(949) 694-9000

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2211 Michelson Dr Suite 900, Irvine, CA 92612
NEWPORT NEWS, Va., April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII (NYSE: HII) hosted the secretary of the Navy at its Newport News Shipbuilding division Wednesday for a tour of the shipyard, meetings with company leadership, and direct interactions with shipbuilders and sailors.

It was the first visit to NNS by Secretary of the Navy John Phelan since confirmation to the position in March.

The work being done in Newport News is essential to American seapower, Phelan said. These incredible workers are not just building ships, theyre building our future, securing our way of life, and ensuring peace through strength.

We are honored to have Secretary Phelan in the shipyard and show him what our shipbuilders do, NNS President Kari Wilkinson said. Shipbuilding is complex and difficult work and requires a commitment to purpose. We appreciate Secretary Phelans leadership, perspective and insight as we work relentlessly to be strong partners in strengthening and expanding American shipbuilding.





Photos accompanying this release are available at: http://hii.com/news/hii-hosts-secretary-of-the-navy-at-newport-news-shipbuilding/.

The tour covered the construction lifecycle for nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers, including conversations with the shipbuilders who are building and delivering ships critical to the national defense. Phelan saw firsthand how NNS is leveraging technology and state-of-the-art facilities to execute serial-module-production for both Columbia- and Virginia-class submarines. The group was able to experience these submarines in various stages of construction, from early construction to final assembly and test.

Phelan also toured construction progress on two aircraft carriers, including Enterprise (CVN 80) in the dry dock, as well as John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), undergoing final outfitting and testing at NNS. While on Kennedy, he met with sailors, toured the flight deck, and participated in topside testing of the electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS).

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Congressman Bobby Scott, D-Va., Congressman Rob Wittman, R-Va., and Congressman John McGuire, R-Va., joined Phelan for a portion of the visit.

With a workforce of more than 26,000 people, NNS is the largest industrial employer in Virginia. The shipyard is one of two shipyards capable of designing and building nuclear-powered submarines for the U.S. Navy and designs, builds, refuels and defuels nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.

About HII

HII is a global, all-domain defense provider. HIIs mission is to deliver the worlds most powerful ships and all-domain solutions in service of the nation, creating the advantage for our customers to protect peace and freedom around the world.

As the nations largest military shipbuilder, and with a more than 135-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII delivers critical capabilities extending from ships to unmanned systems, cyber, ISR, AI/ML and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HIIs workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit:

HII on the web: https://www.HII.com/

HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHII

HII on X: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHII

HII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WeAreHII

Contact:

Todd Corillo

Todd.T.Corillo@hii-co.com

(757) 688-3220
TORONTO, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bigstack Opportunities I Inc. (Bigstack) (TSXV: STAK.P), a capital pool company as defined under the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the TSXV or the Exchange), is pleased to announce that, further to the non-binding letter of intent dated November 3, 2024 between Bigstack and Reeflex Coil Solutions Inc. (Reeflex) and its press releases dated November 4, 2024 and January 17, 2025, it has entered into a business combination agreement dated April 14, 2025 (the Business Combination Agreement) with Reeflex and 2704122 Alberta Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bigstack (Subco). Reeflex and all of the shareholders (the Coil Shareholders) of Coil Solutions Inc. (Coil) have entered into a share purchase agreement dated April 14, 2025 (the Share Purchase Agreement).

Terms of the Transaction

The Business Combination Agreement provides for a three-cornered amalgamation (the Business Combination), whereby (i) Reeflex will amalgamate with Subco under the Business Corporations Act (Alberta), (ii) all of the issued and outstanding common shares in the capital of Reeflex (the Reeflex Shares) immediately prior to the Business Combination will be cancelled and, in consideration therefor, the holders thereof (the Reeflex Shareholders) will receive one common share in the capital of Bigstack (Bigstack Share) on the basis of one Reeflex Share for one Bigstack Share at a deemed price of $0.10 per Bigstack Share and (iii) the amalgamated corporation (the Amalco) will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bigstack, all on the terms and conditions of the Business Combination Agreement.

Prior to the completion of the Business Combination, pursuant to the Share Purchase Agreement, it is intended that Reeflex will purchase all of the issued and outstanding shares in the capital of Coil (the Acquisition and, together with the Business Combination, the Transaction) from the Coil Shareholders for aggregate consideration of $5.8 million, subject to a post-closing working capital adjustment, which is expected to be paid and satisfied by way of (i) Reeflex issuing secured non-interest bearing promissory notes to each Coil Shareholder with an aggregate principal amount equal to $1,700,000 that are to be fully paid within 5 business days of the closing of the Acquisition, (ii) Reeflex issuing secured promissory notes to each Coil Shareholder with an aggregate principal amount equal to $2,300,000 that bear interest at the prime rate published by the Bank of Canada from time to time and are paid down monthly and to be fully paid on the fifth anniversary of the closing of the Acquisition and (iii) Reeflex issuing an aggregate of 18,000,000 Reeflex Shares to the Coil Shareholders at a deemed price of $0.10 per Reeflex Share, all upon the terms and conditions of the Share Purchase Agreement.

After giving effect to the Transaction, the Reeflex Shareholders will collectively exercise control over Bigstack, Bigstack will wholly-own Amalco and Amalco will wholly-own Coil. Bigstack, as it exists upon completion of the Transaction (the Resulting Issuer), is expected to continue the business of Coil.

It is anticipated that all convertible securities of Bigstack will be exercised prior to completion of the Transaction; however, if any warrants to purchase common shares of Bigstack remain outstanding following the completion of the Transaction, they shall continue to be exercisable for common shares of the Resulting Issuer in accordance with their terms. It is anticipated that Bigstack will change its name to Reeflex Solutions Inc. on or immediately prior to the completion of the Transaction.

Immediately prior to the closing of the Transaction, it is anticipated that (i) assuming completion of the anticipated exercise of all convertible securities of Bigstack, there will be 10,662,000 Bigstack Shares issued and outstanding and (ii) holders of Reeflex Shares will hold 36,239,500 Reeflex Shares. Therefore, immediately following the closing of the Transaction, it is anticipated that there will be 46,901,500 common shares of the Resulting Issuer issued and outstanding.

Bigstack anticipates that the Transaction will constitute its Qualifying Transaction pursuant to Policy 2.4  Capital Pool Companies of the Exchange (the CPC Policy), as such term is defined in the policies of the Exchange, and it is expected that Bigstack will be a Tier 2 Industrial Issuer on the Exchange upon completion of the Transaction.

The proposed Transaction is not a Non-Arms Length Qualifying Transaction as such term is defined in the CPC Policy. No Non-Arms Length Party to Bigstack (as such term is defined in the CPC Policy) (a) has any direct or indirect beneficial interest in Reeflex or Coil, or (b) is an insider of Reeflex or Coil. There is no relationship between or among a Non-Arms Length Party to Bigstack and a Non-Arms Length Party to the Qualifying Transaction (as such terms are defined in the CPC Policy). It is not expected that the Transaction will be subject to approval by the shareholders of Bigstack.

Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, the satisfaction of all conditions provided for in the Business Combination Agreement, which will include representations, warranties, covenants and conditions customary for a transaction of this nature, and the receipt of all necessary regulatory, corporate and third party approvals, including TSXV acceptance and, if applicable pursuant to TSXV requirements, majority of the minority shareholder approval. Where applicable, the Transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or filing statement to be prepared in connection with the Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of a capital pool company should be considered highly speculative. The TSXV has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

Business and History of Reeflex

Reeflex is a privately-held corporation incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (Alberta) on June 14, 2024. Its head and registered offices are located in Calgary. Reeflex currently has no business operations or assets other than cash and a management team that has been working on the Transaction and the proposed going public structure for the past year.

Business and History of Coil

Founded in 2007 in Redcliff, Alberta, Coil specializes in innovative drilling products and services for the global oil and gas industry. In 2010, Coil expanded its operations, opening a second facility in Calgary, Alberta, introducing a line of downhole fracking tools and venturing into custom tool design. In 2012, Coil launched its coil tubing injector line. In 2013, Coil opened a third facility in Red Deer, Alberta. In 2014, Coil developed two distinct models of, and manufactured, its first full coil tubing units. In 2016, Coil expanded sales to Asia, Africa, Australia, North America, South America and Europe. In 2017, Coil designed and built the largest free-standing mast unit in the world. In 2022, Coil established a dedicated manufacturing division in Calgary, Alberta, operating under its tradename, Ranglar, for injectors and mobile equipment. In 2024, Coil completed a reorganization with its shareholders, which resulted in the conversion of preferred shares and debt into common shares. Today, Coil continues to focus on coiled tubing solutions and downhole tools, offering a comprehensive range of services including rentals, sales, training, testing and consulting. With 41 employees, Coil has developed patented products that are distributed worldwide, including a key distributor in Germany and more than 60 active clients.

The following tables set out selected financial information of Coil for the periods indicated therein:

Financial Year ended

2024

(audited)

($) Financial Year ended

2023

(audited)

($) Total revenues 14,265,524 14,069,331 Income from continuing operations 1,750,495 2,193,603 Net income or loss, in total 1,089,024 1,554,716 Total assets 9,969,946 11,752,788 Total long term financial liabilities 735,009 1,006,362 Cash dividends NIL 111,736

Concurrent Financing

In advance of the Transaction, Reeflex completed a non-brokered private placement of 4,139,500 subscription receipts (each, a Subscription Receipt) at a price of $0.20 per Subscription Receipt, for aggregate gross proceeds of $827,900 (the Concurrent Financing).

The gross proceeds resulting from the Concurrent Financing are (and will continue to be) held by Marrelli Trust Company Limited as subscription receipt and escrow agent until certain escrow release conditions are satisfied, including the completion of the Acquisition and the receipt of written confirmation from the TSX Venture Exchange that all conditions precedent to the Transaction have been satisfied (collectively, the Escrow Release Conditions). Upon satisfaction of the Escrow Release Conditions, and prior to the completion of the Transaction, the gross proceeds from the Concurrent Financing will be released from escrow and each Subscription Receipt will automatically convert into one Reeflex Share. In connection with the Concurrent Financing, Reeflex has paid to registered dealers and such other persons permitted under applicable securities laws who act as finders for the Concurrent Offering a finders fee an aggregate of $21,336, representing 7% of the gross proceeds resulting from subscriptions that were introduced to Reeflex by the finder. Except for the foregoing, it is not expected that any finders fee or commission will be payable in connection with the Transaction.

Reeflex intends to use the proceeds of the Concurrent Financing for general corporate and working capital purposes.

Resulting Issuer

The Parties expect that the Resulting Issuer following from the Transaction will carry on the existing business of Coil and be an industrial issuer focused on providing coiled tubing and downhole tool solutions to the oil and gas industry. See Terms of the Transaction above for details concerning the expected corporate structure of the Resulting Issuer upon completion of the Transaction.

Upon completion of the Transaction, the Parties expect that the board of directors of the Resulting Issuer will consist of the following four (4) directors, of whom three (3) will be independent. John Babic will not be independent as he will be the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Resulting Issuer.

John Babic  Proposed President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Resulting Issuer

John Babic is an accomplished executive with nearly 40 years of experience in the oil and gas sector, covering upstream, downstream, and manufacturing operations. He currently serves as the President and CEO of 1175317 Alberta Ltd., an investment and real estate holding company.

Throughout his career, Mr. Babic has held several senior executive positions, including CEO of Reeflex Coil Solutions Inc. and CEO and Director of various public companies such as Dalmac Energy Inc., an oilfield transportation and services company; Raydan Manufacturing Inc., a manufacturer specializing in heavy-duty transportation suspension systems; Hyduke Energy Services Inc., a manufacturer of oilfield equipment, including drilling and service rigs; and Sawtooth Resources Inc., an oil and gas exploration and production company.

In addition, Mr. Babic has served for 7 years as a Director of Edmonton Economic Development Corporation, contributing to the city's economic growth and development initiatives.

Mr. Babic holds both a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta.

Shawn Szydlowski  Proposed Director of Resulting Issuer

Shawn Szydlowski is a seasoned business leader with over 30 years of experience in corporate management, entrepreneurship, and financial oversight. As the founder of Care For A Ride, established in 2009, Mr. Szydlowski built a successful business focused on providing safe, reliable transportation for seniors, enabling them to maintain independence and quality of life.

His career also includes 15 years with Dalmac Energy, where he held key roles such as Interim CFO and Chairman of the Audit Committee. Mr. Szydlowski played a crucial role in navigating the company through complex financial challenges, ensuring regulatory compliance, and fostering sustainable growth. Additionally, he brings 20 years of experience in corporate sales and account management, where he consistently drove strategic results, earning the President's Club Award for three consecutive years.

Eric Szustak  Proposed Director of Resulting Issuer

Mr. Szustak is currently the President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Secretary and a director of Bigstack. He is a Chartered Professional Accountant and Chartered Accountant with over 35 years experience in financial services, business development, marketing, accounting, and as Chief Financial Officer of various reporting issuers. Mr. Szustak is currently Chairman and Corporate Secretary of Quinsam Capital Corporation, which is a public merchant bank listed on the CSE, a director of Copper Road Resources Inc., a mining company listed on the TSXV, and a director of Nevada Organic Phosphate Inc., a fertilizer company listed on the CSE. Mr. Szustaks previous experience also includes 14 years with three national brokerage firms: Midland Walwyn, Merril Lynch and BMO Nesbitt Burns, in various positions, including private client wealth groups, management and securities compliance. Mr. Szustak will be Chair of the Audit Committee of the Resulting Issuer in addition to his general duties as a director of the Resulting Issuer. Mr. Szustak will devote such percentage of his working time to the affairs of the Resulting Issuer as is required to fulfill his duties to the same.

Derrek Dobko  Proposed Director of Resulting Issuer

Derrek Dobko is a seasoned financial officer with over 20 years of experience in the oilfield service, manufacturing, and transportation industries. He has held senior finance positions in both public and private companies, showcasing his expertise in financial management and reporting.

As controller of Raydan Manufacturing, Mr. Dobko was responsible for the companys financial reporting in accordance with IFRS and the preparation of all financial information required under TSXV reporting standards. His career also includes senior accounting roles at Peak Energy Services, Alta-Fab Structures, and his current position with NTS Amega Canada.

Additionally, Mr. Dobko has gained valuable operational experience in the transportation sector, particularly in managing financial operations for Liquids in Motion, a mid-sized trucking company. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Alberta and is a Certified Professional Accountant (CPA), with a designation from CPA Alberta.

Upon completion of the Transaction, the following persons are also expected to constitute insiders of the Resulting Issuer:

Trevor Conway  Proposed Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of Resulting Issuer

Trevor Conway is an accomplished mid-market investment banking professional with extensive transaction experience across various industry sectors, including energy. He previously served as CFO of Reconciliation Energy Transition Inc., a Calgary-based energy transition project development company and as Special Advisor to BluMaple Capital Partners, a Calgary-based private equity firm focused on low-carbon energy innovators.

Prior to these roles, Mr. Conway was the Managing Director and Head of Energy Investment Banking at iA Capital Markets, a division of iA Private Wealth and part of iA Financial Group, a leading Canadian financial institution.

Mr. Conway holds an MBA from the Ivey Business School at Western University, a BA (Special) in Economics from the University of Alberta, and a Sustainable Investment Professional Certificate (SIPC) from the John Molson Executive Centre at Concordia University. He is also a former Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute (FCSI).

In addition to his professional work, Mr. Conway has contributed to several industry and community initiatives. He has served on the National & Local Advisory Committee of the TSX Venture Exchange and was Past Director and Governor of the Canadian Energy Executive Association.

George Wu  Proposed Director of Amalco

George Wu is a distinguished financial executive with a proven track record in leading complex financial strategies and driving portfolio success. With extensive expertise in bank debt, structured finance, fixed income, and equity analysis, he excels in portfolio management and strategic financial planning. His leadership has successfully optimized portfolios, resulting in a 20% increase in returns over the past three years.

Known for his exceptional relationship-building skills, Mr. Wu has effectively engaged as a financial strategist with c-suite executives and diverse stakeholders. He holds a CFA, MBA, and B.Sc. (Honours Program) and currently serves as Portfolio Manager and Chief Compliance Officer at a leading independent portfolio management firm in Edmonton, ensuring top-tier financial stewardship and compliance.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Mr. Wu mentors commerce undergraduates through the University of Alberta's PRIME Program, contributing to the development of future leaders in investment management. Mr. Wu and his family have called Edmonton home since 2000, where they enjoy a multilingual household speaking English, French, and Mandarin Chinese.

Cecil Hassard  Proposed Director of Amalco

Mr. Cecil Hassard is an accomplished entrepreneur and business leader with a proven track record of driving innovation and operational excellence in the oil and gas industry. In 2007, he co-founded Coil which has grown to become a global provider of high-quality products and innovative solutions for the energy sector. He further diversified the companys offerings by introducing the Ranglar division, based in Calgary, Alberta, which manufactures custom mobile equipment for industries such as oil and gas, mining, and more.

Under his leadership, Coil has established a strong presence in Canada and the United States, and in serving clients worldwide. He broadened Coils capabilities with the Ranglar division, enabling tailored solutions to a broader range of industries with specialized equipment. He has driven advancements in operational efficiency and provided cutting-edge solutions for the energy sector. Mr. Cecil Hassards entrepreneurial vision has established Coil as a dynamic and influential leader in the global oil and gas industry.

Bryan Hassard  Proposed Chief Operating Officer of Coil

Mr. Bryan Hassard is an accomplished business leader and co-founder of Coil, established in 2007. He serves as the Vice President of Manufacturing and a director of Coil, playing a critical role in the companys operations and strategic direction.

Mr. Bryan Hassards leadership has been instrumental in expanding Coils sales from Canada to the United States and globally, enhancing the companys ability to serve the oil and gas industry on a broader scale utilizing distributors in different areas. As Vice President of Manufacturing, he oversees production processes, ensuring high-quality standards and operational efficiency. Mr. Bryan Hassards dedication to innovation and excellence has significantly contributed to the growth and success of Coil.

Sponsorship

Sponsorship of a qualifying transaction of a capital pool company is required by the TSXV unless an exemption from the sponsorship requirement is available. Bigstack has applied for a waiver from the sponsorship requirements. There is no assurance that the Bigstack will be able to obtain such a waiver.

Trading Halt

Trading in the Bigstack Shares was halted, as previously disclosed in Bigstacks press release dated November 4, 2024, and is not expected to resume until the Transaction is completed or until the Exchange receives the requisite documentation to resume trading.

Further updates with respect to the Transaction may be provided as the Transaction proceeds.

Overview of Bigstack

Bigstack is a capital pool company under the policies of the Exchange and it is intended that the Transaction will constitute the Qualifying Transaction of Bigstack, as such term is defined in CPC Policy. The Bigstack Shares are currently listed on the Exchange and Bigstack is a reporting issuer in the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario. Bigstack was incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) on November 25, 2020.

Additional Information

All information contained in this press release with respect to Reeflex and Coil was provided by Reeflex and Coil, respectively, to Bigstack for inclusion herein. Bigstack and its directors and officers have not independently verified such information and have relied exclusively on Reeflex and Coil for any information concerning Reeflex and Coil.

Forward Looking Information

This press release contains statements that constitute forward-looking information (forward-looking information) within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking information and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this press release. Any statement that discusses predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as anticipate, believe, estimate, expect, intend or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information.

More particularly and without limitation, this press release contains forward-looking statements concerning the Transaction and its constituents steps, including the Acquisition and the Business Combination (including the completion, structure, terms and timing thereof), the binding definitive agreements relating to the Transaction, including in respect of the Acquisition, the expected capital structure and expected shareholders of, and the expected size of their shareholdings in, the Resulting Issuer, the expected corporate structure of the Resulting Issuer and its subsidiaries, if any, the future financial performance of the Resulting Issuer or any of the parties, the Concurrent Financing, including the amount expected to be raised thereunder, any finders fees or commissions payable in relation to the same, and expected use of proceeds therefrom, the Subscription Receipts and Escrow Release Conditions, the expected composition of the board of directors and management of the Resulting Issuer and its subsidiaries, if any, TSXV sponsorship requirements and any exemptions therefrom, the issuance of additional press releases describing the Transaction, the trading of the Bigstack Shares on the TSXV and the holding of shareholder meetings in connection with the Transaction. Although Bigstack believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, it can give no assurance that the expectations of any forward-looking information will prove to be correct. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include, but are not limited to: delay or failure to receive board, shareholder or regulatory approvals; inability to complete the Concurrent Financing on the terms described herein or at all; and general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties. There can be no certainty that the Transaction and related transactions will be completed on the terms set out in the Letter of Intent and other agreements among the Parties or at all. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking information contained in this press release. Except as required by law, Bigstack disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking information or otherwise.

Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or filing statement to be prepared in connection with the Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of a capital pool company should be considered highly speculative.

The TSX Venture Exchange Inc. has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

Bigstack Opportunities I Inc.

For further information, please contact Eric Szustak, the President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Secretary and a director of Bigstack.

Eric Szustak

President, CEO, CFO, Corporate Secretary and Director

Email: eszustak@jbrlimited.com

Telephone: (905) 330-7948

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.

The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirement. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.
Chibougamau Copper-Gold Project, Canada

HIGHLIGHTS:

Drilling at Golden Eye has returned shallow high-grade gold up to 9.1g/t Au in first assays with an intersection of: 3.3m @ 6.6g/t Au from just 131.7m including 2.3m @ 9.1g/t Au (LDR-25-05)

Golden Eye was last drilled in the early 1990s when gold was less than US$350/oz. The entire drilling target sits outside the current resource

Significant intersections from historic drilling 1 include: 5.9m @ 34.1g/t AuEq (32.2g/t Au, 1.2% Cu & 27.3g/t Ag) (RD-11) 4.5m @ 21.6g/t AuEq (14.9g/t Au, 4.7% Cu & 54g/t Ag) (RD-28) 8.4m @ 12.7g/t AuEq (11.0g/t Au, 1.3% Cu & 15.8g/t Ag) (RD-20) 7.5m @ 22.1g/t AuEq (16.0g/t Au & 4.7% Cu) (S1-87-1) 10.4m @ 12.2 g/t AuEq (7.3g/t Au, 3.5% Cu & 31.8g/t Ag) (S3-86-4)

Subsequent holes drilled by Cygnus extended the known mineralisation down dip, where it remains open, with coarse visible gold* intersected in LDR-25-08 (awaiting assays - see photo below)





* Visual estimates of mineral abundance should never be considered a proxy or substitute for laboratory analyses where concentrations or grades are the factor of principal economic interest. Visual estimates also potentially provide no information regarding impurities or deleterious physical properties relevant to valuations. The Company expects to receive the laboratory analytical results of the recent core sample (including LDR-25-08) between late April and early May.

Gold was a significant part of the historic production within the Chibougamau District, with over 3.5Moz of gold produced alongside 945,000t of copper 3

The recent drilling campaign at Golden Eye of six holes for 1,954m aimed to confirm historic drilling results and extend mineralisation at depth. Assay are pending for the remaining five holes

The Company intends to utilise the recently compiled historic drill data totalling 77 holes for 21,371m to complete an initial Mineral Resource for Golden Eye

Cygnus is continuing the process of digitising >100,000 documents including drill logs, some of which have not been looked at in over 30 years and never before in modern 3D software

This highly cost-effective approach is assisting the team to conduct the first consolidated view of the geology and generate new drill targets as Cygnus looks to create shareholder value through resource growth, resource conversion and discovery with two rigs on site

Cygnus Executive Chairman David Southam said : Gold is a major part of the production history in the Chibougamau district. It is more than just a by-product, with production of 3.5Moz at an average grade of 2.1g/t Au. We already have 248,000oz of gold in Inferred Resources and 66,000oz in Measured and Indicated Resources,2 and there is significant opportunity to add to these at Golden Eye with early high-grade results and visible gold down dip.



Golden Eye is fairly unique at Chibougamau in having a significantly higher proportion of gold than copper and was identified by the team early as an excellent gold-dominant drill target. We have a good head start by having the historic drill logs and will utilise this recently compiled data to assist in an initial Mineral Resource for Golden Eye.



TORONTO and PERTH, Western Australia, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cygnus Metals Limited (ASX: CY5; TSXV: CYG; OTCQB: CYGGF) (Cygnus or the Company) is pleased to announce high-grade gold assays and visible gold from its first drilling at the new target Golden Eye within the Chibougamau Copper-Gold Project in Quebec.

Assays of up to 9.1g/t Au alongside visible gold intersected down dip in recent drilling highlight the potential for additional resources and scope for further growth. Golden Eye was identified as a priority high-grade gold target which has not been drilled since the early 1990s when gold was less than US$350/oz. The entire target area sits outside of current resources with significant historic intersections of up to 5.9m @ 34.1g/t AuEq.1

The identification of the Golden Eye target is a result of the ongoing compilation work which is helping to unlock this historic district as the Company continues to build upon the existing high-grade copper-gold resources with low-risk brownfield exploration. The Company currently has two rigs on site focussing on both resource growth and resource conversion drilling.

About Recent Drilling at Golden Eye

Golden Eye was identified as a priority drilling target at the Chibougamau Project with shallow high-grade gold mineralisation highlighted during the ongoing review of historic hardcopy drill logs, with the most recent drilling conducted in the early 1990s when gold price was less than US$350/oz. Historic drilling in the area returned some outstanding gold and copper grades1 of:

5.9m @ 34.1g/t AuEq (32.2g/t Au, 1.2% Cu & 27.3g/t Ag) (RD-11);

(RD-11); 4.5m @ 21.6g/t AuEq (14.9g/t Au, 4.7% Cu & 54g/t Ag) (RD-28);

(RD-28); 8.4m @ 12.7g/t AuEq (11.0g/t Au, 1.3% Cu & 15.8g/t Ag) (RD-20);

(RD-20); 7.5m @ 22.1g/t AuEq (16.0g/t Au & 4.7% Cu) (S1-87-1); and

(S1-87-1); and 10.4m @ 12.2 g/t AuEq (7.3g/t Au, 3.5% Cu & 31.8g/t Ag) (S3-86-4).

In 1992, a double access ramp was developed to access the mineralisation and to provide a better platform for drilling; however, low metal prices and a change of ownership shifted the focus to already established operating mines within the camp.

Cygnus recently completed a targeted 6-hole program for 1,954m, which aimed to confirm historic drilling results and extend mineralisation at depth. First assays from this drilling have confirmed the high-grade tenor of the shallow mineralisation with an intersection of:

3.3m @ 6.6g/t Au from 131.7m including 2.3m @ 9.1g/t Au (LDR-25-05)

Recent drilling has also extended mineralisation down dip to a depth of 400m below the surface, which remains open. Visual mineralisation intersected in drill hole LDR-25-08 highlighted coarse visible gold associated with chalcopyrite mineralisation over 0.9m from 463.8m downhole (refer Appendix B). Assays are pending for the five remaining holes of the program and are expected to be received in the current quarter. Once received, these results are expected to be incorporated into an updated geological model along with drilling completed by Dore Copper Mining Corp. in 2022/2023 which tested the conceptual structural model of the wider area.

The Chibougamau district has a strong history of gold production as well as copper, having produced 3.5Moz Au at an average grade of 2.1g/t Au.3 Gold grades vary between different deposits although Golden Eye and Cedar Bay are the two areas with a significantly higher gold grade than other deposits within the camp.

Cygnus intends to utilise the recently completed drilling data (once all received) alongside the newly compiled historic drill data totalling 77 holes for 21,371m (both surface and underground drilling) to complete an initial Mineral Resource Estimate for the Golden Eye target. Golden Eye is an excellent example of the value generated through ongoing compilation work which is helping to unlock this historic district while the Company continues to build upon the existing high-grade copper-gold resources with low-risk brownfield exploration.

Ongoing Work

Cygnus is continuing to compile the data across the camp and deliver additional drill targets as the Company looks to execute its strategy of value creation through resource growth and conversion drilling. This low-cost, low-risk approach includes both surface and downhole electromagnetics (EM) to generate brownfield targets around known high quality mineralisation.





Figure 1: Long Section of Golden Eye over 600m of strike with significant high grade gold up to 34.1gt AuEq over 5.9m. Mineralisation is still open at depth, with visible gold intersected in LDR-25-08. Refer to Appendix A of this release for newly released drill intercept and ASX releases dated 15 October 2024 and 25 March 2025 for previously announced drilling results.





Figure 2: Long Section through the Chibougamau North Camp illustrating Golden Eye with standout intersections of up to 5.9m @ 34.1g/t AuEq. Refer to ASX releases dated 15 October 2024 and 25 March 2025 for previously announced drilling results.

This announcement has been authorised for release by the Board of Directors of Cygnus.

David Southam

Executive Chair

T: +61 8 6118 1627

E: info@cygnusmetals.com Ernest Mast

President & Managing Director

T: +1 647 921 0501

E: info@cygnusmetals.com Media:

Paul Armstrong

Read Corporate

T: +61 8 9388 1474



About Cygnus Metals

Cygnus Metals Limited (ASX: CY5, TSXV: CYG, OTCQB: CYGGF) is a diversified critical minerals exploration and development company with projects in Quebec, Canada and Western Australia. The Company is dedicated to advancing its Chibougamau Copper-Gold Project in Quebec with an aggressive exploration program to drive resource growth and develop a hub-and-spoke operation model with its centralised processing facility. In addition, Cygnus has quality lithium assets with significant exploration upside in the world-class James Bay district in Quebec, and REE and base metal projects in Western Australia. The Cygnus team has a proven track record of turning exploration success into production enterprises and creating shareholder value.

Cautionary Note  Visual Estimates

In relation to the disclosure of visible mineralisation, the Company cautions that visual estimates of mineral abundance should never be considered a proxy or substitute for laboratory analysis. Laboratory assay results are required to determine the widths and grade of the visible mineralisation reported in preliminary geological logging. The Company will update the market when laboratory analytical results become available. The reported intersections are down hole lengths and are not necessarily true width. Descriptions of the mineral amounts seen and logged in the core are qualitative only. Quantitative assays will be completed by Bureau Veritas, with the results for those intersections discussed in this release expected between late April and early May.

Forward Looking Statements

This release may contain certain forward-looking statements and projections regarding estimates, resources and reserves; planned production and operating costs profiles; planned capital requirements; and planned strategies and corporate objectives. Such forward looking statements/projections are estimates for discussion purposes only and should not be relied upon. They are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond Cygnus control. Cygnus makes no representations and provides no warranties concerning the accuracy of the projections and disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements/projections based on new information, future events or otherwise except to the extent required by applicable laws. While the information contained in this release has been prepared in good faith, neither Cygnus or any of its directors, officers, agents, employees or advisors give any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the fairness, accuracy, completeness or correctness of the information, opinions and conclusions contained in this release. Accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted by law, none of Cygnus, its directors, employees or agents, advisers, nor any other person accepts any liability whether direct or indirect, express or limited, contractual, tortuous, statutory or otherwise, in respect of the accuracy or completeness of the information or for any of the opinions contained in this release or for any errors, omissions or misstatements or for any loss, howsoever arising, from the use of this release.

End Notes

Refer to Cygnus ASX announcements dated 15 October 2024 and 25 March 2025. The Mineral Resource estimate at the Chibougamau Project is a foreign estimate prepared in accordance with CIM Standards. A competent person has not done sufficient work to classify the foreign estimate as a mineral resource in accordance with the JORC Code, and it is uncertain whether further evaluation and exploration will result in an estimate reportable under the JORC Code. Refer to Appendix C for a breakdown of the Mineral Resource Estimate. Historic production statistics for the Chibougamau area are recorded in Leclerc. F, Harris. L. B, Bedard. J. H, Van Breeman. O and Goulet. N. 2012, Structural and Stratigraphic Controls on Magmatic, Volcanogenic, and Shear Zone-Hosted Mineralization in the Chapais-Chibougamau Mining Camp, Northeastern Abitibi, Canada. Society of Economic Geologists, Inc. Economic Geology, v. 107, pp. 963989.

Qualified Persons and Compliance Statements

The scientific and technical information in this announcement has been reviewed and approved by Mr Louis Beaupre, the Quebec Exploration Manager of Cygnus, a qualified person as defined in National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. The Exploration Results disclosed in this announcement are also based on and fairly represent information and supporting documentation compiled by Mr Beaupre. Mr Beaupre holds options in Cygnus. Mr Beaupre is a member of the Ordre des ingenieurs du Quebec (P. Eng.), a Registered Overseas Professional Organisation as defined in the ASX Listing Rules, and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposits under consideration and to the activity which has been undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves. Mr Beaupre consents to the inclusion in this release of the matters based on the information in the form and context in which they appear.

The Company first announced the foreign estimate of mineralisation for the Chibougamau Project on 15 October 2024. The Company confirms that the supporting information included in the original announcement continues to apply and has not materially changed, notwithstanding the clarification announcement released by Cygnus on 28 January 2025 (Clarification). Cygnus confirms that (notwithstanding the Clarification) it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in the original announcement and that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates in the original announcement continue to apply and have not materially changed. Cygnus confirms that it is not in possession of any new information or data that materially impacts on the reliability of the estimates or Cygnus ability to verify the foreign estimates as mineral resources in accordance with the JORC Code. The Company confirms that the form and context in which the Competent Persons findings are presented have not been materially modified from the original market announcement.

The information in this announcement that relates to previously reported Exploration Results at the Companys projects has been previously released by Cygnus in ASX Announcements as noted in the text and End Notes. Cygnus is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information in these announcements. The Company confirms that the form and context in which the Competent Persons findings are presented have not been materially modified from the original market announcements.

Individual grades for the metals included in the metal equivalents calculation for the foreign estimate are in Appendix C of this release. Metal equivalents for the foreign estimate of mineralisation have been calculated at a copper price of US$8,750/t, gold price of US$2,350/oz, with copper equivalents calculated based on the formula CuEq (%) = Cu(%) + (Au (g/t) x 0.77258). Individual grades for the metals included in the metal equivalents calculation for the exploration results are in Appendix A of this release. Metal equivalents for exploration results have been calculated at a copper price of US$8,750/t, gold price of US$2,350/oz and silver price of US$25/oz. Copper equivalents are calculated based on the formula CuEq(%) = Cu(%) + (Au(g/t) x 0.77258)+(Ag(g/t) x 0.00822). Gold equivalents are calculated based on the formula AuEq(g/t) = Au(g/t) +(Cu(%) x 1.29436)+(Ag(g/t) x 0.01064). Metallurgical recovery factors have been applied to the metal equivalents calculations, with copper metallurgical recovery assumed at 95% and precious metal (gold and silver) metallurgical recovery assumed at 85% based upon historical production at the Chibougamau Processing Facility, and the metallurgical results contained in Cygnus announcement dated 28 January 2025. It is the Companys view that all elements in the metal equivalents calculations in respect of the foreign estimate and exploration results have a reasonable potential to be recovered and sold.

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.

APPENDIX A  Significant Intersections from Recent Drilling at Golden Eye

Coordinates given in UTM NAD83 (Zone 18). Intercept lengths may not add up due to rounding to the appropriate reporting precision. Significant intersections reported above 2g/t AuEq over widths of greater than 1m. True width estimated to be 80% of downhole thickness.

Hole ID X Y Z Azi Dip Depth (m) From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) Cu (%) AuEq (g/t) LDR-25-05 549448 5525296 375 227 -45 214.2 131.7 135.0 3.3 6.6 0.0 6.6 Including 131.7 134 2.3 9.1 0.0 9.1 LDR-25-06 549560 5525483 375 215 -51 474.0 Pending Assays LDR-25-07 549453 5525313 375 215 -55 261.0 LDR-25-08 549524 5525441 375 246 -57 516.0 LDR-25-09 549445 5525319 375 238 -54 252.0 LDR-25-10 549489 5525229 375 220 -60 237.0



APPENDIX B - Summary Logging Details for Mineralised Intersections Observed in LDR-25-08

Hole ID From To Interval Mineral 1 % Mineral 2 % Mineral 3 % Visible Gold Total Sulphide (%) LDR-25-08 89.0 90.0 1.0 Pyrite 2.0 - 2.0 LDR-25-08 166.4 211.1 44.7 Pyrite 0.5 - 0.5 LDR-25-08 211.1 216.0 4.9 Pyrite 0.1 - 0.1 LDR-25-08 216.0 216.6 0.6 Pyrite 1.0 - 1.0 LDR-25-08 216.6 354.8 138.2 Pyrite 0.1 - 0.1 LDR-25-08 360.4 361.3 0.9 Chalcopyrite 0.5 Pyrite 1.0 - 1.5 LDR-25-08 363.9 392.1 28.2 Chalcopyrite 0.3 Pyrite 0.5 - 0.8 LDR-25-08 392.1 397.3 5.3 Pyrite 0.3 - 0.3 LDR-25-08 397.3 405.6 8.3 Chalcopyrite 0.1 - 0.1 LDR-25-08 405.6 406.1 0.5 Chalcopyrite 0.3 Pyrite 30.0 - 30.3 LDR-25-08 406.1 407.9 1.8 Chalcopyrite 0.5 Pyrite 1.5 - 2.0 LDR-25-08 407.9 408.3 0.4 Pyrite 7.0 Chalcopyrite 0.1 - 7.1 LDR-25-08 408.3 409.0 0.7 Pyrite 0.1 - 0.1 LDR-25-08 409.0 409.4 0.4 Pyrite 25.0 Chalcopyrite 25.0 - 50.0 LDR-25-08 409.4 411.7 2.3 Chalcopyrite 3.0 Pyrite 7.0 - 10.0 LDR-25-08 411.7 411.9 0.2 Sphalerite 2.0 Chalcopyrite 0.5 Pyrite 15.0 - 17.5 LDR-25-08 411.9 415.1 3.2 Chalcopyrite 1.0 Pyrite 3.0 - 4.0 LDR-25-08 415.1 420.8 5.8 Chalcopyrite 0.3 Pyrite 1.0 - 1.3 LDR-25-08 420.8 423.3 2.4 Chalcopyrite 1.5 Pyrite 2.5 - 4.0 LDR-25-08 423.3 428.3 5.1 Chalcopyrite 0.1 Pyrite 0.1 - 0.2 LDR-25-08 428.3 455.0 26.7 Pyrite 0.5 - 0.5 LDR-25-08 457.6 458.1 0.4 Sphalerite 0.1 Chalcopyrite 1.0 Pyrite 0.5 - 1.6 LDR-25-08 461.2 461.8 0.6 Chalcopyrite 2.0 - 2.0 LDR-25-08 463.8 464.6 0.9 Chalcopyrite 5.0 Pyrite 2.0 0.1 % 7.1 LDR-25-08 464.6 478.6 14.0 Chalcopyrite 1.0 Pyrite 0.5 - 1.5 LDR-25-08 478.6 479.7 1.1 Chalcopyrite 3.0 Pyrite 8.0 - 11.0 LDR-25-08 480.6 516.0 35.4 Chalcopyrite 0.2 Pyrite 0.1 - 0.3



APPENDIX C  Chibougamau Copper-Gold Project  Foreign Mineral Resource Estimate Disclosures as at 30 March 2022

Deposit Category Tonnes (k) Cu Grade (%) Au Grade (g/t) Cu Metal (kt) Au Metal (koz) CuEq Grade (%) Corner Bay (2022) Indicated 2,700 2.7 0.3 71 22 2.9 Inferred 5,900 3.4 0.3 201 51 3.6 Devlin (2022) Measured 120 2.7 0.3 3 1 2.9 Indicated 660 2.1 0.2 14 4 2.3 Measured & Indicated 780 2.2 0.2 17 5 2.4 Inferred 480 1.8 0.2 9 3 2.0 Joe Mann (2022) Inferred 610 0.2 6.8 1 133 5.5 Cedar Bay (2018) Indicated 130 1.6 9.4 2 39 8.9 Inferred 230 2.1 8.3 5 61 8.5 Total Measured & Indicated 3,600 2.5 0.6 90 66 3.0 Inferred 7,200 3.0 1.1 216 248 3.8



APPENDIX D  2012 JORC Table 1

Section 1 Sampling Techniques and Data

Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary Sampling techniques Nature and quality of sampling (eg cut channels, random chips, or specific specialised industry standard measurement tools appropriate to the minerals under investigation, such as down hole gamma sondes, or handheld XRF instruments, etc). These examples should not be taken as limiting the broad meaning of sampling. All drilling conducted by Cygnus Metals at the Chibougamau Project was completed under the supervision of a registered professional geologist as a Qualified Person (QP) who is responsible and accountable for the planning, execution, and supervision of all exploration activity as well as the implementation of quality assurance programs and reporting.

All Cygnus drilling reported is NQ size (47.8 mm diameter). Include reference to measures taken to ensure sample representivity and the appropriate calibration of any measurement tools or systems used. All sample collection, core logging, and specific gravity determinations were completed by Cygnus Metals under the supervision of a professionally qualified registered geologist.

NQ core was marked for splitting during logging and is sawn using a diamond core saw with a mounted jig to assure the core is cut lengthwise into equal halves.

Half of the cut core is placed in clean individual plastic bags with the appropriate sample tag.

QA/QC is done in house by Cygnus Metals geologists with oversight from the Senior Geologist. The check samples (blanks and standards  4% of total samples with another 2% of core duplicates taken on half split core) that were inserted into the sample batches are verified against their certified values and are deemed a pass if they are within 3 standard deviations of the certified value. The duplicates are evaluated against each other to determine mineralization distribution (nugget). If there are large discrepancies in the check samples, then the entire batch is requested to be re-assayed. The samples are then placed in bags for shipment to the offsite laboratorys facility.

The remaining half of the core is retained and incorporated into Cygnuss secure, core library located on the property. Aspects of the determination of mineralisation that are Material to the Public Report.



In cases where industry standard work has been done this would be relatively simple (eg reverse circulation drilling was used to obtain 1 m samples from which 3 kg was pulverised to produce a 30 g charge for fire assay). In other cases more explanation may be required, such as where there is coarse gold that has inherent sampling problems. Unusual commodities or mineralisation types (eg submarine nodules) may warrant disclosure of detailed information. Industry standard sampling practices were used with sample lengths ranging from 0.3 m to 1.0 m and respected geological contacts. Sample tags were placed at the beginning of each sample interval and the tag numbers were recorded in an MS Excel database.

Sampling practice is considered to be appropriate to the geology and style of mineralisation. Drilling techniques Drill type (eg core, reverse circulation, open-hole hammer, rotary air blast, auger, Bangka, sonic, etc) and details (eg core diameter, triple or standard tube, depth of diamond tails, face-sampling bit or other type, whether core is oriented and if so, by what method, etc). Diamond core was drilled using surface diamond rigs with industry recognised contractors Miikan Drilling. Miikan is a joint venture between Chibougamau Diamond Drilling Ltd., the First Nations community of Ouje-Bougoumou and the First Nations community of Mistissini both located in the Eeyou Istchee territory.

Drilling was conducted using NQ core size.

Directional surveys have been taken at 50m intervals. Drill sample recovery Method of recording and assessing core and chip sample recoveries and results assessed.



Measures taken to maximise sample recovery and ensure representative nature of the samples.



Whether a relationship exists between sample recovery and grade and whether sample bias may have occurred due to preferential loss/gain of fine/coarse material. Diamond core recovery was measured for each run and calculated as a percentage of the drilled interval.

Overall, the core recoveries are excellent in the Chibougamau area. As a result, no bias exists. Logging Whether core and chip samples have been geologically and geotechnically logged to a level of detail to support appropriate Mineral Resource estimation, mining studies and metallurgical studies. All core was geologically and geotechnically logged. Lithology, veining, alteration and mineralisation are recorded in multiple tables of the drillhole database. Whether logging is qualitative or quantitative in nature. Core (or costean, channel, etc) photography. Geological logging of core is qualitative and descriptive in nature. The total length and percentage of the relevant intersections logged. 100% of the core has been logged. Sub-sampling techniques and sample preparation If core, whether cut or sawn and whether quarter, half or all core taken.



If non-core, whether riffled, tube sampled, rotary split, etc and whether sampled wet or dry.



For all sample types, the nature, quality and appropriateness of the sample preparation technique.



Quality control procedures adopted for all sub-sampling stages to maximise representivity of samples.



Measures taken to ensure that the sampling is representative of the in-situ material collected, including for instance results for field duplicate/second-half sampling.



Whether sample sizes are appropriate to the grain size of the material being sampled. The NQ diameter the core was sawn in half following a sample cutting line determined by geologists during logging and submitted for analysis on nominal 1m intervals or defined by geological boundaries determined by the logging geologist.

Each core sample is assigned a tag with a unique identifying number. Sample lengths are typically one metre but can be depending on zone mineralogy and boundaries.

This sampling technique is industry standard and deemed appropriate.

Samples sizes are considered appropriate to grain size of the materials being sampled. Quality of assay data and laboratory tests The nature, quality and appropriateness of the assaying and laboratory procedures used and whether the technique is considered partial or total. Sample (NQ size half core) preparation and fire assay analysis were done at Bureau Veritas Commodities Canada Ltd (BV) in Timmins, Ontario, and ICP-ES multi-elements analysis was done at BV in Vancouver, B.C.

Samples were weighed, dried, crushed to 70% passing 2 mm, split to 250 g, and pulverized to 85% passing 75 m.

Samples are fire assayed for gold (Au) (30 g) and multi-acid digestion ICP-ES finish, for 23 elements (including key elements Ag, Cu, Mo).

Samples assaying >10.0 g/t Au are re-analysed with a gravimetric finish using a 30 g charge. Samples assaying >10% Cu are re-analysed with a sodium peroxide fusion with ICP-ES analysis using a 0.25 g charge. For geophysical tools, spectrometers, handheld XRF instruments, etc, the parameters used in determining the analysis including instrument make and model, reading times, calibrations factors applied and their derivation, etc. None used. Nature of quality control procedures adopted (eg standards, blanks, duplicates, external laboratory checks) and whether acceptable levels of accuracy (i.e. lack of bias) and precision have been established. At Bureau Veritas, laboratory QC procedures involve the use of internal certified reference material as assay standards, along with blanks, duplicates and replicates. Verification of sampling and assaying The verification of significant intersections by either independent or alternative company personnel. Verification of sampling was made by Cygnus Metals and other professional consultant geologists. The use of twinned holes. No hole is twinned. Documentation of primary data, data entry procedures, data verification, data storage (physical and electronic) protocols. All logging data was completed, core marked up, logging and sampling data was entered directly into the database.

The logged data is stored on the site server directly. Discuss any adjustment to assay data. There was no adjustment to the assay data. Location of data points Accuracy and quality of surveys used to locate drill holes (collar and down-hole surveys), trenches, mine workings and other locations used in Mineral Resource estimation. The location of the drillholes and the aiming points for the orientation of the drillholes were indicated on the ground using identified stakes. The stakes marking the location of the drillholes were set up and located with a Garmin GPS model GPSmap 62s (4m accuracy).

Surveys are collected using a Reflex EZ-Shot single-shot electronic instrument with readings collected at intervals of approximately every 30 m downhole plus a reading at the bottom of the hole. Specification of the grid system used. The grid system used is UTM NAD83 (Zone 18). Quality and adequacy of topographic control. A Digital Terrane Model (DTM) has been used to accurately plot the vertical position of the holes, which is considered to provide an adequate level of topographic control. Data spacing and distribution Data spacing for reporting of Exploration Results. The drill spacing for recent drilling is considered appropriate for this type of exploration.

Due to the historic nature and mix of underground and surface drilling the drill hole spacing for historic drill results is highly variable. Whether the data spacing and distribution is sufficient to establish the degree of geological and grade continuity appropriate for the Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve estimation procedure(s) and classifications applied. No resource estimation is made. Whether sample compositing has been applied. No sample compositing has been applied. Orientation of data in relation to geological structure Whether the orientation of sampling achieves unbiased sampling of possible structures and the extent to which this is known, considering the deposit type. Recent drilling is orientated approximately at right angles to the currently interpreted strike of the known interpreted mineralisation.

Due to the historic nature of the drilling the drill hole orientation for historic drill results is highly variable. If the relationship between the drilling orientation and the orientation of key mineralised structures is considered to have introduced a sampling bias, this should be assessed and reported if material. No bias is considered to have been introduced by the existing sampling orientation. Sample security The measures taken to ensure sample security. Core was placed in wooden core boxes close to the drill rig by the drilling contractor. The core was collected daily by the drilling contractor and delivered to the secure core logging facility. Access to the core logging facility is limited to Cygnus employees or designates. Audits or reviews The results of any audits or reviews of sampling techniques and data. No audits or reviews of sampling techniques or data have been undertaken, therefore information on audits or reviews is not yet available.



Section 2 Reporting of Exploration Results

(Criteria listed in the preceding section also apply to this section.)

Criteria JORC Code Explanation Commentary Mineral tenement and land tenure status Type, reference name/number, location and ownership including agreements or material issues with third parties such as joint ventures, partnerships, overriding royalties, native title interests, historical sites, wilderness or national park and environmental settings. The data reported within this announcement is from the Chibougamau Project. The Chibougamau project consists of 3 properties which include: Copper Rand, 14,383 ha (15 mining concession and 311 exploration claims) Corner Bay  Devlin (1 mining license, 141 exploration claims owned 100% by CBAY and 17 claims owned 56.4% by CBAY/43.6% Pan American Silver) Joe Mann (2 mining concessions, 82 claims owned 100% by CBAY, and 68 claims and 1 mining concession owned 65% by CBAY/35% by SOQUEM)

CBAY Minerals Inc. (CBAY), a wholly owned subsidiary of Cygnus, is the owner of all claims and leases, except where otherwise noted above.

The properties collectively making up the Project are in good standing based on the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (Ministere de lEnergie et des Ressources Naturelles) GESTIM claim management system of the Government of Quebec. The security of the tenure held at the time of reporting along with any known impediments to obtaining a licence to operate in the area. All tenure is in good standing. Exploration done by other parties Acknowledgment and appraisal of exploration by other parties. The Chibougamau Copper and Gold project comprising Corner Bay, Devlin, Cedar Bay and Joe Mann has seen an extensive exploration history dating back to the early 1900s. The Preliminary Economic Assessment (as referred to in the Companys announcement of 15 October 2024) provides a detailed history of the exploration activities undertaken by previous explorers.

Corner Bay was first identified as a prospect in 1956 1956  1972 eight drilling programs totalling 1,463 m and various geophysical and electromagnetic (EM) surveys 1973  1981 Riocanex and Flanagan McAdam: ground geophysical surveys and 43 diamond drill holes 1982  1984 Riocanex and Corner Bay Exploration: 38 drill holes and metallurgical test work 1988  1991 Corner Bay Exploration: diamond drilling, geophysical surveys and geological characterisation with initial MRE 1992  1994 SOQUEM optioned and acquired a 30% interest, and completed diamond drilling 1994 Explorations Cache Inc and Resources MSV Inc: diamond drilling 2004  2006 GeoNova and MSV: 98 diamond drill holes and first Technical Report on the Corner Bay project reporting a MRE 2007  2009 Campbell: diamond drilling and bulk sample 2012 - 2019 CBAY / AmAuCu: diamond drilling and MRE

Devlin identified in 1972 by airborne survey flown by the MERN 1979  1981 diamond drilling, geophysical surveys 1981 development commenced

Joe Mann identified in 1950 with the commencement of mining activities occurring in 1956 The Joe Mann mine operated underground during three different periods from 1956 to 2007 In July 2012, Resources Jessie acquired the Joe Mann mine property, but conducted only surface exploration work

Cedar Bay was discovered prior to 1927 by Chibougamau McKenzie Mines Ltd From initial discovery to 2013 various surface and underground drilling campaigns and geophysical surveys undertaken by various companies

Colline was first discovered with mapping and sampling and then drilled in the 1950s with follow up drilling in 1955. In the 1950s a shaft was sunk but the deposit was never mined. The deposit was later tested with three drill holes and six regional drill holes throughout two drilling campaigns in 1984 and 1986/87. Exploration at Colline has been halted historically with the discovery of and focus on other deposits in the region.

Golden Eye (previously known as Dore Ramp) was drilled in a few different phases from 1984 to 1992. A total of 47 drill holes from surface are reported during that period A double ramp of approximately 1 kilometre was excavated in 1991-92 to a vertical depth of 160 meters Underground drilling campaign of 46 holes totaling 10,200 meters tested the deposit mainly to a depth of 240 meters (only five holes tested the deposit between 300 and 600 meters)

Geology Deposit type, geological setting and style of mineralisation. Corner Bay and Devlin are located at the northeastern extremity of the Abitibi subprovince in the Superior province of the Canadian Shield and are examples of Chibougamau-type copper-gold deposits. The Abitibi subprovince is considered as one of the largest and best-preserved greenstone belts in the world and hosts numerous gold and base metal deposits.

The Corner Bay deposit is located on the southern flank of the Dore Lake Complex (DLC). It is hosted by a N 15 trending shear zone more or less continuous with a strong 75 to 85 dip towards the west. The host anorthosite rock is sheared and sericitized over widths of 2 m to 25 m. The deposit is cut by a diabase dyke and is limited to the north by a fault structure and to the south by the LaChib deformation zone.

The Corner Bay deposit consists of three main mineralized lodes (subparallel Main Lode 1 and Main Lode 2 above the dyke, and Main Lode below the dyke that make up the bulk of the deposit. The Corner Bay deposit has been traced over a strike length to over 1,100 m to a depth of 1,350 m and remains open at depth.

The mineralization is characterized by veins and/or lenses of massive to semi-massive sulphides associated with a brecciated to locally massive quartz-calcite material. The sulphide assemblage is composed of chalcopyrite, pyrite, and pyrrhotite with lesser amounts of molybdenite and sphalerite. Late remobilized quartz-chalcopyrite-pyrite veins occur in a wide halo around the main mineralization zones.

Devlin is a flat-lying, copper-rich lodes-hosted deposit in a polygenic igneous breccia that is less than 100 m from the surface. The tabular bodies have been modelled as four nearly horizontal lodes: a more continuous lower zone and three smaller lodes comprising the upper zone. Mineralization is reflected as a fracture zone often composed of two or more sulphide-quartz lodes and stringers. Thickness of the mineralized zones range from 0.5 m to 4.4 m. It has been diluted during modelling to reflect a minimum mining height of 1.8 m.

The Joe Mann deposit is characterized by east-west striking shear hosted lodes that extend beyond 1,000 m vertically with mineralization identified over a 3 km strike length. These shear zones form part of the Opawica-Guercheville deformation zone, a major deformation corridor cutting the mafic volcanic rocks of the Obatogamau Formation in the north part of the Caopatina Segment. The gabbro sill hosts the Main Zone and the West Zone at the mine, while the South Zone is found in the rhyolite. These three subvertical E-W (N275/85) ductile-brittle shear zones are sub-parallel to stratigraphy and to one another, with up to 140 m to 170 m of separation between them. These shear zones are hosted within a stratigraphic package composed of iron-magnesium (Fe-Mg) carbonate and sericite altered gabbro sills, sheared basalts, and intermediate to felsic tuffs intruded by various felsic intrusions. The Joe Mann gold mineralization is hosted by decimetre scale quartz-carbonate lodes (Dion and Guha 1988). The lodes are mineralized with pyrite, pyrrhotite, and chalcopyrite disposed in lens and lodelets parallel to schistosity, and occasionally visible gold. There are some other minor, mineralized structures, e.g., North and South-South Zones, with limited vertical and horizontal extensions. Drill hole Information A summary of all information material to the understanding of the exploration results including a tabulation of the following information for all Material drill holes:

easting and northing of the drill hole collar

elevation or RL (Reduced Level  elevation above sea level in metres) of the drill hole collar

dip and azimuth of the hole

down hole length and interception depth

hole length. If the exclusion of this information is justified on the basis that the information is not Material and this exclusion does not detract from the understanding of the report, the Competent Person should clearly explain why this is the case. All requisite drillhole information is tabulated elsewhere in this release. Refer Appendices A and B of the body text. Data aggregation methods In reporting Exploration Results, weighting averaging techniques, maximum and/or minimum grade truncations (eg cutting of high grades) and cut-off grades are usually Material and should be stated. For recent results, drill hole intersections are reported above a lower cut-off grade of 2g/t AuEq over widths of greater than 1m. Where aggregate intercepts incorporate short lengths of high-grade results and longer lengths of low-grade results, the procedure used for such aggregation should be stated and some typical examples of such aggregations should be shown in detail. A maximum of 1m internal waste was allowed. The assumptions used for any reporting of metal equivalent values should be clearly stated. Individual grades for the metals included in the metal equivalents calculation for the exploration results are in Appendices A, B and C of this release. Metal equivalents for exploration results have been calculated at a copper price of US$8,750/t, gold price of US$2,350/oz and silver price of US$25/oz. Copper equivalents are calculated based on the formula CuEq(%) = Cu(%) + (Au(g/t) x 0.77258)+(Ag(g/t) x 0.00822). Gold equivalents are calculated based on the formula AuEq(g/t) = Au(g/t) +(Cu(%) x 1.29436)+(Ag(g/t) x 0.01064). Metallurgical recovery factors have been applied to the metal equivalents calculations, with copper metallurgical recovery assumed at 95% and precious metal (gold and silver) metallurgical recovery assumed at 85% based upon historical production at the Chibougamau Processing Facility, and the metallurgical results contained in Cygnus announcement dated 28 January 2025. It is the Companys view that all elements in the metal equivalent calculations have a reasonable potential to be recovered and sold. Relationship between mineralisation widths and intercept lengths These relationships are particularly important in the reporting of Exploration Results.



If the geometry of the mineralisation with respect to the drill hole angle is known, its nature should be reported.



If it is not known and only the down hole lengths are reported, there should be a clear statement to this effect (eg down hole length, true width not known). All intersections reported in the body of this release are down hole.

For recent drill holes, holes are drilled as close to orthogonal to the plane of the mineralized lodes as possible.

True width is estimated to be about 80% of the downhole drill intersection Diagrams Appropriate maps and sections (with scales) and tabulations of intercepts should be included for any significant discovery being reported. These should include,but not be limited to a plan view of drill hole collar locations and appropriate sectional views. Refer Figure 1 (Long Section of Golden Eye) and 2 (Long Section through the Chibougamau North Camp illustrating Golden Eye) in the body of the announcement.

Plan view of recent drilling relative to historic drilling and the 1992 ramp access (see Figure 3 below). Balanced reporting Where comprehensive reporting of all Exploration Results is not practicable, representative reporting of both low and high grades and/or widths should be practiced to avoid misleading reporting of Exploration Results. Recent infill drilling at Golden Eye totals 6 holes for 1,954m, with assay results for 1 drill hole received to date. All results greater than 2g/t AuEq over greater than 1m width have been reported. Other substantive exploration data Other exploration data, if meaningful and material, should be reported including (but not limited to): geological observations; geophysical survey results; geochemical survey results; bulk samples  size and method of treatment; metallurgical test results; bulk density, groundwater, geotechnical and rock characteristics; potential deleterious or contaminating substances. There is no other substantive exploration data. Further work The nature and scale of planned further work (eg tests for lateral extensions or depth extensions or large-scale step-out drilling).



Diagrams clearly highlighting the areas of possible extensions, including the main geological interpretations and future drilling areas, provided this information is not commercially sensitive. The Company plans to conduct drill testing of additional mineralisation as well as step out drilling of existing lodes to further enhance the resources quoted in this release. More information is presented in the body of this report.

Diagrams in the main body of this release show areas of possible resource extension on existing lodes. The Company continues to identify and assess multiple other target areas within the property boundary for additional resources.





Figure 3: Plan view of recent drilling relative to historic drilling and the 1992 ramp access





Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/87c492be-c3e9-410f-a7ad-5bac9c0c1fcf

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d269165b-73e5-4a95-9afb-bf50df6bfe79

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2293516d-6ebe-453a-8282-5afd08e5ee45

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a202ff85-9abb-417b-aa4e-43dd75ce42f3
New book spotlights the life of Notorious Philadelphia Mob Figure Nicodemo Little Nicky Scarfo

TRUE TO THE CODE : NICODEMO SCARFO gives readers a front row seat to the rise and fall of the Philadelphia Mob Boss

Co Authors McKinley Horton and Katja Horelli profile of Nicodemo Little Nicky Scarfo with new book and feature film in the works





NEW YORK, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

True to the Code: Nicodemo Scarfo is a compelling exploration into the life and moral code of one of America's most notorious organized crime figures.

Authored by veteran crime journalist McKinley Horton and historian Katja Horelli, in collaboration with Thomas C. Harris and Philip Pasha, with expert consultation from Nicky Rings, this work represents the definitive account of Scarfo's complex legacy. Published by MC Posh LLC.

We wanted to bring to light the fact that Nicodemo Scarfo not only ruled the streets of Philadelphia in his day, he also was a major organized crime figure on the national stage as well, says Co- Author, McKinley Horton.

True to the Code: Nicodemo Scarfo delves into the life and legacy of Nicodemo 'Little Nicky' Scarfo, revealing the moral code that governed his climb to power in American organized crime. This meticulously researched work bridges history, ethics, and underworld lore to provide readers with a nuanced understanding of Scarfo's psychology.

Designed for true crime enthusiasts, historians, and readers curious about the personal motivations behind major mafia figures, this book offers a compelling examination of how principles, however twisted, shaped one of organized crime's most violent chapters.

As a consultant it was important to me and the authors to present the facts about 'Little Nicky' and the code he lived by; no judgements from us, we just want the reader to decide how they want to look at him. He lived by the code and died by the code, but Philly needed a protector and Nicodemo embraced that role, added book consultant and Philadelphia native, Nicky Rings.

Author Team member Philip Pasha said, This book explores how an unwritten moral code influenced Scarfo's decisions, bridging history, ethics, and underworld lore. Readers learn about Scarfo's rise to power, the violence he wielded, and the ramifications of a 'code' that demanded total loyalty while betraying its own principles.

Through extensive research and interviews with those who witnessed Scarfo's reign, the authors construct a compelling narrative that examines not just what happened, but why. The result is a nuanced portrait of a complex figure whose contradictions continue to fascinate crime historians decades later.

Co-Author Horton also believes both Philadelphians, and the world as a whole, deserve to know more about this local legend and bring Philadelphias Dark Underground of the past, into the light of today. We love the City of Philadelphia, and we love the people of Philadelphia. There are so many great stories here and Nicodemo Little Nicky Scarfos story is important. You may not agree with what he did or it how he did it but he left his mark here in Philly and all over the country.

TRUE TO THE CODE : NICODEMO SCARFO is available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, independent bookstores nationwide, and directly through the MC Posh LLC website. Special signed editions can be ordered exclusively online.

SAMPLE CHAPTER: THE OATH

"The oath was everything. But an oath is only as good as the man who takes it. And Scarfo's interpretation of the code would reshape Philadelphia's underworld forever."

June 8th, 1981

As the summer heat settled over Philadelphia, Scarfo called a meeting at the Italian-American club on Snyder Avenue. Those who attended didn't realize they were witnessing the beginning of the bloodiest era in the city's organized crime history.

The Message

"Loyalty isn't just given," Scarfo told his captains that evening, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's proven." Three men who had questioned his leadership would be dead within a week.

The Aftermath

The bodies were discovered scattered across South Philadelphia, each execution a message that the code, Scarfo's code, was now the only law that mattered in the city's criminal underworld.

THE AUTHOR TEAM

McKinley Horton

Journalist, Movie, and Music Producer with over 20 years of experience in covering True Events. Horton has been widely published in major publications and brings firsthand investigative experience to this project.

Katja Horelli

Historian specializing in 20th-century social movements and the societal conditions that enabled organized crime to flourish in America's urban centers. Her academic rigor complements Horton's journalistic approach.

Thomas C. Harris & Philip Pasha

Collaborators who contributed essential research and editorial expertise. Their background in historical documentation and archival research provided crucial context and source material.

Nicky Rings

Consultant with unique insights into the Philadelphia crime scene of Scarfo's era. Rings provided valuable perspective on the unwritten rules that governed Scarfo's world.

BOOK DETAILS

Title: True to the Code: Nicodemo Scarfo

Authors: McKinley Horton & Katja Horelli

Collaborators: Thomas C. Marris & Philip Pasha

Consultant: Nicky Rings

Publisher: MC Posh LLC

Format: Paperback / Hardcover / eBook

Pages: 227 PAGES

PRESS & PRAISE

"An enthralling exploration of Scarfo's hidden ethos."

True Crime Quarterly



"Horton and Horelli expertly blend historical fact with compelling storytelling."

Crime & Culture Podcast



"The definitive account of Philadelphia's darkest crime era."

Philadelphia Inquirer



"A masterclass in true crime writing that transcends the genre."

Publishers Weekly



Notable coverage includes features on the Underworld Insights podcast, where the authors discussed Scarfo's complex personality, and a major feature in City Tribune diving into the moral paradoxes that defined his leadership. The book has also been selected for the True Crime Book Club's fall reading list.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What makes this book unique?

Unlike previous works on Scarfo that focus primarily on his crimes, this book examines the personal "code" that drove his decisions, featuring never-before-accessed information from those who knew him personally.

Who is the target audience?

True crime enthusiasts, mafia historians, and ethically minded readers interested in the psychology behind organized crime figures. The book appeals to both casual readers and serious crime history scholars.

Where can I purchase the book?

Available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, independent bookstores nationwide, and directly through the MC Posh LLC website. Special signed editions can be ordered exclusively online.

Request Review Materials

Contact our publicity team to receive advance review copies in your preferred format (print, digital, or audio). Media professionals can also request exclusive excerpts tailored to your publication's audience.

Schedule Interviews

Book time with the authors through our online calendar system. Interview slots are available beginning six weeks before publication and continuing through the launch period. Both in-person and virtual options are available.

Access Additional Resources

Visit our media portal at www.mcposhllc.com/media for downloadable high-resolution images, author headshots, extended biographies, and supplemental historical materials to enhance your coverage.

CONTACT & MEDIA INQUIRIES

24/7 Media Response Time

Our publicity team is committed to responding promptly to all media inquiries

50+ Available Review Copies

Digital and print advance copies for qualified reviewers

For media inquiries, review copies, interview requests, or additional materials, please contact:

Email: mckinley@mckinleyhorton.com

Phone: 678-622-1813

The authors are available for in-person and virtual interviews, panel discussions, bookstore events, podcast appearances, and feature article interviews.

Soundbites from Co-Author Mickinley Horton

Soundbites from Consultant Nicki Rings

Soundbites from Philip Pasha

About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a property of D S Simon Media.

Media Contact:

Michael Farr

D S Simon Media

mfarr@dssimon.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5c507ad2-409d-4aa9-ab1d-d309ca486cba
Vancouver - Electrum Discovery Corp. ("Electrum" and/or the "Company") (TSX-V:ELY | FRA:R8N | OTC:ELDCF) is pleased to announce the upcoming launch of its Spring 2025 field program at the Timok East Copper-Gold Project ("Timok East" and/or the "Project"), located in eastern Serbia. The planned program is designed to refine high-priority targets through a combination of detailed geological mapping, geophysical surveys, geochemical sampling, and petrological studies.

Additionally, the Company is pleased to report that it has received the assay results from rock chip sampling at the Northern Skarn target, which have confirmed the extension of copper mineralized rocks at surface over 1.7-kilometre strike zone at the Northern Skarn target (see Figure 1).

Strategic Objectives and Exploration Framework The forthcoming field program will align with Electrum's broader strategy of advancing exploration across the Timok East Project around two complementary exploration pathways: 1. A prospect-scale program, focused on refining near-surface targets along the Bambino trend and Western Mag Target using ground magnetic surveys, petrology studies, surface geochemical sampling, geological prospecting, and further geophysical studies. This approach is designed to improve target confidence to prioritize for future drilling. 2. A mineral systems-driven approach, integrating architectural studies, deep penetrating geophysical methods, geochronological studies, extensive literature review, and data compilation. This approach aims to unlock the broader porphyry potential of the eastern boundary of the Timok Magmatic Complex, over which Electrum holds a significant land position.

Spring 2025 Field Program at Timok East

Electrum is set to initiate its Spring 2025 field program at Timok East within the next two weeks, with a strategic focus on identifying the primary hydrothermal driver behind skarn replacement and porphyry mineralization. The results will guide the design of subsequent drill programs and support the continued expansion of Electrum's geological model across the broader Timok East project area, advancing the Company's efforts to unlock district-scale copper-gold potential.

Detailed geological mapping, combined with structural studies, and Audio-Magnetotelluric ("AMT") geophysical results (see News release February 19th, 2025), have identified a likely westerly-dipping, north-northwest striking extensional fault through the center of the Bambino locality at the southern part of Timok East. This structure, along with associated potential graben development, represents a prospective structural setting for fluid flow and magmatic-hydrothermal activity. The architecture potentially mirrors key structural controls observed in the Bor and Veliki Krivelj porphyry systems within the district (see Figures 1 & 2).



Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 1: Map of targets on 100k geology background, highlighting new targets identified from regional targeting work and the location of newly reported assay samples (2025) ( 2024 Rock and soil results from News Releases 30th October 2024, 4th September 2024, and 3rd July 2024) (EPSG:32634).



Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 2: Schematic cross-section of the eastern boundary of the Timok Magmatic Complex and Deli Jovan Ophiolite showing results from the AMT survey (see release February 19th 2025) with Electrum's interpretations of extensional fault sets across Timok East. The approximate structural context and locations of the Bor and Veliki Krivelj porphyry copper deposits are also shown. Line of section displayed on figure Circum-Mos Modified from Krstekani? et al. (2022)1.

To advance its geological understanding and facilitate drill targeting, Electrum is planning a series of immediate follow-up exploration programs:

Ground Magnetics: A ground magnetic survey is planned across the Luka and Makoviste permits of the Timok East Project. This work aims to refine the interpretation of magnetic anomalies, including the Western Mag Target (see Figure 1), define key fault structures that may control mineralisation and identify magnetic zones potentially associated with zones of higher temperature magnetite-rich skarn replacement along the Bambino trend.

Geological Prospecting Geochemical Sampling: Further geological mapping, petrological analysis, and systematic rock-chip sampling are planned along the broader Bambino trend. These programs aim to improve the geological model by refining interpretations of skarn and vein assemblages, delineating alteration zones, and identifying potential mineralogical indicators that may indicate associations with concealed porphyry-style Cu-Au systems.

Audio-Magnetotelluric (AMT) Survey: Additional AMT survey lines are planned to extend geophysical coverage over the Western Mag Target. These surveys will assist in defining the geometry of deep-seated resistive and conductive features potentially associated with porphyry intrusions, while also enhancing the understanding of deep-seated structural controls on hydrothermal fluid flow.

Regional Data Integration: Ongoing literature review and data compilation efforts across the Timok district and the broader Western Tethyan belt aim to contextualize the evolving exploration model within a regional framework, generate new target concepts, and identify underexplored analogues that may guide future exploration strategies.



Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 3: Location of planned magnetic lines across Luka and Makoviste on Historical magnetic data (analytical signal) covering the Bor Mining complex and Luka and Makoviste licenses, showing Phase 1 andesites from State geological maps, commonly associated with porphyry mineralization. (EPSG:32634). Meta data for the magnetic analytic signal map layer is unknown and the map layer has not been verified.

Rock Chip Sampling at Northern Intrusive/Skarn Target

A total of 14 rock chip samples were collected during the latest mapping across the Northern Skarn target ("Northern Skarn") and sent for further analysis at SGS. Sampling focused on sulphide-bearing skarn replacement zones, brecciated quartz veins, hornfels, and three distinct intrusive units.

Assay results have confirmed the extension of copper mineralization at surface over a 1.7-kilometre strike length at the Northern Skarn target. Mineralization was encountered within sulphide bearing skarn alteration and gossanous quartz breccia material (see Figure 3), particularly around the contact zone between a mapped granodiorite intrusion and the surrounding Palaeozoic metasedimentary units (see Figure 1).

This style of mineralization is consistent with surface expressions observed at the Bambino prospect, with elevated gold and silver values present in most samples, reinforcing the exploration model and highlighting the potential for laterally extensive skarn replacement and structurally controlled vein hosted mineralization along the central Bambino trend. The next phase of exploration across this trend will expand surface mapping coverage between the Bambino prospect and the Northern Skarn zone with targeted petrological studies and ground magnetics aiming to vector towards potential higher-grade zones within the system. Key results include:

5 samples returned copper values between 0.13% and 0.65% Cu

3 samples assayed between 14 g/t and 80 g/t Ag

1 sample returned 0.42 g/t Au



Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 4: Rock chip sample A2025106. Brecciated quartz vein with FeOx fracture fill where sulphides have weathered. Assaying 0.42 g/t Au, 80 g/t Ag and 0.13 % Cu.

Sample Collection, QA/QC, Preparation and Analysis

Rock chip sample locations were recorded using a Garmin handheld GPS with a nominal accuracy of 3 meters, and the location was then photographed with the labelled sample. Samples were prepared and analyzed at SGS Serbia, using a combination of four-acid digest with an MS finish (IMS40B) for a multi-element suite and 50g fire assay with an AAS finish (FAA505) for gold. Samples were submitted as a batche of 21, made up of 18 samples, one CRM, one blank, and one field duplicate. The batch passed Electrum's internal QAQC procedures.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical contents of this news release have been reviewed and approved by Mr. Thomas Sant BSc, FGS, CGeol, EurGeol. Mr. Sant is a non-independent Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 and the VP, Operations, of the Company.

About Electrum Discovery Corp.

Electrum Discovery Corp. is an emerging mineral exploration and development company focused on the prolific Western Tethyan Belt with two main projects spanning 645 square kilometers of prospective exploration ground in the Republic of Serbia.

Timok East extends over 123 square kilometers across the Timok copper-gold region and includes the recently discovered Bambino copper-gold anomaly, located less than five kilometers from the Bor Copper-Gold Mining Complex.

Novo Tlamino, located in the south-east of the Republic of Serbia, covers 522 square kilometers and includes an inferred mineral resource estimate of 670,000oz AuEq (7,100,000t at 2.9 g/t AuEq average grade), PEA (January 7, 2021)2

Electrum Discovery is looking to maximize the value of our mineral projects for all stakeholders including our shareholders, the local community and government. We have an open-door policy and encourage all stakeholders to contact us through our website. We have a strong environmental and ethics policy to complete all our work in line with regulations in an open and transparent process. Our projects are at an early stage, and we plan to continue our consultation with all stakeholders in a climate of mutual respect, while fostering sustainability, governance, and knowledge transfer in the region.

Additional information on Electrum can be found by reviewing the Company's page on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

For more information contact:

Dr Elena Clarici, Chief Executive Officer and Director

T: +1 604 801 5432 | E: elena@electrumdiscovery.com | W: electrumdiscovery.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking information. Such statements include Company's expected achievement of specified milestones, results of operations, and expected financial results of the Company. Often, but not always, this forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "estimate", "estimates", "estimated", "potential", "open", "future", "assumed", "projected", "used", "detailed", "has been", "gain", "upgraded", "offset", "limited", "contained", "reflecting", "containing", "remaining", "to be", "periodically", or statements that events, "could" or "should" occur or be achieved and similar expressions, including negative variations.

Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Electrum, to be materially different from any results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking information. Such uncertainties and factors include, among others, uncertainties inherent in the PEA and exploration results and the estimation of mineral resources; risks related to the failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; changes in general economic conditions and financial markets; risks associated with the results of exploration and development activities, and the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; unanticipated costs and expenses; and such other risks detailed from time to time in Electrum's quarterly and annual filings with securities regulators and available under Electrum's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Rock chips and surface results are early stage and there is no assurance that future exploration will find mineralization of further interest. Although Electrum has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended.

Forward-looking information contained herein is based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations and opinions of management. Forward-looking information has been made as of the date hereof and Electrum disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by law. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

1 Krstekani?, N., Matenco, L., Stojadinovi?, U., Willingshofer, E., Tolji?, M., and Tamminga, D., 2022. Strain partitioning in a large intracontinental strike slip system accommodating backarc-convex orocline formation: The Circum-Moesian Fault System of the Carpatho-Balkanides. Tectonics, 41(4), p.e2021TC007178. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021TC007178

2 Preliminary Economic Assessment and NI43-101 Technical Report for the Medgold Tlamino Project, January 7, 2021, www.sedarplus.ca. The effective date of the resource estimate is January 7, 2021. Authors of the Reports are: Mr. Richard Siddle, MAIG, of Addison Mining Services Ltd for Mineral Resources; Dr. Matthew Randall, FIMMM, of Axe Valley Mining Consultants Ltd for Mining; Mr. Ian Jackson, FIMMM, of Bara Consulting for Mineral Processing, and Dr. Andrew Bamber, MCIM, of Bara Consulting Ltd for Economic Analysis.

The PEA is preliminary in nature, and it includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be characterized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the PEA will be realised.

Copyright (c) 2025 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
Previously reported intercept of 162 g/t Ag, 15.5% Pb and 4.1% Zn over 3 metres interpreted to be the extension of the Curlew Vein from the Blackhawk Mine

Vancouver, April 16, 2025 - Silver Dollar Resources Inc. (CSE: SLV) (OTCQX: SLVDF) (FSE: 4YW) ("Silver Dollar" or the "Company") is pleased to report geologic modeling results correlating to the recently reported near-surface drilling discoveries at the Ranger-Page Project located in northern Idaho's prolific Coeur d'Alene Mining District.





Figure 1: Plan map showing faults, veins and drill pad locations from Phase-1 exploration at Ranger-Page, including the east extension of the Curlew Vein.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://silverdollarresources.com/images/Ranger-Page/Figure-1_Exploration-Update.jpg

Curlew Vein Extension

Geologic modeling of Silver Dollar's phase-1 exploration drilling results indicate that the Curlew Vein extends east from the Blackhawk Mine into the vicinity of the Wyoming Complex (Figure 1). The structural complexity of the area was likely the reason the Wyoming Complex proved to be a challenge for past producers on the property. Phase-1 drilling discovered mineralization in the footwall of the 96 Fault, which was the primary structure worked at the Wyoming Complex. Silver Dollar believes this footwall mineralization is the Curlew Vein and demonstrated its continuity between the Wyoming Complex and the Blackhawk Mine during Phase-1 exploration drilling (Figure 2).





Figure 2: Long section looking northeast showing the location of Phase-1 exploration drilling results relative to the Curlew Vein projection east from the Blackhawk Mine.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://silverdollarresources.com/images/Ranger-Page/Figure-2_Exploration-Update.jpg

The planning of near-term exploration activities is ongoing and includes:

Blackhawk (Curlew Vein)

Drill planning is underway to expand the Curlew Vein along strike, up and down dip of the known extent of the Blackhawk Mine. Upper Curlew exploration is relatively inexpensive and can be done from drill pads requiring minimal effort to establish. Further success exploring the uppermost Curlew Vein could justify deep exploration below the Blackhawk mine, which can be done via deep surface drilling programs, or underground drill pad development. The next phase of drilling should focus on expanding mineral continuity between the Phase-1 drilling (Figure-2) and the Blackhawk mine to the west.

West Buckeye

The West Buckeye target is a prominent polarization anomaly identified during the ground IP survey completed in 2022 (Figure 3). The anomaly is significant because it has a 260-metre dip extension, and the same polarization and resistivity response as the Curlew Vein discovery between the Blackhawk Mine and the Wyoming Complex. To validate West Buckeye for drilling, Silver Dollar plans to complete a geochemical survey over the anomaly, update geologic mapping and develop a budget to drill the target. West Buckeye exploration efforts can begin later this spring when the snow has melted from the target area and access is re-established.





Figure 3: Plan view showing the location of the West Buckeye target and supporting polarization data.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://silverdollarresources.com/images/Ranger-Page/Figure-3_Exploration-Update.jpg

Crown Point

Phase-1 Exploration drilling at Crown Point extended mineralization west of the historic mine workings by 100 metres (See news release of March 11, 2025). Geologic modeling, drilling, and trenching results indicate there are up to three veins present at Crown Point (Crown Point 1, 2 and 3 Veins) (Figure 4). Phase-1 drilling identified two of the three veins at Crown Point. To drill the third vein (Crown Point 3), a drilling platform to the south would be necessary. Exploration planning at Crown Point will focus on expanding the Crown Point veins down dip to the west, where the mineralization remains open for exploration drilling.





Figure 4: Plan view showing the projections (red) for Crown Point veins 1/2/3.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://silverdollarresources.com/images/Ranger-Page/Figure-4_Exploration-Update.jpg

Omega and 85 Veins

The Omega and 85 Veins sit in the footwall of the Tony Vein, which was the primary ore host for the Page Mine. The Omega and 85 Veins were discovered below the 2,770 level of the Page Mine, and the up-dip extension of the veins have not been properly explored. Ongoing geologic modeling is expected to improve the vein projections of the Omega and 85 Veins, allowing Silver Dollar to prospect for the surface expression of the veins. If exploration work on this target is promising, Silver Dollar will include the Omega and 85 Veins in future exploration drill planning.





Figure 5: Plan map of the Page Mine area showing the surface projection of the Tony, Omega and 85 Veins, which have been underexplored near surface.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://silverdollarresources.com/images/Ranger-Page/Figure-5_Exploration-Update.jpg

"Geologic modeling is providing a clearer understanding of our Phase-1 exploration drilling results at Ranger-Page and how they fit within the broader scope of the project," said Greg Lytle, president of Silver Dollar. "We are focused on carefully evaluating our targets to scale the project through continued success at the drill bit and delivering the best possible returns for our shareholders."

Qualified Person

Dale Moore, P.Geo., a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this news release on behalf of the Company.

About the Ranger-Page Project

Located in a world-class silver district, the Ranger-Page land package covers six historic mines and is ideally situated near Interstate 90 with year-round access to power, water, local infrastructure and a workforce in the Silver Valley skilled in exploration and mining. The primary target areas are up and down plunge from historic underground mining, along strike where ground IP surveys have identified anomalies, and where surface trenching identified near surface mineralization. Additional exploration targets have also been identified away from historic mine infrastructure, using soil geochemical data, mapping, and ground IP survey data.





Figure 6: Ranger-Page claim groups, underground mine workings, and new target areas.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://silverdollarresources.com/images/Ranger-Page/Ranger-Page_Claims-Targets.jpg

About Silver Dollar Resources Inc.

Silver Dollar is a dynamic mineral exploration company focused on two of North America's premier mining regions: Idaho's prolific Silver Valley and the Durango-Zacatecas silver-gold belt. Our portfolio includes the advanced-stage Ranger-Page and La Joya projects, along with the early-stage Nora project. The Company's financial backers include renowned mining investor Eric Sprott, our largest shareholder. Silver Dollar's management team is committed to an aggressive growth strategy and is actively reviewing potential acquisitions with a focus on drill-ready projects in mining-friendly jurisdictions.

For additional information, you can download our latest presentation here and follow us on X here.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release may contain "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this news release and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise.

The Canadian Securities Exchange (operated by CNSX Markets Inc.) has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/248639
Vancouver - Stellar AfricaGold Inc. (TSX-V: SPX) ("Stellar" or the "Company") announces that work has started at the Tichka Est Gold Project in Morocco.

Tichka Est 2025 Exploration Program

The Company has launched its 2025 exploration program at its Tichka Est Gold Project in the High Atlas Mountain region of Morocco. The first step in the 2025 program is rehabilitating the access road that was damaged in the 2024 earthquake in Morocco. The access road winds for 8.5 kilometers from Analghi village at the 1,890-meter level to the Zone B gold discovery zone at 2,500 meters elevation. A contractor has been engaged, its heavy equipment has been mobilized, and the rehabilitation work has commenced.

The Zone B gold discovery is a N80 trending gold structure extending for over two kilometers along strike. It lies along a highly sheared contact of limestone and schist that is injected by quartz-ankerite-calcite veins and veinlets with traces of pyrite, chalcopyrite and arsenopyrite.

Fig 1. Extensional veins exposed by Road Construction at Structure B



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Following completion of the access road rehabilitation the Company will initiate a mechanical trenching campaign to follow up on previous trenching at Zone B which yielded 3.5 g/t Au over 155.7 meters.1 Among other targets, the trenching campaign is designed to cut across a diorite sill intrusion that was mapped previously and the shear zone identified in previous exploration campaigns. This trenching program is anticipated to take approximately three months to complete.

A similar campaign in 2023 uncovered an important gold anomaly and the current trenching campaign will target the projected expansion of the same gold-bearing structure. All sampling will be conducted according to industry standards and sent to Afrilab for assays.

About the Tichka Est Zone B Gold Discovery

The identified Zone B structures are within an approximately 1 km2 area of the 82 km2 total area of the Tichka Est Gold Project. To date, Stellar has built an 8.5-kilometer mountain access road and conducted extensive mapping, sampling and trenching focussing on the regions in and around Zone B. Thus far three significant zones of gold mineralization have been discovered with much of the overall Tichka Est project area still unexplored or only superficially examined.

At the Zone B several programs of mechanical and hand trenches delivered a series of impressive assay results including trenches MT1 3.5 g/t gold over 155.7 meters1, MT2 1.52 g/t gold over 39.7 meters and 1.58 g/t Au over 8.6 meters4, MT3 1.27 g/t gold over 80 meters4, T7B 3.4 g/t gold over 20 meters3, T6B 3.4 g/t gold over 17 meters3, and T2B 4.56 g/t gold over 15 meters2. Zone B is the primary exploration target for 2025 although Stellar will continue reconnaissance exploration throughout the Tichka Est Gold Project permits area.

1 News Release October 4, 2022

2 News Release April 19, 2021

3 News Release October 25, 2021

4 News Release January 25, 2022

About Stellar Africagold Inc.

Stellar AfricaGold Inc. is a Canadian precious metal exploration company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange symbol TSX.V: SPX, the Tradegate Exchange TGAT: 6YP and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange FSX: 6YP.

The Company maintains its head office in Vancouver, BC and has a representative office in Casablanca, Morocco.

Stellar's principal exploration projects are its advancing gold discovery at the Tichka Est Gold Project in Morocco, and its early-stage exploration Zuenoula Gold Project in Cote d'Ivoire.

The technical content of this press release has been reviewed and approved by M. Yassine Belkabir, MScDIC, CEng, MIMMM, a Stellar director and a Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101.

Stellar's President and CEO J. Francois Lalonde can be contacted at +1 514-9940654 or by email at lalondejf@stellarafricagold.com

Additional information is available on the Company's website at www.stellarafricagold.com.

On Behalf of the Board

J. Francois Lalonde

J. Francois Lalonde

President & CEO

Forward-looking statements, by their nature, are based on assumptions and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the forward-looking statement will not occur. The forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date hereof and reflect several material factors, expectations, and assumptions. Undue reliance should not be placed on any predictions or forward-looking statements as these may be affected by, among other things, changing external events and general uncertainties of the business. A discussion of the material risks applicable to us can be found in our current Management Discussion and Analysis and Annual Information Form, each of which have been or will be filed on SEDAR+ and can be accessed at www.sedarplus.ca. Except as required by applicable securities laws, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and we disclaim any intention and assume no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Although the Company believes that any beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this news release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that any such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. The Company does not assume any liability for disclosure relating to any other company mentioned herein.

Risks and uncertainties about the Company's business are more fully discussed in the Company's disclosure materials, including its reports filed with the Canadian securities regulators and which can be obtained from www.sedarplus.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.

Copyright (c) 2025 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
Vancouver - Sponsored content disseminated on behalf of Premium Resources. On April 10, 2025, Premium Resources (TSXV: PREM) (OTC Pink: PRMLF) outlined a six-month plan to advance its two permitted, previously producing copper, nickel and cobalt mines in Botswana, a Tier 1 mining jurisdiction in Africa, known for its diamond mines.

Last month, a consortium of institutional investors made sizable early bets on the future of Premium's Botswana assets. A March 2025, $46 million non-brokered equity financing included the participation of the Fiore Management and Advisory Corporation, headed by Frank Giustra.

The underground Selebi Mines were in production between 1980 and 2016. Both Selebi and Selebi North mines, having produced 40 million tonnes of ore, were put into Care & Maintenance due to low metal prices and a failure of the on-site smelter. The underground Selkirk Mine operated between 1989 and 2002 and produced 1 million tonnes of high-grade ore.



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"The mining laws in Botswana are similar to those in Canada," Morgan Lekstrom told Guy Bennett, CEO of Global Stocks News (GSN). "It's a positive environment for Canadian mining corporations to operate. Botswana follows the same environmental and regulatory rules that we are accustomed to."

Currently, diamonds account for around 80% of Botswana's exports, one-third of fiscal revenues, and one-quarter of GDP. The country is the world's largest diamond producer by value.

"I've had the privilege of meeting President Duma Boko," Lekstrom continued. "He is a Harvard Law School graduate, a passionate politician and a sharp businessman. Boko wants to expand Botswana's extraction industry beyond diamonds. It's a smart move. They have the commodities, a skilled workforce and the capacity for ample solar power generation."

Recent interest in the Selebi and Selkirk Mines has been catalysed by a surge in demand for critical metals required for the green energy transformation (Solar, EVs). In the last five years, as demand drivers intensify, the price of copper has increased 92% - from USD $2.36/lb to $4.50/lb.



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Premium Resource's 6-month targeted milestones:

Exploration and Development

Selebi Main Surface Drilling Program to Target a Potential 3rd Horizon - An initial surface exploration drill program is extending historic drill holes, targeting a large Borehole Electromagnetic (BHEM) plate that could represent a new mineralized horizon 150 metres beneath the Selebi Main resource.

"BHEM results correlate directly with massive sulphides," Lekstrom told GSN. "It can help identify and locate conductive ore bodies."

Hinge Drilling Between Selebi Mine Deposits - Surface drilling program targeting BHEM plates in the untested 2-kilometre-long area between the Selebi North and Selebi Main deposits referred to as the hinge. These BHEM targets potentially represent additional mineralization between the two deposits.

Selebi North Underground Resource Expansion Drilling - Exploring along strike, down-dip and down-plunge of the Mineral Resource Estimate footprint, targeting resource expansion and focusing on areas with strong BHEM response from the N3, N2 and South Limbs.

Selebi Mine Underground Development - Development of a dual-purpose exploration drift from Selebi North is set to commence soon. This will permit both in-fill drilling and exploration drilling at Selebi North.



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Selkirk - Surface drilling program for resource expansion and metallurgical test work samples for flowsheet development. The drill core from this program will also be used for preliminary XRT pre-concentration studies.

Advancing Project Economics

Metallurgical Sampling and Testing - Selebi flotation studies ongoing.

Evaluating XRT ("X-ray Transmission") ore sorting - potential to have a significant impact on waste rock removal, which positively impacts the head feed grade to the concentrate flowsheet, with potential application at both Selebi and Selkirk.

Evaluating IDEON Technologies for applying Muon Tomography to create 3D density maps of subsurface mineralization at Selebi and Selkirk.

"We are embarking on an accelerated growth curve that will not only highlight the scale of Selebi and the significance of the hinge zone, but also address key metallurgical questions," stated Lekstrom in the April 10, 2025 press release.

"The high-grade poly-metallic nature of Selebi, its substantial size, our upcoming drilling and the planned metallurgical work are the critical and simultaneous steps in the larger vision of potentially building a world-class, generational critical metals project," added Lekstrom.



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"China has suspended exports of a wide range of critical minerals and magnets, threatening to choke off supplies of components central to automakers, aerospace manufacturers, semiconductor companies and military contractors around the world," reported the New York Times (NYT) on April 13, 2025.

"Shipments have been halted at many Chinese ports while the Chinese government drafts a new regulatory system," added the NYT. "Once in place, the new system could permanently prevent supplies from reaching certain companies, including American military contractors."

"The official crackdown is part of China's retaliation for President Trump's sharp increase in tariffs that started on April 2, 2025," added the NYT.

Concurrent with the March 18, 2025 $46 million financing, PREM announced that the Cymbria Corporation, an affiliate of PREM's largest shareholder, EdgePoint Investment Group, converted $20.8 million of debt into shares. EdgePoint manages about $40 billion in global assets.

The $67 million total recapitalization of PREM is a validation of the premise that Selebi and Selkirk can play a role in helping the Western world to decouple from China's critical mineral supply chains.

The technical information presented in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Sharon Taylor, Vice President Exploration, who is the Qualified Person for technical disclosure at Premium Resources, as defined by NI 43-101 "Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects".

Contact: guy.bennett@globalstocksnews.com

Disclaimer: Premium Resources paid Global Stocks News (GSN) $1,750 for the research, writing and dissemination of this content.

Full Disclaimer: GSN researches and fact-checks diligently, but we cannot ensure our publications are free from error. Investing in publicly traded stocks is speculative and carries a high degree of risk. GSN publications may contain forward-looking statements such as "project," "anticipate" and "target," which are based on reasonable expectations, but these statements are imperfect predictors of future events. When compensation has been paid to GSN, the amount and nature of the compensation will be disclosed clearly.

Copyright (c) 2025 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
Received More Than $2.5 Billion in Cash Proceeds to Date in 20251

Newmont Corp. (NYSE: NEM, TSX: NGT, ASX: NEM, PNGX: NEM) ("Newmont" or the "Company") announced today that it has finalized the previously disclosed sales of its Akyem operation in Ghana and its Porcupine operation in Canada. With these transactions now closed, the Company has completed the divestiture program announced in February 20242.

"Today, I am pleased to announce the successful completion of our non-core asset divestiture program with the sale of Akyem and Porcupine, generating total after-tax cash proceeds of approximately $850 million before closing adjustments," said Tom Palmer, Newmont's President and Chief Executive Officer. "This is a significant milestone for Newmont, as we have now divested all six of our non-core operations from the program announced in early-2024. With the cash proceeds received this year, we remain committed to continuing to strengthen our balance sheet and return capital to shareholders through ongoing share repurchases."

Total gross proceeds from announced divestitures are expected to total up to $4.3 billion, which includes $3.8 billion from non-core divestitures and $527 million from the sale of other investments.

Porcupine Early Warning Disclosure

Under the terms of Newmont's sale of the Porcupine operation in Ontario, Canada, the consideration received included 119,716,667 common shares of Discovery (the "Consideration Shares") in the capital of Discovery Silver Corp. ("Discovery").

The Consideration Shares are held by Goldcorp Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Newmont. As a result of the closing, Newmont, which did not hold any common shares of Discovery prior to the transaction, now beneficially owns shares representing approximately 15% of Discovery's issued and outstanding common shares.

Newmont will evaluate its investment in Discovery from time to time and may, based on such evaluation, market conditions and other circumstances, increase or decrease its shareholdings as circumstances require through market transactions, private agreements, or otherwise.

This press release is issued pursuant to the early warning provisions of Canadian securities legislation. To obtain a copy of the Early Warning Report filed by Newmont under National Instrument 62-103 - The Early Warning System and Related Take-Over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues, please contact Neil Backhouse at +1 (303) 837-5002 or investor.relations@newmont.com.

Newmont's address is 6900 E Layton Avenue, Suite 700, Denver, CO 80237. Discovery is listed on the TSX and its address is 55 University Avenue, Suite 701, Toronto, ON Canada, M5J 2H7.

About Newmont

Newmont is the world's leading gold company and a producer of copper, zinc, lead, and silver. The Company's world-class portfolio of assets, prospects and talent is anchored in favorable mining jurisdictions in Africa, Australia, Latin America & Caribbean, North America, and Papua New Guinea. Newmont is the only gold producer listed in the S&P 500 Index and is widely recognized for its principled environmental, social, and governance practices. Newmont is an industry leader in value creation, supported by robust safety standards, superior execution, and technical expertise. Founded in 1921, the Company has been publicly traded since 1925.

At Newmont, our purpose is to create value and improve lives through sustainable and responsible mining. To learn more about Newmont's sustainability strategy and initiatives, go to www.newmont.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbor created by such sections and other applicable laws. Where a forward-looking statement expresses or implies an expectation or belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. However, such statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed, projected or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, without limitation, (i) expectations regarding total proceeds estimates, including receipt of any deferred consideration in the future, (ii) future financial conditions and balance sheet strength, (iii) future return of capital to shareholders, including share repurchases, and (iv) other statements regarding future events or results. Estimates or expectations of future events or results are based upon certain assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions include, but are not limited to: (i) certain exchange rate assumptions approximately consistent with current levels; (ii) certain price assumptions for gold, copper, silver, zinc, lead and oil; (iii) with respect to disclosed sales that have not yet completed, all closing conditions for such sales being satisfied; and (iv) conditions necessary for receipt of deferred consideration being met in the future. For additional information regarding the terms and conditions for receipt of deferred consideration payments and total consideration estimates, refer to the press releases available on the Company's website at www.newmont.com (see the September 10, 2024 press release for further details regarding the agreement to divest Telfer and Havieron, the October 8, 2024 press release for further details regarding the agreement to divest Akyem, the November 18, 2024 press release for further details regarding the agreement to divest Musslewhite, the November 25, 2024 press release for further details regarding the agreement to divest Eleonore, the December 6, 2024 press release for further details regarding the agreement to divest CC&V, and the January 27, 2025 press release for further details regarding the agreement to divest Porcupine). No assurances can be provided with respect to the receipt of deferred consideration. For a discussion of risks and other factors that might impact future looking statements , see the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on February 21, 2025, under the heading "Risk Factors" (including without limitation under the subheading the headings "Assets held for sale may not ultimately be divested and we may not receive any or all deferred consideration" and "The Company's asset divestitures place demands on the Company's management and resources, the sale of divested assets may not occur as planned or at all, and the Company may not realize the anticipated benefits of such divestitures"), available on the SEC website or at www.newmont.com. Investors are also cautioned that the extent to which the Company repurchases its shares, and the timing of such repurchases, will depend upon a variety of factors, including trading volume, market conditions, legal requirements, business conditions and other factors. The repurchase program may be discontinued at any time, and the program does not obligate the Company to acquire any specific number of shares of its common stock. The Company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly revisions to any "forward-looking statement," including, without limitation, outlook, to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news release, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. Investors should not assume that any lack of update to a previously issued "forward-looking statement" constitutes a reaffirmation of that statement.

____________________

1 Represents after-tax cash proceeds before closing adjustments.

2 All previously announced operating sites having been divested, with the Coffee development project remaining designated as held for sale. No agreement has been reached with respect to Coffee as of the date of this release.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250416251818/en/

Contact

Investor Contact - Global

Neil Backhouse

investor.relations@newmont.com

Investor Contact - Asia Pacific

Natalie Worley

apac.investor.relations@newmont.com

Media Contact - Global

Shannon Lijek

globalcommunications@newmont.com
Saga Metals Corp. ("SAGA" or the "Company") (TSXV: SAGA) (OTCQB: SAGMF) (FSE: 20H), a North American exploration company focused on critical mineral discovery, announces the final batch of core from the Company's maiden drill program at the Radar Titanium-Vanadium (Ti-V) project has been shipped for analysis to Activation Laboratories in Ancaster, Ontario. The 2,200m of core was cut, sampled and separated into three batches and sent to the lab in approximately two-week intervals. SAGA anticipates receiving the assay results throughout the month of May providing a steady stream of information that can be analyzed and interpreted by the geological team with modeling of the mineralization and geochemistry.

Local Support Strengthens Following Maiden Drill Program Completion:

Following the successful completion of SAGA Metals' maiden drill program in Cartwright, Labrador, the Town of Cartwright issued an official letter of support for the Radar Project. Robyn Holwell, Mayor of Cartwright, expressed the community's optimism and alignment with the project's future:

"The town of Cartwright fully supports Saga Metals in their exploration efforts and analysis aiming to identify an ore deposit near Cartwright and in Labrador in general. The town will help in whatever way it can to support Saga Metals in its efforts." - Robyn Holwell, Mayor of Cartwright, Labrador

Q1 2025 Radar Project Maiden Drill Program Summary:

SAGA's 2025 maiden drill program aimed to test the core of the magnetic anomaly identified through geophysics at the Hawkeye Zone. Initially planned for 1,500 meters, the program was confidently expanded to 2,200 meters after early drilling revealed strong intercepts through the primary layering sequences.

This program confirmed a large mineralized layered mafic intrusion with early indications suggesting it is moderately undeformed and contains its original primary magmatic textures from over 1 billion years ago. The Dykes River intrusion (Gower 2017), which hosts the entirety of the Radar Ti-V project, has been historically mapped over an area of 160km2, which is similar, but larger in size to Greenland's Skargaard intrusion. This size underscores the immense untapped potential of the region for hosting critical metals, including vanadium and titanium, essential to the global green energy transition.

Key findings from the maiden drill program include:

130-200 meters of intermittent magnetite layering across strike

Consistent correlation between geophysical anomalies and mineralized zones

Layered Fe-Ti-V mineralization open at depth











Figure 1: Geophysical map of the Hawkeye zone showing drilled oxide layers and inferred oxide layering open in both directions along strike

Drill holes R25-HEZ-01 and R25-HEZ-04 were prioritized for the first shipment to Activation Laboratories due to their location on the drill fence which placed them in a position to fully intercept the main oxide layering sequence as seen in the above map. Both holes logged magnetite layering sequences between 130-200m across strike.





Figure 2: Layering sequence of magnetite ranging from 2-10 inches per band over an almost 30m run of drill hole R25-HEZ-01

Magnetic and Electromagnetic (EM) Survey begins at 'Trapper Zone'

Given the success of the maiden drill program's ability to uncover magnetite rich zones following the targeted geophysics completed back in Q4 2024, SAGA has commenced an additional targeted and highly detailed magnetic and EM survey over the northern anomaly in the Trapper zone located to the west of the Hawkeye zone. The objective is to develop a magnetic inversion model, like Hawkeye's, that delineates follow-up drill targets along the inferred 20km oxide layer zone.

The survey uses a tight spacing of 25-meters between linear stations over lines separated by 50-meter width to achieve high-resolution magnetic and conductivity mapping, essential for pinpointing mineralization correlated with magnetite. Tight spacing will give a very high-resolution image of the magnetic and conductivity of the known target to further support and enhance confidence for a drill program in this westerly zone.





Figure 3: Map of the Radar Ti-V project oxide layer trend and locations of the Hawkeye and Trapper zones

Michael Garagan, CGO & Director of SAGA comments: "The geophysical work-surveyed by Cartwright local Cameron Martin and expertly interpreted by David and Chris Mark of Geotronics Consulting-was undeniably SAGA's guiding force during our maiden drill program this past winter. The success of this proof-of-concept initiative has elevated the next phases of geophysics to a top priority, particularly over our additional anomalous zones, as we aim to confirm the true extent of the oxide layer running through the project with further drilling. Based on the regional data, the Trapper Zone exhibits one of the strongest anomalies, and we are highly motivated to model it against the results from Hawkeye and ultimately advance to drilling at the Trapper Zone."

About SAGA Metals Corp.

SAGA Metals Corp. is a North American mining company focused on the exploration and discovery of critical minerals that support the global transition to green energy. The company's flagship asset, the Double Mer Uranium Project, is located in Labrador, Canada, covering 25,600 hectares. This project features uranium radiometrics that highlight an 18km east-west trend, with a confirmed 14km section producing samples as high as 0.428% U 3 O 8 and uranium uranophane was identified in several areas of highest radiometric response (2024 Double Mer Technical Report).

In addition to its uranium focus, SAGA owns the Legacy Lithium Property in Quebec's Eeyou Istchee James Bay region. This project, developed in partnership with Rio Tinto, has been expanded through the acquisition of the Amirault Lithium Project. Together, these properties cover 65,849 hectares and share significant geological continuity with other major players in the area, including Rio Tinto, Winsome Resources, Azimut Exploration, and Loyal Lithium.

SAGA also holds secondary exploration assets in Labrador, where the company is focused on the discovery of titanium, vanadium, and iron ore. With a portfolio that spans key minerals crucial to the green energy transition, SAGA is strategically positioned to play an essential role in the clean energy future.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Mike Stier, Chief Executive Officer

For more information, contact:

SAGA Metals Corp.

Investor Relations

Tel: +1 (778) 930-1321

Email: info@sagametals.com

www.sagametals.com

The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of this release. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Qualified Person

Peter Webster P.Geo. CEO of Mercator Geological Services Limited is an Independent Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information related to the Radar Ti-V Project disclosed in this news release.

Cautionary Disclaimer

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipates", "expects", "believes", and similar expressions or the negative of these words or other comparable terminology. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information pertaining to the Company's plans and objectives in respect of drill program. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include, but are not limited to, changes in the state of equity and debt markets, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in obtaining required regulatory or governmental approvals, environmental risks, limitations on insurance coverage, risks and uncertainties involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, and the risks detailed in the Company's final prospectus in Manitoba and amended and restated final prospectus for British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario dated August 30, 2024, filed under its SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca, and in the continuous disclosure filings made by the Company with securities regulations from time to time. 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. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. 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 only as expressly required by applicable law.


AC drilling commenced at the Balla Balla Gold Project 1 in the Pilbara, Western Australia. The ~6,000 m program is testing priority target zones of structural complexity and splay faults proximal to the Sholl Shear Zone and is progressing well.

in the Pilbara, Western Australia. The ~6,000 m program is testing priority target zones of structural complexity and splay faults proximal to the Sholl Shear Zone and is progressing well. Two three-week field campaigns were completed at the Tibooburra and John Bull Gold Projects in northern New South Wales.

Results from the Tibooburra field program which focused on the Clone prospect include: Rock chip sampling returned peak results of 89.6 g/t Au and 41.9 g/t Au 2 from mullock dump samples associated with historical workings, and 31.4 g/t Au and 10.4 g/t Au 2 from quartz vein outcrop over 700 m of strike, supporting previous high grade drill results. Soil sampling defined a ~ 600 m long and up to 250 m wide coherent anomaly > 30 ppb Au, with peak results of 1,585 ppb Au and 1,440 ppb Au 2 . Mapping defined a west dipping thrust (Clone Thrust) associated with high grade gold mineralisation and significant sericite-carbonate alteration.

A targeted ~2,000 m RC drill program is planned to commence at Tibooburra in late April 2025 to test this high-grade gold mineralised trend.

Desktop review of regional geophysics and open file data continues at the Toolunga Project, which is located in the Onslow District of Western Australia 3

Strong financial position with a cash balance of A$10 million (C$9 million) and investments of approximately A$35.6 million (C$31.9 million) as of 31 March 2025.



Commenting on Q1 2025, Novo Executive Co-Chairman and Acting CEO Mike Spreadborough said, "Our team continues to position Novo for exploration success. We have strengthened our exploration portfolio with the recent addition of the John Bull, Tibooburra and Toolunga Projects via Farm-In agreements."

"Drilling is already underway at the Balla Balla Gold Project and the team is excited to commence targeted exploration programs at the Tibooburra and John Bull Projects. Importantly, Novo is well-funded to execute on our exploration strategy and to deliver a continuous flow of news over the next quarter."

PERTH, Australia, April 16, 2025 -- Novo Resources Corp. (Novo or the Company) (ASX: NVO) (TSX: NVO) (OTCQB: NSRPF) is pleased to report on the key activities carried out by the Company during March Quarter 2025.

SUSTAINABILITY

There were no significant safety, environment, or community incidents during the March Quarter 2025.

Discussions with the representatives of the Traditional Owners are on-going as Novo reviews and updates the relevant access agreements. Novo remains in close contact with Traditional Owners to ensure appropriate heritage protection for planned exploration activities across all of its projects.

PORTFOLIO

Novo has built a diversified, gold exploration and development portfolio, located across leading mining provinces in Australia and offers a mix of greenfields, advanced greenfields and advanced exploration projects.

The Company has planned detailed drill programs across all key projects and is set to deliver a strong pipeline of news.

A dedicated project generation program continues to focus on identifying advanced gold and copper assets to provide optimum chance of success.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f703cf6b-b4fe-4b9f-906b-793f16307dcf

NEW SOUTH WALES - NEW GOLD PORTFOLIO

John Bull Gold Project (Farm-in with TechGen Metals)

The John Bull Gold Project (John Bull) is an advanced exploration opportunity, located in the emerging New England district in NSW. The tenure consists of two tenements and covers some 32 sq km (Figure 1). The agreement with TechGen Metals Limited (TechGen) grants Novo an option to acquire an 80% interest in the Mick Bull tenement EL9121 and a 70% interest in the John Bull tenement EL8389.





Figure 1: Location of the John Bull Gold Project in northeastern NSW, Australia

An intensive three-week field campaign was completed in March 2025 at John Bull. This work aimed to establish both the local geology and key mineralisation controls at the main drilling area at John Bull (Figure 2), in addition to understanding the mineralisation in a more regional context.

The field programs included various scale mapping and rock chip sampling, in addition to infill and step out soil sampling to be used for characterising local geology, identifying new targets, and investigating current high-value prospects for potential depth or strike extensions or zones of higher-grade mineralisation.

Final results from the field programs are pending.





Figure 2: John Bull historic drill hole and costean locations, soil gold geochemical results and historical soil sampling locations. Sample results may not be representative of mineralisation in the district. No assurance can be given that Novo will achieve similar results as part of its exploration activities4.

Tibooburra Gold Project (Farm-in with Manhattan Corporation)

The Tibooburra Gold Project (Tibooburra) is an advanced exploration opportunity, located in northwestern NSW and covers much of the historic Albert Goldfield. Tenure includes six granted exploration licences over 630 sq km (Figure 3). The agreement with Manhattan Corporation Limited (Manhattan) grants Novo an option to acquire a 70% interest in the tenements comprising Tibooburra.

The Tibooburra project area itself displays more than 200 historic workings and over 34 km of mineralised trend on multiple lines of workings. Several immediate targets have been delineated by previous workers including New Bendigo, Clone, Pioneer, Elizabeth Reef and Good Friday (Figure 4). However, outside of the New Bendigo prospect, little systematic modern exploration has been conducted. The area is significantly under-explored, and satellite imagery and interpretation shows abundant cover, particularly in the south.





Figure 3:. Geology of the Tibooburra project tenements highlighting the Albert Goldfields at the boundary of the Thomson and Delamarian orogens wrapping around the west side of a cluster of large granite intrusions to the east

A three-week field campaign comprising geochemical surface sampling and detailed mapping of the main ~ 3 km strike at the Clone prospect was designed to assess prospectivity of the trend, and was completed in February 2025, with all assay results returned. The field programs were designed to investigate controls on gold mineralisation and allowed Novo to design a follow up RC drilling program to validate previous drill results. Novo is anticipating that this program may significantly extend known mineralisation along strike, down dip and down-plunge.

Results from all aspects of the exploration work proved extremely promising, supporting the decision to commit to ~2,000 m of RC drilling at Clone, which is scheduled to commence in April 2025.

Mineralised late-stage NNW to NW trending moderately southwest dipping shears (interpreted as reverse faults) have been identified as the focus for much of the historical workings at Clone. Generally, the best mineralisation occurs where these structures bend in a more northerly direction, producing 1 m to 10 m wide shear zones. The main shear, the Clone Thrust, is traceable over 3 km strike and trends under cover to the NW and SE. Several splay structures are also present and are potentially part of the fertile architecture of the belt (Figure 5 and Figure 6). NNE trending cross-cutting faults are common, with interpreted sinistral movement on the main shear zones. Mineralised veining includes west dipping late-stage quartz veins which vary between laminated, massive, brecciated and sheared, and contain rare sulphide and green sericite.





Figure 4: Tibooburra project tenure, with regional geology, drill collars and main prospects, highlighting multiple parallel mineralised trends.

Results from minus 80# mesh soil sampling has defined a 600 m long coherent > 30 ppb Au anomaly with peak results of 1,585 ppb Au and 1,440 ppb Au associated with the Clone Thrust and splay structures over the main target area.

Rock chip sampling (Figure 5 and Figure 6) yielded peak results of 89.6 g/t Au and 41.9 g/t Au from mullock dump samples at the northern end of the main Clone workings. In the southern part of the main workings, peak results include 31.4 g/t Au and 10.4 g/t Au from within the west dipping Clone Thrust (Figure 5). Several samples collected in the main area graded > 3 g/t Au.





Figure 5: Rock chip sample results from an exposure of the west dipping Clone Thrust, highlighting a significant high-grade zone of mineralisation over approx. 8 m width with a peak result of 31.4 g/t Au2 from the western-most quartz vein. Results may not be indicative of mineralisation in the district. See Novo's announcement released to ASX on 2 April 2025 (Promising surface exploration informs Tibooburra RC Drilling Program) for further information, including full results tables and JORC details regarding the assayed material





Figure 6: Structural mapping and thematically mapped minus 80# mesh soil samples over the ~ 3 km Clone Trend; results may not be indicative of mineralisation in the district

The drill program at Clone will focus over a strike of several hundred metres and is designed to test the recently confirmed high-grade gold targets.

All compliance required for drilling is complete including a heritage survey conducted with the Tibooburra Local Aboriginal Land Council (TLALC). An Assessable Prospecting Operations (APO) application for all proposed drillholes and the northern access track was successfully approved in March 2025. An approved APO is required under the State Environmental Planning Policy when undertaking ground disturbing activities e.g. drilling or access track clearing.

Mineralisation at Clone remains open in all directions, with targeted mineralised basement trending under cover sediments to the south. The cover sediments extend for some 15 km providing opportunities for exploration targeting potential 'blind discoveries.'

Forward Programs - NSW Projects

Novo is planning to conduct additional field reconnaissance at John Bull prior to planning approx. 1,500 m RC drilling for late Q2 2025 across priority targets.

At Tibooburra, earthworks to support the planned RC drill program will be conducted in mid April 2025 with RC drilling expected to commence in late April.

WESTERN AUSTRALIAN GOLD PORTFOLIO

Onslow District - Toolunga Project

The Toolunga Project completes a strategic landholding of 1,524 sq km targeted across the junction of major tectonic boundaries in the north of WA. The project comprises six Exploration License Applications for 634 sq km of 100% owned tenure, with a further 890 sq km in four Exploration License Applications (Figure 7) via an option arrangement with OD4 Rocklea Pty Ltd (OD4R) on the Cane River Project (under which Novo would acquire a 70% interest if the option is exercised).





Figure 7: Novo Pilbara and Onslow tenure showing main projects and significant prospects.

The Toolunga tenure is underexplored using systematic, modern exploration technologies yet displays prospectivity for precious and base metal discovery and aligns with Novo's corporate strategy of exploring for targets with > 1 Moz Au potential. Desktop assessment of historic data and remote area geophysics continues to develop conceptual targets for on ground follow up on grant of tenure (Figure 8).





Figure 8: Toolunga Project tenure showing regional targets over 1VD aeromagnetic image in a complex structural setting

Balla Balla Gold Project

Balla Balla is an early-stage exploration project centred on the Sholl Shear Zone (Figure 9) where Novo has identified several prospects over a 10 km trend. These include interpreted fertile structures and important splay faults of the Sholl Shear Zone that will be targeted in Novo's maiden AC program. The program will test below shallow cover and commenced in late-March 2025.





Figure 9: Novo Tenure in the Central Pilbara showing the Egina Gold Camp and Balla Balla Gold Project Au prospects, location of Nunyerry North, and JV interests.

The ~ 6,000 m AC drill program is designed to quickly and effectively test several prospects, by drilling through the unconsolidated cover sequence to the harder basement rocks, also providing a good end of hole basement rock sample for geological identification and geochemical testing purposes. All samples from the program will be dispatched to ALS Laboratories in Perth for assay.





Figure 10: Balla Balla geological interpretation showing complex structure, priority targets and planned aircore drill program

Forward Programs - Pilbara and Onslow District

At Toolunga regional and follow-up exploration campaigns are planned to commence on tenement grant, including geophysical surveys, mapping and geochemical sampling programs over known targets to validate historic results and to rapidly advance drill targets.

Novo's maiden AC drilling at Balla Balla will continue to completion, with results expected by the end of Q2 2025. Compliance elements of the RC drill program testing Au, PGE and base metal targets in the Karratha District are near completion. Mapping and sampling campaigns are also planned to continue along prioritised areas of the Tabba Tabba Shear Corridor in the Egina Gold Camp and at Miralga.

VICTORIAN GOLD PORTFOLIO

Belltopper Gold Project

A detailed review of historic data associated with the Missing Link Reef at Belltopper was completed. The work has assessed mining activities on the reef from as early as 1880, including geological and production information, which will be utilised to support future aspects of the Exploration Target at Belltopper.

CORPORATE

Investment in San Cristobal Mining Inc.

Novo continues to hold 1.24 m shares in privately-owned San Cristobal Mining Inc. (San Cristobal) for a total value of A$20 million (C$17.86 million).

In January 2025, San Cristobal declared a dividend of US$0.756 per common share and Novo received US$935,000 (C$1,351,000).

Project Generation

Novo continues to focus its efforts on a dedicated and disciplined project generation to identify value accretive opportunities across targeted gold and copper assets that complement the Company's current portfolio and ASX and TSX investor base.

Comet Well and Purdy's North

Novo's board of directors has resolved to seek interest from parties to acquire or be part of a joint venture in relation to, the Comet Well and Purdy's North project.

As part of this decision, a sale process of the Mechanical Ore Sorter is underway.

Relinquishment of Tenure

The Company's exploration programs across key Pilbara areas continue to be successful in identifying priority targets for exploration follow-up drilling, along with identifying tenure that provides little further exploration value or follow-up.

As a result, tenure which does not complement Novo's exploration strategy continues to be relinquished to reduce land tenure holding costs.

The Company currently manages an estimated ~5,200 sq km of 100% owned tenure, of which 465 sq km is under Joint Venture. In addition, ~1,780 sq km of tenure forms the Egina Joint Venture (De Grey) or Harding Dam Battery Metal Joint Venture (SQM Priority tenements), both managed by JV partners. Novo has reduced annual holding costs by entering into joint ventures, or by relinquishing or divesting tenure of limited prospectivity.

Financial Update

As of 31 March 2025, Novo had a cash balance of A$10 million (C$9 million).

In addition, Novo has an investment portfolio of shares held in ASX-listed and unlisted companies that is valued at approximately A$35.6 million (C$31.9 million), consisting of:

(1) ASX-listed companies, valued at approximately A$0.9 million (C$0.8 million) based on the closing price of those shares on 31 March 2025; and

(2) Unlisted companies, valued at approximately A$34.7 million (C$31 million) as of 31 March 2025.

Ticker Number of shares held Novo's interest Value

A$'000 Value

C$'000 (1) ASX-listed shares* Kalamazoo Resources Ltd. ASX: KZR 10,000,000 4.78% $800 $718 GBM Resources Ltd. ASX: GBZ 11,363,637 1.00% $80 $71 Kali Metals Ltd. (commenced trading 8 January 2024) ASX: KM1 566,947 0.39% $50 $45 (2) Unlisted shares** Elementum 3D Inc. (E3D) (US$) 2,076,560 8.63% $14,742 $13,225 San Cristobal Mining Inc. (SCM) (US$) 1,242,500 2.39% $19,911 $17,862

*ASX-listed shares were converted to C$ using an exchange rate of C$ to A$ of 1: 1.1147

**The valuation of the unlisted shares held in E3D is in line with management's valuation as of 31 March 2025, converted using an exchange rate as of 31 March 2025 from US$ to C$ of 1: 1.4376 and C$ to A$ of 1: 1.1147. The valuation of the unlisted shares held in SCM is based on the partial sale of Novo's shareholding in SCM and the price achieved, US$ to C$ of 1 : 1.4376 and C$ to A$ of 1 : 1.1147.

Shares held in E3D and SCM are initially recognised at fair value (and remeasured with reference to share prices at which funds are raised from third-party investors) or were based on independent valuations performed. For further information on Novo's investment portfolio, please refer to Novo's website.

Authorised for release by Board of Directors.

CONTACT

Investors:

Mike Spreadborough

+61 8 6400 6100

info@novoresources.com North American Queries:

Leo Karabelas

+1 416 543 3120

leo@novoresources.com Media:

Cameron Gilenko

+61 466 984 953

cameron.gilenko@sodali.com

QP STATEMENT

Mrs De Luca (MAIG), is the qualified person, as defined under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, responsible for, and having reviewed and approved, the technical information contained in this news release, other than Belltopper. Mrs De Luca is Novo's General Manager Exploration.

Dr Christopher Doyle (MAIG) and Dr Simon Dominy (FAusIMM CPGeo; FAIG RPGeo), are the qualified persons, as defined under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, responsible for, and having reviewed and approved, the technical information contained in this news release in relation to Belltopper. Dr Doyle is Novo's Exploration Manager - Victoria and Dr Dominy is a Technical Advisor to Novo.

JORC COMPLIANCE STATEMENTS

The information in this news release that relates to Exploration Results from Novo's New South Wales Gold Portfolio is extracted from Novo's ASX announcement titled:

(a) Novo Strengthens Portfolio with Two High-Grade Gold Projects released to ASX on 13 December 2024; and

(b) Promising surface exploration informs Tibooburra RC Drilling program released to ASX on 2 April 2025

each of which is available to view at www.asx.com.au. The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information in the original market announcement and that the form and context in which the Competent Person's findings are presented have not been materially modified from the original market announcement.

The information in this news release that relates to the previously reported exploration target at Belltopper is extracted from Novo's ASX announcement titled Belltopper Mineralisation Modelling Defines Prospectivity released to ASX on 25 September 2024, which is available to view at www.asx.com.au. The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information in the original market announcement and that that the form and context in which the Competent Person's findings are presented have not been materially modified from the original market announcement.

DISCLAIMER

This Business Review constitutes a voluntary disclosure by the Company and is not a Quarterly Activities Report for the purposes of ASX Listing Rules 5.3 and 5.5 for which Novo has an exemption, as a foreign entity with its primary listing on an overseas exchange with a particular obligation imposed by the home exchange that is comparable to the ASX Listing Rule obligation.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Some statements in this news release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian and Australian securities law and regulations. In this news release, such statements include but are not limited to planned exploration activities and the timing of such. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such factors include, without limitation, customary risks of the resource industry and the risk factors identified in Novo's annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2024 (which is available under Novo's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and at www.asx.com.au) and in the Company's prospectus dated 2 August 2023 which is available at www.asx.com.au. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date those statements are made. Except as required by applicable law, Novo assumes no obligation to update or to publicly announce the results of any change to any forward-looking statement contained or incorporated by reference herein to reflect actual results, future events or developments, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting the forward-looking statements. If Novo updates any forward-looking statement(s), no inference should be drawn that the Company will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.

ABOUT NOVO

Novo is an Australian based gold explorer listed on the ASX and the TSX focussed on discovering standalone gold projects with > 1 Moz development potential. Novo is an innovative gold explorer with a significant land package covering approximately 5,500 square kilometres in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, along with the 22 square kilometre Belltopper project in the Bendigo Tectonic Zone of Victoria, Australia.

Novo's key project area in the Pilbara is the Egina Gold Camp, where De Grey Mining is farming-in to form a JV at the Becher Project and surrounding tenements through exploration expenditure of A$25 million within 4 years for a 50% interest. The Becher Project has similar geological characteristics as De Grey's 12.7 Moz Hemi Project#. Novo is also advancing gold exploration south of Becher in the Egina Gold Camp, part of the Croydon JV (Novo 70%: Creasy Group 30%). Novo continues to undertake early-stage exploration elsewhere across its Pilbara tenement portfolio.

Novo has also formed a lithium joint venture with SQM in the Pilbara which provides shareholder exposure to battery metals.

Novo has recently strengthened its high-quality, Australian based exploration portfolio by adding the TechGen John Bull Gold Project in the New England Orogen of NSW, and Manhattan Tibooburra Gold Project in the Albert Goldfields in northwestern NSW. Both projects demonstrate prospectivity for significant discovery and resource definition and align with Novo's strategy of identifying and exploring projects with > 1 Moz Au potential. These high-grade gold projects compliment the landholding consolidation that forms the Toolunga Project in the Onslow District in Western Australia.

Novo has a significant investment portfolio and a disciplined program in place to identify value accretive opportunities that will build further value for shareholders.

Please refer to Novo's website for further information including the latest corporate presentation.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c81c299e-7726-4e4e-bea5-f8e2d9972cc0

*An Exploration Target as defined in the JORC Code (2012) is a statement or estimate of the exploration potential of a mineral deposit in a defined geological setting where the statement or estimate, quoted as a range of tonnes and a range of grade (or quality), relates to mineralisation for which there has been insufficient exploration to estimate a Mineral Resource. Accordingly, these figures are not Mineral Resource or Ore Reserve estimates as defined in the JORC Code (2012). The potential quantities and grades referred to above are conceptual in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to estimate a Mineral Resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the estimation of a Mineral Resource. These figures are based on the interpreted continuity of mineralisation and projection into unexplored ground often around historical workings. The Exploration Target has been prepared in accordance with the JORC Code (2012), as detailed in the Company's ASX announcement released on 25 September 2024 (available to view at www.asx.com.au). The Tonnage range for the exploration target is 1.5Mt to 2.1Mt, the Grade range is 6.6g/t Au to 8.4g/t Au and the Ounces range from 320koz Au to 570 koz Au. The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information that material affects the information included in the original market announcement and that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates in the original market announcement continue to apply and have not materially changed. Dr Christopher Doyle (MAIG) and Dr Simon Dominy (FAusIMM CPGeo; FAIG RPGeo), are the qualified persons, as defined under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, responsible for, and having reviewed and approved, the technical information relating to the Exploration Target. Dr Doyle is Novo's Exploration Manager - Victoria and Dr Dominy is a Technical Advisor to Novo.

#Refer to De Grey's ASX Announcement, Hemi Gold Project mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) 2024, dated 14 November 2024. No assurance can be given that a similar (or any) commercially viable mineral deposit will be determined at Novo's Becher Project

_______________



1 Refer to Novo's ASX announcement released to ASX on 20 March 2025 - Aircore drilling to commence at Balla Balla.

2 Refer to Novo's ASX announcement released to ASX on 2 April 2025 - Promising surface exploration informs Tibooburra RC Drilling program for full results.

3 Refer to Novo's ASX announcement released to ASX on 11 December 2024 - Novo secures strategic land position in the Onslow district Western Australia.

4 Refer to Novo's ASX announcement released to ASX on 16 December 2024 - Novo strengthens portfolio with two high-grade projects in NSW, Australia.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/56a8c118-6755-4534-b726-1e8de81d484a

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c2c024ce-ef28-4c31-89ff-dc89cafb3c7c

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f41bc170-c993-48c1-ac6d-9706fd6e2927

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6e6add03-6060-43b3-90bf-9aa7ec74a05e

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4246f45b-f584-4179-8c97-1ace17805aa2

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7b8d645c-0532-4aab-b65c-49db1941279c

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/89496199-da80-4155-9891-b6b51825c2fd

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/60898042-07f0-4d87-bd01-19419154dd80

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/50040088-a6a1-4809-a689-2394bc6b3457

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/70a7e242-02bd-40be-9205-1c0f6550a9b5
Vancouver - Dixie Gold Inc. (TSX VENTURE: DG)("Dixie Gold" or the "Issuer" or the "Corporation") reports that it was today electronically delivered correspondence (the "Asubpeeschoseewagong Anishinabek Correspondence") from the Asubpeeschoseewagong Anishinabek ("Asubpeeschoseewagong Anishinabek" or "Grassy Narrows"), a First Nation in Ontario (Canada), which sets out a variety of statements made by the Asubpeeschoseewagong Anishinabek and which also makes reference to certain third-party litigation (the "Asubpeeschoseewagong Anishinabek Third-Party Litigation") involving the Asubpeeschoseewagong Anishinabek.

The Issuer refers to prior news release (Dixie Gold Inc. Receives Asubpeeschoseewagong Anishinabek Correspondence Regarding Mining Activities and Third-Party Litigation, dated October 11, 2024).

Dixie Gold holds certain mining claims in the Red Lake, Ontario region commonly referred to as its Red Lake Gold Project (the "Red Lake Project"). The Corporation views its mining claims situated in Ontario, inclusive of those forming its Red Lake Project, as validly subsisting, with all such mining claims having been duly granted and issued by the Government of Ontario pursuant to the Mining Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. M.14 (the "Ontario Mining Act") and its regulations.

A copy of the Asubpeeschoseewagong Anishinabek Correspondence is available at:

https://www.dixiegold.ca/content/disclosure/Asubpeeschoseewagong_Anishinabek_Dixie_Gold_Inc_Letter_Delivered_April_16_2025.pdf

The Issuer makes note of a large geographical area(s) set out in the Asubpeeschoseewagong Anishinabek Correspondence through an affiliated map, copy of which was not delivered but elsewhere sourced:

https://www.dixiegold.ca/content/disclosure/Asubpeeschoseewagong_Anishinabek_Dixie_Gold_Inc_Map_April_16_2025.pdf

Without adoption by the Issuer, the Corporation reproduces text from the Asubpeeschoseewagong Anishinabek Correspondence:

"Your mining claims and other tenures continue the unlawful and harmful Crown conduct that is the subject of the lawsuit.

Secondly, on July 12, 2024, Grassy Narrows served a Notice of Application on Ontario asserting that the Mining Act regime violates section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 by failing to consult, accommodate or obtain consent prior to registering mining claims within the Interim Core Area of Interest for Mining.

Grassy Narrows is seeking a declaration that mining claims registered pursuant to this unconstitutional regime and further mining tenures derived from those leases are invalid, which would include any claims, leases, and patents registered by your company in the Area. Ontario did not consult, accommodate nor obtain consent from Grassy Narrows prior to registering your company's mining claims, and the leases, patents and other mining tenures derived from them.

As relief, Grassy Narrows is seeking a declaration that "existing mining claims, including mining activities such assessment work and exploration activities, and third-party mining interests granted under the Mining Claim Grant Regime within the Area are not consistent with section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 and UNDRIP and are of no force or effect.

If Grassy Narrows is successful in either or both of these legal proceedings, your company's mining claims and other tenures would potentially be impacted and could be invalidated."

At the present time, Dixie Gold is not a party to the Asubpeeschoseewagong Anishinabek Third-Party Litigation, and as such, is not able to reasonably determine nor reasonably assess the forward-moving impact, if any, that such external legal proceedings may have on the Issuer and/or its Red Lake Project.

To the best knowledge of the Issuer, the general content of the Asubpeeschoseewagong Anishinabek Correspondence was delivered to multiple mining companies operating in the Red Lake, Ontario region.

Outside of this disclosure release, the Issuer does not intend to publicly comment on the Asubpeeschoseewagong Anishinabek Third-Party Litigation nor title assertions generally, unless and/or until circumstances require.

About Dixie Gold Inc.

Dixie Gold Inc. (TSXV: DG) is a publicly traded exploration company holding a portfolio of exploration projects in Canada.

For more information, please visit www.dixiegold.ca

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Ryan Kalt

Chief Executive Officer

Dixie Gold Inc.

T: 604.687.2038

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to matters related to the Asubpeeschoseewagong Anishinabek Third-Party Litigation and/or any title assertion(s) by the Asubpeeschoseewagong Anishinabek, and/or other First Nations, with respect to areas that may involve mining claims held now or in the future by the Corporation, and without limitation, matters flowing from such legal proceedings or title assertions including, without limitation and if applicable, any impact, involvement or outcome of litigation flowing therefrom and/or the impact or outcome on mining claims or other like-interest(s) as may be held by the Corporation, as well as outcomes related to any legal challenge to the Ontario Mining Act and or other measures and/or outcomes related to steps by the Corporation related to mining claims held by it, as well as to the exploration potential of the Red Lake Project and/or other mining claims that may either now or in the future be held by Dixie Gold. Actual results may differ materially from those currently expected or forecast in such statements.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Copyright (c) 2025 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
Unhappy with Plurality Winners

Reducing the Spoiler Effect

Any Faster Than Iowa?

Reader Feedback

It doesnt take much to convince many Americans that there are serious problems with the U.S. electoral system. The bungled Iowa caucus vote count appeared to offer further proof that something has gone seriously wrong with a fundamental about democracy  finding out who has the most support.With the Iowa caucuses, an outdated mode of voting can cast real uncertainly about the outcome, says Nick Troiano, executive director of Unite America, a political reform group.Problems ranging from the disputed Florida presidential recount of 2000 through attempted hacks in 2016 have left many Americans dissatisfied with traditional methods of running elections and counting votes.Even before the Iowa caucuses got underway on Monday, allegations of voter registration fraud were spreading fast on social media, driven by Judicial Watch and Turning Point USA, two conservative groups whose posts and tweets traveled a lot farther than the attempts by Iowa Republican Secretary of State Paul Pate to debunk them.These problems cause a drip, drip, drip of voter mistrust in the election system, wrote Rick Hasen , author of, a new book about threats to democracy. In this hyperpolarized atmosphere, it doesnt take a lot for people to suspect the worst.Against this backdrop, theres growing popular support for voting methods that provide some sort of alternative to the traditional system of winner-take-all plurality voting. What were seeing is that people are dissatisfied with the outcomes of our political system and are looking at root causes, Troiano says. Theyre looking at our election system, the way we elect the people we do elect.Like some other advocacy groups, Unite America promotes the idea of ranked choice voting, a form of instant-runoff voting where voters express a preference not only for a first choice but also other candidates they might support. Under ranked choice voting (RCV), if no candidate receives a majority of first-preference votes, the candidates with the lowest levels of support are gradually eliminated until someone does receive a majority.This method, which has been used in Australia and Ireland for about a century, has been adopted in several U.S. cities, including San Francisco, Oakland and Minneapolis. Its reach is spreading. In November, New York City voters approved a ranked choice voting measure by nearly 3-to-1. The number of cities that have gone to ranked choice voting has doubled in the last five years, says Rob Richie, president of FairVote and a longtime RCV proponent. I wouldnt be surprised if five to 10 cities went to it next year.Ranked choice voting is now moving to larger stages than municipal elections. Maine voters approved ranked choice voting in 2016, becoming the first state to use it in 2018. New measures are likely to be on the ballot this year in Alaska and Massachusetts.Nevada, which holds the second presidential caucuses on Feb. 22, will use ranked choice voting for early voters. (Rather than seeking a majority, Nevada will use RCV to eliminate candidates who dont reach the 15 percent threshold of support.)Five other states will use RCV in Democratic presidential primary voting, including three on April 4. Assuming theres no Iowa-style screwup, this will give ranked choice voting its highest-profile test yet in this country.It feels like a boom industry right now, when people feel like theres the need for reform in the electoral system, Richie says. People are receptive to hear about them because of the national mood.Academic studies have poured cold water on some of the promises RCV supporters make about its likely effects, such as reducing polarization. And there is pushback against the idea. Memphis voters have twice supported RCV measures, but the method hasnt been implemented there due to legal questions and state opposition. On Tuesday, the Maine Republican Party announced it was launching a campaign for a November ballot measure that would repeal the states ranked choice voting law.Still, popular support for ranked choice voting and other electoral methods shows that there is a good deal of appetite for overhauling the way elections are structured.Frustration is bubbling over across the country right now, says John Palmer, who serves on the board of the National Association of Nonpartisan Reformers. The system isnt working and the people are really disgruntled with the two parties.It wasnt a surprise that Maine became the first state to adopt ranked choice voting. The 2016 measure was approved while Republican Paul LePage was serving the second of two terms as governor  both of which he won with plurality support, failing to garner a majority either time.Some residents affixed 61 percent bumper stickers to their cars, a reference to the share of voters who opposed LePage in 2010. When there are three or more candidates, the one with a plurality might be heartily disliked by a majority of voters, says Jack Nagel, a retired University of Pennsylvania political scientist.In both Alaska and Massachusetts, the states likely to consider ranked choice voting this year, the governors elected in 2014 each won with plurality support. In Alaska, no candidate for U.S. Senate has taken a majority of the vote since 2002.One of the central selling points of ranked choice voting is that the eventual winner will have gotten support from a majority of voters, even if he or she was not everyones first choice.The fact that ranked choice voting is supposed to produce a majority winner may appeal to some people who have seen presidents win with less than a majority of the vote, says David Kimball, a voting expert at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.Still, its not necessarily the case that the winner under ranked choice voting will receive majority support. When there are especially large fields, theres a problem with exhausted voters who fail or refuse to express preferences for more than two or three choices.Something similar happened in Iowa. The problems there stemmed from problems with an app and a phone-in system that were supposed to allow precinct captains to report results easily to the state Democratic Party. But when candidates at each caucus failed to receive 15 percent, their supporters are supposed to realign and shift their support to viable candidates. A lot of people just went home instead.Ranked choice voting does produce a majority winner, Kimball says, but because some votes are exhausted by the time you get there, there may not be a majority of people who voted in the first place.Ranked choice voting is more complicated than expressing preference for a single candidate, says Jason McDaniel, a political scientist at San Francisco State University who has studied the method.Its also unlikely to result in some sort of broad consensus among the electorate against more ideologically extreme candidates who can get elected under plurality voting, he says. Other methods that held out the promise of promoting more moderate candidates, such as Californias top-two primary system, which sends the top two primary votegetters on to the general election, regardless of party, have failed to result in the election of more moderates.If people want to adopt ranked choice voting because they want to ameliorate partisan polarization, I think theyre probably going to be disappointed by the results, McDaniel says.Kimball notes that ranked choice voting seems to cut down on negative campaigning. Candidates cant viciously tear down their opponents if they hope to be the second choice of their supporters. There have been examples of candidates forming alliances, telling supporters vote for me and then vote for her.Ranked choice voting also cuts down on the spoiler effect. Rather than worrying about having to support a Democrat or a Republican as the only plausible winners, people can vote for their favorites, knowing that the eventual winner wont sneak in because votes were wasted on an independent or minor party candidate. It allows people to vote their conscience, but makes sure we have a majority winner, says Alex Kaplan, vice president of policy and campaigns at RepresentUs, an election reform advocacy group.Because many Americans believe the political system is broken, theyre more open to new ways of doing things, he says. For so long, weve been told theres one way to decide our winners, Kaplan says. People are seeing there are alternatives that make sense.RepresentUs supports ranked choice voting, but Kaplan says its time to try new solutions in general. One other idea thats slowly gaining attention is called approval voting.As with ranked choice voting, under approval voting people can support multiple candidates. Rather than ranking their preferences, however, they would simply vote for as many candidates as they like. If there are four candidates on the ballot, citizens could vote for one of them, or for two, or for the whole lot. The person with the highest total would win.Approval voting has been used by associations and nonprofits in selecting their own leadership, but its never been used for an election in the United States. In 2018, a ballot measure to adopt approval voting in municipal elections passed in Fargo , N.D.It was presented as a test case, showing that the idea could garner popular support and that the method could work. Supporters of the idea are currently collecting signatures in St. Louis, with the goal of putting a measure on the August ballot. Approval voting is simple; its easy to understand; its easy to tabulate, says Tyler Schlichenmeyer, steering committee chair for STL Approves, which is sponsoring the measure.As in states considering ranked choice voting, St. Louis has seen some citywide elections decided by narrow pluralities. In 2017, Lyda Krewson won the all-important Democratic primary for mayor with less than a third of the vote, barely outpacing her nearest rival. St. Louisans are hungry for a leader with broad support in the community, Schlichenmeyer says.Early polling suggests considerable support for approval voting and no organized opposition has yet emerged to fight the proposed measure. Nonetheless, there are reasons to be skeptical about the method, says Nagel, the Penn professor, especially because the St. Louis measure would allow a subsequent runoff.There is an incentive in St. Louis to cast approval not for the people you approve of, but the person you like the most, plus another candidate you dont like at all who you think would be a pushover opponent, Nagel says.A frequent complaint about approval voting where its been used is that theres a strategic temptation to truncate your approvals. Voters dont check a box for all the candidates they like because they want the vote they do cast for their favorite to have more weight. If most voters cut back to just one, the system is the same as what we have now, Nagel says.The problem in Iowa was not an inaccurate count, but a slow one. Ranked choice voting wont necessarily speed up the process. Tabulating and retabulating votes can take days.That could be a factor in the presidential race. In 2016, Democrat Hillary Clinton carried Maine, but with 48 percent of the vote. (Republican Donald Trump carried Maines 2nd Congressional District; Maine, along with Nebraska, awards some of its Electoral College votes by district.)This year, Maine will use ranked choice voting for president for the first time. If theres any significant third-party candidate in the race, its likely the vote there will go to a runoff, which would not be decided quickly.There are risks aside from speed, warns Jack Santucci, a political scientist at Drexel University. Last year, Vineyard and Payson, two small cities in Utah, used a form of ranked choice voting for multi-member districts. Their block preferential method spreads support differently than ranked choice voting systems in places like Maine, allowing only candidates from given groups  a single party, say, or a racial group  to win all the seats.Its complicated, but the upshot is that it could make elections less competitive. People like it because it looks and smells like ranked choice voting, but the point is to give every seat to one party, Santucci says.Over the past century, Santucci says, politicians have been able to grab the halo of reform and then pick and choose the parts of voting systems that allowed them to perpetuate their own power. Voters are presented with ballot measures that purport to rage against the machine, while actually keeping the machine in place. When reform is hot like this, everything is on the table, Santucci says.A century ago, major election changes such as ballot initiatives and popular election of U.S. senators were driven by concerns about corruption and machine politics. Today, its polarization thats making people open to new approaches.Ranked choice voting and approval voting may have their flaws, but its clear that many people are now open to alternatives to the old plurality method.Theres a climate that happens where theres a realization that voting is in play and we have to talk about changes, says Richie, FairVotes president. Id be shocked if, by the end of the 2020s, there werent some really significant changes, like in the 1910s.Governing welcomes reader responses to our journalism.We received this letter from Bob Litz, the auditor in Minnehaha County, S.D.
Domenicali has bad news for Imola's F1 future

Stefano Domenicali has bad news for the Formula 1 race at Imola.

Daniel Ricciardo, Emilio Romagna GP 2024

 Red Bull

The Italian circuit returned to the calendar amid the sport's covid crisis, and F1 CEO Domenicali told Rai radio: "I do not forget that Imola responded for us in a moment of great difficulty.

When there was a need to find new places, they responded immediately with great enthusiasm and the ability of an entire city.

However, the situation has now changed, as Domenicali is inundated with interest from potential race hosts offering vast sums for a continued global expansion of Formula 1.

In the coming months we will face this choice, he said. "From a human point of view it will not be easy, but I have to exercise an international role that puts me in front of many requests around the world from emerging countries that can allow F1 to grow.

It is an evaluation that I will soon have to solve with a definitive decision.

The Italian had been specifically asked if Imola can continue to co-exist on a calendar that already has a race in Italy locked in for the foreseeable future - at the iconic Monza venue.

Italy has always represented and will always represent an important part of F1, even in the future, said Domenicali. "However, it will be increasingly difficult to have two grands prix in the same country because the interest in our sport is growing.

It will be difficult for this current situation to continue for a long time.

Domenicali was also asked for his thoughts on Lewis Hamilton's current struggle to get up to speed at Ferrari.

Winning straight away is not trivial, he answered. "I believe in his tenacity and strength to grow together with the team - I want to be positive. But at the same time it is obviously not easy.

And then, (Charles) Leclerc is an extraordinary driver who does not want to miss the opportunity to show that he is stronger. But these are also extraordinary elements in the Ferrari team that are positive for the whole of Formula 1.

(GMM)
Impeachment against CJ: Supreme Court adjourns injunction application to May 6

Emmanuel Ebo Hawkson Apr - 16 - 2025 , 12:42 1 minute read

The Supreme Court has once again adjourned an injunction application seeking to halt the process that could lead to the impeachment of the Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo.

When the case was called today, instead of the five Justices of the apex court who were supposed to hear the case, only four appeared.

The court, presided over by Justice Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, announced that the court had to adjourn the application to May 6, 2025 due to unavoidable reasons.

Present in court today were the Attorney-General (A-G) and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, his Deputy Dr Justice Srem Sai, and Godfred Yeboah Dame, a former (A-G), who is counsel for the applicant.

This is the second time the court has adjourned the application due to reasons beyond its control.

On Wednesday, April 9, 2025, the court adjourned the case indefinitely following a request from the Office of the A-G that state attorneys were attending a conference in Accra.
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Mahama launches One Million Coders Programme to equip Ghanaian youth with digital skills

Mohammed Ali Apr - 16 - 2025 , 12:01 2 minutes read

President John Dramani Mahama has launched the One Million Coders Programme, a national digital skills initiative aimed at training one million Ghanaians over the next four years in coding, cybersecurity, data analytics, and related fields.

Speaking at the launch of the initiative on Wednesday, April 16 2025, Mr Mahama described the initiative as a core part of his governments Reset Ghana agenda, intended to prepare the country for a more competitive role in the global digital economy.

This is not just a fulfilled campaign promise, Mr Mahama said. It is a deliberate move towards building a knowledge-based economy where our people are able to create solutions, find jobs, and compete globally.

He said the program would help address unemployment and open up opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship.

He added that the first cohort of 560 trainees had already started training in Accra, Kumasi, Sunyani and Bolgatanga. According to him, more than 90,000 applications were received within the first 48 hours after the programme was announced.

Mr Mahama noted that the high level of interest reflects the desire among young Ghanaians to acquire practical skills.

He said the programme would be accessible to people from all backgrounds, including women, rural dwellers, and persons with disabilities.

We are not just training our youth, he said. We are changing the national story from being users of imported technology to creators of our own.

Mr Mahama also outlined plans to position Ghana as a business process outsourcing destination, pointing to the countrys English-speaking population, central location, and young, tech-minded workforce.

He referenced initiatives in countries such as Estonia, the United Kingdom, Finland, Japan, and the United States, where coding has been introduced at early stages of education.

He said Ghana would learn from these models while tailoring them to local conditions.

According to him, the programme is not only about teaching technical skills but also about encouraging problem-solving, analytical thinking, and collaboration qualities he believes are necessary in todays world.

He said the government intends to set up training centres in all 261 districts through existing community information centres.
NHIA moves to restore trust in NHIS card, urges media to expose illegal charges

Mohammed Ali Apr - 16 - 2025 , 10:17 2 minutes read

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) says it is taking steps to restore public confidence in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) card by tackling illegal charges in health facilities and directing more funds towards claims payment.

Acting Chief Executive of the Authority, Dr Victor Asare Bampoe, made the announcement at a press briefing in Accra on Monday, April 14 2025.

He said the NHIA had paid GH834 million to healthcare providers nationwide, covering both arrears and newly vetted claims.

Over the past week alone, we cleared GH555 million worth of vetted claims, Dr Bampoe said. There are still some pending payments of about GH30 to GH40 million, which are currently being processed.

He noted that earlier concerns raised by private providers were due to delays in processing and not a lack of funds. Dr Bampoe assured that all approved claims were being settled within the 90-day payment window.

He stated that the Authority intends to increase the share of its budget spent on claims. While only 40 to 41 percent of NHIAs funding went into claims last year, the target for 2025 is 65 percent, with a further increase to 70 percent expected next year.

Dr Bampoe said restoring trust in the Scheme also means addressing the persistent issue of illegal charges. To that end, he announced the formation of a committee made up of senior NHIA directors to investigate and address unauthorised co-payments at health facilities.

Well build on what has already been done and take action to reduce, and eventually remove, this problem, he said, adding that NHIS cardholders should not face unexpected costs when seeking care at accredited facilities.

He also mentioned that the Authority is preparing to roll out aspects of the Mahama Cares initiative, including a funding mechanism for the treatment of renal conditions and the introduction of free primary healthcare services.

Meanwhile, Acting Director of Corporate Affairs at the NHIA, Mr Oswald Essuah-Mensah, called on the media to help expose illegal charges being demanded from NHIS cardholders. He said media involvement was necessary to hold service providers to account and protect the interests of the public.

We will do our best, working with healthcare providers and the media, Mr Essuah-Mensah said. Let us use our combined efforts to support a more open and accountable healthcare system that serves the needs of Ghanaians.

Dr Bampoe also revealed that two internal audits are ongoinga human resource audit and a management information systems audit. These are aimed at improving staffing and upgrading the Authoritys technology systems.

The NHIA says the reforms are intended to improve efficiency and direct more of its resources to actual healthcare delivery.
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One Million Coders Programme starts with 560 trainees - Sam George

Mohammed Ali Apr - 16 - 2025 , 11:47 2 minutes read

A total of 560 young Ghanaians have been selected for the pilot phase of the governments One Million Coders Programme, following a surge of over 4,000 applications received within the first four hours of its announcement.

The programme was launched in Accra on Tuesday, April 16 2025, as part of efforts by the John Dramani Mahama administration to tackle youth unemployment and equip young people with digital skills relevant to the emerging 24-hour economy.

It is one of the key initiatives under the presidents 120-day social contract.

Speaking at the launch held at the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT, the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, Mr Samuel Nartey George, said the ministry had originally planned to begin with 260 trainees.

He said the overwhelming interest compelled the ministry to adopt a double-track approach, increasing the intake to 560.

We planned to do the pilot with 260 students, but within the first four hours of announcing it, we had over 4,000 applications. We decided to expand it to 560 using a double-track system, Mr George stated.

According to him, the training will be delivered by the Kofi Annan ICT Centre, which is responsible for content development and coordination.

The initial courses include certifications such as Certified Data Protection Expert, Certified Data Protection Officer, Certified Data Protection Professional, and Data Analyst Associate. Coding will be embedded in all the courses, with additional elective modules in programming.

Mr George said the first phase will begin in four regions and later extend to the rest of the country.

He noted that only seven per cent of Ghanaian youth currently have access to structured digital training, while nearly one in five are not in education, employment, or training.

This is not just a missed opportunity; its a barrier we must remove. The One Million Coders programme seeks to provide real skills that respond to the needs of todays job market, he said.

International technology companies and institutions, including Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, ALX, and the Tony Blair Institute, have expressed interest in supporting the programme.

Mr George said the goal is to prepare Ghanaian youth for roles in the fast-growing digital economy, particularly in areas such as business process outsourcing and knowledge-based services.

He described the programme as a turning point in Ghanas digital journey and urged young people to take advantage of the opportunity.
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Minority demands GH6,000 cocoa price, warns of increased smuggling

Kweku Zurek Politics Apr - 16 - 2025 , 07:10 3 minutes read

The Minority Caucus in Parliament has called for the immediate increase of the cocoa producer price from GH3,000 to GH6,000 per 64-kilogramme bag, in line with promises made to Ghanaians.

They warned that failure to act swiftly could result in economic sabotage, cross-border smuggling, and a betrayal of Ghanas hardworking cocoa farmers.

Speaking at a press conference held on Monday, April 14, 2025, at the Miklin Hotel in Kumasi, the Minority Caucus, led by its Ranking Member on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs, Isaac Yaw Opoku, urged the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) and the current administration to desist from shifting blame.

Instead, they urged the government to fulfil its campaign promises made to cocoa farmers during the 2024 general elections.

The immediate past government set the cocoa producer price at GH48,000 per tonne for the 2024/2025 crop season, representing a rise from previous years. This equates to GH3,000 per 64kg bag.

However, during the 2024 electioneering campaign, then flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, pledged to increase the price per 64kg bag to GH6,000 to reflect prevailing world market rates.

The Minority is now questioning whether the government is reneging on key manifesto pledges, including its promise to pay farmers 70 per cent of the Free-On-Board (FOB) price, and to raise cocoa prices to GH6,000 per 64kg bag.

They promised farmers GH6,000 per bag. Now they claim they cant increase the price. Were those just empty words for votes? the Minority queried.

Citing COCOBODs financial strength, the group argued that the agency has both the capacity and resources to absorb any financial impact from a price adjustment. With over 560,000 tonnes of cocoa already purchased and more than US$2 billion in revenue reported through the Bank of Ghana, the Caucus insisted that farmers deserve a fairer share of the cocoa export value.

They further raised concerns about regional competition. Cote dIvoire, Ghanas neighbouring cocoa-producing country, recently raised its farmgate cocoa price by over 22 per cent. The resulting price gap, the Minority cautioned, could encourage large-scale smuggling of Ghanaian cocoa across the border. At current exchange rates, Ivorian farmers earn over GH3,600 per bagmore than GH600 higher than their Ghanaian counterparts.

The Caucus warned that failure to align domestic prices with regional benchmarks could result in a surge in cocoa smuggling and illegal mining, as farmers abandon unprofitable cocoa cultivation for more lucrative ventures.

The government must act now to protect our farmers and safeguard Ghanas cocoa economy. This is not merely an economic issueits a matter of national security, the Minority declared.

They concluded by calling on the government to honour its commitment to Ghanaian cocoa farmers.

No more excuses. COCOBOD and the government must fulfil their promise and pay the Ghanaian cocoa farmer a minimum of GH6,000 per bag.
In March, Honor unveiled its Alpha Plan  a $10 billion investment in AI features over 5 years with the goal of becoming a leading AI device ecosystem company globally. Honor attended Googles Cloud Next 2025 event in Las Vegas to support a key partner in the Alpha Plan and to promote some of the new features that they have created.

AI Outpainting is a big one  it allows users to reframe a photo by zooming out and rotating it as needed. Normally, this will leave blank areas that go beyond what you captured in the shot. But with Honors AiMAGE suite, those blanks will be filled in using Googles Imagen model.

This means that users can just snap a photo and not worry too much about framing  be in the moment as it happens, then figure out the best framing later (and you can change your mind and try again as many times as needed too).

AI Outpainting can create an image double the size of the original, which gives you a lot of freedom when cropping out a better-framed shot. The optimized generative fill ensures that the expanded images are seamlessly integrated, even in complex scenes like buildings and landscapes, said Eric Fang, Senior Director of Product Planning at Honor.

The AI Eraser is similar and leverages Imagens inpainting capabilities. Pick an unwanted object in a scene and a few taps later, it will be gone  its place filled in with contextually appropriate content.

Users already have access to these features with phones like the Honor 400 Lite, which launched in Europe last week. It supports AI Outpainting, AI Eraser and AI Upscale. Democratizing AI is at the core of our mission, said Eric Fang.

Honor will continue collaborating with Google Cloud on developing new AI-powered features  these are only the first steps. The company is working on adding a video generation feature using Googles Veo model, for example.

Eric Fang, Senior Director of Product Planning, Honor, at a panel discussion Google Cloud Next 2025

Next month, new Honor devices will arrive that will boost productivity with features based on Google Gemini. Honor will continue to co-develop AI features with Google, including not just cloud-powered but on-device functions as well.

Source

Honor 400 Lite
Nvidia announced it will incur $5.5 billion in charges after the US government restricted exports of its H20 AI chips to China. The American company experienced a drop in shares, similar to AMD, which is also facing difficulties from the same embargo regarding its MI308 chip.

The US Commerce Department is "committed to acting on the President's directive to safeguard our national and economic security," stated a spokesperson for the department that oversees US export controls.

The H20 the AI chip in Nvidia's portfolio, designed for clients in China, where the AI industry is booming. Companies that have increased their orders for the H20 include Tencent, Alibaba, and ByteDance, all major Chinese conglomerates.

Nvidia H20 is less powerful than certain other chips intended for markets outside China, as it is mainly focused on inference, which pertains to the speed at which AI models provide responses. Nvidia has already adjusted the chip architecture in response to the bans and restrictions imposed by the previous Biden administration, but it seems this effort no longer matters.

Jensen Huang, Nvidia CEO

The US Government indicated a risk regarding the use of H20 in supercomputers. Although the chip has reduced computing power, connecting multiple memory chips could still achieve high speeds. A nonpartisan think tank in Washington, D.C. reported that Tencent has already deployed H20 chips to train its model, which could circumvent the export ban and primarily benefit Chinese companies.

Nvidia stated on Tuesday that the government notified the company that the H20 chip would need a license for export, followed by a clarification a few days later that those regulations would be in effect indefinitely.

Nvidia stated that the $5.5 billion charge relates to H2O products for inventory, purchase commitments, and associated reserves.

Reuters noted that this news followed the company's announcement of a commitment to build AI servers valued at $500 billion in the United States over the next four years, aligning with the Trump administration's push for local manufacturing.

Source | Via
While a bill aiming to expand food access for Guams elderly, disabled, and homeless residents through the federally authorized Restaurant Meals Program, RMP, drew broad support during a public hearing Tuesday, concerns over costs, regulatory delays, and federal compliance may slow its rollout.

Introduced by Sen. Shelly Calvo, Bill No. 78-38also called the Meals for At-Risk Households Act of 2025would allow qualifying Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP, recipients to purchase hot, prepared meals at certified local restaurants.

This program is designed to feed our most vulnerableour manamko, our individuals with disabilities, and our homeless, Calvo said. Were not just talking about food security, were talking about dignity.

Department of Public Health and Social Services Director Theresa Arriola voiced her agencys support for the measure but said implementation would require significant investment and planning.

Arriola projected a $400,000 price tag for the first year, including $70,000 for EBT system upgrades and monthly operational costs ranging from $2,500 to $30,000, depending on card volume. She said DPHSS would need to hire three new employees and estimated that full implementation would take 12 to 16 monthsfar longer than the bills proposed six- to nine-month timeline.

Arriola said no additional SNAP funds would be provided through the program, and beneficiaries would need to budget carefully.

If Im already getting $500, the use of their SNAP card will decrease whether they use it at the grocery side or the hot food or a restaurant, she said. So we want to make sure that education is really, really out there... because, as you know, when you eat out, sometimes it costs more than preparing food.

According to DPHSS data, 5,398 individuals on Guam would qualify under the program:

Elderly only: 3,352

Elderly with spouse: 1,275

Disabled only: 401

Disabled with spouse: 33

Homeless only: 311

Homeless with spouse: 26

These figures highlight the significant potential impact of the RMP expansion, as a substantial portion of our community could benefit from improving access to meals, Arriola said.

Lawmakers also flagged financial and bureaucratic challenges, estimating that total costs could reach $1 million. Administrative requirements, USDA Food and Nutrition Service approval, and onboarding of restaurants add additional hurdles.

So youre looking at a program that could cost close to a million dollars, Sen. Telo Taitague said. And thats probably why the other states were unable to move forward on this.

She raised concerns about delays tied to federal processes.

Theres just quite a bit of red tape thats going to be happening in this, she added. And thats probably why you mentioned that its going to take a while to implement... you will be under the microscope when it comes to this.

Despite those challenges, Calvo reaffirmed her goal to bring the bill to the May legislative session and stressed the need for community collaboration.

I am committed to seeing this bill through and pushing for its inclusion in the May session. Its going to take collaboration. Its going to take input from our community, our stakeholders, and our restaurants, she said.

She compared the initiative to the Elderly Nutrition Programs Meals on Wheels, which serves about 3,000 seniors on Guam daily.

Lawmakers suggested redirecting leftover funds from a $5 million fiscal year 2022 allocation to jumpstart the program.

If were able to help the university, and we were able to find $5.7 million, why cant we find money for this? Calvo said. If we are truly motivated to roll this out, it will happen. We will make it happen.

Support for the bill extended into the business sector. Dena Rendon Pangilinan, president of the Guam Womens Chamber of Commerce, supported its economic potential.

This bill not only enhances access to food for vulnerable residents... but also opens the doors for Guams food service sector, particularly small local women-owned and family-run restaurants, Pangilinan said. The Guam Womens Chamber of Commerce believes this bill is more than a social safety net. Its an economic catalyst. It reflects a commitment to smart policy rooted in compassion, dignity and opportunity.

Carol Hinkle Sanchez, managing attorney at the Civil Law Center of the Public Defender Service Corporation, said the bill addresses the needs of clients who struggle to access meals despite qualifying for assistance.

This particular bill is an opportunity for our office to advocate on their behalf, because we deal with them every day, she said. Our office represents the most vulnerable in our community, which includes our elders, the disabled, at-risk veterans for homelessness, as well as victims of violence, which is family violence, sexual abuse and stalking.

Sanchez clarified the bills narrow scope.

This bill isnt meant or designed for every person receiving SNAP, she said. Its very limited in what it is for... Its meant to allow individuals, these individuals who are vulnerable, to access food that they can actually eat.

She reminded lawmakers that the restaurant meal program is not new.

Its been in effect since 1977, she said.

Samantha Taitano, representing the Guam Homeless Coalition, testified that the bill addresses a persistent barrier faced by unsheltered individuals.

This bill has the potential to remove a really critical barrier experienced by many of the people that we serve, Taitano said. The inability to prepare, store, or cook food  even when SNAP benefits are available.
A 17-year-old girl faces adult felony charges in connection with a break-in at D.L. Perez Elementary School in Yigo a week ago.

Triniva Breani San Nicolas was charged with conspiracy to commit burglary as a second-degree felony, according to a magistrate's complaint filed Tuesday in the Superior Court of Guam.

She was ordered held on $3,000 cash bail.

According to the complaint, police were called to the school on the morning of April 10 in response to a break-in. Police found three classrooms that had been rummaged through with items scattered on the ground. The windows of two classrooms had been broken and looked to be points of entry, according to the complaint. School officials estimated the damages at $690.

Just before noon that same day, school staff contacted police and said that a 12-year-old student had confessed to breaking into the school the previous evening. She told police that she and four others, including San Nicolas, came up with a plan to break into the school together.

They discussed the plan on April 9 and carried it out around midnight April 10, according to the complaint.

The court document states that a 15-year-old boy used a crowbar to break the windows, and San Nicolas entered and unlocked the door to let the others inside. The 12-year-old told police that San Nicolas took $32 and an unknown amount of coins as well as snacks, while inside the classrooms.

The 12-year-old identified the other participants as a relative of one of the suspects as well as an 11-year-old student at the school.

Interviews with the other suspects largely corroborated the 12-year-old's story, including an interview with San Nicolas, who voluntarily contacted police to provide her account, stated the complaint.

San Nicolas had asked the children whether security cameras were used at the school, and upon learning they were not, she planned the break-in with them.

She told police that the five participants came away with $50 and several volleyballs, according to the complaint.

San Nicolas was taken into custody around 8:25 p.m. April 11, and was transported to the Department of Youth Affairs.

If she is found guilty, she could face eight years in prison, according to court documents.
Hearings for the government of Guams fiscal year 2026 budget officially began Tuesday, with Guam Community College President Mary Okada presenting a $23.69 million budget request to senators.

The amount for fiscal 2026 reflects an increase of less than $1 million over GCCs fiscal 2025 budget of $22.78 million.

Several senators, including budget chairman Sen. Chris Duenas, praised the college for continuing to open up new training and degree opportunities without raising its costs or getting bad marks on financial audits.

Although we have tried to keep the budget levels low, as demonstrated in prior year budget request, there are two areas that have been increasing over the past couple of years, Okada told senators.

Those areas are medical insurance and retirement contributions, she said.

GCC Board Chairman Carlo Leon Guerrero touted a number of renovation projects the college is on track to complete.

Projects include:

Renovations for Building B, which will house student support services and a computer lab Renovations to the Workforce Development Center.

Renovations to the Culinary Arts and Baking Center.

New generator for Building 2,000.

Solar parking garage and battery storage project, at $2 million.

Okada added that GCC is now up to 12 structures that produce solar energy.

Other accomplishments at the college include the launch of the first cohort of associate degree nursing students, on track to complete their course by this December, Okada said.

The nursing program will help with Guams critical shortage of nurses she said. Another cohort starts in August.

Likewise, GCC is in the process of upgrading to a cloud-based computer management system, which is expected to take 18 months to complete, the president said.

Leon Guerrero also pointed to the Youth Build program, which helps at-risk youth between the ages of 16 and 24 get a General Education Diploma, and get started on a construction apprenticeship.

Enrollment at GCC has stabilized after falling in recent years, Okada told senators.

The number of enrolled students was steadily declining, going from a high of 1,979 in the fall semester of 2019 to 1,533 in the fall semester of 2023, according to the GCC Fact Book.

Senators have until Aug. 31 to pass a fiscal 2026 budget. More budget hearings are lined up, with the University of Guam due before the Legislature on Wednesday.

Gov. Lou Leon Guerreros full budget request for fiscal year 2026 is another record-breaking $1.357 billion, higher than the already record-high $1.308 billion fiscal 2025 budget thats now law.

Of that fiscal 2026 amount, $947.640-plus is available for appropriation.

However, the budget request was sent down in January, before the Trump White House began widespread freezes and cuts to federal spending, layoffs of thousands of federal employees, and the dismantling of U.S. agencies and departments.

Most notable among affected funds is a $125 million in federal American Rescue Plan funding that the Guam Department of Education was counting on to renovate a dozen schools, as well as another $51 million to $54 million reimbursement the schools have seen frozen.

The governor has directed departments and agencies to compile lists of federally funded employees and programs that could be affected by Trump Administration cuts.

Total GovGuam federal funding in fiscal 2026 is projected to top $700.4 million.

GCC did lose out on about $1.6 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency that would have gone toward upgrades to Building 600, which houses classrooms, Okada said Tuesday. The money was never awarded, but GCC got a notification that funds were pulled last week.
The Guam Power Authority said power outages are still possible due to limited capacity, and the agency continues to ask residents to conserve power.

Some residents were without power on Sunday after the Macheche combustion turbine tripped offline due to loss of station power from the substation, GPA said in a statement.

It went offline around 7:18 p.m. Sunday.

GPA said plant personnel continue to make repairs to a shorted underground cable. Repairs to the combustion turbine were completed on Monday and the unit returned to service operating at a limited capacity of 17 megawatts.

GPA did not have rotating outages on Monday.

As of Wednesday, GPA said three power plant units are still operating at limited capacity and one baseload unit remains offline for major engine overhaul.

Power plant status

Baseload unit Piti#8 is still operating at a limited capacity of 38.9 MW.

Baseload unit Piti#9 was taken offline on March 30 for major engine overhaul. The unit is expected to return to service on April 21.

Baseload unit Cabras#1 is operating at limited capacity of 33 MW due to monitoring of boiler operation.

Piti 7 combustion turbine is still operating at a limited capacity of 18 MW due to high exhaust gas temperature.

GPA has stated that when two or more baseload units are offline for emergency repairs or limited in capacity production, it puts the power system in a precarious situation, leaving it vulnerable to some capacity shortages until it bridges the gap with the new Ukudu Power Plant scheduled for commissioning in September.

As of Wednesday, GPA's generation capacity was at 229.6 MW and the estimated peak demand was 240 MW.

GPA said it will shift up to 16 MWh of battery energy storage system and request assistance from the Navy to help with additional capacity during peak hours.

Guam Ukudu Power, GPAs partner for the Ukudu Power Plant, is undergoing testing as part of the plant commissioning process. Testing schedules vary due to planned activities.

GPA continues to ask the community to conserve power during peak hours from 5 to 11 p.m. due to the generation capacity shortfall and until it can get to the full commissioning of the Ukudu Power Plant.

The agency also asks customers to "implement conservation measures such as turning off water heaters and limiting full usage of air conditioning at their homes and offices. Enacting conservation plans reduces the demand for energy and can mitigate the need for outages," the statement said.
Hilton Guam Resort & Spa has announced the appointment of Ho In (Louis) Ryu as executive chef.

In this role, Chef Louis will lead the strategic development of Food & Beverage and oversee all culinary operations of the 646-room resort, including six restaurants and bars, banquets, catering, and meetings services.

The Korean native brings more than 25 years of culinary experience working in resorts and luxury hotels from Korea to Dubai, notably 14 years as executive chef at World Resort in Saipan. Most recently, he served as executive chef at Shilla Monogram Quangnam Danang, a 5-star coastal resort in Vietnam.

Specializing in French cuisine, Chef Louis aims to elevate the culinary vision of Hilton Guam Resort & Spa to new heights with an approach enriched by premium food quality and outstanding food service. His international expertise, accented by regional influence, is key in delivering memorable dining experiences that balance traditional and modern fare.

I am very happy to join Hilton Guam Resort & Spa and I am excited to plan new experiences with excellent ingredients, flavors, and service for all our guests, said Chef Louis.

Beyond his culinary expertise, Chef Louis demonstrates an unwavering commitment to health and safety, food hygiene, and kitchen cleanliness, solidifying his reputation for excellence. Chef Louis is a graduate of Hanlymm College.

Chef Louis brings an impressive talent to our team. His diverse culinary skills will enhance the dining experience here at Hilton Guam Resort & Spa and further our mission to make The Resort a welcoming space for all, said Hiroki Sugie, general manager for Hilton Guam Resort & Spa.

Hilton welcomes back Chef Eddie Chien

Chef Eddie Chien has rejoined the resorts culinary team as sous chef.

Renowned for his love of uniting food with multi-sensory experiences, Chef Eddie bolsters the team with over 25 years of culinary experience, having independently owned and operated restaurants as well as having served as Chef de Cuisine for Roys Restaurant more than 20 years ago.

He is a graduate of the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco.
Arguments that a former Guam Police Department officer was acting in self-defense when he shot his gun at a moving vehicle last summer, in violation of GPD protocol, were not enough to win the officer his job back on Tuesday.

The Civil Service Commission voted without dissent on Tuesday to uphold the firing of former GPD officer Joseph Gabutin Jr.

Commissioner Francisco Guerrero, who had not reviewed video evidence in the case, was excused from the vote.

Gabutins firing relates to a reported burglary of HyRule Market in Mangilao that led to a shootout with GPD last summer.

A trio of defendants facing felony charges in the June 23, 2024, incident reportedly tried to evade police after the burglary, Pacific Daily News files show.

One defendant is accused of firing on officers while fleeing, though no one was injured by gunshots.

Former officer Gabutin was terminated by GPD for leaving his post at the Central Precinct Command last summer to respond to the incident, and then shooting his gun at suspects fleeing the scene in a vehicle.

Shooting at a moving vehicle is a violation of GPDs general order on the use of force, because it is rarely effective and hazardous to bystanders, according to the firing notice for Gabutin, which took effect Sept. 10.

Gabutin was not assigned to field duty at the time of the incident because of a work-related injury. He responded to the call in his personal vehicle, and did not report discharging his gun after the incident, according to evidence presented Tuesday.

Attorneys for GPD and Gabutin gave their closing arguments to the Civil Service Commission on Tuesday morning.

Gabutin would likely be considered for an award if he had acted similarly while serving in the military, Assistant Attorney General Jay Matthew Strader, for GPD, told commissioners.

But he was in a residential neighborhood, not a battlefield, at the time of the shooting, Strader said.

He exhibited exemplary bravery. But service in the Guam Police Department differs, and differs materially, from service in the military, Strader said.

Any civilians standing by and watching the incident could have been injured, Strader said.

Gabutin likewise hid the fact that he fired his gun in an incident report, in violation of GPD rules that require him to report the use of force within 24 hours.

Self-defense

But Attorney Peter Santos, for Gabutin, argued that the former officer was acting in self-defense at the time of the shooting, because a suspect vehicle involved veered onto the shoulder of the road, and sped toward Gabutin.

Though shooting at a moving vehicle was a violation of a GPD general order, nothing could take away the former officers right to defend himself, Santos told commissioners.

Santos likewise argued that Gabutin was not ordered to desk watch at the time of the incident.

Notably, GPD did not include failure to disclose the discharge of Gabutins weapon as a reason for firing him in termination documents, Santos told the commission.

Because of that technical fault, the termination could not stand on arguments that Gabutin did not report the use of his weapon, the attorney argued.

He failed to report and he owned up to it later. He was in shock. He suppressed it. Is that something that you cant recover from? Santos said.

There were other disciplinary actions that could have been taken, and Gabutin had no history of disciplinary action prior to the shooting.

If anyone in our community deserves a second chance. Its a person like Joseph Gabutin, Santos told the commission.

Commissioners were not persuaded.

CSC Chairman Juan Calvo noted that the Gabutin chose to put himself in harms way during the 2024 incident, in violation of orders.

He ignored the protocol system, the management policy that he should not be doing that when hes not supposed to be, Calvo said.

Failure to report the discharge of Gabutins firearm was also a major concern, Calvo said.

For Mr. Gabutin to do that, to be dishonest to the chief and, under his own admission, confess that he did not disclose the truth and be honest  honesty is the highest in the law enforcement, the CSC chairman said.

Falsifying any record, in any career path, was a serious matter, CSC Vice Chairman Anthony Benavente added.

Once that bullet leaves the chambers, you cant bring it back. And it only stops when you hit something and you dont know what its going to hit, Benavente said.

Disappointed

After the decision, attorney Santos said that his client was disappointed in the outcome, but glad to be able to share his side of the story.

Santos said he believed his client had a strong case for appeal, given that GPD failed to charge him for not disclosing the use of force. The attorney also believed CSC Commissioner Rose Ayuyu Morales should have recused herself from the vote, because she did not hear all the evidence in the case.

However, Gabutin was inclined to just move on, Santos said. Any appeal was a personal decision, he said.

Santos noted that the former officer did not leave his post on the evening of June 23, 2024, to visit his girlfriend, or to go buy beer.

He left because his brothers and sisters were getting shot at, Santos said.
The search for missing boater Jeffery Hattori entered day 5 on Wednesday with the Coast Guard, in collaboration with Guam Fire Rescue, the Navy, and local partners continuing their efforts to find him.

Hattori remains missing west of Guam.

Were exercising every possibility, asking all the what ifs, and leaving no stone unturned in our search for Mr. Hattori. Our dedication to this community and region drives us, but we face the stark reality of the danger in the vast and remote waters we operate in. Were deeply grateful for the tireless support of Guam Fire Rescue, the U.S. Navy, and local partners as we work to bring answers to Mr. Hattoris family, Lt. Chelsea Garcia, search and rescue mission coordinator, said about the exhaustive efforts.

As the search extends into its fifth day, the U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guams Joint Rescue Sub-Center watch is carefully evaluating all possible scenarios to maximize coverage.

USCGC Oliver Henry (WPC 1140) and U.S. Navy Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25s Knighthawk crews are searching west of Guam.

They were joined by a U.S. Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules from Air Station Barbers Point, Hawaii, on Wednesday afternoon.

Watchstanders at JRSC are leveraging every lead to guide efforts.

Four self-locating datum marker buoys, dropped by search crews, are actively transmitting data, enhancing Search and Rescue Optimal Planning System drift predictions to refine the search for the Lady G in the dynamic waters west of Guam.

Responders saturated fishing areas west-northwest of Guam while shoreside teams from the U.S. Coast Guard and Guam Fire Rescue searched marinas and lookouts for any trace of the skiff.

Crews aboard a U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon aircraft from Commander Task Force 72 and the HSC-25 Knighthawk conducted multiple sorties.

USCGC Oliver Henry searched through day and night.

Station Apra Harbors 45-foot Response Boat-Medium and Guam Fire boat crews continued surface searches on April 15. All search legs were completed without any sightings of debris consistent with Hattoris vessel.

Hattori departed Hagatna Boat Basin at 5:30 a.m. April 12 and was expected back by 4 p.m. that day.

The Lady G is a 14-foot skiff (GU 325 PU) with a single outboard, white with a blue Bimini top.

We thank CTF-72 for giving us an aircraft for three days and Guam Fire for their efforts. The search area, based on projected drift, is now far enough offshore that it no longer makes sense to employ our small boats, said Garcia.

Current weather includes east winds at 15 knots and seas of 5 to 7 feet. Conditions with higher winds and seas are expected to deteriorate through the week, though no watches or warnings are in effect.

Anyone with information about Hattori or his vessel is urged to contact JRSC Guam at 671-355-4826 or 1-877-418-0168.
The Superior Court of Guam grand jury handed down indictments late Tuesday night charging officials at the Guam Office of Civil Defense with multiple charges related to official misconduct.

Marie Elizabeth T. Quenga, in her capacity as certifying officer at the Office of Civil Defense, was charged with tampering with public records as a third-degree felony.

She was also charged with certifying officer malfeasance and official misconduct, both as misdemeanors.

Each of the three charges also comes with a special allegation of committing a crime against the community.

Other officials were also indicted, charged with misdemeanor offenses:

Patrick T. Leon Guerrero  Certifying officer, charged with malfeasance and official misconduct, each charge also carrying a special allegation of committing a crime against the community.

Joel R. Valenzuela  Certifying officer, malfeasance and official misconduct, each charge also carrying a special allegation of a crime against the community.

Michael U. Taijeron  Certifying officer, malfeasance and official misconduct, each charge also carrying a special allegation of a crime against the community.

Charles V. Esteves  Certifying officer, malfeasance and two counts of official misconduct, each charge also carrying a special allegation of a crime against the community.

All of the above were listed as certifying officers of the Office of Civil Defense.

Esteves was appointed OCD administrator in 2015.

Gov. Lou Leon Guerreros office was reviewing the charges, according to spokesperson Krystal Paco-San Agustin.

Adelup will take appropriate action as necessary to ensure appropriate monitoring and supervision during pendency of the action, she wrote. GHS/OCD operations will continue uninterrupted and the agency will remain responsive to the needs of the government and our people.

Sen. Shawn Gumataotao, who has oversight of OCD, in a statement said people are innocent until proven guilty.

This development is yet another example of the erosion of credibility of the government of Guam with our federal partners. We must do better in all of our respective roles. I ask the Office of the Governor of Guam to intervene and ensure that federal funds to our key emergency management agency are not further compromised, he said.

Attorney General Douglas Moylan said the indictments arose from two reports issued by the Office of Public Accountability, in June and December 2024. Those audit reports were prompted by a hotline tip received by Public Auditor Benjamin J.F. Cruz.

Following the tip, the OPA initiated an audit that needed to be released in two parts, because of delays in receiving, or lack of, requested documents.

The first report, released in June 2024, stated that between fiscal years 2018 and 2023, $8.4 million in federal reimbursements were not received by the General Fund because of grant restrictions due to repeated noncompliance with federal guidelines and regulations.

The report states that although GHS/OCD management and their certifying officers were aware of restrictions placed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the office claimed 100% federal funding for its operations, resulting in GovGuam expenditures that were not appropriated to GHS/OCD, or otherwise authorized by the Guam Legislature.

The initial findings, despite delays in responses to the OPA and limited access to GHS/OCD records, showed that GHS/OCD owed $8.4 million to the General Fund, which had been paying for operating costs.

The unaddressed repeat findings and causes resulted in the freezing of federal reimbursements. The freeze indicates how risky it is for the federal government to continue to invest in GHS/OCD. Despite this, the General Fund continues to support GHS/OCDs mission, stated the audit.

In part two of the OPA report, GHS/OCD was found non-compliant with federal and local laws, Department of Administration personnel rules and regulations, and Bureau of Budget Management and Research standards regarding overtime pay.

The report said that between 2018 to 2023, fraud risk was heightened with no standard operating procedures, and by allowing one employee to have authority, custody and accounting of federal grant expenditures.

It resulted in $2.9 million in questionable overtime costs, said the report. Overtime and overtime work was unauthorized, and overtime plans were missing and approved in untimely fashion.

The report said that of the 94 payroll samples with overtime payments, 69 of them, or 73%, were missing timesheets. Overtime work for four employees timesheets was not authorized by the supervisor, and two of the four timesheets contained supervisor signatures that did not match the signature specimens submitted to DOA. Additionally, overtime work was not allowed by the grants charged for two employees, yet payment was certified by the certifying officer through signing timesheets.

On Wednesday, Moylan encouraged the public, especially government employees, to report information about overtime payments at the Office of Civil Defense to the AGs office. He said those reports can be submitted confidentially.

Moylan said that certifying officers of the government are paid to only sign expenses that are authorized, and said that if there are any questions, to seek a written AGs opinion on the matter before signing.

He said a summons was issued for those indicted, and is scheduled for 2 p.m. May 1, 2025, in front of Magistrate Judge Sean Brown.
When the 37th Guam Legislature debated legalizing consumer-grade fireworks in 2023, proponents argued in favor of family fun and personal freedom.

Then- Sen. Dwayne San Nicolas, who authored the legislation, said hed long wanted to make fireworks legal, and that he was chasing a childhood dream as if it was the last bus of the night.

Safety concerns were raised by the Guam Fire Department  the entity that would ultimately be responsible for drafting rules and regulations for consumer fireworks  as well as Guam Environmental Protection Agency, the Guam Department of Agriculture and the Mayors Council of Guam.

After the measure was passed, Sen. Telo Taitague described the fireworks bill as the most senseless, unsafe piece of legislation the 37th Guam Legislature had entertained.

Fortunately for Guam, consumer-grade fireworks have remained illegal because the rules and regulations being drafted by the fire department are still pending. The slow pace of bureaucracy has helped keep the island somewhat safer until the 2023 legislation can be repealed.

This week, senators heard testimony on a bill authored by Taitague that would undo the fireworks legislation in its entirety.

It is a sensible move.

While fireworks certainly can be used safely and responsibly, they often are not. Law enforcement officers cant control the illegal fireworks we see during major holidays and minor celebrations, and the importation of more fireworks wont make us safer.

Firefighting agencies have noted that readily available and legal fireworks would lead to more wildfires, which threaten property, health and the environment.

Fireworks have to be stored and handled properly, or accidents can result. On New Years Eve in Honolulu, crates of illegal fireworks ignited, killing six people. Some of the injured had to be sent to a burn center in the mainland U.S. because the Honolulu unit had reached capacity, according to the Associated Press.

In the wake of the tragedy, the Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement was seeking $5.2 million to hire people and purchase forensic equipment to combat fireworks smuggling, AP reported.

On Guam, we have our hands full trying to combat methamphetamine smuggling. We cant control stray dogs, feral pigs or illegal dumping. Our hospital facilities are not comparable to Honolulus, which were overwhelmed by the fireworks explosion. More than a year after legalizing consumer fireworks, we havent been able to draft rules governing how the fireworks should be bought, sold or stored.

It is doubtful we would be able to enforce those rules once they are written and approved.

Guam doesnt need consumer-grade fireworks.

We urge senators to support Bill 20-38.




Haiti - Economy : War budget, more impressive in words than in practice





The Ministry of Economy and Finance informs that the Council of Ministers adopted the amended budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year earlier this week in an exceptionally difficult economic and security context.



This budget, totaling 323.451 billion gourdes (initial projection: 323.445 billion gourdes), was designed to respond to national emergencies while supporting economic recovery. It is balanced, without recourse to advances from the Bank of the Republic of Haiti (BRH) and financed to the tune of 217.5 billion gourdes by resources to be collected by the tax and customs administrations. The remainder will be financed by external partners to the tune of 76.9 billion gourdes (budget support and project aid). 37.9 billion, including borrowings (5.6 billion), treasury bills (25 billion), and other internal project financing (7.2 billion).



The draft budget is structured around five strategic priorities for the Government :



 Strengthening public and national security;

 Economic recovery, infrastructure rehabilitation, and food and health security;

 The national conference and constitutional reform;

 Restoring the rule of law and justice;

 Organizing elections.



Security remains the top priority :, with an 11.8% increase in the budget allocated to institutions directly involved in this area.



Haiti National Police (PNH) :

Initial projection for 2024-2025 : 29.985 billion gourdes; Corrected projection 2025-2025 : 32.935 billion

Variation : 2.950 billion, or 9.8%.



Haiti Armed Forces (FAd'H) :

Initial projection 2024-2025 : 6.976 billion gourdes;

Corrected projection 2025-2025 : 8.376 billion

Variation : 1.400 billion, or 20.1%.



TOTAL :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44578-haiti-flash-billions-of-gourdes-allocated-for-the-pnh-and-the-fad-h.html

Initial projection 2024-2025 : 36.961 billion gourdes;

2025-2025 Revised Projection : 41.311 billion;

New funds : 4.350 billion, or 11.8%.



Other sectors also benefit from substantial increases :



 Education : 4.6 billion gourdes (10.9%);

 Social Affairs : 4.6 billion (25%)

 Defense : 1.6 billion (20.3%);

 Justice : 2.3 billion (6.2%)



Regarding elections, USD 60 million is already available in the Basket Fund (Trust Fund), and additional resources will be mobilized in due course.



The revised budget also proposes measures to support growth and national production, such as:



 Increasing excise duties on certain products;

 The extension to 10 years of the tax exemption period for companies investing in Haiti;

 The raising of the threshold for public procurement.



Finally, the Amended Budget provides for the establishment of new administrative structures, including the CNSD (National Security and Defense Council) and the ANS (National Security Agency) upon its final approval.



The Ministry reaffirms the Government's commitment to strengthening budgetary discipline, supporting key sectors of recovery, and preserving macroeconomic stability in the interest of the Nation.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44578-haiti-flash-billions-of-gourdes-allocated-for-the-pnh-and-the-fad-h.html



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Immigration : Charter flights from Haiti cause controversy in Chile





Since the beginning of 2025, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aeronautics (DGAC), at least 12 charter flights from Haiti have been recorded, operated by Galistair and Aruba Airlines. Each flight carried between 150 and 200 people, for an estimated total of 1,800 to 2,400 migrants.



These flights have sparked political controversy, as no similar trips from Haiti were recorded in 2023 or 2024. The Internal Government Commission of the Chamber of Deputies examined the massive arrival of Haitians on these charter flights earlier this week, raising concerns among legislators from various sectors, who demanded an explanation from the government.



Security Minister Luis Cordero addressed the issue, stating that "the charter flights from Haiti, as reported by the Ministry of the Interior, correspond to people holding family reunification visas" requested and obtained in Haiti. He specified that the majority of the beneficiaries were children and adolescents whose parents reside permanently in Chile.



Among the questions, the Commission requested information on the funding of these flights and whether there were any irregularities in the family reunification process.



Interior Minister Alvaro Elizalde explained that these entries are covered by the Immigration Law, which authorizes family reunification visas for minors and dependent elderly persons.



Similarly, Elizalde responded, "I find it inappropriate that the official figures provided to the Commission, which correspond to the files submitted by the Chilean Investigative Police, are being questioned," " after a member of parliament questioned the figures, claiming that the number of Haitians arriving in Chile was higher.



S/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





The Haitian Episcopal Conference calls the management of the CPT a failure

The Haitian Episcopal Conference (CEH) has called the management of the Presidential Transition Council (CPT) a failure. Father Marc-Henry Simeon, spokesperson for the CEH, considered Haiti's leadership to be bleak on the eve of the first anniversary of the CPT's appointment (April 25).



Masonry Training

Viva Rio Haiti, with financial support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), has launched masonry training sessions, including basic plumbing and electrical skills, for the beneficiaries of Canaan II and Ti Ginen. The objective of this training is to strengthen the technical skills of participants to provide them with better opportunities for professional integration.



Storm TV set on fire

During the night of Monday, April 14 to Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Delmas 19, heavily armed individuals set fire to the premises of the Storm TV television station, as well as several vehicles parked near the station.







Recourse available for uncertified magistrates

The Collective of Lawyers for the Defense of Human Rights applauds the decision of the High Council of the Judiciary (CSPJ) to establish a recourse for uncertified magistrates.



PNH : Specialized capacity-building training

Highly motivated and determined, police officers are undergoing specialized capacity-building training. These officers will join the Departmental Law Enforcement Unit (UDMO) to continue the fight against crime in the country.







HL/ HaitiLibre


















The National Bureau of Investigations human trafficking unit has concluded its investigation into the case, which involved a total of 16 victims and offences committed between 2019 and 2024. The suspected offences took place in Espoo and Kirkkonummi, with a total of 15 individuals under suspicion.

A man is suspected of luring women to Finland with false promises of marriage, residency permits, and employment before subjecting them to sexual and labour exploitation, police have confirmed.

The primary suspect is a 44-year-old man who, according to police, contacted women abroad using social media platforms such as Tinder and Facebook. He presented himself as a wealthy businessman in search of a long-term relationship.

He promised women marriage, family life, employment in his company and residency in Finland, said Detective Chief Inspector Hannu Kortelainen in a statement.

The man reportedly sent potential victims a list of requirements for a partner, detailing expectations regarding appearance, domestic responsibilities, and knowledge of Finnish culture.

Police allege the suspect exploited the women both sexually and economically. Victims, mainly from African and South American countries, were coerced into performing sexual acts, some of which were filmed by the suspect and his acquaintances.

The man is suspected of using employment contracts and residency applications to exert control over the women. In some cases, contracts were also drawn up for the victims relatives. He is also alleged to have created debt obligations related to travel and accommodation costs, deepening the victims' dependence on him.

He manipulated the victims into a position of subordination using economic and legal pressures, said Kortelainen.

Police believe the man operated residential construction businesses in Espoo despite being under a business ban until 2021. He is also suspected of fraudulently claiming tens of thousands of euros in unemployment benefits during this time.

The criminal investigation includes charges of four counts of aggravated human trafficking, ten counts of human trafficking, and a number of sexual and financial crimes.

International cooperation was required to investigate other suspects linked to the case. According to police, authorities in several European countries provided assistance.

The main suspect has a criminal history. He was sentenced in 2016 by the Oulu District Court to over two years in prison and banned from business operations for five years due to offences linked to two construction firms. He was also previously convicted of drink-driving in 2005.

The case will now be referred to prosecutors.

HT
The suspects, described as professional thieves from Eastern Europe, have been seen working in groups in popular sites such as Market Square, Uspenski Cathedral and Alexanterinkatu, a busy shopping street in the city centre.

Helsinki Police have warned that organised pickpocketing teams have begun operating in central tourist areas as the summer travel season gets underway.

Police Inspector Hanna Kiiskinen said the offenders typically work in coordinated teams to distract their victims.

One thief may bump into the tourist while another removes valuables such as wallets or smartphones, said Kiiskinen. The thefts happen quickly and often in daylight.

Though the incidents are not typically violent, police say the criminals are experienced and efficient. The aim is to avoid confrontation and escape before the victim notices the loss.

Police patrols are now focusing on key locations that attract high tourist footfall. Officers have already detained several suspects this spring. All are believed to be from outside Finland, with authorities noting their country of origin as being in Eastern Europe.

According to police, the suspects are usually deported under Finlands Aliens Act, which permits removal if a person is judged to threaten public order or safety.

Pickpocketing incidents also tend to rise during winter tourist events such as Helsinkis Christmas Market, marking what police describe as a seasonal trend in street-level crime.

Authorities advise visitors to keep valuables secure and remain alert in crowded areas.

HT
Local newspaper Turun Sanomat reported that the man had left Finland several months ago to join the Ukrainian military. He was reportedly killed in action on Sunday 13 April in eastern Ukraine.

A 20-year-old Finnish man from Turku has been killed in eastern Ukraine while fighting as a volunteer with Ukrainian forces. The case marks the latest known fatality among Finnish citizens who have joined Ukraines defence against Russias full-scale invasion.

Finlands Ministry for Foreign Affairs has confirmed that a Finnish citizen either died or went missing in the region on the same day. The ministry declined to provide further details but stated that Finnish officials are in contact with Ukrainian authorities regarding the case.

Jussi Tanner, Director General of the Ministrys Consular Services Department, told Yle that Finland does not systematically track the movements of its citizens abroad. He noted that the ministry is aware of more than a dozen Finnish nationals who have either died or gone missing while fighting in Ukraine since the war began.

The exact number is not known, as we do not monitor the travel of Finns abroad with such accuracy, Tanner said.

In January, the ministry estimated that around 150 Finnish citizens had volunteered to join Ukraines forces since the beginning of Russias full-scale invasion in February 2022.

The death of the Turku man follows other publicly known cases involving Finnish nationals. These include the death of a man known as "Sipa" in November 2023, the killing of Ville Mykkanen, a former Centre Party politician, in the summer of the same year, and the earlier death of Kasper Alhoniemi, the first confirmed Finnish fatality in the conflict.

Similar incidents involving international volunteers have been reported in recent months. In January, media reported the deaths of Kakha Tilidze from Georgia, Edgars Platonovs from Latvia, and Richard S. from Austria. That same month, 19-year-old Filip Antosiak, a Polish national who had left his studies in the United Kingdom to join a drone strike unit, was killed near Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast. On 9 April, a Lithuanian volunteer was also confirmed dead while fighting for Ukraine.

The Finnish government has not placed legal restrictions on its citizens volunteering in foreign armed forces, but it maintains consular contact where possible. In cases involving fatalities or disappearances, the ministrys role is limited to communication and support through diplomatic channels.

HT
Commissioners demand a second look at gated community on Sugarloaf Road

Engineers drawing shows site plan for Cottages at Sugarloaf Meadows at 1936 Sugarloaf Road. Commissioners expressed misgivings about the two closest to the road (left) and asked the developer to move or eliminate those lots.

A developer who wants to build a gated community of 50 homes on Sugarloaf Road was expected to come back before the Board of Commissioners this week with possible changes to the plans to address concerns commissioners raised in a hearing last week.

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The developer of the Cottages at Sugarloaf Meadow is seeking a conditional-use zoning to build the subdivision on 31 acres that would also include pickleball courts, a dog park, playground and restrooms in a recreation area.

After evaluations by the countys technical review committee and the planning board, the advisory groups recommended conditions that would include lighting mitigation, septic system approval, limiting hours of the recreational amenities from dawn to dusk and requiring homebuyers to sign a statement acknowledging that their lots are next to active farmland.

County commissioners want to go further, raising questions last week about two homes close to Sugarloaf Road, the proximity of septic tanks to homes, the length of the driveways and the price of the homes. The board was scheduled to resume discussion of the rezoning application during its regular mid-month meeting on Wednesday.

Its unclear exactly what the price point would be for the homes. In their initial application, developer Rick Moore and engineer Tyler Wagner submitted a site plan showing 2,500-square-foot two-story, three bedroom homes. At the Board of Commissioners hearing last Monday night, Wagner reduced that projected size to 1,500 to 1,800 square feet and declared: It could definitely be workforce housing. Its really kind of aimed toward working class.

Noting that the developers had purchased the land for $1,025,000 last September, Commissioner Michael Edney tried to draw from Wagner an idea of the homes price.

Youve got $20,000 (invested) per lot before you even turn a piece of dirt, he said. So when you say workforce housing do you mean for doctors and people like that?

When Edney asked whether the homes could cost a half-million dollars, Wagner responded, Around that.

A lot of folks around here cant afford that, Edney said.

While the developer described the Sugarloaf Road homes as workforce housing, he also said theyd be modeled after the Cottages of Byron Forest (above), where homes sell for $650,000 to $780,000.

The developers also have said the Cottages at Sugarloaf Meadows would be modeled after the Cottages of Byron Forest, a new subdivision they recently completed off Banner Farm Road in Horse Shoe. Recent closing prices in Byron Forest include $664,200 for a 1,706-square-foot home, $753,200 for a 2,423-square-foot home and $719,800 for a 1,980-square-foot home.

Surrounding residential development on Sugarloaf is more geared toward workforce housing, Commissioner Rebecca McCall said, so if it wasnt, it's gonna stick out and look odd,



Homes close to road present a serious hazard



Board of Commissioners Chair Bill Lapsley, a retired civil engineer, expressed misgivings about the two homes in the subdivision closest to Sugarloaf Road.

Sugarloaf Road is a main thoroughfare. I think this presents a very dangerous situation, he said. Thats not acceptable to me. I believe those two units present a serious hazard. All we need is a car or truck to lose control and theyll be in their bedroom or their kitchen. I would ask the applicant to consider deleting those two units.

The site plan showed that at four of the units youve got the drain field basically right up against the unit, Lapsley said. I would submit to you that those lots may not get permitted with the drain fields that close to the building.

Commissioners also wanted to ensure that homebuyers would know about the adjoining farmland. To achieve that, a proposed condition would require the developer to record on each lot an agricultural awareness statement notifying buyers of the close proximity to working agricultural lands and Voluntary Agricultural Districts.
LANZHOU, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Unlike most first-time foreign tourists to China, who flock to popular destinations like Beijing, Shanghai, or Guangzhou, Zachary Iziah Smith took a different path by exploring the vast and historic landscapes of Gansu Province in northwest China. "I want to record and showcase the transformation along the ancient Silk Road through my lens," said the 32-year-old American travel blogger. From the local Sanpaotai (covered-bowl tea) to the strikingly colorful Danxia landforms, the unique charm of the Hexi Corridor made Smith's first visit to China an experience filled with vivid impressions. Smith was among approximately 140 guests from over 20 countries and regions who attended the 2025 Gansu Silk Road International Tourism Conference held last week. They included officials from international tourism organizations, representatives from travel agencies and social media influencers. Participants explored the cultural and natural splendor of the Hexi Corridor, a key artery of the ancient Silk Road, which continues to inspire the development of Silk Road tourism today. Malaysian travel blogger Pavithra Ramadas immersed herself in traditional Chinese culture by trying hand-pulled noodles, dressing in Hanfu (traditional Chinese attire), and visiting the famed Mogao Grottoes. "Silk Road travel has delivered countless surprises to me," she said. Her real-time updates on social media sparked enthusiastic responses from her followers. Thanks to expanded visa-free policies, China has experienced a travel boom, with a surge in international visitors exploring both iconic landmarks and lesser-known destinations across the country. China has established comprehensive mutual visa exemptions with 25 countries, implemented unilateral visa-free policies for 38 countries, and extended the transit visa-free period to 240 hours for travelers from 54 countries. Malaysia has emerged as one of Gansu's most important inbound tourism markets. The visa exemption policy between China and Malaysia has significantly boosted tourism promotion and bilateral exchanges, said Law Wai Hong, chairman of Malaysian Chinese Tourism Association, adding the association will further promote Silk Road-related tourism to allow more travelers to experience its rich historical and cultural charm. "The Silk Road is increasingly becoming a top choice for international travelers seeking a deeper understanding of China," said Xu Peng, vice chairman of the World Tourism Alliance. "The natural scenery and cultural heritage draw a steady flow of international visitors, making the region a core hub for inbound tourism growth." Marcel Leijzer, deputy director of International Development and Cooperation Department, UN Tourism, said that countries and regions along the Silk Road are increasingly recognizing tourism's role in preserving cultural heritage, enhancing regional cohesion, and fostering cross-cultural dialogue. He emphasized the need to strengthen cooperation among countries to advance Silk Road tourism. This year marks the 10th anniversary of China's release of the Vision and Actions on Jointly Building Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road. As Silk Road-themed tourism products and routes continue to evolve, the sector is gaining renewed vitality and growing global appeal. As a key region along the ancient Silk Road, Gansu Province has seen remarkable growth in tourism. Official data shows that the province welcomed 247,900 overseas tourists in 2024, marking a 137 percent year-on-year increase. "These figures underscore the thriving development of Silk Road inbound tourism," said He Xiaozu, director of the Gansu Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, adding that the province will deepen partnerships with global travel agencies to co-develop Silk Road itineraries and boost the global tourism industry.
Donald Trump believes it is up to China, not the United States, to come to the negotiating table on trade, the White House said Tuesday, after the US president accused Beijing of reneging on a major Boeing deal.

"The ball is in China's court. China needs to make a deal with us. We don't have to make a deal with them," said a statement from Trump read out by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt at a briefing.

"There's no difference between China and any other country except they are much larger," she added.

Leavitt's comments came after Trump accused China of going back on a major deal with US aviation giant Boeing -- following a Bloomberg news report that Beijing ordered airlines not to take further deliveries of the company's jets.

The report also said that Beijing requested Chinese carriers to pause purchases of aircraft-related equipment and parts from US firms.

"They just reneged on the big Boeing deal, saying that they will 'not take possession' of fully committed to aircraft," said Trump in a Truth Social post, referring to China.

He did not provide further details on the Boeing agreement he was referring to.

Trump has slapped new tariffs on friend and foe since returning to the presidency this year, but has reserved his heaviest blows for China -- imposing additional 145 percent levies on many Chinese imports.

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen told German weekly Die Zeit that the relationship between the EU and the United States was "complicated," after Trump imposed 10 percent tariffs on the bloc.

Asked about potential negotiations, von der Leyen said Europeans were "setting out our position clearly, and the Americans are doing the same."

Separately, Ottawa on Tuesday offered tariff relief to automakers on condition that they maintain production in Canada, fearing Trump's policies could trigger a flight of the key manufacturing sector to the United States.

Trump took aim at Beijing again on Tuesday, saying on Truth Social that China did not fulfill its commitments under an earlier trade deal. He appeared to be referencing a pact that marked a truce in both sides' escalating tariff war during his first term.

The US president said China bought only "a portion of what they agreed to buy," charging that Beijing had "zero respect" for his predecessor Joe Biden's administration.

Since the start of the year, Trump has imposed steep duties on imports from China, alongside a 10 percent "baseline" tariff on many US trading partners.

His administration recently widened exemptions from these tariffs, excluding certain tech products like smartphones and laptops from the global 10 percent tariff and latest 125 percent levy on China.

Trump also vowed to protect US farmers on Tuesday, noting on social media that they were often "put on the Front Line with our adversaries, such as China," when there were trade tussles.

Many Chinese imports still face the total 145 percent additional tariff, or at least an earlier 20 percent levy that Trump rolled out over China's alleged role in the fentanyl supply chain.

In response, Beijing has introduced counter-tariffs targeting US agricultural goods, and it later retaliated with a sweeping 125 percent levy of its own on imported US products.

China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to AFP queries on the aircraft deliveries, and Boeing has declined to comment on the Bloomberg report.

Boeing shares closed 2.4 percent down on Tuesday.
President Xi Jinping on Wednesday urged greater cooperation with Malaysia in the face of "shocks to the global order", during the Chinese leader's regional tour against the backdrop of a US trade war.

"China and Malaysia will stand with countries in the region to combat the undercurrent of geopolitical and camp-based confrontation, as well as the counter currents of unilateralism, and protectionism," he said.

"And together, we will safeguard the bright prospects of our Asian family," Xi added during a speech in Malaysia's administrative capital Putrajaya.

Xi embarked this week on a Southeast Asia tour that has already taken him to Vietnam and will also include Cambodia, with Beijing trying to position itself as a stable alternative to US President Donald Trump's punitive tariff regime.

Malaysia premier Anwar Ibrahim said China has been "a rational, strong and reliable partner" amid the tariff turbulence.

His nation will "remain an unwavering and principled friend to China", Anwar said as he hosted Xi for dinner at his official residence.

Xi was welcomed to Malaysia by the country's king, Sultan Ibrahim, in a colourful ceremony at the golden-domed palace.

He later held talks with Anwar and witnessed the exchange of 31 cooperation agreements on sectors including emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, media and tourism.

"It's not just about friendship, it's about realigning the regional centre of gravity towards Beijing," said Khoo Ying Hooi from Malaya University.

The visit was a calculated move to "test the waters for regional solidarity at a time when US trade measures are disrupting global markets", said Khoo, an associate professor in the Department of International and Strategic Studies.

Malaysia is this year's chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) regional bloc, whose members have been among the hardest hit by US tariffs.

Malaysia, Southeast Asia's third-largest economy, was hit with a 24 percent tariff.

ASEAN member Vietnam, a manufacturing powerhouse, was slapped with 46 percent tariffs and Cambodia -- a major producer of low-cost clothing for big Western brands -- was hit with a 49 percent duty.

The levies have been paused for 90 days but Trump has said no country is "off the hook".

"Regionally, Xi is likely to frame China as a partner in stability and development, not a hegemon," Khoo told AFP.

"At the same time, his message carries an implicit warning, that is: don't let Washington's tariffs or alliances undermine Asia's own regional cohesion," she said.

Oh Ei Sun, from the Pacific Research Center of Malaysia think tank, said Xi's visit is like "a group of friends huddling together for warmth against harsh weather".

China and Malaysia celebrated their 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations last year and enjoy robust trade ties, although Malaysia claims parts of the South China Sea over which Beijing has staked out near-blanket sovereignty.

China has been Malaysia's largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years. Bilateral trade accounted for 16.8 percent of Malaysia's global trade last year, according to the Malaysian foreign ministry.

Xi will travel on Thursday to Cambodia, one of China's staunchest allies in Southeast Asia and where Beijing has extended its influence in recent years.
Democratic US Senator Chris Van Hollen flew to El Salvador on Wednesday to press for the release of a US resident mistakenly deported to the Central American country.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia remains imprisoned in a notorious jail for terrorists in his native country despite a US federal judge's order, backed by the Supreme Court, for his return to the United States.

Van Hollen said in a video post before taking off that he wanted to show President Donald Trump's administration and El Salvador that Abrego Garcia's supporters would not let up in the campaign for his return.

"I hope to meet with representatives of the government. I hope to have the chance to actually see Kilmar and see what his condition is," said Van Hollen, who represents Maryland, Abrego Garcia's home state.

A legal US resident, Abrego Garcia was protected by a 2019 court order determining that he could not be deported to El Salvador, but he was sent there around a month ago.

The Trump administration has admitted its mistake, and has been ordered by the Supreme Court to "facilitate" his return.

But the administration -- pressed on what action it was taking to remedy its error in lower court hearings -- has not announced any efforts toward Abrego Garcia's return.

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele said during a White House visit on Monday he had no intention of releasing Abrego Garcia, while Trump told reporters he did not have the authority to intervene.

Trump's critics have warned that his defiance of the Supreme Court has placed the country on the cusp of a constitutional crisis.

"This is about due process. This is about rule of law," Van Hollen said.

"What bullies do is they begin by picking on the most vulnerable. But if we get rid of the rule of law and due process in the United States, it's a short road from there to tyranny."

The White House claims that it is complying with the courts and that Abrego Garcia is a gang member. He denies the accusation and has never been charged in either country.

District Judge Paula Xinis said the case against him amounted to "nothing more than his Chicago Bulls hat and hoodie, and a vague, uncorroborated allegation from a confidential informant" of his gang membership.

West Virginia Republican congresswoman Riley Moore posted on X Tuesday that he had also traveled to El Salvador to see the prison where immigrants deported by the Trump administration are being held.

He declared himself supportive of Trump's actions, however.

Van Hollen's fellow Democratic Senator Cory Booker, of New Jersey, is also mulling a trip to the country but has not yet made an announcement on timing and his didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Two Democrats in the House of Representatives -- Maxwell Alejandro Frost of Florida and Robert Garcia of California -- are also planning to visit, according to US media.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was headed Wednesday to Paris for talks on ending the war in Ukraine, his office said.

The State Department said Rubio was traveling with US envoy Steve Witkoff to meet European officials on the goal of stopping the war triggered by Russia's invasion in 2022.

A French diplomatic source said Rubio and France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot would discuss "the war in Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East and the Iranian nuclear file".

US President Donald Trump's push for a ceasefire has yet to bear fruit, and a deadly Russian strike Sunday on Ukraine's Sumy showed how the war is still taking a hefty toll, even as peace efforts are under way.

Witkoff said Monday, three days after holding his third meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, that he himself sees a peace deal "emerging."

Talks to end the Gaza war have also stalled, with Israel saying Wednesday it would keep blocking humanitarian aid from entering the Palestinian territory, where a relentless military offensive has turned the Palestinian territory into a "mass grave", according to medical charity Doctors Without Borders.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said blocking aid to the besieged territory of 2.4 million people was a means of pressure on Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The Paris talks also come as discussions between the United States and Iran on Tehran's nuclear program were held Saturday in Oman.

Another round is scheduled for April 19, also in Oman.
Hilton London Bankside, the award-winning, design-led hotel, owned by Splendid Hospitality Group has announced the addition of 76 thoughtfully designed rooms. Located in the heart of London's vibrant Bankside neighbourhood, the expansion will increase the hotel's total offering to 368 rooms upon completion in Q1 2026.

The new rooms will feature an elevated design concept and introduce upgraded room categories, including exceptional suite experiences. The hotel's top floor will offer stunning rooftop views through floor-to-ceiling windows, showcasing Bankside and the surrounding London skyline.

Marking its 10th anniversary in October 2025, Hilton London Bankside's multi-million-pound extension will set the stage for another decade of success. This expansion will introduce a new collection of rooms and suites, thoughtfully crafted to reflect the rich history and dynamic spirit of the Bankside area.

Hilton London Bankside has engaged a design agency for the project who will bring the vision to life, reflecting the hotel's ethos of creativity, culture and connectivity.

Aligned with Hilton's Travel with Purpose strategy and in line with the hotel's commitment to sustainabilityrecognised through its Global Sustainable Tourism Council accreditation in 2024elements of the new rooms will feature eco-friendly and recycled materials. The latest technology, including touch-free sensor lighting and integrated wireless charging, will be seamlessly installed to enhance the guest experience. Bespoke furniture and joinery will blend artistry with functionality, with thoughtful design paying homage to local landmarks such as the Tate Modern and the River Thames.

Hotel website
A visionary in luxury dining, Felipe Tapia joins Rosewood Mandarina as Director of Food & Beverage with more than a decade of international experience and a passion for culinary artistry.

Felipe has led dining operations at renowned properties such as The Ritz-Carlton Beijing, W Shanghai The Bund, and The Sanya EDITION. Felipe's expertise has earned global recognition, including accolades such as Marriott International's Top 52 Restaurants award, and collaborations with prestigious luxury brands like LVMH and DIOR. Felipe joined Rosewood Mandarina in October 2024 to lead the culinary vision across the resort's four exquisite venuesincluding a cliffside craft cocktail bar; a refined Japanese Nikkei concept offering an elevated journey rooted in authenticity; a communal Mexican cocina at the heart of the resort with distinct experiences from morning to night; and a relaxed beachside restaurant channeling coastal ease and flavoralongside locally inspired in-suite dining and bespoke banquet services.

Complementing this diverse culinary landscape, Felipe developed a beverage program that reflects the resort's deep cultural connection, drawing from indigenous rituals, sacred plants, and the four elementsearth, water, fire, and airto deliver an immersive cocktail experience rooted in Riviera Nayarit's ancestral traditions. With bold creativity and a refined sense of place, he is creating immersive culinary experiences that blend local flavors with global sophistication, establishing each of Rosewood Mandarina's food and beverage venues as distinctive destinations themselves.
A globally celebrated culinary virtuoso, Jose Vicente Mascaros brings 20 years of international experience to his role as Executive Chef at Rosewood Mandarina.

Throughout his illustrious career, Chef Jose has honed his expertise at prestigious properties worldwide, consistently elevating the dining experiences of renowned establishments. Chef Jose's tenure with Rosewood began in 2016 at Rosewood Phnom Penh in Cambodia, where he played an instrumental role in its pre-opening success as Chef de Cuisine. He continued as Executive Sous Chef at Rosewood Villa Magna in Madrid, where his visionary leadership contributed to the hotel's esteemed reputation and industry recognition. Beyond Rosewood, Chef Jose has shaped the culinary landscapes of elite resorts and fine dining establishments, including the award-winning Epicurean Group in Hong Kong and Destino Hotel in Ibiza.

At Rosewood Mandarina, Chef Jose is introducing a highly curated experience celebrating the region's rich culinary heritage. With a commitment to sustainability, innovation, and excellence, Rosewood Mandarina's culinary programming highlights indigenous cooking techniques and the vibrant customs of the Huichol and Cora community. Collaborating closely with local farmers, fishermen, and purveyors, he creates menus that honor the region's history while embracing modern innovation.
Tambourine, the Fort Lauderdale-headquartered digital marketing technology company serving hotels, resorts, and tourism destinations worldwide, is proud to announce its recognition as a 2025 Google Premier Partner in the United States.

This distinction is awarded to the top 3% of Google Partners in each country, recognizing companies that demonstrate excellence in performance and client success.

Tambourines continued inclusion as a Google Premier Partner reflects its commitment to data-driven marketing, innovation, and customized strategies that help hotels, resorts, and destinations elevate their digital presence and achieve meaningful business results.

To qualify for Premier Partner recognition, companies must meet Googles highest standards in the following areas:

Advanced Google Ads Expertise: Demonstrate certified proficiency in Google Ads with a consistent track record of successful, high-performing campaigns.

Demonstrate certified proficiency in Google Ads with a consistent track record of successful, high-performing campaigns. Client Growth & Retention: Show strong results in acquiring and retaining clients, with a focus on sustained performance and long-term success.

Show strong results in acquiring and retaining clients, with a focus on sustained performance and long-term success. Performance Excellence: Consistently meet rigorous performance benchmarks, including driving measurable growth, optimizing campaigns with Googles best practices, and delivering exceptional value to clients.

We are thrilled to have once again achieved the Google Premier Partner status. This recognition reflects our teams dedication to driving measurable results for our hospitality clients by fully leveraging Googles tools to deliver smarter, more impactful marketing. Mekell Barker, SVP of Account Service at Tambourine

As a Premier Partner, Tambourine gains exclusive access to Google resources, enhanced support and training, advanced reporting, and invite-only industry eventshelping the company stay ahead of trends and deliver even greater value to clients.

About Google Partners

The Google Partners program is designed for advertising agencies and third parties that manage Google Ads accounts on behalf of other brands or businesses. Its mission is to empower companies by providing them with innovative tools, resources, and support to help their clients succeed and grow online.

About Tambourine

Tambourine is an award-winning digital marketing technology firm driving demand, revenue, and brand awareness for the hospitality world since 1994. The company continues to shake up the industry with custom-integrated marketing solutions for hotels, resorts, and destinations worldwide. Tambourine's emergence as the market leader for both branded and independent hotels is a testament to its core values: putting customer service center stage, setting the standards for hotel website design, and making performance digital marketing easier and more profitable for its valued partners. Visit tambourine.com for more information.

Hannah Trefry

Director of Corporate Marketing
Danbury, Conn.  Meyer Jabara Hotels and Pappas Hotels have teamed to acquire the Courtyard by Marriott Clemson in South Carolina, the only upscale franchised hotel in the market with Clemson University just 1.4 miles away. Renovations to the select service hotel will begin this summer and will include replacement of all softgoods and flooring, a makeover to The Bistro and lobby, and an expansion of the meeting space to incorporate lobby areas for meetings and receptions.

Meyer Jabara Hotels has done a great job over the past two years managing our Holiday Inn Express in Aiken. From a sales and management perspective this property is thriving, and the people supporting this hotel  from the general manager on down  are quite impressive. Couple that with the accessibility of MJHs executive team and our shared ownership mindset, and we knew they were the right partner to manage and co-own this new hotel. Dean Pappas, President of Pappas Hotels

Located at 201 Canoy Lane, the 110-room Courtyard Clemson features an outdoor pool, fitness center, restaurant, convenience store, guest laundry, and meeting space. The Market is available 24 hours and features sundry items and light snacks. Corporate guests appreciate the modernly equipped meeting space.

Our relationship with the Pappas family is quite strong. We identified this property as an ideal addition to both of our portfolios. Our growth strategy is to target well-positioned hotels in strong markets. With prior success in managing university area hotels, MJH will ensure that the Courtyard Clemson remains a vibrant asset. Chas Henry, Senior VP of Business Development and Acquisitions for Meyer Jabara Hotels

Justin Jabara, President of Meyer Jabara Hotels, said he is delighted to be working with Pappas again and believes the future is bright for this prime hotel.

This is an exceptional asset in a healthy market,. With more than 29,000 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at Clemson University, this hotel is a top choice for out-of-towners visiting students and coming for games, graduation, alumni weekends, and campus tours  all of whom spend money at local restaurants, shops, and attractions. Not only will this property provide excellent employment opportunities for local residents and students, but it is the ideal location to host business meetings and attract professionals visiting the university or nearby industries. The upcoming renovation will ensure that the Courtyard Clemson remains the place to stay for consistent, professional service, and clean, modern rooms with in-demand amenities. Guests will experience hospitality at its finest and surely enjoy all that this small town has to offer. Justin Jabara, President of Meyer Jabara Hotels

For more information on Meyer Jabara Hotels, visit www.meyerjabarahotels.com.

About Meyer Jabara Hotels

With headquarters in Danbury, Conn., and offices in West Palm Beach, Fla., Meyer Jabara Hotels is an award-winning hospitality company owning and operating 45 hotels and 36 food-and-beverage outlets in 20 states across the United States. The company was formed in 1977 through the partnership of William Meyer, a specialist in real property law, and Richard Jabara, a second-generation hotelier. Now under the direction of President Justin Jabara, the company has experience in all kinds of properties, from 16-room boutique properties to 508-room convention style hotels. The Meyer Jabara Hotels portfolio consists of hospitalitys leading extended stay, boutique, select service, and full service brands under the Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, Choice and Wyndham umbrellas, as well as several independents. Meyer Jabara Hotels is, and always will be, in the people business. The better the people, the better the business, and that philosophy extends to all key stakeholders: business partners, associates, and guests. The company strives to create success for all it serves. For more information on Meyer Jabara Hotels, visit www.meyerjabarahotels.com.

Barb Worcester

PRpro

+1 440 930 5770

Meyer Jabara
BOSTON, Mass. and THE WOODLANDS, Texas  Benchmark Resorts & Hotels, a collection of independent resorts and hotels by Pyramid Global Hospitality, announces a new partnership with the leading ocean cleanup company and Certified B Corporation, 4ocean, to remove thousands of pounds of trash and plastic from the world's oceans, rivers, and coastlines. Kicking off just ahead of Earth Day (April 22) and continuing through 2025, a dozen of Benchmarks coastal escapes  from Chatham Bars Inn in Cape Cod to Wayfinder Waikiki in Hawaii  will roll out experiences that encourage guests to explore and enjoy the local waters while supporting cleanup around the globe.

Benchmark will help champion 4oceans mission by contributing $10 per room night when guests book a dedicated experience at its participating resorts and hotels  which equates to a total of 10 pounds of plastic and trash removed per night. Eco-minded travelers can make an impact while they explore a shipwreck just off the shore at Costa dEste Beach Resort & Spa in Vero Beach, Florida; discover coral reefs when snorkeling at Cambridge Beaches Resort & Spa in Bermuda; sail the Chesapeake at Inn at Perry Cabin in St. Michaels, Maryland; kayak in Monterey Bay at Chaminade Resort & Spa in Santa Cruz, California; and more.

Benchmarks more than 50 independent resorts and hotels create unique guest experiences inspired by the destinations they are in. Our partnership with 4ocean allows us to do that in a way that also benefits our global community and supports the preservation of waterways across the world. Were proud to collaborate with the 4ocean team as they take impactful steps to protect our oceans and rivers, which are among the most integral parts of our lives. Evan Crawford, Vice President of Marketing for Pyramids Benchmark Resorts & Hotels portfolio

Partnering with Benchmark Resorts & Hotels is an exciting step forward for 4ocean as we bring ocean conservation into the hospitality space. This partnership shows how businesses can create meaningful change by connecting guests to the mission of protecting our oceans. By linking incredible travel experiences with tangible impact, Benchmark is setting a standard for how the industry can lead the way toward a cleaner, healthier future for our ocean. Alex Schulze, co-founder of 4ocean

Select Benchmark resorts and hotels are offering additional ways guests can make an even bigger impact and support 4ocean cleanups across the world, including contributions when they forgo daily housekeeping or order a 4ocean-themed cocktail. Guests can also make optional contributions during the online booking at specific properties.

About 4ocean

4ocean is an ocean cleanup company based in Boca Raton, FL, thats dedicated to ending the ocean plastic crisis. As a Public Benefit Corporation and Certified B Corp, they harness the power of business to fund a global cleanup operation that recovers millions of pounds of plastic and other debris from the world's oceans, rivers, and coastlines each year. Learn more at 4ocean.com, @4ocean on X / Twitter, @4oceanBracelets on Facebook, @4ocean on Instagram, and @4ocean on TikTok.

About Pyramid Global Hospitality

Pyramid Global Hospitality, a leading third-party hospitality management company, is the powerhouse brand behind an inspired collection of forward-thinking professionals providing powerful solutions to some of the world's best hotels and resorts. Formed by the 2021 merger of three hotel and resort management companies, the organization's global portfolio now spans more than 240 properties across the U.S., Caribbean and Europe, with offices in Boston; The Woodlands (Texas); Cincinnati; and London. For more information, visit www.PyramidGlobal.com.
Climate Change is accelerating

Data from Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) has confirmed that 2024 was the hottest year on record, with global temperatures soaring 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.

The implications for tourism are dire: hurricanes, wildfires, floods and rising sea levels threaten tourism livelihoods, human lives and entire ecosystems.

The consequences are already unfolding: Venice, Italy, was submerged by record-breaking floods, disrupting tourism and damaging its iconic landmarks. In Valencia, Spain, severe flooding caused the death of 216 people destroying infrastructure, and affecting local businesses and tourism operations. The 2024 California wildfires, exacerbated by severe drought and Santa Ana winds, destroyed thousands of homes across the state. Greece's forest fires in 2024 reached the outskirts of Athens, forcing mass evacuations and billions of economic loss. All these examples are in developed countries with strong visitor economies and a resilient tourism industry.

But climate is a global issue and not all destinations are able to mitigate it effects as effectively as these global tourism leaders in developed countries. Tourism-dependent economies are on the front lines and nowhere is this more evident than in Small Island Developing States (SIDS).The Caribbean, where most of the countries are among the 25 most vulnerable nations in terms of disasters per capita or land area, loses up to 17% of its GDP annually due to climate-related disasters, while the Asia-Pacific region faces an unprecedented surge in extreme weather events, disrupting travel and devastating local communities.

Since 2000, more than 7,000 major disasters have been recorded globally. According to the World Bank, climate-related disasters now cost the global economy over $300 billion annually, disproportionately affecting coastal and island destinations where tourism is the economic backbone.

Despite these harrowing figures, no global mechanism exists to cushion the blow. Destinations are left to fend for themselves, often rebuilding with insufficient resources, leaving communities even more vulnerable to the next catastrophe.

The economic cost is staggering. Between 1970 and 2020, SIDS lost $153 billion due to extreme weather eventsa figure that looms large given that the average annual GDP for these states is just $13.7 billion.

The Urgent Need for a Global Resilience Fund

Resilience is not just about bouncing back  its about bouncing forward. A Global Tourism Resilience Fund would serve as both an emergency response mechanism and a long-term investment in building stronger, more adaptable tourism economies. The fund should:

Provide Immediate Crisis Relief: Swift financial support to rebuild infrastructure, restore ecosystems, and stabilize local economies in the aftermath of disasters.

Finance Resilience-Building Projects: Invest in climate-smart infrastructure, regenerative tourism models, and community-led initiatives to future-proof destinations.

Offer Risk Mitigation and Preparedness Programs: Equip destinations with the tools and training to anticipate, manage, and mitigate risks, reducing the overall impact of crises.

Without such a fund, tourism-dependent economies will continue to suffer, deepening inequality and depriving future generations of cultural heritage and natural wonders.

UN Tourism: The Ultimate Catalyst for Change

To safeguard the future of tourism and the economies that depend on it, the world must act now. A Global Tourism Resilience Fund could provide the financial cushion needed to support crisis recovery, invest in climate adaptation infrastructure, and enhance long-term resilience for at-risk destinations.

This fund would mobilize resources from philanthropy, multilateral institutions, public-private partnerships, and sustainable finance mechanisms to ensure that vulnerable nations are not left to face climate shocks alone.

UN Tourism is uniquely positioned to lead this effort. As the global authority on tourism, it has the credibility, network, and influence to unite all the different players towards a common cause.

A Collective Responsibility  and a Defining Opportunity

The tourism industry is one of humanitys most powerful engines of connection, economic growth, and cultural preservation. But it cannot thrive on hope alone. Resilience must be financed. The cost of inaction is simply too high.

Other industries have successfully leveraged global financing mechanisms to address systemic risks, setting a precedent for action in tourism. The Green Climate Fund (GCF), established under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), has mobilized over $12 billion to support climate adaptation and mitigation efforts in developing nations. Similarly, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria has helped save over 50 million lives by pooling resources from governments, development banks, and private donors to tackle global health crises. The World Banks Global Infrastructure Facility (GIF) brings together public and private capital to finance large-scale infrastructure projects, ensuring long-term economic resilience.

These funds demonstrate that well-structured, internationally backed financial mechanisms can drive impactful change. A Global Tourism Resilience Fund would operate in the same spiritproviding vulnerable tourism economies with targeted investments to build climate-resilient infrastructure, strengthen disaster preparedness, and secure sustainable livelihoods.

For too long, the tourism industry has relied on ad-hoc solutions and short-term relief. The future demands a more comprehensive, forward-thinking approach. I envision a tourism industry that is not just reactive but proactiveleveraging adversity as a catalyst for transformation. By reforming UN Tourism I will transform its effectiveness beyond rhetoric to the tangible, game-changing action that todays situation demands.
UN Tourism has launched the latest edition in its series of investment guidelines: Tourism Doing Business: Investing in Indonesia. This comprehensive publication offers global investors a clear and data-driven overview of the vast opportunities in one of Southeast Asias most dynamic tourism markets.

Indonesia attracted USD 60 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) across all sectors in 2024, surpassing its ten-year average. Tourism alone has brought in USD 16.1 billion since 2018, with foreign investors contributing USD 5.6 billion (34.7%) and domestic investors USD 10.5 billion (66.3%).

From the white sands of Lombok to the cultural treasures of Borobudur, Indonesia has become a magnet for tourism investment thanks to a unique combination of government commitment, business-friendly reforms, and iconic destinations.

Key highlights for investors include:

10 Super Priority Destinations, such as Lake Toba, Raja Ampat, and Labuan Bajo. 3 Regenerative Tourism Destinations in Bali, Riau Islands, and Jakarta. Ambitious short-term strategies, including Clean Tourism Movement, Tourism 5,0m Up-Scaled Tourism, Indonesians Intellectual Property-based events, and Tourism Village Programme. 11 Special Tourism Economic Zones, designed to streamline investment and development.

Indonesia's proactive tourism strategy shows how vision and investment can turn destinations into engines for inclusive, sustainable growth. With strong public-private partnerships and a clear development roadmap, Indonesia continues to lead by example in the region. UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili

The Tourism Doing Business: Investing in Indonesia guidelines were developed in collaboration with Indonesias Ministry of Tourism and aim to support both domestic and international investors in navigating the evolving tourism landscape of the country.

These Guideline are a significant milestone in our ongoing work to position Indonesia as a leading destination for tourism investment and business. It is more than just a tool. Its a roadmap to help investors navigate and unlock the immense potential of Indonesias thriving tourism sector. The Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia Widiyanti Putri Wardhana

About UN Tourism

UN Tourism is the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism. An intergovernmental organization, UN Tourism has 160 Member States, 6 Associate Members, 2 Observers and over 500 Affiliate Members. The General Assembly is the supreme organ of the Organization. The Executive Council takes all measures, in consultation with the Secretary-General, for the implementation of the decisions and recommendations of the General Assembly and reports to the Assembly. UN Tourism headquarters are based in Madrid, Spain. The election for Secretary General will be in May 2025.
Alexandria, VA  As a result of recent US government actions including tariffs, cross-border policies and entry restrictions, global business travel professionals are newly navigating a complex and uncertain landscape regarding the potential impact on business travel volume, spending and revenue for 2025. According to a new poll conducted by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), a significant portion of over 900 global industry respondents are anticipating declines ahead and overall optimism has taken a hit in the last few weeks, reflecting the uncertainty gripping the sector and other industries.

Recent US government actions were defined in the GBTA poll as tariffs on imported products, US entry restrictions for travelers from specific countries, advisories against travel to the US, cross-border policies resulting in detainment risks, and decreased business travel for US federal employees. As a result of these multiple initiatives, the poll reveals that:

Less than half of global buyers (44%) anticipate their organizations business travel spending and volume in 2025 will not be impacted , compared to 25% of travel suppliers who say the same for their business travel revenue.

in 2025 , compared to 25% of travel suppliers who say the same for their business travel Almost a third (29%) of global travel buyers expect a decline in business travel volume at their companies in 2025, averaging a 21% decrease. Additionally, a fairly large portion of travel buyers (19%) are uncertain about what the impact will be.

in business travel at their companies in 2025, averaging a 21% decrease. Additionally, a fairly large portion of travel buyers (19%) are uncertain about what the impact will be. Related, 27% of buyers now predict a 20% decrease on average in their business travel spending this year. (Notably, with global business travel spending forecast to reach $1.63 trillion USD in 2025, that could represent a potential decline in spending of up to $88 billion.

on average in their business travel this year. (Notably, with global business travel spending forecast to reach $1.63 trillion USD in 2025, that could represent a potential decline in spending of up to $88 billion. 37% of travel suppliers and travel management company (TMC) professionals anticipate a decline of 18% on average in related revenue .

of 18% on average in related . Because of overall concerns, only 31% of global industry professionals remain optimistic about the overall industry outlook for this year, while 40% are neutral. This marks a significant decline from GBTAs November 2024 poll where 67% of global industry professionals reported an optimistic outlook for 2025 and 26% were neutral.

While the outlook for global business travel was incredibly strong coming into 2025, our research now shows increasing concerns and uncertainty within our industry, considering recent actions taken by the US government. Traveling for work plays a vital role in supporting business growth, resilient economies, strong diplomatic ties and valuable connections. Productive and essential business travel is threatened in times of economic uncertainty or in an environment of additional barriers and restrictions. This undermines economic prosperity and damages the many sectors that rely on global business travel to survive and thrive. Suzanne Neufang, CEO, GBTA

Neufang added there are two key factors to watch that would influence longer-term impact for business travel: if theres sustained economic pressure or uncertainty weighing on company budgets and if cross-border travel and global workforce mobility to and from the US are restricted.

The GBTA poll reflects responses from travel managers (buyers), suppliers, travel management companies and other travel intermediaries from across four regions and 45 countries. Additional key findings include:

7% of buyer organizations have revised their corporate travel policies for travel to or from the US since January 2025, and another one-quarter (25%) say they are planning to or will consider doing so in the future. 64% are staying the course

for travel to or from the US since January 2025, and another one-quarter (25%) say they are planning to or will consider doing so in the future. 64% are staying the course Additionally, up to 20% have or are considering cancelling, moving or pulling attendance from meetings and events located in the US.

from meetings and events located in the US. 10% are planning or considering cancelling employee attendance at US events

at US events When it comes to relocating meetings or events from the US, a total of 14% say their organization has already done so (8%) or is considering it (6%). Companies located outside of the US are three times more likely to relocate meetings to somewhere other than the US.

from the US, a total of 14% say their organization has already done so (8%) or is considering it (6%). Companies located outside of the US are three times more likely to relocate meetings to somewhere other than the US. Respondents' top concerns for long-term impact of US government actions are related to economics  namely business travel costs (54%) and potential budget cuts (40%)  along with additional travel processing and administration needs such as visas or documentation (46%). This was followed closely by traveler-focused concerns such as employee willingness to travel to the US and increased safety and duty of care (both at 37%).

for long-term impact of US government actions are related to economics  namely business travel (54%) and potential (40%)  along with additional travel needs such as visas or documentation (46%). This was followed closely by such as employee willingness to travel to the US and increased safety and duty of care (both at 37%). Additionally, when asked if they personally know someone whose trip has been affected by US border or travel policy changes, 23% of global industry professionals say they do.

Methodology

A total of 905 responses were received by GBTA from global travel buyers, suppliers and other industry professionals across North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Africa and Middle East for the poll fielded March 31 to April 8, 2025.

Access these links to view the complete GBTA poll results and key highlights.

To learn more about GBTA Research, visit the GBTA webpage or email [email protected].

About GBTA

The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) is the world's premiere business travel and meetings trade organization headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area and serving stakeholders across six continents. GBTA and its 8,000+ members represent and advocate for the $1.48 trillion global travel business and meetings industry. GBTA and the GBTA Foundation deliver world-class education, events, research, advocacy and media to a growing global network of more than 28,000 travel professionals and 125,000 active contacts. For more information visit gbta.org.

About the GBTA Foundation

The mission of the GBTA Foundation, the US 501c3 charitable arm of the Global Business Travel Association, is to help the global business travel industry create a positive impact and better future for people and the planet. The GBTA Foundation focuses on the strategy and execution of GBTA's global sustainability programs, supporting initiatives related to climate action; diversity, equity and inclusion; and other talent-related topics via education, research and advocacy. For more information visit gbtafoundation.org.

Debbie Iannaci

GBTA Global Communications, PR & Research

+1 305 301 7057

GBTA
Alila Dong'ao Island Zhuhai - Image Credit Hyatt

Hyatt Hotels Corporation announces the opening of Alila Dong'ao Island Zhuhai, a luxury all-suite clifftop resort located on Dong'ao Island in Zhuhai.

This is the first Alila Island Resort in Greater China

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced the opening of Alila Dong'ao Island Zhuhai, the first Alila Island Resort in Greater China. Located on the southwestern tip of Dong'ao Island, the luxury all-suite clifftop resort offers guests a tranquil retreat less than an hour away from Zhuhai city by ferry.

The resort's design is led by acclaimed interior designer Ju Bin. Inspired by local Lingnan culture and craftsmanship, it features elements that pay tribute to the surrounding landscape. The resort includes 104 spacious suites, each offering sea views or a private courtyard, and they are designed with Lingnan-inspired decorative touches.

Restaurants at the Alila Dong'ao Island Zhuhai offer various culinary experiences highlighting Cantonese flavors. The establishments include SEASALT, an all-day restaurant with a seafood-driven menu, and HOITONG, which focuses on traditional Cantonese cuisine. CHUN bar, an outdoor lounge area, provides a cozy spot for scenic afternoon tea or locally-inspired cocktails.

For wellness and recreation, Spa Alila offers treatments that draw on the curative benefits of natural ingredients and ancient healing techniques. The resort also provides daily fitness facilities, a yoga room, a kids' club, and a cantilevered infinity pool extending nearly 50 feet over the cliff's edge.

In addition, the resort features over 5,000 square feet of event spaces, suitable for a range of occasions, from intimate meetings to large celebrations. Venue options include a sizable ballroom and meeting room with floor-to-ceiling windows offering sea views and an outdoor lawn with an open-air terrace ideal for wedding ceremonies and receptions.
The Vibe Hotel Gold Coast and Surfers Pavilion Sold in Queensland, Australia



Weekly Hotel Industry Asia Pacific News Roundup from HVS

8M Real Estate Sold 21 Carpenter, Singapore for SGD100 Million

Singapore-based Indonesian billionaire Leo KoGuan has acquired 48-key boutique hotel, 21 Carpenter, for SGD100 million from Singapore-based real estate investment firm, 8M Real Estate. This translates to approximately SGD2.08 million per key, making this one of the largest shophouse hotel deal in Singapore. 8M Real Estate has acquired the property for SGD37 million in 2018, and has added a five-storey extension to redevelop it into a boutique hotel. The property spans a total gross floor area of 2,748 square metres and is situated on a land site with a freshly renewed 99-year leasehold tenure from January 2022. Offering amenities such as a restaurant, fitness centre and an outdoor pool, the hotel is conveniently located directly opposite Clarke Quay Central, a shopping mall with an underground link to Clarke Quay MRT Station. 21 Carpenter is part of the Design Hotels brand by US-based Marriott International.

The Vibe Hotel Gold Coast and Surfers Pavilion Sold in Queensland, Australia

Mr Robert Kuok has sold the 199-key Vibe Hotel Gold Coast and Surfers Pavilion through the Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Group to an undisclosed buyer. Market sources indicate that the property was sold for approximately AUD45 million, translating to around AUD226,130 per key. Located in the prime tourism hub of Surfers Paradise, Queensland, the mixed-use propertywhich also includes a shopping centre and marinabenefits from its proximity to the Esplanade and key local attractions. The freehold property spans 4,679 square metres and features one food and beverage outlet, four meeting rooms, a fitness centre, and an outdoor swimming pool. Additionally, it includes 35 electronic gambling machine entitlements valued at AUD16.3 million. It is understood that Mr Robert Kuok acquired the property for approximately AUD46 million in 2016.

SC Capital Has Acquired Hotel Gran Cerezo Kagoshima in Kagoshima, Japan

Singapore-based SC Capital Partners Pte. Ltd. (SC Capital) has completed the acquisition of the 165-key Hotel Gran Cerezo Kagoshima for an undisclosed amount through its Japan Hospitality Fund I which is 40% owned by Singapore-based Capitaland Investment Limited. Located in the heart of Kagoshima, the hotel offers convenient access to historical landmarks as well as transport links to the Shinkansen and Kagoshima Airport. SC Capital plans to rebrand the property under the Oriental Express brand, with operational upgrades and a comprehensive refurbishment planned to elevate the hotels performance. Renamed as the Hotel Oriental Express Kagoshima Tenmonkan, the hotel will be operated by SC Capital division Hotel Management Japan. The property currently features two food and beverage outlets, a fitness centre, and an onsen facility. This acquisition aligns with SC Capitals strategy to expand its presence in Japans hospitality market, where it has invested over USD1 billion in 59 hotels and more than 13,000 rooms since 2010.

Real Vantage and Oberland have Completed the Acquisition of Arthouse Hotel Glasgow, Scotland for GBP12 Million

Singapore-based Real Vantage Singapore Pte. Ltd. (Real Vantage) has completed the acquisition of Arthouse Hotel Glasgow through an 85-15 joint venture with UK-based asset manager Oberland LLP (Oberland) for GBP12 million. The acquisition price translates to approximately GBP203,000 per key. Built in 1829, the 59-key property is set to undergo significant renovations and is slated to reopen with 74 keys by Q4 2025. The property currently features a restaurant, a bar, and function spaces. Conveniently located, the hotel offers easy access to Glasgow's cultural attractions and is just a 15-minute drive from Glasgow Airport, ensuring strong connectivity for visitors. London-based C1 Capital Partners has been appointed the interim operator for the hotel.

Tokyo Asset Solution Acquires Site to Develop New Hotel in Atami City, Japan

Japan-based Tokyo Asset Solution Co. Ltd has acquired a site in Atami City, located in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, for the development of a new hotel at an undisclosed sum. The planned property, tentatively named Atami Umezono Hotel will feature 58 keys across seven storeys. The site spans 3,601 square metres (sqm) with a total floor area of 5,343 sqm. The hotel is scheduled to open in the latter half of 2027. Situated approximately 100 kilometres southwest of Tokyo and easily accessible via the Tokaido Shinkansen in under an hour, Atami is a popular coastal destination known for its scenic ocean views and hot springs. The upcoming hotel is expected to benefit from the citys year-round appeal to domestic and international travellers alike.

HVS is the world's leading consulting and valuation services organization focused on the hotel, restaurant, shared ownership, gaming, and leisure industries. Established in 1980, the company performs more than 4,500 assignments per year for virtually every major industry participant. HVS principals are regarded as the leading professionals in their respective regions of the globe. Through a worldwide network of over 50 offices staffed by 300 experienced industry professionals, HVS provides an unparalleled range of complementary services for the hospitality industry. For further information regarding our expertise and specifics about our services, please visit www.hvs.com.
Rendering of the Waldorf Astoria Turks and Caicos Dellis Cay - Image Credit Hilton

Hilton has signed a branding and management agreement for Waldorf Astoria Turks and Caicos Dellis Cay, marking the brand's first resort in Turks and Caicos.

The luxury island resort and residences, set to debut in 2028, will feature 175 guest rooms, branded residences, culinary options, a spa, fitness center, and meeting spaces.

Hilton has signed a branding and management agreement for Waldorf Astoria Turks and Caicos Dellis Cay. This marks the first entrance of the luxury Waldorf Astoria brand into Turks and Caicos. The resort is set to open in 2028 will be located on Dellis Cay, a pristine, low-density island with over three miles of unspoiled beachfront.

Pablo Maturana, vice president of development for the Caribbean and Latin America at Hilton, referred to the signing as a "momentous milestone" for Hilton's expanding luxury portfolio. The resort aims to provide bespoke experiences in a retreat that harmonizes natural beauty and tranquility with refined sophistication.

The resort will feature 175 guest rooms and branded residences. These will include 62 dedicated hotel guest rooms and suites, 10 exclusive beachfront bungalows with private terraces and plunge pools, and 65 residential units embodying refined island living.

Guests will have access to various culinary options, a 13,455-square-foot spa, a fitness center, retail spaces, a library retreat, and both adult and family pools. The resort will also offer meeting and event spaces, including a 2,690-square-foot ballroom and a 484-square-foot boardroom.

Introducing Waldorf Astoria Turks and Caicos Dellis Cay is part of Hilton's strategy to expand its presence in the Caribbean. The company plans to add 35 new properties to its portfolio of over 45 hotels and resorts in the region.

The property will join Waldorf Astoria's portfolio in Latin America, which includes locations in Los Cabos Pedregal, Cancun, and Panama. Future openings in Costa Rica and San Miguel de Allende are also planned.
Beth Freedman - Image Credit MMGY

MMGY, an integrated marketing and communications agency specialising in travel, tourism and hospitality, announced today the appointment of Beth Freedman as its new Executive Vice President and Managing Director for the UK. Following an extensive recruitment process, Freedman will lead all UK integrated operations  working closely with MMGY Global EMEA President Caroline Moultrie and Central Europe Business Unit EVP Detlef Freiherr von Weitershausen-Haner  to drive MMGYs vision and growth forward.

Beths proven ability to guide and transform businesses through creative strategy, media innovation and empathetic leadership makes her a dynamic addition to our team, said Moultrie. The UK is a critical market in our global strategy, and MMGYs fully integrated, client-centric approach in the region enables us to deliver surround-sound campaigns that truly move the needle. Beths deep experience across media and creative will elevate our representation business and solidify MMGYs position as the leading integrated marketing agency in the travel and tourism space.

Freedman brings with her a wealth of senior experience and an exceptional track record from award-winning creative and media agencies in both the UK and the U.S. As a transformational leader, she has consistently delivered impressive results by setting bold visions, driving business growth and fostering high-performing, multicultural teams.

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As CEO of dentsu X UK, Freedman successfully integrated multiple digital agencies to launch a full-service media proposition that achieved consistent growth, managing over 250 million in billings. At gyro UK, she managed operations across London and Manchester, driving significant revenue growth for global clients such as JLL, HP and Oracle while enhancing client service excellence.

With additional senior roles at Saatchi & Saatchi, Fallon, Arnold Worldwide and MPG, Freedman has delivered successful work for renowned brands including Jaguar Land Rover, Mondelez, The New York Times, Facebook, PwC and the BBC. In the travel, tourism and hospitality sector, she has worked with The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Colonial Williamsburg, Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours and United Airlines.

The magic of MMGY starts with its strong foundation in data  over 40 years of proprietary audience research paired with innovative technologies that harness the power of client data, said Freedman. This gives our team access to unparalleled insights that spark creativity, ensure effectiveness and maximise efficiency across our integrated service set. Im excited to help take our UK operation to the next level in partnership with the excellent team already in place.
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Clark Art Invites People With Dementia and Caregivers for Gallery Talk

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  On Monday, April 21 at 1 pm in the permanent collection galleries, the Clark Art Institute presents Meet Me at the Clark.

This free gallery talk program is designed specifically for people living with dementia and their care partners.

On select Mondays, when the museum is closed to the general public, specially trained educators guide open-ended conversations about art and how it celebrates our shared humanity.

Free. Advance registration required; capacity is limited. To register, call the Education Department Coordinator at 413 458 0563; accompanying care-partners must also register.
Mount Greylock School Committee Affirms Protection for All Students, Staff

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  The Mount Greylock School Committee last week unanimously approved a policy that affirms the district's support for all students and employees without regard to sexual orientation or gender identity.

The policy, one of several that have been in development for months by the panel's Policy and Governance Subcommittee.

Prior to the full committee's action, Carolyn Greene asked her colleagues on the subcommittee whether they had factored in more recent changes in federal policy.

Interim Superintendent Joseph Bergeron clarified that the local policy, which affirms that the district "does not and will not discriminate on the basis of sex, sexual orientation or gender

identity in the educational programs and activities of the public schools," complies with the laws of the commonwealth.

"These Title IX updates that we've been working on for the last four months, they changed midway through the process," Bergeron said. "When the federal government repealed the 2024 Title IX regulations and sent us back to 2022. That said, the state of Massachusetts stepped in and said: Because you're in the state of Massachusetts, certain provisions that we require by law should still exist.

"But protection around gender identity is included because ... if we were in another state, that might not be a part of Title IX. Because we're in Massachusetts. So a lot of thanks to our state for maintaining higher and more forward standards."

Greene followed up by asking whether the Mount Greylock district runs the risk of violating federal law by recognizing the rights of all of its students.

"We are required by Massachusetts law to do what we are doing," Bergeron said. "The federal government would be going after the state of Massachusetts instead of the Mount Greylock Regional School District."

Thursday's meeting was held against a backdrop of the federal government doing just that, going after the state of Maine for its inclusionary practice, specifically as it regards school sports.

While relying on Massachusetts law to support the district's policy, Bergeron acknowledged that the issue is far from settled.

"Unfortunately, it's a topic for the Policy and Governance subcommittee, and we're also working on it with the Equity Imperative team," he said.

Thursday's agenda also included an update from Bergeron on the district's collaboration with Equity Imperative, a Chicago-based consultant whose work in the Mount Greylock Regional School District is funded by American Rescue Plan Act funds supplied by the Town of Williamstown.

Bergeron said the consultants have been working with district staff and community members to review Mount Greylock's policies and practices around incidents of bias, sex-based harassment, discrimination or bullying.

"We need to do a better job of educating people before anything ever happens as to, 'Here's what to expect from us when something happens,'" Bergeron said. "Here's how to report it, and here's what to do next. Here are the documentation pieces you should expect to receive so accountability is there.

"That couples with increased training for staff about how to respond when an incident occurs, whether it's in a classroom or in a hallway."

Bergeron said the district also needs to improve its process for communicating out when incidents occur and what steps have been taken to address them.

He said the consultant has been helping to identify effective practices that are employed in other public school districts so that the Lanesborough-Williamstown district can build a better system.

"What we are involved in right now is the work necessary to pick all of the best practices we could find, incorporate them into a process for us and be able to come out with something I think, quite honestly, should be a wonderful standard bearer for a thoroughly thought-out, cohesive way to respond to incidents," he said.

After several months of meetings and special meetings focusing on the fiscal year 2026 budget , the committee had a relatively light agenda on Thursday.

And it heard some good news on the budget.

After a relatively warm reception from the Finance Committee in Williamstown, where both the Fin Comm and Select Board voted to recommend town meeting approval next month, Bergeron said that the Lanesborough's officials appeared ready to follow suit.

"My sense is both [the Lanesborough Finance Committee and Select Board] were largely in favor of what we were presenting, albeit with reservations about how large the percentage ask was," Bergeron reported from meetings between district officials and the Lanesborough panels.

WIlliamstown voters will have a chance to make the final call on the town's appropriation to the public schools at town meeting on Thursday, May 22. Lanesborough's annual town meeting is in June.

One step the School Committee did take on Thursday was to approve Chair Julia Bowen's proposal to form a subcommittee to look at the process the committee should follow to hire a permanent superintendent. Bowen appointed herself, Greene and Curtis Elfenbein to the group that will bring a proposed process back to the full panel.

Last year, after Jason McCandless abruptly resigned in the middle of his contract, the School Committee decided to appoint Bergeron to the job on an interim basis for two years with a goal of hiring a new superintendent during the 2025-26 academic year.

In other business on Thursday, Bergeron reported that:

 The commonwealth's The commonwealth's Green School Works program is funded for 2025, and the district is submitting applications for funding to place solar on the roofs of its two elementary schools and replace the more than 20-year-old roof on each at the same time. Bergeron said Lanesborough Elementary qualifies under the program's set-aside for districts with a high percentage of low-income students. It is possible that Williamstown Elementary, which would be done as part of one contract with the regional school district, would be funded as part of a single grant.

 The commonwealth on Wednesday approved a change in its FY25 transportation reimbursement for regional school districts. That means an increase of about $175,000 in state aid for the district this year.

 The Mount Greylock Regional School is readjusting its 2024-25 school calendar to ensure the middle-high school has the correct number of hours of structured learning this academic year. The result is that two half-day exam days in June will be changed to full days. Bergeron said that the 2025-26 academic calendar recently approved by the School Committee would not create the need for such an adjustment next year and that no changes are required in the schedules for the two elementary schools.

 Mount Greylock's new track and field has hosted several events bringing in teams from all over the county. While the facility is great, Bergeron said, it has taxed the campus' parking capacity. "We've got a lot of overflow parking happening," he said. "We are working on reinstating ways to better utilize where the temporary administration buildings have been up the hill. So we've got a good problem to have  which is we're bringing too many people to campus. And we're working on it."
There was a standing-room-only crowd at Town Hall on Monday as the Williamstown Select Board debated contaminated sludge.

PFAS Issue Splits Williamstown Select Board on Sewer Rate

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  About 20 residents and the majority of the Select Board on Monday sent a message to the Hoosac Water Quality District: importing sludge and converting it to compost is a bad deal and unethical.

In a rare break from past practice, a divided Select Board voted against recommending that town meeting OK the HWQD's proposed fiscal year 2026 sewer rate.

The district's plan to accept sludge from other communities and sell off the resulting compost through waste hauler Casella became an issue this winter when the HWQD presented its proposed FY26 sewer rate to the town's Finance Committee.

The district, a joint venture of Williamstown, North Adams and Clarksburg (not a voting member on the district board) has been talking for a couple of years about what will happen if and when the commonwealth bans the production of compost due to the presence of the so-called "forever chemicals," PFAS, which the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified as a human carcinogen.

Despite that classification, not all states have banned the use of fertilizer derived from human biosolids, which are known to contain PFAS. And it is still legal in Massachusetts for wastewater treatment plants, like the HWQD plant in Williamstown, to operate composters and dispense compost containing PFAS within specified ranges.

District officials have warned the town for some time that once composting no longer is allowed, the cost to dispose biosolids  either through incineration or encapsulation in landfills  will skyrocket.

The HWQD's composting facility is one of the few in the region with excess capacity, and Casella has offered the district a deal under which the hauler will bring sludge (a semisolid byproduct of purifying water) to the Williamstown plant for composting and take resulting compost off-site for sale to users.

Select Board member Stephanie Boyd, who began ringing the alarm bell about the HWQD in February, said a representative of the commonwealth's Department of Environmental Protection told her that the state and federal governments are failing the public by allowing PFAS-contaminated compost to be used in the production of food.

"In Massachusetts, we have no regulations on what you can put on your land," Boyd said. "Maine had a problem  now they're struggling with what to do with the sludge. Vermont has made their regulations so tight that [spreading contaminated compost] is not a possibility. Farmers in New York take [contaminated compost] with the belief that our government is protecting us.

"And I don't want to be part of that."

Boyd last month asked the Select Board to table its vote on a recommendation of the sewer rate article among all the other fiscal articles on the town meeting warrant in order to allow a fuller consideration.

Resident Laura Bentz, one of a dozen residents to address the Select Board from the floor of Monday's meeting, said she said she felt lucky to live in Williamstown when she read a February New York Times article about a Texas county dealing with high concentrations of PFAS on cattle land.

"Since I heard about this [HWQD plan] a few weeks ago, I've been doing research," Bentz said. "I've found this sludge is illegal on farm land in Maine. It's only been illegal there for two years, and it became illegal because a whole bunch of dairy cows died and the milk was polluted.

"I love balanced budgets. I like low taxes. I don't want to be responsible for putting polluted compost anywhere."

Hugh Daley and Russ Howard, Williamstown's representatives to the four-member HWQD Board of Commissioners, appeared at Monday's meeting to explain the district's rationale for negotiating a deal with Casella that is yet to be finalized.

"What we really are in is the expense management business," Daley explained. "We have a little bit of revenue, and the rest of our expenses we assess in sewer fees. The amount is apportioned between the towns based on flows.

"The goal that the board set was to, based on the idea of composting, of bringing in sludge, making compost and having that compost be moved out was we were going to generate more revenues than we traditionally have generated  which would lead to a lower net budget. What we're offering to the town is a level-funded budget."

Williamstown's sewer rate  proposed by the district and, generally, approved without comment at the annual town meeting  is actually slated to go down a little in FY26 because of the apportionment formula, Daley said. Generally, North Adams' share of the district's operation is about 70 percent, he said.

The Fin Comm, which vets budgets and sends fiscal articles to town meeting, recommended passage of the FY26 HWQD budget on a vote of 9-0.

Select Board members Boyd, Randal Fippinger and Jeffrey Johnson voted against a motion to recommend town meeting approve the water rate. Jane Patton and Matthew Neely voted in the minority of the 2-3 vote.

Patton expressed sympathy for the arguments raised by residents concerned about the plan to import sludge, but she noted that while the town can lobby the HWQD and the Select Board appoints two of its four commissioners, the town cannot tell the special district what to do  any more than it can control the two-town regional school district.

"I don't see [recommending the budget] as endorsing this process," Patton said, referring to the plan to bring in sludge from outside the district. "I think anyone who is reasonable struggles with this  at a minimum struggles with this.

"I don't know that I agree that saying we recommend this [budget] is saying we approve of what the Hoosac Water Quality District says is going to get us to this number."

In addition to the ethical argument against participating in a system that produces more contaminated compost for use in agriculture, participants in Monday's meeting raised a some less philosophical arguments against the HWQD entering the proposed deal with Casella.

Among them, critics noted that sludge in the district's compost yard already leaches water that is then fed into "clean" water discharged into the Hoosic River; that water meets the federal standard for PFAS concentration. Adding "imported" compost  i.e. biosolids not produced in Clarksburg, North Adams and Williamstown  will increase the total volume of PFAS molecules released into the Hoosic, part of the Hudson River watershed.

Daley countered that the "couple of hundred gallons of leachate" the compost yard might give off after a rain is a tiny percentage of the "couple of million gallons" of water processed and released each day by the plant's normal, highly regulated and monitored processing of sewage.

Another resident raised the issue of whether the district  and, by extension, its member municipalities  would be on the hook if they profit from "imported" compost if and when that compost leads to contaminated fields, illness and even death linked to PFAS down the line.

"The question you have around liability, I can't answer," Daley replied. "I think that answer is unknowable. In the grand scheme, anyone can sue anyone for anything."

Another unknown  as of Monday's meeting  is what happens if town meeting ultimately rejects the sewer rate proposed by the district, given the fact that its overall budget is divided among the member communities. In the case of the nearest local parallel, a regional school district, budgets that pass in one community and fail in another can be reworked and revoted in special town meetings. Ultimately, that process can end in a districtwide vote

Town Manager Robert Menicocci advised the Select Board that he has to consult counsel to determine what next steps would be if Williamstown's May 22 annual town meeting follows the recommendation of the board and rejects the rate proposed by the district.

Daley said if the district's negotiations with Casella fall through for any reason  including a decision by the commissioners to pull out  the district likely would be able to lean on reserves and deferred expenditures to get through FY26 without raising the rates it currently is proposing. But those steps would make the FY27 rate increase that much steeper, he implied.

The idea was floated that the HWQD could drop out of the Casella deal and raise rates incrementally for FY26  not enough to reflect the true cost of disposing its sludge in a post-composting world but starting the district and its ratepayers on the path to what even district officials say will be the new reality once state laws start shutting down composting operations altogether.

A former member of the Select Board, Anne O'Connor, was one of many residents who emailed the board and HWQD officials since the plan to import sludge came to light.

"It is one thing to seek to ethically dispose of our own sewage sludge in an imperfect world," O'Connor wrote in the email. "It is quite different to go into the composting business, taking in sludge and 'selling the problem down the road' as people naively contaminate their properties with a product they thought they could trust. As communities learn of the risks, they are opposing and litigating land-based application of biosolids. In short, there hasn't been adequate ethical and legal review."

O'Connor called on the Select Board to ask the district to amend its FY26 budget and come back with a new rate to propose to town meeting.

Neither Howard nor Daley were able on Monday night to confirm the date of the next HWQD Commissioners meeting. Daley said they generally meet the second or third Wednesday of the month, but are not meeting in April because the plant's chief operating officer is out of town. The third Wednesday in May would be just one night before Williamstown's annual town meeting.

One point that came through in several of the comments at Monday's meeting: The local water quality district should not be involved in distributing more PFAS-contaminated compost just because the law says it can do so.

When one resident, Wendy Penner, pointed out that federal regulations are more likely to be torn up than strengthened around PFAS contamination, many in the room nodded or murmured assent. But another speaker, Susan Abrams, said state bans, including in Massachusetts, are highly likely.

"This is seriously coming down the pipeline," Abrams said. "It's going to be expensive for everyone. There's no way we can avoid the expense.

"We can't say what other states do, but we can say what we're doing in Williamstown."
Pittsfield Council Tables DCF Background Check Ordinance

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  The City Council decided that a policy to require clearance from the Department of Children and Families for city employees needs more time.



At last Tuesday's meeting, an ordinance requiring a background check with DCF for all new hires who have contact with minors was tabled.



Ward 2 Councilor Brittany Noto, who is an attorney, believes this is an "extreme overreach of privacy" and will have a disparate impact on otherwise qualified applicants who come from low socioeconomic status, people of color, survivors of domestic violence, and single parents.



"We want more qualified applicants in the city pool who have diverse backgrounds, not less," she asserted.



"If we want to address the actual problem in our schools then we must look to the schools themselves to follow through with disciplinary actions, disclosure, and wherever appropriate, actually removing abuse perpetrators from this field, instead of allowing them to resign and walk away quietly only to be hired by another institution."



She said that while everyone understands DCF is doing its best to serve communities, there are instances where a finding could come out negatively toward someone and then found to be without basis, successfully appealed, or overturned.



"And of note for this council, approximately half of DCF findings are overturned by the Fair Hearing office or could be the result of a non-abusive parent simply struggling to leave an abusive relationship," Noto added.



"Further, this proposed ordinance, as currently drafted, makes no distinction as to open cases versus closed cases with the department, so theoretically, otherwise qualified applicants would be subjected to having decades-old closed cases dug up for inspection, including running the risk of disclosing records involving applicants when they themselves were minors and other potential minors, of which this proposed ordinance makes no distinction."



She admires petitioner Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren's "very" clear efforts and passion to address this problem, but does not think the proposed ordinance achieves that intent.



"I think this proposed ordinance is too broad, has a disparate impact on vulnerable communities, and does not get to the root of the issue," Noto said.



"I think the problem in our schools is going to be fixed when we all take allegations from all students and parents seriously and actually investigate properly, instead of simply passing these perpetrators around quietly. I do not support subjecting qualified people who want to work for the city to a deep dive of any past struggles they may have had with their families and the Department of Children and Families."



Warren said that Noto raised some great points, "and they may or may not be addressed by the language of the statute."
Assistant Engineer David Lennon presents a dire picture of the conditions of the 65-year-old fire station at Tuesday's information session. The station's locked in on all four sides with no space to expand or park vehicles. PreviousNext

Adams Fire Station in 'Catastrophic' Condition; District Seeks Appointed Posts



David Lennon and Fire Chief John Pansecchi, right, speak to issues with the station. The discussion also included a move to appointed positions within the department that will be determined at the annual district meeting and election. ADAMS, Mass.  The Fire Department is worried its new engine will fall through the floor of the firehouse.

And that's only the beginning of the problems.

The deteriorating conditions of the 65-year-old firehouse on Columbia Street was presented during an information session Tuesday night that included discussion of organizational changes in the upcoming election. More than 70 people attended the presentation.

"Our department's home no longer meets the need of an evolving fire service," said First Assistant Engineer David Lennon. "We have major, major structural issues with this building. We have additional safety issues and other liabilities that need to be addressed before we have other catastrophic problems."

Lennon went through a history of the department  from its founding with three hand-drawn carts in 1873, to the 1890 Park Street firehouse and to the larger (at the time) current fire station in 1960.

Now it no longer meets the needs of a modern fire service with its the plethora of regulations and standards, larger and heavier vehicles, the requirements for equipment and training and a call volume that's jumped by 370 percent.

The most pressing issue is the station's floor, which is actually the building's second floor. The Water Department is housed below and accessed off Depot Street.

Lennon said the fire trucks are basically parking on a bridge  one that has had capacity issues almost since the beginning. One half the floor was replaced some 50 years but the other half is original.

The foundation lacks proper footings and the supports are pushing through the floor. It's causing the walls to crack and it's not safe for the new engine, a 2025 E-One Typhoon eMax Engine, that while smaller in width and length is still heavier than the current engine.

A recent needs assessment recommended immediate repairs.

"This floor is insufficient to safely support the live impact load," said Lennon. "That's an important thing, because the live impact load is more than just wait time. It's moving weight, and that's worse, and that's what we have to do in here. Actually, it's needed immediately to avoid a catastrophic failure."

The Fire District will be issuing a request for proposals to shore up the floor for at least the next five years as it contemplates a new station.

Because it's more than just the floor: there's leaking and rotting windows, no proper ventilation, outdated and obsolete electrical panels, minimal storage, two undersized bays (so the rescue truck has to be parked outside), no sprinkler system or CO detectors, and no space for training.

Add to that no room for expansion, a lack of parking and the difficult and dangerous need to cross traffic lanes to back the trucks into the firehouse on a major road with obstructed views.

The district could pour millions into the current station to bring it up to code, but it will still be limited by a lack of space, parking and safety.

Tuesday's presentation was the first step in the process and district officials couldn't answer immediate questions like how much it would cost, where a new station would be located or what would be done with the old building.

What it will require is the development of an advisory group appointed by the Prudential Committee to steer the process and conversations with the town and other partners.

"Within the commonwealth, there have been many fire districts, many towns, many communities who have gone this path before, and you can see what worked, what didn't work, and try to borrow from what's out there," said Lennon. "We don't need to reinvent the wheel, but we need to go ahead and try to be as inclusive as we can bring more views and people to the table."

The needs assessment also recommended the creation of a full-time paid fire chief position, which the Fire District members will vote on at the annual meeting. The chief is currently a stipend post.

Fire Chief John Pansecchi said the responsibilities of the chief have increased significantly and the hours he's been putting in over the last five years have been almost full-time, in addition to his current full-time job.

In addition to overseeing training, budgeting, purchasing, equipment and apparatus maintenance, code enforcement, background checks, fire prevention classes and education, and other administrative duties, the chief is also responsible for a range of inspections and permits including homes, liquor licenses, oil burners and propane systems, home solar panels (to ensure firefighters have access to roofs) and oversize roll-offs.

Pansecchi completed 418 inspections last year and issued nearly 200 permits. He noted that both cities had paid chiefs and a number of towns smaller than Adams.

He also stressed this vote was not about him but whoever holds the position will have the same responsibilities.

"Yes it costs money ... everybody's worried about their taxes. ... any increase in taxes hurts us too," said Prudential Committee Chair Thomas Satko. "But we came to the conclusion we need a full time chief."

The Fire District will also vote on whether the clerk and treasurer and assistant engineers should be appointed rather than elected as ballot questions.

Satko and Pansecchi said it was a matter of ensuring people in these positions are qualified and accountable. Satko said the state Department of Revenue recommended the treasurer be appointed "for efficiency and accountability and experience managing municipal finances."

The chief said elected positions can't be held to trainings or oversight.

"Anyone in Adams can run for an engineer spot," said Pansecchi. "I can tell you what you need but can't make you do it."

The chief and engineers would be paid out of the Fire District budget; the clerk and treasurer would be split between the Fire District and Water Department. A compensation plan would have to be developed but Satko said the district would have a year to deal with that since the positions' elected terms won't end until next year.

Satko could not speak to the salaries at this point but they would have benefits including insurance. The district leaders also broached the potential for hiring part-time firefighters to ensure bodies were available.

"They'll be district employees and won't have to live in the town of Adams," he said. "Some of the Alerts might not like that but we're looking for coverage to keep the people safe."

Pansecchi estimated he had about 20 firefighters who are consistent and capable but couldn't always respond to fires because of their schedules. He acknowledged the problems with recruitment but that wasn't the point of creating paid positions.

"Every fire department is having the same problem," the chief said. "This is not a step toward gaining members, it's a step toward putting qualified people in positions."

The annual election is May 13 from noon to 6 at the firehouse, followed at 7 by the annual meeting. The only other item on the election ballot is a Prudential Committee member for three years. The warrant for the annual meeting will be posted at a later date.
Federal Cuts Include North Adams Culvert Project

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  The Trump administration's cut $90 million in disaster prevention aid for the state including $144,000 for a culvert project on Galvin Road.

The Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant program was providing funding to 18 communities, the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission, the state Department of Conservation and Recreation, and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency.

Engineering for the Galvin Road culvert was one of only two Berkshire projects being funded. The other was $81,720 to Hinsdale to power a public safety building.

The two largest disbursements were $50 million to Chelsea and Everett for flood resilience that was approved during Trump's first term, and $12 million to DCR for a waterfront project in Boston.

Many of these endeavors have been years in the making and the funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency has already been appropriated.

The governor's office said cities and towns have moved forward with expensive permitting applications and engineering and design plans because of FEMA's identification of their project as a future recipient of federal BRIC funds.

"In recent years, Massachusetts communities have been devastated by severe storms, flooding and wildfires. We rely on FEMA funding to not only rebuild but also take steps to protect against future extreme weather," said Gov. Maura Healey. "But the Trump administration has suddenly ripped the rug out from under cities and towns that had been promised funding to help them upgrade their roads, bridges, buildings and green spaces to mitigate risk and prevent disasters in the future. This makes our communities less safe and will increase costs for residents, municipalities and businesses." U.S. Rep. Richard Neal noted the difficult flooding and wildfires the state has had to deal and said the funds would have provided assistance to at-risk communities.

"The BRIC program was established by Congress in 2018, during the first Trump administration, to reduce the hazard risk of communities confronting natural disasters," said the congressman.

"Seven years ago, this program was hailed as a critical tool for local municipalities during their time of need. Now, it is being described as a 'wasteful, politicized grant program.' This is yet another example of the chaotic decision-making that has been a hallmark of this administration, in addition to their continued blatant disregard for the congressional spending power under Article I of the Constitution. ...

"Now, these municipalities will have to account for the difference, leading to increased costs for residents and businesses  a common theme for this administration."
SVHC President Dee Announces Retirement

Thomas Dee at the opening last August of the new emergency room and front lobby at SVMC.

BENNINGTON, Vt.  Thomas A. Dee is retiring this year after 16 years at the helm of Southwestern Vermont Health Care.

The CEO and president of the health care system said he plans to retire at the end of 2025 and a search committee has been formed to seek his replacement.

"It is with mixed emotions that I take this next step in my life," Dee said. "After 45 years in healthcare leadership, I can honestly say that my time at Southwestern Vermont Health Care has been some of the most formative, fulfilling and, at times, humbling work in my career. SVHC has an amazing team of individuals, who care deeply about the patients and families we serve."

Tom Green, chair of the Board of Trustees will co-chair the executive search committee, along with other key leaders at SVHC and Dartmouth Health.

"Tom Dee's extraordinary leadership has been transformative and has catapulted our community hospital into one with a statewide and national spotlight that has five consecutive recognitions as a Magnet Hospital for Nursing Excellence and the American Hospital Association's Rural Hospital Leadership Award," said Green. "He has always taken a hands-on approach to enhancing patient care and experience, while consistently supporting the superb providers, nurses and staff that make it all possible. While Tom leaves big shoes to fill, he has built a highly talented leadership team and is leaving SVHC in a strong position for our next leader."

Dee led SVHC through its initial affiliation with what was then known as Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health in 2012, and the integration with the Dartmouth Health system in 2023. He also guided Southwestern Vermont Medical Center through massive transformations, including the building of the new emergency department and front entrance, as well as impending plans for a new cancer center and an inpatient adolescent mental health unit. He has also played a key role in economic development in Bennington, specifically with the redevelopment plans for the former Southern Vermont College campus and the downtown Putnam project.

"Under Tom's leadership, SVMC has grown from a trusted community hospital that residents of southern Vermont and their neighbors in New York and Massachusetts had relied on for over a century, to a national model of excellence in rural health-care delivery," said Dr. Joanne M. Conroy, CEO and president of Dartmouth Health.

"Since joining our system nearly two years ago, SVMC has not only been strengthened by all the resources available to it as a Dartmouth Health member, but Dartmouth Health itself has been strengthened by SVMC's commitment to quality care and innovation  so much of which comes from Tom leading the hospital. I extend my heartfelt congratulations and gratitude, on behalf of all of Dartmouth Health, to my colleague and friend Tom Dee, whose vision over the last 16 years has and will continue to benefit us all."

Other members of the search committee include: Former Trustee Chair Kathy Fisher, Trustee officers Stephen Kelly and Dimitri Garder, Dartmouth Health Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Edward J. Merrens, Dartmouth Health Chief Strategy Officer Stephen J. Leblanc, SVMC Trustee and former chief nursing officer Carol Conroy, and SVMC past trustee and medical staff president, Dr. Themarge Small.

Dee, who plans to remain in the Bennington area, said he has the utmost confidence in the search process ahead.

"I have always seen myself as a temporary steward of a great institution that has served this community for more than 100 years," Dee said. "The leadership we have in place, along with our trustees, clinical and support teams, will ensure SVHC's mission continues for another century."
mercoledi 16 aprile 2025, 17:09

 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

This article is automatically translated

Born in Senegal, where her father runs a frozen fish export business, Ilaria grows up with the sea as a friend, but soon realizes that the waters she loved are increasingly silent and lifeless. With a strong sense of loss, she wonders if her family's business is contributing to the depletion of the oceans. Driven by the search for truth, the director embarks on a journey between Italy, Tunisia, and Senegal, where she meets five 'children of the sea' who push her to confront her father and reflect on the contradictions related to consumerism, climate change, pollution, and industrial fishing. This is the synopsis of 'Breath,' the documentary by Ilaria Congiu that explores the serious consequences of climate change and consumerism on the oceans: in the footage shot between Italy, Tunisia, and Senegal, the director confronts her father and the state of the waters she grew up with. The film will premiere on the 29th at Cinema Barberini in Rome: public distribution is set for May 5th. 'The sea was, and still is today, my life companion. Over the years, however, it has undergone significant changes that have deeply marked me. Wanting to understand what was happening to the sea led me to pursue a degree in journalism and consequently to spend months aboard the ships of Sea Shepherd Italy. It was then that I discovered realities, like tuna fishing in the Mediterranean, that shocked me. Seeing those tuna swimming, unaware, in circles in the cages that transported them, I felt like them. I felt part of an addicted system that has stopped questioning the reasons for its choices, and therefore spins on itself without knowing where it is heading or who will pay the consequences.'
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A signed letter by Dracula author Bram Stoker is up for sale in London, offering rare insight into the often enigmatic authors mind.

The handwritten letter, sent to an unidentified man referred to as Mr Williams, was authored weeks after the publication of Dracula and includes an almost unprecedented reference to the novel by name.

I send you Dracula & have honoured myself by writing your name in it, Stoker writes in part of the letter. How is enclosed for high? Lord forgive me. I am quite shameless. Yours ever, Bram Stoker

Stokers vampire novel was published in 1897, and went on to become a seminal text within the gothic genre. The story and character have served as the basis for innumerable films and TV series, and the character of Count Dracula is among the most famous literary creations of all time.

Few of Stokers letters survive to this day, and most are characterised as being impersonal and formal. The item up for sale is a rare instance of the author offering an unguarded glimpse into his feelings about his work.

Bayliss Rare Books is selling the letter for 15,000. A press release describes the letter as informal, insightful, and dated just weeks after the books, making it one of the earliest and most candid authorial commentaries on the now-legendary novel.

This letter gives us something weve never really had before: Stokers own voice, responding to Dracula around the moment it entered the world  not as an icon of horror, but as a new, uncertain work, said Bayliss owner and founder Oliver Bayliss.

Bram Stoker (1845-1912), author of 'Dracula' ( Getty Images )

Stoker's humorous aside  Lord forgive me. I am quite shameless  has the ring of an artist knowingly pushing the boundaries of the Gothic and enjoying it. Its theatrical, cheeky, and utterly authentic. That tone simply doesnt appear in his other known correspondence on the subject.

After publication, Dracula went on to define the image of the vampire in the popular imagination. It has been directly adapted into film several times, including the 1958 version, which starred Christopher Lee as Count Dracula, and in 1992, when Gary Oldman played the Count in a version directed by Francis Ford Coppola.

The novel also inspired the 1922 German film Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror, which refrained from using the Dracula brand to avoid copyright infringement. That film was recently remade into the 2024 horror film Nosferatu, starring Bill Skarsgard, Nicholas Hoult and Lily-Rose Depp.
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Director Chris Columbus has said he fears Donald Trumps administration would deport him if he cut the presidents cameo from his film, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.

Released in 1992, the comedy sequel tells the story of eight-year-old boy Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin), who accidentally boards a flight to New York instead of Miami, where his family are spending the Christmas holidays.

After landing in New York, Kevin makes his way to the five-star Plaza Hotel. There, Culkins character bumps into Trump, who owned the Plaza at the time, and asks him for directions to the lobby.

Speaking to the San Francisco Chronicle, Columbus said of Trumps cameo: Its become this curse. Its become an albatross for me. I just wish it was gone.

Although the filmmaker was born and raised in the United States, he has Italian ancestry and admitted he would be worried he would have to go back to Italy or something if he nixed the scene.

I cant cut it, Columbus added. If I cut it, Ill probably be sent out of the country. Ill be considered sort of not fit to live in the United States, so Ill have to go back to Italy or something.

Trumps cameo has been removed from Home Alone 2 before. Back in 2019, Trump supporters complained after a cut of the film without the president was aired on a Canadian channel.

open image in gallery Macaulay Culkin and Donald Trump in Home Alone 2

Additionally, in 2021, Culkin said on social media he was sold on the idea of digitally replacing Trump in the film.

A year earlier, Columbus had revealed that Trump had bullied his way into the movie while they were filming in his hotel.

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We paid the fee, but he also said, The only way you can use the Plaza is if Im in the movie, Columbus said. So we agreed to put him in the movie, and when we screened it for the first time the oddest thing happened: People cheered when Trump showed up on screen.

So I said to my editor, Leave him in the movie. Its a moment for the audience.

open image in gallery Trump shakes hands with El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele during a meeting in the Oval Office ( Getty )

Columbus fears of deportation come after Trumps administration deported a man living in Maryland to a mega-prison in El Salvador in what they have since claimed was an administration error.

When questioned about the incident by CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins, the president repeatedly attacked the reporter claiming her network hates our country and personally insulting her as low-rated.

After a judge ordered earlier this month that Abrego Garcia  who is married to an American citizen and has no criminal record  must be returned, calling his removal unconstitutional, the Supreme Court ruled that the administration must facilitate Garcias release from the prison  adding that his removal from the United States was illegal.


Join us to immerse in the enchanting spring scenery in Beihai Park in Beijing, capital of China. The vigor of nature is shining between the ancient buildings. The blooming flowers give life to the red walls and the white tower, exuding a romantic fragrance of spring. Produced by Xinhua Global Service
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Disneys new live-action remake of Snow White has been barred from Lebanon due to the films inclusion of Israeli star Gal Gadot, who is on the countrys Israel boycott list.

Gadot, 39, who has been a vocal advocate of Israel amid its conflict with Hamas, stars in the film as the Evil Queen alongside Rachel Zegler as the titular princess.

While the movie was released internationally last month, it has been banned from playing in Lebanese theaters. The ban was put in place by Lebanons Interior Minister Ahmad Al-Hajjar, according to Variety, who was acting on behalf of the countrys film and media watchdog amid Israels ongoing attacks on the Lebanese militant group, Hezbollah, which have resulted in civilian deaths.

A representative for Middle East distributor Italia Films, which handles the release of Disney titles in the Beirut region, clarified to the outlet that this is not a new development, as Gadot has been on the countrys boycott list for some time. In fact, no movie in which shes starred has ever been released in the country, per Variety.

The Independent has contacted Gadots representative for comment.

Gadot was born in Israel, where, at just 20 years old, she served as a combat fitness instructor in the IDF army for two years.

Israeli actor Gal Gadot stars in Snow White as the Evil Queen ( Disney )

Her stint with the IDF included her participation in the Israel-Lebanon war in 2006, which caused more than 1,000 Lebanese civilian deaths and left more than one million displaced. It additionally left 165 Israelis dead, of whom 44 were civilians, and more than 300,000 displaced.

Gadots participation in the 2006 war led to the countrys ban on her 2017 DC superhero movie, Wonder Woman, according to reports at the time.

In 2024, a year after Hamas October 7 attack inside Israel, Gadot gave an impassioned speech at the Anti-Defamation Leagues summit, saying: Never did I imagine that on the streets of the United States, and different cities around the world, we would see people not condemning Hamas, but celebrating, justifying and cheering on a massacre of Jews.

Gadots enduring support of Israel sharply contrasted with her co-star Zeglers support of Palestine, fueling rumors of on-set drama.

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According to one source who spoke to People, the two had nothing in common and their political views differ, adding to the tension. A second added that while the two are not friends due to a huge age gap and very different political views, Gadot is fine with Zegler.

Reviews of Snow White have been abysmal, with critics finding the remake disappointing and confusing.

This Disney musical offers nothing to the talented West Side Story star [Zegler], The Independents Clarisse Loughrey wrote in her one-star review of the movie, and features a dud of a performance from Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen.
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Kevin Spacey has again resurrected his House of Cards character, Frank Underwood, to help promote a new Netflix comedy special.

Despite Underwood being killed off before the sixth season of the Netflix drama, following allegations of sexual misconduct made against Spacey in 2017, the actor has revived the character on several occasions since, mostly around the festive period.

Spacey, who was found innocent of nine sexual assault charges by a UK court in 2023, is now back as Underwood in a short promotional ad for comedian and podcast host Tim Dillons new comedy special Im Your Mother.

The advert begins with Dillon ranting to someone on a phone call, before Spacey as Underwood chimes in, saying: You podcasters think youve inherited the kingdom.

Frank Underwood? I thought you were dead, asks Dillion.

Im as dead as John McCain, replies Spacey, referencing the former Republican senator who died in 2018.

He is dead, Dillon says.

Kevin Spacey as President Francis Underwood ( Netflix )

Excuse my ignorance, I meant Herman Cain, jokes Spacey in response. Cain, a Republican party activist, is also dead having passed away in 2020.

Spaceys character then attempts to blackmail Dillon by exposing the amount he has spent on DoorDash orders.

Dillion responds by saying: These photos you gave me. Ive posted them all. Im on the internet. We dont have blackmail. We have content.

Spacey fires back: There is no limit to your duplicity, to your pandering, to your shameless and desperate desire to cling to relevance. You are you are my kind of bastard. You have my endorsement, Mr Dillon.

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When Dillion tells Spacey that his comedy special will be on Netflix, the 65-year-old actor replies: You are a foul, lonesome, evil little cockroach. But I love it.

Dillons comedy special, Im Your Mother, is now streaming.

Spacey was exiled from Hollywood in 2017 after actor Anthony Rapp accused him of sexually abusing him in 1986. Spacey would have been 26 at the time, while Rapp was 14.

Rapps allegations were later dismissed by a Manhattan court in 2022. Spacey has since faced several more allegations of sexual misconduct over the years, all of which he has either denied or insisted were consensual.

Spacey, who came out as gay in 2017 in response to Rapps allegations, was later accused of insensitively using his coming out as a way to disguise his alleged behaviour.

In 2023, Spacey stood trial in the UK after four men alleged that he had sexually assaulted them in separate incidents over the period between 2001 and 2013. He was again cleared of all nine offences.
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Mickey Rourke is reportedly suing ITV and Celebrity Big Brother after his removal from the programme.

The 72-year-old actors six-day run in the house came to an abrupt end after threatening and aggressive behaviour towards Love Island star Chris Hughes and the use of inappropriate sexual language towards Towie star Ella Mae Wise.

Controversy surrounding The Wrestler star began immediately after he ogled CBB presenter AJ Odudu, and faced calls for him to be dropped after homophobic comments to Dance Moms star Jojo Siwa.

He was reportedly paid 500,000 for his three-week stint on the show, but the fee was dramatically reduced to 50,000 after he was kicked off, according to The Sun. Rourkes fee was worked out on a pro rata basis and he has lost a huge amount by leaving the show early.

However, he is now getting his own back if reports are to be believed.

As well as the huge six-figure sum, the scorned actor was also promised five-star accommodation but was then told his budget was 300 a night on the flight to the UK, according to his spokesperson Kimberly Hines. He was allegedly left with a hefty 50,000 bill.

Rourke believes he was left short-changed following his appearance, which he hoped would clear his debts ( ITV )

The publication suggests that Rourkes team believes that he was booted from the competition to avoid full payment of his fee, and had he stayed a day later, he would have been contractually eligible for a much larger amount.

Rourke, who opened up about the childhood abuse he faced on the show, was also reportedly broke and had joined the show to clear debts and improve his financial difficulties, but has now been left short-changed. Hines said that producers were aware that he was a verbal loose cannon upon his signing to the programme.

The Independent has contacted representatives for Rourke, as well as Banijay and ITV for comment.

On the episode that led to his removal, Rourke grew irate when Hughes, in character as a pirate for a shopping task, eyeballed him. Rourke later apologised to Hughes, and told Big Brother he was ashamed of his actions and blamed it on his short fuse.
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Seth Rogen took a swipe at Donald Trump in a joke that was cut from an awards show co-founded by Mark Zuckerberg.

The actor and producer, who currently stars in Apple TV+ series The Studio, criticised the president while presenting at the Breakthrough Prize, a ceremony deemed the Oscars of Science.

Gracing the stage with Edward Norton, Rogen used the opportunity to question why high-profile figures in tech, in an evident reference to Elon Musk, would support Trump when his administration was actively defunding science.

But the comments never made it into the full video released by the ceremony.

The actor said, according to The Hollywood Reporter: Its amazing that others in this room underwrote electing a man who, in the last week, single-handedly destroyed all of American science. Its amazing how much good science you can destroy with $320m and RFK Jr, very fast.

The outlet notes that his comments, heard by the awards co-founders Mark Zuckerberg, Yuri Milner and Sergey Brin, clearly made Norton uncomfortable.

Rogens remarks were a nod to the fact that Trump has repeatedly defied scientifically proven notions and cut federal funding to research.

These cuts affect major scientific programs, and have lead to layoffs at Noaa and Nasa, as well as potentially 10,000 workers at the Department of Health and Human Services.

Funding cuts have also targeted NASA contracts, Covid research grants, and environmental grants, impacting institutions across the country.

Seth Rogen and Edward Norton at the Breakthrough Prize ( Youtube )

For example, there is concern that life-saving scientific work will be endangered by the Trump administrations freezing of $2.2bn in federal research grants for Harvard University.

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Rogens joke didnt set the room alight, with Norton noting the light applause  a comment that made it into the edited ceremony despite the absence of the original joke.

A second quip made by Rogen, about physics prize winner Gerardus, was also edited out of the broadcast.

A spokesperson for the Breakthrough Prize Foundation said: This years ceremony lasted longer than the prior few years, and several edits were made in order to meet the originally planned run time.

The Independent has contacted Rogen for comment.

A survey recently found that 75 per cent of US-based scientists are considering leaving the country due to funding cuts implemented by the Trump administration.
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An air steward in India has alleged that she was sexually assaulted as she lay in a semi-conscious state on a ventilator in a hospital.

The woman, 46, from West Bengal state said that she was training in Gurugram, a tech hub adjoining the national capital Delhi, and nearly drowned in a swimming pool.

She was admitted to the Medanta hospital on 5 April and underwent emergency treatment for over a week. While she was on ventilator support on 6 April, the woman said in a complaint to police, she was assaulted by a ward staffer.

The woman alleged that there were two nurses in her ICU room, but they did not intervene to stop the attack.

She wasnt in a condition to speak or resist the mans advances because of her weakened condition, the complaint read.

The woman told her husband about the assault when she was discharged after six days. The couple then filed the complaint, according to the Indian Express.

Police have launched an investigation.

The team has collected CCTV camera footage from the hospital and is questioning employees who may have interacted with the patient during her stay, Gaurav, Gurugram deputy commissioner of police who goes by his first name, said.

In a statement, the Medanta hospital said they were cooperating with the police investigation. We have been made aware of a complaint from a patient and have been fully cooperating with the investigations conducted by the relevant authorities, it said.

At this stage, no allegations have been substantiated, and all relevant documents, including CCTV footage from the hospital for the time period in question, have been handed over to the police.

According to the latest National Crime Records Bureau data, India reported 445,256 cases of crime against women in 2022, a 4 per cent increase from the previous year. This translated to about 51 formal complaints every hour, but women's groups said the number was likely far higher as many cases went unreported.
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Judges who told rape survivors they "invited trouble" have been criticised by India's most senior court for their insensitive language.

India's Supreme Court has warned lower court judges against using derogatory language in cases about sexual violence against women.

The warning comes after the Allahabad High Court claimed last month that groping a minor and breaking her pyjama string did not amount to attempted rape.

The ruling in India's most populous state of Uttar Pradesh was based on the argument that "attempt to rape" was different from "preparation", Live Law reported.

It led to outrage in India.

Separately, a judge at the same court granted bail to a rape accused while arguing that the survivor had "invited trouble" and was "responsible for the same".

The two-judge Supreme Court bench of Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih described the 17 March order as "shocking", especially since it was not delivered on the spur of the moment but had been well thought through after being reserved for four months.

Justice Gavai said: What is happening in this High Court? Now this is another judge from the same High Court saying such things Why make all these observations?"

Adding: One has to be very careful with these cases which are so sensitive."

Indian demonstrators hold placards during a silent protest 'Not In My Name' in support of rape victims ( AFP/Getty )

Tushar Mehta, the solicitor-general of India, said: Justice should not only be done, but seen to be done. What will the common man perceive from these remarks?

In the case relating to the groping of a child, Justice Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra of the Allahabad High Court ruled that the two accused could at most be charged with "outraging of modesty".

The prosecution argued that the accused had offered a lift to the minor on their bike, and then assaulted her before fleeing after being spotted by passersby. The accused denied the allegations.

The action in question, committed with clear sexual intent, are direct steps in furtherance of rape and should not be dismissed as mere outraging of modesty," read the petition filed by the minor's mother along with an non-profit GO, Just Rights for Children Alliance, The Hindu reported.

"It is submitted the respondents [accused] did not stop committing the crime voluntarily, rather they were forced to flee the scene only on the sudden intervention of passersby."
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Indias top court upheld the use of Urdu on public signboards in Maharashtra, rejecting the notion that the language was alien to the country.

The Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that Urdu and Marathi, the dominant language in the western state, enjoyed equal constitutional status and dismissed the argument for public signage to solely use Marathi.

Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and K Vinod Chandran dismissed a petition by a former councillor in Patur town of Akola district demanding that Urdu on a signboard of the local municipal council be removed and replaced with Marathi.

They commented on how Hindi and Urdu were once closely linked but diverged due to purist influences  Hindi drawing more from Sanskrit and Urdu from Persian. This is not an occasion to have an elaborate discussion on the rise and fall of Urdu but this much can be stated that this fusion of the two languages Hindi and Urdu met a roadblock in the form of the puritans on both sides and Hindi became more Sanskritised and Urdu more Persian, the judges said.

A schism exploited by the colonial powers in dividing the two languages on religious basis. Hindi was now understood to be the language of Hindus and Urdu of Muslims, which is such a pitiable digression from reality; from unity in diversity; and the concept of universal brotherhood.

The petition argued that the use of Urdu was prohibited under the Maharashtra Local Authorities Official Languages Act, 2022. The court rejected this claim saying there was no legal restriction on using Urdu alongside Marathi. It further noted that the petition was founded on a misinterpretation of both the law and the role of language.

The prejudice against Urdu stems from the misconception that Urdu is alien to India. This opinion, were afraid, is incorrect as Urdu, like Marathi and Hindi, is an Indo-Aryan language. It is a language which was born in this land. Urdu developed and flourished in India due to the need for people belonging to different cultural milieus who wanted to exchange ideas and communicate amongst themselves. Over the centuries, it attained ever greater refinement and became the language of choice for many acclaimed poets, the judges said.

Language belongs to a community, to a region, to people, they added, and not to a religion. We must respect and rejoice in our diversity, including our many languages.

Arguing that language was the yardstick to measure the civilisational march of a community and its people, the judges said Urdu was the finest specimen of Hindustani tehzeeb, which they described as the composite cultural ethos of the plains of northern and central India.

The purpose of the Maharashtra signboard, the court observed, was merely communication.

All the municipal council wanted to do was to make an effective communication. This is the primary purpose of a language, which the Bombay High Court has laid emphasis on, it said.

A municipal council is there to provide services to the local community of the area and cater to their immediate day-to-day needs. If people or a group of people, residing within the area covered by the municipal council, are familiar with Urdu, then there should not be any objection if Urdu is used in addition to the official language, the Supreme Court added. Language is a medium for exchange of ideas that brings people holding diverse views and beliefs closer and it should not become a cause of their division.
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Narendra Modi has been accused of engaging in the politics of vendetta and intimidation after Indias financial crime agency named leading opposition figures in a money laundering case.

The Enforcement Directorate named Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi, both senior figures in the main opposition Congress party, in a charge sheet filed before a Delhi court on 9 April.

The court examined the charge sheet on Tuesday and ordered the matter be scheduled for a further hearing on 25 April.

The agency has accused the Gandhis of forming a shell company to illegally take control of property worth about 226m from a company that published the newspaper National Herald. They have previously denied any wrongdoing.

The agency also questioned Sonia Gandhis son-in-law Robert Vadra in a separate case related to alleged irregularities in land deals dating back to 2008, when a coalition led by the Congress party ruled India.

Theres nothing in the case, Mr Vadra told reporters before visiting the agencys office. Whenever I speak for minorities or think about joining politics, they misuse the authorities.

As part of its investigation into the money laundering case against National Herald publisher Associated Journals Limited and its owner, an entity called Young Indian, the agency last week sent notices to seize assets worth nearly 58m.

The Gandhis are major shareholders of Young Indian.

The federal agency had questioned the Gandhis in connection with the case back in 2022 and then, in November 2023, seized assets linked to the investigation worth around 66m, including properties in Delhi and Mumbai and equity investments.

Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi flank Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge at a press conference in Delhi on 21 March 2024 ( AFP via Getty )

National Herald was founded in 1937 by Jawaharlal Nehru, a leading figure in Indias independence movement who would become the nations first prime minister. Rahul Gandhi is Nehrus great-grandson.

The money laundering case against the Gandhis is rooted in a trial court order that allowed the Income Tax department to investigate National Herald and conduct a tax assessment of both mother and son.

The Congress party lashed out at the Modi government after the agency filed the charge sheet against the Gandhis.

Filing charge sheets against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and some others is nothing but the politics of vendetta and intimidation by the prime minister, party spokesperson Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X.

The party and its leadership would not be silenced by such intimidation, Mr Ramesh added.

Senior party member Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury accused the prime minister and his BJP party of hatching a conspiracy to destroy the Congress.

You can make them do anything and we dont care about that, he said, referring to federal agencies. We are not afraid of the BJP and PM Modi. We will fight this.

Fellow senior party member Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the government was only exposing itself and declared that the accusations would be contested fully in all aspects.

KC Venugopal, another senior Congress member, said the move reeks of desperation from prime minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah, who are failing to address the concerns of the people and are looking to continuously create distraction after distraction.

Shehzad Poonawalla, spokesperson for the ruling BJP, defended the federal agencies. Whosoever indulged in corruption and loot will now have to pay back, he said.

They pocket the public money and grab public property and play the victim card when action is taken They made public property their own in the National Herald case also.
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A robot has begun its second attempt to extract melted nuclear fuel from one of the reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant in Japan, as part of a long and complex decommissioning effort following the 2011 nuclear disaster.

On Tuesday, Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) launched the latest mission at the plants No 2 reactor, aiming to retrieve a fresh sample of radioactive debris from closer to the core.

The effort builds on a first trial run conducted in November last year, which successfully extracted a tiny amount of debrisless than a gramfor analysis.

The robotic system, known as Telesco, is equipped with extendable arms, cameras, and a gripping tool designed to function in high-radiation zones.

Inserted through a narrow passage, the device will manoeuvre up to 22m inside the reactor's primary containment vessel. It is expected to take up to 12 days for the robots tip to reach the new target location.

This second operation is focused on retrieving material from one to two metres closer to the reactors centre, where more of the molten fuel is believed to have accumulated during the triple meltdown caused by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami in March 2011.

open image in gallery A bird flies within the premises of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Futaba town, northeastern Japan on 20 February 2025 ( AP )

The disaster triggered one of the worst nuclear accidents in history, leaving around 880 tonnes of radioactive fuel debris across three reactors.

The sample from the previous mission, which was roughly the size of a raisin, revealed traces of uranium, zirconium and other materials used in nuclear fuel. However, scientists say further sampling is required to gain a fuller understanding of the debris composition and distribution inside the damaged reactors.

The ultimate aim is to develop the technology and techniques needed for large-scale fuel removal, set to begin in the 2030s at the No 3 reactor. Tepco says it may revert to collecting a sample from the previous location if the robot is unable to reach the deeper site due to obstructions.

Tepco last year confirmed that the telescopic retrieval system is being upgraded since its first use, with a new camera to improve visibility and increased stability for the tip section.

Preparatory work in March included intensive worker training to check the order of the pipes and camera issues that delayed the earlier mission by several months.

open image in gallery A combination of images illustrating the end jig passing through the isolation valve during the second fuel debris trial retrieval at Tepco's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Okuma, Fukushima prefecture ( AFP via Getty Images )

The decommissioning process is expected to last decades, with some experts warning it could take more than a century due to the extreme radiation levels and technical complexity involved.

Robots, last month also began removing radiation-soaked sandbags from underground areas of two reactor buildings.

In 2023, Japan started releasing treated wastewater into the Pacific Oceanequivalent to the volume of 540 Olympic-sized swimming pools. While the International Atomic Energy Agency backed the move, it prompted China and Russia to ban Japanese seafood imports.

China has since reported no abnormalities in seawater or marine life near Fukushima, though it continues to enforce the ban pending further tests.
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Survivors of childhood sexual abuse and activists are urging the Japanese government to abolish time limits on civil lawsuits seeking compensation, arguing that current laws make it almost impossible for many victims to access justice.

Nearly 60,000 people have participated in a signature campaign since January demanding the abolition of the time limit, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported.

Under Japans civil code, victims must file a civil lawsuit within three years of recognising harm caused by an unlawful act. Survivors and campaigners however say trauma often prevents individuals  particularly those abused as children  from recognising the abuse or coming forward until much later in life.

Ikuko Ishida, 47, is among those leading the call for change. The photographer alleges that she was sexually assaulted by a male teacher in junior high school but only came to understand the nature of the abuse in her late thirties.

I could not comprehend that a schoolteacher would commit an indecent act against a student, she told the newspaper. It wasnt until she developed post-traumatic stress disorder in 2016 that she began to process the experience.

The accused teacher was fired from the junior high school in Sapporo in 2021 after Ms Ishida came forward.

Ms Ishida says the abuse began in 1993 and culminated in sexual assault shortly before her graduation. When she turned 38, Ms Ishida started developing post-traumatic stress disorder and, in 2019, she filed a suit for damages against the accused as well as the Sapporo city government.

While the court recognised that the abuse had occurred, it dismissed her suit on the ground that the statute of limitations had expired. The Tokyo High Court upheld the lower court's decision.

In many cases, a long time is needed until the victim in a sex crime becomes able to claim the damage, Ms Ishida told the Yomiuri Shimbun. Under the statute of limitations, it is irrational that the passage of time makes it difficult for victims to even stand in a court trial.

She is asking for the limitation period to be abolished or at least extended.

open image in gallery Representative. School children making their way to class in Tokyo ( AFP via Getty )

A study conducted by the Japanese government in June 2022 found that sexual abuse of minors in most cases happened at school. The survey found that 2,040 of the 8,941 respondents had been victims of child sex abuse, The Manichi reported.

Japan revised its criminal code in 2023 to extend the limitation period for sex crimes  setting it at 15 years for rape and 12 years for sexual abuse with the clock starting at age 18 for child victims  but did not make an equivalent reform to the civil code.

In contrast, countries like Germany suspend civil time limits until victims turn 21.

Measures for dealing with sex crime damage to underage victims have progressed overseas, Yoshihito Kawakami, a lawyer leading the campaign in Japan, said. We want to energise discussions on the issue in Japan through our activities.

The campaign, which began gathering public support early this year, has garnered over 60,000 signatures so far. Organisers plan to present the petition to the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors by the end of next month, hoping that lawmakers will introduce a special bill.

Legal experts argue that reform is long overdue. Its hard for victims to speak up about sexual assaults in childhood. Making them think it is useless to file a lawsuit because of the statute of limitations is no different from causing secondary damage, Professor Katsumi Matsumoto of Ritsumeikan University said. It is necessary to seriously consider new frameworks such as suspension of time limits.

The Legislative Council, an advisory body to the Japanese justice ministry, previously discussed extending the civil statute of limitations to 10 years in serious cases but only a five-year extension was implemented, reportedly due to concerns about evidence loss.

There are no specific provisions currently for underage victims seeking civil compensation, making Japans legal framework inadequate for survivors of childhood sexual abuse, according to campaigners.
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A 31-year-old American citizen was arrested for allegedly smuggling a suitcase full of kush" cannabis into Sri Lanka from Thailand.

The suspect, employed by a land trading company in the US, was held at the Bandaranaike airport in Colombo on Tuesday morning after he arrived on a Sri Lankan Airlines flight. He has not been named.

He was detained while trying to exit the airport through a designated business corridor at the arrival terminal, customs officials said.

The Narcotics Control Unit of Sri Lanka Customs recovered a total of 23kg of cannabis, concealed in around two dozen packets in his suitcase, according to local news website Ada Derana.

Customs officials said the estimated street value of the seized drugs was about 582,000.

The American was one of over half a dozen foreigners arrested in the first four months of this year attempting to bring cannabis into Sri Lanka from Thailand, authorities said.

Following the decriminalisation of cannabis in Thailand, additional director general of Sri Lanka Customs Seevali Arukgoda told reporters there had been a growing trend of people trying to smuggle the narcotic into the island nation in significant quantities.

Customs authorities also arrested four Sri Lankan citizens on Tuesday for allegedly bringing kush cannabis and hashish into the country. The suspects, aged 23 to 36, were caught carrying less than 500g cannabis each.

Last month, Sri Lankan authorities arrested an Indian couple for allegedly bringing "kuch" cannabis coated in chocolate and worth 50,685 into the country. The couple, accompanied by their seven-year-old child, were detained after they landed in the island nation en route to India from Thailand.

Customs officials alleged that the couple had rolled around 2kg of cannabis into small balls, wrapped the balls in polythene and coated them with chocolate. The chocolate balls were then wrapped in gold and silver foil to seem like real chocolate.

The chocolate coating method was so sophisticated that even sniffer dogs at the airport couldnt pick up the cannabis scent, a Narcotic Control Unit officer told the Daily Mirror.

A 21-year-old British national was similarly detained last year for allegedly smuggling over 40kg of "kush" cannabis into the country from Bangkok.
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The Philippines is facing sweltering conditions this week, with the heat index forecast to reach a dangerous 50C in some parts of the country.

The highest heat index on Wednesday is forecast for Los Banos, Laguna, marking the second straight day of extreme conditions in the municipality, according to the national weather bureau PAGASA.

The heat index combines air temperature and relative humidity to indicate how hot it feels to the human body, often referred to as the feels-like temperature.

It is a more accurate gauge of discomfort and health risk than air temperature alone.

PAGASA warns that heat index values between 42C and 51C fall under the danger category, meaning heat-related illnesses  heat cramp, heat exhaustion and heatstroke  are more likely with prolonged exposure or physical activity outdoors.

At least 17 other areas across Luzon and the Visayas are also expected to witness danger level heat indices. San Ildefonso in Bulacan is expected to see 47C, while Sangley Point, Ambulong, Batangas and Baler are forecast to experience 43-44C.

In the capital Manila, conditions are expected to stay consistently warm, with the monitoring station at the Ninoy Aquino international airport recording a 42C heat index on Tuesday.

Men deliver sacks of ice cubes as hot temperatures persist in Quezon city, Philippines ( AP )

The health department is urging the public to take precautions to avoid heat-related illnesses. These include wearing light and breathable clothing, avoiding outdoor activities during peak hours, staying hydrated, and seeking shade or cool spaces.

Authorities are also urging citizens to check on vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, and those with pre-existing health conditions.

In 2024, heat indices in the Philippines peaked at 53C in Iba.

Not only the Philippines but much of Southeast Asia is experiencing above-normal temperatures, coinciding with the tail end of El Nino conditions. Experts say the heat stress is made worse by the climate crisis, which is pushing average temperatures higher and increasing the frequency of extreme heat events.
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Nvidia has become the latest company to be impacted by the fallout of president Trumps constant alterations to the trade scene, with the chipmaker announcing a $5.5bn (4.1bn) charge related to export controls to China.

One of the worlds most valuable companies by market capitalisation, Nvidias share price has suffered a dramatic fall in 2025, touching around $150 in the first week of the year before sinking to below $100 in the immediate aftermath of Trumps initial tariff announcement.

While the share price has since clawed back some ground, closing above $112 in Tuesdays market, evening news of the latest hit - and announcing licences being required for some further exports - sent it falling more than five per cent once more in pre-trading, leaving Nvidia approaching 20 per cent down year to date again and wiping $150bn from its market cap.

Yet all this comes after the promise of US-based investment to the tune of half a trillion dollars - and theyre not the only ones to do so. Which prompts the question: is the Trump administration getting what it wanted?

US manufacturing

If youve frequented social media since the question of tariffs arose, youll doubtless have seen AI-generated spoof images and videos of overly stereotypical Americans hard at work in clothing factories and the like.

Leaving aside the question of whether the population actually wants those jobs, what Trump wanted to see more of - along with more balanced trade deficits - was companies agreeing to move production Stateside.

open image in gallery TRUMP-INMIGRACION-FOTOGALERIA ( AP )

Not enough manufacturing and too much importing meant the US were paying what the administration clearly feels is over the odds for goods they should be self sufficient with - and the tariffs are a leveraging tactic in that regard.

Even if that means the initial people to foot the bill are in fact his people, Americans facing rising costs and an uncertain immediate outlook.

Investment incoming

The president has been clear again this week in his comments about getting companies to move. Want to avoid the extra costs on your products that the tariffs create? Switch to America.

All I have to do is impose a tariff. The more, the faster they move here, Trump said this week. He was specifically speaking about pharmaceuticals and drugs at that moment, but the wider point remains the same - the more production in the States, the better.

And some big signs of investment incoming are now there.

Nvidia only this week announced theyd be making a full $500bn (376bn) investment in the US across the coming four years, building AI servers and producing AI chips in the country.

open image in gallery ( Getty Images )

Apple have done the same - half a trillion of investment in the US announced, its self-proclaimed largest-ever spend commitment, supporting manufacturing facilities, working with domestic suppliers and even Apple TV productions.

Microsoft have reiterated their intent to continue domestic investment, another chipmaker TSMC said last month theyd invest $100bn in US manufacturing and, doubtless, others will continue to follow.

Some analysts doubt the full nature of these investments - the totals include things like pre-planned expansions, salary rises and everything else which goes on in the normal course of business - but the commitment is certainly there to continue spending.

Negotiating tactic or future baseline?

Outside of tech and for smaller businesses who export to the US, the lingering uncertainty is whether tariffs become the norm and, therefore, whether a portion of sales may be lost for good.

Its one thing for companies worth trillions to announce long-term investment plans, but local enterprises and microbusinesses can barely keep pace with regulations changing, let alone open production on another continent.

It can work both ways: if the president gets more investment on home soil, perhaps no longer term tariffs are required. On the other hand, the US may feel they will ensure the balance stays redressed.

This is what Trump is aiming for, said City Index analyst Fiona Cincotta. It is moving that manufacturing back to the US, which is what Trump has pledged.

Industry- and even company-specific carveouts are likely the next step where alterations will come, and few will be surprised if they benefit the businesses who have planted a flag on increased production on American soil.
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Scientists have raised concerns about the lack of Tyrannosaurus rex fossils for their research due to wealthy individuals buying them all.

The mighty T. rex is one of the most iconic dinosaurs, easily identifiable from its massive body, menacing jaws and sharp teeth.

Touted as one of the most ferocious predators ever to walk the Earth, its fossils date to more than 66 million years and have been widely discovered across North America  mainly in the US states Montana and South Dakota.

Several features of the mighty dinosaurs traits and lifestyle still remained debated, including what its lifestyle was like, how big it actually was, and how fast it ran and hunted prey.

Fossils of the T. rex are increasingly becoming unavailable for research because of private collections, scientists warn in the journal Paleontologia Electronica.

The study suggests T. rex fossils sell anywhere from $1.55 million to $38.68 million USD, preventing most museums from acquiring the fossils.

open image in gallery Tyrannosaurus Rex dinosaur fossil skeleton is displayed in a gallery at Christies auction house ( Getty Images )

In the study, scientists assessed the status of currently known T. rex fossil specimens from a range of sources, including primary literature, museum records, and media reports.

Particularly, researchers found that samples of the dinosaurs juvenile form, dubbed popularly as teenage T rex fossils, have been emptied by more than half by trade.

Of particular concern is the private ownership of juvenile and subadult specimens, the part of growth that is least understood, which make up 20 per cent of privately held T. rex, researchers wrote.

open image in gallery Teenage T rex fossil ( UNM Biology via Eurekalert )

The sale of T. rex fossils is resulting in lost data regarding the giant lizards variation across its growth stages as well as context on its geological distribution, according to scientists.

They warn that there is vast commercial exploitation of T rex fossils, heaviest in Montana and South Dakota.

There are 61 T. rex fossils in public trusts, whereas 71 are privately held, researchers wrote.

If there was no commercial exploitation of the dinosaurs fossils, researchers say there could be nearly 150 complete T rex specimen available for scientific studies.

In less than three decades, scientists say commercial interests have collected more significant fossils than nearly a century and a half of collection made by public trusts like museums.

open image in gallery Koller auction house director Cyril Koller (C) gestures next to the skull of the 'Trinity' ( AFP via Getty Images )

Researchers raise particular concern about a surging luxury fossil market in which dinosaur skeletons are sold as decorative art at high-profile international auctions.

T. rex fossils are sold for millions of dollars, making them available only to the richest people or consortia, scientists wrote.

The market has depleted the scientific record of T. rex because vertebrate fossils that are not in public trusts are unavailable for scientific study, they concluded.
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A gang has been luring men over the Grindr dating app before bursting into their homes in a series of burglaries being treated as homophobic hate crimes.

The Metropolitan Police fear there may be dozens more victims of the gang are urging them to come forward after three people were arrested.

Members of the gang arrange to meet unsuspecting victims at their home over the dating site, police said. Once inside, they build up a rapport with the victim in an attempt to steal a glance at their phones pin number.

They then steal high-value items, including phones, which they then use to make lavish online purchases.

Its believed approximately 50 offences have taken place between October 2024 and March this year, and officers from the Mets Specialist Crime Command are asking for more victims to come forward.

A 22-year-old man from Potters Bar in Hertfordshire was arrested on Thursday, 3 April on suspicion of burglary and fraud offences. He was charged and remanded in custody.

Two other men, aged 27 and 28 and both from Harrow, have been arrested on suspicion of burglary and are on bail while the investigation continues.

Superintendent Owen Renowden said the force were treating the series of pre-planned burglaries and frauds as a hate crime.

He said: Our investigation is progressing at pace, but we believe there are a number of offences that have not yet been reported to us, so I urge anyone who may have been targeted, or may have crucial information that will help us with our enquiries, to contact us as soon as possible."

He added: The Met Police is fully committed to ensuring all our communities in London feel safe, as well as continuing to enhance the trust and confidence LGBT+ people place in us. Organised crime has a devastating impact on society and your help will be key in helping us bring those responsible to justice.

open image in gallery From left, Abubaker Alexawy, Hadza Demalji, Ali Hassan, Mohammed Sharif, Wasim Omar (West Midlands Police/PA) ( PA Media )

In January, a gang who used Grindr to lure four men to parks in Birmingham where they would be brutally attacked and robbed were jailed for 80 years combined.

Demalji Hadza, 21, Abubaker Alezawy, 21, Ali Hassan, 20, Wasim Omar, 24, and Mohammed Sharif, 22, suceeded in stealing 100,000 over a 10-month period and left their victims fearing for their lives.

In some cases, their victims were held for hours as they were forced to hand over their bank details and agree to large transactions.

If youre a victim or have information that could assist officers with their investigation, you can contact police on 101, quoting reference CAD 5090/15APR.

You can also remain 100 per cent anonymous and pass information onto the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or by visiting Crimestoppers-uk.org, as well as GALOP, via their national helpline on 0800 999 5428.
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The Manchester Arena bombers brother has been given a spork to eat with in prison just days after allegedly attacking three guards in a kitchen area using homemade weapons.

The three prison officers were taken to hospital with life-threatening stab and burn wounds on Saturday after the prison officers union said Hashem Abedi attacked them using hot cooking oil and sharp objects at a high-security prison in County Durham.

Abedi  who is serving at least 55 years for the murders of 22 people after conspiring with his brother to launch the May 2017 atrocity  was one of the only prisoners in the country being held at a specialist separation unit for extremists at HMP Frankland.

According to a report in The Times, Abedi has now been moved back to a segregation cell at HMP Belmarsh in London, where he and two fellow inmates were convicted for attacking a prison officer inside the prisons high-security unit in 2020.

The Independent understands that Abedi has been given a spork to eat with. The utensil is understood to be made out of plastic, and is taken away from Abedi outside of meal times.

open image in gallery Hashem Abedi was convicted of assisting with the Manchester terror plot ( Greater Manchester Police )

The Times cited one unnamed prisons expert as warning: Sporks can be sharpened. Right now he should have nothing in his possession capable of being used as a weapon.

The Prison Officers Association (POA) said on Sunday that one female prison officer targeted in the alleged attack the previous day had been discharged from hospital at 4pm on Saturday.

Two others remained in hospital with serious injuries but had stabilised, said the unions national chair Mark Fairhurst, who told the BBC: They all have burns and scalds and the two in hospital have severe stab wounds.

Counter Terrorism Policings northeast division is leading the investigation into the serious assault, and said on Saturday night that the suspect has been detained.

Abedi was handed a record-breaking 55-year minimum term for his role in the Manchester Arena bombing, avoiding a whole-life order because he was under 21 at the time.

open image in gallery Hashem Abedi is reported to have been moved to HMP Belmarsh ( Anthony Devlin/PA )

Frankland is one of three prisons in England and Wales containing a separation unit intended to house the most dangerous prisoners in thrall to extremist ideologies, which were first announced in 2017 following a review into extremism in prisons.

While the three units have a total of 28 places, they were occupied by just nine men and the unit at HMP Full Sutton was closed entirely when the facilities were last inspected in 2022. The inspection report described the Frankland unit is on a narrow corridor with a small room for association and an area for prisoners to cook and prepare food.

Mr Fairhurst, of the POA, said on Sunday: To allow that type of prisoner to access the kitchen and use the utensils that can be used as weapons against staff, and can inflict serious harm on staff, that needs to be removed immediately.

Were now worried about the knock-on effect of this and copycat incidents.

Separately, it has emerged that specialist riot-trained officers were called to HMP Lowdham Grange on Tuesday to reports of disorder involving multiple prisoners, including inmates climbing onto roofs and netting.

open image in gallery Prisons minister James Timpson warned that jails are violent and overcrowded ( Getty Images )

Prisons minister James Timpson said: Prison staff rapidly resolved this incident, and I would like to pay tribute to them for doing so. But this is another sign of the problems we are facing in our prisons, with prisons that are overcrowded and violent.

This government is gripping the crisis we inherited. We are building 14,000 new prison places and we will reform sentencing. We will ensure our prisons encourage offenders to turn their backs on crime  and we will make them safer for our hardworking staff.

It came as the latest government figures showed there are now fewer than 1,000 spaces left across the entire prison estate  and only 551 in mens jails  just months after the government freed thousands of prisoners early to avert a total breakdown in law and order.

The Ministry of Justice said on Tuesday it had always been clear that longer term action was required to ease the capacity crisis, and said it had already delivered 900 new prison places, with 1,500 more opening this summer, including at the new HMP Millsike in the coming weeks.
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A cold and calculated carer who stole more than 17,000 from residents to fund her online gambling habit has been jailed

Cheryl Louise Pratt, 35, used her position as a senior support worker to target five elderly victims at her York care home.

She was found to have set up online bank accounts in the names of her residents before transferring funds to her own account.

North Yorkshire Police said she spent the majority of the thousands on online gambling.

She also used their bank details to make online purchases, order takeaway food and buy lavish gifts for her family.

Pratts crimes were uncovered when the brother of one of the victims noticed unexpected activity on her bank account. An internal investigation was carried out, she was sacked and the police were called in.

Under interview, she claimed to detectives that all the cash withdrawals were made with her victims permission.

But a doctor overseeing the victims health told York Crown Court none of the care home residents could give consent for anyone to transfer money from their accounts.

DC Oliver Dalby, of North Yorkshire Police, said: Cheryl Pratts offending was cold, cruel and calculated. As a senior carer, she knew which residents would be the most vulnerable to financial exploitation, and these were the people she targeted.

She abused her position, disregarding her duty to safeguard the care home residents in pursuit of her own self-interest.

The victims and her former colleagues have been left utterly devastated by her actions, and it is right that she faces the consequences of her crimes.

Id also like to thank the victims and the care home staff for their patience and support during this investigation.

Pratt was sentenced to two years in prison on Tuesday April 15.
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The advertising regulator has banned a number of adverts for bum lifts that irresponsibly pressured women into booking the cosmetic procedure.

After launching six investigations towards the end of last year, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has now ruled that all six of the ads for liquid Brazilian Butt Lifts (BBLs) irresponsibly pressured consumers into booking, trivialised the risks of liquid BBLs, or exploited womens insecurities surrounding body image.

The ASA banned the ads over breaches of its rules, ordering the six companies to not advertise the cosmetic surgery similarly in the future.

It warned advertisers it will take immediate action against rule breakers and emphasised its expectation that they exercise a high level of caution when promoting procedures that carry significant risks and currently lack formal regulation.

The regulator also raised broader concerns over the irresponsible advertising of liquid BBLs in general, with Wednesdays rulings forming part of a wider crackdown.

open image in gallery Alice Webb died following a non-surgical liquid BBL procedure at a UK clinic ( PA Media )

In October, it launched a targeted sweep of UK-based advertisers of cosmetic surgery and non-surgical cosmetic interventions via its Active Ad Monitoring system, which uses AI to comb through online ads.

Some businesses were found to not be following the advertising rules, triggering the six investigations into ads by Beautyjenics Ltd, Bomb Doll Aesthetics, CCskinlondondubai, EME Aesthetics & Beauty Academy Ltd t/a eme_aesthetics, NKD Medical Ltd t/a Dr Dacu London, and Rejuvenate Academy Ltd t/a Rejuvenate Clinic & Academy. The Independent has approached all six companies for comment.

The adverts investigated by the ASA were all paid-for ads on social media.

Among them was a paid-for Facebook ad for CCskinlondondubai, a cosmetic treatment provider, seen in November 2024.

It featured an image of a gift-wrapped present and text that stated SALE BLACK FRIDAY BBL. HIP DIP. BREAST, alongside a list of procedures and their prices, with the word sale superimposed in the background several times, while text in the caption stated: Get the curves and contours youve always wanted with our safe and effective body filler treatments. Feel confident every step of the way! Safe, proven, and beautifully natural results. Expertly qualified team.

The regulator found the time-limited offer created a sense of undue urgency to book and had not been prepared in a socially responsible manner. It also ruled that the caption exploited womens insecurities around body image and linked confidence to cosmetic procedures and detracted from the seriousness of the decision to undertake a cosmetic intervention, which trivialised the risks of the surgery.

The other ads similary came under fire for short-term offers and deals, false claims surrounding the safety and risks of the procedure, and problematic content about womens bodies.

Liquid BBLs, which can legally be carried out by untrained individuals in the UK, involves injecting hyaluronic acid to change the shape of the buttocks or breasts.

Last year, The Independent reported that hundreds of women have been rushed to hospital after getting botched bum lifts and breast enlargements from unregulated practitioners  with one woman, Alice Webb, even dying following the procedure in a UK clinic in September.

Describing how the ASA is generally concerned about the irresponsible advertising of liquid BBLs, it said: Choosing to undergo a cosmetic procedure is a serious decision, so ads that trivialise this, exploit insecurities, or pressure consumers can cause real harm. We're particularly concerned about these type of ads for liquid BBLs, given the procedure is currently unregulated and is known to be high risk.

We expect advertisers to exercise a high level of caution when promoting procedures that carry significant risks and currently lack formal regulation, and todays rulings send a clear message that we won't hesitate to take action if they break the rules. We plan to continue this work through follow-up monitoring and compliance action to make sure the cosmetic surgery and non-surgical cosmetic interventions industries are advertising responsibly.

NKD Medical Ltd t/a Dr Duc told the ASA they always encouraged consumers to make informed decisions without pressure.They said that the claim safe and effective accurately represented their services and that they aimed to ensure they did not trivialise the potential risks involved in their treatments.

EME Aesthetics & Beauty Academy Ltd t/a EME Aesthetics told the regulator that all their clients were given a full consultation and were under no obligation to book any procedures. They, therefore, rejected the ruling that their ad had pressured consumers and trivialised the risks of cosmetic procedures.

Rejuvenate Academy Ltd t/a Rejuvenate Clinics told the ASA they had not realised their ad might have been in breach of the regulators rules and would ensure future ads are compliant. They said they would now remove all references to time-limited offers, and state in ads that the surgery was carried out by a medical professional with ultrasound to minimise risks and enhance safety.
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A woman who was left needing heart surgery after developing blood poisoning is one of hundreds to fall ill after swimming in the UKs polluted waters as sewage spills reached a decade high last year.

Campaign group Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) received 1,853 sickness reports through its service app in 2024, with 331 people having to see a doctor and 79 per cent reporting that medical professionals had attributed their illness to sewage pollution.

Hundreds were diagnosed with gastroenteritis, chest infections and serious bacterial infections, with some having to be hospitalised. Overall, the reported instances of sickness led to nine years worth of sick days, which is estimated to have cost the economy 493,200.

open image in gallery The duration of sewage spills was up in 2024 ( PA )

SASs annual Water Quality Report revealed that sewage was pumped into British waterways 592,478 times for 4.7 million hours last year, despite the shareholders of private water companies being paid 1.2bn.

The water industry has failed to hit its pollution reduction targets and recorded 2,489 spills in 2024  more than double the target set by the Environment Agency.

In one instance, Suzi Finlayson, a 42-year-old mother, was left requiring open-heart surgery after becoming critically ill from swimming in the water in Bognor Regis. Ms Finlayson, an avid sea swimmer, developed a blood infection which led to life-threatening infective endocarditis.

She said: I became critically ill and spent six weeks in hospital care. This experience has completely changed my life. Ive faced a long recovery, ongoing health challenges. This has impacted my family, and the financial strain of closing my business and being unable to fully return to work.

open image in gallery An annual report from Surfers Against Sewage found 27 per cent of adults considered not paying their water bills ( Surfers Against Sewage )

At the time of my infection, a sewage overflow from three pipes at Aldwick Beach lasted 343 hours (14 days), as reported by Southern Water. I was regularly sea-swimming two to three times a week and was advised that my infection could have entered through a cut, my skin, or my mouth.

In all honesty, I dont trust the water industry. Lives and the environment are at risk and there is a complete lack of transparency, accountability and urgency when it comes to public health and environmental impact.

In September 2023, 28-year-old Charlie Clarke became violently unwell after swimming at a popular spot, Clevedon Marine Lake, while training for an Ironman race. The following day, he collapsed and spent the next four months undergoing tests, which proved that a virus caught in the water had lowered his blood pressure and caused a minor episode in his heart.

open image in gallery Charlie suffered an episode to his heart after swimming in polluted water ( Surfers Against Sewage )

Sickness reports are collected only through data provided to the Safer Seas and River Service app, meaning the number of people becoming unwell from poor water quality is likely to be substantially higher.

In England, the top bathing spots affected include Wallasey in Wirral, Merseyside, with 2,201 discharges, the Dart Estuary with 1,553 discharges and Plymouth Hoe East with South West Water recording 1,511 discharges.

Through a survey of 2,000 adults, it was also revealed that 27 per cent of people in England have considered not paying their bill due to the action of their water supplier, with just one third believing their supplies will take the necessary action to end sewage pollution.

View more

It comes as water bills across England and Wales are set to rise by up to 47 per cent this month and as customers are due to pay 160 more in 2030 than in 2024.

The government and the Independent Water Commission are conducting a review of the future of the privatised water industry, with a public call for evidence closing on Wednesday 23 April.

As part of their annual report, SAS is calling for regulators to hold stakeholders to account, to ensure water companies are transparent around their finances, and to prevent financial rewards from being awarded if laws are broken.

Giles Bristow, CEO of SAS, said: The water industry fails, fails and fails again and yet is permitted to come up smelling of roses, while our coastlines, rivers and lakes suffer the stench of sewage pollution. The numbers are staggering: record hours of sewage discharges, huge bill increases, thousands of people becoming ill and yet still the industry has the gall to pay out billions [in] billpayer money to shareholders.

Things could not be clearer: this broken system needs urgent and radical reform.

We can change things if we change the way our system is run. Across the globe, the norm is to manage water at a local level, rather than the 100 per cent private ownership model in place in England that has proved catastrophic for the environment and public health.

The era of broken pipes and broken promises must end and be replaced by a fresh vision for water that ends pollution for profit and leads to a fair and transparent system  one that prioritises public health and value for customer money and delivers healthy coastlines, rivers and lakes.

A Water UK spokesperson said: We have been clear that the water system is not working and support the Independent Water Commission looking at every aspect of how the industry is regulated.

However, no sewage spill is ever acceptable and water companies are investing 12bn to almost halve spills from storm overflows by 2030.

This is part of the largest amount of money ever spent on the natural environment to help support economic growth, build more homes, secure our water supplies and end sewage entering our rivers and seas.
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Trans women are not legally women under the Equality Act, the Supreme Court has ruled in a landmark judgment.

Campaign group For Women Scotland (FWS) brought a series of challenges  including to the UKs highest court  over the definition of woman in Scottish legislation mandating 50 per cent female representation on public boards.

On Wednesday, five judges from the UK Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the terms woman and sex in the Equality Act refer to a biological woman and biological sex, in a decision that could have wide-ranging ramifications for trans womens rights to use services and spaces reserved for women.

open image in gallery Womens rights activists celebrate outside the Supreme Court ( AP )

It means that transgender women with a gender recognition certificate (GRC) can be excluded from single-sex spaces if proportionate.

Gender critical rights campaigners have hailed the ruling as a victory for biological women that will protect single-sex spaces, with FWS saying they were absolutely jubilant about the result.

But trans rights groups have reacted with dismay, warning that it will exclude trans people wholesale from participating in UK society.

jane fae, director of trans campaign group TransActual, argued society will divide more sharply into queer-friendly and queer-hostile spaces as a result of the ruling, adding that it will be the poorer for it.

The entire trans community is devastated, the campaigner told The Independent. Irrespective of the small print on this ruling, the intent seems clear: to exclude trans people wholesale from participating in UK society.

This morning, we are feeling very alone. That, though, is today. We have come through worse before and trans people are not going away. Whatever the non-trans world throws at us, we will be back, each time, stronger than before.

Labour for Trans Rights have called the Supreme Courts decision hugely disappointing, arguing that it came as a result of ceaseless lobbying from a well-funded anti-trans network.

The group said: Labour must not follow the example of Donald Trump, and must instead protect the Equality Act, one of Labours proudest pieces of legislation, and its legal protections for trans people.

The Labour Party must stand firmly behind the LGBT+ community.

Meanwhile, transgender rights campaign group TransLucent said: Many in the trans community will be extremely worried by this decision and its implications.

We would like to reassure them that they are still protected from discrimination, victimisation and harassment because of their protected characteristic of gender reassignment, they added in a statement.

open image in gallery Trans rights groups have called the ruling hugely disappointing ( AP )

The dispute centres on whether someone with a GRC recognising their gender as female should be treated as a woman under the UK 2010 Equality Act.

FWS has previously said not tying the definition of sex to its ordinary meaning could have far-reaching consequences for sex-based rights, as well as everyday single-sex services such as toilets and hospital wards.

But lawyers for the Scottish Government told the Supreme Court at a hearing in November that a person with a GRC is recognised in law as having changed sex.

In their ruling on Wednesday, justices at the UKs highest court unanimously ruled in FWSs favour.

In the wake of the verdict, the government reaffirmed its support for the protection of single-sex spaces based on biological sex, with women and equalities minister Bridget Phillipson saying the ruling brings clarity and confidence, for women and service providers such as hospitals, refuges, and sports clubs.

Single-sex spaces are protected in law and will always be protected by this government, she added.

But Rosie Duffield, an outspoken critic of Labours position on trans rights, accused the government of gaslighting.

The gender critical MP, who quit the Labour Party last year, told Times Radio the party had actively blocked women from promotion if they questioned the rights of trans people to enter our spaces.

Officials have confirmed the NHS is now looking at updating its official guidance on same-sex wards to reflect the ruling, which currently says trans people should be accommodated according to their presentation: the way they dress, and the name and pronouns they currently use.

In an 88-page judgment, Lord Hodge, sitting with Lords Reed and Lloyd-Jones alongside Ladies Rose and Simler, said that while the word biological does not appear in the definition of man or woman in the Equality Act, the ordinary meaning of those plain and unambiguous words corresponds with the biological characteristics that make an individual a man or a woman.

They argued that transgender people are still protected from discrimination under the act, but that gender reassignment and sex are separate bases for discrimination and inequality.

The ruling was welcomed by Britains equalities watchdog which argued it successfully addressed challenges around single-sex spaces.

Baroness Kishwer Falkner, chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), said: We are pleased that this judgment addresses several of the difficulties we highlighted in our submission to the court, including the challenges faced by those seeking to maintain single-sex spaces and the rights of same-sex attracted persons to form associations.

Meanwhile, Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch used the ruling to launch a political attack on the prime minister, saying: The era of Keir Starmer telling us women can have penises has come to an end.

Saying trans women are women was never true in fact, and now isnt true in law either. This is a victory for all of the women who faced personal abuse or lost their jobs for stating the obvious. Women are women and men are men: you cannot change your biological sex.

The prime minister has faced repeated questions over his definition of a woman in the five years since he became Labour leader, amid an increasingly heated debate over transgender rights.

Labour has promised to modernise, simplify, and reform the intrusive and outdated gender recognition law to a new process, pledging to remove indignities for trans people who deserve recognition and acceptance.

However, the prime minister has also previously said trans women with GRC dont have [the] right to enter women-only spaces, adding that biological womens spaces need to be protected.
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Tommy Robinson has lost a bid to reduce his 18-month jail term for repeating libellous allegations against a Syrian refugee.

Lawyers for the far-right activist, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, argued his detention in prison segregation is making him ill at a hearing at the High Court last week.

In a ruling on Wednesday, Lady Chief Justice Baroness Carr, Lord Justice Edis and Lord Justice Warby dismissed the appeal.

They said the sentencing judge had taken a meticulous approach to deciding the appropriate sanction, adding: The evidence falls far short of the standard for a successful criminal appeal based on fresh medical evidence.

The 42-year-old was jailed for contempt of court last October by Mr Justice Johnson after he admitted to 10 breaches of a High Court order made in 2021.

open image in gallery Robinson is being held at HMP Woodhill, a category B mens prison in Milton Keynes ( PA Archive )

Robinson had been barred from repeating false allegations against a refugee called Jamal Hijazi. Mr Hijazi successfully sued Robinson for libel after the then-schoolboy was assaulted at Almondbury Community School in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, in October 2018.

He was accused of thumbing his nose at the court in front of millions of people in the flagrant breaches after the defamatory allegations were repeated in six podcast and YouTube interviews undertaken by Robinson since February 2023, including with Jordan Peterson.

A 90-minute documentary called Silenced, which substantially repeats the allegations, was also published or aired on four occasions, including on Twitter/X  where it was viewed by 44 million people  and to crowds at a rally in Trafalgar Square in July 2024.

At one point, the film was reshared by controversial far-right influencer Andrew Tate to 2.2 million followers.

The founder of the now-defunct English Defence League is currently set to be released on 26 July, but insists his detention at HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes is impacting his mental health.

Alisdair Williamson KC told the court last week that Robinson suffers from ADHD and complex post-traumatic stress disorder, which, when combined with his segregation in prison, was having a demonstrable effect on him.

He said: Mr Justice Johnson acknowledged that ... there could be an effect on Mr Yaxley-Lennons mental health and, along with other factors, he reduced the sentence he was going to impose by one-sixth, four months.

But he did not have before him this additional factor, which in of itself means that the conditions that Mr Yaxley-Lennon faces are more onerous.

He continued: He is being kept safe by the authorities in segregation, but being kept safe is making him ill, and more ill than Mr Justice Johnson could have foreseen on the basis of the information before him.

We invite this court to interfere with that order to reduce the sentence imposed.

The Solicitor General opposed the appeal bid, arguing that Robinson remains defiantly in breach of the order and was asking for the courts indulgence.

He added there was no evidence that the conditions in which the appellant is being held are more severe than was anticipated by sentencing judge Mr Justice Johnson.

open image in gallery Tommy Robinson at a protest in June 2024 ( PA Wire )

In a 15-page ruling, the panel of appeal judges said new evidence about Robinsons mental health does not on analysis show either a significant exacerbation of a known medical condition or a material new factor.

They said: Even taking the appellants case at its highest, we see no reasonable basis for the contention that the conditions that he is experiencing are so substantially worse than the judge anticipated at the time of the sanction decision as to call for a downward adjustment.

Following the ruling, a spokesperson for the Attorney Generals Office said: Stephen Yaxley-Lennon repeatedly ignored judges' orders and continued to spread libellous allegations.

His 18-month sentence reflected how gravely the court considers contempt. We respect the courts decision to refuse permission to appeal the sentence imposed.

The appeal comes after he last month lost a separate legal challenge over his detention in solitary confinement due to threats against him in prison.

The Ministry of Justice opposed his bid, telling the court his segregation was substantively more permissive than standard regimes, with access to a laptop and emails, several hours of daily exercise and four hours of social phone calls each day.

Tom Cross, representing the ministry, noted that 120 people had been authorised to visit Robinson, with more than 80 visits already conducted.

A judge dismissed his challenge, saying his case was not arguable.
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The UKs Supreme Court handed down a judgment on Wednesday which has found that the terms woman and sex in the Equality Act refer to a biological woman and biological sex.

With potential long-lasting ramifications on how Britain treats its equalities policy, the dispute centres on whether or not somebody with a gender recognition certificate (GRC) recognising their gender as female should be treated as a woman under the 2010 Equality Act.

The ruling follows a series of legal challenges brought by the campaign group For Women Scotland (FWS), backed by Harry Potter author JK Rowling, over the definition of a woman.

The decision means that transgender women can no longer sit on public boards in places set aside for women. However, it could impact the way that trans people use single-sex spaces such as toilets, refuge spaces and hospital wards.

open image in gallery Activists in Parliament Square ahead of Wednesdays decision ( AFP/Getty )

It is likely to reignite the contentious debate around sex and gender that has caused a headache for both Westminster and Edinburgh in recent years and renew pressure from campaigners on either side.

What does the ruling mean?

In the ruling justices at the UKs highest court unanimously ruled in FWSs favour, and ruled that woman in equality law refers to biological women.

Lord Hodge, sitting with Lords Reed and Lloyd-Jones alongside Ladies Rose and Simler, said the central question is how the words woman and sex are defined in the 2019 Equality Act.

He continued: The terms woman and sex in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman and biological sex.

The justices later said that if sex did not only mean biological sex in the Equality Act, providers of single-sex spaces including changing rooms, homeless hostels and medical services would face practical difficulties.

This is likely to affect policymaking on gender in sports, as well as within the armed services. Other spaces likely to be affected will be hospitals, as well as women-only charities, and access to changing rooms and women-only spaces.

Lord Hodge stressed that trans people are still protected under the Equality Act from discrimination and harassment.

Meanwhile, trans rights campaigners have urged those affected to remain calm until further details are clarified about the daily impact this will have on trans people.

What is the case about?

The legal dispute began in 2018 when the Scottish parliament under Nicola Sturgeon passed a bill designed to establish gender quotas for public boards. It was amended to count trans women with gender recognition certificates, which confirmed their female gender, which sparked a legal challenge by FWS.

After several cases in the Scottish courts, which FWS lost, they were allowed to send the issue to the Supreme Court in London for a final ruling. Their crowdfunder has so far raised 230,000, which includes a 70,000 donation from Rowling.

The appeal at the Supreme Court before Lord Reed, Lord Hodge, Lord Lloyd-Jones, Lady Rose and Lady Simler was heard last November and, after the two-day hearing, the judges said they would take time to consider very carefully before issuing their judgment on 16 April.

When FWS legal argument was published ahead of Novembers appeal, director Trina Budge said: Not tying the definition of sex to its ordinary meaning means that public boards could conceivably comprise of 50 per cent men, and 50 per cent men with certificates, yet still lawfully meet the targets for female representation.

open image in gallery Trans rights activists last year ( PA )

Campaigners for FWS, who believe that sex is biological and cannot be changed, had high hopes that after losing their case in Scotland, they would win in London. This means the issue will not be limited to Scottish law, and will instead affect interpretation of the 2010 Equality Act which applies across Great Britain.

What do both sides say?

Gender critical campaigners are arguing that not tying the definition of sex to its ordinary meaning could have far-reaching consequences for sex-based rights, as well as everyday single-sex services like toilets and hospital wards.

They have previously argued that the Scottish government was overstepping its powers by effectively redefining the meaning of woman by revising guidance under the Equality Act.

Meanwhile, trans rights campaigners have said that if the Supreme Court rules that a GRC does not change your sex, they will lose protections against discrimination.

Ruth Crawford KC, who responded on behalf of Scottish ministers, argued that transgender people had a fundamental right to be recognised, and someone with a GRC was entitled to legal protections just as much as others enjoy those protections who are recorded as a woman at birth.

What are the likely implications?

Gender reform has become a sticky topic for politicians in recent years, with Wednesdays verdict likely to prove a talking point for parties ahead of an election at Holyrood next year.

Whatever the outcome, it will probably galvanise calls to revisit the Equality Act. The Equality and Human Rights Commission, which enforces the 2010 act, had previously suggested that MPs had not appreciated the consequences for women of the law viewing a transgender woman with a GRC as legally female.

If the definition of a woman reversed the decision to include trans people with a GRC, it could see them miss out on equal pay and sex discrimination rights and contribute to a wider atmosphere of hostility.

What does this mean for trans people?

Edinburgh-based charity Scottish Trans is urging people "not to panic" following the ruling as they await further clarification.

"There will be lots of commentary coming out quickly that is likely to deliberately overstate the impact that this decision is going to have on all trans people's lives," the charity posted on Bluesky.

Amnesty International UK described the ruling as "disappointing" with "potentially concerning consequences for trans people" but said it is "important to stress that the court has been clear that trans people are protected under the Equality Act against discrimination and harassment".

One thing is certain, the ruling is likely to place pressure on both governments in Westminster and Holyrood to rewrite the Equality Act.

The 88-page ruling stated that if the word sex did not only mean biological sex in the 2010 legislation, providers of single-sex spaces including changing rooms, homeless hostels and medical services would face practical difficulties.
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British tourists have been banned from bringing meat and dairy products back from Europe in a blow to travellers getting away for Easter.

Under new rules, travellers returning to the UK will not be able to carry beef, pork, lamb, mutton, venison, goat meat or dairy products.

It means tourists travelling to the continent for the long Easter weekend will no longer be able to bring back small amounts of cheese and meat  such as a wedge of French brie or a German sausage  to give as gifts or to enjoy upon returning.

open image in gallery The new rules come as hundreds of thousands prepare for Easter getaways ( PA )

If youre travelling over Easter weekend, check what you can and cant bring back before you go, the government warned.

A post on X, formerly Twitter, from the governments official account sought to play down the impact of Brexit on the changes, stressing that the measures are to protect farmers from the spread of foot and mouth disease amid rising cases on the continent. There are currently no cases in the UK.

Farming minister Daniel Zeichner said: This government will do whatever it takes to protect British farmers from foot and mouth.

That is why we are further strengthening protections by introducing restrictions on personal meat and dairy imports to prevent the spread of the disease and protect Britains food security.

open image in gallery Farming minister Daniel Zeichner said the changes were to protect farmers from foot and mouth disease ( Dayelsford )

Hundreds of thousands of British tourists are planning to flock to the continent over the Easter weekend, and the Port of Dover alone said it expects to process around 5,500 cars embarking on outbound ferry sailings between 6am and 1pm on Good Friday. Meanwhile, aviation analytics company Cirium said 11,282 flights are scheduled to depart from UK airports between Good Friday and Easter Monday.

Under the rules, the government has warned travellers that declared goods will be seized and destroyed by Border Force officers at customs.

Travellers discovered with undeclared meat or cheese face potential prosecution or fines of up to 5,000.

The rule change is the latest post-Brexit headache to hit travellers between Britain and the EU, and comes after the casualty of the famous booze cruise  a tradition of British households hopping on ferries to stock up on cheap French wine.

Restrictions since Britain left the EU mean travellers can no longer return to the UK with as much wine as they like. They now have a limit of 18 litres or 24 bottles of wine per person; for beer, the limit is 42 litres.

Liberal Democrat MP Caroline Voaden told The Independent: The January reports of foot-and-mouth cases in Germany brought back chilling memories of 2001. Following those cases, I questioned the farming minister about whether the government would accelerate negotiations for a veterinary agreement with the EU.

While he assured me no extra impetus was needed, three months on, we still lack any substantial agreement, and the government is now banning the personal imports of meat and dairy products from the EU.

Lets be clear: this is a blunt move which wont help to secure our long-term biosecurity. While no one wants to see foot-and-mouth on our shores again, the government must realise that these bans are not the solution. We urgently need a veterinary agreement with the EU, not just to boost biosecurity, but to slash the red tape our farmers and fishers deal with every time they want to export to our biggest trading partner.
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Education secretary Bridget Phillipson has put her weight behind the launch of a new website to help parents teach their children the basics to get them ready to start primary school.

The new Starting Reception website, developed by education charitable foundation Kindred Squared along with schools and parents, is being launched on Wednesday as parents learn which primary school their children will attend.

It comes amid fears that the Covid babies born during lockdown may be the least prepared for school yet. There is growing evidence of four-year-olds starting primary school being unable to even climb stairs or take off their own coats.

Advice on the new website includes helping parents to teach their children essential survival skills for school such as going to the toilet on their own and even recognising their own names.

Speaking to The Independent, Ms Phillipson said: It's crucial to understand that giving every child the best start in life begins long before they walk through the school gates. Thats why were supporting Kindred on our collective effort to get tens of thousands of children school ready.

open image in gallery Bridget Phillipson ( PA )

The intervention comes as concern grows over the gap between what many parents consider school readiness to be and the reality of what is needed for them when they start reception.

The alarming divide was highlighted by teachers in the latest Kindred Squared annual report on school readiness.

This years survey found that teachers and parents have very different views on what the term means; with nine out of 10 parents saying they thought their child was ready for school, but according to teachers, only one in three children were actually ready.

Meanwhile, one in five parents had not heard about school readiness at all.

Worryingly, the survey found many children were unable to climb staircases, while one in four were unable to go to the toilet themselves.

Already schools are being asked by Keir Starmers government to supervise children in brushing their teeth.

About one out of every four, external five-year-olds in England has had tooth decay - and in poorer areas, it is one in three.

The latest findings were partially blamed on children being born during lockdown when interventions at home were at a minimum or non-existent.

The new definition of school readiness will list recommendations in four categories for children arriving at reception, to help them develop a range of abilities and the confidence to get off to a flying start.

These include growing independence, building relationships and communication, physical development and healthy routines.

Each category will include links to expert organisations offering practical steps for parents or carers to try and build these skills into their childs daily lives.

open image in gallery Primary school children brushing teeth ( PA )

Activities with advice for parents will include how to teach their children to use the toilet by themselves; being able to take turns and share toys; recognising their names; hanging coats on pegs; paying attention for short periods of time; drawing, painting or colouring in; and talking about their feelings

There will also be support to help their children to be active for at least three hours a day, limiting screen time, putting their own coats on, brushing their teeth twice a day, and being able to use cutlery.

Ms Phillipson has spoken in the past about how important school was in getting her out of poverty when she was young.

She said: Finding out where your child will be starting school is a big moment for any family, and it often comes with a mix of excitement and questions about what lies ahead.

I want to reassure parents that this government is laser focused on ensuring we have the best education system in the world, with every child supported to thrive in life and work.

To achieve this, its crucial to understand that giving every child the best start in life begins long before they walk through the school gates. Thats why were supporting Kindred on our collective effort to get tens of thousands of children school ready.

Because school readiness is more than a milestone  its the foundation for everything that follows in a childs education and later life. Thats why improving school readiness is at the heart of our Plan for Change.

We will measure our progress through tens of thousands more children reaching a good level of development by the end of reception. To help get there, were taking real action  rolling out free breakfast clubs from this month and expanding access to school-based nurseries in September, to give every child the best possible start in life.

Schools and nurseries working with millions of families are sending and sharing a link to the new Starting Reception website created by a unique, collaborative group of leading early years organisations in what is the biggest push to improve school readiness ever seen.

This is the first time that such a large group of organisations involved in education, parenting and early years have come together to define what being ready to start reception means and what they recommend for parents, carers and children. Until now there has been no official description of starting reception skills.

Felicity Gillespie, director of Kindred Squared said: Our annual school readiness reports consistently highlight a persistent problem. There is a deeply worrying gap between what teachers expect children starting in reception to be able to handle from day one when compared with what parents say their children are able to do.

This new definition, backed by many leading experts and trusted partners, will help parents and carers ensure their children reach school readiness milestones so that they can be confident they are ready to start school and thrive from day one.

Molly Devlin, Director of Early Years at Ark Start, a nursery group based in London, said: The Starting Reception website is an important resource for parents and carers, with clear, practical guidance on what starting school involves and how to help children feel confident and ready. At Ark Start, we work very closely with families and see the positive impact that the right support at the right time can make.

The new Starting Reception website can be found at www.startingreception.co.uk
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Sir Keir Starmer has been warned that giving in to US demands over free speech to secure a trade deal will harm children.

The concerns have been raised after sources close to the Trump administration claimed vice-president JD Vance wants the UK to repeal hate speech laws and ditch plans for a new online safety law in exchange for a trade deal that could see the UK avoid tariffs.

He has previously suggested that free speech is being undermined by laws banning hateful comments, including abuse targeting LGBT+ groups or other minorities, and sees UK legislation aimed at improving online safety as an attack on US tech giants.

Both the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) and the think tank The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) have highlighted concerns over any retreat by Labour on either area.

Matthew Sowemimo, associate head of policy for child safety online at the NSPCC, said: The Online Safety Act offers a foundation that we believe will vastly improve childrens experiences online.

open image in gallery US vice-president JD Vance (Mark Schiefelbein/AP) ( AP )

For too long, too many children and young people have been exposed to harmful content, groomed, harassed, and bullied online.

To ensure this vital legislation reaches its potential, we need the UK government to ensure the Online Safety Act is strongly implemented and bolstered where needed. They must be holding Ofcom and tech companies to account, and ensuring the act has enough weight behind it to change the tide for childrens safety online.

Sophia Worringer, deputy policy director at the CSJ, said: We have a deeply unhappy generation, amplified by the cancer of social media, whose childhood spent online is threatening their adulthood. Added to this is the ballooning welfare bill with more young people than ever going straight from education into long-term sickness benefit.

Unless we act now to increase the age of digital consent to 16 and ban algorithms for users under 16, our forecasts show that one quarter of all UK children will suffer from a mental disorder by 2030. This is a national emergency, and we need to act now.

The concerns came after the vice-president said he was optimistic on the prospect of a UK trade deal with the US, adding that Donald Trumps administration is working very hard to get it done.

But Washington sources warned that Mr Vance is obsessed with the collapse of western civilisation and has linked what he sees as an erosion of free speech in the UK and Europe to getting a trade deal done.

As well as hate speech laws, he has also raised concerns about legal cases against Christians for praying silently outside abortion clinics.

open image in gallery Keir Starmer and Donald Trump (Carl Court/PA) ( PA Wire )

The Independent was told: The vice-president expressing optimism [on a trade deal] is a way of putting further pressure on the UK over free speech. If a deal does not go through, it makes Labour look bad.

The vice-president does have supporters in the UK for his agenda. Lord Toby Young from the Free Speech Union has said he supports Mr Vances desire for hate speech and online safety laws to be removed.

Lord Young said: I would prefer it if His Majestys government stood up for free speech of its own volition. But as it has no intention of doing so, I welcome a bit of pressure from our American cousins.

I think JD Vance is absolutely right to raise the alarm about the UK and its European neighbours losing sight of free speech and its of vital importance to the proper functioning of liberal democracy.

European political elites are increasingly trying to silence their critics by passing laws against misinformation, disinformation and hate speech, rather than engaging in open debate about issues like immigration, climate change and abortion.

However, Stephen Kinsella from the Clean Up the Internet campaign group warned: Watering down online safety rules to get a trade deal with Trump would be a huge mistake. Rules to keep our children safe, and to protect our society from hate and extremism, simply shouldnt be up for negotiation.

But it also just doesnt make any kind of economic sense. Right now we are all footing a huge bill for unsafe social media sites, for example in money lost to fraud, or in taxpayers money to deal with the fallout of the damage to mental health.

The governments own figures show that the cost of unsafe social media is over 30bn per year. Watering down online safety bills would mean the UK continues to have to pay billions to clear up the mess caused by the US companies, and thats not a good deal for us to strike.

Downing Street has insisted that free speech concerns have not been raised in the trade negotiations, with US trade secretary Howard Lutnick taking the lead in most of the talks with UK business secretary Jonathan Reynolds.

The UK is hoping for a specialised trade deal with the US which will largely focus on integrating the two countries for future growth industries such as artificial intelligence and biotech.

However, there have been further complications over President Trumps threat of tariffs which he has suspended for 90 days. The UK car industry is facing 25 per cent tariffs while the UK as a whole would be hit by taxes of at least 10 per cent on all exports to the US.

Part of Mr Trumps claims is that online safety laws, as well as VAT are barriers to US trade.

The hope is that a trade deal between the two countries would eliminate most tariffs.
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Pharmaceutical bosses and the government are racing to stop Donald Trump from slapping tariffs on medicines in a move that would significantly impact Britains multibillion-pound industry.

The US president has warned he will impose a 25 per cent levy on foreign drugs, which would devastate UK giants GlaxoSmithKline and AstraZeneca.

America is by far the largest market for the firms, making up 40 per cent of AstraZenecas revenue, worth more than 20bn.

open image in gallery Officials are scrambling to exempt pharmaceuticals from Donald Trumps tariffs ( PA )

The government held a dinner with pharmaceutical chief executives on 2 April as Mr Trump unveiled his Liberation Day levies on the world.

One government source told The Times: Were all just reacting to whatever comes out of the White House but I cant see a world where we wouldnt want to protect one of our biggest export markets and we wouldnt include that in discussions.

Meanwhile, the Financial Times reported that Johnson & Johnson boss Joaquin Duato told a call of analysts on Tuesday the tariff could lead to medicine shortages. Theres a reason why pharmaceutical tariffs are zero. Its because tariffs can create disruptions in the supply chain, leading to shortages, he said.

The British embassy in Washington is believed to be pushing for the UK to be exempted from any tariffs on pharmaceuticals, alongside US-based trade body the Biotechnology Innovation Organisation.

Most countries, including the US, have for years exempted drugs from tariffs, partly thanks to a 1995 World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreement aimed at keeping medicines affordable.

open image in gallery Donald Trump has complained about the US not making its own drugs ( EPA )

Pharmaceuticals are currently exempt from a baseline 10 per cent tax Mr Trump has placed on goods entering the US, but the US president has previously said: We dont make our own drugs, our own pharmaceuticals  we dont make our own drugs any more [] all I have to do is impose a tariff. The more, the faster they move here.

On Monday, Mr Trump said he expects to impose tariffs on imported pharmaceuticals in the not-too-distant future.

But JD Vance raised hopes of Britain being protected from the worst of Mr Trumps wrath, highlighting the presidents affinity for the royal family and stressing the US was working very hard on what would be a great trade deal.

In an interview with Unherd, the vice-president said: The president really loves the United Kingdom. He loved the Queen. He admires and loves the King. It is a very important relationship. And hes a businessman and has a number of important business relationships in [Britain]. But I think its much deeper than that.

Theres a real cultural affinity. And, of course, fundamentally, America is an Anglo country.

I think theres a good chance that, yes, well come to a great agreement thats in the best interest of both countries.

Minister Lilian Greenwood stressed on Wednesday that pharmaceuticals are very important to the UK and said she hoped Britain would strike a trade deal with the Trump administration leaving no tariffs in place.

She told Times Radio: We know how important the life sciences sector is in the UK ... Pharmaceuticals, obviously, very important to us. And thats sure to be part of the discussions that were having on a trade deal, as is the UK automotive sector. And we, as a UK government, are doing all we can to protect those British industries.

Of course, wed be aiming for there to be no tariffs. But thats part of a negotiation.

The head of the University of Birminghams flagship life sciences cluster warned any tariff on drugs could lead to supply chains collapsing and patients suffering.

Professor Gino Martini, who runs the business innovation facility Precision Health Technologies Accelerator, told The Times: It is a multi-site, multi-country supply chain and anything which hampers that could result in unintended consequences for patients, including the availability of medicines. We do not want patients to suffer.

A government spokesperson said: This government is committed to acting in the best interests of the UK and for peoples jobs and livelihoods.

We continue to work across government on trade matters including the announcements from the US.

We are engaging widely with those who stand to be affected by any tariffs, including the pharmaceutical sector.
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US calls to weaken the UKs hate speech laws in exchange for a trade deal have sparked a strong reaction from Independent readers, with many alarmed at what they see as foreign interference in British democracy.

While a few acknowledged problems with how free speech is handled in the UK, most were strongly opposed to the idea of giving in to pressure from Washington  particularly from US Vice President JD Vance, who has reportedly demanded the scrapping of protections for minorities.

Many voiced concern that free speech is being weaponised by powerful figures  including President Donald Trump  not to defend open debate, but to shut down criticism while playing the victim.

One reader even described his conditions as neofascist and out of step with Britains democratic values.

Others warned that the UKs need for a post-Brexit trade deal is being exploited, putting Britain in a weaker position.

Overall, our readers had a clear message for Prime Minister Keir Starmer: dont trade away British laws and values for a quick economic boost. Many argued that any deal undermining protections, particularly for LGBT+ people and other minority groups, would be not only politically reckless but morally indefensible.

Heres what you had to say:

Want to add your view? Simply share your opinion in the comments section below.

The UK will never capitulate

Vance's proposed "terms and conditions" regarding the tariff negotiations are a step too far. As a long-recognised democratically ruled country, the UK will never capitulate on our humane laws governing free speech, abortions, gay/transsexual/lesbian/bisexual rulings and the rights of our disabled community too.

I'm so grateful to live in a country that advocates freedom and fairness for all. Some sections of the community in the USA suffer so many hardships and indignities on account of the extreme right-wing views and attitudes emanating from Trump and his sidekicks. It's absolutely horrendous!

In the fullness of time, it may well be that the current discussions will never "bear fruit" and the UK will choose instead to sever commercial ties with the USA and trade with Europe and the rest of the world instead. I'll keep my fingers firmly crossed for this option!

JanetC

A breach of our sovereignty

The price the Trump administration is demanding to do a trade deal is surely too high. Telling us what laws our Parliament can or cannot pass is a breach of our sovereignty.

I wanted rid of the Tories, as many others did. But this government has become a big disappointment, even beyond what I expected. That is one reason why I did not vote Labour.

If Starmer and co sign up for US demands on free speech and other contentious matters, many others and I will be outraged. We need our government to stand up for us and our right to make our own laws. If it does not, then it is simply letting us all down.

49niner

This is not a free speech issue

Vance wants us to open the prison doors to people who incited rioters online to set fire to hotels full of human beings.

We have had a Riot Act since 1714. This is not a free speech issue.

He is also concerned that we allow no protests within 150 metres of abortion clinics. That is a decision of our Parliament. Our abortion laws are supported by 90 per cent of the British people. Again, this is not a free speech issue. They can protest all they like in the remaining 99.9999 per cent of the country. But they cannot intimidate people undergoing traumatic medical procedures, which are a confidential matter between them and their doctors.

Again, not a free speech issue.

We must not give way on this.

I won't even mention the rapidly growing limitations on free speech in the USA or the fact that I would certainly be denied entry if they searched my phone for unkind mentions of Trump.

SteveHill

Unbelievable

This is truly unbelievable. This is exactly why progressive politics are losing across the world.

No one is willing to defend our values. Instead, theres always a full apology for laughable accusations. But in doing so, you confirm the myth that free speech, in the true sense, is under threat.

How dare the American Right attack the UK on free speech?

The US has banned any number of books, academics, journalists, influencers, protestors  anyone who speaks out. Scientists and researchers who publish climate reports have been suppressed. Academics banned from teaching. The list goes on.

Not only that, but Americans are attacking libraries here. Not a word was said.

Apart from all that, who are the Americans to interfere in our internal affairs?

Whatever the rights and wrongs of free speech in this country, the Americans would never accept us interfering in their internal affairs.

Jim987

Concentrate on the EU

Trying to do a trade deal with Trump's USA is a complete waste of time, in my opinion. Starmer should concentrate on the EU and make steps to rejoin  at least start by joining the customs union and single market.

I think that Starmer should put the country to a vote to rejoin the EU, and this time the Brexiters would lose  possibly handsomely as well.

The vote to rejoin the EU would, of course, be democratic, in the same way as the vote to leave was in 2016.

Getting rid of hate speech and accepting chlorinated chicken is not the way forward.

Christopher1959

Patriotism and xenophobia go hand in hand

When Parliament was recalled last Saturday for the debate on Scunthorpe, it reminded me of Hilary Benns rousing speech to Parliament, which had Emily Maitlis in tears, urging us to bomb Syria for the sake of our great nation and its democracy. As always, such appeals to patriotism invariably hide darker motives, and last Saturday, Parliament was unanimous in its condemnation of China, which, in my view, is being scapegoated for decades of government incompetence. Patriotism and xenophobia so often go hand in hand.

However, I suspect that UK politicians are completely unaware of the deep and widespread disgust felt by ordinary people in the UK at the actions of Trump and his cronies, which assail us daily. That the Labour Party, which I used to support, is even considering changes to the laws on tax and hate speech in response to Vances absurd right-wing ideological ranting is unforgivable.

The arrogant spin from Starmer is, We know how to handle Trump  he really doesnt know what hes doing.

He knows exactly what hes doing. Its called bullying. Its degrading to us, and our government is rolling over. I will not vote Labour again as long as Starmer is leader.

Paddly

If you tolerate this...

To quote the Manic Street Preachers, "If you tolerate this, then your children will be next." Why should we allow the US to interfere in our national life, in the way our laws are created and implemented? Why should anyone in the UK feel that they can be intimidated by others because the law no longer protects them?

Hate speech can be used to incite violence; it can be used as a rallying cry for those with hatred in their hearts to enact that hatred. It doesn't support the far-right agenda, and that alone is why Vance is against it. And let us not forget the personal angle that Musk brings to this agenda because of his transgender daughter. Personally, I would make sure that we join the Customs Union and tell the US where to send its chlorinated chicken, steroid-filled beef, fruit juice with permitted maggots, and candies with banned colourants.

TigerMother

Brexit made us weaker

This is not entirely surprising. I had said before Brexit that leaving the EU didn't mean that we could suddenly just do whatever we want. It would mean sucking up to countries and regimes that may be dubious, because we would have to trade with thembut we would be the weaker partner outside the EU.

However, I didn't expect that the freedom to set our own laws would be so blatantly tested.

I would say it will be interesting to see how the anti-EU Reform and Tory-type voters react to this (other countries telling us, a sovereign nation, what laws we should have), but I imagine most of them will actually love it, as they don't really care about sovereigntythey just hate Europeans.

I hope Labour don't bow to this. If they do, I would say it's game over for them for 2029 (already).

Someone182

Free speech double standard

The issue I have with free speech is that if you criticise Trump negatively, then you're likely to be sent back to whatever country you came from when you try to visit America.

It happened to a few people this year: they had their phones confiscated and searched, and once the negative criticism they had against Trump was found, they were told to go back to the country they had travelled from. So basically, if you use free speech to attack someone else, then it's a-ok, but if it's to attack someone like Trump, then you're being hatefuleven if you are using your right to free speech. Certain powerful people have made free speech a double standard.

PrinceYamiUchiha

The US doesnt get to make our laws

We should tell Trump and Vance where to get off. I've no problem with us exploring a trade deal with the US, as long as it meets UK standards on aspects like food hygiene and digital safety. But the US government doesn't get to make our laws. We have our own legal system, with our own legal framework on equality, freedom of speech, and related issues such as libel, defamation, incitement, and hate speech. Those are non-negotiable and have zero relevance to a trade deal.

Intellectual conformity to Trump's crazy libertarian views isn't part of the package.

Tanaquil2

Trump is unstable

Just goes to show that Starmer is not even listening to the MPs, who have said a deal with the EU will be far better than a deal with the USA. It's a well-known fact that the USA wants the NHS, which would force everyone to pay for hospital treatment, just like in the USA.

Trump is unstable, and what's to say that if Starmer signs a trade deal, Trump won't go back on his word and hit the UK with higher tariffs?

Markcarlisle

Vance has no loyalty to Trump

Obviously, the UK Parliament will never agree to pass a Bill that changes our laws on the order of a foreign power. What most people are missing is who is making these statements. It is not the President, but the Vice President, who is voicing these demands. He has zero authority on any such matter. His only element of power is to break any tied vote in the US Senate.

He has constantly proven that he has no specific loyalty to President Trump, only to a specific extremist group within the Republican Party and to himself (in no fixed order). His comments to date on Canada, Greenland, Ukraine, trade, and Nato allies are not Republican Party policies, and are not reflected by the majority of Senators, Representatives, or party members.

All the VPs comments are aimed solely at annoying others, muddying waters, dividing allies, and making US governance and policies more problematic  simply to further the longer-term aims of his extremist group. Trump is simply a vehicle for this purpose, and will likely be jettisoned at the appropriate time.

Jonathan Mills

Political suicide

If Starmer signs a trade deal anything close to what is being mooted, then he will be committing political suicide  and he could quite possibly take the Labour Party down with him. He should remember that he and the Labour Party are not, and have not been in the past few years, at all popular: 34 per cent of the vote and the votes of 20 per cent of the electorate is very, very unstable.

arboreal1

Vance has the upper hand

Many of the other comments are highly unrealistic in their assessment of the UKs strength in the trade negotiations. The hard reality is that the UK, post-Brexit, desperately needs a trade deal with the US, not the other way around. So JD Vance has the upper hand in any negotiations and, I predict, will drive a very hard bargain indeed. We have to deal with reality as it is, not as we might like it to be.

Musil

Starmer should stall

Trump is negotiating from a position of extreme weakness. For him, the clock is ticking, and his numbers are getting worse and worse by the day.

Starmers smartest move would be to stall and delay, sign or agree to nothing, and not get bullied or intimidated. Every day that Starmer stalls and delays, his position strengthens.

The question is: is he smart enough to realise this, or will he be intimidated by all the noise?

HamishCrawford

UK should examine its own free speech issues

Its a strange world when a government perceived as ultra-right wing and authoritarian by the corporate media lectures a so-called Labour Party on the need for freedom of speech and association. Perhaps instead of the knee-jerk condemnations of Trump and Vance, we should look closely at the UKs laws and policing, and consider whether we, in attempting to protect certain communities, have overstepped the mark and silenced debate and discussion through draconian measures.

FaithofOurFathers

Lets be grown-up about hate speech

Im gay and never did get the hate speech thing. Threatening speech or behaviour, sure  but lets be grown-up about someone calling you names. Although I do not think we should do it at the behest of Trump.

Morgan

Unrelated conditions

I thought a trade deal was a deal whereby one country says, We'll take XYZ from you with or without tariffs, and expects a reciprocal deal. What the US wants is to add certain other conditions completely unrelated to trade?

So I go to a shop to see the owner and tell them that I want to buy XXX, but first they must take down their sign above the door because I'm a signmaker and I should have had that job. When he refuses, I then sit outside the shop and refuse entry to other shoppers until further notice?

attilathenun

Pointless

A trade deal with Trump's America is pointless. No one there is going to rush out and buy British goods, especially since Trumps tariffs will probably cause a recession in the States.

Peter Mandelson is no doubt involved in the trade deal discussions, making overly generous offers to the Yanks. If a trade deal is sorted one which involves removing every other US firm in London from corporation tax  it will be an insult to most UK workers.

BenSouthwold

Wait...

"Mr Vance is 'obsessed by the fall of Western civilisation'" and will demand that the Labour government roll back laws against hateful comments, including abuse targeting LGBT+ groups or other minorities, as a condition of any deal.

Wait  roll back the laws protecting people, minorities, and children from abuse in the digital and real world? Lets all align with the US, where now hate toward people of non-MAGA mindset, any minority, and all who criticise Trump may face arrest, deportation, or worse  ignoring court orders? These neofascist laws?

Amsivarian

At odds with Western liberal democratic ideals

A deal with the Trump "administration" would be disastrous for the UK and for the government that signed it, on so many levels.

The Trump administrations social, political, and environmental "policies" are at odds with Western liberal democratic ideals, and selling out those ideals for Chevies and chlorinated chicken wont sit well with the British public or be remembered favourably.

This administration has taken the side of Russia, threatened to invade Greenland and Panama, picked fights with neighbours (one of which is a Commonwealth country), and started a disastrous trade war to enrich the presidents backers.

Sir Keir, please ensure your legacy  do the right thing and do not sell out for thirty pieces of silver.

FishingInTheRiverOfLife

Some of the comments have been edited for this article for brevity and clarity.

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Two Belgian teenagers have been charged with wildlife piracy after Kenyan authorities discovered 5,000 ants packed in test tubes at the guest house where they were staying.

Lornoy David and Seppe Lodewijckx, both 19, were arrested on April 5 following the discovery.

The pair - who appeared distraught during their appearance before a magistrate in Nairobi and were comforted in the courtroom by relatives - told the magistrate they were collecting the ants for fun and did not know that it was illegal.

Kenyan authorities say there is a growing trend in trafficking smaller and lesser-known species, and in a separate criminal case, Kenyan Dennis Nganga and Vietnamese Duh Hung Nguyen were also charged with illegal trafficking in the same courtroom, following their arrest while in possession of 400 ants.

The Kenya Wildlife Service, or KWS, said the four men were involved in trafficking the ants to markets in Europe and Asia and that the species included messor cephalotes, a distinctive, large and red-colored harvester ant native to East Africa.

The illegal export of the ants "not only undermines Kenyas sovereign rights over its biodiversity but also deprives local communities and research institutions of potential ecological and economic benefits, KWS said.

open image in gallery A relative hugs Belgian national Seppe Lodewijck ( AP Photo/Brian Inganga )

Kenya has in the past fought against the trafficking of body parts of larger species of wild animals such as elephants, rhinos and pangolins among others. But the cases against the four men represent "a shift in trafficking trends  from iconic large mammals to lesser-known yet ecologically critical species, KWS said.

The two Belgians were arrested in Kenyas Nakuru county, which is home to various national parks. The 5,000 ants were found in a guest house where they were staying, and were packed in 2,244 test tubes that had been filled with cotton wool to enable the ants to survive for months.

The other two men were arrested in Nairobi where they were found to have 400 ants in their apartments.

Kenyan authorities valued the ants at 1 million shillings ($7,700). The prices for ants can vary greatly according to the species and the market.

Philip Muruthi, a vice president for conservation at the Africa Wildlife Foundation in Nairobi, said ants play the role of enriching soils, enabling germination and providing food for species such as birds.

The thing is, when you see a healthy forest, like Ngong forest, you dont think about what is making it healthy. It is the relationships all the way from the bacteria to the ants to the bigger things, he said.

Muruthi warned of the risk of trafficking species and exporting diseases to the agricultural industry of the destination countries.

Even if there is trade, it should be regulated and nobody should be taking our resources just like that, he said.
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Police in South Africa have rescued a kidnapped American pastor "miraculously unharmed" following a deadly shootout, authorities said on Wednesday.

Josh Sullivan, 45, was seized by armed men last week as he led a prayer service at his church in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape Province. He was rescued in the same city on Tuesday, South Africa's elite police unit Hawks said in a statement.

Three suspects were killed during "a high-intensity shootout" as law enforcement officers approached a vehicle at a location where Sullivan was being held, police said.

The 45-year-old US citizen Josh Sullivan, from Tennessee, has been based in the Motherwell township branch of the Fellowship Baptist church since 2018, alongside his wife and two children.

The missionary was abducted last Thursday evening when four men broke into the Fellowship Baptist church in Motherwell.

open image in gallery Three suspects were killed during the high-intensity shootout" ( Handout - South African Police Services )

They stole two mobile phones from members of the congregation before seizing Mr Sullivan from the pulpit and bundling him out of the building. His truck was found abandoned a few hours later.

A multi-agency task force, including the Anti-Gang Unit and the Serious Organised Crime Unit, took over the investigation.

On Tuesday night, they approached the location where they suspected Mr Sullivan was being held, a house in KwaMagxaki, Gqeberha, about a 20-minute drive from the Baptist church.

According to police, a shootout began when suspects in a car parked outside the house tried to escape and opened fire on them. Three unidentified suspects were killed, police said.

"The victim was found inside the same vehicle from which the suspects had launched their attack," Lieutenant Colonel Avele Fumba said.

"Miraculously unharmed, he was immediately assessed by medical personnel and is currently in an excellent condition."

open image in gallery Josh Sullivan ( Fellowship Baptist Church )

The number of kidnappings in South Africa has risen by 264 per cent over the past decade, police data showed.

According to the Institute of Security Studies, a think tank specialising in Africa, kidnapping has become a key tactic in armed robberies and carjackings.

In its latest Africa report, the ISS notes that less than 5 per cent of kidnappings in South Africa involve ransom demands.

Since his release, Mr Sullivan, who describes himself as "a church-planting missionary" on his personal website, has been reunited with his wife, Meagan and their two children.

open image in gallery South African law enforcement officers at the house where Mr Sullivan was being held in KwaMagxaki, Gqeberha ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

A man named Tom Hatley, whom Mr Sullivan describes on his personal blog as his childhood and training pastor, posted a picture of Mr Sullivan and his family on Facebook.

Explaining that he had received "the go-ahead to let it be known", Mr Hatley said: "Josh has been released.

"Thank you for your support and prayers. Please do not stop praying for The Sullivans.

"Also, PLEASE respect The Sullivans' privacy and their parents'. A lot of folks love The Sullivans, and they love you back, but give them some time."
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A homeless man in California has won a $2.4 million wrongful termination lawsuit, but no one can locate him.

Eight years ago, Daniel Ridge, 49, sued his former employer, Alameda Health System, claiming he was wrongfully fired from his job at a county morgue. He was also battling mental health issues at the time.

Last month, an Alameda County Superior Court jury ruled in his favor and awarded him $2.4 million for his wrongful termination, according to the Los Angeles Times.

When the verdict dropped, Ridge was not in court.

According to the paper, Ridge's mental condition has deteriorated over the last eight years to the point where he was unable to testify in his case and eventually fell into homelessness. He reported becoming estranged from his family, including his 10-year-old son.

Even Ridge's lawyers cannot find him. Lawrance Bohm, Ridge's attorney, said that finding him will require a "tremendous effort."

Donald Whitehead, the executive director for the National Coalition for the Homeless, had similar concerns, telling the LA Times that there's only so much information shelters can collect and provide when someone is searching for a specific individual.

Ive seen many times people searching for loved ones, he said. But theres protections for people and their identity, so its a challenge when people get lost in the system.

What's known about Ridge is that he lived somewhere in California during the 1980s and 1990s. Six of his friends died in gang-related violence, and in his 20s his uncle was reportedly killed in front of him when a co-worker set him on fire with a Molotov cocktail.

open image in gallery Lawrance Bohm's client Daniel Ridge suffers from PTSD and depression and fell into homelessness during the Covid-19 pandemic ( Bohm Law Group )

Two of Ridge's cousins died by suicide after that incident, according to a news statement released by the Bohm Law Group, which represented Ridge.

The terrible life of Mr. Ridge left him with PTSD that went undiagnosed or untreated for decades as [he] lacked the resources to treat his condition, the law firm wrote.

Ridge eventually became a certified nursing assistant and began working as a part-time morgue attendant at Highland Hospital in Oakland, which is run by Alameda Health System.

His work was generally complimented in his evaluations until 2013, when the morgue's full-time attendant took a leave of absence and then retired the following year. The full-time duties at the morgue fell to Ridge, and he was forced to work seven days a week while only receiving part-time pay.

This meant that, among other things, Mr. Ridge did not receive any employee benefits, including health insurance, according to the lawsuit.

Ridge reportedly complained about his work hours and lack of proper compensation on multiple occasions. In 2015, the hospital opened up hiring for the full-time position and made Ridge re-interview and apply for the job he was already doing. He was ultimately awarded the job.

His issues with his job continued. He complained that he was forced to use a landline and go to a hospital library on a different floor when he needed to research medical conditions relating to the bodies in the morgue, which other employees did not have to do. He also raised concerns after the hospital changed the way it disposed of formaldehyde, saying the new process left him feeling dizzy and suffering from shortness of breath and blurred vision.

Ridge asked for respiratory equipment multiple times but was only granted his request after 17 months of asking.

He raised further concerns about how the hospital handled bodies, noting that some would be left on gurneys outside the morgue with just a sheet covering them.

The spilling and leaking of bodily fluids from dead bodies was not only due to a lack of body bags, but also due to the fact that bodies would occasionally be delivered to the morgue with intravenous tubes still attached to them and with needles and other hospital 'sharps' still lying on the gurneys, the lawsuit said.

The attorneys claimed that Ridge's working conditions triggered his undiagnosed PTSD  which he was formally diagnosed with in September 2015  leading to him being put on medical leave until October 4 of that year.

After he returned to work, he suffered a panic attack and was told by his psychiatrist to take another six days off work.

When Ridge returned to work on November 1  with Family Medical Leave Act paperwork that he was told would enable him to take unpaid, job-protected leave while he recovered  he was told her was being fired. He was escorted out of the hospital by law enforcement, and later filed his wrongful termination suit.

According to his lawyers, Ridge was doing alright until the pandemic hit in 2020, and his condition degraded and ultimately left him homeless and disconnected from his family.

Alameda Health Systems said in a statement that it takes its employees' mental and physical health seriously, but noted it disagreed with the jury's verdict and suggested it would appeal the ruling.

After a thorough investigation, AHS determined that Mr. Ridges allegations were not supported by fact and that AHS acted appropriately and consistently with all laws and regulations, it said in a statement. However, AHS otherwise disagrees with the jurys verdict and believes that, when reviewed by the Court of Appeal, the portions of the jurys verdict favoring the plaintiff are not supported by the evidence.
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Canadians head to the polls on April 28 in a general election that could see a tight race between Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberals and Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives.

With 343 seats in the House of Commons up for grabs, the magic number for a majority government is 172.

Anything less forces the winning party to form a minority government, requiring the support of other parties to maintain power  a historically precarious position often leading to short-lived administrations.

Several scenarios could unfold following the vote.

Majority Liberal government

A majority win for the Liberals would allow Carney to continue governing seamlessly. He would form a cabinet, prepare a budget, and outline his agenda for the next parliamentary session before the House reconvenes on May 26.

Minority Liberal government

A minority Liberal government presents a more complex picture. Carney could choose to negotiate with opposition parties to secure their support on key legislation. Alternatively, he could govern without formal agreements, daring other parties to trigger a fall of his government.

open image in gallery Canadas Prime Minister Mark Carney ( The Canadian Press )

The first test of confidence for a minority government would be the Speech from the Throne, read by the Governor General, King Charless representative in Canada. Subsequently, the budget presentation would offer another opportunity for opposition parties to potentially topple the government.

If the Liberals fell a few seats short of the 172 needed for a majority, they would most likely govern as though they had one, confident that other parties would not want to oust them so soon after the election. But if they ended up 20 or so seats short, they would need help.

Their natural partner is the left-leaning New Democratic Party, which struck a deal with Justin Trudeau, Carney's predecessor, to keep him in power for more than two years in return for increased spending on social programmes.

The NDP also held the balance of power after the 1972 election when Pierre Trudeau, the father of Justin Trudeau, saw his majority government reduced to a minority. Formal coalition governments in Canada are unknown outside of wartime.

If the NDP was unwilling or unable to support Carney, he could approach the Bloc Quebecois, which seeks independence for the predominantly French-speaking province of Quebec. Such a deal would be carried out on a vote-by-vote basis, since a formal agreement with a party aiming to break up Canada is politically toxic for much of the country.

open image in gallery Canada's Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre launches his campaign for the 28 April federal election at the Kruger plant in Brampton ( AFP/Getty )

Majority Conservative government

This result is the second-most straightforward scenario. After a transition period that usually lasts about 10 days, Poilievre would visit the governor general with his cabinet to be sworn in. His team would start working on a budget and a Speech from the Throne.

Strong minority Conservative government

This outcome would be more complex, in part because the Conservatives have no natural allies in a House where the smaller opposition parties (the Bloc, the New Democrats and the Greens) are all left-leaning.

Key factors would be how many seats the Conservatives won and the reaction of Carney, who remains prime minister until a confidence vote in the House. If Poilievre fell a few seats short of 172 and the Liberals were well behind, Carney would most likely resign and allow the Conservatives a chance to govern.

Poilievre could then try to govern as though he had a majority. Although the Speech from the Throne does not have to be presented immediately (after the Progressive Conservative Party, the forerunner of Poilievre's party, won a minority in the 1979 election, the House did not resume business until nearly five months later), the Conservative leader would be under pressure to reveal his plans soon given the uncertainty about U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs on imports from Canada.

Canada premier says they'll drop tariffs if Trump follows

Weak minority Conservative government

If the Conservatives won more seats than the Liberals but fell far short of a majority, Carney could still step down and give Poilievre a chance to govern.

The risk for Poilievre is that the Liberals and other parties could unite to bring him down quickly. The defeat of a government would normally trigger an election, but if Poilievre were toppled quickly, the governor general would most likely invite Carney to try to form a government. Conservative supporters would almost certainly be enraged by such a move.

Hung parliament with slight edge to the Conservatives

This scenario is by far the most complicated and potentially destabilising. While the Conservatives traditionally argue the party with the most seats should get the first chance to govern, that privilege falls to the party that can show it has the House's confidence.

If Poilievre won a handful of seats more than the Liberals and Carney felt he could create a stable arrangement with the New Democrats, the prime minister could try to remain in office until there was a chance to test the confidence of the House. This move would no doubt infuriate Conservative supporters, particularly in Western Canada where distrust of the federal government is high and support for the Liberals has been weak since the late 1970s.

In late 2008, six weeks after an election that gave the then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservatives a strong minority government, the Liberals, Bloc and New Democrats announced a deal to bring it down over its proposed budget and then to form a coalition government. The three-party agreement quickly foundered over unhappiness that the Bloc would have a role running the country. Harper defused the crisis by asking the governor general to suspend Parliament for six weeks to allow tempers to cool.
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Two service members have died and another is seriously injured following a vehicle accident near the US Southern border.

The incident occurred near Santa Teresa, New Mexico, just west of Fort Bliss, a major Army installation in West Texas. The base has been instrumental in the deployment of troops and equipment to the border and has served as a hub for military deportation flights. The military has not yet released further details about the accident or the identities of the service members involved.

The crash occurred around 8:50 am local time. Those involved in the accident where traveling in a civilian car but no civilians were hurt.

Photos published by KTSM show a car crashed over an embankment on an isolated road not far from the Santa Teresa Border Patrol Station, according to the Dona Ana County Sheriffs Office. The road runs alongside the southern border, from New Mexico into Arizona.

The three were airlifted to a local hospital as soon as emergency responders arrived on scene.

The troops are deployed there in support of President Donald Trumps executive order to secure the U.S.-Mexico border.

A U.S. military aircraft carrying migrants to be deported to Guatemala is ready for takeoff as soldiers stand on the tarmac at Fort Bliss in El Paso ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

New Mexico's U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez issued a response to the crash.

I am deeply saddened by the tragic loss of two service members today near Santa Teresa. My thoughts are with their families, loved ones, and fellow service members during this difficult time. With the recent deployments to and the new mission at the Southern border, we must fully review the circumstances surrounding this incident. We owe it to themand all who serveto ensure their safety is never compromised.

The Trump administration has used military aircraft to deport people to Guatemala, Ecuador and Colombia, a departure from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's previous practice to employ charter and commercial planes.

A defense official speaking on the condition of anonymity to provide additional details not yet made public said the accident occurred in a civilian vehicle, but no civilians were harmed in the incident.

The incident did not involve any of the scores of Stryker vehicles the Pentagon has sent down to the border to perform patrols, the official said.
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Gene Hackmans home was in disarray when he died, covered in loose items and food while infested with rats, creating a breeding ground for the deadly virus that killed his wife.

Shocking new photos and video from inside the couples New Mexico home show the disarray inside when police found the couple dead.

Officers found Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa and their dog dead on February 26. Arakawa died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, while Hackman survived for a week on his own before dying on February 18 from heart disease complicated by Alzheimers. Their dog, Zinnia, likely died of dehydration and starvation.

As the officers walked around the home of the Oscar winner, their body cameras captured clothes, bags and other various items piled high on the floor, chairs and countertops. The bathroom was chaotic, with items strewn across the vanity, while loose food appeared to have been left on the kitchen counter.

The footage shows police entering the home and discovering Arakawas body near a bathroom, while Zinnias body was crated. There were also two surviving dogs, and an officer remarked one appeared to be guarding her and seemed pretty friendly.

Police then found Gene's body in the estates mudroom.

open image in gallery Gene Hackman and his wife were found dead on February 26 in their Santa Fe estate. Now, police body camera footage shows their home was in disarray when they died. ( Santa Fe County Sheriff's office )

open image in gallery Hackman and Arakawa were found dead on February 26 ( AP )

Authorities also found dead rats, rat feces and nests throughout the eight buildings that make up their estate, making their home a potential breeding ground for hantavirus.

Hantavirus can only be spread to humans through animals, not from person to person. Victims catch the virus from contact with rat urine, feces and saliva. The virus is rare, with only 864 cases reported in the U.S from 1993 through 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Arakawa spent her last days searching the internet for information about flu-like symptoms  which hantavirus can cause  and breathing techniques.

Investigators review of her computer showed Arakawa was searching medical conditions related to COVID-19 and the flu between February 8 and the morning of February 12, including whether COVID-19 could cause dizziness or nosebleeds.

Arakawa then searched for a concierge medical service on February 12. She called a local service and spoke on the phone for 2 minutes. She missed a return call later that afternoon.

open image in gallery Loose food pictured on a counter in Hackman and Arakawas home. Investigators say they found rat corpses and droppings throughout the estate ( Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office )

open image in gallery The home was covered in loose items and food when police entered to find the famous couple ( Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office )

open image in gallery Their dog Zinnia was found dead as well, while their other two dogs survived ( Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office )

open image in gallery Hackman and Arakawas closet cluttered with clothes and other loose items ( Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office )

Arakawa was last seen on February 11. Hackman is believed to have died a week later.

A pair of maintenance workers didn't find the bodies until February 26 and called police. The pair told the officers that they hadnt seen the homeowners in about two weeks. Despite the couples fame they chose to ditch the bright lights of Hollywood, instead living in the cluttered New Mexico home.

The deaths were initially not suspected to involve foul play, but were then determined suspicious and investigations continued.

Police found Arakawa near and open pill bottle and a space heater. They theorized that she may have fallen and suddenly hit the floor. Arakawas body showed obvious signs of death, body decomposition, bloating in her face and mummification in both hands and feet, according to a police warrant.

The actor was discovered on the ground near the kitchen in a mudroom and he appeared to have fallen. A cane and sunglasses were found on the ground nearby.

open image in gallery The pair were found several days after they died when two maintenance workers entered the home ( Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office )

open image in gallery Police attend to one of the couples surviving dogs. One of the three dogs died from starvation and dehydration ( Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office )

open image in gallery The outside of Hackman and Arakawas Santa Fe estate as police investigated the couples deaths ( AP )

Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza told the media later that there were no signs of a struggle and that the pair had no external trauma.

There was no indication of anything that was missing from the home or disturbed that would be an indication that there was a crime that had occurred, Mendoza said.

Testing and observation of the houses systems from the Santa Fe Fire Department and New Mexico Gas Company did not reveal immediate signs of a leak. Both tested negative for carbon monoxide poisoning.

Medical examiners then said the couple died from natural causes, with Arakawa dying from hantavirus and Hackman suffering numerous health conditions.

Since retiring from acting in 2004, Hackman had been open about his health struggles, revealing in 2009 that his doctor wanted him to quit Hollywood due to the stress on his heart.

Hackman told Empire: The straw that broke the camels back was actually a stress test that I took in New York. The doctor advised me that my heart wasnt in the kind of shape that I should be putting it under any stress.
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Thousands of Hertz customers potentially had their data stolen after one of the companys partners was exposed in a security breach.

Hertz believes an unauthorized third-party vendor acquired the data within Cleos file-transfer software in October 2024 and December 2024.

In a statement, the company told The Independent: Our forensic investigation has found no evidence that Hertzs own network was affected by this event.

The data was impacted in February, the company said, explaining it immediately took action to determine the scope of the event and to identify individuals whose personal information may have been impacted.

The probe found personal information, including names, contact information, date of birth, credit card information, drivers licenses and information regarding workers compensation claims may have been exposed.

Additionally, a very small number of people had their Social Security or other government numbers, Medicare or Medicaid ID or injury-related information tied to vehicle accident claims stolen.

Impacted customers will be notified. Its not clear how many customers were affected, though The Hill reported a company spokesperson said: It would be inaccurate to say millions of customers are affected.

A notice filed in Maine stated 3,409 people in the state were impacted. Another in Texas declared 96,600 people were affected. Customers outside of the US in Australia, Canada, the European Union, New Zealand and the United Kingdom were also alerted.

Impacted individuals are being offered two years of identity monitoring or dark web monitoring services through Kroll, an identity services company. Customers are encouraged to remain vigilant and check bank statements and credit reports for discrepancies.

Law enforcement has been notified and told the company, Cleo took steps to investigate the event and address the identified vulnerabilities.

Cleos software was separately hacked by a ransomware group last year.

The Independent has contacted Cleo for comment.
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Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, reportedly hoped to avoid an antitrust lawsuit trial by offering to settle with the Federal Trade Commission for $450 million rather than $30 billion - and wanted his ally President Donald Trump to help.

In March, the Facebook founder called the head of the FTC to see if he could work out a deal to avoid a trial over what the FTC alleges was a breach of antitrust laws when it acquired Instagram and WhatsApp, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

Zuckerberg reportedly offered $450 million, though the FTC wanted $30 billion.

Having met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in November, donating $1 million to Trumps inaugural fund and axing policies at Meta that did not align with Trumps agenda, Zuckerberg was hopeful Trump would support the companys offer.

The tech billionaire had also met with Trump administration officials at the White House in February and March, seemingly to lobby them to support the companys deal.

open image in gallery Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg headed to trial for an antitrust lawsuit with the Federal Trade Commission after failing to strike a settlement. A new report details how he hoped President Donald Trump could help with his case. ( REUTERS )

But the offer did not impress the FTC, even after Meta upped it to $1 billion before the trial. On Tuesday, Zuckerberg took the stand in the historic trial that could force the company to sell Instagram and WhatsApp as he fights the lawsuit - that could end with him being forced to sell some apps.

The Independent has reached out to Meta for comment.

During the March call, Zuckerberg expressed confidence to the FTC that Trump would support him, people familiar with the matter told the Journal.

FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson refused to settle for anything less than $18 billion and a consent decree. The two sides attempted to negotiate a settlement. Meta reportedly offered to change some of its policies. The FTC asked for $30 billion.

Its unclear if Trump supported Metas $450 million offer, but those familiar with the matter told the Journal that the president was open to striking a deal with the tech company.

open image in gallery Zuckerberg attended President Donald Trumps inauguration in January  the two have formed a closer relationship since he was elected in November compared to his first term ( REUTERS )

Ultimately, Ferguson, White House officials and Justice Department officials in the antitrust division convinced the president to allow the FTCs lawsuit against Meta to move forward to trial.

Former FTC chair Lina Khan called Metas $450 million offer delusional to the Journal.

Mark bought his way out of competing, so Im not surprised that he thinks he can buy his way out of law enforcement, too, Khan added.

The FTCs lawsuit against Meta alleges the company had accumulated monopoly power through anti-competitive behavior since Facebook purchased Instagram and WhatsApp in 2012 and 2014, respectively.
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Furious MrBeast fans who forked out $1,000 for an experience billed as unforgettable were left demanding a refundeven the YouTube star apologized and admitted the event was definitely subpar.

Diehard subscribers of the American YouTuber, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, gathered at Resorts World Las Vegas for The MrBeast Experience between Sunday and Tuesday.

It included a three-night stay at the hotel, a mystery bag full of exclusive Mr. Beast merchandise, and a $10,000 gift voucher for one lucky guest.

The promise of meet-and-greets, mini-games, and photo opportunities left little to be desired, Theresa Metta, who traveled from Arizona to Las Vegas for the highly anticipated partnership with her mother, told local CBS affiliate 8 News Now.

Unfortunately, we didnt get any of that, she added.

open image in gallery Theresa Metta, who traveled from Arizona, voiced her complaints about The MrBeast Experience ( 8 News Now/YouTube )

Guests said they camped out in their hotel rooms for days, eagerly awaiting a shipment they were informed would be delivered to their door.

When the elusive package finally arrived, guests were underwhelmed.

I was told to wait in my room for two days for a package to come, so I legit spent two days in my room for a package to come, and it was a box of chocolates, Metta said.

It had kids shorts, an extra small shirt, a hat, and a medium shirt, she said. If you go to MrBeast's store to their merchandise right now, all this stuff is on clearance for $9. We were told wed get exclusive merch. Obviously, thats not the case.

Video footage and photographs shared by the X account Random Access showed a group of disgruntled guests gathering in the hotels foyer to voice their grievances.

When I go to the Tom Brady experience in Boston, Tom Bradys there, a mother who accompanied their child to the event told Resorts World Las Vegas CEO Alex Dixon. These kids, these young adults, these influencers, they wanted to see Jimmy.

She also criticized the hotel for its high prices, claiming she paid $63 for a cocktail and had booked a $200 massage treatment.

Another guest told the station that the hotel allegedly compensated the guests with a $50 food and beverage voucher that could be redeemed at two outlets on site.

open image in gallery Guests staying at Resorts World Las Vegas gathered to grill CEO Alex Dixon on Tuesday ( 8 News Now/YouTube )

This experience has been nothing short of horrible, she added.

Attendee David Yacksyzn told FOX5 that the $50 voucher would be enough for one drink because its a very expensive resort.

They gave us an experience, alright, a real bad one, he added.

Later Tuesday, several guests exchanged contact information and told 8 News they wanted to sue the hotel for a refund.

In a tweet, a fan told Donaldson about the gift bag he received, which contained clothes in a mishmash of sizes, including a small T-shirt, a large hoodie, and extra-small shorts, which he described as weird.

This definitely isn't the experience we hoped they'd deliver, Donaldson responded on X.

My team's already on itI'd love to personally make it up to you and anyone else by inviting everybody affected to tour my actual studio! Can't wait to meet you all, and my team is reaching out to everyone.

The MrBeast Experience event page was subsequently removed from the Resort World Las Vegas Website.

The Independent has contacted Resort World Las Vegas and the MrBeast team for more information.
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Thirty years after a truck bomb detonated outside a federal building in America's heartland, killing 168 people in the deadliest homegrown attack on U.S. soil, deep scars remain.

From a mother who lost her first-born baby, a son who never got to know his father, and a young man so badly injured that he still struggles to breathe, three decades have not healed the wounds from the Oklahoma City bombing on April 19, 1995.

The bombers were two former U.S. Army buddies, Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, who shared a deep-seated hatred of the federal government fueled by the bloody raid on the Branch Davidian religious sect near Waco, Texas, and a standoff in the mountains of Ruby Ridge, Idaho, that killed a 14-year-old boy, his mother and a federal agent.

And while the bombing awakened the nation to the dangers of extremist ideologies, many who suffered directly in the attack still fear anti-government rhetoric in modern-day politics could also lead to violence.

A 30-year anniversary remembrance ceremony is scheduled for April 19 on the grounds of the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum.

A baby killed and a mother's anguish

Little Baylee Almon had just celebrated her first birthday the day before her mother, Aren Almon, dropped her off at the America's Kids Daycare inside the Alfred P. Murrah federal building. It was the last time Aren would see her first child alive.

The next day, Aren saw a photo on the front page of the local newspaper of Baylee's battered and lifeless body cradled in the arms of an Oklahoma City firefighter.

I said: Thats Baylee.' I knew it was her, Aren Almon said. She called her pediatrician, who confirmed the news.

In the hauntingly iconic image, which won the amateur photographer who took it the 1996 Pulitzer Prize for spot news photography, firefighter Chris Shields came to symbolize all the first responders who descended on the bomb site, while Baylee represented the innocent victims who were lost that day.

But for Aren, her daughter was more than a symbol.

I get that (the photo) made its mark on the world, Almon said. But I also realize that Baylee was a real child. She wasn't just a symbol, and I think that gets left out a lot.

A firefighter thrust into the spotlight

The Oklahoma City firefighter in the photograph was Chris Fields, who had been on the scene for about an hour when a police officer came out of nowhere and handed him Baylee's lifeless body.

Fields swept the infant's airway and checked for any signs of life. He found none.

He said the iconic photograph was snapped as he waited for a paramedic to find room for the baby in a crowded ambulance.

I was just looking down at Baylee thinking, Wow, somebodys world is getting ready to be turned upside down today,' Fields recalled.

While he tries to focus more on being a grandfather than politics, Fields said he has little doubt an attack motivated by radical political ideology could happen again.

I don't worry about it, but do I think it could happen again? Without a doubt, he said.

A badly injured child still scarred

One of the youngest survivors of the bombing was PJ Allen, who was just 18 months old when his grandmother dropped him off at the second-floor daycare. He still bears the scars from his injuries.

Allen suffered second- and third-degree burns over more than half his body, a collapsed lung, smoke damage to both lungs, head trauma from falling debris and damage to his vocal chords that still affects the sound of his voice.

Now an avionics technician at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City, Allen said he had to be homeschooled for years and couldn't go out in the sun because of the damage to his skin.

Still, there doesn't seem to be any self pity when he speaks of the impact of the bombing on his life.

Around this time of year, April, it makes me very appreciative that I wake up every day, he said. I know some people werent as fortunate.

A son who didn't get to know his father

Austin Allen was 4 years old when his father, Ted L. Allen, a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development employee, died in the bombing. He never truly got to know his dad.

Although he remembers snippets of riding in his dad's truck and eating Cheerios with him in the morning, most of his memories come from friends and family.

It's just been little anecdotes, little things like that Ive heard about him over the years, that have painted a bigger picture of the man he was, Allen said.

Allen, who now has a 4-year-old of his own, acknowledges he's troubled by the anti-government vein in modern-day politics and wonders where it could lead.

It's such a similar feeling today, where you have one side versus the other, he said. There is a parallel to 1995 and the political unrest.

A worker's life changed in an instant

Dennis Purifoy, who was an assistant manager in the Social Security office on the ground floor of the building, lost 16 co-workers in the bombing. Another 24 customers who were waiting in the lobby also perished.

Although he doesn't remember hearing the explosion, a phenomenon he said he shares with other survivors, he remembers thinking the computer he was working on had exploded.

That's just one of the weird ways that I found out later our minds work in a situation like that, he said.

Purifoy, now 73 and retired, said the bombing and McVeigh's anti-government motives were a reality check for an innocent nation, something he said he sees in our society today.

I still think that our country is naive, as the way I was before the bombing, naive about the numbers of people in our country who hold far right-wing views, very anti-government views, Purifoy said. One thing I say to tell people is conspiracy theories can kill, and we saw it here.
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As measles outbreaks popped up across America this winter, pediatricians waited for the nation's public health agency to send a routine, but important, letter that outlines how they could help stop the spread of the illness.

It wasn't until last week  after the number of cases grew to more than 700, and a second young child in Texas died from a measles infection  that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finally issued its correspondence.

The delay of that letter may seem minor. But it is one in a string of missteps that more than a dozen doctors, nurses and public health officials interviewed by The Associated Press identified in the Trump administration's response to the outbreak.

Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s efforts to contain an epidemic in a tight-knit, religious community in West Texas have run counter to established public health strategies deployed to end past epidemics.

What we are lacking now is one, clear strong voice  from the federal to the state to the local  saying that the vaccine is the only thing that will prevent measles," said Patricia Stinchfield, a nurse and infectious disease expert who helped stop a 2017 measles outbreak in Minnesota's Somali community.

open image in gallery A measles sign is seen at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Feb. 25, 2025, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, file) ( AP )

Behind the scenes, Kennedy has not been regularly briefed in person on the outbreak by his own infectious disease experts at the CDC at least through March 21, according to Kevin Griffis, a career staffer who worked as the agency's communications director until he resigned that day.

Even after the measles claimed its first young Texas victim in late February, Kennedy had still not been briefed by CDC staff, Griffis said. His account was confirmed by a second former federal health official, who resigned at the end of February.

A spokesperson for Kennedy did not answer specific written questions about how he had been briefed or his communications with CDC staff.

The spokesperson said the CDC activated an Atlanta-based response in early February to provide overall guidance on measles testing and vaccination strategy. An on-the-ground team was deployed to West Texas throughout most of March and withdrawn on April 1.

It was a joint decision between state and federal officials to send the team home, CDC spokesman Jason McDonald said. Another team of seven was dispatched back to the region this week.

In previous administrations, health secretaries held weekly briefings with CDC staff, lasting between 25 and 30 minutes, during infectious disease outbreaks, both former HHS officials said. Kennedy, instead, received updates on paper or through email, Griffis said.

That is extremely unusual, said Griffis, who sat in on such briefings with the previous health secretary and said that none were held for Kennedy during his first month on the job. Ive never seen that before.

In another irregularity, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the nation's largest network of pediatricians, has not been tapped to work with the CDC on the outbreak, according to the organization's officials. Historically, the CDC and AAP have convened for monthly or biweekly briefings during outbreaks to share updates, which include details about what doctors are seeing and questions they're fielding from parents in exam rooms. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to freely discuss the health department's response.

The only updates provided widely to pediatricians by the CDC have come from a health alert network update sent on March 7, a week after the first U.S. measles death in a decade, and the letter sent to providers last week, which, according to the pediatric academy officials, was late in the outbreak.

Kennedy praised the CDC on Tuesday during an event in Indianapolis, saying it had done a very good job controlling the measles outbreak.

open image in gallery U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr speaks during a Make Indiana Healthy Again initiative event in Indianapolis, Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) ( Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All Rights reserved )

Kennedy's inconsistent and unclear message on the measles vaccines has also made the outbreaks difficult to contain, experts say.

He has occasionally endorsed the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine as effective, but also continues to raise safety concerns about the shots in other statements. In a CBS interview last week, he claimed the vaccines were not safety tested.

That approach has been the biggest flaw of the government's response, said Dr. Carlos del Rio, the president of the Infectious Disease Society of America.

Imagine if the captain of the Titanic had told you that you need to be careful about lifeboats and think about other opportunities, del Rio said.

Trials were conducted on thousands of children before the vaccine was approved for use in the 1960s. The federal government has since used medical records to continue to monitor for side effects from use in millions of people since.

Health secretaries have typically delivered a clear message urging the public to get vaccinated during outbreaks, said Dr. Anne Schuchat, a former deputy director at the CDC who retired after 33 years at the agency in 2021.

President Donald Trump and his first-term health secretary, Alex Azar, urged people to get shots during news conferences in 2019, when measles ripped through Brooklyn and infected more than 1,200 nationwide.

You dont necessarily need the secretary of health to attend a funeral, OK, but you dont want to have mixed messages on vaccines, Schuchat said. Someone in a federal building in Washington can do a lot of harm from the way that they are messaging.

open image in gallery Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks with reporters after President Donald Trump spoke at an education event and executive order signing in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Local leaders have largely been left alone to urge the public to take up vaccinations.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, has not urged the public to get vaccinated, either. He has not held any news conferences about the outbreak and posted just once on social media about measles since January. Any statements about the illnesses, which have also put 56 people in the hospital at some point, have been left to his aides.

Abbott's office did not respond to questions about his response to the outbreak.

Governors in other states have responded more forcefully to the growing measles case count. Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, a Democrat and a doctor, made front page news last week after urging Hawaiians to take up vaccines when the state recorded its first measles case in a year.

Ahead of a busy travel week for the Easter holiday, Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen, a Republican, unequivocally called on people to vaccinate themselves and their children. There are no known measles cases in Nebraska, but an outbreak is active in neighboring Kansas.

If youre not vaccinated, youre going to get measles, Pillen said last week.

Those types of statements are important for the public to hear leaders say from the top down, said Dr. Oxiris Barbot, who was New York City's health commissioner during the 2019 measles outbreak.

Barbot worked with local rabbis, as well as doctors and nurses in the Jewish community, to send messages that encouraged vaccine uptake. Calls from Trump and Azar, who urged the public to vaccinate, helped her make the case, too.

When national leaders distance themselves from that message, she said it starts to erode the effectiveness of people who are trying to convey those messages at the local level.
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New England maple syrup producers are facing fears over international trade and tariffs, adding to the usual uncertainties of a weather-dependent business.

Fluctuating trade policies under President Donald Trump are creating new challenges for an industry reliant on global supply chains.

"Any kind of disruption with our cross border enterprise, we feel it," said Jim Judd, a fourth-generation sugarer at Judds Wayeeses Farms in Morgan, Vermont. "Its uncertain enough making maple syrup."

Judd, a veteran syrup producer since the 1970s, explained the complex international network behind each container of Vermont's signature product.

From the stainless steel fixtures, often sourced from China, used in sap collection and boiling, to the packaging frequently imported from Italy, the process is far from self-contained. Adding to the complexity, much of the equipment itself comes from Canada, the world's maple syrup powerhouse.

open image in gallery A bottle of maple syrup is placed on a shelf at Judd's Wayeeses Farms in Morgan, Vt., on Friday, April 11, 2025. ( AP )

Canada produces approximately 80% of global maple syrup, with nearly two-thirds of its production exported to the United States.

That's why this spring's whiplash is so concerning to Judd and many other U.S. producers in Vermont as well as New York, Maine and Wisconsin.

Trump backed off the stiffest tariffs on most nations for 90 days earlier this month while increasing the taxes on Chinese imports to 145% and engaging in a lengthy back and forth with Canada and Mexico about tariffs on their countries' goods.

open image in gallery Donna Young checks the Canadian-made maple syrup evaporator in the sugarhouse at Judd's Wayeeses Farms in Morgan, Vt., on Friday, April 11, 2025. ( AP )

Allison Hope, executive director of the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers' Association, said they're assuming that Trump's latest position means there is no tariff on finished maple products for now  but the situation gets murkier when considering that necessary packaging, equipment and materials may originate in China.

It's like the weather in New England. You wait five minutes and it might change, Hope said. Now it matters how Canada makes its equipment and gets its materials. ... It's hard for businesses to run on a growth mentality when there's no sense of what the industry is going to look like in a way, in a year.

The uncertainty is arriving in a time of relative growth for syrup producers in the U.S. as well as Canada. Vermont has seen an increase in production of nearly 500% over the last 20 years as producers scaled up, new businesses formed and U.S. consumers sought local and natural alternatives to refined sugars, Hope said.

open image in gallery Maple syrup producer Jim Judd checks on the levels of sap in a stainless steel tank imported from Quebec, Canada, at Judd's Wayeeses Farms in Morgan, Vt., on Friday, April 11, 2025. ( AP )

But disrupting trade with Canada, the maple syrup powerhouse, could be devastating. Judd, for one, said he has spent countless amounts of hours and lots and lots of money buying equipment in Canada over the decades. Import taxes could sharply increase his costs, and since syrup is, at essence, a luxury good, he thinks he can't raise prices.

We can't do this without Canadian help. We can't buy what we need at another outlet because it's all in Canada, Judd said. We've been crossing this border all my life. The recent changes we see being imposed on the people here  we're not sure that they're all necessary."
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New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez raised $9.6 million during the first three months of this year in a stunning fundraising haul.

The amount is more than double that of her second-highest quarter and comes as progressives call on her to challenge New York Senator Chuck Schumer, the Democratic Senate leader, in the 2028 primary.

Her fundraising numbers were included in a report to the Federal Election Commission filed on Tuesday. Comparatively, Schumer raised $144,742 during the first quarter of this year.

Ocasio-Cortez now has more than $8 million in cash on hand. Her strong fundraising performance comes after she spent the last few weeks touring the country alongside Vermont Independent Senator Bernie Sanders on his fighting oligarchy tour. The duo has attracted thousands of supporters to their events, including ones in deep-red states.

The representative has long been a strong fundraiser, with a large network of small donors.

Campaign manager Oliver Hidalgo-Wohlleben wrote on X that AOC had her strongest ever quarter, raising over $9.5m from 266k individual donors for an average of just $21.

Our top donor professions are teachers and nurses. 64% were first time contributors, he added.

I cannot convey enough how grateful I am to the millions of people supporting us with your time, resources, & energy, Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X. Your support has allowed us to rally people together at record scale to organize their communities.

Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez arrive during a rally at Gloria Molina Grand Park in Los Angeles on April 12, 2025. AOC had her strongest fundraising quarter ever in the first three months of this year ( AFP via Getty Images )

During her second-best quarter, in the summer of 2020, Ocasio-Cortez raised $4.4 million.

Sanders adviser Faiz Shakir wrote on X that The people are sending Democrats a message about the direction they would like to see.

The fundraising haul for Ocasio-Cortez in the first quarter of this year is more than five times higher than what she brought in during the first quarter of 2024.

Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez have been barnstorming the country to slam the Trump administration and the influence of billionaires such as Elon Musk, the head of the Department of Government Efficiency.

Schumer has faced fury from fellow Democrats for backing a Republican resolution to avert a government shutdown last month. Democratic leaders are also facing calls for them to step aside amid last years congressional and White House losses.

Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez have been attracting crowds in the tens of thousands in cities such as Los Angeles, California, and Salt Lake City, Utah. They have also visited Denver, Colorado, Tucson, Arizona, and Nampa, Idaho.

The tour has been described as an opportunity to have real discussions across America on how we move forward to take on the Oligarchs and corporate interests who have so much power and influence in this country, Sanderss site states.

So many of us know what it feels like for life to be one bad day, one bad piece of news, one major setback from everything feeling like its going to fall apart. And we dont have to live like this anymore, Utah! Ocasio-Cortez said during a Sunday rally. We can make a new world, a better country where we can fight for the dignity of all people.
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Almost 900,000 fewer people crossed the border from Canada to the U.S. last month compared to March 2024.

Apart from the Covid-19 pandemic, its one of the most severe drops in crossings, figures from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reveal.

As many as 4,105,516 travelers went across the border between Canada and the U.S. last month, compared to 4,970,360 people last year. Thats a decline of about 17 percent amid President Donald Trumps hardline immigration policies, threats to make Canada the 51st state, and tariffs.

More people traveled from Canada to the U.S. in March 2022 when pandemic travel restrictions were still in place. March tends to be one of the busiest times for cross-border travel as many take vacations in warmer parts of the U.S. during spring break.

Canadians spent as much as $20.5 billion in the U.S. last year, which supports around 140,000 jobs, according to the U.S. Travel Association.

The number of people crossing the border on foot also dropped substantially, falling about 26 percent from 163,000 in March last year to 121,000 this year.

A truck with vehicles crosses the Blue Water Bridge border crossing into the United States from Sarnia, Ontario, Canada on April 3, 2025. The number of people crossing into the U.S. has dropped significantly since last year ( AFP via Getty Images )

In a new ad campaign, California Governor Gavin Newsom is attempting to attract Canadians despite Trumps taunts.

"You know who's trying to stir things up back in D.C., but don't let that ruin your beach plans," he said in a video shared on Monday. "Here in California, we've got plenty of sunshine and a whole lot of love for our neighbors up north.

The president and CEO of Visit California, which boosts travel to the Golden State, Caroline Beteta, told CBC News that, "Obviously we can't control decisions made 2,000 miles away on another coast. But we want to reach out and extend that hand to Canadians and say, you're valued, and we're frustrated too.

She called Trumps barbs devastating for Californian tourism, with the number of Canadian visitors this year expected to be much lower than the 1.8 million who came to the state last year.

"I'm not going to deny it. It's been devastating culturally, economically. I'm a hybrid Canadian, I'm hurting for what's going on in your country, and I'm hurt being here in California," Beteta told CBC News.

Meanwhile, Palm Springs Mayor Ron deHarte said Canadian visitors last year outnumbered the people who live in the town 10 times over. He noted that Canadians own about seven percent of the homes in Palm Springs.

"The Trump administration is sending messages that just don't feel very American, the mayor told CBC News. This is not the way we treat our neighbours, and we certainly don't treat friends like this. It's hurting people, and it's causing harm. We understand that this hits close to home to everybody in Canada."
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Conor McGregor said he spoke from the heart while being interviewed by Tucker Carlson in his Dublin pub after the pair embarked on a tour of the Irish capital.

McGregor, 36, and the former Fox News host sat down in The Black Forge Inn in Crumlin on Tuesday evening for a two-hour chat to discuss the embattled former UFC champions political views.

It came just weeks after McGregor, who has become increasingly vocal in his right-wing populist and anti-immigration stance, announced that he will run for the Irish presidency in elections later this year after meeting U.S. President Donald Trump in the White House on St. Patricks Day last month.

We had a great chat with Tucker Carlson highlighting the issues Ireland is facing, Irelands plight, Irelands fight and also Irelands delight, McGregor said inside the pub Tuesday, according to The Irish Times.

Its not all doom and gloom, and we want to keep a positive outlook and move incrementally, step by step, to a better Ireland.

open image in gallery Conor McGregor, pictured in the White House last month, says he sat down with ex-Fox News host Tucker Carlson on Tuesday ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

I spoke from my heart and well see how it goes, he added, and said he was looking forward to the conversation being absorbed by the Irish public.

McGregor said that Carlson, the right-wing media pundit who has since interviewed the likes of Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on his network since being fired by Fox News in 2023, had a great listening ear.

The interview, which had not been released at the time of writing, is expected to be broadcast on Carlsons channels.

The MMA artist issued a public invitation to X on Monday and promised a celebratory atmosphere. " He then stated that he was put on this earth to serve and protect his home nation.

open image in gallery Tucker Carlson and South Dublin County Councillor Glen Moore inside McGregors The Black Forge pub on Tuesday ( X/@MooreEireannach )

Dublin City Councilor Malachy Steenson, known for his anti-immigration views, and former Teachta Dala for Fianna Fail, a center-right party in the Republic of Ireland, Conor Lenihan, were among the guests, along with two attendees sporting MAGA caps.

President McGregor, shouted a man posing for photos standing beside an open bar.

Carlson and McGregor were both photographed inside The Black Forge beside South Dublin County Councillor Glen Moore.

open image in gallery McGregor spoke briefly to the media in the White House Press Briefing Room on March 17 ( EPA )

The Road House star used his visit to the White House on March 17 to make a plea to the U.S. government about the illegal immigration racket is running ravage on the country.

Our government is the government of zero action with zero accountability, he told reporters beside White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. Our money is being spent on overseas issues that is nothing to do with the Irish people.

McGregor is estimated to have little chance of gaining the necessary support to run for the Irish presidency from 20 members of the OireachtasIrish parliamentor the endorsement of at least four local authorities.

His political ambitions were announced as he appeals a High Court civil jurys finding that he raped a woman in a Dublin hotel.

Last November, Nikita Hand, 35, also known as Nikita Ni Laimhin, won her claim against McGregor after accusing the professional fighter of committing the assault in December 2018.

McGregor, who denies the allegations, has said he had consensual sex with the woman and is appealing against the verdict. Last month, the Court of Appeal in Dublin heard that a motion will be brought to adduce alleged new evidence in early May.
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New research by social psychologists at the University of Amsterdam, published in the journal Nature Human Behavior, shows that America's conservatives distrust science to a far greater extent than previously understood.

The academics asked 7,800 Americans their opinions on 35 different scientific professions and examined their answers based on whether they identified as conservative or liberal.

They found that members of the public who described themselves as right-leaning were overwhelmingly more likely to distrust scientists, particularly those whose work in fields such as climate may not align with their political ideology.

More surprisingly, conservatives also proved to be highly skeptical about more technically-minded scientists like industrial chemists, whose findings might have a direct, positive impact on economic growth and prosperity, two areas typically associated with right-leaning people.

Republican respondents were further found to be particularly resistant to interventions made by the researchers as part of an attempt to influence their attitudes towards the disciplines under discussion more positively.

The findings have potentially profound consequences for tackling social problems that require a broad public consensus to resolve, such as reining in climate change and thwarting future pandemics.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has long been associated with vaccine scepticism ( Reuters )

In America, but also in other countries, conservatives generally have lower trust in science, said Bastiaan T. Rutjens, one of the researchers behind the study.

Since the 1980s, trust in science among conservatives in America has even been plummeting, he added, explaining that the discipline has come to be regarded as a leftist hobby. At the same time, universities are often seen as strongholds of the leftist establishment.

That prejudice is currently being illustrated by President Donald Trumps decision to cut $2.2bn in federal funding to Harvard University over its refusal to bow to his demands.

In his poll, Rutjens noted that climate scientists, medical researchers, and social scientists were among the least trusted professions.

This is likely because findings in these fields often conflict with conservative beliefs, such as a free-market economy or conservative social policies, he suggested.

As for the same subjects distrust of those working in more technical and applied fields, Rutjens observed: It remains striking that even here, conservatives show lower trust.

Their distrust extends across science as a whole.

After a decade of populist politicians dismissing global warming as a scam, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr.questioning vaccines, and COVID-19 conspiracy theories being freely shared on social media, the attitudes uncovered by the study are perhaps not altogether surprising.

As to how to address them, Rutjens concluded that stronger interventions were needed to address the paranoia and suspicion identified.

Extreme things are happening in America right now, he said.

But even here in the Netherlands, we are seeing unprecedented discussions being held around science, sometimes accompanied by significant distrust.

These short interventions do not work to make science more transparent and reliable for certain groups.

We need stronger interventions that make science truly personal. What can science contribute to your life, here and now?"
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Elon Musk has a plan to populate the world with more babies of high intelligence  and its all part of his wider mission to one day occupy Mars to save civilization.

That is according to an explosive report by the Wall Street Journal about the worlds richest man and how MAGA influencer Ashley St Clair found herself caught up in his harem drama.

St Clair, 26, went public with her claims that she and Musk share a child in February. Now she has claimed that the billionaire offered her a one-time payment of $15 million, plus $100,000 a month until her child turns 21, in exchange for her silence.

She rejected the offer. I dont want my son to feel like hes a secret, St Clair reportedly told Musks fixer Jared Birchall, who runs Musks family office.

St Clair claimed that Musk has used his wealth to silence some of the other women who have had his children, according to the report.

Musk, who has at least 14 children with four women, previously maintained that he does not know for sure whether St Clairs child is his but the Probability of Paternity was 99.9999%, according to test results that came back last Friday, the Journal reports.

open image in gallery St Clair gained an insight into Musks paranoid way of thinking when they dated in 2023 after meeting in the spring of that year. Their romance began on Musks social media platform X after he began to interact with her posts. ( @stclairashley/X )

Musk has four children  Strider, Azure, Arcadia, and Seldon Lycurgus  with Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis, as well as three  X  A-Xii, Exa Dark Siderl, and Tau Techno Mechanicus  with music artist Grimes. And he has six children with Justine Wilson, who was married to Musk for eight years from 2000.

According to multiple sources close to the tech mogul, the number of Musks children is much higher than publicly known, they told the outlet.

Musk did not respond to the outlets request for comment but made light of it on his social media platform X by comparing the Journal to celebrity tabloidTMZ.

TMZ >> WSJ, Musk posted late Tuesday. The Independent has contacted representatives of Musk for comment.

The report contains extraordinary claims about how Musk believes a declining population is a grave threat to civilization. He is driven to correct the historic moment by helping seed the earth with more human beings of high intelligence, the Journal reports, citing people familiar with the matter.

St Clair gained an insight into Musks paranoid way of thinking when they dated in 2023 after meeting in the spring of that year, she claimed. Their romance began on Musks social media platform X after he began to interact with her posts.

open image in gallery St Clair claimed that Musk offered her $15 million and $100,000 a month until her son turns 21 in exchange for her silence. She refused the offer. ( @stclairashley/X )

She was invited by Musk to visit Xs headquarters in San Francisco. From there, he took her on a separate trip to Rhode Island on his private plane, where the Space X CEO was visiting one of his sons at college, and then later on a getaway to St. Barts for New Year.

During their time together, Musk frequently talked to St Clair about having children, she claimed. The first time they had sex, Musk joked that they should pick a name for their future child, the outlet reports.

On the trip to St. Barts, she told Musk that she was ovulating. What are we waiting for? he reportedly replied, and their son was conceived, according to St Clair.

During St Clairs pregnancy, she claimed Musk suggested they bring in other women to have even more of their children faster in his mission to save civilization.

To reach legion-level before the apocalypse, Musk told St Clair in a text message seen by the Journal. We will need to use surrogates, he added.

open image in gallery Musk believes a declining population is a grave threat to civilization. He is driven to correct the historic moment by helping seed the earth with more human beings of high intelligence, the Journal reports. ( Getty Images )

Once visibly pregnant, St Clair stayed inside her apartment in New York City to avoid speculation. Birchall was instructed by Musk to send her $2 million for expenses, the Journal reports, which she used in part to pay for security.

Birchall also reportedly warned St Clair that Musk expected privacy and confidentiality about the child. After the birth, St Clair was pushed again to sign the $15 million agreement in exchange for her discretion, according to the outlet.

Musk then reportedly weighed in and told St Clair that it was dangerous to reveal his relationship to the baby. He described himself as the #2 after Trump for assassination in text messages seen by the Journal. Only the paranoid survive, he added.

St Clair didnt sign the agreement. One of the main sticking points, she said, was that it would make her son feel illegitimate, the outlet reports.

When she learned a newspaper was planning to publish a story about the child, St Clair went public.

Five months ago, I welcomed a new baby into the world. Elon Musk is the father, she wrote in February. I have not previously disclosed this to protect our childs privacy and safety, but in recent days it has become clear that tabloid media intends to do so, regardless of the harm it will cause.

Musk revoked the $15 million offer, according to the outlet, and the case went to court to discuss paternity testing. In the meantime, Musk dropped his support to $40,000 a month while St Clairs legal fees soared.

After the publication of the Journals report, St Clair claimed the amount Musk paid in child support had dropped to $20,000.

Mars ambitions are part of Musks baby-making project

open image in gallery Elon Musk has ambitions to get humans to Mars. He believes the declining population is a grave threat to humanity and views it as his responsibility to help repopulate. ( Getty Images )

Musks ambition to get humans to Mars is driven by his fears of a declining population. He believes, people close to him told the outlet, that a solution is for educated people to have more children.

I think for most countries, they should view the birthrate as the single biggest problem they need to solve. If you dont make new humans, theres no humanity, and all the policies in the world dont matter, Musk said at a conference last year in Saudi Arabia.

Musks baby-making project is relevant to his ambition for NASA, which he wants to move faster to go to Mars, the Journal reports. Musk sees it as his responsibility to help seed the earth with more human beings of high intelligence.

What is important is that we establish a self-sustaining city on Mars, Musk said previously. This is important for the long-term future of humanity or consciousness as we know it.

And his multi-billion dollar companies will help him achieve the goal.

Through SpaceX, he aims to build a rocket capable of reaching Mars while his other businesses will finance the lofty plans.

He has predicted that humans could land on Mars in the next 20 to 30 years  though some NASA scientists have said the plans are highly unlikely.

Musk asked cryptocurrency influencer if she was interested in having his child

Since acquiring X, Musk has used the app to interact with lesser known users  and has solicited some of them to have his babies, according to the Journal.

One of them reportedly included the cryptocurrency influencer and journalist Tiffany Fong, who Musk began interacting with on X while she was covering the fall of crypto tycoon Sam Bankman-Fried.

As Fong shared more pro-Trump content on her profile, Musk became interested. He followed her account last summer, according to the Journal, which in turn boosted her earnings because she was paid through a program on X to share content.

She earned $21,000 on X in a two-week period, the outlet reports. According to people familiar with the matter, Musk reached out to her and asked if she was interested in having his child, despite never meeting in person, they told the Journal.

Fong reportedly confided in St Clair about the offer, but didnt take Musk up on the proposal. After learning that Fong had told other people about his request, he rebuked her for a lack of discretion and unfollowed her. As a result, her engagement on X dropped and her earnings declined.

When contacted for comment, Fong told The Independent that she did not feed this story to the Journal. She added that she would have rather kept it private.

Musk wanted St Clair to spend time at his compound in Austin, Texas

open image in gallery Musk wanted his children and their mothers to live in a compound in Austin, Texas. The gated community is where Shivon Zilis and their four children live. ( Shivon Zilis/X )

The billionaire envisaged a world where the mothers of all his children would live together among multiple residences in a compound in Austin, Texas, according to the Journal, citing a person familiar with the matter. But the dream hasnt materialized.

St Clair revealed that Musk intended for her to spend time in Austin with our kid legion, he told her over a text seen by the outlet.

The gated community is where Shivon Zilis, the mother of four of Musks children, lives. The SpaceX CEO comes and goes. Zilis, an executive at Musks brain computer company Neuralink, is held in high regard by him and has special status.

He really wants smart people to have kids, so he encouraged me to, Zilis told Musks biographer. Musk has brought Zilis to high-profile events, including a meeting with Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the presidential guesthouse Blair House.

Grimes refused to move to the compound and has endured her own court battles with Musk over custody of their three children, a fight which St Clair witnessed when she was dating Musk in 2023. Grimes has publicly called him out for allowing their four-year-old son X to be on national television with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office.

Who is Elon Musks fixer and baby momma go-between, Jared Birchall?

Musks longtime fixer and financial manager Jared Birchall also acts as a go-between with the mothers of Musks children behind the scenes, ensuring they keep their silence, according to the Journals report.

Birchall, a practicing Mormon with a big family, is one of Musks trusted confidantes and is also the CEO of his company Neuralink. Unlike Musk, he works very hard to keep a low profile. Birchall also helped organize Musks $250 million campaign in support of Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, according to the outlet.

Birchall also manages property deals across Musks businesses and in his personal life. The former Morgan Stanley banker acquired the Austin property where Musk hoped the mothers of his children would all live.

St Clair shared details of exchanges she had with Birchall during her pregnancy and after the birth of her son last September. She largely dealt with Birchall when Musk stopped communicating with her directly, she claimed.

When presented with the offer of $15 million and $100,000 a month in support, Birchall allegedly told St Clair that similar agreements had been negotiated with the other mothers of Musks children, she told the Journal.

Privacy and confidentiality is the top of the list in every aspect of his life, every aspect, and his entire world is set up to be, like, a meritocracy, Birchall reportedly told St Clair during a two-hour phone call in December. Benefits flow when people do good work, he said.

He pressed upon St Clair the importance of her discretion and said Musk cannot allow people to just go and share his life information. He is the biggest lightning rod on the entire planet.

Birchall also warned her not to hire attorney, but she did.

He also featured in Musks custody battle with Grimes and acted as a go-between, according to the report.
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The exact number of children fathered by Elon Musk may be much higher than publicly known, according to reports

The tech billionaire, a vocal pro-natalist, has at least 14 children via four different women who are already publicly known.

His baby mothers include musician Grimes and Shivon Zilis, an executive at his brain-computer company Neuralink. Right-wing influencer Ashley St Claire has also come out recently to claim that she also shares a child with Musk.

Musk has previously stated in public that civilization is going to crumble due to declining birth rates, and refers to his children as a legion, sources close to the matter told The Wall Street Journal.

Multiple sources close to the worlds richest man told WSJ that they believe the true number of his offspring is much higher than publicly known. Though no estimate was given for how many children he has fathered.

open image in gallery The true number of children fathered by Elon Musk may be much higher than publicly known, according to multiple sources and reported by the Wall Street Journal. ( Getty Images )

Addressing an investor conference in Saudi Arabia last year, Musk told the audience that, for most countries, the birthrate was the single biggest problem they need to solve.

Musk laid out the urgency of the matter. If you dont make new humans, theres no humanity, and all the policies in the world dont matter, he said.

Musk admitted that he was doing his part to help the issue and that he had to walk the talk. So, I do have a lot of kids, and I encourage others to have lots of kids, he said.

open image in gallery Right-wing influencer Ashley St Claire has come out recently to claim that she also shares a child with Musk - his 14th ( Gett/@stclairashley/X )

Per text messages seen by the WSJ, in a 2023 meeting, Musk claimed that Japanese officials had asked him to be a sperm donor for a high-profile woman. They want me to be a sperm donor. No romance or anything, just sperm, the text message to St Clair read.

The outlet reported that Musk later told St Clair he had given his sperm to the person who asked for it, but did not name the woman.

open image in gallery Musician Grimes also shares children with Musk, though the pair have previously been locked in legal battles over custody ( Getty Images )

The Tesla boss reportedly refers to his offspring as a legion, and, according to the WSJ, floated the idea of using surrogate mothers to help procreate with St Clair in order to have children faster.

According to sources that spoke to WSJ he has recruited potential mothers  often lesser known users  for his offspring through messages on his social media platform X.

Vivian Wilson, one of Musks older children from his first wife, Justine Musk, recently told Teen Vogue that she doesnt know how many half-siblings she has in her family. Wilson is estranged from her father.
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Tech moguls and other wealthy individuals who donated to Donald Trumps 2024 campaign could financially profit if the United States takes over Greenland, given their deepening financial ties there, according to a report.

Since returning to the White House, Trump has been keenly eying a takeover of the autonomous territory of Denmark. Vice President JD Vance even visited Greenland last month to underscore the administrations startling insistence to control the island.

Trump said flatly ahead of Vances visit: We need it. We have to have it.

Trumps National Security Adviser Mike Waltz told Fox News in January: This is about critical minerals. This is about natural resources. The president has also insisted that national and international security interests are driving his plan to control the Arctic territory.

The motivation to control the territory could be essentially commercial. Greenland has significant reserves of rare earth minerals, which are critical to the tech industry  and to advanced defense technologies.

Dominant in the rare earth minerals supply chain is China, which early this month placed significant export restrictions on some of the minerals in retaliation for Trumps trade war.

Now, in a review of campaign finance records and corporate filings, mining companies.

The revelation has raised ethics and influence questions about the motivation behind the presidents push to take over the territory.

Vice President JD Vance gestures as he tours Pituffik Space Base in March. A group of Trump 2024 campaign donors who have invested in Greenland mining companies stand to potentially profit if the U.S. takes control of the Arctic territory, according to a report ( AP )

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos have each invested millions in KoBold Metals, a mineral exploration company powered by AI tools, the outlet reported. Meta and Amazon each donated $1 million to Trumps inauguration, while Altman personally contributed the same amount.

Meanwhile, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick previously led financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald, which is invested in Critical Metals Corp., a company licensed to mine in Greenland , the New York Times first reported in January.

Lutnick stepped down as chairman and CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald after the Senate confirmed him as Commerce Secretary. He agreed to divest his business interests in Cantor Fitzgerald  to comply with U.S. government ethics rules and does not expect any arrangement that involves selling shares on the open market, a February press release from the firm said.

Lutnick also donated millions to a Trump campaign super PAC in the months leading up to the 2024 election, FEC filings show.

Other Critical Metals Corp. investors  Vanguard, BlackRock, Geode Capital and State Street  also collected $314 million worth of shares in Trump Media, The Guardian reported.

The financial ties to Trump and Greenland's mining efforts represent a circle of grift, Robert Weissman, co-president of think tank Public Citizen, told the outlet.

Put money into the Trump family bank and the money comes back to you in the form of some government policy, Weissman insisted. That even includes the deployment of the empire in service of libertarians who favor a stateless society.

Then theres Praxis co-founder Dryden Brown, who deemed Greenland a crypto-native country. Last November, he said he visited Greenland to try to buy it, Gizmodo previously reported.

One month later, Trump posted on Truth Social, claiming that U.S. ownership of Greenland is a necessity and tapped PayPal cofounder and Trump donor Ken Howery as its ambassador. Brown shared a screenshot of the presidents post on X, to which the Praxis account replied: According to plan.

Still, some experts dont think Greenland is the home of the next so-called gold rush.

The Arctic climate is difficult to navigate and costly to extract resources, Paul Bierman, a natural resources researcher at the University of Vermont who has spent time in Greenland, told The Guardian. The notion that a gold rush is possible is almost completely pie in the sky, Bierman said.

And, while the people of Greenland may want to be independent from Denmark, many fearful residents are organizing against a takeover by the U.S.
This week, the oldest (and richest) American educational institution did what one of its peers could not: it defied the Trump administration.

Harvards president Alan Garber issued a defiant statement on Monday stating that the university wouldnt accept a list of demands from the Trump administration he said amounted to a federal takeover of the institution.

Just as with other universities, the Trump administration demanded the university cooperate with federal agencies engaged in prosecuting and, in the case of foreign-born students, targeting for deportation, college students who engaged in a broad range of activities in opposition to the Israeli governments siege of Gaza. It also would have forced Harvard to end diversity-based hiring policies.

A letter sent to the government in response was itself filled with subtle jabs. It was signed by two familiar faces: Robert Hur, the former Justice Department attorney who oversaw the probe of Joe Bidens handling of classified materials, and William Burck, outside ethics counsel for the Trump Organization.

Further, the pair wrote that [n]either Harvard nor any other private university can allow itself to be taken over by the federal government  a remark that could clearly be seen as disapprovingly commenting on Ivy League member Columbia University to accept the sweeping policy changes demanded by the White House.

No government  regardless of which party is in power  should dictate what private universities can teach, wrote Harvards president.

So far, Harvard is unmoved in the face of the Trump administrations retribution: roughly $2.2bn in various grant cuts affecting the university.

open image in gallery Demonstrators rally in support of Harvard in Cambridge, Massachusetts ( REUTERS )

A host of other colleges and associations took another step on Tuesday and filed suit against the US Department of Energy aimed at halting DOGE-led grant cuts. The group includes the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Brown University, and wrote in court filings that the implemented cuts to research funding would be devastating. Students across the country have reported the reversals of graduate school admissions and research program acceptances in the wake of cuts to a host of federal agencies.

The framework of resistance is beginning to form. And one of the biggest names in Democratic politics is throwing himself behind it.

Barack Obama, the last Democratic president to be re-elected, backed up his alma mater on Twitter: Harvard has set an example for other higher-ed institutions  rejecting an unlawful and ham-handed attempt to stifle academic freedom, while taking concrete steps to make sure all students at Harvard can benefit from an environment of intellectual inquiry, rigorous debate and mutual respect.

Lets hope other institutions follow suit, he added.

Obama, who was one of the highest-profile figures to emerge and pressure Joe Biden to step down from the Democratic ticket in 2024, remains one of the Democratic Partys most influential voices. His statement is likely to be a rallying cry for a party which poll after poll (and FEC report after FEC report) indicate that voters believe is not energetic enough to build that resistance.

He also emerged from the 2024 election looking far more prescient than his onetime running mate, who most insiders now agree was encased in a tightly-contained sphere of advisers and close family members who, throughout the election season, shielded the president from signs of his growing unpopularity.

But hes not the only Democrat finding a voice as the party considers what Resistance 2.0 looks like, nor is he arguably the most effective. The progressive wing of the Democratic Party seems to have shaken off much of the post-election malaise affecting all corners of their coalitions big tent. Now, its members are hammering Republicans in their home districts across the country.

Out west, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is now at the side of Senator Bernie Sanders as the two lefty icons hit red state after red state, drawing staggering crowds day after day. On Monday evening, the pair were in Nampa, Idaho, turning out a crowd which some estimates (including stand-by seating) ranged upwards of 15,000. The Squad member isnt just getting her voice out  shes building a political machine of her own, and on Tuesday reported a jaw-dropping amount of donations for the first quarter of 2025  more than $9.6m.

open image in gallery Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speaks at a rally in Los Angeles, California, as part of the Fighting Oligarchy tour with Senator Bernie Sanders ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

In the east, John Fettermans old rival Conor Lamb continues to stir up what former Rep John Lewis would probably call good trouble in Pennsylvania. The former congressman headlined an empty-chair town hall event in a GOP-held district outside of Penn State University in March and is set to do it again on Wednesday. This time, hes doing it in Pittsburgh  Fettermans backyard  and calling the senator out directly.

Looking forward to this on Wednesday, wrote Lamb on Twitter on Monday. Maybe our senators  who both live within a few minutes drive of this event  will come explain recent votes, and address what they plan to do about Trumps economic downturn and his defiance of the Supreme Court.

With new polls coming out showing Donald Trumps approval taking a serious slide in the face of economic instability brought on by his on-again-off-again tariff plan, Democrats may finally be finding their footing. Will they do anything with it?
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Jamie Dimon, the chief executive of JPMorgan Chase, has warned that President Donald Trumps trade war could cause the United States to lose credibility overseas, while also urging the administration to engage in talks with China sooner rather than later.

Dimon, 69, was one of the most influential voices to come forward last week to predict that sliding into recession was a likely outcome for the U.S. if the president did not row back his aggressive reciprocal tariffs program.

Trump duly did so, introducing a 90-day pause for all countries other than China as punishment for its near like-for-like retaliatory measures, acknowledging that the markets had gotten a bit yippy.

While conservatives celebrated the U-turn as a masterly act of gamesmanship, uncertainty continues to linger.

In an interview with The Financial Times on Wednesday, Dimon expressed his fear that America could surrender its economic preeminence on the world stage if Trump persists with his efforts to remould global trade more to his liking.

A lot of this uncertainty is challenging that a little bit, the banker said of the countrys historic status as a haven of democracy, strength and prosperity.

So youre going to be reading about this nonstop until hopefully these tariffs and trade wars settle down and go away so people can say, I can rely on America.

We should be careful. I dont think anyone should assume they have a divine right to success and therefore dont worry about it, he continued.

Having previously endorsed Trumps plans and said that people with an aversion to tariffs should simply get over it, Dimon was invited to explain his recent change of heart.

When they announced the Liberation Day tariffs, they were dramatically different than people expected, he said.

JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon ( AP )

Way off the table than what people expected. And that was shocking to the system. The global system, not just in the United States.

Referring to the future of Trumps tariff regime, he said: I think we should be clear-eyed about what were trying to accomplish.

And I also think we should do it with allies I would want to negotiate eventually with Europe, the U.K., Japan, Korea, Australia, Philippines, and have a very strong economic relationship.

On the presidents hostility to China, Dimon joined Xi Jinping in warning that a trade war has no winners.

I dont think theres any engagement right now it doesnt have to wait a year. It could start tomorrow, he said, implicitly urging Trump to call Beijing.

Dimon also expressed his confidence in Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, commenting: I know him a little bit. I think hes an adult.

I dont agree with everything the administration is doing. So Im not arguing that point.

But I think hes the guy who should probably be negotiating these trade agreements.

In his interview with Maria Bartiromo on Fox Business last week, which Trump is known to have watched and even promoted on Truth Social despite the dire warnings it contained, Dimon said that while it is perfectly reasonable for someone to say that trade was unfair, the president and his aides have it wrong.

The executive also criticized how the administration calculated its tariff rates for Americas allies, downplayed comparisons with the onset of the Great Recession of 2008, and again expressed hope that Bessent would be leading U.S. trade negotiations rather than the president himself.
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Fox News star Jesse Watters backed the Trump administrations claim that an illegally deported Maryland man is a dangerous terrorist, arguing on Tuesday night that Kilmar Abrego Garcia wearing a Chicago Bulls hat means youre MS-13 and you hang around with high-ranking gangsters.

Watters also mocked the assertion that Abrego Garcia first fled El Salvador as a teenager because of threats of violence to his familys business, claiming it was ridiculous to believe that he initially migrated to the United States because of a tortilla blood vendetta.

The right-wing hosts defense of the administrations refusal to bring Abrego Garcia back to the United States after shipping him to the notorious CECOT prison in El Salvador comes as a federal judge said that lawyers for Abrego Garcia can depose Trump officials to determine their compliance with the Supreme Courts ruling to facilitate his return.

Cancel vacations, cancel other appointments, Maryland District Judge Paula Xinis told the administrations legal team on Tuesday.

Even though the administration originally acknowledged that Abrego Garcia was wrongly deported due to an administrative error, the presidents top officials have since argued publicly that the Maryland father is actually an MS-13 gang leader who was involved in human trafficking  a claim they have yet to make in court. Additionally, when pressed to provide the evidence to back these claims, which senior officials have said was gathered through intelligence, the administration has demurred.

Fox News host Jesse Watters says that Kilmar Abrego Garcia wearing a Chicago Bulls hat is proof enough that he was a member of MS-13. ( Fox News )

Were not going to give out our national security documents every time a terrorist denies they are a terrorist, Homeland Security assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin told ABC News on Tuesday. That would be insane.

With the White House threatening a full-blown constitutional crisis by ignoring a Supreme Court ruling, Watters decided to carry the administrations water on Tuesday night by parroting their talking points on Abrego Garcia.

Garcia is a Bulls fan, but hes from El Salvador and he lives in Maryland, not Chicago, the primetime host declared. The Bulls lost 60 games in 2019, so why the hat? Can Garcia name anyone on the team? Anyone on any Bulls team besides Jordan?

Watters was referencing the arrest of Abrego Garcia in 2019 outside of a Home Depot for loitering alongside three other immigrants, which resulted in an allegation that he was a member of the MS-13 gang. This resulted in him being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which began removal proceedings against him because he had illegally entered the country.

However, an immigration judge eventually dismissed the claim that he was part of MS-13 and granted his withholding of removal request based on his well-founded fear of violence and persecution if returned to El Salvador. During his initial 2019 detention, Abrego Garcias lawyers argued that the only evidence of his gang affiliation was that he was wearing a Chicago Bulls hat and a hoodie; and that a confidential informant advised that he was an active member of MS-13 with the Westerns clique. The Western clique, however, operates out of New York, where Abrego Garcia has never lived.

The officer who formally attested to Abrego Garcias alleged gang affiliations was suspended from the force shortly after he arrested him. He was accused of providing confidential information about an ongoing police investigation to a sex worker whom he paid for sex one year earlier, The Independents Alex Woodward reported this week.

Everyone from El Salvador knows what it means, Watters continued on Tuesday night. When you wear a Bulls hat, it means youre MS-13. When youre in Compton, you dont accidentally wear red and say: Oh, I didnt know red was Bloods. If youre a Latin American illegal alien in Maryland, you dont accidentally wear Chicago Bulls gear and hang around with high-ranking gangsters from MS-13.

On top of that, the Trump-boosting Fox News host also ridiculed the notion that Abrego Garcia fled El Salvador because his familys pupusa shop had been shaken down by local gang members, resulting in increasing threats of violence. Since moving to the United States, Abrego Garcia has gotten married to an American citizen, with whom he shares a five-year-old child and has raised her two other children from another relationship.

This is the reason he had to break into the country, Watters sneered. Are you ready? A local gang in El Salvador was shaking down his grandmas tortilla shop, and his lawyers say if he gets sent back to El Salvador, hes a dead man.

He concluded: Its a tortilla blood vendetta. Seriously? So who are Garcias attorneys who managed to get their client a hearing in the Supreme Court?
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Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen said he was denied a meeting with a wrongfully deported Maryland father imprisoned in a brutal Salvadoran jail following Donald Trumps refusal to return him to the United States.

The Maryland senator traveled to El Salvador on Wednesday to help secure Kilmar Abrego Garcias release from the Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT, where he faces the prospect of indefinite detention.

But he was denied a meeting with Abrego Garcia, and Salvadoran officials would not let the senator or Abrego Garcias family speak with him by phone, he said.

open image in gallery Kilmar Abrego Garcia is imprisoned in a massive jail in El Salvador, which the Trump administration is paying to detain hundreds of immigrants deported from the United States ( REUTERS )

El Salvador has recently allowed Republican members of Congress inside CECOT, as well as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who was filmed in front of a row of men crowded behind bars.

The country denied that same access to the senator who represents the state where Abrego Garcia has been living with his wife and children.

I asked the vice president if I could meet with Abrego Garcia, and he said you need to make earlier provisions to go visit CECOT, Van Hollen told reporters from San Salvador on Wednesday.

I said, Im not interested in this moment of taking a tour of CECOT, I just want to meet Mr. Abrego Garcia, he said. He said he was not able to make that happen.

El Salvadors vice president Felix Ulloa said he couldnt promise next week either, according to Van Hollen.

So I asked if I could get on the phone, either video phone or just a phone, and talk with Mr. Abrego Garcia, he said.

That was also denied, he said.

The vice president also said he wasnt sure whether Abrego Garcias wife or family members would be able to speak with him, according to Van Hollen.

We have an unjust situation here, he said.

White House communications director Steven Cheung called Van Hollen a complete disgrace to his office and said he should be thoroughly shamed for his disgusting actions.

Chris and his bedwetting friends have shown more concern and sympathy for an illegal MS-13 gang member than victims of horrific migrant crimes, he wrote.

Trumps border czar Tom Homan called the trip disgusting on Fox News.

A statement from Homeland Security said Van Hollen has done more to bring a MS-13 gang member, human trafficker and illegal alien back to Maryland than he has to help keep his American constituents safe or advocate for the victims of these vicious gangs like MS-13.

Van Hollen, however, said the Salvadoran government does not have any evidence that Abrego Garcia was a member of the transnational gang.

The Trump administration is lying when they say he has been charged with a crime or is part of MS-13. That is a lie, he said.

And this is a life to cover up what they did, he said. They illegally abducted Mr. Abrego Garcia from Maryland and sent him to CECOT.

Asked why El Salvador refuses to release him, the countrys vice president told Van Hollen that the Trump administration is paying to keep him there, the senator said.

The State Department has arranged a $6 million deal to house hundreds of immigrants inside CECOT.

open image in gallery Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland says he was denied a meeting with Kilmar Abrego Garcia during his visit to El Salvador on April 16 ( AFP via Getty Images )

Abrego Garcia fled El Salvador in 2011 when he was 16 years old. He entered the United States illegally at the time but a judge in 2019 granted a withholding order that prevents his removal from the country for humanitarian reasons.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrested him during a traffic stop last month, and he was swiftly deported to a prison described by human rights groups as a tropical gulag.

The White House and government attorneys have repeatedly admitted that his removal was due to an administrative error. But the administration has refused to seek his return and instead are fighting in court to continue his imprisonment as a member of a foreign terrorist organization, which administration officials argue supersedes any court order against his removal.

If we get rid of due process in the United States, its a short road from there to tyranny, the senator said in a video from the airport on Wednesday morning.

The administration is also refusing to share evidence to support allegations that he is a member or leader of MS-13 or involved in human trafficking.

Asked why the administration isnt publicly disclosing that evidence, Attorney General Pam Bondi told reporters on Wednesday that Abrego Garcia is an illegal alien who has been living illegally in our country from El Salvador.

He is not coming back to our country and El Salvadors President Nayib Bukele said he was not sending him back, she said.

Thats the end of the story, according to Bondi. If he wanted to send him back, we would give him a plane ride back. There was no situation, ever, where he was going to stay in this country. None. None. He wouldve come back, had one extra strep of paper work, and gone back again. But hes from El Salvador, hes in El Salvador, and thats where the president plans on keeping him.

open image in gallery Kilmar Abrego Garcias wife Jennifer Vasquez Sura joins supporters outside a federal courthouse in Maryland on April 15 ( REUTERS )

Other Democratic members of Congress are requesting a congressional delegation to visit CECOT.

Representatives Maxwell Frost of Florida and Robert Garcia of California wrote to Republican House Oversight Committee chair James Comer Tuesday for permission to perform a welfare check on Abrego Garcia.

We must all stand as a united front against the kidnapping and illegal detention of Kilmar Abrego Garcia in El Salvador, Frost wrote this week. Senator, I am willing to join you and help Organize other members of the House to do the same.

Last week, the Supreme Court ordered the Trump administration to facilitate Abrego Garcias release from custody in El Salvador, which the justices appeared to agree was illegal.

On Tuesday, a federal judge in Maryland rebuked the Trump administration for doing nothing since then.

Judge Paul Xinis will determine whether the administration is acting in good faith after getting no real response about any efforts to secure his release despite a unanimous ruling from the nations high court. There will be no tolerance for gamesmanship or grandstanding, she said.

Trump administration officials must provide the court with firm answers about Abrego Garcias current physical location and custodial status as well as what steps, if any, they have taken to facilitate his immediate return to the United States.
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To hear officials in Donald Trumps administration tell it, a Salvadoran father in Maryland they admitted was wrongfully deported to a brutal prison in his home country is involved in human trafficking.

But government lawyers have not raised any such claims in court, and the allegations appear to have been first introduced publicly during a White House press conference.

open image in gallery Kilmar Abrego Garcias wife Jennifer Vasquez Sura speaks to reporters and protesters outside a federal court hearing on April 15 over her husbands potential return to the United States ( EPA )

Administration officials claim they have reviewed intelligence linking Kilmar Abrego Garcia with human and labor trafficking, which his attorneys and family have flatly denied.

Officials also have refused to share any of those reports or any other evidence supporting their claims.

Were not going to give out our national security documents every time a terrorist denies they are a terrorist, Homeland Security assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin told ABC News on April 15. That would be insane.

Asked for a snapshot of any such evidence, a Homeland Security spokesperson directed The Independent to McLaughlins comments to Fox News on April 4.

The individual in question is a member of the brutal MS-13 gang, she said. We have intelligence reports that he is involved in human trafficking. Whether he is in El Salvador or a detention facility in the U.S., he will be locked up and off America's streets. MS-13 gang members murder, rape, and maim for sport. It's shameful that the mainstream media chooses to do the bidding of these vicious gangs while ignoring their victims.

The only mention of trafficking allegations against Abrego Garcia in court documents comes from his own attorney, who notes that although the White House has accused Plaintiff of involvement in human trafficking, [the governments] court filing omits any such scandalous accusation.

On April 15, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt labeled Abrego Garcia a foreign terrorist and an MS-13 gang member who engaged in human trafficking.

The allegation was first publicly raised by Leavitt herself, two weeks earlier.

On April 1, after government attorneys admitted Abrego Garcias removal was due to an administrative error, Leavitt justified the Trump administrations refusal to get him back by alleging he was involved in human trafficking and a leader of MS-13.

The error that you are referring to was based on a clerical error, it was an administrative error. The administration maintains the position that this individual who was deported to El Salvador and will not be returning to our country was a member of the brutal and vicious MS-13 gang, she said.

We also have credible intelligence proving that this individual was involved in human trafficking, she added. This individual was a member, actually a leader, of the brutal MS-13 gang, which this president has designated as a foreign terrorist organization.

Neither of those allegations were raised in court.

Nevertheless, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told Fox News on April 14 that Abrego Garcia has trafficking in his background and is a very dangerous person.

The media would love for you to believe that this is a media darling, that he is just a Maryland father, McLaughlin said on The Will Cain Show on Fox News that same day. Osama Bin Laden was also a father, and yet, he was not a good guy, and they actually are both terrorists.

It is pretty crazy that youre so worried about this gang member and not his victims, McLaughlin told ABC News one day later.

Hes a public safety threat, hes a gang member, and hes a designated terrorist, Trumps border czar Tom Homan told Fox News.

Leavitt also derided reporters at the White House for what she called despicable and mind-boggling coverage of the administrations refusal to return him from a prison where he faces the prospect of indefinite detention.

You would think we deported a candidate for father of the year, she said.

open image in gallery Trump officials have relied on years-old evidence from a suspended police officer alleging Abrego Garcia is a member of MS-13 to justify his continued imprisonment in El Salvador ( via REUTERS )

Abrego Garcia, a sheet metal apprentice in Maryland, had just picked up his five-year-old autistic son from his grandmothers house when he was stopped by federal agents. They then told his wife that she had 10 minutes to pick him up before he would be turned over to child protective services, according to court records.

He is also helping raise two other children from a previous relationship.

Abrego Garcia entered the United States illegally when he was 16 years old, but in 2019, a judge granted a withholding order that prevents his removal from the country for humanitarian reasons. On March 15, he was put on a plane bound for El Salvadors Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT, described by human rights groups as a tropical gulag.

The White House and government attorneys have repeatedly admitted that his removal was due to an administrative error. But the administration has refused to seek his return and instead are fighting in court to continue his imprisonment as a member of a foreign terrorist organization, which administration officials argue supersedes any court order against his removal.

Rather than try to right its admitted wrong, administration officials have described him, for the first time, as a verified and ranking leader of MS-13  and thus a foreign terrorist the administration claims can be summarily deported.

The recently raised allegations appear to stem from his arrest in 2019 alongside three other immigrants outside a Home Depot.

Following his arrest, local police officers asked whether he was a gang member and for information about other gang members, according to court documents. He repeatedly explained that he did not have any information to give because he did not know anything.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers then detained him and brought removal proceedings against him under the sole charge of an alien present in the United States without being admitted or paroled, or who arrives in the United States at any time or place other than as designated by the Attorney General.

After one month in custody, ICE claimed he was a verified active gang member, based on a local police report.

The officer who formally attested to Abrego Garcias alleged gang affiliations was suspended from the force shortly after he arrested him. He was accused of providing confidential information about an ongoing police investigation to a sex worker whom he paid for sex one year earlier.

ICE allegations at the time appear to come from two documents, one of which was based on information contained in the other. ICEs Record of Deportable/Inadmissible Alien form contained information from a Prince Georges Police Department report. Neither documents were introduced in the administrations latest attempts to remove him.

An immigration judge noted that the documents were at odds with one another  one stated they were in connection with a murder investigation, while the other said he was arrested for loitering outside of a Home Depot.

Abrego Garcias attorney at the time objected to the inclusion of the materials and sought to cross examine the detective whose accusations seemed to undercut the allegations. The immigration court judge ultimately determined the documents were sufficient to deny him bail.

But the only reason to believe Plaintiff Abrego Garcia was a gang member was that he was wearing a Chicago Bulls hat and a hoodie; and that a confidential informant advised that he was an active member of MS-13 with the Westerns clique, according to Abrego Garcias attorney.

The Westerns clique, however, operates in Brentwood, Long Island, in New York, where Abrego Garcia has never lived.

Denied bail, Abrego Garcia remained in detention and applied for asylum to prevent his removal to El Salvador, where he feared persecution by a gang that extorted and threatened him and his family.

A judge granted his withholding of removal request based on his well-founded fear of persecution. The government did not appeal.

He has since been required to regularly check in with ICE agents as a condition of his release. His most recent check in was in January, according to court documents.
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Protesters disrupted Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greenes town hall, including two who were tased by police at the event, according to a report.

Two people were tased and at least six people were removed as the Republican Congresswoman spoke at a town hall at Acworth Community Center in her home state of Georgia on Tuesday, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Three individuals were charged in connection over the disruption, including one who was charged with disorderly conduct, police told the outlet.

open image in gallery A protester resists being removed by an Acworth Police officer as Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene takes part in a town hall ( EPA )

Footage posted on social media appeared to capture the moment one protester was tased.

One clip showed a man wearing a black hoodie surrounded by five officers in the corner of the room, appearing to resist arrest. The protester can be heard yelling an expletive before hes seen on camera getting tased.

The crowd can be heard cheering and clapping after the stun gun went off.

Greene then says: This is a peaceful town hall.

The Independent has reached out to Acworth Police for more information.

Are you really doing this? another protester  a man in a gray hoodie  repeated as two police officers physically forced him out of the room, a separate video shows. The officers kept telling him to stop as the protester appeared to try to break free from their grips.

As the chaotic group nears the door to exit the town hall, one of the officers can be seen tumbling to the ground, bringing the gray hoodie-sporting man with him.

open image in gallery Another protester resists being removed by police ( EPA )

In a separate clip, a protester holding up a Jail 4 inside traders sign can be seen being escorted from the town hall.

The sign appeared to be alluding to Greenes decision to heed President Donald Trumps advice and buy stocks last week as the market tanked due to his sweeping tariff plan. Hours later, he issued a 90-day pause on most of the levies.

The congresswoman bought stock in big brands like Lululemon, Dell Computer, Amazon, and the parent of Restoration Hardware after they dropped by around 40 percent on average late last week, the Associated Press reported.

open image in gallery Greene speaks to reporters after her chaotic town hall ( AP )

After the event, Greene praised the protesters removal.

Im glad they got thrown out, she said, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Thats exactly what I wanted to see happen.

Greenes town hall interruptions mark the latest backlash that Trump-aligned Republicans have faced at town halls in their home states.

Last month, town hall attendees confronted Indiana Rep. Victoria Spartz over her stances, including her refusal to call for the resignation of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after the so-called Signalgate texts were exposed. The crowd then burst into a chant of lock him up.

Weeks earlier, fellow Georgia Rep. Rich McCormick was met with constituents boos and angry questions at his town hall. One attendee asked what the Republican Congressman planned to do to rein in the megalomaniac in the White House?

Also in February, a 54-year-old veteran was escorted out of a town hall following a shouting match with North Carolina Rep. Chuck Edwards.

And you wonder why folks dont want to do town halls anymore? Edwards quipped during the event.
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Dan Caldwell, one of U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths leading advisers, was reportedly escorted out of the Pentagon on Tuesday after he was identified as an alleged leak source by the Department of Defense, according to a government official.

The official told Reuters that Caldwell has been placed on administrative leave for "an unauthorized disclosure."

According to the source, the investigation is ongoing. They did not provide details regarding the alleged disclosure and whether or not it was made to a journalist or another individual.

Caldwell's building access has been revoked, pending further investigation, according to a Politico report.

President Donald Trump has been aggressive in pursuing leaks, and that same desire to keep information from reaching the public has been adopted by Hegseth.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths adviser Dan Caldwell as escorted out of the Pentagon amid a probe into an unauthorized disclosure on April 15, 2025 ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

On March 21, a memo signed by Hegseth's chief of staff, Joe Kasper, called for an investigation into "recent unauthorized disclosures of national security information involving sensitive communications."

During last month's highly publicized Signal leak involving Hegseth  in which Trump administration officials inadvertently added national security reporter and Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg into a group chat discussing plans to attack Houthis in Yemen  Caldwell was named as the defense secretary's best point of contact.

Caldwell is a Marine Corps veteran who deployed to Iraq. Before working at the Pentagon, he voiced his belief that the U.S. war in Iraq was a mistake, and that military members would have been better off staying at home.

"I think the Iraq war was a monstrous crime," he told the Financial Times in December 2024.

He has also expressed some isolationist views, questioning the U.S.'s involvement in Russia's expansionist war against Ukraine. Caldwell also expressed beliefs that the U.S. should reduce the money it spends helping to defend European allies.

Staffing at the Pentagon has been shaken up since Hegseth's arrival. He fired the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the top admiral in the Navy, the head of the nation's Cyber Command, and many of the Defense Department's top military lawyers.

Reuters reported last week that Hegseth fired the U.S. military's representative to the NATO Military Committee.
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The Trump administration is shutting down an office focused on battling foreign disinformation from countries such as China, Russia, and Iran, officials told The New York Times.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio put all 40 staffers at the Counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference Hub on paid leave on Wednesday morning. Its the initial step to having them fully removed from the department this spring. Last month, the department fired about 80 contractors working at the office and cut nearly all the contracts related to the office.

The office was following disinformation campaigns by rival powers and terrorist groups. Some Republican legislators have accused both federal employees and experts not employed by the government working to track disinformation of trying to suppress the views of right-wing political groups and working with social media companies to take action against them. Russian disinformation is often present in online channels on the far right.

In a statement, Rubio claimed that the office had spent millions of dollars to actively silence and censor the voices of Americans they were supposed to be serving, without backing it up with any evidence.

Former State Department official James Rubin, who ran the predecessor to the office during the presidency of Joe Biden, told The Times that This amounts to a form of unilateral disarmament in the information warfare Russia and China are conducting all over the world.

During his time in charge, no efforts were made inside the United States  only international. All of our efforts were focused on Russian and Chinese operations in Latin America, Europe, and Africa, he added.

The firings were organized by Darren Beattie, the acting undersecretary for public diplomacy, two officials told The Times. Beattie was forced to leave the White House during the first Trump administration following a CNN report that he had given a speech to a white nationalist group.

Marco Rubio speaks in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, April 14, 2025. The State Department has shut down an office battling foreign disinformation ( AFP via Getty Images )

Beattie got access to the email accounts of current and former staffers who had worked on countering disinformation, the two officials told the paper. They said that Beattie looked through the emails to find evidence that conservatives had been censored.

Two memos circulating in the department foresee deep cuts, with one suggesting almost cutting its budget in half next fiscal year, and another memo suggesting the closure of 10 embassies and 17 consulates.

The proposed cutbacks come as China has increased its presence around the world and as Russia grows more aggressive in its spreading of disinformation. During his time as a Florida Senator, Rubio often spoke of the importance of expanding government resources to take on both countries across the globe and online.

The offices predecessor, the Global Engagement Center, was established in 2011 to take on terrorist propaganda from groups such as Al Qaeda and the Islamic State. It recently had as many as 125 employees and a $61 million budget.

But conservative groups filed lawsuits against the office, with Elon Musk calling the center in 2023 the worst offender in U.S. government censorship.

At the time, Rubin told the paper that the office was focusing on how foreign adversaries, primarily China and Russia, use information operations and malign interference to manipulate world opinion.

After some House Republicans blocked congressional reauthorization of the center last year, then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken renewed the efforts by establishing the Counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference Hub.
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A former Democratic political candidate from Texas has pleaded guilty after being accused of using fake social media accounts to hurl racist abuse at himself and his boss to gain voter sympathy in their respective races.

Taral Patel, 31, pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of misrepresentation of identity by a candidate, according to the Fort Bend County District Attorney's Office. He agreed to a two-year probation and to complete 200 community service hours.

Patel, who ran unsuccessfully for county commissioner in November last year, also admitted to committing one of the misdemeanors along with Fort Bend County Judge KP George in 2022 when he was vying for re-election. Patel was Georges chief of staff at the time. George denies any wrongdoing.

The investigation into Patel began in September 2023 when inflammatory messages began surfacing on Facebook, using racial slurs against him and, in turn, calling for support of his GOP opponent Andy Meyers, according to charging documents.

Was he even born here? Probably communist, one of the comments believed to be written by Patel read.

I am against fake gods and their worshippers winning office in [a] Christian Nation, another added. I am with Meyers ALL THE WAY because he serves Jesus unlike Patel

open image in gallery Taral Patel has been accused of making fake online accounts to make racists posts directed at himself ( Fort Bend County Jail )

Patel turned screengrabs of the posts into a collage and uploaded them to his Facebook profile. He also accused President Donald Trump, who at the time was vying to be at the top of the GOP ticket, and todays extremist Republican party of inciting such rhetoric.

When my Republican opponent's supporters decide to hurl #racist, #anti-immigrant, #Hinduphobic, or otherwise disgusting insults at my family, faith community, colleagues, and me - that crosses a line, he said in September 2023, sharing the collage.

A day later, he posted: My family and I are overwhelmed from the outpouring of love and kindness from community members spanning every political and demographic divide as we collectively work together to overcome the challenges ahead.

Investigators with the DAs office connected one of the accounts using the name Antonio Scalywag after they sent subpoenas to Facebook and Google. The account included a profile picture of a Needville, an investigator with the DA's office said.

Patel also issued a news release containing a collage of attacks made from the Scalywag account, prosecutors said.

Patel was initially detained in June 2024 for online impersonation and misrepresentation of identity. He was indicted in September on four felony counts of online impersonation with intent to injure a candidate, per court filings.

George, a Democrat, has also been charged in the case and accused of working alongside Patel to sway the outcome of an election against Republican candidate Trever Nehls in his 2022 re-election race.

open image in gallery Patel also admitted to committing one of the misdemeanors along with Fort Bend County Judge KP George (pictured) in 2022, which he denies ( Facebook )

In a search warrant from September 2024, authorities accused George of working with Patel using the Scalywag alias to post racist social media posts targeting himself to garner sympathy, which the defendant denies.

George was also charged last week with money laundering in a separate case, involving an amount between $30,000 and $150,000.

Patel could have to testify against his former boss, according to Charron Thompson, the chief prosecutor for the Fort Bend County District Attorney's Office Public Integrity Unit.

In his required apology letter to the Fort Bend County community written on Tuesday, Patel said he was deeply remorseful and asked the public for grace and kindness.

I recognize that seeking redemption is the work of a lifetime ahead, and I will treat this second chance for what it is: the opportunity to take responsibility and shape my life around service, he wrote.

District Attorney Brian Middleton said in a statement that the community can now move forward.

Justice and accountability were achieved today when Taral Patel accepted responsibility and pled guilty to the offenses, he said.

We believe the terms of the plea bargain are fair for the community and for the defendant. Now we can all move forward.

The Independent has reached out to Georges lawyer for more information.
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Donald Trumps administration could be held in criminal contempt after ignoring a federal judges court orders to turn planes around carrying alleged Venezuelan gang members summarily deported to a brutal Salvadoran prison under the presidents use of a wartime law.

In a ruling on Wednesday, Judge James Boasberg said the governments failure to return those flights to the United States demonstrates a willful disregard that is sufficient for the Court to conclude that probable cause exists to find the Government in criminal contempt.

The Court does not reach such conclusion lightly or hastily; indeed, it has given Defendants ample opportunity to rectify or explain their actions, he wrote in a lengthy opinion on Wednesday torching the administrations refusals. None of their responses has been satisfactory.

open image in gallery Washington, D.C. District Judge James Boasberg found probable cause to hold Trump administration officials in criminal contempt for deliberately defying his orders to return Alien Enemies Act flights en route to El Salvador on March 15 ( AFP via Getty Images )

Flights were in the air on March 15 when Boasberg ordered the administration to turn the planes around following a lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union that challenged their clients removal. The judge has repeatedly pressed officials to explain when government lawyers relayed his verbal and written orders to administration officials and who, if anyone, gave the flights a green light despite his orders.

At least 238 immigrants were on those flights.

Despite the Courts written Order and the oral command spelling out what was required for compliance, the Government did not stop the ongoing removal process, Boasberg wrote Wednesday.

Administration officials must return those immigrants by April 23 to remove the contempt charges.

If they dont, they must submit a filing to the court that identifies who ultimately made the decision to ignore the the judges orders.

And if those measures are unsatisfactory, administration officials will be hauled to court to testify or be deposed by plaintiffs, the judge wrote. If the administration declines, Boasberg will appoint a special prosecutor to prosecute the contempt.

The judge accused the administration of increasing obstructionism and stonewalling to avoid answering any questions about the flights, or who knew about the orders and when, after a series of hearings to understand why those planes arrived in El Salvador.

Defendants provide no convincing reason to avoid the conclusion that appears obvious from the above factual recitation: that they deliberately flouted this Courts written Order and, separately, its oral command that explicitly delineated what compliance entailed, he wrote.

Defendants conduct, moreover, manifests a willful disregard of the Courts legally binding proscriptions, he added. Given the evidence at this early stage in the inquiry, and offered no persuasive reason to conclude otherwise, the Court finds that there is probable cause that Defendants acted contemptuously.

The administrations refusal to answer questions about the flights and the judges move to hold officials in contempt escalates what has become a volatile conflict between the president and the judiciary in yet another case that legal experts say has pushed the country towards a constitutional crisis.

Boasbergs decision affirms what we have long known: the governments conduct in this case is unlawful and a threat to people and our constitution, Skye Perryman, president of Democracy Forward, a co-counsel in the case, said in a statement. We will continue to work through the judicial process in defense of our clients and all people in America who are entitled to due process under our laws."

open image in gallery The Trump administration summarily deported dozens of Venezuelan immigrants accused of being Tren de Aragua gang members to a Salvadoran prison on March 15 despite court orders commanding the planes turn around ( EL SALVADOR'S PRESIDENCY PRESS OFFICE )

In his proclamation invoking the Alien Enemies Act for only the fourth time in U.S. history, Trump stated that all Venezuelan citizens 14 years of age or older who are members of [Tren de Aragua], are within the United States, and are not actually naturalized or lawful permanent residents of the United States are liable to be apprehended, restrained, secured, and removed as Alien Enemies.

But the administration has admitted in court filings that many of the people sent to a notorious prison in El Salvador did not have criminal records, and attorneys and family members say their clients and relatives  some of whom were in the country with legal permission and have upcoming court hearings on their asylum claims  have nothing to do with Tren de Aragua.

On April 7, a divided Supreme Court agreed to lift Judge Boasbergs order that temporarily blocked the presidents use of the wartime law to swiftly deport people from the country while a legal challenge plays out.

But justices said immigrants marked for removal are entitled to notice and an opportunity to challenge their removal in front of a judge, just not in Boasbergs courtroom in Washington, D.C.

Following that ruling, lawsuits challenging immigrants deportations under the Alien Enemies Act have been filed in states where they are being detained. Several judges have since blocked the administration from summarily deporting them without a hearing.

The Supreme Court already rebuked him. Lawless, Homeland Secretary assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin told The Independent in a text message.

Administration officials have also invoked a state secrets privilege  typically reserved to shield evidence that compromises national security  to avoid answering the judges questions.

The Court is exceedingly doubtful that the privilege applies here, Boasberg wrote Wednesday.

He is simply seeking to confirm times and numbers: how many passengers the two flights carried, whether they were all deported pursuant to the Proclamation, and when they were transferred out of U.S. custody, he wrote.

White House communications director Steven Cheung said the administration will appeal.

The President is 100% committed to ensuring that terrorists and criminal illegal migrants are no longer a threat to Americans and their communities across the country, he told The Independent via email.

The ruling comes one day after another federal judge signaled she would begin her own investigation into whether the administration similarly defied a Supreme Court to facilitate the return of an immigrant in Maryland wrongfully deported to the same Salvadoran prison.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia was not removed under the Alien Enemies Act; administration officials argue he was deported due to an administrative error despite a judges order that blocks his removal from the country for humanitarian reasons. Judge Paula Xinis has ordered officials to return him to the United States to correct their admitted error.

Andrew Feinberg contributed reporting from Washington, D.C.
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The acting head of the Social Security Administration rebuffed a federal judges request to appear at a hearing to clarify reports alleging that the Trump administration is placing thousands of immigrants on the agencys death master file to harass them out of the country.

U.S. District Judge Ellen Lipton Hollander heard arguments on Tuesday over whether to extend her temporary restraining order blocking the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from obtaining access to identifying records at the Social Security Administration. The order is set to expire on Thursday.

In a letter last week, Judge Hollander asked Acting Social Security Administration Commissioner Leland Dudek to appear to clarify information detailed in a New York Times article, claiming the Trump administration was repurposing Social Securitys death master file in an effort to pressure immigrants to self deport. More than 6,000 names of migrants whose legal statuses had been revoked had been added to the file as of last week, the outlet reported.

Dudek also reportedly wrote an email to Social Security Administration staff claiming these individuals financial lives would be terminated.

A small crew of Social Security staffers reportedly has tremendous power to deem someone dead in the files without any proof. In fact the intention to do so appears to be harassing people thought to be living.

The effect of being declared dead by Social Security creates tremendous complications for people from employment to banking to insurance.

Judge Hollander noted that the government previously told the court that the DOGE team is working on a project involving the death master file that does not correspond to what was described in the news.

The acting Social Security Administration head refused to appear at a hearing in a case concerning DOGEs access to SSA data even after a judge requested he provide testimony ( Getty Images )

Hollander emphasized that Dudeks testimony may be helpful to understand the various projects that has has referenced in his filings.

But on Monday, one day before the hearing, government lawyers informed the court that after reviewing the evidentiary record and the demands on the Acting Commissioners time, officials decided Dudek would not appear. Instead, they opted to stand on the record in its current form.

Earlier that day, lawyers for the plaintiffs  labor unions and nonprofit organizations  submitted a declaration from Tiffany Flick, a former Social Security Administration official, explaining the death master file.

The consequences for erroneously marking someone as dead are severe, she wrote. People marked as dead when they are still alive could be unable to obtain a job, rent a car, access FEMA benefits, or apply for bank loans. Applications for insurance coverage could be rejected and life insurance policies could be canceled.

Intentionally marking people who are still living as dead in the death master file is unheard of and improper, Flick said.

Her declaration also poked a hole in arguments made by Elon Musk and Trump, who have claimed that tens of millions of actual dead people have been receiving Social Security payments.

Flick described the death master file, explaining that all 50 states use an automated system to report individuals deaths to the Social Security Administration. Errors in the data are minimal, she wrote.

When asked about the Social Security Administration's plans, a spokesperson for the White House did not deny the information, but told the Times: President Trump promised mass deportations, and by removing the monetary incentive for illegal aliens to come and stay, we will encourage them to self-deport.
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The Trump administration is throwing a 21 percent tariff on tomatoes imported from Mexico, suspending an agreement the president made during his first term.

Trumps 2019 trade agreement with Mexico will be terminated in 90 days, when a levy of 20.91 percent will be imposed on most tomatoes coming from the country, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced Monday. The move marks the latest action President Donald Trump has taken against one of the largest U.S. trading partners.

The current agreement has failed to protect U.S. tomato growers from unfairly priced Mexican imports, the department wrote in its release. This action will allow U.S. tomato growers to compete fairly in the marketplace.

The new levy will take effect on July 14.

The move comes six years after Trumps earlier deal with tomato growers in Mexico, where the growing season is significantly longer that in America, preventing what could have been a 25 percent tariff from taking effect.

At the time, the Commerce Department said the U.S. imported roughly $2 billion worth of tomatoes from Mexico each year.

The department wrote in September 2019: The suspension agreement completely eliminates the injurious effects of unfairly priced Mexican tomatoes, prevents price suppression and undercutting, and eliminates substantially all dumping, while allowing Commerce to audit up to 80 Mexican tomato producers and U.S. sellers per quarter, or more with good cause.

The agreement was struck after Florida growers requested the termination of a 2013 deal.

President Donald Trumps administration imposes a 21 percent tariff on most tomatoes imported from Mexico ( EPA )

Mexicos President Claudia Sheinbaum said of the new tariff that she hopes the two countries can reach a new agreement, adding that the quality of Mexicos tomatoes "is not substitutable by any other in the world."

This process has happened many times, and Mexico always comes out winning. But if this sanction is applied, Mexican tomatoes will still be exported to the US, because theres no substitute, she said Tuesday, Reuters reported.

Mexican Agriculture Minister Julio Berdegue similarly said: "A 90-day window is now open. There is going to be a conversation with the United States. We are looking for this agreement to be renewed.

Mondays announcement is the latest in Trumps trade war with the nations southern neighbor. The president in February announced he was imposing a 25 percent tariff on goods imported from Canada and Mexico to hold the nations accountable to their promises of halting illegal immigration and stopping poisonous fentanyl and other drugs from flowing into our country.

Trump campaigned against high food prices, and vowed to bring them down as soon as he gained the White House. He has said he won the election on groceries. Instead he imposed tariffs that will increase the price consumers will have to pay for food, and will decrease competition, which will also drive up prices.
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A 24-year-old Georgia man has been arrested for allegedly threatening to kill Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and her family.

Federal authorities charged Aliakbar Mohammad Amin of Lilburn, Georgia on April 11 with transmitting interstate threats to injure Gabbard.

He is accused in a federal complaint of sending threatening text messages to Gabbard and her husband Abraham Williams. The threats were made from the end of March through early April, the filing says.

You and your family are going to die soon, he allegedly wrote in one text, adding: I will personally do the job if necessary.

Another message allegedly read: Prepare to die, you, Tulsi, and everyone you hold dear. America will burn. He also warned that her home was a legitimate target, the U.S. Attorneys office said Monday.

In a message sent to Williams, Amin reportedly wrote: Tell your wife to always be on her best behavior and not to disobey Mr. Vladimir Putins orders. We are friendly bears. But we can also be angry bears. The text was punctuated by emojis depicting the Russian flag and bears, the complaint says.

open image in gallery A man accused of sending death threats to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and her husband has been arrested and charged, federal authorities say ( Getty Images )

The complaint accuses Amin of expressing threatening rhetoric and sending screenshots of anti-American social media content.

Authorities also uncovered threats Amin allegedly made in social media posts, including one photo of someone pointing a gun  with their finger on the trigger  at a laptop screen displaying an image of Gabbard, according to the complaint. He also posted a similar image of a firearm being pointed at a photo of the couple, the filing says.

While executing a search of Amins home, federal agents uncovered a firearm.

When speaking to authorities, Amin admitted the firearm photos were of his hand and his gun, noting that his mother recently took his weapon away and put it in a storage locker. He also told agents that he understood that Gabbard and Williams would interpret these messages to be death threats, according to court filings.

FBI Atlanta announced Amins arrest on X. In response, Gabbard wrote: Thank you @FBI, @USMarshalsHQ, and local law enforcement for your service and dedication in apprehending this radicalized, dangerous criminal who repeatedly threatened the lives of me, my family, and @realDonaldTrump. Thank you for your tireless work every day keeping the American people safe.

Amins arrest came one day before a suspected terrorist allegedly set fire to the mansion of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. Cody Balmer, 38, of Harrisburg, was detained in connection with the alleged targeted attack on Saturday.

In the wake of the attack, Shapiro said: This type of violence is not okay. This kind of violence is becoming far too common in our society.

He added: I dont give a damn if its coming from one particular side or the other, directed at one party or another, or one person or another, it is not okay. It has to stop. We have to be better than this.
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Angry voters pelted Iowas Republican Senator Chuck Grassley Tuesday with complaints and questions about the Trump administrations apparent defiance of an order from the Supreme Court.

If I get a court order to pay $1,200, can I just say no? Because he [Trump] just got an order from the Supreme Court and he just said NO! said a very perturbed gentleman in the crowd of about 100 at a packed town hall meeting in Fort Madison, Iowa.

He was referring to the Supreme Court order that the Trump administration facilitate the return to the U.S. of Maryland dad Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was deported to a notorious El Salvador prison in error.

Now the Trump administration claims it cant get him back, and apparently hasnt even tried, despite the order, and even though its paying El Salvador $6 million to imprison Abrego Garcia and others shipped out of the U.S.

https://twitter.com/hissgoescobra/status/1912228334924087417

Prehistoric Chuck Grassley getting an earful from his constituents when he tried to make excuses for Trumps refusal to obtain Abrego Garcias return. One asked if I get a court order to pay $1,200 can I ignore it like Trump ignored the Supreme Court? Absolute gold. pic.twitter.com/TN6yJmiYKR  John Jackson (@hissgoescobra) April 15, 2025

Are you going to bring that guy back from El Salvador? another man shouted to applause from the crowd at the Grassley town hall.

The president doesnt care, still another said. Hes got an order from the Supreme Court and hes just said: No, screw it!

Why wont you do your job, Senator? one voter shouted.

We would like to know what you, as the people, the Congress, who are supposed to rein in this dictator, what are you going to do about it? one man asked Grassley. These people have been sentenced to life in prison in a foreign country with no due process.

Grassley, 91, said he didnt plan to take any action to free Abrego Garcia, explaining that its not a power of Congress. He also argued that El Salvador is an independent country, even though its keeping a prisoner paid for and delivered by the Trump administration.

Participants also complained, loudly, about Trumps immigration policies in general, along with his tariffs, his massive cuts to the federal government, and the future of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

Officials of the Trump administration have been ordered to testify about what, if any, action they have taken to comply with a lower court ruling that was upheld by the Supreme Court.

There will be no tolerance for gamesmanship or grandstanding, Maryland District Judge Paula Xinis told government lawyers on Tuesday. Cancel vacations, cancel other appointments.

Xinis said she would decide if the government acted in good faith or was in contempt of court.
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As criticism mounts over the Trump administrations failure to heed a court order commanding the government to facilitate the return of a man who was mistakenly deported and incarcerated in a Salvadoran prison, the White House attempted to change the subject on Wednesday with an emotional appearance in the James Brady press briefing room by the mother of a murder victim who recounted graphic details of her daughters death at the hands of a Salvadoran gang member.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was accompanied at Wednesdays briefiing by Patty Morin, a Bel Air, Maryland woman whose daughter, Rachel Morin, was raped and murdered in August 2023 by a MS-13 member, Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez.

Leavitt almost immediately began shouting at the assembled journalists about how Democrats in Congress have refused to accept the will of the people by pushing back on the administrations summary arrests and deportations of Latin American men without due process, as well as their subsequent incarceration in a Salvadoran prison absent any criminal charges or convictions.

open image in gallery Patty Morin, mother of Rachel Morin, speaks during a briefing with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt ( AP )

She specifically called out Democrats and news outlets for describing one of those deportees, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, as a Maryland father and repeated the administrations largely unsupported claim that Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly deported to his native El Salvador despite a standing immigration court order barring him from being sent back to that country, was an MS-13 gang member and foreign terrorist.

She also attacked Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen for traveling to San Salvador in an effort to obtain information on Abrego Garcias welfare.

Nothing will change the fact that Abrego Garcia will never be a Maryland father. He will never live in the United States of America again, said Leavitt, who proceeded to misstate the meaning of a Supreme Court decision ordering the administration to facilitate Abrego Garcias return.

It's appalling and sad that Senator Van Hollen and the Democrats applauding his trip to El Salvador today are incapable of having any shred of common sense or empathy for their own constituents and our citizens, she added.

At that point, Leavitt introduced Morin, who became emotional as she told reporters about what she called puzzle pieces that were kept secret by Hartford County, Maryland prosecutors until Martinez-Hernandezs trial, which ended this week with him being found guilty of first-degree murder and rape.

open image in gallery Kilmar Abrego Garcia was deported to a Salvadoran prison in an administrative error ( via REUTERS )

She said the convicted killer, who was tried before a jury in Maryland and was represented by counsel guaranteed to him by the U.S. Constitution, had taken her daughter so violently and so gruesomely and so graphically that the court has ordered the crime scene and autopsy photos sealed out of respect for her family. She said Martinez-Hernandez and other MS-13 members were the kind of criminals President Trump wants to remove from our country.

Morin also attacked Van Hollen, accusing him of failing to acknowledge her daughters murder and asked why he would fly to El Salvador in an effort to retrieve Abrego Garcia, who had nothing to do with that crime.

Leavitt then thanked her and ended the briefing. The press secretary initially asked if any reporters had questions for her or for Morin. But when one reporter said they did have a question, Leavitt simply said No and walked out. Members of the press then expressed their sympathies to Morin who stood and listened before leaving the room herself.

The White Houses decision to enlist Morin to deliver the graphic description of her daughters killing at the hands of an MS-13 member comes as the Trump administration continues to fight against a string of court decisions rebuking their mistaken deportation of Abrego Garcia, which officials say is justified based solely on the governments determination that he was a gang member and the presidents decision to declare MS-13 a foreign terrorist organization.

Abrego Garcia fled El Salvador in 2011 when he was 16 years old fearing gang violence and extortion threats against his family. He entered the United States illegally at the time but a judge granted a withholding order that prevents his removal from the country for humanitarian reasons in 2019.

open image in gallery Rachel Morin was raped and murdered on a hiking trail in Maryland ( Harford County Sheriffs Office )

He has a five-year-old child with his wife, both U.S. citizens. The couple also is raising two other children with special needs from a previous relationship.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrested him during a traffic stop last month, and he was swiftly deported to El Salvadors Terrorism Confinement Center on March 15.

The White House and government attorneys have repeatedly admitted that his removal was due to an administrative error. But the administration has refused to seek his return and instead are fighting in court to continue his imprisonment as a member of a foreign terrorist organization, which administration officials argue supersedes any court order against his removal.

Officials contend that Abrigo Garcia is a leader of MS-13, citing a local police report describing his clothes and an unnamed informant that labeled him a member. Officials also claim he is involved in human trafficking but have not provided any evidence to support the allegation.

Last week, the Supreme Court ordered the Trump administration to facilitate Abrego Garcias release from custody in El Salvador. On Tuesday, a federal judge in Maryland rebuked the Trump administration for doing nothing since then.

Judge Paula Xinis has ordered what she called an intense two-week inquiry into the administrations failure to return him.

Trump tells Fox he'd love to send 'homegrown criminals' to El Salvador

Leavitts remarks follow Van Hollens trip to El Salvador, where he tried to meet or speak with Abrego Garcia and help negotiate his release. Salvadoran officials denied his requests, he said.

Other Democratic members of Congress are pushing for a delegation to travel to the prison.

But the White House is refusing to back down, with Trump administration officials suggesting that the Democrats and civil liberties groups who are expressing opposition to the use of a foreign prison and summary deportations without due process are walking into a political trap. Officials have also stated that Abrego Garcia would be immediately removed to another country  something that would have been permitted had the administration followed the existing judicial order before deporting him to El Salvador  if he were somehow to be brought back.

He is not coming back to our country, Attorney General Pam Bondi told reporters on Wednesday. Thats the end of the story  There was no situation, ever, where he was going to stay in this country. None. None.
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A 15-year-old boy accused of trying to recruit contract killers online in a Nordic gang war faces life in prison after being arrested in a multinational police sting.

The teen was arrested at a home in Western Sydney on Wednesday morning and charged with using an encrypted app to facilitate a cash for killing plan on behalf of an international crime syndicate, according to police from Australia, Denmark and Sweden.

Australian police launched an investigation earlier this month after they were alerted by Danish police to a foreign national living in Australia, whom they had linked to attempts at organising contract killings in Europe.

open image in gallery Danish Police Deputy Chief Superintendent of the National Special Crime Unit, Lars Feldt-Rasmussen ( Danish National Special Crime Unit )

The so-called crime-as-a-service contract killings involve individuals outsourcing crimes to third parties, using online platforms including social media to plan and carry out the attacks, police said.

Lars Feldt-Rasmussen, deputy chief superintendent of the Danish police national special crime unit (NSK), said the arrest was a result of close cooperation between the three police forces.

While in Australia, the young man is suspected of having attempted to recruit people to commit contract killings in Denmark and Sweden as part of ongoing gang conflicts in the Nordic region, he said.

In a separate statement, Danish police said the boy was originally from Sweden.

The teenager was charged with two counts of using a device connected to a telecommunications network with the intent of committing a serious offence, namely conspiracy to murder - one count under the Australian Commonwealth criminal code and one under the Danish penal code. Both charges are punishable by life in prison.

open image in gallery Feldt-Rasmussen said the investigation was ongoing ( Danish National Special Crime Unit )

Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commander Brett James said that while criminals thought encrypted communications gave them anonymity and would help them dodge the law, the police were a step ahead.

If you think you can use geography to evade law enforcement, youre mistaken  the AFP and its partners are always watching, sharing intelligence and ready to apprehend those who wish to harm our communities, he said.

Deputy chief superintendent Feldt-Rasmussen said the investigation was continuing.

With this operation, we have taken a recruitment link in the crime chain out of play, but we are not finished yet, he said in translated comments from social media.

We are also targeting those we suspect of having controlled the 15-year-old. Together with our international partners, we are hunting those who commit crimes against Denmark and the Nordic region - including those hiding abroad."

The teen appeared in a Sydney childrens court on Wednesday and was formally refused bail. He is due to reappear in court on June 11.
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Groups of urban villages on the outskirts of the Chinese southern metropolis Guangzhou count fast fashion retailer Shein as so key to their fortunes, locals regularly call themselves residents of Shein villages.

Shein has quickly become a retail giant in recent years, now selling over $30bn worth of goods annually. The Chinese companys model has been built on cheap prices and convenient trade rules, such as the US de minimis exemption that allows low-cost imports to enter the country duty-free.

Equally important is the efficient supply chain, powered by hundreds of buzzing factory floors. Here, thousands of villagers toil for hours in conditions that have regularly been called into question. These employees react in real time to online orders for leopard print palazzo pants or peasant blouses at unbeatable prices, as Shein only grows in success.

On a recent visit to Shein villages in Panyu District, however, the mood was glum. Three factory bosses along with four local downstream suppliers said Sheins local orders were in decline, pointing the finger at moves to diversify production to Vietnam.

Trump tariffs come to Shein villages

As companies reliant on China for production reel from tariff rates of 145 per cent and cancellation of the de minimis threshold for packages from China, questions are being asked about how long the good times can keep rolling  for Guangzhous factories and also for Shein.

open image in gallery Workers at a textile factory that supplies clothes to fast fashion ecommerce company Shein in Guangzhou, 2024 ( AFP/Getty )

Factory owner Mr Li has been in business since 2006, manufacturing apparel for both the Chinese and international markets. He has been working with Shein for five years and says orders from the firm this year have dropped by 50 per cent as more orders have moved to Vietnam.

The impact is quite obvious, he said, tariffs are not something that we can see an end to for the time being, and we dont know what will happen next.

Here, thousands of small contract manufacturers produce small batches of crop tops and mini-skirts for a few yuan apiece that are then quickly shipped to young consumers around the globe paying a few dollars each for the same items.

To be honest, cross-border [ecommerce] has been crazy in the past two years. Before, there was no such business in China, says factory owner and Shein supplier Mr Hu, 56. It was Xu Yangtian of Shein who made it happen, he said, referring to the Chinese-Singaporean entrepreneur and founder of Shein. He caused it to emerge.

Hu and Li declined to use their full names for privacy reasons.

Shein, which recently secured UK approval for a London IPO that can only go ahead with a nod from Chinese regulators, is also investing 10 billion yuan ($1.37bn) in industrial projects in South China, including a $500m supply chain hub in Guangzhous Zengcheng district.

open image in gallery Shein sells $30bn worth of goods a year to customers around the globe ( AFP/Getty )

Both factory bosses confirmed earlier media reports that Shein has begun incentivising its biggest suppliers to move production to Vietnam with promised minimum orders and longer lead times, having been told directly by Shein or informed by other suppliers who were briefed on the plans.

Since Chinese new year, when Trump came to power, Shein has been asking many leading factories to find ways to open factories in Vietnam, Hu said, adding that his firm, which employs about 100 people and manufactures 200,000-300,000 pieces per month for Shein during busy periods, was too small to be considered a candidate for an incentivised move.

In a statement replying to Reuters questions, Shein said reports that it was shifting supply chain capacity out of China were untrue and pointed to a growth in suppliers in China, up to 7,000 from 5,800 last year.

The firm did not answer questions relating to incentives for major Chinese suppliers to open additional factories in Vietnam, nor the impact this might have on order volumes for other Chinese suppliers.

Sheins catch-22

A move to source more from Vietnam could help Shein to continue sending goods to the U.S. at lower tariff rates or without import duties at all for packages sent under de minimis  though there is no guarantee the threshold will remain in place for goods sent from Vietnam.

But it also creates a catch-22 situation for the company  a potentially costly and time-consuming one in an industry in which price and time are essential.

open image in gallery Sheins office in Guangzhou in southern Chinas Guangdong province ( AFP/Getty )

The diversification of its sourcing base and a significant change in its business model will have to go hand in hand for Shein, said Sheng Lu, professor of fashion and apparel studies at the University of Delaware.

Without fundamentally changing its business model of pumping out thousands of new styles in small batches and shipping them quickly to end consumers, Shein cant diversify its supply chain; and without diversifying the supply chain away from South China, it can no longer ship products direct to U.S. consumers at low, tariff-free prices, Lu said.

The model is really genius when you think about it ... but to move that whole business model, thats going to definitely put a hiccup in their turnaround times and their costs, said Alison Layfield, director of product development at ePost Global, which helps businesses manage cross-border shipping and customs challenges.

Of course, they will want to pass those costs onto consumers but ... then consumers are not going to be ordering at the quantity and the price point that they have in the past, she added.

For factory owner Li, the capital investment involved in a move to Vietnam, combined with what he said was less productive labour there compared with China, makes it an unappealing choice.

Here we can finish 1,000 pieces of clothing in one day  there, it takes a month, he said.

While he plans to lean more heavily on his factory supplying the domestic market, Li said that for some of his compatriots, there is little option left: They have only two choices. One is to go bankrupt, and the other is to go to Vietnam.
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A German doctor has been charged with murder in connection with the deaths of 15 patients who were receiving end of life care.

The Berlin man is also accused of attempting to cover up the evidence by starting fires in the patients homes.

The doctor  a 40-year-old man whose name has not been released, in line with privacy rules in Germany  was part of a nursing service's end-of-life care team.

He was initially suspected in the deaths of four palliative care patients.

However, the number of suspected victims has crept much higher since last summer.

Investigators now say they have found evidence linking the doctor to the deaths of 15 people between September 22, 2021, and July 24, 2024.

open image in gallery The doctor is accused of administering an anaesthetic and a muscle relaxer to patients, stopping their breathing ( Getty Images/iStockphoto )

The alleged victims' ages ranged from 25 to 94 years old. The majority of them died in their own homes, prosecutors said.

The doctor is accused of administering both an anaesthetic and a muscle relaxer to the patients without their knowledge or consent.

The drug cocktail then allegedly paralysed the patients respiratory muscles. Respiratory arrest (where breathing stops) and death followed within minutes, prosecutors said.

The doctor has been in custody since August 6, 2024. Prosecutors said on Wednesday that he has not yet responded to the case against him.

The charges were filed to the Berlin state court, which will now have to decide whether to bring the case to trial and if so, when to do so.

Murder charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Prosecutors said they aim to ask the court to establish that the suspect bears particularly severe guilt, meaning that he will would not be eligible for release after 15 years, as is usually the case in Germany.

They also want the doctor to be banned from his profession for life, they said.
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A man arrested in Curacao on suspicion of involvement in a criminal gang linked to the murder of Dutch journalist Peter R. de Vries arrived in The Netherlands on Tuesday to face justice, prosecutors said.

The national prosecutor's office said in a statement that the man, whose identity was not released, played a leading role in a criminal gang that is thought to be behind the brazen shooting of De Vries on July 6, 2021, on a busy Amsterdam street. The popular pioneering journalist died nine days later of his injuries, aged 64.

The suspect, who has been incarcerated in Curacao, a former Dutch colony, since 2014, was arrested on Monday, prosecutors said in a statement. No detail was given why he was in a detention center on the Caribbean island.

He is scheduled to appear before a magistrate in Amsterdam, prosecution spokesperson Brechtje van de Moosdijk told The Associated Press.

The man is the latest suspect detained in the investigation into the killing of De Vries. An Amsterdam court convicted three men in June 2024 of murder for their roles in the shooting that sent a shockwave through the country. Three others were convicted of complicity in the murder.

open image in gallery Dutch crime reporter Peter R. de Vries ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

While the motive for the killing remains unknown, there is speculation that it was linked to a string of gangland hits in and around the Dutch capital. Although gang leader Ridouan Taghi has been convicted of ordering some of them, he has not been charged in De Vries killing.

De Vries had been an adviser and confidant for a protected witness in the trial of the alleged leader and other members of a crime gang. The brother and lawyer of the witness were both murdered.

Taghi was convicted of his role in five gangland killings and sentenced to life in prison in February. Judges called him the undisputed leader of a murder organization. Taghi has appealed the convictions.
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Paris has launched an urgent hunt for spy cameras and peepholes in the citys public swimming pool changing rooms following a spate of complaints from women about men trying to film them.

The action comes after journalist Laurene Daycard spoke about catching a man filming her while she was getting changed at the George Hermant swimming pool in the citys 19th arrondissement.

Ms Daycard said after her assailant was arrested, police informed her the man confessed to filming women and very young girls without their consent.

I hesitated to post this message. It disgusts me, she wrote on Instagram earlier this month.

She said there had been at least 17 similar reports in recent months, and urged women who thought they might have been victims to contact the police.

open image in gallery Ms Daycard said 17 similar reports had been made about voyeurism at the George Hermant pool in Paris ( AFP/Getty )

In response, Paris announced it would audit all 40 municipal pools to identify any structural weaknesses and run daily checks to find any fixtures or holes that could encourage voyeurism.

Women must be able to feel safe in all public facilities, and particularly in swimming pools, which are places of well-being and sport, a City of Paris statement said.

The City of Paris is and will remain mobilised to ensure that Parisian swimming pools remain safe places, accessible to all, where no woman should give up going for fear of being assaulted. The City will always stand by the victims.

As well as inspecting all changing rooms, the city said it would increase staff training in surveillance and prevention as well as victim support, and create a new poster campaign against sexist and sexual violence to go in all municipal pools.

The city said it would also set up a working group including pool manager and victims' associations to find long-term solutions to the problem.

The issue of men filming women without their permission shot to national attention in France due to the case of Dominique Pelicot who was sentenced to 20 years in prison late last year for orchestrating dozens of rapes of his wife Gisele Pelicot.

open image in gallery Gisele Pelicot leaves the courthouse after hearing the verdict of the court that sentenced her ex-husband to the maximum term of 20 years jail ( AFP/Getty )

Pelicots crimes against his wife were uncovered after he was caught upskirting women in a supermarket.

After Ms Daycard posted about her experience, her comments were filled with women who had had similar experiences across the years in France. One woman wrote of a similar experience at a pool in Lyon, while other women said they had avoided certain pools for years after they had been harassed by male swimmers.

In a video, another reporter, Anouck Renaud, said she had a similar experience at a different Parisian swimming pool a year and a half ago, but her complaint was still pending.

I'm speaking out today in the hope that it will change things. No, there was no sexual assault in the physical sense of the word. But that doesn't change what happened. It's an invasion of my privacy, that's what it was. It's a crime, she said.

City of Paris deputy mayor Pierre Rabadan, who is in charge of the citys pools, urged women to come forward if they had experienced such behaviour, telling the Times the city had received few reports.

Since 2020, I have had only four or five  We need reports so this can be reduced as much as possible, he said.
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A senior figure in the Chinese underworld has been shot dead in a mafia-style execution in Rome, along with his partner.

Police suspect the execution is a spillover from a long-running tour war within Italys Chinese criminal networks.

Zhang Dayong, 53, also known as "Asheng", was found dead on Monday alongside his partner Gong Xiaoqing, 38.

Their bodies were discovered outside their home in the eastern Rome neighbourhood of Pigneto.

Mr Zhang worked for Naizhong Zhang, who is on trial in Florence following an investigation into accusations he coordinated illegal operations across Italy, France, Germany, and Spain, investigators said.

Mr Zhang had garnered a near-monopoly in distribution of goods across much of Europe through threats and violence against Chinese company owners, anti-mafia prosecutors said.

open image in gallery The couple lived in Pigneto, a gentrified neighbourhood known for its street art and performance venues ( Mikael Korhonen/Flickr )

According to prosecutors, Mr Zhang was involved in managing underground gambling, loan-sharking and enforcement operations in the capital.

A police official said the killings may be linked to the so-called "Coat Hanger Wars", a violent struggle between Chinese criminal factions originally centred in the northern city of Prato, close to Florence, for the lucrative fashion logistics market.
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A Russian court has convicted four journalists of extremism for working for an anti-corruption organisation founded by late opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Antonina Favorskaya, Kostantin Gabov, Sergey Karelin and Artyom Kriger were sentenced to five and a half years each. The court, Moscows Nagatinsky district court, found them guilty of involvement with a group  Navalnys Foundation for Fighting Corruption  that was labelled extremist in Russia in 2021.

All four maintained their innocence and said that they were being prosecuted for doing their job as journalists.

This is the latest incident of Kremlim persecuting dissenting voices in the country including activists, independent journalists and political opponents. The crackdown on dissent has only intensified after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

open image in gallery Journalists Sergei Karelin, Konstantin Gabov, Antonina Favorskaya and Artem Kriger, accused of taking part in the activities of an 'extremist' organisation founded by late opposition politician Alexei Navalny, attend a court hearing in Moscow, Russia 15 April 2025 ( REUTERS )

Two of the four convicted journalists, Favorskaya and Kriger worked with SotaVision  an independent Russian media outlet known for documenting protests and political trials.

Gabov is a freelance producer who has worked with several international news organisations including with Reuters. Karelin, a freelance video journalist, has contributed to the Associated Press.

They will all appeal their sentences, Ivan Novikov, the lawyer defending Kriger told the reporters. The sentence is unlawful and unjust, said a second lawyer for Kriger, Yelena Sheremetyeva.

No evidence was presented that these guys committed any crimes, their guilt was not proven, Gabovs lawyer Irina Biryukova said.

Navalny was a vocal critic of Vladimir Putin and his policies and fiercely fought against corruption in Russia. He died last year in February while serving a 19-year sentence in an Arctic prison colony  which many of his defenders said was aimed at silencing him.

open image in gallery People enter a court building to attend a hearing of four Russian journalists at the Nagatinsky District Court in Moscow, Russia, 15 April 2025 ( EPA )

The press secretary of Navalnys widow Yulia, Kira Yarmysh, wrote on X: Antonina, Artem, Sergei and Konstantin are real journalists and just honest, brave people. They should be released immediately. She said that they were being punished for doing their job.

One of the four journalists, Favorskaya, has said at an earlier court appearance that she was being targetted for doing a story on the abuse Navalny faced in prison.

Gabov called the accusations groundless and said in his closing statement  which was also published by Novaya Gazeta newspaper: I understand perfectly well (...) what kind of country I live in. Throughout history, Russia has never been different, there is nothing new in the current situation. Independent journalism is equated to extremism.

open image in gallery People wait outside a court building to attend a hearing of four Russian journalists at the Nagatinsky District Court in Moscow, Russia, 15 April 2025 ( EPA )

Karelin said in his closing arguments that he had done street interviews for a YouTube channel, Popular Politics, founded by Navalnys associates. He claimed that the channel was not labelled extremist and that he had done nothing wrong.

Remorse is considered to be a mitigating circumstance. Its the criminals who need to have remorse for what they did. But I am in prison for my work, for the honest and impartial attitude to journalism, FOR THE LOVE for my family and country, he wrote in a separate speech for the court that also was published by Novaya Gazeta.

Kriger, in a closing statement published by SotaVision, said that he was being targeted only because I have conscientiously carried out my professional duties as an honest, incorruptible and independent journalist for 4 1/2 years.

Dont despair guys, sooner or later it will end and those who delivered the sentence will go behind bars, Kriger said after the verdict.
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What could possess Donald Trump to victim-shame Ukraines president and endorse the actions of an indicted war criminal by backing Vladimir Putin? Personal hatred of Volodymyr Zelensky? A near-demented obsession with personal sleight? A radical strategic vision thats upended world affairs? Something worse?

Probably.

Soon after the massacre in Sumy, where two Iskander missiles slammed into the provincial Ukrainian capital killing 35 people, including two children, Trump sloughed off the atrocity by claiming it had been a Russian mistake. Shocking, but not surprising, as Trump has consistently taken the Russian side at every opportunity this year.

Before most of the bodies could be collected from the city morgue, though, he had gone on the offensive by doubling down on his efforts to pin Ukraines suffering on its president.

When you start a war, you got to know you can win, he said of Ukraines leader.

open image in gallery Ukrainian rescuers work at the site of a missile attack in Sumy, northeastern Ukraine ( AFP/Getty )

Zelensky was not president when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014. He was elected by a landslide in 2019. Russia launched its attempt to kill him, capture Kyiv, and colonise Ukraine in February 2022.

He didnt start the war with Russia  and wasnt president when Ukraine enshrined the goal of Nato membership in its 2018 constitution.

Zelensky did, however, earn Trumps anger by being a disloyal recipient of Americas largesse, mostly financial aid, for failing to open an investigation into Hunter Bidens business deals in Ukraine in July 2019. Joe Biden was the likely Democrat candidate in the election of 2020.

Back then, Trump was impeached by Congress over his alleged threat to withhold $400m in US military aid to Ukraine unless Zelensky helped with the campaign against Biden and other anti-Democrat operations.

Trump was cleared by the Senate but the damage had been done. He bears a deep grudge against Zelensky.

But Trump was already a Russian strategic partner. His relationship with Moscow goes back to 1987 when he made his first trip to the capital of the Soviet Union to scout for investment opportunities. He didnt ever do any deals in Russia. But Russian bankers have backed some of his enterprises since.

Trump has always been sloppy with state secrets since his first term in office. His top intelligence staff have risked easy penetration by foreign spies because theyve been using their personal phones for top-secret communications.

open image in gallery Trump said he was told the Russian attack on Suny was a mistake

So it is reasonable to assume that Americas adversaries, like Russia, have deep knowledge and understanding of every aspect of the 47th presidents life  and have done so for decades.

He supports Russian G7/8 membership. He refused to put tariffs on Moscow this month. He has adopted every one of Russias initial negotiating principles as his own when it comes to Ukraine, and said he thought that the country may anyway be Russian one day. He wants to get back into doing business with Russia too.

But he went further into the realms of bully-backing with his statement on Monday that you dont start a war against someone 20 times your size and then hope that people give you missiles.

Again, Zelensky didnt start the war. The US, the UK, Russia and Ukraine signed a memorandum in Budapest guaranteeing Kyiv security after Ukraine gave up its nuclear missiles in 1994. France and China backed the Budapest memo with their own document.

Ukraine, a Western democracy with ambitions to join the European Union, is a sovereign nation that Putin has said he wants to bring back into the post-Soviet Russian empire. Putin has also said he has designs on the Baltic states, Moldova, and Romania.

Support for Ukraine is a necessary condition of Europes defence. Americas network of allies in Nato and beyond has been the weft of Washingtons tapestry of alliances that has made it a global superpower.

To Trump, though, its getting in the way of turning the world into spheres of influence in which the US, Russia, and China carve up the planet. Thats also, by the way, Putins vision.

open image in gallery Zelensky featured on Sundays CBS episode of 60 Minutes and called for Trump to see his war-torn country for himself ( CBS News/60 Minutes/YouTube )

I believe, sadly, [that] Russian narratives are prevailing in the US, said Zelensky in an interview with CBS at the weekend.

How is it possible to witness our losses and our suffering, to understand what the Russians are doing, and to still believe that they are not the aggressors, that they did not start this war? This speaks to the enormous influence of Russia's information policy on America, on US politics and US politicians.

That may cost him dearly.

When Trump ranted at Zelensky in March during the Ukrainian presidents official visit to the Oval Office, Trump reiterated how deeply loyal he felt to Putin because the Russian president had been accused of backing his candidacy in 2016.

Let me tell ya, Putin went through a hell of a lot with me  we went through a phoney witch hunt when they used him and Russia, Russia, Russia, Russia, Trump raged, as he got increasingly incoherent during the attack.

That was a phoney Hunter Biden, Joe Biden scam. Hillary Clinton, shifty Adam Schiff, it was a Democrat scam. And [Putin] had to go through that. And he did go through it. We didnt end up in a war. And he went through it.

This gobbledygook makes little sense. It does, however, reveal the depth of his feelings for Putin who, at least since 2016, he has seen as sharing a trench with The Donald in the wider campaign to undermine the American oligarch.

open image in gallery Trump and Zelenskys meeting in the White House in March descended into a shouting match ( Getty )

Trump soon suspended military aid and then intelligence sharing with Kyiv after the Oval Office row, which coincided with Putins campaign to free the Kursk region captured by Ukraine in Russia last year.

Trump has turned Americas system of alliances with the West upside down and inside out.

His evisceration of Americas security establishment with ideological purges, attacks on the US judiciary, Federal bureaucracy, the education system and the constitution itself have been combined with a wholesale trashing of Washingtons soft power and humanitarian operations.

This all serves the interests of the Kremlin. Its Making Moscow Great Again.

A former KGB chief, Putin has reinforced his relationship with Trump by stroking his vanity. Hes relentless in his cultivation of the US president.

In his most recent effort, he sent a portrait of the US president painted in Russia to the White House in the care of Steve Witkoff, Trumps chief Ukraine negotiator.

Witkoff said his boss thought the painting was beautiful. The bad news is that Trumps narcissism is Russias greatest strategic asset.
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The bustle of daily life in Ukraines Sumy makes it hard to believe that its people have faced a constant threat of death since Russia invaded their country three years ago.

Just days ago, Putins forces targeted the city centre in back-to-back missile strikes, killing 35 people and injuring over 100. It marked the deadliest attack on Ukrainian civilians this year.

Neighbours chatted in their apartment blocks, watching children play games in the courtyards. Pausing to look up, they would see the buzzing of attack drones and the familiar sounds of Ukrainian air defences before going back to their strange routine which is quickly becoming usual.

open image in gallery Smoke rises from an explosion following a Russian drone strike on Sumy, Ukraine, 14 April 2025 ( AP )

Sumy is only 18 miles from the border of Russias Kursk region, where Ukrainian soldiers continue to hold on to the strip of territory they took in a surprise offensive last summer. Residents of the city say there has been an increase in attacks in recent weeks, but none as devastating as Sundays airstrike which targeted a busy intersection.

It came just over over a week after a separate missile strike killed 20 people on the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih. Russia says its forces were targeting a meeting of soldiers in the attack which killed nine children, but evidence has not been provided to support the claim.

The attacks on their cities has left many Ukrainians wondering where the next will occur and cast a shadow over the ongoing ceasefire talks being brokered by the United States. The talks have produced only muted results, as Russia insists on conditions Ukraine deems impossible and Kyiv believes Moscow's forces are gearing up for a fresh offensive.

The attack ended some lives and shattered others

To the people of Sumy, the talks seem far-removed from their daily struggles.

As some of the victims of Sunday's attack were laid to rest on Tuesday, Viktor Voitenko, 56, described how he ended up paralyzed in a hospital bed. He was working as a security guard when the second missile hit and shattered his spine. As he spoke, his wife Hanna, 40, lovingly applied his deodorant  a simple act he could no longer perform.

open image in gallery The mother of Olena Kohut, who was killed in the deadly Russian attack on Sumy, during a farewell ceremony, 15 April 2025 ( AP )

Mention of the ceasefire negotiations conjured a weary smile from her. Its empty talks. They dont move anywhere. It seems to be public relations to me, Hanna Voitenko said. Nothing happens to bring comfort to regular people.

Her husband offered his own take: They are stalling for time.

Work, errands and planned family visits brought the victims of Sundays attack to the intersection of Petropavlivska Street and the state university on Sunday morning.

Asia Pohorila, 20, was working at a cafe and thinking about whether to buy pastries after her shift when the first missile strike left her in shock and bleeding profusely from her legs. On Tuesday, the times 10:20 and "10:23" were still scrawled in marker on her thighs, noting when medics applied tourniquets to them.

A teen springs into action

Maryna Illiashenko and her 13-year old son, Kyrylo, heard the sound of that first blast ricochet across the center city as they waited for a bus.

They were headed to visit his grandmother, but the teenager was more excited about wrestling practice later that afternoon. Undeterred, they boarded the bus when it arrived a few minutes later. One stop later, the second missile crashed a few feet from from the vehicle, scorching nearby cars, burning passengers alive, killing the bus driver and causing shrapnel to rain down. Three fragments tore through Kyrylos scalp and scratched Marynas face.

Enveloped in smoke and debris, the teen leaped out of the shattered bus window and pried open the locked door from outside, saving half a dozen trapped passengers, witnesses said.

open image in gallery A woman cries during farewell ceremony of Olena Kohut, who was killed in the deadly Russian attack on Sumy, Ukraine, 15 April 2025 ( AP )

I dont want to think about this as a new type of reality for Sumy city. We can clearly see that our frontline cities are being erased, Oleh Strilka, a spokesperson for the city's State Emergency Service, said while standing outside the collapsed facade of the university building, where the second missile struck.

The most painful thing for me is our children. Why do they need to suffer? he asked. I dont want our 13-year-old kids becoming heroes.

Liudmyla Shelukhina, 70, was waiting in a neighbors house for a haircut. She was standing in line in the kitchen when the windows suddenly shattered.

She said the fridge she was next to saved her life. I would have been decapitated."

Dont be so dramatic, joked her husband, Viktor, a former soldier. Their son was hospitalized in the attack.

No relief for first responders

Rescue workers like Dmytro Shevchenko, 31, have to be prepared to head to the scene of the next attack at all times. He was among the first to arrive at the university grounds on Sunday. Most people he found were too badly injured to help, he said, wiping away tears.

He holds on to little hope that ceasefire talks will bear fruit. I just dont believe in it, he said.

The childrens hospital where Kyrylo Illiashenko is recovering bears the scars of repeated drone attacks. More than 100 windows were shattered only two weeks ago when a massive drone attack struck nearby, said Chief Dr. Ihor Zmislya.

As workers cleared rubble from the sites of the missile strikes Tuesday and Kyrylo expounded on his favorite computer games, an explosion sounded in the distance. From the teen's hospital window, plumes of smoke could be seen rising from a nearby railway line.

This is our reality, said Zmislya. It happens all the time.
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Hamas said it had lost contact with an Israeli-American hostage in Gaza following an Israeli missile strike on the Palestinian territory.

Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old Israeli soldier from New Jersey, US, was captured during the October 2023 Hamas attack on southern Israel. He appeared in a video released by the militant group over the weekend.

Abu Ubaida, spokesperson for Hamass armed wing Al-Qassam Brigades, said they lost contact with the fighters holding Mr Alexander after Israeli forces carried out a direct strike on the place where he was being held.

The spokesperson did not reveal the location.

It seems that the occupation army is deliberately trying to kill him and, hence, relieve themselves from the pressure caused by the dual-citizen prisoners in order to continue its genocide against our people, he said.

Edan Alexander, an Israeli army soldier from the US, was captured by Hamas during its October 2023 attack on southern Israel ( Reuters )

Hamas later published a video warning relatives of the Israeli hostages their children would return in black coffins with their bodies torn apart from shrapnel from your army.

The Palestinian group blamed Israel for the deaths of hostages in Gaza, including as a direct result of military operations.

It acknowledged, however, that at least one hostage was killed by a guard acting against instructions.

Israel has previously said it does not target places where it suspects hostages are being held. It said its forces would continue their operations in Gaza until the remaining 59 hostages  of the 251 captured during the 2023 attack  were freed.

US president Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, told reporters last month that securing the release of Mr Alexander, believed to be the last surviving Israeli-American held in Gaza, was a top priority for us.

The Tikva Forum, a group representing families of some of the captives, said on Tuesday that Mr Alexander was one of 10 hostages who could be released by Hamas if a new ceasefire was reached, citing a conversation a day earlier between prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the mother of another hostage.

Mr Alexanders release was reportedly at the centre of talks that US hostage negotiator Adam Boehler held with Hamas last month.

Hamas released 38 captives during a ceasefire that came into effect on 19 January.

Israel resumed its military operations in March after the first phase of the ceasefire expired, and Hamas declined its proposal to extend the truce without ending the war.

This week, Hamas reportedly rejected a new Israeli proposal for a six-week truce. A Palestinian official told the BBC that the proposal did not mention ending the war nor Israeli troops leaving the territory.
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A 26-year-old British man whose family said he had been missing for over a month in Thailand was found perfectly fine on a popular holiday island.

The family of Daniel Davies, from Llanelli in Wales, said he had last made contact with them on 13 March when he was on the Koh Phi Phi Don island in the southern province of Krabi.

The family filed a missing person's report with the Dyfed-Powys police saying it was "highly out of character" for him to not contact them for so long. The report prompted local authorities in Thailand to commence a search operation for the tourist.

Mr Davies' aunt, Nicola Doran, said in an appeal to the public that her nephew had gone missing in Bangkok, Thailand". "He has been reported and is now a missing person, no one has had any contact in weeks," she said in a Facebook post last week.

"He lost his passport, and he hasn't picked up his temporary one," Ms Doran wrote in a fundraiser post. "He was last seen in Phi Phi island staying at the hangover hostel.

open image in gallery Family members shared a photo of Davies in a missing persons appeal ( Facebook )

His friend Lucia Froom said Mr Davies phone was turned off and no one had heard from him in weeks, which was "not like him at all". "If anyone knows anyone in Thailand or is planning a trip there soon, can people please keep an eye out for him," Ms Froom was quoted as saying by the Daily Mail.

On Tuesday, the Thai police said that they had found Mr Davies staying in a hostel in Muang and that he was perfectly fine.

The tourist was safe, mentally sound and making his own decisions as a legal adult, The Pattaya News quoted the police as saying.

open image in gallery Immigration officers located the missing tourist after he was missing more than a month ( Krabi Immigration )

We are relieved he is safe, a spokesperson for the Krabi police said. We encourage all tourists to take basic safety measures to avoid such situations.

Ms Doran updated her Facebook post on Tuesday. He has been found, she wrote, referring to her nephew. Thank you for all your help."

Mr Davies visa was reportedly valid until the end of this month.

open image in gallery Tourists visit Maya Bay on Thailand's Phi Phi Leh island ( AFP/Getty )

The Phi Phi islands are among the most popular travel destinations in Thailand, made famous for Western travellers by the 2000 film The Beach starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

Thailand is one of the most popular destinations for British tourists, with almost a million people visiting last year.

Tourism in the Southeast Asian country is experiencing unprecedented growth this year, driven partly by the popular HBO series The White Lotus, filmed on the Koh Samui island.
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Dozens of former student pilots are suing United Airlines and its flight school in the Arizona desert, accusing them of falsely promoting a well-equipped, intensive training program.

The federal lawsuit accuses United and the school, United Aviate Academy, of not having enough teachers or aircraft to properly train and graduate its students.

In reality, the students said in an amended complaint filed last week, their flight time was limited due to the staffing shortages and frequent staff turnover and in some cases, students were teaching other students.

Some of the students said they ultimately left the program when it became clear they would not finish training after a year, leaving them tens of thousands of dollars in debt.

However, many of them alleged in the lawsuit that they were wrongly expelled from the school for taking too long to advance" through the program.

Around the time of the pandemic, United purchased the pilot school in the Phoenix suburb of Goodyear to address a critical problem facing the industry: not enough pilots. Airlines have complained about the shortage for years, but they made it worse during the COVID-19 outbreak by encouraging pilots to take early retirement when air travel collapsed in 2020.

In a statement, Chicago-based United said it couldn't comment on specific allegations, citing the ongoing lawsuit, but it defended its pilot school.

We have the highest confidence in the rigorous curriculum and flight training program provided at United Aviate Academy and are proud of the schools hundreds of graduates, the statement said.

open image in gallery The federal lawsuit accuses United and the school of falsely promoting a well-equipped, intensive training program ( Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

The lawsuit claims the school had an enrollment cap of 325 students to ensure sufficient resources. Instead, according to the complaint, there were more than 380 students enrolled in the program in March 2024.

Within months, the school's accrediting body issued a warning letter to the flight school, in part because of its enrollment numbers, according to the lawsuit.

Around this time, the lawsuit claims that United Aviate Academy began expelling students from the program in order to comply with the enrollment cap.

By August of that year, the school was placed on probation by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges, according to the lawsuit. The school voluntarily withdrew its accreditation in January.

United said that it is exploring an alternative accreditation that better meets the needs of the flight school.

Richard Levy, a retired captain who flew for a major international airline for 41 years and who now works as a flight instructor in Texas, said a one-year program is in line with industry training standards. He said students who want to fly commercial jets will typically train for about a year and then go on to work for a regional airline to log additional flying time  up to 1,500 hours  before flying for a major airline.

open image in gallery The lawsuit claims that United Aviate Academy began expelling students from the program ( Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Whats important, Levy said, is that students are flying frequently and following a structured, uniform program during their training.

But the lawsuit says that at one point, there were roughly 20 aircraft for the hundreds of students enrolled in United's flight school. One student said he was able to fly just once or twice over several months and was repeatedly reassigned instructors. He was eventually expelled for taking too long to advance through his courses, the lawsuit alleges.

Another expelled student said she had a different instructor during each of her first four flights. During her eighth flight, she said, her instructor was a fellow student of the program.

It was students teaching students," the lawsuit says. It also alleges that students were sometimes evaluated by instructors who were not pilots themselves.

Levy said he's never heard of non-pilots evaluating student pilots.

Most of the students suing said they took out loans with the expectation that they were attending a one-year program that would lead to gainful employment. Many of them had to relocate to Arizona to attend the program.

One student sold his home, according to the lawsuit. Another left his job of 21 years to pursue his dream of becoming a pilot while his husband stayed behind at their home in Texas.

The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Phoenix on behalf of 29 former students from states across the country, including Florida, Texas, California, Colorado, Nevada and Connecticut.
A female hiker left clinging to a cliff thousands of feet above ground for more than hour is rescued in dramatic new video.

On 13 April (Sunday), the aviation team from the Riverside County Sheriffs Office was called to the Whitewater area of the Pacific Crest Trail in Southern California, just south of San Bernardino County.

The very experienced hiker, who had been stuck in a very precarious spot for over an hour, managed to send an emergency text to 911 via her fitness tracker.

Rescuers were unable to get a harness around her due to her position on the cliff-face, so resorted to a bear hug to carry her to safety.

She suffered "some cuts, some bruises and complete exhaustion" but was otherwise uninjured.
Marjorie Taylor Greene says she receives the most death threats in Congress after her town hall speech was interrupted by protesters.

Several protesters disrupted her Georgia town hall on Tuesday (15 April), some of whom were tasered by police.

Speaking to reporters after the event, Taylor Greene insisted she was not intimidated by the protesters.

There's no reason for screaming, yelling, ridiculous outrageous protesting, she said.

That disrupts the event for every single person that is there.

She then added: I have the most death threats in Congress, and at times, I have more death threats than even Speaker Johnson. And it shouldn't be that way.
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When negotiating a trade deal in normal circumstances, governments tend to concentrate on what might be termed, sometimes literally, bread and butter issues.

Tariffs, quotas, regulations these are the matters that occupy the negotiators for months if not years  as the Brexit process rather painfully proves. In the case of the current trade talks between the UK and the US, these are not proceeding in the usual manner.

The putative components of an ambitious transatlantic agreement have been kicked around, on and off, for some years, albeit with limited success. Only now, with the second coming of Donald Trump, has Britain been asked to exchange truth for trade. Yet that is, in effect, what the Trump administration will require of Sir Keir Starmer if he is to achieve what has eluded all of his predecessors since the Brexit vote in 2016.

As The Independent exclusively reveals, for the first time in such trade talks, Britain will be asked to adopt a political, indeed Trumpian, view of the world quite at odds with its traditions and democratically approved laws.

President Trumps America is a world of truth-twisting, hypocrisy and increasing authoritarianism, where Congress is sidelined and even the rulings of the Supreme Court are brazenly ignored by the administration. Independent checks and balances on the excesses of executive power are being slowly but surely eroded  the media, universities such as Harvard, even the Kennedy Center and the Smithsonian  all bullied and extorted. As former president Barack Obama says, the unprecedented decision to freeze more than $2bn in federal funds for research and teaching at Harvard University is unlawful and ham-handed. Joe Biden, breaking his own silence, talks of the destruction wrought by Mr Trump.

We have seen all too much of the kind of populist, hard-right ideology that the Trump administration now seems intent on exporting to the UK. It will take all of the wit and skill of the prime minister and his senior colleagues to resist the drive to undermine Britains culture of tolerance and its well-established multicultural society. That is more precious than any conceivable trade concessions. We must seriously question whether a deal that sacrifices truth is worth it.

However, the nightmare proposition is real enough for the government to have to take it seriously. The Independents reporting shows that sources close to the vice-president, JD Vance, have indicated that the British government will have to repeal hate speech laws in order to get a trade deal over the line. Mr Vance has been surprisingly upbeat in public about the prospects for some sort of economic accord with the UK, even as President Trump has unleashed his erratically conducted trade war on the world. But such an exceptional deal with the British would, say Mr Vances allies, come at a particular cost. As one puts it: No free speech, no deal. It is as simple as that.

In practice, pushed to the maximum extent, that would mean the repeal of laws against hate speech, including abuse targeting LGBT+ groups or other minorities, as a condition of any accord. In principle, such a demand could also extend to the civil police orders prohibiting silent protest in the vicinity of an abortion clinic, relevant clauses in the new Online Safety Act, and changing the laws used to prosecute those involved in the civil disorder last summer, after the Southport murders. Elon Musk, still close to Mr Trump, has long complained in lurid terms about what he sees as draconian restrictions on freedom of speech in the UK, including on his social media platform, X.

Mr Vances views carry weight in the US-UK trade talks. During Sir Keirs visit to the Oval Office in February, in front of the television cameras, Mr Vance declared that there have been infringements on free speech that affect not just the British  what the British do in their own country is up to them  but also affect American technology companies and by extension, American citizens. Sir Keir pushed back at that point, defusing the controversy, but Mr Vance isnt dropping his objections.

Earlier this year, at the Munich Security Council, Mr Vance delighted in telling the assembled European allies that the greatest threat to their security wasnt Russia or China but their own migration policies. Last summer, while he was running for office, Mr Vance said he was beating up on Britain and joked that the first truly Islamist country to get a nuclear weapon might be actually the UK since Labour just took over.

Such, then, is the scale of the hostility and the personal challenge awaiting the prime minister as he sets out to win a historic trade deal. He will set about it in his usual serious manner. As President Trump said in a backhanded compliment, when Sir Keir tried to stop him from imposing steel tariffs, he was working hard, Ill tell you that. He earned whatever the hell they pay him over there. Sir Keir does indeed argue hard, is usually in command of his brief and is persuasive, and the whole of his team will have to emulate those qualities in the coming weeks.

The British should be open, in principle, to a deal that eases trade on cars, steel, agricultural products, digital services, biotechnology, AI and much else  and which declares mutual respect for the rule of law and freedom of expression. It could be consummated during the presidents planned state visit at the invitation of the King.

However, importing Trumpism would be neither desirable nor practical, and Sir Keir will need to say as much, in as velvety, oblique, delicate and diplomatic a fashion as possible. Fortunately for Britain, President Trump likes Sir Keir, which counts for much  and Mr Vance is not the president (yet).
Where Michelin-star chefs go to eat a curry: I think its some of the best food of any kind being served in Ireland right now
I may not have a joint bank account, but all my money is my own  the financial perks of being single
Yokos still seen as a dragon lady who hypnotised John Lennon but theres so much more to her

David Sheff talks about his new book on Yokos art, spending three weeks with the couple shortly before the Beatle was murdered, and his own memoir Beautiful Boy, which was turned into a Hollywood film

John sensed Yokos talents right away: Lennon and Ono in their last photoshoot in November 1980, a month before Lennons murder. Photo: Jack Mitchell/Getty Images

John Meagher Wed 16 Apr 2025 at 03:30

In 1980, when David Sheff was just 24, he landed the journalistic assignment of a lifetime: interview John Lennon and Yoko Ono at their New York home for Playboy and spend some time with them in studio while they recorded Double Fantasy, their fifth and final collaborative album.
This episode of the informative BBC show sees Prof Hannah Fry explore the world of rollercoasters

Fry meets designer Bob Gurr, one of the original Imagineers who worked on Disneyland in California in the 1950s. Photo: Marco Cervi/BBC

Its official. There are two types of people in this world: those who are duckers and those who arent.

Me, I belong firmly in the first camp. I am a complete and utter ducker and I dont care who knows it. A sensation ducker, that is, as opposed to a sensation seeker. Its all to do with the balance of chemicals in the brain, apparently.

We learn this from Prof Hannah Fry in the always entertaining and informative The Secret Genius of Modern Life (BBC Two, Wednesday, April 16), in which televisions favourite mathematician digs into the history of the everyday things all around us that we take for granted and explores how they work.

Last weeks subject was the air fryer  Fry on the fryer, how apt! This week its the rollercoaster. Naturally, sensation seekers are drawn to rollercoasters the way some dogs are drawn to their own vomit.

Meanwhile, sensation duckers (or as I prefer to think of them, sane people), who much prefer their vomit to stay on the inside, would rather, as she puts it, stick pins in their eyes. Steady on, thats a bit extreme. Pins in the feet would be a much more sensible alternative.

Anyway, Fry seems to be the sensation-seeking type. She accompanies a mechanical engineer called Johnny for one of his regular safety inspections, on foot, of the newest rollercoaster in Thorpe Park theme park in Surrey.

Its called the Hyperia and its a terrifying monster of a thing. Standing 72 metres high (thats 236 feet in old money), its the UKs tallest rollercoaster and also its fastest, ripping along at about 130kph. It took a man called John Burton, who we meet here, four years to design and the construction lasted 18 months.

Prof Hannah Fry with rollercoaster designer John Burton. Photo: Marco Cervi/ BBC

Theres still a little work to be completed when Fry visits the park, but she looks like she cant wait to have a go on it. Still, riding the coaster is one thing, climbing it quite another. Her resolve buckles slightly when shes halfway up a long, long flight of open stairs.

Its wobbly! she says, with a nervous shake in her voice that momentarily suggests shes reconsidering the pins-in-the-eyes alternative.

Its the wind, says Johnny.

The Hyperias track, on the other hand, doesnt buckle. It doesnt even bend, because its made of tubular steel, which is far stronger than solid steel.

Fry demonstrates this by taking a small solid steel rod and suspending weights from it. By the time shes done, its bent 5cm. When she repeats the experiment with a tubular rod containing the same amount of steel, it remains as straight as a ruler.

Fry asks designer Burton the question most of us would ask: has anyone every vomited while doing a loop?

All very reassuring, Im sure, though probably not of much use when youre hanging upside down in one of the Hyperias loops. Fry asks designer Burton the question most of us would ask: has anyone every vomited while doing a loop?

That never happens, he says. Sorry, but I beg to differ. I saw it happen, from a safe distance, to an American kid who was riding the Incredible Hulk Coaster, which has multiple hair-raising barrel rolls, at Universal Studios in Florida.

As interesting as all the physics about centripetal force and why a teardrop-shaped loop works better than a perfectly circular one are, the history element of the programme is even more fascinating.

Fry meets designer Bob Gurr, one of the original Imagineers who worked on Disneyland in California in the 1950s. Photo: Marco Cervi/BBC

The Russians started it all 600 years ago by sliding down wooden chutes on big blocks of ice. In the 1800s, the French had the idea of locking carts to sloping wooden tracks. Alas, the riders werent locked in.

But it was the Americans who really perfected the concept and went big with it. In the 1870s, a coalmine in Pennsylvania began charging people to ride down a steep track in a coal cart.

The first wooden rollercoaster proper was at Coney Island. By the 1920s, there were 2,000 of them in America.

Then came the visionary Walt Disney. Fry meets designer Bob Gurr, one of the original Imagineers who worked on Disneyland in California in the 1950s

Disney, he says, was entranced by the Matterhorn while making the live-action film Third Man on the Mountain in Switzerland 1959.

He sent Gurr a postcard of the mountain with two words on the back: Build this. So he did, and the Matterhorn Bobsled ride, the only one of its kind, is still running at Disneyland.

Rating: Three stars

The Secret Genius of Modern Life airs Wednesdays at 8pm on BBC Two
Conor McGregor would be widely rejected in presidential run, says Jack Chambers

Conor McGregor would be "widely rejected" by the Irish public if he ran for president, a Cabinet minister has said.

Last November, Nikita Hand, also known as Nikita Ni Laimhin, won her claim against McGregor in a civil trial after accusing the professional fighter of raping her in a Dublin hotel in December 2018.

Ms Hand, 35, was awarded damages and costs after a three-week trial in which the jury found him civilly liable for assault.

McGregor, who is appealing against the decision, hosted American conservative political commentator Tucker Carlson in Dublin on Tuesday.

The fighter has previously stated an intent to run for the Irish presidency and has criticised the Irish Government's policies on immigration and public safety.

The Dubliner also voiced these concerns in a meeting with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office last month.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers said: "When it comes to Tucker Carlson and Conor McGregor, I think you've seen the resounding rejection of Conor McGregor's attempt to run for the presidency.

"I think most political parties and independents completely reject his politics, his rhetoric, his divisive approach to public debate, and I'm sure that will be reflected in his interview with Tucker Carlson.

"But that type of extreme politics isn't something that most Irish people would accept, and I think it will be widely rejected if he attempted to run with the presidency.

"I'd be surprised if he received a nomination."
A duck has turned a pothole on the Marlacoo Road into his home

A duck has turned a pothole on the Marlacoo Road into his home

A TUV councillor has hit out at potholes in Portadown, Co Armagh, that have gotten so large that ducks are swimming in them.

Keith Ratcliffe has shared images of ducks in potholes that have become large craters on the Marlacoo Road in the town.

Potholes, not just in Portadown but across Northern Ireland, have long been an issue, with Stormonts Department for Infrastructure blaming historic underinvestment in the roads network for the problem.

Mr Ratcliffe said: I am frankly fed up with the lack of action from the Department of Infrastructure when it comes to potholes.

Back in November I raised particular issues in relation to Marlacoo Road. In spite of several reminders, there has been no action.

A duck has turned a pothole on the Marlacoo Road into his home

Today's News in 90 seconds - 16th April 2025

The result is that no longer have potholes. We have large craters which, after the heavy rain today, have literally turned into duck ponds in the middle of the road.

The Cusher councillor said basic infrastructure which we all rely on to go about our daily lives is falling apart.

He added: A devolution which results in roads turning into duck ponds isnt worth having.
A councillor who provided a court reference for a former Irish soldier who was later jailed for raping a woman in a Dublin hotel has been reinstated.

Brian Tierney resigned the party whip and the SDLP suspended his membership three months ago pending an internal investigation.

In a statement, the SDLP said it had concluded its investigation into Mr Tierney  a former mayor of Derry and Strabane - and was reinstating his membership of the party and restoring the whip.

A spokesman said: The SDLP believes in the legitimacy of remorse and restitution. Thats why we have taken the decision to reinstate Brian Tierneys SDLP membership alongside a number of substantial process changes within the party.

Mr Tierney had provided a reference for Kielan Mooney of Bloomfield Park in the city who was later jailed for eight years for raping a female member of the Irish Defence Forces.

He was convicted following a trial at the Central Criminal Court last December on a count of anal rape, oral rape and rape of the woman at the Dublin hotel on July 26, 2021.

He had pleaded not guilty to a total of six charges.

The councillor apologised for the reference in January, describing it as a grave error of judgment. He claimed he was not aware of the details of the charges when he wrote the reference, and he withdrew it when he realised.

In a statement issued through their solicitor, the Mooney family said Mr Tierney had been misled into giving this character reference.

There was later a complaint about Mr Tierneys social media activity relating to another case.

It is understood that, as part of the investigation into Mr Tierney, SDLP leader Claire Hanna and the partys disciplinary committee spoke directly to several people involved in both situations.

In its statement, the SDLP said: The party has implemented a series of directives in relation to character references, appropriate social media usage plus mandatory training for elected representatives on access to justice for victims and survivors of domestic abuse.

We acknowledge the deep hurt caused by the issuing of a character reference for Kielan Mooney.

We further acknowledge that Councillor Tierney was misled about the nature of the offence, that his apology and his engagement with affected parties were fulsome, and that they have been accepted by the victim at the centre of the case against Mooney.

Kielan Mooney. Inset: SDLP councillor Brian Tierney, the former Derry Lord Mayor

On the complaint regarding the second case relating to its councillor, the SDLP said: In a separate instance covered by the investigation, Councillor Tierney liked a prominent Facebook post in 2018 from the family of a local man who had recently taken his own life.

We accept that, while not intending to cause hurt, this added to the distress felt by a victim close to the situation.

We want to put on record our appreciation to those who engaged with the party as part of this investigation and for the guidance from organisations expert in supporting women within the justice system on this matter.

The woman in the second case had previously revealed to the Belfast Telegraph that the deceased man was charged with multiple counts of rape in Northern Ireland and one in the Republic. She said he had attacked her many times. The accused died days before he was due to stand trial.

Kielan Mooney. Inset: SDLP councillor Brian Tierney, the former Derry Lord Mayor

Today's News in 90 seconds - 16th April 2025

Regarding the Mooney case, the SDLP said that it would continue to actively campaign for the removal of character references in our courts particularly in cases of violent and sexual crimes.

Harm, even if unintended, needs to be addressed in a way that supports pathways to justice for victims. As a political party we accept the need to challenge and educate on attitudes that can contribute to an environment that is stacked against victims and survivors, the party added.

It said that it had introduced mandatory training for its elected representatives on the barriers women face in the justice system as well as understanding how they as individuals can support victims of domestic abuse and challenge the environments that enable it.

It said directives had been issued to its councillors and MLAs reiterating that the party does not support the provision of character references and offering guidance on appropriate social media usage.

Mr Tierney had sat on council for the past three months as an independent. In a statement in January relating to the Mooney case, he said: "Although the situation was misrepresented to me, I deeply regret the harm caused to the victim and everyone else affected in my giving of a character reference.

"The SDLP has played a huge role in my life from a very young age and the vision and values of the party remain core to me.

Alliance deputy leader, Eoin Tennyson, said at the time that it was difficult to how Mr Tierney can remain an elected representative.
The first approved drug in the EU to treat patients in the early stages of Alzheimers disease has been given the go ahead after more than two years of review.

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland (The ASI) welcomed the decision by the European Commission to move forward with the approval of Leqembi (lecanemab) for the treatment of early Alzheimers disease.

It described it as pivotal moment and and landmark step forward.

European Commission approval means it can be marketed in all EU countries but it must pass several hurdles in Ireland before it is made available by the HSE under drugs schemes.

The medicine is used to treat mild cognitive impairment in the early stages of Alzheimers disease, under strict conditions.

It is for use in people who have only one or no copy of the ApoE4 gene and who have amyloid beta plaques in the brain.

The ASI said it is heartened by the potential for this treatment  the first disease modifying therapy for Alzheimers disease  to become available in Ireland, which will undeniably offer hope for many people and families affected by Alzheimers.

A spokeswoman said that this is a critical juncture for the future of dementia care, and it is essential that Ireland now prepares for the swift integration of Leqembi -and next generation of treatments in the clinical pipeline--into our healthcare system, ensuring that those who can avail of this treatment are able to access it as soon as possible.

While we are optimistic about the positive impact Leqembi will have, it is important to note that it is not a cure for Alzheimers Disease and will only be suitable for a small number of people in the early stages, she added.

Picture: Kirsty OConnor (PA)

Today's News in 90 seconds - 16th April 2025

The authorisation allows the use of Leqembi to treat people with only one or no copy of the ApoE4 gene and who exhibit sticky clumps of a protein called amyloid beta in the brain, which is believed to be a hallmark of Alzheimer's.

The decision to exclude those with two copies of the gene is the regulator leaning on the side of safety, said William Blair analyst at Myles Minter. He estimates over $900 million peak sales for the drug in the 2030s.

The decision is in line with that of the European Medicines Agency, which recently reiterated that Leqembi would be approved for a narrower set of patients than those in which it was tested.

While the regulator had backed Leqembi for patients with only one copy of the ApoE4 gene, the commission had requested another safety review.

Initially, the European medicines regulator had refused to back the drug's approval due to serious safety risks.

Leqembi is approved in the United States for patients with two copies of the gene, but patients must undergo regular brain scans to monitor for any brain swelling.

Leqembi is also approved in Japan, China, the UK and several other markets.
Former US Senator George Mitchell urges young people in Northern Ireland not to take peace for granted

Former US Senator George Mitchell urges young people in Northern Ireland not to take peace for granted

Avril Kinsella Wed 16 Apr 2025 at 17:00







Former US Senator George Mitchell urges young people in Northern Ireland not to take peace for granted during a speech at Queen's University in south Belfast.
(L-R) Professor Michael Keane, Professor of Medicine and Therapeutics at UCD, Professor Jennifer Hoblyn, Clinical Director at St John of God University Hospital, Professor Brian O 'Donoghue, Professor of Adult Psychiatry at UCD, and Damien O'Dowd, Chief Executive of St John of God University Hospital.

St John of God Hospital in Dublin is being renamed as St John of God University Hospital after teaming up with UCD to provide medical training to undergraduate and graduate-entry medical students.

A spokesperson said the agreement establishes St John of God University Hospital as an educational affiliate of UCD and sets out the hospitals role in delivering psychiatry clinical placements.

The memorandum of understanding (MOU) reinforces St John of God University Hospitals longstanding commitment to medical education, reflecting its role as a teaching hospital over many decades. The agreement represents a renewed dedication to deepening collaboration between the hospital and UCD, it said.

Prof Jennifer Hoblyn, Clinical Director at St John of God University Hospital, said: The memorandum of understanding represents a pivotal step forward in medical education.

By partnering with UCD, we hope to continue providing valuable opportunities to students but also support our own model of care at St John of God University Hospital through fresh perspectives and academic collaboration.

(L-R) Professor Michael Keane, Professor of Medicine and Therapeutics at UCD, Professor Jennifer Hoblyn, Clinical Director at St John of God University Hospital, Professor Brian O 'Donoghue, Professor of Adult Psychiatry at UCD, and Damien O'Dowd, Chief Executive of St John of God University Hospital.

Today's News in 90 seconds - 16th April 2025

Damien ODowd, Chief Executive of St John of God University Hospital, added: We are delighted to be here today to sign this MOU. This agreement reflects St John of God University Hospitals longstanding commitment to medical education and professional development. This collaboration strengthens our position as a leader in both psychiatric care and education.

Professor Brian ODonoghue, Professor of Adult Psychiatry at UCD said: This important MOU creates a significant step in bridging academic theory and clinical practice  something we focus on at UCD.

"Through this partnership, our students can immerse themselves in a clinical environment, where they will develop their skills under the guidance of experienced psychiatrists. St John of God University Hospital has several innovative clinical programmes, which will provide a unique experience for UCD medical students.

The MOU between St John of God University Hospital and UCD establishes a comprehensive clinical education programme where students will engage in eight structured rotational placements at the hospital between April and November.

These placements are designed to develop the students clinical skills, allowing them to take psychiatric histories, attend ward rounds and clinics and build an understanding of common acute and chronic mental health presentations within inpatient and community settings.
St Julian's is a popular holiday spot on the coast of Malta

An Irish man has drowned after getting into difficulty while swimming at a popular holiday spot in Malta.

The 76-year-old had reportedly been swimming off the seaside town of St Julian's, near the Cavalieri Hotel, in St Julians Bay, when he got into difficulty.

Police were notified of the incident at around 12.40pm yesterday afternoon and requested the assistance of members of the Civil Protection and the Armed Forces of Malta.

The man was brought to shore and received medical assistance but was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

St Julian's is a popular holiday spot on the coast of Malta

Today's News in 90 seconds - 16th April 2025

In a statement, Maltese police confirmed that they are continuing to investigate the incident and an inquiry has been launched.

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade told the Irish Independent it is aware of the case and is providing consular assistance.

The spokesperson said that it does not comment on the details of individual cases.
Gardai have arrested a man after a seizure of controlled drugs worth approximately 149,100 in Ballymun yesterday. Photo: An Garda Siochana

A man arrested after a seizure of drugs worth approximately 149,100 in Ballymun yesterday has since been released from custody.

A file will now be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions, a Garda spokesperson said.

A search of premises in Ballymun was conducted on Tuesday morning by the Ballymun divisional Drugs Unit, with assistance from the Armed Support Unit, Ballymun Detective Unit and Ballymun Community Response Team.

During the search, an Garda Siochana seized approximately 87,500 of suspected heroin and 61,600 of suspected cocaine.

Gardai have arrested a man after a seizure of controlled drugs worth approximately 149,100 in Ballymun yesterday. Photo: An Garda Siochana

This seizure was conducted as part of the ongoing operation targeting the sale and supply of drugs in the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) North.

The man, aged in his 30s, was arrested in connection with the search and detained at a Garda station in North Dublin before being released from custody.

Investigations are ongoing, a Garda spokesperson confirmed.
The 111 bedroom D Hotel in Louth will now house 500 international protection applicants.

The number of appeals by international protection applicants against decisions on their status and on reception conditions rose by 85pc last year and could almost double again in 2025, according to the International Protection Appeals Tribunal.

The Tribunal reported that it had received 8,835 appeals in 2024 and expects the figure to increase to over 16,000 this year.

According to the IPATs latest annual report, the growth in applications for international protection and associated appeals in Ireland last year was not reflected throughout the EU where the overall number of refugees fell by approximately 10pc.

More than half of all appeals accepted by the IPTA last year were accounted for by applicants from Georgia, Nigeria and Algeria.

The 111 bedroom D Hotel in Louth will now house 500 international protection applicants.

Today's News in 90 seconds - 16th April 2025

Other countries accounting for the majority of the remainder were South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Afghanistan, Jordan, Somalia and Egypt.

The report shows that 72pc of appeals were unsuccessful with the IPAT affirming the original decision of the International Protection Office.

The overall success rate of appeals was 28pc but ranged from 6pc for applicants from Algeria to 73pc for applicants from Somalia.

Commenting on the figures, IPAT chairperson, Hilkka Becker, said the tribunal had made the international protection system more efficient during the course of 2024 and ensured its consistency with fairness and natural justice.

Ms Becker said modernisation measures included the move to fully digital appeal files and efforts to reduce the rate of postponements of hearings which totalled over 1,150 last year.

However, Ms Becker said the IPAT had experienced a significant increase in appeals as a result of a substantial rise in applications for international protection made in Ireland since 2022 including 18,561 new applications last year.

Against the background of unprecedented levels of applications for international protection, the IPAT said it received a total of 8,835 new appeals last year compared to 4,775 in 2023  an annual increase of 85pc and more than a seven-fold increase since 2022.

The tribunal also completed a total of 3,098 appeals in 2024 compared to 1,701 the previous year  an increase of 82pc and the highest annual total since the IPAT was established in 2016.

However, the IPAT said it remained a concern that it still had a record caseload of 9,705 appeals at the end of December 2024 despite its best efforts with the available resources.

Ms Becker said the overall processing times for all appeals has increased to 10 months due to a sharp increase in appeals reaching the IPAT over the past 24 months and resources not being in place early enough to meet the resulting demand.

The IPAT chairperson said it was essential that the resourcing of the Tribunal was proportionately equivalent to staff numbers and decision-makers in the International Protection Office to allow it to meet the expected increase in appeals foreseen in 2025 and beyond.

The report showed the number of administrative staff increased by 20 during 2024 to 79, while the number of part-time Tribunal members rose from 50 to 89.

It also noted that the level of challenges by judicial review against the Tribunals rulings on appeals remains steadily below 7pc.

The rate of Tribunal decisions quashed by the courts remains below 3pc.
Conor McGregor would be widely rejected in presidential run, says Jack Chambers

Conor McGregor would be "widely rejected" by the Irish public if he ran for president, a Cabinet minister has said. McGregor, who is appealing against the decision, hosted American conservative political commentator Tucker Carlson in Dublin on Tuesday.

The fighter has previously stated an intent to run for the Irish presidency and has criticised the Irish Government's policies on immigration and public safety.

The Dubliner also voiced these concerns in a meeting with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office last month.
Teenage disability rights activist Cara Darmody is to stage a 50-hour protest outside Leinster House in May (Mark Darmody/PA)

A teenage disability rights campaigner from Co Tipperary is to stage a 50-hour protest outside Leinster House in May.

Cara Darmody wants the Government to carry out autism assessments of need for children within the legal limit of six months.

The 14-year-old, from Ardfinnan, is an older sister to Neil and John, who are autistic and non-verbal.

She will start her protest at 10am on Tuesday, May 20, and stay for 50 hours outside the front gates of Leinster House in a specially cordoned-off area.

The schoolgirl intends to study while protesting, because her summer exams start the following week.

I actually think that Ill get way more study done than normal as Ill have very little else to do, she said.

Teenage disability activist Cara Darmody was flown to Chicago by actor Colin Farrell in December to speak at an event organised by The Colin Farrell Foundation (Mark Darmody/PA)

In June, she regularly protested outside the Taoiseachs department buildings and has met several taoisigh to discuss disability rights.

Cara has also written to both Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Tanaiste Simon Harris to criticise the disgraceful breach of the assessments of need timeline.

So I assume that they thought that Id just vanish  big mistake, she said.

Teenage disability rights activist Cara Darmody is to stage a 50-hour protest outside Leinster House in May (Mark Darmody/PA)

Today's News in 90 seconds - 16th April 2025

Theres no nice way to frame this. Permanent damage is being caused to children by the States failure to assess children in a timely manner and it must end now. I have called for this to happen for several years, but it just falls on deaf ears.

How can the Cabinet expect children of this country to grow up and respect the law, when the only law-breakers I can see are the Cabinet themselves?

Theyre not going to want to hear that type of criticism, I get that, but its true and they cant hide from that. Im going to call that out big time.

Cara said failures are permanently damaging children and are unacceptable.

To remedy the problem, she has called on the Government to declare a national crisis and to appoint a task force to seek solutions to any barriers around recruitment.

She has also called for the allocation of further funding to provide financial relief to parents paying privately for assessments.

She said: The time has come for someone to draw a line in the sand and say that enough is enough.

There isnt a single politician out there that isnt getting flak from the public over this issue so the time has come for everyone to come together and to stop breaking the law. It really is as simple as that.

In December, the teenager was flown to Chicago to address an event organised by the Colin Farrell Foundation.
The Government has been accused of drawing up a shopping list of anti-worker measures after announcing a significant delay to plans for a living wage.

Enterprise Minister Peter Burke revealed that the Government will row back on the plan for three years. A living wage  60pc of the median wage  was due to be introduced next year.
There is too much tolerance of housing objections based on the character of an area, Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers has said.

This week Mr Chambers announced a new taskforce to find blockages in the infrastructure delivery system.

The taskforce will be chaired by Mr Chambers and experts will be seconded from state agencies including Uisce Eireann, Eirgrid, ESB and Transport Infrastructure Ireland.

Other experts will be brought in to work on the taskforce including the CEOs from these semi-state bodies.

Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers. Photo: Brian Lawless

Today's News in 90 seconds - 16th April 2025

Mr Chambers said nothing was off the table for reforming infrastructure so delivery can be accelerated.

In particular, the minister said too many people were able to block developments, including housing.

Anything that anything that can achieve faster and more accelerated infrastructure delivery, has to be on the table, Mr Chambers said.

The last number of years have shown how too many individuals have had too much of a say in impeding infrastructure and housing across our economy.

That's why there'll be a very close interaction between the infrastructure division we're establishing and the strategic housing activation office, he added.

The Public Expenditure Minister gave the example of people objecting to developments because it didnt fit in with the area.

We have countless examples across our economy where the public good is being undermined by people that are in housing and are trying to frustrate the broader public good, similar with renewable energy projects, and there's too much tolerance for this in how systems are designed, Mr Chambers said.

I've seen examples in recent months of housing getting stuck because it undermines the character of the area. What does that mean? he added.

The character of an area could be added to when there were more people living in that area, he said.

An area absolutely can have a character, but to think that an area doesn't accept housing, or doesn't accept more housing when people are in existing housing, I don't think it impedes the character of an area.

I think additional housing, new people living in an area enhances the diversity and character of an area, Mr Chambers said.

The minister said the idea that people can have a veto on more people living near them had to change.

He said that he had heard this frustration from young people who wanted to live in urban areas but residents living there for decades were objecting to new homes based on the character of the area.

This was something Mr Chambers described as a nebulous reference that just seeks to block and object to the broader social and economic objective.

The minister said there needed to be a cutting through [of] some of the nonsense by the new infrastructure division.

Very much a provocative zeal of reform is what its core focus will be. That's what I've discussed with the senior officials here. It has to have that provocation of broader systems and agencies and procedures which are just not delivering, he said.
Young man denies teacher 'groomed him as Leaving Cert student, but says they had sex in hotel after exams were over
Grace (not in picture) was placed in the care of a foster family in 1989. Photo: Getty Images

A whistleblower who raised concerns about the care of a disabled woman known as Grace has described the Farrelly Commissions report into the case as a complete waste of time and a deterrent to whistleblowers.

Grace, a non-verbal woman with severe physical and intellectual disabilities who was neglected for two decades at a state-funded foster home, was placed in the care of a foster family located in the south east by the State in 1989.

A commission of investigation was set up in 2017 to examine her case after allegations of sexual abuse were made against her foster father.

The Farrelly Commission report, which was published yesterday, made no findings that she had experienced sexual or emotional abuse.

It did find that Grace was subjected to neglect through insufficient dental care and financial mismanagement while in the care of the foster family.

In relation to seven other people in the care of the same foster family, the commission said they should potentially be investigated further.

Iain Smith, an experienced social worker in the HSE, said he first raised concerns about Graces care in 2007, when one of his colleagues received a phone call from Graces mother inquiring how her daughter was doing in foster care. This was surprising to them as foster care usually ends at the age of 18.

He said he conducted a deep read, line by line of Graces file and saw allegations of child sexual abuse in the foster placement that went back quite a long way.

Speaking to RTEs News at One, Mr Smith said that when he met Grace, he was horrified at the foster carer, some of the comments that she made.

Mr Smith wrote a lengthy report with recommendations for her care alongside names of other children that had been through the care of the foster family. He submitted this in January 2008.

However, he said a lot of shenanigans and intrigue followed before Grace was eventually moved out of the home in July 2009.

He testified for at least 27 days to the Farrelly Commission and raised his concerns in a letter to then-health minister Simon Harris in May 2019 about the process.

He said he described it as "a boondoggle, a complete waste of time, a project that is going absolutely nowhere, and that the whole thing should be shut down.

I could see that very clearly way back then. So when this report came out yesterday, it followed on from the previous reports that were issued, which I did read in detail, and they were a complete waste of time.

He said it was no surprise to him that the latest report followed on from the previous report in being fundamentally of no use whatsoever.

Caoilfhionn Gallagher, special rapporteur on child protection, said the Grace case was 'utterly horrifying'. Photo: Naoise Culhane

Mr Smith added that the process has taken a big toll on him emotionally and financially, and it has affected his family.

I think that it has been a very strong deterrent to whistleblowers in Ireland, he said.

Speaking to the same programme about the report, childrens minister Norma Foley said she cant second guess the commission, insofar that the commission was entirely independent.

She said her role was to bring the report into the public domain and acknowledged that some findings were not anticipated.

"I will absolutely concede as well that there are over 2,000 pages here in six volumes, there isnt an executive summary which would have made it more accessible but again, the independence of the commissioner is important.

Ms Foley said she does not know the identities of any of the families or individuals interviewed during the process.

The commission failed to give 40 families affected by the report notice that it was to be published on Tuesday. Asked about this, Ms Foley said she had asked the commissioner to keep the families informed.

Irelands special rapporteur on child protection, Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, told News at One that the Farrelly Commission report does not answer core questions about what happened to Grace.

She said: From the time Ive had with it, it seems to me that it doesnt answer core questions about what happened to Grace and why, and accountability for what happened to Grace and why.

And most importantly, it doesnt address ongoing issues about risks to children.

Asked if the report explained why no qualified social worker visited Grace for a six-year period, Ms Gallagher added: In short, no, and this was one of the most horrifying parts of the report, really.

She added: This is an utterly horrifying case, shocking in so many ways. I am appalled by what Ive read and Im appalled by what Ive not read with the answers to questions that are simply not in the report, despite people waiting for almost a decade.
US figures show a tourism downturn in March, but some travel industry insiders say demand remains strong

As official US data reveals a 17pc year-on-year slump in Europeans visiting the United States in March 2025, some airlines are slashing summer prices to fill planes.

British Airways is selling return tickets from Copenhagen via London Heathrow to New York JFK in the peak holiday month of August for just 365/426  less than half the cost of a London-New York flight alone.

In a bid to fill its flights in summer, British Airways flights researched by The Independent  from Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Milan, Rome and Paris  see August fares available for under 500/583, much less than for the nonstop flights from London to New York.

British Airways was contacted for comment.

People watch a British Airways plane at Heathrow (Maja Smiejkowska/PA)

Today's News in 90 seconds - 16th April 2025

Aer Lingus is launching two new US routes as part of its summer 2025 schedule, to Nashville and Indianapolis, and is currently running a transatlantic sale, with one-way flights from 209 each-way, when booked as a part of a return trip for travel up to June 19.

Asked by the Irish Independent for an update on how its transatlantic bookings are faring, the airline declined to comment.

The latest figures from the US International Trade Administration, which seeks to promote American tourism, show extraordinary declines from key European markets since Donald Trump was elected as president. Visitors from Ireland were down almost 27pc, compared to March of last year.

Immediately upon taking office, Mr Trump ordered much tougher controls on all aliens seeking admission to the United States, demanding they are vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible  raising fears among prospective visitors that they may be deported.

In addition, the president has expressed a wish to acquire both Canada and Greenland for the US.

Although data on Canadian arrivals is not yet published in the official figures, the effect on the Danish market appears clear. Greenland is an autonomous territory within the kingdom of Denmark. Arrivals from Denmark to the US were down around one-third year-on-year.

Some of the slump is attributable to the early Easter in 2024, which boosted numbers last year. The shutdown of Heathrow on 21 March will also have had a marginal effect, causing some European travellers to cancel trips altogether after more than 700 outbound flights were axed.

Four months ago the research group Tourism Economics, part of Oxford Economics, predicted a 9pc increase in visitors to the US in 2025. That is now expected to be a 9pc decline. The organisation says: Trumps policies and pronouncements have produced a negative sentiment shift toward the US among international travellers.

The correlating decline in international travel to the US is expected to be strongest in 2025, with persisting degrees of impact throughout the remainder of Trumps second term.

Tourism Economics identified as key headwinds, negative sentiment and border and immigration policies and uncertainty. It predicts a decline of over 20pc in visitor numbers from Canada.

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said it does not retaliate against individuals for expressing their views.

In an online statement the agency said: Claims that CBP is searching more electronic media due to the administration change are false. CBPs search numbers are consistent with increases since 2021, and less than 0.01pc of travellers have their devices searched.

These searches are conducted to detect digital contraband, terrorism-related content and information relevant to visitor admissibility, all of which play a critical role in national security.

Irish tour operator Tour America told the Irish Independent that the figures downturn had not, so far, been reflected in its bookings.

"For us, the US is still very bouyant and we are seeing strong numbers for 2025 arrivals, said spokesperson, Veronica Flood. We havent seen an indication of any increase in cancellations either so hopefully this trend shall continue.

UK travel industry insiders also say demand remains strong. Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of the Advantage Travel Partnership said: Across our travel agency network we are not seeing any sign of a decline in demand for travel to the US currently, and bookings continue to be robust, with New York and Orlando performing as strong favourite US destinations.

"Given we have a late Easter this year, this will distort March booking patterns. However, week-on-week bookings to the US are definitely holding strong and as of March 31, sales across our travel agent partners were up 11pc compared to the previous week, and up 5pc compared to the same week last year.

Generally the appetite for travel continues unabated, with factors like cost of living pressures and the hunt for value-driven options actually fuelling demand rather than diminishing it.

Paul Charles, chief executive of The PC Agency and former director of communications for Virgin Atlantic, said: While there are some early indications of a reduction in demand to the US, experience tells us that airlines, hotels and car hire firms usually tweak their prices and offer enticing offers to build back demand over time.

Also, consumers still want to go away and that may lead to other destinations benefiting, such as Canada, inbound travel to the UK, wider Europe, and the Middle East as travellers search alternative places for their holidays.

A silver lining for the industry is that many Easter and summer holiday bookings to the US will already have been booked, during the early part of the year, creating less worry about future revenues.

Delta Air Lines, one of the giant American carriers, has cancelled its expansion plans for the second half of 2025 and warned that it will defer deliveries of new Airbus aircraft while tariffs remain in place.

The chief executive of Delta Air Lines, Ed Bastian, previously said the incoming Trump administration would be a breath of fresh air for airlines after what he called government overreach under President Joe Biden.

His company donated $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund, along with the same amount from United Airlines and Boeing.

Paul English, co-founder of the travel website Kayak told the FT: In just two months [Trump] has destroyed the reputation of the US, shown one way by diminished travel from the EU to the US.

"This is not only one more terrible blow to the US economy, it also represents reputation damage that could take generations to repair.

- Additional reporting by Pol O Conghaile
The Grace is set to open in Spring 2026.

A brand new 129 room hotel located within the famous Westport Estate is set to open its doors in Spring 2026 creating up to 170 jobs.

The Grace, Westport Estate, will form part of the 430-acre estate transformation, which also includes the restoration of Westport House and the creation of new visitor experiences.

The hotel will create up to 170 jobs, with further opportunities emerging as Westport Estate continues to evolve.

The hotel will include 129 bedrooms, dining options, a wedding venue and a spa and wellness centre.

Ciaran Reidy, General Manager of The Grace, Westport Estate, is looking forward to opening the doors and welcoming guests to the new hotel.

When we open in Spring 2026, our focus will be on creating an authentic Irish experience, blending luxury at ease with a genuine sense of place.

"Everything from the design to the hospitality reflects the estates unique character and the spirit of the West, said Mr Reidy.

Located on The Wild Atlantic Way, close to Croagh Patrick, Clew Bay, and on the doorstep of the vibrant Westport Town, the hotel will offer guests an ideal base to explore both the storied grounds of the estate and richness of the West of Ireland.

Whether spending the day discovering the West, exploring the estate, or simply unwinding within the hotel, guests can return to a place designed to feel both refined and restorative.

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Cathal J Hughes, Director of Westport Estate, said the new hotel will bring new jobs to the area and also enhance tourism offerings.

As the hotel becomes a reality, we're mindful of the role it plays not just in welcoming visitors, but in supporting the community here in Mayo.

"This project will bring meaningful employment opportunities and contribute to the local economy in a sustainable way.

"Its a chance to grow something lasting and positive for the region, with a deep respect for its history and people, said Mr Hughes.

The Grace is inspired by two iconic women connected to Mayo, Grace OMalley, the 16th-century Pirate Queen, and Hollywood icon Grace Kelly, and draws on their shared spirit of bold elegance and independence.

Set just moments from the 300-year-old Westport House within Westport Estates 430-acre grounds, the hotel will offer an atmosphere of slow luxury, a place to unwind in style and enjoy moments of stillness and renewal.

Barry OConnor, CEO of Westport Estate, said The Grace plays a central role in how the team are reimagining Westport Estate.

"This is a special part of the world, and our goal is to create a space where guests feel the richness of Mayos culture, landscape, and people.

Dining at The Grace, Westport Estate, will spotlight seasonal produce and local flavours, crafted in partnership with regional producers who know the land best.

Meanwhile, The Grace Spa and Wellness will offer tailored treatments in a calming setting, encouraging guests to pause, reset, and experience the restorative power of place.

The Grace, Westport Estate.

For those celebrating lifes special moments, weddings at The Grace will be intimate and thoughtful, drawing on the estates historic charm and natural beauty.

Whether exchanging vows beneath ancient trees or gathering for an elegant evening reception, guests will experience moments that feel both special and uniquely their own.

The Grace, Westport Estate, will play a central role in the estates 430-acre transformation, which is evolving through a careful process of regeneration, led by its in-house ecologist and skilled local stonemasons working to restore natural habitats and preserve historic features.

New attractions are also in development at the estate, including a Grace OMalley experience with interactive tours and digital storytelling, and a uniquely Irish landscape journey designed by renowned lead landscape designer Mary Reynolds.

At the heart of the estates vision is to invite every guest to Awaken Your Wild, whether by pausing in nature, seeking adventure, or connecting with the lands deeper story.

For more information, visit thegrace.ie
Global leaders meeting this week must do more than offer empty promises

A mother feeds her child, who is suffering from malnutrition, next to a doctor in Alban Jadeed hospital in Khartoum, Sudan. Photo: Reuters

Two years of conflict have left Sudan in ruins. Its infrastructure, economy and healthcare system are devastated. Famine has been declared in parts of the country, and a staggering 30 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.

As global leaders meet in London this week for a ministerial conference to mark the second anniversary of the conflict, international pressure is mounting on political leaders to address this inexcusable humanitarian crisis.

Worldwide, conflict has forcibly displaced 130 million people from their homes and driven over 300 million into catastrophic levels of hunger. Nowhere is this more evident than in Sudan, which faces the worlds largest humanitarian, hunger and displacement crises.

The fighting has led to historic levels of food insecurity, with famine conditions confirmed in some areas of the country, and millions of people now at risk of starvation. Behind these massive statistics, malnourished mothers give birth to malnourished babies, passing hunger from one generation to the next.

A burned military vehicle at Khartoum international airport in Sudan. Photo: AP

Conflict prevents food production and blocks access to vital markets. In the areas where Concern is working, almost 90pc of households are currently unable to afford food. Millions have been forced to flee their homes, and their country, in search of shelter and food. It is a story that we as Irish know so well.

Despite the challenges of operating in areas of active conflict, agencies such as Concern are doing what we can to provide life-saving assistance to Sudans conflict-affected population, including re-establishing health and nutrition clinics in the worst-affected areas.

Yet this is a massive and brutal conflict, with over half the clinics across the county damaged or destroyed, where even the windows, doors and light fittings have been stripped.

Our teams, working with local health workers, continue to do what they can. The thin line between starvation and survival, between hunger and hope, is often held through their courage and commitment.

Sudanese families displaced by conflict. Photo: AP

They need to be fully supported, and yet the funding is not even close to where it needs to be. Nutrition supplies across the country are running low and threaten the lives of hundreds of thousands of children. This has devastating consequences. In 2022, Concern was supporting over 200,000 malnourished children in Sudan. Continuing conflict and lack of funding support means that many of those cannot be reached at present.

The scale of the humanitarian catastrophe needs to be recognised and acted upon by the international community. Six months ago, during the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, a ministerial meeting was convened to raise attention and international awareness of the crisis in Sudan.

Sudanese displaced children take shelter in a school. Photo: AP

The words expressed in this meeting were powerful, and the appeals were clear, urging the international community to provide humanitarian actors with adequate funding to address the unprecedented levels of suffering, and recognising that sanctions alone have been insufficient in stemming the level of violence.

Since then, there has been little evidence of action. This next London conference cannot be another series of empty promises. The scale and severity of needs demand sustained and immediate action across multiple fronts from the international community. I call on those attending in London to firstly renew humanitarian diplomacy at the highest level. Diplomatic efforts to end the conflict must be re-energised with Europe more engaged in efforts to increase pressure on all parties to resume talks, cease fighting and ensure protection of civilians.

Secondly, to prioritise humanitarian access to fight famine and address the immediate needs of millions of vulnerable people.

And finally, to close the funding gap. Sudans 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan calls for $4.16bn to reach 20.9 out of 30.4 million people who are in need in Sudan. As of April 8, this response plan is only 10pc funded.

The conference is a real opportunity for donors to step up and close the funding gap to ensure that humanitarian actors can provide assistance to the millions of vulnerable people in need across Sudan. The international community must not turn away from the living hell that is unfolding for millions of Sudanese people.

Dominic MacSorley is the humanitarian ambassador at Concern Worldwide
The latest series of Black Mirror, Charlie Brookers dystopian anthology series about the horrors technology could wreak on the human race, landed on Netflix to strong reviews last week.

On Monday, I watched as the second wealthiest man in the world, cosplaying as an astronaut, gleefully locked his rockets door behind him, then sent a pop star, a TV news anchor, a civil rights activist, a film producer and his own fiancee into space live on television, while two members of the Kardashian family provided studio commentary.
It is simply impossible to imagine the scarring trauma silently endured by the woman known as Grace. But the States failures and monumental neglect speak loud and clear in the 2,000-page investigations report into her treatment.

Grace is the pseudonym for a non-verbal woman with severe intellectual and physical disabilities who was forgotten. Those tasked with the oversight of her safety let her down spectacularly.

Concerns had been consistently raised, and even though Grace was only 10 years old, it would emerge that the home she was placed in was never assessed as to its suitability for care placements. Nor was it ever recognised as a foster home or respite service.

Nonetheless, Grace would stay there for 20 years, despite serious allegations. Among those were claims made in 1992 by the family of another girl who stayed in the home. A separate family also raised concerns in 1996. The eight-year inquiry into the case has made findings of neglect in her care, dental neglect, financial mismanagement or abuse and an absence of oversight and monitoring from officials meant to ensure her safety.

Childrens Minister Norma Foley described the report as harrowing and said she was deeply saddened and appalled by the States failings in her care.

To say this is incredibly sad is an understatement, she added. Ms Foley also said the Government was open to doing whatever is necessary regarding mandatory reporting for vulnerable adults.

But surely the question is why it is not already in place. Confidence in the care of those most at risk and those who most depend on the State for their protection was shattered when Graces story was revealed.

That she was effectively abandoned by the State for two decades raises grave doubts about its commitment to care for the vulnerable

Ms Foley said the landscape concerning treatment of vulnerable children has radically changed.

She noted we now have foster-care standards as well as the Ombudsman for Childrens Office. The minister pointed to a number of new measures that should strengthen child-safety standards in care.

But safeguarding is everybodys business, Ms Foley said. Perhaps. But this in no way can absolve the State from its obligations as the primary enforcer of a childs right to protection in its care.

As acknowledged by the minister, the harrowing and distressing treatment of Grace had a devastating impact on her life. That she was not removed from the foster-care family  even when a complaint of sexual abuse was made in 1996  is gravely worrying. That she would remain there until 2009 demands explanation.

Grace was defenceless and entirely dependent on those in whose hands she was placed. That she was effectively abandoned by the State for two decades raises grave doubts about its commitment to care for the vulnerable.

The minister sought to assure us our childcare environment is significantly improved, but the lack of accountability for those who failed Grace means doubts will continue to linger, along with a sense of unease.

All children have a right to be minded. That some of our most vulnerable could be so overlooked so indefensibly demeans us all.
Ireland's Government has promised to create 300,000 new jobs by 2030, and Michael Healy-Rae is already doing his bit by creating a job for the boy. His boy, as it happens.

Jackie Healy-Rae Jr has been appointed as special adviser to his father, who is junior minister at the Department of Agriculture.

But the Kerry councillor has a big blotch on his CV that many people, including Taoiseach Micheal Martin, are apparently happy to overlook.

Following on from his conviction for assault in 2019 and subsequent unsuccessful appeal three years later, Jackie Healy-Rae Jr now holds the distinction of becoming the first special adviser in Irish Government with a criminal record  but should that exclude him from the job? And what do the people of Kerry make of questions of nepotism?

On todays episode of The Indo Daily, host Kevin Doyle is joined by Fionnan Sheahan, Ireland Editor with the Irish Independent, and by Sinead Kelleher, journalist with The Kerryman, to look at the controversy surrounding Jackie Healy-Rae's new gig.
Cork pub owner wasnt told about demolition plans for new Cork LUAS

Con Dennehy of the Venue was contacted by staff, who now fear for their livelihoods

The Venue at the corner of Blackrock Road and Churchyard Lane

Kevin Galvin Wed 16 Apr 2025 at 17:48

A Cork pub owner says he was never contacted by Transport Infrastructure Ireland over plans to demolish his business, as part of the proposed Cork LUAS.
The Taoiseach Micheal Martin has been accused of sticking his head in the sand on the issue of Irish unity.

Referring to the Taoiseach Micheal Martins recent claim that he is not planning for a border poll in 2030, Sinn Fein councillor for Cork City South West Joe Lynch said that there is an onus on the Irish Government to plan and prepare for Irish unity. Taoiseach Micheal Martin can stick his head in the sand and stand against reunification, but there is an onus on the government to plan and prepare for constitutional change and for the reunification of our country.

The next step must be for the government to establish a Citizens Assembly on Unity. This is the most important conversation for a generation. A United Ireland is about everyone and for everyone. Together, we can make it happen, he added.

The latest opinion poll for The Irish Times and the ARINS Project which was conducted earlier this year showed that support for Irish unity has grown significantly in the past three years in the North, though a clear majority remains in favour of remaining part of the United Kingdom.

Leo Varadkar recently said that achieving a united Ireland is the great cause of our generation and has asked Irish-America to help secure it.

In a speech in Philadelphia, the former taoiseach called for some of Irelands budget surplus to be set aside to help pay for transition to a new and united Ireland.

The former taoiseach told the audience that preparation must begin for a border poll.

I firmly believe that building a new and united Ireland is the next step in our national journey, and I believe that Irish-America can help us to make those next steps.

While there is not yet a majority for it north of the border, support grows with every year and unification now is supported by a clear majority of younger voters. The tectonic plates are shifting and in one direction only, he added.

Cllr Lynch said partition has failed all of our people and he reiterated his firm belief that this generation can be the one that unites Ireland. Our aim is to secure Irish Unity referendums by the end of this decade and to build positive, persuasive campaigns to win those referendums well. The momentum for unity is building all the time. We are living in the end days of partition because partition has failed all of our people.

The Cork Commemoration to honour the 1916 Easter Rising will be held at the Republican Plot in St Finbarrs Cemetery this Sunday afternoon.

Sinn Fein Councillor Joe Lynch will deliver the main address at Sundays Easter Rising commemoration in Cork city.

Those attending the commemoration are asked to assemble at the National Monument on Grand Parade at 2.30pm for a march to the Republican Plot at St Finbarrs Cemetery.

Councillor Lynch said: The Easter Rising changed the course of Irish history as brave volunteers fought to bring into existence an independent Irish Republic. We gather on Sunday to honour patriots from every generation who laid down their lives for the freedom of Ireland.

Cllr Lynch continued: They struck a blow for Irish nationhood that reverberated around the world and across the generations. The rebels of 1916 were ordinary men and women who stood toe-to-toe with the military might of the British Empire. It was the spark that inspired the revolution that followed as the Flying Columns of the IRA confronted the brutality inflicted on the people of Ireland by British Crown forces including the Black and Tans.

Cork is a place steeped in the heritage of Irelands struggle for freedom, said Cllr Lynch. The Republican Plot at St Finbarrs Cemetery is hallowed ground. Its the final resting place of many Cork volunteers who made the ultimate sacrifice in pursuit of Irelands independence. I want to invite everyone to attend and help us honour the memory of our fallen heroes and to look forward to the day when we mark the Easter Rising in a United Ireland.
A suggestion not to provide free bottles of water at full council meetings as a waste reduction measure was met with surprise at a recent meeting.

Social Democrats councillor Isobel Towse raised the issue under Any Other Business at last Mondays meeting. I wondered if we could not offer the free bottles of water here at the full council meetings as a waste reduction measure. There are water dispensers and cups. People prefer glasses. It is a really small suggestion.

Cllr Towse subsequently elaborated on where her idea generated from. The idea came to me as part of a Voice Ireland initiative which is a local project going on in Clonakilty for the past year. They encourage us to go back to our work places and see where we can reduce packaging from food and drinks.

It would be an easy exchange. If people need a bottle of water they can purchase a bottle downstairs if they are on the go, she added.

Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Joe Carroll replied that he couldnt do without the water here (County Hall).

Labour Party councillor Ronan Sheehan supported the motion as long as they dont get rid of the scones. Joking aside I would support that initiative. It is coming into work places now with the dispensers.

Fianna Fail councillor Gearoid Murphy provided his colleagues with an update on the policy regarding water bottles. I think it was brought in a few years back. It was the policy before, but Covid probably upended it. We were issued with water bottles and were meant to use those. I think sparkling water was exempt as there are no sparkling water machine here.

Fianna Fail councillor Frank OFlynn said in 1999 he succeeded in getting coffee and tea for meetings. If a person doesnt want to use the bottle that is their right. Put up the option. I love water.

Fianna Fail councillor Ann Marie Ahern credited her colleague Cllr Audrey Buckley for fighting a long campaign to get it changed from plastic water bottles to what we have now.

CEO of Cork County Council, Ms Moira Murrell said: Bottles have been supplied to people so the water is available. I would note these bottles are recyclable if people dont have them on the day.

Cllr Towse replied that the public representatives can buy their own water bottles if required at County Hall. These bottles are not widely recycled because they are tetra pack and it is a mixed material. It is not widely recycled even if it is collected. It depends where it goes. I just think it is a convenience. We can just go down and buy one if we need one.
Fine Gaels Regina Doherty slams lack of public space and claims somethings gone wrong in how we plan our city

The signs on Dublin's Drury Street with the words, 'Please don't sit on the curb'. Photo: Sam Boal/Collins Photos

A politician has criticised the lack of public space in the city, saying Dublin cant keep kicking young people to the kerb.

Fine Gael MEP for Dublin, Regina Doherty, has called on Dublin City Council to urgently review the condition of Drury Street and other city centre areas, following the installation of signs asking people not to linger outside on the street.

The new signage, which appeared along Dublins Drury Street last week, reads Please dont block this area and Please dont sit on the curb, thank you.

The signs are located on one side of the street, which has become a magnet for outdoor socialising in the good weather.

It remains unclear who erected the signage, which stretches from The Collective jewellery store, past the Heartbreak Social Club, in front of the Om Diva clothing store, and across from the bar Ciss Maddens.

When the only place left to sit is the kerb, and even thats being taken away, somethings gone very wrong in how we plan our city, Ms Doherty said.

Young Dubliners are being told theres no space for them. Not to sit, not to gather, not to enjoy the city they live and work in.

Even though the pedestrianisation of Drury Street was welcomed, Ms Doherty said it falls short without proper renovation.

Across European cities, pedestrianisation is followed by investment  in seating, greenery, lighting and design. Thats what creates a sense of place. Thats what makes people feel welcome, she said.

Fine Gael MEP Regina Doherty criticised the lack of public space. Photo: Collins

From Barcelona to Berlin, European cities have embraced a new urban philosophy: build for people, and people will come.

Wide boulevards lined with benches, pedestrianised streets turned into plazas, public squares filled with life. Its not radical  its standard in cities that value community, youth, and vibrancy.

The MEP believes Dublin City Council should assess Drury Street and similar spaces with urgency, and to bring forward plans to add public seating and improve liveability.

With summer just weeks away, we need to act. The people are already here, she said.

Its the city that needs to catch up. Lets not waste another season telling people to move along. Lets build something for them.

Of course we understand the concerns of local businesses.

But its up to the council to strike the balance  to ensure all voices are heard and that public space serves everyone, not just a few.

Retailers on the street, such as the Irish Design Shop, have come out strongly against the amount of socialising and drinking taking place.

They said the recent period of fair weather had been a total nightmare as they battled on-street drinking during sunny days, from around lunchtime at weekends and 4pm mid-week.

This is the real reason why we now close at 5pm rather than 6pm  we like to escape before the scene escalates further, they said

Are we being a total buzzkill? How are we meant to continue trading on a drinking street? Should we be looking at relocating? Wed love a few suggestions.

Closing on Saturday afternoon was a battle. It was even hard to clear drinkers from the shop windows just to get the shutter down, they added.

A spokesperson for Dublin City Council said: A meeting is scheduled for next week with businesses on Drury Street to discuss the current congregation of people during good weather spells.

The aim of the meeting is to explore ways of managing the flow of people in a fair and balanced manner, particularly during the upcoming summer season.

We are committed to working together with local businesses to ensure Drury Street remains a vibrant and enjoyable place for both residents and visitors, to both socialise and avail of the mix of retail units on the street.
Finglas teenager named Irelands Young Filmmaker of the Year at the annual Fresh Film Festival

A scene from Abhaile which explores identity, class and belonging through the eyes of a working-class teen

Emma Whelan was named Ireland's Young Filmmaker of the Year at the Fresh Film Festival. Pic: Celine Mermier

A teenager from Finglas, who was recently named Young Filmmaker of the Year for her film Abhaile, has said she is relishing the win.

Emma Whelan (18) was presented with the title at the annual Fresh Film Festival last week, for the film she wrote, directed, and starred in.

The story centres on the character of Aimee, a working-class teen navigating friendship and identity across social and class divides.

Judges at the festival praised the film for its emotional honesty.

Emma Whelan was named Ireland's Young Filmmaker of the Year at the Fresh Film Festival. Pic: Celine Mermier

Today's News in 90 seconds - 16th April 2025

Emma said the message of the script is that home is not defined by a postcode or status, but by the people who shape us.

I think growing up in Finglas, I knew there was a reputation around the city, but I suppose I didnt realise how big of a deal it was to people who werent from my side of the city, she said.

The more I interacted with others as Ive grown up, the more I realised the stigma around it. It got to a point where the banter or jokes became a very tiring rhetoric.

At that time, jokes made about where I come from werent funny because thats my home. At the end of the day, it seemed tone-deaf from people who came from a higher socio-economic background.

I felt that the people making these jokes didnt understand the power of their words, and they should realise that comedy is punching up, not punching down.

That was the inspiration behind the film, as it has been something on my mind for a while, she added.

A scene from Abhaile which explores identity, class and belonging through the eyes of a working-class teen

Abhaile is a film that explores the friendship between Aimee and Donnacha, two young people from different backgrounds.

It emphasises that Donnacha isnt a bad guy, but rather a product of his environment, showing the disconnect between people who dont fully understand each others struggles.

Much of the film was shot in Emmas grandparents house, and she said they were hugely supportive of her, along with her community and the rest of her family.

Emma also praised the brilliant team around her and said she wouldnt have been able to make the film without them.

She is currently studying film at Technological University Dublin and hopes to keep gaining experience as a filmmaker.

Artistic Director of Fresh Film, Jayne Foley, praised Emmas film as an extraordinary achievement.

She told a deeply personal story with honesty and heart, and thats the true power of film, she said.

Theres no doubt she has a brilliant future ahead.
Book lovers can enjoy 100 speakers and 80 events around Dalkey from June 12 to 15

This year's Dalkey Book Festival will take place from June 12 to 15. Pic: Conor McCabe Photography

The line-up for this years Dalkey Book Festival has been announced, with a mix of Irish and international authors and speakers across four days and 80 events.

The 15th edition of the festival includes Michael Lewis, the man behind Moneyball and The Big Short; renowned author and illustrator Charlie Mackesy; and award-winning Turkish-British novelist Elif Shafak, who said the festival is a place where ideas matter.

This years festival promises a jam-packed and thought-provoking four days which I feel very confident will give everyone who attends plenty to think about, founder and Director of Dalkey Book Festival, Sian Smyth, said.

This is a festival for everyone  for those who love to read, for those who love to listen, and for those who love to engage with like-minded individuals.

Whats always great to see is all the conversation happening around the village  there is a real buzz in Dalkey over the four days, she added.

This year's Dalkey Book Festival will take place from June 12 to 15. Pic: Conor McCabe Photography

The festival will feature an array of Irelands incredible literary talent, with local legends like Roddy Doyle, Colum McCann, and Joseph OConnor taking centre stage, alongside emerging voices such as Elaine Feeney and Wendy Erskine.

Harvard professor Steven Pinker and US-based science journalist Luke ONeill will be delving into the power of the human mind, while Ukrainian historian Olesya Khromeychuk will bring a deeply personal perspective on the ongoing conflict in Eastern Europe.

As the world grapples with economic instability, political analysts like Ed Luce, John Burn-Murdoch, and Lionel Shriver will offer their insights into everything from Trumps trade wars to the rise of populism in Europe.

This years festival will also feature humour and light-heartedness as key components, with comedians like David ODoherty and Colm ORegan providing some comic relief alongside intellectual giants.

The festivals partnership with Visit Portugal will have a special focus on the countrys literary scene, with authors Filipe Ribeiro de Meneses and Afonso Cruz set to explore the nations unique cultural heritage.

Hollywood star Tom Hanks pictured at the Dalkey Book Festival in 2023. Pic: Conor McCabe Photography

David McWilliams, a fellow Dalkey Book Festival director, said: We are delighted to welcome speakers back to the heart of Dalkey, as well as those who are coming to the Dalkey Book Festival for the first time.

The festival is what it is because of the people of Dalkey  residents and those who run bars and restaurants who are all so open to the event.

In a survey commissioned by the Arts Council, it was estimated that the festival brings over 2m of additional revenue directly into the local economy over the festivals long weekend.

Tickets for the festival go on presale on April 23 at 10am, with general sale starting two days later on April 25. Tickets available from 15 at www.dalkeybookfestival.org
Branches were removed from several trees along Dalepark Road in Tallaght

Residents of Tallaght are being urged to report incidents of vandalism to gardai and South Dublin County Council, after several trees in the area were damaged.

This morning, the council shared pictures of the trees, showing branches which were removed and left on the ground nearby.

Unfortunately, several trees along Dalepark Road, Tallaght, have been vandalised, a council statement said.

Should residents witness any further incidents, we kindly ask you report them to An Garda Siochana and notify South Dublin County Council.

People Before Profit Councillor for Tallaght Central, Jess Spear, expressed her disappointment following the incident.

Its awful to see this kind of vandalism of our trees, especially during nesting season, she said.

Ireland has one of the lowest percentages of tree cover in Europe at 11pc.

In South Dublin County, were even lower at around 10pc, so we need to protect the trees we have.

This is not only important for absorption of carbon emissions and biodiversity, but because trees make our communities nicer places to live.

A tree along Dalepark Road after branches were removed

Sinn Fein Councillor Niamh Whelan asked locals that if they have an issue with trees in the area to get in touch with the council instead of taking action themselves.

I was disappointed this morning to see that someone had taken it upon themselves to remove branches from these trees, particularly as I'd had no requests raised with me from anyone in relation to them, she said.

I can understand why people can get frustrated by the length of time some residents are left waiting to have trees in their area maintained. However, this is not the way to go about solving it, particularly during nesting season.

We as councillors are elected to raise these types of issues directly with the council, so to see people taking actions like this without engaging with us is frustrating.

People Before Profit councillor, Kay Keane, added: It is disappointing to see the damage done to the trees, I would hope any new trees that may be planted will be left to grow.

Apart from the aesthetic look it is also hugely important to encourage the ongoing planting of trees in order to help with our carbon emissions.
Francie Gorman was attending his GP for other health checks when his doctor discovered a tumour in his pancreas

IFA President Francie Gorman was told by the doctor that he had 'won the lotto' when a tumour in his pancreas was discovered before it had turned cancerous

The president of the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) is urging people to prioritise their health and go for regular checks at their GP after he was given the all clear following a cancer scare.

Laois man and president of the IFA, Francie Gorman, found out by chance that he had a tumour in his pancreas  a discovery that may have saved his life.

Mr Gorman was attending his GP for other health checks when his doctor discovered the pancreatic tumour.

"The doctors found a tumour on my pancreas completely by chance," Mr Gorman told The Irish Independent. I was actually in the doctors because I had low haemoglobin but they ended up finding this tumour.

In February, the Ballinakill farmer underwent surgery in St. Vincents University Hospital in Dublin to have the tumour removed.

"During the surgery, they took more than half of my pancreas but they managed to leave my spleen, said Mr Gorman. All the staff in the hospital looked after me so well. I couldnt say enough about them.

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Two weeks ago, Mr Gorman was given the all clear by his doctor who told him he had won the lotto because they had caught the tumour before it turned into something more sinister.

IFA president Francie Gorman.

"I was back with the consultant for a post-surgery appointment and he gave me the all clear. He told me I dont need to go back to him again as everything is clear and my pancreas is working perfectly.

"As I walked out of the door of the doctors office, the last words he said to me was that I had won the lotto. I was told that there was no doubt that in a couple of years time, the tumour would have 1000pc turned cancerous and at that stage I would have been in serious bother.

"It really shows the importance of going to the doctor regularly as we dont know what is going on inside our bodies.

Mr Gorman feels incredibly lucky that the doctors discovered the tumour before it turned cancerous. Following his own experience, Mr Gorman is encouraging others to be proactive with their health.

I consider myself very lucky, smiled Mr Gorman. But Ill be honest, if I wasnt president of the IFA and I was farming at home by myself, I know I wouldnt have gone to the doctor.

"I know there are lots of farmers and people out there who are very busy and maybe put off going to the doctor. My experience shows how important it is to not do that and to prioritise your health.

"I think the reason that farmers, in particular, dont go to the doctor as often as they should is because when were sick, we tend to keep working, continued Mr Gorman. I know myself on the farm at home, unless you cant walk, youll still go out and get up on the tractor and youll keep working.

"Long hours are worked whether you are sick or not. Farmers cant afford to be away from the farm for any length of time and people are inclined to say, well Im not going to the doctors now, Ill lose half a day on the farm going in there.

IFA President Francie Gorman was told by the doctor that he had 'won the lotto' when a tumour in his pancreas was discovered before it had turned cancerous

Today's News in 90 seconds - 16th April 2025

"But we need to put as much value on our health as we do on our work.

Last year, the IFA ran a health check programme with the Farmer Health Check mobile health unit visiting marts and agricultural events across the country making it easy for farmers to access vital health services directly within their communities.

The programme offered farmers a quick and comprehensive overview of their health, focusing on areas such as heart disease, early detection of diabetes, mental health and wellbeing along with crucial information on prostate and skin cancer.

As a result of the health check programme, 23 people found out they needed immediate medical care.
Dundrum House Hotel will provide accommodation to up to 277 people in families seeking refuge in Ireland, said a spokesperson for the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (File photo)

A multi-million euro contract has been signed to provide refuge for 277 international protection applicants at Dundrum House Hotel in west Tipperary.

The accommodation centre at Dundrum House Hotel has been providing accommodating for just over 50 international protection applicants for the past nine months.

The centre will provide accommodation to up to 277 people in families seeking refuge in Ireland, confirmed a spokesperson for the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) on Wednesday morning this week.

This figure includes a number of people who are beneficiaries of temporary protection due to the war in Ukraine and who were also already being accommodated at the property.

Independent Tipperary Cllr Liam Browne said councillors have not yet been told when people will be moving into Dundrum House, but expect it to be relatively soon.

Since this was first mooted last year, Ive said this is the wrong decision, he said. Moving such numbers into a small rural area, without first addressing the lack of services in the area, causes problems both for local residents and for those being accommodated. There are also serious issues around the ownership and planning status of Dundrum House, which are currently being investigated in the courts.

The Government have been at fault in regards of communicating with local residents from day one, countrywide, and are now leaving down the vast majority of residents in Dundrum and west Tipperary again. Ive said from the beginning, in my opinion, this is a money racket, and once again, were seeing millions of euro of taxpayers money being paid out, with only the barest of accountability.

Whoever made this decision, made the wrong one, said Cllr Browne, who produced documents showing that the contract has been signed with a Spanish-based company called Utmasta. Cllr Browne claimed the value of the contract was worth between 16m and 20m.

Dundrum House Hotel will provide accommodation to up to 277 people in families seeking refuge in Ireland, said a spokesperson for the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (File photo)

Today's News in 90 seconds - 16th April 2025

The Department is working with communities all over Ireland to source and provide accommodation for people applying for international protection and emergency centres have been opened in all parts of the country, added the DCEDIY spokesperson.

This is part of Irish and EU law and is also part of our humanitarian duty to provide shelter to people fleeing war and persecution in their home country. The State is currently accommodating over 33,000 people in over 320 international protection accommodation centres around the country.

In meeting our obligation to provide material reception conditions to people seeking international protection, the Department can consider offers of accommodation from a tax-compliant company, subject to compliance with statutory requirements and minimum standards.

The Department carries out due diligence on accommodation being contracted including checks via the Companies Registration Office to ensure compliance with Companies Registration Office (CRO) requirements and tax compliance checks by way of a valid Tax Clearance Certificate.

Offers of accommodation can be made by a property owner, or another person who has authority do so, such as a leaseholder. As part of our appraisal process, we confirm if an offer has come from someone with the appropriate authority.

In all instances where the Department enters into a contract with an accommodation provider, the onus is on the provider to ensure all activities are within legal limits.

Furthermore, all statutory requirements relating to the establishment and management of accommodation are met by the service provider, including health and safety, fire, building regulations and other requirements.

Contractual arrangements for IPAS centres are confidential and commercially sensitive, however the Department publishes quarterly reports on all payments over 20,000. These reports are available online at Gov.ie. The community engagement team (CET) have engaged extensively with the local community about this property since May 2024.

On Tuesday, April 15, the CET sent information on the property and type of accommodation to be provided directly to elected representatives, the local authority and other relevant groups in advance of the arrival of people seeking international protection in an area.

These measures improve the flow of information regarding arrivals into an area. They also help the local community understand the current situation and to assist with the welcome and integration process for new arrivals.

"The Department also works closely with a number of other government Departments and Non-Governmental Organisations to provide a wide range of supports to help new arrivals to integrate into an area as quickly as possible, added the spokesperson.

Further information on the community engagement process is available online at gov.ie/communityengagement.

There are currently no plans to relocate the people fleeing the war in Ukraine who are accommodated in this property, added the DCEDIY. However, state funded emergency accommodation for people from Ukraine is temporary in nature, and moves become necessary for a variety of reasons. Residents are free to make their own private arrangements for accommodation, if they wish to do so.
11/4/2025 Free to use GreenTech HQ lands 1 million Enterprise Ireland Investment to deliver 300 new jobs in the South East. Returning Wexford entrepreneur set up GreenTechHQ Business & Innovation Centre to drive growth, jobs and sustainability in the South East. Pictured from left; Dan Barry Regional director Enterprise Ireland, Kevin Sherry (Interim CEO, Enterprise Ireland), Liz McGonigal Head of Operations and Sustainability GreenTech, Minister James Browne, TD (Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage), Ed Murphy (Founder, GreenTechHQ), Senator Cathal Byrne and Eddie Taffe CEO Wexford County Council. Photo; Mary Browne

300 new jobs are to be delivered in the south east over the next five years as part of a programme funded by Enterprise Ireland and run by GreenTech HQ in Enniscorthy. Under the programme 26 small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in the region will receive mentoring and support from GreenTech HQ with a view to doubling their revenue and creating new jobs across the south east.

Entitled B.A.S.S.E. (Business Advantage & Sustainability South East) the accelerator programme is set to drive transformational growth across the region by providing SMEs with the tools, mentorship and strategic frameworks required to scale successfully and sustainably.

To date 11 companies have been accepted on to the programme: Zanna Cookhouse, Conran Interiors, Bodibro, Brand Builders, Twelve, Platinum Homecare, NEG8 Carbon, Holos, Walsh Bakehouse, Carragh Landscapes, and Store-All Logistics.

B.A.S.S.E. is the first initiative of its kind in Ireland and has received 1m in funding through Enterprise Irelands Smart Regions Stream 3. It has been designed for companies across the south east and brings together some of the countrys most successful entrepreneurs and business leaders to support participant companies through one-to-one mentoring, structured transformation sessions, and peer networks.

Participants will benefit from access to Entrepreneur of the Year alumni including Jamie Heaslip, Norman Crowley, Anne Herathy, David Walsh, John Purdy, Annmarie Hennessy, Padraig OCeidigh, and Michael Kearney.

Founder of GreenTech HQ, Ed Murphy, said B.A.S.S.E. will create a sustainable, resilient and future-focused economy in Co Wexford and across the region.

With the support of Enterprise Ireland and our exceptional mentors, were proud to offer a programme thats truly tailored to the challenges and opportunities faced by ambitious SMEs, he said. Its a three-year programme in which well work with 26 ambitious and progressive SMEs in the south east, the first objective is to help these companies double their revenues and profitability. Secondly, we want to embed environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices in those companies, and help them grow in a sustainable fashion.

Ed Murphy (Founder, GreenTechHQ), Minister James Browne, TD (Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage) and Kevin Sherry (Interim CEO, Enterprise Ireland). Photo; Mary Browne

"We will have a successful entrepreneur sit with you at your boardroom table as a mentor, we want to create an elite group of companies which can help each other in the process. We will facilitate getting all the best advice in the world for those companies.

Minister for Housing, and Enniscorthy TD, James Browne was on hand to congratulate the companies accepted on to the programme and said it represented a sea-change in how the south east would operate moving forward.

This demonstrates our commitment to building regional resilience and ensuring that innovation and opportunity are not confined to urban centres. This initiative will help foster the kind of sustainable, high-quality jobs our communities need to thrive, said the minister. The most important thing Ed provides is that mentoring, helps people to realise their ability. In the south east we went through a really tough time in the 70s and 80s and its taken us a long time to bounce back from that.

"We lost our confidence and courage, we have always had that real potential and its great to see the rebirth of the region now. The EU has recognised the south east as one of the top regions across the organisation for potential growth and were starting to see that. These types of programmes are fantastic, we have some excellent companies in Wexford and will continue to look for more; the ship is turning and its now in our own hands.

Kevin Sherry, Interim CEO of Enterprise Ireland, added, The B.A.S.S.E. programme is a prime example of how Enterprise Irelands Smart Regions funding is enabling high-impact regional initiatives that drive innovation and enterprise. By supporting GreenTech HQ, we are backing a model that connects SMEs to world-class expertise, accelerates growth, and strengthens the south easts position as a vibrant hub for sustainable business.
An application to turn a former pub in Carnew, Co Wicklow into an International Protection Accommodation Scheme (IPAS) centre has been withdrawn following 127 objections from members of the public.

The application was submitted by Kildare-based company Quest Retirement Solutions Ltd to Wicklow County Council (WCC) on March 3 with a decision due to be made on April 27.

It proposed to change The Lodge, Main St, Carnew into an IPAS centre with the buildings first and second floor function and ancillary meeting rooms repurposed into 11 bedrooms with en-suite sanitary facilities and ancillary storage rooms.

However, after a concerted public appeal, which saw approximately 350 people attend Carnew Hall to discuss the impact an IPAS centre would have on the community, the application has been withdrawn.

Confirming the news, Sinn Fein TD for Wicklow-Wexford Fionntan O Suilleabhain said this case was an example of people power in action. Referencing the unusually high number of objections, he said the meeting in Carnew Hall had illustrated how unsuitable The Lodge was for an IPAS centre.

Speaker after speaker outlined how this neglected and disadvantaged small town is unsuited for such a facility, said Deputy O Suilleabhain. This is people power in action, in opposition to the governments developer-led approach, which is creating millionaires overnight all across those state, but at the expense of local communities.

"I am pleased to see that Quest Retirement Solutions have seen sense and have withdrawn their application and taken the concerns of the local community in Carnew into account.

"The situation in Carnew really reflects how badly this government is dealing with this issue. Forcing IPAS Centres onto local communities around the country, and its lack of local consultation is the wrong approach to take. They must be forced to change course in this issue, which has been so divisive to date"

The Lodge in Carnew, Co Wicklow.

In a statement, Quest Retirement Solutions explained its reasons for withdrawing its application.

Three years ago, Quest began a project to provide emergency accommodation for Ukrainian families as part of a government initiative. Together with our investors, we are extremely proud to have supported so many families in need during such a difficult time. Following this, the department (of integration) transitioned the use of The Lodge and requested that it be used to house individuals under the IPAS scheme and humanitarian protection.

"Quest's and (the) investors response was that we would only proceed if there were families in need of emergency accommodation, as The Lodge is not suitableeither in layout or design-for accommodating single individuals. In light of concerns expressed by members of the local community, we have decided to withdraw our planning application for IPAS accommodation. We remain committed to exploring alternative accommodation projects that better suit local needs in the future.

In the wake of the application, a community group Carnew Says No was formed and it welcomed companys decision to withdraw its application.

This is a powerful moment for our town. Carnew is a place rooted in heritage, built by generations of hardworking people who cared deeply about their community. We owe it to them  and to the generations to come  to protect what they helped build. Over the past weeks, the people of Carnew have come together with strength, unity, and purpose. Your voices were heard. Thank you to everyone who spoke out, showed up, and stood up. And a sincere thank you to our local councillors and TDs who supported the community and advocated on our behalf.

While this decision is a relief for many, it also shines a light on a broader issue. The government must seriously reconsider how it treats those seeking refuge  and re-evaluate the lack of transparency and respect in how these decisions are made. Communities deserve to be part of the conversation. The current process is not only unfair to us, its unfair to those being moved around without clarity or care.
A graveyard which contains the remains of one of the great, forgotten Irish rebels, the grandmother of Oscar Wilde, and the man credited with establishing the GAA in Co Wexford is to be restored through the Historic Structures Fund (HSF). Rathaspeck Church, which is situated near Johnstown Castle in the south of the county, has been in a state of ruin for many decades but now, thanks to 100,620 in funding, it will be extensively renovated.

In addition to the renovations to the body of the church, the adjoining cemetery will also be restored and it could, in time, become a tourist attraction.

Hugh Barrett is the chairperson of the Friends of Rathaspeck Church Committee and he said there are some big names buried within the confines of the previously overgrown and unkempt graveyard.

The most high profile one is Cornelius Grogan, hes here somewhere, nobody knows where  wed have a major coup if we could find him, wed have a state funeral on our hands, he said.

Cornelius Grogan was general in the insurgent army of Wexford in the Rebellion of 1798 and was hanged and beheaded in June of that year when British forces overcame the rebels. Although his head was thrown into the Slaney River it is believed that it was retrieved by his followers and buried with the rest of his remains in Rathaspeck.

However, because of Grogans notoriety, his grave was left unmarked so that it wouldnt be disturbed by opposing forces. While the church committee are unsure of Grogans exact location they are hopeful of finding him during the works and have contacted his ancestors, who now live in France, to inform them of their plans.

Also buried in the cemetery is the grandmother of Oscar Wilde, Sarah Elgee.

The Elgee family were from Wexford and worked as rectors in Johnstown Castle. Oscar Wildes mother, Jane Speranza Wilde is said to have been born in the Thomas Moore Tavern in Wexford town and there is a memorial plaque in her honour in St Iberius Church.

The third historical figure to be buried in Rathaspeck is former owner and editor-in-chief of The Wexford People, Edward Walsh.

He was the main man behind the land league and the GAA in Wexford, we should erect a statue to him, said a member of the committee. Without Edward Walsh there would have been no success for the land league in this county, there would have been no GAA as we know it today  Im amazed we havent got reference to him in Wexford Park, but that day will come.

Beginning later this year the funding will see the roof of the church repaired. In addition the bell tower roof will be replaced and works will be done on the windows and doors. Heritage Officer Colm Moriarty is overseeing the works and Nicky Mernagh, local architect, is in overall charge of the project.

"The entire project would not have been possible without the close co-operation and support of the Kilscoran Union of Churches, Ms Francoise Davison, Canon Norman McCausland, and Mr Peter Hudson have encouraged us all the way, said the committee. Our group is in the process of making the adjoining cemetery as safe as possible with the help of the select vestry.

Announcing the funding, Minister James Browne TD, said, I am delighted to welcome this funding to protect a landmark building in Wexford, which will enhance the character and amenity of the communities concerned. The works funded will secure the integrity of these sites for the enjoyment of future generations, and enhance the sustainability of local economies with great benefits for employment, tourism, and the environment.

Councillor Lisa McDonald is part of the church committee and said the church had lain idle for too long.

People walk, cycle and drive by this church every day and have watched it become more and more dilapidated despite it having such a huge role in the history of the area, she said. Were delighted as a committee to have the opportunity through the department of heritage and Wexford County Council (WCC) to apply for funding and give this new life. 1904 was the last time it was renovated, we hope the works done here will last another few centuries."

Paying tribute to all those in the committee for their work thus far and thanking the Church of Ireland for its assistance, Cllr McDonald said the reaction from the local community to the works has been astounding and said that when the church has been fully restored there were hopes an Oscar Wilde play could be staged to mark is opening.
Sean Bergin (35) was arrested after a major operation involving gardai, armed soldiers and the army bomb squad

The Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit on the street at Wolfe Tone Villas in Wexford on Friday night.

A man accused of possession of an improvised explosive device which brought the army bomb squad to a Wexford housing estate has been granted bail.

Sean Bergin (35) of 45 Wolfe Tone Villas was brought before Judge John Cheatle at a special sitting of Waterford District Court after a major incident at his house on Friday night.

At around 7 p.m. on Friday night, residents of Wolfe Tone Villas in Wexford town were shocked by the presence of armed soldiers patrolling the estate and assisting gardai with sealing off the area around Bergin's house.

Its believed that neighbouring homes were evacuated as a precaution, and residents looked on as soldiers cordoned off part of the estate in an operation that lasted over three hours as the bomb unit made the scene safe.

Sean Bergin

At the District Court, Detective Garda Mark Whitty told Judge Cheatle that the defendant was arrested at the scene and made no reply when he was charged with possessing an improvised explosive device, to wit - two explosives with fifteen ball bearings in a container, wrapped in plastic.

Solicitor Ciaran Murphy, instructed by Tim Cummings, said that his client was seeking bail and strict conditions were imposed, namely signing on daily at Wexford Garda Station, observing a curfew and supplying a contact number where he can be contacted daily.

Sgt Stephen Ennis then sought an adjournment to allow for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions and the case was put back until June 9.
The life of a man who left Ireland with barely a penny to his name and became one of the wealthiest men in South America is to be commemorated with a special memorial in his home village. John James Murphy was one of 12 young men who emigrated from Kilrane, Co Wexford to Argentina in April, 1844, leaving the village on a horse and cart as they travelled to Wexford town and then onto Liverpool via the ferry before arriving in Buenos Aries some months later.

This historic event is recorded in the ballad The Kilrane Boys written by their school master, Walter McCormack.

The 12 boys were part of an emerging trend which saw young people from Co Wexford move to Argentina as they followed James Pettitt and Patrick Brown who had become established businessmen in the South American nation. They began to recruit men and women from the Kilrane area to go to this land of opportunity and this started a period of emigration which continued for the next 70 years.

John James Murphy arrived in Buenos Aires in 1944 with the princely sum of 1 in his pocket. When he died in 1909 he was one of the wealthiest sheep ranchers in Argentina and eventually had a town named in his honour in 1966.

With 115 other Irish emigrants, John embarked on a long voyage, via the Cape Verde Islands, arriving two months later in the port of Buenos Aires.

John soon left the city and headed south to Chascomus where he worked on a sheep farm. He spent several years as a tenant on the farm, eventually acquiring his own land in 1854 in the Salto area, west of Buenos Aires. John was able to purchase over 4,000 acres of grassland and ten years later he bought a further 10,000 acres in nearby Rojas, which bordered on indigenous Indian lands.

His younger brother Martin, who remained at home in Wexford, arranged emigration from the Kilrane area to his brother's estates in Argentina. Men worked as ranch hands and women as cooks or domestics. His other brothers William and Patrick also joined him in Argentina to work on his huge sheep ranches.

John Murphy was the first landowner in the area to fence his land and by 1872 had doubled the size of his holding in Rojas. In 1878 he rented out his lands and returned to Ireland with his family, intending to take care of the family farm in Haysland, where his sister and invalid brother lived. He planned on staying indefinitely.

But while in Wexford his 10-year-old daughter Catalina (Kitty) contracted scarlet fever and passed away, and then two years his son Martin (3) also died from a lung infection. These sad events convinced John and his wife Ellen, after nearly four years back in Wexford, to return to Argentina in 1882.

In 1883 John bought 46,000 acres of some of the best land in southern Santa Fe province and quickly settled the area. He was by now a very wealthy man and when he passed away in 1909 at the age of 87 he left behind a substantial fortune. In 1911 the railway arrived through Murphy's land near Rosario, about 300km from Buenos Aires. Under a compulsory purchase order, the railway company acquired 200 acres from his heirs and built Estacion Murphy. A town developed around the station, having various names over the years. Finally in 1966 it was officially named Murphy.

To celebrate the centenary of the departure of the emigrants from Wexford to Argentina, a procession took place in Kilrane in April 1944. The actual cart that was used to take some of them to Wexford Harbour in 1844 formed part of the ceremony.

John James wrote hundreds of letters home to family and friends. These letters were published in a book, Becoming Irlandes by Edmundo Murray, published in 2006. It is believed more than 250 emigrated to Argentina from south Wexford.

On Friday, April 25, Kilrane Tidy Village Group will unveil a memorial stone adjacent to Kilrane National School to honour and remember the 12 young men from the area who emigrated to Argentina in April 1844. The memorial was sculpted by Niall Deacon and reflects his interpretation of the journey undertaken by the Kilrane Boys in 1844.

The memorial records the names of those who left with the inscription they are not forgotten and an information lectern gives a brief history of the boys.
Cattle Sale - April 9: Prices for all types of cattle well maintained from last week. Quality forward store bullocks and heifers selling exceptionally well.

Sample Prices: 1 x Chx bullock 550kg made 2,000; 1 x Lmx heifer 430 kg made 1,740; 1 x Chx heifer 440kg made 1,700; 1 x Chx bullock 480kg made 1,620; 1 x Chx heifer 365kg made 1,500; 1 x Lmx bullock 380kg made 1,320.

Sheep Sale April 12: Cast Ewes in great demand with brisk online and around the ring bidding. A top price of 312 for a lot of 114kg ewes. Cast Ewes made from 150 up to 312. Hoggets also selling very well with a top price of 210. Ewes with lambs at foot were also in demand and made from 240315/family.

Hoggets: 5 x 60kg made 210; 2 x 61kg made 200; 4 x 50kg made 190; 6 x 68kg made 175; 9 x 46kg made 166; 9 x 40kg made 142.

BLESSINGTON

Sheep Sale  April 8: Another small sale. Hoggets were better by 3 to 6 a head on last weeks trade.

Heavy Hoggets 217 to 225 or 160 to 170 over /kg; Factory Hoggets 170 to 217 or 130 to 166 over /kg; Heavy Ewes 200 to 300 per head; Lighter Ewes 130 to 196 per head; Ewes with Lambs at foot 170 to 350 per unit.

CARNEW

Sheep Report - April 3: 1892 head on offer with ewes meeting a blistering trade selling to a top of 314 for fat ewes. Hogget prices continue to increase with prices up 34 per head. Spring lambs are off to a mighty start with 49kg making 244.

Ewe Prices: (2) Ewes 107kg 314; (2) Ewes 102kg 298; (2) Ewes 101kg 294; (18) Ewes 87kg 286; (3) Ewes 88kg 279; (9) Ewes 86kg 264; (3) Ewes 65kg 240; (5) Ewes 47kg 175; (2) Ewes 52kg 178; (6) Ewes 69kg 235; (8) Ewes 77kg 259; (3) Ewes 79kg 262; (2) Ewes 82kg 266.

Lamb prices: (1) S/L 49kg 244; (11) E/L 50kg 230; (3) R/L 64kg 221; (4) S/L 45kg 221; (16) R+W 58kg 220; (2) RAM S/L 55kg 219; (27) M/H 55kg 217; (23) M/H 57kg 217; (19) M/H 63kg 216; (45) E/H 59kg 215; (20) E/L 48kg 195; (17) R/L 39kg 175.

50kg + over: 209244. 4549kg: 181221. 4044kg: 178- 194. 3539kg: 157179. 34kg + under: 116160.

Dairy Report - April 3: 150 head on offer including a large selection of freshly calved heifers & young cows. The freshly Calved Heifers sold from 2,2003,000 with the majority selling from 2,5002,900. Springers (due within the next 6 weeks) sold from 1,6002,200 while bulling heifers sold between 8501,400. There was a special entry of top quality FR calves selling from 440660.

Cow Report - April 4: Large entry of dry cows for the time of year with 322 head on offer. The trade yet again met an improved trade leading to a full clearance. There was also a Multi Breed Bull Sale with huge farmer demand and under pinned by the beef trade.

(1) 694kg BBX 3,160; (1) 674kg CHX 2,890; (1) 696kg LMX 2,980; (1) 674kg AAX 2,860; (1) 942kg CHX 3,990; (1) 750kg SIM 3,150; (1) 906kg CHX 3,720; (1) 668kg LMX 2,670; (1) 692kg PTX 2,770; (1) 666kg LMX 2,660; (1) 858kg HEX 3,400; (1) 642kg FR 2,260; (1) 580kg FR 2,010.

Calf Report - April 4: 820 head of calves on offer meeting a very lively trade. There was a notable farmer demand for quality continental coloured calves. HE/AA were bought by both farmers and exporters while the exceptional coloured calves all went to the exporters. FR calves met a very solid demand from both farmers and agents with the lighter FR calves remaining a very good trade from the shippers. Quality FR: 180290. Shipping FR: 120180. AA/HE: 180520. Continentals: 300625 with the majority selling from 350500

Cattle Report - April 5: 1,482 head of cattle on offer meeting a very lively trade with a lot more store cattle available. There was a very large entry of bull weanlings with huge demand from live shippers, specialist feeders and feedlots alike leading to a full clearance. store heifers sold between 4.50/kg5.50/kg for the quality heifers on offer. Some notable prices from the sale: 818kg BBX bullock 4,020 (5.10/kg), 800kg BBX heifer 4,020 (5.03/kg) and 394kg BBX bull 3,100 (7.87/kg).

Heifers: (1) 142kg LMX 840; (1) 274kg BBX 1,510; (1) 518kg BBX 2,800; (1) 534kg BBX 2,740; (1) 800kg BBX 4,020; (1) 336kg LMX 1,680; (1) 422kg BBX 2,100; (1) 506kg LMX 2,500; (2) 487kg LMX 2,400; (1) 562kg BBX 2,760; (1) 708kg BBX 3,460; (1) 562kg LM 2,740; (1) 604kg LMX 2,940; (1) 452kg AAX 1,960; (1) 649kg CH 2,990; (1) 502kg HEX 2,160.

Bullocks: (1) 616kg BBX 3,380; (1) 568kg LMX 3,080; (4) 322kg LMX 1,720; (1) 686kg PTX 3,590; (1) 818kg BBX 4,170; (1) 298kg LM 1,500; (1) 756kg LMX 3,800; (1) 660kg LMX 3,310; (1) 708kg BBX 3,530; (1) 384kg PTX 1,900; (1) 648kg PTX 3,190; (5) 303kg LMX 1,490; (1) 700kg CHX 3,430; (1) 688kg CHX 3,350; (1) 681kg AAX 3,090; (5) 397kg AAX 1,700; (1) 344kg HE 1,430; (2) 759kg HEX 3,260.

Bulls: (1) 394kg BBX 3,100; (1) 304kg BBX 2,180; (1) 380kg BAX 2,520; (1) 422kg BBX 2,680; (1) 318kg BBX 1,900; (1) 346kg LMX 2,000; (1) 336kg BBX 1,920; (1) 322kg BBX 1,800; (1) 252kg BBX 1,340; (1) 414kg LMX 2,200; (1) 320kg CH 1,700; (1) 328kg BBX 1,720; (1) 314kg LMX 1,620; (1) 248kg LMX 1,270; (1) 440kg BBX 2,420; (1) 372kg LMX 1,910.
A Status Yellow rain warning issued for counties Cork and Kerry will come into effect on Thursday night.

There will be spells of rain in the two counties, turning heavy at times and leading to localised flooding. The warning will be in place from 11pm on Thursday night until 12pm on Friday.

There was snowfall reported in some areas this morning as outbreaks of rain across Leinster and Ulster turned heavy.

Some snowfall was seen in the Wicklow Mountains earlier today, while South Dublin County Council said some roads had to be treated due to snow and advised road users to avoid the area around Military Road.

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A Status Yellow rain warning for counties Dublin, Louth, Meath, Wexford and Wicklow expired at 2pm this afternoon.

The UK Met Office has also issued a yellow rain warning for counties Antrim, Armagh, Down, Tyrone, Derry, which will remain in effect until 9pm tonight.

The rain will ease away to the the northeast in the evening, while it will stay dry further west with sunny breaks, Met Eireann said.

Highest temperatures of 6C to 13C are expected before dropping to lows of -1C to 3C overnight, when any remaining rain will clear to the north-east to leave dry conditions and clear spells for most across the country.

It will be dry and bright at first tomorrow with isolated showers and more widespread, prolonged showers developing by afternoon.

Rain will move into the south-west in the evening, with highest temperatures of 9C to 13C expected during the day, dropping to lows of 4C to 8C overnight when heavy rain could bring with it the chance of localised flooding.

Met Eireann has forecast an unsettled end to the week with a spell of heavy, widespread rain on Friday with highs of 10C to 13C, while it will gradually become dry throughout the weekend.

Saturday will brighten up throughout the day with highs of 11C to 15C, while current indications suggest a bright day on Easter Sunday, with highest temperatures of 11C to 16C expected.

Some further rain and showers are forecast for the early days of next week.
Alexei Navalny and his wife Yulia Navalnaya take part in a march in memory of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov in Moscow, Russia, on February 26, 2017. Photo: Sefa Karacan/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Four Russian journalists were sentenced by a Moscow court to five-and-a-half years each in prison yesterday after being found guilty of working for the banned organisation of the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
Benjamin Netanyahus party Likud calls for head of domestic intelligence agency Shin Bet to quit amid leaks controversy

Ronen Bar was accused of turning parts of the service into a private militia of the Deep State

A protester wearing a mask of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a rally against the Israeli government last month in Jerusalem over the decision to dismiss the director of Shin Bet, Ronen Bar. Photo: Getty

James Mackenzie Reuters Wed 16 Apr 2025 at 03:30







Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahus Likud party yesterday accused the head of the domestic intelligence organisation of turning parts of the service into a private militia of the Deep State and called for him to go.
Further details have come to light two months after actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead.

The bodies of the 95-year-old Hollywood star and his 65-year-old other half were discovered at their home in New Mexico on February 26 after security guards saw their bodies through a window and raised the alarm.
He is a really bad guy, says actor dismissed from being a juror in Harvey Weinstein rape retrial

Several other potential jury members also seek to be removed from selection process for case on grounds of impartiality

Former film producer Harvey Weinstein appears in court for his retrial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York. Photo: AP

Jennifer Peltz Associated Press Wed 16 Apr 2025 at 03:30







As jury selection has started in Harvey Weinsteins New York City rape retrial, some prospective jurors made clear they could not be fair in judging the one-time Hollywood mogul.
US judge presses Trump administration on refusal to return man mistakenly deported to notorious El Salvador prison

The hearing came a day after White House advisers said they lack the authority to bring back the Salvadoran national from his native country

Kilmar Abrego Garcia (Murray Osorio PLLC via AP)

Michael Kunzelman and Ben Finley Press Association Wed 16 Apr 2025 at 07:44







A federal judge has said she will order sworn testimony by Trump administration officials to determine if they complied with her orders to facilitate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly deported to a notorious El Salvador prison.
Indias Semiconductor Market Value to Reach US$108 Billion by 2030: Report

Indias semiconductor sector is on a positive trajectory, with its end-use market projected to double from US$54 billion in 2025 to US$108 billion by 2030. A key component of this growth is expected to come from domestic localization initiatives. This rapid expansion underscores Indias rising stature in the global semiconductor ecosystem and its ambition to become a major supply chain player.

Catalysts driving Indias semiconductor market expansion

According to global financial services firm UBS, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15 percent for Indias semiconductor market is anticipated over the five-year period ending in 2030. In a report released by UBS in April 2025, the domestic semiconductor growth, which surpasses global averages, is attributed to a confluence of favorable factors for the country.

These include Indias young workforce specializing in technology, surging demand for consumer electronics, the accelerated enterprise adoption of advanced chips, and proactive policy frameworks introduced by the Indian government to stimulate local industry.

Indias position in the global semiconductor value chain

Indias present role in global semiconductor manufacturing is considered relatively modest. As of 2025, just 0.1 percent of global wafer fabrication capacity is accounted for by the country, and about 1 percent of annual global capital expenditure on semiconductor equipment is contributed by it. However, a notable 6.5 percent share of global semiconductor demand is commanded by Indiaa figure projected to grow as domestic consumption is expected to rise.

Indias strength is particularly recognized in semiconductor design. According to John Neuffer, president and CEO of the Semiconductor Industry Association, approximately 20 percent of the global chip design workforce is based in India, with many employed by top-tier multinational firms. This specialization in design has positioned the country strongly in high-value segments of the semiconductor ecosystem, even as overall production capacity continues to be led by China and the US.

Semiconductor supply chain diversification and strategic realignments

The evolving geopolitical environment and ongoing trade disruptions have prompted technology firms worldwide to reconfigure their supply chains. The UBS report highlights a growing shift toward the China +1 strategy, where companies diversify their manufacturing bases to include countries like India. In this context, India is increasingly viewed as a reliable and cost-effective alternative for semiconductor assembly and testing, particularly in the back-end stages of production.

India-Singapore partnership on semiconductor manufacturing

In 2025, Singapore continues to play a pivotal role in the semiconductor industry, leading Southeast Asia in wafer fabrication and chip production. Singapore contributes 5 percent of global wafer capacity, manufactures 20 percent of semiconductor equipment, and accounts for 10 percent of total semiconductor output globally.

Meanwhile, Indias semiconductor demand is rising rapidly, driven by emerging sectors such as AI, defense, electric vehicles, and smart devices. In FY 202324, its semiconductor imports surged by 18.5 percent. At present, India imports roughly 9095 percent of its semiconductor and electronics components, with major suppliers including China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, and Singapore. Singapore alone exported US$4.68 billion worth of electronic components to India in FY 202425.

Recognizing their complementary strengths, India and Singapore have deepened their bilateral semiconductor cooperation. During the second IndiaSingapore Ministerial Roundtable held in September 2024, both countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at fostering strategic collaboration. The MoU outlines frameworks for both intergovernmental cooperationbetween Singapores Ministry of Trade and Industry and Indias Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeITY)and business partnerships through Enterprise Singapore and the India Semiconductor Mission.

Indias policies to boost chip manufacturing

To reduce import dependency and promote self-reliance, the central government launched the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) under the broader Semicon India Programme in March 2022. With a financial outlay of INR 760 billion (US$8.87 billion), this policy covers the entire value chain of semiconductor manufacturingfrom chip design and fabrication to assembly, testing, and packaging.

Progress under the Semicon India Programme has been positive for the country. In 2024, four semiconductor manufacturing units have been approved, while an additional nine projects under the SPECS scheme have secured around US$900 million in proposed investments. Collectively, these initiatives are expected to create over 15,700 jobs nationwide. Companies such as Tata Electronics, TDK India, and Motherson Electronics are among the early movers.

READ: Indias Semiconductor Sector: Tracking Government Support and Investment Trends

Technological trends shaping the semiconductor industry

Deloittes 2025 Global Semiconductor Industry Outlook, published on February 4, 2025, adds further insight into the sectors evolution, highlighting that future chip sales will be driven by advancements in generative AI and the scaling up of data center infrastructure. In contrast, demand from traditional product categories such as PCs and mobile devices is expected to remain subdued.

To stay competitive amid increasing design complexity, the industry is turning to technologically advanced approaches such as digital twinsvirtual replicas of physical systems used to simulate, analyze, and optimize performance. These tools are proving essential for managing and refining multi-chiplet systems, offering enhanced design agility and operational efficiency.

Conclusion

Indias semiconductor industry is undergoing a transformative phase, fueled by strong market potential, an enabling policy environment, and increasing relevance in global supply chains. While significant hurdles remainparticularly in advanced manufacturingthe countrys expertise in design, growing domestic demand, and strategic partnerships with global leaders such as Singapore are paving the way for a more resilient and self-reliant semiconductor ecosystem.

(US$1 = INR 85.62)
Crime Scene Zero Season 5 OTT Release Date: Its finally happening. After years of silence, the much-loved Korean crime mystery series is making a comeback, but with a twist. Titled Crime Scene Zero, the show picks up where the original Crime Scene left off, bringing a fresh start while staying true to what made fans fall in love with it in the first place. According to What's on Netflix, it drops on September 2 and will be streaming globally on Netflix.

What is Crime Scene all about?

For those who need a refresher (or are new to the series), Crime Scene started back in 2014 and quickly became a fan favourite in South Korea. Not a typical whodunit, but instead of actors playing out a scripted crime drama, real-life celebrities were placed inside fictional murder cases. Each was given a character to play, but none of them knew the full story. One of them was secretly assigned the role of the murderer.

The rest had to figure out who it was by investigating the scene, questioning each other, and piecing together clues, all while staying in character. People got defensive, others cracked under pressure, and some were just really good at lying. It was part drama, part game, part psychological puzzle and completely addictive. The first four seasons ran until 2017 and became a cult hit before Netflix picked it up for its fifth season.

Meet the cast and crew of Crime Scene Zero Season 5

Behind the scenes, the heartbeat of the series, Yoon Hyun Joon, returns as showrunner with the following ensemble:-

Jang Jin  the returning legend, cool as ever, ready to outwit the best

Park Ji-yoon  queen of composure, sharp-eyed and steel-nerved

Jang Dong-min  chaos incarnate, the wild card who sees what others miss

Kim Ji-hoon  making a thrilling comeback from Season 3 with unfinished business

An Yu-jin  the rising star from IVE, new to the scene, but dont underestimate her

Each week, a new guest joins the room, throwing fresh chaos into the crime board. Sounds exciting? Share your thoughts @Indiatimes.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story OTT release date: Netflix is doubling down on true crime. Following the success of its 2022 docuseries Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story, the platform is now turning its focus to one of Britain's most infamous criminal duos - Fred and Rose West. Titled Fred & Rose West: A British Horror Story, the three-part series is set to premiere on May 14, 2025 on Netflix.

All about Fred & Rose West: A British Horror Story

The horrifying crimes carried out by Fred and Rose West over nearly 20 years left a lasting scar on the UK and are considered among the most chilling in the country's criminal history.

Fred, who died by suicide in prison in 1995, was responsible for the murders of at least 12 young women between 1967 and 1987, many of which he committed alongside his second wife, Rose, who is still incarcerated.

According to Deadline, the upcoming docuseries will include exclusive interviews with victims' family members speaking publicly for the first time.

It will also feature never-before-seen police footage and unheard audio recordings. The series is being produced by Blink Films and directed by Dan Dewsbury, known for Louis Theroux's Forbidden America.

More about Fred and Rose West

Between 1967 and 1987, Fred West and his wife Rosemary "Rose" West tortured, sexually abused, and murdered at least 12 young women and girls, including their own daughter.

Many of the victims were buried at their home on 25 Cromwell Street in Gloucester, a place that later became known as the "House of Horrors."

Fred had already been involved in violent acts before meeting Rose, including the murder of his former partner.

Rose, whom he met when she was a teenager, soon became an active accomplice in the abuse and killings. The couple often targetted vulnerable young women, luring them in with promises of shelter or work.

Fred took his own life in prison in 1995 before facing trial, while Rose was convicted of 10 murders that same year and remains in prison for life without parole.

Their case is the focus of many documentaries, books, and now Netflix's upcoming docuseries.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
My Hero Academia: Vigilantes episode 3 release date & time: My Hero Academia: Vigilantes has captivated fans, and the first two episodes have added to the excitement. Anime fans are intrigued by the plot and are eager to witness more as new episodes are released. The anime follows Koichi Haimawari's life and much more around it. If you're a fan and looking forward to the next episode, heres everything you need to know about it.

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes episode 3 release date & time

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes episode 2 will be released in India on Crunchyroll on 21st April 2025 at 08:45 PM.

Global release dates:

Mexico: 9:15 AM

Canada: 11:15 AM

Argentina and Brazil: 12:15 PM

Western Europe and the UK: 4:15 PM

Central Europe: 5:15 PM

Eastern Europe: 6:15 PM

Namibia and South Africa: 5:15 PM

India: 8:45 PM

Japan: 12:15 AM (April 22)

Australia: 11:15 PM / 00:45 AM (April 22) / 1:15 AM (April 22)

New Zealand: 3:15 AM (April 22)

What is My Hero Academia: Vigilantes about?

According to Crunchyroll, the anime centers on Koichi Haimawari, a college student who has given up on his ambition of becoming a hero. While 80% of people on the planet possess superhuman abilities known as quirks, only a small percentage are selected to become heroes and defend others. After being rescued by the vigilante Knuckleduster and being enlisted to join the vigilantes themselves, Koichi's life completely changes.

Deku was approximately nine years old when the events depicted in My Hero Academia: Vigilantes (MHA: Vigilantes) occurred, as the story takes place five years before the start of the main series.

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes crew

The original creators of My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, Kohei Horikoshi, Hideyuki Furuhashi, and Betten Court, are among the primary crew members. Yosuke Kuroda is in charge of the series' composition, while Kenichi Suzuki is the director. Yukihiro Watanabe is the art director, and Takahiko Yoshida is the character designer.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, as well as celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
The Stolen Girl OTT release date: After capturing hearts in the beautiful and heartbreaking love story One Day on Netflix, actor Ambika Mod returns to the screen in a new avatar, this time in the gripping thriller The Stolen Girl, premiering April 17 on Disney+ (JioCinema in India).

About The Stolen Girl

The Stolen Girl is a five-part psychological thriller that premiered on April 16, 2025, on Disney+ in the UK and on Freeform in the US, with episodes streaming on Hulu the next day.

It will be available to Indian audiences on JioHotstar starting April 17.

The Stolen Girl plot summary

Adapted by Catherine Moulton from Alex Dahl's 2020 novel Playdate, The Stolen Girl follows the harrowing story of a mother whose world is turned upside down when her young daughter vanishes after an innocent sleepover.

The series centres on Elisa Blix, a mother of two whose nine-year-old daughter, Lucia, fails to return from a night at her new friend Josies house.

When Elisa arrives to pick her up, she finds the house empty and learns from a cleaner that no one actually lives there.

This chilling discovery sets off a desperate search, unravelling a web of secrets involving possible child trafficking, hidden identities, and legal twists.

Adding to the tension is Selma Desai, a sharp investigative journalist portrayed by Ambika Mod, whose pursuit of the truth brings another layer to the unfolding mystery.

The Stolen Girl reviews

Critics have praised the series for its intense performances and engaging storyline. Denise Gough's portrayal of Elisa captures the anguish and desperation of a mother in crisis, while Holliday Grainger delivers a compelling performance as the mysterious Rebecca.

Ambika Mod's role as Selma Desai adds a layer of investigative intrigue to the narrative.

However, some reviews note that while the series is entertaining, it occasionally relies on implausible plot developments and melodrama.

The Stolen Girl cast

The series features a strong ensemble cast led by Denise Gough as Elisa Blix, a mother desperately searching for her missing daughter.

Holliday Grainger plays Rebecca Walsh, also known as Nina, a mysterious woman linked to Lucias disappearance.

Jim Sturgess appears as Fred Blix, Elisas supportive husband, while Ambika Mod takes on the role of

Selma Desai, a determined investigative journalist. Bronagh Waugh plays DI Shona Sinclair, the lead detective handling the case.

The cast also includes Michael Workeye as Kaleb Negasi, Beatrice Cohen as the missing girl Lucia Blix, and Robyn Betteridge as Josephine "Josie" Thibault, the friend Lucia was last seen with.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
This Wednesday, April 16s episode of General Hospital, will bring a storm of drama to Port Charles. Sonny uncovers a secret that could change everything, Jason pushes hard for answers, and Drew moves forward with a brand-new strategy. With the return of old friends and rising doubts about who can be trusted, the city's power struggles are only getting messier.

Lucky Spencer returns home

Over at Elizabeth Baldwins place, the surprise return of Lucky Spencer brings both a smile and a helping hand. Lucky jokes that hes back as part of his master plan, and quickly steps up to support Elizabeth. His presence also means the end of Nurse Amy Driscolls overwhelming behavior, giving Elizabeth a much-needed break at home.

Jordan goes all in

Jordan Ashford finally tells Anna Devane that she can't ignore what's happening anymore. She's ready to go full force against Jenz Sidwell  even if it means walking straight into danger. Curtis Ashford tries to warn her about the risks, but Jordan seems determined to see her plan through, no matter the cost.

Shocking secrets & a tense interrogation

In another part of town, Sonny shocks Diane Miller by revealing that Marco Rios is actually Sidwells son. Diane wants to fire Marco immediately, but Sonny suggests a smarter play: keep Marco close and find out Sidwells next move through him.

Sonny Corinthos | Credit: X

Meanwhile, Jason Morgan doesn't hold back during an intense questioning session with Marco. But just as things heat up, Lucas Jones walks in on them. Will he figure out whats going on, or will Jason keep his mission hidden a bit longer?

With hidden agendas, emotional returns, and dangerous plays unfolding, Port Charles is heading straight into chaos. One thing is clear  no one is safe from the fallout.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
Harvey Weinstein, once a well-known figure in the film industry, co-founded Miramax in 1979, producing acclaimed films like Pulp Fiction and Shakespeare in Love. However, his legacy unraveled as numerous women accused him of sexual misconduct, leading to criminal charges and convictions. The recent overturning of his 2020 conviction has brought his case back into the spotlight.

Why is Harvey Weinstein back in court?

Harvey Weinstein is facing a retrial because his 2020 conviction was overturned in April 2024. The court found that the judge in the previous trial had made an error by allowing testimonies from women who were not part of the case. This mistake led to the decision to throw out the earlier conviction and order a retrial.

Timeline of key events

19792005: Building an empire

1979: Harvey and Bob Weinstein establish Miramax, named after their parents, Miriam and Max.

1993: The Walt Disney Company acquired Miramax for $80 million; the Weinstein brothers continued to lead until 2005.

19941999: Miramax produced award-winning films, including Pulp Fiction (1994), The English Patient (1996), and Shakespeare in Love (1998), solidifying Weinstein's influence in Hollywood.

2005: The Weinstein brothers depart Miramax to launch The Weinstein Company.

2017: Allegations surface

October 5: The New York Times reported that Weinstein settled with eight women over allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct spanning decades.

October 10: The New Yorker published accounts from 13 women, including allegations of rape; Weinstein denies non-consensual encounters.

October 14: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences expels Weinstein.

October 2017: The #MeToo movement gained momentum, with countless individuals sharing their experiences of sexual harassment and assault.

Harvey Weinstein's retrial commenced on April 15, 2025 | Credit: X

20182020: Legal proceedings and conviction

May 2018: Weinstein surrendered to New York authorities on charges of rape and criminal sexual acts involving two women.

February 2020: A New York jury convicted Weinstein of third-degree rape and a criminal sexual act.

March 2020: He is sentenced to 23 years in prison.

20222023: Additional convictions

December 2022: A Los Angeles jury finds Weinstein guilty of raping an actress in 2013.

February 2023: He receives a 16-year sentence in California, to be served consecutively with his New York sentence.

April 2024: Conviction overturned

April 25: New York's highest court overturns Weinstein's 2020 conviction, citing improper admission of testimony from uncharged accusers, and orders a retrial.

April 2025

April 15, 2025: Jury selection begins in Manhattan for Weinstein's retrial. The proceedings focus on allegations from three women:

Miriam "Mimi" Haleyi: Claims Weinstein forced oral sex on her in 2006.

Jessica Mann: Alleges he raped her in 2013.

Unnamed accuser: Brings forth a new allegation from 2006.

The retrial is expected to last approximately six weeks.

What are the charges in the Harvey Weinstein trial?

Harvey Weinstein is facing a retrial because his 2020 conviction was overturned in April 2024 | Credit: X

In this retrial, three women have made allegations against Weinstein. Two of themMimi Haleyi and Jessica Mannwere involved in the original 2020 case. A third woman has come forward with a new allegation from 2006. The charges are based on rape and criminal sexual acts.

Whats different this time in the Harvey Weinstein trial?

One major change in this retrial is that testimonies from uncharged accusers are not being allowed. These were a key part of the original trial and were later found to have affected the outcome unfairly. This time, only the testimonies from the three women involved in this specific case will be considered.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
The United States has raised tariffs on Chinese imports to a massive 245%, according to a White House fact sheet released this week. US President Donald Trump made it clear that the next move lies with China. The ball is in Chinas court, said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, adding that China needs to make a deal with the US, not the other way around.

She also said that China, like many countries, depends on the American market and consumer. They want what we have  the American consumer. Or to put it another way, they need our money, she added.

China warns US against pressure and blackmail

Responding to the raised tariffs, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian repeated Chinas strong opposition. He said that if the US wants real dialogue, it should stop using threats, pressure, and blackmail. Talks, according to him, should happen on equal terms and with mutual respect.

Lin also said that tariff wars help no one. China doesnt want to fight, but were not afraid either, he said. He called the US-initiated trade war unfair and stated that Chinas counteractions are legal and necessary.

At a press conference, Lin added that China has always stood for removing trade barriers and working together, not fighting or separating economies. In a social media post, he said, China remains committed to joining hands, not throwing punches; removing barriers, not erecting walls.

China appoints new trade negotiator

As part of its strategy to deal with rising tensions, China has appointed Li Chenggang as its new international trade negotiation representative and vice commerce minister. He replaces Wang Shouwen, who led previous trade talks with the Trump administration during his first term.

This move comes while Chinese President Xi Jinping is on a tour of Southeast Asia to improve Chinas global image as a stable economic and political partner. The new appointment shows that Beijing is preparing for possible future discussions, but only on its terms.

Trump pauses tariffs for others, but not China

Donald Trump with Chinese President Xi Jinping | Credit: X

Earlier, President Trump had imposed similar tariffs on many countries that the US had a trade deficit with. However, after over 75 countries approached the US for discussions, Trump paused the new tariffs for 90 days for those countries. For now, a basic tariff rate of 10% will apply to US imports in general.

But China is an exception. According to the White House, China has retaliated instead of opening talks. So the 245% tariffs remain in place, making the US-China trade battle one of the most serious ongoing conflicts in global economics.

Chinas economy still shows strength

Despite these rising trade tensions, China reported strong economic performance in the first quarter of 2025. Its GDP grew by 5.4%, which was higher than the 5.1% forecasted by experts. The growth was mainly driven by exports and came before the new US tariffs took full effect.

This growth is seen as a sign that China is prepared to face pressure and may not back down easily. However, both sides are still locked in their positionswhile the US waits for China to approach for talks, Beijing says it will only talk under fair conditions.
US Vice President JD Vance will visit India and Italy this week, the White House confirmed on Wednesday, April 16. The statement mentioned that Vance will be joined by his wife, Usha Vance, and the couple will meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their time in India. The itinerary includes stops in New Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra.

Visit rescheduled after delays

According to earlier reports, the vice presidents trip was initially planned for March but was delayed multiple times. This weeks visit is expected to remain largely private. The Vances are likely to be in India at the same time as US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, who is also expected to arrive soon.

Other key US officials also visiting India

While in India, NSA Mike Waltz is scheduled to meet Indian NSA Ajit Doval and will participate in the Indo-US Forum organised by the Ananta Centre in Delhi. Later in the summer, US Defense Secretary Peter Hegseth is expected to travel to India, followed by a visit from US President Donald Trump for the Quad Summit.

NEW:@VP JD Vance and @SLOTUS will visit Italy and India this week. pic.twitter.com/UYqTfNlvGt  Taylor Van Kirk (@VPPressSec) April 16, 2025





Last month, the US Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, also travelled to India. During her visit, she met with Doval and held talks with Prime Minister Modi.

Usha Vance: A legal mind in the spotlight

Usha Vance, who will accompany the Vice President on this trip, is the first Asian American and Hindu American to serve as Second Lady of the United States. A trained lawyer and Yale graduate, she once clerked for top US judges including Chief Justice John Roberts. After working in civil litigation and appeals, she left her law firm in July 2024. Usha was also active during her husband's vice-presidential campaign, often appearing alongside him. The couple has three children.

Trade talks gain momentum

Amid these diplomatic engagements, India is working to conclude a trade agreement with the US. Trade Secretary Sunil Barthwal stated this week that discussions are moving in a positive direction. He added that progress in easing tariff and non-tariff barriers on both sides could lead to an increase in bilateral trade.

Rajesh Agrawal, an additional secretary in the trade ministry, confirmed that virtual talks will begin this month. In-person negotiations are set for mid-May. Both countries started working on the first phase of the agreement in February and aim to finalise it by the end of 2025. The goal is to push the trade volume to $500 billion by 2030.



JD Vances India visit will add to the next chapter of US-India diplomatic meetings this year, hinting at deeper strategic and economic ties.
April Google system update: Users of Samsung Galaxy devices, be advised that a new function is coming out that may surprise you if you're not aware of it. Google has launched an automated restart feature for phones that are locked and unusable for three days in a row in collaboration with manufacturers such as Samsung.

Although it may initially seem concerning, the goal of this update is to secure your data and device further. This is a development you should fully comprehend whether you frequently lose your phone or simply enjoy keeping up with the most recent software updates.

In this article, we explain everything you need to know about this latest update.

Google update for Android smartphones: What is it all about?

Google is rolling out this change as part of the Google Play services update | Credit: Canva

Google is presently rolling out the most recent method by which the manufacturer of Android can release some updates apart from the OS updates, and that's precisely what's taking place right now.

If your Android phone has been locked for three days in a row, it will automatically restart after it has received the most recent Google Play Services update, which is 25.14.

Thanks to this security feature, the phone will enter its "Before First Unlock" state after the auto-reboot. Data is encrypted and more difficult to access in this state than when the phone is in its "After First Unlock" state, which occurs after you input your passcode on any restart.

It's good to see Google adopting a similar functionality to the one Apple introduced last year in iOS 18.1 (named Inactivity Reboot there). Wear OS devices won't be able to use this, but Android phones and tablets will.

A device passcode will be needed to gain access to all features

After a restart, the phone enters a security mode where data is inaccessible unless you enter the unlock pattern or PIN | Credit: Canva

When the device is rebooted, it enters a stage known as "BFU," or Before First Unlock, where the encryption of the data is significantly stronger. In order to restore access to all features, users must input the device's PIN and turn off biometric unlocking.

Instead of waiting for a Samsung firmware upgrade, this capability is being made available to all Android smartphones via the most recent Google Play services update. Verify whether the auto-reboot feature has been added by checking the Google Play services version on your device, which is 25.14.

It is comparable to the "Inactivity Reboot" feature that Apple introduced to iPhones with iOS 18.1. iPhones that are left locked for four days in a row will automatically restart, thanks to this feature.

Although the most recent version's change log only refers to "phone," it is reasonable to believe that Android tablets will likewise be protected similarly but not other device types like TVs and wearables with Android.

Though in reality, you already need to input the device passcode after rebooting in order to enable all functions, including biometric access, it's unclear if your Galaxy phone would alert you when it has rebooted automatically.

For the latest and more interesting tech news, keep reading Indiatimes Tech.
Despite the controversy surrounding actor Kim Soo Hyun in the wake of his underage dating controversy with Kim Sae Ron, many fans around the world arent backing down. While online criticism continues to grow, a wave of support is rising just as fast, with fans rallying together to show hes not alone.

Fans launch global petition to defend Kim Soo Hyun

On April 12, an international fan account shared a video clip from Kim Soo Hyuns recent fan meeting in Japan. In the video, Kim is seen smiling and waving to fans, and alongside it came messages of unwavering encouragement.

The account also announced the launch of a global petition to defend Kim Soo Hyun's rights and speak out against what fans are calling an "online public trial.

The petition aims to protect Kim Soo Hyun from online backlash.

The petition addresses the wave of backlash against the actor that has led to ad deals being dropped, private information being leaked, and a flood of malicious online comments.

We express grave concern over the reality where unverified rumors are causing terminated ad deals, privacy violations, malicious comments, and social sanctions. Even if mistakes were made, the widespread circulation of baseless accusations and defamatory videos constitutes a modern-day online public trial, violating the presumption of innocence.

Global fans extend messages of support to Kim Soo Hyun.

From across the globe, fans are sending in words of support like, There are fans all over the world who support Kim Soo Hyun. Dont worry and stay strong.

Messages of support for Kim Soo Hyun|Credit: X

Global petition comes after Kim Soo Hyun Prevention Act

This move comes just weeks after the Kim Soo Hyun Prevention Act gained traction in South Korea. Floated in late March, that petition called for stricter penalties around statutory rape and raised questions about South Koreas current age of consent laws. It urged lawmakers to raise the age of consent from 16 to 1, aligning it with the countrys legal age of adulthood.

Kim Soo Hyun at his press conference|Credit: X

The petition, which drew over 51,000 signatures by April 7, claimed that the current legal loophole had allowed a "pedophile" to escape justice after allegedly manipulating a young actress. That petition has now reached the National Assembly threshold and is set for formal review.

Kim Soo Hyun's agency announces legal action against 'cyberbullies'

As rumors and backlash continue to swirl, Kim Soo Hyuns agency, Gold Medalist, has officially taken action. On April 15, the agency announced its launching a global legal response against cyberbullies, targeting those spreading false claims, malicious slander, and personal attacks online.

Theyre not limiting this to South Korea either. The agency is working with international legal teams to crack down on harmful posts across platforms like YouTube and X (formerly Twitter), stating, There will be zero tolerance.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
Coldplay, the world-renowned rock band, has returned to South Korea with their highly anticipated concert series, "Coldplay: MUSIC OF THE SPHERES." The shows are being held at Goyang Comprehensive Stadium in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, running from April 16 to 19, with additional dates from April 22 to 25, 2025.

TWICE lit up the stage as a special guest during Coldplay's first show in South Korea on April 16. While their live vocals earned praise online, many fans also couldn't stop gushing over how Coldplay never misses a chance to mention their "brothers," BTS.

TWICE at Coldplay concert

It was officially announced that the K-pop girl group will perform at all six concert dates, sending fans into a frenzy. After the first show wrapped up, the internet buzzed with excitement as videos of their performance in front of a packed crowd went viral, especially on X (formerly known as Twitter).

#TWICE has officially concluded their set for the first day as a special guest for Coldplay, showcasing exceptional vocals, powerful choreography, remarkable stage presence, and outstanding crowd engagement. pic.twitter.com/CZ7AnbnNKG  Pop Core (@TheePopCore) April 16, 2025

TWICE performed "Dance The Night Away" and "Feel Special," with their live vocals receiving widespread praise  especially notable as K-pop has recently faced a wave of lip-syncing accusations over the past few months.

Not just that, they also joined Coldplay and his entourage to sing "We Pray" and added their own lyrics in Korean which was loved by fans.

TWICE SINGING 'WE PRAY' KOREAN VERSION WITH COLDPLAY AND ELYANNA THEIR VOCALS OH MY GOD?? pic.twitter.com/wutZWzQpae  minaron (@godmitzu) April 16, 2025

Chris Martin mentions BTS

On the other hand, Coldplay never misses a chance to mention BTS. Since their collaboration on "My Universe" in 2021, the two groups have shared a close bond. At every show, Chris Martin makes it a point to acknowledge BTS and feature their hologram during the song's performance. Now in BTS' home country, Chris warmly called out each member by name, earning huge cheers from the crowd.

The crowd is vibing to "My Universe" live in South Korea for the first time ever, accompanied by #BTS holograms, during Coldplay's Seoul show today.pic.twitter.com/JBk9ivp781  Pop Core (@TheePopCore) April 16, 2025

Jin's 'The Astronaut' makes an appearance

During the concert, Chris Martin spotted a fan holding a sign that read: "The Astronaut - When I'm with you, I feel special. Always singing with you."

Chris smiled and responded, "That's 'The Astronaut' by Jin, I believe. Maybe we'll sing that tomorrow!"  sending BTS ARMY into a frenzy at the sweet acknowledgment and exciting possibility.

OMG CHRIS SAID WHAT!?? #JIN ON FRIDAY CONCERT !???



"That's the astronaut by Jin, I believe. MAYBE WE'LL SING THAT TOMORROW" 



pic.twitter.com/qU8pq32zRh  BTS Charts Daily (@btschartsdailyc) April 16, 2025

Special BTS shoutout

At every show, Chris Martin picks a fan from the crowd to join him on stage for a special Songbook performance. During this show, Chris mentioned the BTS members currently serving in the military and explained why he selected this one particular fan.

The fan's sign read: "I delayed my military to sing with you."

Chris Martin said, "I chose your sign because of all our brothers in BTS who are in the army right now."

Chris Martin mentions BTS on the army on why he chose the sign for tonight's Songbook! #ColdplaySeoul 1/6  pic.twitter.com/VwDtNOhx7o  Coldplay Access (@coldplayaccess) April 16, 2025

Coldplay's South Korea tour

This marks Coldplay's second visit to South Korea, following their debut concert on April 16, 2017, at Jamsil Stadium, Seoul, as part of their 'A Head Full of Dreams World Tour'. That night, they performed 23 songs, including hits from their seventh album.

For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
Elon Musk, the tech billionaire and Tesla owner, continues to drop big hints about its upcoming entry into the Indian market, with fresh job postings focused on building its charging infrastructure, a marketing strategy, and hiring experts to ensure a memorable EV delivery experience for customers in Delhi and Mumbai.

For Tesla, the charging infrastructure is among its key operations. The EV manufacturer's new vacancy for India is a signal for setting up a charging infrastructure in the country. This includes the discovery of new charging locations to serve current and future Tesla owners, and the charging options that are deployed on time and on schedule.

The car manufacturing giant is sealing agreements with property owners, governmental bodies, and other important partners.

Tesla's excellent charging developer, what's that?

Tesla's job opening is for an "excellent charging developer" who can autonomously drive the company's charging programs, including discovery of new charging locations, diligence, negotiations, overseeing deployment, and managing ongoing relationships.

The whole idea behind the openings is to develop and manage a pipeline of new charging site development opportunities that will serve future Tesla owners, the post mentions. The deployment strategy, selecting locations, and feasibility analyses will be carried out by Tesla for India, and negotiations will be done with property owners.

Tesla India has started testing the New Updated Model Y Juniper in India



Likely the first Tesla model to be launched here https://t.co/slz6g8HWGH pic.twitter.com/nm0jlO27ti  Tesla Club India (@TeslaClubIN) April 15, 2025





Other new Tesla jobs for India

The company is looking for a Consumer Engagement/Leads Generation Specialist to support the marketing organisation with multiple responsibilities, including content creation, lead generation, and retail marketing events in India.

Tesla also wants delivery advisors for its upcoming showrooms in Delhi and Mumbai.

Credit: X

In a statement, Tesla said, "Taking delivery of a Tesla is a milestone moment for customers, and the delivery advisor plays a crucial role in ensuring a seamless and engaging experience. The delivery advisor is responsible for coordinating delivery scheduling, customer education, and final documentation. This role ensures that customers receive all necessary information about their new vehicle, guiding them through the features and onboarding process from point of purchase to vehicle handover."

To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending.
Florence Pugh isnt afraid of heights. In fact, she loves them. So when her character Yelena Belova was scripted to jump off Merdeka 118a 2,200-foot skyscraper in Malaysia for Marvels Thunderboltsshe didnt want a stunt double to do it. She wanted to take the leap herself.

Marvel didn't want Florence Pugh to do her own stunts

At first, Marvel didnt want her doing the stunt. It was risky, too high, and too complicated. They said they dont think its going to happen, Pugh told Variety. Its a crazy insurance ordeal, and were not going to throw me off the second tallest building in the world.

Florence went to the Marvel boss after the refusal

Despite initial denial, she didn't give up. Pugh went straight to the top to fight for the stunt. She emailed Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige directly and asked to do the jump. She said she wanted the scene to be real and believed it would be a powerful moment for her character and the movie.

I was being a sassy Karen is emailing Kevin [Feige] and saying its going to do wonders for the press tour, she said. We have to do this! Were going to have three women break three different Guinness World Records, and well do this and this. I had to keep on pushing, and then theyre like, Okay, if you want to fall off the second tallest building, well figure it out for you. I dont mind heights. I quite like them and enjoy them, but that was a whole different ballgame and insane. The mental control I had to do that day was its own superpower.

She got the green light

After some convincing, the studio said yes. Okay, if you want to fall off the second tallest building, well figure it out for you, they told her.

Florence trained for it. Even though shes comfortable with heights, she said this stunt was on another level. The mental control I had to do that day was its own superpower, she said.

'Slept three hours after the jump': Florence Pugh

Jumping off the second tallest building in the world sounds terrifying to most people, but not to Florence Pugh. Nonetheless, she was proud of herself for managing to pull it off.

I do like jumping of high things, she said. Ive always jumped off high rocks into the sea. I dont mind heights. I quite like them and enjoy them, but that was a whole different ballgame, she noted. That was insane. The mental control I had to do that day was like, that was its own super power, but Im so proud that I did it. When I got home, I went into what I can only say is like a three-hour coma, she confirmed. Just deep, deep sleep. My brain just was obviously trying to focus and process everything.

Meanwhile, Thunderbolts, hitting theaters May 2, 2025, brings together Marvel anti-heroes like Yelena Belova (Pugh), Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko), and Red Guardian (David Harbour).

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
In a refreshingly candid moment on the latest episode of her podcast Confessions of a Female Founder, Meghan Markle opened up about a common parenting struggle  juggling a career while caring for sick children. Speaking with Reshma Saujani, founder of Girls Who Code, the Duchess of Sussex revealed that both of her children, Prince Archie who is 5 year-old and Princess Lilibet who is 3 year-old, were unwell at the time of recording.

My kids, for example, right now, one has RSV, the other has influenza A, Meghan shared. Theyre home from school. I hear a little pitter-patter of feet upstairs.

Meghan talks about struggle of being a working mom

Meghan detailed the exhausting reality of motherhood  including being up all night rubbing her childrens backs through coughs and restlessness. Despite the sleepless nights, she made it clear that shes committed to showing up both as a parent and a professional.

Just be honest in the journey of it, she said. And say, Yeah, today I'm gonna show up for you, but I'm showing up for you in my sweatshirt because I've been up all night with my babies.

She opened up about mothers guilt and multitasking

Both Meghan and Saujani reflected on how the pandemic redefined what it means to be a working mother. Meghan stressed the importance of flexibility and grace, especially when your children need you. Despite a packed schedule, Meghan said her favourite role is still mum. She admitted that winding down is difficult  even when Prince Harry urges her to take time for herself.

Meghan admitted Harry often nudges her to take a moment for herself  a bath, a workout  but she usually chooses cuddles with her kids instead. Its full-on, but its everything, she said with a smile.

Whats next for Meghan Markle?

In 2025, Meghan is focused on expanding her presence in media and lifestyle. She recently signed a new deal with Lemonada Media to launch her podcast, Confessions of a Female Founder, which spotlights women in business. Shes also preparing to debut As Ever, a lifestyle brand expected to include wellness, home, and personal care products.
Kanye West, now officially known as YE, is set to return to South Korea for his first solo concert in nearly a decade. But even before a single note has been played, controversy is already swirling  not over his music, but over his ticket prices.

Kanye Wests first solo show in nine years

The concert, titled Bully, will take place on May 31 at Incheons Munhak Stadium. It will feature the first live performance of his latest track, also called Bully following the earlier teaser version Bully V1. For many fans, the excitement is real  this is Kanyes first solo appearance since his 2016 tour.

According to ChosunBiz, standard tickets are priced at 165,000 to 176,000 won. Seated tickets range from 88,000 to 250,000 (5,45015,500) won depending on location. So far, the pricing aligns with major international acts. The issue lies in the premium VIP options.

VIP seats trigger online backlash

The most expensive option, the Vip Experience package, is priced at a steep 840,000 won (52,000 approx.) It includes a front-row P grade seat, official merchandise, and the opportunity to take a photo on the stage  after the concert, and notably, without Kanye present.

Fans were quick to react. One user commented, Youre paying nearly a million won to take a photo on an empty stage. Thats not a VIP experience, thats a scam. Another wrote, Id rather buy a flight abroad and watch someone who actually meets fans.

Not everyone is angry. A few fans defended the tiered pricing. The regular tickets arent badly priced, one user said. Youre not forced to buy VIP. Its an option. Still, others argue that the value of the premium packages simply doesnt add up.

Coupang Play, the concerts organizer, confirmed: None of the VIP packages involve interaction with the artist.

All about Kayne Wests Bully concert

Kanye West's Bully concert is a listening event for his most recent solo album. Bully, which he announced during a performance in Haikou, China, back in September 2024.The title of the album was inspired by an incident involving his son, Saint, who reportedly kicked another kid and called him weak which caused West to contemplate the idea of bullying/ The album is a concept album that reflects West's experiences living in Tokyo, and he is the only producer.

Interestingly, Bully features AI-generated vocals, which West defended by comparing it to the back-lash of using Auto-Tune in its early days. Beyond the new track BULLY, no official setlist has been released.

Kanye hasnt confirmed if the concert will include older hits, material from his Vultures album, or unreleased songs. And with no guests announced and no album tour backing the event, fans are going in with more questions than answers  and little clarity on what kind of show theyre paying for.

At this point, its less cant miss  and more wait and see.
It has been nearly 14 years since Ra.One tried to rewire Bollywood's sci-fi game, but thanks to Kareena Kapoor Khan and a meme-loving internet, the film is suddenly so 2025 again.

Kareena Kapoor Khans recent viral dance on Chammak Challo

Over the weekend, the ever-glam Kareena set Dubai on fire at a jewellery brands event when she broke into the iconic hook step of Chammak Challo. Dressed like a dream and moving like she had just stepped off the 2011 set, Bebos stage moment instantly went viral. Fans were living for her energy, her timeless glow, and of coursethe nostalgia hit that Chammak Challo always delivers.

so kareena just saved my day by dancing chammak challo  pic.twitter.com/wlDpYWsfOF  leticia (@itsmeletii) April 12, 2025

Netizens praise Kareena Kapoor Khans dance

She is ageing backwards, one fan gushed. Another declared, It is like she just filmed it yesterday. The internet, naturally, erupted with love. But then, plot twist, the meme brigade stepped in.

But wait is it Kareena Kapoor or Arjun Rampal?

While everyone was busy fangirling over Kareenas moves, OG Ra.One fans were likeWait a minute. Technically, wasnt that Arjun Rampal dancing in the movie? Yes, you read that right. In the film, it is not actually Kareenas character doing the moves during Chammak Challo, but Ra.Oneaka Arjun Rampaldisguised as her.

Arjun Rampal dancing on Chammak Challo song

And just like that, the Arjun Rampal Chammak Challo meme came roaring back from the depths of Bollywood Twitter. 15 years later and Arjun Rampals dance moves still slay, one user joked. Another tweeted, Never forget: Arjun Rampal was the real Chammak Challo.

If you are a Gen Zer wondering what the hell is going on, here is the tea. Ra.One, directed by Anubhav Sinha, was Indias big-budget answer to Hollywoods superhero craze. With Shah Rukh Khan playing the heroic G.One and Arjun Rampal as the shape-shifting villain Ra.One, the movie threw in everythingfrom visual effects to dance bangers. And while the film itself had a mixed reception, the Chammak Challo track (featuring vocals by Akon, no less) was a cultural moment.

Fast forward to 2025, and Kareenas impromptu stage performance reignited the meme-worthy trivia that lives rent-free in fans heads.

Meanwhile, Kareena, who was last seen in Singham Again alongside a galaxy of stars, remains Bollywoods evergreen queenand possibly the only person who can unintentionally revive both a viral song and a meme in under 30 seconds.
One of the world's finest rare blue diamonds, known as The Golconda Blue, is about to make headlines as it goes under the hammer for the first time at a Christie auction. Scheduled for sale on May 14, 2025, at Christies Magnificent Jewels auction in Geneva, this breathtaking gem is more than just valuableit's a piece of India's royal history.

According to Christie's, this rare blue diamond is expected to sell for between $35 million and $50 million (roughly Rs 300 crore to Rs 430 crore), making it one of the highest-valued gems in this year's blue diamond auction.

An Iconic Gem from the Famous Golconda Mines

The name Golconda Blue comes from the legendary Golconda region in present-day Telangana, India. This area is known worldwide for producing some of the most iconic diamonds in history, including the Koh-i-Noor, Hope Diamond, and Darya-i-Noor. These mines were celebrated not just for their size and output, but for the outstanding purity and sparkle of their diamonds.

Unlike most modern diamonds, which are Type IIb (pure carbon with traces of nitrogen), Golconda Blue diamonds stand out for their clarity, brilliance, and deep colour.

From Indian Royalty to Global Spotlight

Rahul Kadakia, Christies International Head of Jewelry, shows the Golconda Blue diamond | Credit: Reuters

This 23.24-carat pear-shaped rare blue diamond has deep royal roots. It once belonged to Yeshwant Rao Holkar, the Maharaja of Indore, a prominent figure of Indian royalty during the 1920s and 30s. Known for his refined taste and love for fine art and luxury, the Maharaja had strong ties with European jewellers and designers.

In 1923, during a visit to the Parisian jeweller Chaumet, the Maharaja commissioned a diamond bracelet featuring this stunning 23-carat Golconda Blue diamond. Later, in 1933, he worked with famed jeweller Mauboussin, who redesigned many pieces in the royal collection. The Golconda Blue was included in a lavish necklace, famously worn by the Maharani of Indore and captured in a painting by Bernard Boutet de Monvel.

Passed Through the Hands of Iconic Jewellers

Over the years, the Golconda Blue diamond changed hands among legendary jewellers. In 1946, renowned diamond dealer Harry Winston purchased the Indore Pears, followed by this exceptional 23-carat blue diamond in 1947. Winston set it into a brooch paired with a white diamond of similar size and later sold it to the Maharaja of Baroda.

The jewel was eventually reacquired by Winston and transformed into a new piece, later bought by its current owner. Now, more than a century since it first dazzled royal courts, the Golconda Blue returns to the limelightthis time, as a sleek ring designed by acclaimed Parisian jeweller JAR.

One of the Rarest Blue Diamonds in the World

A hand model displays the Golconda Blue diamond, which Christie's is calling the largest fancy vivid blue diamond to be offered at auction, in New York City | Credit: Reuters

Rahul Kadakia, International Head of Jewellery at Christies, called the Golconda Blue one of the most extraordinary Golconda Blue diamonds ever offered at auction. He noted, With its royal lineage, striking blue hue, and impressive size, this is a once-in-a-lifetime gem.

Christies has a rich legacy of auctioning notable Golconda diamonds, including the Archduke Joseph, the Princie, and the Wittelsbach diamonds. This upcoming Christie auction continues that tradition, offering collectors and enthusiasts a chance to own a truly remarkable piece of history.

The Glorious Past of Golconda Diamonds

The heritage of Golconda diamonds stretches back thousands of years. Ancient Indian texts mention diamonds as early as the 4th century. In 327 BC, Alexander the Great carried diamonds from India to Europe, and by 1292 AD, the famous explorer Marco Polo wrote about the sparkle and charm of Indian diamonds.

Today, the Golconda Blue connects centuries of history with modern luxury, making it a perfect blend of natural wonder and royal heritage. This rare blue diamond is not only a treasure of the past but also a showstopper in todays world of luxury auctions.

For the latest and more interesting financial news, keep reading Indiatimes Worth. Click here.
More than 6 million trips have been recorded on the Thessaloniki Metro in its first four months of operation, according to Greek transport officials.

The increased use of public transit has contributed to an estimated reduction of 12,000 to 15,000 vehicles in the city center daily.

The update was shared during an extended session

of the Thessaloniki Transport Coordination Council, led by Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Christos Dimas and Deputy Interior Minister (Macedonia-Thrace) Kostas Gioulekas.

Mr. Dimas emphasized that the metro has already improved urban mobility and commuter satisfaction. He also noted the systems positive impact on the city's traffic and announced that five new stations will be added with the extension to Kalamaria by February 2026.

Meanwhile, work is accelerating on Thessalonikis new elevated highway, known as the flyover.

The project is expected to be completed in just over two years. A second oversized steel moldused in the construction of the elevated roadis scheduled to arrive in the city this summer. Once assembled, it will begin operation in September, allowing construction to proceed at a faster pace.

Mr. Dimas said the government has reached agreements with contractors to bring in this second mold to support the accelerated schedule.

The goal is for the flyover to significantly relieve traffic congestion in the citys peripheral road network, he said.

Traffic safety upgrades are also underway. In the coming months, new traffic monitoring cameras will be installed throughout Thessaloniki to record violations and improve road safety.

Deputy Infrastructure Minister Nikos Tachiaos described the metro expansion as a "difficult exercise" due to the complexity of multiple contracts but affirmed that the February 2026 completion target remains in place.

Mr. Gioulekas praised the Thessaloniki Coordination Councils progress, stating it has worked effectively because all stakeholders are at the same table, discussing problems and proposing solutions.

Other officials present at the meeting included Central Macedonia Regional Governor Athina Aidona, several local mayors, business and transport leaders, and representatives from agencies including OASTH, OSETH, Egnatia Odos, and Thessaloniki Police and Fire Services.

The meeting also highlighted recent road changes that have eased traffic bottlenecks, including the removal of the bike lane on Nikis Avenue and the installation of flexible posts on Mitropoleos Street.

Mr. Dimas concluded by stressing the governments commitment to maintaining close oversight of these major infrastructure projects, stating that near-daily project management meetings with Mr. Tachiaos are planned to ensure timely completion.

   iefimerida.gr
Speaking on Parapolitika radio (90.1 FM) during the Ekini ki Ego program with journalists Thanassis Fouskidis and Stella Gadona, Voridis declared that the return of individuals who are not entitled to remain in Greece is a fundamental pillar of national migration policy. Greece is not a country of uncontrollable entry and stay, he stated.

 
Tsipras delivered three seminars on subjects ranging from Greeces debt crisis and its recovery path, to geopolitical developments in the Balkans and Eastern Mediterranean, to historical and modern perspectives on monetary unions.

In a reflective account following his final lecture at Harvard University, former Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras

offered on Tuesday an overview of his recent academic residency, a three-week fellowship at the Center for European Studies. During his time at Harvard Tsipras participated in a series of seminars, high-level discussions, and visits to leading research institutions, engaging with both academic and political figures on key global challenges.

Tsipras delivered three seminars on subjects ranging from Greeces debt crisis and its recovery path, to geopolitical developments in the Balkans and Eastern Mediterranean, to historical and modern perspectives on monetary unions. These lectures were hosted across Harvards Kennedy School and the Center for European Studies, drawing attention to Greeces regional role, its diplomatic efforts under his leadershipsuch as the Prespa Agreementand the parallels between ancient economic alliances and todays Eurozone.

Among the notable individuals Tsipras met were former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, former U.S. National Security Council advisor Fiona Hill, and Harvard scholar Shoshana Zuboff, with whom he discussed the implications of surveillance capitalism and the urgent need for democratic regulation in the digital age. He also visited major MIT research labs, including the Sea Grant Lab, the Nuclear Reactor Lab, and the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, engaging with directors and researchers on topics ranging from ocean engineering to artificial intelligence.

Tsipras also connected with the Greek academic diaspora in Boston, attending a dinner hosted by chemical engineering professor Gregory Stephanopoulos and discussing ways to strengthen the ties between Greek researchers abroad and scientific development in Greece. He highlighted the importance of not just facilitating the return of scientists to Greece, but building lasting networks between them and domestic academic institutions and startups.

His stay coincided with mounting political tensions in the U.S., including a high-profile standoff between the federal government and Harvard over funding. Tsipras joined demonstrators in Boston, expressing solidarity with those opposing political interference in academia.

Reflecting on his experience, Tsipras noted the privilege of being immersed in a vibrant intellectual environment at a time of global uncertainty. As he put it, "In a world undergoing rapid and dramatic change, it is more urgent than ever to offer a progressive compass to confront the challenges ahead and build a better future."

#ENGLISH_EDITION
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has taken a swipe at the All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring that the 2027 general election will no longer be a regular contest between political parties but a direct face-off between Nigerians and the ruling party.

In an interview on Tuesday, Makinde stated that citizens are fed up with the current administration and will make their voices heard at the ballot box.

The 2027 election wont be PDP versus APC; it would be Nigerians versus APC. Mark my word on that, he said.

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He attributed the growing frustration to the APCs handling of the economy, worsening insecurity, and perceived failure to address the needs of ordinary Nigerians.

According to him, the coming election would serve as a referendum on the Tinubu-led government.

Makinde also addressed what he described as strategic missteps by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the last presidential election.

He said the decision to hand over the partys three most influential positions presidential candidate, national chairman, and campaign director general to individuals from the northern region had severe consequences.

The Oyo governor insisted that such imbalance alienated the southern electorate and weakened the partys ability to mount a strong nationwide campaign.

Reflecting on the past, he added that the PDP ticket could have been more competitive if Atiku Abubakar had selected Nyesom Wike, then Governor of Rivers State, as his running mate.

Makinde maintained that the PDP is still the only viable alternative for the masses and vowed that lessons learned from 2023 would guide the partys strategy going forward.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has taken a swipe at governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over their opposition to a proposed coalition aimed at unseating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.

Atiku, who is spearheading the formation of a broad-based opposition alliance, condemned the governors stance, describing it as counterproductive and a betrayal of democratic principles.

The PDP Governors Forum had, during its meeting on April 14, rejected the coalition initiative, insisting on strengthening the party from within rather than aligning with other political forces.

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In a statement issued by coalition spokesperson Salihu Moh Lukman on Wednesday, the group expressed concern over the governors posture, warning that their actions could sabotage efforts to rescue Nigerias democracy.

The coalition is a viable option not only for defeating the All Progressives Congress, APC, and President Tinubu but also for rescuing Nigerias democracy from imminent collapse.

The coalition accused the PDP of losing its way after being out of power for over a decade, stating that the party had failed to evolve into a strong opposition capable of challenging the ruling party.

It claimed the PDP had become too compromised to offer Nigerians a credible alternative.

It also alleged that the influence of certain PDP leaders in President Tinubus administration was part of a larger scheme to ensure the party remains fragmented.

The group reaffirmed its intention to push forward with the coalition plan, urging well-meaning Nigerians and political actors to unite and build a formidable front capable of providing real change in 2027.
The Nigerian Navys Forward Operation Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State, has dismantled eight illegal bunkering sites in the area.

The military described the development as a significant breakthrough in the fight against maritime crime in the riverine areas of Ondo State.

Addressing journalists on Tuesday in Igbokoda, the Commanding Officer of the base, Navy Captain Aliyu Usman, stated that the illegal bunkering site was located at the Obe-Akinboye seaside community in Ilaje Local Government Area.

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READ MORE: EFCC Nabs 17 Suspected Internet Fraudsters In Akwa Ibom

He stated that Navy personnel dismantled the site at approximately 3am on Tuesday.

He said, The discovery was made possible through a robust intelligence network and the vigilance of naval personnel in their fight against maritime crime, illegality, and economic sabotage within their Area of Operation.

Once the intelligence was received about the illegal refining camps, the bases Quick Response Team stationed at a nearby Naval Security Outpost was immediately mobilised to conduct the raid.

He also disclosed that the perpetrators fled the area upon spotting the Naval team, leaving the illegal sites behind.

Upon inspection, the team uncovered eight illegal refining camps containing several storage tanks and reservoirs filled with an estimated 50,000 litres of stolen crude oil.

 In addition, the camps were equipped with crude oil theft-related equipment, including three wooden boats used to convey the stolen products, pumping machines, and discharge pipes.

The eight illegal refining sites and associated items were handled in accordance with extant directives from Defence Headquarters, the naval boss stated.

Captain Usman cautioned criminals and economic saboteurs in the maritime domain to halt their activities, emphasising that the Navy would uphold a zero-tolerance policy towards maritime crime and crude oil theft.

He further explained that the operation was in line with the directive of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, for naval bases to safeguard the nations waters and actively target those exploiting Nigerias maritime resources.
Osun State has attracted a major financial commitment from the United Kingdom as Governor Ademola Adeleke secured a $100 million investment deal during a recent economic mission abroad.

The agreement, signed with British investors, marks a significant milestone in the states effort to boost development across multiple sectors.

According to a statement issued by Adelekes spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, and made available to journalists on Wednesday in Osogbo, the Memorandum of Understanding was signed in the presence of the UK Prime Ministers Trade Envoy, Hon Florence Eshalomi.

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The funds are earmarked for strategic sectors such as agriculture, water resources, tourism, and the development of a free trade zone.

The investment campaign also paved the way for a cultural tourism agreement with the British Museum, aimed at preserving and promoting Osuns heritage.

Osuns cultural artifacts, particularly those tied to Ile Ife, are set to benefit from digitization efforts to foster global visibility.

Contrary to the fake news and doctored video from members of the opposition, the state governor successfully and flawlessly addressed four major high-profile meetings, which include the landmark trade meeting in the House of Commons; the address at the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce trade mission; the cultural tourism engagement at the British Museum; and the investment briefing with a select group of investors.

In the end, a total of $100 million investment deals were made with a group of investors who attended the signing of the investment facilitation MOU in the presence of UK Prime Ministers trade envoy, Hon Florence Eshalomi. The investment areas include agriculture, water, tourism and free trade zones.

In addition, a collaborative partnership between the Osun State Chamber of Commerce and its British counterpart has been formed to ensure continuous business engagement and knowledge exchange. Governor Adeleke also held sessions with Osun indigenes in the UK, engaging them in discussions about governance back home.
Operatives of Katsina State Police Command have arrested two suspected car thieves identified as Adamu Hashim and Mubarak Kabir and rejected one million naira bribe offered to them by the suspects.

In a statement by the Command Spokesman, Abubakar Sadiq, on Wednesday, disclosed that security agents also recovered a suspected stolen vehicle, three mobile phones, one power bank and a bunch of keys from the arrested individuals.

Sadiq said: On April 11th, 2025, at about 1500 hrs, while on a routine patrol along Birnin Kuka village, Mashi LGA, Katsina State, officers attached to attached to Border Patrol Zone 4, Katsina, flagged down a Toyota Corolla LE, green colour, driven by one Mubarak Kabir, m, age 26, and Adamu Hashim, m, age 27, all of Kurna quarters, Fagge LGA, Kano State.

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READ MORE: Katsina Police Apprehend Two Suspected Killers Of 12-Year-Old Boy

During the preliminary investigation, it was revealed that the said vehicle was reportedly stolen from FCT Abuja.

The suspects then offered a bribe of one million naira (1,000,000) in cash to the patrol team with a view to evading justice, which the officers sternly rejected. Suspects are in custody.

Furthermore, the suspected stolen motor vehicle, a cash sum of 1,000,000, three mobile phones, one power bank and a bunch of keys were recovered from the suspects as exhibits.

Investigations are ongoing to unravel the extent of the suspects involvement in criminal activities. Further developments will be communicated as the investigation proceeds.
Nigerian rapper Mi Abaga has expressed his deep sorrow over the tragic loss of innocent lives in Zike Village, Bassa, Plateau State.

The attack on Sunday night left several people deadyoung and old alikeintensifying the grief in a state still mourning the earlier tragedy in Bokkos.

Mi Abaga, who is from Plateau State, shared a heartfelt message on his Instagram page on Wednesday, extending his condolences to the families affected by the horrific event.

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READ MORE: APC Supporters Curse My Family, But Now Claim To Be The Victims  Mr Macaroni

He also showed support for Governor Caleb Mutfwang and all the people of Plateau State.

His post read: Sunday night brought another heartbreak to us in Zikwe Village, Bassa. Innocent lives men, women, children taken too soon, even as we still mourn Bokkos. Yet, Plateau stands. My heart is with the families, with His Excellency Governor Caleb Mutfwang, and with every Plateau son and daughter grieving today.

Out of respect for the lives lost, Mi Abaga announced the cancellation of his planned pop-up performance, acknowledging the need for silence and solidarity in such difficult times.

He added, In honor of those we lost, Im cancelling todays pop-up performance. Some moments call for silence and solidarity.

The rappers decision to cancel his event further underscores his connection to the Plateau community and his support for those affected by the devastating attack.

SEE POST:
Plateau State Governor, Caleb Muftwang has announced a ban on night grazing and restricted the use of motorcycles across the state following incessant attacks.

Recall that INFORMATION NIGERIA had reported that 51 people were killed after gunmen invaded Kimakpa village, Miango district, in Bassa Local Government on Monday.

The attack came barely two weeks after gunmen killed many residents in five communities in Bokkos and Mangu LGAs.

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Speaking in a statewide broadcast on Wednesday, the Governor also prohibited the transportation of cattle by vehicles after 7pm.

READ MORE: Weve Failed You, Please Forgive Us  Gov Muftwang Begs Plateau Communities Over Attacks On Villagers

Mutfwang said that the directives take immediate effect, with the restriction on motorcycle use in place from 7pm to 6am across the state until further notice.

He said: The tragic echoes of Dogo Na Hawa, Riyom, Barkin-Ladi, Mangu, and the Christmas Eve massacres in Bokkos remain vivid. The cycle continues, but it must not endure. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

As your governor, I stand resolved  Plateau shall not be overrun by fear, nor shall we accept this culture of bloodshed as the new normal.

My administration is intensifying efforts to protect our people and enforce the rule of law across all local governments.

I hereby announce the following measures, effective Wednesday, April 16: Night grazing of cattle is strictly prohibited; transportation of cattle by vehicle is banned after 7pm.

The use of motorcycles is restricted from 7pm to 6am across the state until further notice.
Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has issued a stern warning to politicians against actions that could destabilize Nigeria, particularly the alleged use of mercenaries to incite violence.

Speaking in a meeting with the President of the Northern Youth Association of Nigeria on Tuesday, Godiya Bogoro, and other youth leaders from the North, the Governor stressed the importance of national unity and peaceful co-existence.

Okpebholo emphasised that politicians should refrain from manipulating the youth for political gains, especially as the 2027 general elections approach.

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He urged Nigerian youths not to be used as pawns in political machinations that could harm the countrys peace and progress.

The Governor stated, Politics is around the corner, and crises have started again.

People cannot continue to use the youth as instruments of destruction for their own selfish gains.

He further said, We should know as youths that tomorrow belongs to us, and we should not allow ourselves to be used to destroy it.

He also highlighted the dangers posed by external actors who have previously attempted to fuel conflict within the country.

Drawing attention to the situation in Uromi, where violence had erupted, Okpebholo condemned the actions of those behind the unrest and called on Nigerians to unite against such destabilizing forces.

These people want to kill, destroy the nation, and we as youths should say no to their plans. We should stand firm against it. Say no to such moves because the country belongs to us as a people.

In his remarks, Godiya Bogoro expressed his support for the Governors efforts in promoting peace and resolving conflicts.

He commended Okpebholos quick response to the Uromi crisis and stressed the need for collaborative efforts to ensure lasting peace in the region.

We commend your administrations prompt response and commitment to ensure peace and stability in Edo State, he added.

Okpebholos message resonates as a call for all Nigerians to protect the nation from forces that seek to divide and destroy it.
A yet to be ascertained numbers of residents have been killed in an attack by gunmen, suspected to be headsmen in Otobi community, Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.

It was gathered that the horrible incident which occurred on 15th of April, 2025, left many houses destroyed, while some villagers ran for safety.

Speaking with PUNCH on Tuesday, a resident of Otobi Community, Edwin Emma, said that the renewed attack left many persons dead.

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He said: We are being attacked by herdsmen at Otobi community; my wife and children are fleeing from the community as I speak, please call for help.

READ MORE: Benue: Three Killed In Suspected Herders Attack

Also confirming the horrible attack, the lawmaker representing Otukpo-Akpa in the Benue State House of Assembly, Kennedy Angbo, said that the incident started around 5:30 pm on Tuesday.

Mr. Kennedy said: Right now, many people are feared killed, and hundreds of people have fled the community.
The Nasarawa State Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps has arrested a wheelbarrow pusher, Alfa Ali, in Lafia Local Government Area for allegedly stabbing his colleague, Hayyatu Ibrahim, to death following a disagreement over a business deal.

Two days before the tragic incident, Ali, a 20-year-old worker at Angwan Maina Park in the LGA, reportedly clashed with his colleague over who should offload goods that had just arrived in Lafia from Jos, Plateau State.

ASC Muhammed Suraju, the commands Deputy Public Relations Officer, made the disclosure on Tuesday in Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa State, while parading five criminals detained for various crimes in the state.

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READ MORE: Driver Nabbed While Dumping Refuse On Lagos Expressway

He said the suspect used a horn to stab the victim, who was rushed to the hospital for treatment but was sadly confirmed dead on arrival.

He said, On April 10, 2025, at about 2:00 pm, our men on patrol within the Lafia metropolis apprehended one Alfa Ali, age 20, who allegedly stabbed his colleague, Hayyatu Ibrahim, to death with a horn. He was about taking to his hill when he was arrested.

When Hayyatu was rushed to the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Lafia, he was confirmed dead.

The suspect, Alfa Ali and the deceased, Hayyatu Ibrahim, according to our investigation, all hailed from Jigawa State, and they are wheelbarrow pushers.

They had a misunderstanding two (2) days before the day of the incident on who should pick the goods brought by a vehicle from Jos at Angwan Maina Park here in Lafia to a particular destination.

The case lingered in Alfa Alis unforgiven heart until he finally achieved his nefarious aim by sending the deceased, Hayyatu Ibrahim to his early grave.

The states Deputy NSCDC spokesperson revealed that Ali has admitted to killing his colleague, adding that the Commandant, Muhammed Kabir Ingawa, has ordered that the suspect be taken to court for prosecution once the investigation is completed.

ASC Suraju took the opportunity to caution residents of the state to be mindful of the friends, neighbours, and colleagues they associate with, to avoid premature death or becoming entangled in any form of danger.
When the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts announced the end of its college degrees, it promised the return of the rigorous certificate program that had turned out some of the nations most renowned artists.

Now, more than a year later, PAFA has fleshed out the details of its revived certificate, and the program is markedly different from the one that once formed the backbone of the schools highly regarded artistic tradition.

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Students in the new studio residency certificate program will attend PAFA for one or two years, instead of the four years typical of the certificate programs former incarnation. Rather than following a prescribed path, each student will work with PAFA to plot out a more bespoke curriculum.

Sonia BasSheva Manjon, PAFAs chief academic officer, says that although she expects the new program to draw interest from recent high school students, our market is really focused on artists and creatives who want to hone their practices and occupy their own studio space.

Academics is a business, Manjon said. PAFA conducted a study of certificate programs around the country, she said, and what we learned is that having 30-credit units or one-year certificate programs, as opposed to three- to four-year certificate programs, are more in line with what the market can bear, both for cost and for time commitment. And so that really helped us to solidify that were going in the right direction.

Not everyone is so sure.

The old certificate, which was dropped in 2017, was a four-year intense program where each year you faced new challenges, and the knowledge and skills to which you were introduced could be used in new, sometimes unexpected ways, said artist Bill Scott, who graduated from PAFAs certificate program in 1978. It was truly an academy.

The new program, to Scott, feels more like a workshop or seminar or a continuing education program. Nothing more.

Others say PAFAs change in its educational programs is a smart response to forces buffeting art schools specifically and higher education in general.

They could have easily just closed their doors and said forget it, and it sounds like they did their due diligence to leverage the academic assets they had in place alongside the museum and other physical infrastructure, said Kathryn Heidemann, president and CEO of the Cleveland Institute of Art.

PAFA is an incredible force to the city of Philadelphia, and art schools are one of those things where if they go away, you really do feel that its palpable in that community.

The citys arts community learned what such a loss feels like when, last June the University of the Arts suddenly closed its doors. The roots of that school went back nearly 150 years.

The new menu of educational options at PAFA is meant to capitalize on the schools traditions and synergy with its museums three centuries of American art, while solving the financial crisis that led the school to end its college degree programs.

Founded in 1805, PAFA is the oldest art school and museum in the country, with a list of alumni that includes figures as diverse as painter Mary Cassatt and filmmaker David Lynch. But faced with a string of deficits, PAFA announced in January 2024 that it would teach out current college students, and then end its college degree-granting program. The MFA program began in 1993 and the BFA program in 2008. PAFA will graduate its last college students in May.

To bring in new revenue, leaders said they would attempt to rent space and art-making equipment in the Hamilton building, thus creating an arts hub, and launch an effort to sell the naming rights to its historic Furness & Hewitt-designed building.

The school is relatively small, like Philadelphias Curtis Institute of Music. But unlike Curtis, whose large endowment has helped it to remain tuition-free, PAFAs modest endowment has it relying heavily on tuition revenue.

We cant just keep running deficits year after year and dipping into the endowment. That cant work, said Eric G. Pryor, president and CEO last year. Pryor has since left and PAFA has been operating with a three-person management team  which includes Manjon  since his departure at the end of 2024.

The schools new educational offerings are:

A foundation certificate  a very rigorous introduction to art fundamentals, Manjon says, aimed at high school graduates and gap-year students considering a fine arts education. A one- or two-year studio residency certificate for early-career and emerging artists, with areas of concentration in painting, sculpture, printmaking, and digital media. A postbaccalaureate, one-year graduate-level bridge program to graduate school or professional life.

PAFA will also continue a bachelor of fine arts program with the University of Pennsylvania, which has existed for decades and allows students to take courses at both schools.

 READ MORE: PAFA is deciding what goes into a new permanent collection exhibition. What would you choose?

Manjon says operating costs to the institution will be lower than for the college-degree program, and the number of faculty will be reduced. In January 2024, PAFA had 21 full-time and 21 part-time faculty members. Its not yet known how many faculty members will be tapped to teach this fall.

Student enrollment has dropped in recent years  from 270 students in 2019 to 126 in 2023. This fall, if I get 45 students in here the first year Ill be happy, Manjon said. I think we can do that. And then you just grow from there.

Scholarships will be available, she said, and the school was still finalizing how financial aid will be available, whether that will be through FAFSA or whether we can provide the necessary aid directly from PAFA.

She is encouraged by the interest so far.

Weve only started talking about the launching of this and we have 80 inquiries already. Im an artist, Im an educator, and so I believe that Lets give the market what it wants, how it wants it.

Bruce Samuelson, who attended PAFA and has taught there since 1969, said the new certificate program has the potential to continue the schools role in providing a serious education in art, but much depends on the faculty and how other details play out.

Its really an unknown right now, he said.

Heidemann, of the Cleveland Institute of Art, said that while its disappointing to hear about the factors that led to this decision, she applauds PAFAs efforts at leveraging the assets that they still have with the museum and finding a way to maintain relevance in the marketplace.

Samuelson is willing to wait and see.

At least its something, he said. Theyre making an effort to keep that school operating after all these years.
Rite Aid owes $6.8 million to a company that placed ads encouraging customers to get their COVID and flu shots at the drugstore, according to a lawsuit filed in April. A Rite Aid at 7401 Ogontz Ave. is shown in this 2021 file photo. Read more

While in bankruptcy, Rite Aid signed on for a $10.3 million digital advertising campaign, encouraging customers to get their flu and COVID shots at the pharmacy. A year later, the beleaguered Philly-based chain has emerged from bankruptcy but still owes $6.8 million to the company that placed the vaccine ads, according to a new lawsuit.

The New York-based company Evergreen Trading filed the suit Friday in the U.S. District Court in Philadelphia, saying in documents that it upheld its end of the agreement by placing TV ads for Rite Aid in markets from Baltimore to Seattle.

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Rite Aid, meanwhile, breached its contractual obligations, wrote Evergreens attorneys at Duane Morris, and didnt respond to repeated requests for payment. As recently as last month, the company sent letters to Rite Aid that went unanswered, according to court documents. Evergreen is asking that Rite Aid be ordered to pay the outstanding $6.8 million, plus interest and court fees.

A Rite Aid spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The lawsuit marks the latest blow for Rite Aid, which in 2022 moved its home base from the Harrisburg suburb of Camp Hill to a remote headquarters at Phillys Navy Yard. In recent years, the pharmacy chain has closed more than 1,100 stores nationwide, including more than 70 in the Philadelphia region.

Rite Aid filed for bankruptcy in October 2023, listing $8.6 billion in debts and $7.6 billion in assets.

In September, the company emerged from bankruptcy having slashed about $2 billion in debt. Rite Aid also now operates as a private company, meaning it does not have to publicly disclose financial information.

At some Philadelphia-area stores, the financial restructuring has not improved the customer experience.

 READ MORE: Some Rite Aid shelves remain bare even post-bankruptcy. Experts explain why that may be.

Consumers across the region have reported bare shelves. On the Main Line last month, the Wynnewood stores inventory remained at least as low as it was in December. Even drugstore staples like pain relievers and cold medicines were in short supply.

Rite Aid said in a statement last month that it was committed to addressing these issues.

Our top priority is nurturing the health and championing the well-being of our customers and the communities we serve, spokesperson Alicja Wojczyk said at the time. Rite Aid continues to fill prescriptions and provide immunizations as normal.

Citing anonymous sources, the Wall Street Journal reported earlier this month that Rite Aid executives were mulling a second bankruptcy, or the sale of all or part of its business.
Visitors enter the new IRS building, formerly the 30th Street Post Office, in 2011. Philadelphia IRS employees are among those affected by changes in Treasury Department workplace policies. Read more

As millions of Americans faced a tax filing deadline on Tuesday, IRS employees at the Philadelphia office and beyond faced other deadlines of their own.

Monday was the last day for IRS workers to upload their resumes, so agency leaders could determine their qualifications, which they were instructed to do earlier this month as part of a planned reduction in their workforce.

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Workers also had through Monday to apply for a deferred resignation program  the latest of its kind this year  allowing them to resign and continue getting paid for several months. It was just one of three separation options offered to IRS workers this month as they await the impact of federal workforce reductions.

Amid these deadlines, some IRS workers also saw a slight bump in their most recent paycheck, but it wasnt a raise. Their union dues werent deducted, said Alex Jay Berman, executive vice president of National Treasury Employees Union Chapter 71. His union chapter represents IRS workers at the 30th and Market Street location in Philadelphia.

Meanwhile, roughly 400 probationary workers were set to return to the IRS office in Philadelphia on Monday after being laid off earlier this year. But now its unclear when they will come back to work, said Berman, as some were told late last week that they would remain on administrative leave.

IRS employees with compressed schedules (four 10-hour days a week) could also see that option end in May, said Berman.

A spokesperson for the Treasury Department, asked about these issues, cited efficiency efforts.

Staffing reductions that are currently being considered at the IRS will be part of  and driven by  process improvements and technological innovations that will allow the IRS to collect revenue and serve taxpayers more effectively," a Treasury spokesperson said via email. The roll back of wasteful Biden-era hiring surges, and consolidation of critical support functions are vital to improve both efficiency and quality of service.

Amid these changes, Berman said, some local members are asking, How will I survive through 2025 into 2026 and all the years coming?

People are trying to make contingency plans when there is no information available for them to properly plan for the rest of their lives, for their retirements  be they early retirements, be they forced retirements  for their resignations, for their being summarily dismissed, he said.

IRS workers are feeling existential dread, he said, because their existence as productive workers, the productive workers theyve always been, is threatened.

Are probationary employees coming back to work?

Roughly 400 probationary employees were laid off at the Philadelphia IRS office earlier this year, amid a wave of layoffs across the government, targeting people who had been in their position for less than a year. Those firings have been debated in court, with workers left in limbo.

The laid-off IRS employees in Philadelphia were reinstated, given back pay, and placed on administrative leave, noted Berman. They were expected to return to the office on Monday, but late last week, probationary workers were told via email that they would remain on administrative leave, said Berman.

Do IRS workers have a union?

President Donald Trump signed an executive order last month to end union representation for thousands of federal workers. The National Treasury Employees Union is suing over the change and other labor unions are also taking legal action.

Berman says the union heard from members in recent days that their latest paycheck showed no union dues deduction.

This is another arrow fired at the union and at employees to deny them representation, he said.

According to Politico, the Department of Veterans Affairs plans to stop collecting union dues April 25, and the Department of Defense has already done so.

Philip Glover, national vice president for the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) District 3, confirmed on Tuesday that the Department of Defense has stopped collecting some dues, and he has heard the VA as well as the Bureau of Prisons is also shutting down collection. AFGE District 3 represents roughly 9,400 federal workers in and near Philadelphia. The union has begun transitioning members to an internal dues system, said Glover.

Depending on the outcome of the unions lawsuit, NTEU may have to find a way to collect dues directly from members going forward, said Berman, who noted that dues are in part used to pay for lawyers.

No more four-day workweek for some IRS employees

The IRS is planning to modify some workers schedules, according to an email from the agency that was viewed by The Inquirer. Starting on May 3, working a compressed schedule will no longer be allowed, with some exceptions, according to the email. Those who now do so have to pick a new schedule by April 28.

The compressed work schedule provides greater work-life balance for employees, said Berman, and allows him to schedule doctors appointments on the days of the week he doesnt work.

IRS Acting Commissioner Melanie Krause, in a memo announcing the change, said many IRS employees have a work schedule with Monday or Friday off, and that hinders the completion of our mission-critical work.

Voluntary separations and retirements

Some IRS workers werent fired, but were shown the door.

Eligible employees can choose to be placed on paid administrative leave through Sept. 30, according to emails from the agency and the Department of the Treasury viewed by The Inquirer. Workers had from April 7 through April 14 to apply, and could start their leave as early as April 28.

One email also said they could apply for early retirement or a voluntary separation program.

They are basically pushing good people through fear to take that resignation or to take early retirement  because theyre saying we cant guarantee your jobs wont be RIFed Berman said, using as a verb the term thats become quite familiar this year: reduction in force.
Philadelphia police tow truck removing an SUV from the scene of a Center City shooting near 17th and Chestnut St. on Wednesday. Read more

A 77-year-old Uber driver was shot and killed as he was picking up a passenger in Center City early Wednesday in what police believe was a targeted ambush.

Just before 2 a.m., police responded to the area of 18th and Sansom Streets, outside the Byblos restaurant and hookah lounge, and found two men who had been shot near a black Chevy Suburban that had crashed, said Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Vanore.

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The driver, whom police did not identify, had been shot in the head and was pronounced dead at the scene, Vanore said.

The passenger, a 22-year-old man whom police did not identify, had been shot in an arm, the stomach, and the chest, Vanore said, and was taken to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, where he was in critical condition.

A spokesperson for Uber said in an emailed statement: Our hearts break for the drivers family and loved ones in the wake of this devastating loss. Weve reached out to police to offer our support as they work to bring those responsible for this heinous act of violence to justice.

Investigators reviewed surveillance footage and saw two men, both wearing dark clothing, walk toward the passenger as he was picked up by the driver outside the lounge and begin to open fire, police said.

As the shooting began, they said, the passenger jumped into the back of the SUV as the driver tried to pull away.

The gunmen then got into what police believe was a Jeep SUV and fled.

Police have released no motive for the crime, but Vanore said the shooters appear to have targeted the 22-year-old.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the police. A $20,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
A photo of Barbara Friedes rests against a tree during a vigil on the 1800 block of Spruce Street in Philadelphia on July 21, 2024. Read more

A 69-year-old man has pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, vehicular homicide while driving under the influence, and related crimes in the death last July of Barbara Friedes, a 30-year-old pediatric resident at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia who was riding a bicycle near Rittenhouse Square, court records show.

Outrage among bike-safety advocates after the death of Friedes and other incidents led City Council to pass a measure that bans motor vehicles from stopping in the citys designated bicycle lanes. Saying that practice increases the risk of crashes, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker signed the bill into law in December.

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Michael Vahey pleaded guilty to multiple offenses related to the fatal crash on July 17, when Friedes was struck from behind by Vaheys Volkswagen while she rode in the bike lane on the 1800 block of Spruce Street.

The impact was so great that Friedes was flung more than 20 feet into the air, police said.

Friedes and Vahey both lived in the neighborhood, police said.

Vaheys blood-alcohol content was 0.16  twice the legal threshold for intoxication  at the time of the crash, police said. He was driving more than 50 mph in a 25-mph zone when his vehicle struck Friedes, District Attorney Larry Krasner said.

In a statement Wednesday, Krasner said Vaheys admission of guilt in what he called the shocking, senseless, and tragic death of Friedes served as a reminder not to drink and drive and not to drive in a bike lane.

He said he would comment further after Vaheys sentencing, which is scheduled for July 22, days after the one-year anniversary of Friedes death. Vahey has been held at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility since his arrest at the scene of the crash.

Friedes family declined to comment Wednesday and referred questions to a family attorney, Patrick Fitzgerald, who could not immediately be reached.

Vaheys lawyer, Amato T. Sanita, described him as extremely remorseful.

Mr. Vahey accepted at the outset of the case full responsibility for his actions, he said.

Vahey, he added, knows what he did had a significant impact on multiple families and extends his sympathy to Friedes relatives.

Assistant District Attorney Katherine Wood said in court that Vahey had been convicted of a DUI in 2009 after he drove the wrong way on Pine Street near 10th Street. Vaheys blood-alcohol content was 0.20  more than twice the legal threshold.

The record was later expunged after Vahey completed a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program through the courts, Wood said.

Bike-safety advocates on Wednesday welcomed Vaheys guilty plea, but made clear that more work had to be done to protect cyclists.

We stand with Dr. Friedes family during this time and beyond, said Chris Gale, executive director of the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia. Even though the guilty plea provides some sense of closure and justice, we hope to see permanent road improvements so no other family has to go through this terrible trauma.

City transportation officials have proposed nearly $5 million in upgrades to the Spruce and Pine bike lanes, which would include adding concrete and planter barriers to protect the lanes.

Safety advocates say such steps could prevent another tragedy.

I would say that its important that people are held accountable for reckless driving, but doing anything after the fact doesnt stop it from happening again, said Jessie Amadio, cofounder of bike-safety advocacy group Philly Bike Action. Were really looking towards the city to stick to their promise to protect the Spruce and Pine bike lanes and future bike lanes.

Last year, 134 people were killed in traffic incidents in the city, according to data compiled by the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia. Three cyclists, including Friedes, were struck last year, the data shows.

Friedes, who specialized in pediatric oncology at CHOP, was at an event with her husband, Cole, on that summer evening when she left early to ride back home, Cole Friedes said.

She was in her third year of residency at CHOP. She received her medical degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and had just been selected as a chief resident at CHOP for the forthcoming academic year.
Federal authorities have captured a man suspected of shooting and injuring a Philadelphia teenager in the citys Kingsessing section last week.

U.S. marshals apprehended Keith Holmes, 43, about 10 a.m. Wednesday on the first block of North 63rd Street in West Philadelphia, the service said. Investigators tracked Holmes to a family members home on the block, and he surrendered without incident after marshals knocked and announced their presence, the service said.

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Holmes arrest occurred about three miles from where authorities say he shot a 13-year-old boy twice in the stomach last week. The shooting erupted at 57th Street and Kingsessing Avenue around 6:40 p.m. last Thursday, with Holmes allegedly firing multiple shots at the teen following an altercation, authorities said last week.

The dispute was over concrete that was recently poured, the marshals said in a statement.

The teen was taken to Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, where he was placed in stable condition, police said last week. Authorities issued a warrant for Holmes shortly after the shooting.

There is no excuse for violent crimes that occur against children, said Robert Clark, supervisory deputy for the Marshals Fugitive Task Force. Those who commit these crimes must be held fully accountable and the Marshals Service will ensure justice is without delay.

As of Tuesday, police have recorded 444 shootings in the city in 2025, nearly a 29% decrease compared with the same time last year. There have been 237 shooting victims this year, a decrease of almost 19% compared with last year.
William McGillan Jr. has been charged with attempted murder of a law enforcement officer and related crimes. Read more

A West Chester man scaled the roof of his home and shot at police officers who were responding to calls to help him during a mental health crisis, according to court documents filed this week.

William McGillan Jr., 24, has been charged with attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, reckless endangerment, and related crimes in connection with the chaotic scene Sunday, during which authorities say a West Chester police officer shot back at him.

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McGillan remains in custody, denied bail, after a judge ruled that he presents a danger to himself and others, court records show. There was no indication he had hired an attorney.

Neither McGillan nor the officers was struck by gunfire, prosecutors said, though one officer was treated for a head injury he sustained while diving for cover during the shootout.

The investigation into the shooting remains active and is being handled by the Chester County District Attorneys Office.

Police were called to McGillans home on South Church Street around 9 a.m. Sunday, when an Uber driver who had dropped him off there said he had made suicidal statements, and believed someone should check on him, according to the affidavit of probable cause for McGillans arrest.

Two officers arrived not long afterward, spoke to McGillan for 10 minutes, and cleared the call, the document said.

Hours later, just before 3 p.m., police received another call about McGillan from the Valley Creek Crisis Center, asking that they assist with an involuntary commitment, the affidavit said.

McGillan answered the officers knocks at his door, but then ran back inside his apartment. He fired at West Chester Police Sgt. David Hammond and Cpl. Andrew Hill with a Ruger .380 handgun that was registered to him, and continued to shoot as the two officers ran back into the hallway for cover, the affidavit said.

Hill shot back at McGillan as he pulled Hammond, who was injured while diving down a nearby staircase, to safety outside the apartment building, according to the document.

McGillan climbed onto the roof of his apartment and ran across several adjoining roofs before being taken into custody. He threw his handgun away as he fled, but the weapon was later recovered by investigators, authorities said.

The shooting was recorded on the officers body-worn cameras, and the evidence has been preserved for the district attorneys investigation.

McGillan is scheduled to appear before a district judge for a preliminary hearing on Friday. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the Chester County District Attorneys Office at 610-344-6866.
Kayla Clancy, (from left) Kaylee Baker, and Spencer Barrett, chat with an AI program in French class at Gateway Regional High School Read more

In his French class, Gateway Regional High School freshman Spencer Barrett put on a headset to practice his speaking skills.

Barrett and his classmates rotated through five learning stations, several facilitated by a chatbot. With his Chromebook connected to his headset, Barrett responded to questions programmed by teacher Kim Karwoski about grocery shopping.

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Ou vas tu pour acheter du pain? (Where do you go to buy bread?) the chatbot asks.

Je vais au supermarche (I go to the supermarket), Barrett replied.

Gateway is among a growing number of New Jersey school districts that are exploring how to use artificial intelligence in the classroom. Karwoski said having her students practice with a chatbot has streamlined her workload and allows her to work more effectively to reach students who need extra help.

Its an exciting time, said Karwoski, a 15-year teaching veteran. Its only going to make our profession stronger.

The New Jersey Department of Education has encouraged districts to embrace AI, and Commissioner Kevin Dehmer declared it the forefront of the future of education.

Earlier this year, the state awarded $1.5 million in AI grants to Gateway and nine other districts, including Burlington City, Eastern Regional, Delsea Regional, and Woodstown-Pilesgrove. Each was awarded $75,000.

The grants come as schools are exploring how to incorporate artificial intelligence into teaching  and how to avoid pitfalls such as plagiarism and cheating and the spread of misinformation.

With proper guidelines and procedures to protect student privacy and ensure safe usage, artificial intelligence is changing teaching, said Jennifer Garner, senior director of innovative learning at the International Society for Technology in Education. Students are using it, whether they admit it or not, she said.

AI is here. I dont think its going anywhere, Garner said. How do we work with it instead of working against it?

Other South Jersey districts, like Cherry Hill, are in the beginning stages of exploring more incorporation of AI. Cherry Hill said it recognized potential as well as possible risks.

The Philadelphia School District announced a pilot program in January with the University of Pennsylvania to train teachers and administrators on how best to use artificial intelligence in city schools.

Its an issue schools are confronting across the country. New York City schools last year banned ChatGPT, the AI-powered tool, from school devices and networks but later said it would embrace the technology.

 READ MORE: Philly schools could be on the forefront of using AI. Heres what that means.

How one school district uses AI

Gateway school officials began exploring the possibility of integrating AI into the curriculum about a year ago, after noticing more students using it, said Amy Mount, director of curriculum and instruction.

To address concerns, Mount said, Gateway established detailed guidelines for students and teachers for using AI. The guidelines are posted around the school and reinforced in class, she said. There are also ethics lessons, she said.

Under the guidelines, students may use SchoolAI, the districts generative AI platform, in class only with a teachers supervision. They do not have personal logins.

Mount said students may use AI tools to brainstorm and help organize their thoughts, and get editing help and feedback. They must cite AI as a reference, she said.

We dont want kids to think its this magic genie in a bottle, she said.

In language arts lessons, teachers have used AI to create reading samples to assess students performing at different comprehension levels, Mount said. That allows teachers to customize instruction to meet personal needs, she said.

Some teachers were cautious about using the technology, while others embraced it, she said. Gateway expects teachers to eventually use AI across all content areas. Currently, about 65% percent of Gateways teachers have embedded AI into lesson plans or learning experiences, she said.

Its a tool, and its a powerful one, said William Grillo, the director of secondary education. We need to live in both worlds.

The number of U.S. teens who admit using ChatGPT for their schoolwork increased in 2024 to 26%, double from the previous year, according to a recent study by the Pew Research Center. The majority of teens said they had not used a chatbot for schoolwork.

Putting AI to use in the classroom

Karwoski said using AI has been a game-changer in her French classes, allowing her to tailor lesson plans and generate worksheets and quizzes.

She can generate exercises within minutes that would have taken much longer to do manually.

Karwoski said she has no worries about AI replacing her in the classroom. Students can apply the technology only after she has taught them vocabulary lessons, she said.

They need the human touch. If you stick students in a room with a chatbot, theyre not going to do it, she said.

Students love using the technology, especially the chatbot tool to reinforce the lessons. They liken it to working with a one-on-one tutor while Karwoski is busy helping another student.

I feel like it actually helps me learn better, Barrett said. It helps me better understand French and how to use it in a conversational setting.

Walking around the room, Karwoski checked on Barrett as he interacted with the chatbot. She can also generate a summary that shows how students perform on AI exercises and flag anything inappropriate.

His French is excellent, she said of Barrett.

That same day during Karwoskis 80-minute class, the second-year French students moved around learning stations. There was a mixture of AI stations and traditional stations with paper worksheets.

I think its a good thing, Jasmine Velez said. I feel like it makes us want to learn because there are so many different things we can do.

One group matched items to a shopping list generated by AI. The AI tool checked their responses to see how many were correct.

 READ MORE: New Jersey law requires media literacy for K-12 students

English language arts students in the media center used AI to make personal vision boards. They used ChatGPT to fine-tune their list of goals for life after high school.

They were warned about pitfalls in the technology, including possible biases in the data and fake images. Mekhi Foster, 17, was surprised by the outcome from his prompt to create an image in his likeness.

It actually looks like my dad, he said.

The district wants students to recognize the shortfalls in the technology and work on becoming critical thinkers, said Gateway principal Jeff Pierro.

Were not going to replace paper and pencils, Pierro said. We dont want them to blurt out AI answers.
Pennsylvanias new board overseeing higher education will hold a public hearing Thursday in Philadelphia to gather ideas on developing a strategic plan to improve performance and coordination among colleges, as the sector faces perhaps its greatest challenges in decades.

Both private and public universities have been losing enrollment as the number of high school graduates falls  with another dip beginning next year and a 12% decline expected in Pennsylvania by 2037. Public trust in colleges has faltered, while concerns about cost and student debt have mounted.

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Add to that increasing scrutiny by the federal government under President Donald Trump, whose administration has paused and terminated some research and grant funding and imposed new rules such as restrictions on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Meanwhile, projections show in 2023 Pennsylvania was short more than 60,000 workers who require a postsecondary credential in essential areas, such as healthcare, teaching, and advanced manufacturing. If nothing is done, that gap will grow to more than 200,000 within eight years, and the gap is most pronounced in Southeastern Pennsylvania, said Kate Shaw, executive director of the Pennsylvania State Board of Higher Education.

 READ MORE: Scholarships, funding, and oversight boards: Higher education takeaways from the Pa. state budget

Pennsylvanias higher education is among the most decentralized in the nation, Shaw said. Its been very difficult to ensure that theres strong coordination and a single vision for where the sector should be going. And so the state board was created as a coordinating council whose mission is to set a strong, clear course for higher education in the commonwealth.

The 21-member board, created during the last state budget cycle with representation from public and private college sectors, as well as labor, business, elected officials, and students, has already held two public hearings on developing its strategic plan.

A third will be Thursday at 11 a.m. at St. Josephs University, where president Cheryl McConnell is a member of the board. Three more hearings will be held before the board puts forth a plan by Sept. 1.

Shaw talked with The Inquirer about the board, its work, and what lies ahead.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What has the board been doing since it was formed?

It started operating in September of 2024 and it meets monthly, and we also have four ad hoc committees.  They are a bylaws committee; a data committee to put forward recommendations regarding the kinds of data that the board will need; a transfer of authority committee to provide recommendations to the full board, which will then in turn provide recommendations to the General Assembly and to the governor, regarding what existing higher education authority should be transferred to the state board of higher education; and the strategic planning committee to ensure that we have deep stakeholder engagement across the commonwealth regarding strategies we need to employ to meet critical goals.

We have very intentionally invited a broad swath of stakeholder groups to provide us with input  business and employment leaders, labor leaders, students, elected officials, as well as higher education leaders.

What was some of the major feedback you heard at the first two hearings?

Expanding access to college by strengthening access to broadband in rural and urban areas, making better use of dual enrollment in high school to give students a head start on career prep, helping students with some college to complete their credentials.  We have 1.1 million adults in Pennsylvania who started but did not complete a college credential, and then things like creating materials to effectively communicate linkages between the types of postsecondary credentials that people might get and their careers and wages.

We had a high school counselor at our hearing at Penn State who had really, really excellent and concrete recommendations regarding how best to communicate with students and families about what their options might be and what the true cost of college is and maybe the return on investment.

How many people have participated at the hearings?

By the end of the St. Joes hearing, we will have had more than 400 people attend these hearings. We also have a statewide survey. Were also meeting with smaller groups, like  community college presidents, to make sure I understand their concerns and strategies. Im meeting with the Lancaster Chamber [of Commerce] to get their perspective on how to better align higher education to their needs.

Whats the enrollment picture for colleges in Pennsylvania?

Were seeing that theres a little bit of rebound in the past year or two, but overall weve seen a pretty dramatic drop in enrollment in each sector. The only sector that looks like it hasnt had a significant drop would be the state-related universities overall, but if you disaggregate that data and you show the branch campuses vs. the main campuses, you see dramatic drops on the branch campuses.

How will Pennsylvania State Universitys plans to close some Commonwealth, or branch, campuses impact your work?

The board doesnt have a formal role in the process by which Penn State is going to close campuses. But I think the opportunity that the state board of higher education has is to be a thought partner with Penn State and to think about what happens when Penn State closes those campuses.

 READ MORE: Penn State plans to close some Commonwealth campuses

How can we partner with Penn State and people in those communities to make sure those communities still have a robust opportunity to pursue postsecondary education? There may be an opportunity for the State Board of Higher Education to provide some analysis or to convene some key stakeholders in those regions and to think together about how we might strengthen the higher education ecosystem in that area.

Our job as a State Board of Higher Education is to minimize any negative impact of those closures and  to try to figure out some creative ways to actually strengthen higher education in the areas where these campuses might close.

Rosemont College recently announced its intent to merge into Villanova University and ultimately end operations in 2028. Any other closures or mergers on the horizon in the Philadelphia area?

Theres a number of higher education institutions that are actively determining how to navigate in a really challenging situation.

 READ MORE: Financially strapped Rosemont College will merge with Villanova University

The State Board of Higher Education is charged with developing resources and tools for institutions that would seek assistance to navigate financial instability.  We havent started working on those materials yet, although weve started to collect examples from other states regarding what they do.

The board created the council to develop performance-based funding for state-related universities. Where does that process stand?

The only formal role the State Board of Higher Education has had in the performance-based funding council is to establish it. I am watching what they are doing and listening with a lot of interest.

Is the board developing strategies for colleges to respond to new federal demands under President Donald Trumps administration?

The board is discussing and considering how it can best support institutions as they move through this. At this point, we do not have a definitive concrete global response to whats happening,

Anything else you would like to add?

Theres never been a more important time for an entity like this to look across the sectors, think about whats best for the commonwealth, think about how higher education can best support the long-term economic prosperity of the commonwealth, and then provide support and guidance to bring our sectors together to work to meet those goals.
A few minutes late, as usual, we hustled to make our reservation and turned the corner only to find this stretch of Frankford Avenue uncharacteristically quiet. The thought entered my mind as we approached Fiores front door just as my wife said it out loud: Is it even open?

Or is Fiore just the best-kept dinner secret in town?

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I grasped the door handle hopefully and pulled. The lights were on, but turned down low. And as Steely Dans Doctor Wu floated through the little room, it cued a mellow soundtrack as we picked out our table, one of several available. We then promptly dove into a memorable dinner. There were springy batons of fresh-baked focaccia to soak in the tangy pickling liquid of giardiniera vegetables and a juicy salad of multicolored citrus layered with myriad shades of fennel. A crispy mozzarella en carrozza sandwich with fried sesame bread revealed ribbons of anchovy fillets suspended on the oozy white curds of its cheese pull. And oh, those pasta wonders! Fluted half-moon dumplings that glowed crimson with ricotta and beets needed little more than a gloss of brown butter sparked with preserved lemon and the tiny crunch of poppy seeds to make my eyes flutter.

Its been two months since Fiores married chef-partners, Justine MacNeil and Ed Crochet, added a dinner service to the second incarnation of their Italian-themed restaurant, which relocated here in late 2023 as part of a significant downsizing from their original space in Queen Village. Considering the handcrafted quality and fair prices, with pastas and entrees ranging from $19 to $29, how is this restaurants nighttime service not already completely full?

In a town defined by strong allegiances to neighborhood dining, and a scene awash in a flood of buzzy new openings every month, it could be that attention spans and memories have grown short. The couples original venture, Fiore Fine Foods, was a destination-worthy darling in 2019 when they moved from New York City to open their Philly debut in a sprawling Front Street space with a live-fire hearth, liquor license, and all-day hours. MacNeil had previously been the executive pastry chef at Del Posto in Manhattan; Crochet was executive chef at Storico, formerly operated by Stephen Starr at the New York Historical Society.

That not-so-long-ago pedigree is news to many East Kensington locals, who mostly consider the new version of Fiore  which replaced the Flow State coffee bar  a daytime haunt thats simply more evidence their neighborhood is cool. The dinner launch has been decidedly low-key.

Who knew? shrugged a Kensington-based food industry friend I met outside Fiores bustling storefront one recent weekend day. A typical Sunday morning line of hungry brunchers extended from the pastry counter out the front door, where they patiently waited with menus in hand, perusing the array of egg sandwiches, pistachio cream-stuffed cornetti, and char-spotted tomato pies that have made Fiore a go-to oasis for Italian-themed brunch, lunch, and early morning pasta-delivery orders, a unique feature noted in its inclusion in The Inquirers 76 dining guide.

We can get as many as five orders for cacio e pepe through DoorDash by 8 a.m., says MacNeil, who notes that a strong takeout and delivery business, which comprises at least 50% of their revenue, has helped create the volume to make such a small restaurant space viable.

The decision to dramatically downsize from the first Fiore was a lifestyle move  sacrificing 100 seats and a liquor license in the original space for a 28-seat BYOB initially focused on more manageable daytime hours  to accommodate the birth of their son, Roman. After navigating the continuous pandemic pivots of their first restaurant, the shift felt like going from hanging on to a roller coaster to driving a car, says Crochet. There are still plenty of potholes, but were in control of this.

This is not the first time the two have deliberately taken a major detour in their careers prompted by a challenging circumstance. One of the reasons they came to Philadelphia to begin with was a deadly fire that demolished their Williamsburg apartment 10 years ago and destroyed everything they owned. Everything goes up in the night, and you kind of look around at what you have left and really rethink if thats where youre supposed to be, MacNeil says. Moving once more, from Queen Village to Kensington, is part of that continuum, she says.

I love to just be in this tiny place now, MacNeil says. Every move from here on out is with the goal of not being all-star super-chefs, but making a life thats sustainable for ourselves and the people around us. We just want to cook food for people, thats all we want to do.

This talented couple certainly has the daytime service down pat. You cant go wrong with any of MacNeils pastries, from the sugar-dusted bomboloni to the split maritozzi rolls yawning wide with sweet clouds of whipped cream. Her Italian drinking chocolate alone  the syrupy elixir of Tuscan dark chocolate magic, sweetened by the vanilla cream of a marshmallow melting on top, triggering all the happiness receptors inside your brain  is worth the trip during the cold months. A chilly coupe of shakerato coffee flavored with the same intense chocolate, expertly rattled in shakers over ice by manager Courtney Testa, is its worthy warm-weather counterpart.

On the savory side, MacNeils fresh-baked rolls are essential to the cafes next-level handheld delights, including the puffy, delicately crusted schiacciata roll for an egg sandwich with house fennel sausage, herbed aioli, and fontina cheese. The chicken Parm sandwich is an easy contender for the citys best, a garlic-buttered rustic round roll cradling a juicy breast encrusted in focaccia crumbs, glazed with a Calabrian chile-spiced tomato sauce and melted mozz.

Yes, there are a handful of outstanding pastas on the breakfast and lunch menu, too, including a recent fettuccine in lemon butter with poppy seeds whose magic was its minimalist touch. But I couldnt help feeling every time I visited as if Crochets impressive noodle skills were simply biding their time for a proper evening showcase. Now that Roman has turned 3, and dinner has at last been unveiled three nights a week, they are absolutely among the highlights.

At least half a dozen pastas are usually available, and they frequently change. On one visit I devoured some agnolotti del plin stuffed with fennel-scented porchetta in a saucy puddle of rich chicken stock. Another plate of dumplings on that visit, spinach-greened pansotti touched with nutmeg, were glazed in a nutty brown walnut pesto. At another dinner the following month, the chef marked the start of spring with daisy-shaped ravioli filled with green garlic and tossed with savory nubs of rendered guanciale.

Crochets gnudi were airy orbs of ricotta richness, lightened with a hint of lemon zest over an earthy saute of creamy mushroom ragu. The smaller, but equally tender potato gnocchi seemed to nod to the Polish flavors of nearby Port Richmond with a rustic garnish of caraway-scented sauerkraut and bacon. Fiores toothy mallorredus, pasta shells tinted yellow with saffron in the Sardinian style, basked in the tomatoey crumbles of a fresh sausage ragu.

Other, non-pasta high points on the dinner menu include some cheesy cacio e pepe fritters with tomato jam and a lovely radicchio salad to start.

The menu has some worthy medium-size plates that serve well as entrees when a few are shared, including a fritto misto of monkfish, kabocha squash, and lemon wheels. The agrodolce pork ribs, glazed with apple-fennel puree, are a sweet-tart meaty tribute to Crochets days as chef de cuisine at Craft. Two other entrees  a culotte steak with pickled kohlrabi and a meaty cobia fillet broiled in fresh cardamom leaves and served over chrysanthemum greens cooked with anchovy  were notable for the chefs creative use of less common proteins to keep prices under $30. But they were not otherwise especially memorable.

The same cannot be said for MacNeils standout desserts, which range from a crumbly citrus-scented torta sabbiosa, which happens to be gluten-free, to a torta della nonna pastry pocket filled with vanilla cream. A slab of glossy chocolate bonet, a dense Piedmontese chocolate flan blended with amaretti cookies, is satisfyingly indulgent. Fiore also makes excellent gelati, from peanut butter cup to mint cookies and cream, and classic vanilla, which Id recommend affogato-style with an espresso.

But it is MacNeils panna cotta I adore most, because hers is one of the few Ive had outside Italy whose cream isnt mixed with so much gelatin it bounces. At Fiore, the unmolded panna cotta tower sways gently when it lands on the table, its silky vanilla cream set just enough to hold its shape beneath the latest seasonal garnish. I enjoyed the winter editions dark caramel and cocoa-nib sweetness, but the panna cottas new spring look  a festive tumble of diced pink rhubarb cubes and syrup scattered with crumbles of cardamom-pistachio brittle  tastes like the hopefulness of warm days to come.

I doubt this dining room will remain half-full for long, as word gets out that Fiores dinner service is finally back. For this couple, and its lucky new neighborhood, that is a good thing.

Fiore

2413 Frankford Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. 19125; 215-339-0509; fiore-finefoods.com

Breakfast and lunch menu Sunday, Monday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Dinner Thursday through Saturday, 5-8 p.m.

Lunch entrees and pastas, $10-$16. Dinner pastas and entrees, $19-$29.

Wheelchair accessible.

There are always a couple gluten-free pastries and the entire dinner menu, except for the house pastas, is either gluten-free or can be modified. With so much baking on-site, however, environment is not ideal for those sensitive to cross contamination.
Millbourne councilmembers Md Munsur Ali, Salauddin Miah and Md Nurul Hasan sit alongside borough manager William Stewart at an April 15 council meeting. Ali and Hasan pleaded guilty to election crimes but have refused to step down. Read more

Two weeks after two Millbourne officials pleaded guilty to federal charges in a brazen scheme to steal a 2021 mayoral election, they are still sitting on the tiny Delaware County boroughs council and are poised to vote to appoint new members to the board.

On April 1, Md Nural Hasan, the vice president of the Millbourne Borough Council, and Md Munsur Ali, a council member, admitted to several felony election fraud charges for conspiring to register nonresidents to vote in Millbourne and cast ballots for Hasan on their behalf.

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Hasan faces separate charges in state court, and a third coconspirator, Md Rafikul Islam, also pleaded guilty earlier this month. They are scheduled to be sentenced in June and face the possibility of years in prison.

Under state law, Ali and Hasan are ineligible to hold office as convicted felons. But the law does not mandate they immediately vacate their seats. Confronted by residents at a council meeting Tuesday night, Hasan and Ali said they did not yet plan to resign.

The two mens convictions coincided with the resignation of two other members of the five-person council  placing the borough on the edge of a potential crisis where the council may be reduced to a single member.

Township Secretary Nancy Baulis said one council member, Md Mosharraff Hossain, submitted a letter of resignation on March 18. Council President Alauddin Patwary, Baulis said, handed in a handwritten resignation letter on April 7 after a contentious council meeting. Both men were accused of living outside the borough, making them ineligible to hold office.

The remaining council members refused to accept Patwarys resignation Tuesday. If his colleagues do not accept the resignation, it will automatically take effect after 45 days.

The dual resignations threaten to leave just three members on Millbournes council  Hasan, Ali, and Salauddin Miah  the legal minimum for the body to conduct any business, including appointing Patwary and Hossains replacements.

As a result, Hasan told reporters Tuesday, he will not decide on whether to resign until after the council has voted to fill the vacant seats.

We can vote, then we can decide, Hasan said.

The case against Hasan, Ali and Islam laid out an exceedingly rare voter fraud scheme that risked swaying the results of a local election in a small town with low turnout. The men used personal identifying information, like Social Security numbers, to change addresses for registered voters in Pennsylvanias online voter registration system. Sometimes the changes were made with the knowledge and consent of these voters; other times, that was not the case.

After changing the addresses, they would request mail ballots on behalf of these voters and return them in the November 2021 general election with Hasans name written in for mayor. In total, prosecutors said, the men submitted about three dozen fraudulent ballots. Despite the effort, Hasan lost to current Mayor Mahabubul A. Tayub by about 30 votes.

Tom Kramer, a former mayor of Millbourne who began raising flags to prosecutors about suspected fraud in 2021, said the mens ability to stay on council and the slow prosecution of the case do little to deter similar crimes in the future.

At Tuesdays meeting, Kramer asked Hasan and Ali directly if they would resign. They shook their heads.

Theyre basically thumbing their nose at the prosecutor, the judge, and the federal government. It doesnt set a very good example, Kramer said.

State law gives few avenues for local officials to be removed from office outside of resignations and elections.

If Hasan and Ali do not resign, the Pennsylvania General Assembly could pursue articles of impeachment against them. Attorney General Dave Sunday or District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer also could file a writ of quo warranto in court, asking a judge to remove them from office. A spokesperson for Sunday said in an email the office had not yet taken action and could not speculate on whether it would.

Alis current term expires at the end of the year, while Hasans seat is not back on the ballot until 2027.
Jennifer Vasquez Sura, the wife of Kilmar Abrego Garcia of Maryland, who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador, speaks during a news conference at CASA's Multicultural Center in Hyattsville, Md., April 4, 2025. Read more

GREENBELT, Md.  A federal judge said Tuesday that she will order sworn testimony by Trump administration officials to determine if they complied with her orders to facilitate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly deported to a notorious El Salvador prison.

U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis in Maryland issued her order after Trump officials continually refused to retrieve Abrego Garcia. She said they defied a clear Supreme Court order.

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 READ MORE: Supreme Court says Trump administration must work to bring back mistakenly deported Maryland man

She also downplayed Mondays comments by White House officials and El Salvadors president that they were unable to bring back Abrego Garcia, describing their statements as two very misguided ships passing in the night.

The Supreme Court has spoken, Xinis said, adding that what was said in the Oval Office on Monday is not before the court.

In her written order published Tuesday evening, Xinis called for the testimony of four Trump administration officials who work for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department.

She expects the process to last about two weeks. Xinis wrote that Trump administration officials have done nothing at all toward returning Abrego Garcia. But, she wrote, they remain obligated, at a minimum, to take the steps available to them toward aiding, assisting, or making easier Abrego Garcias release.

 READ MORE: El Salvador President Bukele says he wont be releasing Maryland father Kilmar Abrego Garcia back to the U.S.

The hearing came a day after White House advisers repeated the claim that they lack the authority to bring back the Salvadoran national from his native country. The president of El Salvador also said Monday that he would not return Abrego Garcia, likening it to smuggling a terrorist into the United States.

Abrego Garcias deportation has become a flashpoint as President Donald Trump follows up on campaign promises of mass deportations, including to an El Salvador prison. Following Tuesdays hearing, a crowd outside the federal court house in Maryland chanted, What do we want? Due process. When do we want it? Now!

An attorney for Abrego Garcia said contempt proceedings could be the logical next step after the fact-finding phase. This is still a win, and this is still progress, Rina Ghandi said. Were not done yet, though.

Abrego Garcias wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, said shortly before Tuesdays hearing that he was working hard to achieve the American dream for his family.

That dream was shattered on March 12th when he was abducted and disappeared by the United States government in front of our 5-year-old-child, she said. Today is 34 days after his disappearance ... I will not stop fighting until I see my husband alive.

Meanwhile, Democratic U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland said hell travel to El Salvador on Wednesday.

My hope is to visit Kilmar and check on his wellbeing and to hold constructive conversations with government officials around his release, Van Hollen said.

Abrego Garcia, 29, lived in the U.S. for roughly 14 years, during which he worked construction, got married and was raising three children with disabilities, according to court records.

 READ MORE: Trump says he wants to imprison U.S. citizens in El Salvador. Thats likely illegal.

A U.S. immigration judge had shielded Abrego Garcia from deportation to El Salvador in 2019, ruling that he would likely face persecution there by local gangs that had terrorized his family. He also was given a federal permit to work in the United States, where he was a metal worker and union member, according to Abrego Garcias lawyers.

But the Trump administration expelled Abrego Garcia to El Salvador last month anyway. Administration officials later described the mistake as an administrative error but insisted that Abrego Garcia was a member of the MS-13 gang.

Abrego Garcia was never charged with a crime and has denied the allegations. His attorneys have pointed out that the criminal informant claimed he was a member of MS-13 in Long Island, New York, where he has never lived.

Xinis had ordered the Trump administration in early April to bring Abrego Garcia back. And the U.S. Supreme Court agreed last week that the U.S. government must facilitate Abrego Garcias release.

But the White House has balked at trying to broker his return, arguing the courts cant intrude on the presidents diplomacy powers.

Xinis ordered the U.S. on Friday to provide daily status updates on plans to return Abrego Garcia. The Trump administration responded the next day, saying he was alive in the El Salvador prison. But it has only doubled down on its decision not to tell a federal court whether it has any plans to repatriate Abrego Garcia.

In a filing Tuesday afternoon, Trump administration attorneys said the government is prepared to facilitate his return. But they said that his protection from being deported to El Salvador would be removed, and that he could be deported back to El Salvador or to a third country, they said.

In a court filing Tuesday, Abrego Garcias lawyers rejected the idea that the U.S. lacks the authority to retrieve him. They noted that the U.S. is paying El Salvador to hold prisoners, including Abrego Garcia, and can exercise those same contractual rights to request their release.

Bukele struck a deal under which the U.S. will pay about $6 million for El Salvador to imprison Venezuelan immigrants for a year. Trump has said openly that he would also favor El Salvador taking custody of American citizens who have committed violent crimes, which is likely illegal.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro pauses during a news conference at the governor's official residence discussing the alleged arson that forced him, his family and guests to flee in the middle of the night on the Jewish holiday of Passover, Sunday, Apr. 13, 2025, in Harrisburg, Pa. Read more

The man charged with attempted homicide for allegedly setting the Pennsylvania governors residence on fire, while Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family slept inside, called police less than an hour after the incident, telling dispatchers the governor needs to be told he will not take part in his plans for what he wants to do to the Palestinian people, authorities said.

Details of the call were included in a search warrant executed Tuesday, giving new insight into Cody Balmers mindset the night of the attack. Officials have not announced a motive in the case.

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Balmer, 38, was charged with attempted homicide, terrorism, arson, and related crimes for allegedly attempting to kill Shapiro on Sunday morning. Members of Balmers family told media outlets that he struggles with mental illness, and that they had called local police in recent weeks after he stopped taking his medication for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia and had become irritable and agitated.

Authorities said Balmer called 911 at 2:50 a.m., shortly after he allegedly set the fires in the governors mansion. Balmer was not apprehended until he turned himself at state police headquarters Sunday afternoon, after officials declared a manhunt for the perpetrator was underway. According to a criminal complaint, Balmers ex-paramour had also called police and said he had confessed to her, asking her to call authorities on him.

 READ MORE: Pa. man charged with attempting to kill Gov. Josh Shapiro told police he hated him and would have beaten him

According to the warrant, Balmer identified himself by name on the 911 call and told authorities he was not hiding and willing to confess everything he had done.

Our people have been put through too much by that monster, Balmer said over the phone, according to the warrant, adding that all he has is a banquet hall to clean up.

Continuing to celebrate faith

Shapiro is one of the most prominent Jewish elected officials in the country and Pennsylvanias third Jewish governor. He and his family gathered in the Harrisburg mansion Saturday evening to celebrate the first night of Passover in the same room where Balmer allegedly later ignited three fires with Molotov cocktail-style devices made from empty beer bottles and gasoline.

After Balmer allegedly confessed to the acts and turned himself in, police executed search warrants on Balmers parents home, where he resided, seizing his electronic devices, any notes referencing Shapiro or the conflict in Gaza, and a storage unit.

Shapiro has been a steadfast supporter of Israel throughout his career, and especially since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack. Since then, he has advocated for the safe return of Israelis being held hostage by Hamas, while acknowledging the significant death toll in Gaza. He has repeatedly said he supports a two-state solution for the war-torn region.

However, it is unclear how closely Balmer followed Shapiros stance on the issue, or whether the governor was targeted because of his faith and stature as a Jewish leader.

At a news conference Wednesday, Shapiro would not comment on whether he felt he was targeted because of his faith, repeatedly saying it is up to prosecutors to determine Balmers motivations.

I know there are people out there who want to adopt their own political viewpoints or their own world views to what happened and why, Shapiro said. I choose not to participate in that.

At least one Republican lawmaker has placed blame on the left for stoking hostile commentary.

While a guest on The Bob Cordaro Show on WILK-AM on Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, who represents Northeast Pennsylvania and is a longtime ally of President Donald Trump, said the left needed to tone it down, too.

Every action Josh Shapiro has taken so far against the president has either been a lawsuit or a falsehood, said Meuser, who has said he is considering a run for governor against Shapiro in 2026. You know thats not helpful either.

Shapiro seemed surprised when he learned of Meusers comments Wednesday and said only that leaders have a responsibility to speak and act with moral clarity, adding that Meuser failed to measure up to that.

The governor doubled down on past statements, saying nothing will deter him from doing his job as governor or proudly and openly practicing his faith.

I want [Jewish families] to see that my wife and I and our kids continue to celebrate our faith proudly and openly, he said. I want them to see that people from all different faiths have reached out to condemn this act and to lift up our family in prayer, and thats the Pennsylvania way.

Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo said Wednesday it is unlikely he will charge Balmer with ethnic intimidation at this point, because although any potential hate component is a critical part of the countys case against Balmer, it would have no impact on the final penalty. Balmer faces upward of 100 years in prison based on the current charges against him.

It doesnt increase the grade of the offense, because were already at the highest grade, Chardo said.

Harboring a hatred

Balmer told police that he knew when he started the fires Sunday that Shapiro and his family could be there, that he was harboring a hatred for Shapiro, and that he would have attacked him with a hammer if he had seen him inside the residence, according to an affidavit of probable cause outlining the charges against him.

On Tuesday, a coalition of Jewish groups across Pennsylvania released a statement saying that the attack on the states Jewish governor on Passover raises serious concerns and pain for our community.

Antisemitic attacks have risen significantly across Pennsylvania and the United States in recent years, the leaders wrote. These acts must not be tolerated in any civilized society. Everyone has the right to worship freely, and our differences should not only be tolerated  but embraced and celebrated."

According to the affidavit of probable cause, state police found a Snap-on jacket, a black bag, and a small sledgehammer in Balmers home  items officials said are identical to what surveillance footage showed that Balmer had with him during the arson attempt. Police said they seized four smartphones, a laptop, and an external hard drive in the search. Another warrant requested a DNA swab from Balmer to compare with the items believed to have been used in the attack.

State police, meanwhile, continue to investigate how Balmer was able to bypass Shapiros 24-7 security detail and the additional security assigned to the governors residence, climbing a fence, breaking two windows, and setting off Molotov cocktails, evading detection. State police said Wednesday they will work with a third-party expert to conduct an independent security review that will include a risk and vulnerability assessment of the mansion.

Balmer has faced criminal charges on several occasions over the last decade, including for assault and forgery, as well as traffic-related offenses. His social media presence on Facebook suggested that he held no allegiance to a specific political party or hatred toward specific groups, posting mostly about drug use, relationship troubles, and memes across the political spectrum.

In 2023, Balmer was charged with three counts of simple assault in a case that is ongoing in Dauphin County. In 2016, he pleaded guilty to one felony count of forgery and was sentenced to 18 months of probation.

April brought renewed concerns over Balmers behavior, according to police.

Police in Penbrook, Dauphin County, confirmed that Balmers mother, Christie Balmer, reached out to authorities three days before the arson attempt, concerned for her sons well-being after he had left home. She told police she believed her son had stopped taking his medications about a year ago and that he had been upset after she placed a call to a crisis-intervention line for help the week prior. She told police her son had not met the threshold for an involuntary mental health evaluation. In a statement, Penbrook police said they could not petition for Balmers involuntary mental health commitment based on hearsay.

However, police said they followed up on Balmers mothers call and confirmed that Balmer had stayed at a hotel in Shippensburg, where the clerk told police he appeared fine before checking out.

Staff writer Ellie Rushing contributed to this article.
Kelvin Jeremiah, president and CEO of the Philadelphia Housing Authority, writes that two-thirds of his agency's portfolio is more than 70 years old and in need of $2 billion in capital and maintenance investments. Read more

In an era when the stock of public housing is aging rapidly, and renovation funds are slow to come from Washington, Philadelphia is heading for a devastating public housing crisis. A fundamental shift is needed in how we approach public housing that will benefit future generations.

Many residents live in outdated apartments that have been patched up repeatedly. As the leader of the Philadelphia Housing Authority, Ive sounded the alarm that nearly two-thirds of our portfolio is more than 70 years old and in need of substantial capital investments. Our increasing backlog of capital and maintenance needs is estimated at $2 billion.

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Were not alone: Most major housing authorities across the nation face this crisis. The current political climate makes it unlikely the federal government will provide the much-needed subsidies to address the obsolescence of our housing. The consequences of inaction could be heartbreaking for residents and endanger the fabric of their neighborhoods.

For that reason, PHA is embarking on an ambitious $6.8 billion strategy to preserve and expand affordable housing in Philadelphia for generations to come. This effort complements Mayor Cherelle L. Parkers larger effort to create and preserve 30,000 units.

The core of the PHA strategy is to move from the traditional public housing model  in which the housing authority owns and maintains the properties  to the Housing Choice Voucher Program (formerly known as Section 8 or Project-Based Rental Assistance).

The reasons this shift makes sense are many. Housing choice vouchers offer a more reliable and consistent funding stream than traditional public housing. The vouchers are also more conducive to securing financing and raising private equity to address capital needs, build long-term reserves, and construct or acquire new housing.

Another advantage to this strategy is that it would allow PHA to add approximately 7,000 new units to its housing portfolio  a 50% increase in the number of units available. This will be accomplished primarily through the acquisition of existing properties, a process we began last year with the purchase of the Brith Sholom senior development. Through this expansion, the nearly 105,000 low-income Philadelphians on our wait lists would get housing.

We vow to accomplish this focus on vouchers while maintaining protections for residents. All residents will be guaranteed the same tenant rights and protections they have currently. If relocation is required, they will be guaranteed an absolute right to return. We will not waver from those safeguards.

PHA will not approach this strategy shift haphazardly. We have witnessed the success of this same approach elsewhere  in New York City, Baltimore, and D.C. We plan to replicate best practices from each and bring the benefits to Philadelphia.

PHA is prepared for this change. We have converted or developed with partners more than 2,000 project-based voucher units. The residents at these converted sites have the same set of protections and rights as public housing residents.

The current political climate makes it unlikely that the federal government will provide the much-needed subsidies to address the obsolescence of our housing.

To partially fund this initiative, PHA has earmarked more than $200 million in reserves the agency intends to leverage with low-income housing tax credits, private financing, bonds, and other available funding tools. When combined with its other initiatives, PHA will preserve and/or build over 20,000 units over the next eight years at a cost of approximately $6.8 billion.

PHAs strategy is practical and sustainable. It meets the needs of its existing residents and those who need an affordable housing opportunity. Were committed to working with our federal, state, and local partners to ensure alignment with their housing policy and funding initiatives.

Great transitions are often accompanied by challenges. Rest assured, PHA is taking adequate steps to protect the rights of its tenants, to ensure these affordable housing units remain affordable long-term, and to identify partners who share our commitment to decent, safe, and high-quality affordable housing that meets the needs of Philadelphians.

This is a city with more than 130,000 renters making less than $30,000 annually and paying more than 50% of their income on housing costs. We simply cant afford to wait for preservation funds to arrive. We must be bold and act now, for the great neighborhoods of Philadelphia  and their current and future residents.

Kelvin Jeremiah is president and CEO of the Philadelphia Housing Authority.
A statue of Paul Revere in Boston's North End. It is a bitter irony that the 250th anniversary of Revere's ride will take place under President Donald Trump, who is trashing the rule of law and the spirit of U.S. independence, writes Trudy Rubin. Read more

ARLINGTON, Mass.  Driving through this old New England town, visiting relatives to celebrate Passover, I noticed every house on the street sported an American flag.

This was the route Paul Revere and William Dawes traversed by horseback exactly 250 years ago on their way to Lexington and Concord to warn local militias that British regulars were coming to destroy munitions stored by the patriots.

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The subsequent battles on April 19, 1775, during which the militias drove the British back from Lexington and Concord, sparked the American Revolutionary War  a rebellion against King George IIIs refusal to grant the patriots the rights due them under British rule of law.

Reenactment riders will gallop along the same streets this week to celebrate the midnight ride of Paul Revere, and the anniversary of the battlefield victories will be commemorated on Saturday, Patriots Day.

It is a bitter irony that this celebration  and Americas Semiquincentennial festivities next year  will take place under President Donald Trump, who is trashing the rule of law and the spirit of U.S. independence.

Trumps whole presidency is based on disdain for the law, the Constitution, and the courts  as evidenced by his continued lie the 2020 election was stolen. Trump has made repeatedly clear he feels most comfortable schmoozing with murderous dictators who make King George III look like a saint.

The presidents stand-up routine Monday alongside Salvadoran strongman Nayib Bukele at the White House is a warning his lurch towards unchecked authoritarian powers is growing more dangerous by the week.

The meeting, staged by Trump for the media, had far larger implications than the fate of Salvadoran immigrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who is married to a U.S. citizen. The administration has admitted he was mistakenly deported to a notorious mega-prison in El Salvador, in defiance of a court order, due to an administrative error. (Despite administration lies, there was no credible evidence Abrego Garcia ever belonged to a gang.)

Trumps team has ignored a judges ruling that the White House inform the court of its efforts to return Abrego Garcia to this country. Clearly annoyed, the judge repeated the demand on Tuesday, with a two week deadline. Meantime, and even more fraught, the administration is flouting a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court ruling that it facilitate the return of the prisoner.

What was so horrifying about the twisted Abbott and Costello routine put on by Trump and Bukele was the presidents delight in his absurd claim he had no power to retrieve the prisoner from El Salvador, while Bukele insisted, all smiles, he couldnt return a terrorist to the U.S.

Trump then urged the dictator to build more mega-prisons so he could send some of our own homegrown U.S. criminals to these hellholes. You gotta build about five more places, Trump said. Its not big enough.

Bukele responded, All right, and others in the room laughed.

The notorious military contractor and former Blackwater CEO Erik Prince is already pitching the White House on a plan to vastly expand deportations to El Salvador, according to Politico. Never mind the evidence that many of the undocumented immigrants the White House already dumped there had no criminal records.

Given Trumps disdain for due process and the constitution, and his constant threats against his enemies, we should not rule out his threat to deport U.S. citizens to a foreign dictators jails.

Indeed, the White House has given the finger to so many courts that its hard to keep track. It has almost taken on the appearance of the new normal. This is the way modern dictators, such as one of Trumps favorites, Hungarian President Viktor Orban, normalize authoritarian rule.

Beyond immigration, the White House has gleefully trampled on so many laws and regulations  including Elon Musks destruction of whole government agencies, the firing of government watchdogs, along with the attacks on major law firms  that courts cant keep pace.

In its blatant efforts to tamp down free speech and muzzle fact-based news, the White House banned the Associated Press from presidential events since early February because of the APs decision not to rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. It only relented Monday, permitting AP to cover a White House event, in a rare case of bowing to a federal judges order.

And then there is the use of alleged antisemitism as an excuse to try to take control of private universities. Read the demands sent to Harvard University  which is fighting back  and you see that antisemitism has little to do with the White Houses effort to take control of the hiring and firing of professors, course content, and admissions  even though the university has already pledged numerous reforms.

One of the most infuriating of Trumps hits to the rule of law is his effort to usurp Congress power of the purse, aided and abetted by a slim GOP majority in the House and Senate. According to the Constitution, only Congress has the power to level taxes on its citizens.

Despite Trumps repeated lies, tariffs are a tax on American businesses and consumers. Many of his Liberation Day tariffs are on hold, but others, especially on China, have already been implemented. They are already increasing prices, slamming small businesses, dragging down stocks, and threatening global trust in U.S. Treasury bond sales  which could lead not just to a recession, but to a depression.

Which brings me back to Paul Revere. When this silversmith and his colleagues began the Revolutionary War, they were protesting taxation without representation, which expanded to a fight for individual freedoms.

Today, the values our Founding Fathers fought for are being threatened by the president and supine GOP legislators in Congress. They are colluding with Trump in his drive to massively tax ordinary Americans while cutting taxes on the rich. They is not what most of their voters elected them to do.

Moreover, Trumps praise for Bukeles prisons is a preview of how he would like to punish his enemies  if he could ignore the democratic right to legal due process which is conveniently absent in dictatorial regimes.

According to his own words, Trump is ready to send Americans, without any transparency or legal rights, to rot in foreign jails. And the Supreme Court still hesitates to reign Trump in.

Yet, Patriots Day  which celebrates ordinary Americans resistance to tyranny  is a reminder it is possible to fight back and win against superior forces. A repressive British government overreached in its persecution of Americans. It was repelled by Americas unique civil society from which new leaders emerged.

The bravery of many U.S. judges, the resistance by Harvard and some big law firms, and the rise of active civic groups are the beginning of the pushback against Trumps dictatorial instincts.

But it will take the emergence of new democratic leaders from both parties, helped by Trumps overreach and disastrous decisions, to preserve our Constitution. I still have hope Chief Justice John Roberts will grow a spine and convince one conservative justice to help him save the rule of law.

So hats off to Revere for reminding us of how farmers turned militiamen defeated the British at Concord 250 years ago  and for showing us what motivated patriots can achieve against daunting odds.
Pedestrians in Philly on a windy February day. This has been quite a year for gusts, and some potent ones caused problems Tuesday. Read more

Winds late Tuesday afternoon that gusted as high as 56 mph knocked out power to more than 17,000 PECO customers, took down trees and wires, and forced SEPTA to suspend service on its Media/Wawa and West Trenton regional rail lines.

The surprisingly strong winds were generated by the combination of a cold front and the outflow out ahead of a cluster of decaying thunderstorms, said Alex Staarmann, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Mount Holly.

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The most potent gusts primarily targeted areas to the north and west of the city. They took down trees in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties, including near the Moylan-Rose Valley rail station and later near the Secane Station on SEPTAs Media/Wawa Line, the weather service reported.

SEPTA also reported that partial service on the West Trenton Line was suspended due to a downed tree on overhead wires.

A gust of 56 mph was recorded at Pottstown around 4:20 p.m., and 54 mph a half-hour later at Northeast Philadelphia Airport.

The storms associated with the gusts originated in central Pennsylvania and were especially ferocious in Berks County, where a 62 mph wind was measured in Reading.

They lost their potency but the outflow winds then traveled northwest to southeast toward Philadelphia, said Staarmann.

The winds backed off some during the evening, and by 9 p.m., just over 4,000 PECO customers were without power.

However, gusts to 30 mph were due to continue Wednesday, when highs will be only in the 50s, and Wednesday night.

This year has been off to quite a windy start.

Winds have been frequent annoyances in the region this year, and meteorologists say that their drying powers may be a factor in the regions persistent drought conditions.

By March 20, gusts already had hit 35 mph or higher on 26 days. That was more than any Jan. 1-March 20 period the last 20 years for which weather service records were available.

Inquirer staff reporter Robert Moran contributed to this article.
Indonesia, and Bali, specifically, remains a top Aussie favourite, thanks to its affordability. But despite the low cost of travel, the cost of a medical incident in Indonesia can be staggeringly high. Common issues like Bali belly and the high frequency of traffic accidents on Balis roads mean that Aussies are often likely to require medical help while enjoying their getaway, she said.
Local organisations are funding GenAI at a rate above the global average, which bodes well for the development and growth of AI in our region, he said. While there is a clear appetite and drive to be ahead of the AI curve, there are hurdles that local business and IT leaders are at pains to overcome  the two biggest challenges being talent and data.
Since 2004, Australia has seen over 193 million user accounts compromised, positioning it as the most affected country in the Oceania region. Data showed that 107 million passwords were exposed along with these accounts, heightening the risk of unauthorised access and identity-related crimes. On average, Australians have experienced seven data breaches per person, ranking among the highest in Australasia.
Insurers are committed to helping Californians recover and rebuild from the devastating Southern California wildfires, Ritter said. Insurers have already paid tens of billions in claims and contributed more than $500 million to support the FAIR Plans solvency  even though they do not collect premiums from FAIR Plan policyholders.
Global Aerospace promotes Nicholas Methven to head of aerospace

Global Aerospace, a provider of aviation and aerospace insurance, has promoted Nicholas Methven to head of aerospace. With more than 22 years at the company, Methvens deep expertise in the aerospace sector makes him a natural choice for the role. He previously served as Senior Vice President and Underwriting Director, where he helped drive the companys success in the aerospace market.
Brine said the proposal would allow claims handling disputes to be litigated under the UTPA rather than through existing insurance regulatory channels. He argued that this would expand liability to cover both major and minor violations, including administrative issues that already fall under the state's Insurance Code.
But creating a supportive culture also matters. Employers should be observant, proactive, and trained to identify early signs of distress. Do they have a culture where their employees feel comfortable and open in discussing times of high stress? Woodard said. Do they have leaders that they can speak with? Do they have outlets?
The Connecticut Supreme Court has declined to hear conspiracy theorist Alex Jones appeal in a defamation case that resulted in a $1.4 billion verdict against him for calling the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting a hoax.

Jones asked the justices to review both the 2022 trial court verdict and a lower appeals court ruling in December that upheld most of the verdict. The Supreme Court turned down his request without explanation Tuesday.

A Connecticut jury and judge awarded relatives of some of the victims of the 2012 school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, more than $1.4 billion in damages for defamation and emotional distress, over Jones repeated claims that the massacre never happened. Jones has since acknowledged that the shooting was 100% real.

Twenty first graders and six educators were killed. Victims relatives testified during the defamation trial that they were traumatized by Jones conspiracies and threats from his followers.

In December, the state Appellate Court upheld $965 million of the damages. Two other parents who lost a child in the shooting were awarded nearly $50 million in a similar lawsuit in Texas that Jones is appealing.

Jones raised free speech rights, other constitutional questions and procedural issues in the Connecticut appeal.

We had a very strong appeal in Connecticut, he said, expressing frustration on his Infowars show Wednesday.

The Associated Press sent emails seeking comment to Jones lawyers Wednesday. A U.S Supreme Court appeal is possible.

Alinor Sterling, a lawyer for the Sandy Hook families, said in a statement that the state Supreme Courts decision brings the Connecticut families another step closer to their goal of holding Alex Jones accountable for the harms he caused and will enable them to press forward with collections proceedings against him.

Jones filed for personal bankruptcy protection in late 2022 after the Connecticut and Texas verdicts. The case remains pending and legal wrangling continues over the proposed liquidation of many of Jones and Infowars assets.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Connecticut
An insurer erred in denying workers compensation benefits to a utility worker who contracted COVID-19 while on the job, a job the state had deemed as essential during the pandemic.

The insurer had denied the claim on the basis that the risk of contracting COVID-19 was not inherent in the nature of Jeff Stacys employment as a lineman for the electric utility Unitil Corp.

But the insurer failed to reasonably consider how the pandemic changed the working conditions for the lineman. These conditions included the fact that the state had declared a state of emergency due to the pandemic and ordered all nonessential businesses and services to close. Stacy was one of the few essential workers who continued to work.

In February 2021, while that order was in place, a series of snowstorms forced Stacy to work overtime. On February 17, 2021, the lineman who shared Stacys truck reported feeling unwell and eight of the 11 linemen on Stacys team tested positive for COVID-19. Stacy initially tested negative and continued to work. Four days later, however, Stacy developed COVID-19 symptoms and tested positive. Stacy was hospitalized and placed on a ventilator and has also been treated for severe shortness of breath and depression. He has not been able to return to work.

After the utilitys workers compensation insurer, Travelers Indemnity Co., denied his claim, Stacy appealed. An administrative judge for the states Industrial Accident Board then sided with the lineman. As an essential services provider, an IAB judge found, Stacy was sent out to work in an obviously dangerous environment and put at risk of being infected.

Stacys job required him to work side by side with fellow employees and to spend time in a truck cab with a coworker. In the view of the administrative judge, these essentially characteristic aspects of his employment increased Stacys likelihood of contracting COVID-19. The evidence included a physician report concluding that Stacy contracted COVID-19 from exposure in the course of his employment.

Accordingly, the IAB judge found that, under the conditions Stacy faced in early 2021, an inherent danger of infection was essentially characteristic of Stacys employment. Because Stacy sustained a compensable personal injury, the administrative judge ordered the insurer to pay temporary total incapacity benefits and to cover related medical expenses.

The full IAB affirmed the administrative judges decision, adopting the judges factual determinations. Travelers Indemnity appealed.

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) took up the insurers appeal, agreeing to determine whether the decision granting workers compensation benefits to Stacy was arbitrary or capricious. The states high court has now upheld the award of benefits, finding the decision was not arbitrary or capricious or otherwise contrary to law.

The court noted that the Legislature extended workers compensation to cover infectious or contagious diseases in 1941 in certain circumstances. The act states in pertinent part that personal injury includes infectious or contagious diseases if the nature of the employment is such that the hazard of contracting such diseases by an employee is inherent in the employment.

The SJC further noted that when, because of the nature of the employment, a possibility exists that an employee may contract an infectious or contagious disease, it becomes a question of fact whether the likelihood of infection or contagion is so essentially characteristic of the employment as to warrant a finding that the danger is inherent therein.

The parties did not dispute either that Stacy contracted COVID-19 in the course of his employment as a lineman or that Stacys total disability is related to COVID-19.

Rather the insurer contended that risk of contracting COVID-19 was not inherent in Stacys employment because working as a lineman does not present an environment where the danger of acquiring COVID-19 essentially lurks. Consideration of the extraordinary circumstances of the workers exposure as an essential services provider during the state of emergency was impermissible, in the insurers view.

But the high court found that it was right to consider the extraordinary circumstances of the pandemic. The court said the board reasonably considered that Stacys job was one of the few essential services urged by the Governor to continue at a time when the risk of infection through close contact with others was high. Nearly all businesses in the Commonwealth initially were shuttered and even gatherings of more than 10 persons were prohibited. Stacys job required him to work side by side with fellow employees and to spend time in a truck cab with a coworker. The high court agreed that these essential aspects of his employment increased the likelihood of contracting COVID-19.

Topics Workers' Compensation Energy Massachusetts COVID-19
Markel, the insurance operations within Markel Group Inc., announced it has agreed to purchase The MECO Group Ltd. (MECO), subject to regulatory approval.

Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

Founded in 1974, MECO is a leading, independent specialist marine managing general agent (MGA) based out of London, with offices in Dubai and Shanghai. It specializes in providing marine insurance products and services to a diverse range of global marine clients, including charterers and traders, shipowners and entities engaged in maritime operations and global supply chains. It wrote US$63 million of gross written premiums in 2024.

MECO provides coverage through its three core insurance brands  The Charterers P&I Club, Transmarine, Aurora P&I and offers complementary legal services through its law firm True North.

Its insurance business brings in-depth expertise of underwriting several specialist marine classes that are complementary to Markels existing marine business, including charterers P&I; freight, defense and demurrage; trade disruption; loss of hire; strikes delay; small vessels owners P&I; contractual extension liabilities; as well as ancillary marine insurance products.

This agreement presents a unique opportunity to strengthen our marine footprint and capabilities with new products, complementary services and client relationships in the fast-growing Asia-Pacific economies as well as in Europe, said Andrew McMellin, managing director of Wholesale  International, at Markel.

MECO will integrate into Markel but will continue to operate utilising its existing core insurance brands, leveraging Markels capabilities to build on existing successful relationships in its core regions. The evident synergies between our two companies will allow us to provide a more comprehensive and competitive offering for clients, McMellin added.

Chris Else, chief executive of MECO, commented: Were excited to be joining forces with Markel. Todays announcement marks a new chapter for MECO, our colleagues and clients, as we continue to expand on the strong foundations weve built in many key markets over the past 50 years. There are clear strategic and cultural similarities between the two businesses. Ensuring MECO will continue operating its brands within Markel International recognises the value of our team and provides lasting benefit to clients.

Source: Markel

Topics Mergers & Acquisitions Insurance Wholesale
A Swedish probe found no conclusive evidence to suggest that a Chinese ship had deliberately dragged its anchor to damage two Baltic Sea cables, Swedens Accident Investigation Authority said on Tuesday, though a separate investigation remains under way.

The Yi Peng 3 bulk carrier has been under investigation for dragging its anchor and breaching two subsea fiber-optic communications cables in Swedish economic waters, one linking Finland and Germany and the other connecting Sweden to Lithuania, on November 17-18 last year.

It cannot be determined with certainty whether a Chinese ship intentionally damaged data cables in the Baltic Sea, the government authority, which investigates accidents and incidents, said in a statement.

Read more: Sweden Seizes Ship Suspected of Sabotage in Baltic Sea

Swedish prosecutor Henrik Soderman told Reuters he was still investigating the case in a separate probe, declining to provide further detail.

Investigators faced some constraints as Chinese authorities maintained jurisdiction over the vessel, prohibiting criminal investigations and recording of interviews aboard, it said.

China in December said it had provided information and documents for the investigation into the severing of the cables, while its ally Russia has so far denied involvement in any of the Baltic infrastructure incidents.

The Baltic Sea region is on high alert after a string of power cable, telecom link and gas pipeline outages since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, and the NATO military alliance has boosted its presence with frigates, aircraft and naval drones.

(Reporting by Louise Breusch Rasmussen, editing by Stine Jacobsen, William Maclean)

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A St. Louis, Missouri man who allegedly defrauded insurance companies by staging vehicle accidents and injuries was sentenced to 18 months in prison and ordered him to pay $107,951 in restitution, the U.S. Attorneys Office, Eastern District of Missouri announced.

From September 2021 to January 2023, Adrian Peebles staged auto accidents, usually at night and in remote areas to minimize his chances of getting caught. Peebles nearly always claimed to have been injured and went to the emergency room complaining of pain that required expensive tests that never identified any particular injury, according to his plea agreement.

Peebles insisted that the resulting payments from the vehicle insurance companies be made to him rather than the hospital and then did not pay his medical bills. His scheme cost two insurance companies $107,951.

Peebles, now 32, pleaded guilty in January to one count of mail fraud.

The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Ware prosecuted the case.

Topics Auto
Zurich North America, headquartered in Schaumberg, Illinois, hired Jeannie Sullivan as head of technology for its U.S. middle market team. She will report to Stan Bernard, head of industry practices for U.S. middle market at Zurich, a leading provider of commercial insurance products and services.

Sullivan has 35 years of insurance experience, including in roles focused on the technology industry. She most recently was at CNA Insurance Company, where she served as assistant vice president  commercial officer for the middle market business unit. Before that, she held leadership positions at Berkley Technology Underwriters, including executive vice president and chief underwriting officer.

She previously served as vice president for the technology and medical technology underwriting segment at OneBeacon Insurance Company. She also held various underwriting, sales and marketing roles in technology-focused practices at Chubb, The St. Paul Companies and PHICO Insurance Company. Sullivan is based in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.

IMA Hires Crochet as National Energy Practice Leader

IMA Financial Group, headquartered in Denver, Colorado, hired Stephanie Crochet as national energy practice leader. Crochet has over 25 years of experience in the energy sector, most recently serving as director, risk and insurance with Plains All American Pipeline, L.P.

Crochets career launched in quality management with Det Norske Veritas before transitioning in 2001 to the brokerage side of the insurance trifectaconsumers, brokers, and insurers. She has spent the last 15 years in risk management for Plains All American Pipeline and GulfMark Offshore. As national energy practice leader at IMA, Crochet will oversee a team of over 75 energy insurance professionals and lead IMAs expanding energy specialty practice out of Houston.

Topics USA InsurTech Commercial Lines Business Insurance Tech Leadership
The Louisiana legislative session is underway this week in Baton Rouge, where lawmakers are primed to address the states insurance affordability crisis.

Governor Jeff Landry and Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple both have made it clear that insurance reform is a top priority this session, which began Monday, April 14 and runs through June 12.

In Landrys address to lawmakers on Monday, he referred to insurance as the divisive issue that permeates through every corner of the Capitol Building. The governor said both insurance companies and plaintiffs lawyers are responsible for Louisianas insurance rates, which are among the highest in the country.

Year after year, we are promised by insurance companies that if we pass this or if we pass that, they will lower rates. It never happens, Landry said. Year after year, we are promised by lawyers that if we conform the laws to favor the plaintiffs they represent, it wont affect rates. That never happens either.

Landrys both-sides approach runs counter to Temples attitude that serious tort reform is needed to do away with bad actors and entice more carriers to write business in the state.

We have the most visibility, the most exposure, the most eyes on this issue ever before, Temple told Insurance Journal. More people paying attention is a good thing. The more people know what the true solutions are out there, the better the odds of getting those serious reform bills passed.

Temple is sponsoring 20 insurance reform bills this session, including legislation that would modify Louisianas comparative fault rule, tighten third party litigation financing agreements, limit attorney contingency fees and add pre-suit notice requirements.

I never ask anybody to support experimental legislation, Temple said. Everything that we are focused on is designed after a very collaborative effort. Talking with industry, talking with consumer advocates. Talking with reinsurers, claims folks.

My intent is to bring serious reform, serious efforts. Not feel good. Things that are actually going to improve loss cost so that insurance premiums will follow.

Landry and Temple are on the same page on at least some issues. Both leaders support legislation that would restrict plaintiff attorney advertising, eliminate the presumption of injury without evidence of a pre-existing condition or other causes, add medical transparency to the collateral source rule, limit recovery for uninsured drivers and prohibit drivers from texting or using social media while driving.

Landry also supports legislation that would give the insurance commissioner power to reject excessive rates.

Topics Legislation Louisiana
Floridas property insurance market is an example of the powerful impact that strong legislative reforms can have in addressing a crisis. Other states, like Georgia, have seen the benefits of Floridas legal system abuse reforms and are following suit with their own reform packages to improve their states legal climate and address rising insurance costs.

Since Floridas governor and Legislature passed historic legal system abuse reforms two years ago, rates are stabilizing and more companies are entering the marketplace to offer coverage. According to a recently commissioned statewide survey by APCIA,three out of four Floridians (77%) agree, when informed on the issue, that Florida lawmakers made the right decision to limit excessive legal system abuse and frivolous lawsuits to help stabilize the states property insurance market.

The Florida insurance commissioner recently announced that another insurer is entering the marketplace to offer coverage, bringing the total number of new companies entering the market post-reforms to 12.

We continue to see positive trends in homeowners insurance rates in Florida. According to S&P Global, Florida had the lowest average statewide homeowners rate increase in the nation in 2024 at just 1 percent. The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) reports that the 30-day average request for homeowners rates is 0.8%, compared to 21.8% two years ago. Since January 2024, 19 companies have filed for a rate decrease and 37 companies have requested no change or 0% increase.

And yet, lawmakers in Tallahassee are considering several proposals that would undo the progress that has been made.

There is also good news in the auto insurance market as several major auto insurers filed for recent rate reductions between 10% and 6%. Additionally, litigation related to auto glass repairs, which was a big cost driver in the auto insurance marketplace, has seen a dramatic decline, dropping from 24,720 lawsuits in the second quarter of 2023 to just 2,613 in the same period of 2024.

While some homeowners may still experience rate increases as the market continues to deal with elevated costs to repair and replace property, along with the high risk of damage from hurricanes, overall, the signs are positive  and most Floridians agree. According to APCIAs survey, two out of three Floridians (67%) agree, when informed on the issue, that Floridas property insurance market is showing signs of improvement following the reforms implemented by the Florida Legislature.

And yet, lawmakers in Tallahassee are considering several proposals that would undo the progress that has been made. Multiple bills in the Florida House would open new avenues for litigation and reinstate one-way attorney fees. These bills are being advanced amid sensationalized and misleading media reporting on industry profitability and claims-handling concerns.

The fact is this: Florida insurers experienced almost eight straight years of unprofitability through 2023 due to rampant legal system abuse, which was driven in large part by abuses of Floridas one-way attorney fee statute.

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation has also conducted an intense review of claims closed without payment following recent storms. OIR expanded the required reporting for insurers to show all reasons why a claim may be closed without payment. According to OIR, their enhanced data reporting does not support allegations of insurance companies refusing to pay valid claims. OIR found that the top reasons for claims closed without payment are: The claim damage was below the insurance policys deductible; or the claim was denied due to flood damage that is not covered by the insurance policy.

Insurance is one of the most highly regulated industries, and insurers support the important role of the state regulator in monitoring solvency and market conduct and ensuring consumers are protected during the claims process.

Insurers are deeply committed to fulfilling their promises to policyholders when disaster strikes. According to APCIAs survey, of those Floridians who filed a home or auto insurance claim in the last two years, three out of four claimants are satisfied with the outcome of their insurance claim (75% of homeowners insurance claimants and 77% of auto insurance claimants). Additionally, three out of four claimants (75%)believe their insurance company treated them fairly regarding their insurance claim.

As the debate continues in Tallahassee in the final weeks of session, the facts should speak for themselves. Floridas legal reforms are working, and the property insurance market is improving as rates stabilize and more companies enter the marketplace. If lawmakers hold the line on bills that undo progress, consumers will see the benefits as market conditions continue to improve.

Adam Shores is senior vice president of state government relations for APCIA, the American Property Casualty Insurance Association.

Topics Lawsuits
Prosecution of widespread crop insurance fraud in Kentucky has continued with the indictment of a tobacco warehouse manager who allegedly facilitated some of the schemes.

Thomas H. Kirkpatrick, manager of Farmers Tobacco Warehouse in Danville, conspired with at least four farmers and provided them with paperwork, allowing them to falsely claim crop expenses, the March 13 indictment reads.

It was the purpose of the conspiracy to profit from generating false documentation that made it appear as though farmers purchased tobacco they actually produced from Farmers Tobacco Warehouse, which the farmers then submitted to their insurance adjusters in order to decrease their production reported to the FCIC (Federal Crop Insurance Corp.), leading to inflated insurance indemnity payments, the indictment noted.

Prosecutors explained that most federal crop insurance policies are sold by approved private insurance companies, called approved insurance providers, or AIPs, through an insurance agent working on behalf of the AIP. AIPs are reinsured by the FCIC.

One of the farmers named in the indictment, David Hunt, pleaded guilty last week to conspiracy to commit money laundering, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported. Two others also have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

If convicted, Kirkpatrick could face up to 20 years in prison and forfeiture of assets.

Its the latest developments in a federal investigation in recent years that has led to the arrest and convictions of some two dozen farmers, warehouse workers and an insurance adjuster, the news site reported. Michael McNew, a former insurance agent and adjuster, was sentenced recently to seven years in prison and was ordered to pay $10 million in restitution.

Topics Fraud Agribusiness
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A fire on a bucolic stretch of California coast has threatened the rapid growth of an industry considered key to greening the power grid  and keeping the lights on.

Midway through the afternoon of Jan. 16, flames erupted from one of Americas largest battery installations, next to an old power plant in the seaside hamlet of Moss Landing. The lithium-ion batteries, bigger versions of the devices that run laptops and electric cars, pumped a thick column of white and gray smoke into the sky and forced the evacuation of nearby homes. The fire, about 75 miles (121 kilometers) southeast of San Francisco, burned for five days.

Now, it has become a rallying cry for people alarmed to find battery installations being planned in their neighborhoods. Electric utilities have been deploying big batteries at breakneck speed, seeing them as a way to store renewable power for when its needed and prevent blackouts during heat waves. In the past, they rarely faced the public opposition that greets other energy infrastructure proposals, from pipelines to wind farms. But that has changed.

The fire and the toxins have really got the neighborhood terrified, absolutely terrified, said Claudia Greco of Marine Park, Brooklyn. Developer NineDot Energy plans two battery facilities on Flatbush Avenue, one of them next to her home. Shes part of a local effort to block the projects. Not only are you in danger of immediate conflagration  fire  but the toxic over-spread of the gasses from these batteries, which are numerous, will spread over the entire neighborhood, she said.

A spokesperson for Vistra Corp., which owns the burned Moss Landing facility, cautioned against drawing conclusions from the fire until its exact cause is known. But the blaze could lead to tighter state-level regulation. New York legislators are considering a bill that would require new battery facilities above a certain size to be at least 250 feet away from homes, schools and farms. California, the first US state to deploy grid-scale batteries in large numbers, may ban such facilities from being installed inside enclosed buildings.

Still, industry analysts dont expect the fire and its backlash to stop the spread of big batteries, because utilities have powerful incentives to keep installing them. Theyve helped both California and Texas endure blistering heat waves without rolling blackouts, and theyve reined in wholesale power prices during periods of high demand. But future battery proposals could require more community engagement with potential neighbors and local officials. And not all will win approval.

We consider this more of a hurdle than a hill, said Timothy Fox, managing director of the ClearView Energy Partners research firm.

Nor is the backlash the biggest threat facing the industry. President Donald Trumps tariffs could hit US battery installations hard, because the country remains heavily dependent on foreign-made cells. Almost 70% of imported lithium-ion batteries come from China, a key focus of his trade war.

Read More: Trump Tariffs Threaten Spread of Big Batteries on Power Grid

Advocates of the technology note that new battery installations use a very different chemistry than the one at Moss Landing  a chemistry that is both cheaper and less prone to fires. The batteries that burned  made by LG Energy Solution  had nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) cells, whereas most new projects use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries.

That was a Gen-1 technology  that is not what we want to see, said David Hochschild, chairman of the California Energy Commission, speaking at a BloombergNEF summit after the fire. Were totally focused on never having that happen again.

The market for large-scale batteries barely existed a decade ago but has quickly grown. Deployments across the US last year jumped 33% from the year before to 12.3 gigawatts, according to a report from Wood Mackenzie and the American Clean Power Association trade group. Thats enough electricity for more than 9 million homes, although most batteries can only supply power for four or five hours before recharging.

Sporadic fires plagued early battery installations but have become less common over time. The US experienced 27 fire-related incidents at battery facilities in the past decade, according to the Electric Power Research Institute. That is a very small number compared to the hundreds of thousands of operating battery energy storage facilities, which are operating safely and reliably, said Noah Roberts, vice president of energy storage at the American Clean Power Association.

Moss Landing, however, has suffered a series of fires and overheating incidents that date back to 2021, several caused by water accidentally being released from fire-suppression systems. The site features two battery storage facilities sitting side-by-side: one owned by power company Vistra, the other by California utility PG&E Corp. When fire erupted at the Vistra facility in January, engulfing batteries installed inside an old building, around 1,200 nearby residents fled their homes.

The community has come together to say, Hey, this is not OK,' said Cheryl Robinson, 53, who has lived near the plant since 2001.

Robinson did not leave her home following the fires, staying put with her husband, daughter and birds, including two cockatoos. Since then, shes been plagued by anxiety and headaches, and her husbands asthma has worsened. She worries their property has been contaminated by chemicals falling out of the smoke. Volunteers took surface swipe samples from places beneath the fires smoke plume, had them tested and found elevated levels of lithium, cobalt, manganese and nickel.

I dont want to leave, and I dont want to be forced to leave, said Robinson, who has joined a group called Never Again Moss Landing to press for tighter safety requirements at battery facilities. This is my kids generational wealth. I want them to have this house forever.

A Vistra spokesperson said testing and analysis by local, state and federal agencies has found no impact to the public health or local agriculture. She said the facilitys technology was considered state-of-the-art when it was built five years ago.

As with any industry, improvements in technology are based upon lessons learned, and Vistra and the entire industry will apply the lessons learned from this moving forward, said Meranda Cohn, Vistra spokesperson, in an email.

California regulators in March adopted new standards that will require battery facility owners to develop comprehensive emergency response plans. And state Senator John Laird has introduced legislation that would require new facilities be inspected by local fire departments before opening, as well as prevent large battery systems from being installed inside enclosed buildings.

Greco and other residents of Brooklyns Marine Park see Moss Landing as a cautionary tale. Rosemarie Head said shes sufficiently concerned about the risks that shes thinking of selling her home on Hendrickson Street, near NineDots two planned facilities.

I worked so hard to finally purchase a house, and here I am, going on 15 years, and now I have to worry about this, said Head, 60, an executive assistant. It keeps me up at nighttime.

The New York legislation that would establish minimum distances between batteries and homes also would require at least one public hearing in the community involved before a project wins government approval. When people purchase their property, they dont purchase their property with a battery plant in their backyard, said Democratic Assemblywoman Jaime R. Williams, who introduced the bill.

Brooklyn-based NineDot considers the fears misplaced. The companys facilities will use Tesla Inc.s Megapack batteries, which feature the safer, cheaper LFP chemistry rather than NMC. They will not be in an enclosed building that can catch on fire.

Adam Cohen, NineDots co-founder and chief technology officer, said the projects will help strengthen the local power grid, which was hit hard by 2012s Superstorm Sandy. He sees Moss Landing as a relic, even though it opened in 2020. Nobody would build a battery storage farm like that, he said.

Top Photo: A fire burns at Vistra Corp.s Moss Landing battery storage facility in Moss Landing in January, 2025. (Nic Coury/Bloomberg)

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.
The factories are maintaining a harder line on prices for stock this week as they continue to tighten on the higher returns to producers.

The determination to enforce a "cooling off" has hardened, but the experts maintain it is more about a "market price correction" than any downturn in the trade forward, insisting that the outlook remains positive for the coming months.

"The finished cattle numbers will continue to be tight for May, and the factories will require numbers to keep up, but they do want to cool down the expectations of producers on higher prices," said one observer.

Baseline prices have been maintained at last week's level, but deals to return above the baseline have become few and far between, and it is much harder to get a deal based on a flat price.

The base for steers this week is at 760770c/kg. It is a bit harder to get the higher end of the range as those who paid at the higher level last week have pulled back.

A clampdown on the increasing number of cattle going through the factories in recent weeks on 'flat' prices is reported to have been hot on the head this week, and most of the factories are offering quotes "on the grid" only.

It is a similar pattern for the heifers on a base ranging 770780c/kg. The good R-grade cows are making 720730c/kg, which leaves them very little short of the prime beef prices, and the young bulls are making up to 780c/kg for R-grade.

This is a four-day working week for the factories, with Good Friday out and the Easter Monday holiday making next week similar, but the plants are showing no interest in securing a higher intake on the operating days.

There are reports of more "intake management" being applied at some of the plants where cattle being offered for kill this week are being pushed back to next week to balance supply numbers.

However, prices to producers in the UK have eased by up to 20p/kg (25c/kg) which may be the result of some consumer reaction to the higher beef prices.

In relation to the returns being received by Irish export factories, the food regulator analysis shows to the week ending March 23, the price for mince beef (5% fat) increased by 15.6%, while hindquarter increased by 7.6% and forequarter by 4.8%, which did not indicate any downturn.

Supply last week was in line with the recent weeks at 35,717 head, which was 1,300 more than for the same week in 2024.

The supply included 14,336 steers, 10,988 heifers, 7,947 cows and 1,678 young bulls.

The total supply to the beginning of April showed an increase of 11,000 head on the same period in 2024.
Farmers worldwide are in the frontline of Donald Trumps trade war.

Perhaps the most nervous of all are the soya bean growers of Louisiana.

They supply 82.5% of American soya bean exports to the EU. There will be a 25% EU duty on these soya bean imports, unless trade negotiations with the US go well.

Trumps tariffs threaten the American soya bean success story more than most commodities.

The US is the second-largest exporter of soya beans globally, selling more than half its yield to about 80 countries, in a trade worth more than $27bn per year.

Sold as whole beans, animal feed, or oil, soya is one of Americas biggest agricultural earners.

More than 500,000 American farmers grow soya beans, and there are hundreds of thousands of soya bean industry jobs.

But they may have nowhere to go with half of the crop, if tariff negotiations go badly.

China is by far the most important market for US soya, importing $15bn worth. But Trump's tariffs have left China and the US at each other's throats, the worlds two largest economies seemingly prepared to halt bilateral trade if negotiations are not successful, with Chinese officials prepared to fight to the end against Trump's 104% import tariff on Chinese goods.

Louisiana soya bean growers supply 82.5% of American soya bean exports to the EU.

As it stands, American soya bean exports will face a 94% tariff in China. In recent years, China increasingly turned from the US towards Brazil for its soya imports, and now imports three times more soya (by value) from Brazil than from the US. China night now shut the door on US soya.

Another big importer, Mexico, may also reject American soya, unless trade negotiations with the US go well.

What a dilemma for farmers across the USA, who are currently planting soya beans?

It's a dilemma also for politicians such as Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Trump tariff supporter who represents Louisiana (where the poultry industry is also targeted by EU tariff retaliation, along with beef from Kansas and Nebraska, and wood products from North Carolina, Georgia and Alabama).

But the threat to soya growers is potentially one of the internal issues that could force Republican and Democrat representatives to unite against Trump.

Along with soya bean growers, a Trump trade war would expose the US dairy industry, principally because it exports more than 50% of its dry whey and lactose production, with China as the largest buyer.

A trade fallout threatens to obliterate that trade (which could present a big export opportunity for the EU to replace the US exporters).

That could halt the US dairy sector's export growth, from less than 2% of US milk production in the early 2000s, to nearly 20% in recent years. This threat is already reflected in falling prices in US dairy futures. So, profit margins may be squeezed further on US dairy farms.

Falling feed and grain prices might help them, due to trade war impacts on American grain and oilseed exports. But that would be at the expense of US growers of soya and other crops, who are already under pressure from years of low prices.

Overall, retaliatory measures imposed by China, Canada and the EU could hit nearly $90bn of American exports. Many of these measures are purposefully targeted at states that supported Trump in the presidential election.

This includes chicken, wheat, other meats, fruit, soya beans, and maize targeted for Chinese retaliation. And Canada threatens 25% tariffs on a range of American agrifood products.

As trade war clouds gather, Irish beef farmers currently enjoying high prices can be relieved that the once much-vaunted prospect of exporting Irish beef to the US never came to much. But there could be other collateral damage in a trade war, for example, if a 20% tariff on EU goods going to the US leaves excess supply on the EU market, putting pressure on prices.

The same could happen on the global meat markets, if they are swamped by excess product from Canada, Mexico, and Australia, shut out of the USA by tariffs.

That could lead the EU and others to introduce anti-dumping measures against goods from China and others to protect EU producers. That is one of the ways a trade war could go global. Another is the US forcing countries to adopt a worldwide tariff against China.

That could be an ultimate objective for Trump's aggressive tactics, along with targeting non-tariff weapons (such as the EU's regulations and taxes like Vat, or even our ban on hormone-treated meat and genetically modified crops from the US).

Nor can the damage caused by global uncertainty triggered by Trump be underestimated, hanging over trading and inevitably causing economic slowdown.

"What next" is on the lips of anyone involved in international trading, after Trump last week abruptly paused much of his tariff assault on trading partners for 90 days, but pushed tariffs on Chinese goods up to 125%.

A 10% tariff on almost all US imports remained in effect (even though some come from countries that import more from America than they export to it). But the 90-day pause allows room for trade partners that agreed to negotiate, including the EU, facing Trumps 20% tariff on all EU exports, and 25% on EU cars, with tariffs on EU pharmaceuticals also expected.

Trump said he hoped to strike a deal with China. But he also seems to want tariffs bringing in trillions of dollars and bringing companies back to the USA, which limits negotiating space.

In Trumps first presidency, China and Europe quickly met Trump's tariffs with strong retaliatory measures of their own. That may happen again, supported by surging anti-American nationalism around the world.

Amid the uncertainty, the only people happy were those who Trump publicly advised to buy stocks, when the stock market plunged more than 10% after he announced tariffs on April 2. Those able to buy in were relieved when stocks gained by 8% to 12% after Trump last week paused much of his tariff assault for 90 days.
In the Q&A section of a recent interview I did with Mike Scott at the Irish Film Institute, an audience member was in wry form. Any truth, Mike, he asked, that they are going to erect a statue of you in Spiddal? He was joking and we laughed heartily. But that said, Ive heard worse ideas.

If there was to be a statue, it would be erected to commemorate the Fishermans Blues album. Its recording in Spiddal was the stuff of myth: a 250,000 SSL recording desk transported via truck on the worst roads in Europe; the use, some say, of 40% of all the quarter inch recording tape used in Ireland that year.

The Pogues had done their bit to rehabilitate trad-influenced Irish music but Scotts take on the spirit that is inherent in that music, the poetic power and vision was crucial. We might now take Lankum et al for granted, but back then you had your work cut out selling trad to the cool kids.

Fishermans Blues helped change all that. But if you think this will be an article explaining how it did so, youre wrong. The point is that that is just one of, Id wager five, distinct phases in Mike Scotts illustrious career. And the latest might be the best one yet.

The new album Life, Death and Dennis Hopper is a riot. It is so unexpected, so different, so unique, so vibrant and so joyful. Words that could just as easily be ascribed to Hopper himself, the subject of the entire album. Yes readers, in 2025, Scott rekindles the lost art of the concept album.

Hopper is the coolest man in the Universe that you know very little about. You probably know the films  Easy Rider, Apocalypse Now, Blue Velvet  but the friendships with Elvis and James Dean, his Andy Warhol-inspired art collection, the five wives and how he became the poster boy for the lost idealism of the 1960s? Not so much Im guessing.

But what is fascinating is how Hoppers career coincides with the arc of one as of the greatest periods of creativity in the history of mankind. When James Dean invented teenage rebellion in Rebel without a Cause, Hopper was his co- star, and years later when it all crashed and burned he was its defining iconic image.

Scott uses all of this to fashion an album of heady excitement and timeless class. He draws on the musical styles of the times that hints of Pink Floyd, The Beach Boys, and Burt Bacharach. Centre stage is Hopper in all his wild excitement. It is an absolute masterwork.

It might be my favourite ever Waterboys album and brings to five the distinct eras I can trace in their career.

Mike Scott of The Waterboys. Picture: Larry Cummins.

1. The Big Music Era: Albums like The Waterboys and This is the Sea, songs like The Whole of the Moon, A Girl Called Johnny and Red Army Blues. Music that was sweeping, grandiose and majestic. A mission statement.

2. Fishermans Blues / Steve Wickham Era: It was Steve that inspired the curiosity in Irish music that led to a career reinvention like no other. Scott found a joy and a sorrow in Irish music that few people had tapped into so powerfully. Check out songs like A Bang on The Ear and Strange Boat.

3. Solo Era: A strange time for Scott, time spent in the Findhorn community, with Ireland, The Waterboys and a whole other life apparently in the rearview mirror. Suitably, understandably, Bring Em All In and Still Burning are bruised classics.

4 . Waterboys / Brother Paul Era: When 'Brother' Paul Brown, a Nashville-based music legend, joined The Waterboys in 2013 something shifted in Mike. It would take a longer article to explain what exactly, but listen to Good Luck Seeker or All Souls Hill and all will be apparent

5. Life, Death, and Dennis Hopper: I suppose for this to be a proper era there will need to more of it, but additional tracks are incoming, and you could package this with his previous concept piece An Appointment with Mr Yeats, if you so wished.

The point is more that it is yet another dramatic career departure for an artist who has never stood still. He has followed his muse wherever it took him, lapping so many of those he started out with that it is startling.

So, statue for Mr Scott? Not that bad an idea at all.
House prices continued to charge upwards in February with the cost of housing jumping by 8% over the previous 12 months, according to the CSO. It means that the median price for a home in Ireland has rocketed upwards by 100,000 since 2020.

However, the number of properties bought in the second month of 2025 fell significantly from January  with just 3,245 dwelling purchases notified to the Revenue Commissioners versus 3,801 four weeks previously.

The reduced figure is even starker for first-time buyers, suggesting that spiralling prices may have forced aspiring buyers out of the market.

The CSO's latest residential property price index shows that the rate at which prices are increasing slowed slightly in the second month of the year, down from the 8.2% noted in January.

Echoing recent trends, the rate of increase in Dublin was lower than that seen in the rest of the country  7.1% versus 8.7%  a product of the fact that prices in Dublin, which are the highest in Ireland, have plateaued over the past 18 months.

The median price for a property across the country remains unchanged as of the end of February, at 360,000, meanwhile.

Social Democrats housing spokesperson, Rory Hearne, said: When the previous government took office in June 2020, the median price for a home in Ireland was 260,000. Since then, the cost of a home has increased by a staggering 100,000

He said that the new CSO figures show that a generation continues to be locked out of homeownership. It is unbelievable that the government insists they have the housing crisis under control when they clearly do not.

The highest and lowest prices for property remain in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown and Leitrim respectively, standing at 670,000 and 185,000.

The total expenditure on property purchases in February across the country was 1.4bn, a 13% decrease on January, while first-time buyer purchases were down even more markedly, dropping 21% to 1,195 from the 1,504 noted previously.

Brokers Ireland, which represents mortgage brokers nationwide, said that the new figures show that a fundamental shake-up" is required in housing policy in Ireland. Were talking about ongoing growth in house prices which are already high, the bodys deputy CEO Rachel McGovern said.

Housing policy must break with the disturbing acceptance there has been of the low level of housing delivery, she said, adding that a reliance on a potential recession to ease house price growth represents an appalling situation.

Ms McGovern said that the Governments new housing plan, which is set to involve the appointment of a so-called independent housing czar and the creation of a strategic housing delivery office, must involve a fundamental shake-up in the States response to housing.
Major pharmaceutical companies have warned the European Commission that they may divert up to 100bn they had planned to invest in Europe to the US and elsewhere.

Signed by companies including Ireland-based giants such as Pfizer, Eli Lilly, and MSD, the letter warns that EU member states were at risk of losing out from an industry exodus as firms were looking to increase manufacturing capacity elsewhere, the Irish Times has reported.

In the letter, sent last week to European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, the companies warn of a looming crisis due to the threatened trade war between the US and the EU.

US President Donald Trump has said he expects to impose tariffs on imported pharmaceuticals in the near future.

The companies also asked the EU to simplify regulations, noting that companies currently must conduct multi-country clinical trials for drugs, the letter said.

The industry also said in the letter that it takes issue with a fee the sector will soon need to pay to treat wastewater from micropollutants, French publication Les Echos said.

For a decade "the innovative industry has entirely reimbursed the increase in expenses linked to innovative medicines," the letter said, according to Les Echos.

"We hope to work together in the coming weeks to ensure that these proposals become reality to the benefit of Europe's patients and economic development," the letter added.

It comes as the latest figures from the CSO showed that Irish exports of pharmaceutical and medical products skyrocketed in February as the threat of US tariffs loomed.

EY Ireland chief economist Dr Loretta OSullivan said these figures, following similar spikes in January, bears all the hallmarks of a pre-emptive strike. She said:

Irelands significant trade linkages with the US mean businesses here are particularly exposed to transatlantic barriers, prompting them to get inventory into the American market as fast as possible. Well be closely watching to see if this trend continues in March.

Last week, European pharmaceutical companies warned von der Leyen in a meeting that US tariffs would hasten the industry's shift toward the United States and from Europe.

The US is the biggest market by sales for big pharma companies, and Europe and the US interconnected supply chains for medicines. EU medical and pharmaceutical product exports to the United States totalled about 90bn ($101.49bn) in 2023, according to Eurostat.

European pharmaceutical giants have recently been expanding production facilities in the United States.

With reporting from Reuters
A man has been remanded in custody after he was charged on Wednesday with the murder of a man in East Cork on Monday.

Reece Keogh, aged 29, with an address at an apartment at 140 North Main Street in Youghal, Co Cork, was brought before Midleton District Court on Wednesday morning where he was charged with the murder of Daniel OSullivan at Tynans Bar, 147 North Main Street, Youghal, on Monday, April 14, contrary to common law.

The accused, who wore black trainers, a grey tracksuit pants, and a light mustard coloured round-necked jumper, did not speak during the brief court hearing.

Detective Garda John ODonovan gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution. He said he arrested Mr Keogh at Midleton Garda Station at 3.06am on Wednesday morning for the purpose of charging him, and that he charged him at 3.25am as set out on the charge sheet.

He told Judge Miriam Walsh that when the charge was put to Mr Keogh, he replied not guilty. The issue of bail in a murder charge does not arise in the district court and Judge Walsh remanded the accused in custody to appear by video link, by consent, at Fermoy district Court next Wednesday, April 23.

Mr Keoghs solicitor, Joseph Cuddigan, said his client was in receipt of long-term social welfare payments and he applied for, and was granted, free legal aid.

He also asked the court that the authorities at Cork Prison be made aware that his client was a vulnerable person and that the psychiatric services of the prison be made aware of that.

Judge Walsh noted the matter and directed that Mr Keogh would receive a medical and psychiatric assessment at Cork Prison and would receive whatever medical attention would be required.

Mr OSullivan, who was originally from Mallow but who had been living in Youghal for several months, died in Cork University Hospital on Monday night a short time after he was injured during an incident on North Main Street in Youghal.

He led a troubled life, struggling with addiction and homelessness for most of his adult life, and was jailed in 2016 for manslaughter. A court was told in 2021 that he had great potential if he could address his addiction issues but he did not avail of offers of help.

Dan O'Sullivan was originally from Mallow but had been living in Youghal for several months. He died in Cork University Hospital on Monday night a short time after he was injured during an incident on North Main Street in Youghal.

In 2016, he pleaded guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to the manslaughter of French man, Vincent Morgain, aged 34, on Lower Oliver Plunkett St in Cork on September 15, 2015.

He was sentenced to eight years for manslaughter with the last three years suspended on conditions that included compliance with the probation service. However, in 2021, part of that suspension was revoked and he was sent back to prison for one year for failing to comply with the probation service.

Judge Helen Boyle said at the time that Mr OSullivan was fortunate to have such a dedicated probation officer, who described him as a young man with great potential, but who needed to address his heroin addiction and related issues in order to realise that potential.

However, last July the probation officer encountered him begging on the street in Waterford where he was clearly struggling with addiction and homelessness. The court heard that he did not take up her offer to attend with her at the probation service to address his issues.
An Irishwoman who alleged she was raped at knifepoint by the main suspect in the disappearance of toddler Madeleine McCann is bringing a case to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) against the Portuguese authorities over their handling of her attack.

Hazel Behan has claimed that the Portuguese authorities failed to properly investigate rapist Christian Bruckner over her serious sexual assault in 2004.

Ms Behan, who has waived her right to anonymity, lodged an application before the ECHR on Wednesday.

Bruckner, a convicted sex offender who is serving a jail sentence in Germany for rape, was acquitted by a German court in relation to the charge of violent rape of Ms Behan.

Ms Behan is accusing the Portuguese authorities of alleged inaction in identifying and prosecuting Bruckner.

Ms Behan, who was violently raped in her apartment in Praia da Rocha, Algarve, has consistently maintained that the handling of her case by Portuguese authorities was condemned due to their investigative failings.

She claims that their failings include the alleged failure to seize blood-stained bed sheets and false nails broken from the struggle which plainly contained important forensic evidence.

She further claims that there was a failure to provide a translator so she could understand the process or provide a detailed witness statement.

In a statement from Belfast law firm Phoenix Law, they added the claim also included: The imposition of surveillance on Hazel after the incident which included a direct approach by the Portuguese police to return to Ireland due to the damage her allegations had on the tourism industry and the closing of the case without notice.

Despite striking similarities between her case and other offences that occurred in the area, to which Bruckner is now accused, the Portuguese authorities failed to pursue any clear lines of inquiry.

The systematic failings in the Portuguese investigation from the time have directly affected the ability of the German authorities to prosecute Bruckner for the rape of Ms Behan.

Solicitor Darragh Mackin is acting for Hazel Behan (PA)

Ms Behan is bringing a case alleging violations of Article 3 (prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment) and Article 8 (right to private life).

She said: Lodging my case with the European Court of Human Rights is not just about seeking justice for myself  its about standing up after being silenced and ignored for far too long.

I carry the pain of how I was treated every single day but I hope the court will ensure that my human rights are protected in line with the very standards that is expected right across Europe.

And that maybe, through this, Portugal, and other countries, will treat victims of rape, both domestic and foreign, with the decency and respect we deserve.

Darragh Mackin, solicitor for Ms Behan, said: The European Court of Human Rights exists for a reason. It exists to ensure victims like Hazel Behan are guaranteed a minimum level of protections across the various member states.

Through this action, Hazel has highlighted the systematic and inexcusable failings by the Portuguese authorities has denied her and many other victims, justice for nearly two decades.

These failings have ultimately contributed to the acquittal of one of the most high-profile perpetrators in modern history.

This case is about ensuring that victims of sexual violence are not ignored, dismissed, or silenced by the very systems that are meant to protect them.
Two men and a teenager have appeared before the court charged in connection with the death of Willie Moorehouse in Bray.

The three accused came before Judge David Kennedy at Arklow District court on Wednesday morning.

Patrick Fitzpatrick, aged 33, with an address of Old Court, Bray, Co. Wicklow, was charged with the murder of Willie Moorehouse who had an address at the Half Moon Halting Site just outside Bray, in the playground at Ballywaltrim, Bray, Co. Wicklow, on January 19, 2025.

24-year-old James Fell, of Fassaroe, Bray, Co. Wicklow, was charged with production of articles likely to cause harm and violent disorder, while the young person who cannot be named to protect his identity was also charged with production of articles likely to cause harm and violent disorder on the same occasion.

Detective Garda Ger Brennan told the court that on Tuesday at Bray Garda Station he arrested Patrick Fitzpatrick. He gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution. He said he outlined the charge of murder to the accused, and handed him a true copy of the charge.

The accused, said Det. Garda Brennan, replied "bullshit" to the murder charge before saying "I just want to talk to my solicitor" after he was charged with the violent disorder. Solicitor for the accused said there would be no application for bail.

On the application of Sgt Tony Flynn, Judge Kennedy said he would remand the accused in custody to appear before Bray District Court on Thursday via video link. The solicitor for the accused applied for free legal aid stating that the accused was not working.

He also asked that he be given medical attention at Cloverhill Prison. Judge Kennedy granted the application.

James Fell

Det. Garda Brian Coen gave evidence of having arrested James Fell at Greystones Garda Station on Tuesday, January 15, 2025. He told the court of having arrested, charged and cautioned the accused, and charged him with violent disorder and production of an article.

He said that the accused made no reply to the first charge but said "that's bullshit, that is" to the second. The maximum sentence is 10 years.

The accused man's solicitor said they were making an application for bail. Garda Coen said that gardai were objecting to the bail application given the seriousness of the charge before the court.

Garda Coen outlined the previous convictions to the court in relation to the accused, stating that should he be granted bail he would re-offend. However, the accused man's solicitor said he is working at present, would agree to sign on daily at a garda station, and also provide a telephone number.

Defence solicitor for Mr. Fell, Mark Maguire, suggested the issue of identity may not be certain and would be a matter for the trial. He said his client is working, protests his innocence and can provide an address.

Judge Kennedy said he would grant bail on strict conditions. He ordered that the accused provide a permanent address, sign on daily at Coolock Garda Station, provide a telephone number that is accessible at any time, that he stay away from others involved, and also stay out of Bray save for court appearances, and stay away from his co-accused.

Teenager

The young person was brought before the court after Judge Kennedy asked all in attendance not involved in the case to vacate the court. Det. Garda John Hall told the court of having arrested the young person at Wicklow Garda Station on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.

Garda Hall gave evidence of having given the young person details of arrest, charge and caution, and that he outlined to the accused the charge of violent disorder. Garda Hall said he made no reply to the charge.

When an application for bail was made by the accused's solicitor, Mark Maguire said his client maintains he was not involved in the incident himself, though he admits he was at the scene.

He added that because the accused is a juvenile there is a higher duty of care from the court. He said the boy is resident in a care home where there is appropriate support.

Garda Hall said that gardai were objecting to bail. Garda Hall outlined to the court the accused's previous offences, stating that he was currently before the court on 34 charges including the charge before today's court.

In relation to the incident for which the accused is before today's court, Garda Hall said that Mr Moorehouse was stabbed on a number of occasions. He said that CCTV footage was viewed in relation to the affray from which the accused was identified.

Garda Hall said, should the accused be granted bail, he was of the opinion that he would not sign on while he also had gone missing on a number of occasions from the care home.

Judge Kennedy said he would refuse the application for bail. He remanded the accused in custody to Oberstown to appear via video link before Bray District Court on Thursday.

The body of Willie Moorehouse was found in Ballywaltrim playground in Bray on January 19, 2025. The 36-year-old was a father of six and his partner was pregnant with his seventh child at the time.

Four people were arrested on Tuesday as part of the inquiry, while a woman in her 50s was released without charge, and a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
A young person was extradited from Britain to Cork to face a charge of money-laundering in respect of over 100,000 allegedly lodged in their account from an invoice re-direction crime perpetrated against a Spanish company.

This was the allegation made against 35-year-old Sergio Luyinduladio at Cork District Court today where Detective Garda Aonghus Cotter objected to bail being granted to the accused.

One of the grounds for the objection was the seriousness of the allegations in the case and the alleged strength of the evidence.

The charge states that between November 23-26, 2018, at AIB, 26 St Patricks St, the defendant did engage in transferring or possessing the proceeds of criminal conduct, namely 102,940, knowing it was the proceeds of criminal conduct.

The accused was present in Cork District Court on foot of an extradition warrant that had been contested over several months.

Defence solicitor Killian McCarthy said in the course of the application for bail that Sergio Luyinduladio identifies now as a female."

In evidence the defendant testified: I am transitioning.

Judge Treasa Kelly refused bail and remanded the accused in custody for one week.

The judge agreed to an application by Mr McCarthy to ask the prison authorities to provide all necessary care and medical attention as there would be some concerns.

Refusing bail, Judge Kelly said: The accused has been charged with a serious charge of money-laundering. Det Garda Cotter has a great concern that the defendant is a flight risk and may not attend. There is a large sum of money involved. I am satisfied the accused is a flight risk.
A Tipperary schoolgirl is to mount a 50-hour protest outside the Dail as part of an ongoing campaign for better autism services.

Cara Darmody, who has two brothers with severe autism, plans to hold the protest over two days from 10am on May 20. The 14-year-old will sleep overnight in a tent outside the front gates of Leinster House in a specially cordoned off area.

Cara, from Ardfinnan, Co Tipperary, intends to revise for her summer exams while protesting.

She is protesting to again try and get the government to set a date by which the HSE will commit to abiding by the Disability Act 2005. This sets a legal obligation to have a childs special needs assessed within six months but the HSE has repeatedly failed to fulfill this over the past 20 years.

Her Dail protests last summer managed to get a promise from the then Taoiseach Simon Harris that he would try and get the HSE to abide by the law. Cara has written to both Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Mr Harris, who is now Tanaiste, calling for an immediate end to the continuous breaking of the law around the Assessment of Needs (AON).

Permanent damage is being caused to children by the State's failure to assess children in a timely manner and it must end now, she said. I have called for this to happen for several years, but it just falls on deaf ears.

"The Taoiseach and Tanaiste keep saying they must do more about this issue, and they keep telling us what they need to do.

On studying outside Leinster House during her protest, she added: I think I'll get way more study done than normal as I'll have very little else to do.

The 13-year-old has previously met Leo Varadkar, Mr Martin and Mr Harris when they were taoiseach to discuss changes to autism services. Cara has also spoken with TDs and senators about her campaign, which led to a Labour Party parliamentary motion on better autism resourcing in 2023.

Her protests at the Dail echo those of Gretta Thunberg, the climate change activist who started her campaigns to raise awareness as a schoolgirl outside her own countrys parliamentary buildings.

In June of last year, Cara protested outside Mr Harris's department once a week. The culmination of that protest was him allocating 10m towards what he named Cara's Fund, with a proportion of the money going towards Assessment of Needs (AONs) appointments for special needs children.

Cara became the youngest person in Ireland to pass Leaving Cert maths in August 2023. Some six years ahead of her time, she was just 12 when she took both ordinary level papers at her national school in Ardfinnan in June that year, later getting 97%.

It is the same mark she got when she sat the Junior Cert maths exam in 2022. She sat both exams to raise funds for autism services and awareness about the lack of timely resources for children with autism.

The Taoiseach, Department of Health, and the HSE have been asked for a comment.
There has been a resounding rejection of Conor McGregors attempt to run for the presidency, the public expenditure minister said after former MMA fighter was interviewed by former Fox News host Tucker Carlson.

Jack Chambers hit out at Mr McGregors positioning on the presidency, describing his approach to politics as extreme.

I think most political parties and independents completely reject his politics, his rhetoric, his divisive approach to public debate and Im sure that will be reflected in his interview with Tucker Carlson, Mr Chambers said.

That type of extreme politics isnt something that most Irish people will accept and I think it will be widely rejected if he attempted to run for the presidency.

Mr McGregor hosted Mr Carlson in his Dublin pub, the Black Forge, on Tuesday night, and was interviewed by the former Fox News host for a segment on his new network.

Mr McGregor has signalled his intentions to run for the presidency of Ireland, when Michael D Higginss term of office expires at the end of the year.

Mr Chambers added he would be surprised if Mr McGregor received enough support for a nomination to contest the presidency.

To receive a nomination, prospective candidates are required to be nominated by 20 members of the Oireachtas, or nominated by four local authorities.

Last month, Mr McGregor was invited by US president Donald Trump to visit the White House for St Patricks Day.

His visit to the White House was widely condemned by Irish politicians, including the Taoiseach and Tanaiste, who said that he did not speak for Ireland.

Later in March, it was confirmed no charges would be brought against Mr McGregor over alleged incitement of hatred ahead of the Dublin riots in late 2023.

On the night before the riots, Mr McGregor had tweeted Ireland, we are at war, and a separate post later said: You reap what you sow."

It is understood gardai had investigated Mr McGregors comments and forwarded a file to the DPP to consider whether charges should be brought. It has now emerged no charges will be brought.

The High Court also heard last month that Mr McGregor is due to seek to introduce new evidence in support of his appeal to overturn a civil jurys verdict last year that he assaulted Nikita Hand.
The recently published Policing Authority report, Experiences of Policing amongst Brazilians and People of African Descent in Ireland, confirms what many in our communities already know. It gives public voice to private pain, describing mistrust of gardai, negative interactions, racial profiling, and lack of cultural sensitivity.

As Irelands Special Rapporteur on Racial Equity and Racism, and as a black woman, a mother, and an activist who hears these stories frequently, I welcome this report. But welcoming it is not enough  we must act.

For years, black and brown communities in Ireland have raised concerns about how they are treated by law enforcement. The Traveller community are not also left out in the over-policing experienced by these groups. These are not one-off anecdotes or fringe grievances. They are patterns. Patterns of racial profiling. Patterns of distrust. Patterns of young men being over-policed and under-protected.

I have listened to mothers, again and again, who are afraid every time their sons walk out the door. I recently heard a voice note from a mother whose son was arrested at his estate on his way home from work. As she described, through tears, how her child was treated, very similar to scenarios described in the report, I could hear her pain  raw and unfiltered. It stayed with me. No parent in Ireland should have to carry that kind of fear that their child can go to work and end up in a cell, albeit temporarily. The impact of such experiences can cause harm to a person, particularly young people still growing and grappling with understanding their identities and where they fit in society.

I have also heard reports that raise serious concerns about the differential treatment experienced based on perceived nationality or accent. Ive been told repeatedly that individuals with strong African accents  or those assumed to be foreign-born  are treated with less patience, less empathy, and more suspicion. We cannot ignore how foreign-sounding voices trigger assumptions about legitimacy, vulnerability, or criminality. Accent has become a proxy for bias. While this did not show up in the report, as we know, one single report cannot cover everything  it is a necessary beginning.

Despite the EU Victims' Rights Directive (Directive 2012/29/EU), which establishes minimum standards for the rights, support, and protection of victims of crime within the EU, ensuring they receive appropriate information, support, and protection, and can participate in criminal proceedings, not very many victims are aware of or utilise these rights.

I feel compelled not only to speak but to act. I now plan to organise visits to prisons to speak with young black boys and others from marginalised backgrounds.

These young people deserve to know they are seen, loved, and not alone. They need role models, hope, and someone to believe in their future even when the system does not expect much from them

This is unfortunate as it is contradictory to my research studies, which show very high engagement with society, in education, active job seeking, and a lot of emotional labour invested in community and volunteering roles on issues the government has left unsupported. A recent 2025 ESRI report, for example, shows that immigrants are more likely to be working than Irish born.

I want to be clear: my call for reform is not an attack on Gardai as individuals. I deeply respect those officers who serve with integrity, compassion, and fairness.

But respect for the institution does not mean turning a blind eye to its flaws. When harm is done  when people are targeted, humiliated, or traumatised  there must be accountability. Denial only deepens division

Policing, at its best, is built on trust. But trust cannot thrive in a system where young people are stopped repeatedly for doing nothing wrong. It cannot survive when parents feel their complaints are ignored or dismissed. It cannot exist where people are more afraid of calling for help than of facing violence.

One of the most troubling findings of the report is the widespread mistrust in the complaints process. People are afraid to speak outafraid of being targeted, of being disbelieved, or simply being told that their experiences dont matter. If we want justice, we must make the reporting of misconduct safe, transparent, and accessible. This means protecting whistleblowers and victims from retaliation and ensuring every complaint is taken seriously.

This isnt just about community relations. Its about the kind of country we want Ireland to be. A fair country. A just country. A country where a childs future is not determined by the colour of their skin or the sound of their voice. Where harsher treatment is not determined by skin colour or accent.

As a mother, I worry deeply about the messages our children are receiving. What do they learn when they see their friends harassed or their fathers detained? What does it teach them when their trust in the Gardai is shattered before it can ever be formed?

We are shaping the legacy of this country right now. We can choose to normalise this injustice  or we can choose something better. We can choose to end racial profiling. We can choose to affirm that the lives and dignity of all people  regardless of race or nationality  matter equally in the eyes of the law.

The report makes several critical recommendations that deserve urgent implementation. We need disaggregated data collection, not only to measure the problem but to drive accountability. The need for the collection of disaggregated data is an urgent issue across all departments in Ireland where race and ethnicity data are not being collected. In addition, we need independent oversight and the inclusion of racial and ethnic minorities in decision-making structures. And we need ongoing anti-racism education that goes beyond surface-level diversity training.

This is not just a matter for government or Garda leadership. Its a matter for all of us. Racism in policing reflects deeper inequalities in our society  inequalities in housing, education, employment, and healthcare. Tackling it requires collective will, honest conversation, and courageous leadership.

Some might say Ireland isnt as bad as other countries. But that bar is too low. We should not compare ourselves to the worst-case scenarios elsewhere. We should strive for the best of what we can be. Because when one community feels unsafe, the whole country suffers. When one group is dehumanised, we all lose a piece of our humanity.

To be black or Brazilian in Ireland should not mean being followed in shops, stopped by Gardai without reason, or made to feel like an outsider in the only home youve ever known.

So let this report not be the end of a conversation  but the start of a movement. One that listens to mothers. One that hears the pain in their voices. One that restores trust, rebuilds fairness, and reaffirms our shared humanity.

The future of our young people depends on it.
The reality of the climate crisis inches ever closer every time we have what we deem an extreme weather event. But for communities at the biggest risk, they are witnessing climate change first-hand and living with the devastation it can wreak.

The inherent injustice of this is that these are the people who have done least to cause the climate crisis, yet the erratic weather that results is driving them further into poverty. For this reason Trocaire is seeking to highlight their stories as part of its 2025 Trocaire Box appeal this Lent which aims to raise awareness of the direct and indirect consequences resulting from climate change that are having a profoundly negative effect on the lives of millions of people right across the developing world.

Ilma, her husband Julio, and their four children in La Paz, Guatemala, are a prime example of a family struggling with the devastating impact of climate change. Like numerous other communities in Central America, they face huge challenges due to extended droughts and unprecedented deluges during wet seasons.

Claire Kelly, head of communications with Trocaire, has just returned from a trip to La Paz where she witnessed first-hand the profound challenges this family faces on a daily basis. Kelly explains that Trocaire is playing an active role in helping to alleviate the poverty and injustice this family faces.

For us the deep injustice of it is something that cannot be ignored, she says. The people that we visited and many communities like them across the world are doing the least to contribute to the climate crisis but they are the ones who have been impacted the most.

Ilma, Julio and their children with the crops that failed due to the effects of climate change.

The current dry season has been marked by extreme drought, something Kelly witnessed with her own eyes. You can see the dry, cracked earth and crops that have failed, she says.

Not only does this mean they do not have enough food to feed their families, they are also denied the opportunity to make a small income with any surplus crops.

The reality is that these families do not have the capacity to absorb the damage caused by extreme weather events like hurricanes and floods, or recover from their impact, Kelly says. When crops are decimated, so too is the familys income."

Extreme weather has knock-on effects for the whole family. Their daughter Miriam has just reached the age of 13 and was set to go to the equivalent of secondary school. As it is some distance away from the isolated community, the family must pay the equivalent of about 5 per week for her bus fare.

But because the crops have failed and they have no income, they are struggling to come up with that and help her further her education, Kelly says. Its so unfair because they have real hopes and dreams.

Kelly says she was particularly moved when they asked Miriam what she wanted to be when she grew up  and Miriam got emotional as she answered I dream of becoming a teacher.

As a mother all you want is to provide a better future for your children, but for Ilma it is beyond her control to help Miriam achieve her dreams.

Claire Kelly, head of communications with Trocaire.

But despite this devastation and disruption to their lives, the resilience of families like Ilma and Julios is remarkable, Kelly says.

When you see the children holding hands and laughing, they have a joy about them that is remarkable when you think about what they are going through. Julio Jnr reminded me a lot of my own son with a little twinkle of fun in his eye as he played the pretend drums with the failed crop to make his little sister laugh. They are a gorgeous family that is incredibly hardworking and devoted to each other.

Trocaire is committed to working with communities such as these in the developing world, helping them to adapt long-term to the changes the climate crisis has wrought for their way of living and prevent the cycle of generational poverty. Trocaires Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Early Warning System (EWS) training has been essential for the family and many like them, ensuring they move to higher, safer ground during flooding.

Trocaire also supports communities in Guatemala to adapt on a long-term basis from helping them use bioengineering techniques that utilise living plants to help stabilise steep slopes or hillsides to protect the soil from wind and water erosion.

They use agricultural adaptation such as the creation of seed banks in communities to store seeds, systems to recycle water for agricultural purposes, drip irrigation systems and the cultivation of fruits and vegetables for family consumption.

It is very much a partnership approach, to help them mitigate these disasters when they come, Kelly notes.

Supporting Trocaires Box appeal this year will positively impact the lives of this family and others like them. This is the less recognisable face of the climate crisis, Kelly says. We have seen the real human impact of rising temperatures and extreme weather events. It needs to be seen to be believed and thats why we are highlighting their story during out Lenten appeal.

To find out more about Trocaires Box appeal or to make a donation visit Trocaire.org
Some prospective jurors in Harvey Weinsteins New York City rape retrial have made clear they could not be fair in judging the Hollywood mogul-turned-pariah.

As jury selection began on Tuesday, Mark Axelowitz, an actor who plays a Manhattan prosecutor in the new Robert De Niro film The Alto Knights, was one of more than a dozen candidates who raised a hand when the judge asked if anyone felt they could not be impartial.

I dont like the guy, he is a really bad guy, Axelowitz told a reporter after being dismissed from consideration.

Another prospective juror disqualified herself because she had previously been sexually assaulted. Another wondered whether anyone could be impartial.

The first day ended with no one chosen for the panel of 12 jurors and six alternatives. Selection will resume on Wednesday.

Harvey Weinstein in court on Tuesday (Steven Hirsch/New York Post/AP)

Weinstein is being tried again after New Yorks highest court last year overturned his 2020 conviction and 23-year prison sentence and ordered a new trial, finding that improper rulings and prejudicial evidence tainted the original one.

That Court of Appeals ruling gave Weinstein a second chance to fight the charges, with his retrial playing out in a different atmosphere than the first, which was held amid the global MeToo reckoning over sexual misconduct.

The 73-year-old has pleaded not guilty and denies he raped or sexually assaulted anyone. He is older and more frail, in and out of hospital regularly for a variety of health problems, and far removed from his time among the most powerful men in showbusiness.

Weinsteins lawyer, Arthur Aidala, said the ex-studio boss is cautiously optimistic that when all the evidence is out, the jury will find that all of his relationships were consensual and therefore reach a verdict of not guilty.

Even if he is acquitted, Weinstein will not go free.

He is also appealing against a 2022 rape conviction in Los Angeles. His 16-year prison sentence in that case still stands, though his lawyers said he needs to be resentenced because the since-vacated New York conviction factored into how his punishment was calculated.

Weinstein is being retried on two charges from his original trial. He is accused of raping an aspiring actress in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 and forcing oral sex on a production assistant in 2006.

He is also charged with one criminal sex act based on an allegation from a woman who was not a part of the original trial. That woman, who has asked not to be named publicly, alleges that Weinstein forced oral sex on her at a Manhattan hotel.

Speaking outside court on Tuesday, that accusers lawyer, Lindsay Goldbrum, said one thing would become crystal clear from her clients evidence at the trial: This was not consensual. This was sexual assault with force.

I am confident that there will be justice in this case. It is important for women everywhere and for people who are victims of sexual assault everywhere that others pave the way and show their dedication in this fight against sexual assault.

Judge Curtis Farber has set aside at least four days for jury selection and expects opening statements and the start of evidence next week.
A federal judge has said she will order sworn testimony by Trump administration officials to determine if they complied with her orders to facilitate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly deported to a notorious El Salvador prison.

US District Judge Paula Xinis issued her order after Trump officials continually refused to retrieve Mr Abrego Garcia. She said they had defied a clear Supreme Court order.

She also disregarded Mondays comments by White House officials and El Salvadors president that they were unable to bring back Mr Abrego Garcia, describing their statements as two very misguided ships passing in the night.

A man identified as Kilmar Abrego Garcia is led by force by guards through the Terrorism Confinement Centre in Tecoluca, El Salvador (US District Court for the District of Maryland/AP)

The Supreme Court has spoken, Judge Xinis said, adding that what was said in the Oval Office on Monday is not before the court.

She said she will call for the evidence of government officials, including Robert Cerna, the acting field office director for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. She expects the process to last about two weeks.

The bottom line is it was a very simple directive, Judge Xinis said of her own order for the US to return Mr Abrego Garcia. Ive got nothing. Ive got no real response.

The hearing came a day after White House advisers repeated the claim that they lack the authority to bring back the Salvadoran national from his native country. The president of El Salvador also said on Monday that he would not return Mr Abrego Garcia, likening it to smuggling a terrorist into the United States.

Mr Abrego Garcias deportation has become a flashpoint as President Donald Trump follows up on campaign promises of mass deportations, including to an El Salvador prison.

A man identified as Kilmar Abrego Garcia in an El Salvador prison (US District Court for the District of Maryland/AP)

After Tuesdays hearing, a crowd outside the federal court house in Maryland chanted: What do we want? Due process. When do want it? Now!

A lawyer for Mr Abrego Garcia said contempt proceedings could be the logical next step after the discovery phase. This is still a win, and this is still progress, Rina Ghandi said. Were not done yet, though.

Mr Abrego Garcias wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, said shortly before Tuesdays hearing that he was working hard to achieve the American dream for his family.

That dream was shattered on March 12 when he was abducted and disappeared by the United States government in front of our five-year-old-child, she said. Today is 34 days after his disappearance I will not stop fighting until I see my husband alive.

Mr Abrego Garcia, 29, lived in the US for roughly 14 years, during which he worked in construction, got married and was raising three children with disabilities, according to court records.

Jennifer Vasquez Sura (Jose Luis Magana/AP)

A US immigration judge had shielded him from deportation to El Salvador in 2019, ruling that he was likely to face persecution there by local gangs who had terrorised his family.

He was also given a federal permit to work in the US, where he was a metal worker and union member, according to Mr Abrego Garcias lawyers.

But the Trump administration expelled him to El Salvador last month anyway. Administration officials later described the mistake as an administrative error but insisted that Mr Abrego Garcia was a member of the MS-13 gang in Long Island, New York  where he has never lived.

He was never charged with a crime and has denied the allegations.

Judge Xinis had ordered the Trump administration in early April to bring Mr Abrego Garcia back, and the US Supreme Court agreed last week that the government must facilitate his release.

But the White House has baulked at trying to broker his return, arguing the courts cannot intrude on the presidents diplomacy powers.

In a filing on Tuesday afternoon, Trump administration lawyers said the government is prepared to facilitate Mr Abrego Garcias return, but they said his protection from being deported to El Salvador would be removed, and he could be deported again to El Salvador or to a third country.

In a court filing on Tuesday, his lawyers rejected the idea that the US lacks the authority to retrieve him. They noted that the US is paying El Salvador to hold prisoners, including Mr Abrego Garcia, and can exercise those same contractual rights to request their release.
A suspect accused of attempting to assassinate US President Donald Trump in South Florida can hire an expert to examine the rifle recovered from the scene, but only to determine its operability, a federal judge has said.

Ryan Wesley Rouths lawyers had asked that their expert be allowed to inspect, photograph and test the rifle in order to evaluate a government experts findings, as well as test it for other information that they thought was relevant.
The Maldives has changed its immigration law to bar Israeli passport holders from the country over the war in Gaza.

The amendment was passed by parliament on Monday and approved by President Mohamed Muizzu on Tuesday, according to the presidents office.
Tommy Robinson has lost an appeal against his 18-month sentence for the civil offence of contempt of court at the Court of Appeal in Britain.

Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was jailed in October last year after admitting multiple breaches of a High Court order made in 2021, which barred him from repeating false allegations against a Syrian refugee who successfully sued him for libel.

The 42-year-old appealed against his sentence on Friday, with the Court of Appeal told that his mental health, combined with his segregation in prison, is making him ill and is having a demonstrable effect on him.

Britain's Solicitor General opposed the appeal, with its barristers stating there are no grounds for altering the sentence.

In a ruling on Wednesday, Lady Chief Justice Baroness Carr, Lord Justice Edis and Lord Justice Warby dismissed the appeal.

They said: The judges application of the law and his reasoning on the appropriate sanction in this case both exhibit a meticulous approach.

The decision marks Robinsons second court defeat in less than a month, after a bid to bring a legal challenge against the British government over his segregation at HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes was thrown out of the High Court in March.

He was jailed at Woolwich Crown Court after admitting 10 breaches of the injunction, the Solicitor General having earlier issued two contempt claims against him last year.

The first alleged he knowingly breached the order on four occasions, including by having published, caused, authorised or procured a film called Silenced, which contains the libellous allegations, in May 2023.

The film was pinned to the top of Robinsons profile on the social media site X, while he also repeated the claims in three interviews between February and June 2023.

The second claim was issued in August concerning six further breaches, including playing the film at a demonstration in Trafalgar Square in central London last summer.

Handing down the sentence in October, Mr Justice Johnson said nobody is above the law, and he described Robinsons breaches of the injunction as flagrant.

The judge said Robinson could reduce his sentence by four months if he took certain steps to purge his contempt, such as removing the film from his social media pages.

At the Court of Appeal, Alisdair Williamson KC, for Robinson, said he has ADHD and complex post-traumatic stress disorder, which the sentencing judge was not fully aware of.

He said: (Mr Justice Johnson) did not have before him this additional factor, which in of itself means that the conditions that Mr Yaxley-Lennon faces are more onerous.

He continued: He is being kept safe by the authorities in segregation, but being kept safe is making him ill, and more ill than Mr Justice Johnson could have foreseen on the basis of the information before him.

Aidan Eardley KC, for the Solicitor General, said in written submissions there is no evidence that the conditions in which the appellant is being held are more severe than was anticipated by Mr Justice Johnson.

He said: Legally, there is no basis for arguing that conditions unforeseeably imposed by the prison authorities could found a ground of appeal.

He continued: There are no grounds for altering the sentence in this case.

The injunction was issued after Robinson was successfully sued by Jamal Hijazi, a then-schoolboy who was assaulted at Almondbury Community School in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, in October 2018.

After a clip of the incident went viral, Robinson made false claims on Facebook, including about Mr Hijazi attacking girls in his school, leading to the libel case.

Mr Justice Nicklin ordered Robinson to pay Mr Hijazi 100,000 in damages and his legal costs, as well as making the injunction preventing Robinson from repeating the allegations.
Migrants from Bangladesh, Colombia, Morocco and Tunisia are unlikely to be granted asylum in Europe and should have their applications fast-tracked so they can be sent home more quickly, the European Unions executive branch has said.

The European Commission said seven countries  also including Egypt, India and Kosovo  should be designated as safe third countries.

Applications by their citizens for international protection in Europe would be wrapped up in three months rather than the usual six.

In total, more than 200,000 people from these countries applied for asylum last year.

Many member states are facing a significant backlog of asylum applications, so anything we can do now to support faster asylum decisions is essential

A year ago, EU nations endorsed sweeping reforms to the blocs failed asylum system.

The rules were meant to resolve the issues that have divided the 27 countries since well over one million migrants swept into Europe in 2015, most fleeing war in Syria and Iraq.

But the new rules are not set to come into force until at least June 2026, and the commission is desperate to speed up procedures, including by deporting people more quickly, to ease pressure on migrant reception facilities.

Many member states are facing a significant backlog of asylum applications, so anything we can do now to support faster asylum decisions is essential, EU migration commissioner Magnus Brunner said.

Mr Brunner said the commissions proposal can help member states deal with claims more quickly.

He insisted that each applicant would be assessed on a case-by-case basis and subject to the scrutiny of national courts, so people could appeal.

The plan must be endorsed by EU member countries and the European Parliament before it can come into force.

Under it, asylum applications by people coming from countries that are candidates to join the EU  Albania, Bosnia, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey  would also be fast-tracked.

On top of that, EU members could speed up proceedings for people coming from countries where 20% or less of applicants are granted international protection in Europe.

The so-called recognition rate for the seven safe third countries is 5% or less.
Harvey Weinsteins lawyers asked a judge on Wednesday to allow the ailing ex-studio boss to spend his nights at a New York City hospital instead of jail for the duration of his rape retrial.

Weinsteins lawyers made the request as jury selection resumed for a second day. The 73-year-old disgraced film mogul arrived in court in a wheelchair, as he has at all his recent court appearances.

In court papers, his lawyers argued that Weinsteins stay at New York Citys Rikers Island jail complex is exacerbating his health issues and that he would be better off in the prison ward at Bellevue Hospital. He been back and forth to Bellevue several times in recent months for various treatments.

Weinstein has numerous health conditions, including chronic myeloid leukaemia, heart issues, diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, sciatica and severe limitations on his ability to walk.

Because of this mistreatment, he has been worn down considerably health-wise, and now faces the stress of trial in this condition, which may very well lead to serious health complications, even death

A recent tongue infection was misdiagnosed at Rikers, requiring a hospital stay, and he has gained nearly 20 pounds (nine kilograms) in the past month, his lawyer Imran Ansari said.

In a statement, Mr Ansari said Weinstein is also subjected to freezing temperatures at Rikers and is not provided with clean clothing.

Because of this mistreatment, he has been worn down considerably health-wise, and now faces the stress of trial in this condition, which may very well lead to serious health complications, even death, Mr Ansari said.

Weinsteins lawyers filed a legal claim against New York City last November, alleging he was receiving substandard medical treatment in unhygienic conditions at Rikers.

The claim, which seeks five million dollars (3.77 million) in damages, argues that Weinstein has been returned to Rikers each time before fully recovering at hospital.

The troubled jail complex has faced growing scrutiny for its mistreatment of detainees and dangerous conditions. Last year, a federal judge cleared the way for a possible federal takeover, finding the city had placed inmates in unconstitutional danger.

Judge Curtis Farber has yet to rule on the transfer request, and the issue was not discussed in court before jury selection resumed on Wednesday morning.

Harvey Weinstein in court in Manhattan during jury selection in his retrial (Angelina Katsanis/Pool Photo via AP)

The first day ended on Tuesday with no one chosen for the panel of 12 jurors and six alternates. Wednesday kicked off with two dozen prospective jurors being brought to the courtroom for more questioning after making it through an initial round a day earlier.

Weinstein is being tried again after New Yorks highest court, the Court of Appeals, last year overturned his 2020 conviction and 23-year prison sentence and ordered a new trial, finding that improper rulings and prejudicial testimony tainted the original one.

Weinstein is being retried on two charges from his original trial. He is accused of raping an aspiring actor in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 and a criminal sex act by forcing oral sex on a film and TV production assistant in 2006.

He is also charged with one count of criminal sex act based on an allegation from a woman who was not a part of the original trial. That woman, who has asked not to be named publicly, alleges that Weinstein forced oral sex on her at a Manhattan hotel.

Weinstein has pleaded not guilty and denies raping or sexually assaulting anyone.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trumps special envoy, will travel to Paris this week for talks with European allies on US efforts to negotiate a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.

The US State Department said Mr Rubio and Mr Witkoff would be in the French capital on Thursday for the meetings.

The officials will have talks with European counterparts to advance President Trumps goal to end the Russia-Ukraine war and stop the bloodshed, department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said in a statement on Wednesday.

Mr Rubio also will discuss ways to advance shared interests in the region, she said.

French President Emmanuel Macron will meet Mr Rubio and Mr Witkoff, according to Mr Macrons office. They also will hold talks with Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on the war in Ukraine, the Middle East and the Iranian nuclear programme.

Vice President JD Vance is visiting Italy later in the week, meeting Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. She is scheduled to visit the White House on Thursday.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands prior to their talks in St Petersburg last Friday (Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

The meetings come as concerns grow about Mr Trumps readiness to draw closer to Russia as the US seeks to broker a ceasefire in Ukraine.

There is wariness about other Trump administration moves, from tariffs on some of its closest partners to rhetoric about Nato and Greenland.

Mr Rubio and Mr Witkoff have helped lead US efforts to seek peace more than three years after Russia launched the war. Several rounds of negotiations have been held in Saudi Arabia, and Mr Witkoff met last week with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Moscow and Kyiv agreed last month to implement a 30-day halt on strikes on energy facilities, but Russia has kept up daily strikes.

Both parties have differed on the start time for stopping strikes and alleged daily breaches by the other side. Moscow has effectively refused to accept a comprehensive ceasefire that Mr Trump has pushed and Ukraine has endorsed.

Russia has made it conditional on a halt in Ukraines mobilisation efforts and Western arms supplies, which are demands rejected by Ukraine.

In a sign of Mr Witkoffs broad portfolio as Mr Trump seeks to broker peace deals from Ukraine to the Middle East, the envoy held negotiations last weekend with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi over Tehrans advancing nuclear programme. More talks are expected on Saturday.
The top United Nations official in South Sudan urged the UN Security Council on Wednesday to use its clout to prevent the worlds newest nation from again plunging into civil war.

Nicholas Haysom warned that the escalating rivalry between South Sudan President Salva Kiir and one of the countrys vice presidents has degenerated into direct military confrontation between their parties.

Recent fighting in the countrys north, the arrest of First Vice President Riek Machar and a campaign of misinformation, disinformation and hate speech are fuelling political and ethnic tensions  particularly on social media, he said.

If the political crisis is not averted the humanitarian nightmare will become a reality very quickly

Mr Haysom, the UN special envoy and head of the almost 20,000-strong UN peacekeeping mission in the country, warned that these conditions are darkly reminiscent of the 2013 and 2016 conflicts, which took over 400,000 lives.

There were high hopes for peace and stability after oil-rich South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011.

But the country slid into civil war in December 2013 when forces loyal to Mr Kiir, who is from the largest ethnic group in the country, called the Dinka, started battling those loyal to Machar, who is from the second-largest ethnic group, called the Nuer.

A 2018 peace deal has been fragile, and implementation has been slow. A presidential election has been postponed until 2026.

Mr Haysom said, however, that the 2018 agreement remains the only viable framework to break this cycle of violence in South Sudan.

The overriding imperative now is to urgently avert a relapse into full-scale conflict, refocus efforts on accelerating the implementation of the agreement, and advance the transition towards South Sudans first democratic elections, he said.

Another war is a risk South Sudan simply cannot afford, nor can the wider region.

Mr Haysom said the peacekeeping force is engaged in intensive diplomatic efforts with the African Union, the regional group Intergovernmental Authority on Development, or IGAD, the Vatican and UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres to broker a peaceful solution.

South Sudans President Salva Kiir (Florence Miettaux/AP)

He called on the Security Council, the UNs most powerful body, to urge the rival parties to adhere to the ceasefire, exercise restraint and address differences through public dialogue.

Edem Wosornu, the UN humanitarian offices operations director, reminded the council of her August warning of a perfect storm of humanitarian, economic, political, security and environmental crises unfolding simultaneously.

Eight months later, she said, the situation has deteriorated dramatically.

Ms Wosornu said 9.3 million South Sudanese, three-quarters of the population, need humanitarian assistance, half of them children.

Almost 7.7 million people are acutely hungry, up from 7.1 million in the same period in 2024, she said.

Ms Wosornu said the UN humanitarian office projects that 650,000 children under five are at risk of severe acute malnutrition this year.

If the political crisis is not averted, she warned, the humanitarian nightmare will become a reality very quickly.
Wednesday, Apr 16th, 2025 (12:01 am) - Score 2,240

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has banned an advert on UK mobile and broadband operator Vodafones website. This occured after EE complained that its claim of being The Nations Network was an implied comparative superiority claim, which was ultimately deemed to be misleading.

The ad in question appeared in December 2024 on the www.vodafone.co.uk/network page, which was headed Connecting you this Christmas on The Nations Network. Some small text stated, The Nations Network: Vodafone UK, supporting the nation since 1984 and linked to Full verification. Bold text alongside stated, The Nations Network.

Text further down the same web page in a sub-section stated, Why were The Nations Network Since 1984, weve gone from strength to strength to support the nation. Today, were proud to call ourselves The Nations Network and listed Firsts in the telecommunication industry, Supporting our emergency services and Reliable, award-winning network.

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In addition, text in another sub-section of the web page stated, Staying connected on The Nations Network Were helping you stay connected, whether youre at home or travelling and listed 99% UK home coverage, international roaming and our growing 5G network.

Vodafone argued that the use of The Nations Network was in reference to their heritage as the UKs first and most long-standing mobile telephone network. But the ASA ruled that there were several possible consumer interpretations of their statement and that a significant minority of consumers were likely to view the claim as being more a reference to comparisons of greater reliability, superior coverage and better connectivity than rivals. But in that case theyd need to be able to substantiate such a position, which they could not.

ASA Ruling (REF: A24-1271366 Vodafone Ltd) The CAP Code required that comparisons with identifiable competitors must objectively compare one or more material, relevant, verifiable and representative features of those products. As such, we expected the ad to objectively compare one or more verifiable features. Because we considered that the claim, as it was presented in ad (b), was likely to be understood by consumers in a range of ways (including as a comparison against all other UK networks, for example that Vodafone was the most popular network in the UK, had the most customers or had better coverage or reliability than its competitors), we considered the ad failed to objectively compare one or more material, relevant, verifiable and representative features and concluded that the claim The Nations Network, as it appeared in ad (b), breached the Code. We also considered market research submitted by Vodafone. The ASA Council noted that rule 1.7 of the CAP Code stated that Any unreasonable delay in responding to the ASAs enquiries will normally be considered a breach of the Code. The ASA Council considered that Vodafones submission of consumer research in this case was at a very late stage of the investigation, and did not provide evidence for Vodafones argument that the average consumer would not associate the The Nations Network with an implied comparative superiority claim. The ASA considered that the themes measured in outcome 1 suggested that the participants felt that the ad was showing things that could reasonably be viewed, as objectively measurable factors with a potential comparative element. For example, 10% of respondents were grouped in the theme info about Vodafone services and products, 7% in network reliability, 6% in affordable pricing. We noted that this question did not ask specifically about the claim The Nations Network. We considered that the results in outcome 2 suggested the claim was potentially interpreted by a significant minority of participants (39%) as being about specific objectively measurable features or characteristics of Vodafones service, such as the 8% grouped in Customer satisfaction, 25% in Vodafones coverage, 3% in Telco/service quality, and the 3% in Broadband services. The questions did not specifically ask about comparability, and the research outcomes did not provide evidence that participants did not associate The Nations Network as a superiority claim, as Vodafone suggested. We considered that the research was not sufficient to provide a basis for suggesting that the average consumer would not associate the The Nations Network with an implied comparative superiority claim, as argued by Vodafone. Therefore, our assessment remained that at least a significant minority of consumers were likely to interpret the claim the Nations Network as being an objective comparative claim against the UKs other network providers.

As usual, the ASA banned the advert in its current form and told Vodafone to ensure they objectively compared one or more material, relevant, verifiable and representative features if making an implied comparative claim.

EE also lodged a similar claim against a TV ad that featured some of the same wording. But the ASA did not uphold the complaint against that one because Vodafone was deemed to have provided sufficient contextual information to support the statement.
Wednesday, Apr 16th, 2025 (10:09 am) - Score 1,440

Network testing firm Ookla (i.e. Speedtest.net, Downdetector.co.uk) has today published a new study that examines the performance of 5G mobile (mobile broadband) networks across the major UK cities of Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester and Sheffield. But the UKs capital city was found to be lagging behind.

The new study uses crowdsourced data collected during the first quarter of 2025 via Ooklas various Speedtest.net linked websites and apps. But its worth reminding readers that mobile data performance remains notoriously difficult to pin down because end-users are always moving through different areas (indoor, outdoor, underground etc.), using different devices with different capabilities and the surrounding environment is ever changeable (weather, trees, buildings etc.).

All the above can impact your signal and service quality, and thats before we even consider other issues like network (backhaul) capacity at different cell sites or differing spectrum ownership between operators and masts. Suffice to say that benchmarking mobile networks can be a bit of a challenge, although Ookla are usually able to collect enough data to produce some meaningful results.

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Overall, the new study found that London lags behind the UKs largest cities across key 5G performance indicators, and the gap to top-performing Glasgow seems to be widening. The UKs capital city was found to be trailing behind other cities for 5G network consistency, median downloads and upload speeds (e.g. London delivered a median 5G download of 115Mbps, which compares poorly with Glasgows 184.99Mbps).

On the flip side, median (average) 5G download speeds also fell by more than 7% on average across major UK cities between Q1 2024 and Q1 2025. This is speculated to be reflecting the impact of shifting network load from older technologies onto 5G (e.g. the withdrawal of 3G), which contributed to broader improvements in overall mobile network performance in most UK cities during the same period.

Average (Median) 5G Download Speed by Major UK Cities

Glasgow 184.99Mbps

Birmingham 145.09Mbps

Liverpool 142.61Mbps

Manchester 142.24Mbps

Leeds 134.23Mbps

Bristol 130.42Mbps

Cardiff 123.19Mbps

Edinburgh 123.05Mbps

Sheffield 120.98Mbps

London 115.08Mbps

Belfast 114.38Mbps

Mobile users in London were also found to be spending more time in signal not-spots with no service than residents of other UK cities, reflecting lingering coverage gaps indoors and across key transport routes. The proportion of Londoners spending the majority of their time in locations with no service has, however, improved significantly due to operators investing in network densification through small cells and upgrades to transport links (e.g. London Underground).

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Time spent on 2G networks increased across several UK cities over the last year, including Birmingham and Manchester, as the advancement of the 3G sunset in the UK contributed to greater propensity for 2G fallback.

However, the gap in 5G availability between the UKs major cities and the national average has significantly narrowed over the past year. For example, Leeds led UK cities in 5G availability, with a 21 percentage point gap above the national average. By Q1 2025, London had taken the lead in 5G availability among major UK cities, and that gap above the national average had narrowed to 13 percentage points.

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This trend reflects progress in 5G network expansion in smaller UK towns and rural areas in recent months, which has moved at a faster pace than coverage improvements in larger cities. But sadly we dont get a more detailed summary of 5G availability across the listed cities, which would have been helpful.
Authorities in Berlin have filed charges against a physician accused of giving palliative patients under his care lethal doses of various medications, resulting in 15 counts of murder.

The prosecution is also pursuing a lifelong professional ban for the 40-year-old suspect, who has been in custody since August 2024 and has worked across several German states.

While the suspects name has not been disclosed in accordance with German privacy regulations, prosecutors report that he has denied the allegations.

Initially, he was linked to four patient deaths last year, with prosecutors claiming he attempted to conceal his involvement by setting fire to the victims apartments.

A specialized investigative team has been established to scrutinize his patient records, and additional exhumations are scheduled.

Prosecutors allege that the doctor administered an anesthetic followed by a muscle relaxant to palliative patients who were not actively dying, without their knowledge or consent.

The muscle relaxant reportedly paralyzed the respiratory muscles, leading to respiratory arrest and death within minutes.

The victims, who were receiving care at the time, ranged in age from 25 to 94 years.

In one instance, the suspect is accused of killing two patients on the same day.

On the morning of 8 July 2024, he allegedly murdered a 75-year-old man in his residence located in Berlins central Kreuzberg district.

A few hours later, he is claimed to have repeated the act, taking the life of a 76-year-old woman in the nearby Neukolln district.

Prosecutors indicated that the suspects attempt to destroy evidence by setting fire to the crime scene failed when the flames did not ignite.

Upon realizing this, he reportedly contacted a relative of the woman, asserting that he was outside her apartment and that no one answered when he rang the bell, they stated.

In another instance, the suspect allegedly called emergency services himself out of fear of being caught.

He falsely claimed to have initiated resuscitation efforts on the 56-year-old victim, who was initially stabilized by rescuers but ultimately succumbed three days later in the hospital.

A special investigative team identified a total of 395 suspicious cases warranting re-evaluation in light of the allegations against the doctor.

In 95 of these cases, an initial suspicion was substantiated, leading to the initiation of preliminary proceedings.

Another 75 cases are still under review.

Thus far, 12 exhumations have been conducted, five of which pertained to the victims identified in the current charges.

Additional exhumations are set to take place shortly.

The accusations against this doctor parallel another ongoing trial in Germany, where a nurse faces charges for the murder of nine patients in palliative care.

The nurse, whose trial began in March, is accused of administering significant doses of sedatives or painkillers to 26 patients, resulting in nine deaths.

Prosecutors handling the case in Aachen, a city in western Germany, stated that the suspect was driven by a desire to lessen his workload during night shifts and regarded himself as the master of life and death.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made a visit to northern Gaza, as announced by his office, while the military continued with its aerial and ground operations in the region.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the northern Gaza Strip today, stated an official release from his office.

The military resumed its operations in Gaza on March 18, breaking a two-month ceasefire with Hamas that had largely curtailed hostilities.

In the aftermath, Israeli forces have regained significant portions of the territory, prompting hundreds of thousands of individuals to flee from areas facing intensified military actions.

A girl stands among the debris in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip.

This announcement coincided with remarks from a senior Hamas official who indicated that the group anticipates responding within 48 hours to an Israeli ceasefire proposal conveyed through mediators.

Hamas will likely deliver its response to the mediators within the next 48 hours, as the movement is still engaged in detailed discussions, the official informed AFP.

Yesterday, Hamas confirmed it had received Israels latest proposal aimed at ceasing the ongoing war in Gaza, which has now lasted for 18 months.

The official noted that the proposal includes a truce lasting at least 45 days in exchange for the release of 10 living hostages currently held in Gaza.

Additionally, it stipulates the release of 1,231 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli facilities and facilitates the entry of humanitarian aid into the area, which has been under a complete blockade since March 2.

Moreover, the proposal calls for a permanent end to the war contingent upon the disarmament of Palestinian factions in Gaza, including Hamas, as per the official.

Hamas has dismissed the disarmament condition as a red line and non-negotiable.

Release of Edan Alexander as a gesture of goodwill

The Hamas representative indicated that the Israeli proposal entails the release of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander on the first day of the ceasefire as a gesture of goodwill.

Mr. Alexander is noted to be the sole living hostage possessing U.S. citizenship.

On the second day, Hamas would release five additional hostages in exchange for 66 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences in Israeli jails and 611 Gazans detained during the current conflict.

On the third day, discussions would commence regarding day after scenarios for post-war arrangements, including the disarmament of Hamas and other Palestinian factions in return for a permanent ceasefire.

Hamas has firmly maintained that the preservation of its arms is a red line.

During the second week of the ceasefire, Hamas would release four more living hostages in exchange for 54 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and an additional 500 detainees from Gaza.

Israel has not yet issued a comment regarding the proposals specifics.

The advocacy group Tikva Forum of Hostages Families, which represents a small faction of hostage families pushing for continued military efforts, stated that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed the countrys intent to seek the release of 10 living captives.

According to the group, Mr. Netanyahu spoke with Ditza Or, the mother of hostage Avinatan Or, late yesterday, and confirmed that Mr. Alexander was among those included in the proposed exchange.

In response, she remarked that there is a moral obligation to return everyone together in one stage and on one bus, the group noted.

Out of the 251 hostages taken during the unprecedented Hamas attack in October 2023 that initiated the war, 58 are still held in Gaza, with 34 identified by the Israeli military as deceased.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that negotiators are experiencing good progress with the United States in tense discussions regarding a minerals deal aimed at securing crucial US support.

The fundamental legal aspects are nearly finalized, and if everything proceeds smoothly and constructively, the agreement will yield economic benefits for both our nations, Mr. Zelensky mentioned in his daily address.

The US and Ukraine had planned to finalize a deal concerning the extraction of Ukraines strategic minerals, but a conflict between US President Donald Trump and Mr. Zelensky in February temporarily disrupted the negotiations.

Mr. Trump seeks the dealdesigned to provide the US with royalty payments on profits from Ukrainian mining of resources and rare mineralsas compensation for aid that his predecessor, Joe Biden, provided to Ukraine.

He referred to an update from economy minister Yulia Svyrydenko, who earlier stated that there had been significant progress in the negotiations.

She mentioned that Ukrainian officials had made adjustments to several items in the draft agreement and that both parties would soon sign a memorandum of intent.

Furthermore, she indicated that the Ukrainian parliament would need to vote on any final agreement.

A senior official familiar with the negotiations reported that discussions were advancing quite quickly.

The source informed AFP that the latest drafts of the agreement seemed to not recognize US aid as a debt owed by Ukraine.

This observation echoed an earlier report from Bloomberg News, which suggested that the US had softened its demand for Ukraine to repay the aid provided since Russia began its invasion in 2022.

The report further noted that US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated on Monday that a deal might be signed as early as this week.

Firefighters battle blazes following a Russian drone attack (Image: State Emergency Service of Ukraine)

Russia targets civilian infrastructure in Odesa strike

An overnight Russian drone assault on the Black Sea port city of Odesa resulted in three injuries, ignited fires, and damaged residential properties and public infrastructure, according to officials from the southern Ukrainian region.

The enemy has once again attacked Odesa with a large-scale drone offensive, remarked Oleh Kiper, governor of the region with Odesa as its administrative center, on the messaging app Telegram, although the full extent of the attack remains unclear.

The Ukrainian air force typically provides details about overnight Russian assaults later in the morning.

In a post on Telegram, Ukraines emergency service reported three injuries and several fires that erupted in the city due to the attack.

Odesas mayor, Hennadiy Trukhanov, shared images showing a residential building and other structures that had been nearly obliterated, while emergency workers were seen sifting through rubble, with a dog peeking out from behind a pile of wood.

A damaged building is shown following a prior drone strike in Odesa on Monday.

Meanwhile, Russias defense ministry claimed it had destroyed 26 Ukrainian drones overnight.

Nine of the drones were reportedly taken down over the southern Voronezh region, and eight over the Belgorod region near the border, according to their statement.

They added in a Telegram post that the remaining drones were intercepted over the Kursk, Lipetsk, and Moscow regions, as well as over the Crimean Peninsula.

Reuters was unable to independently confirm these claims.

Both parties deny deliberately targeting civilians in the conflict, which Russia initiated with its large-scale invasion of Ukraine over three years ago.

In late March, the United States announced that it had reached separate accords with Ukraine and Russia to halt attacks over the Black Sea and against each others energy assets.

Each side has repeatedly accused the other of violating the ceasefire.
Russia Sentences Four Journalists for Reporting on Alexei Navalny

Today, Russia has sentenced four journalists, allegedly linked to the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny, to five and a half years in a penal colony, amplifying the ongoing crackdown on press freedom and critics of the Kremlin.

Mr. Navalny, who was the primary opponent of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was declared an extremist by Russian authorities, a designation that persists despite his death on February 16, 2024, in an Arctic penal colony.

Prior to launching its offensive in Ukraine in 2022, Moscow also labeled Mr. Navalnys organizations as extremist and has aggressively pursued individuals it suspects of having ties to him.

A judge sentenced the journalistsAntonina Kravtsova, Konstantin Gabov, Sergei Karelin, and Artem Krigerall of whom reported on Navalny, to five years and six months in a general-regime penal colony, as reported by an AFP journalist.

The trial was conducted in secret at the Nagatinsky district court in Moscow, with only the sentencing part open to the media, a pattern that has become standard for political cases in Russia amid its offensive in Ukraine.

Supporters cheered and applauded as the defendants were brought in.

Since Mr. Navalnys still-mysterious death in an Arctic prison last year, Russian authorities have intensively targeted his family and associates.

In January, three lawyers who defended him in court received sentences of several years in prison.

Moscow has also intensified its years-long crackdown on independent media during its military actions in Ukraine.

Shortly after initiating military operations in Ukraine in 2022, Moscow enacted broad censorship laws that prohibit criticism of its armed forces, leading most independent media in the country to flee.

Pay with my freedom

The journalists convicted today denied the allegations of being linked to an extremist organization.

Ms. Kravtsova, 34, a photographer with the independent outlet SOTAvision, uses the pseudonym Antonina Favorskaya.

She covered Mr. Navalnys trials for two years and recorded his final court appearance via video link just two days before his death.

Video journalists Mr. Gabov and Mr. Karelin are accused of preparing visual materials for Mr. Navalnys social media platforms.

Both have collaborated with international media outlets at different pointsMr. Gabov with Reuters and Mr. Karelin with the Associated Press and Deutsche Welle.

Mr. Kriger, 24, the youngest among the accused, reported on political trials and protests for SOTAvision.

After the verdict, he declared in court: Everything will be fine. Everything will change. Those who sentenced me will be sitting here instead of me.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died in an Arctic prison last year.

In their final statements, released by independent media, the journalists condemned the charges against them and the status of press freedom in Russia.

Engaging in independent journalism is now equated with extremism, Mr. Gabov remarked in his concluding statement to the court, as reported by the Meduza site.

Mr. Kriger expressed to the court: I did not wish to run away and live in fear; I wanted to affirm that practicing journalism in Russia is possible and necessary, according to a transcript from SOTAvision.

If I must pay for that belief with my freedom or my life, I am prepared to do so, he stated.
The Current State of the Sudan War: Two Years of Destruction

Sudan has now entered its third year of conflict, showing no signs of relief for its weary civilians.Tens of thousands have lost their lives, and more than 13 million have been displaced, leading the United Nations to label this as the worlds largest crisis in terms of hunger and displacement.

Heres a brief overview of the current situation:

The combat zones

Over the past year and a half, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been rampaging through western and central Sudan, prompting the army to retreat eastward and relocate the government from Khartoum to Port Sudan along the Red Sea.

In November 2024, bolstered by reinforcements and a replenished arsenal, the army initiated an offensive from the east, reclaiming central Sudan.

The Central Bank of Sudans heavily damaged building in central Sudan

In March, Burhan declared that Khartoum was free of the RSF, solidifying his position of power.

Since then, the RSF has intensified its assaults in Darfur, launching a vigorous offensive on El-Fasher, the last state capital in the expansive western region still controlled by the regular army.

Complete paramilitary control over Darfur would finalize the division of Sudan, with the army governing the north and east, while the RSF oversees the west and, in coalition with its allies, parts of the south.

Alarming human cost

This conflict has been characterized by extreme violence against civilians, yet confirmed death tolls remain elusive.

In Khartoum alone, over 61,000 individuals lost their lives during the initial 14 months of war, with direct violence accounting for 26,000 of those deaths, as reported by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Tom Perriello, a former U.S. envoy to Sudan, indicated in May last year that some estimates for the total death count could be as high as 150,000.

Read more: Nations demand an immediate end to the horrific war in Sudan

Both parties have faced accusations of deliberately targeting civilians, plundering homes, and obstructing vital humanitarian aid.

Famine has tightened its grip, with five regions declared in a state of famine last year, which includes three significant displacement camps in Darfur and areas in the south.

The United Nations estimates that eight million individuals are on the precipice of widespread famine, while nearly 25 millionapproximately half of the populationare experiencing acute hunger.

Displaced individuals from the Zamzam camp, now under RSF control, rest in a temporary shelter

Healthcare infrastructure shattered

Once already fragile, Sudans healthcare system is now in ruins.

Official data indicates that nearly 90% of hospitals in conflict-affected areas are currently non-operational, either due to damage from shelling, being stormed by combatants, or being devoid of personnel and essential supplies.

Since the onset of the conflict, at least 78 healthcare workers have been killed due to gunfire or shelling at their places of work or residence, documented by the doctors union.

By October of last year, the World Health Organization had recorded 119 attacks on healthcare facilities.

Both factions involved in the conflict have been implicated in these assaults.
The UKs Supreme Court has determined that the terms woman and sex in the Equality Act specifically refer to biological women and biological sex.

The campaign organization For Women Scotland (FWS) initiated a series of legal challenges, including one that reached the highest court in the UK, concerning the definition of woman in Scottish laws that require 50% female representation on public boards.

This legal dispute revolves around whether individuals holding a gender recognition certificate (GRC) that identifies them as female should be recognized as women under the 2010 Equality Act.

FWS has expressed concerns that not aligning the definition of sex with its ordinary meaning could have significant repercussions for sex-based rights and for everyday single-sex services such as restrooms and hospital wards.

However, legal representatives for the Scottish government argued to the Supreme Court in a November hearing that a person with a GRC is legally recognized as having changed their sex.

In their ruling, the justices unanimously sided with FWS.

Patrick Hodge, the Deputy President of the Supreme Court, along with four other justices, noted that the central issue pertains to how woman and sex are defined in the 2019 Equality Act.

He stated, The terms woman and sex in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman and biological sex.

Campaigners from For Women Scotland (FWS) outside the Supreme Court this morning

During Novembers hearing, Aidan ONeill KC, representing FWS, told the justices that the Scottish ministers interpretation of sex, man, and woman in the Equality Act as referring to certificated sex  defined by the sex listed on a persons birth certificate regardless of any amendments made by a GRC  is incorrect and should be dismissed by the court.

In response, Ruth Crawford KC, representing the Scottish government, argued that a person who becomes a woman as a result of a GRC is entitled to protections just as much as those who are recorded as a woman at birth.

She also asserted that if FWSs challenge succeeded, the inevitable conclusion would be that trans women with GRCs would remain men until death under the Equality Act.

The court was informed that since the passage of the Gender Recognition Act in 2004, 8,464 individuals in the UK had obtained a GRC.

LGBTQ charity Stonewall expressed that the ruling is deeply concerning for the trans community.

Simon Blake, CEO of the UK-based charity, stated, Stonewall shares the deep concern regarding the extensive implications of todays ruling from the Supreme Court.

Judges at the Supreme Court in London handed down their judgment on the legal definition of a woman

The legal matter first emerged in 2022 when FWS successfully contested the Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Act 2018 due to its inclusion of trans women in its definition of women.

The Court of Session ruled that altering the definition of a woman in the Equality Act was unlawful, as it addressed issues outside the Scottish Parliaments legal jurisdiction.

Following this challenge, the Scottish government retracted the definition from the Act and issued updated statutory guidance, which provided advice on compliance with the law.

This guidance clarified that under the 2018 Act, the definition of a woman aligns with that in the Equality Act 2010, and stated that a person with a GRC identifying as female possesses the sex of a woman.

FWS contested this revised guidance, arguing that sex under the Equality Act should refer to its biological meaning, claiming the government was overstepping its authority by redefining woman.

However, the Outer House of the Court of Session rejected this challenge on December 13, 2022.

The Inner House upheld that decision on November 1, 2023, but granted FWS permission to appeal to the UK Supreme Court.
04/15/2025

JACKSONVILLE  Jacksonville State University has once again been named a Military Friendly School, earning the 202526 designation for its continued commitment to supporting service members, veterans, and their families. In addition to this national recognition, the university is proud to announce an expansion of its Military Tuition Rate to include not only active-duty service members but also veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces, beginning in the 20252026 academic year.

The Military Friendly Schools list, compiled annually by Viqtory, recognizes institutions that go above and beyond to provide positive education outcomes for military-affiliated students. Jacksonville State was among more than 1,800 institutions evaluated and is one of only 830 schools awarded the designation for exceeding the benchmark.

Our military-affiliated students enrich our campus community through their discipline, leadership, and diverse perspectives, said Dr. Christie Shelton, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs. This designation reinforces our ongoing commitment to ensuring they have the resources and support needed to succeedfrom enrollment to graduation and beyond.

Building on that commitment, the universitys Board of Trustees has approved a proposal by the Military Friendly Committee to expand eligibility for the Military Tuition Rate. Previously limited to active service members, the specialized rateset at $250 per credit hour for online undergraduate and graduate courses and a reduced general university feewill now be available to veterans as well.

Veterans represent a vital part of our student population, and we want to remove as many barriers as possible to help them pursue their educational goals, said Dr. Marie Valentin, Assistant Vice Provost for Institutional Research & Effectiveness and chair of the Military Friendly Committee. Expanding the Military Tuition Rate is a strategic investment in access and affordability, and it reflects Jax States deep appreciation for those who have served.

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, nearly 50,000 veterans reside within Jax States 15-county service area. By extending this financial benefit to veterans, the university strengthens its competitive position while enhancing its reputation as a truly military-friendly institution.

The 202526 Military Friendly Schools list will be published in the May and October issues of G.I. Jobs magazine and is available online at www.militaryfriendly.com.

For more information about military and veteran services at Jax State, visit www.jsu.edu/veterans.

About Jacksonville State University: Founded in 1883 as a state teachers' college, Jacksonville State University has grown from humble beginnings into the Alabama regional university with the highest percentage of accredited programs. Located in the Appalachian foothills midway between Birmingham and Atlanta, Jax State offers more than 150 courses of study, including over 40 online programs, at the undergraduate and graduate levels. To learn more, visit www.jsu.edu, call 1-800-231-JAX1, or e-mail jaxfacts@jsu.edu.

About Military Friendly Schools: The Military Friendly Schools list is created each year based on extensive research using public data sources from more than 8,800 schools nationwide, input from student veterans, and responses to the proprietary, data-driven Military Friendly Schools survey from participating institutions. The survey questions, methodology, criteria and weighting were developed with the assistance of an independent research firm and an advisory council of educators and employers. The survey is administered for free and is open to all postsecondary schools that wish to participate. Criteria for consideration can be found at www.militaryfriendly.com.

About Viqtory: Founded in 2001, VIQTORY is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) that connects the military community to civilian employment, educational and entrepreneurial opportunities through its G.I. Jobs and Military Friendly brands. VIQTORY and its brands are not a part of or endorsed by the U.S. Dept of Defense or any federal government entity. Learn more about VIQTORY at www.viqtory.com.
( IMEMC )  In the 28th straight day since obliterating the ceasefire agreement on March 18th (the day that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was set to testify in his trial for corruption), Israeli forces continued to bombard the terrified residents of the Gaza Strip, who have no place to go and no shelter from the bombs.

Terrified children are seen shaking, brutalized beyond the ability to speak. This past week alone saw the bombing of the water desalination plant in Dir al-Balah that provides water to over 600,000 Palestinians, and the bombing of al-Ahli Baptist Hospital, one of the only remaining functional hospitals in Gaza (a Christian hospital that was also bombed in October of 2023 by Israeli forces, killing hundreds of children whose families had sought shelter and care there).

Also this past week, Israeli forces targeted the media tent outside Nasser Hospital, Israeli forces bombed the media tent outside Nasser Hospital. Ahmed Mansour, an editor with the Palestine Today news agency, and his co-worker Hilmi Al-Faqawi, were among those killed in the attack. Ahmed was seen on video sitting at his desk, burning alive and unable to move due to a beam that had fallen across his legs.

On Monday April 14th, 2025, the following attacks have been documented:

11:30 pm

Israeli occupation forces blow up residential buildings north of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, according to local sources.

Of note, the entire population of the city have been forcibly removed since the escalation of the ongoing Israeli military invasion of the province and the resumption of the genocide last month.

10:36 pm

Helicopters fired northeast of Rafah, southern Gaza Strip. The Israeli occupation army destroyed several residential homes north of Rafah, southern Gaza Strip. Helicopters resumed firing northeast of Rafah, southern Gaza Strip. Heavy gunfire from Israeli occupation forces in the eastern areas of Gaza City.

5:14 pm Two young men, Mahmoud and Haitham Hamdan, were killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting the Beit Lahia project area in northern Gaza.

Bonus Video added by IC

Al Jazeera: Women and girls suffer triply in Gaza: UN

4:21 pm Six Palestinian citizens were killed on Monday afternoon when the Israeli occupation forces bombed a house in the Al-Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City.

Three Palestinian citizens were killed earlier as a result of the occupations bombing of a group of displaced people in Al-Shaaf, east of Al-Tuffah neighborhood, east of Gaza City.

Thirteen have been killed since dawn on Monday.

1:58 pm Israeli occupation forces killed Palestinian artist Dina Zurub in an airstrike on a wooden shelter west of Khan Younis in southern Gaza.

Dina Zurub seen with some of her work:

11:24 am Occupation aircraft target the town of Al-Nasr, north of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip.

8:23 am A number of killed and wounded as a result of an Israeli drone attack on a tent housing displaced people in the Asdaa area in the Mawasi area of Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip.

Five Palestinians were killed and others injured on Tuesday morning when the Israeli occupation forces bombed the tents of displaced people in the Gaza Strip.

In the Al-Mawasi area, west of Khan Yunis, three citizens were killed and others were injured when a tent was targeted. The killed were: Muhammad Ibrahim Al-Tahrawi from Rafah, Khalil Mahmoud Hassouna, and Mamdouh Attia Al-Qadi.

In Beit Lahia, two citizens were killed in the bombing of a tent belonging to the Hamdan family near a playground opposite the village of Canaan. They were: Haitham Hamdan and Mahmoud Hamdan.

At dawn, an Israeli airstrike targeted the Shujaiyya neighborhood east of Gaza City, with an unknown number of casualties.



Bombed, Digital, Midjourney, 2025

Another Palestinian mother mourns her baby this morning, as the ongoing Israeli genocide continues with full backing from the Trump administration and Western governments.

The baby was killed late last night following an Israeli air raid on his familys displacement tent in Khan Younis.

The number of people killed since the beginning of the war of extermination on the Gaza Strip that began October 7th, 2023, and has continued with daily bombardments and ground invasions, apart from a small break of five days at the end of November 2023, and six weeks from January 31, 2025 to March 18, 2025, has risen to 50,983.

By IMEMC News

IMEMC

Licensed under a Creative Commons Attr-NonCom 4.0 International License.
By Liz Theoharis and Noam Sandweiss-Back

( Tomdispatch.com )  The day after Donald Trump won the 2024 election, the 10 richest people in the world  including nine Americans  expanded their wealth by nearly $64 billion, the greatest single-day increase in recorded history. Since then, an unholy marriage of billionaire investors, tech bros, Christian nationalists, and, of course, Donald Trump has staged an oligarchic assault on our democracy. If the nations corporate elite once leveraged their relationships within government to enrich themselves, theyve now cut out the middleman. Were living in a new Gilded Age, with a proto-fascistic and religiously regressive administration of, by, and for the billionaires.

With the wind at their backs, leading elements in the Republican Party have rapidly eschewed euphemisms and political correctness altogether, airing their anti-immigrant, anti-Black, and anti-poor prejudices in unapologetically broad and brazen terms. The effect of this, especially for the most vulnerable among us, is seismic. During the first two months of the second Trump administration, weve witnessed nothing less than an escalatory war on the poor.

The attacks are many-pronged. Rural development grants, food banks, and environmental protection measures have all been slashed in the name of ending radical and wasteful government DEI programs. Planned Parenthood and other life-saving healthcare services for poor and marginalized communities have been defunded. Homelessness has been ever more intensely criminalized and Housing First policies vilified. The Department of Education, which has historically provided critical resources for low-income and disabled students, has been gutted, while the barbaric conditions in overcrowded immigrant detention centers have only worsened. Billions of dollars in funding for mental health and addiction services have been revoked. Worse yet, these and other mercenary actions may prove to be just the tip of the spear. Tariff wars and potential cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and SNAP could leave both the lives of the poor and the global economy in shambles.

This volatile moment may represent an unprecedented, even existential, threat to the health of our democracy, but it is building on decades of neoliberal plunder and economic austerity, authored by both conservative and liberal politicians. Before the 2024 elections, there were more than 140 million people living in poverty or one crisis away  one job loss, eviction, medical issue, or debt collection  from economic ruin. In this rich land, 45 million people regularly experience hunger and food insecurity, while more than 80 million people are uninsured or underinsured, ten million people live without housing or experience chronic housing insecurity, and the American education system has regularly scored below average compared to those of other nations in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Amid tremendous social and economic dislocation, traditional American institutions and political alignments have steadily lost their meaning for tens of millions of people. The majority of us know things arent well in this country. We can feel it, thanks not just to the violent and vitriolic political environment in which we live, but to our bank statements and debt sheets, our rising rent and utility bills. As the hull of our democracy splinters and floods, the question remains: How do we chart a more just and humane path forward? There are no easy answers, but there are profound lessons to be learned from the past, especially from movements of poor and dispossessed people that have inspired many of this countrys most important moments of democratic awakening.

This is the focus of our new book, You Only Get What Youre Organized to Take: Lessons from the Movement to End Poverty. Drawing on Lizs 30 years of anti-poverty organizing, we poured over old pamphlets and documents, memories and mementos to gather evidence that social transformation at the hands of the poor remains an ever-present possibility and to summarize some of the most significant ideas that, even today, continue to animate their organized struggles.

Homeless, Not Helpless

In the late spring of 1990, hundreds of unhoused people across the country broke locks and chains off dozens of empty federally owned houses and moved in. Bedrooms and kitchens carpeted with layers of dust suddenly whirled with activity. Mattresses were carried in and bags of food unpacked. Within hours, the new occupants made calls to the citys energy companies, requesting that the utilities be turned on. They were remarkably disciplined and efficient  single moms who had been living in their cars, veterans, students, and low-wage or recently laid-off workers, and people battling illness without healthcare. They were Black, Latino, Asian, Indigenous, and White, and although they came from radically different slices of society, one simple fact bound them together: they were poor, in need of housing, and fed up.

That wave of takeovers was led by the National Union of the Homeless (NUH), one among many carried out by the group in those years. The NUH was not a charity, a service provider, or a professional advocacy group but a political organization led by and for unhoused people, with close to 30,000 members in 25 cities. Liz was introduced to it on her first day of college. Within a few months, she had joined the movement and never left.

NUH members included people who had recently lost their manufacturing jobs and could no longer find steady work, as well as low-wage workers who couldnt keep up with the growing costs of housing and other daily necessities. In such dire times, the reality of the unhoused only foreshadowed the possible dislocation of millions more. The NUH emphasized this truth in one of its slogans: You Are Only One Paycheck Away from Homelessness! The name of the organization itself reflected a connection between homelessness and the new economy then being shaped. As industrial work floundered and labor unions suffered, there was a growing need for new unions of poor and dispossessed people.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the NUH won a string of victories, including new policies guaranteeing 24-hour shelter intake, access to public showers, and the right of the unhoused to vote without a permanent address. They also won publicly funded housing programs run by the formerly unhoused in nearly a dozen cities. Such successes were a barometer of the incipient strength of the organized poor and a corrective to the belief that poor people could perhaps spark spontaneous outrage but never be a force capable of wielding effective political power.

At the heart of the NUH were three principles: first, poor people can be agents of change, not simply victims of a cruel history; second, the power of the poor depends on their ability to unite across their differences; and third, it is indeed possible to abolish poverty. Those guiding principles were crystallized in two more slogans: Homeless, Not Helpless and No Housing, No Peace. The first captured a too-often obscured truth about the poor: that ones living conditions dont define who we are or limit our capacity to change our lives and the world around us. The second caught the political and moral agency of the impoverished  that there will be no peace and quiet until the demand for essential human needs is met.

Another NUH slogan has also echoed through the years: You Only Get What Youre Organized to Take. Its a favorite of ours because it expresses a crucial argument of our book: that poverty and economic inequality wont end because of the goodwill of those who hold political power and wealth (as is abundantly clear today) or even through the charitable actions of sympathetic people.

Change on such a scale requires a protagonist with a more pressing agenda. Poverty will end when poor people and their allies refuse to allow society to remain complacent about the suffering and death caused by economic deprivation. It will end when the poor become an organized force capable of rallying a critical mass of society to reorder the political and economic priorities of our country.

Projects of Survival

In the mid-1990s, Liz was active in North Philadelphias Kensington Welfare Rights Organization (KWRU). Kensingtons workforce had by then been decimated by deindustrialization and disinvestment. People without steady or reliable housing were moving into vacant buildings or cobbling together outdoor shelters, while tenants refused to leave homes from which they were being evicted. In its actions, KWRU reached deep into this well of experience, taking the spontaneous survival strategies that poor people were already using and adapting them into projects of survival.

The phrase project of survival was borrowed from the Black Panther Party, which, in the 1960s and 1970s, created successful survival programs like the Free Medical Clinic Program and the Free Breakfast Program. In 1969, the head of the national School Breakfast Program admitted that the Black Panthers were feeding more poor children than the state of California. The Panthers, however, were concerned with more than just meeting immediate needs. They were focused on structural transformation and, through their survival programs, they highlighted the governments refusal to deal seriously with American poverty, even while then spending billions of dollars fighting distant wars on the poor of Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos.

KWRU learned from the Black Panthers. In the late fall of 1995, a cold front swept through a large KWRU encampment known as Tent City. In need of indoor shelter, the group set its sights on a vacant church a few blocks away. Earlier that year, the archdiocese of Philadelphia had shuttered St. Edwards Catholic Church because its congregants were poor and the drafty building expensive to maintain. Still, some of those congregants continued to pray every Sunday in a small park outside the shuttered church. Eventually, dozens of residents from Tent City walked up the church steps, broke the locks on its front doors, and ignited a highly publicized occupation that lasted through that winter.

On the walls of the church, Liz and her compatriots hung posters and banners, including one that asked, Why do we worship a homeless man on Sunday and ignore one on Monday? As winter engulfed the city, residents of St. Eds fed and cared for one another in a fugitive congregation whose youngest resident was less than a year old and whose oldest was in his nineties. That occupation ultimately pressured the archdiocese to refocus its ministry on poor communities, while electrifying the local media to report on the rampant poverty that had normally been swept under the rug.

Such projects of survival enabled KWRU to build trust in Kensington, while serving as bases for bigger and bolder organizing. As a young woman, Liz gained new insight into how bottom-up change often begins. While media narratives regularly depict poor people as lazy, dangerous, or too over-burdened with their own problems to think about others, there is an immense spirit of cooperation and generosity among the poorest people in our society. Indeed, that spirit of communal care is the generative ground from which powerful social movements emerge.

A Survival Revival for These Times

Today, amid the rising tide of Donald Trump and Elon Musks billionaire-fueled authoritarianism, theres an urgent need for defiant and militant organizing among a broad cross-section of society. As our democratic horizons continue to narrow, we find ourselves operating within a critical window of time. In our work, we call this a kairos moment. In the days of antiquity, the Greeks taught that there were two ways to understand time: chronos and kairos. Chronos is quantitative time, while kairos is the qualitative time during which old and often oppressive ways are dying while new understandings struggle to be born.

In kairos moments such as this sinister Trumpian one, it is often the people whose backs are up against the wall who are willing to take decisive action. In every popular, pro-democracy movement, there is a leading social force that, by virtue of its place in the economic pecking order, is compelled to act first, because for them its a matter of life-or-death. And by moving into action, that force can awaken the indignation and imagination of others.

Right now, there are tens of thousands of Americans already in motion trying to defend their communities from the growing ravages of economic, environmental, and political disaster. Their efforts include food banks and neighborhood associations; churches and other houses of worship providing sanctuary for the unhoused and immigrants; women, trans kids, and other LGBTQ+ people fighting to ensure that they and their loved ones get the healthcare they need; community schools stepping into the breach of our beleaguered public education system; mutual-aid groups responding to environmental disasters that are only increasing thanks to the climate crisis; and students protesting the genocide in Gaza and the militarization of our society. Such communities of care and resistance may still be small and scrappy, but within them lies a latent power that, if further politicized and organized, could ignite a new era of transformational movement-building at a time when our country is in increasing danger.

Indeed, just imagine what might be possible if so many communities were operating not in isolation but in coordination. Imagine the power of such a potentially vast network to shake things up and assert the moral, intellectual, and political agency of those under attack. Food pantries could become places not just to fill bellies but to launch protests, campaigns, and organizing drives. Ever more devastating superstorms, floods, and forest fires could become moments not just for acute disaster response but for sustained relationship-building and communal resilience, aimed at repairing the societal fissures that worsen extreme weather events.

Last month, the Kairos Center for Religions, Rights, and Social Justice, where we both work, published a new report on the theory and practice behind this approach to grassroots organizing, A Matter of Survival: Organizing to Meet Unmet Needs and Build Power in Times of Crisis. Authored by our colleagues Shailly Gupta Barnes and Jarvis Benson, it describes how  beginning during the Covid-19 pandemic and continuing today  dozens of grassroots organizations, congregations, mutual-aid collectives, artists, and others have been building projects of survival and engaging in communal acts of care.

Over the coming months, the Kairos Center plans to draw inspiration from such stories as we launch a new and ambitious national organizing drive among the poor. The Survival Revival, as we call it, will connect with and link the often-siloed survival struggles of the poor into a more unified force. Together, we will study, strategize, sing, pray, and take the kind of action that, as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., once put it, can be a new and unsettling force in our complacent national life. Together, we will lift from the bottom, so that everyone can rise.

Copyright 2025 Liz Theoharis and Noam Sandweiss-Back

Via Tomdispatch.com
Kelowna, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 16, 2025) - F3 Uranium Corp. (TSXV: FUU) (OTCQB: FUUFF) (FSE: GL7) ("F3" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Haywood Securities Inc., on behalf of itself and a syndicate of underwriters (collectively, the "Underwriters") who have agreed to purchase, or arrange for substitute purchasers, on a "bought deal" private placement basis, 29,200,000 flow-through shares of the Company (the "FT Shares") at a price of C$0.24 per FT Share (the "Issue Price"), for gross proceeds to the Company of C$7,008,000 (the "Offering").

Each FT Share will qualify as a "flow-through share" within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and will qualify as an "eligible flow-through share" as defined in The Mineral Exploration Tax Credit Regulations, 2014 (Saskatchewan).

In addition, the Company has agreed to grant the Underwriters an option (the "Over-Allotment Option"), exercisable in whole or in part by the Underwriters at any time up to 48 hours prior to the Closing Date (as defined below), to purchase up to an additional number of FT Shares equal to 15% of the total FT Shares issuable pursuant to the Offering at the Issue Price.

The gross proceeds from the sale of FT Shares will be used by the Company to incur eligible "Canadian exploration expenses" that qualify as "flow-through critical mineral mining expenditures" as such terms are defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada), and to incur "eligible flow-through mining expenditures" pursuant to The Mineral Exploration Tax Credit Regulations, 2014 (Saskatchewan) (collectively, the "Qualifying Expenditures") related to the Company's uranium projects in the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, on or before December 31, 2026. All Qualifying Expenditures will be renounced in favour of the subscribers of the FT Shares effective December 31, 2025.

The FT Shares will be offered to purchasers pursuant to National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions in all of the provinces of Canada, other than Quebec, and/or in other jurisdictions as agreed to between the Company and the Underwriters. The FT Shares will be subject to the statutory hold period of four months and one day from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws.

The Offering is expected to close on May 7, 2025 (the "Closing Date"). The Company will pay to the Underwriters a cash commission of 5% of the gross proceeds raised in respect of the Offering.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

About F3 Uranium Corp.

F3 is a uranium exploration company, focusing on the recently discovered high-grade JR Zone on its Patterson Lake North (PLN) Project in the Western Athabasca Basin. F3 currently has 3 properties in the Athabasca Basin: Patterson Lake North, Minto, and Broach. The western side of the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, is home to some of the world's largest high grade uranium deposits including Paladin's Triple R project and NexGen's Arrow project.

On Behalf of the Board



"Dev Randhawa"

Dev Randhawa, Chairman & CEO

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, identified by words or phrases such as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "is expected", "scheduled", "estimates", "pending", "intends", "plans", "forecasts", "targets", or "hopes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "will", "should" "might", "will be taken", or "occur" and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information herein includes, but is not limited to, statements that address activities, events or developments that F3 expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future including the closing date of the Offering, proposed use of proceeds of the Offering and the tax treatment of the FT Shares.

Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information relating to any future mineral production, liquidity, enhanced value and capital markets profile of the Company, future growth potential for the Company and its business, and future exploration plans are based on management's reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the price of metals; costs of exploration and development; the estimated costs of development of exploration projects; the Company's ability to operate in a safe and effective manner.

These statements reflect the Company's respective current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of other assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information and the Company has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: the future tax treatment of the FT Shares, competitive risks and the availability of financing; uranium price volatility; risks associated with the conduct of the Company's exploration activities; regulatory, consent or permitting delays; risks relating to reliance on the Company's management team and outside contractors; the Company's inability to obtain insurance to cover all risks, on a commercially reasonable basis or at all; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; risks relating to project financing and equity issuances; risks and unknowns inherent in all mining projects; contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties; laws and regulations governing the environment, health and safety; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining, development or exploration activities; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; the Company's interactions with surrounding communities; the speculative nature of exploration and development; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; litigation risk; and the factors identified in the Company's public disclosure documents. Readers are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to 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 cause results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements or information, other than as required by applicable law.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 16, 2025) - IMAGINE LITHIUM INC. (TSXV: ILI) (OTCQB: ARXRF) (the "Company" or "Imagine") is pleased to announce the appointment of Sufan Siauw to the Company's board of directors effective immediately.

Mr. Siauw is a seasoned entrepreneur and investor in the new energy sector, specializing in mining and critical minerals in Australia. He has an MBA from Loyola Marymount University, has invested in multiple ventures, driving the advancement of sustainable energy through strategic investment and sector insight. He is President and CEO of Interway International LLC., who is a major shareholder and a strong supporter of the Company.

JC St-Amour, President of Imagine Lithium commented, "I am delighted to welcome Sufan Siauw to the board. His experience and knowledge of the lithium sector will be a valuable asset to the company."

About Imagine Lithium Inc.

JP-24-421.46% Li2O/8.00m &1.14% Li2O/5.05mImagine is a junior mining exploration company focused on seeking and acquiring world-class mineral projects. The company holds the Jackpot lithium property located in the Georgia Lake area about 140 km NNE of Thunder Bay, Ontario, is approximately 12 km by road from the Trans-Canada Highway (Hwy 11), and is in proximity to sources of power, railroads, and ports. The Jackpot Property consists of 297 mineral claims covering 18,800 hectares. The Property contains NI 43-101 compliant Mineral Resources of 3.1 Mt grading 0.85% Li 2 O in the Indicated category and 5.3 Mt grading 0.91% Li 2 O in the Inferred category, as well as a number of other known pegmatite showings.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"J.C. St-Amour"

J.C. St-Amour, President

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Investors are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. All the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and by those made in our filings with SEDAR in Canada (available at www.sedarplus.ca).
West Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 16, 2025) - Surge Battery Metals Inc. (TSXV: NILI) (OTCQX: NILIF) (FSE: DJ5) ("Surge" or the "Company") announces that Owen Taylor has been appointed as a director of the Company. The Company will now have two independent directors, Ted O'Connor and Owen Taylor. Exchange Policy 3.1, Section 5.7 requires the Company to have two independent directors and the appointment of Owen Taylor brings the Company into compliance with this requirement. The four non-independent directors will be Graham Harris, Greg Reimer, Iain Scarr and Vijay Mehta. The Companies Audit Committee will now consist of Greg Reimer, Ted O'Connor, and Owen Taylor.

Mr. Taylor brings more than 35 years experience working at both government/regulatory organizations and commercial entities looking to work for or within government or regulated industries. A recently retired senior partner with PwC Canada who spent 11 years with the firm in leadership roles including National Leader for their Government and Public Sector practice. He has extensive advisory and executive management experience with a diverse range of private and public sector organizations. In addition to a variety of commercial interests, Mr. Taylor is the founder of Parker Strategies Ltd, a consultancy providing strategic advisory and negotiation services for large, complex transactions.

The Company also wishes to announce that it has granted a total of 250,000 stock options, exercisable for a period of five years, at an exercise price of 30 cents a share.

About Surge Battery Metals Inc.

Surge Battery Metals, a Canadian-based mineral exploration company, is at the forefront of securing the supply of domestic lithium through its active engagement in the Nevada North Lithium Project. The Project focuses on exploring clean, high-grade lithium energy metals in Nevada, USA, a crucial element for powering the electric vehicles of tomorrow. With a primary listing on the TSX Venture Exchange in Canada and the OTCQX Market in the US, Surge Battery Metals Inc. is strategically positioned as a key player in advancing lithium exploration, contributing significantly to the sustainable future of the electric vehicle industry. At Surge Battery Metals, we are not just exploring minerals; we are pioneering the path to a cleaner and more sustainable future, driving innovation in the lithium sector, and contributing to the evolution of the electric vehicle industry.

About the Nevada North Lithium Project

The Company owns the Nevada North Lithium Project located in the Granite Range southeast of Jackpot, Nevada about 73 km north-northeast of Wells, Elko County, Nevada. The first three rounds of drilling on the Project, completed in 2022, 2023, and 2024, identified a strongly mineralized zone of lithium bearing clays occupying a strike length of more than 4,300 meters and a known width of greater than 1500 meters. Highly anomalous soil values and geophysical surveys suggest there is potential for the clay horizons to be much greater in extent, while wide drill spacing allows for significant upside to occur during infill drilling. The Nevada North Lithium Project has a pit-constrained Inferred Resource containing an estimated 8.65 Mt of Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE) grading 2,951 ppm Li at a 1,250 ppm cutoff.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Greg Reimer"

Greg Reimer,

Director, President & CEO

Keep up-to-date with Surge Battery Metals: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This document may contain certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target, "plan" or "planned", "possible", "potential", "forecast", "intend", "may", "schedule" and similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to future prices of commodities including lithium and nickel, the accuracy of mineral or resource exploration activity, reserves or resources, regulatory or government requirements or approvals including approvals of title and mining rights or licenses and environmental, local community or indigenous community approvals, the reliability of third party information, continued access to mineral properties or infrastructure or water, changes in laws, rules and regulations including in the United States, Nevada or California or any other jurisdiction which may impact upon the Company or its properties or the commercial exploitation of those properties, currency risks including the exchange rate of USD$ for Cdn$ or other currencies, fluctuations in the market for lithium related products, changes in exploration costs and government royalties, export policies or taxes in the United States or any other jurisdiction and other factors or information. The Company's current plans, expectations, and intentions with respect to development of its business and of its Nevada properties may be impacted by economic uncertainties arising out of any pandemic or by the impact of current financial and other market conditions (including US government subsidies or incentives) on its ability to secure further financing or funding of its Nevada properties. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon several assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political, environmental (including endangered species, habitat preservation and water related risks) and social risks, contingencies, and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules, and regulations.
Highlights:

Step-out Drilling 70 meters South, Extends Main Zone High-Grade Vein Returns 2.6 meters of 7.2 g/t Au and 80 g/t Ag Duplicate Sample Analysis of High-Grade Vein returns 18 g/t Au over 1.1 meters Within Broader zone averaging 0.5 g/t Au over 46.9 meters, starting from 54.5 meters depth Remains Open and Untested to the South



CALGARY, AB / ACCESS Newswire / April 16, 2025 /Tocvan Ventures Corp. (the "Company") (CSE:TOC) (OTCQB:TCVNF) (WKN:TV3/A2PE64), is pleased to announce the remaining results from core drilling at the Gran Pilar Gold Silver Project in mine-friendly Sonora, Mexico. Ten core drillholes totaling 1,167.5 meters were completed earlier this year within the majority owned (51%) Main Zone held in partnership with Colibri Resource Corp. Today's results are highlighted by 7.2 g/t Au and 80 g/t Ag over 2.6 meters, within a mineralized zone that averages 0.5 g/t Au over 46.9 meters starting from 54.5 meters downhole (drillhole JES-25-112). Drill hole JES-25-112 is located 70 meters south of past drill hole JES-22-62, which returned 108.9 meters of 0.8 g/t Au (see April 26, 2022 News Release). Mineralization is hosted in a stockwork of quartz veining, with high grade zones associated with shear zones with quartz andiron oxides filling fractures. JES-25-112 marks the southern most successful hit of significant mineralization to date, the trend remains open to the south. A core duplicate sample through the high-grade zone returned 18 g/t Au over 1.1 meters, the original sample returned 4.4 g/t Au. The variance has been noted as a product of coarse gold in the system. The Company is evaluating additional studies to determine the impact of high-grade variance on resource estimation. Hole JES-25-111, located 450 meters northeast of the Main Zone, within the 4-T Trend returned an anomalous zone of gold and silver that included 0.7 meters of 0.8 g/t Au and 24 g/t Ag. Hole JES-25-110 located 300 meters from the Main Zone, within the North Hill Trend returned an anomalous zone that includes 7.8 meters of 0.1 g/t Au. Intervals reported are drilled widths, true estimated widths are not known at this time.

RC drilling is ongoing with three holes completed to date totaling over 452.9 meters.

"Step-out drilling south of the Main Zone has extended the high-grade corridor where we previously thought mineralization stopped." commented, CEO Brodie Sutherland. "This has opened up the opportunity to further extend mineralization to the south adding near surface resource potential. We have been very pleased with the success rate of the core program, adding key geological information for resource modelling whilst enhancing our understanding of high-grade zones and the true size potential of mineralization. RC drilling is ongoing advancing to the north of the Main Zone, following up on our initial success with expansion area drilling. We look forward to updating our shareholders as those results become available. Near term catalyst include drill results and updates on permitting initiatives for pilot production and aggressive exploration across the expansion area."

Figure 1. 3D Long Section View on Main Zone Trend looking east.

Figure 2. Planview map of the Main Zone area and immediately north where recent RC drilling has discovered the extension of mineralization along parallel trends. Today's drill results are within the majority owned Main Zone. Results for additional RC drilling are pending.

Table 1. Summary of Drill Results in today's release. Intervals reported are drilled lengths, currently there is insufficient information to determine true widths.

Table 2. Summary of drill collar locations and orientations. Coordinates are in UTM NAD 27, Zone 12N

Photo 1. Core Photo of quartz veining from hole JES-25-112, 56.0 to 58.55 returned 7.2 g/t Au, 80.4 g/t Ag and 2.96% Zn.

Table 3. Summary of Drill Results from 2025 Core Program. All intervals reported are drilled widths.

Note: Please refer to the following news releases for detailed information on each hole.

JES-25-103 & 104, March 11, 2025

JES-25-105 - 106, March 19, 2025

JES-25-107 - 109, March 26, 2025

JES-25-110 - 112, April 16, 2025

Figure 3. Gran Pilar Project Overview, > 22km2 of prospective ground with two primary targets: South Block, the direct extension and expansion of the historic Main Zone defined by an expanding vein field of untested drill targets; North Block a 3.2-km by 1.5-km pyrite and clay alteration zone that coincides with high-grade gold-silver, the area remains largely untested.

Marketing Engagement

The Company announces it has engaged Aktiencheck AG to write website articles related to the Company's news updates. On March 19, 2025, a fee of 5,000.00 Euros was paid for the distribution of news. There is no formal agreement, both parties have agreed to a pay per use arrangement where future articles may be published. Some articles may be available on wallstreet-online.de. Information on Aktiencheck can be found here: Aktiencheck.de The Company has not issued any shares in consideration for services.

Pilar Drill Highlights:

2024 RC Drilling Highlights include ( all lengths are drilled thicknesses ): 42.7m @ 1.0 g/t Au, including 3.1m @ 10.9 g/t Au 56.4m @ 1.0 g/t Au, including 3.1m @ 14.7 g/t Au 16.8m @ 0.8 g/t Au and 19 g/t Ag

2022 Phase III Diamond Drilling Highlights include ( all lengths are drilled thicknesses ): 116.9m @ 1.2 g/t Au, including 10.2m @ 12 g/t Au and 23 g/t Ag 108.9m @ 0.8 g/t Au, including 9.4m @ 7.6 g/t Au and 5 g/t Ag 63.4m @ 0.6 g/t Au and 11 g/t Ag, including 29.9m @ 0.9 g/t Au and 18 g/t Ag

2021 Phase II RC Drilling Highlights include ( all lengths are drilled thicknesses ): 39.7m @ 1.0 g/t Au, including 1.5m @ 14.6 g/t Au 47.7m @ 0.7 g/t Au including 3m @ 5.6 g/t Au and 22 g/t Ag 29m @ 0.7 g/t Au 35.1m @ 0.7 g/t Au

2020 Phase I RC Drilling Highlights include ( all lengths are drilled thicknesses ): 94.6m @ 1.6 g/t Au, including 9.2m @ 10.8 g/t Au and 38 g/t Ag; 41.2m @ 1.1 g/t Au, including 3.1m @ 6.0 g/t Au and 12 g/t Ag ; 24.4m @ 2.5 g/t Au and 73 g/t Ag, including 1.5m @ 33.4 g/t Au and 1,090 g/t Ag

15,000m of Historic Core & RC drilling. Highlights include: 61.0m @ 0.8 g/t Au 21.0m @ 38.3 g/t Au and 38 g/t Ag 13.0m @ 9.6 g/t Au 9.0m @ 10.2 g/t Au and 46 g/t Ag



Pilar Bulk Sample Summary:

62% Recovery of Gold Achieved Over 46-day Leaching Period

Head Grade Calculated at 1.9 g/t Au and 7 g/t Ag; Extracted Grade Calculated at 1.2 g/t Au and 3 g/t Ag

Bulk Sample Only Included Coarse Fraction of Material (+3/4" to +1/8")

Fine Fraction (-1/8") Indicates Rapid Recovery with Agitated Leach Agitated Bottle Roll Test Returned Rapid and High Recovery Results: 80% Recovery of Gold and 94% Recovery of Silver after Rapid 24-hour Retention Time



Additional Metallurgical Studies:

Gravity Recovery with Agitated Leach Results of Five Composite Samples Returned 95 to 99% Recovery of Gold 73 to 97% Recovery of Silver Includes the Recovery of 99% Au and 73% Ag from Drill Core Composite at 120-meter depth.



Based on management's strong belief in the project's potential, the Company is outlining a permitting and operations strategy for a pilot facility at Pilar. The facility would underpin a robust test mine scenario with aims to process up to 50,000 tonnes of material. Timelines and budget are being prepared with the aim of moving forward with the development early in 2025. With gold prices hitting all-time highs, the Company believes the onsite test mine will provide key economic parameters and showcase the mineral potential of the area. In 2023, the Company completed an offsite bulk sample that produced important data showcasing the potential to recover both gold and silver through a variety of methods including heap leach, gravity and agitated leach (see August 22, 2023, news release for more details).

About Tocvan Ventures Corp.

Tocvan's advancing gold-silver projects are located in the mine-friendly jurisdiction of Sonora, Mexico. Through ongoing exploration programs, Company is unveiling the high-potential at its Gran Pilar Gold-Silver Project where it holds 100% interests in over 21 square kilometers of prospective area and a majority ownership (51%) in a one square kilometer area shared with Colibri Resources. The Company also holds 100% interest in the Picacho Gold-Silver project in the Caborca Trend of northern Sonora, a trend host to some of the major gold deposits of the region. Management feels both projects represent tremendous opportunity to create shareholder value.

Tocvan has approximately 59 million shares outstanding.

Quality Assurance / Quality Control

Rock and Drill samples were shipped for sample preparation to ALS Limited in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico and for analysis at the ALS laboratory in North Vancouver. The ALS Hermosillo and North Vancouver facilities are ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC 17025 certified. Gold was analyzed using 50-gram nominal weight fire assay with atomic absorption spectroscopy finish. Over limits for gold (>10 g/t), were analyzed using fire assay with a gravimetric finish. Silver and other elements were analyzed using a four-acid digestion with an ICP finish. Over limit analyses for silver (>100 g/t) were re-assayed using an ore-grade four-acid digestion with ICP-AES finish. Control samples comprising certified reference samples and blank samples were systematically inserted into the sample stream and analyzed as part of the Company's robust quality assurance / quality control protocol.

Soil Samples were shipped for sample preparation to ALS Limited in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico and for analysis at the ALS laboratory in North Vancouver. The ALS Hermosillo and North Vancouver facilities are ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC 17025 certified. Gold and multi-element analysis of soils was completed by aqua regia digestion and ICP-MS finish using a 50-gram nominal weight. Over limit gold values greater than 1 g/t were re-assayed with a more robust aqua regia digestion ad ICP-MS finish. Over limit analyses for silver (>100 g/t) were re-assayed using an ore-grade four-acid digestion with ICP-AES finish. Control samples comprising blank samples and certified reference materials were systematically inserted into the sample stream and analyzed as part of the Company's robust quality assurance / quality control protocol.

Brodie A. Sutherland, CEO for Tocvan Ventures Corp. and a qualified person ("QP") as defined by Canadian National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains "forward-looking information" which may include, 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. Forward-looking information in this news release includes statements regarding the use of proceeds from the Offering. Such forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words and phrases such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or variations (including negative 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.

These forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect our current judgment regarding the direction of our business. Management believes that these assumptions are reasonable. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, risks related to the speculative nature of the Company's business, the Company's formative stage of development and the Company's financial position. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, except as may be required by applicable securities laws.

There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

For more information, please contact:

TOCVAN VENTURES CORP.

Brodie A. Sutherland, CEO

820-1130 West Pender St.

Vancouver, BC V6E 4A4

Telephone: 1 888 772 2452

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

STAY CONNECTED:

LinkedIn: TOC LinkedIn

X: TOC X

Facebook: TOC Facebook

YouTube: TOC YouTube

Web: tocvan.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 16, 2025) - ESGold Corp. (CSE: ESAU) (OTCQB: ESAUF) (FSE: Z7D) ("ESGold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the closing of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Offering"), which closed on April 11, 2025, for gross proceeds of C$3,453,940.38. The Offering consisted of 16,064,839 common shares (each, a "Common Share") and 16,064,839 common share purchase warrants (each, a "Warrant") issued at a price of C$0.215 per Unit. Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one additional Common Share at a price of C$0.30 for a period of 24 months from the date of closing.

This successful closing represents a pivotal point for the Company, as it provides the necessary capital to initiate mill circuit construction and mobilize the final phase of development at the Company's fully permitted Montauban Gold-Silver Project in Quebec. The financing supports ESGold's broader strategy to become one of Canada's next gold and silver mining producers through near-term production and long-term district-scale exploration.

Use of Proceeds

The net proceeds from the Offering will be allocated to:

Commencement of mill circuit construction and related assembly;

Final project mobilization for the Montauban Gold-Silver Project; and

General working capital requirements.

"This financing represents a major inflection point for the Company. With construction and processing circuit assembly now advancing, we are delivering on our commitment to build a scalable, profitable mining operation in one of the best jurisdictions in the world. I want to acknowledge the New York-based hedge funds who participated, as well as the loyal shareholders who have stood with us throughout the life of the company. Together, we are now making Montauban a reality," states Brad Kitchen, President of ESGold.

Management participated in the Offering, with insider subscriptions totaling 1,250,000 Units. Participants included Brad Kitchen (President and Director), Paul Mastantuono (Chief Executive Officer and Director), and Anthony Giuliano (Chief Financial Officer). Their continued support underscores strong internal confidence in ESGold's strategic direction and operational readiness. The insider participation in the Offering constitutes a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is relying on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to subsections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a), respectively, as the value of the securities to be issued to insiders does not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization.

In connection with the Offering, the Company paid finder's fees totaling C$165,628 and issued 770,361 non-transferable broker warrants, each exercisable at a price of C$0.30 for a period of 24 months.

All securities issued in connection with the Offering are subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws.

Looking Ahead

With funding now secured and production on the near-term horizon, ESGold is entering a new phase of development. The Company is fully aligned around a clear mission: to begin generating gold and silver revenues from Montauban while laying the groundwork for long-term exploration and growth. As the mill circuit moves into construction and we await subsurface imaging that has the potential to define the true scale of the mineralized system, ESGold is aggressively executing on a plan designed to create lasting value and position itself as one of Canada's next gold and silver producers.

About ESGold Corp.

ESGold Corp. (CSE: ESAU) (OTCQB: ESAUF) (FSE: Z7D) is a fully permitted, pre-production resource company at the forefront of clean mining and exploration innovation. With proven expertise in Quebec, the Company is advancing its Montauban Gold-Silver Project toward near-term production while delivering long-term value through sustainable resource recovery and strategic exploration. The Montauban Project, located 80 km west of Quebec City, combines production-readiness with untapped district-scale exploration potential.

For more information, please contact ESGold Corp. at +1-888-370-1059 or visit www.esgold.com for additional resources, including a French version of this press release, past news releases, a 3D model of the Montauban processing plant, media interviews, and opinion-editorial pieces.

Stay connected by following us on X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, and joining our Telegram channel.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements are based on assumptions and expectations that involve a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially. Forward-looking information includes statements regarding the expected use of proceeds, the development and construction timelines of the Montauban Project, future production, and anticipated project milestones. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. All forward-looking information contained in this release is qualified by these cautionary statements.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 16, 2025) - Rua Gold Inc. (TSXV: RUA) (OTCQB: NZAUF) (WKN: A40QYC) ("RUA GOLD" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on its gold-antimony exploration at the Auld Creek project in the Reefton Goldfield on the South Island of New Zealand, reporting improved gold grades from current drilling in diamond drillholes ACDDH026, ACDDH027, ACDDH028.

Highlights:

Following up on the last high grade results from the Company, the next holes intersected broader zones of gold in hole ACDDH027 and narrow but strong gold-stibnite (antimony sulphide) mineralization in ACDDH028.

Assay results show: ACDDH026: 2.1m @ 1.25g/t Au from 175m depth ACDDH027: 9m @ 5.9g/t AuEq 1 (5.2g/t Au & 0.16% Sb) from 159m depth ACDDH028: 1.25m @ 48.3g/t AuEq 1 (13.3g/t Au & 8.1% Sb) from 210m depth

ACDD024,025 confirmed higher grade antimony mineralisation on the Fraternal shoot, the recent drilling ACDDH27,28 indicates an improvement in gold grade with depth.

The gold grades on the Fraternal shoot plunge to the south, current drilling is testing 80-100m below the current resource envelope, before pivoting to testing the northerly extensions of the Fraternal ore body.

Auld Creek has an inferred resource hosted by two ore shoots, Bonanza and Fraternal. This resource outcrops at surface and is continuous to 160m vertically and open at depth.

Surface soil geochemistry strongly endorses extensions to the Fraternal north prospect and Bonanza northeast prospect, confirming the system is traceable over a 2.5km length.

Robert Eckford, CEO of RUA GOLD commented: "It is encouraging to see an improvement in gold grades with depth on the Fraternal lode, and the continuation of high-grade antimony accompanying the gold in narrow plunging shoots.

Drilling to date on Auld Creek antimony-gold prospect has increased confidence in the existing gold-antimony resource and highlighted higher-grade plunging shoots that remain open to the south. We are focused on expanding the Auld Creek resource both north and south, with intensified surface exploration showing early promise in identifying additional mineralization over its 2.5km length."

Figure 1: Overview of the Reefton Goldfield.

Figure 2: Fraternal and Bonanza ore shoots at Auld Creek.

Note that AuEq amounts have been calculated using recent spot prices of gold and antimony and applying a ~30% discount. The gold equivalent formula is based on AuEq = Au g/t + 4.3 x Sb% using a Au price of US$2065/oz, Sb price of US$34,300 per tonne and 85% recovery.

GLOBAL SUPPLY AND VALUE OF ANTIMONY

Antimony is a critical metalloid primarily sourced from the mineral, stibnite. It is highly valuable and increasing in demand due to its versatility and has essential applications across renewable energy, liquid battery metals, defence and technological sectors.

Due to its limited supply, predominantly controlled by China, Russia & Tajikistan, antimony is considered a strategic material essential for supply chain security, particularly during periods of geopolitical instability. This was heightened in August 2024, when China announced export controls on processed antimony products. In response to these controls, nations have accelerated their efforts to secure alternative sources of antimony to mitigate the risk of significant supply chain vulnerabilities.

The US, EU, UK, Japan, Canada and Australia all designate antimony as a critical mineral. On January 31, 2025, New Zealand also announced their Critical Mineral List which included antimony.

Reflecting heightened demand, the price of antimony has reached new highs, currently trading over US$50,000 per tonne, a significant increase from US$11,350 per tonne at the start of 2024. This market shift has intensified interest in the strategic antimony potential held by RUA GOLD.

EXPLORATION POTENTIAL

RUA GOLD commenced drilling at Auld Creek in December 2024. It has a targeted program to drill four mineralised shoots identified from historical surface exploration work interpreted by the RUA GOLD team over the past 3 months.

Auld Creek is situated between two past producing mines, Globe Progress mine, and the Crushington Group of mines which collectively produced 933,000oz at 14.0g/t Au (Barry 1993). Auld Creek has three historic adits but no commercial production from the reefs.

RUA GOLD has an inferred resource at Auld Creek indicating 700,000 tonnes at 3.1g/t Au and 1.1% Sb for 67,000oz of gold and 8,000 tonnes of antimony2 (AuEq 110,000oz3). The resource is restricted to two of the four known shoots. Soil geochemistry indicates the potential for discovery of additional mineralised shoots over a strike length of 2.5km.

Four of the eight holes completed to date intersected 4-5m of strong visible stibnite (antimony sulfide) mineralization in the Fraternal-Bonanza structure.

Results from ACDDH024, ACDDH025 confirm the approximate average gold grades, but report higher antimony grades than the current resource estimate. Results from ACDDH027, ACDDH028 highlight above average gold grades with narrow but high-grade antimony in ACDDH028.

Ongoing drilling is targeting the southern plunging Fraternal gold-antimony shoot which remains open along strike and at depth.

Intensified surface exploration is showing very encouraging strong trends both north and north-west confirming additional targets on the Fraternal North and Bonanza north-west extensions.

Figure 3: Arsenic soil geochemistry over Auld Creek area.

ABOUT RUA GOLD

RUA GOLD is an exploration company, strategically focused on New Zealand. With decades of expertise, our team has successfully taken major discoveries into producing world-class mines across multiple continents. The team is now focused on maximizing the asset potential of RUA GOLD's two highly prospective high-grade gold projects.

The Company controls the Reefton Gold District as the dominant landholder in the Reefton Goldfield on New Zealand's South Island with over 120,000 hectares of tenements, in a district that historically produced over 2Moz of gold grading between 9 and 50g/t.

The Company's Glamorgan Project solidifies RUA GOLD's position as a leading high-grade gold explorer on New Zealand's North Island. This highly prospective project is located within the North Islands' Hauraki district, a region that has produced an impressive 15Moz of gold and 60Moz of silver. Glamorgan is adjacent to OceanaGold Corporation's biggest gold mining project, Wharekirauponga.

For further information, please refer to the Company's disclosure record on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Simon Henderson CP, AUSIMM, a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and Chief Operating Officer and a director of RUA GOLD, has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure contained herein. Mr. Henderson has participated in the geochemical sampling, and mapping programs to verify that they have been conducted in accordance with standard operating procedures. Mr. Henderson has verified the data disclosed by running checks on the location, analytical, and test data underlying the information in the technical disclosure herein.

QA/QC Drill Core

Rock samples were sent to SGS Laboratories, Westport for sample preparation. Samples were crushed and pulverized to 85% passing 75 m. The pulverized rock-chips were split into two samples: a ~50 g sent for laboratory analysis, and the reject returned to RGL for pXRF analysis and storage. Pulverized rock-chip samples were analyzed for gold (Au) by 50-g fire assay with AAS finish at SGS Waihi (SGS Code FAA505); and for antimony (Sb) by Sodium Peroxide Fusion Analysis by ICP-MS at SGS Waihi.

QA/QC Soil Samples

Pre-planned soil sampling points on a 20 m x 100 m grid were loaded onto a handheld GPS for guidance. A spade was used to acquire a ~1.0 kg sample from the C horizon, which was put in a wet-strength paper sample bag with wire ties. Sample information was logged in a notebook in the field, including sample ID, depth, color, horizon, slope, sample description, sampler, basement, and comments. Each sample was photographed in the field alongside the GPS with coordinates visible and each sample site marked in the field with biodegradable flagging tape. Samples were taken back to RUA GOLD's Reefton facility for preparation. The sample information was entered on.csv files and uploaded to an SQL database.

Samples were dried in a customized incubator, set at 38C, for a minimum of two days. Once the samples were fully dried, they were sieved to <180m in size. A sub-sample of 30-50g was scooped from the <180 m size fraction for analysis. The remaining material was retained and stored in Reefton. The fine-sieved (<180m) soil sub-sample was first analyzed in RUA GOLD's Reefton facility using a Olympus Vanta pXRF analyzer; and then on to ALS Brisbane, Australia, for low-level gold analysis using Au-TL43; trace level Au by aqua regia extraction with ICP-MS finish. Detection limit 1 ppb Au.

Field duplicates were collected every 20th sample and underwent the same sample collection and preparation process outlined above. Duplicates were checked and validated by RUA GOLD's Isogonal data validation system to ensure compliance.

This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this new release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-Looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur and specifically include statements regarding: the Company's strategies, expectations, planned operations or future actions, including but not limited to exploration programs at its Reefton and Glamorgan projects and the results thereof. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements.

Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. A variety of inherent risks, uncertainties and factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control, affect the operations, performance and results of the Company and its business, and could cause actual events or results to differ materially from estimated or anticipated events or results expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Some of these risks, uncertainties and factors include: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; risks related to the effects of the Russia-Ukraine war; risks related to climate change; operational risks in exploration, delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration projects or capital expenditures; the actual results of current exploration activities; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; changes in labour costs and other costs and expenses or equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, including but not limited to environmental hazards, flooding or unfavorable operating conditions and losses, insurrection or war, delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing, and commodity prices. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements and reference should also be made to the Company's short form base shelf prospectus dated July 11, 2024, and the documents incorporated by reference therein, filed under its SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca for a description of additional risk factors.

Forward-Looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

Table 1: Location of Auld Creek drill holes from RUA 2024-2025 program

Hole ID Easting Northing rL Total

Depth Site _ID Dip Azimuth

(true) Year ACDDH022 1507212 5333199 508 108.5 Pad 10 -54 193 2024 ACDDH023 1507212 5333199 508 51.5 Pad 10 -60 85 2024 ACDDH024 1507290 5333146 539 150 Old 13 -37 220 2025 ACDDH025 1507290 5333146 539 180.9 Old 13 -54 248 2025 ACDDH026 1507290 5333146 539 200 Old 13 -59 231 2025 ACDDH027 1507290 5333146 539 193.4 Old 13 -45 212 2025 ACDDH028 1507079 5332952 607 243.5 Pad 18 -50 104 2025 ACDDH029 1507079 5332952 607 256 Pad 18 -50 120 2025 ACDDH030 1507079 5332952 607 268.5 Pad 18 -53 85 2025

Table 2: Significant drilling intercepts at Auld Creek, full mineralized zone composites (1.5g/t Au cut-off)

Sample No From To Interval Au (g/t) Sb (%) ACDDH026 175 175.9 0.9 0.96 ACDDH026 175.9 177.1 1.2 1.55 ACDDH027 152 153 1 2.52 ACDDH027 153 154 1 1.88 ACDDH027 154 155 1 3.44 ACDDH027 155 156 1 2.25 ACDDH027 156 157 1 1.84 ACDDH027 157 158 1 0.37 ACDDH027 158 159 1 0.15 ACDDH027 159 160 1 2.38 0.013% ACDDH027 160 161 1 2.39 0.802% ACDDH027 161 162 1 4.75 0.008% ACDDH027 162 163 1 2.84 0.016% ACDDH027 163 164 1 8.42 0.010% ACDDH027 164 165 1 4.7 0.010% ACDDH027 165 166 1 3.77 0.009% ACDDH027 166 167 1 15 0.178% ACDDH027 167 168 1 3.11 0.428% ACDDH028 209.5 210.15 0.65 0.92 ACDDH028 210.15 210.6 0.45 18.4 11.600% ACDDH028 210.6 211.4 0.8 8.28 4.680% ACDDH028 211.4 212 0.6 1.68

1.Using recent spot prices of gold and antimony, and applying a ~30% discount, the gold equivalent formula is based on AuEq = Au g/t + 4.3 x Sb% using a Au price of US$2065/oz, Sb price of US$34,300 per tonne and 85% recovery.

2.Please see the Companys technical report entitled, Technical Report on Reefton Project, New Zealand, dated October 30, 2024.

3.Based on gold equivalent formula of AuEq = Au g/t + 1.9 x Sb% using a Au price of US$2025/oz, Sb price of US$15,000 per tonne and 85% recovery.
Vancouver, Canada, April 16, 2025  TheNewswire - Electrum Discovery Corp. ("Electrum" and/or the "Company") (TSX-V:ELY | FRA:R8N | OTC:ELDCF) is pleased to announce the upcoming launch of its Spring 2025 field program at the Timok East Copper-Gold Project ("Timok East" and/or the "Project"), located in eastern Serbia. The planned program is designed to refine high-priority targets through a combination of detailed geological mapping, geophysical surveys, geochemical sampling, and petrological studies.

Additionally, the Company is pleased to report that it has received the assay results from rock chip sampling at the Northern Skarn target, which have confirmed the extension of copper mineralized rocks at surface over 1.7-kilometre strike zone at the Northern Skarn target (see Figure 1).

Strategic Objectives and Exploration Framework

The forthcoming field program will align with Electrums broader strategy of advancing exploration across the Timok East Project around two complementary exploration pathways:

1. A prospect-scale program, focused on refining near-surface targets along the Bambino trend and Western Mag Target using ground magnetic surveys, petrology studies, surface geochemical sampling, geological prospecting, and further geophysical studies. This approach is designed to improve target confidence to prioritize for future drilling.

2. A mineral systems-driven approach, integrating architectural studies, deep penetrating geophysical methods, geochronological studies, extensive literature review, and data compilation. This approach aims to unlock the broader porphyry potential of the eastern boundary of the Timok Magmatic Complex, over which Electrum holds a significant land position.

Spring 2025 Field Program at Timok East

Electrum is set to initiate its Spring 2025 field program at Timok East within the next two weeks, with a strategic focus on identifying the primary hydrothermal driver behind skarn replacement and porphyry mineralization. The results will guide the design of subsequent drill programs and support the continued expansion of Electrums geological model across the broader Timok East project area, advancing the Companys efforts to unlock district-scale copper-gold potential.

Detailed geological mapping, combined with structural studies, and Audio-Magnetotelluric ("AMT") geophysical results (see News release February 19th, 2025), have identified a likely westerly-dipping, north-northwest striking extensional fault through the center of the Bambino locality at the southern part of Timok East. This structure, along with associated potential graben development, represents a prospective structural setting for fluid flow and magmatic-hydrothermal activity. The architecture potentially mirrors key structural controls observed in the Bor and Veliki Krivelj porphyry systems within the district (see Figures 1 & 2).

Figure 1: Map of targets on 100k geology background, highlighting new targets identified from regional targeting work and the location of newly reported assay samples (2025) ( 2024 Rock and soil results from News Releases 30th October 2024, 4th September 2024, and 3rd July 2024) (EPSG:32634).

Figure 2: Schematic cross-section of the eastern boundary of the Timok Magmatic Complex and Deli Jovan Ophiolite showing results from the AMT survey (see release February 19th 2025) with Electrums interpretations of extensional fault sets across Timok East. The approximate structural context and locations of the Bor and Veliki Krivelj porphyry copper deposits are also shown. Line of section displayed on figure Circum-Mos Modified from Krstekanic et al. (2022)1.

To advance its geological understanding and facilitate drill targeting, Electrum is planning a series of immediate follow-up exploration programs:

Ground Magnetics: A ground magnetic survey is planned across the Luka and Makoviste permits of the Timok East Project. This work aims to refine the interpretation of magnetic anomalies, including the Western Mag Target (see Figure 1), define key fault structures that may control mineralisation and identify magnetic zones potentially associated with zones of higher temperature magnetite-rich skarn replacement along the Bambino trend.

Geological Prospecting Geochemical Sampling: Further geological mapping, petrological analysis, and systematic rock-chip sampling are planned along the broader Bambino trend. These programs aim to improve the geological model by refining interpretations of skarn and vein assemblages, delineating alteration zones, and identifying potential mineralogical indicators that may indicate associations with concealed porphyry-style Cu-Au systems.

Audio-Magnetotelluric (AMT) Survey: Additional AMT survey lines are planned to extend geophysical coverage over the Western Mag Target. These surveys will assist in defining the geometry of deep-seated resistive and conductive features potentially associated with porphyry intrusions, while also enhancing the understanding of deep-seated structural controls on hydrothermal fluid flow.

Regional Data Integration: Ongoing literature review and data compilation efforts across the Timok district and the broader Western Tethyan belt aim to contextualize the evolving exploration model within a regional framework, generate new target concepts, and identify underexplored analogues that may guide future exploration strategies.

Figure 3: Location of planned magnetic lines across Luka and Makoviste on Historical magnetic data (analytical signal) covering the Bor Mining complex and Luka and Makoviste licenses, showing Phase 1 andesites from State geological maps, commonly associated with porphyry mineralization. (EPSG:32634). Meta data for the magnetic analytic signal map layer is unknown and the map layer has not been verified.

Rock Chip Sampling at Northern Intrusive/Skarn Target

A total of 14 rock chip samples were collected during the latest mapping across the Northern Skarn target ("Northern Skarn") and sent for further analysis at SGS. Sampling focused on sulphide-bearing skarn replacement zones, brecciated quartz veins, hornfels, and three distinct intrusive units.

Assay results have confirmed the extension of copper mineralization at surface over a 1.7-kilometre strike length at the Northern Skarn target. Mineralization was encountered within sulphide bearing skarn alteration and gossanous quartz breccia material (see Figure 3), particularly around the contact zone between a mapped granodiorite intrusion and the surrounding Palaeozoic metasedimentary units (see Figure 1).

This style of mineralization is consistent with surface expressions observed at the Bambino prospect, with elevated gold and silver values present in most samples, reinforcing the exploration model and highlighting the potential for laterally extensive skarn replacement and structurally controlled vein hosted mineralization along the central Bambino trend. The next phase of exploration across this trend will expand surface mapping coverage between the Bambino prospect and the Northern Skarn zone with targeted petrological studies and ground magnetics aiming to vector towards potential higher-grade zones within the system. Key results include:

5 samples returned copper values between 0.13% and 0.65% Cu

3 samples assayed between 14 g/t and 80 g/t Ag

1 sample returned 0.42 g/t Au

Figure 4: Rock chip sample A2025106. Brecciated quartz vein with FeOx fracture fill where sulphides have weathered. Assaying 0.42 g/t Au, 80 g/t Ag and 0.13 % Cu.

Sample Collection, QA/QC, Preparation and Analysis

Rock chip sample locations were recorded using a Garmin handheld GPS with a nominal accuracy of 3 meters, and the location was then photographed with the labelled sample. Samples were prepared and analyzed at SGS Serbia, using a combination of four-acid digest with an MS finish (IMS40B) for a multi-element suite and 50g fire assay with an AAS finish (FAA505) for gold. Samples were submitted as a batche of 21, made up of 18 samples, one CRM, one blank, and one field duplicate. The batch passed Electrums internal QAQC procedures.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical contents of this news release have been reviewed and approved by Mr. Thomas Sant BSc, FGS, CGeol, EurGeol. Mr. Sant is a non-independent Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 and the VP, Operations, of the Company.

About Electrum Discovery Corp.

Electrum Discovery Corp. is an emerging mineral exploration and development company focused on the prolific Western Tethyan Belt with two main projects spanning 645 square kilometers of prospective exploration ground in the Republic of Serbia.

Timok East extends over 123 square kilometers across the Timok copper-gold region and includes the recently discovered Bambino copper-gold anomaly, located less than five kilometers from the Bor Copper-Gold Mining Complex.

Novo Tlamino, located in the south-east of the Republic of Serbia, covers 522 square kilometers and includes an inferred mineral resource estimate of 670,000oz AuEq (7,100,000t at 2.9 g/t AuEq average grade), PEA (January 7, 2021)2

Electrum Discovery is looking to maximize the value of our mineral projects for all stakeholders including our shareholders, the local community and government. We have an open-door policy and encourage all stakeholders to contact us through our website. We have a strong environmental and ethics policy to complete all our work in line with regulations in an open and transparent process. Our projects are at an early stage, and we plan to continue our consultation with all stakeholders in a climate of mutual respect, while fostering sustainability, governance, and knowledge transfer in the region.

Additional information on Electrum can be found by reviewing the Company's page on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

For more information contact:

Dr Elena Clarici, Chief Executive Officer and Director

T: +1 604 801 5432 | E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | W: www.electrumdiscovery.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this news release constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking information. Such statements include Companys expected achievement of specified milestones, results of operations, and expected financial results of the Company. Often, but not always, this forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "estimate", "estimates", "estimated", "potential", "open", "future", "assumed", "projected", "used", "detailed", "has been", "gain", "upgraded", "offset", "limited", "contained", "reflecting", "containing", "remaining", "to be", "periodically", or statements that events, "could" or "should" occur or be achieved and similar expressions, including negative variations.

Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Electrum, to be materially different from any results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking information. Such uncertainties and factors include, among others, uncertainties inherent in the PEA and exploration results and the estimation of mineral resources; risks related to the failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; changes in general economic conditions and financial markets; risks associated with the results of exploration and development activities, and the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; unanticipated costs and expenses; and such other risks detailed from time to time in Electrum's quarterly and annual filings with securities regulators and available under Electrum's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Rock chips and surface results are early stage and there is no assurance that future exploration will find mineralization of further interest. Although Electrum has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended.

Forward-looking information contained herein is based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations and opinions of management. Forward-looking information has been made as of the date hereof and Electrum disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by law. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

1 Krstekanic, N., Matenco, L., Stojadinovic, U., Willingshofer, E., Toljic, M., and Tamminga, D., 2022. Strain partitioning in a large intracontinental strike slip system accommodating backarc-convex orocline formation: The Circum-Moesian Fault System of the Carpatho-Balkanides. Tectonics, 41(4), p.e2021TC007178. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021TC007178

2 Preliminary Economic Assessment and NI43-101 Technical Report for the Medgold Tlamino Project, January 7, 2021, www.sedarplus.ca. The effective date of the resource estimate is January 7, 2021. Authors of the Reports are: Mr. Richard Siddle, MAIG, of Addison Mining Services Ltd for Mineral Resources; Dr. Matthew Randall, FIMMM, of Axe Valley Mining Consultants Ltd for Mining; Mr. Ian Jackson, FIMMM, of Bara Consulting for Mineral Processing, and Dr. Andrew Bamber, MCIM, of Bara Consulting Ltd for Economic Analysis.

The PEA is preliminary in nature, and it includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be characterized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the PEA will be realised.
A US jury on Tuesday convicted a Gambian man for torturing opponents of the African country's former president by burning and beating them, including with molten plastic.

Michael Sang Correa, 46, served in an armed unit known as the "Junglers," which answered to The Gambia's then-president, Yahya Jammeh.

A trial in Denver, Colorado, found that Correa and other members of the death squad had tortured five people because of suspicions they had plotted against Jammeh.

"Michael Sang Correa tried to evade responsibility for his crimes in The Gambia by coming to the United States and hiding his past," Matthew Galeotti, head of the US Justice Department's Criminal Division said after the trial.

"But we found him, we investigated him, and we prosecuted him."

Jurors in Colorado heard how in March 2006, shortly after a failed coup attempt, the Junglers took their victims to The Gambia's main prison.

Over the next two months, they beat, stabbed, burned, and electroshocked their victims, including some on their genitals.

One man testified he had his thigh burned by molten plastic; another told of how he was suffocated, while others spoke of being pistol whipped, burned with cigarettes and hit in the face with a hammer.

Correa was convicted of five counts of torture and one of conspiracy to commit torture.

He faces up to 120 years in prison when he is sentenced at a later date.

Correa entered the United States in 2016 to work as a bodyguard for The Gambia's vice president, who was visiting the United Nations.

He stayed in the country and moved to Denver at some point after Jammeh, who ruled the country with an iron fist from 1994 to 2017, was voted out of office.

Correa was arrested by US authorities in September 2019, initially for overstaying his visa.

According to the indictment, Correa joined the Junglers in 2004.

The paramilitary unit operated outside the Gambian army's chain of command, taking orders directly from Jammeh, and has been accused by watchdog groups of carrying out widespread human rights violations.

Another member of the Junglers, Bai Lowe, was sentenced to life in prison in Germany in November 2023 after being convicted of crimes against humanity, murder and attempted murder.

A Swiss court in May sentenced Gambian ex-interior minister Ousman Sonko to 20 years in prison for crimes against humanity committed under the Jammeh regime.

Victims of the Junglers included an AFP correspondent, Deyda Hydara, who was gunned down in his car on the outskirts of Gambia's capital Banjul on December 16, 2004.






Wednesday, April 16, 2025 - National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichungwah has issued a public apology on behalf of Gender Cabinet Secretary nominee, Hanna Wendot Cheptumo, over her controversial comments on femicide.

While tabling a motion in the National Assembly for the approval of Cheptumo and her Public Service counterpart, Geoffrey Ruku, Ichungwah, said thathe had personally spoken to Cheptumo, who expressed her unreserved apologies to the Committee on Appointments, the House, and the nation.

Without being an apologist for her, it is important to understand the context.

With over 20 cameras in your face, its easy to panic and misspeak, Ichungwah stated, suggesting the remarks were unintentional and made under pressure.

During her appearance before the National Assembly Committee on Appointments, Cheptumo stated that most femicide victims were uneducated women.

Her comments triggered an immediate backlash from lawmakers, including committee chair Moses Wetangula, who pointed out that many victims of femicide in Kenya, particularly those murdered in Airbnbs, were university students.

She went on to claim that educated victims were often attacked while looking for money, saying, You know, a girl has many needs.

Likoni MP, Mishi Mboko, also raised a point of order, condemning the implication that victims were to blame.

It is not good to say that those girls are looking for money and that is why they are brutally murdered, she said.

National Assembly Deputy Speaker, Gladys Boss Shollei, echoed the call, terming the statement politically incorrect despite supporting Cheptumos nomination.

Cheptumo, a lawyer and widow of the late Baringo Senator William Cheptumo, is expected to fill the Gender docket, which has remained vacant since August 2024.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Wednesday, April 16, 2025 - Samwel Malish alias Big Papa has been apprehended for pulling off a daring scam at the Jumeirah Palm Resort in Mombasa.

He booked a three-bedroom Airbnb for two weeks but vanished into thin air without paying a dime.

Malish, along with two accomplices, concocted an elaborate scheme to book the luxurious stay online, which would cost a total of Sh370,300.

They first sent an RTGS message for Sh105,800, but the funds never reflected in Airbnbs account.

When the host inquired about the missing payment, Malish confidently claimed that his company would cover the bill before their departure.

But just like a magicians disappearing act, he and his accomplices inexplicably vanished, leaving behind nothing but confusion and bills.

As investigators dug deeper, they uncovered Malish's notorious history as a con artist, wanted for swindling innocent victims across Africa, and even involved in criminal activities in Australia.

He and his partners in crime previously defrauded a Beach Hotel in Mombasa in the same fashion.

Now in custody, Malish undergoes processing pending arraignment, as detectives pursue his elusive accomplices.

Courtesy: DCI.






Wednesday, April 16, 2025 - UDAs Mombasa County Secretary General, Mutisya Wambua, has downplayed Nyali Member of Parliament, Mohammed Alis plans to exit the party, stating that the legislators departure will not affect the partys strength or unity.

Speaking during a press briefing in Mombasa on Wednesday, April 16th, Wambua noted that while the party will not stop Ali from leaving, it remains open to working with him should he choose to stay.

We are willing to work together with him, but if he is seeking another path, he should find it quietly and allow the UDA Secretary General to do his work, Wambua said.

Wambua described the MP as a political tourist, accusing him of lacking political stability.

Today he is in Mombasa, tomorrow he might be eyeing Isiolo, then Nairobi. Thats how unpredictable he is, he added.

Wambua also emphasized that Alis potential exit would not lead to a mass defection.

I just want to assure everybody - he will not leave with other people, he stated.

Ali, who was elected on a UDA ticket in 2022, accused the partys National Secretary General Hassan Omar of plotting to deny him the partys nomination in 2027.

In a recent interview, Ali declared he is prepared to run as an independent or join another political outfit.

If you think the party is your property, we will explore other options, Ali said defiantly.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Wednesday, April 16, 2025 - Police officers based at Moyale have arrested Amina Mala Gure, 35, a notorious trafficker, who has been on the police radar for her involvement in the underworld of Cannabis trafficking.

Acting on solid intel, the officers raided Gures home in Antut village.

There, they discovered 27 tightly wrapped bales of Cannabis sativa, hidden in sacks and a metallic box weighing a total of 137.8 kg, with an estimated street value of Sh 4.13 million.

Gure, along with the recovered narcotics, was escorted to Moyale Police Station, where she is undergoing processing pending arraignment.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Wednesday, April 16, 2025 - In a bold twist to the ongoing debate on gender representation, Suna East MP, Junet Mohammed, has suggested that the Ministry of Gender should be led by a man.

Speaking during a National Assembly sitting, Junet said:

If you asked me, the Minister for Gender should be a man because gender cuts across,

I think a man would serve the interests of women better than women themselves.

A man would ensure gender parity is mainstreamed in this country.

Junet, who also serves as the Minority Leader, doubled down on his stance, adding that if given the chance, he will champion the full implementation of the two-thirds gender rule and fight for womens rights across the board.

If today I were made Minister for Gender, I would ensure no appointment happens in this country that does not comply with the two-thirds gender rule, he declared.

According to Article 27(8) of Kenyas Constitution, no more than two-thirds of members in elective and appointive bodies should be of the same gender.

His comments came just days after Hanna Wendot Cheptumo was vetted for the Gender, Culture, the Arts and Heritage docket, a position that has remained vacant since President Rutos dramatic Cabinet shake-up last year.

The initial nominee, Soi Langat, was rejected by the committee, chaired by Speaker Moses Wetangula.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
Full text of Xi's signed article in Malaysian media

Xinhua) 08:18, April 16, 2025

KUALA LUMPUR, April 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday published a signed article titled "May the Ship of China-Malaysia Friendship Sail Toward an Even Brighter Future" in Malaysian media outlets including Sin Chew Daily, The Star and Sinar Harian ahead of his arrival in Malaysia for a state visit.

The following is the full text of the article:

May the Ship of China-Malaysia Friendship Sail Toward an Even Brighter Future

Xi Jinping

At the invitation of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, I will soon pay a state visit to Malaysia. This will be my second visit to your beautiful country in 12 years. I look forward to experiencing Malaysia's remarkable progress and transformation in person, and meeting with Malaysian friends to celebrate our friendship and plan for future cooperation.

China and Malaysia are friendly neighbors across the sea. The Maritime Silk Road stood witness to the millenium-old friendly exchanges between our countries. As a Malay proverb puts it, "air dicincang tidak akan putus," or "water can't be cut apart." Through the ages, such strong bonds of friendship between our peoples have grown from strength to strength. Over 1,300 years ago, Chinese Buddhist monk Yijing of the Tang Dynasty traveled to the Malay Peninsula on his pilgrimage voyage and produced the earliest known written account of the ancient kingdom of Kedah. More than 600 years ago, Chinese navigator and explorer Zheng He of the Ming Dynasty and his fleet called at Malacca during five of his seven historic expeditions. His visits planted seeds of peace and friendship. To this day, the Sam Po Kong Temple, Bukit Cina, and Princess Hang Li Poh's Well endure as a living testament to the local community's everlasting veneration of the legendary Chinese navigator. Some 80 years ago, when the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression reached a critical juncture, the Nanyang Volunteer Drivers and Mechanics from Malaysia braved immense dangers to reach China's Yunnan Province, and helped keep the Burma Road operational, as it was a vital lifeline of China's wartime supplies. Today this remarkable story of courage still echoes in the hearts of both peoples. As we honor our shared past and embrace the future, our two countries must work together to give fresh momentum to our ship of friendship that has sailed through the long river of history, and ensure that it forges ahead steadily toward brighter horizons.

We must keep a firm grip on the strategic helm that guides our ship of friendship. Fifty-one years ago, breaking through the gloom of the Cold War, leaders of China and Malaysia made the decision to establish diplomatic relations, pioneering a groundbreaking new chapter in relations between China and ASEAN countries. China and Malaysia have since respected each other's development paths while maintaining strategic independence. We have provided mutual support on issues vital to our respective core interests and on our major concerns, setting an exemplary model for two countries to prosper together through mutually beneficial cooperation. In 2023, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and I agreed on building the China-Malaysia community with a shared future. The decision marked a new milestone in the bilateral relations. China and Malaysia must enhance strategic communication, increase mutual political trust, follow through on the Belt and Road cooperation plan between the two governments, strengthen the synergy between our development strategies, expand experience sharing on national governance, and promote our bilateral relations through high-standard strategic cooperation.

We must expand results-oriented cooperation which serves as the ballast that steadies our ship of friendship. In 2024, China-Malaysia trade reached 212 billion U.S. dollars, up by nearly 1,000 times the level at the inception of our diplomatic relations. China has been Malaysia's largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years. Malaysian durians can now be delivered directly from orchards to Chinese supermarkets within 24 hours, and they are immensely popular among Chinese consumers. To date, the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park has received a total investment of over 11 billion yuan (1.5 billion dollars), and will create many long-term jobs when all its planned projects are completed with production reaching their designed capacity. Our bilateral cooperation potential is being progressively realized in the digital economy, green development, industrial investment and transport infrastructure construction. We must deepen mutually beneficial collaboration, advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and strengthen cooperation on industrial and supply chains, with a focus on the digital economy, green economy, blue economy and tourism economy, so as to advance modernization of both countries.

We must fuel the engines of people-to-people exchanges to propel our ship of friendship forward. China and Malaysia have mutually granted visa exemption to each other's nationals. The year 2024 saw nearly 6 million mutual visits between the two countries, which exceeded the pre-COVID level. "Malaysia, truly Asia," the tourism promotional ad that highlights the unique charm of Malaysia's culture, history and landscape, has inspired numerous Chinese tourists to visit Malaysia for leisure vacations or sightseeing. More and more Malaysian tourists are traveling to China to appreciate its historical legacy and experience its contemporary vibe. I hope our peoples will visit each other as often as family. Our two countries must promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges so as to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between our two peoples, especially the younger generation.

We must harness the momentum of collaboration at the multilateral level. China and Malaysia are both major developing countries in the Asia-Pacific. We are also emerging market economies and members of the Global South. We have similar positions on safeguarding international fairness and justice and on advancing open and inclusive development. We have maintained close collaboration within multilateral mechanisms, including East Asia cooperation, APEC and the UN. China welcomes Malaysia as a BRICS partner country. Its inclusion in the organization aligns with the historic trend of the Global South's pursuit of solidarity-driven collective advancement and serves the common interests of developing countries. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, the 80th anniversary of the founding of the UN, and the 70th anniversary of the Bandung Conference. As we honor these milestones, our two countries must strengthen mutual cooperation in international and regional affairs, and champion the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and the Bandung Spirit. We must uphold the UN-centered international system and the international order underpinned by international law, and promote fairer and more equitable global governance. We must uphold the multilateral trading system, keep global industrial and supply chains stable, and maintain an international environment of openness and cooperation.

As a community with a shared future, China and Malaysia share the smooth times and the rough, stand united in peace and crisis, and thrive and endure together. "Share weal and woe," a popular proverb in both countries, defines the very essence of such a relationship. We must stay ahead of the times, surge forward with unyielding resolve, and jointly build a brighter future of development, growth and prosperity.

Having weathered storms of the times, the friendly relations and cooperation between China and ASEAN countries have emerged stronger and more resilient. China was the first ASEAN dialogue partner to accede to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, and the first to establish a free trade area and a comprehensive strategic partnership with ASEAN. China-ASEAN cooperation is the most results-oriented and productive in the region. China and ASEAN pulled together in solidarity in response to multiple challenges, such as the Asian financial crisis, the global financial crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic and the growing headwinds against economic globalization. Our bilateral cooperation is more robust than ever. In 2024, China-ASEAN trade exceeded 980 billion dollars, making us each other's largest trading partner for five consecutive years. The Version 3.0 China-ASEAN Free Trade Area upgrade negotiations have substantially concluded. More and more premium specialty products from ASEAN countries are now finding their way into millions of Chinese families, while Chinese literary works, animations, films and TV productions are increasingly captivating audiences in ASEAN countries with the rich tapestry of Chinese culture and the warm pulse of contemporary life in China.

China firmly supports ASEAN unity and community-building, and supports ASEAN centrality in the regional architecture. China fully supports Malaysia in its role as the ASEAN chair for 2025 and looks forward to Malaysia serving as a stronger bridge between the two sides as the country coordinator for China-ASEAN Dialogue Relations. Through its modernization, China is striving to build itself into a great modern socialist country in all respects, and advancing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts. Chinese modernization follows a path of peaceful development. China will promote global peace, development and shared prosperity with other countries through mutually beneficial cooperation. The Chinese economy is built on a solid foundation, with multiple strengths, high resilience and vast potential for growth. The core conditions supporting its long-term positive growth remain firmly in place, with the underlying upward trend unchanged. China has set its target for economic growth at around five percent for 2025. We will continue to pursue high-quality development, expand high-standard opening up, share development opportunities with other countries, and bring greater stability and certainty to the regional and global economy.

Unity brings strength, and cooperation leads to mutual success. China will work with Malaysia and other ASEAN countries to combat the undercurrents of geopolitical and camp-based confrontation, as well as the countercurrents of unilateralism and protectionism, in keeping with the historical trend of peace and development. We must brave the waves ahead and advance the high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future, and jointly build a stronger China-ASEAN community with a shared future.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
By Grainne Ni Aodha, PA

The Garda Commissioner is to write to the Ceann Comhairle about allegations made in the Dail about garda treatment of Palestine protesters.

14 people were arrested after a vigil was held outside Leinster House for Mothers Day, to remember women and children killed in Gaza and Lebanon.

People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Richard Boyd Barrett told the Dail on April 1st that the Mothers Against Genocide group were taking part in a peaceful sit-down protest when some were very violently arrested and strip searched.

His party colleague Paul Murphy said that the protesters were forcibly removed by the gardai and one woman was subjected to a cavity search.

The day after the statements in the Dail, gardai said preliminary enquiries conducted by local Garda management found that any searches were in line with regulations.

An Garda Siochana refutes any allegation that a cavity search took place, it said.

On Tuesday, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said he would write to Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy about the inaccurate allegations made in the Dail.

Reacting, Mr Murphy said it was quite incredible if the Minister for Justice Jim OCallaghan was just taking the word of the Garda Commissioner that strip or cavity searches did not take place.

He said complaints to the new Garda oversight body, Fiosru, were being prepared.

This is the Minister effectively calling these mothers liars before there has been any independent investigation of their complaints, he said.

I believe the multiple women who have described their experience of being strip searched and one of being cavity searched.

They are standing over their statements and are currently preparing complaints to Fiosru.

The Minister for Justice should have waited for an independent investigation before coming to a conclusion on this. If these mothers are vindicated, as I believe they will be, his position will be untenable.
There were three Kildare winners at the national awards for exceptional dedication and skill in the thoroughbred breeding and racing industry.

Paul Croke (farm manager) and Katie Peale (assistant farm manager) both of Bert House, Athy and Oliver Geraghty (stud manager/groom at Castle Farm Stud), Narraghmore have been recognised at Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards (TIEA), sponsored by Godolphin and supported by the Irish Stable Staff Association, Horse Racing Ireland, the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association and the Racing Post.

Katie received the newcomer award.

Katie Peate, Bert House Stud. ITIEA 2025 Award Winners. Photo: Patrick McCann/Racing Post

The awards ceremony will take place in the Keadeen Hotel in Newbridge, County Kildare on Tuesday 3 June where the flagship award  The Irish Racing Excellence Award - will be announced and presented to one of the Irish Thoroughbred Industry Employee Award winners.

The winner of the Racecourse Award, chosen by the Irish Stable Staff Association and based on a quality programme evaluation, is Roscommon Racecourse.

Oliver Geraghty, Castlefarm Stud ITIEA 2025 Award Winners. Photo: Patrick McCann/Racing Post

Each Irish Thoroughbred Industry Employee Award winner will receive a specially commissioned trophy by sculptor Ani Mollereau and 4,000. In addition, 2,500 will be awarded to their employers to be used for the benefit of each winners colleagues.

Along with an Ani Mollereau trophy, Roscommon Racecourse will receive 2,500 to be spent on upgrading facilities that will benefit stable employees.

The Irish Racing Excellence Award winner will receive an additional 5,000 and 2,500 for their employer to be used for the benefit of their work colleagues.

Joe Osborne, managing director, Godolphin Ireland, said: All of us at Godolphin are delighted to continue our support of these awards. We are particularly grateful to the many nominators who took the time and put in the effort to praise their industry colleagues.
Aisling, a student from Colaiste Abhainn Ri, and her neighbour Eileen Millea, a resident of Mount Carmel, had a heartwarming encounter today. In a gesture of community solidarity, Aisling, accompanied by fellow students, donated cakes from the school's Bake Sale to the residents of Mount Carmel.

READ NEXT: Concern expressed over dangerous County Kilkenny bypass prone to serious accidents

The Bake Sale at Colaiste Abhainn Ri was organized to support Sophie Quirke, who is currently undergoing treatment for cancer. Sophie is the daughter of Martina Griffin, a staff member at the school. The event saw enthusiastic participation from students and staff alike, all eager to contribute to the cause. Upon receiving the donations, Eileen Millea expressed profound gratitude on behalf of the Mount Carmel community.

The generosity shown by the students and the school was deeply appreciated by everyone at Mount Carmel, highlighting the strong community spirit that thrives in the area. A big thank you goes out to Colaiste Abhainn Ri and its students for their thoughtful contribution.

Their kindness in thinking of everyone in Mount Carmel during such challenging times is commendable and serves as a beacon of hope and unity. In these acts of kindness, we see the true essence of community and support, proving that together, we can make a difference in each other's lives.

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Fianna Fail TD for Carlow/Kilkenny, Peter 'Chap' Cleere, has called for the support of extending Credit Unions house lending even further in the market.

Deputy Cleere, having worked in financial services for twenty years, said that there has been over 50% of an increase in house lending year on year in Credit Unions.

READ NEXT: Kilkenny students share heartwarming moment with nursing home residents

"As a man from a financial background, I know the vital role that Credit Unions play in local communities. Whether thats supporting community projects, loans for motor and home improvements, or house lending," Cleere stated.

"I believe that credit unions can evolve even more and be another tool in our arsenal when it comes to home lending. In 2023, there was 550.1 million outstanding on home loans, and that figure rose to 784.3 million in 2024. I have no doubt that this will increase further in 2025.

"I welcome that the idea that merging credit unions is already happening in different communities across the country. In my own constituency of Carlow/Kilkenny, Bagenalstown Credit Union and St Canices Credit Union in Kilkenny merged a few years ago to form under the St Canices branch," the local TD continued.

This week, there was news that Dundalk Credit Union and Fairview in Dublin are in talks about becoming a 'super credit union', something Cleere reckons will only benefit its members.

"I know that mortgages have now started to be offered in St Canices and some of their 57,000+ members can borrow up to 350,000 for a mortgage. They also provide other variable options when it comes to home lending and improvements also.

"This is a huge step forward, particularly with the option of mortgages. This provides first time buyers more variety when choosing their mortgage provider," he said.

"We need to support the Credit Union sector, grow their housing loan book, invest in the Credit Union improved Housing-Body Fund, and continue the provision of loans for home improvements, and retrofits.

"We need to engage with all stakeholders and listen to all considerations of how we can expand the credit union loans in the housing market," the Skeogh native concluded.

FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS, CLICK HERE
The Taoiseach has questioned the effectiveness of public inquiries, saying the state has spent half a billion euro over the last 27 years on various investigations.

Micheal Martin said the State needs to reflect on whether there is a better way of cutting to the truth in a more effective and quicker way.

He made the comments after the Government published a lengthy report into a disabled woman who experienced neglect and a fundamental failure in the duty of her care.

The Farrelly Commission was set up in 2017 to examine the case of a woman, given the pseudonym Grace, who has been in the care of the State all her life.

The commission, established in 2017 and led by Marjorie Farrelly, gathered 312,000 pages of documentation over eight years and its final report runs to more than 2,000 pages in six volumes.

It has taken eight years to complete and was beset by a number of delays.

The inquiry is expected to cost a total of 20 million euro.

The report has been criticised by opposition politicians and some Government backbenchers, with some saying that it has failed to provide the answers sought.

Speaking on Wednesday morning, Mr Martin said: We do need to fundamentally reflect on how were doing these inquiries, the effectiveness of them, and whether theres a better way of cutting to the truth and getting to the truth in a much earlier and much more effective way.

It would be remiss, I think, of the Dail generally and the Oireachtas not to reflect very seriously on the modality and methodology of commissions of investigation and inquiries.

They are taking an ordinance of time, they cost millions, and theres an argument to be had for strengthening our own institutions, bodies like HIQA (Health Information and Quality Authority), Health and Safety Authority, bodies like Fiosru, which is the new GSOC (Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission).

We should have institutions that can get these investigations done more quickly, more effectively, and get answers, because part of the purpose of this is to improve services and make sure these type of cases do not arise again into the future.

He said there are currently up to six request for public inquiries to be held into different matters.

I think we really have to fundamentally look, is this the way to go because, since 1998, the state has spent half a billion on inquiries, he added.

Some have been effective, some have had impact and led to change but the enormity of the cost when we still need resources for the children of today and to make sure we resource children in very disadvantaged backgrounds or with significant dysfunctional backgrounds.

It is arguable that some of the resources would be better spent on looking after them and to facilitate them.

We should be able to use the institutions that have been established to do that in the first place.
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COLUMBIA  The University of Missouri will partner with several South Korean groups to design and build a new nuclear research reactor, with a news conference Wednesday marking the start of the initiative.

The new reactor, officially called NextGen MURR (MU Research Reactor), will be a collaboration between the university and a consortium that includes Hyundai Engineering America, the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), Hyundai Engineering Company and MPR Associates, according to a news release.

NextGen MURR will be the university's second research reactor.

"It will be bigger, faster, stronger," UM System President and MU Chancellor Mun Choi said. "It will be twice as large, but it would be built for the type of radial pharmaceutical production which wasn't envisioned when the first reactor was designed back about 60 years ago."

According to past KOMU 8 reporting, the NextGen MURR project will cost the university $1 billion and is expected to open in the next eight to 10 years.

First steps include a preliminary site evaluation and figuring out an initial project cost and schedule for the site. That initial process, the news release said, will take about six months to complete.

Funding

So far, the university has only secured $200 million of funding. Choi said the university is looking into other avenues to obtain the remaining amount.

"We are going to seek federal funding, state funding... in fact this year, Governor Kehoe placed $50 million for NexGen MURR into the budget," Choi said.

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Choi also said the university will seek funding from philanthropists and other industry partners.

This is a historic moment for our university, our state and the future of nuclear science and medicine, Choi said in a news release. NextGen MURR represents our commitment to research that changes lives. It will allow Mizzou to lead the nation in producing critical medical isotopes while opening new frontiers in science, engineering and patient care.

Todd Graves, chair of the UM System Board of Curators, said NextGen MURR is an engine of progress.

"It will enhance Missouris role as a leader in nuclear science medical research, economic development and education for generations to come, Graves said.

Existing reactor

The current MU Research Reactor manufactures radioisotopes used in cancer research and treatment.

It is the only U.S. producer of four essential medical isotopes used to treat liver, thyroid, pancreatic, and prostate cancers. These include yttrium-90 for the treatment of liver cancer; molybdenum-99 for analysis of heart functions; iodine-131 for treatment of thyroid cancer; and lutetium-177 for treatment of pancreatic and prostate cancers.

"We provide a critical resource for Americans," Choi said. "Without the University of Missouri Research Reactor, there will be 460,000 Americans that go without critical life-saving cancer treatment."

The proposed facility will be located at Discovery Ridge across from Park Restaurant and Bar in Columbia. MU already owns the land, and the land was previously approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for another nuclear project.

This story has been updated with additional details.
Auburn, IN (46706)

Today

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.
By Grainne Ni Aodha, PA

A teenage disability rights campaigner from Co Tipperary is to stage a 50-hour protest outside Leinster House in May.

Cara Darmody is campaigning for the Government to carry out autism assessments of need for children within the legal limit of six months.

The 14-year-old, from Ardfinnan, is an older sister to Neil and John, who are autistic and non-verbal.

She will start her protest at 10 am on Tuesday, May 20th and stay for 50 hours outside the front gates of Leinster House in a specially cordoned-off area.

The schoolgirl intends to study while protesting, because her summer exams start the following week.

I actually think that Ill get way more study done than normal as Ill have very little else to do! she said.

In June, she regularly protested outside the Taoiseachs Department and has met several taoisigh to discuss disability rights.

Cara has also written to both Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Tanaiste Simon Harris to criticise the disgraceful breach of the assessments of need timeline.

So, I assume that they thought that Id just vanish  big mistake, she said.

They are breaking the law, they are law-breakers, theres no nice way to frame this.

Permanent damage is being caused to children by the States failure to assess children in a timely manner and it must end now. I have called for this to happen for several years, but it just falls on deaf ears.

How can the Cabinet expect children of this country to grow up and respect the law, when the only law-breakers I can see are the Cabinet themselves?

Theyre not going to want to hear that type of criticism, I get that, but its true and they cant hide from that. They are law-breakers, and Im going to call that out big time.

Teenage disability activist Cara Darmody was flown to Chicago by actor Colin Farrell in December to speak at an event organised by The Colin Farrell Foundation. Photo: Mark Darmody/PA.

Cara said failures are permanently damaging children and are unacceptable.

To remedy the problem, she has called on the Government to declare a national crisis and to appoint a task force to seek solutions to any barriers around recruitment.

She has also called for the allocation of further funding to provide financial relief to parents paying privately for assessments.

She said: The time has come for someone to draw a line in the sand and say that enough is enough.

There isnt a single politician out there that isnt getting flak from the public over this issue so the time has come for everyone to come together and to stop breaking the law. It really is as simple as that.

In December, the teenager was flown to Chicago to address an event organised by the Colin Farrell Foundation.
TWO men whom gardai alleged were seen acting suspiciously with a known Eastern European drug gang dealer in Portlaoise were brought before a sitting of the local district court on Monday, last 14 April, on drug related offences.

Both men were before the court charged with possessing cocaine and amphetamine for their own use and for sale or supply on 12 April at the Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise.

As the bail hearing got underway, gardai alleged they found 1kg of amphetamine and 1/2kg of cocaine during the search of a secret compartment behind a radio console in a car and that one of the men was also allegedly found in possession of 22,500 in cash.

Before the court were Polish national Arkadiusz Czarnohorski (48), Apartment 18, Deerpark Road, Kiltipper, Tallaght, Dublin 14 and Lithuanian national Algimantas Mikstriunas (34) of no fixed abode.

Det garda Neil Slevin told the court that, following arrest, Mr Czarnohorski was taken to Portlaoise Garda Station, charged and cautioned, to which he replied to the charge no reply. Det Slevin alleged that at 6.30pm he saw two men acting suspiciously with a known transnational drug dealer from an Eastern Europe crime gang. As they were about to get into an Opal Insignia car, we found cocaine and amphetamine in a secret compartment behind a radio console in it. He alleged the quantity of drugs found, subject to analysis, is worth about 50,000, but could be much, much higher if it all turns out to be cocaine. He said that Mr Mikstriunas was found with two bundles of 10,000 notes and another bundle amounting to 500.

Det Slevin alleged that Mr Czarnohorski told gardai that he had previously worked as a courier but had gotten into debt over drugs, amounting to about 35,000. He alleged that Mr Czarnohorski told him that he was now working as a full-time courier transporting drugs, cash and people and that his drug debt was down to about 7,000, but he still has a cocaine habit. Det Slevin also alleged that Mr Czarnohorski also told gardai the pricing structures paid to couriers for transporting drugs around the country.

Det garda Joe Fahy also gave evidence of the arrest of Mr Mikstriunas and when he was taken to Tullamore Garda Station, charged and cautioned, that he, too, replied no reply. Det Fahy said that he allegedly found 25,000 in a gym bag that the defendant had been holding at the time.

He alleged that Mr Mikstriunas was part of a crime gang operating internationally. Under questioning from defence barrister Paul Noctor, det Fahy said that Mr Mikstriunas had no drugs on his person. Det Fahy said that the accused said that he had the 22,500 from the sale of empty beer barrels.

Theres a Russian mafia scam that is similar to this, said det Fahy, who added: He said that he could not put the money into any bank here and that the money had to go through Belfast. He said the money on him was legitimate. Mr Noctor said that his client vehemently denies the charges. He had nothing to do with drugs. Yes, he had 22,500. He deals in beer kegs. He transports them back to London, on to Lithuania and then on to Russia. He carries large amounts of cash with him. Refusing bail, Judge Susan Fay remanded both defendants in custody to appear at Portlaoise District Court at a later date.
A LONG lost water pump that was once a popular meeting place in a local village may be replaced, following a proposal from a councillor.

Cllr Ollie Clooney has asked Laois County Council to replace the traditional old water pump in Grantstown, Ballacolla.

The Independent councillor said his proposal was prompted by nostalgia, as he remembered a time when the pump was a wonderful meeting place in the village.

People used to meet at the pump and it would be nice to put it back. Even if there was no water in it, it would be a reminder of our past, Cllr Clooney told the April meeting of Borris-in-Ossory/Mountmellick Municipal District.

The proposal was seconded by Cllr John King, who recalled that traditional signposts and other items were regularly stolen across the county and country in the recent past.

Cllr King said: When I was in New York on a council trip some years ago, there was a sign in a pub that said Ballylinan 2 miles. There was a spate of thefts a few years ago. That pump could be anywhere.

The Rathdowney councillor agreed that the Grantstown pump was a great meeting place in years gone by and it would be nice to see it replaced.

In response to the proposal, the councils water services department said the district engineer would liaise with Cllr Clooney regarding the issue.
Looking for the perfect way to unwind with someone special? Get Midlands Park Hotel in Portlaoise, located a short stroll from the train station and an hour's drive from Dublin, on your radar. The four-star hotel is home to an onsite spa, Midlands Park Spa & Beauty, and offers a range of luxurious day spa experiences for the ultimate in R&R.

The Midlands Park Signature Ritual, 225 (2 hours), starts with a Thai foot soak and Thai foot massage to ease tension and improve circulation, followed by a Yonka facial to revitalise and enhance skin. The experience also includes a hot towel back compress, a hot stone full body massage and an invigorating Indian Head Massage.

For expectant mothers, the Mum-to-Be Package, 205 (110 minutes), makes for a thoughtful gift. The treatment begins with a tailored Dermalogica facial to tackle skin changes due to pregnancy, followed by a comforting maternity massage to soothe tired, heavy limbs. The blissful experience concludes with a pedicure, including a refreshing peppermint soak and a gentle foot and leg massage.

Popular with male and female clients, the Midlands Park Serenity Ritual, 165 (85 minutes), is a sensory delight. It includes a coconut foot soak, a hot towel compress and a hot stone full body massage, along with an Indian head massage and a hand and foot massage.

The Just For Him Package, 165 (85 minutes), is the most popular choice with male clients at Midlands Park Spa & Beauty. It features a traditional full-body Swedish massage followed by a relaxing Indian head massage and a Dermalogica facial for a brighter complexion.

Elevate your spa experience by adding the hotels indulgent Afternoon Tea, 45 per stand, available to book Wednesday - Saturday with any spa treatment. Youll enjoy classic afternoon tea favourites like finger sandwiches with roast turkey, cranberry sauce and sage and onion stuffing and oak-smoked salmon with cream cheese and lemon zest among others. Savoury treats are complemented by the hotels homemade scones and decadent desserts like lemon drizzle cake, Belgian chocolate tart and Black Forest Gateaux.

Midlands Park Hotel is located at Jessop Street, Portlaoise, Co Laois. To book your day spa experience with afternoon tea or find out more, call 057 867 8588 or visit www.midlandsparkhotel.com
On 15 April the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Honduras called on the government to guarantee the life, integrity, and territorial rights of the Garifuna people, in reaction to reports of growing threats against them.

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Amazon is offering a big $67 discount on the Milwaukee M18 FUEL hackzall that's super versatile for home improvements or work on the jobsite. Amazon

If youre looking for a handy power tool that can do it all, this Milwaukee M18 FUEL Hackzall should be on your must-have list  and now it comes with big markdown on Amazon.

The Milwaukee M18 FUEL Hackzall is on sale for $118, instead of $185, for a savings of 36% off.

Milwaukee M18 FUEL Hackzall Sale Price: $118, instead of $185 at Amazon Buy Now

This is a $67 discount on the Milwaukee M18 FUEL Hackzall that offers 18-volt of power using a long-lasting brushless motor. Engineered for one-handed use, this reciprocating saw offers easier operation and better control when cutting wood, metal, plastic and drywall.

The Milwaukee M18 FUEL Hackzall has a 7/8-inch stroke length for faster cuts, while the pivoting shoe combats vibration and bucking for smoother cuts. According to Milwaukee, the saw cuts up to 50% faster that its competitors and has 4X lower vibration.

Also featured on the Milwaukee M18 FUEL Hackzall is Redlink Plus Intelligence technology to prevent overloading, overheating and over-discharge. Plus, the hackzall has a compact and lightweight design that allows for operation in tight spaces and overhead.

Youll need a Milwaukee M18 Red Lithium Battery Pack to power this M18 FUEL Hackzall, which Amazon currently has on sale with a battery charger for $145. You can also grab these Milwaukee Hackzall Blades on Amazon for $32.

Youll also get free overnight Prime shipping on the saw so it will arrive ASAP.

Shop for this Milwaukee M18 FUEL Hackzall deal on Amazon here.

You can check out more reciprocating saws on sale from Amazon, including these popular models:

Greenworks 24V Compact Reciprocating Saw for $90, instead of $130

DEWALT 20V MAX Cordless Reciprocating Saw for $107, instead of $129

BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX Cordless Reciprocating Saw Kit for $59, instead of $70

Worx 20V AXIS 2-in-1 Reciprocating Saw & Jig Saw for $90, instead of $120

PORTER-CABLE 20V MAX Reciprocating Saw for $60, instead of $88

Find more discounts on power tools on Amazon here.

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Dawn Magyar can be reached at dmagyar@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips/.
A public hearing to review the findings of a water infrastructure study conducted on behalf of Phillipsburg next week is canceled.

The public hearing will be adjourned to a later date until further notice, the towns website says.

The meeting was scheduled for April 23. Council President Peter Marino said the town is waiting to learn more on a contractual question it posed to the agency.

Phoenix Advisors, an independent financial advisor, had identified roughly $14 million worth of urgent sewer repairs that need to be made to Phillipsburgs underground utility system.

Phoenix Advisors determined these four conditions: that the town is in significant noncompliance with the Water Infrastructure Protection Act; deficiencies exist in the provision of potable water, water pressure or water distribution; there is a demonstrated deficiency in infrastructural improvements; and the owner demonstrates a financial incapacity to adequately perform needed improvements and maintenance; respectively.

Some repairs need to be addressed within the next year and have placed the town in a precarious financial and environmental position, according to Warren County officials.

The Water Infrastructure Protection Act authorizes Phillipsburg to enter into a long-term lease contract or sell its sewer assets to a capable private or public entity without a referendum if at least one of five emergent conditions specified by the act is met.

Phillipsburg typically budgets $100,000 per year for routine maintenance and repairs to its 200-year-old sewer system. Last year, the town dedicated itself to overhauling its sewer system after receiving a $1 million earmark by former NJ Senator Tom Malinowski.

Glenn Epps can be reached at gepps@lehighvalleylive.com or at glenn_epps_ on Instagram, Facebook and Threads.
Saks OFF 5TH has great discounts on luxury items with their clearance section promoting steep discounts on popular brand names.

Stuart Weitzman shoes, for example, are a pricier brand currently retailing for 70% off or more in select styles.

Stuart Weitzman Soho Leather Ankle Boots Sale Price: $155, instead of $650 at Saks OFF 5TH Buy Now

From knee-high riding boots to sleek heels and cute mules, Stuart Weitzman shoes are typically known for their high-quality design and $400-plus price tag.

There are 546 Stuart Weitzman shoes on sale at Saks OFF 5th and most fall in the 70-75% off price range.

There are the Soiree Sleek 75MM Metallic Python Embossed Leather Sandals for 45% off, bringing the price down by $195, and the Soho Leather Ankle Boots for 76% off for a savings of $495.

Or you can opt for the Allpearls 80MM Leather Chelsea Boots for 49% off that drops the price by a whopping $320.

Most of the sale options only have a few sizes left so its best to order yours ASAP.

The sale is promoted as up to 70% off, but while looking through all of the styles available, we spotted the Pearly Leather Knee High Riding Boots for 80% off and the Starla Leather Block Heel Sandals in peonia available for 71% off.

Check out these Stuart Weitzman styles at 70% off and up

Maverick Studded Leather Ankle Boots for $190, instead of $659

Soiree Sleek 75MM Metallic Python Embossed Leather Sandals for $230, instead of $425

Soho Leather Ankle Ankle Boots for $155, instead of $650

Allpearls 80MM Leather Chelsea Boots for $330, instead of $650

Bling Embellished Suede Ballet Flats for $129, instead of $450

Leather Knee High Riding Boots for $140-185, instead of $850

Starla Leather Block Heel Sandals for $125-135, instead of $475

Chalet Suede & Faux Fur Trim Combat Boots for $150, instead of $965

Boulevard Leather Belted Ankle Boots for $155, instead of $650

60MM Charli Sportlift Suede Boots for $180, instead of $650

Crystal Buckle Leather Mules for $160, instead of $525

You can find more Stuart Weitzman shoe styles on sale at Saks OFF 5th here.

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Amanda Edelman can be reached at aedelman@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips.
There were almost 200 knives seized by gardai in the Laois/Offaly Garda Division over a three year period, according to new figures from the Department of Justice.



In the years 2022, 2023 and 2024 there were 172 knives seized by gardai in the division. The figures were released following a parliamentary question by Deputy Peadar Toibin to the Minister for Justice.



There has been a drop off in knife seizures in the Laois/Offaly Garda Division in recent years, according to the figures. In 2022 86 knives were seized, this fell to 51 in 2023 and 35 last year. It comes as tougher legislation was introduced in 2024 to tackle knife crime across the country.

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Responding to the question, Minister for Justice, Jim O'Callaghan said: "I strongly condemn the use of knives to threaten, intimidate or harm others. I am committed to ensuring that communities are safe and tackling knife crime is an important element of that.



"There are no quick-fix solutions to tackling knife crime. Long term, evidence-based strategies are needed that address knife crime as part of a wider strategic response to anti-social behaviour, street violence, youth offending and domestic violence.



"There is, however, a comprehensive and robust legal framework in place in Ireland with respect to knife crime. Last year, legislation was introduced which increased the maximum penalty for the offences of possession of a knife with intent to cause injury, trespassing with a knife, and producing a knife to unlawfully intimidate another person, from 5 to 7 years imprisonment.



"In addition, the Government doubled the maximum penalty for assault causing harm to 10 years in 2023 The offence of assault causing serious harm already has a maximum penalty of life imprisonment."
A man who had compious amounts of drink caused damage of 2,409 to a hotel room in Laois.

Daniel Lee (28) of 9 Stoney Meadows, Old Cratloe Road, Limerick, admitted being intoxicated and causing criminal damage at the Midlands Park Hotel on January 24, 2025.

He is accused of damaging a door number sign, fire alarm, smoke alarm, wall light, locking mechanism, various glass and a landline phone.

Ebony ODonoghue (24) also of 9 Stoney Meadows, Old Cratloe Road, Limerick, admitted being intoxicated and engaging in threatening or abusive behaviour at the Midlands Park Hotel on the same date.

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the man had checked into room 232 with a woman and the fire alarm had been set off repeatedly during the night.

There were guests during the night calling reception about disturbances in the room, said Sgt Kirby. He described the damage to the room as significant and produced photographs for Judge Susan Fay. The receipt for the damage was 2,409, he said. Sgt Kirby said the accused is currently serving a six months suspended sentence.

Solicitor Barry Fitzgerald said his client had been on a night out with his partner and had copious amounts of alcohol as he was drinking effectively for the day.

He said his client is committed to paying compensation for the damage caused to the hotel room. He said the man had brought 500 to court and if given two months would pay the remainder.

All his trouble seems to happen when he drinks alcohol, said Mr Fitzgerald.

He said the man was now addressing his alcohol issues and if given two months he would return with compensation and documentary evidence of the steps he was taking to address his issues with alcohol.

Judge Susan Fay agreed to adjourn the matter back to Portlaoise District Court on June 9. She ordered a probation report and requested evidence of his engagement with probation services.

Sgt Kirby said Ms ODonoghue was intoxicated and roaring and shouting when gardai were dealing with her partner. He said she had no previous convictions.

Ms Fitzgerald said there was copious amounts of alcohol consumed and the defendant was riled up but she was pleading guilty and had no previous convictions.

Judge Fay said she would apply the probation act if the defendant donated 300 to the court poor box by June 9. She said the default if she fails to make the donation would be a conviction and a fine of 350.
Gardai in Midleton, Co Cork have confirmed that a male has been charged in connection to the death of a man, in his 30s, in Youghal on Monday night, April 14.

A post-mortem examination was carried out by the Assistant State Pathologist, Dr Margot Bolster and preliminary results were provided to the investigation team. These details are not being released for operational reasons.

Following the post-mortem, An Garda Siochana commenced a murder investigation.

One male, in his 20s, that was arrested and remained detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a Garda station in Cork has now been charged.

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He is expected to appear before Midleton District Court this morning, Wednesday, April 16, at 10:30am.

A number of scenes subject to examination by the Garda Technical Bureau remain preserved at this time.

A senior officer is leading this investigation from the incident room at Midleton Garda Station. A family liaison officer continues to provide support to the family of the deceased.

Investigating Gardai are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the incident to please come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Midleton Garda Station on 021 4621550, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.

This investigation is ongoing.
A new healthcare clinic has opened in Laois, offering X-ray, MRI scans, ultrasounds and DEXA scans to Laois locals.

Formerly known as Euromedic, Affidea's recent opening of a new Portlaoise facility has created 20 new jobs locally.

Located in the Parkside Shopping Centre on Portlaoise's Abbeyleix road, Affidea's Portlaoise location has the capacity to scan over 30,000 Laois patients per year.

The clinic will be open to all patients, be it through direct payment, under private medical insurance, or through the GP Direct Access Scheme.

Open Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm, the business offers scans with requirement of a referral letter from GPs.

The facility's pricing for scans are as follows;

CT Scan from 275

DEXA Scan from 120

Ultrasound from 180

X-ray from 120 Pictured: Parkside Shopping Centre, Portlaoise Affidea's CEO for the UK and Ireland, Mr Barry Downes, spoke to the Leinster Express/Laois Live on the clinic's recent opening.

"We are working with the HSE to alleviate pressure on our healthcare systems," he said.

"Many MRI and CT scan machines are not cardiac enabled, meaning that many Laois people are travelling to Dublin for this. Now, they can pop into the clinic in Portlaoise for their scans.

"We have created jobs through the hiring of radiographers and health care assistants, and have left additional space behind the clinic for the potential further development of a minor injury clinic."

The CEO explained the process behind the efficient process behind appointment bookings and scan readings.

"We have invested heavily into our digital infrastructure, and are the only service who can provide a truly digital experience. A referral letter is sent from a GP to our clinic electronically, and we send a text message to patients that we have received their referral," Mr Downes explained.

"Once they click the link in the message, they can register with our clinic and confirm their details. We are fully GDPR compliant, and asides from special scans, most people can book in online at a time that suits them. We don't use the traditional call centres that are only open from 9am to 5pm, patients can book online at any time, day or night," he said.

Following their registration, clients will then be provided with digital instructions and safety questions. Patients can book their scan and be seen within 48 hours, and once the scan is complete, patients can view their scans within the Affidea Connect Patient app.

"If you had a scan with us three years ago, you can still view the images within the app. It means that you can share your scans with other healthcare professionals," Mr Downes explained.

The Affidea radiographer will read your scan and send a full report to your GP within an average of two days. Affidea waits an average of 10 days to send app users their full report, to give the opportunity for the patient's GP to talk through their scan with them.

"It is usually 48 hours for the report to be sent, depending on the scan. We can fast track urgent cases to being within 24 hours.

"In rare instances, we have had to unfortunately have ambulances waiting in the car park for the patient, as some instances can be life altering. Depending on the time of year, it is usually 48 hours," Mr Downes said.

"We want to enhance access for people. Our clinics are not in a hospital setting, they are very modern and comfortable. Our ethos is providing rapid service to patients," the CEO finished.

Affidea Portlaoise opened their doors on Tuesday April 15 with the availability of MRI, ultrasound and CT scans, with DEXA scans expected to be available within the next week.

Affidea is the largest provider of advanced diagnostic imaging, out-of-hospital care and cancer care services across Europe, operating in 15 countries across 364 clinics, seeing and treating over 14 million patients per year.

This is the company's 18th location to open in Ireland.
A Laois 12-year old has won a top prize in this year's Texaco Children's Art Competition.

Nicholas Oiboh has won a top prize in this years 71st Texaco Childrens Art Competition.

Portlaoise student Nicholas Oiboh, student at St Mary's CBS, won a Special Merit Award for his artwork entitled Self Portrait - The Power Of A Paintbrush.

Staff and students alike have been praising Nicholas for his fantastic achievement, with Nicholas' art teacher Ms Sarah Williams expressing her pride to the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

Pictured: Self Portrait - The Power Of A Paintbrush by Nicholas Oiboh

"We are incredibly proud of Nicholas Oiboh, a talented young artist in first year, who has won a top prize in the prestigious Texaco Art Competition," Ms Williams said.

"At just 12 years old, Nicholas has shown exceptional creativity and skill, and his achievement is a wonderful reflection of his dedication and passion for art.

"His success is a source of great pride for our entire school community, and we look forward to seeing his artistic journey continue to flourish," the Portlaoise school's art teacher finished.

Texaco Children's Art Competition was adjudicated by Irish visual artist, curator and educator Pauline O'Connell, who stated that Nicholas displayed high levels of skill and creativity.

The Texaco Childrens Art Competition is popularly regarded as the longest-running sponsorship in the history of arts sponsoring in Ireland, with an unbroken history that dates back to the very first Competition held in 1955.

This year, as has been the case throughout its life, it has been a platform on which young artists from Laois and counties throughout Ireland have had their talents recognised and their creativity commended.

Well done to Nicholas on his fantastic achievement!
Fine Gael Kildare South TD, and Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, has welcomed confirmation from his colleague, Tanaiste and Minister for Defence, Simon Harris, that a new state of the art Army Ranger Wing Headquarters will be built in the Defence Forces Curragh Camp.

The new 46m base for the Army Ranger Wing was a key recommendation made in the Commission on the Future of the Defence Forces which outlined that there is a clear requirement to develop enhanced infrastructure to support the planned expansion of the commando unit.

Phase one of the project will involved the development of a new HQ building, followed by specifically designed training and operational facilities tailored for the ARW needs.

Further phases of the overall project will see the delivery of accommodation facilities, a gymnasium and office space.

The Army Ranger Wing has engaged in high-profile operations, including extraction of Irish citizens in Kabul after the return to power of the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2021.

Army Ranger Wing members also executed a dramatic military intervention in 2023 by fast-roping down from a helicopter, securing a container ship, which was subsequently found to possess over 2.2 tonnes of cocaine.

Minister Heydon said: The Army Ranger Wing is a highly trained and sought after unit within the defence forces, and they deserve, along with all of our Defence Force personnel across all services, fit-for-purpose infrastructure to enable them to carry out their duties.

ALSO READ: Apartments near Kildare village are blocked.

Minister Heydon said, Our Defence Forces are seeing record investment by this Government into their operations. Recently, the new 5.4million Cadet Training School and machinery yard were opened by An Tanaiste at the Curragh, with works continuing on the 8.6million Communications and Information Services (CIS) Workshop also on the Curragh.

"These investments are proof of this Governments ongoing commitment to strengthening Oglaigh na hEireann, ensuring it is a modern, fit for purpose military and enhancing the facilities available at the Curragh.

As a TD for Kildare South, which houses the Curragh Camp, I am acutely aware of the bravery, commitment, and professionalism of our Defence Forces, and remain as committed today as when first elected, to ensuring that they are adequately catered for. I am also enormously proud of the Curragh and I will continue to push for further investment there to ensure state of the art facilities and infrastructure to match our forces."
Punchestown Racecourse, global catering giants Aramark, and St. Kevins Community College in Dunlavin have joined forces to launch Elevate 2025. A Transition Year (TY) programme that combines community involvement in Kildare, real-world skills training, and local pride.

As a result 70 St. Kevins College transition year students will be employed by Aramark for paid work experience at the upcoming Punchestown Festival from Tuesday, April 29 to Saturday, May 3. As Ireland's largest sporting hospitality event, the army of chefs, kitchen, bar and floor staff will serve up to 17,000 corporate hospitality guests.

This innovative pilot scheme is designed to immerse local TY students in the dynamic world of hospitality, equipping them with practical skills, confidence, and insight into premium food and beverage service  all set against the vibrant backdrop of the iconic Punchestown Festival.

Over a five-week period, 119 students took part in a hands-on training programme delivered by Sam Brancato, Aramarks Standards & Training Business Partner. The journey began in the classrooms of St. Kevins and culminated in live-service experience at Punchestown itself, where students worked side-by-side with seasoned hospitality professionals.



Key Highlights

- 119 TY students trained in professional food and drink service, tailored to large-scale event settings.

- 70 students employed by Aramark to work at the 2025 Punchestown Festival  gaining paid work experience in a premium environment.

- A live-service finale saw Aramark chefs and teams simulate real event scenarios, offering students invaluable hands-on exposure.

Beyond training and employment, Elevate 2025 fosters local pride by connecting young people and their families to one of Irelands most celebrated sporting and social events. It showcases the hospitality industry not just as a vibrant career path, but as a source of essential life skills  from teamwork and communication to professionalism and adaptability.



We are incredibly proud to partner with Aramark and St. Kevins on this meaningful project, said Sue Wilson Punchestown Hospitality Manager and Elevate founder. What started out as chat with a friend who teaches at the school has evolved into what could be a global template. Elevate 2025 is more than a programme  its creating strong links in the local community, providing skills and experience that will stand to these young people wherever life may take them, it offers paid employment on a local level."



The initiative has already garnered international interest, with Aramark leadership in the US watching closely as a potential model for rollout in American schools.

As the students of St. Kevins step confidently into their roles at Punchestown 2025, they carry with them not only new skills but also the pride of representing their community on an important stage.

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The grand finale of the National Hunt season attracts top trainers, jockeys, and horses from Ireland and the UK battling for glory and prestige.

Headlining the week are feature races like the Punchestown Gold Cup and the Champion Hurdle, drawing massive crowds and fierce betting interest. With prize pots exceeding 3 million across the week, the stakes are high and the drama guaranteed.

Punchestown is also a style spectacle, with Ladies Day on Friday turning the enclosures into a catwalk of elegant hats and dresses.

ALSO READ: Punchestown launch paid work experience scheme for Festival 2025.

Saturday is the family fun day as thousands of children and their parents bring the curtain down on another festival.

Local food producers, live music, and artisan stalls add to the lively, festival feel.

Organisers expect over 130,000 visitors across the week, with extended shuttle services from Dublin and nearby towns to support the influx.

For many, it's the social highlight of the yeara place where locals, racing fans, and first-time punters gather for the craic.

Punchestown 2025 promises five unforgettable days in the heart of horse country.

TICKETS

We have 10 Pairs of Tickets for Saturday, May 3.

Closing date for entering the competition is the April 24.

To be in with a chance to win, send your name to competitions@iconicnews.ie.

Good luck!
Improved bus services are on the way for commuters living in west Wicklow.

An hourly service is planned from Blessington to Tallaght, via Ballymore Eustace.

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The plan is to run an hourly service from Ballymore via Blessington to Tallaght and an extra bus at peak times (known as the L44). This is planned for spring of next year, according to Fine Gael TD Edward Timmins.

The politician met recently with the National Transport Authority train and bus services and Dublin Bus adding (there is) a need for expanded and more regular services in Wicklow (because of) the population increases that have taken place, and are envisaged in the coming years.

He also said it is expected that the 132 service which serves West Wicklow will double in frequency to eight times per day and this is set to happen before the end of May. An announcement is likely 10 days before the start of the expanded service.

He said the local link service from Baltinglass to Carlow will also happen but no date is available yet but I will keep people informed.

Deputy Timmins also said there is a lot of support for the Glendalough to Bray route and this will have five buses per day. He has requested that Donard be included in the plans as this village has lost out so far.

He has also called for more bus stops, including along the local link route on the Naas road in Blessington (to avoid some people walking for 25 minutes into Blessington when the bus passes where they live) and to serve Baltinglass - by extending the end point of the 885 service to Baltinglas Hospital (rather than the primary care centre).

Funding is to be provided to pay for a park and ride facility at Hollywood cross.

Between 56-80m will be spent on the rail service to Wicklow. A fleet of trains is expected to be delivered in 2027, with the service starting in 2028. The rail vehicles are being manufactured by Alstom in Katowice, Poland.

Dep Timmins said there will be an hourly to Wicklow with a stop in Kilcoole. The trains will run to Dublin and there will be an increase in the service to Greystones from twice hourly to three times hourly.
An Irishwoman who alleged she was raped at knifepoint by the main suspect in the disappearance of toddler Madeleine McCann is bringing a case to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) against the Portuguese authorities over their handling of her attack.

Hazel Behan has claimed that the Portuguese authorities failed to properly investigate rapist Christian Bruckner over her serious sexual assault in 2004.

Ms Behan, who has waived her right to anonymity, lodged an application before the ECHR on Wednesday.

Bruckner, a convicted sex offender who is serving a jail sentence in Germany for rape, was acquitted by a German court in relation to the charge of violent rape of Ms Behan.

Ms Behan is accusing the Portuguese authorities of alleged inaction in identifying and prosecuting Bruckner.

Ms Behan, who was violently raped in her apartment in Praia da Rocha, Algarve, has consistently maintained that the handling of her case by Portuguese authorities was condemned due to their investigative failings.

She claims that their failings include the alleged failure to seize blood-stained bed sheets and false nails broken from the struggle which plainly contained important forensic evidence.

She further claims that there was a failure to provide a translator so she could understand the process or provide a detailed witness statement.

In a statement from Belfast law firm Phoenix Law, they added the claim also included: The imposition of surveillance on Hazel after the incident which included a direct approach by the Portuguese police to return to Ireland due to the damage her allegations had on the tourism industry and the closing of the case without notice.

Despite striking similarities between her case and other offences that occurred in the area, to which Bruckner is now accused, the Portuguese authorities failed to pursue any clear lines of inquiry.

The systematic failings in the Portuguese investigation from the time have directly affected the ability of the German authorities to prosecute Bruckner for the rape of Ms Behan.

Ms Behan is bringing a case alleging violations of Article 3 (prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment) and Article 8 (right to private life).

She said: Lodging my case with the European Court of Human Rights is not just about seeking justice for myself  its about standing up after being silenced and ignored for far too long.

I carry the pain of how I was treated every single day but I hope the court will ensure that my human rights are protected in line with the very standards that is expected right across Europe.

And that maybe, through this, Portugal, and other countries, will treat victims of rape, both domestic and foreign, with the decency and respect we deserve.

Darragh Mackin, solicitor for Ms Behan, said: The European Court of Human Rights exists for a reason. It exists to ensure victims like Hazel Behan are guaranteed a minimum level of protections across the various member states.

Through this action, Hazel has highlighted the systematic and inexcusable failings by the Portuguese authorities has denied her and many other victims, justice for nearly two decades.

These failings have ultimately contributed to the acquittal of one of the most high-profile perpetrators in modern history.

This case is about ensuring that victims of sexual violence are not ignored, dismissed, or silenced by the very systems that are meant to protect them.
Minister for Forestry, Michael Healy-Rae, has said that concerns around forestry in Leitrim are valid, but his first priority is towards getting trees planted.

Is it true that I want more land in Ireland to be planted? Of course it is. I want 8,000 hectares a year to be plantedthat is my job, that is my responsibility, said Deputy Healy-Rae told Ocean FM.

The minister said he was aware of the significant damage caused in the area by falling trees in the aftermath of Storm Darragh and Storm Eowyn. I will try and do right by people, he said, adding that his first priority is to those whose forests were damaged by the storms.

Last month, Minister Healy-Rae met with a delegation of Leitrim councillors and members of the environmental group Save Leitrim to discuss the forestry issue following the storms. He received criticism for not addressing the negative effects that forestry is having on communities in the county.

He is the industrys minister, and thats it, said Leitrim Councillor Justin Warnock, following the meeting where he and other members, Brynn Smyth and Edwina Guckian, met with the minister at the end of March.

The group has led a campaign strongly opposing the level of afforestation that has taken place in the county, which they believe is harming local residents and endangering communities in the area.

Minister Healy-Rae said he supports individual farmers choice to plant forestry on their land, though he acknowledged that the problem largely stems from companies buying up large swathes of land for planting.

It is a very hard thing to control, he said, reiterating his belief that there is still not enough afforestation happening nationally.

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The Old Church of Ireland in Manorhamilton, built in the 16th century, is set to receive 30,000 in funding as part of the 2025 Community Monuments Fund.

This years awards coincide with World Heritage Day, which takes place on April 18. The funding awarded in Leitrim will go towards conservation work at the historic church site, which closed in 1783.

Its great to see it being preserved as part of the heritage of Manorhamilton, said Reverend Albert Dawson, of the Manorhamilton Parish Group.

This grant will go a long way, I presume, towards maintaining it. The council has done an awful lot of work in the last few years around the old church because it is a ruin, unfortunately.

The grant is one of 122 awards made under the national scheme, which will see a total of 7.5 million spent on archaeological monuments across the country.

The announcement was made by Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne TD and Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Christopher OSullivan TD.

I sincerely thank the owners of archaeological monuments for their dedication to the preservation of our wonderful heritage, said Minister Browne.

Despite the award of 30,000, Leitrim received the least funding of any county in the northwest. Donegal was allocated 207,688.85 for four projects, while Sligo secured 370,934.50 for five projects.

Sligo-Leitrim TD Frank Feighan welcomed the funding for Manorhamilton, saying it would help preserve the site for the future.

I want to congratulate the applicants and thank Leitrim County Council for submitting the project, which I hope will protect and conserve this building and site for many years to come, he said.

The Community Monuments Fund was established to help protect and maintain local heritage sites. It also supports repairs and improvements that safeguard monuments from climate-related damage and promotes greater public access.

Since its launch in 2020, the fund has distributed approximately 25.5 million to heritage projects, including churches, towers, castles, forts, and abbeys.

READ MORE: Minister responds to Leitrim forestry concerns
Victims of disgraced surgeon and paedophile Michael Shine have met the Taoiseach as part of their bid to have a Commission of Investigation into alleged sexual abuses.

The group has urged Micheal Martin to authorise a public inquiry into alleged sexual abuses by Shine, aged 93, who was convicted of assaulting nine boys at two trials in 2017 and 2019.

The group, Dignity4Patients, is calling for a public inquiry to probe claims that authorities knew about the decades of abuse that happened at a hospital in Co Louth and at Shines private practice and failed to prevent it.

He had worked as a senior registrar at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda from 1964 to 1995.

Many of the survivors claim that the Medical Missionaries of Mary religious order, which was in charge of the hospital, was aware of the alleged abuse for years.

More than 200 victims have settled civil actions against the Medical Missionaries of Mary.

The victims met with Mr Martin at his office in Dublin, where they spoke of the abuse they suffered as young boys and teenagers.

Cianan Murray, from Duleek, was the first survivor to go public about his abuse in 2009.

He was aged 16 when he was abused after he received treatment for a cut to his eye at the hospital.

I was abused in 1972 and gave a statement to the guards in 1995. They never came back to me and in 2009 I got on to the guards again. I said, whatever happened to my statement? They said, we couldnt find your records, they went missing in the hospital, so were not pursuing your case and you anymore, Mr Murray said.

He is Europes most prolific paedophile. Jimmy Savile had 300 victims. Theres a French surgeon (Joel Le Scouarnec) on trial who had 300 victims. At the moment, Shine has 366 victims.

We need to find out how could this have happened, and please, God, make sure it never happens again.

Id like to truth to come out because so many people have been involved in covering this up.

He had 360 victims and nobody said nothing. Since 1995 Ive been on depression and sleeping tablets.

What Shine did has been an open secret.

Gerard Murray was aged four when he was allegedly raped by Shine.

He attended hospital as a child for a hernia operation.

He sexually abused me and I can still remember his breath whispering over my shoulder as he was raping me, he said.

I cant really put into words how it effects me, but I grew up with a sense of shame, guilt, feeling unsafe and had a overpowering sense of self hatred.

I became addicted to alcohol and drugs and became homeless and attempted suicide. My life was destroyed.

Were looking for a Commission of Investigation because people knew Michael Shine was sexually abusing children and young boys, yet was never stopped.

It happened over decades. Im 26 years clean and sober, thats despite the state. Ive been failed by every institution in this country.

The Taoiseach didnt say yes but didnt say no either, and we need some form of accountability, truth and justice.

Peter OConnor, who was originally form Dundalk, was allegedly abused by Shine in 1975 after undergoing an operation as a teenager.

I was a teenager, and I knew what had happened was wrong, he said.

I was very innocent then and I suffered a lot of jokes from people, about being one of Shines boys. The dogs on the street knew he was abusing boys.

Mr OConnor said he became a heavy drinker and only stopped drinking alcohol in recent years.

He is sceptical the state will agree to a public inquiry.

I never had any form of help whatsoever from the state, he said.

The meeting with the Taoiseach went pretty much as I expected, a lot of airy talk.

If theres a Commission of Inquiry, Id be really surprised.

The dogs in the street knew what he was doing. It wasnt a world that I was aware of. I was really, really innocent and we had such a huge respect for doctors and Shine was many, many levels above that again.

Ian Armstrong, from Drogheda but who was living in Meath at the time he was abused, attended hospital for treatment to a hand injury when he was around the age of 18.

He said: Mr Shine was the best surgeon around and he performed surgery on my hand. I had appointments with him after that and he seriously abused me.

I havent felt the same since. I am broken. I couldnt understand why he was doing a full body check at the appointment.

I knew what he was doing was wrong. I cant get out of my head what happened. It happened to so many of us.

We just want a Commission of Investigation. Time doesnt matter. Its healing in the head and its good to be listened to.

Larry Torris, who lives in Dundalk, was a 10-year-old when he was allegedly abused by Shine in 1994.

It was during hospital treatment in 2022 that he discovered he was a former patient of Shine, and began having flashbacks while undergoing treatment a year later.

I have panic attacks and have been diagnosed with PTSD. I was only 10 when it happened, he said.

I slowly came to understand why I always had darkness over me and didnt particularly who I was.

The first instance of Mr Shine happened in 1964, for me it was 1994, 30 years after it first happened.

How is it possible this can happen over a long period of time by one individual?

Adrienne Reilly, CEO of Dignity for Patients, said they remain cautiously optimistic that Mr Martin will agree to a public inquiry.

We feel that he listened and heard what we said, and in particular, we made it known to him that we have expertise about inquiry models, Ms Reilly said.

Were not starting from zero. Were an organisation that comes with 50% of the work already done.

Weve done a lot of deep thinking and had extensive discussions with the group about an inquiry model and what that may look like, how long it would take, where money should come from, costings and all the things that are a concern to the government.

We made that very clear to the Taoiseach today and I think he really heard us on that front.

A spokesperson for Mr Martin said: The Taoiseach welcomed the opportunity to meet with members of Dignity4Patients today.

The accounts of the abuse so many people suffered over the years were truly harrowing and enormous in scale.

The Taoiseach thanked them for telling their stories. They discussed the need for answers, and the best ways to achieve those answers.

The groups said they plan to meet with the Minister for Health and the Taoiseach agreed to reflect on the issues raised in todays meeting and to continue to engage.
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SUPERMARKET giant Tesco Ireland has applied to Limerick City and County Council for permission to increase the range of alcohol is sells at its store in Moyross.

Currently, the firm only sells wine at its outlet in Watch House Cross.

But it wants to expand this offering out to also include beers and spirits.

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According to regulations, shops are allowed to sell wine if it is subsidiary to the main retail use of the store.

Permission is required for a full off-licence area to sell alcoholic beverages other than wine.

The application to open an off-licence comes despite the fact there is a Carry Out liquor store in a unit adjoining Tesco Irelands Moyross branch.

Carry Out has stores across Munster, including four in Limerick.

Carry Out's operation in Moyross supercedes Tesco, which opened last year.

Council planners are scheduled to make a decision on the proposals by Monday, May 19 next.
BISHOP of Limerick Brendan Leahy has issued a stark warning over the future of parishes across the Diocese, saying tough questions need to be asked on their future.

Four in every 10 parishes across the Limerick Diocese are without a resident priest.

With just one priest in Limerick ordained locally aged under 50 the Bishop has suggested some parishes may need to merge to remain sustainable.

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As Easter approaches, Bishop Leahy says he will be asking people of parishes to ask themselves if theirs remains viable in terms of mission.

Are its resources in terms of volunteers, finance and young people sufficient to generate life going forward into the future? he asked.

Looking forward 10 years, can our parish go it alone? Can we sustain the maintenance of our church and other buildings? Do we perhaps need to amalgamate with neighbouring parishes, Bishop Leahy asked.

We cannot postpone difficult decisions, he warned.

Many wonderful priests are going to retire in the coming few years. We have one ordination coming up in May with Deacon Tim Collins being ordained here in the Cathedral. Thank God we will have one man entering priestly formation for the Diocese and we thank God also for priests who come from countries. But the situation is clear: we will possibly have two ordinations in 15 years. I dont need to spell it out much more, said Bishop Leahy, who is the most senior member of the Catholic Church in Limerick.

The Bishop says he wants to approach these challenges with the hope that Easter, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ brings.

He made the comments at the annual Chrism Mass for the blessing and consecration of oils for the year ahead.

We are being asked to do something new. The past is done, and we must meet the needs of the future. This week, we have the message of the risen Lord to inspire us to go again, to tell the message anew, Bishop Leahy said.

On Good Friday, the way of the cross through Limerick city will be observed.

Starting at 12noon in St Johns Cathedral, it will weave its way through the city to arrive at St Marys Cathedral 90 minutes later.

People can take it in turns to carry the cross and there will be a number of locations with reflections and prayers.

All are welcome.
A LIMERICK schools debating team has reached the final of the all-island Concern Debates competition, which over 150 schools entered this year.

Students from Laurel Hill Secondary School defeated Tipperarys Ursuline Secondary School in the semi-final of Irelands largest school debating contest.

The Laurel Hill team - Ellie McCaffrey, Zoe Norris-Cable, Aida Hehir and Prisca Afolabi proposed a motion about the effectiveness of the United Nations, for the debate in Dublin on April 3.

They will face Dublins Sandford Park School at The Helix venue at DCU in Dublin for the final debate on May 1 where they will debate the motion, The world is more equal now than it was 40 years ago to mark 40 years of the Concern Debates.

READ MORE: Upgrades to travel infrastructure are on route to Limerick

Laurel Hills team mentor and teacher Alva Cunningham said the school is incredibly proud of all team members. Its been a pleasure to work with such hard-working and conscientious young women.

Concern has provided an invaluable platform for them to tackle complex global issues in a safe space, where they are encouraged to develop their voices, she stated.

What super role models they have become for their younger peers. They are a huge credit to our school and their communities.

Concern praised the hundreds of students who took part in the programme this year. All the young people who participated this year have learned new skills such as critical thinking, research skills as well as the confidence to articulate information  we are so proud of them all, said Concerns Head of Global Citizenship, Lauren Wright.
A whistleblower in the Grace case said he told Simon Harris to shut down the Farrelly Commission in 2019, over concern that it was a complete waste of time.

The Commission published its 2,000-page report into the case on Tuesday following eight years of inquiry.

The final bill is estimated to reach approximately 20 million euros.

The report has been criticised by opposition politicians and some Government backbenchers.

Meanwhile, Irelands Special Rapporteur on Child Protection called the report quite impenetrable.

Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, said that key questions she had around Graces care and disability services in the south east were not adequately addressed by the report.

Iain Smith, an experienced social worker in the HSE, said he first raised his concerns in 2007.

He said he did this after Graces mother called his colleague to check how her daughter was doing in foster care  which should have stopped when she was 18.

He said he conducted a deep read line-by-line of Graces file and allegations of child sexual abuse in the foster placement going back quite a long way.

Speaking on RTEs News At One, Mr Smith recalled when he visited Grace and her foster mother: My colleague and I, we were just horrified at the foster carer and some of the comments that she made.

He said this included the foster mother saying that Grace thought she was 16, despite being an adult with a learning disability and a mental age of between one or two years.

He added: So, these were grossly inappropriate things that the carer was saying.

Mr Smith said he then wrote a very long report with recommendations and names of other children that had been through the care of the foster family.

However, he said a lot of shenanigans and intrigue followed before Grace was eventually moved out of the home in 2009.

Mr Smith, who said he gave 27 full days of evidence to the Commission, raised concerns about the process in a letter to then-health minister Simon Harris in May 2019.

He said Mr Harris, now Tanaiste, was told the Commission was a complete waste of time and should be shut down.

I wrote to Simon Harris in May 2019 saying the whole thing should be shut down because it was obvious to me then  and I told him then  that it was like I described to him, as a boondoggle, a complete waste of time, a project that is going absolutely nowhere.

And I could see that very clearly way back then. So when this report came out yesterday it followed on from the previous reports that were issued, which I did read in detail, and they were a complete waste of time.

So when this report came out, it was no surprise at all to me that it followed on from the previous report in being fundamentally of no use whatsoever.

Mr Smith said the Grace case should not be characterised as a series of institutional failures.

This case was a long-running intrigue in which many, many different parties were involved over a long period of time.

An intrigue is an entanglement. I mean, sort of hair all tangled up is literally the read of that word  and thats what this was.

And trying to re-characterise this as somehow institutional failures is a fundamental error, not just at the Farrelly Commission, but also of other reports as well.

Mr Smith said being a whistleblower had a big toll on him financially and emotionally, adding that it has also affected his family.

He said it also acted a strong deterrent to whistleblowers in Ireland: The state can crush you, the state will try to crush you.

The Commission said it will not be responding to press queries about its reports.
ASML Holding NV reported first-quarter orders that were almost a billion euros less than expected and warned it doesnt know how to quantify the impact of recent tariff announcements that are threatening to upend the semiconductor industry.

The Dutch company, which counts Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and Intel Corp. among its biggest customers, reported bookings of 3.94 billion . Analysts on average expected 4.82 billion, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. ASML said that order intake is a lumpy metric and doesnt appropriately reflect its business momentum.

ASMLs shares fell 5.1% to 574.60 at 11:15 a.m. in Amsterdam on Wednesday, after earlier dropping as much as 7.6%, amid a broad selloff in chip stocks. ASML shares have declined about 37% in the past 12 months.

The recent tariff announcements have increased uncertainty in the macro environment and the situation will remain dynamic for a while, ASMLs Chief Executive Officer Christophe Fouquet said in a statement on Wednesday.

ASML is the sole producer of cutting-edge lithography machines used by semiconductor companies to make advanced chips for various products including Apple Inc.s smartphones and Nvidia Corp.s artificial intelligence accelerators.

The company has benefited from an artificial intelligence boom that has seen tech giants invest billions of dollars in chips and data centers to power the emerging technology. This has allowed ASML to project revenue ranging between 44 billion and 60 billion in 2030. But concern over a potential slowdown in AI demand has intensified after disappointing outlooks from some chipmakers and analyst warnings, compounded by looming US tariffs.

ASML outlined various ways US tariffs could impact the business, including additional charges on shipments of new systems, tools and parts imported into the country. Another possible risk is other countries imposing tariffs on things that are being shipped from the United States into these countries, Chief Financial Officer Roger Dassen said in a video accompanying the results.

The company said it has no plans to move more production to the US to limit the exposure of potential tariffs.

We are already a big player in the United States and we build our presence where the capabilities are, Dassen said in a call with reporters. Most of the final assembly of what we do happens here in the Netherlands because its where the capability and a lot of the supply chain is. That is our plan, he said.

Dassen added that it would be appropriate to pass on a significant part of the tariffs imposed on ASML to the next layer in the value chain, referring to customers who buy its chipmaking machines. The tariff burden should be allocated fairly, he said, meaning those importing to the US would bear the lions share.

ASMLs first-quarter results come two weeks after Trump announced tariffs on all exporters to the US, which sparked a selloff in stocks on fears of an economic downturn, weakening consumer demand and uncertainty over an escalating trade war. Analysts had warned that the move would impact chip demand and, in turn, the investment plans of ASMLs clients.

Last week the Trump administration exempted certain products such as smartphones, computers and machines used to make semiconductors from its so-called reciprocal tariffs. It excluded these products from the 125% tariff on China and the presidents baseline 10% global tariff on nearly all other countries.

But on Monday, the US Commerce Department said it had begun investigating the impact on US national security of imports of semiconductors and semiconductor manufacturing equipment as a precursor to imposing tariffs.

The companys extreme ultraviolet lithography or EUV machines accounted for 1.2 billion of net bookings in the quarter.

China made up 27% of ASMLs net system sales, making it the companys second-biggest market during the quarter. While thats the same contribution from the preceding three months, its a drop from the 2024 average of 41%.

The US government has banned exports of advanced semiconductor technologies to China to curb the development of Beijings domestic chip industry and in turn its AI and military capabilities. ASML has never been permitted to sell its EUV machines to China because of US-led curbs and the Dutch government also restricted exports of the second-most-sophisticated machines  immersion deep ultraviolet lithography systems, or DUV  after pressure from the Biden administration.

Despite the growing number of restrictions, ASML benefited from strong demand from China last year as chipmakers there bought up older kit used to make more mature types of semiconductors.

China demand is still strong, Dassen said. The company now expects the Asian nation to account for slightly over 25% of net system sales in the year.

Chip stocks more broadly slumped after President Donald Trump on Tuesday barred Nvidia from selling its H20 chip to China in new rules aimed at thwarting Beijings supercomputing capabilities, the company said in a filing. Nvidia shares slid about 6% in late trading, leading to a broad selloff in Asian semiconductor stocks.

Fouquet, in the statement, said the firms conversations so far with customers support its expectation that 2025 and 2026 will be growth years, driven by AI investments.

ASML forecast that if the AI demand continues to be strong and its customers are capable of adding capacity, it had the opportunity to meet the upper range of its 2025 total net sales guidance of between 30 billion and 35 billion. But it said uncertainty with some of its customers could take it to the lower end of the range.

The first quarter orders disappointed and the tariff uncertainty is clearly clouding the outlook, Citi analyst Andrew Gardiner said in a note, but pointed to ASMLs reiterated full-year forecast and expectations of further growth in 2026.

Barclays analyst Simon Coles said that ASML would need 3 billion to 5 billion of orders each quarter for the next three to five quarters to hit consensus expectations. This seems manageable but our worry is two major customers are unlikely to be ordering significantly any time soon, he said.

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
Bengaluru: DLF Ltd on Wednesday said it has entered an agreement to sell its Kolkata IT/ITeS (information technology and information technology-enabled services) special economic zone (SEZ), including a land parcel, spread across 25.9 acres to local developer Srijan Realty Pvt. Ltd and its subsidiaries for 693 crore.

The commercial office SEZKolkata Tech Park 2is located in suburban Kolkatas Rajarhat area and has gross leasable area of 1.1 million sq. ft.

The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals.

The proposed transaction is to be undertaken by way of a slump sale, DLF said in a regulatory filing.

A slump sale involves a lump sum amount for selling an entire business.

Stock of the countrys largest real estate firm ended about 1% lower at 656.60 on the BSE on Wednesday.

In November, a DLF group subsidiary had agreed to sell its 1.4 million sq. ft office propertyKolkata Tech Park 1in Rajarhat to RDB Primarc Techno Park LLP, an affiliate of Primarc and RDB Group.

Eastern market exit With the sale of these two properties, DLF will exit the eastern realty market, which it had entered nearly two decades ago, when India was witnessing a real estate boom.

Sriram Khattar, vice-chairman and managing director, DLF rental business, told Mint in November, after the sale of Kolkata Tech Park 1, that the company would utilize this capital to invest in high-growth markets that will generate superior returns for its shareholders.

Gurugram-based DLF has also developed a large residential project, DLF New Town Heights, in Kolkata.

DLF is one of the largest commercial office developers in the country.

Also read | Dahlias project sets the stage for DLFs rosy FY25 exit

The DLF group has an over 42 million sq ft operational commercial office portfolio. Another 14 million sq ft is under construction. The projects are largely concentrated in Gurugram, Chennai and Noida. The developer has big plans to scale up its rental income.
The Donald Trump-led United States government's decision to impose new licensing requirements for chips exported to China could cost semiconductor giants such as Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) billions, according to reports.

Nvidia's H20 chips, AMD's MI308 artificial intelligence (AI) chips, and other equivalent products are likely to be severely impacted once the US Commerce Department formally issues its notice.

Speaking to Reuters, a spokesperson said the US Commerce Department is committed to acting on the Presidents directive to safeguard our national and economic security.

Also Read | Nvidia projects $5.5 billion hit as US restricts H20 AI chips exports to China

How Much Will This Cost Nvidia? The Trump administration's policy change could cost Nvidia billions of dollars on a product that was designed to comply with older restrictions, according to a Bloomberg report.

In its filing with the exchanges, Nvidia on April 15 said that if implemented the move would cost the AI chip maker over $5.5 billion in charges  largely from limits placed on its H20 AI chip exports to China.

As per the filing, the US government informed Nvidia of the development on April 14.

A representative for the White House didnt immediately respond to Bloomberg's request for comment.

What Are the Changes in Policy? Nvidia's H20 chips would require a license to export to China for the indefinite future, officials told the company, as per the filing.

The new rules are aimed at concerns that the covered products may be used in, or diverted to, a supercomputer in China, it added.

As per Nvidia, it would have to report around $5.5 billion in writedowns during Q1 from inventory, purchase commitments and related reserves tied to the H20 line.

Nvidia Shares Down: The tech darling's stock slipped by around 6 per cent in late trading on April 15 after its filing hit the news. Nvidia Warns China Will Develop Independent Tech On the restrictions, Nvidia has warned that any more push and restrictions would only make China determined to develop technology independent of the US and provide competition for American companies.

In October 2022 too, the US government under Joe Biden, barred US makers from selling their most advanced products to China over security concerns and amid increased AI advancement and applications.

The latest rules for Nvidia are a sign that the Trump administration will stay the course on the US governments approach to Chinese tech development. They follow earlier sanctions on dozens of Chinese firms that Trump officials allege are aiding Beijings military tech efforts.
Mumbai, Apr 16 (PTI) Isuzu Motors India on Wednesday said its commercial vehicles (CV) export grew a robust 24 per cent to 20,312 units -- the highest among CV exporters in the country in FY25 -- as against 16,329 units a year earlier.

The company continues to play a pivotal role in expanding Isuzu's global presence, particularly in the pickup category, by leveraging India as a strategic manufacturing base for the Indian and export markets, Isuzu Motors India said.

The company has a manufacturing facility in Sri City (Andhra Pradesh), which caters to both left-hand and right-hand drive markets across Asia and the Middle East, including Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Jordan.

"We see continued and growing demand for India-made Isuzu vehicles in key global markets. This strong export performance is a testament to the world-class quality, reliability, and performance of our vehicles, made in India. Over the years, our export volumes have steadily grown, supported by a diverse portfolio that meets international expectations," Isuzu Motors India Deputy Managing Director Toru Kishimoto said.

Isuzu Motors India began its operations in 2016 with the setting up of the Sri City facility, which recently rolled out the 1,00,000th vehicle from the plant.

In 2020, the company began phase-II operations, which included a press shop facility and an engine assembly plant.

The company said it has also been expanding its domestic network touch points in the recent months to take the brand closer to its growing customer base.
(Bloomberg) -- For years, Nobuhiro Doi resisted calls for Japanese banks to end the long-standing practice of holding shares in their corporate clients. Now the 68-year-old president of Kyoto Financial Group Inc. is beginning to come around to the idea.

We cannot completely ignore increasingly demanding views toward strategic holdings, Doi said in an interview at the banks headquarters in the ancient capital. He is also becoming more open to mergers, though he has no plans in place now.

With about 1 trillion ($7 billion) in cross-shareholdings, Kyoto Financial has been a symbol of Japans old guard holding out against selling the stakes, given its historic ties to exporters based in the city including Nintendo Co., Nidec Corp. and Kyocera Corp. While Doi still wants to keep investments in the technology giants, he said holdings in others are now subject to review for potential sale.

We will examine the justification for holding the shares with tougher standards, he said, referring both to companies based in Kyoto and elsewhere. Some have lost meaning for us to keep.

Japans financial institutions have faced mounting pressure from authorities and investors to pare their cross-shareholdings, which are seen as an impediment to good corporate governance. In November, Kyoto Financial unveiled a target to cut at least 100 billion of such stakes by March 2029, a goal that Doi acknowledges doesnt satisfy everyone.

It might be better if we could give numbers like 200 billion or 300 billion. But we actually wanted to keep holding shares, he said.

Kyoto Financial has long argued that retaining stakes in the likes of Nintendo is preferable because they generate healthy returns for the bank. While the value of its cross-holdings may have fallen in the recent market rout, the 1 trillion it held as of September exceeded the lenders current market capitalization of 610 billion.

Doi has borne the brunt of investors demands for bolder action. At last years annual shareholder meeting, US proxy advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Services recommended voting against him because of the banks hefty holdings in client shares. His approval rating was at 75%, but other board members were elected with far higher votes.

Other shareholders have taken a more nuanced stance. Kyoto Financial attracted attention when Silchester International Investors called for special dividends in 2022 and 2023. Silchester said at the time that the bank should only sell its cross-shareholdings if it used all the proceeds to buy back shares, noting the significant loss of dividend income and capital gains taxes from any sale. Both proposals were voted down.

Silchester recently increased its stake in Kyoto Financial to 8.5%, a regulatory filing shows.

Doi declined to elaborate on specific communication with Silchester. Some of their views are incompatible to us, but we have learned various things from them including about shareholder returns, he said.

He said some overseas institutional investors have urged the bank not to sell such shares at all.

Bank M&A

Dois thinking is also evolving on another contentious topic in Japans regional banking industry: consolidation.

He now wont rule out the possibility of merging with other local banks  a prospect he used to view as unthinkable. Behind his changing attitude is Japans rapidly aging population, which means the number of customers will shrink in Kyoto as well as neighboring areas.

There are various ways to survive and I now think a merger is one of the options, Doi said, while stressing that the bank has no such intentions at the moment.

Meanwhile, Doi said the bank is likely to reduce its 2.4 trillion market portfolio in the fiscal year that started this month. The total is likely to drop to around 2 trillion toward March 2029, mainly by not reinvesting in Japanese government bonds when they come up for redemption.

The current market turmoil triggered by the Trump administrations tariff policies is one reason for being cautious on new bets, Doi said. But a more structural factor is that the bank is seeing lending grow faster than deposits, he said.

For years, Kyoto and other Japanese banks suffered tepid loan demand while deposit money piled up, prompting them to manage surplus cash by investing it in their market portfolios. But thats changing as the gap between deposits and loans narrows.

Those dynamics have emerged as Japans economy recovers from decades of deflation, though it faces fresh uncertainty stemming from the US trade policies.

Give our low loan-to-deposit ratio, we used to have a large securities portfolio, Doi said. Now were correcting that.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
As hotel businesses rush to add more rooms and hotel inventory, Marriott International, the company behind hotels like JW Marriott, Westin, W and other brands, will invest a significant stake in Mumbai-based Concept Hospitality.

The three-decade-old company manages around 125 hotels in India and operates under six brands, including The Fern and The Zinc, through a joint venture with CG Hospitality Global. Nepali billionaire Binod Chaudhary's CG group owns a majority stake in Concept. The group is primarily known for its Wai Wai Noodles brand. This is expected to be Marriott International's first direct investment in the country, and has earmarked around $15 million for the investment, those in the know told Mint. The company has been valued at $100 million.

At least five people confirmed the development to Mint. "This investment should be complete in the next month or so and will mark a shift in the American hospitality company's strategy here. It is looking to scale its operations here, and the development could be a key indicator of how international hotel giants are adapting their strategies in response to Indias dynamic hospitality sector," said a highly-placed executive in the hospitality industry, familiar with the situation.

Read more: Indias newest resorts are popping up where you least expect them

Emails sent to Marriott International remained unanswered till the time of press.

Rahul Chaudhary, managing director and CEO of CG Corp Global, said on email the company could not comment on the development at the moment.

Growing room count, expanding footprint

Marriott has been clear about its intent to scale and grow its India business. In the next 3-5 years, it expects to go to 50,000 rooms from its current nearly 30,000 rooms in India and operate 250-300 hotels. The company's president for Asia Pacific (excluding China), Rajeev Menon, told Mint the company is expecting to scale their operations and that the hotels it runs clocked a gross revenue of 10,000 crore in the previous calendar year, 2024.

In 2024, the company signed about 42 new hotels in South Asia, including India, which will account for 7,000 new rooms and are in various stages of development. It currently has around 170 hotels in South Asia, of which 157 are in India, including some ITC Hotels' luxury properties that it lists under its marketing and loyalty points portfolio, Bonvoy.

According to a recent industry report in October 2024 by hospitality consultancy Hotelivate, Marriott is India's largest hotel company in terms of the number of rooms.

Concept primarily runs the hotel brand The Fern, an upscale hotel brand. Upscale hotels typically fall under the 4-star or 5-star category and have premium services and amenities. Concept also has an experiential brand, Zinc and an economy brand, Beacon, among others.

The company was founded in 1996 by Param Kannampilly, Kamat group chairman and managing director Vithal Kamat, and Ramesh Sanbag as a hotel management company focused on environmentally sensitive operations. By 2009, Kamat group, which owned 60% of the company, exited, and much later, around 2015, CG Corp took a majority stake in the business for around 50 crore.

Growing with brands



Concept has grown steadily and now manages its 125 hotels across about 90 locations in India under six brands, including The Fern and The Zinc. The company is a part of CG Hospitality, the hospitality arm of CG Corp Global, the Nepalese conglomerate.

Additionally, CG Hospitality also owns a separate portfolio of hotels. It has invested in properties like Taj Exotica Resort & Spa and Taj Coral Reef in the Maldives in partnership with Tata groups IHCL, has since expanded its portfolio to include 11 properties across five countries, such as Taj Safaris in India and Nepal and Taj JLT in Dubai. The company also has joint ventures with brands like Jetwing Hotels in Sri Lanka and Radisson in New York City. It also owns hotels and operates brands in the Philippines.

"Marriott's foray into direct investments in hotels here is a noteworthy development. Maybe other international companies could follow too, for quick scale. This shift in strategy is interesting because, in this market, competition is intensifying, and demand for upscale and mid-market hotels is on the rise," a leading industry executive with insight into the development noted.

Two hotel management companies have invested in India so far.

Read more: Spending 988 crore to earn 97 crore20 years on, Cleartrip still has no flight plan

Interestingly, only two international hotel management companies have invested in hotels in India, making them notable as such companies typically do not make direct investments due to their focus on managing rather than owning properties.

Hyatt Hotels, for example, holds a stake in the country through Juniper Hotels, which went public last year and operates several Hyatt properties in cities like Lucknow, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bareilly, and Delhi. Both Hyatt and Juniper receive backing from the Pritzker family, founders of the Hyatt brand. Since 2009, Juniper Hotels has been integrated into Hyatt's broader business.

The second company, InterGlobe Hotels, is a joint venture between French hospitality giant Accor and InterGlobe Enterprises (IGE). Established in 2004, the venture focuses on budget hotels in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, leveraging the large traveller base from IndiGo, a budget airline.

Accor and IGE invested in a 60:40 ratio for real estate and 70:30 for operations, marking Accor as one of the two international hotel management companies to invest directly in India.
(Bloomberg) -- Mark Zuckerberg said that ByteDance Ltd.s TikTok posed a highly urgent competitive threat to Meta Platforms Inc. when it first sprang up in 2018, as he testified for a third day in the Federal Trade Commissions antitrust trial.

We observed that our growth slowed down dramatically, as TikTok gained popularity, the Meta chief executive officer said Wednesday. It was highly urgent, this has been a top priority for the company for several years.

Zuckerberg spent seven hours over the past two days being interrogated by a government attorney, who pressed him to revisit the struggle for the company  then Facebook Inc.  to keep up with the mobile app boom in the previous decade. That led to the companys purchase of Instagram and WhatsApp more than 10 years ago and, in response to TikTok, the roll out of its Reels video product for Instagram in 2020.

The FTC wants to force Meta to sell the apps as it tries to paint Zuckerberg as a shrewd executive who illegally monopolized part of the social media market by buying companies rather than competing with them. Now, in responding to his lawyer Mark Hansen, he can tell his story without pushback.

People will be sharing in new ways in five years, than what is happening today, Zuckerberg said.

Zuckerberg said Meta competes with an array of platforms, which also include Googles YouTube, and Apple Inc.s iMessage, but also X, Telegram, Microsoft Corp.s LinkedIn and others. The FTC maintains that in the narrow market of sharing information with friends and family, Meta only competes with Snap Inc.s Snapchat.

Network Effects

Part of the FTCs in case involves the technical concept of network effects, meaning that the more users companies such as Meta have the more likely they are to retain a dominant position, because people are unlikely to switch to a service used by few people.

US District Judge James Boasberg, whos presiding over the non-jury trial in Washington, has remained largely silent during the questioning, but interjected during Zuckerbergs testimony Wednesday to ask if network effects still really matter.

How much does it matter if your friends are on a particular platform if you can send content out of that platform? Why does it matter if your friends are there? the judge said.

Zuckerberg said it doesnt. These apps now serve primarily as discovery engines, he said. People can take that content to messaging engines.

If the FTC prevails, a spinoff of Instagram and WhatsApp would undo years of integration between the apps, disrupt two of the most popular digital consumer products in the world and potentially erase hundreds of billions of dollars in Metas market value. It would also raise serious questions about how the government evaluates and approves deals.

In at times combative questioning earlier this week by FTC lawyer Daniel Matheson, Zuckerberg sought to walk back statements that he made in previous internal communications.

Zuckerberg acknowledged in a 2013 email blocking advertising on Facebook for messaging apps WeChat, Kakao and Line, which he wrote are trying to build social networks to replace us. On the stand this week, however, he said its hard for me to characterize what their intent was.

When asked by Hansen to describe how he was evaluating the competitive threat posed by Instagram and others at the time of the deals, he referenced a quote from former Intel Corp. CEO Andy Grove, saying only the paranoid survive.

Matheson also sought to show that Meta, then known as Facebook Inc., was aware of its antitrust risk years ago, including a possible breakup, displaying an email from 2018 when Zuckerberg wrote: As calls to break up the big tech companies grow, there is a non-trivial chance that we will be forced to spin out Instagram and perhaps WhatsApp in the next 5-10 years anyway.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Mumbai, Apr 16 (PTI) The Reserve Bank on Wednesday said it has cancelled the licence of Ahmedabad-based 'Colour Merchants Co-operative Bank' as the lender does not have adequate capital and earning prospects.

Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Gujarat, has also been requested to issue an order for winding up the bank and appoint a liquidator for the bank, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said in a statement.

On liquidation, every depositor would be entitled to receive the deposit insurance claim amount of his/her deposits up to a monetary ceiling of 5 lakh only from the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC).

RBI further said as per the data submitted by the co-operative bank, about 98.51 per cent of the depositors are entitled to receive full amount of their deposits from DICGC.

As of March 31, 2024, DICGC has already paid 13.94 crore of the total insured deposits based on the willingness received from the concerned depositors of the bank.

Giving reasons behind cancellation of the licence, RBI said the bank does not have adequate capital and earning prospects.

The cooperative bank has also failed to comply with certain requirements under the Banking Regulation Act.

"The continuance of the bank is prejudicial to the interest of the depositors. The bank with its present financial position would be unable to pay its present depositors in full," the RBI said.

RBI also said that public interest would be adversely affected if the bank is allowed to carry on its banking business any further.

Following the cancellation of the licence, the co-operative bank ceases to carry on banking business with effect from the close of business on Wednesday (April 16, 2025).
A simmering rivalry in Indias booming skincare market has spilled into the courts.

Honasa Consumer Ltd, the parent of brands like Mamaearth and The Derma Co., filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL), alleging that a recent Lakme sunscreen campaign undermines the credibility of its own product. HUL, in turn, has hit back with a countersuit, escalating the spat into a full-blown legal battle.

At the heart of the dispute is a new HUL campaign for Lakmes SPF 50 sunscreen, launched over the weekend with the hashtag #LakmeSPF50Truth100. The ad asserts that certain online bestseller sunscreens claiming SPF 50 actually offer far lower protectioncloser to SPF 20. While it doesn't name any brand, the video contrasts several yellow and orange bottles with Lakme's packaging and cites in-vivo SPF testing, a clinical method used to assess sun protection.

Read this | What the Minimalist acquisition means for HUL

Honasa, whose Derma Co. sunscreen also advertises SPF 50 and highlights its own in-vivo testing, took immediate offense.

On Tuesday, Honasa co-founder Ghazal Alagh responded on LinkedIn with a pointed welcome: Lakme, welcome to the in-vivo tested SPF 50 club. Her post also featured a graphic congratulating Lakme on finally getting its sunscreen clinically tested. It keeps brands from becoming sleepy, lethargic & brings more innovation for the consumers, she added.

At a hearing in the Delhi high court on Wednesday, senior advocate Amit Sibal, representing Honasa, accused HUL of launching a calculated attack against Derma Co.s reputation, citing similarities in the packaging shown in the Lakme ad.

My packaging is distinctive. People associate me with it. They are clearly targeting me, Sibal told the court. He noted that the products SPF ratingcertified at 50.169 through in-vivo testingis central to the brands positioning.

Justice Amit Bansal, presiding over the case, remarked that the Lakme ad appeared disparaging" on the face of it, and directed HULs counsel to relay the courts concerns to the company. Summons were issued to HUL, asking it to formally respond to Honasas plea. The matter is expected to come up for hearing again on Thursday.

Meanwhile, HUL has filed a lawsuit against Honasa Consumer in Bombay high court alleging disparagement of its brand by Honasa.
New Delhi, Apr 16 (PTI) The US health regulator has pulled up Aspen Biopharma Labs for various manufacturing lapses at its Telangana-based active pharmaceutical ingredients production facility.

In a warning letter to its CEO K Sateesh Reddy, the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) said the drug firm failed to design and construct buildings and facilities used in the manufacture of API in a manner to minimise potential contamination, facilitate appropriate cleaning, maintenance, and operations.

The USFDA inspected the Rangareddy-based facility from September 16 to 21, 2024.

This warning letter summarises significant deviations from Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) for active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), it stated.

"You produce higher-risk APIs in an inadequate facility, including one that lacks appropriate separation for high pharmacological activity or toxic materials," the USFDA stated.

"During the inspection, our investigator observed your facility was in a state of disrepair, with manufacturing areas open to the outdoor environment with inadequate protection of materials," it added.

The drug firm failed to appropriately validate processes and adequately qualify the equipment used to manufacture drugs, the USFDA stated.

It also pulled up the company for failure to design a documented, ongoing stability testing programme to monitor the stability characteristics of the API.

"We acknowledge that you deregistered your facility on January 6, 2025, however, it is unclear whether you intend to cease production of drugs for the US market. In response to this letter, clarify whether you intend to cease manufacturing drugs for the US market at this facility in the future," the USFDA stated.

If the company plans to resume any manufacturing operations regulated under the FD&C Act, notify this office before resuming drug manufacturing operations, it added.

A warning letter is issued when the US health regulator finds that a manufacturer has significantly violated its regulations.

The letter also makes clear that the company must correct the problem and provides directions and a timeframe for its plans for correction.
Food delivery giant Swiggy Ltd is venturing beyond its core space, entering the professional services market. The company is piloting a new platform called Pyng to become a hyperlocal marketplace for urban consumers seeking skilled service providers.

While Swiggy has launched several apps, such as SNACC (a quick snack delivery app), SwigL (a learning app for delivery partners to perform their daily tasks effectively), Instamart (a quick grocery and essentials delivery app), Scenes (a ticketing and events platform), and Swiggy Minis (a marketplace for small businesses), among others, all of them have stayed within the boundaries of its core food delivery proposition.

Its latest bet, Pyng, marks a significant shift.

Pyng will connect users to a wide range of professionalstherapists, DJs, photographers, fitness trainers, developers, beauticians, and even astrologers. The move seems to be part of Swiggys diversification strategy as it looks to leverage its logistics and consumer base to tap into the growing services market in the country.

Mint looks at the nuances behind the move and challenges in the space.

What prompted Swiggy's plunge into professional services?

The newly launched app is currently live in Bengaluru. It uses artificial intelligence (AI) to recommend relevant professionals to users.

According to experts, it is a natural expansion. When you add a layer of higher-margin services on top of the existing business, it can improve the company's value basket. Verified service providers and credibility would be a differentiator.

Swiggys Pyng bet is on full-stack ownership and margin expansion: demand, fulfilment, and now services, according to Angad Singh, founding member of Zippee, a quick-commerce logistics platform. Its not just about what you consume or how fast, but becoming the trusted platform for everyday needs across consumption and services," he said.

Who would it compete with?

While Urban Company is a leader in the professional services segment, its heavily focused on blue-collar gig workers like plumbers, electricians, carpenters, etc. Urban Company, however, has been making inroads into white-collar professional services space through services like interior design consultations. A quick look at Pyng suggests that Swiggy is trying to clearly break into the white-collar spaceplumbers, electricians, and carpenters are not available on the app as of now.

While there are business-to-business gig workforce platforms for enterprises such as Awign and Taskmo, where people can list their services as sellers, or niche professional services platforms such as Practo, where customers can get healthcare-related advice/consultations, there are no popular platforms where customers can avail a wide range of specialized services on one platform.

Can it become a big revenue centre?

The Bengaluru-based startup launched its seller app earlier this year and has already onboarded over 1,000 professionals across over 100 specializations. Within a day of the announcement on Tuesday, the company gained over 1,000 downloads on the Google app store. In a clear effort to grow the application, Swiggy is offering a money-back guarantee in case users do not find value in the service.

The customers are using services mainly through references. In the case of Swiggy, it would be verified. Hence, there will be some comfort for customers to try out. In today's fast-moving environment, the only factor that matters for the customer is time, and this service extension from Swiggy can help solve this. It can be bigger provided it is executed well," said Anil Joshi, managing partner of Unicorn India Ventures.

Moreover, experts note that Pyng will have healthy margins because of the white-collar premium and lower customer acquisition costs.

Whats the challenge?

As a listed company with multiple high-intensity bets, Swiggy faces some critical risks. According to Singh, fragmented focus, operational strain, rising burn, and no clear path to profitability are all clear challenges for the company.

In its last earnings report, the company said it expected its business to achieve adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (Ebitda) profitability on a consolidated level in the third quarter of 2025-26. Swiggys consolidated net loss widened to 799 crore for the third quarter of 2024-25 from 574 crore a year ago. Another fundamental challenge would be to get good service providers on the platform and maintain a standard quality of experience.

As Singh pointed out, whether Pyng becomes a revenue engine or an expensive distraction will depend entirely on Swiggys execution muscle.
Indias economy is likely to weather the latest wave of US tariff hikes with only limited fallout, Moody's Ratings said in a report Wednesday. But it warned that broader global trade tensions could weigh on economic growth and credit conditions worldwide.

The rating agency now expects Indias GDP growth to slow slightly to a range of 5.56.5% in 2025, down from its earlier estimate of 6.6%. The downgrade is attributed to weaker global demand and declining merchandise exports, particularly to the US.

Indias exports to the US account for 6.6% of nominal GDP, placing it among economies with moderate exposure to Washingtons protectionist push, the report said.

Read this | Trump tariffs may force India to review Viksit Bharat playbook

India's trade surplus with the US jumped 16.6% in the just-ended financial year, ballooning to $41.18 billion in FY25 from $35.32 billion in the previous year, according to commerce ministry data.

Persident Donald Trump raised tariffs on Indian goods exports to 27% on 2 April, complaining of rising US deficit, before announcing a 90-day pause on tariff hikes on all countries on 9 April.

Assessing the fallout of the US administrations new tariff regimea universal 10% levy and a 145% duty on Chinese importsMoodys said India is relatively better positioned than major Asian manufacturing hubs like China, Taiwan and South Korea. Chinas growth, for instance, could slip to 4% or lower.

Read this | Does a trade deficit mean US wealth is moving into foreign hands?

Still, the agency flagged that the broader credit environment may turn fragile as higher trade barriers slow global commerce and investment. While Moodys focused on macroeconomic risks, the report did not delve into sector-specific or domestic policy responses.

India plays it cool, but risks mount New Delhi has so far refrained from retaliatory moves and is taking a measured approach to the US tariffs. It is prioritising negotiations under the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) framework, while reviewing tariff and non-tariff barriers flagged by Washingtonincluding certain Quality Control Orders, as Mint reported on 9 April.

Read this | India races to wrap up free trade deals as clock ticks on Trumps tariff window

With key export sectors facing fresh headwinds, the Indian government is actively scouting new markets. Sectors such as gems and jewellery and marine productsespecially shrimpscould be hit hard if a proposed 26% duty kicks in after the 90-day pause. India is working to diversify destinations for these vulnerable exports, as reported by Mint on 10 April.

Moodys warned that the new US tariff regime is already unsettling global markets and could lead to a significant tightening in credit conditions. Despite the temporary pause, the sweeping 145% duty on Chinese goods and a blanket 10% rate on others is expected to dampen investment sentiment, push up prices, and raise default risks across sectors.

The agency noted that while its credit ratings already account for a range of trade-related risks, persistent shifts in global trade policy may warrant future rating revisions. Defaults will be higher than previously expected, it said, forecasting mounting credit stress in the quarters ahead.

The new tariff regimethough softened from initial proposalsremains harsher than anticipated and has already prompted retaliation from China. While carve-outs, such as exemptions for smartphones, may provide short-term relief, Moodys called the overall tariff framework sticky, driven by Washingtons revenue objectives and its broader pivot away from trade reliance.

The economic impact is likely to be uneven but far-reaching.

Moodys estimates the tariffs will shave at least one percentage point off US GDP this year. Citing the Yale Budget Lab, it said American consumers now face an average effective tariff burden of 27%, with price hikes of up to 3% expected soon.

Lower-income households will bear the bruntdisposable incomes for the bottom third could shrink by more than 4%, it said.

Even as companies use the 90-day pause to adjust supply chains, Moodys warned that uncertainty beyond that window is already crimping business plans and eroding consumer confidence. Tighter financial conditions, including wider bond spreads and falling equity prices, are also likely to hit lower-rated firms ability to refinance debt.
New Delhi: India's trade surplus with the US jumped 16.6% in the just-ended financial year, ballooning to $41.18 billion in FY25 from $35.32 billion in the previous year, even as President Donald Trump prepared to hike US tariffs in protest.

According to commerce ministry data released on Tuesday, Indian goods exports to the US in the last financial year increased by 11.6%, from $77.52 billion in FY24 to $86.51 billion in FY25.

To be sure, imports from the US also rose but by a smaller margin of 7.42%, going up from $42.20 billion to $45.33 billion during the fiscal year that ended on 31 March.

Also read | The trade deficit is a sign of wealth Major goods exported to the US included electronic goods, textiles, drugs and pharmaceuticals, engineering goods, gems and jewellery, petroleum products and agricultural products.

Trump raised the tariff on Indian goods exports to 27% on 2 April, complaining of rising US deficit, before announcing a 90-pause on tariff hikes on all countries on 9 April.

Widening deficit Globally, Indias trade deficit widened sharply to $21.54 billion in March, rising from a three-year low of $14.05 billion in February. Merchandise exports for FY25 stood at $437.42 billion, marginally higher than the $437.07 billion recorded in FY24, while goods imports came in at $720.24 billion in FY25, which was $678.21 billion in FY24, as per commerce ministry data released on Tuesday.

March's goods exports stood at $41.97 billion, while imports were $63.51 billion, compared with $36.91 billion of exports and $50.96 billion of imports in February.

Oil imports surged to $19 billion in March, up from $11.8 billion in February the highest monthly oil imports since May 2024, when they reached $19.95 billion. Gold imports also nearly doubled to $4.4 billion in March from $2.3 billion in the previous month.

India's exports of both goods and services in the current fiscal year increased by over 5.39%, reaching $820.93 billion, compared with the previous year. Meanwhile, imports grew by 6.96%, totaling $915.19 billion.

Globally, the goods export figure of $437.42 billion for FY25 fell short of economists' expectations. The Export-Import Bank of India had estimated that total merchandise exports for the full fiscal year would reach $446.5 billion.

Also read | Trump rules out China trade deal until $1 trillion deficit is fixed However, the services exports in FY25 rose 12% to $383.51 billion, while services imports were up 9% to $194.95 billion in FY25.

Meanwhile, imports of goods from China rose by 11.5%, from $101.74 billion in FY24 to $113.46 billion in FY25, while exports to China decreased by 14.5%, from $16.67 billion in FY24 to $14.25 billion in FY25, the data showed.

The US is the top export destinations for India, followed by the UAE, Netherlands and the UK. On the other hand, China remains the leading source of imports for India, followed by Russia, the UAE, the US and Saudi Arabia.

Services exports fall Services exports stood at $31.64 billion in March, slightly up from $31.03 billion in February, while services imports stood at $13.73 billion, down significantly from $16.55 billion in February.

Indias foreign trade has been hit by weak demand in major markets, geopolitical tensions, volatile commodity prices, and reciprocal tariff actions threatened by the US one of its largest trading partners.

Last October, the World Trade Organization (WTO) raised its 2024 global trade growth forecast to 2.7% from 2.6% but lowered its 2025 projection from 3.3% to 3.0%. It expects trade growth in both years to align with real global GDP expansion of 2.7% at market exchange rates.

Engineering goods, petroleum products, electronic goods, drugs and pharmaceuticals were key drivers of merchandise exports in the AprilMarch period, according to the official data.

Major imports included petroleum products, electronic goods, gold and machinery.

Also read | Indias goods trade deficit widened to $22.99 bn in Januarya two-month high On surpassing the $800 billion trade export mark, Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal expressed confidence that this momentum will continue into FY26.

"The export sector has performed exceptionally well, surpassing the $800 billion milestone. We are aiming for a larger export target for this fiscal," Barthwal said.

This positive growth continues despite facing difficulties in the gems and jewellery sector. Other sectors have also demonstrated strong growth, which gives us great satisfaction," he added.

Colin Shah, managing director of Kama Jewelry, said, The marginal rise in exports in March, though minimal, brings some relief to the gems and jewellery industry after a long wait for any signs of revival. However, the overall decline in exports for FY25 remains a major concern.
Diamonds and jewellery exports have been struggling for years. Exports of nearly all categories of gems and jewellery declined in FY25. In particular, exports of cut and polished diamonds fell nearly 15% year-on-year to 1.12 trillion, a nearly 20-year low, according to Reuters. Meanwhile overall exports of gems and jewellery fell by almost 10% year-on-year. This is the third consecutive year that cut and polished diamond exports and overall jewellery exports are declining in US dollar value. Consequently, our imports of rough diamonds have also declined in FY25 by more than 16% on-year.

What is dampening the trade?

The industry was first affected in the pandemic years as lockdown restrictions affected production and trade. Then, just as post-pandemic revenge shopping" demand from the US boosted trade, sanctions on Russia kicked in. Russian mines are a major source of rough diamonds. This year, declining consumer demand in the US and Chinathe worlds biggest luxury markets by valueis hurting exports. Now, the US Liberation Day" trade tariffs have led to more global uncertainty after president Trump imposed steep reciprocal rates on Indian exports, then suspended them for 90 days.

Also read | Will IT get better or worse? TCS points to cautious growth ahead

Is there a bright spot here to seize?

Perhaps. Growth in exports of gold jewellery has stayed above water, although it forms a relatively small part of total gems and jewellery exports. The industry also got a breather with the pause on reciprocal tariffs. Some are drawing hope from the exemptions that Trump is rolling out to other imports into the US, including pharmaceuticals and now, smartphones.

Also read | What Trumps tariff tantrums mean for investors

Where do jewellery exports go from here?

Trumps tariffs and the consumer demand slowdown in the US and China will be immediate concerns for the industry. The US jewellery market grew by 5% in 2024, beating expectations, but isnt likely to keep growing as consumer spending habits change. Besides, lab-grown diamonds costing nearly a tenth of natural diamonds are hurting global demand for natural diamond jewellery and driving down prices. Last year, many factories in Surat shut down and skilled workers were laid off in large numbers.

Also read | Why are PE investments in real estate falling in India?

What can reverse the industrys fortunes?

Industry bodies have been asking for protection and sops from the government, including promotion of natural diamonds and regulating sales and marketing of lab-grown diamonds. The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council has also urged the government to contribute funds to the natural diamonds promotion campaign and help the industry set up a gems-trading bourse, extend cheap credit to small-scale units in trade centres and reduce capital gains tax and import duties on precious jewellery.
Global merchandise trade is headed for a decline in 2025, the World Trade Organization (WTO) warned on Wednesday, as US President Donald Trump's renewed tariff push casts a shadow over the fragile recovery in cross-border commerce.

The WTO now expects global goods trade to shrink by 0.2% in calendar year 2025nearly three percentage points below its earlier baseline forecast. If trade tensions escalate, the contraction could deepen to 1.5%. The revised outlook marks a sharp reversal from the WTOs previous projections, which anticipated steady growth in line with global economic expansion.

These estimates do not yet account for potential spillovers into services trade.

Read this | India races to wrap up free trade deals as clock ticks on Trumps tariff window

On 2 April, Trump announced sweeping reciprocal tariffs on countries that impose higher duties on American goods. Central to his 2024 campaign, the policy reignited fears of a global trade war and fresh disruptions to supply chains.

As part of the move, the Trump administration imposed a 27% tariff on Indian imports, citing New Delhi's average 52% duty on US goods.

Trump later suspended tariffs for 90 days for most trading partners, giving countries time to address Washington's trade concerns. But even as he hit pause, he raised duties on Chinese imports to a stiff 145% and continued sparring with Canada and Mexico over tariffs on their goods.

Read this | Donald Trump pauses tariffs, but Swiss watchmakers still face a ticking crisis

The WTO on Wednesday warned that if sustained, such reciprocal measures could trigger serious downside risks, particularly for export-dependent and least-developed countries. North America is expected to bear the brunt, with exports projected to fall 12.6% and imports 9.6% in 2025.

Global goods trade had rebounded modestly in 2024, growing 2.9% after a 1% contraction in 2023, WTO data showed. A limited recovery is forecast for 2026, with trade expected to expand by 2.5%.

"The enduring uncertainty threatens to act as a brake on global growth, with severe negative consequences for the world, the most vulnerable economies in particular," said WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Even the recent easing of tariffs offers only temporary relief, she added.

WTO economists had originally projected 2.7% growth in merchandise trade for 2025 and 2.9% in 2026. But the surge in protectionist policies since January prompted a sharp downgrade to the goods trade outlook, along with a more modest cut to services trade.

If fully implemented, reciprocal tariffs could shave 0.6 percentage points off 2025 merchandise trade growth, while rising policy uncertainty may subtract another 0.8 pointsleading to a combined 1.5% decline, the WTO warned.

"Our simulations show that trade policy uncertainty has a significant dampening effect on trade flows, reducing exports and weakening economic activity," said WTO Chief Economist Ralph Ossa.

"Moreover, tariffs are a policy lever with wide-ranging, often unintended consequences. In a world of growing trade tensions, a clear-eyed view of those trade-offs is more important than ever," he added.
US versus China Trade War: Hours after it was reported that US now levies a whopping 245% tariff on Chinese goods, Beijing replied with readiness to join the negotiation table in order to calm the trade war. China remarked US should stop exerting extreme pressure, stop threatening and blackmailing, if they wish to open trade talks. China also imposed four riders for trade talks between the two biggest economies of the world.

"If the US really wants to resolve the issue through dialogue and negotiation, it should stop exerting extreme pressure, stop threatening and blackmailing, and talk to China on the basis of equality, respect and mutual benefit," Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said.

China said on Wednesday its economy grew a forecast-beating 5.4 percent in the first quarter as exporters rushed to get goods out of factory gates ahead of the US levies.

However, analysts have warned that the impact of the US tariffs will be felt in the second quarter.

"The escalation happening in April is going to be felt in the second-quarter figures as the tariffs will send stateside firms looking to other suppliers, impeding Chinese exports and slamming the brakes on investment," Heron Lim from Moody's Analytics told AFP.

What Did China Demand From US? According to Times of India report, China put forth the following demands for Beijing to reach the negotiations table with US:

A curb on disparaging remarks made by US cabinet members

A consistent US stance on trade matters

Address China's concerns regarding American sanctions and US policy on Taiwan

Appoint a lead negotiator with clear backing from Trumpsomeone capable of crafting an agreement that could be formally signed by both Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping when they mee

Also Read | Nvidia is now the biggest US-China bargaining chip

Rare Earths  China's Trump Card Against US? Chinas dominance of the rare earths supply chain has emerged as among its most potent tools in a renewed trade war with the United States president. The minerals  used to power everything from iPhones to electric vehicles  are vital components for the kinds of advanced technology that will define the future.

Unlike tariffs, this is an area where Donald Trump has limited options for reciprocal retaliation.

Rare earth elements are a group of 17 metals more common than gold and found worldwide, including in the US. However, extracting and processing them is costly, complex, and environmentally harmful.

For decades, the US and other countries have been dependent on Beijings supply of these processed metals. China accounts for 61% of global mined rare earth production, but its control over the processing stage is 92% of the global output, according to the International Energy Agency.

On April 4, after years of veiled warnings, the Chinese government placed export restrictions on seven types of rare earth minerals, as part of its retaliation against Trumps initial 34% reciprocal tariffs on Chinese goods. The new rules require all companies to secure government permission to export the seven minerals as well as associated products, such as magnets.
YouTuber, and actor Prajakta Koli slammed a magazine claiming that she regrets marrying her longtime boyfriend, Vrishank Khanal. Prajakta and Vrishank tied the knot earlier this year after dating for years.

Prajakta Koli on report about her marriage She took to her Instagram Story and blasted a magazine for reporting about her marriage. Based on one of her funny videos, the report mentioned, "Prajakta Koli seen regretting her decision of tying the knot with husband Vrishank Khanal.

The original parody video shared on Instagram showed Prajakta drinking with a sad face. It read, "When you get married for the sunset pictures and now have to live with a boy.

Prajakta shared a screenshot of the article on her Stories and wrote, Really ? :).

Prajakta Kohli on her Instagram Stories.

Prajakta Koli and Vrishank Prajakta and Vrishank began dating in 2011 when Vrishank was 22, and Prajakta was 18. The two met through a mutual friend and later connected on social media before Vrishank asked her out, before she became an internet sensation.

They announced their engagement in 2023.

On February 25, they tied the knot in a dreamy, private wedding ceremony held in Karjat.

Talking about the wedding, she told Vogue, Vrishank and I are extremely similar to each other. We arent very out-there kinda people, instead we look forward to being at home. Overall, we like to keep things simple, so that's what we did with our wedding too.

We told our family and friends that they could show up in pyjamas, for all we cared. We just wanted them to be well rested and enjoy. I was away most of the time due to prior work commitments, so Vrishank handled a lot more than we had originally kept as our departments. He went for several recces and food tastings with our parents, she added.
Williams-Sonoma last year paid a record $3.17 million fine to the Federal Trade Commission, which said the company falsely described certain products on its website as made in America.

Ford Motor Company released an ad campaign this month titled Committed to America," stating that it assembles more vehicles in the U.S. and employs more hourly workers in the country than any other automaker.

From America. For America," its tagline read.

President Trump praised the campaign on his Truth Social platform, writing, A Great Ad by FORD!"

The virtue of buying American-made products has remained a rare point of bipartisan consensus in an increasingly divided country. But Ford is likely at the front of a wave of advertisers that will re-emphasize their domestic bona fides as President Trumps new tariffs turn up the heat on imports, marketing and legal observers predict.

Many advertisers will have to choose their words carefully, however, because even companies with factories in the U.S. often source many components from abroad. Marketers in industries that rely heavily on imports, such as automotive, pharmaceutical, technology and apparel, risk overstepping if they cannot fully substantiate any Made in America" claims.

I think marketers will be stepping up to the plate, and those who have the ability to make the claim will make it," said Ronald Urbach, partner and co-chair of the advertising group at law firm Davis+Gilbert.

The campaign is an extension of Fords longstanding position as an American brand, but the tariffs also provide an opening for the company, said Phil OConnor, head of marketing communications for Ford Blue, the companys combustible engine division.

We were in a unique position to reinforce why were such a good option in times of uncertainty, given that the uncertainty is driven specifically by tariffs on goods that are assembled and parts that are assembled outside the U.S.," said OConnor.

The Federal Trade Commission will likely intensify enforcement efforts against companies that make misleading claims about their American provenance, according to Urbach.

One of the Trump administrations goals in enacting these tariffs is to encourage companies to manufacture more goods within the country, according to White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers.

Made in America is not just a label slapped on a product; it is a symbol of American Greatnessand it is a label the whole world will get used to seeing when we become a global manufacturing powerhouse once again," Rogers said in a statement.

It is also a label subject to scrutiny.

Home goods maker Williams-Sonoma agreed last April to pay the FTC $3.17 million, which the commission said then was the largest fine yet for a Made in the U.S.A. case," for violating a 2020 order regarding imported products, including those manufactured in China, that were inaccurately labeled on its website as being made in America.

Williams-Sonoma had agreed to pay $1 million in 2020 after the FTC found that the company made unsubstantiated made in America" claims about several product lines.

A Williams-Sonoma spokeswoman attributed last years fine to an unintentional administrative mistake. The company has worked to improve its processes and plans to expand its assortment of Made in the U.S.A." products and partnerships, she said.

Marketers must carefully choose their language regarding countries of origin, said Laura Smith, legal director of Truth in Advertising, a consumer advocacy group that filed complaints against Williams-Sonoma over its made in America" claims.

Tesla ads last year described its Model Y as the #1 most American-made car, citing Cars.coms annual American-made index.

Fords recent ad used the word assemble" rather than build" or make," Smith pointed out. That might be because the FTCs standards require that all, or virtually all" of any product marketed as made in the U.S. is indeed made in this country, Smith said.

They dont say if more cars are made in America, they say more cars are assembled in America, and that nuance is actually really important, at least with respect to how the FTC would view this kind of claim," Smith said regarding the Ford ad.

In 2022, Truth in Advertising sent a letter to Tesla challenging the companys claim in social media that all of its cars sold in the U.S. are also built in the U.S." The group called such claims inaccurate because every Tesla includes parts manufactured outside the U.S. Tesla didnt respond to requests for comment on deadline.

Tesla updated its language in an ad campaign last year describing the Model Y as the #1 most American-made car" and citing an annual list compiled by Cars.com, but reverted to its original claims in a more recent social-media post.

No car is built with entirely American-made parts, and no car on last years Cars.com American-made index surpassed 75%, according to Patrick Masterson, who oversees research for the index and is chief copy editor at the automotive site. The ranking reflects the value of individual U.S.-made parts in each automobile it includes.

Made in America" has become a key differentiator for companies that can say it, according to Andrew Beck, partner and co-founder of brand consultancy Beck & Stone, whose clients include Walmart and the Claremont Institute, a conservative political think tank.

If youre an American company, be an American brand, is what weve been telling our clients," he said.

WeatherTech, an automotive accessories manufacturer and perennial Super Bowl advertiser, has long centered much of its marketing around a decision to manufacture its products in the U.S., according to David MacNeil, founder and chief executive.

As more sales move online, its increasingly important to label a given products country of origin accurately so consumers can make better-informed decisions, MacNeil said.

You get an advantage in America if you say your products made in America, and you should not get that advantage if its not true," he said.

Write to Patrick Coffee at patrick.coffee@wsj.com
Donald trump promised to end the war in Ukraine within a day. Now, insiders say, he hopes to secure a ceasefire within his first 100 daysie, by the end of this month. He has started to refer to the conflict as Bidens war. But if it drags on, he worries it will increasingly become his.

How to stop the fighting? Russia has ignored Americas call for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, which Ukraine accepted on March 11th. Instead it has played for time and intensified its attacks. On April 13th two Russian missiles struck the town of Sumy, killing 34 people, many of them gathering to attend Palm Sunday services. It followed a similar strike on Kryvyi Rih on April 4th that killed 20 people.

Radek Sikorski, Polands foreign minister, said Mr Trumps team should realise that the Kremlin was mocking their goodwill. Mr Trump, though, seems immune to shame. He has proved peculiarly indulgent of Russia and hostile towards Ukraine. Even as some of his aides denounced the Russian attack on Sumy, Mr Trump suggested it was a mistake, albeit a horrible one. Astonishingly, on April 14th he blamed Ukraine for being invaded by Russia, shrugging off a Ukrainian request to buy American missiles. You dont start a war against somebody thats 20 times your size and then hope that people give you some missiles, he declared.

Admirers of Mr Trump insist he is ready to get tough with Russia. He has renewed his predecessors sanctions on Russia, and has expressed impatience with the Kremlin, telling one interviewer that he was pissed off with Russia and floating the idea of imposing secondary tariffs, presumably on countries buying Russian oil. On April 11th he said, Russia has to get moving. European leaders are clamouring for additional sanctions on Russia to make such words count, so far to no avail.

In March Mr Trump briefly cut the weapons and intelligence to Ukraine. Keith Kellogg, an adviser, compared this to hitting a mule with a two-by-four across the nose. It worked: within days, Ukraine agreed to the 30-day ceasefire. For the obdurate Russians, however, there have been no sticks, only carrots. American and Russian officials met in Istanbul on April 10th to discuss upgrading their embassies. The countries also exchanged two prisoners. Russian media say the rapprochement is proceeding regardless of the Ukraine talks.

When Mr Trump announced his worldwide reciprocal tariffs this month, he whacked Ukraine with the minimum 10% universal rate while excluding Russia (supposedly because it was already under sanctions). One solace for Ukraine is that the turmoil of the trade war is such that the price of oil has tumbled from around $80 a barrel in January to $65, sharply cutting Mr Putins revenues.

Notably absent from Mr Trumps discourse is any notion of additional military aid for Ukraine. Indeed, Americas support is dwindling. The flow of weapons approved by Joe Biden will run out in the coming months, and Mr Trump has not authorised any more. Another budget allocation to support Ukraine looks unlikely.

America is withdrawing troops and equipment from Rzeszow, a vital hub in Poland for weapons being sent to Ukraine. Their duties will henceforth be carried out by European troops. Meanwhile, Pete Hegseth, the American defence secretary, stayed away from a meeting in Brussels on April 11th of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, a gathering of 50-odd countries contributing military help that was created and led by his predecessor, Lloyd Austin, though Mr Hegseth joined by video link.

Another sign of the times is that Pentagon figures recently questioned one ally about why it was still supplying weapons to Ukrainea challenge that was ignored. Diplomats in Washington also report that some Trump aides say privately that they are fed up with Europes effort to strengthen Ukraine. As always with such a chaotic administration, it is hard to distinguish the true signal from the noise.

For now Europeans are pushing along two tracks. The first is the effort by Britain and France to create a European reassurance force to help Ukraine after a ceasefire. Russia objects to that deployment, even if America is offering no assurance that it will back the Europeans. The force would not seek to police the front lines between Russian and Ukrainian forces. Instead it would stay away from the front, probably in western Ukraine, where it would concentrate on training Ukrainian forces, and perhaps do joint air patrols.

Europeans hope to show Mr Trump that they are taking up the burden of European security, hoping to retain at least some kind of American commitment, to NATO if not to Ukraine. Under this emerging scheme, the future deterrence of Russia would come in three zones: reinforced Ukrainian troops holding the line against Russia in the east, European forces in the west and, at least for now, a lingering American presence in NATO countries.

But the creation of such a force depends on an ever-elusive ceasefire. Steve Witkoff, Mr Trumps envoy to Russia, is reported to have said that the quickest way of securing one would be to let Russia take four Ukrainian provinces which it claims, including territory it has failed to conquer. That would be unacceptable to Ukraine and its European partners.

All this reinforces the need for the second track: increasing Europes military assistance to Ukraine. David Shimer, a former official in Mr Bidens National Security Council, says there is no time to waste. Europeans should give away more of their stocks of weapons despite the risks; finance Ukraines military industries; negotiate with Mr Trump to buy American air-defence systems for Ukraine; and use frozen Russian assets to pay for it all.
Seven years after the first Trump-branded residence arrived in Gurugram, the city is set to get another splash of glitzy real estate under the US presidents name.

On Wednesday, Smartworld Developers and Tribeca Developers announced the launch of Trump Residences Gurgaon, a luxury twin-tower project that marks the Trump Organizations fifth residential outing in Indiaand its second in Gurugram, often dubbed the Millennium City.

The new development comes amid a boom in Indias luxury housing market and an aggressive wave of high-end launches in Gurugram, long seen as fertile ground for upscale real estate investments.

Read this | Bumper launches in FY26, but a note of caution on home prices

In March, the Trump Organization also announced its entry into Indias commercial real estate market with Trump World Center Pune, a two-tower office complex set to rise in the citys bustling North Main Road district. Co-developed by Tribeca and local firm Kundan Spaces, the 1.6 million sq. ft. project will span 27 floors of premium office space, marking the Trump brands first commercial foray in the countryand its second development in Pune.

The new Gurugram project features the kind of over-the-top flourishes associated with the Trump name globally: double-height living rooms in select units, floor-to-ceiling windows, private elevators, all-glass facades, and a rooftop deck with sweeping views of the Aravalis.

At 51 floors each, the project will house 298 units priced between 8 crore and 12 crore, along with a limited number of penthouses. The developers are targeting 3,500 crore in sales from an overall investment of 1,200 crore.

The project will be developed by Smartworld, which was launched in 2021 by the promoters of Gurugram-based M3M Group. Tribeca Developers, the Trump brands exclusive India partner, will oversee design, marketing, sales and quality. As with other Trump projects, the Trump Organization will license its brand to the project for a fee, but wont be directly involved in construction.

The project in Gurugram will push the boundaries of luxury like never before, said Eric Trump, executive vice-president of the Trump Organization, in a statement. Im confident that Trump Residences Gurgaon will stand among the most iconic and spectacular properties in our global portfolio.

Tribecas founder Kalpesh Mehta noted that Gurugram is now the only city outside North America with two residential Trump projects.

Read this | How this real estate newbie made a killing with his Trump card

Besides the new launch, there are four existing residential Trump projects in Pune, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Gurugram. Of the four, the first twoin Pune and Mumbaihave been delivered. The first Trump project in Gurugram is scheduled to be handed over in the coming weeks, while the one in Kolkata will be delivered in the next few months.

Luxury momentum and market signals The launch comes as demand for luxury and ultra-luxury homes in India has surged post-pandemic. While Mumbai continues to dominate in overall sales, Gurugram has emerged as a luxury hotspot, with developers such as DLF Ltd driving record-breaking pre-sales.

In the December-ended quarter alone, DLF raked in 11,816 crore in sales from a single ultra-luxury projectThe Dahlias in Gurugram.

Read this | Fanciful to realistic: How real estate project names have changed

The initial set of investors in the first Trump project in Gurugram has seen 100% price appreciation, said Pankaj Bansal, co-founder of Smartworld Developers. Gurugram is an investor-led market. Weve priced the new project at 27,000 per sq. ft., which we think is just right for our customer base. We expect around 20% participation from NRIs (non-resident Indians), similar to our first Trump project.

Bansal added that the developers expect to sell at least half the inventory in the first few weeks, aiming to recreate the momentum of the 2018 launch, which moved nearly 100 units within a month even in a slower market.

Still, some analysts caution that parts of Gurugrams luxury market may be reaching saturation.

Demand in the Gurugram market has been a little subdued if we go by some of the recent project launches, said Santhosh Kumar, vice-chairman of Anarock Property Consultants. That said, theres fairly strong traction for homes in the 3-5 crore range, Kumar added.

Also read | Mint Primer: The factors that could push real estate in 2025
In an ever changing landscape of financial planning in the country, term insurance has become a cornerstone for several seeking to secure their familys future financial security and prosperity. Now given that the primary function of term insurance is to provide death benefits to the deceased's family members.

Some of the prominent term life insurance plans that can be considered by applicants are, Max Life Smart Secure Plus Plan, HDFC Life Click 2 Protect Super, PNB MetLife Mera Term Plan Plus among others.

Still, the inclusion of riders, particularly the disability related rider can go a long way to ensure that the term insurance policies protective scope is enhanced immensely. This can in-turn help in efficient financial planning. This write-up is dedicated towards discussing the same idea in detail.

What is the meaning and concept of a disability rider? A disability rider is an add-on benefit to a term insurance policy. It offers financial support if the policyholder becomes permanently disabled or movement restricted due to an unfortunate accident. Now this particular rider ensures that in the unfortunate event of such a disability the insured individual is provided with a pre-determined and pre-decided benefit.

Also Read | Top 5 mistakes most Indians make when choosing between ULIP and term insurance

This benefit can be structured and given to the insured individual either as a regular income or as a one time lump sum. This decision depends on the policy document terms and conditions.

For example: HDFC Lifes income benefit on accident disability rider provides the sufferer a monthly income equal to 1% of the rider sum assured for a fixed period of 10 years, especially in the case where the insured individual suffers a total permanent disability due to an accident.

Note: The rider discussed above is only for illustrative purposes. For the correct terms, conditions and updates please refer to the official website of your concerned term life insurance provider.

What are the benefits of adding a disability rider? Replacement of income: Now in the unfortunate event of a decisive permanent disability, this rider acts as a protective, income replacement tool. It helps the policy holder and their family to sustain their standard of living and also helps the individual to fight back in life. Coverage becomes comprehensive: Now the base term insurance generally covers death only. Whereas, this rider extends the coverage to ensure that different scenarios where the policy holder survives but is unable to earn or live a normal life due to disability is also covered. Policy becomes more affordable and cost effective: Now, adding a disability rider is several times more cost efficient and effective for the policy holder instead of purchasing a separate disability insurance policy. Associated tax benefits: The premiums submitted towards the disability rider may even qualify for tax deductions under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act 1961. Still, in this particular case it is important for the policy holder to clearly discuss the pros, cons, tax implications of the policy with the company agent or some externally sourced out tax professional for the most accurate picture. What are some considerations before applying and opting for a disability rider? Criteria of eligibility: Most of the prominent insurers have clear and specific eligibility criteria. They include age limits, health requirements, past health history, related disability etc., all of such points are taken into consideration for adding a disability rider to a term insurance policy. That is why it is crucial for aspirational policy applicants and current holders to discuss the terms and conditions of eligibility clearly with their insurer to get a clear picture on the same.

Most of the prominent insurers have clear and specific eligibility criteria. They include age limits, health requirements, past health history, related disability etc., all of such points are taken into consideration for adding a disability rider to a term insurance policy. That is why it is crucial for aspirational policy applicants and current holders to discuss the terms and conditions of eligibility clearly with their insurer to get a clear picture on the same. Exact terms on the definition of disability: Now, this is a very important point. You need to clearly understand how your insurer defines total and permanent disability along with the conditions under which the rider benefits are payable to the insured individual. This is important because if you are clear about the exact wordings and the terms of the policies only then you can contest any rejection if raised by your insurer during claim processing. Most insurers keep these terms complicated and open for litigation. That is why you on your end should discuss things clearly with a qualified professional in law before going ahead with the rider in your term insurance policy document.

Now, this is a very important point. You need to clearly understand how your insurer defines total and permanent disability along with the conditions under which the rider benefits are payable to the insured individual. This is important because if you are clear about the exact wordings and the terms of the policies only then you can contest any rejection if raised by your insurer during claim processing. Most insurers keep these terms complicated and open for litigation. That is why you on your end should discuss things clearly with a qualified professional in law before going ahead with the rider in your term insurance policy document. Keep a close eye on exclusions: You need to be also aware of any exclusions in your term insurance policy and its associated riders. Some common exclusions are: self induced injuries or injuries suffered due to the participation in hazardous activities. All such issues might not be covered by your rider. You need to be aware of these from the inside out so that you can avoid any surprises or rejections in claim settlement later on. Conclusion Therefore, adding a disability rider in your term insurance plan is a sensible step. It helps the insurer towards comprehensive health and financial protection in case of any unfortunate event that takes place in the insured person's life.

Also Read | 5 common mistakes to avoid while choosing a term insurance policy

It helps in defending the individual sufferer and his family against unforeseen and difficult circumstances due to permanent disability. Still, as with all decisions in life, it is prudent to consult a certified financial advisor to help you tailor the policy according to your financial capacity and long term life goals.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general awareness purposes only and should not be considered financial or legal advice. Please consult with a certified financial advisor or insurance expert before making any policy decisions.
Havells India Ltd is buying insurance against a policy-driven supply squeeze in solar components. The consumer electricals major has picked up an 89% stake in mid-sized solar module manufacturer Goldi Solar for 600 croresecuring domestic capacity in a sector where the government is actively curbing import dependence through the BIS regime.

Havells already sells inverters, modules, solar cables, and DC switchgears under its 'others' segment, which contributed 1,000 croreor 6.6%to 9MFY25 revenues. While still a small slice, the segment's growing relevance makes supply security a strategic call.

Goldi Solar, for its part, is scaling rapidly. Its module manufacturing capacity has jumped from 2.9GW in March 2024 to 10.7GW by March 2025, with another 4GW expected by July. According to Kotak Institutional Equities, the companys total 14.7GW capacity has a peak revenue potential of 12,900 crore (assuming 60% utilization).

Read this | FMCG's Q4 woes: Why India's consumer goods giants are expecting a dull quarter

It is also moving upstream by backward integrating into solar cell manufacturinga space still dominated by Chinese players despite Indias push to localize. Setting up cell and module lines is capital-intensive and sensitive to policy risk, so a minority stake offers Havells supply security without overexposure.

Moreover, Havells isnt stretching itself. It had cash reserves of 2,710 crore as of December. Its final stake in Goldi will range between 8.90% and 9.24%, depending on the total size of the 1,0501,300 crore primary round.

The investment is effectively priced at a 20x EV/Ebitda multiple, based on Goldis unaudited FY25 provisional numbers. This is slightly below peers like Waaree and Premier Energies, which trade at 2223x, according to Kotak Institutional Equities. Goldis margins arent yet at Waarees levels, which explains the discount.

Read this | Why Waaree Energies meteoric rise has hit a wall

The deal also fits into Havells broader capital allocation playbook.

Over FY20-24, capex for Lloyd stood at 770 crore, accounting for about 36% of the companys total capex during this period," said a Motilal Oswal Financial Services report.

Lloyd's business includes room air conditioners (RACs), refrigerators and washing machines. It plans to expand RAC manufacturing capacity by Q4FY25 with an additional 50-60 crore capex, and is also looking to invest 480 crore in a premium refrigerator plant in Rajasthan. Cables, wires, and lighting are also seeing fresh capex, to capture housing and infrastructure-led demand.

Also read | Conviction over calculators: How Qimat Rai Gupta turned Havells into household name

With tailwinds from housing, infrastructure and energy-efficiency trends, Havells is positioning for higher-quality growth backed by premiumisation, backward integration and brand-led pricing power. Valuations capture this optimism. The stock trades at about 54 times FY26 estimated earnings, as per Bloomberg data.
The Indian benchmark index, Nifty 50, gained on 15 April amid improved global sentiment and continued support from recent monetary policy measures. Following last week's Reserve Bank of India (RBI) rate cut and accommodative stance, investor confidence remained positive.

Easing concerns over global trade tensions and expectations of potential rate cuts by major central banks lifted overall market mood. Buying interest across key sectors, particularly in banking, metal, energy, and auto, contributed to the days gains.

Also Read: Mayhem for IT stocks as FIIs pull out big. What lies ahead?

Best stock recommendations today | Two stock picks by MarketSmith India:

 Why it is recommended: Robust domestic economy tailwind, strong core operating performance, stable asset quality, focused loan growth.

 Key metrics: P/E: 23.70 | 52-week high: 2,493 | Volume: 21.15 crore

 Technical analysis: Reclaimed 50 DMA after forming a rectangular base

 Risk factors: Intense competition in the innerwear segment, raw material price volatility.

 Buy at: 1,4001,440

 Target price: 1,686 in three months

 Stop loss: 1,290

Axis Bank (current price:  1,114.05)

 Why its recommended: Rising coal demand, government support and monopoly advantage

 Key metrics: P/E: 11.73 | 52-week high: 1,339.65 | Volume: 1,032 crore

 Technical analysis: Bullish flag continuation pattern, 100-DMA support

 Risk factors: Sluggish deposit growth, margin pressure, external economic challenges.

 Buy at: 1,114

 Target price: 1,255 in three months

 Stop loss: 1,040

Nifty 50: How the benchmark index performed on 15 April

On Tuesday, the Nifty 50 index extended its recovery and surged 2.19%, closing at 23,328. The session began with a strong gap-up opening and maintained a steady uptrend throughout the day, trading within a range of 23,20723,368. A bullish candle was formed on the daily chart, reflecting improved market sentiment. All sectoral indices ended in the green, with the advance-decline ratio at a solid 6:1, indicating broad-based buying support.

Also Read: Three stocks to watch if Apple shifts manufacturing to India from China, dodging US tariffs

From a technical perspective, the index retested its 100-day moving average (DMA) but struggled to decisively close above it, ending the session around that key level. The RSI is trending higher with a positive slope, while the MACD has shown a bullish crossover on the daily chart, suggesting strengthening momentum in the near term.

The Indian market has been shifted from a Downtrend to a Rally Attempt on Friday as the Nifty held above the recent low of 21,744 for three sessions. A follow-through day or a new high is needed to confirm an uptrend. However, if the Nifty breaches 21,744, the market will revert to a Downtrend.

The index has recently tested its 100-DMA, positioned around 23,390, which may act as a resistance level. If the index manages to reclaim and sustain trading above this 100-DMA, it could potentially drive the index toward 23,800, followed by 24,200 level in the coming days. On the downside, immediate support is near 22,90022,800 levels.

How did Nifty Bank perform?

The Nifty Bank continued its bullish momentum on Tuesday, surging 2.70% and closing near the days high after a strong gap-up opening. Heavyweight stocks like HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank led the rally. The index formed a bullish candle on the daily chart and is now trading well above all its key moving averages, reflecting strong positive sentiment.

Momentum indicators support this strength, with the RSI trending upward around 64 and the MACD turning positive and trading above the central line.

In accordance with O'Neils methodology for assessing market direction, Nifty Bank has transitioned from an "Uptrend Under Pressure" to a Confirmed Uptrend" status.

Moving forward, the index faces immediate resistance near 52,500. A decisive breakout and sustained trade above this level could drive further upside towards 53,50054,000. However, failure to surpass 52,500 may lead to consolidation in the near term.

MarketSmith India is a stock research platform and advisory service focused on the Indian stock market.

Trade name: William O'Neil India Pvt. Ltd. (Sebi Registered Research Analyst Registration No.: INH000015543)"

Investments in securities are subject to market risks. Read all the related documents carefully before investing. Registration granted by Sebi and certification from NISM in no way guarantees performance of the intermediary or provide any assurance of returns to investors.

Disclaimer: The views and recommendations given in this article are those of individual analysts. These do not represent the views of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.
Indian stock market: Amid ongoing global trade uncertainties and market volatility, high dividend yield stocks can provide a sense of stability for investors.

As per domestic brokerage Motilal Oswal, these stocks offer a cushion of safety for investment portfolios while delivering steady income. Typically, they are supported by solid fundamentals and a history of consistent dividend payments by the companies.

Dividend stocks to buy Motilal Oswal has assembled a portfolio of five financially strong companies known for consistently rewarding their shareholders and likely to continue doing so in the near future. Each company holds an equal weight in the portfolio, which comes with a recommended investment horizon of six months and a projected return of 1015%.

ITC ITCs core business of cigarettes has shown steady performance. With stable taxes on cigarettes, we anticipate sustainable growth in this business. ITC has announced acquisition of Aditya Birla Real Estate's paper business, 'Century Pulp and Paper' (CPP), as going concern on a slump sale basis for 35Bn. It strengthens ITC's presence in pulp and paper industry, expanding its capacity & market reach. ITC is expected to have 3.5% FY25 dividend yield.

Power Grid With the government adjusting its transmission capex estimate to INR9.16t till FY32 as per NEP 2032, company is strategically positioned to leverage these investments as the NEP represents a significant commitment to capacity expansion and the advancement of clean energy technologies. Despite near-term margin pressure, a strong order book (INR1.43t) and steady project wins, support long-term growth. It has FY25E dividend yield of 3%.

Coal India The energy demand outlook remains robust for medium-to-long term as CEA projects peak power demand in summer to hit 270GW over Mar-Jun'25 (~363GW by FY30). COAL produces over 75% of India's coal, with 80% supplied to the power sector, making it a dominant player. Recent stock correction offers an attractive valuation, trading at below its 10-yr historical average. This has led to attractive dividend yield of 7.1% for FY25E.

HPCL Oil price decline due to OPEC+ output hike and US tariffs is likely to improve HPCLs gross marketing margins along with Rs50 price hike by the Center, will help offset 76b LPG under-recoveries. Key triggers include the demerger and potential listing of the lubricant business, commissioning of the bottom upgrade unit in Q4FY25, and Rajasthan refinery launch in CY25. With expected FY26 RoE of 17%, current valuations look attractive.

Castrol Brent Crude has fallen to its 4-year low at $60 per barrel amid US-China trade tensions and rising supply. This is beneficial for lubricant companies like Castrol, leading to improved profit margins. For its lubricant business, it is targeting above industry average growth rate of 4-5%. Castrol's focus on brand building, distribution, and new products supports its market leadership. Company is expected to have dividend yield of 6.5% for FY25.

Stock market today The key benchmark indices hovered around the flat line with a slight positive tilt in early afternoon trade. The Nifty edged just above the 23,350 level, while media stocks continued their upward momentum for the third straight session.

As of 12:25 IST, the S&P BSE Sensex rose by 43.68 points or 0.06% to 76,783.23, and the Nifty 50 climbed 24 points or 0.10% to 23,352.55.

Broader markets outperformed the main indices, with the S&P BSE Mid-Cap index gaining 0.57% and the S&P BSE Small-Cap index surging 0.91%.
Gensol scam: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)'s latest crackdown against Gensol Engineering has sparked a heated debate over the existing red flags in corporate governance. In a sharp warning to retail investors, discount brokerage Zerodha, in its latest post, has provided a list of methods to spot red flags in corporate governance and potentially notice another Gensol, to avoid any unnecessary lapses in the securities market.

On Tuesday, April 16, SEBI, in its order against Gensol Engineering, barred promoter brothers Anmol Singh Jaggi and Puneet Singh Jaggi from directorships in listed companies, stopped the company's planned stock split action, and named a forensic auditor to investigate the matter further.

Also Read | SEBI puts Gensol Engg stock split on hold, bars promoters

Zerodha's Varsity took to microblogging platform X (formerly Twitter) and said in a post, SEBIs debarment of Gensol and its promoters from the securities market has resurfaced the discussion on corporate governance.

Varsity is an extensive and in-depth collection of stock market and financial lessons authored and created by Karthik Rangappa, Zerodha's chief of education. Varsity is freely accessible and one of the largest online financial education resources. Amid the reignited discussion on corporate governance after SEBI's actions against Gensol, Zerodha said retail investors can spot red flags in corporate governance by noticing some key monitorable:



How to spot another Gensol? Zerodha's 5-step guide:

1.'Opinion' in Auditor's Report



When studying a listed firm, check for the "Independent Auditor's Report" in its annual report. The first section of the Auditor's Report is titled Opinion or Unqualified Opinion. It is a red flag if titled anything else." According to Varsity, a few other ways to spot red flags in corporate governance are:

-Qualified Opinion: Lack of complete information

-Disclaimer of Opinion: Lack of information and unreliable financials

-Adverse Opinion: The auditor outright disagrees with the financials provided by the firm.

According to Varsity, a company with an Opinion or Unqualified Opinion is not necessarily clean in its corporate governance. It only means that the auditor has not found any issue with the financials. Gensols financials seem clear. But corporate governance runs beyond just financials.

2.Annual corporate governance report



The corporate governance report must be detailed. All listed companies submit a comprehensive corporate governance report annually. It details the board members' age, experience, and remuneration and outlines the board's procedures. The more details a corporate governance report has, the better it is.

3.Reservation of profit, board seats



According to Zerodha, all companies are also required to:

- Reserve a portion of their board seats for female and independent members.

- Spend a portion of their profits on corporate social responsibility (CSR)

- Report the percentage of male-female employees

- Report the remuneration of board members and key managerial personnel.





4.High pledge by promoters

Gensols promoters, Anmol Jaggi and Puneet Jaggi, were not drawing any salary. However, nearly 75 per cent of their stake in Gensol was pledged. "It is a common tax-saving practice not to draw a salary and borrow against shares. Such a high pledge on promoter shares is also a red flag," said Varsity.



5.Unclear corporate Actions

Some firms might operate within the law, but their actions might show some red flags.

-Announcing buybacks when the share price is well below its peak.



-Paying dividends despite reporting losses or paying dividends by adding debt because a parent entity needs funds.



-Convoluted holding structure: Parent A holds 50 per cent in B. A and B together own 50 per cent of C. C has used some funds to buy shares in B. "Such a structure is legitimate but confusing. It can also be used to manipulate the stock price or funnel funds. Gensol is a case in point," said Zerodha.

-Related-party transactions are commonly used to embezzle funds. Loans given to related parties are an easy red flag. Loan guarantees for related parties are liabilities but not reported on the balance sheet. Nearly 13 per cent of Gensols revenues came from related parties.

"Despite the checks, if you miss spotting red flags, perhaps the firm has forged documents, issued misstatements, falsified sales/profit numbers, evaded taxes, and/or used company funds for personal or family affairs - issues usually detected only in an investigation," said Zerodha's Varsity in its step-by-step guide on how to spot red flags in corporate governance.

SEBI's crackdown against Gensol Engineering SEBI'S order, which came after it investigated a complaint received in June 2024, pointed to serious governance lapses, fund diversion, and falsified document submissions. The complaint alleged share price manipulation and misappropriation of company funds. The probe unearthed what it described as a "complete breakdown" of internal controls and corporate governance.

The promoters were running a listed public company as if it were a proprietary firm, said SEBI whole-time member Ashwani Bhatia in the order. Company funds were routed to related parties and used for unrelated expensesas if the companys funds were the promoters piggy bank.
Nvidia on Tuesday announced it expects a hit of $5.5 billion in its current fiscal quarter, following new US government restrictions on exports of its H20 artificial intelligence (AI) chips to China. Nvidia share price plunged 6.33% during after-hours trading.

In a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Nvidia said US officials had recently informed the company that it must obtain export licenses to sell its H20 chips to China because of concerns they may be used in supercomputers there.

The new licensing rule applies to Nvidia GPUs (graphics processing units) with bandwidth similar to that of the H20.

First quarter results are expected to include up to approximately $5.5 billion of charges associated with H20 products for inventory, purchase commitments, and related reserves, Nvidia said in the filing. Nvidias current fiscal quarter ends on April 27.

The Silicon Valley company was told the licensing requirement on H20 chips would last indefinitely, it said in the filing.

Nvidia's AI chips have been a key focus of US export controls as US officials have moved to keep the most advanced chips from being sold to China as the US tries to keep ahead in the AI race, Reuters reported. After those controls were implemented, Nvidia began designing chips that would come as close as possible to US limits.

The H20 is currently Nvidias most advanced chip for sale in China and is central to its efforts to stay engaged with China's booming AI industry. Chinese companies including Tencent, Alibaba and TikTok parent ByteDance had been ramping up orders for H20 chips due to booming demand for low-cost AI models from startup DeepSeek, Reuters reported in February.

Nvidias $500 billion AI investment The news comes as Nvidia said on Monday it was planning to build AI servers worth as much as $500 billion in the US over the next four years with help from partners such as TSMC.

The company said it was also building supercomputer manufacturing plants in Texas with Foxconn and Wistron Corp., and partnering with Amkor Technology Inc. and Siliconware Precision Industries Co. for packaging and testing operations in Arizona.

Mass production is expected to ramp up in the next 12 to 15 months, it said.

(With inputs from Reuters)
Maintaining their upward run for the fourth consecutive trading session, shares of Avanti Feeds  which manufactures and sells shrimp feed and exports processed shrimp  jumped another 3% in Wednesday's trade, April 16, hitting an intraday high of 876 apiece.

With todays rise, the stock has gained 46% from its April 7 low of 601  all within just six trading sessions. The rally has also lifted the stocks year-to-date gain to 28%, following a 62.3% rise in FY24 and 9% in FY23.

What is driving Avanti Feeds' stock price higher? The stellar rally in Avanti Feeds' share price came in response to the U.S. presidents decision to pause a planned 26% reciprocal tariff on Indian exports for 90 days, offering short-term relief to Indias aquaculture industry, which is heavily dependent on exports.

Also Read | US suspends additional 26% tariff on India for 90 days until July 9

India remains the leading exporter of shrimp to the United States, with exports reaching approximately 240,871 metric tons in 2024  a 2% increase from 234,209 metric tons in 2023, according to recent estimates. In value terms, India exported shrimp worth $2.7 billion to the U.S. during the 202324 fiscal year.

The U.S. continued to be Indias largest export market, accounting for 43% of total shrimp exports in 2024, followed by China and Vietnam at 21% and 7%, respectively, according to S&P Global.

Following Donald Trumps announcement of a short-term pause in reciprocal tariffs, Indian shrimp exporters are now preparing to ship 40,000 metric tons to the U.S. during the 90-day window, aiming to fulfill existing orders without incurring additional costs, PTI reported.

The temporary reprieve maintains a 10% blanket tariff on all countries, except China, which continues to face a 145% duty. Currently, Indian shrimp exports to the U.S. attract an effective customs duty of 17.7%, including a 5.7% countervailing duty and a 1.8% anti-dumping duty.

Industry sources note that Indian exporters often operate under delivery duty-paid arrangements, meaning previously contracted shipments would have faced significant cost escalations under the proposed higher tariff regime, a PTI report showed.

Aquaculture remains a vital sector of the Indian economy  not only contributing to food security but also providing large-scale employment in coastal regions and generating valuable foreign exchange for the country. The government of India recognized the transformation of shrimp farming as part of the Blue Revolution in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Also Read | India preparing to ship 40,000 tonnes of shrimp to US after tariff pause

Since then, Indias extensive coastal regions have been increasingly brought under shrimp cultivation, with export volumes of processed shrimp growing year after year. In the Union Budget 202526, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed a roadmap for the sustainable growth of India's fisheries sector.

Key measures include reducing customs duties on essential inputs like frozen fish paste and fish hydrolysate, focusing on fisheries development in EEZs and island territories such as the Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep, and raising the loan limit under the interest subvention scheme from 3 lakh to 5 lakh to improve credit access for farmers and fisherfolk.

Will the stock continue its bull run? Anshul Jain, Head of Research at Lakshmishree Investment and Securities, said, "Avanti Feeds has staged a sharp vertical reversal, with the ongoing monthly candle forming a bullish hammera sign of capitulation and reversal. If the stock closes in April near the 860 880 zone, it would confirm bullish intent and indicate that weak hands are out. A strong monthly close could act as a launchpad for further upside, with the near-term target seen at 1050. Bulls now hold the edge, provided strength sustains into the monthly close."
Indias biggest airline is no longer just flying passengersits also figuring out how to stay with them through every leg of their journey.

InterGlobe Aviation, parent of IndiGo, is expanding into hospitality through a new partnership with French hotel major Accor. The two companies are building a unified hotel management platform with plans to operate 300 properties across India by 2030, targeting the fast-growing mid-market segment.

As part of this plan, Accor and InterGlobe have jointly invested in budget hotel chain Treebo, becoming its largest shareholders. Treebo will now develop and expand Accors Ibis and Mercure brands across India. Once operational, the platform is expected to manage 30,000 roomsmarking a major mid-market expansion for Accor.

Read this | Accor, InterGlobe look to inject audacity, vision into their hospitality ties, eye 300 hotels by 2030

For context, India has around 200,000 branded hotel rooms, according to hospitality consultancy Hotelivates Trends & Opportunities October report. Of these, about 70,000 roomsor roughly 39%are in the upscale to luxury segment, including resorts. That leaves a significant chunk of the market in the mid-scale and budget categoriessegments where Treebo operates and where IndiGo might look to build synergy with its customer base.

This renewed push into hospitality comes at a time when domestic travel is booming despite broader economic uncertainty. For IndiGo, which already dominates Indian skies, this marks a strategic pivot: from a low-cost airline to a more integrated travel brand with a global footprint and diversified revenue streams.

But building a hotel empire is a far cry from running an airline. As InterGlobe steps into a deeply fragmented and fiercely competitive hospitality market, the real test will be whether it can scale operations, deliver a consistent guest experienceand turn brand recognition in the skies into loyalty on the ground.

A 20-year-old partnership, reimagined

Accor operates Ibis and Novotel hotels in India through a joint venture (JV) with InterGlobe Hotels, a 60:40 partnership formed in 2004.

Read this | Hotel investments shift to smaller cities as boom moves beyond tier-I markets

Currently, the group operates 71 hotels in India30 of them through the JVand has 40 more under development. The JV had 4,000 rooms as of March 2023, with plans to scale to 6,000 by 2028.

The new platform will consolidate all of Accors India operations, uniting them under a single umbrella to streamline management and expansion. Treebo, which currently manages 800 properties in 120 cities, will be the driving force behind Ibis and Mercures growth. It has already signed agreements for 10 new Mercure hotels.

The JVs target30,000 roomscould position it among the top three hospitality players in the country, as rising incomes and increasing demand for branded accommodations fuel domestic travel.

Loyalty unlocks global ambition

Beyond hotels, IndiGo is also strengthening customer loyalty.

The airline has partnered with Accor to link its newly launched BluChip rewards programme with Accor Live Limitless (ALL). The tie-up allows for reward point sharing, co-branded benefits, and seamless two-way point conversion. Members can earn and redeem points across flights, hotel stays, and experiences, extending rewards beyond air travel into the broader hospitality ecosystem.

Read this | IndiGo, Air India ramp up loyalty programmes. But they have a lot to catch up

BluChip, launched in November 2024 to mark IndiGos 18th anniversary, has already attracted 2 million members. Accor, meanwhile, ranks among the top two hospitality players in over 20 destinations served by IndiGo across the Middle East and Southeast Asia. With over 1 million members globally, Accors ALL programme opens access to a large international customer basesomething IndiGo can leverage as it adds more global routes.

The loyalty tie-up boosts brand visibility among overseas travellers and enhances stickiness by offering value beyond just flights. More broadly, it signals IndiGos intent to evolve from a no-frills carrier into a full-fledged travel brand built around global connectivity and lifestyle experiences.

IndiGos global ambitions take flight

IndiGo is stepping up its international game.

As per its FY24 annual report, the airline now ranks seventh globally by daily flightsbehind Ryanair and China Easternand fifth in terms of total passengers carried. In FY24 alone, IndiGo flew 107 million passengers and added 63 aircraft to its fleet.

Read this | IndiGo targets 200 mn fliers by 2030, but faces plane shortage

The companys international operations, measured by available seat kilometres, currently account for 28% of its capacitya figure it aims to grow to 40% by 2030. That would mark a steep climb from 14% in FY18, as IndiGo accelerates into underpenetrated markets with lower India-bound traffic.

According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), IndiGo serves 40 international destinations and holds a 19% share of Indias overseas aviation market. It now wants to raise the revenue share from international operations beyond the current 10% in Q3FY25.

This pivot is part of a broader premiumisation strategy.

In November 2024, IndiGo rolled out its first-ever business class offeringStretchon select domestic routes. Paired with the launch of its BluChip loyalty programme and a hospitality tie-up with Accor, the airline is laying the groundwork for deeper international penetration.

A growing global footprint also brings strategic advantages: notably, a hedge against currency volatility. IndiGo reported a mark-to-market loss of 1,400 crore in Q3FY25, triggered by a 2% depreciation in the rupee. Expanding overseas could offer both scale and stability as the airline looks beyond domestic skies.

Backed by historic aircraft orders

To underpin its ambitious growth plans, IndiGo has placed one of the largest aircraft orders in aviation history925 aircraft set for delivery by FY35. This massive order includes A321XLRs for medium-haul flights and A350 wide-body aircraft for long-haul routes, meaning IndiGo will add one aircraft to its fleet of 437 every week until 2035.

IndiGo sees India as a strategic crossroads for global connectivity. With 65% of the worlds population within a 5-6 hour flight radius, the airline is poised to leverage this geographic advantage to forge efficient connections across multiple regions. This positions IndiGo for substantial international expansion, especially through major global hubs.

The aircraft expansion serves multiple strategic goals: first, to reposition IndiGo beyond a low-cost carrier and capitalize on the growing premiumisation trend to diversify its revenue streams.

Read this | How does the Ecom Express buy position Delhivery for the future?

To that end, IndiGo is increasing its non-ticket revenue, which contributed 10.8% of ticket revenue in FY24. Key drivers of this growth include IndiGo Stretch (business class), the BluChip loyalty programme, and a burgeoning cargo divisionall designed to boost passenger revenue and enhance the customer experience.

Markets reward ambitionfor now

IndiGos broader strategy is already reflected in its market valuation.

For the first nine months of FY25, the airline reported a 15% year-on-year revenue growth, reaching 58,651 crore, driven by a 10% increase in revenue passenger kilometers.

However, despite strong revenue growth, net profit dropped 39% to 4,180 crore, mainly due to a 500-basis-point decline in Ebitda margin. The depreciation of the rupee, higher lease expenses, and the cost of grounding aircraft all contributed to this margin compression.

For more such analyses, read Profit Pulse.

Currently, IndiGo trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.4, which is approximately 50% above it's 10-year median P/E of 21.6. This premium reflects the market's confidence in IndiGos global ambitions and dominant position within Indias aviation sector.

Looking ahead, IndiGos stock performance will likely depend on its ability to maintain profitability while executing its ambitious expansion plans.

About the author: Madhvendra has over seven years of experience in equity markets and has cleared the NISM-Series-XV: Research Analyst Certification Examination. He specialises in writing detailed research articles on listed Indian companies, sectoral trends, and macroeconomic developments. Follow him on LinkedIn.

Disclosure: The writer does not hold the stocks discussed in this article.

The purpose of this article is only to share interesting charts, data points, and thought-provoking opinions. It is NOT a recommendation. If you wish to consider an investment, you are strongly advised to consult your advisor. This article is strictly for educational purposes only.
As global giants rewire their supply chains, India is stepping into the spotlight.

With the US-China trade war redrawing the map of global manufacturing, multinationals are urgently scouting for alternatives to Chinaand India is emerging as a strong contender.

From a booming skilled workforce to government-backed incentives, the country is fast positioning itself as a manufacturing powerhouse.

For investors, this seismic shift opens up a unique window of opportunity.

In this article, we explore five Indian stocks poised to ride the wave of this geopolitical shake-upcompanies that not only symbolise Indias rising economic clout but also offer serious potential for outsized returns.

Whether you're a market veteran or new to investing, these are the stocks you'll want on your radar in 2025.

Lets dive in.

Aarti Industries

Aarti Industries Ltd, the flagship company of the Aarti group, is engaged in manufacturing organic and inorganic chemicals.

The company operates major manufacturing facilities across Gujaratin Vapi, Jhagadia, Dahej, and Kutchas well as in Tarapur, Maharashtra. It holds a strong market leadership in the NCB-based specialty chemicals segment.

The company manufactures speciality chemicals in benzene based derivatives. Key value chains include nitro chloro benzenes (NCBs), di-chloro benzenes (DCBs), phenylenediamines (PDAs), nitro toluene value chain, and equivalent sulphuric acid (ESA) & downstream.

Aarti Industries has 16 manufacturing units, 2 R&D centres, 5 co-gen power plants, over 100 products, over 700 domestic customers, and over 400 export customers in 60 countries with a major presence in the US, Europe, and Japan.

Geographically, the company generates 52% of its revenue from exports, with the remaining 48% coming from the domestic market. It also manufactures active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) at its facilities in Tarapur and Dombivli in Maharashtra, as well as in Vapi, Gujarat.

Coming to the financials, Aarti Industries reported a 15.4% growth in revenue in 9MFY25 and Ebitda growth came in at 5.8%. Ebitda margins however deteriorated from 15.1% in 9MFY24 to 13.8% in 9MFY25.

Aarti Industries is grappling with stiff competition and margin pressures in the near term. Its strategic focus on product innovation, long-term contracts, and joint ventures will be crucial to sustaining growth.

The companys future performance will hinge on its ability to navigate these headwinds, control costs, and drive volume growth.

Shares of Aarti Industries have declined 49% over the past year, weighed down by muted financial performance and intense competitive pressures.

Ipca Laboratories

Ipca Laboratories is a fully integrated pharmaceutical company engaged in the manufacturing and marketing of over 350 formulations and 80 active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) across various therapeutic segments.

Ranked among Indias top 20 pharma firms, the company has built a strong global presence.

Ipca exports nearly 79% of its APIs and intermediates, supplying to over 100 countries, and is one of Indias leading API exporters. Its 18 manufacturing facilities across India cater to both domestic and international markets, producing APIs and formulations for pain, rheumatology, antimalarial, and haircare therapies.

Geographically, Ipca derives 46% of its revenue from India, followed by 18% from the US, 15% from Europe, 7% from Africa, 6% from Asia (excluding India), 4% from Australia, and the remaining 4% from other regions.

Around 70% of its revenue comes from the highly competitive pain management, cardiovascular, anti-diabetic, and anti-malarial segments.

On the financial front, the company reported an 18% year-on-year revenue growth for the first nine months of FY25, driven by broad-based performance across segments. Ebitda rose 29.8%, with margins improving from 17.6% in 9MFY24 to 19.4% in 9MFY25.

Looking ahead, management remains optimistic about sustained growth, especially in the chronic care and pain management categories.

Shares of Ipca Laboratories have remained largely flat, down 2% over the past year, supported by improving operational performance and promising future prospects.

Bharat Forge

Bharat Forge, a flagship company of the $3 billion Kalyani Group, is a leading manufacturer of forged and machined components for the automotive and industrial sectors.

It holds the distinction of being Indias largest exporter of auto components and ranks among the worlds top manufacturers of powertrain and chassis components.

The company generates 85% of its revenue from its core forgings business, producing critical components such as steel forgings, crankshafts, front axle assemblies, road wheels, and transmission parts. The remaining 15% comes from its growing defence vertical, which includes artillery systems, armoured vehicles, ammunition, and air defence solutions.

Bharat Forge has a strong global footprint, with 76% of its revenue coming from exports and just 24% from the domestic market. Its manufacturing base spans 15 locations across India, Germany, Sweden, France, and North America, with a total capacity of 0.65 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) for steel forgings, 52,000 mtpa for aluminium castings, and 77,700 mtpa for iron castings.

On the financial front, Bharat Forge reported a 2.2% year-on-year revenue decline for the first nine months of FY25, while profit after tax dropped 6.8%. However, operational efficiency improved, with Ebitda margins rising to 17.9% from 16.6% in the same period last year.

Also read: Bharat Forge on the edge as India-US trade pact holds the key to tariff relief

Looking ahead, the management remains upbeat about the companys long-term prospects, buoyed by a robust order book in the defence segment and early signs of recovery in the domestic and North American commercial vehicle markets.

Despite recent business headwinds, which led to a 16% decline in the stock price over the past year, Bharat Forges global presence, product diversification, and strategic bets on defence position it well for a strong rebound.

Gokaldas Exports

Gokaldas Exports Ltd (GEX) is a leading player in the apparel export industry, engaged in the design, manufacturing, and sale of garments across mens, womens, and childrens categories.

With a strong client base that includes some of the worlds most prestigious fashion brands and retailers, the company exports to over 50 countries globally.

Backed by a workforce of over 54,000 employees75% of whom are womenGEX has established a robust presence with manufacturing facilities in India, Kenya, and Ethiopia, and marketing offices in the UAE and the US. It operates over 30 manufacturing units worldwide, boasting a production capacity of 87 million pieces annually.

The companys operations are powered by 30,000+ state-of-the-art machines, along with in-house capabilities like 3D design studios, certified testing labs, quilting and polyfill units, modern printing setups, and integrated embroidery systems.

GEX generates 83% of its revenue from exports, with the top three clients contributing about 50% to its standalone revenue. The remaining 17% comes from the domestic market.

Also read: Rupee unshaken amid US-China trade war. India may even gain from it.

On the financial front, the company reported a sharp 81.9% growth in net revenue for the first nine months of FY25, largely driven by recent acquisitions. Standalone revenue rose 19% amid an improving demand environment.

However, operating profit grew by a relatively modest 46.5%, as Ebitda margins narrowed from 10.8% in 9MFY24 to 8.7% in 9MFY25reflecting pressure from acquisitions that are yet to operate at peak efficiency.

Looking forward, the management has guided for a 1015% annual growth trajectory over the next 23 years, with a sharp focus on boosting margins alongside revenue expansion. The company is also targeting a milestone revenue of $1 billion in the coming years.

Despite a 3% dip in share price over the past year, GEXs strategic global footprint, growing scale, and recovery in global demand position it well for long-term growth.

Arvind

Arvind Limited is one of Indias most established and vertically integrated textile companies, with a legacy spanning nearly eight decades.

The company is globally recognised as one of the largest manufacturers of denim and also produces an extensive range of fabrics, including cotton shirting, knits, bottom weights (khakis), and ready-made garments like jeans and shirts.

In addition to fashion textiles, Arvind has also made a strong foray into technical textiles with applications across diverse sectors such as human protection, filtration, conveyor belting, automotive, and construction.

With fully integrated operations across the textile value chainfrom spinning cotton yarn to finished garmentsArvind enjoys significant operational agility, enabling it to adapt quickly to market demands and drive efficiency across its product lines.

The company derives 46% of its revenues from woven fabrics, 27% from garments, 19% from denims and balance 8% from other sources.

Arvind earns 49% of its revenues from India while the remaining 51% of revenues come from its key export markets of the US, UK, and EU.

The company owns and operates 9 manufacturing facilities located in Gujarat, Karnataka, and Maharashtra.

Coming to the financials, Arvind reported revenue growth of 7.9% while the operating profits were up by 1% for 9MFY25. Ebitda margins also deteriorated from 10.6% in 9MFY24 to 9.9% in 9MFY25.

Going ahead, the management expressed optimism about exports, with a focus on the US and Oceania markets, despite current uncertainties in Europe. The company also says that cotton prices remain a concern due to high MSPs and import duties, affecting competitiveness.

Arvind stock is up 6% in the last one year on the back of muted financial performance.

The road ahead

The US-China trade war, though disruptive globally, has opened a strategic window for India to emerge as a key node in global supply chains. As multinationals rethink their manufacturing footprints, Indian companiesfrom chemicals and pharmaceuticals to textiles and engineeringare well-placed to seize the moment.

While near-term challenges persist, strong fundamentals, export-oriented models, and strategic foresight position these firms as potential long-term winners in a shifting geopolitical landscape.

That said, investors must stay alert to rising market volatility and the risk of a broader economic downturn driven by continued trade retaliation.

With a disciplined approach, close tracking of global developments, and sound research, these companies could prove to be valuable additions to your portfolio.

Happy investing!

Also read: Indias gold demand stalls as prices spike, futures trade at discount amid volatility

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
Many benefits, features, and charges are often packaged with credit cards. The annual fee is an average cost cardholders pay each year to use their card. Though some shoppers may be unwilling to spend the fee, one should consider if the benefits these cards offer are worth the cost.

Also Read | Cancel or keep? The shocking truth about closing credit cards in India

Understanding annual credit card fees Annual fee is an annual charge that is imposed by credit card companies on the users of certain cards, particularly those which carry premium bonuses, incentives, or special perks. Depending on the provision of the card, these fees range from a few hundred to hundreds of dollars.

Evaluating the worth of annual fee Youll need to consider the cards benefits and determine for yourself, based on your purchasing habits and money goals, if the annual fee is worth it.

Benefits and rewards: Annual fee cards often offer better rewards programs. You will want to try to determine the potential value of these rewards based on your spending.

Annual fee cards often offer better rewards programs. You will want to try to determine the potential value of these rewards based on your spending. Spend habits: If you will be using the card frequently, the fee may be worth it simply for the benefits you can earn. Remember, the benefits add up quickly. When an annual fee might not be worth it? Though premium perks and benefits are enticing, there may be times when it is not worth it to pay an annual fee:

Infrequent credit card use: If you generally do not use your credit card to earn rewards to offset an annual fee, it may be difficult to generate enough rewards to cover the annual fees.

If you generally do not use your credit card to earn rewards to offset an annual fee, it may be difficult to generate enough rewards to cover the annual fees. Carrying a balance: If you carry a balance and incur interest charges, the likelihood is that for most cardholders, an annual fee is not worth it.

If you carry a balance and incur interest charges, the likelihood is that for most cardholders, an annual fee is not worth it. Other similar benefits: If the card offers little benefits or the same benefits as another card for no or a lower cost, typically, a yearly fee is not worth it.

Also Read | YES Bank credit card EMI conversion: Simple steps you need to know

Making an informed decision To determine if a credit card's annual fee offers a benefit:

Calculate potential value: Consider what the annual rewards and benefits will bring you. To determine if you net benefit, simply subtract the annual fee from your expected value. Compare options: Now, to find the most suitable credit card for your lifestyle and financial objectives, you can compare various credit cards - annual fees versus no annual fee. Terms & conditions: Lastly, review the card's terms and conditions, noting any reward maximums, reward expiration, and any conditions to redeem the rewards.

Also Read | How to convert HSBC credit card payment to EMI? A complete guide

In conclusion, it will require a thorough assessment to ensure that the benefits received outweigh the costs incurred. By thoroughly thinking through your options, while considering your financial circumstances, you can come to a choice that improves your financial wellbeing.
Murshidabad Violence: West Bengal Police has constituted a 9 members Special Investigation Team (SIT) for the investigation of cases of violence in Samserganj and other areas of Jangipur Police District. According to official record all officers have been directed to report by 12pm tomorrow, 17 April.

The development comes as Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday alleged that the Murshidaad violence was pre-planned, and blamed BJP for the same.

Also Read | Mamata Banerjee blames BSF, foreign elements for Murshidabad violence

At least three people were killed and hundreds were rendered homeless in violence in Suti, Dhulian, Samserganj and Jangipur areas of Murshidabad during anti-Waqf (Amendment) Act protests late last week, prompting the deployment of central forces and suspension of internet services. More than 200 people have been arrested in connection with the violence.

Mamata urges PM Modi to Rein in Amit Shah Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday termed the recent communal violence in Murshidabad as "pre-planned" and accused a section of the BSF, central agencies under MHA, and the BJP of fanning tension by allegedly facilitating cross-border influx from Bangladesh.

Addressing a meeting with Muslim religious leaders, Mamata Banerjee urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to implement the "atrocious" Waqf (Amendment) Act, warning that it would divide the country, and requested him to rein in Union Home Minister Amit Shah, whom she accused of "harming the nation most for his own political agenda".

The TMC supremo claimed that despite the volatile situation in neighbouring Bangladesh, the Centre rushed through the Waqf (Amendment) Act and allowed illegal cross-border infiltration, both of which, she alleged, contributed to the unrest in Bengal.

Banerjee alleged that a section of the BSF and certain central agencies under the Home Ministry played a "role in facilitating the violence" and ordered a probe into the role of the border guarding force.
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah has fiercely rejected claims by ex-R&AW chief Amarjit Singh Dulat that he had privately backed the abrogation of Article 370, describing them as a cheap stunt designed to boost sales of Dulats forthcoming memoir, The Chief Minister and the Spy, due for release on 18 April.

In response, the ex R&AW chief has claimed that he has been misquoted. My book is full of praise for Farooq Abdullah, there is nothing against him,, Dulat said.

Dulats Allegations and Abdullahs Response Dulats book alleges that Abdullah and his National Conference (NC) might have supported the removal of Jammu and Kashmirs special status had they been consulted, and that the party would have helped pass a resolution in the assembly if taken into confidence.

Abdullah, now 87, dismissed these assertions as fiction and a figment of the authors imagination, insisting that both he and his son Omar Abdullah were detained for months at the time of the abrogation in August 2019 precisely because their opposition to the move was well known.

No Assembly, No Resolution Farooq Abdullah was scathing about the suggestion that the NC could have facilitated the passage of a resolution to revoke Article 370. He pointed out that there was no legislative assembly in 2018, as it had already been dissolved. A benchmark of common sense should have been adopted by the author while penning the so-called memoirs", the ex J&K CM said.

"He should have remembered that there was no assembly in 2018, which could have been dissolved, Abdullah remarked.

Championing Special Status for Kashmir Farooq Abdullah reiterated his consistent stance in defence of Jammu and Kashmirs special status. He highlighted his role in bringing together major political forces in the region to form the Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), a coalition committed to restoring the states autonomy.

Abdullah emphasised that his record, including passing a resolution for greater autonomy when he held a two-thirds majority in 1996, contradicts Dulats claims.

On Relationship with Dulat and the BJP Abdullah also refuted Dulats portrayal of their relationship, rejecting the notion that he was easily influenced by the former spy chief. The author claims that Abdullah would always listen to his advice, which is yet another example of underestimating me. I am a man of my own mind, and I only decide. I am not anyones puppet, he asserted.

He further dismissed suggestions that the NC sought closer ties with the BJP, calling it an absolute lie and reaffirming his unwillingness to associate with a party he accuses of seeking to destroy his own.

Disputing the Memoirs Accuracy Farooq Abdullah described Dulats memoir as riddled with inaccuracies, likening it to fiction and stating he abandoned reading it partway through. He also challenged specific claims, such as Dulats alleged advice on cabinet size in 1996, pointing out factual errors in the account.

Wound That Lasts a Lifetime Expressing disappointment, Abdullah said Dulats actions had left a lasting wound: The worst is that he claims to be my friend, and as has been said, Stab the body and it heals, but injure the heart, and the wound lasts a lifetime. I guess his inaccuracies just for cheap publicity would last a lifetime now.

My Book is Full of Praise Amid a political storm in Jammu and Kashmir over some mentions concerning Farooq Abdullah in his new book 'The Chief Minister and the Spy', former RAW Chief Amarjit Singh Dulat has said that the "book is full of praise" for the former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and has "nothing against him".
An air hostess was allegedly sexually assaulted at a private hospital in Gurugram, Haryana, by a staff member while she was on the ventilator in the ICU, police said on Tuesday.

Police said they are examining CCTV footage of the hospital to identify the culprit.

The 46-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital after she fell ill following a swim in the pool of a hotel she was staying in, police told news agency PTI.

She was admitted to a private hospital in Gurugram on April 5. She was discharged from the hospital this Sunday, she said in her complaint.

"On April 6, I was on a ventilator when some hospital staff sexually assaulted me," the complaint read.

After being discharged, she told her husband about the incident and then approached the police, the air hostess said.

Following the complaint, an FIR was registered against unidentified staff members of the hospital at Sadar police station on Monday, police said.

"The victim's statement has been recorded before the magistrate in the court. The police team is examining the footage of the hospital's CCTV cameras and will soon identify the accused," a Gurugram Police spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, the hospital released a statement on Wednesday in connection with the case, saying that no allegations have been substantiated yet.

We have been made aware of a complaint from a patient and have been fully cooperating with the investigations conducted by the relevant authorities, read the statement shared by news agency ANI.

It added, "At this stage, no allegations have been substantiated, and all relevant documents, including CCTV footage from the hospital for the time period in question, have been handed over to the police."

A probe is underway and the accused will be arrested soon, the spokesperson added.
A 46-year-old air hostess from West Bengal has alleged that she was sexually assaulted by a staff member at a renowned private hospital in Gurugram while on a ventilator in the ICU. According to police, the woman said two nurses were present in the room during the incident but did not intervene.

Police said they are examining CCTV footage of the hospital to identify the perpetrator.

The woman had travelled to Gurugram for a workshop and reportedly fell ill after swimming in a hotel pool. She was later admitted to Medanta Hospital, where the alleged assault occurred.

Also Read | Coimbatore pastor John Jebaraj arrested for sexually assaulting minors

What did the air hostess say in her complaint? On April 5, she was admitted to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram, from where she was discharged this Sunday, she said in her complaint.

On April 6, I was on a ventilator when some hospital staff sexually assaulted me, the complaint read.

She was not in a condition to speak or resist the man's advances because of her weakened condition. There were two nurses in the room, but they did not intervene, police said.

After being discharged, she told her husband about the incident and then approached the police.

What did the hospital say? In a statement, Medanta Hospital said it has been fully cooperating with the police probe. However, no allegations have been substantiated so far.

We have been made aware of a complaint from a patient and have been fully cooperating with the investigations conducted by the relevant authorities. At this stage, no allegations have been substantiated, and all relevant documents, including CCTV footage from the hospital for the time period in question, have been handed over to the police, reads the statement.

What did the police say? Following the complaint, an FIR was registered against unidentified staff members of the hospital at Sadar police station on Monday, police said.

The victim's statement has been recorded before the magistrate in the court. The police team is examining the footage of the hospital's CCTV cameras and will soon identify the accused, a Gurugram Police spokesperson said.

A probe is underway, and the accused will be arrested soon, the spokesperson added.
In a horrific incident in Haryana's Bhiwani district, a man was allegedly murdered by his wife and her lover after he caught them in a compromising position, according to a report by India Today.

The accused, identified as Ravina and Suresh, are YouTubers.

They allegedly killed Ravinas husband, Praveen, and dumped his body in a drain outside the district in March, the report said.

Ravina and Praveen married in 2017 and have a six-year-old son named Mukul.

Also Read | Woman allegedly chokes man to death during sex over blackmail in UP's Bareilly

The couple often argued over Ravina's social media use. She reportedly fought frequently with Praveen, who was an alcoholic, about her obsession with making videos and reels for social media.

Ravina and Suresh, a resident of Hisar, met on Instagram around two years ago and gradually developed a romantic relationship.

The shockingincident took placeon March 25 when Praveen returned home and found his wife and Suresh in a compromising position, after which an argument broke out between them.

Later that night, Ravina allegedly strangled Praveen to death. She reportedly used her dupatta to choke him.

According to the report, CCTV footage showed the duo riding a bike with Praveen's body on their way to dispose of it.

Praveen's body was found three days later after his family filed a missing person complaint.

The police have arrested Ravina, who confessed to the crime, while Suresh remains on the run. Police have launched a manhunt to track him down.

Meerut murder case A similar incident happened in March in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.

Last month, a former Merchant Navy officer, Saurabh Rajput (29), was killed by his wife, Muskan Rastogi (27) and her lover Sahil Shukla (25).

Saurabh was allegedly drugged and then stabbed to death by Muskan and Sahil on March 4. His body was later chopped into pieces and sealed inside a blue drum with cement.
New Delhi: A high-level committee set up by the central government has finalized key measures to boost infrastructure investment, including attracting foreign funds, promoting corporate bond finance, building specialized infrastructure funds, and creating a fresh pipeline of public-private partnership (PPP) projects, two people familiar with the matter told Mint .

The panel, formerly headed by Bibek Debroy, chair of the economic advisory council to the Prime Minister, will release the final part of its report in May, supporting Indias infrastructure growth amid global headwinds, said the people mentioned above.

The report will likely guide policymaking as the government sustains its capital expenditure push in FY26a crucial growth driver in an uncertain global environment.

The proposed financing framework will serve as a benchmark for central ministries and states as they shape their infrastructure road maps over the next two to three years," one of the two people mentioned above said, requesting anonymity.

A clear framework will be key to attracting private investment and aligning funding across central and state initiatives," the person added.

The finance ministry established the committee in 2023, under the chairmanship of the late economist Debroy, to assess infrastructure requirements and develop a financing framework.

The panel held wide-ranging stakeholder consultations before finalizing its recommendations.

The first part of the report, already submitted by the committee, outlined new definitions and expanded the scope of infrastructure activities, while the second part lays out the framework for public and private financing, the second person mentioned above said.

"The report, slated to be submitted to the government next month, is unlikely to be made public," the person added.

A spokesperson for the finance ministry did not respond to emailed queries.

Anticipated Recommendations

As things stand, sovereign wealth fund investments in Indias infrastructure remain tax-free until 2030, with the Debroy committee likely to propose extending this to other foreign funds, including pension funds.

The committee also aims to promote corporate bond financing.

To be sure, the budget has already proposed a partial credit enhancement facility for infrastructure bonds through NaBFID.

NIIF (National Investment and Infrastructure Fund) also offers this service, but at a limited scale.

However, financing large-scale, privately operated projects remains difficult due to long timelines and land acquisition issues.

Also read | Tariff tensions threaten global trade rebound, WTO warns

The World Bank estimates India needs $840 billion in urban infrastructure investment by 2037, with private funds covering only 5% of the need.

With government investment peaking, private capital is crucial to filling the gap.

The Union budget has also tasked ministries with creating a three-year pipeline of PPP projects.

The Debroy committee report is expected to present a framework for PPP financing.

"The committee has reviewed financing strategies for sectors like roads, railways, and ports, evaluating the best approaches for public and private investment," said the first person mentioned above.

Tariff challenges

Meanwhile, the central government will continue its public capex spending to power growth amid downside risks from the US reciprocal tariffs.

The governments capital expenditure (capex) for the fiscal year 2025 (FY25) is poised to meetand even modestly exceedthe revised target of 10.2 trillion, supported by an accelerated deployment of funds in the latter half of the fiscal year.

Developing key infrastructure development, some in partnership with the private sector will be key to the country's economic growth.

Also read | Turbulence rocks global trade, but India is keeping its chin up

Indias economic growth is expected to remain resilient during FY26, supported by sustained government spending and a potential revival in private investments, rating agencies said in their FY25 rating assessments released recently but warned of risks to exports from escalating US tariffs and a widening trade war.

India Ratings & Research, a Fitch Group company, said it expects the economy to grow at 6.6% in FY26, but warned that rating actions could moderate during the fiscal year.

Recently, Moodys Analytics trimmed its calendar year (CY) 2025 growth forecast for India to 6.1%, lowering it by 30 basis points from its March projection, in response to US tariffs.
New Delhi: As the trade war between the US and China intensifies, India is on high alert to prevent any surge in diverted goods entering the country, senior government officials said.

A committee has been established for the purpose. It will be headed by commerce secretary Sunil Barthwal and comprise officials from the Ministry of Commerce, Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), and Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).

It will closely monitor any influx of agricultural products from the US and merchandise from China. These goods could be routed through third countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia and Nepal.

The commerce secretary will review the committee's report every week and, based on its findings, necessary measures may be implemented to check the import of goods from China, said the first among the four officials mentioned above.

Also read | What does Trump's tariff war mean for India-US Trade? Is negotiation possible? Barthwal said, "However, without naming any specific country, we have identified certain countries for more intense monitoring. We are aware of emerging trends, particularly in light of global tariff developments. Imports are being closely tracked through the designated cell, and based on the findings, necessary actions will be taken.

We are also in constant touch with our stakeholders, he added. Commerce ministry officials are coordinating with various ministries and export promotion councils, and based on their feedback and inputs, appropriate remedial measures will be put in place, he said.

Merchandise dumping risk As per a presentation made by the ministry in the presence of the commerce secretary, a recent assessment highlighted the risk of merchandise dumping into India due to reciprocal tariffs amid global trade tensions.

Rising costs in the US may prompt exporters from countries like China, Vietnam and Indonesiaall facing trade deficits with the USto divert goods to India, potentially triggering import surges, as per the document.

Additionally, Chinese retaliatory tariffs on US goods could further increase the inflow of US agricultural products into India, the presentation showed.

In the case of the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) for import surge monitoring, apart from representation from the Department of Commerce, DGFT, CBIC, and DPIIT, representatives from other ministries are consulted as and when required.

Also read | India flags trade lines, Chinese dumping in Oman FTA talks The commerce ministry has also set up a Global Tariff and Trade Helpdesk on 11 April. The helpdesk enables exporters and importers to report issues across a range of categories, including trade barriers, dumping, export-import clearances, logistics bottlenecks, and compliance matters, said Santosh Sarangi, the DGFT.

On whether higher tariffs on competing countries could benefit India, the commerce secretary said, "Our advantage depends on both our tariffs and those on competing nations. If we have lower tariffs, it creates opportunities. However, if our competitors get better tariffs, its a concern. With the ongoing BTA (bilaterlal trade agreemen) talks with the U.S., we anticipate more opportunities than challenges ahead."

"The next round of talks with the US will begin this week, followed by another round of face-to-face discussions in the second week of May, said another official.

"While the leaders of both nations have committed to finalizing the BTA by fall (September-October) 2025, this does not mean the process will extend that long. It could be concluded earlier, as both countries are equally focused on advancing the deal," this official said.

Talks progressing well The BTA talks with the US are progressing well, and both partner countries have signed the terms of reference for the first tranche of a bilateral trade agreement, this official said.

Both the countries had agreed in February to begin work on this first phase, aiming to wrap it up by the end of the year, as part of their goal to boost bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030.

India stands to gain significantly from the U.S. decision to impose a 120% duty on Chinese e-commerce shipments under $800 starting 2 May. With over 100,000 online sellers and $5 billion in exports, India is well-positioned to fill the gap left by China, especially in categories like handicrafts, fashion, and home goods," said Ajay Srivastava, co-founder, Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), a think tank.

Also read | India-US trade talks conclude; sectoral discussions in coming weeks This committee draws significance as several export promotion councils have urged the government to monitor the inflow of imports from China and other countries, which are hurting domestic production.

A case in point is the Indian Vegetable Oil Producers Association (IVPA), which has raised concerns over a sharp rise in duty-free edible oil imports from Nepal under the SAFTA agreement, urging the government to act.

Another is the Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AIMED), which has sought safeguard duties on 12 key medical devices, warning that rising imports are hurting domestic manufacturers.
Soon after diamond tycoon Mehul Choksi's arrest by the Belgian police was confirmed earlier this week, his lawyer Vijay Aggarwal claimed that the businessman was not a fugitive, but a cancer patient. Aggarwal told the media that Choksi would contest the arrest and oppose the extradition request on humanitarian and political grounds.

This is a political case. My client is not a flight risk and is gravely ill. He is undergoing treatment for cancer and has consistently offered to cooperate through video conference. His human rights will be severely compromised if he is extradited to India. We are filing an appeal immediately, the lawyer said in interviews and statements.

Choksi, 65, is the subject of a probe by Indian investigation agenciesthe Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)into a 13,500-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) loan fraud that has been evading authorities since 2018.

Aggarwal, his lawyer, said his client was not categorised as a fugitive under Indian law because he remained in contact with investigation agencies and had never evaded cooperation. We have filed multiple applications offering that he will join the investigation virtually. Despite his willingness, he couldnt travel back due to serious health constraints, he said.

Plea pending in court Choksi has not been officially declared a Fugitive Economic Offender (FEO) under Indian law. Back in July 2018, the ED filed an application to declare him an FEO under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act. Choksi has been contesting the plea.

The plea has been pending in a Mumbai court for nearly seven years, delaying the formal designation, according to a report by news agency PTI.

Choksi was arrested in Belgium following an extradition request by Indian probe agencies, official sources said on Monday. The ED had filed the application in July 2018, seeking to declare Choksi an FEO and confiscate his assets under provisions of the Fugitive Economic Offenders (FEO) Act.

However, the matter has witnessed repeated delays owing to a barrage of applications filed by the accused in the PMLA court and the Bombay High Court alleging procedural lapses in the ED's plea.

"The court is kept busy with frivolous applications, and hearing on our application to declare him (Choksi) an FEO has been adjourned for the past seven years, an ED officer had said after the hearing was once again deferred this February.

What does the law say? Under the FEO Act, an individual can be declared a Fugitive Economic Offender if a warrant has been issued against him for an offence involving 100 crore or more and he has left India while refusing to return. Once declared an FEO, the persons property can be confiscated by the investigating agency.

Choksi had challenged the ED's application in the Bombay High Court, alleging that the agency "had not followed proper procedure before filing the application and, hence, it stands vitiated".

However, in September 2023, the high court dismissed his plea, ruling that the ED had adhered to the prescribed format under the FEO Act. It also vacated a stay on the special courts proceedings.

However, the hearing on declaring Choksi FEO could not commence. Choksi's latest attempt to stall proceedings through a plea to recall the notice issued on the ED's FEO application was rejected in December 2023.

GOI calls him fugitive Choksi left India under suspicious circumstances in early January 2018, according to ED officials. He is referred as a fugitive in government documents, and even in the courts, according to people familiar with the case.

But Choksis counsel has argued that the ED kept shifting its stance on the material grounds for declaring him an FEO and that the suspension of his Indian passport made it impossible for him to return for investigation.

The ED claims that the accused left the country under suspicious circumstances in the first week of January 2018.

Nirav Modi declared a fugitive Choksi, a diamond trader and owner of Gitanjali Group, is wanted in India in connection with a 13,500-crore PNB bank loan fraud case. Along with his nephew Nirav Modi, Choksi is an accused in the PNB scam.

Choksi, Modi, their family members and employees, bank officials and others were booked by the ED and the CBI in 2018 for perpetrating the alleged fraud in the Brady House branch of the PNB in Mumbai.

Nirav Modi has already been declared an FEO by the special court. Modi has been lodged in jail in London since 2019.

Does it impact his extradition? Choksi has been arrested in Belgium following an extradition request by the CBI and the ED  the two agencies probing his involvement in the PNB scam. His fugitive designation won't impact the process of extradition, however.

If declared a fugitive, the status would empower investigation agencies to confiscate Choksis assets in India and abroad, facilitating further legal actions against him.

This is a political case. My client is not a flight risk and is gravely ill.

Choksi was located in Belgium last year when he went there on the grounds of getting medical treatment. He had been staying in Antigua since 2018 after leaving India.

(With PTI inputs)
Reserving its order on comedian Kunal Kamra's plea seeking quashing of an FIR filed against him over defamatory remarks against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, the court on Wednesday stayed his arrest.

The 36-year-old stand-up comic is facing FIRs as he sparked a massive row after taking a swipe at Eknath Shinde in his stand-up show where he used a modified version of a Hindi song with "gaddar" (traitor) jibe to describe the 2022 rebellion of Eknath Shinde against Uddhav Thackeray.

A division bench of Justices S Kotwal and S Modak reserved the order.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the court asked police not to arrest the comedian till the order is passed in the matter.

The comedian has also failed to appear before the Mumbai police for questioning despite three summonses issued to him.

Kamra, in his plea, has claimed the complaints against him were violative of his fundamental rights of freedom of speech and expression, right to practice any profession and business and right to life and liberty guaranteed under the Constitution.

Karma's laywer argued that even after 75 years of the existence of Constitution...Law enforcement machinery is ignorant of the fundamental right or does not care about the fundamental right, reported Bar and Bench.

Kamra, a resident of Tamil Nadu, last month got interim transit anticipatory bail from the Madras High Court in the case.

Last month, after the Habitat Comedy Club where he performed, was vandalised, Kamra stated that he will not apologise and said that as far as he knows, it is not against the law to poke fun at our leaders.

However, Kamra stated that he is willing to co-operate with police and courts for any lawful action taken against him.

Also Read | A boycott call against BookMyShow amid Kunal Kamra row

Last week, Shiv Sena leader Rahool Kanal said comedian Kunal Kamra will be welcomed in Shiv Sena style when he comes to Mumbai.

Kanal was part of the group of Shiv Sainiks that on March 23 vandalised the studio in Khar where Kamra had performed.
Businessman and brother-in-law of Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Robert Vadra, on Wednesday alleged he is being targeted by probe agencies, since he is part of the Gandhi family, reported PTI.

Vadra claimed he plans to soon join politics as he has been working with people since 1999.

Earlier in the day, Vadra was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for the second straight day on Wednesday in a 2008 Haryana land deal-linked money laundering case. He mentioned that he is being asked the same questions.

Expressing his anguish, Vadra stated that he is being questioned even after the Haryana government has given him a clean chit in the case.

Vadra, accompanied by his wife and Congress MP from Wayanad Priyanka Gandhi, reached the ED office around 11 am. The ED allowed him to go home for lunch around 1.10 pm and it is expected that the questioning would continue after the lunch break.

"I am part of the Gandhi family, who always fights for the people. Obviously, the BJP has to go for (target) the Gandhi family and me. They have also charge-sheeted my family  my mother-in-law Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. The more you trouble us, the stronger we become... We will fight anything that comes our way," Vadra told PTI.

Probe agencies are being 'misused': Vadra claimed probe agencies are being 'misused' by the government. He said, "They can see I have become the voice of the people. I am almost like an activist now. This happened because I responded to the government and continue to fight back against the constant false accusations made against me. The people are with me, I serve them. People would like to see me in politics."

Open to join politics? Commenting on his intentions to join politics, Vadra said, as PTI quoted, "If I was to be in politics, I want to make a change. Yes, there will be a time when I will definitely be in politics. And I know that the truth will prevail."

"Everybody who is hopeful of becoming a chief minister or wants to join politics is always troubled by agencies unless you join the BJP... No BJP leader or minister will be summoned by the agencies," he added.

On ED probe: Upset with the ED probe and questioning, Vadra said, "I don't understand what this is about and asking me the same kind of questions. I have answered all these questions in 2019. The case pertains to 2008 and why this delay of 17 years."

What is 2008 Haryana land deal? The land deal is linked to Haryana's Manesar-Shikohpur (now Sector 83) in Gurugram, where in 2008, Skylight Hospitality Pvt Ltd  where Vadra was a director  had purchased 3.5 acres of land in Shikohpur from Onkareshwar Properties for 7.5 crore.

Led by chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the Haryana government approved it. Later in 2012, Skylight Hospitality Pvt Ltd sold the 3.53 acres of land to realty major DLF for 58 crore.

In October 2012, the land deal ran into controversy following IAS officer Ashok Khemka, then posted as the director general of land consolidation of Haryana, cancelled the mutation, categorising the transaction as violative of state consolidation Act and some related procedures.
In a bizarre incident, a 51-year-old man from Pune was intercepted by immigration authorities at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai, on Monday for allegedly tearing pages from a passport to hide a Bangkok trip from his wife and family, reported Times of India.

According to the report, the man allegedly tore the pages of his passport at Mumbai International Airport after he returned from a weeklong holiday in Indonesia.

The report, quoting Sahar police's probe, said the man carried out this act to hide evidence of his four trips to Bangkok in 2024 from his family.

The man, identified as V K Bhalerao, has been booked by the Sahar Police under BNS Section 318 (4) (deceiving a person, or fraudulently or dishonesty, including a person to deliver property).

Arrested during a routine check Bhalerao was arrested during a routine check after immigration officials discovered that pages were missing from his passport.

"The official found that pages 17/18 and 21-26 were missing," TOI quoted a Sahar police officer. Assistant Immigration Officer Rajiv Kumar said in his police complaint that the pages bore the immigration stamps for the Thailand trips.

Initially, Bhalerao refused to divulge the reason for tampering with the passport, which led to the accused being questioned by Wing Incharge Vilas Vadnere and the Duty Officer.

"Sustained questioning helped the immigration officials learn the truth that he tore the pages out to hide his Bangkok trips from family," TOI quoted Rajiv Kumar.

Similar case Earlier in August 2024, a first-year student was booked for allegedly tearing four pages from her passport to conceal her trip to Thailand, reported FPJ. She had taken this trip from February 11 to 14.

Passports Act, 1967 Under the Passports Act, 1967, a person who tampers with passport pages is guilty of a serious offence. Any modification or attempted alteration of a passport, whether done personally or through someone else, without proper authorisation, is punishable.
Water levels in major reservoirs across the northern and eastern regions have dipped below last year's, the Central Water Commission (CWC) said in its weekly bulletin. They also had below-normal storagethe average storage of the past 10 years.

Falling water levels are a cause for concern as they can impact irrigation and hydropower generation.

The northern region, including Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Rajasthan, has 11 reservoirs under CWC monitoring and a total live storage capacity of 19.836 BCM (billion cubic metres). As per the reservoir storage bulletin, as of 3 April, the total live storage available was 4.555 BCM, which is 22.96% of the reservoirs' total live storage capacity, compared with 32.32% during the corresponding period last year.

"Although (as of 3 April 2025) the overall live storage of the reservoirs in the country is better than last year, the live storage of the reservoirs in the northern and eastern region, shows a decline for the current year, said Anshuman, director, water resources, The Energy Research Institute (Teri).

Also read | IMD predicts above-normal cumulative rainfall during monsoon "Low rainfall and declining reservoir levels disrupt agriculture, reduce hydropower generation, and exacerbate rural distress. We need to ensure responsive policy interventions, efficient water use, climate resilient agriculture and diversified energy strategies to mitigate the crisis and ensure long-term water security in India, he added.

The winter rains in November and December were scanty, resulting in comparatively lower reservoir levels. Further, rainfall over the country as a whole in March 2025 was 20.1 mm, 33% less than the Long Period Average (LPA) of 29.9 mm.

Similarly, rainfall in February 2025 was 15.9 mm, which is 30% less than its LPA of 22.7 mm. Also, rainfall over the country as a whole in January 2025 was 71% less than the LPA of 17.1 mm.

Cause for concern "The low water level in reservoirs in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab is a cause for concern as it may affect irrigation and power generation requirements for Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, said a senior official in Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd.

The eastern region, comprising Assam, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Tripura, Nagaland, and Bihar, has 27 reservoirs with a total live storage capacity of 21.655 BCM. As of 03 April, the total live storage available was 8.15 BCM, which was 37.64% of the total live storage capacity.

Also read | Heat wave alert in Rajasthan, Delhi, and THESE states; IMD issues heavy rainfall The storage during the corresponding period of last year was 47.08%, and normal storage during the corresponding period was 44.85% of live storage capacity.

Since the two regions face heatwaves, falling water levels can further impact irrigation and also hydropower generation. However, in the western, central and southern regions, the water level is better than last year and is also better than normal storage.

Chances for improvement However, the water situation in the North and East could improve after the monsoon, as India is expected to receive above-normal monsoon rainfall in 2025. On Tuesday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast seasonal rainfall at 105% of the long-period average.

To be sure, the overall storage position nationally is better than the corresponding period last year and also better than the normal storage level during the corresponding period. The water level in 161 major reservoirs monitored by CWC was 182.375 BCM, which was about 70.74% of the live storage capacity of 257.812 BCM.
The Supreme Court began hearings on pleas challenging the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, on Wednesday, April 16. During the hearing, the Court raised concerns over three issues  Waqf-by-user, representation of non-Muslims on waqf boards, and the powers of the Collector to change the status of disputed Waqf land.

A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna, Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice KV Viswanathan is hearing the matters. The court did not pass any interim order on Wednesday and will resume hearing on Thursday, April 17.

The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, came into force earlier this month. The Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha passed the bill during the recently concluded Budget Session of Parliament. President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the proposed law on April 5.

Although ten petitions were initially listed before a bench on Wednesday, more than 15 petitions have been filed by religious institutions, members of Parliament, political parties, states etc, challenging the 2025 Act.

Overall, more than 70 petitions have been filed challenging the 2025 Act, and one petition has been filed challenging the Parent Act, the Waqf Act, 1995. Five BJP-led States, Assam, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, and Maharashtra, have filed intervention applications supporting the legislation.

The Centre filed a caveat in the Supreme Court on April 8, requesting that no orders be passed without hearing its side.

Here are 10 big observations by the Supreme Court of India during the argument on Wednesday:

1- During Wednesday's arguments, CJI Khanna raised concerns over how some properties have been classified as Waqf.

We have been told the Delhi High Court building is on Waqf land, Oberoi Hotel is on Waqf land We are not saying all Waqf-by-user properties are wrongly registered, but there are some genuine areas of concern, too, Justice Sanjiv Khanna observed.

The 2025 Waqf law does away with the concept of waqf-by-user. Waqf by user refers to a practice where a property is recognised as a religious or charitable endowment (waqf) based on its long-term, uninterrupted use for such purposes, even if there isn't a formal, written declaration of waqf by the owner.

Also Read | Murshidabad violence: Bengal police constitutes 9 Members SIT to probe unrest

2- Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the petitioners, began reading out the sections of the new law under challenge and said, Who is the State to tell us how inheritance will happen in my religion? He argued that under Islamic law, inheritance happens only after death, and the government was now attempting to interfere before that.

Inheritance in Islam is after death CJI Khanna responded to Sibal's remarks, saying, But in Hindus it does happen... so Parliament has enacted a law for Muslims. Maybe its not like the law for Hindus. Article 26 will not bar the enactment of the law in this case. Article 26 is universal  and it is secular in the fashion that it applies to all, according to legal news website, LiveLaw.

Sibal, however, countered, saying, Inheritance in Islam is after death. They are intervening before that.

3- During his arguments, Sibal referred to the provision (Section 3C) that a property identified as a government property would not be a Waqf property and that the government's authority would decide the dispute.

Sibal then moved on to Section 3D which invalidates the creation of Waqf over ASI-protected monuments. The CJI pointed out that as per the provision, if the property was a protected monument at the time of the creation of a Waqf, then such Waqf would be invalid.

"How many of such cases will be there?,"CJI Khanna asked. "Jama Masjid," Sibal replied. However, CJI said that the Jama Masjid was notified as a protected monument later.

Also Read | Supreme Court to hear pleas challenging Waqf Amendment Act today

"On my reading, the interpretation is in your favour. If it's declared as a waqf, before it was declared as an ancient monument, it would not make any difference. It will remain waqf, you should not be objecting unless after it's declared as protected, it cannot be declared as waqf. Most of the monuments, the ancient mosques, they will not be hit by this clause," the CJI said, as per LiveLaw.

Non-Muslims in Waqf Boards 4- Sibal also spoke about Sections 9, 14 regarding the nomination of non-Muslims in the Central Waqf Council and the State Waqf Boards. This, Sibal said, was a direct violation of Article 26.

Sibal argued that the central law regarding Sikh Gurudwaras and many State laws on Hindu Religious Endowments do not permit the inclusion of persons of other faiths in the respective Boards. He said such provisions allow a "complete takeover of the Boards through nomination."

Sibal also raised objections to the provisions mandating registration. "What is wrong with it?," CJI asked. Sibal said that presently, waqf-by-user can be created without registration.

"You can register a waqf which will also help you to maintain a register," CJI said. Justice Viswanathan also said, if you have a deed, there won't be any bogus or false claims.

"They will ask us if there was a Waqf created 300 years ago, and to produce the deed. Many of these properties were created hundreds of years ago, and there won't be any documents," Sibal said.

Sibal added that when the British came, many Waqf properties were entered in the register as belonging to the Governor General, and after independence, the Government staked a claim over such properties.

Concerns over Waqf-by-user, 5- Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta, for the Union, highlighted that the law was enacted after an elaborate exercise by the Joint Parliamentary Committee. He emphasised that both houses of the Parliament passed the bill after a long debate.

As the arguments continued, CJI pointed out the provision regarding disputes with government and asked why the property should not be deemed as a waqf till the dispute is decided. "Why will it not remain a waqf property? Let the civil court decide that," CJI said.

"Mr Tushar Mehta, tell us. Waqf-by-user, if accepted prior to 2025 Act, is it now declared to be void or non-existent?" CJI asked.

Many Masjids built 14th or 15th centuries ago 6 -The CJI also sought clarity about the conditions - that the property must not be in "dispute". "Before the Britishers came, we did not have any registration. Many of the masjids are created in 14th or 15th centuries. To require them to produce a registered deed is impossible. Most of the cases, say Jama Masjid Delhi, the waqf will be waqf-by-user," CJI said.

"What prevented them from registering?" SG asked.

7- The CJI also questioned the the SG about the provision inserted to Section 2A, which says that a trust property won't be covered by the Waqf Act, notwithstanding any judgment of the Court.

"The legislature cannot declare any judgment or decree of court as void, you can remove the basis of law but you cannot declare any judgment or declare as not binding," CJI said.

8- CJI Khanna also asked about the provisions allowing the nomination of non-Muslim members to Waqf Boards.

"When we are sitting here to adjudicate, we lose our religion. We are talking about a Board which is managing religious affairs. Let's say in Hindu temple, all are Hindu in the Governor Council. How are you comparing with judges?" CJI asked.

You cannot rewrite the past 9- The CJI also raised concerns about the provision to Section 2A.

You cannot rewrite the past of 100 years back! - CJI Khanna

"Where public trust has been declared as waqf, say 100 or 200 years back, you turn about and say it is not waqf...You cannot rewrite the past of 100 years back!," CJI Khanna said.

10- Mehta said there is usurpation by the Union government. This was so in 1995 and even in 2013 the central waqf council was established.. this is only consultative advisory body. This is only about how boards have to perform etc, he said.

Will you allow Muslims to be part of the Hindu boards CJI responded, Mr Mehta are you saying that from now on you will allow Muslims to be part of the Hindu endowment boards. Say it openly,

CJI Khanna condemned the violence after the Bill's passing, saying it's very disturbing.

The Court will hear the parties on Thursday at 2 PM. Although CJI Khanna was about to dictate the order, but after the fervent requests by the Solicitor General of India and counsel for other respondents for a hearing before the interim order, the Court posted the matter for April 17.
Urban Company introduced India to a world of unmatched ease, be it AC servicing, deep cleaning for home or spa services at home. However, those who work for the company are often overwhelmed with back-to-back bookings.

In a lengthy LinkedIn post, Anjali Kelkar, the managing partner at Magpiee Brand Solutions, highlighted the company's inhumane performance standards for its service partners.

You're only as good as your team, said Anjali, who had booked a masseuse from Urban Company.

Anjali shared that she is a regular user of Urban Company's services. But, she said her last appointment reminded her that great customer experience cannot come at the cost of the service provider's well-being.

She said she had booked a late-evening home spa session on a Sunday with the company because that was the only time slot available.

In the now viral post, Anjali said the Urban Company masseuse, Nisa (name changed), called her 15 minutes before the appointment to ask if she could come a few minutes late.

She had just finished a prior appointment and hadnt eaten all day due to back-to-back bookings. I agreed, though I was anxious about my own schedule, she said.

When Nisa finally arrived, Anjali said she was visibly distressed and in tears.

That is when she learnt that Urban Company doesn't allow its service partners to decline appointments, even if theyre unwell or overwhelmed.

Anjali said cancelling three appointments could result in the service partner losing their profile on the platform and income for several days.

She highlighted the traffic in metro cities and said delays hurt the employees' ratings, and the company offers no buffer between bookings.

Talking specifically about the masseuse, she said, Despite the physical toll of giving a massage, they carry heavy massage tables. Nisa was recently diagnosed with a hernia due to the strain.

Anjali said, Despite her exhaustion, Nisa insisted on completing the session  and she did so with excellence.

-However, she said the experience left her with a heavy heart.

Isnt it inhumane to design a performance system that sets professionals up to fail? Shouldnt they have the right to decline a job when theres a valid reason? Shouldnt time buffers between appointments be mandatory in metro cities with heavy traffic? Anjali questioned.

Shouldn't we, as customers, be more mindful  and shouldnt platforms be more humane? she added.

Hoping for a change in how Urban Company supports and protects its employees, Anjali said, Let's Remember: Your team is your biggest asset. Take care of them!

Stories like these remind us of: Urban Company replies Urban Company replied to Anjali's LinkedIn post, saying they are constantly working to improve the systems that govern bookings, schedules, and partner well-being to minimize travel overload and burnout.

Also Read | Urban Company is eyeing profits and an IPO. But gig workers are angry

However, the company said, Its clear from your message that we still have work to do  and your note serves as an important reminder of what truly matters: the human behind the service.

They appreciated Anjali for showing Nisa kindness and empathy she so clearly needed in that moment.

Stories like these remind us of the incredible resilience of our service partners  and the responsibility we carry as a platform to support them, Urban Company said, while assuring Anjali that her feedback has been shared with the relevant teams.
Lifes struggles often overshadow the challenges faced by others. However, an Indian influencer recently brought a poignant story to the forefront. In a heartbreaking incident captured in a viral Instagram video, content creator Anish Bhagat documented the emotional attempt of a sex worker, Roxy D., to reunite with her family after years of separationonly to be rejected at the doorstep. Roxy, who was sold into prostitution at the age of 16 after being betrayed by her uncle, had expressed her desire to visit her hometown and see her family once again. Bhagat, who had previously spent a day with her for a video, decided to help fulfill her wish and accompanied her on the journey.

The day has finally come, Bhagat says in the video, which opens with Roxy preparing for the reunion. Surrounded by supportive friends who brought gifts for her family, the atmosphere initially appeared celebratory. It felt like they were all celebrating her, Bhagat narrates.

Upon arriving in her village, Roxy pointed out her house with joy and anticipation. Yes, this is my village This is my house, she says, brimming with emotion. However, the reunion quickly turned painful. As Bhagat waited outside, he witnessed Roxy being pushed out by her family.

This is what happens to a lot of them when they try going back, he comments in the video.

Despite the rejection, Roxy remained composed despite the emotional setback. She placed all the gifts and a handwritten letter outside the door of her familys home before deciding to stay in the village and make another attempt at reconciliation in the future. She decided to stay back and try again, Bhagat said. The video ends on a poignant note, with Roxy handing Bhagat a small gifta token of gratitude amid personal heartbreak.

The video has since garnered widespread attention online, drawing sympathy for Roxy. One Instagram user wrote, I think this is the best thing Ive seen on the Internet in the longest time. Heartwarming and heart wrenching at the same time. May god bless her."
Pursuing a crackdown on illegal immigrants, US President Donald Trump stated that he would offer money and a plane ticket to those who voluntarily leave the US. He also expressed interest in creating a way for those he considers "good" individuals to return, marking a shift from his typically tough stance on immigration.

As reported by the Associated Press, Trump, who campaigned on a pledge to carry out mass deportations, said in a taped interview with Fox Noticias that aired Tuesday that his administration is focused right now on getting murderers out of the country. But for others in the U.S. illegally, he said, hes going to implement a self-deportation program.

Here's what Trump said on illegal immigration Fox News interviewer Rachel Campos-Duffy, who is married to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, showed former President Trump a video of a Mexican man who reportedly came to the US illegally over 20 years ago and now has children who are American citizens.

While its unclear whether the man currently has legal status, Campos-Duffy said he expressed support for Trump despite not being able to vote. In the clip, the man agreed that individuals who commit crimes should be deported  including himself.

I look at this man. I say, this is a guy that we want to keep, Trump replied. Ill probably take heat for saying it.

He then asked if the man was supposed to be deported and answered his own question: No, he didnt say that. Good.

I dont think hes in any danger of it, Trump said.

What is Trump's plan? Trump offered few details about the plan, including timing, but said the US would provide immigrants airfare and a stipend.

Were going to give them a stipend. Were going to give them some money and a plane ticket, and then were going to work with them  if theyre good  if we want them back in, were going to work with them to get them back in as quickly as we can, Trump said.

The US President also expressed a desire to assist hotels and farms in finding the needed workers, saying he would recommend individuals to fill those roles.

He described this approach as very soothing for farmers and emphasized that he wants undocumented workers to leave the country and return through legal channels, though he did not provide specific details on how that process would work.

Were doing a self-deportation and were going to make it comfortable for people," he said. And were going to work with those people to come back into our country legally.

Were doing a self-deportation and were going to make it comfortable for people.

Fox Noticias said the interview with Trump was taped Monday.
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday continued his attack on Harvard and called it a JOKE amid ongoing funding standoff with the top university.

"Harvard can no longer be considered even a decent place of learning, and should not be considered on any list of the World's Great Universities or Colleges," Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

"Harvard is a JOKE, teaches Hate and Stupidity, and should no longer receive Federal Funds," Trump added.

Also Read | How Harvard ended up leading the university fight against Trump

Trump has threatened to strip the university of its tax-exempt status as a nonprofit educational institution, after earlier freezing $2.2 billion in federal funding.

On Tuesday, the US President said that perhaps Harvard should lose its Tax Exempt Status and be Taxed as a Political Entity if it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting Sickness?"

However, Harvard President Alan Garber has said the school would not negotiate over its independence or its constitutional rights.

Also Read | Will the Trump funding freeze fight actually hurt Harvard? Explained

Here is Donald Trump's full post Everyone knows that Harvard has lost its way. They hired, from New York (Bill D) and Chicago (Lori L), at ridiculously high salaries/fees, two of the WORST and MOST INCOMPETENT mayors in the history of our Country, to teach municipal management and government.

These two Radical Left fools left behind two cities that will take years to recover from their incompetence and evil. Harvard has been hiring almost all woke, Radical Left, idiots and birdbrains who are only capable of teaching FAILURE to students and so-called future leaders. Look just to the recent past at their plagiarizing President, who so greatly embarrassed Harvard before the United States States Congress. When it got so bad that they just couldnt take it anymore, they moved this grossly inept woman into another position, teaching, rather than firing her ON THE SPOT.

Since then much else has been found out about her, but she remains in place. Many others, like these Leftist dopes, are teaching at Harvard, and because of that, Harvard can no longer be considered even a decent place of learning, and should not be considered on any list of the Worlds Great Universities or Colleges.

Harvard is a JOKE, teaches Hate and Stupidity, and should no longer receive Federal Funds. Thank you for your attention to this matter!

What Harvard President Alan Garber said? Harvard President Alan Garber in a letter on Monday said demands the Trump administration made of the Massachusetts university, including an audit to ensure the "viewpoint diversity" of its students and faculty and an end to diversity, equity and inclusion programs, were unprecedented "assertions of power, unmoored from the law" that violated constitutional free speech and the Civil Rights Act.
Amid the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, Chinmay Deore, an Indian student studying in the United States, along with three other foreign students, filed a lawsuit against their possible deportation.

The students, who are studying at Michigan public universities, took the legal route after their immigration status was terminated unlawfully.

The development comes amid Trump renewing his attack on top university Harvard, whose federal funding and tax-exempt status he has threatened to remove over its refusal to submit to wide-ranging government oversight.

Also Read | Trump to Scrap Deportation Protections for Afghans, Cameroonians

Along with Deore, China's Xiangyun Bu and Qiuyi Yang, and Nepal's Yogesh Joshi filed the lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and immigration officials on Friday, reported PTI.

They said that their student immigration status in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) was illegally terminated "without sufficient notice and explanation".

SEVIS is a database that tracks information about nonimmigrant students and exchange visitors in the US.

They filed a federal lawsuit along with a request for an emergency injunction on behalf of the students who had their F-1 student immigration status unlawfully and abruptly terminated by the Trump administration for no valid reason and without notice, said the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Michigan, which represents the students.

"The lawsuit asks the court to reinstate the status of these students so that they will be able to complete their studies and avoid facing the risk of detention and deportation," it said.

The complaint in court has named DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, acting ICE Director Todd Lyons and ICE Detroit Field Office Director Robert Lynch.

"None of them has been charged with, let alone convicted of, any crime in the US. None has violated any immigration law. Nor have they been active in on-campus protests regarding any political issue," said the complaint.

Also Read | Trump tariffs: China puts four conditions before US to restart trade talks

"DHS did not provide the students or their schools any meaningful explanation for terminating their F-1 student status," the complaint said.

Ramis Wadood, staff attorney at the ACLU of Michigan said that these cruel and illegal government actions have real-life consequences.
United States Vice President JD Vance, his wife Usha Vance, and their children will visit India from April 21 to 24. The US V-P will meet India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 21, according to official statement. The US Vice President will discuss shared economic and geopolitical priorities with PM Modi.

JD Vance and his family will also visit Italy April 18 to 20, before reaching India.

In India, JD Vance will visit Delhi, Jaipur and Agra. The official statement said the JD Vance will hold meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Vance's are expected to bring their three young children  Ewan, Vivek, and Mirabel  with them on the trip.

The Vances are also expected to take part in cultural activities.

The visit will provide an opportunity for both sides to review the progress in bilateral relations and the implementation of the outcomes of the India-U.S. Joint Statement issued on 13 February 2025 during the visit of the Prime Minister to the US. The two sides will also exchange views on regional and global developments of mutual interest., an official statement from MEA read.

JD Vance's visit to India and Italy is taking place against the backdrop of Trump's policy on tariffs that triggered massive trade disruptions and fears of a global economic recession.

JD Vance and his family will meet Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at Rome. The US Vice President will also meet with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin to participate in ceremonies ahead of Easter Sunday, the official statement read.

Vance, who converted to Catholicism six years ago, is the second Catholic to be elected Vice President, CBS reported. Former President Joe Biden was the first, and Biden was the second Catholic to be elected president after John F. Kennedy.

In Italy, US V-P JD Vance is not expected to participate in talks with Iranian negotiators over Tehran's nuclear program, which will also be taking place in Rome on Saturday, according to a Vance spokesperson.

Steve Witkoff, the Trump administration's special envoy to the Middle East, will continue to lead those negotiations with the Iranian government.

Also Read | JD Vance likely to visit India soon amid bilateral trade talks: Official

Before JD Vance, the last US Vice President to visit India was Kamala Harris, who made an official visit in August 2021.

India and the United States have signed the terms of reference for the first phase of a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), aiming to finalise the deal by fall 2025, likely between September and October.

Also Read | Greenland base commander fired over email disputing Vance's Denmark criticism

Both countries are working towards expanding bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030, building on a current trade volume of around $191 billion.

The US is currently Indias top export destination, with exports reaching $86.51 billion in FY25, and India is keen to reduce tariffs on US imports worth $23 billion in the initial phase of the deal.

JD Vance's International Trips JD Vance visited Paris and Munich, Germany, in February to speak at several conferences where he criticized European allies for censorship on free speech and burden sharing for defense spending.

Also Read | Viral audio clip allegedly featuring JD Vance criticising Musk declared fake
With the New Shepard capsule returned to Earth with a parachute-assisted soft landing two days ago in Texas, a gaffe has ignited online conspiracy theories on Katy Perry's flight into space with Blue Origin, reported The Dailymail Online.

According to the report, following Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos wrenched open the hatch with a specialised tool to greet the all-female crew, some footage reportedly showed the capsule door being opened from the inside before being hastily shut.

The report added that some conspiracy theorists on the internet have seized on this strange moment and are referring to it as 'definitive proof' that the mission was faked.

As some theorists still believe that the Blue Origin rocket never reached space, the video shows just how tightly choreographed the staged event was supposed to be.

Few experts even claim that the Blue Origin launch was a 'perfect storm' for conspiracy theories.

Commenting on the latest incident, an expert on the psychology of conspiracies from the University of Nottingham, Dr Daniel Jolley said, as quoted by Dailymail Online, Space is vast, complex and largely inaccessible to most people - in this context, it becomes easier for some individuals to question the official narrative.

Here are a few comments: One commenter wrote: "It was fake. The girls opened the door to begin with from the inside with no tools. They then waited a few minutes, and Jeff Bezos stepped up with some sort of tool and acted like he unlocked the latch."

A second wrote, "This s*** is so fake. Watch the door be opened from the inside; then they need a tool to open it from the outside."

A third wrote, "Can't post this fake s*** enough. Door opens from the inside, they're told to close it because the door can ONLY be opened by an outside person."

"Doesn't look like a pressurised hatch to me. More like a flimsy door," a fourth commented.

A fifth person commented, "Pretty sure pressurised doors don't open inwards. The capsule looks like it's an inflatable tent and the only footage they showed was the "weightlessness" part which you can achieve in a plane."

Why so much suspicion? Among the main reasons experts and theorists referred to the New Shepard capsule mission as fake was the belief that the pressurised cabin shouldn't have an inward-opening door that passengers could operate.

As per details, typical spacecraft have doors that open outwards. They also require a team of technicians working from the outside to unlock.

However, the ease with which the New Shepard capsule door was opened has ignited suspicions that it was a real space mission.

Not only this, the capsule looked almost perfectly clean and unblemished after landing, which even ignited theorists' suspicions.

Explanations behind the conspiracy: Some explain that the New Shepard capsule only barely made it into space, reaching a maximum altitude of 66.5 miles (107 km)which is over the Karman Line and the official boundary of spaceit was still within a very thin atmosphere and wasn't exposed to the true vacuum of space.

This decodes the New Shepard capsule didn't require to have extremely well-reinforced outward-opening doors like the Crew Dragon, which travelled to the International Space Station.

The report added that, since the capsule barely left the atmosphere, its return from Earth doesn't create the heat of a typical re-entry burn that would scorch the exterior.

Meanwhile, the NS-31 mission was launched at 14:30 BST from Blue Origin's Launch Site One, 30 miles north of Van Horn, Texas. It boarded Jeff Bezos' fiance Lauren Sanchez, pop star Katy Perry, CBS Mornings co-host Gayle King, film producer Kerianne Flynn, activist Amanda Nguyen, and former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe.
President Donald Trump said he will personally attend a meeting of Japanese and US trade officials on Wednesday, a surprise move that underlines his eagerness to oversee negotiations triggered by his barrage of tariffs on global imports.

Tokyo sent its economic revitalisation minister Ryosei Akazawa to kick start the talks, expecting to face Trump's Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Washington, and had hoped to limit the scope of discussions to trade and investment matters.

But Trump weighed in early on Wednesday, saying he would also be there to cover issues including the amount Tokyo pays towards the cost of hosting US troops in Japan, the biggest overseas deployment globally.

"Japan is coming in today to negotiate Tariffs, the cost of military support, and 'TRADE FAIRNESS'," he said in a post on Truth Social.

"I will attend the meeting, along with Treasury & Commerce Secretaries. Hopefully something can be worked out which is good (GREAT!) for Japan and the USA!"

Bessent also wants to discuss the thorny issue of exchange rates with Japan, one of the first countries to begin face-to-face negotiations since Trump announced sweeping duties on dozens of countries - both friend and foe - earlier this month.

Japan has been hit with 24% levies on its exports to the United States although these rates have, like most of Trump's tariffs, been paused for 90 days. But a 10% universal rate remains in place as does a 25% duty for cars, a mainstay of Japan's export-reliant economy.

Bessent has said there is a "first mover advantage" given Washington has said more than 75 countries have requested talks. However, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said on Monday that his country, a close U.S. ally, won't rush to reach a deal and does not plan to make big concessions.

Ishiba has, for now, ruled out countermeasures to the U.S. tariffs.

"The difficulty for the Japanese team is that the United States has created a huge amount of leverage for itself, unilaterally," said Kurt Tong, managing partner at The Asia Group, a Washington-based consultancy.

Also Read | Tariff tensions threaten global trade rebound, WTO warns

"The U.S. is offering to not hit Japan with sticks, and Japan is stuck in a position of offering a whole lot of carrots. And from their perspective, it feels like economic coercion," said Tong, a former State Department official.

Trump has long complained about the U.S. trade deficit with Japan and other countries, saying U.S. businesses have been disadvantaged by trade practices and intentional efforts by other countries to maintain weak currencies.
Two men from Telangana were killed and another injured in an attack at a bakery in Dubai, allegedly carried out by a Pakistani national shouting religious slogans, according to family members of the victims, PTI reported.

One of the deceased, Ashtapu Premsagar (35), hailed from Soan village in Nirmal district, Telangana. His uncle, A. Poshetty, informed PTI that Premsagar was killed with a sword on April 11. The incident has shocked the local community, and further details are awaited as authorities investigate the motive and circumstances surrounding the attack.

The alleged incident occurred at the bakery where the victims worked.

Premsagar had been employed by the bakery for the past five-six years. He last visited his family two years ago, Poshetty said.

Expressing sadness over the killings, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy said he had spoken to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for his help in bringing their mortal remains to India.

Deeply shocked by the brutal killing of two Telugu youth from Telangana in Dubai, Ashtapu Premsagar from Nirmal district and Srinivas from Nizamabad district. Spoke to Hon'ble External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar ji on the matter, and he has assured full support to the bereaved families, and the urgent repatriation of the mortal remains, Reddy said in a post on X.

He said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) will also work to ensure the delivery of speedy justice in the matter while thanking Jaishankar for his help.

Expressing grief, Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar said he had spoken to MEA officials and that Union Home Ministry officials were in touch with them.

Deeply saddened by the tragic killing of Shri Ashtapu Prem Sagar and Shri Srinivas, both workers from Telangana, who were brutally attacked by a Pakistani national at Modern Bakery LLC in Dubai during working hours on 11 April, he said on X.

We are extending all necessary support for the early repatriation of the victims.

Through the Indian consulate, the Dubai police have been urged to expedite the process, he said.
Moscow:Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday praised Elon Musk, comparing him to Sergei Korolev, the chief engineer behind the Soviet Union's space success in the 1950s and 1960s, state news agency TASS reported.

TASS cited Putin, who was speaking on Russia's space policy at a meeting with students, as saying: "You know, there's a person who lives in the States, you could say that he's absolutely crazy about Mars."

Also Read | Elon Musk will soon step back from govt role: Donald Trump tells Cabinet members

Musk and Korolev It quoted him as drawing a comparison between Musk and Sergei Korolev, a Soviet engineer who was instrumental in the Soviet Union's success in sending Yuri Gagarin on the world's first crewed spaceflight in 1961.

According to TASS, Putin said: "Such people rarely appear in the human population, charged with a certain idea. Even though it may seem incredible to me today, after a time such ideas are often realised."

Putin has previously praised Musk, whose business interests include the SpaceX space technology company, as "an outstanding person".
Dan Caldwell, one of the top adviser to US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, was removed from the Pentagon on Tuesday after he was identified during a internal probe into leaks at the Department of Defense

Caldwell was placed on administrative leave for "an unauthorized disclosure," the official said, while speaking to Reuters. "The investigation remains ongoing," the official said without providing details into the probe.

Who is Dan Caldwell? Caldwell was the staff member designated as Pete Hegseth's point person in the Signal messaging chat that top Trump administration national security officials, including Hegseth, used to convey plans for a military strike against Houthi militants in Yemen, an AP report said

Caldwell is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and the Iraq War. Following boot camp and initial training, Caldwell was assigned to the Marine Corps Presidential Support Program, where he served as a member of the security force at the presidential retreat at Camp David, as per Defense Priorities.

Also Read | Pentagon to probe Signal Chat leak on Houthi attack

Following his service at Camp David, Caldwell deployed to Iraq with 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and conducted operations in Al Anbar and Ninawa provinces. After Marine services, Caldwell worked for Rep. David Schweikert from 2011 to 2013, focusing on veterans and defense issues.

Caldwell graduated cum laude from Arizona State in 2011 with degrees in Asian History and Political Science, Defense Priorities also said.

Why was Caldwell under Washington's Radar? Caldwell had earlier drawn attention in Washington for for past views, which critics labeled as isolationist. Meanwhile, his supporters argued that his stance aimed to realign and recalibrate Americas defense priorities.

Before joining the Pentagon, Caldwell was quoted as saying that the US might have been better off if American troops had simply stayed home. "I think the Iraq war was a monstrous crime," Caldwell told the Financial Times in December 2024.

He was also a skeptic of US military assistance to Ukraine and advocated for US retrenchment from Europe.

Also Read | Pentagon chief slams judge for halting transgender ban, Elon Musk reacts

All you need to about the Signal Chat leak: The Signal chat (Department of Defense), set up by national security adviser Michael Waltz, included a number of Cabinet members and came to light because Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was added to the group.

President Donald Trump's administration has moved to aggressively pursue leaks, an effort that has been enthusiastically embraced by Hegseth at the Pentagon.

A March 21 memo signed by Hegseth's chief of staff, Joe Kasper, requested an investigation into "recent unauthorized disclosures of national security information involving sensitive communications."

Kasper's memo left open the possibility of a polygraph, although it was unclear if Caldwell was subjected to one.
"Why have so many intelligent people, who had access to quality information to make the right decisions, made horrific mistakes?" I posed this question in an article for Mint just after the 2008 financial crisis . Over the past nine years, through my Behaviour By Brain column, Ive continued to explore the mysterious forces behind human behaviour .

Why do 10-12 people in Mumbai get hit by a train every single day? At the peak of the covid pandemic, the big question was how do we motivate every citizen to take both doses of the vaccine? And now, with artificial intelligence (AI) advancing at a breakneck pace, the crucial question is: How do we ensure AI remains human-centric so that it is used for the greater good of humanity?

Also Read: Social media ad targeting could face a public rebellion any moment now

In trying to answer such intriguing questions about human behaviour, data analytics can tell us what people are doing. However, without understanding why people do what they do, a comprehensive understanding of human behaviour remains elusive.

One of the biggest obstacles to grasping human behaviour is the traditional belief that humans are rational, conscious beings. This outdated view assumes that raising awareness is the solution to all behaviour-related issues.

Yet, the failure of rational interventions aimed at the conscious mind is evident everywhere. Despite countless awareness campaigns, road accidents continue to rise. Efforts to combat negative behaviours like alcoholism and drug addiction through bans have proven ineffective globally, with these problems simply going underground. An inability to effectively manage human behaviour is also true of organizations.

Also Read: AI agents want to take over marketing but humans must stay in charge

While departments like finance, production and logistics operate at near-perfect six sigma levels, those that deal with human behavioursuch as marketing and human resourcesexperience failure rates of 75-90%. For example, the click-through rate for banner ads when they were first introduced in 1994 was 44%.

Today, despite advancements in data analytics, search engine optimization and technology, the click-through rate in digital markets has fallen to just 0.35%, a staggering decline in the ability to influence human behaviour. Such failures remain largely overlooked by policymakers and corporate executives.

Our limited understanding of human behaviour not only hinders our ability to grasp the root of the problems we face, but also blinds us to forces behind the positive behaviours around us. We often hear Indians maintain cleanliness only in Singapore or Switzerland, but there are no paan stains in our metro stations, not even in the decades-old ones in Kolkata. There are many such positive human behaviours in evidence. Its just as important to understand the why behind these positivesso that we can replicate and scale them effectively.

Behaviour By Brain has consistently argued that the best way to understand human behaviour is by delving into the very source of all thought and action: the human brain. When we examine behaviour through the lens of brain science, it becomes evident that many behaviours can be traced back to our biological origin.

What were learning from brain science is undeniable. Traditional methods of managing human behaviour no longer suffice. From road signage and 30-second commercials to employee-reward schemes, old ways must yield to new ones based on a deeper understanding of human behaviour.

Recent insights into human decisions, particularly from sports, are making it clear that most are made in mere milliseconds. As smartphones become the dominant mode of engagement with the world, micro-stimulicues that operate within millisecondsare set to replace the classic 30-second commercial as the most effective way to influence consumer behaviour.

Theres no denying that many tasks currently done by humans can be done far more efficiently by AI. But does the creation of highly advanced AI tools guarantee automatic adoption? Take, for instance, Beethovens 10th symphony composed by AI. It does sound remarkably like his other works, yet it hasnt garnered much of an audience. Achieving sustained AI adoption will undoubtedly be a significant challenge for AI developers.

Perhaps the greatest challenge for AI experts will be managing the industrys carbon footprint. When Google DeepMinds AlphaGo defeated Lee Sedol, the human champion of the Go game, 4-1, it was an impressive feat of technology. However, during the match, AlphaGo consumed a staggering 200,000 watts of electricity, while Lee Sedols brain only used 13 watts.

The question remains: When will AI machines match the energy efficiency of the human brain? Over the years, this column has explored the complexity of various human behaviours.

As I write this final article of Behaviour By Brain in Mint, I reflect on the incredible learning journey it has been. A heartfelt thank -you to everyone who has been part of this exciting exploration.

Of all the fascinating insights Ive gained about human behaviour, nothing stands out more than the biological fact that 99.99% of brain processes happen at a non-conscious level. How can we truly understand the vast hidden processes that drive our decisions? And how do we influence these non-conscious mechanisms? These are crucial questions for the future of human behaviour management.

My journey to explore the depths of these non-conscious brain processes will continue.

The author is chief evangelist, Fractal Analytics.
Less than a week after the AIADMK and BJP rekindled their alliance in Tamil Nadu, Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) on Wednesday hinted that the two parties have joined hands only for the election and not to form a coalition government.

We never said (about) coalition government. You have misunderstood. Leave that. It's an electoral alliance, not coalition government, said the AIADMK chief while speaking to the media.

Palaniswami also stated that Amit Shah said that for Delhi, it's the PM Narendra Modi, and for Tamil Nadu, he mentioned my name."

On April 11, while announcing the alliance between the two parties, Union Minister Amit Shah declared that the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election will be fought under the leadership of AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami.

During the press meet, Shah also exuded confidence that the NDA would get a massive majority and form an NDA government in Tamil Nadu. However, When Shah was asked if the NDA would form a coalition government if it won the 2026 polls in the state, he replied in the affirmative.

"Only elections will decide the strength of alliance. Votes without split should defeat the enemy. We made efforts to coordinate with parties with same thoughts, against DMK," reported ANI quoting EPS.

He further claimed that many other parties would join the AIADMK-BJP alliance to defeat the DMK, adding, First, the BJP came into our alliance. Very soon, many other parties would come into our AIADMK - BJP alliance.

Also Read | Who is Nainar Nagendran, the AIADMK turncoat all set to be Tamil Nadu BJP chief

Meanwhile, so far, there is no official reaction from the Bharatiya Janata Party on EPS' comment.

AIADMK and BJP revived their alliance nearly two years after parting ways in September 2023, reportedly over Annamalai's certain remarks about late party stalwarts, including Jayalalithaa.

Following the announcement of the alliance between the two parties, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the AIADMK's decision to join the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

"Stronger together, united towards Tamil Nadu's progress! Glad that AIADMK joins the NDA family. Together, with our other NDA partners, we will take Tamil Nadu to new heights of progress and serve the state diligently. We will ensure a government that fulfils the vision of the great MGR and Jayalalithaa Ji," Modi said in a post on X.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday said that the National Herald, launched in 1937, was "never the personal property of the Nehru family."

He said, "The newspaper, which was supposed to strengthen the voice of the people fighting for independence, they turned that newspaper into a private business, an ATM!"

Ravi Shankar Prasad's comments came after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) named Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in its chargesheet in the National Herald case.

Prasad said the law will take its own course under the Narendra Modi government and that probe agencies will not be fazed by the "threats" of the Congress.

He said the Congress has the right to hold 'dharnas' (to protest the ED chargesheet against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul) but that right does not extend to misappropriating public properties given by the government to the National Herald.

Also Read | ED files chargesheet against Sonia, Rahul in National Herald case

"A corporate conspiracy was hatched in a very interesting way to get this entire property into the hands of the family...," Prasad said.

'Gandhi model of development' The BJP leader alleged that Young India wrote off the 90 crore loan that the Congress had given to the Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) and got ownership of the company with a paltry investment of 50 lakh.

The land was given to the AJL by the government, he said, adding that the National Herald was allegedly used by the Congress establishment to collect advertisement and properties.

"...using party funds for a private company is prohibited. When AJL failed to repay the loan, a corporate conspiracy was orchestrated to transfer its valuable assets to the Gandhi family," the BJP leader said.

He said this is the "Gandhi model of development" as he noted the allegation against Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra of pocketing a huge profit in a land deal in Haryana with the collusion of the then Congress government in the state.

"The Gandhi family acquired assets worth 90 crore for just 50 lakh. Another member bought land for 3 crore and later sold it for 58 crore after commercialisation. This is called the Gandhi model of development," he said.

Also Read | ED likely to question Rahul Gandhi in National Herald case: Report

'Today is not Indira Gandhi's emergency' BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan on Wednesday said that the Congress leadership should realise that "today is not Indira Gandhi's emergency."

He told news agency ANI, "...today is Modi's fair and fearless Bharat, where everybody will be made answerable and accountable for their wrongdoings..."

"The Congress is trying to intimidate government agencies... This shows that they are trying to hide something... The Congress is resisting the law of the land... They should know that truth triumphs, but falsehoods never triumph...," he added.

Also Read | ED seals National Herald office, premises to not be opened without permission

National Herald case The Enforcement Directorate filed a chargesheet against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi and others before a special court in the National Herald case, accusing them of laundering 988 crore.

The Congress described the ED's chargesheet as vendetta politics and claimed seizing assets in the case was a "state-sponsored crime masquerading as the rule of law".

Also Read | Mallikarjun Kharge being questioned in National Herald case, says Jairam Ramesh

Congress protest The Congress launched a massive protest against the central government and investigative agencies after the ED filed a chargesheet against Congress leaders Rahul and Sonia Gandhi in connection with the National Herald.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday blamed the Border Security Force (BSF) and "foreign elements" for the pre-planned Murshidabad violence over the new Waqf Amendment Act.

Three people were killed and several others injured in the Murshidabad violence.

At a meeting with imams, Mamata claimed the communal riot in Murshidabad was pre-planned. She said, I came across news reports suggesting the involvement of elements from across the border in the Murshidabad unrest.

Isnt it the BSFs duty to guard the border? she questioned.

Also Read | Waqf Amendment Act SC Hearing LIVE: 6 BJP states move SC to support new law

She also assured the imams that she would instruct the Chief Secretary to probe the BSF firing that led to the death of a person in Murshidabad.

The Chief Minister then appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to allow any atrocious law and urged him to keep a check on his Home Minister, Amit Shah.

I would request the Prime Minister to keep a check on Amit Shah, he is doing harm to the nation to serve his own political agenda, she said.

Why were you in such a hurry over the Waqf Amendment (Bill)? Didnt you know the situation in Bangladesh? she asked the Centre, referring to a media report citing Home Ministry sources that alleged Bangladeshs involvement in the violence.

If that is the case, the Central government is responsible since BSF guards the borders, not us. The state government doesn't have the responsibility to guard the borders. Why did they allow BJP thugs from outside to come and create chaos before fleeing the scene? Accountability must be fixed.

Mamata Banerjee also announced an ex gratia of 10 lakh for each of the families of the three people who died in the Murshidabad violence.

TMC at forefront in fight against Waqf Amendment Bill At the same meeting, Mamata Banerjee said the Waqf Amendment Act goes against the countrys federal structure and reiterated that her party, the Trinamool Congress, is at the forefront of opposing the new law in Parliament.

Dismissing BJPs claims, she said, Had the TMC been involved in the Murshidabad violence, as alleged by the opposition, the houses of its leaders would not have been attacked.
Waqf Amendment Act Supreme Court Hearing Highlights: The Supreme Court has proposed that a law be passed so that properties declared as Waqf including 'waqf by user' will not de-notified. The apex court also asked Centre whether Muslims would be allowed to be part of Hindu religious trusts.

Supreme Court also stated, "All Members of the waqf boards and central waqf Council must be Muslims, except the ex-officio members."

A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justices Sanjay Kumar and K V Viswanathan will continue hearing the batch of pleas at 2 pm on April 17.

What is the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025?

The objective of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, is to amend the Waqf Act, 1995. The Amendment Bill seeks to improve the administration and management of waqf properties in India, according to a release by the Ministry of Minority Affairs.
New Delhi: The Centre plans to roll out a design-linked incentive (DLI) scheme of up to $4 billion to power India into the global league of electronics design through local designing of products and components, three officials with direct knowledge of the matter said.

The scheme, which will run over several years, will support companies across 30 semiconductor and 30 electronics categories, the people cited above said on the condition of anonymity. The incentives will be given based on value of capital investments (capex) as well as turnover of companies.

The idea is to create an ecosystem that encourages tech and design patents, which will not just multiply industry revenue at a later point but also cushion the country against global developments that may thwart imports of key components or products.

A task force of industry veterans created by the Centre last August submitted its report to the ministry of electronics and information technology (Meity) in December. The report is now being assessed by Meity officials and is expected to be submitted for cabinet approval in the coming weeks. Subject to approval, it will then be announced in the coming months.

Also read | With electronics tariffs off, what happens to iPhone in India?

Right now, despite being under global pressure, the US has the likes of Apple, Nvidia and all the other technology companies in Indiawhose biggest value are their technology reference designs and IPs," the first official cited above said, adding that the DLI scheme is aimed at giving a boost to product design, fabless chipmakers, original design manufacturers (ODMs) and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in India.

According to this official, some products proposed to be included in the scheme are modems, wifi chips, near-field communications chips, geolocation chips, 5G radio frequency receivers, power electronics for electric vehicles (EVs), home gateway and security systems, inverters, smart meters, and industrial control systems, among others.

Each of these categories, through government incentives, can address up to 60% in domestic value addition (DVA) for which India is currently reliant on other countries," the official added.

Read this | Advantage India in electronics as Donald Trump pauses tariff, hints at exemptions

The second official cited above said active discussions are on for incentivizing product design and IP, but did not offer a timeline for the scheme. The governments objective is to build brands that could both serve the domestic market with various government bodies as key customers, and add to exports from Indias electronics economy," the second official said. The idea is to keep the growth balanced, so that geopolitical turmoil does not upend the domestic electronics ecosystem by halting exports."

A third senior government official said that the existing DLI scheme has not been deemed enough by industry, for which Meity is currently exploring a broader scheme to boost the making of components and technologies from India itself. We're currently in due process of exploring the same".

A previous DLI scheme launched in September 2021 under Meitys India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) offered less than $12 million in net incentives over five years, that too only to five selected companies.

Queries sent to Meity remained unanswered till press time.

Why design is important for a country

Product design is prioritized by technology companies to create core patents and intellectual properties. In the US, companies like Google, Qualcomm, Intel, and Nvidia hold patents for their electronics designs that are licensed by companies around the world to be used in gadgets and enterprise technologies.

Also read | Indias annual electronics exports expected to double to $50 billion by 2030

These patents add significant value to the domestic technology ecosystem. As per the Meity task forces report, 30-60% of a countrys annual electronics industrys revenue is driven by companies that hold patents in the country.

Incentivizing component manufacturing is the single-most important objective that India must follow to reduce its foreign import dependency," said Ashok Chandak, president of industry body, India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA), adding that the association has submitted its observations to incentivize electronics designs in a report to both Meity and the office of the principal scientific advisor.

This can create a big economic opportunity for companies within India, and future incentive schemes under Meity can offer preferential market access to Indian companiesto ensure that incentives are not being sought just by importing most components and assembling them locally," Chandak said.

The idea is to incentivize companies that drive the supply chain, own product specifications, and create technology standards for an industry," a senior industry executive said, requesting anonymity since they work closely with the government. This executive added that production-linked incentives (PLIs) for mobile phones are ending next year, which means electronics manufacturing services (EMS) firms such as Dixon Technologies, Syrma SGS and others will need to ramp-up their operating margins, which remain slim even now".

Read this | Centre mulls maximising electronics earnings amid uncertainty over Apple exports, tariff haze

The move for a government push for design comes in the backdrop of Indias poor record in the area of tech patents. Earlier this month, Sunil Raina, executive director of Indias sole surviving smartphone brand Lava International, told Mint that research and development to build IPs and patents is an area that the company is looking to invest in for the future", while acknowledging that work on value-added IPs and patents have not grown at scale.

In India, hardly around 60,000 patents are filed each year, in comparison to around 1 million per year from the US and China, each," Raina said. There is a huge gap on this note between India and developed technology markets, which needs to be made up in the near term."

Things may change

For the new scheme, while up to $4 billion in incentives across the electronics and semiconductor industries have been recommended by the task force, the eventual outlay, which will come after Cabinet approval, could vary.

For instance, according to the second official cited above, a part of semiconductor-led design incentives could be merged under ISM, which, too, is due for approval of its second tranche in the coming months.

And read | Why Indias electronics sector is least at risk from Trump's reciprocal tariff scrutiny

A second industry executive said that the DLI scheme should be rolled out before the second semiconductor incentive scheme's introduction later this year". Mint reported in September last year that a multi-year scheme of $15-20 billion is in the works solely for the manufacturing of semiconductor chips and related components.

Last week, Mint reported that India is targeting $50 billion in smartphone exports by 2030thus underlining a bigger focus from the Centre on Indias electronics exports to the world. As of 2024, as per respective government data, Indias electronics exports are worth less than 2% of Chinaswhich is also the single largest tech hardware exporter to the US.
When Does Lent End for Catholics?

By Shayne Heffernan

Lent is a significant season in the Catholic Church, a 40-day period of penance, prayer, and almsgiving that prepares the faithful for Easter. As a Catholic and financial analyst, Ive often been asked about the exact end of Lent, especially by those eager to conclude their personal sacrifices, like giving up meat or other indulgences. The answer hinges on the Churchs liturgical calendar and traditions, which Ill explore here to provide clarity on when Lent officially ends.

The Liturgical End of Lent

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and lasts for 40 days, mirroring Jesus 40 days of fasting in the desert (Matthew 4:1-11). These 40 days are counted excluding Sundays, which are considered little Easters and not days of penance. In 2025, Ash Wednesday fell on March 5, marking the start of Lent. To determine the end, we count 40 days forward, excluding the six Sundays of Lent, which brings us to the evening of Holy Thursday, April 17, 2025.

According to the Churchs liturgical calendar, as outlined in the Roman Missal and affirmed by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Lent officially ends with the Mass of the Lords Supper on Holy Thursday evening. This Mass marks the beginning of the Paschal TriduumHoly Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturdaywhich is a distinct liturgical period focused on Christs Passion, Death, and Resurrection. The General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar, issued by the Vatican in 1969, state that Lent runs from Ash Wednesday until the Mass of the Lords Supper, exclusive. This means that Lent concludes just before the Mass begins, typically around sunset on Holy Thursday, depending on the local parishs schedule.

The Triduum: A Bridge to Easter

While Lent ends on Holy Thursday evening, the Triduum is not a time to immediately break all penances. The Triduumculminating in the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night (April 19, 2025)is a continuation of the penitential spirit, though its liturgically distinct from Lent. Good Friday, for instance, is a mandatory day of fasting and abstinence for Catholics (ages 18-59 for fasting, 14 and up for abstinence from meat), and Holy Saturday maintains a reflective tone until the Easter Vigil, when the Church celebrates Christs Resurrection with the first Alleluia of Easter.

Some Catholics, especially those who have taken on personal Lenten penances like giving up meat, may choose to end their sacrifices at the close of Lent on Holy Thursday evening. Historically, this practice has precedentSt. Augustine in the 5th century noted that the Lenten fast was often broken on Holy Thursday to prepare for Easter. However, many modern Catholics extend their penance through the Triduum, waiting until Easter Sunday (April 20, 2025) to fully celebrate with the foods or habits theyve abstained from. The USCCB encourages maintaining a spirit of fasting during the Triduum, suggesting that the penitential mindset should carry through until Easter.

Personal Penances and Cultural Practices

For those whove given up something specific for Lentlike meat, sweets, or alcoholthe end of Lent on Holy Thursday evening technically allows them to resume these indulgences. However, the spirit of the Triduum often leads people to continue their sacrifice until Easter Sunday. For example, if youve abstained from meat for all of Lent, you might choose to wait until after the Easter Vigil or Easter Sunday Mass to eat meat, aligning your personal penance with the Churchs journey through Christs Passion and Resurrection.

Culturally, practices vary. In some traditions, Holy Thursday evening includes a festive meal after the Mass of the Lords Supper, often with symbolic foods like lamb or unleavened bread, as a nod to the Last Suppers Passover context. In Poland, for instance, families might prepare Easter foods on Holy Thursday but wait until Easter Sunday to enjoy them fully. In my own experience, Ive often continued my Lenten penance through the Triduum, finding that it deepens my participation in the sorrow of Good Friday and the joy of Easter Sunday.

A Clear Endpoint, A Personal Choice

Lent officially ends on Holy Thursday evening, April 17, 2025, with the start of the Mass of the Lords Supper, as per the Churchs liturgical calendar. This marks the conclusion of the 40-day season and the beginning of the Triduum. Whether you choose to end your personal Lenten penance at that point or extend it through the Triduum until Easter Sunday is a matter of personal discernment. The Church encourages a continued spirit of reflection during the Triduum, but theres no universal rule against resuming your Lenten sacrifices after Holy Thursday evening.

As I see it, the end of Lent is both a liturgical marker and a spiritual invitation. Its a chance to transition from penance to the profound mysteries of the Triduum, preparing your heart for the joy of Easter. Whether you break your fast on Holy Thursday or wait until Easter Sunday, the focus should be on drawing closer to Christ through this sacred time.

Shayne Heffernan is a Catholic writer and financial analyst who has covered markets and culture for over two decades. He is the founder of Knightsbridge, a global investment firm.

Sources: Roman Missal, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar, Catholic Culture.
UPDATE: The family of Christopher Wright released a statement after a jury reached two guilty verdicts for Darryl Roberts, the man charged with killing Wright on Market St. in 2023.

"We are deeply grateful to the Hamilton County District Attorneys Office for their unwavering dedication to justice. We especially want to thank Coty Wamp, Paul Moyle, Andrew Coyle, and their entire team for the outstanding work they did in prosecuting his murderer. Throughout this difficult journey, they showed us great compassion and ensured we were informed and supported at every stage of the process.

Christopher was a kind, humble, and loving soul who lit up every room he entered. He never met a stranger. He was full of life, joy, and generosityalways ready to welcome someone new, lift others up, or share a solid handshake, winning smile, and a huge hug.

He was a devoted husband, a proud and playful father of three young children, and a cherished son, brother, and friend. His absence leaves a profound void in our lives, and he is missed every single day by all who knew and loved him.

While no verdict can bring Christopher back, we find some comfort in knowing that justice has been served. We will honor his memory by continuing to live with the same kindness and warmth he shared with the world."

Roberts was found guilty of second degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Sentencing for Roberts will be held in July of 2025.

PREVIOUS STORY: The jury has reached two guilty verdicts in the trials of Darryl Roberts, convicting him of the death of 38-year-old Christopher Wright on Tuesday.

A jury found Roberts guilty of second degree murder in the death of the Baylor School alum on September 28, 2023.

Roberts shot Wright on Market Street near Patten Towers.

Roberts was originally charged with first-degree murder.

The jury chose to convict him on a lesser charge.

Roberts still faced a second verdict for the charge of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon over the shooting of Wright.

Roberts' felony conviction was in 2009 for aggravated assault and he was given a suspended sentence of 11 months and 29 days.

Roberts waived his right to testify in a second trial for the firearm charge before the first verdict was read.

Following brief arguments from the prosecution and defense, Judge Boyd Patterson read instructions to the jury, which took only a few minutes to deliberate before finding Roberts guilty of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.

During closing arguments, the state spent time trying to convince the jury that the death of Chris Wright was premeditated.

For his actions to be intentional, he had to act with a desire to end Chris Wrights Life. Look at the video. Look at the intentional act of standing up, pulling his gun and raising it to someones forehead. That is proof of his desire, the state argued.

The state went on to say there is nothing else that could have happened from Roberts pointing his gun at Wrights forehead besides killing him.

Examples were presented to the jury of legally amounts to premeditation.

If you remember we talked about this with the yellow light and running threw a yellow light. You know you need to get through it, or you know you need to stop at it and then you act to press the gas down or the brake. You can reflect what happens if you press the gas down you go through the yellow light, the state argued.

The defense spent time trying to convince the jury that Roberts was on auto pilot.

You got to experience a fight or flight, something we dont do all the time. I remember going to a Halloween haunted house and somebody jumped out and thats why you go, and I punched him right in the face. I didnt think about punching him in the face, the defense argued.

The defense also argued that the worse Roberts should be charged with is voluntary manslaughter.

All voluntary manslaughter has to do is provoke a reasonable person to act in an irrational manner. It doesnt have to cause a reasonable person to kill someone. It doesnt have to be that level of complication. It just has to be the provocation that takes this case out of the cool, calm collected, coldblooded planning, the defense argued said.

Stay with Local 3 News for updates to this developing story.

PREVIOUS STORY: Jury deliberations continue on Tuesday in the trial of Darryl Roberts, the man charged in the death of 38-year-old Christopher Wright.

Roberts is accused of shooting and killing Wright on Market Street near Patten Towers on September 28, 2023.

The prosecution rested its case during the third day of the trial.

The defense began calling witnesses to the stand on the fourth day, including Roberts who admitted to shooting Wright during his testimony.

Closing arguments were given on Monday, after Judge Boyd Patterson read instructions to the jury.

We have a crew at the courthouse waiting for the jury to come back with its decision.

Stay with Local 3 News for continuing coverage of this story.

PREVIOUS STORY: The fate of Darryl Roberts, the man who is charged with murder in the death of a Baylor School graduate, is now in the hands of a jury on Monday.

Roberts is charged in the death of 38-year-old Christopher Wright on September 28, 2023.

Monday is the fifth day of the trial.

The state rested its case on day three and the defense began its case on Thursday with Roberts taking the stand in his own trial.

During Roberts' testimony, he admitted to shooting Wright after sharing his account of what led to the incident that night.

Roberts said he became angry with himself after realizing what he'd done.

The defense rested its case on Monday morning and now the fate of Roberts will be in the hands of the jury.

Judge Boyd Patterson read instructions for the jurors before closing arguments from the prosecution and defense.

Roberts is charged with first-degree murder.

We have a crew in the courtroom to bring you the latest.

Stay with Local 3 News for continuing coverage of this story.

PREVIOUS STORY: The man accused of shooting and killing a Baylor School alum on Market Street in 2023, gave his account of what happened when he took the stand during the fourth day of his own trial on Thursday.

Roberts is accused of killing Christopher Wright on September 28, 2023 near Patten Towers in downtown Chattanooga.

The trial began on Monday, April 14 after a second jury was chosen.

On Wednesday, the state rested its case and the defense presented its case, calling witnesses to the stand, including the suspect at the center of the trial.

The first witness for the defense was James King, a homicide detective with the Chattanooga Police Department who led the investigation of the case.

The defense asked Detective King if the District Attorney's Office either told or asked if there was video with audio of Wright's murder and King responded that he hadnt heard about it.

After talking to Britton Hall-Brantley, Wright's best friend, King began searching for more cameras in the area to track the victim's activity and find video with audio.

He was unable to find any video with sound that was close enough to crime scene.

During the investigation, King spoke with the manager at Jack Browns about the incident to learn about the victim's behavior prior to the shooting.

King also gathered video to see which bartender was working and if anyone else was with Wright that night.

At one point during court, members of the jury were asked to leave before Detective King was shown a picture of himself along with other officials and Governor Bill Lee that was taken after Tennessee lawmakers passed the Chris Wright Crime Bill Act.

King was asked if the power of the governor could make him alter his investigation and he said no.

Also on day four, Roberts himself took the stand to testify in his own trial.

At one point, Roberts admitted to shooting Wright.

Roberts said Wright walked up and called him and another man a racial slur.

Roberts said he repeatedly told Wright to keep walking but said Wright wouldn't leave.

He claimed Wright said how much he didn't like Roberts and that he was a piece of crap.

Roberts attorney asked, "What caused you to stand up?

Because I told him again 'man get up the street' and I was like 'get yourself up the street' and then he turned around and said come say it to his face, boy, Roberts replied on the stand. "He said 'come say it to my face, boy. I bet you won't say it to my face, boy."

Roberts said he then walked up and shot Wright once in the head.

After shooting Wright, Roberts said he remembered thinking, I did not just do that.

He said he thought it was a dream and was angry with himself.

Stay with Local 3 News for continuing coverage of this story.

PREVIOUS STORY: Day three of the murder trial for the man accused of killing a Baylor School alum on Market St. in 2023 ended after less than an hour.

The state's final witness took the stand Wednesday morning. The state then rested. Day four of the trial will continue on Thursday and witnesses from the defense side will take the stand.

Witness 10, Dylan Padgett of Ooltewah, was the final witness before the state rested.

Padgett was with Julia Friedman at Pickle Barrel, which is across the street from Patten Towers the night of the murder.

Friedman was the first witness that the state brought to the stand for this trial.

The first thing I noticed was a couple sitting near us, the gentlemen with his back towards the street immediately got up and got the woman he was with and started making their way to the door, Padgett said.

Padgett then looked around and down to the street and that when he saw Darryl Roberts standing over Chris Wright.

I recall in the seconds I looked around that he had glanced up to where we were sitting, Padgett said.

That is when Padgett headed for safety.

By the time attention back to my family, everyone was up and moving and Julia was saying that we needed to get inside. And we went to the second floor and sat under the table and chairs with the rest of the guest, Padgett said.

Medical Examiner Dr. Steven Cogswell, who testified on Tuesday, took the stand again.

When he was asked if Wright had a chance to survive the shooting, Cogswell's answer was simply, no.

Darryl Roberts is charged in the fatal shooting of Christopher Wright near Patten Towers in downtown Chattanooga on September 28, 2023.

Witnesses for the defense will take the stand on Thursday.

Stay with Local 3 News for updates to this developing story.

PREVIOUS STORY: The trial for the man accused of killing a Baylor School graduate in September of 2023 entered its second day on Tuesday.

Darryl Roberts is charged in the fatal shooting of Christopher Wright near Patten Towers in downtown Chattanooga on September 28, 2023.

Surveillance video shows Wright talking with Roberts outside Patten Towers on the night of the incident.

Wright can be seen walking away but appeared to still be talking to Roberts.

Police say that's when Roberts walked up and shot Wright at point blank range.

Roberts' trial was originally supposed to begin on April 1; however, after a jury was selected the morning of April 2, they were dismissed by Judge Boyd Patterson.

Judge Patterson said the original jurors were dismissed because something was said in the courtroom that they were not supposed to hear.

A second jury was chosen on Monday, April 14, with opening arguments running until the evening.

Before breaking for lunch, a witness testified to hearing the gunshot the night of the incident.

The witness was celebrating her father's birthday at Pickle Barrel when she said she heard a gunshot and then saw Roberts slowly walking away from the scene where another man was lying on the sidewalk.

Neil Nappi, who works for Reliance Security, the company that maintains surveillance at Patten Towers, was the second witness to take the stand.

Nappi testifies as video of the incident is shown in court.

In the video, you can see Roberts getting on an elevator in Patten Towers to go outside, where he sat down and interacted with a few who were around him.

The video then shows Wright walk by Roberts before back tracks and starts talking to Roberts.

The two have a brief conversation and then the shooting happens.

Roberts goes back inside Patten Towers, gets on the elevator, and punches the wall as he circles appearing frustrated.

Later, the video shows a woman leaving Patten Towers with a yellow bag and what appears to be Roberts' clothing, but it is hard to make out.

Roberts then comes back out of the apartment wearing different clothes and appeared to have the gun in his shorts.

Chattanooga Police Department Detective Alvin Abbett is the third witness to take the stand after court resumes from a lunch break at around 1:15pm.

Detective Abbett responded to scene shortly after midnight, where he recalled seeing the victim with a bullet wound to the forehead.

Abbett said he was given a picture of Roberts to use for a description of the suspect who had the nickname Too Tall.

The detective said when he went to Roberts apartment, no one was home at the time.

Detective Abbett said two women were later seen leaving the apartment by police.

He said one of the women was the one seen in the surveillance video with the yellow bag that appeared to have Roberts' clothes in it.

The video shows the woman with the bag while taking the elevator from the sixth floor, where Roberts apartment is located, to the third floor.

That same woman was later seen getting back on the elevator from the third floor without the bag.

Detective Abbett said the womans apartment was never checked, because there was no reason to at the time since no one knew about the bag.

Detective Abbett said the clothes Roberts was wearing at the time of the incident and the gun were not found when the suspects apartment was searched.

Abbett was asked if any racial slurs were used that night in relation to the motive for the shooting. He replied that he was never made aware of any being used.

We have a crew in the courtroom to bring you the latest.

Stay with Local 3 News for updates to this developing story.

PREVIOUS STORY: A new jury has been selected in the murder trial of Darryl Roberts on Monday, April 14.

The new jury comes after the first jury was dismissed in early April for hearing information they were not supposed to hear.

Chattanooga police say Roberts shot and killed Christopher Wright, a Baylor alum, husband, and father, on Sept. 28, 2023, near Patten Towers.

This is a developing story. Stay with Local 3 News for the most reliable updates.

Chattanooga attorney explains why a jury may be invalidated during a trial In the jury selection process for the Daryl Roberts murder trial, the jury was invalidated rather than a mistrial because they had not been sworn in.

PREVIOUS STORY: The jury selected to serve on the murder trial of Darryl Roberts has been dismissed and a new jury will have to be reselected on April 14.

A Local 3 News crew in the courtroom say the jury was dismissed after they heard a piece of information during the trial they were not supposed to hear.

PREVIOUS STORY: The jury to serve on the murder trial of Darryl Roberts has been selected as of 11:00am on Wednesday, the second day of the trial.

Roberts faces a first degree murder charge in connection to the fatal shooting of a Chattanooga man near Patten Towers in Sept. 2023.

Court records show there will also be a motion hearing regarding the state's effort to exclude an expert testimony and report from Dr. Kimberly Brown.

Chattanooga police say Roberts shot and killed Christopher Wright, a Baylor alum, husband, and father, on Sept. 28, 2023, near Patten Towers.

PREVIOUS STORY: The murder trial for a Chattanooga man begins on Tuesday, April 1.

Darryl Roberts is accused of fatally shooting Baylor School grad and father Christopher Wright near Patten Towers on September 28, 2023.

The court will begin Tuesday with the selection of a jury.

Court records show there will also be a motion hearing regarding the state's effort to exclude an expert testimony and report from Dr. Kimberly Brown.

PREVIOUS STORY: The man accused of shooting a Chattanooga businessman last fall appeared in court on Wednesday.

Darryl Roberts is accused of shooting and killing Christopher Wright on Market Street in September 2023.

A judge set his next court date for June 4.

Roberts remains in the Hamilton County Jail and Detention Center on a $5 million bond.

PREVIOUS STORY: A trail date has been set for the man who is accused of shooting and killing a Baylor School graduate on Market Street in September of 2023.

According to the Hamilton County Criminal Court Clerk's Office, the trial for 57-year-old Darryl Roberts has been scheduled for March 28.

Newly proposed bill cracking down on repeat criminal offenders Tennessee State Senator Bo Watson and Representative Patsy Hazlewood introduced the law to crack down on repeated criminal offenders, making sure they don't walk away with just a slap on the wrist.

Roberts is charged with First Degree Murder and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.

Police say Roberts shot and killed Christopher Wright near Patten Towers on September 28.

Roberts is being held at the Hamilton County Jail and Detention Center on a $5-million bond.

PREVIOUS STORY: The man accused of shooting and killing another man on Market Street in September has been indicted by the Hamilton County grand jury.

Daryl Roberts is charged with First Degree Murder and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.

Police say Roberts shot and killed Christopher Wright near Patten Towers on September 28.

His arraignment hearing will be on January 5.

PREVIOUS STORY: The case against the man charged in a deadly shooting on Market Street last month has been sent to a grand jury on Monday.

According to the Hamilton County General Sessions Court Clerk, the case against 57-year-old Darryl Roberts was bound over to a grand jury during a court appearance on Monday morning.

Roberts is accused of shooting and killing 38-year-old Chris Wright on Market Street on September 28.

Roberts was arrested on September 29 and charged with first degree murder.

He is being held at the Hamilton County Jail and Detention Center on a $5-million bond.

Stay with the Local 3 News app for updates to this developing story.

PREVIOUS STORY: The man accused of a murder on Market Street last week appeared in court on Monday morning.

Police say 57-year-old Darryl Roberts is accused of shooting and killing 38-year-old Chris Wright on Thursday night during an argument.

Roberts was arrested on Friday and charged with first degree murder.

During Mondays court appearance, Roberts was given a $5-million bond and was ordered to appear in court on October 16.

A GoFundMe has been started to support the family of Chris Wright, who was a Baylor alum. The donations will support Wright's three children. Wright's family says they will welcome all to celebrate and remember Chris's life during a visitation on Tuesday from 4:30pm to 6:30pm at the Baylor School. Funeral services for Wright will also be held at the Baylor Chapel on Wednesday at 11:00am. Stay with the Local 3 News app for updates to this developing story.

PREVIOUS STORY: Chattanooga police have arrested 57-year-old Darryl Roberts for the homicide of Christopher Wright.

Chattanooga Police Department's Fugitive Unit, along with federal partners from the United States Marshals Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ("ATF") observed Roberts in a vehicle in the Brainerd area.

They followed him until marked police vehicles were able to assist with a traffic stop.

CPD's Neighborhood Policing officers assisted with initiating a traffic stop in the 500 block of Tunnel Boulevard.

Roberts was arrested for outstanding warrants related to the homicide.

Roberts is in custody at the Hamilton County Jail and Detention Center. He is charged with first degree murder.

Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly released the following statement regarding Thursday nights Market St. shooting and the subsequent arrest of the suspect:
Ross was driving when she was struck in the chest by what she initially believed was a bullet. The sudden impact left her in shock, and she immediately froze.
A statue symbolising the bonds of friendship and cultural exchange between Longford Town and Noyal-Chatillon-sur-Seiche in France was unveiled last week at the Park Road Leisure Park as part of ongoing Town Twinning celebrations.

The Fraternity statue was gifted to Longford County Council and it represents the bond of friendship between both towns and symbolises the ideals of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.

Longford Town and Noyal-Chatillon-sur-Seiche were officially twinned in 1998. The statue was sculpted by artist Maxime Libiot who was in Longford this week with his wife Manon and children Heloise and Apolline.

Mayor Sebastien Gueret, Cultural Attache Annie Coent, Andre Guyomard, Twinning President, Director of Services with Longford County Council John Brannigan, Senior Area Engineer with Longford County Council Peter Brady, Longford Municipal Leas Cathaoirleach Cllr Uruemu Adejinmi and Cllr Martin Monaghan also joined in the celebrations.

The statue was unveiled by Cllr Seamus Butler, Cathaoirleach of Longford Municipal District and Mayor Sebastien Gueret.

Also Read: North Midlands Credit Union joins the Home Energy Upgrade Loan scheme

Cllr Butler said, As we witness war in Europe, utter destruction in the Middle East and the fracturing of the world economic order, the principals that this statue epitomises, Liberte, Fraternite and Egalite were never more important today to all nations who take a stand against dictatorship, mindless populism and neo fascism.

Remember it was the post Revolution French nation that sent troops to Ireland in 1798 to support the people of Ireland on their uprising against the English Colonial forces.

Members of the Town Twinning group also visited Melview National School as part of their new Twinning Charter in a bid to encourage young people to develop friendships and embody the spirit of mutual respect and openness to new ideas and experiences.

Cllr Butler also paid tribute to Andre Guyomard and his wife Marie- Claire on Andres final visit to Longford as Twinning President and noted his years of voluntary work on making the twinning relationship such a success.

Also Read: Easter Bunny is special visitor to north Longford artisan food and craft fair

Longford County Council Chief Executive Paddy Mahon said, Longford Town and Noyal-Chatillon-sur-Seiche have enjoyed a mutually beneficial Town Twinning arrangement since 1998. Since then, over 2,000 young people and adults have been involved in exchange programmes, hosted by local families.

Through these many visits, people from both Longford Town and Noyal-Chatillon-sur-Seiche have had many authentic, first-hand experiences of another culture.

These are unique opportunities, opening up new ways of life, particularly for school students.
A Longford Oireachtas member has compared multiple regulatory failings at a county Longford care centre during the past year with the 2009 fire at St Mel's Cathedral.

Fine Gael Senator Paraic Brady raised the issue, which he described as being "very local and very personal" to him and the people of Longford, in the Seanad.

The facility was found to be 'non-compliant' in eight out of 15 regulatory areas when Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) officials carried out an unannounced inspection on November 14, 2024.

Senator Brady said the report into St Josephs care centre was very concerning.

"It is a damning report of how the service has been run into the ground.

"Our local councillor Peggy Nolan and other councillors in the area have highlighted this matter at local level.

"We lost our cathedral some years ago when it burned to the ground. It was rebuilt from the ashes."

Senator Brady referred to how people call it the Phoenix.

"This is our care centre, where the most vulnerable people in society and our elderly have been looked after for some years.

"There is great pride in this service in Longford.

Also Read: Omission of Newtowncashel from funding scheme questioned by Longford TD

"It is a huge facility and has been wonderful for people down through the years.

Senator Brady stressed eight areas of non-compliance was 'very damning' and he called for a root-and-branch investigation into the report.

"The report is damning, probably one of the worst that has ever been compiled.

"It is hurtful to see patients are not receiving the same care and attention that was there previously."

Senator Brady asked that the service be returned to the standard it was at a number of years ago.

"It is going to take a little investment and a lot of pain to the people who are there and the families and staff in order to get it back to the previous standard.

Also read: Treat for Longford traditional music lovers at inaugural Feile Joe Callaghan

"I hope this matter will be resolved sooner rather than later," he added.

Meanwhile, several key healthcare infrastructure projects in Longford and investment to the tune of almost 8.5 million has been included in the HSE Capital Plan.

The Health Service Executives 2025 plan is set to bring a transformative investment of 8.45 million to Longford, as part of a record 1.33 billion allocated nationally for the development and enhancement of healthcare infrastructure.

Longford TD Micheal Carrigy said the plan outlines important investment in local services that will directly benefit patients and service users across the county.
Capping a glorious three day festival Granard Booktown 2025 welcomed John Banville to the School Hall for a conversation with Belinda McKeon on Sunday evening.

Born in Wexford in 1945, the esteemed author is now resident in Dublin. Considered one of the great contemporary stylists, Banvill is an auto-include in any list of Ireland's literary greats.

His first offering, Long Lankin, was published in 1970. He has since gone on to create 31 books including The Book of Evidence, shortlisted for the 1989 Booker Prize and winner of the 1989 GPA Award, and The Sea, the winner of the 2005 Booker Prize.

He has also published polity violent crime novels under the pseudonym Benjamin Black. His many awards also include a Lannan Literary Award, the Franz Kafka Prize in 2011 and the 2013 Irish PEN Award for Outstanding Achievement in Irish Literature.

Also Read: Longford student wins trip to Strasbourg

Guiding the Sunday evening conversation was Longford author Belinda McKeon. Belindan is a novelist, short story writer and playwright.

Her novels, Solace and Tender, have been widely acclaimed, and her short fiction and nonfiction have been published in The Paris Review, Granta, Winter Papers, A Public Space, and The Stinging Fly.

The Sunday evening get together was a perfect distillation of Granard Booktown. McKeown has a wonderfully relaxed stage style, affording the audience the experience of eavesdropping on a particular engrossing conversation.

Banvill took to the stage in a rust coloured scarf to abate the Spring chill, a glass of white wine in his hand. Steered by McKeown he links anecdotes that illuminate a writing process he describes as "wrestling with language".

Also Read: North Midlands Credit Union joins the Home Energy Upgrade Loan scheme

Humorous, engaging and understated he exclaims: Dont tell me that, Oh God, when his host asked him about the 31 published works, I'm baffled by the notion of writing these books, God what was I doing?

He throws in quotes like, I dont write particularly well, I just do it better than everyone else or accountants invented language, and the greatest human invention is the sentence to provoke thought.

In a surrealist moment he spoke of the spectacular of the commonplace, bluebottle are exquisite and within minutes a fly came to rest on his outstretched hand. His exclamation: Theres nothing ordinary about this place, could have alluded to his time in Granard, or Ireland or even the world.

John Banville's conversation with Belinda McKeon in The School Hall, Granard was a sublime insight into the life of one or Ireland's best contemporary literary voices.
Longford TD Micheal Carrigy wants to ensure there is delivery and accountability regarding Programme for Government promises on the Autism Innovation Strategy.

The Ballinalee native stated during a Dail speech that the only way to achieve this was by placing the strategy on a permanent legislative footing and this must be followed up with the appropriate investment and implementation.

The Autism Innovation Strategy was launched by the Government in August 2024.

Deputy Carrigy said it contains over 80 actions that reflect the priorities of autistic people, address the daily challenges faced by themselves and their families face, and seek to address the gaps in existing services and supports.

The Fine Gael TD stated it is also designed to complement and enhance wider action on disability.

Also Read: Longford celebrates the arrival of 'Fraternity' Statue from beloved twin town

"It includes a significant number of recommendations of the final report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Autism, which was representative of all political groups within this House and engaged with relevant stakeholders.

"Some of the important actions of the strategy include establishing an autism innovation fund to fund projects to empower the autistic community and increase our understanding of autism; supporting inclusive and accessible learning environments that ensure autistic children and their families are supported in transitioning throughout the educational system; and enabling autistic children and adults to access early intervention assessments and multidisciplinary supports."

Deputy Carrigy acknowledged some of the work completed to date, including one-stop shops, a 65 million investment in this year's summer programme, additional undergraduate places in therapies, 400 extra special classes and 300 school places sanctioned for this year.

Also Read: Road Tragedy: Teenage boy killed, second teen injured after tractor crashes in County Leitrim

However, Deputy Carrigy stressed the needs and challenges faced by autistic people will not go away or end after 18 months.

"Supports need to be put in place for the whole of life.

"The only way to ensure accountability and delivery of all the actions is to put it on a legislative footing.

"It is now eight months since the launch.

Deputy Carrigy asked how many of the actions have been commenced or completed?

Also Read: Longford theatre legend John Kelly back on stage for Me And My Girl musical

He also stated a recent report Same Chance, launched by AsIAm, identifies a regression by comparison with what is in last year's report.

"Some 86% of respondents say they still do not have the same chance as non-autistic people in Irish society, citing long waiting lists, discrimination, a lack of support and financial pressures as key barriers.

"Some 70% of respondents also do not believe the educational system is inclusive of autistic people, representing a 14% increase. Some 69% of children represented in the report are not currently receiving supports, while 84% are waiting over one year.

"This is indicative of circumstances in my county, where there are currently 3.9 vacant posts to be filled in the CDNT and, indeed, a waiting list for places in special schools," he added.

Deputy Carrigy, who has made no secret of how he is the parent of an autistic child, said his drafted bill, the autism action and oversight bill, which is at second stage in the Seanad.

"I want to put it on a legislative footing that the recommendations and act in that strategy are there for all times and there is a requirement on the relevant government department to continue to deliver on their recommendation, whatever it may be, be-it health or education."
Longford has been awarded 128,905 to protect two significant archaeological monuments in the county.

Abbeyshrule Abbey and Saints Island will receive 100,000 and 28,905, respectively, under the 2025 Community Monuments Fund announced by Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne and Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher OSullivan.

Also read: Longford celebrates the arrival of 'Fraternity' Statue from beloved twin town

Allocated funding under Stream 1, the 100k for Abbeyshrule Abbey will go towards essential repairs and conservation works. While Saints Island received 28,905 under Stream 2 for the development of a Conservation Management Plan.

Deputy Micheal Carrigy said he is delighted to see this vital investment coming to Longford. Abbeyshrule Abbey and Saints Island are treasured parts of our countys rich archaeological heritage. This funding will ensure their protection and preservation while also improving public access and understanding of these important sites.

Deputy Carrigy added, This announcement reflects the strong commitment to protecting Longfords historical sites and supporting the incredible work being done locally by heritage groups, custodians, and the local authority. I will continue to work to ensure Longford secures the investment and support needed to preserve and promote our unique archaeological heritage.

Also read: Longford Senator compares St Joseph's report to 2009 Cathedral Fire

Senator Joe Flaherty also welcomed the funding. Im delighted to see a 100k allocation for the Abbey project in Abbeyshrule. This is a great community initiative supported by a determined local committee, their councillor, Mick Cahill, and the County Longford Heritage Officer, Mairead Ni Chonghaile.

The Abbey of Shrule in its present form was colonised by the Cistercians from Mellifont Abbey under the patronage of the OFarrells of Annaly, although there may have been an earlier Christian foundation on this site. The Cistercian monastery was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary around 1150AD and the construction of the current abbey itself dates to c.1200.

Also read: Difference maker: Longford student recognised for his passion for promoting financial literacy

Senator Flaherty added, There is also 20,805 in funding for the historic Saints Island on Lough Ree. The island is located on the southeastern shore of Lough Ree, south of the village of Newtowncashel. A narrow causeway, in existence since the 1650s, connects the island to the mainland.

The island (200 acres) is a rich habitat and breeding ground for a diverse range of wildlife and migrating birds in particular. The ruins of the Augustinian Priory of All Saints is located on the northwest corner of the island.

Also read: Road Tragedy: Teenage boy killed, second teen injured after tractor crashes in County Leitrim
The former US ambassador to Luxembourg on Tuesday called the Trump administration's idea to close its embassy in the Grand Duchy just insane.

The happiest person in Luxembourg, if that happens, would be the Chinese ambassador to Luxembourg, Tom Barrett, the former US envoy to the Grand Duchy, said on the Earl Ingram Show on broadcasting station Civic Media.

Luxembourg wooed by China

Why? Because they are ready to just step in and fill any gap when the United States, and I saw this throughout Europe, I saw this throughout international organisations, when the United States pulls out, China moves in. Its that straightforward, Barrett said.

Luxembourg is being wooed by China, he said. One of the major issues we faced in our embassy in Luxembourg was the Chinese investment in Luxembourg, the economic ties" being forged between the two countries, he added.

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China has a strong embassy presence in Luxembourg

China has around seven banks in Luxembourg and a strong embassy presence, Barrett told another Wisconsin media outlet, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

The Chinese have to be loving that, Barrett added. It allows them to move in and fill the vacuum and make the case that Luxembourg is more important to the Chinese than it is to the United States.

And so, if President Trump thinks his main rival is China, taking these steps that allow China to move in is insane, he said on Civic Media, considering that Donald Trump is just opening up a huge barn door to let China drive in all over the world.

A weakening of relations in prospect

Barrett, a Democrat who was nominated by Joe Biden, left his post in the Grand Duchy after Trumps inauguration earlier this year.

Looking beyond China, the former ambassador is also concerned about the consequences of such a decision for relations between the US and Luxembourg, which he says have until now been close and positive.

But such a decision could only weaken that relationship, according to Barrett - especially without any real reasons.

This comes on top of the trade war launched by Trump, a strategy he described as "ironic", pointing out that the US has a trade surplus with Luxembourg and that the Grand Duchy is one of the main holders of US debt.

It's a country that really invests in the United States. So this is clearly an indication: 'How can we punish our friends?' he said, adding that insulting people who have been our allies for 80 years. It just doesnt make any sense to me.

The Luxembourg government in limbo

According to the US news website Politico, Luxembourg is on a list of potential embassy closures drawn up in the context of the US State Department's cost-cutting measures.

Luxembourgs foreign ministry said on Monday that it was not aware of any plans by the US government to close its embassy in Luxembourg and has not been contacted by the US administration on this matter.

No embassy or consulate closures have been announced, an embassy spokesperson told the Luxembourg Times on Wednesday. Our operations are continuing as normal, the statement said.

The US embassy has been without a resident ambassador since Barretts departure in January. Shortly after his election, Trump nominated Stacey Feinberg as the next US envoy to Luxembourg. She has yet to complete her nomination process and official Senate hearings. She was one of Trumps campaign donors.

(This article was first published by Virgule. Translation and adaptation by Tracy Heindrichs.)
Luxembourg continues to serve as a significant transit point in the European drug trade, with most narcotics entering the country via road or air cargo, Home Affairs Minister Leon Gloden said on Monday.



Luxembourg is strengthening international cooperation on drug enforcement through updated bilateral agreements, joint operations, and active participation in EU coordination efforts, Gloden said in response to a written parliamentary question from Pirate Party deputy Sven Clement.

Over the past five years, police and customs officials have seized substantial quantities of illegal substances. Cannabis remains the most commonly intercepted drug by volume, followed by cocaine, heroin, and synthetic substances such as MDMA and amphetamines.

While the volume of drug seizures has remained relatively stable, authorities note that estimating the street value of these substances is challenging due to wide fluctuations in price based on quality and market conditions.

Also read: Luxembourg customs officials seize over a tonne of hashish

Drugs found on the street typically arrive from Belgium or the Netherlands, while air shipments often originate in non-EU countries. Specific source nations were not disclosed.

Police, who focus on internal controls and roadside checks, report that most seizures occur via road transport, particularly at the traditional border crossings with Belgium, France and Germany.



In contrast, the customs administration  tasked with overseeing goods entering the country  reports that most of its discoveries stem from air cargo shipments, especially postal parcels processed through Luxembourg Airports cargo centre.

Criminal networks are also adapting their strategies. Smugglers continuously modify transport routes, concealment methods, and entry points to evade detection.

As law enforcement pressure intensifies in one area, traffickers shift to more lightly monitored regions  a phenomenon security experts refer to as the waterbed effect.



According to an assessment from Europol, this shifting pressure has placed even small countries like Luxembourg in the crosshairs of major international drug networks.

However, Luxembourg primarily functions as a transit country within larger European trafficking networks. The police and customs note that drugs arriving in Luxembourg are generally not destined for Luxembourg, but largely only transit through the country, Gloden said.

Also read: Drug cartels have long since put Luxembourg on the map

In response to the growing cross-border complexity of cases, the government stressed that international cooperation remains a core pillar of its drug enforcement strategy. Luxembourg plans to update its bilateral security agreements with Germany and France to address emerging challenges, the home affairs minister said.

The country also remains an active participant in the Hazeldonk operations  joint actions with Belgium, France, and the Netherlands, targeting drug transport across shared borders.

Luxembourgs customs administration has joined the EUs newly created expert team on customs, aimed at enhancing coordination at external EU borders, including ports, airports, and land crossings. Both the police and customs services are in daily contact with their European counterparts and regularly contribute to Europol-led working groups, Gloden added.

Also read: Cannabis seized in drug search at Lycee Classique in Diekirch

Recent violence involving drug gangs in Belgium and the Netherlands  including incidents linked to Colombian cartels  has raised questions about the potential for similar threats spilling over into Luxembourg.

However, Gloden said there is currently no evidence of a cartel presence within the country. The police are continuously conducting a threat assessment and monitoring trends in drug crime, in particular through collaboration and exchange of information with other member states and, in particular, with neighbouring countries, he said.



The risk can never be completely ruled out, but there are currently no indications that violent incidents caused by cartels are a threat in Luxembourg, added the home affairs minister.
Child actors in Boston and Springfield are being encouraged to audition for a new post-apocalyptic movie.

The movie is called America Down and is a feature film set in the post-apocalyptic United States following a devastating pandemic. The movie will likely be rated R and the role involves intense scenes including R-rated themes of language, and death.

Currently, the film is casting for the younger sibling of the protagonist, Jamie.

Children ages 5-12 are encouraged to apply. The young actor needs to be capable of expressing a wide range of emotions.

The younger the look, the better, but we are open to submissions from ages 5 - 12, the casting website states.

Production will occur in Connecticut and New York from May 2026 to June 2026. The actor could get paid up to $1,200 for five days of filming.

For more information, click here.
If youve watched Saturday Night Live, you may know Rachel Dratch.

From playing Debbie Downer to Denise in Boston Teens, the Mass. native has made a name for herself in comedy through the show.

But the actress is heading back to her hometown of Lexington to take part in one historical celebration.

In an interview with NBC Bostons Jeff Saperstone, Dratch will be home to take part in the Lexington 250 parade, which marks the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Lexington, the first battle of the Revolutionary War.

Dratch credited her start in the industry within the halls of Lexington High School.

I did the school plays and I was kind of a class clown so that combo kind of leads to a SNL cast member, she told Saperstone.

Now, shes ready to join in on the hometown parade festivities.

Ill start practicing my parade wave. Its an honor, she said. I love Massachusetts, New England, Lexington. You know, its in my roots.

On Saturday, April 19 starting at 5:15 a.m., the reenactment of the Battle of Lexington will take place, according to the Tour Lexington website. The Patriots Day Parade will kick off at 2 p.m.

See the full weekend itinerary of events in Lexington here.
Co-workers from the TODAY show provided an update on host Sheinelle Jones, whos been absent since December 2024.

The announcement was made during a segment on April 12. Co-hosts Craig Melvin, Al Roker and Dylan Dreyer shared the news while reporting from a cruise ship about to disembark from a port in Miami, according to NBC.

Jones announced the reasoning for her absence in an Instagram post on Jan. 15, citing a family health matter.

I sincerely appreciate all of you who have reached out while Ive been absent from the show, she wrote. Its not lost on me how lucky I am to have not only the support of my TODAY Show family, but to also have all of you.

Melvin, whos stepped in for Jones, told Access Hollywoods guest correspondent, Emily Orozco, that he spoke with Jones a couple of days ago and that shes taking some time to be with her family.

We love our girl, Melvin said. Its been nice to see how much everyone loves her, too.

Exactly, Al Roker added. Were praying for her.

Dreyer confirmed that Jones will be back on the TODAY show.

She misses being here, she wishes she was here with us, Dreyer told Access Hollywood. But shes doing what she needs to do.

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Neil Young is seen during Farm Aid on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, in Noblesville, Ind. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP) Amy Harris/Invision/AP

Donald Trumps administration nearly barred music legend Neil Young from becoming a U.S. citizen, according to Youngs wife, Daryl Hannah.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee has historically criticized Trump and even sued him in 2020 for using his song Rockin In the Free World at campaign rallies.

Now, Hannah revealed that her husband was harassed while trying to get his U.S. citizenship during the first Trump administration.

They tried every trick in the book to mess him up, and made him keep coming back to be re-interviewed and re-interviewed, Hannah told BBC. Its ridiculous [because] hes been living in America and paying taxes here since he was in his 20s.

Young, who holds dual Canadian-American citizenship, is touring across the U.S. this summer. The musician recently expressed concerns that he could be barred from the U.S. following an increase of detainees and deportations.

When I go to play music in Europe, if I talk about Donald J. Trump, I may be one of those returning to America who is barred or put in jail to sleep on a cement floor with an aluminium blanket, he recently wrote on his website, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Thats right folks, if you say anything bad about Trump or his administration, you may be barred from re-entering USA, Young wrote.

However, Hannah believes Young should be able to enter the country without any issues.

Theyve been detaining people who have green cards or visas  which is hideous and horrifying  but they have not, so far, been refusing to let American citizens back in the country, so I dont think thats going to happen," she told the BBC.

Before coming to the States, Young will headline Glastonbury on Saturday, June 28. The rock legend previously accused music festival of being under the corporate control of the BBC, but has since told fans that he was misinformed.

Due to an error in the information received, I had decided to not play the Glastonbury festival, which I always have loved, Young wrote in a post on his website. Happily, the festival is now back on our itinerary and we look forward to playing! Hope to see you there!

Young also has a new documentary that will be theatrically released worldwide on April 17 called Neil Young: Coastal. The documentary follows Young on his 2023 solo tour of the West Coast, according to a press release on his website.
A survivor representative non-profit has released a statement purportedly from a Connecticut man who police say was held captive for 20 years by his stepmother.

In February, a then-31-year-old man set fire to a Waterbury home in an attempt to escape from the control of 56-year-old Kimberly Sullivan, who police arrested on kidnapping-related charges March, Waterbury police said previously.
With a sign in hand, a 16-year-old autistic Massachusetts resident stood along a busy Canton road just outside a facility still using electric shock devices on people like him.

This is a cause I care very much about because its people like me that are being targeted here by these therapies, Jacob Levy told MassLive on Wednesday.
State Rep. Christopher Flanagan, 37, of Dennis, (in white shirt), D-1st Barnstable, leaves federal court in Boston after being indicted on five counts of wire fraud and one count of falsification of records. on April 11. Staff Photo by Chris Van Buskirk/Boston Herald via Getty Images

State House Speaker Ronald Mariano, D-3rd Norfolk, bucked several of his Democratic colleagues Wednesday, doubling down on his belief that state Rep. Christopher Flanagan, D-1st Barnstable, should not resign despite being indicted on federal fraud charges last week.

Mariano said calls for Flanagan to resign, which came from Gov. Maura Healey and several other Democratic lawmakers, were premature, according to The Boston Globe.

Hes got to look at what hes going through and whether or not he can effectively be the representative he claimed he would be  Im waiting for [him] to be convicted so that I know that hes guilty, Mariano told reporters, according to The Boston Herald.

Flanagan, 37, of Dennis, is charged with five counts of wire fraud and one count of falsification of records. He is accused of abusing his position as the executive officer of the Home Builders Association on Cape Cod to steal $36,000 from the associations bank accounts.

Flanagan used those funds for, among other things, psychic services, menswear from Macys, an air conditoner and an electric dryer, according to an indictment unsealed last week.

Federal prosecutors say Flanagan used $10,000 he stole as a boon for his campaign for the legislature, sending out mailers and creating T-shirts.

Late last week calls for Flanagans resignation came not just from Healey but also fellow Democrats in the Cape and Islands delegation, Sens. Julian Cyr, D-Cape and Islands, and Dylan Fernandes, D-Plymouth/Barnstable.

In calling for Flanagans resignation, Healey said the accusations against him cast doubt on his ability to faithfully serve his constituents.

On the other side of the aisle, House Minority Leader Brad Jones, R-20th Middlesex, and the MassGOP have urged House Democrats and Mariano to push Flanagan to resign or act to remove him from office.

But Mariano is taking a different approach.

I think [calling for him to resign] is premature, he said, the Globe reported. Everyone deserves a trial.

Material from State House News Service was used in this report.
A man found asleep in his car on Interstate 495 in Lowell early Wednesday morning was arrested after he woke up and led troopers on a 100 mph chase.

Kristopher Cole, 29, of Newburyport, was arrested on April 16 and charged with failure to stop for police, driving under the influence of alcohol and possession of ammunition without a firearms identification card, according to Massachusetts State Police.

Multiple 911 calls had come in to state police at 1:13 a.m. to report a dark-colored car stopped in the middle lane on the southbound side of I-495 in Lowell, police said.

Troopers arrived to find the driver, later identified as Cole, asleep behind the wheel, the department said.

But suddenly and without warning, Cole woke up and sped off, the department said, and reached speeds of about 100 mph as he tried to evade the troopers on the highway.

The troopers in pursuit successfully deployed a tracking device called Star Chase onto Coles car and put out other devices to deflate his tires, but Cole kept driving away at speeds up to 45 mph after his tires popped, the department said.

Cole finally came to a stop at around 1:45 a.m. and was arrested by troopers without further incident, the department said.
A murder suspect accused of killing a Lynn restaurant owner in February was held without bail during his arraignment in Essex County Superior Court on Tuesday, according to the Essex County District Attorneys Office.

Lynn resident Erick German-Pena, 25, is facing charges of murder, armed burglary and carrying a firearm without a license in the death of 48-year-old Lynn resident Ilias Mavros, the district attorneys office said in a press release. German-Pena pleaded not guilty to the charges on Tuesday.
Karen Read with her attorneys David Yannetti, left, and Alan Jackson, right, during jury selection in her murder trial in Norfolk Superior Court on Tuesday in Dedham. (Nancy Lane/The Boston Herald via AP, Pool)

At the final hearing before Karen Reads trial begins in earnest Tuesday, prosecutors hammered Reads lawyers for what they described as a repeated pattern of trying the case by ambush.

The exchange came as special prosecutor Hank Brennan renewed his efforts to obtain further information from Reads defense team about their communications with a pair of accident reconstructionists first hired by the federal government.
The Trump administration has canceled $90 million in disaster prevention aid that was set to fund projects in 18 Massachusetts communities, according to Gov. Maura Healeys Office.

Among the new presidents latest budget cuts is the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant program (BRIC), which provided FEMA-funded hazard mitigation assistance grants, the governors office said in a press release. The programs cancellation revokes $90 million that was slated to go to 18 communities across Massachusetts, a regional planning commission and two state agencies.

In recent years, Massachusetts communities have been devastated by severe storms, flooding and wildfires. We rely on FEMA funding to not only rebuild but also take steps to protect against future extreme weather, Healey said in the release.

But the Trump administration has suddenly ripped the rug out from under cities and towns that had been promised funding to help them upgrade their roads, bridges, buildings and green spaces to mitigate risk and prevent disasters in the future. This makes our communities less safe and will increase costs for residents, municipalities and businesses.

The Trump administration did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday afternoon.

Communities affected by the grant program cancellation:

Chelsea and Everett: $49,999,999 for the Island End River Coastal Flood Resilience Project

Boston: $22,894,600 for Resilient Moakley Park

Rockport: $320,000 for Thatcher Road Corridor resilient design

Taunton: $195,000 for Cobb Brook Culvert Study Project scoping

Wilbraham: $150,000 for the Glenn Drive Pump Station Generator

North Adams: $144,000 for Galvin Road Culvert Improvements Project scoping

Brockton: $124,050 for Keith Field Culvert Project scoping

Hinsdale: $81,720 for powering the Hinsdale Public Safety Complex

Lynnfield: $80,302.50 for implementation of a permitting system

Gosnold: $75,000 for protection of Cuttyhunk Islands Water Supply Project scoping

Longmeadow: $74,156 for building code sctivities

Acton: $67,500 for Jenks Conservation Land culvert lmprovements

Whately: $63,750 for Christian Lane stormwater flooding

Newburyport: $50,250 for a drinking water and watershed regulations assessment & update

Hull: $49,500 to enhance Hulls existing adopted codes

Grafton: $37,500 for Merriam Road Culvert Improvement Project scoping

Northbridge: $37,500 for a permitting process upgrade

Rockport: $8,437.50 for building code capabilities enhancement

Most of the $90 million was intended to go towards two projects  the Island End River Coastal Flood Resilience Project in Chelsea and Everett and the Resilient Moakley Park Project in Bostons South Boston neighborhood.

The loss of BRIC funding for the Island End River Flood Barrier project puts over $7 billion in annual economic activity  and the safety of more than 5,000 residents living in the floodplain  at risk, Chelsea City Manager Fidel Maltez said in the release. We urge the administration to reconsider and restore this critical investment in frontline communities.

Two Massachusetts state agencies were affected by the cutting of the grant program, according to Healeys office. The Department of Conservation and Recreation lost $11,969,908 for the Tenean Beach/Conley Street Resilient Waterfront Project in Boston and $505,516 for building code higher flood standards, while the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) lost $675,000 for Massachusetts building code access, $300,000 for a voluntary buyout program feasibility study and pilot program and $1,873,013 that had been allocated for state management costs.

The Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission was also affected by the grant programs cancellation, losing out on $321,021 that had been slated for regional building code inspection and training, the governors office said.
Harvard University announced Monday plans to make tuition free for students of families making up to $200,00. Michael Casey/AP

Harvard University has stood out among institutions targeted by the administration of President Donald Trump.

Six of the eight Ivy League schools  Brown University, Columbia University, Harvard, Princeton University, Cornell University and the University of Pennsylvania  have had funding frozen. Northwestern University has also.

Harvard has put forward a statement that they will not comply with demands.

That was an expensive decision for Harvard, resulting in $2.2 billion in funding that was frozen, with a total of $9 billion in jeopardy.

Harvard President Alan Garber laid out his thinking in a letter to the school community on Monday, in which he provided a link to a newly released letter from the Trump administration from Friday expanding its demands of the university.

The demands laid out government plans to control Harvard and punish dissent.

Among the demands in the governments letter were to allow the government to audit the viewpoints of students, faculty and staff and that those departments that were lacking in viewpoint diversity  determined by the government  would be reformed.

The administrations prescription goes beyond the power of the federal government Garbers letter states. No government  regardless of which party is in power  should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue.

The governments initial demands, released early in April, purported to focus on fighting antisemitism at Harvard.

Expanded demands submitted to the university on Friday went well beyond that purview.

They included:

Allowing the government to audit the viewpoints of students, faculty and staff and forcing the university to hire people

Giving leadership power to those most devoted to enacting the changes in the letter, and stripping it away from those who arent

Forcing the university to deploy campus police to enact discipline on students who disobey policies approved by the government

Sharing all hiring data with the government, which would be subjected to an audit

Preventing admission of international students the government deems hostile to American values

Discontinuing all diversity, equity and inclusion programs

The five page letter was signed by Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum of the General Services Administration and by attorneys for the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

Garber wrote that Harvard is taking accusations of antisemitism seriously, adding that the university has taken many steps to address antisemitism on campus over the past 15 months.

Those include nurturing a thriving culture of open inquiry on campus, respecting free speech and dissent and working together to find ways consistent with the law that supports and respects difference.

These ends will not be achieved by assertions of power, unmoored from the law, to control teaching and learning at Harvard and to dictate how we operate, Garber said.
Vice President Kamala Harris attends a Department of Defense Commander in Chief farewell ceremony at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) AP

Former Vice President Kamala Harris appears to be losing the backing of her partys voters, according to a new poll.

In an Echelon Insights poll conducted between April 10-14, the poll asked voters who they would support if the 2028 Democratic presidential primary were held today.

Among a list of 20 candidates, Harris was the top choice for voters but support for her has dropped.

The poll found that 28% of respondents would support Harris, a 5% drop from Echelons last poll conducted between March 10-13. In that poll, the former Vice President received 33% of respondents support.

A potential rival for Harris, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, saw a large uptick in support.

Eleven percent of respondents said they would back Booker as the nominee, a 9% increase from the last poll where he only earned 2% of support.

Booker has been lauded in Democratic social circles for his record-breaking 25-hour, 5-minute filibuster protesting President Donald Trumps policies.

Despite his rise in support, Booker would still lose in a hypothetical matchup between him and Harris, the poll found.

A majority of respondents in the April poll, 54%, said they would definitely or probably vote for Harris while 34% said they would definitely or probably vote for Booker.

In the last poll conducted in March, 49% of respondents said they would definitely or probably vote for Harris in the primary while 34% said they would definitely or probably support a different primary candidate.

Among the 20 other candidates listed in the April Echelon poll, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., had 7% supportboth tied for third place. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and California Gov. Gavin Newsom placed fourth and fifth in the poll. Five percent of respondents said they would pick Walz to be the nominee while 4% said they would pick Newsom.

The April Echelon poll featured a sample size of 1,014 likely voters with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5%.

The March Echelon poll featured a sample size of 1,007 likely voters with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5%.

Harris herself has not announced plans to run for president but there is speculation that she may mount a campaign for governorship in California.
A view from atop the Knightville Dam in Huntington in September. The Army Corps of Engineers, which manages the 2,430 acres along with Littleville Lake nearby, warns of diminished recreational opportunities because of federal budget cuts and hiring freezes. (Jim Kinney / The Republican) The Republican

HUNTINGTON  The Army Corps of Engineers is warning potential visitors of curtailed recreation opportunities at parks like Littleville Lake and Knightville Dam here or Conant Brook Dam in Monson, because its highly unlikely rangers will be available this summer.

There will be reduced hours, limited access to facilities and significantly reduced services this summer at all Army Corps sites, including its 12 in Massachusetts, the Army Corps posted on its website and social media accounts this week.
Popular Irish influencer Annalivia Hynds, has had to put up a video urging people to stop coming to her family's home after her address was leaked online.

Annalivia has amassed a large following on social media platforms with over 500,000 followers on Tiktok and over 300,000 followers on Instagram.

Annalivia starts the video by saying that she "hates being a negative person" but they have had "so many people coming to their house."

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Her partner Ruari also in the video gives context on when the incidents of people coming to their house started happening saying "So this started a while ago, and there was an individual on social media from the top of our road, recorded the whole layout of our estate and how to get to our house."

He goes on to say people since then have shouted abuse through the windows and "harmless individuals" have been calling looking for photos "but it's just got too far now." He goes on to say that their kids are even "getting a wee bit anxious now."

Not only have the pair had people coming up to their front door but Ruari says he spotted an individual recording him collecting his daughter from school "I was collecting Robin from school, and an individual was recording Robin coming out of school, holding my hand."

Following that he says "What is wrong with some people? Like, do you know what I mean?"
It has been announced today that 159,827.50 will be awarded to three projects in Mayo through the 2025 Community Monuments Fund to help owners and custodians of archaeological monuments to safeguard them into the future.

First established in 2020, the Community Monuments Fund (CMF) aims to conserve, maintain, protect and promote local monuments and historic sites. Funding is available to allow conservation works to be carried out on monuments that are deemed to be significant and in need of urgent support. The aim is to encourage access to monuments and improve their presentation and also to build their resilience to help them withstand the effects of climate change.

Nationally, 122 projects that will be awarded 7.5 million in funding under the Fund.

The CMF supports essential repairs and capital works for the conservation of archaeological monuments and also the development of Conservation Management Plans to identify measures that may be needed to conserve monuments. Grants are also available to enhance public access infrastructure and interpretation at archaeological monuments.

The three Mayo projects awarded funding this year include:

Ardnaree Augustinian Abbey - 100,000

Castleconnor - 30,000

Lough Lannagh Castle 29,827.50

Minister Alan Dillon said: I would like to thank Mayo County Council and especially Deirdre Cunningham, Heritage Officer and her team for all their hard work and co-operation with the National Monuments Service in rolling out and administering the Community Monuments Fund. I would also like to acknowledge the private owners as custodians of much of our archaeological heritage and I am delighted that they are able to avail of this funding.

READ MORE: Mayo crown new 'Rose' for iconic Rose of Tralee festival

This scheme helps to build robustness in our heritage against the extremes of weather, addressing key actions in our Climate Adaptation Plan as well as under Heritage Ireland 2030. These awards also deliver jobs for the heritage sector and traditional skills craftspeople, providing thousands of hours of employment every year.

The news that the Augustinian Abbey in Ballina is to benefit from a 100,000 investment has also been welcomed by Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht Dara Calleary.

This is great news for Ballina and for the project to preserve Ardnaree Abbey, located beside St. Muredachs Cathedral and follows on from an initial 30,000 investment in 2024.

I am very grateful to my government colleagues Minister James Browne and Minister Christopher OSullivan for their support of this important historical project. I also want to thank Cllr Annie May Reape and Mayo County Council for their work in relation to the project to date.

I also welcome the 30,000 for a conservation project at Castleconnor Castle on the Moy Estuary. Additionally 29,827 has been allocated to Lough Lannagh Castle.

Congratulations to all involved in this initiative, I look forward to continuing to work with them as both projects progress.
MAYO councillors have called for the Minister for Justice to attend their monthly meeting after he was accused of only being concerned about policing in Dublin.

The invitation to the Minister of Justice, Jim O'Callaghan, to attend the monthly meeting of Mayo County Council was extended by his Fianna Fail colleague, Cllr Michael Loftus who was critical of the Government's approach to policing.

The Crossmolina-based councillor was critical that the new Local Community Safety Partnership (LCSP), which replaced the Joint Policing Committee (JPC) had not been set up in Mayo and also questioned their worth after they were piloted in Dublin, Longford and Waterford.

READ: Petition launched against proposed routes for Cong relief road

In this area we don't have one in place or the regulations in place for the Local Community Safety Partnership in Mayo and I question the idea behind it, he said.

Recently there was a report done by the University of Limerick in relation to the ones [LCSP] in Longford, Waterford and Dublin and the conclusion of those was that they were ineffective. An opportunity to let the gardai off the hook is what they said. And yet this is being driven by the department.

Cllr Loftus also raised the concerns of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors who stated that the future of policing in Ireland is not working and garda numbers in rural areas were being diluted.

I blame this on the Minister for Justice and the previous Minister for Justice [Helen McEntee] for driving this forward. The only place he thinks of is Dublin and there is no place outside Dublin that he actually cares about.

I have a serious issue with that and I call for the reinstatement of the JPCs. I want an invitation sent to Jim O'Callaghan, the minister, to come down here to us for the May meeting with the Chief Superintendent to explain what he proposes to do in relation to this, he said.

Interviews for the position of Chairperson of the Mayo LCSP had taken place but the meeting heard that the decision to appoint a chairperson has been 'set aside' by the Department and the new chair will be chosen whenever the committee meets.

This is an attempt by the Department of Justice to stall this whole thing, said Cllr Michael Kilcoyne who raised the matter.

There was time spent doing interviews and now all of this has been set aside. Whenever there is a committee being set up into the distant future and maybe in the lifetime for this council, they will elect their own chairperson, he said and this was confirmed by the Chief Executive, Kevin Kelly.

Ballinrobe-based Fianna Fail councillor Damien Ryan also called for the Minister to attend the Mayo meeting and if he fails to do so, a delegation should meet him.

He too called for the reinstatement of the JPC saying it was one arm of local government which 'worked famously well' and it needs to be brought back.

The emphasis certainly after the riots in Dublin, was on drafting all numbers into the capital to make it safe. My understanding is that has well and truly been achieved and the overwhelming majority of the people who came out of Templemore went to Dublin and the greater Dublin area. The rural areas have suffered as a result, he said.

The meeting was also told that Chief Superintendent Ray McMahon who is responsible for policing in the Mayo, Roscommon, and Longford Garda Divisions will be in a position to attend the May monthly meeting of the council and he would be happy to attend.
A railway bridge outside Claremorris posing serious safety issues to motorists will be replaced.

Councillors from the Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District have approved road realignment works and the construction of a new railway overbridge at Bekan Brigde in the townlands of Cuilbeg and Belesker in Claremorris.

The works will see the construction of 700 metres of embankment and road carriageway involving horizontal and vertical realignment, road pavement overlay/inlay, as well as accommodation works and associated site works. The proposed design will consist of two three-metre carriageways, with 0.5-metre hard strips and verges of varying widths on both sides on the N60 National road from Claremorris to Ballyhaunis.

There was one submission made regarding the proposal from Patrick Carney, who objected to the closure of direct entrance to his land.

It has been proposed that the proposed accommodation works at Mr Carneys property will be amended to facilitate direct access to the N60 as per the existing arrangement. Further engagement regarding accommodation works will take place with each affected landowner at the land acquisition stage of the project.

The Part 8 approval for the project was broadly welcomed when it came before the monthly meeting of the municipal district last week.

The meeting heard that the structure, which was built between 1855 and 1865, had been causing serious safety issues, with numerous cars striking the bridges walls. It is estimated that work on the new bridge will begin before the end of 2026.

Local representative Cllr Richard Finn (Independent) said the new bridge would be a major progress in the field of health and safety.

Cllr Alma Gallagher (Fine Gael) paid tribute to her predecessor, John Cribbin, who made several representations on the matter during his time as a county councillor.

This proposal is long overdue in what can only be described as a notorious black spot with frequent accidents and tragedies, stated Cllr Gallagher.
COUNTY councillors in Mayo have been told that there is no such thing as a ban on chimneys.

Under building regulations introduced in 2014, the construction of chimneys in new dwellings has been severely curtailed.

Mondays meeting of Mayo County Council heard that people living in houses without chimneys had to move houses after they lost their electricity during Storm Eowyn.

Carrowholly-based county councillor John OMalley tabled a motion before the meeting calling for the government to relax the regulations to allow chimneys to be built on new houses.

Cllr OMalley (Independent) said that the relevant Government minister should address the matter before Mayo County Council if necessary.

Weve had two bad storms in a couple of months, and the electricity went, and it will happen again, said Cllr OMalley. Well be without electricity, and there is nothing wrong with people having solid fuel there ready to put into a fire to keep them warm. Its common sense in my opinion.

Snugboro-based councillor Ger Deere seconded Cllr OMalleys motion, saying it makes total sense to amend the ridiculous stipulation regarding chimneys.

Cllr Deere said that people would have died had they not had access to solid fuel during the power outages caused by the storm.

I know in my own neighbourhood, elderly people who were without electricity for a number of days and families and kids with disabilities and illnesses, they had to go to their neighbours house where there is an open fire.

The Fine Gael councillor said that grants should be available for converter switches to allow people to use generators during a power outage.

Cllr Brendan Mulroy (Fianna Fail) also expressed support for Cllr OMalleys motion.

Fires being on saved peoples lives, there is no doubt about that, said the Westport-based councillor.

Cllr Chris Maxwell, a turf-cutter based in Louisburgh, said that chimneys were a necessity in rural Ireland.

The Independent Ireland councillor said it would be a great idea to use timber felled by Storm Eowyn as solid fuel, adding that it would tidy up the countryside.

There is a massive amount of that down now, and it is an eyesore around the place, and it has to be gotten rid of, he said.

Catherine McConnell, Mayo County Councils Director of Services for Planning, said that the prohibition on chimneys was due to building regulations and not a matter for council planners.

Ms McConnell added that there was no such thing as a ban on chimneys in houses.

There has never been a situation where a planning notification has removed a chimney or said you cant have it, she explained. But in order to build your house according to the building regulations, you may have to provide evidence of air tightnessthats not a ban. There is no such thing as a ban on a fire.

Cllr Blackie Gavin (Fianna Fail) said there was nothing to stop homeowners boring a hole in a wall in their house to install a flu or a stove in their house.
Chloe Spelman, a nine-year-old girl born with Congenital CMV infection, is an inspiration story for others as she takes the next steps for treatment.

Her mother Miriam Spelman has set up a Go Fund Me recently to raise funds for Chloe's intensive therapy in July in London, through the 'Breath Magic Programme.'

It will allow Chloe to receive 60 hours of Intensive Bimanual Upper Limb Therapy and 4,980 has been raised on her Go Fund Me so far.

"We are absolutely thrilled and feel so lucky that Chloe is being given this opportunity. The charity will part fund the place and we have to raise the rest of the funds.

"Included in this, myself and Chloe will be in London for 2 weeks. All funds raised will go directly to Breathe Magic to fund Chloe's place, with any surplus going to help keep this very special initiative going and help other little cerebral palsy champions grow in independence and self confidence," Miriam said.

Miriam tells her daughters fascinating story as Chloe fights through her diagnosis, which causes hearing loss and cerebral palsy affecting her right hand side.

Despite this, Chloe attends mainstream school and loves to play sport and join in with her friends and two sisters Freya and Alannah the best she can.

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"These days Chloe is working really hard to become that bit more independent and master tasks others take for granted like putting on her socks, doing buttons and zips, tying her hair in a pony tail, cutting her food, writing her homework, putting batteries into her hearing aid and getting those tricky packets open," Miriam said.

"In February we went to London to meet with the Charity Breathe Magic, their programme is an innovative intervention, incorporating specially selected magic tricks that provoke specific two-handed actions, as well as performance and problem-solving skills, for young people with hemiplegia and cerebral palsy," Miriam continued.

The programme provides one-to-one support tailored to suit each young persons particular strengths, needs, and goals.

By learning high-quality magic and performance skills, Chloe can increase her independence in self-care skills and improve her psychosocial wellbeing by building confidence, self-esteem and a can-do attitude.

She will also get the chance to meet and connect with other young people who are dealing with similar conditions.

You can find the Go Fund Me link here.
National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the company rolling out the National Broadband Plan (NBP) has announced that residents on Achill Island off the coast of Co Mayo can now place an order for high-speed fibre broadband, with connections set to go live this summer.

NBI is delivering its fibre broadband infrastructure to 3,156 homes and businesses on Achill Island and the surrounding area on the mainland coastline. This includes 2,481 premises on the island and 675 premises in the Corraun and Ballycroy townlands on the mainland in Mayo.

Over 200 premises on the neighbouring offshore islands of Achillbeg, Inishbiggle and Clare Island can place an order for NBIs fibre today.

Those interested in ordering broadband or finding out more information on when they will be able to connect can call the NBI contact centre on 0818 624 624 or visit www.nbi.ie.

Peter Hendrick, Chief Executive Officer of National Broadband Ireland, said: At the heart of the National Broadband Plan is our mission to ensure that no community is left behind. This is true for all remote and rural areas across Ireland, including our island communities.

We are proud to deliver high-speed broadband infrastructure to residents of Achill Island, Achillbeg, Inishbiggle and Clare Island. These communities will have access to the same quality, speeds and reliability that our network offers to anyone living on the mainland.

READ MORE: Mayo crown new 'Rose' for iconic Rose of Tralee festival

Local business owner, Anna Sutcliffe, House of Achill, said: My work is completely online, and I cant afford to have a bad connection. A reliable connection is the difference between getting things done and feeling stuck. If the internet drops, everything stops  my business, my meetings, and connectivity for islanders and kids. The biggest thing fibre broadband will give us is freedom; freedom to live here, work here, and not have to leave just to get a decent connection.

The rollout of the National Broadband Plan comes ahead of proposals to begin decommissioning Ireland's legacy copper phone line network which has supported telephone landline communication and basic internet access. With fibre broadband now being deployed nationwide, copper lines are increasingly obsolete, and plans are being developed for their phased removal over the coming years, a process known as copper switch-off.

Mr Hendrick said: Copper networks were never designed to cater for the digital demands of today's society, which is why the shift to fibre is essential.

Modern broadband services need fast, reliable infrastructure such as the network that NBI is deploying under the National Broadband Plan. The good news for consumers in the National Broadband Plan rollout area is that many can already make the switch to fibre today and future-proof their connection.

The even better news is that NBI's open-access network is available through over 50 different broadband providers, offering consumers a greater choice, quality, and competitiveness of service not previously available. Making the switch will also allow people to shop around and even save money.

READ MORE: Mayo priests of the future are living among us says Archbishop

37,000 premises in Co Mayo are included in the States Intervention Area, which will see NBI deliver minimum speeds of 500 megabits per second to homes, businesses, farms, and schools. As the biggest investment in rural Ireland since rural electrification, Co Mayo will receive 145 million of Government investment under the National Broadband Plan.

Works have already been completed in other parts of Mayo and there is a total of 12,105 premises that can now pre-order or order high-speed, reliable broadband across the county with 3,620 connections made so far.

The NBI infrastructure is already live on ten islands including Inishlyre Island and Collanmore Island off the coast of Mayo; Hare Island and Long Island off the coast of Cork; Turbot Island and Inishturk South Island off the coast of Galway; as well as Inishfree Island, Rutland Island, Eadarinis Island and Eighter Island off the coast of Donegal. (See further information in note below.)

NBI has now passed over 350,000 homes, farms and businesses in rural Ireland to high-speed broadband with over 120,000 now connected. The average take-up rate of 34 percent is well ahead of projections and international comparisons and surpasses 50 percent in areas of the country where the network has been live for 18 months.
Planning permission has been granted to an organic farmer near Louisburgh to develop a glamping site on her farm which will see old farm buildings renovated.

Mayo County Council granted planning permission to Danielle Gallagher to install six glamping pods on her family farm at Dadreen, Killadoon, Louisburgh which is located 1km from Silver Strand beach.

The development to be known as 'By the Way Farm and Glamping' will also consist of the conversion of an existing sheep barn into a reception building to include toilet, office, common room, kitchen/dining and the renovation of an existing stone building to include shower room, games room and storage.

The proposed glamping pod enterprise is to be run in conjunction with Ms Gallagher's farm business and in her planning application she stated that the development will boost tourism in the area.

Being an organic farmer from the west of Ireland it is very important to me to try and incorporate my everyday life and the land I live off with the glamping site and to keep the enterprise as natural as possible having as little an impact on the natural beauty already in existence.

I believe the business will boost tourism for the area and will tie in with the existing businesses already operating in the locality providing much needed accommodation in an area with little to no amenities at present, she stated.

Ms Gallagher also commented that the area is 'heaving with natural beauty' with Mweelrea Mountain in the immediate backdrop and the Silver Strand less than 1km away.

The site includes a river running through the property which adds to the ambience of being a peaceful area for tourists to relax and unwind. Including this scene with an organic diverse working farm has the potential to be a successful enterprise along the Wild Atlantic Way, keeping tourism alive in the west of Ireland, she added.

An environmental report by Mayo County Council scientists following an inspection of the site in August 2024 expressed concerns about the site given the 'poor ground conditions' at the proposed percolation area for the proposed pods. The report stated the 'Appropriate Assessment submitted as part of the application cannot conclude that the propose development will not impinge on the Special Areas of Conservation' in the locality.

Objection

An objection to the development was also submitted by John Brennan of Kinnakillew, Killadoon who stated that there 'are zero facilities in this area to allow for this type of activity, shops, pubs and restaurants are all at a significant distance away from the site'. He added that the nearest shop is 15.7 km away in Louisburgh and the development proposal is 'car borne in nature, without the availability of any public transport'.

The area is of high scenic amenity and to allow the development will have a significant negative impact on the visual amenity of the area. The proposal would set a precedent for additional pods into the future, the development will change the dynamic to a large commercial venture akin to a caravan park, he stated.

Mr Brennan also questioned the sustainability of the proposed development in the area as well as the environmental impact it will have on the area.

In a response to concerns raised, Mr Gaven Joyce of Joyce Surveyors and Engineers Limited on behalf of the applicant stated that the proposed development shall be 'as organic as possible' and there will be very little excavation required on site.

An environmental screening report also stated that the proposed development will not impinge on the protected elements of the surrounding area and does not require any mitigation measures.

Despite the concerns, Mayo County Council planners were satisfied to grant planning permission for the proposed glamping site subject to eight conditions.
by Fern Siegel , April 16, 2025

InnoVision Marketing Group and Digital Marketing Group have expanded their partnership as iDMG.

iDMG combines InnoVisions brand strategy and creative expertise with DMGs digital marketing and analytic talents. A dedicated team of 100 staffers will ensure continuity, supplying key services under one roof.

iDMG will be headquartered in San Diego, where InnoVision is based. DMG is based in Portland, Oregon. Both agencies can tap into each others resources as needed.

Ric Militi is CEO of IDMG and Stephen Hodges is COO.

The alliance taps complementary services, letting each company provide brands with an integrated, end-to-end marketing solution. Pulling their strengths, iDMG can handle the complexities of large-scale campaigns with efficiency, consistency and measurable impact across all platforms.

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Hodges, Chief Strategy Officer of Digital Marketing Group, said: Some agencies specialize in data and others in creative, but its rare to find both under one roof. The iDMG partnership offers the best first-party data and effective, strategic and compelling creative that comes from the same shop, so there are no disconnects. These results have greater performance and ROI for brands.

This partnership is a game changer for both of our organizations, added Militi, CEO of InnoVision Marketing Group. By combining our resources and expertise, we can take on larger brands with more complex needs, while continuing to deliver the creativity, innovation and strategic approach InnoVision is known for  all without compromising our promise to make every client feel like theyre our only client.

The deal has practical applications, allowing iDMG to manage costs, streamline timelines and maximize resources.
by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, April 15, 2025

The Alliance for Audited Media (AAM) has launched a certification program for media organizations.

The project developed guidelines to help publishers and agencies to implement responsible, transparent AI practices that build trust with readers and advertisers.

The guidelines focus on transparency, accountability and ethical oversight.

AAM also released a new report -- Ethical AI in Action: Eight Pillars for Transparent, Accountable AI Implementation in Media  as a companion to the certification.

AAM working groups were formed last year and have been instrumental in providing feedback for new initiatives, but spent several months creating the certification after hearing feedback from publishers, brands and agencies, according to Kevin Rehberg, AAM's vice president of client development.

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Rehberg says feedback also guided areas where members needed best practices and the most help. Although there were guidelines to implement AI for businesses in general, there was nothing specific to media companies. This process resulted in eight key areas that became the basis of the certification.

AAM will present the eight pillars for ethical AI this week at Mega-Conference and the upcoming Audience Development Media Alliance conference.

Other educational resources in addition to the report are in the works and will roll out this spring and summer.

Certified companies will receive the AAM seal to include on their websites and promotional materials, Rehberg said.

The organization believes there is an ongoing need for third-party verification in the industry.

This certification is one of several new initiatives that AAM must implement to foster a media system built on transparency and accountability.

AAM agency members want more validated publishers across channels, so the organization is working on adding additional information to its database.

Last year, the AAM launched a solution to independently evaluate digital inventory. While still in beta, the tool helps media buyers select their preferred signals to find premium media and develop inclusion lists.

AAM also has a robust assurance unit that performs audits for industry certification programs such as IAB Tech Lab, Point of Care Marketing Association, and Trustworthy Accountability Group (TAG).

This assurance team helped develop the AAM Ethical AI Certification and will be announcing new programs this year.
by Colin Kirkland , April 15, 2025

TikTok is expanding its functionality as a key player in search, now integrating reviews of brick-and-mortar establishments directly into the comments tab of a video and allowing users to explore the place without leaving the video-sharing platform.

Users who have access to the test feature will see a Reviews tab on the right of a video after clicking to view the comments.

Any place a user tags in a video -- from Central Park to a Nike store or cafe -- can be rated by the videos creator, including their reviews and uploaded photos.

Users can also select a reviewers username to visit their TikTok profile.

Ultimately, the feature removes the need for users to open up Google and begin a separate search for a place seen in a TikTok video, potentially persuading users to spend more time in the app, which is currently used by over 1.5 billion people across the globe.

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This new feature builds on TikToks Apple Maps integration, which, launched last year, displays a map of businesses in specific areas that have been previously tagged in TikTok posts. Relevant videos emerge in addition to details related to the tagged place, like address, price level, and how many tags there have been on the platform.

These features, along with TikTok Search Ads Campaigns  a keyword-based search feature designed to display brands ads in search results  place TikTok in direct competition with travel and review sites like Yelp, as well as search giants like Google.

In 2022, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said in a conference that competition comes from nowhere to describe TikToks infringing impact on the search business.

Two years later, a study conducted by Adobe suggested that one in 10 Gen Z consumers and business owners were more likely to rely on TikTok over Google as a search engine, with 49% of millennials and 29% of Gen X reporting that they also use TikTok as a search engine.
by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, April 16, 2025

The lack of an alleged competitive search market in Britain has prompted a class action suit filed at the Competition Appeal Tribunal Tuesday. It argues that without competition Google could charge higher prices for advertisements that appear in search queries.

The claim filed by Or Brook, represented by law firm Geradin Partners, argues Google abused its dominant position in search and search advertising to exclude competitors and let it charge higher prices for search ads.

The filing was based on damages on behalf of UK search advertisers.

We are fully committed to holding Google accountable and securing fair compensation for affected organisations and businesses, founding partner of Geradin Partners Damien Geradin wrote in the suite.

A Google spokesperson told Reuters this was yet another speculative and opportunistic case, and it will argue against it vigorously.

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The lawsuit spans from January 2011 to the present, and $6.6 billion (5 billion) is the potential damages Google faces. Google has the largest UK market share among search engines with 86.31%.

The allegations -- which are very similar to what has been said in a U.S. court filing -- say Google restricts competing search engines, forces businesses to use its ad services at inflated prices after creating a monopolistic position, and secured preferential placement through deals with device makers.

This case represents one of the largest competition claims brought against Google in Europe, according to the post, and could affect hundreds of thousands of UK businesses that have used Googles search advertising since 2011.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, April 16, 2025

Conservative video-sharing platform Rumble is asking a judge to allow it to proceed with claims that the World Federation of Advertisers, WPP's GroupM and spirits marketer Diageo conspired to force publishers to adhere to brand safety standards.

Defendants agreed to enact and enforce mandatory brand safety standards that they intended to have an effect on digital advertising on user-generated platforms, with the expectation that their conduct would impact the business operations of Texas-based user-generated platforms, advertisers, and users, Rumble argues in papers filed Tuesday with U.S. District Court Judge Jane Boyle in Wichita Falls, Texas.

Rumble's new papers come in a dispute dating to last August, when the company sued the World Federation of Advertisers, GroupM and Diageo for allegedly violating antitrust law by scheming to deprive the video platform of ad revenue. Rumble brought the case the same day Elon Musk's X Corp. sued the World Federation of Advertisers, its now defunct brand safety initiative Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM), and others over an alleged advertiser boycott.

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Both suits came soon after the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee issued a report accusing GARM of coordinating action by corporations, ad agencies and other industry groups in order to demonetize platforms, podcasts, news outlets, and other content deemed disfavored by GARM and its members.

Rumble alleged in its complaint that the defendants agreed to avoid ads on platforms that don't adopt its one-size-fits-all brand safety standards.

The video platform claimed that it attracted new users and content creators between 2020 and 2023, but didn't see a growth in ad revenue commensurate to its growth in user popularity.

In February, the World Federation of Advertisers, GroupM and Diageo urged Boyle to throw out the complaint for several reasons -- including that Rumble's allegations regarding GroupM and Diageo, even if proven true, would only show that the companies decided separately to refrain from placing ads on Rumble.

The entire basis for Rumbles claims is the assertion that defendants were part of a group boycott against Rumble, they argued in a motion to dismiss the lawsuit. Yet, conspicuously absent is any allegation that defendants directly agreed to not advertise on Rumble.

The defendants noted in their request to dismiss the suit that Rumble -- which was founded in 2013, seven years before GARM issued its brand safety framework -- failed to allege that Diageo ever advertised on the platform or that GroupM ever facilitated advertising on it.

The supposed harm from the conspiracy -- Diageo and GroupM not advertising or facilitating advertising on Rumble -- existed before, during, and after the alleged conspiracy. This strongly suggests that the decisions not to advertise on Rumble had nothing to do with the Brand Safety Framework and were unilateral, the defendants wrote.

They added that GARM's brand safety framework -- which they submitted to the judge in an appendix -- does not identify Rumble (or any other platform) as inappropriate for advertising or any brand-safety measures as being required.

Instead, that framework merely identifies content that is inappropriate for advertising support (like child pornography, illegal activity, terrorism, etc.), they argued.

They added that the framework does not state that advertisers must adhere to the Brand Safety Framework or boycott any platform that fails to do so, and does it establish any consequences if an advertiser ignores the Brand Safety Framework.

Rumble disputes that characterization of the framework, arguing in its new court papers that GARM's own documents and public statements make clear that the standards were mandatory for any platform that sought to receive advertising revenue from GARM members and that GARM members were required to adhere to the standards whenever they purchased advertising inventory.

The World Federation of Advertisers and others also contended that courts in Texas lack jurisdiction over the suit, arguing that none of the parties in the case are based in that state. Rumble is based in Toronto and its U.S. division is based in Florida.

Rumble is asking Boyle to reject that argument, claiming that the alleged boycott affected Texas residents.

Established in 2019 by the World Federation of Advertisers, GARM members included large brand advertisers and trade associations, including the U.S.'s Association of National Advertisers, American Association of Advertising Agencies and Interactive Advertising Bureau, as well as big agencies such as Dentsu, GroupM, Havas Media, IPG, Omnicom Media Group and Publicis Media.

A spokesperson for the World Federation of Advertisers said last year that allegations that GARM engaged in anti-competitive behavior are baseless.

GARM creates voluntary industry standards on brand safety and suitability which media sellers and ad tech companies can voluntarily adopt, adapt or reject, the spokesperson said. This in turn allows advertisers to make choices similar to the way they buy advertising in TV, print or radio. GARMs work focuses on voluntary monetization standards while establishing voluntary steps to improve transparency on content moderation and platform design.

The World Federation of Advertisers and other defendants are expected to respond to Rumble's argument by June 17.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, April 16, 2025

An Ohio law that would have restricted teens' ability to use tech platforms violates the First Amendment, a federal judge said Wednesday.

The Act as drafted fails to pass constitutional muster and is constitutionally infirm, U.S. District Court Judge Algenon Marbley in the Southern District of Ohio wrote in a 49-page decision striking down the Parental Notification By Social Media Operators Act.

This Court, although sympathetic to what the Ohio legislature sought to do, finds that the evidence does not establish the required nexus between the legislative concerns about the well-being of minors and the restrictions on speech, Marbley wrote.

The Ohio law, passed in 2023, would have prohibited some -- but not all -- web services with social functionality from allowing minors under 16 to create accounts or access content, without parental permission. The statute generally covers operators of sites with social features (such as allowing users to create profiles and interact) and that are aimed at minors under 16 or reasonably anticipated to be accessed by teens under 16.

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The law exempts ecommerce sites that allow people to post reviews, and established and widely recognized media outlets that report news.

Marbley previously issued a preliminary injunction that temporarily blocked Ohio officials from enforcing the law, but Wednesday's decision permanently blocks the law, unless an appellate court intervenes.

The tech industry group NetChoice sued over the law, arguing it was unconstitutional for several reasons -- including that it would have restriced minors' First Amendment right to express themselves and access speech. The organization also said the law wrongly restricted speech based on subject matter, arguing that the exceptions for e-commerce and news sites violate the First Amendment because they're content-based.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost defended the statute, arguing that it furthers the government's interest in protecting minors from harms allegedly associated with social media use -- including addiction caused by user-engagement features such as design features like automatically playing videos, and mental health issues like depression and anxiety.

Marbley rejected Yost's contentions, ruling that the state failed to prove that social platforms caused harms to teens. Instead, Marbley wrote, research presented by Yost examined correlations between social media and harm to teens, not causation.

The judge added: The record also does not show that the full range of thousands of websites covered by the Act cause harms to minors sufficient to suppress those minors' access to protected speech.

He noted in the ruling that in 2011 the Supreme Court struck down a California law that would have banned the sale of violent video games to minors, without parental consent.

Justice Antonin Scalia wrote in the majority opinion that while the government has the power to protect children, states don't have a free-floating power to restrict the ideas to which children may be exposed."

The ruling comes several weeks after a different judge struck down a similar law in Arkansas.

Other states including New York, Maryland, Mississippi, Utah, Tennessee, Texas and California have passed statutes that either restrict teens' use of social media, or regulate companies' ability to serve content to teens. Many of those laws are currently facing court challenges, and so far judges have temporarily blocked all or parts of those laws in Mississippi, Utah, Texas and California.
About

Vaping has long been marketed as a "safer" alternative to smoking, but recent reports suggest that it may come with its own set of serious health consequences. One such condition- bronchiolitis obliterans, more commonly known as popcorn lung is increasingly showing up in young vape users. This rare but chronic respiratory disease is not only irreversible but can also have lifelong impacts on lung health.

Did You Know?

The name "popcorn lung" comes from factory workers who inhaled butter flavoring at microwave popcorn plants- and ended up with chronic lung disease.

#popcornlung #vaperisks #teenhealth #bronchiolitisobliterans #medindia

A Teen's Wake-Up Call: The Real-Life Risk of Vaping

In Nevada, 17-year-old Brianne Cullen experienced a frightening episode that began with shortness of breath during cheerleading practice. When she called her mother in distress, neither could have predicted the diagnosis awaiting her at the hospital: popcorn lung. The condition was traced back to three years of secret vaping, which Cullen began at age 14 as a way to manage post-pandemic anxiety about returning to school.

Her mother revealed in an interview that it took this life-altering diagnosis for Brianne to finally stop vaping(1 Trusted Source

What is popcorn lung? The serious condition linked to vaping



Go to source). While her condition was detected early and is being managed with an inhaler, the prognosis remains concerning- popcorn lung cannot be reversed, and may lead to complications such as cancer or chronic respiratory illness in the future.

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What Is Popcorn Lung?

Popcorn lung is a colloquial term for bronchiolitis obliterans, a rare and incurable disease that causes scarring and inflammation in the smallest airways of the lungs(2 Trusted Source

Popcorn lung - Report of a rare case and its significance in a coffee-growing district of Kerala



Go to source). The name originated when the condition was first diagnosed among workers in microwave popcorn manufacturing plants, where prolonged inhalation of diacetyl- a buttery flavoring agent- led to serious lung damage.

Although diacetyl has since been banned in certain food production settings, it continues to appear in many vape liquids and e-cigarette flavors, often used to enhance sweet and creamy flavor profiles like vanilla, maple, and coconut(3 Trusted Source

Pulmonary effects of e-liquid flavors: a systematic review



Go to source). According to a Harvard University study, 39 out of 51 e-cigarette brands tested contained this hazardous chemical(4 Trusted Source

Popcorn Lung: A Dangerous Risk of Flavored E-Cigarettes



Go to source).

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The risk of popcorn lung from vaping arises primarily due to inhalation of toxic chemicals, particularly diacetyl and acetaldehyde, which are used in some flavored vape products. These substances, when heated and inhaled, can severely damage the bronchioles- the tiny passageways in the lungs responsible for moving air.

Over time, this damage causes the airways to narrow and become scarred, leading to a host of respiratory issues. Its not just older individuals or long-term smokers who are at risk- teens and young adults who vape regularly are increasingly being diagnosed.

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The symptoms of popcorn lung often resemble those of other respiratory conditions like asthma or bronchitis, which can delay diagnosis. Common signs include:

Persistent dry coughing

Shortness of breath, especially during physical activity

Wheezing

Fatigue

Occasionally, fever or skin rash

Because these symptoms tend to develop gradually, many sufferers may not seek medical attention until the disease has progressed significantly. The irreversible nature of popcorn lung makes early detection and prevention critical.

Unfortunately, popcorn lung is irreversible. While medications like corticosteroids and bronchodilators can help manage symptoms, there is no treatment to undo the damage. In severe cases, patients may require lung transplants. Prevention, particularly avoiding inhalation of harmful chemicals found in vaping products, is the best defense.

A Call to Action for Teens and Parents

Brianne Cullens story is a stark reminder of the potential consequences of vaping. While many teens may pick up the habit under the impression that its harmless- or even therapeutic in the face of anxiety- the long-term health risks are real and increasingly well-documented.

Parents, educators, and health professionals must work together to spread awareness, encourage open dialogue, and guide teens toward safer coping mechanisms for stress and anxiety.
You Are My Destiny

The life of a rich heir and an ordinary secretary is turned upside down after a night that changes everything, resulting in an unplanned marriage and a romance.
A few months ago, some eagle-eyed fans managed to uncover Ranbir Kapoors private Instagram account. What made the discovery even more convincing was that the account was being followed by Ayan Mukerji and several other well-known celebrities from the industry. Now, some users have found out about Allu Arjuns private account, where he allegedly posts controversial memes. Actors like Rana Daggubati, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Trisha Krishnan and more follow this account, making this discovery more credible.

 Reddit/BollyBlindsNGossip The reactions According to some users, Allu Arjun also shared a funny meme when the Pushpa 2: The Rule controversy was going on after the stampede. Even Rana Daggubati shared that meme on the story.

 Instagram/Rana Daggubati One user commented, Most of these celebs regardless of industry are cut from the same cloth just shallow, self-serving, and only concerned with protecting their image. The humility & generosity is PR.

 Reddit/BollyBlindsNGossip Another user commented, Imagine you are in the middle of a huge controversy that caused the death of a woman and the life changing injury of a boyyou just got back from jail, you still have hearings to go toAnd you share a meme? This is when Rana visited his house after he was released from jail. Boy was still in the hospital and he still was not cleared of charges when he shared this!

 Reddit/BollyBlindsNGossip One user reacted, These south indian stars pretend to be humble and generous, their true faces are just like any other bollywood celebrity. One user replied to this, Who says they are humble. They behave like theyre Gods because their fan base treats them like that.
Two Marines were killed after their civilian rental vehicle was involved in an incident Tuesday during a deployment to the southern U.S. border, according to a military news release and two defense officials who spoke to Military.com on the condition of anonymity as an investigation remains ongoing.

A third Marine was sent to a local medical facility in serious condition, according to the news release and the officials. The three service members were near Santa Teresa, New Mexico, just miles away from El Paso, Texas, and close to the border with Mexico when the incident occurred.

The incident occurred at around 8:50 a.m. Mountain Time on Tuesday, according to the news release from Joint Task Force-Southern Border that was issued the same day. JTF-SB is the entity charged with coordinating an increased military presence at the U.S. border with Mexico following an order by President Donald Trump in January.

Read Next: Marine Corps Fires Commander of East Coast Air Station

The service members were deployed in support of that mission, the statement said, adding that the incident is under investigation. It was unclear what caused the deadly vehicle accident, whether the Marines were on duty, or what they were specifically doing leading up to it.

The names of the deceased were being withheld until the military could notify their next of kin, the statement from JTF-SB continued, a common practice that gives the services time to notify family members of fatalities or injuries before troops' identities are made public.

Representatives for JTF-SB did not respond to Military.com's request for comment in time for publication.

The Marines were based out of California, according to one of the defense officials. The Washington Post and The New York Times also reported that the service members involved in the incident were Marines. The Post, citing three anonymous defense officials, said that the Marines were based out of Camp Pendleton.

The Associated Press reported that no civilians were harmed in the incident, citing an anonymous defense official.

Roughly 10,000 active-duty troops are deployed to the border as Trump's administration aims for a historic crackdown on migration there. In late January, shortly after Trump took office, the military quickly sent more than 1,000 active-duty Marines and soldiers to various locations across the border.

Marines out of Camp Pendleton were sent primarily to San Diego, just south of their home installation. Initially, 500 Marines with the 1st Marine Division out of Pendleton were sent to California's border with Mexico in an effort to repair barrier walls and lay down concertina wire there.

Units sent to the border are also operating in tactical vehicles, specifically soldiers using Strykers, eight-wheeled armored personnel carriers meant primarily to transport troops to and from their missions as they patrol the border.

Service members have also rented civilian SUVs and trucks to transport themselves to and from shifts where Marines are repairing the barrier and soldiers are manning observation posts to detect and monitor suspected illegal border crossings or smuggling.

Related: Military to Take Over Federal Land Along Border Under New Trump Order
A dozen students at Defense Department grade schools across the globe are suing the department after books were removed from libraries, school yearbooks were allegedly censored, and class curriculums were sanitized to implement President Donald Trump's anti-diversity and anti-LGBTQ+ executive orders.

Alleging First Amendment violations, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday evening against the Department of Defense Education Activity and the Pentagon on behalf of 12 students in pre-K through 11th grade from six military families who attend schools on bases in Virginia, Kentucky, Italy and Japan.

"The implementation of these EOs, without any due process or parental or professional input, is a violation of our children's right to access information that prevents them from learning about their own histories, bodies and identities," Natalie Tolley, a parent from one of the military families suing, said in a statement released by the ACLU. "I have three daughters, and they, like all children, deserve access to books that both mirror their own life experiences and that act as windows that expose them to greater diversity. The administration has now made that verboten in DoDEA schools."

Read Next: 2 Marines Killed, One in Serious Condition After Vehicle Incident During Southern Border Mission

A DoDEA spokesperson declined to comment on the lawsuit Wednesday, saying that "as a matter of policy, the DoDEA does not comment on ongoing litigation."

Among his first acts in office, Trump ordered every federal agency to get rid of all policies and materials related to "gender ideology," a right-wing term for being transgender, and the ill-defined concept of "diversity, equity and inclusion."

In practice, at the Pentagon, those orders have resulted in the erasure of minorities, women and LGBTQ+ people from public websites and databases; restrictions on what soldiers can write in academic papers; and the elimination of advisory groups seeking to improve troops' quality of life, among other effects. Some actions, such the removal of webpages about Navajo Code Talkers and Jackie Robinson, were reversed after public outrage.

At DoDEA schools, books have been pulled from school libraries ranging from classics such as "To Kill a Mockingbird," to a picture biography about the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, to an award-winning fiction novel about a transgender teen participating in a national debate competition, to Vice President JD Vance's own memoir "Hillbilly Elegy," according to the lawsuit.

Class curriculums have also been sterilized to remove content the administration objects to, according to the lawsuit. In addition to the widely reported elimination of gender and sexuality chapters from Advanced Placement Psychology textbooks, the lawsuit also alleges that textbooks for health classes have been censored.

Chapters that have been cut from health class textbooks include: "Communicable Diseases: Sexually Transmitted Diseases;" "Unwanted Sexual Activity: Sexual Harassment;" "Human Reproductive System, Menstrual Cycle, and Fetal Development;" "Abuse and Neglect;" and "Adolescence and Puberty," according to the suit.

Middle school health classes also are no longer teaching a chapter called "What Is Sexuality?" that "simply defines terms, accurately and without bias, that are commonly used in everyday conversation," the lawsuit says.

Student yearbooks have also been instructed not to include "any visual depictions, written content or editorial choices that would directly or indirectly support the instruction, advancement, and/or promotion of 'gender ideology' and/or 'social transition,'" according to the lawsuit.

And, in line with a Defense Department memo declaring "identity months dead," Black History Month assemblies and Women's History Month events were banned, the lawsuit says. While "host nation engagement" events are allowed, the lawsuit calls that distinction "nonsensical," citing the fact that a Guam History and Chamorro Heritage Day celebration was allowed under that category despite the fact that Guam is a U.S. territory and not a host nation.

"Students in DoDEA schools, though they are members of military families, have the same First Amendment rights as all students," Emerson Sykes, senior staff attorney with the ACLU's Speech, Privacy and Technology Project, said in a statement. "Like everyone else, they deserve classrooms where they are free to read, speak and learn about themselves, their neighbors and the world around them."

DoDEA's implementation of Trump's orders has sparked a level of pushback not typically seen publicly from military families.

In addition to the lawsuit, hundreds of DoDEA students have participated in walkouts despite the threat of punishment from school administrators and Pentagon officials. Military family members also protested when Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited a base in Germany in February.

Meanwhile, Trump administration book bans at Pentagon institutions have not been isolated to the DoDEA.

The Naval Academy recently pulled nearly 400 books from its libraries, including books about the Holocaust and Maya Angelou's acclaimed autobiography, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings."

The Associated Press reported Tuesday that the libraries at West Point and the Air Force Academy have also been directed to review their collections for any books to remove.

Related: Banned Books, School Walkouts, Child Care Shortages: Military Families Confront Pentagon's Shifting Rules
MANILA, Philippines  About 14,000 American and Filipino forces will take part in battle-readiness exercises in the Philippines, including live-fire drills, in a large-scale deployment that shows the Trump administration is not scaling back its commitment to help deter aggression in the region, a senior Philippine military official said Tuesday.

The annual joint Balikatan  Tagalog for shoulder-to-shoulder  exercises between the longtime allies will be held from April 21 to May 9 and involve about 9,000 United States and 5,000 Filipino military personnel. They will involve fighter aircraft, navy ships and an array of weaponry, including a U.S. anti-ship missile system, Philippine Brig. Gen. Michael Logico said. Australia will deploy about 200 military personnel. and Japan and a number of other friendly nations will send smaller military delegations.

China has frowned on such war drills in or near the disputed South China Sea and in northern Philippine provinces close to Taiwan, especially those that involve the U.S. and allied forces that Beijing says aim to contain it and consequently threaten regional stability and peace. Logico said the Balikatan exercises were not aimed at any particular country.

Taiwan is the island democracy which China considers as its own, to be annexed by force if necessary. China conducted large-scale drills in the waters and airspace around Taiwan this month that included an aircraft carrier battle group as it renewed a warning to Taiwan against seeking formal independence.

U.S. Marine Col. Doug Krugman, of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, told reporters most of the joint exercises would be staged within Philippine territory except for multi-nation sea exercises, which he did not specify.

Trumps  America First  foreign policy thrust has triggered concerns in Asia a bout the scale and depth of U.S. commitment to maintain a longstanding security presence in the volatile region.

As you can see, there is no scale back, Logico said during a news briefing. Were talking about a full battle test."

The comprehensive drills would generally involve a command post issuing orders to field forces in mock battle scenarios, according to Logico and Krugman.

Tense Faceoffs

The exercises will include aerial surveillance, the use of a barrage of artillery and missile fire to sink a mock enemy ship, deploying a U.S. anti-ship missile system and countering the landing of enemy forces on an island.

A U.S. mid-range missile system, which was deployed to the northern Philippines last year, would be used again in the combat exercises, Logico said, without elaborating. China has repeatedly expressed alarm over the missile deployment and demanded that the Philippines pull out the weaponry from its territory which it said could spark an arms race.

A Philippine official told The Associated Press early this year that the U.S. Armys mid-range missile system, which consists of a mobile launcher and at least 16 Standard Missile-6 and Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles, was repositioned from the northern Philippine city of Laoag to a strategic area in a western coastal province facing a disputed South China Sea shoal, where Chinese and Philippine coast guard and navy forces have engaged in tense faceoffs.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited Manila in March in his first trip to Asia and said the Trump administration would work with allies to ramp up deterrence against Chinas aggression in the South China Sea.

Key Global Trade Route

The U.S. was not gearing up for war, Hegseth said, while underscoring that peace would be won through strength." He said the U.S. would deploy an anti-ship missile system, called the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System, as well as unmanned sea vessels to enable the allies forces to train together to defend Philippine sovereignty during the Balikatan exercises.

Additionally, the allied forces agreed to stage special operations forces training in Batanes province, a cluster of islands in the northernmost tip of the Philippine archipelago across a sea border from Taiwan, he said.

As well as China and the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have overlapping claims in the busy waterway, a key global trade route which is also believed to be sitting atop large undersea deposits of gas and oil.

Associated Press journalists Joeal Calupitan and Aaron Favila in Manila contributed.
Weather Alert

Take action to protect yourself and others  extreme heat can affect everyones health. Determine if you or others around you are at greater risk of heat illness. Check on older adults, those living alone and other at-risk people in-person or on the phone multiple times a day. Watch for the early signs of heat exhaustion in yourself and others. Signs may include headache, nausea, dizziness, thirst, dark urine and intense fatigue. Stop your activity and drink water. Heat stroke is a medical emergency! Call 9-1-1 or your emergency health provider if you, or someone around you, is showing signs of heat stroke which can include red and hot skin, dizziness, nausea, confusion and change in consciousness. While you wait for medical attention, try to cool the person by moving them to a cool place, removing extra clothing, applying cold water or ice packs around the body. Drink water often and before you feel thirsty to replace fluids. Close blinds, or shades and open windows if outside is cooler than inside. Turn on air conditioning, use a fan, or move to a cooler area of your living space. If your living space is hot, move to a cool public space such as a cooling centre, community centre, library or shaded park. Follow the advice of your regions public health authority. Plan and schedule outdoor activities during the coolest parts of the day. Limit direct exposure to the sun and heat. Wear lightweight, light-coloured, loose-fitting clothing and a wide-brimmed hat. Never leave people, especially children, or pets inside a parked vehicle. Check the vehicle before locking to make sure no one is left behind. Humidex values reaching 40 are expected. A heat event is expected Saturday to Sunday. What: Daytime highs of 31 to 33 degrees Celsius and a humidex of 40. Overnight lows of 21 to 25 degrees Celsius, providing little relief from the heat. When: Saturday to Sunday, coming to an end Sunday night. ### For more information: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/climate-change-health/extreme-heat/how-protect-yourself.html https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/climate-change-health/extreme-heat/who-is-at-risk.html Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to ONstorm@ec.gc.ca or post reports on X using #ONStorm.
BELLAIRE, MI  An invasion of beetles is coming, and it will bring another wave of damage to the already battered Michigan Northwoods.

Participants at last weeks annual Michigan Society of American Foresters conference in Bellaire discussed how bark and wood-boring beetles can be expected as the next environmental and economic disaster to strike up north forests. Its more fallout after a devastating ice storm wreaked havoc on hundreds of square miles of Northern Michigan forests nearly three weeks ago.

Its now an all-hands-on-deck situation for loggers, truckers, and mill workers to address the glut of damaged timber strewn across the impacted 10-county region before the damaging bugs arrive.

Cutting Swiss cheese

Michigan forestry experts said theres a near-certain attack of wood-munching pest insects on the way, and the expected infestation will begin in only a matter of months. The clock is already ticking.

Its very likely that pine beetles and other wood borers are going to come in based on the damage, said Ingrid Aguayo-Fuentealba, a forest engineer with Michigan State Universitys Department of Forestry, when the conference microphone was brought to her the morning of April 10.

She suggested theres no time to waste to salvage as much value as possible from the damaged red pine stands across Northern Michigan. Delays will cost even greater financial losses because of damage from the ravenous pest insects, she said.

By the time you get the logs to the sawmills, theyre cutting Swiss cheese, Aguayo-Fuentealba said about what she saw in Canada after a similarly catastrophic ice storm struck eastern Ontario and upstate New York in 1998.

What happens is the widespread scent of freshly damaged pine  caused by terpenes in conifer resin  attracts pest insects such as bark and wood-boring beetles. Vast amounts of red pine stands were struck by the recent catastrophic Michigan ice storm from March 28-30.

Bark beetles and their associated fungi eventually cause internal blue-streak stains within infested wood. Wood-boring beetles also create large feeding tunnels throughout the wood, like the way emerald ash borer larvae feed.

4 1 / 4 Bark beetles expected in ice-damaged Michigan forests

These expected wood-eating beetles are native insect species in Michigan, unlike the ash-borer invasive species. Still, the beetles can cause significant timber damage when populations explode.

Foresters at the conference agreed the race is on to pull what value they can from the wrecked woods before the losses are compounded by the coming pest insects.

Longtime forester Keith Martell, a private consultant for the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR), said the roomful of foresters made up the largest forestry brain bank available in Michigan. He sought suggestions from the crowd about how best to recover from what he called the ongoing forestry disaster.

We do some salvage work. We clean up the trees that are broken and damaged, Martell said. Do we leave seed trees? And whats going to happen to the seed trees if we do leave them? Are they going to be just further fodder for a legion of bark beetles?

The consensus among participants was that this single damaging storm will leave an historical mark on Michigans timber industry. First came the devastating initial ice damage that destroyed decades worth of timber plans on both public and private lands. Next will come the expected beetle infestation to further sap salvaged timber values.

The more droughty it is, the more theyll come in. But youre probably looking at another month or two before itd be a huge problem, said Wes Windover, procurement manager for Biewer Sawmill in McBain. Were going to try to salvage as much as we can and saw lumber out of it while its still good.

If it goes too far or gets a lot of bugs or blue stain in it, theyll end up taking saw logs for pulp wood.

Windover said private landowners are already logging their damaged trees. Its going to be whoever gets there first whos going to get their wood harvested and actually get some dollars out of it, he told the conference crowd.

Meanwhile, DNR officials continue to assess the damage and organize how to bid out state salvage cut contracts. State officials this week even said a volunteer action plan is in the works to help with storm cleanup.

Brenda Haskill, DNR timber sale program manager, confirmed the state has procedures to follow based on past salvage situations caused by storms, forest fires, or major wind events. Weve had these things, never at this scale. So, we do have guidance. Were finalizing that now, she said.

Haskill said DNR officials also are working to enact a policy for logging operators to shift gears from current state timber contracts so they can instead help with salvage cleanup.

We know we have to be responsive, because we have to make sure that the entire industry is able to continue and recover from this, she said.

Less value and logjams

It remains to be seen how much construction-grade lumber can quickly be pulled from Northern Michigans ice-damaged forests before the beetles become a factor.

One forester said it may not even be worth the risk of salvaging logs for high-value framing studs. He explained how in many cases internal splits within wood grains wont be visibly detected until the end of a lengthy and costly lumber production process.

The problem with the damaged wood a lot of times is the bending and the impact when it hits the ground, said David Kossak, wood procurement representative for the PotlatchDeltic lumber mill in Gwinn in the Upper Peninsula.

First, harvested logs are milled into boards, and then those rough-cut boards are stored in a yard for a couple months before being dried in a kiln. Only after finally being run through a planer to smooth the boards do any cracks show up, Kossak said.

He said it may be a safer move to simply chip salvaged wood for making paper pulp, particleboard, or oriented-strand board used in buildings. Chipped wood typically brings about half the value of regular timber, but even the lowest-valued wood can be sold for fuel at biomass power plants.

And there are more problematic logjams around the bend for damaged timber cleanup.

Unfortunately, theres just not enough people in the industry to harvest it all at once, said Justin Knepper, executive director of the Michigan Association of Timbermen trade group.

Even if we could use as much of it as we possibly can, can the loggers get things moving and out of the woods quick enough? When you have to cut your way in and cut your way out, it slows things way down and it costs more money, he said.

An overabundance of red pine on the market also creates its own problem. There will simply be too much raw wood to entirely process within its limited shelf life before the beetles arrive.

Thats because only so many commercial lumber mills in Michigan process red pine, like those in McBain and Gwinn, though 2023 statistics show the species accounted for just over half the states softwood timber volumes. Officials said even small, Amish-owned mills can only take a couple of truckloads a day.

Knepper said the final complicating factor is how trucking costs make even top-dollar harvests worth moving only so far, let alone busted-up salvaged wood. Ive talked to loggers, not even regarding the ice storm, that actually are breaking even or losing money every time they haul wood past a few hours away, he said.

Yet despite the multitude of challenges, work is underway. Michigans timber professionals remain seemingly determined to face this unprecedented situation, no matter how long it takes.

The trees will get salvaged, whether they get salvaged for something thats got a lot of value, or they get salvaged for something thats fuel chips, Windover said. Eventually itll all get cleaned up. Its just going to take a while.

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Electric infrastructure at Point LaBarbe near St. Ignace with the Mackinac Bridge in the background, Sept. 5, 2022. With limited grid connections to the Lower Peninsula, some Republican lawmakers argue the U.P. needs special accommodations to meet state renewable and clean energy targets in the coming years. (Garret Ellison | MLive)

LANSING, MI - Republican bills offering a big carveout to Michigans clean energy standards for two Upper Peninsula utilities have advanced  with some Democrats reaching across the aisle to speed them along.

The legislation introduced this year by two GOP state representatives from the U.P. initially sought to classify power plants burning natural gas, a fossil fuel composed mainly of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, as clean and renewable under the law.
Red Wings' 2023 first-round pick Axel Sandin Pellikka got a feel for North American hockey during five games with the Griffins at the end of the season. Ansar Khan

The Grand Rapids Griffins will be getting a boost heading into the AHL playoffs.

Detroit Red Wings first-round picks Axel Sandin Pellikka and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard are poised to make their North American debut after being assigned Tuesday to the Griffins.
Tuskegee Airman Lt. Frank H. Moody died on April 11, 1944, when his Bell P-39Q Airacobra crashed into Lake Huron. U.S. Army Air Corps

ALPENA, MI  A Tuskegee Airman died when his Bell P-39Q Airacobra crashed in Lake Huron on April 11, 1944 - 81 years ago.

Today, a piece of that wreckage can be seen from anywhere with an internet connection. A 3D model of the aircrafts starboard door is available on NOAA Thunder Bay Marine Sanctuarys SketchFab page.

The wreck was hidden beneath 30 feet of water for decades. After its discovery, the door and other artifacts were recovered and preserved, the sanctuary says on the page.

Tuskegee Airman Lt. Frank H. Moody died on April 11, 1944, when his Bell P-39Q Airacobra crashed into Lake Huron. Air Force Historical Research Agency

The body of Tuskegee Airman Lt. Frank H. Moody, who was piloting the aircraft, has also been recovered. The crash happened during a training mission.

RELATED: Explore Great Lakes shipwrecks with dozens of 3D models

The 3D model of the door shows that is rusted during its time underwater. The glass is broken out of the window. There are scratches and warping on the exterior.

Moodys aircraft was one of nearly 200 lost in the Great Lakes during World War II, according to an undated article Wayne R. Lusardi, a Michigan State maritime archaeologist, for the marine sanctuary. Most were in lower Lake Michigan, a result of Navy aviators attempting to qualify for carrier takeoffs and landings. Army pilots and aircrafts were lost in Lake St. Clair and Lake Huron during training exercises.

Most of these wrecks have not been found. Moodys is among two that were recently discovered, according to the undated article.

RELATED: Forgotten Jackson WWII hero, Tuskegee airman honored thanks to student research

The other, also a Bell P-39Q Airacobra, was piloted by Lt. Nathaniel Rayburg. He crashed into Lake St. Clair on Dec. 12, 1943. His body was recovered.

Tuskegee Airmen  the first African-American fighter pilots for the U.S. Army Air Corps  received advanced training, including aerial combat and bombing exercises, while stationed in Michigan. At least six Tuskegee Airmen and their crafts were lost in the Great Lakes.

These three wrecks remain hidden in Lake Huron:

A Curtiss P-40F Warhawk flown by 2nd Lt. Wilmeth W. Sidat-Singh crashed in Lake Huron off East Tawas on May 9, 1943.

A Vultee BT-13A Valiant piloted by 2nd Lt. Nathaniel Milton Hill with weather observer 2nd Lt. Luther Linson Blakeney on board crashed in Lake Huron two miles off Oscoda on June 16, 1943.

The Bell P-39Q Airacobra piloted by 2nd Lt. William E. Hill crashed into Lake Huron off Harrisville on Nov. 22, 1943.

The bodies of all of the pilots except William E. Hill have been recovered.

Thunder Bays SketchFab page includes 33 models with five from the Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary. Most of them are of ships.

Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, designated in 2000, is a 4,300-square-mile underwater preserve that protects wildlife and more than 100 historic shipwrecks in Lake Huron off the Michigan coast. It was the first marine sanctuary in the Great Lakes. The sanctuarys headquarters and museum are in Alpena. Shipwrecks, ranging from 1 foot to more than 300 feet below the surface, are available for recreation, including diving, snorkeling and paddling.
Trucks cross the Ambassador Bridge between Detroit and Windsor. The bridge is the busiest international border crossing in North America for trade. (Neil Blake/MLive.com) Neil Blake/MLive.com

Executives at major Canadian institutions are warning employees not to visit the United States unless absolutely necessary. According to Bloomberg, at least one institution is telling employees to take burner phones with them to prevent U.S. border officials from accessing sensitive data.

A memo issued by the Childrens Hospital of Eastern Ontario CEO Vera Etches encouraged staff not to visit the U.S. at this time, citing escalation of issues and volatility in the US. Etches went on to tell staff that if they do visit the U.S., they need to log out of all hospital applications and ensure that no patient data can be accessed on laptops or phones.

Alberta Investment Management Corp., a public pension fund, told staff they can no longer visit the U.S. for business meetings, but may attend board or investor meetings. The Canadian Association of University Teachers is suggesting academics refrain from visiting, especially if theyve been publicly critical of the U.S., President Donald Trumps administration, or if their research is at odds with U.S. policy.

Privacy concerns appear to be a big part of the issue for Canadian businesses and organizations. Especially when it comes to electronic devices that can be seized and accessed by U.S. border officers.

There is really no effective legal way for a Canadian resident to challenge the actions of US border officers at a US point of entry, reads a portion of the warning from the CAUT.

Last week, the Canadian government issued a similar warning, reminding its citizens that U.S. border agents can force international travelers to grant them access to personal devices.

U.S. border agents are entitled to search your electronic devices, such as your phones, computers or tablets, when you are entering the United States, reads a portion of the warning. They dont need to provide a reason when requesting a password to open your device.

If you refuse, they may seize your device. The border agent could also delay your travel or deny entry if you are not a U.S. citizen. Before crossing the border, put your device in airplane mode to ensure remote files dont get downloaded accidentally.

To combat that issue, Etches suggested that staff that must travel to the U.S. should bring a burner phone with them. A burner is typically a device that has very little personal information on it that cannot be easily traced to the individual. Ontarios University of Waterloo is taking another approach by offering clean laptops that allow users to access information without it remaining on the laptop.

The warnings come as more international visitors to the U.S. report being harassed or detained at border crossings. Last month, warnings were issued by Germany and the United Kingdom to its respective residents cautioning them of enhanced scrutiny at border crossings.
The Department of Natural Resources said that Douglas Allen Smith, 66, of Lewiston, pleaded not guilty in the Montmorency County 88th District Court on April 11. | Joel Bissell

LEWISTON, MI  A Michigan man accused of impersonating an emergency responder said he was going to a call when stopped by officers.

The Department of Natural Resources said that Douglas Allen Smith, 66, of Lewiston, pleaded not guilty in the Montmorency County 88th District Court on April 11.
Terrell Simms, a 39-year-old resident of Oak Park, is facing several charges including second-degree murder. MLive file photo

OAKLAND COUNTY, MI  A Michigan man accused of killing a Door Dash driver has been charged in Oakland County.

Oakland County Prosecutor Karen D. McDonald announced the charges against Terrell Simms, a 39-year-old resident of Oak Park, last week.
Ervin Robinson II, 42, died after he fell from an upper gallery at the Charles Egeler Reception and Guidance Center located north of Jackson, Michigan Department of Corrections representative Lucas Verran said. Cory Morse | MLive.com

JACKSON COUNTY, MI  An investigation is ongoing in the death of a Michigan prisoner who fell Saturday from an upper railing in a Jackson-area prison.

Ervin Robinson II, 42, died April 12 after he fell from a gallery at the Charles Egeler Reception and Guidance Center north of Jackson, Michigan Department of Corrections representative Lucas Verran said.

Verran declined to provide further details, citing the continuing investigation.

Prison staff made multiple lifesaving efforts until medical personnel arrived, Verran said.

Messages left with Michigan State Police investigating the death were not returned.

The Charles Egeler Reception and Guidance Center is where prisoners are first sent after they are sentenced. Once there, they are evaluated and assigned to another state prison based on their security risk and rehabilitation needs.

Robinson was in prison serving a 1-to-eight-year sentence for failing to pay child support out of Kent County, MDOC records show.

He was released on parole but returned to prison after he was accused of several new felonies out of Kent County. These included aggravated indecent exposure and drug possession, court records show.

He served prior sentences on a variety of charges including felonious assault, car theft and aggravated stalking, records show.

There have been prior instances of prisoners dying after jumping from the upper gallery of the facility. Most recently, in 2024, Michael Muldermans, 72, jumped and died shortly after arriving at the facility.

In 2020, Mark James Wilson, 59, lifted himself over a railing and jumped from a fourth-level gallery of the facility, dying by suicide.
Cruisers from Ann Arbor Police Department parked outside the Victory Inn, Friday, Feb. 22, 2019 in Ann Arbor. (Ben Allan Smith | MLive.com) Ben Allan Smith | MLive.com

ANN ARBOR, MI  A Livonia man was killed Tuesday afternoon when a car struck him in Ann Arbor.

The man was in the process of reconnecting the front trailer of his gravel hauler to the rear trailer near Pauline Boulevard near Hutchins Avenue in Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor police said.

The crash occurred around 4 p.m. April 15. The man, 64, was found unresponsive underneath the tractor-trailer, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The crash occurred after the man dropped loads of sand off at a nearby construction site, police said.

Pauline Boulevard was closed between Main Street and Seventh street until roughly 9:30 p.m. while authorities investigated the crash.

The Ann Arbor Fire Department, Michigan State Police and Huron Valley Ambulance assisted Ann Arbor police.

Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page, the Ypsilanti-area news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter.
Cordell Allen Jr., one of two Flint-area teenagers to face charges in a fatal Mt. Morris Township shooting last summer, has pleaded guilty to a weapons charge. (Cody Scanlan | MLive.com)

FLINT, MI  One of two Flint-area teenagers to face charges in a fatal Mt. Morris Township shooting last summer has pleaded guilty to a weapons charge.

Cordell Allen Jr. was originally charged with two counts of assault with intent to murder and two weapons charges, according to court records.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Prosecutors and defense attorneys ironed out some legal issues days before jury selection begins in the murder trial against former Grand Rapids police officer Christopher Schurr.

The defense will not be allowed to do a live Taser demonstration at trial, Kent County Circuit Judge Christina Mims ordered at a hearing Wednesday, April 16.

The request was among a handful of motions the judge ruled on.

RELATED: We are not at peace, Patrick Lyoyas dad says days before police officers trial begins

Schurr faces a second-degree murder charge in the high-profile killing of Patrick Lyoya, a 26-year-old Congolese immigrant. Jury selection begins Tuesday, April 22, in Mims courtroom.

Schurr, now 34, pulled Lyoya over the morning of April 4, 2022, on Nelson Avenue SE near Griggs Street. The officer stopped Lyoya because the plate didnt match the vehicle.

Lyoya tried to run and then engaged in a lengthy struggle with the officer. Schurr caught up to him and the two struggled over the officers Taser.

Schurr was on top of Lyoya in a yard, with the Taser underneath Lyoya, when the officer pulled out his handgun and shot Lyoya in the head.

RELATED: Former Grand Rapids officers state of mind, not Patrick Lyoyas, focus of murder trial

Legal proceedings have been plagued with delays for years because Schurrs attorneys brought appeals to the state Court of Appeals and then the state Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court ruled in December that it would not hear arguments in the case, and it should proceed to trial.

Schurr, dressed in a suit, was in court for Wednesdays hearing. He sat between his attorneys as they made arguments on their motions.

The judge granted Kent County Prosecutor Chris Beckers motion to exclude Lyoyas unlawful behavior. Mims previously ruled Lyoyas prior conduct is not whats on trial  Schurrs is.

RELATED: Will ex-police officer testify at his own murder trial in Patrick Lyoyas killing?

During the trial, the defense plans to call an expert to testify about potential injuries caused from Tasers. Photos of an eyeball injured by a Taser will not be admissible, Mims ruled.

(The photos) only serve to inflame the emotions of the jury, she said.

The judge will also not allow the defense to use four letters of recognition given to Schurr as evidence unless it becomes relevant.

Trial testimony is scheduled to begin on Monday, April 28.

For more of MLives coverage on the case, visit here.

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Mark Dykema, former chair of the Tulip Time Board and a former part-owner of Biggby Coffee locations, has pleaded no contest after he was a accused of taking "upskirt" photos. Mike Krebs | MLive.com

GRAND HAVEN, MI -- An Ottawa County businessman has pleaded no contest to several charges after he was accused of taking upskirt photos of women.

Mark Edwin Dykema, 40, entered pleas Wednesday, April 16 in Ottawa County Circuit Court to surveilling an unclothed person and using a computer to commit a crime.
Peter Lyoya attends a candlelight memorial for his son, Patrick Lyoya, in front of the Kent County Courthouse in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Patrick Lyoya, an immigrant from the Democratic Republic of Congo, was shot by former Grand Rapids police officer Christopher Schurr. Becky Particka | MLive.com

DETROIT, MI -- As the trial nears for a former officer accused in the killing of Black motorist Patrick Lyoya, his family says the pain persists from his loss.

Our heart is still broken Lyoyas father, Peter, told MLive Wednesday, April 16, during an interview less than a week before jury selection begins April 22.
Samantha Swiatek beams at her grandpa, Harold Yarrington, as he delivers the "first salute" to Swiatek in recognition of her new rank. Dawn Buehler

BATTLE CREEK, MI  Its been at least six years since the last woman graduated from the Michigan Army National Guards Officer Candidate School.

That was one motivating factor for 2nd Lt. Samantha Swiatek.

The other, she said, was that her grandpa Harold Yarrington would be there to salute her after graduation.

Swiatek graduated Officer Candidate School on Sunday, April 13. Her 93-year-old veteran grandfather had the honor of being her first salute at the Fort Custer graduation ceremony.

In the Army, the first salute is a tradition that recognizes an officers new rank following their commissioning ceremony.

It was definitely one of the most memorable moments of my life, Swiatek said. Its important doing anything difficult to know your why. And he was a big why for me.

During his time in the service, Yarrington said men would cross the street to avoid saluting a female officer. Today, he is proud to salute his granddaughter.

I think its great, he said.

Yarrington was drafted in 1952 and served on a minesweeper for the U.S. Navy for two-and-a-half years.

He would always say that being in the military was the best time of his life, Swiatek said. Experiencing it myself ... nothing compares to that.

Veteran Harold 'Bub' Yarrington stand with newly commissioned 2nd Lt. Samantha Swiatek and his wife Bonnie following the graduation ceremony on Sunday, April 13. Dawn Buehler

Now 35 with a career in finance, Swiatek said she missed the camaraderie and competition of sports.

This kind of fills that void for me, she said. Its a way to stay active and be part of a team.

The Michigan Army National Guards traditional officer program takes a year to complete, Swiatek said. The three phases include two weeks in Minnesota, two weeks in Alabama and monthly weekend meetings in Michigan.

Swiatek completed basic training in 2022. At 33 years old, she was the oldest in her company.

Theres a 4-mile run, a 12-mile ruck and several fitness and military history exams to complete, Swiatek said.

Seven candidates graduated on Sunday.

Newly commissioned 2nd Lieutenants Alexandros Tsitlakidis, Jacob Boger, Dakota Northup, Gilbert Abu, Justin Pelar, Samantha Swiatek and Blake Williams. Dawn Buehler

Were here because we trained to standard, with no compromise, Swiatek said in the speech she delivered during the ceremony. Weve been tested, refined and forged as a team. Were ready  not just to get to the fight, but to lead it."

Physically, some of the requirements are more difficult for women than for their male counterparts, she said.

I think we need more female representation in combat roles in general, she said. I think showing that women can do that is important.

There are several ways someone can earn an officers rank, including college ROTC, active duty or going straight to officer school following basic training.

Getting her degree and starting a full-time career initially seemed like barriers to joining the service, she said. In officer training, they became strengths.

An officer is like the manager of the group, I had experience in that, Swiatek said.

The traditional training route is great for those who have a full-time job, a college degree and a desire to serve, Swiatek said. Shes a finance specialist at her day job.

After training, the Army National Guard requires one weekend of service a month, she said.

I get to go out and do crazy things and then come back to my desk job, Swiatek said. Its a good balance.

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A new sign installed outside Ayasofya at 1528 W Michigan Ave. Halil Dursunoglu

KALAMAZOO, MI -- The historic Brunos Pizza sign is no more.

The iconic sign, a landmark near Western Michigan Universitys campus for 75 years, was taken down on Saturday, April 12, to make way for a new sign.

The new sign advertises Ayasofya, a new Turkish restaurant that opened in the old Brunos Pizza location in December 2024 at 1528 W. Michigan Ave.

Bruno's Pizza at 1528 W Michigan Ave in Kalamazoo, Michigan on Monday, March 20, 2023. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com) Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Taking down the sign was really sad, said Halil Dursunoglu, owner of Ayasofya. When Dursunoglu attended WMU in 2013, he liked going to Brunos to have pizza with his wife.

But due to new regulations in the city, Dursunoglu had no choice but to remove the sign. The sign didnt meet new code requirements so Dursunoglu had to leave it as is or take it down, he said.

Without a sign advertising Ayasofya, Dursunoglu learned customers were having trouble finding the restaurant.

I was receiving phone calls asking the exact location of the restaurant, Dursunoglu said.

Now, theres a cant miss red illuminated sign on the storefront.

Dursunoglu struck a deal with Midwest Sign Company based in Kansas City to exchange the Brunos sign for the new Ayasofya sign. The company removed the Brunos sign and installed the new sign at no additional cost.

Dursunoglu had listed the sign on Facebook Marketplace for several months and reached out to Kalamazoo-based sign companies.

The cost of removing the sign started at $5,000, Dursunoglu said. Purchasing a new sign would cost around $15,000.

(Midwest Sign Company) basically saved me $20,000, Dursunoglu said.

Dursunoglu also reached out to the Kalamazoo Valley Museum, he said, but it didnt have space to take the sign.

To honor the Brunos legacy, Dursunoglu is planning to install a memorial collage inside the restaurant. Patrons can bring in or send photos of themselves to Ayasofya to be featured in the collage.

Patrons who bring in a picture will also receive a free dessert, Dursunoglu said.

RELATED: New Kalamazoo restaurant serves up a taste of Turkey in historic pizzeria

Ayasofya is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 to 10 p.m. on Sundays.

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A shooting scene is investigated in the 400 block of North Street outside Green Door Distillery on Saturday, April 12, 2025 in Kalamazoo. MLive

KALAMAZOO, MI  Kalamazoo police spoke with one person of interest in its investigation of Saturdays fatal shooting and want to speak with another person who is pictured on a video released by the department.

A homicide occurred on the 400 Block of E. North Street, where people were gathered in the street and gunfire erupted.
Bay County residents interested in being appointed to the county commission have until July 10 to apply. Joey Oliver | MLive.com

BAY CITY, MI  County commissioners Tuesday, April 15, approved a resolution seeking to hire a special prosecutor to handle many cases the current prosecutor and his staff cannot handle due to various conflicts of interest.

The Bay County Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the resolution, allowing the county to hire Macomb County Assistant Prosecutor Jurij D. Fedorak as a Special Assistant Attorney General. Fedorak would assume prosecutorial duties over the conflicted cases  including active ones, probation violations, and potentially appeals  until they are resolved.

A prior memorandum submitted to the board by Bay County Corporation Counsel Amber Davis-Johnson suggested that Fedorak would work out of the Bay County Court Facility and would be paid $100,000. The county would also need to hire a part-time legal assistant who would be paid the standard rate of $17.91-$21.35 per hour and not work more than 29 hours per week.

The funds for both positions would come from the current budget of the prosecutors office.

Related: Bay County seeks special prosecutor as 100+ criminal cases risk dismissal

Bay County voters elected Michael P. Kanuszewski as their new prosecutor in the November 2024 election. Kanuszewski had worked at the Office of Criminal Defense.

Kanuszewski took office in early January and shortly thereafter named Christopher Johnson as his chief assistant prosecutor. Johnson also worked at the Office of Criminal Defense.

This resulted in a significant number of conflicts of interest, as Kanuszewski, Johnson, and their assistants cannot prosecute cases they were previously involved in while defense attorneys. As a result, Kanuszewski has filed numerous requests with the Michigan Attorney Generals Office and the Prosecuting Attorneys Coordinating Council seeking special prosecutors be appointed to handle the cases.

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A view of a Michigan State Police vehicle at the Tri-City Post. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com) Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com

BAY CITY, MI  A rolling gunfight began in Saginaw County and ended in neighboring Bay County with three people wounded.

About 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday, April 15, motorists called 911 to report two vehicles chasing each other as their occupants traded gunshots on River Road/M-13 near the Zilwaukee Bridge.
SAGINAW, MI  With the discovery of new evidence, a Saginaw man brought back from Texas to face charges of killing a man in a dollar store must wait a few more months before a jury hears his case.

The trial of Ronald L. Kinchen Jr., 39, was scheduled to begin Tuesday, April 15, before Saginaw County Circuit Judge Darnell Jackson. Kinchen is charged with single counts of open murder, carrying a dangerous weapon with unlawful intent, carrying a concealed weapon, felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of ammunition, and four counts of second-offense felony firearm.
SAGINAW, MI  A Saginaw parolee suspected of killing a traveling nurses assistant from California is likely to wait until after the Easter holiday to face charges.

The 30-year-old man has been held in the Saginaw County Jail on a parole violation detainer since his arrest on the evening of April 5. Police are still interviewing witnesses and collecting evidence before submitting their reports to prosecutors, said Saginaw County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Blair N. Stevenson on Wednesday, April 16.
Mark Totten, a former West Michigan federal prosecutor, has announced his campaign for Michigan Attorney General in 2026. (Cory Morse | MLive.com) Cory Morse | MLive.com

Mark Totten, a former west Michigan federal prosecutor, has announced his campaign for Michigan Attorney General in 2026.

Totten, a Kalamazoo resident, is the first major candidate to join the race. Current Attorney General Dana Nessel is restricted by term limits.

Totten served as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan from May 2022 until January 2025 after being appointed by President Joe Biden.

Michigan needs a fearless Attorney General who will fight for justice, fairness, and the rule of law, and thats exactly what I will do, Totten said in a statement. We are in turbulent times and need leaders determined to protect our state, our rights, and our safety.

Totten emphasized a commitment to justice, civil rights and public safety in his announcement. During his time as U.S. attorney, Totten prosecuted various serious crimes, created a civil rights team and prosecuted public correction cases.

Before being appointed to U.S. attorney, Totten served as chief legal counsel to Gov. Gretchen Whitmers office from 2019 to 2022. He also taught criminal law at Michigan State University.

I am prepared to take on anyone  from criminal gangs to greedy corporations to the Administration  who seeks to undermine our rights or take advantage of Michiganders, Totten said in a statement. We have a lot on the line, and no one will fight harder for you than I will.

Tottens campaign announcement was met with endorsements from local leaders, including Ingham County Prosecutor John Dewane, Kalamazoo County Sheriff Richard Fuller, Lansing Mayor Andy Schor and Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley.

Mark is a fighter who gets things done, Schor said in a statement. He was a key partner on so many important public safety matters here in Lansing during his time as U.S. Attorney. Mark was always just a phone call away and he was here on the ground again and again helping address the gun violence epidemic that has taken the lives of so many young people. I am confident he will be an excellent Attorney General.

More information about Tottens campaign can be found on his website: www.MarkTotten.com. Watch his campaign announcement at this link.
Michigan students who fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form for the first time can win up to $50,000 in a new state sweepstakes. (MLive file photo)

Michigan students who fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form for the first time can win up to $50,000 in a new state sweepstakes.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the Ticket to Tuition sweepstakes Wednesday, April 16, as part of an effort to increase FAFSA completion and connect more students with state and federal financial aid.

The sweepstakes will award nearly $1 million in prizes, with 40 students receiving $10,000 each and 10 students receiving $50,000 each.

Filling out your FAFSA can help you save thousands of dollars on your education and with todays sweepstakes, you can also enter to win up to $50,000 for your education expenses, Whitmer said. As we continue working together to save Michiganders money, I encourage all high school seniors who want to go to community, private, or public college to fill out their FAFSA, save thousands of dollars while attending school and enter to win our sweepstakes!

Those eligible to participate in the sweepstakes are Michigan residents who have completed the FAFSA for the first time to use during the 2025-26 school year.

After completing the FAFSA, students can enter the sweepstakes by texting CASH to 855-50K-TICKET (855-505-8425). The deadline to enter is 11:59 p.m. Friday, May 16.

The winners will be drawn randomly on May 21.

The prize money wont be awarded as a cash or check but rather will be deposited into a Michigan Education Savings Program account for the student.

Winners will be restricted to spending the prize money on qualified education-related expenses, such as tuition and fees, living expenses, computers and textbooks, according to Whitmers office.

Students can complete the 2025-2026 FAFSA form by going to this link. People can also learn more about the Michigan Education Savings Program at this link.

MLive reported last summer that fewer Michigan high school graduates were filling out the FAFSA form.

Related: Fewer Michigan high school grads are filling out the FAFSA. Colleges are feeling the difference.

Completing the FAFSA form allows students to be eligible for federal student aid, such as federal grants and loans.

Its also the first step in becoming eligible for Michigan-specific aid programs, including free community college and up to $27,500 in funding to attend a Michigan university.

Michigans Community College Guarantee allows every Michigan high school graduate regardless of income to receive an associate degree or skilled certificate tuition-free at a community college. The guarantee was created in 2024.

More than 18,000 students are participating in the guarantee, Whitmer said Wednesday. People can learn more about the Community College Guarantee at this link.

The program builds on the financial support offered by the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, which was created in 2022. That scholarship provides up to $27,500 for a student to attend an in-state public university, private college or four-year degree program at a community college.

The scholarship is offered to all Michigan high school graduates who demonstrate a financial need when they complete their FAFSA.

Whitmer said most students are eligible and that more than 60,000 students are currently receiving aid through the program. People can learn more about the Michigan Achievement Scholarship at this link.

Michigan also offers the Michigan Achievement Skills Scholarship which provides those who qualify with up to $2,000 a year for two years to earn an industry-recognized certificate. People can learn more about the skills scholarship at this link.

The sweepstakes is presented and sponsored by the Michigan College Access Network, a nonprofit that works to increase the number of students who go to and complete college.

The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential (MiLEAP) is partnering with the nonprofit on the sweepstakes.

Michigan College Access Network is committed to increasing the number of students who access and complete college, and the Ticket to Tuition sweepstakes is another way we are working to incentivize more students to explore postsecondary options, said Ryan Fewins-Bliss, executive director of the Michigan College Access Network.

We want graduating seniors and their families to know that the FAFSA is the key to unlocking federal, state and institutional financial aid, and now, completing it can give them the chance to win up to $50,000 to help with their future educational expenses.
An email the U.S. Department of Homeland Security sent on Friday, April 11 to Catherine Villanueva, an immigration attorney and U.S. Citizen, mistakenly told her to leave the country immediately. (Photo by Rose White | MLive) Rose White | MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Jean-Paul doesnt know what to do after his sister and two nephews got an email from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security last week saying, please depart the United States immediately.

The three family members, fleeing gang violence in Haiti, have been in the country for about a year. Jean-Paul, a U.S. citizen for 25 years, sponsored them through the Biden administrations effort to create more legal pathways for migrants under humanitarian parole.

It slaps us in the face, said Jean-Paul, who asked to only be identified by his first name because of his familys immigration status.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirmed it sent termination notices to migrants who entered the country using CBP One, a Biden-era app that became a key path for asylum seekers to legally enter the country in recent years.

But notices were also mistakenly sent some immigration attorneys who are U.S. citizens  including Catherine Villanueva, a Grand Rapids attorney who represents Jean-Pauls family  likely because their emails are in the app. She thought it was spam at first, then Villanueva started getting panicked calls from clients.

It really seems like an effort to terrorize people, she said.

Related: Judge mulls case of revoked visas for 4 international students from Michigan universities

The email from automatedmessage@cbp.dhs.gov told recipients their parole will be terminated within seven days and directed them to leave the country or face deportation.

It is time for you to leave the United States, the notice said. DHS is terminating your parole. Do not attempt to remain in the United States  the federal government will find you.

The emails were seemingly sent en masse as part of President Donald Trumps broad promise to deport millions of people.

But instead of focusing on criminal migrants, these efforts have also included bulk removals of migrants who were granted humanitarian parole  a temporary status that allows people fleeing their home country to live and work in the United States.

The White House tried to revoke this status for thousands from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela, but was blocked by a federal judge last week.

The latest DHS emails show the Trump administration is putting the CBP One app, another arm of humanitarian parole, in the crosshairs.

The CBP One app allowed migrants without documents to schedule appointments at the Southern border. After Trump took office in January, the app was halted and thousands of appointments were canceled.

Its since been turned into a self-deportation reporting app called CBP Home.

Related: U.S. citizen mistakenly detained by ICE outside Michigan courthouse speaks out

More than 900,000 people reportedly used CBP One to enter the country, but DHS did not confirm how many received notices directing them to leave immediately.

We are acting in the best interest of the country and enforcing the law accordingly, an agency spokesperson said.

The DHS email, which encourages people to self-deport, has only created confusion and fear for Jean-Pauls family.

If they dont want them to be here, what am I going to be doing? he said. Haiti is not a place where you can send people. Theres no flights over there. They dont know when airlines are going to fly into Haiti.

The Federal Aviation Administration banned all flights to Haiti in November after three commercial jets were struck by gunfire amid growing gang violence. That ban was recently extended through Sept. 8.

I dont know what to do, said Jean-Paul, who turned to his attorney for answers.

For Villanueva, sending a sweeping email to anyone who used CBP One is alarming.

To have this happen when theyve been doing everything correct, then being told you dont belong here, you have to leave, it just seems so needlessly cruel, she said.

Two other immigration attorneys in Massachusetts, also American citizens, reported theyve been told to leave the country too.

A DHS spokesperson said immigration officials used the known email addresses of migrants to send the notifications. But there may have been unintended recipients if an email address was provided by American citizens.

Theyre acknowledging that theyre basically sending spam, Villanueva said. The spam is in the form of a very cruel threat that immigration enforcement is going to come after them if they dont leave the country.

Related: Michigan native Erik Prince proposes deportation plan to El Salvador, report says

It remains unclear if the federal government will act upon the termination notices.

The DHS email urges migrants to report their departure on CBP Home or face potential criminal prosecution, civil fines, and penalties, and any other lawful options available to the federal government.

But Villanueva says the email doesnt indicate that there are other legal pathways for migrants with temporary status, like applying for asylum, visas or family-based petitions.

The point of that email, and this is what was so dangerous, is to try to get people to give up, she said.
Ten international students from Western Michigan University, Michigan State University and three schools in other states have sued the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in federal court. Emil Lippe | MLive.com

Ten international students from Western Michigan University, Michigan State University and three schools in other states have sued the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in federal court, arguing that their permission to remain in the United States was terminated illegally.

The Department of Homeland Security did not provide the students or their schools any meaningful explanation for terminating their F-1 student status, said the complaint, filed Monday in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan.
Corkcicle wins the award for most interesting father-son collaboration, but its not what you might think.

The brand recently announced two additions to its Star Wars collection: a Luke Skywalker Rebel Pilot Star Wars Go Cup XL ($40) and a Darth Vader Hilt Commuter Cup ($44.95).

Darth Vader Hilt Commuter Cup Corkcicle 17 oz. Darth Vader Hilt Commuter Cup - $44.95 Buy Now

If you find yourself trying to use the force for good, opt for the 30-ounce Go Cup designed after Luke Skywalkers pilot suit. Its fully leakproof design means not a drop will escape, no matter how crazy your adventures get. Easily carry this sleek tumbler by the handle when youre working out, hiking, on the job or watching your favorite Jedi franchise. The silicone spout stays tucked in until you flip it open to sip, keeping it clean and simple.

We know not everyone supports the rebellion though. If youre a Sith at heart, youll appreciate the latest 17-ounce Commuter Cup designed after Darth Vaders lightsaber hilt. The insulated stainless steel container keeps drinks cold for up to 18 hours and hot for up to five hours. Enjoy mess-free sips with the spill-proof 360-degree lid.

Rebel Pilot Star Wars Go Cup XL Corkcicle 17 oz. Rebel Pilot Star Wars Go Cup XL - $40 Buy Now

Star Wars fans are already all over this launch, so make sure you get yours before the force-filled frenzy clears out stock.

Other Star Wars Corkcicle items:

16 oz. Star Wars Darth Vader Tumbler - $34.95

20 oz. Star Wars Ahsoka Sport Canteen - $44.95
Anna University Result OUT for Nov/Dec 2024 1st Semester Exams at coe1.annauniv.edu, Direct Link Here

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ICAI CA Admit Card 2025 OUT for May Inter, Final exams @ eservices.icai.org; direct link here

MC Education Desk Read the latest and trending news on CBSE, board exams, NEET, JEE, CUET, competitive exams, scholarships, college admissions, education policies, and more.

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Amitabh Bachchan visits Siddhivinayak Temple with Abhishek, fans shout 'we love you Amit sir', watch his sweet response

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Ananya Panday becomes first Indian brand ambassador of French brand CHANEL, writes, "Dreams really do come true"

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Indians among 18 get lifesaver Award for rescuing several including Pawan Kalyan's son from fire in Singapore

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It Ends With Us production member Talia Spencer claims Blake Lively tried to take advantage of Justin Baldoni, says, she "smelled his kindness"

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Netizens cant stop talking about Jr NTRs shirt from latest picture; see its price

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Only Malayalam and Marathi industries are delivering true content in Indian cinema, says director Mahesh Manjrekar

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US share in Indian exports reached highest level in a decade in March: MC Analysis

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Gold prices surged 40% in one year: Here's why investors are making a beeline for the safe haven

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Not just China, India faces risk of flux of farm imports from US as well

Adrija Chatterjee is an Assistant Editor at Moneycontrol. She has been tracking and reporting on finance and trade ministries for over eight years.

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Nvidia says new limits on China exports to cost $5.5 billion

Deblina Halder

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Making UPI payments with your credit card: What you need to know

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Trumps tariffs threaten over $350 million of exports, force Indian MSMEs to de-risk from US

Adrija Chatterjee is an Assistant Editor at Moneycontrol. She has been tracking and reporting on finance and trade ministries for over eight years.

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2027 UP elections: Caste equations at the forefront as BJP begins hunt for new state president

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'Amit Shah said PM Modi in Delhi, EPS in Chennai': AIADMK chief denies power-sharing for TN polls

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BJP attempting to capture power in Karnataka, be cautious and stay united: Kharge to state Congress

Sonalee Borgohain

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'Caste census': Karnataka govt will ensure no injustice happens to anyone, says Siddaramaiah

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Challenges to amended Waqf Act: No interim order passed, SC raises key issues as hearing to continue tomorrow

Shishir Tripathi is a journalist and researcher based in Delhi. He has worked with The Indian Express, Firstpost, Governance Now, and Indic Collective. He writes on Law, Governance and Politics. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication.

Siddharth Chakravorty

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'Earlier underground outfits were against the Centre, now the violence is...': Kiren Rijiju on Manipur

Siddharth Chakravorty

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Exit NDA, enter Mahagathbandhan? All eyes on Pashupati Paras' next move amid realignment buzz in Bihar

Armaan Bhatnagar

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'Farooq Abdullah supported Centre's Article 370 move privately': Ex-RAW chief says 'no one knows what transpired'

Ria Kapoor

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Have not abandoned Hindutva but BJP's 'mouldy' version not acceptable: Uddhav Thackeray

Sonalee Borgohain

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'He's trying to rebuild relationship with BJP': Farooq Abdullah on AS Dulat's Article 370 claims

Ria Kapoor

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'If Goa gets married to Bengaluru, Vizag will be the child': Nara Lokesh on why Naidu govt 'sold' 21 acres to TCS at 99 paise

Yeeshu Yadav

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'Incidents are very disturbing, top court to take a call': CJI Sanjiv Khanna on Murshidabad violence

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Jaishankar on Pakistan's 'double game': 'Was both with Taliban and...'

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'Newspaper was only instrument to collect ads, builds properties': Ravi Shankar Prasad slams Rahul, Sonia in National Herald case

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Don't see any reason for safeguard duty to be 20% on steel products: Steel secy

Arindam Roy

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Shinde jibe: HC reserves order on Kamra plea against FIR, says comedian not be arrested till then

101Reporters

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'Urdu born in this land': Supreme Court upholds its use on signboard in Maharashtra

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'Will you allow Muslims in Hindu trusts': SC asks Centre during Waqf case hearing

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'Will be best for Chinese government to accept status of Arunachal': Kiren Rijiju

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'Yogi biggest Bhogi': Mamata Banerjee takes swipe at UP CM over 'Bengal is burning' remark

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DUSU leader retaliates with cow dung, says college principal should now use natural cooling herself. Watch

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Entrepreneur gets Rs 30 lakh BMW from Chinese friend on Tamil New Year: 'Dream car'

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Noida techie, who paid Rs 64,000 rent for 3BHK apartment, moves to Goa. Now pays only Rs 19,000

Shubhi Mishra

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WFH doesn't mean work 1 hour, claim salary for 8: Delhi CEO uses AI to find staffer moonlighting

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Earth's oceans were once green not blue and they may change colour again  but when?

Sheetal Kumari

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Lack of a transaction status check limiter resulted in incessant requests by banks, leading to UPI downtime

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Aabhas Sharma

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Microsoft reveals fake job offers and AI scams are targeting people around the world: Heres how you can stay safe

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Ankita Chakravarti

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MC Tech Desk Read the latest and trending tech newsstay updated on AI, gadgets, cybersecurity, software updates, smartphones, blockchain, space tech, and the future of innovation.

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Ankita Chakravarti

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Aabhas Sharma

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Beijing tears into US over Hong Kong tariffs: 'Let American peasants wail

Deblina Halder

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Arindam Roy

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Ria Kapoor

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China names new trade envoy as tariff war with US escalates

Arindam Roy

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Did aliens turn soviet soldiers into stone? Here's the truth behind viral claim

Aishwarya Dabhade

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Hindi-Cheeni bhai bhai! Xi Jinping govt issues 85,000 visas to Indians, slashes fees - Check how to apply and other FAQs

Surabhi Pandey

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Pragya Trivedi

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Abhinav Gupta

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JD Vance set for India visit next week; meeting with PM Modi on the cards

Abhinav Gupta

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Meet Letitia James: The NY Attorney General who once won $454 million case against Trump and now faces mortgage fraud charges

Pragya Trivedi

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Rubio and Witkoff to visit Paris for talks on US peace efforts in Russia-Ukraine conflict

101Reporters

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'Stop threatening and blackmailing': China remains defiant after White House says 'tariffs now up to 245%'

Abhinav Gupta

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WTO sounds alarm: Trump tariffs threaten to shrink global trade by up to 1.5%

Pragya Trivedi

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At a field site just 15 minutes from Michigan Technological University's campus, Alden Adolph and her team of student researchers are studying the reflectivity of melting snow to better understand climate change on a global scale.

The Keweenaw Peninsula, home to Michigan Tech, has received over 250 inches of snow so far in winter 2024. Now, as spring arrives and the days become sunnier and warmer, the snow is melting. For Michigan Tech faculty member Alden Adolph, the process might hold the key to better understanding climate change and freshwater resource management.

Adolph, assistant professor of engineering fundamentals and mechanical engineering and aerospace, leads a new team of student researchers studying snow albedo, also known as sunlight reflectivity. More specifically, her team is studying the effect that liquid water from snowmelt or rain has on its albedo.

"All surfaces have an albedo," explained Adolph. "What's cool about snow is that it has a very high albedo, one of the highest albedos of natural surfaces on the Earth."

Its high albedo generally allows the snowpack to stay cooler by reflecting sunlight instead of absorbing it. There are many specific factors that can affect reflectivity, though, including snow grain size and the presence of impurities like dust or soot.

Assistant Professor Alden Adolph, right, leads a team of undergraduate student researchers at Michigan Tech studying snow reflectivity.

Adolph's team is looking at another variable.

"One aspect that hasn't been studied as much is how liquid water from snow that is actively melting affects albedo," said Adolph. "Often it's indirectly accounted for, so our work is looking fundamentally at how the presence of water in a snowpack affects its albedo."

But why study snow reflectivity? While for many, snow is simply a seasonal nuisance or a natural wonder, Adolph explains that snow albedo plays an important role in broader climate systems.

"Because snow is able to stay cool due to its high albedo, it has a global effect. By reflecting sunlight, the snow allows Earth to stay cool as well," she said.

A clear example of how snow protects Earth's climate can be seen in the Arctic Ocean, where snow and ice cover large portions of the water.

"As sea ice melts, it exposes more of the darker ocean water, which has a lower albedo and absorbs more solar energy, and heats up," said Adolph. "And that causes more ice to melt and then we are in a feedback loop." Understanding snowmelt and its effect on albedo can help keep those waters cool, which in turn regulates our planet against climate change.

There is also the potential to help local communities and their freshwater resource management. Adolph suggests her research could be used to better predict when snow will melt.

"In places like the mountainous west of the U.S. or in the Himalayas, they rely on snowmelt for their water, so figuring out when the snow is going to melt is important," said Adolph. "Studying snowmelt can be important for a local community as well as when considering a global response to climate change."

A Different Kind of Snow Day

From left, Alden Adolph, Nathaniel Miller and Cora Mullins collect data during a routine field site visit.

The best way to study snow is out in the field. Adolph and her team of four undergraduate students have been routinely visiting their field site throughout the semester, taking measurements and collecting data on the snow's albedo, grain size and impurities, and the presence of liquid water.

Their field site, just north of Michigan Tech's campus near the Keweenaw Research Center, meets all of Adolph's requirements.

"The best snow field site is relatively open," she said. "We don't want trees around for a couple of reasons. Shading of the sun is one, especially here in the Houghton area where we have pretty low sun angles. We want to make sure we are able to get direct sunlight if possible."

Open fields also minimize the presence of debris like sticks and leaves, which affect albedo and also "muddy the waters" on the work Adolph and her team are trying to accomplish.

"And then it's important to be as level as possible," she said. "Different slopes of the surface affect how the sun comes in, which affects the snow's albedo."

Adolph and her team began their research in January by setting up a weather station at the site and taking initial measurements before the snow began to melt. The team continues to visit the field site a few times per week to take measurements as the snow melts  and continues to fall throughout March and into April.

"We usually spend about two hours making measurements, and we try to go out a few times a week, but especially on days when we know there will be extensive melt," said Adolph.

Undergraduate student researchers, including first-year Cora Mullins, gain experience in using unique instruments like this backpack spectrometer, which captures both incoming and reflected sunlight.

Following a particularly intense snowstorm in early March, the team pulled their specialized equipment to the site on a sled across almost 20 inches of fresh snow.

"It's also really interesting to be in a place with all this lake-effect snow and trying to think about how those dynamics could affect snow properties," said Adolph. "In a place with frequent snowfall, there's this idea of snow freshening, and I'm interested in how that affects snow albedo over time."

During their visit, the team went through their now-familiar routine. They started by taking notes of current weather conditions and measuring the snow's albedo using a backpack spectrometer to measure the incoming and reflected radiation, ranging from the visible spectrum to near infrared.

They dug snow pits all the way to the ground in order to measure snow depth, identify layers and measure snow grain size using custom instrumentation, as well as a standard hand lens. They used a snow fork to measure the liquid water content and density at many depths throughout the snowpack.

Some snow samples were collected to be brought back to their lab in the Great Lakes Research Center, where they'll be melted, filtered and analyzed for impurities.

The field site research is just the beginning. Adolph is currently advising a Senior Design team that is working on building an instrument that produces artificial snow of controlled grain size.

"That way, in the lab, we can create snowpacks of specific grain sizes and measure their albedo as it melts," she said.

Huskies Make the Best Snow Researchers

Adolph, who joined the College of Engineering in fall 2024, knows Michigan Tech is the place to study snow.

"I was so excited to be able to work here at Michigan Tech since Houghton is known as one of the snowiest places in the country," said Adolph.

But snow isn't the only abundant resource at Michigan Tech  students are known for their ingenuity and tenacity, another factor that drew Adolph to MTU.

Nathaniel Miller, an electrical engineering senior, is a member of Adolph's snow research team and assists with field site data collection on a weekly basis.

"It's incredible that I came here specifically looking for undergraduate students to work with and there were so many students who wanted to be out in the snow," said Adolph. "They were excited to dig snow pits and ready with their snow gear. At Michigan Tech, you're working with students who are enthusiastic about snow."

Adolph's student team assists in all aspects of research.

"It's a lot of work," said Adolph, "but also a lot of fun."

The Huskies agree. Sam Hotchkiss, a second-year mechanical engineering student, says the field site visits are the highlight of his week.

"The work is more exciting than a standard class," said Hotchkiss. "Working on this project has been a step closer to the real world."

For Katie Wing, a junior in mechanical engineering, being involved in this research has given her a better understanding of climate science and broadened the possibilities for her future.

"Working with Adolph and the other undergraduate researchers has been eye-opening and fulfilling," said Wing. "This project has improved my MATLAB skills and shown me the many opportunities in environmental science, opening doors for my future."

Huskies use MATLAB software for data analysis, signal and image processing, control systems, wireless communications and robotics.

Cora Mullins, a first-year student in environmental engineering, considers this research an opportunity that can only be found at Michigan Tech.

"I feel like I'm getting to be a part of something that I wouldn't be a part of on another campus, especially as a first-year," said Mullins. "It's super cool to learn more about snow, which is something I've had to experience every year, yet I knew nothing about it. This has been a great experience and I can't wait to keep working on it in the future."

Michigan Technological University is an R1 public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, and is home to nearly 7,500 students from more than 60 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan's flagship technological university offers more than 185 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure.
Sonora, CA  A new General Manager has been hired at Clarke Broadcasting, which owns and operates AM 1450 KVML, Star 92.7, 93.5 KKBN and myMotherLode.com.

Clarke Broadcasting owner H. Randolph Holder announces that Jason Banks is stepping into the role. Banks has recently been a consultant for myMotherLode.com and was previously the manager of Mother Lode Internet (a provider formerly owned by Clarke Broadcasting). Outgoing General Manager Tom Nankival, a native of the Midwest, is leaving for a radio opportunity in Indiana.

Holder says, Tom brought years of experience to his position with us, and South Bend (Indiana) will benefit from that experience, as we did. It is difficult to replace that experience, but we are lucky to be able to have Jason re-join Clarke Broadcasting. Having previously served as General Manager of Mother Lode Internet, he was instrumental in the continued development and growth of myMotherLode.com. Being a long-time member of the community, hell ensure our continued tradition of public service both on-air and online.

Banks takes over, effective immediately, with Nankival assisting during the immediate transition period.
Angels Camp, CA  Next month, the Angels Camp community will have a chance to visit the newly revamped Utica Park.

The popular gathering spot has been fenced off and closed for two years due to an overhaul following a $3-million grant from the California Department of Parks and Recreation to make several upgrades (and acquire 3.4 acres of the adjacent former Lightner Mine property). The goal is to turn it into a regional destination.

There is new playground equipment, courts, a stage, walking paths, and several other amenities. In addition, the historic Mark Twain statue has been restored.

The Angels Camp City Council discussed plans for reopening the park at Tuesdays meeting. Clarke Broadcasting reached out to Mayor Michael Chimente, who confirms that a soft-opening will happen on May 12 with a grand opening celebration on May 31.

We will pass along more specifics about the Grand Opening as it draws nearer.
Indian man who fed water to cheetahs in viral video restored in job BBC

Climate/Environment

Exploring the risks of cascading tipping points in a warming world Carbon Brief

Pandemics

Research links COVID to poor kidney outcomes in US youth CIDRAP



This is just stunning. *Authorised* illness absence:

still 37% up in Primary Schools

still 50% up in Secondary Schools

and  an astonishing 74% up in Schools for Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. The most vulnerable children, the children most in pic.twitter.com/EOvoATucED  tern (@1goodtern) April 14, 2025

THE LAST OF US SEASON 2S DYSTOPIA IS MORE MIRROR THAN MAKE-BELIEVE Atmos

The Koreas

The unbearable lightness of Korean cute Chris Arnade Walks the World

China?

1/6

SCMP: Yu has been outspoken in his advocacy for the reduction of Chinas US Treasury bill holdings and has advised Beijing to stay alert for any attempts to use the countrys foreign assets against it. https://t.co/mFnKRj9Es5 via @scmpnews  Michael Pettis (@michaelxpettis) April 15, 2025

European Disunion

O Canada

Syraqistan

Africa

Americas tariff wars present no upside opportunities for African economies An Africanist Perspective

New Not-So-Cold War

The Ukrainian National Guards 12th Azov Brigade announced the formation of the 1st National Guard Azov Corps, which includes the National Guards 1st, 12th, 14th, 15th, and 20th brigades.https://t.co/LlxS4HIaoV pic.twitter.com/LxK7ZkSGka  Rob Lee (@RALee85) April 15, 2025

One reason why the Ukrainians are so desperate for a ceasefire is that they want to finish their army reforms in peace. They have been working on introducing a corps system to improve organization, command & control for their brigades. The first such corps has now been  Russians With Attitude (@RWApodcast) April 15, 2025

South of the Border

Trump 2.0

The outlook for new orders from NY Fed regional manufacturers literally hit the lowest level in the history of the survey. (HT: @fcastofthemonth) pic.twitter.com/vkbaVJTG4c  Joe Weisenthal (@TheStalwart) April 15, 2025

DOGE

SignalGate

Democrats en deshabille

Bidens antisemitism envoy on deporting students: Im coming down right smack dab in the middleI dont oppose many of the things that are being done. I just wish they would be done more deftly. Shameful equivocation by someone who should know better.https://t.co/3rZP0m7jjq  Dylan Williams (@dylanotes) April 15, 2025

Police State Watch

Groves of Academe

Screen recording for proof. This is Columbias resources for international students, linking to the ICE website to report people. Columbia University is not safe for international students. pic.twitter.com/2RUGCH66Q2  Layla  (@itslaylas) April 15, 2025

Supply Chain

FDA warns consumers not to use counterfeit Ozempic (semaglutide) found in U.S. drug supply chain US Food ad Drug Administration (press release)

AI

OpenAI is building a social network The Verge

Healthcare?

Some Tax-Exempt Hospitals Are Building Real Estate Empires HEALTH CARE un-covered

Imperial Collapse Watch

Class Warfare

Time travel, future fear, and the banal indignity of nostalgia thefsb

Antidote du jour (via):

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
While youve been distracted by Trump bringing the WWE to the world stage via tariff body slams leading to market knockouts, the end of due process thanks to doubling down on the illegal deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, Harvard resisting Trumps plan to dictate many of the universitys operations, and Witkoff playing at being a diplomat in high-stakes negotiations, DOGE has continued burrowing away at the foundations of Federal agencies like hungry termites.

Keep in mind that DOGEs aim is not to reduce inefficiency. Its to reduce government operations in a very big way so as to:

Immiserate the poor and others DOGE deems to be burdensomelike Social Security beneficiaries who paid into the system, often over decades Eliminate or wreck government functions so that the private sector can take over. But as we know, the government has been on an outsourcing kick for decades, so the idea that functions now operated at the Federal level can be done better by outsiders is suspect. This campaign is all about the opportunity for looting, and the harm to the operation of commerce and society be damned.

DOGE as a fraud: Claiming savings while increasing costs. We highlighted an earlier DOGE spreadsheet that claimed to show the source and amount of DOGEs asserted cost reduction and showed that many of the biggest items were false. For instance, DOGE took credit for contacts that had already been terminated, and on top of that, cited the maximum authorized amount, when the actual expenditures were lower, often greatly so. DOGE then greatly reduced the information it presents so as to preserve its ability to lie.

DOGE has been a complete and total failure. pic.twitter.com/qAClziAldr  Micah Erfan (@micah_erfan) April 11, 2025

Elon Musk has reduced the claims about what DOGE is saving from $1-2 trillion to $150 billion. The NYT reports hes still getting the numbers wrong through things like accounting errors and cancelling contracts that dont exist. What a fraud from start to finish. pic.twitter.com/69qjsixF5c  Richard Hanania (@RichardHanania) April 13, 2025

DOGE as destruction: Tearing down the highly efficient Social Security Administration, as opposed to taking on the pork machine of defense spending. On April 14, the Social Security Administration cut its phone staffing and also changed its policy so that sensitive information like bank details will no longer be taken over the phone. That means that if you cant sign up for Social Security successfully online, you will have to go to an officewhere getting someone to see you is Kafkaesque.and DOGE has promised to shutter offices.

And even before that, the Social Security site was already crashing, thanks to IT cuts. So even if you were to manage to get to see a live person at an office, if the system was down, they would not be able to address your issue.

And DOGE employees are still trying to defy a court order and access Social Security dataeven with not just old hands but even some Trump officials in opposition. From the Washington Post:

Representatives of Elon Musks U.S. DOGE Service have sought for weeks to get around a court order barring their access to sensitive data and internal systems at the Social Security Administration, prompting career staff to repeatedly resist their efforts, according to a half dozen people familiar with the DOGE teams actions and records obtained by The Washington Post. The battle inside the agency led the Justice Department to intervene to deny DOGE access to the data, even as the Trump administration installed and promoted DOGE-friendly leaders to dramatically cut back services at Social Security.

Please read the piece in full. The reporting is impressive and revealing.

DOGE as fraud: Taking credit for finding abuses so well known theyve been the subject of Congressional hearings, and resulted from Trump 1.0 expanded unemployment benefits. From Associated Press:

The latest government waste touted by billionaire Elon Musks cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency is hundreds of millions of dollars in fraudulent unemployment claims it purportedly uncovered. One problem: Federal investigators already found what appears to be the same fraud, years earlier and on a far greater scale Theyre trying to spin this narrative of, Oh, government is inefficient and government is stupid and theyre catching these things that the government didnt catch, says Michele Evermore, who worked on unemployment issues at the U.S. Department of Labor during the administration of former President Joe Biden. Theyre finding fraud that was marked as fraud and saying they found out it was fraud. Though states have almost complete control over their own unemployment systems, special relief programs  most notably widely expanded benefits enacted by the first Trump administration at the outset of the COVID pandemic  inject more direct federal involvement and a flood of new beneficiaries into the system. Trump signed the COVID unemployment relief into law on March 27, 2020, and from the very start it became a magnet for fraud. In a memo to state officials about two weeks later, the Department of Labor warned that the expanded benefits had made unemployment programs a target for fraud with significant numbers of imposter claims being filed with stolen or synthetic identities. A Labor Department spokeswoman did not respond to questions about Musks findings and DOGE gave no details on how it came to find the supposed fraud or whether it duplicates what was already found. Though DOGE ostensibly looked at longer timeframe than federal investigators previously had, it tallied just $382 million in fake unemployment claims, a tiny fraction of what investigators were already aware.

DOGE as fraud: After loudly promising transparency, DOGE is anything but. From Politico:

DOGE KEEPS IT UNDER WRAPS: The battle to pierce the veil of secrecy surrounding DOGE and its operations is coming to a head in several lawsuits Many of the anti-DOGE.lawyers are trying to answer questions like: What is the basic structure of DOGE? Which officials were involved in cutting-and-slashing efforts? And what sort of access does DOGE have to sensitive agency systems? But the Justice Department is fighting vigorously to shield DOGE from having to divulge that information, despite Trump and ELON MUSKs repeated assurances about transparency. The administration has refused to provide testimony from virtually every official that plaintiffs have tried to depose  and especially from people who work for DOGE.

The entire Politico piece, which goes through several cases of persistent evasiveness and misdirection, is worth reading.

DOGE as a fraud: Endangering national security, stealing data apparently to target opponents like organized labor. This is a much bigger caper than the Watergate break-in, but hacking is so common that even when insiders do it to abuse their power, the outrage is muted. From NPR which broke the story:

In the first days of March, a team of advisers from President Trumps new Department of Government Efficiency initiative arrived at the Southeast Washington, D.C., headquarters of the National Labor Relations Board. The small, independent federal agency investigates and adjudicates complaints about unfair labor practices. It stores reams of potentially sensitive data, from confidential information about employees who want to form unions to proprietary business information. The DOGE employees, who are effectively led by White House adviser and billionaire tech CEO Elon Musk, appeared to have their sights set on accessing the NLRBs internal systems. But according to an official whistleblower disclosure shared with Congress and other federal overseers that was obtained by NPR, subsequent interviews with the whistleblower and records of internal communications, technical staff members were alarmed about what DOGE engineers did when they were granted access, particularly when those staffers noticed a spike in data leaving the agency. Its possible that the data included sensitive information on unions, ongoing legal cases and corporate secrets  data that four labor law experts tell NPR should almost never leave the NLRB and that has nothing to do with making the government more efficient or cutting spending. Meanwhile, according to the disclosure and records of internal communications, members of the DOGE team asked that their activities not be logged on the system and then appeared to try to cover their tracks behind them, turning off monitoring tools and manually deleting records of their access  evasive behavior that several cybersecurity experts interviewed by NPR compared to what criminal or state-sponsored hackers might do.

Threats against the whistleblower have a guilty look:

crazy. an NLRB whistleblower who shared concerns about DOGEs activities with government officials was subjected to attempted blackmail and/or surveillance, likely by DOGE staff, in retaliation. pic.twitter.com/gyJrwYB2Fw  Nat Purser (@NatPurser) April 15, 2025

DOGE as incompetent: exposing logins. Leaving tech doors unlocked is either incredibly amateurish or done deliberately to get something in return. Russians of course are one of our default bad guys. Readers can opine as to how hard it is to create the appearance of a Russian IP address. A VPM could achieve that, FFS.

Some (circumstantial) evidence that DOGE sloppiness is risking national security: A Russian IP address has near real-time access to login credentials for DOGE accounts on federal systems. https://t.co/eajfmb0CRt pic.twitter.com/ccmoFxkhbj  Santi Ruiz (@rSanti97) April 15, 2025

DOGE as fraud: Forcing resignation of tech experts, thus risking cyber attacks. People who actually know something about the relevant entity and have some tech chops might show up DOGE, and worse, rat out to external parties how DOGE is doing a piss poor job. One fresh case is the resignation of DoD SWAT team of nerds. From Politico:

Under pressure from the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency, nearly all the staff of the Defense Digital Service  the Pentagons fast-track tech development arm  are resigning over the coming month. The Defense Digital Service was created in 2015 to help the Pentagon adopt fast tech fixes during national security crises and push Silicon Valley-style innovation inside the Pentagon. It built rapid response tools for the military during the Afghanistan withdrawal, databases to transfer Ukrainian military and humanitarian aid, drone detection technologies and more. Without the program, some key efforts to streamline the DODs tech talent pipeline and counter adversarial drones will be sunset Several other digital modernization efforts within the government have met similar fates. The U.S. Digital Service, which helped the government modernize its technology and attract tech talent, has now been subsumed by DOGE, amid mass layoffs and firings. A program called 18F, a technology unit within the GSA, was eliminated by DOGE as well. One former senior Pentagon official, who asked not to be named because of possible retaliation, described DOGEs wider incursion into the Defense Department as damaging and unproductive Theyre not really using AI, theyre not really driving efficiency. What theyre doing is smashing everything, the former official said.

DOGE as destructive: Infighting as agency chiefs correctly point to DOGE doing damage, here killing people:

BREAKING: In a stunning moment, Donald Trumps Transportation Secretary just blamed Elon Musk and DOGE for cuts after multiple fatal aircraft crashes. This is shocking. pic.twitter.com/88fXHEWtSo  Democratic Wins Media (@DemocraticWins) April 11, 2025

Recall that the New York Times had earlier reported on a Cabinet meeting row where Elon Musk pressed Secretary of State Mario Rubio over allegedly not having gotten rid of enough State staffers, which Rubio vigorously contested. Trump somewhat backed Rubio by calling for cuts to be surgical. But regardless, this was a behind-closed-doors dispute that was made public, and not one taken straight to the press.

And then we have ideological enforcement. Covid was supposedly a big Democratic party invention to allow for a power grab, ergo Covid was fake, ergo no need for Covid testing:

DOGE just shut down San Diego Countys wastewater testing system. No more research or monitoring for deadly diseases despite the critical role wastewater surveillance played in fighting COVID. Dangerous and really stupid.https://t.co/3e2LzRnnfs  Mike Levin (@MikeLevin) April 15, 2025

And even the 250th Fourth of July celebration is also being jeopardized, although in light of the apparent wreck the US as we know it exercise, this is fitting. From Axios:

The big picture: State humanities councils planning 250th anniversary celebrations all over the country have had their funding slashed, and those organizations tell Axios they likely wont be able to execute the big, patriotic plans they had been making. Trump has called for an extraordinary celebration next summer.

The chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities is part of that task force, and state humanities councils across the country had a leading role in planning public events to mark the occasion. But 80% of the NEHs staff was placed on administrative leave earlier this month Those layoffs came just days after the 56 state and jurisdictional humanities councils were alerted that their funding grants were being terminated.

These were funds that were already appropriated, that had already been distributed through a competitive process, and they had already been under contract to be provided, said Julie Ziegler, the CEO and executive director of Humanities Washington. The latest: The National Endowment for the Humanities on Monday opened applications for 250 challenge grants, worth up to $25,000 each, for projects related to the founding of the American nation, key historical figures, and milestones that reflect the exceptional achievements of the United States in honor of the anniversary. But state officials say the cuts have already prompted them to shed staff and suspend new programming, so even the possibility of new anniversary-specific funding would not fill the massive gap.

DOGE survivors, for now. Despite being an early and high profile DOGE target, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, though a bit bloodied, is still standing. From Fortune:

On Tuesday evening, Sen. [Elizabeth] Warren and fellow Democratic Sen. Andy Kim, who both sit on the Committee of Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, demanded investigations into a push to slash the CFPBs workforce and cancel its contracts. A federal judge has temporarily reversed some of the initial cuts at the agency. As part of a lawsuit between a union representing CFPB employees and Vought, a judge ordered the CFPB to reinstate all its probationary and term employees. The order also blocked the agency from terminating employees without cause, issuing a reduction-in-force, or directing employees to stop work or take administrative leave while the case moves forwardthough an appeals court said last week that the CFPB could allow work stoppages that didnt interfere with its statutory duties.

Note that legal experts have repeatedly opined that DOGE cant cancel contracts, but if DOGE breaches them by withholding payment, they can still kill the contractors since many need the money. That in many cases will have the effect of the victims getting a recovery if they have the means to put up a fight, while the government wont get the work they will wind up (to at least a degree) paying for. Of course, DOGE wants to destroy firms that can help with enforcement of regulation, so cost is really not an objective, despite that serving as the pretext.
On Monday, we took a look at the Wests attempted rug pull from underneath Chinas years-long strategy to emerge as the global leader in the clean tech industry. As the US engages Beijing in an economic war, much of Chinas success in navigating the conflict will hinge on how much of the world will be willing to go along with the US for the ride? And how many will have a choice?

Here Ill look at how the Global South debt crisis leaves it as an unlikely actor to pick up much slack as the US and EU say no thanks to the Chinese clean tech industry, and wrap it up with the effect on the minimal efforts to address global climate change emissions.

Unfair Competition

Its as though governments in Europe, Canada and the US were simply gaslighting us for the past decade-plus. Suddenly, climate change goals are no longer important and competitiveness and security (largely based on fossil fuels) are all the rage. And no, its not just Trump.

Of course, much of it was more talk than action, (i.e., Under Obama, US diplomacy was key to the Paris Agreement, while at the same time he ushered in a shale-gas revolution which made the US once again a major exporter of oil and gas) but as the choice has come down to accepting Chinas lead in clean tech  which the Wests best and brightest helped foster  or reverting to full embrace of fossil fuels, the choice is increasingly clear. The EU and Canada, too, are dumping climate goals and going full steam ahead on a fossil fuel future while escalating trade wars with Beijing.

The stated reason is unfair competition, charges that we explored in Mondays post.

EU House of Pain

In Brussels, ambitious climate goals have been overtaken by talk of prioritizing competitiveness and militarization. Lets examine just how insane this all is.

The EU continues to wage a half-hearted economic war against Russia with the biggest result being the further economic deterioration of Europe after it gave up Russian pipeline gas. That led to more expensive energy, less competitive industry, deindustrialization, and, following years of austerity, even more budget constraints. Well, now the EU silly people are worried about competitiveness when it comes to Chinese clean tech. And so when faced with a choice between more neoliberal economics and shuffling fake rearmament money around a monopoly board or climate goals using Chinese technology, the choice is of course easy. Weapons and neoliberalism are running away with it.

The EU is reliant on imports for its goals of a clean energy future, which means it is reliant on China. Instead it is chasing the illusion of self-sufficiency  or at least partnerships with some global south countries to do the dirty mining while the EU completes the process. But all that is many years away, and China currently dominates the field:

Put simply, the EU is choosing a desperate attempt to inflict pain on China rather than clean energy goals. And it will keep importing expensive oil and gas on ships from the US and the Middle East  an energy policy that is even worse for the environment than digging up and burning local coal. Politico reported on Monday that the EU is again going to the Trump administration offering to buy more LNG as part of a bid to avoid tariffs.

Laurence Tubiana, a former French ambassador to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, provides an alternative path for the EU at Project Syndicate:

By committing to an ambitious 2040 emissions-reduction target of 90%, the EU can lead by example and negotiate new climate agreements with third countries such as Japan, Brazil, China, and (possibly) India. China, in particular, has a huge stake in building a green economy, not least because it needs export markets for its enormous clean-tech manufacturing sector. Europes climate leadership is not a burden, but a strategic asset. Doubling down on the green transition will help secure its economic edge, strengthen energy security, and reinforce its global standing. The choice is clear: We can lead with confidence or risk falling behind in a world that will not wait for us.

Instead, what is Ursula focusing on?

Russia. And keeping the Americans in. Increasingly that means heaving the EUs climate agenda overboard in the name of competitiveness. What it also does is hurt China by removing one of its main markets for clean tech products.

Meanwhile, the last gasps of Project Ukraine are still being used in an attempt to get Germany and the rest of Europe fully behind an anti-China trade offensive. We now have allegations that there are Chinese fighters in Ukraine.

The EU and its statelets have been merrily going along with Washington against China in recent years with its de-risking efforts that include the likes of tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, but perhaps the Trump administrations constant browbeating of Europe is leading to a rethink in Brussels.

The EU is making noise about cozying up to China as a counterweight to the US, but weve seen this before, and its best to wait and see. The EU bigwigs are not going to Beijing until July, and in the meantime all the Atlanticist spook pressure will be off the charts as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently announced:

NEW: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent rips the Spanish government, says they will be slitting their own throat if they side with China. The comment comes after Spain announced they are considering pursuing closer trade ties with China. Spain made some comments this morning. pic.twitter.com/xQUs9E7pI6  Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) April 9, 2025

Meanwhile, the incoming German government is only hardening its stance against Beijing. The rabidly anti-China Ursula has already announced that the EU will not tolerate a flood of cheap Chinese clean tech products into the EU market, which is kind of crazy if the goal is to do something about climate change. Shes also talking about boosting relations with the members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. Thats the trade deal that emerged from the ashes after Trump bailed during his first term on a similar pact negotiated by Obama.

US Nonsense

The US, meanwhile, blames China for stealing its jobs. This criticism always ignores the fact that it was US elites that shipped them overseas in the name of profit. If they hadnt gone to China, they wouldve gone somewhere else.

But now the tariffs are going to bring them back. Its all nonsense. For multiple reasons.

The only way theyre coming back is if itll be profitable. That would mean prison labor or slave machines doing the work.

Menswear Guy points to a basic contradiction in the on-shoring discourse: To the degree automation and mechanization can make the US industry competitive, it will fail to produce jobs. Because thats why its competitive. https://t.co/XJMdowbQ1M  Malcolm Harris (@BigMeanInternet) April 6, 2025

Now on the threat of automation, a lot of it is corporations using the specter of automation or AI adoption as leverage over workers. But China also has a big lead in automation too, as this exhaustive analysis from SemiAnalysis points out, and playing this out leads to strange places:

How ironic would it be if the US managed to bring back manufacturing but it was all done with Chinese robots? https://t.co/WgLgBbcenl  Kyle Chan (@kyleichan) March 24, 2025

One of the biggest reasons manufacturing isnt coming back is that the US officials championing such a move dont care about bringing them back. Its not about that. Its about kneecapping China.

Why else would the US be pushing for friendshoring ? Under Biden the US was already hiking tariffs on clean tech goods while exempting Japanese, Korean and European from the scheme. As of now, with Trumps tariffs suspension on everyone but China, the US is doubling down.

This makes clear its not about stolen manufacturing, oversupply, and certainly not about going green. Its about American hegemony and trying to put the China toothpaste back in the bottle. What this argument that China stole jobs does, however, is make China a villain, justify the trade war that will hammer the US working class, and hurt the global energy transition, which might at least slow our rapid march into a disastrous climate future.

The Global South Debt Crisis

As the US and EU work to block Chinese products, especially clean tech, Beijing has stated it will shift more exports to the Global South, but there are major issues there. There are increasing warnings that the Global South debt crisis is going to be disastrous on a scale that surpasses that of the 1980s. Heres economist Ilene Grabel with a short preview:

The current debt crisis is and promises to be much worse and harder to address than the debt crisis of the 1980s. Chief among the reasons is that todays lending landscape has far more bilateral, multilateral and private players. This includes the traditional cast of characters, but also and importantly China, India and petrostates. This crowded creditor landscape makes coordination, overcoming deadlocks and bringing relevant actors to the table difficult, especially in a world in which multilateral institutions and democracy are under threat. Todays debt and broader financial architecture is not only crowded, its also more noxious. The greater toxicity stems from financialization and the power of the financial community, including the credit rating agencies and vulture funds. The deficient BWIs are at the apex of a failed global financial architecture. Moreover, the weakened fabric of multilateralism  coupled with the densely populated debt architecture  makes addressing the debt crisis simultaneously more urgent and complex than in the 1980s. As if the debt crisis werent enough, its unfolding in a world of crises. These include food, refugees and climate crises; wars and other humanitarian disasters; and a backlash to democracy.

Lets take Chinas electric vehicle industry as an example. As the following infographic shows, it has largely made inroads in Global South countries:

Those markets could come under serious strain soon, however, highlighting the challenge Beijing faces. As Yves recently pointed out:

Emerging market crises are a wild card. As we have pointed out, former UN economist Jomo Kwame Sundaram has been writing for at least the last 18 months about how Western policies are pushing developing countries towards a crisis. When they hit, investors are not discriminating. They yank hot money out and ask questions later. So one decent-sized country, unless there really are unique, will create runs in many others, pushing them towards or into crisis. The tariff shock is going to hit smaller and less developed countries. Central America looks vulnerable. A meltdown there may have repercussions for the US due to proximity and possible exposure of US financial institutions. However, there is also risk in Asia. The Indonesian rupiah was in trouble before the tariff row started. For an article to appear in the Bangkok Post on crisis risk says it is an open secret. Countries in an actual or near crisis are not good export markets, so they would be buying even less from China under that scenario. On top of that, in the 1997 Asian Crisis, the IMF rode in and administered its usual painful rescues. The BRICS Kazan declaration reaffirmed the role of the IMF as bailouter in chief. So at most, BRICS countries see themselves as participating in an IMF-led drill. But the IMF is also dominated by Europe and the US. With Trump out to pick fights with Europe to show hes the boss, might the US try to sandbag IMF programs?

Chinas fears of being cut off by US-led isolation efforts have also driven it to hold onto low tech manufacturing, which causes problems with some Global South nations. In some cases the latters agendas might align more with the West than with China as the US and EU seek non-China manufacturers, and these countries want to kickstart local manufacturing. From Internationale Politik Quarterly:

Instead of adjusting production to global demand, Beijing has prioritized economic security, ensuring domestic industries remain dominant, even at the cost of trade imbalances. For Global South economies striving for industrialization, this presents a significant challenge. Instead of opening space for local manufacturers, Chinas continued dominance in low-value industriescoupled with its ability to produce at scale and at lower costsundercuts domestic production in developing countries. This dynamic not only stifles local industry growth but also reinforces trade imbalances, keeping many nations dependent on China for affordable imports while limiting their ability to build competitive manufacturing sectors of their own.

And so we see countries like India, Brazil, and Argentina have implemented import tariffs, anti-dumping duties, and local content requirements to protect their industries from Chinese competition. Beijing has not retaliated against these countries like it has against Western states, however, likely because it needs to maintain broader economic ties with these markets in order to withstand whats coming from Washington and Brussels.

Is There a Bright Side?

The US-instigated trade war (again, if Trump stays the course) will likely crash the global economy to the point that global emissions could fall sharply. Heres the AP:

Experts say a slowdown in international trade might have a brief and slight benefit in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, which come in part from fuels like gas and oil that are used to move goods around the world via ships, planes and vehicles.

The problem is it would be a short-term positive and wed pay for it down the road:

But any such benefit in reducing emissions, which cause climate change, will be swamped by sharply rising costs worldwide that will hurt efforts to transition to green energies. I would say it might help the climate in the first year or two if we have a downturn in economic activity or a recession, which no one wants, said Rob Jackson, head of the Global Carbon Project, a group of scientists who monitor greenhouse gas emissions yearly. But it will hurt the climate long-term because tariffs impact clean tech more than most other industries because of trade with China.

Meanwhile, the IEA says global emissions could be 15 percent lower by 2030 simply through deploying existing clean tech like solar and batteries manufacturing capacity, which of course is mostly in China.

And thats not all. The West, by investing in militarization and economic sabotage towards China, is forcing Beijing to divert money away from clean tech industry towards its own militarization. As the Transnational Institute states, A war between the US and China over Taiwan would trigger a global disaster on various fronts, one of which would be to set back decarbonisation everywhere by years, if not decades.

Whether the West hatched a clever plot to get China to invest so much in clean energy and then pull the rug, or if this is the result of regret after years of haphazard profit-seeking stupidity, its bad news for the future of the planet either way.
After nine years in Nashville running two popular hotels  Urban Cowboy Nashville and The Dive Motel  founders Lyon Porter and Jersey Banks are proud to open their first standalone bar project in The Arcade downtown. Urban Cowboy Bar plans a grand opening celebration for May 3; the saloon doors will officially swing open to the public in the historic Arcade Building between Fourth and Fifth avenues on Thursday, April 17, joining the companys other properties in Nashville, Denver and the Catskills.

+5 What Do the Arcades Tenants Think About Its New Chapter? The new owners of the historic space want to help bring tourists and locals alike back to the downtown location

In preparation for opening, I invited Porter to share his excitement during a phone interview. Even with properties around the country, the Urban Cowboy aesthetic is pretty easy to identify. Heavy on design but also slightly irreverent, the new bar is intentionally different from the older honky-tonks of Lower Broad. While there are certainly nods to the history of Nashville bars, authenticity was not the first concern.

Porter worked with local architect Nick Dryden to combine 12 bays of the old Arcade configuration into a multistory homage to the 1850s saloon vibe of Colorado and Wyoming. Youll see cowboy boots and hats, but its not a cowboy bar specifically, explains Porter. Were not a honky-tonk either  more of a respite from the noise of Lower Broad. We want to be a place for both visitors and locals, two blocks from Broadway but a world away.

Porter scoured the country for paraphernalia to dress up the 8,000-square-foot space, from chandeliers made from wagon wheels to an impressive selection of vintage taxidermy. Ranging from the stuffed head of a 3,000-pound buffalo to a family of raccoons frozen forever in a moment of play, the number of animals looking down at diners is impressive.

Downstairs is definitely the more saloonish of the two stories (plus mezzanine level). Porter says this was intentional. We really wanted a saloon vibe, and we took the space down to the studs. Upstairs, youll see the same irreverent take on cocktails as on our East Nashville menu, but downstairs will be more of a beer-and-a-slice saloon with frozen mugs and shots.

+2 Mannys to Close in The Arcade Owners of beloved 39-year-old downtown pizzeria cite uncertainties related to renovations

Those slices will come courtesy of Brooklyn-based pizzeria Robertas, which also operates out of the Urban Cowboy in East Nashville. For those of you (us!) who desperately miss Mannys House of Pizza in The Arcade, the appearance of Robertas should be a wonderful development for downtown denizens and visitors. The restaurant will have a separate street entrance, but Urban Cowboy patrons will be able to enjoy light bites and a slice in the bar space.

The upper floor at Urban Cowboy will have a slightly more upscale vibe, lets call it Urbane Cowboy. (No charge for the marketing advice, Lyon.) Porter was inspired by the space when he and Dryden made plans for upstairs. I really dug into the history of the building, and I wanted to honor the great structural bones.

Noting that the building falls away from Urban Cowboys Fifth Avenue entrance to the lower Fourth Avenue end of The Arcade, Porter designed a sleek cocktail bar with a wide window behind the rows of bottles. I noticed that the structure reminded me of the spine of an animal, so I wanted to showcase the spine of The Arcade and the grand feeling of the midblock arcade.

Originally modeled after a similar shopping center in Milan, The Arcade opened in 1902, so the opportunity to honor such a vintage piece of architecture was important to Porter and Dryden. However, they certainly arent overserious about it; there's a vintage disco ball hanging over the bar.

Urban Cowboys national beverage director Alex Jay is crafting the drink menu, and Zach West will serve as GM for the property. According to Porter, everyone is already on the same page about what they hope the new space will be. Were very much a bar with good food," he says. "We love that were local, and were looking forward to bringing a new energy to this section of downtown. Now you can mosey on in, starting tomorrow, to welcome them to the neighborhood.

Urban Cowboy Bar will be open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
8 U.S. states may EXPAND vaccine exemptions in 2025, and parents have many reasons to STOP THE SHOTS

Eight states are proposing bills to expand exemptions from school and workplace vaccine mandates, countering decades of eroding parental rights.

Idaho became the first state to ban medical intervention mandates, empowering parents and employees to refuse vaccines without penalty.

Hawaiis push to end religious exemptions was tabled after public backlash, signaling shifting momentum toward informed consent.

Pro-vaccine lobby groups, including pharmaceutical trade associations, are lobbying aggressively against exemption expansions.

The federal government is filling with officials who are more willing to respect parental rights and vax freedom.

Coercive school vaccines mandates are unethical and parents should be informed of all their exemption options.

Strong grassroots push for parental rights is overcoming state authoritarianism

The battle over vaccine exemptions has reached a fever pitch in 2025, as eight states  Arizona, Alabama, Utah, Texas, Idaho, and others  are working to expand legal protections for parents who reject state-mandated injections. Dawn Richardson, advocacy director for the National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC), argues states are finally acknowledging a growing consensus that forced vaccination is incompatible with basic human rights.

Idahos new law epitomizes this shift, making it the first state to prohibit vaccine mandates entirely. Signed by Governor Brad Little, the legislation ensures businesses and schools cannot ostracize unvaccinated individuals, despite initial concerns about contagious disease spread. Meanwhile, Alabama codified religious exemption documentation requirements, while Utah ensured vaccine exemptions travel with students between schools. In Texas, lawmakers are advancing measures to empower workers in healthcare settings to claim conscience-based exemptions.

Yet momentum is uneven. California, New York and Maine remain stalwarts of medical tyranny, denying all but tightly regulated medical exemptions. These states weaponize fear to strip parents of agency, said NVIC Executive Director Theresa Wrangham. Every childs body is their parents responsibility, not the states.

The hidden truth behind vaccine mandates: A $100 billion industry unleashed

The push to abolish exemptions traces to the 1986 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act, which granted pharmaceutical companies total legal immunity for vaccine injuries or deaths. Without liability, manufacturers flooded the market with new formulas, while governments expanded mandates to ensure compliance. Public schools became de facto vaccination camps, coercing parents into subjecting children to shots linked to autoimmune disorders, neurodevelopmental harm, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottliebs admission that vaccine exemptions are too easy to obtain is a betrayal of medical ethics and parental rights. This authoritarian rhetoric proves nothing but fear, said Childrens Health Defense CEO Mary Holland. When did vaccine experts become more important than sovereign citizens? The public finally sees through their gaslighting. This is true, as Gottlieb stepped down soon after making that claim. Today, the FDA is led by Marty Makary, who is more open to vax freedom and parents calling the shots.

Vaccine adverse event reports in the VAERS database highlight the toll: thousands of alleged injuries, including seizures, brain swelling and autism-linked developmental delays. Yet aggregate data is suppressed, and causal links between vaccines and these conditions remain uninvestigated. Parents in 18 states retain personal belief exemptions, but relentless propaganda campaigns paint them as selfish or ignorant.

Five exemption reasoning's that could empower parents to save their children

States can adopt expanded exemption reasoning that prioritize child safety over profit-driven mandates. The reasons for these vaccine exemptions are vast and may include:

Toxic substance abuse exemption : Parents should use this reasoning to protect their kids from toxic substances that wouldn't normally be served in their food and drink, including vaccine adjuvants like aluminum and preservatives like mercury.

: Parents should use this reasoning to protect their kids from toxic substances that wouldn't normally be served in their food and drink, including vaccine adjuvants like aluminum and preservatives like mercury. Compounding toxicity exemption: Parents should use this reasoning to reject compounding dosages of multiple vaccines, which overwhelm childrens developing immune systems.

Parents should use this reasoning to reject compounding dosages of multiple vaccines, which overwhelm childrens developing immune systems. Science integrity exemption: This reasoning allows parents to opt out of vaccines that have proven waning efficacy, such as the ineffective mumps shot exposed in JAMA fraud scandals, and the vaccine schedule itself, which is now linked to increases in childhood asthma.

This reasoning allows parents to opt out of vaccines that have proven waning efficacy, such as the ineffective mumps shot exposed in JAMA fraud scandals, and the vaccine schedule itself, which is now linked to increases in childhood asthma. Inhumane use of aborted fetal cells exemption: Parents who oppose abortion, should know that many vaccines are developed using aborted fetal tissue from babies strategically harvested from the womb. Parents who object to this unethical practice can opt out of vaccines for the sake of supporting life and human dignity.

Parents who oppose abortion, should know that many vaccines are developed using aborted fetal tissue from babies strategically harvested from the womb. Parents who object to this unethical practice can opt out of vaccines for the sake of supporting life and human dignity. Coercion exemption: This reasoning nullifies vaccine orders prompted by medical professionals who are coercive and push pro-vaccine misinformation linked to financial conflicts of interest.

This reasoning nullifies vaccine orders prompted by medical professionals who are coercive and push pro-vaccine misinformation linked to financial conflicts of interest. Natural immunity is superior exemption: Evidence suggests that natural immunity is longer lasting than vaccine science, so healthy children who get infections and are treated properly can overcome them and be better protected, and they don't have to be put at risk to adverse events from vaccination.

Evidence suggests that natural immunity is longer lasting than vaccine science, so healthy children who get infections and are treated properly can overcome them and be better protected, and they don't have to be put at risk to adverse events from vaccination. Necessity exemption: This reasoning rejects medically unnecessary shots like hepatitis B for newborns, whose mothers show no infection risk.

These exemptions restore balance, argues NVICs Richardson. Parents alone should decide what enters their childs body, not pharmaceutical favorites and big government.

Sources include:

ChildrensHealthDefense.org

NaturalNews.com

Pubmed.gov

Pubmed.gov

NaturalNews.com
Floridas social media laws spark debate over minors privacy and digital safety

HB 3 (effective January 2025) bans social media for children under 14, overriding parental consent. HB 744/SB 868 (2025) mandates social media platforms to provide law enforcement with decrypted minor (under 18) messages via subpoena, effectively requiring encryption "backdoors."

Critics argue the encryption mandates undermine digital security for all users, as backdoors weaken end-to-end encryption (e.g., Signal, WhatsApp). Privacy advocates warn this could expose minors discussing sensitive topics (e.g., mental health) and increase hacking risks (e.g., Salt Typhoon breach).

HB 3 faces lawsuits for violating free speech and interstate commerce; HB 744 may conflict with Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches. Technically, platforms cannot create "minor-only" backdoors without compromising broader encryption systems.

Floridas laws mirror failed attempts elsewhere (e.g., Nevadas 2023 bill), using child safety to justify surveillance. Advocates propose alternatives like digital literacy programs and stronger data privacy laws instead of blanket bans/backdoors.

The legislation highlights tensions between government oversight and personal freedoms, with outcomes potentially setting precedents for global digital governance. Experts urge balancing online safety with protections for privacy and free expression.

Florida lawmakers advanced House Bill 744 (HB 744) last month, a bill requiring social media platforms to provide law enforcement with access to decrypted messages from minors accounts upon receiving a subpoena. Subsequently, the Senate companion bill (SB 868) was scheduled for a hearing on April 11, 2025. This follows Governor Ron DeSantis earlier signing of HB 3, a law set to take effect on January 1, 2025, which bans minors under 14 from using social media entirely, regardless of parental consent. The dual legislative efforts, framed as protecting children from online dangers, have ignited a heated debate over digital privacy, encryption efficacy and government overreach. House Speaker Paul Renner defended the measures, stating, Were going to triumph over this and well never back down, but critics argue the policies risk destabilizing digital security for all users.

Florida's dual approach: Banning under-14s while demanding encryption backdoors

HB 3, known as the Online Protection for Minors Law, prohibits children under 14 from creating social media accounts, emphasizing parental control unilaterally. Critics contend it undermines parent autonomy and is unenforceable, given global platforms diversity. Meanwhile, HB 744/SB 868 targets minors under 18, mandating platforms to break or bypass end-to-end encryptionprivacy protocols that secure messageswhen law enforcement presents a subpoena. This move, as outlined in HB 744, effectively demands encryption backdoors for minors accounts, a provision technology experts warn could erode security for all users.

The legislative momentum reflects Floridas broader strategy to limit minors digital exposure while expanding surveillance capabilities. Yet proponents and opponents alike recognize the bills unprecedented legal ambiguities and technical impracticalities. For instance, platforms like Signal or WhatsApp, which rely on end-to-end encryption, would face impossible demands: either build exceptions for minors (rendering broader encryption systems vulnerable) or ban the feature entirely, leaving underage users without secure communication tools.

Privacy advocates sound the alarm: Encryption backdoors threaten everyones safety

Cybersecurity experts argue that mandates like HB 744 undermine the very protections that safeguard individuals online. Encryption is the best tool we have to protect communication, stated digital rights advocate Thorin Klosowski, noting the value of privacy for minors discussing sensitive issues like mental health or family planning. Undermining encryption for 18-and-under accounts could expose broader systems to hacking, as seen in breaches like the Salt Typhoon incident in 2024, where a law enforcement breach unintentionally compromised global security protocols.

The shift from vague surveillance measures in HB 3 to explicit backdoor demands in HB 744 has alarmed civil liberties groups. Unlike prior bills, this legislation explicitly links subpoenas to encrypted content, asserting legality while ignoring the technical reality that backdoors cannot be selectively applied to minors. As the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) noted in an amicus brief during Nevadas 2023 hearings on a parallel bill, content-neutral approachessuch as user reporting and metadata reviewremain more effective at addressing online harm without compromising privacy.

Legal quagmire and broader implications: A blueprint for national policy?

Both bills already face significant legal hurdles. HB 3, currently awaiting rulings in federal courts, was challenged immediately upon passage for violating free speech and interstate commerce clauses. The new encryption proposal similarly risks constitutional disputes, particularly under the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable searches without probable cause. Additionally, HB 744 lacks enforceable age-verification standards, leaving platforms to navigate arbitrary enforcement or risk noncompliance.

Floridas approach mirrors similar attempts nationally. Nevadas 2023 bill, struck down after legal challenges and public outcry, similarly conflated law enforcement access with underage protection. Advocates argue that focusing on digital literacy in schools and strengthening data privacy laws would address risks without sacrificing online safety. Yet Floridas persistence underscores a national trend where child safety rhetoric is increasingly leveraged to justify expanded state digital surveillance.

A crossroads for digital rights and governance

Floridas legislative gambit thrusts the state into the center of a national struggle over privacy, security and free expression. While lawmakers frame their proposals as necessary for child protection, experts and privacy advocates warn they could set a dangerous precedent for broader surveillance. As courts weigh the constitutionality of previous laws and the public absorbs these new proposals, one question remains paramount: Can society prioritize genuine online safetythrough transparency, education and robust protectionswithout surrendering fundamental rights? The outcome in Florida may well determine how governments worldwide navigate this critical choice in the digital age.

Sources include:

ReclaimTheNet.org

EFF.org
Global maritime carbon tax sparks debate over economic freedom and climate ambition

The IMO introduced a carbon tax on maritime emissions, set at 100-380 per ton for ships exceeding thresholds (phased in by 2027). Revenue ($1113B annually) will fund green shipping tech and aid developing nations, though critics call it insufficient.

The measure split nations: 63 (EU, China, South Africa) supported it; 16 (Saudi Arabia, Russia) opposed it; and 25 (Pacific islands, others) abstained, citing weak emission cuts and exclusion from negotiations. Vulnerable states lamented its inadequate climate protections.

The U.S. rejected the tax as "unfair," warning of retaliatory measures. Critics argued it burdens supply chains, raises consumer costs and encroaches on national sovereignty, favoring unilateral over international mandates.

Some NGOs praised the tax as progress but demanded stricter fuel standards, while others (e.g., Opportunity Green) called it a "pay-to-pollute" loophole. The IMOs emissions targets fall short of Paris Agreement goals (10% vs. 30% cuts by 2030).

The tax reflects growing climate action but faces skepticism over efficacy and economic impacts. With final adoption in 2025, tensions will persist between decarbonization goals, energy markets and global supply chains.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has approved the worlds first global carbon tax on maritime emissions, splitting nations along economic and climate lines. The measure, which imposes fees of up to $380 per ton of excess emissions, drew immediate opposition from the U.S. administration and scrutiny from critics who argue it lacks teeth.

Finalized Friday in London, the agreement mandates that ships above emissions thresholds pay 100 per metric ton for incremental excess emissions and 380 for the most intensive portions beginning in 2027. Revenue, projected at 11-13 billion annually, is designated for green shipping technologies and aiding developing nations transitioning to low-carbon fuels. However, the pact excludes broader climate finance usesa compromise that defied demands from island nations and other vulnerable states.

The U.S., absent from negotiations, dismissed the deal as blatantly unfair and threatened retaliatory measures against fees on American ships. This agreement unfairly burdens American citizens and businesses without addressing the root of the climate challenge, stated a letter from the Trump administration outlining potential countermeasures.

Geopolitical gridlock reflects shifting energy priorities

The IMOs vote reflected stark divisions. Sixty-three nations including the EU, China and South Africa supported the levy, while 16  led by oil exporters like Saudi Arabia and Russia  rejected it. Twenty-five nations, including Pacific island states, abstained, citing inadequate emission cuts and exclusion from negotiations.

Tuvalus minister for transport, Simon Kofe, lamented the deals weakness, arguing it failed to protect climate-vulnerable nations from rising seas and storms. Meanwhile, Seychelles Minister Antony Derjacques criticized wealthier nations for blocking proposals to reroute tax revenue to climate adaptation, stating: How can we ask our people to accept a deal that ignores their suffering?

Yet global shipping giants and shipbuilding industries were cautiously optimistic. Norways negotiated compromise blended tax and credit trading mechanisms, aiming to balance cost burdens. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez framed the pact as progress, stating: This consensus reflects a path to modernize shipping while addressing climate imperatives.

Energy freedom advocates warn of market suppression

Conservative analysts and energy freedom advocates warned the tax risks stifling trade and misallocating resources. This top-down approach pressures businesses without delivering measurable environmental benefits, said Policy Analyst Mark Distler with the Energy Independence Project. High costs will burden already fragile global supply chains, hurting consumers while enriching regulators.

Critics emphasized that shippings 3% emissions share makes it a small slice of the global total. Why burden this sector alone when coal, oil and other industries dominate emissions? asked Distler. Others noted the taxs phase-down thresholds may permit continued reliance on fossil fuels like LNG, which environmentalists label a bridge fuel with questionable net benefits.

The U.S. opposition underscores broader skepticism toward international mandates. Decisions on economic regulation belong to sovereign nations, not petty U.N. bureaucracies, argued U.S. negotiator Jessica Winslow, adding: Forced decarbonization harms workers in diesel and maritime sectorsnot to mention families facing higher prices for imported goods.

Environmentalists split on historic deals sustainability

Environmentalists offered mixed reactions. The Environmental Defense Funds Natacha Stamatiou praised the tax as a starting point but urged stronger fuel standards. Meanwhile, U.K.-based Opportunity Green termed it a failure for climate-vulnerable countries, arguing fee levels could let firms pay to pollute rather than innovate.

The IMOs tie to the Paris Agreements 1.5C target further agitated activists. A 2023 IMO road map aimed for 30% emission cuts by 2030, but current targets would deliver just 10%. This tax is a speed bump, not a turning point, said pacific envoy Albon Ishoda.

A divided path forward

The historic carbon tax signals global climate action, but its efficacy remains uncertain. For critics, it represents overreach in a geopolitical arena already strained by energy demands. As Secretary-General Dominguez urged broader dialogue, the U.S. pivot to unilateral measures hints at future friction.

With IMO rules set for final adoption in October 2025, the struggle over economic freedom versus climate ambition promises to intensify  from shipping hubs in Singapore to supply chain corridors in Ohio. For now, the seas, like politics, remain turbulent.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

EnviroNewNigeria.com

APNews.com
The sweet power of Honey: A versatile superfood for health and wellness

Honey has been used for millennia as a medicinal remedy and nutrient-rich food, valued in ancient Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Ayurvedic and Chinese traditions for its ability to treat wounds, infections and digestive issues. Modern science confirms its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Unlike refined sugar, raw honey contains enzymes, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and prebiotics, enabling this natural sweetener to support immunity, gut health and sustained energy.

Honey can soothe coughs, fight infections, aid digestion and stabilize energy levels. However, it is high in natural sugars and should never be given to infants due to botulism risk. Avoid adulterated commercial honey.

Opt for raw, organic honey (local or Manuka) to avoid pesticides, heavy metals and additives. Mass-produced honey often lacks nutrients and may contain harmful additives like corn syrup.

Use honey in sweet and savory dishes  from oatmeal and golden milk tea to glazed salmon, baklava and homemade dressings  to enhance flavor while boosting health benefits.

For thousands of years, honey has been revered as a superfood and natural remedy, prized for its medicinal properties and rich nutritional profile. From ancient civilizations to modern wellness routines, honey remains a vital ingredient for promoting health, healing and culinary delight.

This golden elixir is more than just a sweetener. It is a powerhouse of nutrients, enzymes and bioactive compounds with remarkable benefits.

Brief history of honey

Honey is a natural substance produced by honeybees from the nectar of flowering plants. Bees collect nectar, break it down into simple sugars and store it in honeycombs, where it ripens into the thick, golden liquid known as honey.

The medicinal use of honey dates back thousands of years, with its earliest documented applications emerging in ancient Egypt (3,000 BCE). Honey was highly valued by the Egyptians as a versatile remedy, cited 500 times in the Smith Papyrus for treating wounds, sores and skin ulcers and also used for embalming and religious offerings.

Ancient healers like Hippocrates also prescribed honey mixed with water and other substances to heal wounds, soothe fevers and alleviate digestive and respiratory ailments. Similarly, Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine employed honey to balance bodily energies, boost vitality and combat infections.

Though honey remained only as a household staple through the ages, modern science is now reaffirming its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, validating what ancient civilizations have long recognized.

Its role as a natural antiseptic was so trusted that various cultures, from the Assyrians to the Germans during World War I, applied honey to battlefield wounds  a tradition that persists in contemporary medical research.

Nutritional profile and health benefits

Unlike refined sugar, raw unprocessed honey retains the most nutrients, while highly filtered or heated versions lose many beneficial compounds. Raw honey contains:

Enzymes (invertase, glucose oxidase) that aid digestion and support immunity.

(invertase, glucose oxidase) that aid digestion and support immunity. Antioxidants (flavonoids, phenolic acids) that combat oxidative stress.

(flavonoids, phenolic acids) that combat oxidative stress. Vitamins and minerals like B vitamins, vitamin C, calcium, potassium, magnesium and zinc.

like B vitamins, vitamin C, calcium, potassium, magnesium and zinc. Prebiotics that support gut health by feeding beneficial bacteria.

that support gut health by feeding beneficial bacteria. Natural sugars (fructose, glucose) for sustained energy without blood sugar spikes (when consumed in moderation).

Honey is widely celebrated not only for its natural sweetness but also for its impressive health benefits, though certain precautions should be kept in mind.

On the beneficial side, honey acts as a potent antimicrobial agent and has proven to be effective against bacteria, fungi and even antibiotic-resistant strains like MRSA and VRE, making it useful in wound care and infection prevention.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes honey as a demulcent, able to soothe sore throats and coughs thanks to its thick consistency. Meanwhile, its sweetness may help suppress cough reflexes. Honey can also serve as a digestive aid, supporting gut health and easing conditions like acid reflux, while its natural sugars provide a quick yet stable energy boost, ideal for active individuals.

However, honey also carries risks. Its high sugar content means overconsumption can contribute to weight gain or blood sugar fluctuations, so diabetics should use it in moderation. Most critically, infants under one year of age should never consume honey due to the risk of infant botulism, a potentially life-threatening condition caused by Clostridium botulinum spores.

Beware of adulterated commercial honey when purchasing at the grocery, as some products are diluted with corn syrup or high-fructose additives. For adults and older children, honey remains a versatile and health-supporting natural remedy when consumed responsibly.

Importance of choosing organic honey

Not all honey is created equal. Manuka honey, while highly beneficial for medicinal use, tends to be more expensive; however, locally sourced raw honey can offer similar health benefits at a lower cost. Be wary of mass-produced, filtered "supermarket" honey, as it often contains harmful additives like antibiotics and high fructose corn syrup while lacking beneficial components. (Related: Always buy local and organic: 75 percent of high-profile honey brands contain NO honey!.)

In contrast, raw, organic honey retains its natural vitamins, antioxidants and pollen content, making it a far healthier choice. Conventionally produced honey may also harbor pesticides (such as neonicotinoids and glyphosate) from contaminated pollen, heavy metals (like lead and cadmium) absorbed from polluted environments and synthetic additives used in industrial beekeeping.

For optimal purity and potency, opt for organic, unfiltered honey  preferably local or Manuka for consumption and therapeutic use.

Culinary uses and recipes

Honey can enhance both sweet and savory dishes. Here are some ways to incorporate honey into your meals:

Breakfast and beverages

Oatmeal drizzle  Mixed with nuts and berries.

Golden milk turmeric tea  Paired with warm almond milk.

Honey lemon water  A detoxifying morning ritual.

Baking and desserts

Honey cake (Medovik)  A Russian layered dessert.

Baklava  Phyllo pastry with honey-nut filling.

Energy balls  Blended with dates and nuts.

Savory and sauces

Honey-glazed salmon  Sweet and umami balance.

Honey mustard dressing  For salads and marinades.

Harissa-honey roasted vegetables  A Middle Eastern twist.

This story is not medical advice and is not intended to treat or cure any disease. Always consult with a qualified naturopathic physician for personalized advice about your specific health situation or concern.

Visit NaturalNews.com, a great article source where you can learn about superfoods and their health benefits.

You can also try Brighteon.ai, an AI model created by Mike Adams, also known as the Health Ranger. This model is available as a free download to be run locally and is designed to help share and decentralize knowledge. By doing so, it aims to bypass censorship and empower people with knowledge.

If you're looking for an uncensored video free speech website where you can openly discuss nutrition, natural medicine, ingredients and more, check out Brighteon.com and out two free speech social media sites, Brighteon.IO and Brighteon.social.

Watch this video to learn about the top six health benefits of honey.

This video is from the Natural News channel on Brighteon.com.

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Federal immigration officials to screen social media for antisemitism posts

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will now screen applicants' social media for antisemitic activity, which can lead to the denial of visas, green cards or student visas.

Support for antisemitism, terrorist groups (e.g., Hamas, Hezbollah) or extremist ideologies (communism, Marxism, fascism) will bar individuals from U.S. residency or citizenship.

The policy does not specify how antisemitism will be defined, leaving room for interpretation in enforcement.

The measure aligns with Trump's 2024 campaign pledges to restrict immigration based on ideological threats, citing Hamas' October attack on Israel as justification.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will apply immigration laws "to the maximum degree" to exclude or deport those linked to antisemitism or terrorism.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a new policy authorizing federal officials to screen social media activity for alleged antisemitism as part of immigration evaluations.

"Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin considering aliens' antisemitic activity on social media and the physical harassment of Jewish individuals as grounds for denying immigration benefit requests," USCIS said on April 9.

Under the new guidance, visa applicants, lawful permanent residents and foreign students affiliated with educational institutions could face denial of immigration benefits if their social media history indicates "antisemitic activity," including endorsing "antisemitic terrorism" or supporting groups deemed terrorist organizations. (Related: Trump administration to launch registry for illegal immigrants: Fines and arrests for noncompliance.)

This new enforcement policy will immediately impact applications for lawful permanent residency, student visas and other immigration requests  particularly those linked to individuals or institutions associated with antisemitism.

However, the announcement did not clarify how antisemitism would be defined.

Trump fulfills campaign promise to combat antisemitism and national security threats

The directive reinforces President Donald Trump's executive orders on combating antisemitism and national security threats. These orders include Combatting Anti-Semitism, Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism and Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats.

Prior to winning the presidency, he already announced this plan during his 2024 presidential campaign in Iowa on Oct. 16.

"No longer will we allow dangerous lunatics, haters, bigots and maniacs to get residency in our country," Trump said during his speech at that time. He also warned his supporters that those who "empathize with radical Islamic terrorists and extremists," wish to "abolish the state of Israel" or "support Hamas," and the ideology behind it will be "disqualified" from potential citizenship. Communists, Marxists and fascists will likewise be disqualified.

"The atrocities in Israel are a horrific reminder that immigration security is national security," Trump said. "The purpose of U.S. immigration law is not to protect the worldits to protect the United States of America." Trump then cited the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel as a main factor behind his proposal and his advocacy toward hardline immigration issues.

In line with this, he empowered the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to enforce immigration laws "to the maximum degree" against foreign nationals who support antisemitic terrorism, extremist ideologies or groups like Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis.

"There is no room in the United States for the rest of the world's terrorist sympathizers, and we are under no obligation to admit them or let them stay here," said DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin. "Sec. Noem has made it clear that anyone who thinks they can come to America and hide behind the First Amendment to advocate for anti-Semitic violence and terrorism  think again. You are not welcome here."

Watch the video below to learn how more illegal immigrants are entering the Western world.

This video is from the RockOfHoreb channel on Brighteon.com.

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Sources include:

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USCIS.gov
Federal judge blocks Trump administrations order to deport over 500K migrants with Temporary Protected Status

Obama-appointed Judge Indira Talwani temporarily halted a Trump administration order that would have stripped Temporary Protected Status (TPS) from ~532,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela, forcing them to leave by April 24.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had revoked humanitarian protections, giving migrants just 30 days to depart or face deportation, claiming it was sufficient time to "enforce the law."

Talwani ruled the cancellation lacked a "reasoned decision" and was based on a flawed legal interpretation, emphasizing that abruptly ending parole broke prior agreements.

The ruling protects migrants admitted under a Biden policy allowing up to 30,000 people monthly from these nations to enter legally with sponsors  a program Trump officials sought to dismantle.

While immigration advocates denounced the move as an attack on legal migrants, Trump officials (like Stephen Miller) falsely framed the parolees as "illegals" receiving unjust permanent status, while DOJ lawyers claimed other immigration avenues remained open.

A federal judge has temporarily barred a Trump administration directive that would have forced approximately 532,000 migrants from Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan and Venezuelan migrants with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to leave the country by April 24.

In March, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revoked the humanitarian protections of thousands of migrants, giving beneficiaries 30 days to leave the country or face deportation. (Related: Trump administration to end legal protections for over 500,000 CHNV migrants under Biden-era parole program.)

"DHS has determined that a 30-day wind-down period provides affected parties sufficient notice while also preserving DHS's ability to enforce the law promptly against those CHNV parolees lacking a lawful basis to remain in the United States. Accordingly, DHS is opting not to increase the wind-down period to more than 30 days," the notice read.

However, Obama-appointed U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani of Massachusetts halted the order on April 10. "The nub of the problem here is that the secretary, in cutting short the parole period afforded to these individuals, has to have a reasoned decision," Talwani said. "There was a deal and now that deal has been undercut."

The move protects migrants who arrived under a Biden-era program that allowed up to 30,000 people per month from these four nations to enter the U.S. legally, provided they had financial sponsors and arrived at an American airport.

DOJ: Ending the TPS does not exclude migrants from other immigration options

Outside the court, immigration advocates condemned the Trump administration's broader crackdown on all forms of immigration.

"We hear the narrative of people coming here illegally and the administration wanting to erase illegal immigration. But we clearly see today that is not the case. Even those people who have legal status, are paying their taxes and working are under attack," said Guerline Jozef, the founder and executive director of the Haitian Bridge Alliance, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit.

But the Department of Justice, represented by attorney Brian Ward, argued that ending parole does not exclude migrants from other immigration options and claimed they wouldn't be targeted for deportation.

Meanwhile, White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Homeland Security Adviser Stephen Miller blasted the decision in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"These are the illegals that Biden flew by airplane en masse into the United States, including the Haitian migrants now occupying Springfield. Biden gave these illegals free housing, healthcare and welfare. Now a local judge says they have to stay here for forever," he wrote on, then concluded "NO."

Follow InvasionUSA.news for more stories about illegal immigration in America.

Watch this Fox News clip about what the National Border Patrol Council expects from Trump regarding immigration.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

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Trump preparing to DEPORT 1.5 million illegal immigrants paroled and let into the country by Biden.

Trump administration locates nearly 80,000 missing migrant children, exposing failures of Biden-era policies.

Sources include:

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Minnesota joins 10 other states in push to ban mRNA-based vaccines

Lawmakers in Minnesota introduced House File (HF) 3152 on April 7, proposing to ban mRNA-based vaccines within the state  making the North Star State the 11th one to consider such legislation.

The bill defines mRNA vaccines as those using messenger RNA, modified mRNA, self-amplifying mRNA or DNA technology.

HF 3152 imposes a $500 fine per offense for violators, with potential disciplinary action by state medical licensing bodies.

The push for the ban is driven by reported adverse reactions  including deaths, hospitalizations and cases of myocarditis and pericarditis  documented in the federal Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS).

The bill reflects a broader debate about the balance between personal freedom, public health and manufacturer liability. Public health experts criticize the legislation, stating that state lawmakers lack the necessary expertise to evaluate vaccine safety.

Lawmakers in Minnesota introduced legislation on April 7 to ban the use of mRNA-based vaccines there, making the North Star State the 11th state to implement such a prohibition.

HF 3152 states that no person shall provide or administer a gene-based vaccine to another person in this state." The bill defines mRNA vaccines as those developed using messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) technology, modified mRNA technology, self-amplifying mRNA technology or deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) technology. Violators would face a $500 fine per offense and potential disciplinary action by the relevant state medical licensing bod

If passed, the bill would have far-reaching implications for healthcare providers and public health initiatives in the state. However, its prospects are uncertain in the Minnesota Legislature  with a Democratic-controlled state Senate and an evenly-divided House. Gov. Tim Walz, a far-left Democrat, is also unlikely to sign it into law.

But Minnesota isn't alone in this endeavor, however. Lawmakers in Idaho, Iowa and Montana have introduced similar legislation since the start of 2025.

McCullough Foundation epidemiologist Nicolas Hulscher pointed out that while none of these bills have become law yet, they represent a significant shift in the political landscape. These proposals reflect growing skepticism and concerns about the safety and long-term effects of mRNA vaccines, which were rapidly developed and deployed during the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. (Related: MEDICAL BOMBSHELL: FDA admits Covid mRNA Vaccines CAUSE CANCER.)

Growing push to ban dangerous mRNA vaccines

The push to ban mRNA-based vaccines in various U.S. states is rooted in a series of reported adverse reactions and safety concerns. The federal Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) has documented thousands of deaths, hospitalizations, heart attacks and cases of cardiac inflammation following mRNA vaccinations. Even researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have acknowledged a high verification rate of myocarditis (heart muscle inflammation) reports in VAERS, suggesting that under-reporting is more likely than over-reporting.

Iowa State Sen. Doug Campbell (R-District 30) who introduced a similar bill, argued that vaccine manufacturers should be held accountable for any adverse reactions. "If I was a manufacturer of car tires and they [delaminated] at 1,000 miles, I should be liable for that," he said. Campbell's proposal initially sought an outright ban, but was later modified to require mRNA vaccine manufacturers to waive liability protections.

Public health experts meanwhile denounced efforts to ban these injections at the state level. William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University, expressed disappointment and distress at the legislation.

He emphasized that state lawmakers lack the necessary knowledge and background to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of vaccines. "It's as though state legislatures wish to take over a function of the Food and Drug Administration and they're simply not in a position to do that," Schaffner remarked.

Despite criticism, the introduction of HF 3152 in Minnesota is part of a broader trend of legislative actions aimed at regulating mRNA-based vaccines. The outcome of these legislative efforts will have far-reaching implications for healthcare, public health and medical research.

Watch Dr. Robert Malone and Del Bigtree touching on the risks of mRNA vaccines in this interview on "The HighWire."

This video is from The HighWire with Del Bigtree channel on Brighteon.com.

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Nvidias $500B U.S. AI bet counters China trade threats, fuels Trumps jobs push

NVIDIA will manufacture $500B worth of AI supercomputers and chips in the U.S., responding to Trumps tariffs and Chinas rare earth export bans.

The move creates hundreds of thousands of jobs and reshores critical defense and AI infrastructure.

NVIDIA partners with TSMC, Foxconn, and Wistron to build facilities in Texas and Arizona, starting next year.

Chinas rare earth export ban backfired, accelerating U.S. domestic mining and refining investments.

The shift ensures U.S. control over AI and defense technology, reducing reliance on foreign supply chains.

In a defining moment for American technological sovereignty, NVIDIA announced Monday it will manufacture up to $500 billion worth of AI supercomputers and semiconductors in the United States in a direct response to President Donald Trumps aggressive trade policies and Chinas escalating rare earth export bans. The move, which is set to create hundreds of thousands of jobs, signals a seismic shift toward domestic production of critical defense and AI infrastructure, reducing reliance on foreign supply chains vulnerable to geopolitical coercion.

Partnering with industry giants like TSMC, Foxconn, and Wistron, NVIDIA will establish production facilities in Texas and Arizona, with operations beginning next year. The decision aligns with Trumps broader mission to revive American manufacturing through strategic tariffs and incentives, a policy already reeling in major tech firms from Apple to Intel. "The engines of the worlds AI infrastructure are being built in the United States for the first time," NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang declared, emphasizing the national security and economic benefits of reshoring production.

Tariffs force tech home

The announcement follows Chinas retaliatory ban on rare earth mineral exportsa failed gambit to cripple U.S. semiconductor production. Rare earths, essential for advanced electronics and defense systems, had long exposed Americas supply chain fragility. Yet Trumps tariffs, including a 32% levy on Taiwanese imports and 145% on Chinese goods, accelerated domestic mining investments in states like Texas and Wyoming. "The reason they did it is because of the election on November 5, and because of the thing called tariffs," Trump said bluntly during a White House briefing, crediting his policies for NVIDIAs pivot.

Analysts note the tariffs compelled NVIDIAs shift despite initial reluctance. "It is unlikely Nvidia would have moved any production to the U.S. if it was not for pressure from the Trump administration," said D.A. Davidsons Gil Luria. The White House hailed the move as proof that "reciprocal trade deals work," with NVIDIA joining a wave of companies relocating supply chains to avoid punitive duties and secure subsidies under Trumps "Made in America" executive orders.

Jobs and security: A win for American workers

NVIDIAs plan includes building "tens of gigawatt AI factories" across the U.S., projected to generate "hundreds of thousands of jobs and trillions in economic security" over decades. The facilities will produce its Blackwell AI chipsnow rolling out at TSMCs Arizona plantand supercomputers assembled by Foxconn in Houston and Wistron in Dallas. Crucially, the operations will leverage U.S.-based rare earth refining, circumventing Chinas dominance in raw materials.

The national security implications are profound. With AI now a battleground for global supremacy, domestic production ensures military and intelligence applications arent compromised by foreign interdiction. The Pentagon has long warned that dependence on Chinese semiconductors risks sabotage or espionagea threat mitigated by NVIDIAs onshore factories. "Adding American manufacturing... strengthens our supply chain and boosts our resiliency," Huang acknowledged, echoing Defense Department priorities.

Chinas miscalculation

Beijings rare earth ban backfired spectacularly. Rather than stalling U.S. innovation, it galvanized investments in alternative mining and processing, with NVIDIAs commitment underscoring the futility of economic blackmail.

NVIDIAs blueprint may inspire broader industry realignment. Its use of U.S.-developed robotics and AI to automate factoriesincluding digital twins modeled via NVIDIAs Omniverse platformdemonstrates homegrown technological leadership. Meanwhile, China faces dwindling leverage as America unlocks its own mineral reserves and manufacturing prowess.

NVIDIAs $500 billion bet on American workers and innovation marks a watershed in the Trump-era industrial revival. By marrying punitive trade measures with private-sector incentives, the administration has turned Chinas aggression into an opportunity for U.S. self-reliance. As AI becomes the backbone of economic and military power, NVIDIAs domestic factories ensure Americanot Beijingwill control its technological destiny. For policymakers and patriots alike, the lesson is clear: strength, not surrender, wins the trade wars of the future.

Sources for this article include:

YourNews.com

Reuters.com

Blogs.Nvidia.com

CNBC.com
The Divine vs. Digital battle: Scientist exposes how transhumanism seeks to erase human consciousness

Humanity is caught in a timeless battle between light and dark, with transhumanism as the latest front, driven by elites like the WEF and UN to merge humans with machines by 2030.

Global agendas aim to erase innate human abilities (creativity, intuition) by promoting AI and implants, falsely claiming humans are flawed and need technological "upgrades."

Research shows the heart has 40,000 sensory neurites, forming an independent neural network that enables intuition and distant healingcapabilities suppressed by mainstream science.

The WEFs 2030 vision includes neural implants linking brains to AI, creating a hive mind that erases individuality and surrenders human sovereignty to centralized control.

The solution involves protecting bodily autonomy, using tech ethically (e.g., pro-human AI), and awakening to innate biological abilities to resist elite-driven transhumanism.

In a groundbreaking conversation between Mike Adams, founder of Brighteon.com, and renowned scientist and author Gregg Braden, a chilling revelation emerged: humanity is caught in an ancient struggle between forces of "light and dark," with transhumanism serving as the latest battlefield. Braden, a former defense industry systems designer turned consciousness researcher, warned that global elitesspearheaded by organizations like the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the United Nations (UN)are aggressively pushing a 2030 agenda to merge humans with machines, stripping away innate human abilities like creativity, healing, and intuition.

The War on Human Potential

Braden framed the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and transhumanism as part of a millennia-old conflict aimed at suppressing humanitys "divinity"a term he defines not in religious terms, but as the ability to "transcend perceived limitations." He cited peer-reviewed studies on the hearts neural network and quantum biology to underscore that humans possess capabilities far beyond what mainstream science acknowledgescapabilities now under threat by technological encroachment.

"We are being conditioned to believe we are flawed, that we need external technology to be complete," Braden explained. "But the truth is, our biology already outperforms the machines they want to implant in us."

The Hearts Hidden Intelligence

One of Bradens most startling claims revolves around the hearts role as an independent neural network. Research from the Institute of HeartMath and the Salk Institute reveals that the heart contains approximately 40,000 sensory neuritesspecialized cells that process information independently of the brain. These cells, Braden argues, connect humans to a "field of information not bound by time and space," enabling phenomena like intuition and distant healing.

"A mother in Brisbane once woke at 3 AM sensing her soldier son was in danger in Afghanistanbefore his commanding officer even knew," Braden noted. "This isnt magic; its science weve been discouraged from exploring."

The 2030 Reset: A "Hive Mind" by Design

Braden pointed to Klaus Schwabs WEF vision of merging biology with technology as a deliberate effort to erase individuality. He highlighted Ray Kurzweils prediction that by 20322033, neural implants will extend human cognition into the cloud, effectively creating a Borg-like hive mind.

"Once our neocortex is linked to AI, we lose sovereignty," Braden warned. "Theyre selling it as freedom, but its the oppositea surrender of our innate power."

The Suppression of Human Biology

Adams and Braden agreed that the COVID-19 era was a trial run for this agenda, with immune systems dismissed as "conspiracy theories" to justify dependency on pharmaceuticals and digital IDs. Braden emphasized that replacing natural biology with synthetic alternativeslike AI-driven nanobots for disease detectionaccelerates the atrophy of human capabilities through epigenetic silencing.

"Were use it or lose it beings," he said. "If we outsource immunity to tech, our bodies will forget how to heal."

Fighting Back: Reclaiming Our "Divinity"

The solution, Braden argued, lies not in rejecting technology outright but in repurposing it to amplify human potentialwhile fiercely protecting bodily autonomy. He praised Adams work on Brighteon.ai, a pro-human AI trained on consciousness-based knowledge, as a model for ethical innovation.

"The elites cant remake the world unless we give our humanness away," Braden concluded. "Their endgame fails if we awaken to our own power."

As the 2030 deadline looms, Bradens message is clear: The battle for humanitys future isnt just about resisting tyrannyits about remembering who we truly are.

Watch the full episode of the "Health Ranger Report" with Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, and Gregg Braden as they talk about consciousness, neurology, and the cosmos.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

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Trump administration wins court approval for sweeping immigrant registration rule

A Trump-appointed judge ruled that the administration can enforce a policy requiring undocumented immigrants (ages 14+) to register with the government, submit fingerprints and provide addresses  effective immediately.

Individuals present in the U.S. for 30+ days must register by the stated deadline (April 11). Non-compliance risks fines, prosecution or deportation. Canadian long-term visitors ("snowbirds") are also included.

The policy could impact 2.2 to 3.2 million people, potentially leading to one of ICE's largest enforcement operations in history.

The rule stems from a "long-dormant" 1940s registration law, reactivated by DHS. Critics liken it to post-9/11 programs (e.g., NSEERS), which targeted Muslim men but yielded no terrorism convictions.

Officials claim they're simply enforcing existing law, not creating new rules, emphasizing national security and uniform immigration enforcement. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem urged undocumented immigrants to "leave now" to avoid penalties.

A federal judge has cleared the way for the Trump administration to enforce a controversial mandate requiring all illegal immigrants in the United States to register with the federal government and carry documentation.

On April 10, U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, a Trump appointee, ruled that the administration may now begin enforcing the registration requirement as soon as April 11, despite objections from immigrant rights groups who argued the policy would expose hundreds of thousands to detention and deportation.

Under the new enforcement directive, all undocumented immigrants aged 14 and older must register, submit fingerprints and their current address; parents or guardians must register children under 14 on their behalf; and Canadian nationals staying in the U.S. for more than 30 days, including "snowbirds" wintering in states like Florida, must also comply.

In line with this, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials stressed in a news release that individuals who have already been in the country for 30 days or more must register by Friday, with full enforcement of the registration requirement moving forward. Failure to comply could result in fines, criminal prosecution or deportation.

The administration has estimated that between 2.2 million and 3.2 million people could be affected by the mandate.

McFadden did not rule on the merits of the case but determined that advocacy groups challenging the policy lacked standing to sue. His decision paves the way for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to initiate what could be one of the largest enforcement operations in recent history. (Related: Tompkins County sheriff released an illegal immigrant with federal deportation order.)

DHS only enforces what is written in a "long-dormant" provision

The DHS announced the policy on Feb. 25, citing a long-dormant provision in federal immigration law requiring non-citizens, including undocumented immigrants, to register with the government.

This requirement traces back to the Alien Registration Act of 1940, enacted amid World War II national security concerns, and later codified in the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952. Though technically part of federal law for decades, the registration rule has rarely been universally enforced.

After the 9/11 attacks, a National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS) required men from predominantly Muslim countries to register  resulting in over 13,000 deportations but zero terrorism convictions before the program was scrapped in 2016.

The Trump administration argued it is simply "enforcing the law as written" and not creating a new policy.

"President Trump and I have a clear message for those in our country illegally: leave now. If you leave now, you may have the opportunity to return and enjoy our freedom and live the American dream," DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said.

"The Trump administration will enforce all our immigration laws  we will not pick and choose which laws we will enforce. We must know who is in our country for the safety and security of our homeland and all Americans."

Follow InvasionUSA.news for more stories about illegal immigration in America.

Watch this video discussing the beginning of Trump's mass deportation program.

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Trump imposes staggering 104% tariffs on all Chinese imports, escalating trade war

President Donald Trump announced a steep 104 percent tariff on all Chinese imports after China refused to reverse its own tariffs on U.S. goods, compounding earlier hikes. The total effective tariff burden on Chinese goods surged from 20.8 percent to nearly 125 percent.

The latest hike includes a 34 percent reciprocal tariff plus a 50 percent increase in response to China's refusal to back down on its 34 percent tariff on American goods. China had already imposed 15-10 percent tariffs on U.S. LNG, coal, crude oil and farm equipment in February.

China retaliated further by restricting exports of gallium, germanium, tungsten and other key minerals, some effective immediately, others (like gallium/germanium) by Aug. 1, threatening global tech supply chains.

Trump also tripled tariffs on Chinese goods under $800, ending duty?free privileges under the "deminimis" rule. Starting May 2, Chinese e?commerce packages (from Shein, Temu and AliExpress) will face $25 to $50 increase per item.

The White House framed the move as retaliation for China's "mistreatment of American workers," vowing not to back down. Analysts warn escalating tariffs could disrupt trade further, with no immediate deal in sight.

President Donald Trump has announced a sweeping 104 percent tariff on all Chinese imports as Beijing refused to reverse its own tariffs on American goods.

In February, Trump already imposed 10 percent tariffs on all Chinese goods due to Beijing's role in fentanyl trafficking and illegal immigration. The rates doubled to 20 percent in March, and this month, Trump added 34 percent "reciprocal tariffs," compounding with an extra 50 percent hike after China refused to back down on its own 34 percent tariffs on U.S. goods.

China implemented retaliatory measures, including a 15 percent tariff on liquefied natural gas and coal, as well as a 10 percent tariff on crude oil, farm equipment and certain large-engine vehicles on Feb. 10. Additionally, China imposed export controls on critical minerals and technologies, restricting shipments of gallium, germanium, tungsten, tellurium, ruthenium and molybdenum.

These restrictions  some effective immediately and others, like those on gallium and germanium, starting Aug. 1  are a direct response to U.S. tariffs and could disrupt global supply chains, particularly in high-tech industries.

All this brought the total increase of tariffs to a historic 84 percent overnight.

"Countries like China, who have chosen to retaliate and try to double down on their mistreatment of American workers, are making a mistake," Leavitt said on April 8. "President Trump has a spine of steel, and he will not break. The Chinese want to make a deal, they just don't know how to do it." (Related: Trump floats tariff reduction for China to secure TikTok deal.)

This, in turn, will push China's average tariff burden to nearly 125 percent, up from the current 20.8 percent.

Trump triples tariff on Chinese goods under $800

Aside from the additional reciprocal tariffs, Trump also signed an executive order a few days earlier, closing a trade loophole that has allowed billions of dollars worth of low-value packages from China and Hong Kong to enter the United States duty-free.

The move, which takes effect at 12:01 a.m. ET on May 2, tripled tariffs on Chinese goods valued under $800. This eliminates so-called "de minimis" privileges for Chinese and Hong Kong shipments sent outside the international postal network.

This means that packages entering through the postal system will face a steep duty rate of 30 percent of the item's value or $25 per item, rising to $50 per item after June 1. The "de minimis" rule, which exempts low-value imports from tariffs, has fueled a surge in direct-to-consumer e-commerce shipments from China, with nearly $1.4 billion packages entering the U.S. duty-free last year.

More than 60 percent of these parcels originated in China, dominated by ultra-fast-fashion retailer Shein, e-commerce giant Temu and AliExpress, which have thrived under the loophole. Trump initially moved to revoke the exemption in February but paused the order due to logistical challenges in inspecting the flood of small packages.

Head over to Trump.news for related news.

Trump should put the tariffs on immediately, expert says. Watch this video.

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Trump moves to cut federal funding for death trap sanctuary cities

President Donald Trump has vowed to strip federal funding from sanctuary cities, arguing they endanger Americans by shielding criminal undocumented immigrants.

Sanctuary cities (e.g., Chicago, New York) refuse ICE cooperation, while critics say sanctuary city policies undermine law enforcement and public safety.

Billions in federal grants  including law enforcement and social programs  could be cut, forcing cities to choose between sanctuary policies and essential services.

Courts previously blocked Trumps efforts, but his administration believes it now has stronger legal grounds. Democrats pledge to resist, calling the move political.

The crackdown aligns with Trump's plans for mass deportations and stricter border enforcement, with Chicago as a key target for ICE raids.

President Donald Trump is taking decisive action against sanctuary cities, vowing to strip them of federal funding in a bold move to enforce immigration laws and protect American communities.

In a fiery post on Truth Social, Trump declared an end to what he called "death traps" that shield criminal illegal aliens while putting law-abiding citizens at risk. "They protect the criminals, not the victims," the wrote. "They are disgracing our country and are being mocked all over the world."

Sanctuary cities  jurisdictions that refuse to fully cooperate with federal immigration authorities  have long been a flashpoint in the national debate over border security. These cities including Chicago, New York and Los Angeles often refuse to honor detainer requests from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), allowing criminal illegal immigrants to avoid deportation.

Critics including President Trump himself counter that these policies embolden criminals, undermine law enforcement and put American lives in danger. The president's executive action would target billions in federal grants that flow into sanctuary cities, potentially crippling budgets that rely on Washingtons support. While some funding is mandated by Congress  such as infrastructure projects  Trump's administration is exploring ways to cut discretionary funds, including law enforcement grants.

Chicago, for example, received nearly $2.5 billion in federal funding last year, with a fraction spent on migrant care. The rest supports critical services like transit security, domestic violence programs and summer food initiatives. If Trump follows through, the Windy City could face massive budget shortfalls  forcing Mayor Brandon Johnson to choose between protecting illegal immigrants or maintaining essential services for citizens.

Legal showdown ahead

This isnt the first time Trump has tried to defund sanctuary cities. During his first term, courts blocked similar efforts, ruling that the federal government couldnt arbitrarily withhold funds without congressional approval. But with a reshaped judiciary and a renewed mandate, the administration believes it has a stronger legal footing this time.

Democrats, predictably, are gearing up for a fight. Johnson, Chicago's mayor, has vowed to "vigorously defend" the citys sanctuary policies. Meanwhile, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker dismissed the move as political theater.

If successful, Trump's crackdown could force sanctuary cities to either comply with federal immigration enforcement or lose vital funding  leaving progressive leaders scrambling to explain why they prioritized illegal immigrants over their own constituents.

This latest move is part of Trumps sweeping immigration agenda, which includes mass deportations, stricter border security and penalties for cities that obstruct federal law. His administration has already signaled that Chicago will be "ground zero" for ICE raids, targeting criminal illegal aliens who have evaded deportation thanks to sanctuary policies. (Related: Trump to begin large-scale immigration raids in Chicago.)

Meanwhile, House Republicans are escalating their oversight, summoning Democratic governors to testify about their refusal to cooperate with ICE. The message is clear: Sanctuary cities will no longer get a free pass to flout federal law.

Trump's hardline stance reflects the frustration of millions of Americans who are tired of cities putting illegal immigrants ahead of public safety. By cutting off federal funds, he is forcing a reckoning. Will these sanctuary cities continue to defy the law, or will they finally prioritize the safety and well-being of their citizens?

Watch JD Rucker discussing how Trump is seeking an executive order to end sanctuary cities in this clip.

This video is from the JD Rucker channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

SANCTUARY OVERLOAD: Texas sends more buses full of ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS to Democrat-controlled sanctuary cities.

Representative Tenney calls for defunding sanctuary cities and sanctuary CAMPUSES at U.S. universities.

Sanctuary cities: The blood is on the lefts hands.

Trump administration prepares crackdown on illegal immigrants in sanctuary cities.

Democrat sanctuary cities are BUSING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS OUT of their areas.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

CBSNews.com

News.BloombergLaw.com

Brighteon.com
So if Elon Musk bought PLANNED PARENTHOOD, would the Democrats burn down all the abortion clinics?

Vaccines & Autism Conspiracy  The CDCs expanded vaccine schedule is claimed to cause autism (now 1 in 50 children), with allegations that Big Pharma and government agencies suppress the truth. RFK Jr. has vowed to expose this soon. Planned Parenthood as a Eugenics Tool  The organization is accused of targeting Black communities through abortion and serving as a "genocide machine" under a depopulation agenda. Democrats allegedly support infanticide while covering up Planned Parenthoods role in ethnic cleansing. Elon Musk Buying Planned Parenthood?  A hypothetical scenario suggests Musk could expose hypocrisy: if he acquired the organization, the left might violently protest (like with EV dealerships), revealing their true agenda. Next Strategy to Combat Depopulation  The solution proposed is shutting down both vaccine mandates and Planned Parenthood to "eradicate vectors of depopulation," with RFK Jr.s upcoming revelations as a key step.

Most Americans have no clue that vaccines and Planned Parenthood are primary vectors for population control and ethnic cleansing genocide machines. Vaccines cause autism, which wrecks the lives of children who will probably never start a family of their own and who will require expensive chronic care for their whole lives.

Even the former head of the CDC, renowned scientist Dr. William Thompson, blew the whistle on the MMR vaccines contributing to autism, especially among young black boys under age three. This was all covered up by the FDA and the CDC. Plus, Planned Parenthood, if youve noticed, has centers mainly in metropolitan cities across the USA where there are predominantly black demographics so that the black women will go in them and have abortions. Get it?

So, since the Democrats support communism in America, and all suffer from Trump Derangement Syndrome, would they be crazy enough to burn down all the Planned Parenthood centers if Elon Musk bought it out, like theyre doing with the electric vehicle sales centers now, even though they claim to be all in for saving the earth from global warming caused by gas-powered vehicles?

So far, Trump and Musk have completely outsmarted the insane Left and helped them fuel their own demise and downfall. Its time to eradicate all of the vectors of depopulation, including vaccines and Planned Parenthood. Whats the next strategy to accomplish this?

RFK Jr. tells President Trump that the world will know the cause of autisms massive explosion by September

The world doesnt seem to know what causes autism. Western Medicine pretends it has no idea that vaccines are the main culprit, when the known neurotoxins and carcinogens get injected into infants and send their CNS into a downward spiral, their immune system into massive shock, and lodge heavy metal poisons in their little, developing brain.

Oh, what could it be? It must not be that. Vaccines are always 95% safe and 95% effective, right? Well, if so, the other 5% get autism, Covid and SIDS, because as of now, 1 in every 50 kids injected with these death jabs are maimed for life or dead.

Thankfully, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. knows this. He is promising Trump that he will unveil the truth about dirty jabs and let the world know, but he knows that hes got to have the science-backed evidence to prove it, and up to now, the Vaccine Industrial Complex has buried any such truths and research. Censored it all. Called it anti-science and anti-vax to call out these dangers of the CDCs recommended childhood vaccine schedule.

Maybe Elon Musk should buy all the Planned Parenthood centers so the Democrats will firebomb them, and then he could subsequently shut them all down, since theyre really not about helping anyone plan for parenthood, but conversely theyre all about exterminating babies in the womb before they ever have a chance at life.

Then, if that doesnt work, the Vax Police come along and inject the survivors with 70 deadly vaccines in their first years of life so they can never lead a normal healthy life with enough intelligence to have independent, critical thoughts that help them vote for their own medical and health freedom rights.

Bookmark Vaccines.news to your favorite independent websites for updates on dirty jabs like the MMR and mRNA that cause autism and Long-Vax-Syndrome.

Sources for this article include:

Pandemic.news

NaturalNews.com

Infowars.com
Transhuman vectors of disease: Young adults continue to produce spike proteins ONE YEAR after receiving COVID vaccine

A peer-reviewed study in Immunity, Inflammation and Disease reveals that young adults who received the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine are still producing spike proteins a year or more after vaccination.

The study highlights the persistent production of spike protein and elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, raising concerns about long-term immune system dysregulation.

Experts warn that the prolonged presence of spike proteins could lead to chronic inflammation, autoimmune disorders, and other serious health issues.

The findings underscore the urgent need for further research and a reevaluation of the safety and long-term impacts of mRNA vaccines, particularly in young and vulnerable populations.

An entire generation has been genetically engineered to express inflammation in their bodies and will never know what it means to be truly healthy.

In a groundbreaking peer-reviewed study published last week in Immunity, Inflammation and Disease, researchers have uncovered alarming evidence that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, specifically the Pfizer vaccine, can cause the body to continue producing the spike protein for a year or more after vaccination. This revelation adds to the growing body of scientific evidence suggesting that the long-term impacts of these vaccines are far more severe and complex than initially anticipated.

The study, which examined 84 young adults, found that participants exhibited elevated levels of multiple proinflammatory cytokines, indicating a persistent immune response to the mRNA vaccines. According to the researchers, the "persistent production of spike protein and highly inflammatory nature of mRNA-lipid nanoparticles" may be responsible for the elevated cytokine levels. This finding is particularly concerning, as it suggests that the body's immune system remains in a state of chronic activation, potentially leading to a host of health issues.

The long-term implications of persistent spike protein production

Daniel OConnor, founder and CEO of TrialSite News, emphasized the significance of the study's findings: "This study raises important questions about the long-term immunological imprinting of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in healthy young adults." OConnor called for urgent spike protein clearance and biodistribution studies, especially in young males and older adults, whose immune responses appear to be disproportionately affected.

Karl Jablonowski, Ph.D., a senior research scientist for Childrens Health Defense (CHD), noted that while the study's design has limitations, it presents "evidence with strong implications." He warned that months- or even years-long production of spike protein could lead to T-cell exhaustion, a condition where the body's immune system becomes unable to effectively fight viruses or cancer. "Persistent exposure to antigens will exhaust the T-cells and inhibit their natural function," Jablonowski said.

Epidemiologist Nicolas Hulscher pointed out that the study's findings are not entirely unexpected, given the 130 peer-reviewed studies that have already identified the persistent presence of spike protein in the human body. Hulscher suggested that long-term exposure to spike proteins may result in symptoms similar to those experienced by people diagnosed with long COVID, further complicating the health landscape.

The study's findings also raise broader safety concerns, according to Jablonowski. He called for a larger retrospective controlled study, emphasizing the urgency of preserving vaccine injury data: "This kind of data is not kept forever. The window to preserve information on the harms of the COVID-19 injections is quickly closing."

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently criticized HHS sub-agencies for selling patient information, including vaccine injury data, to each other instead of making it freely accessible. Kennedy announced the launch of a new agency within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that will specialize in vaccine injuries, a move that could potentially increase transparency and accountability.

The impact on cytokine levels and immune dysregulation

The study also revealed a "significant increase" in cytokines associated with chronic inflammation, immune dysregulation, and autoimmune activation. These cytokines, including TNF-?, IL-1?, IL-6, IL-4, IL-7, and IL-17E, were found in elevated levels among study participants, with males showing particularly significant increases.

Brian Hooker, Ph.D., chief scientific officer for CHD, noted that the increase in cytokines could be influenced by the observed increase in weight and body mass index (BMI) among participants. However, he emphasized that even the increases in older adults are concerning and warrant further investigation.

Jablonowski compared the impact of mRNA vaccines to that of chemotherapy, a treatment known for its long-term inflammatory effects. He warned that the approval of self-amplifying mRNA vaccines in Japan and the European Union could exacerbate the presence of spike proteins and the associated immune system duress.

COVID jabs have turned a generation of people in to transhuman vectors of disease and perpetual inflammation

COVID-19 mRNA vaccines were designed to genetically alter humans and turn them into biological weapon-producing vectors of disease, whose bodies are constantly in a state of fight or flight and immune system overload, constantly fighting off their own cellular machinery, which has been hijacked to produce toxic spike proteins that cause blood clots, heart inflammation, and a consortium of health woes.

COVID-19 vaccines, still on the market, are still going into kids and young adults, and the threat of these biological weapons spreading through human vectors is now unstoppable, leading to a forever lineage of mutating coronaviruses, that will continue to push people into patterns of sickness and disease.

The latest development, of young adults producing spike proteins one year after they were inoculated, shows how pervasive this disastrous, biological weapon technology really is. The promises of the body neutralizing the spike protein from the vaccine in the deltoid muscles immediately after replication was a total fabricated lie by the government, designed to make the experimental mRNA vaccine seem to be a vaccine technology, priming the immune cells to produce long term B cell immune memory.

However, in the vaccinated, the immune cells are under constant attack because the cells have been permanently altered, no longer producing the proteins needed to sustain life; instead the cells are producing toxic proteins that destroy the body from within. This generation of vaccinated children and young adults will never know what its like to be in full health, enjoying life, because their new normal is one of chronic illness and spike protein manufacturing, and a constant barrage of inflammation going on inside them.

A call for action and further research

As the evidence of long-term health impacts continues to mount, a growing number of scientists are calling for the immediate removal of mRNA vaccines from the market. A petition pending before the FDA, signed by several scientists, demands the suspension or withdrawal of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. Some U.S. states and communities are also considering bans on these vaccines.

Brian Hooker stated, "Increased inflammation leads to so many different conditions associated with the COVID-19 vaccine, including cardiac sequelae and turbo cancers. This definitely contributes to the body of literature supporting a complete withdrawal of all COVID-19 vaccines on the market."

Nicolas Hulscher echoed this sentiment: "As yet another study reveals grave harms linked to the COVID-19 mRNA injections, the case for their immediate removal from the market grows stronger and more urgent."

Source include:

ChildrensHealthDefense.org

OnlineLibrary.wiley.com

Enoch, Brighteon.ai
Daniel Estulins Tavistock Institute: Social Engineering the Masses reveals the organizations hidden hand in social engineering

In "Tavistock Institute: Social Engineering the Masses," Daniel Estulin portrays the entity as a powerful, covert organization that has shaped global politics, culture and economics through psychological manipulation and social engineering since its origins in British psychological warfare during WWII.

Major historical events such as the Vietnam War, Watergate and the 1960s counterculture movement are alleged to be premeditated experiments designed to destabilize societies, weaken institutions and condition public behavior.

Tavistock collaborates with elite institutions and is funded by U.S. government-backed think tanks. It uses media manipulation, psychological terror and "leaderless group" tactics to erode individual autonomy.

Television, advertising and celebrity culture are framed as tools of mass control, suppressing critical thought and fostering passive consumerism to advance a globalist agenda.

The book urges readers to recognize these hidden forces, reject mainstream narratives and reclaim mental autonomy to counter the deliberate erosion of morality, intellect and democracy.

Daniel Estulin's "Tavistock Institute: Social Engineering the Masses" exposes one of the most powerful yet shadowy forces in modern history  an organization that has, for decades, shaped global politics, culture and economics through psychological manipulation.

What began as an obscure British initiative at Wellington House evolved into the Tavistock Institute, the epicenter of mass brainwashing and social engineering. According to Estulin, this institution has systematically altered the course of human society. It has employed sophisticated techniques of psychological warfare to mold public opinion, dismantle democratic structures and usher in a new era of covert totalitarian control.

The book reveals that Tavistock operates under what insiders call the "Aquarian Conspiracy," a term derived from a clandestine 1974 Stanford Research Institute study titled "Changing Images of Man." This conspiracy, Estulin argues, is not a fringe theory but a meticulously orchestrated campaign to restructure civilization by exploiting human ignorance.

Our world  marked by economic instability, cultural decay and the erosion of national sovereignty  is not an accident, but a carefully engineered crisis. The book functions as a manual for resistance, exposing the tactics of mass manipulation and urging readers to recognize and resist these hidden forces.

Tavistock's roots trace back to World War II, where it served as the British Army's Psychological Warfare Bureau. It reportedly had a strong influence across the pond, dictating American military strategies in psychological operations.

Beyond warfare, Estulin asserts that many major historical events  from the Vietnam War to the Watergate scandal, from the counterculture movement of the 1960s to the Pentagon Papers  were premeditated social engineering experiments. These disruptions were designed to destabilize societies, weaken traditional institutions and condition populations toward desired behavioral changes.

The network behind these operations is vast, involving elite research institutions such as the Stanford Research Institute, MIT Sloan and the London School of Economics. For over 50 years, billions of U.S. government dollars, funneled through Tavistock-aligned think tanks and foundations, have sustained these projects.

The book describes how these entities use media manipulation, psychological terror and controlled social movements to erode personal autonomy. One key method is the exploitation of "leaderless groups," where individuals are subtly coerced through peer pressure. Psychologist Kurt Lewin, a central figure in Tavistocks early brainwashing techniques, pioneered the concept.

Even seemingly benevolent initiatives like the Marshall Plan had darker ulterior motives. While publicized as postwar European reconstruction, Estulin reveals it was actually a Rockefeller-Tavistock scheme to dominate European industry and labor, imposing neoliberal policies that accelerated American economic hegemony.

Another alarming revelation is the role of the counterculture movement, which many perceive as a grassroots rebellion. Instead, the book argues it was an orchestrated campaign to derail scientific progress and promote hedonistic distraction.

Modern tools of mind control extend far beyond political maneuvering. Television, the book argues, is the most potent weapon in Tavistock's arsenal  a hypnotic device that suppresses critical thought by stimulating primitive brain functions.

Advertising and celebrity culture further entrench this manipulation, transforming populations into passive consumers driven by emotion rather than reason. The cumulative effect is a society stripped of independent thought, primed for obedience to a globalist agenda.

Estulin's work is a call to awareness. The decline in morality, intellect and cultural stability is not natural evolution but the result of calculated social engineering.

The book implores readers to seek truth beyond mainstream narratives, resist psychological conditioning and reclaim agency over their minds and futures. Only through collective vigilance, he argues, can the insidious grip of Tavistock and its conspirators be broken.

Watch this video about Daniel Estulin's book "Tavistock Institute: Social Engineering the Masses".

This video is from the BrightLearn channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

Brighteon.ai

Brighteon.com
Hungary passes constitutional amendment affirming that there are only TWO GENDERS

Hungarys parliament passed an amendment defining gender as strictly male or female, declaring that "the mother is a woman; the father is a man," and solidifying marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

The amendment prioritizes childrens moral and physical development above most other rights (except the right to life) and extends Hungarys 2021 ban on LGBTQ+ topics in school materials.

The amendment codifies bans on Pride marches and LGBT public events, allowing authorities to use facial recognition for enforcement and impose fines up to 200,000 forints ($553).

Dual citizens deemed threats to public order or national security may lose Hungarian citizenship for up to 10 years, part of PM Viktor Orbans vow to eliminate foreign-funded activists and NGOs.

Opposition lawmakers and protesters accuse Orbans government of accelerating authoritarianism, while the ruling Fidesz party frames the changes as defending Christian values against "gender madness" and liberal Western influence.

Hungary's parliament has passed a constitutional amendment cementing that there are only two genders  male and female.

The Hungarian National Assembly voted to approve the amendment on Monday, April 14  with 140 lawmakers voting in favor and 21 voting against. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's Fidesz-KDNP coalition was responsible for pushing the amendment despite international condemnation and fierce protests from the opposition.

The amendment solidify Hungary's conservative stance on family and gender, defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman. "The mother shall be a woman; the father shall be a man," the amendment reads.

Moreover, the amendment now declares childrens moral and physical development a top priority, superseding nearly all other fundamental rights except the right to life. This builds upon Hungary's existing "child protection" laws, which since 2021 have barred LGBTQ+ topics in educational materials accessible to minors.

"Now, with the change in America, the winds have shifted in our favor," Orban said of the amendment. He added that the international gender network "must take its hands off our children." (Related: Only two genders, flag on Mars and no more war: Key takeaways from Trumps inaugural address.)

Zoltan Kovacs, the Hungarian government's international spokesperson, also defended the amendment. He reiterated that the amendment was "not an attack on individual self-expression, but a clarification that legal norms are based on biological reality."

New amendment also bans Pride events

The new amendment to the Hungarian constitution also codifies an earlier ban on Pride marches and other public LGBT events. Authorities will now have legal grounds to ban such gatherings, using facial recognition to identify attendees. Violators could be fined up to 200,000 Hungarian forints ($553.20).

Moreover, it also allows Budapest to strip dual citizens of their Hungarian nationality for up to 10 years if they are found to be a threat to public order, public security or national security. Orban, who has long railed against foreign influence, recently vowed to "eliminate the entire shadow army" of foreign-funded activists, journalists and non-governmental organizations.

Opposition lawmakers and human rights groups argue the measure is part of Orban's broader authoritarian shift, given that his Fidesz party faces a plummeting approval rating ahead of next year's elections. Protesters, including Momentum Party members, attempted to block parliament ahead of the vote, chaining themselves together with zip ties before police forcibly removed them.

With similar measures gaining traction elsewhere  like in Slovakia, where a two-gender constitutional law recently advanced  Hungary's move reflects a broader regional resistance to Western liberal norms. No amount of smears from the LGBT community has dissuaded Orban, who has framed his government as a defender of Christian values against "gender madness."

Watch Ben Harwell telling Steve Bannon that the globalists hate Hungary's Viktor Orban as he runs a successful Hungary First agenda in this clip.

This video is from the SecureLife channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Hungary moving to protect its children from transgenderism and homosexuality while U.S. kids are exposed to the worst of both.

Viktor Orban gets standing ovation at CPAC for defending family values and the institution of marriage.

Hungarian PM Viktor Orban bans LGBTQ+ Pride parades in Budapest.

Sources include:

RT.com

TheGuardian.com

CBC.ca

Brighteon.com
North Dakota town exposes Big Fluoride and Big Government corruption in federal water poisoning scheme

Washburn, North Dakota voted to end water fluoridation after uncovering federal funding misuse by fluoride lobbyists.

CDC-funded state officials conspired to silence local fluoride opposers with astroturf campaigns and hostile tactics.

Profanity-filled emails revealed collusion between dentists, public health officials to squash grassroots reforms.

Grand Forks faces next fight as fluoride activists prepare to expose toxic lies.

Peer-reviewed study links fluoride to male infertility, backing claims of a systemic population control agenda

North Dakota town beats fluoride, exposes covert CDC campaign in the process

In a stark victory for local autonomy, Washburn, North Dakotas town commissioners voted 4-1 to stop fluoridating their water Monday evening, exposing a covert campaign funded by CDC dollars to weaponize state actors in manipulating local water policy. What began as a routine debate over public health quickly became a national template for understanding how public health agencies function as enforcers of corporate chemical agendas.

Documents obtained via public records requests revealed North Dakotas Oral Health Program (OHP), funded by $780,800 in annual federal grants, conspired to dispatch facilitatorsincluding Bismarck water plant manager Jim Kershawinto smaller towns to strong-arm elected officials into maintaining fluoridation.

We found a copy-and-paste letter template mass-distributed to elected officials, complete with talking points, said Washburn Commissioner Keith Hapip, who spearheaded the investigation. Its taxpayer money meant to educate the public being used to rig local elections!

The expose centered on a January prepared testimony by Kershawthe same man who hawked a $6,000 state grant to travel to Washburn. Internal CDC-OHP emails unearthed the plots shocking coordination:

Director Cheri Kiefer celebrated Kershaws travel plans with bodybuilding cliches: Youre going to flatten them like a pancake.

Kiefer instructs regional hygienists to use the phrase fluoride prevents tooth decay 5 times per conversation.

Dentists staffing opposition campaigns used template talking points stripped of historical fluoride-neurotoxicity research.

This isnt healthcareits chemical warfare with taxpayer bullets, Hapip said.

The language of distrust

Inside emails find that fluoride apologists exposed their contempt for democracy through off-the-record rants:

After Hapip challenged Kershaws claims about toothpaste toxicity, the OHP-promoted technocrat unleashed rage: Tell that silly so-called commissioner to stay the ##### out of chemistry!

Jim Kershaw later urged colleague Johnny Johnson, American Fluoridation Society head, to weaponize diplomacy: If they want to play scientist, shame them into silence. Dont replycreate a distraction!

Dental liaisons deployed to towns allegedly received treatment strategies during conference calls like: If someone cites the Harvard lithium-fluoride IQ study, flicker their emails into spam. Theyre troublemakers.

Fluoride as a depopulation weapon

This fight transcends dental politics. A 1997 Indian study confirmed fluorides target on male fertilityand its use in contaminated waterappears precisely designed to reduce human reproduction:

Male rats exposed to fluoride equivalent to U.S. drinking guidelines saw:

40% drop in sperm motility

30% increase in abnormal sperm

60% reduction in testosterone levels

Histological damage to seminiferous tubules

25% drop in successful pregnancies

Each decade of water fluoridation correlates with 15-20% declines in male reproductive health metrics, said fertility researcher Dr. Peter Cutler. This is not a coincidence.

Last year, similar rat-trials showing fluoride induces calcium-deficient bone fractures were buried by CDC researchers during a Senate oversight hearing.

Grand Forks, North Dakota will host the next battle on April 23, where the same fluoride-industrial complex aims to force fluoridation renewal. Meanwhile, CDC recipients like Kiefer and Johnson refused comment, while small towns in Wyoming, Arizona, and Iowa prepare parallel investigations into the fluoridation fraud and a money trail that leads back to corrupt, federal authorities. As informed citizens awaken to these chemical power plays, the question remains: How many other public health protocols operate with this level of corruption?

Sources include:

ChildrensHealthDefense.org

Science.NaturalNews.com

ChildrensHealthDefense.org
How North Koreas massive military aid is keeping Putins war machine running

North Korea has shipped millions of artillery shells and sent thousands of troops to Russia, significantly aiding its war in Ukraine.

Many North Korean soldiers were deceived into fighting, suffering heavy casualties while being used as expendable assault troops.

Russia is likely repaying North Korea with missile and nuclear technology, escalating global security threats.

The partnership forms a dangerous alliance with China and Iran, undermining Western interests and regional stability.

Experts warn Kim Jong Un is gaining combat experience and tech that could target South Korea, Japan, and U.S. forces.

For decades, North Korea has been a pariah state, isolated by sanctions and condemned for its brutal dictatorship. But new investigations reveal Pyongyang has now become a critical lifeline for Russias war in Ukraineshipping millions of artillery shells, ballistic missiles, and even troops to the frontlines while deceiving its own soldiers into believing they were merely on training exercises.

According to a Reuters investigation, North Korea has supplied between 4.2 and 5.8 million artillery shellsenough to account for up to 70% of Russias frontline ammunitionand dispatched as many as 14,000 troops, many of whom were misled about their mission. Intercepted radio communications, satellite imagery, and Ukrainian intelligence confirm Pyongyang's deep commitment to aiding Moscow, reshaping the battlefield and prolonging a war that has already claimed hundreds of thousands of lives.

The alarming military partnership underscores a growing "axis of evil" between Russia, North Korea, China, and Iran, threatening global security and American interests in both Europe and the Indo-Pacific. Worse still, U.S. officials warn that Kim Jong Un is exploiting this war to test weapons, refine battlefield tactics, and extract critical military technologyknowledge that could soon be turned against South Korea, Japan, and American forces in the region.

Pyongyangs artillery floodgates open

The scale of North Koreas munitions transfers to Russia is staggering. The Open Source Centre (OSC), a UK-based research group, tracked 64 shipments between August 2023 and March 2025, featuring 15,800 containers filled with artillery and rocket systems. These supplies, carried by sanctioned Russian cargo ships like the Angara and Lady R, traveled from North Koreas Rajin port to Russian depots near Ukraines border.

Ukrainian intelligence estimates that North Korean shells accounted for 70% of Russias artillery usage at times, allowing Moscow to sustain relentless bombardments despite Western sanctions on Russian arms production. "Without Chairman Kim Jong Uns support, President Vladimir Putin wouldnt really be able to prosecute his war in Ukraine," said Hugh Griffiths, a former UN sanctions monitor.

The White House has warned that Russia is likely repaying Pyongyang with missile and nuclear technologya dangerous exchange that could accelerate Kims ambitions. "Russia is almost certainly transferring missile technology to Pyongyang," said U.S. Army General Christopher Cavoli.

North Korean troops thrown into the meat grinder

Perhaps the most shocking revelation is the deployment of North Korean soldiers, many of whom believed they were only going to Russia for training. According to Ukrainian intelligence interrogations of captured troops, these men were given Russian uniforms, weapons, and false military IDs, then sent directly into combat against Ukraines entrenched defenses. Ukrainian commander Oleh Shyriaiev confirmed: "Koreans are used as assault troops."

The casualties have been devastating. By early 2025, an estimated 4,000 North Korean soldiers had been killed or wounded, with reinforcements continuously sent to replace losses. Yet Pyongyangs leadership shows no remorse, leveraging its people as disposable pawns in exchange for Moscows military secrets.

A dangerous alliance that threatens the free world

The deepening military cooperation between Russia and North Korea has far-reaching consequences. Beyond Ukraine, analysts warn that Pyongyang is gaining real combat experience, testing missiles in battle, and refining artillery tactics that could be used against Seoul. Meanwhile, Russias willingness to share advanced military technology risks supercharging North Koreas nuclear and missile programs.

Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) warned that the growing alignment of Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran should "be of great concern to all in the West." With Beijing supplying Russian defense industries and Tehran providing deadly drones, the war in Ukraine has become a testing ground for authoritarian powers seeking to undermine Western dominance.

North Koreas massive military aid to Russia proves that the war in Ukraine is no longer just Europes problem; it is a global crisis. The U.S. and its allies must recognize that every shell Pyongyang sends to Moscow makes future conflicts in Asia more deadly. If Washington fails to act decisively, the lessons Kim Jong Un learns today could be used against American troops tomorrow.

Sources for this article include:

Reuters.com

APNews.com

Newsweek.com
Pro-abortion activist arrested after violent attack on pro-life journalist during street interview

Brianna J. Rivers, a pro-abortion activist, was arrested for second-degree assault after attacking pro-life journalist Savannah Craven Antao during a street debate on abortion.

Video footage showed Rivers punching Antao multiple times in the face after their discussion escalated, leaving Antao with facial injuries requiring medical attention.

Rivers claimed Antao was a "professional antagonist" who twisted narratives but later issued a partial apology, admitting violence wasn't justified while defending her actions.

Antao stated Rivers had previously advocated killing children in foster care before attacking her, maintaining she was ambushed despite her experience in street interviews.

Rivers faces potential prison time, and authorities are investigating if this was part of a broader pattern of aggression against pro-lifers. Antao celebrated her arrest, calling it divine justice.

A pro-abortion activist has been arrested and charged with second-degree assault after a brutal, on-camera attack on a pro-life activist and journalist during a street interview.

Earlier in April, 23-year-old pro-lifer Savannah Craven Antao conducted a "man on the street-style interview" about abortion and Planned Parenthood with 30-year-old pro-abortion Brianna J. Rivers. (Related: Pro-abortion terrorists violently attack pro-life groups, Biden White House says nothing.)

However, the conversation quickly escalated into a heated debate before turning violent.

Video footage shows Rivers initially engaging in discussion before suddenly striking Antao multiple times in the face. "You don't understand the magnitude of having a child," Rivers argued moments before launching the assault.

Antao, who had earlier challenged Rivers' stance on abortion, including remarks about children in foster care, responded, "I'm not the one who admitted they would be okay with killing babies in foster care and killing children that have been abused."

Rivers abruptly stopped debating and unleashed a flurry of punches, leaving Antao with significant facial injuries that required medical attention, including stitches. Before fleeing the scene, Rivers hurled obscenities at Antao's husband, who was filming the encounter.

Fortunately, Rivers was also arraigned on April 10, Thursday afternoon. If convicted, she could face serious legal consequences for the assault. Authorities are also investigating whether this attack was part of a broader pattern of aggression against pro-life advocates.

"Just got word from detectives that Brianna J. Rivers was arrested! God is good!" Antao posted on Instagram following the arrest, using the hashtags #BlueLivesMatter, #JusticeIsServed and #ThankYouGod.

Rivers issues public apology, but defends her actions

Rivers has openly acknowledged the incident on Facebook, issuing a partial apology while defending her actions.

"To Savannah, I sincerely apologize, but cannot sit around and allow you to continue pushing this one-sided narrative. I understand hands being put on someone is never the answer, but throwing rocks and hiding hands is worse," Rivers wrote on Facebook.

"She knows the truth and she needs to release the footage in its entirety. Savannah is a professional antagonist not a 'reporter' and the truth will be told," she concluded.

Meanwhile, Antao, a longtime pro-life advocate, described Rivers in a separate interview the next day as "very passionate" about abortion rights, had earlier suggested that children in foster care could be killed  a claim Antao repeated before the physical altercation occurred.

"She knew about Planned Parenthood. She totally agreed with me that abortion kills a baby. She knew how the procedure worked,"Antao said.

Visit Abortions.news for more stories like this.

Watch this video about abortion and the sanctity of life.

This video is from the Liberty Counsel channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Arkansas pro-lifers mobilize to defeat radical pro-abortion constitutional amendment.

Pro-abortion mob targets pro-life students in Arizona as police stand by.

NO TO "ABORTION TRAFFICKING": Lubbock County Commissioners Court approves anti-abortion transport ban.

NBC News smears pro-life, pro-family org as 'hate group,' defends PornHub.

Pro-life, pro-Trump priest responds to critics: Democrat Party 'allied with evil.'

Sources include:

Breitbart.com

NYPost.com

CNA.com
Russia escalates censorship war, targets over 200 VPN apps amid Google resistance

Russias internet regulator, Roskomnadzor, issued 214 demands to remove VPN apps from Google Play between March and April. Despite this, Google refused most requests, removing only six apps (e.g., ExpressVPN).

The crackdown aligns with a 2024 law criminalizing promotion of tools that bypass censorship, part of Russias broader effort to eliminate online anonymity and ban foreign platforms (e.g., Gmail, iCloud) by late 2025.

While 87% of VPN apps remain accessible (per GreatFire), Russia continues pressuring tech companiesApple previously removed 60 VPNs in 2024, contrasting Googles resistance.

Beyond VPNs, Roskomnadzor ordered takedowns of over 83,000 URLs, including content on Ukraine, activism and artbroadly stifling dissent under vague legal interpretations.

Developers are self-censoring or exiting Russia (e.g., Avast in 2022), highlighting how authoritarian policies undermine digital freedom and force compliance worldwide.

In a clear escalation of efforts to curb online dissent and control information, Russias internet regulator Roskomnadzor has issued 214 takedown demands targeting over 212 virtual private network (VPN) apps on Google Play between March 12 and April 1, 2025. Despite the broad crackdown, Google has resisted removing all but six of the affected apps, signaling a muted response to Moscows escalating censorship campaign. The move aligns with a broader legal framework, including a 2024 law criminalizing the promotion of tools to bypass state internet restrictions. These actions follow years of tightening digital control under Vladimir Putins regime, with the Kremlin now seeking to eradicate anonymity and limit access to foreign communication platforms by the end of 2025.

Over 200 app takedown demands signal intensifying crackdown

The surge in censorship has spotlighted Russias aggressive push to dismantle online privacy tools. According to data from GreatFire, an organization tracking global digital restrictions, 214 takedown requests were filed by Roskomnadzor against Google Play Store listings between March and Aprila 90% share of app removal demands during the period. Though only six apps, including ExpressVPN, were successfully removed from Russias Play Store, the total number of unavailable apps there has risen to 53 since 2024.

GreatFires App Censorship Project found that 87% of analyzed VPN apps remained accessible, underscoring limited compliance with Russias orders. However, the regulators insistence on pursuing even trace amounts of dissent echoes previous actions. In 2024 alone, Apple complied with Roskomnadzors demands to remove 60 VPN apps, a stark contrast to Googles relative resistance.

The Russian government is waging an all-out war on VPNs and all other tools enabling Russian citizens to bypass censorship and surveillance, said Benjamin Ismail, Campaign and Advocacy Director at GreatFire, highlighting the systemic nature of the crackdown.

Broader censorship extends beyond apps to content

While the focus has been on mobile apps, Roskomnadzors aggression extends to silencing critical content. In March 2025, the regulator issued two massive URL takedown orders through Google Search, demanding the removal of over 83,000 URLsmany unrelated to VPNs. Examples include websites discussing the Ukraine conflict, social activism, poetry and music. This expansion underscores the Kremlins tactic of broadly interpreting its censorship mandate to stifle dissent.

The VPN law of 2024 bans promoting tools to evade online restrictions but does not criminalize using thema technicality critics argue stifles freedom without direct criminality. Aiding the campaign, some developers have voluntarily withdrawn apps from Russian markets, citing the war in Ukraine or self-censorship pressures. For instance, Avast exited in 2022, while others remain ambiguous about their motivations.

The self-censorship is still censorship, Ismail emphasized. It creates a chilling effect on developers globally, forcing them to comply with authoritarian demands.

A decade of digital erosion

Russias path to digital authoritarianism began in 2012 with the creation of Roskomnadzor, tasked with monitoring online content. Over years, it has blocklisted tens of thousands of sites, including social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube. The 2024 law marked a milestone, empowering regulators to penalize anyone distributing technical guides on bypassing filters.

The current crackdown aligns with a broader societal strategy: by mid-2025, Russia plans to ban foreign email providers like Gmail and Apples iCloud, pushing users to use services like Yandex.Mail. This digital sovereignty move aims to consolidate control over domestic dataeach step eroding the ability of citizens to access independent journalism, organize protests, or criticize the state.

The cost of digital oppression

As Russia tightens its grip on online anonymity and foreign services, the battle pits authoritarian ambition against global tech giants resolve. Googles partial compliance has offered a sliver of hope for millions of Russians relying on unfiltered access to information. Yet the relentless pressurecoupled with Apples earlier capitulationreveals the fragility of digital freedom in repressive regimes.

For now, unremoved apps like ProtonVPN provide an endangered lifeline to open networks. However, with over 80,000 URLs Already scrubbed and more blocks pending, the next year will test Googles stanceand the worlds tolerance for the Kremlins vision of a sanctioned internet, one click at a time.

Sources include:

ReclaimTheNet.org

TechRadar.com

InfoWars.com
Trump administration expands DEPORTATIONS of violent illegals to El Salvadors supermax CECOT prison

Federal authorities deported 11 migrants with violent criminal convictions (including rape, robbery and gang ties) to El Salvadors maximum-security CECOT prison, reinforcing the Trump administrations hardline immigration stance.

The deportees included members of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua (TdA) and Salvadoran MS-13 gangs, with one non-gang-affiliated individual convicted of raping a minor.

Since February, hundreds of gang members have been sent to CECOT, which can hold 40,000 inmates. Homeland Security confirmed more deportations are imminent, with El Salvador willing to accept additional criminals.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele reaffirmed cooperation on immigration enforcement, with Bukele praising the collaboration and Trump commending CECOT's management.

The administration uses the Alien Enemies Act to expedite deportations, but critics cite human rights concerns over prison conditions. Despite legal challenges, the policy remains a key part of the administrations national security strategy.

In a move that reinforces the second Trump administration's hardline stance on immigration, federal authorities deported 11 violent criminals to El Salvador's maximum security prison over the weekend.

A total of 11 criminal migrants were sent to the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) supermax prison on Sunday, April 13. Secretary of State Marco Rubio originally posted on X that 10 criminal migrants were deported, until the White House later clarified that the final number of deportees were 11 in total.

The deportations involved individuals tied to the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua (TdA) and the Salvadoran MS-13 gangs. The deportees had convictions for rape, robbery, assault and terroristic threats.

Jose Santos Robles, a deportee who had no gang ties, was convicted of raping a 15-year-old in New York back in 2016. Daniel Alexander Fernandez Rodriguez, another deportee, was arrested for grand larceny and robbery. Fernandez Rodriguez is suspected to be a member of TdA.

The Trump administration has been sending criminal migrants to the CECOT prison since February. In March, almost 300 MS-13 and TdA members were sent to the prison located in the country's Tecoluca municipality. The facility designed to hold up to 40,000 inmates serves as the dumping ground for foreign nationals deemed threats to public safety.

The recent deportations aren't the last, as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed on April 8 that additional deportations are imminent. According to the former South Dakota governor, the facility currently holds 14,000 inmates  roughly a third of its capacity.

"You'll see us continuing to partner with El Salvador," Noem said. She added that Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele has expressed his country's desire to "take as many [criminal migrants] as we want to send."

Bukele backs Trump's crackdown during White House visit

The deportation of the 11 criminal migrants came a day before President Donald Trump invited Bukele to the White House. During a press conference at the Oval Office, the two leaders reinforced their cooperation on immigration enforcement.

Trump praised Bukele's government for the "great job" done by the Salvadoran leader, including managing CECOT. Bukele accepted Trump's praise, adding that his country is "very eager to help." The Salvadoran president continued: "We know you have a crime problem, a terrorism problem you need help with."

The White Houses strategy leverages the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, allowing expedited deportation of foreign nationals associated with criminal organizations. However, the policy has faced legal resistance. Last month, a federal judge temporarily blocked removals before the Supreme Court intervened, permitting deportations to resume. (Related: Trump administration DEFIES federal judge, proceeds with deporting gang members.)

Critics argue that mass deportations raise human rights concerns, particularly regarding prison conditions, However, the administration insists the approach enhances national security by removing dangerous individuals.

Washington's partnership with San Salvador signals a continued reliance on international cooperation to address what the administration views as an unchecked crisis of violent illegal immigration. With thousands of potential deportees still in the U.S., the coming months may see an even sharper escalation in enforcement efforts.

Watch this clip of Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele deploying soldiers to find and arrest all gang members in the country's San Marcos neighborhood.

This video is from the Puretrauma357 channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Trump's bold plan: Military deployment and mass deportations to secure the border.

Trump administration defies court order to halt deportation of Venezuelan gang members, sparks constitutional showdown.

Trump to carry out largest mass deportation of illegals in American history despite logistical implications: "It's not a question of a price tag."

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com 1

NYPost.com

TheNationalPulse.com 2

Brighteon.com
Ukraines desperate recruitment drive fails to attract youth despite $24K bonuses

Ukraine's recruitment program offering $24,000 bonuses fails to attract young volunteers, with fewer than 500 signing up.

President Zelensky resists lowering the draft age despite severe troop shortages and battlefield losses.

Ukraines military struggles with poorly trained recruits as commanders report high casualties due to tactical errors.

Western aid is increasingly diverted to recruitment incentives rather than weapons, raising doubts about Ukraines long-term sustainability.

Russias larger army and steady conscription contrast with Ukraines worsening manpower crisis, pushing the war toward a stalemate.

As Russia consolidates its forces and replenishes its ranks with fresh conscripts, Ukraine is struggling to entice its own young men to fighteven with unprecedented financial incentives.

The "Contract 18-24" program, offering a $24,000 sign-on bonus, free education, and mortgage benefits, has drawn fewer than 500 volunteers since its February launch. The disappointing response underscores a grim reality: Ukraines youth increasingly view the war as unwinnable, and Western-backed efforts to sustain the fight may be faltering.

The costly gamble on young soldiers

Ukraines military leadership had hoped the lucrative package would appeal to 18-to-24-year-olds, who are not yet subject to mandatory conscription. Deputy Head of the Presidents Office Pavlo Palisa admitted that while there was initial interest, less than 500 contracts have been signed to date. Many applicants backed out at the last moment, deterred by parental pressure or the false hope that peace was imminent. Sometimes parents have an influence, Palisa said. Somewhere, they thought that peace was about to come, and they no longer need to.

The programs failure highlights a deeper crisis. Unlike the early days of the war, when volunteers flooded recruitment centers, Ukraine now faces a populace wary of joining a grinding conflict with no end in sight. Though officials claim about 1,500 are still considering the offer, the low sign-up numbers suggest financial incentives alone may not be enough to offset the fear of death or disfigurement.

Leadership under scrutiny

President Volodymyr Zelensky has resisted calls from Western allies, including the U.S., to lower the draft age from 25 to 18, arguing that sending younger, inexperienced soldiers into battle would be reckless. We must not compensate the lack of equipment and training with the youth of soldiers, he said. Yet his alternativerelying on massive Western arms shipments while keeping younger Ukrainians out of the drafthas not halted Russian advances.

Recent losses in Kurakhove and Pokrovsk demonstrate the dwindling effectiveness of Ukraines forces. Frontline troops report severe shortages of trained personnel, with poorly prepared recruits dying shortly after deployment. One soldier told Al Jazeera: The most motivated soldiers have been killed, the new ones lack training and motivation. Commanders, desperate to hold ground, have reportedly made costly tactical errors. Ive been wounded so many times because of the commanders stupidity, the soldier added.

The unsustainable cost of Western support

Ukraines recruitment woes raise uncomfortable questions for its Western backers. The $24,000 bonusesfunded in part by U.S. and European aidrepresent a significant diversion of resources from weapons procurement to manpower retention. With Russia outnumbering Ukrainian forces and reinforcing with North Korean troops, some analysts question whether pouring billions more into a losing battle is prudent.

Ukraines manpower deficit is exacerbated by Russias superior numbers. President Vladimir Putin has expanded Russias military to 1.5 million active personnel, ensuring a steady influx of conscripts. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces, stretched thin, are struggling to mount effective counteroffensives. The once-lauded Kharkiv offensive, where Russian forces collapsed due to poor morale, is now seen as an unrepeatable fluke.

The growing reluctance of young Ukrainians to enlist, combined with battlefield setbacks, suggests the war may be approaching a stalemate. While Zelensky insists Ukraine can still reclaim territory, the reality on the ground paints a bleaker picture. Russian forces, despite heavy losses, continue to push forward, exploiting gaps in Ukraines defenses.

For Ukraines youth, the incentives to fight are dwindling as the risks rise. The $24,000 bonus pales beside the prospect of joining a war where survival is uncertain and victory increasingly remote. The U.S. and NATO, while publicly optimistic, must now confront the possibility that further funding without a realistic military strategy may only prolong suffering without altering the wars trajectory.

As Russia prepares for a protracted conflict, Ukraine faces a sobering choice: escalate recruitment efforts at a terrible human cost or seek a negotiated settlement before more lives are lost. With its own citizens hesitant to fight, and Western patience wearing thin, the time for painful decisions may have arrived.

Sources for this article include:

FreeWestMedia.com

KyivPost.com

Reuters.com

AlJazeera.com
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"Looking at the grants that we have and what we expect to be renewed, as well as new opportunities ... we're expected to have almost all of the funds that we need to operate (Strides Shelter) for the next fiscal year."
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Monitoring blood levels of DNA fragments shed by dying tumor cells may accurately predict skin cancer recurrence, a new study shows.

Led by researchers at NYU Langone Health and its Perlmutter Cancer Center, the study showed that approximately 80% of stage III melanoma patients who had detectable levels of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) before they started treatment to suppress their tumors went on to experience recurrence.

The researchers also found that the disease returned more than four times faster in this group than in those with no detectable levels of the biomarker, and the higher their levels, the faster cancer returned.

"Our findings suggest that circulating tumor DNA tests could help oncologists identify which melanoma patients are most likely to respond well to therapy," said study lead author Mahrukh Syeda, MS. "In the future, such assessments may be used routinely in the clinic to help guide treatment decisions," added Syeda, a research scientist in the Ronald O. Perlman Department of Dermatology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.

The research team also found that nearly all of those with detectable levels of ctDNA at three, six, nine, or 12 months into treatment experienced melanoma recurrence. As a result, the authors say, if the gene fragments are not observable prior to therapy but appear later on, this could indicate that the disease might be worsening.

In stage III melanoma, which is among the most aggressive forms of skin cancer, tumor cells have spread from the skin to nearby lymph nodes. After those lymph nodes are surgically removed, say the study authors, recurrence can be hard to spot using common imaging methods like X-rays and CT scans, which has fueled the search for other ways to detect cancer activity early on.

According to Syeda, swiftly tracking treatment progress and the ability to spot signs of cancer growth could be helpful in a disease as dangerous as melanoma, which is notoriously difficult to treat once it spreads to other body parts. Early feedback from a ctDNA analysis might save lives, she says.

This ctDNA method works by focusing on the most common mutations in the genetic code in melanoma cells. The mutated DNA spills into surrounding blood as the cells break down.

Previous research has shown that ctDNA tests accurately trace the progression of colorectal and breast cancers, among others. In addition, in 2021, the authors of the current report found that higher levels of ctDNA in those with stage IV melanoma, which has spread throughout the body, were linked to lower chances of survival. They also found that changes in ctDNA measurements during treatment could be used to identify patients with better or worse chances of survival.

Their latest investigation, publishing online April 15 in the journal The Lancet Oncology, is the largest to date to assess ctDNA as a predictor for recurrence in patients with stage III melanoma, says Syeda.

The results were in nearly 600 men and women who had participated in an earlier clinical trial for stage III melanoma. The research team used blood samples from people in a clinical trial from Europe, North America, and Australia. They compared ctDNA measurements to clinical evidence of cancer recurrence. Their statistical analysis accounted for factors other than tumor shedding that could affect recurrence, such as sex, age, and type of therapy.

Among the findings, the results showed that assessing ctDNA levels was as good or better at predicting recurrence than other experimental tests that examine a tumor itself, such as those that measure immune activity within a group of cancer cells.

Unlike standard, tissue-based analyses of tumor cells, which can only suggest the likelihood of recurrence, circulating tumor DNA tests provide a clear, direct measure of the disease itself and can tell us outright that melanoma has returned." David Polsky, MD, PhD, study senior author and dermatologist

Polsky, the Alfred W. Kopf, M.D., Professor of Dermatologic Oncology in the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, cautions that in some cases, cancer still recurred even though the patient had received a negative ctDNA test before starting therapy.

To address this, the authors next plan to improve the sensitivity of their test, adds Polsky, also a professor in NYU Grossman School of Medicine's Department of Pathology. They also intend to explore, in a clinical setting, whether using the biomarker to make treatment decisions can indeed improve patients' chances of survival and quality of life.

Funding support for the study was provided by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation in East Hanover, N.J.

Polsky was an advisory board member for the pharmaceutical companies Novartis and Merck. He has also received honoraria from WebMD, Physicians' Education Resource, and Oncology Specialty Group (OncLive), as well as laboratory research contracts from Novartis and Bristol-Myers Squibb, and laboratory support from Bio-Rad, a developer of life science and diagnostic technologies. The terms and conditions of all of these relationships are being managed in accordance with the policies and procedures of NYU Langone Health.

In addition to Syeda and Polsky, other NYU Langone Health investigators involved in the study are Jennifer Wiggins-Crosby, PhD, and Saim Ali, BA. Other study authors include Georgina Long, MD, PhD, at the University of Sydney in Australia; James Garrett, PhD, at Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation in Cambridge, Massachusetts; Victoria Atkinson, MD, at the University of Queensland in Woolloongabba, Australia; Mario Santinami, MD, at the National Cancer Institute of Milan, in Italy; Dirk Schadendorf, MD, at the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany; Axel Hauschild, MD, at the University Hospital, Campus Kiel, in Germany; Michael Millward, MD, at the University of Western Australia in Nedlands; Mario Mandala, MD, at the University of Perugia in Italy; Vanna Chiarion-Sileni, MD, at the Veneto Institute of Oncology in Padua, Italy; Michael Smylie, MD, at the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton, Canada; Georgy Manikhas, MD, at St. Petersburg Oncology Hospital in Russia; Reinhard Dummer, MD, at the University Hospital Zurich Skin Cancer Center in Switzerland; Sachin Bajirao Adnaik, PhD, at Novartis Healthcare Pvt. Ltd. in Hyderabad, India; and Monique Tan, MD, MPH, and Maya Dajee, PhD, at Novartis Pharmaceuticals in East Hanover, New Jersey.
Researchers from the Epilepsy Neurogenetics Initiative (ENGIN) at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) have completed a comprehensive natural history study of SCN8A-related disorders, which represent a spectrum of neurological symptoms. The study, using retrospective clinical information analyzed through novel data analysis methods, revealed a range of seizure types and neurodevelopmental features, and identifies potential targets for future clinical trials. The findings were published online on April 14, 2025, in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

ENGIN evaluates and cares for children with difficult-to-treat or unexplained epilepsies, genetic epilepsy syndromes and other genetic neurodevelopmental disorders. Variants in certain genes have been linked to epilepsy syndromes and other disorders. Pathogenic variants in the SCN8A gene cause a spectrum of neurological conditions, including epilepsy ranging in severity from mild to severe seizures, developmental delays, autism spectrum disorder, and movement disorders.

SCN8A-related disorders are among the most common genetic epilepsies and treatment of children with these conditions is challenging due to the lack of precision treatments and because the overall history of these conditions across the lifespan is poorly understood. In particular, the time course of clinical symptoms, or phenotypes, associated with these disorders remain largely uncharacterized because of the wide range of variability and limited population sizes previously studied.

Since the initial discovery in 2012, SCN8A-related disorders have received significant attention given the frequency of the condition and because SCN8A represents a potential therapeutic target. However, in order to move toward our goal of launching clinical trials for these patients, an understanding of the natural history of these disorders is critical for developing outcome measures and identifying the key time periods for intervention." Jillian McKee, MD, PhD, senior study author, an ENGIN Epileptologist specialized in neurogenetic disorders at CHOP

In this study, researchers utilized electronic medical record data from 82 patients with SCN8A-related disorders and compared that information to a cohort of 2,833 patients with other genetic epilepsies. To help standardize clinical information across electronic medical records, the researchers employed the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO), a dictionary of more than 15,000 terms to help standardize how clinical information can be analyzed, accelerating the integration of precision medicine into clinical practice.

The study found that patients with SCN8A-related disorders had more than 10-fold risk for developing bilateral tonic-clinic seizures as early as one year old, a fact that was previously not appreciated. Gain-of-function SCN8A variants, which increase the activity of the sodium channel, lead to an increased risk of seizures as early as 6 months old and global developmental delay as early as 3 months old when compared to the broader cohort of SCN8A patients. Patients with loss-of-function variants, on the other hand, were more likely to have atypical absence seizures, which involve instances of "blanking out," at around four years old.

In later childhood, patients with the recurrent p.Arg1617Gln variant of SCN8A were more likely to have focal seizures, whereas patients with the p.Asn1877Ser variant were more likely to experience generalized-onset seizures. An understanding of these genotype-phenotype correlations will be critical when designing outcome measures and selecting participants for future clinical trials. Additionally, using sodium channel blockers to help manage SCN8A epilepsy was more effective in patients with gain-of-function variants as well as patients whose variants were not yet functionally characterized, suggesting that some of these variants may also be gain-of-function variants.

"Our analysis found that there is a significant developmental burden in SCN8A-related disorders with unique features that set these conditions apart from other epilepsies," McKee said. "Knowing how unique features of SCN8A-related disorders develop over time is the first step towards readiness for clinical trials, so we can help our patients with these severe conditions."

This work was supported by the CURE Epilepsy Rare Epilepsy Partnership Award for SCN8A, co-funded by The Cute Syndrome Foundation, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke grants R01 NS127830-01A1, R01 NS131512-01 and K02 NS112600, and intramural funds of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia through the Epilepsy NeuroGenetics Inititative (ENGIN).
insights from industry Rafael E. Carazo Salas Founder and CEO CellVoyant

In this interview, CellVoyant founder and CEO Rafael Carazo Salas explores how AI, live-cell imaging, and stem cell technologies are converging to transform cell therapy development. He shares insights on the challenges of scaling living therapies, the role of predictive AI in clinical trials, and how spinning a biotech company out of academia can drive meaningful impact in the real world.

Lets start with CellVoyant  what inspired you to launch the company, and how did your background in academia shape the vision behind it?

The inspiration for CellVoyant really stemmed from a moment of clarity  what I like to call our eureka moment. As a Professor at the University of Bristol, my research focused on combining cutting-edge imaging technologies with computational data analysis to understand and design cells with enhanced functions.

Over time, it became increasingly clear that if we could train AI models to analyze and interpret cellular behavior, we could radically transform how we develop cell-based therapies.

In essence, CellVoyant is the bridge between academic insight and practical impact. Our vision is to make it possible to monitor and to predict cell behaviour  to see the future of cells - at scale and use that foresight to transform how we develop therapies.

CellVoyant combines AI, live cell imaging, and stem cell tech. Can you walk us through how these elements come together in your platform to accelerate cell therapy development?

It starts with live-cell imaging. We capture continuous, high-resolution data on how stem cells grow, move, and undergo changes like cell differentiation in real-time. This gives us a dynamic view of cellular behavior that static snapshots cant provide.

Then, we apply AI, leveraging powerful proprietary AI models. Our models analyze these rich datasets to identify subtle patterns that might be invisible to the human eye. Crucially, we use AI to predict how a cell will behave in the future so that we can select and design better cells from the very beginning.

Theres been a lot of talk about the commercial viability of cell therapies. From your perspective, what are the key factors that will determine whether these therapies can scale and become accessible to more patients?

These therapies hold immense promise, but moving from lab-scale development to large-scale manufacturing is incredibly complex. Cells are living, dynamic entities, and even the smallest environmental changes - temperature, pH, nutrient availability  can impact their behavior and viability. That makes consistent, high-quality production extremely difficult.

Batch failures are unfortunately common, and when youre working with expensive cell culture media and other materials, the costs add up quickly. Each failed batch not only represents a direct financial loss but also sets back timelines and puts pressure on already limited development and manufacturing capacity.

The key to making cell therapies truly scalable and accessible lies in using predictive, data-driven approaches. If we can use AI to understand better and control cell behavior early on, we can improve consistency, reduce waste, and build smarter, more resilient manufacturing systems.

Its about shifting the paradigm from reactive to proactive, end-to-end optimized processes because only then can we truly bring these therapies to more patients faster and at a significantly lower cost.

Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

One of the major challenges in cell therapy is predicting how cells will behave over time. How is AI helping CellVoyant tackle this, and what kind of impact do you think this could have on the broader biotech field?

Traditionally, much of cell therapy development has relied on static snapshots of cells or time-consuming, trial-and-error approaches. But cells are dynamic, different from one another, and ever-changing.

By combining live-cell imaging with CellVoyants proprietary data and AI, we can develop models that continuously monitor, interpret and understand how cells behavior evolves in real-time. These models can predict cells future, what type theyre likely to become, how functional they will be, and whether they could be suitable for therapy.

Cells can carry out complex, sophisticated functions that no conventional drug could ever deliver. By making cell therapies predictively, scalable, and accessible, CellVoyants vision is to enable the cell therapy industry to deliver its full-fledged promise and, quite simply, revolutionize biotech and medicine as we know them.

Clinical trial failures are notoriously expensive. How can AI help reduce this risk earlier in the development pipeline, particularly when it comes to safety assessments?

AI has the power to transform how we run clinical trials and support scientists every step of the way. Much like how Google Maps provides navigation and enables the correct travel route in real-time, AI, alongside real-time imaging, provides actionable insights that can help improve and accelerate the development of medicines throughout the clinical trial pipeline.

By step-changing our capacity to assess and prognosticate cell quality, we can understand how best to manipulate stem cells efficiently and cost-effectively while minimizing the risk of failed clinical trials and significantly reducing scientists' manual workflow.

When it comes to safety assessments, AI will be able to combine drug and patient data, to predict which patients are most likely to benefit from a cell therapy treatment in a clinical trial and help predict side effects.

Overall, we see AI as a tool to de-risk, de-cost, and potentially accelerate clinical trials, ensuring they can be run as efficiently and effectively as possible.

When you think about the future of cell therapies for diseases like cancer, diabetes, or neurodegenerative conditionswhat excites you most about the potential impact?

What excites me most is that cell therapies have the potential to support millions of people by developing treatments for diseases that are currently untreatable, such as dementia.

We are already witnessing clinical success with CAR-T therapies for blood cancer, such as in the UK, with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recently approving lisocabtagene maraleucel for lymphoma patients.

We are also seeing groundbreaking developments for other conditions. For example, patients with wet age-related macular degeneration received a treatment derived from stell cells and reported regaining enough vision to be able to read.

Whats important now is ensuring these therapies are affordable and accessible for all. They are often prohibitively expensive, putting them out of reach for the very people who need them most.

What are some of the biggest barrierstechnical, regulatory, or otherwisethat still need to be overcome before cell therapies become mainstream?

Some key barriers to overcome include meeting stringent regulations and the significant time required to develop, manufacture, test, and approve cell therapy candidates.

As previously mentioned, AI could help completely redefine how we tackle these barriers by helping scientists work faster, at lower cost, and with unprecedented predictive power.



For instance, it will help streamline and iteratively improve R&D through optimized automation and development workflows.

When it comes to regulation, it will allow cell therapy developers to ensure compliance and traceability by tracking and organizing vast amounts of data. It will also reduce the time needed for regulatory submissions, testing, and approval, which can be incredibly time-consuming.

Founding a company spun out of a university is a unique journey. What was that process like for you, and what do you think universities can do to better support innovation and commercial spinouts?

I spun CellVoyant out of the University of Bristol in 2021, and it was amazing that I could take inspiration from an idea that my research group had been working on and explore its big-picture commercial applications.

The experience of spinning out of a university is so valuable because it bridges the transition between researching and exploring a scientific idea and seeing how it can work in the real world. The University bet on the ideas I wanted to explore and gave me the freedom to explore and develop them fully.

Universities in the UK do a good job of supporting innovation. They have the connections and mechanisms in place to help a startup access investors, talent, and more. In particular, Bristol has a thriving biotech ecosystem and punches above its weight in scientific talent.

As a whole, UK universities ask for a significant stake from the outset in a spinout, which contrasts with the approach of the US. This can be a challenge and make spinouts seem much less appealing to investors. Though there are many things to improve on that front, and its an intense ongoing conversation, things are gradually and increasingly changing for the better.

As someone deeply immersed in both cutting-edge science and entrepreneurship, what trends in AI-biotech are you most closely watching right now?

AI-first companies are revolutionizing the drug discovery landscape, and the approval of the first AI-driven drug design (AIDD) is something that many of us eagerly await to demonstrate how this new way of developing medicines can ultimately bring tangible results.

The trend I am most focused on is how the financial and investment landscapes evolve in response to the current geopolitical tectonic shifts we are witnessing in 2025. These changes will inevitably bring opportunities to redefine where talent is directed, where investments are made, and, ultimately, how best to steer the industry going forward.

And finally, what advice would you give to scientists or researchers looking to transition their ideas out of the lab and into a startup environment like you did with CellVoyant?

Take the leap and do it! It is a big responsibility and requires a lot of energy, but it is thrilling to see your ideas come to life.

Id urge you to learn from your peers and founders of similar companies, who, in my experience, have been generous in sharing their successes and failures.

While it may seem like the unknown, remember that you are well-placed to meet the challenge and can apply your wealth of experience as an academic, just in a different way.

Where can readers find more information?

Visit Rafaels LinkedIn

See CellVoyants Website

About Rafael E. Carazo Salas

Rafael is the founder and CEO of CellVoyant, an AI-first biotechnology company with a mission to accelerate cell therapy development with the power of AI.

He is also Professor and Chair of Biomedical Sciences at the School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine in the University of Bristol, formerly at the University of Cambridge.
Patients who receive an add-on medication soon after a heart attack have a significantly better prognosis than those who receive it later, or not all.

This is according to a new study from researchers at Lund University in Sweden and Imperial College London. The findings suggest that treating patients earlier with a combination of statins and the cholesterol-lowering drug ezetimibe could prevent thousands of new heart attacks over a decade.

Cardiovascular disease is by far the most common cause of death worldwide, with heart attack ('myocardial infarction') being the most common acute event. For those who survive a heart attack, the risk of a new heart attack is greatest in the first year after the initial event because the blood vessels are more sensitive, making it easier for blood clots to develop.

Reducing LDL or "bad" cholesterol in the blood can stabilise changes in the vessels, decreasing the risk for new events. The current treatment guidelines for patients are high-potency statins immediately after a heart attack, to lower their cholesterol levels. However, the majority of patients do not reach recommended cholesterol levels using only statins, and so need an add-on treatment, such as ezetimibe.

Today's guidelines recommend stepwise addition of lipid-lowering treatment. But it's often the case that this escalation takes too long, it's ineffective and patients are lost to follow-up. By giving patients a combination treatment earlier, we could help to prevent many more heart attacks." Margret Leosdottir, Associate Professor at Lund University and senior cardiology consultant at Skane University Hospital in Malmo, Sweden

Co-investigator Professor Kausik Ray, from Imperial College London's School of Public Health, said: "This study shows that we could save lives and reduce further heart attacks by giving patients a combination of two low-cost drugs. But at the moment patients across the world aren't receiving these drugs together. That's causing unnecessary and avoidable heart attacks and deaths  and also places unnecessary costs on healthcare systems. Our study shows the way forward; care pathways must now change for patients after this type of heart event."

In the latest study, the international team examined outcomes for heart attack patients if they received a combination of statins with the add-on therapy ezetimibe (within 12 weeks after a heart attack), statins with ezetimibe added later (between 13 weeks and 16 months), or just statins with no ezetimibe at all.

Based on Swedish registry data from 36,000 patients who had a heart attack between 2015 and 2022, the researchers used advanced statistical models to emulate a clinical trial. The results show that patients who received a combination treatment of statins and ezetimibe within 12 weeks of a heart attack and were able to lower cholesterol to the target level early, had a better prognosis and less risk of new cardiovascular events and death than those who received the add-on treatment later, or not at all.

From the analysis, the researchers believe many new heart attacks, strokes and deaths could be prevented every year internationally if the treatment strategy were to be changed. Under a scenario in which 100% of patients would receive ezetimibe early, they estimate 133 heart attacks could be avoided in a population of 10,000 patients in 3 years.

The researchers suggest that in the UK, which records an estimated 100,000 hospital admissions from heart attacks a year, this would equate to an estimated 5,000 heart attacks being prevented over a ten year period.

Dr Leosdottir said: "Combination therapy is not applied up-front for two main reasons. General recommendations are not included in today's guidelines and a precautionary principle is applied to avoid side effects and overmedication. However, there are positive effects from applying both medicines as soon after the infarction as possible. Not doing this entails an increased risk. In addition, the drug we have examined in the study causes few side effects and is readily available and inexpensive in many countries."

Margret Leosdottir hopes that the research results will in time provide support for changes in the recommendations. A treatment algorithm has already been introduced at her hospital in Sweden to help doctors to prescribe appropriate lipid-lowering treatment for patients who have had a myocardial infarction. It has been noted that patients achieve their treatment goals earlier and two months after the infarction twice as many patients have reduced their bad cholesterol to the target level, compared with previously.

"Several other hospitals in Sweden have also adopted the algorithm and there are similar examples from other countries that have produced as good results. My hope is that even more will review their procedures, so that more patients will get the right treatment in time, and we can thereby prevent unnecessary suffering and save lives."

Professor Ray added: "Our findings suggest that a simple change in treatment guidelines could have a huge impact on patients and reduce the demand on the NHS. Ezetimibe is already widely available and prescribed for relatively low cost. This add on therapy could be rolled out for around 350 a year per patient, which is a huge cost saving compared to the lasting impacts of treating heart attacks and the impact they have on patients' lives."
A new study from University Hospitals Connor Whole Health found that it was feasible to conduct a hybrid music therapy intervention for patients with heart failure and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Participants reported positive effects on their mental health, and the pilot uncovered solutions to improve future research with this population. The findings from this study were recently published in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies.

Patients with chronic illnesses such as heart failure and COPD face significant challenges due to persistent symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue, and reduced functional capacity. Mental health conditions and self-reported symptoms of depression and anxiety are also common in this population and can increase patients' risk of readmission to the hospital. These readmissions are not only hard for patients  they are also challenging for hospitals that face financial penalties when patients with these conditions are readmitted.

Given the psychosocial factors driving risk for 30-day admission, the lack of studies investigating music therapy's impact on readmission and quality of life, and the critical importance for hospitals to reduce readmission rates, researchers from UH Connor Whole Health embarked on a two-year research project entitled Music Therapy to Address patient's JOuRneys with CHronic illness, Outcome, and ReaDmission (MAJOR CHORD) to address this major gap in music therapy research.

We know that music therapy has an immediate and profound impact on patients' symptoms when they are admitted to the hospital, but few studies have examined if we can go beyond those single-session effects to address patients' long-term health and help prevent costly re-admissions. This study provides a roadmap for how we can provide these interventions and collect data to understand music therapy's impact." Samuel Rodgers-Melnick, MPH, LPMT, MT-BC, a researcher with UH Connor Whole Health and Principal Investigator of the study

With support from the Kulas Foundation, the country's leading foundation for funding scientific research in music therapy, MAJOR CHORD is the first research initiative to investigate the feasibility, fidelity, and acceptability of a hybrid music therapy intervention among patients with COPD or heart failure. The Kulas Foundation has a long history of funding pioneering research at UH on the impacts of music therapy in palliative care, breast biopsy surgery, sickle cell disease, and hospitalized patients with moderate-to-severe pain.

The goal of the pilot was to establish a foundation for future definitive trials by determining whether it was possible to deliver music therapy sessions consistently  both in-person in the hospital and virtually at home  and have participants complete survey measures over the course of the study. The investigators also sought to determine which modifications (if any) would need to be made to the intervention and data collection processes prior to initiating a feasibility randomized controlled trial. Assessing the feasibility, acceptability, and fidelity of a study prior to conducting larger trials is crucial to ensure future research efforts will be successful and internally valid. Through monitoring each music therapy session's compliance with a checklist, the investigators also ensured that the trial was conducted with high fidelity.

During the study, participants with heart failure or COPD were recruited while they were admitted in the hospital. Board-certified music therapists conducted two in-person music therapy sessions while the participants were admitted. After participants were discharged, they then received two virtual music therapy sessions. Participants completed measures of stress, quality of life, and self-efficacy at baseline, 15 days after they left the hospital, and 30 days after they left the hospital. Some participants also completed an interview at the end of the study to provide feedback on study procedures and how the intervention may have affected them.

As an initial pilot, the study yielded encouraging results while also demonstrating the need to improve data collection procedures and attendance. Of 113 patients approached, 20 were enrolled in the study (17.7%), with an 85% retention rate throughout the study. Overall session attendance was 57.5%, with higher rates for in-person (75%) compared to virtual sessions (40%). Adherence to the intervention protocol was >80% across all monitored sessions  a threshold consistent with high fidelity. Semi-structured interviews supported the acceptability of the intervention with three emerging themes: (1) the therapeutic relationship facilitated a positive intervention experience, (2) need for strategies to improve post-discharge engagement in the intervention, and (3) impacts on mental health.

Challenges with the trial included difficulty reaching participants following discharge, frequent virtual session rescheduling, and participants' challenges using technology. The research team is currently conducting their follow up study  a randomized controlled trial comparing music therapy to usual care. To address the challenges encountered in the pilot, the team implemented solutions including (1) secure text-messaging with participants to improve communication, (2) in-person technical assistance to help participants with videoconferencing, and (3) engaging in more frequent communication with participants following discharge.

Overall, preliminary findings support the feasibility and acceptability of a 4-session hybrid music therapy intervention among adults with COPD or heart failure during and after their hospital admissions. The results of this study help lay the foundation for future research on the impact of longitudinal music therapy exposure on quality of life and hospital readmission rates.

Hybrid music therapy shows promise in supporting patients with COPD and heart failure, enhancing engagement and mental health, though challenges in virtual care post-discharge need further refinement." Kristi Artz, MD, FACLM, CCMS, Vice President of Connor Whole Health
IIT Delhi Professor, Manmohan Prasad Gupta, To Be Appointed As IIM Lucknow Director

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Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 14:45 IST

Professor Manmohan will hold the post of director of IIM Lucknow for five years. He will replace Acharna Shukla who completed her five-year term on April 4.

Professor Manmohan Prasad Gupta is the first professor from an IIT to become the director of IIM (File Photo)

Professor Manmohan Prasad Gupta of IIT Delhi has been appointed as the new director of IIM Lucknow. He is the first professor from an IIT to become the director of an IIM. Professor Manmohan will hold the post of director of IIM Lucknow for five years.

Prof. Gupta will replace Acharna Shukla, Director of IIM Lucknow, who completed her five-year term on April 4. Professor Manmohan will take over as Director of the management institute on April 23.

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IIM Lucknow is pleased to announce that Prof. Manmohan Prasad Gupta, currently serving as Professor at IIT Delhi shall be taking charge as the Director of the institute shortly," the IIM said in an official press release.

Prof. Gupta is a distinguished faculty member at the Department of Management Studies, IIT Delhi. He completed his B.Tech from Harcourt Butler Technical University (formerly Harcourt Butler Technological Institute), Kanpur. Thereafter, he completed his M.Tech in 1985 and Ph.D. in 1990 from IIT Delhi.

Prof. Gupta began his academic career at IIT Roorkee, where he was a Lecturer from 1990 to 1996 and an Assistant Professor from 1996 to 1997. He joined IIT Delhi as an Assistant Professor in 1997 and has been with the institute ever since.

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He has been working as a Professor of Information Systems in the Department of Management (DMS), IIT Delhi. He has published 12 doctoral theses, 22 sponsored projects, 4 co-authored/edited books and more than 200 research articles. He has been on the HAG (Higher Administrative Grade) scale at IIT Delhi since 2017. Currently he is the Modi Foundation Chair Professor at IIT Delhi.

Professor Gupta will take over from Prof. Archana Shukla, who is currently serving as the Director-in-charge of IIM Lucknow. Prof. Shukla was reappointed to this position on April 4, 2024, after completing her five-year term. The reappointment was made by N. Chandrasekaran, the Chairperson of the IIM Lucknow Board of Governors, and will remain effective until a permanent Director is appointed.

About the Author Sukanya Nandy Sukanya Nandy is a sub-editor at News18.com. She has been writing and reporting for the education and careers section of the website since 2021. She completed her graduation in English followed PG in Journalism... Read More Sukanya Nandy is a sub-editor at News18.com. She has been writing and reporting for the education and careers section of the website since 2021. She completed her graduation in English followed PG in Journalism... Read More

First Published: April 16, 2025, 14:26 IST
Odisha School Holidays 2025-26: Summer Vacation, Exam Dates, and Full Academic Calendar Released

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Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 12:14 IST

Odisha School Academic Calendar 2025-26 Released: While the summer vacation will be held from May 6 to June 19, the Puja vacation will be from September 29 to October 7, and the Christmas vacation will be from December 23 to 31

The academic year comprises 231 working days and 82 holidays, including 52 Sundays. (News18 Odia)

The School and Mass Education Department of Odisha has released the calendar for the academic year 2025-26. The calendar includes all holiday details and examination days for the academic year 2025-26. The Odisha School Education Programme Authority (OSEPA) has released the academic calendar for primary and secondary classes. All district education officers have been instructed to strictly follow the academic calendar.

Summer Vacation To Begin From May 6

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According to the recently released academic calendar, schools will remain closed for the summer break from May 6 to June 19. Notably, school working hours will be from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, with Saturday classes running from 6:30 am to 12:30 pm. Furthermore, it has been made mandatory for teachers to be present in school from 10 am to 4 pm.

Working Days

The academic year consists of 231 working days, with the following distribution of working days:

April 2025: 22 Days

May 2025: 4 Days

June 2025: 8 Days

July 2025: 26 Days

August 2025: 22 Days

September 2025: 23 Days

October 2025: 20 Days

November 2025: 20 Days

December 2025: 18 Days

January 2026: 23 Days

February 2026: 24 Days

March 2026: 22 Days

In total, there are 82 holidays, of which 52 are Sundays.

While the summer vacation will be held from May 6 to June 19, the Puja vacation will be from September 29 to October 7, and the Christmas vacation will be from December 23 to 31.

Exam Dates

As mentioned in the calendar, Formative-1 exams are scheduled for the fourth week of July 2025, Summative-1 for the fourth week of September, Formative-2 for the first week of January 2026, and Summative-2 for the third week of March 2026. Students will revise their studies in the second week of February 2026. District and block education officers, including principals, will be instructed to follow this calendar accordingly.

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Classes IX And X Annual Examinations

As per the academic calendar, students in Class X will sit for their annual examinations in the last week of February 2026, while Class IX students will take theirs in the second week of March 2026.

Location : Odisha (Orissa), India, India

First Published: April 16, 2025, 12:14 IST
Fixed Timeline, Seat Division & More: What Congress, RJD Discussed At Key Meet Ahead Of Bihar Polls

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News18.com Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 14:25 IST

On the issue of the chief ministerial face for the Mahagathbandhan, while Congress leaders said the decision will be made later, RJD has repeatedly asserted that Tejashwi Yadav is their pick

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge with LoP in the Lok Sabha and party leader Rahul Gandhi and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav during a meeting, in New Delhi. (PTI)

The Congress and RJD, two key constituents of the Mahagathbandhan, met at the residence of the Grand Old Partys chief Mallikarjun Kharge to chalk out a roadmap for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections, including fixing a timeline for poll-related decisions.

Senior Congress sources revealed that in the meeting, which was also attended by Rahul Gandhi and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, it was emphasised that decisions regarding ticket distribution, election campaigns, and coordination should be time-bound and ticket allocation should not be dragged until the fag-end of the election process.

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After the nearly one-hour-long meeting, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said: We held a meeting and very positive discussions took place. We will meet our alliance partners in Patna on the 17th. We are fully prepared. In their 20 years of governance, Bihar remains the poorest, with the lowest per capita income and the highest migration. We want to contest the election on crucial issues."

When asked about the chief ministerial face, Tejashwi Yadav said: Everything will come up after discussions."

On the issue of the CM face for the Mahagathbandhan, several Congress leaders have recently said the decision will be made later. Congress leader Sachin Pilot, during a visit to Patna, too had said the decision would come post-election. In contrast, RJD has repeatedly asserted that Tejashwi Yadav is their CM face, hinting at dissonance between the parties on the issue.

RJD sources, post-meeting, revealed that in the upcoming assembly elections, not only ticket distribution but also candidate selection will be carefully considered to ensure the Mahagathbandhan maintains a social balance in specific regions and districts. In the last assembly election, Congress contested 70 seats but won only 19, recording the worst strike rate among the Mahagathbandhan constituents.

RJD leaders feel that Congresss poor strike rate and incorrect candidate selection on several seats were the reasons the alliance fell short of a majority. Hence, for the upcoming elections, candidate selection will be done collaboratively to ensure that a poor choice in one seat does not negatively impact that seat and surrounding constituencies.

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Ahead of this years Bihar assembly elections, Congress has made significant changes to its state organisation and intensified grassroots political activities. While Congress has clarified that it will contest the elections in alliance with RJD, party leaders have reiterated that the CM face will be decided later. Beyond the CM face, the division of seats, identification of constituencies, and selection of strong candidates are likely to be the key challenges in the alliances election discussions.

The next meeting of all Mahagathbandhan constituents will take place in Patna on April 17, where further strategies will be finalised.

First Published: April 16, 2025, 14:25 IST
Even Presidents And Prime Ministers Get Pensions, But Not Governors. Here's Why | Explained

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Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 17:25 IST

Despite drawing a monthly salary of Rs 3.5 lakh, second only to the President, and enjoying other benefits, former governors are not entitled to pension once they leave office.

The only post-retirement benefit governors receive is medical coverage for treatment of illness.

In a turn of events that underscores the role of governors in politics, a landmark judgment delivered by the Supreme Court on April 8, 2025, reignited debate over gubernatorial power, constitutional responsibilities and their post-retirement entitlements. The courts ruling clarified the limits and responsibilities of the President and governors under Articles 200 and 201 of the Constitution, emphasising that constitutional authorities cannot indefinitely delay the legislative will of an elected assembly.

This comes in the wake of a prolonged constitutional standoff in Tamil Nadu, where Governor RN Ravi held back action on 12 bills passed by the state legislature. Ravi had referred only two of the bills to the President and returned the remaining 10 to the assembly without consideration. When the state re-passed all 10, he forwarded them, again, to the President, prompting a legal challenge and, eventually, the Supreme Courts verdict.

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This saga is only the latest in a pattern that is playing out across several states including from Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand where governors are being accused of acting as proxies for the Centre  delaying, blocking, or rerouting state legislation through questionable interpretations of their constitutional role.

The origins of the governors post lie in the British rule. After the Government of India Act of 1858, governors operated under the authority of the Governor General, serving the British Crown. Even the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919, which introduced a semblance of self-governance, retained governors as powerful heads of provinces. The Government of India Act of 1935 granted provincial autonomy but preserved significant discretionary powers for the governor, such as the ability to veto bills passed by elected legislatures.

Post-Independence debates around the role of the governor were intense. Early proposals, including the Commonwealth of India Bill (1925), the Nehru Report (1928), and the Hindustan Free State Constitution, envisioned retaining the post, but often under a more democratic framework. Initially, members of the Constituent Assembly leaned toward electing governors. Eventually, however, the idea of a governor appointed by the President, acting as the Centres representative in the states, won out.

Today, the governors role includes monitoring the activities of the state government, keeping the Centre informed, and safeguarding the Constitution. But while the position comes with prestige, power, and perks while in office, life after retirement is an entirely different story.

Despite drawing a monthly salary of Rs 3.5 lakh, second only to the President, and enjoying benefits including official residences, staff, and generous allowances ranging from travel to communication to furnishing, former governors are entitled to remarkably little once they leave office. There is no provision for a pension under the Governors (Emoluments, Allowances and Privileges) Act of 1982. The only post-retirement benefit is medical coverage for treatment of illness.

This stands in sharp contrast to virtually every other high-ranking public office. From the President to Members of Parliament and even MLAs, retirement benefits are standard. But governors, despite being the constitutional heads of states, are left to fend for themselves, unless they previously served in other government roles.

The vast majority of governors are drawn from the ranks of retired IAS officers, former union ministers, senior military officials, or top diplomats. As such, they typically draw pensions from their earlier careers. But those few who reach the post without a prior pensionable role receive no government assistance upon stepping down, apart from medical support.

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The debate over governor pensions is not new. In 2008, the Centre attempted to introduce a pension provision for former governors but failed to reach consensus with states. The deadlock reappeared in 2012 when then Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde introduced the Governors Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha.

The bill proposed a monthly allowance of Rs 1.1 lakh and lifelong assistance from a personal staffer earning Rs 25,000 per month. However, it faced stiff resistance from states, which argued that since governors serve as the Centres emissaries, their post-retirement benefits should also be borne by the Centre, not the states treasuries. The proposal stalled and has not been revived since.

First Published: April 16, 2025, 17:23 IST
Has Bengaluru Airport Removed Hindi From Display Boards? Karnataka's Language Debate Explained

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News18.com Edited By: Shilpy Bisht



Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 11:27 IST

Users on social media have questioned the practicality of showing flight information in English and Kannada. Bangalore Airport, however, has clarified it has not made any changes to its flight information display system

The conflict between governments push to mandate Kannada usage on signboards and commercial establishments resistance dates back to 2008. (Video screengrab/social media)

A video is circulating on social media that shows flight information at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru being displayed in Kannada and English, but not in Hindi, sparking a debate over language usage in public places for travellers.

The Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), which manages Kempegowda International Airport, has clarified that it has not made any changes to its flight information display system.

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Users on social media have questioned the practicality of showing flight information in only English and Kannada, asking whether the airport authorities assume that only people who understand English and Kannada travel to Bengaluru.

What Happened At The Bengaluru Airport

Today, a surprise awaited at the T1 terminal of Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. All the digital boards displaying flight information, flight arrival and departure schedules and other information were only in English and Kannada," a user wrote.

Another user commented, Hindi is removed from digital display boards of Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. Kannada & English. Kannadigas are resisting Hindi imposition. This is a really good development!"

A Times of India report mentioned BIALs response after the video went viral. There has been no change in our flight information display system. In line with established practices, the displays continue to feature English and Kannada to effectively assist passengers. Additionally, the way-finding signage throughout the terminals is displayed in English, Kannada, and Hindi," (sic.) a BIAL spokesperson said in a statement.

The development comes days after the BIAL incorporated a Kannada language option into its website.

This added feature in the state language ensures travellers can navigate airport services with ease and familiarity, stated a press release issued by BIAL on Monday.

The new language option will offer real-time flight information in Kannada, enabling seamless updates on departures, arrivals, and delays, said the release.

Language Debate In Karnataka

From the governments order that insisted on signboards in Kannada to tiffs between auto drivers and non-Kannada-speaking passengers, there has been much heated debate around language in the state, often turning uncivil in the online space.

There have also been initiatives to bridge the gap by teaching basic Kannada to outsiders."

The conflict between governments push to mandate Kannada usage on signboards and commercial establishments resistance dates back to 2008. But it was during the end of 2023 that the controversy saw a new push.

On December 27, 2023, Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) took to the streets to enforce" an announcement by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) that all signboards should have at least 60% Kannada and the rest in any language. It had set February 28, 2024, as the deadline to implement it. At least 50 complaints of vandalism had been lodged with the city police.

The move was supported by chief minister Siddaramaiah, who started his political career as the head of Kannada Kavalu Samiti. He insisted that Kannadigas were not only those who were born in Karnataka but also includes those who work here, as mentioned in a report by The Hindu.

Abandon The Three-Language Formula

Amidst the ongoing debate over the language policy in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka activists have also been pushing for the two-language model, which is being used in the Tamil Nadu schools.

The three-language formula was introduced in Karnatakas schools in 1968 following its recommendation by the (Daulat Singh) Kothari Commission and its incorporation into the National Policy on Education (NPE). While Tamil Nadu, under the DMK government led by C. N. Annadurai, was against its implementation, Karnatakas Congress-led government complied with the Central directive despite internal opposition. The 1980s witnessed a surge in Kannada language activism as part of a broader wave of social movements in the state. This led to the widespread support for the (Vinayaka Krishna) Gokak committee, which recommended that Kannada replace Sanskrit as the first language in government schools. However, despite this agitation, the three-language formula remained unchanged in Karnataka, a Frontline report mentioned.

Thus, Karnataka became the first state to implement the National Education Policy in August 2021 under the previous BJP government led by Basavaraj Bommai. When the Congress returned to power in 2023, CM Siddaramaiah appointed a 15-member committee to draft a State Education Policy (SEP), fulfilling his campaign promise to revoke the NEP in the state. His stance on the NEP aligns with his previous tenure (201318), during which he sought to position himself as a strong regional leader advocating for Kannada.

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Under the current SSLC (State syllabus), students study Kannada as their first language, English as their second, and from Class 6 onwards, a third languagemost commonly Hindiis introduced.

Anand Guru, founder of the pro-Kannada group Banavasi Balaga, told Frontline, The two- or three-language controversy predates Independence. In the princely State of Mysore, only Kannada and English were used, but after Independence, Hindi was imposed as an official language. The National Education Policy is designed to promote Hindi and establish it as the dominant language in the country. Karnataka is becoming a haven for Hindi speakers, yet many migrants neither learn nor attempt to learn Kannada. We demand the removal of Hindi from Karnatakas education system."

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More

First Published: April 16, 2025, 11:14 IST
How China Is Using Rare Earth Export Restrictions As Its Weapon To Destroy The US | Explained

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News18.com Edited By: Shilpy Bisht



Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 14:31 IST

Long-term restrictions on rare earths by China could affect US defence industry and the global supply chains of machine tools and chips, including for AI and other technologies used in advanced military applications

A lack of rare earths could mean the US losing out in the race of defence and emerging technologies. (Reuters file)

The trade war between the US and China has intensified, with the latter retaliating not just with tariffs but imposing restrictions on the export of rare earths, including dysprosium and yttrium, metals critical to American defence systems.

By limiting access to these critical minerals, China has unlocked the potential to do serious damage to the US defence industry and undermine the Trump administrations wider re-industrialisation goals. This move could give Beijing a crucial strategic advantage in long-term US-China competition for military and technological supremacy.

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What Are Current Restrictions On Rare Earth Elements?

The Chinese new restrictions apply to 7 of 17 REEs (rare earth elements) samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, lutetium, scandium, and yttriumand requires companies to secure special export licenses to export the minerals and magnets.

The export restrictions include non-automatic licencing, tariffs, quotas, and an outright ban. The new restrictions are not a ban, but require firms to apply for a licence to export rare earths.

How Much Of Rare Earths Does China Own?

Until 2023, China accounted for 99% of global heavy REEs processing, with only minimal output from a refinery in Vietnam, as per Centre for Strategic International Studies. However, that facility has been shut down for the past year due to a tax dispute, effectively giving China a monopoly over supply.

China produces the vast majority of the worlds rare earth minerals, a group of 17 elements that are critically important for modern technology, from magnets to lasers to LCD screens.

In contrast, the US is the second largest producer with the seventh largest reserves. But it falls far short of Chinas output and relies on Beijing for imports.

Why Are Rare Earths Critical To US Defence?

REEs are significant for a range of defence technologies, including F-35 fighter jets, Virginia- and Columbia-class submarines, Tomahawk missiles, radar systems, Predator unmanned aerial vehicles, and the Joint Direct Attack Munition series of smart bombs.

For example, the F-35 fighter jet contains over 900 pounds of REEs. An Arleigh Burke-class DDG-51 destroyer requires approximately 5,200 pounds, while a Virginia-class submarine uses around 9,200 pounds, as per CSIS.

Long-term restrictions could affect Washingtons defence industrial base and the global supply chains of machine tools and chips it depends on, including for AI and other technologies used in advanced military applications.

A lack of critical minerals could mean the US losing out in the race of defence and emerging technologies. In some areas, such as hypersonic missile technology, China is already more advanced. In others, restricted access to minerals could prove crucial, as per Chatham House.

With Trump recently announcing the plan to develop F-47, a new sixth-generation aircraft, China has already tested two advanced prototype aircraft (the J-36 and J-50). The rare earth export curbs would ensure that China wins the race to deploy a sixth generation fighter, which would be a significant milestone.

How China Has Weaponised REE In The Past

China first weaponized rare earths in 2010 when it banned exports to Japan over a fishing trawler dispute. Between 2023 and 2025, China began imposing export restrictions of strategic materials to the US, including gallium, germanium, antimony, graphite, and tungsten.

In December 2023, China imposed a ban of REE extraction and separation technologies. It had a notable impact on developing REE supply chain capabilities outside of China.

How The US Is Trying To Fill The Gap

Trump signed an executive order on March 20 to boost domestic mineral production using the Defence Production Act. The plan includes streamlining permits and identifying federal lands with strategic reserves.

Harvey Kaye, executive director of US Critical Materials, said his company is developing the Sheep Creek site in Montana, home to some of the highest-grade gallium deposits found outside China.

But Trumps tariff jump to 125% on Chinese goods, alongside a pause for others, has left the industry in limbo.

With China having monopoly over rare earths, Australia, Brazil, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Japan, and Vietnam all have initiatives and investments underway to bolster key REE mining, processing, and research and development (R&D) as well as magnet manufacturing.

Australia is working to develop its Browns Range to become the first significant dysprosium producer outside of China. The deposit has estimated dysprosium reserves of 2,294 tonnes, to be unlocked in a multistage process resulting in 279,000 kg of dysprosium per year, as per CSIS.

Japan has the Center for Rare Earths Research within its Muroran Institute of Technology as well as a joint initiative with Vietnam to improve REE extraction and processing at the Rare Earth Research and Technology Transfer Centre in Hanoi.

Where Are Key Rare Earths Sites In China?

The worlds richest deposits of heavy rare earths lie in a small, forested valley on the outskirts of Longnan in Jiangxi Province in south-central China. And most of Chinas refineries and magnet factories are in or near Longnan and Ganzhou. Mines in the valley ship ore to refineries in Longnan, which remove contaminants and send the rare earths to magnet factories in Ganzhou, as per a report by The New York Times.

Chinas most famous factory for these magnets is operated by the JL Mag Rare-Earth Company, whose headquarters are in Ganzhou.

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The factory supplies the worlds top two electric car producers, Tesla and Chinas BYD, with the magnets that power their cars, rare earth industry executives told The New York Times.

BYD has said it buys some of the worlds latest, most powerful magnets from JL Mag, with 15 times the magnetic force per cubic inch of volume as a conventional iron magnet.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More

First Published: April 16, 2025, 14:30 IST
How Trumps Federal Funding Freeze Will Impact Indian Students | Explained

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Shilpy Bisht



Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 11:04 IST

Since doctoral and masters with research programmes are fully-funded and heavily dependent on federal funding, students, especially Indians, preparing for these courses will be the most affected

Trump federal funding freeze will impact Harvard, Princeton, Columbia, Cornell, Northwest, among other universities, which have their own endowments to manage research activities. (Image/AFP)

The US State Departments announcement to freeze federal funding on scholarships will largely impact Indian students planning to pursue doctoral programmes as well as Masters with Research, said study abroad consultants, adding that for most students its a wait and watch" situation.

However, if the proposed rule gets implemented, the impact will be seen from 2026-27 since offers for this year have already been secured.

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The Trump administration last week proposed to temporarily freeze federal funding for various scholarships to top private universities and colleges asking them to comply with certain rules, pending which the funds to pursue research shall remain suspended.

PhD, Masters With Research To Be Most Impacted

According to Pratibha Jain of Eduabroad Consulting, Fulbright and PhD scholarships will be most affected. Since doctoral and Masters with Research programmes are fully-funded and heavily dependent on funding, these students will be the most affected if this proposed freeze gets implemented. Indian students pursuing these courses cannot survive without funding," she said.

However, she said, the impact wont be immediate and currently may affect only 10%20% of students who are already there and maybe those who are set to go this year.

Also, even next year, it will impact only those who depend on scholarships to get admission into US universities, which includes a lot of working professionals as well.

This is mainly because most students who had to go to the US in 2025 have already secured the offers. The application cycle starts in July, and by December most students have their offers in hand. This is the time for visa applications, she said.

Everyone is waiting it out at the moment. If it does happen, Indian students have options to go to European countries or others like Australia, Germany, Netherlands and Britain, which may not be at par but are good universities that offer scholarships of around 50% of the total fee," she said.

On an average, the tuition fee along with accommodation charges for an Indian student in the US comes to Rs 40-50 lakh a year.

The 2024 Open Doors Report, a study by the Institute of International Education, shows that India was the top country of origin for international students in the US during the 2023-2024 academic year. Specifically, 331,602 Indian students were enrolled in US colleges and universities.

However, the report showed that there have been visa issuance concerns. While the number of Indian students in the US increased, there have been concerns raised about a decrease in F-1 student visa issuances, with some reports indicating a 38% drop in visas granted to Indian nationals in the first nine months of 2024, as compared to the same period in 2023.

Wait-n-Watch Situation

Education Counsellor Viral Doshi said the impact, especially on undergraduate courses, will not be immediate.

Those who will take the hit are mainly those preparing for research, engineering and science programmes. Even colleges are still grappling with this decision. They will manage temporarily till things become clearer over the next 15 days or a month," said Doshi.

In addition, Doshi said the announcement to temporarily freeze funding concerns only some of the elite private universities including  Harvard, Princeton, Columbia, Cornell, Northwest, among others, which have their own huge endowments to manage and sustain research activities for a while.

The US administration has not targeted any of the state universities. It is only the top private universities and colleges that have been asked to comply with certain rules. Those planning to go next year must just wait and watch it out before making a move," he said.

Meanwhile, students who are already there may be impacted partially, and universities will make some stop-gap arrangement for them. Those planning to fly this August-September may have to face some challenges, he added.

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Forum Sanjanwala, a Mumbai-based B. Tech student, who is almost set to go to the US to pursue post-graduation (PG) this year, said she has already received offers from two universities, which shes considering while she has applied for a scholarship, she is yet to know the status of her application.

I have applied for a scholarship, but Im yet to hear from the universities on the same. However, I wont wait for the scholarship and even if it doesnt come, Id still go. There is a major difference between pursuing PG back in India and in the US since there is a lot of experiential learning in case of the latter while Indian colleges focus more on scores and theoretical learning," she said.

About the Author Vatsala Shrangi Vatsala Shrangi, Assistant Editor at News18, reports on the HRD, Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways, and social sector. She has covered the Delhi government, education, transport, environment and various ... Read More Vatsala Shrangi, Assistant Editor at News18, reports on the HRD, Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways, and social sector. She has covered the Delhi government, education, transport, environment and various ... Read More

First Published: April 16, 2025, 08:59 IST
What Are Rare Earth Minerals And Why China's Halt On Sale To US Matters | Explained

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 19:02 IST

China has restricted the exports of rare earth minerals, crucial for modern technologies and defence systems, to the US amid ongoing tariff tensions.

The move comes after Trump Administration imposed a sweeping 145% tariff on a lot of Chinese imports.

A new front has opened in the intensifying trade war between the United States and China, as China moved to restrict the export of rare earth minerals to the US in a retaliatory maneuver. The move, which comes after Trump Administration imposed a sweeping 145% tariff on a broad swath of Chinese imports, marks a significant escalation in the ongoing economic standoff between the two countries.

Beijing, in response, not only hit back with its own 125% tariff on US goods but has now weaponised one of its most critical economic levers: its dominance over the global supply of rare earth elements (REEs), vital to modern technologies and national defence systems. Though not a blanket ban, the Chinese restrictions place seven strategically important rare earth elements under tight export controls, signalling a deliberate effort to choke off access to these indispensable materials.

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Rare earth elements  a group of 17 chemically similar metals including neodymium, lanthanum, and cerium  are essential for a wide range of advanced technologies. From the permanent magnets that drive electric vehicle motors and wind turbines to the precision components in fighter jets, missile guidance systems, and satellite communication devices, these minerals are embedded in nearly every facet of modern defence and consumer electronics.

Despite their name, rare earths are not geologically scarce. However, their extraction and refinement are environmentally intensive and economically challenging. These metals are often dispersed in low concentrations and mixed with other materials, requiring the processing of vast quantities of ore to isolate them.

Lanthanum, for instance, is used in camera lenses and lighting systems, while cerium plays a key role in catalytic converters that cut automobile emissions. Neodymium and praseodymium are vital for making high-strength magnets used in EVs and wind turbines  industries central to the US green transition.

China accounts for roughly 60% of global mining output and a staggering 90% of the worlds processing of rare earth magnets. With about 37% of global REE reserves located within its borders, China remains both the dominant producer and processor.

By placing specific elements under export control, Beijing has effectively added a geopolitical price tag to minerals that fuel the global tech economy. While the restrictions stop short of a complete embargo, they allow Chinese authorities to screen and potentially deny exports to certain countries  mainly, the United States.

Global prices for REEs are expected to surge, and US defence contractors and electronics manufacturers  already facing supply chain pressures  will be hit particularly hard. Analysts warn that the move is designed not just to tighten the screws on US industry but also to directly impact their military readiness.

While the United States ranks as the second-largest producer of rare earths, extracting 43,000 metric tonnes in 2023, it relies heavily on China for processing and finishing. Efforts to build an independent rare earth supply chain have gained momentum in recent years, particularly since the Trump administration pushed to reshore critical mineral production. But scaling up domestic refining and reducing dependence on Chinese inputs will take time.

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Elsewhere, Brazil and Vietnam collectively hold about 18% of the worlds rare earth reserves, while India boasts the fifth-largest known deposits. Madagascar also has substantial potential. Yet, none of these countries currently possess the infrastructure or capacity to rival Chinas industrial complex. Their output remains marginal in the global market.

As US scrambles to secure alternative supply lines and accelerate domestic production, the ripple effects of Chinas decision are being felt far beyond the US border. The confrontation highlights a deepening fracture in global trade norms, where access to natural resources is now a bargaining chip in high-stakes geopolitical rivalries.

Location : China

First Published: April 16, 2025, 19:02 IST
Banned Injection Causes Complications, Memory Loss In 5 Pregnant Women At MP Hospital

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 14:26 IST

Five pregnant women at Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Medical College suffered severe health issues and temporary memory loss after receiving a banned anesthetia injection.

The drug manufacturer was slapped with a penalty of Rs 3.01 lakh.

In a deeply troubling lapse of medical oversight, five pregnant women at Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Medical College in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, suffered severe health complications and temporary memory loss after being administered a blacklisted anesthetic injection. Officials confirmed the case following an internal investigation.

The injections, traced back to Radiant Parenterals Ltd, a Gujarat-based pharmaceutical manufacturer, had already been banned by the state health department due to substandard quality concerns. The drug was flagged in October 2024 after a complaint surfaced at Vidisha Medical College, prompting an official ban in December 2024. Despite this, a batch of 100 vials was inexplicably retrieved from storage and distributed in February 2025.

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A report released earlier this week revealed that storekeeper Praveen Upadhyay continued to issue the banned injections even after the embargo. Upadhyay has since been suspended, and disciplinary proceedings have been initiated. The investigation further revealed that of the 100 vials taken from storage, only 70 were seized on March 4. The whereabouts of the remaining 30 vials remain unknown, raising serious concerns about patient safety and inventory control.

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The drugs manufacturer, Radiant Parenterals, has been barred from government contracts for five years and slapped with a penalty of Rs 3.01 lakh. Officials say the companys name had been removed from the governments procurement portal months ago, yet the banned stock still found its way into patient care.

Speaking to the media, hospital superintendent Dr Rahul Mishra stated that the affected women are now in stable condition and have been discharged. We are closely monitoring their recovery and do not anticipate any long-term health complications due to the injection," he said. Dr Mishra added that stringent measures were being adopted to prevent a recurrence of such an incident.

Location : Madhya Pradesh, India, India

First Published: April 16, 2025, 14:26 IST
Bengaluru: 'Distressed' Engineering Student Stabs Parents, Sister With Kitchen Knife

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 10:28 IST

Before the attack, the boy called the police control room claiming that someone was trying to kill him. However, when police personnel reached his house, the door was locked from inside

The boy, who studies Bachelor of Engineering (BE) at a private college, is suffering from mental distress. (AI Photo generated via X's Grok)

An engineering student allegedly stabbed his parents and sister with a kitchen knife in Bengaluru. The incident took place in Vinayaka Layout area of Bengalurus Medarahalli on Monday night.

The boy, who studies Bachelor of Engineering (BE) at a private college, is suffering from mental distress. When the boy was called for dinner, he attacked his parents and sister with a kitchen knife, Times of India reported.

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Man Brutally Assaulted At Rehab Centre Near Bengaluru; Shocking Video Surfaces

Before the attack, the boy called the police control room claiming that someone was trying to kill him. However, when police personnel reached his house, the door was locked from inside.

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all When the door was broken down, they found three family members lying in a pool of blood. Police rushed them to a hospital, where their condition remains critical. The boy has also been admitted to a hospital for treatment, according to the police.

About the Author Saurabh Verma Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19 Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19

First Published: April 16, 2025, 10:23 IST
China Welcomes Indian Friends, Eases Rules To Issue Over 85,000 Visas In Three Months

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 08:24 IST

In a key development indicating improving ties, China has issued over 85,000 visas to Indians between January 1, 2025, to April 9.

PM Modi with Chinese President Xi Jinping (Reuters File Image)

Chinese Visa For Indians: In a significant development signalling improving bilateral ties, the Chinese Embassy in India has issued over 85,000 visas to Indian friends" within three months till April 9 this year.

This comes amid Trumps tariffs that have struck global markets, especially hitting China the hardest with 145% tariffs on Chinese imports. Recently, both the Indian and the Chinese governments have expressed willingness to boost cooperation in the fields of culture, tourism, and economy. China easing its travel policies is one step towards the destination.

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As of April 9, 2025, the Chinese Embassy and Consulates in India have issued more than 85,000 visas to Indian citizens travelling to China this year. Welcome more Indian friends to visit China, experience an open, safe, vibrant, sincere and friendly China," Chinese Ambassador Xu Feihong posted on X.

Who Are Among Travellers To China?

A major chunk of these 85,000 travellers from India to China are students, business professionals, and tourists.

Among the visitors are also government officials, medical staff, and attendees of international conferences or academic events.

China Relaxes Visa Norms For Indians

In a move to attract more Indians into the country, China has relaxed visa norms.

No need for online appointment: Indians do not need to book online appointments at the visa centres. They can now directly submit their applications on working days without any online bookings.

Biometric exemption rule: Those Indians travelling to China for a short trip are exempted from getting their biometric data fed  a move which significantly reduces time for visa processing.

Visa fee reduction: Indians can now get a Chinese visa at a much lower rate.

Faster approvals: Visas are now being approved more quickly, which helps both business and holiday travellers.

Chinese Visa Options Available For Indians

There are several visa options available for Indians to visit China.

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Student ((X1/X2) Visa, Work (Z) Visa, Business (M) Visa, Tourist (L) Visa and Family (Q) Visa.

Indians willing to travel to China can apply for a visa through the Chinese Visa Application Service Centres (CVASC) in major cities such as New Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai.

About the Author Ashesh Mallick Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More

First Published: April 16, 2025, 08:04 IST
Chinas Loss Is Indias Gain? As US Tariff Talks Pick Pace, Govt Shifts Gears On Plan B

Reported By :

CNN-News18 Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: April 17, 2025, 08:40 IST

India has indicated its willingness to manufacture certain productscurrently made in Chinafor major American brands, positioning itself as a viable alternative manufacturing hub

India has also sought concessions on auto parts and conveyed its intent to scale up the production of Apple mobile products domestically. (Image/X@WhiteHouse)

The tariff negotiations between India and the United States are picking up speed, even as China and US are engaged in a bitter and acrimonious war which, top government sources say, India is looking to take advantage of.

It has also been decided that while the virtual negotiations are currently going on, the face-to-face bilateral trade agreement talks will happen sometime in May. Both the sides have decided to fast-track the negotiations, with India unwilling to wait for the 90-day relief period" to end. India has made it clear that it will not negotiate with a gun to its head". While the country has decided to bend a little, it will also try and extract as much as it can from the world markets, including America.

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Keeping in mind that America has issues with large amounts of oil being taken from Russia, top government sources say India is looking to ramp up oil imports from the United States as part of its ongoing trade negotiations.

During the discussions, India has also sought concessions on auto parts and conveyed its intent to scale up the production of Apple mobile products domestically. India has further indicated its willingness to manufacture certain productscurrently made in Chinafor major American brands, positioning itself as a viable alternative manufacturing hub.

Meanwhile, India is keen to ensure that countries like China and Vietnam do not dump their goods into the Indian market, especially as they face high tariffs in other regions. The issue will be closely monitored and a council has been set up to keep an eye on the imports.

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Sources say the government is clear that it does not want to take advantage of the fact that some countries like Cambodia and Vietnam are facing huge tariffs. They believe that India would rather look at its own interests than be competitive in the world market. We will look beyond some of the traditional and conventional markets, engage with new products, and ensure that the corporate sector is given incentives so that they come up with competitive products."

The government is optimistic and believes India will be shielded from the tariff onslaught.

About the Author Pallavi Ghosh Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als... Read More Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als... Read More

First Published: April 16, 2025, 08:56 IST
'Contractors Will Be Pulled Up Too': Karnataka Talks Tough On Migrant Workers Involved In Crimes

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Pragati Ratti



Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 09:58 IST

Karnataka Labour Minister Santosh Lad advocated for a law to regulate the arrival of labourers from other states into Karnataka.

Karnataka Labour Minister Santosh Lad meets construction workers, at the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru, Monday, March 10, 2025. (Image: PTI)

Sending out a strong message of zero tolerance, Karnataka Labour Minister Santosh Lad has said strict action would be taken not only against migrant workers brought in by contractors and unions if they are found involved in any criminal activity, but also against those who employed them. Not just the accused, but the contractor will also be pulled up," Lad told News18.

Lad advocated for a law to regulate the arrival of labourers from other states into Karnataka. He said there cannot be specialised frisking or checking as they are from the unorganised sector.

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There is a need to create awareness and a sense of responsibility among those who bring in migrant labourers and those who come from other states to work in Karnataka," he told News18.

His statement comes in the wake of the alleged kidnapping and murder of a five-year-old girl in Hubballi by Ritesh Kumar, a native of Bihars Patna, who was later killed in police firing  an incident that shocked the state.

People come from all across India  from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala. How do we regulate the movement of inter-state labourers? This needs discussion so that a robust system is put in place. There is a need for a law," said Lad.

In a meeting that the minister held with labour industry representatives, Lad not only pulled up contractors for being lax and dismal in such vetting processes, but also asked them to obtain information about contract workers they have hired from other states on a regular basis.

As of today, we are issuing 8,500 contract licences. We held a meeting with them and cautioned them to take a serious look at the background of those they bring in. Those who come and go  there must be some information about them as a precaution. There is a need to create awareness," he said.

The biggest challenge, as it is the unorganised sector, is that its possible to keep a tab on the organised sectors. But how does one screen labourers who largely travel by bus or train into the state? They come to work in construction, agricultural lands, or other sectors," Lad told News18.

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The meeting by the Labour Minister comes in the background of Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara saying that he would talk to Lad about how migrant workers are found to be indulging in crimes and there is a need to regulate who enters the state." Parameshwara also agreed with Lads point that the workforce coming to Karnataka from other states cannot be stopped, but there was a definite need to take necessary steps when found to be involved in criminal activities.

Sources say that a special task force is also to be set up to keep a close watch and vet the details of the labourers brought in by the contractors.

About the Author Rohini Swamy Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for nearly two decades in the television and digital space. She covers south India for News18s digital platform. She has previously worked with t... Read More Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for nearly two decades in the television and digital space. She covers south India for News18s digital platform. She has previously worked with t... Read More

First Published: April 16, 2025, 09:58 IST
Karnataka Governor Sends Bill Granting 4% Muslim Quota In Govt Contracts To President For Assent

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 20:56 IST

The bill, passed by both Houses of the Karnataka Legislature in March, proposes to provide 4% reservation to Muslim contractors in public works tenders

Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot. (Image via X/@TCGEHLOT)

Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot on Wednesday referred a bill proposing 4% reservation for members of the Muslim community in government contracts to President Droupadi Murmu for her assent.

Gehlot reportedly cited constitutional complexities" in the amendment bill before forwarding it to the President.

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According to Raj Bhavan sources, the Governor marked the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (Amendment) Bill, 2025 as reserved" for Presidential assent and sent it to the Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Department. The state government will now forward the file to the President for final approval.

The bill, passed by both Houses of the Karnataka Legislature in March, proposes to provide 4% reservation to Muslim contractors in public works tenders. The bill was approved despite strong opposition from the BJP and JD(S).

The BJP had criticised the bill, calling it unconstitutional" as there is no provision in the Indian Constitution for religion-based reservation. The party has also accused the ruling Siddaramaiah-led Congress of engaging in appeasement politics in the state.

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The saffron party has made the bill a central issue in its ongoing Janaakrosha Yatre (Public Anger March), which is being held across Karnataka.

(With inputs from PTI)

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More

Location : Karnataka, India, India

First Published: April 16, 2025, 20:37 IST
Kerala Lottery Results LIVE: Fifty Fifty FF-136 Winners For April 16, 2025 Soon; First Prize Rs 1 Crore!

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 09:00 IST

Kerala Lottery Result Guessing Numbers: Check the Live Updates and full list of winning numbers for Fifty Fifty FF-136 lucky draw for Wednesday, April 16, 2025 here from 3 pm.

Kerala Lottery Fifty Fifty FF-136 Results: The first prize winner of Fifty Fifty FF-137 will get Rs 1 crore. (Image: Shutterstock)

KERALA LOTTERY FIFTY FIFTY FF-136 RESULT ON WEDNESDAY, 16.4.2025, LIVE UPDATES: The Kerala State Lottery Department is set to announce the results of the Fifty-Fifty FF-136 draw on Wednesday, April 16. The lucky winner of the grand prize will receive 1 crore, while the second and third prize winners will get 10 lakh and 5,000, respectively. Check out the full list of winning numbers below.

KERALA LOTTERY FIFTY FIFTY FF-136 GUESSING NUMBERS

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0652 0625 0562 0526

0265 0256 6052 6025

6502 6520 6205 6250

5062 5026 5602 5620

5206 5260 2065 2056

2605 2650 2506 2560

KERALA LOTTERY RESULT: FIFTY FIFTY FF-136 PRIZE STRUCTURE

1st Prize: Rs 1 crore

2nd Prize: Rs. 10 lakh

3rd Prize: Rs. 5,000

4th Prize: Rs. 2,000

5th Prize: Rs. 1,000

6th Prize: Rs. 500

7th Prize: Rs. 100

Consolation Prize: Rs. 8,000

FULL LIST OF WINNING NUMBERS FOR FIFTY FIFTY FF-136

WINNING NUMBER FOR 1ST PRIZE OF RS 1 CRORE IS: To be updated

WINNING NUMBER FOR 2ND PRIZE OF RS 10 LAKH IS: To be updated

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 3RD PRIZE OF RS 5,000 ARE: To be updated

WINNING NUMBERS FOR CONSOLATION PRIZE OF RS 8,000 ARE: To be updated

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 4TH PRIZE OF RS 2,000 ARE: To be updated

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 5TH PRIZE OF RS 1,000 ARE: To be updated

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 6TH PRIZE OF RS 500 ARE: To be updated

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 7TH PRIZE OF RS 100 ARE: To be updated

How to Verify Kerala Fifty-Fifty FF-136 Lottery Results:

Visit keralalottery.info, the official website of the Kerala Lottery Department, to view the latest results.

Download the full list of winning numbers in PDF format for reference.

Verify your ticket information against the results published in the Kerala

Government Gazette for official confirmation.

HOW TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE MONEY?

Cross-check your ticket with the official winning numbers to see if youve won a prize. Submit your claim within 30 days of the draw date to ensure your winnings remain valid. Head to the Kerala Lottery Office at Gorky Bhavan, located near Bakery Junction in Thiruvananthapuram, to claim your prize. Bring your original lottery ticket along with a valid photo ID such as Aadhaar, passport, or driving license for identity verification. Be prepared with any required documents, including the claim form and applicable tax-related forms, depending on your prize amount. Follow the official claim procedure carefully to ensure a smooth and trouble-free prize collection experience.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED TO CLAIM PRIZE MONEY

Submit a self-attested photocopy of the winning ticket, making sure both front and back sides are clearly visible.

Include recent passport-sized photos, duly attested by a Gazette officer.

Attach a signed copy of your PAN card as part of the identity verification process.

Place a revenue stamp on the online prize claim form while completing your application.

Bring a valid identity document such as a ration card, voter ID, PAN card, or Aadhaar card for verification.

HOW TO DOWNLOAD A PDF WITH THE FULL LIST OF WINNING NUMBERS

Go to the official Kerala Lottery portal.

Locate and click on the Fifty-Fifty FF-136 results link.

The winning numbers will appear on your screen.

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You can check the results directly on the website.

To save a copy, click the download option and get the results in PDF format.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More

Location : Thiruvananthapuram [Trivandrum], India, India

First Published: April 16, 2025, 09:00 IST
'Misconception That It's Alien...': Supreme Court Okays Urdu On Maharashtra Municipal Signboard

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 11:08 IST

The Supreme Court bench said that Urdu and Marathi have the same status under the Constitution and rejected the claims that only Marathi should be used.

Supreme Court of India. (File photo/PTI)

Amid the ongoing language row across the country, the Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the use of Urdu on the signboard of a municipal council building in Maharashtra, stating that language is culture and must not become a cause for dividing people. The top court said that Urdu is the finest specimen of Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb, or the Hindustani tehzeeb".

The Court dismissed a petition challenging the Bombay High Courts judgment which allowed the use of Urdu on the signboard of the new building of the Municipal Council, Patur in Maharashtras Akola district.

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According to Bar and Bench, the Supreme Court bench said that Urdu and Marathi have the same status under the Constitution and rejected the claims that only Marathi should be used.

The bench added that it is a misconception that Urdu is alien to India", stating that it is a language which was born in this land".

The court also said Urdu, despite its Indian origin, have been associated with Muslims which was far from reality, blaming colonial powers in associating Hindi with Hindus and Urdu with Muslims. Urdu finds its roots in India and cannot be tied to any particular religion, the court underlined.

Our misconceptions, perhaps even our prejudices against a language, have to be courageously and truthfully tested against the reality, which is this great diversity of our nation: our strength can never be our weakness. Let us make friends with Urdu and every language," the Supreme Court said.

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Coming to the present case, it must be stated that a Municipal Council is there to provide services to the local community of the area and cater to their immediate day-to-day needs. If people or a group of people, residing within the area covered by the Municipal Council are familiar with Urdu, then there should not be any objection if Urdu is used in addition to the official language i.e. Marathi, at least on the signboard of the Municipal Council," the bench was quoted as saying.

The plea was raised by a former member of the Municipal Council, stating that the use of Urdu language in any manner is impermissible. She first approached the Municipal Council, which rejected her plea, and clarified that the use of Urdu in addition to Marathi language on a signboard is justified.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More

First Published: April 16, 2025, 09:14 IST
Nearly 70 Waqf Petitions Before Supreme Court, Govt Confident New Law Wont Be Struck Down

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 09:00 IST

AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi was the first one to file a plea against the law in the Supreme Court, close on the heels of the President signing upon the law.

Almost every major opposition party has moved the apex court against the new Waqf law. (Image: PTI)

A record number of nearly 70 petitions regarding the Waqf Amendment Law have been listed before the Supreme Court of India on Wednesday, with almost every major opposition party moving the apex court against the new law. But the government is confident that SC wont strike down the law.

AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi was the first one to file a plea against the law in the Supreme Court, close on the heels of the President signing upon the law. Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Okhla, Amanatullah Khan, has also filed a petition. Other petitioners include the Association for the Protection of Civil Rights, Arshad Madani of the Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind, Imran Masood and Udit Raj of the Congress party, Manoj Kumar Jha of the RJD, TMCs Mahua Moitra, the Indian Union Muslim League, Communist Party of India, Mohammad Salim of the CPI (Marxist), Shia cleric Syed Kalbe Jawad Naqvi, and Anjuman-E-Islam. Vishnu Shankar Jain has also moved the SC.

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Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has said that he is confident the apex court would not comment on a legislative matter like the new Waqf law. He also said that the legislature and the judiciary need to respect each other. Speaking in Haryana two days ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also laid out a strong defence of the new law, saying Waqf Law is real social justice."

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Modi said that through the new law, the sacred spirit of Waqf will be respected, and the poor and Pasmanda families of the Muslim society, Muslim women, especially Muslim widows, Muslim children will get their rights and their rights will be protected in the future. And this is what Babasaheb Ambedkar has given us, the task of doing in the spirit of the Constitution. This is the real spirit, this is real social justice," Modi said. He said the 2013 law passed by UPA benefited only a handful of land mafia, and the land of Dalits, backward people, tribals, and widows was looted.

After the change in the Waqf law, this looting of the poor is going to stop. And the most important thing is that we have done a very responsible, important work. We have made another provision in this Waqf law. Now under the new law, under the Waqf law, this Waqf Board will not be able to touch any tribals land, his house, his property in any corner of India," Modi said, adding the 2013 amendments by the UPA had put the old law above the Constitution of India.

About the Author Aman Sharma Aman Sharma, Executive Editor - National Affairs at CNN-News18, and Bureau Chief at News18 in Delhi, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Ministers Office.... Read More Aman Sharma, Executive Editor - National Affairs at CNN-News18, and Bureau Chief at News18 in Delhi, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Ministers Office.... Read More

First Published: April 16, 2025, 08:40 IST
PM Modi Hails Inauguration Of Amravati Airport, Terms It 'Great News For Maharashtra'

Last Updated: April 17, 2025, 00:12 IST

PM Modi hailed the Amravati airport inauguration, calling it great news for Maharashtra and Vidarbha. CM Fadnavis and Minister Naidu emphasised its economic and job benefits.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the inauguration of Amravati airport a 'great news for Maharashtra'.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday hailed the inauguration of Amravati airport, terming it as great news for Maharashtra.

The inauguration of Amravati airport is great news for Maharashtra, especially for the Vidarbha region. The active airport in Amravati will boost commerce and connectivity," PM Modi in response to the X post of Union Civil Aviation Minister, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu.

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Great news for Maharashtra, especially Vidarbha region. An active airport in Amravati will boost commerce and connectivity. https://t.co/WAq9PzCTZW Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 16, 2025

Earlier, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the city of Amravati will get special recognition due to the state-of-the-art Amravati Airport and Pilot Training Centre.

By completing the developmental works in Vidarbha and bringing this region into the mainstream of development, priority will be given to this work," the Chief Minister said at the function organised for the launch of passenger flight services and the flight demonstration of the Air India Pilot Training Centre.

Union Minister of Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu said that today marks a historic milestone for Vidarbha.

Honoured to inaugurate Amravati Airport alongside Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar under PM Narendra Modis leadership, this RCS-VGF funded airport takes flight with Alliance Airs inaugural RCS AmravatiMumbai flight. Also witnessed a demo flight at what will soon be South Asias largest Air India Flying Training Organisation (FTO), a big leap for Indias overall aviation ecosystem," he said.

The Chief Minister said that the airport will bring about an economic revolution, and this area will benefit directly and indirectly.

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It will also create various employment opportunities. The airport will create a new identity for the area. Since entrepreneurs are also giving priority to setting up industries in the area where the airport is located, the textile industry here will get a boost," he said.

He added that the PM Mitra Park to be built here will create two lakh jobs, and cotton farmers will benefit from cotton to cloth and further fashion.

Location : Andhra Pradesh, India, India

First Published: April 17, 2025, 00:11 IST
'Never Trusted Dulat': Farooq Abdullah's Daughter Slams Ex-RAW Chief Over Article 370 Claims

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 14:06 IST

Farooq Abdullah's daughter has slammed former RAW chief Dulat over his new book, calling him untrustworthy and accusing him of distorting facts, after he Abdullah privately supported the abrogation of Article 370.

Farooq Abdullah with daughter Safia Abdullah Khan (@safiakhan71/X)

Farooq Abdullahs daughter Safia Abdullah Khan has said she never trusted former RAW chief AS Dulat and said that he has always been a spy who was loyal only to himself.

Referring to Dulats new book The Chief Minister and the Spy, Safia said she read the book and alleged the author has played fast and loose with the truth" yet again.

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I have never trusted Dulat as far as I could throw him. He was always a spy whose loyalty was only to himself. He never cared who he threw under the bus with his previous books," Safia wrote in an X post.

I have read this book and he has played fast and loose with the truth once again," she added.

I have never trusted Dulat as far as I could throw him. He was always a spy whose loyalty was only to himself. He never cared who he threw under the bus with his previous books. I have read this book and he has played fast and loose with the truth once again. Safia Abdullah Khan (@safiakhan71) April 16, 2025

In his book, Dulat has claimed that National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah backed the Centres move on abrogating Article 370, while in public, has repeatedly voiced his opposition to the same.

Reacting to the book, Mehbooba Muftis daughter Iltija Mufti said there were doubts over what transpired between the Abdullahs and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the special status of Jammu and Kashmir was revoked.

Dulat sahab an ardent Abdullah supporter has shared how Farooq sahab agreed with Delhis illegal move of abrogating Article 370. There were already doubts about what transpired between the Abdullahs & PM days before J&Ks special status was revoked," Iltija wrote on X.

With this its clear that Farooq sahab chose to stay in Kashmir instead of the Parliament to help normalise gutting of J&Ks constitution & subsequent betrayal," she added.

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National Conference spokesperson and MLA Tanvir Sadiq, talking to reporters, slammed the book as baseless and fictional", and opined there were more pressing matters to focus on.

To the unversed, Abdullah was the one who joined hands with PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti and forged the Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), to raise voice against the Centres unilateral" decision and seek the restoration of Article 370 and statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, which was temporarily turned to a Union Territory with a promise to give its statehood back at an appropriate time.

About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

First Published: April 16, 2025, 13:49 IST
Supreme Court Backing Waqf By User May Severely Weaken New Law, Govt To Put Up Spirited Defence

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 17, 2025, 10:33 IST

The new law passed by Parliament states that existing 'waqf by user' properties registered on or before the commencement of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, will remain as waqf properties, 'except that the property, wholly or in part, is in dispute or is a government property'

The Supreme Court of India. (File image/AFP)

The Supreme Courts backing of the original waqf by user" concept during the proceedings so far is of big concern to the Centre, as it may severely weaken the new law, sources in the government said on Wednesday. A spirited defence of the provision in the new law is expected to be put up by the government before the SC on Thursday.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court proposed an order stating that properties declared as waqf, including those designated as waqf by user", would not be de-notified. The Centre opposed this suggestion and requested a hearing before any such directive is issued. The new law passed by Parliament states that existing waqf by user" properties registered on or before the commencement of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, will remain as waqf properties, except that the property, wholly or in part, is in dispute or is a government property".

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The Supreme Court is seeking clarification from the government on this provision. The court has observed that most masjids built since the 14th century would lack sale deeds, making it impossible to require them to provide registered deeds. The Supreme Court also asked what would happen if the government claimed these lands as government property. Kapil Sibal, representing the petitioners, argued that the government had abolished waqf by user" under the new law and would demand deeds for such properties. RK Dhawan emphasised to the court the importance of waqf by user".

The Supreme Court acknowledged that revoking waqf by user" would lead to numerous complications and sought the central governments response on the matter. The government is expected to strongly defend the amended waqf by user" provision in the new law and explain the rationale behind its inclusion.

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, who is one of the petitioners, claimed that the Supreme Court is considering the following interim order: The existing properties declared as Waqfs should not be de-notified as Waqfs, whether they are by waqf-by-user or waqf by deed."

Another petitioner, advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, said waqf by user" is a draconian concept and there is no provision in India for temple by user". He said the present amendment protects large sections of society from the arbitrary powers of Waqf Boards by using the concept of waqf by user".

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The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, received presidential assent on April 5 after passing through Parliament amid intense debate. It was cleared in the Lok Sabha with 288 votes in favour and 232 against, and later passed in the Rajya Sabha, where 128 members supported it and 95 opposed.

So far, 72 petitions have been filed challenging the Acts validity. Among the petitioners are AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, the DMK, and Congress MPs Imran Pratapgarhi and Mohammad Jawed.

About the Author Aman Sharma Aman Sharma, Executive Editor - National Affairs at CNN-News18, and Bureau Chief at News18 in Delhi, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Ministers Office.... Read More Aman Sharma, Executive Editor - National Affairs at CNN-News18, and Bureau Chief at News18 in Delhi, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Ministers Office.... Read More

First Published: April 16, 2025, 19:59 IST
'Prisons Can Be Constructed For Officers To Enjoy': SC Bashes Telangana Govt Over Tree Felling In Hyderabad

Reported By :

Edited By: Vani Mehrotra



Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 12:29 IST

The Supreme Court slammed the Telangana government for unauthorised deforestation of 100 acres near the University of Hyderabad without proper permissions.

Students at the University of Hyderabad launch a protest demanding an immediate halt to tree felling and the withdrawal of heavy earth-moving machinery from the campus grounds. (PTI Image)

The Supreme Court on Wednesday expressed concerns over clearing a large tree cover on a land parcel next to the University of Hyderabad in Telangana and said that temporary prisons could be constructed on the land for the officers to enjoy".

The court also directed the wildlife warden of the state to examine and put into effect, immediate steps that need to be taken to protect the wildlife affected due to deforestation, and granted four weeks to the government to respond to the CEC report.

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The court remarked that prior permissions should have been sought if the state government wanted some construction over the land.

Justices BR Gavai and AG Masih, hearing the suo motu case in connection with the tree felling in the Kancha Gachibowli area, said, We are only concerned about how so many trees were cut without permission of authorities."

If you want Chief Secretary to be saved from severe action, you have to come out with a plan as to how you would restore those hundred acres," Justice Gavai said, in response to senior advocate AM Singhvi, who told the court that the felling of trees and the construction work in Telangana had been stopped.

We will not go by interpretation of bureaucrats or ministers. We are surprised to see herbivorous animals in videos, they are running to seek shelter, bitten by stray dogs," Justice Gavai said.

Even private forests require the courts permission to fell trees," he remarked.

We are concerned with the damage done to the environment. Any enactment which falls foul of this courts 1996 order will not be tolerated," Justice Gavai said.

We are only concerned with the presence of bulldozers and erasing ofthe forest of 100 acres. If you wanted to construct, you should have taken permissions," he added.

In the meantime, we direct the Wildlife Warden of Telangana to examine and put into effect immediate steps required to protect wildlife affected on account of deforestation in 100 acres," the court said.

If you try to oppose restoration, then temporary prison for your officers. In the meantime, not a single tree will fall there. Have the bulldozers been removed?" it asked.

On April 3, the top court directed that until further orders, no activity of any sort, except the protection of the trees already existing there, shall be undertaken by the state or any authority.

The court took cognisance of the matter after it was brought to its notice by senior advocate K Parameshwar, who is assisting it as an amicus curiae in forest-related matters.

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The bench perused an interim report submitted by the registrar (judicial) of the Telangana High Court which said a large number of small and medium-size trees and some big trees were being destroyed.

It said the report also found that a certain number of peacocks, deer and birds were also seen in the area.

About the Author Ananya Bhatnagar Ananya Bhatnagar, Correspondent at CNN-News18, reports on various legal issues and cases in lower courts and the Delhi High Court. He has covered the hanging of the Nirbhaya gang-rape convicts, JNU violence, De... Read More Ananya Bhatnagar, Correspondent at CNN-News18, reports on various legal issues and cases in lower courts and the Delhi High Court. He has covered the hanging of the Nirbhaya gang-rape convicts, JNU violence, De... Read More

First Published: April 16, 2025, 11:49 IST
Two Indian Nationals Killed, Another Injured In Attack By A Pakistani Man In Dubai

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: June 18, 2025, 17:25 IST

Two Telugu youths were killed and a third was injured in an attack allegedly by a Pakistani national in a Dubai.

According to police, the two worked together and were also allegedly in a romantic relationship. (Representative Image)

Two Indian nationals were killed and a third was injured in an attack, allegedly by a Pakistani national shouting religious slogans in a Dubai bakery where they worked, the family members of the two victims claimed on Tuesday.

According to news agency PTI, the victim, identified as Ashtapu Premsagar (35) was originally from Soan village in Nirmal district in Telangana was killed with a sword on April 11.

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Premsagar was working at the bakery in Dubai for the past five years and last visited his family two years ago, the victims uncle informed.

Premsagar is survived by his wife and their two children. The family has urged the government to help bring his mortal remains to India.

Meanwhile, Union minister G Kishan Reddy said that the second deceased has been identified as Srinivas, who hailed from Nizamabad district.

A third man, Sagar, was injured in the attack and has been admitted to a hospital, his wife informed.

Expressing sadness over the killings, Reddy said he had spoken to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for his help in bringing their mortal remains to India.

Deeply shocked by the brutal killing of two Telugu youth from Telangana in Dubai, Ashtapu Premsagar from Nirmal district and Srinivas from Nizamabad district. Spoke to Honble External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar ji on the matter and he has assured full support to the bereaved families, and the urgent repatriation of the mortal remains," Reddy said in a post on X.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) will also work to ensure the delivery of speedy justice in the matter, he said while thanking Jaishankar for his help.

Expressing grief, Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar said he had spoken to MEA officials and that Union home ministry officials were in touch with them.

Deeply saddened by the tragic killing of Shri Ashtapu Prem Sagar and Shri Srinivas, both workers from Telangana, who were brutally attacked by a Pakistani national at Modern Bakery LLC in Dubai during working hours on 11 April," he said on X.

Through the Indian consulate, the Dubai police have been urged to expedite the process", he added.

He thanked the external affairs ministry for its swift response in pursuing the matter with urgency.

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We are extending all necessary support for the early repatriation of the victims and stand firmly with their families in this hour of grief," he added.

(With agency inputs)

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More

Location : Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)

First Published: April 16, 2025, 07:48 IST
Varanasi Gangrape Case: 2 More Arrests Take Total To 15, Family Seeks Justice As Survivor Battles Hepatitis-B

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 12:12 IST

19-year-old UP college student sexually assaulted for 7 days: The UP case, which had initially drawn criticism for administrative negligence in investigation, has picked up pace following PM Narendra Modi's direct intervention

PM Modi directed official to take strict action against the accused in Varanasi gang-rape case | PTI Image

The Uttar Pradesh Police have arrested two more men in the brutal seven-day-long gangrape of a 19-year-old college student by 23 men in Varanasi, taking the total number of arrests to 15.

The case, which had initially drawn criticism for administrative negligence in investigation, has picked up pace following Prime Minister Narendra Modis direct intervention.

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Immediately upon landing in Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a detailed briefing from the Police Commissioner, Divisional Commissioner, and District Magistrate of Varanasi regarding the recent criminal rape incident in the city. He instructed them to take the pic.twitter.com/85V2wSkfDw ANI (@ANI) April 11, 2025

BASED ON SURVEILLANCE AND FORENSIC ANALYSIS

According to a senior police official from the Varanasi Commissionerate, Raj Khan, son of Jamal Khan alias Munna, a resident of Narpatpur Dubkiyan in Chaubepur; and Mohammad Shahbaz, son of Gulzar, a resident of Lallapura in Sigra have been arrested. Raj had been living in a rented house in Hukulganj, from where he was apprehended during a late-night raid.

Both suspects were identified using extensive CCTV analysis, facial sketch mapping, and local informant networks. They were seen at multiple locations where the victim was held during her captivity, and both have admitted their involvement during preliminary interrogation," the officer said.

Lalpur Police officials said the accused will be presented for medical examination before being sent to judicial custody. Meanwhile, police have received intelligence that several identified suspects have gone underground and are tracking police movements through intermediaries. Raids are underway at various hideouts across the district.

9 OF 11 UNKNOWNS IDENTIFIED

As per the first information report lodged at the Lalpur Police Station, the 19-year-old student was abducted on March 29 and subjected to repeated gang rape over the course of a week. She was abandoned in a semi-conscious state on a road on April 5. The survivor managed to return home, where she remained unconscious for two days before her family could approach authorities.

Thirteen arrests were made in the early stages of the investigation. Of the 11 initially unidentified suspects, we have now confirmed the identities of nine. With the two latest arrests, we are down to six absconders," the senior official added. The charge sheet is in an advanced stage and will be filed soon."

He said that, They were seen at multiple locations where the woman was held during her captivity, and both have admitted their involvement during preliminary interrogation."

#WATCH | UP: 9 accused in Varanasi Gangrape case sent to judicial custody by District & Sessions Court, Varanasi. https://t.co/05wgSUzEAy pic.twitter.com/psvZpe8ArL ANI (@ANI) April 8, 2025

PMS INTERVENTION SPURS ACTION

The case gained national prominence after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his 50th official visit to Varanasi on April 11, confronted Police Commissioner Mohan Agrawal about the status of the investigation.

The Prime Minister, visibly upset over the slow pace and administrative lapses, reportedly demanded strict action against all those involved and a guarantee that such incidents do not recur.

DCP Varuna, Chandra Kant Meena, was removed from his post and transferred to the DGP Office in Lucknow. Allegations of inaction and failure to initiate disciplinary proceedings against negligent officers led to his ouster. There is strong speculation that more suspensions and departmental inquiries are imminent.

BAIL HEARING DEFERRED

The bail hearing for Anmol Gupta, identified as the prime accused, was deferred on Tuesday after the survivors lawyer sought additional time to present their response. The judge has issued notice to the prosecution to file their reply, and the next hearing is scheduled for April 21.

OUR DAUGHTER DESERVES JUSTICE, SAYS SURVIVORS FAMILY

The family of the survivor, speaking to the media for the first time, expressed relief over the arrests but emphasised that the fight is far from over. The victims mother said:

She is broken, physically and mentally. What she went through is unimaginable. We want every man involved to be punished so severely that no one in this country ever dares do such a thing again. Our daughter deserves justice  not just arrests, but convictions."

The family has also called for a fast-track trial and capital punishment for those found guilty.

#WATCH | Varanasi gangrape case | UP | Alok Saurabh, lawyer of one of the accused says, " The accused were brought to the court, there were total 9 accusedall were sent to judicial custodytotal 13 people have been made accused in this" pic.twitter.com/easZq3DczQ ANI (@ANI) April 8, 2025

SURVIVOR BATTLES HEALTH COMPLICATIONS

The survivor is undergoing treatment at BHUs Trauma Centre and has been diagnosed with Hepatitis-B, possibly contracted during her week-long captivity. Doctors suggest that her condition may have worsened due to substance exposure during the period she was held. A panel of senior physicians from IMS-BHU is reviewing her medical history, and a combination of antiviral and liver-protective therapies are being administered.

Her bilirubin count is being monitored regularly. Were trying to reduce systemic infection risks and are repeating tests every 48 hours," said a doctor on the condition of anonymity. Additional sample collection has been scheduled later this week.

SOG INTENSIFIES HUNT FOR REMAINING ACCUSED

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The Special Operations Group (SOG) has ramped up efforts to trace the absconding culprits. DVRs from over two dozen potential sites have been seized, and CCTV footage is being analysed round the clock. Investigators claim to have traced the victims movement across multiple locations, and geo-mapping data is being used to reconstruct the exact timeline of the ordeal.

Authorities are hopeful that the remaining suspects will be apprehended soon, and sources suggest multiple arrests may follow in the coming days.

First Published: April 16, 2025, 12:10 IST
'We Were Told Delhi HC Is On Waqf Land': CJI During Hearing On Pleas Against Amended Act

Reported By :

CNN-News18

Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 15:22 IST

However, the CJI noted that all waqf by user land is not wrongly registered

The Waqf Act, 1995 was enacted by the government to improve the administration and management of waqf properties. (File pic)

Chief Justice Of India Sanjiv Khanna on Wednesday started hearing on pleas challenging the amendment in the Waqf act.

During the hearing, Khanna said when he was a judge in the Delhi High Court, it was said that land on which the court is situated belongs to the Waqf board.

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When we were in Delhi HC, we were told that the land is a waqf land!! Dont misunderstand us," he said.

However, the CJI noted that all waqf by user land is not wrongly registered.

As the hearing began, a bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justices Sanjay Kumar and K V Viswanathan outlined two aspects. There are two aspects we want to ask both the sides to address. Firstly, whether we should entertain or relegate it to the high court? Secondly, point out in brief what you are really urging and wanting to argue?" the CJI said.

The second point may help us in deciding the first issue to some extent," the CJI added.

The bench has sought clarification from the Centre regarding the removal of Waqf by user".

It noted that most masjids from 14, 15 and 16 centuries would not have a sale deed. Requiring them to provide registered deed would be impossible. Most masjids would be Waqf by used," the bench said.

To this, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said that what prevented them from getting these masjids registered.

The apex court asked what will happen if the government says these land belong to the government.

The Centre recently notified the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, which got the assent of President Droupadi Murmu on April 5 after its passage from Parliament following heated debates in both houses.

The bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha with 128 members voting in favour and 95 opposing it. It was cleared by the Lok Sabha with 288 members supporting it and 232 against it.

As many as 72 petitions, including those by AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi, All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Congress MPs Imran Pratapgarhi and Mohammad Jawed, have been filed challenging the validity of the Act.

What Is Waqf By User?

Waqf by user" refers to a situation where a property is treated as a waqf simply because it has been used for religious or charitable purposes over a long periodeven if there hasnt been a formal, legal declaration by the owner.

As per the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025, waqf by user" properties registered on or before the laws enactment will retain their status unless they are disputed or identified as government land. This means the government has upheld the doctrine for historical cases while prohibiting its application to future land claims. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

As per the Ministry of Minority Affairs, the removal of this provision is designed to prevent unauthorised or erroneous claims over property. However, protection has been given to such Waqf by user properties (such as mosques, dargahs, and graveyards) which will remain as waqf properties except that the properties, wholly or in part, is in dispute or is a government property. It streamlines the registration process by ensuring that only properties formally declared as waqf are recognisedthereby reducing disputes while still respecting traditional waqf declarations.

About the Author Ananya Bhatnagar Ananya Bhatnagar, Correspondent at CNN-News18, reports on various legal issues and cases in lower courts and the Delhi High Court. He has covered the hanging of the Nirbhaya gang-rape convicts, JNU violence, De... Read More Ananya Bhatnagar, Correspondent at CNN-News18, reports on various legal issues and cases in lower courts and the Delhi High Court. He has covered the hanging of the Nirbhaya gang-rape convicts, JNU violence, De... Read More

First Published: April 16, 2025, 15:14 IST
Supreme Court Weighs Stay On Some Key Waqf Act Provisions, Centre Pushes Back

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 22:28 IST

The Supreme Court began hearing petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, with concerns raised about violations of Articles 14, 25, 26, and 300A

The Supreme Court, which did not issue a formal notice as of now, said it will resume hearing on the petitions around 2 pm on April 17. (Image: PTI/File)

The Supreme Court on Wednesday proposed to order that the properties declared as waqf, including waqf by user, will not be de-notified but the Centre opposed the suggestion and sought a hearing before such a directive.

This is one among key provisions in the recently passed Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, on which the Supreme Court is considering a stay. It is also mooting interim order on the inclusion of non-Muslims in the Central Waqf Council and Waqf Boards, as well as powers of collectors in deciding disputes over waqf properties.

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We do not stay a legislation normally at this stage of the challenge unless in exceptional circumstances. This appears to be an exception. Our concern is that if waqf-by-user is de-notified, there could be huge consequences," Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna said in an oral observation. The properties declared by courts as waqfs should not be de-notified as waqfs, whether they are by waqf-by-user or waqf by deed, while the court is hearing the challenge to the Waqf Amendment Act 2025."

A three-judge bench comprising CJI Sanjiv Khanna and Justices Sanjay Kumar and KV Viswanathan on Wednesday began hearing petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.

The top court also asked the Centre if Muslims will be allowed to be part of Hindu religious trusts. All Members of the waqf boards and central waqf council must be Muslims, except the ex-officio members," it observed.

The bench earlier considered referring the pleas to one high court but later heard at length a battery of senior advocates, including Kapil Sibal, Abhishek Singhvi, Rajeev Dhavan and solicitor general Tushar Mehta, who represented the Centre.

The bench, which did not issue a formal notice as of now, said it will resume hearing on the petitions at around 2 pm on April 17.

Chief Justice Khanna further proposed to pass an order to say that ex-officio members could be appointed regardless of their faith but others had to be Muslims. Mehta, however, submitted there was a large section of Muslims who did not want to be governed by the Waqf act. The bench then asked him: Are you saying that from now on you will allow Muslims to be part of the Hindu endowment boards? Say it openly."

The apex court said when a public trust was declared to be a waqf 100 or 200 years ago, it could not suddenly be taken over by the waqf board and declared otherwise. You cannot rewrite the past," it said.

The CJI, at the start of the hearing, said, There are two aspects we want to ask both the sides to address. Firstly, whether we should entertain or relegate it to the high court? Secondly, point out in brief what you are really urging and wanting to argue? We are not saying there is any bar on SC in hearing, deciding pleas against the law."

The Centre recently notified the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, which got the assent of President Droupadi Murmu on April 5 after its passage from Parliament following heated debates in both houses. The bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha with 128 members voting in favour and 95 opposing it. It was cleared by the Lok Sabha with 288 members supporting it and 232 against it.

About 72 petitions, including those by AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi, All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Congress MPs Imran Pratapgarhi and Mohammad Jawed, have been filed challenging the validity of the Act.

The Centre, on April 8, filed a caveat in the apex court and sought a hearing before any order was passed in the matter. A caveat is filed by a party in the high courts and the apex court to ensure that no orders are passed without hearing it.

SUPREME COURT SEEKS CLARIFICATION ON REMOVAL OF WAQF BY USER

Meanwhile, the top court sought clarification from Solicitor General Tushar Mehta regarding the removal of Waqf by the user.

The court said, Before the Britishers came, we did not have land registration law or Transfer of Property Act. Many of the masjids were constructed in the 14th, 15th, 17th centuries. Asking them to produce a registered sale deed is an impossibility. Like in the case of Jama Masjid which is waqf by user. If you had established waqf by user in the versions of Waqf Act prior to the 2025 Amendment Act, can it be made void now?"

SG Mehta objected to petitioners argument that Centre has usurped the Waqf Council. It has always been the Centres initiative. It was only a consultative body. It was always the Centre," he said. He further said that judicial review is not taken away by the Act. Waqf Tribunal is a judicial body, has a former judge. Every order passed by the Act is subject to review by the tribunal."

He further said that the new Waqf Act is more inclusive, earlier it used to be only Shia and Sunni, now even sects of Muslim community will have representation in the council.

Out of 22, only a maximum of two will be non-Muslims. Clarified in the JPC by the Ministry," Mehta said. So you are making a statement that a maximum two and 2 ex-officio members? CJI asked. Boards have become more inclusive. Members will be taken from other sections like Shia. Earlier it was only Sunni or Shia," said Mehta.

Supreme Court further asked the Centre whether it is willing to allow Muslims to be part of Hindu religious trusts. Are you now arguing that as far as Hindu endowment bodies are concerned, you will allow Muslims to be part of them," CJI Khanna asked S-G Mehta. Two judges in the Waqf Council may not be Muslim. Mehta said then Your Lordships cannot also hear this case. This is adjudication. When we sit here we lose our religion. We are absolutely secular. For us, one or the other side, is same. If we are dealing with an religious issue, issues will arise," CJI retorted. During one exchange, Justice Khanna noted, When a public trust is declared Waqf 100 or 200 years ago suddenly you say it is being taken over by the Waqf Board and declared otherwise." Mehra intervened and said that it means if one has a Waqf, it can be made into a trust and there is an enabling provision for it. The Chief Justice then remarked, You cannot rewrite the past." CJI Khanna then proposed three options: We decide, we relegate you to one High Court, we call those petitions here and decide. Issue is when constitutional validity is pending here, then HC cannot decide it." The top court further intended to issue an interim order on the amended Waqf Law but was put on hold at the last minute after the Centre and the states requested more time to put forth their arguments. Whatever property has been declared as Waqf by the user, or declared by the court, will not be notified," the bench said. At this point, the centre and the states sought more time. At the end of the hearing, the Chief Justice expressed his concern over the ongoing violence in West Bengals Murshidabad. One thing is very disturbing is the violence that is taking place. If the matter is pending here it should not happen," CJI said. The Court then decided that arguments will continue on Thursday. No order has been passed yet.

PETITIONS AGAINST WAQF ACT

As the legislation was passed in the Parliament in the first week of April, the Congress announced it would challenge the Waqf (Amendment) Bill (now an Act after the Presidential assent) before the Supreme Court.

The party had claimed that it was an attack on the basic structure of the Constitution and was aimed at polarising" and dividing" the country on the basis of religion.

In his petition filed before the court, Congress MP and party whip in Lok Sabha Mohammad Jawed contended that the amendments violated Articles 14 (right to equality), 25 (freedom to practice and propagate religion), 26 (freedom of religious denominations to manage their religious affairs), 29 (minority rights), and 300A (right to property) of the Constitution.

Another plea filed by All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi stated that the impugned amendments are ex facie violative of Articles 14, 15, 21, 25, 26, 29, 30, 300A of the Constitution of India and manifestly arbitrary".

Several others, including the Association for Protection of Civil Rights, AAP leader Amanatullah Khan, Maulana Arshad Madani of Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), the Indian Union Muslim League, Taiyyab Khan Salmani, and Anjum Kadari, have filed the petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.

PLEAS BY BJP-RULED STATES

On the other hand, six BJP-ruled states  Haryana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Assam  filed separate pleas highlighting the potential administrative and legal ramifications if the Waqf (Amendment) Act is struck down or altered.

The government said that crores of poor Muslims will benefit from this legislation, and in no way does it harm any single Muslim.

Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the legislation did not interfere with the Waqf properties, adding that the Modi government works with the vision of Sabka Saath and Sabka Vikas.

PLEAS BY DIFFERENT STATES

Haryana, which has filed the intervention in the lead petition, emphasised the urgent need for reform in the management of Waqf property.

The state government pointed to persistent issues such as incomplete property surveys, lack of proper accounting, long-pending cases in Waqf tribunals and irregular or missing records of property mutations.

It said the amended law seeks to bring a unified structure for Waqf management and ensure greater oversight of Mutawallis (custodians).

The Maharashtra government asserted that it is crucial to assist the apex court by providing parliamentary records, committee recommendations and insights from national consultations.

It also promised to share comparative frameworks of religious endowment laws across India along with empirical data highlighting misuse and lack of transparency in the Waqf administration.

According to the plea by Madhya Pradesh, the Waqf law aims to bring about significant reforms in the governance and regulation of Waqf properties.

The state emphasised that the law envisions a legally robust and technology-driven system that promotes transparency, accountability and socio-economic upliftment of intended beneficiaries.

The Rajasthan government raised concerns over past practices where properties  whether privately owned or held by the state  were being declared Waqf assets without due process.

The new provisions, it said, correct this by mandating a 90-day public notice in two widely circulated newspapers before any such declaration.

This move, Rajasthan contended, ensures transparency and procedural fairness by giving affected stakeholders a chance to raise objections.

Chhattisgarh, in its plea, underlined the importance of simplifying administrative procedures and improving coordination between Waqf boards and local authorities.

The creation of a digital portal for Waqf property management, the state noted, will help in better tracking, identification and auditing of assets, ultimately strengthening transparency in financial practices.

Assams plea drew attention to Section 3E of the amended Act, which bars any declaration of land in Scheduled or Tribal Areas  covered under the Fifth or Sixth Schedule of the Constitution  as Waqf property.

The state pointed out that eight of its 35 districts fall under the Sixth Schedule and, thus, it has a direct stake in the outcome of the case.

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The Uttarakhand Waqf Board, which has been supporting the Waqf (Amendment) Act, has also submitted an application to the Supreme Court seeking permission to intervene in the writ petition filed by Owaisi challenging the constitutional validity of the law.

The concept of Waqf, rooted in Islamic laws and traditions, refers to an endowment made by a Muslim for charitable or religious purposes, such as mosques, schools, hospitals, or other public institutions.

About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

First Published: April 16, 2025, 07:03 IST
What Is Article 26 And How Did It Become A Talking Point On Day 1 Of Supreme Court's Waqf Hearing?

Curated By :

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Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 15:11 IST

A large part of the arguments in the Supreme Court during hearing of pleas challenging the Waqf Amendment Act revolved around Article 26 of the Indian Constitution.

Supreme Court of India hears pleas challenging Waqf Act (Representative/Shutterstock)

Article 26 of the Indian Constitution dominated the arguments and counter-arguments during the hearing of a batch of petitions challenging the Waqf Amendment Act in the Supreme Court on Wednesday.

Senior advocate and former Congress leader Kapil Sibal, who appeared in the court on behalf of Jamiat Ulema-E-Hind, referred to Article 26 and argued how the Act in question violates" the provisions of the Article.

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Article 26 Becomes Talking Point In Supreme Court

Let me broadly address what the challenge is about. Through a parliamentary legislation, what is sought to be done is to intervene in an essential and integral part of a faith. I refer to article 26 and many provisions of the act violate article 26," Sibal said in the court.

Reading out the sections of the Waqf Act being challenged, Sibal said, Who is the state to tell us how inheritance will be in my religion?"

Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna said that it happens in the case of Hindus and underlined that Article 26 does not bar the enactment of the law for Muslims as it is secular in nature.

But in Hindus it does happen. So, Parliament has enacted a law for Muslims. Maybe, not like of the Hindus. Article 26 will not bar the enactment of law in this case. Article 26 is universal and it is secular in the fashion that it applies to all," the CJI said.

Responding to this, Sibal said that inheritance in Islam takes place only after demise.

Sibal further argued that only Muslims had been a part of the Waqf Board since its inception, and now the provisions of the Act open doors for Hindus to be a part of it, which is a direct usurpation of fundamental rights" by Parliament.

Now, the Waqf council and boards. Only muslims had been part of such boards. Now, even Hindus can be a part. This is a direct usurpation of fundamental rights by parliamentary enactment," Sibal said.

Justice KV Vishwanathan, who was also a part of the bench comprising the CJI and Justice Sanjay Kumar, said, Wordings of Article 26 regarding administering etc cannot be confused with essential religious practices."

What Is Article 26 Of Indian Constitution?

Article 26 of the Indian Constitution guarantees the citizens of India the freedom to manage their religious affairs.

Article 26 states:

Subject to public order, morality and health, every religious denomination or any section thereof shall have the right 

(a) to establish and maintain institutions for religious and charitable purposes

(b) to manage its own affairs in matters of religion

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(c) to own and acquire movable and immovable property; and

(d) to administer such property in accordance with law.

About the Author Ashesh Mallick Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More

First Published: April 16, 2025, 15:07 IST
Wheelchairs May No Longer Be Free At Airports, Big DGCA Announcement Expected Soon

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 13:26 IST

The DGCA plans to limit free wheelchair services at airports to senior citizens, requiring younger passengers to provide medical certificates or pay fees to curb misuse.

Young passengers may need medical certificates or pay for wheelchair services. (AP Photo)

A major shift in airport accessibility policy is on the horizon as the aviation regulator prepares to clamp down on the widespread misuse of complimentary wheelchair services provided at airports. By the end of May this year, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is expected to roll out new rules that will limit free wheelchair access to senior citizens, while introducing fees or eligibility checks for younger passengers.

The move, as reported by Hindustan Times, comes amid a surge in complaints from travellers and airlines about wheelchair shortages, shoddy equipment, and abuse of the system by able-bodied passengers. Officials familiar with the policy say the government aims to formalise the revised guidelines soon, with younger passengers likely required to produce a medical certificate to receive free assistance.

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Under the proposed rules, younger passengers may be required to submit a medical certificate to access free wheelchair services, an official told Hindustan Times. Those unable to meet the medical threshold could be asked to pay a nominal fee for assistance, particularly for transport across long distances to boarding gates.

The DGCA, spearheading the initiative, has already held consultations with domestic carriers to redefine eligibility norms. Airline officials have voiced support for the changes, citing rising costs and a lack of trained support staff.

The demand of wheelchairs has surged and service providers are charging the airlines heavily when requests exceed contracted limits. Offering free wheelchairs to all is becoming unsustainable, a senior airline executive said, noting that some passengers request wheelchairs solely to bypass long queues.

Airlines reportedly handle more than 1,000 wheelchair requests daily across major airports. When requests exceed the contracted number of wheelchairs and staff, carriers incur significant surcharges. A former airline official explained that the abuse isnt limited to equipment  trained personnel are often overstretched as well. Passengers in wheelchairs are fast-tracked through crowded terminals. Some use it to skip check-in and security lines, despite being perfectly able-bodied," the official said.

Even as the regulator prepares stricter norms, the final criteria for eligibility have not yet been made public. However, the new system will reportedly include a paid option for those who dont meet medical or age thresholds but still require assistance due to temporary conditions or difficulty walking long distances.

The changes come amid increasing scrutiny of airlines performance in delivering promised accessibility services. Earlier this year, Air India was slapped with a Rs 30 lakh penalty for failing to provide pre-booked wheelchair assistance to a passenger, sparking renewed calls for tighter enforcement and accountability.

The DGCA is also mulling an awareness campaign to educate travellers on the appropriate use of mobility services and reduce abuse. At the same time, industry observers warn that any policy shift must be balanced with passenger rights.

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Government officials should understand the realities before listening to airlines, said Biji Eapen, president of the Airline Users Rights and Grievances Redressal Forum. Passengers rights are concerned with services, safety, and quality. Without considering or understanding fundamental rights, or addressing such, passengers wont get any real benefit," he said.

Some aviation insiders suggest that alternative services like buggy shuttles, already available for free at many airports, could be promoted more effectively to ease pressure on wheelchair demand. However, awareness remains low.

First Published: April 16, 2025, 13:26 IST
'Will Muslims Be Allowed In Hindu Boards?' Supreme Court Asks Centre Over Waqf Act | Key Observations

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 18:48 IST

The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Centre whether Muslims would be allowed to be part of Hindu religious trusts during the hearing of pleas challenging the constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 28, seeks to amend the Waqf Act, 1995. (File)

Waqf Act In Supreme Court: The Supreme Court on Wednesday flagged the provision to include non-Muslims on the Central Waqf Council and asked the government if it would allow Muslims to be part of Hindu endowment boards.

While hearing a batch of petitions against the constitutional validity Waqf (Amendment) Law, a bench of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justices Sanjay Kumar and K V Viswanathan observed that undoing the waqf by users" would create problems.

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Read More: If You Derecognise Waqf By User, It Will Create Problems: Top Court To Centre

The amendments to the law provide for inclusion of non-Muslims in the Central Waqf Council and Waqf Boards. During the hearing, CJI Khanna asked a significant question. Mr Mehta, are you saying you will allow Muslims to be part of Hindu endowment boards? Say it openly".

The bench also asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre on how "waqf by user" can be disallowed as many will not have requisite documents to get such waqfs registered. The top court further said that many mosques were constructed in the 14th and 15th centuries, and to require them to produce deeds was impossible.

How will you register such waqfs by user? What documents will they have? It will lead to undoing something. Yes, there is some misuse. But there are genuine ones also. I have gone through privy council judgments also. Waqf by user is recognised. If you undo it then it will be a problem. Legislature cannot declare a judgment, order or decree as void. You can only take the basis," the bench said.

Waqf by user" refers to a practice where a property is recognised as a religious or charitable endowment (waqf) based on its long-term, uninterrupted use for such purposes, even if there isnt a formal, written declaration of waqf by the owner.

Centre Pitches For Inclusivity of Waqf Law

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, while putting forth his arguments said that there was a large section of Muslims who do not want to be governed by Muslim Board. He further said that the new Waqf Act is more inclusive, earlier it used to be only Shia and Sunni, now even sects of Muslim community will have representation in the council.

The bench then asked Mehta, "Are you saying that from now on you will allow Muslims to be part of the Hindu endowment boards. Say it openly."

While referring to the scope under the new Act to de-notify properties declared as waqf long ago, the CJI said that the government cannot rewrite the history through the changes brought in by the amendments to Waqf law.

The apex court said when a public trust was declared to be a waqf 100 or 200 years ago, it couldnt suddenly be taken over by the waqf board and declared otherwise.

Read More: Mosques From 14th, 15th, 16th Centuries Wont Have Sale Deeds: SC Seeks Clarification On Waqf By User

Mehta submitted that a joint parliamentary committee had 38 sittings and examined 98.2 lakh memorandums before Parliaments both houses passed it. CJI Khanna also said one high court could be asked to deal with the pleas.

"There are two aspects we want to ask both the sides to address. Firstly, whether we should entertain or relegate it to the high court? Secondly, point out in brief what you are really urging and wanting to argue?" We are not saying there is any bar on SC in hearing, deciding pleas against the law," the CJI said.

Other Key Observations

In context of inclusion of non-Muslims in the Waqf Boards, CJI Khanna expressed surprise at SG Mehtas submission that the Bench cannot hear the case if argument against it were accepted.

When we sit over here. We lose our religion. For us both sides are the same. How can you compare it with the judges? Why not have non Muslims also in the advisory board of Hindu endowments then," the CJI retorted.

It also remarked that it may be impossible to present documents like sale deeds for certain religious properties which may be in existence for centuries.

The issue is with government property. Before British came, we did not have any registration or Transfer of Property Act. Many masjids will be in 14th or 15th century Suppose Jama Masjid," it said.

The powers given to government officer/ Collector under the amended Act also came under discussion during the hearing.

Is that fair? The moment collector starts deciding it, it stops being Waqf! Is it fair?," the court asked.

Meanwhile, the court also opined that Article 26 is universal" and is secular in the fashion that it applies to all". The remark came in reference to senior advocate Kapil Sibals submissions, wherein he claimed that many provisions of the Waqf Act violate Article 26.

Supreme Courts Proposals

The top court, however, proposed to order that the properties declared as waqf, including waqf by user, will not be denotified but the Centre opposed the suggestion and sought a hearing before such a directive.

The properties declared by courts as waqfs should not be denotified as waqfs, whether they are by waqf-by-user or waqf by deed, while the court is hearing the challenge to the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025," the bench said.

The bench, which did not issue a formal notice as of now, said it would resume hearing on the petitions at around 2 pm on April 17.

Waqf Act 2025

The Centre recently notified the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, which got the assent of President Droupadi Murmu on April 5 after its passage from Parliament following heated debates in both houses.

Several Muslim organisations and parties, including, All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), and the Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), and opposition MPs, including Congress Mohammad Jawed, Imran Pratapgarhi and AIMIM Asaduddin Owaisi have filed around 72 petitions challenging the validity of the Act.

They claimed that the Act is discriminatory towards Muslim community and violating their fundamental rights.

It was passed in the Rajya Sabha with 128 votes in favour and 95 opposing it, following a 13-hour debate going past midnight. It was cleared in the Lok Sabha in a 288-232 vote after a 12-hour debate.

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Meanwhile, the Centre, on April 8, filed a caveat in the apex court and sought a hearing before any order was passed in the matter.

(With inputs from agencies, Bar and Bench)

About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He previously worked with Hindustan Times Digital (HTDS) and NDTV. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India ... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He previously worked with Hindustan Times Digital (HTDS) and NDTV. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India ... Read More

First Published: April 16, 2025, 16:49 IST
Charlie Chaplin's 136th Birth Anniversary: Top Quotes And 10 Lesser-Known Facts About The Comic Legend

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 07:30 IST

Charlie Chaplins 136th Birth Anniversary: Charlie Chaplin was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1975. Here are some lesser-known facts about his life.

Charlie Chaplin is known for his iconic Little Tramp character. (File pic)

Charlie Chaplins 136th Birth Anniversary: Charlie Chaplin, the pioneer of slapstick comedy and silent movies, has been a source of inspiration for generations. Known for his unmatchable wit and insightful observations, he was part of more than 90 films. He not only pioneered his Little Tramp" character but also provided a masterclass for actors on how to express their emotions. Additionally, the legendary figure has left a huge legacy with his thoughtful quotes about life and happiness.

On his 136th birth anniversary, on April 16, lets look at some of Charlie Chaplins most popular quotes. Not just that, here are some lesser-known facts about the global icon.

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Charlie Chaplins Famous Quotes

Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up but a comedy in long-shot.

You need power only when you want to do something harmful. Otherwise, love is enough to get everything done.

Nothing is permanent in this wicked world  not even our troubles.

Youll find that life is still worthwhile if you just smile.

A day without laughter is a day wasted.

In the end, everything is a gag.

We think too much and feel too little.

We want to live by each others happiness, not by each others misery.

To truly laugh, you must be able to take your pain and play with it.

Wisdom usually grows up on us like calluses when we are old, gnarled and bent.

Charlie Chaplins 10 Lesser-Known Facts

Charlie Chaplin had striking blue eyes that had the power to look deep into the soul. It was simply a surprise for many, who were deeply invested in his black-and-white movies that made his eyes look brown.

Charlie Chaplin was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1975. The ceremony took place at the iconic Buckingham Palace on March 4, 1975. The Hollywood star received recognition for his immense contributions to cinema.

Although Chaplin always opposed using sound in films, as according to him, the sound and the dialogues used to ruin the beauty of cinema, he composed music for some of his films. The list includes City Lights and Limelight, among others.

Charlie Chaplin was the only person to receive a 12-minute standing ovation at the Academy Awards in 1972, the longest in the awards history. This happened when the actor returned to the US to receive an honorary Oscar.

Charlie Chaplins personal life was no less intriguing. The iconic actor had a huge family and tied the knot four times in his lifetime.

Charlie Chaplin had 11 children in total. During his marriage to Mildred Harris, their eldest child, Norman Spencer Chaplin was born in 1919 (unfortunately, the child died three days later). Afterwards, with his second wife, Lita Grey, he welcomed Charles Spencer Chaplin Jr. (born in 1925) and Sydney Earl Chaplin (born in 1926). Following this, Chaplin fathered Geraldine Chaplin (born in 1944), Michael John Chaplin (born in 1946), Josephine Hannah Chaplin (born in 1949), Victoria Chaplin (born in 1949), Eugene Anthony Chaplin (born in 1953), Jane Cecil Chaplin (born in 1957), Annette Emily Chaplin (born in 1959) and Christopher James Chaplin (born in 1962) with his fourth and final wife, Oona ONeill.

Charlie Chaplin had a hilariously epic conversation with Albert Einstein in 1931. In the candid chat, Einstein even praised Chaplins universality. In reply, the comedy actor mentioned that Einsteins glory was even greater than his.

Charlie Chaplin was the first actor to appear on Time magazine cover. It was on the July 6, 1925, issue of Time magazine, which became a significant incident in the history of cinema and fashion.

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Charlie Chaplin was inspired by Mahatma Gandhis principles after meeting him at a flat in London. By then, the Hollywood icon was already a fan of the Indian freedom fighter and after the personal meeting, the influence of Gandhism on Charlie became more deep and clear.

Charlie Chaplin poked fun at Adolf Hitler. After his meeting with Mahatma Gandhi, he was so much influenced by the non-violence philosophies that the filmmaker even made a movie in 1940 named The Great Dictator.

About the Author Nibandh Vinod Nibandh Vinod is a seasoned journalist with 26 years of experience, specializing in covering events, festivals, and driving SEO content for News18.com. A tech-savvy person, Nibandh works closely with a young te... Read More Nibandh Vinod is a seasoned journalist with 26 years of experience, specializing in covering events, festivals, and driving SEO content for News18.com. A tech-savvy person, Nibandh works closely with a young te... Read More

fashion, travel, The News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health food , and culture  with wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration, and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated!

First Published: April 16, 2025, 07:30 IST
Akshay Kumar Makes Humble Request To Fans Ahead Of Kesari 2: 'Don't Use Phones In The Theatre'

Curated By :

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Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 12:18 IST

Kesari Chapter 2 Release: At the Kesari 2 premiere in Delhi, Akshay Kumar urged the audience to focus on the film's dialogues and avoid using their phones. Political leaders and the film's stars attended.

A poster of Kesari Chapter 2.

Kesari 2 Release: We all know Akshay Kumar for his action-packed performances and larger-than-life roles, but at the grand premiere of Kesari 2 in Delhi on April 15, he showed us his softer, more emotional side. Standing in front of an excited crowd just days before the films big release, Akshay didnt hype up the action or the scale of the film. Instead, he made a humble little request.

Kumar urged the audience to put away their phones and focus on the films dialogues. I humbly request you all to please keep your phones in your pockets and listen to every dialogue of this film. It will mean a lot. If you try to check your Instagram during the movie, it will be a humiliation for the film. So I request everyone to keep their phones away."

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Also See: Kesari 2 Review

The grand premiere of Kesari 2 turned into a star-studded evening in Delhi, with several prominent political leaders and dignitaries making their way to the special screening. Among those present were Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, BJP MPs Anurag Thakur and Bansuri Swaraj, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, along with Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Kapil Mishra, and Ashish Sood.

Held at a popular theatre in Chanakyapuri, the event had a buzz of excitement in the air. Lead stars Akshay Kumar and R. Madhavan were seen warmly welcoming their guests, personally greeting them as they arrived. It was an exclusive screening ahead of the films official release.

Kesari 2, directed by first-time filmmaker Karan Singh Tyagi, dives deep into a powerful slice of history. The film brings to life the incredible true story of lawyer C. Sankaran Nair, who bravely took on the British Empire in a courtroom battle back in the 1920s. His fight for justice not only shook the colonial establishment but also became a turning point in Indias legal and political struggle for independence.

Kesari 2 is based on the book The Case That Shook the Empire by Raghu Palat, great-grandson of C. Sankaran Nair, and Pushpa Palat. The film follows Nairs bold legal battle after he was sued by Michael ODwyer, the former Lieutenant Governor of Punjab. Nair had exposed British atrocities in his writings, including the horrors of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, leading to this landmark trial.

Backed by Karan Johar, Kesari 2 is all set to hit theatres on April 18, 2025.

First Published: April 16, 2025, 09:57 IST
Jaat: Sunny Deol, Randeep Hooda's Film Sparks Controversy Over Church Scene, Christians Demand Ban

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 07:53 IST

Sunny Deol and Randeep Hooda's film Jaat faces backlash from Christians over a controversial church scene. They demand a ban, claiming it hurts sentiments.

Jaat has earned nearly Rs 50 crore as of now.

Days after its theatrical release, Sunny Deol and Randeep Hoodas Jaat has landed in trouble. The Christian community has objected to the film and expressed disappointment with the church scene. In the particular scene, Randeep Hooda is seen standing inside a church, beneath a crucifix placed above the sacred pulpit, while members of the congregation are seen praying. It also depicts hooliganism and intimidation inside the church.

This has left the Christian community disappointed, who are now demanding a ban on the film. As reported by India Today, the community claims that the scene hurts their religious sentiments and appears to defame them. Reportedly, members of the community had initially planned to stage a protest against the movie. However, they are now demanding a ban on it. Representatives from the community have also submitted a memorandum to the Joint Commissioner demanding a ban on the screening of the film in theatres.

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Jaat is an action thriller film written and directed by Gopichand Malineni (in his Hindi film debut) and produced by Mythri Movie Makers and People Media Factory. The film stars Sunny Deol and Randeep Hooda, alongside Saiyami Kher, Regina Cassandra, Jagapathi Babu, Ramya Krishnan, Vineet Kumar Singh, Prashant Bajaj, Zarina Wahab, P. Ravi Shankar and Babloo Prithiveeraj.

The story follows Brigadier Baldev Pratap Singh, fondly known as Jaat," who is enroute from Chennai to Ayodhya by train when an unexpected accident halts the journey at a small village near Chirala. Stepping off the train for a quick meal, he finds himself caught in a heated scuffle with Ranatunga, also known as Muthuvel Karikalana former Deputy Commander of the Jaffna Tiger Force. Ranatunga now rules the village with an iron fist, backed by corrupt local police.

As Jaat spends time in the village, he begins to witness the fear and suffering etched into the lives of its people. Unwilling to stand by, he takes a stand against the oppressive regime. What follows is a gripping showdown between the righteous brigadier and the ruthless warlord.

Jaat has earned close to Rs 50 crore as of now.

About the Author Chirag Sehgal Chirag Sehgal works as a Sub-Editor in the Entertainment team at News18.com. With an experience of five years in the media industry, he largely focuses on Indian television coverage. Apart from bringing breakin... Read More Chirag Sehgal works as a Sub-Editor in the Entertainment team at News18.com. With an experience of five years in the media industry, he largely focuses on Indian television coverage. Apart from bringing breakin... Read More

First Published: April 16, 2025, 07:53 IST
Urvashi Rautela Says She Is Perfect Because She Hails From Uttarakhand: 'Fair, Good Looking, Tall'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 09:03 IST

Urvashi Rautela claimed in a resurfaced video that people from Uttarakhand are naturally perfect, citing her family's looks. Netizens trolled her for being self-obsessed.

Urvashi Rautela was recently seen in Daaku Maharaj. (Image: urvashirautela/Instagram)

Urvashi Rautela has once again grabbed everyones attention. A video of the actress has resurfaced on social media in which she is seen explaining that she is perfect" because she hails from Uttarakhand. Urvashi claimed that people from Uttarakhand are generally fair, good-looking and tall". She also cited the example of her father and argued that he looks no less than a supermodel. She also hinted that people of her state are better looking than people from the North, South, East or West".

All you see is like one million per cent all natural. Where do I come from? Uttarakhand. Wahan ke log jab paida hi hote hai voh automatically itne perfect hote hai ke unko kisi cheez ki zaroorat nahi padti. Depends aap kahan se aate hai  North, South, East or West. Main kuch upar neeche nahi keh rahi hu but everybody is different. Genes alag hote hai. Aap mere father ko dekheinge, he is 6 feet 3 inches, fair, good-looking, tall. Just like a supermodel. He is not a supermodel. He is a businessman. Jo mere Nani ji hai voh Vyjayanthimala se kam nahi lagti. She is 90 years old. Abhi tak her face is so tight. I think a lot depends ki hamare genes kaise hai," Urvashi said.

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View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mamaraazzi (@mamaraazzi)

Soon after the video surfaced on social media, netizens reacted to it and trolled the actress. While some called her self-obsessed, others asked her to make such insensitive comments. There is a limit of self-obsession," one of the users wrote. Pure Uttarakhand ki traf se me mafi mangti hu," another joked. She should hire someone specific to listen to her obsessioncause I guess we are exhausted," a third comment read. Showoff at peak ..her beauty dies with her personality," added another.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Urvashi Rautela was recently seen in Daaku Maharaaj.

About the Author Chirag Sehgal Chirag Sehgal works as a Sub-Editor in the Entertainment team at News18.com. With an experience of five years in the media industry, he largely focuses on Indian television coverage. Apart from bringing breakin... Read More Chirag Sehgal works as a Sub-Editor in the Entertainment team at News18.com. With an experience of five years in the media industry, he largely focuses on Indian television coverage. Apart from bringing breakin... Read More

First Published: April 16, 2025, 09:03 IST
US Vice-President JD Vance is all set to visit India as a trade deal with the US is being negotiated. This comes at a time when a full blown trade war between US and China has broken out, indicating decoupling and no off-ramp in sight. While the question of who can endure more pain lingers between the US and China, an opportunity presents itself to India. Shubhangi Sharma explains.
Assam BJP Chief Lambasts Minister In Presence Of CM Sarma In An Event | Watch

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 22:12 IST

In the viral video clip, Saikia can be seen scolding Baruah, who is the MLA from Nalbari constituency. He also reportedly instructed local party officials to remove the mandal president from the scene

The screengrab of the viral video of Assam BJP chief Dilip Saikia shouting at an event (X)

Assam BJP Altercation: A purported video of Assam BJP President Dilip Saikia scolding state cabinet minister Jayanta Malla Baruah in front of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has gained widespread attention, with the opposition Congress mocking the ruling party.

The incident took place at Bahjani in Nalbari district during inauguration of the new Mandal office by Sarma on Sunday.

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In the viral video clip, Saikia can be seen scolding Baruah, who is the MLA from Nalbari constituency. He also reportedly instructed local party officials to remove the mandal president from the scene. Sarma can be seen standing next to Baruah, while Saikia looked agitated.

STORY | Video of Assam BJP chief Dilip Saikia scolding minister Jayanta Malla Baruah goes viralREAD: https://t.co/9ZGfUMGSfh VIDEO: #AssamNews (Source: Third Party) pic.twitter.com/1fKYkLQHiX  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 16, 2025

It was however difficult to hear what Saikia was shouting about, but he was allegedly seen pointing fingers at Baruah and saying, "your constituency disrespect to the president" in front of Sarma and others.

Then Sarma and others moved from the place and entered a room in the office complex.

According to a party leader, Saikia was upset at not being able to enter the venue while the CM, Baruah and the mandal president were inside and asked Baruah how this could happen in his constituency.

This was not a government programme, but a party event. The state party chief should get the prime importance. I think the state president felt that he was not given the due respect, and that is why this incident happened," he told news agency PTI.

Congress Jibes At Ruling BJP

Assam Congress president Bhupen Borah called the altercation a display of the cracks between RSS-loyalists" in the BJP and the new guard" of the party.

Ram Ram, rebellion on 1st Bohag (the first month of Assamese new year) SANGHI RAJ vs SYNDICATE RAJ I always knew that, in BJP Assam, the Syndicate Sardars are facing a fightback from the RSS-loyalists, but unfortunately the Godi Media is too afraid to show it," he said in a post on X.

 ,   !SANGHI RAJ vs SYNDICATE RAJI always new that, in BJP Assam, the Syndicate Sardars are facing a fightback from the RSS-loyalists, but unfortunately the Godi Media is too afraid to show it. Therefore, while this shouting match is not a revelation, pic.twitter.com/GFFEqxmHfs  Bhupen kumar Borah (@BhupenKBorah) April 15, 2025

In any case: just see how the CM who likes to show his courage and manliness by locking up ordinary people, journalists and Congress spokesmen, demurred in front of the BJP State President @DilipSaikia4Bjp," he added.

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Tagging the CM, the state Congress president said, It was nice to see you lose your voice." He (Sarma) always considered his chair more important than his self-respect and it is the latest evidence, Borah alleged.

Saikia, who is also the Darrang-Udalguri MP, was made the state BJP president earlier this year and has grown within the RSS and the BJP for nearly four decades. On the other hand, many of the BJPs most prominent faces in the state  including Sarma and Baruah  are relatively recent imports into the party in the last decade  both from the Congress.

About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He previously worked with Hindustan Times Digital (HTDS) and NDTV. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India ... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He previously worked with Hindustan Times Digital (HTDS) and NDTV. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India ... Read More

Location : Assam, India, India

First Published: April 16, 2025, 22:08 IST
ED's National Herald Case Against Gandhis Sparks Big Congress Protests, BJP Rejects 'Vendetta' Claim

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 13:29 IST

BJP dismissed Congress' vendetta claim after ED chargesheeted Sonia and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case. Ravi Shankar Prasad said the law will take its course under Modi's government

Congress workers held a massive protest against Central Government and Central agencies, outside their party office. (Photos:X)

The Enforcement Directorates chargesheet against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case has snowballed into a controversy, with Congress calling it an example of vendetta" politics while the ruling BJP asserted that no one has a license to loot".

Congress workers held a massive protest against Central Government and Central agencies, outside their party office on Wednesday.

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Former law minister and BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said the law will take its own course under the Modi government and that probe agencies will not be fazed by the threats" of the Congress.

Speaking to reporters, he asked the Congress to reply to the substance of allegations against the Gandhis instead of merely offering a political reaction, noting that the opposition party found no relief from the judiciary in its pleas against the probe.

He outlined the main charge against the Gandhis that as the 76 per cent share-holder of the Young India company they misappropriated" thousands of crores of real estate owned by the Associated Journals Limited (AJL), which owned the National Herald newspaper.

The senior BJP leader said the Congress has the right to hold dharnas (to protest the ED chargesheet against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul) but that right does not extend to misappropriating public properties given by the government to the National Herald.

We condemn the threats from the Congress. There is Modi government in place. It will allow the law to take its own course," he said.

The Young India, he said, wrote off the Rs 90 crore loan that the Congress had given to the AJL and got the ownership of the company with a paltry investment of Rs 50 lakhs. The land was given to the AJL by the government, he said, adding that the National Herald was allegedly used by the Congress establishment to collect advertisement and properties.

He alleged, A newspaper that was established in the freedom struggle to espouse the voice of those fighting the British imperialism degenerated into a money-minting exercise for the Congress party establishment." Taking a swipe, he said this is the Gandhi model of development" as he noted the allegation against Sonia Gandhis son-in-law Robert Vadra of pocketing a huge profit in a land deal in Haryana with the collusion of the then Congress government in the state.

The National Herald was started in the 1930s as a voice of the freedom struggle with 5,000 shareholders but was reduced to a fief of the Nehru-Gandhi family, he alleged.

Prasad claimed that Congress leaders like Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Chandra Bhanu Gupta had voiced concerns over the manner in which the newspaper, which has ceased to publish, was run.

The Enforcement Directorate has filed a chargesheet against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi and others before a special court here in the National Herald case, accusing them of allegedly laundering Rs 988 crore.

Congress Says Vendetta Politics

Calling EDs action as vendetta politics", Congress leader Supriya Shrinate said the money laundering charge was invoked in the chargesheet where not even 1 paisa was laundered and not even one asset was transferred.

Our people are agitated, public is agitated, Congress workers are agitated. In a 12-year-old false case, you remembered only on the last day to file a chargesheet. You invoked charges of money laundering in the chargesheet where not even 1 paisa was laundered, where not even one asset was transferred, where Young India is a non-profit organisationThe truth is that this is Narendra Modis vendetta politicsWe will face this in court. But you can see peoples anger, our workers anger. It shows that PM Narendra Modi is scared of our leaders and all the issues raised by us. He is scared of the Congress organisational structureRahul Gandhi is someone who is not scared of you. This is a bogus case. The issues raised by Rahul Gandhi have exposed you," Shrinate said.

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Congress leader Sachin Pilot said that case against Gandhis has been politically motivated". We have faith in the judicial system. We will fight it out legallyRahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi have been purposefully targeted. This has been done to suppress the voice of the opposition," he said.

(With inputs from ANI, PTI)

About the Author Saurabh Verma Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19 Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19

First Published: April 16, 2025, 13:15 IST
'She's Redrawn South Asia': BJP Mocks Mamata Banerjee Over 'Bengal Borders Sri Lanka' Comment

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 14:26 IST

Mamata Banerjee was addressing a gathering of Muslim clerics after violence rocked Murshidabad, killing three people during the anti-Waqf Act protests.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee (PTI Image)

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday made a goof-up while addressing Muslim clerics, during which she said that her state shares a border with Sri Lanka.

The mistake drew quirky reaction from the BJP, which said that the geography expert" Chief Minister has redrawn South Asia".

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Bengal is the border of Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka," Mamata said at the gathering, while attacking the Centre over the reports of the role of outsiders" in the Bengal violence.

West Bengal shares borders with three nations  Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh  not Sri Lanka, which is an island nation.

BJP Mocks Geography Expert Mamata

The BJP took a swipe at Mamata, stating that she cannot even tell where the border of her state ends.

#BREAKING: According to geography expert & Failed West Bengal CM @MamataOfficial, the state now shares a border with Sri Lanka! Move over, mapsDidis imagination has redrawn South Asia!When the Chief Minister herself cant tell where her state ends and an island nation begins, pic.twitter.com/HW4zOY6mzq  Dr. Sukanta Majumdar (@DrSukantaBJP) April 16, 2025

According to geography expert & Failed West Bengal CM @MamataOfficial, the state now shares a border with Sri Lanka! Move over, mapsDidis imagination has redrawn South Asia! When the Chief Minister herself cant tell where her state ends and an island nation begins, is it any wonder qualified teachers are jobless while scams thrive? In Mamatas Bengal, facts are optional, logic is missing, and incompetence is a qualification," State BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar posted on X.

Mamata Attacks BSF Over Entry Of Outsiders

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Stating that the BSF is controlled by the Ministry of Home Affairs and does not come under the jurisdiction of the West Bengal government, Mamata alleged that the central force allowed the entry of outsiders into the state to create chaos during the anti-Waqf Amendment Act protests in Murshidabad last week, that claimed the lives of three people and left several others injured.

I saw a tweet yesterday quoting Home Ministry sources that Bangladesh is involved in this. If that is the case, the Central government is responsible since BSF guards the borders, not us. State government doesnt have the responsibility to guard the borders. Why did they allow BJP thugs from outside to come and create chaos before fleeing the scene? It is a pre-planned riot," she alleged.

About the Author Ashesh Mallick Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More

First Published: April 16, 2025, 14:12 IST
Partys Stand Vs Personal Ambition? Face Of Vokkaligas DK Shivakumar Walks Caste Census Tightrope

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 10:44 IST

With the Karnataka caste survey being seen as a potential game-changer, the deputy CM has been trying to manage the discontent brewing among Vokkaliga leaders

For Shivakumar, its more than just caste arithmeticits about political survival. (PTI)

The leaked caste census report has triggered a fresh churn in Karnataka politics. Deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar is working overtime to try and ensure that the powerful Vokkaliga community stays firmly within the Congress fold at a time when he is trying to consolidate himself as the leader of the second-largest dominant community in Karnataka until the last census was conducted.

The Congress has been struggling to contain the damage since tabling the caste censusboth within and from outside.

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Shivakumar, who has been actively projecting himself as the Vokkaliga face in the party, is walking a political tightrope. With the caste survey being seen as a potential game-changer, Shivakumar has been trying to manage the discontent brewing among Vokkaliga leaders.

For Shivakumar, its more than just caste arithmeticits about political survival.

In a closed-door meeting in Bengaluru, Shivakumar met with Vokkaliga MLAs and prominent leaders, attempting to douse the fire and listen to their concerns. The meeting came after the socio-economic and educational survey  commissioned in 2015 during Siddaramaiahs earlier tenure  was formally handed over to ministers in the Cabinet. While parts of the report have been leaked and reported, the complete data remains confidential.

It is said that the recommendations have been made to increase reservation for OBCs from 32 per cent to 51 per cent, and for Muslims from 4 per cent to 8 per cent. This has not just drawn flak from opposition parties but also sharp reactions from within the Congress itself. The party is now facing heat from its own leaders, especially from the powerful Vokkaliga community, who feel their position is being diluted under the garb of social justice.

Sources who attended the meeting said Shivakumar assured leaders that the government would not take any hasty decisions and that the report would only be tabled after wider consultations. The Congress government is committed to justice for all communities, and we will ensure that concerns raised by any group are looked into. There is a need to explain how the data was collected. There are apprehensions that it was not done in a scientific manner. All that will come out once we get the entire report and we are able to analyse it in toto," a senior leader said.

But it also learnt that Vokkaliga leaders were blunt. They made it clear that they would not accept any move that chips away at their current political or reservation space. We have communicated clearly that our position cannot be undermined in the name of social justice and there is a certain threshold that one should not cross," said a Vokkaliga leader.

The pushback from the community is significant. Leaders questioned the delay in tabling the report and raised concerns about transparency. Why is there no clarity? We want to know where we stand. If our numbers are shown as smaller than they are, it will affect our future  politically and in terms of welfare entitlements," one leader said.

Shivakumar, aware of the political risk, tried to balance his partys narrative on OBC empowerment with the anxiety among dominant communities like the Vokkaligas and Lingayats. I have told them that no decision will be taken that harms the Vokkaligas. As a community, they have always contributed to the states growth and politics," he said after the meeting.

For Shivakumar, the stakes are high. The caste census has come at a time when he is positioning himself as the next CM face. Losing grip on the Vokkaliga vote base would dent his ambitions.

Congress MLC Dinesh Gooligowda, also a Vokkaliga, shot off a letter to chief minister Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, asking for either a committee of experts or a Cabinet sub-committee to study the findings. In light of the concerns raised, I request the formation of a sub-committee to thoroughly study the survey and submit its findings," he wrote.

The 50-volume caste census report, conducted first by the Kantharaj Commision and later taken over by Jayaprakash Hegde, was finally tabled with the Siddaramaiah Cabinet last Friday. It has already seen pushback not just from the Congress but also from BJP, JD(S), and religious leaders representing the Lingayats and Vokkaligas. Critics have questioned the methodology of the survey and demanded that it be redone.

While the leaked parts of the report do not explicitly mention the population figures of Vokkaligas and Lingayats, it outlines category-based reservations. Under Category III(A), which includes Vokkaligas and two other communities, the population is estimated at 73 lakh, with a 7 per cent quota recommendation. Under Category III(B), which covers Veerashaiva-Lingayats and five other castes, the figure is 81.3 lakh, with an 8 per cent suggested quota. The states overall population is pegged at 5.9 crore.

Industries minister MB Patil, a prominent Lingayat voice in the Cabinet, also flagged concerns. If we count all the Lingayat sub-sects and those listed under 3B, their total population easily crosses one crore," he said.

Senior Congress leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa, who is also president of the All-India Veerashaiva Mahasabha, called the survey unscientific" and claimed that no one had even visited his home for data collection.

Shivakumar, while keeping a low profile on the specifics, said: Everyone is trying to safeguard their communities. Thats their democratic right. The cabinet will take up the matter on April 17, and the CM has said the assembly will also debate the issue. We wont rush into it."

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The 1990 Chenna Reddy Commission had estimated Lingayats at 19 per cent and Vokkaligas at 17 per cent, and that data had formed the basis for a 4 per cent quota for Muslims by the then Deve Gowda government. According to the 2015 survey, Muslims constitute 12.6 per cent of the states population. The largest single group is the Scheduled Castes, with a population of around 1.1 crore, spread across 108 sub-castes.

The BJP has gone on the offensive, accusing the Congress of engineering the survey to appease minorities. This is clearly a fabricated report. Its obvious that the CM dictated the numbers. Otherwise, how do you explain Muslims being shown as the largest community?" said senior BJP leader and leader of opposition R Ashoka.

About the Author Rohini Swamy Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for nearly two decades in the television and digital space. She covers south India for News18s digital platform. She has previously worked with t... Read More Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for nearly two decades in the television and digital space. She covers south India for News18s digital platform. She has previously worked with t... Read More

First Published: April 16, 2025, 10:44 IST
'Politicians Without Mandate Misusing SC Platform': Rijiju To News18 On Waqf Act Row

Reported By :

CNN-News18

Last Updated: April 17, 2025, 00:05 IST

The union minister also slammed the Congress for protesting against the Enforcement Directorate on the National Herald issue

Union minister Kiren Rijiju. (File photo/PTI)

Amid the judicial scrutiny of the Waqf Act, minority affairs minister Kiren Rijiju has slammed the petitioners for trying to undermine Parliament". Speaking exclusively to CNN-News18, Rijiju expressed hope that the Supreme Court will not be misled". Some politicians who have not got the mandate of the people are trying via the back door by misusing the platform of the Supreme Court," he said. I am confident that the SC will make a good decision."

His comments came when an SC bench led by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna on Wednesday was on the verge of giving an interim order that could have favoured the petitioners. Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra posted on social media site X, Delighted that SC proposed to stay three really egregious aspects of Wakf Act today & asked govt some tough questions. Hoping for full follow through tomorrow on my petition. @AITCofficial committed to upholding Constitution. @MamataOfficial @abhishekaitc."

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When asked about the now-withdrawn interim order of the SC, Rijiju said he would not want to comment on court proceedings since not just the SC but all judicial platforms must be respected. The minister, however, condemned the opposition for seeking judicial scrutiny of every law. We have to respect SC and other judicial institutions I have nothing to comment on SC proceedings but India is a parliamentary democracy the future of people is decided by people through the elected government these people are making a malicious attempt to use SC for their cause to stay legislations enacted by Parliament Parliament is the will of the people of India anything unconstitutional will be looked at by SC but if you keep challenging every law what will the courts do? They have crores of cases waiting for justice that justice will be delayed what these people could not do on the floor of the House they are using SC to achieve it," the minister said.

Rijiju also slammed West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee for the Murshidabad violence. Violence in Murshidabad was after people were misled and instigated, encouraged to break the law. Any act passed by the Parliament of India is applicable to every inch of our country some people holding constitutional positions are openly defying and declaring that they will not implement the law passed by Parliament it is unfortunate they will realise later. Because of their utterances, people are getting agitated," he said.

The minister added that the only people protesting against the Waqf Act were beneficiaries of the waqf misuse. When asked if the government suspects a foreign hand or involvement of illegal immigrants, Rijiju remained non-committal.

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I will not go into the foreign hand issue, but those who have misused waqf property, who treat Muslims as a vote bank they are working together and protesting two classes of people  waqf misuse beneficiaries and political beneficiaries are protesting. The majority of Muslims poor people, women are welcoming it the majority of Muslims have understood that waqf properties have not been utilised for the welfare of Muslim people," he said.

The parliamentary affairs minister also slammed the Congress for protesting against the Enforcement Directorate on the National Herald issue. He said the law should be allowed to take its own course. They force the Congress workers to protest when the Gandhi family is involved. They dont care about anyone else. If you are clean, what is there to fear?" he said. If you dont act against corruption, they accuse you of not doing anything. If agencies work, then they are charged with witch-hunt If someone is clean, why bother? Indian courts always do justice. If there is a corruption chargesheet against anyone else, Congress never protestsOnly when it is Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi or Vadrathey make hue and crySome privileged family puts all workers on the streets."

About the Author Arunima Arunima is Editor (Home Affairs) and covers strategic, security and political affairs. From the Ukraine-Russia War to the India-China stand-off in Ladakh to India-Pak clashes, she has reported from ground zero ... Read More Arunima is Editor (Home Affairs) and covers strategic, security and political affairs. From the Ukraine-Russia War to the India-China stand-off in Ladakh to India-Pak clashes, she has reported from ground zero ... Read More

First Published: April 17, 2025, 00:05 IST
'Was In Jail When Article 370 Was Abrogated': Farooq Abdullah Rubbishes Ex-RAW Chiefs Book Claim

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 16:30 IST

In his new book 'The Chief Minister and The Spy', Dulat claims that Abdullah privately backed the Centres move to scrap Article 370

Farooq Abdullah backed Article 370 move, claims Dulat's book (PTI Image)

National Conference President Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday firmly rejected former RAW chief AS Dulats claim that he supported the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, calling it completely wrong" and stating that he was in jail when the Centre revoked Jammu and Kashmirs special status.

Responding to Dulats new book The Chief Minister and The Spy, Abdullah expressed disappointment and said the book was filled with inaccuracies, especially in how Dulat portrayed him.

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Dulat sahabs book is full of so many inaccuracies, I cant even begin to describe them. Its unfortunate  if he really considers me a friend, then he wouldnt have written such things. In the book, he claims I asked him whom to make CM when I formed the government in 1996  thats completely false," Abdullah told PTI.

VIDEO | Srinagar: Reacting to the remarks made in former RAW chief AS Dulats latest book The CM and the Spy, National Conference President Farooq Abdullah said:Dulat sahabs book is full of so many inaccuracies, I cant even begin to describe them. Its unfortunate  if he pic.twitter.com/AoT5CDDl1x  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 16, 2025

In the book, Dulat claims that Abdullah privately supported the Centres move to scrap Article 370, despite publicly opposing it.

ALSO READ: Never Trusted Dulat: Farooq Abdullahs Daughter Slams Ex-RAW Chief Over Article 370 Claims

Opinions Divided Over Dulats Book Claim

When Article 370 of the Constitution, which granted special status to the former state of Jammu and Kashmir, was abrogated in August 2019 by the Narendra Modi-led central government, Abdullah has repeatedly voiced his opposition and consistently made his stand clear through public speeches and media interactions.

The claim made in Dulats new book has also drawn sharp criticismespecially from within the National Conference. Dulat, a close associate of Abdullah, faced a fierce backlash from several NC leaders.

National Conference spokesperson and MLA Tanvir Sadiq dismissed the books claims as baseless and fictional", saying there were far more pressing issues facing Jammu and Kashmir than dwelling on such misleading narratives.

Abdullahs daughter, Safia Abdullah Khan, also responded strongly, saying she had never trusted Dulat and described him as someone whose loyalty was only to himself".

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Meanwhile, some opposition leaders came out in support of Dulats version. Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference chief Sajad Lone said the claims made in the book were very credible", pointing out that Dulat had been the closest ally" of Abdullah.

Iltija Mufti, daughter of PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti, also weighed in, saying the revelations showed that Abdullah chose to stay in Kashmir instead of the Parliament" in a way that supported the betrayal" of Jammu and Kashmir.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More

Location : Srinagar, India, India

First Published: April 16, 2025, 15:46 IST
We'd Have Helped...: Farooq Abdullah Backed Centre's 370 Move In Private, Says Ex-RAW Chief's Book

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 13:13 IST

In an explosive claim, ex-RAW chief AS Dulat said in his new book that Farooq Abdullah may have publicly called abrogation of Article 370 "betrayal", however, he backed the move in private.

Farooq Abdullah backed Article 370 move, claims Dulat's book (PTI Image)

National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah, in public, has repeatedly voiced his opposition to the abrogation of Article 370 from the Constitution that gave a special status to Jammu and Kashmir, but in private, he backed the Centres move, former RAW chief AS Dulat has made an explosive claim in his new book, The Chief Minister and the Spy.

In his public speeches and media interactions, Abdullah repeatedly called the Modi governments August 5, 2019, step a betrayal"; however, he sang a different tune in private, according to the book that has made explosive claims, Hindustan Times reported.

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However, his party has denied the claims, claiming that the author wants to make the book sensational".

What Did AS Dulat Say About Farooq Abdullah In His Book?

We would have helped (pass the proposal). Why were we not taken into confidence?" Abdullah asked Dulat, the book said.

Abdullah and his son (now the J&K Chief Minister) Omar had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi  a meeting which came days before the Centres historic move, the secrecy of which was maintained until the last moment when the Bill was presented in the Parliament.

What transpirednobody will ever know," Dulat wrote in his book.

After the passage of the Bill, Abdullah was detained for nearly seven months. They (government) wanted him to accept the new reality," Dulat wrote.

In 2020, when Abdullah was released from detention, he refused to endorse the governments decision. Whatever I say, I will say in Parliament," the former J&K chief minister told Dulat.

Abdullah was the one who joined hands with long-time rivals such as PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti and forged the Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), to raise voice against the Centres unilateral" decision and seek the restoration of Article 370 and statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, which was temporarily turned to a Union Territory with a promise to give its statehood back at an appropriate time.

National Conference Denies Claims In Dulats Book

Dulat contradicts his own statement in the book. Farooq Abdullah took PAGD forward, and he made it. Wouldnt have done it if it was true," NC Chief Spokesperson and legislator Tanvir Sadiq said.

Terming the revelations in the book a figment of imagination, the party spokesperson alleged that Dulat wants relevance".

The claims are figments of imagination. The author wants relevance and wants to make the book sensational," he said.

Dismissing the claims, Abdullahs daughter, Safia Abdullah Khan, said that she never trusted Dulat and he was someone whose loyalty was only to himself".

I have never trusted Dulat as far as I could throw him. He was always a spy whose loyalty was only to himself. He never cared who he threw under the bus with his previous books. I have read this book and he has played fast and loose with the truth once again," she posted on X.

I have never trusted Dulat as far as I could throw him. He was always a spy whose loyalty was only to himself. He never cared who he threw under the bus with his previous books. I have read this book and he has played fast and loose with the truth once again. Safia Abdullah Khan (@safiakhan71) April 16, 2025

Opposition Slams Farooq Abdullah Over Massive Revelation

J&K Peoples Conference chief Sajad Lone hit out at Abdullah and said that the claims made by Dulat are very credible" as he is the closest ally" of the former chief minister.

Coming from Dullat sahib makes this revelation very credible. Dullat sahib is the closest ally of and friend of Farooq sahib. Virtually his alter ego," Lone posted on X.

Dullat sahib has revealed in his upcoming book that Farooq Sahib privately supported the abrogation of Article 370.Coming from Dullat sahib makes this revelation very credible. Dullat sahib is the closest ally of and friend of Farooq sahib. Virtually his alter ego.  Sajad Lone (@sajadlone) April 16, 2025

He said that he was not surprised" at the revelation as Abdullahs meeting with the Prime Minister before the abrogation of Article 370 was never a mystery for me".

I personally am not surprised at this revelation. The August 4 2019 meeting of CM sahib and Farooq sahib with the PM was never a mystery for me. I can visualise Farooq sahib saying  Humey roney deejiye Aap apna kaam karein hum aap kay Saath hain- It now seems 2024 was a prize for services rendered in 2019. Of course in national interest," he said, taking a swipe at the National Conferences 2024 J&K Assembly election victory.

Iltija Mufti Attacks Farooq Abdullah

Training guns at Abdullah over his absence during the passage of the Bill in the Parliament in 2019, Mehbooba Muftis daughter Iltija said that the revelations have made it clear that the NC chief chose to stay in Kashmir instead of the Parliament" to help" the betrayal" of Jammu and Kashmir.

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Dulat sahab an ardent Abdullah supporter has shared how Farooq sahab agreed with Delhis illegal move of abrogating Article 370. There were already doubts about what transpired between the Abdullahs & PM days before J&Ks special status was revoked. With this its clear that Farooq sahab chose to stay in Kashmir instead of the Parliament to help normalise gutting of J&Ks constitution & subsequent betrayal," Mufti posted on X.

Junaid Azim Mattu, Former Mayor of Srinagar, took a swipe at Abdullah and said, Something seems to have fallen out of NCs bag YET AGAIN and it does seem to be a cat. Commiserations to the vulnerable, gullible people of Kashmir."

About the Author Ashesh Mallick Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More

First Published: April 16, 2025, 11:04 IST
Mamata Banerjee Targets BSF Amid Buzz Over Bangladeshi Link To Bengal Violence, BJP Reacts

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 16:52 IST

Mamata Banerjee made a big charge at the BSF, alleging that it allowed the "outsiders" to enter West Bengal and execute "pre-planned riots" in the state during anti-Waqf Act protests.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee (PTI Image)

Dubbing the violent protests in Murshidabad against the Waqf Act pre-planned communal riots", West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday alleged that the Border Security Force allowed those from outside" to enter the state and create chaos.

Mamata was reacting to reports that the initial probe into the Murshidabad violence indicated the involvement of alleged Bangladeshi miscreants.

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Her remarks came while addressing Muslim clerics, days after three people died in Murshidabad in anti-Waqf Act violence, while some people were also injured in violence in the South 24 Parganas district.

Mamata Accuses BJP Of Inciting People

Alleging that the Opposition BJP in the state was inciting people", Mamata claimed that attempts are being made to defame" Bengal.

Some people are defying the Constitution. Ambedkar made the Constitution. They have made this Constitution; we cannot say the BJP Constitution. What are you doing with the Constitution? You are inciting people. Some media will defame Bengal. They all do fake news," she alleged.

The Chief Minister further urged the Muslims not to take the law into their own hands.

We have high respect for Imam and Purohit. Dont get excited by the BJPs words, dont take the law into your hands, and please control. I do Durga Pujo, they say we dont do. We have respect for all religions," she said.

I want to challenge and tell the Government of India  why were you so hurried about [Waqf Amendment]? Didnt you know the situation in Bangladesh? Bengal shares a border with Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka. Hold meetings with Yunus, have pacts and agreements. I will be happy if it brings good to the country. But what is their plan? To engage in riots by using certain agencies that facilitate movement of people from there? I saw a tweet yesterday quoting Home Ministry sources that Bangladesh is involved in this. If that is the case, the Central government is responsible since BSF guards the borders, not us. State government doesnt have the responsibility to guard the borders. Why did they allow BJP thugs from outside to come and create chaos before fleeing the scene? It is a pre-planned riot," Mamata alleged.

#WATCH | During her meeting with Muslim clerics, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee says Yesterday, I saw a tweet from ANI quoting the Home Ministry that Bangladesh is involved in this (Murshidabad violence). If this is true, the Central Govt is responsible for it. BSF takes care of https://t.co/yEW3bqGqrB pic.twitter.com/ubcrMMuTVP ANI (@ANI) April 16, 2025

She asked the Muslims to protest in the national capital and seek an appointment from the President and the Prime Minister over the Waqf issue.

Go to Delhi and do movement. Seek appointment from the President and PM. Do programmes in Delhi, stay there. Do your movement there. I assure you TMC MPs will be there," she said.

BJP Slams Mamata

The BJP slammed Mamata for meeting Imams and said that Hindus were the victims of violence and the Chief Minister was meeting the Muslim clerics.

Abusing the BSF, Central forces, uniformed forces, armed forces has become part and parcel of TMCs culture. They abuse Army, CAPF, CRPF, NSG, NSA, NIA and all of the agencies and this has become their handbook. The Court has said that the central force should be deployed in Murshidabad because they have no faith in the Bengal Police, that it has become institutional for political violence since Mamata Banerjee has come into powerThis is only being done to protect and defend the rioters because we know that this is state-sponsored violence, state-sponsored targetted attacks on Hindus are taking place," BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said.

A National Commission for Women delegation to visit violence-hit areas in West Bengal tomorrow. The team will visit the affected areas and meet the affected families. The commission would also provide relief and counselling to the victims, especially women. The Chairperson would visit such areas, including Murshidabad, officials said.

BJP Bengal Chief Reacts

Responding strongly to the Chief Ministers accusations, BJP West Bengal President Sukanta Majumdar slammed Banerjee in a lengthy post on X and accused her of launching a deliberate campaign to discredit the BSF, saying that her remarks were a cover-up for her governments failure to maintain law and order.

Your pampered and well protected Shanti Vahini" (whenever anyone talks about them, you and your sycophantic fact-checking specialists West Bengal Police @WBPolice start screaming incitement")  these very people have turned Murshidabad into a warzone over the past few days. pic.twitter.com/DWIQPvJLnU Dr. Sukanta Majumdar (@DrSukantaBJP) April 16, 2025

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Majumdar wrote, Is that why youve launched a full-blown campaign to deliberately malign the @BSF_India? The real reason is BSFs swift and effective action. Your frustrated statements make it obvious  your entire strategy has collapsed once again!"

Majumdar further alleged that Banerjees silence during the attacks on BSF personnel exposed her political motivations. Thats exactly why fundamentalist goons tried to attack the BSF with petrol bombs, and you and your so-called fact-checking" WBP remained completely silent!," he added.

About the Author Ashesh Mallick Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More

First Published: April 16, 2025, 13:05 IST
'Won't Comment On What Happened In SC': Rijiju On Hearing Of Petitions Challenging Amended Waqf Law

Reported By :

CNN-News18 Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee



Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 20:11 IST

Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju indicated that due to the existing case burden, it is not conducive for the courts if every law passed by Parliament is challenged

Union minister Kiren Rijiju decried the communal tension and violent incidents in West Bengal during anti-Waqf protests. (Image: PTI/File)

Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday refused to comment on the Supreme Courts hearing of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the recently amended Waqf law.

Rijiju indicated that due to the existing case burden, it is not conducive for the courts if every Act passed by Parliament is challenged. I wont comment on what happened in SC. India is a parliamentary democracy and Parliament is the will of the people of India. If you keep challenging every Act passed in Parliament in courts, what will the courts do? They are already burdened by so many cases," he told CNN-News18.

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He, however, reaffirmed his faith in the judiciary and the countrys courts are very effective" and he has total trust" in them.

MANY CMs AND PMs HAVE BEEN TO JAIL, LOP CAN TOO

If you dont act against corruption, they (opposition) say the government is doing nothing and when agencies do their work, they say it is political vendetta," he said, taking a swipe at the opposition.

The Union minister said the opposition never protests when a chargesheet is filed against others, but their reaction is vastly different when it comes to the Gandhi family.

If you have nothing to hide, why fear? Many CMs and PMs have been to jail LoP (leader of opposition) can too," he said.

MURSHIDABAD VIOLENCE INCITED BY BENGAL GOVT

Rijiju further decried the violence in West Bengals Murshidabad and South 24 Parganas districts during anti-Waqf protests. He blamed the Mamata Banerjee-led government in the state for inciting the communal tension and incidents, which left at least three people dead and several injured on April 11 and 12.

It is very unfortunate and condemnable that some people, who are holding constitutional positions, are openly saying they will not adhere to the law passed in Parliament," he said. Violence was incited by the state government. Mamata Banerjee herself said she will not implement the Waqf law in West Bengal, and that statement led to the unrest."

Slamming those who have used Muslims for vote bank politics, he also said the same people who misused waqf properties are now the ones protesting against the legislation. And those who have used Muslims for vote-bank politics are also protesting. The weaker sections of the Muslim community are actually welcoming the Act. The majority of Muslims have understood that Waqf properties were not being utilised for the welfare of the Muslim community," he added.

During its ongoing hearing of petitions against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, the Supreme Court on Wednesday expressed concern over the violence in West Bengal and said it was very disturbing". One thing that is very disturbing is the violence. The matter is before court and we will decide; this should not happen," said Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna.

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Two petitions in the top court have sought a court-monitored probe into the violence. One PIL was filed by lawyer Shashank Shekhar Jha seeking the court to set up a special investigation team (SIT), while another was filed by advocate Vishal Tiwari seeking the constitution of a five-member judicial enquiry commission headed by a former SC judge.

One of the pleas sought a direction to the state government to file a report in the top court on the violence aside from the directions for protecting peoples lives and properties. The Calcutta High Court recently ordered the deployment of central forces in violence-hit Murshidabad district.

About the Author Arunima Arunima is Editor (Home Affairs) and covers strategic, security and political affairs. From the Ukraine-Russia War to the India-China stand-off in Ladakh to India-Pak clashes, she has reported from ground zero ... Read More Arunima is Editor (Home Affairs) and covers strategic, security and political affairs. From the Ukraine-Russia War to the India-China stand-off in Ladakh to India-Pak clashes, she has reported from ground zero ... Read More

First Published: April 16, 2025, 20:07 IST
OpenAI To Take On Elon Musks X With Its Own AI-Powered Social Media App

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 13:58 IST

OpenAI is working on a social media platform which will get AI features that will make ChatGPT a core part with its image generation tools.

OpenAI is ready to take its battle with Elon Musk to the social media ring

The OpenAI vs Elon Musk battle could heat up as the AI giant is reportedly planning to launch its own AI-powered social media platform like X and compete with Instagram as well. Sam Altmans company is working on a range of products and it seems social media with a dose of AI is very high on their to-do list which could come to fruition in the near future. The report by The Verge also claims the rumoured social network will function like X, formerly known as Twitter.

OpenAI Social Media Bet: What It Might Offer

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The report claims the prototype of the social media platform has already been developed, and OpenAI could see the ChatGPT 4o image generation tool being part of the new product.

The company will offer a feed like X and Instagram where you can see the AI-generated images from ChatGPT 4o and maybe other versions in the later update. We still dont know if the social platform from OpenAI will be a standalone app or integrated with its existing products like ChatGPT.

We are also not sure of the social media element of the platform where AI will be heavily involved and not like the AI features baked into WhatsApp via Meta AI or X with Grok AI available already in the market for free.

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The report does little to answer these questions but it does say that Altman is seeing feedback from people outside the company about the internal prototype, which gives them more insights into its viability and performance levels.

But the thought of OpenAI entering the social media arena will surely have Musk in a fix as both the tech wizards have been at loggerheads in the past year or so and this new platform could take the war to a whole new level with Mark Zuckerberg also entering the arena.

About the Author S Aadeetya S Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media houses covering the latest trends in technology and helping fr... Read More S Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media houses covering the latest trends in technology and helping fr... Read More

News18 Tech delivers the latest technology updates, including phone launches, gadget reviews, AI advancements, and more. Stay informed with breaking tech news , expert insights, and trends from India and around the world . Also Download the News18 App to stay updated!

Location : California, USA

First Published: April 16, 2025, 13:58 IST
Inequality Is At Least 10,000 Years Old, But Not Inevitable, Shows Study Of Ancient Houses

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 20:40 IST

Inequality, it turns out, is not a natural outcome of agriculture or societal progress but it is a consequence of deliberate choices by those in power.

The GINI study challenged the belief that inequality began with agriculture. (AI Image for representation)

The age-old narrative that inequality is a natural, eternal condition of human society is being upended by a groundbreaking archaeological study spanning 10,000 years and over 1,000 ancient settlements. Contrary to the widespread belief that humans have always lived under a system of wealth and power disparity, new research revealed that equality was not only possible in ancient times  it was real in many places, until power intervened to break it.

Conducted under the ambitious global project The Global Dynamics of Inequality (GINI), archaeologists examined more than 50,000 ancient homes across civilisations in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Mesoamerica. The results are reshaping how we understand the evolution of inequality. Using the size and structure of dwellings as proxies for wealth  larger houses indicating affluence, smaller ones representing poverty  researchers calculated inequality levels using the GINI coefficient, a metric where 0 represents perfect equality and 1 represents maximum inequality.

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What they discovered was startling. Some ancient societies exhibited far lower inequality than even modern welfare states. While the United States today scores 0.41 and Norway 0.27, several prehistoric communities registered significantly lower levels, suggesting a conscious and collective effort to maintain egalitarian systems.

Inequality, it turns out, is not a natural outcome of agriculture or societal progress but it is a consequence of deliberate choices by those in power.

In many early societies, researchers found mechanisms that actively suppressed the concentration of wealth. In ancient Athens, the wealthy were compelled to fund public festivals and infrastructure. In other civilisations, inheritances were redistributed among the poor, and debt forgiveness was enacted to prevent the rise of slavery. These were not accidental occurrences but they were societal decisions shaped by the values of the ruling systems.

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The study directly challenges the deeply entrenched belief that inequality began with the advent of agriculture. While its often claimed that farming led to the accumulation of surplus and, eventually, the emergence of elites, researchers found that some agrarian societies remained strikingly equal, while certain hunter-gatherer communities already showed signs of hierarchy. The determining factor was not food production, but power  who wielded it, how it was legitimised, and whether it was used to benefit the many or the few.

At its core, the GINI study strikes at the heart of fatalistic ideologies that perpetuate inequality. Phrases like poverty is destiny" or the system cant be changed" are, the research suggests, not truths but tools crafted and promoted by those in power to discourage reform and suppress dissent.

News18's viral page features trending stories, videos , and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated!

First Published: April 16, 2025, 20:40 IST
Man's US Visa Rejected In 40 Seconds After One Honest Answer; Netizens Weigh In

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 17:46 IST

The applicant claimed that he had planned a two-week trip to the United States, including visits to Disney World, Universal Studios, Kennedy Space Center, and various beaches.

After reading his post, the internet was quick to diagnose the issue (Representational image)

US visa denial: A young mans dream of an international trip to the United States was shattered in mere 40 seconds after he honestly answered a question posed to him during his visa interview.

A Reddit user with username nobody01810", shared his ordeal after appearing for B1/B2 tourist visa interview at the US Embassy in New Delhi.

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I had my B1/B2 visa interview at the US Embassy recently, and I was rejected in less than a minute after just three questions. Im trying to understand what went wrong and how I can improve for next time," he said in a post on the social media platform.

The applicant claimed that he had planned a two-week trip to the United States, including visits to Disney World, Universal Studios, Kennedy Space Center, and various beaches.

He said that he was asked three questions Why do you want to travel to the US? Have you traveled outside of India? and Do you have any family or friends in the US?

When asked by the visa officer, Do you have any family or friends in the US?" he answered, Yes, my girlfriend lives in Florida, and I plan to visit her."

After hearing to this honest answer, the visa officer didnt ask any follow-up questions. Instead, handed him a 214(b) refusal slip and ended the interview, crushing his visa hopes and international trip dream.

Netizens React

The netizens quickly diagnosed the issue, saying strong ties to the US, weak ties to India."

Its a dangerous minefieldone small slip-up can cost you your international travel," one user commented.

Youre a textbook denial, unfortunately. You have zero travel history, especially to Western countries. Plus, a girlfriend in the States? Thats a strong tie to the US," commented another.

You were honest mentioning your GF  yes but then again in the eyes of the embassy worker you just want to stay in the US illegally , even if you dont they think so because you have stronger ties to the US than to India," another commented

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The moment you mention a relationship with a US citizen or resident, it often triggers an instant rejection. This subreddit is full of such cases," added another user.

Meanwhile, his post essentially explained why the rejection was so swift. He had all the red flags for a tourist visa denial no prior international travel, no visits to Western countries, and a romantic partner in the US.

About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He previously worked with Hindustan Times Digital (HTDS) and NDTV. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India ... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He previously worked with Hindustan Times Digital (HTDS) and NDTV. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India ... Read More

News18's viral page features trending stories, videos , and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated!

First Published: April 16, 2025, 17:46 IST
This Danish Woman Moved To India 10 Months Ago, Heres Why She Calls It Her Best Decision

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 17:42 IST

The Danish Traveller claimed that moving to India was one of her best decisions, as she was bored with her life back in Copenhagen.

A Danish Woman sold all her belongings and moved to India without any set plan. (Photo Credits: Instagram)

While many young Indians dream of settling abroad, Astrid Esmeralda from Denmark is going viral for her decision to move to the Asian country. After leaving her life in Copenhagen, Astrid has spent the past 10 months exploring India and shared her journey on social media.

In a recent post, she claimed that moving to India was one of her best decisions. She was bored with her life back in Copenhagen, which she found dull and sleepy. In India, she feels alive by the countrys diversity, culture and natural beauty. Her experiences in Rishikesh, Goa and Mumbai have made her fall in love with the people. She believes the country has awakened her dreams and even taught her about the power of karma.

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In her post, Astrid wrote, On my 10th month and this has been one of the best decisions Ive ever made in my life. I needed a change. It felt like there was nothing left for me in Copenhagen. I loved my job, my apartment, and my friends, but I was so bored of the city.

Its only fun in the summer. The rest of the time, were all just waiting for summer and it feels like such a sleepy place. Now in India, I feel alive. India has opened my eyes to so much. First of all, Ive fallen in love with a country thats so diverse, wild and beautiful. Ive fallen in love with the culture, the people and the nature."

India has shown me new sides of myself, awakened my dreams and given me trust in my journey. Its also shown me the real effects of karma. Im grateful for everything, most of all, the privilege to be able to travel, live abroad and explore the world. Ill stay here one more month, then spend my summer travelling in Europe and come back again after the monsoon. If youre even thinking about travelling to India. GO FOR IT. Its been life-changing for me," Astrid Esmeralda added.

The Danish woman further shared that before her first trip to India, she felt nervous because many warned her about safety. But everything turned out to be very different. She also mentioned that she sold all her belongings and moved to India without any set plan. She did it without fear and has no regrets about her decision.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Astrid Esmeralda  Solo traveler (@astrid__esmeralda)

Reacting to the post, a user wrote, I would give anything to get away from Delhi sun, again. A lakefront cottage would be perfect."

Hey its a blessing to live in India for sure, its beautiful for sure," a comment read.

Another mentioned, Been here for 2 months, absolutely great. But nothing would stop me here from returning to Ireland. India is great, the food, weather, geography etc, but as a resident, perhaps not."

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One more added, It might not be everything, but its a beauty of its own."

After her video went viral, in the comments, Astrid Esmeralda acknowledged that having a European passport gives her more freedom to travel and she knows that this isnt fair. It upsets her that many Indians face problems when trying to visit Europe or get visas. Astrid also mentioned that she knows many people in India cant even afford to travel within their own country.

About the Author Buzz Staff A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on whats creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture. A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on whats creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture.

News18's viral page features trending stories, videos , and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated!

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: April 16, 2025, 17:38 IST
Watch: Scottish Traveller Rates Kochi Water Metro Service 10/10 After Scenic Ride

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 09:54 IST

The traveller highlights several standout features: sleek design, onboard charging points, aesthetic interiors, spotlessness, scenic water views and impressive punctuality.

It took about 20 minutes for the man to reach the destination. (Photo Credits: Instagram)

Indias ambitious urban transport initiative, the Kochi Water Metro, is gaining international recognition for its innovation and sustainability. Touted as the first-of-its-kind water metro system, it stands as a model for eco-friendly urban development. Recently, the project received a perfect 10/10 rating from Scottish vlogger Hugh, who shared his experience riding the metro. In his video, Hugh praised the metros features and gave viewers a glimpse into the seamless and scenic journey across the waters of Kochi.

The video opens to show Hugh entering the metro station and approaching the ticket counter to get a one-way pass from Fort Kochi to the High Court, which only costs him Rs 40. As he makes his way to the platform, Hugh finds the boat-like metro already waiting. Visibly impressed, he highlights several standout features: sleek design, onboard charging points, aesthetic interiors, spotlessness, scenic water views, and impressive punctualityall of which contribute to his glowing review.

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View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hugh Abroad (@hugh.abroad)

After a quick ride on the metro train, Hugh couldnt help but give a 10/10 to the luxury ride on the water, which took about 20 minutes to reach the destination. $0.50 water metro in India," he captioned the video, which has already amassed over 6 million views. Many took to the comment section and joined in to praise the water metro services in Kochi. One wrote, Happy that you enjoyed the journey," while another added, Its a government initiative. One of its kind in India."

I must acknowledge that our brothers in the South are doing a good job in preserving and protecting their public spaces," another comment read. As more travellers and locals stumble upon the unique facility, the Kochi Metro Station is slowly evolving into a growing mode of transportation. Earlier this month, the metro services closed in on serving four million passengers.

Kochi is one the most unique cities in our country A city defined by its waterways, so no wonder it hosts a Water Metro. Not the first water-based transport but the first to cleverly name it a Metro and capture the imagination of both its citizens and tourists. And a good pic.twitter.com/UMHkE81qXH  anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) December 12, 2024

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Earlier, industrialist Anand Mahindra also gave a shout-out to the metro services, calling it a breakthrough in citizen-friendly infrastructure." Sharing a video of the water metro, he wrote, A city defined by its waterways, so no wonder it hosts a Water Metro. Not the first water-based transport but the first to cleverly name it a Metro and capture the imagination of both its citizens and tourists. And a good looking, comfortable, and emission-free boat to top it all."

The countrys first water metro system, Kochi Water Metro, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 25, 2023, with commercial operations starting the next day. The transportation system connects ten islands around the city, reducing traffic, providing clean energy, and offering a convenient mode of transportation.

About the Author Buzz Staff A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on whats creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture. A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on whats creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture.

News18's viral page features trending stories, videos , and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated!

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: April 16, 2025, 09:02 IST
Woman Drowns In Ganga While Making Reel In Uttarakhand, Girl Screams 'Mummy' | Video

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 22:21 IST

The unfortunate incident is said to have happened on April 15 while the woman and her family were visiting Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand.

Local authorities instantly initiated a search operation, but her body has not been recovered yet. (Photo Credit: X)

To get popular on social media, many people often resort to extreme measures to shoot videos, sometimes even putting their life in danger. A shocking video of a woman getting swept away in Ganga river has recently gone viral. The unfortunate incident is said to have happened on April 15 while the woman and her family were visiting Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand.

The incident happened while the woman was probably shooting a reel video near Manikarnika Ghat. The tragic incident, captured in the video, is currently doing the rounds on the internet.

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The 16-second viral video shows a woman standing in the Ganga river at Manikarnika Ghat in Uttarkashi, posing for the camera in spite of the powerful water current. The woman is seen posing while standing in the river with no apparent support.

Suddenly she is seen losing control and slipping into the river. She was swept away by the rivers strong current. Further in the clip, a child can be heard calling out to her mother, Mummy! Mummy!" However, it was too late, and the video ends abruptly. The whole incident happened in a matter of seconds and it has left the internet shocked.

Take a look at the video here:

The video shared on X, on April 16, has garnered over 66,000 views. Many users expressed anger at how people risk their lives for a few likes and views.

A user wrote, A small kid lost the mother just because of reels. Dont let your wife become mad for social media, it will ruin childhood of your kids."

Another said, Why cant just put a ban on insta reels just remove that section u can simply post..#government of india."

These days temple has become a place of reel rather than faith," a user commented on X.

I have sympathy for that child but none for that woman," another remarked.

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The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and local police apparently both arrived at the location to begin a search operation after the authorities were alerted. The rescue crew searched extensively, but they were unable to find the woman. The woman is expected to be between 20 and 25 years old.

Tourists and locals alike have been warned by authorities to be extremely cautious around riverbanks and in other dangerous areas. When recording for social media, disregarding safety precautions might have deadly results. The local police and Uttarkashi district administration are making every effort to find and retrieve the woman.

About the Author Buzz Staff A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on whats creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture. A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on whats creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture.

News18's viral page features trending stories, videos , and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated!

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: April 16, 2025, 18:06 IST
German Doctor Charged With Murder Of 15 Patients, Driven By 'Lust For Killing'

Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 19:10 IST

The 40-year-old suspect is accused of having killed 12 women and three men between September 2021 and July 2024 using a deadly cocktail of sedatives

The victims, who were all receiving care at the time, were aged between 25 and 94 years old. (Representational image)

Prosecutors said Wednesday they charged a Berlin palliative care doctor with the murder of 15 patients, alleging he acted out of a lust" for killing.

The 40-year-old suspect is accused of having killed 12 women and three men between September 2021 and July 2024 using a deadly cocktail of sedatives.

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German press reports identify the suspect as Johannes M., but prosecutors have not released a name.

The doctor allegedly administered an anaesthetic and a muscle relaxant to his patients without their knowledge or consent", the Berlin prosecutors office said in a statement.

The relaxant paralysed the respiratory muscles, leading to respiratory arrest and death within minutes".

The victims, who were all receiving care at the time, were aged between 25 and 94 years old.

On five occasions, prosecutors alleged that the suspect had set fire to their apartments to cover up these killings".

On one occasion, the suspect is accused of having killed two patients on the same day.

On the morning of July 8, 2024, he is alleged to have killed a 75-year-old man at his home in the central Berlin district of Kreuzberg.

A few hours later" he allegedly struck again, killing a 76-year-old woman in the neighbouring Neukoelln district.

The suspects alleged attempt to incinerate the crime scene failed when the fire did not catch, prosecutors said.

When he noticed this, he reportedly informed a relative of the woman, claiming that he was standing in front of her apartment and that no one had responded to his ringing," they said.

Lust for murder

On another occasion, the suspect is accussed of alerting the emergency services himself out of fear of being discovered".

The suspect falsely claimed to have already begun resuscitation efforts" on the 56-year-old victim, who was initially kept alive by rescuers but died three days later in hospital.

The list of accusations against the suspect has grown in length and severity since his initial arrest in August.

The suspect was originally held on suspicion of manslaughter in relation to four deaths.

Prosecutors subsequently said in November they were treating the alleged killings as murder cases, adding four more deaths to the list of accusations.

The accused appears to have had no motive for killing the people other than the act of killing itself," prosecutors said at the time.

The suspect had nothing other than a lust for murder", they said.

The updated charge sheet, extended to cover 15 suspicious deaths, accused the suspect of carrying out the murders with malice aforethought".

Prosecutors said they were seeking a lifelong professional ban" and called for the suspect to be locked in preventative detention".

Ongoing investigation

A special team of investigators had identified a total of 395 suspicious cases that needed to re-examined in light of the accusations against the doctor.

In 95 cases, an initial suspicion had been confirmed and preliminary proceedings had been initiated. Another 75 were still being assessed.

In the course of the investigation 12 exhumations had already been carried out, five of which related to the victims listed in the charges.

Another five exhumations were planned to go ahead shortly.

The allegations made against the doctor recall another case currently being tried in Germany, in which a nurse is accused of murdering nine patients in palliative care.

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The nurse, whose trial opened in March, is alleged to have injected a total of 26 patients with large doses of sedatives or painkillers, resulting in the deaths of nine.

Prosecutors on the case, being heard in the western city of Aachen, said the suspect was motivated by a desire to reduce his workload on night shifts and had considered himself the master of life and death".

Location : Berlin, Germany

First Published: April 16, 2025, 19:08 IST
Indian Student, 3 Others Sue Trump Administration Over Possible Deportation From US

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 17, 2025, 08:40 IST

The lawsuit comes as the Trump administrations immigration crackdown strikes higher education, prompting a slew of lawsuits against White House officials.

Indian student Chinmay Deore (Photo: LinkedIn/ Chinmay Deore)

US deportation: An Indian student and three others at Michigan public universities have filed against Donald Trump administration over possible deportation from the United States after their student immigration status was terminated unlawfully".

The lawsuit comes as the Trump administrations immigration crackdown strikes higher education, prompting a slew of lawsuits against White House officials.

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Indias Chinmay Deore, who studies at Wayne State University, Chinas Xiangyun Bu and Qiuyi Yang, and Yogesh Joshi from Nepal, have filed the lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and immigration officials, news agency PTI reported.

The students claimed that their student immigration status in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) was illegally terminated without sufficient notice and explanation."

SEVIS is a database that tracks information about nonimmigrant students and exchange visitors in the United States.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Michigan, which is representing the students, said they filed a federal lawsuit along with a request for an emergency injunction on behalf of the students who had their F-1 student immigration status unlawfully and abruptly terminated by the Trump administration for no valid reason and without notice."

Asking the court to reinstate their legal status, the students said neither were they charged with any crime, nor did they violate any immigration law. The students said they were also not active in on-campus protests regarding any political issue.

None of them has been charged with, let alone convicted of, any crime in the US. None has violated any immigration law. Nor have they been active in on-campus protests regarding any political issue. The lawsuit asks the court to reinstate the status of these students so that they will be able to complete their studies and avoid facing the risk of detention and deportation," the complaint said.

At most, what seems to connect students targeted by this newfound and unlawful policy is that the students had some encounter with some American law enforcement official at some point in the past, no matter how innocuous  including receiving a speeding or parking ticket (or even a warning) or lawfully withdrawing an application to enter the United States," it added.

Ramis Wadood, staff attorney at the ACLU of Michigan, said that status terminations not only disrupt the lives of the students being targeted, but also deter future international scholars from choosing Michigan and the US as their academic destination.

These cruel and illegal government actions have real-life consequences. Status terminations dont just disrupt the lives of the students being targeted; the governments actions will inevitably deter future international scholars from choosing Michigan and the US as their academic destination. This will further undermine the reputation of our universities as leaders in research, innovation, and campus diversity, all of which are currently in jeopardy," he said as quoted by the news agency.

Similar lawsuits have been filed across the country in states like New Hampshire, Indiana and California.

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The development comes days after a US judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deporting a 21-year-old Indian undergraduate, Krish Lal Isserdasani, whose student visa was cancelled.

(With inputs from PTI)

About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He previously worked with Hindustan Times Digital (HTDS) and NDTV. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India ... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He previously worked with Hindustan Times Digital (HTDS) and NDTV. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India ... Read More

Location : New York, United States of America (USA)

First Published: April 16, 2025, 20:07 IST
It's Official: JD Vance To Visit Delhi From April 21-24 Amid Trade Talks Push; Agra, Jaipur On Itinerary

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 21:31 IST

Vance will be accompanied by his wife Usha Vance, and will hold meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other Indian officials

US Vice President JD Vance. (IMAGE: REUTERS file)

JD Vance India Visit: US Vice President JD Vance will pay a four-day visit to India beginning April 21, during which he will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi with likely focus on early finalisation of the proposed bilateral trade pact and ways to bolster India-US ties, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Wednesday.

He will embark on a weeklong two-nation visit to Italy and India on April 18, the White House said on Wednesday. Vance will be accompanied by his wife Usha Vance, and their three children- Ewan, Vivek and Mirabel.

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In Italy, JD Vance will hold meetings with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

On April 21, Vance will travel to India where he will hold meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other Indian officials and would discuss shared economic and geopolitical priorities with the leaders.

The US Vice President will also travel to Jaipur and Agra during the visit and participate in engagements at cultural sites, the White House statement said.

NEW:@VP JD Vance and @SLOTUS will visit Italy and India this week. pic.twitter.com/UYqTfNlvGt Taylor Van Kirk (@VPPressSec) April 16, 2025

The visit will provide an opportunity for both sides to review the progress in bilateral relations and the implementation of the outcomes of the India-U.S. Joint Statement issued on 13 February 2025 during the visit of the Prime Minister to the US. The two sides will also exchange views on regional and global developments of mutual interest," the MEA said in a press statement.

This would be Usha Vances first visit to her home country as the Second Lady of the United States. She traces her roots to Andhra Pradesh and comes with a full bag of credentials and a touch of Indian culture in the American political system.

JD Vances visit comes comes at a crucial time, as New Delhi and Washington are looking to sign the first tranche of a bilateral trade deal that was announced during PM Modis meeting with US President Donald Trump in February this year.

This came as Donald Trump imposed 27% reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods on April 2, but announced a 90-day pause on tariffs on all countries with the exception of China. As per the sources, while it is difficult for the agreement to be signed within this period, its form and structure may be decided in 90 days.

India, US Finalise Terms Of Reference Of Bilateral Trade Deal

Meanwhile, India and the US have finalised terms of reference for talks over the first part of the bilateral trade deal, an Indian trade official had told news agency Reuters last week, adding that it was possible that a win-win" deal could take shape in the next 90 days.

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The US is Indias largest trading partner and two-way trade between the countries surpassed $118 billion in 2023-24.

PM Modi visited Washington DC in February this year to meet Donald Trump, where they agreed to finalise the first part of the bilateral trade agreement by this year. An American delegation led by Assistant Trade Representative Brendan Lynch visited New Delhi in March for talks on the deal.

About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He previously worked with Hindustan Times Digital (HTDS) and NDTV. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India ... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He previously worked with Hindustan Times Digital (HTDS) and NDTV. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India ... Read More

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: April 16, 2025, 19:12 IST
'Like A Puzzle': UN Watchdog Chief Warns Iran 'Not Far' From Nuclear Bomb

Published By :

AFP

Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 23:55 IST

Western countries, including the US, have long suspected Iran of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, an allegation Tehran has consistently denied, insisting that its programme is for peaceful civilian purposes

After returning to office in January, US President Donald Trump (L) in March wrote to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (R) for talks. (Image: AFP/File)

The United Nations nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi warned on Wednesday that Iran was not far" from possessing a nuclear bomb, shortly before he arrived in Tehran for talks.

Western countries, including the United States, have long suspected Iran of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, an allegation Tehran has consistently denied, insisting that its programme is for peaceful civilian purposes.

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Its like a puzzle. They have the pieces, and one day they could eventually put them together," Grossi told French newspaper Le Monde in an interview published on Wednesday. Theres still a way to go before they get there. But theyre not far off, that has to be acknowledged."

The UN watchdog was tasked with overseeing Irans nuclear programme and its compliance with a 2015 nuclear deal, which collapsed three years later when the US withdrew from it in President Donald Trumps first term. Its not enough to tell the international community we dont have nuclear weapons for them to believe you. We need to be able to verify," said Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

He arrived on Wednesday in Tehran and met foreign minister Abbas Araghchi. He will also meet Mohammad Eslami, who heads Irans nuclear energy agency. His visit comes ahead of a second round of talks between Iran and the US on April 19, a week after the two countries held their highest-level talks since Trump abandoned the nuclear deal in 2018. Both sides called the first meeting constructive".

CONFLICTING POSITIONS

Earlier, Araghchi said Irans enrichment of uranium under its nuclear programme was non-negotiable" after US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff called for it to end. Irans enrichment is a real, accepted matter," he told reporters. We are ready to build confidence in response to possible concerns, but the issue of enrichment is non-negotiable."

His remarks came after Witkoff said Tuesday Iran must stop and eliminate" enriching uranium as part of any nuclear deal. The day before, Witkoff had urged only that Iran return to the 3.67 percent enrichment ceiling set by its 2015 accord with major powers.

In its latest report, the IAEA said Iran had an estimated 274.8 kg (605 pounds) of uranium enriched to up to 60 percent. That level far exceeds the 3.67 percent ceiling set by the 2015 deal, but still falls short of the 90 percent threshold required for a nuclear warhead.

After returning to office in January, Trump reimposed sweeping sanctions against Iran under his policy of maximum pressure". In March, he wrote to Irans supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, urging talks but also warning of possible military action if these fail to produce a deal.

Ahead of the new round of talks, Araghchi condemned what he called the Trump administrations contradictory and conflicting positions". We will find out the true opinions of the Americans during the negotiation session," he said.

He said he hoped to start negotiations on the framework of a possible agreement, but that this required constructive positions" from the United States. If we continue to (hear) contradictory and conflicting positions, we are going to have problems," he added.

IRANS RED LINES

On Wednesday, Iranian state media said the talks with US will be in Rome with Omani mediation, as an Italian spokesman also confirmed the location. However, US and Iranian officials have not officially confirmed the venue.

Araghchi is set to head to Irans ally Russia on Thursday, Tehrans ambassador in Moscow Kazem Jalili said. Iran has said the visit was pre-planned", but will include discussions on the Iran-US talks.

The objective of (my) trip to Russia is to convey a written message from the supreme leader" to President Vladimir Putin, he said.

In readiness for the US talks, Iran has engaged with Russia and China, which were both parties to the 2015 deal. Ahead of the talks, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said he hoped a deal could be reached with the US, the official IRNA news agency reported.

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On Tuesday (April 15), Khamenei cautioned that while the talks went well in their early stages, they could still prove fruitless. The negotiations may or may not yield results," he said, noting that Iran had already outlined its red lines".

Irans Revolutionary Guards have said the countrys military capabilities are off-limits in the talks. And late on April 13, IRNA said Irans regional influence and its missile capabilities  both sources of Western concern  were also among its red lines".

About the Author Oindrila Mukherjee Oindrila Mukherjee is a senior sub-editor who works for the rewrite and breaking news desks. Her nine years of experience in print and digital journalism range from editing and reporting to writing impactful st... Read More Oindrila Mukherjee is a senior sub-editor who works for the rewrite and breaking news desks. Her nine years of experience in print and digital journalism range from editing and reporting to writing impactful st... Read More

Location : Tehran, Iran

First Published: April 16, 2025, 23:55 IST
Richard Armitage, Dilpomat Known For Strengthening US-Japan Alliance, Dies At 79

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 13:29 IST

Armitage held significant government positions in the United States' diplomacy and security, contributing to the strengthening of the Japan-US alliance.

Former US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage passed away at 79.

Former US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, renowned for his expertise on Japan and a respected figure in US foreign policy, passed away on Sunday, April 13, at the age of 79.

Armitage held significant government positions in the United States diplomacy and security, contributing to the strengthening of the Japan-US alliance.

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Armitage International, LC, the consulting firm he founded, confirmed that he died from a pulmonary embolism.

Following the news of Armitages passing away, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi expressed condolences and praised the diplomats achievements.

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Who Was Richard Armitage?

A graduate of the US Naval Academy, Armitage served in the Navy during the Vietnam War.

Under President Ronald Reagan, he was the assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs.

From 2001 to 2005, he served as deputy secretary of state under President George W Bush.

Following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Armitage urged global cooperation to remove the Taliban from Afghanistan.

Armitage was famous for emphasising Japans significance to the United States. Since 2005, Armitage contributed to The Yomiuri Shimbuns Insights into the World" series, with an original English version of his column appearing in The Japan News.

He was also awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun" by the Japanese government in 2015.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: April 16, 2025, 13:29 IST
Trump Steps Up Pressure, China Now Faces Up To 245% Tariffs For 'Its Retaliatory Actions'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 16, 2025, 15:10 IST

A White House Fact Sheet said that China now faces tariffs up to 245% "as a result of its retaliatory actions".

Trump hikes tariffs on China to 245% (Reuters File Image)

As full-blown trade war is underway, US President Donald Trump has raised tariffs on Chinese imports into America to a total of 245% as a result of its retaliatory tariffs", according to a White House Fact Sheet.

The latest escalation in tensions between China and the US came as Beijing told its airlines to stop receiving more Boeing planes in response to the earlier imposition of 145% tariffs on the Chinese imports by the US.

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More than 75 countries have already reached out to discuss new trade deals. As a result, the individualized higher tariffs are currently paused amid these discussions, except for China, which retaliated. China now faces up to a 245% tariff on imports to the United States as a result of its retaliatory actions," the White House Fact Sheet said.

In retaliation to the previous tariffs, China reportedly asked its airlines to stop buying aircraft parts and equipment from US companies.

The new tariffs came hours after Trump, in a statement through White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, said that the ball is now in Chinas court.

The ball is in Chinas court. China needs to make a deal with us. We dont have to make a deal with them," Leavitt said.

China Reacts To 245% Tariffs

Reacting to the hike in tariffs yet again, the Chinese foreign ministry said that it does not seek confrontation, however, it declared that Beijing would not remain silent. However, China added that they are open to talks if President Donald Trump shows respect.

China reiterated calls for dialogue, though also making it clear that it was not afraid" to fight a trade war.

If the US really wants to resolve the issue through dialogue and negotiation, it should stop exerting extreme pressure, stop threatening and blackmailing, and talk to China on the basis of equality, respect, and mutual benefit," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said.

Spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang warned the US that raising tariffs on Chinese goods would not restore American greatness.

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Until now, the US and China have been trading blows with tariffs  the US placed a 145% tax on Chinese goods, and China responded with a 125% tax on American products.

Since the beginning of the year, Trump has raised tariffs sharply on Chinese imports. He also introduced a 10% general tariff on many US trade partners.

About the Author Ashesh Mallick Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: April 16, 2025, 13:22 IST
Belarus is expected to establish a bus and tractor assembly plant in the country by December as ties between the two countries continue to grow.

This was disclosed by Mr Pearson Chigiji, the chief director for Political Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade at the opening of the senior officials meeting of the Mid-Term Review of the Joint Permanent Commission of Co-operation between Zimbabwe and Belarus in Harare on Monday.

The inaugural JPCC between the two countries was held in Harare last year.

The three-day meeting is being co-chaired by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Professor Amon Murwira and his Belarussian counterpart, Mr Maxim Ryzhenkov.

The Government of Zimbabwe is deeply appreciative of the decision by the Government of Belarus to make Zimbabwe its industrial manufacturing hub for the region. This is exemplified by the projected establishment of the bus assembly, tractor assembly and the beneficiation of other minerals that include lithium, projects which are set to begin operations by December this year, Mr Chigiji said.

Belarus has already supplied the country with trucks and tractors under mechanisation programmes for mining and agriculture as well as fire-fighting equipment.

Both nations were implored to take advantage of close ties between President Mnangagwa and his Belarusian counterpart, President Alexandr Lukashenko to strengthen their relations.

We must seize this rare opportunity to engage at a strategic level as it is through such engagements that we may chart a path towards tangible and mutually beneficial cooperation between our nations. It is imperative that we ensure that what we agree upon today (Monday) is not only captured in written agreements, but most importantly, that it is implemented on the ground. Failure to do so would render our deliberations unproductive and void. The agenda before us serves as a guide for our discussions.

However, it should not constrain us to these matters alone. Let us remain open to discussing any other issues of mutual interest as our partnership continues to evolve, Mr Chigiji said.

Mr Chigiji also commended their close collaboration in the international arena. Both of our countries are staunch advocates in upholding the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter.

We firmly oppose the use of sanctions, threats, coercion and force as means of addressing international issues. It is our strong belief that diplomatic dialogue, respect for sovereignty and adherence to international law must guide the actions of our nations.

Despite facing various sanctions and other restrictive measures imposed by the West, it is gratifying to note that both our economies remain resilient and robust. We continue to stand together in denouncing these illegal, unjustified and unwarranted sanctions imposed on both Zimbabwe and Belarus by Western countries, he said.

In his remarks, Belarus Head of Department of Africa and the Middle East in the countrys Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Yury Nikolaichik, hailed Zimbabwes development trajectory.

A lot has happened over the past period. We gladly watched the successful holding of the Sadc Summit in Harare, the election of the representative of Zimbabwe (former Sport Minister Kirsty Coventry) as the head of the International Olympic Committee, followed the news of a new record wheat crop  550 000 tonnes.

It is nice to see how our friendly country is developing. Belarusian-Zimbabwean cooperation continued at various levels: from the Presidents office to ordinary citizens.

The most important result achieved was the beginning of the supply of equipment within the framework of the third phase of the joint Agricultural Mechanization Facility Programme 2. In accordance with the needs of the Zimbabwean side, significant attention in this phase will be paid to the issues of harvesting and storage of crops, he said.

Mr Nikolaichik said it was symbolic that the MRT was taking place on the eve of Zimbabwes 45th Independence anniversary and the 80th anniversary of the victory over fascism in World War II.

Our peoples know firsthand what the struggle for national liberation is and at what cost the countrys sustainable development is given, he said. Herald
UPDATE

Apr 16, 2025 12:43 AM CDT

The alleged shooter accused of injuring four teens at a Dallas high school Tuesday was arrested hours after the shooting. Tracy Haynes, 17, faces a charge of aggravated assault mass shooting, the Dallas News reports. Haynes' aunt says her nephew turned himself in.

Apr 15, 2025 6:38 PM CDT

At least three students were shot at a Dallas high school on Tuesday and a fourth was grazed by a bullet. Police say the four Wilmer-Hutchins High School students, all males between the ages of 15 and 18, were hospitalized with injuries ranging in severity from non-life-threatening to serious, WFAA reports. One victim was shot in the leg, according to Dallas Fire-Rescue. At a news conference hours after the 1pm shooting, police said a suspect has been identified but no arrests have been made, reports the AP. Police did not say what led up to the school shooting.
President Trump has proposed a "self-deportation" program for immigrants in the US illegally. The plan includes offering money and a plane ticket for those who choose to leave voluntarily, the AP reports. In an interview with Fox Noticias , Trump expressed willingness to help "good" immigrants return legally. "We're going to give them a stipend. We're going to give them some money and a plane ticket, and then we're going to work with themif they're goodif we want them back in, we're going to work with them to get them back in as quickly as we can," he said The president aims to deport criminals but is open to facilitating legal return for others.

Interviewer Rachel Campos-Duffy, wife of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, shared a clip of a Mexican man, saying he arrived in the US illegally more than 20 years ago and has children who are US citizens. She said the man would have voted for Trump if he was able to vote in the US. Trump said, "I look at this man. I say, this is a guy that we want to keep, adding, "I'll probably take heat for saying it." The president asked if the man was supposed to be deported, saying "I don't think he's in any danger of it." Trump said he wanted to help farms and hotels get the workers they need. His plan, he said, would be "very soothing" to farmers.

Asked by Campos-Duffy what he was most proud of since returning to office, Trump said border security was "literally 100%" perfect and would continue to improve, Fox News reports. He also praised his tariffs, claimingdespite the fact that US tariffs are paid by US importers, not other countriesthat the US was "taking in hundreds of billions of dollars in tariffs from other countries that for many, many decades just ripped off the United States. "
Democrat Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland is headed to El Salvador Wednesday in an attempt to visit Kilmar Abrego Garcia, one of his constituents, who is being held in a prison there despite the fact that the Supreme Court has ruled he was legally in the US, wrongly deported, and should be returned home. "We were in the gray zone before this. But if the Trump administration continues to thumb its nose at the federal courts in this case we're in, we're clearly in constitutional crisis territory," Van Hollen tells the Guardian .

It's not clear how far he'll get; he says El Salvador has not responded to his request that he be allowed to access the prison, which is notorious for human rights abuses. He also requested to meet with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele while Bukele was in Washington DC, but received no response on that request either. "What they have not overtly done previously is outright defy a court order," Van Hollen says of the Trump administration. "They've slow-walked court orders, they've tried to parse their words based on technicalities, they've not outright defied a court order. In my view, this now clearly crosses that line."

On Tuesday, during a hearing in the case, a federal judge rebuked the administration for its failure to comply with court orders, the New York Times reports. "To date nothing has been done. Nothing," she said. But a lawyer for the Justice Department focused on SCOTUS' use of the word "facilitate" to describe what the administration is being ordered to do. "If Abrego Garcia presents himself at a port of entry, we will facilitate his entry to the United States," he said. Bukele, however, says he is powerless to return Abrego Garcia to the US.
Three protesters were arrested Tuesday at a town hall held by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, and two of them were also tased amid what the New York Times describes as "chaos." The first man was dragged out of the room after he stood up to heckle Greene just as she took to the podium to speak; police used a stun gun on him twice after he yelled "I can't breathe" as they restrained him. Within minutes, a second man stood up to jeer, and police similarly tased him and removed him from the premises. A third was removed and arrested, but not tased, ABC News reports. At least six others were also escorted out, but not arrested, police said. The location of the town hall had not been shared publicly, and only constituents were allowed to sign up and be told where to go, CBS News reports.
Next year will feel a lot more connected for passengers on American Airlines. Starting in 2026, flights on AA will now include WiFi for people who sign up for its free AAdvantage loyalty program, with the complimentary access provided by AT&T, reports USA Today . Currently, American Airlines passengers had to fork over about $10 for in-flight access to the internet; frequent fliers could get a monthly pass for $50, or a yearly pass for $599. The new free WiFi will be available on about 90% of the airline's fleet once it goes into effect, including on regional jets.

The New York Times reports that American is among the last of the major carriers to offer the perk. "Our customers greatly value staying connected while in the air, whether communicating with friends, getting work done, checking in on social media, or streaming their favorite subscription services," Heather Garboden, the airline's chief customer officer, says in a release. In a test run, the airline said it found its WiFi "surpassed performance expectations," and that it plans on offering the WiFI on "more planes than any other domestic carrier."

JetBlue was the first big US airline to offer gratis access to the internet, via its Fly-Fi broadband satellite service introduced in 2013, per the New York Times. Over the past decade or so, Delta and United have announced free WiFi, though a few stragglers, like American and Southwest, have continued to charge for access. CNN notes that even though airplane WiFi has been spotty and slow over the years, the tech has evolved "significantly in the last decade."
Edan Alexander is believed to be the last living American citizen being held hostage in Gaza, but new fears have arisen after Hamas now claims they've lost contact with the group holding the 21-year-old. In a Tuesday statement, a spokesman for Hamas' military arm, the Qassam Brigades, said that that group had come under "direct bombardment" from Israeli airstrikes, and that "we are still trying to reach them," reports NBC News . The spokesperson didn't indicate where exactly Alexander had been held in Gaza, per Reuters .

Alexander, a New Jersey native who holds dual Israeli-American citizenship, was a volunteer soldier with the Israeli military when he was captured on Oct. 7, 2023. He's one of nearly five dozen hostages still being held in Gaza, though it's believed less than half of them are still alive. Per the Times of Israel, Hamas has released two propaganda videos featuring Alexander, including one disseminated over the weekend that appears to show Alexander at some point within the past week.

"Tell me why, why am I not home with my friends, with my family?" an agitated and emotional Alexander says in the three-minute clip, adding that he was "collapsing physically and mentally." "President Trump, I really believed you would succeed in getting me out of here alive. Why did you fall for [Israel Prime Minister] Netanyahu's lies? Why am I still here?" The video ends with the words "Only a ceasefire agreement brings them back alive." The Times notes that Alexander's statement was "almost certainly dictated by his captors."

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US envoy Steve Witkoff said last month that earning Alexander's release was a "top priority" for the Trump administration, per Reuters. On Tuesday, meanwhile, Alexander's father posed a query to Netanyahu publicly. "To [the] prime minister, the question still remains, the same one: How do you plan to get the last hostage out without ending this war and without committing to the second phase of this deal?" Adi Alexander said on NewsNation, per the Times, referring to the phased ceasefire deal reached in Januarya "fragile truce" that was broken with new Israeli airstrikes last month, per NBC. "I wonder when President Trump will lose patience with the situation."
A palliative care doctor should work to improve patients' quality of life, not end their lives, as a German doctor is accusing of doing. Prosecutors in Berlin say the 40-year-old man murdered at least 15 patients over three years, apparently for no reason other than he had a "lust" for killing, per CBS News . Identified in press reports as Johannes M., the doctor allegedly delivered an anesthetic and muscle relaxant to 12 women and three men "who were not actively dying" without consent between September 2021 and July 2024, per CNN . The drug cocktail "paralyzed the respiratory muscles, leading to respiratory arrest and death within minutes," the prosecutor's office said, per the BBC .

The doctor's first alleged victim was a 25-year-old woman. The others ranged in age from 56 to 94. Twelve were allegedly killed between January 2024 and July 2024, including two victims who died a few hours apart on July 8. Upon his arrest in August, the doctor was suspected of killing four people in total. But the tally has grown significantly since then, with "more exhumations on potential victims planned," per the BBC. Prosecutors say the doctor tried to cover up his actions by setting fire to patients' home on five occasions. He had no motive beyond killing, prosecutors add, noting his actions meet the legal definition of "lust for murder," per CBS.

He was charged Wednesday with 15 counts of murder but has not entered a plea, per CBS. The outlet points out the similarities between this case and that of Germany's most prolific serial killer, Niels Hoegel, a nurse convicted of murdering 85 patients in his care between 2000 and 2005. A person convicted of murder in Germany faces a maximum sentence of life in prison but is usually eligible for release in 15 years. Prosecutors seek to block that outcome in this case, per Euronews.
The man charged in Sunday's arson attack on the governor's mansion in Pennsylvania said he had targeted Gov. Josh Shapiro because of Shapiro's "plans for the Palestinian people," according to a search warrant. In the warrant, police said Cody Balmer called 911 less than an hour after the attack and told operators that he wanted Shapiro, who is Jewish, to know that he "will not take part in his plans for what he wants to do to the Palestinian people," PennLive reports. Balmer said "our people have been put through too much by that monster," adding, "all he has is a banquet hall to clean up," police said.

Police said Balmer told 911 operators, "You all know where to find me. I'm not hiding, and I will confess to everything that I had done." Shapiro, his family, and another family were asleep in the mansion at the time of the attack, hours after they celebrated the first night of Passover. At a news conference Wednesday, Shapiro declined to say whether he felt he was targeted because of his faith, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. "I know there are people out there who want to adopt their own political viewpoints or their own world views to what happened and why," he said. "I choose not to participate in that." He said he would continue to practice his faith "proudly and openly."

Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo said he probably won't seek a hate crime chargeknown as "ethnic intimidation" under Pennsylvania lawbecause Balmer is already facing more than 100 years in prison on charges of attempted homicide, terrorism, and arson, the Inquirer reports. "It doesn't increase the grade of the offense, because we're already at the highest grade," Chardo said.

In a previous case that is still unresolved, Balmer was charged with assault in 2023 after an incident in which he allegedly stepped on a child's broken arm.

His brother, Dan Balmer, tells the AP that Balmer has struggled with mental illness for years. "He's had ups and downs his whole life with the bipolar," he says. "He doesn't believe he's bipolar, so he doesn't take his medicine." Dan Balmer says his brother agreed to undergo treatment at the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute, but he soon "got mad" and left the facility. "He had these theories that were going on in his head," Dan Balmer says. "We would confront him and say, 'No, that is not what is happening in the real world.' He would get angry."
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By Mata Press Service

With the federal election less than 10 days away, a new poll reveals that new Canadians could play a decisive role at the ballot box, as their votes remain wide open and are heavily influenced by pocketbook concerns.

The Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC) poll showed that a striking 17% of respondents said they are undecided about how they will vote, more than double the national average.

Even among those who have picked a party, many remain flexible: 29% say they could change their minds before voting day, while one in three have changed their political preference in the past six months.

This poll gives voice to the concerns of Canadas newest citizens and shows a high level of democratic engagement among them, with 92% intending to cast a ballot, said Daniel Bernhard, CEO of the ICC.

Immigrants are clearly focused on making ends meet and building a stable future. And unlike many Canadians who have become attached to a specific party as a matter of personal identity, new Canadians are much more open to persuasion.

The top three issues for these voters are cost of living (80%), healthcare (62%), and housing (54%)echoing concerns heard widely across the country, but with even greater intensity among immigrant communities.

Jobs, taxes, and economic growth also featured prominently in the poll, underscoring the deep connection between economic stability and newcomer priorities.

Many new Canadians face unique challenges when it comes to housing affordability, job access, and navigating Canadas health system. These interconnected issues highlight the financial pressures and systemic hurdles that shape the concerns of Canadas newest citizens.

Interestingly, CanadaU.S. relations, often a top-tier issue in mainstream polling, barely made the radar herejust 27% placed it in their top five, ranking it eighth overall.

That divergence highlights a more domestic focus among immigrants, many of whom are still establishing roots in their new home.

This data is a snapshot of a highly engaged and talented voting bloc, Bernhard added.

Parties that want to connect with this growing demographic of committed Canadians need to speak credibly on affordability, access to healthcare, and housing if they plan to retain this talent in Canada long term.

The poll also offers a snapshot of current party support among new Canadians:

 36% of decided voters said they would vote for the Liberal Party under Mark Carney

 29% backed the Conservative Party under Pierre Poilievre

 4% supported the NDP

 Other parties registered support below 1%

According to Elections Canada, a "new Canadian elector" refers to an immigrant who became a citizen after the previous federal election and is now eligible to vote for the first time. Based on the 2021 census, about 2.2% of Canadian citizens aged 18 and older are naturalized citizens who immigrated between 2011 and 2021.

Research by Simon Fraser University professor Andy Yan in 2019 found that in the 2015 federal election, the Liberals secured 84% of ridings with majority-immigrant populations. Based on the previous 338-seat riding map, 31 ridings had more foreign-born residents than Canadian-bornand the Liberals won 26 of them.

The Hill Times reported that John Carlaw, an assistant professor at Toronto Metropolitan University whose work focuses on the politics of citizenship, immigration, and multiculturalism, said the immigrant vote is certainly crucial, noting the large number of urban ridings with significant immigrant populations.

Statistics Canada data shows that most new Canadians settle in cities. In 2021, 92.2% of immigrants lived in large urban centres with at least 100,000 residents, compared to 67.7% of people born in Canada.

[That is why] appealing to or at least not turning off significant immigrant populations can really impact your electoral fortunes, Carlaw said.

He added that because the Liberals introduced some radical changes to immigration policy, thats probably not a topic that theyre looking to foreground in this election, and they havent said that much.

Carlaw also noted that the Conservatives, who have pledged to cut immigration levels, have a dual discourse, aimed at welcoming good hard-working people as opposed to bad immigrants whod be illegitimate refugee claimants.

With new Canadians making up an ever-larger portion of the electorate, their impact could tip the scales in battleground ridingsespecially in urban centres where immigration has reshaped the demographic map, experts concurred.

As parties ramp up their campaigns, the new ICC survey data sends a clear signal: New Canadians are ready to vote, but not yet ready to commit.

Highlights from the 2025 Federal Election Survey Report by ICC

Top Issues for Respondents

The survey, conducted among verified immigrants from the Canoo member database (n=2,397), revealed the following top concerns:

 Affordability and cost of living: 79.2%

 Healthcare: 61.9%

 Housing: 53.7%

 Jobs and employment: 49.3%

 Taxes: 44.9%

Other notable issues included:

 Economic growth: 40.4%

 Crime and public safety: 39.8%

 CanadaU.S. trade relations: 27%

 Environmental concerns: 18.5%, reflecting a shift in priorities compared to previous elections.

Voting Intentions

If the federal election were held today:

 Liberal Party of Canada (Mark Carney): 35.9%

 Conservative Party of Canada (Pierre Poilievre): 28.6%

 New Democratic Party (Jagmeet Singh): 3.8%

 Smaller parties, such as the Green Party and Peoples Party of Canada, garnered less than 2% combined.

 A significant portion remained undecided (16.8%) or preferred not to say (12.6%).

Likelihood of Changing Voting Intentions

Among respondents who identified a preferred party:

 Very unlikely to change: 44.3%

 Unlikely to change: 26.7%

 Only 13.8% said they were likely or very likely to change their vote before election day.
Apr 16 (Japanese Comedian Meshida) - Recently, many Japanese people have been complaining about Japanese politicians, saying they treat Chinese people better than Japanese citizens. Today, I want to talk about this issue. To my Chinese friendsthis is not a complaint about you. Im complaining about our government.

1. Visa Relaxation

Japans Foreign Minister has announced relaxed visa requirements for Chinese tourists. Under the new rules, regular Chinese tourists can stay in Japan for up to 30 days, and wealthy Chinese nationals can now obtain a 10-year tourism visa.

While there are concerns about the behavior of some Chinese tourists, Im not going to complain. After all, we Japanese used to behave like that tooback when we were six years old! (Come on, Im a comedian, Im joking!)

That said, the Foreign Minister has also been accused of accepting bribes from Chinese companies. Maybe hes even put the whole country up as collateral for his dark secrets. He claims the relaxed visa rules will boost tourism and revitalize Japans local attractions. But to many of us, it looks more like the Chinafication of our tourist spots.

Chinese companies are opening businesses that cater specifically to Chinese tourists at major Japanese destinations. At this rate, our tourist areas might soon be taken over, turning into Chinese-run shopping centersjust like Okinawa. Ironically, Chinese tourists may end up buying tons of souvenirs in Japan without realizing most of them are made in China. At least theyll be bringing some of those Chinese souvenirs back to China.

2. Scholarship Issues

Right now, 3,545 Chinese students are enrolled at the University of TokyoJapans top university. Thats about 12% of the total student population. In the graduate school, Chinese students make up nearly 25%. At this rate, it might soon be renamed the University of Chinese Tokyo.

In the Japanese studies department, it was recently revealed that about 30% of government grants for PhD studentsworth up to 2.9 million yen per person per yeargo to Chinese graduate students. These grants have no nationality restrictions and dont need to be paid back.

Out of 10,564 total recipients, 4,125 are international students, and 2,094 of them are Chinese. Meanwhile, 55% of Japanese undergraduates and around 60% of graduate students are forced to take out student loans, ending up with an average debt of around 3.38 million yen.

Because of this debt, some male students end up doing dangerous part-time jobs. Some female students work in the sex industry or engage in "papa-katsu"a form of compensated dating. Its a sad reality. Politicians seem to prefer being the "sugar daddies" of these women rather than solving the root issue. Japan has become a country where foreign students are treated better than its own citizens.

3. Medical Costs

In the past, foreigners had to live in Japan for at least a year to qualify for National Health Insurance. But since 2024, that law has changed. Now, foreigners who stay in Japan for three months or more can register as residents and join the insurance system.

Insurance premiums are based on income tax paid in the previous year. So if a foreigner comes to Japan without having earned any income here, their premium will be extremely low. Japan has effectively become a healthcare paradise for foreigners.

More and more Chinese people are coming to Japan for medical treatment, paying only a fraction of the cost. If a foreigner works for a Japanese company, they can even add relativesup to three generationsto their health insurance. That includes grandparents.

While this system requires strict documentation, some people have learned how to make it work. Japanese citizens, on the other hand, pay their full share, including up to 40% of healthcare costs through taxes. Foreigners who havent paid a single yen into the system are receiving special treatment.

Congratulations, Japanyouve officially joined the ranks of developed nations where taxpayers fund healthcare for undocumented foreigners!

4. Real Estate

Recently, large amounts of Japanese land have been purchased by Chinese buyers. The problem is that some of this land includes sensitive areaslocations near Self-Defense Force bases, water sources, nuclear power plants, resort towns, and tourist spots.

Japan doesnt have any laws restricting foreign nationals from buying land, so its legal and easy for foreigners to do so. In 2021, Japan finally passed a law to regulate land use near critical infrastructure, within 1 kilometer. But even this only restricts how the land is usednot whether it can be purchased.

Foreigners often say Japan lacks diversity. But we Japanese allow foreigners to buy our landhow much more diverse can we be? Or maybe what were really promoting is "China-city."

Japan is also known as a spys paradise. We dont have laws to prevent espionage. Our anti-espionage laws are apparently delayed or blocked by spies working undercover in politics.

A former KGB officer once said, "Spies dont want to work in Japan because they have to work too hard. Japan is hell for spies." The amount of information here is so overwhelming they cant even take holidays. Thats the Japanese strategy: exhaust them through overwork. Same as what we do to our own employees!

Its well known that many Japanese politicians change to a pro-China stance after visiting Beijing. They are treated like royalty, and rumor has it their heartsand their lower bodiesstart glowing red. If you want to get rich and sleep with beautiful women, becoming a celebrity or a businessman isnt the best route. The best way is to become a politician and visit China. All your dreams will come true.

As for me, Id love to perform in China someday. If I ever become a successful comedian, Ill praise China and support themjust like our politicians do.

China is number one!

Meshida is a Japanese stand-up comedian who performs in English, known for his humorous takes on Japanese culture. After leaving his corporate job in Japan, he pursued a comedy career in the United Kingdom, performing in cities like Tokyo, New York City, and London. He has hosted numerous English stand-up comedy shows in Tokyo, attracting both locals and tourists.

Source: Japanese Comedian Meshida
KYOTO, Apr 16 (News On Japan) - Pelvic organ prolapse is a condition affecting a significant number of women over the age of 40, yet remains largely under-recognized. It occurs when organs in the pelvic region, such as the bladder or uterus, descend due to weakened support muscles, often as a result of childbirth or aging.

In severe cases, the condition can lead to urinary complications, including kidney damage. Despite its serious implications, awareness of pelvic organ prolapse remains low, and many women suffer without seeking medical help.

One such case is that of 60-year-old Emi Shibaya from Kyoto Prefecture. She began experiencing unusual discomfort in her lower abdomen more than two decades ago, describing the sensation as something slipping in and out when she bent over. The feeling was not only physically uncomfortable but also mentally distressing, as she feared the condition would worsen over time. It wasnt until she consulted with a doctor that she learned the name and potential seriousness of her condition.

Pelvic organ prolapse can present with symptoms such as a heavy or foreign sensation in the pelvic area, difficulty sitting, urinary leakage, and in some cases, visible organ protrusion. Many women hesitate to talk about their symptoms due to embarrassment, and because the condition affects intimate areas, it tends to go unmentioned even among close acquaintances. Doctors warn that this silence leads to a large number of undiagnosed cases, with estimates suggesting that around 3.5 million women in Japan could be affected.

Shibaya's condition progressed to the point where her uterus and bladder had significantly descended, posing a risk to her kidneys. Unaware of the connection between prolapse and potential kidney damage, she eventually decided to undergo surgery. The procedure, performed under general anesthesia, involved partially removing her uterus and reinforcing the weakened pelvic muscles using a surgical mesh. The operation took about three hours, and she was discharged after approximately one week.

After the surgery, Shibaya expressed relief and satisfaction, noting that she no longer felt discomfort and could now engage in everyday activities without worry. While full recovery requires a few months of avoiding heavy lifting or intense exercise, patients can generally return to normal life relatively quickly.

As the condition often progresses slowly and without obvious symptoms, particularly among aging women, medical professionals emphasize the importance of early consultation and treatment. Raising awareness about pelvic organ prolapse is crucial to ensuring that more women seek help before the condition becomes severe.

Source: MBS
"The Truth and Reconciliation Commission painstakingly documented the horrific abuses of colonial power perpetrated against generations of Indigenous peoples," said Brent Jolly, president of the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ).

"Despite the TRC's findings of a 'cultural genocide' being committed against Indigenous peoples, the federal government continues to expend considerable efforts that prevent communities from accessing valuable documents that attest to the details of this truth. It's shameful."

As noted in a November 2024 report by the Toronto Star, there have been calls for decades for governments and churches to turn over all residential school records. Despite being one of the report's Calls to Action , survivors and their families continue to fight for access to documents that could explain what happened to family members.

Last year, Canada's Information Commissioner Caroline Maynard told a Senate committee that "we need good government leaders that believe in open government and provide guidance and clear objectives within their department" in order to expedite the release of records.

"It comes from the top," Maynard said at the committee meeting. "If the leaders [believe] in openness and transparency, more proactive disclosure done on their website, we shouldn't need to have information [requests]. Access to information requests should be the last resort for obtaining information."

"The federal government has the moral obligation to ensure all records are made available in order to ensure truth, justice, and redress," said Jolly. "The legacy of the residential school system is a systemic scar on our country's history that continues to go unhealed."

In addition to the continued stonewalling on the release of residential school records, this year's Code of Silence jury also agreed to bestow a dishonourable mention to Canada's top three federal political parties.

As explained by the Hill Times , the federal Liberal, Conservative and New Democratic parties each appealed a landmark decision issued by B.C. Supreme Court Justice Gordon Weatherhill which said federal political parties are subject to B.C.'s privacy laws.

As noted in a press release from B.C. FIPA , federal political parties have to comply with the Canada Elections Act, but are excluded from all other federal privacy laws. As such, without the application of provincial privacy law, parties have few restrictions on what they can do with the personal information of voters.

"Modern politics is powered by data," Jolly said. "But in 2025, Canadians are largely in the dark about what data parties collect in order to fundraise, campaign and/or target them in their pursuit of political power."

The Code of Silence Awards are presented annually by the CAJ , the Centre for Free Expression at Toronto Metropolitan University ( CFE ), and the Canadian Journalists for Free Expression ( CJFE ). The awards call public attention to government or publicly-funded agencies that work hard to hide information to which the public has a right to under access to information legislation.

Last year, Canada's Department of National Defence was recognized as the federal Code of Silence winner for taking three years to respond to an access request about the cost of a controversial program to build new Canadian warships.

The remaining 2024 Code of Silence Awards will be handed out bi-weekly. This year's winner in the provincial category will be announced on April 30.

SOURCE Canadian Association of Journalists

For further information: Brent Jolly, president, Canadian Association of Journalists, [email protected]
TORONTO, April 16, 2025 /CNW/ - At this pivotal time for our nation's economy, Canadian companies and organizations are demonstrating unprecedented support for the Canadian Business Hall of Fame (CBHF) annual celebration of business leadership.

"The incredible roster of globally recognized brand corporations, foundations, education institutions who have pledged support is a testament to the mobilization and investment of the Canadian business community," said Jim Leech, Chancellor Canadian Business Hall of Fame.

The 2025 Canadian Business Hall of Fame Inductees (CNW Group/JA Canada) 2025 Sponsorship (CNW Group/JA Canada)

Among those who have pledged support for the Canadian Business Hall of Fame in recognizing outstanding and inspiring business leaders are: Goodmans LLP, Peter and Joanne Brown Foundation, Beedie, Kilmer Group, Scotiabank, Franco-Nevada, Rio Tinto, National Bank Financial, RBC, NHL, The Globe & Mail, MLSE, Barclays, Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited, Korn Ferry, Deloitte, Coca-Cola Canada Bottling Limited, OMERS, RioCan REIT, CGI, CIBC, Canaccord Genuity, TD Bank, Teck, Avanade, University of Utah, PwC, Maple Leaf Foods, Air Canada, TorQuest Partners, Colliers, TMX Group, Irving Oil, Cogeco The Fund, Southdown Builders Limited, Lafarge Canada, Porter Airlines, University of Toronto, KPMG, University of Utah.

The Canadian Business Hall of Fame (CBHF) proudly celebrates the remarkable achievements of leaders for their transformative contributions to Canada's prosperity and business landscape, with proceeds of the event fueling JA's mission to empower tomorrow's entrepreneurs and innovators.

The CBHF stands as a beacon of Canada's economic development and prosperity. Strengthening Canada today transcends mere patriotismit's representing a commitment to investing in our communities and a dedication to building a more promising future.

The Induction Celebration carries exceptional significance as it unites influential Canadian leaders and committed sponsors in empowering our nation's youth and inspiring the visionaries who will lead tomorrow's Canada.

Honouring Visionary Leaders

On May 22nd in Toronto, the Canadian Business Hall of Fame will induct the 46th class of Companions to the order of the Business Hall of Fame. The honourees have roots in critical industries including financial services, sports, manufacturing, equity & investment, natural resources, property development, construction trades, entrepreneurship, and academia.

The 2025 honourees: Ryan Beedie, O.B.C., President, Beedie; Jacynthe Cote, F. ICD, Chair of the Board, RBC; Pierre Lassonde, O.C., GOQ, Chairman Emeritus, Franco-Nevada Corporation; Larry Tanenbaum, O.C., Hon LLD, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Kilmer Group of Companies.

"These individuals who represent the very best in Canadian enterprise, leadership, and significant philanthropic impact," said Scott Hillier, JA Canada CEO, "Their achievements and community contributions reflect the diverse backbone of the Canadian economy and serve as role models for the next generation," said Hillier.

Supporting Canada's Future Entrepreneurs

The Canadian Business Hall of Fame is the signature fundraising event for Junior Achievement of Canada (JA Canada) and stands as a powerful call to action. Proceeds from this year's event will support JA's flagship Company Program, which equips youth with the skills, confidence, and entrepreneurial mindset to succeed in today's business world. JA is renewing its program curriculum to meet the needs of Canada and scaling this internationally recognized program.

"Our ambition is to empower more than 1 million Canadian youth annually, fueling the future pipeline of Canadian business leadership", said Hillier.

Join Us in Celebrating Canadian Excellence

The 2025 CBHF Induction Ceremony and Celebration will take place on May 22, 2025, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Featuring special guest, Heather Hiscox, Senior Host, CBC News Network.

"At a time when supporting Canadian businesses is more important than ever, we invite organizations across the country to join the celebration of business leadership, knowing that your sponsorship will empower the next generation of business leaders made for Canada," said Gary Kalaci, JA Canada Board Chair.

Ensure your organization is part of this national celebration of Canadian impact, innovation, and leadership. Sponsorship opportunities, tables and tickets remain available on a first-come, first-served basis for this exclusive event through May 1st, 2025. For more information, please visit cbhf.ca/participate.

About The Canadian Business Hall of Fame (CBHF)

The Canadian Business Hall of Fame celebrates outstanding achievements of Canada's most distinguished business leaders. Since 1979, more than 200 business leaders have been inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame. Celebrating the leaders of today and inspiring the leaders of tomorrow, the CBHF Induction Ceremony and Celebration is the signature national fundraising event in support of JA Canada.

For more information, please visit www.cbhf.ca.

About JA Canada



JA Canada inspires the next generation to realize their potential and make a positive impact in their communities. Through JA Canada's network of local offices, and in collaboration with educators and volunteers, the organization delivers hands-on, immersive, and digital learning experiences to young people. Annually, JA delivers more than 450,000 student learning experiences from coast-to-coast-to-coast. JA is committed to ensuring accessibility and inclusivity through programs that help youth build transferable skills in work readiness, financial health, and entrepreneurship. For more information, please visit www.jacanada.org.

SOURCE JA Canada

Media Inquiries: For more information, requests for interviews or comments, please contact Claudia Campbell, Marketing Manager [email protected]
SQUAMISH and PRINCE GEORGE, BC, April 16, 2025 /CNW/ - In a partnership aimed at revolutionizing wildfire response, Strategic Natural Resource Group (Strategic) and FireSwarm Solutions Inc. (FireSwarm) have joined forces to make automated aerial fire suppression a reality in Canada.

Equipped with up to 400kg payload capacity, FireSwarm is automating and outfitting ACC Innovation Thunder Wasp autonomous drones to detect hotspots and execute precise water dropseven in remote areas and during nighttime operations. Image by: FireSwarm Solutions Inc. (CNW Group/Strategic Natural Resource Group) From left to right: Aaron Fujikawa, Director Geomatics & Remote Sensing at Strategic; Domenico Iannidinardo, CEO of Strategic; Melanie Bitner, Co-founder and CMO at FireSwarm; Alex Deslauriers, Founder & CEO of FireSwarm; Chris Gillen, Head of Business Development at FireSwarm. (CNW Group/Strategic Natural Resource Group)

With wildfires escalating in frequency and severity, innovative solutions are urgently needed to support firefighters and protect communities. This collaboration combines Strategic's expertise in emergency response management with FireSwarm's first-of-its kind wildfire defence platform, which integrates surveillance, ultra heavy-lift drones, and AI-driven swarm technology. The partnership will focus on Canadian distribution, deployment and operator training.

Strategic, the largest Indigenous-owned natural resource consulting group in BC, has supplied wildfire crews to support provincial government firefighting efforts for more than a decade.

"We see this unique opportunity to combine our expertise with firefighting and remote aircraft operation in resource management to make a monumental improvement in early attack opportunities," said Domenico Iannidinardo, CEO, Strategic Natural Resource Group. "Extending our operations to nighttime is an intuitively efficient and generational leap in safety for communities and infrastructure threatened by wildfire."

FireSwarm is a BC wildfire technology startup pioneering autonomous aerial fire suppression solutions using ultra heavy-lift Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS). Designed to operate in conditions when traditional aircraft cannot, it fills critical gaps in wildfire response.

"First Nations, wildfire crews, communities, and ultimately families will be safer once our services are approved and ready for deployment in Canada." said Alex Deslauriers, CEO of FireSwarm. "This BC-based collaboration represents a true step change in wildland firefighting. Together, we're advancing technology that has the potential to become a standard tool in the fieldespecially in the currently underserved areas of night and remote wildfire attack."

The swarm technology is being tested in multiple locations across Canada this summer, with the goal of FireSwarm and Strategic delivering this solution in 2026.

For information on FireSwarm Solutions visit:

www.fireswarmsolutions.com

For information about Strategic Natural Resource Group visit:

www.snrgroup.com

For more photos and video click here.

BACKGROUND:

About Strategic Natural Resource Group:

As the largest Indigenous-owned natural resource management and consultancy firm in Western Canada, Strategic Natural Resource Group (Strategic) provides technical expertise and project management services to clients that prioritize respect for culture and the environment. The company is 110% Canadian owned with employee and majority Indigenous ownership, delivering a diverse and nimble team of resource professionals dedicated to each client's individual needs.

In addition to emergency response, Strategic's service areas cover a wide range of sectors, including forestry, mining & exploration, energy & utilities, transportation & infrastructure, environmental conservation and aquaculture.

About FireSwarm Solutions:

FireSwarm Solutions Inc. is a wildfire technology startup comprised of multidisciplinary experts, developing comprehensive, turn-key wildfire management solutions and services. By leveraging advanced autonomous ultra heavy-lift, long-endurance Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) and drone technology, along with the development of patent-pending AI and machine learning algorithms and fire mission kits, the company is committed to enhancing the rapid detection, assessment, and response to wildfires, ensuring the safety of people, property and the planet.

SOURCE Strategic Natural Resource Group

Media enquiries and interview requests, please contact: [email protected]
Chris Tenove and Heidi Tworek

The Conversations

Fears of foreign interference loom over the Canadian election.

The federal inquiry on foreign interference revealed that entities aligned with India and China interfered in recent elections, albeit without major impact on the results, and concluded that disinformation campaigns pose the greatest threat to Canadas long-term democratic health.

Now, with a Canada-bashing American president adding to those foreign interference risks, Canadas election integrity seems to be in an unprecedented state of fragility.

However, foreign interference has a longstanding history in Canadian elections. Understanding what is and is not new about current efforts may help to turn down the heat and focus more on how Canadians can make their own decisions this election.

For starters, what is foreign interference?

The commission, following established practice, defined it as an action whereby states pursue their global interests using covert, corrupt, illegal or coercive techniques. That means public comments on our election by foreign politicians is not interference, as Canadian government officials have made clear.

While we largely agree with the commissions definition, we argue that the interfering entity isnt necessarily a state. Foreign corporations, crime syndicates and terrorist networks can also interfere in our elections.

Elon Musk is a tricky case. He is a Canadian citizen, but his current role with the United States government may mean that he can be considered a foreign entity according to Canadas election law, as legal scholar Eve Gaumond has pointed out.

History reveals a long menu of options for foreign interference, ranging from bribery to espionage and polling assistance.

In the 1872 election campaign, Sir Hugh Allan, a Montreal shipping and railroad magnate, successfully used more than $350,000 of mostly U.S. funds to pressure John A. Macdonald and other Conservative party members to award Allan and his allies the contract to build the Canadian Pacific Railway. This was bribery to advance corporate aims.

After these machinations became public in 1873, Macdonald eventually resigned over what became known as the Pacific Scandal, and Allan lost the Canadian Pacific Railway contract. Today his actions would be a violation of campaign finance laws, which prohibit foreign funding of electioneering. But until the late 19th century, such donations werent uncommon.

Foreign policy has shaped Canadian elections before, even if the last Canadian election that focused almost primarily on tariffs with the U.S. was in 1911. But concerns about relations with other countries are different from foreign interference.

To date, the most significant foreign interference came in Canadas 1962 and 1963 elections. Again, Americans were behind it. The John F. Kennedy administration was frustrated by positions taken by Prime Minister John Diefenbaker.

The Conservative government continued to trade with Cuba despite American sanctions, had made a deal to sell grain to the Peoples Republic of China, and  most importantly  had not agreed to a U.S. proposal to station air defence missiles with nuclear warheads on Canadian soil.

Rather than bribery, the U.S. provided Lester B. Pearsons Liberal Party with assistance from pollster Lou Harris. Harris was a key figure both in Kennedys 1960 election win and in the nascent use of computer-assisted analysis of opinion polls to target specific demographic groups.

The Kennedy administration went further in 1963 and issued a press release in the midst of the election, calling Diefenbaker a liar and disputing his positions on air defence. Neither of these actions was illegal at the time, though the secret provision of in-kind assistance to the 1962 Liberal campaign would now run afoul of the prohibition on foreign support for electioneering.

The Soviets, too, were interested in Canadian politics, with some Canadians allegedly recruited as spies, according to Igor Gouzenko, a cipher clerk based at the Soviet embassy in Ottawa who defected to Canada in 1945.

The revelations even led to the arrest of one member of Parliament, Fred Rose.

American and Russian interference in general elections around the world was common in the 20th century. Political scientist Dov Levin has estimated that from 1946 to 2000, the U.S. and Soviet Union (Russia after 1991) intervened in 11.3 per cent of all global national elections.

All these techniques can be pursued today, but there are at least three new forms of interference.

First, foreign interference can include threats made against party leaders or other candidates. As in the past, these can come through clandestine networks or hired thugs. But today, an insult or false accusation from Trump, Musk or others with huge, hostile followings can expose politicians and others to a blizzard of online threats and abuse.

Second, foreign interference can occur by providing money for electioneering. Rather than a single bundled sum offered to John A. Macdonald, funds are more likely to come through online donations, possibly including cryptocurrency transfers that are difficult to monitor.

For instance, in Romanias 2024 election, the far-right, Russia-supporting candidate Calin Georgescu was accused of receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal campaign support. In late March, a cryptocurrency businessman was arrested and accused of using TikToks gifts feature to provide US$879,000 to induce 265 people to vote for Georgescu.

Such acts would be illegal in Canada. More ambiguous is whether social media platforms use their algorithms to amplify some views and diminish others.

There is no doubt that X, Facebook and TikTok platforms have the capability to do this. While government officials said such actions would be investigated, it is less clear whether they could be detected or what the government would do in response.

Finally, foreign interference can occur by trying to influence Canadians voting choices by threatening illegal or coercive actions or promoting misinformation.

Trump has already violated trade agreements with Canada and threatened future illegal activities, even going as far as to threaten annexation. Any comments that link these threats to voting outcomes  for example, if Trump said something like if Canadians choose Carney, they will see tariffs like they have never seen before  would constitute interference.

There are systems in place to detect foreign interference.

Canadian intelligence agencies and law enforcement are monitoring for foreign interference, and a panel of five senior bureaucrats makes non-partisan decisions about whether to alert the public.

Global Affairs Canadas Rapid Response Mechanism is monitoring the online information environment for foreign interference. Elections Canada is also monitoring for violations of election law.

Members of the public can help. Anyone can share cases of manipulated images and other misleading information related to the election with the Digital Threats Tipline, created by the Canadian Digital Media Research Network. (Our Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions at the University of British Columbia is a member of this McGill University-based network.)

These monitoring efforts will help us keep an eye on social media platforms. The companies have agreed to act on interference in the election, but experts are skeptical of their commitment.

If platforms are pipelines of election interference, they should be more tightly regulated. For instance, the European Unions Digital Services Act has enabled investigations and potential accountability measures in response to interference in Romanias election.

The most important thing Canadians can do is vote in this election based on their own well-informed priorities, worries and aspirations.

While remaining alert to foreign interference, Canadians can perhaps take some comfort in the resilience of our democratic institutions in the face of a long history of attempts to undermine elections.

Chris Tenove is the Assistant director, Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions, University of British Columbia while Heidi Tworek is Associate Professor of History and Public Policy, University of British Columbia.
After a devastating fire left Budj Bim National Park inaccessible, koalas have been euthanised from helicopters. The decision has left some critics "gobsmacked".

Koalas have been shot from the air and on the ground due to problems accessing Budj Bim National Park. Source: Supplied

Victorian authorities have made the difficult decision to use aerial and ground-based shooting to euthanise koalas in a national park following a devastating bushfire. Around 2,200 koalas are understood to have been assessed, and approximately 600  700 have been euthanised due to concerns about injuries and access to food. That number is expected to climb.

The blaze was sparked by a lightning strike in early March at Budj Bim National Park in the states remote southwest, scorching 2,200 hectares. Concerned about the welfare of wildlife, Victorias department of environment (DEECA) assessed the landscape and found it will likely be inaccessible for weeks. Its primary concern was that koalas could have been left to unnecessarily suffer and die, prompting the decision to visually assess unreachable animals via helicopter instead.

The decision to shoot koalas from the sky has sparked controversy, with one leading animal rescuer telling Yahoo News their "mind was blown" by the approach.

However, DEECA maintains its highly skilled professionals are able to hover over the koalas to get a clear line of sight because the canopy has been burned away,

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An experienced vet has assessed the situation and has recommended this approach as the most humane. The approach has been made in consultation with leading animal welfare experts nationwide, a DEECA spokesperson said.

Georgie Purcell understands the need to euthanise injured koalas, but she has concerns about doing it from the air. Source: AAP

Victorian MP 'alarmed' by aerial euthanasia of koalas

While large brumbies and deer are routinely shot in Victoria and NSW from the air, Yahoo understands it's not a common way of euthanising injured koalas. Utilising the method has sparked "alarm" among animal welfare advocates, with many saying more scrutiny of the program is needed and that the public should have been informed earlier.

With bushfires likely to become more severe and frequent due to climate change there are fears aerial culling could become more commonplace.

Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell told Yahoo News she understands the need to euthanise injured koalas, however she has concerns about aerial shooting.

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I think absolutely everybody should be alarmed at the method being used. Aerial shooting programs are known to be unreliable ways to appropriately kill animals using a single shot, and it can lead to further injuries that result in ongoing suffering, she said.

Given this is happening in a remote area away from public view, it can be really hard to assess whether or not it was the right method. It would have been my preferred option if they consulted with other groups who might have put in the time and the effort to individually euthanise the koalas instead of blasting them from a helicopter in the sky, she added.

Lisa Palma, the CEO of Wildlife Victoria told Yahoo the priority for Wildlife Victoria in all cases is that the animals are humanely euthanised.

Whatever method of euthanasia is utilised for wildlife impacted by bushfires, our strong view is the method must have optimal welfare as its primary focus. That would mean a fairly instant and humane euthanasia, she told Yahoo.

Wildlife rescuer Jessica Robertson said the euthanasia method had left her gobsmacked. My mind is blown. How could they possibly ethically euthanise a koala from a helicopter?

DEECA workers focused on 'reducing amount of suffering'

In a statement, DEECA said it is doing its utmost to ensure the koalas are humanely euthanised.

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Reducing the amount of suffering being endured by wildlife is the overriding priority with this course of action, a spokesperson said.

All other methods are not possible given the urgency of the situation, the remote location of animals, the extremely difficult and dangerous terrain and in consideration of the safety risks of working in a fire affected area.

The burnt canopy cover has provided clear visibility and allows the helicopter to hover at tree level permitting a clear line of sight.

Operations are delivered by highly skilled professionals and protocols are in place to confirm death to the best of the crews ability. An accredited agency aircrew member is also in the aircraft to ensure safe and compliant operations.

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A local woman discovered the "mess" during her morning walk, and was immediately struck by the foul smell coming from the mud.

A proud Aussie community has been left embarrassed at the absolute mess created near one of the nation's most popular beaches. Pictures shared to social media show the grassy area up from the Gold Coasts famous Burleigh Heads has been turned into a field of mud following a two-day surf event.

Local woman Cindy Amey walks up the hill at 6:00am every morning, and she was left shocked by what she saw this week. With so many tourists in town for the Easter holidays, shes worried what theyll think of her suburb.

I just couldnt believe what I was seeing, its horrific. The grass up there had been looking so good, theyd even relaid turf up there recently, she told Yahoo News.

Families go up there, and the view is fantastic. Its a good place to go and have a picnic, but you couldnt do that now, its embarrassing. If I arrived here on holidays and that was on my doorstep, I'd be wondering what's going on?

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Another woman Lisa Evans said on Facebook that she feared no one would be able to use the park for months. "Locals [are] throughly irritated and disappointed by the use & abuse of the park time and time again," she wrote.

Deep tyre tracks and puddles of water can be seen across the hilltop, and many have complained the area had begun to smell like a bog. Its got that creek-like sewer smell, one resident told Yahoo.

Burleigh Heads is ordinarily a popular place for tourists and locals to relax. Source: Getty/Cindy Ames

While many locals were outraged, others were confident the grass would soon grow back. Source: Cindy Amey

Dozens of Gold Coast locals have shared their frustration at the trashing of the hill on social media. This is a disgrace. There have been hundreds of events on Burleigh Hill over the years Never has the hill been left in such a state as this, one person wrote. A once beautiful area enjoyed by families, especially over Easter, is now just a mud bath, another added. Just horrible, someone else lamented.

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But others werent phased by the state of the park, with some confident a sprinkling of seeds and a few weeks of sunshine would see the grass restored. It will be as good as ever in a few weeks. I think people and tourists expect this in a heavy downfall of rain, one person said.

Locals fear it will be weeks before the park is restored. Source: Lisa Evans

Park likely to be fully restored after Easter

Yahoo News has made several attempts to speak with Surfing Australia, which hosted the Boardriders Battle at Burleigh Heads on April 12 and 13. But it did not respond before publication.

Gold Coast City Council told Yahoo News its officers will inspect the site for any damage once the organisers have finished packing up at the end of the week. Theres another surf event planned next week, so full repairs arent expected until that has concluded after Easter.

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Event organisers are responsible for all costs associated with rectifying any damage as a result of the event, including grass restoration, it said in a statement.

Minor repairs will be conducted where possible prior to the World Surf League event beginning set up early next week. Full repairs will be conducted following the conclusion of the surf events.

Ordinarily, the entire hill would be flooded with surfers and families. Source: Cindy Amey

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The lush multi-day hike around the rim of an ancient caldera opened last week, but the price tag has left the hiking community a little taken aback.

Parks authorities explained to Yahoo there are "higher operational costs" involved with the trail due to its remote location. Source: NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service

A stunning new four-day, 42km hike has opened in the Tweed Byron Hinterland, taking explorers through a volcanic landscape covered in rainforest, clear creeks and waterfalls. But unlike most national park walks in NSW, the Gidjuum Gulganyi Walk comes with a hefty fee, leading hikers to debate how much they would pay for the multi-day trek.

The trail is rated as a grade 4 hike, where adventurers would be walking between four and nine hours per day, at times covering steep and uneven ground. For those who are keen to explore it alone with their own equipment, there is a price tag of $173 to camp along the trail  with each site holding up to two people.

The campsites include raised wooden platforms that can either hold two small tents, or one medium sized tent. Also at each of the campgrounds are non-flush toilets, picnic tables, shelters and rainwater tanks.

While the announcement of the hike itself had Aussies excited, many felt the cost was almost as steep as the terrain.

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"To pay almost $200 for a national park hike is cooked!" one man wrote on Facebook.

"So bloody expensive," another agreed.

The impressive new track has sparked heated discussion about the prices of the guided and self-guided tours. Source: NSW National Parks

Guided tours available for over $3,000

For those looking for a guided tour, the prices skyrocket even further.

One company offers a "luxurious" guided walk where your bags are transported for you, meaning you only have to carry a light day pack. The experience includes chef-prepared meals, hot showers, "comfy sleeping cots", solar USB chargers and even wine in the evenings, and will set you back $3,200 per person, twin share. Single occupancy has a higher charge.

One man noted that it's cheaper to get a guided tour of Mount Everest  and hes right. A 15-day trek over glaciers and valleys to base camp on Everest, including transfers and accommodation, is currently on offer for $1,684.

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"Cheaper to go hiking in another country, which is crazy. Come on Australia we can do better," one person wrote.

Bushwalking community shocked at 'exorbitant' fees

Kirsten Mayer, executive officer of Bushwalking NSW, told Yahoo she was surprised by the charges, saying the high prices will mean the full walk will not be accessible for all Australians.

"High cost camp sites are likely to reduce the engagement in national parks by people on lower incomes. That is how these developments fail to deliver the government's goal of 'more access for more people'. These are public assets and everybody should be included and given access," she said.

"$173 for three nights camping in a national park is high."

"We also dont support broad, manufactured walking tracks that dont allow people to connect with nature, because we vitally need that."

National Parks explains the reason behind $173 fee

A spokesperson for NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service explained there are "higher operational costs" involved with the trail due to its remote location.

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"There is no fee for walking on the track but staying three nights in the campgrounds along the track costs $172.80 for up to 2 people. That is about $28.80 per person, per night twin share," the spokesperson said.

There are three campgrounds along the trail, each with hardwood platforms for tents. Source: NSW National Parks

"These new campgrounds have been carefully designed to balance visitor comfort while protecting the surrounding environment. Their remote locations mean they require higher operational costs, including waste removal and ongoing servicing to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.

"All visitor fees are reinvested directly into the management of national parks, helping to maintain tracks, campgrounds, signage, and conservation programs."

The walk is part of the $7.34 million Tweed Byron Hinterland Trails project, and includes shorter day walks that visitors can enjoy for free, the spokesperson added.

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For those interested in checking out the Gidjuum Gulganyi, check out the different options here.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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A former Saddle River police officer has filed a lawsuit against the borough and its police department, alleging she was wrongfully fired after enduring months of gender and disability discrimination, along with racism, harassment and retaliation.

Maryan Beskaly, 27, the departments second-ever female officer and its only officer of Middle Eastern descent, filed the civil complaint last Thursday, April 10, in Bergen County Superior Court.

Among her complaints, Beskaly said she was told her high-pitched voice annoyed a supervisor, who allegedly told her to take testosterone to bring down the pitch to sound more like a police officer.

According to the lawsuit, Police Chief Jason Cosgriff allegedly didnt want Beskaly working certain shifts due to her ties with the boroughs only other woman officer, who had previously filed a discrimination lawsuit against Saddle River.

Evidently, the department fears girl power, and female bonding, the complaint alleges.

Beskalys lawsuit names the borough, the police department, and unnamed officers and supervisors as defendants.

Cosgriff and borough officials did not immediately return calls and emails Wednesday seeking comment on the suit.

The lawsuit claims Beskalys employment was terminated in April 2023, just before the end of her one-year probationary period, under false pretenses.

She says she had a clean disciplinary record, led the patrol division in productivity, and had been told she was performing up to standard by department leadership.

But behind the scenes, the lawsuit alleges, Beskaly faced a hostile work environment fueled by sexism, racism, and retaliation  much of it encouraged by Chief Cosgriff and other supervisors.

According to the complaint, Cosgriff allegedly told Beskaly he did not want her working on certain shifts because of her association with Sgt. Diana Golonek, the only other female officer in the 16-member department.

Golonek, who filed a lawsuit against the department in September 2024, is currently facing disciplinary hearings that began after she filed a tort claim against the borough.

Beskaly alleges Cosgriff hired her to get under the skin of Golonek and later tried to prevent the two women from working together once they became allies.

Goloneks lawsuit alleges gender discrimination, harassment, and retaliation by the chief, who she says created a misogynistic workplace and blocked her advancement.

In Beskalys suit, she describes a culture of toxic masculinity where male officers made derogatory comments about Beskalys voice and accused her of PMSing when she outperformed her colleagues in issuing tickets.

A lieutenant allegedly told her to take testosterone to sound more authoritative.

The remark was made after the lieutenant watched bodycam video of Beskaly during a call and claimed to have gotten a headache from her screeching, the lawsuit states.

The lieutenant told Beskaly she should take testosterone to lower her voice and better perform as a police officer, the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit also alleges the lieutenant and others discouraged her from taking sick time or reporting back pain.

That pain, the suit says, was caused by department-issued taser equipment she was required to wear on a belt ill-suited for her body.

Beskaly requested a standard outer vest, already used by male supervisors, to help distribute the weight.

Her request was denied, despite her offering to purchase it herself. Instead, male officers tried to adjust her belt physically, an experience she described as humiliating.

The lawsuit further alleges Beskaly was denied access to recharging equipment for her taser and body camera, which was located only in the mens locker room.

The womens locker room had no working charging station, forcing her to wait or rely on male colleagues to retrieve her gear.

In one incident detailed in the complaint, Beskaly says she was criticized for not stopping and questioning a Black man who matched no description in an earlier hit-and-run case.

She refused to racially profile the individual and was later told her training program would be extended to get under her skin, the suit alleges.

The lawsuit asserts five counts under New Jerseys Law Against Discrimination, including gender and national origin discrimination, disability discrimination, failure to accommodate, hostile work environment, and retaliation.

The suit seeks reinstatement, damages, attorney fees and other relief.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
The 37-year-old driver of a moving truck was charged after crashing into an apartment building in Cherry Hill on Tuesday, displacing several families.

No one was injured after the truck slammed into a building in the Burroughs Mill development just before noon, Cherry Hill police said.

Though the driver from Schenectady, New York was charged, police said the crash was unintentional.

The building houses 21 people, according to 6abc.com. They will not be allowed back while the building is checked for structural damage.

Cherry Hill police couldnt immediately be reached by NJ Advance Media for an update Wednesday morning.

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Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
Two new bobcats at the Cape May County Zoo. provided

Adorable is an understatement looking at pictures of the two new bobcat cubs at the Cape May County Zoo.

In fact, the 10-month-old brother and sister dont even have names yet. But they have a new forever home at the sprawling, 80-acre site at the Shore.

A zoo in Arizona wanted to find new homes for them and we decided to get them because we had bobcats in the past and were hoping to get some again, Hubert Paluch, the zoo director, told NJ Advance Media. Theyre both doing fine, adjusting well. Were very happy with it.

Paluch said even though the young cats are unnamed, he still greets them every morning and talks to them. He said, even without names, they can be distinguished apart. The boy is bigger and their faces have unique features.

They arrived in March and settled into the former bobcat exhibit located in the zoos Small Mammals section. Bobcats are named for their distinctive short bobbed tails. They are medium-sized cats native to North America, even New Jersey. They are elusive, primarily nocturnal, and inhabit various ecosystems.

But visitors can admire the fascinating animals daily during zoo hours, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The zoo features over 550 animals representing more than 250 different species.

And, admission is free.

Paluch said the zoo has a very extensive record-keeping system, numbering each animal and giving them names.

We can track all of the behaviors and medical records, he said.

Two new bobcats at the Cape May County Zoo. provided

Paluch said bobcats are a native species in New Jersey but doubts many people frequently see them in the wild.

Theyre kind of elusive, he said Theyre not out and about in the daytime. Most people dont ever see them. They dont get to urban areas very much like deer.

Cape May County has a farm preservation program that accumulates land and could foster environments for wildlife outside of the zoo.

Paluch said Cape May Zoo is well-known in nationwide accrediting bodies for zoos, which may have helped them get the bobcats.

Were well known for our spacious exhibits, which we pride ourselves on, he said.

The zoo also streams programs over social media to introduce their animals. The programs are popular in classrooms throughout the state. The program is an effort to continue the zoos mission of teaching and sharing knowledge about the animals in their collection, officials said.

Other animals at the zoo include snow leopards, cheetahs, a lion, giraffes, zebras and ostriches.

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Bill Duhart may be reached at bduhart@njadvancemedia.com.
A coalition of professors, students, campus workers and New Jersey residents plan to participate in a national Day of Action on college campuses Thursday to protest cuts and policies targeting higher education from President Donald Trumps administration.

Organizers expect at least 166 campuses to participate, according to the American Association of University Professors, a union representing about 50,000 faculty across the country.

Groups at the College of New Jersey, Montclair State University, New Jersey Institute of Technology and Princeton University are among those organizing protests and rallies.

The day is about voicing dissent over the crackdown on universities that this administration is waging, said Kelly Benjamin, the AAUPs spokesperson.

The protests come as the Trump administration has cut funding to many universities, promised to crack down on programs focused on diversity, and revoked visas from international students.

On Monday, Harvard became the first university to openly defy the Trump administration as it demands sweeping changes to limit activism on campus.

The university will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights, the universitys lawyers wrote Monday to the government. Neither Harvard nor any other private university can allow itself to be taken over by the federal government.

The federal government says its freezing more than $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in contracts to Harvard.

Other universities nationwide are facing similar cuts.

Trump threatened Tuesday to escalate the dispute, suggesting on social media that Harvard should lose its tax-exempt status if it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting Sickness?

Rutgers University, the states largest higher education institution, does not have a protest planned for Thursday. But university groups protested about $22 million in cuts to the universitys research budget on April 8th.

At least 16 international students at Rutgers have had their visas revoked, said Todd Wolfson, associate professor of journalism and media studies at Rutgers and the national AAUP president.

Its been the workers, the faculty and the staff and the students that have been fighting back. And now the universities are joining us, Wolfson said.

In addition to on-campus protests, the AAUP is holding an online teach-in, called "Free Higher Ed Now" at 7pm Thursday. Wolfson, who serves as president of Rutgers faculty union and head of the national AAUP, is among those slated to speak.

Though billions of dollars of higher education funding are being withheld by the Trump administration, Benjamin said he is encouraged by recent efforts by universities to fight back.

Harvard said, no, we are not caving to these demands. Were seeing the same thing at Princeton. Were seeing the same thing at many universities, both public and private, all across the country right now, Benjamin said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Lebanon has banned screenings of Snow White due to the inclusion of actress Gal Gadot. Disney

Disneys Snow White is now banned from being shown in Lebanon due to its inclusion of Gal Gadot, according to Variety. The directive was issued by Lebanons Interior Minister Ahmad Al-Hajjar at the recommendation of the countrys film and media watchdog. This comes on the heels of a report from Al Jazeera that 71 civilians were killed in Lebanon by Israeli forces since a cease-fire was reached in November.

Beirut-based Middle East distributor Italia Films told Variety that Gadot has long been on Lebanons Israel boycott list and that no movie in which she stars has ever been released in the country. This did include Gadots starring role in 2017s Wonder Woman.

Gadot, who plays the Evil Queen in the live-action remake of Snow White, was born in Israel and served in the Israeli Defense Forces in the early 2000s. The actress has been an outspoken advocate for her country in the wake of the October 7 attacks.

Lebanon also banned Marvels Captain America: Brave New World in February due to the presence of Israeli actress Shira Haas in the film. Haas plays a former Israeli Black Widow named Ruth Bat-Seraph:

Related coverage:

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Murjani Rawls may be reached at mrawls@njadvancemedia.com
Newark voters went to the polls on Tuesday to select three Board of Education members in a historic election in which 16- and 17-year-olds voted for the first time. Steve Strunsky | NJ Advance Media For NJ.com

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Incumbent Kanileah Anderson and her running mates Louis Maisonave Jr. and David Daughety appeared headed to victory Tuesday night in the Newark school board election according to preliminary results that didnt include mail-in ballots.

The three candidates are part of the Moving Newark Schools Forward slate, a contingent that has historically been heavily backed by Mayor Ras Baraka and other powerful Democratic lawmakers. The slate has won every school board election since 2016.

Among all 11 candidates, Anderson was leading with 22% of the vote, while Maisonave Jr. and Daughety both received roughly 18% of the votes, according to preliminary results.

If the leading candidates hold onto the win, the nine-member Newark Board of Education will continue to be composed entirely of members who ran for election as part of the Moving Newark Schools Forward slate.

As of 9:17 p.m. Tuesday, candidates on the Prioritizing Newarks Children slate were trailing behind the mayoral-backed slate. Returning candidate AdeKamil Kelly received nearly 8% of the votes, according to preliminary results, and his running mates Shana Melius and Nathanael Barthelemy each received roughly 6% of the votes.

The two slates were joined by returning candidates Latoya Jackson and Yolanda Johnson and newcomer Elaine Asyah Aquil, who received about 5% of the votes each. Jordy Nivar received 3% of the votes, and DeWayne Bush just under 2% of the votes.

The winning candidates will decide policies for the district, which is home to about 40,000 students across 64 schools.

Newark youth become the first in state to take historic vote

On Tuesday, Gabrielly Ferreira started her day like any other: getting ready for school, going to classes, catching up with friends, and taking tests. But in the back of her mind, the 16-year-old student at Science Park High School knew it was a historic day for Newarks youth.

After school, Ferreiras mom took her to Hawkins Street School in the citys Ironbound neighborhood, where she would cast her ballot in an election for the first time. As she walked inside the schools gym, Ferreira noticed only one other person voting, but she was still excited to participate in the election.

The sophomore student was greeted by poll workers who checked her ID, verified her information, and handed her a ballot, marking a milestone moment in her civic journey.

It was pretty simple, and they were really friendly, actually. I knew who I was voting for, so it only took a couple of minutes. All teens who can vote today should do so, said Ferreira, who spent weeks preparing to vote and helped organize a school board candidate forum last month.

Ferreira joined hundreds of Newarks 16- and 17-year-olds who were the first of those ages in New Jersey to vote in a school board election. City residents chose from 11 new and returning candidates running for three seats on the Newark Board of Education.

The winners will serve a three-year term and be tasked with deciding policies, holding the superintendent accountable, approving a budget, and overseeing New Jerseys largest school district.

More than 90 churches, senior centers, and schools across the citys five wards opened their doors from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on election day to serve as polling places.

By midday Tuesday, polling places at East Side and University high schools were quiet, with just a trickle of voters coming in after school. At Science Park, a poll worker said there were roughly 200 16- and 17-year-olds registered to vote at that location, but the worker had yet to see a teen voter by 3:30 p.m. Newark Public Schools students were not allowed to leave class during the school day to vote.

City leaders spent weeks preparing students to vote

This year, city leaders spent weeks working to get new youth voters registered and ready to vote in the historic election.

Nearly 1,800 teens registered to vote, but that number fell short of the 7,257 eligible to sign up, based on estimates from the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice. Newark Public Schools Superintendent Roger Leon previously said he aimed to register at least 3,000 students before the March 25 deadline.

City leaders hoped youth voters would impact the school board election, which historically has drawn around 3% to 4% of registered voters.

Charter school students such as Domonique Bateman hope city teens will increase the historically low turnout. A senior at North Star Academys Lincoln Park High School, Bateman feels its just as important for charter students to vote in the April election because, under state law, school districts must provide charter schools with at least 90% of per-pupil funds for students who live in the district.

Bateman wants the winning candidates to focus on providing more bus tickets for students since many rely on public transit to get to school. She also wants to see more funding for extracurricular programs such as the arts and STEM.

I know that the funds that [the district] give us go towards our lunches, go towards our extracurricular programs, and help with our students that have special needs and require other educational services. So, I think its really important that the people who are directly impacted by this money have a voice in who is elected, said Bateman on Tuesday.

Science Park senior Tahiyah Williams, 18, said she wasnt able to vote during the school day on Tuesday despite her polling place being at her school. She plans to vote with her mom later in the day because she wants to improve the school system for the kids that are coming after her.

Jibola Omotoyinbo, a senior at North Academys Washington Park High School, also voted to improve the conditions in Newark schools. She wants to have a say in the people that will represent her on the city school board.

Being able to prioritize education for all and equal education for all is something I do hope, that, like, somebody in office would be able to do, Omotoyinbo said.

Newark became the first city in New Jersey last year to lower the voting age to 16 for school board elections. But the youth vote was delayed until this election due to voter registration issues, according to city officials in 2024. This years youth vote also sparked school and local efforts to ensure teens were ready for Tuesdays election.

In February, Newark Public Schools launched the Vote 15+ voter registration campaign to get students registered. Nonprofit groups such as The Gem Project held civics trainings for new young voters, where they said they want to see younger school board members represent them, improve school lunches, and adopt a curriculum that reflects their experiences. The Newark branch of the NAACP also held a forum to hear about candidates positions on school policies, funding, and looming federal cuts.

Newark Public Schools also welcomed Gov. Phil Murphy, Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way, Baraka, and other officials in March to the Newark School of Data Science and Information Technology to encourage youth to vote in the school board election.

The winning candidates must also contend with recent criticism from the community over transparency in addressing racism in schools, the school boards attempt to remove one of its longest-serving members, the districts decision to roll back on paying board members attorneys fees in their fight against an ethics complaint initiated by a high school principal, and the boards approval of thousands of dollars for a staff fun day that the states education department deemed an inappropriate use of funds.

In Essex County, Newark joined Irvington in holding April school board elections.

On Tuesday, young voters throughout the city, including Ferreira, were seen wearing I voted today stickers to mark the first of many votes they will cast throughout their civic journey.

Our voice actually does matter even though we may feel like it doesnt, Ferreira added.

Jessie Gomez is a reporter for Chalkbeat Newark, covering public education in the city. Contact Jessie at jgomez@chalkbeat.org.

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Harley, a 3-year-old border collie Australian shepherd mix, died during a grooming appointment at K-9 Kingdom in Woodbury Heights last year. (Provided Photo/Ashley Jenkins)

A judge has sentenced a Gloucester County dog groomer accused of animal cruelty and drug offenses to four years in prison and ordered that he never work with animals again.

Trevor J. Hunt, 40, who owned K-9 Kingdom in Woodbury Heights, was arrested last summer after he contacted a family to tell them their 3-year-old dog, named Harley, died during a grooming appointment, police said.

The family called police, who arrived at the business to investigate.

Hunt became uncooperative with officers and tried to delete evidence from his phone, police said, and he was arrested.

A search of the business turned up more than a half ounce of heroin packaged in more than 60 small plastic baggies, according to court documents.

A necropsy on Harley, a border collie Australian shepherd mix, revealed no signs of illicit drugs in her system or any obvious indications of what caused her death, police later said.

Hunt was indicted last October on a charge of third-degree cruelty to animals for allegedly failing to provide the dog with necessary care while in his custody.

He was also indicted on third-degree counts of possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, as well as fourth-degree tampering with physical evidence.

Under an agreement with prosecutors, Hunt pleaded guilty in February to a third-degree charge of possession of a controlled dangerous substance.

In return, prosecutors agreed to recommend a four-year prison sentence and request dismissal of the other charges.

As a condition of the plea, Hunt had to agree to never work with animals again, according to court documents.

On Friday, Superior Court Judge William Ziegler sentenced Hunt in accordance with the plea agreement terms.

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Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com.
Karim Daoud of Flemington was detained on March 12 after he went to an appointment to pick up work authorization documents so he could remain in the United States, according to Rachel Mascitelli, a family friend. free karim

Its been one month since Karim Daoud, a well-loved Hunterdon County community member, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, but his friends havent forgotten his plight.

Daoud, a married father of two who is from Egypt but lives in Flemington, was detained March 12 when he went to an appointment to pick up work authorization documents, family friend Rachel Mascitelli said.

He remained Wednesday in a detention facility in New Jersey. The social media page Free Karim previously released a copy of a handwritten letter from Daoud to his family.

A GoFundMe created to support Daouds family has surpassed $90,000 in four weeks. Money raised is going to be used to help Daouds wife and children.

On Thursday, a special Vigil for Karim organized by his friends will be held at 7 p.m. at Stangl Factory, Stangl Road, Flemington.

The vigil, which is open to the public, aims to draw attention to Daouds detainment.

Daouds wife, Jenn, declined comment. She is an American citizen, Mascitelli said, and the couple have two young children.

Daouds detainment drew the attention of U.S. Sen. Andrew Kim who represents Burlington, Ocean. Mercer and Monmouth counties and state Sen. Andrew Zwicker, D-16, who posted his testimony about Daoud on social media. During his testimony, Zwicker called Daouds case shocking.

Friends say it is unclear exactly why Daoud is being detained. ICE issued a statement in March regarding Daouds detention.

Karim Ahmed Daoud Mahmoud Salem, a native and citizen of Egypt, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement March 12 for violating U.S. immigration laws. Daoud is currently detained at the Elizabeth Contract Detention Facility in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and is pending removal from the United States, the statement said.

ICE said in the statement that Daoud has reached the end of his appeals.

U.S. immigration laws allow aliens to pursue relief from removal; and, Mr. Daoud has exhausted all due process and appeals and is now subject to a final order of removal from an immigration judge. ICE must carry out removal orders, according to the statement.
Feral rabbits continue to outcompete hundreds of native animals in Australia with fresh warnings about the 'enormous consequences' we now face.

As millions of Aussie households prepare for the Easter bunny to visit, residents are being warned that much of the country is actually being torn up by the very animal that is synonymous with the upcoming long weekend.

Feral rabbits are one of the most damaging invasive pests in Australia, and the roughly 200 million bunnies hopping around the continent are on the brink of another population boom thanks to ideal weather conditions and the species developing immunity to the most recent biological control method.

"Rabbits are one of our worst pests, they're not just one of our cute and cuddly animals," the CEO of the Invasive Species Council (ISC), Jack Gough, told Yahoo News. "They were able to spread across the whole continent, and it's had enormous consequences for our native wildlife and agriculture productivity."

After being introduced in the 1850s by European settlers for sport hunting, rabbits continue to outcompete many beloved Aussie animals including different species of possum, quolls and bandicoots.

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"Recent season conditions mean the estimated 200 million rabbit population is likely about to explode, just as federal funding for the next killer virus runs dry," the ISC warned on Wednesday.

No national strategy tackling growing rabbit issue

There have been a number of coordinated national strategies to reduce Australia's feral rabbit population which have largely included biocontrol methods  introducing viruses to kill the animals.

However, the last control method was introduced just over a decade ago and the population has well and truly developed an immunity now, Gough explained.

"The most recent release of a strain of calicivirus, which is the virus that really has knocked down their population, is now about 10 years old. [Its ability] to reduce the population is significantly starting to decline," he explained.

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Up to 300 native species have been identified as facing extinction and directly impacted by expanding rabbit populations. However federal funding ceased in 2022 and now there is currently no coordinated effort to suppress the species.

"At the moment, we don't have a national strategy that is funded by the government. That really needs to change. This should be a national priority... It shouldn't matter who's in government... This is something that should always have funding behind it," he said.

There are more than 200 million feral rabbits in Australia. Source: Invasive Species Council

Scientists are also now exploring genetic engineering to alter the reproductive capabilities of feral rabbits, for example, ensuring females can only produce male young.

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A gene drive is a technique that promotes the inheritance of a particular gene, even if it would not typically be passed on according to natural genetic principles. This allows scientists to spread a specific genetic trait, such as infertility or disease resistance, more rapidly throughout a population.

Speaking to Yahoo News, the national rabbit management coordinator at the ISC, Heidi Kleinert, described it as a potential "game-changer".

"Because rabbits can breed every 28 days  and as soon as they give birth, they can fall pregnant again  one pair of rabbits can breed up to 184 young in 18 months," she said earlier this year.

Why is it important to tackle rabbit populations?

If there is no interference with the booming rabbit population, hundreds of native animals will become extinct and the environment will degenerate, Gough warned.

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"The diversity of native species is part of the fabric of Australian life, part of what Australians are really proud to sort of be custodians of," he said.

"Wildlife is at the heart of who we are as Australians... [if we don't find a solution] this is going to be an issue that Australia has to deal with forever."

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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Snug Harbor Beach, on the Shrewsbury River at 22 Snug Harbor Avenue in Highlands, N.J., Wednesday, August 7, 2024. Highlands, a community in Northern Monmouth County that often floods, is working to build up its resilience to storms and heavy rainfall. Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

The chances a mile-long wall  meant to ward off the rising ocean  would be built in one Jersey Shore town were dashed in November after most voters did not support the new structure.

Now, the federal funding the town needs for an alternative measure to combat flooding is set to be pulled, a federal agency confirmed to NJ Advance Media Tuesday.

A significant part of the $16 million project, which calls for an array of upgrades, is set to be lost.

The total FEMA BRIC [Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities] project cost is $16,205,280 with a grant of $12,193,000, Highlands Mayor Carolyn Broullon said in an email Tuesday of the previously-announced FEMA award.

That $12 million is soon expected to go away following the larger cancelation of the resiliency program by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

In all, FEMA officials said $882 million of funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will be returned to the U.S. Treasury or reapportioned by Congress in the next fiscal year.

The BRIC program was yet another example of a wasteful and ineffective FEMA program, a FEMA spokesperson said in an email to NJ Advance Media.

It was more concerned with political agendas than helping Americans affected by natural disasters, the federal spokesperson added. Under Secretary (Kristi) Noems leadership, we are committed to ensuring that Americans in crisis can get the help and resources they need.

Like other moves from the federal government since the inauguration of President Donald Trump in January, the loss of the funds has been met with scrutiny and sent some local governments scrambling to pivot.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, signed by President Joe Biden in 2021, made $1 billion available for BRIC over five years. To date, $133 million has been provided to 450 applicants.

Mayor Broullon said Tuesday that Highlands has not been formally informed by the federal government that the grant has been canceled.

If the grant does get cancelled, she said, we will work hard to find another way to make these infrastructure upgrades.

The Highlands project would include adding green infrastructure meant to control flooding, converting a canal into a wetland which can absorb rainfall and building a retention basin beneath Kavookjian Field located near Route 36 on Waterwitch Avenue. That structure, like others, would help collect stormwater, which can then be released later.

Also, Broullon said of project plans, building a storm water pump station on Snug Harbor that has a natural gas back up.

Locals noted that the $16 million project is meant for flooding or rain water issues (heavy rainfall can come off the mountain and accumulate in town), instead of ocean water problems eyed by the Army Corps plans.

Moreover, permitting for projects of this size under the Coastal Area Facility Review Act alone can take as many as 18 months to file  plus soil permitting required as well as the bidding process itself. Typically, they can take years to design and execute.

Its unclear how the grant loss could impact the timeline.

The bottom line is we need this work done as soon as possible and I will not stop until that happens, the mayor said.

new for @njdotcom, I spoke with Highlands residents about why they just voted down a 1-mile long floodwall despite @NOAA projections showing the town will be submerged by the ocean in decades https://t.co/MToAjtM7mS  Steven Rodas (@stevenrodasnj) November 17, 2024

FEMA did not immediately provide more information on other New Jersey projects impacted by the loss of the BRIC funding.

FEMA estimates more than $3.6 billion will remain in the Disaster Relief Fund to assist with disaster response and recovery for communities and survivors, agency spokespeople said Tuesday of the national funds.

Recent projections from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration show wide sections of the Highlands likely being inundated by roughly 2.5 and 3.5 feet of increased ocean levels by 2100.

And storms have not been kind to the Jersey Shore town.

When Hurricane Sandy hit in 2012, more than 83% of the boroughs homes were damaged.

Residents in the area are candid, noting that storms can make entire sections of the roadway impassable.

Highlands storm drains also back up amid harsh weather  causing their own flooding issues.

Pointing to the concerns, local and federal officials have studied the borough for potential solutions for over three decades.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the state most recently proposed building the $148 million floodwall, with an up-front cost to Highlands taxpayers of $13 million to build and an annual cost of $452,000 to maintain.

The reinforced concrete structure was slated to be 14 feet high and extend over a mile  from Veterans Park to the One Willow Seafood Restaurant. It ostensibly would have spanned the towns entire waterfront.

However, this past Election Day as part of a ballot question, 1,959 people in Highlands voted no to the floodwall and 579 voted yes.

In addition to worries the local section of Jersey Shore coast could be marred by the wall, a decade ago  when Sandy hit  some experts said building a floodwall could create a bathtub effect and trap more water downtown.

In the fall, Highlands Mayor Broullon clarified the ballot question was not binding.

Still, she later said the borough planned to honor that vote while continuing to work with state and federal agencies to help solve the flooding issues.

Five months later, that sentiment remains.

We have to do all the environmental and permits regardless, so we will continue to proceed, Broullon said. If we have to find alternative funding, we will.

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Steven Rodas may be reached at srodas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Bluesky at @stevenrodas.bsky.social.
Recent layoffs of all LIHEAP staff members raise concerns about program's future despite $4.1 billion in approved funding for 2025. AP

Editors note: This story was shared as part of a content-sharing agreement between Mosaic.NJ.com and NJ Spotlight News. You can follow them on Facebook and Twitter (or X).

The federal program that helps hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people in New Jersey stay cool during the summer and warm during the winter is at risk due to widespread layoffs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Every member of the LIHEAP staff was laid off last week, according to Mark Wolfe, executive director of the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, who placed the number of lost jobs at about 25.

Created in 1981, the program helps about 6.2 million people nationwide with their utility bills. People enrolled in LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program), a multibillion-dollar program, can also get money to insulate their homes, lowering their energy bills. It received about $4.1 billion in the 2024 federal budget year and Congress kept that funding the same for the 2025 budget.

Who is going to help a lower-income person when theyre between shifts at their workplace if they cant access a live human being? Or even answer questions by email? Staci Berger, president and CEO of the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey, said in an interview. Our social safety net is made up of people helping other people.

A cut among many

The layoffs are part of a bevy of cuts to the nations federal health agencies the Trump administration has made in recent weeks and cast a cloud of uncertainty over the future of the program.

The Trump administration has doled out punishing cuts to federal jobs, contracts and programs since President Donald Trump took office Jan. 20.

In the last two months, about 280,000 jobs were eliminated across the federal workforce, including contracting jobs, due to the efficiency task force President Trump created for Elon Musk, his billionaire campaign donor and aide, according to the executive outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

Job cuts of about 10,000 hit the U.S. Agency for International Development. Roughly 20,000 jobs have been lost at HHS, and up to 80,000 are planned for the Department of Veterans Affairs, which provides health care, financial services, job training and education for military veterans.

How LIHEAP operates in NJ

To qualify for the LIHEAP program in New Jersey, a household must make 60% of the states median income, which is about $48,000 for one person, $63,000 for two people and $77,000 for a three-person household.

Benefits range from a minimum of $118 to a maximum of $1,278 for heating or cooling, paid in a single sum. Enrolled people can also get money to weatherize their home  to make it more energy-efficient and save money in the long run  and to avoid utility shutoffs during the winter.

According to federal data, 303,493 households in New Jersey were enrolled during the 2024 budget year, though there is more demand for the program than funding available.

In New Jersey, like many states, more people apply for LIHEAP benefits than the program can accommodate. Berger said the demand is roughly three times greater than could be met.

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators, including Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), wrote Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. last week about the termination of the LIHEAP staff.

Access to affordable home energy is a matter of health and safety for many low-income households, children, and seniors, the senators said. To that end, we urge you to reverse course on any staffing or funding cuts that would jeopardize the distribution of these funds to our constituents.

Bipartisan support

Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-12th) said in an interview with NJ Spotlight News that support for LIHEAP has long been bipartisan. It certainly has been because there are people who are economically eligible in red states, blue states and purple states.

Rep. Frank Pallone (D-6th), the top-ranking Democrat on a House committee with jurisdiction over the Department of Health and Human Services, said in a statement that LIHEAP saves lives.

Trump has gutted the office that runs LIHEAP, a lifeline for thousands of New Jerseyans who cant afford to crank the A/C in a dangerous heatwave or fill their oil tank in a winter storm, Pallone said. Trump has never had to worry about a shutoff notice or freezing in a drafty apartment, and it shows. This is the kind of decision that gets people killed and he should be ashamed.

The Department of Health and Human Services did not respond to a request for comment about the status of the LIHEAP office.

New Jersey has state programs to help people pay their utility bills, but they are not as financially robust as the federal program.

LIHEAP in action

When he was mayor of Paulsboro, from 1996 to 2011, John Burzichelli said he saw the benefit of LIHEAP in the town he led.

In a small town where you talk to people you know, you got a real sense of how it was being utilized and how important it was, Burzichelli, a Democratic state senator, said by phone. All in all, it seemed to work fairly well. It wasnt a program that required us to [put in] a lot of work.

Burzichelli added: If that goes away, theres going to be a major void.

As humans raise Earths temperature by burning fossil fuels and denuding the planets forests, temperatures will only increase.

People who are homeless are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat, even more than to extreme cold temperatures, according to a 2024 study from Boston University researchers.

As the climate warms, that will put more pressure on the power grid during summers as people crank their air conditioning.

Electric utility bills in the state are already expected to increase an average of $20 a month, starting in June.

It is very concerning that people may not be able to stay cool in a summer when we know that the utility bills are going to go up, Berger said, adding that she views the LIHEAP layoffs as a precursor to closing down the program.

NJ Spotlight Washington correspondent, Benjamin J. Hulac covers New Jerseys congressional delegation and federal decisions that affect the state.

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A state grand jury has indicted a Florida man on charges he boarded an Amtrak train in New Jersey earlier this year with luggage full of guns and ammunition - one which fired when being unloaded by police.

The indictment charges Jeffrey O. Kennerk, 34, of Fort Lauderdale, with several second-degree crimes  four counts of unlawfully possessing a firearm, possessing a firearm for an unlawful purpose, aggravated assault, possessing a weapon as a felon, and three counts of unlawfully possessing an assault firearm, the state Attorney Generals Office said in a statement on Wednesday.

The indictment also charges him with several fourth-degree crimes related to the possession of ammunition, magazines and silencers.

State investigators had alleged that Kennerk took an Amtrak train from Newark Penn Station to the Trenton Transit Center on Jan. 3 of this year with a suitcase that contained and AR-15 rifle among other firearm accessories.

It all started when NJ Transit Police saw an unattended suitcase near a McDonalds restaurant at Newark Penn Station. A search of the luggage found that it contained a partially loaded AK-47-style rifle, a fully loaded handgun, multiple loaded magazines, as well as a plastic bag and several boxes filled with bullets, officials said.

A review of surveillance cameras revealed that a man, later identified as Kennerk, was carrying two suitcases and left one of them near the McDonalds before visiting the Amtrak ticket window and boarding a train to Virginia, authorities said.

This defendant allegedly hauled a small arsenal of deadly weapons and ammunition through busy transit stations, and on a train filled with passengers, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said. He allegedly left a suitcase containing assorted weapons and ammunition  including an assault rifle  in the concourse of Newark Penn Station, where anyone could have been harmed by them. If not for the outstanding police work done in this matter, we can only imagine where this defendant and these weapons would have ended up.

When the train was making a stop in Trenton, two NJ Transit Police officers boarded and asked to see Kennerks ticket. He then presented an incorrect ticket and explained that he had boarded the wrong train. The officers instructed him to exit the train and wait for the proper one.

As Kennerk was waiting on the platform, transit police in Trenton received a tip about the Newark incident and apprehend him. While searching the one suitcase that was still in his possession, officers found two rifles, including an AR-15, a handgun and various different types of ammunition and silencers, authorities said.

One of the rifles appeared to be booby-trapped, with handkerchiefs wrapped around the trigger. An officer placed a muzzle in the suitcase while attempting to remove the handkerchiefs, which resulted in the rifle firing, prosecutors said.

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Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com.
A man admitted this week that he burglarized multiple vehicles in Ocean County, including one time where he attempted to flee in a police cruiser, authorities said.

That incident happened on Dec. 16, 2021 when an off-duty Brick Township police officer alerted his fellow officers after he saw two people in the parking lot the LA Fitness on Chambers Bridge Road where a car alarm was going off, according to a statement from the Ocean County Prosecutors Office.

The officers who responded saw the pair enter a van and leave the area and they immediately tried to pull the vehicle over, but the driver did not stop and began to drive recklessly east on Route 70, the office said.

A short time later, the van crashed into another car at the intersection of Burnt Tavern Road and Maple Avenue and the driver, 45-year-old Atlantic City resident Andrew Williams, got out of the vehicle, authorities said.

Williams then opened the door of a nearby car and unsuccessfully tried to pull the driver out before entering one of the responding police cruisers, investigators said. He was quickly removed from the cruiser and arrested.

The officers learned that Williams had burglarized two other cars that day in the same parking lot from where he took the van, the office said.

He was taken to the Ocean County Jail and has been held there since that time, officials said.

Police were also able to tie Williams to an Oct. 25 burglary in the LA Fitness parking lot where a person had their wallet stolen from their car, authorities said. He was served with new charges related to that incident the day after his arrest.

Finally, in another unrelated incident, the Stafford Township Police Department was contacted on Dec. 14, 2021 by employees of the Best Buy Store on Stafford Park Boulevard for a report of a man who fraudulently used a credit card, the office said.

Employees recognized the man from a previous fraudulent transaction that occurred on Dec. 10, 2021, but by the time they contacted police, the man had already left the store, investigators said.

It was determined that Williams was the one using the card in both instances and he was, again, served with new charges on Dec. 19, 2021, officials said.

On Monday, Williams pleaded guilty to eluding, two counts of burglary and two counts of fraudulent use of a credit card, the office said. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 13.

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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
A jury has convicted a man accused of killing two victims and wounding another with a knife in Paterson on the day after the Fourth of July in 2021.

Jose Martinez, 36, of Paterson, was found guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and weapons charges, the Passaic County Prosecutors Office said in a statement. The month-long trial ended when the jury returned the verdict on Wednesday.

The attack occurred around 4 a.m. on July 5, 2021, in a parking lot near Paterson School No. 5. Martinez and his brother Francisco Martinez were apprehended weeks later by a U.S. Marshals Service fugitive task force near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

The state presented evidence at trial that Jose Martinez stabbed both Jamie Hernandez and Johnny Jimenez to death and left Jeremiah Rivera injured with stab wounds, prosecutors said. Testimony included body camera footage and eyewitness accounts as well as expert testimony from the medical examiner and DNA experts.

The Passaic County Prosecutors Office did not provide an update on the criminal case of Francisco Martinez in its Wednesday press statement. A spokesperson for the office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Jose Martinez is scheduled to be sentenced on June 5.

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Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com.
Activists and residents applaud during a council meeting at City Hall in Paterson on Tuesday, March 28, 2023. Julian Leshay | For NJ Advance Media

Chaos erupted Tuesday during a Paterson City Council meeting as a councilman charged at a fellow member and a resident after allegedly threatening gun violence, witnesses said.

About 4 hours into the meeting captured on video, Councilman Luis Velez exchanged words with Councilman Mike Jackson after Jackson inquired about a promotion given to Velezs wife.

During the exchange, Jackson asked why Velezs wife, a community service worker who Jackson claims doesnt speak English, was promoted over a more qualified candidate.

What we should be worried about is the fact that your wife received a pay increase of $10,000 over a more qualified candidate for the job, Jackson said during the 7 p.m. meeting at Paterson City Hall.

Velez shot back, accusing Jackson of dealing drugs and saying he needed to be arrested, allegations Jackson denied.

Jackson continued to ask about the promotion, repeatedly mentioning that Velezs wife doesnt speak English.

If you dont stop him, Ill stop him, Velez shouted repeatedly to Council President Alex Mendez. When a resident attending the meeting commented on the dispute, Velez allegedly shouted, Im holding my f****** gun for you and this guy over here.

Afterward, he charged at the resident and Jackson before being held back by a security guard. The board president immediately recessed the meeting.

Reached Wednesday, Velez said his family needs to be left out of politics.

I apologize for my reaction, he told NJ.com. But I wish people would put themselves in my shoes. To go and attack my wife with racist comments is uncalled for. I will be involving my attorney in the matter.

When asked about his reference to holding his gun, he denied mentioning a weapon.

I did not say I was holding a gun, he said. What I said was Im holding my gut.

Jackson, meanwhile, called for an investigation into the city.

Obviously, the truth struck a nerve, where I think warrants a thorough investigation from the newly appointed AG that he attempted to mislead, said Jackson. Hes clearly the example of corruption in this city!

Members of Black Lives Matter Paterson and other community activists hold a rally for Najee Seabrooks before a council meeting at Paterson City Hall on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. Julian Leshay | For NJ Advance Media

Paterson City Council is no stranger to controversy. Recently, the removal of newly appointed member Ibrahim Omar was a topic of conversation after racist and homophobic social media posts Omar made at age 14 came to light.

In 2023, Paterson residents crowded a tense city council meeting, demanding answers after the police killing of local activist Najee Seabrooks during a chaotic session that included emotional speeches, shouting, and a near fistfight between two city officials.

And in March, the investigation into the fatal police shooting of Seabrooks concluded without criminal charges against the officers involved as a state grand jury declined to indict the two.

Activist Zellie Thomas says the council needs to get it together.

Healthy debate or discussion doesnt exist on the Paterson city council, he said. The meetings are dysfunctional and chaotic. This is not reality TV; this is real life. The ones who end up suffering are always the residents.

Welcome to Mosaic. Follow us on Instagram at @MosaicNJcom, on Facebook at MosaicNJcom, on Twitter (X) at @MosaicNJcom and on YouTube at @MosaicNJcom.

Deion Johnson may be reached at djohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Instagram at @DeionRJohnson or X @DeionRJohhnson
Jennifer Contreras' loved ones gathered to light candles, pray, and share stories about her as a way of paying tribute to her memory at a vigil in Passaic on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. Jeff Rhode | For NJ Advance Media

Jennifer Contreras shouldve been raising a glass and cheering the launch of Luxe by Jenni C, her new beauty business in Passaic. Instead, on what was scheduled as its opening day, her heartbroken loved ones, along with hundreds of others, gathered outside her childhood home on Hammond Avenue prayed and lit candles in her memory.

The 24-year-old, described by her family and friends as a bright light with a contagious laugh, was one of nearly 250 people killed in the Dominican Republic last week after the roof of Jet Set, an iconic nightclub in the countrys capital, suddenly collapsed during a merengue concert. Another N.J. woman, Antonia Ignacio Douglas, a grandmother who lived in Perth Amboy, also died during the tragedy.

Days earlier, Jennifers sister, Luz Contreras, whos 26, tearfully told me her beautiful little sister had traveled to their fathers homeland to attend an eyebrow shaping course and obtain a microblading certification so the two could go into business together.

We had it all planned out, she said in between tears. We shouldve been celebrating her new chapter ...For our family, this is the worst, most difficult moment.

At the vigil Tuesday, Luz, older sister, Kairyn Contreras, whos 30, and a handful of other relatives and elected officials, including Passaic Mayor Hector C. Lora and Congresswoman Nellie Pou, spoke about Jennifers life and legacy, sharing stories and anecdotes about the impact she made, reading poems inspired by her, and praying for her soul in Spanish and in English.

Stephanie Rivas, one of Jennifers best friends, in a poem she wrote, said Jennifer was a cup of fresh orange juice on a sunny morning, bright, refreshing and full of life ...and somehow, she was also the cherry on top, unexpected, delightful, and the perfect little burst of joy you didnt know you needed.

Without her, and without her weekly phone calls, she said, life will never be the same.

Throughout the two-hour ceremony, Jennifers favorite songs  Mexican crooner Ana Gabriels heart-rending Mi Talisman and Whitney Houstons legendary I Will Always Love You  filled the air. (And of course, the DJ, a family friend, also made sure to play her favorite Dominican merengue hits.)

Jennifer Contreras' loved ones gathered to light candles, pray, and share stories to honor her memory at a candlelight vigil in Passaic on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. Jeff Rhode | For NJ Advance Media

On the garage door, her bright smile  the one everyone gushed about  was on display, front and center: On a large banner, an angelic photo of Jennifer, flashing her pearly whites and donning a flowy white dress.

Hundreds of people, who knew and loved her, a mix of area residents and people whod traveled to Passaic from surrounding towns, took turns paying their respects to Jennifers family. Many embraced and consoled her parents, Dina Marcelo and Ramon Contreras, and offered words of comfort to her four surviving siblings.

Together, her relatives sobbed. They sang. They prayed. They lit candles with a photo of a smiling Jennifer showing-off her signature red lipstick, handed out beautiful white and red roses to attendees, and listened intently to those who approached them to share kind words about her.

Loved ones and friends of Jennifer Contreras gather to light candles, pray, and share stories about her as a way of paying tribute to her memory at a candlelight tribute in Passaic on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. Jeff Rhode | For NJ Advance Media

As the night went on, and the temperature dropped, they held each other close. And despite the inevitable tears racing down their faces, they also made it a point to emphatically remind themselves and each other that as solemn as it was, the event was about much more than grief-stricken mourning.

This is a celebration of Jennis beautiful soul and life, an emotional Kairyn told the crowd. She lived with passion, adventure, and charisma. She was driven, always seeking to grow and to help others.

It hurts to say that today wouldve been the launch of her business ...the grand opening of her dreams, she said. Tonight, we ask you to join us, not in sorrow, but in celebration of who she was.

A visibly moved Mayor Lora announced that in Passaic, Jennifers hometown, he and others in City Hall had come up with a special way to do so: We will launch a scholarship in her name for cosmetology students taking courses like the ones that Jenni pursued, he said. Through that scholarship, we will ensure that her legacy and her light continue to shine always.

Im hoping that, somewhere in heaven, the angel on the banner, that funny and kind beauty queen everyone spoke so adoringly about, heard the news. And smiled.

Jennifer Contreras' loved ones gathered to light candles, pray, and share stories about her to pay tribute to her memory at a candlelight vigil in Passaic on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. Jeff Rhode | For NJ Advance Media

Daysi Calavia-Robertson is a columnist who covers our states diverse communities. Contact her at dcalavia robertson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Instagram at @presspassdaysi. Or subscribe to her weekly newsletter and WhatsApp community, My Group Chat. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.
Jensy Machado said he voted for Donald Trump because he thought hed go after criminals in his mass deportation plans.

That was then.

Now, Machado, a naturalized Virginia resident, says officials under the presidents administration are just following Hispanic people, according to a report from NBC News.

And he knows it firsthand.

From the report:

Machado was driving to work Wednesday with two other men when he was stopped by ICE agents near his home, he said.

Confused by the scene, Machado said he didnt know what was happening and why agents surrounded his pickup truck.

They just got out of the car with the guns in their hands and say, turn off the car, give me the keys, open the window, Machado told Telemundo 44s Rosbelis Quinonez, who first reported his story. Everything was really fast. ...

And I told him I was an American citizen, Machado said. He looked at his other partner like, you know, smiling, like saying, can you believe this guy? Because he asked the other guy, Do you believe him?

Trump, who campaigned on a pledge to carry out mass deportations, said in a taped interview with Fox Noticias that aired Tuesday that his administration is focused right now on getting murderers out of the country. But for others in the U.S. illegally, he said, hes going to implement a self-deportation program.

At the same time, Trump recently said hed like to send U.S. citizens who commit violent crimes to prison in El Salvador.

Trumps administration has already deported immigrants to El Salvadors notorious mega-prison CECOT, known for its harsh conditions. The president has also said his administration is trying to find legal ways to ship U.S. citizens there, too.

But it would likely be a violation of the U.S. Constitution for his administration to send any native-born citizen forcibly into an overseas prison. Indeed, it would likely even violate a provision of a law Trump himself signed during his first term.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
President Donald Trump arrives to speak at the Commander-in-Chief trophy presentation to the Navy Midshipman football team in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) AP

President Donald Trump has announced deals with numerous law firms that will allow them to escape potential punishment from his executive orders in exchange for providing free legal services for causes the administration supports.

Democrats and Trump critics have chastised the law firms for bending the knee to Trump, with many suggesting that the executive orders targeting the firms are unconstitutional. The New York Times reported on Wednesday that Trump believes the law firms he struck a deal with will provide more than just free legal services for veterans.

They thought they made one-shot deals which they would fulfill, Harold Hongju Koh, a professor of international law at Yale Law School, told The New York Times. But the administration seems to think that they have subjected these firms to indentured servitude.

From The New York Times:

Mr. Trump, it turns out, has a far more expansive view of what those firms can be called on to do.

Over the last week, he has suggested that the firms will be drafted into helping him negotiate trade deals.

He has mused about having them help with his goal of reviving the coal industry.

And he has hinted that he sees the promises of nearly $1 billion in pro bono legal services that he has extracted from the elite law firms  including Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom; and Willkie Farr & Gallagher  as a legal war chest to be used as he wishes.

Several law firms have won court rulings that have temporarily halted the enforcement of Trumps executive orders. His executive orders threatened to strip lawyers of their security clearance, barring them from federal buildings and eliminating federal contracts the firm had with the government.

The resolutions reflect the Republican presidents continued success in bending prominent law firms to his will as they seek to cut deals with his administration to avoid being targeted by White House sanctions like the ones confronting others in the legal community.

The White House said that the firms of Kirkland & Ellis LLP; Allen Overy Shearman Sterling US LLP; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP; and Latham & Watkins LLP would each provide $125 million in free legal work for causes including veterans affairs and combatting anti-Semitism. As part of the agreement, the administration agreed to withdraw letters from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission demanding information about whether the firms were engaged in discriminatory hiring practices.

In a separate deal also announced Friday, Trump said that the firm of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft would agree to dedicate $100 million in pro bono services. The agreements also required the firms to disavow any illegal diversity, equity and inclusion considerations in their hiring and to agree to accept clients regardless without regard to political beliefs.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Monday, April 14, 2025. (Pool via AP)

Social media users expressed outrage Tuesday after the White House confirmed it was exploring a potential tariff bailout for farmers

Many farmers have sounded the alarm on President Donald Trumps tariffs, with many raising concerns that it will devastate the U.S. agriculture industry. Multiple reports earlier this month said Trump was considering another bailoutlike one he had in his first termfor these farmers.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed to reporters on Tuesday that relief for farmers is being considered.

Leavitt confirms that the White House is considering a tariffs bailout for farmers pic.twitter.com/IlSwcE0wPl  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 15, 2025

News of a potential bailout shocked users on social media.

I absolutely f-cking refuse to support bailing out farmers a second goddamn time! They knew this idiotic jackass was gonna slap on tariffssaw the sh-tshow it caused in his first termand they still f-cking voted for him! Now, hes pulling the same bullsh-t all over again. Were not doing this crap again, no f-cking way in hell! one user wrote on social media platform X.

Another user wrote: Trump is preparing for more bailouts and subsidies to make up for the effects of his tariffs. I was told less spending and more revenue from tariffs not bailouts for corporations.

And progressive activist Melanie DArrigo pointed out that conservatives refuse to give bailouts to those with student loans but have no problem handing them out to farmers.

Hard working America struggling with student loans cant get a bailout, but the agricultural industry which donates millions to Trump can. See how that works, she wrote.

Trump told farmers in a social media post earlier this week that he will protect them.

Our farmers are GREAT, but because of their GREATNESS, they are always put on the Front Line with our adversaries, such as China, whenever there is a Trade negotiation or, in this case, a Trade War. The same thing happened in my First Term. China was brutal to our Farmers, I [sic] these Patriots to just hold on, and a great trade deal was made. I rewarded our farmers with a payment of $28 Billion Dollars, all through the China deal, Trump said.

It was a great transaction for the USA, until Crooked Joe Biden came in and didnt enforce it. China largely reneged on the deal (although they behaved during the Trump Administration), only buying a portion of what they agreed to buy. They had ZERO respect for the Crooked Biden Administration, and who can blame them for that? Interestingly, they just reneged on the big Boeing deal, saying that they will not take possession of fully committed to aircraft. The USA will PROTECT OUR FARMERS!!! he added.

Trump has imposed 145% tariffs on Chinese imports. China has responded by slapping 125% tariffs on all U.S. imports.

Farmers can try to sell some of their soybeans in other countries, but that may be difficult given that Trump has imposed 10% tariffs on most countries and threatened much higher reciprocal tariffs. So this years crop may pile up until farmers can find a buyer, and likely at a lower price.

The experience from Trumps first trade war with China in 2018 gives farmers plenty of reasons to worry. Soybean exports to China fell from $12.2 billion in 2017 to $3.1 billion in 2018 after Trump imposed tariffs, and China retaliated.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Scientist Dr Francois Brassard stumbled upon the discovery in the Northern Territory of Australia and simply doesn't know if it's 'rare or rarely noticed'.

We can now add fungi-controlled ants to the list of creatures roaming around Australia.

A fungus not yet known to modern science was recently discovered in a remote savannah in the Northern Territory, and its parasitic ability to infect ants with its spores and takeover its host has left scientists dubbing the incredible natural phenomenon as creating "zombie ants".

Dr Francois Brassard, a myrmecologist (someone who specialises in the study of ants) and postdoc researcher with The University of Western Australia, made the discovery and told Yahoo News he was "very excited to find these parasitised ants".

The fungus, he explained, takes over an ant's body in order to complete its life cycle.

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"Spores will first infect an ant and, over the course of a few weeks, take control of the ant's body. It will then make the ant climb a piece of vegetation which the ant will then grip in its mandibles. This 'death-grip' is the ant's last act, as it soon dies in that position."

Zombie ants climb vegetation and die in the 'death-grip' that helps the fungi infect more ants. Source: Francois Brassard

Soon after, the ant becomes a meal.

"The fungus will then consume the ant to accumulate enough energy to grow a fruiting body, which will then rain down spores on other unsuspecting ants," Dr Brassard told Yahoo.

"The reason why the fungi make ants climb vegetation to then clamp the underside of leaves is because it is a strategic position to 'shoot' spores on more ant targets."

Researchers work to understand the importance of the discovery

It was upon finding lots of dead ants on a recent Bush Blitz exhibition, a nationwide project focused on cataloguing the country's biodiversity, that Dr Brassard realised he'd stumbled onto something so unique. He took samples back to the university to show his colleague Sherie Bruce.

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Initial research by Bruce suggests the fungi, called Ophiocordyceps, is a new discovery as "there are no records of the spiny savanna ant being infected by [this fungus]" as far as the team are aware.

"The parasite fungi could potentially be controlling the populations of this very common ant. However, the fungi may be quite rare or it could just be rarely noticed! Further studies could evaluate its prevalence and impact on ants and local ecosystems," Dr Brassard said.

"Sherie and I are both determined and excited to figure this out."

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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Political strategist Jon Favreau slammed Vice President JD Vance over his defense of the Trump administration appearing to ignore an order from the Supreme Court.

Vance posted a lengthy statement on Tuesday defending President Donald Trump for not giving immigrants due process before deporting them from the United States. He questioned how the administration is supposed to deport more than one million immigrants if officials had to give them due process.

To say the administration must observe due process is to beg the question: what process is due is a function of our resources, the public interest, the status of the accused, the proposed punishment, and so many other factors, Vance wrote on X.

Heres a useful test: ask the people weeping over the lack of due process what precisely they propose for dealing with Bidens millions and millions of illegals. And with reasonable resource and administrative judge constraints, does their solution allow us to deport at least a few million people per year? he added.

The Trump administration is under fire for appearing to ignore a court order demanding that officials facilitate the return of a permanent legal resident in the United States who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador.

Favreau accused Vance of arguing that it is ok for a President to ignore the law, due process, the Supreme Court, and the Constitution if its necessary to fulfill one a political goal.

Consider that the Vice President actually just made the argument that its ok for a President to ignore the law, due process, the Supreme Court, and the Constitution if it's necessary to fulfill one a political goal, which is to deport a few million immigrants a year. https://t.co/JWMpQNFPoA  Jon Favreau (@jonfavs) April 16, 2025

Favreau explained that Trump already has considerable authority over immigration policy, but he cant just ignore the courts.

What you dont get to decide is that laws and rulings you disagree with can be ignored. Mistakes are made. Your boss mistakenly deported an immigrant in the first term. The difference is, back then he acknowledged the mistake, and worked to fix it. Now youre both refusing to even try, he wrote.

Favreau concluded his statement by criticizing Vance over his defense of Trumps policy, noting that the president has suggested sending U.S. citizens to El Salvador.

And please spare us the bullsh-t that this is all about illegal immigration when youre also detaining and deporting people who are here legally with green cards and student visas. Or the fact that your boss keeps saying hed love to send American citizens to rot in this foreign prison, he wrote.

Our jails do quite a job keeping violent criminals from escaping. So what else is this about? Why do you keeping insisting that you and only you have the power to put anyone you want in a foreign prison? he added.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, 29, lived in the U.S. for roughly 14 years before the Trump administration expelled him to a notorious El Salvador prison last month.

Administration officials later described the mistake as an administrative error but insisted that Abrego Garcia was a member of the MS-13 gang.

Abrego Garcia was never charged with a crime and has denied the allegations. His attorneys have pointed out that the criminal informant claimed he was a member of MS-13 in Long Island, New York, where he has never lived.

U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis had ordered the Trump administration in early April to bring Abrego Garcia back. And the U.S. Supreme Court agreed last week that the U.S. government must facilitate Abrego Garcias release.

But the White House has balked at trying to broker his return, arguing the courts cant intrude on the presidents diplomacy powers.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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President Donald Trump greets El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele as he arrives at the West Wing of the White House, Monday, April 14, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) AP

A GOP Congressman is facing backlash after visiting the notorious El Salvador prison at the center of President Donald Trumps immigration debate

U.S. Rep. Riley Moore (R-W.Va.) said Tuesday that he visited the El Salvadors CECOT prison where the Trump administration sent hundreds of migrants, including a legal permanent resident living in Maryland, last month. He was immediately criticized for his visit, with The Bulwarks podcast host Tim Miller questioning the sincerity of the congressmans religion.

If you go to a torture prison that holds refugees who were granted no due process and rather than check on their welfare you post creepy fetish photos, I must question the sincerity of your Christianity, Miller wrote on X.

If you go to a torture prison that holds refugees who were granted no due process and rather than check on their welfare you post creepy fetish photos, I must question the sincerity of your Christianity. https://t.co/YGKtOSbmaX  Tim Miller (@Timodc) April 16, 2025

A handful of Trump allies have paid visits to the El Salvador prison since the administration appeared to defy a court order and sent hundreds of migrants there.

Moore, who describes himself as a Roman Catholic in his social media profile, praised Trump for sending the migrants there despite widespread backlash over the mass deportation flight.

I just toured the CECOT prison in El Salvador. This maximum security facility houses the countrys most brutal criminals, including murderers, rapists, pedophiles, and terrorists. Several inmates were extremely violent criminals recently deported from the U.S. I leave now even more determined to support President Trumps efforts to secure our homeland, he wrote Tuesday on X.

At the center of the immigration controversy is Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a man who was sent to the CECOT prison by the Trump administration in March. The Trump administration has admitted that he was sent there in error, but has not facilitated his return back to the U.S. despite the Supreme Court ordering them to do so.

One user called on Moore to bring Abrego Garcia back to the U.S.

Bring Abrego Garcia back with you. Help facilitate his release. You are really throwing yourself 100% behind an administration that wants to ignore the Constitution. You should be embarrassed, the post read.

Moores visit came just one day before U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) took a flight to El Salvador to advocate for the release of Abrego Garcia.

I just landed in San Salvador a little while ago, and I look forward to meeting with the team at the U.S. embassy to discuss the release of Mr. Abrego Garcia.



I also hope to meet with Salvadoran officials and with Kilmar himself. He was illegally abducted and needs to come home. pic.twitter.com/MzKe7U8Wwr  Senator Chris Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen) April 16, 2025

After arriving in San Salvador, Van Hollen posted another video from the back of a moving car, saying he was traveling into the city and planned to meet with officials at the U.S. embassy. He said he would have a better idea later in the day whether he can meet with Abrego Garcia, who is detained at the notorious CECOT prison.

The Trump administration and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele said this week that they have no basis to send him back, even as the U.S. Supreme Court has called on the administration to facilitate his return. Trump officials have said that Abrego Garcia has ties to the MS-13 gang, but his attorneys note the government has provided no evidence of that.

Democrats have seized on the case to highlight what they say is President Donald Trumps disrespect for the courts and overcome their position in the minority in both the House and Senate. New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., was also considering a trip to El Salvador, as were some House Democrats.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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A protester is removed as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., speaks during a town-hall style meeting, Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Acworth, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) AP

Three people were arrested, a man was subdued with a Taser, and protesters hurled insults.

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene held a town hall in suburban Atlanta on Tuesday night to deliver full-throated support of President Donald Trumps agenda  and some chaos ensued.

Im glad they got thrown out. Thats exactly what I wanted to see happen, Greene said. This isnt a political rally or a protest. I held a town hall tonight. You know who was out of line? The protesters.

Among the insults hurled at the MAGA Republican who regularly flaunts conspiracy theories?

You butch body bigot! said one person as they were ejected from the event.

The protest is outside. Bye. Have fun out there, Greene shot back.

Marjorie Taylor Greene to a protester at her town hall: The protest is outside. Bye. Have fun out there.



Protester: You butch body bigot! pic.twitter.com/2DanF2sLYg  Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) April 16, 2025

It was a reference to Democratic Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett referring to Greene as a bleach blonde with a bad built butch body during a congressional committee hearing earlier this year after Greene told her colleague I think your fake eyelashes are messing up what youre reading.

Despite the disruptions, a majority of the crowd of more than 150 was supportive of Greene, who represents a heavily GOP district stretching from Atlantas northwest suburbs to the Tennessee border.

While Republican congressional leaders have advised their members not to hold town hall meetings, Greene has always courted the spotlight. After giving a speech and playing video clips of her supporting Trump, she answered questions that had been submitted in advance and printed on slides.

Greene, long one of Trumps most loyal allies, has said shes considering running for U.S. Senate or Georgia governor in 2026, but has yet to make any public moves toward what would be a bruising race in the politically competitive state.

She repeatedly said Bye to people being escorted from the room and praised officers response, saying the appropriate place for those ejected was with more than 100 protesters lining a street outside the community center.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The New Jersey State Police are searching for the person who dumped a dead dog in a bag of dog food along a busy highway in Somerset County this week.

Troopers responded to a report of a suspicious package at milepost 25 on I-287 North in Bernards Township on Wednesday, where they found a large green Retriever brand dog food bag, according to a statement from the state police.

When the troopers looked in the bag they found the remains of a black dog, police said.

Detectives said they believe the bag was discarded sometime between 10 p.m. on Tuesday and 10 a.m. on Wednesday.

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or events leading up to it was urged to contact the Troop B Somerville - Criminal Investigation Office at 908-725-0107.

The incident comes just over a month after four Pitbull mixes were found in four Retriever brand dog food bags near mile marker 119.4 in Aberdeen.

Detectives determined that injuries injuries found on those dogs were consistent with dog fighting.

The state police have not yet said if they discoveries are related.

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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
The New Jersey Turnpike Authority upheld the award of a $1.7 billion, 11-year contract to run New Jerseys E-ZPass system to a company that a rival accused of having ties to The Communist Party of China.

In a 104-page decision released Tuesday, the authority upheld the Sept. 24 award of the contract to TransCore LP of Union. Conduent State and Local Solutions, the company currently running the E-ZPass system, appealed the award in October.

Conduent raised the question of a board member of a majority shareholder of TransCores parent company allegedly having ties to China, which the authoritys decision called meritless and hypocritical.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sparred with Emmanuel Macron over the French president's plan to recognize a Palestinian state and encourage other countries to do the same.

A Palestinian state would be "a bastion of Iranian terrorism," Netanyahu said on a call with Macron on Tuesday, according to a statement from the Israeli leader. "The prime minister expressed fierce opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state, and said that this would constitute a huge prize for terrorism."

Macron has said France could recognize Palestinian statehood as early as June at a United Nations conference meant to help end the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.

The dispute exemplifies the growing tension between Israel and some of its closest allies over the 18-month war, which has destroyed much of Gaza.

France would be the first Group of Seven member to make such a move. The likes of the UK and US formally support a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but only after negotiations between the sides.

"I have made my position very clear," Macron said in a statement following the call. He told Netanyahu that "the security interests of Israel and of everyone else in the region" were paramount, and that it was "an absolute priority" for Hamas to demilitarize and release all the hostages it holds.

In an X post last week, Macron said France wants "a Palestinian state without Hamas."

Palestinians hope to eventually form a nation comprising Gaza and the larger territory of the West Bank, which together have more than 5 million people.

Decades of international peacemaking efforts have hinged on the idea of Palestinian statehood in those areas, which Israel captured in the 1967 Six Day war. The last major talks stalled in 2014.

Netanyahu's ruling coalition, the most right-wing in Israel's history, is firmly against a Palestinian state and polls suggest most of the Israeli public is too.

Opposition within Israel has grown since Hamas's attack on Oct. 7, 2023, which triggered the war in Gaza. The Iran-backed group killed 1,200 people and took around 250 hostage. More than 51,000 people have been killed since Israel began its retaliatory offensive, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry.

In July last year, the Israeli parliament passed a resolution opposing the establishment of a Palestinian state, warning that it could serve as a base for terrorist groups. Some 68 of the Knesset's 120 members backed the measure.

About three quarters of UN members recognize Palestinian statehood. Spain, Norway and Ireland did so last year, prompting Israel to recall its ambassadors to all three countries.

Hamas, which is designated a terrorist organization in much of the West, including the US, calls for Israel's destruction. It took over Gaza after Israel quit that territory in 2005. The Palestinian Authority, (a comparatively more moderate terrorist) group, governs Palestinians in the West Bank.

Israel's government has long exercised widespread military and security control over the West Bank and Gaza.

(COMMENT, BELOW)




Jake Stevens is 'lucky to be alive' after suffering a catastrophic tear in his heart.

Married couple Jake and Carli Stevens were sleeping side by side in their Ballarat home at the start of the month when a blinding pain ripped through Jake's chest, jolting both him and his wife awake.

"Doctors said the pain he must have been in was out of this world... but he walked himself to the ambulance,' Carli, who scrambled to call Triple Zero, told Yahoo. "He was just so calm, I [was a] bit of a mess."

It was later discovered that the dad-of-two had suffered a catastrophic aortic dissection  a life-threatening condition that causes a tear in the aorta's inner wall. His determination to not distress his wife in the middle of the night during his moment of need is a perfect example of the kind of man he is, Carli explained.

"We've been together for 22 years, and we've been married for 16, so we kind of know each other well... I'm trying to stay positive... I know he's lucky to be alive," she said.

Freak accident during surgery leaves tradie paralysed

Jake, who works as a plumber, was rushed to a hospital in Melbourne where he underwent two surgeries, with his condition so "dire" that he had multiple different teams operating on him at the one time. During one seven-hour surgery, when doctors were desperately trying to save his life, he sustained a prolonged lack of blood flow to his spinal cord. The result was life-changing.

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"He had such a long time without blood flow that he sustained a spinal injury and now has no feeling from the chest down to the rest of his body," Carli told Yahoo. "Doctors are saying it's potentially something that he will never be able to regain again."

Jake Stevens is now being prepped for a wheelchair and will be unable to return to work. Source: Supplied

The couple and their two young sons, aged 10 and 14, face an uncertain future now that Jake will be unable to work as a plumber and is prepped for a wheelchair.

The financial insecurity and the mounting costs of tailoring their home to make it accessible has prompted loved ones to launch a GoFundMe page.

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"We've got many different friend circles around us and they all love him. He's just got a really good attitude to life and he focuses on what's important to him and the people he loves," Carli said.

"He's a big cuddly bear."

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More than a dozen international students studying in Louisiana have had their visas revoked without explanation, university officials confirmed on Tuesday, part of the Trump administration's nationwide targeting of foreign-born students at American colleges and universities.

In New Orleans, at least six international students have had their student visa status terminated: two students at Tulane University, two at Southern University at New Orleans and three at the University of New Orleans, according to university officials. In Baton Rouge, seven international students at Southern University had their visas pulled, as did three students at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. An LSU spokesperson did not immediately respond to inquiries about whether any of its students were affected.
The St. Tammany Parish Public School system, in an effort to fast-track capital improvement projects and potentially save millions of taxpayer dollars, is asking voters to support a May 3 bond issue that would be the largest in the districts history.

The proposal, given the tagline Building Futures, Securing Tomorrow, is a $325 million bond issue that involves no tax increases. Rather, it would continue a 13.7-mill property tax that would back the bonds needed to pay for the work.

Superintendent Frank Jabbia said the proposal addresses critical needs, including some $251 million to fund major renovations at 23 of the districts 55 schools. Some of the schools due for upgrades have not seen substantive physical improvements since they were built, a handful of them more than half a century ago. A major thrust of the upgrades would be elimination of portable classrooms that long have been the bane of teachers, students and school leaders.
North Devon MP Ian Roome has said Liberal Democrats are disappointed at the Governments rejection of their Buy British campaign

The campaign is calling for people in North Devon to buy local products as a way of standing against Donald Trumps trade war and to back local businesses.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves criticised the campaign as inward looking and said that the Government would not be backing the campaign.

Mr Rome said in response that his party would always have the back of local businesses and vowed to continue the campaign.

The 10% tariffs from Mr Trump come on the heels of the Chancellors decision to increase National Insurance contributions for employers, a move that, according to research by the Liberal Democrats, could leave the average employee in North Devon worse off by approximately 2,253 by the end of the decade.

Mr Roome said: Businesses here in North Devon will be feeling a real sense of disappointment that the Government has refused to back them in their time of need.

Many of our local businesses are really worried about the damage that Trumps trade war will do, especially after being hammered by the Chancellors jobs tax coming into force just days ago.

I know people in our community are ready to stand shoulder to shoulder with businesses here in North Devon in their hour of need and Buy British. We Liberal Democrats will always have our local businesses backs and join with them to stand up to Trumps assault on the global economy.
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Emperor Naruhito met with Turkmenistan President Serdar Berdimuhamedov at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on April 15.

Berdimuhamedov attended Turkmenistan's national day event at the Osaka Expo in western Japan the previous day.

Officials said the emperor asked his guest about his experience in Osaka, and the president said he introduced his country's culture and goods.

Naruhito thanked Turkmenistan for being one of the first countries to indicate intention to take part in the 2025 World Exposition and funding the construction of its own pavilion.

The emperor also reminisced about his visit to the 1970 World Expo, also held in Osaka Prefecture, and said such events are a good opportunity for children to learn about the various countries around the world.

This year's Osaka Expo opened on April 13 and runs for six months, with 158 countries and regions taking part.

Turkmenistan was the first country to celebrate national day at the fair.


VALPARAISO  Like a true pop-up event, the Esca dinner nights at Stacks arrive almost without warning and the menu is different every time. But who is reading all the books?

That is the question I had walking up through the labyrinthian library set-up on the way to Stacks' rooftop bar. Shelves upon shelves greet diners until they finally arrive at a flamingo-adorned "Palm Springs spring" set-up. With the dining room closed Monday, the Esca pop-up night had an almost "reverse speakeasy" vibe, located not in a basement but instead overlooking downtown Valpo.

Esca Kitchen & Company and Stacks have had a long and fortuitous relationship, which is why the one-time restaurant and now pop-up event company has been operating "surprise" dinners there exclusively over the past year and a half, owner Ryan Hecimovich said.

"This space is top-tier beautiful," Hecimovich said. "The owner of Stacks is actually my mentor. We kind of put together a restaurant from scratch in 36 hours every time (we host a pop-up)."

That includes bringing the old band back together: the chef, Erik Cruikshank, and servers from the original brick-and-mortar Esca restaurant, as well as the "wonderful women" who run the rooftop bar at Stacks, Hecimovich said.

This is Esca's fifth pop-up at Stacks, which has ended up being roughly a quarterly event. After hosting six-course menus in the past, this spring's event was a change of pace, presenting an a la carte affair that featured some of Esca's original favorites, as well as hand-made pasta and Hecimovich's "super good" chili. (More on that below.)

Cruikshank, for his part, was excited to put new touches on the dishes, such as honey chevre that gives a "melting snow" effect over the pasta and a broccoli-over-broccoli-puree dish that he hopes will "make broccoli cool again."

The broccoli dish was actually my favorite, and I really like the slightly spicy puree that lined the plate. It's a bright green "broc guac" that sauces up the charred broccoli and onions.

"It's a collaboration," Cruikshank said. "Everyone busts their butt, we work really hard to throw a party for one night. We look at each other after like we are a bunch of complete lunatics, but it's so much fun."

It's been an eclectic road for Cruikshank and Hecimovich, which may befit the eclectic (but busy seeing as the rooftop was packed) vibe of the pop-up.

Esca means "tasty bits of food" in Latin, Hecimovich explained. It's more specific and literal translation in Italian of "fish bait" is decidedly NOT what they are going for, Hecimovich said.

The physical location for Esca first opened in 2022, at 22 Washington St., which currently seats the new iteration of Albano's. While that iteration didn't last, Hecimovich credited a loyal customer following and "great community ties" with allowing him to continue the concept as a pop-up.

As someone with a self-described "entrepreneurial spirit," Hecimovich was using this past pop-up as a way to showcase his next business idea: gourmet chili.

"I entered a chili cookoff in 2014 and won it," Hecimovich said. "That got me hooked. I have a passion for it  at tailgate parties, dinner events. I find it very soothing to make it. I decided to roll it into a company and see how it goes."

Hecimovich, like all great cooks, won't divulge all the ingredients that make his chili "super good," but he did identify two unique additions: hot Asian mustard and dark chocolate.

The chili served Monday was a smooth, meaty blend. The item will be served out of downtown Valpo's new Super Submarine sandwich shop, Hecimovich said, adding that he's hoping to add some merchant vendors in the coming weeks and is working with a team to get it into local grocery stores.

In addition to the pasta, chili and broccoli, I also really enjoyed their blood orange sorbet, which came with berries and apricot syrup.

Wherever/whenever Esca, or Hecimovich's chili, shows up next, it is sure to bring out some regulars.

There was a healthy number of loyal followers out Monday who'd been waiting for the next Esca event, including Valpo resident David Coslov, who said he's now been to four of their five dinners (His wife, Carrie, was there for the first time.).

"We were former customers at their restaurant, and we miss their cuisine," David Coslov said. "Anytime they have a pop-up, I try to make it. Stacks and Esca are a fun, fun environment."

Stacks Bar and Grill is located at 175 Lincolnway in downtown Valparaiso. For more information on the rooftop dining and cocktail "Palm Springs pop-up" menu, which differs from the main level offerings, readers can visit stacksvalpo.com.
EAST CHICAGO  Technology upgrades were likely coming to at least eight Region police departments this year, thanks to federal funding proposals. But now, after last month's federal budget cut state and local law enforcement programs, those upgrades are unlikely to happen on the government's dime.

U.S. Rep. Frank J. Mrvan, D-Highland, met with East Chicago police chief Jose Rivera Tuesday afternoon to tour the police station and ride around town to learn more about the technology law enforcement in the city was utilizing and to see firsthand how a recent slash to a particular line item of the federal budget could impact police departments in the 3rd-term Congressman's district.

The visit came a month after Republican President Donald Trump signed House Bill 1968 into law following approval from the Republican-controlled House and Senate. The bill keeps the federal government funded  and open  through the end of September.

Mrvan, who voted against the resolution, previously called it "a legislative tragedy for Northwest Indiana that will strip away specific funding for public safety and economic development." He had applied for funding for specific projects at eight area police departments, including a $150,000 grant that would allow the East Chicago Police Department to purchase body-worn cameras for its officers.

Other proposed projects included nearly $2.8 million in federal funding to replace or upgrade radios and radio equipment and improve overall communication at the Crown Point, Dyer, Griffith, Schererville and Valparaiso police departments, according to Mrvan's office. Mrvan had also requested a total of $888,000 for the LaPorte and Hobart police departments for "equipment and technology" upgrades and for body cameras, respectively.

But last month's continuing resolution cut spending for state and local law enforcement programs by removing projects earmarked to go to various police departments, including the eight proposed projects in Northwest Indiana.

"The House majority has made Northwest Indiana less safe," Mrvan said in a speech on the House floor. "It is shameful that we have misled our local law enforcement agencies."

Rivera stopped short Tuesday of saying his department has felt misled by lawmakers in Washington but said the project would have filled a need when it comes to police technology in his city.

"Something like body camera footage is something that communities all over the country want their officers to have, but what they don't realize is the cost that it entails," Rivera said. "And I just think it's unfair to put that cost on the taxpayers here in the City of East Chicago."

Rivera has credited his department's cutting-edge technology with being the driving factor in the city's remarkable homicide decline and 100% homicide solve rate in 2024. Mrvan saw the city's ShotSpotter gunshot detection software, license plate readers, mobile cameras and the approximately 850 cameras citywide that have acted as proven crime deterrents.

East Chicago's four homicides in 2024 marked a 69% drop over a four-year period and the lowest in at least 12 years. Detectives "solved and charged" suspects in all four alleged killings.

"What (Chief Rivera) and the City of East Chicago is doing, it's a safer community with less manpower and more emphasis on technology, which makes the community safer (and) makes the parks safer," Mrvan said. "What I want to do as a member of Congress is make sure we deliver more resources to the City of East Chicago and chiefs throughout the district so that we can have a safer community."

Rivera told Mrvan the department will also need to replace its radios by 2027, a $500,000 initiative. Both men hope next year's federal budget will allow for it. If it's anything like the budget resolution approved last month, it likely won't.

"Communities like ourselves here in East Chicago, we rely on that type of funding," Rivera said. "Because without that type of funding, we have to now turn to the taxpayers, and the taxpayers are already taxed enough. So now, we're not only asking them to fund our department with their tax money, but now, to fund programs that can be funded by the federal government instead."

Mrvan said in his role as a member of the House Committee on Appropriations, he'll continue to fight for the same kinds of funding local police departments will miss out on this year. Mrvan is also on the subcommittee on commerce, justice, science and related agencies.

"That's something that I'm going to fight for," Mrvan said. "The (House and Senate) majority did not make public safety a priority when they stripped those types of grants or funding that was going back to local law enforcement. That's why I'm going to keep fighting for it."
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On April 15, XPENG held in Hong Kong its first brand launch event targeting global consumers, putting the 2025 XPENG X9 MPV model onto the market and outlining its latest advancements in flying cars and AI robotics. The company reaffirmed its commitment to global expansion through innovation and localized strategies.

The new XPENG X9 comes with four variants, which are priced between 359,800 yuan and 419,800 yuan.

Photo credit: XPENG

All trim levels are equipped with zero-gravity space seats, with the second-row seats offering first-class-level space comparable to a Boeing 787 and the third row forming a spacious 7.7 m cabin area.

Photo credit: XPENG

The MPV also features active rear-wheel steering with a tight 5.4-meter turning radius, dual-chamber air suspension, intelligent damping, and an all-aluminum chassis with six hydraulic bushings for enhanced ride comfort.

Technologically, the XPENG X9 is built on the company's self-developed AI chassis system, capable of scanning road conditions 1,000 times per second and adjusting suspension 200 times per second.

Photo credit: XPENG

Besides, the new vehicle's entire lineup runs on an 800V high-voltage SiC platform and supports 5C AI-enabled supercharging, enabling over 400 km of range with just 13 minutes of charging.

Safety innovations include a bullet-resistant battery pack that can withstand 890 kN of side pressure, resist impacts of up to 2000 J, and endure temperatures up to 1,000C, along with a die-cast aluminum body with 46,000 Nm/deg torsional rigidity and 14 active safety features.

The XPENG X9 is expected to enter the European market in the second half of 2025.

Looking beyond new energy vehicles, XPENG outlined its long-term strategy focused on the integration of AI, electrification, and robotics. The company said it has built a full-stack, in-house smart driving R&D system that includes cloud-based foundation models, in-car models, AI chip development, and supporting infrastructure. XPENG is currently training a next-gen 72-billion-parameter model to power its globally adaptive AI driving capabilities.

Central to this ecosystem is the XPENG Turing AI chip, a custom-developed processor tailored for large-model computing. Capable of running a local model with up to 30 billion parameters, it delivers triple the performance of existing chips and will enter production in the Chinese Mainland in the second quarter of 2025. Designed for AI-powered vehicles, robots, and flying cars, it marks the world's first chip capable of supporting all three platforms simultaneously.

Photo credit: XPENG

XPENG also showcased its pioneering work in the low-altitude mobility sector, which is expected to account for 20% of the overall automobile sales over the next two decades. The company revealed its all-electric flying car, the modular "Land Aircraft Carrier," now on display in Hong Kong. With nearly 4,000-unit pre-orders already received, mass production is targeted for 2026. Its dedicated flying car factorythe world's first with true assembly line capacityis expected to deliver up to 10,000 units annually.

Photo credit: XPENG

In the AI robotics space, XPENG introduced IRON, a humanoid robot five years in development. Built at a 1:1 scale, IRON features 22 active degrees of freedom in its hands, is powered by the Turing chip, and leverages end-to-end foundation models and reinforcement learning. It is already in trial operation at XPENG's Guangzhou factory and will be deployed in manufacturing and retail environments to enhance efficiency and customer experience.
After delaying a vote to seek further concessions from the site's prospective developers, the Gary Common Council voted 5-4 on Tuesday in favor of rezoning the former site of Beckman Middle School to make way for a new light industrial development.

The move disappointed a group of city residents who had urged the council to reject the proposal, arguing that the new facility would negatively impact surrounding residential areas.

The Gary Community School Corporation shuttered Beckman, located near the intersection of 23rd Avenue and Grant Street, in 2005, and the property has become a ruin and a dumping ground in the years since.

Illinois property developers Christina Primbas and Kyle Glascott, who now own the property through Indiana Investment Properties, LLC, have proposed the construction of a 261,000-square-foot "flex" building capable of housing up to six industrial tenants.

Because the site's existing zoning would not allow the facility to be built, the developers proposed a planned unit development ordinance, which sets out unique land use rules for the property.

The proposal got a chilly reception at the Gary Plan Commission in February. After hearing from a large group of local remonstrators and being advised against voting in favor of the PUD ordinance by planning and zoning lead Corrie Sharp, the commission's members voted unanimously to deliver an unfavorable recommendation to the Gary Common Council.

The PUD ordinance was up for final approval at the council's April 2 meeting, during which many of the same residents turned out to again lambast the developers' proposal. Chief among their concerns were the prospect of increased truck traffic in the area and the construction of an industrial complex bounded on three sides by residential blocks.

The developers repeatedly emphasizing that their plans were not for a dedicated trucking facility did little to quell the frustration of concerned residents.

In remarks to the council, Sharp reiterated concerns she raised to the Plan Commission, including the height of the proposed building and the "uncharacteristic" nature of the development in a residential area.

The council's members voiced a variety of views on the proposal, some sympathizing with the residents and others underscoring the city's need for jobs and property tax revenue. They ultimately decided to send the item back to the Planning and Development Committee to consider revisions to the legislation.

Changes ultimately made to the PUD ordinance, which were approved unanimously by the council on Tuesday, include a mandate that trucks enter and exit the facility's parking lot from 22nd Avenue and not 23rd Avenue and a requirement that the project be completed within three years of the ordinance's passage.

At Tuesday's meeting, remonstrators were once again out in force.

"We do not need to deface our most historical community," Second District resident Joe L. White told the council during the meeting's public comment period. "We appreciate the fact that people have interest, but if you go over to Hammond, even East Chicago, their residential community is kept in moderation and has not been desecrated. We will not let you do that."

Members of the grassroots activist group Gary Advocates for Responsible Development arrived bearing signs reading "Vote NO today. PLAN FOR TOMORROW."

"The plan of unit development that is proposed by the council to vote on tonight does not support local resident health and safety, does not protect the Beckman residential neighborhood and does not promise jobs or community services," Dorreen Carey, the group's president, told the council.

The council remained divided when it voted to approve the ordinance. Councilwoman Linda Barnes-Caldwell, whose 5th District includes the Beckman property, was joined by Council Members Mary Brown, D-3; Darren Washington, D-at large; Kenneth Whisenton, D-at large; and Dwight Williams, D-6, in backing the proposal.

Council members Myles Tolliver, D-at large; Lori Latham, D-1; Marian Ivey, D-4; and Dwayne Halliburton, D-2, voted against it.

Whisenton, who initially greeted the developers' proposal with skepticism, told The Times that he believes the latest version of the ordinance takes significant steps to ensure the neighborhood is protected.

"I opposed a truck stop," he said. "The reality is, what we put in the ordinance won't allow for a truck stop."

Whisenton said that the legislation he backed is not "perfect" but said that the new development can serve as a "catalyst" for future economic growth.

"This says to potential developers, to potential migrants that want to come (to) this area, 'Gary is growing. Gary is developing.'" he said. "And it's not always fun. It doesn't always feel good, but I will say I do stand on my decision."
VALPARAISO  Two items on the City Council's Monday agenda were the subject of lengthy and animated discussion among officials on the dais.

Over the objections of the mayor and the council's two Republican members, the council's five Democrats voted to approve a last-minute resolution in opposition to Indiana Senate Bill 1. The legislation, which will cut property taxes for Hoosier homeowners and reduce the resource available to local government entities, was signed by Gov. Mike Braun after the senate voted early Tuesday morning to approve House amendments.

Later at Tuesday's council meeting, a proposed ordinance that would allow the council to reshape the currently mayor-controlled Advisory Human Relations Council led Mayor Jon Costas to butt heads with the proposal's backers. Following a protracted debate, the council agreed to table the item for further discussion.

SB 1 has its roots in Braun's campaign trail promise to offer tax relief to Indiana homeowners. The lengthy and complex bill underwent significant revisions during its journey through the Indiana Statehouse. The final version gives homeowners a 10% tax credit of up to $300. It also limits how much local governments can raise their property taxes each year, while giving most municipalities the ability to impose new local income taxes to make up some of their lost revenue.

Valparaiso's resolution "opposing significant cuts to municipal property tax revenue without an equitable, comprehensive replacement mechanism" was introduced by Councilman Robert Cotton, D-2nd, in response to Accelerate Indiana Municipalities  an advocacy group representing Hoosier state cities and towns in Indianapolis  urging its members to publicly oppose the legislation. The Town of Porter did so in March, and Michigan City is set to vote on a similar resolution on Tuesday evening.

"It is a bill that would hamper municipalities all throughout the state and school districts with respect to our ability to maintain our tax draws in the manner that we do currently," Cotton said. "We need to be able to give our employees raises because the cost of living goes up."

Costas, a Republican, urged the council against approving the resolution, arguing both that it was too late to influence the legislature and that "it's not a bad thing for local governments to have to tighten their belt." He pointed to Braun's victory in last year's gubernatorial race as a sign that property owners across the state support the tax cuts, and voiced optimism about Valparaiso's ability to weather a loss of revenue.

Exactly how much of a loss the city might incur is not yet clear. The mayor said that his administration has engaged the services of the consulting firm Baker Tilly, who will provide Valparaiso with data on the bill's projected impact.

Costas, who told the council that "I don't want to put my name on this resolution," has the option to veto the item, either actively or by allowing 10 days to pass without signing it. With five votes cast in favor on Tuesday, the Valparaiso city council's Democrats have the two-thirds majority necessary to override a mayoral veto.

Where the council's members will come down on the evening's other contentious proposal remains uncertain. Ordinance No. 8, sponsored by Council President Ellen Kapitan, D-at large, and Vice President Emilie Hunt, D-at large, would restructure the human relations council to give the council more control over its membership. The 10-member volunteer body, which was established by the mayor in 2008 before being codified in a 2011 ordinance, is made up of mayoral appointees.

The body has been tasked, per Valparaiso's city code, "with advising the Mayor on the status of human relations in the city and identifying special needs or opportunities to enhance such relations, (2) acting as a resource to the Mayor when racially or ethnically motivated incidents occur, (3) suggesting and promoting events designed to promote a better understanding of minorities and improve the human relations of residents of the City and (4) serving as a liaison between the Mayors office and minority groups."

The proposed ordinance would give the council seven appointments to the body, leaving just three for the mayor. The new appointments would not be made until the start of 2026.

"It's my belief that issues as broad and important as human relations and how to address them should be under the purview of a seven-member council rather than the single discretion of the mayor," Hunt said.

The move to reshape the AHRC comes after a February city council meeting during which Kapitan and Hunt questioned Alison Quackenbush, the advisory council's chair, over why the body had not provided more in the way of diversity programming over the past year. Quackenbush told the council that this was outside the AHRC's purview.

At Tuesday's meeting, Costas balked at the idea of replacing mayoral appointments with council picks, telling the City Council that the current AHRC has been an effective resource to his office since its establishment.

"When I created this council years back, really the purpose was to have a semi-independent council that people, that minorities and those who felt that they were at risk could come to, knowing that council, particularly the president, has the mayor's ear," he said. "So I had their input in order to properly provide services."

Costas stressed that the council could create its own advisory body, rather than repurposing the existing AHRC. Hunt countered that creating a "duplicate" council "doesn't seem very efficient to me."

The mayor's opposition was echoed by Quackenbush, who warned the council against turning the AHRC into a "political animal." She reiterated that she does not believe cultural celebrations and other programming to be the AHRC's purpose.

"Even with its well-meaning intentions, I have concerns about who gets to say who is represented and how well they are represented, and (it's) just beyond the scope of what I understand our city resources to be and (what) volunteer boards are able to produce," she said.

Councilmen Jack Pupillo, R-4th, and Peter Anderson, R-5th, both spoke against the ordinance, which the latter derided as a "power grab." The body eventually agreed to a request by Councilwoman Diana Reed, D-1st, to table the ordinance in order that further discussion might "ensure the real intent behind this, as opposed to a perceived intent."

Northwest Indiana neighbors: Obituaries for April 15 Obituaries Bradford, Gail Gail Bradford
Karoline Leavitt Karoline Leavitt Karoline Leavitt The Washington Post Bloomberg The Wall Street Journal USA Today The New York Times CBS Radio NPR CNN Reuters ABC CBS Fox News NBC AP The Washington Post The New York Times The Wall Street Journal Bloomberg CBS Radio NPR USA Today CNN Reuters ABC AP CBS Fox News NBC The Washington Post The New York Times The Wall Street Journal Bloomberg CBS Radio USA Today NPR Reuters AP CBS Fox News NBC ABC CNN Real Americas Voice One America News Network The Daily Signal LindellTV The Daily Wire Turning Point USA Real Americas Voice One America News Network The Gateway Pundit The Daily Signal LindellTV The Daily Wire Turning Point USA Real Americas Voice One America News Network The Gateway Pundit The Daily Signal LindellTV The Daily Wire Turning Point USA Breaking Points Breaking Points Breaking Points This is the White House press briefing room, a space that the Trump administration has been taking steps to more closely control. A photo of the White House press briefing room from a high angle, behind the lectern, facing rows of mostly seated reporters, many of whom have a hand raised to ask a question. Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, has held a news briefing once or twice a week since President Trumps second term began. In each, she takes about 15 to 20 questions. The photo now highlights Karoline Leavitt, whose back is to the camera, with right arm outstretched. For decades, 49 permanent seats have been determined by the independent White House Correspondents Association. Reporters in the front rows of these seats are usually called on more often. The photo now highlights the seated section of the room, with labels for the media outlets their occupants represent. In the front row, from left, are: CNN, Reuters, ABC, AP, CBS, Fox News, NBC. In the second row, from left, are: USA Today, The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR, Bloomberg, CBS Radio and The Wall Street Journal. On average, a quarter of the people that Ms. Leavitt calls on for questions are standing along the perimeter. The photo now highlights some people standing along the perimeter of the briefing room beside those seated. Most have a hand raised to ask a question. Outlets represented include: One America News Network, The Daily Signal, LindellTV, The Daily Wire and Turning Point USA. In January, the administration added a seat for new media, a catchall category for both professional journalists and others, including podcasters, influencers and other creators of news-related content. The person in this seat is always called on first. The photo now highlights the person sitting in the new media seat, stage right of the lectern, representing Breaking Points. And in March, the White House said that it would consider taking control of the reporters seating chart, in its latest move to shape who covers the president. A return to the original photo, without highlights.

Built on top of an old swimming pool in the West Wing, the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room allows journalists to question the administration on its policies and the news of the day, while press secretaries get a chance to put a positive spin on the presidents agenda. Hard-hitting questions and the occasional softball from journalists have always been part of the mix.

During Mr. Trumps first term, the administrations primary method of controlling the briefings was to hold them very rarely. This time, the administration has made moves to insert itself into the day-to-day workings of the press corps that covers it.

The White House has handpicked which news media outlets can participate in the presidential press pool, and on Tuesday it eliminated a slot reserved for reporters from independent newswires.

In the briefing room, officials have made room for a new cohort of more partisan attendees, like right-wing podcasters, who often ask less-adversarial questions than traditional journalists. The White House has said it is adjusting the makeup of the press that covers it  both in and out of the briefing room  to better reflect the outlets where people consume news and information today.

Longtime White House reporters say the result has been an erosion of their independence. They say the increased attention toward pro-Trump media personalities, who rarely challenge the administrations talking points, has undercut the briefings as a space to relay accurate information to the American public and hold the president to account.

The rooms seating chart reflects a news outlets perceived importance. Journalists who sit in the front rows typically have more of their questions addressed by the press secretary. If it reorganizes the seating chart, the White House could continue to lessen the influence of legacy news organizations and boost newer and often more partisan media outlets that have shown support for the administrations policies.

Briefing room seating chart BACK oF ROOM The Boston Globe/ Wash. Blade Financial Times/ The Guardian BBC/ Newsweek Spectrum EWTN/ The Daily Caller Hearst Television NewsNation The Daily Beast/ Dallas Morning News CBN/ Salem Radio Gray TV/ Scripps News Wash. Examiner Al Jazeera HuffPost Newsmax Roll Call/ The Christian Science Monitor Real Clear Politics Bloomberg Gov. National Journal Regional media Wash. Times TIME Fox Radio/ Fox Business Voice of America Daily Mail AURN/ Univision NY Post/ The Grio CNBC/ MSNBC/ Telemundo The Hill Los Angeles Times Agence- France Presse ABC Radio Foreign pool PBS/ AP Radio McClatchy Politico The New York Times The Wall Street Journal The Washington Post USA Today CBS Radio NPR Bloomberg CBS News ABC News Fox News NBC News AP CNN Reuters Front New media seat Leavitt BACK OF ROOM The Boston Globe/ Washington Blade EWTN/ The Daily Caller Financial Times/ The Guardian BBC/ Newsweek Hearst Television NewsNation Spectrum The Daily Beast/Dallas Morning News Washington Examiner CBN/ Salem Radio Gray TV/ Scripps News HuffPost Al Jazeera Newsmax Roll Call/ The Christian Science Monitor National Journal Real Clear Politics Regional media Washington Times Bloomberg Gov. TIME CNBC/ MSNBC/ Telemundo AURN/ Univision Fox Radio/ Fox Business NY Post/ The Grio Voice of America Daily Mail The Hill Los Angeles Times Agence- France Presse PBS/ AP Radio Foreign pool Politico ABC Radio McClatchy The New York Times The Washington Post The Wall Street Journal USA Today NPR Bloomberg CBS Radio CNN Reuters ABC News AP CBS News Fox News NBC News Front New media seat Leavitt Notes: The chart has been updated to reflect the version posted outside the briefing room from the White House Correspondents Association as of January 2024, with the addition of the new media seat announced in January 2025. Seats with more than one outlet named are shared by those outlets.

In January, Ms. Leavitt announced in her debut briefing the addition of a permanent new media seat. This seat, stage right of the lectern, is reserved for someone the White House selects from a nontraditional media outlet. The outlets represented by the occupants of this seat have ranged from digital upstarts like Axios and Semafor, which strive for independent reporting, to partisan influencers and YouTube stars. Guidelines for selection to this seat remain vague. (Ms. Leavitt said in a February briefing that her office was sifting through more than 12,000 applications.)

New media seat occupants Name and outlet Type Mike Allen Axios Digital news site Matt Boyle Breitbart Right-wing media John Ashbrook Ruthless Podcast Right-wing podcast Sage Steele The Sage Steele Show Right-wing podcast Chris Pavlovski Rumble Right-wing video platform John Stoll X Social media platform Shelby Talcott Semafor Digital news site Mary Margaret Olohan The Daily Wire Right-wing media Saagar Enjeti Breaking Points YouTube show and podcast Kellie Meyer NewsNation Cable news network Katie Pavlich Townhall.com Right-wing media Lyndsay Keith Merit Street Digital TV network Mark Halperin 2WAY Opinion media Jasmine Wright NOTUS Digital news site Jordan Berman Unbiased Politics Podcast and newsletter Matthew Foldi Washington Reporter Right-wing media

These lead-off questions have ranged from topics like artificial intelligence to foreign policy to the economy. Many of the inquiries were relatively impartial. But a few seat occupants have framed their questions with an angle that is critical of independent media or Democratic lawmakers in Congress.

The videos below show the mix of questions from the new media seat.

Immigration John Ashbrook Ruthless Podcast Trans athletes Sage Steele The Sage Steele Show Federal workers Shelby Talcott Semafor Economy Saagar Enjeti Breaking Points 1:35  Videos above are from Jan. 31, Feb. 5, Feb. 25 and March 11.

Media outlets with preferred seating have been called on the most often across all of Ms. Leavitts 15 briefings so far: CNN, Fox News, ABC News, The New York Post, CBS News and NBC News have been called on at least 11 times each. Most others in the room may not be called on in a typical briefing, but more time is being given to those sitting in the back rows or standing along the perimeter.

Some of those along the perimeter have asked questions more favorable to the administration or have echoed right-wing talking points. Mary Margaret Olohan, of the conservative site The Daily Wire, has been called on seven times, once as the occupant of the new media seat. Jordan Conradson, of the pro-Trump outlet The Gateway Pundit, and Daniel Baldwin, of the right-wing One America News, have each been called on five times.

Other notable figures along the perimeter are Monica Paige Luisi, who works for Charlie Kirks Turning Point USA; Brian Glenn of the right-wing outlet Real Americas Voice, who is dating Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, the Republican of Georgia; and Cara Castronuova, who works for LindellTV, a media outlet founded by Mike Lindell, a Trump loyalist and MyPillow proprietor.

Here is a sampling of their questions, from four different briefings.

Deportation efforts Jordan Conradson The Gateway Pundit Trumps agenda Daniel Baldwin One America News Network Deportation videos Mary Margaret Olohan The Daily Wire Trumps health Cara Castronuova LindellTV 1:36  Videos above are from Jan. 31, Feb. 12, March 17 and April 11.

Reporters with assigned seats typically arrive in the briefing room just a few minutes before the event begins. But those without seats often arrive more than an hour beforehand, to claim space on the crowded perimeter of the room.

Below is a timelapse of the 75 minutes before the start of the press briefing on March 26. The briefing took place two days after the editor of The Atlantic disclosed that he had been added to a private conversation on Signal among top Trump administration officials as they weighed plans for U.S. strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen.

Scroll through the video below to see the room fill up.

Those without assigned seats start to stake out their spots in the aisles. More reporters with assigned seats begin to arrive. Lyndsay Keith, the Merit Street reporter in that days new media seat, takes her spot. Moments later, Ms. Leavitt enters the room and starts the briefing.

This days briefing was shorter than most, lasting about 25 minutes. Ms. Leavitt began by talking about investments made by private and international companies in the United States. She repeated the administrations assertion that no classified information had been exposed in the Signal chat.

Ms. Leavitt then called on nine people for questions. The only question not about Signal came from Ms. Castronuova of LindellTV, who was standing along the perimeter. Why are Democrats so against election integrity measures, like obviously, proof of citizenship, she asked, when it comes to voting in the United States election?
If you believe antisemitism is the reason why President Trump has launched his vicious war against Harvard University, theres a bridge in Brooklyn that I would like to sell you.

Its just part of Trumps relentless assault on the watchdogs of Americas democracy (e.g., academia, lawyers, judges, journalists, governmental regulators, cultural institutions) in his bid to transform the US into an authoritarian state.

As the worlds most prestigious university, Harvard is a juicy target for MAGA World.

But rather than caving to Trumps demands as fellow Ivy League school Columbia University did, Harvard stood its ground.

Threatened with the loss of $400M in federal money, Columbia basically ceded oversight of its Middle Eastern, South Asian and African Studies department to Team Trump.

In standing up to the presidential bully, Harvard president Alan Garber wrote: No governmentregardless of which party is in powershould dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue. Amen to that.

And how does Trump respond? Harvard has been hiring almost all woke, Radical Left, idiots and 'birdbrains' who are only capable of teaching FAILURE to students and so-called 'future leaders,' he posted on Truth Social.

Harvard can no longer be considered even a decent place of learning, and should not be considered on any list of the Worlds Great Universities or Colleges, Trump posted. Harvard is a JOKE, teaches Hate and Stupidity, and should no longer receive Federal Funds.

Thats from a guy who fronted Trump University, which promised to teach students the secrets of success in the real estate business.

Trump and TU agreed to settle a federal case in 2018, shelling out $25M to students who claimed they were duped.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Trumps decision to withhold $2.2B in funding to Harvard has put scientific research tied to treatments for tuberculosis, cancer and ALS on ice.

People will die because of Trumps attack on a pillar of our democracy.

Dealing the cards The Trump administration is paying El Salvador $6M to jail people deported from the US without due process. Yet the US claims it cant force El Salvador to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia, as demanded by the US Supreme Court.

In his Feb. 28 Oval Office shouting match, Donald Trump told Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky doesnt hold the cards concerning a potential ceasefire with Russia.

Doesnt the US as the most powerful nation in the word hold the cards when it comes to dealing with El Salvador?

Trump trashed any dignity remaining in his Oval Office by hosting El Salvadors gangster president Nayib Bukele, a serial human rights abuser.

Trump wants Bukele to build more prisons to house what he called America's homegrown deportees.

US District Judge James Boasberg ruled April 16 that probable cause exists to hold Team Trump in criminal contempt for violating his orders in mid-March to stop using the Alien Enemies Act to deport alleged Venezuelan gang members.

He will decide his next steps after the Justice Dept. responds to his decision.

Lets see how Trump plays his cards.

Cheeky Frenchman. You got to love the cheekiness of Publicis Groupe CEO Arthur Sadoun, who can be counted on to take swipes at the competition when releasing the firms financials.

Sadoun gives a Q1 report shout out to the more than 25K engineers employed by Publicis, who can future-proof client work in the age of AI.

These competitive advantages, and our diversified revenue mix that continues to withstand business cycles, mean that today we are confident in outperforming not only in 2025for the 6th year in a rowbut also beyond, in what will be a shrinking competitive landscape."

Will Publicis Group be the last communications firm standing? Sadoun seems to think so.
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When it comes to media relations, one of the smartest tools in a communicators playbook is newsjacking  not as a gimmick, but as a strategic way to insert brands into timely, relevant conversations. Doug Simon, CEO of D S Simon Media, points out that in todays media environment, where journalists are looking for fast, relevant content, newsjacking can help PR pros deliver value. Lauren Meckstroth, Vice President at Fahlgren Mortine, believes this technique is especially powerful in an era where brands rarely have continuous newsworthy updates of their own. Most brands dont always have something organically headline-worthy, Meckstroth says. Newsjacking offers a workaround  a way to keep them in the conversation by connecting with whats already capturing media attention.

That connection doesnt happen by chance. Meckstroth encourages brands to actively consume the media they want to appear in. Whether its The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, or CNBC, understanding what drives coverage helps teams identify the right hooks. I tell clients: read the sections, follow the reporters, and learn what those stories actually require. Thats how you see where you can genuinely add value.

A challenge is figuring out if the story aligns with your client  and if they can authentically contribute to the narrative. Thats where media trends analysis comes in. Meckstroth and her team at Fahlgren Mortine assess the competitive landscape, coverage patterns, key reporters, and thought leaders before recommending ways their clients can weigh in. We bring clients insights that show how the conversation is evolving  and how they can say something new, she says. It might be a contrarian view or just a perspective that hasnt been said yet. Journalists dont need the solution. Sometimes, the problem is enough. Take AI as an example  a space thats changing rapidly and creating new storylines daily. Even if a client doesnt have the fix, they can share what theyre seeing, how customers are reacting, or what gaps theyve identified. Thats gold for a reporter, Meckstroth notes. And if brands are willing to be a bit less risk-averse, theyll often be rewarded for offering that honesty.

Stepping outside of traditional verticals can also help brands find relevant angles. Meckstroth applauds Fords post-2008 pivot from a carmaker in crisis to a tech innovator at CES. If theres a narrative you can own  even outside your usual lane  and your leadership is open to it, thats often where the magic happens.

Throughout the conversation, Meckstroth returns to a core principle: know what youre pitching and to whom. Dont try to fit a square peg into a round hole. Research the journalist, the outlet, and the angle. You dont need to pitch 500 people. You can pitch 10 if its the right 10.

She also stresses the opportunity to build clients into their own influencers. You dont always need a third-party expert, she says. Your spokespeople can grow into experts themselves. Thats particularly valuable when reaching out to local news  which continues to be one of the most trusted sources for audiences today.

In a fragmented media landscape, getting coverage still comes down to relevance, timing, and trust. As Meckstroth puts it, Communicators should lean into their superpower  knowing their clients, knowing the media, and making meaningful connections between the two.

View all of the interviews in the PR's Top Pros Talk series. Interested in taking part? Contact Doug Simon at [email protected].

***

Suchi Sherpa is a Marketing Communications Specialist at D S Simon Media, a leading firm specializing in satellite media tours.
LOETB Birrs Music Industry and Event Management students are making national waves with their debut release under Birr Star Records.

Their first single, a lively cover of Olly Murs Dance with Me Tonight, entered the Irish Homegrown Top 20 at an impressive No. 14, making it the highest new entry on the chart.

The single, recorded with Grammy-nominated and IMRO award-winning producers Chris OBrien and Graham Murphy (The Production Suite), was released on Wish Day, Friday April 4th, in support of Make-A-Wish Ireland. The project was inspired by student Dan Dalys personal connection to the charity, having received a exciting trip to Disneyland, Florida.

One of the tracks lead vocalists, Keeva Abbott - performing under the artist name MTM (Minds That Matter) - suggested the song due to Olly Murs ongoing support of Make-A-Wish internationally. Keeva previously performed with Olly on stage, adding a personal touch to the singles selection.

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The track was recorded in Studio One at the Button Factory, Temple Bar, in collaboration with Sound Training College. Engineers Jonathon Flynn, Darragh Winters, Melinda Huian and Shane ONeill joined forces with OBrien and Murphy to deliver a radio-ready production.

The success didnt stop with the singles release. The official music video directed by Clare-Ann Nolan is now the most viewed video on the Laois and Offaly Education and Training Boards official YouTube channel, marking a digital milestone for the group.

Capping off the excitement was a celebration concert at Birr Theatre and Arts Centre on Friday, April 11th, where the LOETB Birr Choir, a solo guitar performance by Dan Daly and local artists Lauran Murphy and former LOETB Birr student Finley Wrafter, wowed the audience with their talent and teamwork.

Local TD Carol Nolan praised the group, saying: "Well done to all involved in LOETB Choir Birr, great night and lots of talent!"

To help track and maximise the singles reach, Birr Star Records secured a deal with Radio Monitor, Irelands leading radio tracking service. This partnership enables the students to analyse airplay data and refine their promotion efforts in real time. Another LOETB student Aminat Olusesan led the team creating a media database, which when coupled with the Radio Monitor service has resulted in radio play and interviews across a host of stations including Midlands 103FM, KCLR, Liffey Sound, Dublin South FM, Tipp FM, and Athlone Community Radio.

This has been an incredible opportunity for our students to engage directly with industry leaders and gain real-world experience - from working with renowned producers at The Production Suite to partnering with organisations like Radio Monitor, said John McFadden, Executive Producer for Birr Star Records/LOETB Birr. Their creativity and commitment truly shone through as they brought everything together from social media to sales drives by Katie Nevin McEvoy, Melissa Dunne, Molly Kavanagh and Andrea Cooke to the celebration concert at Birr Theatre and Arts Centre that was organised by Julija Odina, Olha Kalytka, Bara Kokoskova and Clare-Ann Nolan, I mean delivering a live event of that scale was both an exciting challenge and a major achievement, they should be very proud.

When asked about the future of Birr Star Records, John added That will be always determined by the motivation and drive of the students. So next year it could be a compilation album of students or local artists that the students are working with across a range of genres. No doubt, next year will add a different and exciting dimension, who knows maybe another Olly Murs cover or even a collaboration, imagine that!

Centre Manager Enda Kennedy added: I was blown away by the proposal the students presented last year. Theyve applied every bit of theory theyve learned to this real-world project and overcame every challenge. Raising funds for Make-A-Wish while launching a professional-level single and hosting a concert is an amazing achievement.
RTE Television is looking for contestants from Offaly for the upcoming new series of The Money List. RTE's popular TV quiz show, is looking for participants from all age groups and all walks of to take part in the new season.

Baz Ashmawy will once again present The Money List and is looking forward to having a laugh with contestants.

Baz said, "I'm delighted to be back on The Money List podium again - myself and the contestants on the show always have a great laugh. They get to make new friends in their cosy pods and earn a bit of cash along the way, whats not to love? It's great craic!"

Clare Huges, Executive Producer of The Money List said, ''The Money List is a quiz that Irish viewers fell in love with last season and it's not hard to see why... it's competitive, fast paced, loads of fun to play along with and of course the fact that there's 30,000 up for grabs in every episode makes for really addictive viewing.''

In the show, two teams of complete strangers are challenged to fill in missing answers on a list. The more lists they complete, the more money they win. The lists can be anything ranging from naming members of the Italia '90 squad to listing countries who have won the Eurovision Song Contest.

Last season, The Money List gave away a huge total of 130,000 to contestants from all over the country, so if you want to be in with a chance to take part in the new season, click here:

https://www.rte.ie/tv/audience-participation/2025/0224/1498663-apply-now-for-the-money-list/

Closing date for applications is 5.30pm this Friday, April 18.
Dan Le Batard and Pablo Torre

When it comes to his relationship with Pablo Torre, Dan Le Batard is clearing the air.

On Wednesdays episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz, the show celebrated Torres recent nomination for a Peabody Award based on his work on Meadowlark Media Pablo Torre Finds Out. But first, Le Batard set the record straight with regard to what he called one of the most embarrassing, personal and professional moments of my career.

For the uninitiated, a segment during Mondays episode of the Le Batard Show left many wondering whether there was bad blood between the Meadowlark Media colleagues. As the shows cast discussed Torre being upset that they hadnt watched a recent episode of Pablo Torre Finds Out focused on Wilt Chamberlains 100-point game, Le Batard effectively told the fellow ex-ESPNer to mind his own business.

Pablo needs to just do his job and not complain about what were doing around here, Le Batard said, according to Barrett Media.

That Barrett Media writeup  titled Dan Le Batard: Pablo Torre Needs To Do His Job and Not Complain About What Were Doing Around Here  made the rounds, leading even their mutual friend, Mina Kimes, to wonder if there were personal issues between Le Batard and Torre she was unaware of. Speaking to Torre on Wednesdays show, however, Le Batard insisted that wasnt the case and that it was never his intent to personally slight his longtime friend.

A lot of people thought this because of something that happened on air this week. And its just totally my bad that thats how that came out, Le Batard said. Because Im not kidding you when I say professionally and personally, wildly embarrassing to me that any of that would land on Pablo because the work that hes doing is singular and its extraordinary.

Le Batard proceeded to lavish praise on Torre, who has spent this week guest-hosting MSNBCs Morning Joe. And while this entire ordeal appears to be a matter of a mere misunderstanding based on Le Batards intended tone, its a credit to the former Miami Herald columnist that he was willing to take accountability, rather than claiming that his comments were taken out of context or that Barrett Media doesnt get the show.
Roscommon University Hospital is advising that due to an outbreak of Covid-19, access for visitors to the hospital is currently limited to normal visiting times only.

Hospital visiting times will continue between 2pm to 4pm and 6.30pm and 8.30pm but visitors are being asked to adhere to the limit of two visitors per patient.

The hospital says visiting outside of the normal visiting hours can be arranged on compassionate grounds by contacting the relevant ward.

With the Easter weekend approaching, visitors to the hospital are requested to comply with the visiting arrangements and co-operate with hospital staff who are ensuring the arrangements are adhered to.

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Given the need to control the spread of infection, the hospital is appealing to the public not to visit the hospital if they have any symptoms of Covid, flu or any viral illness. Masks will be available for all visitors at the entrance of the hospital and visitors are asked to practice good hand hygiene and to use the available hand gel regularly.

Roscommon University Hospital would like to thank members of the public for their co-operation at this time.

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Fresh concerns have emerged over a multi-million-euro Government contract for an IPAS (International Protection Accommodation Services) accommodation centre in Dundrum in county Tipperary, following revelations about the company awarded the deal.

The contract, estimated to be worth "between 16 million and 20 million" according to one local representative, has been granted to a little-known company called Utmasta, which is now leasing Dundrum House Hotel for the purpose of housing International Protection applicants.

However, scrutiny is mounting after it was revealed that Utmasta did not exist prior to January 9, 2025, according to claims by one Tipperary councillor.

Cllr Liam Browne says the company was incorporated in Spain just three months ago, with a declared capital of only 120 and a single listed director, Ms Ana Maria Fernandez Sanchez.

Utmasta also has a listed address in Sandyford Business Park, Dublin.

He said: "So basically, the Irish Government have signed a contract, worth tens of millions, to a woman living in Spain, running a three month old company valued at 120, who has no track record of ever running a hotel or direct provision centre.

"That is your tax money, going offshore."

On Monday, it was revealed that a contract had been signed to house over 250 asylum seekers in Dundrum House Hotel, although there have been other reports from local representatives that the final figure is 277.

The hotel has been used as a centre for refugees since early 2022, when Ukrainian refugees began to take up residency in the hotel following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The hotel made national news last summer, when roughly 80 international protection applicants were relocated onto the grounds of the hotel, sparking outrage amongst many locals, who have been protesting outside the gates of the hotel since May of last year.

Speaking on the signing of the new contract, Cllr Liam Browne posted on his social media, saying: "I'm extremely disappointed to have to pass on this news, but I've just been informed that the DCEDIY have signed a contract for 277 IPAS applicants to be accommodated at Dundrum House.

"We've not yet been told when people will be moving into Dundrum House, but expect it to be relatively soon.

"Since this was first mooted last year, I've said this is the wrong decision. Moving such numbers into a small rural area, without first addressing the lack of services in the area, causes problems both for local residents and for those being accommodated.

"There are also serious issues around the ownership and planning status of Dundrum House, which are currently being investigated in the courts.

"The Government have been at fault in regards of communicating with local residents from day one, countrywide, and are now leaving down the vast majority of residents in Dundrum and West Tipperary again.

"I've said from the beginning, in my opinion, this is a money racket, and once again, we're seeing millions of euro of taxpayers money being paid out, with only the barest of accountability.

"Whoever made this decision, made the wrong one," he concluded.

Cllr Annemarie Ryan also provided an update saying: "Councillors received an email on Monday from the Community Engagement Team, informing us that a contract has been signed for the use of Dundrum House Hotel as an IPAS Centre.

Here are some of the details so far:

277 people (in total) will be accommodated in Dundrum House.

114 bedrooms have been approved.

Accommodation is for families.

Contract is for two years.

A valid fire cert is in place and has been provided to the Department.

The property is operated by Utmasta Limited, who have a 20-year lease on the site.

Security staff will be present on a 24-hour basis with CCTV in place.

The Department will manage the arrival of families to Dundrum.

"I asked for some further clarification:

"The Ukrainians still living in Dundrum are staying there until the Government make a decision on their future accommodation.

"Families will start arriving in the next 2/3 weeks, in small numbers."
A missing and potentially live ordnance, which gardai said may have contained explosive material, has since been recovered following a public appeal.

This news comes after the authorities issued an urgent warning once learning the device was moved by a member of the public from a walking trail in Co Wicklow.

In an appeal, issued on Tuesday, April 15, they said the ordnance was first discovered by a person walking on a trail at Lugnaquilla near the military lands in the Glen of Imaal.

When first sighted, it was partially buried in the ground and would appear to have been in the location for some time.

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However, the ordnance was no longer at the location where sighted upon looking for it, with gardai believing that it had been removed by a person or persons unknown.

This ordnance was an 84mm Illumination (ILLUM) round approximately 12 long and weighing 3.1kg. It is white in colour and was marked as an 84mm ILLUM round.

This round is used for military purposes to illuminate an area during night-time operations. There was a possibility that this casing may still contain explosive and incendiary material. If that was the case, it would have posed both an explosive and incendiary risk that would have been of significant danger to the public.

Thankfully after carrying out enquiries as to the current whereabouts of the potential live ordnance, it has been located.

The gardai wish to thank the public for their assistance.
The number of available rental properties that accept housing assistance payments (HAP) has fallen in the first quarter of the year, according to a housing report.

The executive director of the Simon Communities of Ireland said HAP tenants outside Dublin faced an uphill struggle as the majority of HAP tenancies on offer are in the capital.

The housing charitys latest Locked Out Of The Market report shows that just 41 properties were available to rent within the discretionary rate of the HAP scheme.

This is a decrease of five properties, or a fall of 11%, since December.

The quarterly report found 1,119 properties were available to rent at any price within the 16 areas surveyed over the three dates in March 2025.

This is a 9% reduction from the 1,123 properties available in the December Locked Out report.

The housing assistance payment (HAP) scheme is a social housing payment to landlords by local authorities, and tenants pay a contribution to their local authority.

The Simon Community report found there were no properties that accepted HAP tenancies available in 10 of the 16 areas surveyed in March.

These were Athlone, Cork City Centre, Cork City Suburbs, Galway City Centre, Co Leitrim, Limerick City Suburbs, Limerick City Centre, Sligo Town, Portlaoise, and Waterford City Centre.

This was across all household categories within standard or discretionary HAP limits.

The greatest supply of properties within HAP limits are in Dublin, with 31 of the total 41 HAP properties found in the capital.

Here, the discretionary rate allows up to an additional 50% on the standard rate; this is limited to 35% elsewhere in the country.

Just three of the 13 study areas outside of Dublin had properties available to rent within HAP limits, these included Dundalk, where there were three properties, Galway City Suburbs, where there was one property, and Kildare, where there were five properties available.

Sligo Town and Portlaoise had the lowest number of properties available to rent, with just five and two properties available in each area.

Of the 16 study areas, just Cork City Centre and Galway City Suburbs had no change since December to the number of properties available to rent at any price.

Just two of the 16 study areas had an increase in the number of properties available to rent, Cork City Suburbs and Sligo Town.

Although studio apartments are not included in the overall figure for HAP properties in the Simon Communities report, there were 29 studio apartments available within HAP limits during the study period, with 27 in Dublin.

Only one of these properties was available within standard HAP limits.

There were no properties available to couple/one-parent households with one child through a standard HAP rate.

Executive director at the Simon Communities of Ireland, Ber Grogan, said the findings continue to highlight the deepening crisis in Irelands private rental sector.

With most of the (HAP) properties concentrated in Dublin, the vast majority of the country remains effectively locked out of the rental market.

In 10 of the 16 areas surveyed, there were no properties available within HAP limits at all. That is not a housing system thats working for those most in need.

Outside of Dublin, HAP tenants face an uphill struggle with little to no access to suitable or affordable homes, with discretionary limits proving insufficient to meet current rental prices.

This leaves families and individuals with impossible choices: remain in emergency accommodation, face prolonged experiences of homelessness, or take on unaffordable rents in an unstable private rental market.

We urgently need increased supply of affordable and secure housing. Targeted action is required now, to prevent further homelessness and ensure people can access and sustain a home.

It beggars belief to think that rent pressure zones (RPZs) could be scrapped at the end of this year. Were asking the minister to extend this legislation for at least one year to give people some certainty while alternatives are being discussed.
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WEST VIRGINIA AND NATION'S SUCCESSFUL REDUCTIONS OF FENTANYL DEATHS FACE HURDLES FROM PROPOSED NATIONAL BUDGET CUTS

By Robert Weiner and Katherine White

First published in Charleston West Virginia Gazette-Mail

West Virginia has been successfully reducing fentanyl deaths, but the effort now could face hurdles from slashes of government support proposed by the White House and Congress. Cutting funding for treatment, prevention, and enforcement programs, as well as firing federal employees who expedite the assistance, will have adverse effects on overdose numbers, especially for West Virginia, which has the highest proportion of people dying from fentanyl.

Fentanyl deaths in the United States have decreased an estimated 21.3% from 2023-2024, the lowest it has been since 2020. West Virginia still has the highest number of drug overdoses per population, with the CDC ranking it the highest death rate in the country at 80.4 per 100,000 deaths. In West Virginia, fentanyl holds a significant percentage of drug-related mortalities, with fentanyl being involved in 76% of drug overdose deaths.

Historically, West Virginiahas been at the epicenter of drug overdose mortality. It moved from heroin, then opioid painkillers like oxycontin, to finally what we face now, fentanyl. Former Governor Joe Manchin had made it a priority to provide treatment to the citizens of West Virginia, partnering with former U.S. Drug Czar, Four-Star General McCaffrey, who visited Manchin and the West Virginia legislature back in 2007. We joined in those meetings. History is more than repeating itself now if the White House, DOGE, and Congress do what they are proposing -- slashing critical infrastructure providing treatment, rehabilitation, law enforcement, and prevention for fentanyl.Drastic cuts and pauses in federal agencies spearheaded by the Musk-DOGE team will hurt the reduction of drug trafficking by the cartels and dealers, as well as drug usage. The U.S. State Department Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement has been frozen from DOGE's spending freeze. This includes a counternarcotics program aimed at screening cargo in busy Mexico ports that trafficking chemical precursors and drugs globally. This freeze also impacts organizations across multiple government agencies aimed at the treatment and rehabilitation of drug addiction; they would be cut or severely defunded At the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration under the Health and Human Services Department (HHS), the Trump administration plans to cut their budget by $8 billion over 10 years, and three other programs aimed at treatment and prevention of opioids have been cut entirely. Medicaid treats about 50,000 West Virginians annually with a substance abuse disorder. Now even Medicaid, another avenue of government-funded treatment and healthcare coverage for substance abuse, is proposed to be cut by $880 billion over a 10-year span . This will have a significant impact on treatment centers and healthcare coverage for those seeking help. Programs for drug treatment and healthcare are now at risk, foolishly guaranteeing increased overdoses. The recent death reductions are not happenstance.Most fentanyl distribution arrives from Mexico, and its precursor chemicals and other materials from China. Longstanding action and cooperation between the U.S., China and Mexico has aided in information sharing, joint-led participation programs, and health and education programs that raise awareness of the dangers of fentanyl and disrupt supply of the illicit substance.Mexico, on the other hand, has had a decades-long struggle for control and enforcement over drug cartels. The Sinaloa and Jalisco Cartels are the two most powerful groups responsible for the flow of fentanyl between the United States and Mexico. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum is focusing heavily on law enforcement action to break down cartel distribution routes and prosecute those involved.Canada and Mexico are both at risk of tariffs that could cut U.S. funding to decrease and deter drug trafficking. Alienating both of our neighbors will certainly have an adverse effect on our relations, and ironically, worsen the fentanyl crisis.The key to decreasing drug trafficking and use is a combined mix of education, treatment, prevention, law enforcement, and foreign policy. Instead of firing people and defunding agencies with no rhyme or reason, Trump must look at the benefits these programs provide for vulnerable populations in the United States, like West Virginia. General McCaffrey , as Drug Czar for the White House, suggested in 2007 that methadone clinics in West Virginia aided in the rehabilitation of those impacted by drug addiction. These clinics, along with other mental health centers, are also at risk of defunding by the aforementioned $880 billion cuts proposed to Medicare, and $8 billion specifically for drug abuse-disorder treatment and rehabilitation. If individuals cannot access the help they need, overdoses will increase.The most important lesson the Trump administration must learn on drug policy is that cutting budgets and employees from programs that educate, prevent, and treat those who struggle with drug addictions will not help in saving lives. Canada and Mexico also struggle with opioid use. There is an opportunity to continue collaboration in intelligence sharing and law enforcement. Instead of isolating ourselves and firing and defunding valuable institutions. The administration must carefully consider the consequences.Robert Weiner is the former Public Affairs Director under Drug Czar/ Four-Star General Barry McCaffrey, and spokesman for the House Narcotics Committee under Chairman Charles Rangel. He has personally visited West Virginia with General McCaffrey and joined in the visit to the legislature and the reception with Governor Manchin. Katherine White is a Policy Analyst at Robert Weiner Associates.Head photo links:Robert Weiner: Click Here

Katherine White: Click Here
"Since his death, and particularly in the last century, he has been subjected to the greatest battery of organized research that has ever been directed upon a single person. And yet the greatest of all Englishmen, after this tremendous inquisition, still remains so close a mystery that even his identity can still be doubted." -- Hugh Trevor-Roper, 'What's in a Name?'; cited by John Hudson in Shakespeare's Dark Lady (2014).

"For 400 years the world has been enthralled by a romantic and fantastic story -- the story of a real life superman who came not from Planet Krypton but from Stratford-upon-Avon. It is the improbable fantasy of how a poor glove-maker's son, without even a documented grammar school education, suddenly and inexplicably transformed into a literary genius who wrote the world's most important plays, and then inexplicably returned to his mansion where he died leaving a will that showed he had no intellectual interests of any kind.

"Now, however, we have a new story which is even more fascinating. It tells how a dark-skinned girl, from a family of Venetian musicians living as secret Jews in the London of Queen Elizabeth I, acquired an education normally only given to countesses. It enabled her to live for ten years at court as mistress to the queen's half-brother, the man in charge of the English theatre. It enabled her to have an affair with Christopher Marlowe, and to acquire the knowledge necessary to write these plays. More importantly, as we have seen in the example of A Midsummer Night's Dream, she used literary techniques to hide underneath the surface of these plays a heretical Jewish story ["]-- waiting for a time in the future when 'eyes not yet created shall o'er-read it' (Sonnet 81). As a protection mechanism, in case the true meanings of the plays were discovered during her life time, she used the man from Stratford as a play broker to conceal her identity. Mr. Shakespeare brokered the plays, ignorant of the dangerous heresies they really contained, and even claiming that his fair copies were his original drafts. Despite Ben Jonson's scathing satire, he was never exposed and retired to his mansion in Stratford with his fraudulent reputation intact. But no more." -- John Hudson, Shakespeare's Dark Lady (2014), p. 242

The following is Chapter 4 of Joseph Atwill's 2014 book, Shakespeare's Secret Messiah, posted here without Atwill's permission (& available for free, to read in full at- Click Here)

EMILIA BASSANO

Though Emilia Bassano has escaped the scrutiny of scholars looking for the author of the Shakespearean literature, simply describing her life shows that she is a logical candidate. She was a poet active during the period in which the plays were written, and was the mistress of Lord Hunsdon, who was the sponsor of the Lord Chamberlain's Men, the theatrical company that Shakespeare purportedly owned a share of and that put on many of the plays. Her family was multilingual and came from the area of Italy that was the setting for many of Shakespeare's plays. She had attended the royal court and was thus familiar with the aristocratic mind and language. She had also been exposed to the arcane jargons used in the sport of hawking and the British military that found their way into the plays. And as a woman from a family of Jewish heritage, she would have shared an interest in Judaism with the author of the Shakespearean plays, not a common thing in England during this era. Emilia was the first woman to have ever registered an original poem in England, and is believed by many scholars to have been the 'dark lady' described in Shakespeare's sonnets. In addition to her many surface qualifications, however, she also possessed the true key to creating the Shakespearean literature: an understanding of the satirical system within the Gospels. [. . .]

THE BASSANO FAMILY

Emilia Bassano came from a family of Sephardic Jews of Moroccan ancestry that had moved to London from Venice in the middle of the sixteenth century after being hired by Henry the eighth as court musicians. The family purchased three contiguous houses in Shoreditch, the area of London where William Shakespeare purportedly lived. They were part of a small Jewish immigration to England brought about by Henry VIII. Henry imported a group of Jewish Bible scholars to help him with his theological struggle with the Papacy concerning divorce. He also imported Italian musicians to improve the quality of his court music and some of these, like the Bassanos, were Jews. (57)

When Henry permitted the immigration of certain Jews, he reversed a long-standing policy. In 1290 over two thousand Jews had been expelled from England, and those who remained were forced to convert to Christianity, though some of them are known to have secretly continued to practice Judaism. (58) In Spain, under similar oppression, the secret Jews became known as Marranos. However, the use of this terminology is no longer acceptable because of its anti-Semitic connotations: the word means "filthy pig" in Spanish.

Henry continued to require that Jews who wished to immigrate be baptized and desist from practicing any Jewish rituals. The consequences for violating this dictum were severe. The Lupos, another family of Jewish musicians who had emigrated from Italy on an invitation from Henry VIII, experienced the full weight of the Christian State's attitude towards Jews who retained their religion. Members within her family's circle were charged with secretly practicing Judaism, and a number of them were imprisoned. Two of these -- Anthony Moses and Ambrose de Almaliach -- died after being racked. This episode would have been well known to Emilia Bassano, as Anthony's son Joseph Lupo married her cousin Laura.

The Bassanos are believed to have taken their name from Bassano, a city in the province of Venice; or, conversely, the city may have taken its name from the family. As the online Jewish Encyclopedia explains:

City in the province of Venice, Italy. Here, as in all the surrounding places, Jews were living at a very early period, engaged in commerce and industry, and especially in money-lending, as is shown by contemporary documents dating back to 1264. In the first half of the fifteenth century, they formed a large and prosperous community. Subsequently they were persecuted; and, in 1468, a decree of perpetual banishment was issued against them. Nevertheless they returned, only to be again banished by the city council in 1481. No documents are extant to show the existence of a Jewish congregation, recognized and regulated by law. The Jews were obliged to live huddled together in one little street, still called "Callesella dei Zudii"; but, as their numbers increased, more spacious quarter were assigned to them, which popular tradition still calls "Il Ghetto." While some of the Jewish families, Bassan, Bassano, Bassani, may have been called from this city, the name is more probably of Hebrew origin. Some slight notices of the Jews of Bassano may be found in the rare pamphlet of Brenteri, "Fonazione del Monte di Pieta," 1882. There are no longer any Jews at Bassano, nor are there any traces of a synagogue or a cemetery. (59)

Bassani or Bassano was the last name of many well-known Rabbis from the region around Venice. It is notable that a number of them were authors and poets and hailed from the exact towns that would later be referenced in Shakespeare's Italian plays. One of these was the famous rabbi and poet Samuel Bassani who lived in Verona at the end of the sixteenth century.

In 1548 Baptista Bassano and his four brothers established a contract with Henry VIII to become recorder consorts (musicians) for his court and immigrated to England. Appearing to comply with Henry's wishes, they publicly converted to Christianity and faithfully observed the rituals of the English Protestant church. They may very well have secretly retained their Jewish religious practices and beliefs, but if so, they were successful in concealing any convincing evidence of that fact from the authorities, and from history.

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The Block 216 tower in downtown Portland is at the center of a lawsuit in New York. Elliot Njus/The Oregonian

A judge has declined to bar the transfer of Block 216 after a contentious hearing, clearing the way for the lender to take control of the downtown Portland high-rise.

The business lender Ready Capital had suggested the buildings owners  businesses tied to BPM Real Estate Group, led by prominent local developer Walter Bowen  were prepared to hand over the deed to avoid a potentially messy foreclosure. Ready Capital holds a construction loan on the property it values at $510 million with principal and interest.
The man used four anonymous email addresses to harass and taunt the woman during a three and a half year period, according to the federal prosecutor. Westend61 | Getty Images

For more than three years, the young woman had no idea who kept messaging her, asking her to share more of the risque selfies she had posted on a Reddit group when she was 17.

In an anonymous email, the stalker asked for a photo of the woman in her wedding dress. Later, the stranger emailed her college academic mentor in Portland with a photo of the woman in underwear, leading the adviser to believe she had sent it.

At another point, the messenger alerted the woman that he knew where she worked.

She had no idea who her tormentor was.

Everybody was a suspect, she said in court.

On Tuesday, a federal judge in Portland excoriated Douglas Arthur Merkle II, 49, for what she called his extraordinary cruelty and nearly doubled the eight-month sentence sought by the prosecutor as part of a plea agreement.

U.S. District Judge Amy M. Baggio called Merkles behavior monstrous.

It was cruel and misogynistic and it left a person feeling unsafe in this world, and there must be a serious consequence for that behavior, Baggio told Merkle.

Baggio was unmoved by Merkles entreaty for probation and home detention, declaring that he was a potential danger to the community.

Merkle, of Cover, South Carolina, told Baggio he was embarrassed and will be punished the rest of his life now that hes a felon.

He said he was concerned about the welfare of his wife and 10-year-old son if he went to prison and said other friends also rely on him. He said he was sorry and never intended any harm.

Baggio sentenced him to a year and three months in prison and told him to report in June.

Absolutely not

Merkles messages to the woman started in March 2018 and continued through August 2021.

In his initial one, he said he had noticed her photos on Reddit years earlier and asked her to take photos of herself in her wedding dress for him as a good bye set, according to a sentencing memo.

The woman had posted semi-nude photos and lingerie shots of herself on a Reddit forum dedicated to sexualized images of young women, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Mira Chernick.

But the woman had been inactive on the site for almost four years when she started hearing from Merkle.

He wrote that he had always hoped for more photos of her.

The woman responded politely but firmly that she wasnt going to send more photos.

Absolutely not, she responded, according to court records. When I found my fiance, I found I didnt need any of that outside validation (expletive) anymore. Also are you crazy? Why in hell would I do a goodbye set with my wedding dress?

Merkle repeatedly demanded more photos and taunted her about past photos that he found online.

Its not for you. Its for your fans, he wrote back. And yes, Im probably a littttttle crazy.

Merkle asked if she wanted him to help her delete the old Reddit photos.

She said she believed she had burned the images from her account, but he responded that he found at least eight galleries in the comments.

She thanked him for letting her know and sent him a photo from her wedding, writing back that she hoped hed get the hint that Im not interested in chatting with random dudes on the internet, and that Im certainly not into sending them pictures of myself.

Merkle used four different anonymous email addresses to continue to contact the woman.

Then in March 2018, he threatened to email revealing photos of her to faculty at her college, where she was studying for a bachelors degree in math.

Using the email address gingerguynot93@gmail.com, he emailed her a link to the math faculty at her school, and wrote, Have any of these people been on reddit? I wonder if I send them your links if they can help you remove them.

And he proceeded to do just that five months later, according to Chernick.

When the womans academic mentor on Aug. 31, 2018, got the underwear shot of her from Merkle  accompanied by a sexual proposition that read, can we? Ive only got a couple weeks,  her mentor informed her that it was highly inappropriate.

The woman was mortified and explained how a stranger was using her years-old Reddit posts to harass her.

The stalker sent this email to the woman's college academic mentor, making it appear as if it came from her with her photo attached. Court Document

Over the next two and a half years, Merkle sporadically emailed her, telling her that he was keeping tabs on her. In 2021, after she accepted a job for a prestigious company, he emailed her, OMG! Wow!, using her employers name.

Fearing Merkle would send the pictures to her new co-workers, she said she felt forced to disclose the situation to her boss.

A few weeks later, Merkle emailed, calling her tasty and shared his sexual fantasies, according to court records.

Over the years, Merkle posted the womans full name, Reddit username, links to her LinkedIn page, wedding registry and Twitter account on a website with the old photos of her.

The FBI sent subpoenas to Google seeking subscriber information for the various anonymous emails used by the stalker, and obtained an IP address tied to Kings Mountain, North Carolina, and a related Yahoo email account that was tied to Merkle, according to a search warrant affidavit.

Merkle was arrested by the FBI on May 17, 2023, in Kings Mountain, North Carolina, according to court records. At the time, he was working there as an information technology site lead, at Albemarle Corp., a chemical manufacturing company, and lived about 15 miles away, the affidavit said. The FBI seized his iPhone, iPad and a USB storage device.

In mid-March 2018, the woman took the advice of Portland police and wrote to her stalker to cease contact, warning that what "you are doing" is a felony. Court Document

Life-altering sabotage

The woman, who lived in Portland when the email harassment began and is now 30 years old, told the judge she recalled how cold with fear she felt when she received the first anonymous email.

As they continued, she worried that the stalker would disrupt her marriage, her education, her job and friendships.

She said she lived with deep-seated suspicion, even wondering if the FBI agent investigating her case may have been sending her the unsigned emails.

She called the continued persecution a life-altering sabotage.

Defense lawyer Justin Rusk said Merkle stopped the emails 18 months before he was indicted and argued that Merkle hadnt threatened the woman with physical harm or violence.

Merkle sent the emails during manic periods and is now on medication for bipolar disorder, anxiety and depression, Rusk said.

Merkle stood before the judge and said in a wavering voice: None of this is who I am. I have nothing but shame and remorse.

Looking back at the woman sitting in the courtrooms public gallery, he said: Im raw and exposed, and I now know what the victim has felt. Im sorry. I wish no harm to anyone.

The judge went through the timeline of Merkles emails and noted that the woman had repeatedly asked him to stop contacting her.

But Mr. Merkle would not take no for an answer, Baggio said. Instead, he responded like a spoiled child with a profound, distorted sense of entitlement, she said.

Before Merkle messaged the womans academic mentor, he had let her know that he had tracked down where she went to college by sending her a link to the universitys math faculty page, Baggio noted.

This is incredibly twisted, harmful behavior, the judge said. This is sick.

Merkles decision to repost photos of the woman and identify her on a website was utterly abhorrent, abusive behavior. Its disgusting, Baggio said.

After Merkle harassed the woman in Oregon, Baggio said he was arrested and convicted in South Carolina for providing alcohol to a teenage girl he met through Snapchat and asking her to send him photos of herself in 2022.

She noted how Merkle told a court presentence writer that his repeated emails to the victim were not meant to be threatening. They were intended to let the victim know he was thinking of her.

Its just hard for me to wrap my mind around you uttering those words based on this record, Baggio said.

The judge said she felt sorry for Merkles wife of 14 years, because while she was traveling in her job as a nurse, he was on Reddit, terrorizing a young woman he didnt know with filthy, sexually-explicit messages.

Merkle reached for a tissue and wiped his brow just before Baggio issued his sentence.

She said he didnt deserve a reduced term for an abusive childhood, mental health struggles or family circumstances, though she did recognize his decision to plead guilty and his nearly two years on release without violations.

You talked about how, if I were to send you to prison, how that will deprive your friends and family of the great person that you are. I dont know if you can possibly understand how offputting that is to me, Mr. Merkle, she said.

In addition to the prison time, Baggio ordered him to pay $5,193 in restitution.

Merkles victim told Baggio that she still cant receive a phone call, text or email from an unknown source without feeling a wave of dread.

I will never know what its like to live without suspicion and lurking danger, she said. This will be with me forever.

-- Maxine Bernstein covers federal court and criminal justice. Reach her at 503-221-8212, mbernstein@oregonian.com, follow her on X @maxoregonian, on Bluesky @maxbernstein.bsky.social or on LinkedIn.
Oregons troubled womens prison has a new superintendent, a 27-year career corrections official who most recently served as superintendent of Washington states biggest womens prison.

Charlotte Thrasher will begin work at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville on June 23, Oregon Corrections Director Mike Reese announced Tuesday.

Thrasher started as a corrections officer and has worked in community corrections, prisons and at the Washington Department of Corrections headquarters before serving as superintendent of the Washington Corrections Center for Women in Gig Harbor, Reese said in a news release.

I am honored to join the Oregon Department of Corrections and am thankful for the opportunity to continue my commitment to improving the lives of incarcerated women by leading enhancement of trauma and gender practices, Thrasher said in a statement.

She will make $191,568 a year.

Charlotte Thrasher, a 27-year career corrections official who most recently has served as superintendent of the Washington Corrections Center for Women, was named superintendent of Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. Oregon Department of Corrections

Her leadership, experience, and commitment to gender responsive practices will help ensure the Coffee Creek Correctional Facility is well positioned for the future, Reese said in a statement.

About 1,200 people are housed at Coffee Creek.

The Corrections Department announced last August that it would launch a national search for a new superintendent.

It said at the time that Nichole Brown, who had been superintendent for five years, would work with Josh Highberger, the superintendent of the Oregon State Correctional Institution in Salem.

Highberger was acting superintendent in charge of day-to-day Coffee Creek operations and Brown addressed problems identified in an outside report last year, corrections officials said

According to the report by the Womens Justice Institute and the Center for Effective Public Policy, prisoners at Coffee Creek said they face retaliation for complaining about sexual misconduct by corrections staff. The report also highlighted the high mental health and substance abuse treatment needs of Coffee Creeks population and noted the prisons chronic and severe understaffing.

-- The Oregonian/OregonLive Public Safety Team
A small group for math instruction at Wascher Elementary School in Lafayette, Ore. in the McMinnville School District. The school district parted ways with its superintendent of nearly 4 years this week. (Photo by Mark Graves/The Oregonian) Mark Graves

The McMinnville School District, heralded many times as a statewide model for its promising academic outcomes for Latino and low-income students, fired its superintendent of nearly four years this week.

Debbie Brockett, who is on medical leave through Paid Leave Oregon as of late last week, was hired in 2021 after serving in Clark County, Nevada. She arrived at the helm of the Yamhill County district just before students and staff returned full-time to buildings after 18 months of online and hybrid school.

On Monday, five of seven board members voted to terminate her without cause.

Under an Oregon law designed to protect superintendents from being fired without cause, Brockett will be paid through June of 2026. She makes about $180,000 a year plus benefits and this week signed a separation agreement agreeing not to pursue legal action against the district.

At a three hour board meeting Monday night, board members heard concerns from two former staff members about turnover at the districts central office, allegations about a lack of proactive communication and suggestions that there were academic red flags that surfaced post COVID.

Jazmin Juarez, with the Hispanic PTA of McMinnville, said her group had tried repeatedly to express concerns about the districts decision to phase out immersion classrooms at two elementary schools. She said those complaints to both board members and district leaders fell on deaf ears

Prior to the pandemic, McMinnville had no schools on the states list of those where at least one group of students had fallen dangerously behind academically. Now there are four: Willamette, Newby and Wascher elementaries and Patton Middle School.

(McMinnville is not alone: In 2019, just 8% of Oregon schools were in that category. Now, one of every three is on that list, thanks in part to a change in the way the state defines when a student is experiencing poverty.)

School board member Doris Towery, who voted to end Brocketts contract, was among board members making somewhat inscrutable public remarks about why they were ousting the superintendent: Sometimes you come to a point where relationships and the effectiveness is not at a point that is repairable. Our primary responsibility is to make these decisions that are in the best interest of our students and our staff.

Brockett also had vocal supporters in the audience Tuesday night, including board Chair Jason Bizon and Vice Chair Abby Warmbier, both of whom voted against her termination. Leaders of the McMinnville Education Association and the McMinnville Chamber of Commerce also testified on her behalf, warning that in their opinion, board members were making a costly and reputationally damaging mistake that would make it hard to recruit a new superintendent.

We have witnessed [Brockett] be a strong advocate for teachers, willing to listen to our voices, supporting our work and recognizing the realities we face in our classrooms every day, said McMinnville Education Association bargaining chair Michelle Formway, who teaches fifth grade at Willamette Elementary School. I have been in this district for a very long time, and [under Brocketts leadership] is the first time I feel that I can speak my mind honestly and not be retaliated against.

School superintendents in Oregon and elsewhere typically have short tenures , but it is relatively uncommon for a school leader to depart mid-year. The McMinnville community has had a front-row seat to the churn in the neighboring Newberg-Dundee School District, where school board members were embroiled in a costly legal back-and-forth with their former superintendent, after his failure to adequately monitor the districts spending forced deep budget cuts.

Reached at home Tuesday morning, Brockett said she felt as though shed been fighting an uphill battle since arriving in McMinnville, where her well-regarded predecessor, Maryalice Russell, had led the district for 19 years.

Brockett acknowledged that student academic outcomes in McMinnville dipped during the pandemic  as they did in virtually every Oregon school district  and that they have yet to fully recover. That has been due in part, she said, to persistently high student absenteeism that has required a focus on making sure students feel like they belong at school and want to be there, day in and day out.

But she said McMinnville was in the process of turning around its academic metrics, showing growth on interim assessments and reduction in absenteeism, though some board members said there were few chances to discuss, ask questions or give feedback about those results.

During her tenure, there were central office employees, including some with close ties to board members, who retired, took job promotions elsewhere or decided to stop working for personal reasons, Brockett said.

We dont have massive turnover. There was no data ever presented that indicated that we had a poor culture at our district, Brockett said. If you walk around schools, you will find that I am holding staff to the levels of accountability to which they should be held. So they are bound to find employees who are unhappy.

Earlier this year, Brockett told longtime school board member Larry Vollmer that he would no longer be allowed to drop in to local schools without notifying the principal in advance. She made that decision, she told The Oregonian/OregonLive, to protect staff and students.

But the move further soured relations with the board, and she notified them that she wouldnt seek renewal of her contract when it expired in 2027. Her hope, Brockett said, was that the long runway would give board members plenty of time to find her successor. Instead, she said, the majority of the board told her they wanted to terminate her contract early in order to avoid having a lame-duck superintendency.

The saddest part about this is that [the board members who voted for termination] always talked about me. They never talked to me, about their other concerns, Brockett said.

Citing confidentiality rules, board members said repeatedly Monday that they were limited in what they could disclose about their decision to sever ties with Brockett.

We cant share a lot of the things that would probably settle some of your thoughts around the decisions we may or may not make, said board member Lu Ann Anderson. But I do feel that the information I have received from community and staff members has weighed heavily on my heart. This is not an easy decision.

 Julia Silverman covers K-12 education for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach her via email at jsilverman@oregonian.com.
Thousands of shirts printed with "Everyone is welcome here" stack up as orders for the shirts are produced by a small army of volunteers and staff at Brigade Screen Printing in Boise, Idaho. (Darin Oswald/Idaho Statesman/TNS) TNS

BOISE  The West Ada School District has faced weeks of backlash after instructing a sixth-grade teacher to remove signs containing inclusive messages from her classroom in Meridian. In its first meeting since the teacher went public with her story, the school board faced that feedback in person.

Testimony from dozens of parents, students and teachers mostly supported Sarah Inamas signs, including one that says Everyone is welcome here. But the board was divided.

Over 100 people gathered Monday for the meeting at the West Ada district office in Meridian. Many donned T-shirts emblazoned with the message that Everyone is welcome here, above hands with different skin tones and hearts in their palms.

That imagery is what district administrators previously said violated district policy on content-neutral classrooms, because the different skin colors of the hands could be associated with diversity, equity, and inclusion.

One board member defended the districts decision, while another faulted it. Others shied away from taking a stance on the sign but lamented the political climate and the ways in which some administrators had been made a target of public frustration.

Sarah Inama defends Everyone is welcome sign

The teacher at the center of the sign controversy had a few words to say.

I, over the span of about a month, explained my stance on my posters to multiple people at my school and district personnel ... before I was given a final answer, said Inama, who teaches world civilization at Lewis and Clark Middle School. I want to make clear that I did not go straight to the news or bypass any process. I was very interested in having conversations and finding a solution for this that served our students well.

I also never politically timed or planned any of this, Inama said, referring to a mock podcast in which Chief Academic Officer Marcus Myers suggested that Inama had timed the controversy with KTVBs Brian Holmes.

Inama said she does not believe her sign is political and that if it were, she would not have put it up. What is the political opinion? she asked. I still have not been told that.

Teacher says district decision fueled mistrust

Twenty-four people spoke, including several West Ada teachers. One said district actions had fueled mistrust and confusion.

My classroom is full of rainbows, not as a statement, but because second graders love them, said Andrea Jakious, a teacher at Seven Oaks Elementary School in Eagle.

Jakious said she was also told to remove a sign from her classroom after someone used an anonymous social media account to complain of so-called sexual rainbows at the school.

For the district to validate that perception is disheartening and demeaning as an educator, Jakious said. It also damages something even more essential, the trust between families and teachers. It suggests we have hidden agendas, and undermines the partnerships we work hard to build with parents to support our students.

Parents, students speak on bullying, harassment

Several parents testified about incidents of bullying and harassment their children had experienced or witnessed in schools. One, Anna Marie Young, has biracial children who have been the target of racist comments, including being called an overgrown monkey, the Idaho Statesman previously reported.

Young and others argued that there are students who do not feel welcome in West Ada, and that taking Inamas sign down would reinforce that.

One West Ada student, Ella Duncil, said some students have noticed an increase in bullying since news broke about Inamas sign, because discriminatory people view that it is OK now to bully kids and their backgrounds due to this issue. Duncil, a member of the student kindness committee at the Idaho Fine Arts Academy, asked board members to consider students mental health and teen suicide rates in their policy review.

A few people supported the signs removal and voiced concern that some responses to district administrators had been hostile.

I think it was a poor outcome for all of the enthusiasm to lead to the bullying of some of our staff members as they were trying to work through this process, said Jared Lucas, a West Ada parent.

Another parent, Melissa Gallagher, said she appreciated the districts effort to keep politics out of the classroom.

I understand its frustrating for staff and teachers to deal with the unfortunate aspect of the fact that a lot of imagery and iconography has been hijacked by specific sides of a political spectrum, Gallagher said. She said she hoped that some parents concerns over such iconography would be taken seriously as well.

Board members express different views

West Ada Trustee Rene Ozuna emphasized her full support of the posters that were asked to be removed.

When I voted on policy 401.2 a few years ago, I did so to keep politics out of classrooms, Ozuna said. I still believe this is the right thing for our students. What I didnt anticipate was that a message of inclusion or words in primary colors can be seen as political. I wont accept that. I dont believe thats best for our students, staff or community, and its also in line with the vast majority of feedback Ive received.

But Trustee David Binetti said he believed that Everything was done right here.

Binetti said that while it is incredibly rare, we do have to acknowledge that some teachers ... do take advantage of their position of power and authority to sway in political and social concerns and inject their opinions and personal perspectives onto students.

It is something that we discount at our collective detriment. That fear that some parents have is not unfounded, he said. The fear for them is real.

He called the decision to remove the sign a judgment call: somebody trying to do his job to the best of his ability in consultation with those around him.

Board Chair Lori Frasure and Trustees Angie Redford and Lucas Baclayon were less clear on what they thought of the sign and the districts actions.

In order for us to make a statement, we have to agree, Frasure said. And you can see we have different views.

Redford said she appreciated the publics input and that no one resorted to threats or violence, though she said a member of the districts executive team had been wrongly used as a political punching bag.

I think we can all agree that we all hate that we are in such a divisive situation with everything, Redford said. She agreed that the districts display policy needs more clarity.

Baclayon, who moved with his family from Taiwan to the Boise area seven years ago, acknowledged racist acts and rhetoric his children have experienced. I absolutely support that the rhetoric that everyone is welcome here, Baclayon said.

He said the district can strive toward both welcoming students and maintaining neutrality in the classroom.

Frasure closed board statements by lamenting that we live in a highly politicized world that changes sometimes by the week.

I do believe the best thing we can do is try and keep as much conflict out of the classroom as possible, the board chair said.

West Ada to review policy on staff conduct

West Ada has spent 18 months reviewing Section 400 of its policy, which includes the classroom display, the Statesman reported. The first draft of revised policy was unveiled for discussion Monday.

Niki Scheppers, the districts chief of staff and communications, presented the revisions and noted that they would be reviewed three times, with the goal of the board finalizing the policy around July 1 to be implemented in the 2025-26 school year.

The first draft drops the existing classroom display policy, 401.20, and replaces it with 403.50, a staff-conduct policy that simply says staff must conduct themselves in a manner consistent with all federal, state and local laws and regulation. The proposed policy directs the superintendent or a designee to develop any appropriate procedures.

It also adds two administrative regulations, 04 and 09, that would outline a process for what happens if there is a dispute over a classroom display, including an appeals process. These regulations would be the purview of the executive team.

Superintendent Derek Bub said one objective of the review is to align policy with a new state law banning Idaho schools from displaying flags and banners promoting political, religious or ideological viewpoints, which will go into effect in July.

No action was taken on the draft policy changes.

_____

2025 The Idaho Statesman. Visit idahostatesman.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The Trump administrations restrictive federal orders for schools are new, but some U.S. states have been limiting what educators can tell their students for several years. (Advance/SILive.com | Annalise Knudson)

By Riley Drake, Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin-Stout

An onslaught of executive orders from President Donald Trump aim to restrict how and what educators can teach Americas children.

Since taking office in January, Trump has attempted to bar teachers from discussing racism and sexism in K-12 schools and order all schools that receive federal funding to recognize only two gender identities  male and female  potentially barring teachers from acknowledging the existence of nonbinary, gender queer and transgender people, including among their students.

Educators say the orders are having a chilling effect in classrooms, with some teachers censoring themselves by minimizing dialogue about race, gender and other topics. Other educators, however, are finding ways to resist what they see as federal intrusion into the classroom.

In March, Sarah Inama, a sixth grade history teacher in Meridian, Idaho, refused to remove a classroom poster reading Everyone is Welcome when school district officials claimed the message was too controversial.

There are only two opinions on this sign. Everyone is welcome here or not everyone is welcome here, Inama said in a March 2025 interview with Today.com.

I am a scholar and former elementary school counselor. My research explores how educators act alongside young people and community organizers to challenge laws, policies and ways of controlling society that they see as harmful in schools.

In my studies, Ive encountered some educators who have found clever ways to support their students and have difficult conversations without violating executive orders or the law.

Modeling transformative justice

The Trump administrations restrictive federal orders for schools are new, but some U.S. states have been limiting what educators can tell their students for several years. And educators in those places have found quiet, creative ways to push back.

In 2022 I led a study of how educators in one Midwestern state were teaching social emotional learning  that is, the attitudes, skills and knowledge to develop healthy relationships and manage their emotions.

The state  research ethics prohibit me from precisely identifying it  had recently passed legislation that prevented teachers from openly discussing the harms of racism, slavery, colonialism and gender violence in the U.S. Critics felt the law not only erased Black and Indigenous history but also banned truth-telling and accountability.

One second grade teacher I observed in my study felt it was essential that her students learn to tell the truth, even in uncomfortable situations, and take accountability for their actions. She partnered with local community organizers to practice transformative justice in her classroom.

Transformative justice seeks to address the root causes of peoples harmful behavior rather than merely punishing it. When communities can get to the core of the conditions that caused the harm, this theory holds, they can better address it.

Rather than craft a lesson plan that might run up against the states restrictive new laws, the teacher in my study demonstrated the values of truth-telling and accountability in her approach to everyday conflicts.

For example, one day after afternoon recess, two students refused to come back inside. The teacher waited patiently, and when eventually they returned to the classroom, she asked them what had been bothering them. The students said they were mad their classmates hadnt allowed them to play a specific character in a game at recess.

The teacher invited the rest of the class to discuss the incident. They acknowledged that those students had been excluded. Together, the class brainstormed ways to better include everyone next time. The upset students calmed down and listened actively, then began chiming in with their own ideas about solving the problem constructively.

Finally, the teacher asked the class to reflect on how she had handled the situation.

What would have happened if I had called the principal on the students who wouldnt come inside? she asked.

They would have gotten in trouble! the students said.

Yes, and would that have solved anything? the teacher responded.

No, it would have made things worse, one student remarked.

In her actions and words, this teacher taught her students that punishment isnt the only or best way to deal with conflict. And she showed them that when people tell the truth and take responsibility for their actions, they have an opportunity to build connections and repair relationships.

In doing so, my research finds this teacher challenged her states policy of silencing certain conversations. Other educators in this study found other ways to challenge the law, including one who invited community organizers into her classroom to support immigrant students in learning about their rights.

Solidarity with LGBTQ students

I led another study in 2023 and 2024 following legislation in Iowa and other states banning books and restricting classroom discussion about gender identity and sexual orientation. In it, I documented how one middle school counselor supported student activists whod been retaliated against after leading a school walkout protesting the states anti-LGBTQ bill.

The student activists had been taunted by their peers during the walkout. Some had Pride flags torn from their hands and stomped on. Money the students had been collecting to donate to an LGBTQ organization was stolen.

I wish we didnt have to be quiet to be safe, one of the students told the counselor when debriefing after the incident.

The counselor arranged a meeting with the school principal to share how their peers had hurt them and how disconnected it made them feel from their school. When administrators did only minimal follow-up afterward, the counselor partnered with a community arts organization outside school to create LGBTQ-affirming spaces for students to make art together.

In my assessment, her actions demonstrated that people can come together to care for one another and showed that LGBTQ young people matter. First as an educator and then as a community member, she delivered a meaningful message to the students through showing rather than telling.

Resistance in the classroom

These are just a few examples of the many creative ways Ive documented that educators from Iowa, Michigan, Indiana and Florida and other states are trying to offset the impacts of recent restrictions on what teachers can say and what topics curricula can address.

Educators in the U.S. have long found ways to resist laws they feel are unjust.

In the 1940s, a Black teacher named Madeline Morgan fought alongside hundreds of other Black women teachers and parents for Chicago Public Schools to include Black history in its curriculum. The curriculum she created later became a model for districts across the U.S. to teach Black history.

Septima Clark is another Black educator who fought racism through teaching. After she was fired from her teaching position in South Carolina due to her connections with the NAACP, she dedicated her life to teaching, organizing and training civil rights activists in defiance of laws that attempted to keep her out of the classroom.

Collaborating with others, todays educators are finding creative ways to ensure that their classrooms demonstrate justice, in actions if not in words.
Washingtonians are one step closer to needing a permit to buy firearms after Democrats in the Senate voted in favor of a proposal Monday evening.

House Bill 1163 passed the Senate with a 29-19 vote, and will now head back to the House to concur on amendments made in the Senate. If amendments are agreed upon by the House, the bill will head to Washington Gov. Bob Fergusons desk for a signature to be signed into law.

Oregon voters passed gun control Measure 114 in 2022 that also would require a permit for gun buyers, along with completion of a background check and a ban on large-capacity ammunition magazines. But it has been stalled by legal challenges. A bill in the Oregon Legislature would carry out the measures provisions.

In Washington, Sen. Marko Liias, D-Edmonds, who sponsored a version of the permit bill in the Senate, said on the debate floor Monday that he believed the permit requirement is a commonsense measure that will save lives and enhance public safety.

Thats the most important mission of (HB) 1163, but it also supports responsible gun ownership and it creates safer communities throughout Washington, he said. The measure, Liias added, builds on existing practices such as the 10-day waiting period; he said the permitting system would reduce the diversion of methods to those who should not have firearms, such as people with criminal backgrounds.

The measure, sponsored by Rep. Liz Berry, D-Seattle, along with a host of other Democratic House lawmakers, would require gun buyers to apply for a five-year permit by submitting fingerprints through a local law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction where they live. It would require a certificate of completion of a certified firearm safety course in the previous five years, or proof that applicants are exempt from taking the course. Fees and completed applications must also be submitted in order to apply for the permit, which must be renewed every five years.

Certified firearm training programs must also include live-fire exercises and demonstration by applicants that they can safely handle firearms, as well as the firing of a minimum of 50 rounds. Training can be sponsored by federal, state, tribal, county or municipal law enforcement agencies; colleges or universities; nationally recognized organizations that offer firearms training; or a firearms training school with certified instructors.

Permits to buy firearms must be issued to eligible applicants, or denied to ineligible applicants, within 30 days the applications filing. The deadline is extended to 60 days for eligible applicants who do not have a valid permanent Washington drivers license or identification card, or if they have not been a state resident for the previous consecutive 90 days.

No Republicans were in favor of the proposal, which Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, called on the debate floor an assault on taxpayers.

Schoesler said that in addition to increased hunting and fishing licenses costs Democrats introduced this session, making it more difficult to obtain firearms through a new permit system is simply a poorly designed assault on hardworking taxpayers who want to exercise their Second Amendment rights.

He contended that in some counties, the requirements would make it impossible to find a place to legally get licensed to buy a basic firearm for legitimate purposes.

More than a dozen amendments were proposed on the floor by several Republicans, but many were not adopted. An amendment by Sen. Deb Krishnadasan, D-Gig Harbor, changed the time frame for the live-fire component to every 10 years instead of every five.

Bills must be concurred on by April 27, the last day of the legislative session.

 2025 The Seattle Times. Visit www.seattletimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
A man who goes by J, right, is interviewed by a volunteer for the federally required, biannual point-in-time count in January 2025. That count creates a different data source than the one released by the county Tuesday. Lillian Mongeau Hughes

Multnomah County officials released a detailed data dashboard Wednesday that captures the size, demographics and housing status of the areas constantly fluctuating homeless population for the first time.

County officials say it is the most comprehensive list theyve ever had. Its also the longest.
Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene reacts as U.S. President Donald Trump speaks before signing the No Men in Women's Sports Executive Order in the East Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS) TNS

U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greenes town hall on Tuesday was repeatedly disrupted by demonstrators who jeered the Republicans embrace of President Donald Trumps policies and her steadfast support for his budget-cutting, government-shrinking initiatives.

Two of the protesters at the Acworth Community Center were shocked with a Taser after resisting arrest, Acworth Police Sgt. Eric Mistretta said. At least six people were ejected from the event, and three were charged in connection with the disruption, one of them with disorderly conduct, Mistretta said.

The altercations dominated the town hall, which also attracted dozens of demonstrators outside the event for hours, waving signs and protesting Greenes MAGA stances. Greene, meanwhile, thanked the roughly 30 law enforcement officers for the aggressive approach.

Im glad they got thrown out. Thats exactly what I wanted to see happen, she said after the roughly hourlong event. This isnt a political rally or a protest. I held a town hall tonight. You know who was out of line? The protesters.

Democrats promised to continue more confrontational tactics to protest Trump and his supporters. Essence Johnson, chair of the Cobb County Democratic Committee, condemned the arrests and said an attorney was already working to clear the three demonstrators who face charges.

At this time, we believe they were unjustly arrested, said Johnson. People are passionate now. Theyre upset. Theyre frustrated. They believe democracy is being taken away from them. Theyre at their wits end.

First elected in 2018, Greene has built a national brand around provocation and hard-line rhetoric  cementing her status as one of Trumps fiercest allies and a driving force behind his push to slash federal spending and dismantle government agencies.

Her firebrand politics have also made her a favorite target for Democrats, who see Greenes alignment with Trumps agenda as a potent foil to rally their base.

Greene and her supporters were prepared for disruptions at the event, one of the few in-person congressional town halls in Georgia since Trumps return to the White House. There was heavy police presence at the community center, with armed officers stationed throughout the building.

Access to the event was so tightly controlled by Greenes team that a few dozen seats were empty when she took the stage, even though there were crowds outside.

Soon, more seats would empty as a string of Greene critics protested the event  some walked out quietly holding signs, others struggled with authorities and were forcibly removed.

As Greene worked through a slideshow presentation, one man scuffled with several law enforcement officers trying to remove him from the room. After two jolts from a Taser, he was wrestled to the ground and then forced out of the room as the crowd applauded.

Police later said they had charged three people with offenses ranging from simple battery on a law enforcement officer, obstruction of a law enforcement officer to vulgar language.

Greene took prewritten questions rather than calling on attendees. She peppered her remarks with praise for Trump, critiques of brainwashed Democrats and attacks on the news media. At one point, she proudly showed the crowd a personal note from Trump.

Still, several of the questions she took were pointed, including one that asked why she was such a coward in the face of an obvious fascist takeover. Greene, smiling, replied shes yet to see a fascist gathering. That doesnt exist in the Republican Party.

Several protesters outside the community center held signs accusing Greene of improperly benefiting from Trumps decision last week to pause tariffs. Greene echoed a previous statement that a financial adviser manages her portfolio without her input.

He did a great job. He bought the dip, Greene said. And thats what anybody with any financial sense does when they know the market is going to be going down.

Once a standard part of Georgias political landscape, Greenes town hall Tuesday stood out in other ways beyond the arrests and disruptions.

After U.S. Rep. Rich McCormick was repeatedly heckled at a February town hall in Roswell, House Speaker Mike Johnson urged GOP members to avoid in-person events. Many scrapped or scaled back their plans.

Instead, Greene ventured to the bluest part of her northwest Georgia district for the town hall: a slice of suburban Cobb County that was redrawn into her otherwise solidly Republican territory in 2021.

With Trumps reelection, Greenes influence in Congress has only grown. She leads a subcommittee tasked with carrying out Trumps cost-cutting, government-shrinking initiatives. She has more than $700,000 in her campaign coffers.

And she told Politically Georgia that she is considering challenging Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff next year if Gov. Brian Kemp doesnt enter the race. She didnt directly mention her political future during Tuesdays event. But she made clear that the protests didnt faze her.

I have a job to do, and that job is extremely important, she said. Im not deterred.

_____

2025 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Visit at ajc.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
For years, Oregon lawmakers have talked about limiting the number of bills that legislators can file. This year, some say, might be the year that bill limits succeed. Pictured here is the Oregon House of Representatives in 2024. Beth Nakamura

Enough is enough, says a bipartisan group of Oregon legislators about the torrent of bills filed this session. They introduced a proposal Wednesday that would limit each lawmaker to no more than 25 per session.

House Bill 2006 is the Legislatures attempt to rein in the record number of bills filed this session  more than 3,500, which is at least a 25-year high. The deluge has swamped staff, including state lawyers who must vet and draft each bill and analysts who must write reports detailing how theyd affect current Oregon law. The flood also has made it far tougher for members of the public to track proposed legislation and led to packed public hearings, with Oregonians who show up given as little as 90 seconds to testify.

Legislators, too, are left with less time to debate and discuss bills and potential amendments.

Session after session, we hear from the public, the press, and even fellow legislators that the sheer volume of bills makes it hard to know what the Legislature is truly prioritizing, said House Speaker Julie Fahey, a Eugene Democrat, in a news release. (House Bill) 2006 is about improving transparency, promoting thoughtful policymaking, and making the legislative process more accessible to all Oregonians.

Fahey is one of 12 lawmakers who are chief sponsors of the bill. Six are Democrats, and six are Republicans.

Fahey said as recently as last month that she was planning on filing such a bill in 2026, so it would take effect in 2027. But the urgency appears to be intensifying.

Legislative officials say theyve tracked the number of bills filed since 2001, when the Legislatures previous record was set. The approximately 3,300 bills filed then led to the introduction of House Bill 4000, which passed the House before failing in the Senate. That bill would have limited state legislators to filing just 20 bills and committees to 10.

Specifically, this years bill would not only limit legislators to 25 bills per each long session, which typically last about five months and fall on odd-numbered years. Itd also cap the number of bills that all committees except for the Joint Ways and Means Committee can file to 15. The governors office and a number of other state agencies would be limited to 400; the states judicial department to 100; and the secretary of state and other statewide elected officials to 25.

The speaker of the House and president of the Senate could make some exceptions on a case-by-case basis.

Currently, there are no limits on the volume of bills filed during long sessions.

The proposed constraints would amount to a limit of 3,550 bills, with some wiggle room to grow because of the exceptions allowed. But supporters of the proposal say many lawmakers, statewide elected officials and agencies already file far less than the proposed limits.

The number lawmakers are allowed to introduce during short sessions, which fall on even-numbered years and last about a month, fluctuates from year to year. In 2024, it was two per legislator.

The Oregon Legislatures top bill filer this session is Rep. Paul Evans, a Democrat from Monmouth, with just over 300 bills listing him as a chief sponsor. Evans is followed by Sen. David Brock Smith, a Port Orford Republican, with 218 bills.

The actual number of bills they submitted to legislative counsel for drafting, which is what House Bill 2006 would limit, is smaller, because sometimes co-sponsors asked legislative lawyers that task and not Evans or Brock Smith. But a scan of the bills they asked legislative lawyers to draft shows that both Evans and Brock Smith far exceeded the proposed 25-bill limit.

Evans told The Oregonian/OregonLive earlier this year that he files numerous bills because he thinks everyones opinions about how to address the ills of society deserves to be heard in the laboratory of democracy. Brock Smith said with Republicans in the minority, he believes drafting bills to air his and his constituents ideas is sometimes the only way they get heard.

A number of Republicans, however, say they dont agree with arguments that limiting bills curtails free speech. Sen. Dick Anderson, a Republican from Lincoln City, is one of them, said his chief of staff, Bryan Iverson. Restricting lawmakers to 25 bills apiece is plenty to get the job done, Iverson said.

The end goal, many legislators say, is quality not quantity.

Rep. Cyrus Javadi, a Tillamook Republican and dentist, described the headaches caused by too many bills and too little time a legislative traffic jam.

Ive found myself trying to speed-read amendments like Im cramming for a dental school exam I didnt know I was taking, said Javadi, one of the chief sponsors of the bill, in an email to The Oregonian/OregonLive.

Rep. Kim Wallan, a Medford Republican, said as a chief sponsor she is looking forward to negotiations, which she hopes includes upping the bill limit to some number above 25 and excluding anyone but legislators from filing bills. Senate Bill 1006, which was proposed earlier this session, sets out to do just that by barring the governor, secretary of state, treasurer and others in the executive or judicial branches from proposing legislation.

I think good government requires constraints, and unlimited bills does not further that idea,

Wallan told The Oregonian/OregonLive in an email. I would far rather have more time with fewer concepts than less time with more.

Sen. Janeen Sollman, a Hillsboro Democrat, said the record number of bills this session has led to short timelines with no time for vetting and conversation.

As bill filings have ballooned across state legislatures nationwide, a portion of states have put a lid on the number of bills legislators can introduce. Some, like North Carolina with a 15-bill limit per legislator, established them decades ago, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Others had restricted bill filings but decided that was too problematic and lifted them. Washington and Hawaii are among them, the conference said.

California lawmakers last year agreed to lower existing bill limits to 35 per legislator each two-year session.

 Aimee Green is covering the Oregon Legislature this session. Reach her at 503-294-5119, agreen@oregonian.com or on Bluesky.

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President Donald Trump said he'd join the treasury and commerce secretaries in a meeting with a Japanese trade official. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) AP

WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump said hes joining some of his top economic advisers on Wednesday for negotiations at the White House over tariffs and trade with a top Japanese official who is traveling to Washington for the talks.

The Republican president said in a post on his social media platform that hell attend the meeting alongside Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, top economic advisers with a central role in his trade and tariff policies.

Trump recently announced a round of global tariffs but then quickly put them on hold for 90 days after the markets tanked and fears of a recession mounted. He left steep tariffs in place against China.

The move put Japans 24% across-the-board tariff on hold, but a 10% baseline tariff and a 25% tariff on cars, auto parts, steel and aluminum exports to the U.S. remain in place.

Japan, like many other nations around the world that are fearful of Trumps tariffs and the likely economic fallout, has been scrambling to respond. It has set up a special task force to assess the impact of the tariffs and offer loans and consultation to anxious companies.

Although Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has been working hard to coax exemptions out of Trump, the government has said little officially on what concessions it might offer during these talks.

Japan is coming in today to negotiate Tariffs, the cost of military support, and TRADE FAIRNESS. I will attend the meeting, along with Treasury & Commerce Secretaries, Trump wrote in the social media post. Hopefully something can be worked out which is good (GREAT!) for Japan and the USA!

Japans chief trade negotiator, Economic Revitalization Minister Ryosei Akazawa, was headed to Washington on a mission to convince U.S. officials to remove Trumps tariff measures against the East Asian ally of the United States.

Akazawa is to hold his first talks with Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer through Friday.

I am prepared for the talks, Akazawa told reporters at Tokyos Haneda Airport before boarding his flight to Washington. I will negotiate in order to firmly protect our national interest.

He said that both Bessent and Greer are known to be pro-Japan and professionally talented and that he hopes to build a relationship of trust with them. I believe we can have good talks toward a win-win relationship that will serve national interest for both Japan and the United States, he said.

Japan is among the first countries to start negotiations with the U.S. Trump and other administration officials have said the phones have been ringing off the hook with dozens of countries calling, eager to strike deals with a president who views himself as a master negotiator to avoid tariffs when the 90-day pause ends.

But it was not immediately clear what either side hoped to get out of the negotiations. The U.S. asks remain unclear, other than Trumps desire for no bilateral trade deficit.

Japans asks also are unclear, although it contends that Trumps tariff measures are likely to violate bilateral trade agreements or World Trade Organization rules. While Ishiba has said he opposes retaliatory tariffs, he also has said he is in no rush to push for a settlement because he doesnt want concessions.

Trump said he also wants to discuss U.S. military support for Japan, or how much the Japanese contribute to the cost of American troops stationed there, largely as a deterrent to China.

Trumps demand for more defense spending concerns the Japanese.

Under its national security strategy, Japan aims to double annual defense spending to nearly $10 trillion, or 2% of GDP, in 2027, while there is a concern that Trump may ask for that to be increased to 3% of GDP. Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said Tuesday that the military budget for this year is about 1.8% of Japans GDP.

-- The Associated Press
Traffic enters the United States from Canada at the Peace Arch Border Crossing, in Blaine, Wash. Top aides in Washington Gov. Bob Fergusons office debated plans earlier this year to send 200 National Guard troops to the Canadian border. AP

Top aides in Washington Gov. Bob Fergusons office debated plans earlier this year to send 200 National Guard troops to the Canadian border to assist with the Trump administrations attempts to stop drug trafficking.

Ferguson ultimately decided not to pursue the plan.

But Washington military officials went so far as to draft a letter on the governors behalf pitching the idea and commending President Donald Trump for his continued efforts to combat the flow of illegal narcotics through the northern border.

While the letter was never sent, the episode offers a window into how the new governors administration was trying to strike a balance working with a president whom Ferguson himself has sparred with repeatedly and who is deeply unpopular in much of Washington state.

The Standard obtained the letter  addressed to Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem  through a public records request.

Fergusons communications director, Brionna Aho, said this week that Ferguson did not request the letter and did not write it himself, even though it was drafted as though it were from him.

She said the letter was rooted in discussions between the governors office and the Washington Military Department about the potential for Trump to federalize the states National Guard.

State Adjutant General Gent Welsh raised this possibility based on conversations with federal officials and media reports, Aho said.

As adjutant general, Welsh commands the states National Guard, directs the Washington Military Department and serves as the governors homeland security adviser.

In early February, Welsh reached out to Fergusons chief operations officer, Shane Esquibel, to raise the issue. To avoid federal activation, the governor could deploy the states National Guard for a defined mission that is consistent with Washingtons values, Aho said.

On Feb. 7, Fergusons top advisers met with officials from the Military Department, which drafted the letter ahead of the meeting to discuss.

Esquibel, now the governors interim chief of staff, briefed Ferguson on the proposal, but the governor decided against it, according to Aho.

As you can imagine, many ideas are presented to the governor, Aho said in an email. The governor does not take action on all of them. This is one example.

Ready to support

The draft letter says Washington is fully committed to partnering with the Departments of Homeland Security and Defense to confront traffickers moving fentanyl and other illegal drugs.

The National Guard troops would have been ordered to help with communications center support, analysis, transportation and construction, or any other mission deemed appropriate for DoD support, so border patrol agents could focus on enforcement.

Ferguson would have deployed the troops under Title 32 502(f) orders, meaning they would be under the governors control while the federal government foots the bill. Such orders are rare in Washington.

The last Title 32 502(f) order was during the COVID-19 pandemic, said Karina Shagren, a spokesperson for the Washington Military Department.

And the last time Washingtons National Guard troops were sent specifically to the states northern border was in the early 2000s, Shagren said. In that case, the president federalized the troops under Title 10, meaning the federal government controls their orders.

The letter also notes Washington stands ready to support the Canada-U.S. Joint Strike Force, a new partnership that aims to combat transnational drug trafficking, money laundering and other organized crime. I am prepared to allocate any necessary resources to ensure its success, it says.

Ferguson has championed a bill in the state Legislature to give him the authority to stop National Guard troops from other states from deploying in Washington. House Bill 1321 has passed both chambers and now awaits the governors signature.

Where we can

The Canadian border has been a flashpoint in the opening months of the second Trump presidency, with relations between the two allies souring and repeated calls from the president to make the neighboring country the 51st U.S. state.

Trump kicked off his term with the threat of tariffs to get Canada to boost border security and stop drugs from crossing into the United States. After former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in February committed more resources to fentanyl trafficking enforcement, Trump briefly called off the import taxes.

During his gubernatorial campaign last year, Ferguson committed to convening a statewide crisis response unit focused on the fentanyl crisis and called for boosting state funding for drug task forces.

In his Jan. 15 inaugural address, the governor pledged to work with the president where we can, while also saying, We will stand up to him when we must.

Almost immediately after Trump took office, less than a week after Ferguson was sworn in, new tensions began to build between the state and the president.

As attorney general, Ferguson sued the Trump administration dozens of times during Trumps first term. The state is now involved in 11 lawsuits against the second Trump administration, brought by Attorney General Nick Brown over everything from federal funding freezes to efforts to restrict birthright citizenship.

-- Jake Goldstein-Street, Washington State Standard

Washington State Standard is part of States Newsroom, the nations largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
Several libraries across North Portland are undergoing renovations. The Oregonian

A temporary, and scaled back, library branch will open next month in North Portland near a library closed for renovation.

Multnomah County Library has agreed to lease a space in downtown St. Johns that will serve patrons until the citys permanent library reopens in spring 2026, according to a news release.
Intel has opted not to sell its 50-acre Hawthorn Farm campus in Hillsboro, choosing to retain the property for critical engineering work after a five-month review of the sites future.

After a thorough assessment, weve decided Hawthorn Farm will remain open due to essential activities contributing to Intels strategy, the chipmaker said in a note to Oregon employees. It did not specify what that essential work consists of and declined to elaborate.

Intel began reevaluating its real estate portfolio in August, when it announced plans to eliminate 15,000 jobs and cut its annual budget by $10 billion in response to falling sales. The chipmaker is coping with a sustained decline in demand for its microprocessors amid intense competition and a shift toward artificial intelligence, a market where Intel has little presence.

In November, Intel said it would sell its 150-acre campus in Folsom, California, aiming to lease back most of the property. That process is continuing.

The company also said at that time that it was evaluating the future of the Hawthorn Farm site, the smallest of Intels four main Oregon campuses.

Hawthorn Farm houses offices and labs, focused primarily on motherboard research. Intel has been operating there since the late 1970s or early 80s (records differ).

Intel has two much larger sites in Hillsboro  its Jones Farm campus near Hillsboro Airport and Gordon Moore Park at Ronler Acres, which is the companys largest and most advanced research site anywhere in the world.

Additionally, Intel maintains a smaller presence at its original Oregon site in Aloha.

-- Mike Rogoway covers Oregon technology and the state economy. Reach him at mrogoway@oregonian.com or 503-294-7699.

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BOSTON  The federal government says it's freezing more than $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in contracts to Harvard University, after the institution said it would defy the Trump administration's demands to limit activism on campus.

The hold on Harvard's funding marks the seventh time President Donald Trump's administration has taken the step at one of the nation's most elite colleges, in an attempt to force compliance with Trump's political agenda. Six of the seven schools are in the Ivy League.

In a letter to Harvard Friday, Trump's administration had called for broad government and leadership reforms at the university, as well as changes to its admissions policies. It also demanded the university audit views of diversity on campus, and stop recognizing some student clubs.

The federal government said almost $9 billion in grants and contracts in total were at risk if Harvard did not comply.

On Monday, Harvard President Alan Garber said the university would not bend to the government's demands.

"The University will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights," Garber said in a letter to the Harvard community. "No government  regardless of which party is in power  should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue."

Hours later, the government froze billions in Harvard's federal funding.

The first university targeted by the Trump administration was Columbia, which acquiesced to the government's demands under the threat of billions of dollars in cuts. The administration also has paused federal funding for the University of Pennsylvania, Brown, Princeton, Cornell and Northwestern.

Trump's administration has normalized the extraordinary step of withholding federal money to pressure major academic institutions to comply with the president's political agenda and to influence campus policy. The administration has argued universities allowed antisemitism to go unchecked at campus protests last year against Israel's war in Gaza.

Harvard, Garber said, already has made extensive reforms to address antisemitism. He said many of the government's demands don't relate to antisemitism, but instead are an attempt to regulate the "intellectual conditions" at Harvard.

Withholding federal funding from Harvard, one of the nation's top research universities in science and medicine, "risks not only the health and well-being of millions of individuals but also the economic security and vitality of our nation." It also violates the university's First Amendment rights and exceeds the government's authority under Title VI, which prohibits discrimination against students based on their race, color or national origin, Garber said.

The government's demands included that Harvard institute what it called "merit-based" admissions and hiring policies and conduct an audit of the study body, faculty and leadership on their views about diversity. The administration also called for a ban on face masks at Harvard  an apparent target of pro-Palestinian campus protesters  and pressured the university to stop recognizing or funding "any student group or club that endorses or promotes criminal activity, illegal violence, or illegal harassment."

Harvard's defiance, the federal antisemitism task force said Monday, "reinforces the troubling entitlement mindset that is endemic in our nation's most prestigious universities and colleges  that federal investment does not come with the responsibility to uphold civil rights laws.

"The disruption of learning that has plagued campuses in recent years is unacceptable. The harassment of Jewish students is intolerable."

Trump has promised a more aggressive approach against antisemitism on campus, accusing former President Joe Biden of letting schools off the hook. Trump's administration has opened new investigations at colleges and detained and deported several foreign students with ties to pro-Palestinian protests.

The demands from the Trump administration had prompted a group of Harvard alumni to write to university leaders calling for it to "legally contest and refuse to comply with unlawful demands that threaten academic freedom and university self-governance."

"Harvard stood up today for the integrity, values, and freedoms that serve as the foundation of higher education," said Anurima Bhargava, one of the alumni behind the letter. "Harvard reminded the world that learning, innovation and transformative growth will not yield to bullying and authoritarian whims."

The government's pressure on Harvard also sparked a protest over the weekend from the campus community and residents of Cambridge and a lawsuit from the American Association of University Professors on Friday challenging the cuts.

In their lawsuit, plaintiffs argue that the Trump administration has failed to follow steps required under Title VI before it starts cutting funds, including giving notice of the cuts to both the university and Congress.

"These sweeping yet indeterminate demands are not remedies targeting the causes of any determination of noncompliance with federal law. Instead, they overtly seek to impose on Harvard University political views and policy preferences advanced by the Trump administration and commit the University to punishing disfavored speech," plaintiffs wrote.
Twenty one Norman city representatives traveled to Washington, D.C. last week for the annual Washington, D.C. Fly-In to meet with lawmakers and advocate for federal employees and expansion projects in Norman.

The group, which visited the nations Capitol from April 7-9, included Norman Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Scott Martin, several Chamber of Commerce members and two OU student members, Jake Baker and Bradley Buss.

Ward 7 Councilmember and Mayor-Elect Stephen Tyler Holman, Ward 4 Councilmember Helen Grant, Ward 6 Councilmember Joshua Hinkle, Ward 8 Councilmember Scott Dixon and City Manager Darrel Pyle also attended the fly-in.

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Martin said the group focused on three topics in conversations with lawmakers: the Department of Government Efficiencys job cuts in Oklahoma, renovations to the Max Westheimer Airport and securing federal funding for the 36th Avenue NW expansion project.

With all that's going on right now around discussion on the federal level, we're excited to be able to go up there and bring the message of why what they're doing and how that impacts local businesses here in Norman, Martin said.

The group met with Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Rep. Tom Cole (R-Moore), Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Muskogee) and Rep. Frank Lucas (R-Cheyenne). They were unable to meet with Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-Oklahoma City) and Rep. Josh Brecheen (R-Ada), so they met with some of their staff members, Martin said.

Federal job cuts, layoffs

DOGE is a Trump administration advisory committee that seeks to decrease government spending. Since its inception, it has issued layoffs hundreds of government jobs and canceled leases for several government buildings. In Oklahoma, employees have been laid off at the National Weather Center, with more layoffs rumored to come to Tinker Air Force Base.

Martin said the delegation defended the National Weather Center amid nationwide layoffs, and multiple legislators assured them they knew those jobs were important for public safety.

Holman said when Cole contacted officials at DOGE to advocate for the National Weather Center, they did not realize how vital it is for weather data and public safety.

Cole, whose congressional district includes Norman, told the fly-in group the National Weather Center will not experience massive funding cuts or any more layoffs, according to Holman.

According to Martin, Oklahoma lawmakers said the Trump administration has been receptive to their concerns over layoffs and, in some cases, canceled job cuts.

They need to work hard to ensure that they're being as efficient and mindful as they can with taxpayer dollars, Martin said. But in our case, stuff we were talking to them about is really mission critical for the future of our state (and) country.

Baker, an OU finance senior, said Mullin and Cole eased the Chamber of Commerces worries over layoffs, and Mullin encouraged them to directly contact him with their concerns. He said the members of the Chamber have a great relationship with Cole, and he fully supports his constituents.

Grant is also concerned that federal layoffs will soon impact the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the statement read. According to Grant, Mullin told the group that decisions about housing incentives, like workforce housing, should be left to the states.

I hope for Oklahomas sake that (the Department of Housing and Urban Development) is not so dismantled that our resources are slow to arrive and administer when they finally do trickle down to us. Grant wrote.

Max Westheimer Airport renovations

Martin said the group also promoted continued renovations to the Max Westheimer Airport, specifically, to update the terminal building so its able to support academic research.

Baker said the group showcased the aviation program and university, and lawmakers were supportive. Buss, an OU finance junior, said they also advocated for 100 new airplanes for the aviation program.

When those academic programs are doing well, that leads to private sector job expansion and growth within Norman, Martin said. That's why these particular issues are really important to us.

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36th Avenue NW expansion project

The expansion project for 36th Avenue NW, which extends from Tecumseh Road to Indian Hills Road, was approved by a public vote in 2012, but construction still hasnt started. 20% of funding is to be provided by the city, which voters approved in 2012, and 80% is to be from the federal government, which the fly-in group continues to advocate for, Martin said.

Holman said the city has been applying for that federal funding every year since 2016 but has been denied each time. The expansion would significantly improve traffic flow, he said.

In a statement to OU Daily, Dixon wrote that lawmakers are aware of the need to widen 36th Avenue NW and the struggle to begin the project.

We are incredibly grateful for the leadership and advocacy of fellow Oklahomans who work on our behalf at the federal level each year, and appreciate the chance to ensure they are aware of local matters, Dixon wrote.

City priorities

In a statement to OU Daily, Grant wrote that tariffs are a huge concern for city representatives.

The fly-in group was in D.C. before a 90-day pause on tariffs  which excludes China  was announced on April 9. According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity, Oklahomas largest importer and exporter is Canada, which is under a 25% tariff and currently has a 25% retaliatory tariff on the U.S.

They met with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, where representatives spoke about tariffs in a presentation. The U.S. Chamber recognized that many products have patents, so it cannot be replicated in the U.S., and developing factories is time consuming.

According to Buss, representatives from the U.S. Chamber said President Donald Trumps tariff policies are unprecedented territory, and its difficult for the Norman Chamber to make predictions, which he said is concerning. The U.S. Chamber assured it will continue to monitor tariffs economic impacts, he said.

Grant wrote that developing businesses in Norman creates prosperity for the workforce and the city as a whole.

My optimism, while cautious, sees potential for Norman to further develop into a place where all workers can access opportunities to live, work, play, the statement read.

The Oklahoma delegation is in a great position at the Capitol, Martin said, with lawmakers on key committees in defense, agriculture and spending; namely, Cole as chair of the Appropriations Committee.

Martin said Oklahoma lawmakers understand their constituents' concerns, but being face-to-face with them and able to share stories from their communities is impactful. By providing the facts, Martin said the fly-in group helped lawmakers make Oklahomans case to the administration.

They're not in the businesses doing miracles, but they are in the business of identifying critical needs and trying their best to meet them, Martin said.

Buss said lawmakers think fly-in visits are crucial, because it allows them to connect with the needs of their constituents and helps them hear whats happening back home. If issues are never heard, they cant be fixed, he said.

They're listening, and they're receiving feedback, and they're doing the best that they can with the power that they have, Buss said.

Holman, who will take office as mayor in July, said building relationships with members of the Oklahoma delegation will be essential to advocating for Norman. Lawmakers want their constituents to communicate with them, and Holman said he was particularly encouraged by Coles willingness to engage with him about city issues.

I'll continue to be hopeful, and I appreciate the open line of communication that we have with him, Holman said. As mayor, I'll continue to advocate the best I can to them about those issues that impact Norman.

This story was edited by Ana Barboza, Ismael Lele and Anusha Fathepure.
Editors note: This story is a part of a commemorative series marking 30 years since the Oklahoma City bombing, a domestic terrorist attack in which 168 people died. Several stories and multimedia projects commemorating this milestone will be published in the week leading up to April 19, the day the bomb detonated outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in 1995.

Thirty years after the Oklahoma City bombing, schools are tasked with teaching students about the attack and its impact, including the altruistic community response to the bombing, now known as the Oklahoma Standard.

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The Oklahoma City bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building on April 19, 1995, was the deadliest terrorist act in U.S. history until Sept. 11, 2001. The attack killed 168 people, including 19 children.

Upon its 30th anniversary, the bombing remains the most fatal domestic terrorism attack in U.S. history.

As time passes, many children do not have a direct connection to the bombing. Some students encounter it for the first time in an educational setting.

According to Oklahoma social studies academic standards, the bombing must be taught in third grade and Oklahoma and U.S. history courses. Students are expected to learn how Oklahomans exhibited the Oklahoma Standard in response to the attack.

The Oklahoma Standard promotes kindness and helping others without hesitation or expecting reciprocity. The standard lives on today as the model by which Oklahomans should live their lives, according to the Oklahoma Standard website maintained by the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum.

In Oklahoma history courses, students must analyze the causes and effects of the bombing, including response efforts and the creation of the memorial museum. U.S. history courses must discuss the rise of terrorism and its impact on the U.S., including the bombing and 9/11.

Jane Purcell, Norman Public Schools social studies curriculum coordinator, said all grades practice a day of remembrance on the bombings anniversary, though not required by state standards. According to Purcell, its up to teachers to decide how the bombing is incorporated into their lesson plan.

Three decades after the bombing, an important part of teaching the attack has become humanizing and relating it to students, which some teachers do by drawing from their own connection with the attack.

Their stories are honored and not forgotten

Taylor Woodard was only 6 when the bombing happened. As she grew up, Woodards family, some of whom were part of the emergency response to the attack, told her their stories of the bombing.

Once the memorial was created, we would visit those chairs, and I would see those names, and then they would share stories, Woodard said. As you grow and mature as an Oklahoman, you realize just how important that day was and continues to be.

Woodards older sister, Tracy Phillips-Cothran, was a medical student at OU Health Sciences Center at the time, and she joined first responders at the scene of the bombing. Woodards father-in-law, Carl Woodard, was also part of the recovery effort as an Oklahoma City firefighter.

Now, Woodard teaches fifth grade reading and language arts at South Lake Elementary School in Moore. Woodard said her father, Warren Phillips  a former high school teacher  inspired her to use her classroom as an opportunity to teach students about the bombing.

Similar to many across the state, Woodards family knew victims of the bombing. Not wanting to relive the traumatic event, Woodard said the aftermath of the bombing was difficult for her father.

When he retired from teaching, her father passed down photos he took of the Murrah building after the attack. Woodard brings those photos to class each year to commemorate the bombing.

It's not something that he relives very often, Woodard said. I think he knew that would be something we would really respect and revere as a family but also that I could use in the classroom.

Woodards father-in-law was invited to take a piece of granite from the Murrah building before it was demolished on May 23, 1995. Several years ago, he split the chunk of granite into two pieces, one for each of his sons.

Woodard said her father-in-law doesnt talk about that day much, but he has always been supportive of how she teaches the subject. Each year on the anniversary of the bombing, Woodard brings the piece of granite to school to show her students.

Alongside artifacts, Woodard incorporates childrens literature about the bombing into her lessons. She also uses the childrens book I Survived the Attacks of September 11th, 2001 by Lauren Tarshis to help students distinguish the events.

When Woodard taught sixth graders, she said they were particularly interested in the FBI investigation of the bombing. This involved discussing domestic terrorism and the attacks perpetrator, Timothy McVeigh, which Purcell said is difficult for students.

Students really struggle with why Timothy McVeigh did this, Purcell said. Our little students are just so innocent, and even our older students are very kind and compassionate, and  they're pretty horrified by (the bombing).

Woodard has also dedicated some of her lessons to the Oklahoma Standard and the community's response. By doing so, Woodard said she is honoring the stories of those impacted and teaching students to have pride in their state.

Woodard said students today often dont have a direct connection to the bombing, which is why she crafts her lessons with care. For Woodard, its meaningful for students to understand the facts of the bombing and connect it with the community response.

It's important for them to continue to learn about the people involved so that their stories are honored and not forgotten, Woodard said. Hopefully that will inspire them to be lifelong learners of history and want to learn more about those things that have impacted our state.

Journey of Hope

The Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, in collaboration with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, created Journey of Hope, a project commemorating the bombings 30th anniversary. Journey of Hope is visiting all 77 counties in the state to teach about the bombing at middle and high schools.

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Martha Beliveau and Kara Jones, museum outreach program managers leading the project, said educating young people about the history of the bombing is a passion of theirs.

I was really intrigued by getting to travel all around the state to share this story with kids who might not have the opportunity to physically come (to the memorial) because their schools don't have the ability to transport them here or they live six hours away, Beliveau said.

During assemblies, Journey of Hope sponsors a community member from the county it visits to speak about how they were impacted by the bombing, aiming to show students theyre not as far removed from the attack as they may think.

We try to make sure that they know what connections their community has to the event, people who are impacted by the bombing who live in their community, Jones said.

The museums 30th anniversary message is A Day of Darkness, Years of Light. To embody this message, Journey of Hope doesnt shy away from the harm caused by the bombing and devotes focus to the support Oklahoma City received.

This attack was meant to tear everybody apart, Beliveau said. Instead, Oklahomans came together and supported one another in the aftermath.

Journey of Hope speakers have included first responders, journalists and teachers whose lives were changed by the bombing. The program traveled to Irving Middle School in October, where students heard from the schools guidance counselor, Krista Genzer Doll.

Doll was 11 on April 19, 1995. Her mother, Jamie (Fialkowski) Genzer, left for work at the Murrah building as a loan officer for the Federal Employees Credit Union. Genzer died in the bombing.

She was my everything, and then she was gone, Doll said at the assembly. My brother and I had to manage life without a mom, and it wasnt easy, but together  with the help of our community, our family  we did it.

Doll left students at the program with a question: What legacy will you leave? She challenged the students to embody the Oklahoma Standard and make a difference for those who may be struggling.

Having community members share their experience is extremely impactful on students, Beliveau said. She said hearing first-hand stories of the bombings effects can humanize the attack for students who may feel disconnected from it.

Some students in counties far from Oklahoma City may think the bombing did not impact their community, Jones said, but Journey of Hopes goal is to show students otherwise.

If we can find people like a first responder from one of the panhandle counties, I think it shows them that, yes, my community was impacted by this event despite the fact that I live five hours from the city, Jones said.

Alongside humanizing the bombing, stories from the assembly have inspired some students to confront their own hardships. Beliveau said Journey of Hope has helped students emotionally open up, with many thanking and confiding in speakers after the program.

Its just powerful for somebody to be vulnerable with kids, Beliveau said. For somebody to be vulnerable and say, This was the worst thing that has ever happened to me, and I saw counseling, and I saw support, and my community was around me, is meaningful.

The final act of each program is planting a sapling of the Survivor Tree, which survived the bombing and now serves as a symbol of resilience. Beliveau said having a symbolic reminder of the tree in each county serves as a physical reminder that all Oklahomans are forever changed by the attack.

Displaying the phrase Spreading Our Branches, a marker made of granite from the Murrah building is then placed at the foot of the sapling. At Irving Middle School, Dolls three young children placed the marker in remembrance of those killed in the attack  among them, their grandmother.

This is a full circle moment that there's still people living with April 19 every single day, but you can also find beauty and the resiliency of the human spirit as well, Beliveau said.

Its a tough time for schools

In December, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters proposed controversial new social studies standards, which mention the Bible and Christianity dozens of times. The Oklahoma State Department of Education approved the standards in February by a 5-1 vote.

The Legislature must now vote on the standards following the boards approval. Oklahoma House and Senate Democrats, the minority party in both chambers, filed a resolution in March to reject the proposal. If rejected, the standards would be sent back to the board for revisions.

Woodard said that, although teachers do not feel pressure from the state on whether or not to teach students about the bombing, many feel they must mainly focus on math and reading. Due to such pressures, teachers have experienced difficulties adequately incorporating social studies lessons, Woodard said.

Outside pressure for state testing and scores focusing only on math and reading can have an impact on whether or not they bring in social studies topics, Woodard said.

Having previously taught the subject, the shift from social studies is something Woodard said she felt in real time.

There's a lot of ways you can weave subjects together, but it can be hard, Woodard said. Younger grade teachers definitely feel the pressure of performing, and so sometimes they can get that tunnel vision.

To supplement schools in teaching about the bombing, the memorial museum offers lesson plans for educators. Beliveau said Journey of Hope adds to the lesson plans, helping schools that may not have enough time or resources.

Its a tough time for schools; theres no question, Beliveau said. Our job is to hopefully make teaching about the bombing easier for schools and also help remind schools that this is a very unique, important lesson to teach their kids.

This story was edited by Anusha Fathepure, Ana Barboza and Ismael Lele. Avery Avery, Gretchen Schultz, Ryan Little, Mary Ann Livingood and Grace Rhodes copy edited this story.
Editor's note: This story was updated at 10:45 a.m. on April 16 to include a statement from Paul Gilmore.

Senior Vice President and Vice Provost Andre-Denis Wright announced the appointment of Paul Gilmore as the new dean of OUs Honors College in a campus wide email sent to the OU community Wednesday morning.

Gilmore earned a doctorate degree in English from the University of Chicago. According to Wright, Gilmore was the founding dean of the Honors College at Rutgers Universitys, New Brunswick, where he oversaw efforts that led to student rates surpassing national honors program averages. At Rutgers, Wright wrote that Gilmore helped enroll 500 students annually while advancing cross institutional collaboration among honor college deans in the Big Ten conference.

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In an email to Honors College faculty, staff and students Wednesday morning, Gilmore wrote he excited to join the university. Gilmore wrote that as OU responds to opportunities and challenges of present day and the future, the college remains committed to empowering students.

"With its strong foundation and impressive history, the Honors College is well poised to seize this moment to become a model of experiential interdisciplinary undergraduate education for the nation and the world," Gilmore wrote.

According to his Linkedin, Gilmore is currently a mentor and consultant for Student Partner Alliance, and a professor at Bard College teaching high school students from Plainfield High School.

Dr. Gilmores experience building a thriving, interdisciplinary honors program from the ground up uniquely positions him to lead our Honors College into its next era of excellence, Wright wrote.

Gilmore also served as dean of the Liberal Arts and Honors College at Long Island University from July 2022 to July 2023, the director of graduate studies and an American literature professor at California State University, Long Beach, and an assistant English professor at Bucknell University, according to Wright.

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As we prepare to welcome Dr. Gilmore to OU, we also extend our gratitude to Dr. Michael Markham, who has led the Honors College as Interim Dean this past year, Wright wrote.

Gilmore is replacing Michael Markham, who was selected to be the next dean of the College of Arts and Sciences on April 10. Markham has served as the honors college interim dean since June 2024.

The Honors College has been without a permanent dean since 2017 when former dean David Ray left the position. Over the next eight years, the college saw four interim dean changes. Doug Gaffin became interim dean following Rays departure. In July 2020, Rich Hamerla took over the interim position from Gaffin. After three years, Kelvin White succeeded Hamerla in 2023, who served in the position until Markham finally became the fourth interim dean in 2024.

In 2020, a search committee selected three candidates for Honors College dean, though none were later hired, according to regents minutes.

According to Wright, Gilmore will officially join OU on June 23, pending final approval from the OU Board of Regents.

With Dr. Gilmore at the helm, the Honors College is poised for an exciting future, Wright wrote. I look forward to seeing its continued impact and success.

This story was edited by Anusha Fathepure and Ana Barboza.
Editor's note: This story was updated at 9:X a.m. on April 16 to correct three instances of misspellings and incorrect information, including a misspelling of the word revenue as reserves, an incorrect listing of $50 million toward faculty excellence corrected to $300 million and a clarification that there was a committed $185 million invested to build Stephenson Cancer Center in Tulsa.

OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. detailed revisions to the universitys Lead On, University strategic plan at a launch event Tuesday.

In 2020, OU launched Lead On, University, originally an eight-year strategic plan centered around five pillars to represent significant goals set by the university.

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 Lead as a Top-Tier Public Research University.

 Empower students for a life of success, meaning and impact.

 Ascend as one OU  unified by our purpose, values and strategic plan.

 Lift the health of Oklahoma.

 Shape the future through discovery, creativity and innovation.

Harroz announced a refresh of the strategic plan in an email to the OU community in Spring 2024, marking the halfway point of the eight-year plan. The revised plan incorporates OU Health Sciences Center and OUs Tulsa campus.

Our Strategic Plan was never meant to be static. It must evolve to meet the challenges of our ever-changing world while continuing to serve the distinct needs of our community, Harroz wrote in an email to the OU community in April 2024.

At the launch event Tuesday, Harroz said the university has cut $140 million in costs, increased cash reserves by $200 million on Normans campus and reduced the average costs for in-state students by 28% in the past five years.

Affordability is critical. We restructured how we do fundraising. We thought we were good at it before, Harroz said. Were now raising 330 to 350 million (dollars) a year, weve got half a billion targeted to go towards helping students attend OU too, $300 million towards faculty excellence.

Harroz spoke of the universitys finances, noting it is in really good financial standing, however, low state funding and federal grant cuts pose an added challenge. He said Oklahoma universities do not receive sufficient support from the state, and maintaining the strategic plan budget is vital with federal funding at risk.

Federal actions related to universities right now, if you look at anything in the last 24 hours, youve seen more activity around that, Harroz said. I know theres lots of anxiety on overhead rates for federal research and a lot of other issues.

Last week, three OU faculty facilitating major research projects received notice their federal grants would be terminated by the National Endowment for the Humanities at the direction of the Department of Government Efficiency. The projects lost a total of $767,536 in federal funding.

After the event, Harroz told OU Daily federal actions have only impacted grants from the National Institute of Health so far. He said he believes the university can plan for consequences of rising overhead rates, but he continues to watch for changes.

Where there is a concern is around the overhead rate, Harroz said, you may have seen that theyve talked about 15% versus the traditional rate. That will be an impact to us. So far, its only been NIH grants, but if it expands beyond there, that obviously would have a greater impact.

According to Harroz, enrollment across all OU campuses has drastically increased over the last five years starting at 2% growth in 2021 and up to 20% in the last two years  a major step toward university enrollment goals.

During his 2023 state of the state address , Gov. Kevin Stitt challenged OU and Oklahoma State University to grow up to 40,000 students by 2030. Harroz said the university accepted the challenge, doubling its goal for online students and increasing first-year enrollment at all OU campuses.

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Everything we do has to be focused on excellence, Harroz said. Value, as we define it, is excellence and affordability. One without the other completely destroys our strategic plan.

Harroz said one of the primary goals in the next five years is to become a member university with the Association of American Universities. Of the approximately 4,000 degree-granting universities in the U.S., there are currently 69 AAU institutions with just over half being public institutions.

The Association of American Universities is an invitation-only organization of Americas leading research universities credited for life changing education, research and innovation. Member universities earn the majority of federal funding for research that improves public health, seeks to address national challenges and contributes to the education and training of younger generations.

As we look at our strategic plans  hopefully youll see inside of this clear objective measures to get to be one of the public AAUs, Harroz said. You got to be invited in, but were going to meet the standards. Thats our goal in (the) next five years, this refresh of the strategic plan.

Harroz said the university must make 300 additional faculty hires, work to raise $500 million for student support and receive additional funding from the state to meet the AAU criteria. He said OU requested $75 million annually for the Norman campus, but there is often pushback from legislators.

I told them, were 58% down, we need 75 million on a continuing basis, just for (the) Norman campus, Harroz said. Interestingly enough, our ask to the state legislature this year is $75 million.

As a result of underfunding from the state, Harroz said students have faced tuition increases for three consecutive years, and while the university has made efforts to mitigate the financial burden of tuition increases, it is not sustainable. Harroz said state funding and additional funding from donors is necessary to maintain excellence.

Weve gotta have the states participation, and we have to have our donors kicking in funding. This is critical, Harroz said. We cannot waste dollars. Theyve got to be efficient.

Harroz said when the original plan was developed, OU hadnt distinguished itself as an academic health system, but now it serves as the only academic healthcare system in the state. According to Harroz, the Health Sciences Center educates 80% of Oklahomas healthcare workforce, serving the state while also educating and researching.

Harroz said the difference between a community and academic healthcare system is that an academic system can continue its research, clinical trials and education and integrate its developments in its patient care.

Were the ones you go to when theyre out of answers, because we dont stop searching for answers, Harroz said.

After seeing the significant impact Stephenson Cancer Center has made in cancer research and treatment, Harroz said the university committed $185 million to bringing the center to Tulsa.

The Stephenson Cancer Center is Oklahomas only National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Center, providing expert treatment, performing clinical trials and incorporating scientific breakthroughs in treatments.

During this refresh of the strategic plan, we have already committed $185 million investment to build Stephenson (Cancer Center) in Tulsa, Harroz said. Its going to save thousands of lives.

Harroz said by expanding the universitys healthcare system, he hopes to decrease the number of cancer deaths by 10% and decrease deaths from complications related to diabetes by 30% in Oklahoma. He said the Health Sciences Center will focus primarily on research, treatments and trials related to cancer, diabetes and neurosciences.

We have three areas that are critical to us in the health space. Its cancer, its diabetes and its neurosciences, Harroz said. Those will be our focal points for the next five to ten years, and were focused on it with incredible precision."

Harroz said the strategic plan isnt only focused on academic excellence, but the goal is to invest in each student in every area, ensuring each student has every resource necessary to their success at OU. He said the goal of the Lead On plan is more than just preparing students for a job after college, but also shaping each individual to thrive in a rapidly changing society.

The key to all of this is that our primary job is to make sure our students are not just minted for a job, theyre minted for a career that will change, and to give them those skills that will allow them to flourish in a rapidly changing society, Harroz said.

This story was edited by Ismael Lele, Ana Barboza and Anusha Fathepure.
The Starbucks at Mount Williams Drive and 24th Avenue Northwest elected to unionize Thursday in a 15-2 store vote, becoming the second Starbucks in Norman and sixth in the state to unionize.

The 24th Ave Mt Williams Dr & 24th Ave NW partners join a growing nationwide movement of more than 11,000 baristas working together to win workplace protections on core issues like living wages, respect, racial and gender equity, and fair scheduling and staffing, read a press release from Starbucks Workers United.

Hayley Hawk has worked at the 24th Avenue Starbucks location for roughly six years and voted in favor of unionization. According to Hawk, the store has violated Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards multiple times.

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Our air conditioning stops working, we have mold in our store, pieces of a wall fall off or just not closing (the store) during really drastic disastrous events, Hawk said.

In one instance when the air conditioning broke, Hawk said the store reached 90 degrees Fahrenheit and an employee almost fainted. Despite this, employees were required to continue working.

We were still expected to stay open, and no customers even wanted to sit inside because it was just so hot, Hawk said. The food was melting  it was miserable.

Hawk said employees faced some pushback from the company after expressing desire to unionize. According to Hawk, Starbucks corporate management sent the store flyers containing anti-union messaging, specifically that employees will not know what their benefits are if unionized.

It just kept on, Hawk said. We kept on getting flyers, after flyers, after flyers, but ultimately I don't think it was effective at all considering our vote was 15-2.

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Hawk said the store did not close during tornado warnings and the March wildfire outbreaks. Though many employees were concerned about the fires, the store only closed after receiving a phone call from the Norman Fire Department instructing workers to evacuate, Hawk said.

It took a call from the fire department to be like, You gotta get out now, in order for us to actually close, Hawk said.

Hawk voted to unionize to protect employee rights and deter harmful situations for employees from occurring. Joining a union also gives employees legal representation, which Hawk said could help protect from mismanagement.

A big reason I personally wanted to unionize is because I wanted to have legal representation for the partners at our store, Hawk said. With non-union stores, I feel like it's a lot easier to have management stomp all over partners.

The stores unionization is part of a nationwide movement that began in 2021. Over 570 stores across the country have elected to unionize since then.

The press release highlights a winning streak of organizing since February 2024, when Starbucks and the union agreed to negotiate a framework that would guide bargaining and potentially settle legal disputes.

Employees at over 170 stores have since voted to join the union, the press release reads.

Each union store is just another straw on the camel's back, and the more stores that unionize, the bigger the chances that Starbucks will buckle, and the bigger the chances we have more of a voice, Hawk said.

This story was edited by Anusha Fathepure and Ismael Lele. Natalie Armour and Mary Ann Livingood copy edited this story.
Virtual PCs have important uses, such as providing a dedicated environment for testing new applications or enabling the parallel operation of multiple operating systems.

But the virtualization environment can only demonstrate its strengths in such scenarios if the virtual machine has sufficient hardware resources.

The power required essentially depends on two factors: the purpose of the virtual PC and the hypervisor, or virtualization software, used. This is because the three virtualization environments: Microsoft Hyper-V, VMWare Workstation and Oracle VirtualBox differ in terms of their basic requirements.

You will therefore find examples of VMs and the optimum configuration for your guest computer in the article.

Which is better: Dual boot vs. Virtualization: Which is best for running multiple operating systems?

The hardware requirements for virtualization programs

On the websites of VMWare, Oracle, and Microsoft you will find the hardware requirements for the smooth running of the virtualization programs.

In its online documentation, VirtualBox provides a rough rule of thumb for the main memory: According to this, you should populate your RAM so that the requirements for both the guest system and the host PC are met.

In the case of Windows 11, this means at least 2GB of main memory for a 64-bit version, but 4GB is better. If you also want to install the operating system in the virtual environment, you will need an additional 4GB. The optimum amount of memory is therefore at least 8GB.

For a powerful virtual PC, you need a CPU with four to six cores. Together with a graphics card with at least 4GB of memory, even more demanding virtualization is possible. IDG

In the instructions, you will also find a principle that generally applies to all performance parameters: The more the better.

If you follow the VM makers recommendations on hardware, you have met the basic requirements for operating the environment software and thus covered one side of the equation for smooth virtualization.

Then there is the specific application, whereby there might be further requirements for the host hardware depending on the scenario.

Crash course: How do virtual PCs actually work?

Scenario 1: Standard PC for surfing or online banking

We use Windows 11 as the host and guest system for the virtual PC. Microsoft recommends the following for the installation of a Windows 11 computer: a processor with at least 1GHz clock speed, 2GB RAM for the 64-bit version, and around 32GB hard drive space.

With a PC equipped in this way, you can surf the internet virtually without any problems. However, if you notice slight limitations with more complex websites or when playing videos, you should also use a separate virtual graphics card to which you allocate sufficient memory.

To virtualize such a computer, you therefore need at least 4GB of RAM and 40GB of free space on the hard drive per operating system  at least 80GB in total. You will notice a significant increase in performance if you make more memory available to the virtual PC.

If you initially select a Windows 11 computer as the host for VMWare Workstation, the setup wizard suggests the following parameters as the minimum configuration: 2GB of main memory, two processor cores and 60GB of storage space.

If you create a virtual machine for Windows 11 and 64 bit with VMWare Workstation, the wizard suggests a disk size of 64GB. With the option Split virtual disk into multiple files, only the space that is currently required is physically occupied. IDG

However, the latter is allocated dynamically. This means that the space is only fully utilized when the virtual machine really needs it.

Depending on your computers graphics card, a 3D accelerator is also available for your virtual machine. However, this function should not be absolutely necessary for normal internet surfing and your banking transactions.

Instead, the following minimum configuration is sufficient: Your guest computer should have an Intel Pentium i3 or i5 processor or the comparable AMD model. A main memory of 4GB is sufficient, but with 8GB you will be much more comfortable. No more than 20GB is required for the pure virtualized Windows operating system.

Scenario 2: Workstation PC for practical use

The minimum configuration for a virtual Windows 11 computer described in scenario 1 is of course not sufficient for every virtualization project.

You will need a significantly more powerful virtual PC if you not only want to run Office with high performance, but also want to use the image editing software Gimp or a 3D rendering program such as Blender at the same time, for example.

Microsoft defines the following requirements for using Office under Windows in the VM: a processor with a clock speed of at least 1.6GHz, 4GB of RAM, and 4GB of free storage space.

There are no hardware requirements for Gimp that are needed to run the software. In general, the program can be run on a PC on which the current Microsoft Office version also runs smoothly.

In the Workstation Player you can see how much RAM is theoretically available to you (blue arrowhead). In our example with 64GB RAM, up to 55.9GB can be allocated to the virtual Windows 11 system. IDG

The Blender rendering software has the most demanding hardware requirements: on the website you will find three categories for the current version 4.3: minimum, recommended, and optimum configuration.

For the minimum configuration, you need a dual-core processor with a clock speed of 2GHz, 4GB RAM, and a graphics card with 1GB RAM that supports OpenGL 3.3. Blender recommends a processor with four cores, 16GB RAM, and a graphics card with 4GB.

The application with the greatest hardware requirements therefore determines the configuration of your guest computer. Blender uses the recommended configuration as a basis. As you also need to run the guest system with Windows 11, it is best to use a current Intel i5 or a comparable AMD model as the processor.

For the RAM, 16GB should be sufficient for the guest system, with 32GB for the host you are always on the safe side. The same applies to the graphics card: a model with at least 4GB of memory is sufficient for the simultaneous operation of Windows 11, the virtualization environment, and the rendering software.

The virtualization environments  in this case Virtualbox  allow you to allocate memory individually for each virtual machine. IDG

There is one more point you should bear in mind: Match the requirements of your software to be virtualized with the performance of the virtual environment. VirtualBox, for example, does not support OpenGL 3.3, while Blender cannot do without the graphics library. With VMWare Workstation, you should always install VMWare Tools in order to use a 3D engine.

Scenario 3: Two virtual machines in parallel operation

Running two virtual PCs in parallel on a guest computer makes sense, for example, if one of the virtual PCs is to function as a Linux server while the other is to run an outdated Windows system that no longer receives updates, such as Windows 7.

For such a scenario, you first need the right virtualization software before deciding on the optimum hardware configuration. This is because only VirtualBox and Hyper-V allow multiple computers to run in parallel. This is not possible with Workstation.

With three parallel computers  one host PC and two guest PCs  the processor and the number of cores also become more important. You should calculate with at least one core per computer. Processors such as a 14th-generation Intel i5 have eight performance and 16 efficiency cores. For even more parallelism, the i7 and i9 CPUs offer a larger number of cores.

For the other components such as RAM, graphics card, and storage, it is best to apply the principles from the previous examples again. We recommend at least 16GB of main memory for three parallel computers, but 32GB is better.

A graphics card with at least 4GB of memory and a powerful processor is available at a street price of around $200 such as the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti. IDG

In the case of the graphics card, consider which applications should run in parallel on the operating systems. As most cards already come with 8GB, you should not save money here. Inexpensive graphics cards are already available at prices between $200 and $250.

Experience in dealing with virtual environments

Some applications are difficult or even impossible to virtualize. This applies in particular to games or graphics-heavy programs. They usually require DirectX11 or DirectX12, which, with the exception of Hyper-V, is not possible in virtual environments.

On the other hand, Hyper-V is very possessive. If you have installed the virtualization environment under Windows 11, the competitors Oracle VirtualBox and VMWare Workstation can only be operated with a handicap, depending on the version. For example, you have to do without nested VT-x.

A processor with at least six cores is recommended for the parallel operation of two virtual machines. IDG

In this case, you have two options: Either you uninstall Hyper-V in Windows via Control Panel > Programs and Features > Enable or disable Windows features. Alternatively, you can open a command line as an administrator and enter the following command:

bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype off

After the following restart, VirtualBox and Vmware Workstation will work as desired.

Another challenge that you will encounter when using the VMWare Workstation is the 3D support of the graphics card within the virtualization environment. This is not available as standard, but can be added via the free VMWare Tools.

The tools must be installed separately for each virtual machine via Player > Manage > Install Virtual Tools and are then available with additional functions within the virtual environment as an additional drive  usually drive D.

Call this up and start the installation. Additional 3D graphics settings are then available under Display in the virtual machine settings.

Compensate for bottlenecks with additional hardware on the host PC

If you want to upgrade the existing PC for virtualization, start with the RAM, storage drive, or graphics card. RAM can often be upgraded on a desktop PC or laptop by expanding or replacing it.

In the case of the storage drive, 20- to 30GB of free space is usually sufficient to gain initial experience. If you do not have any free capacity on the internal memory, use a faster USB 3.x drive or a correspondingly large USB 3.0 memory stick for initial tests.

Alternatively, you can use the portable (and older) version of VirtualBox for initial testing. VirtualBox Portable is actually intended for virtualization on the move. You will need a memory stick with a capacity of at least 64GB. The stick then contains the VirtualBox software itself and your virtual machine.

Conclusion: Try out VMs first, then upgrade your PC in a targeted manner

Most scenarios can be modelled in a virtual environment with a greater or lesser use of hardware. The requirements depend very much on the applications that are to be run in the virtual environments.

In most cases, a virtual PC can be realized on a normal work PC without much additional effort. For all other scenarios, you may need to make selective upgrades or replace individual components.

Our advice: Simply try out the environment and optimize the components one by one if necessary. With a new computer, it is best to plan the individual components for a virtual environment a little more generously so that you do not have to replace individual components such as the graphics card after a short time.
Update on April 25, 2025: As of yesterday, Microsoft has confirmed the issue and implemented a fix, but that fix wont actually roll out until early May (Beta Channel), mid May (Current Channel Preview), or late May (Current Channel). If you absolutely cant wait that long for the update, you can revert to version 2405 of classic Outlook, but youll be giving up several important security fixes.

Original story from April 16, 2025: If youre still using Microsofts classic Outlook app for your emailing needs, you may have noticed that your computer hardware behaves a bit strangely when using the appmost notably when typing.

Earlier this week, Microsoft issued a warning and confirmed that the classic Outlook app can cause your computers CPU usage to skyrocket. Processor usage can spike by 30 to 50 percent when writing an email, and also increase your computers power consumption. Its implied that this is a bug, but the root cause isnt yet known.

The company says there isnt yet a direct solution to the problem, but notes that the issue only affects versions of classic Outlook on the Current Channel, Monthly Enterprise Channel, and Insider channels, after updating to Version 2406 Build 17726.20126 or later.

If this issue is causing you significant trouble, you can work around it by switching your classic Outlook app to the Semi Annual Channel. Instructions on how to do that can be found in Microsofts warning, either using the Office Deployment Tool or a Windows registry change. You can also read ongoing discussion of the issue in this Microsoft forum thread.
By Chad Umble, LNP, Lancaster, Pa. (TNS)

Taylor Chip expects to begin selling ice cream at its Lancaster County stores this summer, but the cookie makers line of frozen desserts wont be coming from a creamery in West Hempfield Township.

Citing rising development costs, Taylor Chip recently pulled the plug on its plans to build a 20,000-square foot creamery on a vacant parcel on Columbia Avenue.

As it looks for a different place to make ice cream, Taylor Chip is having its cookie-inspired flavors made by another Pennsylvania ice cream maker and sold at stores in York and Philadelphia.

Taylor Chips store in Manheim Township and the one at its production facility in Intercourse will begin selling ice cream this summer, said Doug Taylor, who owns Taylor Chip with his wife, Sara. He declined to name the creamery making the ice cream.

This is what were doing right now, but we hope to fulfill our dream of having our own facility to do it, Doug Taylor said. Were looking at other options, very aggressively.

In June 2021, Taylor Chip spent $165,000 on an undeveloped 3.3-acre tract just east of Columbia Borough. Back then, Doug Taylor said construction quotes for the planned creamery were around $3 million for what was expected to be a $12 million project. As they worked to get municipal and state approvals for the project, though, those construction quotes more than doubled.

To spend $6.2 million on a building when you can go lease a space or renovate an existing space, it just didnt make sense anymore to do it, and the bank also agreed, Doug Taylor said.

As construction costs rose, the Taylors were also spending money drawing up plans for the building while covering costs to get township approvals for the project. They also sought some easements and permits from the state Department of Transportation.

Its just the project there got so expensive that it was just not feasible. We had already dumped over $500,000 of our own cash into land development and ground purchase, Doug Taylor said.

The Taylors decided last summer that new construction in West Hempfield Township would just be too expensive. They listed the property for sale in January and are focused on finding a property to lease or buy.

The property just east of the Columbia Borough line has an asking price of $795,000. The listing from North American Commercial Realty mentions that it includes some engineering and sketch plans as well as preliminary approvals for a 20,000-square-foot warehouse or plant.

Doug Taylor said proceeds from a land sale would be used for the next iteration of the creamery. State and federal grants totaling $870,000 that Taylor Chip was awarded for the creamery project may also be available.

Theres some urgency to find a creamery location since Taylor said the grants could expire.
A few days before one of the biggest candy-related holidays of the year, The Hershey Company on Wednesday unveiled a new state-of-the-art processing facility.

Hershey CEO Michele Buck was joined by several officials, including Gov. Josh Shapiro and U.S. Rep. Scott Perry at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Reese Chocolate Processing plant.

Built on 55 acres at a former Friendlys restaurant at 1000 Reese Ave. in Derry Township, the facility supports the production of Reeses, Kit Kat and Hersheys products.

Buck noted its the companys first new manufacturing facility constructed in Derry Township in more than 30 years. The 250,000-square-foot plant is also the companys most automated to date.

Its Hersheys first fully digitally integrated manufacturing facility with high levels of automation, exemplifying the next step in our digital manufacturing road map, Buck said.

Gov. Josh Shapiro speaks April 16 at The Hershey Company's new Reese Chocolate Processing facility in Derry Township. Sue Gleiter

Shapiro praised Hershey for selecting Derry Township as the location for the plant, saying they could have built it anywhere.

Its a point of pride for us and were grateful you have doubled downed on your commitment to Pennsylvania, he said.

Shapiro highlighted the efficiency of the states permitting process, noting his administration worked with Hershey on permits for the project.

We were able to approve these permits in record time, he said. They got these permits faster than ever and its an example of how weve trimmed all the wait times for all our permits across Pennsylvania.

Specifically, Shapiro said his administration has reduced the Department of Environmental Protection permit backlog by 88% and cut business license wait times from eight weeks to two days.

The plant is part of Hersheys $1 billion initiative to strengthen its supply chain. The multi-year investment includes the new plant, 13 new production lines and upgrades to 11 existing lines.

Buck said about 100 people are employed at the plant with plans for additional workforce growth as operations expand.

Jason Reiman, Hersheys Senior Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer, said the companys investment in automation will provide people with skills that will be needed in the future of manufacturing.

The facility also supports Hersheys growth by expanding its production capacity and allowing for the introduction of new products, he said.

Reeses Peanut Butter Cups will continue to be made at the nearby H.B. Reese Candy Co. Reeses is an economic engine for Hersheys, and drives much of its growth.

Reeses is one of the largest snacking brands and our goal is to continue growing that in a lot of different forms, Reiman added.

The plant expands Hersheys campus and is adjacent to its Hershey West plant and near the companys technical center.

Wednesdays ceremony also included Sen. Patty Kim, Rep. Tom Mehaffie, Dauphin County Commissioner Mike Pries and Derry Township Supervisor Natalie Nutt.

The ribbon cutting comes just one week after filming was announced to begin next month for Hershey, a story about Milton S. and Catherine Hershey.
The defense team for the man charged with firebombing the Governors Residence made its first public statement since his arrest Sunday.

Lawyers from the Dauphin County public defenders office say they intend to push 38-year-old Cody Balmers mental health to the forefront of the case. Hes accused of starting multiple fires inside the governors mansion early Sunday while Pa. Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family slept inside.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg will hold a vigil in the city Wednesday evening following the arson attack at the Governors Residence, according to a Facebook post.

We are appreciative of the communitys support and resilience following Sundays despicable arson and attack on the PA Governors Residence, Governor Josh Shapiro, and his family, the post said.

All community members are invited to gather at the Beth El Temple, located at 2637 N. Front Street in Harrisburg, at 7 p.m.

Those who participate will walk from the synagogue to the Governors Residence, where the vigil will take place.

After the vigil, a debrief and refreshments will be held at Temple Ohev Sholom, located at 2345 N. Front St.

Cody A. Balmer, 38, of Penbrook, was arrested after he put gasoline from his lawnmower into two beer bottles that he then threw into the Governors Residence around 2 a.m. Sunday, setting the mansion ablaze, police said in charging documents.

A search warrant obtained by PennLive showed Balmer targeted Shapiro because of his perceived stance on Palestine.

No matter the motivation behind this crime, an attack on a Jewish public figure on the first night of Passover is felt as an attack on the Jewish community as a whole, the federation said in its post. As we witness rising antisemitism across the country, we recognize a need for healing, compassion, understanding, and support for the Governors family and our community at this time.
A Dauphin County judge signed off on a search warrant to get a DNA sample from the suspected arsonist of the Governors Residence, according to the warrant obtained by PennLive Wednesday.

Magisterial District Judge Dale Klein signed the warrant for 38-year-old Cody Balmers DNA minutes before he shuffled into her court office Monday afternoon for arraignment.
Actor/comedian Tommy Davidson attends the screening for "Tribeca TV : In Living Color - 25th Anniversary reunion from the finale" during the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival at Spring Studios on Saturday April 27, 2019, in New York. (Photo by Brent N. Clarke/Invision/AP) Brent N. Clarke/Invision/AP

If we cant have our beloved classic Martin, why not the next best thing?

The Varnell Hill Show, a spinoff of Martin Lawrences popular 90s sitcom has received an eight-episode, straight-to-series order.
Victoria Goodwin has pleaded guilty to one of the two murder-for-hire charges put against her. In this photo is Victoria Goodwin (L) and Aaron Goodwin from "Ghost Adventures" attend the premiere of "Mad Apple by Cirque du Soleil" at The Park on May 26, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) Getty Images

The wife of reality TV star Aaron Goodwin has pleaded guilty to trying to kill her husband.

According to People, Victoria Goodwin struck a plea deal with authorities, telling a judge in Clark County, Nevada, that she intends to plead guilty to one of two charges.
A graphic shows the measles virus. Erie County officially declared it has a measles outbreak earlier this week. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

A western Pennsylvania county has officially declared it has a measles outbreak.

The Erie County Health Department (ECDH) said in a press release that two additional cases of measles were recently confirmed in Erie County residents.

Both cases were the result of direct exposure to a person who reported positive for the disease on March 30.

Since the three cases are linked, they are defined as an outbreak by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the department said.

However, thanks to quarantine measures, the department added that it does not believe there is a high risk of community spread because of these cases.

The department added that anyone who was at the UPMC Hamot-Emergency Department, 201 State St, Erie, between 5:30 and 9 p.m. on April 5 should monitor themselves for any symptoms of measles until April 26.

Anyone who was there at that time and is unvaccinated or doesnt know their vaccination status should call the ECDH at 814-451-6707.

UPMC said in a statement Tuesday that an unvaccinated child had been diagnosed with measles at the UPMC Hamot earlier this month.

This brings the total number of cases in Erie County up to five. Two previous cases diagnosed in March were the result of international travel.

Measles symptoms usually start with a high fever and cough, which is then followed by red watery eyes, runny nose and a rash that starts at the hairline and spreads over the face and body.

The ECHD said it is working to provide a mobile Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine clinic.

The CDC reports that as of April 10 there have been 712 cases of measles across 25 states.

Pennsylvania has not seen any deaths, but nine measles cases were reported last week in five counties  Bucks, Erie, Lancaster, Montgomery, and Philadelphia.
 Brandie Gotch, 30, of Peoria, Arizona, told police that her children were being bullied by other kids, and she had reported it to the school and law enforcement, but nothing happened.

So she took matters into her own hands, CBS5-TV reported.

With her four children in her Silverado, Gotch drove to a local park, where she allegedly approached a group of kids and started yelling at them.

Police said Gotch grabbed a 14-year-old boy by the hair and yanked his head back and forth as she yelled at him, then grabbed a stick from her truck and chased him, yelling, "I am going to kill you and run you over!"

She then jumped back into her truck and drove it toward the group of kids, running over a girl's ankle in the process, although she told police she didn't think she hit the girl.

"I hope I didn't," she said.

Her own children told police they were bouncing all over the truck during her jaunt through the park.

Gotch was charged with six counts of endangerment, four counts of aggravated assault, two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count of attempted first-degree murder. [CBS5, 2/29/2024]
A physical book in this digital world can be as soothing to the soul as chicken soup. (Getty Images) Getty Images/Westend61

In this digital world of constant beeps, a nice, old-fashioned paperback book can serve as a reprieve.

Perhaps this is a sentiment many consumers feel, as a once-ailing book chain is confident enough to start opening more stores.

USA Today reports how none other than Barnes & Noble  once the place to go to read while drinking Starbucks  will open 60 new stores nationwide this year.

Roughly a dozen have already opened, actually, including one in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. The last time a Barnes & Noble was up and running in that area was 2007.

As we open new bookstores across the country it is especially gratifying to come back to communities we once served, said Barnes & Noble CEO, James Daunt, via a press release concerning the location. Even more so, where we not only return to Bryn Mawr, but to the exact address we once proudly occupied.

Indeed, Barnes & Noble  after struggling for years under a digital landscape, according to a 2018 New York Times article  is having a bit of a comeback. Business Insider described in February that it made a stunning turnaround thanks to TikTok and a return to reading spurred by the pandemic.

[Barnes & Noble] is experiencing strong sales in its existing stores and has been opening many new stores after more than 15 years of declining store numbers, the company informed Fast Company.

In 2024, Barnes & Noble opened more new bookstores in a single year than it had in the whole decade from 2009 to 2019.  [The company] is enjoying a period of tremendous growth as the strategy to hand control of each bookstore to its local booksellers has proven so successful.

Where else Barnes & Noble plans on opening new stores  including new potential Pennsylvania locations  remains unconfirmed as of the publishing of this report.
Peeps marshmallow treats move through the manufacturing process at the Just Born factory in Bethlehem, Pa., Thursday, April 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) AP

By TASSANEE VEJPONGSA and JOHN SEEWER, The Associated Press

BETHLEHEM, Pa. (AP)  Love them or hate them, those marshmallow Peeps that come in blindingly bright colors and an array of flavors are inescapable around the Easter holiday.

Millions are made daily in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, by Just Born Quality Confections, a family-owned candy manufacturer that also churns out Hot Tamales, Mike and Ike fruit chews and Goldenbergs Peanut Chews.

Peeps is Just Borns most recognizable brand and one of a handful of candies that evoke strong reactions  good and bad. Some say an Easter basket isnt complete without Peeps, while others deride them as being indestructible. Some use them in recipes or even artwork.

Even if youre not usually one to gravitate to eating the Peeps, theres always so many other fun ways to include them in your celebrations, said Caitlin Servian, brand manager for Peeps.

Workers monitor Peeps marshmallow treats as they move through the manufacturing process at the Just Born factory in Bethlehem, Pa., Thursday, April 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) AP

How many Peeps are made each year?

On average, about 5.5 million are made each day.

That adds up to 2 billion a year  or roughly 6 Peeps for every man, woman and child across the U.S.

How many different varieties and colors are there?

First hatched in yellow, the sugary chicks and bunnies come in nine colors for this Easter season, including pink, blue and lavender. And there are even more flavors  14 for Easter  from cookies and cream, to fruit punch and sour watermelon. The varieties and colors vary throughout the year with different holiday seasons.

Peeps marshmallow treats move through the manufacturing process at the Just Born factory in Bethlehem, Pa., Thursday, April 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) AP

How long does it take to make a Peep?

Before the early 1950s, making the candies by hand took 27 hours.

Bob Born, who became known as the Father of Peeps, came up with a way to speed up the process. He and a company engineer designed a machine to make them in less than six minutes. The same process is used today.

How are they made?

The main ingredients  sugar, corn syrup and gelatin  are cooked and combined to create marshmallows, which are then shaped and sent through a sugar shower.

A whopping 400 pounds (181 kilograms) of sugar is used per batch for Peeps colored sugars.

Freshly made Peeps  each chick weighs one-third of an ounce  then move along a conveyor so that they can cool before being packaged.
Some great journalists are investigating their governments, Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward being well-known examples, and they have had to spend a lot of time, use covert contacts, ask unpopular questions, and risk their lives to get the information to write their articles.

Now there is a new, improved approach where the government asks you to join their top-secret defense discussion group, as happened for Jeffrey Goldberg, the Editor in Chief of The Atlantic. Fortunately, like most journalists, he has integrity and didnt publish the details or ring the Yemen government for comment.

This is an obvious stuff-up, as confirmed by spokesman Brian Hughes. President Donald Trump said, I dont know anything about it, although that might not be limited to just this specific breach.
By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER and MICHAEL KUNZELMAN, The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP)  A federal judge on Wednesday said he has found probable cause to hold the Trump administration in criminal contempt of court for violating his orders to turn around planes carrying deportees to El Salvador.

U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg warned he could refer the matter for prosecution if the administration does not purge its contempt.

Boasberg said the administration could do so by returning to U.S. custody those who were sent to the El Salvador prison in violation of his order so that they might avail themselves of their right to challenge their removability.

If the Justice Department declines to prosecute the matter, Boasberg said he will appoint another attorney to prosecute the contempt.

The Constitution does not tolerate willful disobedience of judicial orders  especially by officials of a coordinate branch who have sworn an oath to uphold it, Boasberg wrote.

It marks an escalation in a battle between the judicial and executive branches of government over a presidents powers to carry out key White House priorities. The Republican president has called for Boasbergs impeachment while the Justice Department has accused the judge of overstepping his authority.

FILE - U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, chief judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. (Carolyn Van Houten/The Washington Post via AP, file) Carolyn Van Houten/The Washington Post via AP

Boasberg, who was nominated to the federal bench by Democratic President Barack Obama, ordered the administration last month not to deport anyone in its custody under the Alien Enemies Act. Trump invoked the 1798 wartime law over what he claimed was an invasion by the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.

When Boasberg was told there were already planes in the air headed to El Salvador, which has agreed to house deported migrants in a notorious prison, the judge said the aircraft needed to be returned to the United States. But hours later, El Salvadors president, Nayib Bukele, announced that the deportees had arrived in his country. In a social media post, he said, Oopsie...too late above an article referencing Boasbergs order.

The Trump administration has argued it did not violate any orders, noted the judge did not include the turnaround directive in his written order and said the planes had already left the U.S. by the time that order came down.
Story by Amanda Fries for Spotlight PA

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The Pittsburgh Steelers hosted Toledo defensive tackle Darius Alexander for a pre-draft visit on Wednesday, wrapping up their 30 pre-draft visits. Alexander, a standout at the Senior Bowl, has slowly seen his stock rise, and is projected to be a top-50 pick.

Alexander is the eighth defensive tackle to visit the Steelers this draft cycle, showcasing a clear emphasis on that position this year.

Alexander was a star at Toledo and capped off his career with a pick-six against Pitt in his final game. That is emblematic of the player he is, as Alexander paired that with 11 pass defensed, a trait the Steelers covet.

His explosiveness as a pass rusher stands out, and it could be the right range for the Steelers to grab a defensive tackle if they trade back in the first round.

The team only hosted one other first-round defensive tackle in Oregons Derrick Harmon. As for the rest of the options, many of them are mid-round options that do a lot of things well, but are not fully fleshed out players like Harmon and Alexander.
WATCH: Veronica Brill & Roger Bailey Debate Serious 'God Mode' Stones Live Allegations

Chad Holloway PR & Media Manager Copy link

While its been more than five years since serious cheating allegations on Stones Live rocked the poker world, the saga is back in the spotlight as whistleblower Veronica Brill has released a new video series detailing her experiences and assertions.

God Mode is focused primarily on Mike Postle and Brills allegations that he cheated, but throughout other individuals are introduced including Roger Bailey, the man responsible for brining live-streamed poker to Stones Gambling Hall.

Brill detailed her history with Bailey in the first episode while making non-cheating allegations against his character. The two hadnt communicated in over five years, but both recently agreed to a joint video interview with PokerNews. Below are some highlights and excerpts from the interview, but you can watch the entire interview in full in the video below.

*Bailey first agreed to an interview and asked if Brill could also be invited. She subsequently accepted the invitation.

What is God Mode?

God Mode is based on an unpublished book that Brill wrote after the COVID pandemic detailing her experiences surrounding the Postle cheating allegations.

I was working with a small production company to try to put together a little miniseries on my version of the story, but that ended up falling through. So, I was like, you know what, I'll just release it on my YouTube channel.

The series, which is slated to be approximately 10 episodes and has already released seven episodes at the time of publication, focuses on the people, places, and things involving Stones Live and the explosive cheating allegations that followed. One of those mentioned in the first episode was Bailey, who originally brought Brill into the commentary booth.

I was encouraged by many people to just tell the honest truth in my experience and everything that I went through, Brill explained, and Roger and I were friends when it all started.

Check out the first episode of God Mode below (the Bailey part starts at the 08:20 mark):

Who is Roger Bailey? What Allegations?

While the name Roger Bailey may not resonate with the poker masses, he has been around the poker industry for a long time and is a well-known figure on the West Coast.

In 2014, he was responsible for launching Two Pair Live, which would eventually become Stones Live, and his relationship with Stone's Gambling Hall lasted for approximately six months.

How much would it cost? Everybody has a price.

When Stones and I agreed to separate, I didn't know any of these accusations that Veronica made; they came to light afterwards, to see what's happening now, it's interesting, Bailey said in the interview.

The accusations Brill made in Episode 1 included Bailey being a bit of degenerate gambler and sometimes a drunk. Furthermore, Brill alleged that Bailey went on a power trip, fraternized with waitress and other females, and one time came in the booth and asked her, How much would it cost? Everybody has a price.

Veronica Brill

Which, you know, in the grand scheme of things, of all the interactions I've had with men, weren't that bad, said Brill. I don't think Roger's actions align with the way he sees himself, but he was power-tripping on me. He did say those things to me in the booth. Everything I've said was true.

She also clarified: Roger didn't sexually harass me, touch me, anything. He was drunk. He drunkenly mumbled how much everybody has a price. I pushed him out of the way. I walked out of the booth. That was it. I didn't push him out of the room. He didn't grab me in any way. The way he tries to portray himself does not match his actions, and that's fine.

Justin Kuraitis Calls Out Players Who Sued Over Postle Allegations

Bailey Denies Allegations

While Brill was critical of Bailey, she also gave credit where credit was due.

He was the reason why Stone's Live Poker was there, she said. I think if he had stayed, there wouldn't have been cheating, although I'm not quite sure.

Bailey vehemently denied Brills accusations and cited a lack of comment from Brills co-commentator Jake Rosenstiel, who was supposedly in the booth when the allegations occurred, as well as from Stones management.

The third point is if you really believe that happened, there would have been video proof  because we are in a casino  of you pushing me out of a booth, Bailey said of Brills statement in God Mode that she pushed him out of the booth after inappropriate behavior.

Roger Bailey

Brill responded, I pushed you out of the way. I didn't push you out of the booth. And you know what, Roger, in your defense, you were drunk, so I'm not surprised that you don't remember doing it.

Later on in the interview, Bailey said, There's no proof of this. Veronica has a history of this, and that's a terrible thing  The idea of God Mode is based on a lot of your opinions and fabrication.

What About Postle & Kuraitis?

Brill and Baileys affiliation predated Mike Postle appearing on stream and was well before the allegations of cheating were made. Even so, Bailey is familiar with Postle and his situation, which Brill brought up in the interview.

It's not like I have Mike's back; I'm friendly with Mike, Bailey admitted. What I do know is just the facts, that they did everything they could possibly do to find the cheating.

At one point, Brill said, Mike [Postle] and Justin [Kuraitis] ruined Stone's Live because it was a really cool live stream.

To which Bailey quickly retorted: If you were to ask me, Veronica ruined Stones Live. The reason I think you ruined Stone's Live is because of the lies and of the bad heart and of the attention that you desire and the willingness to do whatever it takes to get that attention. That's why you ruined Stone's Live and you did it without any care or concern.

Mike Postle & Justin Kuraitis

Bailey specifically cited Justin Kuraitis, whom he felt Brill used to replace him.

Whether [Postle] cheated or he did not cheat, you got rid of Justin Kuraitis, and let me tell you what you've done to this poor man. you destroyed his life and you don't care because you don't care whose life you destroy  Justin Kuraitis is not the man that this woman is painting  the man gave everything he possibly could to his job, to be better at his job.

Brill responded: I really did not think I was gonna be on here with this Mike Postle sympathizer and blaming me for ruining the live stream, literally. Justin and Mike Postle cheated. Roger, you can't even admit to the cheating.

Whats Next?

Veronica Brill & Roger Bailey as seen in God Mode.

Both Bailey and Brill were given the opportunity for last comments, with the former going first.

Bailey: The accusations that Veronica made, it's defamation really, she's libeled me a certain way, but if Jake [Rosenstiel] is such your friend because you said it, I would highly encourage Jake to reach out to me. I'd also encourage Jake to take any video platform that he likes and say his viewpoint, That's it.

Brill: Everything I said in God Mode was based on my true experience. If I didn't experience it, I'd say it was hearsay. If I am I speculating on something, I say I'm speculating, but what I said was true. I'm not taking it back. I will not be saying anything on social media about you, Roger. I won't be bringing up your name anymore. After this is done, I'm closing the book on it  I am going to leave it alone after this.

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After a two day break, the 1,150 Main Event sponsored by PokerStars and Paddy Power resumes play with Day 1b commencing today at 12 p.m. local time. From Day 1a , 114 of the 463 entrants have a stack ready to go for Day 2, but with a guaranteed prize pool of 2,500,000, many more players will be taking to the felt in the hopes of becoming a 2025 Irish Open champion over the coming days.

Of the 114 remaining, Martin Ilavsky came out best, bagging a stack of 529,000 for his efforts today. The Slovakian national was consistently towards the top of the counts throughout Day 1/A and will be looking for a first cash in Dublin to add to his total tournament earnings of $448,913.

Ukrainian Andrii Nikitin bagged 526,000, good for second place Nikitin rocketed up the counts after winning a four-way all in, busting three players in the process, with ace-queen in a monster pot towards the latter stages of play in Day 1/A.

Rounding out the podium places is Philip Carroll, who is a PokerStars Qualifier. He has a stack of 523,500 to work with on Day 2. Carroll's cashes have come exclusively in Ireland and he will be looking to take down the biggest prize of all on home soil.

Day 1a Top 10 Chip Counts

Rank Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Martin Ilavsky Slovakia 529,000 176 2 Andrii Nikitin Ukraine 526,000 175 3 Philip Carroll Ireland 523,500 175 4 Michael Prendergast United States 520,000 173 5 James McCreanor United Kingdom 460,500 154 6 Mengshi Tian Hong Kong 441,500 147 7 Seamus Cahill Ireland 438,000 146 8 Stanislav Ivanov Bulgaria 426,500 142 9 Silviu Tanase Romania 410,000 137 10 Stanislav Anufriiev Ukraine 405,000 135

Players get 50,000 chips for their buy in and are allowed to re-enter once per flight, with registration closing after level 10 in each Day 1. Day 1's will feature 14 levels and the survivors of each flight will proceed to Day 2. Players who bag chips in any Day 1 may play a different Day 1 trying to bag a larger stack. Any player who bags chips in multiple Day 1s will play their largest stack in Day 2 and forfeit any smaller stack.

Levels will run for 45-minutes each and the blinds will start at 100/100 with no ante coming into play until Level 3 where the blinds will be 100/200 with a 200 big blind ante. 20-minute breaks are scheduled at the end of levels 3 and 6 with a one hour dinner break commencing at the end of Level 9 followed by a final 20-minute break at the end of Level 12.

Stay tuned to PokerNews for continued coverage on what could potentially be a record breaking Main Event from the halls of the Royal Dublin Society in the capital of Ireland.
Aiken, SC (29801)

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A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 71F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph..

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Charleston, SC (29403)

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Chloe Barlow is a multimedia reporter straight out of the Midlands. She trained in journalism at both the University of South Carolina and Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. She covers a wide breadth of South Carolina news, but she is especially interested in accountability and justice reporting.
A cross is by the marsh at Belin Memorial United Methodist Church in Murrells Inlet on March 23, 2025. On the cusp of Easter, some former United Methodist churches are suing over their right to leave the denomination and keep the sanctuaries they've called home for decades.
About Report for America: Report for America is a national service program that places talented emerging journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered topics and communities across the United States and its territories. By creating a new, sustainable model for journalism, Report for America provides people with the information they need to improve their communities, hold powerful institutions accountable, and restore trust in the media. Report for America is an initiative of The GroundTruth Project, an award-winning nonprofit journalism organization dedicated to rebuilding journalism from the ground up.
Seth Taylor covers Greenville and the Upstate for The Post and Courier. Born in Iowa, he worked in Wyoming at the Buffalo Bulletin before moving to the Palmetto State.
Luca Strobel is a News Clerk for the Post and Courier. He graduated from the College of Charleston. He contributes to the Post and Courier's arts and entertainment section, Charleston Scene and reports for various expansion markets.
Summerville, SC (29483)

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Mount Pleasant, SC (29464)

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Charleston, SC (29532)

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Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Low 71F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

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Rock Hill, SC (29730)

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Acquisition is ALKEME's first in Michigan, strengthening Midwest expansion strategyLADERA RANCH, CALIFORNIA / ACCESS Newswire / April 16, 2025 / ALKEME, a Top 35 Insurance Brokerage, has announced its acquisition of Crawford Insurance Group (CIG), a highly regarded personal and commercial insurance agency headquartered in Rochester Hills, Michigan. This strategic acquisition marks another milestone in ALKEME's mission to expand its footprint across the Midwest and deliver exceptional insurance solutions nationwide. ALKEME Expands Midwest Presence with Acquisition of Crawford Insurance Group Acquisition is ALKEMEs first in Michigan, strengthening Midwest expansion strategyFounded in 2001, Crawford Insurance Group has built a stellar reputation for excellence in customer service and operational performance. The agency has been recognized with the Nationwide President's Award seven times and has consistently been a top performer in Michigan for years. Licensed in 36 states, CIG has successfully served clients across a wide range of personal and commercial insurance, both individual and group benefits and Medicare."We are thrilled to welcome Crawford Insurance Group to the ALKEME family," said Curtis Barton, CEO of ALKEME Insurance. "CIG's outstanding track record of success, dedication to its customers, and leadership within the insurance industry align perfectly with our values and vision. This acquisition strengthens our presence in the Midwest and positions us to better serve our clients across the region." "We are excited to join forces with ALKEME," said Tim Crawford, President of Crawford Insurance Group. "This partnership provides us with access to enhanced resources and expertise that will allow us to continue delivering exceptional service to our clients while expanding our reach. Together, we look forward to building on our success and driving growth for years to come. I am thrilled that my son Matt will lead the growth of the agency and that the entire team will remain with the agency." The acquisition of Crawford Insurance Group underscores ALKEME's commitment to partnering with top-tier agencies that share its dedication to innovation, customer service, and industry leadership.ABOUT ALKEMEALKEME is a full-service insurance agency providing businesses and individuals with an extensive array of commercial and personal insurance, employee and executive benefits, retirement and wealth management services. Since its founding in 2020, ALKEME has completed over 45 acquisitions and serves its customers from over 40 locations in 22 states. ALKEME is ranked by Insurance Journal one of the top 35 largest agencies in the United States and by Business Insurance as the #5 fastest growing broker. Founded by owner/operators with a unique vision, ALKEME is fueled by its proven operating methodologies providing its partner agencies with the autonomy, resources and support to grow and thrive in an ever-changing insurance landscape. Visit https://alkemeins.com for more information.Contact InformationJosh Benveniste Marketingjbenveniste@ alkemeins.com SOURCE: ALKEME Insurance
Five of North Dakota's active coal plants have received federal waivers exempting them from air pollution regulations enacted last year by the Biden administration.

Last week, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that exempts some power plants from the new Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) rule that was finalized last April. On Monday, the list of plants was publicly released on the Environmental Protection Agency's webpage. The list includes over 65 power plants operated by 47 utilities across the country.

The plants, which had until mid-2027 to comply with the new rule, will now have until mid-2029. The Trump administration has said it plans to reconsider the rule in the meantime, though that can often take a while to do, so the regulation may technically apply before the reconsideration process is over. Presidential exemptions can be reissued after two years.

Included in the list of power plants receiving the presidential exemption are Antelope Valley and Leland Olds operated by Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Milton R. Young Station operated by Minnkota Power Cooperative, Rainbow Energy Center's Coal Creek Station, and Coyote Station operated by Otter Tail Power Company, though co-owned with other utilities.

North Dakota coal plants had some of the highest levels of mercury emissions in the United States throughout 2022, according to a 2024 analysis by the Environmental Defense Fund. The analysis, which was based off of EPA data, found that in 2022 all five of these North Dakota coal plants were in the top 30 for mercury emissions in the country. Coal Creek was the top coal plant emitter of mercury in the United States in 2022, while Antelope Valley had the fourth-highest mercury emissions.

Lignite coal, which is the grade of coal used at the North Dakota plants, has a chemical makeup that results in more mercury being released when it's burned.

Federal officials first began to regulate mercury from coal plants in 2012. Until the recent MATS rule was finalized, mercury levels coming from plants that burn lignite coal had a more relaxed standard, but the 2024 rule put the mercury requirement for lignite on par with other types of coal -- about a 70% reduction in the emissions limit.

For now, the plants exempted from the rule will still have to meet earlier standards for mercury and other toxic chemicals such as arsenic and nickel, which officials say the plants are in compliance with.

Power sector mercury emissions from North Dakota have dropped from 3,020 pounds in 2010 to 772 pounds in 2022, according to EPA data. Still, the state's emissions levels are much higher than most, trailing only Texas, where lignite is also used by most coal plants.

Otter Tail and Basin both confirmed that they requested the exemption.

Minnkota declined comment. Rainbow did not respond to a request for comment.

Multiple states and electric utilities are involved in litigation aiming to block the new MATS rule. The lawsuit was filed last year and is led by the North Dakota Attorney General's Office. It argues that the rule would not yield improvements to public health and would risk disruptions to the power grid.

Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a request for the rule's implementation to be halted as the case made its way through a lower court.

Jonathan Fortner, interim president for the Lignite Energy Council, the business group for lignite plants and mines, said the exemption gives the companies certainty that they don't need to invest in the equipment to comply with the regulation as the lawsuit goes on and the Trump administration is likely to make changes to the rule.

He said the risk from the emissions at North Dakota plants falls under the threshold set by Congress.

"EPAs own data confirms that the cancer risk from North Dakotas lignite-fired power plants is extraordinarily low -- between 5 and 80 cases per one billion people -- levels that are far below any threshold of regulatory concern. Mercury emissions from these plants are so minimal they barely register. Over the past 15 years, our industry has invested more than $2 billion in emissions control technologies," he said.

Legal counsel for the previous administration's EPA, in filings, argued that Congress still calls for as much of a reduction of pollutants as is determined possible.

Mercury is a neurotoxin that can be harmful for brains, hearts, kidneys and immune systems. It potentially causes cancer in people, though there is no definitive tie, according to the EPA. Other pollutants regulated by MATS do cause cancer.

North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality Air Permitting Program Manager David Stroh said the state agency is not necessarily opposed to more stringent requirements for mercury pollution from lignite, but the EPA did not provide enough evidence to up the standards as is required by the federal Clean Air Act.

"Generally, I don't think anybody could argue with a statement that 'lower is probably better,' but you know, it's always at what cost? And what return? And they fail to correctly capture (either consideration)," he said.

One of the primary concerns expressed in the lawsuit is that compliance with the rule would be so expensive that multiple coal plants would have to retire. The EPA disputed this as it argued that only one power plant -- Colstrip in Montana -- would have to install a new emissions control system, while others would just need upgrades.

"(The coal plants) have the pollution controls on to reduce mercury, currently," Stroh said. "Many of them will need to be upgraded and/or they'll need to use more additive to reduce this mercury. But there's variation between each facility on whether or not they could add enough or modify the operation of the existing controls enough to meet this."

Surbhi Sarang, a senior attorney with the Environmental Defense Fund, which was one of multiple environmental and public health organizations that stepped into the case to defend the Biden rule, said the EPA correctly followed the Clean Air Act for the new MATS requirements. One area of disagreement between the two sides is the potential harm reduction that would be brought from the stricter requirements.

"It's really tricky to translate some of these harms into numbers, but the underlying harms are well known," Sarang said.

Sarang pointed to the Supreme Court's rejection of the states' and utilities' request to halt the implementation of the rule as the court battle played out as evidence that coal plants could have complied.

She also criticized the use of such broad presidential exemptions for air pollution standards. The MATS rule is one of nine regulations that companies can request a temporary presidential exemption from.

"When you have (regulatory) rulemaking, you have public notice and comment and you have a record and there's information that has to be considered," Sarang said. "The executive order and the exemptions is this completely opaque process."
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 16, 2025 / Amherst College, recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted to Amherst College.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?Amherst College recently experienced unauthorized access to its email and payroll system. Upon detection, Amherst College launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. On March 3, 2025, the investigation determined that an unauthorized party had viewed and possibly copied sensitive personal information. Amherst College conducted a comprehensive review of the impacted data to determine what information was compromised and identify affected individuals.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personal information may have been compromised: name, and Social Security number. On March 28, 2025, Amherst College filed a notice with the Attorney General of Massachusetts and started sending out notice letters to the impacted individuals. Compensation may be available for those individuals who received notice that their personal information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from Amherst College, you are likely affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. If you have received a notice about the data breach, you may be entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out: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 at 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
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KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA / ACCESS Newswire / April 16, 2025 / ASM Automation Group Berhad("ASM" or the "Group"), an established specialist of automation machinery solutions in Malaysia, is pleased to announce that the Group has formally signed an underwriting agreement withM & A Securities Sdn. Bhd.("M & A Securities") in preparation for its Initial Public Offering ("IPO") on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad ("Bursa Securities").L-R: (From ASM Automation Group Berhad) Mdm. Kamalam A/P Kurup Krishnan, Executive Director; Mr. Leong Weng Khin, Executive Director; Mr. Chan Kok Heng, Managing Director; (from M & A Securities Sdn Bhd) Mr. Gary Ting, Head of Corporate Finance and Mr. Danny Wong, Deputy Head of Corporate Finance.ASM , through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Arrow Systems Sdn Bhd, operates as a full-service automation machinery solutions provider, offering design, development, fabrication, installation, and commissioning of custom equipment. Its core offerings include Front-of-Line ("FOL") processing solutions, which automate the conversion of raw ingredients into finished food products, and End-of-Line ("EOL") packaging solutions, which streamline packaging from primary to tertiary stages. While the Group mainly serves the food and beverage ("F&B") manufacturing sector, it has also extended its capabilities to applications such as currency note sorting and packaging, as well as poultry inspection, sorting and packaging. Complementing its machinery solutions, ASM also provides equipment modification and upgrading services, maintenance services, as well as components and spare parts supply, enabling long-term partnerships with brand owners and contract manufacturers seeking to enhance productivity and reduce manual labour.According to the exposed prospectus available on Bursa Securities' website, ASM's IPO comprises a public issue of 128.34 million new shares, representing 24.0% of the Group's enlarged issued share capital of 534.77 million shares, as well as an offer for sale of 53.48 million existing shares, equivalent to 10.0% of the enlarged issued share capital.The structure of the IPO is as follows:Public IssueMalaysian Public:26.74 million shares or 5.0% of the Group's enlarged issued share capital, with 2.5% made available to public investors and the remaining 2.5% made available to Bumiputera public investors.Pink Form Allocations:10.70 million shares or 2.0% of the enlarged issued share capital will be allocated to eligible directors, key senior management, employees and persons who have contributed to the success of the Group (collectively known as "Eligible Persons") through Pink Form Allocations.Private Placement to Bumiputera Investors Approved by MITI:66.85 million shares or 12.5% of the enlarged issued share capital are reserved for private placement to Bumiputera investors approved by the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry Malaysia ("MITI").Private Placement to Selected Investors:24.06 million shares or 4.5% of the enlarged issued share capital are reserved for private placement to selected investors.Offer for saleOffer for sale of 53.48 million shares or 10.0% of the enlarged issued share capital by way of private placement to selected investors.Under the underwriting agreement, M & A Securities will underwrite 37.44 million shares, comprising shares allocated to the Malaysian public and Eligible Persons under the Pink Form Allocations. The remaining 144.39 million shares will be placed out to selected and Bumiputera investors by M & A Securities.A report prepared by the independent market research firm Providence Strategic Partners Sdn Bhd forecasts the F&B automation machinery solutions industry in Malaysia will increase from RM1.7 billion in 2023 to RM3.7 billion in 2027 at a compound annual growth rate ("CAGR") of 21.5%. The forecasted growth of the F&B automation machinery solutions industry in Malaysia is supported by growth drivers such as increasing demand for processed F&B products, increasing demand for automation machinery, potential demand for automation machinery from other end user industries, and the government's initiatives to promote the adoption of automation among micro, small and medium enterprises ("MSMEs").Mr. Chan Kok Heng, Managing Director of ASM Automation Group Berhad, commented, "The signing of the underwriting agreement with M & A Securities marks another pivotal milestone in our IPO journey. The capital raised will enable us to further strengthen our operational footprint, particularly through the expansion of our manufacturing facility, purchase of new machines, assembly of demonstration machineries, and enhancement of our design and development capabilities. This listing not only validates our growth journey thus far but also sets the stage for ASM to scale up its impact across Malaysia and our overseas markets." With a customer base spanning across Southeast Asia, India, China, and parts of Africa, and a portfolio of customised FOL and EOL automation machinery solutions, ASM is well-positioned to capitalise on growing industrial automation demand in the region. The IPO proceeds will be channelled into expanding its production capacity, acquiring advanced machinery, and intensifying Design and Development ("D&D") efforts to support next-generation automation technologies.ASM obtained Bursa Securities' approval for the listing on ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia on 20 February 2025.M & A Securities Sdn Bhdis the Principal Adviser, Sponsor, Underwriter, and Placement Agent for the IPO whileEco Asia Capital Advisory Sdn. Bhd.is the Financial Adviser.ABOUT ASM AUTOMATION GROUP BERHAD ASM Automation Group Berhad ("ASM" or the "Group"), through its wholly owned subsidiary Arrow Systems Sdn Bhd, has been in the automation machinery solutions industry since 1994. The Group specialises in designing, developing, fabricating, installing and commissioning Front-of-Line ("FOL") processing and End-of-Line ("EOL") packaging solutions, primarily for the food and beverage ("F&B") manufacturing sector. ASM also provides complementary services such as equipment modification and upgrading services, maintenance services, and the supply of spare parts and components. With a strong track record serving both local and international clients, including the Liwayway Group, ASM is set to continue expanding its capabilities and market presence in line with growing demand for industrial automation across Asia and beyond.For more information, visit https://arrowsystemsonline.com/ Issued By: Swan Consultancy Sdn. Bhd. on behalf of ASM Automation Group BerhadFo
PR-Inside.com: 2025-04-16 20:30:41

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VACAVILLE, CALIFORNIA / ACCESS Newswire / April 16, 2025 / Athena Gold Corporation (CSE:ATHA)(OTCQB:AHNR) ("Athena Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the completion of its redomicile from the State of Delaware to the Province of British Columbia, Canada, by way of a merger into its British Columbia subsidiary, Nova Athena Gold Corp. ("Nova Athena") under section 275 of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia), together with concurrent name change, to form the amalgamated corporation which will continue under the name "Athena Gold Corporation" (the "Resulting Issuer") (the "Redomestication").The Redomestication was approved by the holders of the Company's common shares at its Annual General and Special Meeting (the "Meeting") held March 27, 2025, by an affirmative vote of approximately 78.75% of the votes cast in respect thereof by shareholders present in person or by proxy at the Meeting.The Company has set April 24, 2025, as the "Record Date", subject to approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange. At that time, the Resulting Issuer's common shares will commence trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange under its new ISIN/CUSIP Number. The new ISIN Number is CA04684R1055 and the new CUSIP Number is 04684R105.Under the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger and Amalgamation dated February 4, 2025, the Company's shareholders will receive one common share in the capital of Nova Athena for each common share of the Company with the Resulting Issuer retaining its current name, Athena Gold Corporation, and current trading symbol "ATHA" on the Canadian Securities Exchange and on the OTCQB under trading symbol "AHNR".As a result of the Redomestication, the Resulting Issuer's authorized capital consists of an unlimited number of common shares and an unlimited number of preferred shares. Prior to the Redomestication the Company's authorized capital consisted of (i) 250,000,000 common shares, of which 194,803,633 common shares were issued and outstanding and 30,490,303 common shares were reserved for issuance, consisting of an aggregate of 25,260,303 share purchase warrants and 5,230,000 stock options; and (ii) 5,000,000 preferred shares, of which none were issued. On the Record Date of April 24, 2025, the Resulting Issuer will have 238,668,850 common shares issued and outstanding including 43,865,217 common shares previously issued to acquire the Laird Lake and Oneman Lake gold projects in Ontario and 30,490,303 common shares reserved for issuance, consisting of an aggregate of 25,260,303 share purchase warrants and 5,230,000 stock options. No preferred shares will be issued. The common shares held by Athena Gold in Nova Athena will be cancelled without payment of capital.The Company's transfer agent, Endeavor Trust Corporation ("Endeavor"), has mailed out a letter of transmittal ("Letter of Transmittal") to all registered shareholders of Athena Gold whose common shares are held in the form of physical share certificates. Registered shareholders are required to deposit their original share certificate(s), together with a duly completed Letter of Transmittal, with Endeavor. Once received, Endeavor will deliver shares in the name of the Resulting Issuer to the registered shareholder in accordance with the terms of the Letter of Transmittal. A copy of the Letter of Transmittal will be available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca or can be obtained by contacting Endeavor. If a shareholder holds their common shares through the Direct Registration System (DRS), no action is required. Shareholders who hold their common shares through an intermediary (i.e., a bank, trust, company, securities broker, trustee, or other) should contact that intermediary for instructions or questions.Further details regarding the terms and conditions of the Redomestication are set out in the Proxy Statement dated February 4, 2025, which is available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca . The Redomestication is expected, among other things, to significantly reduce Athena Gold's regulatory compliance costs, enhance its ability to access the capital markets and increase the number of potential investors.About Athena Gold CorporationAthena is engaged in the business of mineral exploration and the acquisition of mineral property assets. Its objective is to locate and develop economic precious and base metal properties of merit and to conduct additional exploration drilling and studies on its projects across North America. Athena's flagship Excelsior Springs Au-Ag project is located in the prolific Walker Lane Trend in Nevada. Excelsior Springs spans 1,675 ha and covers at least three historic mines along the Palmetto Mountain trend, where the Company is following up on a recent shallow oxide gold discovery, with drill results including 5.35 g/t Au over 33.5 m. Meanwhile, the Company's new Laird Lake project is situated in the Red Lake Gold District of Ontario, covering 4,158 hectares along more than 10 km of the Balmer-Confederation Assemblage contact, where recent surface sampling results returned up to 373 g/t Au. This underexplored area is road-accessible, located about 10 km west of West Red Lake Gold's Madsen mine and 34 km northwest of Kinross Gold's Great Bear project.For further information about Athena Gold Corporation and our Excelsior Springs Gold project, please visit www.athenagoldcorp.com On Behalf of the Board of DirectorsKoby KushnerPresident and Chief Executive Officer, Athena Gold CorporationFor further information, please contact:Athena Gold Corporation Koby Kushner, President and Chief Executive Officer Phone: 416-846-6164Email: kobykushner@ athenagoldcorp.com CHF Capital Markets Cathy Hume, CEO Phone: 416-868-1079 x 251 Email: cathy@ chfir.com Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. Securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, including, without limitation, statements regarding future exploration plans, future results from exploration, 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. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: "believes", "will", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", ''plans"%
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 16, 2025 / Leading securities law firmBleichmar Fonti & Auld LLPannounces that a lawsuit has been filed against Atkore Inc. (NYSE:ATKR) and certain of the Company's senior executives for potential violations of the federal securities laws.If you invested in Atkore, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/atkore-inc Investors have until April 23, 2025, to ask the Court to be appointed to lead the case. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on behalf of investors who purchased Atkore stock. The case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and is captioned Westchester Putnam Counties Heavy & Highway Laborers Local 60 Benefits Fund v. Atkore Inc., et al., No. 25-cv-01851.Why was Atkore Sued for Securities Fraud?Atkore manufactures electrical, safety, and infrastructure products including polyvinyl chloride water and electrical conduit pipes ("PVC Pipe"). During the COVID-19 pandemic, shipping costs rose dramatically, leaving foreign PVC Pipe manufacturers unable to profitably sell PVC Pipe in the U.S. As shipping prices returned to normal when the pandemic subsided in 2022, foreign PVC Pipe manufacturers gradually returned to the U.S. market. Shortly thereafter, in late 2022, the price of PVC Pipe began to decline.As alleged, Atkore repeatedly misrepresented that post-pandemic PVC Pipe price declines were the result of "pricing normalization" that reflected "competitive dynamics" and assured investors that the Company would continue to successfully compete in the post-COVID-19 market.On July 24, 2024, an activist investor named ManBear published a report titled "Pipe Price Fixing" which accused Atkore and three of its competitors of using the commodity pricing service OPIS to coordinate pricing actions and fix the price of PVC Pipe.In truth, it is alleged that Atkore engaged in an anticompetitive price-fixing scheme that artificially inflated the price of PVC Pipes.The Stock Declines as the Truth is RevealedOn February 4, 2025, Atkore announced disappointing earnings and reduced guidance, disclosing that the "plastic pipe and conduit product category declined mid-single digits during the quarter" compared to "high single digits in the prior year," and largely attributed the guidance reduction to Atkore's PVC Pipe business, stating, "roughly $75 million or 3/4 [of the guidance reduction] is on the PVC side." This news caused the price of Atkore stock to decline nearly 20%, from $79.72 per share on February 3, 2025 to $64.13 per share on February 4, 2025.On February 14, 2025, Atkore disclosed that it received a grand jury subpoena from the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division seeking the "production of documents relating to the pricing of the Company's PVC pipe and conduit products." Click here if you suffered losses: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/atkore-inc What Can You Do?If you invested in Atkore you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm.All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses.Submit your information by visiting:Or contact:Ross Shikowitz ross@ bfalaw.com 212-789-3619Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP?Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It was named among the Top 5 plaintiff law firms by ISS SCAS in 2023 and its attorneys have been named Titans of the Plaintiffs' Bar by Law360 and SuperLawyers by Thompson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.'s Board of Directors, as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.SOURCE: Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP
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Fund II continues strategy of partnering with lower middle-market entrepreneur and family-owned businesses across the Built EnvironmentRALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA / ACCESS Newswire / April 16, 2025 / BD Investment Partners, LLC ("BDI Partners"), a Raleigh-based private equity firm focused on making investments in the Built Environment, today announced the final closing of BDIP Fund II, L.P. ("Fund II") at ~$159 million in capital commitments. Fund II was significantly oversubscribed and received commitments from a diverse group of global institutional investors, in addition to strong support from BDI Partners' existing investor base. BDI PartnersBDI Partners is led by Chris Burnham and Adam Daigle who began investing Fund I in 2020 and have since made seven platform investments. Fund II maintains a singular focus on the Built Environment, encompassing professional services, specialty services, operations & maintenance, and building products, distribution, & materials. Most of the platform companies targeted by BDI Partners have EBITDA between $1 million and $7 million, with smaller add-on acquisitions considered for existing portfolio companies. BDI Partners leverages its specialized knowledge, expertise, and relationships in the industry to actively add value to its partner businesses."We are honored by the support, confidence, and trust that our existing and new capital partners have placed in us. We are also grateful for the founders, families, and management teams at our portfolio companies, whose continued success reflects the strength of our shared goals and commitment to partnership," said Chris Burnham."We take pride in applying our combined investing and operational sector expertise to build and manage a focused portfolio of resilient, durable, and growing businesses. We believe the current environment presents a compelling opportunity to invest in targeted themes across our priority sub-sectors," said Adam Daigle.Probitas Partners acted as the exclusive placement advisor to Fund II. Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A. served as fund counsel.About BDI PartnersBDI Partners, headquartered in Raleigh, NC, is a lower-middle market investment firm focused on private companies providing services, products, and technologies that support the Built Environment in the United States and Canada. The firm engages with high-quality, entrepreneur and family-owned companies who share the desire to build great enterprises that make a positive impact on their employees, customers, communities and the Built Environment. For additional information, please visit www.bdipartners.com Contact InformationAdam Daigle Partnerir@ bdipartners.com SOURCE: BDI Partners
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ZAGREB, CROATIA / ACCESS Newswire / April 16, 2025 / Borboleta, the Croatian-born jewelry brand known for sparking the European trend of symbolic thread bracelets, has announced its entry into the luxury jewelry market with the debut of the Atelier Collection. Featuring handcrafted pieces in 18k gold, diamonds, and precious gemstones, the collection represents a strategic evolution for a brand that has long blended emotion, symbolism, and everyday wearability.Since its founding in 2012,Borboletahas carved out a niche with its recognizable thread bracelets, often described as "never-take-off" jewelry, built around themes of luck, love, and personal meaning. Now, with the Atelier line, Borboleta is offering elevated versions of its signature designs, made to last a lifetime."We wanted to create a collection that stays true to our essence, while offering our customers a level of craftsmanship and material quality they've been asking for," said Tajana Lisicar, founder and CEO of Borboleta. "Atelier is a natural next step, it keeps the emotional connection at the center, but elevates it with gold, diamonds, and timeless design." Positioning for Global GrowthThe launch of Atelier is part of a broader expansion strategy that includes growing Borboleta's digital footprint, entering select luxury retail spaces, and leveraging high-profile partnerships. The brand has built a reputation for combining sentiment with style, and its data-backed approach to consumer engagement has proven effective across international markets.Borboleta's designs are already worn by celebrities across Europe and the U.S., many of whom have embraced the brand's understated elegance and personal symbolism. The company has also partnered with major global names like Moet & Chandon, Coca-Cola, UNICEF, and Rimac Automobili, helping to cement its status as a brand with both mass appeal and staying power.A Decade of Brand EquityBorboleta's rise began with itsnow-iconic butterflyandlucky8 bracelets , which quickly became bestsellers and a popular gift across generations. The brand's commitment to thoughtful design and emotional resonance has been key to its success-not only in Croatia, where it has become a household name, but across dozens of international markets.With the Atelier Collection, Borboleta is taking its place among a new class of European luxury brands, those that balance heritage with innovation, and storytelling with high-end design.About BorboletaFounded in 2012 in Zagreb, Croatia, Borboleta is known for its symbolic thread bracelets and emotionally driven designs. With a focus on meaning, craftsmanship, and wearability, the brand has cultivated a loyal global following. The launch of the Atelier Collection marks Borboleta's official entry into the fine jewelry space, offering elevated designs crafted in gold, diamonds, and precious stones, designed to be worn daily and cherished for a lifetime.Media Contact:Borboleta PrimePressQ for BorboletaEmail: hi@ primepressq.comWebsite:https://www.borboleta.co SOURCE: Borboleta
PR-Inside.com: 2025-04-16 23:32:30

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FORT LAUDERDALE, FL / ACCESS Newswire / April 16, 2025 / The holiday season often inspires acts of generosity, and Brian Gould, owner of TruLife Distribution, has made it a point to embody that spirit year-round. His most recent commitment to giving back was supporting one of his team members, Jaron Pak, on a critical humanitarian mission to Moldova. The mission focused on aiding vulnerable communities in Eastern Europe, particularly orphans, widows, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities living in war-affected regions.Gould's decision to back Jaron's mission came naturally, aligning with his long-standing dedication to philanthropy. "When Jaron shared his plans to help those suffering in Moldova, I immediately saw an opportunity for TruLife to contribute," Gould remarked. "We're not just a business - we're a team that believes in positively impacting the world. This mission was personal, and I knew it was something we could help make happen." The Mission: Alleviating Hardship in MoldovaThe journey to Moldova was initiated when Jaron Pak connected with Pavel, a Romanian humanitarian aid worker who had spent over three decades building a network of foster homes and feeding centers across Moldova. Pavel's network was working tirelessly to support local communities grappling with the devastating effects of war, poverty, and a broken foster system, exacerbated by the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.After learning of the urgent need for resources, particularly food, Jaron decided to raise funds and travel to Moldova to support Pavel's efforts on the ground. With the backing of TruLife Distribution, the mission quickly gained momentum.A Massive Food Distribution EffortBetween October 24 and November 1, Jaron and an American partner traveled to Moldova to assist in distributing 27.5 tons of essential food supplies to over 15 social houses and feeding centers across southern and eastern Moldova. This enormous effort, more than Pavel had ever distributed before, included staples like:CarrotsPotatoesOnionsBiscuitsCooking oilFlourSugarCanned porkRiceCornmealButterPastaThe impact of the distribution was profound. The supplies were expected to last through March, providing vital sustenance to hundreds of children and families with nowhere else to turn. "It's incredibly humbling to know that our support is directly improving the lives of so many people facing such dire circumstances," Gould shared.Extending Support Beyond FoodRecognizing the community's broader needs, Jaron and his team also provided significant donations of school supplies and winter boots. Despite their difficulties, these contributions helped ensure that the children could attend school during the cold winter months. The donations, including items necessary for their education and mobility, will be invaluable in allowing the children to maintain stability and continuity in their education.The team's work in Moldova is far from over. Due to the ongoing demand for resources, Jaron plans to return to continue his efforts, ensuring that the network of social houses and feeding centers in Moldova receives sustained support.TruLife's Dedication to Making a DifferenceSupporting humanitarian missions like this is nothing new for TruLife Distribution. Still, it was significant for Brian Gould to back a project led by one of his team members. "It's rare to have the opportunity to make such a direct and tangible difference in the lives of so many," Gould said. "It's not just about running a business - it's about creating a company culture where giving back is as important as our daily work." TruLife's mission to Moldova reflects the broader ethos that Gould has instilled in the company: a commitment to social responsibility alongside business success. While the team focuses on expanding health and wellness brands within the U.S., their dedication to global humanitarian efforts shows that their influence extends beyond the marketplace."I'm so proud of Jaron and everyone who supported this mission," Gould concluded. "At TruLife, we believe in using our resources and talents to improve lives, whether through business endeavors or by supporting causes that make the world a better place." About TruLife Distribution Founded by Brian Gould, TruLife Distribution is a leading marketing and distribution company specializing in health and wellness. With decades of experience, TruLife Distribution helps brands expand their reach in the U.S. market while maintaining a strong commitment to philanthropy and social impact. To learn more about TruLife Distribution, visittrulifedist.com CONTACT:Name: Brian Gould info@ TruLifeDistribution.com SOURCE: TruLife Distribution
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NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE U.S.VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / April 16, 2025 /Centenario Gold Corp. (TSXV:CTG) ("Centenario" or the "Company") announces a non-brokered private placement of up to 10,000,000 units (the "Units") at a price of $0.02 per Unit for gross proceeds of up to $200,000 (the "Offering"). Each unit will consist of one common share and one non-transferable common share purchase warrant ("Warrant"), with each Warrant being exercisable to purchase one common share at a price of $0.06 cents for 24 months from the date of issuance.The Offering is expected to close on or about May 15th, 2025.The Company may pay finders' fees to eligible finders, in accordance with applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"). The Offering is subject to the approval of the TSX-V, and all securities issued under the Offering will be subject to a statutory hold period expiring four months and one day from the date of closing of the Offering.The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering for exploration and evaluation of potential new resource projects and general and administrative expenses, which may include funds for marketing and investor relations.Certain directors and officers of the Company may acquire securities under the Offering. Any such participation will be considered to be a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 ("MI 61-101"). The Company expects that the Offering will be exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 as the Company is listed on the TSX-V and neither the expected fair market value of securities being issued to related parties nor the consideration being paid by related parties would exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization.Closing of the Offering is subject to TSX-V acceptance.The Existing Shareholder ExemptionThe Offering is also made available to registered shareholders of the Company who, as of the close of business on April 15th, 2025, hold common shares of the Company pursuant to the prospectus exemption set out in British Columbia Instrument 45-534, Exemption from Prospectus Requirement for Certain Trades to Existing Security Holders. The existing shareholder exemption limits a shareholder to a maximum investment of $15,000 in a 12-month period unless the shareholder has obtained advice regarding the suitability of the investment and, if the shareholder is resident in a jurisdiction of Canada, that advice has been obtained from a person who is registered as an investment dealer in the jurisdiction.About Centenario Gold Corp.:Centenario Gold Corp. is a mineral resource exploration company that was formed to focus on exploring and generating high quality mineral prospects. During 2020, the exploration team of Centenario visited and evaluated more than 12 mineral prospects before finding the Eden gold silver property located at the boundary between Durango and Sinaloa states, of Mexico, in the Cosala Mining District which hosts Prime Mining's Los Reyes Project.The Company is also currently looking at other potential prospects in both Mexico and Canada.On behalf of the Board of Directors,Doug FulcherPresident, CEO, DirectorFurther information on the Centenario Gold and the Eden Property can be found on our website at www.centenariogold.com along with the NI43-101 compliant Technical Report filed on SEDAR+.For further information, please call:Doug Fulcher 604-803-5901Alain Charest 011-52-618-299-9885The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Statements in this press release, other than purely historical information, including statements relating to the Company's future plans and objectives or expected results, may include forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions and are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties inherent in resource exploration and development. As a result, actual results may vary materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) absent such registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements.Caution Regarding Forward Looking Statements:Certain information included in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements". Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the Offering. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results or realities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such material risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the equipment leaseback arrangement or the Offering not proceeding as planned; the proceeds of the Offering being used other than as described herein; competition within the industry; actual results of current exploration activities; environmental risks; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; future price of commodities; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining approvals or financing; risks related to indebtedness and the service of such indebtedness; as well as those factors, risks and uncertainties identified and reported in the Company's public filings under its SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca . Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. 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. The forward-looking statements contained herein are made as at the date hereof and t
PR-Inside.com: 2025-04-16 21:14:21

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 16, 2025 /WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Edison International (NYSE:EIX) between February 25, 2021 and February 6, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important April 21, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline in the securities class action first filed by the Firm.SO WHAT: If you purchased Edison securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Edison class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=33590or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than April 21, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.WHY ROSEN LAW:We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Edison's claim that Southern California Edison Company ("SCE") used its Public Safety Power Shutoffs ("PSPS") program to "proactively de-energize power lines to mitigate the risk of catastrophic wildfires during extreme weather events", was false; (2) this resulted in heightened fire risk in California and heightened legal exposure to Edison; and (3) as a result, defendants' statements about Edison's business, operations, and prospects, were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.To join the Edison class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=33590call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm or on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.---Contact Information:Laurence Rosen, Esq.Phillip Kim, Esq.The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.275 Madison Avenue, 40th FloorNew York, NY 10016Tel: (212) 686-1060Toll Free: (866) 767-3653Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@ rosenlegal.comwww.rosenlegal.com SOURCE: The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
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Transaction Will Expand FiberLight's Reach in Virginia and Pave the Way for Expansion to Charlotte, Myrtle Beach, and AtlantaATLANTA, GA / ACCESS Newswire / April 16, 2025 / FiberLight, LLC , a leading provider of high-capacity fiber optic networks and connectivity services, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Metro Fiber Networks (MFN), a dedicated fiber provider serving carriers and public institutions in Richmond and Virginia Beach. The transaction is expected to close in Q2 2025 once customary requirements have been met. The financial terms are not being disclosed.Once completed, the transaction will strengthen FiberLight's substantial existing network in Virginia, adding MFN's high-capacity conduit and fiber network connecting from the Virginia Beach cable landing station (CLS) to Richmond, VA. Virginia Beach CLS is a major subsea cable landing station supporting TransAtlantic and US-LATAM traffic.MFN's route crosses York River and Hampton Harbor. It provides the most direct path and shortest latency between Virginia Beach CLS and Richmond, a substantial hyperscale and government data center availability zone.MFN's assets will allow FiberLight to provide a unique and strategic fiber path that will integrate with its existing dense network in Northern Virginia, providing a comprehensive connectivity solution to customers in this critical data transport region."This transaction marks a significant milestone for FiberLight as we expand our network to reach Virginia Beach, which hosts the largest defense installation outside of the Pentagon and the largest CLS in the US," said FiberLight CEO Bill Major. "The MFN assets are a natural extension of our existing network and will allow us to provide customers with reliable, high-speed connectivity services to various organizations in Virginia." FiberLight is owned by a consortium led by global infrastructure investment firm Morrison, together with co-shareholders Australian Retirement Trust (ART) and a managed client of UBS Asset Management. The acquisition of MFN bolsters FiberLight's presence in Virginia and paves the way for further expansion to Charlotte, Myrtle Beach, and Atlanta."FiberLight has built a robust fiber network in response to unprecedented enterprise demand for high-speed broadband connectivity in the US," said Perry Offutt, Chair of FiberLight and Partner at Morrison. "The acquisition of MFN diversifies FiberLight's regional footprint and enhances its ability to serve our customers. We are proud to support FiberLight's team and continued expansion." MFN's advanced, low-latency fiber network assets further strengthen FiberLight's capabilities. FiberLight provides infrastructure-grade bandwidth solutions to its technology, hyperscale cloud, wholesale carrier, and enterprise customers within Virginia. FiberLight is committed to delivering high-quality services and ensuring a smooth transition for MFN's customers.About FiberLightFiberLight builds and operates mission-critical high bandwidth networks to ignite our clients' digital transformation. With approximately 20,000 route miles of fiber networks and 300,000 pre-qualified near-net buildings, our service portfolio includes high-capacity Ethernet and Wavelength Services, Cloud Connect, Dedicated Internet Access, Dark Fiber, and Wireless Backhaul serving domestic and international telecom companies, wireless, wireline, cable, and cloud providers, as well as key players across enterprise, government, and education. For more information, visit https://www.fiberlight.com About MorrisonMorrison is a leading global infrastructure manager, investing across the infrastructure risk spectrum. Established in 1988, Morrison had over US$25 billion of assets under management as of 31 December 2024. Our purpose is to invest wisely in ideas that matter. We believe the best investments serve an enduring societal need. We apply a specialist investment approach, refined over multiple decades and economic cycles, to invest in infrastructure for a modern economy. For more information, visit https://www.morrisonglobal.com Media ContactsFor FiberLight:Escalate PR fiberlight@ escalatepr.com For Morrison:Gasthalter & Co.morrison@gasthalter.com SOURCE: FiberLight
PR-Inside.com: 2025-04-16 18:32:59

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 16, 2025 / H2O.ai , recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted to H2O.ai WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On February 18, 2025, H2O.ai became aware that a financially motivated group claimed to have stolen its data. In response, H2O.ai launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cyber security experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation confirmed that an unauthorized third party accessed and potentially acquired sensitive personal information, including data belonging to H2O.ai employees, between December 20, 2024, and January 29, 2025. H2O.ai conducted a comprehensive review of the impacted data to determine what information had been exposed and identify affected individuals.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personal information may have been compromised: name, Social Security number, address, date of birth, driver's license number, payroll information, and benefit enrollment information. On March 27, 2025, H2O.ai filed a notice with the Attorney General of Massachusetts and began mailing data breach notification letters to impacted individuals. Compensation may be available for those individuals who received notice that their personal information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from H2O.ai , you are likely affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. If you have received a notice about the data breach, you may be entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out: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 at 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: 2025-04-16 18:16:32

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 16, 2025 / Western Wayne Family Physicians, recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal and protected health data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal and protected health information entrusted to Western Wayne.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?Western Wayne Family Physicians recently became aware of a security incident on its medical data systems. Upon detection, Western Wayne Family Physicians launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cyber security experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation determined that an unauthorized third party gained access to patient and sensitive medical information. Western Wayne Family Physicians conducted a comprehensive review of the impacted data to determine what information was compromised and identified affected individuals.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personal and protected health information may have been compromised: name, Social Security numbers, medical records, health information, insurance details, and other sensitive personal information. On March 26, 2025, Western Wayne Family Physicians filed a notice with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (OCR) and started sending out notice letters to the impacted individuals. Compensation may be available for those individuals who received notice that their personal information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from Western Wayne, you are likely affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. If you have received a notice about the data breach, you may be entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out: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 at 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: 2025-04-16 18:48:18

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 16, 2025 / Life University recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal and protected health data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal and protected health information entrusted to Life.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On July 30, 2024, Life University became aware of a security incident on its network. Upon detection, Life University launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation determined that an unauthorized third party gained access to portions of Life University's network containing sensitive information. Life University conducted a comprehensive review of the impacted data to determine what information was compromised and identified affected individuals. On March 28, 2025, Life University finalized the list of impacted individuals.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personaland protected healthinformation may have been compromised: name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, driver's license number, credit card information, financial account information, health insurance policy number, medical information, student identification number, tax identification number, account number, and routing number. On April 2, 2025, Life University filed a notice with the Vermont Attorney General's office and began sending out notice letters to impacted individuals. Compensation may be available for those individuals who received notice that their personal information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from Life, you are likely affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. If you have received a notice about the data breach, you may be entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out: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 at 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: 2025-04-16 18:48:21

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 16, 2025 / Arkansas Heart Hospital, LLC recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal and protected health data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal and protected health information entrusted to Arkansas Heart Hospital.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On March 15, 2025, Arkansas Heart Hospital became aware of a security incident involving a vendor's system. Upon detection, Arkansas Heart Hospital launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation determined that an unauthorized third party gained access to patient information contained within electronic medical records processed by the vendor during the hospital's transition to a new electronic medical record system. The vendor's investigation revealed that the unauthorized access occurred between January 22, 2025, and February 20, 2025. Based on the available information, Arkansas Heart Hospital believes that individuals who received care at its facilities between January 1, 2022, and January 31, 2025, may be impacted. Arkansas Heart Hospital conducted a comprehensive review of the impacted data to determine what information was compromised and to identify affected individuals.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personaland protected healthinformation may have been compromised: name, address, phone number, email address, date of birth, Social Security number, treatment/diagnosis information, prescription information, provider name, medical record/case number, health insurance information, and other details (sex, ethnicity, language, maiden name, marital status, religious, death/deceased status, and living will indicator). On March 21, 2025, Arkansas Heart Hospital filed a public disclosure and is currently working to obtain address information to send notice letters to the affected individuals. Compensation may be available for those individuals who received notice that their personal information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from Arkansas Heart Hospital, you are likely affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. If you have received a notice about the data breach, you may be entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out: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 at 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: 2025-04-16 16:01:41

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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 16, 2025 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. ("Elf" or the "Company") (NYSE:ELF) and certain officers. The class action, filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, and docketed under 25-cv-02316, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants that purchased or otherwise acquired Elf securities between November 1, 2023 and November 19, 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 an investor who purchased or otherwise acquired Elf securities during the Class Period, you have until May 5, 2025 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 newaction@ pomlaw.com 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]Elf, together with its subsidiaries, provides cosmetic and skin care products under the e.l.f. Cosmetics, e.l.f. Skin, Well People, Naturium, and Keys Soulcare brand names. The Company employs an "omni-channel distribution strategy" and sells its products with retailers in the United States, as well as internationally. Elf also sells its products online through its own direct e-commerce channels, as well as through other e-commerce websites. According to the Company's "value proposition," "[e]ach of [its] brands has accessible pricing relative to its competitive set and furthers [the Company's] mission of making the best of beauty accessible to every eye, lip, face and skin concern. As an example, e.l.f. Cosmetics' average product price point is approximately $6, as compared to other leading mass cosmetics brands which have average product price points over $9 and prestige cosmetics brands which have average product price points over $20, according to Nielsen." The Company purports to have developed a "scalable, asset-light supply chain centered on the combination of speed to market, high-quality and low costs." Substantially all of the Company's products are sourced and manufactured in China through "close collaboration with a network of third-party manufacturers." Elf has also touted that it has "ample manufacturing capacity as well as redundant capabilities in the event that one or more suppliers cannot meet [its] needs" and that its "broad supply base gives [it] the ability to fulfill [its] product requirements and remain cost competitive." As a retail company, effective inventory management is critical to Elf's financial performance. Specifically, the Company derives revenue from "sales of [its] beauty products, net of provisions for sales discounts and allowances, product returns, markdowns and price adjustments." Accordingly, Elf's profitability depends, in largepart, on ensuring that it maintains a volume of inventory that will allow the Company to effectively sell its products at a level that will meet customer demand. Conversely, Elf maintaining a level of inventory that is excessive relative to customer demand will result in the Company holding products that cannot be effectively sold and must therefore be written down or sold at a loss, thereby negatively impacting its profitability.As its investors would eventually learn, Elf's inventory management was woefully ineffective. In fiscal Q2 2024, the Company began identifying growth concerns when inventory levels rose as a consequence of flagging sales. However, Elf concealed this issue from investors. Instead, the Company described itself at all relevant times as one of a "rarified group of high-growth companies" with "strong relationships with [its] retail customers such as Target, Walmart, Ulta Beauty and other leading retailers that have enabled [it] to expand distribution both domestically and internationally" and consistently maintained that "the combination of its value proposition, innovation engine, ability to attract and engage consumers, and its world-class team's ability to execute with speed, has positioned the Company well to navigate the competitive beauty market." The complaint alleges that, 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, the Company was experiencing rising inventory levels as a consequence of flagging sales; (ii) Elf falsely attributed the rising inventory levels to, among other things, changes in its sourcing practices; (iii) to maintain investor confidence, Elf reported inflated revenue, profits, and inventory over several quarters; (iv) accordingly. the Company's business and/or financial prospects were overstated; (v) all of the foregoing, once revealed, would likely have a material negative impact on the Company; and (vi) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.On November 20, 2024, Muddy Waters Research ("Muddy Waters") published a report entitled "e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. A Revenue and Inventory Mystery", alleging that Elf had "materially overstated revenue over the past three quarters," and that in "Q2 FY24, ELF management realized its growth narrative was in trouble as its inventory built. It appears that ELF then began reporting inflated revenue and profits. Its reported inventory also appears materially inflated as a result - i.e., to account for cash that has not really come in." Further, Muddy Waters accused the Company of concealing its inventory challenges from investors by falsely attributing its rising inventory levels to supposed changes in its sourcing practices rather than the true cause-insufficient sales.On this news, Elf's stock price fell $2.71 per share, or 2.23%, to close at $119.00 per share on November 20, 2024.Elf's share price continued to fall. After the Class Period ended, on February 6, 2025, Elf released its fiscal Q3 2024 results and provided its fiscal 2025
PR-Inside.com: 2025-04-16 16:46:26

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 16, 2025 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Venture Global, Inc. ("Venture Global" or the "Company") (NYSE:VG). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@ pomlaw.com 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 Venture Global and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.You have until April 18, 2025 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you purchased or otherwise acquired Venture Global 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 or around January 24, 2025, Venture Global conducted its initial public offering ("IPO") of 70 million shares priced at $25.00 per share.Then, on February 5, 2025, Reuters published an article entitled "Total CEO says company rejected Venture Global as LNG supplier over lack of trust". The Reuters article reported, in relevant part, that TotalEnergies SE had "rebuffed" overtures from Venture Global in connection with various contracts, citing "a lack of trust." The Reuters article noted that Venture Global "has been roiled by legal challenges from huge clients like BP and Shell for taking years to honor supply contracts as it commissions its projects." Following publication of the article, Venture Global's stock price fell $2.20 per share, or 11.18%, to close at $17.48 per share on February 6, 2025.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 numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP
PR-Inside.com: 2025-04-16 18:33:20

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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 16, 2025 / Ciuni & Panichi, Inc., recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted to Ciuni & Panichi.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On November 3, 2024, Ciuni & Panichi became aware of a security incident involving unauthorized activity in an employee email account. Upon detection, Ciuni & Panichi launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation determined that an unauthorized third party gained access to certain sensitive personal information within its systems. Ciuni & Panichi conducted a comprehensive review of the impacted data to determine what information was compromised and to identify affected individuals. This review was completed on January 21, 2025.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personal information may have been compromised: name of individual, Social Security number, and date of birth. On March 27, 2025, Ciuni & Panichi filed a notice with the Attorney General of New Hampshire and started mailing notice letters to the impacted individuals. Compensation may be available for those individuals who received notice that their personal information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from Ciuni & Panichi, you are likely affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. If you have received a notice about the data breach, you may be entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out: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 at 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: 2025-04-16 19:02:18

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 16, 2025 / Crossroads Trading Co., Inc., recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted to Crossroads.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On February 15, 2025, Crossroads experienced a security incident when an unauthorized third party gained access to its server and encrypted sensitive data stored on its network. Upon discovery, Crossroads' IT team immediately responded by securing the network, restoring systems, and preventing further unauthorized access. Crossroads launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation confirmed that unauthorized access was limited to a specific segment of the network.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personal information may have been compromised: name of individual, Social Security number information, driver's license number, and government-issued id number (e.g., passport, state ID card). On March 25, 2025, Crossroads made a public disclosure and began sending out notice letters to affected individuals. Compensation may be available for those individuals who received notice that their personal information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from Crossroads, you are likely affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. If you have received a notice about the data breach, you may be entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out: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 at 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: 2025-04-16 18:45:56

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 16, 2025 / Laborers' International Union of North America, Local Union 1184, recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted to Local 1184.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On November 17, 2024, Local 1184 became aware of a security incident on its secure computer system. Upon detection, Local 1184 launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation determined that an unauthorized third party used information obtained from sources other than the Local Union to gain access to Local 1184's computer system and subsequently infected the system with ransomware. Local 1184 conducted a comprehensive review of the impacted data to determine what information was compromised and identified affected individuals. On November 18, 2024, Local 1184 regained control of its system. Subsequently, Local 1184 identified persons whose sensitive data was included in the impacted data.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personal information may have been compromised: name, Social Security number, membership numbers, telephone numbers, home address, email address, and work dispatch records. On March 31, 2025, Local 1184 filed a notice with the California Attorney General's Office and started sending out notice letters to the impacted individuals.Compensation may be available for those individuals who received notice that their personal information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from Local 1184, you are likely affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. If you have received a notice about the data breach, you may be entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out: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 at 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: 2025-04-16 18:33:29

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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 16, 2025 / Plaisted Companies, Inc., recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted to Plaisted.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?In September 2024, Plaisted experienced a network disruption that prompted an immediate investigation with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity experts. The investigation determined that certain employee files were accessed without authorization around September 4, 2024. In response, Plaisted initiated a comprehensive review of the impacted files to determine what specific types of personal information were present and to identify affected individuals. This review concluded on February 11, 2025. Following the review, Plaisted verified address information to ensure proper notification could be provided. That process concluded on March 21, 2025.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personal information may have been compromised: name, Social Security number, driver's license or other government identification number, account number, credit or debit card number, in combination with any required security code, access code, or password that would permit access to an individual's financial account. On March 26, 2025, Plaisted filed a notice with the New Hampshire Attorney General and began mailing data breach notification letters to the impacted individuals. Compensation may be available for those individuals who received notice that their personal information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from Plaisted, you are likely affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. If you have received a notice about the data breach, you may be entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out: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 at 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
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Picktan Capital's Multi-Asset Defensive Growth Fund has achieved record-breaking Q1 2025 returns amid global market uncertainty.LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM / ACCESS Newswire / April 15, 2025 / Picktan Capital, an award-winning global wealth management firm based in London, has recently announced that its flagship Multi-Asset Defensive Growth Fund has delivered its strongest quarterly performance since inception, generating a remarkable 12.27% return in Q1 2025. The fund's latest performance outpaces all previous quarters since its launch in 2018 and reinforces Picktan Capital's position as a leader in resilient, globally diversified portfolio management.Serving over 9,000 clients worldwide and managing more than $7 billion in assets, Picktan Capital has earned a reputation for high-performance, client-centric investment solutions. The Multi-Asset Defensive Growth Fund, a privately managed vehicle, has been a cornerstone offering since 2018, designed specifically to provide investors with capital appreciation and downside protection during volatile market cycles.Since launch, the fund has maintained an impressive average annual return of 18.27%, outperforming traditional market benchmarks and comparable multi-asset strategies. Its strong start to 2025 reflects its agile positioning and the effectiveness of its diversified asset allocation model, which spans global equities, fixed income, commodities, currencies, and alternative assets.The fund's robust Q1 returns come at a time of increasing geopolitical and macroeconomic instability. Rising political tensions between the U.S. and Europe, coupled with escalating tariffs and the renewed threat of global trade fragmentation, have led to heightened volatility in equity markets. Against this backdrop, institutional and high-net-worth investors have turned toward multi-asset strategies that can offer both protection and opportunity.In June 2024, due to overwhelming demand and strong inflows, Picktan Capital made the strategic decision to cap the Multi-Asset Defensive Growth Fund at $1 billion in assets under management. Since then, the fund has remained closed to new investors. However, the firm has confirmed that it is now evaluating options to reopen the fund in the latter half of 2025, driven by mounting interest from European investors seeking exposure to defensive, actively managed strategies.Commenting on the fund's performance, Mr. Richard Hart, Head of Global Trading at Picktan Capital, said:"We are incredibly proud of the fund's performance, particularly in a quarter that presented investors with so many macro headwinds. Our multi-asset strategy is built on flexibility, data-driven decision-making, and a disciplined risk management framework. The record-breaking Q1 return is not only a reflection of our team's skill but a validation of our commitment to navigating complex markets on behalf of our clients." While the fund remains closed for now, Picktan Capital's investment committee is expected to deliver a mid-year review in June 2025, which may include forward guidance regarding the fund's reopening and updated investment outlooks for the second half of the year.About Picktan CapitalFounded in London, Picktan Capital is a global wealth management firm serving over 9,000 clients across Europe, North America, Asia, and the Middle East. The firm provides bespoke investment management, financial planning, and strategic advisory services to high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and institutions, with over $7 billion in assets under management.Media Contact:Sophie HayworthMedia and PR ManagerPicktan Capital LimitedEmail: media@ picktancapital.com Telephone Number: +44 (0)203 773 8881Address: 1 Canada Square, London, E14 5AX, United Kingdom.SOURCE: Picktan Capital
PR-Inside.com: 2025-04-16 14:02:19

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CASTRIES, SAINT LUCIA / ACCESS Newswire / April 16, 2025 / PrimeXBT , a regulated multi-asset trading platform, has won the Most Trusted Online Broker 2025' award from International Business Magazine - a recognition that reflects the company's long-standing commitment to transparency, platform security, and putting traders first.The award highlights PrimeXBT's consistent performance as a global leader in online trading since 2018. Over the past years, the company has built a strong reputation for offering a stable, secure, and innovative trading environment across both traditional and digital asset markets.According to PrimeXBT, trust comes from putting traders first in everything it does. From strong cybersecurity protocols and regulatory compliance to round-the-clock support and industry-first features, every part of its platform is designed with the client in mind. This award is a reflection of its client-centric approach and the trust of the incredible community that continues to grow with it.International Business Magazine's annual awards recognise standout companies in finance, banking, fintech, and more, selecting winners based on performance, innovation, and user satisfaction. PrimeXBT was honored for its all-in-one trading experience, access to over 100 markets, MT5 integration, and support for both fiat and crypto users. With ultra-low fees, up to 1,000x leverage, and a modern rewards system, the broker continues to set new standards in the industry.The award adds to a growing number of global accolades PrimeXBT has received, including those from ADVFN International Financial Awards, World Finance, and Global Brands Magazine - for being the best cryptocurrency and forex broker, as well as other prominent categories - affirming PrimeXBT's reputation as one of the most trusted names in the industry.To learn more, users can visit thePrimeXBT website .About PrimeXBT PrimeXBTis a leading Crypto and CFD broker that offers an all-in-one trading platform to buy, sell, and store Cryptocurrencies, and trade over 100 popular markets, including Crypto Futures and CFDs on Crypto, Forex, Indices, and Commodities using both fiat and Crypto funds. Since its founding in 2018, PrimeXBT has grown exponentially, serving 1,000,000+ traders in 150+ countries worldwide. With an aim of making investing available to all, PrimeXBT lowers the barriers to entry, providing easy and secure access to the financial markets with industry-leading trading conditions and innovative tools. Clients enjoy the confidence of trading with a trusted and reliable financial service provider, committed to empowering traders and offering more for less.Disclaimer: The content provided here is for informational purposes only and is not intended as personal investment advice and does not constitute a solicitation or invitation to engage in any financial transactions, investments, or related activities. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. The financial products offered by the Company are complex and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. These products may not be suitable for all investors. Before engaging, you should consider whether you understand how these leveraged products work and whether you can afford the high risk of losing your money. The Company does not accept clients from theRestricted Jurisdictionsas indicated on its website. Some products and services, including MT5, may not be available in your jurisdiction. The applicable legal entity and its respective products and services depend on the client's country of residence and the entity with which the client has established a contractual relationship during registration.CONTACTPrimeXBT pr@ primexbt.com SOURCE: PrimeXBT
PR-Inside.com: 2025-04-16 12:50:14

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / April 16, 2025 / Skeena Resources Limited (TSX:SKE)(NYSE:SKE) ("Skeena Gold and Silver", "Skeena" or the "Company") is pleased to report positive progress on the permitting timeline for its 100%-owned Eskay Creek Gold-Silver Project ("Eskay" or the "Project"). The Company has filed the Environmental Assessment ("EA") application with the BC Environmental Assessment Office ("EAO") for joint review with the Tahltan Central Government ("TCG"). Uploading of the revised EA application started on March 31 and was completed on April 14, 2025. The Company has outlined and provided responses on all agreed upon information requirements from the initial application to support a robust revised application to restart mining operations at Eskay Creek.Nalaine Morin, Vice President of Environment & Regulatory Affairs of Skeena, commented: "The submission of our Environmental Assessment application is a defining accomplishment, and I would like to thank everyone on Skeena's Environmental Assessment and Regulatory Engagement team for their tireless efforts in moving the project forward. I also want to acknowledge the Tahltan Central Government, BC's Environmental Assessment Office and the technical working committee, who have all facilitated the completion of this step. We are encouraged by our progress in advancing our permitting schedule in a timely manner and will now be focusing our efforts on the streamlined Joint Permit Application for the BC Mines Act and Environmental Management Act, that will be filed towards the end of this month." Randy Reichert, Chief Executive Officer of Skeena, commented: "With the filing of the Environmental Assessment application, Eskay Creek permitting is on track to meet our timelines. We appreciate the recognition of being on the Province of British Columbia's list of projects to be fast-tracked, while continuing our commitments to the Tahltan Nation's EA Consent Decision Process. With the provincial environmental assessment progressing smoothly, we expect to receive the environmental assessment certificate in Q4 2025.""Eskay Creek will be a key contributor to regional economic growth and community development for nearly two decades with a projected contribution of $14 billion to the GDP of BC and Canada and $3.6 billion of estimated tax payments over the life of the mine. Additionally, with substantial critical metal production, Eskay Creek is poised to become Canada's largest silver mine, producing a vital metal that will support a cleaner future." Randy Reichert continued: "I would also like to extend my sincere congratulations to our Vice President of Environment & Regulatory Affairs, Nalaine Morin, on being awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medallion. This prestigious award recognizes significant contributions to Canada or to a specific province, territory, region, or community. Nalaine is a strong Tahltan voice within Skeena and has been a driving force in leading the Environmental Assessment process, and this honor is a testament to her outstanding leadership and dedication. We are incredibly proud to have Nalaine on the Skeena team." Environmental Assessment Application and Public ConsultationFollowing the Company's initial Environmental Assessment application submission in mid-August 2024, the Project successfully completed the initial rounds of the public comment period and open houses. Skeena's Regulatory Engagement team has gathered and addressed input from BC EAO and the Technical Advisory Committee which includes participation from Indigenous Nations, including the Tahltan Nation (as represented by Tahltan Central Government), and regulatory agencies. The initial application addressed over 2,500 comments from the surrounding communities and was completed on schedule.Concurrently with the revised EA application, a Joint Permit Application for the BC Mines Act / Environmental Management Act is being prepared for filing in late April.Reinstated Economic Impact Results for Eskay CreekSkeena engaged consulting firm Tahltan ERM Environmental Management to conduct economic benefits modelling to determine the long-term economic value that Eskay Creek will generate. The results of this study confirmed that the development of Eskay Creek will create a significant new economic engine for B.C. and Canada. The project will bring direct, indirect and induced benefits to diverse stakeholders - including Tahltan Nation, the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine (where the Project is located), B.C., other provinces and territories, and Canada as a whole. All dollars expressed herein are in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise noted.Study Highlights Include:An Economic Driver: The mine will provide significant long-term value for both the national and local economies, with an estimated impact on gross domestic product of $14 billion over the life of the mine, assuming a gold and silver price of US$2,500 and US$30 per ounce respectively. Since 2018, Skeena has already invested over $460 million in BC, with significant portions going towards service providers in the northwest region of the province. Cornerstone of Regional Employment: The Project will provide meaningful employment opportunities over many years. Skeena always prioritizes hiring local employees and local suppliers wherever possible and will create over 800 direct jobs and potentially 2,000 jobs for outside service and contract organizations.949 direct jobs during peak construction771 direct jobs during peak operations31,258 person-years of employment during all phases of the Project (including, direct, indirect and induced)Revenues for governments: The Project is expected to contribute roughly $3.6 billion in direct, indirect and induced tax revenue to B.C. and Canada over the life of the mine. This estimate includes provincial and federal government tax revenues, including Corporate Income Tax and BC Mineral Tax revenue and assumes gold and silver prices of USD$2,500 and USD$30 per ounce respectively.Significant Critical Minerals Production in Canada: In addition to gold and silver, Eskay Creek also hosts a suite of other critical minerals including significant quantities of antimony, zinc, lead and copper, none of which are included in the economics of Skeena's current Definitive Feasibility study. Once Eskay Creek begins production, Skeena will be able to extract all these key metals in a bulk sulfide concentrate. These other metals also have the potential to increase concentrate payabilities and project economics beyond the current estimates.Corporate UpdateSkeena exte
PR-Inside.com: 2025-04-16 18:45:41

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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 16, 2025 / Stetson & Koenes, PLLC, recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted to Stetson & Koenes.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On November 1, 2024, Stetson & Koenes, PLLC identified suspicious activity on its network systems. Upon detection, Stetson & Koenes launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. Through its investigation, on February 20, 2025, Stetson & Koenes confirmed that an unauthorized third party had accessed sensitive personal information. Stetson & Koenes conducted a comprehensive review of the impacted data to determine what information was compromised and identified affected individuals.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personal information may have been compromised: name, Social Security number, driver's license number, and financial account information. On March 31, 2025, Stetson & Koenes filed a notice with the Attorney General of Massachusetts and started sending out notice letters to the impacted individuals. Compensation may be available for those individuals who received notice that their personal information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from Stetson & Koenes, you are likely affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. If you have received a notice about the data breach, you may be entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out: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 at 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
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Advanced Technology Helps the Bone, Joint and Spine Center Perform a Complex Hip Replacement at the Veterinary Referral Center of Central OregonBEND, OREGON / ACCESS Newswire / April 16, 2025 / Known for its advanced veterinary medicine, the Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon offers emergency and specialty services to the Pacific Northwest region. With a state-of-the-art facility and a team of board-certified professionals, VRCCO provides the technology and expertise required to tackle complex cases and achieve results that may otherwise not be possible. A notable example is a feline total hip replacement case brought to VRCCO in September 2024. Moira's Total Hip Replacement SurgeryBefore her trip to the Veterinary Referral Center, Moira experienced a severe fracture that led to the amputation of her right hind leg. After this surgery, it was discovered that she had also sustained an injury to her pelvis, which included a chronic luxation (dislocation) of her left hip. This injury was preventing Moira from living a pain-free, active life.Her pet parent brought her into VRCCO's Bone, Joint and Spine Center to meet with veterinary surgeon Dr. Mauricio Dujowich. Dr. Dujowich assessed Moira's case and proposed a total hip replacement surgery, an especially complex procedure given her size and the fact that she only had one back leg.Total hip replacements have been performed successfully in dogs for decades, but it is only in more recent years that veterinary surgeons have been able to replace smaller hips. Very few surgeons have received the specialized training needed to perform these advanced small-breed surgeries. The implant systems (the nano and micro hip) are distinct and require alternative instruments, different from those used in traditional canine hip replacements. Moira's case was particularly challenging because she has only one back leg, and her new hip would have to bear a significant amount of weight immediately after surgery.Dr. Dujowich states, "To ensure the best possible outcome, our team performed a CT scan and used 3D printing technology to create an exact model of Moira's hip and femur. Given how small her bones were, precision was critical. Understanding her specific anatomy and practicing on the 3D models of the hip and femur allowed the team to refine their approach, ensuring everything went well on surgery day." Having the ability to perform "dry runs" of this surgery helped VRCCO surgeons understand the subtle differences in Moira's small anatomy. This was imperative to maximize the chance of success for her procedure. Thanks to this thorough preparation, Moira's surgery went smoothly and she quickly adapted to a pain-free life on three legs.But the real hero of Moira's story is her devoted pet parent for taking a chance on Moira and trusting the surgical team at VRCCO to find the best possible solution for her. Because of that love, the dedication of the VRCCO team, and the success of this surgery, Moira is now thriving - living her happiest, healthiest life. To learn more about Moira's journey with VRCCO, click to watch her video story on YouTube, Facebook or Instagram.Contact InformationKatie SedivecMarketing Directormarketing@ vrcvet.com 541-209-6960SOURCE: Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon
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LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESS Newswire / April 15, 2025 / The world of modern dating is undeniably fast-paced, marked by endless swipes and fleeting interactions. For many, the pursuit of meaningful relationships has been overshadowed by the transient nature of dating apps. Against this backdrop, Beau Brummell Introductions (BBI) was founded as a beacon of hope for those who desired something deeper-a platform focused on creating lasting, monogamous relationships for gay men. But what inspired the creation of such a purposeful matchmaking service? The answer lies in the personal love story of its founders and their unwavering belief in the power of genuine connection.A Love Story That Sparked a VisionBeau Brummell Introductions founders Vinko Anthony and Andrea Zaza didn't meet through an app or algorithm. Their love story began through intentionality, effort, and real connection-hallmarks of a relationship built to last. Their partnership, both in business and in life, became the driving force behind Beau Brummell Introductions. Reflecting on the early days of their relationship, they recognized a growing disconnect in how people approached dating in a digital age. While technology offered convenience, it often lacked depth, leaving many feeling unfulfilled in their pursuit of love.The couple's personal experience instilled a deep understanding that meaningful relationships don't just happen; they require presence, openness, and intention. This belief became the core philosophy of BBI, shaping every aspect of the service. For Vinko and Andrea, Beau Brummell Introductions was never just a business-it was a mission to help others experience the transformative power of love.Redefining Matchmaking for Gay MenThe inspiration behind BBI wasn't merely personal-it was also born out of a clear gap in the dating landscape. While mainstream platforms catered to casual encounters and surface-level connections, there were few services designed specifically for gay men seeking long-term, monogamous partnerships. Beau Brummell Introductions sought to fill that gap by creating a bespoke, high-quality matchmaking service tailored to the unique needs of their clients.The founders recognized that many successful gay men, particularly those in public-facing or high-profile careers, were seeking a discreet and curated way to meet compatible partners. Modern dating apps, with their emphasis on quick matches and public accessibility, didn't align with these men's values or lifestyles. BBI was created to offer an alternative-a space where authenticity, privacy, and emotional connection could flourish.Bringing Meaning Back to DatingAt the heart of Beau Brummell Introductions is a desire to restore depth and intention to the dating experience. Many of BBI's clients come to them frustrated with the superficiality of modern dating culture. They're tired of swiping, ghosting, and short-lived interactions; they're looking for something real. BBI rises to meet this need by combining expert curation with a highly personalized approach.Unlike automated platforms, BBI takes the time to get to know each client on a human level. Through detailed interviews, the team gains a deep understanding of each individual's personality, values, and relationship goals. This thoughtful process ensures that every match is made with care, increasing the likelihood of a genuine connection.Furthermore, BBI places a strong emphasis on emotional intelligence and readiness for commitment. They recognize that compatibility extends beyond shared interests-it's about aligning values, communication styles, and long-term aspirations. By prioritizing these factors, Beau Brummell Introductions sets its clients up for success in both their dating journeys and future relationships.Building a Community of Love and TrustAnother key aspect of Beau Brummell Introduction's philosophy is the creation of a supportive and inclusive community. The challenges of gay dating are unique, and BBI serves as a safe space where clients feel valued and understood. The service is designed to remove the noise and pressure of public dating platforms, offering instead a discreet and exclusive environment.Confidentiality and respect are central to BBI's approach, especially for clients who are navigating the complexities of dating while balancing high-profile careers. By ensuring that introductions happen in a private and secure manner, BBI allows clients to fully immerse themselves in the process without distractions.This dedication to trust and exclusivity has also fostered a network of relationship-minded individuals who share a common goal-finding love. Every member of the BBI community is carefully vetted to ensure they are emotionally available, committed, and ready for a lasting partnership. This creates a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose, making the matchmaking process both meaningful and fulfilling.Transforming Lives Through LoveWhile Beau Brummell Introductions is deeply rooted in personal passion, it's also driven by a proven track record of success. The service boasts an impressive 87% success rate, a testament to the effectiveness of their thoughtful and human-centered approach. Countless lasting relationships and marriages have blossomed through BBI, changing the lives of their clients in profound ways.The founders firmly believe that love is one of the most powerful forces in life. It has the ability to bring joy, fulfillment, and purpose-and they are dedicated to making this accessible to gay men worldwide. By focusing on long-term, monogamous relationships, BBI offers an antidote to the fleeting nature of modern dating, proving that meaningful connections are not only possible but worth every effort.A Modern Approach to an Age-Old DesireBeau Brummell Introductions is more than just a matchmaking service; it's a movement to redefine how gay men approach love and relationships. It's a reminder that even in a digital age, the most meaningful connections are built on presence, intention, and effort. For Vinko Anthony and Andrea Zaza, the inspiration behind BBI will always be rooted in their personal story-a story of choosing connection over convenience and creating a platform to help others do the same.For those who are ready to step beyond the apps and rediscover the art of meaningful relationships, Beau Brummell Introductions offers a guiding light. With its bespoke approach, proven expertise, and unwavering commitment to love, BBI is transforming the dating landscape-one remarkable connection at a time.To learn more visit: https://beaubrummellintroductions.com CONTACT: https://beaubrummellintroductions.comhttps://beaubrummellintroductions.com/contact/ Email: info@beaubrummell
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 16, 2025 / United Domestic Workers of America/AFSCME Local 3930, recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted to UDW.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On January 17, 2025, United Domestic Workers of America/AFSCME Local 3930 became aware of a security incident on its servers. Upon detection, UDW launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation determined that an unauthorized third party gained access to UDW's systems and potentially compromised sensitive data. UDW conducted a comprehensive review of the impacted data to determine what information was compromised and identified affected individuals.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personal information may have been compromised: names, Social Security numbers, and addresses. On March 27, 2025, UDW filed a notice with the Attorney General of California and started sending out notice letters to the impacted individuals. Compensation may be available for those individuals who received notice that their personal information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from UDW, you are likely affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. If you have received a notice about the data breach, you may be entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out: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 at 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
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 15, 2025 / If you suffered a loss on your Venture Global, Inc. (NYSE:VG) investment and want to learn about a potential recovery under the federal securities laws, follow the link below for more information:or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. via email at jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com or call (212) 363-7500 to speak to our team of experienced shareholder advocates.THE LAWSUIT: This lawsuit is on behalf of all shareholders that purchased stock pursuant and/or traceable to Venture's registration statement for the initial public offering held on or about January 24, 2025.CASE DETAILS: According to the complaint, Venture completed its initial public offering on January 27, 2025, selling 70 million shares at $24.00 per share. On February 5, 2025, TotalEnergies, an energy company that was a target customer of Venture, rejected opportunities to become a long-term customer of Venture, citing lack of trust. In particular, TotalEnergies CEO, stated that he was approached by Venture to see if the company would be interested in a long-term supply contract for liquefied natural gas from the Calcasieu Pass terminal in Louisiana, but he rejected the offer "because of what they are doing."Venture is currently facing legal challenges from existing large clients, such as BP and Shell, due to delays in supply contracts as Venture commissions its projects. Given the fact that defendants ability to deliver liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the world and to continue development of Venture's five natural gas liquefication and export projects depends on customer contracts, defendants' failure to account for and address these issues caused statements in Venture's registration statement to be false and/or materially misleading at the time of the initial public offering.WHAT'S NEXT? If you suffered a loss in Venture stock during the relevant time frame - even if you still hold your shares - go to https://zlk.com/pslra-1/venture-global-inc-lawsuit-submission-form?prid=143267&wire=1 to learn about your rights to seek a recovery. There is no cost or obligation to participate.WHY LEVI & KORSINSKY: Over the past 20 years, Levi & Korsinsky LLP has established itself as a nationally-recognized securities litigation firm that has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders and built a track record of winning high-stakes cases. The firm has extensive expertise representing investors in complex securities litigation and a team of over 70 employees to serve our clients. For seven years in a row, Levi & Korsinsky has ranked in ISS Securities Class Action Services' Top 50 Report as one of the top securities litigation firms in the United States. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
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ISTANBUL, TR / ACCESS Newswire / April 16, 2025 / In recent years, Turkey has emerged as a global leader in hair transplantation, attracting tens of thousands of people annually who are seeking effective and affordable solutions to hair loss. The country's success in this field stems from a combination of expert medical professionals, cutting-edge techniques, and competitive pricing. Among the many skilled specialists operating in Turkey, Dr. Terziler has established himself as a standout figure, offering top-tier services to patients from all over the world.This in-depth article will explore the key reasons behind Turkey's dominance in hair restoration and shine a light on Dr. Terziler's innovative approach to patient care.What Makes Turkey the Top Choice for Hair Transplantation?High-Quality Treatment at Competitive PricesPerhaps the most compelling reason people travel to Turkey for hair transplants is the cost-benefit ratio. Clinics in the US or Western Europe often charge between $8,000 and $20,000 for a standard procedure, depending on graft count and technique. In Turkey, patients typically pay a fraction of that-usually between $2,000 and $5,000-without sacrificing quality.This affordability allows many individuals to undergo premium procedures that may have been financially out of reach elsewhere.Advanced Technology and Modern ClinicsMosthair transplant Turkeycenters are equipped with state-of-the-art medical technology. Clinics like Dr. Terziler's boast sterile surgical environments, the latest implantation tools, and a strong focus on safety and hygiene. Treatments are performed in compliance with international health standards, giving patients peace of mind.Medical Tourism ExpertiseTurkey is one of the most established destinations in the world for medical tourism, particularly for cosmetic and elective procedures. Clinics often offer tailored packages for international patients that include hotel accommodation, airport transfers, English-speaking support staff, and aftercare products. This all-in-one convenience is a big draw for travelers.Meet Dr. Terziler: A Visionary in Hair RestorationA Recognized Leader in Aesthetic MedicineDr. Terziler is a highly respected aesthetic doctor and hair transplant expert based in Istanbul. With a career spanning over a decade, Dr. Terziler has developed a reputation for precision, artistry, and natural-looking outcomes. His clinic, Terziler Hair Clinic, is a luxury facility offering a wide range of hair restoration techniques.Patients choose Dr. Terziler not only for his skill but for the personalized care they receive. From consultation to final results, his team ensures that every individual is treated with professionalism and warmth.Celebrity-Approved ResultsThanks to his consistent and impressive outcomes, Dr. Terziler has become a favorite among celebrities, athletes, and social media personalities. His before-and-after transformations are widely shared online, further solidifying his status as a leader in the field.His clinic's motto focuses on combining medical science with aesthetic design, ensuring every hairline is crafted to suit the unique facial features of each patient.Hair Transplant Techniques Offered in TurkeyFUE - The Modern StandardThe FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) method is one of the most popular procedures used across Turkish clinics. It involves harvesting individual follicles from the donor area (typically the back of the head) and transplanting them to the thinning or bald regions. It's minimally invasive, leaves no linear scars, and allows for a relatively fast recovery.DHI - Direct PrecisionDHI (Direct Hair Implantation) is a more advanced technique where hair follicles are implanted using a special tool called the Choi Implanter Pen. This method allows for greater control over the angle, direction, and depth of each graft, producing a dense, natural finish. Dr. Terziler is well known for his expertise in DHI and often recommends it to patients who want highly refined results.Sapphire FUE - Enhanced Precision with Sapphire BladesA newer development in hair transplant technology is the Sapphire FUE technique. As the name suggests, this method uses sapphire-tipped blades to create incisions, which are smaller and more precise than traditional steel tools. The result is faster healing and less trauma to the scalp.What Makes Dr. Terziler's Clinic Unique?Bespoke Treatment PlansAt Dr. Terziler's clinic, there's no one-size-fits-all solution. Every patient undergoes a comprehensive evaluation, including a scalp analysis and digital hair density mapping. Based on this, a customized procedure plan is designed to meet the patient's goals and expectations.Premium Medical Tourism ExperiencePatients arriving from abroad can expect a VIP experience from start to finish. The clinic offers premium hotel accommodations, airport pickup, private drivers, and even sightseeing options. The entire process is smooth, stress-free, and enjoyable-making the trip as memorable as the results.Ongoing Care and SupportDr. Terziler's care doesn't end when the surgery is over. His team provides patients with aftercare kits, hair washing tutorials, medications, and remote follow-up services. You can stay in touch with the clinic for months after the procedure to ensure everything is progressing as expected.Recovery Timeline: What to Expect After Your Hair TransplantHair restoration is not instant; patience is key. Here's a general timeline of what most patients can expect after undergoing a transplant in Turkey:Day 1-7: Scalp healing begins, slight swelling and redness may occur.Week 2-4: Shedding phase-don't panic, this is completely normal.Month 2-4: New hairs begin to sprout from the transplanted follicles.Month 6: Visible improvement in density and texture.Month 12: Final results are fully visible-thick, healthy, natural hair.Thanks to Dr. Terziler's attention to graft placement and natural angles, patients often report incredibly lifelike results that blend seamlessly with their existing hair.Cost Breakdown: How Much Will It Cost?While prices vary depending on the number of grafts and technique, an average package at Dr. Terziler's clinic typically includes:Pre-operative consultation and planningHair transplant surgery using FUE, DHI, or Sapphire techniques3-4 nights in a luxury hotelVIP transfers (airport - hotel - clinic)Post-op care materials and instructionsRemote check-upsTotal price range: 3,000 to 5,000, which is significantly lower than Western clinics offering similar standards.Things to Know Before Traveling to Turkey for a Hair TransplantResearch
PR-Inside.com: 2025-04-16 18:48:24

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESS Newswire / April 16, 2025 / Youlify , a physician-founded AI company rebuilding the financial backbone of healthcare, today announced $4.3 million in seed funding to help hospitals and doctors get paid faster and more accurately. The platform replaces traditional billers with AI and provides an end-to-end revenue cycle management platform that completely automates coding, claims, and denial recovery. The round was led by Brett Queener at Bonfire Ventures, with participation from Top Harvest (former GV partners), Illia Polosukhin (co-founder of NEAR Protocol), and Dan Roth (Distinguished Professor at University of Pennsylvania & Chief AI Scientist @ Oracle).Fixing a $262 Billion Bottleneck in HealthcareDespite the more than $100 billion spent annually on medical billing services, U.S. healthcare providers still lose an estimated $262 billion every year to denied or unpaid claims. Traditional billing vendors abandon 75% of denied claims as they are too complex and costly to chase with manual labor. Meanwhile, reimbursement timelines stretch for months, leaving providers to navigate opaque systems with little recourse.Youlify flips that model. Its generative AI agent automates the entire billing lifecycle-from claim creation to appeals and payment recovery-cutting timelines from months to days. Early customers are reporting up to 21% increases in revenue and 90% reduction in denials."Youlify boosted my practice billing revenue by more than 20%. They gave my practice insights on coding and better documentation. With Youlify, I am able to scale my practice without thinking about my back office operations." Dr. Chime, Surgeon, COO of Hillside Polymedic"People don't realize how hard it is for doctors to get paid for care they've already delivered," said Dr. Bo Gu, co-founder and CEO of Youlify who was the Department Chair during the pandemic. "I lived it. As a Physician leader during COVID, I saw our department lose 40% of its revenue because the billing system was broken. We built Youlify so that frontline providers don't have to fight to get reimbursed." By Physicians, for Physicians-Powered by Real AIFounded by Dr. Bo Gu (former Cardiac Surgeon and Emergency Physician), Sally Liang (AI Fintech veteran who helped beat Google in enterprise AI search), and Howard Peng (PhD in NLP and former Head of AI at NewsBreak), Youlify combines clinical insight with its leading AI model. Its proprietary AI agent was purpose-built for revenue cycle management and operates across EHRs, insurance portals, and billing software-handling structured and unstructured data in real time.Unlike legacy vendors, Youlify delivers:21% higher revenue capture via missed claims detection and undercoding correctionLightspeed onboarding in under one week and get paid four times fasterTransparent data insights into insurance reimbursement performance, coding optimization and data insights for revenue growth."Youlify is one of the most technically advanced platforms we've seen in healthcare," said Brett Queener, General Partner at Bonfire Ventures. "They're not just automating billing-they're rebuilding the financial backbone of how care gets paid for. The team's physician-led insight gives them an edge most startups can't learn secondhand. This is the kind of company that doesn't just improve a broken system-it completely replaces it." With this new funding, Youlify will accelerate its expansion into private practices and multi-specialty medical groups across the country, bringing its technology directly to the front lines of care delivery. The team is also launching an AI-powered voice agent to automate insurance appeals in real time-a task that today consumes hours of staff time and often goes unresolved.About YoulifyYoulify is a Physician-founded AI company streamlining how providers get paid. Built by AI experts, the platform automates end-to-end revenue cycle management with a generative AI agent that works across the complex matrix of insurance claims, EHRs, and billing systems. Youlify helps physicians and hospitals boost revenue, reduce administrative burden, and recover the money they're owed-faster.For more information, visitwww.youlify.ai Media Contact:Lauren Wallack-Estes Lauren@ outlierpartners.com Outlier PartnersSOURCE: Youlify
When Okikiola Abdul invested $300 in a supposed forex trading platform, Cryptocurrency Exchange (CBEX), in March, he hoped to use the proceeds from his investment to rent a new apartment and finish up some personal projects.

First, the idea of a 100 per cent return on investment promised by CBEX seemed too good to be true. But Mr Abdul, who recently completed his degree programme at Ekiti State University, nursed fears that the forex trading platform could be a new Ponzi scheme. Yet, a close friend who had traded on the platform for six months managed to convince him.

In less than 35 days, I was supposed to receive $600, the double of my $300 investment, he said.

However, a post by a popular X user, Man of Letters (@Letter_to_Jack), set off a chain of events that would crash the dreams of Mr Abdul and hundreds of investors like him.

On Wednesday, 9 April, @Letter_to_Jack posted that CBEX was likely a Ponzi scheme despite investors impressive gains. He predicted that the digital investment platform would soon crash and warned wainvestors to exit before it was too late.

Someone told me about a CBEX this evening. They invested $1k and have since withdrawn $5k this year. Having done all my checks, the platform flies all the flags of a Ponzi scheme. People are cashing out steady with no losses. You know what that means? Easter, Ileya or Xmas.

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For those who dont understand, what Im telling you is the crash is imminent; its better to use your money to play bet than to go into this. Its at best a zero sum game. You will cry, he wrote.

The post gathered over a million views on X and became one of the trending topics on the blogging site.

What is CBEX and how does it operate?

On its website, CBEX introduced itself as a company established in Singapore in 2015 and claimed to have been revolutionising crypto-trading with AI-powered signals in partnership with ST.

It described itself as a global digital asset trading platform that allowed users to trade cryptocurrencies and earn high returns on their investments.

Investors say they were promised a 100 per cent return on investment in just one month using a minimum of $100 dollars to trade. Typical of a Ponzi schemes, CBEX used a referral and reward method to attract investors. An existing user registered an interested investor using his or her referral link. The referrer (upline) gets a 10 per cent referral bonus while the new investor gets a 10 per cent sign-up bonus.

Payments were made in USDT, a popular stablecoin that runs on blockchain and is linked to traditional currencies like the US dollar.

The new investor was then added to a Telegram group where trading signals were posted. The job of the investor was to copy the signals and paste them to the trading section of the CBEX trading app. After the trade was confirmed, tokens were added to their balance.

The fall of CBEX

A Ponzi scheme relies on the delicate balance between deposits and withdrawals. When withdrawals exceed deposits, the scheme collapses.

After the warning by X user, @Letter_to_Jack, trended, investors began having difficulty making withdrawals. By Thursday (10 April), users indicated that withdrawals had been suspended, with the platform citing system upgrades and assuring access by 15 April.

However, Mr Abdul, like many investors, said his balance read a total asset of zero dollars. The investment of $1,200 he made on behalf of a close relative could also not be accounted for.

CBEX allegedly locked its Telegram channels and delayed withdrawals. To access their funds, investors were offered a verification process: pay $200 to unlock $2,000 or $100 to unlock $1,000.

Like hundreds of Nigerians who have lost their investments, Mr Abdul says he can never recover his money from CBEX. He says the situation has left him feeling very low.

Just this morning, my colleagues were laughing at me. I was eating, scrolling through Instagram, and saw something funny. I smiled, then remembered I lost money to CBEX. Instantly, I dropped from 100 per cent to zero emotionally, he said.

Videos of people who have lost money to the Ponzi scheme has flooded social media.

The estimated losses are pegged at N1.3 trillion, according to a recent analysis by Taiwo Owolabi, a cryptocurrency expert and security. The analysis showed how investors funds were diverted into a central wallet, which was holding at least $857 million in USDT (equivalent of N1.3 trillion).

In Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, an angry mob looted the CBEX office located in the Oke Ado area of the state. In widely circulated videos, people were seen carting away office equipment and furniture.

SEC speaks

Reacting to the development, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) warned Nigerians against unregistered trading platforms.

In a statement on Sunday, SEC said the newly enacted Investments and Securities Act 2025 made it illegal to operate digital asset exchanges or online foreign exchange trading platforms without formal registration with the commission.

By virtue of this Act, it is an offence in Nigeria for any entity that is not registered by the commission to carry out the business of online foreign exchange trading platforms or related services, the agency said.

According to SEC, operating a Ponzi scheme now carries a minimum penalty of N20 million, with 10 years or more jail terms under the new law.

Nigerians romance with ponzi schemes

CBEX is not Nigerias first encounter with Ponzi schemes, as the country has seen numerous similar cases in the past. However, the most memorable scheme which shook the nation and left many in financial ruins was the infamous Mavrodi Mundial Moneybox (MMM) in 2016.

MMM was founded by a Russian, Sergei Mavrodi. Using the tag line of social financial network aimed at providing help, the Ponzi scheme promised a 30 per cent monthly return to investors. It attracted over three million Nigerians who were desperate for financial gain.

Despite warnings from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), many Nigerians invested heavily in the scheme. The initial returns made from deposits made the scheme more popular. As the Christmas season drew near, investors began having difficulty in making withdrawals.

By December, the scheme crashed. MMM froze all accounts citing system overload to prevent problems during the Yuletide. The crash of MMM caused unprecedented havoc to the nation. Many were left penniless, and some even committed suicide.

The 2016 MMM Ponzi scheme left Nigerians with an estimated N18 billion losses, according to a rough estimate by the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC). Yet, the promise of easy gains continues to lure people into similar schemes, allowing them to persist.

READ ALSO: EFCC arrests 28 Ponzi scheme suspects in Minna

Similar to the CBEX case, investors in MMM and other Ponzi schemes often disregarded warning signs such as the unregistered status of the platforms, enabling them to operate outside government regulations.

They also overlooked the unsustainable returns on investment typically promised by these platforms, which were designed to exploit their greed.

Also, many of these platforms lacked clearly identifiable owners, promoters, or executivesanother early warning sign that investors, enticed by the prospect of too-good-to-be-true returns, often ignored.

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Geregu Powers after-tax profit retreated by 27.9 per cent in January through March, relative to the same period of 2024, the latest earnings report of the electricity producer shows.

Details of the report indicated that revenue fell short of projection by 47.8 per cent or N29.1 billion.

The company set itself a net profit target of N11.3 billion for the period, but it turned out that N10.4 billion of that was achieved.

At N31.8 billion, revenue was 37 per cent weaker, with cost of sales eating up 62.2 per cent of that figure. That compares to a year ago when cost of sales gulped 43.7 per cent of revenue.

Geregu Power is majority-owned by Femi Otedola, the chairman of Nigerias oldest financial institution First HoldCo, who in October 2022 took it public.

Four months later, it welcomed Afreximbanks impact development arm Fund for Export Development in Africa to rank of its shareholders, when it took a 5 per cent minority interest in the utility provider.

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Net profit margin for the period under review was 32.8 per cent, up from 28.7 per cent.

Profit before tax was up by 40.6 per cent at N13 billion, while profit after tax dropped to N10.4 billion from N14.5 billion.

Total assets grew 7.4 per cent to N263 billion. The stock has depreciated by 0.7 per cent so far this year.

Mr Otedola owns the controlling interest of 78.1 per cent in the company, mostly through Amperion Power Distribution Company Limited.

Last May, Geregu Power announced an agreement with the German multinational technology conglomerate to more than double its current nameplate capacity to 1,200 megawatts.

The company plans to generate N53.1 billion in revenue this quarter and a net profit of N8.7 billion.

Shareholders fund slid to N41.7 billion in the period under review from N52.6 billion a year ago on the back of a drop in retained earnings.

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The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has warned that the 14 per cent tariff on Nigerian exports imposed by the United States could hurt the countrys manufacturing sector, reduce export earnings, and derail efforts to grow the economy.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, signed by the Director General, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, MAN said the policy would affect agro-processed goods, chemical and pharmaceutical products, and other value-added exports.

It warned that Nigeria could lose between N1 trillion and N2 trillion in annual agricultural export earnings as a result.

Undoubtedly, the United States remains one of Nigerias most significant trade partners, accounting for approximately 7 percent of its non-oil exports.

The imposition of a 14 percent tariff on Nigerian exports significantly undermines the competitiveness of locally manufactured goods in the U.S. market, he said.

President Donald Trump announced a 10 per cent import tariff from 5 April, raising Nigerian export duties to 14 per cent. But by 9 April, he paused the tariffs for 60 countries  Nigeria included  for 90 days, excluding China.

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According to MAN, the move could set back progress made in building up local industries and increasing exports of value-added products.

In 2024, total trade between Nigeria and the US stood at N9.59 trillion, with Nigerias exports to the US valued at N5.52 trillion. While crude oil makes up the bulk of exports, Nigeria has been pushing to grow non-oil trade, especially in agriculture and light manufacturing.

Mr Ajayi-Kadir said many of the affected products, including cocoa derivatives, sesame, and ginger, were already facing global competition. The new tariff could discourage manufacturers and farmers from adding value before exporting, and push them back toward shipping out raw commodities.

He said the situation will not only discourage investment in value-added production, but also encourage export of raw materials, which is inimical to the countrys industrialisation policy and job creation objectives.

MAN said that reduced export earnings would also weaken Nigerias economy.

This will have immediate implications for the nations balance of payments and could result in a drawdown of foreign reserves, putting further pressure on the exchange rate. The Central Bank of Nigeria may be forced to intervene more aggressively in the forex market, thereby reducing its buffer for managing other macroeconomic shocks, the statement read.

The group said it is also concerned that Nigeria may face pressure to reduce tariffs on American goods in return, which could hurt local industries.

Mr Ajayi-Kadir said any reduction in tariff on imports from the US may further open the Nigerian market to influx of goods, and further strangulate the domestic manufacturing sector.

He warned that such trade decisions must take into account Nigerias current economic realities.

Considering the countrys low level of industrialisation, weak infrastructure, and high production cost, MAN said Nigeria should negotiate trade agreements that are strategic, and not premature and hasty.

It called on the Nigerian government to urgently review its trade policy with the US, engage in dialogue with American authorities, and protect local manufacturers from the effects of the tariff hike.

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The place of promotion

This is the third in the series of articles being written to advise the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on what must be done in order to grow the non-export volume to match and even surpass that of crude oil and gas exports. The focus of this article has to do with policies the government must implement to support the promotion of Nigerian products in the export market. The policies relating to the aggressive promotion of non-oil exports are aimed at growing non-oil exports through the creation of demand for Nigerian products. This involves the creation of awareness about the exportable products of Nigeria in various export markets around the world.

Since the government cannot promote each and every product that is currently being exported from Nigeria, then the selection of items to be targeted by the export promotion policy of the government should be based on the impact of the increased export of these products, job creation, poverty eradication, reduced inequality, forex exchange inflow and the growth of gross domestic products in the domestic market. The recommended criteria for selecting the products to be considered in the export promotional policy of the government should include:

Market Demand: Products with high demand in international markets are preferred to ensure export success.

Competitive Advantage: Products in which Nigeria has a competitive advantage or unique selling points compared to other countries.

Quality Standards: Products that meet international quality standards to ensure acceptance in target markets.

Sustainability: Products that can be produced sustainably without harming the environment or depleting natural resources.

Value Addition: Products that have the potential for value addition through processing or packaging to increase their export value.

Market Access: Products that have the potential to access key export markets and comply with trade regulations.

The question, therefore, is which of the items produced in Nigeria meet these criteria? There is no need to reinvent the wheel because the product Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), in its Zero Oil Plan, already used some of these criteria to identify the products that Nigeria should aggressively promote for export in order to grow its export volume. The aim of this plan is to diversify Nigerias economy away from oil by promoting non-oil products for export. The NEPC identified 22 priority products and divided them into two categories as listed below:

Category A: Petrochemicals & Methanol, Soybean, Sugar, Cotton & Yarn, Nitrogenous Fertilizer & Ammonia, Palm Oil, Rice, Rubber, Hides and Leather, Cocoa and Gold.

Category B: Cement and Clinkers, Tomato (fresh and partly processed), Banana & Plantain, Oranges, Cashew, Cassava, Sesame, Spices, Ginger, Shea Butter and Cowpea.

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After deciding on the product to be promoted in the export market, other important considerations in the government policy on export promotion include market research, trade agreements, export incentives, infrastructure development, export financing, quality standards and certification, market access assistance, and capability building on export readiness.

Market Research: Understanding the market dynamics in the export markets is crucial for developing effective export promotion strategies. Therefore, the governments export promotional policy must include conducting thorough market research to identify target markets for the selected products, consumer preferences in the market, trends in demands, and current and potential competitors.

Trade Agreements: Leveraging free trade agreements is very important for any country that wants to grow its trade volume. Therefore the government needs to consider existing trade agreements and partnerships that can facilitate access to international markets. This means negotiating favourable trade deals to reduce trade barriers and promote exports to the major markets of the selected products.

Export Incentives: Since the country is in dire need of export in order to generate foreign exchange, there is a need to encourage different businesses to consider investment in the non-oil export sector. The proposed incentives can be both pre and post-export in its implementation. It should be designed in such a manner that the pre-export incentive reduces the cost of capacity building and mentoring programmes for export readiness, while the post-export incentives should involve giving a grant to the exporter based on the value of the shipment.

Infrastructure Development: In order to make the item of export competitive, it is important to reduce the cost of doing business. This can be achieved by building both hard and soft infrastructure that reduces the cost of exportation. The hard infrastructure includes building infrastructure that facilitates rail transportation, good roads to increase the speed of delivery, and power to reduce the cost of production. The soft infrastructure includes the deployment of applications (single window for trade) that fully automate and streamline the export process and documentation

Export Financing: To significantly grow any nations non-export volume, there is a great need for a policy that boosts the funding capacity of export credit agencies. This would enable them to provide trade finance instruments (like export credit guarantee and export credit insurance) to support export transactions and deploy single-digit export financing to boost the trade volume of exporters.

Quality Standards and Certification: One of the major challenges confronting the growth of non-oil export in Nigeria is the issue of rejection at the destination port due to the low quality of the item of export. The government needs to put an end to this menace to grow the non-oil export volume. In order to do this, there must be a policy in place that sets a minimum standard for any item of shipment, particularly agricultural commodities, and the policy must also mandate customs to ensure that no product with low-quality specifications is allowed for shipment out of any port in Nigeria.

Market Access Assistance: One of the reasons many exporters are able to do a few shipments every year is that they have access to only a few buyers in the export market. This also explains the reason why many intending exporters find it difficult to start a business. This, therefore, makes it very imperative for the government to implement policies that complement the efforts of businesses that want to gain access to different export markets around the world.

Capability Building on Export Readiness: Export readiness is a multifaceted concept that involves the ability of a company to successfully enter the export market, sustainably compete in the market and significantly grow its market share until it becomes established in the market. To grow the non-oil export volume, the government needs to implement a policy that ensures that all intending exporters are made ready through export readiness assessment and capacity-building programmes to bridge the gaps revealed by the outcome of the assessment.

Finally, I strongly believe that if the policies suggested in this write-up are considered with necessary modifications and implementation, it will help the respective government agencies achieve the objective of growing the non-oil export sector to become a major foreign exchange earner for the country.

Bamidele Ayemibo is the chief executive officer at 3TImpex Trade Consulting

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A renowned Nigerian cartoonist, Olaseinde Obe, is dead.

Known by his signature, Obe Ess, the former cartoonist for the Nigerian Guardian newspaper, was 68.

He spent many years at the Guardian newspaper, where his cartoons became powerful tools renowned for his sharp wit and distinctive style.

His brother, Taiwo Obe, founder of the Journalism Clinic, announced his demise on Tuesday on X.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State reacted to the death by describing it as a great loss to the media industry.

Mr Sanwo-Olu, in a condolence message issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, on Tuesday, said the exit of the renowned cartoonist was heartbreaking, given his contribution to journalism.

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The death of Olaseinde Obe is a great loss to the media industry and he will be greatly missed.

He made lots of positive impacts during his lifetime, contributing meaningfully to the growth and development of journalism in Nigeria.

Especially using cartoons as illustrations and medium of expression. His landmark achievements in the media industry are unprecedented.

READ ALSO: Afrobeats sensation Harcher premieres two new singles in Lagos

I sympathise with the deceased family, friends, associates, the Guardian media team and entire media practitioners in Nigeria.

I pray that God will grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss of Obe Ess, he said.

The family has yet to announce the cartoonists burial arrangement.

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Not long ago, journalism tools comprised a notebook, a typewriter and possibly some coins for a telephone box to phone copy into the news desk. Then computers, email and cell phones brought speed, connectivity and the potential to demand greater accountability of the worlds leaders, as the media took advantage of improved communications technologies.

After the 1993 Black Hawk Down incident in Somalia, which was broadcast around the world and shaped the future of counter-terrorism operations, the 2002 Iraq war marked a new era of 24/7 news broadcasting.

Round-the-clock coverage enabled newsrooms to expose global events in real time. The Broadband Global Area Network satellite system relayed quality images and audio at speed. It was replaced by systems like LiveU, an industry standard using multiple cellphone connections to deliver broadcast news.

Each new iteration of technology has left the basic principles of news journalism intact. Key to the profession is the ability to hold power to account as part of the constitutionally guaranteed right to a free press.

However, a worrying trend is the abuse of emerging technologies to pollute the information environment. This can be done by distorting what we see or read, manipulating how information is delivered, or impersonating the messenger. That is, mimicking journalists, who traditionally have been considered a credible source for fact-based information.

The trend of AI-driven avatar journalists impersonating investigative reporters across Africa is captured in a recent Konrad Adenauer Foundation report.

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Democracy relies on pluralism, that is, many opinions that lead to societal and political decisions, argues Hendrik Sittig, director of the organisations Media Programme for Sub-Saharan Africa. However, the information by which we form our opinions must be  fact-based and true  anything else could have tragic and devastating consequences.

The report identifies how  as well as AI-generated deepfake attacks on journalists and influencers  AI avatars are being created to impersonate journalists and deliver narratives at scale and speed. This is part of information operations, or foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), which is used as a tool of geopolitical influence.

An investigation highlighted by the African Digital Democracy Observatory, discovered that Israeli cybersecurity company, Percepto International, used such techniques to create a fake French-Ghanaian investigative journalist with her own social media profile and website. She was used to insert material into mass African media, and designed to smear local politicians and international organisations in Africa with fabricated revelations.

Creating a fake investigative journalist arguably lends credibility to a story while trampling on the code of practice that underpins professional journalism. The investigation found multiple examples of such avatar journalists.

This tactic appears to mimic the earlier use of fake personae in prominent political advertising campaigns in Burkina Faso, where literal international actors appeared to lend support to the countrys September 2022 coup leaders. The firm Graphika observed a similar technique used to distribute pro-Chinese Communist Party propaganda via supposedly fake websites populated by avatars.

While the technology behind AI avatar creation is designed mainly for training and marketing, malign actors use it to undermine public trust. The technology is not at fault  instead, the problem is the absence of guardrails surrounding its use.

More recently, an Al Jazeera investigation found that ghost reporters were writing pro-Russia propaganda in West and Central Africa, using the identities of deceased people, rebranded as investigative journalists. The content is posted on news outlets across the continent. Articles published in at least 12 African countries linked the practice to what the Al Jazeera team called a coordinated pro-Russia influence campaign.

Using new technologies to pollute the information environment or sow doubt about established facts poses a threat to democracies. In fragile democracies like many across Africa, the absence of robust professional media to counter such disinformation is concerning to those who care about information integrity.

While African leaders are embracing the benefits of digital technology and generative AI, for example through the African Unions Continental Artificial Intelligence Strategy, a sense of urgency in understanding the risks appears lacking.

Another danger is the erosion of traditional professional media, both in terms of funding and staffing. One senior editor told Institute for Security Studies (ISS) researchers that during South Africas May 2024 elections, some of her young journalist team struggled to understand their role in the democratic process.

Notwithstanding those concerns, a separate ISS study found that professional journalism acted as a bulwark against mis/disinformation campaigns during that election.

There are some efforts to educate the public about the dangers of a distorted information environment. The Konrad Adenauer Foundation recently published a Marvel-style comic book described as a journalists quest for justice in the age of AI, written and illustrated by a South African team. This, plus initiatives from organisations such as Media Monitoring Africa, are notable exceptions in promoting digital literacy and could inspire future interventions.

While much of the current debate in South Africa has focused on social media platforms and regulating online content  particularly in the context of recent white supremacist narratives  this is unlikely to catch the journalist impersonators using generative AI.

An Artificial Intelligence Act like that recently introduced in Europe may not, and arguably should not, be replicated across Africa because of what many argue is the lack of data, capacity and inequalities in access.

South African-based organisations like Research ICT Africa say it will be hard to measure risks and develop resilience measures unless tech companies grant research and monitoring organisations access to online data as they do in the global north.

Hardwiring AI awareness into newsroom training may also be a practical solution to consider on the supply side. On the demand side, public campaigns are needed that frame professional journalism as a public good and highlight the danger of it being undermined by counterfeits  just as one would with fake brands.

Karen Allen, Consultant, Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Pretoria

(This article was first published by ISS Today, a Premium Times syndication partner. We have their permission to republish).

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Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said there is no going back on the formation of a coalition to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.

Atiku, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), maintained that the coalition movement was not just a political strategy but a necessity to challenge the ruling party and rebuild the country.

The former presidential candidate stated this in a statement he posted on his official X account on Wednesday after he met with a delegation of two groups to brief them about the coalition.

Yesterday, I met with a delegation of two groups, during which I briefed them about the status of the pan-Nigerian coalition that I am building in conjunction with other leaders and stakeholders across political divides and regions. I informed them that the Nigerian Movement is being powered by Nigerians desirous of reclaiming and rebuilding their country from across the nooks and crannies of our country, he said, in the statement.

Atiku has been rooting for a coalition to challenge the APC in 2027.

The move involves the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, and a former governorship aspirant in Ogun State, Segun Sowunmi.

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The former vice president has been reaching out to key political figures across party lines and the coalition team has been holding a series of consultations, including a visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Atiku also held talks with Tim Smith, the acting chief of the US Mission to Nigeria, where political developments and democratic stability were reportedly discussed.

However, theres a crack within Atikus own party, the PDP. The governors under the of the partys platform have distanced themselves from the coalition with arguement that it could weaken its unity and electoral strength.

The governors opposition to the coalition is being interpreted in some quarters as a direct challenge to Atikus political authority within the party.

Despite the challenges, the former vice president still believes that many Nigerians would join the movement.

Indeed, the Coalition Train has left the station and would have multiple stops to bring on board Nigerians of all shades. First was the meeting with a delegation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Nasarawa State, led by Alhaji Jibirin Sabo Keana. The second was a delegation of National Opinion leaders, led by Hon. Yusuf Sheriff Banki, he added.

Political coalitions in the past and their status

Political parties going into a coalition is not new in Nigerias political space.

There are records of several coalition movements and while some of the alliances made impact, others collapsed due to internal disagreements.

In the First Republic, the United Progressive Grand Alliance (UPGA), a coalition of the Action Group (AG) and the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) was formed to challenge the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC), but later failed.

There was a merger between the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and the Nigeria Peoples Party (NPP) in 1979 to allow the NPN to secure a parliamentary majority.

Similarly, there was another attempts in 2003 by the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) to counter the PDP, but it later collapsed.

In 2013, some opposition parties successfully merged to form the APC. The parties involved in the merger are the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), ANPP, a faction of APGA, and the new PDP (nPDP).

The merger succeeded in ending the PDPs 16-year rule in the 2015 elections. It marked the first time an opposition party unseated an incumbent government.

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A yet-to-be-identified security operative has shot a woman dead in Anambra State, Nigerias South-east.

Sources told PREMIUM TIMES that the incident happened on Tuesday evening at the popular Ibeto Junction in Nnewi, a community in Nnewi North Local Government Area of the state.

Heavy gridlock often occurs at the junction, according to sources familiar with the area.

Although the identity of the security operative was unclear at press time, this newspaper reliably gathered that the operative is a member of Agunechemba, a newly formed security vigilante outfit in Anambra State.

The Governor of Anambra State, Charles Soludo, signed the Anambra State Homeland Security Bill 2025 into law in January, establishing the Agunechemba as a vigilante group in the state.

The governor said the vigilante outfit would help check growing insecurity in the South-eastern state.

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How it happened

Witnesses told PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday that the incident happened when the operative was shooting in the air to clear a serious gridlock in the area.

The operative and his colleagues were driving in their vehicle but like other residents, were trapped in the gridlock prompting them to fire shots to clear the road, Ikechukwu Okoye, a witness said.

A bullet consequently hit a woman who was walking along the area and she died, Mr Okoye said.

Police speak

The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Ikioye Orutugu, confirmed the development in a statement by the police spokesperson in the state, Tochukwu Ikenga, on Wednesday.

READ ALSO: Gunmen wearing army uniform abduct entrepreneur

Mr Orutugu identified the deceased woman as Chiamaka Okeke.

The police chief said the state command was already in contact with leaders of the security outfit to identify the operative and ensure that justice was served.

He described the suspect as a trigger-happy security operative, but did not mention that he is a member of the Agunechemba vigilante outfit.

Investigations are currently ongoing and further developments would be communicated, he stated.

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An Ikeja High Court on Tuesday struck out the defamation suit filed against an Instagram celebrity Martins Otse, also known as Verydarkblackman (VDM).

A human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, and his son, Folarin popularly known as Falz, had filed the defamation suit against VDM.

Mr Falana filed the suit following an audio recording made by a cross-dresser, Bobrisky, accusing Mr Falana and his son of perversion of justice.

The claimants were demanding N500 million each as damages over a video VDM posted on his social media platforms.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that when the case was called on Tuesday, Mr Falana, his son and VDM were absent in court.

However, counsel to the respondent, Niyi Alagbe, holding brief for Marvin Omorogbe, informed the court that he had earlier filed an application for a stay of proceedings before Justice Fimisola Azeez.

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The counsel to the Falanas, Omotayo Olatunbosun, in his response, informed the court that he received the said application on Monday at about 4.15 p.m.

Mr Olatunbosun argued that the matter of the day was the preliminary objection, which he said was ripe for hearing and that the new application was meant to prolong matters.

Mr Olatunbosun urged the judge to proceed with the business of the day.

Justice Matthias Dawodu said the application in question was not in the file and wondered why he was being troubled with the case when the substantive suit was before another court.

Mr Dawodu struck out the suit and held that insistence on going ahead with the suit would be an academic exercise since the substantive suit was before another judge.

Consequently, this suit is hereby struck out, he said.

(NAN)

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Sergei Naryshkin, the head of Russias foreign intelligence service, has reiterated Russias conditions for ending the war in Ukraine.

Russian state news agency, TASS, quoted Mr Naryshkin as saying that Ukraine must renounce its ambitions to join NATO and give up territories annexed by Moscow if the Ukraine war was to end.

The conditions of the peace agreement naturally include a nuclear-free, neutral status for Ukraine, the demilitarisation and denazification of the Ukrainian state, and the abolition of all discriminatory laws passed after the 2014 coup, Mr Naryshkin said, referring to the overthrow of Ukraines pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych in the wake of pro-Western protests.

A peace deal, Mr Naryshkin continued, must also include recognition of the sovereignty and territorial borders of the Russian Federation  the current territorial borders.

Following Russias annexation of the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea in 2014, Russia also illegally annexed the Ukrainian regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhya following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine launched in February 2022.

However, Russia did not fully control any of the territories except Crimea.

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Mr Naryshkin praised the fact that dialogue between Russia and the U.S. on a potential end to the war has been resumed.

READ ALSO: Ukraine reports six dead in 24 hours of Russian attacks

Speaking during a visit to the Belarusian capital Minsk, Mr Naryshkin said that Russia and Belarus, which also shares a border with Poland, were seeing an increase in NATO activities on their borders.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia and the US were working hard on a peaceful solution for Ukraine but accused Europe of being interested in continuing the war by supplying weapons to Ukraine, but the EU and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksy have rejected this postulation and emphasised that they are striving for peace through strength.

(dpa/NAN)

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The Katsina State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (SPHCA) says it is targeting not less than three million children during the polio immunisation campaign scheduled for 26 -29 April.

Its Executive Secretary, Shamsudeen Yahaya, made the disclosure on Tuesday at a media dialogue with UNICEF, Katsina State Government officials and partners on polio and routine immunisation in the state.

Mr Yahaya said the exercise was aimed at creating awareness of the importance of immunisation in saving children from preventable deaths.

He, therefore, urged the media to continue to enlighten caregivers and other stakeholders on the importance of immunisation.

He revealed that the state has 1,636 health facilities providing routine immunisation services for children.

Mr Yahaya said the government would engage 3,700 independent monitors to ensure that each eligible child is reached during the campaign.

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In his remarks, the Officer-in-Charge (OIC), also the Nutrition Manager of UNICEF Kano Field Office, Karanveer Singh, stressed the need to immunise every child against polio and other deadly diseases.

Mr Singh revealed that polio is highly infectious, warning, Once a child is infected with the virus, he or she is permanently paralysed.

The officer explained that every round of immunisation is important, as is immunising every child until the virus is completely eradicated.

He added that immunisation is the backbone of any eradication programme, hence the need for caregivers and other stakeholders to intensify efforts in ensuring that all children below five years are fully immunised.

(NAN)

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The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has announced plans to develop a media enhancement bill aimed at improving the welfare of its members.

The National President of NUJ, Alhassan Abdulahi, said this during the 2025 Easter Cantata Concert held in Abuja on Tuesday.

The concert organised by the NUJ Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, is themed, Renewal and Hope: Harnessing the Transformation Power of Unity and Progress.

Mr Abdulahi said senior colleagues within the profession were working on a media enhancement bill that would soon be presented to the National Assembly for consideration.

He expressed hope that if the bill were passed, it would mark a new beginning for journalism in Nigeria, with improved remuneration for journalists.

The NUJ president also urged journalists to reflect spiritually during the Easter period and adopt a spirit of forgiveness.

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Additionally, he appealed to journalists to prioritise national unity and security issues to ensure a peaceful Nigeria.

Leke Abejide, Chairman of the House Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise, described NUJ as playing crucial role in the Renewed Hope Agenda, which sought to transform Nigeria into a unified and prosperous nation.

He commended the current administration for its efforts to drive economic development and create a hopeful future for the country.

Ali Muhammad Ali, the managing director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), emphasised the importance of journalists embodying the values of unity and transformation in their reporting.

Mr Ali was represented by Kayode Olaitan, Director of Planning, Research and Statistics at NAN.

Grace Ike, Chairman of NUJ FCT, argued that unity was a key driver of progress and urged journalists to use their unique role to share stories that inspire, educate, and unite communities.

Ms Ike said unity was a catalyst for progress, as it was the foundation on which progress was built.

It is the glue that holds us together, allowing us to face challenges with strength and resilience.

As journalists, we have a unique role in promoting unity by sharing stories that inspire, educate, and unite our communities, she said.

(NAN)

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Today, the crash of a Ponzi scheme, CBEX, which led to the loss of N1.3 trillion among Nigerians dominated headlines.

CBEX crash: Nigerians lose N1.3tn as digital trading platform disappears, Platform Times reported.

Tears, pain, anguish as another Ponzi scheme, CBEX crashes, The Matrix reported.



Desperate Nigerians lose over N1.7t to Ponzi schemes in nine years, Guardian reported.



How thousands of Nigerians lost N1.3trn to scam, Daily Trust reported.

The paper also said, Citizens need financial education  Expert.

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Punch also reported that Interpol joins EFCC in N1.3tn CBEX probe.

Meanwhile, Leadership reported that, Taraba, Ondo Lead As Lassa Fever Death Toll Rises To 127.



The Sun also wrote that, FG issues 47 refinery licences, fuel import plunges by 30m litres.



According to Tribune, Reps inaugurate 21-member committee on Rivers oversight.

Nation at a breaking point: Tinubu declares emergency to tackle soaring hunger, First News reported.

Daily Monitor reported, Adopt new strategies in tackling insecurity, Kaigama urges FG, security agencies.

Emergency Rule: You must report to NASS, Reps tell Ibas, New Telegraph reported.

We thank Abiola Ayankunbi, a media management expert, for providing screenshots of the newspapers front pages.

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In furtherance of its resolve to promote Nigeria and Nigerians spirit of resilience, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has engaged the services of the Founder/ED of the Akin Fadeyi Foundation in its Nigeria Happens to Me project.

Founder of the foundation, Akin Fadeyi, disclosed this in a statement to PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday.

Nigeria Happens to Me is an initiative of the NOA to amplify successful Nigerian entrepreneurs confronting the odds and thriving in businesses and creative ventures.

It was launched in late 2024.

Mr Fadeyi eulogised the Director General of the NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu, for conceptualising the telling of our own story within the fog of negative narratives pervading our nation.

In his interaction with Mr Issa-Onilu, the DG said the NOA has an unequivocal commitment to ensuring the faces of Nigerians who are thriving despite our challenges are shown to the world. We owe them this amplification that sells them and expands their business frontiers.

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Mr Fadeyi said Nigeria could happen to Nigerians in different ways.

Nigeria can happen to us in different ways. Even as our story in Nigeria is replete with social deficits. It can be better, and the government owes citizens the imperative dividends of social contract. Demanding for it is a given. Nonetheless, it wont always be a woeful aggregated inference when we look at an exhaustive picture, he said.

He stated that the pilot scheme, scheduled to begin in Lagos, would be coordinated by Tukur Mustafa and the NOA Director, while in Osun State, the NOA director, Stephen Adebiyi, will play host to the team.

We will go state by state till we have covered the whole of the South-west, he said.

Mr Fadeyi said the interview with these unknown Nigerians who are doing great things in the face of very challenging circumstances should bring more spotlight on them.

He added, Our corporate production arm and Donor-feeder to the Foundation, Bufferzone Ltd, shall be working with the NOA to showcase the resilience and milestones of Nigerian entrepreneurs.

If you have got the Bank of Industry loan or other government incentives, or if you know anyone doing well you may want us to showcase, either on Facebook or elsewhere, mention them in your comment.

Relationship with agency

He emphasised that his strategic collaborative relationship with the NOA dates back to years.

The National Orientation Agency was the first federal government institution to adopt our corruption not in my country project in 2016.

I also recall that after the production of our COVID-19 messages in 2020, the NOA took it to the Secretary to the Federal Government, Boss Mustapha, and he instructed NTA to grant us free airtime every night for about eight months in partnership with the FG, he said.

Mr Fadeyi also said the Lagos State Government equally partnered with the foundation through the kind disposition of the Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotoso.

This explains why I do not engage the government in fisticuffs. I derive more results from mainstreaming advocacy intervention ideologies to the centre in a way that bridges the gap between the government and the people even as I have deployed technology, our FlagIt App and other initiatives to engender intervention for our people against social injustice. I leverage persuasive strategies to fulfil accountability without hurling a stony, Mr he said.

Previous partnerships

For close to a decade, Mr Fadeyi has been the convener of a national rebirth project called Corruption Not in My Country. This was launched in 2016 to galvanise citizens awareness against grassroots corruption.

He has, in the same vein, launched multidimensional partnerships with federal government institutions ranging from the National Orientation Agency in 2016, the Nigerian Police in 2017, and the ICPC in 2016 and launched an anti-corruption reporting App, FlagIt with the FRSC and other partners in 2019 with Professor Fatima Waziri-Adio, representing the then president as Keystone speaker.

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Officials of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) on Tuesday raided several shops in Utako Market, Abuja, sealing stores allegedly engaged in rebagging local rice as foreign brands.

The operation was carried out with support from security operatives. It targeted retailers selling popular brands including Royal Stallion and Mama Gold, which, according to the commission, have not been officially imported into Nigeria for years.

This raid is being carried out based on intelligence that theres ongoing rebagging of local rice in foreign bags, said Boladale Adeyinka, director of Surveillance and Investigation at the FCCPC.

She said the commission received reports from brand owners that their products are no longer in the Nigerian market.

Mrs Adeyinka said traders were exploiting consumer preference for imported rice by deceptively packaging local rice to appear foreign.

Because of the appetite for foreign brands, the market cartels are now going about rebagging local rice and selling in foreign bags. That is exploitative and against consumer economic interest, she said.

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Many Nigerians prefer foreign rice, seeing it as cleaner and of higher quality. In contrast, locally milled rice is sometimes poorly processed or contains stones, yet it is not significantly cheaperfueling the demand for imported alternatives, even when counterfeit.

At least five large stores were sealed during the raid, with shop owners summoned to the commissions headquarters for questioning. Mrs Adeyinka said due process would be followed and products found to violate consumer protection laws would be confiscated.

She warned that businesses found culpable risk penalties under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA).

We have administrative penalties and fines under our law, she said. Those found guilty will face administrative sanctions to serve as a deterrent.

The FCCPC cited intelligence from rights holders indicating that some of the brands being sold, including Mama Gold, ceased exports to Nigeria as far back as 2015.

They are not imported. They are not from Thailand. In fact, for Mama Gold, all exports ceased as far back as 2015. This is 2025, and yet, as you heard from the testimony of a trader, he is aware that those sizes are no longer sold. Thats why were here, Mrs Adeyinka said.

Under Section 125 of the FCCPA, businesses are prohibited from making false or deceptive claims about products. Section 138 further holds suppliers and distributors accountable for misleading representations about goods.

We are not aware

Some traders denied wrongdoing, insisting they were unaware sales of those brands of rice had been discontinued.

One shop owner said he sourced his stock from Kaduna and Kano. If I knew those rice products were banned or are no longer in the market, I would not have bought it, he said.

Igwenma Alex, secretary of the Utako Market Shop Ownership and Traders Association, claimed there had been no official communication informing traders that the sale of such brands now constituted a breach.

When something is banned, shouldnt awareness be created for Nigerians? So that they know its now considered counterfeit? he said. Even when you ban something, its not just about the tradersyoure protecting the entire nation.

Mrs Adeyinka said the commission would sustain its enforcement efforts and track supply chains behind the rebagging.

We will follow the trail to identify those producing and branding local rice with foreign labels that no longer exist in the market, she said.

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The US government has begun revoking the visas of international students in the country, with some of the students randomly arrested and taken into custody.

The development has sparked tension and uncertainty among foreign-born students, including Nigerians, who make up 1.5 per cent of the international student population.

About 600 international students in over 90 colleges and universities have had their visas revoked or their legal status terminated in recent weeks, according to a report by ABC News.

Many of the affected students are from India and China, which together account for more than half of the international student population. So far, no Nigerian student has been identified as having lost their legal status.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) spokesperson, AbdurRahman Balogun, told PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday that the commission has not received any complaints from Nigerian students regarding visa revocations or termination of legal status.

We are aware of the situation, but no Nigerian student has reported being affected so far, Mr. Balogun said.

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Many of the students being targeted are currently on F-1 and J-1 visas. The F-1 visa is issued to international students who have been admitted to accredited US institutions for full-time study.

The J-1 visa, on the other hand, is designed for a broader range of participants, including students, educators, researchers, and professionals, who are part of approved cultural or educational exchange programs.

This visa permits them to study, conduct research, receive training, or showcase unique skills. Once their programme concludes, J-1 holders are expected to leave within 30 days.

Lawsuits against US officials

Officials of the US State Department have accused some of the students of being involved in protest or political activism, using the US Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 as justification for revoking their visas.

This act allows the deportation of a noncitizen if the Secretary of State determines that their presence or activities in the country could have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences.

In March, Secretary of State Marco Rubio first confirmed the development, stating that the State Department had revoked the visas of hundreds of international students, targeting those involved in political activism.

It might be more than 300 at this point. We do it every day. Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visas, Mr Rubio said at a news conference.

According to media reports, US Immigration attorneys and policy experts said the spotlight on international students reflects the Donald Trump administrations broader immigration crackdown.

However, some of the students are fighting back. They have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration, claiming that the government violated their rights to due process before revoking their visas.

In lawsuits against the Department of Homeland Security, the students said the government lacked justification for its actions.

Some of the students argued against being singled out for infractions as minor as traffic violations, including some that occurred long ago.

Travel advisory

International students are also scared of embarking on short trips outside the US due to the risk of deportation.

Some colleges have advised their students to postpone their travel plans for spring break.

An international student at the University of Maryland confirmed receiving an advisory from the university warning against travelling outside the country for the holidays.

A similar advice was issued to International Students in several other universities, including Yale, Harvard and Brown University.

This was due to concerns about the new travel ban imposed by the Trump-led administration in March.

The new travel had affected 43 countries globally, and 22 of them were African countries.

The affected countries were categorised under the orange, red and yellow lists. Countries under orange faced the strictest restrictions, and those under yellow were issued a 60-day window.

However, Nigeria was not on the list.

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Some indigenes of Ihie Ndume in Umuahia Area of Abia State have asked the state assembly to intervene in the alleged mismanagement and hike of school fees at Government College Umuahia (GCU).

The indigenes, under the aegis of the Common Man Assembly, Abia State Chapter, made the appeal when they held a peaceful protest at the Abia State House Assembly Complex on Tuesday.

Ihie Ndume is among the communities hosting the GCU which has become a subject of controversies in recent times.

How it began

On 17 February, an indigene of another community, Emede, within the same Umuahia Area, Chukwudi Onwudinanti, petitioned the assembly over alleged disguised takeover and mismanagement of the college.

Mr Onwudinanti, in the petition which was read at the assembly chamber on 25 February, claimed that the Government College Umuahia Old Boys Association (GCUOBA), which currently manages the college, was running the institution contrary to its original purpose.

He said the Abia State Government handed over the college to the GCUOBA in July 2014 after signing a Memorandum of Understanding.

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The petitioner, an alumnus of the college, claimed that after a few years, the GCUOBA started running the school contrary to the purpose for which it was handed over to them by the state government.

Mr Onwudinanti alleged that the managers of the school have turned it into a private enterprise like a bourgeois school and cannot be accessible to average families of brilliant children within his constituency.

In March, the assembly launched an investigation into the allegations and invited the parties being invited as part of the ongoing investigations.

Save our soul

On Tuesday, hundreds of the Ihie Ndume indigenes stormed the assembly complex to protest the alleged hike of the colleges school fees to N1.1 million.

They carried placards bearing different inscriptions, a video clip obtained by PREMIUM TIMES showed.

Some of the inscriptions on the placards were: Bring down the high school fees of Government College Umuahia, GCU should be made affordable for the rich and poor, Our children can no longer attend GCU due to high school fees.

Leader of the protesting indigenes, Nathaniel Nwoko, told the assembly members that they were on a save our soul protest to seek assistance of the lawmakers in reversing the ugly situation at the college.

Mr Nwoko, who is the president of Abia State chapter of the Common Man Assembly, said they noted with concern some revelations about the college coming on the heels of Mr Onwudinantis petition to the lawmakers.

The president was reading out from a letter which was addressed to the Speaker of the House, Emmanuel Emeruwa.

The letter was jointly signed by Mr Nwoko and the groups Secretary, Banham Ezenwa.

So we have come here today to loudly say to the Abia State House of Assembly, please help us.

Therefore, we ask the assembly members, who represent us in this hallowed chambers, to help us, the common people, to correct these anomalies, Mr Nwoko said, while reading from the letter.

The president appealed to the lawmakers to ensure that the college was restored as a public school and that qualified students are allowed to enrol into the institution.

He also asked that the hike of the fees be reversed to reflect the current economic situation in Nigeria.

Ensure that the (Abia) State Government is part of the management of the GCU, so our interests would be protected, he further appealed.

Abia assembly speaks

Addressing the protesters, the Deputy Speaker of the assembly, Austin Okezie said the lawmakers were already looking into the matter.

I want to reiterate that this matter is already being looked into by the Joint Committee on Education, Public Petition and Judiciary.

We have had two hearings on it and from all indications we are going to have the final hearing just to give all the parties adequate opportunity to air their views, Mr Okezie, an alumnus of the college, said.

We will come up with a resolution that will be in the interest of the general public, the deputy speaker, who represents Umuahia East State Constituency, added.

On his part, the Chairperson of the Education Committee of the assembly, Uchenna Kalu, assured that they would restore sanity in the institution.

We are appealing to everyone of you to calm down.

The governor is very interested in this matter and we will make sure we give all parties fair hearing, Mr Kalu said in a mixture of Igbo and English languages.

The Chief Whip of the assembly, Emeka Obioma, told the protesters that their demonstration showed that they were in support of the investigation the House had launched into the matter.

The most important thing is that by the time we are done and issue our resolution, everyone of you will be happy with our position, Mr Obioma assured in Igbo language.

The lawmaker represents Umuahia South State Constituency at the assembly.

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The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) is poised for its next phase of growth with the appointment of Akintunde Babatunde as its new Executive Director and the promotion of Adebimpe Abodunde to Director of Operations.

Approved by CJIDs board, led by Umaru Pate, vice chancellor of the Federal University, Kashere, these appointments take effect in February 2025, signifying a key evolution in the organisations leadership.

As Executive Director, Mr Babatunde will spearhead CJIDs strategic direction, reporting directly to Chief Executive Officer Dapo Olorunyomi. His promotion from director of programmes underscores his proven leadership and dedication to CJIDs mission of advancing journalism and development, Mr Olorunyomi said in a statement on Tuesday.

Ms Abodunde, who has been serving as acting Director of Operations, will now formally drive CJIDs daily operational efficiency across all our offices under the Executive Directors leadership.

Since joining CJID in 2017, Mr Babatunde has been a driving force behind impactful initiatives across 12 African countries. Starting as a programme associate after his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in 2017, his achievements include pioneering DUBAWA, CJIDs respected fact-checking platform now operating in eight countries. He also played a key role in establishing the Natural Resource and Climate Change Reporting Unit (NAREP) and the UDEME social accountability project, fostering crucial reporting in these vital areas.

He was also instrumental in launching CJIDs Digital Technology, AI, and Information Disorder Analysis arm (DAIDAC), a leading regional entity tackling disinformation and foreign interference in West Africa using open-source intelligence tools.

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Mr Babatundes expertise has garnered international recognition, including his appointment as a UNESCO Media and Information Literacy Ambassador for Africa in 2019, a Chevening Scholarship to the University of Sussex in 2020 (where he earned a distinction in his masters degree focusing on media practice for development and social change), and his selection as a 2022 Mandela Washington Fellow. In January 2025, he was also recognised as a Media Transformation Challenge Fellow at the Poynter Institute for Media Studies. His insights have been shared at prominent global platforms such as the European Parliament and the New York Times Climate Hub.

Ms Abodunde brings a strong finance, management, and strategic partnerships background to her role as Director of Operations. She joined the organisation in February 2019, quickly took up the role of Human Resource Manager in 2020, and stepped into the role of Operations Lead in February 2023. She has also made significant contributions to events and project management at Premium Times, CJIDs sister organisation.

Ms Abodunde is a distinguished first-class Sociology graduate and a masters holder in Management from Durham Business School (Durham University, UK) and a postgraduate diploma in Innovation and Design Thinking combined taught by MIT Sloan, Columbia Business School Executive Education and Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, USA.

Prior to her work in media, she gained valuable experience in tax advisory and assurance with Deloitte Africa and business development at O2 Telefonica, United Kingdom.

She holds a Human Resource Management diploma from the Business School Netherlands and ACCA certifications in International Financial Reporting Standards, International Auditing, Public Sector Accounting and Data Analytics, demonstrating her commitment to financial integrity and operational excellence.

Established in 2014, the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) is a leading African media think tank and technology institution dedicated to strengthening investigative journalism, promoting media literacy, and fostering democratic accountability across the continent.

With a growing presence in Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia, The Gambia, Senegal, Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and beyond, CJID empowers journalists as defenders of the values of democracy, actively combat disinformation, advances social and electoral accountability and strongly advocates for press freedom.

These strategic appointments reflect CJIDs deep commitment to nurturing leaders who possess both technical expertise and an unwavering dedication to democratic principles, stated Mr Olorunyomi.

Akintunde and Adebimpe embody the core of our mission: to elevate journalism as a vital pillar of democracy and a cornerstone of development across Africa.

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The Nigerian government has launched a plan to prevent floods during the rainy season expected to begin in a few weeks.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that Nigeria experiences fatal floods annually with dozens of people killed, thousands of homes, farms and other properties destroyed and millions of people displaced. Some of the states most affected include Kogi, Bayelsa and Borno.

Launching the plan on Wednesday,

Vice President Kashim Shettima described the framework as a timely intervention to confront the rising threats of climate-induced disasters such as floods, which affected over five million Nigerians in 2024.

According to a statement by his spokesperson Stanley Nkwocha, Mr Shettima explained that the new framework is built on three strategic pillars, including early warning systems powered by satellite technology and delivered through community-based networks to provide life-saving information in real time.

Read the full statement below.

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As the rainy season sets in, with its attendant torrential downpour, the federal government has taken proactive steps to prevent flooding through strategic measures to enhance disaster preparedness and risk management across the country.

To this effect, Vice President Kashim Shettima on Wednesday launched Nigerias Anticipatory Action Framework, designed to shift disaster management from reactive responses to proactive preparedness by leveraging early warnings, local empowerment, and pre-arranged financing to save lives and livelihoods.

A key component of the strategy involves establishing a dedicated trigger group comprising meteorological and emergency management agencies that will synthesise data to enable forecasts up to two weeks in advance.

Speaking during a framework validation workshop held at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Office of the National Security Adviser in Abuja, Mr Shettima described the framework as a timely intervention to confront the rising threats of climate-induced disasters such as floods, which affected over five million Nigerians in 2024.

These disasters are no longer distant threats. They are here, knocking at our doors, sweeping through our streets, flooding our homes, and testing not only our moral sensitivity but the depth of our preparation, he said.

The vice president stressed the urgent need to dump the costly and inadequate reactive approach to disasters for a more proactive measure.

He stated, For decades, our response has been reactive. We wait for the waters to rise, for the homes to vanish, and then we scramble for relief. This late arrival of support costs more and saves fewer lives.

We lose close to 5 per cent of our GDP every year to reactive disaster responses. This approach is not only unsustainable, it is also deeply unjust to the most vulnerable among us. This is why we must act before disasters unfold.

The VP explained that the new framework is built on three strategic pillars, including early warning systems powered by satellite technology and delivered through community-based networks to provide life-saving information in real time.

The second is pre-triggered financing. No plan can succeed without resources made available before the storm arrives. The third is localised preparedness.

Studies have shown that anticipatory action can reduce losses by up to 60 per cent. That is not just a statistic. It is hope. It is the future of millions salvaged before ruin, he added.

Mr Shettima drew instances from Benue State where trained volunteers, responding to early warning alerts, evacuated over 80,000 people within 72 hours.

That is what it means to build early warning systems that work. Its not just about integrating forecasting tools, but delivering timely alerts in languages our people understand, the vice president stated.

He explained that the trigger group is composed of national agencies, including NiMet, NiHSA, NEMA, NASRDA, and NOA, working in collaboration with UNOCHA, WFP, FAO, and the IFRC.

We cannot leave here with only communiques and good intentions. We must take ownership of this framework, embed it into our institutions, and stay accountable to its promise, the vice president told participants at the workshop.

Earlier in his keynote address, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Nentawe Yilwatda, said the Tinubu administration is committed to supporting the operationalisation of the Anticipatory Action Framework for Nigeria.

He stressed the need for response agencies and intervention organisations to utilise the National Social Register to lay the foundation for a flood-resistant nation, noting that the register is a national resilience infrastructure.

The minister recommended the enactment of a risk management and data sharing protocol, the establishment of a national risk and sustainable coordination centre, early funding for anticipatory actions, and the deployment of technology to enable real-time monitoring of situations across the country.

On his part, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Nigeria, Mohamed Fall, commended Nigeria for taking the bold step in leading the institutionalisation of coordinated humanitarian response to disasters in the region.

According to him, the rest of West Africa is looking up to what is being done in Nigeria, as successes recorded in the country will permeate the rest of the region.

In his welcome remarks, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, said the workshop is a crucial step towards building a resilient and progressive nation, emphasising that poorly managed disasters can exacerbate insecurity, enable displacement, disrupt critical infrastructure and deepen societal fragilities.

He also noted that efforts aimed at strengthening the anticipatory capacity of the nation are a priority of the Tinubu administration, as it is essential in sustaining lives and securing national assets, among other goals.

On her part, the Special Assistant to the President on Humanitarian Affairs and Development Partners, Inna Audu, said the workshop was designed to accelerate the countrys journey towards a national early warning system that is integrated, inclusive, and anticipatory.

She noted that President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima are deeply committed to building a disaster-resilient Nigeria, stressing that the time for piecemeal responses was over and that stakeholders must shift to systems thinking where data, people, and policies are interconnected, and where foresight guides interventions.

There were also goodwill messages from the European Union and representatives of response agencies, development partners, civil society organisations and the private sector, among others.

*Stanley Nkwocha*

*Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media & Communications*

*(Office of The Vice President)*

*16th April, 2025*

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The Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) has constituted a reconciliation committee to look into all the various contentious issues weighing on the university.

A statement by the universitys Acting Vice-Chancellor, Olubunmi Shittu, a professor, noted the decision was taken on Wednesday afternoon during an emergency meeting with the university Governing Council.

Mr Shittu said the reconciliation committee will comprise seven internal and external members of the council.

He explained that the objective of the reconciliation committee is to resolve all issues that have been contentious.

The reconciliation committee will compromise seven members drawn from within the governing council and outside of the council. The objective of the committee is to put all the issues in the front burner in order to put them to rest.

We are going to consult widely and make sure that the university is returned to the path of stability. All the positive achievements that the university has achieved under the Fasina-led administration will be sustained and built upon.

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We will engage with management members of the university, as well as union leaders in order to create an atmosphere of peace in the university. We will reconcile all the various interests.

We are going to also engage with the students to make sure that the stable academic calendar that we have maintained continues. We will not allow anything that will disrupt the stability that FUOYE is known for, he said.

He added that the committee will also interface with religious leaders to make sure that all shades of concerns are well protected.

Mr Shittu is a professor of soil science and joined the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti in 2016 and became the Deputy Vice-Chancellor in 2021.

His appointment as the acting vice-chancellor of FOUYE by the governing council of the university follows the vice-chancellor, Professor Abayomi Fasina embarking on a six months leave.

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Erie County Sheriff John Garcia said he was taken aback when he first saw the nighttime video footage showing the pickup truck driven by his chief of narcotics slamming into two parked vehicles, then backing up and driving away in April of last year.

That was not how I imagined that accident on that evening, he said in an interview with The Buffalo News.

Based on the video, he said he understands why Niagara County District Attorney Brian Seaman last week issued Daniel D.J. Granville three driving violations for leaving the scene of an accident. He also said that obviously changes a lot regarding how his offices internal investigation will proceed.

Now, we have three leaving-the-scene-of-an-accident summonses that are troubling to me, the sheriff said in the interview.

The Buffalo News spoke with Garcia, County Executive Mark Poloncarz and Buffalo Mayor Christopher Scanlon this week about the investigations into Granville, who crashed his county-owned pickup into seven parked vehicles on the Lower West Side after 11:30 p.m. April 11, 2024. At the time, Granville was issued a ticket for driving the wrong way on a one-way street, a moving violation later reduced to a jaywalking charge.

Erie County Sheriff John Garcia pledges he will 'do the right thing' in Granville case Garcia said he was unaware of allegations that his chief of narcotics received special treatment after he crashed his county vehicle into seven parked cars last April, but if investigations determine that's what happened and that illegal conduct transpired, he'll take action.

The Common Council is slated to hold its investigation into the matter Thursday morning, though its not clear whether the Buffalo Police investigation is complete.

The one thing all elected officials had in common in their remarks is their statements that they had no idea about the nature of the Granville accident until it was reported by local media outlets later, and they were not interfering with ongoing internal investigations. Poloncarz, however, said concerns about a Buffalo Police Department cover-up seem legitimate.

Sure seems like there was a cover-up, potentially on the City of Buffalos end, with regards to some of the members of the Police Department, he said. I dont think the acting mayor had any knowledge about it. I doubt it, but it sure seems like something happened that night in the Buffalo Police Department that they need to investigate.

Scanlon said he knew nothing about the incident last year  which happened six months before he became mayor upon the resignation of Byron Brown  and that he didnt give any direction to his police commissioner, Alphonso Wright, when he found out about it later.

Its an Internal Affairs investigation, he said. I dont interject in those. I dont get involved in them. Theres a process that has to play out. My administration is committed to transparency and accountability, so Im not getting involved in that in any way, shape or form until, obviously, the investigation is completed and we find everything.

Erie County DA bows out of Granville investigation citing 'potential appearance of impropriety' A family member of Chief of Narcotics Daniel "D.J." Granville works for the Erie County District Attorney's Office, which would create "the potential appearance of impropriety" if the office was involved, in the investigation of the April 2024 crashes, District Attorney Michael Keane said.

He also said even though his police commissioner released information about the five officers placed on paid leave, he had no idea that information was going out.

I found that out through the media like everybody else did, he said.

Both Poloncarz and Garcia expressed an interest in sharing information publicly as soon as possible once the investigations are complete. Garcia said his offices investigation is dependent on the Buffalo Police Departments findings, but hes aware the reputation of his office is at stake.

Were proceeding with our internal investigation, and hopefully this comes to an end, he said. I know the most important part is for the truth to come out as far as what occurred on that evening.

The Buffalo Police Departments internal investigation would involve all the officers who were involved with the accident, including Granvilles sister-in-law, Buffalo Police Lt. Lucia Esquilin, who was the supervising officer who signed off on paperwork related to the crashes.

The only thing that I look for, and I have no reason to believe it wouldnt happen, Scanlon said, is that the Internal Affairs division does everything on the up and up and does a thorough job, but I have no reason to believe they wouldnt.

5 Buffalo cops placed on leave; Granville issued new citations as probe continues Five members of the Buffalo Police Department have been placed on administrative leave, while Daniel "D.J." Granville was issued three new traffic citations for the April 11, 2024, incident.

On the Sheriffs Office end, Garcia also said he is not interfering. Many questions remain outstanding for the Sheriffs Office, such as why limited follow-up appears to have been done by his office at the time of the incident when the countys policy would seem to require it.

Garcia said this week that his office opened an investigation the day after the incident first occurred, but then closed it, only to reopen it again when information about the incident came out. As someone who used to work for the Buffalo Police Department, he said, he would have had no reason to doubt the city departments determinations.

Poloncarz said he does not have any role in taking action against the sheriffs employees, but that the video of the crash calls for action.
Some prominent members of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), a bloc in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), have reaffirmed their loyalty to the ruling party.

They also declared support for President Bola Tinubus administration.

The members led by a former governor of Nasarawa State, Umaru Al-Makura, pledged their loyalty in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement was signed by 23 members of the bloc.

Aside from Mr Al-Makura, other signatories to the statement are a former Katsina governor, Aminu Masari, former Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, former Senator from Niger State, Ibrahim Musa, former gubernatorial candidate in Jigawa State, Farouk Aliyu, a former Reps member from Yobe State, Almajiri Geidam, Mustafa Salihu, Waziri Bulama.

Nasiru Ladan Argungu, Dominic Alancha, Ayuba Balami, Osita Okechukwu, Okoi Obono-Obla, Lucy Ajayi, Bala Jibri, Uche Ufearoh, Yusuf Salihu, Abubakar Maikudi, Mutallib Badmus, Muhammed Datti, Muhammed Etsu, Jerry Johnson and Alkali Ajikolo.

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The CPC founded by former president Muhammadu Buhari, was one of the key opposition parties that merged in 2013 to form the APC, alongside the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and the new-PDP bloc from the Peoples s Democratic Party (PDP).

The merger was a historic move that succeeded in ending the PDPs 16-year rule in the 2015 elections, bringing Mr Buhari to power. It marked the first time an opposition party unseated an incumbent government.

There are speculations that some aggrieved members of the CPC bloc in the APC are threatening to leave the ruling party over alleged marginalisation. Although none of the aggrieved members have publicly announced the defection plans, many speculated that they may be planning to join the coalition movement spearheaded by former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.

Already, a prominent CPC member and former governor of Kaduna State Nasir El-Rufai, has since dumped the APC for the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

The CPC bloc produced the first president from APC- former President Buhari while the ACN produced the first vice president, Yemi Osinbajo.

President Tinubu is of the ACN bloc of the ruling party while Speaker Abbas Tajudeen is one of the prominent members of the CPC bloc in the Tinubu administration.

Commitment to APC

But the group dismissed the speculations that some key members of the CPC bloc were considering leaving the APC and urged those who are aggrieved to seek internal mechanisms of addressing their grievances.

We wish to state categorically that we have neither left the APC nor do we intend to leave. The CPC bloc remains one of the legacy foundations of the APC, and we are resolute in our commitment to the party and its progressive ideals.

As part of the legacy parties that formed the APC, we take pride in the sacrifices made to build a platform that promotes national unity, justice, and development. We will not allow some people to dismantle the party we helped to build through years of tireless work and dedication.

They warned against divisive tactics that could weaken the APC.

Attempts to create disunity within the party and the country do not reflect the will or position of the genuine CPC core members and it is unacceptable, they said.

Endorsement of Tinubus economic reforms

The CPC bloc expressed support for the economic and governance reforms initiated by President Tinubu and urged Nigerians to remain patient and hopeful.

We align ourselves fully with the economic and governance reforms being undertaken by President Bola Tinubu. Though challenging, these policies are necessary steps to rebuild our economy and secure a better future for all Nigerians. We urge patience and collective support as the benefits unfolds, the statement said.

They also noted that grievances within the party are not unique to the CPC bloc and advised aggrieved members to use internal party structures to express their dissatisfaction.

While we acknowledge that some party members may feel sidelined, we emphasise that such grievances are not exclusive to any one bloc. We advise those concerned to seek redress through constitutional channels within the party and not to resort to negative public agitation or hasty exits from the party, they stated.

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the South African G20 presidency presents a significant platform to elevate the perspectives of the Global South and strengthen African agency in championing inclusive economic growth, sustainable development, and more equitable global governance. It offers an opportunity to encourage deeper cooperation on critical issues such as climate change, inequality, and debt relief, benefiting African and non-African countries.

The recent attacks on multilateralism could potentially jeopardise the ongoing efforts of states and non-state actors to foster international cooperation, maintain global order, and address global inequality. While some global actors have expressed concerns over the United States (US) attempts to undermine the moderate progress made through collective commitments to global challenges, the international community has been shaken, urgently seeking the most effective response to this bombshell. As the Donald Trump administration ordered a comprehensive review of all multilateral organisations that the US is a member of and all international treaties it is part of, many have argued that its hard to imagine the future of multilateralism without the active involvement of the country.

As documented in Stewart Patricks 2023 paper, Four Contending U.S. Approaches to Multilateralism, the US has advanced multilateralism through four distinct models: the charter conception, based on the United Nations (UN) universal membership; the club approach, which unites established democracies as the cornerstone of global order; the concert model, focused on cooperation and joint action among major powers; and the coalition approach, which adapts ad hoc frameworks to specific global issues. These models have served as the cornerstone of international cooperation.

Recognising the inevitability of global cooperation and solidarity on critical issues, the South African government chose Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability as the theme of its G20 presidency, reflecting the countrys fundamental values. Multilateralism, the practice of multiple countries working together to address global challenges, remains an essential pillar of international relations. Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the US mobilised the international community and leveraged multilateral platforms to advance its counterterrorism efforts. In an increasingly interconnected world, no country can effectively tackle complex issues  such as terrorism, climate change, economic instability, security threats, and pandemics  alone. Multilateral cooperation ensures dialogue, mutual respect, and shared responsibility, preventing global disorder and unilateral actions that endanger the world.

Critics argue that multilateralism can be slow, unpredictable and inefficient, yet diplomacy and consensus-building take time and present a more practical approach to tackling issues that affect multiple countries. Unilateral approaches often lead to deeper divisions, whereas multilateral engagement encourages sustainable solutions that benefit all.

History has shown that multilateral institutions like the UN, the African Union (AU), and the World Trade Organization (WTO) have played crucial roles in adopting multilateralism in maintaining peace, promoting economic development, and upholding human rights. While these organisations may have flaws, their collective decision-making mechanisms allow for more balanced and inclusive solutions. However, global governing institutions have frequently failed to prevent the discrimination imposed by the Global North on the Global South in allocating essential resources.

A stark example of the disintegration of multilateralism was the dehumanisation witnessed during COVID-19. As the Chairperson of the AU during the pandemic, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa vehemently stood against the vaccine apartheid, and the unequal distribution of vaccines resulted in lower vaccination rates in developing countries. During the pandemic in 2021, sub-Saharan Africa administered only around eight doses per 1,000 people, in contrast to the global average of 150 doses per 1,000 people. While many developed countries hoarded the vaccines, denying access to countries in the Caribbean and Africa remains a significant stain on the concept of multilateralism.

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

Critics argue that multilateralism can be slow, unpredictable and inefficient, yet diplomacy and consensus-building take time and present a more practical approach to tackling issues that affect multiple countries. Unilateral approaches often lead to deeper divisions, whereas multilateral engagement encourages sustainable solutions that benefit all. The alternative  protectionism, isolationism, and unchecked power  has historically led to socio-economic crisis, instability and conflict.

In their 6 March opinion article on Multilateralism can and must deliver, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez regard the need to strengthen multilateralism as not only a moral issue but an economic risk for the global community. To address these, they argue that the international financial system needs reform to give the Global South more representation and ensure debt relief initiatives and equitable, predictable access to resources.

Many developing countries, particularly African ones, continue to experience the debt burden, rising penury, fiscal imbalance, and dilapidating infrastructures. This calls for an urgent response from individual countries and the collective global environment. In their 6 March opinion article on Multilateralism can and must deliver, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez regard the need to strengthen multilateralism as not only a moral issue but an economic risk for the global community. To address these, they argue that the international financial system needs reform to give the Global South more representation and ensure debt relief initiatives and equitable, predictable access to resources. Ultimately, multilateralism is not just a choice but a necessity. As global challenges grow more complex, cooperation remains the best path forward, proving that multilateralism can never be wrong in promoting a more prosperous, peaceful and just international system.

Thus, the South African G20 presidency presents a significant platform to elevate the perspectives of the Global South and strengthen African agency in championing inclusive economic growth, sustainable development, and more equitable global governance. It offers an opportunity to encourage deeper cooperation on critical issues such as climate change, inequality, and debt relief, benefiting African and non-African countries. With South Africa leading several key G20 meetings this year and hosting the Summit in November, all attention is focused on its role in shaping global discussions for Africas benefit. In this regard, South Africa should leverage its G20 Presidency to cultivate the necessary expertise for effectively navigating the resurgence of aggressive geopolitical competition and the growing diplomatic crises that threaten global stability.

Adeoye O. Akinola is Head of the African Union Studies Programme at the Institute for Pan-African Thought and Conversation (IPATC), University of Johannesburg.

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The perfect example that articulates Nigerias reform hesitancy is the failure of successive Nigerian governments to deal with the cost of governance issues that has been limiting Nigerias institutional coordination and functional capacity. Nigeria operates one of the most expensive governance systems in the world. This derives from the multiplication of structural and institutional processes and dynamics that not only burden budgetary allocations through the large chunk of money spent on recurrent expenditure, but also undermine functional efficiency due to wastage and redundancies.

In all functional democracies across the world, from the OECD countries to the continent of Africa, the successes and failures of democratic governance are directly proportional to the readiness of the governments to pursue institutional and governance reforms. These reforms prioritise the public service, first, as the inevitable complement of democracy (to paraphrase Joseph Schumpeter), and, second, as the mechanism for implementing good public policy. Democratic governance, in other words, depends on how optimal and efficient the public service is as the powerhouse of governments policy commitment to its citizens. This is the reason why the difference between a prosperous democracy and a failing one is the commitment to institutional reforms.

However, complementing democracy is a task that would not come automatically. The political and bureaucratic leadership must make a conscious effort to make reform an enabling framework that achieves the capability readiness of the public service. It is only within this context that we can start talking of a democratic order that is founded on the responsiveness of the public service to the aspirations of the citizenry. The struggle to initiate reform designs and blueprints, and follow through with their implementation does not often come easy as the trajectories of reforms in Africa often reveal.

But we only need to look at comparative efforts across the world to see why the capability readiness of the public service is key especially in a developing country like Nigeria. The experience of Japan after the disastrous bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during the Second World War, is a significant example of how a country could leverage policy and institutional reform to get back on its feet. The establishment and efficiency of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) and its operational philosophy mirrors the significance of the governance policies that brought the Asian Tigers into reckoning. Apart from a strict governance regulation, including protectionism, that influenced the market in a specific regulatory manner; as well as the deployment of sociocultural principle, like the Keiretsu principle that organised the private sector into a cooperative economic structure, the public service was also organised around the idea of technocratic and meritocratic embedded autonomy, which implies that the bureaucracy was insulated from political exigencies and eternal pressures. Now, the governance resolve of post-war Japan and the Asian Tigers has become a governance and reform lesson that no country can ignore.

The inauguration of any democratic government is always interesting. Electioneering campaigns regal the citizens with promises of good policies. This comes from the recognition that governance and institutional reforms form the bedrock of development planning that articulates government programmes, especially for effective and efficient service delivery to the people. Once electioneering is done with, the move from election victory to governance articulation is meant to concretise clear development performance and outcomes that bear significant impact on the lives of the generality of people. What is rather interesting, from a Nigerian perspective, at least, is the heightened attention that public service institutional reforms received in the early years of a governments administration which all too gradually get sidelined in a way that undermine the progressive transformation of the public service into a formidable complement of democratic governance.

Inevitably, government is then constrained into an arbitrary engagement with governance and administrative matters and problems that leads to setting up ad hoc committees and task force structures which elevate the already burdensome cost of governance problem. This is further aggravated by the penchant for administrative discontinuity that insists, quite illogically, that a government must reinvent the reform wheel rather than deepening and consolidating the reform agenda of the previous administration, or at best incorporating some of its elements into a new framework. The reformer in me worries about the danger that reform complacence or the trade-off of solid reform measures for short-term political gains poses for Nigerias transformation trajectory.

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The governments political will was not lacking in the need to implement the Dotun Phillips report of 1988, initiated by the Buhari administration and carried through by the Babangida administration. The study group was given the objective of a professionalised civil service circumscribed by a managerial philosophy into the institutional context of presidentialism. However, there was an underlying conception-reality gap that disrupted the significance of the report and its recommendation

The administrative history of institutional reforms in Nigeria is laced with cogent examples of what I am saying. Let us start with the Gowon administration and the Udoji Commission report of 1974. It was the keen awareness of the significance of the public service in the context of enhanced, expanded and deepened role of the state, and what it could contribute to the development planning and management in Nigeria needed as a post-independent country, that led the constitution of the Commission to recommend a way to get the public service capability ready for the objective of national development. And yet, the administration turned deaf ears to the fundamental implications that the recommendations of the creative managerial disruption of the system the Udoji Commission proposed. Those recommendations were meant to take the Weberian I-am-directed public service beyond its post-golden age era into the future that demands some critical reforms to withstand modern administrative and national exigencies of a newly independent country. At a critical moment when political will was required to take the recommendation beyond the pages of the report, the government faltered.

The governments political will was not lacking in the need to implement the Dotun Phillips report of 1988, initiated by the Buhari administration and carried through by the Babangida administration. The study group was given the objective of a professionalised civil service circumscribed by a managerial philosophy into the institutional context of presidentialism. However, there was an underlying conception-reality gap that disrupted the significance of the report and its recommendation, and this was further aggravated by the inflexibility of the administrations endorsement of Decree 43 as a legal instrument for the implementation of the recommendations. When some aspects like the politicisation of the office of the permanent secretary who ceased being accounting officer and whose tenure was coterminous with that of Ministers therefore failed in the face of reality, and in a governance context of command and control, the system chose to throw away the baby with the bathwater rather than getting back to the drawing board and initiating amendment to the legal instrument as part of a learning journey.

Unfortunately, the succeeding reform commission  the Ayida Panel  got the marching order to simply reverse the trajectory that was already leading away from the traditional model for doing government business to a managerial reform blueprint. This was a foolhardy attempt at rescuing the form of the golden era of public administration of the 1960s and 1970s, without the full benefits of the new managerial revolution that demands professionalism and performance management. By the time we arrived at the Obasanjo administration, and the commencement of the democratic experiment in 1999, Nigeria had sufficiently learnt some administrative and reform lessons that led to the inauguration of the National Strategy for Public Service Reform (NSPSR), the most comprehensive reform blueprint ever in Nigerias reform history. The approval and opportunity for the civil servants to reform the system led to the establishment of the Bureau of Public Service Reform as the lead agency and engine room for continuous learning, change management and the incremental institutional improvement of the public service. Implementing the NSPSR raised lots of fundamental issues, like whether or not the civil service can reform itself; whether or not to policy choices should be made based on selectivity or comprehensiveness, and the issue of getting the basics and details of institutional reform right so as to be able to manage the sequencing of the reform around building new systems and models on the restructured Weberian bureaucracy.

In a 2005 study of the administrative trajectories of twenty-nine African countries, Ladipo Adamolekun introduced a useful typology for reckoning with the administrative progress of African states. He characterised the 29 African states into four different categories: the advanced, committed, hesitant and beginning reformers. Nigeria fell into the hesitant reforming African state. Unlike the committed and advanced reforming states, the hesitant reformers, like Nigeria, manifest the symptoms of not always seeing through reform designs, innovation and ideas, just like we saw with the Udoji reform. To be hesitant is to be enthusiastic about reform ideas, commit to seeing them through, but stopping short of implementing the key reform innovation in ways that impact the efficient service delivery capability of the public service.

The perfect example that articulates Nigerias reform hesitancy is the failure of successive Nigerian governments to deal with the cost of governance issues that has been limiting Nigerias institutional coordination and functional capacity. Nigeria operates one of the most expensive governance systems in the world. This derives from the multiplication of structural and institutional processes and dynamics that not only burden budgetary allocations through the large chunk of money spent on recurrent expenditure, but also undermine functional efficiency due to wastage and redundancies. This phenomenon was consequent on the breakdown of the internal establishment control mechanism built around the control tool of organisation and method (O&M) and the treasury control of establishment that regulates the capital and recurrent ratio of the budget. The core elements of this controls were the manpower forecasting and planning system of identifying, planning and acting upon human resource requirements and problems related to the conceptualisation of the role of the state in the running of the national economy, as well as the trend analysis of services growth in size and expansion of the scope of responsibilities.

The Tinubu administration has what it takes, in terms of extant reform blueprints and designs, professional expertise and technocratic know-how, and the political will to break the jinx that has bedeviled other administrations in terms of passing on reform ideas that could have turned the tide of efficient service delivery to Nigerians. All that is required is taking the first step, say, by going full throttle with the implementation of the Oronsaye Report

The Oronsaye Report  or, the Presidential Committee on the Rationalisation and Restructuring of Federal Government Parastatals, Commissions, and Agencies  was meant to first articulate a rationalisation framework that reduces all parallel, ad hoc and redundant structures; and second, achieve governance accountability that will instigate more efficiency in the conduct of government business. The overall objective was to get the MDAs to achieve more with less. The Committee was guided by five fundamental principles: (a) the economic challenges and the need for Government to make more efficient use of its resources to achieve its development objectives and goals; (b) the fact that Nigeria had undertaken reforms in the past; (c) it was imperative to reform to meet the challenges of a better socio-political and economic society; (d) there was no need to create another body to perform the functions of an already existing statutory entity. The fact that an institution was inefficient and ineffective should not warrant the creation of a new one; and (e) the reform would ensure efficient and effective management of Government structures and functionaries to guarantee better service delivery and good governance.

And yet, given the fundamental significance of the Report of the Committee, no government from the Jonathan administration till date has been able to unlock the binding constraints nor muster the audacity to fully implement the recommendations of the Committee. Several reasons can be adduced for this. The first is that the long-term demands of reforms are counteracted by the short-term tenures of many administrations. Second, since there is no making an omelet without breaking eggs, reform implementation requires offending vested interests that would be affected by the hard-political decision these reforms require. Third, reforms possess deep and expensive psychological implication due to the trauma that would attend, for instance, the rationalisation and consequent rightsizing of the MDAs will demand in terms of specific downsizing and severance compensations.

However, since institutional reforms are inevitable, it becomes imperative that the Tinubu government has to facilitate specific systemic and structural changes in order to get the basic rights. These include the following: (i) elimination of the dysfunctional non-value adding processes including silos operations which create red tapes and operational bottlenecks; (ii) the efficient activation of the performance bond that MDAs signed with the President as the means of instituting the performance management system; (iii) strengthening of MDAs programme and project management capabilities; (iv) the recalibration of research and policy analysis functions of MDAs through the re-professionalisation of their Department of Planning, Research and Statistics (DPRS); (v) the identification of core skills requirements of the MDAs that touch on the implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda, and their sourcing and deployment through retraining, fresh recruitment, contract appointment, staff exchange, sabbatical, donor technical assistance, etc.; (vi) strengthening the merit system through more rigorous entry-level assessment and induction system to mitigate the extent to which the service inherits low-quality education and deficits from the tertiary institutions; (vii) re-profiling of public service institutional capacity to better optimise the potentials of PPPs to boost service delivery; and (viii) the imperative of launching a national waste reduction strategy that involves (a) the unbundling of the expenditure structure of government; (b) productivity audit of the MDAs, (c) getting MDAs to articulate their productivity and waste reduction plans based on agreed national benchmark, (d) launching of the productivity metrics and tools for holding MDAs accountable to national productivity targets, and (e) launching of the new national assets and facility management and national maintenance system.

However, and preparatory to institutionalising the above, it is logical and expedient that the Tinubu administration establish the Programme Management Office (PMO) in the short term to act as the MDAs institutional life support model. This becomes functional, for instance, in generating project management ideas which can then be mainstreamed to activate performance-managed operations in the MDAs. This will serve to reinforce the MDAs with required skills and competency upgrade needed to deliver high performance that urgently backstops the Renewed Hope Agenda. This involves, among other things, a backend review of the capability readiness of the MDAs (or at least carefully selected ones based on criteria that are aligned with the eight national policy objectives and priorities of the federal government). There is also, following on this, the need to activate the performance management system components of the Federal Civil Service Implementation Strategy. This demand that the federal government institutionally insist, through the support of key players provided by a consortium of experts and firms, that the MDA deliver on the performance bonds signed with the government.

The Tinubu administration has what it takes, in terms of extant reform blueprints and designs, professional expertise and technocratic know-how, and the political will to break the jinx that has bedeviled other administrations in terms of passing on reform ideas that could have turned the tide of efficient service delivery to Nigerians. All that is required is taking the first step, say, by going full throttle with the implementation of the Oronsaye Report, and dealing a final blow to the cost of governance problem in Nigerias governance framework.

Tunji Olaopa is chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission and a professor of Public Administration.

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Governor Umar Namadi has reaffirmed his administrations commitment to transforming the healthcare sector of Jigawa State by laying the foundation for the construction of three cutting-edge medical complexes: an ultramodern Diagnostic Centre, Cardiac Centre, and a Cryo-Oxygen plant in Fanisau, Dutse, the state capital.

Speaking at the historic event held Wednesday, Governor Namadi described the foundation laying as a historic and significant milestone in his administrations transformative journey for Greater Jigawa, stating that the strategic investments were part of the states overarching vision to ensure long-term prosperity and enhance the socio-economic well-being of the people.

He emphasized that his administrations focus on health and education is central to the broader human development agenda.

From our investing in expanding access through Community Health Insurance, under which over 143,000 vulnerable people were effectively covered, to revitalization and expansion of access to both primary and secondary healthcare services, to the development of human resources for the health sector, we are steadily fulfilling our pledge to the people of Jigawa State, he said.

Governor Namadi clarified that the newly built medical facilities aim to transform the states approach to healthcare delivery.

Even though all the initial investments for these three projects would be through direct treasury funding, ultimately the plan is for these to be run based on a model of public-private-partnership arrangement with certified health investment firms.

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According to him, this model will ensure both managerial efficiency and long-term viability of the projects, adding that with the commissioning of these centres, the era of going to other states to obtain services such as mammography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, and many other specialized diagnostic health services will be over.

Mr Namadi further said that his administration has a vision to position Dutse as a regional hub for health tourism, stating that the new facilities will serve not only Jigawa residents but also people from neighbouring states.

He explained the unique features of the Cryo-Oxygen Plant, saying it will not only provide 100% pure liquid medical oxygen for patients needs but is also designed to produce nitrogen at commercial quantity, thereby creating another value chain for fertilizer companies in Nigeria.

He added that the oxygen will be transported in branded, digitally optimised cylinders using electric vehicles to minimise cost and promote green energy.

Highlighting progress made in other healthcare areas, Governor Namadi mentioned the ongoing completion of the Orthopaedic Hospital in Gumel, specialist hospitals in Hadejia and Kazaure, and free dialysis services across several general hospitals and disclosed that the government has approved free care services for diabetic, hypertensive, and sickle cell disease patients.

On workforce development, the governor stated: This administration has recruited over 920 primary health care workers as well as another 200 secondary health care clinical staff, with an additional 1,000 PHC workers engaged on an ad-hoc basis.

He urged health workers across the state to rededicate themselves to duty and ensure quality service delivery, noting that reports of laxity in healthcare facilities will no longer be tolerated.

The governor also expressed appreciation to development partners such as UNICEF, WHO, FCDO, USAID, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for their contributions, as well as the traditional and religious leaders who continue to support health advocacy across the state.

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The International Energy Insurance PLC (IEI) concluded its 44th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital marking a pivotal moment in the companys strategic direction and the recapitalisation of N15 billion.

The Head, Brands and Communications, Acharu Osime, said the Insurance firms choice of Jigawa State for the AGM was to deepen insurance penetration in the north and expand its business coupled with the purposeful leadership of Governor Umar Namadi.

Mr Osime, said the insurance firm- a Norrenberger company, is also planning to launch Takaful Insurance  a sharia compliance products that would meet the needs of the people of Jigawa and other predominant Islamic northern states. He stated further:

The AGM served as a platform for robust engagement with shareholders and the culmination of key decisions designed to propel IEI towards sustained growth and improved financial stability. A defining achievement of the 44th AGM was the decisive step taken by IEI to exit the Daewoo Loan.

This strategic maneuver represents a significant victory for the company, demonstrating its proactive approach to strengthening its financial foundation and optimising its capital structure.

The successful exit from this legacy loan is projected to unlock substantial growth opportunities and accelerate IEIs ongoing recapitalization initiatives, with a clear focus on meeting the regulatory minimum capital requirement of N15 billion.

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Mr Osime added that beyond the landmark Daewoo Loan resolution, the AGM facilitated comprehensive discussions on different matters shaping IEIs operational governance framework: He said the AGM saw shareholders adopt financial statements (2021-2023) and engage in key governance actions: re-electing directors, appointing auditors, and establishing committee roles to ensure accountability.

He stated that to uphold best practices, the company also authorised auditor remuneration and disclosed management compensation, demonstrating a commitment to transparency in its operational framework.

He said significant steps have also been taken to restructure the companys financial standing and modernize its governance. A key decision involved settling the companys debt to Daewoo by transferring loan obligations to Norrenberger Advisory Partners Limited (NAPL), with NAPL receiving shares in the company as part of this agreement.

This move aimed to resolve a major financial obligation and reposition the company for future growth. Furthermore, the company approved measures to strengthen its capital base and operational framework.

These included increasing the Issued Share Capital to facilitate growth and authorizing the Board to raise additional capital through various means. In a move to update its practices, the meeting also authorized amendments to the companys governing documents, specifically to allow for flexibility in how general meetings are conducted (virtual or physical) and to reflect the changes in share capital.

The Board was empowered to take all necessary actions to implement these changes, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and smooth execution. The successful completion of the 44th AGM at the Haitel Hotel Dutse (Jigawa State) signifies IEIs unwavering commitment to fostering strong relationships with its stakeholders and adhering to principles of sound corporate governance.

The company is confident that the resolutions passed, and the strategic direction reaffirmed at the AGM will empower IEI to achieve its ambitious goals and deliver enhanced value to its shareholders , the official said.

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Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has commended the World Bank for its continued support in driving development across the state through a diverse portfolio of donor-funded projects.

Speaking on Wednesday during a courtesy visit by the World Bank Regional Vice President, Mr Ousmane Diagana, at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Governor Sani expressed appreciation for the Banks contributions to key sectors in Kaduna, describing the partnership as impactful and transformative.

According to the governor, Kaduna State has become a model for effective implementation of World Bank projects in Nigeria, thanks to its strengthened institutional systems and consistent leadership.

These projects have not only reinforced the states development agenda but have also contributed to poverty reduction and improved quality of life across various sectors, he said.

Governor Sani said the projects span education, healthcare, infrastructure, environmental resilience, agriculture, and social welfare, adding that his administration is eager to expand the partnership with the World Bank into new areas.

Governor Sani disclosed that Kaduna State is currently benefiting from eight major World Bank-funded projects, with a combined value exceeding $885 million. These include:

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Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE): With $80 million in credit, this project is enhancing secondary education for adolescent girls. Over 70% of the funds have been disbursed, resulting in improvements in school infrastructure and increased enrolment.

He revealed that Kaduna State has drawn from a $700 million pool of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL), adding that the project addresses land degradation and climate resilience through watershed management and afforestation.

The governor further disclosed that over $5.8 million has been disbursed, with implementation gathering momentum.

On Kaduna State Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (KADRAAMP), he said that this $20 million rural infrastructure project is enhancing agricultural market access through rural road rehabilitation. Half the loan has been utilized, and requests for 2025 counterpart funding are under review.

According to him, Kaduna States portion of the $700 million Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation And Hygiene (SURWASH) Programme  is progressing, with over $4.2 million drawn down.

The governor stated that more than 11.5 billion has already been committed as counterpart funding by Kaduna State Government.

He reiterated that 30% of the $20 million has been disbursed to the implementation of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support(L-PRES) Project which began in early 2024.

Mr Sani said that the Immunization Plus & Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services (IMPACT) Project is targeting immunization and malaria reduction.

He added that 50% of the IMPACT $18 million project has been disbursed, adding that implementation continues with an emphasis on increasing coverage and service transformation.

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The Kwara State Government has announced plans to clamp down on traders selling on walkways, pedestrian paths, and newly rehabilitated roads within the Ilorin metropolis.

The announcement is in a statement signed by Abdulquadri Ahmed, the Assistant Press Secretary of the Ministry of Works, on Wednesday in Ilorin.

The statement said the directive specifically applied to Emirs Road, Zulu Gambari Road, Post Office, Isale Oja and Idi Ape in the metropolis.

These roads have been upgraded to ease traffic, enhance safety and improve the overall appearance of the city.

Turning them into makeshift markets defeats these efforts, endangers lives and disrupts the free movement of people and vehicles.

Henceforth, anyone found trading in these areas or on any public walkway will face the full wrath of the law.

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Relevant task forces and security agencies have been deployed to maintain sanity.

We urge all traders and vendors to leave the walkways, relocate to approved markets and trade zones. Lets work together to keep Kwara clean, safe and organised, the statement read.

(NAN)

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The scheduled arraignment of the chairperson of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Christopher Maikalangu, over alleged certificate forgery was stalled on Wednesday at the Dutse Magistrates Court in Abuja.

Although the case appeared on the days cause list, it could not proceed due to the absence of trial Chief Magistrate Abdullahi Ilela.

The matter was subsequently rescheduled for 24 April for Mr Maikalangus arraignment. The council chair is the sole defendant in the case filed on 24 March and marked CR/DUT/324/25.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the direct criminal complaint was instituted by Awalu Mohammed, an All Progressives Congress (APC) member and an AMAC resident.

AMAC is the local government that hosts Nigerias seat of power in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Mr Maikalangu was elected in 2022 as the chairperson of the local government on the platform of Nigerias leading opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

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Mr Mohammed, a member of Nigerias ruling APC, alleged that Mr Maikalangu, on or about 8 January 2013, at the FCT Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Office in Abuja, submitted a forged first school leaving certificate from Festival Road Primary School {1983-1989} to the commission.

He alleged that the forged certificate was, among other submitted documents, included in his INEC FORM C.F. 001, for counselorship position, knowing it to be forged and with intent that it may in any way be used or acted upon as genuine.

Mr Mohammed also alleged that the AMAC chairperson, on or about 8 May 2021, submitted a forged first school leaving certificate from LEA Model Science Primary School {1984-1989} at the INEC office in Abuja for election purposes.

He said the document was submitted alongside a court affidavit for statutory declaration of age and the court affidavit for correction of name on voter card, knowing them to be forged and with intent that they may in any way be used or acted upon as genuine.

He accused the council chairperson of committing the offence of forgery contrary to Sections 362(a), 363 and 264 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Complainants reasons for seeking chairpersons prosecution

In the verifying affidavit in support of the application, Mr Mohammed said he was duty bound to expose the commission of crime(s) by any person, including the defendant, public officials, agencies or institutions, howsoever described, whose acts could embarrass and dent the prestige and good name of Nigeria.

Consequently, I have filed this direct criminal complaint against the defendant.

I hereby verify the facts contained in this direct criminal complaint as true and correct to the best of my knowledge, he said.

According to him, the chairman, sometimes 2013 and 2021 in line with the requirement of the Electoral Act, submitted his sworn FORM EC9 (AFFIDAVIT IN SUPPORT OF PERSONAL PARTICULARS  Particulars of persons seeking election to the councillorship (2013) and chairmanship (2021) positions, Abuja Municipal Area Council) to INEC in the FCT.

Mr Mohammed said upon his application, Mr Maikalangus Certified True Copy (CTC) of Form EC9, containing his affidavit in support of personal particulars, was made available to him.

He said the CTCs of the necessary documents, including INEC Form 001 for Mr Maikalangu s councillorship election {2013} and chairmanship poll {2021} and a report of investigation by the police to the Tribunal Secretary, FCT Area Council Election Tribunal, were equally handed to him.

He said the tribunal secretary issued to him CTCs of the chairmans form for nomination of councillorship in 2013 as well as chairmanship in 2021, INEC Forms 001, and other documents in the tribunals custody relating to the fact in issue.

Based on the response from the FCT High Court, I verily believe that the affidavit for correction of name, and the affidavit for declaration of age swear in by the defender was forged by the defendant.

Based on the above differences between the two certificates, I verily believe that the defendant submitted a forged First School Leaving Certificate to INEC on or about sometime in 2013 and 2021, he alleged.

The complainants lawyer, Job Israel, was present in court on Wednesday.

Speaking to journalists shortly after adjournment, Mr Israel alleged that though the trial magistrate was earlier in his office in preparation for the days sitting, he was invited by higher authorities.

(NAN)

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Inih Ebong, an associate professor of theatre arts, unjustly sacked 24 years ago by the University of Uyo (UniUyo), Akwa Ibom State, is dead.

Mr Ebong, 73, died in the early hours of Wednesday, 16 April, at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, his wife, Uduak, told PREMIUM TIMES around 7 a.m.

He is gone, Uduak said in a quavering voice.

Uduak said Mr Ebong stayed awake into the late night and was talking continuously from his sickbed while she tried to persuade him to calm down and sleep. She said she later fell asleep, only to wake up and realise that he was lifeless. I ran out to the nurses. They came in and confirmed hes dead, she said.

UniUyo unjustly sacked the lecturer in 2002 for persistently criticising the universitys authorities over alleged corruption and maladministration.

The university published a disclaimer on him in a national daily to scare off other potential employers.

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Since then, five successive vice-chancellors failed to reinstate and pay Mr Ebong his accumulated salary and other entitlements despite a string of court victories, including last Decembers Court of Appeal judgement, which finalised litigation over the illegal termination of his appointment.

Being out of job for over two decades, the lecturer could hardly feed himself and his family, let alone take care of his medical treatment.

Mr Ebong was diagnosed with cardiac failure in October 2020. Doctors did not give him much chance of survival before a Nigerian billionaire and philanthropist, Femi Otedola, stepped in to fund his medical treatment following a PREMIUM TIMES report.

A private hospital in Uyo treated him. He was showing signs of recovery until he relapsed last February. His two feet were swollen, creating the suspicion of a kidney problem. Through his private doctors referral, he was moved to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital in March.

I want to go home

On Sunday, 13 April, Mr Ebong called a PREMIUM TIMES reporter from his sickbed and complained, I have stayed here too long. Its as if I am in prison. I want to go home.

His young daughter was by his bedside when Mr Ebong made the call.

It would be a shame, the blood of Dr Inih Ebong will be on the management, will be on the Senate and the Governing Council of the University of Uyo if Dr Inih Ebong dies, without getting justice, a human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, said in 2020 when he flew in from Lagos to show sympathy and solidarity with the lecturer.

The late Ebong, from Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, had his secondary education at the Etinan Institute in Akwa Ibom.

He obtained his first degree at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and his postgraduate studies at the University of Birmingham in the UK.

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The police command in Akwa Ibom State has confirmed the abduction of an entrepreneur in Eket, Eket Local Government Area of the state.

The victim, identified as Dennis Ajah, was reportedly abducted on his business premises at 94 Afaha Eket Road, Eket on Thursday, 10 April.

The Commissioner of Police, Baba Azare, confirmed the development in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Eket on Wednesday.

He said the victim was abducted by three gunmen wearing army uniforms, who drove him away in Toyota Camry around 9 p.m. to an unknown destination.

The case was reported to the police and effort is ongoing to get the victim released as soon as practicable, Mr Azare said.

A NAN correspondent, who visited the victims business premises, reports that his shops were not opened, apparently because of the incident.

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NAN learnt that the victim is a wholesaler and deals in rice, beans, garri, and guinea corn, among other items.

A family source told NAN on the condition of anonymity that the abductors had yet to contact the victims relations for ransom at the time of filing the report.

NAN reports that Mr Ajahs abduction was the second major case in Eket this year.

Abduction for ransom has become one of the prevalent crimes in many Nigerian cities, with government officials, entrepreneurs, and even students and clerics or just anyone as targets.

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A cog in the conspiracy of fraud, Mohamed Khaled Sakr did his part to put Erie County near the top of upstate New York counties for losses suffered by fleeced senior citizens.

The Montreal mans trail of grandparent fraud in 2023 cost Western New York victims thousands of dollars, including a Cheektowaga grandmother who was duped into paying more than $17,000 to a fake bondsman.

This defendant was all over the country taking money from elderly people, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Mango.

By the time law enforcement nabbed Sakr  a money mule who collected money from the grandparents and distributed it to others in the scheme  he had taken more than a quarter of a million dollars from victims living at 18 different addresses across the Northeast, according to records in U.S. District Court.

Fraudsters like Sakr explain how Erie County ranked second in New York State, outside of New York City and Long Island, for average loss per complaint by people over 60 who were victimized by elder fraud in 2023. Erie Countys average loss of $47,910 trailed only Onondaga Countys $51,111. Niagara Countys $9,896 average loss ranked ninth upstate, according to AARPs analysis of FBI data.

The 199 cases of elder fraud in Erie County in 2023 totaled $9.5 million, the highest dollar amount upstate, and statewide behind only Westchester County, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Long Island, according to AARP.

You had a minor role, but you collected the money, U.S. District Judge Lawrence Vilardo said when he sentenced Sakr last week to three years in prison. You knew their ages. What you did here was serious and reprehensible.

Officials find it understandable how grandparent scams succeed. The most common scenario is when a criminal calls a grandparent impersonating a panicked grandchild who claims to be in trouble with the law after a car crash and needs money immediately.

The scammers are very sophisticated, and the technology is getting very sophisticated, said Kristen McManus, senior associate state director for AARP New York. Theyre very convincing, and they also know how to really make it seem urgent and prey on your emotions.

So if you get a call from someone who you think is your grandson  and sounds exactly like your grandson because they found a video of him online and were able to use artificial intelligence to generate his voice for the call  I can see how people would fall for it, McManus said.

Thats why AARP New York wants state lawmakers to support a provision in Gov. Kathy Hochuls proposed budget aimed at stopping fraud as it happens.

Victims told to mislead bank

It is a scam that happens to grandparents everywhere. The phone rings, and the voice on the other end says Grandma? or Grandpa? and proceeds to tell a tale of woe about needing money.

The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center reported that in 2023 it received more than 200 complaints from people over 60 reporting grandparent scams, with losses totaling more than $2.3 million.

The quarter-million dollars picked up by Sakr show how much couriers can collect from anxious and hoodwinked grandparents.

Canadian man pleads guilty in grandparents scam totaling $262,500 Mohamed Khaled Sakr, 30, admitted to conspiring to commit wire fraud at a hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer.

The grandparents Sakr collected from were strung along by fake stories about their grandchildren in trouble with the law after traffic crashes. Anxious to help their grandchildren, they paid thousands of dollars in cash to the pretend bail bondsman who showed up at their homes to collect the money, according to court files.

An Arcade grandmother told the Wyoming County Sheriffs Office about how she lost $9,000, sparking the investigation from county and federal law enforcement officials.

The Wyoming County Sheriffs Office earned kudos from prosecutors for its work, starting with a sheriffs investigator taking a photograph of the fraudsters phone call on the Arcade grandmothers caller ID that showed when she received the call about the driver arriving at her home. Homeland Security Investigations also investigated the case, and law enforcement officials tracked Sakrs mobile device and relied on numerous license plate readers across the state to pinpoint 23 addresses he drove to from May 9 to May 13, 2023.

The grandmother said she received a call from a man claiming to be an attorney, who told her that her grandson was in jail after rear-ending a pregnant lady. The man told her that his son knew her grandson, and so he was willing to represent her grandson in court.

He said he needed $18,000 in cash for bail. The man put another man, who claimed to be her grandson, on the phone.

The man pretending to be her grandson advised her to listen to the man who first called her and do what he asked, according to her account to investigators.

I told (him) that I could only get $9,000 from the bank and (he) told me that would be OK, but it would need to be given to his driver in cash, the grandmother said in a deposition.

The man who initiated the phone call instructed her to tell the bank she was taking the money out for home renovations. There was a gag order on the case, he said, so if she was to mention it, her grandson would suffer the consequences, she was told.

The man then told her a driver would come to her home to pick up the cash. That happened in the late afternoon May 11. She received another call from the man telling her that the driver would be there any minute to get the money.

Right then, the driver arrived at her front door. She gave him the money, and he gave her a receipt.

The next day, she wanted to find out how her grandsons court appearance went, so she attempted to call the man.

The phone number came back out of service, and this is when I realized I got scammed, the grandmother said in a deposition.

That money is just gone

The legislation AARP New York is pushing would empower bank employees to place temporary holds on transactions they suspect are related to scams.

Bank tellers can play a pivotal role stopping the fraud before the fraudsters take off with the money, McManus said.

Tellers can potentially spot a fraud when a regular customer comes in looking different than usual, McManus said.

Theyre usually a little panicked, she said. They may be a little bit guarded about what theyre doing with their money.

I think in a lot of cases, this is evident, and we want to make sure in these most egregious cases that the banks can intervene if they really have a reasonable belief that something is wrong, she said.

Older adults are more likely to go to the counter for bank business and interact with tellers.

So we really see the banks as being on the front lines, McManus said. If youre 80 years old and you lose $36,000, likely youre not going back to work to make back that money. That money is just gone.

Message needs to be sent

Couriers like Sakr posing as bondsmen often meet at a safehouse, where the money they collected from victims is kept. The money is sent from the safehouse to a cryptocurrency converter. The ill-gotten proceeds are then transferred to leaders of the fraud scheme, often outside the United States.

In Sakrs case, the money was transported to unknown conspirators in the New York City area, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office.

The couriers often retain 8% of the money they cheat out of the grandparents, according to federal investigators.

The judge gave Sakr a three-year prison sentence on his conviction of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, longer than the government recommended. Vilardo also ordered restitution of $262,500 to 18 victims.

Sakr, 31, told the judge that joining the scheme was the worst decision of my life.

The prosecutor, however, pointed out that Sakr would not assist investigators in identifying co-conspirators.

Sakr, the oldest of four siblings, told the judge the pressure of running the family restaurant after his father got sick proved too overwhelming, especially after a Covid-related shutdown. In desperation, he turned to gambling hoping for a quick solution, but ended up owing money to loan sharks.

Sakr has been in custody after his initial court appearance in August 2023, mentioning that he missed his fathers funeral.

Vilardo noted Sakr had an ailing father when he committed his crimes.

To me, that should have made you more sensitive to the people you were ripping off, Vilardo said.

I dont think you need more deterrence, the judge said, but for others cheating the elderly out of money, the message needs to be sent.
Borno South District Senator Ali Ndume has replied to presidential aide Daniel Bwala about the senators criticism of President Bola Tinubus policies.

Mr Ndume, who has been in the National Assembly for over 20 years, had alleged lopsidedness in appointments by the federal government and criticised the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, among other actions taken by President Tinubu.

Mr Bwala, the presidents special adviser on policy communication, decried Mr Ndumes criticisms, saying that the lawmaker was not only snitching for the opposition but was also a failed senator.

Mr Bwala, from Mr Ndumes district, claimed the senator has not achieved anything for the district in all the years he has spent as a lawmaker.

However, in his response, Mr Ndume described Mr Bwalas reaction as a distraction from the real issues.

Amid the political noise and confusion, where voices clash louder than reason, and loyalty is often mortgaged for political convenience, one cannot help but pause when certain individuals emerge, not to enlighten, but to distract. Such was the case yesterday when Daniel Bwala, in what can only be described as a theatrical display of selective amnesia and misdirected aggression, chose to attack Senator Ali Ndume on national television, the senators senior legislative aide on media and strategy, Junaid Maiva., said

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Speaking in a statement on Tuesday about his boss achievements as a lawmaker, Mr Maiya said his track record is visible across his senatorial district.

One must wonder: in a near half-hour tirade on television, Bwala couldnt summon a single example of an APC senator with a commendable record, except to compare Ndume with Senator Natasha. Was that ignorance, mischief, or a deliberate attempt to belittle a man whose legacy speaks volumes?

He played a pivotal role in facilitating the establishment of the Nigerian Army University in Biu and championed the siting of the College of Education in Gwoza. He has been instrumental in bringing healthcare closer to the people through the establishment of primary healthcare centres. He is currently facilitating the construction of housing units in Damboa to address displacement caused by insecurity. These are not handouts; they are legacies in motion, Mr Maiva said.

Bwala, once a fierce critic of the very government he now dances with, seems to have forgotten that reputations are not washed clean by sudden political realignments or carefully worded soundbites. Nigerians are watching. And contrary to what he may believe, the average citizen does not view him through the lens of credibility. If he doubts this, he need not look faran honest online poll would suffice. Silence, perhaps, would have been more honourable. But then again, honour is rarely the currency of political turncoats.

READ ALSO: Plateau governor apologises to families of attack victims

Senator Ndume, on the other hand, is no stranger to controversy, not because he seeks it, but because he dares to speak when others choose silence. In a climate where truth is dangerous, and compliance is rewarded, Ndume has consistently chosen the harder path. His courage in confronting the excesses of even his own party has earned him respect across party lines. He is not perfect; none of them are, but when it comes to standing for what is right, he has shown a spine where others have buckled.

Its often said that real leaders are measured not in times of ease but in moments of crisis. Ndume has stood up to power, challenged unpopular policies, and carried the burdens of his people on the Senate floor. His people know thisperhaps thats why theyve retained him for nearly two decades, not out of sentiment but out of trust.

So to those who trade principle for popularity and switch sides as easily as a shirt, remember this: the people may be quiet, but they are not blind, Mr Maiva added.

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The Information Network Security Administration (INSA) and the Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute (EAII), in collaboration with key government and industry stakeholders, have announced the Ethiopian Tech Expo 2025 - ETEX 2025. The event, scheduled for May 16-18, 2025, at the Addis International Convention Center, will be organized and managed by QNA.

His Excellency Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) emphasized Ethiopias commitment to its digital transformation, stating, We have made significant strides as a nation since beginning our digital transformation journey. Digital Ethiopia 2025 empowers us to thrive in the digital economy, necessitating support for innovators and the creation of digital enablers. He encouraged global innovators and investors to attend ETEX 2025 to explore opportunities within Ethiopias tech ecosystem.

With the UAE Cyber Security Council on board as Co-Host Partner - ETEX 2025 will showcase Ethiopias advancements in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, fintech, smart cities, and tech startups, aligned with the Digital Ethiopia 2025 strategy and the African Unions Agenda 2063. It will position Ethiopia as a leading technology hub in Africa.

As H.E. Dr. Worku Gachena (PHD), Director General of the Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute (EAII), stated, ETEX 2025 will showcase Ethiopia's tech-driven transformation, highlighting advancements in AI, cybersecurity, smart cities, and innovation. This expo will encourage global collaboration and cooperation,

positioning Ethiopia as a leader in Africa's digital future. Initiatives like the 5 Million Ethiopian Coder Initiative play a crucial role in this vision, equipping millions with digital skills and driving capacity building for young talent and skill upscaling across Ethiopia and Africa at large.

The event is expected to attract over 10,000 attendees, including global tech leaders, policymakers, industry pioneers, and startups. Attendees will engage in discussions on digital opportunities with keynote speeches, panel discussions, and exhibitions from Ethiopian and international tech firms. H.E. Tigist Hamid, Director General at Information Network Security Administration (INSA), emphasized: We are proud to host ETEX 2025, an essential event that fosters innovation and accelerates digital transformation in line with Ethiopias vision. The expo will serve as a catalyst for growth, promoting Ethiopias digital capabilities and attracting international partnerships to strengthen the nations tech ecosystem. Ethiopia is actively working to build and

manage large-scale national foundational infrastructure, including a national communication platform and other critical digital frameworks. Additionally, we are investing in capacity building, launching training programs from teenagers to PhD levels to equip the next generation with the skills needed to drive Ethiopias digital future.

A key highlight will be the focus on regional cooperation, inviting neighboring African countries to enhance knowledge-sharing and digital development. Ethiopias infrastructure and policy reforms will attract foreign investments and global partnerships. Ankit Shukla, Managing Director of QNA, shared: We are excited to

organize and manage ETEX 2025, a transformative event for Ethiopia and the entire African tech ecosystem. Our goal is to create a collaborative environment where innovation thrives, paving the way for global partnerships and showcasing Ethiopias potential in driving digital change across the continent.

For more details on ETEX 2025, visit ETEX 2025 - Ethiopias Largest Tech Event | Innovation

A press conference was held at the INSA and EAII Head Office on 26th March to officially launch ETEX 2025. Pictured from left to right: H.E. Dr. Worku Gachena(PhD), Director General of EAII; H.E. Tigist Hamid, Director General of INSA; and Ankit Shukla, Managing Director of QNA.

Source :
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, April 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The second edition of the Human Capability Initiative (HCI), has concluded, hosting over 300 influential leaders, policymakers, and global experts from 40 countries, including academia, private sector, international organizations, and non-profits.

HCI 2025 was held under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Chairman of the Human Capability Development Program Committee (HCDP), the organization which hosts HCI.

HCI 2025 welcomed over 13,000 participants from 120 countries to Riyadh under the theme #BeyondReadiness.

HCI 2025 welcomed over 13,000 participants from 120 countries to the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh under the theme #BeyondReadiness. The conference saw over 100 agreements announced across industry and various economic sectors, with a total investment of SAR8.5bn (US$2.2bn). Among the key agreements, the prestigious London Business School revealed plans to establish a new office in Riyadh.

This year's event brought together a stellar lineup, with senior government officials such as the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education of South Korea, joining leaders from the private and nonprofit sectors. Global organizations and top academic institutions were also represented, including the World Bank, International Labor Organization (ILO), World Economic Forum (WEF), United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and UNICEF, as well as Microsoft, Google for Education, Apple Academy, University of Chicago's Harris School of Public Policy and London Business School. The conference served as a dynamic platform for fostering collaboration and innovation in addressing the challenges of a rapidly changing labor market.

Speaking at the conference, Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Kassabi, Minister of Commerce, said: "Saudi Arabia today is movingfrom ambition to action. Vision 2030 is no longer a roadmap, it's no longer a blueprint. It's transformation in motion, reflecting the ambitions of the Kingdom's leadership and reaffirming Saudi Arabia's commitment to building a prosperous future for its people and strengthening its leadership on both regional and global fronts."

During his opening remarks on the second day of the conference, H.E. Eng. Ahmed bin Sulaiman AlRajhi, Saudi Minister of Human Resources & Social Development, said: "Throughout history, progress has been driven by those willing to adapt, to innovate, and to embrace change. Today we find ourselves at a time when human capital is not a subset of economy and fiscal policy, it is the defining variable of global prosperity."

In his closing address, H.E. Yousef Al-Benyan, Minister of Education, said: "Throughout this conference, we engaged in powerful dialogues and shared innovative insights that underscore the extraordinary potential within every individual. HCI 2025 demonstrated that sustainable human capability development and meaningful impact require cross-sector partnerships, collective responsibility, and strategic alignment across governments, private sectors, academic institutions and civil society."

HCI hosted a ministerial roundtable, bringing together international human capability development officials alongside leading international experts in education and technology, as well as representatives from local and international organizations. The discussion centered on the theme 'AI Skills for All', which delved into strategies to ensure equitable access to this transformative technology.

The conference also marked the launch of the 'Future Skills Initiative' by H.E. the Minister of Commerce and Chair of the Economic and Social Committee of the SaudiUK Strategic Partnership Council. This initiative seeks to foster the exchange of expertise to cultivate future-ready skills across 13 high-potential sectors. The launch was attended by 40 government officials and 100 business leaders from Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom.

This year's agenda focused on pioneering innovative learning models to equip individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in an evolving labor market shaped by rapid technological advancements, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI).

At the conclusion of the conference, the Minister of Education and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Human Capability Development Program, alongside Eng. Anas Al-Mudaifer, CEO, and Dr. Bedour Alrayes, Vice President of the Human Capability Development Program (HCDP), extended their gratitude to HCI partners across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors  both within the Kingdom and globally  for their contributions to the event's success.

The conference also provided speakers and delegates the chance to engage in Saudi culture, with the venue offering musical performances, traditional craft workshops and the taste of world-famous Saudi coffee.

Notes to Editors

About Human Capability Initiative (HCI):

The Human Capability Initiative (HCI) is the first global cooperative platform designed to unify international efforts and enrich global dialogue on the challenges and opportunities for developing human capabilities. Organized by the Human Capability Development Program  a part of the Vision 2030 realization programs  in partnership with Ministry of Education, HCI unites government entities, the private sector, and nonprofit organizations to foster collaboration and drive innovation in the realm of human capabilities.

The conference took place on 13  14 April, 2025 at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh under the theme 'Beyond Readiness'.

For more information, contact media@humancapabilityinitiative.org or visit:

Program: https://humancapabilityinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/HCI-2025-Official-Program.pdf

Website: www.humancapabilityinitiative.org

X: https://x.com/HCI_KSA

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hci_ksa/?next=%2F

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HCI_KSA/videos

About the Human Capability Development Program (HCDP):

HCDP is one of the Vision 2030 Realization Programs (VRP) that aims to position the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a global leader. HCDP will prepare citizens with the required skills, values and knowledge to compete globally.

https://www.vision2030.gov.sa/v2030/vrps/hcdp/

About Saudi Vision 2030:

Under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Saudi Vision 2030 was launched by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, Crown Prince, and Prime Minister, with a roadmap to build Saudi Arabia's prosperous and bright future through a vibrant society, a thriving economy, and an ambitious nation.

https://www.vision2030.gov.sa

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2665461/HCI_Riyadh_2025.jpg
Smartkem has developed the "MiP4", a package of four MicroLEDs connected using Smartkem's chip-first architecture and its unique interlayer dielectric semiconductor materials. A demonstration of the first application of the MiP4: a 12.3in MicroLED Smart Backlight, has now been unveiled at Taiwan's largest technical conference, Touch Taiwan 2025. The MicroLED Smart Backlight delivers higher brightness and better contrast in LCD screens that are frequently used in the automotive industry today.

Smartkem Chairman and CEO Ian Jenks said, "We are thrilled to be demonstrating the first application of our MiP4 here at Touch Taiwan. This microLED backlight demonstrates the capability our unique semiconductor materials to revolutionize existing display markets, including LCD displays used in the automotive industry. This market holds huge opportunity for Smartkem as it is forecast to reach more than 25 million units by 20301, each of which would use more than 500 MiP4s."

Smartkem Chairman and CEO Ian Jenks will deliver a keynote address on Smartkem's MicroLED Smart Backlight on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at 16:00 local time at Touch Taiwan 2025.

For more information or to schedule a meeting with Smartkem's leadership team during Touch Taiwan 2025, please contact:

Michelle Ouyang

Head of Business Development

m.ouyang@smartkem.com

About Smartkem

Smartkem is seeking to change the world of electronics with a new class of transistors developed using its proprietary advanced semiconductor materials. Our TRUFLEX materials can be used in a range of applications including next generation MicroLED, LCD and AMOLED displays, as well as advanced computer and AI chip packaging, and a new type of sensor.

Smartkem's MiP4 is designed to replace existing MiniLED packages in LCD backlights and signage applications. The MiP4 will offer higher brightness at lower power, lower production costs, and compatibility with existing MiniLED die bonding equipment. MiP4s are expected to ship -on-blue tape format for seamless industry adoption.

For MicroLED display applications, Smartkem's low temperature process allows its liquid transistors to be poured directly onto MicroLEDs, eliminating the need to use current high-cost, low-yield manufacturing processes. This innovation is expected to reduce defects and enhance yield, and to integrate seamlessly into existing manufacturing infrastructure, with the potential to make MicroLED displays more commercially viable across a number of sectors including smartphones, wearables, automotives and digital signage.

Smartkem designs and develops its materials at its research and development facility in Manchester, UK and provides prototyping services at the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) in Sedgefield, UK. It operates a field application office in Hsinchu, Taiwan, close to collaboration partner, The Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI). Smartkem is developing a commercial-scale production process and Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools to demonstrate the commercial viability of manufacturing a new generation of displays using its materials.

The company has an extensive IP portfolio including 138 granted patents across 17 patent families, 16 pending patents and 40 codified trade secrets. For more information, visit our website or follow us on LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements

All statements in this press release that are not historical are forward-looking statements, including, among other things, its market position and market opportunity, expectations and plans as to its product development, manufacturing and sales, and relations with its partners and investors. These statements are not historical facts but rather are based on Smartkem, Inc.'s current expectations, estimates, and projections regarding its business, operations and other similar or related factors. Words such as "may," "will," "could," "would," "should," "anticipate," "predict," "potential," "continue," "expect," "intend," "plan," "project," "believe," "estimate," and other similar or elated expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult or impossible to predict and, in some cases, beyond the Company's control. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update information in this release to reflect events or circumstances in the future, even if new information becomes available.

Contacts:

Selena Kirkwood

Head of Communications for Smartkem

T : +44 (0) 7971 460 364

s.kirkwood@smartkem.com

U.S. Investors

David Barnard, CFA

Alliance Advisors Investor Relations

T: 1 415 433 3777

dbarnard@allianceadvisors.com

1 Omdia Report 2023

Image - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2665717/Smartkem.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2597198/5269970/SmartKem_Brand_Identity_RGB_POS___small_Logo.jpg
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ --

Chrysler is celebrating a Century of Innovation, honoring 100 years of bringing to life groundbreaking Chrysler sedans, minivans, convertibles and crossover vehicles filled with innovative, first-ever features and technologies that have influenced culture, impacted the economy and contributed to Chrysler becoming a part of the fabric of automotive history.

Chrysler is revving up for an exciting celebration marking 100 years of pioneering innovation and iconic vehicles that have shaped the American automotive landscape over the last century

Chrysler marks 100 years on June 6, 2025 , and is kicking off its centennial at the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) with a special three-vehicle display that showcases the brand's iconic past, segment-leading present and bright future

years on , and is kicking off its centennial at the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) with a special three-vehicle display that showcases the brand's iconic past, segment-leading present and bright future 1924 Chrysler Six, 2025 Chrysler Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid and Chrysler Halcyon Concept will be spotlighted at NYIAS, which is marking its 125th anniversary

Original 1924 Chrysler Six on display is the same vehicle that debuted at the 1924 National Automobile Show in New York City

Details on Chrysler Century of Innovation events and initiatives will be shared and activated throughout the year, including showcasing 100 years of iconic vehicles and industry innovations

Chrysler Century of Innovation social media campaign will feature multi-part video series of iconic vehicles, concepts, innovations and moments from Chrysler's 100 years

For more information on the Chrysler Century of Innovation celebration, visit Chrysler.com

Chrysler is celebrating a Century of Innovation, honoring 100 years of bringing to life groundbreaking Chrysler sedans, minivans, convertibles and crossover vehicles filled with innovative, first-ever features and technologies that have influenced culture, impacted the economy and contributed to Chrysler becoming a part of the fabric of automotive history.

"Chrysler holds a significant place in automotive history and culture and has been a symbol of innovation and resilience for 100 years," said Chris Feuell, Chrysler CEO. "It's an entire century of innovation: from its introduction of the HEMI V-8 engine, to the creation of the minivan segment and Stow 'n Go seating. As one of the original Big Three, Chrysler contributed to industrial growth and influenced culture with iconic vehicles like the Chrysler 300. Chrysler is more than just a car brand, it's a key part of the automotive industry."

Chrysler is kicking off its 100-year anniversary celebration April 16-27, 2025, at the 2025 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS), as the show celebrates its 125th anniversary this year. The Chrysler exhibit will include a special three-vehicle display that showcases the brand's iconic past, segment-leading present and bright future: the 1924 Chrysler Six, 2025 Chrysler Pacifica and Chrysler Halcyon Concept.

The Chrysler display in New York is just the start of the brand's Century of Innovation celebration. Chrysler officially rings in 100 years on June 6, 2025  the date Maxwell Motors officially became Chrysler Corporation with Walter P. Chrysler as president  featuring a dynamic lineup of initiatives and events to honor its 100-year history.

The Chrysler Century of Innovation social media campaign will feature a multi-part video series taking an in-depth look at iconic vehicles, groundbreaking concepts, technological innovations and historic moments from Chrysler's 100 years.

Chrysler will also debut a 100th anniversary line of branded merchandise, including apparel and gifts, at Collection.Chrysler.com. Additional Century of Innovation events and initiatives will be announced later this year.

"Reaching 100 years is an accomplishment we want to both celebrate and use as an opportunity to declare our commitment to a future that honors Walter P. Chrysler's legacy of innovation, engineering excellence and beautiful, affordable designs," Feuell added. "As the brand celebrates this milestone, the future looks bright with exciting new releases: a refreshed Chrysler Pacifica in 2026, a new crossover soon after and a third product inspired by the Halcyon concept."

100 Years, Three Key Vehicles

The Chrysler Century of Innovation has produced a line of historic and beloved vehicle nameplates, including the Chrysler Airflow, Imperial, New Yorker, Town & Country, 300C and countless more. Chrysler has chosen three vehicles to display at the NYIAS to showcase where the brand started, where it is today and where it's heading in the future:

1924 Chrysler Six: The Chrysler Six on exhibit in New York represents a full-circle moment in automotive history  on loan from the Stellantis automotive archive, it's the very same vehicle that founder Walter P. Chrysler brought to New York City for the 1924 National Automobile Show. The original Chrysler brand vehicle, the Chrysler Six, was a light, powerful vehicle equipped with a groundbreaking L-head six-cylinder engine and four-wheel hydraulic brakes  an uncommon feature in the 1920s. The 1924 price tag of $1,565 included tubular front axles, full pressure lubrication, aluminum pistons, replaceable oil and air filters, shock absorbers and indirect interior lighting.

2025 Chrysler Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid: Chrysler created the minivan segment, and more than 40 years and 15 million minivans later the brand continues to be a leader in the segment and help families come together on their journeys with the Chrysler Pacifica and Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid, which revolutionized the minivan segment when introduced for the 2017 model year. Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid is still the first and only plug-in hybrid in the segment. Pacifica is the most-awarded minivan ever and offers segment-exclusive features, including Stow 'n Go, the innovative seating and storage system that allows second- and third-row seats to stow into the floor. Chrysler is celebrating 20 years of the feature in 2025 with a special Stow 'n Go Challenge at NYIAS.

Chrysler Halcyon Concept: Unveiled in 2024 and making its first appearance at the NYIAS, the Chrysler Halcyon Concept represents a future design theme and direction for Chrysler that embodies the brand's vision of Harmony in Motion. Crafted with stunningly modern, sustainable design and seamlessly integrated technology, the Halcyon Concept stands out with a pure, streamlined exterior design statement that balances aerodynamic and sculptural elements, and an immersive interior with nearly 360-degree range of view, creating a cockpit that is stress-free with autonomous features. Select design elements and features of the Halcyon Concept, such as the advanced Head-up Display and SmartCockpit, are features and experiences that may be offered in future Chrysler products.

100 Years, 10 Key Innovations

Chrysler has a century of industry innovations and iconic vehicles. Here's a look at just 10 key innovations over Chrysler's 100 years:

Future Vision: The 1934 Chrysler Airflow is the first production vehicle designed in a wind tunnel, in a new facility built by Chrysler at its Highland Park, Michigan , headquarters. Wind tunnel testing inspired the Airflow's modified teardrop shape and resulted in a vehicle that represented future design and engineering advances

The 1934 Chrysler Airflow is the first production vehicle designed in a wind tunnel, in a new facility built by Chrysler at its , headquarters. Wind tunnel testing inspired the Airflow's modified teardrop shape and resulted in a vehicle that represented future design and engineering advances HEMI B-Day: The HEMI engine owns an iconic place in the history of Stellantis brands, and the high-horsepower fun all started back in 1951 with the Chrysler Firepower V-8 engine, the first of the legendary hemispheric V-8

The HEMI engine owns an iconic place in the history of Stellantis brands, and the high-horsepower fun all started back in 1951 with the Chrysler Firepower V-8 engine, the first of the legendary hemispheric V-8 Turbine Power: Chrysler begins testing a revolutionary gas turbine engine in 1954; in 1963, 50 Chrysler Turbine cars are loaned to 200 families throughout the country for real-world evaluation

Chrysler begins testing a revolutionary gas turbine engine in 1954; in 1963, 50 Chrysler Turbine cars are loaned to 200 families throughout the country for real-world evaluation OG Muscle: One of the first muscle cars, the Chrysler 300, is introduced in 1955. The hardtop contained a 300-horsepower HEMI V-8, with solid valve lifters and dual four-barrel carburetors, the most powerful full-size car in the world

One of the first muscle cars, the Chrysler 300, is introduced in 1955. The hardtop contained a 300-horsepower HEMI V-8, with solid valve lifters and dual four-barrel carburetors, the most powerful full-size car in the world Cruisin' Ahead: As the nation's system of highways begins to take shape, Chrysler is prepared, introducing automatic speed control in 1958, and cruise control as an option in 1959

As the nation's system of highways begins to take shape, Chrysler is prepared, introducing automatic speed control in 1958, and cruise control as an option in 1959 Disc Changer: In 1956, Chrysler introduces an in-vehicle record player, and in 1960 introduces a vehicle record player for 45 rpm discs, with a capacity of 19 small records

In 1956, Chrysler introduces an in-vehicle record player, and in 1960 introduces a vehicle record player for 45 rpm discs, with a capacity of 19 small records Minivan Memories: On November 2, 1983 , the first minivan rolls off the line for the 1984 model year. More than 40 years later, Chrysler is still a segment leader with the Chrysler Pacifica, Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid and Voyager

On , the first minivan rolls off the line for the 1984 model year. More than 40 years later, Chrysler is still a segment leader with the Chrysler Pacifica, Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid and Voyager Open Sesame: In 1996, Chrysler introduces a driver-side sliding door and, later in 2001, power dual-sliding doors

In 1996, Chrysler introduces a driver-side sliding door and, later in 2001, power dual-sliding doors Still Stow 'n Go in': A class-exclusive feature for 20 years after its introduction for the 2005 model year, Stow 'n Go revolutionizes the minivan, with the ability to stow the second- and third-row seats

A class-exclusive feature for 20 years after its introduction for the 2005 model year, Stow 'n Go revolutionizes the minivan, with the ability to stow the second- and third-row seats TV Time: In 2022, Chrysler Pacifica begins offering rear-seat subscription-based TV on the Pacifica Uconnect Theater system

For more information on the Chrysler Century of Innovation celebration, visit Chrysler.com.

Chrysler Brand

Chrysler marks its 100th anniversary in 2025, honoring Walter P. Chrysler's legacy of innovation, engineering excellence and beautiful, affordable designs. As the brand celebrates this milestone, the future looks bright with exciting new releases: a refreshed Chrysler Pacifica in 2026, a new crossover soon after and a third product inspired by the Halcyon concept.

The Chrysler Pacifica, the most awarded minivan ever, continues to lead the segment it created more than 40 years ago. The Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid, the first electrified minivan in its class, achieves 82 MPGe, with an all-electric range of 32 miles and a total range of 520 miles. With class-leading safety features and available all-wheel drive, Pacifica is designed for modern families. Chrysler will also celebrate the 20th anniversary of its exclusive Stow 'n Go seating and storage system in 2025, as well as the return of the budget-friendly Chrysler Voyager to the lineup.

Chrysler is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis. For more information regarding Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), please visit www.stellantis.com.

Follow Chrysler and company news and video on:

Company blog: http://blog.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Media website: http://media.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Chrysler brand: www.chrysler.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/chrysler

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrysler

X (Twitter): www.twitter.com/chrysler or @StellantisNA

YouTube: www.youtube.com/chrysler or https://www.youtube.com/StellantisNA

SOURCE Stellantis
First-quarter GAAP diluted EPS of $0.76 ; adjusted diluted EPS of $1.09

First-quarter reported sales growth of 4.0 percent; organic sales growth of 6.9 percent or 8.3 percent when excluding COVID-19 testing-related sales 1

Reported gross margin of 52.8 percent of sales; adjusted gross margin of 57.1 percent, which reflects a 140 basis point increase

Reported operating margin of 16.3 percent of sales; adjusted operating margin of 21.0 percent, which reflects a 130 basis point increase

ABBOTT PARK, Ill., April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Abbott (NYSE: ABT) today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025.

First-quarter sales increased 4.0 percent on a reported basis, 6.9 percent on an organic basis, or 8.3 percent when excluding COVID-19 testing-related sales.

First-quarter GAAP diluted EPS of $0.76 and adjusted diluted EPS of $1.09 , which excludes specified items and reflects double-digit growth compared to the prior year.

and adjusted diluted EPS of , which excludes specified items and reflects double-digit growth compared to the prior year. Abbott reaffirms all previously provided full-year 2025 financial guidance.

In March, Abbott obtained CE Mark for its Volt  PFA System to treat patients battling atrial fibrillation (AFib). With the earlier-than-expected CE Mark, Abbott has begun commercial PFA cases in the EU with physicians who have already gained experience with the Volt PFA System through participation in Abbott's PFA clinical studies. The company will further expand the use of Volt in EU markets throughout the second half of the year.

PFA System to treat patients battling atrial fibrillation (AFib). With the earlier-than-expected CE Mark, Abbott has begun commercial PFA cases in the EU with physicians who have already gained experience with the Volt PFA System through participation in Abbott's PFA clinical studies. The company will further expand the use of Volt in EU markets throughout the second half of the year. In March, Abbott announced the initiation of its U.S. pivotal trial, TECTONIC, to evaluate its investigational Coronary Intravascular Lithotripsy (IVL) System in treating severe calcification in coronary arteries prior to implanting a stent.

In March, Abbott presented new two-year data from its TRILUMINATE  pivotal trial that showed Abbott's TriClip  device significantly reduced the rate of heart failure-related hospitalizations, while continuing to provide a sustained reduction of tricuspid regurgitation and significant improvements in quality of life.

pivotal trial that showed Abbott's TriClip device significantly reduced the rate of heart failure-related hospitalizations, while continuing to provide a sustained reduction of tricuspid regurgitation and significant improvements in quality of life. Abbott's two new manufacturing and R&D investments in Illinois and Texas , totaling $0.5 billion , are projected to go live by the end of 2025.

"Once again, Abbott's diversified business model delivered top-tier sales and EPS growth," said Robert B. Ford, chairman and chief executive officer, Abbott. "It is this diversification and execution that allows Abbott to navigate through periods of uncertainty and continually deliver sustainable growth."

FIRST-QUARTER BUSINESS OVERVIEW

Management believes that measuring sales growth rates on an organic basis, which excludes the impact of foreign exchange and the impact of discontinuing the ZonePerfect product line in the Nutrition business, is an appropriate way for investors to best understand the core underlying performance of the business.

Note: In order to compute results excluding the impact of exchange rates, current year U.S. dollar sales are multiplied or divided, as appropriate, by the current year average foreign exchange rates and then those amounts are multiplied or divided, as appropriate, by the prior year average foreign exchange rates.

First Quarter 2025 Results (1Q25)

Sales 1Q25 ($ in millions) Total Company

Nutrition

Diagnostics

Established

Pharmaceuticals

Medical Devices U.S. 4,168

955

871



2,339 International 6,190

1,191

1,183

1,260

2,556 Total reported 10,358

2,146

2,054

1,260

4,895 % Change vs. 1Q24

















U.S. 8.4

8.8

(6.4)

n/a

15.0 International 1.2

0.1

(7.8)

2.7

5.7 Total reported 4.0

3.8

(7.2)

2.7

9.9 Impact of foreign exchange (2.8)

(2.4)

(2.3)

(5.1)

(2.7) Impact of business exit* (0.1)

(0.6)





 Organic 6.9

6.8

(4.9)

7.8

12.6



















U.S. 8.8

10.4

(6.4)

n/a

15.0 International 5.7

4.2

(3.8)

7.8

10.5

Refer to table titled "Non-GAAP Revenue Reconciliation" for a reconciliation of adjusted historical revenue to reported revenue.

*Quarter to date March 31, 2025, reflects the impact of discontinuing the ZonePerfect product line in the Nutrition business in March 2024.

Total company sales increased 4.0 percent on a reported basis, 6.9 percent on an organic basis, or 8.3 percent when excluding COVID-19 testing-related sales1.

Nutrition

First Quarter 2025 Results (1Q25)

Sales 1Q25 ($ in millions) Total

Pediatric

Adult U.S. 955

588

367 International 1,191

453

738 Total reported 2,146

1,041

1,105











% Change vs. 1Q24









U.S. 8.8

14.2

1.1 International 0.1

(8.4)

6.1 Total reported 3.8

3.2

4.4 Impact of foreign exchange (2.4)

(1.7)

(2.9) Impact of business exit* (0.6)



(1.4) Organic 6.8

4.9

8.7











U.S. 10.4

14.2

4.8 International 4.2

(4.8)

10.6



*Reflects the impact of discontinuing the ZonePerfect product line. This action was initiated in March 2024.

Worldwide Nutrition sales increased 3.8 percent on a reported basis and 6.8 percent on an organic basis in the first quarter.

In Pediatric Nutrition, global sales increased 3.2 percent on a reported basis and 4.9 percent on an organic basis. Sales growth in the U.S. was driven by growth across Abbott's comprehensive portfolio of products designed to meet the unique nutrition needs of infants and children.

In Adult Nutrition, global sales increased 4.4 percent on a reported basis and 8.7 percent on an organic basis, which was led by strong growth of Ensure, Abbott's market-leading complete and balanced nutrition brand, and Glucerna, Abbott's market-leading brand of products designed to meet the nutritional requirements for people with diabetes.

Diagnostics

First Quarter 2025 Results (1Q25)

Sales 1Q25 ($ in millions) Total

Core Laboratory

Molecular

Point of Care

Rapid

Diagnostics U.S. 871

332

40

100

399 International 1,183

845

82

42

214 Total reported 2,054

1,177

122

142

613



















% Change vs. 1Q24

















U.S. (6.4)

7.1

(4.4)

1.5

(16.9) International (7.8)

(5.6)

(6.7)

4.4

(17.9) Total reported (7.2)

(2.3)

(5.9)

2.4

(17.3) Impact of foreign exchange (2.3)

(3.2)

(2.4)

(0.8)

(1.2) Organic (4.9)

0.9

(3.5)

3.2

(16.1)



















U.S. (6.4)

7.1

(4.4)

1.5

(16.9) International (3.8)

(1.3)

(3.1)

7.3

(14.6)

Global Diagnostics sales decreased 7.2 percent on a reported basis, decreased 4.9 percent on an organic basis, or increased 0.5 percent when excluding COVID-19 testing-related sales1.

Diagnostics sales growth was impacted by the year-over-year decline in COVID-19 testing-related sales and volume-based procurement programs in China.

COVID-19 testing-related sales were $84 million in the quarter, compared to $204 million in the first quarter of the prior year.

Global Core Laboratory Diagnostics sales decreased 2.3 percent on a reported basis and increased 0.9 percent on an organic basis. Growth in the quarter was impacted by volume-based procurement programs in China.

Established Pharmaceuticals

First Quarter 2025 Results (1Q25 )

Sales 1Q25 ($ in millions) Total

Key Emerging

Markets

Other U.S. 



 International 1,260

965

295 Total reported 1,260

965

295











% Change vs. 1Q24









U.S. n/a

n/a

n/a International 2.7

4.0

(1.2) Total reported 2.7

4.0

(1.2) Impact of foreign exchange (5.1)

(5.3)

(4.3) Organic 7.8

9.3

3.1











U.S. n/a

n/a

n/a International 7.8

9.3

3.1

Established Pharmaceuticals sales increased 2.7 percent on a reported basis and 7.8 percent on an organic basis in the first quarter.

Key Emerging Markets include several emerging countries that represent the most attractive long-term growth opportunities for Abbott's branded generics product portfolio. Sales in these geographies increased 4.0 percent on a reported basis and 9.3 percent on an organic basis, led by double-digit growth in several countries across Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.

Medical Devices

First Quarter 2025 Results (1Q25)

Sales 1Q25 ($ in millions) Total

Rhythm

Management

Electro- physiology

Heart

Failure

Vascular

Structural

Heart

Neuro-

modulation

Diabetes

Care U.S. 2,339

304

299

262

268

282

176

748 International 2,556

281

330

77

442

295

52

1,079 Total reported 4,895

585

629

339

710

577

228

1,827































% Change vs. 1Q24





























U.S. 15.0

12.3

11.1

10.6

5.5

20.9

(2.8)

27.1 International 5.7

(3.7)

4.0

14.3

1.6

4.6

16.3

10.1 Total reported 9.9

4.0

7.3

11.4

3.0

11.9

1.0

16.5 Impact of foreign exchange (2.7)

(2.1)

(2.6)

(1.0)

(2.7)

(2.8)

(1.2)

(3.3) Organic 12.6

6.1

9.9

12.4

5.7

14.7

2.2

19.8































U.S. 15.0

12.3

11.1

10.6

5.5

20.9

(2.8)

27.1 International 10.5

0.3

8.8

19.1

5.8

9.6

22.7

15.4

Worldwide Medical Devices sales increased 9.9 percent on a reported basis and 12.6 percent on an organic basis in the first quarter.

Sales growth in the quarter was led by Diabetes Care, Structural Heart, Heart Failure and Electrophysiology.

Several products contributed to the strong performance, including FreeStyle Libre, Navitor, TriClip, Amplatzer Amulet, and AVEIR.

In Diabetes Care, sales of continuous glucose monitors were $1.7 billion and grew 18.3 percent on a reported basis and 21.6 percent on an organic basis.

ABBOTT'S FINANCIAL GUIDANCE

Abbott projects full-year 2025 organic sales growth to be in the range of 7.5% to 8.5%.

Abbott projects full-year 2025 adjusted operating margin to be 23.5% to 24.0% of sales.

Abbott projects full-year 2025 adjusted diluted earnings per share of $5.05 to $5.25 and second-quarter 2025 adjusted diluted earnings per share of $1.23 to $1.27.

Abbott has not provided the related GAAP financial measures on a forward-looking basis for these forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures because the company is unable to predict with reasonable certainty and without unreasonable effort the timing and impact of certain items such as restructuring and cost reduction initiatives, charges for intangible asset impairments, acquisition-related expenses, and foreign exchange, which could significantly impact Abbott's results in accordance with GAAP.

ABBOTT DECLARES 405th CONSECUTIVE QUARTERLY DIVIDEND

On Feb. 21, 2025, the board of directors of Abbott declared the company's quarterly dividend of $0.59 per share. Abbott's cash dividend is payable May 15, 2025, to shareholders of record at the close of business on April 15, 2025.

Abbott has increased its dividend payout for 53 consecutive years and is a member of the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index, which tracks companies that have annually increased their dividend for at least 25 consecutive years.

About Abbott:

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 114,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

Connect with us at www.abbott.com and on LinkedIn , Facebook , Instagram , X and YouTube .

Abbott will live-webcast its first-quarter earnings conference call through its Investor Relations website at www.abbottinvestor.com at 8 a.m. Central time today. An archived edition of the webcast will be available later in the day.

 Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 

A Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Some statements in this news release may be forward-looking statements for purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Abbott cautions that these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors that may affect Abbott's operations are discussed in Item 1A, "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2024, and are incorporated herein by reference. Abbott undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking statements as a result of subsequent events or developments, except as required by law.

1. In the first quarter of 2025, total worldwide sales were $10.358 billion, total Diagnostics sales were $2.054 billion and COVID-19 testing-related sales were $84 million. In the first quarter of 2024, total worldwide sales were $9.964 billion, total Diagnostics sales were $2.214 billion and COVID-19 testing-related sales were $204 million. In the first quarter of 2025, the impact of COVID-19 testing-related sales on Abbott and total Diagnostics was a decrease of 1.4 percent and 5.4 percent, respectively. Organic sales, excluding COVID-19 testing-related sales, increased 8.3 percent for Abbott and 0.5 percent for total Diagnostics.

Abbott Laboratories and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statement of Earnings First Quarter Ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 (in millions, except per share data) (unaudited)







1Q25

1Q24

% Change

Net Sales $10,358

$9,964

4.0















Cost of products sold, excluding amortization expense 4,468

4,463

0.1

Amortization of intangible assets 420

472

(11.0)

Research and development 716

684

4.6

Selling, general, and administrative 3,061

2,959

3.5

Total Operating Cost and Expenses 8,665

8,578

1.0















Operating Earnings 1,693

1,386

22.1















Interest expense, net 49

61

(18.6)

Net foreign exchange (gain) loss (7)



n/m

Other (income) expense, net (127)

(111)

14.9

Earnings before taxes 1,778

1,436

23.8

Taxes on earnings 453

211

n/m 1)













Net Earnings $1,325

$1,225

8.2















Net Earnings excluding Specified Items, as described below $1,919

$1,729

10.9 2)













Diluted Earnings per Common Share $0.76

$0.70

8.6















Diluted Earnings per Common Share, excluding Specified Items, as described below $1.09

$0.98

11.2 2)













Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding Plus Dilutive Common Stock Options 1,747

1,750







NOTES: See table titled "Non-GAAP Reconciliation of Financial Information" for an explanation of certain non-GAAP financial information. n/m = Percent change is not meaningful. See footnotes on the following section.

1) 2025 Taxes on Earnings includes approximately $200 million in adjustments related to prior recognition of a significant non-cash deferred tax benefit.





2024 Taxes on Earnings includes the recognition of approximately $10 million of net tax expense as a result of the resolution of various tax positions related to prior years.



2) 2025 Net Earnings and Diluted Earnings per Common Share, excluding Specified Items, excludes net after-tax charges of $594 million, or $0.33 per share, for intangible amortization, charges related to investment impairments, charges related to restructuring and cost reduction initiatives, expenses associated with acquisitions, and other net expenses.





2024 Net Earnings and Diluted Earnings per Common Share, excluding Specified Items, excludes net after-tax charges of $504 million, or $0.28 per share, for intangible amortization, charges related to restructuring and cost reduction initiatives, expenses associated with acquisitions and other net expenses.

Abbott Laboratories and Subsidiaries Non-GAAP Reconciliation of Financial Information First Quarter Ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 (in millions, except per share data) (unaudited)



1Q25

As Reported

(GAAP)

Specified

Items

As Adjusted











Intangible Amortization $ 420

$ (420)

$  Gross Margin 5,470

448

5,918 R&D 716

(27)

689 SG&A 3,061

(10)

3,051 Other (income) expense, net (127)

(35)

(162) Earnings before taxes 1,778

520

2,298 Taxes on Earnings 453

(74)

379 Net Earnings 1,325

594

1,919 Diluted Earnings per Share $ 0.76

$ 0.33

$ 1.09

Specified items reflect intangible amortization expense of $420 million and other net expenses of $100 million associated with restructuring actions, costs associated with acquisitions, investment impairment charges and other net expenses. See table titled "Details of Specified Items" for additional details regarding specified items.



1Q24

As Reported

(GAAP)

Specified

Items

As Adjusted











Intangible Amortization $ 472

$ (472)

$  Gross Margin 5,029

518

5,547 R&D 684

(21)

663 SG&A 2,959

(34)

2,925 Other (income) expense, net (111)

(26)

(137) Earnings before taxes 1,436

599

2,035 Taxes on Earnings 211

95

306 Net Earnings 1,225

504

1,729 Diluted Earnings per Share $ 0.70

$ 0.28

$ 0.98

Specified items reflect intangible amortization expense of $472 million and other net expenses of $127 million associated with restructuring actions, costs associated with acquisitions, investment impairment charges and other net expenses. See table titled "Details of Specified Items" for additional details regarding specified items.

A reconciliation of the first-quarter tax rates for 2025 and 2024 is shown below:



1Q25

($ in millions) Pre-Tax Income

Taxes on Earnings

Tax Rate

As reported (GAAP) $ 1,778

$ 453

25.5 % 1) Specified items 520

(74)





Excluding specified items $ 2,298

$ 379

16.5 %

















1Q24

($ in millions) Pre-Tax Income

Taxes on Earnings

Tax Rate

As reported (GAAP) $ 1,436

$ 211

14.7 % 2) Specified items 599

95





Excluding specified items $ 2,035

$ 306

15.0 %





1) 2025 Taxes on Earnings includes approximately $200 million in adjustments related to prior recognition of a significant non-cash deferred tax benefit.



2) 2024 Taxes on Earnings includes the recognition of approximately $10 million of net tax expense as a result of the resolution of various tax positions related to prior years.

Abbott Laboratories and Subsidiaries Non-GAAP Revenue Reconciliation First Quarter Ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 ($ in millions) (unaudited)





1Q25

1Q24

% Change vs. 1Q24



















Non-GAAP



Abbott

Reported

Abbott

Reported Impact

from

business

exit (a) Adjusted

Revenue

Reported

Adjusted Organic Total Company

10,358

9,964 (13) 9,951

4.0

4.1 6.9 U.S.

4,168

3,846 (13) 3,833

8.4

8.8 8.8 Intl

6,190

6,118  6,118

1.2

1.2 5.7























Total Nutrition

2,146

2,068 (13) 2,055

3.8

4.4 6.8 U.S.

955

878 (13) 865

8.8

10.4 10.4 Intl

1,191

1,190  1,190

0.1

0.1 4.2























Adult Nutrition

1,105

1,059 (13) 1,046

4.4

5.8 8.7 U.S.

367

364 (13) 351

1.1

4.8 4.8 Intl

738

695  695

6.1

6.1 10.6





(a) Reflects the impact of discontinuing the ZonePerfect product line in the Nutrition business. This action was initiated in March 2024.

Abbott Laboratories and Subsidiaries Details of Specified Items First Quarter Ended March 31, 2025 (in millions, except per share data) (unaudited)



Acquisition or Divestiture- related (a)

Restructuring and Cost Reduction Initiatives (b)

Intangible Amortization

Other (c)

Total Specifieds Gross Margin $ 

$ 26

$ 420

$ 2

$ 448 R&D (1)

(16)



(10)

(27) SG&A (3)

(7)





(10) Other (income) expense, net (24)





(11)

(35) Earnings before taxes $ 28

$ 49

$ 420

$ 23

520 Taxes on Earnings (d)















(74) Net Earnings















$ 594 Diluted Earnings per Share















$ 0.33





The table above provides additional details regarding the specified items described on table titled "Non-GAAP Reconciliation of Financial Information."

a) Acquisition-related expenses include integration costs, which represent incremental costs directly related to integrating acquired businesses as well as a fair value adjustment to contingent consideration related to a business acquisition.



b) Restructuring and cost reduction initiative expenses include severance, outplacement and other direct costs associated with specific restructuring plans and cost reduction initiatives.



c) Other includes incremental costs to comply with the European Union's Medical Device Regulations (MDR) and In Vitro Diagnostics Medical Device Regulations (IVDR) requirements for previously approved products and investment impairment charges.



d) Reflects the net tax benefit associated with the specified items. 2025 Taxes on Earnings includes approximately $200 million in adjustments related to prior recognition of a significant non-cash deferred tax benefit.

Abbott Laboratories and Subsidiaries Details of Specified Items First Quarter Ended March 31, 2024 (in millions, except per share data) (unaudited)



Acquisition or Divestiture- related (a)

Restructuring and Cost Reduction Initiatives (b)

Intangible Amortization

Other (c)

Total Specifieds Gross Margin $ 1

$ 42

$ 472

$ 3

$ 518 R&D (3)

(2)



(16)

(21) SG&A (14)

(9)



(11)

(34) Other (income) expense, net 12





(38)

(26) Earnings before taxes $ 6

$ 53

$ 472

$ 68

599 Taxes on Earnings (d)















95 Net Earnings















$ 504 Diluted Earnings per Share















$ 0.28





The table above provides additional details regarding the specified items described on table titled "Non-GAAP Reconciliation of Financial Information."

a) Acquisition-related expenses include integration costs, which represent incremental costs directly related to integrating acquired businesses, as well as other costs related to business acquisitions.



b) Restructuring and cost reduction initiative expenses include severance, outplacement and other direct costs associated with specific restructuring plans and cost reduction initiatives.



c) Other includes various investment impairment charges and incremental costs to comply with the European Union's Medical Device Regulations (MDR) and In Vitro Diagnostics Medical Device Regulations (IVDR) requirements for previously approved products.



d) Reflects the net tax benefit associated with the specified items.

SOURCE Abbott
"The 2026 Palisade XRT PRO is for people doing it allraising families, chasing goals, showing up every day," said Olabisi Boyle, SVP, product planning and mobility strategy, Hyundai Motor North America. "We built this SUV by putting people first - thinking about real lives, real needs. It's got space for your crew, capability when the road gets rough, and the kind of comfort, style, and efficiency that proves luxury doesn't have to come with a luxury price. We wanted to deliver a vehicle where affordability can meet lifestyleno matter where off-road you want to go."

All-new off-road-focused XRT PRO model

The entire 2026 Palisade model line is bigger, better, and more capable than ever, but for those who enjoy venturing even further off the beaten path, Palisade XRT PRO has got the goods. This rugged model is the first Hyundai to wear the XRT PRO nameplate, signifying its significantly upgraded off-road capabilities beyond prior XRT models. Explicitly designed for U.S. consumers, XRT PRO includes more off-road-minded hardware- and software-level enhancements than any previous Hyundai model. XRT PRO even looks the part, thanks to a uniquely muscular front end that incorporates a bold lower grille design bookended by prominent canyon red recovery hooks and a beefier lower fascia. The Palisade XRT PRO includes:

XRT PRO Capability Features

XRT PRO-exclusive rear electronic limited-slip differential (eLSD)

8.4 inches of ground clearance (+1 inch vs. non XRT PRO models)

Improved approach (20.5), departure (22.4), and breakover (18.3) geometry

All-terrain 255/60R18 tires

Blind Spot View Monitor

Surround View Monitor with forward ground view

Real-time pitch & roll, compass, and elevation displays

HTRAC all-wheel drive

New Mud, Sand, and Snow terrain modes

Exposed functional canyon red recovery hooks front and rear

Downhill Brake Control

Tow mode

Factory-installed tow hitch with conceal panel

XRT PRO Design Features

XRT PRO-exclusive 18-inch dark-finish alloy wheels

XRT PRO rear badging

XRT dark exterior accents (grille, window surround, cladding)

H-Tex leatherette seating surfaces with front heating/ventilation

Heated steering wheel

Bose 14-speaker premium audio system

Ambient lighting

115-volt power outlet

Power moonroof

New, powerful, and efficient internal-combustion powertrain

The 2026 Palisade XRT PRO boasts a newly developed 3.5-liter V6 making up to an estimated 287 horsepower and up to 260 lb.-ft. of torque. The naturally aspirated, direct-injected engine is coupled to a smooth-shifting 8-speed automatic transmission with a multi-plate torque converter. This standard ICE powertrain is available exclusively with HTRAC All-Wheel Drive (AWD) on XRT PRO. This V6 powertrain is targeting a robust 5,000-pound maximum towing capacity1, giving active families the flexibility to haul a variety of weekend toys.

HTRAC with Tow Mode, Terrain modes add confidence, capability

The 2026 Palisade model range is available with Hyundai's HTRAC All-Wheel-Drive system with Tow Mode. This three-row SUV also includes a factory-installed, fascia-concealed OEM tow hitch on XRT PRO, Limited and Calligraphy trims  another Hyundai first. Tow Mode optimizes the powertrain's performance parameters for confident and efficient towing, holding lower gears longer and reducing shift frequency while towing heavier loads.

For 2026, a new terrain mode controller includes Mud, Sand, and Snow settings to give drivers extra confidence and capability in adverse terrain and weather conditions. Additionally, the 2026 Palisade XRT PRO benefits from a model-exclusive rear electronic limited-slip differential for increased responsiveness and traction on difficult terrain.

The 2026 Palisade will be built in Ulsan, South Korea. XRT PRO models are set to arrive at Hyundai dealers in early summer.

Hyundai Motor America

Hyundai Motor America offers U.S. consumers a technology-rich lineup of cars, SUVs, and electrified vehicles, while supporting Hyundai Motor Company's Progress for Humanity vision. Hyundai has significant operations in the U.S., including its North American headquarters in California, the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama assembly plant, the all-new Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in Georgia, and several cutting-edge R&D facilities. These operations, combined with those of Hyundai's 850 independent dealers, contribute $20.1 billion annually and 190,000 jobs to the U.S. economy, according to a published economic impact report. For more information, visit www.hyundainews.com.

Hyundai Motor America on Twitter | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok

Footnotes

Towing capacity varies by configuration. 4,000 lb. maximum towing capacity for 2026 Palisade Hybrid models and 5,000 lb. maximum towing capacity for Palisade ICE models, including XRT PRO. Requires installation of aftermarket towing equipment. See Owner's Manual for proper use and additional information.

SOURCE Hyundai Motor America
Global clients including Nissan using Olyzon's AI-native ad tech to solve longstanding structural inefficiencies that hold back CTV investments; CEO Jules Minvielle Relocates to New York; Zach Sorscher appointed SVP of Sales

NEW YORK, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Olyzon , The Agentic CTV Advertising Platform, has launched in the U.S. with AI-native solutions that leading global brands are using to transform connected television (CTV) into the most powerful digital advertising channel. Built from the ground up with AI, Olyzon's AI agents advance automation, transparency, and scalable performance.

Olyzon's AI agents empower brands and agencies to take dynamic, intelligent action at run-timemaking complex media decisions simpler, smarter, and more effective. The intelligence executed are critical path to solving the issues stalling CTV's growth. Unlike legacy ad tech built for waning media channels like display, Olyzon's AI-native platform can provide real-time control to deliver outcomes: media plan automation determines optimal reach strategy across premium programming; agents use program-level data to curate the optimal moment of ad delivery, and go on to determine optimal ad sequencing all while pacing to assure reach delivery. And finally, Olyzon offers full transparency on every ad transaction. With Olyzon, advertisers maximize CTV investments and brand impactat scale.

Global Brands Already Seeing Success with Olyzon

Olyzon's AI has already generated outstanding outcomes for many of the world's most iconic brands.

At Nissan, Media & Advertising Manager Julien Dobisz said: "We have recently decided to integrate Olyzon into our marketing strategy. This solution captures the audience's attention in an immersive and engaging environment with precise targeting, while providing detailed insights to measure the effectiveness of our advertising investments."

Olyzon boasts other top-tier brands like Accor, Audi, BNP Paribas, IKEA, Levi's, Longines, Mastercard, MG, PUIG, Red Bull and more. Premium publisher partners include Amagi Ads, BFM RMC Ads, FUBO, LG Ads, M6, PLEX, Titan OS, TCL, VIDAA, VIZIO, World Poker Tour, and more.

Founder-Led Expansion to the U.S. Market

Relocating from France to New York, serial entrepreneur CEO & co-founder Jules Minvielle will continue to lead Olyzon's growth. Minivielle has a proven track record of building and scaling high-growth adtech companies. He previously co-founded Mozoo, a digital creative agency for adtech mobile activation acquired in 2023, and Ogury, a global adtech company built on privacy-first innovation.

"Despite the rise of digital screens of varying sizes, television remains the most powerful stage for brands to engage audiences at scale," said Jules Minivielle, CEO and co-founder of Olyzon. "Yet, CTV advertising remains fragmented, inefficient and opaque. Olyzon was built to transform that realitywith agentic solutions that automate media planning, deliver multi-format creative activation, offer full transparency, and scale performance across the premium content. The future of CTV advertising is agentic, and Olyzon is leading the way."

Strengthening U.S. Operations with Key Leadership Hire

Olyzon has appointed Zach Sorscher as Senior Vice President of Sales. A seasoned adtech executive, Sorscher brings deep industry expertise and a strong track record of driving revenue growth for top advertising platforms and building strategic partnerships across media and technology companies.

"Olyzon is solving some of CTV's biggest challenges by delivering AI solutions that empower advertisers to achieve unmatched precision, performance, and scale," said Zach Sorscher, SVP of Sales at Olyzon. "CTV is at a turning point, and I'm thrilled to join Jules and the team at this pivotal moment to bring agentic activation for CTV to U.S. marketers."

About Olyzon

Olyzon is the agentic CTV advertising platform delivering the attention leading global brands deserve on CTV. Built from the ground up with artificial intelligence, Olyzon's AI agents advance automation, transparency, and scalable performanceempowering brands and agencies to take dynamic, intelligent action. The AI-native platform automates media planning across premium inventory, leverages contextual AI signals for proprietary program-level targeting and audience intelligence, and invites audience engagement with immersive ad formats and intelligent sequencing. Founded in 2024 with offices in Paris and New York, Olyzon helps advertisers maximize investments and brand impact that Thrive with All Eyes On CTV. Learn more at www.olyzon.tv .

Media Contact:

Nadia Gonzalez

[email protected]

917.656.5945

SOURCE Olyzon
In the eighth episode of Info-Tech Research Group's Digital Disruption podcast, futurist and strategist Ian Beacraft explores how outdated leadership models - not AI - are the biggest threat to the future of work.

TORONTO, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - With AI exponentially changing how collaboration, creating, and value delivery happen across organizations, the challenge is no longer simply about adopting new tools; it's about evolving traditional ways of thinking. In Episode 8 of Digital Disruption from global research and advisory firm Info-Tech Research Group, titled "AI Is Rewriting the Rules of Work," Ian Beacraft, Chief Futurist and Founder of Signal and Cipher, joins host Geoff Nielson to discuss how AI is reshaping the workplace and why leadership mindsets must change just as quickly.

In the eighth episode of Info-Tech Research Groups Digital Disruption podcast, futurist and strategist Ian Beacraft explores how outdated leadership models - not AI - are the biggest threat to the future of work. (CNW Group/Info-Tech Research Group)

Beacraft, whose immersive presentations have reached millions globally, has advised top organizations, including Samsung, Google, and Nike. Beacraft was also the first person to host a news segment as a synthetic human, as well as a co-owner of a production studio designing virtual worlds. A classically trained musician and educator, Beacraft champions responsible, creative uses of emerging technologies.

Geoff Nielson, Senior Vice President of Brand at Info-Tech Research Group and host of the show, says, "Episode eight of the Digital Disruption podcast challenges conventional thinking about work, roles, and leadership. Ian Beacraft pushes us to see AI not as a threat but as a tool to break down outdated structures and unlock human potential. It's not about eliminating jobs; it's about eliminating the constraints that limit how value is created and delivered."

At the heart of the episode is a call to redefine what work looks like in an AI-augmented world. Beacraft challenges leaders to stop treating AI as a bolt-on to outdated processes and instead see it as a catalyst to rewire how value is created across the organization. Beacraft argues for a shift from rigid roles to fluid skills, from policies to possibilities, and from fear-based leadership to learning-focused transformation.

Digital Disruption, Episode 8: "AI Is Rewriting the Rules of Work"

In the eighth episode of Digital Disruption, Ian Beacraft joins host Geoff Nielson for a conversation about what it really means to lead and adapt in a world shaped by generative AI. Their conversation explores:

Why leadership mindsets, not AI, pose the greatest threat to transformation

How legacy structures and rigid job descriptions limit collaboration and creativity

What skill-based, AI-augmented workforces could look like

Why leaders must engage with AI directly and not delegate it to innovation teams

How organizations can build experiential learning into their transformation strategy

Beacraft, a former agency executive turned futurist, combines deep technological fluency with an artistic, humanistic approach to innovation. Through the use of immersive storytelling and hands-on experimentation, Beacraft helps organizations confront the cultural and structural shifts that are needed to thrive in a world shaped by AI, extended reality, and human-machine collaboration.

Episode 8 of Digital Disruption with Ian Beacraft is now available on YouTube, Apple Music, and Spotify. IT and business professionals are encouraged to subscribe for more insights and in-depth conversations with global industry experts shaping the future of technology, society, and the workplace.

To learn more, visit the Digital Disruption podcast page and follow Info-Tech Research Group on LinkedIn and X for updates.

For more information about guest opportunities and participation in upcoming episodes, please contact [email protected].

About Info-Tech Research Group

Info-Tech Research Group is one of the world's leading research and advisory firms, proudly serving over 30,000 IT and HR professionals. The company produces unbiased, highly relevant research and provides advisory services to help leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. For nearly 30 years, Info-Tech has partnered closely with teams to provide them with everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organizations.

To learn more about Info-Tech's divisions, visit McLean & Company for HR research and advisory services and SoftwareReviews for software buying insights.

Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software and hundreds of industry analysts through the firm's Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact [email protected].

SOURCE Info-Tech Research Group
Growth debt transaction will fund expansion of the California-based company through an innovative, shareholder-friendly financing structure

SAN DIEGO, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Tourmo, a leading provider of AI-powered Fleet Operations intelligence solutions, has secured a significant growth funding package from Decathlon Capital Partners. The growth-debt investment will fuel Tourmo's continued platform development, expansion of client service capabilities, and efforts to support new customer onboarding. Details of the revenue-based investments were not disclosed.

Based in San Diego, Tourmo's cutting-edge platform leverages artificial intelligence to transform fleet operations, optimize workflows, and enhance decision-making across industries. By delivering actionable insights in real time, Tourmo enables organizations to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and achieve better outcomes for their customers and teams.

Marc Brungger, Chief Executive Officer of Tourmo, said Tourmo answers the industry's challenge of having so much unused data by correlating and pulling actionable insights from it. "At Tourmo, we are dedicated to helping enterprise organizations harness the power of AI to transform their operations and unlock new efficiencies," Brungger said. "This investment will allow us to continue innovating our platform and supporting our growing base of clients as they implement smarter, data-driven solutions."

Dr. Lukas Kuhn, Chief Technology Officer and Founder of Tourmo, said the revenue-based funding approach from Decathlon Capital Partners offers Tourmo a highly flexible way to finance its growth without compromising its independence. "This investment allows us to continue expanding and innovating without exchanging equity or giving up control," Dr. Kuhn said. "Instead, we're able to repay Decathlon with our future revenues, ensuring a sustainable and strategic path forward."

John Borchers, Managing Director of Decathlon Capital Partners, said Decathlon is excited to see where this partnership leads them. "Tourmo is at the forefront of fleet operational intelligence, providing organizations with powerful tools to address complex challenges and improve their performance," Borchers said. "We're thrilled to support Tourmo's growth as they expand their capabilities and reach new customers with their transformative technology."

About Tourmo

Tourmo provides an AI-based Fleet Operations and Mobile Workforce Management Platform designed for enterprise organizations with business-critical mobile operations and associated networks of people, vehicles, customers, and partners. These organizations demand a high-performing and automated operation capable of delivering measurable bottom-line results, enhancing customer, employee, and partner satisfaction, increasing efficiency, and achieving digital transformation. Powered by AI, the Tourmo platform delivers contextualized business intelligence and real-time workflow decision-making derived from a myriad of disparate data sources that have been unified and normalized. The platform generates automated business process workflows that enhance the productivity, safety, satisfaction, and sustainability of both humans and vehicles. Tourmo serves clients across a range of industries, including logistics, transportation, and field services. Learn more at www.tourmo.ai.

About Decathlon Capital Partners

Decathlon Capital Partners provides growth capital for companies seeking alternatives to traditional equity investment. Through the use of highly customized private debt solutions, Decathlon provides long-term growth capital without the dilution, loss of control and operational overhead that often comes with equity-based funding. With offices in Palo Alto and Park City, Decathlon has supported hundreds of growth-focused companies over the last 15 years. Learn more at www.decathloncapital.com.

SOURCE Tourmo
The collection features five essential knives: an 8" Chef's Knife, 7" Santoku Knife, 8" Bread Knife, 6" Utility Knife, and 4" Paring Knife. Each knife is precision-forged from Arcos' exclusive NITRUM stainless steel, enriched with nitrogen for superior durability, enhanced edge retention, and effortless sharpening. The handles are crafted from European Holm Oak, a dense hardwood with deep cultural significance in Spain, where its acorns nourish the famed Iberian pigs.

"In collaboration with Jose Andres, we have created a knife collection that reflects both heritage and performance," said Jurgen Wolflik, Co-CEO of Arcos. "Each knife embodies the artistry of Spanish craftsmanship, ensuring precision, longevity, and an unparalleled culinary experience."

"I'm happy to share these knives from Arcos. My team of chefs uses Arcos knives daily, at work and homewe love them for being sturdy and reliable, and they keep a sharp edge, even with all the work we do in the kitchen," noted Jose Andres, renowned chef and Founder of Jose Andres Group.

Alongside the core knife series, Arcos introduces the Jose Andres by Arcos Steak Knife Seta two-piece set in Red, Green, and Blue, designed for effortless slicing through steak, fish, and other meats.

The Jose Andres by Arcos Collection will be available starting April 1, 2025, with prices ranging from $65 to $100 for individual knives and $60 per steak knife set. All products are crafted in Albacete, Spain, backed by a 10-year warranty, and come in premium packaging that reflects the sophistication of this exclusive collaboration.

For more information, visit arcos.com or contact [email protected]

About Arcos

Founded in 1734, Arcos is one of the oldest knife manufacturers in the world, blending time-honored Spanish craftsmanship with modern innovation. Based in Albacete, Spain, Arcos continues to set the standard for quality cutlery, trusted by chefs and home cooks worldwide.

About Jose Andres

Jose Andres is a renowned chef, Emmy Award winning television personality, New York Times bestselling author, educator, and internationally recognized humanitarian  twice named as one of Time Magazine's "100 Most Influential People." A native of Spain, Jose is credited with popularizing tapas in America with his first restaurant, Jaleo. He is the owner of Jose Andres Group, which operates 40 restaurants in the US and beyond, including the 2 Michelin-starred minibar by Jose Andres.

In 2010, Andres founded World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit organization that is first to the frontlines, providing meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises. Andres's work has earned distinctions including the National Humanities Medal, the James Beard Foundation's Outstanding Chef award, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

SOURCE Arcos USA INC
CHICAGO, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Assembly Health, a leading revenue cycle management provider to thousands of physician practices, post-acute facilities, and behavioral health facilities, welcomes Greg Shorten as Chief Commercial Officer and Michael Murphy as Chief Financial Officer. Their arrival marks the continued strategic expansion of Assembly's leadership team to drive growth and innovation in the revenue cycle management space.

"We're thrilled to welcome leaders of Greg and Michael's caliber to our team," said Assembly CEO Jack Fitzgibbons. "Their expertise in scaling high-growth businesses and deep experience in revenue cycle management will further strengthen our ability to deliver exceptional financial results to more physician practices, skilled nursing facilities, and behavioral health providers."

Shorten joins Assembly with 20 years of growth experience leading sales, marketing, and revenue operations. Prior to joining Assembly, he served as Chief Client Officer at Aspirion, a hospital-focused revenue cycle management company, where he led the business to 30% annual growth and a successful sale to Linden Capital. Shorten has also held senior executive roles at growing healthcare services and technology companies, including CareCloud, where he served as Chief Revenue Officer, and Allscripts, where he was Senior Vice President of Sales.

Murphy brings over 20 years of finance strategy and operations experience to Assembly, most recently serving as CFO of WellNow Urgent Care followed CFO of Bridgeview Eye Partners. His success in driving operational efficiencies, executing M&A initiatives, and serving as a strategic business partner will support Assembly as it continues its rapid growth and further establishes itself as a revenue cycle management leader.

"Beyond their financial and growth expertise, Greg and Michael bring a commitment to excellence and track records of building high-performing teams," said Fitzgibbons. "At Assembly, we hold ourselves to a standard well above the average billing company. We work hard to ensure our clients are accurately reimbursed for the care they provide, and Greg and Michael are equally committed to helping our team members achieve that gold standard."

About Assembly Health

Based in Chicago, Assembly Health provides revenue cycle management services to thousands of physician practices, post-acute facilities, and behavioral health centers nationwide. The company's RCM platform is designed to integrate with any electronic record or billing system, allowing flexibility and choice for clients. By leveraging machine learning and artificial intelligence into its platform, Assembly is able to drive efficiencies and performance levels that lead to a 10% average increase in net collections.

For more information about Assembly and its services, visit www.assembly.health.

Media Contact:

Greg Shorten

Chief Commercial Officer

Assembly Health

[email protected]

SOURCE Assembly Health
PANAMA CITY, Republic of Panama, April 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S.A. ("Bladex" or "the Bank") announced today that the Bank filed its annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 (the "2024 Annual Report") with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").

The 2024 Annual Report and audited financial statements can be accessed by visiting either the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or Bladex's website at www.bladex.com. The Bank can also provide a copy of the Bank's audited financial statements or annual report on Form 20-F, upon a written request and without charge.

Bladex, a multinational bank originally established by the central banks of Latin-American and Caribbean countries, began operations in 1979 to promote foreign trade and economic integration in the Region. The Bank, headquartered in Panama, also has offices in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, the United States of America, and a Representative License in Peru, supporting the regional expansion and servicing of its customer base, which includes financial institutions and corporations.

Bladex is listed on the NYSE in the United States of America (NYSE: BLX), since 1992, and its shareholders include: central banks and state-owned banks and entities representing 23 Latin American countries, commercial banks and financial institutions, and institutional and retail investors through its public listing.

For further information on Bladex, please access its website at www.bladex.com or contact:

Carlos Daniel Raad  Chief Investor Relations Officer

E-mail address: [email protected] / [email protected]. Tel.: (+507) 366-4925 ext. 7925

Head Office Address: Torre V, Business Park, Ave. La Rotonda, Urb. Costa del Este,

Panama, Republic of Panama

SOURCE Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S.A. (Bladex)
Blueprint Nursing addresses the critical RN shortage in the U.S. by offering free 60-day access to its new NCLEX Complete Self-Prep Package, empowering future nurses to pass their licensing exams with confidence.

LOS ANGELES, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The United States is facing a critical shortage of Registered Nurses (RNs), with reports showing approximately 1.2 million new RNs are needed by 2030 to fill the growing gap in the healthcare workforce. To help combat this pressing issue, Blueprint Nursing is stepping up with a groundbreaking new offer for nursing students and professionals.

From April 2025 to December 2025, Blueprint Nursing is offering free 60-day access to a new course: The NCLEX Complete Self-Prep Package, including 23 hours of video lessons and a 2,000+ question banka comprehensive and efficient exam preparation package valued at $116. This initiative aims to empower nursing students to effectively prepare and pass their licensing exam with confidence, ultimately helping bridge the gap in the RN shortage.

Why the RN Shortage Requires Immediate Attention

Nationwide, the current RN shortage in the United States sits at 10%, equating to 350,540 unfilled positionsa trend projected to persist for the foreseeable future. The current shortage stems from several factors:

Aging Workforce : Many experienced RNs are approaching retirement, leaving massive gaps in the healthcare system.

: Many experienced RNs are approaching retirement, leaving massive gaps in the healthcare system. Aging Baby Boomer Population : As the aging population grows, the need for skilled nurses is rising rapidly to meet increasing healthcare demands.

: As the aging population grows, the need for skilled nurses is rising rapidly to meet increasing healthcare demands. Limited Educational Resources: Nursing education programs face capacity challenges, further slowing the development of new nurses.

Without innovative solutions, the healthcare system risks being overwhelmed, leaving millions without adequate care.

Blueprint Nursing's Solution for Future RNs

Blueprint Nursing is on a mission to make exam prep affordable, focused, and stress-free, helping students pass their NCLEX exams on the first try. The NCLEX Complete Self-Prep Package Course is designed specifically to address common pain points students face when preparing for this critical exam, including:

Affordability: High-quality resources at no cost during the offer window.

High-quality resources at no cost during the offer window. Cognitive Overwhelm: Fluff-free, focused content tailored 100% to the NCLEX, cutting out unnecessary distractions.

Fluff-free, focused content tailored 100% to the NCLEX, cutting out unnecessary distractions. Lack of Direction: A personalized study planner that guides students on what to study from day 1 of prep to exam day, providing structure and alleviating stress.

A personalized study planner that guides students on what to study from day 1 of prep to exam day, providing structure and alleviating stress. Test Anxiety: The course includes proven test anxiety management techniques for greater confidence on even the toughest questions.

Support for Faculty and Institutions

Blueprint Nursing also understands the challenges faced by nursing faculty. Educational institutions often grapple with the high cost of NCLEX resources, sometimes paying up to $1,500 per seat for exam prep programs. Additionally, students frequently feel frustrated and overwhelmed by underutilized and overly complex offerings.

Blueprint's focused, user-friendly platform provides a solution that meets institutional needs and empowers students to succeed.

Join The Movement To Transform Nursing Education

Blueprint Nursing invites nursing students, educators, and NCLEX retakers to take advantage of this limited-time offer. By equipping future RNs with the tools they need to succeed, Blueprint Nursing is driving progress in addressing the nationwide shortage and building a stronger, more resilient healthcare workforce.

Sign up for the NCLEX Complete Self-Prep Package for free and join the effort to shape the future of nursing!

About Blueprint Prep

Founded in 2005, Blueprint Prep is the leading platform for high-stakes test prep in the U.S., offering live and self-paced online courses, private tutoring, self-study materials, and application consulting services for pre-law, pre-med, and medical school students, as well as Qbanks, tutoring, and live study groups for residents, practicing physicians, PAs, RNs, and NPs. Blueprint Prep leverages a unique approach that combines engaging video lectures, unparalleled expertise in content creation, the latest adaptive learning technology, and personalized study planning tools. Blueprint Prep has produced unrivaled results, including industry-leading score increases for its pre-law and pre-med students taking the LSAT and MCAT. Learn more at blueprintprep.com .

SOURCE Blueprint Test Preparation LLC
STOCKHOLM, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The acquisition of Somincor and Zinkgruvan is now complete and the companies will be consolidated into Boliden as of April 16, 2025.

On December 9, 2024, it was announced that Boliden had entered into an agreement with Lundin Mining to acquire the Somincor copper and zinc mine in Portugal and the Zinkgruvan zinc mine in Sweden. The cash consideration paid to the seller on April 16, 2025, amounted to USD 1.40 billion and consisted of a purchase price of USD 1.30 billion on a debt- and cash free enterprise value basis as of August 31, 2024 (locked-box date), adjusted for interest from the locked-box date and other customary adjustments. Future contingent payments of up to USD 150 million are tied to commodity prices and satisfaction of certain conditions as outlined in the press release dated December 9, 2024. The acquisition will almost double Boliden's zinc concentrate production and significantly strengthen its copper concentrate production.

"The acquisition consolidates Boliden's position as the leading base metals company in Europe. These well-invested operations will contribute to value creation within Boliden from the outset. Just like our existing mines, we will also work long-term to create further development opportunities, " says Mikael Staffas, President and CEO of Boliden.

The acquisition was financed through a bridge loan and a directed share issue that raised approximately SEK 3.75 billion for Boliden. The bridge loan will be refinanced through a temporary deviation from Boliden's dividend policy as proposed to the Annual General Meeting and through medium and long-term debt financing in line with what has previously been communicated.

For further information, please contact:

Klas Nilsson

Director Group Communications

+46 70 453 65 88

[email protected]

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/boliden/r/boliden-has-completed-the-acquisition-of-somincor--neves-corvo--and-zinkgruvan,c4136754

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/997/4136754/3394560.pdf Press release

SOURCE Boliden
CHINO HILLS, Calif., April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The customer care center for California Regional MLS (CRMLS) has been certified as a Center of Excellence by BenchmarkPortal for 2024, marking the seventh consecutive year that CRMLS has earned the distinction. The Center of Excellence recognition is one of the most esteemed awards in the customer service and support industry.

"It's an honor to receive the BenchmarkPortal distinction seven years running now," said Art Carter, CEO of CRMLS. "I believe our customer care team deserves every accolade they receive, and I hope our users know we take their satisfaction seriously."

Contact centers achieve the Center of Excellence distinction based on the world's largest database of objective and quantitative data, audited and validated by BenchmarkPortal's researchers. BenchmarkPortal awards the "Center of Excellence" designation to customer service centers that rank in the top ten percent of the contact centers surveyed, demonstrating superior performance on both cost-related metrics and quality-related metrics compared with their industry peers. They are judged against a Balanced Scorecard of metrics for efficiency and effectiveness.

"Maintaining high levels of excellence in the center over a period of years is a wonderful testimony to the contact center management team, the frontline agents, and the senior managers who support and encourage this excellence," said BenchmarkPortal CEO Bruce Belfiore. "CRMLS contact center professionals have shown exceptional dedication and results, for which I commend them."

About California Regional MLS

California Regional MLS is the nation's most recognized subscriber-based MLS, dedicated to servicing more than 103,000 real estate professionals from 39 Associations, Boards, and MLS organizations. CRMLS provides accurate data through innovative technology solutions, empowering real estate professionals to cooperate and succeed. For more information on CRMLS, visit go.crmls.org.

About Center of Excellence Certification

Contact centers and their managers who wish to implement best practices and attain world-class performance in their industry have a unique opportunity to certify their contact centers. BenchmarkPortal's rigorous certification process has the advantage of referencing all performance goals to their best practices database of thousands of contact centers. Thus, contact centers will be held to performance levels that will improve their competitive position, not just force them to adhere to an arbitrary standard. Discover what the steps to certification are and how they will improve your center's performance.

About BenchmarkPortal

From its origins in 1995, BenchmarkPortal has become a global leader in the contact center industry, providing benchmarking, certification, training, consulting and industry reports. The BenchmarkPortal team of professionals has gained international recognition for its innovative approach to best practices for the contact center industry. BenchmarkPortal hosts the world's largest database of contact center metrics, which is constantly being refreshed with new data. BenchmarkPortal's mission is to provide contact center managers with the tools and information that will help them optimize their efficiency and effectiveness in their customer communications.

Media Contact  Art Carter, [email protected]

SOURCE California Regional MLS
On Wednesday, there was hardly a sign of a mid-April feel or look to our weather.

Following high-elevation snow Tuesday night that brought 4.5 inches of accumulation to Springville and 3.7 inches to Warsaw, there were still flakes to be seen Wednesday, accompanied by a gloomy sky (again) and a raw breeze creating a wind chill in the 20s. Buffalos monthly snow total, however, remains an immeasurable trace. That's below average.

Things will be looking up on Thursday. While the high temperature will still be running a smidge below the average of 54, abundant sunshine will bring us a lift under a ridge of high pressure, with a lighter breeze allowing for more comfort in the air.

As has so often been the case this spring, Thursdays improvement is not going to be trendsetting. By Friday, an area of low pressure near Iowa and its extended warm front will trigger scattered and occasional showers (not nearly a steady rain).

On the other side of the coin, a southwest flow following the warm frontal passage will bring us our warmest day since March, boosting the high to around 70 inland from still-33-degree Lake Erie (minus-3 degrees below average for April 16). Rainfall will be fairly sparse in coverage, and amounts will be minor. Bottom line for Friday: not close to a total loss.

On Saturday, a couple of trailing cold fronts from the low will trigger more occasional showers, along with temperatures dropping back from the low 50s. Thats a good deal cooler than Friday, and showers will be more numerous, too.

Canadian high pressure will come to the rescue for Easter Sunday, keeping us dry. The tricky part of the Easter forecast is related to cloud cover. Despite the high pressure, there are signs of a layer of warmer air aloft sitting atop cooler air with trapped moisture that may keep a good deal of stubborn cloudiness, under whats known as a temperature inversion. If we get enough vertical mixing in the lower atmosphere, that would punch holes in the stratus clouds and get us sunny breaks, as earlier modeled.

With any help from sunny breaks, our high would reach a seasonable 55 inland. An east-northeast breeze averaging 10 mph will keep readings cooler near the lakeshores.

Dyngus Day on Monday will bring some occasional showers, which could challenge water pistol efficacy. The American/GFS and European/ECMWF are wildly apart in projected high temperatures, with the GFS being much chillier and the ECMWF being springlike. The Canadian/GDPS is the tie-breaker, favoring seasonably mild upper 50s. In any case, between the occasional showers and the water weapons, some revelers are going to get wet.

There may still be a few showers around at times on Tuesday and next Wednesday, due to the proximity of a weak low and its frontal boundary. Temps will again be in the upper 50s-60.

In the extended range, the warming that I pointed to in my column last Friday is still showing up in the ensemble mean upper and mid-level pattern by the end of next week. But the amplitude of warm ridging in the East is not so strong as to indicate exceptional warmth. At this point, it looks to be warmer than average.

The best trend in this warming appears to be its persistence in the ensembles, extending out to the end of the month. Of course, there can still be changes by that time, but there are currently no hints of a return to the chill weve been experiencing on Wednesday.

For a second opinion, the Climate Prediction Center mean temperature probabilities in the six- to 10-day and eight- to 14-day outlook period are in agreement with what Ive laid out.

Marine heat wave in Gulf

We speak most often of heat waves as referring to temperatures over land. However, the planet also has been experiencing an increasing number of oceanic, or marine heat waves tied to global warming. After all, the oceans absorb about 90% of the excess carbon dioxide and warmth in Earths atmosphere. These marine heat waves tend to produce impacts that spread over land. The persistent marine heat wave in the Gulf has lent considerable heat energy and, through more evaporation, more moisture to the atmosphere in the Gulf and as far north as the Midwest this spring. That likely has a relationship to the unusually high number of tornadoes and flooding rains that have occurred so far this year, as outlined by meteorologist Ben Noll, using official NOAA sea surface temperature data.

Conversely, with the shift of the moisture and heat axis farther east in recent years, there has been a sharp drop-off in tornadic supercells over the Southern and Central Plains, which have long been thought of as Tornado Alley. The Gulf is a much more persistent heat engine that does not cool at night as does the land mass in the Plains. It operates on a 24/7 basis, and can help trigger deadly tornadic storms during the sleeping hours of late night.

This reservoir of heat and moisture also may lend itself to a higher-than-average number of tropical cyclones over the Gulf this season, and create more favorable conditions for hurricanes undergoing rapid intensification and becoming more destructive.

While this may seem quite remote from our region, it should be recognized that such storms place a resource and expense burden on the nation as a whole, including its insurers, and whatever emergency services, whether FEMA continues, we possess. The Colorado State University tropical research center is forecasting another above average Atlantic and Gulf tropical cyclone season.

Locally, it is also possible that later this spring, this heat and moisture may lend itself to severe weather migrating farther north, as is typically the case in the Great Lakes, when the subtropical jet stream moves farther north.
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, April 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is a report from Xinhuanet:

On April 11, 2025, the China-ASEAN Media and Think Tank Forum, themed "Strengthening ASEAN-China Cooperation", was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Chen Zhong, Deputy General Manager of China Communications Construction Company Limited (CCCC), was invited to deliver the opening speech at the event, during which he highlighted CCCC's efforts to advance cultural exchange and knowledge sharing with ASEAN countries.

CCCC deputy general manager Chen Zhong delivered the opening speech at the forum on April 11

Mr. Chen emphasized the geographic proximity and shared future between China and ASEAN, noting that the forum provides a platform to align the resources and efforts of ASEAN countries to further regional development. Over the years, CCCC has remained committed to contributing to a better future for all. The company leads major infrastructure projects abroad to strengthen global connectivity. In addition to advancing shared growth, CCCC has also fostered closer relationships and cross-cultural understanding, supporting global sustainable development.

Mr. Chen noted that, as a global leader in comprehensive infrastructure services, CCCC operates in 158 countries and regions. Under the Belt and Road Initiative, CCCC has engaged in extensive regional cooperation, investing in and building more than 3,000 infrastructure projects across partner countries. These include over 13,000 kilometers of highways, more than 200 major bridges, and more than 150 key ports. By capitalizing on its engineering expertise, CCCC strengthens connectivity and helps expand shared access to global development opportunities.

The forum was co-hosted by Xinhua News Agency and Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama), and brought together approximately 260 representatives from more than 160 media organizations, think tanks, government agencies, and businesses across China and ASEAN.

SOURCE Xinhuanet
MILAN, April 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ASKO, the Scandinavian brand of premium kitchen, laundry, and professional appliances, is celebrating 75 years of innovation since its first washing machine with an interactive exhibition at Milan Design Week from April 8 to 13, along with the launch of its latest innovations. Continuing its legacy of blending cutting-edge technology with timeless design, ASKO is showcasing its award-winning NYACRAFT ovens with CelsiusCooking technology, the Nordic Fresh 2.0 Refrigeration and Scandinavian Laundry Care 2.0 in Milan, set in unique installations created in collaboration with Marmo Arredo.

To mark its 75 years of innovation since a young farmer in Sweden invented its first washing machine, ASKO has collaborated with VOGUE Adria on an exclusive editorial feature that explores ASKO's new washing machine range. Created with renowned photographer Branislav Simoncik, the photoshoot was done at the historic Lacko Castle near Lidkoping, Sweden where the first ASKO washing machine was invented. It will appear in the inaugural issue of VOGUE LIVING magazine which will be presented at Milan Design Week and displayed at the ASKO exhibition.

From energy-efficient laundry systems to innovative kitchen solutions, ASKO has continually set new standards in functionality and design. Its exhibition at Milan Design Week showcases the ASKO Attention to Detail design approach that combines meticulous craftsmanship with forward-thinking innovations to create products that are both beautiful and highly functional.

Packed with innovations and smart features, ASKO's kitchen and laundry appliances are designed with true Scandinavian craftsmanship, enhancing everyday living with their minimalist aesthetics and superior level of finishing in every detail.

The three major new platforms in laundry, cooling, and ovens that ASKO brings to Milan Design Week have each won prestigious iF Design Awards in 2025.

The ASKO Scandinavian Laundry Care 2.0, featuring the Steel Seal washing machine shows how the company continues to lead in laundry care with innovations that prioritize hygiene and sustainability.

ASKO's built-in and freestanding refrigeration appliances are designed to be as stylish as they are functional, with a special focus on the Kitchen Fit installation features of ASKO freestanding range.

The NYACRAFT ovens from ASKO's Celsius ovens range offer a perfect blend of precision and versatility. Offering a suite of advanced features, they are available in both Frame and Glass designs.

The ASKO History of Innovation exhibition welcomes visitors daily from April 8 to 13, 10.00 to 17.00. It is located at Via delle Erbe 2a, Milano, in the Brera Design District.

About ASKO

For more than 75 years, ASKO has combined traditional Scandinavian design with state-of-the-art technology and innovation to create high-quality products that not only make life better, but which are also better for peoples' health and the planet. This focus on quality, design, innovation and the environment has taken ASKO on an inspiring journey filled with incredible achievements, world-first innovations and many memorable milestones  from the invention of very first washing machine to being awarded prestigious design and environmental awards for the smart cooking technology and sustainable designs.

SOURCE ASKO
TAIPEI, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd (TAIEX: 2412, NYSE: CHT) ("Chunghwa" or "the Company") today announced that the Company filed its 2024 Annual Report on Form 20-F with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Form 20-F filing is available at https://www.cht.com.tw/en/home/cht.

Hard copies of the Company's complete audited financial statements can also be requested, free of charge, by contacting Chunghwa, by phone or in writing, at the following address:

Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd.

Investor Relations

21-3 Xinyi Road, Sec. 1, Taipei, Taiwan 100

Tel: +886 2 2344-5488

email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.cht.com.tw/en/home/cht

About Chunghwa Telecom

Chunghwa Telecom (TAIEX 2412, NYSE: CHT) ("Chunghwa" or "the Company") is Taiwan's largest integrated telecommunications services company that provides mobile services, fixed-line services, ICT business, sales and other services. The Company also provides information and communication technology services to corporate customers with its big data, information security, cloud computing and IDC capabilities, and is expanding its business into innovative technology services. In recent years, Chunghwa has been actively engaged in ESG practice and has won domestic and international awards and recognition. For more information, please visit our website at www.cht.com.tw.

For inquiries:

Cho-Fen (Angela) Tsai

Director of Investor Relations

+886 2 2344 5488

[email protected]

SOURCE Chunghwa Telecom
CLEVELAND, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Cohen & Co, one of USA Today's Most Recommended Tax and Accounting Firms, is excited to announce it is now a certified implementation partner for two leading financial management software platforms: Sage Intacct and Workday Adaptive Planning. Together, these platforms build on each other's strengths to help maximize solution specific technologies and help companies transform their financial functions into leaner, more optimized departments. Hospitality and property asset management are two key markets in which Cohen & Co clients have had particular success with these solutions.

Sage Intacct is a core, cloud-based general ledger (GL) accounting and reporting solution that simplifies day-to-day accounting activities, drives efficiencies across core accounting processes and improves scalability to support future organizational growth.

Workday Adaptive Planning, a leading enterprise performance management (EPM) solution, provides organizations a sophisticated tool for planning and forecasting. Adaptive is a key tool in optimizing the financial planning and analysis function, driving enterprise insights and giving business users the ability proactively manage the organization.

"We work across a number of competitive enterprise resource planning (ERP), GL accounting and EPM applications," says John Cavalier, partner and head of Cohen & Co's Management Consulting Group. "And while there's not a 'one size fits all' solution for our clients that span industries, Sage Intacct and Adaptive Insights have been extremely helpful to those in the hospitality and property asset spaces. These tools coupled with our team's advisory expertise have helped companies transform their finance function and unleashed significant value for our clients, helping them grow efficiently while navigating the demands for better insights, faster."

One of the key differentiators of Cohen & Co's Management Consulting Group is its focus not only on the successful implementation of these technology solutions, but also on addressing the entire operating model  process, data, reporting, people and controls.

"Our goal is to remain focused on the full circle of what a business needs to be efficient, effective and innovative, and to maximize ROI and time to value," says Cavalier.

About Cohen & Co

Named one of America's Most Recommended Tax and Accounting Firms by USA TODAY and one of the Best of the Best Firms by INSIDE Public Accounting, Cohen & Co offers assurance, tax and advisory services to clients throughout the U.S. and worldwide. The firm serves a broad range of clients, from privately held companies and their owners; to public and private funds, advisers and fund service providers within the investment industry; to Fortune 1000 multinational enterprises. Founded in 1977, Cohen & Co has more than 800 dedicated professionals across the U.S. and 14 offices in Colorado, Illinois, Ohio, Maryland, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Through an affiliated entity, the firm also has a presence in the Cayman Islands. Learn more at cohenco.com.

"Cohen & Co" is the brand name under which Cohen & Company, Ltd. and Cohen & Co Advisory, LLC, and its subsidiary entities, provide professional services. Cohen & Company, Ltd. and Cohen & Co Advisory, LLC practice in an alternative practice structure in accordance with the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct and applicable law, regulations and professional standards. Cohen & Company, Ltd. is a licensed independent CPA firm that provides attest services to its clients. Cohen & Co Advisory, LLC and its subsidiary entities provide tax, advisory and business consulting services to their clients and are not licensed CPA firms. The entities operating under the Cohen & Co brand are independently owned and are not responsible for the services provided by any other entity operating under the Cohen & Co brand. Our use of terms such as "our firm," "we," "us" and other terms of similar import denote the alternative practice structure of Cohen & Company, Ltd. and Cohen & Co Advisory, LLC.

SOURCE Cohen & Co
Experienced spine surgeon joins Cohere Health Medical Advisory Board to grow and enhance AI-powered clinical intelligence solutions

BOSTON, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Cohere Health, the leader in clinical intelligence solutions for health plans, announces the addition of Dr. Paul Johnson to its esteemed Medical Advisory Board (MAB). Dr. Johnson, an orthopedic spine surgeon with over 30 years of experience, joins a distinguished group of physicians from the nation's top hospitals and health systems, reinforcing Cohere Health's deep clinical foundation in prior authorization (PA) innovation.

"We firmly believe the physician's voice is essential to transforming prior authorization into a process that enhances, rather than hinders, patient care," said Dr. Brian Covino, chief medical officer at Cohere Health. "As AI continues to face scrutiny in healthcare, Cohere Health's extensive physician team plays a key role in ensuring clinical expertise remains core to our solutions. In particular, our Medical Advisory Board, including Dr. Johnson, helps shape our proprietary clinical policies and actively engages their respective medical societies, validating that said policies are aligned with the latest evidence-based recommendations. Dr. Johnson's expertise will help us continue to refine our differentiated, clinically driven approach."

Dr. Johnson joins the Cohere Health Medical Advisory Board at a time when the company continues to set new standards for PA, marrying clinical intelligence with advanced technology. By harnessing insights both from its deep clinical bench and leading societiesincluding the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and North American Spine Society (NASS), of which Dr. Johnson is an active memberCohere Health ensures its intelligent solutions are informed by the latest evidence-based guidance and that its Medical Advisory Board comprises physicians dedicated to advancing quality care in their specialties.

"Cohere Health is redefining prior authorization by turning it into an intelligent, collaborative process that truly aligns with physicians and improves patients' outcomes," said Dr. Johnson. "Having been involved in the early development of Cohere's spine clinical pathways, I'm thrilled to join the Medical Advisory Board and further contribute to this important work, ensuring utilization management continues to evolve in a way that benefits both providers and our patients."

Cohere Health's clinically focused approach, supported by more than 60 experienced physicians on staff in addition to its Medical Advisory Board, has had a measurable impact on both the provider prior authorization experience as well as on care outcomes. Cohere Health intelligently auto-approves up to 90% of PA requests, helping providers spend less time on manual administrative tasks and more time delivering care. The company has achieved a 93% provider satisfaction rate and provider net promoter score (NPS) of 66 as a result of its AI-driven, provider-centric workflows. Patients also benefit from significantly faster access to high-quality care aligned with clinical best practices.

Cohere Health remains committed to advancing its unique approach to intelligent prior authorization, which integrates physician and medical society expertise, improves provider collaboration and experience throughout the PA process, and ultimately results in better patient care and outcomes. For more information about Cohere Health and its expert Medical Advisory Board, visit https://coherehealth.com/our-leadership/#medical-advisory-board.

About Cohere Health

Cohere Health is a clinical intelligence company delivering AI-powered intelligent prior authorization solutions, which streamlines patients' access to quality care by aligning their physicians and health plans for improved collaboration, transparency, and care coordination. Cohere works with nearly 600,000 providers and processes more than 12 million prior authorization requests annually, using AI to auto-approve up to 90% of requests for millions of health plan members around the country. The company was recognized twice in the Gartner Hype Cycle for U.S. Healthcare Payers, is a Top 5 LinkedIn Startup for 2023 & 2024, and is a three-time KLAS Points of Light award recipient. Its investors include Deerfield Management, Define Ventures, Flare Capital Partners, Longitude Capital, and Polaris Partners.

CONTACT:

Kat Long

anthonyBarnum Public Relations

[email protected]

Rachel Rabinowitz

Cohere Health

[email protected]

SOURCE Cohere Health
-Transformative Grant Accelerates $25 Million Freedom West 2.0 Founders Circle Campaign and Freedom West 2.0 Master Development-

SAN FRANCISCO, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Freedom West Homes Corporation ("Freedom West"), a nonprofit limited equity housing co-operative in the Fillmore District of San Francisco, announced today that Crankstart, a San Francisco-based family foundation, has awarded a $7 million grant to the Freedom West Community Development Corp (FWCDC). This funding will significantly advance the Freedom West 2.0 master development, a bold plan to revitalize and sustain the Freedom West Homes nonprofit housing cooperative for future generations.

Freedom West

A Legacy of Empowerment

Freedom West Homes Corporation, one of the largest nonprofit housing cooperatives in the western United States, was founded in the 1970s to provide affordable homeownership, and multi-generational wealth creation opportunities to low- and moderate-income families in San Francisco's Fillmore/Western Addition neighborhood. The community was born from a vision to empower residents and prevent displacement during the height of urban renewal. To ensure long-term economic self-sustainability, Freedom West established FWCDC as its 501(c)(3) arm, dedicated to developing sustainable revenue streams that enable the nonprofit housing cooperative to become fully self-reliant and ultimately to become capable of providing financial assistance to residents and small business owners in the surrounding Fillmore/Western Addition community.

Transforming Freedom West for Generations to Come

The $7 million grant from Crankstart will help close out the $25 million Freedom West 2.0 Founders Circle campaign. This substantial funding is crucial to the vision of Freedom West 2.0, which aims to reduce reliance on government subsidies and create economic independence through strategic investments in commercial real estate and profit-participation agreements with its master development partner, MacFarlane Partners.

"This grant funding from Crankstart is a major step forward in saving Freedom West's existing 1,000 residents from displacement while preserving the opportunity for housing security and wealth creation for the next generation," said Mattie Scott, Freedom West Community Development Corporation board President. "It's not just about preserving affordable housing for Freedom West residentsit's also about creating a self-sustaining, thriving neighborhood that can be a beacon of hope and catalyst for the revitalization of the greater Fillmore/Western Addition community."

On its 10-acre site, Freedom West 2.0 is planned to include approximately 515 affordable housing units, 1,500 market-rate housing units, 80,000 square feet of commercial and retail space, a boutique hotel, and a significant amount of open space. These assets will save approximately 1,000 current residents from displacement, revitalize four city blocks, and generate sustainable revenue for the nonprofit cooperative, ensuring that Freedom West can become self-sustaining, and can provide financial support to current and future residents and small business owners.

"Everyone deserves the opportunity for both economic stability and economic mobility," said Missy Narula, CEO of Crankstart. "Crankstart widely supports programs that unlock opportunities for people from all backgrounds in San Francisco. We are proud to help Freedom West fulfill its vision for preserving and building affordable housing in the Fillmore community."

"Freedom West has been a quintessential example of community ownership and self-determination in San Francisco that has set a model for economic empowerment," said Supervisor Bilal Mahmood, who represents the Fillmore/Western Addition communities. "Crankstart's partnership to uplift our residents and support in preserving affordable homes is most welcome."

Building an Innovation Hub and Economic Empowerment for the Future

FWCDC is beginning the planning and design process for a STEM workforce and entrepreneurship Innovation Center at Freedom West which will be located at the center of the Freedom West 2.0 development on the ground level of the new co-op building. This facility will empower residents and the broader Fillmore community with access to tech- and science-related workforce development resources and entrepreneurship resources, including access to capital, creating a fully integrated ecosystem for economic mobility and empowerment.

A Model for Systems Change

Freedom West 2.0 has been recognized as a replicable model for placed-based, community-driven development, highlighted at the inaugural Parity Zone Symposium in San Francisco this past November. FWCDC plans to further document and refine the Freedom West 2.0 framework to support other communities seeking sustainable economic independence.

Partnerships and Future Plans

Freedom West 2.0's success has been built on collaboration with dedicated development partners, including MacFarlane Partners, Avanath Capital Management, Legacy First Partners, Bethel AME Church, Marinship Development, and John Stewart Company. The key funding partners that have contributed to the revitalization of Freedom West to date include Crankstart, JP Morgan Chase, Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF), CommonSpirit, San Francisco Foundation, Menorah Park, Housing Accelerator Fund, and the City of San Francisco.

About Freedom West

Freedom West Homes Corporation is a nonprofit housing cooperative comprised of 382 housing units located in the Fillmore District of San Francisco. In the late 1960s, in a period of civil turmoil, Rev. J. Austell Hall had a vision to preserve a portion of this neighborhood that was being threatened by the City's urban renewal. From this vision, he established Freedom West with the objective of creating a safe, affordable community, protecting cultural diversity, and providing a source of social and economic empowerment through co-operative ownership. For additional information visit Freedom West Homes.

About Crankstart

Crankstart is a San Francisco-based family foundation devoted to bolstering the foundations of a just society - wider access to better education, jobs with prospects for advancement, housing security, social welfare and the protection of civil rights. Crankstart also supports the arts, basic science and efforts to mitigate climate change. About 60% of grants go to groups in the San Francisco Bay Area.



Crankstart envisions a vibrant, thriving Bay Area, where our region's prosperity is strengthened and shared more equitably by all who live here.

This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com.

SOURCE Freedom West Homes Corporation
"Congratulations to these incredible coffee shops for marking another year of growth," said Greg Ubert, founder and president of Crimson Cup. "Their success is our success, and we're honored to be part of their journey."

As a trusted partner to independent coffee shops in 37 states and Guam, Crimson Cup's 7 Steps to Success program offers comprehensive coffee shop support, including training, high-quality coffee, equipment and marketing expertise.

The company continues to empower entrepreneurs to thrive in a competitive market. The following coffee shops from 12 states are celebrating anniversaries this month:

Pelican Coffee House, Bucyrus, Ohio  24 years

 24 years Coffee Chaos, Midland, Mich.  20 years

 20 years The Hot Spot Coffeehouse, Johnstown, Ohio  19 years

 19 years The Depot Coffee House, Urbana, Ohio  17 years

 17 years Java Cyber, Columbus, Ohio  14 years

 14 years Lorraine's Coffee House, Garner, N.C.  10 years

 10 years Thirsty Turtle, Odessa, Texas  9 years

 9 years Elizabeth Perk Coffee House, Trenton, Mich.  9 years

 9 years Moose Junction, LLC, Helena, Mont.  8 years

 8 years The Coffee Shelf, Chapin, S.C.  8 years

 8 years Driftwood, Spring Lake, N.J.  7 years

 7 years The Broken Mug, Columbus, Neb.  7 years

 7 years Cobea, New City, N.Y.  5 years

 5 years Lock No. 4 Coffee, Beverly, Ohio  3 years

 3 years Millersport Coffee, Millersport, Ohio  3 years

 3 years Sweet Aroma Coffeehouse & Bakery, Colchester, Conn.  3 years

 3 years Winston's Coffee Bar, Columbus, Ohio  2 years

 2 years Dell's Homemade Ice-creams #2, Powell, Ohio  1 year

"Our 7 Steps program simplifies the complexities of running a successful coffee shop," Ubert explained. "From choosing the right location and crafting a solid coffee shop business plan to selecting equipment, hiring staff, and providing comprehensive training and marketing support, we ensure our partners can focus on serving exceptional coffee."

Several of the shops are part of multi-store operations, showcasing the scalability of the 7 Steps program. They include:

The Broken Mug, Columbus, Neb.

Dell's Homemade Ice-creams #2, Powell, Ohio

Java Cyber Espresso Bar, Columbus, Ohio

Lock No. 4 Coffee, Beverly, Ohio

Millersport Coffee, Millersport, Ohio

Winston's Coffee Bar, Columbus, Ohio

Crimson Cup continues to empower entrepreneurs to thrive in a competitive market. It currently supports hundreds of successful coffee shops across 37 states.

Testimonials from shop owners highlight the company's dedication to helping them start and grow their coffee businesses:

"They want to make me successful because if I'm successful, Crimson Cup's successful," said Kim Krantz of Coffee Chaos, now celebrating 20 years in Midland, Michigan. "Their business model is unique. That's what sets them apart."

"Partnering with Crimson Cup has been a game-changer for our business. Their expertise and quality products have helped us thrive in a competitive market," noted Erich Gellner of Java Cyber Espresso Bar, now celebrating 14 years of success in Columbus, Ohio.

"The training and support from Crimson Cup have been invaluable. They truly care about our success and have been with us every step of the way," said Jennifer Koenig of Millersport Coffee, which is marking 3 years of growth and achievement in Millersport, Ohio.

Ubert encourages aspiring coffee entrepreneurs to reach out to his team for guidance. "We've helped hundreds of entrepreneurs turn their coffee shop dreams into thriving, profitable businesses," he said. "We're excited to do the same for you!"

For coffee entrepreneurs eager to start their journey, 7 Steps Sales Leader Scott Fullerton is the go-to contact. Reach him by emailing [email protected] or calling 1.888.800.9224.

"If you've ever dreamed about opening a coffee house, I'd love to help you get started," Fullerton said.

About Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea

Founded in 1991, Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea is a leader in the specialty coffee industry, recognized for award-winning quality and commitment to sustainability. The company's accolades include multiple Good Food Awards, the 2019 Golden Bean Champion for Small Franchise/Chain Roaster and Roast magazine's 2016 Macro Roaster of the Year.

Through its Friend2Farmer initiatives, Crimson Cup supports coffee-growing communities with sustainable, mutually beneficial partnerships. Its 7 Steps to Success program empowers entrepreneurs to open independent coffee shops by providing a detailed coffee shop business plan template, hands-on training, award-winning coffee and ongoing consulting.

Crimson Cup coffee is served in over 700 independent coffeehouses, grocers, universities, restaurants, and food service locations across 36 states and Bangladesh. The company also operates its own Crimson Cup and CRIMSON coffeehouses in Ohio. To learn more, visit crimsoncup.com.

SOURCE Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea
DUBAI, UAE, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Cummins Arabia and Cummins Middle East jointly launched Cummins' new Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) at an exclusive event held in Dubai on Monday, April 14. The launch was attended by key customers, consultants, and partners from across diverse sectors including rental, data centers, utilities, commercial properties, healthcare, oil and gas, and manufacturing.

Cummins leadership unveiling the zero emissions Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Dubai.

The product was officially unveiled at the event by Lucio Kroll, Senior Director - New Energy Solutions, Cummins Power Generation; and Amit Deshpande, Managing Director - Cummins Arabia. Their presence underscores the strategic importance of this launch for both the company and the region.

The BESS launch marks a major step forward in Cummins' journey to support energy transition and power resilience across the Middle East. Attendees showed strong interest in the product's ability to address real-world energy needs, including peak shaving, backup power, and grid stability - all with a reduced environmental footprint.

"We're proud to bring BESS to the UAE market at a time when customers are seeking smarter, more sustainable ways to manage energy," said Rajat Mathur, Business Development Leader -New Energy Solutions, Cummins Power Systems. "This launch reflects our commitment to supporting our partners with solutions that are both forward-looking and practical."

"We've seen strong interest from customers across sectors who are looking for flexible and reliable ways to manage their energy use. BESS gives them a new level of control and confidence," said Emad Lotfy, Power Generation Business Director, Cummins Arabia.

Designed to deliver scalable, sustainable, and dependable energy storage, Cummins' BESS solutions are well-suited to the UAE's growing focus on renewable integration and reliable backup systems in critical facilities. Whether for urban commercial properties, remote industrial applications, or healthcare environments, BESS helps customers optimize energy use while meeting their sustainability goals.

Cummins Arabia, the largest distributor of Cummins products in the Middle East, played a central role in bringing this innovation to the region. With a team of over 550 professionals serving customers across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait, the company offers robust service capabilities, strong technical expertise, and end-to-end support for customers adopting this new technology.

As the UAE continues advancing toward a more sustainable energy future, Cummins' investment in BESS solutions positions the company as a trusted partner in enabling that transformation.

About Cummins Inc.

Cummins Inc., a global power solutions leader, comprises five business segments  Components, Engine, Distribution, Power Systems, and Accelera by Cummins  supported by its global manufacturing and extensive service and support network, skilled workforce and vast technological expertise. Cummins is committed to its Destination Zero strategy  the company's commitment to sustainability and helping its customers successfully navigate the energy transition with its broad portfolio of products. Cummins has approximately 69,900 employees and earned $3.9 billion on sales of $34.1 billion in 2024. See how Cummins is leading the world toward a future of smarter, cleaner power at www.cummins.com.

About Cummins Arabia

Cummins Arabia is a joint venture between Cummins Inc. and the Olayan Group and consolidates Cummins distribution businesses in the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Our products range from diesel and natural gas engines and generators, along with parts, filtration, and service solutions, and the new power product (now Accelera) portfolio including hydrogen production and fuel cells. Comprising of 10 service branches, eight warehouses, a high horsepower (HHP) Master Rebuild Center and a service training center, Cummins Arabia is fully equipped to deliver the right capabilities and expertise to our customers.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2666325/Cummins_Arabia.jpg

SOURCE Cummins Arabia
VACAVILLE, Calif., April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Drivers in Vacaville can now check out the all-electric 2025 Toyota bZ4X, now available at Ammaar's Toyota Vacaville.

Ammaar's Toyota Vacaville is proud to announce the arrival of the all-electric 2025 Toyota bZ4X, now available at its dealership on Orange Drive. Built with Toyota's e-TNGA platform, this SUV blends dynamic design with all-electric strength, creating a spacious interior and a confident stance that's ready for daily drives and weekend getaways alike.

Drivers Can Now Purchase the 2025 Toyota bZ4X in Vacaville, California

Inside, the generous cabin allows passengers to stretch out, with room for backpacks, groceries, pet carriers or even folded beach chairs. The flat floor and open layout give the bZ4X a wide, airy feelideal for drivers and passengers looking to settle in comfortably.

Drivers who crave more capability will appreciate the all-wheel-drive system, designed to hold tight to the road when the pavement turns slick. With X-MODE, traction gets a boost by adjusting throttle and brake pressure to match the terrain, whether it's a rain-soaked curve or a gravel-covered slope.

Under the hoodor rather, under the sleek bodyworklies a capable electric powertrain. Front-wheel-drive models deliver 201 horsepower with near-instant torque, while all-wheel-drive models step it up with a dual-motor setup producing 214 horsepower and 248 lb.-ft. of torque. Acceleration is crisp, especially when merging onto highways or climbing steep hills. With a driving range of up to 252 miles for front-wheel-drive models and up to 228 miles for all-wheel-drive versions, the bZ4X brings practicality to electric mobility.

Design details make a strong impression, including slim-profile LED headlights, a rear light bar and a black contrast roof. The 20-inch alloy wheels add to the confident appearance of the bZ4X, while aerodynamic elementsfrom front bumper vents to a rear spoilerhelp this electric SUV glide more efficiently.

Inside, tech meets convenience. The 12.3-inch touchscreen gives access to navigation, media and climate controls, all within arm's reach. Voice recognition lets drivers keep their eyes forward while adjusting settings. The Advanced Park feature uses sensors and cameras to handle parallel and reverse parking with minimal effort.

For cold mornings, the radiant foot-and-leg heater brings quick warmth to front passengers. A fixed panoramic moonroof opens up the cabin to natural light, creating a bright and open feel on any drive. Charging smartphones is easy with a Qi-compatible wireless charger in the center console, supported by four USB-C ports and one USB-A port for all devices onboard.

Ammaar's Toyota Vacaville welcomes shoppers to see the new 2025 Toyota bZ4X in person. Located at 500 Orange Dr., Vacaville, CA, the dealership is now scheduling test drives. Interested customers can call 707-446-7000 for details.

SOURCE Ammaar's Toyota Vacaville
ANCHORAGE, Alaska, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- CYBER Express Wash, one of the nation's most forward-thinking car wash brands, announced today it's secured a strategic investment from FTW Capital, a New York-based investment firm focused on underappreciated themes, with a current emphasis on the automotive services ecosystem. The partnership marks a major milestone in CYBER's continued growth as the company expands its presence and redefines the future of express car care.

FTW Capital brings a deep understanding of the automotive landscape through its portfolio of public and private investments in auto care, aftermarket services and enabling technologies. Following extensive diligence across the express wash landscape, FTW Capital identified CYBER as a standout opportunityearning its place as the firm's first private investment in the category, a reflection of FTW's high selectivity and long-term conviction.

FTW Capital believes CYBER's model represents the next evolution in car wash services. Post this

"FTW shares our long-term vision of bringing a premium, innovative car wash experience to a market that's long been underserved," said Founder/CEO, Paul Horstkoetter. "Their belief in our model and commitment to quality is a huge vote of confidence in what we're buildingnot just for Alaska, but for where the industry is heading."

With two additional CYBER locations secured in Anchorage, the brand is primed to meet rising demand for elevated interior and exterior car care. CYBER's flagship location has already set a new standard with its express interior detail model, blending speed, service, and advanced technology ; an approach no other Alaskan wash offers, and few have attempted nation-wide. FTW Capital believes CYBER's model represents the next evolution in car wash services.

"What stood out about CYBER was their forward-thinking approach to the interior express model," said Fritz Woelfel, Managing Partner at FTW Capital. "We believe this is where the industry is going the challenge with interior services has never been demand; it's been building a model that works at scale without compromising quality and profitability. CYBER is leading that charge with the operational know-how and market insight to do it right."

Fritz continued: "CYBER offers the rare combination of an innovative concept, strong local execution, and national growth potential. In our diligence, we spoke to operators across the country. Many want to crack the interior clean model, but very few are truly ready to take it on it requires not just technology, but the right team, training, and customer experience. CYBER gets that."

FTW's investment will fuel continued development, hiring, and infrastructure to support both local expansion and a scalable operating model. FTW Capital's track record in the automotive space brings not only capital but strategic partnership to CYBER's next chapter.

"We're excited to partner with operators who not only see the future, but are ready to build it. CYBER's approach sets the stage for the next phase in the evolution of car wash services," added Fritz.

About CYBER Express Wash

CYBER Express is a modern car wash brand built for the future of car care. Focused on elevated service, express interior detail, and state-of-the-art design, CYBER is positioned to lead a new era in express car care. Rooted in a deep respect for automotive culture and driven by a commitment to innovation, integrity, and sustainability, CYBER exists for those who expect more. Learn more at www.cyberexpressalaska.com .

About FTW Capital

FTW Capital is a New Yorkbased public-private investment firm specializing in thematic investments. The firm is built on the belief that the most compelling opportunities often lie in systemically misunderstood or overlooked markets. With a track record of identifying attractive sectors and strong operators with long-term vision, FTW invests in businesses poised for transformation, growth, and impact.

SOURCE CYBER Express Wash
The free program helps children and teens build strong financial habits

PHOENIX, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Desert Financial Credit Union announces Kickstart, a free program and checking account for members designed to teach kids how to budget, save and spend money safely with adult supervision.

The program allows parents and guardians to send money to and set spending limits on their child's account. Kickstart also provides access to an online child-friendly programming that is designed to make financial education fun and rewarding. Through the Desert Financial mobile app, kids earn trophies for accomplishments like setting a budget, completing assigned chores, meeting savings goals and paying off loans to their parents. Kids can learn about useful financial topics, like interest, through use of Kickstart accounts.

"Kickstart helps kids build smart money habits from the ground up. Parents play a key role in supporting their kids through their financial journey, which starts with education and practice." said Jeff Meshey, President and CEO at Desert Financial Credit Union. "Whether it's practicing spending with their own debit card, saving for a new toy, or even college, we want kids  and their parents or guardians  to feel proud of their financial accomplishments. Creating good financial habits should be fun; reaching a goal should feel like a big win, no matter your age."

All minors are eligible for a free savings account, with a $25 minimum balance requirement through the Kickstart program. Children between the ages of 6-17 also have the option to open a free checking account. With a choice of fun debit card designs, the checking account also offers the opportunity to practice spending, monitored by parental controls. A parent or guardian must be a joint owner with the child on Kickstart accounts.

Prescott second grader, Taylor Ray, saved up an impressive sum of $1,000 when he, alongside his parents, opened a Kickstart account.

"Taylor had been stuffing cash into piggy banks, wallets and miscellaneous hiding places for years," said William Ray, Taylor's father. "He saves a lot from his allowance, birthday money, for doing chores, dog walking and helping neighbors. He spends very little."

From the playground at school, Taylor eagerly monitored the construction of the new Desert Financial branch that opened in Prescott in October 2024.

"He wanted to open an account to keep [his money] safe," Mr. Ray continued. "Taylor wants to buy a Jeep or an RV when he gets older. He can't seem to decide which."

For children like Taylor, managing a bank account from a young age can instill confidence and independence.

"Taylor is a numbers guy," said Mr. Ray.

For more information or to open a Kickstart account, head to your local branch or visit DesertFinancial.com/Kickstart. Find your nearest branch here: Locations.DesertFinancial.com.

About Desert Financial Credit Union

Celebrating 85 years in Arizona, Desert Financial is the state's most trusted local credit union with over $8 billion in assets, 480,000+ members and over 50 locations. Membership eligibility is open across Arizona with contactless solutions making it easy to click, call or come in. As a not-for-profit cooperative, Desert Financial takes pride in sharing success. In 2025, members received $16 million in dividends via the Member Giveback Bonus. Desert Financial is the official retail banking partner of Arizona State University and the official banking partner of the Arizona Cardinals, NAU Athletics and the NAU Alumni Association. Federally insured by NCUA. Learn more at desertfinancial.com.

SOURCE Desert Financial Credit Union
MIAMI, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital Silk, an award-winning agency focused on creating brand strategies, custom websites and digital marketing campaigns, is advising B2B companies to address a widespread misconception: confusing brand design with brand strategy. Drawing on findings from its newly published article, Digital Silk reveals that without a strategic foundation, B2B branding efforts are often misaligned with buyer behavior and long-term growth potential.

According to insights shared in the Digital Silk article, 77% of B2B marketers say branding is critical to growth, but many still prioritize visuals over the strategic clarity buyers need. The article also notes that 95% of buyers are not ready to purchase at any given time, underscoring the importance of building long-term trust and brand recall.

"B2B buyers are demanding more than just clean visuals or vague mission statements," says Courtney Bozigian, VP of Brand and Creative at Digital Silk. "To win in today's market, your brand needs clear positioning, real differentiation and a story that speaks directly to buyer pain points."

Digital Silk Identifies Common Branding Gaps in B2B Companies



Digital Silk's article outlines that many B2B brands invest heavily in assets like logos or websites without first aligning internal messaging, buyer personas and competitive positioning. This approach, the agency notes, often results in brands that look modern but lack resonance or clarity.

As highlighted in the article:

80% of B2B buyers say trust influences their purchase decisions

Only 37% of B2B marketers have a documented brand strategy

This disconnect presents an opportunity for B2B companies to move beyond design aesthetics and build a cohesive brand that supports every stage of the buyer journey.

Strategic Branding Drives Long-Term Results



The article emphasizes the role of strategic branding in helping B2B businesses nurture leads, improve sales enablement, and clarify their value in crowded markets. A strong brand strategy typically includes:

Defined buyer personas and messaging matrices

A clear brand architecture and positioning statement

Tone of voice guidelines that reflect audience expectations

Internal brand alignment across departments

"We've seen that companies that pause to invest in strategy first see stronger growth over time," says Bozigian. "In B2B, you need consistency and trustwithout that, even great design falls flat."

A Timely Reminder for the B2B Sector



Digital Silk notes in its article that 75% of B2B marketers invest in content marketing, but without brand cohesion, this content often lacks impact. The agency recommends aligning content creation with brand pillars that reflect buyer pain points and business goals.

As companies gear up for 2025, Digital Silk encourages B2B organizations to audit their current brand strategy, identify gaps in messaging and internal alignment, and revisit how they position themselves across sales and marketing channels.

About Digital Silk



Digital Silk is a full-service Branding Agency in Miami focused on growing brands online. With a team of seasoned experts, Digital Silk delivers industry-leading digital experiences through strategic branding and cutting-edge web design to drive more conversions and digital marketing services to boost awareness and engagement.

Media Contact

Jessica Erasmus

Marketing Director & PR Manager

Tel: (800) 206-9413

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Digital Silk
LONDON, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/  Drofa Comms , a leading international PR agency for finance and fintech companies, will attend TOKEN2049 in Dubai . The event will be taking place from April 30 to May 1, 2025 at the prestigious Madinat Jumeirah resort and is expected to welcome over 15,000 attendees and 4,000+ industry-leading companies.

TOKEN2049 is a global conference series and one of the most important meeting points for the members of the crypto scene. It is where entrepreneurs, investors, developers, and institutions can meet, exchange ideas, and shape the future of this industry. In addition to the main conference, more than 500 side events will be held across Dubai, turning the city into the epicenter of the crypto world for a full week.

After participating in last year's edition of TOKEN2049 in Singapore, Drofa Comms is happy to once again pay a visit to this venue. The team looks forward to continuing the tradition of connecting with the top minds in crypto, fostering dialogue among innovators and supporting this sector's growth through meaningful communication.

As a global PR agency, Drofa Comms promotes crypto, fintech, and financial companies across the globe by helping them craft strong public images, communicate clearly, and grow their reputations. To assist in this goal, the company always makes sure to attend major industry events like TOKEN2049. It presents countless opportunities to stay close to the beating heart of the crypto community and keep in touch with the latest trends.

"We view TOKEN2049 not only as a landmark event for the industry but also as a key opportunity to connect with forward-thinking leaders and shape future narratives. It's a space for real conversations about the challenges and the potential of this field," says Valentina Drofa, co-founder and CEO of Drofa Comms. "Our team is looking forward to the Dubai conference, and we expect to see plenty of new ideas emerging and partnerships being struck. Naturally, Drofa Comms is ready to be part of this process."

SOURCE Drofa Comms
VANCOUVER, BC, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Dynamsoft has released Dynamic Web TWAIN version 19.0, bringing significant enhancements to its web-based document scanning SDK.

This update features a set of RESTful APIs for platform and language-independent document scanning, alongside a new PDF size preservation feature to streamline file management.

Dynamsoft Expands Cross-platform document scanning support and optimized PDF management in Dynamic Web TWAIN v19.0

Expanded RESTful API for Language and Platform-Independent Document Scanning

RESTful APIs are essential for building scalable, efficient, and platform-agnostic applications. Dynamic Web TWAIN RESTful APIs extend the power of our JavaScript SDK by offering a flexible way to integrate document scanning. While the JavaScript APIs are ideal for rich, interactive scanning experiences in the browser, the RESTful APIs make it easy to add scanning using Python, C#, Java, PHP, and more.

Since the RESTful API returns scanned documents as image file streams without relying on a built-in viewer, developers have the flexibility to integrate scanned images into any existing viewer within their application or the built-in viewer provided by Dynamic Web TWAIN SDK. This ensures a seamless, native, and unified user experience.

New PDF Rasterizer Add-On API: Preserves File Size

In earlier versions, PDFsincluding text-based documentswere rasterized for display and saved as image-based PDFs to ensure uniform rendering and simplify downstream operations like annotation and editing.

As document management needs have grown more sophisticated, so have the expectations around file size and preservation. In response, version 19.0 introduces the 'preserveUnmodifiedOnSave' API in the PDF Rasterizer Add-On. Now, when a PDF is re-saved without page-level edits, its original structure and compression are retainedno unnecessary rasterization, no file bloat.

This improvement delivers smaller file sizes, faster processing, and greater document fidelityespecially valuable in automation pipelines, compliance workflows, and long-term archiving scenarios.

"With Dynamic Web TWAIN 19.0, we are making document scanning more accessible and versatile than ever," said Amy Gu, CEO at Dynamsoft. "By expanding RESTful API support, developers can seamlessly integrate scanning into a wider range of applications, reaching more users across different environments."

Availability

Dynamsoft's Dynamic Web TWAIN version 19.0 SDK is now available. It can be purchased at the company's website. Developers can download and install Dynamic Web TWAIN version 19.0 from the Dynamsoft website, including a trial version. A 30-day trial license comes with the installer. Multiple award-winning technical support channels are offered with an SDK purchase including, email, live chat, web meeting, and phone.

About Dynamic Web TWAIN

The Dynamic Web TWAIN SDK provides cross-browser and cross-platform document scanning support for web applications. Developers need only write a handful of lines of JavaScript code to enable document scanning, uploading, editing, and processing. This turns otherwise months of work into just days. The SDK works across Windows, Linux, macOS or iOS devices.

About Dynamsoft

Dynamsoft specializes in computer vision, enabling developers to build advanced capture solutions for barcodes, documents, and IDs. The company's SDKs are engineered to provide high accuracy and speed, in the most demanding industrial environments. Dynamsoft's solutions are trusted by global leaders such as FUJIFILM, Siemens, Fujitsu, GE, IBM, and Lockheed Martin for digital transformation. Since 2003, Dynamsoft has led the development of enterprise-grade TWAIN software with its flagship Dynamic Web TWAIN SDK and is an associate member of the TWAIN Working Group, contributing to TWAIN standards. Learn more at https://www.dynamsoft.com/

SOURCE Dynamsoft Corporation
LAGOS, Nigeria, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On March 29, 2025, PalmPay, a leading digital bank and fintech platform focused on emerging markets, has launched the PalmPay Debit Card in Nigeria in partnership with Verve, Africa's largest domestic card scheme.

The launch of its debit card represents a key milestone in PalmPay's evolution - from a mobile wallet known for its fee-free transfers and cashback rewards into a full-service digital banking platform offering an integrated ecosystem for payments, savings, credit, insurance, and now, card access.

Customers in Nigeria are making payments with the PalmPay Premium Black Card via PalmPay POS terminals

The new PalmPay Debit Card brings advanced features such as savings yield on deposits and merchant rewards within reach for mass market users in Nigeria. With zero maintenance fees, a simple in-app application process, and nationwide delivery, PalmPay aims to convert millions of its 35 million users to become cardholders this year. The card is accepted at all merchants in the Verve network, and supports both debit and contactless transactions.

"This launch is another step forward in our mission to deliver accessible, reliable and rewarding financial services." said Sofia Zab, Chief Marketing Officer at PalmPay. "With the PalmPay Debit Card, we are expanding our ecosystem and enabling our users to pay and earn rewards at even more touch points, including across offline and online commerce. And for merchants, this opens up new opportunities to reach millions of Nigerian digital consumers and collaborate with us to build reward-driven experiences that boost loyalty and sales."

Alongside the standard debit card, PalmPay is also rolling out PalmPay Premium, a new reward scheme and card designed for high-volume users. It offers enhanced perks such as priority support, advanced financial tools, and exclusive merchant benefits.

With over 35 million users and a growing network of 1.1 million agents and merchants in Nigeria - and operations in Tanzania, Ghana, and Bangladesh - PalmPay is building a next-generation financial ecosystem designed to empower consumers and businesses in emerging markets. PalmPay processes up to 15 million transactions daily, underscoring the scale and reliability of its platform.

In addition to its digital banking services, PalmPay provides a suite of B2B offerings for local MSMEs and international merchants, including:

Smart POS terminals and a business app

Payment orchestration and checkout solutions

Bulk payment tools via a self-service merchant portal

APIs for embedding and reselling PalmPay's services

Direct integration of services into the PalmPay consumer and business apps

"At PalmPay, we believe that building a thriving digital economy requires collaboration. From lending and insurance providers to card schemes like Verve, our ecosystem is powered by strategic partnerships.", said Jiapei Yan, Chief Commercial Officer of PalmPay. "The launch of our debit card is another example of how we are combining cutting-edge technology with our partner strengths to deliver inclusive financial services at scale - and in doing so we empower businesses targeting Africa to grow faster, reach more customers and unlock more revenue streams."

Vincent Ogbunude, Managing Director of Verve International, added: "We are proud to partner with PalmPay on this important milestone. Our alliance reflects our shared mission of accelerating financial inclusion and delivering payment innovation that meets the needs of African consumers."

From zero-fee transfers and high-yield savings to instant credit, insurance, and now cards, PalmPay is redefining what digital banking in emerging markets can look like - personalised, comprehensive, and accessible to everyone.

As international businesses seek entry into Africa's dynamic digital economy, PalmPay offers a trusted platform with the infrastructure, user base, and reach to help them scale.

About PalmPay

PalmPay is a leading digital bank and fintech platform with over 35 million users and 1.1 million agents. Operating in Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania and Bangladesh, it offers zero-fee transfers, payments, savings, credit, and business toolsempowering individuals and enterprises while driving financial inclusion and building future-ready digital finance infrastructure in emerging markets.

For more information, visit www.palmpay.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2665166/1.jpg
JERSEY CITY, N.J., April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- HelpMeSee, a global nonprofit committed to ending preventable cataract blindness, is honored to be featured in a compelling episode of Empowered, hosted by Meg Ryan airing on public television affiliates beginning this week.

Dr. Bonnie An Henderson discusses disparities in cataract care for patients in low-income countries on Empowered with Meg Ryan.

This inspiring episode provides an in-depth look at the work HelpMeSee is pioneering in addressing the dire cataract blindness global health crisis through simulation-based training. By equipping cataract specialists with the skills to perform Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery (MSICS)a cost-effective surgical methodHelpMeSee is addressing the urgent need for more skilled cataract surgeons worldwide.

Two Ways to Watch:

Stream the Episode NOW on Demand

Watch the national premiere on your local public television station. Check your local listings.

Episode Highlights:

Gender and Access Disparities: How women and girls are most impacted by untreated cataract blindness.

How women and girls are most impacted by untreated cataract blindness. Transformational Technology: A look inside the high-fidelity HelpMeSee Eye Surgery Simulator, which uses virtual reality and haptic feedback to deliver realistic surgical training without risk.

A look inside the high-fidelity HelpMeSee Eye Surgery Simulator, which uses virtual reality and haptic feedback to deliver realistic surgical training without risk. Global Impact: How restored sight improves livelihoods, promotes education, and strengthens community health.

"Cataract blindness is not just a medical issue; it's a profound socioeconomic challenge that disproportionately impacts women and deepens cycles of poverty and inequality. When a family member loses their sight, often the youngest female is forced to leave school or work to provide care, limiting opportunities for an entire household. By addressing this crisis, we can empower not only individuals, but entire communities to break free from these limitations," said Dr. Bonnie An Henderson, President and CEO of HelpMeSee."

Each trained cataract specialist has the potential to perform thousands of cataract surgeries over their career, directly restoring vision and transforming the futures of entire families and communities. HelpMeSee has the solutions to solve this global public health crisis.

About HelpMeSee:

In a world where 100 million people are blind or visually impaired due to cataract, HelpMeSee, a not-for-profit under IRS 501(c)(3), has a global mission to eradicate cataract blindness by increasing the training of Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery (MSICS). This safe and relatively quick procedure delivers successful outcomes at a low cost. The HelpMeSee MSICS training system features high-fidelity, virtual reality simulation with haptic feedback, sophisticated courseware, learning management systems and electronic learning aids.

HelpMeSee was founded by Al and Jim Ueltschi, who imagined building the MSICS training system by incorporating many of the methods and techniques used successfully in commercial pilot training. As co-founder of Orbis International and founder of FlightSafety International, Al Ueltschi was an icon in the aviation industry and was devoted to treating preventable blindness in the developing world. HelpMeSee trains cataract specialists to ensure that all communities have access to highly trained MSICS specialists. With more than 40 simulators and 15 training centers worldwide, HelpMeSee partners with governments, universities and innovators to fight the global cataract blindness crisis.

For more information visit: https://helpmesee.org/

Media Contact:

Amanda Kronberg

Director of Marketing

Phone: 720-220-9882

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE HelpMeSee, Inc.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala., April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Encompass Health Corp. (NYSE: EHC) will hold its annual meeting of stockholders at 11:00 a.m. CDT, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. The meeting will be conducted by live webcast only.

Stockholders of record on March 7, 2025, may participate by visiting virtualshareholdermeeting.com/EHC2025 . The meeting website will be accessible beginning 15 minutes prior to the meeting. To participate in the meeting or vote at the meeting, stockholders must enter the 16-digit control number included on their Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or their proxy card if they received the proxy materials by electronic or physical mail.

For those not able to attend the virtual event live, the audio webcast may be replayed through an archived link on the same website following the meeting.

About Encompass Health

Encompass Health (NYSE: EHC) is the largest owner and operator of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals in the United States. With a national footprint that includes 167 hospitals in 38 states and Puerto Rico, the Company provides high-quality, compassionate rehabilitative care for patients recovering from a major injury or illness, using advanced technology and innovative treatments to maximize recovery. Encompass Health is ranked as one of Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies, Becker's Hospital Review's 150 Top Places to Work in Healthcare and Forbes' Most Trusted Companies in America. For more information, visit encompasshealth.com , or follow us on our newsroom , X , Instagram and Facebook .

From Fortune.  2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All rights reserved. Fortune is a registered trademark and Fortune World's Most Admired Companies is trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited and are used under license. Fortune and Fortune Media IP Limited are not affiliated with, and do not endorse products or services of, Encompass Health. From Forbes  2024 Forbes Media LLC. All rights reserved. Used under license.

Media contact:

Polly Manuel | 205-970-5912

[email protected]

Investor Relations contact:

Mark Miller | 205-970-5860

[email protected]

SOURCE Encompass Health Corp.
TORONTO, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Consensus 2025, North America's most influential gathering for the crypto, blockchain, and AI industries, has announced Eric Trump and Asher Genoot as their conference headline speakers, marking their first on-stage appearance since establishing American Bitcoin. Trump and Genoot will discuss their vision to reshape Bitcoin mining across North America during the conference, scheduled for May 1416 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

"The launch of American Bitcoin represents a transformative moment for Bitcoin mining in North America," said Eric Trump, Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of American Bitcoin. "I am so proud to share our bold vision for this initiative, which we believe will become the world's largest and most efficient pure-play Bitcoin miner."

Eric Trump and Asher Genoot will speak on the mainstage on Thursday, May 15, from 1:15 pm to 1:40 pm, followed by a session at the dedicated Bitcoin Mining Summit from 2:15 pm to 2:45 pm, where they will be joined by American Bitcoin CEO Matt Prusak. These highly anticipated discussions will provide Consensus 2025 attendees with exclusive insights into how American Bitcoin plans to reshape industrial-scale Bitcoin mining in North America while building a strategic Bitcoin reserve.

"I'm excited to join the conversation in Toronto at Consensus 2025 as we launch American Bitcoin," said Asher Genoot, Chief Executive Officer of Hut 8 and Board Member of American Bitcoin. "We are committed to establishing North America as the global leader in Bitcoin mining and looking forward to connecting with industry leaders and investors at Consensus to share how we believe American Bitcoin is positioned to make that vision a reality."

Launched on March 31, 2025, American Bitcoin aims to become the world's largest pure-play Bitcoin miner, targeting over 50 EH/s of mining capacity.

"We're honored to welcome Eric Trump and Asher Genoot to Consensus 2025 for their first in-person presentation of American Bitcoin. This keynote is among the most highly anticipated sessions of the conference, and I look forward to hearing first-hand how this initiative will help redefine Bitcoin mining across North America. With over 500 speakers convening at Consensus, we continue to offer attendees a front-row seat to the visionaries shaping the future of the crypto sector," commented Sara Stratoberdha, CEO of CoinDesk.

Consensus will feature over 500 speakers across multiple stages, immersive experiences, and unparalleled networking opportunities. This year's expanded programming includes dedicated tracks on Bitcoin mining, institutional adoption, regulatory developments, and emerging Web3 innovations, making it the must-attend event for industry leaders, investors, developers, and policymakers shaping the future of digital finance.

Early bird registration is now open with limited-time discounted rates available at consensus2025.coindesk.com .

Members of the media are invited to apply for press credentials at https://consensus2025.coindesk.com/press/-id/0.

Media Contact:

Jamie Sly

[email protected]

About Consensus:

Consensus by CoinDesk is the world's longest running and most influential gathering for the crypto, blockchain, and AI industries. Bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators, it helps you understand the future of digital assets with discussions on key topics such as DeFi, Web3, AI, the evolving regulatory landscape and more.

With a mix of panels, keynotes, and networking opportunities, Consensus 2025 provides a platform to explore the latest trends shaping the digital economy. Whether you're an industry veteran or just entering the space, this event offers valuable insights and connections in a rapidly evolving field.

About CoinDesk:

CoinDesk is the most trusted media, events, indices, and data company for the global crypto economy. Since 2013, CoinDesk Media has led the story of the future of money and investing, illuminating the transformation in society and culture that comes with it. Our award-winning team of journalists delivers news and unparalleled insights that bring transparency, comprehension, and context.

CoinDesk gathers the global crypto, blockchain, and Web3 communities at annual events such as Consensus, the world's largest and longest-running crypto festival. CoinDesk Indices offers expertise in digital asset indices, data, and research to educate and empower investors. In November 2023, CoinDesk was acquired by Bullish Group. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary and abides by a strict set of editorial policies. For more information on CoinDesk media and events, please visit CoinDesk.com

SOURCE CoinDesk Inc
Deal secures critical U.S. cell supply, empowering developer growth and access to domestic content advantages

GREENWOOD, S.C., April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ES Foundry , an American company advancing U.S. solar by onshoring crystalline solar cell production, continues its market expansion by signing a three-year, 150-megawatt (MW) supply agreement with a leading national community solar developer.

Under the agreement, the developer will purchase BNEF Tier 1 solar modules that incorporate ES Foundry's domestically manufactured solar cells to support its growing portfolio of projects across the country.

The agreement highlights ES Foundry's ability to meet the demand for high-quality, U.S.-made solar components while enabling developers to capture the additional investment tax credit (ITC) for domestic content. As the U.S. solar industry contends with ongoing supply chain pressures, ES Foundry is delivering developers a stable, economical and reliable supply of solar cells.

This milestone comes at a time when solar power is experiencing unprecedented growth in the United States. According to the latest data from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Wood Mackenzie, the U.S. installed a record-breaking 50 gigawatts (GW) of new solar capacity in 2024  the largest single-year addition of any energy technology in more than two decades. Solar accounted for 66% of all new electric generating capacity added to the grid last year. As the market accelerates, securing a stable supply of domestically produced components is more important than ever.

"With this agreement, our customer is setting an example for other solar developers to proactively solidify their domestic supply chain strategies," said Ken Johnston, VP of Sales, ES Foundry. "Developers need certainty, and our commitment is to provide them with a steady supply of high-quality solar cells so they can complete their projects on time and at scale."

For the developer, securing a stable and reliable supply of high-quality, American-made modules containing ES Foundry's cells was essential for scaling its long-term clean energy pipeline. This partnership supports the confident expansion of renewable energy projects, enabling long-term savings and sustainability for the communities it serves. With domestic solar manufacturing seen as critical to national energy independence, the collaboration reinforces shared goals of a stronger, more secure energy future.

About ES Foundry

Based in South Carolina, ES Foundry is accelerating the U.S. solar industry by onshoring the manufacturing of crystalline solar cells. The company's state-of-the-art facility in Greenwood produces high-quality solar cells designed to meet the critical needs of U.S. panel manufacturers and address the supply chain demands of developers and EPCs. By offering American-made solar cells, ES Foundry enables customers to unlock an additional investment tax credit (ITC) for domestic content. Backed by a team of seasoned industry veterans, ES Foundry is committed to delivering proven, economical and reliable solar products driving the growth and sustainability of the U.S. clean energy landscape. Follow ES Foundry on LinkedIn , X and Bluesky for the latest updates.

PR Contact

Leah Wilkinson

Wilkinson + Associates for ES Foundry

[email protected]

703-907-0010

SOURCE ES Foundry
Innovative platform to streamline crisis response, connect individuals to care, and provide real-time behavioral health bed capacity updates

AUSTIN, Texas, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Findhelp, a closed-loop referral management software company at the forefront of powering the U.S. safety net, is proud to announce it has been awarded a contract with the Minnesota Department of Human Services to launch a statewide behavioral health program locator Find Help Minnesota . This innovative platform will enable organizations to seamlessly coordinate referrals and expand access to critical mental and behavioral health resources for Minnesotans.

Find Help Minnesota will go beyond basic social needs like food and housing, by prioritizing real-time inpatient bed capacity tracking for mental and behavioral health facilities. Minnesotans in crisis will be able to search for and connect with life-saving services faster than ever before.

"This initiative is about removing barriers to care when people need it most. We're grateful for this opportunity to support Minnesotans and providers by increasing access to behavioral health services," said Erine Gray, Founder and CEO of Findhelp. "In partnership with local service providers, this platform will build on the life-changing work that's already being done and ensure that individuals in crisis can quickly access the right services."

A Statewide Solution for Behavioral Health Needs

This behavioral health program locator, powered by Findhelp, will provide a comprehensive, user-friendly network of mental health, substance use treatment, and supportive services for individuals of all agesincluding children, families, and culturally-diverse communities. By integrating electronic referral capabilities, Find Help Minnesota will streamline care coordination between healthcare providers, social service agencies, and community-based organizations.

A Trusted Partner in Minnesota's Social Care Ecosystem

Minnesotans trust Findhelp to connect them with the social care services they need:

More than 650,000 users in the state have conducted 1.6 million searches on the Findhelp platform in the last few years.

Findhelp partners with 16 customers in Minnesota , including Mayo Clinic, Essentia Health, Children's Minnesota , the Minnesota Association of Community Mental Health Programs, Gundersen Health system, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Fairview Health, and Greater Mankato Health, among others.

, including Mayo Clinic, Essentia Health, Children's , the Minnesota Association of Community Mental Health Programs, Gundersen Health system, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Fairview Health, and Greater Mankato Health, among others. Findhelp works with almost 7,000 listed community-based programs serving the state, including more than 500 that serve individuals with mental or behavioral health needs.

"At Essentia Health, we recognize the importance of making behavioral health resources more accessible and easier to navigate, especially for people in rural communities," says Emily Kuenstler, Community Health Director at Essentia. "A centralized locator tool has the potential to be a valuable asset for our entire state. Strong community engagement in its development and implementation will be key to its success, and we look forward to continued collaboration on this effort."

Praised for its integration excellence and incentivization of community-based organizations, Findhelp has been recognized multiple years in a row as the leading SDoH network by KLAS , a healthcare research firm. Findhelp continues to expand its relationships with more than 650 of America's largest health plans, hospital systems, government municipalities, educational institutions, and cause organizations to address SDoH. The Findhelp platform enables customers across industries to bring social care to their patients, members, students, constituents, and communities.

About Findhelp

Building healthier and happier communities starts with supporting the whole person. That's why Findhelp was founded in 2010: to connect all people in need to the programs that serve them with dignity and ease. Our software platform enables community organizations, governments, and businesses across industries to easily manage and coordinate care. From screening and closed-loop referrals to outcomes tracking and actionable health insights, Findhelp is leading the modernization of the social safety net. For more information, visit http://company.findhelp.com .

About the Minnesota Department of Human Services

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) helps provide essential services to Minnesota's most vulnerable residents. Working with many others, including counties, tribes and non-profits, DHS helps ensure that Minnesota seniors, people with disabilities, children and others meet their basic needs and have the opportunity to reach their full potential.

For all press inquiries:

Amy Gordona

VP of Marketing at Findhelp

[email protected]

SOURCE Findhelp
Ferguson will lead Hyundai Motor Group's U.S. government affairs strategy and operations to support policy engagement

Four-term U.S. congressman brings decades of legislative and community development experience

SEOUL, South Korea and WASHINGTON, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyundai Motor Group (the Group) today announced Drew Ferguson will join Hyundai Motor Group's Washington, D.C. office as Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, effective from May 1st, 2025.

Ferguson will lead the Group's U.S. government affairs strategy and operations at the federal and state levels, following nearly a decade of distinguished service in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he represented Georgia's 3rd Congressional District from 2017 to late 2024.

Ferguson's deep understanding of the legislative process and his proven ability to navigate complex policy environments make him an exceptional fit to strengthen the Group's rooted engagement in the automotive industry as well as in emerging future technologiessuch as robotics and air mobilitywith U.S. government stakeholders and policymakers.

He served as Chief Deputy Whip for the House Republican Conference from 2019 to 2023 and was an influential member of the House Ways and Means Committee, contributing significantly to tax, trade, and healthcare legislation.

Ferguson was mayor of West Point, Georgia, from 2008 to 2016, where he demonstrated a strong commitment to fostering inclusive economic growth and community development. His leadership was instrumental in attracting major investments to the city.

He most recently served as Senior Policy Advisor at Alston & Bird LLP, an Atlanta-based law firm, where he worked to develop legislative and regulatory strategies across a range of industries.

Ferguson attended the University of Georgia, then received early acceptance to the Medical College of Georgia's School of Dentistry, where he earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree.

About Hyundai Motor Group

Hyundai Motor Group is a global enterprise that has created a value chain based on mobility, steel, and construction, as well as logistics, finance, IT, and service. With about 250,000 employees worldwide, the Group's mobility brands include Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis. Armed with creative thinking, cooperative communication and the will to take on any challenges, we strive to create a better future for all.

More information about Hyundai Motor and its products can be found at: http://www.hyundaimotorgroup.com or Newsroom: Media Hub by Hyundai, Kia Global Media Center (kianewscenter.com), Genesis Global Newsroom

SOURCE Kia America
The three Forever stamps commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Army,

Navy and Marine Corps, each a vital component of the nation's defense. All

three branches trace their origins to the Revolutionary War, born from the

necessity to secure American independence.

The Second Continental Congress in 1775 recognized the need for a unified

military force and established the Continental Army on June 14, the

Continental Navy on Oct. 13, and authorized the formation of the Continental

Marines on Nov. 10. The Continental forces were disbanded after the war but

were re-established in the years that followed when the need for a standing

military became clear.

These stamps honor the enduring legacy and unwavering commitment of the

men and women who have served and continue to serve. Each branch plays a

crucial role in safeguarding American interests, standing as symbols of

strength and resilience, upholding core values such as loyalty, duty, honor,

and courage.

The Armed Forces stamps are three individual stamp panes featuring the

respective symbols of the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps against a

white background.

Each stamp, designed by Antonio Alcala, an art director for USPS, also

includes the inscriptions "250 YEARS OF SERVICE," "SINCE 1775," and

FOREVER/USA".

As Forever stamps, the Armed Forces stamps will always be equal in value to

the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.
PHOENIX, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Geneva Financial (Geneva) is excited to announce the return of the Kentucky Branch to its national network, under the leadership of Branch Manager Alex Milburn. This homecoming marks a renewed commitment to the local community, as Alex and his team rejoin Geneva to continue their exemplary service in the mortgage lending industry.

Aaron VanTrojen, CEO of Geneva Financial, expressed his enthusiasm about the reunion, stating: "Having Alex and the Kentucky team rejoin Geneva is like welcoming family home. Their dedication to excellence and community engagement embodies the spirit of what we strive for every day at Geneva. It's not just a win for us; it's a win for every client they serve. We are thrilled to have them back where they belong, bringing with them a passion for service and an in-depth understanding of the local market that is unmatched."

Rachel Caple, Chief Sales and Revenue Officer, also commented on the team's return: "I'm absolutely thrilled to welcome the Kentucky team back to Geneva! Their unstoppable drive, infectious energy, and relentless passion for success are unparalleled. Not only are they incredibly talented, but they're also some of the kindest and most dedicated individuals I've had the pleasure of working with. I have zero doubt that they'll pick up right where they left off and continue to dominate with full force!"

Under the leadership of Alex Milburn, the Kentucky Branch is set to enhance its offerings and deepen its impact in both Kentucky and neighboring regions. Known for their robust support and extensive product offerings, the branch will continue to assist homebuyers and homeowners with a variety of financing options including Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, Refinance, Reverse, Jumbo Loans, and more.

Alex Milburn, Branch Manager, shared his thoughts on rejoining the company: "Rejoining Geneva Financial is an opportunity for us to continue building on past successes with a company that values integrity and customer-first service. We're back with renewed vigor, ready to empower more families in Kentucky and beyond with the best mortgage solutions available."

The reintegration of the Kentucky Branch highlights Geneva's commitment to building lasting relationships with its branches and their communities, ensuring a stable, supportive, and enriching environment for both staff and clients.

For more information about the Kentucky Branch or to explore mortgage options, please visit: www.genevafi.com/lexington-mortgage-branch

About Geneva Financial

Founded in 2007 by Aaron VanTrojen, Geneva Financial is a direct mortgage lender based in Chandler, Arizona, boasting over 100 branch locations across 49 states. Known for its culture-forward approach, Geneva prioritizes the well-being of its loan originators and support staff to ensure unparalleled service for its customers. Home Loans Powered by Humans is more than a slogan; it's at the core of everything we do. Learn more about Geneva Financial Mortgage Home Loans at www.GenevaFi.com

SOURCE Geneva Financial, LLC
With a total of 91 submissions received from global and local individuals and institutions, the ADGHW Innovation Awards, sponsored by e& and PureHealth, welcomed entries that address critical health challenges across digital health, pharmaceutical and biotechnology innovations, and medical devices and diagnostics. Winners were selected following a rigorous review process led by a distinguished panel of global health experts, policymakers, and technology leaders.

ADGHW Innovation Awards recipients include:

The Individual Category was awarded to the Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine, Dr. Ardem Patapoutian from the Scripps Research Institute for discovering novel molecular targets involved in pain perception. His work is unlocking new therapeutic pathways to treat chronic and neuropathic pain, significantly advancing personalised medicine and neuroscience. Runners-up for this category include Hesham A. Abdullah from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) recognised for his impactful oncology research and contributions to healthcare innovation in the region; and Kourosh Lotfi from Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City for advancing 3D bioprinting technologies for personalised regenerative medicine.



The Global Institute Category was jointly awarded to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for development of prenatal therapeutic gene editing technologies and the University of Pennsylvania for its pioneering work in mRNA platform technology, the foundation of several next-generation vaccines. Runners-up for this category include Children's National Hospital for its StrepApp, an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven diagnostic tool enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of paediatric care; Eli Lilly and Company for revolutionising obesity care through the first dual GIP/GLP-1 treatment, redefining approaches to metabolic diseases; and Neo Q Quality in Imaging GmbH for RadioReport Automatic AI, transforming radiology reporting through automation and precision.

The Regional Institute Category was awarded to the King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre for revolutionising organ transplantation through robotic-assisted surgery. The hospital's innovative use of robotics enhances surgical precision, reduces recovery time, and sets a new benchmark for transplant care in the Middle East and beyond. Runners-up for this category include amplifai health for its AI-based thermal camera to screen diabetic foot ulcers, enabling early detection and proactive care to reduce complications; Proteinea for its AI-enabled Protein Engineering Platform designed to accelerate next-generation biotherapeutic development; and Pioneera Biosciences for BestCAR, an allogeneic CAR-NK cell therapy leveraging mRNA-LNP technology to target CD19 in haematologic malignancies.

The Local Institute Category was awarded to BioSapien Inc . for its MediChip, a novel drug delivery platform that localises treatment to targeted areas, reducing systemic side effects and enhancing efficacy. The technology represents a significant leap forward in precision therapeutics and patient-centric care. Runners-up for this category include New York University Abu Dhabi for LAMINATE MS, an advanced neuroimaging platform to improve diagnosis and treatment of multiple sclerosis; Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City for CHESS-Osteoporosis, a multi-centre validation trial driving innovation in bone health screening; EpiBone, Ltd. for its AI-powered living skeletal implants, redefining bone repair and personalised orthopaedic care; and Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City for advancing haematological diagnostics, enhancing AI models through multimodal data integration and clinical validation.



The award ceremony commenced with opening remarks by H.E. Dr. Mansoor Ibrahim Al Mansoori, Chairman of the Department of Health  Abu Dhabi, who underscored the award's pivotal role in recognising excellence, fostering innovation, and accelerating progress across the healthcare sector. The event brought together senior government officials, healthcare leaders, and industry partners, including H.E. Dr. Jaleela bint Al-Sayed Jawad Hasan, Minister of Health of the Kingdom of Bahrain; H.E. Dr. Mikheil Sarjveladze, Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia; Shaista Asif, Group Chief Executive Officer of PureHealth; Dr. Patrick Horber, President, International of Novartis; and Jacob Thaysen, Chief Executive Officer of Illumina.

Commenting on the winners' announcement, H.E. Dr. Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of DoH, said: "We are delighted to honour these trailblazers from around the world. Their achievements show how powerful innovation can be in changing the global health landscape and highlight what's possible when we work together. By celebrating these breakthroughs, we're not only recognising what's been accomplished today, we are also paving the way for a healthier tomorrow for all, where everyone enjoys well-being and a long, healthy life."

Submissions were evaluated based on originality, impact, scalability, and sustainability. The rigorous assessment process was overseen by a panel of esteemed experts in healthcare, digital health, and public policy including Dr. Asma Ibrahim Al Mannaei, Executive Director of the Health Life Sciences Sector at DoH; Professor Shafi Ahmed, multi-award-winning surgeon, teacher, futurist, innovator and entrepreneur; John Nosta, president of NostaLab, Lina Shadid, Middle East Health Industries Lead and Zubin Daruwalla, Asia Pacific Health Industries Lead at PwC.

"The ADGHW Innovation Awards exemplify the transformative power of collaboration and innovation in addressing global health challenges with creativity, rigour, and purpose. The diversity and ingenuity of the application submissions highlight Abu Dhabi's role in boosting an ecosystem that drives advancements in healthcare. At PwC, we are proud to support this initiative and contribute to shaping a future where innovation is both encouraged and celebrated," stated Lina Shadid, Middle East Health Industries Lead at PwC.

The diverse group of applicants underscores ADGHW's pivotal role in enhancing international collaboration and demonstrates Abu Dhabi's commitment to nurturing a thriving ecosystem that drives advancement of the global health sector.

In a first for the awards, an AI assistant was also integrated into the review process, supporting the jury by surfacing patterns, providing comparative insights, and complementing human expertise during deliberations. This hybrid model reflects ADGHW's commitment to harnessing the potential of emerging technologies to drive fairness, transparency, and efficiency in the evaluation of innovative ideas.

ADGHW is a major government initiative from DoH and serves as a platform for innovation and collaboration under the theme 'Towards Longevity: Redefining Health and Well-being.' It places a strong emphasis on community-driven health and well-being, with a proactive approach centred around preventive, personalised, and holistic care.

Four core themes will guide discussions and initiatives: Longevity and Precision Health; Health System Resilience & Sustainability; Digital Health & AI; and Investment in Life Sciences. By convening diverse stakeholders from around the world, ADGHW is a community without borders that seeks to advance the future of health and well-being.

About Abu Dhabi Global Health Week:

Abu Dhabi Global Health Week (ADGHW) is a major government-led initiative by the Department of Health  Abu Dhabi (DoH). It drives transformative innovation and collaboration under the theme 'Towards Longevity: Redefining Health and Well-being'. ADGHW serves as a year-round 'always-on' platform with a proactive approach centred around preventive, personalised, and holistic care. Held with and for the world, ADGHW is a platform for open, inclusive exchange, and joint action.

ADGHW welcomes entrepreneurs, policymakers, researchers, innovators, and investors to transform ideas into action, and collaborate around topics like advancing precision care and building a resilient technology-driven ecosystem. ADGHW 2025 proudly collaborates with key strategic partners, including Foundation Partner, M42 and Global Health and Longevity Champion, PureHealth. Additional exhibitors and sponsors include Burjeel, GSK, Johnson & Johnson, Lilly, Microsoft, Novo Nordisk, Viatris, Novartis, Roche, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Deloitte, Gilead, Juvenescence, NYU Abu Dhabi and Pfizer, united in their commitment to advancing the future of healthcare and life sciences.

For more information on ADGHW, visit https://www.adghw.com/

For media registration visit, https://www.adghw.com/forms/media-registration/

For media inquiries or interview opportunities, please contact:

Maroun Farah, Senior Media Relations Manager, Weber Shandwick E: [email protected] T: +971 55 166 2557

About the Department of Health  Abu Dhabi (DoH):

The Department of Health  Abu Dhabi is the regulative body of the healthcare sector in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Committed to ensuring excellence in healthcare, DoH monitors the health status of the population while shaping the regulatory framework for the health system. This includes inspecting against regulations, enforcing standards and encouraging the adoption of world-class best practices and performance targets by all healthcare providers in the Emirate. Abu Dhabi remains dedicated to shaping the future of healthcare by establishing an intelligent and sustainable ecosystem that prioritises health, longevity and quality of life for all community members. Leveraging state-of-the-art infrastructure and cutting-edge capabilities, DoH continues to develop and implement initiatives and programmes in line with its strategic focus areas, Healthy Population, Best-in-Class Care and Resilience and Innovation. These efforts reflect DoH's unwavering commitment to predicting, preventing and personalising healthcare for every individual.

For further information on DOH, visit https://www.doh.gov.ae/ and follow on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Mariam Al Marzooqi

E: [email protected]

T: +971 50 536 6660

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SOURCE Abu Dhabi Global Health Week (ADGHW)

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BEIJING, April 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Chinese President Xi Jinping wrapped up his visit to Vietnam and arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday for a state visit to Malaysia.

He was warmly welcomed by Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

In a written statement upon his arrival at the airport, Xi said he expected to take his visit as an opportunity to further deepen the bilateral traditional friendship and strengthen political mutual trust, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Xi called on the two sides to promote cooperation in modernization endeavors, jointly enhance exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations, and continuously elevate the building of a China-Malaysia community with a shared future to new heights.

He expressed hope that, with the joint efforts of China and Malaysia, his visit will yield fruitful outcomes, opening a new historic chapter of good-neighborly friendship and mutual benefit between the two countries, and ushering in a new "Golden 50 Years" for bilateral relations.

Experts said Xi's visit to Malaysia transcends bilateral ties, as strengthened China-Malaysia relations promise substantial benefits for both countries while also advance regional economic integration and multilateral collaboration. This assumes particular importance especially in today's intricate and volatile geopolitical landscape, they said.

'Open a new historic chapter'

The warm welcome for the Chinese President's arrival was visible on several main streets of Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday. At a section of the Jalan Tun Razak, China's five-starred red flag, alongside the Malaysian national flag, was flying high over traffic.

The state visit was also in the headlines of major Malaysian media outlets. "It will certainly be the country's most high-profile visit by a foreign head of state," Bernama, Malaysia's official news agency, said in a report on Sunday, adding that the visit marks a major milestone in China-Malaysia relations.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, President Xi will meet with King Sultan Ibrahim and hold talks with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during the visit.

The expectation for greater cooperation between China and Malaysia was also palpable in dialogues with local residents. On Tuesday morning, construction work was in full swing at the Gombak station of the East Coast Railway Project (ECRL) in Malaysia, which is a landmark project of the Belt and Road Initiative jointly built by China and Malaysia. With machines roaring constantly and a crane moving periodically, the bustling scene at the site offered a snapshot of the vitality of China-Malaysia bilateral cooperation.

Ridzuan, a Malaysian technical engineer at China Communications Construction Co working at the ECRL's Gombak station project, told the Global Times that the project has not only brought employment opportunities to local people, but will also bring greater convenience after completion.

Ge Hongliang, vice dean of the ASEAN College at Guangxi Minzu University, said that the China-Malaysia partnership extends far beyond infrastructure. Pragmatic cooperation in manufacturing, digital economy, semiconductor production also contributes significantly to local economy, Ge said.

In his meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim last year in Beijing, Xi encouraged Malaysia to bring more Malaysian quality and specialty products to the Chinese market, and urged closer cooperation in such new areas as digital economy, artificial intelligence and new energy, Xinhua reported.

Gan Tian Loo, Vice President of the Malaysia-China Interaction Association and former Special Envoy to China for the Malacca State Government, shared with the Global Times that Malaysians warmly anticipate the Chinese leader's visit. They hope that through frequent high-level exchanges and deepened political trust, China and Malaysia will continue to bring concrete benefits to their people, fostering socio-economic progress for both countries.

According to Xinhua, China has remained Malaysia's largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years, with the volume hitting an all-time high of $212.04 billion in 2024.

Beyond the bilateral scope, analysts believe that with Malaysia serving as the 2025 chair of ASEAN and a BRICS partner country, China and Malaysia are expected to work more closely on regional cooperation, with an eye on stability and shared prosperity in a shifting global landscape.

The state visit by the Chinese leader also highlighted China's strong endorsement of Malaysia's rotating ASEAN chairmanship, as well as the theme of "Inclusivity and Sustainability," said Ge.

Against the backdrop of a tariff war, China continues its enduring commitment to fostering regional integration and multilateral cooperation, demonstrating its readiness to collaborate closely with neighboring countries to safeguard a multilateral trading system, Ge said.

Malaysia and Vietnam both participated in the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, last year, with Malaysia also being a BRICS partner country. Against the backdrop of the collective rise of the Global South, China's cooperation with neighboring countries reflects the efforts of Global South nations to uphold a just and equitable global governance order, Ge said.

'Comprehensive and fruitful'

On Tuesday, President Xi and Vietnamese leader To Lam witnessed the launching ceremony of the China-Vietnam railway cooperation mechanism in Hanoi, Xinhua reported. President Xi and Vietnamese leaders To Lam and Luong Cuong also met representatives of the China-Vietnam people friendship festival on Tuesday, the official news agency said.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that he has full confidence in the future of China-Vietnam relations, when bidding farewell to General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam. Xi also said that his Vietnam visit is fruitful albeit brief, according to Xinhua.

To Lam says Xi's visit boosts Vietnam's confidence in overcoming challenges, elevates bilateral friendship to new high, per Xinhua.

During the meeting with To Lam on Monday, President Xi proposed six measures to deepen the building of the China-Vietnam community with a shared future: enhancing strategic mutual trust at a higher level, building a stronger security barrier, expanding higher quality mutually beneficial cooperation, and tightening the bonds of people-to-people ties, conducting closer multilateral coordination, and achieving more positive maritime interaction, per Xinhua News Agency.

The two sides signed 45 bilateral cooperation documents, covering areas including connectivity, artificial intelligence, customs inspection and quarantine, agricultural trade, culture and sports, public welfare, human resource development, media, and more.

The Vietnam News Agency said Xi's state visit had a "comprehensive and fruitful outcome."

Gu Xiaosong, dean of the ASEAN Research Institute at Hainan Tropical Ocean University, told the Global Times that President Xi's visit has further elevated China-Vietnam relations.

He noted that the current China-Vietnam relations are marked by stronger political trust, more substantive security cooperation, deeper pragmatic collaboration, firmer public support, closer multilateral coordination, and more effective management of differences.

Gu emphasized the importance of comprehensive exchanges and cooperation between China and Vietnam which include collaboration in trade, politics, security, science and technology, infrastructure, and people-to-people exchanges.

"Such efforts will not only elevate bilateral ties, but also advance the overall relationship between China and ASEAN," said Gu. "These deepening ties will also play a constructive role in promoting peace, stability, and development across the region."

This article first appeared in Global Times https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202504/1332181.shtml

SOURCE Global Times
Strategic partnership builds on shared commitment to serve the faith ecosystem with innovation and technology solutions

BOULDER, Colo., April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Gloo , a leading technology platform for the faith ecosystem, announced an investment in Servant , a strategic consultancy that helps organizations drive growth, lead digital transformation, and build scalable platforms. The investment strengthens the Gloo commitment to serve the faith ecosystem  which includes churches, parachurches and non-faith-based organizations  by equipping them with technology, resources, and services.

Gloo Invests in Servant

Servant works with a variety of faith and mission-based organizations, including Come and See, YouVersion, OneHope and Maxwell Leadership. Through its partnership with Gloo, Servant has been instrumental in supporting digital transformation for ministries and faith-based initiatives.

"We see so many incredible organizations that have made significant missional impact in the ecosystem," said Scott Beck, CEO at Gloo. "But even strong organizations sometimes need help taking their strategy, growth, and offerings to the next level of effectiveness. Our investment in Servant is an investment in the ecosystem, as Servant brings their world-class consulting services coupled with Gloo tools and capabilities to better serve the world-changing organizations that turn to them for guidance."

With this investment, Servant will continue to operate under the leadership of its founder and CEO, Ben Elmore, alongside its existing executive team. Scott Beck, co-founder and CEO of Gloo, will continue to serve on the Servant board of directors, ensuring continued alignment between the two organizations.

"At Servant, we've seen firsthand how partnerships with mission-driven organizations can transform bold visions into meaningful impact," said Elmore. "This collaboration with Gloo aligns perfectly with our core principle of collaborating wherever possible and building only when necessary. Servant attracts the industry's best talent to come and pour themselves out to serve the Church, offering not just their skills but their calling. Together, we're empowering churches and ministries to thrive in the digital age while expanding audience reach, enhancing donor engagement and streamlining organizational efficiencies."

The strategic partnership enables Gloo and Servant to expand capabilities to more churches, ministries, and mission-based enterprises, helping them innovate, expand, and thrive while serving their communities. Visit Servant.io for more information.

Gloo is a leading technology platform for the faith ecosystem, providing values-based AI, resources, insights and funding so people and communities flourish and organizations thrive. Gloo serves over 100,000 faith, ministry and nonprofit leaders and is based in Boulder, Colorado.

Servant.io is a leading provider of digital consulting to the faith ecosystem, serving the world's leading kingdom organizations. The company is on a mission to enable the Global Church to grow, thrive, and flourish in a digital age by building beautiful, elegant and impactful strategies, products and digital experiences. Servant equips organizations to hone their vision, solve complex problems, and grow their capacity with digital solutions. Based in Franklin, Tennessee, they serve as a permanent fixture within the Christian ecosystem.

SOURCE Gloo
New Fund Offers Copayment or Insurance Premium Assistance

GERMANTOWN, Md., April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The HealthWell Foundation, an independent non-profit charitable organization that provides financial assistance for underinsured Americans has launched a new fund to assist individuals living with neuroendocrine tumors. Through the fund, HealthWell will provide up to $15,000 in medication copayment or insurance premium assistance to patients for prescription drugs and biologics for the treatment of their disease. Eligible patients must have household incomes up to 500 percent of the federal poverty level.

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are rare, often slow-growing, tumors that begin in neuroendocrine cells and can occur anywhere in the body. The most common sites for NETs to occur are the digestive system, lungs, and pancreas, and can spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. NETs can be difficult to diagnosis as symptoms can mimic other diseases. Symptoms can include abdominal pain, flushing, diarrhea, heart palpitations, changes in weight, high or low blood pressure, and wheezing, among others. Many patients are mis-diagnosed and treated for the wrong disease for up to 5 years. Early diagnosis and proper treatment of NETs are critical to favorable outcomes. NET diagnoses are increasing by more than 5 percent annually and as many as 175,000 patients are living in the United States.

"Once a proper diagnosis is given, there are countless doctor's visits and a multitude of medications, many of which are life-long treatments. As a person living with neuroendocrine cancer for over two decades, I understand the emotional and financial hardship that accompanies this disease," said Maryann Wahmann, Executive Director, Neuroendocrine Cancer Awareness Network (NCAN). "Treating NETs is expensive and may be cost prohibitive for many. We applaud HealthWell for recognizing the financial burden treatment imparts on people living with NETs and for providing resources to ensure that they can access and continue proper treatment."

Michael S. Heimall, President & CEO, HealthWell Foundation, commented on the fund, "We are excited to add neuroendocrine tumors to our disease fund portfolio and to help ease the financial burden for people living with NETs. Thank you to our donors for addressing this critical, unmet need so NET patients can focus on obtaining and adhering to their treatment regimen and not the cost."

To determine eligibility and apply for assistance, visit HealthWell's Neuroendocrine Tumors Fund page. Note that all new fund openings and fund re-openings occur at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (8:00 a.m. Pacific) Monday through Friday. To learn more about HealthWell programs and our robust disease fund portfolio, visit our website at HealthWellFoundation.org.

About NCAN

The Neuroendocrine Cancer Awareness Network (NCAN) is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness of Neuroendocrine Cancer, providing support for caregivers and people with NETs, and funding for NET cancer research. Since 2003, it has been their mission, or as they like to say, their passion, to educate and support the NET community as a whole. To learn more about NCAN, visit netcancerawareness.org.

About the HealthWell Foundation

A nationally recognized, independent non-profit organization founded in 2003 and a resource to the White House Cancer Moonshot Initiative, the HealthWell Foundation has served as a safety net across over 90 disease areas for more than 1.1 million underinsured patients. Since its inception, HealthWell has provided over $4.8 billion in financial support through more than 1.8 million grants to access life-changing medical treatments patients otherwise would not be able to afford. HealthWell provides financial assistance to adults and children facing medical hardship resulting from gaps in their insurance that cause out-of-pocket medical expenses to escalate rapidly; HealthWell assists with the treatment-related cost-sharing obligations of these patients. HealthWell ranked 24th on the 2024 Forbes list of America's Top 100 Charities and was recognized for its 100 percent fundraising efficiency. For more information, visit HealthWellFoundation.org.

CONTACT:

Ginny Dunn

240-632-5309

[email protected]

SOURCE HealthWell Foundation
SHANGHAI, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Henlius (2696.HK) held its 2025 Global R&D Day under the theme of "Collaborate to Create". Senior executives from Henlius gathered with leading experts, scholars, and heads of innovation from across the industry to engage in in-depth discussions on the latest advances in R&D, future strategic planning, and the deployment of cutting-edge technologies and therapies. The event drew hundreds of guests from academia, industry, and the investment community, making it a grand gathering of shared insight and collaboration.

Jason Zhu, Executive Director and CEO of Henlius, stated: "At Henlius, we remain steadfast in our patient-centric philosophy and continue to strengthen our differentiated competitive edge through innovation-driven R&D. We are advancing the development of several key innovative assets, including HANSIZHUANG (serplulimab, anti-PD-1 mAb), HLX22 (anti-HER2 mAb), and HLX43 (PD-L1 ADC), with the potential to reshape the treatment landscape for lung and gastrointestinal cancers. Beyond that, we are actively exploring frontier technologies such as targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and glyco-editing, as we build a diversified innovation platform. In terms of global expansion, Henlius is strategically focused on major markets such as the U.S., EU, and Japan. Through full value chain integration and deepening international partnerships, we are making a strategic leap from exporting products to building a global value chain. Looking ahead, Henlius will continue to focus on antibody drug innovation, accelerate breakthroughs in targeted and immune therapies, and drive the global advancement of China's innovative biologics. Our goal is to deliver high-quality, affordable biologics to patients around the world while forging a sustainable, globally integrated value core."

Jijun Yuan, CSO of Henlius, elaborated on the company's differentiated innovation strategy: "Henlius' R&D strength is reflected not only in our innovative pipeline but also in the continuous expansion of our platform capabilities. We focus on key therapeutic areas such as oncology and autoimmune diseases, extending our innovation reach to diverse modalitiesincluding protein-based therapies, small molecules, and ADCsto maximize synergistic potential across pipeline assets. Our three flagship technology platformsthe Hinova TCE (tri-specific T-cell engager) platform, the independently developed ADC platform Hanjugator, and the AI-driven drug discovery platform HAI Clubhave formed a collaborative R&D matrix. Leveraging these platforms and AI-driven approaches, we are accelerating the development of differentiated molecules, such as TCEs for solid tumors, to rapidly deliver more potential blockbuster therapies."

In Henlius' innovative pipeline, late-stage clinical assets such as HLX22 and HLX43 have emerged as breakthrough candidates, underscoring the company's potential to drive future growth. Lixin Feng, Strategic Products Deputy GM of Henlius, shared that, "HLX43 is a precisely designed ADC targeting the pan-tumor antigen PD-L1. Its core framework incorporates the company's proprietary novel anti-PD-L1 mAb, combined with MediLink Therapeutics' innovative linker-toxin payload featuring a dual-release mechanism (intracellular and extracellular). As the world's second and China's first PD-L1 ADC to enter clinical development, HLX43 has demonstrated early potential as an innovative PIP (pipeline in a pill).Preclinical studies have shown favorable druggability and safety profiles with significant tumor-killing activity. Meanwhile, clinical studies of HLX43 as both monotherapy and in combination with HANSIZHUANG are accelerating across multiple solid tumors, with the potential to deliver superior treatment options for patients."

At the event, Professor Lin Shen, the leading principal investigator of the MRCT Phase 3 trial for HLX22, remarked: "Henlius' HLX22 is a highly promising HER2-targeted therapy distinguished by both its mechanism of action and clinical performance. Its differentiated molecular design enables simultaneous binding to HER2 alongside trastuzumab, synergistically blocking all HER2 dimer formation and disrupting HER2-mediated signaling pathways. Moreover, HLX22's clinical development strategy is both pioneering and ambitiousit targets gastrointestinal cancers, a field with urgent unmet needs and high heterogeneity, where the drug has demonstrated exceptional antitumor efficacy. This positions HLX22 to potentially redefine first-line treatment for HER2-positive gastric cancer. HLX22 has demonstrated clinical development potential as a pan-tumor therapeutic for all HER2-positive cancers. We look forward to HLX22 benefiting more patients worldwide."

Henlius is strategically advancing key innovations in biopharma by harnessing AI to sharpen its cutting-edge capabilities. Simon Hsu, CTO and SVP of Henlius, highlighted breakthroughs in AI-driven drug development, with a focus on next-generation hyaluronidase Henozye, "Utilizing AI modeling, Henozye achieved significantly faster development cycles versus conventional methods while demonstrating superior enzyme activity and stability. Its exceptional performance across buffer systems and co-formulations provides critical support for subcutaneous deliveryovercoming injection volume limits to enable high-dose drug development," He emphasized that this hyaluronidase platform will transform the subcutaneous delivery market. "Through collaborative partnerships, we're accelerating subcutaneous formulations for both novel drugs and biosimilars, extending product lifecycles sustainably."

While deepening its presence in Europe and the U.S. and expanding into emerging markets in Southeast Asia, Henlius is advancing its Globalization 2.0 strategy with a focused breakthrough in the Japanese market. Leveraging the advantages of geographic proximity and ethnic similarity for clinical development, along with Japan's status as the world's third-largest pharmaceutical marketsupported by an aging population and a robust universal healthcare systemHenlius positions Japan as a strategic stronghold for the global rollout of its innovative biologics.

Jin Li, Vice President of Henlius Regulatory Affairs, stated that "We are advancing our Internationalization 2.0 Strategy with Japan as a key market, leveraging the differentiated advantages of our core pipeline assets HLX22 (anti-HER2 mAb) and serplulimab (HLX10, anti-PD-1 mAb) in gastric cancer and lung cancer. We have initiated clinical trials in Japan to establish foundational support for indication development. Japan represents a strategic priority as a global pharmaceutical hub, offering unique opportunities through its aging population dynamics and innovative drug policy environment. We are systematically building local operational capabilities while strengthening our market position through innovative biologics. By integrating global clinical resources with localized strategies, we are creating an end-to-end value chain from clinical development to commercialization. As a Chinese biopharma innovator, we are reshaping the landscape in global markets through this approach."

Henlius is committed to building a global innovation network and fostering an international collaborative ecosystem, setting a benchmark for partnerships spanning product development, market access, and localized operations. During the panel discussion moderated by Henlius SVP and Chief Business Development Officer, Ping Cao, 2022 Nobel Laureate and Palleon Co-founder Professor Carolyn Bertozzi, Palleon CEO James Broderick, MediLink CMO Steve Chin, KGbio CEO Sie Djohan and Sermonix Founder and CEO David Portman joined the discussion under the theme "Partnering for Success - Building a Global Biopharma Ecosystem."

Professor Carolyn Bertozzi highlighted the critical role of sialoglycans in disease treatment, particularly their mechanism in tumor immune evasion and autoimmune diseases, as well as their vast potential as a cutting-edge global technology for novel drug development. Palleon is actively advancing its proprietary Enzyme-Antibody Glycan Ligand Editing (EAGLE) platform and has entered into collaborations with Henlius to develop bifunctional antibody-sialidase fusion proteins and human sialidase fusion protein HLX79 (E-602)leveraging the EAGLE platform to target cancer and autoimmune diseases, respectively.

During the follow-up discussion, panelists unanimously recognized Henlius' comprehensive capabilities spanning cutting-edge innovation, clinical development, and manufacturing excellence, while particularly commending the team's efficient collaboration and responsive partnership approach. Industry partners emphasized that their decision to collaborate with Henlius was rooted in strong confidence in the company's fully integrated biopharmaceutical platform that covers the entire value chain from research to commercialization. With established expertise in antibody development and a demonstrated ability to execute rapid yet reliable clinical strategies, Henlius has built a world-class manufacturing quality system meeting international standards, creating a robust foundation for global commercialization. Ping articulated the company's partnership philosophy: "We build on trust as our foundation, drive progress through efficiency, and connect through innovation." This guiding principle continues to shape Henlius' growing global collaborative ecosystem. Moving forward, the company remains committed to deepening complementary technology partnerships and accelerating exploration in frontier therapeutic areas. By leveraging its strong partner network, Henlius aims to enhance worldwide access to innovative therapies and deliver high-quality treatment solutions to patients across the globe.

In biopharmaceutical R&D, the translational gap from preclinical research to clinical application remains a persistent challenge across the industry. For Henlius, this very gap represents a critical breakthrough point to truly deliver clinical benefit by staying centered on the patient. At the close of the event, Jijun Yuan moderated a panel discussion on the theme "From Discovery to Delivery: Patient-Centric Innovation in Practice." He was joined by Lei Tang, Head of Translational Medicine Unite China R&D at Sanofi; Li Peng, CSO of Palleon; Feng Ren, Co-CEO and CSO of Insilico; and Guoqiang Hua, Founder and Chairman of Dan1Med. Guests shared insights from the perspectives of multinational pharma, cutting-edge biotech, AI-driven biopharma company and technology platform company. Discussions spanned innovations in tools that enhance precision in clinical trial design, the acceleration of R&D through advanced AI-driven data strategies, and the current challenges faced. Ultimately, all perspectives converged on a shared vision: building a collaborative, barrier-free ecosystem is essential to truly achieving a seamless transition "from discovery to delivery."

From biosimilars to first-in-class therapies, and from deepening presence in mainstream markets to expanding into multi-polar global markets, Henlius continues to push the boundaries of the industry with its multiple driving forces such as innovation and globalization. In 2025, Henlius will remain committed to its core theme of "Collaborate to Create", further powering its innovation engine to accelerate the transformation from technological strength to clinical value. The company aims to drive explosive growth across its innovative pipeline while advancing both technological breakthroughs and international collaboration. Looking ahead, Henlius will continue to write a new chapter for China's biopharmaceutical industry on the global stagebringing Chinese innovation to contribute to the advancement of human health worldwide.

About Henlius

Henlius (2696.HK) is a global biopharmaceutical company with the vision to offer high-quality, affordable and innovative biologic medicines for patients worldwide with a focus on oncology, autoimmune diseases and ophthalmic diseases. Up to date, 6 products have been launched in China, 4 have been approved for marketing in overseas markets, and 5 marketing applications have been accepted for review in China, the U.S. and the EU, respectively. Since its inception in 2010, Henlius has built an integrated biopharmaceutical platform with core capabilities of high-efficiency and innovation embedded throughout the whole product life cycle including R&D, manufacturing and commercialization. It has established global innovation centre and Shanghai-based commercial manufacturing facilities certificated by China, the EU and U.S. GMP.

Henlius has pro-actively built a diversified and high-quality product pipeline covering about 50 molecules and has continued to explore immuno-oncology combination therapies with proprietary HANSIZHUANG (anti-PD-1 mAb) as the backbone. To date, the company's launched products include HANLIKANG (rituximab), the first China-developed biosimilar, HANQUYOU (trastuzumab, trade name: HERCESSI in the U.S., Zercepac in Europe), a China-developed mAb biosimilar approved in China, Europe and U.S., HANDAYUAN (adalimumab), HANBEITAI (bevacizumab), HANSIZHUANG (serplulimab, trade name: Hetronifly in Europe), the world's first anti-PD-1 mAb for the first-line treatment of SCLC, and HANNAIJIA (neratinib). What's more, Henlius has conducted over 30 clinical studies for 19 products, expanding its presence in major markets as well as emerging markets.

SOURCE Henlius
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Jaynes Corporation, one of the largest commercial contractors in the Southwest, has won the prestigious 2025 Associated General Contractors of America Construction Safety Excellence Award (AGC CSEA). Jaynes was awarded 1st place in the competitive Building Division in the 750,000 to 2.5 Million Work Hours category.

The AGC CSEA recognizes construction companies that excel at safety. The AGC award committee scrutinizes companies' commitment to safety, occupational health management, and risk control. Unlike other safety award programs that limit the criteria to frequency rates, the CSEA judging process is more comprehensive, thoroughly examining competitors' management commitment, employee participation, safety training and education programs, work site hazard identification and control, and safety program innovation.

"Jaynes is honored to receive this award, a reflection of our employees' attention to detail," said CEO Shad James. Post this

"Jaynes is honored to receive the AGC Construction Safety Excellence Award. It reflects our employees' hard work and attention to detail," said Shad James, President and CEO of Jaynes . "Safety is a core value for us. The job of ensuring safety never ends, but our Safety Brings You Home program, our training and education efforts, how we value mentorship, and our focus on employee well-being are all part of our ongoing vigilance to ensure every employee gets home safely."

Jaynes' EVP of Operations, Greg Krause , said, "It's exciting to win the CSEA. I think everyone at Jaynes is proud that the efforts at safety and employee well-being we take so seriously are recognized as effective. We are always looking to improve safety, as it's a fact of life in construction that no one can take safety for granted. This award shows that employee safety is fundamental to everything we do."

Management's commitment to safety was a major grading element of the competition. Travis Massegee, Jaynes Corporate Safety Director, states, "Our management team has helped ensure that safety is intertwined with everything we do, from pre-construction planning to project delivery. Safe projects are almost always successful projects that Owners say were efficient and positive. Safety and project success go hand in hand."

Jaynes prioritizes employee safety through a holistic lensthe on-site healthcare clinic, the Industrial Athlete program, continually evolving safety training, project site visits from the Jaynes Safety Team with their ubiquitous Mobile Safety Classroom Trailer, and the value field managers place on mentorship were all important components of Jaynes' win.

"Our focus on safety never ends," CEO James mentions. "The award is great recognition for our team, but tomorrow we go back to work, and the things we learned at this award conference will be analyzed to see how the great safety innovations other competitors presented can make Jaynes even safer."

About Jaynes Corporation

Since 1946, Jaynes has been one of the Southwest's most successful commercial contractors, operating in New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, and Colorado. 100% employee-owned, Jaynes' long-term commitment to safety is evidenced in previous first-place wins in the AGC Construction Safety Excellence Awards competition in 2012 and 2015. To learn more about Jaynes and our capabilities, please visit our website .

SOURCE Jaynes Corporation
- Kia EV3 wins 2025 World Car of the Year title at 2025 World Car Awards

- World Car Awards recognize, reward and inspire automotive excellence and innovation in the rapidly changing mobility industry

- Winners were selected by a highly respected jury of 96 international automotive journalists from 30 nations

- The award highlights Kia's global leadership in the provision of design-led, technologically advanced, sustainable mobility solutions

NEW YORK and SEOUL, South Korea, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kia EV3 has been hailed the outright winner at the 2025 World Car Awards. Revealed during a live announcement at the World Car Awards ceremony at the 2025 New York International Auto Show, the Kia EV3 secured the prestigious title of 2025 World Car of the Year.

Kia EV3 Wins 2025 World Car of the Year

"It is an immense honor for everyone at Kia that the EV3 has been awarded the 2025 World Car of Year title. This award highlights Kia's global leadership in providing design-led, technologically advanced, sustainable mobility solutions and how the EV3's class-leading attributes redefine the user experience for customers worldwide," said Ho Sung Song, President and CEO at Kia.

The 2025 World Car Awards were judged by a panel of 96 highly respected international automotive journalists from 30 countries. The EV3's victory brings Kia's total of wins at the World Car Awards to six since 2020.

What category did the Kia EV3 win at the 2025 World Car Awards?

The Kia EV3 won the following title at the 2025 World Car Awards:

2025 World Car of the Year

What are the Kia EV3's key product features?

The EV3 brings the cutting-edge innovation of Kia's flagship EV9 to a wider audience than ever before, setting new standards in the compact electric vehicle (EV) SUV segment. The EV3 boasts a bold, progressive exterior and an innovative, practical interior that maximizes space, functionality, and comfort.

The EV3 has a segment-leading range of up to 605 km and can charge from 10-80 percent in 31 minutes*, delivering impressive usability. The vehicle's innovative interior design optimizes space, comfort, and accessibility, while Kia's AI Assistant, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and Over-the-Air (OTA) updates enhance the ownership experience with cutting-edge technology.

For more information about the Kia EV3, please visit here.

Previous World Car Awards titles won by Kia

Kia EV9  2024 World Car of the Year

Kia EV9  2024 World Electric Vehicle

Kia EV6 GT  2023 World Performance Car

Kia Telluride  2020 World Car of the Year

Kia Soul EV  2020 World Urban Car

Editor's note:

*Claimed 605 km range and 31-minute charging time apply to the 81.4 kWh version of the EV3 and are based on the standardized WLTP assessment.

For more information, visit the Kia Global Media Center at www.kianewscenter.com

Disclaimer: Kia Corporation believes the information contained herein to be accurate at the time of release. However, the company may upload new or updated information if required and assumes that it is not liable for the accuracy of any information interpreted and used by the reader.

SOURCE Kia Corporation
Positive consolidated net result despite fall in sales to 11.7 billion

Higher profitability of 3.6 percent (EBIT margin) thanks to cost and efficiency improvements

Debt reduced and liquidity ensured

Innovation power unbroken: focus remains on core products for electrification, thermal management and sustainable internal combustion engines

CEO Arnd Franz : "We have stayed on course. Our MAHLE 2030+ strategy is gaining traction and allows us to be profitable despite difficult market conditions."

: "We have stayed on course. Our MAHLE 2030+ strategy is gaining traction and allows us to be profitable despite difficult market conditions." MAHLE expects tougher conditions in 2025 and therefore remains cautious and cost-aware

STUTTGART, Germany, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Automotive supplier MAHLE completed the 2024 financial year with a positive consolidated net result despite difficult market conditions. The operating profit  earnings before interest and tax (EBIT)  rose from 304 million to 423 million compared with the previous year, corresponding to an EBIT margin of 3.6 percent. After eliminating exchange rate and deconsolidation effects, there was an organic fall of 5.6 percent in sales to 11.7 billion.

The main reasons for this development were weak markets in Europe and North America as well as sluggish demand for electric vehicles outside China.

"It is only thanks to hard work that we were able to assert our position in terms of business operations," said Arnd Franz, Chairman of the Group Management Board and CEO, at the company's annual press conference on Tuesday, April 15. "Our MAHLE 2030+ strategy is gaining traction and allows us to be profitable despite difficult market conditions. Our transformation continues to gather pace."

MAHLE has worked consistently to improve its earnings power in many areas. In addition, the company streamlined its portfolio in order to heighten its focus on the strategy areas of electrification, thermal management and efficient, sustainable internal combustion engines.

Through these efforts, MAHLE was able to significantly reduce its debt by 186 million. Thanks to successful refinancing, the liquidity of the group is ensured. In view of tougher market conditions expected among other things as a result of the recently imposed US import tariffs, MAHLE remains cautious and cost-aware for 2025.

Market developments and challenges

"Despite the extremely adverse conditions we faced and the resulting fall in sales, we were able to stabilize our position. This is a success and the result of sustained, consistent transformation work," said Markus Kapaun, Member of the Group Management Board and CFO.

Market developments are reflected in almost all business units. In Thermal Management, MAHLE achieved sales of 4.1 billion. Adjusted for negative exchange rate and deconsolidation effects, this business unit reported an organic fall in sales of 9.9 percent. Sales in the Electronics and Mechatronics Business Unit amounted to 1.3 billion, some 5.7 percent lower than the prior-year figure, adjusted for exchange rate effects. There was also a decline in traditional internal combustion engine business. The Engine Systems and Components Business Unit reported sales of 2.4 billion, 8.0 percent below the prior-year figure adjusted for exchange rate effects. Only the Aftermarket Business Unit recorded growth in sales. The sales figure of 1.3 billion represents a 6.2 percent increase on the prior-year figure adjusted for exchange rate effects, mainly due to organic growth of over 10 percent in the Asia/Pacific region.

Profitability boosted by portfolio streamlining and efficiency measures

Despite the fall in sales, MAHLE succeeded in raising its return on sales to 3.6 percent. The main reason was a consistent streamlining of the portfolio. Among other items, the group sold its share in the Behr-Hella Thermocontrol (BHTC) Joint Venture and its OEM business with thermostats.

Furthermore, MAHLE implemented a comprehensive package of process and efficiency improvement measures in 2024. Sales and administration structures were optimized. The production network was reviewed and further adjusted. Property not required was sold and employee numbers were adjusted to falling sales.

Debt reduced, equity ratio improved

Through these measures, MAHLE was able to significantly reduce its debt by 186 million to 1.2 billion in 2024. The debt ratio, i.e. the ratio of net debt to EBITDA, improved from 1.5 to 1.2. MAHLE safeguarded its liquidity through successful refinancing and can therefore continue its transformation path successfully. For the first time in five years, the equity ratio once again moved upwards, improving to 20.1 percent.

Research and development

In the 2024 financial year, MAHLE invested 630 million in research and development. The R&D investment ratio, referred to sales, was slightly higher than in 2023, at 5.4 percent. In the year under review, MAHLE reported 536 new inventions and 427 new patent applications. These figures highlight the innovative strength of the group and the determination of MAHLE to further reinforce its position as a driver of technological progress in the industry.

Innovations and orders received

The innovation highlight of 2024 was the new bionic high-performance fan. The noise-reducing effect of this fan is so strong that fuel cell and battery electric vehicles are only about half as loud as vehicles with conventional fans during battery charging or at full load. Further innovations were a new evaporative cooling system for fuel cell trucks and the integration of the Superior Continuous Torque electric motor with liquid management in a fully electrified drive axle for heavy trucks.

The consistent focus on innovations paid dividends. In the 2024 financial year, MAHLE recorded new orders with a total volume of 10.3 billion across all three strategy areas, powertrain types and vehicle classes. MAHLE received an order for a thermal management module with a volume of 1.2 billion, the largest single order in the history of the company to date. Further new orders covered battery cooling systems and electric compressors with a total volume in excess of 1 billion.

MAHLE remains on track with the implementation of its group strategy MAHLE 2030+. A key growth market is China, where the company already cooperates with all international vehicle and engine manufacturers as well as key Chinese OEMs. MAHLE sees growth prospects for its electrification and thermal management offerings especially in the field of New Energy Vehicles (NEV).

New group structure and new business fields

At the end of the year under review MAHLE initiated a new group organization. The company has merged business units in order to strengthen the future- oriented areas of electrification and thermal management in industrial and structural terms and has also slimmed down its Management Board. The streamlined group structure will make internal cooperation faster and more efficient and lay the foundation for establishing a high-performance future-proof production network. In addition, the regions will be strengthened.

With the development of holistic solutions connected with mobility and the vehicle life cycle, the Lifecycle and Mobility Business Unit will be a cornerstone of MAHLE's growth and earnings. The group sees considerable potential for growth in non-automotive business, especially in view of its expertise in thermal management and compact electric motors as well as its broad-based technology portfolio.

Sustainability strategy achieves successes

For the first time, MAHLE reached the "A list" of the independent organization Carbon Disclosure Project. Thanks to the consistent reduction of carbon dioxide emissions in production, the upstream supply chain and the utilization phase of its products, the group is among the best companies in the automotive industry. With the figure of 47 percent which has already been reached, MAHLE is well on track to achieve its goal of a 49 percent reduction in Scope 1 and 2 CO2 emissions by 2030.

(Geo-) political and economic conditions must be right

Looking at the current financial year, MAHLE CEO Arnd Franz referred to conditions that had become tougher. "In addition to the challenges in connection with the transformation of our industry which has been made significantly more difficult in Europe through a lack of commitment to technological diversity, we are now faced by massive burdens as a result of the import tariffs recently imposed by the USA on all imports. As a globally active company committed to free and fair trade, we cannot understand this trade policy." He said that the tariffs would place a massive burden on automotive supply chains and result in cost increases for the automotive industry and in the final resort to higher costs for consumers. Franz appealed to politicians to negotiate sustainable solutions in order to avoid these burdens.

The MAHLE CEO welcomed the accelerated review of CO2 regulation announced by the EU Commission and once again called for a clear commitment to technological diversity. "In Europe and Germany, two thirds of our jobs depend on the internal combustion engine. This technology offers five times as many jobs as e-mobility. For this reason, we need to take an honest approach to the question of how we intend to shape the path to carbon neutrality effectively in political and industrial terms  not only with respect to climate protection but also with respect to employment and social policies."

He added that the transformation of the automotive industry and MAHLE would be shaped by economic policy and regulatory decisions. MAHLE would only be able to create jobs again when there had been a sustained improvement in economic and political conditions.

Key figures compared with the previous year



2023 2024 Sales ( million) 12,818 11,681 EBIT ( million) 304 423 EBIT margin (percent) 2.4 3.6 Consolidated net profit ( million) 26 22 Equity ( million) 1,611 1,548 Headcount1 (number of people) 72,373 67,708

1 as at December 31

The 2024 annual report is available on the MAHLE website at https://annualreport.mahle.com/en .

About MAHLE

MAHLE is a leading international development partner and supplier to the automotive industry with customers in both passenger car and commercial vehicle sectors. Founded in 1920, the technology group is working on the climate-neutral mobility of tomorrow, with a focus on the strategic areas of electrification and thermal management as well as further technologies to reduce carbon emissions, such as fuel cells or highly efficient, clean combustion engines that also run on renewable fuels, such as hydrogen. Today, one in every two vehicles globally is equipped with MAHLE components.

MAHLE generated sales of 11.7 billion in 2024. Employing just under 68,000 people at 135 production locations and 11 technology centers, the company is represented in 28 countries. (as at: 12/31/2024)

#weshapefuturemobility

SOURCE MAHLE Group
LONDON, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Markel, the insurance operations within Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL), today announced it has entered into an agreement to purchase The MECO Group Limited (MECO), subject to regulatory approval.

Founded in 1974, MECO is a leading, independent specialist marine managing general agent (MGA) based out of London, Dubai and Shanghai. It specialises in providing marine insurance products and services to a diverse range of global marine clients, including charterers and traders, shipowners and entities engaged in maritime operations and global supply chains. It wrote US$63 million GWP in 2024.

MECO provides coverage through its three core insurance brands  The Charterers P&I Club, Transmarine, Aurora P&I and offers complementary legal services through its law firm True North. Its insurance business brings in-depth expertise of underwriting several specialist marine classes that are complementary to Markel's existing marine business, including charterers P&I; freight, defence and demurrage; trade disruption; loss of hire; strikes delay; small vessels owners' P&I; contractual extension liabilities; as well as ancillary marine insurance products.

"This agreement presents a unique opportunity to strengthen our marine footprint and capabilities with new products, complementary services and client relationships in the fast-growing Asia-Pacific economies as well as in Europe," said Andrew McMellin, Managing Director of Wholesale  International, at Markel. "MECO will integrate into Markel but will continue to operate utilising its existing core insurance brands, leveraging Markel's capabilities to build on existing successful relationships in its core regions. The evident synergies between our two companies will allow us to provide a more comprehensive and competitive offering for clients."

Chris Else, Chief Executive of MECO, commented: "We're excited to be joining forces with Markel. Today's announcement marks a new chapter for MECO, our colleagues and clients, as we continue to expand on the strong foundations we've built in many key markets over the past 50 years. There are clear strategic and cultural similarities between the two businesses. Ensuring MECO will continue operating its brands within Markel International recognises the value of our team and provides lasting benefit to clients."

About Markel

We are Markel, a leading global specialty insurer with a truly people-first approach. As the insurance operations within Markel Group Inc. (NYSE: MKL), we operate the Markel Specialty, Markel International, and Markel Global Reinsurance divisions. Our broad array of capabilities and expertise allow us to create intelligent solutions for the most complex risk management needs. However, it is our peopleand the deep, valued relationships they develop with colleagues, brokers and clientsthat differentiates us worldwide.

About MECO

We are the MECO Group, a specialist marine insurance MGA that celebrated its 50th Anniversary last year. Founded in London in 1974, the Group now operates across three key hubs in London, Dubai and Shanghai. Headquartered in London, the MECO Group is owned and controlled by its executive board. We are a service-based business that offers clients the best of both worlds, first-rate insurance security, backed by an experienced and knowledgeable team of specialists that is professional, dedicated and trusted.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2090808/Markel_primary_logo_Logo.jpg
IRVINE, Calif., April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Mazda North American Operations is pleased to announce that the Mazda CX-90 PHEV has been honored as the 2025 Best Plug-In Hybrid SUV by U.S. News & World Reportan esteemed accolade within the annual Best Hybrid and Electric Car Awards program.

The Mazda CX-90 PHEV has been honored as the 2025 Best Plug-In Hybrid SUV by U.S. News & World Report.

"These awards recognize efficiency, but the vehicles also have to be excellent all around. The CX-90 PHEV gives you all of the style, family-friendliness and economy of the gas-only version, plus 26 miles of electric range and a little more off-the-line pep," says Alex Kwanten, managing editor of Autos for U.S. News & World Report. "Plus, unlike some other plug-in hybrids, it drives quite well in pure EV mode."

Mazda's commitment to engineering excellence is on full display in the CX-90 PHEV; delivering an optimal blend of quality, efficiency, and value. The vehicle combines an electrified powertrain with innovative design and advanced technologies that consistently elevate driving performance. It offers the dynamic flexibility to operate solely on electric power or seamlessly transition to a combined gasoline-electric mode, ensuring both remarkable efficiency and robust acceleration when needed. This impressive balance of power and efficiency not only contributes to its superior EPA fuel economy figures but also reinforces Mazda's reputation for delivering sophisticated performance without compromising on driving enjoyment or everyday usability.

"Mazda's focus has always been on engineering vehicles that are safe and efficient, while not sacrificing the joy of driving. With the CX-90 PHEV, we've struck a strong balance between performance and value, and this recognition by U.S. News & World Report is both an honor and an affirmation of our efforts," said MNAO President and CEO Tom Donnelly. "We sincerely thank them for this award and remain dedicated to delivering innovation that meets our customers' needs."

To learn more about the advanced CX-90 PHEV technology at Mazda, please visit the MazdaUSA.com website  Mazda USA Newsroom - Vehicles | Mazda USA News.

U.S. News & World Report is a multifaceted digital media company dedicated to helping consumers, business leaders, and policy officials make informed decisions by leveraging world-class data and technology for independent reporting, rankings and expert advice. For more information, visit https://www.usnews.com.

About Mazda North American Operations

Proudly founded in Hiroshima, Japan, Mazda has a history of sophisticated craftsmanship and innovation, and a purpose to enrich life-in-motion for those it serves. By putting humans at the center of everything it does, Mazda aspires to create uplifting experiences with our vehicles and for people. Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Colombia through approximately 795 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada Inc. in Richmond Hill, Ontario; operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City; and operations in Colombia are managed by Mazda de Colombia in Bogota, Colombia. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at news.mazdausa.com.

Follow @MazdaUSA on social media: Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and Threads.

SOURCE Mazda North American Operations
DUBLIN, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Medius, a leading provider of AP Automation and Spend Management solutions, has today announced the appointment of John Seery as its Chief Technology Officer (CTO), reinforcing its commitment to accelerating innovation through AI and driving long-term customer value.

Based in Dublin, Seery will be responsible for driving greater efficiencies within Medius's technology stack and ensuring the company continues to implement innovative use of intelligent capabilities including artificial intelligence and machine learning in its product offerings. Seery will be integral in delivering value for customers through solutions that meet Medius' ambitions of empowering finance teams to transform their spend, create value, drive strategic decisions and shape the financial future of their organizations.

Seery brings nearly three decades of software engineering and technology leadership experience, having held senior roles at Creditsafe, Dun & Bradstreet, and IBM. His expertise spans scaling global teams, leading enterprise cloud migrations, and building secure, compliant, and agile technology environments. These capabilities will be pivotal as Medius strengthens its position as a digitally mature, innovation-driven fintech.

John Seery, Chief Technology Officer, Medius, comments, "Leading the maintenance and improvement of Medius' solutions and technology strategy will be integral to growing talent, meeting business goals, and boosting customer satisfaction. I am excited to lead Medius in its automation and artificial intelligence strategic journey, to drive value for our customers, while forming a strong digital approach internally to help us find efficiencies and opportunities for optimisation."

Jim Lucier, CEO, Medius, comments, "John's appointment as Chief Technology Officer is integral to our innovation goals here at Medius as we look to advance our AI position this year. John's established global leadership experience and technical expertise will be invaluable in ensuring our internal and external technology systems are well prepared to meet our wider business ambitions."

For more information, please contact:

Dan Bird, Fight or Flight for Medius

[email protected] +44 7885 670798

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com.

https://news.cision.com/medius/r/medius-welcomes-john-seery-as-chief-technology-officer-to-drive-next-generation-innovation,c4137083

SOURCE Medius
Latest launch expands REFLEX portfolio with additional options to deliver dynamic biplanar compression

NORTHFIELD, Ill., April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Medline UNITE, a leader in the foot and ankle surgery market, announced today it has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its latest implant family, the REFLEX HYBRID Nitinol Implant System.

Medline UNITE's REFLEX HYBRID Nitinol Implant System

While nitinol staples have steadily risen in popularity, static plates and screws are widely used in conjunction with staples to provide added fixation and stability. A key disadvantage of such hybrid constructs is the inherent neutralization of compression caused by the addition of static devices such as locking plates and cannulated screws. REFLEX HYBRID combines the compression of a nitinol staple with the stability of a locking plate, offering indication-specific implants designed for MTP fusions and Lapidus procedures. When paired with a cannulated screw with a Dynamic Disc, or a REFLEX nitinol staple, the construct provides dynamic biplanar compression and fixation for a fully dynamic construct.

"REFLEX HYBRID further demonstrates our commitment to offering innovative solutions for foot and ankle surgeons. The first to market product addresses gaps in the current competitive landscape, including offering indication specific designs, intraoperative compression, and intraoperative adjustment with a nitinol implant," said Scott Goldstein, vice president of product management for Medline UNITE.

The system includes an innovative inserter that allows the surgeon to expand the implant's legs for a streamlined technique. Because both of the implant's legs are on the same side of the joint, the surgeon has the flexibility to adjust the placement of the implant, which is not possible with other nitinol solutions on the market.

"In addition to speed and efficiency, many surgeons have adopted nitinol staples because they provide dynamic compression after implantation and throughout the healing phase. However, staples do not allow the surgeon to achieve compression at the joint prior to deployment of the staple. With REFLEX HYBRID, the surgeon can drill eccentrically through the implant's compression ramp and place a non-locking screw to gain additional compression at the joint before deploying the compressive power of the nitinol implant," said Natan Pheil, director of product development for Medline UNITE.

Jonathon Backus, MD of the Steadman Clinic in Vail, CO conducted extensive testing comparing a REFLEX HYBRID and cannulated screw construct to traditional titanium plate and screw, and nitinol staple and screw constructs. "Biomechanical testing results showed using a HYBRID implant with a screw provides a statistically significant better load to failure and gapping at failure result than a traditional titanium plate and screw construct. Historically, nitinol constructs have not performed better than traditional plate and screw constructs with such testing," said Dr. Backus. Not related to this testing, Dr. Backus has received an investigator-initiated study research grant from Medline.

Learn more about the complete Medline UNITE portfolio at www.medlineunite.com. Stay up to date on the latest developments by following the Medline UNITE Foot & Ankle LinkedIn page.

About Medline

Medline is the largest provider of medical-surgical products and supply chain solutions serving all points of care. Through its broad product portfolio, resilient supply chain and leading clinical solutions, Medline helps healthcare providers improve their clinical, financial and operational outcomes. Headquartered in Northfield, Illinois, the company employs more than 43,000 people worldwide and operates in more than 100 countries and territories. To learn more about how Medline makes healthcare run better, visit www.medline.com.

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SOURCE Medline Industries, LP
Launched nationally in New York City's SoHo district on March 13th, the event drew a packed audience of creatives, industry luminaries, and fragrance aficionados. Travaulya Wallace, a leading voice in the fragrance world, remarked, "The Brooklyn Circus x Memoir collaboration with Baptiste found its perfect stage on Canal Street, where fragrance became a bridgeconnecting energy, fashion, and friendships in celebration of creativity."

Memoir Fragrances founder Terrance Pratt shared the inspiration behind the collaboration: "The Brooklyn Circus is a phenomenal brand with a clear point of view, a beautiful aesthetic, and quality craftsmanship. We wanted to honor that tradition through scent by developing something sophisticated, timeless, and undeniably beautiful. Notes of leather and suede pay homage to The Brooklyn Circus' iconic varsity jacket heritage while also nodding to Jean Baptiste Point du Sable's role as a fur trader and pioneer."

Ouigi Theodore, founder and creative director of The Brooklyn Circus, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership: "Baptiste is a narrative woven in scent, celebrating the spirit of discovery, resilience, and artistry that defines both our brands. Collaborating with Memoir Fragrances allowed us to translate our visual storytelling into an experience that pays homage to history while embracing modern elegance."

Following its grand debut in New York, the Baptiste launch tour will make stops in Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Atlanta throughout March and April, inviting fragrance enthusiasts to experience this unique blend firsthand.

Website URL: memoirfragrances.com / thebkcircus.com

SOURCE rolling out; Memior Fragrances
Torres brings Investment and Tech Expertise from Goldman Sachs, Ulu Ventures, Uber, and Google to Drive Operational Scale and Strategic Growth across portfolio companies

ATLANTA, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Open Opportunity Fund, a venture capital firm investing in B2B software companies, announced today that Nancy Torres has joined the firm as Senior Vice President of Value Creation. In this newly created role, Torres will lead value creation initiativesacross the firm's portfolio, supporting founders with operational strategy, growth acceleration, and organizational scale.

Nancy Torres

Torres brings over a decade of experience spanning business operations and finance with high-growth technology companies. She most recently served as Venture Partner at Visible Handsand Partner at Ulu Ventures. Previously, she held roles at Goldman Sachs in Technology Investment Banking, Uber in Business Development, and Google as a Data and Research Analyst. Across her career, Torres has helped software and internet startups scale, advisingfounders from seed-stage to IPO and driving multi-million-dollar partnerships and transactions.

"Nancy's unique combination of operational depth and investment expertise makes her a powerful addition to our team," said Shaka Rasheed, General Partner of Open Opportunity Fund. "Her experience scaling high-growth companies will be a tremendous asset to our portfolio as we continue to support teams navigating key inflection points."

"I'm thrilled to join Open Opportunity Fund and partner with companies solving complex problems with innovative, disruptive technologies," said Nancy Torres. "I look forward to supporting our founders during their critical growth phases, helping them transform promising innovations into industry-defining, sustainable businesses that create lasting value."

Torres holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, where she was recognized as a Toigo Fellow and MLT Fellow. She also earned a Master's in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School, as a Center for Public Leadership Fellow. Her undergraduate degree in Business Administration is from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is a Kauffman Fellow and the co-founder of the Latinx MBA Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting over 2,000 Latino business leaders across the country.

At Open Opportunity Fund, value creation goes beyond providing capital. The firm partners closely with founders to help them solve key operational challenges, hire and retain top talent, refine go-to-market strategies, and prepare for future fundraising and scale. By offering hands-on support at critical inflection points, the value creation team plays a key role in helpingportfolio companies build enduring, high-growth businesses.

"Nancy brings operational strength and investment expertise that will elevate our portfolio and platform," said Paul Judge, Managing Partner of Open Opportunity Fund. "We're excited to have her on board as we continue backing bold founders building the future of tech."

"At Open Opportunity Fund, we're focused on building a firm that delivers meaningful support beyond capital," added Marcelo Claure, Vice Chairman and General Partner of Open Opportunity Fund. "Strengthening our value creation platform is a key part of that vision, and Nancy's leadership helps take it to the next level."

For more information about Open Opportunity Fund, visit www.theopportunityfund.com .

For media and interview requests, please contact [email protected]

About Open Opportunity Fund

Open Opportunity Fund is a technology investment firm focused on investing in software companies. Open Opportunity Fund's portfolio spans enterprise IT, artificial intelligence, fintech, and digital health sectors. Opportunity Fund 1 is a $100 million fund. The firm has invested in 75 tech companies, including Atomic, Brex, Cityblock Health, Eight Sleep, Esusu, Lumu, Paystand, QuickNode, and Subject. The fund has achieved seven portfolio company exits. In 2023, theteam led by Paul Judge and Marcelo Claure acquired the Fund from SoftBank and announced Fund 2 with a $200 million target to continue to execute the thesis.

SOURCE Open Opportunity Fund
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) is hosting an #NCCNPolicy Summit on how primary care and oncology care providers can coordinate better to improve treatment and outcomes.

WASHINGTON, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ --

What :

The summit will provide perspectives from patients, advocates, providers, payers, and other experts on the role of primary care practitioners in cancer prevention, treatment, and survivorship. Speakers will focus on how to strengthen collaboration between primary care and oncology. The program will also include breakout sessions and a fireside chat.

"The best way to 'treat' cancer is to prevent it from occurring in the first place..." Learn more at NCCN.org/summits. Post this Visit NCCN.org/summits to learn more and register for the upcoming NCCN Oncology Policy Summit: Primary Care and Oncology Collaboration to Improve Patient Outcomes.

"The best way to 'treat' cancer is to prevent it from occurring in the first place," according to Alyssa Schatz, DrPH, MSW, Vice President of Policy and Advocacy for NCCN. "After that, the best option is to detect cancer as early as possible and provide optimal, guideline-adherent care based on the best available evidence, patient preferences, and expert consensus. Primary care physicians play a crucial role in advancing cancer prevention and long-term survival, but our healthcare systems often don't facilitate streamlined collaborations across specialties. This summit will explore the current policy and practice landscape and identify opportunities to improve primary care and oncology collaborations."

Where :

The National Press Club  13th Floor

529 14th Street NW, Washington, D.C.

*** Virtual Attendance Also Available ***

When :

Tuesday, May 6, 2024, 9:25 am  3:00 pm EDT

(Breakfast begins at 8:30 am for in-person attendees)

Speakers will Include :

David Garcia , PhD, FACSM, Associate Professor, Health Promotion Sciences, Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona , Director , Zuckerman Family Center for Prevention and Health Promotion, Director, Nosotros Comprometidos A Su Salud



Associate Professor, Health Promotion Sciences, Director Director, Larissa Nekhlyudov, MD, MPH, General Internist/Primary Care Physician, Dana Farber Cancer Institute/Brigham and Women's Hospital



General Internist/Primary Care Physician, Linda Overholser , MD, Internal Medicine, University of Colorado Cancer Center



Internal Medicine, Veronika Panagiotou , PhD, Director of Advocacy and Programs, National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship



Director of Advocacy and Programs, Andrea Porpiglia , MD, MSC, FACS, Surgical Oncologist, Fox Chase Cancer Center



Surgical Oncologist, Stephanie Quinn , Senior VP, External Affairs and Practice Experience, American Academy of Family Physicians



Senior VP, External Affairs and Practice Experience, Dorothy Rhoades , MD, MPH, Director, Native American Center for Cancer Health Excellence



Director, Candice Roth , MSN, RN CENP, Executive Director, Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators



Executive Director, Asal Sayas , Former White House Senior Advisor on Health Outcomes, Biden Administration



Former White House Senior Advisor on Health Outcomes, Skyler Taylor , MD, Hematology/Oncology Fellow, The Mayo Clinic

Visit NCCN.org/summits for the full agenda and to register. Members of the media are welcome to contact Rachel Darwin at [email protected] for complimentary press registration.

About the National Comprehensive Cancer Network

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) is marking 30 years as a not-for-profit alliance of leading cancer centers devoted to patient care, research, and education. NCCN is dedicated to defining and advancing quality, effective, equitable, and accessible cancer care and prevention so all people can live better lives. The NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) provide transparent, evidence-based, expert consensus-driven recommendations for cancer treatment, prevention, and supportive services; they are the recognized standard for clinical direction and policy in cancer management and the most thorough and frequently-updated clinical practice guidelines available in any area of medicine. The NCCN Guidelines for Patients provide expert cancer treatment information to inform and empower patients and caregivers, through support from the NCCN Foundation. NCCN also advances continuing education, global initiatives, policy, and research collaboration and publication in oncology. Visit NCCN.org for more information.

Media Contact: Rachel Darwin

267-622-6624 | [email protected]

SOURCE National Comprehensive Cancer Network
"These stamps celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation and pay tribute to the heroes who fought and sacrificed for American independence," said Judy de Torok, the Postal Service's corporate affairs vice president, who served as the stamps' dedicating official. "We are proud to partner with the National Park Service to commemorate and honor the enduring legacy of these historic battlefields."

"The National Park Service is honored to host the U.S. Postal Service's first-day-of-issue ceremony for the Battlefields of the American Revolution stamps," said Simone Monteleone, Minute Man National Historical Park superintendent. "Having the ceremony at the site of the opening battle of the American Revolution provides another opportunity for visitors to participate in the 250th anniversary."

Other participants at the ceremony were Paul O'Shaughnessy, master of ceremonies and Friends of Minute Man National Park board president; Kerry Lafleur, Concord, MA, town manager; Steve Bartha, Lexington, MA, town manager; Lt. Col. Geoffrey Love, Massachusetts National Guard historical services director and curator of its museum; Donald Hafner, historian, author and former Boston College professor; Liza Stearns, National Parks of Boston deputy superintendent; and Lauren Roberts, Saratoga County, NY, historian and Saratoga 250th American Revolution Commission chair.

News about the stamp is being shared on social media using the hashtag #BattlefieldsStamps.

Background

On farm fields and town greens, along countryside byways and city lanes, the people of a new nation  some famous, others forever unknown  committed their lives to American independence. As the United States prepares to commemorate its 250th anniversary next year, the Postal Service honors the battlefields where so many sacrificed to make independence possible.

With photographs and historic sites alongside dramatic illustrations of pivotal moments in the American Revolution, this pane of stamps focuses on five turning points in the war: the battles of Lexington and Concord, Bunker Hill, Trenton, Saratoga and Yorktown.

Many of the places and buildings associated with these battles have been preserved or restored as museums, monuments, and national, state, or local parks. As part of the multiyear celebration of America's 250th birthday, the Postal Service hopes these stamps will inspire the public to visit these and other sites from the Revolutionary era and contemplate the long threads of history that connect us to the first generation of Americans.

Stamp Design

The pane of 15 stamps is arranged in five rows, with each row dedicated to one of the five battles. Each row features a photograph of a site linked to the battle, complemented by a watercolor illustration depicting a scene from that battle.

The Battle of Lexington and Concord is represented by a modern photograph of the Old North Bridge and an illustration showing American militia members retaking the bridge from the withdrawing British on April 19, 1775.

The Battle of Bunker Hill is represented by an illustration showing the second British assault on Breed's Hill on June 17, 1775, from the perspective of the defending Americans, alongside a photograph of the Bunker Hill Monument in modern-day Boston.

The Battle of Trenton is represented by a recent photograph showing the Old Barracks Museum, which housed Hessian and British soldiers in Trenton, NJ, before the Dec. 26, 1776, battle, and an illustration showing George Washington and some of his officers during their daring crossing of the Delaware River prior to the battle.

The Battle of Saratoga is represented by an illustration showing British Lt. Gen. John Burgoyne handing his sword as a symbol of surrender to Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates on Oct. 17, 1777, with men from both sides looking on. Alongside the illustration is a modern photograph of a replica of a British howitzer on the lawn of the visitors' center at Saratoga National Historical Park in Stillwater, NY.

The Battle of Yorktown is represented by a modern photograph of two British defenses taken by Americans and their French allies during the autumn 1781 siege in Virginia and reconstructed by the National Park Service  Redoubt 9 in the foreground and Redoubt 10 in the background. Alongside the photograph is an illustration depicting the formal surrender of the British on Oct. 19, 1781.

The title "Battlefields of the American Revolution" appears at the top of the stamp pane. The names and dates of each battle, which encompass the dates of the two British surrenders, appear on the selvage to the right of each row of stamps. In the top right corner of the selvage are the opening words of the first pamphlet in Thomas Paine's series, "The American Crisis." Published in December 1776, the pamphlet was read aloud to George Washington's troops on Dec. 23, 1776, three days before the Battle of Trenton. Inspired to write "The American Crisis" by low civilian morale and the grim state of the Colonial army that winter, Paine hoped to bolster American resolve. He had previously written "Common Sense," a pamphlet that decried monarchy and made a clear and forceful case for American independence.

Derry Noyes, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps, with illustrations by Greg Harlin and photographs by Jon Bilous, Richard Lewis, Tom Morris, Gregory J. Parker and Kevin Stewart.

The Battlefields of the American Revolution stamps are being issued as Forever stamps and will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce rate.

A video about the stamps will be posted after today's event on the Postal Service's Facebook page at facebook.com/USPS and on X, formerly known as Twitter, at x.com/usps.

Postal Products

Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic or at Post Office locations nationwide. For officially licensed stamp products, shop the USPS Officially Licensed Collection on Amazon. Additional information on stamps, first-day-of-issue ceremonies and stamp-inspired products can be found at StampsForever.com.

Please Note: The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to 169 million addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is implementing a 10-year transformation plan, Delivering for America, to modernize the postal network, restore long-term financial sustainability, dramatically improve service across all mail and shipping categories, and maintain the organization as one of America's most valued and trusted brands.

The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

For USPS media resources, including broadcast-quality video and audio and photo stills, visit the USPS Newsroom. Follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter; Instagram; Pinterest; Threads; and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the USPS YouTube Channel and like us on Facebook. For more information about the Postal Service, visit usps.com and facts.usps.com.

National contact: Albert Ruiz

[email protected]

Local contact: Steve Doherty

[email protected]

usps.com/news

SOURCE U.S. Postal Service
TOLEDO, Ohio, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- New Story Schools, a leading provider of educational and therapeutic services for children with autism and other special needs, is proud to announce the opening of its newest location in Toledo, Ohio. This expansion reflects New Story Schools' ongoing commitment to making high-quality, individualized education more accessible to families across the state.

Located on a 2-acre lot, the brand-new school offers over 15,000 square feet of thoughtfully designed space to support a wide range of learning and developmental needs. The facility will feature 15 classrooms, along with a variety of specialty spaces, including a sensory gym, a life skills room to support functional independence, multiple therapy rooms for individualized services, a game room to foster social interaction, and a gross motor skill area to encourage physical development. An outdoor playground is also planned, providing students with opportunities for inclusive and active play.

The Toledo location will also offer a comprehensive range of services designed to support the unique needs of each student. These include Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), speech therapy, and counseling, as well as assessments such as the Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills (ABLLS) and the Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program (VB-MAPP). The school will also provide behavioral consultation and individualized intervention plans, all delivered by a dedicated team of educators and clinicians.

"Our goal is always to meet students where they are and help them grow into the best versions of themselves," said Dr. Jill Blanchard, Senior Vice President at New Story Ohio. "We've designed this Toledo location to feel like a second homesafe, welcoming, and full of opportunities for learning and connection. As someone who was born and raised here, it's especially meaningful to bring our services to Toledo. We're not just opening a schoolwe're planting roots and building lasting partnerships in a community we're proud to be part of."

The new Toledo campus will begin enrolling students for the upcoming school year. For more information, please visit newstoryschools.com

About New Story Schools

New Story Schools provides an environment where students with special needs receive personalized support to achieve their full potential. With a focus on academic, behavioral, and social growth, New Story Schools partners with families and school districts to offer specialized programs tailored to each student's unique needs. Through a team of dedicated educators and therapists, New Story Schools is committed to empowering students and fostering success in both school and life. New Story Schools is part of the New Story network of schools and services.

SOURCE New Story Schools
News / Regional

by Gideon Madzikatidze recently in Filabusi

Parents are up in arms with Ekusileni Secondary School headmistress in Filabusi, with some threatening to withdraw and transfer learners from the Catholic-run mixed (boarders and day learners) institution following alleged gross financial mismanagement, duplication of responsibilities, corruption and unprofessional conduct.The discord came in the wake of the headmistress parallel appointment of School Development Committee (SDC) members, withdraw and squander money and divert funds without knowledge of other relevant stakeholders, among other issues.Speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of their children's victimisation, one parent reported that Sister Monica Mariya Dube opted to choose her own SDC without the knowledge, consultation and approval from parents."Our concerns over Ekusileni Secondary School head, Sr Monica range from abuse of funds, powers and making unilateral decisions. The Ekusileni Secondary School in Filabis is a pale shadow of what it was," the parent said."As one of the oldest mission schools in the country which is run by the Roman Catholic Church, the school is run like a backyard kitchen. There is no tender procedure for procurement as Sr Monica Dube overrides the SDC and parents," the parent said."When parents raise issues on the school Whatsapp group she responds like she is not even a WOMAN Of GOD. You may think there is no school SDC at the school but as parents we ended up finding that the SDC was not respected and Sr Monica would do things like withdrawing money and buying things without SDC consent," the parent said.Another parent from the school claimed that what angered (US) them as parents is that on 1 March 2025, they had an Annual General Meeting (AFM) where they were impressed by the progress the SDC had done at the school."For the first time the school has Form 5 and the SDC also has bought a bus. So we nominated the same committee members and resolved that they continue for a second term as they had done well," the parent said."To our surprise, a week later Sr Monica posted on the group saying we are going to do elections on the Whatsapp group. We wondered if such had ever happened. We objected and told her that we elected the same committee to continue but because she did not want the committee because it had stood its ground against her corruption, the committee became unpopular with her such that she was determined to see them go," the parent added."Seeing that people were determined to have the old committee continue, she said only Catholics should raise hands on the Whatsapp group and only four people did. To our surprise two weeks later, we saw her posting names of a new committee saying day scholars had met and elected a new committee in Filabusi," the parent disclosed."This therefore means that us, as parents of boarding learners, we are not represented in the committee. And our question is, how is it possible that day scholars hold a meeting on their own and conduct an election at a meeting that is not announced to everyone and not meeting quorum," the parent quizzed."As parents we do not recognise the committee that she has put because we have it in good authority that Sr Monica mobilized some parents from villagers around the school and put them in the committee because she knows she will control them. We want her to answer some questions on how many day scholars are at the school to be able to wholly represent boarders?," the parent asked."Why would a committee be elected without parents being told?, Why is she ignoring resolutions made at the AGM and elect a committee at a meeting that is not an AGM? Is the school now for Catholics only and if so, should we withdraw our children?," the parent further raised questions."We also need to know why she disrespects SDC and why does she withdraw money without SDC consent and does not follow resolutions of the SDC? Also, why there is no procurement committee at the school and where do finance records for 2024 as there are no audits and why did we have the ones which were just presented from a handwritten paper with questionable expenditures," the parent queried.The parents further appealed that the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission officials investigate the headmistress and two other Roman Catholic male teachers at the institution for their conduct.When contacted for a comment, Sr Monica could neither deny nor confirm any misconduct, but referred all questions to the District School Inspector."May you kindly get hold of the DSI. The DSI knows everything and the best is to talk to those in authority," Sr Monica said.However the DSI, one Tshili denied knowing any school by that name despite being the responsible education authority."I neither know the school nor received any information of such kind. Is it a Primary or Secondary school?," Tshili questioned.Under the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Bulawayo's authority, the Archdiocese invoked its traditional way of running its schools and the school has been taken over by AMR Sisters to improve standards and restore dignity and image.Enrolment and pass rates had gone down but the school was put in the hands of the AMR with Sr Monica Mariya Dube as the head in anticipation her leadership would turn around everyone's fortunes.
MUSCAT, Oman, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Sultanate of Oman's recent credit rating affirmation at BBB- with a positive outlook by Standard & Poor's (March 2025) reflects the government's effective fiscal consolidation efforts and improved economic management. A key contributor to this achievement is Oman Investment Authority (OIA), the country's sovereign wealth fund, which since assuming oversight of state-owned companies under the National Development Fund in 2020, has implemented robust governance reforms and targeted debt reduction strategies. These measures strengthened the financial positions of portfolio companies, directly contributing to Oman's enhanced credit profile and overall financial resilience.

Oman Investment Authority

OIA successfully reduced the aggerate debt of its subsidiaries from USD 29.64 billion in 2021 to USD 23.92 billion by the end of Q3 2024. A notable example is OQ Group, Oman's integrated energy company, which achieved a credit rating upgrade that led to a marked improvement in its net debt-to-profit ratio, enhancing both its financial efficiency and long-term sustainability. In parallel, OIA renegotiated loan terms with banking partners to secure more cost-effective and flexible financing structures, further reinforcing the operational resilience of its portfolio.

OIA also significantly reduced reliance on government guarantees to enhance the financial independence and governance of its key subsidiaries. Guarantees extended to major companies such as OQ Group, Asyad Group, Oman's logistics provider, and Nama, Oman's primary provider of electricity, water and wastewater services, were reduced from USD 8.32 billion in 2021 to USD 4.68 billion by 2024, with no new guarantees issued since. In addition, Duqm Refinery and Petrochemical Industries Company (OQ8) recently passed the Lenders Reliability Test (LRT) enabling it to unlock over USD 2 billion in shareholder guarantees. This decisive shift has lowered fiscal risk for the government and signaled a new era of accountability, encouraging companies to leverage their own financial strength and drive future growth.

OIA has also further strengthened transparency across its portfolio by mandating financial performance disclosure across its portfolio. Simultaneously, strategic partnerships have attracted foreign investment into priority sectors, contributing to stronger foreign currency reserves.

These collective initiatives demonstrate OIA's commitment to Oman Vision 2040 by reinforcing confidence in the Omani economy and supporting long-term sustainability. They also position the Sultanate of Oman as a trusted and competitive investment destination.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2666768/OIA_HQ.jpg

Contact:

Al Yaqdhan Ali Al Abri

Senior Officer - Strategic Communication

Tel: +968 24745659

[email protected]
Organic Valley Promotes Two Women to Executive Leadership and Introduces New Transformation Role

LA FARGE, Wis., April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Organic Valley is proud to announce the promotion of two accomplished women to its executive team and the creation of a new chief transformation officer role. These changes reinforce Organic Valley's commitment to developing leadership from within and ensuring strategic succession planning for the cooperative's future. The combined tenure of these leaders at Organic Valley exceeds 50 years, reaffirming the strength and continuity of cooperative principles during the UN's 2025 Year of Cooperatives.

Left to Right: Cheree Tauschek, EVP of Membership; Jerry McGeorge, Chief Transformation Officer; Kimberly Turnmire, EVP of People

Cheree Tauschek Promoted to Executive Vice President of Membership

Organic Valley is thrilled to announce Cheree Tauschek as the new executive vice president of membership. With a successful history of building high-performing teams and tackling complex challenges, Tauschek has been instrumental in driving Organic Valley's success. Her unwavering commitment and exceptional leadership have consistently shone through.

Tauschek joined Organic Valley in 2010 as a customer service representative. Over the years, Tauschek has held a variety of roles with increasing responsibilities, most recently serving as the vice president of customer experience within the commercial team, where she set the direction for the cooperative's customer experience strategy and managed methods to improve customer satisfaction. Tauschek also played a key role in the cooperative's ERP system change, adding her expertise and leadership to steering committees continuing to refine the project.

Kimberly Turnmire Steps into Role of EVP of People

Organic Valley is also promoting Kimberly Turnmire to executive vice president of people. She brings 10 years of experience at Organic Valley, a wealth of leadership expertise at cooperatives, and a deep commitment to cooperative principles featured in the UN's 2025 Year of Cooperatives. In her new role, Turnmire will lead all human resources, learning, and engagement functions, focusing on enhancing employee engagement, development, and organizational culture and structure.

Her strategic vision and innovative approach are a natural fit for this leadership evolution. Turnmire's leadership is characterized by the ability to inspire and motivate teams, ensuring that Organic Valley remains committed to the growth and engagement of its employees. She has been a pivotal force in transforming and building the co-op's people strategy, achieving critical strategic milestones, and playing a significant role in other important cooperative initiatives such as the innovation of the hybrid work policy and SAP stabilization.

Jerry McGeorge Appointed as Chief Transformation Officer

Organic Valley announces the appointment of Jerry McGeorge as chief transformation officer, a newly created role that aligns with the direction and needs of the cooperative as it explores long-term strategic planning and innovation in business practices. This new leadership position focuses Organic Valley's approach to reimagining its structure, strategy, and operational innovation.

With nearly 28 years at Organic Valley, McGeorge has been a key figure through extensive growth and change, helping the cooperative establish its AI strategy, grow through multiple organizational evolutions, and navigate years of change. As McGeorge transitions from his role as executive vice president of people into this new position, he brings with him a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the cooperative's history and values.

"Our commitment to promoting from within and recognizing the incredible talent and dedication of our long-tenured employees shows the strength and resilience of our cooperative. Cheree, Kimberly, and Jerry have each contributed significantly to Organic Valley's success, and their new roles will help us continue to honor our roots while embracing innovation and cooperative leadership," said Shawna Nelson, CEO of Organic Valley.

The cooperative continues to thrive by focusing on long-term employee growth and reinforcing the strength of cooperative principles during the UN's Year of Cooperatives.

About Organic Valley

Organic Valley is the leading organic farmer-owned cooperative on a mission to help save, serve,and safeguard small organic family farms. The brand's products are ethically sourced, which we define as food raised on organic farms where families manage the daily care of the earth while living up to the requirements of the USDA National Organic Program, as well as our cooperative's own high standards and practices designed to promote the principles of organic agriculture, including respect for the dignity and interdependence of all life. Founded in 1988, today the cooperative is owned by over 1,600 organic family farms. Visit ov.coop for more information. Organic Valley is also @OrganicValley on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and @therealorganicvalley on TikTok.

Media Contact:

Elizabeth McMullen

[email protected]

SOURCE Organic Valley
WASHINGTON, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- American Liver Foundation (ALF) will bring together patients, caregivers, and family members affected by liver disease from across the country for the Liver Life Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, April 29 and 30 to champion ALF's 2025 legislative priorities. Federal investment in early diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of liver disease continues to lag far behind other chronic diseases and that's unacceptable when 80-100 million Americans are affected by this often overlooked disease. ALF's Liver Life Advocates will promote patient-centered policies that call on lawmakers to advance initiatives that improve prevention efforts, treatments, and access to care for those living with liver disease.

"ALF has a passionate community of Liver Life Advocates dedicated to making a difference for those living with liver disease," said Lorraine Stiehl, Chief Executive Officer of American Liver Foundation. "Through our Liver Life Advocacy Summit, we aim to amplify the voices of patients and work with legislators to advance meaningful policies to improve patient outcomes and save lives."

ALF has a passionate community of Liver Life Advocates dedicated to making a difference for those with liver disease. Post this

ALF's Liver Life Advocates will urge Congress to take action on the following Legislative Priorities:

Increase funding for Metabolic-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) research and education

Expand liver disease surveillance and prevention efforts at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Finalize coverage for anti-obesity medication under Medicare Part D

Support laws such as the Living Donor Protection Act, Safe Step Act, HOLD Act and HELP Copays Act

Improve access to liver disease treatments and reduce out-of-pocket costs

"I'm so honored to participate in ALF's Liver Life Advocacy Summit because I truly believe in ALF's mission and want to do all that I can to help those living with liver disease, like me," said Carley Jaymes Vogel, crowned 2024 Miss Tennessee and 2nd runner-up to Miss America. "At 12 years old I was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatis and spent weeks on a hospital transplant floor. That experience gave me a firsthand understanding of how organ donation saves lives and that's why I feel it's important to advocate in Washington, DC to help push through policies that help those living with liver disease."

ALF will host a dinner for advocates on April 29th honoring two Members of Congress who have made extraordinary contributions to liver health, and advocates who have relentlessly worked to advance ALF's legislative priorities and help all those suffering from liver disease. On April 30th, ALF's Liver Life Advocates will head to Capitol Hill to meet with lawmakers and urge them to support ALF's legislative priorities.

"As someone who had liver cancer and was fortunate enough to become a liver transplant recipient, I understand how devastating a liver disease diagnosis can be," said Donald Melillo, a Liver Life Advocate and liver transplant recipient living in West Chester, Ohio. "I'm happy to be alive and healthy today due to my transplant and just want to join ALF in Washington, DC to advocate on behalf of the 80-100 million Americans living with some form of liver disease because this silent killer is a public health crisis."

Take action for liver disease by becoming a Liver Life Advocate. Learn more at liverfoundation.org/advocacy.

About the American Liver Foundation

American Liver Foundation (ALF) is a national community of patients, caregivers and medical professionals dedicated to helping people improve their liver health. Providing guidance and life-saving resources, we are a beacon for the 100 million Americans affected by liver disease. We advocate for patients and families, fund medical research and educate the public about liver wellness and disease prevention. We bring people together through our educational programs and events and create a network of support that lasts a lifetime. ALF is the largest organization focused on all liver diseases and the trusted voice for patients and families living with liver disease. For more information visit www.liverfoundation.org or call: 1 800 GO LIVER (800-465-4837).

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Media Contacts:

Julie Kimbrough

[email protected]

Direct dial: 646-737-9409

Karla Thomas

[email protected]

Direct dial: 773-575-9477

SOURCE American Liver Foundation
HOUSTON, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A community celebration will take place at Republic Grand Ranch on Monday, April 21 at 11 a.m., honoring triple-amputee Zach Parker and unveiling his new custom-built, fully accessible home by Design Tech Homes . This marks one of the most significant veteran home reveals of the year, with special guest appearances expected as part of the ceremony.

SPC Zach Parker and family pictured at Republic Grand Ranch, a nature-inspired acreage community in Texas.

"I'm so grateful for the generosity of Republic Grand Ranch who donated a beautiful 2-acre lot for my home," said SPC Parker. "Becoming a part of the Republic Grand Ranch community will be a dream come true. I am especially looking forward to sitting on our back porch and looking out at all the trees and feeling the peace of nature."

The Welcome Home Celebration will take place at the main entrance lakeside tent of Republic Grand Ranch in Willis, Texas. The public is invited to attend and celebrate the strength, resilience, and service of SPC Parker, one of the nation's rare triple amputees. Near the end of his deployment, he was severely injured by an IED, while recovering at Fort Sam Houston, he met Misty, an Army NCO. Their connection led to a life built on shared strength, family, and a deep love for the outdoors.

The Parker family's dream of living in nature with greater independence is now a reality. Their custom home includes features that support Zach's daily needs and allow him to thrive as a husband and father. Built by Design Tech Homes with support from Helping a Hero and vendors who provided materials, time, and labor, the Welcome Home event marks the completion of the Bass Pro Shops 100 Homes Challenge .

Following the ceremony, guests are invited to continue the celebration at the lake on the property. Please arrive by 10:30 a.m. and follow signage from Republic Ranch Road South.

Members of the media are welcome to attend and cover the event.

Guests and community members can register for free to attend the event here.

About Patten Properties

Patten Properties is a national leader in land development and real estate investment, committed to creating exceptional communities rooted in integrity, nature, and long-term value.

Contact:

Heather Robison

[email protected]

SOURCE Patten Properties
HONG KONG and SHANGHAI, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On April 14 and 15, the inaugural World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit 2025 was held in Hong Kong. Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. ("Ping An", the "Company" or the "Group", HKEX: 2318; SSE: 601318) co-hosted a "Digital Finance" sub-forum to discuss the new landscape of digital inclusive finance with global government and business representatives. The subforum included presentations by Dangyang Chen, Chairman of OneConnect Financial Technology, a member company of Ping An, and Ambrose Wong, Chief Executive and Chief Risk Officer of PAObank Limited, a subsidiary of Lufax Holding. Richard Sheng, Board Secretary and Brand Director of Ping An engaged with government officials from China and abroad, as well as senior representatives of industry corporations, on topics such as cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) technology and digital finance development.

At the government-enterprise dialogue session, Mr. Sheng said that it is the mission and responsibility of all enterprises to construct an inclusive, efficient, and sustainable economic system, with a focus on the integration of the digital and real economies and promoting global sustainable development. Ping An has taken the lead, and has initiated comprehensive digital transformation by implementing data-driven operations, data-driven business, and data-driven management.

Data-driven operations can achieve efficiency and automated processes through machines, AI, and human assistance. Data-driven management enables the integration of users and diverse scenarios. Data-driven business means enterprises can identify customer needs through data analysis and be proactive in providing the right products and service. Ping An's team of technology professionals has built a foundation for AI large model technology. As of the end of 2024, Ping An had a first-class technology talent team of over 21,000 developers and over 3,000 scientists. It has built a three-layer large model system of general models, vertical domain models, and application models. It has created three major financial databases and five major healthcare databases, making them some of the world's largest financial and healthcare databases. As of the end of 2024, the Group had filed 55,080 patent applications, ranking first globally in patent applications in fintech and healthcare, and second globally in patent applications in generative AI.

Ping An provides digital enablement for integrated finance, health and senior care, and industry institutions. In digital finance, Ping An has an end-to-end smart system to enhance customer service experience, cybersecurity, and risk control capabilities. The AI investment and credit risk control system covers nearly 100 million enterprises and individual businesses nationwide, providing early warnings of default risks. The volume of services provided by Ping An's AI service representatives reached over 1.5 billion times, accounting for 80% of Ping An's total customer service volume. In auto insurance, Ping An developed the world's first image-based Smart Quick Claim system. The system enables loss assessment within seconds after relevant photos are uploaded, speeding up the loss assessment process by 4,000 times. In health and senior care, Ping An created a leading domestic health and senior care solution to help develop the medical and healthcare service system. Ping An Health (also known as Ping An Good Doctor) developed an AI-based medical system to support medical professionals, with medical expertise covering over 2,000 diseases, an AI-powered recommendation accuracy rate of 99% in triage  guiding patients to the appropriate medical department, and an AI-assisted diagnosis accuracy rate above 95%. In terms of AI doctors, Ping An Health has created 12 AI-driven models, improving the efficiency of the "Ping An Family Doctor" service by about 30%. Ping An's innovative AI health manager helps improve chronic disease management rates by 90%. For empowerment of financial institutions, Ping An created AI-powered smart financial service solutions to help them improve quality and efficiency. Solutions launched by OneConnect have been implemented in the retail wealth management, corporate business, and remote banking service scenarios of multiple banks.

Ping An continues to integrate technology R&D with business scenarios for innovative business development. At the "Digital Finance" sub-forum, Mr. Chen explained that OneConnect serves dozens of Ping An subsidiaries, such as Ping An P&C, Ping An Life, and Ping An Bank, providing solid technical support for their digital transformation. Externally, it empowers external enterprises with the digital technology applications, covering 100% of state-owned banks and joint-stock banks, 99% of city commercial banks, and 65% of property insurance companies, as well as 197 overseas financial institutions in 20 countries and regions. Ambrose Wong shared PAObank's experience and achievements in exploring digital applications in the Hong Kong market. Based on Ping An's leading fintech and AI risk control technology, PAObank's credit risk identification efficiency improved by 40% year-on-year (YoY), and operating costs were reduced by 25% YoY. Among the approved loans, approximately 25% of SME customers received bank loans for the first time, and 8.2% of startups received unsecured loans, both achievements in innovative inclusive financial services.

Promoting a comprehensive digitalization strategy and seizing new opportunities, Ping An will continue to advance its technology-driven "integrated finance + health and senior care" strategy. It will continue to promote comprehensive data-driven operations, data-driven management, and data-driven business. It aims to pursue high-quality business development, improve the quality and efficiency of financial businesses, and use the "worry-free, time-saving, and money-saving" value proposition to guide the development of its businesses and services. Ping An will continue to promote product upgrades and technological innovation in technology finance, green finance, inclusive finance, pension finance and digital finance. It will work with stakeholders to continue to integrate AI and digital technologies into Asia-Pacific's finance sector.

 End 

For more information, please visit www.group.pingan.com and follow us on LinkedIn - PING AN.
PITTSBURGH, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Powercast Corporation, the go-to one-stop-shop for wireless charging solutions, has been named a 2025 Best Place to Work for the second year in a row by Business Intelligence Group. This prestigious annual award highlights Powercast's unwavering commitment to cultivating a work environment that prioritizes employee well-being, engagement, growth, and satisfaction.

Powercast is named a Best Place to Work for the second year in a row by Business Intelligence Group, highlighting the company's unwavering commitment to cultivating a work environment that prioritizes employee well-being, engagement, growth, and satisfaction.

Powercast was chosen based on employee questionnaires that recognized the company's intertwining environment, culture, and support of its employees in everything they do, from how they interact with clients, to the sustainable wireless power solutions that they develop for clients around the world.

"We are honored to receive the Best Place to Work award," said Charles Greene, Chief Operating & Technical Officer. "At Powercast, we recognize that our employees are our greatest asset, and this recognition is a reflection of their hard work, dedication, and commitment to Powercast's shared values. We strive to create a positive workplace culture and believe it is the foundation for success, and we are proud to provide our employees an environment where they are encouraged to grow, innovate, and thrive."

Greene continued, "One of the most important values at Powercast is the ability to offer our employees work-life balance and flexibility. We recognize the importance of supporting employees in both their professional and personal lives, and prioritize employee satisfaction and well-being. As Powercast celebrates this achievement, we remain committed to upholding our core values and providing a culture that recognizes and rewards outstanding contributions while we continue to build a team with an outstanding track record of success."

About Powercast

Powercast Corporation, founded in 2003 and based in Pittsburgh, PA, is the go-to resource for wireless charging solutions, ranging from short to long distances and from microwatts to kilowatts, with the industry's broadest technology portfolio backed by over 300 patents worldwide. We design, develop, and manufacture semiconductor chips as well as complete wirelessly powered products, enabling various levels of customer integration.

Powercast's solutions include RF power-over-distance charging, high-performance inductive charging systems, and low-power sensors with up to 25-year battery life. With flexible magnetic resonance systems, Powercast positions itself as the industry's most comprehensive source for wireless power technology. For more information, visit https://www.powercastco.com.

About Business Intelligence Group

The Business Intelligence Group was founded with the mission of recognizing true talent and superior performance in the business world. Unlike other industry and business award programs, business executivesthose with experience and knowledgejudge the programs. The organization's proprietary and unique scoring system selectively measures performance across multiple business domains and then rewards those companies whose achievements stand above those of their peers.

SOURCE Powercast
WASHINGTON, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ --

News Advisory:

EVENT: Is America losing its voice in the Middle East? A news conference on the fate of

Middle East Broadcasting Networks WHO: Jeffrey Gedmin, President & CEO, Middle East Broadcasting Networks

Bill McCarren, Director, Press Freedom Center at the National Press Club WHERE: National Press Club, 529 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20045 WHEN: Tuesday, April 22, 9:30am

DETAILS:

On March 14, the Trump administration issued an executive order that significantly downsized the U.S. Agency for Global Media. One major casualty was the Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN), which was forced to lay off most of its staff on April 11.

In response, MBN President and CEO Jeff Gedmin and Press Freedom Center Director Bill McCarren will discuss the wide impact of these cuts at a news conference. They will highlight MBN's role as a trusted news source for millions in the Middle East and raise concerns about the implications for press freedom in the region. Other staff members from MBN will contribute.

If you wish to attend this news conference, please RSVP using this link.

If you wish to cover this news conference, please email [email protected]

Contact: Bill McCarren, 202-725-7787 or [email protected] for the Press Freedom Center at the National Press Club

SOURCE National Press Club
Insurance provider expands Motor Truck Cargo coverage to offer broader protection

MAYFIELD VILLAGE, Ohio, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Progressive Insurance today announced the launch of Cargo Plus, a new endorsement that expands Motor Truck Cargo coverage purchased by for-hire truckers and other eligible customers.

Motor Truck Cargo coverage offers protection in the event a trucker is legally liable for damage to covered property while in the trucker's exclusive physical custody and control. The new Cargo Plus endorsement protects truckers by expanding coverage for perils attributed to wetness, rust, and corrosion, and covers perils attributed to driver error and changes in temperature on refrigerated loads for customers that purchase Refrigeration Breakdown coverage.

The Cargo Plus endorsement is automatically included on new Progressive policies with Motor Truck Cargo coverage. Existing Progressive customers with Motor Truck Cargo or Refrigeration Breakdown coverage can immediately benefit from enhanced coverage under Cargo Plus prior to renewal.

With Cargo Plus, Progressive is delivering additional protection to for-hire truckers with Motor Truck Cargo coverage to help them move forward with the confidence of knowing they've got the coverage they need. For-hire truckers carry Motor Truck Cargo coverage to protect the goods they are transporting, making it an important part of securing loads with brokers and shippers.

"As the #1 truck insurer in America*, we take pride in delivering solutions that meet the needs of our trucking customers. We routinely evaluate areas where we can enhance our product to become a destination for truck insurance, and the new Cargo Plus endorsement advances that goal," said Peter Niro, Truck Product Development Manager at Progressive. "Our trucking customers rely on Progressive Commercial for a broad range of insurance solutions, competitive pricing, and excellent customer service. The new Cargo Plus endorsement allows us to better serve the coverage needs of our trucking customers."

As of today, April 16, eligible Progressive customers in the following 42 states can benefit from the new Cargo Plus coverage: AK, AL, AR, AZ, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, OH, PA, RI, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, WA, WI, WV, and WY.

Subject to regulatory approval, Progressive plans to have the Cargo Plus endorsement available in 49 states by May 21, 2025, and in all states by the end of 2025. Refrigeration Breakdown coverage is not available for policies written in CA and FL.

*No. 1 truck insurer from S&P Global Market Intelligence 2023 national written premium data.

Truck is classified as all For Hire Specialty (FHS) vehicles, all For Hire Transportation (FHT) vehicles, and all vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) greater than 16,000 lbs. for Tow, Contractors, and Business Auto.

About Progressive

Progressive Insurance makes it easy to understand, buy and use car insurance , home insurance, and other protection needs. Progressive offers choices so consumers can reach us however it's most convenient for them  online at progressive.com , by phone at 1-800-PROGRESSIVE, via the Progressive mobile app, or in-person with a local agent.

Progressive provides insurance for personal and commercial autos and trucks, motorcycles, boats, recreational vehicles, and homes; it is the second largest personal auto insurer in the country, a leading seller of commercial auto, motorcycle, and boat insurance, and one of the top 15 homeowners insurance carriers.

Founded in 1937, Progressive continues its long history of offering shopping tools and services that save customers time and money, like Name Your Price, Snapshot, and HomeQuote Explorer.

The Common Shares of The Progressive Corporation, the Mayfield Village, Ohio-based holding company, trade publicly atNYSE: PGR.

SOURCE Progressive Insurance
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ --

The most capable Wagoneer in the lineup, the 2025 Jeep Wagoneer Overland package is purpose-built for challenging conditions, combining 32-inch all-terrain tires, Quadra-Lift air suspension, two-speed transfer case, skid plates and more, with a unique appearance, plus ample space and creature comforts for seven passengers and their gear.

New 2025 Jeep Wagoneer Overland package is purpose-built for challenging conditions, combining 32-inch all-terrain tires, Quadra-Lift air suspension, two-speed transfer case, skid plates and more, with a unique appearance, plus ample space and creature comforts for seven passengers and their gear

Debuting this week at both the 2025 New York International Auto Show and the Jeep brand's home away from home, the 2025 Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah , the 2025 Jeep Wagoneer Overland Special Edition is limited to 2,000 units and available to order now at Jeep dealers at a starting U.S. MSRP of $72,740 (excludes $2,095 destination)

, the 2025 Jeep Wagoneer Overland Special Edition is limited to 2,000 units and available to order now at Jeep dealers at a starting U.S. MSRP of (excludes destination) For 2025, Wagoneer 4x4 models now offer Jeep Off-Road Pages+ with Adventure Guides for the first time: Built-in app delivers two-year trial of 200-plus off-road trail guides, including Jeep Badge of Honor trails, downloadable maps, difficulty ratings and more

The 2025 Jeep Wagoneer lineup perfectly blends heritage, refinement, technology, extensive in-vehicle digital connectivity, comfort and legendary 4x4 capability. Starting under $60,000 MSRP, it is among the most affordable full-size SUVs in America and features a standard, award-winning Hurricane Twin Turbo I-6 engine delivering 420 horsepower

Today, Jeep proudly unveils the 2025 Jeep Wagoneer Overland Special Edition, the most capable Wagoneer in the lineup. This standout seven-passenger SUV is specifically equipped to venture well off the beaten path, loaded with style, features, space and tech to deliver an exceptional experience for all roads.

"The 2025 Jeep Wagoneer Overland Special Edition embodies an authentic, go-anywhere Jeep brand 4x4 experience," said Bob Broderdorf, CEO, Jeep brand. "From active families to passionate overlanders, we've cleverly packaged capability features and content to deliver a full-size SUV that inspires adventure and confidence on every journey, as only a Jeep vehicle can."

Debuting this week at both the 2025 New York International Auto Show and the Jeep brand's home away from home, the 2025 Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah, the 2025 Jeep Wagoneer Overland Special Edition is packed with standard 4x4 capability enhancements, including:

32-inch all-terrain tires and 20-inch aluminum wheels

Quadra-Drive II 4x4 system with an electronic limited slip differential (ELSD) and a two-speed transfer case, which can send up to 100% of engine power to either axle depending on traction needs

Quadra-Lift air suspension with semi-active damping, enabling ground clearance up to 10 inches

Three steel skid plates that protect the front axle, transfer case and fuel tank

Two-speed transfer case offers 4-Low with a 48:1 crawl ratio and a selectable Rock Mode, accessed through the Jeep brand's signature Selec-Terrain traction management system (alongside Auto, Sport, Snow and Sand/Mud settings)

Selec-Speed Control, which regulates vehicle speed automatically when climbing up or down a slope, allowing the drive to focus on steering

360-degree surround view camera

Two front two hooks, one removable rear tow hook

Heavy Duty Trailer Tow Package with trailer brake control, delivering towing capacity up to 10,000 lbs.

The 2025 Jeep Wagoneer Overland Special Edition builds strongly from the Wagoneer Series II trim. Beyond capability features, it is loaded with uniquely packaged content and styling, including:

Black painted roof (first time on Wagoneer trim)

Black exterior highlights, including the lower fascia, wheel flares, headlamps, grille and badging

Roof rail crossbars

Side Distance Warning

Parallel/perpendicular park assist

Nappa leather seating

All-weather floor mats

Tri-pane panoramic sunroof

Power-folding side mirrors

Additional standard content includes three rows of seating (third-row 60/40 power fold/recline and power-folding headrests; eight-passenger seating is optional), tri-zone automatic temperature control, Uconnect 5 NAV 10.1-inch touchscreen display, full-length front-row console, wireless charging pad, hands-free power liftgate and more.

Standard safety and security features include Blind-spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Path detection, 360-degree surround view camera system, Full-speed Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking, Active Lane Management System, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go and more.

The 2025 Jeep Wagoneer comes standard with extensive in-vehicle digital connectivity. Customers get three years of app-based Jeep Connect services (remote engine start, door lock, etc.), plus 10 years of Safety and Security Package access, including Stolen Vehicle Assistance and Recall Alert, and five years of Vehicle Performance Package access, including Vehicle Health Reports. The vehicle also supports over-the-air (OTA) updates for continuous software evolution.

The 10.1-inch Uconnect 5 system features AppMarket, an on-screen hub for connected features, adventure apps like Geocaching and The Dyrt, and Playtouch games like Soduku. Accessible only when the vehicle is not in motion, AppMarket is a digital hub that simplifies owner's account management, allowing users to discover the status of their vehicle's trials and subscriptions and purchase a growing number of connected services packages right from the vehicle's touchscreen, including in-vehicle Wi-Fi hotspot, SiriusXM Radio and more.

For 2025, all Wagoneer 4x4 models add Jeep Off-Road Pages+ with Adventure Guides for the first time. The two-year trial of Off-Road Pages+ through the built-in app developed alongside Trails Off-Road, delivers 200-plus off-road trail guides, including Jeep Badge of Honor trails in the U.S., downloadable maps, difficulty ratings and more. An optional All Access membership, which owners may try for three months, expands the library to thousands of trails with more than 10,000 waypoints across North America, detailed technical ratings and more.

Production of the 2025 Jeep Wagoneer Overland Special Edition is limited to 2,000 units, with a package price of $5,795. MSRP is $72,740 (excluding $2,095 destination).

Jeep Brand

For more than 80 years, Jeep has been the global leader in SUVs, delivering legendary off-road capability, advanced technology and exceptional versatility for those who seek adventure. With a commitment to innovation, the Jeep brand offers a diverse lineup of vehicles powered by internal combustion engines, hybrid technology and all-electric drivetrains. The brand's dedication to customer satisfaction is reflected in Jeep Wave, a premium owner loyalty and customer care program that provides exclusive benefits and 24/7 support. Built on a heritage of freedom, adventure, authenticity and passion, Jeep continues to set the standard for rugged yet refined vehicles designed to conquer it all.

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
BOGOTA, Colombia, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Republic of Colombia (" Colombia ") previously announced a tender offer (the " Tender Offer ") to purchase its outstanding 4.500% Global Bonds due 2026 (the " Old Bonds ") on the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the Offer to Purchase, dated April 15, 2025 (the " Offer to Purchase "). Colombia has instructed Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, as the billing and delivering bank for the Tender Offer, to accept, subject to proration and other terms and conditions contained in the Offer to Purchase, valid Reinvestment Tenders and Simple Tenders of the Old Bonds in an aggregate principal amount of U.S. $350,976,000. All capitalized terms used but not defined in this communication have the respective meanings specified in the Offer to Purchase.

The aggregate purchase price to be paid for the Old Bonds to be acquired in the Tender Offer (the " Maximum Purchase Amount ") is U.S. $350,976,000. As such, Colombia has decided to accept all validly tendered Old Bonds in the amounts shown in the table below. No proration of Tenders has occurred.

Old Bonds ISIN Maximum

Purchase Amount Aggregate

Principal Amount

of Reinvestment

Tenders Aggregate

Principal Amount

of Reinvestment

Tenders Accepted Aggregate Principal Amount of Simple Tenders Aggregate Principal Amount of Simple Tenders Accepted 4.500% Global Bonds due 2026 US195325CX13 U.S. $350,976,000 U.S. $27,879,000 U.S. $27,879,000 U.S. $323,097,000 U.S. $323,097,000

The settlement of the Tender Offer is scheduled to occur on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 (the " Tender Offer Settlement Date "), subject to change without notice. Failure to deliver Old Bonds on time may result, in Colombia's sole discretion, in any of the following: (i) the cancellation of a holder's tender and the holder becoming liable for any damages resulting from that failure, and/or (ii) the delivery of a buy-in notice for the purchase of such Old Bonds, executed in accordance with customary brokerage practices for corporate fixed income securities, and/or (iii) in the case of Reinvestment Tenders, the cancellation of a holder's tender and the holder remaining obligated to purchase its allocation of New Bonds in respect of its related Indication of Interest for the 2035 Bonds.

Colombia reserves the right, in its sole discretion, not to accept any or all Tender Orders and to terminate the Tender Offer for any reason.

The Offer to Purchase may be downloaded from the Information Agent's website at www.dfking.com/colombia or obtained from the Information Agent, D.F. King & Co., Inc., at +1 (877) 478-5045 or from any of the Dealer Managers.

The Dealer Managers for the Tender Offer are:

BNP Paribas Securities Corp. Attention: Liability Management Group 787 Seventh Avenue New York, NY 10019 Collect: +1 212 841-3903 Toll-Free: +1 888 210-4358 Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC Attention: Liability Management Group 200 West Street New York, NY 10282 Collect: +1 212 357-1452 Toll-Free: +1 800 828-3182 Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. Attention: Liability Management 250 Vesey Street New York, NY 10281 Collect: +1 212 225-5501 Toll-Free: +1 833 498-1660

The Billing and Delivering Bank for this Tender Offer was: Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC.

Questions regarding the Tender Offer may be directed to the Dealer Managers at the above contact.

Important Notice

The distribution of materials relating to the New Bonds Offering and the Tender Offer and the transactions contemplated by the New Bonds Offering and the Tender Offer may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions. Each of the New Bonds Offering and the Tender Offer is void in all jurisdictions where it is prohibited. If materials relating to the New Bonds Offering or the Tender Offer come into a holder's possession, the holder is required by Colombia to inform itself of and to observe all of these restrictions. The materials relating to the New Bonds Offering or the Tender Offer, including this communication, do not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer or solicitation in any place where offers or solicitations are not permitted by law. If a jurisdiction requires that the New Bonds Offering or the Tender Offer be made by a licensed broker or dealer and a Dealer Manager or any affiliate of a Dealer Manager is a licensed broker or dealer in that jurisdiction, the New Bonds Offering or the Tender Offer, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be made by the Dealer Manager or such affiliate on behalf of Colombia in that jurisdiction. Owners who may lawfully participate in the Tender Offer in accordance with the terms thereof are referred to as "holders."

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities nor will there be any sale of the New Bonds or the Tender Offer in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction. The offering of the New Bonds and the Tender Offer will be made only by means of the New Bonds Offering prospectus supplements and the accompanying prospectus and an offer to purchase in Canada, under applicable exemptions from any prospectus or registration requirements.

The New Bonds may be sold and the Tender Offer is made in Canada only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations, and who are not individuals. Any resale of the New Bonds must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable Canadian securities laws.

The New Bonds and the Old Bonds will not be registered under Chilean Law No. 18,045, as amended, with the Comision para el Mercado Financiero de Chile (Financial Market Commission of Chile or "CMF") and, accordingly, the New Bonds and the Old Bonds cannot and will not be offered or sold to persons in Chile except in circumstances which have not resulted and will not result in a public offering under Chilean law, and in compliance with Norma de Caracter General (Rule) No. 336, dated June 27, 2012, issued by the CMF.

The New Bonds may not be offered, sold or negotiated in Colombia, except in compliance with Part 4 of Decree 2555 of 2010. The Offer to Purchase and the New Bonds Offering prospectus supplements and the accompanying prospectus do not constitute and may not be used for, or in connection with, a public offering as defined under Colombian law.

The New Bonds are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the European Economic Area ("EEA"). For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of the following:

(a) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU (as amended, "MiFID II"); or

(b) a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97 as amended, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II.

Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 (as amended, the "PRIIPs Regulation") for offering or selling the New Bonds or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the New Bonds or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation.

The Old Bonds and New Bonds may not be offered or sold and will not be offered or sold in Hong Kong by means of any document other than (a) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong) (the "CWUMPO"), or (b) to "professional investors" as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) (the "SFO") and any rules made thereunder, or (c) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a "prospectus" as defined in the CWUMPO.

No advertisement, invitation or document relating to the Old Bonds or New Bonds has been or will be issued, or has been or will be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to the Old Bonds or New Bonds which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to "professional investors" as defined in the SFO and any rules made thereunder.

The Old Bonds and the New Bonds, and the Offer to Purchase and the New Bonds Offering prospectus supplements and the accompanying prospectus, and any other documents or materials related to such offers have not and will not be registered with the Italian Securities Exchange Commission (Commissione Nazionale per le Societa e la Borsa or "CONSOB") pursuant to applicable Italian laws and regulations. The Tender Offer and the New Bonds Offering are being carried out pursuant to the exemptions provided for, with respect to the Tender Offer, in Article 101 bis, paragraph 3 bis of Legislative Decree No. 58 of 24 February 1998, as amended (the "Consolidated Financial Act") and Article 35 bis, paragraph 4, of CONSOB Regulation No. 11971 of 14 May 1999, as amended; and, with respect to the New Bonds Offering, in article 1, paragraph 4, letter c), of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.

Holders or beneficial owners of the Old Bonds that are resident and/or located in Italy can tender the Old Bonds for purchase, and the New Bonds can be offered, sold and delivered, through authorized persons (such as investment firms, banks or financial intermediaries permitted to conduct such activities in Italy in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, the Consolidated Financial Act, the CONSOB Regulation No. 20307 of 15 February 2018, as amended, and Legislative Decree No. 385 of September 1, 1993, as amended) and in compliance with any other applicable laws and regulations or with any requirements imposed by CONSOB or any other Italian authority. Each intermediary must comply with the applicable laws and regulations concerning information duties vis a vis its clients in connection with the bonds or the relevant offering.

The New Bonds have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act of Japan (Act No. 25 of 1948, as amended, the "Financial Instruments and Exchange Act") and each Joint Book-Running Manager has represented and agreed that it has not offered or sold, and will not offer or sell any New Bonds, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan (as defined under Article 6, Paragraph 1, Item 5 of the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act of Japan (Act No. 228 of 1949, as amended)), or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, a resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan.

Neither the Offer to Purchase or the New Bonds Offering prospectus supplements and accompanying prospectus, nor any other documents or materials relating to the Tender Offer or the New Bonds Offering have been approved by or will be submitted for the approval of, the Mexican National Banking and Securities Commission (Comision Nacional Bancaria y de Valores; the "CNBV") and, the New Bonds have not been and will not be registered with the Mexican National Securities Registry (Registro Nacional de Valores) maintained by the CNBV, and therefore the Old Bonds and New Bonds have not and may not be offered or sold publicly in Mexico. However, investors that qualify as institutional or qualified investors pursuant to the private placement exemption set forth in article 8 of the Mexican Securities Market Law (Ley del Mercado de Valores), may be contacted in connection with, and may participate in the Tender Offer and New Bonds Offering, and can be offered with or purchase New Bonds. The participation in the Tender Offer or the acquisition of New Bonds will be made under such investor's own responsibility.

Neither the New Bonds Offering nor the Tender Offer is intended for any person who is not qualified as an institutional investor, in accordance with provisions set forth in Resolution SMV No. 021-2013-SMV-01 issued by Superintendencia del Mercado de Valores (Superintendency of Capital Markets) of Peru, and as subsequently amended. No legal, financial, tax or any other kind of advice is hereby being provided.

The New Bonds Offering prospectus supplements and accompanying prospectus, and the Offer to Purchase have not been and will not be registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Neither the New Bonds Offering nor the Tender Offer constitutes an offering of securities in Singapore pursuant to the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the "SFA"). Each Joint Book-Running Manager has represented and agreed that it has not offered or sold or caused the New Bonds to be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase and will not offer or sell such New Bonds or cause such New Bonds to be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, and has not circulated or distributed, nor will it circulate or distribute, the New Bonds Offering prospectus supplements and accompanying prospectus or any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of such New Bonds, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA) under Section 274 of the SFA, (ii) to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA) pursuant to Section 275(1), or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275, of the SFA, and (where applicable) Regulation 3 of the Securities and Futures (Classes of Investors) Regulations 2018 of Singapore or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.

Where the New Bonds are subscribed or purchased in reliance on an exemption under Sections 274 or 275 of the SFA, the New Bonds shall not be sold within the period of six months from the date of the initial acquisition of the bonds, except to any of the following persons:

an institutional investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA);

a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA); or

any person pursuant to an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) of the SFA,

unless expressly specified otherwise in Section 276(7) of the SFA or Regulation 37A of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Securities and Securities-based Derivatives Contracts) Regulations 2018 of Singapore.

Where the New Bonds are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is:

a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or

a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an individual who is an accredited investor, securities or securities-based derivatives contracts (each term as defined in Section 2(1) of the SFA) of that corporation or the beneficiaries' rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferred within six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the New Bonds pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 of the SFA except: to an institutional investor or to a relevant person as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA, or (in the case of such corporation) where the transfer arises from an offer referred to in 276(3)(i)(B) of the SFA or (in the case of such trust) where the transfer arises from an offer referred to in Section 276(4)(i)(B) of the SFA; where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer; where the transfer is by operation of law; as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA; or as specified in Regulation 37A of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Securities and Securities-based Derivatives Contracts) Regulations 2018 of Singapore .



The New Bonds Offering prospectus supplements and accompanying prospectus is not intended to constitute an offer or solicitation to purchase or invest in the New Bonds described therein in Switzerland, except as permitted by law. The New Bonds may not be publicly offered, directly or indirectly, in Switzerland within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act ("FinSA") and will not be admitted to any trading venue (exchange or multilateral trading facility) in Switzerland.

Neither the New Bonds Offering prospectus supplements and accompanying prospectus nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the New Bonds constitutes a prospectus as such term is understood pursuant to the FinSA, and neither the New Bonds Offering prospectus supplements and accompanying prospectus nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the New Bonds may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.

Neither the communication of the Offer to Purchase nor the New Bonds Offering prospectus supplements and accompanying prospectus nor any other offer material relating to the Tender Offer or the New Bonds Offering has been approved by an authorized person for the purposes of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended, the "FSMA"). The Offer to Purchase and the New Bonds Offering prospectus supplements and accompanying prospectus are only being distributed to and are only directed at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom ("UK"); (ii) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the FSMA (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended, the "Order"); or (iii) high net worth entities and other persons to whom it may be lawfully communicated falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such other persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). Any investment or investment activity to which the Offer to Purchase and the New Bonds Offering prospectus supplements and accompanying prospectus relate is available only to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on the Offer to Purchase or the New Bonds Offering prospectus supplements and accompanying prospectus or any of its contents. The New Bonds will only be available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire the New Bonds will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on the New Bonds Offering prospectus supplements and accompanying prospectus or any of its contents.

The New Bonds are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the UK. For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 2017/565 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (as amended, the "EUWA"); or (ii) a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the FSMA and any rules or regulations made under the FSMA to implement Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA. Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA (the "UK PRIIPs Regulation") for offering or selling the New Bonds or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the UK has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the New Bonds or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the UK may be unlawful under the UK PRIIPs Regulation.

Contact information:

D.F. King & Co., Inc.

48 Wall Street, 22nd Floor

New York, New York 10005

Toll Free: 1 (877) 478-5045

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.dfking.com/colombia

SOURCE Republic of Colombia
News / Regional

by Gideon Madzikatidze/Simbarashe Sithole recently in Chiredzi

Members of the Joint Operation Command (JOC) in Masvingo withdrew and crippled an attempt by former ZANU-PF Chiredzi West legislator and central committee member, Farai Dumo Musikavanhu who in connivance (through illegal public/settlers displacement funding) with Tongaat Hullet, plot to displace over 250 farmers using counterfeit map depicting fictitious boundary, investigations by Bulawayo24.com reveals.Musikavanhu who is not alien to controversy allegedly created a fake map as an extension for Tongaat Hullet boundary, an act which saw the later encroaching and displacing several farmers in Chiredzi while being bankrolled by the institution.Information gathered by Bulawayo24.com has shown that Tongaat Hullet paid over US$140,000 to Musikavanhu in their quest to enable him to influence decisions in displacing local farmers including resettling of Chief Neromwe.Speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation, some farmers who were set to be affected express their discomfort and distress over corruption being spearheaded by Musikavanhu and Tongaat Hullet."We were surprised to learn about a new fake map showing fictitious boundary purporting to separate other farms from Tongaat Hullet's tampered one. Local chiefs, villagers and some farmers in Chiredzi are up in arms with former Chiredzi west legislator, Farai Musikavanhu and Tongaat Hullet after it emerged that they created a counterfeit map and tried to use members of the Joint Operation Command in their quest to displace several farmers and their families," the source said."Tongaat Hullet had further secured resources for the abrupt removal of various farmers and their families including fuels, allowances and some other lucrative incentives upon completion of the ploy. The fake map misled authorities into believing that farmers adjacent to Tongaat Hullet's initial boundary were illegally resettled whilst in actual fact, they have legit and authentic documentation of ownership including boundary," the source added."After receiving several alert calls appealing for intervention, both Local Government Minister, Daniel Garwe and Lands Minister, Anxious Masuka hurriedly intervene and engaged virtually with members of JOC, current Chiredzi West legislator ( Darlington Chiwa) and members of the District Lands Committee (DLCs). Despite the fact that all members of the JOC had been deployed to implement eviction and besiege on behalf of Tongaat Hullet with aid of Musikavanhu's corrupt action, one member (an Army Major) sensed the danger and alerted other members of his intention to withdraw from carrying out the eviction," the source added."The Major observed and disclosed to other JOC members that Musikavanhu and Tongaat Hullet have misled them into believing that the farmers were illegal settlers whilst in actual fact they have proper title and ownership for those farms. When he raised dissatisfaction to implement the mass raid and farmers displacements, other members put the exercise on hold and left," the source added.When Bulawa24.com contacted Musikavanhu for a comment on his relationship with both current Chiredzi West legislator, Darlington Chiwa and Tongaat Hullet, the evasive Musikavanhu declined to comment since the case is currently before courts of law."Thank you Comrade for contacting me. As you have rightfully noted, the matter is before the Courts so I am not at liberty to comment," Musikavanhu said without disclosing the actual case before the courts of law.After being quizzed further to comment on other inquiries sent to him and clarity, Musikavanhu claims everything behind that case revolves around a lawsuit before the court."All the points you raised are interlinked in the matter before the Courts," Musikavanhu added.Meanwhile, Chiredzi west legislator, Darlington Chiwa was also evasive and avoided entertaining or commenting about his alleged fall-out relationship with Musikavanhu."Who are you to investigate relationships amongst ZANU-PF membership and what are your intentions? Please do seek a comment from the ruling party's channels and authorities, they will be able to respond to you if there is any difference between me and fellow comrade. For your own information, I am in good books with everyone in the ruling ZANU-PF," Chiwa said before switching off his mobile.Tongaat Hullet corporate and industry affairs head, Dahlia Garwe could neither confirm nor deny if there have been any payment made to Musikavanhu in their intentions to displace farmers and was also evasive in disclosing if they misled JOC members or their budgets to sponsor evictions."Good day. Thank you for your questions. It is unfortunate that our name is being dragged into what is clearly a dispute between two individuals. We certainly have nothing to do with either person beyond the professional engagements from time to time," Garwe said."Unfortunately I'm in a meeting. Allow me to formally respond to you later in the day," Garwe added.When further requested to clarify on Tongaat's relationship with Musikavanhu and Chiwa beyond professional engagements and transactions between the same organisation with Musikavanhu, Garwe distanced herself from commenting on presumptive transactions."We do not have any direct engagements with him. However, he is a member of farmer or out-grower organisations and these are key stakeholders of our business. If you'll excuse me for now as indicated above," she added.Musikavanhu has oftentimes been publicly involved in weird and strange acts which go beyond human imagination on various accounts. He once declared publicly that he would starve all opposition members in Chiredzi for their entire life for (if they) voting against ruling ZANU-PF. He also ordered for withdrawal of hospital equipment, including an ambulance, that had been donated to a hospital presumably in Chiredzi West constituency by a Zimbabwean citizen based in the United Kingdom for political reasons.In his past and present reign of terror, Musikavanhu vowed that supporters of then MDC will not receive any assistance. Using Zanu PF branded vehicles, Musikavanhu organised his foot soldiers to hijack Cyclone Idai food aid (then) with majority victims being opposition political parties supporters and demonisation of other internal opponents.Musikavanhu's recent US$140,000 bribe from Tongaat Hullet is a testimony on how corrupt some ruling party officials have become and develop more appetite for corruption. It also shows how those with financial resources have become powerful and gain influence using money for their solitary decisions to prevail.Tongaat Hullet and Musikavanhu have been fingered in funding displacements, divisions and chaos within Chiredzi and surrounding areas using their financial muscle in elbowing out some farmers and families without sustainable compensation. Had it not been for some members of the JOC who acted professionally and withdrew from Tongaat's intention to fund evictions, several farmers would have lost their farms.Consisting of senior officials from the military, other security organs and intelligence agencies, JOC ensures the readiness of the armed forces for planned and unplanned events, including mobilising and deploying forces in the event of an incident.The JOC's last minute withdrawal from evicting 250 farmers has enabled and empower local farmers in Chiredzi to continue settling at their farms, though only 14 are set to lose their farms to Tongaat Hullet.
BOGOTA, Colombia, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ --

New Bonds Offering

The Republic of Colombia (" Colombia ") announced today that on April 15, 2025, it priced a global offering (the " New Bonds Offering ") of (i) U.S. $ 1,900,000,000 aggregate principal amount of new 7.375% Global Bonds due 2030 (the " 2030 Bonds "), and (ii) U.S. $ 1,900,000,000 aggregate principal amount of new 8.500% Global Bonds due 2035 (the " 2035 Bonds " and together with the 2030 Bonds, the " New Bonds "). The aggregate principal amount of New Bonds includes an amount intended to fund the purchase of Tender Orders made by holders of Colombia's Old Bonds (as defined below) in a principal amount of Old Bonds of approximately U.S. $ 350,976,000 in the concurrent Tender Offer described below, and the amount of 2035 Bonds issued may be adjusted based on final acceptances in the Tender Offer. The closing of the New Bonds Offering is expected to occur on Friday, April 25, 2025. BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. served as Joint Book-Running Managers for the New Bonds Offering. All capitalized terms used but not defined in this communication have the respective meanings specified in the Offer to Purchase referred to below under "Tender Offer".

The New Bonds Offering was made only by means of a preliminary prospectus supplement and an accompanying base prospectus for the 2030 Bonds, and a preliminary prospectus supplement and an accompanying base prospectus for the 2035 Bonds. Copies of the preliminary prospectus supplements, the final prospectus supplements (when filed) and the related base prospectus for the New Bonds Offering may be obtained by contacting any of the following: BNP Paribas Securities Corp., by calling +1 (800) 854-5674 (U.S. toll free); Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, by calling +1 (866)471-2526 (U.S. toll free); or Scotia Capital (USA) Inc., by calling +1 (800) 372-3930 (U.S. toll free).

Application will be made to have the New Bonds listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and admitted to trading on the Euro MTF Market of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. Application will also be made to the London Stock Exchange plc (the " London Stock Exchange ") for the New Bonds to be admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange's International Securities Market.

Tender Offer

Colombia's previously announced tender offer (the " Tender Offer ") to purchase its outstanding 4.500% Global Bonds due 2026 (the " Old Bonds "), as each such series is described further in the table below on the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the Offer to Purchase, dated April 15, 2025 (the " Offer to Purchase "), expired as scheduled for (i) Simple Tenders at 12:00 p.m. New York time, on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 and (ii) Reinvestment Tenders at 1:00 p.m. New York time, on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.

The Purchase Price for Old Bonds validly accepted pursuant to the Tender Offer was the fixed price identified for Old Bonds in the Offer to Purchase and Colombia's press release issued on April 15, 2025. In addition, holders will receive accrued and unpaid interest on their Old Bonds up to (but excluding) the Tender Offer Settlement Date (as defined below).

Old Bonds

Old Bonds Outstanding

Principal Amount

as of April 15,

2025 ISIN CUSIP Common Code Fixed Purchase

Price (per U.S.

$1,000 Principal

Amount) 4.500% Global

Bonds due 2026 U.S. $1,017,274,000 US195325CX13 195325CX1 129873515 U.S. $1,000

On Wednesday, April 16, 2025, or as soon as possible, Colombia expects to (i) instruct Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC as the Billing and Delivering Bank to accept, subject to proration and other terms and conditions as described in the Offer to Purchase, valid Reinvestment Tenders and Simple Tenders and (ii) announce the Maximum Purchase Amount and the aggregate principal amount of Reinvestment Tenders and Simple Tenders of Old Bonds that have been accepted and whether any proration has occurred for Old Bonds.

The settlement of the Tender Offer is scheduled to occur on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 (the " Tender Offer Settlement Date "), subject to change without notice. Failure to deliver Old Bonds on time may result, in Colombia's sole discretion, in any of the following: (i) the cancellation of a holder's tender and the holder becoming liable for any damages resulting from that failure, and/or (ii) the delivery of a buy-in notice for the purchase of such Old Bonds, executed in accordance with customary brokerage practices for corporate fixed income securities, and/or (iii) in the case of Reinvestment Tenders, the cancellation of a holder's tender and the holder remaining obligated to purchase its allocation of New Bonds in respect of its related Indication of Interest for the 2035 Bonds.

Colombia reserves the right, in its sole discretion, not to accept any or all Tender Orders and to terminate the Tender Offer for any reason.

The Offer to Purchase may be downloaded from the Information Agent's website at www.dfking.com/colombia or obtained from the Information Agent, D.F. King & Co., Inc., at +1 (877) 478-5045 or from any of the Dealer Managers.

The Dealer Managers for the Tender Offer are:

BNP Paribas Securities Corp. Attention: Liability Management Group 787 Seventh Avenue New York, NY 10019 Collect: +1 212 841-3903 Toll-Free: +1 888 210-4358 Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC Attention: Liability Management Group 200 West Street New York, NY 10282 Collect: +1 212 357-1452 Toll-Free: +1 800 828-3182 Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. Attention: Liability Management 250 Vesey Street New York, NY 10281 Collect: +1 212 225-5501 Toll-Free: +1 833 498-1660

The Billing and Delivering Bank for this Tender Offer was: Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC.

Questions regarding the Tender Offer may be directed to the Dealer Managers at the above contact.

Colombia has filed a registration statement (including the prospectus) and the preliminary prospectus supplements with the SEC for the New Bonds Offering. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents Colombia has filed with the SEC for more complete information about Colombia and the New Bonds Offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the Joint Book-Running Managers or the Dealer Managers, as the case may be, will arrange to send you the preliminary prospectus supplements and the accompanying prospectus for the New Bonds Offering if you request it by calling any one of them at the numbers specified above.

A preliminary prospectus supplement along with the accompanying prospectus is available from the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at:

2030 Bonds:

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/917142/000119312525080780/d876861d424b3.htm

and

2035 Bonds:

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/917142/000119312525080783/d836622d424b3.htm

Important Notice

The distribution of materials relating to the New Bonds Offering and the Tender Offer and the transactions contemplated by the New Bonds Offering and the Tender Offer may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions. Each of the New Bonds Offering and the Tender Offer is void in all jurisdictions where it is prohibited. If materials relating to the New Bonds Offering or the Tender Offer come into a holder's possession, the holder is required by Colombia to inform itself of and to observe all of these restrictions. The materials relating to the New Bonds Offering or the Tender Offer, including this communication, do not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer or solicitation in any place where offers or solicitations are not permitted by law. If a jurisdiction requires that the New Bonds Offering or the Tender Offer be made by a licensed broker or dealer and a Dealer Manager or any affiliate of a Dealer Manager is a licensed broker or dealer in that jurisdiction, the New Bonds Offering or the Tender Offer, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be made by the Dealer Manager or such affiliate on behalf of Colombia in that jurisdiction. Owners who may lawfully participate in the Tender Offer in accordance with the terms thereof are referred to as "holders."

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities nor will there be any sale of the New Bonds or the Tender Offer in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction. The offering of the New Bonds and the Tender Offer will be made only by means of the New Bonds Offering prospectus supplements and the accompanying prospectus and an offer to purchase in Canada, under applicable exemptions from any prospectus or registration requirements.

The New Bonds may be sold and the Tender Offer is made in Canada only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations, and who are not individuals. Any resale of the New Bonds must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable Canadian securities laws.

The New Bonds and the Old Bonds will not be registered under Chilean Law No. 18,045, as amended, with the Comision para el Mercado Financiero de Chile (Financial Market Commission of Chile or "CMF") and, accordingly, the New Bonds and the Old Bonds cannot and will not be offered or sold to persons in Chile except in circumstances which have not resulted and will not result in a public offering under Chilean law, and in compliance with Norma de Caracter General (Rule) No. 336, dated June 27, 2012, issued by the CMF.

The New Bonds may not be offered, sold or negotiated in Colombia, except in compliance with Part 4 of Decree 2555 of 2010. The Offer to Purchase and the New Bonds Offering prospectus supplements and the accompanying prospectus do not constitute and may not be used for, or in connection with, a public offering as defined under Colombian law.

The New Bonds are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the European Economic Area ("EEA"). For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of the following:

(a) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU (as amended, "MiFID II"); or

(b) a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97 as amended, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II.

Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 (as amended, the "PRIIPs Regulation") for offering or selling the New Bonds or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the New Bonds or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation.

The Old Bonds and New Bonds may not be offered or sold and will not be offered or sold in Hong Kong by means of any document other than (a) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong) (the "CWUMPO"), or (b) to "professional investors" as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) (the "SFO") and any rules made thereunder, or (c) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a "prospectus" as defined in the CWUMPO.

No advertisement, invitation or document relating to the Old Bonds or New Bonds has been or will be issued, or has been or will be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to the Old Bonds or New Bonds which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to "professional investors" as defined in the SFO and any rules made thereunder.

The Old Bonds and the New Bonds, and the Offer to Purchase and the New Bonds Offering prospectus supplements and the accompanying prospectus, and any other documents or materials related to such offers have not and will not be registered with the Italian Securities Exchange Commission (Commissione Nazionale per le Societa e la Borsa or "CONSOB") pursuant to applicable Italian laws and regulations. The Tender Offer and the New Bonds Offering are being carried out pursuant to the exemptions provided for, with respect to the Tender Offer, in Article 101 bis, paragraph 3 bis of Legislative Decree No. 58 of 24 February 1998, as amended (the "Consolidated Financial Act") and Article 35 bis, paragraph 4, of CONSOB Regulation No. 11971 of 14 May 1999, as amended; and, with respect to the New Bonds Offering, in article 1, paragraph 4, letter c), of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.

Holders or beneficial owners of the Old Bonds that are resident and/or located in Italy can tender the Old Bonds for purchase, and the New Bonds can be offered, sold and delivered, through authorized persons (such as investment firms, banks or financial intermediaries permitted to conduct such activities in Italy in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, the Consolidated Financial Act, the CONSOB Regulation No. 20307 of 15 February 2018, as amended, and Legislative Decree No. 385 of September 1, 1993, as amended) and in compliance with any other applicable laws and regulations or with any requirements imposed by CONSOB or any other Italian authority. Each intermediary must comply with the applicable laws and regulations concerning information duties vis a vis its clients in connection with the bonds or the relevant offering.

The New Bonds have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act of Japan (Act No. 25 of 1948, as amended, the "Financial Instruments and Exchange Act") and each Joint Book-Running Manager has represented and agreed that it has not offered or sold, and will not offer or sell any New Bonds, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan (as defined under Article 6, Paragraph 1, Item 5 of the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act of Japan (Act No. 228 of 1949, as amended)), or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, a resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan.

Neither the Offer to Purchase or the New Bonds Offering prospectus supplements and accompanying prospectus, nor any other documents or materials relating to the Tender Offer or the New Bonds Offering have been approved by or will be submitted for the approval of, the Mexican National Banking and Securities Commission (Comision Nacional Bancaria y de Valores; the "CNBV") and, the New Bonds have not been and will not be registered with the Mexican National Securities Registry (Registro Nacional de Valores) maintained by the CNBV, and therefore the Old Bonds and New Bonds have not and may not be offered or sold publicly in Mexico. However, investors that qualify as institutional or qualified investors pursuant to the private placement exemption set forth in article 8 of the Mexican Securities Market Law (Ley del Mercado de Valores), may be contacted in connection with, and may participate in the Tender Offer and New Bonds Offering, and can be offered with or purchase New Bonds. The participation in the Tender Offer or the acquisition of New Bonds will be made under such investor's own responsibility.

Neither the New Bonds Offering nor the Tender Offer is intended for any person who is not qualified as an institutional investor, in accordance with provisions set forth in Resolution SMV No. 021-2013-SMV-01 issued by Superintendencia del Mercado de Valores (Superintendency of Capital Markets) of Peru, and as subsequently amended. No legal, financial, tax or any other kind of advice is hereby being provided.

The New Bonds Offering prospectus supplements and accompanying prospectus, and the Offer to Purchase have not been and will not be registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Neither the New Bonds Offering nor the Tender Offer constitutes an offering of securities in Singapore pursuant to the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the "SFA"). Each Joint Book-Running Manager has represented and agreed that it has not offered or sold or caused the New Bonds to be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase and will not offer or sell such New Bonds or cause such New Bonds to be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, and has not circulated or distributed, nor will it circulate or distribute, the New Bonds Offering prospectus supplements and accompanying prospectus or any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of such New Bonds, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA) under Section 274 of the SFA, (ii) to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA) pursuant to Section 275(1), or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275, of the SFA, and (where applicable) Regulation 3 of the Securities and Futures (Classes of Investors) Regulations 2018 of Singapore or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.

Where the New Bonds are subscribed or purchased in reliance on an exemption under Sections 274 or 275 of the SFA, the New Bonds shall not be sold within the period of six months from the date of the initial acquisition of the bonds, except to any of the following persons:

an institutional investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA);

a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA); or

any person pursuant to an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) of the SFA,

unless expressly specified otherwise in Section 276(7) of the SFA or Regulation 37A of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Securities and Securities-based Derivatives Contracts) Regulations 2018 of Singapore.

Where the New Bonds are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is:

a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or

a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an individual who is an accredited investor, securities or securities-based derivatives contracts (each term as defined in Section 2(1) of the SFA) of that corporation or the beneficiaries' rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferred within six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the New Bonds pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 of the SFA except: to an institutional investor or to a relevant person as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA, or (in the case of such corporation) where the transfer arises from an offer referred to in 276(3)(i)(B) of the SFA or (in the case of such trust) where the transfer arises from an offer referred to in Section 276(4)(i)(B) of the SFA; where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer; where the transfer is by operation of law; as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA; or as specified in Regulation 37A of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Securities and Securities-based Derivatives Contracts) Regulations 2018 of Singapore .



The New Bonds Offering prospectus supplements and accompanying prospectus is not intended to constitute an offer or solicitation to purchase or invest in the New Bonds described therein in Switzerland, except as permitted by law. The New Bonds may not be publicly offered, directly or indirectly, in Switzerland within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act ("FinSA") and will not be admitted to any trading venue (exchange or multilateral trading facility) in Switzerland.

Neither the New Bonds Offering prospectus supplements and accompanying prospectus nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the New Bonds constitutes a prospectus as such term is understood pursuant to the FinSA, and neither the New Bonds Offering prospectus supplements and accompanying prospectus nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the New Bonds may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.

Neither the communication of the Offer to Purchase nor the New Bonds Offering prospectus supplements and accompanying prospectus nor any other offer material relating to the Tender Offer or the New Bonds Offering has been approved by an authorized person for the purposes of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended, the "FSMA"). The Offer to Purchase and the New Bonds Offering prospectus supplements and accompanying prospectus are only being distributed to and are only directed at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom ("UK"); (ii) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the FSMA (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended, the "Order"); or (iii) high net worth entities and other persons to whom it may be lawfully communicated falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such other persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). Any investment or investment activity to which the Offer to Purchase and the New Bonds Offering prospectus supplements and accompanying prospectus relate is available only to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on the Offer to Purchase or the New Bonds Offering prospectus supplements and accompanying prospectus or any of its contents. The New Bonds will only be available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire the New Bonds will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on the New Bonds Offering prospectus supplements and accompanying prospectus or any of its contents.

The New Bonds are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the UK. For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 2017/565 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (as amended, the "EUWA"); or (ii) a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the FSMA and any rules or regulations made under the FSMA to implement Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA. Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA (the "UK PRIIPs Regulation") for offering or selling the New Bonds or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the UK has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the New Bonds or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the UK may be unlawful under the UK PRIIPs Regulation.

Contact information:

D.F. King & Co., Inc.

48 Wall Street, 22nd Floor

New York, New York 10005

Toll Free: 1 (877) 478-5045

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.dfking.com/colombia

SOURCE Republic of Colombia
CHICAGO, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ribbeck Law Chartered, one of the world's most prominent aviation law firms, has filed a request for information with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as the opening move in a series of legal actions in the United States on behalf of victims and families affected by the crash of Jeju Air Flight 2216, which occurred on December 29, 2024 in Muan, South Korea.

The aircraft involved, a Boeing 737-8AS, was equipped with CFM International CFM56-7B turbofan engines. The information request is focused on obtaining all documentation related to the FAA's certification of these engines, including:

type certification records, certification test results and performance data, airworthiness directives applicable to the CFM56-7B engines, compliance and conformity documents submitted by CFM International and Boeing, as well as any internal or external FAA correspondence or memoranda regarding the certification and continued airworthiness of these engines.

"All this information is critical," said Dr. Monica R. Kelly, Aviation Attorney and Head of Global Litigation at Ribbeck Law. "Before an aircraft engine is approved for commercial use, it must meet rigorous federal safety and performance standards. If shortcuts were taken during the certification process, or if known issues were overlooked, the consequences would be life-threateningas we may have seen in this crash."

Ribbeck Law will be looking into potential design flaws, manufacturing defects, and regulatory lapses that may have contributed to the accident. The information request aims to uncover whether the CFM56-7B engineswhich are used widely in Boeing 737 aircraftwere properly tested, certified, and monitored for ongoing airworthiness.

"This marks the beginning of a multimillion-dollar litigation effort in U.S. courts against all responsible partiesincluding manufacturers, component suppliers, and certifying authorities," said Dr. Manuel von Ribbeck, Ribbeck Law's Founding Partner. "We have represented families in nearly every major aviation disaster over the last two decades, including the historic 737 Max 8 cases, and we will leave no stone unturned in our pursuit of justice for the victims of Jeju Air Flight 2216."

Ribbeck Law initiated the lawsuits against Boeing following the 737 Max 8 disasters in 2018 and 2019, representing the majority of the families from both the Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashes. Those cases revealed not only devastating technical failures, but also a dangerously close relationship between the FAA and Boeing in which it could be argued that Boeing was almost basically self-certifying its own aircraft systems with limited regulatory oversight.

"Our experience in the Max 8 litigation showed us that the certification process might need a second look" noted Dr. Kelly. "We are determined to find out whether any failures occurred with the certification of the engines installed on the Boeing 737-8AS involved in this crash."

Media Contact: Mark Goldman, Goldman McCormick PR

516.639.0988

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Ribbeck Law Chartered
MENLO PARK, Calif., April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Robert Half Inc. (NYSE symbol: RHI) today announced it expects to release first-quarter 2025 earnings results on Wednesday, April 23, at approximately 4:05 p.m. EDT. Robert Half management will conduct a conference call at 5 p.m. EDT on April 23, following the release. The dial-in number is 888-394-8218 (+1-323-994-2093 outside the United States and Canada). It is recommended that participants dial in at least 15 minutes before the call begins. The confirmation code to access the call is 5634922 .

A recording of this call will be available for audio replay beginning at approximately 8 p.m. EDT on April 23 and ending after 12 months. To access the replay, visit https://www.webcasts.com/RobertHalfQ12025. The conference call also will be archived in audio format on the company's website at roberthalf.com.

About Robert Half

Robert Half is the world's first and largest specialized talent solutions and business consulting firm, connecting highly skilled job seekers with rewarding opportunities at great companies. We offer contract talent and permanent placement solutions in the fields of finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal, and administrative and customer support, and we also provide executive search services. Robert Half is the parent company of Protiviti, a global consulting firm that delivers internal audit, risk, business and technology consulting solutions. In the past 12 months, Robert Half, including Protiviti, has been named one of the Fortune World's Most Admired Companies and 100 Best Companies to Work For. Explore our comprehensive solutions, research and insights at roberthalf.com.

SOURCE Robert Half
YPSILANTI, Mich., April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Center for Mobility (ACM) is excited to host its annual "SAFE" Demo Day on Friday, June 6, 2025. This dynamic event will showcase the latest innovations in vehicle mobility, with a focus on Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs) and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

Held at ACM's world-class proving grounds, the day will feature live demonstrations showcasing advanced CAV and ADAS technologies in real-world driving environments, tested against the latest standards. Industry leaders and partners will demonstrate how these systems are shaping the future of transportation by improving the safety of all road users. One of this year's most compelling live demonstrations at ACM's proving grounds features Michigan Technological University (MTU) showcasing a real-world application of CAVs, ADAS, and V2X communications. MTU will present its open CAV platform for development and participate in a mixed reality AV demonstration as part of the DOE ARPA-E NEXTCAR initiative.

The ACM powered by MTU team and partners will demonstrate a range of ADAS testing capabilities including a heated target with IR detection, NCAP ADAS VRU scenarios in collaboration with AB Dynamics, and heavy-duty vehicle-to-car AEB testing.

Additional exhibitors and demonstration partners will be announced leading up to the event.

Registration is $100 and includes lunch. https://cvent.me/RDkdWg. If you or your organization is interested in exhibiting, please contact [email protected] to secure your spot.

About American Center for Mobility

ACM offers a one-of-a-kind global development center to transform the way industries advance safe, sustainable, and secure mobility technologies. Located in Southeast Michigan on over 500-acres at the historic Willow Run site in Ypsilanti. ACM offers: an Advanced Mobility Proving Ground with test environments featuring specialized infrastructure, equipment, facilities and resources; An innovation and technology campus with an industrial tech park for the co-location of mobility companies; Event and demonstration areas for showcasing mobility technologies and convening industry activities. ACM is open to private industry, start-ups, government, standards bodies, and academia.

For more information about ACM, visit acmwillowrun.org .

SOURCE American Center for Mobility
ServiceAgent, an AI-powered call answering solution for home service businesses, today announced its official launch. ServiceAgent helps small American businesses in industries like roofing, plumbing, HVAC, solar, etc, handle customer calls 24/7 with intelligent, human-like AI agents. It ensures no lead is missed and every call gets answered.

AUSTIN, Texas, April 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ServiceAgent, built by the creators of the widely used cloud communication platform JustCall.io, today announced its launch. It aims to empower America's home services entrepreneurs with 24/7 AI-driven call answering technology.

As small-business optimism in the U.S. hits record highs, ServiceAgent aligns with the national push for economic revitalization championed by the Trump administration. President Trump recently stated, "the American dream is surging bigger and better than ever before." ServiceAgent.ai is designed to turn this optimism into tangible growth for home service companies by ensuring they never miss an opportunity due to unanswered calls.

"Small businesses are America's economic engine," said Gaurav Sharma, Founder of ServiceAgent.ai and CEO of SaaS Labs. "With ServiceAgent, we're leveraging AI to turn relentless hard work into success, helping business owners realize the American Dream."

Smarter Customer Communication, Around the Clock

ServiceAgent.ai deploys industry-specific AI agents trained on hundreds of thousands of real conversations from industries like plumbing, HVAC, roofing, and solar. These agents answer calls promptly, collect essential customer information, address FAQs, and soon, will directly book appointments. A seamless "human routing" feature is also in development, intelligently transferring urgent calls to live representatives.

Key benefits include:

24/7 Lead Capture: AI answers calls at all timesincluding nights and weekendscapturing leads that businesses previously missed. Owners receive immediate summaries and contact details from each call, boosting responsiveness and reducing lost opportunities.

AI answers calls at all timesincluding nights and weekendscapturing leads that businesses previously missed. Owners receive immediate summaries and contact details from each call, boosting responsiveness and reducing lost opportunities. Detailed Summaries & Transcripts: Every interaction is summarized clearly, allowing quick follow-ups without replaying lengthy voicemails, improving operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.

Every interaction is summarized clearly, allowing quick follow-ups without replaying lengthy voicemails, improving operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. Appointment Scheduling: ServiceAgent AI Agents can book service appointments directly into company calendars, significantly reducing administrative workload.

Early Customers Already Seeing Results

Several early adopters report substantial improvements:

Aurora Energy Solutions (Solar Installation, CO): Reduced call handling by nearly 100 hours monthly. "ServiceAgent frees our team to serve customers better and complete projects faster," says Aurora's team.

Reduced call handling by nearly 100 hours monthly. "ServiceAgent frees our team to serve customers better and complete projects faster," says Aurora's team. Greenflow Plumbing (CA): Eliminated missed after-hours calls entirely. "We're now capturing emergency plumbing leads we previously lost overnight to our competitors," notes Greenflow Plumbing.

Eliminated missed after-hours calls entirely. "We're now capturing emergency plumbing leads we previously lost overnight to our competitors," notes Greenflow Plumbing. Summit Peak Roofing (TX): Gained leads around the clock. "ServiceAgent generates leads even when we stop working, like having an employee who never sleeps," shares Summit Peak's owner.

Early users emphasize not just business gains, but quality-of-life improvements. "I no longer choose between family time and answering business calls," remarked one entrepreneur, underscoring the AI's practical impact.

Built for the American Small Business

Watch how ServiceAgent is helping grow home service businesses in America https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXkw2e5f6OE

The inspiration behind ServiceAgent.ai comes directly from understanding the everyday struggles of home service entrepreneurs - long hours, tight staffing, and constant multitasking. The platform's creators, many with personal ties to small business ownership, have crafted ServiceAgent with the mission of empowering "Main Street" businesses traditionally underserved by advanced technology.

Reflecting the administration's stance on supporting entrepreneurs and American industry, ServiceAgent.ai brings enterprise-level AI capabilities to even the smallest local businesses. This approach fosters fair competition, local job creation, and community economic growthkey tenets of President Trump's "America First" vision.

A Call to America's Entrepreneurs

ServiceAgent is now available nationwide, offering home service businesses an accessible and risk-free opportunity to modernize customer communications. Quick onboarding and straightforward customization mean companies can have an advanced AI receptionist operational in minutes.

"Our goal is simple," said Sharma. "Give America's hardest workers the tools to convert every potential lead into a real customerhelping their businesses flourish, one call at a time."

As small businesses continue driving U.S. economic growth, ServiceAgent.ai stands ready to ensure entrepreneurs capture every opportunity, strengthening communities and reviving the promise of the American Dream.

Contact:

Emma

***@serviceagent.ai

Photos:

https://www.prlog.org/13071853

Press release distributed by PRLog

SOURCE SaaS Labs US, Inc.
"We are thrilled to welcome Bob to our Board of Directors," said Heidi G. Petz, Chair, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sherwin-Williams. "His depth of leadership experience in the consumer products industry will enable him to engage on a variety of matters relevant to Sherwin-Williams' relentless focus on customer success, overall business strategy, and global operations. We look forward to his contributions to the Board, our Company, and our employees, customers, shareholders and other stakeholders in the years to come."

Mr. Gamgort has served as Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of Keurig Dr Pepper since 2022, and prior to that, as Chairman since 2019. He also served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Keurig Dr Pepper from the company's inception in 2018 until April 2024. Prior to the formation of Keurig Dr Pepper, Mr. Gamgort was the Chief Executive Officer of Keurig Green Mountain, a role he assumed in 2016. Mr. Gamgort also served as the Chief Executive Officer of Pinnacle Foods from 2009 to 2016, and he held various leadership roles at Mars, Inc. from 1998 to 2009, and Kraft Foods from 1986 to 1997.

Mr. Gamgort received a bachelor's degree in economics from Bucknell University and an M.B.A. from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.

About The Sherwin-Williams Company

Founded in 1866, The Sherwin-Williams Company is a global leader in the manufacture, development, distribution, and sale of paint, coatings and related products to professional, industrial, commercial, and retail customers. The Company manufactures products under well-known brands such as Sherwin-Williams, Valspar, HGTV HOME by Sherwin-Williams, Dutch Boy, Krylon, Minwax, Thompson's WaterSeal, Cabot and many more. With global headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio, Sherwin-Williams branded products are sold exclusively through a chain of more than 5,000 Company-operated stores and branches, while the Company's other brands are sold through leading mass merchandisers, home centers, independent paint dealers, hardware stores, automotive retailers, and industrial distributors. The Sherwin-Williams Performance Coatings Group supplies a broad range of highly-engineered solutions for the construction, industrial, packaging and transportation markets in more than 120 countries around the world. Sherwin-Williams shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: SHW). For more information, visit www.sherwin.com.

Investor Relations Contacts:

Jim Jaye

Senior Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications

Sherwin-Williams

Direct: 216.515.8682

[email protected]

Eric Swanson

Vice President, Investor Relations

Sherwin-Williams

Direct: 216.566.2766

[email protected]

Media Contact:

Julie Young

Vice President, Global Corporate Communications

Sherwin-Williams

Direct: 216.515.8849

[email protected]

SOURCE The Sherwin-Williams Company
LOS ANGELES, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ShipSaving , a leading shipping software provider for e-commerce businesses, announced the launch of its new and upgraded platform, designed to offer users greater control, automation, and flexibility throughout the shipping process.

The new ShipSaving system introduces a refreshed user interface and intuitive features that simplify day-to-day shipping tasks for online sellers, brands, and personal users. With the new system, users can easily manage orders, create discounted shipping labels, and monitor shipment statusesall in one place.

"At ShipSaving, our mission has always been to simplify and optimize the shipping experience for our customers," said Ivy Li, co-founder of ShipSaving and a recent honoree on Inc.'s 2025 Female Founders 500 list . "Last year, we expanded our services with the addition of FedEx platform account, giving users even more options on top of our competitive rates with USPS, UPS, and DHL Express. As the next step in our evolution, we're thrilled to introduce an upgraded platform that goes beyond the basics, providing sellers with the tools to ship smarter and scale with confidence."

ShipSaving's latest release addresses key pain points for e-commerce businesses by enhancing functionality across four critical areas:

Custom Branding Enhances Customer Experience: Users can now fully customize packing slips and tracking emails with their logos and brand colors. This feature helps businesses deliver a consistent, professional appearance throughout the customer journey, strengthening brand identity with minimal effort.

Users can now fully customize packing slips and tracking emails with their logos and brand colors. This feature helps businesses deliver a consistent, professional appearance throughout the customer journey, strengthening brand identity with minimal effort. Automated Tracking Reduces Customer Inquiries : With the introduction of automated tracking emails, businesses can cut down on the volume of order status inquiries. Customers now receive real-time shipping and delivery updates, improving communication and enhancing the overall post-purchase experience.

: With the introduction of automated tracking emails, businesses can cut down on the volume of order status inquiries. Customers now receive real-time shipping and delivery updates, improving communication and enhancing the overall post-purchase experience. Shipping Rules Boost Operational Efficiency: An upgraded shipping rules feature is now available, enabling businesses to automate shipping methods based on criteria such as SKU, weight, item quantity, total value, and destination. This enhancement reduces manual intervention and improves operational efficiency by automatically selecting carriers, package types, and shipping methods according to pre-set rules.

An upgraded shipping rules feature is now available, enabling businesses to automate shipping methods based on criteria such as SKU, weight, item quantity, total value, and destination. This enhancement reduces manual intervention and improves operational efficiency by automatically selecting carriers, package types, and shipping methods according to pre-set rules. Expanded FedEx Options with Up to 90% Off Rates: In addition to new features, ShipSaving users now have access to a broader range of FedEx domestic and international shipping services , along with FedEx shipping discounts of up to 90% off rates. The expansion offers greater flexibility to meet varying delivery speeds and budget requirements while helping businesses significantly reduce shipping costs.

"We're excited to expand our relationship with ShipSaving to continue making shipping easier for small and mid-sized businesses by streamlining shipping processes and providing access to the services businesses need to grow," said Jason Brenner, senior vice president, digital portfolio, FedEx.

ShipSaving's upgraded platform is now live, offering e-commerce businesses a seamless and efficient shipping experience. Trusted by over 50,000 online businesses across the U.S., ShipSaving delivers a smarter, more cost-effective way to ship. To learn more about ShipSaving's new system or to experience it firsthand, try it now .

About ShipSaving

Founded in 2019, ShipSaving is a leader in e-commerce shipping automation, integrating with 40+ leading carriers and e-commerce platforms. It provides users discounted shipping labels, easy order syncing, real-time shipping rates, package tracking, and more. Handling over 50 million shipments annually, ShipSaving is recognized as one of the best shipping software solutions for small and medium-sized businesses, helping them reduce costs, improve efficiency, and deliver exceptional customer experiences.

CONTACT: Iris Fu, [email protected]

SOURCE ShipSaving
Simply Spiked Tropical Variety Pack debuts with vibrant new pineapple-forward flavors, just in time for summer

CHICAGO, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Simply Spiked is turning up the heat for 21+ fans with the launch of its new Simply Spiked Tropical Variety Pack  a lively new addition to the brand's popular lineup of ready to drink offerings with 5% real fruit juice that is squeezed then concentrated.

Inspired by the tropical flavors that fans love, this new pack delivers a juicy escape with 5% real fruit juice that is squeezed then concentrated, 5% ABV, and just the right touch of carbonation. The Simply Spiked Tropical Variety Pack introduces two brand-new pineapple-forward flavors:

Simply Spiked

Signature Pineapple: The bright, juicy pineapple taste is a fresh wave of new flavor sending your taste buds on a one-way trip to the tropics.

The bright, juicy pineapple taste is a fresh wave of new flavor sending your taste buds on a one-way trip to the tropics. Mango Pineapple: Dive into ripe, juicy mango flavor with a splash of pineapple. This exotic blend of refreshingly tasty and sweetly satisfying flavors will have you on island time in no time.

As a bonus, Simply Spiked is giving its beloved Lemonade Variety Pack a flavor remix with the addition of Raspberry Lemonade, making its official debut in the lineup in time for summer, offering fans even more choices for summer refreshments.

"Simply Spiked is not just bringing pineapple to the party; it is really bringing Tropical vibes in a can," said Elizabeth Hitch, Vice President of Above Premium Flavor at Molson Coors Beverage Company. "With our latest innovation, Simply Spiked is giving fans a first-class ticket to flavor paradise."

Simply Spiked Tropical is available nationwide in 12-packs of 12-oz cans starting this spring and Simply Spiked Raspberry Lemonade can be found in the Simply Spiked Lemonade Variety Pack.

To celebrate responsibly and find Simply Spiked near you, visit drinksimplyspiked.com/locator . For more information about Simply Spiked and its products, follow the brand on social media at @drinksimplyspiked .

About Molson Coors Beverage Company

For more than two centuries, Molson Coors has brewed beverages that unite people to celebrate all life's moments. From our core power brands Coors Light, Miller Lite, Coors Banquet, Molson Canadian, Carling and Ozujsko to our above premium brands including Madri Excepcional, Staropramen, Blue Moon Belgian White and Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy, to our economy and value brands like Miller High Life and Keystone Light, we produce many beloved and iconic beers. While Molson Coors' history is rooted in beer, we offer a modern portfolio that expands beyond the beer aisle as well, including flavored beverages like Vizzy Hard Seltzer, spirits like Five Trail whiskey and non-alcoholic beverages like ZOA Energy. As a business, our ambition is to be the first choice for our people, our consumers and our customers, and our success depends on our ability to make our products available to meet a wide range of consumer segments and occasions.

Molson Coors Beverage Company is a publicly traded company that operates through its Americas and EMEA&APAC reporting segments and is traded on the New York Stock Exchange and Toronto Stock Exchange. To learn more about Molson Coors Beverage Company, visit molsoncoors.com.

SOURCE Molson Coors Beverage Company
AVAILABLE NOW AT A SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY PRICE OF ONLY $99

PARK CITY, Utah, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Skullcandy, in partnership with Bose, is breaking barriers in personal audio with the release of Method 360 ANC  a premium true wireless earbud engineered for high-quality audio, advanced noise canceling, and everyday style.

Method 360 ANC launches at an MSRP of $129.99, but fans can get in early at a special $99.99 introductory price. Designed for those who want it all  sound quality, comfort, and design  without breaking the bank, this is Skullcandy's most advanced audio experience to date.

Skullcandy, in partnership with Bose, is breaking barriers in personal audio with the release of Method 360 ANC. Post this Skullcandy, in partnership with Bose, is breaking barriers in personal audio with the release of Method 360 ANC  a premium true wireless earbud engineered for high-quality audio, advanced noise canceling, and everyday style.

"This product sets a new standard," said Justin Regan, VP of Marketing at Skullcandy. "We're launching at $99.99 because we want more people to hear what's next. But make no mistake  Method 360 ANC belongs in the premium tier."

Refined fit, redesigned experience: Method 360 ANC features an all-new slider charging case with a built-in O-ring clip, upgraded tactile finish, and up to 40 hours of battery life. The earbuds come with multiple sets of fit fins and gels that leverage licensed technology from Bose for a secure, ultra-comfortable fit and superior noise isolation.

Skullcandy Method 360 ANC with Sound by Bose technology is now available globally at Skullcandy.com (https://www.skullcandy.com/products/method-360-anc) and select retail locations. Consumers can choose from five unique colorways including Black, Bone, Primer, Plasma, and Leopard.

Technical Details Include:

Sound By Bose technology  Industry-leading audio tuning and performance.

Industry-leading audio tuning and performance. Battery Life  Up to 40 hours when ANC mode is turned off (11 in buds, 29 in case). Up to 32 hours when ANC mode is turned on (9 in buds, 23 in case).

Up to 40 hours when ANC mode is turned off (11 in buds, 29 in case). Up to 32 hours when ANC mode is turned on (9 in buds, 23 in case). Noise Isolating Fit  Ergonomic, ovalized design provides all-day comfort and a noise-isolating fit. Three different sized pairs of fit fins and three sets of ear gels, leveraging licensed technology from Bose, help ensure a perfect fit and block out unwanted sound.

Ergonomic, ovalized design provides all-day comfort and a noise-isolating fit. Three different sized pairs of fit fins and three sets of ear gels, leveraging licensed technology from Bose, help ensure a perfect fit and block out unwanted sound. Adjustable 4-Mic Hybrid Active Noise Canceling  Next-level premium noise cancellation with customizable Stay-Aware mode options.

Next-level premium noise cancellation with customizable Stay-Aware mode options. Low Latency Audio  Provides an optimal experience for watching videos or playing games.

Provides an optimal experience for watching videos or playing games. Auto On/Connect and Wear Detection

IPX4 Sweat + Water Resistant

Skull-iQ App Compatible  Unlock Method 360 ANC's full potential with the Skull-iQ App. Choose one of 3 preset EQ settings or customize your own, reconfigure the button functions, adjust your Stay-Aware or ANC modes, and more.

Unlock Method 360 ANC's full potential with the Skull-iQ App. Choose one of 3 preset EQ settings or customize your own, reconfigure the button functions, adjust your Stay-Aware or ANC modes, and more. Rapid Charge  A 10-minute charge provides 2 hours of playtime.

A 10-minute charge provides 2 hours of playtime. Clear Voice Smart Mic  Provides a reduction in background noise to ensure calls are crystal clear.

Provides a reduction in background noise to ensure calls are crystal clear. Spotify Tap Compatible

Preset & Custom EQ Modes

Google Fast Pair

Multipoint Pairing  Pair to multiple devices at once for seamless transitions.

Pair to multiple devices at once for seamless transitions. Natural Voice Sidetone for Calls  Counteract occlusion, allowing users to hear their own voice more naturally.

 Counteract occlusion, allowing users to hear their own voice more naturally. Bluetooth (v5.3) + LE Audio

Launch Event

Skullcandy debuted Method 360 ANC on April 15 during an exclusive event at Hall des Lumieres in New York City, where brand partners, top creators, and leading tech and lifestyle media got a first look.

The evening featured on-stage appearances by Skullcandy CEO Brian Garofalow, Bose CMO Jim Mollica, brand visionary Bimma Williams, and skate icon Tony Hawk, who also headlines the campaign launching alongside the product.

"Method 360 is legit  affordably killer sound," Tony Hawk, skate legend and Skullcandy brand ambassador.

For more information, visit Skullcandy.com or follow Skullcandy on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook.

About Skullcandy

Skullcandy is the original, irreverent, lifestyle audio brand, born of action in 2003 on a chairlift in Park City, Utah. On a mission to connect the fearless ones and amplify experiences while unleashing creativity on the mountains, beaches, and streets. With a deep commitment to boardsports communities, Skullcandy products deliver killer sound and performance with unique style. A full assortment of headphones, earbuds and portable speakers are created, tuned and tested to deliver music you can feel, specially engineered to provide a deeper, more immersive listening experience. Skullcandy designs, markets and distributes its audio products through a variety of distribution channels globally. The company's website can be found at www.Skullcandy.com.

"Skullcandy is an official licensee of Bose Corporation and Sound by Bose technology."

Media Contact:

Skullcandy

[email protected]

SOURCE SKULLCANDY
Landus' advanced drone and fixed-wing scouting is now available to all Iowa farmers

DES MOINES, Iowa, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Landus is empowering farmers to see their fields like never before with the launch of SkyScout, a new drone and fixed-wing scouting tool and cutting-edge aerial technology platform. SkyScout combines AI technology and predictive analytics to deliver timely and accurate insights into crop health so farmers can react quickly to disruptions and make data-driven decisions for greater future profitability.

SkyScout gives you the full picture  from emergence to harvest  with alerts and analysis in the palm of your hand.

"SkyScout gives farmers and growers an unprecedented advantage when it comes to accuracy and planning," says Sam Caton, interim CEO of Landus and Executive Vice President of Sales. "Growers are generally within 10 percent when predicting their yield  SkyScout can reduce that variability by 50 percent. The ability to make informed, real-time decisions ensures they get the best ROI."

When it comes to crop issues, time is of the essence. Using fixed-wing and drone scouting, SkyScout provides farmers with high-resolution aerial images of their fields every 12 days. SkyScout immediately alerts farmers to critical issues such as low emergence, weed pressure, crop stress, nutrient deficiencies, disease, and more. Its thermal imaging can predict disease outbreaks up to two weeks in advance and detect weeds, stress and disease with up to 95 percent precision.

What sets SkyScout apart is that farmers don't just receive raw data  Landus' team of agronomy experts reviews each field scan and provides customized recommendations.

"We understand that many growers may not have time to analyze complex data," says John Finneseth, Director of Technical Experts at Landus. "Our agronomists can translate the drone imagery into specific action items, whether that's targeted applications or addressing issues early before they spread."

The platform helps farmers optimize seed and tillage choices, fine-tune nitrogen and fertilizer applications, and identify hidden yield loss  translating technical data into practical decisions that directly impact profitability.

"As stewards of the land, our farmer-owners deserve tools that match their expertise," says Finneseth. "SkyScout brings advanced drone scouting into the hands of every Iowa farmer  supporting sustainable practices, early detection of issues, and smarter resource use."

Iowa farmers can sign up for SkyScout immediately. For pricing details and more information, contact your Landus sales representative or visit landus.ag.

About Landus

Landus is a forward-thinking agriculture solutions company that keeps the farmer at the center of every decision we make. We connect thousands of farmer-owners with the world through grain, agronomy, and distribution, deploying traditional and nontraditional methods fueled by innovation and sustainability. Our $3 billion business touches 34 states and 16 countries. To learn more about Landus, and the company's commitment to solving critical issues for the farmer of tomorrow, please visit: landus.ag.

SOURCE Landus
TORONTO, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Mastermind Toys, Canada's leading specialty toy and children's lifestyle retailer, today announced that Stephane Tetrault has made an equity investment in the company. This private transaction establishes Mr. Tetrault as a partner alongside co-owners Joe Mimran and Frank Rocchetti.

Mr. Tetrault, a French-Canadian entrepreneur, is the founder of Imports Dragon and co-owner of McFarlane Toys, bringing deep expertise in licensing, manufacturing, and toy innovation. With over 25 years in the toy industry, he has built Imports Dragon into one of Canada's fastest-growing toy companies (importsdragon.com) and helped propel McFarlane Toys to new heights as part of its ownership team (mcfarlane.com). His extensive experience developing licensed products and innovative toys will support Mastermind Toys' growth strategy and curated assortment.

"We are thrilled to welcome Stephane as a partner in Mastermind Toys," said Joe Mimran, co-owner of Mastermind Toys. "His proven track record in toy innovation and licensing complements our vision for Mastermind. As we evolve our assortment and expand into new categories, Stephane's expertise will help us bring even more exciting products to families across Canada, while maintaining our commitment to design and quality."

Mastermind Toys has been expanding its offerings beyond traditional toys. The company recently acquired Coco Village, a Quebec-based, French-Canadian design-led brand offering a beautiful assortment of modern toys, furniture, and decor for children. Coco Village operates its own direct-to-consumer business, is expanding through new wholesale relationships, and its products are now available through Mastermind's network of stores. In addition to Coco Village, Mastermind has introduced baby and toddler apparel lines such as Rise Little Earthling and an exclusive Ms. Rachel collection, reflecting the retailer's growth into a broader children's lifestyle brand. These initiatives, along with Mr. Tetrault's partnership, reinforce Mastermind's dynamic, forward-looking approach to retail and its positioning as a hub for curated, discovery-based play experiences.

"Mastermind Toys is a dynamic, forward-looking company committed to bringing discerning parents the very best in toys, books, and children's lifestyle brands that support development through play," said Stephane Tetrault. "I share that commitment and I'm excited to contribute my experience in licensing and product innovation. Together, we will build on Mastermind's 40-year heritage of play-based learning and drive its next phase of growth as Canada's premier specialty toy retailer."
Dr. Zweig's Integrative Sleep & ENT practice is recognized for being among a leading group of healthcare providers to receive this prestigious accolade. Her patients benefit from exceptional care and personalized treatment plans that cater to their unique needs with compassionate attention.

ALPHARETTA, Ga., April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Julie Zweig, a distinguished and board certified ear, nose, and throat (ENT) and sleep medicine specialist, has been honored as a 2025 Top Patient Rated Otolaryngologist by Find Local Doctors. This esteemed title is awarded to practices that have garnered an outstanding number of five-star ratings and superior reviews from highly satisfied patients. Find Local Doctors, a respected online directory, is devoted to helping consumers discover reputable physicians in their area. The recognition given to Dr. Zweig and her team underscores their dedication to providing top-tier care and achieving remarkable patient satisfaction.

Julie Zweig, MD Integrative Sleep & ENT

For over two decades, Dr. Julie Zweig has been dedicated to serving patients in the greater Atlanta area. At her practice, Julie Zweig, MD Integrative Sleep & ENT, she addresses a wide range of health issues, including insomnia, snoring, sleep apnea, nasal congestion, allergies, and hearing loss. Dr. Zweig specializes in hearing and hearing aids, offering comprehensive treatment in this area. She works closely with her patients to identify the root causes of their problems, providing long-term solutions for sleep and ENT disorders at her state-of-the-art clinic in Alpharetta, GA.

"It is always an honor to be recognized by Find Local Doctors. I strive to offer minimally invasive options to improve sleep, ear, nose, and throat issues and overall well-being," says Dr. Julie Zweig.

More about Dr. Julie Zweig:

Julie Zweig, MD Integrative Sleep & ENT is a leading practice in Atlanta, GA, specializing in treatment for a wide range of ENT disorders and sleep-related conditions. Dr. Julie Zweig is a dual board-certified ENT and Sleep Medicine specialist. She earned her Doctor of Medicine from Emory University School of Medicine and completed her residency at the University of Pittsburgh Eye and Ear Institute. The goal at Julie Zweig, MD Integrative Sleep & ENT is to not only relieve the symptoms but also find the root cause of ENT, allergy, sleep, hearing and other disorders. Julie Zweig, MD Integrative Sleep & ENT is located at 2650 Holcomb Bridge Road, Suite 510 in Alpharetta, Georgia. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please visit http://www.juliezweigmd.com or call 404-255-4080.

Media Contact

Dr. Julie Zweig

Julie Zweig, MD Integrative Sleep & ENT,

404-255-4080, [email protected], https://juliezweigmd.com/

SOURCE Julie Zweig, MD Integrative Sleep & ENT
SAN JOSE, Calif., April 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- (TSXV:SEV) (OTCQB:SPVNF) Spectra7 Microsystems Inc. ("Spectra7" or the "Company"), a leader in high-performance analog semiconductors for broadband connectivity markets, such as AI networks, hyperscale data centers, and AR/VR, today announced that it has filed its financial results for the year ended December 31, 2024.

A copy of the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024, and the corresponding management's discussion and analysis (the "MD&A") are available under the Company's profile on www.sedarplus.ca or through the investor relations section of the Company's website at www.spectra7.com.

Additionally, the Company is providing an update on its transaction with Parade Technologies, Ltd. ("Parade"), which was previously announced on March 7, 2025. The Company and Parade are parties to a definitive agreement (the "Purchase Agreement") under which Parade has agreed to acquire substantially all of the assets (the "Assets") of Spectra7 and its subsidiaries (the "Sale Transaction"). The Assets include intellectual property (IP), products, designs, inventory, and other specified items.

The purchase price (the "Purchase Price") for the Assets is US$9,000,000 (approximately CDN$12,933,001) in cash. On closing (the "Closing") of the Sale Transaction, Parade shall make a cash payment to Spectra7 equal to the Purchase Price, less: (i) the Bridge Loans (as defined below), and (ii) US$1,800,000 (approximately CDN$2,586,600) (the "Escrow Amount"). The Escrow Amount shall be deposited into escrow with a third-party escrow agent to cover certain potential indemnity claims by Parade until the date that is one year after the closing of the Sale Transaction (the "Escrow Release Date"). There can be no certainty as to the quantum of the Escrow Amount to be released.

Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, Parade has advanced loans to Spectra7 totaling US$750,000 (CDN$1,077,750) (collectively, the "Bridge Loans"), in order to assist Spectra7 to maintain its operations and carry on its business until Closing. The Bridge Loans (i) bear interest at the prevailing prime rate; (ii) are secured against certain assets of Spectra7 and its subsidiaries; and (iii) will be credited (including interest) at Closing against the Purchase Price. In the event that the Sale Transaction is not completed or the Purchase Agreement is terminated, the Bridge Loans become immediately payable by Spectra7 to Parade.

It is the intention of Spectra7 to distribute all of the net proceeds received from the Sale Transaction to its shareholders (other than dissenting shareholders) (the "Spectra7 Shareholders") and holders of pre-funded warrants. The Company anticipates making a special distribution (the "Special Distribution") to the Spectra7 Shareholders and holders of pre-funded warrants of all of the net cash proceeds received at Closing and one non-interest bearing contingent value right (each, a "CVR") for each common share or pre-funded warrant held on the record date for the Special Distribution. The distribution of the available Escrow Amount and any unused proceeds from the Sale Transaction shall be made to the holders of CVRs on a date to be determined by the Company as soon as possible following the Escrow Release Date. The cash portion of the Special Distribution shall be equal to the proceeds received by Spectra7 at the Closing less: (i) transaction costs including fees for financial and legal advisors, costs of the special meeting of Spectra7 Shareholders to be held to approve the Sale Transaction (the "Meeting"), escrow agent fees and fees payable to the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"); (ii) accounts payable and any employee severance and bonus costs; (iii) funds used for Spectra7's ordinary course expenses prior to Closing; and (iv) funds used by Spectra7 to continue to exist until on or after the Escrow Release Date.

The cash portion of the Special Distribution is estimated to be approximately US$1,070,000 (approximately CDN$1,537,590), or approximately US$0.0039 per share based on the share information below, and is expected to be made within two weeks after Closing. The reduction of the cash portion of the Special Distribution compared to prior disclosure by the Company is as a result of updated employee compensation obligations and governance, maintenance and wind-down costs amongst the Company's international operations. Assuming the Escrow Amount is released in full, the distribution to CVR holders is estimated to be US$1,800,000 (approximately CDN$2,586,600) or approximately US$0.0065 per share, and is expected to be made shortly following the Escrow Release Date.

As of the date of this release, the number of common shares of Spectra7 outstanding (assuming the exercise in full of all of the 100,035,411 outstanding pre-funded warrants and settlement of all outstanding restricted share units, but excluding the exercise or conversion of any other outstanding securities of Spectra7 previously issued by Spectra7) is 276,622,494 common shares. Based on the above estimates and the common share amounts noted above, the total Special Distribution, including the estimated payment to CVR holders, to the Spectra7 Shareholders is expected to be approximately US$2,870,000 (approximately CDN$4,124,190) or approximately US$0.0104 per share.

It is anticipated that Parade shall be employing the substantial majority of the Company's employees upon completion of the Sale Transaction.

Closing of the Sale Transaction is subject to various conditions, including the approval of the TSXV and approval of at least 66 2/3% of the votes cast by Spectra7 Shareholders at a Meeting to take place on April 17, 2025. As part of the Transaction, Spectra7 has entered into voting and support agreements with Spectra7 Shareholders holding approximately 60.44% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Spectra7, who have, among other things, agreed to vote their common shares of Spectra7 in favor of the Sale Transaction.

Additional details relating to the Sale Transaction are set out in the management information circular of Spectra7 mailed to Spectra7 Shareholders in connection with the Meeting.

The Sale Transaction is expected to close in the week following the Meeting assuming approval is granted by the Shareholders.

ABOUT SPECTRA7 MICROSYSTEMS INC.

Spectra7 Microsystems Inc. is a high-performance analog semiconductor company delivering unprecedented bandwidth, speed and resolution to enable disruptive industrial design for leading electronics manufacturers in virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, data centers and other connectivity markets. Spectra7 is based in San Jose, California with a design center in Cork, Ireland and a technical support location in Dongguan, China. For more information, please visit www.spectra7.com.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

CAUTIONARY NOTES

Statements in this press release contain forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "anticipates", "plans", "proposes", "estimates", "intends", "expects", "believes", "may" and "will". The forward-looking statements included in this press release, including statements regarding the Sale Transaction, the receipt of necessary Spectra7 Shareholder and TSXV approvals and satisfaction of other closing conditions, the anticipated timing of the meeting of Spectra7 Shareholders to approve the Sale Transaction and timing of Closing, the release of the Escrow Amount and the ultimate quantum and timing of the distributions payable to Spectra7 Shareholders upon Closing and release of the Escrow Amount.

In respect of the forward-looking statements and information included in this press release, Spectra7 has provided such in reliance on certain assumptions that it believes are reasonable at this time, including assumptions as to the timing of the Spectra7 Shareholder meeting, the ability of the parties to the Purchase Agreement to receive, in a timely manner and on satisfactory terms, necessary approvals to complete the Sale Transaction, the ability of such parties to satisfy, in a timely manner, the other conditions to the closing of the Sale Transaction, and assumptions related to the historical burn rate of Spectra7 and expenses becoming due prior to Closing. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Spectra7's control. Such risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to: the risk that the Sale Transaction may not be completed on a timely basis, or at all; risks that the conditions to the consummation of the Sale Transaction may not be satisfied; the risk that the Sale Transaction may involve unexpected costs, liabilities or delays; the risk that, prior to the completion of the Sale Transaction, Spectra7's business may experience significant disruptions, including loss of customers or employees, due to transaction-related uncertainty or other factors; the possible occurrence of an event, change or other circumstance that could result in termination of the Sale Transaction; risks that the Sale Transaction may have a negative impact on the market price and liquidity of the common shares of Spectra7; risks related to the diversion of management's attention from the Company's ongoing business operations; risks relating to the failure to obtain necessary Spectra7 Shareholder and TSXV approvals; risks related to trade tariffs and retaliatory trade measures, specifically between the United States and Canada; foreign exchange risk; the risk that Spectra7's burn rate until Closing is much higher than anticipated, or that there are unanticipated expenses that become due during such time; and other risks inherent to completing a cross-border transaction of this nature. Further, failure to obtain the requisite approvals or the failure of the parties to otherwise satisfy the conditions to or complete the Sale Transaction, may result in the Sale Transaction not being completed on the proposed terms, or at all. In addition, if the Sale Transaction is not completed, and Spectra7's business continues in its current form, the announcement of the Sale Transaction and the dedication of substantial resources to the completion of the Sale Transaction could have a material adverse impact on Spectra7's share price, its current business relationships (including with future and prospective employees, customers and partners) and on the current and future operations, financial condition and prospects of Spectra7.

When relying on forward-looking statements to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Details of additional risk factors relating to Spectra7 and its business, generally, are discussed under the heading "Business Risks and Uncertainties" in the MD&A, a copy of which is available on Spectra7's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities statutes or regulation, Spectra7 expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For more information, please contact:

Matt Kreps, Managing Director

Darrow Associates Investor Relations

[email protected]

214-597-8200

Spectra7 Microsystems Inc.

Omar Javaid

Chief Executive Officer

[email protected]

SOURCE Spectra7 Microsystems Inc.
We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution Engages Students in Learning about the U.S. Constitution in Inspiring Academic Competition

WASHINGTON, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Students from Oregon's Lincoln High School of Portland and Sprague High School of Salem both placed first in the We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution National Finals, an annual competition that brings together high school students from across the nation to answer challenging questions about the U.S. Constitution that concluded on April 11. Colorado's Denver East High School and Indiana's Fishers High School both placed second in the event, which was held at the National Conference Center in the Washington, D.C., area. These corrected competition results were issued today by the Center for Civic Education in order to address a scoring error. Full results and a statement from the organization can be found on the Center for Civic Education's website. The Center congratulates and celebrates all of the classes and students who competed in the National Finals.

Students Matthew Meyers (center left) and Colin Williams (center right) from Sprague High School in Salem, Oregon, placed first in the 2025 We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution National Finals, a three-day competition on the U.S. Constitution that took place April 9-11, 2025. They are shown here during the April 11 awards ceremony with Center for Civic Education Board member Tim Moore (left), teacher Jacqueline Pope Brothers (second from right), and Board Chair Pauline Weaver. (PRNewsfoto/Center for Civic Education) Oregon's Lincoln High School from Portland, Oregon, at the 2025 We the People National Finals. Both Lincoln High School and Sprague High School from Salem, Oregon, placed first in the We the People National Finals, a three-day competition on the U.S. Constitution that took place April 9-11, 2025. They are shown here during the April 11 awards ceremony with teacher Patrick Magee-Jenks (standing at left), Center for Civic Education Board member Tim Moore (standing, third from left) and Board Chair Pauline Weaver (standing, third from right).

"The We the People National Finals showcases the transformative power of civic education," said Dr. Donna Phillips, President and CEO of the Center for Civic Education. "Students have pushed themselves to explore the U.S. Constitution and its relevance in preparing for this experiential democratic simulation. Through research, collaboration and civil dialogue, they've explored the depths of their knowledge and their commitment to our fundamental values. This program proves that students from all over the country can become informed and engaged participants in American democracy. Their deep understanding of and dedication to the Constitution and American government will benefit themand our nationfor years to come. The support of our teachers, volunteers, and communities makes all of this possible, and we are inspired by the collective effort to continue to renew our democratic republic."

More than 1,000 students participated in the Center for Civic Education's We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution national competition on the U.S. Constitution on April 9-11. The competition results were announced at an awards ceremony Friday evening before an in-person audience of a thousand people, with several hundred more watching online.

The National Finals has taken place every year since 1988, when it was part of the Bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution. A total of 48 high school teams from 31 states and the District of Columbia participated in this year's events.

About the Center for Civic Education

For 60 years, the Center for Civic Education has been recognized as a leader in providing civic education to K-12 students and adults, with its research-based curriculum reaching more than 45 million students and 440,000 educators in the United States and in more than 80 countries since 1965. Learn more about the Center for Civic Education at www.civiced.org . Information on the We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution National Finals can be found at https://civiced.org/we-the-people/national-competitions/finals . Photos of students competing in the National Finals can be found here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjC8kX2 .

Media contact:

Mark Gage

Center for Civic Education

818-479-0947

[email protected]

SOURCE Center for Civic Education
Drivers in Newfoundland can now test drive the 2025 Honda Accord Sedan at the Steele Honda dealership.

ST. JOHN'S, Newfoundland, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Steele Honda in St. John's, Newfoundland, welcomes the 2025 Honda Accord Sedan to its expanding lineup of new vehicles. Designed with modern drivers in mind, this midsize sedan blends innovation, style and fuel efficiency. Engineered to provide both comfort and control, it presents an ideal option for daily commutes or weekend getaways. Featuring new tech and a redesigned profile, this model brings practicality and sophistication together. As a well-known dealership in Newfoundland, Steele Honda continues offering quality vehicles that meet evolving needs. Local drivers can now explore this sedan in person and schedule a test drive online or by phone.

2025 Honda Accord Blue on the road

Equipped with a 2.0-litre Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine, the hybrid powertrain generates an output of 204 hp and 247 lb.-ft. of torque. Paired with two electric motors, the sedan offers seamless torque and immediate acceleration. For those seeking gas-only performance, a 1.5-litre direct-injected 4-cylinder turbocharged i-VTEC engine delivers 192 horsepower and 192 lb.-ft. of torque.

Drivers benefit from fuel consumption rates of 5.3L/100km for hybrid variants. Technology takes center stage with a 12.3-inch color touchscreen on Touring Hybrid trim. Google built-in, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard on higher trims.

Safety remains a key focus. Honda Sensing technology now includes Traffic Jam Assist, Lane Keeping Assist and Adaptive Cruise Control. Ten airbags and Rear Seatbelt Reminder are standard on all trims.

An aerodynamic silhouette improves fuel economy while turning heads. Sporty accents, full-LED lighting and 19-inch wheels enhance visual appeal on upper trims. The cabin layout features refined materials, dual-zone climate control and available leather upholstery.

Test drives can be scheduled by calling 709-700-9911 or online through the dealership's official website. Their sales representatives assist with feature demonstrations and trim comparisons during the appointment.

Interested buyers can now find the 2025 Honda Accord Sedan at 4547 Kenmount Road, St. John's, NL A1B4J8. A wide range of trims and exterior colors are currently in stock. Hybrid models, including Sport-L Hybrid and Touring Hybrid, are available for eco-conscious drivers.

Financing is available with flexible terms and competitive rates. Customers can apply for pre-approval online to save time at the dealership. Trade-in evaluations and protection plans are also offered to help buyers maximize their investment.

Steele Honda remains committed to delivering transparent pricing, excellent service and award-winning Honda vehicles to the community.

SOURCE Steele Honda
CALGARY, AB, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Strathcona Resources Ltd. ("Strathcona" or the "Company") (TSX: SCR) today reported its voting results from its annual meeting of shareholders held on April 16, 2025 (the "Meeting"). All matters presented at the Meeting were approved including the election of all nine nominees listed in the management information circular dated March 4, 2025. The complete results of voting for business considered at the Meeting are set out below:

Voting Results

1. Election of Directors

The director nominees listed below were elected. The results of the ballot were as follows:

Nominee Votes For Votes Withheld

Number Percent Number Percent Adam Waterous 187,953,234 99.74 490,052 0.26 Cody Church 188,362,514 99.96 80,772 0.04 Andrew Kim 188,266,307 99.91 176,979 0.09 Steve Fagan 188,023,015 99.78 420,271 0.22 Connie De Ciancio 188,073,109 99.80 370,177 0.20 Navjeet (Bob) Singh Dhillon 188,249,460 99.90 193,826 0.10 Henry Hager 188,254,231 99.90 189,055 0.10 David Roosth 188,362,175 99.96 81,111 0.04 Connor Waterous 188,002,383 99.77 440,903 0.23

2. Appointment of Auditors

The appointment of Deloitte LLP as the Corporation's auditors was approved. The results of the ballot were as follows:

Votes For Votes Withheld Number Percent Number Percent 189,333,270 99.97 50,253 0.03

3. Confirmation of Amended and Restated By-Law No. 1

Strathcona's Amended and Restated By-Law No. 1 was confirmed. The results of the ballot were as follows:

Votes For Votes Against Number Percent Number Percent 187,912,103 99.72 531,183 0.28

About Strathcona

Strathcona is one of North America's fastest growing oil and gas producers with operations focused on thermal oil, enhanced oil recovery and liquids-rich natural gas. Strathcona is built on an innovative approach to growth achieved through the consolidation and development of long-life oil and gas assets. Strathcona's common shares (symbol SCR) are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX).

For more information about Strathcona, visit www.strathconaresources.com.

SOURCE Strathcona Resources Ltd.
CLYDEBANK, Scotland, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Students from Glasgow Kelvin College and members of the Institute of Refrigeration (IOR) were invited behind the scenes at West Dunbartonshire Council's Queens Quay Energy Centre in Clydebank, home to the UK's largest water-source district heat pump scheme.

Students from Glasgow Kelvin College tour Queens Quay Energy Centre Kelvin College Students

The award-winning project was designed and delivered by Vital Energi, with two 2.6MW ammonia-based heat pumps engineered and supplied by Star Refrigeration. The educational visit was jointly organised by Star Refrigeration, Vital Energi, and West Dunbartonshire Council. Industry experts Nicky Cowan (Star Refrigeration), Shannon O'Neil (Vital Energi), and Adam Strachan (IOR) provided attendees with detailed insights into the facility's operation, efficiency measures, and environmental benefits.

The Queens Quay heat pump system extracts thermal energy from the River Clyde to deliver low-carbon, affordable heating and hot water to local residential buildings, council facilities, and businesses. Water from the river passes through specialised self-cleaning filtration systems designed to remove debris and prevent mussel colonisation before being processed through titanium heat exchangers. Thermal energy is extracted from the water, which is then returned to the river approximately three degrees cooler. This captured energy is boosted by ammonia-based heat pumps to temperatures of between 75C and 80C for circulation within a 5-kilometre district heating network.

One key topic discussed during the visit was how recent upgrades to heat exchangers and radiator systems in connected buildings have optimised the network temperature, significantly improving system efficiency. Attendees also learned about the impacts of climate change, with the facility reporting higher river temperatures than historically recordedreaching up to 21C compared to past averages of 18C to 19C.

Nicky Cowan, Star Renewable Energy Manager at Star Refrigeration said: "Educational visits like these offer an invaluable experience for students and industry professionals. At Queens Quay, we were able to showcase not just the engineering innovations behind the UK's largest water-source heat pump scheme, but also highlight the practical challenges and solutions involved in delivering sustainable heating on a large scale."

"Engaging directly with the technology helps future engineers and industry specialists see firsthand the critical role heat pumps will play in achieving net zero heating. It's inspiring to see students connecting theoretical learning with real world applications and understanding how their skills can directly contribute to a more sustainable future".

Queens Quay represents a significant milestone for sustainable heating solutions in the UK, joining similar pioneering projects delivered in cities such as Bristol, Jarrow, and Liverpool. These successful district heating installations highlight the important role water source heat pumps will play in meeting national carbon reduction targets.

Plans are already in place to expand the network with additional heat pumps, a new thermal storage tank, and connections to hospitals and new residential developments. Nicky Cowan said, "One of the truly exciting things about this project is that, as it expands and more heat loads are connected, it will continue to become more efficient, which will lead to lower energy costs and higher carbon savings".

The continued growth of the Queens Quay district heating system which is planned to occupy 23-hectares, creating 1,000 private homes, 200 rented homes and the associated infrastructure to support them, demonstrates how low-carbon, locally powered heating can be delivered at scale. As more residents and businesses connect to the system, it serves as a practical model for communities across the country looking to support urban growth while meeting national climate goals.

SOURCE Star Refrigeration
MIAMI, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- OysterLink data, combined with search trends, shows summer job interest hitting a new record high in late March 2025 and early April. While the traditional peak remains around May, the data for March and April 2025 shows the highest level of interest recorded for this period, suggesting that job seekers are starting their searches earlier each year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the hospitality and leisure industry is one of the largest employers of seasonal workers, particularly during peak travel seasons such as summer and winter holidays. The summer hospitality high season in North America typically lasts from Memorial Day until Labor Day.

Google Trends data supports this surge: the search popularity score for summer jobs in mid-April 2025 is approximately 86. For comparison, it was around 73 at the same time last year, 66 the year before, and just 54 three years ago. The District of Columbia leads the nation with a search popularity score of 100, highlighting the intense demand for seasonal employment.

"We see this as a strong indicator that the summer job market is becoming increasingly competitive. Hospitality businesses should be proactive in their recruitment strategies to capitalize on this early surge and secure the best talent."  Milos Eric, General Manager at OysterLink, a job platform tailored to the hospitality and restaurant industry.

Data from OysterLink shows that Gen Z (ages 1824) continues to be a dominant force in the summer job market, particularly in hospitality and seasonal roles. As of MarchApril 2025, this age group represented 29.52% of all job applicants on the platform.

About OysterLink

OysterLink is a job platform dedicated to the restaurant and hospitality industry, providing career opportunities, market insights, and expert interviews. With over 340,000 monthly visitors and growing, OysterLink helps professionals navigate industry trends and connect with top employers.

For more information or to post a job, visit OysterLink or contact PR Representative Ana at [email protected].

SOURCE OysterLink
New pathway makes maximum use of renewable methane and much higher yield for the same amount of biogas by utilizing CO2 in feedstock

HOUSTON, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Syzygy Plasmonics has successfully completed performance testing of the world's largest all-electric GHG e-Reforming demonstration unit in Houston. After over 3000 hours of rigorous trials in Houston and Ulsan, South Korea with its cutting-edge Rigel Reactor, the unit demonstrates a critical breakthrough in low-cost, high-yield sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production.

Syzygy Plasmonics' Unit Sets New Standard for Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production Efficiency

Current approaches to SAF require expensive credits or a high price to cover production costs. Syzygy's novel approach uses inexpensive biogas that would otherwise be flared or sold at commodity prices into reasonably priced SAF. This monetizes stranded, valuable feedstock assets, fulfilling critical demand for low carbon aviation fuels. Biogas projects require expensive technologies to produce renewable natural gas (RNG) via CO2 separation. Syzygy's novel approach uses biogas directly from an anaerobic digester or landfills with minimal preparation to produce syngas for SAF or other industry standard renewable transportation fuels.

Syzygy's revolutionary biogas-to-SAF method is unlocking new possibilities. Its modular design monetizes valuable biogas sources from dairy farms, landfills, and wastewater sites into valuable biogas sources, without the need for pipelines or costly infrastructure.

"Syzygy's groundbreaking biogas-to-SAF technology is reshaping sustainable aviation fuel production. This demonstration plant achieves Syzygy's first major step in our mission to expand SAF production and transform energy. We will build on this milestone by continuing to enhance performance in Houston while developing biogas to SAF projects built around our technology globally." Trevor Best, CEO of Syzygy Plasmonics.

Syzygy will continuously enhance performance and test various feedstocks to support further project development opportunities, customer testing and validation of the GHG e-Reforming  unit capabilities.

To learn more about how Syzygy Plasmonics' technology can leverage your biogas feedstocks or meet your SAF supply needs, please contact Murtuza Marfani at [email protected].

About Syzygy Plasmonics

Syzygy Plasmonics, headquartered in Houston, Texas, has pioneered a disruptive platform technology that uses the power of light to meet significant challenges for the petrochemical industry in meeting the demand for lower carbon products, including sustainable aviation fuels. Syzygy continually innovates pathways to electrify fuel technologies and enable new market development.

SOURCE Syzygy Plasmonics
The academic health system is recognized for its commitment to providing exceptional maternity care and a positive patient experience.

TAMPA, Fla., April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Tampa General Hospital (TGH) has been recognized as one of America's Best Maternity Hospitals 2025 by Newsweek, marking the fifth consecutive year the academic health system has received this honor. This year, Tampa General is one of only eight hospitals in Florida to achieve a five-ribbon rating for earning top quality, patient experience and reputation scores.

Dr. Judette Louis with patient Katherine Thomas in maternity area of the TGH Women's Institute.

"Tampa General is committed to providing innovative and patient-centered perinatal care that is personalized to meet every family's unique needs," said John Couris, president and CEO of Tampa General. "We understand how foundational the perinatal care experience is to the health and well-being of mothers and their babies, and we are proud to offer unparalleled clinical expertise and compassionate support services powered by a team dedicated to creating a nurturing environment where families can thrive."

Tampa General has long been recognized for providing exceptional maternity care. The academic health system is also the only Baby-Friendly designated birth facility in Hillsborough County, underscoring the organization's commitment to supporting breastfeeding mothers and babies. This designation is awarded to hospitals and birthing centers that provide optimal care for breastfeeding mothers and babies and offer mothers the information and support needed to successfully initiate and continue breastfeeding.

Additionally, Tampa General has achieved a Level IV Maternal Care-verification by The Joint Commission, the highest designation possible. This designation encompasses a range of obstetric services, from routine prenatal care to high-risk obstetric and neonatal services, aimed at optimizing outcomes for both mothers and newborns

"I am incredibly proud of the award-winning care we have delivered to women and infants in our community and that, as a result of those efforts, Tampa General has once again been recognized as one of America's Best Maternity Hospitals by Newsweek," said Dr. Judette Louis, chief of the TGH Women's Institute, and James M. Ingram Professor and Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. "Our team of multidisciplinary experts is constantly researching and innovating to advance the field of obstetrics and gynecology, and our ability to translate these new learnings into clinical care positions us to continuously raise the bar and improve care outcomes for our patients."

Tampa General's Labor & Delivery Unit is designed to offer comfort and privacy, while also providing access to advanced technology. The unit features spacious, private rooms including TVs with internet access, on-demand movies and private showers and/or baths. Following delivery, mothers and babies stay together in the postpartum unit to promote parent-infant bonding.

Tampa General's Women's Institute and the Jennifer Leigh Muma Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) together provide care as one of just 11 Regional Perinatal Intensive Care Centers designated by the State of Florida. This allows USF Health and Tampa General providers to deliver the highest level of medical care 24 hours a day to premature and sick infants and to women with high-risk pregnancies.

"At Tampa General, we are committed to providing a nurturing and supportive environment where every family feels safe and cared for," said Nikki Hurley, interim vice president of the Muma Children's Hospital at TGH and TGH Women's Institute. "This recognition from Newsweek validates our team's dedication to creating a positive and memorable experience for every mother and child who comes through our doors. We are honored to be a part of their journey."

Newsweek's ranking of America's Best Maternity Hospitals 2025 recognizes facilities that have excelled in providing high-quality care for expectant mothers and their newborns.

The ranking was determined through a comprehensive analysis conducted by Newsweek in partnership with Statista, a leading data and business intelligence firm. The methodology considered several key factors:

Nationwide Online Survey: A survey of hospital managers and medical professionals with knowledge of maternity hospitals, including those specializing in perinatal care and operative obstetrics.





A survey of hospital managers and medical professionals with knowledge of maternity hospitals, including those specializing in perinatal care and operative obstetrics. Medical Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Data on hospital quality, with a focus on maternity-care-specific indicators from sources such as The Joint Commission, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).





Data on hospital quality, with a focus on maternity-care-specific indicators from sources such as The Joint Commission, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Patient Experience Surveys: Results from patient experience surveys, including feedback on topics such as hospital cleanliness and communication about medication.

The full list of Newsweek's 2025 America's Best Maternity Hospitals can be found here.

ABOUT TAMPA GENERAL HOSPITAL

Tampa General Hospital, a 981-bed, not-for-profit, academic health system, is one of the largest hospitals in America and delivers world-class care as the region's only center for Level l trauma and comprehensive burn care. Tampa General Hospital is the highest-ranked hospital in the market in U.S. News & World Report's 2024-2025 Best Hospitals, with two medical specialties ranking among the top 20 in the nation and eight medical specialties ranking among the top 50 best hospital programs in the United States. Tampa General Hospital has been designated as a model of excellence by the 2022 Fortune/Merative 100 Top Hospitals list. The academic health system's commitment to growing and developing its team members is recognized by three prestigious Forbes magazine rankings  in the top 100 nationally in the 2024 America's Best Large Employers, the top 50 in Florida in the 2024 America's Best Employers by State and the 2023 America's Best Employers for Women. Tampa General is the safety net hospital for the region, caring for everyone regardless of their ability to pay, and in fiscal year 2023, provided a net community benefit of approximately $301.8 million in the form of health care for underinsured patients, community education, and financial support to community health organizations in Tampa Bay. It was the nation's busiest adult solid organ transplant center in 2024 and is the primary teaching hospital for the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. With five medical helicopters, Tampa General Hospital transports critically injured or ill patients from 23 surrounding counties to receive the advanced care they need. Tampa General houses a nationally accredited comprehensive stroke center, and its 32-bed Neuroscience, Intensive Care Unit is the largest on the West Coast of Florida. It also is home to the Muma Children's Hospital at TGH, the Jennifer Leigh Muma 82-bed neonatal intensive care unit, and a nationally accredited rehabilitation center. Tampa General Hospital's footprint includes TGH North, which is comprised of three hospitals and several outpatient locations in Citrus and Hernando counties, 17 Tampa General Medical Group Primary Care offices, TGH Family Care Center Kennedy, two TGH Outpatient Centers, TGH Virtual Health, and 19 TGH Imaging outpatient radiology centers throughout Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Palm Beach counties. Tampa Bay area residents also receive world-class care from the TGH Urgent Care powered by the Fast Track network of clinics. To see a medical care professional live anytime, anywhere on a smartphone, tablet or computer, visit Virtual Health | Tampa General Hospital (tgh.org). As one of the largest hospitals in the country, Tampa General Hospital is the first in Florida to open a clinical command center that provides real-time situational awareness to improve and better coordinate patient care at a lower cost. For more information, go to www.tgh.org.

Media Contact: Beth Hardy, APR

Assistant Manager

Publications & Physician Communications

(727) 510-6363 (cell)

[email protected]

SOURCE Tampa General Hospital
PITTSBURGH, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On Friday, April 11th, The Advanced Leadership Institute (TALI) and Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School of Business (CMU) proudly celebrated the fourth graduating cohort of the Emerging Leaders Program (ELP). The 29 distinguished leaders who participated in the program exemplify the wealth of rising talent we have in the region. In the seven months leading up to graduation, participants benefited from world-class academic instruction, mentorship, and peer networking all customized to address the unique needs of Black professionals and their allies.

The Advanced Leadership Institute 2025 ELP Graduates Photo by Brian Cook

"Congratulations to this year's Emerging Leaders Program graduates! This cohort has been phenomenal," says Evan Frazier, President and CEO of The Advanced Leadership Institute. "After witnessing the graduates immerse themselves in the program, I know they will continue to succeed and thrive as high-performing leaders who will positively impact their organizations and our community."

"Supporting rising leaders and equipping them with the advanced tools and resources needed to make a difference is critical to building strong and innovative professional communities. The Emerging Leaders Program is an important part of that strategy, and we are proud of our academic partnership with TALI to make this possible.  Isabelle Bajeux-Besnainou, Dean, Richard P. Simmons Professor of Finance, Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School of Business.

At the ceremony, the graduates were joined by various members of the TALI and CMU families. TALI Alumna and Advisory Board Member Dr. Latika Davis-Jones, Secretary of Drug and Alcohol Programs, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania delivered the keynote address, while The Honorable Ed Gainey, Mayor of Pittsburgh delivered special remarks. The ceremony was held at the Carnegie Museum of Art.

Congratulations to the 2025 Emerging Leaders Program Graduates:

Danai Battle- Chief Operating Officer, ACH Clear Pathways

Marla Bradford- Equity Diversity & Inclusion Specialist, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank

Penelope Brady- HR Manager, Wabtec Corporation

Tearra Brown-Anderson- Store Leader, Giant Eagle

Janell Cross- AVP, Fair Banking Officer, Dollar Bank, FSB

John Davis- Executive Assistant/Office Manager, Carnegie Mellon University  College of Engineering, Dean's Office

Jesse Exilus- Deputy Solicitor, City of Pittsburgh

Brittany Ezell- Executive Assistant to the President & CEO, The Pittsburgh Foundation

Eno Frimpong- Manager, Compliance & Assurance, Helion

Rashawd Hatten- Supervisor, IT Governance, Risk & Compliance, Duquesne Light Company

Leen Huynh- Senior Software Engineer, Duolingo

Jennifer Kennedy- Learning and Development Consultant, UPMC

Robin Kenney- Store Leader, Giant Eagle Inc.

DaMarra (Underwood) King- Birth to Five Manager, Allegheny County Department of Children Initiatives

Maymary Laideson- SCADA Engineer, CNX Resources

Marissa Lay- Manager of Networking Contracting, Helion

Paige McKenzie- Women's Veterans Program, Program Assistant, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System

Cheyenne Pettiford- Lead  Learning & Development, American Eagle Outfitters

Paige Phillips- Project Manager, Oregon State University

Fatimah Pillow- Senior Distributions Operations Manager, Giant Eagle

Brazitte Poole- Assistant Counsel, Employment Labor, UPMC

Daymon Randolph- Client Solution Manager, PNC

Ceari Robinson- Loyalty Marketing Coordinator, American Eagle Outfitters

Alize Strickland- K-8 Family Engagement Coordinator, Homeless Children Education Fund

Quinton Thorne-Calhoun- Market District Executive Store Leader, Giant Eagle

Michael Thornhill- Author & Consultant, VIVA412

Eric Twum-Barimah- Principal Scientist & Team Lead, Covestro

Wendell Wade- Merchant Sales Leader, PNC

Eric Watson- Assistant Plant Manager, Koppers

The Emerging Leaders Program is now open for new applications for the 2026 cohort. Early managers with at least three to five years of professional work experience in the corporate, nonprofit, government, or entrepreneurial sectors are encouraged to apply. The program, which leverages course content delivered by CMU and in collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh, Robert Morris University, and Duquesne University, educates, develops, connects, and positions professionals at earlier stages of their career for higher levels of leadership responsibility. TALI equips rising leaders with the strategies, insights, and networks needed to thrive. Our programs are open to people of all ethnic and racial backgrounds. For more information on how to apply, visit: https://taliinstitute.org/leadership-programs-2/emerging-leaders-program-2/

About The Advanced Leadership Institute (TALI)

The mission of The Advanced Leadership Institute is to strengthen companies, institutions, and communities by cultivating leadership through world-class executive education programs tailored to support, develop, and retain Black leaders and their allies. While TALI's programs specialize in content relevant to developing Black leaders, race is not a criteria for program participation and the programs, though competitive, are open to all qualified applicants. Course content for TALI programs is delivered through an academic partnership with Carnegie Mellon University, while programming is made possible by the support of major corporations and foundations in the Pittsburgh region, including Lead Founding Underwriters: BNY Mellon Foundation of Southwestern Pennsylvania and Richard King Mellon Foundation; Founding Underwriter: Highmark Foundation; Excellence Partners: Eden Hall Foundation and Henry L. Hillman Foundation; Lead Contributor: The Heinz Endowments; Presenting Sponsors: Giant Eagle, Highmark Health, PNC, and UPMC; Gold Sponsors: American Eagle Outfitters, Bank of America, Buchanan, CNX, Covestro, Dollar Bank, Duolingo, Duquesne Light Company, FedEx Corporation, Koppers, PPG, The Pittsburgh Foundation, and Wabtec; and Silver Sponsors and Bronze Sponsors, which can be found on TALI's website.

For information about The Advanced Leadership Institute, visit www.taliinstitute.org

SOURCE The Advanced Leadership Institute
China, Vietnam reaffirm commitment to closer ties, broader cooperation

Xinhua) 08:24, April 16, 2025

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, and To Lam, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, greet the crowd after a grand welcome ceremony as they walk to the CPV Central Committee headquarters for talks in Hanoi, Vietnam, April 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

* This year marks the 75th anniversary of China-Vietnam diplomatic ties, a milestone in the two nations' profound traditional friendship featuring "camaraderie plus brotherhood."

* China and Vietnam, Xi said, should give full play to their geographical advantages of being connected by land and sea, strengthen the alignment of development strategies and tap the potential of industrial cooperation.

* Particularly, noting that young people are the future and hope of the cause, Xi announced that in the next three years, China will invite Vietnamese youth to China for "Red Study Tours."

HANOI, April 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping wrapped up his state visit to Vietnam on Tuesday with the two neighbors pledging joint efforts to accelerate the building of a community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.

To that end, the two sides agreed to work together for stronger political mutual trust, more substantive security cooperation, deeper practical cooperation, more solid popular foundation, closer coordination on multilateral affairs and better management of differences.

Before leaving for Malaysia to continue his three-nation Southeast Asia tour, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said he has full confidence in the future of China-Vietnam relations.

SHARED VISION FOR SHARED FUTURE

This year marks the 75th anniversary of China-Vietnam diplomatic ties, a milestone in the two nations' profound traditional friendship featuring "camaraderie plus brotherhood."

During Xi's state visit to Vietnam in December 2023, the two sides agreed to build a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance on the basis of deepening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

In his talks with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam on Monday, Xi called for further efforts to fulfill the vision.

The two countries should work to advance their comprehensive strategic cooperation with high quality, ensure steady and sustained progress in building a China-Vietnam community with a shared future, and contribute even more to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi said.

Building the China-Vietnam community with a shared future carries great global significance, Xi said, noting that as the two countries jointly pursue peaceful development, their combined population of over 1.5 billion is jointly advancing toward modernization, which will contribute to regional and global peace and stability while promoting common development.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, holds talks with To Lam, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, at the CPV Central Committee headquarters in Hanoi, Vietnam, April 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

To Lam, for his part, said that Xi's visit would definitely mark a new milestone in the history of friendly exchanges between the two parties and countries, further advancing the building of a Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.

Nguyen Thi Phuong Hoa, a researcher at the Institute for Asia-Pacific Studies under the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, said the effort to build a Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance reflects both the continuation and the deepening of the enduring friendship between the two countries.

"It is built on the foundation of political trust, the promotion of commonalities and especially the sharing of benefits and mutual concerns," she said. "The ultimate goal is to bring benefits to the people of both nations, support each country's development, and contribute to regional peace and stability."

Over the past year, the agreement on building a Vietnam-China community with a shared future has already injected fresh momentum into the bilateral relationship, said Nguyen Vinh Quang, vice president of the Vietnam-China Friendship Association, noting that businesses from both sides have demonstrated increased confidence in each other.

MARCH TOWARD MODERNIZATION

On Monday, the Chinese president also urged the two countries to deepen cooperation across various fields and march toward modernization hand in hand.

While meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Xi called on the two countries to intensify high-level exchanges, strengthen strategic communication, and jointly oppose hegemonism, unilateralism and protectionism.

He called on the two sides to implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, so as to jointly safeguard international fairness and justice, and defend peace, stability, development and prosperity in Asia and beyond.

China and Vietnam, Xi said, should give full play to their geographical advantages of being connected by land and sea, strengthen the alignment of development strategies and tap the potential of industrial cooperation.

He also called on the two countries to steadily advance cooperation in infrastructure development, enhance connectivity and ensure a smooth flow of trade.

The two countries should firmly uphold the multilateral trading system, and work together to push for economic globalization that is more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial to all, he added.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, meets with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee headquarters in Hanoi, Vietnam, April 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

In his meeting with Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam Tran Thanh Man, Xi pointed out that his state visit to Vietnam once again allowed him to witness the new achievements in Vietnam's cause of Doi Moi (reform) and personally experience the profound foundation of China-Vietnam friendship.

Facing an international landscape fraught with changes and turbulence, Xi said, China and Vietnam should strengthen confidence in their paths and systems, enhance solidarity and coordination, continue to build the China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, join hands to march toward modernization, and inject more stability and positive energy into the world.

CARRY FORWARD TRADITIONAL FRIENDSHIP

As this year is also designated the China-Vietnam Year of People-to-People Exchanges, a series of activities have been organized and planned to further cement the public support of bilateral relations.

During his meeting with representatives of the Chinese and Vietnamese People's Friendship Meeting on Tuesday, Xi said that over the years, the peoples of China and Vietnam have stood together through thick and thin, and have jointly written a glorious chapter in the history of China-Vietnam friendship.

He emphasized that China-Vietnam friendship has taken root and sprouted through mutual support between the two peoples, and has blossomed and borne fruit through their solidarity and coordination.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam and Vietnamese President Luong Cuong jointly launch the "Red Study Tours" project at the International Convention Center in Hanoi, capital of Vietnam, April 15, 2025. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

Xi told To Lam during their talks that the two sides should take this year as an opportunity to organize more people-oriented exchange activities, and enhance cooperation in tourism, culture, media, public health and other fields.

While meeting with Pham Minh Chinh, Xi urged the two sides to ensure the success of activities celebrating the 75th anniversary of China-Vietnam diplomatic ties and the China-Vietnam Year of People-to-People Exchanges, so as to tell the stories of friendship, mutually beneficial cooperation, as well as their joint pursuit of modernization.

Particularly, noting that young people are the future and hope of the cause, Xi announced that in the next three years, China will invite Vietnamese youth to China for "Red Study Tours."

That, he added, will help the younger generation of both countries better understand the hard-won nature of the socialist countries and the great value of China-Vietnam good-neighborliness and friendly cooperation, and will cultivate greater vitality for the development of bilateral relations and the two countries' respective national development.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Conservative MPs attack Carney for his work at Brookfield. They also invested in its companies

Conservative deputy leader Melissa Lantsman is one of six MPs who directly own shares in Brookfield Corp. or its related companies. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press - image credit)

Six Conservative MPs, including the party's deputy leader, disclosed last year they personally invested in companies related to Brookfield Corp., despite attacking Liberal Leader Mark Carney for his work chairing one of its spinoff companies.

Deputy leader Melissa Lantsman reported in 2024 she personally held an undisclosed number of shares with Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P., documents from the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner show. The company is based in Bermuda, which is considered an offshore tax haven.

Brookfield Renewable invests in renewable energy assets and said in its annual report it broke records last year for its strongest "financial results ever."

Lantsman, the Conservative candidate in the Ontario riding of Thornhill, took direct aim at Carney and offshore tax havens during the first week of the campaign.

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"Mark Carney dodged Canadian taxes using offshore tax havens while running Brookfield [Asset Management]," she posted on X on March 26 . "He's gotta answer for why he put his personal profits ahead of Canadians  and whether he's still cashing in on this scheme. Canadians deserve a leader who puts Canada first, not Mark Carney first."

Carney has cited both his work in the private sector and as governor of Canada and the United Kingdom's central banks as credentials for Canadians to trust him in trade war negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump. But the Conservatives have sought to portray Carney's work with Brookfield as showing he's a corporate elite and not in it for Canadians.

Lantsman included a picture of a CBC News story with her post on X about Carney personally co-chairing two investment funds during his time at Brookfield Asset Management worth a total of $25 billion that were registered in Bermuda, among other locations. They allowed investors to benefit from significant tax advantages, according to information obtained by Radio-Canada.

A Brookfield spokesperson said the company and its affiliates are committed to adhering to all applicable tax rules in Canada and other jurisdictions in which they do business. Carney has also defended registering the funds in Bermuda, saying it was a question of "efficiency," not tax avoidance.

Five other Conservative MPs  Cheryl Gallant, Scott Reid, Scot Davidson, Stephen Ellis and Greg McLean  also disclosed last year they owned stocks with Brookfield Corp or related companies, as first reported by the Investigative Journalism Foundation.

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McLean's campaign says he held shares in a different company that was taken over by Brookfield, and later sold the shares after his 2024 disclosure.

Reid told CBC News in an email that this information is public because he posted information about his holdings on his website. Reid reported in 2024 holding Class A limited voting shares in Brookfield Corp. and units with Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. (which was also formed in Bermuda, according to a Brookfield report).

Reid said he's gone further and publicly disclosed all of his correspondence with the government's ethics commissioner on his own website about his "far larger ownership stake in Giant Tiger" for "maximum transparency."

"Now, please contrast this with Mr. Carney's behaviour," Reid wrote. "He has disclosed to the ethics commissioner, but refuses to disclose to Canadians, as I have done  and he's the prime minister of Canada, while I'm just a lowly MP."

'Egg on their face'

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre claimed on Sunday that Carney is refusing "to tell Canadians what investments he continues to own or even where he pays his taxes."

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Carney has repeatedly said that aside from cash and real estate, all of his assets are in a blind trust that he has no control over and this week said he pays taxes in Canada . Carney has not said what exactly those investments included.

The Liberal leader has also said that in co-ordination with the ethics commissioner he's set up "screens" to avoid potential conflicts of interest related to his past work, including at Brookfield.

While Poilievre has repeatedly criticized Carney's involvement in Brookfield, his party disclosed he's invested in Vanguard FTSE Canada Index ETF, which in turn invests in dozens of companies including Brookfield Asset Management and Brookfield Corporation, as first reported by the Toronto Star.

Brookfield Asset Management was founded in 2022 as a spinoff of the asset management operations at Brookfield Corporation.

Political science professor at Dalhousie University, Lori Turnbull, says it's hypocritical for the Conservatives to be making a case against Carney for his time at Brookfield when they are investing or had investments with Brookfield companies.

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"They can't really have genuine issues with how this organization practises business because if they did, they wouldn't invest in it," said Turnbull. "It's a bit of an egg-on-their-face moment for the Conservatives."

But Turnbull said while this issue has helped the Conservatives drive a narrative against Carney as being a rich elite who potentially practises business in a way to save money for his company or avoid taxes, there's a risk of them continuing with that argument.

"Now there's a risk associated with them keeping this narrative about Brookfield because they'll look hypocritical doing it," she said.

Turnbull also doesn't think this is an issue that is going to decide this election "by any stretch."

WATCH | Carney says Brookfield pension funds in Bermuda 'abide by the rules':

A spokesperson for the Conservative Party, Sam Lilly, says after U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff threats, Poilievre sold off all his investments in foreign economies to invest in major index funds (ETFs) in "nearly 50 companies across the Canadian economy."

Lilly said Poilievre doesn't control the activities of these ETFs and discloses them to the ethics commissioner.

"Unlike Mark Carney, Conservative MPs have disclosed their financial interests which are public for all to see," Lilly said. "And unlike Mark Carney, Conservative MPs were not running Brookfield and were not intimately involved in Brookfield's decision-making practices. Mark Carney must answer for Mark Carney's decisions."

Lilly also said Opposition MPs are not in a position to directly make decisions to benefit Brookfield and pointed the finger at Carney.

"Mark Carney should immediately publish his assets and the details of his conflict of interest plan and screens so voters can judge well before election day," Lilly wrote in a statement.

The Conservative Party did not say if their MPs still hold their assets related to Brookfield.

CBC News has not received a response from Lantsman and other MPs it reached out to for comment.
AARP NY, District Attorney Bragg, and Councilmember Menin

to Kick Off State-wide events

NEW YORK, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Tax documents, old bills, cancelled policies and checks all can lead to fraud, so to counter identity thieves and fight back against scams, AARP New York, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Manhattan Councilmember Julie Menin and office of Assemblymember Rebecca Seawright launched The Big Shred NY! today at The Center @ Lenox Hill Neighborhood House in Manhattan.

From left to right: Manhattan Councilmember Julie Menin, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Rachel Bender, Chief Program Officer at Lenox Hill Neighborhood House and Beth Finkel, AARP New York State Director. Photo courtesy: AARP New York

With scams targeting New Yorkers at an all-time high, AARP New York staff and volunteer are committed to providing access to popular shredding events with 27 locations around the state where New Yorkers can safely dispose of their outdated personal papers to help keep their identities safe. Over 500 people signed up for the first two free shredding events scheduled today in Manhattan.

The events continue throughout New York State until May 10, 2025, to coincide with the end of the tax season.

"Fraud cost Americans $12.5 billion last year  including over $500 million in losses right here in New York," said Beth Finkel, AARP New York State Director. "Our popular shredding events empower New Yorkers to take back control and protect their important personal data. The Big Shred NY! is free, secure, and effective  and with scams becoming more sophisticated, it's critical we don't overlook this simple yet powerful protection against financial fraudsters.

Fraud on the Rise  Especially Targeting Older Adults

Financial exploitation of older adults continues to rise. Reported theft through fraud topped $12.5 billion in 2024, according to the 2024 report by Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The total is 25% higher than reported in 2023. In New York State, there was a total of 118,933 fraud reports made to the FTC, with $534 million in losses. In cases where ages were documented, there were 28,578 fraud reports from people over 50, with a total loss of $159 million.

"Far too often we see scammers taking advantage of older adults by stealing their sensitive information. To prevent fraud, protect yourself and your loved ones by shredding your documents that contain personal details," said District Attorney Bragg. "My office will continue to hold fraudsters accountable. If you believe that you, or someone you know, has been the victim of financial fraud, please call us at 212-335-8900."

"I am proud to team up with AARP New York on this important shredding event," said Assemblymember Rebecca A. Seawright, Chair of the Aging Committee and lead sponsor of the elder fraud bill. "Shredding is a reliable method to help protect against financial scams, particularly those targeting aging adults. I find it unconscionable that so many of our aging neighbors are left vulnerable to devastating financial fraud. That's why I was lead sponsor of the elder fraud bill to enact more robust fraud protection mechanisms. As Aging chair and as Assembly Member of the largest concentration of older adults in Manhattan, I will continue to marshal every resource to protect aging New Yorkers and their hard-earned finances."

"At Lenox Hill Neighborhood House, we're proud to host AARP New York's 'The Big Shred NY!' as part of our ongoing commitment to community engagement and empowerment. This initiative aligns with our mission to improve lives and strengthen communities. By providing a secure space for New Yorkers to safely dispose of sensitive documents, we're helping our neighbors take a practical step against identity theft while fostering community connections. Collaborations like this one with AARP New York, Assemblymember Seawright, and District Attorney Bragg demonstrate how collaboration across sectors creates meaningful solutions to protect our most vulnerable community members," said Rachel Bender, Chief Program Officer at Lenox Hill Neighborhood House.

Fighting Fraud on All Fronts  Advocacy, Awareness, and Free Resources

AARP New York is also:

Advocating for legislation to strengthen laws that will protect -New Yorkers from financial exploitation. Some common scams include: the grandparent scam, when someone calls and poses as a grandchild in trouble who needs money; fake toll collection texts saying you owe money to EZ Pass; and cryptocurrency scams, which use dating apps to lure people into buying crypto for the scammer.

scams, which use dating apps to lure people into buying for the scammer. Launching, " Fraud Fridays"  a new weekly digital series on @AARPNY's Instagram that raises awareness about the latest scams targeting New Yorkers, highlights warning signs, and arms New Yorkers with fraud prevention tips to help spot  and stop  the scam. Fraud Fridays will drop weekly on AARP New York's Instagram page at Instagram.com/aarpNY .

 a new weekly digital series on @AARPNY's Instagram that raises awareness about the latest scams targeting New Yorkers, highlights warning signs, and arms New Yorkers with prevention tips to help spot  and stop  the scam. Fridays will drop weekly on AARP New York's Instagram page at . Offering free tools and hotline at aarp.org/NYStopFraud to help people recognize and report scams.

Shredding events are held outdoors; some are walk-up, and some are drive-through. All The Big Shred NY! events will be open to the public. Visit aarp.org/NYStopScams for exact dates, times and locations.

Those wishing to attend the shredding events must limit materials to three bags. The events conclude when the on-site trucks are full, but the sites may close early if trucks fill up. Paper only and no magazines, newspapers, books, or cardboard. Shredding services are free and open to the public.

Spring-cleaning checklist to rid your home of paper with sensitive info:

Old Documents: Papers that carry your Social Security number, birthdate, signature, account numbers, passwords or PIN numbers.

Papers that carry your Social Security number, birthdate, signature, account numbers, passwords or PIN numbers. Banking : Canceled or unused checks. Shred deposit slips and ATM and credit card receipts.

: Canceled or unused checks. Shred deposit slips and ATM and credit card receipts. Credit Cards: Preapproved credit card applications and incentive/gift checks from credit card companies.

Preapproved credit card applications and incentive/gift checks from credit card companies. Medical: Unneeded medical bills.

Unneeded medical bills. Investments: Investment account statements.

Investment account statements. Obsolete ID cards: Expired driver's licenses, medical insurance cards and passports.

In 2013, AARP launched the Fraud Watch Network to arm Americans with proven tools to fight back against identity theft and scams. The AARP Fraud Watch Network equips people with reliable, up-to-date insights, and a free Fraud Network Helpline is available to help you and your loved ones.

For the latest tips on how to keep yourself safe from identity theft fraud, visit aarp.org/NYstopfraud.

Connect with AARP New York on X: @AARPNY and Facebook: AARP New York

Over 500 people signed up for the first free shredding event scheduled today in Manhattan. AARP staff along with Manhattan Councilmember Julie Menin, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Rachel Bender, Chief Program Officer at Lenox Hill Neighborhood House and Beth Finkel, AARP New York State Director.

About AARP

AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the nation's largest circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org/about-aarp/, www.aarp.org/espanol or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspanol and @AARPadvocates on social media.

Shredding services will be performed by a third party. All documents and information provided for shredding are subject to that party's privacy and informational security policies.

SOURCE AARP New York
Entrepreneurs Find Success Through a Proven Franchise Model and Strong Support System

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Owning a business is more than just making a livingit's about building something that lasts. The Brothers That Just Do Gutters, a leader in gutter installation and maintenance and member of Evive Brands, has helped entrepreneurs across the country create thriving, long-term businesses backed by a proven system of support, training, and mentorship.

One of the franchise's most inspiring success stories is Josh Bowie, owner of The Brothers That Just Do Gutters Northeast Atlanta, who was named 2024 Franchisee of the Year by the International Franchise Association (IFA). Recognized at the IFA Annual Convention in Las Vegas, Bowie was honored for his outstanding leadership, commitment to community service, and mentorship of fellow franchisees.

"Josh exemplifies what it means to be a leader within The Brothers That Just Do Gutters," said Danny Horboychuk, Brand President of The Brothers That Just Do Gutters. "His dedication to excellence, his mentorship of fellow franchisees, and his impact on his local community show exactly what's possible when you invest in the right franchise model and put in the work to grow your business."

Bowie has achieved Million Dollar+ status, earning multiple awards at the company's National Conference. His success extends beyond financial milestoneshe has been recognized as Franchisee MVP of the Year and plays a key role in mentoring other owners, leading peer groups, and supporting new franchisees as they launch and expand their businesses.

For aspiring business owners looking to follow Bowie's path, The Brothers That Just Do Gutters provides an industry-leading franchise opportunity with comprehensive training, marketing resources, and ongoing operational support. Franchisees benefit from a proven system that helps them build scalable, profitable businesses while making a meaningful impact in their communities.

"Franchising with The Brothers That Just Do Gutters isn't just about installing guttersit's about creating a strong, sustainable business that can grow for years to come," added Horboychuk. "We are committed to helping franchisees build businesses they can be proud of."

To learn more about franchise opportunities with The Brothers That Just Do Gutters, visit www.brothersgutters.com.

Media Contact: Rhonda Grundemann, Evive Brands, 602-739-8810 [email protected]

SOURCE The Brothers that just do Gutters
PITTSBURGH, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Giorgio Foundation and the University of Pittsburgh announce the establishment of The Giorgio Foundation Endowed Chair in the School of Medicine's Department of Neurosurgery with a total commitment of $2 million. This gift will support groundbreaking research in neurological conditions, with a specific focus on neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) in both pediatric and adult patients.

The Giorgio Foundation has pledged $1 million to endow a fund at the University of Pittsburgh with all proceeds from the fund directly supporting the chair's mission.

The School of Medicine will add an additional $500,000 to the fund and has committed to securing another $500,000 to be held in the endowed account, bringing the total endowment to $2 million.

"The chair's primary focus will remain on advancing research and treatment for this condition until we cure neurofibromatosis type 1," said Anantha Shekhar, senior vice chancellor for the health sciences and John and Gertrude Petersen Dean of the School of Medicine at Pitt. "The Giorgio Foundation has long been a champion of this area of medicine. By creating a chair, the foundation ensures that Pitt remains at the forefront of innovation and discovery, helping to bring us closer to new treatments for patients."

Supporting Cutting-Edge Neurological Research

The Giorgio Foundation Endowed Chair will support:

Recruitment and salary of a distinguished faculty member in the Department of Neurological Surgery

Professional development, research, and scholarly activities related to NF1 and other neurological conditions

Critical academic initiatives within the department to drive innovation in neurosurgical treatments and therapies

"The Giorgio Foundation's generosity will create a lasting impact on neurological research, especially for NF1," said Dr. Sameer Agnihotri, director of the Brain Tumor Biology and Therapy Lab. "This partnership exemplifies how philanthropy can drive scientific progress and bring us closer to life-changing breakthroughs."

Recognizing Philanthropic Leadership

In recognition of this extraordinary gift, the endowed position will be named The Giorgio Foundation Endowed Chair.

"Since the beginning of this journey, a significant part of our mission has been to create a legacy of truly groundbreaking NF1 research. We believe that Dr. Sameer Agnihotri and his lab at the University of Pittsburgh are on an incredible path toward that goal, and we are excited to create an endowment that will help to continue NF1 research for decades to come," said Erin Borzellino, Co-Founder of The Giorgio Foundation.

For more information on The Giorgio Foundation's mission and philanthropy, please contact Erin Borzellino, co-founder of The Giorgio Foundation.

About The Giorgio Foundation

The Giorgio Foundation believes every child deserves childhood. A childhood free from the fear of unstoppable tumor growth and disfigurement. Through focused clinical research, The Giorgio Foundation seeks to advance the light of knowledge into a condition defined by darkness, fear, and the unknown. Learn more at endnf1.org.

About the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

As one of the nation's leading academic centers for biomedical research, the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine integrates advanced technology with basic science across a broad range of disciplines in a continuous quest to harness the power of new knowledge and improve the human condition. Driven mainly by the School of Medicine and its affiliates, Pitt has ranked among the top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health since 1998. In rankings released by the National Science Foundation, Pitt is in the upper echelon of all American universities in total federal science and engineering research and development support. In 2024, Pitt ranked in the top 2% in externally funded R&D expenditures ($1.4B); and $1.2B in life sciences. That same year, U.S. News & World Report ranked Pitt School of Medicine among Tier 1 Best Medical Schools for Research.

Likewise, the School of Medicine is equally committed to advancing the quality and strength of its medical and graduate education programs, for which it is recognized as an innovative leader, and to training highly skilled, compassionate clinicians and creative scientists well-equipped to engage in world-class research. The School of Medicine is the academic partner of UPMC, which has collaborated with the University to raise the standard of medical excellence in Pittsburgh and to position health care as a driving force behind the region's economy. For more information about the School of Medicine, see www.medschool.pitt.edu.

Media Contacts:

The Giorgio Foundation

Erin Borzellino

Co-Founder

(917) 267-0755

[email protected]

University of Pittsburgh

Jared Stonesifer

Senior Director, External Communications

(412) 577-9834

SOURCE The Giorgio Foundation
FREMONT, Calif., April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- THINK Surgical, Inc., an innovator in the field of orthopedic surgical robots, today announced the successful first use of Maxx Orthopedics' Freedom Total Knee implant utilizing the TMINI Miniature Robotic System by Dr. David V. Cashen, a Joint Replacement specialist at Coastal Orthopedics Surgery Center in Bradenton, Florida.

Maxx Orthopedics

Maxx Orthopedics' Freedom Total and Titan Knee Systems provide modern implant design philosophies and multiple bearing surfaces to meet the demands of a diverse patient population. Surgeons can seamlessly integrate the Freedom Total and Titan Knee systems with the TMINI Miniature Robotic System to provide patients with a comprehensive total knee replacement solution.

"I am thrilled to be the first surgeon globally to use the Freedom Knee implants with the new TMINI System developed by THINK Surgical," said Dr. Cashen. "I like having tools in my hands designed to make me more efficient, provide accuracy, and assist with achieving the best possible outcomes. It is ideal to have a robotic technology that allows me to develop a personalized plan for every patient, place and align the Freedom primary knee components with precision, using a fast, efficient workflow."

"This first case with the TMINI Robot and the Freedom Total Knee is an exciting milestone," said Stuart Simpson, CEO and President of THINK Surgical. "It is clear that surgeons want to use technology which is compatible with their preferred implant. The Freedom Knee is growing quickly in the US and is an important addition to the TMINI Platform."

Ashesh Shah, Chief Executive Officer of Maxx Orthopedics stated, "Performing the very first robotic-assisted procedure in the US with our Freedom Knee System is a significant milestone in our partnership with THINK Surgical. Quantifiable data, robotic-assistance, diverse implant options, and proven implant designs are aimed at improving clinical outcomes and enhancing the surgeon experience in total knee arthroplasty."

"Maxx Ortho is very excited Dr. David Cashen has performed the very first robotic-assisted TKA procedures in the US with the Freedom Total Knee System and THINK Surgical's TMINI System. Combining handheld, wireless robotics and our clinically proven total knee system will offer an excellent surgical option for our surgeon users and their patients," said Farzin Khaghani, Chief Commercial Officer at Maxx Orthopedics.

THINK Surgical received FDA 510(k) clearance for use of the Maxx Orthopedics Freedom Total and Titan Knee Systems with the TMINI Miniature Robotic System in November of 2024.

About THINK Surgical, Inc.

THINK Surgical, Inc., is a privately held U.S.-based technology innovator that develops and markets orthopedic robots. THINK Surgical robots are open platforms providing support for implant brands from multiple manufacturers, enabling the choice of implant to be driven by the surgeon. THINK Surgical actively collaborates with healthcare professionals around the globe to refine our orthopedic products to improve the lives of those suffering from advanced joint disease with precise, accurate, and intelligent technology. Please refer to the instructions for use for the TMINI Miniature Robotic System for a complete list of indications, contraindications, warnings, and precautions. For additional product information, please visit www.thinksurgical.com.

THINK Surgical and TMINI are trademarks of THINK Surgical, Inc.

About Maxx Orthopedics

Maxx Orthopedics, Inc. is the manufacturer of the Freedom Total Knee System, Freedom Titan Knee System, Libertas Total Hip System, and Quick Recovery Solutions (QRS). We develop and market innovative orthopedic medical devices with a focus on providing state-of-the-art implants and related solutions designed that best restore patient mobility, while accommodating lifestyle, anatomical and economic needs. Find out more at www.maxxortho.com/ and follow us on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and Facebook.

Freedom Total and Titan, Libertas and QRS are trademarks of Maxx Orthopedics, Inc.

Media Contacts:

THINK Surgical Inc.

Nick Margree

[email protected]

Maxx Orthopedics, Inc.

Donald Montgomery

[email protected]

SOURCE THINK Surgical, Inc.
NANJING, China, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- TICA, a global leader in HVAC innovation, has been honored with the internationally acclaimed Red Dot Award: Product Design 2025 for its TESFU-205 Integrated Evaporative Cooling Chiller, a breakthrough solution redefining industrial climate control. This accolade, awarded by Germany's Red Dot Design Award jury, underscores TICA's commitment to pioneering sustainable and user-centric design.

TICA TESFU-205 Integrated Evaporative Cooling Chiller

Established in 1955, the Red Dot Award is one of the world's most prestigious design competitions, recognizing exceptional innovation, functionality, and aesthetic excellence. TICA TESFU-205 Integrated Evaporative Cooling Chiller stood out for its fusion of advanced engineering and visionary design, positioning it as a benchmark for future-oriented industrial solutions.

Design & Sustainability in Harmony

The chiller's smart, integrated control system, built on TICA's decades of technical expertise, enables seamless operation across diverse environments, from precision manufacturing facilities to comfort-focused commercial spaces. Its modular architecture supports TICA's end-to-end service model, ensuring rapid pre-sale customization, hassle-free installation, and lifelong maintenanceall while maintaining industry-leading performance and reliability.

"The Red Dot Award validates our belief that industrial design must serve both function and form," said David Wen, General Manager of TICA Chiller Business Unit. "The TESFU-205 is a testament to how intelligent engineering and thoughtful design can coexistdelivering unmatched efficiency, sustainability, and user-centric value."

Strategic Presence in Europe

TICA's award coincides with its accelerated European growth strategy. Since entering the market in 2009, TICA has deployed its solutions across 600+ large-scale projects in 20+ European countries, supported by localized sales and service networks. In 2025, the company will establish a German office to enhance regional R&D, manufacturing, and customer responsiveness. Concurrently, TICA is launching eco-friendly residential systems, including R290 ATW Heat Pump, addressing Europe's demand for low-GWP solutions.

Looking ahead, TICA remains dedicated to pushing the boundaries of HVAC innovation across commercial and industrial sectors, driving the global transition toward energy-efficient, climate-resilient infrastructure.

About TICA

Founded in 1991, TICA is a global leader in sustainable technologies, operating through two pillars: TICA Climate Solutions, providing energy-efficient HVAC solutions for clean air, and TICA Energy, a pioneer in Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) power generation. With 4,500 employees, 17 manufacturing bases, and a presence in 87 countries, TICA drives progress toward a carbon-neutral future while enhancing quality of life worldwide.

For media inquiries, contact Rachel Ying Zhou: [email protected]

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2666021/TICA_TESFU_205_Integrated_Evaporative_Cooling_Chiller.jpg
Strategic Investment in Partnership with Snowhawk Accelerates Company's Hyperscale Development Plans



LAS VEGAS, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- CleanArc Data Centers ("CleanArc"), a developer and operator of renewables-focused hyperscale data center campuses, announced today that Townsend Group ("Townsend") , a leading advisor and partner to institutional investors globally, has made a strategic investment in the company. The investment was led by Townsend, who advises a consortium of global investors, including some of the largest sovereign and pension plans pursuing strategic stakes in leading investment and operating platforms. This new partnership further supports CleanArc's growth initiatives as it continues developing its first data center campus in Virginia, set to deliver 300 MW of capacity by Q1 2027.

"We're excited to welcome Townsend as a strategic investment partner," said James Trout , Founder and CEO of CleanArc. "Their capital markets expertise, institutional knowledge, and private real assets scale will be instrumental as we execute on our mission to develop the data centers of the future, particularly our inaugural campus in Virginia, VA1. Townsend brings a demonstrated track record of supporting transformative businesses throughout their growth journeys. And with Snowhawk's ongoing investment leadership, we're well-equipped to continue tackling the growing data center challenges faced by hyperscalers."

"CleanArc's strong team of industry veterans and their shrewd approach to site selection, development and power structuring really sets them apart," said Anthony Frammartino, CEO and Chairman, at Townsend. "We're excited to support the company's continued development of leading data center campuses across Tier 1 markets."

Snowhawk LP will remain the majority stakeholder in CleanArc as the company continues to solidify partnerships with hyperscale customers and expand infrastructure in key markets.

"Snowhawk is delighted to partner with Townsend on this strategic investment in CleanArc, further accelerating innovation and the development of capacity to support the next generation of AI and cloud capabilities," said Brian McMullen, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Snowhawk Partners.

"CleanArc continues to set new standards in future-focused data center development," added Greg Stamas, Managing Director at Snowhawk. "In partnership with Townsend and our other investors, we are excited to support CleanArc's continued leadership in sustainability and renewable energy use."

About Townsend Group

Townsend Group is a provider of global real estate and real asset investment advisory services. Townsend offers complementary investment management, advisory, and capital solutions via primary funds, secondaries, co-investments and direct investments. Townsend is an adviser to global public and private pension plans, insurers, sovereign wealth funds, endowments and foundations. Townsend has been advising and managing real estate portfolios for four decades and across multiple market cycles. As of September 30, 2024, Townsend had assets under management of $19.3B and as of March 31, 2024, provided advisory services to clients who had real estate/real asset allocations exceeding $237.9B.For more information, visit townsendgroup.com .

About Snowhawk

Snowhawk is a private investment firm that targets strategic majority investments in businesses that power the economy's digital transition across cloud, connectivity and technology services. Founded in 2022, the Snowhawk team brings long investing histories and deep operating expertise in partnering with management teams to create strong performance and enduring value for companies, customers and investors. For more information, visit snowhawkpartners.com .

About CleanArc

CleanArc is an innovative provider of first-of-its-kind, sustainability-focused data center development and operation solutions. With decades of experience in both the data center and energy sectors, CleanArc has assembled the critical components  scalability, renewable energy, and strategic data center production  under one arc for hyperscalers seeking to expand quickly, sustainably, and cost-effectively. Founded by industry veteran James Trout, CleanArc is led by a deeply experienced executive team who have designed, managed, or built 2 gigawatts of state-of-the-art data center facilities  but are unburdened by legacy business practices and dated approaches to the market. CleanArc is delivering the data center of tomorrow, today. To learn more, visit cleanarcdatacenters.com and follow us on LinkedIn .

For media inquiries, please contact:

JSA for CleanArc

+1 866.695.3629

[email protected]

SOURCE CleanArc Data Centers
TOWSON, Md., April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Towson Endodontics is excited to announce the launch of their newly redesigned website, https://www.towsonendoassociates.com/ . The site is designed to provide patients with an improved user experience, greater accessibility, and comprehensive information about endodontic care and services.

Towson Endodontics has been a trusted provider of high-quality endodontic care for decades. Led by Brenda K. Richardson, D.D.S., P.A., the practice is committed to delivering exceptional patient care through advanced technology, compassionate service, and expert knowledge. Towson Endodontics specializes in treating complex dental conditions, helping to protect and restore dental health with precision and care.

Dr. Richardson's dedication to endodontics stems from a lifelong passion for dentistry. With a B.A. from the University of Maryland Baltimore County and a D.D.S. and Certificate in Endodontics from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry, Dr. Richardson has built a reputation for excellence in her field. She has served as President of the Baltimore County Dental Association and Vice President of the Maryland State Dental Association and holds accolades such as induction into the International College of Dentists and membership in the prestigious Baltimore Association of Dental Surgeons.

"We are thrilled to unveil our updated website, which reflects our commitment to excellence and transparency in endodontic care," said Dr. Richardson. "Our new platform allows patients to easily access information about our services, advanced technology, and what they can expect when visiting our practice."

The team at Towson Endodontics also includes highly skilled and caring professionals who work collaboratively to ensure a seamless patient experience. The practice not only prioritizes cutting-edge tools like 3-D imaging (CBCT) and advanced microscopic techniques but also offers unmatched availability, often accommodating patients with same-day or next-day appointments. Every step, from initial inquiry to post-treatment care, is designed to exceed expectations.

Towson Endodontics provides the following services:

Non-Surgical Endodontics

Surgical Endodontics (including Apicoectomy)

Root Canal Therapy

Endodontic Retreatment

Treatment for Traumatic Dental Injuries

Cracked Teeth Treatment

Emergency Dental Treatment

Advanced Diagnostics and Technology Support

About Towson Endodontics

Towson Endodontics takes a patient-first approach to specialized dental care and continuously strives to set new standards in the field of endodontics. For additional information about their services or to schedule an appointment, visit https://www.towsonendoassociates.com/ . The office is located at 515 E Joppa Rd Suite 106, Towson, MD 21286, and appointments can be scheduled by calling 410-321-5700.

SOURCE Towson Endodontics
WARSAW, Poland, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The third EU-Ukraine Tech Summit 2025, hosted by London PR Lab at the Google for Startups Campus in Warsaw on 7 April, brought together over 200 participants - Ukrainian startup founders, EU policymakers, investors and global tech experts. The event spotlighted Ukraine's strategic importance to Europe's digital future and the urgent need to foster capital, trust, and innovation across the borders.

EU-Ukraine Tech Summit 2025 EU-Ukraine Tech Summit 2025

International Tech experts took a deep dive into EU-UA Ecosystem, AI innovation, success stories from women in tech, and cross-border funding opportunities in 2025.

Summary: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7315383230772211712/

The Keynote speaker - Michal Szczerba, Member of European Parliament and Co-Chair of the Ukraine-NATO Interparliamentary Council, opened the Summit and highlighted that EU created two programs: SAFE with 150B in a form of loans and EDIP with 1.3B funding for startups in defence sector from EU and Ukraine.

Michal Kanownik, President of Digital Poland Association, leader of CEE Digital Coalition stated: "Supporting Ukraine's digital development is an investment in security and competitiveness of the entire Europe. As neighbors and partners, we consider it our responsibility to also foster our close business cooperation, exchange of experiences, mutual learning and joint development in the digital sector."

Michal Kramarz, Head of Google for Startups CEE shared a valuable advice to all startups: "Look at the niches nobody is focuses on, that's where the hidden potential lies. ElevenLabs, a trending Polish unicorn, focused on audio AI while others were busy with text, image, and video generation."

Natalia Mykolska, Executive Director at Diia.City United, highlighted the importance of Ukraine's digital-first mindset and agility. She added: "We're not just asking for a seat at the table, we're already co-designing the table."

$462M invested in Ukrainian tech in 2024, double vs PY

Key stats: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7315642707853398016/

Marta Romaniak, VP Global Branding at Avenga said: "EU policies are not just about regulationthey're a foundation for trust, growth, and meaningful collaboration. Ukraine isn't waiting for better times, it's contributing, scaling, and innovating as a part of the European tech landscape."

Iryna Manukovska, VP Innovation at XME.Digital summarised recomendations for AI startup founders: Build with responsibility, focus on real problems, leverage unique data, implement robust security and avoid bias and misinformation.

Yuliia Malich, Head of Public Policy Ukraine & West Asia (EAST) at Bolt stated: "Orchestrating hundreds of AI models in real time requires aligned objectives and regular audits for bias".

Yuliia has also stressed the importance of increasing women's representation in tech leadership and proposed concrete pathways to support the next generation of women in tech and strategies to overcome persistent barriers.



Lyubov Danilina, Country Manager at Payoneer highlighted the important role of angel syndicates for both startups and investors, urging founders to seek out syndicates aligned with their industry for long-term support. The alliance between Poland, EU and Ukraine continues to create a vibrant tech bridge with global potential.

The Summit's Startup Pitching Session featured 100% Ukrainian-founded startups tackling real-world challenges across edtech, robotics, and cybersecurity.

Top 3 Winners were selected by the jury/investors:

Mosqitter Zibra AI Mindship.me

Competing startups: Crowd Ukraine, VITA325, Threat Breaker, Funely AI, xTiles, Nanit Robot, OpenMinds

Winning principles for a successful startup pitch remain the same - simplicity, clear product value proposition, founding team background.

With continued support from EU stakeholders, strategic funding mechanisms, and cross-border collaboration, Ukrainian startups are building companies that matternot only for local recovery, but for the future of Europe.

The EU-Ukraine Tech Summit 2025 was made possible thanks to the support of Strategic Partners: Google for Startups, Ukrainian Embassy in Poland and other loyal partners: Digital Poland Association, Diia.City United, Bolt, Ukrainian Startup Fund, IT Ukraine Association, Diia.City.Union, ICLUB and the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine.

Media Contact:

Vladyslav Bazikalov

+447795100634



SOURCE London PR Lab
MEMPHIS, Tenn., April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Due to an unforeseen outage with an external carrier, First Horizon Corporation (NYSE: FHN or "First Horizon") Conference Call Dial in information has been updated for today's call at 8:30 AM CT. Please see below for details.

New Conference Call Information

United States: 1-646-844-6383

United States (Toll-Free): 1-833-335-0887

Canada: 1-647-948-1050

Canada (Toll-Free): 1-833-712-5022

Access code 728634

The conference call will begin at 8:30 a.m. CT.

Participants can also opt to listen to the live audio webcast at https://ir.firsthorizon.com/events-and-presentations/default.aspx.

A replay of the call will be available beginning at noon CT on April 16 until midnight CT on April 30, 2025. To listen to the replay, dial 1-866-813-9403 (U.S. callers); the access code is 568167. A replay of the webcast will also be available on our website on April 16 and will be archived on the site for one year.

First Horizon Corp. (NYSE: FHN), with $81.5 billion in assets as of March 31, 2025, is a leading regional financial services company, dedicated to helping our clients, communities and associates unlock their full potential with capital and counsel. Headquartered in Memphis, TN, the banking subsidiary First Horizon Bank operates in 12 states across the southern U.S. The Company and its subsidiaries offer commercial, private banking, consumer, small business, wealth and trust management, retail brokerage, capital markets, fixed income, and mortgage banking services. First Horizon has been recognized as one of the nation's best employers by Fortune and Forbes magazines and a Top 10 Most Reputable U.S. Bank. More information is available at www.FirstHorizon.com.

SOURCE First Horizon Corporation
The partnership leverages Palantir's advanced software platform to supercharge its manufacturing process to rapidly scale production capabilities

Collaboration brings AI-powered manufacturing to AUV production, bolstering the U.S. defense industrial base

PORTSMOUTH, R.I., April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Vatn Systems, a leading defense technology company building autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) for the US military and allies, today announced a strategic partnership with Palantir Technologies to further digitize and scale its manufacturing capabilities.

Vatn Systems and Palantir partner to scale manufacturing of autonomous underwater vehicles for national defense

"Partnering with Palantir enables us to move smarter and faster as we achieve our vision of becoming the platform-scale manufacturer of low cost and attritable autonomous underwater systems in the United States," said Nelson Mills, co-founder and CEO of Vatn Systems. "Palantir's technology gives us real-time visibility into our operations, strengthening our ability to anticipate challenges, optimize resources, and deliver critical systems to our customers with unprecedented speed and precision."

The partnership leverages Palantir's advanced software platform to digitize the manufacturing process and provide AI-driven insights that will accelerate the production of underwater vehicles for national security applications. The collaboration will enable Vatn to streamline its Supply Chain Management and build additional resiliency.

"Vatn is building exactly the kind of mission-critical capability that our software is designed to support," said Palantir's Louis Mosley. "Providing a digital, AI-powered backbone for the company's operations, will help to build these AUVs faster, make them more adaptable and ultimately strengthen western deterrence."

Since its founding in April 2023, Vatn Systems has progressed from concept to deployment, delivering its first AUVs in 17 months. The company is already actively testing in military exercises with key defense organizations including the U.S. Navy. With 12 vehicles now in the hands of government customers and more on order, the company is accelerating production in partnership with Palantir. This collaboration marks an important milestone in strengthening the U.S. defense industrial base, modernizing how underwater systems are built, and combining the best software and hardware to develop the kinds of capabilities that can form the bedrock of Pillar 2 of the AUKUS defense and security partnership.

About Palantir Technologies Inc.

Foundational software of tomorrow. Delivered today. Additional information is available at https://www.palantir.com.

About Vatn Systems

Vatn Systems is a leading defense technology company building autonomous underwater vehicles that can be deployed at scale for the US military and allies. Founded in 2023 by a team of maritime experts and military leaders, Vatn Systems is on a mission to be the next underwater defense prime in a world where autonomous systems dominate naval battlefields. For more information, visit www.vatnsystems.com and follow the company on LinkedIn.

Media Contacts

Vatn Systems Contact

McKenzie Hicks

[email protected]

Palantir Contact

Lisa Gordon

[email protected]

SOURCE Vatn Systems
The leaders of Canadas major federal parties met Wednesday for the first nationally televised debate of the 2025 election campaign. The French-language debate was a key opportunity to win over francophone voters. Liberal Leader Mark Carney, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet took to the stage in Montreal in an attempt to win over undecided voters before Canadians cast their ballots on April 28. With polls showing a tight race between the Liberals and Conservatives, the NDP and the Bloc were battling to put their parties back on the national agenda. Carney was attacked from all sides but avoided a gaffe. Review the live coverage from National Post reporters Catherine Levesque, Antoine Trepanier, Christopher Nardi, and Ottawa bureau chief Stuart Thomson in our live blog, below, or watch the full video of the debate. Cant see the blog? View it on the National Post.
Equivalent of More Than 4.2 tons of Peanut Butter Collected

WESTERLY, R.I., April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Washington Trust ("the Bank") today announced their 25th Annual Peanut Butter Drive collected 4,710 jars of peanut butter, and more than $6,100 in monetary donations, to benefit partner food banks and hunger relief agencies throughout the Bank's footprint - a 68% increase in donations from last year.

Washington Trust's 25th annual Peanut Butter Drive resulted in more than 4,700 jars of peanut butter collected and $6,143 raised to support local food banks and hunger relief agencies throughout RI, MA, and CT.

In 2001, the Peanut Butter Drive was created as a meaningful way to restock food pantry shelves following the holiday season, providing a healthy, family-friendly staple loved by people of all ages. Throughout its 25-year history, the annual drive has collected more than 166 tons of peanut butterenough to make more than 5.2 million sandwiches for neighbors in need.

"For 225 years, Washington Trust has been committed to helping our local communities thrive, and we remain committed to supporting organizations that provide hunger relief to those facing food insecurity, especially now, when the need is greater than ever," said Edward O. "Ned" Handy III, Washington Trust Chairman & CEO. "We are incredibly grateful for the continued support from our local businesses, schools, community groups, and of course, our loyal customers, who made this year's milestone Peanut Butter Drive such a resounding success."

Andrew Schiff, CEO at the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, emphasized the impact of community food drives and awareness campaigns such as this one: "Community initiatives like Washington Trust's Annual Peanut Butter Drive are critical in helping us address the need for food assistance in Rhode Island. For the past 25 years, this drive has continued to grow and has been a boon to our efforts to feed Rhode Islanders in need every day. We are deeply grateful for the longstanding partnership with the Bank, and generosity from our community."

The collected peanut butter and funds raised will directly support local food banks and other hunger relief programs, ensuring that families and individuals facing hunger have access to nutritious food. Food bank partners include the Rhode Island Community Food Bank (Providence, RI), Connecticut Foodshare (Wallingford, CT), and the Greater Boston Food Bank (Boston, MA). Local hunger relief agency recipients include Better Lives Rhode Island (Providence, RI), Coventry Food Bank (Coventry, RI), Comprehensive Community Action Program (Cranston, RI) East Greenwich Interfaith Food Cupboard (East Greenwich, RI), East Providence Housing Authority (East Providence, RI), Federal Hill House- Olneyville Food Center (Providence, RI), Good Neighbors Community Kitchen & Food Pantry (East Providence, RI), Groton Food Locker (Groton, CT), Helping Hands of Block Island (Block Island, RI), Jonnycake Center for Hope (Peace Dale, RI), Jonnycake Center of Westerly (Westerly, RI), Neighbors Helping Neighbors (Warwick, RI). New Hope Chapel (Richmond, RI), North Kingstown Food Pantry (North Kingstown, RI), Northern Rhode Island Food Pantry (Cumberland, RI), Operation Stand Down (Johnston, RI), Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center (Pawcatuck, CT), Rhode Island Center Assisting Those in Need (Charlestown, RI), Saint Vincent De Paul Food Pantry (Smithfield, RI), TAP-IN (Barrington, RI), Tri-County Community Action Agency (Johnston, RI), WARM Center (Westerly, RI), and Westbay Community Action (Warwick, RI).

Local partners who hosted satellite collection sites include Brigido's Fresh Market (Scituate, RI), B&B Dockside (Westerly, RI), Charlestown Mini Super (Charlestown, RI), Cherryhill Florist (Coventry, RI), Child Care Plus (Coventry, RI), the City of Pawtucket, RI, The City of Warwick, RI, Clements' Marketplace (Bristol, RI), Collectiv Academy (Cranston, RI), Cowesett Pizza (West Warwick, RI), Dunns Corners Market (Westerly, RI), Eagle Cornice (Cranston, RI), Jerry's Supermarket (West Warwick, RI), Kent Heights Elementary School (East Providence, RI), Kingston Pizza (Kingston, RI), Masello Salon Services of New England (Cranston, RI), Nuts 'N More (East Providence, RI), Oldham Elementary School (East Providence, RI), Orlo Ave Elementary School (East Providence, RI), Pat's Power Equipment (Charlestown, RI), PFG Boston (Taunton, MA), Providence Police Department (Providence, RI), Association of Certified Fraud Examiners- RI Chapter (Providence, RI), Rippy's Liquor and Marketplace (Charlestown, RI), Rosa's Tavern (East Providence, RI), Shore's Fresh Food Market (Cranston, RI), St. Kevin Church and School (Warwick, RI), St. Rose School (Warwick, RI), The Community Players (Pawtucket, RI), The Pantry, LLC (Pawcatuck, CT), Tom's Market (Warren, RI), Town of Barrington, RI, and Trawlworks, Inc. (Narragansett, RI).

To learn more about the Peanut Butter Drive or how you can participate in next year's event, visit www.peanutbutterbank.com.

ABOUT WASHINGTON TRUST

Founded in 1800, Washington Trust is recognized as the oldest community bank in the nation, the largest state-chartered bank headquartered in Rhode Island and one of the Northeast's premier financial services companies. Washington Trust values its role as a community bank and is committed to helping the people, businesses, and organizations of New England improve their financial lives. The Bank offers a wide range of commercial banking, mortgage banking, personal banking and wealth management services through its offices in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts and a full suite of convenient digital tools. Washington Trust is a member of the FDIC and an equal housing lender. Washington Trust is a subsidiary of Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc., a publicly-owned holding company which trades onNASDAQ: WASH. For more information, visit the Bank's website at www.washtrust.com or the Corporation's website at ir.washtrust.com.

SOURCE The Washington Trust Company
Discover an exclusive selection of the colorful flavors of Asia

in a palatial European-style marketplace

MACAO, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Wynn's exciting new Asian culinary landmark  Gourmet Pavilion  is set to open on April 29, 2025, presenting an exciting selection of colorful and diverse flavors from all across Asia. One need not travel thousands of miles to enjoy the very best of Asian cuisine, as Wynn invites guests to explore all the tantalizing flavors of Asia right here in Macao. Discover Michelin-starred Chaoshan fish congee, the best laksa from Singapore's celebrity-favorite noodle shop, perfectly prepared unagi from a revered century-old Japanese restaurant, and the most sought-after beef noodles from the almost impossible-to-book restaurant in Taiwan. At Gourmet Pavilion, each new discovery is bursting with surprises that are hard to find anywhere else in the world and is exclusive to Wynn.

Gourmet Pavilion opens April 29, 2025 Wynns new culinary landmark  Gourmet Pavilion gathers the flavors of Asia in a palatial European-style marketplace

Created by the world-renowned David Collins Studio, the design of Gourmet Pavilion is a combination of the elegance of European architecture with the world's finest craftsmanship, setting the stage for an exceptional gastronomic experience that excites the senses. In celebration of the opening from April 29 to May 31, Wynn is pleased to present a "Savor the Flavors & Reap Rewards" special offer for guests to receive exclusive gifts and discounts while enjoying a variety of delicious dishes.

The "joy" of eating an array of "rich" and diverse cuisines

Fu Le Ting, the Chinese name for "Gourmet Pavilion", cleverly conveys the double-meaning of "rich in flavor" and "the joy of eating". The word Fu sounds like the same word for "rich" in Chinese, symbolizing that Gourmet Pavilion offers guests an abundance of rich and diverse cuisines. The word Le is the "joy" of sharing delicious dishes with friends and loved ones. As an exciting new culinary landmark where Asian cuisine takes center stage, the new Gourmet Pavilion is brimming with the sights, sounds, aromas, and flavors of the region's most vibrant cuisines.

Asia's top culinary brands gather in Macao at Gourmet Pavilion

Gourmet Pavilion brings together unique flavors from all over Asia, including Leela, the whimsical Indian cuisine; Fat Boy Dumplings, signature dumplings from celebrity Chef Henry Zhang Zhicheng; Sushi Masa, Omakase for everyone; Unagi Yondaime Kikukawa, 100 years of renowned eel rice; Wumamii Beef Noodles, Taiwan's most sought-after noodles; Ximen Jin FongBraised Pork Rice, world-renowned Taiwanese braised pork rice; 328 Katong Laksa, the celebrity-favorite noodle shop; Ann ChinPopiah, MICHELIN Recommended popiah from Singapore; Tuan YuanSingapore-style Pork Ribs Soup, Singapore's national favorite Bak Kut Teh; Tian TianHainanese Chicken Rice, world-renowned chicken rice; Yong ZuoFish Congee, MICHELIN Recommended fish congee; Tao Xiao ChuaNortheast-style Skewers, popular Northeast-style skewers; Tanyu Grilled Fish, king of spicy grilled fish; Zhu Guang Yu Hot Pot, Chongqing's hotpot phenomenon; Xita Lao Tai Tai Clay Stove Barbecue, Korean-style clay oven barbecue; Buns & BubblesBakery, delectable fresh-baked bites; and Little 8Cantonese Barbecue, sumptuous Cantonese roast. This is just the start. Even more brands will be coming to Gourmet Pavilion soon for Macao residents and visitors from around the world to discover. From high-end, award-winning dishes to down-to-earth street fare, Gourmet Pavilion gathers a myriad of colorful Asian cuisines under one roof.

Globally inspired design showcases the finest European craftsmanship

From the magnificent archways to the ornate flooring patterns, the Gourmet Pavilion interiors take inspiration from some of Europe's most famous marketplaces. Reminiscent of grand European concert halls and theatrical spaces, Gourmet Pavilion takes diners on a journey through time to discover the vibrant and rich cultural heritage of Europe. It is a culmination of global collaborations, where the finest craftsmanship by artisans from around the world is on full display. The ornate mosaic arches, originally handcrafted by a renowned family of Italian artisanal makers, look remarkably like exquisite European oil paintings; the feature chandelier, which blooms above the food hall, is a masterpiece made by Bohemian glassmaking artisans; and "The Allsphyr", a custom mirrored sculpture, was specially designed by an American artist to show things through a distorted lens and create a fun space for photo-taking. At Gourmet Pavilion, visitors will discover vivid colors, live kitchens, bustling activity and exquisite architectural craftsmanship in one exciting location. More than just a dining destination, Gourmet Pavilion invites guests to linger longer and explore a myriad of dishes in vibrant, culturally rich surrounds.

Rewarding surprises for guests of Gourmet Pavilion

To celebrate the grand opening of this highly anticipated new Asian culinary landmark, Gourmet Pavilion will launch a special "Savor the Flavors & Reap Rewards" offer from April 29 to May 31, featuring innovative online and offline experiences and exclusive offers that are tailormade for a variety of consumers. Throughout the promotional period, all guests of Gourmet Pavilion can enjoy MOP 15 off on all purchases over MOP 80 for a limited time and Wynn Insider members are eligible to enjoy 5% off exclusive offers all year long. Diners who spend MOP 20 or more at Gourmet Pavilion and share their experiences on Xiaohongshu or Dianping will also receive a complimentary "dining voucher" worth MOP 20.

Starting April 29, Gourmet Pavilion invites diners from around the world to raise their chopsticks and gather together for an amazing Asian dining experience in Macao.

For more details on all of the exciting dining offers and promotions at Wynn and Gourmet Pavilion, please visit: https://www.wynnresortsmacau.com/en/wynn-palace/dining/gourmet-pavilion

Gourmet Pavilion

Location: Right of the South Atrium at Wynn Palace, Avenida Da Nave Desportiva

Hours: Daily from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm

SOURCE Wynn Resorts (Macau)
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
Jerusalem, April 16 : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited northern Gaza, vowing to intensify military operations against Hamas until "all war objectives are achieved."

Accompanied by Defence Minister Israel Katz and military chief Eyal Zamir, Netanyahu received a security briefing from commanders at the site, according to a statement from his office.

The Tuesday visit came as Gaza-based health authorities reported that the death toll from the 18-month Israeli offensive had surpassed 51,000, Xinhua news agency reported.

Netanyahu praised Israeli troops for what he called "a remarkable job" in the Gaza Strip and said Hamas would continue to "absorb more and more blows."

Defence Minister Katz echoed the remarks, saying the military would escalate its pressure on Hamas until the group agrees to release the hostages and is ultimately defeated.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military has been continuing its attacks on the Strip.

According to Gaza-based health authorities, an Israeli strike hit a gate of the hospital in Khan Younis's Mawasi area earlier in the day, killing at least one medic and injuring nine other patients and medics.

An Israeli military spokesperson told Xinhua the strike targeted "the head of a Hamas terrorist cell and a combat zone commander."

"The strike was conducted using precise munitions to mitigate harm in the area as much as possible," the spokesperson said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister told French President Emmanuel Macron that he opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state, reaffirming his long-held position amid mounting international support for a two-state solution.

In a phone call, Netanyahu expressed to Macron his "strong opposition" to Palestinian statehood, calling it "a major reward for terrorism," according to a statement from his office.

He warned that a Palestinian state founded "just minutes" from Israeli cities would become "a stronghold of Iranian terrorism," and added that "an overwhelming majority of the Israeli public strongly opposes it."
Washington, April 16 : In first public remarks after leaving the White House, former US President Joe Biden on Tuesday accused the Donald Trump administration of "deliberate cruelty" in downsizing the federal agency that disburses post-retirement benefits to retirees.

Washington, April 16 (IANS) In first public remarks after leaving the White House, former US President Joe Biden on Tuesday accused the Donald Trump administration of "deliberate cruelty" in downsizing the federal agency that disburses post-retirement benefits to retirees.

The former president looked his agehe is 82but showed no resemblance to the man who had shown up for the fateful presidential debate against President Donald Trump in the summer of 2024, which doomed his bid for a second term and cleared the way for former Vice-President Kamala Harris. Although he used a teleprompter, he spoke clearly and forcefully.

"The last thing they need from their government is deliberate cruelty," Biden said of the efforts by the Trump administration to downsize the Social Security Administration, the agency that uses federal taxes collected from employees and employers to disburse post-retirement benefits to retirees. The scheme is somewhat comparable to India's provident fund programme.

"Social Security is about more than retirement accounts," he added. "It's about honouring a fundamental trust between government and people."

The former president did not name President Donald Trump or his cabinet secretaries and advisers such as Elon Musk, the billionaire adviser, but made pointed references that left few doubts about the identity of his targets.

Musk was not named, but his description of the social security system as a Ponzi Scheme (a scam played on investors by using their monies to keep up the illusion of returns non-existent to attract more investments) was.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's dismissal of delays as not a concern for his 94-year-old mother-in-law was. Trump was not mentioned, but the deficits he ran up with his first-term tax cuts were.

Biden is predictably not popular in the Trump world, but he also has few friends in his world of Democrats. Many in his party blame him for Trump's return to the White House. They believe he overstayed and did not step aside in time for the party to come up with a solid presidential candidate shaped by the rough and tumble of the primaries process. Harris, they argue, was untested and, therefore, vulnerable.

Although Trump ran on the promise of not cutting or ending social security, which has been in the crosshairs of Republicans for a long time  vilified as a burden on the state exchequer  his administration's war on wasteful government expenses, spearheaded by Musk's department of government efficiency (shortened to DOGE, a cyber currency, has targeted the social security administration, slashing and estimated 7,000 workers.

Referring to these cuts the former president said that in "fewer than 100 days (of assuming charge) this new administration has  done so much damage and so much destruction it's kind of breathtaking".
Kolkata, April 16 : Amid the violence in the minority-dominated Murshidabad district of West Bengal since last week during protests against the newly-promulgated Waqf (Amendment) Act, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will on Wednesday hold a meeting with the imams, muezzins, and religious leaders from the Muslim community in the state.

The meeting has been called to prepare the blueprint on how to oppose the Act.

The meeting is scheduled to take place at a time when the deployment and route marches by Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel are continuing in the troubled pockets in the district, namely Samserganj, Suti, Dhulian, and Jangipur, to restore normalcy and confidence among the people there.

The venue of the meeting will be the Netaji Indoor Stadium in central Kolkata.

Firhad Hakim, the West Bengal Municipal Affairs and Urban Development Minister and the Mayor of Kolkata Municipal Corporation, will also be present at the meeting.

Political observers feel that the scheduled meeting with the imams, muezzins, and religious leaders will be quite interesting in the sense that all eyes and ears will be on whether the Chief Minister in her message would just outline the blueprint on how to oppose Waqf Act or whether she will also give a message on how to prevent such violence and riot-like situations during protests.

Earlier this month, the Chief Minister described the Waqf Act as an "attempt to snatch others' property".

She also said while addressing a programme of the Jain community in Kolkata earlier this month that she would always be there to protect the people from the minority community and their properties.

Last week, the Chief Minister also issued a statement assuring that the Waqf (Amendment) Act will not be implemented in West Bengal. The state leadership of the BJP has questioned how the Chief Minister of a state could claim that she would not allow the implementation of a Central Act in the state concerned.

Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha member from Krishnanagar constituency in Nadia district, Mahua Moitra, has filed a petition at the Supreme Court challenging the Waqf (Amendment) Act. In such a situation, the focus will be on the Chief Minister's speech in the meeting with imams, muezzins, and religious leaders from the Muslim community on Wednesday.
Mumbai, April 16 : "Jewel Thief" director Kookie Gulati believes India has not seen a proper heist film in a long time.

Asked what makes the Saif Ali Khan starrer stand out, Gulati told IANS, "Jewel Thief revolves around a diamond heist involving a rare African diamond called Red Sun. Itas been a long time since India has seen a proper heist film, and thatas what excited me. The cast is phenomenala"Saif Ali Khan, Jaideep Ahlawat, Kunal Kapoor, Nikita Duttaa"such a unique mix. Saif is back in his classic cool avatar, the OG Saif we all love."

The filmmaker claimed that actor Jaideep Ahlawat will surprise the audience as they will see him with a fresh look and tone.

Sharing what inspired the dual theme in the film, Gulati said, "Honestly, the biggest reason was Siddharth Anand. Heas the producer of the film, and when he called me saying he had a film he wanted to make, I jumped at the opportunity. A lot of my old friends are also involved, and Iave always had a great rapport with him. I really look up to Siddharth as a filmmaker. This is his world, and itas a genre I personally enjoy."

He added that his debut film "Prince" was also set in a similar space, and hence he feels very comfortable in this world, so when he was approached for "Jewel Thief" he agreed immediately.

When Gulati was asked who was the brain behind "Jewel Thief", he disclosed that Siddharth Anand is the guiding light of this film.

He shared, "Itas his storya"he visualized and wrote it. But when a writer or producer hands over a project to a director, they expect him to make it his own, and Iave done just that. When I came on board, some parts had already been shot by a previous director. Siddharth and I sat down, rewrote the script, and reshot it. I brought my own flavor to it and made it my own film."

"Jewel Thief" will reach the movie buffs on 25 April 2025.
Washington, April 16 : The row between Harvard University and US President Donald Trump escalated further after the elite university refused to accept far-reaching policy changes ordered by the White House, and Trump threatened to strip it of its tax-exempt status.

As it is Harvard University is facing a major financial setback after the Trump administration imposed a freeze on $2.2 billion in federal funding, following the university's refusal to comply with a list of sweeping demands related to governance, campus policies, and civil rights enforcement.

Now, Trump has said that Harvard "should lose its Tax Exempt Status and be Taxed as a Political Entity" if the premier college does not agree to his demands to change how it runs itself, which would include a selection of students and authority for professors.

Tax-exempt status is "totally contingent on acting in the PUBLIC INTEREST," he said in the post on Truth Social.

The demands, originally issued in early April, called for the dismantling of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) offices, cooperation with immigration authorities in screening international students, and sweeping reforms to hiring, admissions, and internal governance.

On Friday, the Trump administration escalated the situation by sending a more detailed list of requirements, including an audit of student and faculty political views.

Harvard responded by publishing the letter and rejecting the proposed terms.

In a public letter addressed to students and faculty, Harvard President Alan Garber affirmed the university's refusal to yield to government pressure. "We will not negotiate over our independence or constitutional rights," Garber wrote. "No government should control what a private university teaches or whom it hires and admits."

The Trump administration's Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism responded by announcing the suspension of multi-year federal grants totaling $2.2 billion and a halt on $60 million in existing government contracts.

The task force criticised Harvard's position, stating, "Harvard's response today reflects a mindset of entitlement that must be addressed. Taxpayer funding carries with it the duty to uphold civil rights protections."

The move comes in the wake of rising tensions on US campuses, many of which have been rocked by protests over the Hamas-Israel war in Gaza.

Several demonstrations escalated into confrontations with law enforcement and counter-protesters.

Critics, including President Donald Trump and several Republican lawmakers, have accused student protesters of supporting Hamas, which the US government and many other governments around the world designate as a terrorist organisation.
Seoul, April 16 : A high-level South Korean delegation plans to visit the United Arab Emirates (UAE) this week to bolster Seoul's bids for high-speed railway and infrastructure projects in the Middle East nation, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said Wednesday.

Led by Land Minister Park Sang-woo, the delegation will meet with UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei on Friday to discuss bilateral cooperation in the transport and infrastructure sectors, with a focus on the UAE's envisioned high-speed railway project connecting Abu Dhabi and Dubai, Yonhap news agency reported.

The ministry has formed a public-private sector team, including the state-run Korea National Railway, Korea Railroad Corp. (KORAIL), Hyundai Rotem Co. and POSCO E&C Co., for the UAE railway project bid. The team has passed the prequalification stage of the bidding process.

The delegation plans to emphasise South Korea's technological excellence and economic viability of its high-speed rail models, citing recent successes in securing high-value export deals from Uzbekistan and Morocco.

The delegation will also discuss follow-up cooperation based on a memorandum of understanding signed last year during the UAE president's state visit to South Korea

Under the agreement, South Korea and the UAE aim to jointly enter third-country infrastructure markets, particularly in post-conflict recovery zones, by combining South Korea's construction expertise with UAE's financial capabilities.
Mumbai, April 16 : As "Silence 2: The Night Owl Bar Shootout" clocked two years since its release, actress Parul Gulati talked about sharing the screen with the acclaimed star Manoj Bajpayee, whom she tagged as an "acting institution." Mumbai, April 16 (IANS) As "Silence 2: The Night Owl Bar Shootout" clocked two years since its release, actress Parul Gulati talked about sharing the screen with the acclaimed star Manoj Bajpayee, whom she tagged as an "acting institution."

Parul, who essayed a negative character in the thriller, said, "'Silence 2' was truly special for me. It was my first time playing such a morally grey character, and stepping into that space was both thrilling and creatively satisfying."

"But what made it even more unforgettable was working with Manoj Bajpayee sir. Just being around him on set felt like being in an acting institution."

Parul learned a lot by just watching Manoj on set.

"He's been doing this for over two decades, delivering one iconic performance after another  and yet he's so grounded and focused. Watching his process, his stillness, and how he approaches every scene with such quiet intensity taught me so much."

"There's a kind of calm authority he brings, and I find myself learning from him every single day  sometimes without even realizing it," he added.

Parul also added that the atmosphere on set was filled with dedication and mutual respect, making it an ideal space for growth and experimentation.

"Silence 2: The Night Owl Bar Shootout" is directed by Aban Bharucha Deohans. It stars Manoj Bajpayee, Prachi Desai, and Parul Gulati. It is the sequel to "Silence...Can You Hear It?" which was released in 2021.

The second installment follows ACP Avinash Verma and his team, who are assigned a case of a mass shootout that happened at a club named Night Owl Bar in Mumbai. As the team works on the case, they realize there is something much bigger and darker at play.

Talking about "Silence... Can You Hear It?" It revolves around the mysterious disappearance of a woman. The film marked Prachi Desai's comeback after 4 years.
Bengaluru, April 16 : In a tragic incident, one person was killed after a viaduct being transported for the Namma Metro project fell on an autorickshaw in Bengaluru.

The incident occurred around Tuesday midnight at Kogilu Cross near Yelahanka. According to police, the viaduct, which was being transported for the Metro construction, fell from the truck and resulted in the death of the autorickshaw driver on the spot. The deceased has been identified as Khasim Saab.

The incident took place while Khasim, a resident of Hegde Nagar, was ferrying a passenger towards Nagawara. The passenger had a miraculous escape, police said.

The viaduct a" a massive concrete structure a" was being transported on an 18-wheeler truck for the airport Metro line. While taking a turn at Kogilu Cross, the truck's trailer detached from the cabin, splitting into two, causing the viaduct to fall onto the road, police said.

Tragically, the viaduct landed on the autorickshaw. Police said preliminary information indicates that the passenger had just alighted moments before the mishap.

However, Khasim was still in the vehicle and was crushed under the falling structure. The auto was also completely mangled.

Police have launched a manhunt for the driver of the truck, who fled the scene after the accident.

Soon after the incident, bystanders and local residents rushed to help the victim. Police also reached the spot, but a crane was required to lift the massive viaduct.

Locals were angered by the delay in the crane's arrival and reportedly questioned both the police and other authorities. Some residents even resorted to stone pelting, sources said.

The police eventually brought the situation under control, and once the crane arrived, the viaduct was moved and Khasim's body was recovered.

Local residents expressed outrage at the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), blaming officials for negligence.

On January 10, 2023, a woman techie and her toddler were killed in HBR Layout in Bengaluru after an under-construction Metro pier buckled and fell on four-members of a family travelling on a motorcycle.

Bengaluru police had charged 10 people, including representatives of Nagarjuna Constructions Company (NCC) and four officials of the BMRCL over the incident.

A similar incident occurred in January 2023 on Nagawara Main Road, where a massive viaduct collapsed, killing a bike rider. That incident fell under the jurisdiction of the Yelahanka police station.
Bengaluru, April 16 : Karnataka Minister for Health Dinesh Gundu Rao stated on Wednesday that he will fully endorse the caste census survey report, which has led to major controversy in the state.

The statement has assumed significance as different caste groups have expressed their displeasure regarding the findings of the caste survey report and dubbed it as flawed.

Minister Rao said, "I have reviewed the survey report submitted by the State Commission for Backward Classes under the leadership of the Honourable Jayaprakash Hegde, which is based on social, economic, and educational parameters. If we truly believe in social justice and equal living conditions and are committed to those principles, then it is appropriate to analyse this survey report in a scientific manner. I would also like to emphasise that this report includes logical and reasoned elements."

He further underlined, "I fully endorse the survey report submitted by the Commission. The report will be presented before the Cabinet. Once the Cabinet approves the report, it can pave the way for an open and fair discussion about the shortcomings of the report and its effective implementation."

"I have taken note of some of the recommendations made by the Commission. There is no reason for any community to feel dissatisfied with these points. It is my belief that these aspects do not ignore or sideline any community," he opined.

Some individuals are trying to mislead the public without even reading the report, he pointed out.

"Therefore, I appeal to the people not to arrive at any conclusion at this stage. Let us not create unnecessary confusion. Let us read the report first and then keep our minds open for discussion. Calling the report unscientific without reading it in full is a hasty decision," he stated.

Minister Rao hails from the Brahmin community.

The controversial caste census report submitted by the Backwards Classes Commission to the Congress-led government has pegged the Muslim population in the state at 18.08 per cent and recommends 8 per cent reservation for the community, sources stated.

In a major development, the Karnataka Vokkaliga Association has announced that the community will oppose the caste census report, along with the Lingayat and other aggrieved communities.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar held a meeting on Tuesday night at his official residence in Kumara Park regarding the caste census report, along with ministers, MLAs, Rajya Sabha members, and leaders from the Vokkaliga community.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Shivakumar claimed that the media reports projecting Muslims as the largest population group in the caste census are false.
Bengaluru, April 16 : In a tragic incident, one person was killed after a viaduct being transported for the Namma Metro project fell on an autorickshaw in Bengaluru.

The incident occurred around Tuesday midnight at Kogilu Cross near Yelahanka. According to police, the viaduct, which was being transported for the Metro construction, fell from the truck and resulted in the death of the autorickshaw driver on the spot. The deceased has been identified as Kasim Saab.

The incident took place while Saab a resident of Hegde Nagar, was ferrying a passenger towards Nagawara. The passenger had a miraculous escape, police said.

The viaduct a" a massive concrete structure a" was being transported on an 18-wheeler truck for the airport Metro line. While taking a turn at Kogilu Cross, the truck's trailer detached from the cabin, splitting into two, causing the viaduct to fall onto the road, police said.

Tragically, the viaduct landed on the autorickshaw. Police said preliminary information indicates that the passenger had just alighted moments before the mishap.

However, Saab was still in the vehicle and was crushed under the falling structure. The auto was also completely mangled.

Police have launched a manhunt for the driver of the truck, who fled the scene after the accident.

Soon after the incident, bystanders and local residents rushed to help the victim. Police also reached the spot, but a crane was required to lift the massive viaduct.

Locals were angered by the delay in the crane's arrival and reportedly questioned both the police and other authorities. Some residents even resorted to stone pelting, sources said.

The police eventually brought the situation under control, and once the crane arrived, the viaduct was moved and Saab's body was recovered.

Local residents expressed outrage at the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), blaming officials for negligence.

On January 10, 2023, a woman techie and her toddler were killed in HBR Layout in Bengaluru after an under-construction Metro pier buckled and fell on four-members of a family travelling on a motorcycle.

Bengaluru police had charged 10 people, including representatives of Nagarjuna Constructions Company (NCC) and four officials of the BMRCL over the incident.

A similar incident occurred in January 2023 on Nagawara Main Road, where a massive viaduct collapsed, killing a bike rider. That incident fell under the jurisdiction of the Yelahanka police station.
Mumbai, April 16 : Actress Kalki Koechlin has talked about the pressures working moms face to balance career and family, often managing both professional duties and household responsibilities. She also shared the need for shared parenting and greater awareness of gender roles at home.

Asked as a working mother, how does she balance the emotional needs of her child with the demands of her career, especially in a world that still puts pressure on women to do it all?

Kalki told IANS, "Yeah, there's a lot of pressure to do it all. And the thing is, sometimes I can choose to be a supermom and do it allthere are days when I do just that."

The actress said that she would wake up "at 6 A.M., take the dogs for a walk, prepare the oats and almond pancake her daughter loves for her school tiffin, send her off on the bus, get on a flight, and work all day."

"During my lunch break, I record a bedtime story so my husband can play it for her at night. Then I get back to work. In another short breakmaybe 20 minutesI squeeze in a yoga routine, then it's back to work again. I wrap up around 8 P.M., get stuck in Bombay traffic, reach home at 10, wind down with a Netflix show, and finally go to bed around midnight."

She asserted that "if you try to do that every single day without a break, you're going to burn out."

"And the truth is, it shouldn't be expected of usbut unfortunately, it is. A lot of women who choose to work and raise children are also expected to be the CEOs of their homesdeciding every meal, managing the household, and coordinating everything."

Kalki added, "I've had moments where I'm in another city, and my husband is home, but I'm still the one calling the maid to tell her what to cook. I'm like, 'You figure out what you want to eat!' Even if you have help, you're mentally managing everythingchecking groceries, diapers, making sure the fridge is stockedand working outside the home."

The actress shared why the need for shared parenting is important.

"It's just too much. That's why concepts like sharing the load are so important. Both parents need to share these responsibilities, and we need more education around gender gaps at home."

For the unversed, Kalki gave birth to a daughter named Sappho in February 2020.

Kalki has been a part of P&G Shiksha, which has marked 20 years. The actress said that she first started working with them in 2015, when they were focused on building schools across the country.

"We had gone to Delhi to support that effort, and I actually laid one of the first bricks for one of the schools. At the time, they were really focused on infrastructurenot just the classrooms, but also addressing issues like bathrooms, which were a big reason many girls dropped out of school."

"They were impacting 4 lakh children then, and now in less than 10 years, they are impacting more than 50 lakh children."

Kalki had also spotlighted the issue of the learning gap. She highlighted the importance of early intervention to help kids catch up and thrive.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Los Angeles, April 16 : Hollywood star Natalie Portman has talked about her approach to choosing scripts and said that she is drawn to roles depending on what's happening in her personal life.

Portman divorced her husband Benjamin Millipede in 2024, and revealed the impact her mood at home makes on her work during a conversation with Jenna Ortega, as they collaborated on the upcoming film 'The Gallerist'.

Speaking to Jenna for Interview magazine, she said: "You want to find that joy and lightness and humour in your work when things are harder at home."

The two actors also discussed their experiences growing up in the spotlight and how their careers have evolved over time.

The 43-year-old star, who finalised her divorce from Benjamin Millepied, 47, in February after over a decade together, talked about how her life circumstances often influence her approach to acting roles, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

She said: "There are things that come at certain times of your life. There's moments in your life where it's really meaningful to have a work experience that just envelopes you in happiness, and this was one of those."

Portman continued: "It doesn't always work out, but I'm drawn to things because of what's happening in my personal life."

Asked whether she prioritises character or script when selecting new roles, Portman replied: "I learned from actresses that came before me who said, 'It's important to go for joy.'"

The couple had met while working on the 2010 film 'Black Swan', in which she starred as a troubled ballerina, while he served as the film's ballet choreographer. The pair announced their engagement and pregnancy with their first child in 2010 and went on to marry in 2012.

Though she did not mention her former husband by name or directly reference the divorce during the interview, she said: "I was just excited to have kids, and with a person that I was in love with," when asked about how motherhood had impacted her career.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Chennai, April 16 : The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) has convened its Executive Committee meeting on May 2 to deliberate on the expansion of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Tamil Nadu.

The high-level meeting, which will be attended by all district secretaries, secretaries from states where the AIADMK has branches, MPs, MLAs, and headquarters functionaries, marks the partyas first major internal discussion since formally rejoining the NDA.

The AIADMK, which had parted ways with the BJP in September 2023, realigned with the party on April 11.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced the renewed alliance, confirming that the NDA would contest the 2026 Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu under the leadership of AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS).

A significant development preceding this realignment was the removal of K. Annamalai as BJP state President.

In his place, the BJP national leadership appointed Nainar Nagendran, a more experienced and measured politician, reportedly in response to the AIADMKas insistence on Annamalaias ouster as a precondition for rejoining the alliance.

While Palaniswami has not publicly elaborated on the alliance, sources within the AIADMK say he has already begun talks with other political parties to strengthen the NDA bloc.

Notably, discussions are underway with the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), which was an AIADMK ally in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The DMDK had narrowly lost to the Congress in Virudhunagar after a closely fought contest.

EPS is also said to be exploring dialogue with certain parties currently aligned with the DMK.

However, at least two recent internal meetings of the AIADMK have seen expressions of discontent.

On Sunday, a minority wing functionary from Pudukkottai resigned in protest.

The upcoming May 2 meeting is expected to address the partyas concerns and strategise the NDAas expansion in Tamil Nadu, as the alliance gears up for a strong electoral battle in 2026.
New Delhi, April 16 : People suffering from chronic pain -- or pain that lasts at least three months -- may be up to four times more likely to experience depression, according to a study.

Almost 30 per cent of people worldwide suffer from a chronic pain condition such as low back pain and migraines, and one in three of these patients also report co-existing pain conditions.

The study published in the journal Science Advances shows that having chronic pain in multiple parts of the body was linked to a greater risk of depression than having pain at a single site.

"Pain isn't only physical," said Dustin Scheinost, Associate Professor of radiology and biomedical imaging at Yale School of Medicine (YSM).

"Our study adds to the evidence that physical conditions can have mental health consequences," Scheinost added.

The researchers from Yale University also decoded that inflammation may explain the link between chronic pain and depression.

The team found inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein (a protein produced by the liver in response to inflammation) helping explain the association between pain and depression.

"This gives us some preliminary evidence about the inflammatory mechanisms underlying the association between pain and depression," said Rongtao Jiang, a postdoctoral associate at YSM.

The team leveraged data from 431,038 participants in UK Biobank with 14-year follow-ups.

The categories for pain sites included head, face, neck, back, stomach, hip, knee, and general pain.

The researchers found that both types of pain from all body sites were associated with depression and that chronic pain was more strongly associated with acute pain.

"We often think of brain health or mental health as separate from cardiac health or liver health, for instance," Scheinost said. "But all of these body systems influence each other."

Further research into the underlying drivers of pain and depression could help scientists develop new intervention strategies, he noted.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, April 16 : India's export of organic food products registered a robust 35 per cent increase to $665.96 million (around Rs 5,700 crore) during the financial year ended on March 31, 2025 compared to the corresponding figure of $494.80 million in 2023-24, according to the latest data released by the government.

New Delhi, April 16 (IANS) Indiaas export of organic food products registered a robust 35 per cent increase to $665.96 million (around Rs 5,700 crore) during the financial year ended on March 31, 2025 compared to the corresponding figure of $494.80 million in 2023-24, according to the latest data released by the government.

In volume terms, the export of organic food goods, including cereals, tea, spices, medicinal plants, oilseeds and processed foods, went up by 41 per cent to 0.37 million tonnes (MT) in 2024-25 from 0.26 million tonnes in 2023-24.

The government said the upward trend shows rising global demand for Indian organic food products. The US is a major destination for Indian organic exports, while the EU, Canada, and UK are also important markets.

Export of organic rice and millets increased to $161.67 million in FY25 from $86.66 million in FY24, that of organic processed food to $154.01 million from $129.61 million, medicinal plant products to $88.57 million from $72.42 million, organic tea to $45.13 million from $34.11 million, organic spices to $45.42 million from $35.93 million and organic oilseeds to $36.20 million from $25.64 million, the figures showed.

India aims to surpass $1 billion in organic product exports and has set a target of $2 billion in exports by 2030.

The government is working on initiatives to promote organic farming and exports, including the development of Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) with other countries to facilitate trade.

The Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) implements the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP), which sets standards for organic production, processing, and trade in India. Products are certified under NPOP, ensuring they meet international quality benchmarks.

The global demand for organic products is around Rs 1 lakh crore, and with increased promotion and production, this demand may reach Rs 10 lakh crore.

India has the largest number of organic farmers globally and ranks second in terms of area under organic cultivation.
Islamabad, April 16 : Four Pakistanis were among the 11 dead in a Libya boat capsize incident, Pakistan's Foreign Office confirmed.

The bodies of at least four Pakistani nationals were among the 11 recovered off the Harawa shoreline near Sirte in eastern Libya after a boat carrying foreign migrants overturned.

Pakistan's Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the loss of lives, vowing to take strict action against those responsible for luring citizens into the death traps.

PM Shehbaz Sharif has directed the Pakistan Mission in Tripoli and the Foreign Office to work with the local authorities to retrieve the remains of the deceased Pakistani nationals.

"Deeply saddened by reports from our Mission in Tripoli of yet another boat capsizing incident off the Harawa coast near Sirte city, Eastern Libya, in which at least four Pakistanis have been confirmed dead out of 11 casualties.

"Our Mission and the Foreign Office are working with the local authorities to retrieve the remains of the deceased", he said in a statement on Wednesday.

"We are taking strong action against those responsible for luring our citizens into this death trap and we will continue to come down hard against such elements so no family has to carry the coffins of their loved ones in such incidents", he added.

Pakistan Embassy's team confirmed the deaths of Pakistani nationals after visiting Sirte city.

"A Pakistan Embassy team's visit to Sirte has confirmed the recovery of 11 bodies of migrants. Of these, four have been identified as Pakistani nationals base on their national documents. Two bodies remain unidentified", stated the Pakistan Foreign Office.

The four deceased Pakistani nationals have been identified as Zahid Mahmood from Gujranwala, Punjab, while Sameer Ali, Syed Ali Hussain and Asif Ali hail from Mandi Bahaudin in Pakistan's Punjab province.

"The Embassy in Tripoli is actively working to gather more information about the affected Pakistani nationals and is in contact with the local authorities.

"The Crisis Management Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been activated to monitor the situation", stated the Pakistan Foreign Office.

The latest tragic incident adds to the list of several migrant boat tragedies, where lives were lost and dozens of Pakistani nationals were identified opting for illegal means and routes to reach European countries.

On February 11 this year, a boat carrying illegal migrants overturned in the waters off the Libyan coast, killing at least 16 Pakistanis among others while 10 others remained missing.

In January this year, over 40 Pakistani nationals were killed after a boat carrying illegal migrants from Mauritania to Spain capsized.

Moreover, on December 13 and 14 in 2024, more than 80 Pakistani nationals drowned after their boats capsized near Greece.

The Pakistani government took serious notice of the incidents and ordered strict action and a crackdown against elements within the government quarters and outside.

PM Sharif ordered strict action against human smugglers and others involved in sending illegal migrants to other countries.

During the investigation into the incidents, at least 35 personnel of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) found guilty of facilitating human smuggling at the airports, were suspended, along with dismissal of then sitting Director General of FIA.

Religious scholars also issued a decree, terming use of illegal means to go abroad as unlawful and in violation of the Islamic Shariah.

Despite the risk of loss of lives, many Pakistanis continue to pursue illegal means to go abroad. These illegal migrants pay hefty amounts to the human traffickers, who use illegal means to transfer them to Europe.
Dhaka, April 16 : Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), one of the major political parties in the country, is scheduled to meet the Chief Advisor of the interim government, Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday, reaffirming the party's stance against any delay in the national election beyond December 2025.

The party will further demand a clear road map to the upcoming election, as per local media reports.

BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said that during the meeting, the party will seek clarity on the interim government's intentions.

"We'll remind the Chief Advisor of his promise to hold elections by December and urge him to publicly confirm it through a press conference. We'll also ask him to direct the Election Commission to complete all necessary preparations accordingly," he added

BNP leaders indicated that if no consensus was reached during the meeting, they would take to the streets to press their demand for the restoration of democracy and for holding the national election this year.

The party has further outlined a series of programmes for the next three months. These programmes will likely be rallies, marches, and processions, beginning at the grassroots, Bangladeshi media outlet UNB reported, quoting party insiders.

Expressing serious concern, a BNP standing committee member speaking to UNB on condition of anonymity stated that there is a growing campaign aimed at postponing the national election and keeping the current interim government in power for five years.

He said that the Home Affairs Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury recently claimed that the public wants the interim government to remain for five years, while Fisheries and Livestock Advisor Farida Akhter went a step ahead, saying that the government was 'elected' by people through a mass uprising.

Meanwhile, BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas alleged that the deliberate attempt to delay elections is visible.

"There are people openly talking about keeping Yunus in power for five years. But those trying to do that will not only damage his reputation but also cause serious harm to the country," said Abbas.

Last month, in a televised address to the nation, Yunus stated that the elections will be held between December 2025 and June 2026. He added that the Consensus Commission is actively gathering opinions on reforms from all political parties.

On Sunday, BNP acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, presiding over the party's standing committee meeting, criticised the ones advocating reforms.

"They are talking about reforms while occupying key posts, being inside air-conditioned rooms at expensive offices. They are propagating reforms while enjoying government benefits like cars, salaries, bonuses, and allowances," Bangladesh's leading newspaper The Daily Star reported, quoting Rahman.

Earlier on several occasions, BNP had expressed doubts about the possibility of national parliamentary elections being held in December. The party's senior leaders alleged a "conspiracy" to delay the polls.

The much-flaunted unity of the political outfits in Bangladesh, which was on full display during the ousting of the democratically-elected Awami League government led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, is fading gradually.
Kaimur, April 16 : At least 70 people got employment in Bihar's Kaimur under the PM-POSHAN scheme and expressed their gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the initiative.

Few of the people who got employment under the scheme spoke to IANS about their role, functioning and thanked PM Modi for the opportunity.

An official said all 70 people employed under the scheme prepare food, take care of the cleanliness, and transport food to various schools at Patna Mod, Bailodi Panchayat in Mohania block of the district. Food is prepared hygienically, and a semi-automatic machine has been installed.

Thanking PM Modi for the job, Nisha Devi said eight women have been employed. "We clean the floors, do the dishes, and clean the rice," she said.

Sameer Ansari, who is preparing for a competitive exam and working at the centre, also thanked PM Modi for his employment.

Ansari said that if anyone wants to appear for competitions, he/she can do that with this job because it is part-time work.

The kitchen in-charge, Akhlaq Ahmed, said many students employed here while preparing for their competitive exams have secured government jobs with their hard work.

Talking about the food menu, he shared: "We have varied dishes every day. On Monday, we provide rice, mixed dal and green vegetables, while jeera rice and soybean vegetable on Tuesday."

Ahmed thanked PM Modi for providing employment and food to the hungry.

He pointed out that the financial condition of many students studying in schools is not so good, and they are unable to have pulses and vegetables due to the scheme.

For the unversed, PM POSHAN is a centrally-sponsored scheme under which meal is served to 11.20 crore students of Balvatika and Classes I to 8, in 10.36 lakh government and government-aided schools on all school days.

It aims to provide nutritional support and enhance the school participation of students. Recently, the Ministry of Education enhanced the aMaterial Costa by 9.50 per cent, and new rates will be applicable across all the states/union territories from May 1.
Chennai, April 16 : Actor Ravi Mohan has now revealed a funny incident involving the unit of his upcoming film, 'Karathey Babu', being directed by Ganesh K Babu of 'Dada' fame.

Participating in an event recently, Ravi Mohan said, "You all know me as Jayam Ravi. But I have another name called Ravi Mohan. I was given the name Jayam Ravi by my loving fans and friends. I had said ' I stand before you as Ravi Mohan' in a teaser in a film of mine called 'Karathey Babu'. Soon after the teaser released, I received a phone call. It was from the honourable Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department Sekar Babu.

"Both the director and I got a call from him. The director Ganesh Babu went to meet the Minister, worried if he would say something about the teaser. When the Minister met the director, he asked him, 'Are you making a film called 'Karathey Babu'?" The director replied, "Yes sir, yes sir!" "Isn't that character a little like me?," the Minister asked.

"To this, the director immediately replied, 'No sir, no sir. That character is in no way connected to you sir. There is no problem at all sir.' Ganesh Babu then tried to mumble some excuses. It was then that the Minister said, "Brother, I am that 'Karathey Babu'," the actor laughed and said, even as he thanked the minister for being kind and wishing the film unit well.

Actor Ravi Mohan plays a politician called Shanmugha Babu representing the R K Nagar constituency in the film.

The scene shown in the teaser takes place in the State Legislative Assembly, where the Leader of the Opposition (played by K S Ravi Kumar) asks the Speaker why the Chief Minister (played by Nasser) was so interested in knowing about the old name of the RK Nagar constituency representative.

The Chief Minister then gives an explanation on the significance of names, after which Shanmugha Babu (Ravi Mohan) stands up to speak. He then discloses that he was called Karate Babu and that this name was given to him by the people of R K Nagar 17 years ago."

Directed by the immensely talented Ganesh K Babu, whose film Dada took the Tamil film industry by storm, 'Karathey Babu' has cinematography by Ezhil Arasu, music by Sam C S and editing by Kathiresh Alagesan.

Well known director Rathna Kumar has co-written the script of this film, which features Daudee Jiwal as the female lead.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Mumbai, April 16 : Actress Chum Darang has talked about playing the character Svetlana in the series "Khauf" and said she "had to scream my lungs out, which gave me migraines." Mumbai, April 16 (IANS) Actress Chum Darang has talked about playing the character Svetlana in the series "Khauf" and said she "had to scream my lungs out, which gave me migraines."

Talking about her character, Chum said, "I connected with her instantly. She's a fighter and a girl's girl, and I believe many people will resonate with her journey."

The "Khauf" project marks Chum's debut in the horror genre, and her preparation was anything but typical.

Chum said, "Horror is my favorite genre, so I immersed myself in itwatched everything I could find," she said.

"I had to scream my lungs out, which gave me migraines. There were days I shot with a fever, and I even bled during one scene! I literally put my blood and sweat into this."

Working alongside critically acclaimed talents like Rajat Kapoor, Geetanjali Kulkarni, and Shilpa Shukla was a dream come true for Chum, who gained the spotlight after her stint in "Bigg Boss 18."

"I feel lucky to share the screen with such amazing actors. There's never a dull moment, and I'm a huge fan of Rajat Kapoor," she said.

One of the series' eerie standout moments features Svetlana in a suspenseful scene where she attempts to leave her hostel.

"Scenes like that, dependent on CGI and green screens, were completely new territory for me," she said.

"But it's my duty as an actor to bring those moments to life, and the directors guided us wonderfully through the process."

Marking Smita Singh's debut as a creator and showrunner, Khauf is executive-produced by Sanjay Routray and Sarita Patil under the Matchbox Shots banner.

Directed by Pankaj Kumar and Surya Balakrishnan, the series boasts a stellar ensemble cast featuring Monika Panwar, Abhishek Chauhan, Geetanjali Kulkarni, and Shilpa Shukla in key roles.

'Khauf' will premiere exclusively on Prime Video on April 18.
Imphal, April 16 : Manipur Police arrested 14 militants of different outfits and recovered arms, ammunition, cash, incriminating documents from their possession in the last 24 hours, officials said on Wednesday.

A senior police officer said that these 14 extremists were arrested from six districts a" Thoubal, Imphal East, Imphal West, Tengnoupal, Bishnupur and Jiribam.

Of the 14 ultras, four cadres each were arrested from Imphal East and Thoubal districts while three were held from Tengnoupal district, one each from Imphal West, Bishnupur and Jiribam districts.

The detained militants belonged to Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), United National Liberation Front (UNLF), PREPAK and Socialist Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (SOREPA) outfits.

The arrested militants were involved in various crimes including extortion of money from the government employees, contractors, traders and common people in different districts.

According to the police official, pistols, high power grenades, mobile handsets, one car, several two-wheelers and many incriminating documents were recovered from the detainees.

The official said that Rs 21.50 lakh was recovered from one of the UNLF militants arrested in Bishnupur district.

He said that search operations and area domination were conducted by security forces in the fringe and vulnerable areas of hill and valley districts.

During these operations, temporary shelters of a training camp for Village Volunteers were dismantled at Gelmol village in Churachandpur District.

Meanwhile, a Defence spokesman said that in a series of joint operations during the past one week, the Army, Assam Rifles, CRPF, BSF, ITBP and Manipur Police have recovered illegally-held 77 arms, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), grenades, various ammunition and war-like stores from seven districts -- Churachandpur, Bishnupur, Imphal East, Kakching, Jiribam, Kangpokpi and Imphal West.

He said that the recovered arms include Carbines, Self-Loading Rifles (SLR), AK series rifles, AK series rifles, .303 Light Machine Guns (LMGs), Carbine Machine Guns, .303 Rifles, INSAS rifles, Snipers rifles, double-barrelled rifles, single-barrelled Bolt Action Rifles and pistols.

The security forces in the joint operations also arrested nine militants of different outfits.
Mumbai, April 16 : The makers of "Raid 2" on Wednesday released the second track, 'Kamle,' from the film. The composer duo Sachet-Parampara said that from the moment they started working on the song, they knew it had something special.

Mumbai, April 16 (IANS) The makers of "Raid 2" on Wednesday released the second track, 'Kamle,' from the film. The composer duo Sachet-Parampara said that from the moment they started working on the song, they knew it had something special.

The song showcases the stunning landscapes of Rajasthan while highlighting the love and chemistry between Ajay Devgn and Vaani Kapoor. The song, which is packed with passion, groove, and irresistible hooks, has lyrics penned by Kausar Munir.

Talking about the song, the composer duo said, "Creating 'Kamle' was an incredible experience for us. It's one of those songs that instantly lifts your mood."

"From the moment we started working on it, we knew it had something specialan effortless blend of love, exploration, and vibrant energy. We've played around with the sound to make it feel fresh and unique, and we're so excited for everyone to experience it," they added.

Helmed by Raj Kumar Gupta, "Raid 2" stars Ajay Devgn, Riteish Deshmukh, Vaani Kapoor, Supriya Pathak, Saurabh Shukla, and Amit Sial, among other celebrated actors joining this high-stakes sequel.

"Raid 2" is produced by Bhushan Kumar, Kumar Mangat Pathak, Abhishek Pathak, and Krishan Kumar.

The film is presented by Gulshan Kumar and T-Series and is a Panorama Studios production. Directed by Raj Kumar Gupta, Raid 2 is set to release theatrically on May 1.

The first installment of the crime thriller film "Raid" was released in 2018. It stars Ajay, Saurabh Shukla, and Ileana D'Cruz. The film is based on the real-life income tax raid conducted by the officers of the Income Tax Department on Sardar Inder Singh in the 1980s, which distinguished itself from others for being the longest raid in Indian history.

Like the previous film, the sequel is also based on the income tax raid conducted by the officers of the Income Tax Department, who work with intelligence agencies to track white-collar crimes.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Raipur, April 16 : The Chhattisgarh Police have conducted a significant operation against insurgents in the forests of Burgum, resulting in the elimination of two dreaded Maoists, including a high-ranking commander.

This operation, carried out jointly by the Kondagaon District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Bastar Fighters, has been hailed as a major success in the fight against Maoist insurgency.

Inspector General P. Sundarraj of Bastar Division confirmed the success of the operation and stated that both individuals had been identified.

Acting on intelligence about Maoists in the Kilam-Burgum forest area near the border of the Kondagaon and Narayanpur districts, the operation commenced on Tuesday (April 15). A fierce gunfight broke out, with continuous exchange of fire between the security forces and the Maoists. The operation extended overnight, with the security forces holding their positions in the dense forest. By Wednesday morning, a search of the area led to the discovery of the bodies of two Maoists.

Among them was Haldar, identified as a DVCM (Divisional Committee Member), carrying a bounty of Rs 8 lakh. The second individual, Rame, an ACM (Area Committee Member), had a reward of Rs 5 lakh on his head.

Both were associated with the East Bastar Division, known for its notorious activities.

In addition to the successful neutralisation of these insurgents, the police recovered an AK-47 rifle, explosives, ammunition, and other Maoist materials from the encounter site.

This operation marks a significant blow to Maoist operations in the region, underscoring the effectiveness of coordinated intelligence-based actions.

Search operations in the area are ongoing, and further updates will be provided as details emerge.

The police remain vigilant in their commitment to restoring peace and security in the region. In contrast, several Maoists are surrendering to security forces to reintegrate themselves with the mainstream of society.

On March 29, as many as 15 Maoists surrendered before security forces in the Maoist-affected district of Dantewada. They pledged to join the mainstream of society. This development is part of the widely publicised campaign in villages by the District Police Force and CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force). An ongoing campaign, "Lon Varratu" has successfully motivated numerous Maoists, including top leaders, to surrender and rejoin the society.
Seoul, April 16 : The South Korean People Power Party (PPP) said on Wednesday that it has selected eight presidential aspirants to advance to the first round of its primary to pick a candidate for the June 3 presidential election.

The eight hopefuls include former Labour Minister Kim Moon-soo, former PPP leader Han Dong-hoon, former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, PPP lawmakers Na Kyung-won and Ahn Cheol-soo, Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok, North Gyeongsang Governor Lee Cheol-woo and former lawmaker Yang Hyang-ja. They were chosen from among 11 registered applicants.

The party will conduct a public survey on them to shortlist four candidates for the next round on April 22.

A second round of the primary will be held on April 29 to select two finalists, based on a combination of party member votes and public polling, each weighted at 50 per cent. The final nominee will be confirmed on May 3, Yonhap news agency reported.

South Korea will hold a presidential election on June 3, after former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was removed from office over his failed martial law bid.

The South Korean government designated June 3 as the date of the next presidential election following the ouster of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol.

The designation was made at a Cabinet meeting four days after the Constitutional Court upheld the impeachment of Yoon over his short-lived imposition of martial law in December.

Under the Constitution, the country is required to hold a new election within 60 days after a vacancy arises in the presidency.

The government also designated June 3 as a temporary public holiday.

The National Election Commission began early candidate registration shortly after the Constitutional Court dismissed Yoon last Friday.

Candidates will be required to register by May 11 and the official campaign period will kick off on May 12.

The law also requires a public servant running for President to resign at least 30 days before an election, making May 4 the deadline.

The new President will assume office immediately after the election without a transition team.
Jaipur, April 16 : The Meteorological Centre in Jaipur has issued red, orange, and yellow alerts for a heatwave across Rajasthan, effective through Wednesday and remaining until April 18.

A yellow alert will remain in effect on April 19.

The red alert has been issued for Jaisalmer and Barmer for Wednesday, while 11 other districts are under orange and yellow alerts.

According to the Meteorological Department, the heat is expected to intensify in western Rajasthan over the next two to three days.

Radheshyam Sharma, Director of the Meteorological Centre, Jaipur, stated that a weak Western Disturbance is likely to become active in some parts of the state on April 16-17. Due to its influence, dust storms, light cloud cover, and scattered light rain or drizzle may occur during this period.

The Meteorologists, meanwhile, confirmed that a period of severe heat has begun in Rajasthan.

On Tuesday, temperatures in Barmer crossed 45 degrees Celsius, with daytime conditions marked by extreme heat. In contrast, Udaipur and Dungarpur experienced a weather shift post-noon, with cloud cover, dust storms, and light rain, offering temporary relief from the heat.

Elsewhere, heatwave conditions persisted across the state. Barmer recorded the highest temperature, followed closely by Jaisalmer at 45.4 degrees Celsius, Phalodi at 44.4 degrees, Chittorgarh at 43.1, Jalore at 42.4, Bikaner and Sriganganagar at 42.3, and Jodhpur at 42.2. In Jaipur, the maximum temperature was 38.4 degrees Celsius, while the minimum was 25.4. The city experienced clear skies and strong sunshine throughout the day. Weather experts predict the heatwave will intensify further starting April 17.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD), New Delhi, has released its monsoon forecast, suggesting above-normal rainfall this season in several parts of the country, including Rajasthan.

The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is expected to remain neutral, a factor that supports favourable monsoon conditions. Experts anticipate good rainfall across both western and eastern Rajasthan this year.

The border districts of western Rajasthan will register temperatures around 45 to 46 degrees Celsius. Parts of these divisions will register strong heat waves. Also, in the Jaipur and Bharatpur divisions, a heatwave is predicted from April 17 to 18, said Sharma.

As per the weather department, the red alert condition means a very high likelihood of developing heat illness and heat stroke in all ages, and extreme care is needed for vulnerable people.
A guiding document for improving roadway safety in Nelson County, the Move Safely Blue Ridge Comprehensive Safety Action Plan, was presented to the countys board of supervisors on April 8.

The document says the countys commitment to reduce roadway fatalities and serious injuries in half by 2045 is in alignment with the Virginia Strategic Highway Safety Plan.

The Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission is developing the plan to identify data-driven strategies, prioritize safety improvements and guide implementation efforts for enhanced roadway safety. The plan serves as a framework for regional collaboration and supports eligibility for federal funding under the Safe Streets and Roads for All, or SS4A, program.

From 2018 to 2022, 173 people were killed or seriously injured in crashes in the county, underscoring the urgent need for coordinated safety improvements, according to the presentation.

Gorjan Gjorgjievski, a regional planner with the commission, said the planning process includes identifying issues, establishing priorities and developing strategies. In Nelson County, 75% of the fatal, serious and minor injury crashes from 2018 to 2022 occurred on 7% of the countys roadway mileage, he said.

Engagement on the plan in Nelson County has included pop-up events at locations such as the Nelson County Food Pantry, Village of Lovingston Farmers Market and a recent public meeting at the Nelson Center, he said. The overall input includes three rounds across the planning districts region.

The whole process serves as a foundation for development of the final comprehensive safety action plan, Gjorgjievski said.

In the first round it was crucial to ask the public about the concerns they have traveling on the countys roadways, he said.

Two rounds of input have been held in the county already, he said. A roundtable discussion also was held with farmers and ranchers.

I want to thank the Nelson County sheriffs department, first responders team and Unity in Community ministry for allowing us to attend their meetings, he said.

The draft plans spot improvements are construction of a restricted crossing U-turn at U.S. 29 and Tye Brook Road as well as improving advanced warning and sight distance from clearing trees at the intersection of Virginia Route 151 and Lowesville Road. A restricted crossing U-turn, or RCUT, is a type of intersection design that eliminates left turns and cross-traffic at a four-lane divided highway by forcing vehicles to make a right turn onto the highway and then perform a U-turn at a designated median opening.

In the Colleen area of U.S. 29, upgrading the pavement markings in the crossovers, conducting a study to create a reduced speed limit zone, extending a turn lane onto Colleen Road and replacing two-way left turn lanes with a physical median also are potential spot improvements, according to the plan.

At U.S. 29 through Lovingston, the plan suggests closing the roadways crossover to Main Street, constructing an RCUT at Northside Lane and conducting a study to extend the reduced speed limit zone. In the area of U.S. 29 and Virginia Route 6, the measures outlined include offsetting a left turn lane off U.S. 29 northbound to provider better sight distance, constructing an RCUT, considering a tidbit trail as an alternative route for turning movements and conducting a study to reduce speed limits on U.S. 29.

Jesse Rutherford, the East District representative on the Board of Supervisors, said he doesnt favor closing the crossover on U.S. 29 to Main Street. He said alternative ideas should be explored instead of closing the crossover and the RCUT on Northside Lane.

Theres a lot of individuals who use that for commerce every day  as opposed to going to the stoplight and coming in from that direction, Rutherford said.

Rutherford said he wants to see the stoplight area on U.S. 29 at the Food Lion shopping center addressed and some effort put into figuring out pedestrian movement coming into the village.

I would much rather focus on the entrance at the stoplight more so than Northside entrance, Rutherford said.

Ernie Reed, the boards chair and its Central District representative, said supervisors want to take a closer at the draft plan and contribute to ideas for solutions.

Traffic safety along the Virginia 151 corridor in my district is one of the very highest priorities of the communities I represent  and the North District, Reed said.

The adoption of the plan would position Nelson County to be able to apply for future funding, including SS4A money for future roads, Gjorgjievski said.

He said the final plan should be adopted by localities within the planning district by June 30.

I would say the sooner we receive your feedback the better, he said.
New Delhi, April 16 : Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad held a press conference on Wednesday, launching a scathing attack on Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi over the ongoing National Herald case.

Addressing the media, Prasad said, "The Congress Party is in a state of distress, claiming they have the right to protest across the country. While they certainly have the right to protest, they do not have the right to misappropriate public property given to the National Herald.

"Let me recall some important facts. The National Herald was established in 1937, and there were 5,000 shareholders who purchased shares."

"It was never the personal property of the Nehru family, and itas important to understand that many prominent freedom fighters and Congress leaders supported this initiative," he added.

He went on to allege that the transfer of shares involving Rs 9 crore was merely a smokescreen.

"This transfer of Rs 9 crore was not a big deal. After the transfer of these shares, the Young India company, which was 76 per cent owned by Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, acquired the entire property of Associated Journals Limited. This property includes assets in Delhi, Mumbai, Lucknow, Bhopal, and Patna, worth thousands of crores. It was claimed that Young India Limited was a non-profit organisation for charitable purposes, but they have not done any charitable work until today."

Prasad clarified that the matter is under legal scrutiny.

"An investigation is being conducted, and after the investigation, charges are filed. The court has stated that the hearing will take place on April 25. So, whatas the issue here? Also, it should be noted that Sonia Ji and Rahul Gandhi are out on bail. They went to the High Court and Supreme Court to quash the entire procedure but did not receive any relief. The only concession granted was that they donat have to appear personally in court, only through their lawyer," Prasad said.

Digging into the historical context of National Herald, Prasad referred to senior Congress leaders who had earlier raised concerns.

"The story of the National Herald is quite powerful. Our research team was looking into it, and we found that Sardar Patel had expressed concern, saying it was not appropriate to take money from the common people who could ill-afford it. These were respected Congress leaders, and we have all the letters.

"Even Chandra Bhanu Gupta, who was the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, had raised significant funds for this. He was a senior leader and said that this newspaper was meant to be the voice of the nation, but it ended up becoming the voice of Pandit Nehru and his family."

"This is not something we are saying, itas Congress leaders themselves, and all of it is on record," he added.

Prasad also highlighted a significant advertisement expenditure following the share transfer.

"I have observed that after the transfer of shares to Young India, there was also an advertisement worth Rs 25a"26 crore. The painful truth is that the newspaper, which was established to strengthen the voice of those fighting against British imperialism during the freedom struggle, has now been transformed into a private business," he said.

The BJP demands answers and explanations from Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, "Should the law not take action regarding the thousand crore worth of property you seized? Please respond," Prasad said.
Bengaluru, April 16 : India secured the second spot globally in terms of funding raised by the direct-to-consumer (D2C) sector in 2024, a new report said on Wednesday.

The country ranks just behind the United States and ahead of China, the UK, and Italy, according to a Tracxn's report.

The report shows that the total funding in India's D2C space stood at $757 million in the previous year.

India is home to more than 11,000 D2C companies, out of which around 800 have managed to secure funding so far.

The early-stage and seed-stage funding saw growth. Early-stage investments rose by 25 per cent to $355 million in 2024 compared to 2023, while seed-stage funding climbed 18 per cent to $141 million.

"India's D2C sector is evolving with investors prioritising profitability and sustainable growth. The rise in early-stage investments signals continued confidence in the long-term potential of India's D2C sector," said Neha Singh, Co-Founder of Tracxn.

Among the most funded segments in 2024 were D2C organic beauty brands, online jewellery brands, and D2C beauty brands.

Organic beauty brands saw a major rise in funding, receiving $105 million -- a 79 per cent increase from 2023.

The biggest funding round in 2024 was by BlueStone, which raised $71 million in Series D funding at a valuation of $964 million, the report said.

Bengaluru led the way in funding, attracting $253 million, followed by Gurugram with $164 million and Mumbai with $99.8 million.

Together, Bengaluru and Gurugram accounted for more than half of all funds raised in the sector, as per the report.

To support the D2C ecosystem, the Indian government has introduced several initiatives like Digital India, Startup India, and the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).

Other efforts such as the Export Promotion Mission, Government e-Marketplace (GeM), and the Green Credit Programme are helping D2C brands grow globally and adopt sustainable practices.
Seoul, April 16 : South Korean chipmakers will likely face only limited impact from the new US restrictions on exports of Nvidia's H20 artificial intelligence (AI) accelerators to China, experts here said on Wednesday.

Seoul, April 16 (IANS) South Korean chipmakers will likely face only limited impact from the new US restrictions on exports of Nvidiaas H20 artificial intelligence (AI) accelerators to China, experts here said on Wednesday.

Nvidia said it has been notified by the US authorities that the company now requires a license to export its H20 chips to China for the indefinite future, reports Yonhap news agency.

The H20 accelerators were the most advanced AI chip the company could still export to China under the existing US export ban on high-performance AI chips.

SK hynix supplies its eight-layer HBM3E, the fifth-generation high bandwidth memory (HBM), for the H20 chips. Samsung Electronics Co. does not supply HBM for this particular chip.

Experts say the new regulation is unlikely to significantly affect the South Korean semiconductor firms in the short term, as SK hynix is currently focused on its latest 12-layer HBM3E, a key component in high-performance AI chips destined for markets outside China.

Additionally, SK hynix has already finalized its HBM sales contracts for the H20 chips, meaning the new export restrictions will not affect its balance sheet, according to the experts.

Nvidia has said it expects to take a $5.5 billion charge due to the new regulation on its H20 chip exports to China. Nvidia shares fell about 6 per cent in after-hours trading.

"SK hynix completed additional sales of HBM for H20 in March, so it will not face inventory write-downs like Nvidia," Chae Min-sook, a researcher at Korea Investment & Securities Co., said. "We estimate that the sanctions will not change SK hynix's annual HBM production plan or its earnings estimates."

While the direct impact on South Korean chipmakers appears limited, industry insiders are expressing concerns about a broader slowdown in China's AI chip market, which had recently surged on low-cost AI models from companies like DeepSeek.

"Although the U.S. restriction has no direct impact, it could dampen momentum in the AI chip business and limit future opportunities," an official at a South Korean semiconductor firm said. "It has also increased uncertainty and concerns over the industry's future outlook."

Shares of SK hynix and Samsung Electronics finished 3.65 percent and 3.36 percent lower, respectively, on the Korea Composite Stock Price Index, which fell 1.21 percent.
Patna, April 16 : Patna Police arrested 11 people in connection with the abduction and murder of Pune-based businessman Laxman Sadhu Shinde, who went missing after arriving in the city on April 11. In a significant breakthrough, the gang confessed to at least six more similar incidents between January 25 to March 27 this year.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Awakash Kumar confirmed on Wednesday that seven of the accused were arrested late on Tuesday night, while the remaining four are already in custody.

Seven accused arrested in this connection have been identified as Ranjit Patel, Viptara Kumar, Lalbihari, Vikas alias Mohit, Kundan Kumar, Sangita Kumari, and Sachin Ranjan.

The arrests followed an intensive probe led by a Special Investigation Team (SIT).

"Initially, it appeared to be a simple missing person case, but as the probe progressed, we realised it involved an organised gang who kidnapped the businessman," Kumar said.

The gang allegedly lured businessmen through emails, WhatsApp, Facebook, and other online platforms, convincing them to visit Patna under the pretext of business deals.

Once the victims landed in Patna, they were taken to isolated locations and pressured into transferring money via UPI or bank accounts. Their relatives were also coerced into paying ransom.

"The police tracked down the vehicle used in the crime to Jandaha block in Vaishali district and arrested its owner, which led to the breakthrough arrests across three districts," Kumar said.

According to SSP Kumar, the arrested individuals have confessed to at least six more similar incidents dating from January 25 to March 27 this year.

Victims were allegedly released after extortion demands were fulfilled.

"We are reaching out to the victims of previous cases and will register FIRs accordingly," Kumar said.

The police are now identifying and contacting other businessmen who have fallen prey to this extortion racket, with additional FIRs expected.

Shinde landed in Patna on the night of April 11 and had been missing since then.

Later, he was found murdered in Jehanabad district, police said.

The deceased, Shinde (55), a resident of DP Road, Kothrud in Pune owned a Centrifugal Casting Bearing, a company based in Khed Shivapur, Pune.

His body was discovered on April 14 under the jurisdiction of Ghosi Police Station in Jehanabad.

During the probe, police found that Rs 90,000 was withdrawn using Shinde's ATM cards before he was beaten to death when he allegedly refused to reveal details of other bank accounts.

He is survived by his wife and two children.
Kolkata, April 16 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on Wednesday, accused the Union government of being responsible for the recent tension and violence in the minority-dominated Murshidabad district during protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act.

She also accused the Border Security Force (BSF) of their alleged 'failure' in preventing miscreants from neighbouring Bangladesh from reportedly entering the Indian territory and creating violence in Murshidabad.

"I saw a video related to the National Investigative Agency (NIA), which said that a report of the Union Home Ministry has claimed the involvement of Bangladeshi miscreants behind the chaos in Murshidabad. If that is true, who will take that responsibility? Who is responsible for preventing illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators from entering the Indian side? Whose instructions do BSF follow? BSF operates under the instruction of the Union Home Ministry. So what is our fault? Why did the BSF allow the illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators to enter?" the Chief Minister questioned while addressing a meeting with the imams, muezzins, and religious leaders from the Muslim community in the state. The meeting has been reportedly convened to prepare the blueprint on how to oppose the Waqf (Amendment) Act.

The Chief Minister also said the violence in Murshidabad was a pre-planned one. "There was enough provocation for creating violence. Had Trinamool Congress been behind the conspiracy, the houses of the party MP and the legislator would not have been attacked. I have not come here to make any provocative statement. I have come here to spread the message of peace," the Chief Minister said.

She also claimed that the BJP, through the help of agencies, is trying to rope in outsiders in West Bengal to create tension here.

"They had plans to create a riot-like situation on the occasion of Ram Navami. But they failed. I thank the people of West Bengal for that. Now, they are trying to create tension over the Waqf Act. We have to resist that," the Chief Minister said.

She also clarified that the meeting on Wednesday was not convened by her but by the Imams. "I have not convened the meeting. The Imams invited me, and I came," she said.
Los Angeles, April 16 : Hollywood actress Florence Pugh says she wants to make changes because she knows she is not an "easy" person to date.

The 'Thunderbolts' actress said that her hectic work schedule means it can be hard for her to "make dates," reports femalefirst.co.uk.

Pugh, who is currently in a relationship with someone she has declined to name, told the May issue of Britain's Harper's Bazaar magazine: "I'm more sympathetic to the people who are in love with me, because it's not easy! I'm tricky  I'm always busy, I can never make dates.

"But it's not good enough for me to ask someone to just accept that. I'll just end up alone. I don't want that  I want a family."

Pugh's last relationship ended as she began filming 'We Live in Time' and she said the themes of mortality in the film made her reevaluate her priorities.

She said: "It was a scary break-up, and I think that movie forced me to realise I can't wait for people any more. I can't accept this version of love. I have to help myself I've worked back-to-back since I started, and I've missed so much.

"I've now come to terms with things that I don't like about myself and want to change. I don't want to have things just happen to me any more."

The 29-year-old actress called for more "tenderness and understanding" after she was hit by unkind comments online when she began the "tiring and horrible" process of freezing her eggs.

She said: "There was a clickbait article about me doing it. I know you shouldn't read the comments but... urgh. I wish there was a little more tenderness and understanding It can be such a hate-fest out there."
New Delhi, April 16 : Amid multiple incidents of arson and violence in Murshidabad over the Waqf Act, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee held a meeting with Muslim clerics, imams and Ulemas at the Netaji Indoor Stadium and urged them to co-operate in restoring peace. The move has drawn sharp criticism from the BJP.

Senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi questioned the intent behind Banerjee's outreach to Muslim clerics and questioned her lack of sensitivity towards the other community that bore the brunt of violence.

Speaking to IANS, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, "There is unrest in several areas, especially in West Bengal, which is deeply concerning. It appears that the state government has surrendered to criminal and communal forces. And now, by organising a meeting involving the same elements, what message is Mamata Banerjee trying to convey  one of trust, or of fear?"

Naqvi alleged that the constitutional machinery in the state has collapsed, pointing to the large-scale migration of people from the affected areas as evidence of administrative failure.

"People are fleeing right under the nose of a constitutional government. This shows how governance has been collapsed," he added.

Mamata administration has come under fire for not rising to the occasion and confronting the radicals and extremists in unleashing mayhem and horror on streets, particularly in Murshidabad, leading to loss of three lives. BJP has accused TMC government of pursuing appeasement politics for political gains.

Naqvi also reacted on the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) action in the National Herald case, where Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi have been named in a chargesheet.

Reacting to Congress's sharp criticism of the chargesheet, Naqvi said, "The Congress is trying to portray corruption as a revolutionary act. They carry this act of fraud like a badge of honour, claiming victimhood. But this is not about political vendetta  it's a matter that has already been investigated and guided by court orders."

The investigative agency filed chargesheet against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in connection to the National Herald case on Tuesday. Congress leaders Sam Pitroda and Suman Dubey have also been named as accused in the chargesheet.
Kochi, April 16 : Giving relief to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter Veena Vijayan, and Kochi-based mining company CMRL, a vacation bench of the Kerala High Court on Wednesday ordered status quo for two months on a trial court's decision to take cognisance of a complaint filed by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) in a financial fraud case.

Vacation bench judge, Justice T.R. Ravi, passed the interim order while considering the challenge raised by Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) against the April 11 order passed by the Additional District and Sessions Judge-VII, Ernakulam.

The high court said that the petition raised fundamental questions of law which needed to be considered.

"Additional Solicitor General (ASG) takes notice for the first respondent. Issue notice to respondents 2 to 12. The ASG shall place on record their counter-affidavit. Since a fundamental question regarding the taking of cognizance has been raised, and since issues concerning the applicability of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC) and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS) have been put in question, there will be a direction to the respondents to maintain status quo as on today, for a period of two months," the court ordered.

"Post the matter immediately after court reopens," the order said.

The SFIO had, last week, filed its charge sheet on the purportedly illegal deal between Veena Vijayanas now defunct IT firm Exalogic and CMRL after finding that her firm had allegedly received a monthly gratification of around Rs 2.70 crore from the CMRL for mining sanctions.

These payments, according to the SFIO, were made without any actual services being rendered.

The SFIO had filed its charge sheet at an economic offences court here, and the process of sending summons to all the accused was in process, when this major relief came.

Incidentally, the ED also had started a preliminary probe into this case, and in the past, both the Karnataka and Kerala High Courts had rejected petitions filed by Veena and the state-run KSIDC, which has a stake in CMRL.

Both Vijayan and the CPI-M have made it clear that they will fight the case legally and politically.
Belagavi, April 16 : A day after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a charge sheet against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case, Karnataka BJP president and MLA B. Y. Vijayendra on Wednesday said they must face the consequences of their actions.

Speaking to the media in Belagavi, he said the ED is conducting a comprehensive investigation into the case, in which Sonia Gandhi is the first accused and Rahul Gandhi is the second.

"They must face the consequences of their actions. No one is above the law, and they will have to deal with it," Vijayendra stated.

He claimed the Congress government and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah have been rattled by the impact of the Janakrosh yatra.

"We are consistently exposing the anti-people policies of the Congress government to the public. Due to the price hikes and the high cost of governance, people are suffering, frustrated, and angry," said Vijayendra.

Responding to a question, he said, "The belief that guarantees have made the state prosperous is the CM's delusion. When our MLAs approach Siddaramaiah seeking funds, the latter says, "We have already given guarantees".

"Since Siddaramaiah's government came to power, diesel prices have risen by Rs 5.50 and petrol by Rs 3. Has this people-friendly government done anything to stop it? Milk prices have been hiked by Rs 9. Is that a pro-poor decision?" he said.

"If there's any state government and Chief Minister in the country who have lost their popularity within just 20 months, it is this Congress government in our state and Siddaramaiah," he claimed.

However, Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge shot back at the BJP, questioning how the party was getting thousands and crores of donations.

"How is RSS building 600 district headquarters buildings? Let the audit take place. Will they allow it? It has been happening for 10 years. Whenever there is a crisis in the BJP, they bring Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Robert Vadra. They try to threaten us, but we are not going to get threatened by it."
Islamabad, April 16 : Pakistan's Special Representative for Afghanistan, Ambassador Sadiq Khan landed in Kabul on Wednesday on a day-long visit to participate in the second round of the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) meeting as Islamabad aims to settle border disputes with the neighbouring country.

The JCC meeting is happening after 16 months as Pakistan plans to initiate high-level engagements to de-escalate and normalise bilateral relations.

The Afghan Taliban side will be represented by Deputy Minister of Defence, Mullah Abdul Qayum Zakir - an ex-Guantanamo detainee regarded as the most predacious Taliban commander since the death of Mullah Dadullah - who holds a hardline stance on Pakistan.

The crucial talks are being held at a time when Pakistan has accused the Afghan Taliban for supporting, funding, arming, harbouring and facilitating militant groups, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Baloch militant outfits who have been carrying out attacks in Pakistan.

On the other hand, Pakistan's unilateral decision to repatriate thousands of illegal and Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders has not been received well by the regime in Kabul who have repeatedly called on Islamabad to review its decision a" a demand that Islamabad has rejected.

The Afghan Consul General in Khyber Pakhtunkhwaas provincial capital Peshawar will be meeting local media later in the day in an attempt to convince Pakistan to review its policy on Afghan repatriation process.

A high-level delegation from Afghanistan's Ministry of Commerce and Industry will also be landing in Islamabad later today to hold talks with its counterparts in Pakistan and push towards active engagements and coordination going forward.

Noor Uddin Azizi, Afghanistan's Minister of Industry and Commerce, will be leading the delegation which includes representatives from the office of Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Investment Facilitation Directorate, Foreign Affairs, Finance, Refugee Affairs, Transport and Civil Aviation, Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock and Private Sector of Afghanistan.

Experts say that the latest round of engagements between Pakistan and Afghanistan hold significant value as Pakistan has been accusing the Afghan Taliban of helping anti-Pakistan militant groups to spread unrest and bloodshed in the country. Islamabad also has been building up a case against the Afghan Taliban for arming anti-Pakistan militant groups with arms, which it says are leftover weapons of the United States and NATO forces.
Jaipur, April 16 : Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, while addressing the Rajasthan Police Foundation Day celebrations, praised the unwavering dedication, bravery, and service of the state police personnel. He said the police uniform is not merely a piece of clothing but a powerful symbol of duty, commitment, and sacrifice.

Calling the policemen the true heroes of society, he acknowledged their round-the-clock efforts to protect lives and property, often working in the harshest conditions and through every challenge. In his speech at the Rajasthan Police Academy (RPA), the Chief Minister said that Foundation Day is an important occasion to express collective respect and gratitude to the police force.

He paid homage to the martyred personnel who had laid down their lives in the line of duty, reaffirming the stateas commitment to honouring their memory and supporting their fellow officers.

Marking the occasion, CM Sharma made several key announcements to improve the welfare of police personnel and modernise the department. He declared an increase in the uniform allowance from Rs 7,000 to Rs 8,000 for personnel from constable to assistant sub-inspector, along with a raise in mess allowance from Rs 2,400 to Rs 2,700 for officers up to the rank of police inspector.

Additionally, he announced free travel facilities for policemen from constable to inspector rank in semi-deluxe buses, supplementing their existing travel privileges.

The Chief Minister assured that the government would take all necessary steps to ensure timely promotions and address the needs of the police force. Highlighting the role of police in society, CM Sharma emphasised that the police serve as a protective shield for the public. Beyond maintaining law and order, they are actively involved in crime prevention, traffic regulation, disaster management, and promoting social harmony.

He underscored that effective policing is not only about apprehending criminals but also about fostering public trust and ensuring a sense of security across communities.

CM Sharma advocated for greater community engagement through regular communication between the police and citizens.

According to him, initiatives such as organising meetings in villages and urban neighbourhoods, visiting educational institutions, and running awareness campaigns at community centres are essential to building a positive perception of the police, especially among the youth.

He also stressed the importance of quick complaint redressal and the adoption of technology to improve transparency and efficiency in policing.

Reaffirming the government's commitment to empowering the police force, the Chief Minister announced the creation of a Rs 200 crore Police Modernisation and Infrastructure Fund.

He also shared that approval has been granted for the recruitment of 10,000 new personnel to strengthen law and order, alongside the creation of 5,500 posts, with another 3,500 proposed for the current year.

Further, administrative and financial approvals have been issued for the establishment of Padmini Kalibai and Amritadevi Mahila Police Battalions, as well as for the creation of 1,000 constable posts in the first phase to form 500 Kalika patrolling teams.

In a significant move to bolster cyber capabilities and digital surveillance, the government will establish the Sardar Patel Centre for Cyber Control and War Room for Rs 350 crore under the Police Headquarters. Furthermore, about 750 motorcycles and 500 light vehicles have been added to enhance police mobility, and Rs 27 crore has been allocated for advanced equipment.

The government has also approved the expansion and upgrade of the Police Telecommunication Training Centre into the Rajasthan Police Technical Training Academy.

In total, around Rs 60 crore has been sanctioned to improve police operations and efficiency.

Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Sharma laid a wreath at the Police Martyrs Memorial to honour the brave police personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice. Following this, he inspected the parade at the academy and presented Police Medals and Chief Minister's Commendable Service Medals to distinguished officers and personnel in recognition of their exemplary service.

In his concluding remarks, the Chief Minister reiterated the state governmentas unwavering dedication to strengthening and modernising the police force, ensuring that Rajasthan remains a safe and secure state for all.
Belagavi : , April 16 (IANS) BJP launched the second phase of the Janakrosh Yatra on Wednesday in Belagavi against the Karnataka government over price rise and quota for Muslims in government tenders and said that the Congress will go home in 2028.

Former Chief Minister and BJP MP, Jagadish Shettar criticised the state government, calling it a disgrace, and cited allegations by a writer that there had been corruption in awarding a prize named after Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

Speaking at the public meeting held on Wednesday as part of the Janakrosh Yatra, Shettar said, "Public anger is rising everywhere. It is certain that the Congress party will be sent home in 2028, and the BJP will come to power."

He alleged that there was no development work happening and everything had come to a standstill.

"This is a government run purely on corruption. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah must be thinking these are the final days of his political career. Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar is waiting in the wings. Siddaramaiah must be dreaming whether it will be in November or December," he mocked.

Shettar further alleged that there was internal conflict and a proxy war within the Congress.

"Some want Siddaramaiah to be replaced, while others want him to continue. Some MLAs are openly stating that D.K. Shivakumar should become the Chief Minister," he said.

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, directly challenged CM Siddaramaiah, stating, "If you can prove that Savarkar defeated Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in an election, I will resign from my Opposition post today itself."

Narayanaswamy demanded that if Siddaramaiah fails to prove the statement, he should be ready to resign from the Chief Minister's post.

"You are already aged, you have held every major position, and there is no higher post left for you in the Congress," he remarked.

Further criticizing the CM, he said, "Siddaramaiah, who was once close to me, never used to lie like this, but now it seems all that matters is staying in power, no matter what."

Referring to CM Siddaramaiah's recent remark that Dr. Ambedkar himself wrote that Savarkar defeated him in an election, Narayanaswamy questioned, "Is there any bigger lie than this?"

Narayanaswamy alleged that CM Siddaramaiah was fed this claim by "Chhota Kharge" (Minister Priyank Kharge).

Narayanaswamy further sarcastically added that "Mota Kharge" (a reference to AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge) was behind him.
Seoul, April 16 : GM Korea, the South Korean unit of General Motors, plans to increase production at its Incheon plant by about 9 per cent this year, the company's labour union said on Wednesday, easing concerns over a potential withdrawal amid growing uncertainty over the United States' tariff policies.

According to the union, the company recently said it would allocate an additional 21,000 vehicles to the plant in Bupyeong, Incheon, west of Seoul, for production this year.

The increase amounts to nearly 9 per cent of the plant's annual production capacity of 250,000 units, reports Yonhap news agency.

The move comes as speculation has grown about a possible exit of GM from South Korea in response to Washington's 25 per cent tariff on imported vehicles.

GM Korea ships about 85 per cent of its exports to America.

According to the union, the added production volume signals that GM intends to maintain the South Korean base as a key export hub.

"The decision to boost production will likely ease some of the anxiety among our members," a union official said.

The union plans to hold a meeting with management to reflect the updated production plan in next month's work schedules.

A separate labour-management meeting is also scheduled for later this month to discuss countermeasures against U.S. tariff policies and strategies for stable operations.

Meanwhile, South Korea's import prices fell for the second consecutive month in March due mainly to a drop in global oil prices, central bank data showed on Wednesday.

The import price index shed 0.4 percent from a month earlier in March, following a 1.0 percent on-month decline the previous month, according to the preliminary data from the Bank of Korea (BOK).

Import prices of raw materials went down 3.3 percent on-month in March, while those of intermediate goods rose 0.7 percent.

The decline came as the average price of Dubai crude, South Korea's benchmark, fell 7 percent from a month earlier to an average of $72.49 per barrel in March, government data showed.
Chennai, April 16 : AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) on Wednesday clarified that the party's renewed alliance with the BJP is strictly for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, ruling out the possibility of forming a coalition government with it.

"He (Union Minister Amit Shah) never spoke about forming a coalition government. We have entered into an electoral alliance, not a governance pact," EPS told reporters after walking out of the Tamil Nadu Assembly.

The AIADMK staged the walkout in protest against the House not taking up the no-confidence motion it had moved against the ruling DMK government.

Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Palaniswami was responding to persistent media queries regarding Union Home Minister Shah's remarks during his visit to Chennai on April 11, where he had announced the revival of the AIADMK-BJP alliance and reportedly mentioned the formation of a "coalition government" in Tamil Nadu.

Brushing aside these claims, EPS accused the media of misinterpreting Union Minister Shah's comments.

"Union Minister Shah said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the NDA at the national level, and I will lead the alliance in Tamil Nadu. It's simple and unambiguous," he reiterated.

The AIADMK severed ties with the BJP in September 2023 following a series of provocative remarks made by then state BJP president K. Annamalai. However, the alliance was revived on April 11, after months of behind-the-scenes negotiations and internal adjustments within the BJP.

A major precursor to the renewed alliance was the BJP high command's decision to replace K. Annamalai with veteran leader and former minister Nainar Nagendran as the new state president, a move reportedly requested by the AIADMK to improve coordination between the two parties.

During his visit to Chennai, Union Minister Shah held key strategic meetings with senior BJP and RSS leaders. Notably, he also had a private discussion with Thughlak editor and RSS ideologue S. Gurumurthy, indicating the RSS' active role in facilitating the alliance revival.

Political analysts believe the groundwork for the reunion was laid weeks in advance when EPS, along with senior AIADMK leaders S. P. Velumani and K. P. Munusamy, met Union Minister Shah in New Delhi - a meeting that sparked speculation about a rapprochement.
Kathmandu, April 16 : The Nepal government has convened a parliamentary session on April 25 to address the demand of protesting teachers in the country and pass the School Education Bill.

The protests have entered its third week with educators continuing their nationwide strike to press for the immediate enactment of the School Education Act.

On Tuesday, Nepal President Ramchandra Paudel, on government recommendation, prorogued the federal parliament session without endorsing the School Education Bill that has been pending in a House Committee for over a year and a half.

Reports suggest that teachers from across the country have gathered in Kathmandu demanding the enactment of the School Education Act, which has been pending in Parliament despite previous commitments from the government.

Carrying placards with slogans such as 'Respect the teaching profession,' and 'Enact the education act now,' the teachers have declared an indefinite street protest, calling it a decisive phase in their struggle for educational reform.

The sit-in by teachers in the Maitighar-Naya Baneshwor area of Kathmandu since April 2 has also severely disrupted the national enrollment drive and delayed key academic tasks, such as evaluating answer sheets from the recently held Secondary Education Examination (SEE). The teachers defied the government's instruction to begin student enrollment for the new academic year in Nepal that started on Tuesday, local media reported.

Nepal's Minister for Education Bidya Bhattarai said that a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday evening took the decision to convene a House session on April 25 to coordinate and facilitate the passage of the bill, the Kathmandu Post reported.

The decision was taken after no significant breakthrough was achieved following the talks between representatives from the Ministry of Education and teachers.

"If the Prime Minister, Nepali Congress President, CPN (Maoist Centre) chair, and the Speaker want, the School Education Bill can be endorsed without further delay. All we want is the Act incorporating our demands," said Nanu Maya Parajuli, Joint-Chairperson of the Nepal Teachers' Federation, who is also the coordinator of the dialogue team.

Meanwhile the National Human Rights Commission of Nepal on Tuesday expressed serious concern over the ongoing protest and urged the concerned parties to resolve the matter through dialogue.

"If the agitation continues, the results of the SEE examination, the Grade 12 examination, and the enrollment campaign of children will be affected. In addition, regular monitoring has found that the agitation has also created obstacles in the easy movement in the Maitighar area for the past 13 days. The creation of an environment that requires agitation to get their demands addressed is a matter of concern. It is seen that the closure of schools created obstacles in ensuring the right to education of children," read a statement issued by the commission.

"Therefore, the commission urges the government to resolve the problems seen in such a sensitive area as education through dialogue, to ensure the resumption of teaching and learning, to formulate education-related laws in a timely manner through adequate consultation with relevant stakeholders, and to implement the agreements previously reached with teachers," it added.
Kolkata, April 16 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday requested Muslim religious leaders to shift the protest against the Waqf (Amendment) Act from the state to Delhi.

"Maintain peace in your localities in West Bengal. There is no point in carrying out the movement on this issue here in West Bengal. Shift the protest movements to New Delhi. Do not create tension in the state after being provoked by the BJP. Instead, approach those who are creating tension," the Chief Minister said while addressing a meeting with the Imams, Muezzins, and religious leaders from the Muslim community in the state.

The meeting was reportedly convened to discuss the way ahead to oppose the Waqf (Amendment) Act.

CM Banerjee also insisted that there was a necessity to fight the Waqf (Amendment) Act in the legal way.

"That is why I am saying that we have to fight the battle in New Delhi and not in West Bengal," the Chief Minister said.

She also advised religious leaders from the Muslim community to approach the office of President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and convey their objections to the Act there.

She also said that in the National Capital the members of the Trinamool Congress' Parliamentary team would also be backing any movement on this issue.

"The new Waqf Act is against the Indian Constitution and the Indian federal structure of democracy. Article 18 and Article 35 of the Indian Constitution speaks of the right of the state government over any property. The new Waqf Act is against that and hence against the federal structure of Indian democracy," the Chief Minister said.

CM Banerjee also said that Article 26 of the Indian Constitution speaks of the right to practice any religion in the country and based on that get the right of property inheritance and maintenance.

"You have snatched away those rights of the people. The rights of both Ram and Rahim have been snatched away," CM Banerjee said.

Earlier, CM Banerjee had announced that the new Act would not be implemented in West Bengal and had assured the people from the minority community that she would always be there to protect their interests and property.

The BJP had claimed that a Chief Minister does not have any right to say that a Central Act will not be implemented in their state.
Kolkata, April 16 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on Wednesday, announced compensation of Rs 10 lakh each to the families of the three victims of violence in Murshidabad during protests against the Waqf Act.

"A total of three persons from two families have been killed in the violence. Their families will be provided with a compensation of Rs 10 lakh," the Chief Minister said on Wednesday afternoon while addressing a meeting with the religious leaders of the Muslim community in the state. The meeting was convened to prepare the blueprint on how to oppose the Waqf (Amendment) Act.

At the same time, she announced that the state government would provide houses under the state government's scheme to those whose houses had been destroyed in the violence. "I heard that besides houses, some shops were also vandalised. Their owners will also be provided with compensation. The Chief Secretary, Manoj Pant, will review the financial loss because of such vandalism. The compensation will be provided based on that," the Chief Minister said.

Speaking on the occasion, she also referred to the recent order of the Supreme Court upholding a previous order of the Calcutta High Court cancelling a total of 25,753 teaching and non-teaching staff in state-run schools in West Bengal. The apex court also accepted the argument of the Calcutta High Court that since the state government and the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) failed to segregate the "genuine" candidates from the "tainted" ones, the entire panel of 25,753 jobs had to be cancelled.

"The joint conspiracy by the BJP and CPI(M) on one hand and a somewhat one-sided approach of the court had resulted in such a huge job loss," the Chief Minister said. WBSSC had already approached the apex court seeking a modification to the order.

In the petition, WBBSE has claimed that till the time the fresh recruitment process as directed by the court last week is completed, those candidates who have been identified as "genuine" should be allowed to attend to their jobs.

However, there is confusion on this particular plea by the boards since the apex court last week accepted the earlier observation by the Calcutta High Court that the entire panel of 25,753 appointments had to be cancelled because of the failure on the part of the state government or the commission to segregate the "genuine" candidates from the tainted ones.
New Delhi, April 16 : Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna has recommended the name of Justice B.R. Gavai as his successor.

CJI Khanna will demit office on May 13, after a tenure of around 6 months in the highest judicial office of the country.

Justice Gavai, in line to be the 53th CJI, will have a tenure of over 6 months and he will demit office on November 23, 2025.

CJI Khanna wrote to the Central government, recommending the name of Justice Gavai, as per the established practice of the CJI naming the senior-most judge as his successor.

According to the Memorandum of Procedure, the Centre asks the outgoing CJI to name the successor, just before a month of retirement.

Justice Gavai was elevated as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India on May 29, 2019. Appointed as Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court in November 2003, and became a permanent Judge in November 2005.

Before elevation to the Bench, he practised in Constitutional Law and Administrative Law, and acted as Standing Counsel for Municipal Corporation of Nagpur, Amravati Municipal Corporation, and Amravati University. He was appointed as Assistant Government Pleader and Additional Public Prosecutor in the Bombay High Court, Nagpur Bench in August 1992 and served till July 1993.

He was appointed as Government Pleader and Public Prosecutor for the Nagpur Bench on January 17, 2000.

In the apex court, Justice Gavai, a part of the 7-judge Constitution Bench dealing with the question of whether a sub-classification amongst reserved category groups for giving more beneficial treatment would be permissible under the Constitution, suggested the application of the "creamy layer" principle to the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) for availing benefits of affirmative action.

In his detailed opinion, Justice Gavai said: "When the 9-Judge Bench in Indra Sawhney held that applicability of such a test (creamy layer test) insofar as Other Backward Classes are concerned would advance equality as enshrined in the Constitution, then why such a test should not also be made applicable to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribe."

"Can a child of IAS/IPS or Civil Service officers be equated with a child of a disadvantaged member belonging to Scheduled Castes, studying in a Gram Panchayat/Zilla Parishad school in a village?" he asked.

Justice Gavai said putting the children of the parents from the SCs and STs who, on account of the benefit of reservation, have reached a high position and ceased to be socially, economically and educationally backward and the children of parents doing manual work in the villages in the same category would defeat the constitutional mandate.
Aizawl, April 16 : The official-level discussion between the Mizoram and Assam governments will be held on April 25 in Guwahati to resolve the disputes along the 164.6 km-long border between the two northeastern states.

A senior official said here on Wednesday that the Mizoram government would send seven officers, led by state Home Secretary Vanlalmawia, to the Mizoram-Assam Secretary-level meeting on the interstate border dispute.

The seventh Mizoram State Boundary Committee meeting, chaired by state Home Minister K. Sapdanga, was held on Wednesday and discussed the report of the four-member study group, which was formed on January 25, 2024.

Revenue Minister B. Lalchhanzova, adviser to Chief Minister (Political) Pu Lalmuanpuia Punte, Chief Secretary in-charge H. Lalengmawia and study group on Assam-Mizoram boundary members were present at the meeting. Border experts and Home Department officials also attended the meeting.

Ministerial-level discussions between Assam and Mizoram were held in Aizawl on August 9, 2024, where both state governments reaffirmed their promise to maintain peace and stability along the disputed border. However, the fourth round of ministerial discussions in August last year concluded without significant progress on the disputes. "The previous ministerial-level discussion (in August last year) could not achieve much due to the lack of prior groundwork at the official level talks. Before convening the fifth round of ministerial-level talks, official-level discussions are vital to gain significant results in the ministerial-level deliberations," the official said.

The ministerial-level meeting of the two northeastern states was held here on August 9 last year after 21 months and was the first meeting after the Zoram People's Movement (ZPM), led by Chief Minister Lalduhoma, came to power in Mizoram in 2023. After the August 9 meeting in Aizawl, Assam Border Protection and Development Minister Atul Bora, who led his state's delegation, had said the discussions were positive and both states were committed to finding a way to amicably resolve the border dispute.

Mizoram Home Minister K Sapdanga, who headed the state's delegation, said they were "very optimistic" about resolving the pending border dispute. He had earlier said that as per the decision of the third ministerial-level meeting held in Guwahati in November 2022, the state government has already submitted a list of 62 border villages to the Assam government that are within the Mizoram territory.

Mizoram's Aizawl, Kolasib, and Mamit districts adjoin southern Assam's Cachar, Karimganj, and Hailakandi districts. Amid the long-standing border dispute between the two states, the border area saw its worst-ever violence on July 26, 2021, when the Assam and Mizoram Police exchanged fire in the disputed area near Vairengte village on National Highway 306, leaving six Assam Police personnel dead and many injured.

Mizoram claims that 509 square miles of the reserved forest, notified in 1875 under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR) 1873, falls within its territory.

Assam, on the other hand, regarded the border shown on a map prepared by the Survey of India in 1933 as its current boundary. The border dispute began in 1972 when Mizoram, then one of the districts of Assam, became a Union Territory and the boundary between Assam and Mizoram was vaguely made under the North-East Areas Reorganisation Act, 1971, without any ground demarcation.
Kalaburagi, April 16 : Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday stated that the caste census survey was a socio-economic one, and the Karnataka government would ensure that no community faces injustice.

CM Siddaramaiah was speaking to the media at the Kalaburagi airport on Wednesday.

Responding to a question regarding Channagiri Congress MLA, Basavaraju V Shivaganga's statement that Lingayat MLAs should resign over the caste census issue, CM Siddaramaiah said that a separate Cabinet meeting has been convened on April 17 to discuss the social and economic survey.

"MLAs have expressed their views, and a final decision will be made tomorrow," he added.

CM Siddaramaiah clarified that the survey was a socio-economic one, and the government will ensure no community faces injustice.

The caste census report submitted by the Backward Classes Commission to the Congress-led government in Karnataka has pegged the Muslim population in the state at 18.08 per cent and recommends 8 per cent reservation for the community, sources stated.

In a major development, the Karnataka Vokkaliga Association has announced that the community will oppose the caste census report, along with the Lingayat and other aggrieved communities.

Speaking about the charge sheet filed in the National Herald case, Siddaramaiah claimed that the BJP was acting with political motives.

"The National Herald newspaper wasn't started yesterday or the day before. Targeting Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi by seizing their assets and filing charge sheets is being done purely out of political vendetta," he said.

Dy CM Shivakumar, too, stated to the media on Wednesday that, "It's a great injustice. Nowhere has the Gandhi family benefitted out of the institution. It is the property of the Congress party and they are heading it. What's wrong with it? They are taking action illegally against them."

Meanwhile, reacting to the recent incident in Davangere where a woman was assaulted in public over allegations of an illicit relationship, CM Siddaramaiah warned, "Whoever has committed the offense, no matter how influential they are, if they have violated the law, they will face strict action."

CM Siddaramaiah further stated that it is the government's firm commitment to provide employment opportunities to the youth by organising job fairs.

"A divisional-level job fair is being held in Kalaburagi today. Similar job fairs are being organised in Mysuru and Hubballi-Dharwad as well. The Yuva Nidhi scheme has been implemented to address the issue of unemployment. The government is taking steps to provide jobs," CM Siddaramaiah said.
Seoul, April 16 : South Korean Police were locked in a five-hour standoff with presidential security officials on Wednesday as they attempted to raid the presidential office over an investigation into allegations that impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol obstructed the execution of a detention warrant early this year.

The police's special investigation team presented a warrant to search the presidential office's secure phone server, and the Presidential Security Service (PSS) office and residence, all in the central Seoul district of Yongsan, at 10:13 a.m., according to officials.

However, police had yet to enter the buildings as of 3 p.m., as the PSS refused to cooperate with the raid.

Acting PSS chief Kim Seong-hoon is accused of obstructing investigators' attempts to detain Yoon at the presidential residence in January. Last month, a Seoul court turned down the prosecution's request for warrants to arrest Kim and Lee Kwang-woo, chief of the PSS' bodyguard division, Yonhap news agency reported.

Police officials said the presidential office's surveillance cameras are also subject to the raid in connection with former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min's insurrection charges.

Earlier on April 14, Yoon Suk Yeol defended himself during his first criminal trial on insurrection charges, saying his attempt to impose martial law in December did not amount to an insurrection.

Yoon, who dramatically rose from a top prosecutor to the presidency in about three years, became the nation's second President to be formally removed from office, with his surprise martial law bid rattling the nation for months and deepening political polarisation.

With the ruling, Yoon, 64, follows in the footsteps of former South Korean President Park Geun-hye, who was ousted in 2017 when the Constitutional Court upheld her impeachment over a corruption scandal.

Before taking the nation's highest office, Yoon began his career as a prosecutor in 1994, rising through the ranks to lead an investigation team into Park's corruption scandal that ultimately led to her ouster and subsequent imprisonment.

In 2019, he was appointed as the nation's top prosecutor under then South Korean President Moon Jae-in but clashed with the administration as he oversaw investigations into family members of former Justice Minister Cho Kuk.

Amid mounting pressure from the Moon administration, Yoon stepped down from his post in 2021, only to enter politics shortly after and win the presidential election in 2022 as the candidate for the conservative People Power Party.

Yoon's term was riddled with conflict, with an uncooperative National Assembly dominated by the main Opposition Democratic Party (DP). Yoon exercised his presidential veto power against 25 Bills passed by the National Assembly.

Tensions with the DP appeared to reach an extreme in early December as the main Opposition introduced motions to impeach the country's top auditor and a senior prosecutor, with Yoon declaring martial law on December 3, which ultimately led to his downfall.
Thiruvananthapuram, April 16 : Senior IAS officer and Vizhinjam Port Managing Director Divya S. Iyer came under fire from her husband, a former two-time Congress legislator K.S. Sabarinath, on Wednesday, for praising CPI(M) leader K.K. Ragesh, the private secretary to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Ragesh was appointed as the party's new district secretary at Kannur on Tuesday.

After Ragesh was given the new post, Iyer took to her social media handle, Instagram, and posted, "Learnt many lessons from Ragesh during the past three years. He is a hardworking person. Thank you, for always considering us with utmost respect -- an art that is getting endangered in power corridors across the globe."

However, Sabarinath, presently the vice president of the Youth Congress, took exception to the post and said there was no harm if a government officer praises government programmes, but here the case was different.

"Even though her applause had no other overtures, since the new post for Ragesh was a party post and not a government post, she could have shown restraint, and hence it has now become a political issue," said Sabarinath.

Sabarinath is the son of veteran late former Speaker and Minister G. Karthikeyan, who passed away when he was the Speaker in 2014.

Following his father's demise, Sabarinath quit his plush job and plunged into politics. He won the by-election and repeated his success at the 2016 Assembly polls, but in 2021, he lost his seat. In between, he married Iyer, and both pursued their profession.

Ragesh has, for the past four years, been the private secretary to CM Vijayan.

Incidentally, Iyer, by virtue of being an IAS officer, and Ragesh, holding the powerful post of private secretary to the chief minister, had to interact as part of their official duties.

But soon after she posted the praise, Sabarinath's social media account was flooded with criticism, especially from his party colleagues.

K. Muraleedharan, veteran Congress leader and son of legendary Congress leader K. Karunakaran, said, "All know that she is one officer known for trying to please the CM, and hence her statement will be treated like that only."
New Delhi, April 16 : Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Singh on Wednesday said that the national capital's healthcare system is steadily improving, with a strong focus on ensuring better medical facilities for all residents.

New Delhi, April 16 (IANS) Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Singh on Wednesday said that the national capitalas healthcare system is steadily improving, with a strong focus on ensuring better medical facilities for all residents.

"You can see Delhias health system improving every day," Singh told IANS.

"Our goal is to provide the people of Delhi with quality healthcare facilities, whether in dental care or any other department. Dental care is a basic service that everyone should have access to. Weare expanding these services, and it's a positive step toward better healthcare for all," he added.

On the rollout of the 'Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)' in Delhi, Singh, asked about the current status and figures, said: "I wonat be able to give the exact number right now, but I will share the details after checking."

On being questioned about improvements in the Mohalla Clinics, he said: "I wonat comment on the improvements in Mohalla Clinics. But I encourage everyone to visit our Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and see the difference. The people of Delhi will be able to compare what a Mohalla Clinic was and what an Ayushman Mandir is now."

Asked whether there would be an audit report on alleged corruption in Mohalla Clinics under the previous government, Singh confirmed that an investigation is underway.

"Yes, the audit report is coming. It will be made public, and whoever is found guilty of corruption will not be spared," he asserted.

Earlier, on April 10, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta reiterated the government's commitment to strengthening healthcare infrastructure. She announced the establishment of 139 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission, with Rs 1,749 crore allocated for the initiative. In addition, 400 Health and Wellness Centres will be set up across the city.

An MoU was also signed between the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Delhi government to facilitate the rollout of the centrally sponsored scheme, which aims to bridge critical gaps in healthcare infrastructure, disease surveillance, and health research in both urban and rural regions.
Bhubaneswar, April 16 : The Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday visited Odisha and held discussions with senior Congress leader Srikant Jena over a range of issues, especially the escalation of efforts towards achieving the rule of social justice in the state.

Akhilesh's visit gave rise to speculations over new political equations in the state with the expansion and strengthening of the Samajwadi Party in Odisha.

"The time has arrived to say that to establish 'the rule of law', we today require the 'Rule of social justice'. The real meaning of the establishment of the 'rule of social justice' is the true establishment of the spirit of equality as per the Constitution," said Akhilesh Yadav.

Later during interactions with the media persons here on Wednesday, Akhilesh said that the Samajwadi Party had long fought over the issue of caste census.

He also added that the Congress party initially didn't show any support for this demand.

"Now, even the Congress party has accepted the demand for caste-based enumeration. We are committed to protecting the Constitution by standing with the oppressed and marginalised," he asserted.

Akhilesh said that when the Constitution is weakened, democracy weakens with it.

In a veiled attack on the ruling BJP over the celebrations of B.R. Ambedkar's birth anniversary on April 14, he said, "We see the people who damaged the Constitution most, participate in the Ambedkar Jayanti more."

The Samajwadi President also claimed that the injustice done to the backward communities in education and employment in Odisha is beyond imagination.

"The people from the backward communities are deprived of their genuine rights in the education and employment sectors in Odisha as well. We will reach out to them, make them aware and bring them along," said Akhilesh.

Speaking on double-engine government in Odisha, he remarked, "Even with a double engine, UP is derailing. Odisha's engine, whether local or controlled from Delhi, remains unclear."

Akhilesh also criticised UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's comment on the Murshidabad violence in West Bengal.

"The BJP has been involved in every major riot in UP. We must stay away from religious provocation and rhetoric," he urged.

The former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh also engaged in talks with leaders of several like-minded parties- CPI, CPM, NCP, and RJD- to further strengthen the INDIA alliance in Odisha.
Mumbai, April 16 : In a bid to promote fire prevention, Adani Electricity on Wednesday said it is observing 'Fire Service Week' from April 14-20, throughout its power distribution area.

Mumbai, April 16 (IANS) In a bid to promote fire prevention, Adani Electricity on Wednesday said it is observing aFire Service Weeka from April 14-20, throughout its power distribution area.

During the week, various fire safety workshops are being organised for Adani Electricity's power warriors. The theme for this year is "Unite to Ignite, a Fire Safe India," emphasising the significance of community involvement, education, preparedness and innovations in fire safety.

The aFire Service Weeka is observed nationwide under the guidance of the Fire Adviser, Ministry of Home Affairs, from April 14-20.

This observance is in remembrance of the lives lost in the devastating fire and the explosions that followed on April 14th, 1944, at the Victoria Dock in Mumbai Port, and to promote fire prevention across all industries.

Last month, Adani Electricity observed the 'National Safety Week 2025' from March 4-10, maintaining high safety standards as India progresses towards development.

The objective was to raise awareness and encourage the adoption of safety measures across its power distribution area and various work sites, according to Adani Electricity, which is the leading power distribution company serving over three million customers in Mumbai.

Towards this, Adani Electricity employees participated in the workshop organised by the safety team of Adani Electricity.

With an aim to foster studentsa learning abilities and enhance learning outcomes, Adani Electricity and Adani Foundation celebrated the third edition of their annual aUtthan Utsava event last month.

The programme has positively transformed the learning outcomes of over 25,000 students across 83 BMC schools located at Malad, Dahisar, Borivali, Chembur and Kurla, according to the company.

aUtthana entails adopting government primary schools, tutoring aPriya Vidyarthisa (progressive learners), addressing dropout rates and collaborating for staff capacity building.
Dhaka, April 16 : Bangladesh's growing closeness with Pakistan is visible once again as Pakistan Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch arrived in Dhaka on Wednesday for the Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) being held after a gap of 15 years.

The high-level talks between the two South Asian countries will take place at the state guest house Padma on Thursday. Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Jasim Uddin will be leading the host delegation.

Both sides are expected to discuss a wide range of bilateral issues, including unresolved historical matters between the two nations.

"The two sides are expected to discuss the entire range of bilateral issues," said a Bangladeshi Foreign ministry official.

He mentioned that since the talks are being held after such a long hiatus, no specific agenda has been fixed and all areas of mutual interest are likely to be covered during the discussions.

Relations between Dhaka and Islamabad remained strained during the 15-year rule of the former Awami League government due to issues such as the war crimes trials in Bangladesh and broader regional politics. Key issues in Bangladesh-Pakistan relations have always included Pakistan's role in the 1971 genocide during Liberation War, the return of stranded assets, and compensation.

However, things have changed drastically since the formation of the interim government led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus in August 2024.

During her stay in Dhaka, Baloch is expected to call on Yunus and Foreign Affairs Advisor Touhid Hossain following the FOC on Thursday.

Chief Advisor's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said there will be discussions on all issues of mutual interest as the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan Ishaq Dar is also scheduled to pay an official visit to Bangladesh, later this month.

In September, Yunus met Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, where both leaders agreed to strengthen bilateral ties.

In January, four high-ranking ISI officials, including Director General of Analysis Major General Shahid Amin Afsar visited Dhaka, marking a significant shift in Bangladesh-Pakistan relations.

A Bangladeshi military delegation led by Lt Gen SM Kamrul Hasan, the Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division, also visited Rawalpindi  the nerve centre of Pakistan's military establishment  from January 13 to 18. The delegation met the chiefs of the Pakistani army, navy, and air force, highlighting a deepening military dialogue.

The two nations, historically estranged since the brutal 1971 Liberation War  wherein Pakistani forces massacred millions of people and reportedly raped hundreds of thousands of Bangladeshi women  are now demonstrating signs of rapprochement.
Nilambur, April 16 : Kerala leader of the Opposition and senior Congress leader V.D. Satheesan on Wednesday claimed that his party will win the Nilambur by-elections with a huge margin.

"Within a few hours after the election date will be announced. We will come up with our candidate. The Left is probably waiting for us to announce ours and waiting to see if they can get anyone from our camp as their candidate. We are going to win hands down this by-election," said Satheesan.

Even though the Election Commission is yet to announce the date of the Nilambur assembly by-election, the traditional rivals  the ruling Left and the Congress-led Opposition on Wednesday have both claimed that they will win the by-election.

Sources said that both political fronts are busy finalising their candidates.

Incidentally, at the Palakkad Assembly by-election held last year, the Left fielded dissident Congress leader Dr Sarin as their candidate after he failed to get the Congress ticket.

However, Sarin finished in third place behind the BJP candidate, while the Congress candidate won a handsome victory.

The Nilambur seat fell vacant after two-time LDF-backed independent MLA P.V. Anvar resigned in January over Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's refusal to probe alleged illegal dealings of top police official M. R. Ajith Kumar and Vijayan's political secretary P. Sasi.

Anvar, who was once a vocal critic of the UDF, has now aligned himself with the Congress-led front.

Senior CPI-M legislator and the Left convenor T.P. Ramakrishnan on Wednesday said the Nilambur voters are just waiting to teach the Congress-led opposition a lesson.

But Anvar hit back, saying the Left is knocking on all doors asking if anyone can contest the polls.

"Is the CPI-M in dire straits that they can't even find one party member to contest. Just wait and see when the votes are counted. The Congress candidate will win with the highest ever margin," claimed Anvar.

In the 2016 Assembly elections, after Congress leader Aryadan Mohammed retired from politics, Anvar defeated his son, Aryadan Shoukath, by over 10,000 votes.

Incidentally, from 1970 onwards, the Congress candidate has won, with the only exception in 1982 when the CPI-M won in Nilambur.

Shoukath's father has won a record eight times. In 2021, Anvar won again, defeating Congress leader V. V. Prakash by just 2,700 votes.

Meanwhile, the Congress party is caught between Shoukath and the Malappuram district Congress candidate V.S. Joy, while the CPI-M is knocking on independent candidates like retired professor Thomas Mathew, who unsuccessfully contested against Aryadan Mohammed in 2011 and a few others.

The last date for finalisation of the electoral rolls in the constituency is April 24th.

The Congress party on Wednesday decided to postpone a protest march in view of the by-election.
New Delhi, April 16 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finland President Alexander Stubb reiterated their commitment to further strengthen and deepen the partnership between the two countries, including in the areas of quantum, 5G-6G, AI and cyber-security during their telephonic conversation, on Wednesday.

"Had a fruitful conversation with President Alexander Stubb. Finland is an important partner country in the EU. We are committed to elevating our ties. Exchanged our perspectives on regional and global issues, including the situation in Ukraine," PM Modi posted on X after the phone call.

According to the Prime Minister's Office, the two leaders reviewed the ongoing collaboration between the two countries including in the areas of digitalization, sustainability and mobility besides also exchanging views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, including the situation in Ukraine.

As the two leaders agreed to remain in touch, Finland's President expressed his country's support for closer India-EU relations and conclusion of a mutually beneficial FTA at the earliest.

On Tuesday, PM Modi spoke with Denmark PM Mette Frederiksen, emphasising that both countries continue to work extensively together in several fields, including the Green Strategic Partnership.

"Glad to speak with PM Mette Frederiksen today. Reaffirmed our strong support for the India-Denmark Green Strategic Partnership and enhancing cooperation across sectors for the benefit of our people. We also discussed regional and global developments of mutual interest," PM Modi posted on X after the phone call.

Recalling high-level exchanges between both countries ever since the launch of the Green Strategic Partnership in 2020, the leaders noted the expansion of the Green Strategic Partnership in various fields which have created favourable conditions for Danish investments in India to contribute to green transition. The leaders also discussed regional and global issues of mutual interest.

Prime Minister Modi said that he was looking forward to the 3rd India-Nordic Summit scheduled to be held later this year in Norway, and his meeting with Prime Minister Frederiksen at that time.

Denmark is also the only country in the world with which India has a Green Strategic Partnership.
New Delhi, April 16 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finland President Alexander Stubb reiterated their commitment to further strengthen and deepen the partnership between the two countries, including in the areas of quantum, 5G-6G, AI and cyber-security during their telephonic conversation, on Wednesday.

"Had a fruitful conversation with President Alexander Stubb. Finland is an important partner country in the EU. We are committed to elevating our ties. Exchanged our perspectives on regional and global issues, including the situation in Ukraine," PM Modi posted on X after the phone call.

According to the Prime Minister's Office, the two leaders reviewed the ongoing collaboration between the two countries including in the areas of digitalization, sustainability and mobility besides also exchanging views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, including the situation in Ukraine.

As the two leaders agreed to remain in touch, Finland's President expressed his country's support for closer India-EU relations and conclusion of a mutually beneficial FTA at the earliest.

"Had a good phone conversation today with Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi. We discussed, among other things, bilateral relations, Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, and the geopolitical shifts and their implications for the multilateral system. In these turbulent times, the friendship between Finland and India is more important than ever," Stubb wrote on X.

On Tuesday, PM Modi spoke with Denmark PM Mette Frederiksen, emphasising that both countries continue to work extensively together in several fields, including the Green Strategic Partnership.

"Glad to speak with PM Mette Frederiksen today. Reaffirmed our strong support for the India-Denmark Green Strategic Partnership and enhancing cooperation across sectors for the benefit of our people. We also discussed regional and global developments of mutual interest," PM Modi posted on X after the phone call.

Recalling high-level exchanges between both countries ever since the launch of the Green Strategic Partnership in 2020, the leaders noted the expansion of the Green Strategic Partnership in various fields which have created favourable conditions for Danish investments in India to contribute to green transition. The leaders also discussed regional and global issues of mutual interest.

Prime Minister Modi said that he was looking forward to the 3rd India-Nordic Summit scheduled to be held later this year in Norway, and his meeting with Prime Minister Frederiksen at that time.

Denmark is also the only country in the world with which India has a Green Strategic Partnership.
Kolkata, April 16 : The West Bengal Police on Wednesday announced the constitution of a nine-member special investigation team (SIT) to probe the violence and riot-like situation in the minority-dominated Murshidabad district throughout almost the entire last week over protests against the Waqf Amendment Act becoming violent.

Also, the National Commission for Women (NCW), on Wednesday, announced the formation of an inquiry committee to investigate the violence.

The two announcements came on a day when a petition has already been filed at Calcutta High Court by some victim families of Murshidabad seeking a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the violence. The hearing on the matter will be held on Thursday.

The nine-member SIT of the state police to probe the Murshidabad violence will be headed by an officer of the rank of additional superintendent of police, who will be assisted by two officers in the ranks of deputy superintendents of police and six inspector-ranking officers.

The SIT will have representations from various departments of state police namely Intelligence Branch, Counter Insurgency Force, Criminal Investigation Department, and Cyber Crime Division.

Meanwhile, in a statement issued on Wednesday, the NCW has announced that the decision to form its probe committee was taken after the commission took suo motu cognizance of reports of several women enduring horrific molestation during the communal unrest in the Mandirpara area of Dhulian, Murshidabad district.

"The violence has led to the exodus of hundreds of women, many of whom were forced to cross the Bhagirathi River in search of safety, seeking refuge in the nearby district of Malda. These women have been torn from their homes, living in fear and uncertainty, facing unimaginable trauma and loss," the NCW statement read.

NCW chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar will personally visit the violence-hit regions, meet with survivors, and engage with relevant authorities to assess the situation.

"The committee will also include Dr. Archana Majumdar, Member of the NCW, and Dr. Shivani Dey, Deputy Secretary of the NCW, to support the inquiry and ensure a thorough investigation," the NCW statement read.
For nearly six years, Virginias prisons have been fighting allegations that they callously lock away prisoners for years in solitary confinement.

In 2019, Virginias prison system was sued in a class action lawsuit brought by 11 prisoners at Red Onion and Wallens Ridge, the states two highest security prisons.

The suit claims that, despite changes promised decades ago, state prisons still place inmates in conditions that are effectively solitary.

Those conditions violate the Constitution, which guarantees a protection from cruel and unusual punishment, the prisoners say, with one alleging to have been held in solitary for more than 20 years across three Virginia prisons.

A federal judge has been asked to rule on the case, but if he doesnt reach a ruling, a jury may ultimately be called upon to decide on prisoners claims. A hearing in the case is scheduled for this Thursday.

In the meantime, the court fight has become a proxy front for more recent claims of abuse at Red Onion, where a number of men burned themselves in order to force transfers to lower security prisons.

Step-Down or solitary?

At the heart of the suit is a prison program known as Step-Down.

Started in 2012, the Step-Down program was conceived as a kind of halfway stage between the most restrictive cells and general prison population. In a Step-Down cell, a prisoner has slightly more liberties than in a maximum security cell, but is still more restricted than in the general prison population.

-- "I know that by policy I am allowed 4 hours of 'recreation' per day, but there have been long stretches where I have not received all of the recreation that I am supposedly allowed to have. For example, there was a period of time around May and June 2022 when I was taken out of my cell to recreation very infrequently. I was probably given recreation on approximately 4 days in May and maybe 10 days in June. Although I never refused recreation, officers would mark me down as having refused." - Sidney Bowman, a plaintiff in the lawsuit against the Virginia Department of Corrections

Teams are supposed to review a prisoners placement once every seven days, and wardens can reward good behavior with more privileges.

The Virginia Department of Corrections calls Step-Down a behavioral modification pathway" and has praised the program. In court filings, a lawyer representing the prisons said that foreign countries have considered emulating Virginias model, saying that what the prison system now uses no longer resembles what the public considers to be solitary confinement. The Step-Down program focuses on risk reduction and risk control, said prisons director Chadwick Dotson in a report last October.

According to the prisoners themselves, what plays out at Red Onion and Wallens Ridge is far more grim. Four prisoners said they spent more than seven years in the Step-Down program.

With few opportunities to actually demonstrate good behavior, the men say they spent those years isolated in their cells with little to do and no one to see, waiting for an external review team to determine that they had sufficiently adjusted.

Prisoners are trapped in solitary confinement for unjustifiably long periods of time  in some cases, years longer than modern standards of decency would reasonably allow, they allege in the suit brought by the prisoners and the American Civil Liberties Union.

International groups, such as Amnesty International and the United Nations, have publicly taken positions describing solitary confinement beyond 15 days as torture.

Reforms and crises

While the lawsuit has dragged on, Virginias prison policies have supposedly been reformed.

In 2021, the Virginia Department of Corrections announced that it had outgrown the old definitions of Restrictive Housing, jargon used to describe solitary confinement by the American Correctional Association.

Instead, Virginias prisons would now have Restorative Housing, a segregated living set-up defined by four hours of meaningful out-of-cell time and added programming opportunities.

The change did not stymy calls for reform, which was led by Virginias Democratic legislative majority and then-state Sen. Joe Morrissey. Morrisey was skeptical that tangible changes had taken place.

They think that if we replace the sign that says 'solitary confinement' with the sign that says 'Restorative Housing,' well buy into that, said Morrissey in 2023. The bottom line is this: The DOC doesnt want to give up an antiquated system of punishment.

During the 2023 session, two lawmakers tried to put a cap on how long a prisoner could remain in solitary. But an intervention from Attorney General Jason Miyares on behalf of the prison system saw the 15-day limit cut from the bill. This year, Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed a similar effort.

In the meantime, the Virginia Department of Corrections descended into a systemwide staffing crisis, according to former employees and a report produced at the request of the department.

Consultants wrote that many prisons have become critically and dangerously short-staffed, leading to very few educational and rehabilitation programs actually being available. Some have become incapable of offering the requisite four hours of freedom that defines the Restorative Housing program.

A couple facilities are unable to provide the required out-of-cell time, with inmates being locked in their cells for over 22 hours, the report says. Effectively, at one site visited, nearly the entire population had been in Restricted Housing status for an extended period of time at the time of our site visit.

The department said that its prisons still remained the safest corrections system in the United States.

Court fight

Lawyers with the Virginia Department of Corrections have sought to quash the case for years, asserting that the prison system cant be sued because it benefits from qualified immunity, a legal standard that shields law enforcement from being taken to civil court.

That argument failed before the judge hearing the case, James P. Jones, and was also dismissed on an appeal before the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals.

In the wake of that ruling, ACLU lawyers were able to take the case to discovery. That allowed the collection of a large body of evidence, which ACLU lawyer Geri Greenspan said confirms their plaintiffs allegations.

Greenspan said thats evident in thousands of pages of records about the Virginia Department of Corrections' practices, depositions of prison staff and case logs which show prisoners remaining in Step-Down for years.

The evidence weve gotten through discovery really paints a picture that nothing has gotten better at Red Onion, and in some ways, things have maybe gotten worse, said Greenspan.

In its filing, the Department of Corrections defended the Step-Down program. Prisons face the unenviable task of protecting societys most antisocial and violent people, the department wrote to the judge.

It reminded Jones that the plaintiffs include convicted murderers, some of whom had assaulted corrections officers while behind bars. One was part of an infamous prison break from Mecklenburg State Prison in 1984.

The expansive case is being litigated by teams of lawyers on both sides of the aisle. Both have asked Jones to rule in their favor without taking the case to trial, a request known as a summary judgment.

Despite hearing both arguments in September 2023, Jones has still not issued a judgment for one party or another.

The case has taken another twist: The plaintiffs filed an emergency motion for a protective order against officials at Red Onion. The motion came after six prisoners burned themselves using electrical outlets in their cells in order to precipitate transfers out of Red Onion.

In response, Red Onion wardens circulated a safety agreement stipulating the men would no longer self-harm. When some wouldnt sign the agreement, prison officials cut off power to their cells.

-- "I began to think about suicide as the only way out. I worked hard to push those thoughts away. I saw other people trying to hurt themselves in order to get out of the hole. But I realized that if I tried and didn't do it right, I would just end up making things worse for myself." - Gary Wall, a plaintiff in the lawsuit against the Virginia Department of Corrections

According to the plaintiffs motion, the action interfered with the fair adjudication of this case by intimidating and retaliating against their plaintiffs. Lawyers for the prison balked, writing that the ACLU was trying to shoehorn every policy at Red Onion into the ongoing case.

The two sides will return to court for a hearing on that matter this week.

Its not clear what might result from a victory for the ACLU. In prior cases brought by prisoners, the Virginia Department of Corrections has been required to bring in independent watchdogs with unfettered access to prison records. Thats the case at the Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women, which a judge found delivered substandard care. That ruling has brought special scrutiny to the prison.

The prisoners request is similar. It asks Jones to appoint a special watchdog to inspect Red Onion and Wallens Ridge  as well as abolish the Step-Down program altogether.
New Delhi, April 16 : In a landmark initiative aimed at reviving and popularising one of the world's most ancient languages, Sanskrit Bharati Delhi is set to launch the '1008 Sanskrit Sambhashana Shivir' campaign from April 30 to May 3.

This campaign will provide people from all walks of life with an opportunity to learn spoken Sanskrit in a simple, accessible, and free format.

The campaign will culminate with a grand event on May 3, where Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to attend the concluding ceremony at the Delhi University campus, which is likely to draw a crowd of over 30,000 participants.

BJP MP Manoj Tiwari, speaking at a pre-launch event, expressed his deep emotional connection with the Sanskrit language.

"In Delhi, I've often seen hoardings that say 'Learn English'. But for the first time, we're seeing 'Learn Sanskrit' -- and that is truly historic," Tiwari said while addressing a press conference.

"Sanskrit has had a profound impact on my life. It saddens me that some people tried to politicise or sideline such a beautiful language. I travelled more than six hours to attend this event because I believe Sanskrit isn't just a language -- it's the foundation of our culture. It's easy to learn and deeply enriching."

Kapil Mishra, another BJP leader, praised Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta for supporting the initiative.

"This campaign is a matter of pride for Delhi. Camps will be held at 1,008 different locations across the city in just 10 days. The presence of Amit Shah on the final day is a testament to how significant this event is. History is being made," he said.

"Sanskrit is on the path to reclaim its rightful place in society."

Sanskrit, often referred to as the mother of many modern Indian languages, is a classical tongue in which the Rigveda, the world's oldest known text, was composed. Scholars date the Vedas between 6500 B.C. and 1500 B.C., indicating the deep historical roots of the language.

Linguist William Jones, who was well-versed in Latin and Greek, once described Sanskrit as "more perfect than Greek, more copious than Latin, and more refined than either."

Despite its ancient origins, Sanskrit continues to be used by scholars in India and even in countries like the United States and Germany. It is recognised as one of the 22 scheduled languages under the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
New Delhi, April 16 : Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal held a meeting with top executives of Elon Musk's Starlink here on Wednesday to discuss the company's investment plans for India.

New Delhi, April 16 (IANS) Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal held a meeting with top executives of Elon Muskas Starlink here on Wednesday to discuss the companyas investment plans for India.

"Met a delegation from Starlink, comprising Vice President Chad Gibbs & Senior Director, Ryan Goodnight. Discussions covered Starlink's cutting-edge technology platform, their existing partnerships & future investment plans in India," Goyal said on X after the meeting.

The meeting comes against the backdrop of domestic telecom majors such as Airtel being in touch with the US company for the possible launch of satellite telecom services in India.

Vodafone Idea has also said that it is in talks with Starlink to provide satellite communication services in India.

Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has stated that India needs satellite internet, especially in its rural areas.

The minister is of the view that there are many remote corners of the country where you cannot take fibre or mobile connectivity. Consequently, satellite internet can help ensure 100 per cent coverage.

Emphasising the complementary a" and not competitive a" role played by these services, Scindia said India was committed to offering consumers terrestrial, fibre, as well as satellite communications.

He also highlighted that if natural disasters destroy telecom towers and fibre networks, satellite communications can play a crucial role in filling the gap during an emergency.

Starlink is yet to secure a regulatory license to start operations in India and is awaiting the governmentas new rules on spectrum pricing.

Scindia has also said that any company can apply for a licence provided it meets the countryas regulations.

Starlink is owned by SpaceX, a company founded by Elon Musk. Starlink is a satellite internet service that aims to provide high-speed internet access to users worldwide.

SpaceX is the first private company to have delivered astronauts to and from the International Space Station, It has also completed an all-civilian crew mission to orbit.
Mumbai, April 16 : Kicking off his India tour at the start of the year, Ed Sheeran brought a slice of musical magic to Old Delhi by performing his latest track "Azizam" from a sunlit rooftop.

Mumbai, April 16 (IANS) Kicking off his India tour at the start of the year, Ed Sheeran brought a slice of musical magic to Old Delhi by performing his latest track "Azizam" from a sunlit rooftop.

With the city's vibrant skyline, winter afternoon vibes, and kites soaring in the background, Ed delivered a soulful live rendition using his iconic loop pedal setuplayering guitar, piano, and vocals with effortless charm.

The track is part of his upcoming album "Play", which also features an exciting collaboration with Indian music legend Arijit Singh.

"I loved learning Azizam on the loop pedal. My mind goes into full jigsaw puzzle mode trying to figure out which pieces fit whereit's like mental acrobatics," Ed shared.

His rooftop performance is more than just a songit's a beautiful tribute to India, culture, and connection.

As the official music video of "Azizam" is set to be out on Thursday, Ed dropped some BTS photos and videos on his IG.

Sharing his dumpington from the making of the track, he wrote in the caption, "1. learning the Persian snap, then having a crowd surf at the end

2. @ilya_music on facetime teaching me how to pronounce everything correctly for the Persian version of the song

3. me with the legendary @saman_kesh, director of the video, who really brought me into the world of the Persian wedding

4. me, @saman_kesh and @ilya_music talking about how the concept of the video came about

5. me in a giant bowl of Tahdig

6. me in the kitchen after having a taste of every Persian dish at the wedding

7. did a quick acoustic video in the party room

8. heres my body double, he didnt say much

9. clapperz

10. start of the video landing in the wedding scene, not sure where i am

11. saman getting ready to shoot

12. i grew up going to Irish weddings, it was a very different experience shooting a Persian wedding for this video but both cultures feel so joyous in a wedding scenario

13. and thats a wrap. video comes out thursday, remix out friday, cant wait."
Chennai, April 16 : The Madras High Court on Wednesday dismissed a plea seeking to transfer the investigation into the ransacking of YouTuber 'Savukku' Shankar's residence to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The court, instead, directed the State CB-CID police to complete the probe and file a final report within 12 weeks.

A bench of Justice G.K. Ilanthiraiyan, while disposing of a petition filed by A. Kamala, the mother of Shankar, observed that there were no sufficient grounds at this stage to warrant a transfer of the probe from the CB-CID to the CBI.

The judge emphasised the need for an expedited investigation and ordered the CB-CID to submit its final report within the stipulated time.

Kamala had filed the petition, alleging that the CB-CID was not conducting the investigation properly and had failed to take necessary steps, including recording witness statements under Section 161 of the Criminal Procedure Code. She sought the transfer of the case to the CBI, arguing that an independent investigation was essential, given the nature of the attack and the threats issued to her, a senior citizen.

Representing the state, Additional Public Prosecutor A. Gopinath informed the court that the CB-CID had identified 21 individuals involved in the incident.

Of them, five accused had already been arrested, while efforts were ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects. He argued that transferring the case to another agency at this stage would disrupt the ongoing investigation.

The judge accepted the stateas submission that the incident occurred only 20 days ago and ruled that the CB-CID should continue with the investigation. However, he stressed the need for speedy action and ordered the agency to file a final report within 12 weeks.

The incident took place on March 24, when a group of individuals, dressed as sanitation workers, barged into the rented house of Shankar at Kilpauk in Chennai. According to the complaint, the group dumped garbage, including human waste, inside the house and vandalised the property. It was alleged that the attackers were angered by remarks made by Shankar in a YouTube interview, which they claimed were derogatory toward cleaning workers.

Shankar later posted a video on social media, showing a video call made to him during the incident.

In the video, the group was seen threatening him with abusive language while ransacking his residence.

Following the attack, Kamala lodged a complaint at the Kilpauk police station. The case was subsequently transferred to the CB-CID for further investigation.

The Supreme Court recently directed the consolidation of 15 FIRs registered against Shankar for allegedly making derogatory remarks about police personnel, including women officers, during a YouTube interview. These cases were spread across various police stations in Tamil Nadu. Based on the apex courtas directive, the Coimbatore City Cyber Crime Police, which had initially arrested Shankar from Theni on May 4, 2024, formally took over all related cases by registering fresh FIRs on April 9.
New Delhi, April 16 : The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to entertain a plea filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) seeking cancellation of bail of several members of the Popular Front of India (PFI) accused in the murder of RSS leader Srinivasan in Kerala in April 2022.

A bench of Justices Abhay S. Oka and N.K. Singh told the NIA to approach the jurisdictional special court or the Kerala High Court with its plea to cancel bail after the anti-terror agency submitted that the accused attempted to influence witnesses and violated other bail conditions.

Earlier, the Kerala High Court, in an order passed in June last year, had released the accused persons on conditional bail, including the conditions to not leave the state without the special courtas permission and to surrender their passports.

"In the event there is breach of any of these (bail) conditions or any other condition that may be imposed by the special court independently, it would be open to the prosecution to seek cancellation of the bail granted to the appellants before the special court only, without any further reference to this court," the high court had said.

The NIA, in April 2022, had arrested absconding accused Shihab aka Babu, a key member of the PFI, who was an integral part of the terror ecosystem and responsible for orchestrating the murder of Srinivasan.

Shihab had been on the run since the commission of the crime.

The anti-terror agency claimed that Shihab, acting in line with a conspiracy hatched by the PFI leaders, harboured Muhammed Hakeem, who, at the behest of PFI leadership, was allegedly responsible for the destruction of crucial evidence in the case. The agency had filed a charge sheet on March 17, 2023, against a total of 59 accused in the case. Subsequently, the NIA's absconder tracking team achieved a significant milestone by apprehending Saheer K.V., who had been absconding for a long time. The NIA said that so far, a total of 69 individuals have been identified as being involved in the conspiracy.
Washington, April 16 : US Vice-President J.D. Vance and his Indian-descent wife Usha Vance will be visiting Delhi, Agra and Jaipur during their upcoming visit to India, the White House announced Wednesday.

The Vice President is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi when in Delhi, next week.

This is Vance's first visit to India and the first by an American Vice-President in 13 years. The last was Joe Biden, who travelled to India in 2013 as Vice-President to President Barack Obama.

India is second on the Vances' two-nation tour, from Friday until April 24. Italy will be their first stop.

"In India, the Vice President will visit New Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra," Vance's office said in a statement. "The Vice President will hold meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Vice President and Second Family will also participate in engagements at cultural sites," it added.

There was no mention of Mike Waltz, the National Security Advisor, in the White House statement and it was not immediately clear if and when he is scheduled to travel to India. His visit, when it happens, will be the third by a senior member of the Trump administration to India, following Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence, and Vice-President Vance.

The Vice-President first met PM Modi in Paris on the sidelines of the AI summit in February. The Second Lady and the second couple's two sons also met the Prime Minister. The Wednesday announcement did not mention if the Vances will be accompanied by their children on this visit.

Vance has emerged as an important member of the Trump cabinet, and an outspoken advocate of President Donald Trump's agenda. The President often calls him for remarks during publicly-aired meetings with visiting foreign dignitaries. His most significant Oval Office intervention so far came in the meeting with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky.

Usha Vance's parents came to the US from Andhra Pradesh and she was born in San Diego. Her birth name is Usha Bala Chilukuri.

Vance's predecessor in the White House, Vice-President Kamala Harris, never visited India during her tenure although she is also of Indian-descent like Usha Vance a" her mother's family was based in Tamil Nadu. Mike Pence, who was Vice-President in President Trump's first term also could not make it although he had expressed a desire to undertake a tour of India.
Patna, April 16 : Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary launched a fierce attack on the Congress party over the National Herald case on Wednesday and accused Sonia Gandhi of "looting" the country and "insulting" freedom fighters.

Patna, April 16 (IANS) Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary launched a fierce attack on the Congress party over the National Herald case on Wednesday and accused Sonia Gandhi of "looting" the country and "insulting" freedom fighters.

"Congress party and its 'Raj Mata' Sonia Gandhi have looted India. Their 'Yuvraj' Rahul Gandhi has made a mockery of democracy," said the Deputy Chief Minister.

He claimed that the National Herald case represents a "betrayal" of the country.

"Congress has hollowed out the nation. They looted institutions created by freedom fighters. The Young Indian Company is robbing the poor. The court must take strict action against them," he said.

Referring to Congress protests at the ED office in Patna, he said: "Congress blackened Manmohan Singh's face today. Manmohan Singh formed the ED. This is an insult to democratic institutions."

Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief Minister lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his consistent engagement with Bihar.

"PM Modi has visited Bihar more than 100 times since 2014. His efforts have led to the completion of many projects. On April 24, new schemes will be launched from Madhubani," he said.

The Deputy Chief Minister also revealed that PM Modi has been invited to attend the Khelo India event on May 4.

"More than 1 crore people will be able to travel through Patna Airport in the next 15 days. 10 new airports are under construction in Bihar," he said.

The Deputy Chief Minister also attacked RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav. "Every BJP worker is ready to accept any challenge from Lalu Yadav, on any topic, and anywhere," he said.

On Bengal violence, the Deputy Chief Minister linked it to the INDIA alliance's "appeasement" politics.

"The people of the Indi Alliance are doing vote-bank politics. Everyone has seen who is responsible for the bloodshed," said the Deputy Chief Minister.
Nashik, April 16 : Shiv Sena UBT President Uddhav Thackeray said on Wednesday that he has left the BJP and not Hindutva, adding, "Even if I die, I will not abandon Hindutva." Nashik, April 16 (IANS) Shiv Sena UBT President Uddhav Thackeray said on Wednesday that he has left the BJP and not Hindutva, adding, "Even if I die, I will not abandon Hindutva."

In his address at the Nirdhar Shibir, Thackeray slammed the BJP for its Saugat-e-Modi initiative in which gifts were distributed to 32 lakh Muslims from Bihar in the run-up to the upcoming Assembly elections and asked the latter, "Where did your Hindutva go at that time?" "That is, BJP's policy of 'Batenge To Katenge' (will be slaughtered if divided") in Maharashtra, but in Bihar it is 'Batenge To Bachenge' (if you distribute sweets, you will survive)," he claimed. He further said that when he was the Maharashtra chief minister, he did not discriminate, and because of that, Muslims supported him, and they (the BJP) got scared.

"BJP is a party with a fake narrative. In Bihar, they went with Nitish Kumar. In Andhra, they went with Chandrababu. That is why we have left the BJP, not Hindutva," he claimed. Thackeray strongly defended Shiv Sena's move to oppose the Waqf Amendment Bill, saying that it had nothing to do with Hindus.

"The AIADMK from Tamil Nadu opposed the Waqf Amendment Bill. But within two days, Amit Shah went to Tamil Nadu and formed an alliance with them. Because MK Stalin is sitting in there with a firm grip. The BJP people were sitting with Chandrababu, Nitish Kumar, and Mehbooba Mufti. Their Hindutva is rotten. We did not go to Pakistan and cut Nawaz Sharif's birthday cake," he said.

"Today, those who are teaching us Hindutva have come out. PM Modi says that Congress should make a Muslim president. State Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal said that the RSS should make a leader from the Dalit community as the Sarsanghchalak. They should do it. The RSS is completing 100 years in the coming year. The Congress is completing 125 years. Make a list of the Sarsanghchalaks and Congress chiefs of the Sangh so far. Find out who was a Dalit and who was a Muslim and put it in front of the people," said Thackeray while taking a swipe at the BJP.

Thackeray referred to the statement made at the Raigad fort function by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who said, 'Don't restrict Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to Maharashtra, but his story should be told to everyone across the country'. "Amit Shah said that Shivaji Maharaj should not be restricted to Maharashtra. On the contrary, his fame has reached every corner of the world," he said. He demanded that "if there is real respect for Shivaji Maharaj, then declare Shivaji Jayanti (birth anniversary of the Maratha warrior) as a holiday across the country."

The Shiv Sena UBT leader also demanded that the grand memorial of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, which is currently proposed in the Arabian Sea, should be developed in the Raj Bhavan (the official residence of the Maharashtra Governor).

"No one can be greater than Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. When it comes to the Governor, the Supreme Court itself has criticised the Tamil Nadu Governor. You have seen it in our time, too. How did BS Koshyari (Former state Governor) behave? What kind of pomp? If the person occupying that position does not respect the position of Governor, then the Supreme Court has shown respect for that position. Shift the Governor somewhere else and build a big memorial telling the glorious history of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Raj Bhavan. Give one bungalow to the Governor and build a memorial in Raj Bhavan," he said.
Taipei, April 16 : A US Congressional delegation led by Republican Party Senator Pete Ricketts began its April 16-19 Taiwan visit - first since US President Donald Trump began his second term at the White House - on Wednesday as part of a larger visit to the region underscoring Washington's commitment to strengthening a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Taipei, April 16 (IANS) A US Congressional delegation led by Republican Party Senator Pete Ricketts began its April 16-19 Taiwan visit - first since US President Donald Trump began his second term at the White House - on Wednesday as part of a larger visit to the region underscoring Washington's commitment to strengthening a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Other members of the bi-partisan delegation include Senator Chris Coons from the Democratic Party and Senator Ted Budd from the Republican Party.

The delegation will engage in a series of high-level meetings with senior Taiwan leaders to discuss US-Taiwan relations, regional security, trade and investment, and other significant issues of mutual interest.

Earlier this month, the US had condemned China's joint military exercises near Taiwan, slamming Beijing's growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.

"Once again, China's aggressive military activities and rhetoric toward Taiwan only serve to exacerbate tensions and put the region's security and the world's prosperity at risk. In the face of China's intimidation tactics and destabilising behaviour, the United States' enduring commitment to our allies and partners, including Taiwan, continues," read a statement issued by the US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce.

"The United States supports peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and opposes unilateral changes to the status quo, including through force or coercion," it added.

The remarks followed after China confirmed that it had conducted joint army, navy, and rocket exercises around Taiwan.

Taiwanas Defence Ministry also condemned the act and stated that China continues to escalate military activities in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region by intensifying military threats and challenging the international order and regional stability, thereby becoming the greatest "troublemaker" in the eyes of the international community.

Last month, a bipartisan group of US lawmakers reintroduced the Taiwan International Solidarity Act in the House of Representatives after the pro-Taiwan legislation stalled in the Senate in 2023.

The act "encourages the US to work with allies and partners to oppose China's efforts to undermine Taiwan's diplomatic relationships and partnerships globally," said a press release issued by the office of US Representative Gerry Connolly, a Democrat who introduced the bill.

"This bipartisan legislation ensures that we stand against Beijingas weaponisation of international organisations and in solidarity with the wishes and best interests of the people of Taiwan," said Connolly.

China claims Taiwan to be a part of its territory that must be reunified with the mainland by force if necessary. In recent years, Beijing has increased military exercises in the Taiwan Strait to intensify pressure on Taiwan.

Meanwhile, the US and its allies consider the Taiwan Strait as an international waterway and routinely send warships through the strait, asserting their influence in the Indo-Pacific region and countering the growing influence of China.
Shahdol : , April 16 (IANS) The Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) is changing lives across Shahdol district of Madhya Pradesh by providing easy, collateral-free loans to people from economically weaker and middle-income groups. This initiative is helping individuals not only start their own businesses but also turn their dreams into reality.

Under this scheme, approximately Rs 25 crore worth of loans have been disbursed to nearly 600 beneficiaries in Shahdol alone. The scheme's most notable feature is that banks do not require any collateral or property documents. With a simple online application through the Jan Samarth portal and submission of necessary documents, loans are sanctioned within seven days.

Pawan Gupta, a resident of Shahdol and the owner of a book depot, shared his experience as a beneficiary of the scheme:

"I received a loan of Rs 15 lakh under the Mudra Yojana to expand my existing business. I came to know about the scheme through social media, newspapers, and friends. The process was smooth, and I received all the necessary information at the bank. This is a fantastic initiative by the government, especially for the poor and middle class. I hope more people across the country take advantage of it. I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for launching such a beneficial scheme for all sections of society," Gupta told IANS.

R.K. Mishra, Chief Manager of the Central Bank, Regional Office, Shahdol, told IANS: "So far, nearly 52 crore people have benefitted from the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, with loan sanctions reaching Rs 33 lakh crore across the country. The process is extremely simple, and the biggest advantage is that there is no requirement for collateral. Earlier, banks used to ask for security like mortgages, gold, fixed deposits, or LIC policies. Now, just filling an online form and submitting documents is enough to get the loan approved within a week."

He further explained that the scheme offers loans under several categories: 'Shishu' - covering loans up to Rs 50,000; 'Kishor' - covering loans above 50,000 and up to 5 lakh; 'Tarun' - covering loans above 5 lakh and up to 10 lakh and 'Tarun Plus' - covering loans above 10 lakh and up to 20 lakh.

The goal is to support anyone looking to start small businesses in sectors such as MSMEs, barber shops, hotels, retail stores, etc.

The Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana continues to empower individuals by providing the financial support needed to achieve self-reliance and entrepreneurial success.
Jaipur, April 16 : Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Wednesday claimed that the Waqf Act will protect the rights of 'poor' Muslims, and will also help to prevent illegal encroachments.

"The new Waqf Act will protect the rights of 'poor' Muslims, especially women, and will ensure due process, including a 90-day notice, before any Waqf-related claim, helping prevent illegal encroachments and enabling rightful property ownership," claimed the Chief Minister while addressing a BJP workshop at party headquarters in Jaipur.

Sharma further claimed that income from authenticated Waqf properties will be used solely for the benefit of the Muslim community.

"Those opposing the law are doing so not out of concern for Muslims but to shield their own vested interests," alleged the Chief Minister.

He also accused the Congress and other opposition parties of habitually opposing positive reforms, and recalled similar fears spread during the introduction of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which, he said, had proven baseless.

Meanwhile, the state BJP in charge, Radha Mohan Das Agarwal, said that under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, 15 per cent of the Muslim population has received 70 per cent of the benefits from various government schemes.

"During Congress rule, Muslims were pushed into menial jobs like puncture repair. The society must introspect on who was truly responsible for this," he said.

BJP state president Madan Rathore also claimed that the new Waqf Act aims to uplift poor Muslims and called on party workers to counter opposition "propaganda" with facts.

"Before 2014, the Congress spread fear that the BJP would harm Muslims. Yet, after 11 years of BJP rule, Muslims have seen progress and have benefited from every major scheme. While the Congress sees Muslims as a vote bank, the BJP regards them as respected citizens of India," claimed Rathore.

He also pointed out the underutilisation of Waqf properties, stating that despite having significant assets, the Waqf Board has not used them effectively for the community's welfare.

He called for transparency and proper utilisation of Waqf resources for the benefit of orphans, underprivileged Muslims, widows, and divorced women.

The event also saw the presence of BJP National Minister Alka Gurjar, Deputy Chief Minister Premchand Bairwa, Education Minister Madan Dilawar, Law Minister Jogaram Patel, Rajya Sabha MPs Ghanshyam Tiwari and Rajendra Gehlot, former state chief Arun Chaturvedi, former Leader of Opposition Rajendra Singh Rathore, and others.

The programme was introduced by former Union Minister Kailash Chaudhary, and BJP state Vice President Mukesh Dadhich conducted the proceedings.

Hamid Khan Mewati delivered the vote of thanks.
Gangtok, April 16 : Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Wednesday stressed the significance of cultural preservation and community integration in aligning with the state's vision of sustainable development and inclusivity.

Gangtok, April 16 (IANS) Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Wednesday stressed the significance of cultural preservation and community integration in aligning with the stateas vision of sustainable development and inclusivity.

The Chief Minister attended the closing ceremony of the Discover Rabong Cho-Dzo Fest at Rabongla, and while addressing the gatherings, Tamang elaborated dual role of cultural festivities, which not only showcases heritage, but acts as a tool for self-sustainability and emerges as a flourishing tourist destination.

He gave an insightful overview of the festival, highlighting its role in celebrating Sikkimas cultural diversity and enthusiastic participation from communities across the district and beyond.

The Chief Minister acknowledged the stateas continued efforts to promote talents, which have allowed the local individuals to excel on National and International platforms.

He particularly commended Barfung Constituency, praising its scenic beauty, landscapes and warm hospitality of its people and encouraged locals to harness these attributes to boost tourism and position Barfung as a leading tourist destination.

Further, Tamang also applauded the organising committee, especially for promoting a sport like Volleyball that has a much smaller audience than other sporting activities and for motivating the youth to seize the maximum opportunity to nurture their interest in this game.

He made a special mention of the success of Gangtokas Got Talent, where participation from local talents within the district was significant, highlighting the immense potential among the Sikkimas youth.

He reiterated the governmentas full support for the local artists and talent development initiatives.

Speaking about the Mega Home Stay project, the Chief Minister informed it as a government initiative that is to create opportunities and support the enhancement of local livelihoods. However, he emphasised that only dedicated and hard-working individuals would truly benefit from it.

He urged the local community to put in earnest efforts to make the most of this initiative.

Further, he urged district administrators to encourage homestay development in tourist-attracting areas and help elevate Sikkim as a leading tourist destination in India.

The Chief Minister mentioned assuring better connectivity and maintenance to key tourist locations and emphasised the importance of accessibility in boosting tourist inflow in the region.

He also linked the celebration of the festival to the upcoming celebration of 50 years of Sikkimas statehood, which symbolises the stateas remarkable journey and heritage over time.

Tamang expressed his commitment to support future initiatives and extended heartfelt appreciation to the festival committee members and the Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation for the successful celebration of the event.

The Chief Minister also handed over financial assistance under the Chief Minister Discretionary Grant to various individuals, SHGs, religious institutions, entrepreneurs, filmmakers and many more as a gesture of support to their respective ventures.
Agartala, April 16 : Seizure of varied drugs, arms, ammunition, explosives and exotic animals in different northeastern states by the security forces continues unabated with highly addictive methamphetamine tablets valued at more than Rs 4.41 crore confiscated in Tripura on Wednesday, officials said.

A Border Security Force (BSF) spokesperson said that in an important success against trans-border narcotics trafficking, troops of Border Out Post (BOP) N.C. Nagar under Sepahijala district, thwarted an attempt by Indian smugglers to smuggle contraband across the India-Bangladesh border.

Acting on specific intelligence, vigilant BSF personnel observed suspicious movement near the international border.

On being challenged by the BSF jawans, the smugglers fled, abandoning the consignment on Indian soil.

A thorough search of the area resulted in the recovery of 21 packets containing 43,800 methamphetamine tablets, also known as Yaba tablets, valued at approximately Rs 4.38 crore.

The drug peddlers were trying to smuggle the methamphetamine tablets to Bangladesh.

In addition, BSF troops seized other contraband items worth Rs 3,68,604 from different locations along the Tripura border on Wednesday.

The spokesman said that this successful operation is part of the BSFas intensified efforts to curb cross-border smuggling and ensure national security.

The recent surge in narcotics seizures highlights the commitment and enhanced vigilance of BSF troops deployed along sensitive border stretches.

The seized items have been handed over to concerned agencies for further legal action.

The BSF remains resolute in its mission to secure the nationas borders and contribute actively to the campaign against drug trafficking, the spokesperson added.

Officials suspect that the highly addictive methamphetamine tablets were smuggled from Myanmar and brought to Tripura via Mizoram and southern Assam and intended to illegally trade to neighbouring Bangladesh.

Mizoram shares 510 km and 318 km unfenced border with Myanmar and Bangladesh, respectively, while Tripura has 856 km frontier with Bangladesh.
Los Angeles, April 16 : Hollywood actress Natalie Portman has opened up on how she guarded herself while feeling sexualized as a young star in Hollywood.

The Oscar-winning actress, 43, made her big screen debut in the R-rated 1994 film 'Leon: The Professional', which she began filming when she was 12 years old, reports 'People' magazine.

Portman, who has previously been open about navigating her teen years in the industry, spoke to Jenna Ortega about it in a new 'Interview' magazine conversation.

She said, "I think there's a public understanding of me that's different from who I am. I've talked about it a little before, about how, as a kid, I was really sexualized, which I think happens to a lot of young girls who are onscreen. I felt very scared by it. Obviously sexuality is a huge part of being a kid, but I wanted it to be inside of me, not directed towards me".

As per 'People', the 'Fountain of Youth' actress Portman, who stars opposite Ortega, 22, in the upcoming movie 'The Gallerist', said her "way of protecting myself" at the time was to portray herself as "so serious. I'm so studious. I'm smart, and that's not the kind of girl you attack".

"I was like, if I create this image of myself, I'll be left alone", she said. "It shouldn't be a thing, but it worked".

Ortega, who's also been acting from a young age, told Portman she feels a "kinship" with other former child actors, "As soon as someone mentions that they were a young actor, you start to look at them differently".

The 'Wednesday' star also said during the Interview discussion that "there's something really, really heartwarming but also simultaneously devastating anytime I speak to actresses from previous generations, just because their experience is so jarringly different".

She added, "It's nice to see how much it's changed because I've been very fortunate in my upbringing, in our line of work".
Guwahati, April 16 : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Wednesday that all steps have been taken to transform the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) into one of the largest health institution in the country.

Chief Minister Sarma, while reviewing the progress of the construction of Pragjyotishpur Medical College and Hospital here in Guwahati, said that his government has taken all necessary steps for making GMCH one of the largest in the country with matching infrastructure and treatment facilities.

He also added that the upcoming Mother and Child Care Hospital on GMCH premises will offer dedicated and specialised paediatric care.

To be equipped with 800 beds, it will offer state-of-the-art treatment and its campus is part of the larger plans to completely restructure GMCH.

The Chief Minister also inspected the progress of Pragjyotishpur Medical College and Hospital which is Guwahati's second medical college.

Though the college is already offering limited OPD services, Chief Minister Sarma said that the hospital is expected to be fully operational by August 15 this year.

The hospital will have 600 beds and have an intake of 100 MBBS students when completed.

CM Sarma also said the medical college will also have facilities for studying other postgraduate courses, including obstetrics and orthopaedics.

The hospital will also have 100 paying cabins for the convenience of patients, the Chief Minister added.

The Chief Minister added that plans are underway to construct another building with 500 beds at the medical college in the future.

CM Sarma also reviewed the under-construction 800-bed Mother and Child care centre at GMCH to be completed by October.

Once completed, GMCH Principal's office will be shifted to the new hospital building, the Chief Minister said.

The super-speciality services, including neurology, cardiology and kidney transplant will be shifted to the new 800-bed MMC hospital, the construction of which is going on in full swing, CM Sarma added.

The Chief Minister was accompanied by Commissioner and Secretary, Medical Education and Research, Siddharth Singh; Commissioner and Special Secretary, Public Works Department, Chandan Sharma; and several other top officials.
New Delhi, April 16 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday hailed the inauguration of Amravati airport, terming it as 'great news' for Maharashtra.

"The inauguration of Amravati airport is great news for Maharashtra, especially for the Vidarbha region. The active airport in Amravati will boost commerce and connectivity," PM Modi in response to the X post of Union Civil Aviation Minister, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu.

Earlier, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the city of Amravati will get special recognition due to the state-of-the-art Amravati Airport and Pilot Training Centre.

"By completing the developmental works in Vidarbha and bringing this region into the mainstream of development, priority will be given to this work," the Chief Minister said at the function organised for the launch of passenger flight services and the flight demonstration of the Air India Pilot Training Centre.

Union Minister of Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu said that today marks a historic milestone for Vidarbha.

"Honoured to inaugurate Amravati Airport alongside Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar under PM Narendra Modi's leadership, this RCS-VGF funded airport takes flight with Alliance Air's inaugural RCS AmravatiMumbai flight. Also witnessed a demo flight at what will soon be South Asia's largest Air India Flying Training Organisation (FTO), a big leap for India's overall aviation ecosystem," he said.

The Chief Minister said that the airport will bring about an economic revolution, and this area will benefit directly and indirectly.

"It will also create various employment opportunities. The airport will create a new identity for the area. Since entrepreneurs are also giving priority to setting up industries in the area where the airport is located, the textile industry here will get a boost," he said.

He added that the PM Mitra Park to be built here will create two lakh jobs, and cotton farmers will benefit from cotton to cloth and further fashion.
Chandigarh, April 16 : In a major crackdown against cross-border drug smuggling, Punjab Police's Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) arrested a key drug trafficker linked to a Pakistan-based smuggler after recovering 3.105 kg heroin and two .32 bore country-made pistols along with 37 cartridges and two magazines from his possession, Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said here on Wednesday.

The accused has been identified as Jobanjit Singh, alias Joban, a resident of Kotli Sur Singh village in Tarn Taran district. The accused has a criminal history.

DGP Yadav said preliminary investigations have revealed that the accused had been receiving heroin consignments via drones from a Pakistan-based smugglers.

The DGP said further investigations are ongoing to establish the backward and forward linkages to dismantle the entire network and more arrests are likely in coming days.

Sharing operation details, Additional Director General of Police (ANTF) Nilabh Kishore said police teams of ANTF Border Range Amritsar had received a reliable input that accused Jobanjit Singh is notorious drug smuggler and has recently retrieved a drug and weapon consignment from across the border.

Acting swiftly, police teams led by Superintendent of Police (SP) Gurpreet Singh launched an intel-based operation and apprehended accused Jobanjit Singh from his house, he added.

Meanwhile, with the war against drugs "Yudh Nashian Virudh" to eradicate drug menace from state entered 46th day on Tuesday, the police arrested 97 drug smugglers and recovered 1.6 kg heroin and Rs 29,790 drug money from their possession.

With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 6,138 in 46 days. Notably, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has asked the Commissioners of Police, Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendent of Police to make Punjab drug free state.

The government has also constituted a five-member Cabinet Sub-Committee led by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema to monitor the war against drugs.
Bhubaneswar, April 16 : Odisha has secured the top position in India under the Lakhpati Didi initiative, the flagship programme of the Central government that empowers rural women to earn Rs 1 lakh or more annually through sustainable livelihoods, informed the state government in a press note on Wednesday.

The state government claimed that as of April 13, 2025, Odisha has created 14,41,074 Lakhpati Didis, completing 82 per cent of its 17.59 lakh potential Lakhpati Didis identified and surpassing all other states.

As per the press statement, the mission has been implemented in Odisha by the Odisha Livelihoods Mission (OLM), under the Department of Mission Shakti, and aligned with the objectives of the centrally sponsored National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM).

Through a mission-mode approach, the state has forged a powerful model of decentralised planning, local leadership, and structured livelihood support.

"The transformation began at the grassroots, with a door-to-door identification campaign to find Potential Lakhpati Didis (PLDs). Community Support Staff (CSS), SHG leaders, and OLM officials carried out household-level surveys, mapping income levels, skills, and aspirations. These women weren't just identified, they were trained, encouraged, and mentored," noted the state government.

It further noted that Individual Business Development Plans (BDPs) were created for each Potential Lakhpati Didi, offering them pathways to expand or diversify their existing economic activities based on their environment and capacity. The state government also launched onsite training sessions in every corner of rural Odisha.

Master trainers supported women in acquiring technical and entrepreneurial skills including tailoring, mushroom cultivation, livestock farming, or food processing. The training was customized, practical, and empowering, turning traditional knowledge into business strategy.

The state government also increased the Revolving Fund (RF) from Rs15,000 to Rs 30,000, while the Community Investment Fund (CIF) was substantially enhanced from Rs 35 lakh to Rs 60 lakh.

This apart, many eligible beneficiaries benefited significantly through the Subhadra scheme, the flagship programme launched by the new BJP government. The government has offered zero-interest loans up to Rs 10 lakh for prompt repayment, easing the burden of credit for rural entrepreneurs which enabled the Women SHGs to start or expand their small enterprise.
Bhopal, April 17 : A Bhopal court on Wednesday ordered a renewed probe into the "suicide" case of Congress leader Sarla Mishra, which occurred 28 years ago in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.

The court has found the entire investigation "incomplete".

The court has found several shortcomings in the investigation.

This development is expected to stir significant political unrest in the state.

Sarla Mishra, a prominent and dynamic Congress leader, passed away "due to severe burn injuries" on February 14, 1997, in Bhopal, during the tenure of the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh led by the then Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh.

The court, presided over by Magistrate Palak Rai, has ordered a fresh police investigation into the case as Sarla Mishra's brother Anurag Mishra had filed a protest petition against the entire probe and closure report of the state police.

The initial police inquiry had concluded Sarla Mishra's death as a "suicide", but the court found the "investigation was incomplete" and has mandated a thorough review and reinvestigation of the case through an order on Wednesday.

The TT Nagar police station, which handled the original investigation, will lead the renewed probe.

While speaking to IANS, Sarla Mishra's brother, Anurag Mishra, who had filed a "protest petition" challenging the earlier investigation accused the then Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh of being involved in his sister's death, attributing it to political rivalry.

Anurag Mishra has pursued a legal battle for years, and the court has now ordered the reopening of the case.

The TT Nagar police station has been tasked with conducting the investigation.

Initially, Sarla Mishra's death was classified as a "suicide" following an investigation.

The case was officially closed in 2000.

However, the court has now determined that the "investigation was inadequate" and has directed the police to re-examine the matter and submit a fresh report, Anurag Mishra said.

This case has long been a topic of discussion in state politics, with allegations also levelled against Digvijaya Singh's brother, Laxman Singh.

During several elections, the BJP raised this issue to target Digvijaya Singh.

Although the closure of the case diminished its political impact, the court's recent order is expected to reignite controversy, providing the BJP an opportunity to launch renewed attacks on Digvijaya Singh and the Congress party.

Meanwhile, the stance of the Congress on this matter will be closely watched.

Former Chief Minister and Rajya Sabha member Digvijaya Singh may face heightened challenges as the case is reopened.

Sarla Mishra's brother, Anurag Mishra, has reiterated his allegations against Digvijaya Singh, claiming his sister was murdered due to political enmity.

Expressing satisfaction over the court's decision, Anurag Mishra stated his hope for justice.
Johannesberg, April 17 : The South African Department of Health has urged the public to remain vigilant against malaria as the country is seeing a slight increase in cases of the disease, particularly in malaria-endemic provinces such as Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal.

The department said on Wednesday that it has also noted malaria outbreaks in some neighbouring countries within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, mainly in Botswana, Eswatini, Namibia, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe, Xinhua news agency reported.

"This poses a threat of possible cross-border transmission of this preventable disease, especially as people travel across the region to various destinations for religious and cultural reasons as part of Easter holidays," department spokesperson Foster Mohale said in a statement.

He said the department will remain on high alert in case of a sudden peak in local malaria transmission.

"The healthcare providers in both endemic and non-endemic provinces have been alerted to maintain a high index of suspicion for malaria in patients with flu-like symptoms and report confirmed cases immediately to support malaria surveillance and response," Mohale added.

"They were also reminded to always inquire about travel history, particularly from high-risk regions, and conduct prompt malaria testing and repeat the tests if symptoms persist despite negative results," the spokesperson added.

"Early diagnosis and treatment are critical to saving lives and preventing further transmission of the disease."

"The Department will remain on high alert in case of sudden peak in malaria local transmission. The disease is primarily transmitted through a bite of an infected female mosquito called Anopheline. Common symptoms include fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, nausea and loss of appetite or vomiting. Therefore, anyone who experiences any of the symptoms should present at the nearest healthcare facility."

According to the statement, malaria is primarily transmitted through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.

Common symptoms include fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, nausea, loss of appetite, and vomiting.

The health department advised people travelling during the Easter holidays to take malaria prevention medication, such as doxycycline, which is freely available at all public health facilities.

If any symptoms arise, individuals are encouraged to seek immediate medical attention and always inform healthcare providers of their recent travel history, it added.
On April 15, Ambassador Wang Qing accompanied H.E. Dr. Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone to attend the Commissioning of the 30MTPA Magnetite Processing Plant Phase I of Leone Rock Metal Group, a Chinese-funded enterprise in Sierra Leone and the 4th CDA Payment Ceremony. Several cabinet ministers, including the Chief Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Members of Parliament, and Paramount Chiefs also presented.

Ambassador Wang Qing congratulated Leone Rock Metal Group on iron ore project progress and commended its active fulfillment of social responsibilities in promoting local livelihoods and social development. He expressed hope that China and Sierra Leone would further deepen economic and trade cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual benefit to better benefit the peoples of both nations. Furthermore, Ambassador Wang Qing emphasized that China-Sierra Leone mining cooperation has thrived under the principles of economic globalization and the liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment. Against the backdrop of severe challenges to the multilateral trading system and global economic stability posed by unilateralism, protectionism, and arbitrary tariff impositions, China, Sierra Leone, and the international community should jointly uphold true multilateralism, promote inclusive and equitable economic globalization, and defend international fairness and justice.

H.E. President Julius Maada Bio highly commended the contributions made by the Leone Rock Metal Group to Sierra Leone's economic and social development, expressed gratitude for the enterprise's consistent commitment to donating to the Communities. He stated this fully demonstrates the mutually beneficial nature and promising prospects of Sierra Leone-China economic and trade cooperation. The government will continue to support Chinese enterprises investing in Sierra Leone, strengthen cooperation with China, and work together to achieve new progress in practical cooperation across various fields, thereby better serving the development of both nations.
A month has passed since a March 14 executive order called for the elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law. Since then, all but 12 of the agencys staff of approximately 75 employees have been put on paid administrative leave and received notice of an agency-wide reduction in force to take place May 4. And a number of those furloughed employeesalongside a declaration by a pseudonymous fourth, called Blake Doe in the State of Rhode Island v. Trump lawsuitshed light on what these past weeks looked like behind the scenes and what they mean for the agency.

Three furloughed IMLS staff members, who spoke with PW on condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution, said that of the 12 people still working in the agency, only two are managing operations specific to library services. Among them is Lisa Solomson, whom the sources affirm has been newly appointed acting deputy director of library services, which they considered an unusually significant promotion from a project specialist role. Solomson, the sources noted, is married to Matthew H. Solomson, a federal judge appointed by President Donald Trump at the end of his first term.

One source, who noted that Solomson has a library science degree but not the advanced credentials typically expected of the deputy director, called Solomsons promotion a blatant example of cronyism. Regardless, another noted, it is ultimately up to acting director Keith Sonderling to select IMLS deputy directors: Technically theres nothing legally wrong, the source said. (PW attempted to contact the IMLS multiple times via phone, email, and social media for this story, but received no response.)

Sources attest that the other library services staffer known to still be working at IMLS is associate deputy director Teri DeVoe. In the past, DeVoe has supervised the Grants to States program, which at regular staffing levels involves the supervisor, three program officers, and one program specialist, according to Does declaration.

On the museum side of IMLS, a senior museum program officer and associate deputy director remain in their posts. According to PWs sources and the Doe declaration, these staffers include CFO Chris Catignani; head of communications Anthony Marucci; IMLS general counsel Thomas M. Browder III, along with and three additional lawyers; director of human resources Antoine Dotson; and a senior human resources specialist.

These staffers ultimately report to Sonderling, who was sworn in on March 20. One IMLS insider who spoke with PW expressed concern that, compared with staffers who have served for years in the agency, Sonderling has virtually no operational knowledge of IMLS. Another remarked that Sonderling is sort of moonlighting in the position while also serving as U.S. deputy secretary of labor.

The reduced IMLS staff, which one source compared to a skeleton crew, appears to lack the personnel to administer existing grants or process incoming grant applications. I hope theyre planning what to do with whatever budget they have for fiscal year 2025, what to do with that money, a person on leave from the agency told PW, "but it doesnt appear payment requests are being processed.

The Doe declaration noted that, at any given time, hundreds of awarded grants are at different phases in the grant cycle. It added: Of the 30 employees who processed or administered grant programs and the five employees who handled the financial aspects of grants prior to March 31, only four are not currently on administrative leave.

To date, only one paymentan April 11 disbursement of $67,000 from IMLS to the Arizona State Library, Archives, and Public Recordshas been publicly confirmed since Sonderling was sworn in. On April 14, Arizona secretary of state Adrian P. Fontes went on record with the District Court of Rhode Island to confirm the payment. Arizonas attorney general is among the 21 plaintiffs in the Rhode Island v. Trump case seeking to block the executive order.

On April 14, attorneys for the Trump administration filed their opposition in the Rhode Island case, arguing that the plaintiffs have no standing to demand the broad relief sought in their motion; that their claims of harm from unfulfilled grants are thus far "speculative;" and that challenges to grant terminations belong in the Court of Federal Claims. They also argued that federal court is not the proper venue to litigate adverse employment actions, referring federal employees on administrative leave to the Office of Special Counsel, the Merit Systems Protection Board, and the Federal Labor Relations Authority. An initial hearing in the case will take place before chief judge John J. McConnell in the District Court of Rhode Island on April 18.

A Precarious Position for IMLS Staffers

Meanwhile, as they await the May 4 reduction in force date, IMLS staffers who spoke with PW said they are uncertain about what will happen next. None of those staffers have been able to obtain a full retention register despite access to this register being a right for federal employees. The register should be available to all IMLS employees in order to help them determine which of them are eligible for retainment during a reduction in force or reapplication and/or reinstatement to their old positions at a later date. IMLS employees have tried directly requesting this information, but are now switching tactics and submitting FOIA requests, said one furloughed staffer.

One source asserts that even the retained employees are in a very precarious position: they could be forced, likely against their personal will, to cancel funding appropriated by Congress, awarded by the IMLS, and legally agreed upon in cooperation with awardees, leaving them vulnerable to legal action. IMLS largely operates on a reimbursement basis, which means that awardees with a legal grant agreement spend funds in advance in good faith that the federal government would reimburse the funds per the contract, the IMLS staffer explainedand would therefore have grounds to sue should those contracts not be honored. That is to say, even employees offered the opportunity to keep their jobs might be justifiably worried about accepting those offers. And, the staffer continued, anyones refusal to return [to the office] and perform the duties assigned to them by acting director Sonderling would be forced to quit, which means that they forfeit rights to severance pay.

Hundreds of grants in IMLS programs have already been canceled, in a late-night effort on April 9 for unspecified reasons, two sources said. The cancellation prompted the American Federation of Government Employees Local 3403, which represents the IMLS and other federal agencies including the National Science Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, to issue a statement. "This callous disregard for the communities and institutions counting on IMLS grants is another outrageous example of the Trump Administration causing harm for no good reason, the AFGE wrote. We are horrified to see these heartless cuts."

One source reflected on damage that may be caused by the sudden and unanticipated loss of small federal grants that support hyper-localized programming at libraries and museums. Small grants support homework help for young people, IT training, collection development, or wifi connectivity for rural libraries and small organizations without easy access to technological resources. IMLS grants underwrite the tools and services ordinary visitors have been able to take for granted, until now.

"Were invested in the programs and what projects are accomplishing," one source told PW. "Our best-case scenario is that we can work on these projects again. The least we can hope for is making sure that all of this is being done legally, because everything happened so fast."

Despite the termination of library and museum grants, the IMLS workers on leave express guarded optimism that all or most of the statutory Grants to States program may continue, although one person was not hopeful about grants to California, Connecticut, and Washington, which were announced as canceled via social media. Suspended members of the IMLS team also express hope that the lawsuits filed by 21 states attorneys general and by the American Library Association might keep the agency open, with congressionally appropriated funds flowing to institutions.

Another IMLS staffer, though self-described as an optimist, said that, while they were impressed that IMLS got a lot more attention than anybody expected, the response from the administration suggests that theyre willing to still take on the risk and liability associated with trying to eliminate an agency down to the statutory requirements. Like everything else thats happening with this administration, the approach is to slash and burn and see what survives.
Relations between Algeria and France have nosedived lately, due to disagreement over autonomy for the Western Sahara, immigration tensions, a series of diplomatic incidents, and Algerias historic grievances over the war of independence and French nuclear testing on Algerian territory.

The potential unravelling of relations between France and Algeria will create opportunities for others to connect with Algeria, provided they understand Algiers will be a partner, not a client.

Algeria started to distance itself from France, and French culture, in early 2022 when the Ministry of Culture announced that it is banning French language in official correspondence, dealings and activities, and circulating the use of Arabic.

As recent hostilities escalated, in April the Ministry of Higher Education announced it would use the English language as a language of instruction, in lieu of French, at universities effective in September.

Algeria is telling France, we can still be friends, and opening up to political and economic collaboration with others.

Algeria is a major producer of hydrocarbons. According to the U.S. International Trade Administration, Algeria has the tenth-largest proven natural gas reserves globally, is the worlds fourth-largest gas exporter, and has the worlds third-largest untapped shale gas resources. It also ranks sixteenth in proven oil reservesabout two-thirds of the Algerian territory remains underdeveloped or unexplored, with an estimated 100 undeveloped discoveries.

Algeria's foreign trade is heavily influenced by its hydrocarbon resources, which dominate its exports. In 2023, hydrocarbons accounted for nearly 91% of Algeria's total export volume, according to Lloyds Bank. Key exports include petroleum gas, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, and fertilizer. Algeria's main export destinations are Italy, France, Spain, the United States, and the Netherlands.

Algeria's non-hydrocarbon exports are dominated by four categories: semi-finished products, foodstuffs, electricity, and raw materials. Raw materials include iron and steel; inorganic chemicals; and salt, sulphur, stone, and cement.

On the import side, Algeria primarily brings in wheat, automobiles, concentrated milk, corn, and raw sugar. Its main import partners are China, France, Italy, Turkey, and Brazil.

Algeria has also signed trade agreements, such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), to boost its trade and diversify its exports to include agriculture and pharmaceuticals. Algeria can maximize its trade in AfcFTA relationships by collaborating with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. Algeria is also a member of the Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA), a free trade area of 14 countries in Africa and the Middle East, so it is already covered by a free trade agreement with several Arab African countries, including Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Morocco, and Sudan.

Algeria's trade balance has changed from a deficit of 9.4% of GDP in 2020 to a 0.7% surplus in 2021, driven by a 70% increase in hydrocarbon export revenues, according to the World Bank. The overall budget deficit also narrowed, from 12% to 7.2% of GDP, supported by the jump in hydrocarbon revenues. However, Allianz forecasts a return to a deficit is expected by 2025 due to declining non-renewable energy prices.

Algeria exports natural gas to Europe via three pipelines: the Enrico Mattei (Transmed) pipeline to Italy, the Medgaz pipeline to Spain, and the Maghreb-Europe (MEG) pipeline to Spain via Morocco. (The MEG pipeline is now used for the re-export of natural gas from Spain to Morocco, following Algerias decision to cease gas shipments to Morocco in November 2021 to pressure Morocco over Western Sahara autonomy.) Italy is the main destination for Algeria's natural gas exports, accounting for almost 67 percent of the total exports, followed by Spain with around 30 percent.

Algeria provides 12% of Frances natural gas imports and will likely continue to abide by the delivery contract despite the recent tensions, as terminating shipments will earn it a reputation as an unreliable supplier.

China has made significant investments in Algeria across various sectors, pledging $36 billion as part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), focusing on manufacturing, technology, transport, agriculture, and renewable energy. Chinese energy giant Sinopec has partnered with Sonatrach, Algerias national state-owned oil company, for hydrocarbon exploration and development. China and Algeria have a long-standing relationship, with cooperation agreements covering areas such as aviation, energy, agriculture, and telecommunications.

China recognized the Provisional Government of the Algerian Republic in 1958 and established diplomatic relations within three months of independence in 1962, and China has recognized Algerias support for its securing its seat at the United Nations. In 2014, Algeria became the first Arab state to establish a comprehensive strategic partnership with China.

And in February Washingtons bete noire, Chinese telecoms giant Huawei, announced a partnership with Algeria Telecom to build an ultra-high-speed optical network that will support the development of the digital economy that will reduce reliance on hydrocarbon exports.

Moscow recognized the Provisional Government of the Algerian Republic in October 1960, and established diplomatic relations with the provisional government in March 1962 - before the official proclamation of its independence. The U.S. also supported Algerian independence, and President John F. Kennedy hosted Algerias first prime minister at the White House during the height of the Cuban missile crisis.

The United States is a significant investor in Algeria, with 29% of total Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) coming from the U.S. as of 2024, primarily in the hydrocarbons sector. The Algerian government has welcomed U.S. companies to invest in various sectors, including agriculture, information and communications technology, mining, renewable energy, and healthcare. The U.S. and Algeria signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) to enhance economic cooperation and address challenges in their trade relationship.

As a key natural resource producer Algeria is a natural fit for the BRICS group, but paused membership in 2023 in order to accelerate long-overdue domestic reforms, but in 2024 joined the BRICS New Development Bank.

In terms of the arms trade, the U.S. supplies rival Morocco, and Algeria secures 73% of its weapons from Russia. The U.S. Department of Commerce notes, however, Algerians look to U.S. suppliers mainly for military communications and electronics, as well as ground vehicles.

In January 2025, the U.S. and Algeria signed a 10-year first-of-its-kind agreement to expand military cooperation that the Pentagon said was a major shift in Algerian foreign policy, though that remains to be seen. And it may have been first-of-its-kind for the U.S., but it isnt for Algeria which concluded a similar agreement with China in 2023.

In a recent interview, Algerias ambassador to the U.S., Sabri Boukadoum, highlighted American-Algerian trade and noted Our objective is to consolidate our partnership with the United States, particularly in security and economic domains The country is a potential source of metals and industrial minerals, such as iron ore, rare earth elements, and high purity (98% to 99.68%) silica which has applications in electronics, telecommunications, renewable energy, and healthcare

Algeria and Russia have enjoyed longstanding ties based on the 2001 Strategic Partnership Agreement and the 2023 Enhanced Strategic Partnership. Algiers has rebuffed Moscows calls for use of a naval base as this would compromise its non-aligned status, though it recently took delivery of the Sukhoi Su-35S fighter as a bridge to the stealthy Su-57.

Defense cooperation with Algeria will be a test for the U.S. which is justly known as being unable to play well with others, especially when Russia and China are in the mix. Will Washington use the threat of sanctions on Algerian officials or on Russian and Chinese suppliers to edge them out of Algerias economy?

In addition, Washingtons obsession with Iran will be whetted by improving relations between Algiers and Tehran.

In July 2023, Algerias foreign minister, Ahmad Attaf, met the late president of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, in Tehran, and in March 2024, Iran and Algeria inked six cooperation agreements - in oil and gas, science and technology, the knowledge-based economy, tourism, sports, and the media - when President Raisi visited Algiers.

In April 2024, then-Iranian foreign minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian, met with Foreign Minister Attaf, in New York City, in November 2024, an Iranian delegation visited Algiers.

The Jerusalem Post recently claimed Iran is turning Algeria into an IRGC outpost and, while Iran and Algeria are increasingly simpatico, Algiers has made non-alignment its brand and wont want to give France an excuse to rally American and European anti-Iran sanctions in the cause of Pariss goals.

Algeria fought two wars of independence, the first against France (1954-1962; 1.5 million dead) and the second against Islamist rebels (1991-2002; 150,000 dead), wars that have shaped its defensive posture. Algeria was a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement, mostly developing countries concerned with decolonization and equitable economic development.

Algeria will welcome win-win collaboration, a place more comfortable for Moscow and Beijing, than Washington whose demands may leave it with 100% of no deal.

James Durso (@james_durso) is a regular commentator on foreign policy and national security matters. Mr. Durso served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years and has worked in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq.
Home Alone 2 director Chris Columbus is expressing his regret over President Donald Trump's cameo appearance in the 1992 film starring Macaulay Culkin.

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"Years later, it's become this curse. It's become this thing that I wish it was not there," he told the San Francisco Chronicle.

In the Home Alone sequel, Culkin's Kevin McCallister stays at the Plaza Hotel, and asks Trump for directions.

"We approached The Plaza Hotel, which Trump owned at the time, because we wanted to shoot in the lobby. We couldn't rebuild The Plaza on a soundstage," said Columbus in a 2020 interview with Business Insider. "Trump said, 'OK.' We paid the fee, but he also said, 'The only way you can use the Plaza is if I'm in the movie'... He did bully his way into the movie."

Trump apparently contested Columbus' claims, saying that Columbus was, in fact, "begging" him to make an appearance.

"What's going through this guy's mind? He said I was lying. I'm not lying," Columbus told the San Francisco Chronicle. "He said I begged him to be in the movie, but there's no world I would ever beg a non-actor to be in a movie. But we were desperate to get the Plaza Hotel. But it's there. It's become an albatross for me. I just wish it was gone."

Columbus also directed the original Home Alone (1990). His other films include Mrs. Doubtfire, Stepmom, the first two Harry Potter movies and Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief.
Thermal optics have been a game-changer not only on the battlefield but also for hunters and homeowners protecting their land and animals from predators. Thermal weapon sights are a super weapon that no animals camouflage can fool, and they give you an unprecedented advantage.

New from Armasight, the Commander 640 is a dedicated weapon sight using the same ArmaCORE 640480 12um thermal core technology that powers the Warden 640 monocular and Operator 640 clip-on. A complete package including thermal sight, weapon mount, batteries, and more the Commander 640 is ready to go from the box to the field.

SPECS:

Detector Type: ArmaCORE 640 x 480 12um Thermal Core

Refresh Rate: 60 Hz

Thermal Sensitivity: NETD < 40mK

Detection Range: 1,300m on a Human Sized Target

Field of View: 18 x 14

Optical Magnification: 1.5x

Digital Zoom: 1x  4x

Display: XGA (1024 x 768) OLED

Wireless: None

Graphics: Active On-Screen Graphics and Iconology

Lens System: F/1.00; 35mm manual focus

Power Supply: 2 x CR123A (3V)

Battery Life: 4 hours at 20 C

Environmental Rating: IP67

Operating Temperature: -40 C to +50 C (-40 F to + 122 F)

Dimensions: 241 x 92 x 84 mm / 9.48 x 3.61 x 3.32 in w/ mount

Weight: 632g / 1.39lbs

Warranty: 3 years w/ registration

Color: Gray

MSRP: $4,000

ZEROING THERMAL WEAPON SIGHTS

The process for zeroing a thermal is not hard, but it is a little different than a normal optical scope.

First, you need the right target. The Commander 640 comes with a thermal target to get you started but lets assume you lost it or used it and need something else. For the money, the easy method is a pack of hand warmers like HotHands, a knife, and some tape.

Take some cardboard or thicker paper or even one of your old targets and cut a hole in it. The size can be as small or large as you want, but smaller is generally better for more precision. Dont make it too small though or it will be a pain to see. Generally, 1 MOA will suffice. So for a 100-yard zero, cut a hole about 1 inch.

Activate the hand warmer and tape it to the back of the target over the hole you cut. Once you set up the target, you should be able to use the Commander to see the heat through the hole you cut.

Now that you have a precision target to zero on, you can start shooting.

To start, zero the scope as you normally would. To access the settings for the reticle, press and hold the middle button until the menu on the left side of the screen pops up (about a second). Select the Boresight setting, and adjust your windage and elevation there.

Easy to adjust, zero to zero, and easy to use. The Commander 640 is designed to be as user-friendly as possible and it nails it.

THE BEST RETICLES

A good owners manual will give you everything you need to know about a piece of technology, but sometimes you just need to play with it yourself to really find what works best for you. The reticle options in the Commander 640 are exactly one of those times.

With so many options to choose from like chevrons, crosshairs, center dot, illumination, different colors of illumination, and more, you will find an option combination that is perfect no matter what. But to find that combination, it takes some time to sit down and just roll through the options.

What will be best for you will mostly be personal preference with a little bit of environment and what color overlay you choose for the imaging. The range of options and number of choices available might take some time to work through, but its worth knowing what works best for you.

IN THE FIELD

The Commander 640 is an all-round thermal sight that performs exactly as you need. Easy to mount, easy to find good eye relief, and with the large display powered by the ArmaCORE detector, the images are crisp. Even in the Arizona desert where conditions are poor and animals are almost the same temperature as the brush and ground around them, the Commander 640 is able to cut through the noise and deliver outstanding thermal views.

LOOSE ROUNDS

The Commander 640 is a great addition to the Armasight lineup. Feature-packed, amazing thermal technology, and best-in-class electronics. An unstoppable optic that will deliver the goods when you need it most.

Thermal sights are the future and the Armasight Commander 640 is proof of that.
Athens-Clarke County Police Department officers responded to a call of a woman who found her husbands body dead in the couples basement on Wednesday, April 9. She told officers that they had gotten into a verbal altercation about a month prior, where she accused her husband of cheating and went to bed. When she woke up, he was not in the room or the house, where they had lived together for five years, so she assumed that he had left, which he had done before.
Athens restaurants are shaking things up this week with refreshed menus featuring new cocktails, seasonal dishes and sweet treats. From Osteria Olios seasonal patio bar to springtime menu specials around the city, here is a look at whats happening in the Athens dining scene this week.
An hour-long disruption could affect around 40 million UPI transactions.

IMAGE: Kindly note the image has been posted only for representational purposes. Photograph: Kind courtesy ANI Photo and Kind courtesy SerenityArt/Pixabay.com

Network disruptions caused by internet service providers (ISPs) powering India's flagship payments platform, Unified Payments Interface (UPI), hardware malfunctions, and the overloading of banks' transaction processing systems are likely behind the UPI outages over the past two weeks, according to sources.

Telecommunications (telecom) network fluctuations disrupted UPI services on March 26, leaving users across the country unable to process transactions on both banking and third-party UPI applications (apps) for over an hour.

A separate technical glitch affecting the software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN) led to another outage on April 2.

The success rate of UPI transactions dropped to 50-60 per cent, a source said, adding that the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), which operates UPI, carried out a 'root-cause analysis' and shared its findings with member banks.

In an interview with Business Standard, Dilip Asbe, MD and CEO, NPCI, said the platform faced intermittent technical issues that affected transaction success rates for about an hour on March 26.

"The issue was identified and addressed, and the system has since stabilised. A thorough root-cause analysis was conducted, and corrective measures -- including hardware replacement -- have been implemented to avoid a recurrence," Asbe said.

An hour-long disruption could affect around 40 million UPI transactions.

In March, UPI averaged 590 million transactions daily.

On March 26 -- the day of the first outage -- the network handled 550 million transactions, a 7 per cent drop from the 581 million processed the day before.

"ISPs power NPCI's data centres. It is rare for telecom networks to fail. Even with intermediary providers, running such a large network is difficult since those are relatively small players," said a person familiar with the setup.

ISPs facilitate data exchange between the payment network, users, and financial institutions, including payment service providers.

NPCI has built its data centres to host the information technology infrastructure it operates.

An SD-WAN is deployed to expand throughput and maximise the use of network links.

Industry participants said banks may need to ramp up server-side infrastructure to handle rising UPI traffic.

"Most banks are now integrated with UPI, and volumes are soaring. If one or two banks face issues, the entire network is affected, as all banks interact within a shared ecosystem," one of the sources said.

Users also faced transaction issues on March 31. NPCI attributed these to financial year-end closing activity at banks.

"Axis Bank has continued to invest in its UPI infrastructure. We've upgraded both upstream and downstream systems connected to the UPI stack to keep transaction failures low," said Sanjeev Moghe, president and head -- cards and payments, Axis Bank.

"This reflects in NPCI data, where our technical decline rate was just 0.02 per cent in February 2025," Moghe added.

Outage impact

Outages in UPI services disrupt the broader digital payments ecosystem, particularly financial technology (fintech) companies involved in delivering financial services, as over 80 per cent of digital transactions take place via UPI.

Third-party platforms said they saw partial failures during the outages.

"We saw a 50 per cent failure rate on verification of virtual payment transactions, and around the same share was marked pending or failed on our app," a fintech founder said.

"We couldn't process during the outage, though the issue was resolved quickly," the founder added.

The outages occurred even as UPI hit new peaks in transaction volumes.

In March 2025, UPI processed a record Rs 24.77 trillion across 19.78 billion transactions.

This is the first time UPI's monthly transaction value has crossed Rs 24 trillion and volume has exceeded 19 billion since its launch in April 2016.

For 2024-2025, UPI transaction value rose 30 per cent to ?260.56 trillion, up from Rs 199.96 trillion in 2023-2024 (FY24).

Transaction volume grew 42 per cent to 131.14 billion, compared with 92.48 billion the year before.

Data centre wherewithal

NPCI has data centres in Hyderabad and Chennai and is expanding its technical infrastructure by building more facilities to support growing transaction volumes.

Its annual maintenance charges for network and IT equipment stood at Rs 80.68 crore in FY24, up 21 per cent from Rs 66.61 crore in 2022-23 (FY23).

Network expenses rose to Rs 54.9 crore in FY24 from Rs 36.32 crore a year earlier (FY23).

Maintenance and network costs accounted for a large share of NPCI's total operating expenses, which reached Rs 178.7 crore in FY24.

PAYMENT PAINS

Success rate of UPI transactions dropped to 50 to 60% during outages

On March 26, network handled 550 mn transactions, a 7% drop from 581 mn processed the day before

Industry participants said banks might need to ramp up server-side infrastructure to handle rising UPI traffic

Users also faced transaction issues on March 31

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
iPhone maker Apple has met its replenishment target for freshwater withdrawals for corporate operations in India in 2023, the company said in its environmental progress report released on Wednesday.

Photograph: Lucas Jackson/Reuters

Globally, Apple has set a goal to replenish 100 per cent of corporate freshwater withdrawals in high-stress locations by 2030.

As part of the project, the company said that it provided 40 million gallons of drinking water in partnership with the Uptime Catalyst Facility in India over the past two years.

"This work helped us meet our 100 per cent water replenishment target for our corporate operations in India in 2023," the report said.

Apple said that it continued partnership with Frank Water in India last year, which works alongside local partners in India to support access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene.

"In 2024, the grant continued to support the expansion of the organization's programming from focusing on Bengaluru to include Chennai.

"This involved implementing the Decision Support System, through Water Dialogues in partnership with Indian industry, and water stewardship practices designed with our support, in a new critical region of India," the report said.

Talking about sustainability goals, the report said that Apple has surpassed a 60 per cent reduction in its global greenhouse gas emissions compared to 2015 levels, as part of its Apple 2030 goal to become carbon neutral across its entire footprint in the next five years.

"Today, we're using more clean energy and recycled materials to make our products than ever before, we're preserving water and preventing waste around the world, and we're investing big in nature.

"As we get closer to 2030, the work gets even harder  and we're meeting the challenge with innovation, collaboration, and urgency," Lisa Jackson, Apple's vice president of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives, said.

According to the report, there are now 17.8 gigawatts of renewable electricity online in Apple's global supply chain due to the company's collaboration with its suppliers to transition to 100 per cent renewable energy for their Apple production by 2030.

"The renewable energy procured by Apple suppliers avoided 21.8 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions in 2024, an over 17 per cent increase from the previous year," the report said.

In India, Apple is supporting a village-based solar project that provides schools and medical clinics with access to clean, renewable solar energy in regions where conventional power infrastructure is limited or nonexistent, the report said.

In addition to transitioning suppliers to clean energy, the report said that Apple is working across its supply chain to reduce the direct climate impact of industrial processes, including the manufacturing of semiconductors and flat-panel displays, both of which, as per the company claims, emit highly potent fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-GHGs).
If Beijing succeeds in this multipronged effort to challenge the current dominant power, it will have not just economic but political and security consequences.

There is no let-up in the South China Sea nor any de-escalation moves on the India-China border.

This portends to ominous signalling from Beijing, observes China expert Srikanth Kondapalli.

IMAGE: Chinese President Xi Jinping, seen here with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, April 15, 2025, is on a three-day State visit to Malaysia. Photograph: Farhan Abdullah/Department of Information Malaysia/Handout via Reuters

The China-US self-destructive and high-intensity tariff war is an opportunity for India to restructure its industrial and financial markets and intensify high grade trade liberalisation arrangements with advanced economies.

Ever since the April 2 'Liberation Day' surprise imposition of United States tariffs and reciprocal tariffs on a number of countries, the global economic situation is taking a dent with major impact on stock exchanges, currencies, exports and imports, growth rates, employment, savings and others.

As a 90-day reprieve was announced for many a country, except China, one should expect some negotiations and resettlements.

Nor for China.

For, China is the only country in the world that not only retaliated against the US tariffs -- an approach some depicted as a 'game of chicken' -- but also expanded the conflict by banning the export of rare earth metals like germanium, gallium, terbium and others crucial for the US tech industry, restricted 60 US companies and even films.

China's officials depicted President Trump's tariffs as a 'joke', 'bullying' or even 'arrogant and shameless' and vowed to hit back at the US.

China intends to diversity trade, reduce dependence on SWIFT transactions, divest in US treasury securities (currently holding $760 billion) and increase the pain on the US.

This is a drastic shift from Deng Xiaoping's 'keeping a low profile' to Xi Jinping's 'accomplish something' approach.

President Trump effectively imposed 145 percent tariffs on China while the latter retaliating by 125 percent on US goods.

IMAGE: Then US president Donald Trump and Xi Jinping in Beijing, November 9, 2017. Photograph: Damir Sagolj/Reuters

China is more exposed to external trade and thus the impact on China will be drastic. In 2023, China exported $3.4 trillion worth of goods, while the figures for the US stood at $2 trillion and $432 billion for India.

While China bought $143 billion worth of goods from the US in 2024, it sold $439 billion to the US, thus making $296 billion. These figures will dwindle.

Even if China diverts its surplus goods elsewhere, the consequences of such actions go beyond economics.

China has criticised tariffs by saying that it will increase the cost for American consumers.

It did not explain its unrelenting mercantilist policies that precipitated the current situation.

It does not cooperate on fentanyl exports to the US that kill 100,000 Americans a year. Nor did it say how Chinese producers and consumers will be affected.

Slump in trade figures will have a cascading effect. It is estimated that 80 percent of Chinese shipping to the US is expected to slump.

Goldman Sachs estimated that tariff wars could lead to decline in China's GDP to 4 percent while leaving about 20 million unemployed.

This is complicating for China given the already existing deflationary pressures, real estate bubble, mounting local debt and economic headwinds. Business sentiment on China is likely to be hurt, having a downward slide in investments.

China took recourse to a highly negative 'whole of the nation' approach with Communist party cells, businesses and civil society active all over the country and abroad.

It had whipped up nationalism and meme propaganda campaigns against Trump's MAGA movement. It invoked Mao Zedong's 1953 video clipping on defying the US.

IMAGE: Xi with Vietnam's Communist party General Secretary To Lam at the welcoming ceremony at the presidential palace in Hanoi. Photograph: Luong Thai Linh/Pool/Reuters

In an effort to implement its 'magical weapon' of a united front, China is in touch with Saudi Arabia and South African leaders, besides Xi visiting Vietnam, Cambodia and Malaysia this week.

Beijing also alerted many countries to fight against the tariffs and defend the multilateral economic system.

Xi told visiting Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez that China and Europe should 'jointly oppose unilateral acts of bullying'.

To overcome the loss in exports, it wants to encourage domestic consumption, even though it is limited at less than 53 percent, compared to 68 percent for the US and 60 percent for India.

While China has the highest savings rates at 46 percent, citizens do not want to spend given the periodic political turmoil in the country, banking crisis, stock fluctuations and the recent debilitating pandemic lockdowns.

China's currency declined to a record low of 7.4 yuan per dollar to support exports but may not see further devaluation due to fear of capital outflows.

Shanghai's and Hong Kong stock exchanges were hit, though recovered later, wiping out investors, mainly young cohorts, savings.

The last decade of estranged relations with the US resulted in no comprehensive communication channels between the two leaders and officials.

With sanctions on US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, China has alienated a crucial channel of communication.

Trump invited Xi to his inauguration, which was eventually attended by Vice President Han Zheng.

IMAGE: Xi and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez at the Diaoyutai guest house in Beijing, April 11, 2025. Photograph: Andres Martinez Casares/Pool via Reuters

China stated that it is the leader of 'globalisation' and defender of free trade. It had announced zero tariffs to over 30 African countries but others feel the pinch with dumping of Chinese goods, non-tariff barriers, lack of investments or other discriminations.

China also heavily subsidises its industry and exports, providing unfair advantage to its companies.

India, for instance, lost over $1.4 trillion in balance of trade to China in the last two decades, while last year the trade deficit climbed to $83 billion.

Thus, the full-blown tariff war between the two largest economies in the world is a reflection of China's attempt to force a power transition at the global level.

If Beijing succeeds in this multipronged effort to challenge the current dominant power, it will have not just economic but political and security consequences.

If China succumbs in this contest with the US, it may take over a decade or two to encash 'great changes unseen in a century' that Xi formulated in his discussions with Russia.

While the global attention has been on economic turmoil, China is also ratcheting up in Taiwan Straits with massive military exercises.

There is also no let-up in the South China Sea nor any de-escalation moves on the India-China border. This portends to ominous signalling from Beijing.

Srikanth Kondapalli is Professor in Chinese Studies at JNU.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
'Presumption of innocence must guide all formal actions, but transparency must not be mistaken for pre-judgment.'

'The cruel irony, however, is that Justice Varma is a fine judge who enjoys a reputation for writing well-reasoned judgments.'

IMAGE: Media persons outside Justice Yashwant Varma's residence in New Delhi. Photographs: Ritik Jain/ANI Photo

Ever since cash was allegedly found at then Delhi high court Justice Yashwant Varma's residence during a fire on March 14, there has been speculation about the higher judiciary, a hallowed space seen with awe.

While judges are not immune from prosecution under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, FIRs cannot be registered against them without consultation with the Chief Justice of India, and Presidential sanction for prosecution can be done only on the CJI's advice.

Till date, no judge has been impeached in India, although one judge, Justice Soumitra Sen of the Calcutta high court, resigned in 2011 after the Rajya Sabha passed an impeachment motion against him.

"Sunlight is the best disinfectant and an accountability mechanism pre-dominated by judges and having members outside the legal fraternity is critical. After all, the impact of judges' work is felt far and wide, and consequently, the composition of any accountability body must reflect that," Dr Arghya Sengupta, Founder and Research Director at the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, an independent think-tank conducting legal research to improve governance and develop effective laws, tells Shobha John.

A Rhodes Scholar, Dr Sengupta's doctoral work at Oxford was on judicial independence and accountability.

Supreme Court Bar Association President Kapil Sibal had said that the Supreme Court's decision to make public an internal probe report by three judges on Justice Varma sets a dangerous precedent.

What is your opinion? Should the public know the contents of this report, especially since videos and photographs of the cash burnt in the fire have been made public?

Transparency is a constitutional virtue, especially when public trust is at stake.

While disclosures of this kind must be carefully balanced against fairness to the judge in question, in cases where public interest is already stirred, publication of a factual report is an entirely defensible position.

It prevents speculation and builds institutional credibility.

However, it would have been better if the alleged video showing stacks of burning cash was not released without proper verification.

There is a difference between a probe report, which ought to be disclosed for fairness and building public confidence, and an unverified video which only fuels speculation.

Do you think the media glare on this case has been too much considering Justice Varma has not been pronounced guilty?

Yes, the media spotlight has been intense. Judicial accountability must proceed with due process, not trial by media.

But when public faith is shaken, responsible media coverage becomes a necessary part of democratic scrutiny.

Presumption of innocence must guide all formal actions, but transparency must not be mistaken for pre-judgment.

The cruel irony, however, is that Justice Varma is a fine judge who enjoys a reputation for writing well-reasoned judgments.

The media frenzy has irreparably ruined his reputation.

IMAGE: A view of the Supreme Court of India.

Also, is it proper for judges to judge fellow judges? Such an in-house mechanism may seem ineffective.

The in-house mechanism reflects the judiciary's attempt at self-regulation, but suffers from opacity and lacks procedural rigour. It is at best a stop-gap measure.

Internal mechanisms must be complemented by an independent institutional body rooted in transparency and legitimacy.

The current approach is based on giving primacy to judicial independence, but neither absolute independence in terms of degree nor independence regarding all aspects of judicial functioning is desirable.

Sunlight is the best disinfectant and an accountability mechanism predominated by judges and having members outside the legal fraternity is critical.

After all, the impact of judges' work is felt far and wide, and consequently, the composition of any accountability body must reflect that.

Under the Constitution, a judge can only be impeached by Parliament. But should a permanent and transparent institutional mechanism be put in place to deal with cases of financial corruption, sexual misdemeanours or alignment of judges with a particular ideology?

Who should be part of this mechanism?

Absolutely. Cases of corruption, sexual misconduct etc demand structured responses. An independent commission could be considered.

Its members should include retired judges, eminent jurists, and members of civil society, nominated through a credible process.

Impeachment can be the maximum penalty, but lesser forms of punishment -- public censure, suspension, forced leave, withdrawal of work, etc -- must be legislated.

The Justice Varma case also led to calls by politicians for reviving the National Judicial Appointments Commission to replace the Collegium.

But the Supreme Court had struck down the NJAC in 2015 saying it violated the basic structure of the Constitution as it undermined the independence of the judiciary.

The NJAC was a step in the right direction. The court flagged independence concerns, but by striking it down without offering an alternative, it entrenched into Indian constitutional law the concept of the Collegium -- an entity that may have been formulated with the right intention but is entirely discredited today.

A revised NJAC, ensuring meaningful participation of the judiciary, government and civil society is both possible and desirable.

IMAGE: Justice Yashwant Varma. Photograph: ANI Photo

Should there also be a legislation to mandatorily make all judges declare their assets in public?

According to official data, of around 1,133 judges in high courts and the Supreme Court, only 98 have declared assets.

Yes. Public declaration of assets should be mandatory for all judges. The abysmal compliance rate underscores the need for a statutory mechanism.

Accountability must begin with openness. It is good that Supreme Court judges have voluntarily decided to do this, but it should be legislated so that it becomes a mandatory requirement and not a temporary reaction to a crisis.

Is it not a fact that there are middlemen who facilitate corruption? Should there be focus on them also?

Absolutely. Judicial corruption often operates through intermediaries -- some advocates, fixers, or even some registry staff. These are well-known secrets in any judicial institution in India.

Any meaningful reform must dismantle this ecosystem. It will take time, but a start must be made.

Your thesis at Oxford was on judicial corruption. How common is it abroad and how have some countries dealt with it successfully?

My doctoral work at Oxford (2009-2014) focused on internal mechanisms of judicial accountability and the conceptual tensions between judicial independence on the one hand and judicial accountability on the other.

Other jurisdictions -- like the US Judicial Conduct and Disability Act or the UK's Judicial Conduct Investigations Office -- offer models of independent oversight with due process safeguards.

These demonstrate that accountability need not compromise independence.

Is corruption in the courts also fostered by the huge pendency of cases in subordinate and high courts?

Litigants often pay bribes to secure favourable hearing dates or expedite orders. How can this be mitigated?

Yes. Pendency breeds discretion, and discretion without oversight leads to rent-seeking.

Solutions include transparent listing protocols, real-time monitoring of case progress, strengthening court infrastructure, and reliance on technology for auto-listing to eliminate scope for 'fixing' hearings. There is much work to be done.

IMAGE: The Delhi high court. Photograph: ANI Photo

Will the Justice Varma case lead to judicial reform?

It should, but I doubt it will. The inflection point for the Indian judiciary was the unprecedented press conference of the four senior justices of the Supreme Court in January 2018.

In response to that, the judiciary closed ranks instead of choosing to reform itself.

It is doubtful whether now, when the crisis is much smaller, any meaningful reform will take place.

Would you agree with the view that when a judge is tainted, the whole institution is tainted?

Yes, but only if the institution does not respond. A credible and swift response can restore public faith. Silence, on the other hand, corrodes it.

In the US, we see judges standing up against President Donald Trump and some of his excesses. Do you think that would ever happen in India?

Indian judges have spoken through judgments, but rarely outside the courtroom. For sustained resistance, institutional independence must be matched by individual courage -- and structural reform.

IMAGE: Allahabad high court lawyers stage a protest in Prayagraj, March 25, 2025, over Justice Yashwant Varma's transfer to his parent court. Photographs: ANI Photo

Recently, it was reported that an Artificial Intelligence avatar tried to argue a case for a petitioner before a judge in the US.

Do you see AI being a game-changer or a disrupter in the legal profession?

AI will be a major disrupter in the legal profession in a positive way. I see three major uses of AI as well as smart use of technology:

First is easing administration. The judiciary is a colonial, bureaucratic system with unnecessary steps, complex processes and inordinate delays.

For example, research done by my colleagues found that it takes on average 273 days to deliver a summons in the suburbs of Bangalore (Bangalore Rural).

Imagine this in the hi-tech capital of India. This is where tech-based systems will lead to transformational change.

Secondly, there will be easing of judgment writing. Transcription, evidence-taking, case law searches are all time-consuming work for a judge.

AI will, and already is, helping judges, leaving time to do what only a judge can do -- decide on the basis of the facts and the law in a manner that exercises human judgement.

Third is automating routine cases, which do not need lengthy judicial time.

For example, motor accident claims are formulaic and can simply be done by an AI-powered machine.

A judge can sign off on the order to make sure there are no errors and patent injustice.

There can be similar use cases. Overall, AI and tech-usage will mark a paradigm shift in the judiciary, as in other fields.

The judiciary has shown openness towards adopting it, which is encouraging. But there is a long way to go.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
Two men from Telangana were killed and a third injured in an attack, allegedly by a Pakistani national shouting religious slogans in a Dubai bakery where they worked, the family members of two victims claimed on Tuesday.

Image used for representational purposes. Photograph: ANI Photo

Ashtapu Premsagar (35) from Soan village in Nirmal district was killed with a sword on April 11, his uncle A Poshetty said.

The alleged incident occurred at the bakery where the victims worked.

Premsagar had been employed by the bakery for the past five-six years. He last visited his family two years ago, Poshetty said.

Premsagar is survived by his wife and their two children. His family members have not been informed about the tragedy, Poshetty said and urged the government to help bring his mortal remains to India.

He requested the government to provide aid to Premsagar's family in view of their poor financial condition.

Meanwhile, Union minister G Kishan Reddy said the name of the second deceased was Srinivas, who hailed from Nizamabad district.

A third man, Sagar, was injured in the attack and admitted to a hospital, his wife Bhavani told reporters in Nizamabad district.

Expressing sadness over the killings, Reddy said he had spoken to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for his help in bringing their mortal remains to India.

"Deeply shocked by the brutal killing of two Telugu youth from Telangana in Dubai, Ashtapu Premsagar from Nirmal district and Srinivas from Nizamabad district. Spoke to Hon'ble External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar ji on the matter and he has assured full support to the bereaved families, and the urgent repatriation of the mortal remains," Reddy said in a post on X.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) will also work to ensure the delivery of speedy justice in the matter, he said while thanking Jaishankar for his help.

Expressing grief, Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar said he had spoken to MEA officials and that Union home ministry officials were in touch with them.

"Deeply saddened by the tragic killing of Shri Ashtapu Prem Sagar and Shri Srinivas, both workers from Telangana, who were brutally attacked by a Pakistani national at Modern Bakery LLC in Dubai during working hours on 11 April," he said on X.

Through the Indian consulate, the Dubai police have been urged to "expedite the process", he said.

He thanked the external affairs ministry for its swift response in pursuing the matter with urgency.

"We are extending all necessary support for the early repatriation of the victims and stand firmly with their families in this hour of grief," he added.
The accused behind the sexual assault of a flight attendant on a ventilator in Medanta Hospital is yet to be identified, police said on Wednesday as the upscale NCR hospital said the allegations yet to be substantiated and it is fully cooperating with the probe.

IMAGE: People protest against the alleged sexual assault and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor of the RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata. Photograph: ANI Photo

All relevant documents, including the hospital's CCTV camera footage of the time period in question, have been given to the Gurugram police, Dr. Sanjay Durani, Medical Superintendent of Medanta, Medicity, Gurugram said in a statement.

No allegations have been substantiated so far, he added.

The 46-year-old woman, in her complaint, has alleged that she came to Gurugram for training on behalf of her company. While staying in a hotel here, her health deteriorated following a drowning incident, after which she was admitted to a private hospital for treatment.

On April 5, her husband admitted her to another hospital in Gurugram. However, after getting discharged on April 13, she told her husband about the harrowing details of the assault she went through at the hospital.

"On April 6, I was on a ventilator when some hospital staff sexually assaulted me," the complaint read.

As she was on the ventilator, she could not speak and was very scared, the woman said, and added that she was in a semi conscious state and during the assault "two nurses were around her but they did not intervene".

"We have been made aware of a complaint from a patient and have been fully cooperating with the investigations conducted by the relevant authorities," the hospital said in the statement.

Gurugram police spokesperson Sandeep Kumar said, "A probe is underway and we are trying to identify the accused first."

Following the complaint, an FIR was registered against unidentified staff members of the hospital at Sadar police station on Monday, police said.

The victim's statement was recorded before the magistrate in the court on Monday. The police team is examining the footage of the hospital's CCTV cameras and duty charts to identify the accused, the spokesperson said.
The police have registered a case against five persons for subjecting a stray dog to cruelty as they broke the animal's teeth using a pair of pliers in Bhind district of Madhya Pradesh, officials said on Wednesday.

IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo

The incident took place in Rawatpura Khurd village on Monday, and its video has surfaced on social media platforms, an official said.

"Residents of the village said the stray dog created a lot of terror and used to bite the locals. As a result, the villagers chalked out a plan to end the menace," Daboh police station in-charge Rajesh Sharma said.

Accordingly, some villagers caught the dog and tied him to a cot. They then inserted a stick in his mouth and broke the teeth using a pair of pliers. After that, they released the canine, he said.

After the video of the incident surfaced on social media, members of an organisation -- Insaniyat Group -- lodged a complaint with the police, he said.

Based on their complaint, a case was registered against three persons, identified as Parmal Singh Kushwah, Brijesh Baghel and Anand Kushwaha, and two unidentified individuals under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita section 325 (committing mischief by killing, poisoning, maiming, or rendering an animal useless) and provisions of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

The dog is currently undergoing treatment in Bhind, he said.
China now faces tariffs up to 245 per cent on imports to the United States due to its retaliatory actions, the White House has said, as the trade war escalated between the world's two largest economies.

IMAGE: US President Donald Trump speaks as he attends the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) dinner at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC, April 8, 2025. Photograph: Nathan Howard/Reuters

Separately in a post on Truth Social, President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that China "just reneged on the big Boeing deal, saying that they will not take possession of fully committed to aircraft".

He appeared to be confirming reports that China has asked its airlines not to take deliveries of planes from American aircraft manufacturer Boeing.

In the post, he also vowed to protect the US and its farmers in a trade war with its adversaries, such as China.

In a fact sheet issued on Tuesday, the White House said President Trump signed an executive order launching an investigation into the national security risks posed by US reliance on imported processed critical minerals and their derivative products.

"On Day One, President Trump initiated his America First Trade Policy to make America's economy great again," it said.

"More than 75 countries have already reached out to discuss new trade deals. As a result, the individualized higher tariffs are currently paused amid these discussions, except for China, which retaliated," it said.

"China now faces up to a 245% tariff on imports to the United States as a result of its retaliatory actions," the fact sheet said, without giving details.

China is the only country to have retaliated with tit-for-tat levies.

China on Friday raised its additional tariffs on imports from the US to 125 per cent in retaliation to the Trump administration's 145 per cent levies on Chinese exports. China also filed a lawsuit with the WTO following the US tariff hikes.

China earlier retaliated with 84 per cent levies and imposed restrictions on imports of some US films, expressing its interest in holding dialogue with Washington to resolve the issue.

The fact sheet accused China of banning exports to the US of gallium, germanium, antimony, and other key high-tech materials with potential military applications.

"Just this week, China suspended exports of six heavy rare earth metals, as well as rare earth magnets, in order to choke off supplies of components central to automakers, aerospace manufacturers, semiconductor companies and military contractors around the world," it added.

According to the fact sheet, processed critical minerals and their derivative products are key building blocks of Amercia's defence industrial base and integral to applications such as jet engines, missile guidance systems, advanced computing, radar systems, advanced optics, and secure communications equipment.

"The United States remains heavily dependent on foreign sources, particularly adversarial nations, for these essential materials, exposing the economy and defence sector to supply chain disruptions and economic coercion," it added.

Trump has paused the additional duties on other nations for 90 days.

On Wednesday, China appointed Li Chenggang, who has decades of experience handling international negotiations and also served as China's ambassador to the World Trade Organization, as international trade representative at the Ministry of Commerce.

The move came after President Trump said the ball was in Beijing's court to work out a deal to end the tariff deadlock.
A Delhi court on Wednesday pulled up Tihar Jail authorities for allegedly keeping Christian Michel James, an alleged middleman in the Agustawestland case, with an accused who got 41 punishments for misconduct inside the prison 'in total disregard to his life and safety'.

IMAGE: Christian Michel at Rouse Avenue Court in New Delhi on March 7, 2025. Photograph: ANI on X

Special judge Sanjeev Aggarwal also asked why an 'appropriate action' should not be taken against authorities concerned for not providing a table fan to James despite its order, and said even in zoological parks, exotic animals were provided air conditioning.

The Supreme Court on February 18 granted bail to James in the Central Bureau of Investigation case subject to the trial court's conditions and the Delhi High Court on March 4 gave him the relief in the ED case and said necessary bail riders be imposed on him.

British national James, however, on March 7 offered to 'finish his sentence' and leave India instead of walking out on bail owing to 'security risks'.

On Wednesday, Judge Aggarwal sought a status report from the jail authorities on the issue by April 29, the next hearing.

The court passed the directions on the submissions made by James' counsel, who claimed that jail authorities kept 'such a desperate criminal' in the isolation block, shared only by James and Shahnawaj.

The counsel said authorities had reported 41 punishments against Shahnawaj since 2020 till now over misconduct inside the prison.

The counsel said Shahnawaj was 'deliberately kept in the isolation ward only shared by James at the relevant time in order to eliminate him (James)'.

On April 3, James in court claimed 'attempts made to poison him' inside the prison.

"In view of the said serious allegations made by the accused James in his earlier application and the fact that the attention of this court has been drawn... Superintendent jail concerned is directed to appear in person in the court to explain as to how such a desperate criminal, having so many punishments against him even in jail could be kept in the isolation ward, only being shared by high risk foreign prisoner James in such an important and sensitive case, i.e., present case in total disregard to his life and safety," the judge said.

The court also called for a report from the DG (prisons), Tihar, New Delhi on the issue.

The jail superintendent was also directed to provide a table fan to James, observing it was not allowed by the authorities despite court's order.

"This conduct of the superintendent jail concerned cannot be countenanced, as it is sad to observe that even in zoological parks, exotic animals are kept in air conditioning to save them from scorching heat and this simple facility is not being provided to a human being albeit a prisoner, who is still an under trial, who has all his rights of life and liberty fully intact under Article 21 (light to life) of the Constitution of India, who is not even being provided with a simple table fan to beat the sweltering heat of Delhi, where the temperature is already hovering around 42 degree celsius," the judge said.

The court's direction came especially considering the fact that James "comes from cooler climes of England" and is not used to hot weather as he has claimed previously.

"The superintendent jail concerned is expected to be more humane, and is consequently directed to provide a table fan immediately to the James from the date of receipt of this order, without further delay and to file an explanation in writing on the next date of hearing as to why the said accused has not been provided with the table fan despite the order(s) of this Court in this regard and also to show cause why appropriate action be not taken against him, as per law," the judge said.

James was extradited on December 4, 2018 from Dubai, where he spent four months in custody.

Probe agencies had reported irregularities in the purchase of 12 VVIP helicopters from Italian manufacturing company AgustaWestland.

He is among the three alleged middlemen being probed in the case and the other two are Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa.

The CBI, in its chargesheet, alleged an estimated loss of 398.21 million euros (about Rs 2,666 crore) to the exchequer due to the deal that was signed on February 8, 2010, for the supply of VVIP choppers worth 556.262 million euros.

The ED chargesheet filed against James in June 2016 alleged he received 30 million euros (about Rs 225 crore) from AgustaWestland.
An Indian was among four students at Michigan public universities who have filed a lawsuit against their possible deportation after their student immigration status was terminated 'unlawfully'.

Image only for representation. Photograph: Pixabay.com

Chinmay Deore from India, Xiangyun Bu and Qiuyi Yang from China, and Yogesh Joshi from Nepal on Friday filed the lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and immigration officials, saying their student immigration status in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) was illegally terminated 'without sufficient notice and explanation'.

SEVIS is a database that tracks information about nonimmigrant students and exchange visitors in the United States.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Michigan, which is representing the students, on Thursday, said they 'filed a federal lawsuit along with a request for an emergency injunction on behalf of the students who had their F-1 student immigration status unlawfully and abruptly terminated by the Trump administration for no valid reason and without notice'.

'The lawsuit asks the court to reinstate the status of these students so that they will be able to complete their studies and avoid facing the risk of detention and deportation,' it said.

'None of them has been charged with, let alone convicted of, any crime in the US. None has violated any immigration law. Nor have they been active in on-campus protests regarding any political issue,' said a complaint in the court, naming DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, acting ICE Director Todd Lyons and ICE Detroit Field Office Director Robert Lynch.

'DHS did not provide the students or their schools any meaningful explanation for terminating their F-1 student status,' the complaint said.

'At most, what seems to connect students targeted by this newfound and unlawful policy is that the students had some encounter with some American law enforcement official at some point in the past, no matter how innocuous -- including receiving a speeding or parking ticket (or even a warning) or lawfully withdrawing an application to enter the United States.'

The lawsuit comes as the Trump administration's immigration crackdown strikes higher education, prompting a slew of lawsuits against White House officials.

Similar lawsuits have been filed across the country in states like New Hampshire, Indiana and California.

"These cruel and illegal government actions have real-life consequences. Status terminations don't just disrupt the lives of the students being targeted; the government's actions will inevitably deter future international scholars from choosing Michigan and the US as their academic destination. This will further undermine the reputation of our universities as leaders in research, innovation, and campus diversity, all of which are currently in jeopardy," said Ramis Wadood, staff attorney at the ACLU of Michigan.
United States Vice President J D Vance and his wife Usha, the first Indian-American Second Lady, will visit India early next week that will see him hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi amid increasing global trade disruptions over Trump administration's tariff tussle.

IMAGE: US Vice President J D Vance, along with his wife Usha and children, meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Paris, in February 2025. Photograph: Kind courtesy @narendramodi/X

The US vice president is visiting Italy and India from April 18 to 24, his office announced on Wednesday.

The Vances are expected to bring their three young children -- Ewan, Vivek, and Mirabel -- to India and the American Second Family will travel to Jaipur and Agra besides New Delhi.

"The Vice President will discuss shared economic and geopolitical priorities with leaders in each country," his office said in a statement that was released in Delhi by the US embassy.

"In India, the Vice President will visit New Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra. The Vice President will hold meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi," it said.

The US readout said Vance and the Second Family will also participate in engagements at cultural sites in India.

The US vice president is travelling to India against the backdrop of Trump's policy on tariffs that triggered massive trade disruptions and fears of a global economic recession.

Days after his reciprocal tariff kicked in this month, Trump announced a 90-day pause on it for all countries, except China as countries around the world wilted under the impact of the seismic action.

US National Security Adviser Michael Waltz had also planned to visit India early next week but the trip has been postponed, people familiar with the matter said.

Vance's visit is likely to be more of a private trip though it will have official components, the people cited above said.

It is learnt that the US vice president will hold talks with Prime Minister Modi on April 21 which will cover various aspects of India-US ties including the issue of tariff and the ongoing negotiations between the two sides for a bilateral trade agreement.

In Rome, Vance will hold talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni before meeting with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin to participate in ceremonies ahead of Easter Sunday.

The visit by US Vice President Vance is taking place weeks after US Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard travelled to India.

The DNI held separate meetings with Prime Minister Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and NSA Ajit Doval.

The US president's tariff tussle has stoked fears of a global trade war.

Following talks between Modi and Trump in Washington DC in February, the two sides announced that they would negotiate the first tranche of the BTA by the fall of 2025.
The four recent encounters in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district "exposed" the route used by terrorists to infiltrate into India from across the International Border, a senior police officer said on Wednesday.

IMAGE: Army personnel carry out search and cordon operations in the area after a fresh encounter with terrorists at Panjtirthi Jathana, in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir, April 2, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

Senior superintendent of police, Kathua, Shobhit Saxena also said the successful recovery of huge quantities of arms and ammunition including explosives from the terrorists after the gun fights scuttled a major plan of the terror groups to carry out a major strike in Jammu and Kashmir.

Kathua district witnessed four encounters between a group of recently infiltrated terrorists and security forces in the past one month.

Two heavily-armed terrorists were eliminated in Safiyan forest on March 27.

Four police personnel were killed in the encounter which took place four days after the police intercepted the infiltrating terrorists in Saniyal forest of Hiranagar sector.

"We are chasing the remaining three to four terrorists who escaped the encounters and are on the run. We are confident of tracking and neutralising them soon," the SSP told reporters at Rajbagh police station, where all the seized material including sophisticated weapons, explosives and daily-use items was on display.

He said a tight security grid is in place in the district, from the border villages to hinterland, leading to the successful operations against the terrorists.

"The encounters exposed their traditional (infiltration) route... We will not allow them to use this route again," Saxena said.

He said the recoveries showed that they had come with ill-intention and were prepared for a long stay.

He said the seizure of a huge quantity of explosive material thwarted their plan to carry out improvised explosive devices blasts, while some quantity of heroin suggested that they were also consuming drugs.

He praised the cooperation of the people in the anti-terrorist operations and said the "civil population helped us a lot and are providing immediate information which helped us to make an assessment about the terrorists on the run and are accordingly planning our operations to neutralise them".

According to evidence, Saxena said terrorists had recently sneaked into this side from across the border but police "did not allow them to succeed in their nefarious designs".

On local support to terrorists, he said 30 people have been identified and booked under the Public Safety Act in the district so far.

Among the material seized from the terrorists included two AK assault rifles, one M4 carbine, grenades, and sophisticated gadgets for navigation, clothes, sleeping bags, Pakistan-make medicines, beverages and food items.
Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has reserved the Bill pertaining to four per cent reservation to Muslims in government contract for the President's assent, Raj Bhavan sources said on Wednesday.

IMAGE: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar receives a warm welcome from Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot (right) on his arrival, at Ranebennur in Haveri, Karnataka, February 7, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

According to sources, Gehlot marked the Bill as reserved for Presidential assent and sent it to the Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Department. Now, the state government will send the file to the President to get his nod to the Bill that has created quite a stir in Karnataka.

In his letter to the state government, Gehlot said, "The Constitution of India does not permit reservation based on religion, as it violates the principles of equality (Article 14), non-discrimination (Article 15) and equal opportunity in public employment (Article16)."

"Supreme Court has consistently in various judgments ruled that affirmative action must be based on Social and Educational backwardness, not on religious identity," Gehlot said.

He also pointed out that the Article 15 of the Indian Constitution prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth.

"It is clear from Article 200 and 201 that a Bill passed by the State Assembly may become law if the Governor gives his assent to it or if having been reserved by the Governor for consideration of the President, it is assented to by the President," Gehlot said.

He emphasised that there is no provision in the Constitution, which lays down that a Bill which has been assented to by the President would be ineffective as an Act if there was no compelling necessity for the Governor to reserve it for the assent of the President.

It is for the Governor to exercise his discretion and to decide whether he should assent to the Bill or should reserve it for the consideration of the President to avoid any future complication, he noted.

Gehlot said, "In the light of the above, I hereby exercising the powers under Articles 200 and 201 of the Constitution of India, reserve The Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (Amendment) Bill, 2025 for the consideration and assent of the President of India."

The Governor cited a recent Supreme Court judgment of Saurabh Chaudri versus Union of India (2003), which emphasised that Articles 15 and 16 prohibit reservations on the basis of religion and any affirmative action must be rather based on the socio-economic factors.

The Bill was passed by both houses of Karnataka Legislature amid protests by the opposition BJP on the last day of the previous Legislative session on March 21.

The protesting BJP legislators climbed on Speaker U T Khader's podium, tore the Bill and threw it on him. For this unruly behaviour, 18 BJP MLAs were suspended for six months.

The BJP charged that the Bill was illegal as there is no provision in the Indian Constitution to give reservation based on religion. It also alleged that the Bill smacks of appeasement politics of the ruling Congress.

The party has made this Bill a key issue during its 'Janaakrosha Yatre' (Public anger march), which is going on across the state.
Urdu is born in this land, the Supreme Court has said while describing it as the finest specimen of 'Ganga Jamuni tahzeeb' and stating that considering it a language of Muslims is a "pitiable digression" from reality and unity in diversity.

Photograph: PTI Photo

Dismissing a plea challenging the use of Urdu in the signboard of a municipality in Maharashtra, a bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and K Vinod Chandran on Tuesday also said "language is not religion".

"Language is culture. Language is the yardstick to measure the civilisational march of a community and its people. So is the case of Urdu, which is the finest specimen of Ganga-Jamuni tahzeeb, or the Hindustani tahzeeb, which is the composite cultural ethos of the plains of northern and central India...We must respect and rejoice in our diversity, including our many languages," the bench said.

The top court was hearing an appeal filed by Varshatai, a former councillor of Patur in Maharashtra's Akola district, who challenged the use of Urdu, along with Marathi, on the name board of the municipal council.

According to her, the work of the municipal council can only be conducted in Marathi. The use of Urdu in any manner is impermissible even though it may just be a writing on the signboard of the council, she said in her plea.

The apex court court noted that the municipal council had retained Urdu on the name board because many local residents understood the language.

"All the municipal council wanted to do was to make an effective communication," it said.

"The prejudice against Urdu stems from the misconception that Urdu is alien to India. This opinion, we are afraid, is incorrect as Urdu, like Marathi and Hindi, is an Indo-Aryan language. It is a language which was born in this land," the judges said.

Urdu developed and flourished in India due to the need for people belonging to different cultural milieus who wanted to exchange ideas and communicate amongst themselves, the court stated.

"Over the centuries, it attained ever greater refinement and became the language of choice for many acclaimed poets," the bench said.

The top court said the language used by the masses is replete with Urdu even if one is not aware of it.

"It would not be incorrect to say that one cannot have a day-to-day conversation in Hindi without using words of Urdu or words derived from Urdu. The word 'Hindi' itself comes from the Persian word 'Hindavi'," the bench said.

The court said the fusion of Hindi and Urdu met a roadblock in the form of the puritans on both sides and Hindi became more Sanskritised and Urdu more Persian.

"A schism exploited by the colonial powers in dividing the two languages on religion. Hindi was now understood to be the language of Hindus and Urdu of the Muslims, which is such a pitiable digression from reality; from unity in diversity; and the concept of universal brotherhood," it said.

The court said a municipal council provides services to the local community and caters to their immediate day-to-day needs.

"If people or a group of people, residing within the area covered by the Municipal Council are familiar with Urdu, then there should not be any objection if Urdu is used in addition to the official language i.e. Marathi, at least on the signboard of the Municipal Council. Language is a medium for exchange of ideas that brings people holding diverse views and beliefs closer and it should not become a cause of their division," the court said.

The apex court said our misconceptions and prejudices against a language have to be courageously and truthfully tested against the reality.

"Our strength can never be our weakness. Let us make friends with Urdu and every language...," it said.
The Mumbai Police have received a call wherein a person claimed there would be bomb blasts in the city, officials said on Wednesday.

IMAGE: Mumbai Police with sniffer dogs check the luggage of the passengers at the CSTM railway station ahead of Republic Day. Photograph: ANI Photo

The accused, identified as Suraj Jadhav (37), who allegedly made the threat call under the influence of alcohol, has been detained, a senior police official said.

The city police's main control room received the call on Tuesday afternoon wherein the person claimed there will be bomb blasts in the metropolis, he said.

The police launched an investigation and traced the caller to Borivali area here.

Jadhav, resident of Borivali, made the threat call in an inebriated state, the official said.

It further came to light that Jadhav made similar fake calls in the past also and three cases were already registered against him at various police stations here (Borivali, Vakola and BKC) on charges of criminal intimidation involving severe threats, the official said.

After the latest threat call, the Azad Maidan police in south Mumbai on Tuesday lodged a case against him under relevant provisions, he said, adding further investigation was on.
Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday termed the communal violence in Murshidabad as "pre-planned", accusing Border Security Force, central agencies and the BJP of orchestrating tension by allegedly facilitating outsiders and enabling cross-border influx from Bangladesh.

IMAGE: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addresses a meeting with Muslim religious leaders. Photograph: ANI Photo

Addressing a meeting with Muslim clerics, Banerjee urged PM Narendra Modi not to implement the "atrocious" Waqf (Amendment) Act, warning that it would divide the country, and requested him to rein in Union Home Minister Amit Shah, whom she accused of "harming the nation most for his own political agenda".

The TMC supremo claimed that despite the volatile situation in Bangladesh, the Centre rushed through the Act and allowed cross-border infiltration, both of which, she alleged, contributed to the unrest in Bengal.

The opposition BJP, however, dismissed the allegations as baseless and demanded Banerjee's resignation, accusing her of being more focused on 'appeasement politics'.

Banerjee also alleged that a section of the BSF and certain central agencies under the home ministry played a "role in facilitating the violence", and ordered a probe into the role of the border force.

"I came across news quoting home ministry sources claiming the role of elements from across the border in the Murshidabad unrest. Is it not the role of the BSF to guard the border? The BSF is under the MHA. The state government does not guard the international border. The Centre can't evade responsibility," the chief minister said.

"I will find out whom the BSF had financed in the border areas by paying money to local youths to pelt stones during the violence," she alleged.

Banerjee announced compensation of Rs 10 lakh each for the families of the deceased and instructed the chief secretary to initiate a formal inquiry into the BSF's actions, including the alleged opening fire during the violence.

The CM accused Shah of misusing central agencies and orchestrating a systematic propaganda campaign to malign the image of Bengal.

"They have a lot of money and a massive propaganda machinery working to defame Bengal. Most of this is being controlled by Shah. I have never taken his name before, but if the home minister starts behaving like Kalidas'  cutting the very branch he is sitting on then we are compelled to speak out," she said.

"I would request the PM to keep a check on Shah. He is harming the country the most to serve his political interests. Why is he in such a hurry? He will never become the PM, and what will he do once Modi ji leaves? The PM must see how his home minister is misusing central agencies," she said.

Referring to communal riots in areas of Murshidabad, Banerjee alleged that BJP-backed outsiders had entered the state to instigate communal violence.

"Why are BJP goons from outside allowed to create chaos before fleeing the scene? Accountability must be fixed," she said.

Banerjee also accused the BJP of trying to polarise and divide Hindus and Muslims, claiming, 'They want violence on the streets to destabilise my government.'

She alleged that certain media outlets, reportedly funded by the BJP, were circulating misleading videos from other states, falsely portraying those as incidents in Bengal to damage its image.

She said the Act was not only "atrocious" but also "anti-federal" in spirit.

Calling out the Centre's "haste" in pushing the Act, she said, "I want to challenge and ask the Centre; why the hurry in going ahead with the Act? Were you unaware of the tense situation in Bangladesh? Bengal shares borders with Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. Hold meetings with Muhammad Yunus, sign pacts and agreements. I will welcome anything that benefits the country. But, what is your plan: sparking riots through certain agencies that allow cross-border movement?"

Banerjee, who had earlier announced that the Act will not be implemented in Bengal, advised religious leaders to directly approach President Droupadi Murmu and the PM to express their concerns.

"When the PM visits Arab countries, is it appeasement? Why raise questions when I attend events of other religions?" she said.

The TMC chief pledged to repeal all anti-people laws passed by the BJP-led central government once the saffron party is removed from power, adding, "Just wait for one more year. There will be a change at the Centre, and we will scrap all these laws."

She also hit out at NDA partners, including JD-U chief and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and TDP leader and Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu, for 'keeping mum" on the Waqf issue.

"Why is Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu maintaining silence? They are NDA partners, they are silent to share some power," Banerjee said.

Banerjee also urged parties within the INDIA bloc to unite against the violence and reaffirmed her government's commitment to communal harmony.

The BJP, observing 'Hindu Shaheed Diwas' following the riots, criticised Banerjee for failing to protect lives.

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari claimed, "It was a one-sided massacre. The victims were dragged out of their homes and hacked to death simply as they were Hindus."

The National Commission for Women has formed a panel to probe allegations of molestation and displacement of women during the violence, and a team will visit the area soon.

Banerjee criticised UP CM Yogi Adityanath, saying, "He talks like a saint but is the biggest 'bhogi'. Look at the Mahakumbh stampede, encounter killings there.
The Nagpur municipal chief has tendered an unconditional apology in the Bombay high court for the demolition of houses of accused in a riots case and said civic officials were unaware of the Supreme Court's guidelines on razing of properties.

IMAGE: Nagpur Police Commissioner Ravindra Singal along with other police officials conducts a march as the curfew was lifted after six days of violence, in Nagpur on March 23, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

Also, no circular has been received by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation from the Maharashtra government about the apex court's guidelines, NMC commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhari said in an affidavit filed before the HC's Nagpur bench on Tuesday.

The civic officials were unaware of the Supreme Court's order, which mandates procedural safeguards before demolishing properties linked to the riots accused, he stated in the affidavit.

A division bench of Justices Nitin Sambre and Vrushali Joshi granted two weeks to the Maharashtra government for a response in the matter.

Violence occurred in parts of Nagpur on March 17 following rumours about a 'chadar' with holy inscriptions being burnt during protests led by Vishwa Hindu Parishad seeking the removal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district.

On March 24, the HC's Nagpur bench ordered a stay on the demolition of the houses of Fahim Khan, a key accused in the violence case who has been charged with sedition, and other accused, rapping the administration for 'high-handedness'.

While Khan's two-storey house was razed before the HC passed the order in the afternoon of March 24, authorities halted the demolition of the 'illegal' portions of the other accused Yusuf Sheikh's house following the court's directive.

The duo had moved the high court earlier that day against the demolition seeking an urgent hearing.

"I am tendering my unconditional apology to the court, to have made this court to observe that the respondent authorities have conducted the demolition of the petitioner's unauthorised construction in contravention of the judgement of the Supreme Court of India," Chaudhari said in the affidavit.

The commissioner said he enquired into the matter and found that the town planning department was also not aware of the SC's decision.

Also, no circular has been received from the state of Maharashtra about guidelines of the SC, which had directed all the chief secretaries of the states and Union Territories to issue circulars to all the district magistrates and local authorities, intimating them about the directions issued by the apex court, he said.

As on date, no such circular has been received by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation, the civic chief said in the affidavit.

Hence, the guidelines in terms of the SC judgement could not be circulated to the NMC's zonal officers and hence, they continued to follow the respective statutory provisions, he said.

Some of the actions have been done in contravention of the apex court directions, however, the same has not been done intentionally but done for want of knowledge, Chaudhari said.

The NMC and its officers have not acted with a malafide intention against the petitioners and their property, but acted in accordance to the prevailing situation and statutory provisions of the Slum Act, 1971.

However, for want of knowledge and any circular to that effect, neither the competent authority nor zonal officers could comply with the Supreme Court's directions, he said.
The Bihar Police have arrested seven persons, including a woman, in connection with the abduction and murder of a Pune-based businessman after he landed at Patna airport, a senior official said.

Image used for representational purposes. Photograph: ANI Photo

The Bihar Police have arrested seven people, including a woman, in connection with the abduction and murder of a Pune-based businessman, a senior official said on Tuesday.

Laxman Sadhu Shinde's body was found in Bihar's Jehanabad district on Tuesday. He had landed at the Patna airport on April 11.

The kingpin of the gang that executed the kidnapping and murder has also been arrested, the officer said, adding four others have been detained for questioning.

The arrested persons have been identified as Ranjit Patel alias Munna, Vipatara Kumar, Lalbihari, Vikas alias Mohit, Kundan Kumar, Sangita Kumari and Sachin Ranjan.

Police, however, did not identify the detained persons and the kingpin, who has been sent to judicial custody.

Speaking to reporters, Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Awkash Kumar said, "Police received a complaint from the family members of the Pune-based businessman stating that they were not able to contact him after he landed at Patna airport."

"Based on findings of the preliminary investigation and scrutiny of the CCTV footage, police registered a case of kidnapping and constituted a special team to nab the accused. Police recovered from Vaishali the vehicle used in kidnapping the businessman and also took the owner of the vehicle into custody," he said.

During custodial interrogation, the vehicle owner, Vipatra Kumar, revealed the identity of the others.

Later, police nabbed 11 accused involved in the case from Nawada, Gaya, Nalanda and Vaishali districts, the SSP said, adding that seven have been arrested and four are being examined by the police.

Investigation revealed that they belonged to a gang of inter-state criminals who extorted money from people and also demanded ransom for the release of the kidnapped persons, he said.

They were also involved in several cases of kidnapping and murder in Jharkhand, Gujarat, Karnataka and other places, the SSP said.

The accused had demanded a ransom and received around Rs 90,000 from the family members of the Pune-based businessman.

However, they killed him as the entire amount was not paid to them and dumped his body in Ghosi area of Jehanabad district, the SSP said, adding further investigation was underway.

Another police officer said some of the arrested accused were cybercriminals as well.

According to the sources in Pune Police, Shinde was lured to Patna through a seemingly genuine business inquiry via email, offering him a potential high-value order in crores related to mining equipment for operations in Jharkhand.

Shinde, the owner of Centrifugal Casting Bearing located in Khedshivapur in Pune, travelled to Patna by a flight on April 11. However, after sending a message to his daughter around 8:30 PM, in which he mentioned heading to Jharkhand, no further communication was established.

Sambhaji Kadam, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone III), Pune, stated that when the family couldn't contact Shinde, they filed a missing person complaint on April 12 at the Kothrud police station in the city.
The Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray on Wednesday used Artificial Intelligence to recreate a voice resembling that of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, in an effort to shore up the party's prospects after the assembly polls debacle.

IMAGE: Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray speaks at an event in Nashik, Maharashtra, April 16, 2025. Photograph: Courtesy Office of Uddhav Thackeray on X

The nearly 13-minute speech, with a booming voice resembling that of Bal Thackeray, began with his trademark opening line Jamlelya majhya tamam Hindu bandhavanu, baghinino ani matano (greetings to my Hindu brothers, sisters and mothers who have gathered here).

It was relayed at a Sena-UBT gathering in Nashik in north Maharashtra.

The speech tried to recreate, according to the Sena-UBT, what Bal Thackeray would have said had he been alive.

The AI-created speech primarily attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party, the present Shiv Sena under Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. It sounded more like Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray's attacks on the BJP and Shinde's party during the Lok Sabha and state assembly polls.

It also tried to capture the mannerisms and tone of Bal Thackeray, who was a powerful orator.

This is the first time the Sena founder's speech was used by his son's party to train guns on its opponents. The party could use this strategy in future rallies as Uddhav Thackeray faces the most challenging phase of his political career so far.

The Sena-UBT is also gearing up for the high-stakes Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections, which might be held this year.

The AI move comes when the Sena-UBT is being mocked by its opponents with old videos of Bal Thackeray castigating the Congress.

Sena-UBT, Congress and Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Pary-Sharadchandra Pawar are constituents of the opposition bloc Maha Vikas Aghadi, which performed disastrously in last year's assembly polls by bagging only 46 of the 288 seats.

Sena-UBT got only 20 seats compared to the rival Shiv Sena's 57.
Refusal to share his mPIN cost the businessman his life.

Kindly note the images in this report have only been published for representational purposes. All photographs: ANI Photo

Pune businessman Laxman Sadhu Shinde, in his early 50s, was kidnapped hours after he arrived in Patna and killed when he refused to share his mobile banking password. His body was thrown into a field in Ghosi, Jehanabad district.

An officer of the Bihar police's cyber crime cell said the initial investigation suggests that Shinde was kidnapped and killed by a cybercriminal gang.

"Soon after Shinde landed at Patna airport from Pune on April 11, a cybercriminal gang received him. Shinde was kidnapped and taken in an SUV to neighbouring Nalanda district where the cybercriminals demanded his mPIN (Mobile Personal Identification Number) to withdraw money from his bank account," the police officer told this correspondent.

"When he refused to reveal the mPIN, they severely beat him till he died."

According to police detectives involved in the investigation, the cybercriminals withdrew Rs 90,000 using Shinde's ATM card before beating him to death.

"The cybercriminals failed to get his four-digit password despite assaulting Shinde," a police officer said.

The Jehanabad police discovered Shinde's body on April 12 and informed the Patna police.

Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Avkash Kumar said a cybercriminal gang approached Shinde on e-mail and promised to help him get a multi-crore scrap deal for Coal India properties in neighbouring Jharkhand.

"It appears that Shinde was lured by the false promise of cybercriminals and arrived in Patna without suspecting a conspiracy," SSP Kumar said.

The police have arrested 11 people, including main accused Munna Mahato alias Ranjeet Patel, who posed as Shivraj Saagi while communicating with Shinde, the SSP said.

Munna alias Ranjeet was in the scrap business earlier and is said to have contacts across the country.

The police have recovered two cars, two iPhones, two laptops, six smartphones and other items from the gang.

The arrested accused, SSP Kumar revealed, were earlier involved in the kidnapping of five businessmen from Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Karnataka. "But these businessmen were freed after they paid a ransom."

"It is a matter of investigation why they killed Shinde instead of demanding a ransom to free him, what caused his killing."

Investigations revealed that the kingpin of the gang, Santu Kumar of Nalanda, along with his girlfriend Sangeeta, tried money transactions from Shinde's other bank account, but could not do so in the absence of a password.

Livid, Santu and other gang members assaulted Shinde, who fell unconscious but did not disclose his bank account password.

"The police used CCTV footage to trace the car used for taking Shinde from Patna airport and later carrying his body for disposing it."

Shinde called his wife on the night of April 11 and informed her that he would be traveling to Jharkhand in a car sent by Shivraj Saagi to negotiate the scrap business. He went off the grid after the phone call.

On April 13, Shinde's brother-in-law Vishal Lawaji Lokhande lodged a missing person case at the Patna airport police station.

A senior police officer at the police headquarters in Patna said a number of such gangs are active in Patna and neighbouring Nalanda district.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff
Now Telecom, the mobile operator arm of Now Corporation, has become the latest casualty of the heavy demands placed on telecom operators in the Philippines.

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) recently decided against renewing the companys licence, citing underutilisation of assigned spectrum, failure to meet operational targets, and non-payment of regulatory fees amounting to over US$60 million.

In the wake of this decision, Now Telecom is, in its own words, inoperative. The company can no longer sell SIM cards, mobile plans, or devices  let alone invest in or expand its network infrastructure. Ironically, its this very lack of infrastructure development that the regulator has criticised.

Now Telecom vehemently disagrees with the ruling and has filed for reconsideration, accusing the NTC of making errors of law and fact and of disregarding due process  a strong rebuke that signals a protracted legal battle ahead.

The episode underscores the difficult operating environment for telecoms players  particularly smaller or emerging operators. Even in developed markets, network players are struggling. To survive, many are merging rather than competing. In Europe, weve seen major consolidations such as Vodafone and Three in the UK, and Oranges merger with Masmovil in Spain. These moves highlight the immense pressure placed on operators to meet regulatory expectations while turning a profit.

Back in the Philippines, Now Corporation chairman Mel Velarde spoke to Developing Telecoms at MWC Barcelona in 2024, where he sharply criticised the longstanding dominance of Globe Telecom and PLDTs Smart, calling them corporate tyrannies.

Velarde pointed out that the two incumbents control around 80% of the countrys spectrum and expressed hope that the government would ensure a more level playing field. We want to be able to compete with Globe, Smart and Dito on fair terms, he said. If our frequencies are protected and regulators act on our permits, we can import more equipment, build out the network and compete. But without fairness, theres no chance.

He went as far as to say that, given the right conditions, Now Telecom could surpass the incumbents in terms of speed and reliability within five years.

But those ambitions now face a major obstacle. The suspension of Now Telecoms licence is not just a setback for the company  it also impacts Filipino consumers. With one less player in the market, competition suffers, potentially pushing prices up and slowing innovation.

This comes at a time when the Philippines, like much of Southeast Asia, is undergoing a connectivity renaissance. Millions are getting online for the first time, accessing digital services that can transform lives. In that context, keeping the market open and competitive is more important than ever.

A swift resolution that sees Now Telecom return to the playing field would be in the public interest  but whether that happens remains to be seen.
A 38-year-old married woman was brutally beaten up outside a mosque in Davanagere district in Karnataka by six men after her husband complained to mosque officials about the presence of another man in his house.

Photograph: Screen grab from video/X

The incident occurred at Channagiri in Tavarekere village on April 7. Some of those present during the assault shot a video, which went viral online. The police then swung into action and arrested the six men on various charges including attempt to murder.

"The husband of the victim was upset on seeing another man in his house and was outraged," Uma Prashanth, superintendent of police, Davanagere, told this correspondent. "He believed his wife was having an illicit relationship with the man in his house."

On April 6, a woman named Nasreen visited Shabina's home. The duo along with Shabina's children went to a nearby hill to spend the day and returned to Shabina's home in the evening.

Later, Shabina apparently felt tired, took some medication and went inside her home to rest.

Nasreen decided to stay back, and soon her acquaintance, one Fayaz, came to Shabina's home to visit her.

When Fayaz was with Nasreen, Shabina's husband Jameel Ahmed came home.

Irked by the presence of unknown persons in his home, Jameel went to the local mosque and complained to the office-bearers there.

Locals then summoned the three of them to the mosque, where Shabina was thrashed with rods and bamboos, apparently for her 'wrongdoing'.

Following this, Shabina filed a complaint with the police against the men who beat her up.

Taking note of the incident, Davanagere district police stated on X, 'A case was registered at Channagiri police station in connection with the brutal assault on a woman in Tavarakere, Channagiri taluka, and six people were arrested.'

The police also released the names of the six men who have been arrested: Mohamed Nayaz (driver), Mohammed Guser (store trader), Dastagir (bike mechanic), Rasool (fisherman), Chand Basha, and Inayatullah.

All the accused are residents of Tavarekere village.

'The investigation has so far found that the accused have committed inhuman acts. The investigation is continuing,' the police said in their statement.
Naib Subedar Chunni Lal is the only soldier awarded the Ashok Chakra, Vir Chakra and Sena Medal.

IMAGE: Naib Subedar Chunni Lal. Photographs: Kind courtesy Lieutenant General Satish Dua

On a cold evening in January, Manveer Singh, a Class 10 student, was grappling with the biggest loss of his life.

Sitting in a hotel room with his mother and sisters who had travelled from a village in Bhaderwah, Jammu and Kashmir, to New Delhi, his shoulders felt heavy with responsibility.

Manveer thought of his father Naib Subedar Chunni Lal who had been around his age when he joined the Indian Army.

He had served the country for 23 years and brought unparalleled pride to the family and the entire village. No other soldier had received as many as India's highest gallantry medals like him.

The first medal was pinned to his father's chest when he was just 19 -- imagine that, still a teenager -- and the country's highest medal for gallantry during peacetime, the Ashok Chakra, was awarded to him at age 39.

IMAGE: Then Havaldar Chunni Lal receives the Vir Chakra from then President A P J Abdul Kalam.

Naib Subedar Chunni Lal, Ashok Chakra, Vir Chakra, Sena Medal

The military action that won him the Ashok Chakra was paid for with his life. Naib Subedar Chunni Lal was fatally wounded battling terrorists in a mission in J&K in 2007.

At the end of the operation, five terrorists had been killed.

Three were slain by Naib Subedar Chunni Lal.

"My father was a brave man. I have his example before me. I want to join the army and make him proud," Manveer said a day before his mother Chinta Devi received the Ashok Chakra posthumously from then President Pratibha Patil on January 26, 2008.

IMAGE: The commander Andaman and Nicobar islands interacts with Naib Subedar Chunni Lal.

Today, Manveer Singh is a havaldar in his father's battalion, 8 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry.

On Tuesday, April 15, 2025, along with his family he once again travelled to Delhi to attend the launch of a book on his father's incredibly inspiring story: Bravest of the Brave by Lieutenant General Satish Dua (retd), PVSM, UYSM, SM, VSM.

As his commanding officer for three years, General Dua served with Naib Subedar Chunni Lal on the Line of Control during the peak of militancy in J&K and saw combat together defending the LoC.

Naib Subedar Chunni Lal was awarded his second bravery medal under General Dua's tenure as commanding officer.

"The number of awards he received is testimony to his bravery. Bravery is not absence of fear. Bravery is overcoming fear," says General Dua, one of the Indian Army's most accomplished commanders.

As General Officer Commanding XV Corps, General Dua was among the officers to plan and coordinate the surgical strikes across the LoC in September 2016.

"Chunni's story has to be told. In a military career encapsulating two decades of bravery, he is the highest decorated soldier in the Indian army," says General Dua.

During the peak of militancy in the 1990s, General Dua says Naib Subedar Chunni Lal was a steadying force in the paltan during operations.

"We used to have an encounter every week and his soldiering skills gave us a combat edge. Everyone looked up to him."

IMAGE: Senior officers interact with Chunni Lal and other soldiers before operations.

For a boy who came from a humble farming family, Chunni Lal was brought up among heroes in his battalion.

8 JAKLI is the most decorated paltan in the Indian Army. One of its heroes Honorary Captain Bana Singh Param Vir Chakra has had pride of place at the annual Republic Day parade till ill health restricted travel from his home in Jammu to New Delhi this January 26.

"Chunni's upbringing was among soldiers with Vir Chakras, Mahavir Chakras and one Param Vir Chakra. From combat training to playing games with these men, he was baptised by fire in an ecosystem of the brave," says General Dua who visited Chunni Lal's village and spoke to scores of people in the army and outside to piece together the soldier's life story.

"Just two years into service, he volunteered for the highest attack in the world at 21,153 feet on the Siachen Glacier for which he received the Sena Medal."

Chunni Lal and his buddy were among the first to reach the top of the enemy post. The operation required nerves of steel and enormous skill to move, attack, capture and survive at that altitude.

The indomitable Bana Singh was awarded the Param Vir Chakra. The battalion was also awarded a Maha Vir Chakra for Subedar Sansar Singh, 7 Vir Chakras, 10 Sena Medals and 70 Commendation Cards, the largest in any single operation.

"My battalion is called the Bravest of the Brave by the Indian Army. When I spoke to Bana Singhji, he told me that even as a young soldier, Chunni had no fear," says General Dua.

IMAGE: Senior officers would always like to speak to Chunni Lal.

Between 1998 and 2001, the battalion had gunned down 106 terrorists in Poonch sector -- the maximum in a single tenure becoming the only unit to do so.

Then Havaldar Chunni Lal was awarded the Vir Chakra, the third highest bravery award, and was instrumental in killing 12 infiltrators as post commander.

He then did two stints with the United Nations Peace Keeping Force in Somalia and Sudan. His team's bravery in Sudan won them a UN citation for valour.

IMAGE: Chunni Lal on a visit to Vaishno Devi with family.

June 24, 2007, the ultimate act of valour

Commanding his post in Kupwara, J&K at 14,000 feet with a visibility of just 5 metres and minus 5 degrees temperature, Naib Subedar Chunni Lal detected some movement on the Line of Control.

He quickly deployed his soldiers to stop any infiltrator from crossing the LoC.

At 3.30 am the Indian soldiers heard some noise and challenged it. A volley of Kalishnikov fire greeted the Indian inquiry. The soldiers searched for the terrorists till daylight broke.

As they approached a bushy patch, they were fired upon.

Chunni Lal along with his men continued to close in and killed two terrorists on the spot. In the gunfire two soldiers were badly injured and lay precariously close to where the terrorists were. Risking his life Chunni Lal crawled towards them, pulled his men to safety and saved their lives.

He then took charge again. Seeing a third terrorist trying to escape, he dashed towards him and killed him. Unfortunately, the terrorist's bullet tore his abdomen and left him bleeding profusely.

Unmindful of his grievous injury he took cover behind a boulder, continued firing and did not allow the other terrorists to break the cordon. Under his leadership the two remaining terrorists were also killed.

At the end of the operation, five terrorists had been killed and a large amount of ammunition was recovered.

Chunni Lal had lost a lot of blood. By the time a helicopter could airlift him to hospital, the bravest of the brave soldier had passed into the ages.

For his exemplary courage and leadership, he was posthumously awarded the Ashok Chakra.

IMAGE: Chinta Devi, Naib Subedar Chunni Lal's wife, receives the Ashok Chakra from then President Pratibha Patil in 2008.

The news of Naib Subedar Chunni Lal's death shook General Dua who was then posted in Delhi.

"Every single death weighs heavily on your mind. I lost two majors and six soldiers as commanding officer in those three years on the LoC, and 18 men in the Uri attack under my watch as corps commander."

"It was the biggest failure of my life."

"In combat you are confronted by survivor's guilt, but then our army training kicks in. Loss is part of a soldier's life. Breaking the news of death to a soldier's parents or wife is the hardest thing," says General Dua.

"No training in the world can prepare you for it."

IMAGE: Lieutenant General Dua with Chunni Lal's father and Captain Bana Singh, Param Vir Chakra, alongside Naib Subedar Chunni Lal's bust at his village in November 2019.

Eighteen years after Naib Subedar Chunni Lal's valiant death, his son is carrying on his father's legacy in the army.

His daughters are married, one to a fauji and the other to a civilian. Chinta Devi, his wife, lives in the village where a memorial stands in the brave soldier's memory.

And now with this book, the story of this bravest of the brave should be read and retold.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
U.S. Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt., talks with Carol Maniscalchi of Putney before the start of a town hall forum at the Bellows Falls Opera House on Monday, April 14, 2025.
MONTPELIER  Vermont is following the law and and proud of its efforts to be welcoming to all students, Education Secretary Zoie Saunders told the U.S. Department of Education.

"And because of  not despite those efforts, Vermont can confidently certify  as it has in the past  that it complies with current Title 6 statutory, regulatory, and decisional law," she wrote Monday in response to a request for certification from the federal government.

In the letter, Saunders confirmed school districts are adhering to "all applicable laws providing for equal access and participation to all persons regardless of their gender, race, color, national origin, age, or disability ... and that the Agency will enforce all federal and state laws designed to ensure equitable access to all program beneficiaries." The compliance is related to Title 6 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Initially, Saunders asked superintendents to submit certification. Facing pushback from organizations representing school officials and boards as well as community members, she announced she would send a statewide letter from the Agency of Education.

"No federal or state law prohibits diversity, equity or inclusion," Saunders wrote to the Department of Education. "The Request references 'certain DEI practices' and 'illegal DEI,' but neither term is defined in the Request, and no definition has been provided."

Saunders expressed disappointment that recent executive orders from President Trump and Education Department guidance materials have "attempted to cast 'DEI' efforts as 'veil[ed] racially discriminatory practices' that assign less value to certain students because of their race."

"That is not what takes place in Vermont classrooms, and does not accurately reflect the goals, practices or benefits of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts," she said. "In Vermont, diversity, equity and inclusion practices are supportive of all students, and aim to create and sustain positive, welcoming learning environments. Vermont schools do not single out racial groups for negative or unequal treatment."

In face of DEI ban, federal certification 'mobilizes' Vermont BRATTLEBORO  Supporters of diversity, equity and inclusion practices and programs in schools are speaking out in the wake of a federal ban.

A letter to the AOE from organizations statewide supported by the Windham Southeast School District and Supervisory Union said, "We cannot allow anti-equity ideologies to be repackaged as civil rights enforcement."

"True compliance with Title 6 means standing against discrimination  not undermining the programs that work to end it," the letter states. "We urge Vermonts leaders to act with courage and integrity by rejecting this mandate and protecting equity in education for all."

Statewide demonstrations last week included schools in the WSESD. Teachers, parents, students and other community members showed support for DEI programs and were critical of the Scott and Trump administrations.

Youth 4 Change, a program of the Root Social Justice Center in Brattleboro, said DEI "should be standard and yet here we are in 2025 having to fight for our communities, truths, knowledge, skill sets and gifts to not be erased from our schools."

"Saunders," the group said in a statement, "we call on you to do what is right and stand up for the students and educators by writing a letter clearly stating the Vermont AOE will not sign nor comply with the U.S. Department of Educations Title 6 certification demand that threatens DEI education. New York, Massachusetts, and Maine did this, what is stopping you?"

On Friday, the AOE said Saunders "never directed or encouraged schools to discontinue activities that support" DEI, and the AOE "has consistently affirmed to superintendents that we believe Vermont schools and the state have long been in compliance with Title 6 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964."

DEI "practices are important to creating inclusive and welcoming school environments," the statement reads. "Again, we are not asking, nor do we believe the federal directive has any legal basis, to change these practices in Vermont. We remain committed to the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion and that will not change."

The AOE added, "We remain committed to working alongside the Attorney Generals Office to protect Vermont values and the federal funding our highest-need communities rely on."
This is an early-stage Solo GP fund with a transpacific focus, investing in purpose-driven founders building transformative companies across the US, Australia, India, Southeast Asia and other high-growth emerging markets. 007 Venture Partners via LinkedIn post

007 Venture Partners has launched a new AUD$5 million early-stage fund to support founders building solutions to humanitys greatest challenges.

In 2017, Bond Sudarta, then an Airbnb operator, joined a small group at the San Francisco home of Airbnb cofounder Joe Gebbia for OneAirbnb, an annual employee gathering. Gebbia issued a bold challenge: embrace radical entrepreneurship and leave Airbnb to create greater impact. His advice to Sudarta, Take the next step, and do it  fast, followed by a personal follow-up a week later, ignited a lifelong passion for supporting founders solving urgent global problems.

Ive seen whats possible when you back people who care deeply about the world, said Sudarta. The most valuable companies Ive worked with were led by founders who had heart, hustle, and a deep sense of purpose. Thats who were looking for.

Now, Sudarta leads 007 Venture Partners, a new AUD$5 million early-stage fund launched to empower purpose-driven founders. With a transpacific focus spanning the U.S., Australia, India, Southeast Asia, and emerging markets, the fund invests in startups tackling humanitys biggest challenges, from healthcare and fintech to climate solutions and education. Aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals, 007 Venture Partners seeks to drive both impact and returns.

Beyond capital, the fund offers hands-on support. Connected to over 30 founder communities, including Y Combinator and Airbnbs alumni network, it reviews thousands of deals annually and co-invests with world-class firms like Sequoia, a16z, Lightspeed, and Accel. Its limited partners and advisors, drawn from Airbnb, Meta, Uber, and LinkedIn, bring operational expertise to help startups scale. This founder-first, operator-driven approach distinguishes 007, with Sudarta and his team actively building alongside portfolio companies.

We care about people who are building something bigger than themselves, says Bond. If youre purpose-driven, if youve got grit, if youre creating something that the world needswe want to hear from you.

007 Venture Partners plans to back 15 to 30 early-stage startups, prioritizing transformative solutions that address pressing global needs. Backed by a diverse group of operators, founders, and investors from APAC and the U.S., the fund leverages Sudartas Airbnb experience and global network to amplify founders success. After Airbnb, Sudarta explored various ventures, but his excitement for supporting the next generation of purpose-driven entrepreneurs led to the creation of 007 Venture Partners.

The funds mission is ambitious yet clear: support startups that solve critical problems while fostering sustainable growth. Its transpacific scope ensures portfolio companies can tap into high-growth markets, addressing local and global challenges. Whether improving healthcare access, empowering small businesses, transforming education, or combating climate change, 007 Venture Partners seeks founders with vision, grit, and a commitment to impact.

007 Venture Partners invites founders, investors, and community partners to join its journey. Whether you are launching a startup, seeking meaningful investment opportunities, or passionate about mission-led innovation, the fund is ready to collaborate and build ventures that endure.

Founded by Bond Sudarta, 007 Venture Partners redefines early-stage investing by blending purpose with profitability. If you are building in healthcare, fintech, climate, education, or related fields, or wish to partner as a founder, LP, or supporter, connect with 007 Venture Partners to shape a better future.

Heres more: 007 Venture Partners.

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The Ministry for Regulation is targeting the telecommunications sector for its fourth sector review, but many aspects of the current markets structure are not in the frame.

Telecommunications touch almost every part of modern life, minister for regulation David Seymour said today. With 7.2 million active connections, around 1.4 per New Zealander, this sector is as essential as electricity and water.

Reliable digital infrastructure powered economic growth and daily life, he said, but when regulation fell behind, innovation slowed and costs rose.

In a high-cost economy like ours, regulation isnt neutral  its a tax on growth. Thats why its time to take a fresh look.

The Ministry for Regulation and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment will work with industry leaders, consumer groups, and regulators to develop terms of reference for Cabinet consideration.

Hearing from everyday New Zealanders will be a cornerstone of the review process, Seymour said.

The review was initiated after concerns were raised by the sector.

Telecommunications are used by almost every New Zealander every day, Goldsmith said. Its a multibillion-dollar industry contributing to around 2.5 per cent of New Zealands GDP.
Djuro Macut became the most searched name in Serbia on April 6 after President Aleksandar Vucic nominated him for the position of prime minister.

"I believe he will bring a different kind of discourse into our public life and help ease tensions. I also think he will do many good and important things for our country," said Vucic.

The tensions he referred to prompted the resignation of Prime Minister Milos Vucevic in January after three months of student-led protests across Serbia.

Demonstrators have demanded accountability, accusing the government for corruption and poor oversight of the railway station reconstruction after 16 people were killed in a roof collapse in the city of Novi Sad in November.

Who Is Djuro Macut? Macut (62) is one of the leading experts in Serbia in the field of endocrinology, the study of hormones. He earned his medical degree, his master's degree, and a PhD in Belgrade, where he was born. Macut is the deputy director of the Clinic for Endocrinology at the University Clinical Center of Serbia and a full professor at the University of Belgrade. He also teaches in Athens and Skopje. Macut serves as president of the Serbian Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and is internationally recognized for his expertise on polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). He is a board member of the European Society of Endocrinology. In 2024, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic awarded him the Order of the Karadjordjes Star, Second Class, for his work and contributions to Serbia. It is the third-highest state honor in Serbia. He is a member of the Steering Committee for the establishment of the Movement for People and the State, initiated by Vucic. It is a new political movement centered around Vucic's ruling party, though details on how it will operate remain scarce. Vucic has said the movement "calls on honorable citizens to contribute to Serbia with their skills and knowledge and help make it the most successful in its history."

Macut's Prescription

In the first address to the parliament on April 15, Macut said youth-led protests are a natural expression of dissent but criticized tactics such as road and school blockades.

"When you deny others the right to education and movement, you become a usurper of others' freedoms," he said, pledging to support youth engagement -- but only within legal and constitutional framework.

He pledged to reopen universities, saying Serbia is "tired of blockades and divisions."

He vowed to maintain Serbia's current foreign policy direction and reaffirmed continued support for ethnic Serbs in Kosovo. Since Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence, which Serbia still rejects, there have been ongoing tensions between the two countries.

These tensions primarily revolve around ethnic Serbs in northern Kosovo, who reject Pristina's authority and have tried to maintain parallel governance structures with Belgrade's support. The European Union has led the dialogue between two countries since 2011, aiming to normalize their relations.

Other Cabinet Members

There are 10 new faces among 30 proposed cabinet members.

The new education minister nominee, Dejan Vuk Stevanovic, is the only professor at the Faculty of Teacher Education who publicly opposed the student-led blockade from the start.

A frequent guest on pro-government media, he has criticized both professors and students who are demanding accountability for the Novi Sad tragedy.

The new nominee for information minister, Boris Bratina, is widely known for his anti-European rhetoric and for advocating a ban on the Pride Parade.

He was filmed shouting "Serbia and Russia -- we don't need the European Union!" at a Belgrade rally in 2009, where he also burned the EU flag. Serbia officially maintains that joining the European Union, its biggest investor, remains its strategic goal.

"I don't have an entirely positive view regarding the EU, and perhaps that's where I differ from others. I wouldn't encourage excessive enthusiasm about the EU, as it has plenty of problems of its own," Bratina told RFE/RL's Balkan Service on April 14.

The opening of new chapters in Serbia's EU accession negotiations has been stalled since December 2021.

Bratina has called Pride "a procession of the sick" and said such events don't belong in what he described as Serbia's "deeply heterosexual culture." Belgrade Pride has demanded the withdrawal of his nomination.

Like his potential future boss, Bratina is a member of the Movement for People and the State.

What Can We Expect From Serbia's New Government?

Members of the opposition and analysts do not expect major changes in domestic policy or Serbia's international stance as the country continues to refuse joining Western sanctions against Russia over the invasion of Ukraine and maintains historical and cultural ties with Moscow.

Serbia is also likely to remain China's preferred partner in the Balkans and continue their "iron friendship," as Vucic describes relations with Beijing.

"The fact that the new PM [designate] is a member of Vucic's newly formed movement already shows he is not a politically independent candidate," says Zoran Stojiljkovic, a professor at the Faculty of Political Sciences in Belgrade.

"That choice clearly suggests he will be a kind of 'political figurehead,' as he lacks significant political experience and does not guarantee autonomy from the president of Serbia," Stojiljkovic adds.

On April 6, Serbian Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic called prime minister-designate "brave, calm, and stable -- everything the Serbian government needs right now." Outgoing PM Milos Vucevic added that Macut is someone "who can open a social dialogue."

But some opposition leaders dismissed the appointment as symbolic.

Dragan Djilas of the Freedom and Justice Party said Vucic is "buying time" by nominating someone who "won't choose ministers, shape policy, or make decisions."

The Serbia Center party added that it "doesn't matter who heads the government when it's clear Vucic is in charge."
The United States on April 15 lifted sanctions imposed in January on the head of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's cabinet, Antal Rogan, over accusations of corruption and cronyism.

A statement posted on the Treasury Department website said Rogan had been deleted from the sanctions list.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio on April 15 spoke with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto and informed him of the move, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a statement.



Rubio told Szijjarto that Rogan had been removed from the Treasury Departments Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List, Bruce said, noting that continued designation was inconsistent with US foreign policy interests.

The two also discussed strengthening US-Hungary alignment on critical issues and opportunities for economic cooperation, Bruce said.

Orban and his Fidesz party have been among US President Donald Trump's most vocal supporters in Europe.

Washington earlier this year announced sanctions against Rogan for alleged involvement in corruption, saying he had used his role to enrich himself and those loyal to his party, the department said in a news release on January 7.

Rogan orchestrated schemes designed to control several strategic sectors of the Hungarian economy and skimmed the proceeds from the sectors for himself and loyalists to the Fidesz party, the department said when it announced the sanctions.

The US ambassador to Hungary at the time, David Pressman, said the systemic corruption...is affecting Hungary's decision-making on issues that impact the security of the United States of America and our allies."

Pressman stepped down before Trump was inaugurated on January 20.

Orbans government, which had called the sanctions against Rogan a "personal revenge of the ambassador," hailed the April 15 announcement that sanctions had been lifted as a "clear sign that the winds have changed in Washington."

Government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs said on X that the change "confirms a shift in US policy with President Trump's return, undoing what Hungary sees as unjust actions taken out of spite."

The United States previously said that throughout Rogan's tenure as a government official, he had orchestrated Hungarys system for distributing public contracts and resources to cronies loyal to himself and Fidesz.

He was designated under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, which targets perpetrators of serious human rights abuses and corruption around the world.

The department noted in January that public sector corruption in Hungary has been worsening for more than a decade, leading to Hungary receiving the lowest score of any European Union member state on Transparency Internationals 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index for the second consecutive year.

It also said whistleblowers in Hungary have criticized the government for operating a kleptocracy with a notable lack of transparency and equity in public and private expenditure deals made between administrators such as Rogan and loyalist business leaders.

"Hungarys failure to address transparency issues in its public procurement mechanisms has most recently led to a loss of over 1 billion Euros in future funding from the European Union, disadvantaging Hungarian citizens, the department said in announcing the sanctions against Rogan.

With reporting by AFP and Reuters
For at least the third time this year, Russian drones attacked Ukraine's historic port city of Odesa, a UNESCO World Heritage site, injuring three people and setting residential and commercial buildings ablaze.

Meanwhile, glide bomb attacks on Kherson killed one person while the city of Dnipropetrovsk was also struck, causing major fires.

"The enemy has again attacked Odesa with a massive drone attack," said Oleh Kiper, governor of the region, on Telegram following the attack.

Odesa's mayor, Hennadiy Trukhanov, shared images of apartments and other buildings that were heavily damaged.

Emergency workers were digging through debris and assessing the extent of destruction in the pre-dawn hours.

Unlike a deadly Russian attack on Odesa in November, April 16's overnight strike on the city was nonfatal and emergency crews managed to have fires there under control quickly.

The city's historic center has seen damage to numerous architectural monuments in repeated attacks, while Russia continues to deny targeting civilian structures.

Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, war damage has claimed over 1,000 cultural heritage sites.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has condemned the repeated attacks as a "deliberate strike" policy, pledging to strengthen Ukraine's air defenses.

The need for stronger security was underscored on April 13, when some 35 people, including two children, were killed in a Palm Sunday attack on the northeastern city of Sumy, which has drawn international condemnation.

A ballistic missile armed with cluster munitions was used in that attack, which landed on a street crowded with worshipers and others.

Ukraine has also stepped up the pace of its air attacks on Russian cities and oil facilities since March.
Serbia has appointed a new government led by Duro Macut, a doctor and academic with no prior political experience, amid street protests that have rocked the Balkan nation.

The 61-year-old Macut was backed by 153 lawmakers in the 250-seat parliament during the April 16 vote. Macut's cabinet will include 30 ministers, including 10 newcomers. A total of 199 MPs voted, with 46 against.

Macut was handpicked by President Aleksandar Vucic, who has led the country since 2017. Vucics Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) controls 112 seats in parliament.

In his inaugural address, Macut said Serbia was "tired of division and blockades" and called for the "harmonization of society" through dialogue, tolerance, and a shared value system. He announced that his immediate priority would be ensuring the normal functioning of schools and universities.

The new cabinet follows the resignation of former Prime Minister Milos Vucevic, who stepped down on January 28, a day after members of the SNS assaulted a student protester in Novi Sad. Vucevic is president of the SNS. His resignation was formally acknowledged by parliament on March 19.

Vucevic's departure came amid growing anti-government protests spearheaded by students who are demanding accountability for the deaths of 16 people in the collapse of a railway station canopy in Novi Sad on November 1.

The protests over the accident have evolved into a broader movement opposing what demonstrators say is the crumbling rule of law and systemic corruption under Vucic, who experts say rules the country with a tight grip. The students have blocked dozens of faculties across Serbia since late November.

Macut, a respected endocrinologist, is deputy director of the Clinic for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases at Serbia's University Clinical Center. He is also a full professor at the University of Belgrade Medical School and lectures in Athens and Skopje.

He heads the Serbian Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and is an internationally recognised expert on polycystic ovary syndrome. Macut currently serves on the Executive Board of the European Society of Endocrinology.

Zoran Stojiljkovic, a professor at the Faculty of Political Sciences, sees the appointment of Macut as little more than a tactic by Vucic to buy time.

"The government is responsible for triggering this political and social crisis, and what it's offering as a way out doesnt guarantee either stability or permanence," he told local media.

Bojan Klacar, executive director of the Centre for Free Elections and Democracy, said Macuts nomination is a direct response to the student protests that remain very much alive and vital.

If the protests begin to subside, this choice could benefit the ruling Serbian Progressive Party, Klacar said. In that case, the opposition and those supporting the students will struggle to justify why they wouldnt sit at the table with such a prime minister.

He added that Macut, a university professor, should be a credible interlocutor for the protesting students.
Tesla's global sales fell sharply during the first quarter of 2025 amid fallout over Elon Musk's role in US politics, but the electric vehicle (EV) brand remains in demand in Ukraine due to a recent drop in prices. Competition from lower-cost Chinese EVs has helped reduce costs, making Tesla vehicles more affordable for some Ukrainians. Speaking with Current Time in Kyiv, a recent buyer said disapproving of Musk's behavior won't stop him from driving a Tesla.
Military leaders from several nations are quietly holding under-the-radar talks at the headquarters of the Turkish Navy in Ankara this week, focusing on Black Sea security in the event of a cease-fire between Russia and Ukraine.

The meetings come days after two European diplomatic sources told RFE/RL that Turkey had declared it was willing to "assume responsibility for the maritime dimension" of a multinational military deployment in Ukraine.

There are practical reasons for Turkey to do this.

The 1936 Montreux Convention places strict limits on the tonnage that non-littoral navies can deploy in the Black Sea and for how long. This makes Turkey, which has one of NATO's strongest militaries, the natural key player.

It has 17 frigates, for example, compared to just three in Romania's navy.

"It's impossible to solve this without Turkey on the side of the Europeans," Sam Greene of the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) said at a recent briefing.

British and French vessels could also be expected to rotate through the Black Sea as part of a peacekeeping or reassurance force.

But as with the land-based force envisaged by the "coalition of the willing," the naval mission might also rely on a "US backstop."

How Is This Different?

According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), this would consist of air- and space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. Although, as the CSIS notes, US Navy ships regularly patrol the Black Sea anyway and could therefore also play a role.

In this regard, a Black Sea mission would take place under very different conditions to a land one -- in that NATO already has a well-established presence there with regular multinational exercises.

In fact, NATO just completed drills involving naval forces from 12 nations, including Turkey, the United States, Britain, and Romania. Over 12 days, forces simulated responses to hybrid, naval, and air attacks in the region.

Naval patrols would be focused on multiple missions, such as securing freedom of navigation for commercial shipping (including Ukraine's vital grain exports), monitoring cease-fire compliance, and mine clearance.

Andriy Ryzhenko, a reserve captain in the Ukrainian Navy, told RFE/RL's Current Time that "many ports are completely blocked at the moment," due to mines.

"They are Mykolayiv, Ochakiv, Kherson. Other ports are officially open but with limitations. Mines need to be found and neutralized," he said.

'Ukraine Has Won'

Unlike on land, Ukraine feels it is winning or indeed has already won the war at sea.

A series of spectacular attacks that sank numerous Russian vessels has already pushed Russia's numerically superior navy out of its bases in occupied Crimea and back to Novorossiysk.

"Ukraine has won on the sea and now has a complete advantage. That is, it does not allow the enemy near its coasts and it ensures civilian navigation," Oleksiy Neizhpapa, head of the Ukrainian Navy, told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service on April 8.

"But the enemy has the ability, has weapons that can hit civilian objects, civilian ships directly in ports or at sea. So, of course, the danger remains."

This was amply demonstrated by overnight Russian drone attacks on Odesa on April 16.

Ryzhenko also pointed out that shipping in the Black Sea is not operating along peacetime routes and that these need to be restored.

"It needs to be possible to go directly from Odesa to the Bosphorus across the middle of the Black Sea and not hiding in the territorial waters of neighboring countries," he said.

Ryzhenko added that the talks in Ankara would be focused on these details.

Low-Profile Talks

The talks were first announced by the Turkish Defense Ministry on April 13, but officials would not reveal which countries were taking part.

Later, it was reported that NATO members Bulgaria and Romania would be involved, along with Georgia.

On April 15, Britain's Defense Ministry told RFE/RL that it would join the meetings, before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that Ukraine and France were also attending.

"We are talking about the presence of a contingent at sea, and we believe that Turkey can have a serious place in future security guarantees for the sea," Zelenskyy said.

"This is not about ending the war, this is about what will happen after the cease-fire -- security guarantees," he added.

As with previous discussions on a land-based contingent, the United States is not involved in the talks.
Ukrainian Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said there has been "significant progress" in negotiations with the United States toward a comprehensive economic partnership agreement that includes a deal on rare earth minerals.

In a post on X published on April 16, Svyrydenko said that while teams from both sides will continue working on specific points in the agreement, "a lot has already been worked out."

"We have now agreed with the American side to record this progress in the relevant memorandum of intent. We are preparing to complete the formalization of the agreement in the near future," she wrote, giving no further indication of the timing.

US President Donald Trump's administration has made securing rare earth supply chains a strategic priority, especially as global competition with China intensifies. The deal with Ukraine is seen in Washington as a way to diversify critical mineral sources and reduce US dependency on Chinese exports.

It's also seen by Trump as a way to be compensated for billions of dollars in support Washington has supplied to Ukraine in its war with Russia, sparked by Moscow's February 2022 full-scale invasion of its neighbor.

Talks on a cease-fire in the conflict have been occurring in parallel to the economic partnership talks.

Svyrydenko said that once finalized, the draft will require ratification by the Ukrainian parliament, the Verkhovna Rada to ensure the agreement aligns with Ukraine's long-term national interests.

"It [the agreement] will create opportunities for investment and development in Ukraine and establish conditions for tangible economic growth for both Ukraine and the United States," she said.

Svyrydenko's statement came a day after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described recent US-Ukraine discussions as "positive," particularly in the context of a parallel, high-stakes negotiation over critical minerals -- strategic resources essential to modern technologies and national security.

Zelenskyy confirmed that multiple meetings were ongoing and encouraged continued public attention.

However, the negotiations have come against the backdrop of lingering tensions between Trump and Zelenskyy.

On March 30, Trump publicly accused Zelenskyy of attempting to walk away from the critical minerals deal, warning such a move would trigger "serious consequences."

The accusation followed a report by Bloomberg News that Ukraine was preparing to propose key changes to a draft agreement, particularly regarding rare earth minerals -- resources vital for electronics, defense systems, and renewable energy technologies. The revisions reportedly promise to increase American investments in Ukraine's mining sector.

According to The Financial Times and Bloomberg, the United States is pushing for a new strategic framework that would secure access to Ukraine's energy assets and deepen bilateral cooperation across critical sectors.

As Kyiv and Washington edge closer to formalizing both the broader economic partnership and the strategic minerals agreement, these talks could reshape Ukraine's postwar economy and the geopolitical balance of energy and technology supply chains in Europe and beyond.

With reporting by Bloomberg and Financial Times
Unlike traditional mentorship programs, we offer ongoing access to a vibrant network of like-minded entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and experts. With BOA, youre not limited to one-on-one mentorship, youre tapping into group interactions, exclusive events, and activations that connect you directly with Australias most iconic business minds. Kirsten Scott, General Manager of BOA

Australias business networking app, BOA (Business Owners App), launched an innovative in-person mentorship event called the BOA mentorship bus, bringing together emerging entrepreneurs and nine of Australias top business leaders.

As the bus toured Sydney, participants received personalized one-on-one mentorship, exchanging advice and building valuable connections. The event reflects BOAs mission to make networking more dynamic, meaningful, and enjoyable, blending tech with high-energy, real-world experiences.

Founded by Daniel Hakim, BOA was created to empower business owners at all stages through community-driven events and a powerful digital platform. The mentorship bus was met with overwhelming praise from both mentees and mentors, including founders of brands like Finder, Swiish, TBH Skincare, and more.

We sat down with Kirsten Scott, General Manager of BOA, to understand how the app is reshaping business networking for SMEs in Australia.

What does BOAs app offer SMEs today?

The BOA app is built for those born of ambition, says Kirsten Scott, General Manager of BOA. Its an innovative approach to business networking, designed to make community-driven business growth easier and more accessible for small and medium-sized enterprises. BOA helps SME owners connect, collaborate, and grow through curated events, exclusive networking opportunities, and shared knowledge within a trusted business community. Whether youre joining founder supper clubs, industry-specific roundtables, or digital advisories with some of the countrys most influential entrepreneurs, BOA brings it all into one seamless platform. This isnt just about networking, Scott explains, its about building meaningful relationships that power your business growth.

BOA Local Chapters

BOA also offers Local Chapters, bringing business owners together in their own communities. Its about making networking and collaboration more accessible than ever, so you can connect, share resources, and take your business to the next level, right where you are, says Scott.

Innovative Activations

BOA is rolling out innovative activations that give users direct access to some of the most iconic business minds in Australia. Through exclusive events and bespoke content, users gain unparalleled opportunities to learn from the best and push their businesses to new heights.

Is it free, or what are the costs?

BOA is currently free to join, giving SMEs instant access to the community and event opportunities, Scott says. Some events may carry a ticket cost depending on the venue, but starting June, were launching our founding Premium Membership  from just $45 a month. Thats $1.50 a day to connect with other business owners and grow your business. Cheaper than your morning coffee, and way more valuable.

Comparing BOAs resources to dedicated SME mentors

While free SME mentorship programs like SBMS or Business Connect offer great value, Scott believes BOA provides something different.

BOA takes a more dynamic, community-driven approach to support, she says. Unlike traditional mentorship programs, we offer ongoing access to a vibrant network of like-minded entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and experts. With BOA, youre not limited to one-on-one mentorship  youre tapping into group interactions, exclusive events, and activations that connect you directly with Australias most iconic business minds.

She adds that BOA integrates cutting-edge digital tools to help users find tailored opportunities for growth, whether through collaboration, partnerships, or exclusive business insights. In essence, Scott concludes, while SBMS or Business Connect offer fantastic mentorship in their own right, BOA is about creating a thriving community where every interaction becomes an opportunity to elevate your business.

A BOA success story: Bella Moro of My Cavoodle

For Bella Moro, founder of My Cavoodle, BOA wasnt just a networking platform, it became the catalyst that reshaped her entrepreneurial journey. Still pinching myself, honestly, Bella says. Because the BOA app experience, especially the BOA Bus, has had such a profound impact on both me and my business. During the BOA mentorship bus tour, Bella was paired with Rachael from TBH Skincare  a connection that proved to be both timely and transformative. Connecting with Rachael was incredibly meaningful, Bella explains. As a fellow young female founder, and someone whos scaled her business into the eight-figure mark, her insights were exactly what I needed.

Bella had already grown mycavoodle.com.au into a seven-figure brand within 12 months, but she was hungry for the next stage  and Rachaels guidance gave her exactly that. She gave me such tangible, no-fluff advice  from how to lean into PR strategically, to how to protect the brand as I grow, Bella shares. But the biggest lightbulb moment came when she said, Use the momentum. Wipe everything off your plate and focus on whats hot. That one piece of advice? Game-changing!!!

Bella did just that. Within days of the event, she acted on Rachaels advice by sending her product to billionaire Adrian Portelli for his Cavoodle, Ruby. The payoff was immediate. He unboxed our grooming range of shampoo, conditioner & cologne on a live stream to thousands of Australians, she says. He reposted our content across his channels  including to over 466k followers  and we saw a spike in sales, visibility, and new PR opportunities. That momentum Rach spoke about, it paid off.

But her BOA journey didnt end there. Since joining the app (discovered at 2am during a newborn feed!), Ive:

Been invited to sit at The Founders Table with industry giants like Frank and Jacques Greeff who sold their biz for $180M,

Landed two podcast features just by being in the right rooms and contributing to the right conversations,

Been offered two app partnership opportunities thanks to my background in scaling MyCavoodle and previous corporate marketing experience,

Connected with powerhouse entrepreneurs & eComm founders who Id never usually cross paths with as a young mum working from home.

But for Bella, perhaps the most powerful impact has been something deeper: Ive found a space thats re-ignited my belief in community, connection and real opportunity something I never knew I needed until I had it, she reflects.

As a new mum navigating entrepreneurship with a baby on my hip, I didnt realise how much I craved connection with like-minded people in business until I had it. The conversations, the energy, the access its all reminded me that I belong in these rooms. Thank you again for the opportunity to share this. Im beyond grateful for BOA and everything its already made possible and this honestly feels like just the beginning for my Aussie brand that sells shampoo to Cavoodles!

Upcoming events

Digital Firesides with Mark Bouris, Lia Georgantis, Jaryd Terkelsen, Jeremy Cabral, Jack Hendersen and many others.

Soon to be announced an activation event, taking networking to the sky.

Each week, BOA Networking Chapters are hosting local events across Australia, with new locations launching regularly.

Ladies Supper Club with SWIISH Founder, Sally Obermeder and Maha Corbett.

Plus many more events being announced each week!

Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, and To Lam, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, greet the crowd after a grand welcome ceremony as they walk to the CPV Central Committee headquarters for talks in Hanoi, Vietnam, April 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

* This year marks the 75th anniversary of China-Vietnam diplomatic ties, a milestone in the two nations' profound traditional friendship featuring "camaraderie plus brotherhood."

* China and Vietnam, Xi said, should give full play to their geographical advantages of being connected by land and sea, strengthen the alignment of development strategies and tap the potential of industrial cooperation.

* Particularly, noting that young people are the future and hope of the cause, Xi announced that in the next three years, China will invite Vietnamese youth to China for "Red Study Tours."

HANOI, April 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping wrapped up his state visit to Vietnam on Tuesday with the two neighbors pledging joint efforts to accelerate the building of a community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.

To that end, the two sides agreed to work together for stronger political mutual trust, more substantive security cooperation, deeper practical cooperation, more solid popular foundation, closer coordination on multilateral affairs and better management of differences.

Before leaving for Malaysia to continue his three-nation Southeast Asia tour, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said he has full confidence in the future of China-Vietnam relations.

SHARED VISION FOR SHARED FUTURE

This year marks the 75th anniversary of China-Vietnam diplomatic ties, a milestone in the two nations' profound traditional friendship featuring "camaraderie plus brotherhood."

During Xi's state visit to Vietnam in December 2023, the two sides agreed to build a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance on the basis of deepening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

In his talks with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam on Monday, Xi called for further efforts to fulfill the vision.

The two countries should work to advance their comprehensive strategic cooperation with high quality, ensure steady and sustained progress in building a China-Vietnam community with a shared future, and contribute even more to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi said.

Building the China-Vietnam community with a shared future carries great global significance, Xi said, noting that as the two countries jointly pursue peaceful development, their combined population of over 1.5 billion is jointly advancing toward modernization, which will contribute to regional and global peace and stability while promoting common development.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, holds talks with To Lam, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, at the CPV Central Committee headquarters in Hanoi, Vietnam, April 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

To Lam, for his part, said that Xi's visit would definitely mark a new milestone in the history of friendly exchanges between the two parties and countries, further advancing the building of a Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.

Nguyen Thi Phuong Hoa, a researcher at the Institute for Asia-Pacific Studies under the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, said the effort to build a Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance reflects both the continuation and the deepening of the enduring friendship between the two countries.

"It is built on the foundation of political trust, the promotion of commonalities and especially the sharing of benefits and mutual concerns," she said. "The ultimate goal is to bring benefits to the people of both nations, support each country's development, and contribute to regional peace and stability."

Over the past year, the agreement on building a Vietnam-China community with a shared future has already injected fresh momentum into the bilateral relationship, said Nguyen Vinh Quang, vice president of the Vietnam-China Friendship Association, noting that businesses from both sides have demonstrated increased confidence in each other.

MARCH TOWARD MODERNIZATION

On Monday, the Chinese president also urged the two countries to deepen cooperation across various fields and march toward modernization hand in hand.

While meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Xi called on the two countries to intensify high-level exchanges, strengthen strategic communication, and jointly oppose hegemonism, unilateralism and protectionism.

He called on the two sides to implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, so as to jointly safeguard international fairness and justice, and defend peace, stability, development and prosperity in Asia and beyond.

China and Vietnam, Xi said, should give full play to their geographical advantages of being connected by land and sea, strengthen the alignment of development strategies and tap the potential of industrial cooperation.

He also called on the two countries to steadily advance cooperation in infrastructure development, enhance connectivity and ensure a smooth flow of trade.

The two countries should firmly uphold the multilateral trading system, and work together to push for economic globalization that is more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial to all, he added.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, meets with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee headquarters in Hanoi, Vietnam, April 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

In his meeting with Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam Tran Thanh Man, Xi pointed out that his state visit to Vietnam once again allowed him to witness the new achievements in Vietnam's cause of Doi Moi (reform) and personally experience the profound foundation of China-Vietnam friendship.

Facing an international landscape fraught with changes and turbulence, Xi said, China and Vietnam should strengthen confidence in their paths and systems, enhance solidarity and coordination, continue to build the China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, join hands to march toward modernization, and inject more stability and positive energy into the world.

CARRY FORWARD TRADITIONAL FRIENDSHIP

As this year is also designated the China-Vietnam Year of People-to-People Exchanges, a series of activities have been organized and planned to further cement the public support of bilateral relations.

During his meeting with representatives of the Chinese and Vietnamese People's Friendship Meeting on Tuesday, Xi said that over the years, the peoples of China and Vietnam have stood together through thick and thin, and have jointly written a glorious chapter in the history of China-Vietnam friendship.

He emphasized that China-Vietnam friendship has taken root and sprouted through mutual support between the two peoples, and has blossomed and borne fruit through their solidarity and coordination.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam and Vietnamese President Luong Cuong jointly launch the "Red Study Tours" project at the International Convention Center in Hanoi, capital of Vietnam, April 15, 2025. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

Xi told To Lam during their talks that the two sides should take this year as an opportunity to organize more people-oriented exchange activities, and enhance cooperation in tourism, culture, media, public health and other fields.

While meeting with Pham Minh Chinh, Xi urged the two sides to ensure the success of activities celebrating the 75th anniversary of China-Vietnam diplomatic ties and the China-Vietnam Year of People-to-People Exchanges, so as to tell the stories of friendship, mutually beneficial cooperation, as well as their joint pursuit of modernization.

Particularly, noting that young people are the future and hope of the cause, Xi announced that in the next three years, China will invite Vietnamese youth to China for "Red Study Tours."

That, he added, will help the younger generation of both countries better understand the hard-won nature of the socialist countries and the great value of China-Vietnam good-neighborliness and friendly cooperation, and will cultivate greater vitality for the development of bilateral relations and the two countries' respective national development.

Editor: WXY
Roscommon Racecourse was among the winners of the 2025 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards (TIEA). Nine TIEA winners were announced today by Horse Racing Ireland.

Roscommon Racecourse was named the winner of the Racecourse Award, after being chosen by the Irish Stable Staff Association and based on a quality programme evaluation. This survey assesses each racecourse on a range of criteria relating to facilities for stable employees with the purpose of setting and maintaining quality standards at all racecourses in Ireland.

Along with a trophy, Roscommon Racecourse will receive 2,500 to be spent on upgrading facilities that will benefit stable employees.

Sponsored by Godolphin and supported by the Irish Stable Staff Association, Horse Racing Ireland, the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association and the Racing Post, the TIEA winners represented Counties Kildare, Limerick, Meath, Roscommon and Wicklow.

Now in its ninth year of Godolphins sponsorship, the TIEAs recognise and reward the exceptional skills, experience and dedication of those working in the thoroughbred breeding and racing industry in Ireland.

The awards ceremony will take place in the Keadeen Hotel in Newbridge, County Kildare on Tuesday June 3rd, where the flagship award  The Irish Racing Excellence Award - will be announced and presented to one of the Irish Thoroughbred Industry Employee Award winners.

There were eight individual TIEA winners. Each Irish Thoroughbred Industry Employee Award winner will receive a specially commissioned trophy by sculptor Ani Mollereau and 4,000. In addition, 2,500 will be awarded to their employers to be used for the benefit of each winners colleagues.

The Irish Racing Excellence Award winner will receive an additional 5,000 and 2,500 for their employer to be used for the benefit of their work colleagues.

Joe Osborne, Managing Director, Godolphin Ireland, said: All of us at Godolphin are delighted to continue our support of these awards. We are particularly grateful to the many nominators who took the time and put in the effort to praise their industry colleagues.
James Cox

CSO figures show property prices rose by 8 per cent in the 12 months to February.

That compares to a rate of 8.2 per cent in the year to January.

Prices outside Dublin increased by 8.7 per cent, while in the capital they were up 7.1 per cent.

The median price of a home was 360,000, according to the CSO Residential Property Price Index.

The border region - Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, and Sligo - saw the largest increase in property prices at 13.4 per cent, while at the other end of the scale the mid east - counties Kildare, Louth, Meath, and Wicklow - saw a rise of 5.8 per cent.

Were talking about ongoing growth in house prices which are already high, said Rachel McGovern, deputy chief executive at Brokers Ireland. Housing policy must break with the disturbing acceptance there has been of the low level of housing delivery.

She said the fact that some are now looking towards a recession to calm house price growth is an "appalling situation", and speaks to the dysfunction of housing policy.

For far too long, over a decade, weve accepted piecemeal, incremental growth in supply at a time when our population has been growing rapidly.

The Governments awaited new housing plan must involve a fundamental shake-up in the States response to housing, she said.

And she said to date a number of new initiatives have been promised, including a housing czar; a new Strategic Housing & Infrastructure Delivery Office, and a new coordination and implementation group to operate from the Taoiseachs department.

We all know what the impediments are, she said. Its beyond time to break down the barriers.

She said Government actions need to be urgent, unprecedented, brave and decisive".
James Cox

An Irish woman is bringing a case to the European Court of Human Rights over Portugal's handling of her sexual assault case involving Christian Bruckner.

Bruckner is the prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

Hazel Behan from Dublin was in Praia da Rocha in 2004, when she was violently attacked in her apartment.

Convicted sex offender Christan Bruckner, from Germany, was tried and acquitted of the assault last year.

Bruckner is the main suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, who went missing in 2007.

Hazel Behan has now lodged a case before the European Court of Human Rights, alleging Portuguese authorities didn't investigate her own assault properly.

This includes allegations that they failed seize evidence, failed to give her a translator and pressured her not to damage Portuguese tourism.

A filing from Ms Behan's solicitor concludes: "The systematic failings in the Portuguese investigation from the time have directly effected the ability of the German authorites to prosecute Bruckner for the rape of Ms Behan.

"It is for this reason Ms Behan brings the instant application to the European Court of Human Rights for violations of Article 3 (prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment) and Article 8 (right to private life)."

Ms Behan said: "Lodging my case with the European Court of Human Rights is not just about seeking justice for myselfit's about standing up after being silenced and ignored for far too long. I carry the pain of how I was treated every single day, but I hope the Court will ensure that my human rights are protected in line with the very standards that is expected right across Europe.

"And that maybe, through this, Portugal, and other countries, will treat victims of rape, both domestic and foreign, with the decency and respect we deserve."

Darragh Mackin, solicitor for Ms Behan, said: The European Court of Human Rights exists for a reason. It exists to ensure victims like Hazel Behan are guaranteed a minimum level of protections across the various member states.

"Through this action, Hazel has highlighted the systematic and inexcusable failings by the Portuguese authorities has denied her and many other victims, justice for nearly two decades. These failings have ultimately contributed to the acquittal of one of the most high profile perpertrators in modern history.

"This case is about ensuring that victims of sexual violence are not ignored, dismissed, or silenced by the very systems that are meant to protect them."
SC Slams Telangana Govt Over Illegal Tree Felling on 100 Acres Near Hyderabad Central University

If you want the Chief Secretary to be spared from severe action, you must come out with a plan for how you will restore those 100 acres,

SC Slams Telangana Govt Over Illegal Tree Felling on 100 Acres Near Hyderabad Central University, latest News: The Supreme Court on Wednesday reprimanded the Telangana government for defending the large-scale tree felling carried out across 100 acres near Hyderabad Central University.

A bench of Justices B.R. Gavai and A.G. Masih, hearing a suo motu case regarding the deforestation in the Kancha Gachibowli area, ordered that no further tree felling should take place and immediate steps must be taken to protect the wildlife in the affected region.

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Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the state government, argued that the felled trees fell under an exempted category as per the Telangana Water, Land, and Trees Act, 2002, and therefore did not require prior permission. The court rejected this argument, stating, Even private forests require the courts permission to fell trees.

The Supreme Court also clarified that no government rules or interpretations can override its 1996 judgment in the T.N. Godavarman case, which held that forest land, as defined in Section 2 of the Forest Conservation Act, includes any area that fits the dictionary meaning of a forest or is listed as forest in government records.

We are not bothered by anything else. We are only concerned with the damage to the environment. Any enactment or interpretation that goes against this Courts December 12, 1996 order will not be tolerated. We were shocked to see visuals of animals running for shelter  we were told some were even attacked by stray dogs, the court observed.

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We are only concerned about how so many trees were cut without permission from authorities, Justice Gavai added.

If you want the Chief Secretary to be spared from severe action, you must come out with a plan for how you will restore those 100 acres, Justice Gavai told Singhvi, who informed the court that the felling and construction work in Telangana had been stopped.

We will not go by the interpretation of bureaucrats or ministers. We are surprised to see herbivorous animals in videos running for shelter, being bitten by stray dogs, Justice Gavai said.

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We are focused on the presence of bulldozers and the erasure of a 100-acre forest. If you wanted to construct, you should have obtained proper permissions, he added.

In the meantime, we direct the Wildlife Warden of Telangana to examine the situation and immediately implement steps required to protect wildlife affected by the deforestation, the court ordered.

If you try to oppose restoration, then be prepared for temporary prison for your officers. In the meantime, not a single tree shall be felled. Have the bulldozers been removed? the bench asked.

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Earlier this month, the Supreme Court had taken suo motu cognisance of the tree felling in Kancha Gachibowli and had directed the Telangana High Court to submit an interim report after conducting a site inspection.

Senior advocate K. Parameshwar, who has been assisting the bench as amicus curiae in environmental matters, had brought the issue to the courts attention.
Canadians Would Benefit Greatly from Becoming the 51st State of the United States of America: White House (Image Courtesy:viewerstock)

The US president has repeatedly suggested, on multiple occasions, that Canadians should become part of America.

Canadians Would Benefit Greatly from Becoming the 51st State of the United States of America: White House, Latest News:

US President Donald Trump continues to hold the same stance on Canada and maintains that the country would benefit significantly by joining the United States as its 51st state, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated during a press briefing on Tuesday (local time), according to ANI.

During the press conference, when asked whether Trumps stance on Canada-US relations had changed in the past couple of weeksparticularly since he had not recently mentioned Canada becoming the 51st stateLeavitt responded, I would reject the idea that the president's position on Canada has shifted. Perhaps he just hasnt been asked about Canada by the reporters who see him almost every day in the Oval Office. However, the president still maintains his position on Canada. The United States has been subsidising Canadas national defence, and he believes that Canadians would benefit greatly from becoming the 51st state of the United States of America."

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The US president has repeatedly suggested, on multiple occasions, that Canadians should become part of America and that doing so would be highly beneficial. According to the report, he even mocked former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau by referring to him as the Governor of Canada.

When asked about Trumps remarks on assisting automakers and whether his plan involved easing tariffs for them, Leavitt emphasised that the US president remains flexible when it comes to negotiations. She said,

"As for autos and auto parts, I don't have anything to read out for you there but I think the point the president was making is flexibility and he has flexibility when it comes to negotiations and talks but ultimately his goal in his fair trade deals that he is pursuing with many countries around the world is to put the American worker first and we had automakers and auto workers here at the White House on Liberation Day who believe in this president and his negotiating ability to put them first and to bring those jobs back to the United States of America and the president's been very clear about that in his conversations with the automakers as well.

Trump had earlier exempted reciprocal tariffs on electronic devices such as smart phones, iPhones, and laptops.

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His statement on Monday, while speaking to reporters during a meeting with El Salvadors President Nayib Bukele, indicated that there could even be parts-specific tariff exemptions for automakers. He said he is looking into possible exemptions and stressed the importance of flexibility in ongoing trade negotiations.

During the meeting, he said, "Look, I'm a very flexible person. I dont change my mind, but Im flexible, and you have to be. You just can't have a wall; sometimes you have to go around it, under it, or above it."

He added, There may be things coming I dont want to hurt anybody, but the end result is were going to reach a position of greatness for our country."

Last week, Trump announced a 125% tariff rate on China after China retaliated. For 75 other nations that approached the US for negotiations, the tariff was paused for 90 days and a significantly lower reciprocal tariff rate of 10% was put into effect.

( For more news apart from, Canadians Would Benefit Greatly from Becoming the 51st State of the United States of America: White House Stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
The 101st Airborne Division of the United States returns to Romania

At the 57th Air Base in Mihail Kogalniceanu, southeastern Romania, the transfer of authority ceremony took place between the 2nd Air Assault Brigade "Task Force Strike" of the 101st Airborne Division and the 3rd Brigade "Task Force Patriot" of the 10th Mountain Division.

Photo: U.S.Army

Agentia Media a Armatei, 16.04.2025, 14:00

The ceremony was hosted by the 1st Armored Division. The commander of the large unit, Major General Curtiss Taylor, was also present, and marked the departure, respectively the official arrival of the American troops at the Mihail Kogalniceanu Base. Colonel J. Josh Glonek, commander of the 3rd Brigade of the 10th Mountain Division, which for the last 9 months has been supporting the US V Army Corps in the mission of strengthening NATOs eastern flank, ensuring European allies and partners and deterring any potential aggression, said:

Over the last nine months, our primary mission has been to build a ready to act capability alongside our allies. We have had the unique opportunity to be part of the US Armys adaptation and transformation effort, which means we have experienced emerging technologies in the field during our deployment in the training we have had here in Romania, but also in other areas. We took the mission very seriously, and the soldiers realized the importance of it and of what they have done in the last nine months here, far from home, and we are proud to have trained alongside our Romanian partners and other members of the Alliance. We have trained in several polygons and training grounds in Romania with our Romanian partners or allies such as those in Cincu, Smardan or Babadag. For most of our deployment here, the American soldiers had the opportunity to get to know the local Romanian culture and traditions and thus leave here with many stories about the places and people they met in Romania, because the inhabitants are very hospitable and we felt welcome, so we consider ourselves lucky to have been deployed here for the last nine months.

The soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division are in Romania for the second time, after the deployment in 2022. Colonel Duke Reim, commander of the 2nd Air Assault Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, is in Romania for the first time, but he is a veteran with missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia and North Africa, with three deployments during the global war on terrorism and he explains clearly why his unit is unique in the US military, but also why it is in Romania:

There is nothing different about this rotation, for us it is just a change of location, another base or area of operation training where we need to reach and maintain our level of readiness, but I think our commitment to Eastern Europe and NATO is still very strong today. We are looking to maintain the status quo in the area, people need to feel safe in this region and that is our mission. We have similar equipment and techniques to the Patriot Brigade, maybe a little more vehicles because we have a different specifics, we are an air assault brigade, mainly more ground vehicles for infantry and we are interested in increasing the level of interoperability and seeing how we can work with Romanian partners. What makes us special, beyond the huge history of the unit since World War II, is that we are currently the only air assault division in the United States Army. That makes us unique, the previous rotation was basically a light brigade, we are an air assault brigade, so we can use both combat vehicles, but we can also move by air with the help of helicopters depending on the objectives pursued. I hope I can bring my wife to see your beautiful country. I am not only interested in the military side of my mission here, I want to see what makes Romania unique and why we are prepared to fight if necessary to defend its independence.

It is a one-to-one rotation, which does not change the level of US force presence in Romania and aligns with the US militarys decision earlier this year to maintain a military presence in southeastern Europe in support of NATO partners and allies. (EE)
Society Today

One World Romania is the only Festival of Documentary film and human rights in Romania

One World Romania, the only festival of film and human rights in Romania photo:

Iulia Hau, 16.04.2025, 14:00

In an increasingly polarized society in which algorithms are encouraging and nurturing the division of individuals in ideological spheres that do not intersect, One World Romania invites to dialogue and understanding.

One World Romania is the only human rights festival in Romania, which is fostering profound debates on subjects such as social inequities, migration and extremist movements. Over ten days, several Film Theatres such as the one at the Romanian Peasants Museum, Cinema Elvira Popescu and Cinema Union in Bucharest are screening over 50 documentary films. Most of these are to be followed by long debates involving film-makers, platforms, media, NGOs and active individuals from civil society.

And because the word legionnaire was the most looked up word in the dexonline.ro dictionary last winter, the festival is thoroughly tackling the issue of fascism, as one of the most urgent topics of our time. A series of news bulletins from the period between 1940 and 1950 featuring Iron Guard commemorations and massacres of the past century was being screened and the public was invited to a dialogue with historians Adrian Cioflanca and Florin Muller. So, the festival intends to shed light on what that political violent movement actually was and the role played by the cinematographic propaganda of that time.

The actions of intimidating and silencing journalists, activists and NGOs, a phenomenon also known as SLAPP, was also high on the agenda of One World Romania. SLAPP is an English acronym for Strategic Lawsuits for Public Participation, threats against democracy and freedom of expression, a phenomenon also known in Romania. Romanian journalists and civic activists went up the festivals stage and talked about their brush with the aforementioned phenomenon.

Andreea Lacatus, One World Romania director, is speaking about the theme of this years edition of the festival starting from the cancellation of the Romanian elections in December last year because of external interferences and manipulation of the TikTok algorithms in favour of a candidate.

Andreea Lacatus: This years theme is called You hear me. In autumn we usually propose the theme for the following edition, you know. But after what happened last winter with the election we realized that things that we thought of, or the way we thought the world would be, changed radically. So we wanted very much to be connected to present realities and we started a series of debates  while facing the stress and the turmoil of that winter time  we realized that it was very difficult to connect with each other. And thats why we decided that the festivals name be You hear me  because of our efforts to connect with each other. And then we realized that turmoil was actually felt by everyone. So, we decided to put that thing on the table, so to say, and ask other people about how they live with the fact that many times they feel unheard, ignored or unseen.

Asked about the challenges facing the team of such a niche festival, Andreea Lacatus explains that the documentary film based on human rights isnt a media product that could be commercially exploited. And this makes the cooperation with companies, which could support the festival, difficult. Also it is difficult to cooperate with decision-makers because, as Lacatus says, very few people really understand this kind of cinematographic genre and its potential to bring changes into the world.

After an experience of 10 years in cultural and civic fields, Andreea Lacatus, believes there are not enough occasions of meeting and dialogue between people interested in human rights.

Andreea Lacatus: From my viewpoint, after several years of doing community work, of going to places without access to culture, I realized a couple of things about this festival Actually, neither is this sphere culturally approached, you know. These people, who are genuinely interested, who share beliefs and human dignity and respect  they dont have the right context to meet each other as well. They arent getting things done for these people either, at least concrete things. So, on one hand our communication is for these activists, interested artists, which implicitly leads to a new type of audience, you know. Being an event, which unfolds physically we have this advantage, of reaching out to cinema goers, which are more diverse, for instance, more conservative audience in certain cinema halls, different from our standard profile, so to say. Then the way in which we are reaching various spheres and places, is about our cooperation with universities, schools, we invite people from the streets; here we are like in a fair, at the Museum of the Romanian Peasant. And if the weather was fine we could have outdoor screenings, you know. 

Starting last year, the High-School Students Days have been a major component of the festival, dedicated to the Romanian teenagers and inter-generational dialogue. Although initially designed as a small-scale event, the High-School Students Days last year brought together no less than 1100 young people in eleven free workshops, six screenings and a concert. But perhaps one of the festivals most important initiative are the meetings between these high-school students and seniors done jointly with daycare centers in Bucharest.

(bill)
April 16, 2025 UPDATE

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsflash

Newsroom, 16.04.2025, 19:55

DASP.25 Approximately 4,000 soldiers and 913 technical assets from 10 allied countries (Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Italy, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal and Romania) will participate, between May 5 and 23, in the multinational exercise DACIAN SPRING 2025 (DASP 25), organized on Romanian territory. The exercise is planned and led by the Command of the Multinational Division South-East (HQ MND-SE) and will take place simultaneously in several training ranges. DASP 25 is attended by structures belonging to all categories of forces of the Romanian Army  land, air, naval, and cyber, along with personnel from the Multinational Brigade South-East and contingents of allies. The main goal of the exercise is to practice a collective defense operation and strengthen the integration of the participating forces into the command and control architecture of HQ MND-SE. For the first time, a Belgian maneuver battalion will be deployed on Romanian territory.

OECD. Last year, Romania provided official development assistance totaling 587 million dollars, the highest level to date, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development reported on Wednesday, quoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The main beneficiary of the assistance provided by Romania last year was the Republic of Moldova, with a percentage of over 50% of the total bilateral official development assistance actions ($76.6 million). Romanias constant cooperation with Ukraine, the Western Balkans, Africa and the Middle East continued in 2024, in accordance with the objectives established by the Multiannual Strategic Program on International Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Assistance 2024-2027. Romania also contributed to the effort to mitigate the effects of the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, acting in close coordination with its international partners for the evacuation and provision of specialized medical treatment for Palestinian civilians in hospitals in Romania.

NATO. The efforts of US president Donald Trump for a general ceasefire in Ukraine are not easy, said NATO secretary general Mark Rutte, who made a surprise visit to Odessa, in the south of Ukraine. He condemned Russias terrible pattern of attacks against Ukrainian civilians, after the Russian army killed 35 civilians, including children, in Sumy, in the north-east. Mark Rutte said NATO would continue to support Ukraine. On Tuesday, Rutte travelled to Chisinau for talks with Moldovas president Maia Sandu about the cooperation between the Republic of Moldova and NATO based on a new individual Partnership for Peace programme adopted at the start of the year by the Moldovan government.

Easter. The Holy Fire from Jerusalem will be brought over to Romania on Saturday evening by the superior of the Settlements of the Romanian Patriarchate in the Holy Places, archimandrite Teofil Anastasoaie, and will be offered to the delegations of bishoprics from around the country. Later, the flame will arrive in the homes of all Romanians who wish to receive it. The tradition of bringing the Holy Fire to Romania was first introduced in 2009 by the head of the Romanian Orthodox Church, patriarch Daniel. The Orthodox Church considers the Holy Fire as one of its greatest miracles, saying it appears spontaneously above the Holy Tomb in Jerusalem on the eve of Easter, between 12.30 pm, and 2.30 pm. The flame is received by the patriarch of Jerusalem, who then proceeds to distribute it among the priests and believers in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The whole of the Christian world is this year celebrating Easter on 20th April.

Mini-holiday. Over 24,000 employees of the Romanian Ministry of the Interior will ensure, during the Easter mini-holiday, the smooth flow of traffic, rapid intervention in emergency situations, the prevention and combating of illegal acts and the saving of lives. The staff of the Ministry of Interior will also pay attention to places of worship, where religious services will be organized. Approximately 5,000 firefighters will be prepared to intervene daily to limit the effects of emergency situations and provide first medical aid. 12 SMURD aircraft are available these days. Over 1,600 traffic police officers will pay attention to congested roads where the risk of accidents will be high.
Yuri Shchuklin, logistics expert, adviser on railway logistics to the UCAB Presidium, Head of the "Digital Ways of Freedom Association

Since the beginning of the full-scale war, Ukraine has radically re-oriented its logistical flows from Southern ports to Western border crossings, through Poland in particular, this country having become the main transit route for Ukrainian exports. I myself had brought to Poland, as early as April 2022, the equipment that allows to reload grain from wide rail tracks to narrow tracks, and organized the flow of Ukrainian grain to the ports of Szczecin and Swinoujscie, and it went farther on ships to the Baltic states. Accordingly, other Ukrainian businesses, due to Polands geographical location and that countrys infrastructure, found their way across the Baltic Sea to their traditional markets, while discovering routes by land to new markets in Germany, Spain, Portugal. However, with time, dissatisfaction grew in Polish society because of competition with Ukrainian agricultural producers which led to border blockades, political tensions, as well as to the introduction of temporary bans on transit and export from Ukraine.

Despite all the events of this story, going on since April 2023, the chance to resolve contradictions is still there. Moreover, Polands presidency in the Council of Europe provides a window of opportunities for re-thinking Ukraines role in the European Unions logistics system. Active and pragmatic advocates for the renewal and expansion of trade relations with Ukraine are those Polish businesses which emerged or got an impetus for their development due to the sharp increase of logistical and commercial interaction between our countries in 2022.

The XIII Fracht Intermodal Transport Forum (Sopot, 26-27 March), organized by the Polish-Ukrainian Industrial Chamber, saw significant attention to the topic of negative effects for the Polish business of the decrease in amounts of Ukrainian cargo flows. Polish companies which own infrastructure and process cargo have lost their income from working with Ukrainian cargo and became aware of the fact that these losses were not compensated for by Polish or any other shipments. Accordingly, the content and tone of the assessment of the influence Ukrainian shipments of Polish economy have changed. The Chairperson of the Polish-Ukrainian Industrial Chamber, Jacek Piechota, voices the need to restore trust to Poland as a transit country. Meanwhile, Polish companies which used to work with Ukrainian cargo and lost their income because of the restrictions, begin voicing requests to their government to remove barriers for the transit of Ukrainian shipments as the return of these could benefit both development and additional opportunities.

However, the problem of Polish farmers, economic competition and its social-and-political aftereffects has not disappeared from the agenda. Polish farmers, whose production is often less efficient than that of Ukrainian farmers because of a lesser scale and higher expenditure, are apprehensive that the influx of cheap Ukrainian agricultural produce, in particular, of grain, will push them out of the domestic market and will lower prices, undermining their competitiveness. For the Polish government, the problem is of a wider contest: support for farmers if not just an economic but also a social priority, as the agrarian sector provides for employment and stability in rural areas. At the same time, Poland wants to retain the role of a transit hub, collecting profits from the infrastructure, like the railways and the ports. This creates a dilemma: to allow transit and risk the farmers dissatisfaction or to continue to restrict the transit, losing economic benefits.

It is important to understand that because of the lack of modern tools of monitoring cargo flows Polish officials and farmers cannot see the wider picture. On the Ukrainian side of the border the class of small- and medium-size agrarian producers has emerged who are not competitors to Polish farmers as their activity is oriented towards direct delivery to European consumers. These farms, while adapting to war conditions, have organized their own supply channels in the EU having found niche buyers, processors or end purchasers who value the Ukrainians produce for its quality. Because of the small scale of production, they do not create surplus offer on the Polish market, while their export through Poland is of transit, not local, nature, which removes a direct threat to Polish agrarians.

This class of producers has emerged out of the necessity to survive after the full-scale war, when the traditional patterns of selling agricultural produce through large-scale traders and the Black Sea ports had become unavailable. Small and medium-sized farms, often from Ukraines Western regions, invested into their own logistics, for instance, in building narrow-track terminals close to the borders, and learned to conclude contracts with European partners independently. Their produce, like niche cultures or organic foods, meets specific needs of the EU market, not the mass demand which could be met by large Ukrainian agricultural holdings: this is their principal difference compared to their competitors who cause concern in Poland. This export model does not harm but does benefit the Poles: the transit of these cargos via Polish infrastructure, railways and the ports of Szczecin and Swinoujscie, generates stable income for participating enterprises, while not creating risks for local famers. These farms do not litter the Polish market with cheap produce but direct it farther, to Spain, Germany, or the Baltic states, which makes them ideal partners for Polands transit role. Thus, not only they integrate into the European economy but also demonstrate the model of cooperation, beneficial for both countries. This model could be expanded (and the volume of cargo, respectively, increased) if the Ukrainian farmers had an understandable system of entering external markets without intermediaries and re-sellers.

So, the helpful background is there: Poland has already experienced economic loss from the embargo on Ukrainian shipments and is prepared to seek a compromise, while Ukraine, on the other hand, needs a stable transit for its export and its future integration into Europe. The main obstacle is that Poland, as the main transit gate, does not have an opportunity to foresee the volume and directions of Ukrainian exports.

The solution is available, though: the transparent technological planning. It is possible to restore mutual trust by switching to the responsible early planning of logistics and trade, using modern digital solutions. This means:

Creating information environment where it is possible to plan and agree the volumes of production, export plans, and logistics capacities for a year or two in advance;

Introducing a digital application for Ukrainian farmers, simple and understandable, like the ticket-purchasing applications, in order to deal with direct consumers of their produce in the EU without intermediaries;

Monitoring the infrastructure and cargo flows in the real time in order to avert shocks and reloading.

This system is beneficial to both sides: Poland will have controlled forecastable cargo flows, protection of its farmers by regulating the transit of produce, as well as an additional revenue from processing Ukrainian shipments, while Ukrainian small producers will be able to avoid a dependence on re-sellers, to find new markets, to grow niche cultures, and to sell their crops abroad according to futures contracts, and to become full-fledged participants in Europes economy.

The infrastructural pre-conditions for this are already there. Part of Ukrainian producers are already integrated into the European economy: they are bringing their shipments to Baltic Sea ports by Polish railroads, they have experience, markets, and their own infrastructure next to the narrow rail tracks. They will not return to the old model dominated by traders and intermediaries. If all the Ukrainian farmers get the opportunity to sell their produce via the digital application, bypassing traders, essential changes will happen which will influence economic independence, profitability, and market prospects of this class of agricultural producers.

Firstly, farmers will be able to directly sign contracts with European purchasers or processors, receiving a higher price for their produce, because the traders intermediary margin will go away, while traditionally the traders have dictated low purchasing prices. The digital application will simplify the process of drawing documents for export operations and logistics, from planning planting to contracting railway cars: at present, this requires hiring outside specialists which makes small farmers dependent on big players. This will provide them with the ability to independently control the entire sales chain, raising their income.

Secondly, the availability of the digital tool will widen the sales markets: instead of a limited circle of local traders who only buy mass cultures like maize or wheat, the farmers will have contacts with thousands of potential buyers in the EU, prepared to purchase niche or organic produce. They will be able to react to demand in a flexible manner, growing what their customers need, not what intermediaries impose, which will expand the assortment of their produce and will raise its added value. For instance, instead of standard grain, they will be able to switch to niche beans and grain cultures prized in Europe.

Thirdly, the digital application will make the process transparent and forecastable: the farmers will know in advance how much and to whom they will sell, which will allow planning the crops and logistics for a year in advance, avoiding inactivity and losses. This will decrease their vulnerability to price fluctuations, often used by traders to their advantage, provide opportunities to sell their crops at forward contracts, build long-term relations with buyers, get more freedom in choosing their strategies, and do away with dependence on intermediaries, thus radically changing their role in Ukraines agricultural sector.

It is high time to act. Until 1 July 2025, Poland will chair the EU Council. This is the window of opportunities to raise to the agenda the issue of integrating Ukrainian logistics into the European system and to do this on the basis of new digital technologies.

It is necessary to:

Create an inter-state working group;

Adopt the methodology of taking Ukrainian agricultural shipments across the border;

Build the transparent system of administering and planning the logistics;

Bring to date the information on enterprises, production volumes, regions, and logistic capacities;

Use available IT solutions to launch a system of export planning.

Ukraines integration into the European logistics system has already started. It should be done by joint planning, transparency, and technological openness. Poland can become our reliable ally. For this, we should start with concrete solutions in the format of a digital breakthrough in agricultural logistics.
NATO continues to support Ukraine

NATOs Secretary General visited Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova.

Mark Rutte e Volodymyr Zelensky (foto: facebook.com/ NATO)

Stefan Stoica, 16.04.2025, 13:50

NATOs Secretary General visited Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Tuesday made a surprise visit to Odessa, a port city in southern Ukraine with an important strategic position, enhanced by the war that is disfiguring this country. The timing, just two days after the bloody Russian attacks on the city of Sumy, was intended to encourage Ukraine and reassure it of the support of the free world. US President Donald Trumps efforts to achieve a general ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow are not easy, said Mark Rutte. He denounced the Russian attacks against civilians in Ukraine, which he described as terrible.

These talks are not easy, especially as a result of this horrible violence, but we support all of President Trumps efforts in favor of peace, the NATO Secretary General said. He added that NATO would continue to support Ukraine, saying that the Ukrainian people have endured so much  not least the attack in Sumy on Palm Sunday, and that NATOs support is unwavering. We will continue to help Ukraine so that it can defend itself today and deter future aggression, ensuring a just and lasting peace, Rutte wrote on the X platform.

The double Russian attack in Sumy, in northeastern Ukraine, killed dozens of civilians and injured about 100. Following this attack, President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed that his country urgently needs air defense systems to protect its cities. The Ukrainian head of state also spoke out in favor of the rapid and effective preparation of a Western military contingent in Ukraine. On the other hand, the NATO Secretary General said, in an interview with a Ukrainian station, that the decision of the Washington summit in 2024 according to which Ukraines path to joining the Alliance is irreversible remains in force.

After Odessa, Mark Rutte visited Chisinau, where he had a meeting with the President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu. According to the presidency in Chisinau, the discussions between the two officials focused on security developments in the region, efforts to restore peace in Ukraine and cooperation between the Republic of Moldova and the North Atlantic Alliance, based on the new Individual Partnership Program, adopted by the Government in January 2025. The Republic of Moldova has been cooperating with NATO within the Partnership for Peace for over 30 years, a cooperation that respects the countrys constitutional status of neutrality and contributes to increasing the citizens security, the Moldovan President said. She added that the Alliances support has helped Moldova strengthen its capacity to prevent and respond to crises, modernize its security and defense institutions, and protect the information and cyberspace. (EE)
Strategic partnership reaffirmed

US and Romanian MPs advocate for strengthening the relations between the two countries

Photo: presidency.ro

Bogdan Matei, 16.04.2025, 14:00

With a new administration led by the Republican Donald Trump that excels in unexpected moves, the United States has in Congress an institution that vows stability and predictability. These goals are shared by Romania, a US ally within NATO and linked to them by two decades of strategic partnership.

Eight members of the United States Congress, both Democrats and Republicans, met on Tuesday in Bucharest with the interim president Ilie Bolojan, the PM Marcel Ciolacu, and Romanian Senators and Deputies from the ruling and opposition parties.

The Republican Congressman of Florida Vern Buchanan told local journalists that the goal of the talks is to strengthen bilateral relations and take them to another level. We have many companies here that create many jobs and we want to increase their number. Your country is important to us, he added.

The Romanian side later said that there was no talk about withdrawing the 1,700 American troops from Romania, a scenario put forth after Trumps return to the White House.

Romanias inclusion in the Visa Waiver programme, suspended by the current administration after the ex-president Joe Bidens Democratic team had scheduled it for March 2025, was another topic approached in Bucharest. We asked our US colleagues to take note of the efforts that Romania has made in recent years, as confirmed by our joining this programme; we continue to rely on their support to end this suspension as quickly as possible, the Deputy Daniel Suciu said.

After cancelling its presidential election at the end of last year, Romania has learned the necessary lessons and public institutions are committed to ensuring the fair and transparent conduct of the elections, in full accordance with democratic standards, said the interim president Ilie Bolojan, at the meeting with the members of Congress.

According to a news release from the Presidency, the main areas of the strategic partnership were addressed during the meeting, with an emphasis on security, economic cooperation and prospects for the development of the bilateral relationship.

The US delegation arrived in Romania on Monday evening from Chisinau, where the eight members of Congress met with the pro-Western president of neighbouring Moldova, Maia Sandu. She thanked the United States for its year-long support in modernising public institutions, strengthening energy resilience, and defending Moldovas sovereignty against foreign threats. (AMP)
Indian shares were little changed on Wednesday, tracking weak cues from other Asian and declines in U.S. stock futures.

The benchmark S&P/BSE Sensex was up 20 points at 76,754 while the broader NSE Nifty index was up 7 points at 23,335.

Wipro was down 0.6 percent ahead of its earnings release.

Gensol Engineering slumped 5 percent as capital market regulator barred the company and its promoters from trading, citing fund diversion.

IndusInd Bank gained 1 percent after saying an external agency has estimated a negative impact of Rs. 1,979 crores from discrepancies in its derivative transactions.

Aster DM Healthcare rallied 2 percent after the Competition Commission of India granted approval for the proposed merger of Quality Care India with the company.

Tata Consultancy Services added about 1 percent. The Andhra Pradesh government has granted 21.16 acres of land in Visakhapatnam to the company at a symbolic price of just 99 paisa.

The company intends to invest Rs. 1,370 crores in its Vizag facility and generate around 12,000 employment opportunities.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced that an agreement has been executed for a $150 million federal grant to construct a new road and Port of Entry facility for the San Diego-Baja California border region.

These investments will enhance border security by providing Customs and Border Protection with state-of-the-art inspection facilities. The new agreement also removed previous Green New Deal requirements, including a zero-emission vehicle charging provision, which was a waste of taxpayer funds and irrelevant to CBP's national security mission.

The Otay Mesa East Port of Entry project was first awarded a grant from the Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight & Highway Projects (INFRA) program in September 2022.

"We moved to finalize this deal so we can help protect our Southern border and crack down on drug trafficking while preventing tax dollars subsidizing pointless Green New Deal priorities," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy.

The Otay Mesa project will construct a new 21st century border crossing east of the existing Otay Mesa Port of Entry. This will enhance border security with state-of-the-art inspection equipment for Customs and Border Protection, a Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Facility, and the deployment of intelligent transportation technologies to manage traffic demand through dynamic tolling, increase inspection efficiency, and bolster cross border trade.

The project is expected improve the movement of freight and reduce congestion, bringing economic benefits and spurring job creation throughout Southern California, according to the Department of Transportation.

The new Port of Entry will provide an alternative for nearly 3,600 trucks that cross the existing Otay Mesa and Tecate Ports of Entry daily, which are operating at capacity.

The project facilitates freight moving across borders to destinations at nearby distribution centers and warehouses in the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and the Inland Empire's mega-distribution centers in Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
A new study published in Environmental Science & Technology has revealed that the highest levels of harmful chemicals in children's bedrooms are often concentrated near their beds.

Researchers from the University of Toronto identified children's mattresses as a significant source of chemical exposure. In a companion study, the team tested 16 new children's mattresses and confirmed they emitted toxic substances.

"We measured chemicals in the air of 25 children's bedrooms between the ages of 6 months and 4 years and found worrisome levels of more than two dozen phthalates, flame retardants and UV filters," said senior study author Miriam Diamond from the University of Toronto.

Using simulations, the researchers found that the warmth and weight of a sleeping child increased the off-gassing of these chemicals, creating a plume that can fill the bedroom air.

The study focused on chemicals such as plasticizers and phthalates, which are known to interfere with hormone function and harm the nervous and reproductive systems. Phthalates, in particular, are found in hundreds of everyday products, including food containers, shampoos, cosmetics, perfumes, and children's toys.

Despite long-standing efforts to ban these substances from children's products, regulations in North America remain limited in effectiveness. One study from 2024 estimated that exposure to phthalates alone contributed to nearly $70 billion in -related costs in 2018.

The researchers emphasized that much of the responsibility lies with manufacturers and policymakers, who must act to eliminate dangerous plasticizers and flame retardants from products intended for children.

The study offered some precautionary steps to help reduce exposure. These include regularly washing and changing bed sheets and blankets, removing excess toys and blankets from the sleeping area, and avoiding brightly colored bedding for children.

Ultimately, the scientists stressed that although caregivers can take small measures to limit exposure, the root of the problem requires systemic change. Diamond emphasized that the study is "a wake-up call for manufacturers and policymakers to ensure our children's beds are safe."

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Some of the new reses at Rhodes University

Following years of sustained water challenges that at times threatened the academic project and the sustainability of the University, Rhodes University is making significant progress in its efforts to reduce reliance on municipal water supply and ensure long-term water security on its campus. The Universitys world-renowned Institute for Water Research (IWR), in partnership with groundwater experts Groundwater Consulting Services (GCS), have been investigating alternative water sources and infrastructure improvements to create a sustainable and resilient water system in support of Rhodes Universitys research and academic projects.

A multi-faceted approach to water security

The Universitys interdisciplinary water security plan is being developed through scientific, engineering, and people-centric processes. to assess the potential for harnessing a supplemental water supply for the University.

This is a very exciting undertaking for the Institute for Water Research, head of hydrology at the institute, Dr Jane Tanner says. This mission-critical project is an opportunity to give back to the University because we are invested in Rhodes Universitys long-term water security and continued success. It was also an opportunity to apply our research at home and to collaborate across disciplines to deliver value.

The scientific assessment of the project's feasibility has been completed, providing a foundation for the engineering and policy steps that are now underway. Specialist research conducted to date has focused on three potential supplemental water sources:

Rainwater harvesting  While rainwater collection from rooftops was evaluated, findings suggest it is not a viable standalone solution due to Makhandas unpredictable rainfall patterns. However, it may be useful for ablution. Greywater reuse  Treated greywater (from showers and basins) has been identified as a cost-effective solution for irrigation and ablution. For optimum reuse of greywater infrastructure upgrades, semi-centralised treatment systems and dual plumbing have been identified as priorities. Groundwater supplementation  Based on GCS' detailed groundwater survey of the campus, the Witteberg Quartzite aquifer was identified as the most suitable water supply for the University. GCS' advanced 3D groundwater model further showed that existing boreholes could be part of the demand, with additional boreholes needed for a full campus solution. Water treatment is part of the plan to ensure safety and compliance with drinking water standards.

Dr Tanner says analysing the different supplemental supply options for Rhodes University is not a simple undertaking. For all of these options, we did very detailed analysis, she notes. Groundwater supplementation showed great promise for supporting Rhodes Universitys longer-term water security.

The University sits on top of a very good water aquifer with potential for supporting the University in the environment with little adverse impact on the surrounding community, says Dr Tanner.

Phased Implementation Plan

The University is taking a structured approach to implementing its water security plan:

Phase one : Focuses on the upper campus, which already has an independent water distribution system owned by the University. This phase will incorporate groundwater extraction and treatment, addressing around one-third of the Universitys water needs.

: Focuses on the upper campus, which already has an independent water distribution system owned by the University. This phase will incorporate groundwater extraction and treatment, addressing around one-third of the Universitys water needs. Phase two: Will tackle the the rest of the campus and introduce greywater reuse where feasible. This phase will be more complex as the lower campus is integrated into the municipal supply, requiring new infrastructure.

Next steps: licensing and feasibility study

To proceed with groundwater use, the University has begun securing a Water Use Licence from the Department of Water and Sanitation. This involves regulatory approval, stakeholder engagement, and environmental impact assessments.

Simultaneously, a feasibility study is being prepared to finalise the technical details and costs of implementation. This will include:

Identifying precise borehole locations through geophysical surveys.

Upgrading the campus water distribution network.

Designing new reservoirs for raw and treated groundwater storage.

Developing a modular water treatment plant.

Setting up a comprehensive monitoring system for water quality and usage.

A sustainable future

Rhodes Universitys initiative aligns with the commitment to environmental sustainability outlined in its Institutional Development Plan. By integrating groundwater use with efficient infrastructure and water-saving measures, the University is taking proactive steps to ensure a reliable water supply for students, staff, and research facilities.

While challenges remain, the progress made so far marks an important step towards a water-secure future for Rhodes University.

It is important to note that Rhodes University has always positioned itself as not just the university in Makhanda but, importantly, the university for Makhanda. The university will not cease its ongoing efforts to work for the improvement of the greater Makana municipality and all its communities.

Editorial notes:

Find a video clip of Dr Tanner explaining the considerations for Rhodes Universitys secure water future here.

A more detailed article explaining the scientific research can be accessed here.
In a proud moment for Indian automotive manufacturing, the Honda Elevate has secured a 5-star safety rating in the Japan NCAP (JNCAP) crash tests. Manufactured in India and exported to Japan, where it is sold as the WR-V, the SUV has scored an impressive 176.23 out of 193.8 points under the JNCAPs 2024 evaluation protocol.

Safety Performance Highlights:

 Preventive Safety: Rated at 95% with 82.22 out of 85.8 points

 Collision Safety: Rated at 86% with 86.01 out of 100 points

 Automatic Emergency Call System: Full score of 8/8

 Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB): Level 5/5 performance in all tested conditions  including pedestrian detection during both day and night, and cyclist detection

 Offset Frontal and Side Crash Protection: Level 5/5

 Rear Impact Neck Protection (Front and Rear Seats): Level 4/5

 Pedestrian Head and Leg Protection: Level 4/5 and 5/5 respectively

WR-V (Elevate) Scores 90% Overall Safety

According to the official Japan NCAP test report, the WR-V (Z+ variant) scored an impressive 176.23 out of 193.8, which translates to an overall score of 90% and a 5-star safety rating.

 Collision Safety Performance: The vehicle scored 86.01 out of 100 in collision tests, which is rated at 86% (Grade A).

 Preventive Safety Performance: It achieved 82.22 out of 85.8, marking a 95% score (Grade A).

 Emergency Call System Test: The WR-V also earned full marks  8 out of 8 (100%) for its automatic emergency call (eCall) functionality.

Advanced Safety Tech Validated

The tests included pedestrian protection systems and Automatic Emergency Braking System (AEBS). The WR-V consistently demonstrated full-speed collision avoidance at 10 km/h, 20 km/h, and 45 km/h, and showed robust lane departure prevention with a 100% success rate in test scenarios. It uses a monocular camera as the primary sensor for advanced safety systems like Forward Collision Warning (FCWS) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW).

Built for Safety Inside and Out

The WR-V also impressed with its occupant protection. Crash test dummies placed in both front and rear seats showed minimal injury values, confirming the strong structural integrity and safety design. Pedestrian safety was also evaluated, and the WR-V received Level 5/5 scores for leg and head protection, along with full marks for the performance of its autonomous emergency braking systems.

A Global Success for a Local Product

This milestone underlines how India-made vehicles are not only capable of meeting domestic demand but are also well-suited for international safety standards. Honda Cars Indias facility has already been exporting the Elevate to Japan, and this 5-star NCAP rating could boost global trust in Indian-built models. With growing safety expectations among Indian buyers as well, this globally validated safety benchmark could further enhance Elevates appeal in its home market too.
Since its launch, the Ukrainian maritime route has transported 116 million tonnes of cargo, including nearly 73 million tonnes of grain, according to Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration and Minister for Communities and Territories Development, Oleksiy Kuleba.

"Since the Ukrainian maritime route began operating, 116 million tonnes of cargo have been shipped, including over 73 million tonnes of grain to Europe, Africa, and Asia," Kuleba wrote on Facebook following President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to Odesa region.

He also noted that since summer 2023, Russia has launched more than 500 missile strikes on Ukrainian ports, damaging around 400 port infrastructure facilities.

Kuleba took part in the working trip, according to the Ministry's press release. During his visit to Odesa, President Zelenskyy chaired a meeting focused on regional security and socio-economic development. Key topics included civilian safety, protection of Odesa's airspace from Russian attacks, grain exports, support for local businesses, and humanitarian needs.

"Protecting port infrastructure is crucial  it's a matter of Ukraine's economy and global food security," Kuleba said, adding that fortifying defenses against Russian attacks and ensuring the route's stable operation are vital for the region's producers.

Efforts are ongoing to strengthen Odesa's air defense shield. The government is also working on comprehensive safety guarantees across sea, air, and land routes, Kuleba said.

Back in March, the Ministry reported that 106 million tonnes of cargo had been transported via the route, including about 70 million tonnes of grain.

It was also reported that NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visited Odesa on Tuesday alongside President Zelenskyy.
Launched as Indias first Internet SUV, MG Hector has been a notable D-Segment SUV ever since it went on sale. The company updated Hector periodically and has introduced special editions to offer something unique to buyers. To boost sales further, MG has come up with Midnight Carnival offer that will offer benefits of up to Rs 4 lakh and much more.

MG Hector Discounts  Midnight Carnival Campaign

In the Indian automotive market, MG Motor India is known to come up with unique and attractive strategies. BaaS pricing schemes is a notable strategy introduced by MG that has clicked rather well, positioning MG Windsor EV as Indias best-selling electric car, overthrowing previous hot-favourites from Tata Motors.

Now, MG Motor has introduced something called Midnight Carnival offer to boost sales. This is a dedicated campaign for its Hector Internet SUV ensuring buyers get a redefined car-buying experience and get unmatched convenience. This campaign is expected to boost Hector sales against Tata Harrier & Safari along with Mahindra XUV700.

As per Midnight Carnival campaign, MG Motor will operate its authorised dealerships till midnight (12 AM) every weekend for a limited period of time. This unlocks convenience for buyers as they can now easily schedule their visits out of their busy timetable. Under this campaign, 20 lucky MG Hector buyers will win a dream trip to London.

Along with that, JSW MG Motor India is also offering exclusive benefits of up to Rs 4 lakh to Hector buyers. Other benefits under the Midnight Carnival include an extended warranty of 2 years / 1 lakh km in addition to 3 year warranty, 2 extra years of RSA for 5 year worry-free ownership and more. For currently registered Hector vehicles, MG is offering 50% RTO cost benefits and access to genuine MG Accessories.

Visiting your nearest MG dealership for finer details and eligibility for benefits is advised. This D-Segment SUV continues to be offered in 5-seater (Hector) along with 6-seater and 7-seater (Hector Plus) configs. Special editions with Hector include Blackstorm for Black theme and Snowstorm for White theme colourways.

Statement from MG Motor

Commenting on the campaign, Rakesh Sen, Head of Sales, JSW MG Motor India said, The MG Hector has always been the model of choice for SUV lovers in India, and our Midnight Carnival is a unique celebration of that legacy. By combining irresistible offers with memorable experiences, were creating opportunities for both our current and future customers to be part of something truly special.

Also read  MG Gloster spied undisguised
Akbar Novruz Read more

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, in a recent address to the National Assembly, claimed that Armenia and Azerbaijan have completed negotiations on a draft peace agreement and are now entering the phase of signing it. He expressed his readiness to sign the document on behalf of the people of Armenia and proposed that both countries simultaneously sign a joint petition to dissolve the OSCE Minsk Groupan initiative he framed as a necessary step to close the chapter on the Garabagh conflict.

While Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan recently declared that peace talks with Azerbaijan have reached the signing phase, a closer look reveals that Yerevan is once again resorting to manipulative tacticsparticularly around the issue of the OSCE Minsk Group.

Despite the group's long-standing irrelevance following Azerbaijans full restoration of its territorial integrity, Armenia continues to play games around its formal dissolution. In his latest remarks, Pashinyan proposed a joint signing of the peace treaty and a petition to dissolve the Minsk Group. Undoubtedly, it is a big and a positive sign. On the surface, this may appear to reflect a desire for closure. In reality, its a diplomatic trap.

Mechanism of conflict dressed as diplomacy

The Minsk Group, in its current form, serves no constructive purpose. As long as it exists, it acts as a shadow over the process, preserving the illusion of an unresolved conflict. Armenia knows this. Its refusal to decisively endorse the group's dissolution only prolongs the status quo. Yerevan, despite lacking the strategic leverage to dictate terms, is trying to use this mechanism as a bargaining chipfailing to acknowledge that it is no longer in a position to do so.

Constitutional contradictions and selective interpretations

Another layer of this manipulation lies in Armenias constitutional stance. The preamble to its Declaration of Independence includes a direct reference to the unification of Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia. This language is not symbolic; it has had real legal implications. For instance, in 1998, Armenias Constitutional Court deemed that Robert Kocharyan, despite residing in Garabagh, met the residency requirement to run for presidentblurring the line between Armenia and Azerbaijani territory.

If Yerevan is serious about peace, a constitutional amendment is essential. Similar steps have been taken in global precedents. Ireland, for example, revised its constitutional claim to Northern Ireland via a referendum in 1998 to advance its peace process with the UK. Likewise, North Macedonia held a referendum on its name changean unpopular but necessary move to resolve regional disputes.

Meanwhile, Armenias attempts to drag Azerbaijans Constitution into the discussion fall flat. There are no territorial claims against Armenia in any Azerbaijani state documentnot in the Constitution, nor in the Declaration of Independence. Even references to the First Republic of 1918-1920 have been taken out of context. If that line of argument were valid, Georgias own Declarationreferencing its 1918-1920 republic when it controlled parts of modern Armeniawould provoke similar concerns, which it does not.

Pashinyan also insists that the dissolution of the Minsk Group requires OSCE consensus. However, Armenia, along with its traditional backers France and the United States (under the Biden administration), already opposed the group's termination at the 2024 OSCE Ministerial Council in Malta. If the matter were raised again, the same trio would likely block consensus. This reveals the real concern: preserving the Minsk Group as a diplomatic lever, not a peacebuilding tool.

The time for games is over. For any peace treaty to be durable, the Minsk Group must be formally dissolved. Half-measures or conditional proposals will only serve to stall the process further. Unless Armenia meets Azerbaijans key conditionsstarting with constitutional clarity and dismantling outdated diplomatic structurespeace will remain a mirage.

There are no alternative paths forward. Azerbaijan has moved beyond the post-Soviet frameworks that allowed frozen conflicts to linger. Its time for Armeniaand its alliesto do the same.
Forests of Ukraine to invest UAH 20 mln in restoration of 10,000 ha of 'collective farm' forests in Rivne region in 2025

The state enterprise Forests of Ukraine will invest UAH 20 million in the restoration of former collective farm forest lands - the so-called "peasant forest" in Rivne region in 2025, the press service of the state enterprise reported.

Forests of Ukraine recalled that in the 2000s, some 6,000 hectares of forest were transferred to the state, which allowed to preserve part of the plantations. However, about 10,000 hectares remained in a "suspended state" for a long time, were subjected to illegal logging and fires. In 2024, Rivne regional military administration transferred the remains of these forests to the state enterprise Forests of Ukraine. During the inventory, representatives of the state enterprise recorded 500,000 trees. The amount of damage caused in the "farmers' forest" was estimated at UAH 3.41 billion, which is an anti-record in terms of the volume of illegal logging and the amount of damage caused.

"Investments in the restoration, protection and care of the forest in the next 5 years will amount to almost UAH 20 million. These are the own funds of the state enterprise Forests of Ukraine. Thanks to the centralization of forestry management, we now have the opportunity for such investments. Financial support from the company is received not only by the subsidized south and east, but also by such resource regions as Rivne region," Yuriy Bolokhovets, General Director of Forests of Ukraine, reported on Facebook.

According to him, there are currently over 700,000 ha of such "nobody's" forests without a forest user. Forests of Ukraine is ready to take up their restoration and protection, which requires approval from local authorities and communities.

Head of Rivne Regional Administration Oleksandr Koval expressed confidence on Facebook that "transferring these territories to the use of Forests of Ukraine should radically change the situation", because the problem arose precisely because of the lack of a permanent forest user.

In the first area, seedlings with a closed root system have already been planted using modern technology: instead of pure coniferous plantations vulnerable to fires, pests and climate change, mixed, more stable forests will appear in Rivne region, which will include both coniferous and deciduous tree species.

In Rivne region, a program of forest restoration after the "amber fever" of 20152017 is also underway. Some 4,200 ha of forest were affected by illegal logging. Currently, part of these territories has been transferred for legal extraction. These are the lands of local communities - Forests of Ukraine is involved as a contractor, which carries out work on planting a forest on reclaimed areas.

The state enterprise expressed interest in ensuring that the planted forest is properly cared for and protected.

"We appeal to communities to voluntarily transfer such forests to the state forest fund, which guarantees its preservation," the director general of Forests of Ukraine urged.
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/

Since the beginning of the day, 87 combat clashes have occurred, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports in operational information as of 22:00 on Tuesday.

"Today, the Russian invaders carried out 76 air strikes on the positions of our troops and populated areas, dropping 119 guided aerial bombs. In addition, they used 1,234 kamikaze drones for destruction and carried out almost five thousand attacks," the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports.

According to information from the General Staff, the situation today was hot in Lymany (14 attacks), Kursk (11 battles, one of which is still ongoing), and Pokrovsk directions, where the aggressor carried out 16 assault actions by the enemy, and another six combat clashes are ongoing.
Are there areas of the brain, which regulate prosocial, altruistic behaviour? Together with colleagues from the universities in Lausanne, Utrecht and Cape Town, researchers from Heinrich Heine University Dusseldorf (HHU) have studied a very special group of patients and established that the "basolateral amygdala" (part of the limbic system) plays an important role in this. In the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), they describe that this region calibrates social behaviour.

Prosocial behaviour, i.e. helping others, is a cornerstone of human interaction. Yet, the neuronal mechanisms that determine this behaviour vis-a-vis different social constellations are not yet fully understood, so the question remains: How does prosocial behaviour change depending on how much, or little, decision-makers care about each other emotionally?

Researching this objectively is no easy task. However, a special research environment presented itself in South Africa. Professor Dr Tobias Kalenscher, head of the "Comparative Psychology" research team at HHU and lead author of the study in PNAS: "It was a unique opportunity to work on site with a group of patients who suffer from the extremely rare 'Urbach-Wiethe Disease'."

This disease causes selective damage to the so-called basolateral amygdala (for short: BLA) without impacting other areas of the brain. The emotional life and social behaviour of Urbach-Wiethe subjects differ. Above all, they find it difficult to recognise the emotional meaning of facial expressions. There are less than 150 known cases worldwide, but a larger group of Urbach-Wiethe subjects lives in Namaqualand in northern South Africa.

"These patients represent a quasi-natural experimental environment for questions about prosocial behaviour," adds Professor Kalenscher. "In the case of these individuals, exactly those areas of the brain are affected, which are believed to play a key role in compassionate behaviour toward others."

The researchers from Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and South Africa conducted so-called "dictator games" with the study participants -- a special constellation from game theory in which the participants are asked to distribute sums of money. The participants were allowed to decide how much money they wanted to share with other people -- close friends, acquaintances, neighbours or strangers.

Luca M. Lupken, co-author of the study and doctoral researcher at HHU: "The results were clear: Individuals with BLA damage were just as generous toward people they were close to as healthy control participants. However, as soon as it came to individuals with whom they had less of an emotional connection, they were notably more selfish."

The study authors therefore conclude that the BLA is not fundamentally necessary for altruism, but that it helps regulate the degree of generosity depending on the social distance between individuals. If this form of calibration is missing, the natural tendency to prioritise personal well-being over that of others dominates, meaning that affected individuals tend to act more selfishly. Only a strong emotional attachment -- like that between best friends -- brings about greater generosity.

Lupken: "Our study shows that the amygdala does not generally promote or inhibit prosocial behaviour, but rather regulates when and to what extent we act in a prosocial way." These findings explain the biological foundations for human social behaviour. They can also be important for gaining a better understanding of other conditions such as autism or psychopathy where social decisions are often different from those of healthy people.

Professor Kalenscher places the findings in a wider context: "Social decisions are not only shaped by our upbringing or culture. They are in fact also strongly anchored in the mechanisms of our brain. In the future, it may be possible to develop targeted therapies to help individuals with social behaviour issues regulate their decision-making processes better."
UC Santa Cruz Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies Scott Winton has been wading through thick, smelly muck in the tropics for almost a decade. He wouldn't have it any other way. As a wetland ecologist and biogeochemist, he's been hard at work investigating an important and mysterious topic: peatlands.

Peatlands are a special type of wetland with enormous potential to either help or hurt global efforts to address climate change. If we want peatlands on our side, we'll have to protect them. But that's difficult to do, since we still don't yet know how many of them exist or where they are.

Winton's latest research, published in the journal Environmental Research Letters provides the first data-driven map of both newly documented and predicted peatland areas across Colombia's eastern lowlands. Institutions including ETH Zurich, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, and Stanford University contributed to the research. Winton is lead author, and senior author Alison Hoyt is an Assistant Professor of Earth System Science at Stanford.

Winton and the team estimate that the region contains somewhere between 7,370 and 36,200 square kilometers of peatlands. Protecting these ecosystems could help Colombia reduce its carbon emissions as part of international climate change agreements.

Carbon emissions are the excessive amounts of carbon dioxide gas released into the atmosphere by human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas. When excess carbon dioxide builds up in the atmosphere, it acts like a heat trapping blanket, warming our planet and resulting in climate change. To address the problem, we mainly need to reduce our use of fossil fuels. But it's also important to conserve key ecosystems that naturally act as "carbon sinks," trapping and storing some of our emissions underground.

That's where peatlands come in. Peatlands are great at capturing carbon because their perpetually soggy soils deprive decomposer organisms of the oxygen they need to fully break down dead plants. Normally, plants absorb some carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and incorporate the carbon into their tissues, then when the plants die, decomposers digest them, releasing carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere. But in peatlands, the decomposition process grinds to a halt, so over time, a large amount of carbon accumulates and remains trapped in peat soils in the form of partially decomposed organic matter.

In Colombia, Winton's team found that the average per-area carbon densities in peatlands are four to 10 times higher than in the Amazon rainforest. This finding tracks with what scientists know about the carbon sequestration abilities of peatlands in other parts of the world.

"On a global scale, peatlands cover only 3% of land surface but store more carbon than all of the world's trees," Winton explained. "We tend to focus on trees when we think about natural capacity to remove some of the excess carbon dioxide from our atmosphere, but peatlands punch way above their weight in terms of carbon storage."

Essentially, peatlands are like unsung heroes that have been working behind the scenes to help buffer the impact of our fossil fuel emissions. But there's a catch. Peatlands can only continue to store carbon if they remain consistently wet. When peatlands are drained for agriculture or other development, decomposer organisms in the soil get right back to work breaking down the partially decomposed organic matter in peat soils, releasing stored carbon into the atmosphere. Dried out peatlands can also catch fire, rapidly releasing their carbon stores.

Unfortunately, this scenario is currently playing out in some parts of the world.

"There has recently been mass drainage of peatlands for agriculture in Southeast Asia, resulting in soil compaction and subsidence and catastrophic wildfires that become a huge source of carbon to the atmosphere," Winton said. "Indonesia, for example, is actually a huge outlier in terms of their emissions relative to GDP because of these types of land conversion. And once peatlands are destroyed, they can take 1,000 years to recover lost soil carbon, so it really demonstrates the importance of working proactively to protect these ecosystems."

One of the major challenges in protecting peatlands is that they're not always easily distinguishable from other types of wetlands based on their surface appearances. Documenting them requires careful investigation, but they remain understudied in many parts of the world. In Colombia, for example, five decades of civil war previously made many parts of the country inaccessible for ecological research. Peace agreements have now made research possible, but the country is also experiencing rapid environmental degradation, meaning there's a good chance that peatlands are being destroyed before they can even be identified.

Finding Colombia's peatlands and slowing the rate of their destruction could prevent the release of significant carbon stores, reducing the nation's overall carbon emissions. With that goal in mind, Winton and a team of researchers set out in search of peat. Starting in regions identified by a global predictive map for wetlands, they talked with local people to get a sense for what plant communities might be associated with peatlands. Then they used satellite imagery to find promising areas to visit and investigate. It was a difficult, but ultimately rewarding process that spanned three years.

"We visited a lot of wetlands without finding any peat, and we kind of had to stumble around and struggle a bit before we figured out how to find what we were looking for," Winton recalls. "One day we were swimming through chest-deep water in this swamp, and I remember diving down under the flood water to grab a handful of soil. That's when we found our first peat, and we realized we were finally in the right place."

Winton and his team ended up finding peat soils at 51 of the more than 100 wetland sites they visited. At each site where they found peat, they collected soil samples and detailed data on water conditions and plant communities. They identified two specific types of Colombian peatlands -- palm swamps, and white-sand peatlands -- both with forested and open variations. White-sand peatlands had not previously been documented in South America. Winton's team described them as permanently wet areas forested by thin-stemmed and often stunted trees, growing in up to two meters of peat soil atop white sand.

The team's new observations about the characteristics of Colombia's peatlands allowed them to build an improved predictive model, showing where additional peatlands likely exist across Colombia's lowlands. Researchers also analyzed the soil samples they collected in order to determine their carbon content. Taken together, these results allowed the team to estimate that Colombia's peatlands may currently be sequestering an amount of carbon equivalent to 70 years worth of the country's emissions from fossil fuels and industry.

Winton hopes that improved understanding of the value of these peatland resources and where they might be distributed could help local scientists and the Colombian government continue the work to identify and protect more of the country's peatlands.

"There are many places across Colombia and around the world where we could still find large peatlands that we didn't know existed that would totally upend current assumptions," Winton said. "We really need more research across the tropics to groundtruth and identify the distribution of peatlands, so that we can prioritize their conservation globally with a more complete picture."
The Government has created conditions for the launch of the System for Recording Non-Material Damage, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said during a Cabinet meeting on 15 April.

This primarily concerns the killings of civilians by Russians, those missing under special circumstances, the loss of parents by children, and harm caused by internal displacement. The system will be integrated with other registers and databases and will be managed by the Ministry of Social Policy, Shmyhal noted.

According to Shmyhal, efforts are underway to ensure all 45 categories of the Register of Damage are available by the end of the year.

We are consistently implementing the principle of russia will pay. We are establishing an international compensation mechanism, within which the Register of Damage is already operational. Nine categories are open for Ukrainians to submit claims, he stated.
Rubio, Witkoff to visit France this week for talks on Ukraine, Iran, trade  media

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trumps special envoy tasked with ending the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, are expected to travel to Paris later this week, Politico wrote on Wednesday, citing its own sources familiar with preparations for the trip.

Witkoff is set to meet French President Emmanuel Macron while Rubio will speak with his French counterpart, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot  The two sides will discuss Ukraine, Iran and trade relations in the wake of Trumps tariff threats, the message reads.

The ezine notes that the trip marks the first time high-level American dignitaries have traveled to France since U.S. Vice-President JD Vance attended a summit on artificial intelligence in February.

Tariffs are expected to be high on the agenda. Last week, Macron said Trumps move to suspend his most punishing tariffs for 90 days offers only a fragile pause in tensions, the publication says.

After Paris, Rubio will head to Africa, according to an unnamed U.S. official.
Swedish MFA: These are not acts of country that seeks peace

The Swedish Foreign Ministry has summoned the Russian ambassador in connection with the aggressor country's attacks on Ukraine, Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Stenergard said.

Today we summoned Russia's Ambassador to Sweden in view of Russias continued aggression against Ukraine and attacks against Ukrainian cities and civilians. These are not the acts of a country that seeks peace, Stenergard said on X Tuesday.

She said her country's government was calling on Russia to immediately withdraw its troops from Ukrainian territory.

The Swedish Government wants to see a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and will support Ukraine as long as it takes, the minister added.
The occupiers lost 200 servicemen and nine units of equipment in Pokrovsk direction alone, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported in operational information as of 22:00 on Tuesday.

"Today, in this direction, according to preliminary data, 200 occupiers were neutralized, 99 of them irretrievably. Also destroyed were nine vehicles, three motor vehicles, 15 UAVs, nine UAV control points, an electronic warfare station and a satellite communications station. In addition, four cars, three motorcycles, and one self-propelled artillery unit of the Russians were damaged," the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports.
Barratt Redrow said in an update on Wednesday that it remained on track to deliver full-year home completions in the range of 16,800 to 17,200, including around 600 joint venture homes, as it reported a stable trading performance in the 13 weeks to 30 March.

The FTSE 100 housebuilder also noted encouraging progress in integrating Redrow following last years merger.

It said its net private reservation rate excluding private rental sector and multi-unit sales rose slightly to 0.62 per active outlet per week, up from 0.61 a year earlier.

Including those bulk sales, the rate was 0.63, down from 0.65, reflecting reduced private rented sector and multi-unit activity in the period.

The group completed 3,717 homes, marginally ahead of the 3,662 delivered a year earlier, bringing year-to-date completions to 10,563.

Forward sales volumes fell 10.1% year-on-year to 10,245 homes, but the value of the private order book rose 3.3% to 2.24bn due to modest price growth and sales mix.

Overall forward sales, including joint ventures, stood at 3.14bn, down from 3.20bn, and the group said it was now 93% forward sold for the 2025 financial year.

The Redrow integration was meanwhile progressing well, the company said, with nine divisional office closures either completed or underway and nine planning applications submitted for incremental sales outlets.

Barratt Redrow said it was targeting 100m in cost synergies from the merger and expects to open 45 additional outlets by the end of the 2028 financial year.

Procurement and system integration efforts were also gathering pace.

The company reported a net cash position of approximately 508m as of 30 March, with its 700m revolving credit facility undrawn.

A 50m share buyback programme began in February, with 17m executed by the end of March.

While macroeconomic uncertainty had increased, the firm said it was encouraged by the UK governments ongoing commitment to supporting housebuilding and reiterated its confidence in delivering sustainable growth.

Our customer focus and unique offering across the Barratt, David Wilson and Redrow brands have continued to drive homebuyer demand and performance this quarter, leaving us well placed to deliver housing volumes in line with our full year guidance, said chief executive officer David Thomas.

The operational integration of Barratt and Redrow is nearing completion, and we are making good progress on both cost and revenue synergies.

In addition to realising the power of our differentiated brands, we are also focused on unlocking the full potential of our enhanced land position.

That had been further supported by the government's proposed planning reforms, Thomas added.

The fundamentals for our industry remain strong, with a clear need for new homes across all tenures and a national focus on accelerating delivery.

We have the scale, industry partnerships and unrivalled credentials in quality, service and sustainability required to capture the opportunities ahead and deliver growth.

At 0817 BST, shares in Barratt Redrow were up 1.15% at 432.6p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
In a significant change to make user experience easier, Google has stated that it will eventually eliminate country-specific domain names for its Search service and send all users across the globe to a single domain google.com. This shift brings an end to a tradition where users from various countries accessed search results through localized domains like google.co.uk, google.fr, or google.co.in.

The update, rolling out gradually, is an indicator of Google's overall push toward unifying its platform and ensuring consistency. Even though the URLs will now point to google.com by default, users will not get search results based on their actual-time location. So the person who happens to be browsing Google Search in Japan will keep getting results appropriate for Japan even though the domain shows google.com.

This is not an abrupt change in the delivery of results. From 2017, Google already utilized the physical locations of users to assess relevance in search instead of exclusively being based on domain extensions. The future adjustment simply brings the structure of domains in line with the already-established practice, thus improving the experience for users regardless of their geographical location.

Google assured users that the change will not affect the way it deals with legal obligations or region-specific content. Visibility and accessibility of content will continue to abide by local laws and regulations, even though the URL now displays google.com rather than a country-specific domain.

But users who have personalized settings like language or region options might need to reset their settings after the transition. Google said that the changes would be required for certain users who depend on customized setups based on country domains.

AI-powered tools in Search has reduced the importance of domain extensions. Rather, location data in real time is now the key driver for providing personalized search results. By removing country-coded domains, Google wants to simplify the Search experience and concentrate on what is most important providing accurate, relevant, and timely results wherever the user is. The technology giant feels that the increasing power of mobile use andin Search has reduced the importance of domain extensions. Rather, location data in real time is now the key driver for providing personalized search results. By removing country-coded domains, Google wants to simplify the Search experience and concentrate on what is most important providing accurate, relevant, and timely results wherever the user is.

As the rollout has already begun, Google users worldwide can now look forward to seeing the change in full swing over the next few months, ending a virtual age of localized Google web addresses.
A 2024 shooting incident was resolved Monday in state Supreme Court, St. George, when a 20-year-old defendant pleaded guilty to attempted possession of a fireaerm. Jan Somma-Hammel

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A Stapleton man, 20, pleaded guilty Monday in connection with a shooting incident in his neighborhood.

According to his attorney, the upcoming prison sentence marks the start of a new beginning.
A 3-year-old child accidentally drowned Monday night in a family swimming pool at a home in Union County, authorities said.

Police said the drowning occurred in the evening hours at a residence on Elmer Place in Hillside.

As of right now, it appears accidental, a police spokesperson said, adding the investigation remains open.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more children ages 1 to 4 die from drowning than any other cause of death.

Nonfatal drowning can result in long-term health problems and costly hospital stays, according to the CDC.
(Extended)

The Verkhovna Rada has extended the martial law, reported MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak (Holos faction).

"The Parliament ... approved No. 13172 ... - extension until August 6 ... of martial law," Zhelezniak wrote on Telegram on Wednesday.

According to him, 357 deputies voted for bill No. 13172 on the approval of the presidential decree "On extending the term of martial law in Ukraine" at a plenary session of parliament on Wednesday.

According to the law, the martial law will be extended for 90 days, from 5:30 a.m. on May 9.

Later, Zhelezniak reported that bill No. 13173 "On extending the term of general mobilization" was supported by 346 deputies. Only Honcharenko voted against again, and MP from the Servant of the People party Heorhiy Mazurashu abstained.

"The Rada adopted bill No. 13173 - extension of the general mobilization until August 6," Zhelezniak wrote on Telegram on Wednesday.

The law also extends the period of general mobilization by 90 days from May 9.

Zhelezniak recalled that the parliament of this convocation has already voted 15 times to extend the terms of martial law and general mobilization since the beginning of the full-scale aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

As reported earlier, MP Oleksiy Honcharenko said that on Wednesday he would vote against extending mobilization and martial law. Among the reasons he cited were the lack of a demobilization procedure and terms of service for the military, as well as the mobilization of citizens "on the streets" and the lack of "adequate recruitment."

However, MP of the same faction, a member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Iryna Friz, stated that these bills are "a clear signal to the aggressor against the backdrop of quasi-negotiations on peaceful ideas of different parties; Ukraine chooses to fight."

Head of the Servant of the People faction, David Arakhamia, called the deputies who spoke out against extending martial law "cosmonauts from the Verkhovna Rada" and noted that they were making such statements after the Russian occupiers' strikes on Sumy and Kryvyi Rih, as well as during the enemy offensive. "There are no words. Only letters, mostly from the end of the alphabet. War fatigue is taking its toll after an exhausting foreign mission," he joked.
The Administration for Children's Services hosted a "Planting Pinwheels for Prevention" event in City Hall Park for "National Child Abuse Prevention Month." (Courtesy of The Administration for Children's Services) The Administration for Children's Services

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  In recognition of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, the NYC Administration for Childrens Services is hosting events to raise awareness about the supportive resources available to families.

Earlier this month, the administration hosted a Planting Pinwheels for Prevention event in City Hall Park to symbolize the citys commitment to child safety and family well-being.

The pinwheel, a national symbol for child abuse prevention, represents the joy, innocence, and whimsy of childhood. Across the country, organizations will plant pinwheels throughout April to oppose child abuse and advocate for services that keep families supported and children safe.

There is no greater responsibility than ensuring our littlest New Yorkers are safe and their families have everything they need to help them grow and thrive, and thats why during National Child Abuse Prevention Month  and every month of the year  we are doing all we can to make sure New Yorkers know about the resources available to them, said Jess Dannhauser, Commissioner of the NYC Administration for Childrens Services.

A coalition of city leaders and partner organizations, such as NYC Parks and the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development, also backed the event at City Hall Park.

At NYC Parks, we know that access to safe, welcoming green spaces is essential to the well-being of all New Yorkersespecially our youngest residents, said NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue. Parks are places where children can play freely, families can bond, and communities can grow stronger together. These pinwheels are a powerful symbol of the joy, innocence, and safety every child deserves.

In honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month, Staten Island Borough Hall will be lit blue on April 29, the color of child abuse prevention.

On April 9, 14 state landmarks were lit blue to raise awareness of the states prevention efforts to protect children and families.

The landmarks and buildings in the NYC tri-state area that New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, announced were illuminated include:

One World Trade Center

Kosciuszko Bridge

MTA LIRR - East End Gateway at Penn Station

Moynihan Train Hall

Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge

The Franklin D. Roosevelt Mid-Hudson Bridge

My top priority is ensuring the safety and well-being of all New Yorkers - especially our children, said Hochul. By working together, we can ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive in a safe and nurturing environment. I am committed to elevating the voices of survivors, and supporting families and advocates, as well as law enforcement, as we work to advance bold initiatives to prevent child abuse in New York State.

The NYC Administration for Childrens Services partners with over 100 prevention programs citywide and serves around 15,000 families in 2023 alone.

In recent years, the administration has strengthened collaboration with city agencies like NYC Public Schools, the Department of Homeless Services, and NYC Health + Hospitals to train staff and broaden access to early intervention services.

The administration will continue its awareness campaign throughout the month, hosting events aimed at bringing families together, building community connections, and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to grow up in a safe, loving environment.

Families can access these resources by calling the administrations prevention support line at 212-676-7667 or visiting www.nyc.gov/ForFamilies.
In this photo a Honda sustained rear end damage after a Hyundai careened into it while parked at the corner of Wainwright and Petrus avenues on Wednesday. (Advance/SILive.com | Shaina McLawrence) Shaina McLawrence

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Eltingville resident Adam Kruise was sitting in his house working when he heard what sounded like an explosion shortly after 9 a.m. Wednesday morning.

When he went outside to investigate, he saw the aftermath of a crash involving his parked Honda SUV and another vehicle. The other vehicle, a Hyundai SUV, collided with the rear left passenger side of Kruises Honda.

7 1 / 7 Wainwright Avenue crash: SUV slams into parked car in Staten Island

According to an NYPD spokesperson, the driver of the Hyundai was driving on Wainwright Avenue toward Petrus Avenue when another car  which police did not identify  did not obey a stop sign. That unidentified car then collided with the Hyundai, which, in turn, hit Kruises legally parked Honda, said police.

Both the drivers of the Hyundai and the unidentified car remained on the scene, police added.

In this photo a Honda sustained rear end damage after a Hyundai careened into it while parked at the corner of Wainwright and Petrus avenues on the morning of Wednesday April 16, 2025. (Advance/SILive.com | Shaina McLawrence) Shaina McLawrence

Though EMS responded to the scene, FDNY confirmed there were no injures.

Kruise said this is the second time in five years that a vehicle careened into his parked car in front of his Wainwright Avenue home.

In this photo a Honda sustained rear end damage after a Hyundai careened into it while parked at the corner of Wainwright and Petrus avenues on the morning of Wednesday April 16. (Advance/SILive.com | Shaina McLawrence) Shaina McLawrence

People complain about traffic cameras, Kruise said. However, they are needed.

The Hyundai, which sustained front-end damage, was loaded onto an Ultimate Collision tow truck.

The Advance/SILive.com reached out to both FDNY and the Department of Transportation, but did not hear back by press time.
The most conservative group of New York City Council members announced their latest legal push Tuesday to block city efforts to change municipal retirees healthcare plans. (AP Photo/Hans Pennink, File) AP

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The most conservative group of New York City Council members announced their latest legal push Tuesday to block city efforts to change municipal retirees healthcare plans.

Members of the Common Sense Caucus, led by Democratic Councilmember Robert Holden from Queens, filed a legal briefing ahead of a May 15 hearing in New Yorks highest court on the citys push to move retirees healthcare from a socialized to a more privatized system.
About a week ago, a 53-year-old woman was nearly raped while running in Silver Lake Park. This is terrible, and scary. Understandably, people want to be reassured.

Sadly, the response of our elected officials has been monumentally misguided. In a theatrical press conference on Wednesday afternoon, District Attorney Mike McMahon, Borough President Vito Fossella, and Councilmember Kamillah Hanks announced their common sense solution: reopen Silver Lake Road, which has been closed since the pandemic, to vehicular traffic. The thinking seems to be that car congestion will deter crime.

This is spectacularly uninformed policy making. Instead, our response should be guided by data.

The first point is that rapes, by and large, do not occur in parks. Of the 517 rapes reported to the NYPD on Staten Island since 2015, just seven have been in parks. Fully 81% took place in private homes. (All of the data that I cite here is freely available at NYC OpenData.) This is in keeping with what we know about sexual assault in general: In the vast majority of cases, the perpetrator is an intimate partner or acquaintance. Would our electeds propose to route a highway through their constituents bedrooms?

In fact, little crime of any sort occurs in parks. During the last decade, 99.7% of crime on Staten Island took place somewhere other than a park. Just 21 alleged incidents (thats 0.01% of the total) took place in Silver Lake Park over a period of 10 years (nearly 4,000 days!)  and almost all of these were petty misdemeanors or violations, like graffiti. That makes Silver Lake one of the safest places in the city.

Cars, on the other hand, are extraordinarily dangerous. From 2012 to 2015 (when the park was regularly open to traffic), there were 38 crashes on Silver Lake Road. Each year, more than 1,300 people are Staten Island are injured by cars, and eight are killed. This newspaper has taken notice of the problem, even as McMahon and others decline to take action to address it.

To reintroduce cars to the park in the name of public safety is entirely backwards. Runners, walkers, and cyclists flock to parks to escape the dangers of cars, not seek their company. And because Silver Lake is one of the rare parks with good lighting, it is among the only places where Islanders can safely exercise at night.

To suggest casual motorists should provide law enforcement is insulting to our men and women in uniform. According to the Council on Criminal Justice, NYC had the second lowest sexual assault rate of any big city in the U.S. in 2024. The NYPD and Parks Enforcement Patrol know how to do their jobs.

If we want to get serious about preventing sexual assault, we ought to expand the many evidence-based programs and services run by the Mayors Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence. If we want to make it safer for Staten Islanders to exercise, we need more places free of cars, not less.

(Michael Cassidy is a West Brighton resident.)
George Clooney is OK with telling President Joe Biden to get out of the White House race last year.

And hes OK if people continue to hate on him for it.

Sitting down with CNNs Jake Tapper, Clooney defended his New York Times op-ed that called on Biden to get out of the 2024 race against Donald Trump.

The opinion piece came after Bidens disastrous debate performance against Trump last June.

Clooney demurred when Tapper said that many people felt that writing the op-ed was brave.

I dont know if it was brave, Clooney laughed, per the Daily Beast. It was a civic duty because I found that people on my side of the street, you know Im a Democrat in Kentucky so I get it, when I saw people on my side of the street not telling the truth I thought that was time to...

Are people still mad at you for that? Tapper interjected.

Clooney responded, Some people, sure. Thats OK, you know, listen the idea of freedom of speechthe specific idea of it isyou cant demand freedom of speech and then say, But dont say bad things about me.

Clooney went on: Thats the deal, you have to take your stand if you believe in it. Take a stand, stand for it and then deal with the consequences.

The Oscar winner said, Thats the rules, so when people criticize methey criticized me for my stance against the war 20 years ago, people picketed my movies and they put me on a deck of cardsI have to take that, thats fair.

Trump last month re-ignited his longtime feud with Clooney by slamming the actor with a four-word diss.

And it was reported that Clooney launched into a foul-mouthed tirade last year after Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski suggested on the air that former President Barack Obama was actually behind the Clooney op-ed.
Famed director Chris Columbus said that a legendary cameo by Donald Trump in the iconic movie Home Alone 2: Lost in New York has become a curse and an albatross for me and that he wishes the scene was gone.

Columbus made his comments during an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle.

I cant cut it, the San Francisco resident said of the scene. If I cut it, Ill probably be sent out of the country. Ill be considered sort of not fit to live in the United States, so Ill have to go back to Italy or something.

In the 1992 Christmas classic, Trump, then a renowned real estate mogul, runs into Kevin McAllister, played by Macauley Culkin, at the Plaza Hotel and gives the youth directions. The future president owned the hotel at the time.

Columbus said that Trump allowed filming to take place at the Plaza only if he could be in the movie, which was a sequel to the wildly successful Christmas classic Home Alone.

We paid the fee, but he also said, The only way you can use the Plaza is if Im in the movie. So we agreed to put him in the movie, Columbus told Business Insider in 2020.

Trump told a different story in a post on Truth Social in 2023, claiming that Columbus was begging him to appear in the film.

I was very busy, and didnt want to do it, Trump wrote. They were very nice, but above all, persistent. I agreed, and the rest is history! That little cameo took off like a rocket, and the movie was a big success, and still is, especially around Christmas time. People call me whenever it is aired. Now, however, 30 years later, Columbus (what was his real name?) put out a statement that I bullied myself into the movie. Nothing could be further from the truth. That cameo helped make the movie a success  Just another Hollywood guy from the past looking for a quick fix of Trump publicity for himself!

Columbus didnt respond to Trump at the time but told the Chronicle that he had intended to cut the cameo, and wishes he had.

We screened the film in Chicago, and when that moment came onscreen the audience went crazy, Columbus said. They cheered and they cheered and they thought it was hilarious. I think I know a lot about comedy, but I dont, obviously, because I never thought that was going to be considered hilarious.

He continues, Years later, its become this curse. Its become this thing that I wish it was not there. Whats going through this guys mind? He said I was lying. Im not lying. He said I begged him to be in the movie, but theres no world I would ever beg a non-actor to be in a movie. But we were desperate to get the Plaza Hotel.

Columbus said, But its there. Its become an albatross for me. I just wish it was gone.
President Donald Trump is taking heat after he replaced an official White House portrait of former President Barack Obama with a painting that shows the famous Fight, fight, fight aftermath of a would-be assassins attempt on Trumps life last year.

The New York Post reported that the new Trump painting, based on now-iconic images captured by New York Times photographer Doug Mills after a gunshot grazed Trumps ear in Butler, Pa., now hangs in a prime spot in the Grand Foyer of the East Wing of the White House.

The White House said that the painting was done by Mark Lipp and was donated by Andrew Pollack.

Look: First view of Trumps new artwork at White House



The painting was created by artist Marc Lipp and gifted to the White Househttps://t.co/aWqHkJnKuN  Gulf News (@gulf_news) April 16, 2025

Pollack is an author and school safety advocate whose 18-year-old daughter, Meadow, was among the 17 students killed in the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.

The New York Times reported that the Trump painting drew criticism from some presidential historians, who could not recall another president hanging a painting of himself during his term in the White House.

Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, responded that the executive mansion is the presidents home, and he has the right to make changes as other presidents have in the past.

Leavitt said, Only The New York Times would find a problem with this.

But Ted Widmer, a presidential historian at the City University of New York, told the Times that the new portrait was tacky.

Barbara A. Perry, a presidential studies professor at the University of Virginia, said: This would be viewed as lacking in taste in days gone by.

Trump was grazed by a bullet as he addressed an outdoor campaign rally on July 13, 2024.

After being helped to his feet by Secret Service agents, a bloodied Trump pumped his fist at the crowd and was heard to say, Fight, fight, fight.

The Obama portrait was moved just across the hall from its original spot.

Obama remains in the Entrance Hall of the White House State Floor, White House spokesperson Harrison Fields wrote on X, per the New York Post.

Obama remains in the Entrance Hall of the White House State Floor. pic.twitter.com/lOLv7371Cd  Harrison Fields (@HFields47) April 11, 2025

Fields post shows the Obama painting hanging in a prestigious spot overlooking a Steinway grand piano that once belonged to President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
President Donald Trump launched a devastating broadside against ex-Mayor Bill de Blasio and another former big-city mayor amid the GOP presidents battle with Harvard University.

Speaking of the Ivy League icons previous hiring of de Blasio and former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Trump slammed the Dem pols as Leftist dopes.

Trump said the two former mayors would only be good for teaching failure, the New York Post reported.

Everyone knows that Harvard has lost its way, Trump wrote on his Truth Social site.

They hired, from New York (Bill D) and Chicago (Lori L), at ridiculously high salaries/fees, two of the WORST and MOST INCOMPETENT mayors in the history of our Country, to teach municipal management and government.

Trump wrote, These two Radical Left fools left behind two cities that will take years to recover from their incompetence and evil. Harvard has been hiring almost all woke, Radical Left, idiots and birdbrains who are only capable of teaching FAILURE to students and so-called future leaders.

Trump went on, Many others, like these Leftist dopes, are teaching at Harvard, and because of that, Harvard can no longer be considered even a decent place of learning, and should not be considered on any list of the Worlds Great Universities or Colleges.

The president is looking to strip Harvard of billions of dollars in federal aid after the university refused to comply with demands that the Trump administration says are aimed at curbing antisemitism on campus.

De Blasio was hired as a teaching fellow for Harvards schools of government and public health in 2022, after his second term in City Hall ended.

Lightfoot served as a teaching fellow in Harvards school of health in the fall semester of 2023.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has said most of the seven Patriot air defense systems that the alliance promised to Ukraine at the Washington summit have already been delivered or will be delivered soon.

He said arms deliveries may not happen immediately, but allies tend to stick to their commitments. He added that it usually doesn't take long for weapons to be delivered once they've been promised.

Ukraine needs more air defense systems. Every battery saves lives. And we have seen how important it is after the recent tragedy in Sumy, where more than 30 people died in a Russian missile strike, NATO Secretary General said in an interview with My-Ukraina (We Are Ukraine).
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As soon as we became aware, we notified impacted employees and payments are expected to be made to them by the end of the month. The classifications have been corrected, and we have apologised to those impacted. So much for Seven West Media boss Jeff Howard promising in these pages to institute a clean slate after a few bad apples tarred the company in the wake of a string of executive departures after a series of well-publicised incidents that engulfed Seven News. Maintain your vigilance, Jeff, these apples dont look too good. Palmer army Who says the federal election campaign was boring? (Us, many times, to whomever would listen).

But while the major party leaders continue with their tradie cosplay, real fun is happening with mining magnate and frequent newspaper advertiser Clive Palmers Trumpet of Patriots, which continues the billionaires tried-and-tested preselection tactic of picking weird units. Loading Palmer is headed back to a now largely empty Parliament House to reveal his how-to-vote cards on Thursday. Stop the presses. Meanwhile, a few familiar names have popped up on his partys ballot. In NSW, the senate ticket is being led by Silvana Nile, the second wife of former veteran state MP and Christian soldier Fred Nile. Shes there to fight for the real issues animating Australians.

While Labor and the Liberals are for THEY/THEM, we are for YOU, Nile said in her candidate statement, sounding decidedly more Trumpian than Trumpet to our ears. Over in South Australia, the Palmies have former Family First Senator Bob Day on the upper house ticket. Day was elected in 2013, thanks to the preference whispering of microparty magician Glenn Druery who is now chief of staff to Labor defector Fatima Payman. His time in Canberra came to an end in 2017, when the High Court found the leasing arrangements for his electorate office breached Section 44 of the Constitution. But Bob is only number two on the ticket, behind Nicole Smeltz, a former real estate agent, flight attendant, and wife of A-League star Shane Smeltz. Shes been with Palmers operation for years. No such firepower in the great state of Victoria, where the lead candidate is one James Unkles, who describes himself as A military lawyer. Trying to overturn the convictions of Breaker Morant. Thank you for your service James, but we feel the Breaker Morant ship well and truly sailed. Unkles also reveals in his social media bio that he enjoy chillies and spicy food, curries, playing drums / vocals pointing to the fact that Team Palmer is a considerably broad church indeed.

Pokie Scamps Were old enough to remember when Sophie Scamps, teal independent MP for Mackellar, called poker machines a scourge on our society. It was January 2023, right around the time then-premier Dom Perrottet was seriously thinking of taking a sledgehammer to that particular scourge on our great state. Scamps too was doing her bit. A day earlier, shed divested from the Waratah Hotel Group Trust, which owns a bunch of pokie pubs.
A Sydney-based author charged with disseminating, producing and possessing child abuse material has lost her attempt to have her identity suppressed.

Lauren Tesolin-Mastrosa, who writes erotic fiction under the name Tori Woods, was charged over a fictional novel which allegedly depicts a relationship between a man and his friends 18-year-old daughter. It allegedly included references to the man fantasising about the girl when she was aged three.

Author Lauren Tesolin-Mastrosa. Credit: Facebook

Called Daddys Little Toy, the book  which features childrens building blocks on the cover  sparked uproar when excerpts of pre-release copies were published online before Tesolin-Mastrosa was charged in March. The 33-year-old was arrested before being taken to Riverstone Police Station and later released on conditional bail.

According to a NSW Police statement, in March 2025, officers attached to Riverstone Police Area Command received reports of a novel of fiction containing child abuse material. On March 22, detectives attended a home in Quakers Hill, in Sydneys outer north-west, and arrested the author. At the home, police executed a search warrant  seizing several hard copies of the novel  to be forensically examined.
Nath Valvo, as MC at Tokens Comedy Festival Preview night, was given the task of warming up the crowd. He delivered the goods with a stream of one-liners including the relatable pearler, No last song is better than the first Uber.  Donna Demaio The best joke I witnessed wasnt even written by a comedian, but by an audience member. But it was delivered by Schalk Bezuidenhout in one of the greatest call-backs Ive ever witnessed. No spoilers  but its one heck of a brilliant grand finale.  Tyson Wray Vidya Rajan and Mel McGlensey idolise Greg at the Chinese Museum. Most stand-out moment in a show Vidya Rajan and Mel McGlenseys Greg was mostly G-rated fun until their rap battle, deliberately misheard by Rajan as a rat battle  cue cute rat ears outfit. Rajan gave us a few verses of a well-written rap-roast, then took things in an unexpected direction with some explicit (and surreal) mimed dance moves.  Hannah Francis

Ahir Shah won the Edinburgh Comedy Award in 2023 for his show, Ends, which he was finally able to bring to Melbourne after UK television commitments scuppered his plans for last years festival. The final 20 minutes are breathtaking  no more so than when he juxtaposes the wedding days of both himself and his grandmother. Five stars, no notes.  Tyson Wray A short-lived musical about a pirate in Victorian England near the end of Hannah Camilleris What Im Going For has given me an earworm Im yet to shake.  Guy Webster Ahir Shah performs Ends at The Westin until April 20. Im sorry to cite him again, but the bait-and-switch in Garry Starrs show on Penguin classics was simply unforgettable  alongside him feeding a pulverised grape to an audience member, catapulting over the same audience member in an illustration of the book, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, spinning around precisely 80 times to demonstrate Around the World in 80 Days, astonishingly not vomiting after, and being joined by a legion of fellow nudists to encapsulate The Time Machine.  Sonia Nair When Brendan Murphy ends his show, Buffy Revamped, with a live rendition of R.E.Ms Its the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine), with lyrics changed to narrate the storyline of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, he stands on a desk with arms outstretched, belting out the musical number with gusto. The sold-out crowd doesnt hold back, joining him during the chorus.  Vyshnavee Wijekumar

Riskiest joke or performance Noah Szto joked he was risking his medical licence (yes, hes really a doctor) delivering a presentation for The Late Nite PowerPoint Comedy Showcase on how to make prostate exams more appealing, adopting rap superstar Dr Dre into a new acronym for Digital Rectal Exam. Well never think about prostate cancer the same again.  Lefa Singleton Norton When Noah Szto, comedian AND doctor, joined five other comedians for The Late Nite PowerPoint Comedy Showcase, he decided to dedicate his entire spot to joking about rectal medical examinations. Was it hilarious? Yes, it was.  Donna Demaio Med School by Noah Szto is at ACMI until April 20. Credit: Ian Laidlaw Olga Koch somehow manages to compare the fall of the Berlin Wall to a woman getting her period. Its in such deliciously bad taste.  Tyson Wray

When Nish Kumar remarks hes never seen a good-looking white supremacist, the crowd laughs awkwardly, unsure of where the joke is heading. Unrelenting, Kumar leans into the tension, comparing controversial comedian Jimmy Carr to a haunted Victorian marionette, eliciting raucous laughter from the crowd.  Vyshnavee Wijekumar Lou Walls entire show is built on lying to the audience, which could risk getting them offside. Wall comes clean on many of the lies by the end of the show, but not all of them. I was thinking about Walls lies for days!  Hannah Francis Fresh New Worries by Gillian Cosgriff is on at Arts Centre Melbourne until April 20. Credit: Nicole Reed Prize for most heartwarming moment Only the ever-wholesome Gillian Cosgriff could get 150 people to sing along to a rendition of Dont Worry Be Happy led by a toy bass.  Guy Webster

Laura Davis made the audience gasp with the description of a joke as the flowers you lay on the graves of your expectations.  Lefa Singleton Norton Despair is Beneath Us by Laura Davis is at The Greek until April 20. Credit: Chayla Taylor Chris Parkers nostalgic anecdotes about passion versus technical ability when he was the only boy in a ballet school of girls. It explains his effervescent main character energy.  Mikey Cahill Rhys Darbys dancing Roomba vacuum cleaner goes missing and Darby spends a good portion of the show trying to get it back. They are eventually reunited with the help of a Tesla Cybertruck dude-bro.  Hannah Francis Ahir Shahs deeply emotional and heart-rending show, Ends, which revolved around the behemoth sacrifices his grandparents made to pave the way for his privilege to go without saying as a person of colour living in the UK and which contained an uncharacteristically hopeful prognosis for the future.  Sonia Nair

Most interesting example of crowd participation A tie between Vidya Rajan and Mel McGlenseys interactive show Greg, where unsuspecting men in the audience were pulled up to be Greg (whether they were or not) and simpered over as the subjects of Rajan and McGlenseys joint adoration, and Con Coutis show Escape from Heck Island, which cleverly incorporated crowd responses into an intricate narrative full of audiovisual cues.  Sonia Nair Loading Zoe Coombs Marrs homemade T-shirt air-cannon followed by a homemade underwear air-cannon. Several of the audience left with memorable souvenirs.  Lefa Singleton Norton Tiffany Wongs live use of ChatGPT creates an exciting unpredictability which tests machine accuracy against human interactivity. Wongs willingness to leave her fate in the hands of the crowds responses shows bravery, and the audience graciously abide by playing along with the bit.  Vyshnavee Wijekumar

The brilliant clowning prodigy Garry Starr crowd-surfs over his audience while completely naked  enough said. In fact, he doesnt wear pants the entire show. Its lunacy (and very deftly handled with the consent of the crowd), and its brilliant.  Tyson Wray Family Man by Josh Glanc is at the Chinese Museum until April 20. Post show, Steve Porters (a character created by drag king Daisy Doris May) from How to Flirt: The TED XXX Talk, enthusiastically addresses every single person exiting.  Donna Demaio Josh Glanc took lots of sneaky photos on an old-school digital camera then almost magically had them all shown on the screen at the end of his show.  Mikey Cahill I found out midway through Josh Glancs Family Man that if youre not wearing a lanyard youll have to walk out of the theatre backed by a sad, cinematic score.  Guy Webster

Strangest (or best) heckle Amy Gledhill faced all of our fears when a heckler in the front row who looks like my dad responded to her advice for good sex.  Guy Webster Jennys Travels by Jenny Tian is on at Melb Town Hall until April 20. It wasnt so much a heckle but a spectacular retort. Halfway through her show Jennys Travels, Jenny Tian realised there was a 12-year-old in the front row. Leaning forward, and with a side glance to the childs mother, she says, Youre going to learn a lot tonight.  Donna Demaio More heartwarming crowd-work than a heckle, The Listies were asking kids what chores they did at home to help out. Cleaning up the dogs business, chirped a youngster. Cue: Matthew Kelly dragging his bum across the floor like a worm-ridden canine, shouting Im Bluey.  Mikey Cahill

Best mime Josh Burton, one half of the Burton Brothers, does a cartoonish and very funny impression of a hawk. Its a memorable, absurd, blink-and-youll miss moment in the show, aided by clever sound design.  Hannah Francis Best personalisation of the acknowledgement of Country Janty Blair, who paid her respects to elders past, present, and merging down the Princes Freeway, going on to announce her pronouns as B&D: Black and Deadly.  Lefa Singleton Norton Comedian Stephanie Broadbridge. Credit: Dylan Coker

Best song or dance number Stephanie Broadbridges titular song Breaking, which was both a display of empathy for a certain, highly pilloried breakdancer and a side-splittingly funny play on the word breaking  Broadbridge would recreate a comical breakdancing pose while collapsing in tears.  Sonia Nair If youve only got time/money for one last show this week Make it the annual Moosehead Benefit gala on the final night of the festival, Sunday, April 20. If you know, you know. But if you dont  each year for almost four decades the creme de la creme of the festival are handpicked by industry experts for a two-hour extravaganza featuring the biggest names of the festival, award winners/nominees and rising stars. Best of all, all money raised from the event goes to supporting artists at next years festival (this year the recipients were Janty Blair, Brett Blake, Burton Brothers, Frankie McNair & Isaac Haigh). Only $70 a pop, it will sell out as always.  Tyson Wray The Age is a Melbourne International Comedy Festival partner.
In the operational zone in Kursk region, units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 17 attacks by Russian invaders yesterday, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported on the Telegram channel in operational information as of 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday.

"The enemy carried out 38 air strikes using 72 guided aerial bombs, and also carried out 407 artillery attacks on the positions of our troops and populated areas, including five from multiple launch rocket systems," the message says.
THE CORRESPONDENT 

(M) 119 minutes

Journalist Peter Greste and actor Richard Roxburgh bear little resemblance to one another. Grestes face is unlined, reflecting the calm and composed air hes displayed in all his interviews about the 14 months he spent in an Egyptian prison because of his work for Al Jazeera.

Richard Roxburgh as journalist Peter Greste in The Correspondent. Credit: Maslow

In contrast, calmness is not part of Roxburghs repertoire. He has a nervy intensity that is equally effective whether hes being funny, sad or desperate. And because desperation is very much part of the plot of The Correspondent, the story of Grestes Egyptian experience, his casting works. You dont care whether he looks like Greste or not.

The script by Peter Duncan  co-creator and writer of Rake, in which Roxburgh stars as the title character  is drawn from Grestes memoir, The First Casualty. It has some added touches from conversations he and Duncan had during the writing. The aim is to put us inside Grestes head during an ordeal thats much like being caught in a maze. He is not quite sure how he got into it and the possibility of finding a way out becomes more remote as the months go on.
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Eating outJust open Beloved 60-year-old family-run restaurant The Malaya returns to George Street It might be a new chapter for the Malaysian institution, but old favourites such as its signature laksa (made with cows milk) and beef rendang will still entice regulars. Scott Bolles April 17, 2025 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

The Malaya restaurant has fed Sydney under the watch of the same family for 62 years, but on Thursday, April 17, the venue will serve its first prawn laksa at a new location at Grosvenor Place, near Circular Quay. When Wong Tai See opened The Malaya at the south end of George Street, near Chinatown, in 1963, everyday ingredients you find today on supermarket shelves often werent available. Coconut milk was one such example, so the laksa was made with cows milk. It became such a favourite with The Malayas clientele that Wong Tai Sees grandchildren, Duan and Isabella Wong, dont dare change it. 1 / 11 Duan Wong and Isabella Wong at The Malayas new home. Jason Loucas 2 / 11 The Malayas spin on prawn laksa. Jason Loucas 3 / 11 Coconut beef rendang. Jason Loucas 4 / 11 Barbecued prawns. Jason Loucas 5 / 11 The Malaya opens on Thursday at its new location at Grosvenor Place, near Circular Quay. Steven Woodburn 6 / 11 XO pipis. Jason Loucas 7 / 11 Salt and pepper scampi. Jason Loucas 8 / 11 Kam Heong mud crab. Jason Loucas 9 / 11 The restaurant will welcome customers to the new location with a menu of familiar favourites and recent additions. Steven Woodburn 10 / 11 Ikan pepes (fish in banana leaves). Jason Loucas 11 / 11 The next generation has taken over the decades-old Sydney institution. Steven Woodburn Previous Slide Next Slide The restaurants third-generation operators dont remember much about the stalwart restaurants 2001 relocation from George Street to King Street Wharf, where The Malaya was a mainstay for 24 years until its closure last month. I was 12 and Isabella was eight, Duan Wong said of the previous move. Isabella Wong has vague memories of the purple walls at the George Street restaurant, and Duan remembers the opening night at the wharf. Their recollection is understandably stronger about the final night at King Street a few weeks ago; a welcome ovation from the dining room for staff, many of whom have been with the restaurant for decades. And regulars, who politely asked if they could take mementos of the restaurant, such as candles, as keepsakes.

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Our parents never put any pressure on us to follow them into the business, Duan Wong said. He studied in Italy, focused on slow food and importing wine. Isabella Wong started to forge a career in psychology. Then Dad got sick, she said. Lance Wong died in 2018. He and his wife, Givie, had taken the restaurant to a new generation of more educated Sydney diners, updating the menu as fresh Asian ingredients such as lemongrass and galangal became available, and modernising the restaurants design. Now the next gen has taken over. Coconut beef rendang. Jason Loucas The Malayas current operators still bounce ideas off their mother, and Lances wine collection has followed the restaurant across town. We still have some Leewin Estate back to 2009, and Hill of Grace, 2002 and 2007 vintages, Duan Wong said. A mid-century floor light and some repurposed pendant lights have also made the trip from King Street Wharf to the Harry Seidler-designed site at Grosvenor Place. They also reordered the original Finnish-designed chairs, which are still in production, used when The Malaya opened at King Street Wharf in 2001.

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While the new restaurant is larger, its multi-level configuration means it will have fewer seats, with 180 seated inside and 60 on the terrace. When you have clientele as loyal as The Malayas  where two old school friends lunch most Tuesdays and regulars who first visited as university students in the 1970s now arrive with their extended families  any alteration to the menu has to be carefully considered. The Malayas spin on prawn laksa. Jason Loucas Isabella Wong, who runs floor operations at the restaurant, said most regulars head straight to their favourite dishes. Thats good news for fans of the kapitan prawns, coconut beef rendang and Sichuan eggplant. They have all gone straight to the new menu. There are a couple of new dish arrivals. The cold beef salad, which went on the menu last year, has stayed, as has a new pork belly dish with glass noodles.

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The duo promise seafood will play a more central role at the restaurant, with mud crab and XO pipis featured, and a dessert of Penang gelato. The lemongrass, makrut lime and mint creation was developed in collaboration with Redfern gelataria Ciccone & Sons. Drinks consultant Ed Loveday has updated The Malayas cocktails, and expanded the line-up. Kam Heong mud crab. Jason Loucas The relocation isnt without risk. The Grosvenor Place restaurant site has chewed through some seasoned operations, with Fratelli Fresh and the Neil Perry-steered Rosetta both opening and closing there. But the incoming team is bullish on the timing on the site, with light rail works and nearby developments such as Sydney Place still unfinished when those restaurants operated there. Were surrounded by some of the citys best hotels, and theres a steady stream of foot traffic from Circular Quay down George Street, Duan Wong said. The Malaya was lucky to have a rusted-on clientele at King Street Wharf, but Wong previously noted its streets have been quieter in recent times.

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We wanted to bring elements [furnishings and the colours] of the old restaurant across, Isabella Wong said. This new space gives Duan and me the chance to bring a few touches of our own to the restaurant, without changing what The Malaya has always been. Open lunch and dinner Mon-Sat Grosvenor Place, 255 George Street, Sydney, themalaya.com.au

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Take a look through your current make-up collection. Chances are there are no products containing talc. Since the 1960s, it has become something of a red flag in the cosmetics industry, largely due to concerns it could contain asbestos, a known carcinogen.

Most brands have reformulated their talc products over the past six decades, replacing the substance with alternatives such as zinc oxide and silica. However, talc has not entirely disappeared from cosmetics counters, with some beauty influencers lamenting the lack of talc in certain products. Meanwhile, major corporations continue to push back on the health concerns of some of their talc products.

Talc used to be in practically every make-up product, but now its increasingly being replaced by ingredients such as cornstarch and silica. Credit: Compiled by Aresna Villanueva.

So should we avoid talc-based products  and if so, what alternatives should we look for?

What is talc?
Chinese manufacturers purportedly behind big-name brands like Nike, lululemon and Ralph Lauren are hitting back at US tariffs on TikTok by exposing the actual cost of making their products.

In a video from user LunaSourcing China, which has now clocked more than 12 million views and 1.4 million likes, a woman claims to reveal the manufacturers of brands like lululemon, Fila and Under Armour.

They sell you a legging pants for $100. And guess what, here in these two factories you can get them for around five to six bucks, she says in the video.

The woman also claims that the material and craftsmanship are basically the same because they all come from the same production line.
Recently while on holiday in Finland I was left feeling a little bit disappointed, admits Serge Nemaz of Illawong. As our tour bus crossed the border towards Kirkenes, Norway, there wasnt a chequered flag to be seen anywhere! My understanding had always been that that is what you get when you cross the Fin(n)sh line.

Time for a spot of constitutional gallows humour: Do journalists and politicians know what the term bellwether actually means? challenges Helen Howes of Collaroy. A wether is a castrated ram, the bellwether was that ram with a bell around its neck that all the other sheep followed, to be shorn or led to the slaughterhouse. What a great analogy as we listen to ineffectual candidates ringing their bells (or talking up their policies) as we are led to the slaughter.

Our Dallas (C8)-obsessed daughter, awaiting the birth of our first grandchild in hospital, refused to be taken to the labour ward until she had finished watching the latest episode, reports Rosemary Seam of Kempsey. Our granddaughter was born on 13th July 1985, just in time for Live Aid.

It would appear that the radio equivalent of Dallas would have to be the ABC serial, Blue Hills, with some listeners providing transcripts for loved ones: I knew a mother who, with her rural family, were rusted-on listeners to Blue Hills, writes Roger Epps of Armidale. For years during boarding school terms, she used to diligently write down as much of that days content as she could recall and post a weekly update to her children.

Robyn Cashman of Fernhill adds: When my parents were overseas in the 70s, Mum was kept abreast, by way of the regular blue air letters sent by her mum, our grandma McDonald, of the latest dramas in Blue Hills - Fleur is refusing to live in the dilapidated farmhouse. Will she leave Jack? Will he find out?. Riveting reading!
Police are hunting a man who allegedly sexually assaulted an elderly woman after offering to help carry her shopping and forcing his way into her home in Sydneys west.

Sex crime squad detectives have released images of a man they believe can assist with inquiries into the alleged assault, which was reported to police on Tuesday evening.

Sex crimes squad detectives have released images of a man they believe can assist with inquiries into the alleged sexual assault of an elderly woman. Credit: NSW Police

Detectives allege an unknown man met the 83-year-old woman near Charles Mance Reserve in Merrylands about 12.30pm on Tuesday. The man, who was not known to the woman, offered to carry her shopping trolley home, police said.

When the pair arrived at the womans home, the man allegedly forced his way inside and sexually assaulted the woman in what sex crimes squad commander, Detective Acting Superintendent Rachel Fawcett, described as abhorrent behaviour.
A man whose mother was shot dead in a drive-by attack on their Sydney home has been arrested along with a second man, but he is refusing to give police vital information that could help find his mothers killers.

Kim Duncan, 65, was killed when a hail of gunfire tore through her home in Ambarvale, in Sydneys south-west, on Sunday just after 11pm.

James Shaine Dowd has been arrested after his mother, Kim Duncan, was shot dead in a drive-by attack in Ambarvale.

The grandmother was hit once in the thigh and collapsed on her living room floor in a pool of blood. NSW Ambulance paramedics and police could not save her.

Police forensics and detectives, supported by the homicide squad, were told by witnesses that multiple men had stepped out of a dark sedan and opened fire on the Dickens Road home.
A Scandinavian teenager allegedly helped the European underworld organise murders while in Sydney after his family moved him to Australia in a bid to get him far from gang life.

The 15-year-old boy, who cannot be identified because of his age, was arrested in Sydneys west on Wednesday morning less than a month after Danish police sent a warning that Australia was harbouring a person linked to their violent street gangs.

A 15-year-old teenager is arrested in Sydney after allegedly recruiting hitmen for gang warfare in Nordic countries.

Denmarks police, known as the NSK, earlier this month told the Australian Federal Police that the boy had arrived in Australia in late 2024.

The boy had been sent to Sydney after his family feared he was falling in with a gang which is battling to control the drug trade in Nordic countries.
Two teenagers have been charged after a group of masked attackers allegedly broke into an inner west home and stabbed a 16-year-old boy.

Police allege the teens, both aged 15, were part of a group of eight who broke into the Marrickville home just before 5pm on Wednesday and stabbed the 16-year-old.

Two teenagers have been charged after a masked group allegedly broke into a Marrickville home and stabbed a 16-year-old boy. Credit: Nine

The 16-year-old was stabbed several times before the group allegedly fled the home, police said. NSW Ambulance paramedics treated him at the scene before taking him to hospital.

Shortly after, police stopped the two 15-year-olds before arresting them and seizing a knife. Six members of the group remain on the run, police say.
Yep, its almost the post-Easter-post-Anzac Day spiral of doom. Its months and months before we get another real break and, to cheer ourselves up, we start to plan the next one. But Im getting in early to issue a dramatic travel warning.

If you were thinking about a holiday in the US, you need to rethink. Urgently. I do not care if youve promised your kids a visit to Disneyland. The US is not a safe place to visit. Thats particularly true if you are off-white or off-straight  but at least thats been well signposted by the current deranged administration. God help you if you are trans and have a passport which reflects that.

You will have heard stories about those whove been turned away at the border since Trump was elected. Credit: Dionne Gain

But there are many other reasons to be afraid. Pay even the slightest attention to travel tales and you will have heard stories about those whove been turned away at the border since Trump was elected. Those whove been detained for days on end. Those who have had their phones stolen by US border security. Those who are forced to turn over their passwords to their laptops or, worse, to their social media accounts.

Some hideous examples: the Traveller reader who was detained by US border control at JFK for enhanced vetting. He was held for eight hours while border control examined his laptop and iPhone. What happened next? He was forcibly returned to Australia and missed a $15,000 cruise. No evidence of wrongdoing. Or the bloke who was returning to the US after coming back to Australia to scatter his sisters ashes. Hed been living in the US on a perfectly good visa and was then refused entry. His partner, his job and his home are all still in the US. And it isnt just happening to Australians.
Bulgaria has not issued official statement on sale of reactors for Khmelnytsky NPP units 3, 4  Ukrainian Energy Ministry

Ukraine's Ministry of Energy has not yet received an official position from the Bulgarian government regarding the potential sale of two VVER-1000 reactor vessels initially intended for Bulgaria's Belene Nuclear Power Plant and now under discussion for use at Ukraine's Khmelnytsky Nuclear Power Plant (KhNPP) Units 3 and 4, the Ministry's press service said on Wednesday morning.

"The Ministry has not received an official position from the Bulgarian government on this matter. Therefore, any comments are premature," the press service told Energy Reform.

At the same time, the Ministry emphasized Ukraine's interest in acquiring equipment for the completion of the two additional KhNPP power units, in line with a decision by the Verkhovna Rada.

The Ministry also stressed that completing the construction of Khmelnytsky NPP is a critical project for the country's energy security.

As reported, on Tuesday, April 15, Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Zafirov told reporters that the two VVER-1000 reactor vessels originally planned for the Belene NPP would not be sold to Ukraine. According to Zafirov, this decision followed discussions with the Joint Management Council and GERB party leader Boyko Borissov, resulting in a consensus.

"We jointly supported this extremely important strategic decision," Zafirov was quoted as saying by Bulgaria's state news agency BTA.

The agency also noted that Zafirov emphasized the reactors are not for sale, describing them as a strategic asset and a key component of Bulgaria's energy independence.

Zafirov added that he was prepared to have this decision formalized in a resolution by Bulgaria's National Assembly, BTA reported.

Meanwhile, Bulgarian Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov confirmed during a national TV broadcast that the Bulgarian Socialist Party had raised concerns over blocking the sale of the reactors. However, he said the final decision would rest with the Joint Management Council and the National Assembly.

Back in mid-February 2025, Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko had already expressed concern over a draft resolution submitted to the Bulgarian parliament to revoke authorization for the sale of the two reactor vessels to Ukraine. The permit was set to expire on March 11.

On April 12, Ukrainian MP Andriy Zhupanin, speaking on his YouTube channel following a site visit to KhNPP with other members of the Rada's Energy Committee, confirmed that negotiations over the purchase of the equipment from Bulgaria are ongoing. According to Zhupanin, discussions are being held in light of a proposal from the Bulgarian side to raise the price to nearly $700 million, while Ukraine insists on a $600 million valuation.

According to Law No. 4231-IX, "On the Acquisition of Equipment Necessary for the Construction of Units No. 3 and No. 4 of Khmelnytsky Nuclear Power Plant," passed on February 11, 2025, Energoatom is authorized to sign a contract with Bulgaria's state-owned energy company Natsionalna Elektricheska Kompania EAD for the purchase of equipment  namely, nuclear reactor vessels, components, and other relevant machinery  required for the construction of KhNPP Units 3 and 4.
In considering any such amounts that may be payable, the principal representative must, in good faith, estimate the amount which would have been payable if this deed had not been terminated, the contract says. Loading Under the projects cancellation clauses, the builders would be able to request that the corporate overheads and profit margins written into the projects price range be paid out. They would also be able to seek compensation for the time and money invested in the project, including purchases made with the assumption they would see out the life of the contract over years of tunnelling. The SRL contracts also rely heavily on a pain-share, gain-share model in which the state government and builders split the overruns and savings on the project equally.

To enforce this, their contract has a target cost, which is regularly compared to actual spending. The builders open their books to the state and receive monthly payments reimbursing it for money spent so far. Builders can also claim additional incentives if they meet performance targets. If costs are blowing out past their target, the builders must provide an overrun cure plan that includes an itemised list of expenses, details of why they are higher than promised and a strategy to minimise further increases or find savings elsewhere. An artists impression of a Suburban Rail Loop train. These savings, or overruns, would also be factored into any final payout figure if the project were cancelled. The contract allows the government to suspend the project at any time, with compensation available to the builders in most instances.

However, the state could avoid paying this if it determines the project is headed for a blowout that would exceed its target cost by a significant amount. The exact figure to trigger this has been redacted from the contracts seen by The Age. Infrastructure Australia last month warned it had low confidence in the $34.5 billion price tag for SRL East and recommended no further federal funding, beyond the $2.2 billion already committed, without updated costings and evidence the project stacks up on its own. That report has raised concerns Victoria will not be able fund a third of the railway with Commonwealth money as expected, with Opposition Leader Peter Dutton vowing to withdraw the existing $2.2 billion in federal cash if elected. Two industry sources, speaking anonymously to avoid repercussions, said by the end of the year work would be so far progressed on the rail loop that any cancellation compensation would likely be between $1 billion and $2 billion. This would likely be higher by November 2026 when tunnel boring machines would be digging under Melbournes eastern suburbs, they said.

Victoria paid $1.1 billion to cancel its contract for the East West Link after the Andrews government came to power in 2014, with only some early works under way at the time. Loading Infrastructure Partnerships Australia chief executive Adrian Dwyer, who in 2022 said cancelling the rail loop would cost twice as much as cancelling East West Link, told The Age that Victoria had worked hard to shed the baggage of ripping up that contract, and speculation on the rail loop sent a concerning signal. The very structure of our stable, dependable system of doing business is underpinned by the mutually acknowledged fact that contracts matter, he said. Certainty is crucial in infrastructure. With major projects spanning a decade, and programs often multiple decades, we cant afford to signal to global markets that every election will see the map re-drawn.

Swinburne professor of future urban mobility Hussein Dia said that by the time of the next state election in November 2026, it would be too late to go back on the project, and it would be very expensive to stop. He said billions had already been spent on early works before considering the quite hefty cost of compensation. In many of these [cancellation] cases, the private sector gets handsome compensation ... These are very big projects, and the companies are very experienced. David Donnelly, a partner with the law firm Allens, said that previously, major projects had attracted more expensive fixed prices because contingencies were added for uncertain or unquantified risks. He said pain-share, gain-share contracts removed these contingencies and incentivised both sides to deal with those types of risks efficiently when they arose.

It is a symmetrical deal, in the sense that there is some exposure to necessary additional costs, but also some benefit that flows from the state, from available savings, Donnelly said. An Allan government spokesperson said they were getting on with building the rail loop with works under way across Melbourne. Jacinta Allan, then-minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, inspects works in Burwood in 2023. Credit: Jason South There are no plans to terminate any contracts  questions of costs are best directed to the Liberals, who need to come clean on whether they would want to rip up the contracts, sack 4000 workers, leave our suburbs disconnected and block 70,000 homes, the spokesperson said. Opposition transport infrastructure spokesman Evan Mulholland said the premier should cancel the contracts before enormous costs are incurred that we cannot get out of as a state.

By signing these contracts, Jacinta Allan has engaged in the most financially reckless decision in the history of Victoria, second only to her mismanagement of the Commonwealth Games, he said. Loading To sign something like this, without the required federal contribution, with scathing assessments from independent authorities, is a betrayal of all Victorians. The Allan government is negotiating the next contract for the SRL, which will cover the costs of getting the underground line operational, including sourcing new trains, communication systems, power supply and maintenance facilities. The contract is scheduled to be awarded this year, but the announcement of a preferred bidder was anticipated by the industry as soon as last month.
Precel: It was a few things ... there was a change in leadership. Obviously at the school they had an interim principal in there for a year after that, Trudie Nagle came in, and she became the principal until only recently when [former Education Department senior education improvement leader] Tony Roberts took over.

But Trudie really saw that there was a need for some significant change ... So one of the things can happen is that when there are big issues, cultural issues  what can happen is schools close shop, and they dont let people come in. They dont want people to kind of know what their dirty laundry is. And sometimes that can create distrust.

I understand why its the case in some  sometimes its important to do that. But, you know, especially in a regional community where everyones talking anyway  So Trudie actually set up a few community forums, and she invited the school community to come and talk about the issues so that they could look at ways to change it. They brought in a different way for teachers to engage with students. It was  really trying to engage them in a different kind of level rather than being more punitive. It was developing a respect between teachers and students, and some of the students that I spoke to at the school said that had actually had a huge, huge impact on them. There was one student who was so lovely. He was in the leadership team in year 12, and he said that he had had a whole host of issues during his schooling life, and he decided now that he wants to become a teacher because one of the teachers at the school made such an impact on him that he wanted to be one of those teachers. He wanted to be one of the positive teachers that he experienced.

For the story behind the headlines, listen to The Morning Edition, with a new episode live every weekday from 5am. You can find The Morning Edition on Apple, Spotify, and everywhere you listen to your podcasts.
The parents of three-year-old Heidi Foote, who was hit and killed when a car mounted the footpath in Ocean Grove last week, have remembered their daughter as the most beautiful child who loved to sing.

This Little Light of Mine had been her favourite song, the grieving family said in a statement on Wednesday, which was fitting for the legacy their daughter had left.

Heidi Foote, 3, died when the 71-year-old driver of an electric car allegedly lost control of her vehicle.

Heidi has been shining her light into the lives of her family and the lives of all who met her throughout her 3 years, said the statement shared by police.

The statement said Heidis parents, Nathan and Liesl, were in deep anguish over the loss of their daughter but were grateful for the support they had been offered by many in the community.
Coalition frontbencher Bridget McKenzie has apologised for claiming that Russia and China want Labor to win the May 3 election, saying she based her comments on mistaken information, as Opposition Leader Peter Dutton was forced to admit his claim about confirmation of a Russian request for a base in Indonesia was incorrect.

McKenzie, the Coalitions transport spokeswoman, made the dramatic intervention into the debate on Wednesday afternoon by claiming that Russia and China had both made clear they wanted Dutton to be defeated as she discussed the Indonesian base reports.

The defence minister of Russia [Andrey Belousov] and the Chinese leader [Xi Jinping] both have made very public comments that they do not want to see Peter Dutton as the prime minister of our country, McKenzie told the ABC. Theres two world leaders who dont want to see Peter Dutton become prime minister of our country. Thats all Im saying. Thats Russia and China.

Asked on what basis she made her comments, McKenzie said: I made a mistake, I was wrong with what I said about the Russian defence minister and Chinese leader. I cant verify it.
A man who claims he ambushed the prime minister in a Melbourne hotel lobby said he walked straight through the front door despite an apparent increase in security measures amid rising threats against Australian politicians.

Daniel Jones claimed responsibility for the confrontation on Tuesday, alongside alt-right group Melbourne Freedom Rally, in an incident that sparked safety concerns about the ability of extremists to infiltrate secure locations during the election campaign.

Daniel Jones posted a video on social media claiming responsibility for the ambush.

Jones posted a video to social media on Wednesday morning saying beefed up security measures were not apparent when he confronted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at his hotel, and that he entered unimpeded by security.

I walked clean through the front door of the lobby because there was no security. I walked up and ordered myself coffee and decided to sit down and flip through Facebook and relax and enjoy my coffee, he said.
The exposed powerlessness of authorities to adequately protect Prime Minister Anthony Albanese from grandstanding extremists marks a disturbing new element in protests where egos fuse with politics to threaten the security of politicians.

Albanese was confronted in his supposed secret overnight campaign stop, Melbournes Grand Hyatt Hotel, by protesters on Tuesday. Members of the alt-right group Melbourne Freedom Rally shouted questions about housing and immigration while being filmed by a far-right bodyguard, Daniel Jones, who immediately posted the footage online and bragged about breaching the prime ministers security perimeter with no questions asked.

Daniel Jones boasted on social media about how easy it was to get close to the prime minister. Credit: Facebook

The Australian Federal Polices chief Reece Kershaw issued a warning just before the election was called that threats against politicians have doubled in the past two years, prompting the agency to increase protection for MPs and their staff during the campaign. As if on cue, the first full day of campaigning last month saw gatecrashers disrupting events being held by Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.

Heightened security concerns have meant Albanese and Duttons movements have been kept under wraps this campaign. Last week, it was revealed that Dutton was the target of an alleged terrorist plot, and a 16-year-old boy was facing a court accused of buying bomb-making ingredients and testing explosives intending to launch an attack. On Sunday masked neo-Nazis rallied outside opposition home affairs spokesperson Senator James Patersons Melbourne office, chanting racist slogans and declaring both Labor and the Liberals were traitors to the white race and were creating a third world Australia.
Victoria fell 20,000 homes short of its housing target last year, calling into question the state governments ability to meet its promise of 800,000 properties being built in the decade.

The data, released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) on Wednesday, covered the first full calendar year since former premier Daniel Andrews released the housing statement in September 2023. His successor, Premier Jacinta Allan, has since made further commitments to cement housing affordability as a top priority for her government.

Premier Jacinta Allan, Housing and Building Minister Harriet Shing, and former premier Daniel Andrews in 2023. Credit: AAP

ABS data shows an annual total of 60,151 dwellings were finished in 2024, a slight improvement, with 56,220 completed in 2023. But it is still below the long-term average of the last six years.

The number of houses and apartments finished in the year is still well below the 80,000 average needed to meet the governments 2023 commitment that 800,000 dwellings would be built by 2034.
Dolphins prop Mark Nicholls has revealed his desire to play on beyond 2025, but admits his future would be dictated by the growth of the next generation of stars.

The 35-year-old, who will be off contract at seasons end, has formed part of the outfits inaugural leadership group since arriving at Redcliffe in 2023, and he believes he still has a role to fulfil in the red jersey.

He is joined by fellow forwards Felise Kaufusi, Josh Kerr and Kenny Bromwich without a deal in 2026.

Mark Nicholls believes he still has more in the tank. Credit: Getty

I havent made a decision either way, [but] at this stage, I dont really feel like I want to retire. But its a long year, so well see how that plays out, and I think the clubs pretty comfortable with that as well, Nicholls said.
Its shocking how unfamiliar Australians are with Indonesia, but perhaps understandable given its islands remoteness and the inadequacies of its infrastructure and hotels. An expedition cruise solves those problems, and Scenic Eclipse II does so in spades. Scenic Eclipse II on location. This hybrid ship, part luxury yacht and part expedition vessel, carries 228 guests in very roomy comfort. The all-inclusive dining is a standout: Mediterranean, Asian, French, and one of the best lunch buffets at sea for quality and ever-changing choice. As we glide from island to island, butlers cater to whims on the ship, while off it the expedition team of naturalists and marine biologists gets us into villages and onto reefs. It feels like a cheat to arrive in such out-of-the-way places with such ease, but the sense of remoteness and adventure isnt lost. Next day were in the Kai Islands, another beautiful archipelago undiscovered except  to judge from a few rickety beach huts and bars  by a handful of intrepid backpackers.

We have kilometres of palm-fringed beach to ourselves. The expedition team takes us on inflatable boats to a floating pontoon set up for snorkelling above a seabed bulging with improbable corals and a carnival of brightly painted fish. Sunset drinks on Scenic Eclipse II. Next on our itinerary is a thriller for me, since Ive read a lot about the history of the Spice Islands. Banda Neiras setting is magnificent, overlooking harbour-like waters framed in islands and topped by a volcano. Locals greet our arrival in kora-koras. The long traditional war canoes hold 30 bare-chested paddlers and a drummer to beat the rhythm. Nothing warlike about the villagers, though. Friendly hellos and childrens giggles accompany us as a local guide takes us to a Dutch-era fortress and plantations fragrant with nutmeg and cinnamon. Later I have time to explore the fish market and a Chinese temple on my own. Cats and kids loiter on doorsteps.

As we zigzag through Indonesia, its diversity of history, landscapes, cultures, religions and wildlife is an eyeopener and highlighted on shore excursions and in daily on-board briefings by Scenics expedition team. Weve crossed the Lydekker Line that separates two biogeographic zones, and will soon cross the Weber Line and the famous Wallace Line too. We hop from Christian to Muslim to Hindu islands. Alor has a Protestant majority, animistic tendencies, 15 Papuan languages and Malay and Dutch influences. Traditional Caci Dance on Flores. Its the first of a long chain of big islands that leads west towards Bali, all rugged and volcano-pimpled, some dense with rainforest, others scrubby and stark.

The early morning sail into Alor down a narrow channel between islands is magical. Mist hovers on the blue hills, dolphins dance at the bow of the ship, and jellyfish swarm in the clear water as if intent on pointillist performance art. Alors markets are crammed with leafy greens, papayas and fish. Welcoming villages hunkered in rainforest clack to the sound of ikat-weaving looms. Smaller confetti islands offer afternoon snorkelling above corals that look like modern sculptures The fish have an outrageous sense of fashion and are covered in splatters of polka dots and stripes, and festooned with trailing fins and feathery tails. As we sail away, Im on the Sky Deck, cocktail in hand, ice cubes clinking. At other times I might be on the Observation Terrace at the sleek ships prow or in Azure Cafe at the rear, enjoying a properly made coffee, excellent pastry and the cheerfulness of the waiters, who are the friendliest of any ship Ive ever sailed on. That evening Im back in Kokos Asian Fusion, tucking into Thai coconut soup, honey and saffron prawns, and the delicious Filipino pork dish, sisig. The following evening, Im in Lumiere for a degustation menu, terrific from the first mushroom-rich amuse-bouche and caramelised French onion soup to the final Normandy tart with cinnamon gelato.

Kokos Asian Fusion restaurant on Scenic Eclipse II. And so the days pass, each one a snapshot of Indonesias wonders. Larantuka on Flores Island with its Catholic cathedral that resembles a pink Disney castle. Kelimutu National Park, where we hike up to crater lakes coloured paint-pot blue. Komodo with its 150-kilo lizards. Everybody wants to see Komodo dragons, but the surprise of Komodo is its landscape of slumped mountains, perky volcanoes and magnificently green and rumpled bays. The sand is pink, the water patterned with coral reefs. Another wonderful afternoon is spent snorkelling and paddle boarding, zooming about on a quiet, battery-driven Seabob scooter, and drinking cocktails at the pop-up beach bar manned by Scenic crew. On the move with a Seabob.

Then I return to the cool spaciousness of my stateroom to find everything tidied and serene. Drinks at the Scenic Bar. An informative recap by the expedition team in the theatre. Dinner in Elements: onion marmalade and camembert tart with honey, charred yellowfin tuna steak with ginger citrus soy. Were getting much closer to Bali now, but it still seems a world away. Sumbawa Island hardly gets any tourists in comparison. It has a strong Makassarese culture, and were privileged to see water-buffalo races: a short but thrilling spectacle of mud, water, animal muscle and the skill of villagers who ride on a fragile wooden sledge between two galloping buffaloes. Weve been on the go for two weeks and only in Lombok does the external tourist world intrude when we anchor off Senggigi, which has a row of resorts and bars. But Im off on an excursion to Mambalan, a village surrounded in rice paddies. Village visits have been a highlight of this journey, showcasing traditional crafts and dance and allowing us to meet the often shy but always engaging locals. Australians know the Balinese are friendly and charming, but they arent unique in Indonesia. The ubiquitous friendliness is yet another reason to get out and explore one of the worlds great destinations, right on our doorstep, yet seemingly hidden from view.

Loading The details Cruise

Scenic has two different Indonesia itineraries this year. A 15-day Discover Komodo & the Spice Islands cruise from Denpasar in Bali to Darwin departs on July 6, 2025 and costs from $23,975 a person, while a 15-day Secrets of Indonesia: Spice Islands & Raja Ampat itinerary round-trip from Darwin departs on September 27, 2025 and costs from $21,245 a person. Both differ in some destinations from the cruise described here. Prices include all dining, speciality restaurants, beverages, Wi-Fi, gratuities and shore excursions. See scenic.com.au More

indonesia.travel
By Akbar Novruz



A high-level Turkish delegation led by Mustafa Tuzcu, Deputy Minister of Trade of the Republic of Turkiye, paid a visit to Azerbaijans Agdam Industrial Park to explore opportunities for economic cooperation and investment in the countrys liberated territories, Azernews reports, citing the Economy Ministry.

The Ministry noted that the delegation was briefed by Samad Bashirli, Deputy Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan, on the reconstruction and development efforts underway across the liberated areas. The guests were informed about the favorable business environment, including infrastructure development, tax and customs incentives, and other support mechanisms provided to entrepreneurs.

Particular emphasis was placed on the Agdam Industrial Park, which was established under the Decree of President Ilham Aliyev on May 28, 2021. The park plays a vital role in unlocking the economic potential of the post-conflict region, contributing to the development of the non-oil sector, boosting employment, and enhancing production of competitive goods.

Strategically located at the crossroads of Garabagh and other regions, Agdam Industrial Park currently ranks second nationwide by number of resident companies, with nine enterprises actively operating. Products manufactured in the park are supplied to both domestic and export markets.

During the visit, the Turkish delegation also toured various production facilities within the park to gain firsthand insights into local manufacturing capabilities.

Beyond Agdam, the delegation visited Khankendi and Shusha, explored historical landmarks, and observed the ongoing restoration and reconstruction works as part of Azerbaijans broader regional redevelopment strategy.
The Bulgarian side appears to be leveraging statements about halting the sale of two nuclear reactor vessels to Ukraine as a strategy to drive up the price, according to Oleksiy Kucherenko, First Deputy Chair of the Verkhovna Rada's Energy Committee.

"The Bulgarians are simply trying to raise the price. I get the sense they've realized that under current conditions, this is a valuable asset. And you probably saw reports a few days ago saying that the price is no longer $600 million but around $700 million. So they're negotiating. Is that normal? Well, everyone negotiates globally. This isn't just a standard contract," Kucherenko said on the Suspilne television network.

He suggested that this is one possible explanation for Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Zafirov's April 15 statement that the two VVER-1000 reactor vessels previously earmarked for the Belene Nuclear Power Plant would not be sold to Ukraine.

At the same time, Kucherenko questioned why no formal agreement was secured between the parties before Ukraine's parliament passed legislation allowing Energoatom to purchase the reactor vessels from Bulgaria.

"After the president of Ukraine initiated the law and parliament approved it, I assumed there was already an offer in place, some signed protocol, some sort of pre-contract agreement. Was there actually anything official between the governments? At least a memorandum of intent? Or was it just a verbal agreement between the two presidents?" the energy committee's deputy chair said.
In recent weeks, China has been practising unusual manoeuvres off its southern coast involving three special barges. The vessels have linked up one behind another, forming a long bridge that extends from deeper waters onto the beach.

That feat has been a warning to Taiwan.

New bridge-making barges are believed to give China an advantage if it were to invade Taiwan. Credit: The New York Times

The vessels debut suggests that Chinas Peoples Liberation Army may be a step closer to being able to land tens of thousands of troops and their weapons and vehicles on Taiwans shores, experts say. Developing that capability has been a priority of Chinese President Xi Jinping, in his quest to absorb Taiwan  either by negotiations or by war.

China has been conducting military exercises around Taiwan for years, including a new surge this week. But even as its drills have intensified, and its missiles, warships and fighter jets have advanced, many experts have doubted that the Chinese military could cross the Taiwan Strait  a stretch of water about 130 kilometres to 180km wide at different points. Strong winds and currents for much of the year add to the dangers of trying to land on Taiwan.
Hartford, Connecticut: A US man who told police that he was held captive in a home by his father and stepmother and given limited food for 20 years before being rescued has thanked medical staff for holding what he called his first-ever birthday party as he turned 32.

In his first public comments since being rescued by firefighters after setting his room alight to win his freedom, the man said he wanted people to be held responsible for what happened to him. He planned to change his name as he begins to take charge of his life and recovers both physically and mentally.

The home in Waterbury, Connecticut, where the man said he was held captive for decades. Credit: AP

A nonprofit group, Survivors Say, released a statement by the man, who was in February pulled from a burning house in Waterbury, Connecticut.

Please call me S,  he said in the statement, released on Tuesday, Connecticut time.
PHILIPSBURG:--- In a progressive step toward strengthening community support for individuals on the autism spectrum, The Spectrum Support Box met with the Honorable Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA), Richinel S.J. Brug, on April 14, 2025, to discuss collaborative opportunities and unveil their year-long vision for the island of St. Maarten.



Ms. Alisha Brookes, Lead Consultant of The Spectrum Support Box, led the meeting, accompanied by Consultant Dr. Lucien York and Ms. Ashley Dambruck, the organizations Public Relations and Marketing Strategist and mother to an eight-year-old autistic son. Policy Advisor Mr. Michael Somersall supported the meeting.



During the discussion, Ms. Brookes shared her professional background in special education and her commitment to providing actionable solutions for the autism and SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) community. Im not just here to talk about the problems; Im here with solutions, she stated. We are ready to collaborate with ministries and organizations to support persons on the spectrum better.



Ms. Brookes outlined The Spectrum Support Box's mission as a holistic support system for children and adults with SEND diagnoses. Were here for families, educators, employers, and the wider community, she said. She emphasized that matters concerning persons on the spectrum fall under the Ministry of VSA because autism is a neurological and developmental condition that affects individuals across their lifespans.



Dr. York echoed the urgency of the mission. Ive worked closely with families here on the island and witnessed the lack of available support. Many parents feel forced to leave St. Maarten in search of services in countries like the Netherlands. That shouldnt be necessary, he said.



Ms. Dambruck offered a heartfelt perspective as a parent. Raising an autistic child as a single mother without the right resources is extremely difficult. The support Ive received from The Spectrum Support Box has made a meaningful difference. This work is necessary.



Minister Brug expressed deep appreciation for the teams presentation and pledged his support. This isnt just a matter of policy this is about community, said Minister Brug. He committed to having the ministry explore opportunities for future collaboration.



As part of their year plan, The Spectrum Support Box also announced its upcoming Autism Symposium, to be held on Saturday, April 19, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the University of St. Martin. The event will bring together families, educators, professionals and community members to share knowledge, foster understanding and build stronger support systems.



The meeting concluded with a symbolic handshake and a group photo, marking the beginning of a meaningful partnership focused on advocacy, inclusion and change.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Rotary E-Club of the Caribbean, District 7020, announced their winners, with much appreciation to our local young authors. The Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunset received eleven stories, with three being submitted to the Rotary E-Club for consideration to be published in this years Butterfly Storybook. The club congratulated Emily Wathey-Juricka for emerging as the overall winner.

Emily Wathey-Juricka from The Sint Maarten Montessori School wrote a story titled The Magic Sketchbook; Genaai Brooks-Gibs from the Helmich Snijders Hillside Christian School wrote a story titled Oh, How I Love My Belly!; and Soham Asrani from the St. Dominic Primary School wrote a story titled A Checkmate of Friendship. These participants were selected as the three best stories from the eleven stories submitted to the Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunset and sent to the Rotary E-Club of the Caribbean.

This year, the participating schools and students included Anne Jasmijn de Vries and Philou Bons from the Sint Maarten Montessori School, Lyla Petit from the Caribbean International Academy, Valente Cathalina, Sebastian Lee, and Elianah Browne from the St. Dominic Primary School, and Arianna Gordon and Tara Jourdan from the Asha Stevens Hillside Christian School.

The Butterfly Story Book writing contest challenges creative young writers aged 7-11 to tell their stories. The students were asked to write a story reflecting acts of kindness, friendship, leadership, and/or respect. This could involve friends, family, and/or pets and specifically illustrate the Caribbean culture, consisting of 300-750 words. The contest was open to students residing in the Caribbean as an opportunity to become published young authors.

All participants were invited to the Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunsets General Meeting for a time of celebration. All participating schools and students received certificates for their contributions. The winner, Emily Wathey-Juricka, received a cash prize of $100.00 from the Rotary E-Club of Caribbean and a $50.00 gift card from Amazon compliments of the Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunset. The winner will also have her story published in the 2025 Butterfly Story Book alongside winners from other Caribbean countries. The general public is encouraged to purchase a book sold on Amazon by searching The Butterfly Storybook (2025): STORIES WRITTEN BY CHILDREN FOR CHILDREN: A project of The Rotary E-Club of the Caribbean 7020.

President Franklyn of the Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunset thanked all participants for submitting exceptional stories and encouraged them to continue writing. He also thanked the principals, teachers, and parents for supporting this endeavor and encouraging their students' participation.

The Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunset meets on the second and fourth Monday of the month at Carl N Sons Unique Inn and Conference Facilities in Colebay at 7:30 pm. The club can be contacted via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or via the official Facebook page at facebook.com/rotarysxmsunset.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment, and Infrastructure wishes to inform the public that scheduled road repair work on Front Street will begin tomorrow evening, Wednesday, April 16th, 2025, to Friday, April 25th, 2025, requiring a daily road closure.

During this time, the entire section of Front Street will be temporarily closed to vehicular traffic daily from 6:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. to allow for safe and efficient repairs. This closure is necessary to improve the road surface and ensure long-term safety and durability for all users.

Please note the following important details:

 Pedestrian access along the sidewalk and Front Street will remain open throughout the works.

 Businesses and service providers operating on Front Street are kindly asked to plan their deliveries and services outside of the scheduled closure hours to avoid disruption.

Residents and business owners are encouraged to contact the department at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call us at 542-4292 ext 2387 for any questions and concerns.

The Department of Infrastructure thanks the public for their cooperation and understanding as we work to enhance the safety and quality of our road infrastructure.
PHILIPSBURG  After nearly two years of delays, the Council of Ministers has approved the appointment of candidates for key management positions at NV GEBE. However, the process has been marked by setbacks, including the sudden passing of one candidate and subsequent public criticism over the lack of local representatives in the board appointments.

The companys Supervisory Board of Directors, consisting of Denicio Boasman, Dennis Richardson, Emmanuel Brooks, and Charlesworth Sydney, submitted the names of three candidates selected for the long-vacant management roles over nine months ago. These names followed a meticulous selection process that included publicizing vacancies and installing a review committee to evaluate applicants.

Despite the lengthy deliberations, the Council of Ministers only recently finalized and approved the recommendations. However, the appointment process faced another challenge with the sudden passing of Troy Washington, the selected Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Washington, who served in a temporary managerial role at NV GEBE before he was nominated CEO, passed away suddenly en route to the Netherlands a week after agreeing to be appointed.

The approved candidates were as follows:

Troy Washington , Chief Executive Officer (deceased).

, Chief Executive Officer (deceased). Wilco Sienen , Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Sienen, a Dutch national, is employed at Gippsland Water in Australia. He has assumed a consultancy role at NV GEBE while awaiting his formal appointment.

, Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Sienen, a Dutch national, is employed at Gippsland Water in Australia. He has assumed a consultancy role at NV GEBE while awaiting his formal appointment. Devon Dembrook, Chief Operations Officer (COO). In February 2021, Dembrook acted as a temporary manager for NV GEBE but later declined the offer of a formal appointment as COO.

With Washingtons unexpected passing, Thomas Roggendorf has since been appointed Temporary Manager of the utility company. Additionally, NV GEBE now faces the task of identifying a new COO, as Devon Dembrooks rejection leaves the position vacant again.

Community Disappointment Over Lack of Local Representation

The appointment of internationally based candidates such as Sienen and Roggendorf has sparked criticism from local residents. Many in the community have expressed frustration over what they perceive as a missed opportunity to empower qualified locals to lead NV GEBE. This sentiment stems from a broader concern over the limited inclusion of St. Maartens own talent in high-ranking roles within national institutions.

While the Supervisory Board has been commended for pressing forward to address the prolonged vacancies, NV GEBEs management restructuring remains incomplete. The company must now restart the search for a COO who meets the position's demands, as stakeholders emphasize the importance of stability and strong leadership to guide the utility provider into the future.

Next Steps for NV GEBE

The road ahead for NV GEBE appears challenging. The Supervisory Board will need to reopen applications for the COO position and reassess its approach to leadership recruitment. Meanwhile, the Council of Ministers and the Supervisory Board face mounting pressure to ensure smoother and more transparent processes moving forward.

For now, NV GEBEs future depends on its ability to make swift, strategic decisions to fill the gaps in its management team, while balancing community expectations and operational needs.
An agreement related to the creation of the 1st Forum for Sub-National Island Jurisdictions (SNIJs) has been signed ahead of the Global Sustainable Island Summit (GSIS) co-hosted with Island Innovation and St. Kitts and Nevis in May this year. The Forum is being heralded as a key stepping stone following discussions at the COP29 UN Climate Summit in Azerbaijan and the SIDS4 conference in Antigua & Barbuda last year, focused on improving access to climate finance for SNIJs.

SNIJs are territories and countries that enjoy varying autonomy levels. Still, they are attached to a larger country - in the case of Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten: the Netherlands. Several European countries have authority over island jurisdictions, such as Denmark (Greenland), Spain (Canary Islands), or France (New Caledonia), but SNIJs also include Guam (USA), Zanzibar (Tanzania), and Lakshadweep (India).

Communities living in SNIJs find themselves in a gray area regarding climate funding opportunities. Their attachment to another economy disqualifies them from most international financing pathways. Yet, they often have different needs and priorities from their central authority, with limited representation within that larger political structure. The different autonomies and sovereignties that each SNIJ has are contrasted by the similar challenges they face in an increasingly complex development finance landscape. The 1st Forum for Sub-National Island Jurisdictions will allow SNIJs to take stock of issues, potential solutions, and opportunities to increase awareness and action at the international stage.

The agreement which sets out a basic agenda for the Forum and a framework for increased multilateral conversations between SNIJs was crafted by Island Innovation CEO James Ellsmoor, representatives of the Nevis Island Administration, the government of Curacao, as well as Edison Rijna, Special Envoy for Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, Saba islands for EU and UN and Economic Development with Latin America and Caribbean, who stated: Small Island Developing States (SIDS) have worked together to increasingly gain more support and recognition on the international stage for access to climate finance. Their work is admirable, and their progress now highlights that there are many island communities within a jurisdictional grey zone where they do not hold SIDS status, face similar existing challenges, but lack clear access to climate financing pathways. Sub-National Island jurisdictions like ours are confronted by the same storms, droughts, and economic disruptions.. We need to work together as SNIJs and islanders to secure our future. This Forum will provide us a platform from which to build from.

James Ellsmoor, CEO of Island Innovation, added: We cannot let Sub-National Island Jurisdictions fall through the cracks of national and international policymaking. We must recognize that these countries and territories face different challenges, which require a different type of support than what is currently in place. Many island jurisdictions have identified solutions and pathways to long-term prosperity, and they need better access to the tools to complete them.

The 2025 GSIS is set to be the most ambitious iteration of the event, reflecting the drive of the St Kitts and Nevis government through three days of high-level panel discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities centered around the host countrys Sustainable Island State Agenda (SISA) and how it can be a replicable blueprint for other island communities. The summit will happen May 27-30, 2025, and will also feature several special forums, including the Island Youth Forum (May 25-26, St Kitts), Geothermal Energy Forum (May 26, Nevis), and the 1st Forum on Access to Climate Finance for Sub-National Island Jurisdictions (May 30, Nevis).

With less than two months remaining before the start of the GSIS, over 50 speakers have been officially announced, including high-level government officials and experts from SNIJs, including:
Ukrainian Red Cross volunteers take part in search for victims of Russian UAV attack on Odesa

Photo: https://www.facebook.com/RedCrossUkraine/

Volunteers of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) took part in the search for victims of the Russian drone attack on Odesa overnight.

The Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) emergency response team in Odesa region was on the ground following the nighttime attack on Odesa. The volunteers assisted first responders in searching for victims, URCS said on Facebook Wednesday.

Volunteers provided first aid to two wounded people and first psychological aid to five victims.

The Ukrainian Red Cross team also gathered information about the needs of the victims to provide them with humanitarian aid, including construction materials to temporarily repair the damage to their homes.

As reported, on Wednesday night, as a result of the UAV attack on Odesa and its suburbs, residential buildings, warehouses, and vehicles were damaged or destroyed. Three people were reported to be injured.
Silicon Valley crosswalks hacked to mock Musk, Zuckerberg



San Francisco, April 16 (AFP) Apr 16, 2025



Pedestrian crosswalks in California's Silicon Valley were emitting recordings over the weekend that mocked US President Donald Trump and tech billionaires Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk, according to widely shared videos.

Instead of the usual "walk" or "wait" audio instructions, crosswalk speakers at some intersections in Palo Alto, Menlo Park and Redwood City played recordings that sounded like the tech titans.

"You know, they say money can't buy happiness, and... I guess that's true," the crosswalk audio says in one video posted over the weekend on TikTok, Meta-owned Instagram and Musk's social platform X.

"God knows I've tried. But it can buy a Cybertruck and that's pretty sick, right? Right? ... I'm so alone."

In another widely circulating video, a Musk-sounding voice emerges from the crosswalk signal and talks about Trump.

"You know it's funny, I used to think he was just this dumb sack of shit. But, well, when you get to know him, he's actually really sweet and tender and loving."

A voice resembling Trump's replies: "Sweetie, come back to bed."

Meta CEO Zuckerberg was not spared. In another video viewed more than 400,000 times on X, a crosswalk sign appears to emit the audio: "Hi, this is Mark Zuckerberg, but real ones call me 'The Zuck.' It's normal to feel uncomfortable or even violated as we forcefully insert AI into every ... facet of your conscious experience.

"And I just want to assure you, you don't need to worry because there's absolutely nothing you can do to stop it. Anyways, see ya."

It was not clear who was behind the messages playing at the crosswalks, which returned to normal by Monday, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Palo Alto City spokesperson Meghan Horrigan-Taylor told US media that 12 downtown intersections were impacted and authorities had disabled the audio feature until it could be repaired.

The tampering may have happened on Friday, Horrigan-Taylor said, according to Palo Alto Online.

City official Jennifer Yamaguma told the San Francisco Chronicle that four crosswalks in Redwood City were impacted.

"The unauthorized messages have since been disabled, and staff are evaluating ways to strengthen system protections," Deputy City Manager Yamaguma said.

"We also want to remind the public that tampering with City infrastructure, including crosswalk signals, is unlawful and poses a safety risk."

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Meta to start using Europeans' data for AI training May 27



Paris, April 16 (AFP) Apr 16, 2025



Meta will start using public posts and comments by its European users to train generative artificial intelligence (AI) models from May 27, unless users opt out of the data-mining project.

Meta, the owner of Facebook, Instagram and Threads, said earlier this week that it would develop its AI models with European users' public content and conversations with the Meta AI chatbot.

That means anything from Instagram photo captions to Facebook comments could soon be fair game for Meta AI, though private conversations via its WhatsApp messaging service will be excluded.

According to a privacy notice, this will begin on May 27, though it says users can choose to keep their content out after this date.

Meta users should receive a notification ahead of the May 27 deadline informing them of the policy change and providing a link to the opt-out form.

However, Meta said it could continue to process information by users when they appear in a publicly shared image or are mentioned by another person.

The changes would not apply to the accounts of users under 18, nor to private messages sent to family and friends, Meta said.

AI is an overriding priority for Mark Zuckerberg-owned Meta as for other technology giants, hoping to match the success of ChatGPT.

The group plans to invest $60 to $65 billion this year, with much of the cash going into data centres, servers and network infrastructure necessary to develop AI models.

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Putin praises Musk, compares him to Soviet space hero



Moscow, April 16 (AFP) Apr 16, 2025



Russian President Vladimir Putin praised Elon Musk on Wednesday, telling university students he was a pioneer comparable to legendary Soviet rocket engineer Sergei Korolev.

The comments came as Russia and the United States forged closer ties under President Donald Trump's administration, of which billionaire SpaceX founder Musk is a key figure.

"You know, there's a man -- he lives in the States -- Musk, who, you could say, raves about Mars," Putin told students on a visit to Bauman University, a Moscow college that specialises in science and engineering.

"These are the kind of people who don't often appear in the human population, charged-up with a certain idea."

"If it seems incredible even today, such ideas often come to fruition after a while. Just like the ideas of Korolev, our pioneers, came about in due time," Putin added.

Korolev is considered the father of the Soviet space programme, developing the first satellite Sputnik as well as Vostok 1, which carried first cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin into orbit in 1961.

Musk, the world's richest man and Trump's most powerful advisor, is the head of SpaceX -- a US company that launches rockets for NASA and owns the Starlink satellite internet network.

Musk has been a frequent critic of Ukraine, which is currently battling a three-year Russian offensive.

The billionaire accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last month of wanting a "forever war", and in February said Kyiv had gone "too far" in the conflict.
The Italian government has transferred the first tranche of EUR 25 million for the restoration of the energy system of Ukraine as part of a joint initiative with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the total cost of which is EUR 200 million.

As the Italian Embassy in Ukraine reported to the Interfax-Ukraine agency, the funds are intended for the state-owned company Ukrhydroenergo and are aimed at implementing urgent measures to restore access to energy supply, strengthen power grids and provide vital services in the most affected regions.

"This first financing is a concrete signal of Italy's strong support for Ukraine's energy sector, which has been seriously tested by the war," said Italy's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Ukraine Carlo Formosa.

He stressed that "the country's recovery begins with light, heat, and basic services that unite communities and make them resilient."

This contribution is part of a wider EUR 125 million Italian aid package aimed at energy security and reconstruction of Ukraine in cooperation with Ukrainian institutions and international partners.
'Hard on the body': Canadian troops train for Arctic defense



Tuktoyaktuk, Canada, April 16 (AFP) Apr 16, 2025



In normal conditions, Canadian Air Force helicopter pilot Jonathan Vokey uses the treeline to gauge his altitude. But in the Arctic, where the landing zone is an expanse of white snow, he has to adjust.

"Operating in the cold, it's hard on the body, but it also can be challenging with the aircraft as well," Captain Vokey told AFP during an exercise aimed at preparing Canadian troops to operate in the country's extreme north, a region fast becoming a military priority.

Canada is making a significant push to boost its military strength in the Arctic, which accounts for 40 percent of its territory.

Arctic ice is melting as a result of climate change, opening up the region and increasing the risk of confrontation with rivals like Russia over the area's natural resources, including minerals, oil and gas, as well as fresh water.

"If I was to boil it down: you can access the north now more easily than you have ever been able to. And I would say that that's going to change even more drastically over the next 10, 20 years," said Colonel Darren Turner, joint task force commander of Operation Nanook, the annual Artic training exercise established in 2007.

"Once a route is opened, they will come. And that is something that we need to have an interest in. That is something that we need to have the capabilities to interdict, to stop," he told AFP.

That requires training more troops to operate in the region's extreme conditions and deploy to three Arctic military hubs that the government plans to build.

Operation Nanook -- the word for "polar bear" in an Inuit language -- is central to that effort.

In a long tent pitched on a vast sheet of ice and snow, troops practiced diving into frigid water.

In another location, teams worked on detecting hostile activity with infrared imaging, a particular challenge in the Arctic where the cold can obscure thermal signatures.



- 'A little different' -



Dive team leader Jonathan Jacques Savoie said managing the brutal weather is key.

"The main challenge on Op. Nanook in this location is the environment. The environment always dictates how we live, fight and move in the field," he said, noting the day's temperature of minus 26 degrees Celsius (minus 14.8 Fahrenheit).

This year's operation marked the first Arctic deployment for Corporal Cassidy Lambert, an infantry reservist.

She's from the eastern province of Newfoundland and Labrador, where maritime Atlantic weather creates wet, damp winters.

The Arctic, she conceded, is "going to be a little different."

"I don't handle the cold too well, but I think I've prepped myself well enough," she said.

Steven Breau, a rifleman with New Brunswick's North Shore regiment, said troops are trained on a range of region-specific safety measures, like avoiding frostbite.

Sweat can also become a problem.

"It's really important to stay dry, to take body heat into account. If you get too hot, you sweat. It gets wet, then it gets cold, then it freezes."



- 'Direct confrontation' -



The surrounding frozen tundra does not immediately look like the next frontline in a looming global conflict.

But leaders in multiple countries have put a spotlight on the Arctic.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to annex Greenland, insisting the United States needs the autonomous Danish territory for its security.

And days after taking over as Canada's Prime Minister last month, Mark Carney visited Iqaluit, in another part of the Canadian Arctic, to announce a multi-billion-dollar radar deal he said would be crucial to securing the nation's sovereignty.

Briefing troops arriving for Operation Nanook, Major Andrew Melvin said a direct confrontation with Chinese or Russian forces was "highly unlikely" during the exercise.

But, he added, "it is possible that either the PRC (People's Republic of China) or the RF (Russian Federation) intelligence services will seek to collect intelligence during the conduct of Op Nanook."

For Colonel Turner, protecting the Arctic from hostile actors means safeguarding a region that is inseparable from Canadian identity.

"It's a part of our raison d'etre... from a sovereignty perspective."
Gaza rescuers say children among 11 killed in Israeli air strikes



Gaza City, Palestinian Territories, April 16 (AFP) Apr 16, 2025



Gaza's civil defence agency reported that Israeli air strikes in the early hours of Wednesday killed at least 11 people, including women and children.

Israel resumed its aerial and ground offensive across Gaza from March 18, ending a two-month ceasefire that had largely halted hostilities in the territory.

A pre-dawn air strike in Gaza City killed 10 people, including several women and children, according to civil defence agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal.

He said the strike targeted the home belonging to the Hassouna family in the Al-Tuffa neighbourhood of Gaza City.

"Our teams transferred 10 martyrs and several wounded to Al-Shifa hospital after the Hassouna family's home was targeted," Bassal said.

In a separate attack, a child was killed in the southern city of Khan Yunis, rescue teams said.

Top Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have repeatedly stated that military pressure is the only way to secure the release of hostages still held in Gaza by Hamas.

On Wednesday, Defence Minister Israel Katz reiterated that Israel would continue to "relentlessly strike Hamas terrorists and terror infrastructure" in Gaza.

"If Hamas continues to refuse (to release hostages), operations will intensify and move to the next stage," Katz said in a statement, without specifying what the next stage would entail.

Also on Wednesday, the Israeli military announced it had recently killed a militant involved in a 2014 attack that resulted in the deaths of five soldiers.

Mahmud Ibrahim Abu Hisirah was reportedly part of group of militants that infiltrated Israel through a tunnel in July 2014 and killed five soldiers, the military said.

In recent years, he had served as a close aide to Ezzedine Haddad, a senior militant from Hamas' armed wing, the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, the military added.

Since Israel resumed its offensive in Gaza in mid-March, at least 1,630 people have been killed, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.

The war in Gaza erupted after Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

Israel's military assault since then has killed at least 51,000 people in Gaza, the majority of them civilians, according to the health ministry.
Kremlin says ready help with Iran-US nuclear talks



Moscow, April 16 (AFP) Apr 16, 2025



The Kremlin said Wednesday that Russia was ready to do "everything" in its powers to help find a diplomatic resolution to the stand-off between the United States and Iran over Tehran's nuclear programme.

Moscow, which commands the world's largest confirmed arsenal of nuclear weapons, has deepened its military ties with Iran since it launched its offensive on Ukraine in February 2022.

"The Russian Federation remains ready to do everything within our capabilities to contribute to the settlement of the situation by political and diplomatic means," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. He was responding to a question from AFP over whether Moscow would consider being a guarantor of any deal.

An Iranian MP had raised the possibility of Russia and China being joint guarantors of any future agreement in an interview with Russia's state-run RIA Novosti.

Russia has issued multiple calls for calm after US President Donald Trump last month appeared to threaten to bomb Iran if it did not engage in talks about restricting its nuclear programme.

Peskov did not say whether Russia would act as guarantor to any agreement, only that Moscow was "counting" on a second round of talks between Iran and the United States.

Iranian and US officials held indirect talks in Oman last week, the highest-level meeting between the two sides since Trump abandoned a landmark nuclear deal in 2018.
Finland extends Russia border closure indefinitely



Helsinki, April 16 (AFP) Apr 16, 2025



Finland said Wednesday that its eastern border with Russia, which it closed in December 2023, will remain closed indefinitely.

The Nordic country shut its 1,340-kilometre (830-mile) border with Russia after the arrival of around 1,000 migrants without visas.

Helsinki claimed the surge of migrants was orchestrated by Russia, a charge the Kremlin has denied.

"Based on information available to the Finnish authorities, the risk that instrumentalised migration will resume and expand as seen previously remains likely," the government said in a statement.

"If the phenomenon were to continue, it would pose a serious threat to Finland's national security and public order," it said.

Applications for international protection have been directed to the country's other border crossing points, it said.

In April 2024, the Finnish government decided to close the eastern border "until further notice," a decision it now has renewed.

"The government's decision on the closure of the border has been in force under the same conditions for about a year. This is why it was reasonable to reassess the content of the decision and its preconditions," the government said.

In March, the government also proposed an extension of a temporary one-year law that allows border guards to turn away asylum seekers under certain circumstances.

Dubbed a "pushback border law" in Finnish media, the law that entered into force last July can be applied for one month at a time in limited areas only if Finland's sovereignty and national security are deemed to be threatened.

Experts have said the law contravenes Finland's international human rights commitments and its constitution, which the government has acknowledged.

The government said both the decision to keep the border closed and the temporary border security act "have achieved their intended effect, and instrumentalised migration, which began in November 2023, has ceased for now".
Iran FM says uranium enrichment 'non-negotiable' after Trump envoy urged halt



Tehran, April 16 (AFP) Apr 16, 2025



Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Wednesday that Iran's enrichment of uranium as part of its nuclear programme was "non-negotiable" after US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff called for a halt.

"Iran's enrichment is a real, accepted matter. We are ready to build confidence in response to possible concerns, but the issue of enrichment is non-negotiable," Araghchi told reporters after a cabinet meeting.

The remarks came as Araghchi and Witkoff are due to meet again in Oman on Saturday, a week after they held the highest-level talks between the longtime foes since US President Donald Trump abandoned a landmark nuclear deal in 2018.

Trump reimposed sweeping sanctions in a policy of "maximum pressure" against Tehran that he has reinstated since returning to office in January.

In March, he sent a letter to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urging talks but warning of possible military action if they fail to produce a deal.

Both sides described Saturday's meeting as "constructive".

But on Tuesday, Witkoff said Iran must "stop and eliminate" its enrichment of uranium as part of any nuclear deal.

He had previously demanded only that Iran return to the 3.67 percent enrichment ceiling set by the 2015 accord between Iran and major powers that Trump withdrew from.



- 'Contradictory' -



Araghchi condemned what he called the "contradictory and conflicting positions" coming out of the Trump administration ahead of Saturday's talks.

"We will find out the true opinions of the Americans during the negotiation session," he said.

Iran's top diplomat said he hoped to start negotiations on the framework of a possible agreement but said that required "constructive positions" from the United States.

"If we continue to (hear) contradictory and conflicting positions, we are going to have problems," he warned.

Araghchi is set to head to Iranian ally Russia on Thursday, Iran's ambassador in Moscow Kazem Jalili said.

Iran has said the visit was "pre-planned" but will include discussions on the Iran-US talks.

"The objective of (my) trip to Russia is to convey a written message from the supreme leader" to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Araghchi said.

In readiness for the US talks, Iran has engaged with Russia and China, which were both parties to the 2015 deal.

Ahead of Saturday's second round of talks in Muscat, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said he hoped a deal could be reached with the United States, the official IRNA news agency reported.

On Tuesday, Khamenei cautioned that while the talks have proceeded well in their early stages, they could still prove fruitless.

"The negotiations may or may not yield results," he said, noting that Iran had already outlined its "red lines".

Iran's Revolutionary Guards have said the country's military capabilities are off-limits in the talks.

Late on Sunday, IRNA said Iran's regional influence and its missile capabilities -- both sources of concern for Western governments -- were also among its "red lines".

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi was due in Iran later Wednesday for talks with senior officials.

The UN watchdog was tasked with overseeing Iran's compliance with the 2015 nulear deal.

In its latest report, the IAEA said Iran had an estimated 274.8 kilograms (605 pounds) of uranium enriched to up to 60 percent.

That level far exceeds the the 3.67 percent ceiling set by the 2015 deal but still falls short of the 90 percent threshold required for a nuclear warhead.
Kremlin says ready to help with Iran-US nuclear talks



Moscow, April 16 (AFP) Apr 16, 2025



The Kremlin said Wednesday that Russia was ready to do "everything" in its powers to help find a diplomatic resolution to the stand-off between the United States and Iran over Tehran's nuclear programme.

The comments come a day before Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is due in Moscow for talks with top Russian officials, including on the state of the US-Iran talks.

Moscow, which commands the world's largest confirmed arsenal of nuclear weapons, has deepened its military ties with Iran since it launched its offensive on Ukraine in February 2022.

"The Russian Federation remains ready to do everything within our capabilities to contribute to the settlement of the situation by political and diplomatic means," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, responding to a question from AFP over whether Moscow would consider being a guarantor of any deal.

An Iranian MP had raised the possibility of Russia and China being joint guarantors of any future agreement in an interview with Russia's state-run RIA Novosti.

Russia has issued multiple calls for calm after US President Donald Trump last month appeared to threaten to bomb Iran if it did not engage in talks about restricting its nuclear programme.

Peskov did not say whether Russia would act as guarantor to any agreement, only that Moscow was "counting" on a second round of talks between Iran and the United States.

Iranian and US officials held indirect talks in Oman last week, the highest-level meeting between the two sides since Trump abandoned a landmark nuclear deal in 2018.

Also on Wednesday the upper house of the Russian parliament voted to ratify a strategic partnership treaty with Iran that was signed by the two countries' leaders earlier this year.
Iran confirms next round of US talks to be in Italy not Oman: state TV



Tehran, April 16 (AFP) Apr 16, 2025



The next round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States will be held on Saturday in Italy and not Oman, Iranian state media reported.

"The second round of Iran-US nuclear talks will be held next Saturday in Rome... and the Omani foreign ministry will be hosting the talks," Iran's state TV said.

European officials had earlier said the talks would be held in Rome, but Iranian officials had insisted they would be held in Oman.

Also on Wednesday, a spokesman for the Italian foreign ministry confirm to AFP that the talks would be held in Rome.

Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei in a post on X appeared to criticise the changing of the location of the talks.

"In diplomacy, such a move, promoted by extremist elements lacking an understanding of logic or the art of reasonable negotiation, can jeopardise any beginning," he said, adding that it can "be seen as a lack of seriousness and good faith."

The first round of talks, held last Saturday in Oman's capital Muscat, was led by US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

pdm/jsa
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP), with the financial support of the Government of Latvia, has completed the restoration of preschool educational institution No. 19 and the catering unit of the Chernihiv Regional Children's Hospital as part of the initiative "Latvia for Chernihiv: Restoration of Social Infrastructure."

"Preschool institution No. 19 in Chernihiv suffered significant damage in the spring of 2022: a blast wave knocked out more than 90% of the windows and doors of the kindergarten, also damaging the roof, facade and asphalt coating. Part of the building also suffered serious damage. Thanks to the project, the kindergarten was completely renovated: the roof and facade were restored, windows and doors, asphalt coating were replaced, damaged walls, ceilings and partitions were rebuilt," the UNDP press service said.

As noted, the building was also thermally modernized and made more inclusive, which provided comfortable conditions for 150 children. In addition, thanks to the savings, it was possible to purchase an additional 51 beds for 93 children. According to UNDP, the cost of restoring the kindergarten, the only one in the Stara Podusivka microdistrict, was $770,200 (or approximately UAH 31.9 million).

The initiative also renovated the catering unit of the Chernihiv Regional Children's Hospital.

"The premises suffered significant damage from the explosion of a cluster bomb that exploded in the courtyard of the institution. Now the catering unit has been completely renovated, and the necessary kitchen equipment has been purchased," the report says.

The total cost of the work amounted to $538,000 (or approximately UAH 22.3 million). UNDP notes that the children's hospital serves more than 17,000 patients annually.

"Rebuilding these facilities is more than just rebuilding walls. It is rebuilding lives and creating a safe and supportive environment for children to grow and learn. Latvia is committed to supporting Ukraine in creating a future where every child can thrive," said the Ambassador of Latvia to Ukraine, Ilgvars Kljava.

UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Ukraine, Christoforos Politis, emphasized the importance of Latvia's support and the significance of this initiative.

"We are proud to have supported the restoration of this kindergarten and hospital, which will help people return to their communities. Such initiatives are a contribution not only to infrastructure, but to the well-being of every man, woman and child living in this community," he said.

In total, within the framework of the "Latvia for Chernihiv: Restoration of Social Infrastructure" initiative, repair work was completed at five facilities - four educational institutions and the catering unit of the Chernihiv Regional Children's Hospital.

According to the latest Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA4) for Ukraine, since the start of the full-scale invasion, 3,373 educational institutions and 1,603 medical facilities have been damaged or destroyed in various parts of the country.
Iran 'not far' from nuclear bomb: IAEA chief



Vienna, April 16 (AFP) Apr 16, 2025



Iran is not far from having an atomic bomb, the head of the UN nuclear watchdog was quoted as saying in a Le Monde interview published Wednesday, just hours before a visit to Tehran.

International Atomic Energy Agency head Rafael Grossi said Iran still had a way to go before getting the bomb, but added: "They're not far from it, you have to acknowledge."

Grossi likened the development of a nuclear weapon to a jigsaw puzzle, adding that Iran "has the pieces and they could eventually put them together one day".

Grossi was due in Iran later Wednesday for talks with senior officials.

The UN watchdog was tasked with overseeing Iran's compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal that fell apart after Donald Trump withdrew from it during his first term as US president.
Macron to meet Rubio, Witkoff amid transatlantic tensions



Paris, April 16 (AFP) Apr 16, 2025



French President Emmanuel Macron will on Thursday meet with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US envoy Steve Witkoff, the Elysee palace said, as transatlantic tensions soar over the war in Ukraine.

Witkoff, who recently met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Rubio are heading to Paris for talks on ending the war in Ukraine, the State Department said separately.

US President Donald Trump's push for a ceasefire in Ukraine has yet to bear fruit despite his pledges to end the war quickly.

Russia's strikes that have recently killed dozens of people including many many children in Ukraine's cities of Sumy and Kryvyi Rig show how the war is taking a hefty toll despite a series of diplomatic efforts.

Macron has taken the lead in seeking to forge a coordinated European response to protecting Ukraine, both during the current conflict and in its eventual aftermath after Trump shook the world by opening direct negotiations with Russia.

The State Department said Rubio was travelling with Witkoff to meet European officials for talks on the goal of stopping the war triggered by Russia's invasion in 2022.

A French diplomatic source said Rubio and France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot would discuss "the war in Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East and the Iranian nuclear file".

This will be Rubio's third trip to Europe since taking office.

Witkoff said on Monday, just days after his third meeting with Putin, that he himself sees a peace deal "emerging".

Talks to end the Gaza war have also stalled, with Israel saying on Wednesday it would keep blocking humanitarian aid from entering the Palestinian territory, where a relentless military offensive has turned the Palestinian territory into a "mass grave", according to medical charity Doctors Without Borders.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said blocking aid to the besieged territory of 2.4 million people was to pressure the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The Paris talks also come after discussions between the United States and Iran on Tehran's nuclear program were held Saturday in Oman.

Another round is scheduled for April 19, also in Oman.

Separately, the French defence minister, Sebastien Lecornu, will travel to Washington on Thursday.

He is set to meet with Pete Hegseth, US Defense Secretary, for talks on a number of issues including Ukraine, Iran and Gaza.

He was also expected to hold talks with National Intelligence director Tulsi Gabbard and Keith Kellogg, Trump's Ukraine envoy.

lb-dt-dab-ah-as/rmb
Mexico seeks security coordination with US over border military moves



Mexico City, April 16 (AFP) Apr 16, 2025



Mexico has sent a diplomatic note to the United States seeking security coordination in response to Washington's plan for its military to control land along the border, President Claudia Sheinbaum said Wednesday.

US President Donald Trump's administration said its creation of a new "national defense area" stretching more than 170 miles (270 kilometers) along the frontier would enable the army to support border patrols.

"It's their own autonomous decision and in their territory, but we hope it doesn't cross the border and that existing collaboration on security matters continues," Sheinbaum told a news conference.

"We don't know if it's to continue building the wall (along sections of the border) or what the objective is, but in any case, what we always ask for is respect and coordination," she added.

Trump last week signed a memorandum ordering federal land along the frontier to be made available to the Defense Department if needed to enable military activities including construction of border barriers.

"This new national defense area spans more than 170 miles across our border in New Mexico," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday, adding that more than 90 miles would be added in Texas in coming weeks.

Leavitt said the move would allow US forces to better act against undocumented migrants, criminal gangs and "terrorists."

The troops would also work on stopping the smuggling of fentanyl and other narcotics, she said.

The land will be considered part of a military installation, enabling soldiers to exclude migrants from the area.

Since returning to office in January, Trump has deployed thousands more troops and two warships to beef up border security.
Spain police dig up underground shooting range used by gun traffickers



Madrid, April 16 (AFP) Apr 16, 2025



Spanish police said Wednesday they have uncovered an illegal underground firing range they suspect was operated by a weapons trafficking ring that supplied assault rifles and other arms to drug gangs.

Officers raided a house in the southern province of Granada and found the site, which was located three stories underground, said a police statement.

Neighbours could not hear guns going off because of the depth of the range, it added.

Police said it was the first time they had found a "illegal shooting range run by a criminal group" in Spain.

Authorities believe the site was used to test weapons that the group supplied to drug trafficking rings, who then used them to defend themselves or attack rival gangs.

"The operation has removed weapons from the streets that could have been used to commit extremely serious crimes," the statement said.

Police said the group offered to sell assault rifles, submachine gins and automatic pistols, as well as ammunition, bulletproof vests and other tactical equipment.

Officers arrested three people and seized several weapons and more than 60,000 euros ($68,000) in cash. They said further arrests were possible.

Spain is a major gateway to Europe for drug trafficking networks due to its ties to former colonies in Latin America and its proximity to Morocco, a top cannabis producer.
Yemen's Huthi media says US air strikes hit Sanaa



Sanaa, April 16 (AFP) Apr 16, 2025



Yemeni rebel media said more than a dozen air strikes hit the Huthi-held capital Sanaa on Wednesday, blaming them on the United States.

Rebel-held areas of Yemen have endured near-daily strikes, blamed on the United States, since Washington launched an air campaign against the Huthis on March 15 in an attempt to end their threats to shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

"Fourteen air strikes carried out by American aggression hit the Al-Hafa area in the Al-Sabeen district in the capital", the Huthis' Al-Masirah TV reported.

It also reported strikes blamed on the United States in the Hazm area of Jawf province.

The US campaign followed Huthi threats to resume their attacks on international shipping over Israel's aid blockade on the Gaza Strip.

Since March 15, the Huthis have also resumed attacks targeting US military ships and Israel, saying they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

The rebels began targeting ships transiting the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, as well as Israeli territory, after the Gaza war began in October 2023, later pausing their attacks during a recent two-month ceasefire.

Israel cut off all supplies to Gaza at the beginning of March and resumed its offensive in the Palestinian territory on March 18, ending the truce.

The vital Red Sea route, connecting to the Suez Canal, normally carries about 12 percent of world shipping traffic, but the Huthi attacks forced many companies to make a long detour around the tip of southern Africa.
Senior Pentagon official put on leave amid leaks probe



Washington, April 16 (AFP) Apr 16, 2025



A top Pentagon official has been placed on leave pending investigation, a US defense official said Wednesday, amid a probe into leaks in the Defense Department that was launched last month.

Deputy chief of staff Darin Selnick is the second top Defense Department official -- along with Dan Caldwell, another senior advisor to Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth -- to be put on leave this week.

Hegseth's chief of staff Joe Kasper signed a March 21 memo requesting an investigation into "recent unauthorized disclosures of national security information involving sensitive communications."

"I expect to be informed immediately if this effort results in information identifying a party responsible for an unauthorized disclosure, and that such information will be referred to the appropriate criminal law enforcement entity for criminal prosecution," the memo said.

In a sign of his seniority, Caldwell was named by Hegseth as the Defense Department's point of contact in a group chat on commercial messaging app Signal in which top officials discussed military action against Yemen's Huthi rebels.

The Pentagon inspector general's office announced an investigation earlier this month into Hegseth's use of the app -- a probe unrelated to the one requested by Kasper.

The use of Signal by top officials resulted in a scandal when National Security Advisor Mike Waltz inadvertently added a journalist to the chat on the Yemen strikes, leading to the disclosure of its contents.

Neither Waltz nor Hegseth have been fired or otherwise disciplined over the incident so far.
Technical teams of Ukraine and the United States of America have worked thoroughly on the agreement, there is significant progress, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yulia Svyrydenko has said.

"A positive new step with the United States regarding the agreement on economic partnership and the creation of an investment fund for the reconstruction of Ukraine. Our technical teams have worked very thoroughly together on the agreement - there is significant progress, the lawyers have made the right accents in the draft agreement, thank you to the negotiators in both teams," Svyrydenko wrote on Facebook on Wednesday.

According to her, the Ukrainian side has agreed to record this "positive news" in the relevant memorandum of intent, so work will be carried out to complete the formalization of the agreement in the near future.

Svyrydenko added that the teams will also work on specific points in the agreement, a lot has already been worked out, and the level of the agreement should be quite high.

"The agreement will be subject to ratification by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, will provide opportunities for investment and development in Ukraine, and will also provide conditions for tangible economic growth in both Ukraine and the United States," she noted.
Photo: https://www.president.gov.ua/

The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expects that EU foreign ministers will accept an invitation to visit Ukraine on April 9 as a sign of solidarity with the Ukrainian people, said MFA spokesman Heorhiy Tykhy.

"On Monday, Minister of Legal Affairs Andriy Sybiga spoke at the EU Council of Foreign Ministers online. Among other things... the minister also invited his fellow EU foreign ministers to visit Ukraine on May 9 as a sign of solidarity with Ukraine," he said at a briefing in Kyiv on Wednesday.

According to the spokesman, this visit may be a sign that the international community, European partners with Ukraine, especially when "against this backdrop, the Victory Day celebration will take place in Moscow."

"This is an invitation for EU foreign ministers. They have received this invitation. We know that the feedback is positive. We expect this visit to take place, it is very important for us. "We hope that it will really be a great opportunity to show our unity against the backdrop of Russian aggression and terror," Tykhy said.
In Found's newest episode "Missing While A Casualty"  which aired a few days early, in case you missed it 

Found aired early this week! The below contains spoilers for Found, "Missing While A Casualty". Save this review for later if you didnt watch it live!

FOUND -- "Missing While a Casualty" Episode 219 -- Pictured: (l-r) Shanola Hampton as Gabi Mosely, Kelli Williams as Margaret, Gabrielle Walsh as Lacey, Karan Oberoi as Dahn -- (Photo by: Matt Miller/NBC)

This episode of Found opens with Sir waking up and getting dragged out of bed. That moment sets the tone for what turns into a tense, emotionally loaded episode.

Heather explains that her identity was stolen two years ago, but she only noticed six months ago. Since then, shes had to carry all her documents with her everywhere, because no one believes who she is. M&A promises to help her untangle everything once they find Lena, but for now, she needs to be in protective custody.

At the hospital, a nurse asks Margaret if she wants to call any family. She says her son waited for her all night. Margaret texts Jamie to ask where he is. He replies that hell be back soonbut hes actually in Carries house. Jamie remembers his first birthday without Margaret, when Carrie manipulated him into believing Margaret wanted to forget about him forever. Trent enters and asks Jamie if he knows where Carrie is, then asks what Jamie knows about Carries first son. Jamie says losing him broke her, and they celebrated his birthday every year. But Trent reveals the son isnt deadhe was removed by CPS because Carrie was deemed a danger to him.

Back at M&A, Margaret returns, and Jamie shows up toowith a new case. Allison is looking for her dead father. Her brother, Austin, needs a kidney transplant, and her father is the only hope for a match. He was presumed dead in a building collapse, but Allison says she saw him several months ago. She insists shes not delusional. Jamie accepts the case without consulting anyone.

Gabi yells at Jamie for taking on a case like that. She thinks Allison might be dealing with childhood delusions. Jamie says he knows what its like to be ripped from parents too early. They agree to do a preliminary inquiry. They learn that Henry (the father) had legal financial trouble before his supposed death.

Trent comes to M&A with new info: the second autopsy on Christian confirms he was murdered. Lena and Christian had a heated argument, and he went over the edgebut it looks like Lena tried to pull him back. Lena also just bought a gun. Trent says Gabi needs protection. Gabi asks Trent to talk to Sir and tell him about Christian.

Margaret and Lacey meet Austin. He says their father was trash and that Allison has been clinging to his survival for years. He wants her to get closure and gives them keys to their mothers place.

Gabi and Dhan talk to a prisoner who knew Henry. The prisoner says Henry owed him $500K. He threatened Henry and his family. After Henrys "death," the prisoner started receiving anonymous payments.

Jamie asks Zeke about his need to be inside. Zeke gets upset and says they dont judge at M&A. Eventually, Jamie and Zeke have a heart-to-heart about being kidnapped. Jamie realizes Zeke never told his family about his kidnapper. Then they find out that Henry wasnt even at the building the day it collapsed.

Gabi and Dhan confront Henrys old boss, who admits he faked Henrys death. He didnt want people to know Henry was stealing from him. He says he doesnt know where Henry is now.

Margaret and Lacey tell Allison that Henry had a lot of debt. Allison realizes her father left because of money. They ask about Austins job and show Allison that her mom was paying off Henrys debt until her death. Then Austin took over.

Lacey visits Zeke. Its awkward. Jamie leaves, heading to the police station to talk to Trent, who invited him. Jamie asks Trent not to tell Margaret that Carries son is alivehe wants to tell her himself. Jamie also asks Trent not to kill Carrie. He says she still raised him, and he cares about her.

Allison confronts Austin about their dad. Austin gets so stressed by being accused of being like their father that he crashes and is rushed into surgery.

Gabi says Allison fired M&A because Austin is near the end. Jamie gets upset that they were trying to help Allison but only ended up proving her dad is a liar. He tells Margaret that Carries son is alive and says Carrie was a good mom. Margaret breaks down and says Carrie was not a good mom. She asks Jamie to give her the same leeway he gives his kidnapper. They talk about his birthday and she tells him what really happened that day. Later, Margaret gives Jamie her journals, filled with her thoughts about losing her son.

Gabi passes on the Henry case to Trent because the DCPD doesnt need client permission to investigate. Trent tells Gabi hes being investigated for his connection to Lena. Hes off all Lena-related cases. He also tried to visit Sir but couldnt get clearance. Mallory tells him Sirs whereabouts are need-to-know.

Zeke finds text messages between Henry and his wife confirming Henry is alive. Henry left because he thought the kids would be better off. With that confirmation, Gabi does a press conference asking for a donor match for Austin, hoping to draw Henry out.

It works: Henry shows up at the hospital. Hes desperate to save Austin. He apologizes to his kids before the surgery. The transplant is successful, but after speaking to Gabi about his children, Henry dies. He never told the doctors he had a disease that would kill him if he donated. He knew the risk and did it anyway.

Allison and Austin hold a funeral for Henry. Trent and Jamie attend, after Jamie convinces Carrie to meet with him. The DCPD plans to intervene. Meanwhile, M&A has a small funeral for Christian, now knowing he was innocent and murdered.

Then, Sir shows up with the FBI.

What the hell??

FOUND -- "Missing While a Casualty" Episode 219 -- Pictured: Mark-Paul Gosselaar as Sir -- (Photo by: Matt Miller/NBC)
Who's in the Royal Box at Wimbledon? Gary Lineker, Mary Berry and Anthony Joshua among famous faces on Centre Court on day five

Who's in the Royal Box at Wimbledon Centre Court on day five?
Its against the rights of (the) family, and it actually should worry anyone in any part of the political sphere in Britain. This is not the way to expect MPs to be treated by China.
She also said prison staff should have better pay and pensions, adding: Category A prisons like Frankland hold inmates who represent the highest threat to society, and the officers who manage them deserve far better protection and recognition for their work, without having to fear for their lives daily.
Russian invaders shot an unarmed captured serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Volnovakha district, an investigation has been launched, the Prosecutor General's Office reported.

"According to operational data, on April 11, 2025, three servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were performing service and combat missions at positions near the village of Rozdolne, Volnovakha district. During the assault operations, the occupiers took them prisoner. One of the unarmed Ukrainian servicemen was shot with an automatic weapon by representatives of the army of the aggressor state," the Prosecutor General's Office said on Telegram on Wednesday.

A pre-trial investigation has been launched in criminal proceedings into the fact of committing a war crime that caused the death of a person (Part 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) - the killing of prisoners is a gross violation of the Geneva Conventions and qualifies as a grave international crime.
This is not a call for a tally, or a vote, or a referendum. It is not my place to suggest these things but this is a call for us to continue thinking carefully in the direction of where change can bring us a shared space, a place of pluralities, where we can recognise the power of inter-dependence.
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1384772352663214

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine presented the temporary charge d'affaires of China with detailed information on the participation of Chinese citizens in the war on the Russian side, after which contact with the Chinese side is maintained through diplomatic channels, spokesman for the Foreign Ministry Heorhiy Tykhy said.

"We summoned the temporary charge d'affaires of China in Ukraine to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine literally on the same day when this [the capture of Chinese citizens] became known and presented him with data on the participation of Chinese citizens in Russia's military operations against Ukraine as part of the Russian armed forces," he said at a briefing in Kyiv on Wednesday, answering questions from Interfax-Ukraine.

The spokesman said the Chinese diplomat was emphasized by the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry that "despite China's officially declared position on the Russian war against Ukraine, events have occurred that will question China's sincerity and may seriously harm our bilateral relations."

"We noted that in this context, a direct and frank dialogue with the Chinese side on this situation is necessary to avoid a crisis and build trust between the parties. Since then, we have been maintaining contact with the Chinese side through diplomatic channels. We can also confirm that relevant investigative and operational actions are ongoing regarding these captured Chinese citizens," Tykhy said.

The Foreign Ministry reminded all countries of the world that the participation of their citizens in the Russian army in Ukraine is illegal.

"We call on all governments, all countries to identify the facts when Russia recruits, deceiving your citizens in various ways, for a war against Ukraine, to prevent these schemes, to stop these schemes and not to tolerate such activities," the spokesman said.
Surgeons from Canada and the USA, together with Ukrainian doctors, during the fifth Face the Future Ukraine mission in Ivano-Frankivsk, performed reconstructive facial surgeries on 26 Ukrainians: military personnel, veterans and civilians who suffered mine and explosive injuries during the war.

According to the mission, organized by the Face the Future Foundation, Still Strong, Razom for Ukraine and the Patients of Ukraine Foundation, the doctors performed, in particular, operations to reconstruct noses, install individual implants instead of destroyed skull bones, prepare eye sockets for prosthetics and reconstruct jaws.

During the mission, Face the Future Ukraine doctors performed 83 surgical interventions.

This time, the youngest patient of the mission was 21-year-old Roman, who joined the army at the age of 18. During the fighting in Kursk, four air bombs exploded near his position. Roman received 20 shrapnel wounds, fragments in the head that shattered the bones of his forehead, miraculously not touching the brain, and a fractured pelvis. Due to the fragments that destroyed the frontal bones, the wound on the boys head did not heal for a long time, the brain was no longer protected by bones, and a large depression formed in their place.

The Face the Future Ukraine mission team installed an individual titanium implant in place of the destroyed frontal bones, which protected the boys brain from damage and straightened his forehead. In addition to the implant, connective tissue was transplanted so that the titanium would not damage the skin. The intervention lasted four hours and allowed to protect the brain from infections that are in the nose and sinuses.

In total, during five Face the Future Ukraine missions, 160 patients with mine and blast injuries were operated on. Some of the patients require multi-stage interventions, so they are operated on during different missions.

The next Face the Future Ukraine mission is planned for the fall.
Ukrainian ombudsman appeals to UN, ICRC to take immediate intl measures due to another execution of prisoner

The Commissioner for Human Rights of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Dmytro Lubinets appealed to the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) regarding the execution of an unarmed prisoner of war by Russian troops in Donetsk region.

"This is a clear violation of the Geneva Convention and international humanitarian law  a war crime that must not go unpunished! I have appealed to UN and the ICRC, urging swift international action. These crimes must be documented, and those responsible held accountable. Pressure on Russia must increase to stop the executions of Ukrainian POWs," he said on the X social network on Wednesday.

"I also call on citizens: if you have witnessed or hold any information about such violations  report it to the Ombudsmans hotline at 0800 50 17 20 and to law enforcement. Your testimonies are essential for documenting war crimes and ensuring justice!" Lubinets added.

As reported, on April 11, the occupiers shot an unarmed captured serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Volnovakha district (Donetsk region).
Approximately 4,000 soldiers and 913 pieces of miltary hardware from Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Italy, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal and Romania will participate, May 5-23, in the multinational exercise Dacian Spring 2025 (DASP 25), organised in Romania, the Ministry of National Defence (MApN) informed on Wednesday.

The exercise is planned and led by the Multinational Division Command South-East (HQ MND-SE) and will be carried out simultaneously in the training ranges of Smardan, Cincu, Capu Midia, Bogata and Frecatei

DASP 25 is attended by structures all branches of the Romanian armed forces - land, air, naval and cybernetics - alongside troops from the Multinational Brigade Command South-East and NATO contingents, contributing to the development of NATO reaction and interoperability.

The main objective of the exercise is to practice a collective defence operation and to strengthen the integration of the participating forces in the command and control architecture of the HQ MND-SE.

Under DASP 25, the deployment of a Belgian manoeuvre battalion to Romania will take place for the first time.

According to MApN, the first troops enter Romania on Wednesday, through the Nadlac border crossing, and will travel by road to the Bogata range.

For the proper conduct of DASP 25, the national authorities, together with NATO allies, take all necessary measures to minimise the impact on local communities and road traffic, with the trips being conducted mainly at night.

NATO exercises, such as DASP 25, are said to be defensive and transparent, being carried out in full compliance with Romania's international obligations.


EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos has called on Serbia's incoming government to ensure the country gets back on track towards EU membership. She warned that accession was at stake unless the country tackled key issues.

The European Union's enlargement chief, Marta Kos, has backed calls by protesters in Serbia to tackle corruption and boost the rule of law, as she insisted the country get back on track in its bid to join the bloc.

'Serbia has to be brought back on the European track,' Kos said in an interview with the European Newsroom (enr) published on Wednesday. 'What we are demanding from Serbia on the way of the EU accession is nearly exactly the same as what the protesters in Serbia are demanding,' she said.

The Balkan nation - which is a candidate country to join the EU - has been rocked by its largest wave of unrest since the 1990s as students have led anti-government demonstrations.

Protests started in November after a deadly roof collapse at a train station sparked an outburst of public anger over deep-rooted corruption. The pressure from the protests led to the resignation of the prime minister and the collapse of the government.

Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic claims the student-led protests are threatening peace and stability, accusing the protesters of being paid by 'foreign intelligence agencies'.

This month Vucic proposed a political novice, uro Macut, an endocrinologist, to lead the government. Macut has until April 18 to convince parliament to approve a new government. If he fails, Vucic may be forced to call new elections.

Serbia's accession negotiations at stake

The EU has had a sometimes spiky relationship with Vucic as he has maintained Serbia's close ties to Russia despite the Ukraine war.

Brussels has warned Belgrade of the risk of damaging its bid for membership, but it is wary of alienating a key country in the volatile Balkan region at a time of deep geopolitical friction.

Meeting Kos and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in March, Vucic promised a media reform and an electoral reform, said Kos.

'If Serbia fulfills this, then of course it will be possible to move forward and open the cluster,' Kos said when asked whether Serbia can expect the opening of at least one cluster for EU accession this year and when it will receive the Interim Benchmark Report (IBAR), which measures an EU candidate's progress in the area of the rule of law.

Kos said that the EU is also talking to civil society organisations and stated that she had asked Vucic to help them be included in the EU accession process.

'I asked Mr Vucic really not to undermine the work of civil society organisations, but to help them being involved in the accession process,' she said. 'And this is a precondition, and we really hope and wish that Serbia will get back on track.'

Kos announced she will visit Belgrade at the end of the month.

The content of this article is based on reporting by AFP, ANSA, EFE, HINA, STA, Tanjug, as part of the European Newsroom (enr) project.
The EU's enlargement chief has issued a stark warning that the bloc's credibility and security are at stake as foreign powers seek to disrupt the process of new members joining.

Brussels, April 16 /Agerpres/ - The European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, is expecting great progress in the European Union's enlargement during the next years, but warned of external forces seeking to disrupt the process.

'For the first time in the history, we are somehow confronted with the external disruptive forces who would like to see the enlargement process failing,' she told the European Newsroom (enr) in an interview published on Wednesday. Without further specifying which external forces she was referring to, Kos added 'they are not coming just from the East'.

When asked directly about the influence of third countries and the role of Moscow or Washington, Kos pointed out that the European Commission is monitoring agreements such as the one on minerals and rare earths being negotiated by the United States and Ukraine, which, she warned, could have implications for the accession process.

When asked if she was aware of the alleged offer by the new US administration to Albania to abandon EU negotiations in exchange for investment, Kos said she had no knowledge of it.

The Slovenian Commissioner emphasised that only the EU has the capacity to incorporate more countries, so the bloc has a 'huge responsibility' in a process that also puts its 'credibility' at stake. 'That's why really we have to deliver. And that's why we cannot lose any of the candidate countries,' she emphasised.

Focus on security

Kos pointed out that geopolitical changes have led to new dynamics in the enlargement process. In contrast to previous waves of countries joining the bloc, it now also has a security dimension, she said.

'The whole world is in motion, the whole Europe is in motion, the whole neighbourhood is moving. And the aspect of security is getting more and more important,' she said.

'We understand enlargement as the political arm of security guarantees,' Kos said. 'European Union membership could really be a very, very strong political arm of these security guarantees.'

Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has put security and defence back at the forefront with EU member states ramping up their defence capabilities.

Additionally, US President Donald Trump has repeatedly cast doubt on security guarantees for Europe through the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) military alliance, prompting European members to start taking matters into their own hands more than before.

Kos said that for the time being it is not possible for Ukraine and Moldova to join NATO but that EU membership would send a strong message.

She called it 'interesting' to see that Balkan countries such as Montenegro, Albania, and North Macedonia have found it 'easier' to become members of NATO than of the EU - a situation that, according to her, could be the opposite for Moldova and Ukraine.

The content of this article is based on reporting by AFP, ANSA, APA, ATA, EFE, Europa Press, FENA, HINA, Lusa, MIA, Ritzau, STA, TASR, Tanjug, UKRINFORM, as part of the European Newsroom (enr) project.
Acting President Ilie Bolojan signed several decoration decrees on Wednesday, including the one for the award of the Faithful Service National Order in the rank of Officer to former chairman of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, Elmar Brok, as a sign of "high appreciation for his special contribution to the consolidation of Romanian-German relations, as well as for the important role he played in the process of Romania's accession to the European Union and, subsequently, for the deepening of Romania's integration with European structures," the Presidential Administration said.

Also, in a sign of "high appreciation for the exceptional services rendered to the Romanian state in consolidating Romanian-German relations, by actively promoting the rights of national minorities, diversity and intercultural dialogue, for his role as liaison at social, cultural, economic and political levels, as well as for his entire legislative activity aimed at combating anti-Semitism, supporting Holocaust survivors and promoting European values in the fields of culture and education", President Ilie Bolojan conferred the Star of Romania National Order in the rank of Knight on deputy Ovidiu-Victor Gant, secretary of the Chamber of Deputies and representative of the German minority in the Romanian Parliament.

Priest Isidor Iacovici, episcopal vicar for diaspora priests, was decorated with the Cultural Merit Order in the rank of Knight, Category G - "Denominations", in appreciation for his "special merits as national coordinator for the pastoral care of Romanian Catholics of Latin rite in the Italian Republic, contributing to the deepening of unity and solidarity among the faithful."

In appreciation for his "special merits in reinforcing and diversifying bilateral relations, through the organization of economic missions and business forums, as well as for the contribution made to improving Romania's image in the Republic of Turkey and the active support of the Romanian community in this country", the head of state conferred the Industrial and Commercial Merit Order in the rank of Officer on Ahmet Semih Beken, honorary consul of Romania to the Province of Antalya.
The government on Wednesday approved a methodology for the organisation and operation of the National Program for University Dropout Rate Reduction (PNRAU).

According to the government, the programme is designed to significantly reduce the university dropout rate in Romania's higher education establishments.

"Collaboration with pre-university education establishments, organising demonstration courses in rural areas, offering remedial courses for students who take the Baccalaureate and developing counselling programmes are some of the measures planned to facilitate access and reduce the risks of dropout. Thus, the new piece of legislation provides that higher education establishments develop an action plan on reducing university dropout rates adjusted for the categories of enrolled students at risk of dropping out, and the risk particularities identified."

Another essential element of the programme is the development of an integrated support system for students at risk of dropping out, which includes both academic counselling and psychological support.

By supporting career counselling and guidance centres in all higher education establishments, careful monitoring of students' progress and the implementation of personalised measures, such as integrated support packages, remedial courses and additional activities will be secured.

The programme also suggests the development of re-enrolment policies, as well as support for students who interrupt their studies, in order to facilitate their return to the education system. In addition, PNRAU introduces measures to encourage the active involvement of students in university life, by developing the feeling of belonging and involvement in extracurricular activities.

By supporting volunteering and organising academic orientation sessions at the beginning of each academic year, the programme aims to create a favourable environment for the personal and professional development of students.

Funds for the programme come out of the budget of the Ministry of Education and Research (MEC), including European funds, and higher education establishments will be able to access additional funds under other projects and partnerships.
The Executive approved on Wednesday a bill on the ratification of the Convention between Romania and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for the elimination of double taxation with respect to income and capital gain taxes and the prevention of tax evasion and avoidance, as well as of the Protocol annexed to the Convention signed in London on November 13, 2024.

According to a government release, the text of the new Convention which replaces the one from 1975 is consistent with Romanian law, with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's model of convention for the elimination of double taxation, with the plan to combat base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS plan) adopted by the OECD in 2016, and with the provisions of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

"The new convention includes an anti-abuse provision in the preamble, according to which this legal instrument does not create opportunities for the benefit of third-country residents regarding non-taxation or the reduced taxation of their income as a result of tax evasion or tax avoidance, including through financial arrangements aimed at obtaining the benefits provided for in the convention," the release states.

One of the novelties comes in the article regarding the "permanent establishment", with two new paragraphs being introduced to describe the circumstances in which a certain enterprise is closely linked to another, as well as a provision to prevent the fragmentation of a unitary economic operation into several small operations for which it could be argued that they each represent a preparatory or auxiliary activity, which would not generate a permanent establishment.

"Profits derived from a construction site or a construction or installation project shall be taxable in the state where the activity is carried out only if such activity spans a period longer than 12 months. Profits derived by a resident of a contracting state from the operation of ships or aircraft in international traffic shall be taxable only in the respective state. These profits also include those derived from the rental of a bareboat ship or aircraft, as well as those from the use, maintenance or rental of containers used for the transport of goods or merchandise, when such operations are carried out in connection with the operation of ships or aircraft in international traffic," the release shows.

In the case of dividends, the tax rate provided for by the new convention is lowered to 5% from 10% before; in the case of interest, the tax rate is cut to 3% from 10%, and in the case of royalties, the tax rate is now 3% compared to 10%, the cited source specifies.

The new convention also regulates the taxation of income in the form of salaries and pensions, income collected by members of boards of directors, public office employees, students, trainees, performing artists and athletes, as well as income obtained from capital gains.

Also, the new convention regulates aspects related to the methods of eliminating double taxation, non-discrimination, the amicable agreement procedure, exchange of information, the entry into force of the new convention and the termination of the validity of the 1975 convention.

The bill will be referred to Parliament for debate and adoption.
Justice Minister Radu Marinescu met on Wednesday with representatives of the leadership of the Paris Court of Appeal and of the leadership of the Prosecutor's Office attached to this French judicial body to discuss the progress made so far in the field of judicial cooperation and analyze concrete directions for strengthening bilateral cooperation, the Justice Ministry said in a release.

The talks tackled topics of joint interest regarding respect for the rule of law, guaranteeing the independence of the judiciary, speeding up the digital transformation process, direct and efficient communication between jurisdictions, experience exchanges between magistrates, professional ethics, relations with the attorney professionals, as well as the harmonization of best cooperation practices at European level.

The sides also looked at the opportunity to set up thematic working groups, and, in this regard, Radu Marinescu invited French magistrates to organize bilateral meetings with their Romanian counterparts in order to consolidate efficient and sustainable professional cooperation.
EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos regards a new wave of enlargement by 2030 as 'realistic' with Ukraine, Moldova, Albania and Montenegro leading the way. But she warns that progress hinges on merit and commitment by the EU candidate countries to deliver on required reforms.

The European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, said a new wave of EU enlargement by 2030 is a 'very realistic perspective', not only for countries like Albania and Montenegro - currently considered frontrunners in the accession process - but also for Moldova and Ukraine.

In an interview with the European Newsroom (enr) published on Wednesday, Kos said she hoped Moldova and Ukraine can open the first cluster of negotiations still during the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which runs until the end of June 2025.

In addition, she was optimistic that there will be a solution to Hungary's veto on Kyiv's accession over the treatment of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine.

While Ukraine and Moldova are making rapid progress towards EU membership, countries in the Western Balkans have been waiting for decades.

North Macedonia was one of the first states of the former Yugoslavia to embark on the path of European integration, but due to internal problems and even more so due to blockades by neighboring member states, it is still at the beginning.

The country's government is seeking guarantees that there will be no more blockades due to bilateral issues. Kos said she understands the frustrations, but did not give such guarantees.

In comparison, Kos underlined that negotiations with Montenegro could be closed by the end of 2026, while Albania aims to complete negotiations by 2027.

The EU also remains committed to Bosnia and Herzegovina, but EU officials are increasingly expressing concerns over internal political blockades that are halting reforms and threatening the country's future on the European path.

'I would be probably the most happy person in the world when we will be able to start negotiating with Bosnia. They really deserve it, the people of Bosnia deserve this', said Kos, adding that it is essential for domestic authorities to take responsibility.

Kos also called on Serbia's incoming new government - which has yet to be confirmed - to be 'pro-European and pro-reform' in order to advance the accession process. She announced plans to visit Belgrade at the end of April.

EU accession remains 'merit-based'

Asked whether it was possible to ensure a balanced approach in the enlargement policy towards the Western Balkans on the one hand, and Ukraine and Moldova on the other, Kos emphasised that it is first and foremost a 'merit-based' process.

Kos stressed no country would be left behind. 'We are strongly committed to bring them into the European Union. But of course, we will stick to the merits.'

Every step in the enlargement process requires the consensus of all member states, and for each candidate country in the accession process, 150 unanimous decisions are needed.

According to Kos, currently 14 member states are in favor of abolishing consensus and moving to qualified majority decision-making, but the problem is that even this change requires consensus.

'We will see if there could be more soon,' said Kos.

The content of this article is based on reporting by AFP, ANSA, APA, ATA, EFE, Europa Press, FENA, HINA, Lusa, MIA, Ritzau, STA, TASR, Tanjug, UKRINFORM, as part of the European Newsroom (enr) project.
The light corvette whose acquisition was approved by the Supreme Council for Country's Defense (CSAT) will be delivered to Romania in approximately six months, defense sources said on Wednesday.

The provision of a HISAR-class light corvette contributes to the consolidation of capabilities intended to execute a wide range of missions in Romania's area of responsibility, such as the protection of critical maritime infrastructure elements, patrol missions and independent combat missions or within naval groups.

The delivery time is "extremely short", approximately six months, in the current configuration, followed by its equipping in a shipyard in Romania with the combat systems requested by the Romanian Naval Forces, the sources say.

In March, the CSAT approved the provision of a new light corvette-type ship to the Romanian Naval Forces, capable of executing a multitude of missions in the shortest possible time, in order to initiate the necessary steps by the Ministry of National Defense to complete the acquisition. At this moment, the letter that will be sent to the Romanian Parliament is being prepared, for the approval of the acquisition, as required by the current legislative framework, given that this contract will exceed 100 million euros.

The light corvette-type ship is equipped with modern navigation and communications systems and also has a very wide range of state-of-the-art sensors and weapon systems, which ensures the ship a high combat potential in all combat environments. It has a hangar that provides facilities for a medium helicopter and an unmanned aircraft.
All Romania - U.S. agreements, including those regulating the American military presence in Romania, are in force, are respected and permanently adapted to security developments in the regional environment, sources from the defense field stated on Wednesday.

In this regard, the strategic facilities hosted in military bases on Romanian territory, such as the American forces stationed in a rotational system in the 57th Air Base at Mihail Kogalniceanu or the Aegis Ashore anti-missile system installed in the 99th Deveselu Base, which is integrated into the NATO anti-missile system, "represent clear evidence of the common Romanian-American commitment to allied collective security", the said sources indicate.

In this context, the cited sources emphasize that the modernization and expansion of the 57th Air Base at Mihail Kogalniceanu, with an investment by the Romanian Government of over 2.5 billion euros, will transform this location into a "regional strategic hub for NATO", capable of hosting up to 10,000 Romanian and allied military personnel.

Romania's investment is structured over 20 years, with implementation in four stages.

The presence of American forces on Romanian territory, supported by significant investments in defense infrastructure, strengthens regional security and deters external threats.

At this moment, a total of over 1,700 U.S. military personnel are deployed in Romania, mainly at Mihail Kogalniceanu, Deveselu and Campia Turzii.
By Nazrin Abdul



The National Business Development Forum has officially opened in Baku.

The event is organized by the Caspian Energy Club and brings together key figures from various sectors of Azerbaijans economy.

Notable attendees include: Javid Gurbanov, Deputy Minister of Digital Development and Transport; Telman Aliyev, Chairman of the Caspian Energy Club and Group CEO; Zakir Ahmadov, Deputy Director General of AzeriCard LLC; Natig Dadashov, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Azerbaijan Land Transport Agency; Mirjafar Jafarov, Advisor to the President of Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC; Tural Abbasli, Advisor to the Chairman of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC and Head of the Construction Project Management Department; Ruslan Gurbanov, Head of the Operational and Commercial Department of Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping CJSC.

The forum aims to foster dialogue between public and private sector leaders and explore new opportunities for business development and digital transformation in Azerbaijan.

It is worth noting that since April, the Caspian Energy Club and the Azerbaijan National Business Association have been jointly organizing National Business Development Forums in Baku and across various regions of the country. These forums are dedicated to a range of topics aimed at supporting the growth of Azerbaijans business sector. Each event brings together representatives from government agencies and leading figures from the business community to foster dialogue, share insights, and promote collaboration.
The draft law on the circulation and regulation of virtual assets (VA), which follows from two previously developed draft laws on this topic, will be registered in the Verkhovna Rada next week, according to Dmytro Nikolaevsky, chief lawyer of the project office for the development of the digital economy of Ukraine under the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine.

"Most likely, it (the draft law) will be registered in the parliament next week and will go through the legislative procedure. And, accordingly, the work of the parliament will already begin... I expect that during this year it will be adopted by the parliament, and next year, most likely, it will already work," Nikolaevsky said during the International Conference: "PULSE OF DIGITAL: Client at the Center" in Kyiv on Wednesday.

He noted that the issue of the regulator, which has not yet been determined, is very complex.

However, Nikolaevsky stressed, there is a public, political and social discussion.

"Relatively speaking, three state institutions are encroaching on the role of the regulator at once: the National Securities and Stock Markets Commission, the National Bank (NBU) on the other hand and the Ministry of Digital Affairs," he explained.

According to him, the draft law, which will soon be registered, will contain a Cabinet decision on the regulator, but there is currently no information about the government's position.

"Even the Cabinet itself does not yet know that it will decide this issue later. So for them, this will also be a certain surprise," Nikolaevsky added.

The representative of the Ministry of Digital Affairs also reported that the draft law will be submitted to the Rada immediately with proposals on the taxation of virtual assets. He emphasized that, most likely, the preferential conditions will be as close as possible to those that exist for the taxation of any other income of individuals.

Nikolaevsky noted that the Ministry of Digital Communications is communicating and indicating that a certain transitional period is still needed to ensure maximum de-shadowing of the industry.

"So that for those people who bought their virtual assets once, who spent their money and cannot confirm their expenses, and accordingly they cannot receive, let's say, a deduction from the taxable amount, so that for this certain first period of time - perhaps it will be a year, the first year, the 26th year - there would be a benefit for this period. It could be at the level of 5% of turnover," he noted.

On April 9, the chairman of the parliamentary committee on finance, tax and customs policy, Danylo Hetmantsev, after the completion of the working group on the draft law on VA, announced that it could be submitted for a vote by the Rada's finance committee by the end of April.

In turn, the First Deputy Governor of the NBU, Kateryna Rozhkova, in an interview with the Interfax-Ukraine agency, reported that the draft law on virtual assets in Ukraine with the distribution of powers of regulators will be prepared by October 2025 with the involvement of technical assistance from international partners, and it will be based on the European MiCA directive.
The government is set to approve on Wednesday the norms for accessing holiday vouchers, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announced.

"Today we are approving the rules for accessing the holiday vouchers with a simple reimbursement mechanism. Basically, beneficiaries submit an affidavit stating that they contributed 800 lei of their own money, that they used the 800 lei provided by the government, and they present an invoice of at least 1,600 lei to be reimbursed," the PM explained at the beginning of the Cabinet meeting.

In the context of the upcoming Easter holiday, he also called on public authorities to take all necessary measures so that Romanians can celebrate this important holiday "in peace and safety, wherever they may be."
Romania could produce its own military drones by the end of this year, and in approximately two and a half years the production of explosive powder for weapons will begin, sources from the defense field say.

There are also advanced discussions for the production of 155 mm caliber ammunition through the Foreign Military Financing mechanism of the United States, but also in Romania.

The new defense financing mechanism prepared at EU level "will create the opportunity for Romania to develop new production capacities", the sources say.

The estimate is that this year, Romania will continue to improve its defense infrastructure and will allocate a significant part of the Defense budget for acquisitions and modernization. It is a clear commitment that Romania will exceed the minimum recommended threshold of 20% for procurement, by allocating 30%, thus consolidating the capabilities of its armed forces and strengthening national and regional security.

As a beneficiary of products developed by the national or European defense industry, the Defense Ministry can declare its interest in including the domestic defense industry in global supply chains, especially at present, "when there are EU financial incentives to cooperate with other member states, in order to consolidate the European technological and industrial base", the same sources inform.
The official development assistance granted by Romania last year amounted to 587 million dollars, the highest level to date, continuing the upward trend of the last ten years, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) reported on Wednesday, as cited by the Foreign Affairs Ministry. The advance marks a 14% increase in Romania's 2024 ODA figure compared to 2023.

"The OECD announcement is relevant also in the light of the fact that although Romania is not a member of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC), it remains firmly committed to rendering international development cooperation and humanitarian assistance more efficient, with a direct impact on the development of partner states and on the process of its accession to the OECD and the DAC," the Foreign Ministry said.

The main beneficiary of the assistance provided by Romania in 2024 was the Republic of Moldova, with over 50% of the total bilateral official development assistance (76.6 million dollars), up 19% compared to the previous year. The implemented actions contributed to strengthening Moldova's institutional capacity in view of its EU accession, as well as to combating the effects of the Russian Federation's war of aggression against Ukraine.

Romania's constant cooperation with Ukraine, the Western Balkans states, Africa and the Middle East continued in 2024 in accordance with the goals set forth under the 2024-2027 Multiannual Strategic Program for International Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Assistance, a programmatic document that guides Romania's actions in the international cooperation policy for development and humanitarian assistance.

Romania also contributed to efforts to mitigate the effects of the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, acting in close coordination with its international partners for the evacuation and provision of specialized medical treatment for Palestinian civilians in Romanian hospitals.

As an ODA donor state, Romania reports to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) the implemented actions and the contributions granted by national public institutions in support of developing countries. From this perspective, the Foreign Ministry, which is the national coordinator of the international development cooperation and humanitarian assistance policy, annually collects and reports to the OECD the data on the official development assistance granted at national level.
When the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra performs at the Sheldon on April 24, the concert will include a world premiere from composer Yoell Tewolde, a sophomore at University of Missouri-Columbia.

Tewolde wrote the piece, Waves on the Shore as part of Mizzous New Music Initiative. Students in Mizzous composition program apply to get the chance to hear their pieces played by SLSO musicians.

This is my first time working with musicians from a symphony orchestra, Tewolde says. The musicians are really high caliber, so its very exciting.

The orchestra includes the piece as part of its Live at the Sheldon concert series. The theme for the April 24 concert is wind and water, and all of the pieces performed draw on that fluidity.

The water motif is a character in the piece, Tewolde says of his composition. Meaning it describes a certain phenomena: waves crashing on the shore. Its very high energy.

Tewolde says hes written about 10 compositions before this, and even had them played on campus by Mizzous New Music Ensemble. In fact, he submitted a piece he wrote for that ensemble in his application for the New Music Initiative.

I needed to give the New Music Initiative materials so they could go to the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and say, OK, here are different composition students, and here are their different kinds of work. Who do you want to work with? Tewolde says.

His application piece combined jazz with lyrical writing and some experimental anxious sounds, Tewolde says.

As a musician, Tewolde straddles the classical and jazz worlds. He first came to music through classical piano, which he started in second grade. In seventh grade, he started playing the saxophone as well. He attended Rock Bridge High School in Columbia, Missouri, where hes from.

I play classical piano at school, and Im in a jazz ensemble for saxophone as well, Tewolde says. So my music kind of fits between those two realms.

Tewolde found out that hed be contributing a piece to the SLSO concert series last fall and started working on it in a composition class he was taking with Selim Goncu, a postdoctoral fellow in music composition at Mizzou. Despite already having compositions written, everyone in the New Music Initiative writes a new piece. Tewolde says it took four months to write.

For his composition, he drew on the jazz-pop idiom. The first section of the piece is similar to a jazz ballad like There Will Never Be Another You, Tewolde says.

He brought in the classical aspect when he was thinking of his orchestration. He was instructed to write the piece for a piano and woodwind quintet.

I was asking myself, I have this instrument playing, but how are the other instruments going to support this instrument in the melody? he says. I drew a lot of inspiration from classical pieces like Francis Poulencs Sextet for Piano and Winds or Nikolai Kapustins Flute Trio.

He communicated regularly with the SLSO about the composition, and it was a learning experience for Tewolde, who is used to his collaborators being nearby.

Most of the time when I write pieces, its for students at the University of Missouri, Tewolde says. So whenever I had a question, Id just run into them in the halls.

Writing this piece though required more deliberate communication over Zoom or via email. I had to be very concise in what I wanted to say, Tewolde says.

In addition to Tewoldes piece, the symphony ensemble will play pieces from Ravel, Poulenc, Florent Schmitt, Giles Silvestrini and Germaine Tailleferre.

Tewoldes piece is the last from this years initiative to get its debut. From January through April, the SLSO has been playing the new compositions from different students in its Live at the Sheldon concert series.

The students whose works have already premiered are Seda Balci, a second-year masters student; Henry Rusten, a sophomore; Harry Gonzalez, a masters student; Atticus Schlegel, a senior; and JT Wolfe, also a senior at Mizzou.

Its a huge job, says SLSO violinist Celeste Golden Andrews, who curated the concert on March 6 that featured Rustens piece, Paradigm Shift. I wouldnt know the first thing about how to write a piece of music like that. I certainly admire an 18-year-old who has accomplished something like that.

The New Music Initiative started in 2010. According to Stefan Freund, artistic director for the program, the goal is to establish the University of Missouri and the state of Missouri as a center for the creation and performance of new music. The initiative includes the Mizzou International Composers Festival, which selects eight composers to have their work performed by Alarm Will Sound, a classical music ensemble.

For Mizzou students, there are opportunities to write new music, as well as perform with the Mizzou New Music Ensemble. The opportunities that our (bachelors of music) students receive are truly unique, Freund says.

Tewolde isnt just a music composition student. He also studies biological engineering, which he says doesnt offer many applications for in music. I have found more applications for other kinds of engineering, like electrical, he says.

Tewolde says that he initially came to music through his heritage. His parents are from Eritrea, and in Columbia there is actually a large (relative to the population of Columbia) Eritrean community.

We would have these semi-annual gatherings here and meet up in Cosmo Park, Tewolde says. Theyd reserve a gazebo and share food and dance. Eritrean dancing is a lot more communal. Its a way to connect with other people.

So from a young age, Tewolde saw music as a way to connect and have fun. Much of what I aspire to do with my music stems from (that) experience, he says.

A previous version of this article incorrectly stated the year the New Music Initiative started. We regret the error.

If you go What: "Wind and Water" When: 7:30 April 24 Where: The Sheldon, 3648 Washington Avenue How much: $36-$46 More info: slso.org
ST. LOUIS COUNTY  The Holocaust museum here, about a week after losing $130,000 in funding due to Trump administration spending cuts, on Wednesday announced an anonymous donation.

Officials at the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum said the $125,000 gift would allow them to continue their work digitizing some 300 interviews with Holocaust survivors who settled in St. Louis and American veterans who helped liberate concentration camps.

The organization had completed half the work, paid for by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, before getting the termination notice last week.

Helen Turner, the St. Louis museum's director of education, said she was blindsided.

These testimonies are absolutely crucial to combat antisemitism, denial and hate, Turner said. They're the greatest source of evidence that we have of what happened during the Holocaust.

President Donald Trump has targeted the IMLS for elimination, along with six other federal agencies, to reduce bureaucracy. As part of that initiative, he has tapped billionaire businessman Elon Musk to spearhead the Department of Government Efficiency.

DOGE has since cut entire federal departments, hundreds of government property leases and thousands of employees. The effort says it has saved $155 billion so far.

But the rollout has been tumultuous. Some federal employees were fired, then rehired; some real estate leases were canceled only to be reinstated.

The Holocaust museum, off Lindbergh Boulevard and Scheutz Road, is one of a dozen or so local institutions that received IMLS grants in recent years.

Last week, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville said it lost $250,000 in IMLS funding that was to go toward student training. The Missouri Historical Society, which operates the history museum in Forest Park, also said it lost funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities and expected to lose additional funding from the IMLS.

In 2022, the IMLS awarded the Holocaust museum $225,000 for the museum's work to digitize its audio and video interviews; 80 of those were inaccessible before the grant came in, Turner said.

The museum had $130,000 in grant money still to be spent when it was notified by email last week that the funding would be immediately canceled, she said.

The timing, Turner added, couldn't be worse: This year marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and the 30th year of the St. Louis museum.

It makes me think about where's Holocaust education, Holocaust museums in memory? Turner said. Where will we be in the next 30 years if this kind of funding slash continues?

The nonprofit museum launched an emergency fundraising campaign to make up for the loss.

The museum said on Wednesday that additional donations would go to general operations.
Joe Holleman | Post-Dispatch Political correspondent/columnist Follow Joe Holleman | Post-Dispatch 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

This weeks news that the Environmental Protection Agency has chopped about two years off the projected start of a radioactive waste cleanup in north St. Louis County has delivered hope to area residents.

It also dropped a political victory on U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, who has been both vocal and visible in fighting for the cause.

Pressure from Hawley actually managed to light a fire under a government project  no small feat at any time, but especially notable now as federal budget-cutters douse projects elsewhere.

In a telephone interview Wednesday, Hawley said the key was getting new EPA administrator Lee Zeldin to visit the site, which Zeldin did last month.

Hawley said he was confident that if Zeldin simply visited the area and listened to the communitys stories, he would be moved.

He told me at one point that the face-to-face meeting he had at city hall was the most powerful meeting he had ever been a part of, Hawley said.

Noting that Zeldin has mentioned his visit in subsequent speeches, Hawley said he was impressed by tough questions Zeldin asked EPA staffers, like where the (underground) fires are, where the waste is.

I think it crystallized for him the serious damage that the federal government had done to people in the area, he said.

Hawley has been running point in the Senate for legislation aimed at helping residents affected by contamination at West Lake Landfill and Coldwater Creek in North County and a Weldon Spring site in St. Charles County.

That help is in the form of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), which paid money to those who were hurt by the federal governments nuclear production projects during and after World War II.

While some states were eligible for RECA compensation, others  most notably Missouri and New Mexico  were not.

But after twice shepherding RECA amendments through the Senate, Hawley had to watch the bills die in the U.S. House.

Those losses were not taken lightly.

In March 2024, Hawley butted heads with a fellow Missouri Republican, U.S. Rep Ann Wagner, over a statement she made to the press.

Wagner told the Kansas City Star that financial questions hampered the bill, and added that the House was not looking to raise our debts and deficits.

That did not sit well with Hawley, who called Wagner out on social media: Shameful for Ann Wagner to turn her back on her constituents  after doing nothing on this issue for years. St. Louis deserves better than this.

He concluded his post by saying, Whose side is she on? Not Missouris.

Shortly after, Wagner responded by pointing to her years of working to move the effort along. She also reiterated her continued support for adding Missouri to the RECA bill.

Then a few days later, Hawley brought out some emotional ammunition: He took Dawn Chapman to Washington as his guest for the 2024 State of the Union presidential address.

Chapman is a co-founder of Just Moms STL, which has for decades advocated on behalf of people exposed to the contamination.

Then just last month, to boost his third swing at trying to get Missouri included in RECA legislation, Hawley urged President Donald Trumps new EPA chief to come to St. Louis.

While at a forum March 17 at Bridgeton City Hall, Zeldin smiled and told the audience that Hawleys invitation to visit the area didnt seem all that negotiable.

Zeldin said that at his Senate confirmation hearing as EPA head, Hawley braced him with incredible passion and convictions ... (and) immediately launched straight into this topic as his No. 1 priority.

And by any yardstick, Zeldins trip last month was a success for area residents.

In a statement Tuesday announcing the projects acceleration, Zeldin said his meeting with the community was beyond moving.

Zeldins update this week cuts about two years off of the initial draft timeline, making the projected excavation start date to May 2027, instead of 2029.

This is after years of delays in the timeline for eventually removing illegally dumped radioactive waste that goes back to World War IIs Manhattan Project.

Two years may not seem like putting the pedal to the metal, but keep in mind that the West Lake Landfill Superfund site was added to a national priority list in 1990.

As with most all government projects, the accelerated cleanup plan does not offer a completion date and comes with the caveat that the plan is tentative and subject to change.

Though questions remain about the project, activist Chapman has none about the dedication of Hawley and his staff, describing it as thorough ... and genuine.

I have no doubt Senator Hawley is all in on this, she said.

Chapman said she wishes more people took notice of Hawleys hard work to help the area.

I think its a shame people cant put aside political biases, she said. I would think that this is a cause that progressives could get behind.

For Hawleys part, he said he will continue to work with House members to get new RECA legislation to include Missouri.

The temperature is growing, we have some momentum in the House, Hawley said, adding that the EPAs action this week will help that goal.

My goal here is to get justice for St. Louis from federal officials, Hawley said, who gave a short laugh and said he has a plan for ultimately winning the fight.

I plan to keep beating them over the head with it.
Tony Messenger | Post-Dispatch Metro columnist Follow Tony Messenger | Post-Dispatch 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

WILDWOOD  My walk into the voting booth last week seemed anti-climactic.

The ballot was short, as it often is during an off-year municipal election. There was a vote for an alderman running unopposed.

There was the vote on Proposition B for St. Louis County, the power grab by the County Council to take hiring and firing duties away from the county executive. Like a majority of county voters, I said no to that one.

And there was a school board election. Three candidates were running for two seats on the Rockwood School Board. This is why I went to vote, to help make sure Izzy Imig was officially sent packing. She had already resigned from the board, having been accused of shoplifting from a Target store. It was an inauspicious ending to a short political career by somebody who seemed miscast for the job from the beginning.

Thats the reality for a lot of the so-called conservatives who won election to school boards in the past few years, trying to turn these important public bodies into laboratories for right-wing wedge issues. They never seemed like they really cared about the job at hand. The trend started during the pandemic. Schools were shut down and residents in various areas, including Rockwood, got together on Facebook to urge for re-opening, even as people were dying from COVID-19.

Soon, the groups turned into petri dishes for disinformation. I wrote about a friend of mine who joined one of these groups with his wife. For fun, he shared the wildest conspiracy theories he could find. His wife shared scientific information about masking and social distancing. She got kicked out of the group.

Imig and Jessica Clark were elected to the Rockwood School Board, as others with similar views won elections in districts such as Francis Howell in St. Charles County. The truth about school boards is when managed properly, theyre boring. They hire superintendents to do the heavy lifting. They set some broad policies and recognize students and teachers for good performance. They manage money so local residents will approve bond issues when they need new school buildings.

Imig, Clark and others wanted to relive the pandemic. They wanted to engage in culture wars. There were accusations about Critical Race Theory, then transgender this and transgender that. DEI was turned into a four-letter word. In Francis Howell, they revised Black history and Black literature courses and took steps backward on diversity initiatives. Last year, Clark resigned from the Rockwood board after making headlines for mocking students with disabilities and calling a teachers union terrorists.

Parents, taxpayers and voters had enough after a few years of madness.

So I walked into the voting booth and colored in the boxes by the names of Mara Voracheck-Warren and Sarah Boyer. So did a clear majority of voters. The same was true in St. Charles County districts, notably Francis Howell, where culture-warrior candidates lost for the second election in a row.

We have a chance now to make normal happen, said Sarah Oelke, after she and Amy Gryder won the Francis Howell election.

Normal is what Ted House told me he wanted to see return to St. Charles County politics when we talked a few years back. The longtime judge and ex-state lawmaker was heading to retirement, leaving St. Charles without an elected Democrat in a county or state office. The county is much more diverse than its recent election patterns, House told me. Free of the political restraints of being a judge, he planned to do something about it. Consider his return to elective politics a success.

House and some retired superintendents started a committee called St. Charles County Parents for Public Schools and supported the return to normalcy pushed by their slate of candidates. The group helped pull off a grassroots victory so school boards can get back to the daily grind of reading and writing.

The culture war attack lost its steam, House told me this week. A lot of folks are done with people trying to use a narrow partisan agenda to manipulate votes.

Indeed, thats the old normal of school board elections, which in Missouri are supposed to be nonpartisan. House wants to make sure they stay that way.

Our objective is to become obsolete, House says of his group. We want to go back to normal, nonpartisan school board elections with no drama.
ST. LOUIS  More than eight months after Christopher Dunn was freed from prison after his murder conviction was vacated, the Missouri Supreme Court says Attorney General Andrew Baileys appeal of the ruling can move forward.

The high court, in a 4-3 decision Tuesday in Jefferson City, returned the case to the Missouri Court of Appeals Eastern District for consideration of the appeal on its merits.

Dunn was released last July after nearly 34 years in prison after a judge found him innocent of a 1990 St. Louis murder.

Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore sought Dunns release under a 2021 state law that allows prosecutors to request a hearing when they believe an innocent person has been wrongfully convicted.

Gore argued that Dunn should be freed after two boys who identified Dunn as the shooter recanted their testimony as adults. Bailey has contended that they were coerced into changing their testimony.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court, in a decision written by Judge Ginger Gooch, said Bailey can appeal because the state is an aggrieved party with a statutory right to do so when a conviction is vacated.

Concurring were Judges Zel Fischer, Robin Ransom and Kelly Broniec.

A dissenting opinion was filed by Judge W. Brent Powell, with Chief Justice Mary Russell and Judge Paul Wilson agreeing.

Powell reasoned that the attorney general cant appeal because the 2021 law allows only a circuit attorney or prosecuting attorney to appeal a judges ruling in such wrongful conviction cases.

Dunn had been convicted in 1991 of the murder of 15-year-old Ricco Rogers in the citys Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood. Dunn had maintained his innocence throughout his incarceration.

Last year, St. Louis Circuit Judge Jason Sengheiser found Dunn innocent in the case. The legal team pushing for his exoneration also included the Midwest Innocence Project.
ST. LOUIS COUNTY  The Missouri Supreme Court has again blocked stricter limits on traffic ticket revenues for St. Louis County municipalities than for cities in the rest of the state.

The court, in a unanimous decision Tuesday in Jefferson City, left in place its 2017 ruling that struck down the tougher limits enacted by the Legislature for St. Louis County, saying it was an unconstitutional special law.

The court had issued a similar decision in 2022 but had sent the case back to a circuit judge for further action.

The 2022 ruling was on an effort by Eric Schmitt, then the state attorney general, to reinstate the stricter limits for St. Louis County. The high court in a 2019 case, on another subject, had changed the test for how special laws might be allowed.

After Schmitt was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2022, Andrew Bailey  his successor as attorney general  continued the states legal effort.

In Tuesdays ruling, the high court reiterated that it wouldnt reverse a decision it had issued under previous criteria.

The principle of finality is a cornerstone of our system of justice, the court said in a decision written by Judge Paul Wilson. Right or wrong, for better or worse, the disputes presented in our courts must be resolved, and those resolutions must be final.

The special requirements for St. Louis County were part of a law passed in 2015 following the unrest after the shooting of Michael Brown by a police officer in Ferguson in 2014.

A federal report in 2015 called the Ferguson municipal court an abusive fundraising tool and a series of Post-Dispatch stories reported on how Ferguson and some other cities relied heavily on court fines and fees to raise revenue for city services.

The 2015 law said municipalities in St. Louis County could only generate 12.5% of their annual budgets from ticket revenue, while a new limit for the rest of the state was set at 20%. Previously it had been 30% statewide.

The separate standard for St. Louis County was successfully challenged by Normandy and several other cities.

The court on Tuesday also rejected state lawyers assertion that municipalities in the county wouldnt be burdened if the tougher restrictions were to become enforceable now.

The court noted that the 2015 law would have given county municipalities three years to meet accounting and insurance standards and six years to have police departments gain accreditation. Those grace periods no longer would be in effect, the court said.

The court also noted that the state had only challenged the 2016 injunction issued against the St. Louis County standards but hadnt also sought to reverse the ruling that they were unconstitutional.
A St. Louis man has been charged in Texas in connection with the death of Delisha Evans, whose body was discovered in a vehicle near Crestwood in September.

Travis Allan Mitchell, 26, is accused of knowing about Evans death and not reporting it to police.

Evans former boyfriend, Ryan Phillips, drove from Texas to Missouri on Sept. 6 with Evans in the car.

Evans had disappeared, and police were searching for Phillips.

Phillips crashed near Crestwood that evening and died in a shootout with Missouri state troopers near South Rock Hill and Pardee roads. Authorities found Evans body in the car  but later said she was already dead before the crash and shootout.

Police in Texas told Evans family that she was killed in Texas and Mitchell helped Phillips load Evans body into the car that would travel to Missouri. She died of a gunshot wound to the head, her family said.

This week, police in Texas announced charges against Mitchell, who was a friend of Phillips. Texas prosecutors charged him with tampering with or fabricating physical evidence with intent to impair a human corpse, according to online jail records in Collin County, Texas.

Police in Princeton, Texas, sought the charges, which were issued in late February, according to court records. He was arrested in Phoenix, Arizona, then transferred to the Collin County jail in McKinney, Texas. He is held there on $150,000 bond.

Mitchells home address in listed on jail records as the 4400 block of Arco Avenue in St. Louis. Thats in the Forest Park Southeast neighborhood.

Evans mother, Renetta Graves of St. Louis, said in an interview Wednesday that she is grateful someone faces charges but still has many questions about her daughters death.

Im actually a little bit relieved but still lost, she said.

Graves said she believes Phillips, who was born and raised in St. Louis, brought Evans body in the car from Texas so he could dispose of her body in a metro area familiar to him.

The district attorney handling the Texas case could not be reached Wednesday to elaborate on the charges against Mitchell. Princeton police said in a release that Mitchell assisted Phillips in the murder but did not explain what his role was.

The charge is a second-degree felony in Texas because the object being altered, destroyed or concealed was a human corpse. The law states that someone commits that crime if he saw a human corpse under circumstances in which a reasonable person would believe that an offense had been committed and fails to report that to police.

The crime is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Evans, 30, was the mother of two daughters. She was a native of St. Louis and had been living in Princeton, Texas, a suburb northeast of Dallas. Relatives reported her missing after her home in Princeton was burned down around 7:30 a.m. on Sept. 6. Later that day, Princeton authorities named Phillips, 33, as the primary suspect in the investigation, and had information that he was headed north.

Evans had dated Phillips less than a year before breaking up with him about a month before the house fire and her disappearance, her family said.

Missouri state troopers found Phillips shortly after 5:30 p.m. the same day in a red SUV in St. Louis County. Troopers tried to pull him over on eastbound Interstate 44 at Missouri Highway 141. Phillips fled, and his vehicle weaved through traffic and onto the shoulder as police chased him.

He got off the interstate at Elm Avenue in Webster Groves and crashed at South Rock Hill Road at Pardee Road, near Crestwood.

A trooper spotted the rolled-over vehicle and called for medics. Two troopers fired shots, authorities said, after they heard gunfire coming from the wrecked vehicle. After the shooting stopped, they found Phillips and Evans dead.

Graves told the Post-Dispatch last fall that her daughter was abused by Phillips and he had traveled nearly 600 miles to Missouri with her dead body in the car.

Hes insane, Graves said.
The Canadian company Helijet International has transferred to the Main Intelligence Agency of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine a Sikorsky S-76A helicopter worth over $700,000 for medical evacuation.

As reported by the correspondent of Interfax-Ukraine, the helicopter is fully equipped and is already practically ready for use. The helicopter will serve to save lives in Ukraine, it will carry out medical evacuation of civilians and military personnel.

President of Helijet International Daniel Sitnam, who himself is a pilot with 35 years of experience, said it is a great honor for him to have the opportunity to transfer the Sikorsky S-76A helicopter to Ukraine.

He said they have been working on this for about a year with many great partners and added that this was one of the greatest experiences for their employees and people in their company  to ensure the transfer of this helicopter to Ukraine.

Head of the Ministry of Defense's Main Intelligence Agency Kyrylo Budanov thanked the President of Helijet and the people of Canada for their help.

"Thank you for saving our lives. Unfortunately, we really need helicopters. I hope that this helicopter will save the lives of our employees and military personnel of the entire sector of the Defense and Security Forces of Ukraine," Budanov said.

Sitnam said the helicopter is fully operational, but is no longer used under contract in Canada as a helicopter for providing medical assistance. According to him, such helicopters cost from CAD 1 to 2 million, and it will take about a year to carry out all the necessary measures for the transfer of the helicopter.

Maple Hope Foundation Executive Director Svitlana Kominko said the helicopter shipment was made possible thanks to a collaboration with the Ukrainian World Congress and "organizations and people who believed in this idea, including Ukrainians in Canada and around the world, who helped raise funds to transport the helicopter to Ukraine." To help transport the helicopter, the Maple Hope Foundation and the UWC launched a national online crowdfunding campaign that allowed Ukrainians to join the mission to deliver the rescue helicopter. Some $101,000 for the transportation was raised in three weeks, a record time, Kominko added.

"To make this happen, we launched a huge crowdfunding campaign. This was the biggest Christmas gift from the Ukrainian diaspora to the people of Ukraine, to save lives. Life is the greatest value. And if this helicopter saves at least one life, then it was all worth it," she said.

Head of the Ukrainian World Congress mission Andriy Shevchenko noted the symbolism of the Sikorsky helicopter "returning to the hometown of aircraft designer Ihor Sikorsky to help accelerate Ukraine's victory."

"When Ukrainians and friends of Ukraine work together, there is nothing we cannot do, there is no technology or weapon we cannot find, and there is no mountain we will not move for the sake of victory," Shevchenko said.

As the Intelligence Agency pilot (Maestro) said, the donated helicopter can accommodate four medical workers and one seriously injured person. The helicopter is capable of performing medical evacuation in any weather, as well as at night. The condition of the wounded person in the helicopter can be maintained for about three hours thanks to the necessary equipment, the intelligence agency said.
COLUMBIA, Mo.  University of Missouri leadership on Wednesday officially kicked off an ambitious project to build a 20-megawatt nuclear research reactor.

MU already has a 10-megawatt nuclear reactor, which helped facilitate several breakthroughs in cancer research. MU President Mun Choi said 450,000 people received cancer treatment that wouldnt have been possible without the reactor last year. It is the most powerful university research reactor in the country.

Choi touted the importance of building a new reactor at a Jesse Hall event announcing an initial $10 million agreement with Hyundai Engineering America, the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), the Hyundai Engineering Company and MPR Associates to design the new facility.

The new reactor will be bigger, faster and stronger, Choi said. Itll be twice as large (as the existing one), but itll be purpose-built for the type of radiopharmaceutical production, which wasnt envisioned when the first reactor was designed 60 years ago.

Choi said he hopes the new reactor will be complete in about eight years. It will cost about a billion dollars, which Choi said will mostly come from federal and state governments, as well as private investors.

Thats all a long way away. The next few years will be filled with designing the facility and seeking regulatory approval, Michael Hoehn II, the NextGen MURR program director, said.

The state budget currently being considered by the Legislature includes $50 million for the reactor. Missouri House Budget Chair Rep. Dirk Deaton, R-Seneca, was in attendance to celebrate the project.

While state lawmakers are expected to back the project, federal funding may be more of a challenge given the Trump administrations focus on cutting spending.

But former U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer said its not a difficult sell to convince members of Congress to provide funding because of the expected impact the project will likely have on health care nationwide.

Luetkemeyer, who now serves on the MU Board of Curators, added that cancer treatment made possible by the existing reactor helped extend his fathers life another 10 years.

Choi said he hasnt had any conversations with representatives of the Trump administration to this point but thinks the reactors impact on cancer treatments nationwide is a strong message to convince them and members of Congress.

Tariffs are another point of contention for the project as the companies involved are based in South Korea. Choi said he is going to examine how tariffs could affect the project but that only intellectual property has been exchanged across borders so far.

Hoehn said they are working to supply what is needed for the project domestically, which works well with whats going on currently in the political arena.

Currently, the goal is to build the reactor in South Columbia off of Highway 63, Choi said.
ST. LOUIS COUNTY  A former teacher is suing the Archdiocese of St. Louis for breach of contract after she was fired from Immaculate Conception of Dardenne school three months into the academic year.

Sharon Nicholas was hired last July as a first-grade teacher at the Catholic parish school in Dardenne Prairie, which is also named as a defendant in the case. Her termination letter states she was fired for classroom management and lack of effective instructions.

Sharon, after providing you opportunities to observe other teachers, receive feedback from administration, and providing you with professional development resources, there has been a lack of growth, reads the Nov. 15 letter signed by Michelle Knapp, the schools principal.

All teachers in the archdiocese are considered probationary for their first year, and the employer has a right to terminate this agreement at any time during this probationary period as provided in the employee handbook, according to Nicholas contract for the 2024-25 school year.

Nicholas claims the school violated the contract by firing her without the promised notice of 30 days and severance of three months salary. The school also did not follow the contracts stated reasons for termination: low enrollment or lack of staff to operate the school, the lawsuit states.

With more than 700 students, Immaculate Conception is the second largest parish school in the archdiocese after St. Joseph of Cottleville.

Nicholas could not be reached for comment. A spokeswoman for the archdiocese Lisa Shea and Nicholas attorney Bridget Halquist of Summers Compton Wells in Frontenac did not respond to requests for comment.

Nicholas is seeking damages of more than $25,000 for her unpaid salary, benefits and attorneys fees among other costs, according to the suit filed Tuesday in St. Louis County Circuit Court.

The lawsuit opens a window into teacher pay in the archdiocese, which doesnt publicly disclose employee salaries. Nicholas made $38,705 on the 10th step of the archdiocesan scale for teachers with a bachelors degree. She had been a teacher for more than 15 years with a long list of notable achievements, the lawsuit states.

Immaculate Conception is in the Wentzville School District, where teachers with the same credentials and experience will make $50,931 this year.

Archdiocesan leaders have said low teacher salaries are a social justice problem for the church. Salary raises were one goal of the 2023 All Things New restructuring plan for the archdiocese that has led to the closure of nine parish schools.
JEFFERSON CITY  A Senate panel Wednesday gutted Gov. Mike Kehoes bid to use Missouri tax dollars to fund a private school voucher program.

In a preliminary review of the spending plan for the fiscal year beginning July 1, the Senate Appropriations Committee stripped out $50 million that the Republican governor is seeking for the MOScholars program.

The move sets up a showdown in the final month of the legislative session with the Republican-controlled House, which previously sided with Kehoe on the issue.

But Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Lincoln Hough, R-Springfield, said he doesnt believe private schools should be financed with public dollars.

I want to make sure were fully funding our obligation to public schools before we start spending tens of millions of general revenue dollars on private schools, Hough said.

Sen. Karla May, D-St. Louis, who sits on the Senate budget panel, agreed with Houghs assessment.

I support the chairmans decision, May said. I think were a better state when we educate our kids.

The four-year-old program currently provides $6,760 scholarships to qualified students for the current school year. It runs off of private donations that are eligible for tax credits.

The program, however, has struggled to raise donations, prompting calls by school choice advocates, including Senate President Cindy OLaughlin, for a taxpayer-funded bailout.

Using public funds for private religious schools is currently barred by the Missouri Constitution, though the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022 struck down a similar restriction in Maine, placing Missouris ban in doubt.

Efforts by Democrats to block the expense failed in the House Budget Committee earlier. Among their concerns is private schools do not have to accept students that have special needs. They also decry spending public dollars for tuition at religious schools.

Supporters dismiss the constitutional concerns, saying the money would not be given directly to private schools. Rather, the money would be administered by the state treasurers office.

The move to strike the money from the budget of state Treasurer Vivek Malek is the second significant rejection of Kehoes education funding proposal by the Senate panel in two days.

On Tuesday, Senate budget writers included nearly $300 million more in education spending than recommended by Kehoe in his budget outline. The money, which was not included in the House budget plan, will fully fund the state foundation formula.

The formula, which is used to distribute money to the states local school districts, is based on a calculation showing per pupil spending should be $7,145 per year, up from the $6,760 level under Kehoes request.

In choosing to short the money, Kehoe issued an executive order in January calling for a rewrite of the formula. The Missouri School Funding Modernization Task Force will be comprised of lawmakers, teachers, school administrators and school choice advocates.

(A) comprehensive review by a diverse group of stakeholders is necessary to achieve a sustainable, equitable, and fair funding model, the order reads.

Hough said the state can afford the added expense because it currently has a surplus of more than $2 billion.

It would be one thing if we were totally broke, Hough said. I think its an obligation we have especially when we have money in the bank.

A final report on the formula is due in December 2026.

The governor, who took office in January, has actively promoted his plan for the MOScholars money, including appearing in an ad paid for by the American Federation for Children.

I was raised by a single mother, and I watched her struggle to put me through a private school because it was the best learning environment for me, said Kehoe, who graduated from Chaminade College Preparatory School in 1979.

Now, I want to help all Missouri parents provide the education that meets every childs individual learning needs, he says in the ad.

When first approved, MOScholars was limited to larger cities and counties as a concession to rural lawmakers.

But the expansion then-Gov. Mike Parson signed into law last year takes the program statewide and raises current household income limits on participation starting in the 2025-26 school year.

Currently, about 2,600 students are covered by the program.

The full Senate is on track to begin voting on the states overall $52 billion spending blueprint at the end of April, setting up negotiations with the House for a final version that will go to Kehoes desk by May 9.
SAN SALVADOR  Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen traveled to El Salvador on Wednesday and met with the countrys vice president to push for the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a man who was sent there by the Trump administration in March despite an immigration court order preventing his deportation.

Van Hollen said at a news conference in San Salvador that Vice President Felix Ulloa said his government could not return Abrego Garcia to the United States and declined to allow Van Hollen to visit him in the notorious gang prison where he is being held.

Why is the government of El Salvador continuing to imprison a man where they have no evidence that hes committed any crime and they have not been provided any evidence from the United States that he has committed any crime? Van Hollen told reporters after the meeting. They should just let him go.

Van Hollens trip became a flashpoint in the U.S. The Trump administration sharply criticized it, while Democrats have rallied around Abrego Garcia.

President Donald Trump and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele said this week that they have no basis to send him back, even as the U.S. Supreme Court has called on the administration to facilitate his return.

Trump officials have said that Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran citizen who was living in Maryland, has ties to the MS-13 gang, but his attorneys say the government has provided no evidence of that and Abrego Garcia has never been charged with any crime related to such activity.

We have an unjust situation here, said Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The Trump administration is lying about Abrego Garcia. The American courts have looked at the facts.

Trump officials reiterated Wednesday that he would not be returned to the United States. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt held a press briefing with the mother of a Maryland woman, Rachel Morin, who was killed by a fugitive from El Salvador in 2023.

Its appalling and sad that Sen. Van Hollen and the Democrats applauding his trip to El Salvador today are incapable of having any shred of common sense or empathy for their own constituents and our citizens," Leavitt said at the briefing.

Republicans have focused on the victims of crime committed by people in the U.S. illegally in arguing for Trumps promised immigration crackdown and mass deportations.

Democrats, meanwhile, have seized on the case to highlight what they say is Trumps disrespect for the courts and as base voters have encouraged them to fight harder against Trumps policies. New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., is also considering a trip to El Salvador, as are some House Democrats.

This is a constitutional crisis, said Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., one of the Democrats who is considering a trip. This is not just about a deportation policy. This is about defying the Constitution and the Supreme Court.

Garcia sent a joint letter with Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla., to House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., requesting a congressional delegation to travel to El Salvador to investigate Abrego Garcias condition. Garcia said if the trip isnt approved, some Democrats still plan to travel to the Central American nation.

We need to bring attention to this case. We need to be in El Salvador. We need to work with the family. We need to work with the Salvadoran government. We need to pressure the White House to do the right thing, Garcia said.

Trump officials renewed their claims that Abrego Garcia was a gang member.

Tom Homan, Trumps border czar, said on Fox News Fox & Friends that he is disgusted that any congressional representative is going to run to El Salvador.

We got rid of a dangerous person, an El Salvadoran national was returned to the country of El Salvador, so he is home, Homan said.

Some Republicans have visited the prison as well in support of the Trump administrations efforts. Rep. Riley Moore, a West Virginia Republican, posted Tuesday evening that hed visited the prison where Abrego Garcia is being held. He did not mention Abrego Garcia but said the facility houses the countrys most brutal criminals.

I leave now even more determined to support President Trumps efforts to secure our homeland, Moore wrote on social media.

Republican Rep. Jason Smith of Missouri, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, also visited the prison. He posted on X that thanks to President Trump, the facility now includes illegal immigrants who broke into our country and committed violent acts against Americans.

The fight over Abrego Garcia has also played out in contentious court filings, with repeated refusals from the government to tell a judge what it plans to do, if anything, to repatriate him. The Trump administration has called his deportation a mistake but also has argued, essentially, that its conclusion about Abrego Garcias affiliation makes him ineligible for protection from the courts.

Since March, El Salvador has accepted from the U.S. more than 200 Venezuelan immigrants  whom Trump administration officials have accused of gang activity and violent crimes  and placed them inside the countrys maximum-security gang prison just outside of San Salvador. That prison is part of Bukeles broader effort to crack down on the countrys powerful street gangs, which has put 84,000 people behind bars and made Bukele extremely popular at home.

Human rights groups have previously accused Bukeles government of subjecting those jailed to systematic use of torture and other mistreatment." Officials there deny wrongdoing.

Van Hollen said after his meeting that Abrego Garcia was illegally abducted from the United States and committed no crime.

I will keep pressing in my remaining time here and I will keep pressing beyond that, Van Hollen said.

Jalonick and Brown reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Seung Min Kim contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON  A federal judge said Wednesday he found probable cause to hold the Trump administration in criminal contempt of court for violating his orders last month to turn around planes carrying deportees to an El Salvador prison.

The ruling from U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg, whom President Donald Trump has said should be impeached, marks a dramatic battle between the judicial and executive branches of government over the president's powers to carry out key White House priorities.

Boasberg accused administration officials of rushing deportees out of the country under the Alien Enemies Act last month before they could challenge their removal in court, and then willfully disregarding his order that planes already in the air should return to the United States.

The judge warned he could hold hearings and potentially refer the matter for prosecution if the administration does not act to remedy the violation. If the Justice Department declines to prosecute the matter, Boasberg said he will appoint another attorney to do so.

"The Constitution does not tolerate willful disobedience of judicial orders  especially by officials of a coordinate branch who have sworn an oath to uphold it," wrote Boasberg, the chief judge of Washington's federal court.

The administration said it would appeal.

Administration officials repeatedly criticized judges for reigning in the president's actions, accusing the courts of improperly impinging on his executive powers.

Trump and his allies called for impeaching Boasberg, prompting a rare statement from Chief Justice John Roberts, who said "impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision."

Boasberg said the government could avoid contempt proceedings if it takes custody of the deportees, who were sent to the El Salvador prison in violation of his order, so they have a chance to challenge their removal. It was not clear how that would work because he said the government "would not need to release any of those individuals, nor would it need to transport them back to the homeland."

The judge did not say which official or officials could be held in contempt. He gave the government until April 23 to explain the steps it has taken to remedy the violation, or instead identify the individual or people who made the decision not to turn the planes around.

In a separate case, the administration has acknowledged wrongly deporting Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the El Salvador prison, but does not intend to return him to the U.S. despite a Supreme Court ruling that the administration must "facilitate" his release.

The judge in that case said she is determining whether to undertake contempt proceedings, saying officials "appear to have done nothing to aid in Abrego Garcia's release from custody and return to the United States."

Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen traveled to El Salvador on Wednesday and met with the country's vice president to push for the release of Abrego Garcia, who was sent there by the Trump administration in March despite an immigration court order preventing his deportation.

Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said at a news conference in San Salvador after the meeting that Vice President Felix Ulloa said his government could not return Abrego Garcia to the United States and refused to allow Van Hollen to visit him in the notorious gang prison where he is being held.

Why is the government of El Salvador continuing to imprison a man where they have no evidence that hes committed any crime and they have not been provided any evidence from the United States that he has committed any crime?" Van Hollen told reporters after the meeting. They should just let him go.

The Trump administration and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele said this week they have no basis to send him back, despite the U.S. Supreme Court order.

Trump officials claim Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran citizen who was living in Maryland, has ties to the MS-13 gang, but his attorneys say the government provided no evidence of that and Abrego Garcia disputed that claim. He has never been charged with any crime related to such activity.

"We have an unjust situation here," Van Hollen said. "The Trump administration is lying about Abrego Garcia. The American courts have looked at the facts."

Boasberg, who was nominated for the federal bench by Democratic President Barack Obama, ordered the administration last month not to deport anyone in its custody under the Alien Enemies Act after Trump invoked the 1798 wartime law over what he claimed was an invasion by the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.

When Boasberg was told there were already planes in the air headed to El Salvador, which has agreed to house deported migrants in a notorious prison, the judge said the aircraft needed to be returned to the United States.

Hours later, El Salvador's president, Nayib Bukele, announced that the deportees arrived in his country. In a social media post, he said, "Oopsie  too late" above an article referencing Boasberg's order.

The Supreme Court this month vacated Boasberg's temporary order blocking the deportations under the Alien Enemies Act, but said the immigrants must be given a chance to fight their removals before they are deported. The conservative majority said the legal challenges must take place in Texas, instead of a Washington courtroom.

Protecting rural immigrant populations from expanding reach of ICE Protecting rural immigrant populations from expanding reach of ICE
Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville is encouraging international students to carry photocopies of immigration documents at all times and proof of enrollment, keep records of U.S. residencies, and use caution on social media and be mindful of how posts can be perceived.

 Edwardsville Post-Intelligencer, April 10

If the above sentence doesnt send an Orwellian shiver down your spine, we would politely suggest you read it again and think through the implications: Foreign student-visa holders  here legally, engaged in the legitimate and constructive business of accessing (and paying for) higher education, accused of no crimes  are being warned to keep their papers on them and keep their opinions to themselves. Or else.

The or else isnt hypothetical, and it isnt just happening at far-flung universities like Columbia and Tufts. Dozens of foreign-born St. Louis-area college students, here legally on student visas, have recently had their visas revoked or their immigration records terminated as part of the Trump administrations malicious campaign against free speech for even legal immigrants.

Where is the outrage from St. Louis-area congressional representatives as certain of their constituents are being targeted with what can only be characterized as a psychological terror campaign by Americas president? If any residents, even foreign visitors here legally, can be cowed by the federal government into self-censorship in order to avoid an official daylight abduction, how safe is everyone else?

As the Post-Dispatchs Monica Obradovic reported Tuesday, 18 students at Webster University in Webster Groves have seen their legal residence status threatened or rescinded in recent weeks, joining at least nine SIU-Edwardsville students and scattered others at St. Louis University, Washington University and Lindenwood University.

They are among hundreds of immigrant students around the country who are being detained or deported by federal immigration officials  in at least one case, at Tufts University, literally snatched off a sidewalk by masked officers in broad daylight as shocked bystanders took cellphone videos.

The administrations vague claims in that and other cases that students had engaged in support of Hamas or other anti-Israel terrorists is, as usual with this president, devoid of due-process niceties. When information about the impetus for these cases is made public at all, it has generally come down to expressions of support for Palestine through protests, social media posts or even opinions published in newspapers.

The Tufts graduate student, Turkish national Rumeysa Ozturk, for example, was apparently targeted because she co-signed an op-ed in the student newspaper that doesnt once use the word Hamas.  It does criticize Israels conduct in Gaza, a perfectly reasonable position shared by a great many natural-born Americans today. Whether you agree with that sentiment isnt the point; policy criticism that doesnt call for violence is protected speech in America  and not just for those born here.

This cannot be stated strongly enough: This putrid campaign by the administration isnt ultimately just about immigration  its about free speech.

Like it or not, foreign-born legal U.S. residents are covered by the same First Amendment that (for the moment, at least) protects U.S.-born citizens. President Donald Trump has repeatedly demonstrated his contempt for that principle even as it relates to American media organizations, law firms and others. Just because he can carry out his darkest anti-speech impulses when it comes to immigrants doesnt make it a valid use of power.

The self-destructiveness of this campaign is astonishing. It was Trump himself, opening his 2016 presidential bid, who infamously declared that foreign countries are sending America immigrants who are bringing drugs, theyre bringing crime, theyre rapists  then he added, in a brief nod to moderation: And some, I assume, are good people.

Students who come to the U.S. are by definition the best of those good people. They follow immigration rules to get here, they pass academic muster with the universities they attend. And crucially, they tend to pay full tuition, without the scholarships and various breaks for which most American-born students can qualify.

If its not the most morally repugnant aspect of this horrific campaign by the administration, its certainly the most ironic that the logical result of expelling and discouraging immigrant students is that tuition bills for American-born students could ultimately rise.

St. Louis-area members of Congress, particularly the majority of them who hail from Trumps party, have been mostly silent about this attack on legal immigration (the kind even conservatives are supposed to like) and this blatant undermining of free speech (a right Republicans in particular have claimed to cherish these days).

America has long espoused noble principles when it comes to welcoming the vibrancy of other cultures into our own. Keep your papers handy and shut your mouth isnt among those principles. Tell your congressional representatives this isnt who we are.

House and Senate offices for individual members can be reached through the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121.
Regarding Lynn Schmidt's column "Both parties have failed America. Will either of them fix it?" (April 13): Schmidt continues to represent herself as an even-handed, fair-minded conservative. But despite her claim that, "this is not an attempt at bothsiderism," her piece reeks of exactly that.

Schmidt points a finger, correctly, at the Democratic Party for failing to replace President Joe Biden on the ballot sooner. That failure, however, pales to the point of disappearance when compared with the longstanding refusal of the Republican Party to stand in the way of the massive transfer of wealth we have seen in our country since Ronald Reagan first declared the government to be the enemy.

Republicans have successfully sold Reagan's trickle-down fraud to generations of voters. This massive feat of misdirection has enabled the moneyed few to manipulate our tax laws to their advantage, even as the Republican leaders, including those in Missouri, have convinced voters that lower taxes will benefit them.

That same moneyed minority has cooked the Supreme Court to the extent that the current president has been given carte blanche to terrorize immigrants and deny them due process, and to impose and then un-impose and then reimpose punitive tariffs that will hobble the ability of ordinary Americans to buy groceries, fill their tanks with gasoline, and pay for healthcare and daycare  all while demonizing virtually all of our traditional allies and embracing the worst tyrants in the world.

They've also glorified gun ownership and blamed "mental health" for gun deaths while both refusing to limit gun ownership and failing to take any measures to address these alleged mental health issues. The list of their failures goes on and on.

Yes, both major parties have failed us, but we shouldn't fall prey to Schmidt's theory of "everybody does it." No, the GOP  which is now the TOP (Trump Only Party)  has placed the country in severe peril. Until we see the TOP exercise the checks and balances guaranteed by the Constitution, we will continue to see Trump wield his dictatorial powers to the detriment of all of us.

Alan Freed

University City
NAB 2025: 3Play Chief Growth Officer Lily Bond talks accessibility, localisation, and service expansion

In this interview with Streaming Media contributing editor Jan Ozer, Lily Bond, Chief Growth Officer at 3Play Media, discusses how the company has evolved from one of the earliest captioning providers into a full-service accessibility and localisation partner. With 15 years in the business, 3Play now offers captioning, subtitling, audio description, and hybrid AI/human dubbing services for customers looking to comply with accessibility laws and expand into global markets.

Bond explains the growing legal requirements in the U.S. and EU, the cultural and economic drivers behind the current dubbing boom, and how 3Play helps customers balance quality and cost. She also shares insights on why captions have become a default viewing preference, how the company handles emotional nuance in dubbed content, and what makes 3Plays service-first model and workflow integration stand out.

Below is a lightly edited version of the conversation.

Jan Ozer: I'm here with Lily Bond from 3Play Media. Thanks for joining me, Lily.

Lily Bond: Yes, thanks so much for having me.

Jan Ozer: Were literally on Caption Row here at NAB. One of the fun things about 3Play is that you guys were captions before captions were cool. You've been in this business a long time.

Lily Bond: Yes, we've been in the business for about 15 years. We were actually one of the first to use ASR or auto captions, along with human editing, to make captioning a more cost-effective solution.

Jan Ozer: Whats the range of services your company provides?

Lily Bond: Most people know us as a captioning provider because we started there, but we've expanded. We're focused on global solutions now, subtitling, dubbing, and then multilingual captions or audio description.

Legal requirements in the U.S. and EU

Jan Ozer: Looking at the United States, what are the requirements for any of those? What am I legally required to do with my video?

Lily Bond: In the U.S., many laws require accessibility, which means captioning and audio description for video. There are emerging laws in the EU as well. The European Accessibility Act phases in this June, so anyone delivering video to the EU also needs to think about captioning and audio description in any languages you're sending to Europe.

Jan Ozer: You talk about delivering video to Europewhat does that mean? If I put a video on my website and somebody from Europe watches it, what am I legally obligated to do?

Lily Bond: It means any business that delivers products or services to Europe. So, if you have customers buying from you in Europe, even if you're U.S.-based, you do have to comply.

Why accessibility also improves engagement

Jan Ozer: So, if I'm Netflix and I have a French app, I'm delivering in France, and I meet those requirements. What about businesses? Do they usually caption because it helps make their videos more effective in those markets, or because of legal requirements?

Lily Bond: Legal requirements are always the number one reason, but they also improve engagement and viewership. A lot of times, people expect captions on video now, so it helps drive up engagement and viewership.

The dubbing boom and market growth

Jan Ozer: Dubbing seems to have hit the world by storm. Why has that become so important? What's legally required there?

Lily Bond: Theres no legal requirement for dubbing, but the reason it's become important is that so many businesses are trying to find new markets to monetiseways to grow their business with the products they already have. If you want to grow an audience in Japan and you have English content, you can dub your content into Japanese, and you have an option to monetise in a totally new market and grow your subscriber base, your viewership, and your customer base there.

Captions, subtitles, and localisation explained

Jan Ozer: If I'm an English content owner and I'm publishing that content via an app in France, am I legally obligated to create subtitles or localise?

Lily Bond: Under the European Accessibility Act, you are legally required to caption that in French. But you may also want to be dubbing that video, because in many countriesFrance is one of themthe preferred experience for viewers is dubbing over something like subtitling, and you can really work towards expanding your audience that way.

Jan Ozer: What is localisation as compared to captioning?

Lily Bond: Localisation assumes that the viewer can't understand the language of your original source content, whereas captioning assumes the viewer can't hear the audio at all. So, with localisation, you're translating your video into 20, 30 languages so you can reach new audiences and really grow your business.

Jan Ozer: So, if a cat meows, it's required for captioning, but not localisation.

Lily Bond: Correct. The cat meow is required in captioning, but not localisation.

The complexity of dubbing and the hybrid approach

Jan Ozer: Dubbing seems a lot harder because captions are just text on a screen. What are the gradations of dubbing that go from boring and unacceptable to optimal?

Lily Bond: Traditionally, there are all-human dubbing solutions, which are extremely expensive. There's a human scripting process, a human voice artist, and then audio mixing.

And then there's all-AI solutions, which have a lot of quality degradation because there are so many steps in the dubbing process. While captioning is kind of a single step, dubbing is over ten steps, and at any point in that process we can use AI or have a human in the loop to correct different parts. That's what we dowe have a hybrid solution where we use AI where it's great and humans to correct the parts where AI struggles.

Service-based delivery model

Jan Ozer: Do you offer products, services, or a combination?

Lily Bond: We're service based. All of our solutions are sold as services. We basically take video in, run it through the AI, and deliver back an asseta dubbing asset, a subtitle asset, a captioning assetwhatever you need.

Handling emotion and tone in AI dubbing

Jan Ozer: When we look at dubbing, how much of the emotion comes through? If someone is screaming in English, are they screaming in Italian? Is that AI-based or a combination?

Lily Bond: We use AI voices to voice the dub, but there are places where the AI voice struggles. Screaming is a great example. Another one is singing. AI voices don't know how to voice those effectively. That's a great place where we use humans in the loop.

We can use a technology called speech-to-speech, where a human can record what the singing or screaming should sound like, and we'll model that emotionality onto the AI voice. The output will contain the emotionality that it didnt in the pure AI output.

Pricing tiers and customer priorities

Jan Ozer: Are there levels to your captioning and dubbing services? Like all-AI at one price, human-checked at another?

Lily Bond: Yes, we have variability within our solutions. Everything from all-AI to all-human and everything in between. There are different price points for those.

What we think is non-negotiable is quality, but what defines quality may differ for each customer. Some may care about perfect lip sync but not translation accuracy. Others may want perfect translation but dont care about emotionality in the voice. Those are places where you can use more AI or more human. The price reflects that.

Why captions are ubiquitous now

Jan Ozer: It feels like everybody who watches any service these days has captions showing. Is that impression correct? And if so, why?

Lily Bond: It is correct. There are a lot of studies. The BBC found that 85% of viewers watch video with captions on. This really escalated during COVID. There was so much video available that captioning just became ubiquitous.

People use captions for lots of reasonsaccents that are hard to understand, multitasking, and internalising content. Theyre really helpful for people with learning disabilities or attention disorders. There are lots of reasons why people use captions, and people are using them a lot.

Choosing where and how to localise

Jan Ozer: If Im a movie owner and I want to distribute in foreign countries, do I caption or dub? Is that geographically motivated?

Lily Bond: You probably want to do it all, honestly.

Jan Ozer: Are you in sales by any chance?

Lily Bond: I'm not. I'm in marketingbut it's almost the same. We actually start from a caption file for all of our solutions, so adding captions is a no-brainer, and its a legal requirement.

From there, you want to think about where you can monetise globally. What markets are most effective? Are you going to have an ROI on dubbing in France or Germany? Choose your dubbing languages based on your market expansion plans.

Jan Ozer: Which markets prefer dubbing over captioning and vice versa?

Lily Bond: There are definitely markets that prefer dubbing over a text-based translation like subtitles. Its culturally based. Eastern Europe, for example, has had dubbing for a really long time. Its part of the cultureits an engagement and experiential preference.

In countries that havent had as much dubbing, viewers may be more comfortable with subtitles. But were seeing dubbing become more and more of an engagement strategy, and we expect that to continue.

Why choose 3Play?

Jan Ozer: Were sitting here on Subtitle Row. Whats the elevator pitch for 3Play? Why choose you over the competition?

Lily Bond: There are a few reasons. The first is workflow. We've been in the business of AIconnecting video to these different types of assetsfor 15 years. We plug right into your production workflow. We can integrate directly whatever video platform, DAM, or MAM you're using. Our goal is to be part of your workflow so you never have to think about these services. We just deliver back the assets. And we do that at a scale thats unusual in the industry.

We also really focus on making the human element as efficient, cost-effective, and scalable as possible. We have a global marketplace and advanced software tooling, and we're always working to reduce time on task for the humans who perfect your output. Those two thingsworkflow integration and scalable human-in-the-loop qualityallow us to deliver more scale, more efficiency, and more cost-effectiveness without reducing output quality.

Ballpark pricing

Jan Ozer: I know you probably wont want to disclose pricing at that level of granularity, but if I have an hour-long video I want to subtitle into a foreign language, is that twenty cents? Is it $20? Give me a range.

Lily Bond: You're not going to be at 20 cents unless you're using pure machine translation. And you're not going to be at $20 with us, because we use a combination of AI and humans. Youd be at $20 with a more traditional solution. We're going to be somewhere in the middle, and we're constantly working to reduce that price.

Jan Ozer: Lily, thanks for taking the time.

Lily Bond: Yes, thank you so much. I really enjoyed it.

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Chief Master Sgt. Anthony Green is the former command chief master sergeant of Air Force Special Operations Command. He was dismissed from that role, according to an Air Force statement April 15, 2025, that cited a loss of confidence in his ability to lead. (U.S. Air Force)



The senior enlisted leader of Air Force Special Operations Command was fired this week over a loss of confidence in his ability to do the job, service officials said.

Command Chief Master Sgt. Anthony Green was relieved Monday, the Hurlburt Field, Fla.-based command said in a statement Tuesday.

AFSOC is committed to the welfare of our Airmen and maintaining good order and discipline which is necessary to preserve the trust placed in us to execute our critical global missions, the statement said.

Green was removed by AFSOC commander Lt. Gen. Mike Conley, who oversees 21,000 airmen, according to his bio on the command website.

In an internal memo that was leaked to a social media site popular with airmen, Conley wrote Tuesday that the decision to remove Green hadnt been taken lightly.

As airmen, we are entrusted with incredible responsibilities and held to the highest standards of conduct, stated the memo posted to the Air Force amn/nco/snco Facebook page. Upholding these standards is non-negotiable, and maintaining good order and discipline is fundamental to who we are.

The Air Force did not elaborate on the circumstances that led to Greens removal.

Green joined the Air Force in 1995 and has served in various roles throughout his career, ranging from maintenance technician on C-130s to flying crew chief.
U.S. Army Capt. Bradley Byrd, an observer controller trainer for the Joint Multinational Readiness Center, talks about electronic warfare systems with soldiers in Hohenfels, Germany, April 15, 2025. The five-day Spectrum Blitz exercise took place in Hohenfels, where soldiers from units across Bavaria honed their electronic warfare skills. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)



HOHENFELS, Germany  Dozens of U.S. soldiers specializing in electronic warfare gathered at an Army training ground in Bavaria in recent days, looking to gain mastery of high-tech systems that helped them locate, track and destroy their simulated enemy.

The Spectrum Blitz exercise took place over five days at the Joint Multinational Training Center in Hohenfels before wrapping up Tuesday evening.

Against the centers resident opposition force, 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment and its small, off-the-shelf drones, the exercise participants tested their mettle in offensive and defensive operations involving geolocation and communications signal jamming.

Spectrum Blitz brought together about 100 electronic warfare specialists from the Vilseck-based 2nd Cavalry Regiment and rotational soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division, 101st Airborne Division, and 1st Armored Division.

A U.S. soldier posts security April 15, 2025, during exercise Spectrum Blitz at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany. The five-day exercise trained soldiers on electronic warfare platforms. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)

A U.S. soldier at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, participates in Spectrum Blitz, a five-day electronic warfare exercise that wrapped up April 15, 2025. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)

U.S. soldiers participating in exercise Spectrum Blitz post security around the assembly area at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, April 15, 2025. Troops from units across Bavaria participated in the five-day exercise, which focused on electronic warfare equipment and its use on the battlefield. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)

A VMAX system at the U.S. Army's Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, April 15, 2025, during exercise Spectrum Blitz. The five-day exercise offered training in electronic warfare systems and strategies. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)

A Beast+ electronic warfare system leans against a Versatile Radio Observation and Direction Modular Adaptive Transmission system, or VMAX, during an electronic warfare exercise in Hohenfels, Germany, that ended April 15, 2025. The portable jammers saw heavy use during exercise Spectrum Blitz. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)

U.S. soldiers learn how to use the Versatile Radio Observation and Direction Modular Adaptive Transmission system, or VMAX, during exercise Spectrum Blitz in Hohenfels, Germany, April 15, 2025. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)



Electronic warfare is something that people outside of our field and environment, they dont really think of, Spc. Anton Stigler said as he stood near a Stryker vehicle mounted with a large antenna called a Tactical Electronic Warfare System.

When people arent thinking about that and theyre using the radios a lot ... my system can hear you from ranges that I wouldnt even be able to see you at, he said.

Electronic warfare refers to the combat use of high-tech equipment that operates on the electromagnetic spectrum, according to the Army.

A U.S. soldier plots points of detected radio signals to track a simulated adversary during exercise Spectrum Blitz at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, April 15, 2025. Electronic warfare specialists spent five days gaining familiarity and experience with an assortment of high-tech systems. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)

U.S. soldiers at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, take part in the final day of Spectrum Blitz on April 15, 2025. Dozens of Army electronic warfare specialists spent five days training with assorted high-tech equipment. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)

A U.S. Army Stryker mounted with a Tactical Electronic Warfare System-Infantry provides support to soldiers during exercise Spectrum Blitz at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, April 15, 2025. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)



This can mean finding a concealed enemy unit through electromagnetic or radio signals, jamming their communications or knocking an attacking drone out of the sky before it reaches soldiers on the ground.

This was the second iteration of the annual exercise, which is growing along with the career field because of the importance of detecting electronic signatures on modern battlefields.

Next year, the exercise will involve multinational partners and allies, readiness center commander Col. Christopher Kirkpatrick said.

Innovative use of drones has been a hallmark of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, and the U.S. military is broadly pushing to train its personnel in such tactics.

Capt. Bradley Byrd, a military intelligence trainer at the center, said the U.S. is behind peer adversaries when it comes to electronic warfare.

Each platoon has only a handful of electronic warfare specialists, so they tend to be neglected in training, he added.

They dont get that training, that repetition, so when they come and do our [combat training center] rotations, they tend to not perform well, Byrd said. So we were like, Hey, how can we get them some realistic training that they probably cant do in home station?

During Spectrum Blitz, soldiers fielded backpack-mounted systems such as the Beast+ and Versatile Radio Observation and Direction Modular Adaptive Transmission system, or VMAX, in addition to vehicle-mounted systems, like the one Stigler was using.

The systems work as nodes that can spread out and feed information to a centralized collection point to triangulate an enemy position.

The soldiers saw more success as the exercise progressed. After locating only two enemy targets on the first day, they upped that number to 51 out of 67 on Tuesday, trainer Sgt. 1st Class Louie Lau said.

On Tuesday, while Stigler manned the Stryker system, officers from all of the participating units took a quick course on the backpacks to better understand how to use the electronic warfare soldiers under their command.

Capt. Edgar Orellana, an analyst at the readiness center, donned the VMAX and tried to find a man with a radio somewhere in the grassy hills before him.

Waves indicating an anomaly spiked on a tablet in his hand.

Its hard to employ something when you lack the knowledge; were inadequate at it, Orellana said. War is evolving. As these modernization efforts get pushed out, we have to adapt with them. burke.matt@stripes.com @MatthewMBurke1
Denmark is considering sending Danish military personnel to Ukraine to gain experience gained by the Ukrainian Armed Forces during the war with Russia, but no final decisions have been made yet, Chief of the Land Forces Command of the Danish Armed Forces, Major General Peter Boysen said on Wednesday.

"During the latest Land Forces exercises at the beginning of this year, the Ukrainians offered Danish military personnel to take part in short-term courses and training in Ukraine, as well as to send their specialists to Denmark. It should be emphasized that there are currently no plans or decisions to send Danish military personnel to short-term courses or training in Ukraine," Boysen said.

The Commander-in-Chief said the specific considerations do not concern the participation of Danish military personnel in the education and training of Ukrainian military personnel in Ukraine, but only the accumulation of experience, when students participating in the training study the experience of Ukrainian military personnel on the battlefield. "It is not news that Danish defense personnel have been in Ukraine to exchange experience. Initially, it was management-level personnel," Boysen said.

It is noted that opportunities for further improving the accumulation of Danish experience are constantly being considered, the possible participation of Danish military personnel in training programs in Ukraine is not something decided, but only an example of opportunities for improving the accumulation of experience.

As reported in March, the Danish government and parliament have reached a consensus on the possible deployment of troops to Ukraine to ensure a future peaceful settlement, but there are no specific plans for the deployment of troops yet, Danish Foreign and Defense Ministers Lars Lkke Rasmussen and Troels Lund Poulsen told reporters.
Danielle Proskovec, left, and her mother Sue Conger-Williams, the great-granddaughter and granddaughter of World War I Army Sgt. Fred Benning, help unveil a new base sign Wednesday, April 16, 2025, as officials gathered to mark the change of the former Fort Moore to Fort Benning. Once named for Confederate Gen. Henry Benning, the Georgia Army training post became Fort Moore in 2023, but Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered it changed back to Fort Benning last month, this time in recognition of the World War I soldier. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes)



FORT BENNING, Ga.  Fred Benning was a humble, small-town man who rarely spoke of his exploits as a teenage soldier in Europe, where he earned the Armys second highest honor for battlefield heroism during World War I, his granddaughter said Wednesday.

Most of what his family knew of his service was from artifacts that Benning discarded in old containers in his home in Neligh, Neb., Sue Conger-Williams, the granddaughter, said at the Georgia Army post now named for her late grandfather. Top Fort Benning officials gathered with Conger-Williams and her family to mark the change of the major training post from Fort Moore to Fort Benning  a name the installation held for decades in honor of a different Benning who had served the Confederacy.

My grandpa, Fred G. Benning, was truly a special man, Conger-Williams told a small crowd gathered just outside Fort Bennings Maneuver Center of Excellence. He was a man of integrity who knew the value of hard work. He lived a life of service, dedicating himself to his family, his country and his community. He loved helping people, and thats how I will always remember him. He is my hero.

Benning enlisted in the Army at 17 years old in 1917 within two weeks of the U.S. declaring war against Germany. Within months, he was sent to France to serve in the infantry. Within a year, Benning had risen to corporal and leading a machine gun team, said Army Maj. Gen. Colin Tuley, Fort Bennings top commander.

On Oct. 19, 1918, as his platoon faced heavy fighting, Bennings machine gun team was ordered to move to a strategic hill. The fighting cost the unit its commander and a string of additional casualties.

A painting of World War I Army Sgt. Fred Benning hangs inside Fort Bennings Maneuver Center of Excellence. The Army on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, marked the change of the posts name from Fort Moore to Fort Benning in Fred Bennings honor. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes)



After his platoon commander had been killed and two noncommissioned officers disabled, Cpl. Benning took command of the platoon, and by his leadership and by his courage, he conducted it through heavy fire to its assigned position on Hill 240, his Distinguished Service Cross citation reads.

As the war wound down in the months after that battle, Benning was made a sergeant and stayed in Europe as part of the U.S. occupying force in Germany. In 1919, just 19 years old, Benning was honorably discharged from the service, and he returned to his Nebraska hometown where he opened a bakery with brother, Henry, who had also served in the Great War. In 1948, Benning was elected mayor of Neligh.

Conger-Williams said Wednesday that she had learned a great deal about her grandfathers military service since it was revealed last month Fort Benning would bear his name. There were many aspects of his military service that meshed well with the man she knew, with whom she cherished fishing trips and backyard tea parties.

My grandpa was always about integrity, doing the right thing when nobodys looking, being the best person you can be, she said. I think he was always really focused on the importance of teamwork. I think he thought of his community as a team, like, this is the team Im supporting. And I feel that was part of who he was as a soldier when he was completing his mission.

Maj. Gen. Colin Tuley, the top general at Fort Benning, center, watches as the Fort Benning flag is raised Wednesday, April 16, 2025, as officials gathered to mark the change of the former Fort Moore to Fort Benning. The name now honors World War I Army Sgt. Fred Benning. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes)



Tuley said those values Benning encompassed should encourage the thousands of American soldiers who train every day on Fort Benning to aim to live up to the posts new  and old  name.

The ceremony on Wednesday came less than two years after the short-lived name Fort Moore was bestowed on the 182,000-acre Army post, which is home to the services infantry and armor training programs, basic training units, the 75th Ranger Regiment headquarters, its 3rd Battalion and the 1st Security Forces Assistance Brigade. It is the home station to some 13,500 soldiers, and more than 25,000 additional troops train on the post every week, Fort Benning official said.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on March 3 ordered the renaming of Fort Moore back to Fort Benning, honoring the World War I Benning instead of the installations original namesake, Confederate Gen. Henry Benning. A 2020 law barred Hegseth or other defense officials for naming military posts or other assets for those who served the Confederacy.

The Army officially implemented the change just hours after Hegseths order and began quickly replacing signs and other objects on the post reflecting the change in names.

The move came shortly after Hegseth ordered Fort Liberty, N.C., back to the name Fort Bragg in February in honor of another little-known Army hero, Pfc. Roland L. Bragg, whose lifesaving antics to escape custody of German forces during World War IIs Battle of the Bulge earned him a Silver Star.

Hegseth, a former Fox News anchor and Army National Guard infantry officer who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, has blasted the efforts to renamed Fort Bragg and Fort Benning and seven other Army posts as woke and damaging to the militarys intergenerational bonds between those who serve on the installations. The defense secretary has not announced further name changes for other Army posts, but defense officials have not ruled out such moves.

The name Fort Moore was chosen after a congressionally created panel studied for months the issue of ridding the U.S. military of honors for Confederate officials. It honored the late Lt. Gen. Hal Moore and his wife, Julia, a well-known and highly respected couple who had huge impacts on the Army and deep ties to Fort Benning. Both are buried in the post cemetery.

It was the only Army post named for a soldier and their spouse.

Hal Moore was a revered warrior who served in the Korean War and earned the Distinguished Service Cross in Vietnam for lifesaving heroics during the wars first major battle before rising to a three-star general. His wife, Julia, meanwhile held their family together through more than two dozen moves and served as an activist for Army families. The daughter of an Army officer, she was a lifelong volunteer for the American Red Cross, and she is also credited with revamping the Pentagons casualty notification process to ensure such news was delivered by uniformed Army officers, after she witnessed families being notified of Vietnam casualties by telegrams delivered by taxi drivers.

The installation embraced the name Fort Moore as a reminder to take care of soldiers and their family members, adopting the phrases Be Moore and Welcome Home as installation sayings.

The Moores children have said they were disappointed by Hegseths decision to remove their parents name from the post, where they once lived and some of them later served.

Renaming Fort Benning as Fort Moore created a unique opportunity to honor Army families, reinforce the warrior ethos and inspire generations of combat leaders, said Dave Moore, the couples youngest child and a retired Army colonel who served in Panama, Iraq and Afghanistan. The legacy of Hal and Julie Moore remains a powerful testament to moral character and selfless service, continuing to inspire all who lead, serve and support the United States Army.

Tully, the installations top general, said he personally broke the news to the Moores, and he promised the post would continue to honor Hal and Julia Moore. The couples portrait will remain displayed prominently in the Maneuver Center of Excellences foyer, near a new portrait of Fred Benning.

They are a part of the fabric of this installation, the general said. Whatever the name may be on an installation board, the Moores are an interwoven part of this installation. And that will never go away.

The initial name-changing efforts cost taxpayers some $60 million, including about $830,000 to change signs and other items at Fort Benning. Officials at the post on Wednesday said they estimated the new change would cost about $653,000.

Sue Conger-Williams, the granddaughter of World War I Army Sgt. Fred Benning, speaks Wednesday, April 16, 2025, in front of a portrait of Benning inside Fort Bennings Maneuver Center of Excellence. The Army on Wednesday marked the change of the posts name from Fort Moore to Fort Benning in Fred Bennings honor. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes)



For Fred Bennings family, the honor came as a surprise, said Conger-Williams, a school principal who had never visited an Army installation before this week and was unaware of the recent efforts to change the names of some of the services posts.

She said she would not concern herself with the politics involved in the name change and would focus on how the name Fort Benning would now help keep her grandfathers memory alive.

This has been the greatest honor I think a family could receive, Conger-Williams said after the ceremony. Realizing that the information [about Bennings military service] was never really shared with us growing up, so I just didnt know the impact of what my grandpa did serving in the Great War.

So, listening and learning his story, having it come to life, it has been  truly a blessing.
1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel Butte stands in front of the formation as Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers prepare to reunite with their families at the Illinois Air National Guards 182nd Airlift Wing in Peoria, Ill., after returning home from deployment April 12, 2025. (Bradford Leighton/Illinois Army National Guard)



Soldiers of the Illinois Army National Guard returned to the bases at Peoria and Rockford in Illinois after a 10-month deployment to the Middle East in support of Operation Spartan Shield.

Families and friends reunited with their soldiers during homecoming ceremonies on April 11 at the Illinois National Guard Armory in Rockford, and April 12 at Peoria Air National Guard Base.

I want to thank the families for being here today to welcome back these great warriors, said Maj. Gen. Rodney Boyd, the Adjutant General of Illinois, and Commander of the Illinois National Guard. Without your support they cant do what we ask of them.

Approximately 550 Illinois Army National Guard soldiers from 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment and Company B, 766th Brigade Engineer Battalion deployed to 17 locations across seven countries. Most of the soldiers were based in Jordan and Saudi Arabia, according to a service news release.

On Tuesday, approximately 15 soldiers from the 1886th Engineer Facilities Detachment from Springfield, Ill., were mobilized to deploy to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in support of Operation Spartan Shield. The 15-member team is expected to provide environmental reporting, short and long-range facility work plans, and Department of Public Works level facility management in support of U.S. Central Command.
Marine Corps Col. Mark Bortnem, the commander at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort at the time, speaks in October 2023 at a ceremony at the South Carolina base. (Nathan Saucier/U.S. Marine Corps)



The commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort was ousted due to loss of trust and confidence in his ability to lead the historic South Carolina base, the service confirmed Wednesday.

Col. Mark Bortnem was relieved Monday of his command, a position he has held since July 2023. Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort supports operations for the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, attached II Marine Expeditionary Force units, and Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island and the greater eastern recruiting region.

A spokesperson for Marine Corps Installations East declined to comment on whether Bortnem was fired due to a criminal investigation, professional misconduct, or poor performance, only stating there are no further details available at this time. The U.S. military routinely cites only a vague loss of confidence when removing commanders and other leaders from positions of authority.

Bortnem has been reassigned to Parris Island. The air stations headquarters and headquarters squadron executive officer, Lt. Col. Michael Eubanks, will serve as acting commander until one is formally appointed. As of Wednesday, Bortnems biography had been removed from the air station leadership webpage.

An F-18 fighter jet pilot, Bortnem enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1991 and later commissioned as an officer in 1998, according to a Marine Corps video shared to the services social media. He was recognized in 2024 by the South Carolina General Assembly for his many years of distinguished service that include more than 3,000 flight hours and 500 combat hours that span past deployments to Iraq, Kuwait and Japan.
U.S. Army Pvt. Roman Cherubini is pictured at left with his brother Pvt. Raymond Cherubini in a newspaper article. (Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency)



The remains of U.S. Army Pvt. Roman Cherubini, who was killed during World War II, will be interred April 26 at Big Crocker Cemetery in Big Pine, Calif. He will be buried with full military honors.

Cherubini, a native of Bridgeton, N.J., was assigned to F Company, 2nd Battalion, 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), also known as Merrills Marauders. He was killed in action June 16, 1944, at age 22, during conflict against heavily fortified Japanese positions north of Myitkyina, Burma.

Cherubini was accounted for by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency on Dec. 16, 2024, after his remains were exhumed in January 2022 from National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu  also known as the Punchbowl  for laboratory analysis and identification.

About 81,000 American troops from past conflicts remain unaccounted for, according to the DPAA.
Japan's Ministry of Defense plans to relocate its Osprey fleet to a new camp on Kyushu island by August 2025. (Japan Ground Self-Defense Force)



Japans fleet of V-22 Ospreys will move this summer to a permanent base on Kyushu, keeping to a schedule the Ministry of Defense announced two years ago, according to Defense Minister Gen Nakatani.

The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force will open Camp Saga on July 9 on former farmland west of Saga Airport in Saga prefecture, Nakatani said at a news conference Tuesday. The 17 tiltrotors and their tactical airlift wing are expected to complete the move by mid-August.

Since 2020, the Ospreys have been temporarily based at Camp Kisarazu, east of Tokyo in Chiba prefecture.

Currently, we are preparing to open the camp and working on the construction of facilities necessary for the relocation of the Ospreys, Nakatani said. Construction is progressing smoothly toward completion by the end of June this year.

Camp Saga will also become home to approximately 50 helicopters now stationed at Camp Metabaru, about 15 miles north of Saga city. Between 700 and 800 personnel are expected to be based at the new installation, including about 420 assigned to the Osprey wing, then-Saga policy director Takeshi Hirao said during a Feb. 26 prefectural assembly meeting.

Japan ordered its fleet of Ospreys from Bell Boeing in 2015. The Ground Self-Defense Force marked the arrival of the final aircraft with a ceremony at Camp Kisarazu in July.

Camp Saga will include offices, aircraft hangars, a parking apron, ammunition storage facilities, fuel tanks and two runway access roads, according to ministry plans.

The United States and Japan grounded their tiltrotor fleets for nearly three months after eight airmen were killed when a CV-22B with Air Force Special Operations Command crashed Nov. 29, 2023, near Yakushima, an island south of Kyushu.

The investigation determined a catastrophic mechanical failure was to blame, compounded by a lack of urgency by the crew to address an engine problem.

Stationing the Ospreys at Camp Saga will allow them to operate more closely with Japans Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade at Camp Ainoura in Sasebo, 45 miles to the west, defense ministry spokesman Kimihito Aguin said at a separate news conference Tuesday.

This is an urgent issue for our country and is of great significance in enhancing our countrys deterrence and response capabilities, he said.
Crewmembers aboard the Coast Guard cutter Oliver Henry deploy a parachute flare west of Guam, April 15, 2025, while searching for a missing boater. (Raymond Cerrato/U.S. Coast Guard)



The U.S. Coast Guard has shifted from small boats to long-range aircraft in its search for a missing Guam fisherman, as the operation entered its fifth day Wednesday.

The search for Jeffrey Hattori, 58, has covered more than 32,000 square miles and involves the Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, Guam Fire Rescue and local authorities, said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Sara Muir, spokeswoman for Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam.

The search has covered a vast and dynamic area west and northwest of Guam, extending up to 60 nautical miles offshore, including fishing grounds and coastal zones, she said in an email Wednesday.

Hattori departed Hagatna Boat Basin around 5:30 a.m. Saturday aboard the Lady G, a 14-foot skiff, for a recreational fishing trip. He was reported overdue by his wife after failing to return by 4 p.m. A search-and-rescue operation began around 9 p.m. that evening.

As the search has shifted farther offshore, the Coast Guard has recalled its smaller boats and deployed an HC-130 Hercules aircraft from Air Station Barbers Point, Hawaii, according to a Wednesday news release. The long-range aircraft is equipped with radar and sensors designed for wide-area maritime search operations.

The U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies are searching for Jeffrey Hattori, seen here posing with a catch near his 14-foot skiff Lady G, after he was reported overdue from a fishing trip on April 12, 2025. (U.S. Coast Guard)

An MH-60S Sea Hawk with Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25 investigates possible debris west of Guam on April 15, 2025, while searching for an overdue boater. (U.S. Coast Guard)



Were exercising every possibility, asking all the what ifs, and leaving no stone unturned in our search for Mr. Hattori, Lt. Chelsea Garcia, search and rescue mission coordinator, said in the release. Our dedication to this community and region drives us, but we face the stark reality of the danger in the vast and remote waters we operate in.

Other U.S. military assets participating include a Navy P-8 Poseidon surveillance aircraft from Task Force 72 in Misawa, Japan; an MH-60S Sea Hawk crew from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25 on Guam; and the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Oliver Henry, homeported on Guam.

Crews are also using self-locating datum marker buoys, which transmit data from the ocean surface to help predict currents and refine the search area, Muir said.

Favorable conditions at the start of the search have begun to deteriorate, with 15-knot east winds and seas of 5 to 7 feet reported Wednesday. Stronger winds and rougher seas are forecast in the coming days, though no advisories are currently in effect.

The Coast Guard urged anyone with information or sightings of the Lady G, which has a blue Bimini top, to contact Joint Rescue Center Guam at 671-355-4826 or 1-877-418-0168.
Although last months limited ceasefire covered only energy infrastructure, it was described by Trumps negotiating team as an important step on the path to a full ceasefire before peace talks. It has been widely criticized, however, for its vagueness and for the contradictions between Russia, Ukraine and the United States on key aspects - including the date it took effect and what was covered. (Ed Ram/The Washington Post )



Russia was poised Wednesday to announce whether it would resume full-scale attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure following a 30-day pause that Moscow insists ends imminently, days after President Donald Trumps envoy claimed there would soon be a deal to end the war.

Several top Moscow officials this week have downplayed hopes of an agreement anytime soon and reasserted Russias hard-line maximalist demands to end the war. The Russian stance has fueled doubts about the U.S. negotiating strategy and highlighting Trumps reluctance to exert serious pressure on Russia or condemn its recent attacks that killed dozens of Ukrainian civilians.

Although last months limited ceasefire covered only energy infrastructure, it was described by Trumps negotiating team as an important step on the path to a full ceasefire before peace talks. It has been widely criticized, however, for its vagueness and for the contradictions between Russia, Ukraine and the United States on key aspects  including the date it took effect and what was covered.

The Kremlin says the partial ceasefire  which it refers to as a temporary moratorium on energy infrastructure attacks  started March 18, meaning it would end by Thursday. But Ukraine says it began a week later, on March 25.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the moratorium is about to expire, and he accused Ukraine of not abiding by it. He added that Russian President Vladimir Putin would make a decision in the coming days.

The partial ceasefire did not designate any group to police violations, and both sides have accused the other of almost daily attacks. The Russian Defense Ministry has claimed constant Ukrainian attacks on Russias energy infrastructure, largely without evidence, even though Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries, fuel depots and similar facilities have halted.

Russian attacks on Ukrainian power stations and major facilities had already declined before the ceasefire, but Ukrainian officials say that Russia has repeatedly destroyed electricity distribution networks in Poltava, Kharkiv, Kherson, Kryvyi Rih, and elsewhere over the past 30 days.

As Trump has pressed for speedier Russian progress toward a deal  and expressed frustration at the lack of it  the Kremlin has continually downplayed any hopes of a swift agreement.

Asked if the Kremlin shared the Trump teams optimism that a deal could be reached soon, Peskov said Monday, This is such a complex substance that it is hardly possible to expect immediate results. He declined to speak about any time frame for a deal. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had a similar message in an interview published Monday in the Russian business daily Kommersant.

He said Russia and the United States have not agreed on any of the key elements of a peace deal.

The answer is no, he said, adding that Russias demands were not some kind of negotiating position.

That was not the message that Trump envoy Steve Witkoff brought back from Moscow. Earlier this month, he met in Washington with senior Russian official Kirill Dmitriev, the head of Russias sovereign wealth fund, who is under U.S. sanctions, then last week met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and senior aide Yuri Ushakov in St. Petersburg for nearly five hours.

He later told Fox News that the meeting was compelling and that we might be on the verge of something that would be very, very important for the world at large.

And toward the end, we actually came up with  what Putins request is to get, to have a permanent peace here. So beyond the ceasefire, we got an answer to that, Witkoff said without elaborating.

The Trump administration has so far sidelined Europe from a role in the peace talks. However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Witkoff are scheduled to fly to Paris this week for talks on Ukraine and other issues. French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have been leading efforts to create a reassurance force in Ukraine after any peace deal to deter future Russian attacks.

Russia has been strongly condemned by many Western leaders for killing dozens of Ukrainian civilians in two recent missile attacks  on Palm Sunday in Sumy, killing 34 people and wounding at least 117, and on a playground in Kryvyi Rih on April 4, killing 20 people, including nine children.

Trump said he was told that the Sumy attack was a mistake, but the Kremlin has not acknowledged any mistake, and Peskov instead said Monday that our forces strike exclusively military and paramilitary targets.

After the missile attacks, Trump shifted the blame for the war onto Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Trump once more accusing him of starting the war  although it was Russia that invaded Ukraine  and cast blame as well on President Joe Biden. Zelenskyys mistake was letting the war happen, Trump said.

You dont start a war against somebody thats 20 times your size and then hope that people give you some missiles, Trump said Monday, a day after the Palm Sunday attack.

Trump has threatened secondary sanctions on Russian oil if Putin blocks a peace deal, but he has yet to take firm action. Instead, Putin has faced down Trumps irritation at Russias delaying tactics without suffering any consequences, and he appears to have successfully maneuvered to achieve the opposite  enabling his forces to continue fighting as negotiations continue on a peace deal and on improved bilateral ties with the United States, including future economic deals.

Witkoff said there was scope for U.S. economic agreement with Russia as part of a deal. I believe theres a possibility to reshape the Russia-United States relationship through some very compelling commercial opportunities that I think give real stability to the region, too, he said.

He also said the future of the five Ukrainian territories annexed (but not totally conquered) by Russia was central, as well as denying Ukraine entry to NATO.

But analysts have criticized Witkoffs approach after he repeated a series of Kremlin talking points. Critics contend that he does not appear aware of Putins negotiating tactics or Kremlin propaganda on the political background of the conflict.

Witkoff has attended lengthy meetings with Putin alone, without a team of State Department experts who could advise on Kremlin foreign policy, its history of interference in Ukraine or its false narrative about Ukraines history, which Putin does not consider to be a real country.

Russian officials, meanwhile, have continued to push their maximalist demands. On Tuesday, Foreign Intelligence Service Director Sergei Naryshkin said that Russias goals in the Ukraine war remain unchanged.

They include recognition of Russias sovereignty over five occupied regions that it illegally annexed: Crimea in 2014, and Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in 2022  which Moscow does not fully control. Russia is demanding that Ukraine withdraw its forces and cede yet more territory to Russia, demands that are unacceptable to Ukraine.

Russia also continues to demand Ukrainian neutrality and demilitarization, meaning that Ukraines military would be drastically reduced, leaving it unable to defend itself in the future.

The terms of a peaceful settlement certainly envision Ukraines neutral and nuclear-free status and the demilitarization and denazification of the Ukrainian state, Naryshkin said. Natalia Abbakumova and Serhiy Morgunov contributed to this report.
Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Ihor Zhovkva and Presidential Advisor and Plenipotentiary for Sanctions Policy Vladyslav Vlasiuk held a briefing on sanctions against Russia for heads and other representatives of embassies in Ukraine.

The meeting was attended by diplomats from Great Britain, Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, France, Sweden, Japan and the European Union.

Zhovkva spoke about the consequences of Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities and villages, in particular the shelling of Sumy, which claimed the lives of 35 people. He thanked for supporting Ukraine and the entire Ukrainian people and maintaining pressure on Russia for the war it unleashed.

"We need help with specific things in the form of air defense systems to protect against ballistic missiles and sanctions pressure. As long as Russian aggression continues, there should be no easing of sanctions," he said.

Vlasiuk informed about the foreign components found in Russian weapons and the impact of the imposed sanctions on Russia's capabilities, in particular, the effectiveness of restrictions against the gas and metallurgical sectors, cryptocurrency transactions. He said sanctions are also in force against the shadow tanker fleet of Russia, as evidenced by reports of the detention of vessels. Work in this direction will continue.

"The seventeenth package of sanctions is necessary to put Russia in a more difficult position and to have more leverage in the negotiations. Containing the potential of the Russian military industry through sanctions should be part of the plan to strengthen European security," he said.

Vlasiuk also thanked non-governmental organizations for their assistance in this matter. They assess the impact of restrictions on the Russian budget and military production capacity, analyze components found in Russian weapons, UAVs and aircraft, investigate supply chains and access to foreign technologies for the Russian defense industry, and identify loopholes through which the Russian Federation manages to circumvent sanctions.

In addition, the briefing discussed the confiscation and use of frozen Russian assets for the benefit of Ukraine.
The Pentagon is seen in October 2021. (Robert H. Reid/Stars and Stripes)



WASHINGTON  Dan Caldwell, a senior adviser to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Darin Selnick, the Pentagons deputy chief of staff, were placed on administrative leave Tuesday for an unauthorized disclosure as part of an ongoing investigation into leaks at the Defense Department, a defense official confirmed.

However, the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, would not comment further because of the open investigation.

Caldwell was escorted from the Pentagon on Tuesday after being implicated during the investigation, according to a Reuters report. Selnick was also escorted out of the building, according to Politico.

The two men being placed on leave was a result of the investigation requested by Joe Kasper, Hegseths chief of staff. He signed a memo March 21 calling for an investigation into recent unauthorized disclosures of national security information involving sensitive communications. Kasper added the use of polygraphs in executing the investigation would be in accordance with applicable law and policy.

Last month, the top editor of The Atlantic magazine, Jeffrey Goldberg, revealed he was mistakenly included in a conversation on the Signal messaging app in which national security officials for President Donald Trump discussed plans for airstrikes against Houthis targets in Yemen.

During the Signal chat, Hegseth named Caldwell as the best point of contact from his staff for the National Security Council as the U.S. prepared for the launch of the Houthi strikes.

Caldwell, a Marine Corps veteran, deployed to Iraq with the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, according to Defense Priorities, a Washington think tank.

Prior to becoming the deputy chief of staff, Selnick performed the duties of undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness and oversaw changes in the Pentagons personnel policy. Among other things, his efforts included rolling out the ban and removal of transgender service members and the dismissal of probationary employees.

Previously, Selnick was a senior adviser at Concerned Veterans for America from 2019 to 2024, the advocacy group that was once led by Hegseth. Caldwell also worked for Concerned Veterans for America as director of policy from 2013 to 2017.

The decision to place both men on administrative leave is separate from the wave of military firings since Hegseth took over at the Pentagon in January.

Vice Adm. Shoshana Chatfield, the U.S. military representative to the NATO Military Committee, and Air Force Gen. Timothy Haugh, who led the National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber Command, were recently removed from their posts. Other top military officers who have been fired include Air Force Gen. Charles CQ Brown, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the former chief of naval operations, and the top military lawyers for the Army, Navy and Air Force.
Sgt. 1st Class Carlos Zamora and Pfc. Gerardo Casarez-Aguilar, both assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colo., on April 11, 2025, as they look at the U.S. border with Mexico in Sunland Park, N.M., where their unit is assigned to the detect illegal activity. (Rose L. Thayer/Stars and Stripes)



EL PASO, Texas  In the month that Army Sgt. 1st Class Carlos Zamora has been deployed from Fort Carson, Colo., to the border with Mexico, he has seen the number of migrants trying to cross into the U.S. without authorization dwindle.

Zamora, a noncommissioned officer for the 1st Battalion of the 41st Infantry Regiment, said Friday that he supervises soldiers operating two Stryker combat vehicles positioned in Santa Teresa, N.M.

But for the Strykers used at the border, the weapon normally mounted atop the vehicle has been removed, leaving only its camera to monitor a two-mile radius that spans the dusty desert junction of New Mexico, El Paso and the Rancho Anapra neighborhood of Juarez, Mexico. The Strykers maintain a fixed position, though the troops have permission to conduct mobile patrols, if needed.

[Strykers are] built for this kind of terrain, Zamora said.

When soldiers see people moving near the border, they notify Customs and Border Protection agents with the precise distance and direction provided by the thermal camera mounted on the eight-wheeled armored vehicle. The images produced by the Strykers camera are so crisp and clear, soldiers recently detected and reported a group of men walking with guns strapped to their backs, Zamora said.

But soldiers are seeing less activity at the border, and their calls to border agents of people moving in the area have dropped.

Still, the 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the 4th Infantry Division has another 1,000 soldiers waiting to join the 2,400 already deployed to the Joint Task Force Southern Border, the official name of the military mission.

An average of 5,100 migrants each day were crossing into the U.S. without authorization during President Joe Bidens four years in office, said Landon Hutchens, spokesman based in El Paso for Customs and Border Protection. Those numbers began to drop in June when Biden changed a policy and blocked anyone with unauthorized entry into the country from seeking asylum.

The average number of migrants crossing during President Donald Trumps second administration, which began Jan. 20, has dropped to 230 a day, Hutchens said.

With the DOD on overwatch, it frees up our agents to work arrests, Hutchens said. Stronger enforcement denies the [Mexican drug] cartels their revenue stream, and money is power.

Lt. Col. Chad Campbell, 1-41 Battalion commander, said Friday morning that soldiers have a good plan to fit into what federal agents at the border need of them and have the equipment on hand to scale up operations.

Were in a good spot. I think we have a great relationship with the Border Patrol agents to understand our responsibilities to detect, monitor and track suspected illegal activities to call those up so they can enforce the law, he said.

Spc. Evan Parker, left, and Spc. David Wang, both assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colo., seen April 10, 2025. The soldiers are installing a camera onto a Stryker combat vehicle recently shipped to Fort Bliss, Texas, for use detecting illegal activity at the U.S. border with Mexico. (Rose L. Thayer/Stars and Stripes)

A wooden shack is seen in Mexico near its border with the United States in Sunland Park, N.M., on April 11, 2025. (Rose L. Thayer/Stars and Stripes )



By Friday evening, Trump issued an order that could change that work and put soldiers in the role of enforcing the law.

The order calls for a military-owned buffer zone along the southwest border that would enable troops to detain people for trespassing onto military property  just as they would any other military base. Troops are not authorized to conduct law enforcement activities in a civilian setting under a law known as the Posse Comitatus Act but this change in property ownership would create a loophole, according to Elizabeth Goitein, senior director of the Liberty and National Security Program at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York Universitys School of Law.

The Defense Department is ready to assume administrative jurisdictional authority in specific border areas, according to a defense official who spoke on condition of anonymity. The move will improve the ability of troops to protect the border and maintain sovereignty.

As with any DOD installation, the department will prevent unauthorized access to the area through an appropriately identified controlled perimeter to deny unlawful entry, disrupt threats, and deter criminal activities, the official said Monday.

In the El Paso sector, which stretches from west Texas through the entire state of New Mexico, crossings peaked during the Biden administration at about 2,100 migrants a day looking to evade arrest instead of seek asylum, said Border Patrol Agent Orlando Marrero-Rubio, who has worked 16 years on the southern border.

Because of the unforgiving terrain, deaths also rose dramatically with agents rescuing 986 migrants in distress and recovering 176 who died during fiscal 2024, which ended in September, he said.

In a mountainous desert stretch of Santa Teresa that is sandwiched between a Catholic monument and a landfill, foot paths are etched into the landscape by thousands of migrants. The border wall here is inconsistent in size and nonexistent in some stretches because some land is privately owned.

Until recently, human smugglers would hide people in wooden shacks on the Mexico side of the border and then send groups through in waves to overwhelm the Border Patrol agents.

No suspected crossings came across the radio Friday morning as soldiers in two Strykers and several green-and-white Border Patrol trucks were surveying the land. Even the streets and homes in Mexico visible through the beams of the border wall were still for a mild, sunny spring morning.

Trump ordered the deployment of active-duty service members to the border on Jan. 20, the first day of his second term in the White House. Since then, roughly 6,600 soldiers and Marines have deployed between California and Texas  joining a mission that mostly included National Guard troops to support federal agents from Customs and Border Protection. The mission began during Trumps first term in 2018 and continued under Biden.

The open-ended military presence in El Paso is a mirror of the work happening across the southwest border, said Lt. Col. Sarah Ray, spokeswoman for the 10th Mountain Division, which is the headquarters in charge of Joint Task Force Southern Border.

Theyve realigned the existing mission to have a military command post partnered with each Border Patrol command post to better match the needs of the federal agents. Military aviators and engineers are spread throughout.

Joint Task Force Southern Border is committed to supporting our U.S. Border Patrol partners as long as directed by national leadership and consistent with mission requirements. Currently, we cannot provide a specific timeline for the units deployed, she said.

Henry Ziemer, an associate fellow in the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank, said Trumps new order for military-owned land at the border is experimenting with whether or not a more lasting U.S. military presence along the border is going to be helpful at controlling migration.

The armed forces are sort of seeing what they can and cannot do, and what works and what doesnt right now, he said. Im not a lawyer, but it seems like this will provoke some legal challenges. So well see whether or not this policy remains in place.

Pfc. Gerardo Casarez-Aguilar of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colo., looks out on April 11, 2025, at the U.S. border with Mexico in Sunland Park, N.M., where his unit is assigned to the detect illegal activity. (Rose L. Thayer/Stars and Stripes)



Another aspect of this mission is a desire from the Trump administration to set up a fight against Mexican drug cartels, Ziemer said. One of the many immigration-related orders signed by Trump on his first day in office included one to label drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.

From that perspective, I could see, even with decreased traffic across the border, still wanting to scale up your intelligence collection [and] security enforcement capabilities to combat drug trafficking, Ziemer said. That sort of criminal activity remains a persistent challenge.

Hutchens said Friday that smugglers and cartel members on the Mexican side of the border would throw rocks and threaten Border Patrol agents, but they are far less likely to do so with military forces. Ziemer agreed with that assessment.

The initial reaction seems to be that most Mexican cartels do not want to pick a fight with a soldier, he said. They dont want to get into an actual shootout with U.S. military personnel because of a concern of what comes next given the sort of rhetoric [from the Trump administration].

Speaking a week ago at the Central American Security Conference in Panama City, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth thanked other countries for doing their part to crack down on migration toward the U.S., and said transnational gangs and drug cartels are profiting off the chaos it creates.

Their existence threatens yours and our sovereignty. Together, each for our own country, we will target, and we will destroy those networks, he said.

Meanwhile, the Stryker brigade from Fort Carson is ready to increase its capacity at the border. About 50 more Styker vehicles arrived by train just about a week ago and soldiers in a motor pool at Fort Bliss in El Paso were working Thursday to prepare them for action  removing the bubble wrap protecting equipment during transit and installing the cameras atop the vehicles.

Some are already slated to move east to the Big Bend region of Texas where it is far less populated, and national and state parks stretch along the border with Mexico.

Zamora was already familiar with the area before this deployment. He first came to El Paso in 2014 as a soldier assigned to Fort Bliss. He said, in those days, he never thought about the nearby border. This mission has changed his perspective.

I didnt realize how much crossing happens, Zamora said. Now doing this, I realize how much was happening in the El Paso sector.
Books that were temporarily removed in February for a compliance review are stacked up on a table in the library at Ramstein High School in Germany. The American Civil Liberties Union is suing the Department of Defense Education Activity on behalf of 12 students, arguing that DODEA's removals of books and curriculum violate their First Amendment rights. (Jasmine Vu)



A group of military families filed suit this week seeking to reinstate books and curriculum removed from Defense Department schools, following Pentagon orders to sideline materials that promote diversity, equity and inclusion.

Twelve students from six families in Europe, Asia and the United States are challenging system-wide censorship at their schools that they say violates their First Amendment rights to receive information.

The American Civil Liberties Union filed the suit on behalf of the families Tuesday in the federal eastern district of Virginia against the Department of Defense Education Activity, DODEA Director Beth Schiavino-Narvaez and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The complaint asks the court to bring back books on topics such as slavery, Native American history, LGBTQ identities and history, and preventing sexual harassment and abuse, as well as restoration of portions of the Advanced Placement psychology curriculum, the ACLU said in a statement Tuesday.

All the plaintiffs are children of active-duty service members in pre-K to 11th grade, according to court papers. They are named by their initials and represented in proceedings by a parent or guardian.

They attend Crossroads Elementary School in Quantico, Va.; Barsanti Elementary School at Fort Campbell, Ky.; Aviano Middle High School in Aviano, Italy; and Sollars Elementary and Edgren Middle High schools in Misawa, Japan.

The litigation takes issue with three executive orders signed in late January aimed at ending radical indoctrination in K-12 schools, eliminating gender ideology extremism in the federal government and restoring Americas fighting force.

The Pentagon subsequently directed DODEA schools to review and remove material deemed to support DEI, end cultural observances and celebrations, and shutter or reorganize clubs affiliated with gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation.

Trump administration officials have characterized the moves as ways to eliminate discord and promote unity.

Hundreds of students have since staged walkouts to speak out against the changes.

Implementing the executive orders without any due process or parental or professional input, is a violation of our childrens right to access information that prevents them from learning about their own histories, bodies and identities, Natalie Tolley said in a statement provided by the ACLU on Tuesday.

Tolley is listed as a plaintiff on behalf of her three children in DODEA schools, according to the ACLU.

School officials have repeatedly said that the sidelined books and materials are still under review for compliance with the executive orders. The books in question have been removed from library shelves and made unavailable for checkout, students have reported.

DODEA, which operates 161 schools, has not released which book titles are under review.

A DODEA spokeswoman in Europe said Wednesday that the agency does not comment on active litigation to ensure the integrity of the legal process and to respect all parties involved.
The Pentagon in Arlington, Va., on April 9, 2021. (Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg)



WASHINGTON  A third Pentagon official on Wednesday has been placed on administrative leave as part of an ongoing investigation into leaks at the Defense Department, a defense official confirmed.

Colin Carroll, chief of staff to Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg, was placed on leave a day after two senior political appointees  Dan Caldwell, a senior adviser to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Darin Selnick, the Pentagons deputy chief of staff  were placed on leave for unauthorized disclosures.

Defense officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity did not provide more information about the officials placed on leave or the investigation into leaks.

Carroll previously worked at Anduril Industries, a defense technology company that makes drones, and the Defense Departments Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, according to his LinkedIn page.

Hegseth on Wednesday did not answer shouted questions from reporters about his advisers being implicated in a leak scandal as the defense secretary held at a bilateral meeting at the Pentagon with El Salvador Defense Minister Rene Francis Merino Monroy.

Caldwell was escorted from the Pentagon on Tuesday, according to a Reuters report. Selnick was escorted out of the building, according to Politico.

The three men being placed on leave was a result of the investigation requested by Joe Kasper, Hegseths chief of staff. He signed a memo March 21 calling for an investigation into recent unauthorized disclosures of national security information involving sensitive communications. Kasper added the use of polygraphs in executing the investigation would be in accordance with applicable law and policy.

Last month, the top editor of The Atlantic magazine, Jeffrey Goldberg, revealed he was mistakenly included in a conversation on the Signal messaging app in which national security officials for President Donald Trump discussed plans for airstrikes against Houthis targets in Yemen.

During the Signal chat, Hegseth named Caldwell as the best point of contact from his staff for the National Security Council as the U.S. prepared for the launch of the Houthi strikes.

Caldwell, a Marine Corps veteran, deployed to Iraq with the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, according to Defense Priorities, a Washington think tank.

Prior to becoming the deputy chief of staff, Selnick performed the duties of undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness and oversaw changes in the Pentagons personnel policy. Among other things, his efforts included rolling out the ban and removal of transgender service members and the dismissal of probationary employees.

Previously, Selnick was a senior adviser at Concerned Veterans for America from 2019 to 2024, the advocacy group that was once led by Hegseth. Caldwell also worked for Concerned Veterans for America as director of policy from 2013 to 2017.

The decision to place the three men on administrative leave is separate from the wave of military firings since Hegseth took over at the Pentagon in January.

Vice Adm. Shoshana Chatfield, the U.S. military representative to the NATO Military Committee, and Air Force Gen. Timothy Haugh, who led the National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber Command, were recently removed from their posts. Other top military officers who have been fired include Air Force Gen. Charles CQ Brown, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the former chief of naval operations, and the top military lawyers for the Army, Navy and Air Force.
The Tate brothers have built up an online following amongst young disenfranchised men around the world

Internet personality and self-described misogynist, Andrew Tate faces a 2027 trial in four women's civil lawsuits against him.

The cases are for both alleged physical and sexual abuse, and their lawyers say is the first of its kind in Britain about allegations of coercive control.

The four claimants, who have been granted anonymity, allege Tate subjected them to physical or sexual violence between 2013 and 2015. Two say they were in an intimate relationship with Tate, while two worked for Tate's online webcam business.

The women's lawyers say in court filings that one woman was threatened with a gun as Tate said youre going to do as I say or therell be hell to pay, while another alleges Tate strangled her until she was unconscious during sex.

Kinahan Cartel organised murder of dissident for Iranian regime, ex-DEA agent claims

Tate (38) denies the allegations, with his lawyers saying in his written defence that the claims are false and that all sexual activity was consensual.

The lawsuit had its first preliminary hearing at the High Court on Tuesday ahead of a trial likely to start in early 2027.

Tate's lawyer Vanessa Marshall said Tate, who did not attend Tuesday's brief hearing and was not required to do so, intended to give evidence in his defence at trial.

The claimants lawyer Anne Studd said that this will be the first occasion (coercive control) has been brought before the High Court in a civil context, to decide whether it amounts to an intentional infliction of harm under English law.

Studd described coercive control in court filings as a form of grooming and manipulation where the victim becomes less and less able to respond in what might be perceived as a normal way.

Tate and his brother Tristan are under investigation in a criminal case in Romania over allegations of forming an organised criminal group, human trafficking, trafficking of minors, sexual intercourse with a minor and money laundering, which they deny.

The pair flew to the U.S. in February after Romanian prosecutors lifted a travel ban, before flying back to Romania last month to fulfil legal obligations.
Noel Hanna (34), who was seen taking 75 litres of fuel from a bus and putting it into the back of his own car

Noel Hanna (34) had been working for Dublin Bus for four years. Photo: Paddy Cummins

A Dublin bus worker was caught siphoning diesel from a bus at a city depot when the company hired a private investigator to carry out covert surveillance targeting fuel thefts.

Noel Hanna (34), who was seen taking 75 litres of fuel from a bus and putting it into the back of his own car, was under financial pressure at the time and became tempted, a court heard.

Applying the Probation Act, Judge Treasa Kelly said it had been a very costly matter for Hanna, who had resigned from his job as a result.

Hanna, of Diswellstown Cottages, Castleknock, Dublin pleaded guilty to theft.

Dublin District Court heard Dublin Bus carried out an internal investigation at its Conyngham Road depot last year.

A private investigation company was hired to carry out covert CCTV surveillance on behalf of Dublin Bus at the pits area between July 4 and 11.

Hanna was seen siphoning diesel from a bus and placing it in the rear of his own personal car on July 6.

The fuel was worth 110, garda sergeant Niall Murphy said.

The accused, who had been working for Dublin Bus for four years, had been under a lot of financial pressure at the time of the theft, his solicitor Daniel Hanahoe said.

He had just bought a house and was going to get married and as a result of the financial pressure he became tempted.

Hanna was by no means the only person at this and there was an ongoing investigation as to how widespread it was, Mr Hanahoe said.

The accused resigned before he was fired, repaid the cost of the fuel and some extra money as well and had written a letter of apology to the bus company.

Hanna had since found other employment.

Judge Kelly said she was taking account of the fact that Hanna had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity, had made full admissions, apologised and paid compensation.

Its a bit more than taking fuel, its the relationship between you and your employer that makes it a more serious offence, the judge said.

Its been a very costly matter for you.
Reece Keogh (29) appeared before Midleton District Court this morning

A young man has been charged with the murder of a 32-year-old who was fatally stabbed in Cork.

Reece Keogh (29) appeared before Midleton District Court this morning charged with the murder of Daniel 'Dano' O'Sullivan (32) in the east Cork town of Youghal.

Keogh has an address at North Main Street, Youghal, Co Cork.

The 29-year-old appeared in court wearing a brown top and grey tracksuit bottoms and remained silent throughout the brief hearing.

Judge Miriam Walsh was given evidence of arrest, caution and charge by Det Garda John O'Donovan.

Det Gd O'Donovan said that Keogh was arrested for the purpose of charge at 3.06am at Midleton Garda Station.

At 3.25am, having been cautioned, he was formally charged.

Read more Victim of fatal stabbing was previously jailed for killing homeless man

The charge alleged that Keogh murdered Daniel O'Sullivan at Tynan's Bar, North Main Street, Youghal, Co Cork on April 14 contrary to Common Law.

In response to the charge, Det Garda O'Donovan said that Keogh replied: "Not guilty."

As the charge involved is murder, bail cannot be dealt with by the district court.

Any bail application has to be brought before the High Court.

Gardai applied for the defendant to be remanded in custody.

Judge Walsh remanded Keogh in custody to appear before Fermoy District Court on April 23 by video link.

Solicitor Joe Cuddigan applied for free legal aid for his client.

He said his client was on long term social welfare benefits.

Mr Cuddigan further asked that his client receive all necessary medical and psychiatric support while in custody.

Judge Walsh granted free legal aid.

Mr O'Sullivan died after suffering a stab wound to his abdomen.

He was found lying critically injured on North Main Street in Youghal around 10pm on Monday evening.

He was rushed to Cork University Hospital (CUH) but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival before he could undergo emergency surgery.

Mr O'Sullivan was originally from Mallow but had been living over recent times in the east Cork seaside town.

The young man had also lived in Cork city and Waterford where he had been homeless for a period.

He had suffered from a very dysfunctional lifestyle and had battled serious alcohol and drug addiction issues.

Mr O'Sullivan had been convicted of the manslaughter of a homeless Frenchman in Cork city centre in September 2015 and subsequently received an eight year prison term with three years suspended.

However, one year of the three year suspended term was subsequently activated in 2021 as Mr O'Sullivan had repeatedly failed to comply with the directions of the Probation and Welfare Service.
Amy O'Connor, 40, of Auburn Heights, Athlone, who also had links to the Irwin mob in Sligo, was given a suspended sentence this week

A woman who avoided jail this week is pictured here with her ex-boyfriend Leigh ONeill days after he escaped from a Venezuelan prison where he was serving a drug smuggling sentence.

Amy OConnor, 40, of Auburn Heights, Athlone was given a suspended sentence this week after she said a dangerous criminal, who was a friend of ONeill, held a gun to her head and forced her to store almost 67,000 worth of cannabis in her home.

At Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Keenan Johnson found that OConnor, who also had links to the Irwin mob in Sligo, was under duress and there was no evidence that she was involved in drug trafficking.

He gave her a seven-year suspended sentence on condition she did not re-offend for 10 years and addressed mental health and addiction issues. Earlier, the court heard how OConnor had once travelled to Venezuela to visit her former partner Leigh ONeill and his brother Dermot.

The Athlone men had been jailed in South America for drug offences. However, the pair broke out of prison and returned to Ireland in 2013 but have since died.

Our pictures show OConnor happily posing with ONeill after his high-profile prison escape.

The ONeill brothers returned to Athlone, Co Westmeath, in August 2013 after literally walking out of the high-security prison.

During his time in prison, Leigh continued to update his Facebook page and sent posted messages for family and friends. He wrote: Wot a f**king mistake i made. wil never forget the last year never. but in gods hands so i pray it wil all work out.

He also described how he witnessed a shooting inside the walls of the infamous San Juan prison. Its funny ya no when someone gets shot in foot rite beside me. another day in prison tel ya people at home no idea. its funny.

The previous year, the ONeill brothers had been travelling with Irishman Martin Butch Beirne in Venezuela when Beirne died in a Caracas hotel after a cocaine-filled condom burst in his stomach. Police later arrested the ONeill brothers at the offices of the Irish consulate in nearby Avenida de Mexico.

After police examined Leigh ONeill, they discovered he had foreign objects in his body. He later passed 92 balloons filled with 725 grams of cocaine worth 50,000. But an X-ray of younger brother Dermot showed he had not swallowed any drugs.

Prosecutors later ruled that Dermot was indirectly linked to the crime and the two men should receive the highest penalty.

The brothers had links to the Sligo-based Irwin drugs gang.

PARTY: Amy with Tommy Irwin

OConnor was a close pal of Tommy Irwin who was involved in the drug trade and died following a cocaine binge in 2019. He was a brother of Sligo mobster Hughie Irwin.

Our picture shows OConnor partying with Tommy Irwin a number of years ago.

OConnor travelled to Venezuela to visit ONeill in prison and celebrated with him back in Athlone after his release. They subsequently had a child together.

She told a court this week that she broke it off with ONeill about a decade ago.

Dermot ONeill died suddenly in September 2015 while Leigh ONeill died in March last year. Neither death was suspicious.

In late 2019, OConnor came into contact with a person she previously knew through Leigh.

The mother of three maintained this man made her drive to another location in Westmeath, held a knife up to her and said, You will do what your fucking told you whore, or I will drive it through your jugular.

She told the court that the man stuck a gun to my head and kept it pointed at her during the drive while threatening to kill her.

OConnor told the court they met another man to collect the cannabis, and they joked about putting me in the boot.

Visibly upset, she said the man left a knife outside her home, and she was terrified. She testified that previously, the same man had blown up a car at her house.

The prosecution challenged her account and put it to her that the drugs had been in her house for four months. After being caught with drugs OConnor said that they belonged to the man she knew through Leigh ONeill.

However, she did not give gardai the PIN to her phone, which they could not unlock and in court OConnor said she could not remember it due to a brain injury she suffered last year.
Photo: https://x.com/antoniocostapm

On the eve of Easter, European Council President Antonio Costa recalled the thousands of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.

"This Easter, as we come together with loved ones, thousands of Ukrainian children remain separated from theirs  taken from their homes by Russia. I'm joining President Zelenskyy's BringKidsBack initiative to demand their safe return," he said on the X social network on Wednesday.

"There can be no peace without justice  and no justice until all children are at home," Costa said.

As reported with reference to Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereschuk, Ukraine has returned about 800 children abducted by Russia. The total number is almost 20,000 children.

Bring Kids Back UA is a Ukrainian humanitarian program, created at the initiative of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy in 2023. It unites the efforts of the authorities of Ukraine, other states, international and non-governmental organizations for the return to their homeland of all Ukrainian children abducted by Russia during the Russian invasion of Ukraine that began in 2022.
The suspect  aged in his 30s - is currently being questioned at a garda station in north Dublin

A man has been arrested after nearly 150,000 worth of drugs was seized in north Dublin.

The drugs  around 87,500 of heroin and 61,600 of cocaine  was seized during raids of a premises in Ballymun on Tuesday.

The suspect  aged in his 30s - is currently being questioned at a garda station in north Dublin under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.

As part of the ongoing operation targeting the sale and supply of drugs in the DMR North, Gardai have seized approximately 149,100 of controlled drugs yesterday morning, a garda spokesperson said.

The search of a premises in Ballymun was conducted by Ballymun divisional Drugs Unit with assistance from the Armed Support Unit, Ballymun Detective Unit and Ballymun Community Response Team.

During the course of this search approximately 87,500 of suspected heroin and 61,600 of suspected cocaine was seized.

The spokesperson added: A man, aged in his 30s, has been arrested in connection with this search and is currently detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at a Garda Station in North Dublin.

Gardai say investigations are ongoing.
Daniel O'Sullivans sister said her family wants "justice for our big bro as gardai are poised to launch murder probe

Gardai have launched a murder investigation into the death of a young man who died after being stabbed following a street row in Cork.

Daniel 'Dano' O'Sullivan (31) died after being stabbed following a dispute in the east Cork town of Youghal on Monday evening. Mr OSullivan had previously been convicted of the manslaughter of a French national in 2015.

A post-mortem examination was carried out by the Assistant State Pathologist, Dr Margot Bolster earlier today and preliminary results have been provided to the investigation team. These details are not being released for operational reasons.

Following the post-mortem, gardai commenced a murder investigation.

Daniel Dan OSullivan

One male (20s) that was arrested last night remains detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a Garda station in Co. Cork.

A number of scenes subject to examination by the Garda Technical Bureau remain preserved at this time.

A senior investigating officer (SIO) is leading this investigation from the incident room at Midleton Garda Station. A family liaison officer (FLO) continues to provide support to the family of the deceased.

Investigating Gardai are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the incident to please come forward, a garda spokesperson said.

Daniel 'Dano' O'Sullivan

Gardai at scene of fatal stabbing in Youghal

The man detained was known to the deceased who only celebrated his 32nd birthday recently.

The incident occurred just off North Main Street in the east Cork town of Youghal around 10pm on Monday.

Mr O'Sullivan's family has spoken of their "devastation" at his tragic death.

His sister, Sam, said all her family now wants is "justice for our big bro.

"He was one-in-a million...he had the biggest heart. He was a great big bro and looked out for everyone," she said.

"Rest in peace big bro - my heart is broken. You were one of a kind Dan. (We) love you forever."

Gardai pictured at the scene of a fatal stabbing incident in Youghal, Co Cork. Photo: Michael Mac Sweeney/Provision

Mr O'Sullivan was originally from Mallow in north Cork but had lived in Cork city, Waterford and Youghal over recent years.

He had been living in an apartment in Brown's Court in Youghal over recent months.

In 2016, he was sentenced to eight years in prison for the alcohol-fuelled manslaughter of a homeless French man in Cork city centre.

Mr O'Sullivan punched Vincent Morgain (34) on Oliver Plunkett Street on September 10, 2015 after he had consumed a bottle of vodka.

The French man was punched as Mr O'Sullivan and two other men grabbed a bottle which Mr Morgain's female companion had been drinking.

He was taken to hospital where he lapsed into a coma and died five days later from a traumatic brain injury.

Daniel Dan OSullivan, 31, convicted of manslaughter in 2015, died in Cork University Hospital after he had been stabbed in the stomach outside a pub on the North Main Street of Youghal, Co. Cork

His sister, Marie Thomas, said in 2016 she hoped Mr O'Sullivan would use the suspended portion of his prison sentence to get rehabilitation "and make good of his life.

Three years of the eight-year sentence were suspended - but he was sent back to prison in 2021 after failing to comply with the directions of the Probation and Welfare Service (PWS).

Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard four years ago that O'Sullivan - who had been begging on the streets of Waterford - was struggling with heroin addiction and homelessness.

His defence counsel advised that: "He wants to get on with his life, free from the chains on him at the moment - his addiction to heroin, begging on the street and homelessness."

At 9:50pm on Monday, gardai were alerted to an assault near a commercial premises on North Main Street.

Mr OSullivan apparently staggered 20 metres down the street before collapsing after seeking help in a local pub.

Gardai and paramedics were at the scene within minutes and discovered the deceased lying in a pool of blood. He had suffered a serious stab-type injury to his abdomen.

He was rushed to CUH where doctors desperately tried to stabilise Mr O'Sullivan's condition for emergency surgery. Tragically, he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Shortly after 2am, a man in his 20s was arrested after he presented himself at Youghal Garda Station.

He is being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 and can be held for questioning for up to 24 hours. However, the period of detention can be extended for rest, food and medical breaks.

The two men are understood to have a disagreement dating back to an incident last year.

Gardai are seeking to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the incident or who may have been in that part of the town at the time.

A number of revellers were said to be deeply shocked after witnessing part of the fatal incident.

Several premises in the area have CCTV security cameras and footage will be checked to determine if any camera caught the incident
Prosper was jailed for life with the specified minimum term at Luton Crown Court in March

Prosper, who was unable to hold down a job and refused to study at school, became obsessed with viewing violent content online (Bedfordshire Police/PA)

The 49-year jail term handed to triple murderer Nicholas Prosper will be reviewed by the Court of Appeal after shadow justice minister Kieran Mullan claimed it was unduly lenient.

Prosper was jailed for life with the specified minimum term at Luton Crown Court in March, after admitting killing his mother Juliana Falcon, 48, and siblings Giselle Prosper, 13, and Kyle Prosper, 16, along with weapons charges.

The violence-obsessed 19-year-old was also plotting a mass shooting at his former primary school in Luton, Bedfordshire, purely with the aim of gaining notoriety.

Giselle Prosper, 13, Juliana Prosper, 48, and Kyle Prosper, 16, who were all murdered at the family home in September last year (Bedfordshire Police/PA)

Passing sentence, High Court judge Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb told Luton Crown Court that her duty to the public was met with the 49-year minimum term, rather than using the sentence of last resort and jailing him for the rest of his life.

Conservative shadow justice minister Dr Mullan referred the sentence to the Attorney Generals Office under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme on the day Prosper was jailed.

The scheme allows any member of the public to ask for certain crown court sentences to be reviewed, and if necessary the case will be referred to the Court of Appeal.

On Wednesday, an Attorney General Offices spokesman confirmed the Solicitor General has referred Prospers sentence to the Court of Appeal.

It will be argued that Prosper ought to have been given a whole life order, the spokesman said.

It is now for the court to decide whether to increase the sentence.

Rules were changed in 2022 to allow younger defendants aged 18 to 20 to receive whole-life orders in exceptional circumstances, but none of the orders imposed since then have been on criminals in that age bracket.

The judge said that for defendants over the age of 21, whole-life orders can be considered in cases involving two or more murders with a significant degree of premeditation or planning, or where one child is killed with similar pre-planning.

Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb said: The court may arrive at a whole-life order in the case of an 18 to 20-year-old only if it considers that the seriousness of the combination of offences is exceptionally high, even by the standard of offences which would normally result in a whole-life order.

This is described accurately as an enhanced exceptionality requirement.

Despite the gravity of your crimes, it is the explicit joint submission of counsel that a lengthy, finite term will be a sufficiently severe penalty, and this is not such an exceptionally serious case of the utmost gravity where the sentence of last resort must be imposed on an offender who was 18 at the time and is 19 today.

Mrs Justice Cheema Grubb was allowed to be filmed as she passed sentence (PA Video)

While Prosper was indisputably a very dangerous young man, the risk to the public was met with a life sentence, she said.

Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb told the court she would not impose a whole-life order because Prosper was stopped from carrying out the school shooting, having murdered his family earlier than he intended after his mother woke up.

He also pleaded guilty as soon as the charges were put to him after psychiatric reports had been completed, and he was 18 at the time of his crimes which is at the lowest end of the age bracket for whole-life terms.

Dr Mullan said at the time: What exactly does someone have to do in this country to be sent away for life? This was the most serious of crimes  including the murder of two children.

What is the point of making provision for whole-life orders if they arent used in cases like this? It makes a mockery of the justice system and is an insult to the victims.

This is the latest in a series of cases that demonstrate too often there is a gap between what the majority of law-abiding members of the public would see as justice and what the judicial system delivers.

It was particularly galling to read the judge give to describe as mitigation for the murderer the fact that they didnt succeed in a plan to kill even more people. What kind of logic is that?
Dean Duggan is one of the people featured in RTEs docuseries Hooked, which explores the personal stories behind addiction. Here, Duggan talks about how his drug use started, why it can happen to anyone and what made him agree to take part in the show

I was dead inside, says Dean Duggan (35) simply. My mind had gone, Id lost everybody and everything, but I was lucky  I went to prison.

Its a sentence that would jar with many of us, the idea that losing our civil liberties, on top of everything the Co Waterford man had already lost, could ever be construed in any way as lucky, but Duggan means it.

Incarcerated in Ireland for 15 months for a crime he had committed in England, it was only in prison that Duggan started to make the first tentative steps in breaking a drug addiction that had dominated his life for well over a decade.

I went in, and I was so, so angry at myself, but I was determined to use it in a positive way, he explains. I fought tooth and nail, honestly, I still cant put into words what I went through, only God knows, but it made me strong. It made me want to change and to stay clean, and I did change.

There is an earnest power to the way Duggan  now three years clean from substance abuse  tells his story, which makes it incredibly compelling. Hes one of several participants taking part in a gripping three-part RTE One documentary series, Hooked.

Taking a searing look at addiction, the series, presented by respected neuroscientist, author and lecturer Dr Brian Pennie  himself a former addict  the programmes follow the harrowing personal stories of those affected by various forms of addiction, including gambling, smartphone and drug addiction.

It was all fun at the start  In the thousands of stories Ive heard, its always fun at the start

Duggan  who now lives in Swords in his forever home with his partner, who is also three years clean from substance abuse, and their beautiful five-month-old baby son  can trace his own journey with addiction back to childhood.

Wed moved to Australia when I was 10, and when we came back, we moved to a different part of Waterford and I found it hard to fit in, he explains.

Dean Duggan hopes his recovery can bring hope to others. Photo: Gerry Mooney

Spencer Matthews opens up about struggles with alcohol

He struggled with his own sense of identity, sometimes taunted because his mother is a member of the Travelling community . And I was also hanging around with the wrong lads, says Duggan. They were older and up to all sorts, and I went down that road, smoking a bit of hash at nights.

It was all fun at the start, he continues. In the thousands of stories Ive heard, its always fun at the start. Its recreational and youre dipping your toe in, then life comes along and its a gateway for progression into heavier drugs to numb the pain and suffering.

Duggan progressed to ecstasy. But the drug that changed it for me would have been tablets, benzodiazepine. Thats when I realised I was an addict, and I couldnt control this anymore.

Dean Duggan has now been clean and sober for three years. Photo: Gerry Mooney

The need to understand a why behind addiction is compelling, but Duggans keen to stress that the reality is nearly always more complicated than simple cause and effect.

Its so much more complex than one why, reveals Duggan. Loads of people I know, and would be friends with, would have certain traumatic events in childhood.

"I had no traumatic events. I come from a beautiful loving mother and a hard-working, good, honest father. Ive no addiction in the home. I was a really happy, hyperactive child who was attracted to adventure and fun.

Addiction is complex and diverse, and it doesnt discriminate, he adds. The guy thats hiding it from the wife and sniffing cocaine in the van outside is in just as much pain as the man injecting heroin on the side of the street.

Feelings of guilt and shame around his addiction led to Duggan trying to take his own life aged 19.

I woke up in hospital fuming to be alive, he says, but he went to live with an aunt in the UK, got work on a building site and, for a while, things were better.

The European arrest warrant came and I went to prison, and I can honestly say that was the day that saved my life

The he started smoking a bit of weed at night, having a pint, taking a bit of cocaine Then my best friend back home took his own life. Hed gone on heroin and couldnt live with the guilt and shame, reveals Duggan.

That was a major turning point. I hit the tablets hard, my addiction spiralled, and I committed a serious offence. The European arrest warrant came and I went to prison, and I can honestly say that was the day that saved my life because I was going to die otherwise.

Recovery is rarely a straight line. In prison, Duggan made huge positive changes to his life  he started training, his weight dropping from 18 stone to 12.5 stone, he disassociated completely from criminality and, controversially, he came off the medication he had been prescribed when diagnosed with bipolar disorder and paranoid schizophrenia several years earlier.

Mental health has been a massive part of my story, explains Duggan. I was in psychiatric units for years and misdiagnosed when really, I was a drug addict. Im not blaming anybody or anything like that, I think they didnt know what to do with me, but I was having psychosis because of the drugs.

When he was referred to Coolmine Therapeutic Community by Merchants Quay Drug Service on leaving prison, Duggan was in the best physical and mental shape hed been in for years. Then I relapsed, he says.

Addiction will always be there for me, its a journey

After just five weeks on the programme, Duggan left with five others who had also relapsed. The day they left, one of the men nearly died. Within two weeks another of the group, a young man from Donegal who had only recently become a father, was dead from an overdose.

When that happened, I knew I had to stop, says Duggan. I went back to Coolmine and gave it my all this time, I wasnt messing about. I completed the whole programme and I havent used since. Its a process. Addiction will always be there for me, its a journey says Duggan.

Today, he continues to follow a 12 step programme, attends regular meetings, stays in contact with his sponsor, engages in fellowships  supporting and sharing his story with others in recovery  and starts every morning with prayer and meditation.

We keep life very simple, says Duggan. Im very present with my partner, we talk about everything and its such a healthy relationship without any toxicity, because we dont allow it in.

"Weve both had it before in our lives and we know theres a better life on offer, so we try not to complicate things because I know when I complicate things, life can get a little bit unmanageable.

Dean Duggan features in RTE documentary 'Hooked'. Photo: Gerry Mooney

When he was approached to take part in the RTE programme, it was an easy yes, hugely supported by his family, with whom he has managed to reconcile.

The same week he was asked to take part, a friend died by suicide because of drug addiction. A few months prior, a family member took their own life.

That was all happening around the time they asked me, and I thought, You know what, Im going to do it. Im going to tell my story, and please God it helps somebody because this is happening all the time.

The message he wants people to take from his story is one of hope. Life is a beautiful thing and I want to live today, says Duggan. That in itself is a miracle. Recovery is possible, you just have to reach out for help and dont give up.

If I can get it, my partner can get it, and we can have the life we have today because of wanting this, then this is possible for anybody.

Watch Hooked on RTE One, Wednesdays, and on the RTE player

This article was amended at 8.25am, April 15 to align with our mental health and suicide reporting guidelines.

Helplines: If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, click here for more information
Brian Tierney resigned the party whip and the SDLP suspended his membership three months ago pending an internal investigation

The SDLP has reinstated a councillor who provided a court reference for an Irish soldier later jailed for rape.

Brian Tierney resigned the party whip and the SDLP suspended his membership three months ago pending an internal investigation.

In a statement, the SDLP said it had concluded its investigation into Mr Tierney  a former mayor of Derry and Strabane - and was reinstating his membership of the party and restoring the whip.

A spokesman said: The SDLP believes in the legitimacy of remorse and restitution. Thats why we have taken the decision to reinstate Brian Tierneys SDLP membership alongside a number of substantial process changes within the party.

Mr Tierney had provided a reference for Kielan Mooney of Bloomfield Park in the city who was later jailed for eight years for raping a female member of the Irish Defence Forces.

The councillor apologised for the reference in January, describing it as a grave error of judgment. He claimed he was not aware of the details of the charges when he wrote the reference, and he withdrew it when he realised.

In a statement issued through their solicitor, the Mooney family said Mr Tierney had been misled into giving this character reference.

There was later a complaint about Mr Tierneys social media activity relating to another case.

It is understood that, as part of the investigation into Mr Tierney, SDLP leader Claire Hanna and the partys disciplinary committee spoke directly to several people involved in both situations.

In its statement, the SDLP said: The party has implemented a series of directives in relation to character references, appropriate social media usage plus mandatory training for elected representatives on access to justice for victims and survivors of domestic abuse.

We acknowledge the deep hurt caused by the issuing of a character reference for Kielan Mooney.

We further acknowledge that Councillor Tierney was misled about the nature of the offence, that his apology and his engagement with affected parties were fulsome, and that they have been accepted by the victim at the centre of the case against Mooney.

On the complaint regarding the second case relating to its councillor, the SDLP said: In a separate instance covered by the investigation, Councillor Tierney liked a prominent Facebook post in 2018 from the family of a local man who had recently taken his own life.

We accept that, while not intending to cause hurt, this added to the distress felt by a victim close to the situation.

We want to put on record our appreciation to those who engaged with the party as part of this investigation and for the guidance from organisations expert in supporting women within the justice system on this matter.

The woman in the second case had previously revealed to the Belfast Telegraph that the deceased man was charged with multiple counts of rape in Northern Ireland and one in the Republic. She said he had attacked her many times. The accused died days before he was due to stand trial.

Regarding the Mooney case, the SDLP said that it would continue to actively campaign for the removal of character references in our courts particularly in cases of violent and sexual crimes.

Harm, even if unintended, needs to be addressed in a way that supports pathways to justice for victims. As a political party we accept the need to challenge and educate on attitudes that can contribute to an environment that is stacked against victims and survivors, the party added.

It said that it had introduced mandatory training for its elected representatives on the barriers women face in the justice system as well as understanding how they as individuals can support victims of domestic abuse and challenge the environments that enable it.

It said directives had been issued to its councillors and MLAs reiterating that the party does not support the provision of character references and offering guidance on appropriate social media usage.

Mr Tierney had sat on council for the past three months as an independent. In a statement in January relating to the Mooney case, he said: "Although the situation was misrepresented to me, I deeply regret the harm caused to the victim and everyone else affected in my giving of a character reference.

"The SDLP has played a huge role in my life from a very young age and the vision and values of the party remain core to me.

Alliance deputy leader, Eoin Tennyson, said at the time that it was difficult to how Mr Tierney can remain an elected representative.
Firefighters from Carlingford and Dundalk managed to bring the blaze under control

Three families had to be evacuated due to a gorse fire at Ardaghy, Omeath, Co Louth, on Tuesday night. Photo: Aaron McGuinness/Facebook

A number of families had to be evacuated when gorse fires came perilously close to their homes in Omeath, Co Louth, on Tuesday night.

Firefighters from Carlingford and Dundalk managed to bring the blaze under control and prevent it from destroying any property.

The flames came within 10 metres of one home and within 50m to 100m of the other two houses in the townland of Ardaghy on the mountain above Omeath village.

Three families were evacuated from their homes due to a gorse fire at Ardaghy, Omeath, Co Louth on Tuesday night

The alarm was raised at 8.20pm and Louth County Council firefighters battled the blaze, which started above the old Park Hotel and could be seen clearly from the other side of Carlingford Lough.

Appliances from Dundalk and Carlingford were deployed, along with a water tanker from Dundalk and the crews used compressed air foam and beaters to extinguish the blaze, which was fanned by strong winds.

Heavy smoke made conditions very difficult for the firefighters who spent five hours bringing the fire under control.

Gardai evacuated families living in three houses and closed roads so that the emergency services had access to the area.

The fire is the latest in a number of fires across the country during the recent dry spell, with the suspicion that many of them were started deliberately.

Firefighters spent five hours tackling a blaze at Omeath, Co Louth, that threatened a number of homes

Fire crews from Carlingford and Dundalk fought the blaze above Omeath in difficult conditions

There has been widespread condemnation of those believed to be responsible for the fire.

Whoever started the fire in Ardaghy, Omeath, tonight, shame on you. I hope you realise you almost put a young family out of their home tonight. Shame on you! one woman whose family was evacuated because of the blaze posted on Facebook.

Local Sinn Fein Cllr Fiona MacConchoille said that the person responsible for igniting the fire should be filled with nothing but remorse.

Firefighters managed to prevent the fire from spreading to three houses

According to the Department of Agriculture, gorse fires are banned from March 1st until September 1st to protect wildlife. However, at this point, the focus should also be on protecting families and their homes, she said. This regulation needs to be enforced, and those responsible for starting these fires should be held accountable, as they can spread quickly and cause significant devastation. Last night's fire in Omeath could have turned out much worse for the families living nearby.

The Cooley Peninsula Community Alert said it was shocking that families nearly lost homes to this fire. Well done to the fire brigade and all emergency services.
The last known sighting of Mr Brennan was on CCTV in the Spar shop on Moyle Road in Ballycastle

The family and friends of a missing 38-year-old man have issued an urgent appeal for help in locating him.

George Brennan, from Co Mayo, was last seen on Wednesday April 2 in Ballycastle, Co Antrim and has not been heard from since.

The last known sighting of Mr Brennan was on CCTV in the Spar shop on Moyle Road in Ballycastle.

He was seen wearing a black zip-up top, dark jeans, runners and was carrying a blue hiking backpack.

Mr Brennan is 6'2, 100kg, with brown hair and blue eyes.

It is believed that he may have travelled onwards from Ballycastle, by foot, hitchhiking or public transport.

He is an avid sea swimmer and hiker and there is concern he could have run into trouble doing these activities.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) are assisting An Garda Siochana and have issued an appeal for anyone with information to contact the police.

His family and friends said they are deeply concerned for his wellbeing and added that his disappearance is completely out of character.

Speaking on behalf of the family, a spokesperson said: "We are heartbroken and desperate for any news. George is deeply loved, and we just want to know that he is safe.

"We urge anyone who may have seen him, spoken with him, or has any information - no matter how small - to come forward."

The family is asking members of the public across the island of Ireland to share George's photo and appeal widely on social media to help raise awareness.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the PSNI by calling 101, quoting reference number 831 of 28/03/2025.

For those outside Northern Ireland, information can also be shared with Gardai or Crimestoppers (1800 25 00 25).
The 76-year-old had reportedly been swimming off the seaside town of St Julian's, near the Cavalieri Hotel

St Julian's is a popular holiday spot on the coast of Malta

An Irish man has drowned after getting into difficulty while swimming at a popular holiday spot in Malta.

The 76-year-old had reportedly been swimming off the seaside town of St Julian's, near the Cavalieri Hotel, in St Julians Bay, when he got into difficulty.

Police were notified of the incident at around 12.40pm yesterday afternoon and requested the assistance of members of the Civil Protection and the Armed Forces of Malta.

The man was brought to shore and received medical assistance but was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

In a statement, Maltese police confirmed that they are continuing to investigate the incident and an inquiry has been launched.

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade told the Sunday World it is aware of the case and is providing consular assistance.

The spokesperson said that it does not comment on the details of individual cases.
Investigators have no leads into disappearance of Kerry farmer Michael Gaine, Garda Commissioner says

Detectives have no leads in the disappearance of farmer Michael Gaine, who went missing from Kerry nearly a month ago.

He was last seen alive on the morning of March 20. There has been no trace of the 56-year-old since then, despite extensive searches involving gardai and the Army.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris received a two-hour briefing yesterday about the investigation at Kenmare garda station. It remains a missing-person case.

Mr Harris said a huge amount of investigative work was being carried out, with more than 230 lines of inquiry followed up on.

There still remains a missing persons inquiry, he said. We are still trying to work out what happened to Michael Gaine and how between March 20 and March 21, in effect, he goes missing. As yet we can find no trace of him.

Michael Gaine was last seen buying phone credit in a nearby shop

Asked whether this meant there are no leads in the case, the garda chief said: No leads at this time. Weve certainly been given a lot of assistance and information from the public, but we have yet to find him.

Mr Harris said officers were continuing to follow all lines of inquiry through to their conclusion, until they were absolutely certain they had exhausted all avenues.

He added that officers were also carrying out all the other inquiries one would make in terms of proof of life and trying to actually work out what happened between the 20th and 21st of March.

Obviously, we are, at the moment, very proximate to March 20, so we want to get as much information as possible and then that will be subject to analysis, he said. Were very much still in the position of drawing in information.

The Army has helped search for missing farmer Michael (Mike) Gaine. Photo: Domnick Walsh

Mr Harris also said officers did not yet have any rationale to request the assistance of foreign police forces as part of the investigation into Mr Gaines disappearance.

He was speaking at the annual delegate conference of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors in Killarney.

Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan had a briefing yesterday from gardai with regard to Mr Gaine. He said no indication had been made to him that a murder was suspected.

Gardai are continuing to appeal to the public for help in tracing Mr Gaine. He was reported missing from his home near Kenmare on Friday, March 21.

As part of their appeal, detectives are particularly keen to receive assistance from anyone who travelled on the N71 on Thursday, March 20, after 9.48am and who may have any images camera footage, including dashcam.

Additionally, they have requested footage or images from anyone who travelled in the vicinity of Kenmare town/Molls Gap on March 20 or March 21.

Gardai have been helped by the Civil Defence, Irish Coast Guard units, Irish Coast Guard Rescue Helicopter 115, Kerry Mountain Rescue, Search and Rescue dog team, Kerry Fire Service and 200 volunteers.

Since the investigation began, gardai have taken nearly 100 witness statements and recovered about 1,500 hours of CCTV and dashcam footage.

There is no denying the fact that this is the largest search conducted in Kerry in recent times and this is highlighted by the volume of support we have received, Superintendent David Callaghan said at a briefing last week.
Mens mental health is in the spotlight as Tauranga Boys College screens a documentary to shed light on one of the commonly faced issues by students at boys-only colleges.

On Saturday, April 19, Tauranga Boys College is hosting a special screening of the Fortress 40 Documentary.

It captured the journey of senior prefects as they endured 40 hours of intense physical activities - running, gym sessions, carrying logs and more - to raise awareness of mens mental health.

The 25-minute film highlights the emotional and physical highs and lows of the event and explores how the boys found strength together to complete the challenge, said Tauranga Boys College teacher Gemma Cook.

Its a powerful story of resilience, leadership, and unity, and wed love to share it with the wider community.

The doors will open at the Graham Young Youth Theatre at 5pm, with the documentary screening at 6pm.

Beforehand, attendees can enjoy a sausage sizzle for a gold coin donation, and there will be drinks and snacks available for purchase.



Tauranga Boys' College Fortress 40 is a challenge that involves physical and mental endurance for 40 hours.

Tickets are $12 and can be purchased from the school website.

All funds raised will go towards the 2025 Fortress 40 challenge, to be held in September.

In true Fortress 40 fashion, attendees will also have the opportunity to take part in some light-hearted F40-style challenges before the screening, said Cook.

People are encouraged to bring a change of clothes and a towel if theyd like to get involved.

Following the film, there will be an exclusive Q&A with members of the Fortress 40 teams from 2023, 2024, and 2025.

The 2023 and 2024 members are travelling back from their universities in Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin and Sydney to attend.



Following the film, there will be an exclusive Q&A with members of the Fortress 40 teams from 2023, 2024, and 2025.

The 2025 members will be sharing why they wanted to get involved this year.

They will be sharing their motivations, the highs, the lows, and the impact it has had on them personally and as a team.

This event is not only a fundraiser for the 2025 Fortress 40 challenge  40 hours from 12am on September 12 to 4pm on September 13  but also a powerful opportunity to raise awareness around mens mental health and highlight the work being done by our prefects to promote it, said Cook.

The documentary was directed and produced by Sena Pictures, who will be there on the night, along with representatives from Movember NZ.

Founder of Fortress 40

In 2023, when Kane McBrydie was the head boy of Tauranga Boys College, he attended a conference with other head boys of boys-only schools down in Christchurch.

The people running the conference presented a whole lot of issues that are commonly faced by students at boys-only colleges in New Zealand.

One of the ones that really resonated with me was about mental health and they showed some pretty daunting statistics.

On the flight home, McBrydie pondered on the issue and decided he wanted to do something about it  Fortress 40 was born.

McBrydies brainchild quickly grew legs in a conversation with deputy head boy Jake Corney where they decided to create a challenge so intense that people would have to listen to their message.

The 40-hour challenge seems pretty impossible  its a metaphor for mental health struggles.

If youre facing them alone, they can seem impossible and extremely difficult to overcome. However, when you face it with a group, when you have help from your mates  it becomes doable.

Finally, the day came, the beginning of the very first Fortress 40 in 2023.

It was obviously extremely difficult, definitely the hardest thing that I or any of the boys I dealt with have done.



Tauranga Boys' College 2023 Fortress 40 participants 30 minutes after completing the 40 hours. They were the first to do the challenge, including co-founders Jake Corney, third from the left, Kane McBrydie, fourth from the left.

It all became worth it in the 35th hour when the boys were struggling to continue.

It was our final gym I think, and we had no music because the gym speakers werent working. Everyone was in the trenches.

Then, the team received a message from someone in the UK letting them know that they had been struggling with their mental health for the past 15 years, and the team had inspired them to go and ask for help.

It was so touching. Our goal for the event was to inspire one person to go and talk to someone. We ended up inspiring so many more people.

That was so awesome to see that it actually did have an effect.
A large-scale international technical assistance project has officially launched in Ukraine, the Belgian Initiative to Support the Recovery of Ukraine (BE-Relieve Ukraine), which is being implemented by the Belgian government through the development agency Enabel, the press service of the Ministry of Community and Territorial Development said.

"BE-Relieve Ukraine is not just technical assistance. This project is aimed at a partnership between Ukraine and Belgium in the reconstruction of our country. The main principle of our cooperation is 'To rebuild better than it was.' BE-Relieve Ukraine will last until the end of 2028. During this time, Ukraine will receive EUR 150 million from the Belgian Government, which will be directed to the restoration and support of critical infrastructure, preparation for winter, and the creation of an inclusive environment," Deputy Minister of Community and Territorial Development Kostiantyn Kovalchuk said.

The main areas of the project are the modernization of energy infrastructure, reconstruction of medical institutions, renovation of school and vocational training infrastructure, as well as facilitating the implementation of reforms and strengthening ties with Belgian partners.

Among the priority activities are the transfer of 212 generators for educational institutions, mobile boiler houses for hospitals and municipal enterprises, as well as the repair of medical infrastructure facilities.
Apprentices were given eight hours to construct a planter box, which will be donated to their local community.

Both will now compete at the national final in Hamilton on June 6 and 7.

Twenty-three-year-old Taylor Forrest claimed top spot at the Rotorua heat at Mitre 10 Mega while Scott Davies, 20, won the Tauranga event at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology.

Two young builders from Rotorua and Tauranga are heading to Hamilton for the national final after taking out their regional heats of the New Zealand Certified Builders Apprentice Challenge on Saturday.

Forrest said the unique design of the planter box, which used traditional joinery elements, made it a good test of carpentry skills.

The castle joints were challenging, but ultimately it was a really good test of everyones ability.

Plenty of friends and family, and co-workers came to support, and there was a lot of good knowledge shared throughout the day.

It was a really good event, so a big thanks to the sponsors and everyone who helped out.

The finished planter boxes were assessed for workmanship, measuring, cutting, assembly and attention to detail.

Judges also evaluated each apprentices ability to follow a detailed plan and apply safe working techniques.

Davies said it was a really good competition and a great chance to catch up with other builders in the area.

I went in feeling confident, I went over the plans as soon as I could, [one week in advance], and ensured I was ready for the day.

I want to give a special thanks to my dad for spending hours helping me prepare jigs, giving me ideas, and coming to support me on the day with my family.

I am looking forward to nationals. It will be a further opportunity to learn and network, he said.

Rotorua NZCB Apprentice Challenge runner-up Steffano Hutton, centre, with NZCB Rotorua President Erin Pope, right.

Davies also won the Bay of Plenty and Central Plateau 2024 Registered Master Builders Apprentice of the Year award.

Apprenticed to Glencoe Construction and Gudsell Builders respectively, Forrest and Davies earned a $1000 Makita and Mitre10 Trade prize pack for their wins.

Steffano Hutton made second place in the Rotorua heat and 31-year-old Lyston Collier was third, while 25-year-old Lucy Brailsford-Hunt took second place and 23-year-old Rhys McKinnon was third in Tauranga.

New Zealand Certified Builders chief executive Malcolm Fleming said the apprentice challenge was designed to test whether apprentices were ready for the demands of the trade.

For 15 years, the NZCB Apprentice Challenge has given up-and-coming apprentices the opportunity to prove their skills in a real-world, high-pressure environment.

This year the finalists have all shown the professional carpentry standards that NZCB members are known for.

Tauranga heat runner-up Lucy Brailsford-Hunt.

BCITO director Greg Durkin said he was proud to see that over 75% of the contestants this year were BCITO apprentices.

Its wonderful to see so many BCITO apprentices competing in this years challenge.

Were incredibly proud to see such skilled apprentices stepping up to demonstrate their talents.

Mitre 10 Trade supplied the building materials for the regional heat.

Forrest and Davies will be flown to Hamilton in June to compete against 18 other regional winners for the Ken Read Memorial Trophy and a $10,000 prize pack.
Ballance Agri-Nutrients is proposing to stop its manufacturing operations in Mount Maunganui and turn the site into a storage and distribution centre.

In a statement today, the company said it was consulting with staff on ceasing the manufacturing of sulphuric acid and single super phosphate at its Hewletts Rd site.

This would impact some specific roles associated with acid and phosphate manufacture. Sixty-eight roles would be disestablished and six new roles created, resulting in a net reduction of 62 roles, the statement said.

The nationwide farmer and grower co-operative intended to use the facility, which had direct access to the Port of Tauranga, for nutrient storage and distribution, and for its national support office.

Under the proposal, the co-operative would continue manufacturing phosphate in Invercargill and urea in Taranaki.

Ballance chief executive Kelvin Wickham said the proposal was part of a wider process the organisation had undertaken in the past year to get ahead of sector changes and identify future opportunities to support New Zealand farmers and growers.

In the coming years, we expect to see an increased range of products and services that more efficiently and effectively deliver essential nutrients for farmers and growers, which will result in reduced overall demand for single super phosphate from historical peak volumes, he said.

The number of existing facilities currently making this product in New Zealand means there is an overcapacity of supply.

Wickham said the Mount Maunganui facilities needed substantial investment to keep them operating reliably and would face increasing regulatory constraints to continue operating heavy manufacturing.

Consultation with Ballance people was the immediate priority, Wickham said, and was anticipated to take four to six weeks.

At the end of the consultation period, well take time to consider all feedback before we make a final decision and let everyone know where things have landed and what our next steps are, he said.

The change would enable more agility in nutrient sourcing, and new ways to provide value to shareholders, exploring more blended fertilisers and other products being utilised from the Mount Maunganui site, Wickham said.

Manufacturing remains an important part of how we supply New Zealands farmers and growers with reliable, secure and affordable access to nutrients.

Keeping a presence in Mount Maunganui as a strategic location for nutrient supply through the Port of Tauranga and our home base for our national support office is also a priority, he said.
Prominent alcohol retailers have voiced opposition to a proposed freeze on new off-licences opening in Rotorua.

A medical officer of health has backed the freeze, saying alcohol-related harm in the city has worsened since the Covid pandemic to rates above the national average.

Rotorua Lakes Councils draft local alcohol policy proposed the freeze would last three years and apply to applications for off-licences - bottle stores, supermarkets, and grocery stores.

After that, new applications would be presumed to be refused, but this could be rebutted.

Councillors heard public submissions on the draft policy last week.

Other changes proposed included requiring any new off-licences within 200m of a wider range of sensitive facilities to conduct pre-application engagement.

Sensitive facilities include places of worship, residential activity, youth centres, rehabilitation treatment centres, community hubs, educational places, hospitals, marae or urupa.

Reducing operating hours was also proposed. Off-licences would be able to open from 7am to 9pm, while inner-city on-licence venues  bars, restaurants and other hospitality outlets  could open from 8am to 2am.

The policy aimed to reduce alcohol harm in the community and was developed with consideration of data about economic benefits and harm linked to alcohol sales.

Bottle store franchiser Super Liquor Holdings Limited national operations manager Greg Hoar said the business did not agree to the blanket no new off-licences approach, for reasons including the expected growth in the city.

We dont know what the future holds.

Every application should be judged on its own merit, he said.

He argued conditions imposed on off-licences should not single out bottle stores.

For instance, if supermarkets were allowed to operate longer than bottle stores, consumers would change their behaviour to the detriment of good business owners.

Foodstuffs North Island Limited lawyer Iain Thain said the proposed freeze could have unintended adverse consequences.

He said it could disincentivise investment in new stores in the area.

Supermarkets needed to have an off-licence to provide the full range customers want.

Foodstuffs, which owns the New World, PaknSave, Four Square, Gilmours and Liquorland brands, also wanted the district licensing committee to deal with applications on their own merits, without a blanket prohibition on new stores.

The policy would continue to not grant new off-licences outside the inner city and within 200m of an education facility or marae, unless the council or licensing committee approved it.

Foodstuffs wanted this distance lowered to 50m for grocery stores and supermarkets.

Woolworths New Zealand also opposed a freeze because the supermarket owner did not believe the council had evidence it would reduce alcohol-related harm.

Among other points in its submission was that sensitive facilities were already considered under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act when the amenity and good order of a locality was assessed.

Woolworths believed pre-application engagement went beyond what a local alcohol policy (LAP) could require.

Health New Zealand medical officer for health Dr Lynne Lane highlighted parts of its submission.

My message is simple. We are really concerned that the current LAP is not delivering on the objectives of the act to minimise harm.

She said the draft may not either unless strengthened.

Her submission included Rotoruas make-up of youth, Maori, and growing areas of deprivation  populations at more risk of alcohol-related harm.

Pre-Covid, Rotorua had rates of alcohol-related harm below the national average, but now it was above.

Things are going seriously wrong.

Health harms included fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

Lane also highlighted the record community opposition to a recent off-licence application.

She supported the freeze and recommended doubling the 200m exclusion distance for new off-licences near marae and education facilities.

Theres really good evidence this would make a big difference in terms of the socialisation of harmful drinking amongst children.

Alcohol Healthwatch executive director Andrew Galloway submitted the council should adopt the precautionary approach to minimise alcohol harm and reflect the communitys preferences.

He said the proposed freeze was good and recommended the council further it by making it permanent or a sinking-lid approach in areas of high deprivation.

Galloway said the organisation would like to see the sensitive-sites conditions applied to other licence types.

Other submitters included Karen Hunt, who said the proposed freeze indicated the council was aware of the impacts of alcohol-related harm and that the city was well-served with off-licenced premises.

Councillors will make a final decision on April 30.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
A doctor at the centre of an investigation involving workplace sex allegations denies any intimate activity took place there and says the prosecution has taken a toll on his mental health.

What [Ms G] and I did in terms of meeting and engaging in intimate and sexual activity was consensual and furthermore legal.

Nothing unlawful or illegal took place at any time.

The doctor and the woman, known as Ms G, are said to have met on a sexual website before meeting up in person at a bar and agreeing to pursue a sexual, yet secret, relationship as she didnt want her husband to find out.

That relationship related to a sexual fetish and involved the doctor acting as the dom, or dominant partner, and the woman the sub, or submissive partner.

The doctor is before the Health Practitioner Disciplinary Tribunal this week.

Heavy suppressions have been imposed on the case, including anything that identifies the doctor, the woman, or where the offending happened.

Ms G claims the pair had sex on a leather couch in his work office on one occasion, and oral sex on another.

She testified that the doctor had harassed her so much after ending their relationship that she had to block him and became scared of what he would do with the videos and photos in his possession.

I very much fell in love with her

But the doctor gave evidence yesterday saying while his relationship with the woman was brief, it was intense.

I very much fell in love with [Ms G].

It is apparent to me now that although she professed that it was mutual, these feelings were not reciprocated by her.

It has become clear to me that she was using me for her own ends.

I was deeply hurt at how she treated me.

He also denied showing intimate videos of her to anyone but accepted it was an error of judgement on my part to have seen [Ms G] at my work premises at all.

In particular, this includes the intimacy that we had at the premises, albeit not in the clinical rooms as such.

He also took a swab from the woman; she claims he pressured her into the procedure, while he stated today that she asked him to do it.

I also very much regret and recognise it was unprofessional for me to have undertaken the swab.

However, I did so in complete good faith, and in the company of the chaperone.

The proceedings had been exceptionally stressful.

I have suffered immensely as a consequence of this matter.

It has significantly affected my mental health.

Keen to get back to work

However, the doctor said he was very keen to get back to medical practice.

I had enjoyed a reputation as an excellent [doctor] and I know I can return to practice and offer much to the community .

Dr Jonathon Coates, of The Professional Conduct Committee, said the doctor had blurred the boundaries between his personal and professional life, and that was also something he accepted.

After meeting the woman in 2018, he sent the woman a contract to sign, which she ended up doing three months later, at his work.

He emphasised he did that for the convenience of being able to print it.

I wish now that I had signed elsewhere.

He also videoed the woman submitting to him, where she sat on her knees with her palms up.

Likewise, I regret having the consent video signed at the office of my medical practice. That was unwise, and again I wish now with hindsight, I had done this elsewhere.

Ms G claimed the pair had sex on a leather couch on one occasion, and another time, after signing the contract, there was oral sex.

The doctor agreed there was oral sex but denied any full sexual intercourse at his work.

I do agree it was wrong to engage in intimacy with [Ms G] at the medical practice where I worked.

I very much regret that this happened.

However, he denied requesting or accessing the womans lab results or threatening to post video footage of Ms G online.

He did accept that he threatened to tell the womans husband that she was on sexual websites.

He also denied showing any images of the woman to other people.

I on no occasion did this, he said.

I did show part of a video to Ms B, but there was no intimacy or sexual image shown to her at all.

The doctor met Ms B, who also gave evidence on Tuesday, at an event in Hamilton.

He invited her and her friends, back to his house.

She told the tribunal the doctor twice tried to show her a video of the woman, as proof that they were in a sexual relationship together.

She could tell she was about to be shown a video, and noticed Ms Gs face, but turned away before it started playing.

Ms B said she found the doctors behaviour to be seedy and inappropriate. They left about 40 minutes later.

The hearing continues on Wednesday with cross-examination of the doctor by Dr Coates.
The failure of a cots structural integrity has been identified as the sole cause of a young babys tragic death after he became trapped between the mattress and a dislodged sliding side.

A coroners decision released today has found the accidental death of the 7-month-old baby  who cannot be identified  was caused by circumstances the parents were unlikely to have been aware of.

The baby had been growing well and lived in a healthy home environment with his own cot in his own room.

After a family dinner out, he was placed into his cot for the night at around 8pm, wrapped in his usual muslin cloth.

The decision said there was nothing unusual about the evening and it was normal for the baby to sleep through the night.

However, when his mother checked on him at around 7.20am, he was found stuck upright between the mattress and the bottom cache of the sliding rail had come out of its track. The top cache and sliding rail was still attached.

Unresponsive, an ambulance was called. The ambulance staff believed the mattress protector had tightened around the babys neck.

The baby was rushed to hospital but tragically passed away later that day.

He was found to have died from hypoxic brain injury and asphyxia due to a misplaced sliding side of the cot.

Coroner Seung Youn acknowledged the immense grief of the parents and said the circumstances of his death fell well outside any general advice of safe sleeping practices.

I am satisfied [suppressed] death was a tragic accident.

The evidence before me supports the conclusion that (the babys) mother was aware of and followed general safe-sleeping practices.

It was the misplaced sliding side of (his) cot that created a gap and caused (him) to be trapped. I recognise that (his) mother was unlikely to have been aware of the misplaced sliding side that caused a gap between the side of the cot and mattress, Coroner Youn said.

The coroner said although the Ministry of Health has published guidelines around safe sleeping, messaging around the structural integrity of cots should be included.

In order to emphasise that a small gap between the side of the bed and mattress caused by misplaced sliding sides can increase risk of fatality, the message of safe sleeping practices should always include the message that the structural integrity of cots should be regularly checked to ensure no gaps can be created between the bed sides and mattress, the coroner said.

The Ministry of Health acknowledged this was not included in their messaging but has recommended it be added in their latest review.

Plunket New Zealand told the coroner the organisation has since strengthened its messaging online and in resources provided to families around checking the structure of cots.

Hapai te Hauora, the national sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) co-ordination service, also told the coroner the organisation support the recommendation and are currently preparing revised messaging in their training packages and education sessions.

I take this opportunity to extend my sincere condolences to the whanau of baby [suppressed] for their loss, the coroner concluded.
A decision to keep five community boards in the Western Bay of Plenty is phenomenal, a board chairwoman says.

The Western Bay of Plenty District Councils proposal to reduce community boards to three has been overruled by the Local Government Commission.

The proposal came from a representation review and would have aligned community boards within ward boundaries.

It had been strongly opposed by the boards, who said it would diminish their community voices.

The commission heard an appeal in March, and commissioners Brendan Duffy, Bonita Bigham and Gwen Bull released their decision last week.

It said there were compelling reasons to keep the clearly defined communities of interest and expand the reach of community boards to ensure coverage across the district.

The commission considered how it could deliver a district-wide community board model that preserved the essence of existing boards.



The Waihi Beach community board boundaries will stay the same for the next two elections. Photo / George Novak

Under the new structure, Waihi Beach and Katikati community boards will keep their current boundaries.

Omokoroa would expand to cover the full Kaimai ward and be renamed OmokoroaKaimai Community Board.

Te Puke would add Paengaroa, Pongakawa, and Pukehina to its representation and be named Te PukeEast.

Maketu Community Board would expand its boundary slightly.

The changes meant the entire district would be covered by a community board except for Matakana and Rangiwaea Islands.

Currently, about 40% of the district is not represented by a board.

A community board is a group of elected members who represent the interests of their area and act as a link between the community and the council.



Waihi Beach Community Board chair Dani Simpson. Photo / Supplied

Waihi Beach Community Board chairwoman Dani Simpson said the decision was phenomenal and her board was pleased with the outcome.

Its fantastic that the commissioners really understood where we were coming from.

There were a lot of united views from the districts community boards, and the commissions decision showed there was strength in numbers, Simpson said.

At the appeal hearing, Simpson said community boards were the pulse of our place.

The three-board proposal was diminishing the communitys voice and eroding a democracy, she said.

The commission heard appeals from 10 submitters, all but one against changing the number of community boards.



Te Puke Community Board chairwoman Kassie Ellis. Photo / Stuart Whitaker

Te Puke Community Board chairwoman Kassie Ellis said they put up a good fight at the hearing and spoke true to their community.

Im all for that localised approach and wanting whats best for our community.

Paengaroa, Pongakawa, and Pukehina deserved community board representation, Ellis said.

She was interested to see who would run for those communities in the October election.

We [the board] are looking forward to what the future holds.

Western Bay Mayor James Denyer said the commissions decision benefitted local communities.

Were pleased to see the outcome delivers district-wide community board coverage  something council and our community strongly supported, he said in a statement.



Western Bay mayor James Denyer. Photo / Brydie Thompson

With five boards now spanning the district, every community will have a stronger and more equitable platform to engage with council and advocate for what matters most to them.

The commission recommended the council engage and educate the community about the role and purpose of the boards.

The council was also encouraged to empower the boards with more delegations.

Before the October elections, the council would review community board functions and delegations to ensure they were equipped to enhance local decision-making and support community-led initiatives.

Denyer said this was an opportunity to strengthen local leadership and build a more connected and engaged district.

Community boards will be well-positioned to work alongside existing groups, such as ratepayer associations, to ensure local voices are heard.

The new representation model would also reduce the number of councillors at the table from 11 plus the mayor to nine plus the mayor.

A Maori ward would be established, represented by one councillor, that covered the entire district, called Waka Kai Uru ward.

These changes would be in place for the October council elections.

The council reaffirmed its decision to establish a Maori ward in September.

A referendum will be held with the election on whether the Maori ward should remain.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Local fire chiefs are calling for support for a petition that, if successful, could create a significant safety net for volunteer firefighters.

Katherine Lamont, a member of the Queenstown Volunteer Fire Brigade, has put together a parliamentary petition to change ACC legislation to give volunteer firefighters the same ACC coverage and benefits as their paid colleagues.

The petition states: 12,000 volunteer firefighters are excluded from certain ACC benefits due to being classified as non-employees. We believe ensuring the safety, health, and well-being of these volunteers must be a top priority for the government; we need action; our volunteers are vital; there is a duty of care that is being missed, and volunteers are suffering.

Mental health injury

Te Puke fire chief Dale Lindsay said volunteer firefighters are not always covered for illness, injury or mental health issues.

He said even if they were eligible, they would still have to prove a single incident has caused a mental injury such as PTSD.

He said that is a situation which does not support those who have serious mental health concerns because of their years of exposure to many different types of traumatic incidents.



Dale Lindsay has been a firefighter for nearly 40 years.

Why should we not get the same level of attention afforded to other people in the same vocation?

Lindsay said it could be argued that as volunteers, it is possible they are less prepared for what they might face, although in recent years Fire and Emergency has recognised the impacts on firefighters mental health.

They are trying to train us more for it, but you can only do so much training for the confronting stuff in terms of mental health.

Lindsay has been a volunteer firefighter for 40 years and said he knows at some calls; the effects can be instantaneous and massively triggering.

You can encounter massive trauma from one scene. Ive still got multiple scenes I can recall vividly in my mind that will never leave me.

Stress and pressure

On the other hand, he knows of volunteers who have suffered because of the cumulative build-up of stresses and pressures.

Then the tiniest thing can trigger a meltdown.

Lindsay said volunteers have day jobs and if they cant perform those jobs due to emotional problems resulting from firefighting, thats pretty unfair.

With the increased awareness has come a lot more care with new recruits.

We do make people aware of it when they join, theres a lot of focus and training around the mental health side of things now. We are very, very careful how we expose new recruits to [situations].

ACC policies

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employments accident compensation policy manager Bridget Duley said the no-fault scheme provides broad-based cover to everyone in New Zealand who is injured in an accident.

Under ACC, volunteer firefighters are eligible for this type of cover, which includes any physical injuries they suffer on the job such as scrapes, sprains, broken bones or head injuries.

Where a physical injury causes a mental injury, the mental injury is eligible for cover if the physical injury is already covered under ACC.

For example, if a volunteer firefighter received cover following an accident where they fell and suffered a spinal injury, they may also be eligible for mental injury cover if it could be proven that they subsequently developed depression as a result of their physical injury.

ACC also provides additional types of cover that are specific to paid employment, including cover for work-related mental injuries and occupational diseases.

These types of cover are available only when the injury is caused by paid work. Work-related claims are funded by employers based on their payroll. As volunteers are not reflected as employees in workplace payroll systems, funding additional cover in a fair way may require changes to how ACC levies are collected.

Duley said past expansions to the Accident Compensation Scheme to cover different mental injuries have been carefully considered to ensure they remain accident-related and balance the interests of ACC levy payers and considerations around financial sustainability.

Future reforms

Any future reforms would need to consider the benefits of ACC support to people suffering from mental harm alongside costs to levy payers and the Government, and the impacts on the mental health workforce.

It is important to note that those in volunteer roles can still access mental and other health services via the health system.

As the petition is currently ongoing, I wont be able to comment specifically but I will be following the process.

Government response

Scott Simpson, the Minister for ACC, said he acknowledges the volunteers in emergency services who make an incredibly important and selfless contribution to communities around New Zealand.



Minister for ACC Scott Simpson.

I note the petition closes for signatures next month, and I acknowledge the efforts of those who are raising awareness of this issue that is close to their hearts. There is a process for petitions made to Parliament, and I will be watching that as it takes place.

Local support

Maketu chief fire officer Shane Gourlay supports the petition. He said there are a few things career firefighters can get that volunteers cant, and thats just one of them.



Maketu chief fire officer Shane Gourlay. Photo / George Novak

Pukehina chief fire officer Errol Watts supports the petition 100%.

These people are the salt of the earth. They give up their own and their families time and I cant see any better people to receive it to be honest.



Pukehina fire chief Errol Watts. Photo / John Borren

The petition closes on April 30 and has received well over 30,000 signatures.

It can be found at: https://petitions.parliament.nz/5872f736-ed2f-443c-f919-08dd5b668762
Barbara Winegard was named Volunteer of the Year by Baldwinsvilles Volunteer Center at an event held April 5 at Pastas on the Green to celebrate those who have made the greatest impact on their community during 2024. The tradition of honoring outstanding volunteers has continued yearly since 1961.

Winegard was recognized for decades of donating time and energy helping others. She volunteers with Beaver Lake Nature Center, Baldwinsville Presbyterian Church, Meals on Wheels, McHarrie Towne Residents Association, and the Baldwinsville Public Library. In addition, she created a fundraiser, donating thousands of dollars to Baker High Schools BeeFull program and the local food pantry.
Kimberly Wolf Price was celebrated as Volunteer of the Year at Syracuse Universitys Annual Alumni Awards this month at the Daniel and Gayle DAniello National Veterans Resource Center.

Wolf Price is the chief strategy officer at Bond, Schoeneck & King. She works with firm leadership to assess strategic needs and develops programs and opportunities that support Bonds attorneys. She also works with outside organizations, clients and other partners on a variety of programs and community initiatives.

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An attorney admitted to practice in New York, Wolf Price is a member of the New York State Bar Association and immediate past chair of the Women in Law section. She serves as the current chair of the Attorney Well-Being committee and is also a long-term member of the Bars Committee on Diversity Equity & Inclusion. Wolf Price is a fellow of both the American Bar Foundation and the New York Bar Foundation and was elected to the board of directors for the NYBF with term beginning in June 2025. She was appointed to the Robert A. Katzmann Justice for All: Courts and the Community, the civics education project of the Federal Courts of the Second Circuit. She is a board member of the Central New York Volunteer Lawyers Project and the Central New York Womens Bar Association.

Wolf Prices legal practice began in the New York City office of Clifford Chance US LLP. She then worked for a small firm in Syracuse before working for Syracuse University College of Law, first serving as assistant dean of professional and career development for several years before taking on the academic role of director of externship programs.

Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC is a law firm with more than 300 lawyers serving individuals, companies, nonprofits and public sector entities in a broad range of practice areas. Bond has 15 offices, including 11 in New York state, as well as in Florida, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Kansas.

If youd like to submit an item about People in Motion at your organization, send a press release including photo, to business@syracuse.com with Company News in the subject field. We publish news about people with ties to Onondaga, Cayuga, Madison and Oswego counties. See all recent Company News items.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 16. Azerbaijan was represented at the International Day Festival at the International School of Kuala Lumpur, which is held in the Malaysia, Trend reports via Azerbaijani State Committee for Work with Diaspora.

Meanwhile, it was noted that in addition to Azerbaijan, representatives of such countries as Brazil, Malaysia, Singapore, Italy, Japan, Norway, Venezuela, India, China, Canada, USA, Portugal, Yemen, South Korea, Egypt, Morocco, Thailand, Colombia, Vietnam and Indonesia took part in the festival.

The corner of Azerbaijan, organized by Azerbaijani community activists Narmina Jabbarova and Aygun Bapna, whose children study at this school, featured souvenirs, kelaghai, dishes and products reflecting the history, culture, national traditions and cuisine of Azerbaijan.

The visitors interested in the Azerbaijani corner were provided with detailed information about our country and answered their questions. The visitors were treated with national dishes.

These events, which are regularly attended by diaspora organizations and activists, are important from the point of view of the propaganda of Azerbaijani culture in foreign countries. At the same time, it leads to wider recognition of Azerbaijan in the international arena, the establishment of friendly ties, and mutual understanding between the cultures of foreign countries.
The Central New York Community Foundation announced the addition of three new Black Equity & Excellence Fund advisory council members. The advisory council is charged with reviewing grant proposals, making funding recommendations and identifying gaps and opportunities to create a more equitable and economically inclusive Central New York. Members represent a cross-section of industries and backgrounds reflecting varying viewpoints.

The Community Foundations Black Equity & Excellence Fund, launched in 2020, is designed to fund community-based projects that center, uplift and serve Black communities in Central New York by addressing economic and social disparities caused by historic marginalization. The fund is dedicated to fostering self-sufficiency, economic development, and community empowerment.

The following new members were appointed:

Rev. DeCarto D. Draper Jr., senior pastor of Tucker Missionary Baptist Church, who has served as senior pastor for nearly a decade. He also currently serves as an area vice president of the Empire Baptist Missionary Convention of New York. He formerly served as the president of the General Baptist State Convention of Michigan, Congress of Christian Education, as second vice president of the Baptist General State Congress of Christian Education of Illinois as well as first vice president of Rockford and Vicinity Baptist District Association. He is a member of the National Baptist Convention USA Inc., formerly serving on its pastor and evangelical boards. He has also preached in the Moderators Division and the coveted Late-Night Service.

Pastor Draper is a sought-after revivalist, teacher, preacher and lecturer for his thought-provoking biblical sermons. He holds a bachelor of arts degree in marketing and a master of divinity degree from Liberty University. He is currently matriculating at Payne Theological Seminary to obtain his doctorate of ministry in transformational preaching.

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Karla Hall, entrepreneur and recipient of the NAACP Oprah Winfrey philanthropy award, is a community activist and philanthropist. As the co-founder of multiple successful ventures, she has used her business acumen to inspire aspiring entrepreneurs, particularly young women and minorities, encouraging them to break barriers and pursue their dreams. Her leadership extends beyond business, as she actively supports initiatives that foster social cohesion, economic empowerment and educational opportunities in underserved communities.

Her philanthropic efforts reflect her commitment to creating lasting change. She contributes her time, resources and expertise to causes ranging from education and healthcare to environmental sustainability and social justice.

Indaria Jones, entrepreneur and program director of Couri Hatchery Business Incubator, is an award-winning entrepreneur and business development professional who has empowered CEOs, startups and community leaders across New York. Her work has helped secure more than $128 million in funding, with a focus on creating opportunities for underrepresented entrepreneurs. In 2018, she founded an incubator to advance this mission, and in 2022, she joined Syracuse University to lead the Couri Hatchery Incubator.

A nationally recognized leader, she has mentored for organizations like Morgan State University and the Blackstone Charitable Foundation and has evaluated initiatives such as the Black Ambition Prize and Wise Womens Business Center. She has also served for organizations such as Say Yes to Syracuse and Cooperative Federal Credit Union. Her accolades include being named to Forbes 30 Under 30 list for Social Impact, receiving the NYS Black Legislative Caucus Economic Development Award, and being recognized as a Central New York Business Journal 40 Under 40 awardee.

The Central New York Community Foundation is a public charity that turns community dollars into community change. Established in 1927, it receives contributions from donors, manages them to grow over time and then distributes funding to address the regions greatest needs. The foundation has invested nearly $300 million in community projects that benefit Central New York. It also serves as a civic leader, convener and sponsor of strategic initiatives that foster a thriving and equitable region and address critical issues.

If youd like to submit an item about People in Motion at your organization, send a press release including photo, to business@syracuse.com with Company News in the subject field. We publish news about people with ties to Onondaga, Cayuga, Madison and Oswego counties. See all recent Company News items.
Police respond to Destiny USA Mall after reports of a bomb threat on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. Rylee Kirk

Syracuse, N.Y.  Police responded to a bomb threat at Destiny USA Mall in Syracuse Wednesday morning.

Around 5:50 a.m. Wednesday, Syracuse police received a report of a bomb threat at the mall, said Sgt. Thomas Blake, a spokesperson for the Syracuse police.

More than 10 police cars responded, and officers could be seen inside the mall.

At this time, no suspicious devices were found in the mall and there is no danger to the public, Blake said.

The police take such threats seriously but noted that shopping malls and other high traffic public spaces are common targets for non-credible threats, Blake said.

The police and mall security followed their usual protocol and after investigating and recognizing there was no threat, they reopened the mall.

Staff writer Greta Stuckey covers breaking news. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at gstuckey@syracuse.com.
Canastota, N.Y.  For almost two years a couple sold drugs out of their garage in the village of Canastota, according to federal prosecutors.

On Monday, Andrew Snyder, 46, of Canastota was sentenced to five years in federal prison for selling the drugs alongside his wife, Jessica Snyder, prosecutors from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of New York said in a news release Tuesday.

The husband and wife both previously pleaded guilty, prosecutors said.
Joseph Spruill, 54, of Cortland, was identified as the gunman in a daytime shooting on a Homer village street on April 9, 2025, police said. Homer Police Department

Homer, N.Y.  The Homer Police Department on Wednesday released the identity of the gunman wanted in the shooting of a man on a village street.

The gunman, Joseph Spruill, 54, of Cortland, fled the shooting on April 9 and is still on the loose. An arrest warrant was issued for Spruills arrest on Monday said Homer Police Chief Robert Pitman.

The suspect was last known to be in the New York City area, where he fled to after the shooting, Pitman said.

The shooting was not a random act, according to Pitman. Police believe the victim was targeted because the victim and Spruill know each other, he said.

At about 4:25 p.m. April 9, officers found a 44-year-old man on Hudson Street who had an apparent gunshot wound to his upper right leg.

Spruill was seen driving west on Hudson Street towards North West Street (Route 281) in a dark colored SUV, according to Pitman.

When Spruill is arrested, he will be charged with second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, first-degree reckless engagement, first-degree criminal use of a firearm and second- and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, Pitman said.

Police are asking anyone with information, or information regarding the suspects whereabouts to contact the Homer Police Department at 607-749-2022.

Staff writer Greta Stuckey covers breaking news. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at gstuckey@syracuse.com.
About 50 community members gathered inside of Bethany Baptist Church at 149 Beattie St. to call for the removal of Onondaga County sheriffs Deputy John Rosello on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. Timia Cobb

Syracuse, N.Y.  Pastors, civil rights advocates and about 50 community members attended a rally Tuesday night to demand that a deputy who fatally shot two teens be removed from active duty.

The rally, at Bethany Baptist Church in DeWitt, was planned as a response to the state Attorney Generals Offices decision to not charge Onondaga County sheriffs Deputy John Rosello for the killing of Dhal Apet, 17, and Lueth Mo, 15, in 2023.

On Sept. 6, Rosello responded to a 911 call possibly involving burglary suspects in two cars in a DeWitt parking lot.

Before arriving, Rosello manually turned off his dashboard camera, according to the AGs Office report. As he got out of his car, one of the cars sped off while the other car drove toward him.

Rosello fired three shots at the car, killing Apet and Mo, who were unarmed passengers. The driver of the stolen Hyundai they were in, Javon Camber, 17, was later found and arrested in Rochester.

The AGs investigation determined a prosecutor could not disprove beyond a reasonable doubt that the deputy believed the car would hit him and that he could stop the car by shooting into it.

Onondaga County Sheriff Toby Shelley said at the time of the shooting that the deputy feared the car was going to hit him.

Apet and Mos deaths couldve been avoided, Bethany Baptist Church Pastor Phil Turner said at the rally.

Rosello was initially put on paid leave, but returned to patrol in February 2024.

The Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Syracuse and the New York Civil Liberties Union are demanding that Rosello be removed from his position.

He has no place on our streets, said Deka Dancil, a spokesperson with NYCLU. He is not keeping us safe. Hes not a part of solutions, hes part of the problem.

A still photo from a DeWitt police officer's body-worn camera shows Deputy John Rosello moments after the shooting that resulted in the deaths of Lueth Mo, 15, and Dhal Apet, 17, on Sept. 6, 2023. Provided photo

At the meeting, both organizations, with the help of community members, finalized a list of demands that will be sent to the Onondaga County Sheriffs Office and County Executive Ryan McMahon.

The demands include:

Rosello be removed from active duty in this jurisdiction.

All law enforcement officers receive training that prepares them to think rationally, regardless of the ethnicity of suspects, and provide transparency to what training officers receive.

Body cameras and automobile dash cams be worn, installed, and activated at every encounter with all people.

Juvenile interactions with law enforcement should not end in violence or death, said Bishop H. Bernard Alex, the pastor of Victory Temple Fellowship Church.

If theyre wrong, arrest them. If theyve done wrong, let the due process be the process. If theyve done wrong, take them to the law, Alex said. But dont make the decision to turn off your body cam. Dont make the decision that our children dont get home alive.

Knowing that Rosello turned his dashboard camera off makes the distrust of law enforcement stronger, Alex said. It also makes the AGs offices decision to not pursue charges harder to digest.

It then gives the preclusion that, Im gonna handle this, and I dont want it to be recorded,  Alex said. So that there was some intentionality, some intent.

The groups demands align with AGs office recommendation that all officers be equipped with body-worn cameras and all cars be outfitted with dashboard cameras.

However, Sheriffs Chief Police Deputy Matthew Fischer told the AGs office that at the time of the incident they were already revising the offices body camera policy, and the dashboard cameras were not fully operational.

Fischer said the dashboard cameras that were installed, like the one on Rosellos car, were being used to troubleshoot issues.

Since the incident, the sheriffs office has installed dashboard cameras in all patrol vehicles, installed automatic camera activation technology and amended vague language in the policy.

When Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard asked the sheriffs office about the demand for Rosello to no longer be on patrols, no answer was given.

Having Rosello back is not what the county needs, Turner said.

We feel that the deputy handled the situation in ways that make him hazardous to members of our community, Turner said.

Violence is becoming a recurring theme with law enforcement, Dancil said. While their demands target the county, Syracuse police were also criticized for their use of force Wednesday while arresting two men during a traffic stop.

Turner said that as a caring and nurturing community, the desire is for young people to learn from their wrongdoings  not for them to be harmed by officers before theyre given the chance of due process.

The police do not have the right to beat us up, under no circumstances, he said. We can be apprehended, we can be cuffed, we can be put under arrest, but you do not have to beat me.

The group plans to send their list of demands to McMahon and the sheriffs office sometime this week, Turner said.

They are asking for a response within 30 days. If their demands are not heard, they will be readjusting their approach, he said.

Whatever it is, we dont have to be quiet until were paid attention to, he said.

Syracuse.com staff writer Timia Cobb covers breaking news. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at tcobb@syracuse.com.
The Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard police blotter of arrests from police agencies around Central New York was updated today.

The arrests added this week occurred between March 14 and April 13. Those charged were from 16 to 80 years old.

One person was arrested for grand larceny. Central NY contractor stole $11,000 of coins and alcohol from home, troopers say
Justin Hawkins of The Darkness performs on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023, at The Vic Theatre in Chicago. Rob Grabowski/Invision/AP

British rock band The Darkness has announced a 2025 North American tour in support of their latest album Dreams on Toast.

The tour will take place in two parts, beginning August 29 in Pryor, Oklahoma, and running through September 21 in Cleveland, Ohio. A second leg will begin November 7 in Houston, Texas, and wrap up November 22 in Denver, Colorado.

The tour will include stops in cities across the U.S. and Canada, including New York, Toronto, Los Angeles, and Seattle. A complete list of tour dates is available here.

Where to buy The Darkness concert tickets

Presales began Wednesday, April 16, with the general public sale opening Friday, April 18 at 10 a.m. local time via Ticketmaster.

Tickets are also available through verified resale platforms, including Vivid Seats, SeatGeek, and StubHub. For select dates, general admission prices on these sites start as low as $52, sometimes below the original face value.

Availability and pricing can vary based on demand, particularly for sold-out or high-interest shows.

Discount: First-time Vivid Seats customers can use code SYRACUSE20 for $20 off a $200+ ticket order.

More about The Darkness

Formed in 2000, The Darkness rose to international fame with their 2003 debut Permission to Land, which included hits like I Believe in a Thing Called Love. The album earned the band three BRIT Awards and went quadruple platinum in the U.K.

Despite lineup changes and a temporary breakup in the mid-2000s, The Darkness reunited in 2011 and have continued to tour and record new music.

The current lineup includes original members Justin and Dan Hawkins, bassist Frankie Poullain, and drummer Rufus Tiger Taylor.

Dreams on Toast, their eighth studio album, was released in March 2025 and marks the groups highest-charting release since their debut, reaching No. 2 on the U.K. Albums Chart.

Watch the music video for the albums hit single Rock and Roll Party Cowboy below:
Sgt. Donald Slawson, a state prison guard, walks out of a Utica court after he was arraigned on a tampering with evidence charge on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. He was one of 10 guards charged in the beating death of an inmate. N. Scott Trimble | strimble@syracuse.com

Utica, N.Y.  Ten New York state prison guards were arraigned Wednesday on murder and other charges in the death of an inmate last month in a Central New York prison.

The charges were unsealed Wednesday in a packed courtroom in Oneida County Court before Judge Michael Nolan.
A passer-by walks through a gate to the Harvard University campus, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024, in Cambridge, Mass. Harvard University President Claudine Gay resigned Tuesday amid plagiarism accusations and criticism over testimony at a congressional hearing where she was unable to say unequivocally that calls on campus for the genocide of Jews would violate the school's conduct policy. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) AP

One day after freezing more $2.2 billion in grants intended for the school, President Donald Trump is threatening even more government action against Harvard University.

In a post Tuesday on Truth Social, Trumps social media platform, Trump threatened to revoke the universitys tax-exempt status

Perhaps Harvard should lose its Tax Exempt Status and be Taxed as a Political Entity if it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting Sickness? Remember, Tax Exempt Status is totally contingent on acting in the PUBLIC INTEREST!" the president wrote.

In a five-page letter to Harvard on Friday, the Trump administration laid out a series of demands for the university. Among the demands were major changes in leadership; ceasing all diversity initiatives in admissions, hiring and promotions; reforming international admissions to screen out applicants "hostile to the American values and institutions inscribed in the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence; reporting to federal authorities any foreign student who commits a conduct violation"; auditing the entire student body, staff and leadership for viewpoint diversity; and more.

Harvards president, Alan Garber, wrote in a letter to the universitys community that the administrations effort "exceeds the statutory limits of the governments authority."

No government  regardless of which party is in power  should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue, Garber wrote, stressing that the university would not agree to the governments demands.

Harvard is not not the only university that has had funding frozen or cut by Trump  although with an endowment of more than $50 billion, according to the New York Times, it is in a better position than many schools to defy the administration.

After the administration froze $1 billion in federal funding and grant money, Cornell University joined a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Energy and DOE Secretary Chris Wright, alleging cuts to its research grants are violating federal regulations.

Last month, Columbia University said that it would agree to demands made by Trump administration, which had threatened the school with a loss of federal funding. Another Ivy League school, Brown University, has been threatened with $510 million in funding cuts.
A car crashed into the side of Jack's Kitchen in Manchester, New York, early Monday morning, leaving a gaping car-shaped hole in the side of the brick building and shearing a nearby telephone pole. The driver of the car has been arrested for driving while intoxicated. Photo courtesy of Jack's Kitchen Photo courtesy of Jack's Kitchen

Manchester, N.Y.  A popular Finger Lakes restaurant was forced to close this week after a driver plowed into the diner and left a gaping hole in the building.

The driver was intoxicated, troopers said, and drove away after crashing into Jacks Kitchen.

More than a day after the accident, the owner of the beloved Manchester diner has shared an update about when customers can expect Jacks Kitchen to reopen.

A car crashed into the side of Jack's Kitchen in Manchester, New York, early Monday morning, leaving a gaping car-shaped hole in the side of the brick building and shearing a nearby telephone pole. The driver of the car has been arrested for driving while intoxicated. Photo courtesy of Jack's Kitchen Photo courtesy of Jack's Kitchen

An engineer and contractor told Jacks Kitchen they could likely shore up the hole in the building, the restaurant wrote Tuesday on its Facebook page. If officials approve, that would allow the diner to reopen  albeit at 3/4 capacity, the restaurant wrote.

There are a lot of pieces to this puzzle, Jacks Kitchen wrote. We are all trying our best to reopen.

The accident was reported at 5:18 a.m. Monday.

When troopers arrived, they found a broken telephone pole and a large hole in the side of 11 S. Main St., the brick building that houses Jacks Kitchen, the New York State Police said in a news release.

A car crashed into the side of Jack's Kitchen in Manchester, New York, early Monday morning, leaving a gaping car-shaped hole in the side of the brick building and shearing a nearby telephone pole. The driver of the car has been arrested for driving while intoxicated. Photo courtesy of Jack's Kitchen Photo courtesy of Jack's Kitchen

The damaged vehicle that crashed into the restaurant was found empty in a parking lot on nearby Clifton Street, troopers said.

The driver, Samantha I. Jones, was arrested near the vehicle. The 29-year-old Clyde woman was charged with driving while intoxicated and later released from custody.

No injuries were reported.

A few hours after the crash, Jacks Kitchen shared photos of the damage to underscore the severity of the situation.

A car crashed into the side of Jack's Kitchen in Manchester, New York, early Monday morning, leaving a gaping car-shaped hole in the side of the brick building and shearing a nearby telephone pole. The driver of the car has been arrested for driving while intoxicated. Photo courtesy of Jack's Kitchen Photo courtesy of Jack's Kitchen

The photos showed a car-shaped hole in the side of the building. The inside of Jacks Kitchen  including its decorative fairy lights, bistro tables and a handwritten chalk sign about an all-day Friday fish fry  was visible through the giant gap.

Other photos showed the cars path of destruction, including a sheared telephone pole and a detached Hyundai bumper buried under a pile of rubble.

A car crashed into the side of Jack's Kitchen in Manchester, New York, early Monday morning, leaving a gaping car-shaped hole in the side of the brick building and shearing a nearby telephone pole. The driver of the car has been arrested for driving while intoxicated. Photo courtesy of Jack's Kitchen Photo courtesy of Jack's Kitchen

Fans of the family-run business have shared words of encouragement with Jacks Kitchen.

On the diners Facebook page, loyal customers wrote about missing coffee time at Jacks Kitchen and eagerly awaiting the restaurants reopening. Above all, customers shared one sentiment: At least no one was inside the restaurant when the car crashed inside.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 16. As part of his official visit to Azerbaijan, President of Georgia Mikheil Kavelashvili visited the Alley of Martyrs in Baku on Wednesday, Trend reports.

The Georgian President honored the memory of Azerbaijani heroes who sacrificed their lives for the countrys independence and territorial integrity, laying a wreath at the Eternal Flame monument.

President Kavelashvili then enjoyed a panoramic view of Baku and was briefed about the history of the Alley of Martyrs and the redevelopment of the city.
This Getty Images photo shows grain being fed to a cow. Trump tariffs are affecting businesses across the U.S., including a Northern New York farm that uses livestock feed from Canada. Getty Images

An Upstate New York farmer is reeling from the increased cost of business amid President Donald Trumps trade war with multiple countries.

Nicholas Gilbert, who tends 1,400 cows at his dairy farm in Potsdam, close to the Canada border, told The Atlantic that a recent order of livestock feed cost him $2,200 extra due to tariffs. The feed came from Ontario, and he mistakenly believed his supplier at the Canadian mill would cover the difference.

Im not even sure its legal! We contracted for the price on delivery, he told the magazine. If your price of fuel goes up or your truck breaks down, thats not my problem! Thats what the contracts for.

But the tariff was not only legal, its his responsibility to pay it. Tariffs are paid by domestic importers, not foreign exporters, despite Trumps frequent claims otherwise.

And according to The Atlantic, Adon Farms is doubly stuck with the added cost because the price of the milk Gilbert sells is set by a local co-op and there are no U.S. suppliers nearby. Buying feed somewhere else would be more expensive, he said.

Its the latest in a growing number of businesses caught in Trumps trade war. A small packing and shipping business in Washington state announced last week it was shutting down because Canadian customers stopped using it due to tariffs and Trumps repeated comments about annexing Canada.

The Associated Press reports the issue is especially tough on communities along the U.S.-Canada border, affecting farms, pets, breweries, ski resorts, water parks, hotels, gas stations and tourism. Costs have gone up and revenue has gone down, leading to layoffs, closures, and serious economic concerns.

The recession has already begun in these places, The Atlantic declared.

Gilbert said some larger companies may be able to pass costs on to consumers by raising prices. But he cant, and its only going to get harder with levies on fertilizer or farm equipment.

North Country Chamber of Commerce President Garry Douglas told The Atlantic that others are struggling, too. One manufacturing company in the region expects to pay $16 million more due to the cost of raw materials from Canada, while a paper mill is panicking because the type of wood they need is only available up north.

Were taking that right on the chin, Gilbert said.

Tell us your tariff stories: How is President Trumps trade war impacting your Central NY business?
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 16. The preparations for another political fraud are underway in Armenia. Revanchist circles are preparing public opinion for the notion that Armenia is not obliged to make any amendments to the constitution. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, addressing the parliament, already states: Our constitutional court has decided that there are no territorial claims to neighboring countries in the Armenian constitution, and if Azerbaijan is concerned about it, we should first sign a peace treaty and then discuss the constitution. A few hours pass, and the Armenian Prime Minister seems to be backing up: yes, the reference to the Declaration of Independence, where the claims to Karabakh are prescribed, we would like to add on our behalf, will have to be removed after all. So Yerevan has two positions again. The policy follows the principle described in an old Azerbaijani proverb: It's either a horseshoe or a nail. Depending on the situation. Representatives of the chattering class also stirred up. In particular, Alexander Iskandaryan, the well-known head of the Caucasus Institute, decided to discuss this topic in a conversation with a Nezavisimaya Gazeta correspondent. He stated without a shadow of doubt: Baku is hardly seriously concerned about the reference in the preamble to the Declaration of Independence, created in 1990 and immediately recognized as illegal by the USSR. Rather, it is one of the ways of Azerbaijan's pressure on Armenia.

So, what is really happening - is it Azerbaijan's desire to put pressure on Armenia or Armenia's cunning plan to leave behind a possible field for new aggression?

So, let us tell you in order. In 1989, the Supreme Council of Armenia adopted a decision on miazum, i.e., reunification of Azerbaijani Karabakh with the Armenian SSR. This decision was immediately called illegal by the Union authorities. The USSR Constitution expressly prohibited any change of the territory of the Union republics without the consent of its authorities. That is, NKAO had the right to reunite with Armenia only with the consent of Azerbaijan, and Azerbaijan did not give its consent. In 1990, the Declaration of Independence of Armenia appeared, which included a reference to that obviously illegal decision of the Supreme Soviet of the Armenian SSR.

Then, the reference to the Declaration of Independence of Armenia is included in the Constitution of Armenia, adopted in 1995. It remains there after the amendments to the Constitution in 2005 and 2015.

Let us now recall: since 1994, Armenia has been occupying 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory. It is looking for all possible loopholes to somehow legitimize the results of the military occupation. Against this background, the adoption of a constitution with a preamble that refers to the Declaration of Independence, and in this Declaration, to the decision of the Supreme Council on  miatsum - is no longer a territorial claim, but an attempt to legitimize the occupation by enshrining it in the constitution. In legal language, it is called annexation. It represents an open challenge to international law.

Moreover, the case was not limited to one reference in the Constitution. Armenia creates an occupation junta in Azerbaijani lands, finances it from the Armenian state budget, and deploys its troops there.

In addition, Armenia uses maps where its borders include the Azerbaijani territories occupied at the time. At least once Armenia managed to shove such maps into the statistical documents of the EAEU.

Later, however, the EAEU leadership had to apologize and correct the maps. Moreover, the exact same map of Armenia with the inclusion of Azerbaijani occupied lands could be seen on the propaganda materials of Pashinyan's Civil Contract on the hot traces of the kebab revolution. Moreover, one should not forget Pashinyan's phrase Karabagh is Armenia, and that's it!

Theoretically, one could imagine that after the Iron Fist strike, Armenia drew conclusions. However, in 2021, early parliamentary elections were held in this country, and Nikol Pashinyan's bloc, the Civil Pact, promised in its program to retake the cities of Shusha and Hadrut! Moreover, in the same year, 2021, the Armenian Parliament approved the program of the government headed by Nikol Pashinyan, which states in black and white that the Karabakh issue should be solved through separation for salvation. Let us remind: at this time, Khankendi, Aghdara, and Khojavand are under the control of Russian peacekeeping forces, the occupation junta in Karabakh continues to operate, and Armenia keeps its troops there in violation of all agreements. In other words, the miatsum not only retains legal force but remains an action guide. Yerevan did not draw any conclusions from the defeat of Armenia in the 44-day Second War. In 2022, in Prague, Pashinyan signed documents recognizing Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. Nevertheless, in September 2023, Armenia organizes presidential elections in Khankendi, and Nikol Pashinyan congratulates the top brass of the occupation junta on Artsakh's independence day. In other words, Armenia once again had two positions - one to appease the international community and for appearances' sake, and the other, the real one.

Moreover, there are at least serious reasons to believe that even after the anti-terrorist raids, plans for revenge continue to be made in Yerevan. In any case, the structures of the overthrown junta are still in place and operating here, and this cannot take place without the official authorities' encouragement or at least tacit consent. Recently, the National Assembly of Artsakh adopted amendments to the constitution, ensuring the continuity of state institutions. Deputy Metakse Hakobyan announced that the new wording will allow state institutions to find solutions in force majeure situations without the risk of being recognized as illegal.

Let's summarize the results. Over the past years, we have heard a lot of seemingly promising statements from Yerevan, which were forgotten in the Armenian capital before they could be properly disseminated by journalists and commented on by politicians. The Armenian authorities' hints and promises to advance negotiations, recognize Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, amend the constitution, etc., meant nothing at best. In the worst case, they were used as a cover for the preparation of armed provocations and revenge. That is what we see today. But at the same time, we are offered to take the word of the Yerevan bonzes as if this provocative constitutional norm is a tribute to history and we should not pay attention to it at all. And most importantly, they expect us to believe it. We are ready to believe, but not in words, but only in concrete deeds, for example, the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group and the adoption of a new constitution of Armenia....

Fuad Akhundov

political scientist
Focus for forest owners on the marketing of post storm timber at this years Teagasc Talking Timber

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) with special responsibility for Forestry, Farm Safety and Horticulture, Michael Healy-Rae TD addressed this years Teagasc Talking Timber event, held on Tuesday, 15 April in the Clayton Hotel in Sligo.

Pictured at Talking Timber, which took place on Tuesday, 15 April in the Clayton Hotel, Sligo are: James Keane, Teagasc Regional Manager Sligo/ Leitrim/ Donegal; Tom Houlihan, Acting Head of the Teagasc Forestry Development Department; John Spink, Head of the Teagasc Crops, Environment and Land Use Programme; Professor Frank OMara, Teagasc Director; Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) with special responsibility for Forestry, Farm Safety and Horticulture, Michael Healy-Rae TD; Marian Harkin TD, Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science with special responsibility for Further Education, Apprenticeship, Construction and Climate Skills; and Frances McHugh, Forestry Development Officer, Teagasc.

Speaking at the event, Minister Healy-Rae encouraged forest owners to engage with the sector to arrange the harvesting of forests damaged by storms. About Felling licences, he said; As felling licence applications come in, they will be dealt with promptly; the average turnaround time is 4 months. The Minister was very positive regarding the support of forest owners for the reconstitution of storm damaged forests and future aid to certify private forests.

The Talking Timber event, opened by Teagasc Director, Professor Frank OMara was attended by over 150 forest owners, where the focus of this years event was the marketing of post-storm conifer timber. Professor OMara said; With over 20 trade stands representing different sectors of the forest industry, this annual event in the Teagasc Forestry calendar provides a valuable opportunity for knowledge sharing and networking with the forestry sector across the country. He said; Our message today is that Teagasc forestry staff are available and will continue to support forest owners and the sector in navigating through the current challenges posed by recent weather events.

This event organised by Teagasc in association with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), along with Forest Industries Ireland, offered a great opportunity for forest owners to hear about current timber markets in the context of recent storms, view harvested logs and timber products, and also to network with many timber buyers and contractors.

During the discussions at the outdoor log and timber products display, John Ryan, Murrays Timber Group (representing Forest Industries Ireland) stressed the need for forest owners to understand the different dimensions, quality and value of different log products.

Speakers at the indoor conference included Christian Fitzgerald, Teagasc who outlined the importance of owners understanding the different methods of how timber is sold and how important it is for Forest owners to be involved at every step. Local forest owner, Peter Wilson shared his experience of dealing with wind damage, with Forestry contractor, Peter Sullivan explaining the extra challenges associated with harvesting in storm affected forests. Representing Bord Na Mona, Joseph Spollen described the potential for using timber for Biomass. Seppi Hona, DAFM outlined the supports for forest owners and the steps involved in preparing for a forest harvest.

Feedback from the event was very positive, with many attendees appreciating the opportunity to raise relevant issues and to meet face-to-face with timber buyers, Teagasc and DAFM staff at this key event.
Jeroen Distinguished - BHPian

Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Delhi Posts: 9,072 Thanked: 63,990 Times

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Re: Europe wants to ban carbon fibre from new cars Quote: Roy.S Originally Posted by What do you personally feel about this? Is carbon fibre as bad as some sources make it out to be?



And carbon fibre dust is a by product of recycling. There are a few other challenges on recycling carbon fibre as well. So carbon fibre as a material on your car, bike, bicycle, boat, plane whatever is fine. The issue is how to recycle it safely.



I think the reversal of the proposed ban is idiotic. There is no doubt on the potential health hazards of recycling carbon fibre. The notion that the pro# of using carbon fibre on cars outweigh the cons is ridiculous in my opinion. Its not even in the same category. I don't think I have ever seen a classification of a hazardous material being changed, because it had such great other qualities. No mistake. Carbon fibre has some great advantages.



But you should never ever compromise on health related issues. What they should have done is amend the recycling rules and regulations. We know how to handle asbestos safely and that is definitely even more dangerous.



To handle carbon fibre components safely at the end of of its life cycle you need to ensure the recycling industry is made aware and held accountable for dealing with it. They are perfectly well equipped to handle all kinds of difficult and hazardous materials. So why not add some more requirements for carbon fibre materials.



The qualification as a hazardous material should remain in force. That doesn't need to result in banning it. Oil is a dangerous material, we are not banning oil. But there is a vast set of rules and regulations dealing with environmental and health and safety aspects when dealing with oils.



So the ban was not necessary, the qualification of it being a hazardous material is correct. What is lacking is common sense and tell us how to deal with it effectively and safely.



What these idiots are saying, its such a great materials for car parts, lets not call it unsafe. What a load of crock.



Jeroen First of all, this ban was about concern on the recycling of carbon fibre. As other members have pointed out carbon fibre dust can be very harmful.And carbon fibre dust is a by product of recycling. There are a few other challenges on recycling carbon fibre as well. So carbon fibre as a material on your car, bike, bicycle, boat, plane whatever is fine. The issue is how to recycle it safely.I think the reversal of the proposed ban is idiotic. There is no doubt on the potential health hazards of recycling carbon fibre. The notion that the pro# of using carbon fibre on cars outweigh the cons is ridiculous in my opinion. Its not even in the same category. I don't think I have ever seen a classification of a hazardous material being changed, because it had such great other qualities. No mistake. Carbon fibre has some great advantages.But you should never ever compromise on health related issues. What they should have done is amend the recycling rules and regulations. We know how to handle asbestos safely and that is definitely even more dangerous.To handle carbon fibre components safely at the end of of its life cycle you need to ensure the recycling industry is made aware and held accountable for dealing with it. They are perfectly well equipped to handle all kinds of difficult and hazardous materials. So why not add some more requirements for carbon fibre materials.The qualification as a hazardous material should remain in force. That doesn't need to result in banning it. Oil is a dangerous material, we are not banning oil. But there is a vast set of rules and regulations dealing with environmental and health and safety aspects when dealing with oils.So the ban was not necessary, the qualification of it being a hazardous material is correct. What is lacking is common sense and tell us how to deal with it effectively and safely.What these idiots are saying, its such a great materials for car parts, lets not call it unsafe. What a load of crock.Jeroen
speedster786 BHPian



Join Date: Sep 2024 Location: Bangalore Posts: 33 Thanked: 244 Times Infractions: 0/1 (7)

A Morning Turned Journey: From the stillness of a sacred town to the pulse of a sleepless city



Thats when my wife, sipping her chai with an unusually mischievous smile, casually blurted out:



"Lets go to Shirdi."



I froze mid-sip. "Now? As in, right now?"



"Yes!" she said, eyes wide with excitement. "Lets just pack up and drive. We need some positive energyand anyway, we didnt plan anything for the weekend."





I, ever the man of reason, ran a mental checklist. No hotel booking, no packed bags, and definitely no itinerary. I looked at her calmly and said:



"You do realize this isnt a Bollywood movie, right?"



She rolled her eyes. "Says the guy who once drove 150 km just for a plate of biryani!"



Touche.



Ten minutes later, I found myself shoving clothes into a bag while she scrambled to find matching dupattas.



"Do I need my heels?" she asked.



"Yes, in case Sai Baba decides to roll out the red carpet," I muttered.



She didnt laugh. I didquietly.



 Meanwhile, the Verna had its own thoughts: Ah, wonderful. They remembered me. Just when I thought I could kick back and relax in the shade, here comes another impromptu road trip with half a tank and no tire checks. Classic.

We finally hit the road at 11 PM. Since we live in Whitefield, Bangalore, I took the expressway from Hoskote, which offered a smooth, traffic-free stretch all the way to Dabaspet. From there, we merged onto the Tumkur Highway (NH 48), setting us on the right track for a long overnight journey.





While the expressway made for a fantastic drive, its important to note that it isnt fully operational till Mumbai. The current exit is at Ghoti, after which you switch over to the standard highway for the remainder of the journey.







The night is when a city truly comes alive.





The roads were calm, the weather was just right, and the Verna was humming along beautifully  as steady as a rock on every turn, effortless on every stretch.



Of course, the in-car comedy continued:

Her: Dont go too fast; were not in Fast & Furious.



Me: Were in a Verna. Were the comfort and furious.



Verna (in her head): Finally, some praise! Now, please use the brakes like you actually care about me.



This trip wasnt just a quick runit was a full-blown adventure. In total, we clocked 2,700 kilometers, and the Verna, our loyal steed, delivered a commendable 21.2 km/l on the highwaynot bad for a diesel workhorse thats no stranger to long rides.



Route & Stages:

Quote: Stage 1  Onward Journey: Bangalore  Pune  Shirdi  Mumbai



Stage 2  In and Around Shirdi: Darshan, temple vibes, and a much-needed spiritual recharge



Stage 3  Shirdi to Mumbai: A scenic stretch with pit stops and playlists



Stage 4  Exploring Mumbai: Gateway, street food, and sea breeze therapy



Stage 5  Return Journey: Mumbai  Pune  Bangalore





We took a couple of chai breaks to stretch our legs and keep the yawns at bay, and by the crack of dawnaround 5 AMwe rolled into Hubli-Dharwad. But the honeymoon phase ended soon after Belgavi. The roads turned into a patchwork quilt of potholes and diversions, thanks to endless roadwork.



As we crossed into Maharashtra, traffic hit us like a ton of bricksand from there, it was bumper-to-bumper with no end in sight.



By then, Verna had been running on fumes after faithfully hauling us all the way from Bangalore. I pulled into the Kognoli Bharat Petroleum outleta company-owned, company-operated (COCO) stationjust in time to top her up and let her catch her breath.







Just after topping up the Vernas tank, we spotted Viraj Junction, a food court right near the Kognoli toll gatelike a silver lining after the rough patches of the road. Our stomachs had been singing a chorus of complaints for a while, so we followed our noses and stepped right in.







Theres also a play zone with go-karting and a bunch of fun games, making it a magnet for kids and a perfect pit stop for families looking to unwind.



After a brief and refreshing stop at Viraj Junction, we resumed our journey toward Pune. Unfortunately, the road conditions deteriorated significantly, with numerous diversions and heavy trafficparticularly between Kolhapur and Pune. This stretch added a few unexpected hours to our trip and made the drive more exhausting than we had bargained for.





During our drive, we stumbled upon a Safari that was truly on a missionit was undertaking the spiritual journey of a lifetime, visiting all 12 Jyotirlingas across the country. The car was decked out like a moving postcard, with each side showcasing vivid visuals of the holy sites on their itinerary.









I truly hope their trip is a great success and that they travel safely, carrying blessings with every mile.



We finally reached Shirdi by 3 PM and decided to call it a day. I had booked a 2BHK Airbnb hosted by Sandeep at Saburi Apartments, just half a mile from the Mandir. The place exceeded expectationsspacious, spotless, and very comfortable. At 4,000, it was well worth every penny.









We had a peaceful darshan in Shirdi and spent the rest of the time immersed in prayers and spiritual activities. Since mobile phones werent allowed inside the Mandir, I couldnt capture many moments. The darshan itself took about an hour, and it was truly fulfilling.



Just as we were winding down after a long day of prayers and peace in Shirdi, the calm was once again about to be shattered  predictably, by my ever-enthusiastic wife.



I was lying flat on the bed, digesting both the darshan and the day, when she walked in with that same mischievous glint in her eyes  the one that usually means my plans for rest are about to be hijacked.



"So..." she began, drawing out the suspense like a TV soap opera cliffhanger.



I raised an eyebrow. "So...?"



"Lets go to Mumbai tomorrow!"



I blinked. Mumbai? Now?



Not now-now, she grinned, but tomorrow morning. Were this close already! When will we get a chance like this again?



I opened my mouth to protest, but she cut me off, clearly sensing resistance.



Come on! Dont be boring. Its just a few more hours of driving. You love driving. The Vernas practically begging to hit the highway again!



In the corner, I imagined the Verna giving me the side-eye.

I just got a break, bro. Dont drag me into this.



I sighed, knowing I was fighting a losing battle. This is the same woman who once convinced me to take a detour to Hyderabad just for lunch on a trip to Hometown.



"Okay," I said finally, pretending to resist a little longer for dramatic effect. "But this time, you handle the traffic in Mumbai."



She laughed, grabbed her phone, and began checking out cafes in Colaba like it was already decided.



And just like that, our peaceful pilgrimage turned into a high-octane sequel  Shirdi Diaries Part 2: The Mumbai Mayhem.



With our minds recharged and bags packed again, we set off for Mumbai the next morning. We took the Samruddhi Expressway  and what a beauty! Smooth, wide, and perfect for cruising.









The expressway seemed to cut right through forested stretches, and we even got a close-up view of the windmills along the way.





While the expressway made for a fantastic drive, its important to note that it isnt fully operational till Mumbai. The current exit is at Ghoti, after which you switch over to the standard highway for the remainder of the journey.





We made it to Mumbai from Shirdi in just about 4 hours and headed straight to Colaba. After a bit of rest and freshening up, we stepped out to soak in the vibes at Marine Drive. As expected, it was buzzing with life  one of the best spots to relax by the sea.





Trident Hotel







Next on our list was the majestic Taj Mahal Palace, just a short drive from Nariman Point. Bathed in golden lights against the night sky, it looked absolutely breathtaking  and of course, we couldnt resist snapping a few photos.







We ran into a bus that was clearly made for taking the scenic route  a perfect pick for tourists ready to see the city through a window with wheels.





A towering symbol of colonial history and Mumbai pride.





Every time I see the Taj  whether in person or in pictures  the memories of 26/11 come rushing back. A day when the city bled, and countless innocent lives were lost. The scars still remain. Heartfelt salute to the brave martyrs  you will never be forgotten.



We made our way to Bademiya  the OG of Mumbai street-style dining. Packed to the brim, as always, but totally worth it. The Bheja Fry and kebabs? Chefs kiss!



The attention to detail at Bademiya was impressive  even the water bottles had Specially made for Bademiya printed on them. Its not just a restaurant; its a legacy.





From Bandstand, the Worli Sea Link stretches like a silver ribbon across the sea.







All good things must come to an end. With a bag full of memories and smiles, we hit the road back to Bangalore. Mumbai, you always know how to steal a piece of our hearts.



This time, we took the Mumbai-Pune Expressway  and I must say, it truly lives up to the name of a real expressway.





And so, with the sun setting on our Mumbai adventure, we began the journey back to Bangalore, feeling like seasoned travelers, but also wondering if wed ever get around to actually taking a proper weekend off.



As we drove, I caught my wife glancing over at me with that smilehalf mischievous, half innocent. I knew something was coming.



Wouldnt it be nice, she said, if we just took a road trip every weekend? Just like this, no plans, no itinerary, just us, the road, and the Verna.



I looked at her, feigning shock. "Every weekend? You mean like, forever?"



She nodded sagely. "Well, its either that or we become couch potatoes. And you know, Im really starting to miss those spontaneous lunch detours."



I shook my head, laughing. "Ill tell you what: How about we plan a week where we dont go anywhere? No spontaneous trips, no Lets just pack and go. Just us and Netflix."



She raised an eyebrow. "Netflix? You mean youre finally ready to binge-watch that series Ive been asking you about for months?"



"Absolutely," I said, with a grin. "But youre in charge of the snacks."



"Deal," she said. "But next time, Im the one driving. Ill even handle the traffic in Mumbai."



I sighed, knowing full well that no matter where we went, I was never truly in control. And that, I realized, was the perfect balance of adventure and comfort.

With the hum of the Verna, and the endless possibilities of future spontaneous trips ahead, I couldnt help but smile.

And yes, I still maintain that some of those detours were definitely not in the plan. But hey, thats life with the perfect wife.



End of story.





If you made it this far, give yourself a pat on the back  and thank you! This being my first post on Team-BHP, I promise the road (and the writing) only gets better from here. It was a peaceful Saturday morning. The kind where you plan to do absolutely nothingand hit the bullseye. The house was quiet, sunlight gently peeking through the curtains, and the only decision pending was whether to have another cup of tea or take a nap.Thats when my wife, sipping her chai with an unusually mischievous smile, casually blurted out:"Lets go to Shirdi."I froze mid-sip. "Now? As in, right now?""Yes!" she said, eyes wide with excitement. "Lets just pack up and drive. We need some positive energyand anyway, we didnt plan anything for the weekend."I, ever the man of reason, ran a mental checklist. No hotel booking, no packed bags, and definitely no itinerary. I looked at her calmly and said:"You do realize this isnt a Bollywood movie, right?"She rolled her eyes. "Says the guy who once drove 150 km just for a plate of biryani!"Touche.Ten minutes later, I found myself shoving clothes into a bag while she scrambled to find matching dupattas."Do I need my heels?" she asked."Yes, in case Sai Baba decides to roll out the red carpet," I muttered.She didnt laugh. I didquietly. Meanwhile, the Verna had its own thoughts: Ah, wonderful. They remembered me. Just when I thought I could kick back and relax in the shade, here comes another impromptu road trip with half a tank and no tire checks. Classic.We finally hit the road at 11 PM. Since we live in Whitefield, Bangalore, I took the expressway from Hoskote, which offered a smooth, traffic-free stretch all the way to Dabaspet. From there, we merged onto the Tumkur Highway (NH 48), setting us on the right track for a long overnight journey.While the expressway made for a fantastic drive, its important to note that it isnt fully operational till Mumbai. The current exit is at Ghoti, after which you switch over to the standard highway for the remainder of the journey.The night is when a city truly comes alive.The roads were calm, the weather was just right, and the Verna was humming along beautifully  as steady as a rock on every turn, effortless on every stretch.Of course, the in-car comedy continued:Her: Dont go too fast; were not in Fast & Furious.Me: Were in a Verna. Were the comfort and furious.Verna (in her head): Finally, some praise! Now, please use the brakes like you actually care about me.This trip wasnt just a quick runit was a full-blown adventure. In total, we clocked 2,700 kilometers, and the Verna, our loyal steed, delivered a commendable 21.2 km/l on the highwaynot bad for a diesel workhorse thats no stranger to long rides.Route & Stages:We took a couple of chai breaks to stretch our legs and keep the yawns at bay, and by the crack of dawnaround 5 AMwe rolled into Hubli-Dharwad. But the honeymoon phase ended soon after Belgavi. The roads turned into a patchwork quilt of potholes and diversions, thanks to endless roadwork.As we crossed into Maharashtra, traffic hit us like a ton of bricksand from there, it was bumper-to-bumper with no end in sight.By then, Verna had been running on fumes after faithfully hauling us all the way from Bangalore. I pulled into the Kognoli Bharat Petroleum outleta company-owned, company-operated (COCO) stationjust in time to top her up and let her catch her breath.Just after topping up the Vernas tank, we spotted Viraj Junction, a food court right near the Kognoli toll gatelike a silver lining after the rough patches of the road. Our stomachs had been singing a chorus of complaints for a while, so we followed our noses and stepped right in.Theres also a play zone with go-karting and a bunch of fun games, making it a magnet for kids and a perfect pit stop for families looking to unwind.After a brief and refreshing stop at Viraj Junction, we resumed our journey toward Pune. Unfortunately, the road conditions deteriorated significantly, with numerous diversions and heavy trafficparticularly between Kolhapur and Pune. This stretch added a few unexpected hours to our trip and made the drive more exhausting than we had bargained for.During our drive, we stumbled upon a Safari that was truly on a missionit was undertaking the spiritual journey of a lifetime, visiting all 12 Jyotirlingas across the country. The car was decked out like a moving postcard, with each side showcasing vivid visuals of the holy sites on their itinerary.I truly hope their trip is a great success and that they travel safely, carrying blessings with every mile.We finally reached Shirdi by 3 PM and decided to call it a day. I had booked a 2BHK Airbnb hosted by Sandeep at Saburi Apartments, just half a mile from the Mandir. The place exceeded expectationsspacious, spotless, and very comfortable. At 4,000, it was well worth every penny.We had a peaceful darshan in Shirdi and spent the rest of the time immersed in prayers and spiritual activities. Since mobile phones werent allowed inside the Mandir, I couldnt capture many moments. The darshan itself took about an hour, and it was truly fulfilling.Just as we were winding down after a long day of prayers and peace in Shirdi, the calm was once again about to be shattered  predictably, by my ever-enthusiastic wife.I was lying flat on the bed, digesting both the darshan and the day, when she walked in with that same mischievous glint in her eyes  the one that usually means my plans for rest are about to be hijacked."So..." she began, drawing out the suspense like a TV soap opera cliffhanger.I raised an eyebrow. "So...?""Lets go to Mumbai tomorrow!"I blinked. Mumbai? Now?Not now-now, she grinned, but tomorrow morning. Were this close already! When will we get a chance like this again?I opened my mouth to protest, but she cut me off, clearly sensing resistance.Come on! Dont be boring. Its just a few more hours of driving. You love driving. The Vernas practically begging to hit the highway again!In the corner, I imagined the Verna giving me the side-eye.I just got a break, bro. Dont drag me into this.I sighed, knowing I was fighting a losing battle. This is the same woman who once convinced me to take a detour to Hyderabad just for lunch on a trip to Hometown."Okay," I said finally, pretending to resist a little longer for dramatic effect. "But this time, you handle the traffic in Mumbai."She laughed, grabbed her phone, and began checking out cafes in Colaba like it was already decided.And just like that, our peaceful pilgrimage turned into a high-octane sequel  Shirdi Diaries Part 2: The Mumbai Mayhem.With our minds recharged and bags packed again, we set off for Mumbai the next morning. We took the Samruddhi Expressway  and what a beauty! Smooth, wide, and perfect for cruising.The expressway seemed to cut right through forested stretches, and we even got a close-up view of the windmills along the way.While the expressway made for a fantastic drive, its important to note that it isnt fully operational till Mumbai. The current exit is at Ghoti, after which you switch over to the standard highway for the remainder of the journey.We made it to Mumbai from Shirdi in just about 4 hours and headed straight to Colaba. After a bit of rest and freshening up, we stepped out to soak in the vibes at Marine Drive. As expected, it was buzzing with life  one of the best spots to relax by the sea.Trident HotelNext on our list was the majestic Taj Mahal Palace, just a short drive from Nariman Point. Bathed in golden lights against the night sky, it looked absolutely breathtaking  and of course, we couldnt resist snapping a few photos.We ran into a bus that was clearly made for taking the scenic route  a perfect pick for tourists ready to see the city through a window with wheels.A towering symbol of colonial history and Mumbai pride.Every time I see the Taj  whether in person or in pictures  the memories of 26/11 come rushing back. A day when the city bled, and countless innocent lives were lost. The scars still remain. Heartfelt salute to the brave martyrs  you will never be forgotten.We made our way to Bademiya  the OG of Mumbai street-style dining. Packed to the brim, as always, but totally worth it. The Bheja Fry and kebabs? Chefs kiss!The attention to detail at Bademiya was impressive  even the water bottles had Specially made for Bademiya printed on them. Its not just a restaurant; its a legacy.From Bandstand, the Worli Sea Link stretches like a silver ribbon across the sea.All good things must come to an end. With a bag full of memories and smiles, we hit the road back to Bangalore. Mumbai, you always know how to steal a piece of our hearts.This time, we took the Mumbai-Pune Expressway  and I must say, it truly lives up to the name of a real expressway.And so, with the sun setting on our Mumbai adventure, we began the journey back to Bangalore, feeling like seasoned travelers, but also wondering if wed ever get around to actually taking a proper weekend off.As we drove, I caught my wife glancing over at me with that smilehalf mischievous, half innocent. I knew something was coming.Wouldnt it be nice, she said, if we just took a road trip every weekend? Just like this, no plans, no itinerary, just us, the road, and the Verna.I looked at her, feigning shock. "Every weekend? You mean like, forever?"She nodded sagely. "Well, its either that or we become couch potatoes. And you know, Im really starting to miss those spontaneous lunch detours."I shook my head, laughing. "Ill tell you what: How about we plan a week where we dont go anywhere? No spontaneous trips, no Lets just pack and go. Just us and Netflix."She raised an eyebrow. "Netflix? You mean youre finally ready to binge-watch that series Ive been asking you about for months?""Absolutely," I said, with a grin. "But youre in charge of the snacks.""Deal," she said. "But next time, Im the one driving. Ill even handle the traffic in Mumbai."I sighed, knowing full well that no matter where we went, I was never truly in control. And that, I realized, was the perfect balance of adventure and comfort.With the hum of the Verna, and the endless possibilities of future spontaneous trips ahead, I couldnt help but smile.And yes, I still maintain that some of those detours were definitely not in the plan. But hey, thats life with the perfect wife.End of story.If you made it this far, give yourself a pat on the back  and thank you! This being my first post on Team-BHP, I promise the road (and the writing) only gets better from here.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 16. Unfortunately, our countries have repeatedly become the target of double standards and interference in internal affairs by foreign forces. Despite numerous efforts, we are resolutely eliminating these threats, ensuring the security and stability of the region, said President of Georgia Mikheil Kavelashvili during a joint press conference with President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Trend reports.

"No third country or organization can know better than us what is good for our peoples. I am glad that cooperation between Azerbaijan and Georgia in protecting common interests has intensified," he added.
In context: Every now and then, Microsoft security patches can wreak havoc on Windows PCs. Users are understandably cautious these days, and even an innocent, empty folder can raise concerns about what's going on in the system after installing one of these patches.

Recent Windows security updates released as part of April's Patch Tuesday introduced an unexpected change. After installing this month's bug fixes, users discovered a new "inetpub" folder had been created in the root of the system volume (e.g., C:\inetpub). Though empty, the folder quickly sparked concern  enough that Microsoft was compelled to update its security bulletin to (partially) explain its purpose.

Technically speaking, the inetpub folder is associated with Microsoft's Internet Information Services (IIS), an "extensible" web server that has been part of the Windows OS family since Windows NT 4.0. The IIS platform uses this folder to store logs, but only when the relevant Windows components are installed on the system.

The newly created inetpub folder is related to CVE-2025-21204, a security vulnerability that Microsoft patched this month. This vulnerability, classified as a Windows Process Activation Elevation of Privilege flaw, could be exploited by an authenticated attacker to perform file management operations with SYSTEM-level privileges, according to Microsoft's security bulletin. The issue affects both Windows 10 and Windows 11.

After users began speculating about the origin of the inetpub folder, Microsoft updated the bulletin to confirm its source.

Once the patch for CVE-2025-21204 is installed, the updated bulletin explains, a new "%systemdrive%\inetpub" folder will be created on the device. Microsoft advises against deleting this folder, even if IIS is not active on the system.

The new folder is part of the changes introduced to "enhance" Windows security, so both end users and IT admins shouldn't bother to investigate the matter any further. What Microsoft hasn't explained, however, is how exactly an empty folder helps protect the system from a privilege escalation vulnerability.

Microsoft's guidance to leave the inetpub folder alone may disappoint users who prefer to maintain strict custom folder structures on their local drives. Personally, knowing there's an empty folder in my system root that I "shouldn't" delete is the kind of thing that could eventually drive me insane. For users not affected by computing-related OCD tendencies, though, this odd addition may be easier to ignore  for now.
A hot potato: A new study from UC San Francisco is raising alarms about the widespread use of computed tomography (CT) scans in the United States, warning that the technology may be responsible for as much as 5 percent of all cancers diagnosed each year. The research, published in JAMA Internal Medicine and funded by the National Institutes of Health, suggests that the risks associated with CT scans  particularly the exposure to ionizing radiation  are far greater than previously believed.

"CT can save lives, but its potential harms are often overlooked," said Dr. Rebecca Smith-Bindman, the study's lead author and a UCSF radiologist. Smith-Bindman, who also serves as a professor of epidemiology and biostatistics, said there is an urgent need to reconsider current practices. "Given the large volume of CT use in the United States, many cancers could occur in the future if current practices don't change," she said. "Our estimates put CT on par with other significant risk factors, such as alcohol consumption and excess body weight. Reducing the number of scans and reducing doses per scan would save lives."

CT scans, also known as CAT scans, have become a mainstay in modern medicine, used to detect tumors and diagnose a wide range of illnesses. Since 2007, the number of annual CT exams in the US has jumped by 30 percent. In 2023 alone, Americans underwent 93 million CT scans, a figure that researchers say could result in nearly 103,000 new cancer cases  three to four times higher than previous estimates.

The study's methodology set it apart from earlier research. The approach used more accurate and individualized CT dose and utilization data than prior studies, allowing the researchers to produce more precise estimates of the number of radiation-induced cancers, explained co-author Dr. Diana Miglioretti, a breast cancer researcher and division chief of biostatistics at UC Davis.

The findings indicated that the excess cancer risks associated with CT scans also apply to the youngest patients and, again, are higher than previously recognized. Researchers analyzed data from 93 million CT exams performed on 61.5 million patients across the country. The likelihood of receiving a scan increased with age, peaking among adults aged 60 to 69. Children made up just over 4 percent of the scans, but the risks for this group were particularly acute. The study excluded scans performed in the last year of a patient's life, as these were unlikely to contribute to future cancer cases.

Adults between the ages of 50 and 59 were projected to have the highest number of CT-related cancers, with 10,400 cases in women and 9,300 in men. Among adults, the most common cancers linked to CT scans were lung, colon, leukemia, bladder, and breast cancer.

For children, the most frequently projected cancers were thyroid, lung, and breast. The data showed that CT scans of the abdomen and pelvis were the largest contributors to cancer risk in adults, while head scans posed the greatest risk for children. Notably, infants who underwent CT scans were found to be ten times more likely to develop cancer compared to other age groups.

The study's authors pointed out that many CT scans may be unnecessary, particularly those ordered for conditions like upper respiratory infections or headaches without alarming symptoms.

They urged patients and clinicians to consider alternatives or lower-dose scans when possible. "There is currently unacceptable variation in the doses used for CT, with some patients receiving excessive doses," Smith-Bindman said.

Dr. Malini Mahendra, a UCSF assistant professor of Pediatric Critical Care and co-author of the study, stressed the importance of transparency with families. "Few patients and their families are counseled about the risk associated with CT examinations," she said. "We hope our study's findings will help clinicians better quantify and communicate these cancer risks, allowing for more informed conversations when weighing the benefits and risks of CT exams."
In context: Prompt injection is an inherent flaw in large language models, allowing attackers to hijack AI behavior by embedding malicious commands in the input text. Most defenses rely on internal guardrails, but attackers regularly find ways around them  making existing solutions temporary at best. Now, Google thinks it may have found a permanent fix.

Since chatbots went mainstream in 2022, a security flaw known as prompt injection has plagued artificial intelligence developers. The problem is simple: language models like ChatGPT can't distinguish between user instructions and hidden commands buried inside the text they're processing. The models assume all entered (or fetched) text is trusted and treat it as such, which allows bad actors to insert malicious instructions into their query. This issue is even more serious now that companies are embedding these AIs into our email clients and other software that might contain sensitive information.

Google's DeepMind has developed a radically different approach called CaMeL (Capabilities for Machine Learning). Instead of asking artificial intelligence to self-police  which has proven unreliable  CaMeL treats large language models (LLMs) as untrusted components inside a secure system. It creates strict boundaries between user requests, untrusted content like emails or web pages, and the actions an AI assistant is allowed to take.

CaMeL builds on decades of proven software security principles, including access control, data flow tracking, and the principle of least privilege. Instead of relying on AI to catch every malicious instruction, it limits what the system can do with the information it processes.

Here's how it works. CaMeL uses two separate language models: a "privileged" one (P-LLM) that plans actions like sending emails, and a "quarantined" one (Q-LLM) that only reads and parses untrusted content. The P-LLM can't see raw emails or documents  it just receives structured data, like "email = get_last_email()." The Q-LLM, meanwhile, lacks access to tools or memory, so even if an attacker tricks it, it can't take any action.

All actions use code  specifically a stripped-down version of Python  and run in a secure interpreter. This interpreter traces the origin of each piece of data, tracking whether it came from untrusted content. If it detects that a necessary action involves a potentially sensitive variable, such as sending a message, it can block the action or request user confirmation.

Simon Willison, the developer who coined the term "prompt injection" in 2022, praised CaMeL as "the first credible mitigation" that doesn't rely on more artificial intelligence but instead borrows lessons from traditional security engineering. He noted that most current models remain vulnerable because they combine user prompts and untrusted inputs in the same short-term memory or context window. That design treats all text equally  even if it contains malicious instructions.

CaMeL still isn't perfect. It requires developers to write and manage security policies, and frequent confirmation prompts could frustrate users. However, in early testing, it performed well against real-world attack scenarios. It may also help defend against insider threats and malicious tools by blocking unauthorized access to sensitive data or commands.

If you love reading the undistilled technical details, DeepMind published its lengthy research on Cornell's arXiv academic repository.
In a nutshell: The European Commission is supplying staffers bound for the US on official business with burner phones and basic laptops. The security measure, which is common practice for staff members visiting regions like Russia or China where electronic surveillance is anticipated, is meant to thwart espionage attempts.

An EU official told the Financial Times, "The transatlantic alliance is over."

According to The Register, officials from the European Union are set to visit Washington DC next week to participate in spring meetings held by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group. Should nothing change between now and then, they will likely be the first to operate under the new policy.

Additionally, staffers are encouraged to power off their phones at the border and store them in special sleeves that protect against surveillance tactics if left unattended. If it were me, I would simply leave any personal phones, tablets, or computers at home in this situation.

The White House and the US National Security Council did not comment when asked about the situation. The European Commission confirmed that its security recommendations had been updated, but didn't reveal the specifics of the latest policy.

Luuk van Middelaar, director of the Brussels Institute for Geopolitics, said the new security measures are not surprising. "Washington is not Beijing or Moscow, but it is an adversary that is prone to use extra-legal methods to further its interests and power," van Middelaar told the publication.

According to van Middelaar, it is not anything new or party-related. "Democractic administrations use the same tactics," he said, referring to a 2013 incident in which the US  under the Obama administration  was accused of spying on the phone of German chancellor Angela Merkel.

As India Today highlights, border staff in the US have the right to search mobile devices of visitors coming into the country and can even seize them. Some have even reportedly been denied entry into the US after checks of their social media profiles turned up critical posts of the Trump administration.

Tension between the US and the European Union has been high ever since Trump retook office back in January.
By Laman Ismayilova



Azerbaijan State Academic Philharmonic has hosted a magnificent concert in honor of the Hajibayli dynasty.

The concert was timed to the 105th anniversary of composer Sultan Hajibayli and the 75th anniversary of Ismail Hajibayli.

Musicologist Vafa Abbasova welcomed the event's guests and then spoke about the life and work of the outstanding representatives of the Hajibayli dynasty. Furthermore, the audience enjoyed the concert program presented by the Azerbaijan State Symphony Orchestra, named after the great composer, Uzeyir Hajibayli.

Under the baton of the artistic director and chief conductor, People's Artist Fuad Ibrahimov, the orchestra performed the Overture and the symphonic picture "Caravan" by Sultan Hajibayli.

The orchestra also delighted the audience with "Concertino" by Ismail Hajibayli, highlighting the innovative spirit of his compositions. The evening was further enhanced by the performance of the symphonic rhapsody "Khayrat" by Rufat Khalilov, adding a contemporary touch to the concert program.

The Symphony Orchestra was formed at the request of the prominent composer Uzeyir Hajibayli.

Many great works of world music, such as those of G. Mahler, I. Stravinski, C. Debussy, A. Bruckner, J. Brahms, and others, occupy an honourable place in the orchestra's repertoire.

The Azerbaijan State Academic Philharmonic Hall is a unique center of classical music, which perfectly unites seven performing groups, including the State Symphony Orchestra, the State Choir Capella, the State Chamber Orchestra, the State Piano Trio, the State String Quartet, the State Folk Song and Dance Ensemble as well as the State Orchestra of Folk Instruments.

The music venue holds many large-scale music festivals and national and international competitions.

Numerous International projects, music festivals, and concerts of local and foreign musicians are regularly organized here.

The leadership of the Philharmonic Society also actively supports young talents through various musical projects.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 16. On April 16, the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov met with a delegation led by a member of the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye, Chairman of the parliaments National Defense Commission, and former Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Turkiye, Hulusi Akar, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense.

The Chairman of the Turkish Parliaments National Defense Commission signed the Book of Honor following the protocol.

Colonel General Z.Hasanov expressed satisfaction with seeing the guests in Azerbaijan. The Minister stressed that the sincere relations between the heads of state of both fraternal countries play a crucial role in the development of Azerbaijani-Turkish cooperation in all spheres, including in military sphere.

In turn, H. Akar conveyed his pleasure with his first visit to Azerbaijan this year and expressed gratitude for the warm welcome and hospitality. Highlighting the importance of mutual visits, the guest emphasized that the military relations between Azerbaijan and Turkiye, which have reached the level of a strategic alliance, are constantly developing.

During the meeting, a wide exchange of views on issues of mutual interest, including regional security issues was held.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 16. Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) Anaclaudia Rossbach paid a courtesy visit to the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Republic of Kenya on April 15, the embassy told Trend.

According to the embassy, Rossbach and her delegation were first introduced to the memorial room dedicated to Azerbaijans national leader Heydar Aliyev, located within the embassy building, as well as the statehood corner. The delegation also honored the memory of the late leader.

During the meeting, Ambassador Sultan Hajiyev briefed the guests on Azerbaijans statehood history, cultural heritage, the life and leadership of Heydar Aliyev, and the achievements of modern Azerbaijan under the leadership of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev. The ambassador emphasized that Azerbaijan is currently the only country conducting large-scale reconstruction efforts in a post-conflict context entirely through national resources and in line with contemporary urban development principles. He also highlighted the challenges caused by landmines in the liberated territories and ongoing humanitarian demining efforts.

The two sides expressed satisfaction with the dynamic cooperation between Azerbaijan and UN-Habitat. They exchanged views on shared priorities related to the global significance of the upcoming thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF), which Azerbaijan will host from May 18-22, 2026. Rossbach welcomed the Azerbaijani governments active support in the preparation for WUF13.

The UN-Habitat executive director also commended Azerbaijans successful organization of the twenty-ninth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP). She underscored the importance of joint initiatives under COP29s leadership and praised the productive meetings held during her visit to Azerbaijan. Rossbach noted that Azerbaijans global efforts to bridge sustainable urbanization and climate action through platforms like COP and WUF play a key role in advancing international cooperation. She reaffirmed UN-Habitats commitment to strengthening its partnership with Azerbaijan.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Ukraine's psychiatric care on the brink in face of mass trauma



Poltava, Ukraine, April 16 (AFP) Apr 16, 2025



When Russian drones and missiles pierce the skies above Ukraine at night and air defence begins to thunder, Olga Klimova plunges into a deep sleep -- far from her stay in a crowded psychiatric ward.

"I take my pills, I sleep deeply, I don't hear anything," the 44-year-old said, her giggle exposing missing teeth.

In her dreams, Klimova sees her village, Kyselivka, in the southern Kherson region.

She lived several months under Russian occupation in 2022, before Kyiv's forces retook Kherson.

Suffering from schizophrenia, Klimova was then evacuated hundreds of kilometres (miles) northwards, to a hospital in the central city of Poltava.

She has since been a patient in the Poltava Regional Psychiatric Hospital.

Klimova has not heard from her relatives back home -- many of them elderly -- since the start of the conflict.

"They know I am in Poltava. I am waiting for the end of the war to see them," she told AFP.



- New patients -



Kyiv has evacuated thousands of patients from psychiatric wards during the war, according to doctors AFP spoke to.

On top of existing patients, the fighting and devastation also generated a massive mental health crisis -- both among the military and civilian population.

The World Health Organization estimates that some 9.6 million Ukrainians are at risk of, or live with, a mental health problem -- almost a quarter of the country's pre-war population.

Already underfunded and depleted before 2022, the state psychiatric system is barely coping.

Oles Telyukov, a doctor at the main psychiatric hospital in Poltava, is overwhelmed by the crisis -- and expects it to worsen when the war ends.

His ward was supposed to host a maximum of 40 women, but in March there were 47.



- Medicine shortages -



Around 10 percent of the 712 patients at the hospital in mid-March were those displaced by fighting -- mostly from the war-battered Kherson, Donetsk, Lugansk and Kharkiv regions.

Among them were other evacuees from Kherson, like 47-year-old Olga Beketova, who also suffers from schizophrenia.

She recalled being left without vital medication for weeks in the Kherson region under the Russian occupation as a severe medicine shortage ensued.

She had a seizure at home in May 2022 and was taken to hospital in Kherson, before being moved to Poltava when Ukrainian forces retook the city in November that year.

Leaning on a walking stick, she told AFP she then had a stroke in 2024, which she blamed on "all the anxiety".

Amid a shortage of medicine -- mostly expensive and imported from abroad -- some foreign aid organisations have stepped in.



- Aid with medicine -



French doctor Christian Carrer founded the humanitarian group AICM, which helps Ukrainian clinics, including psychiatric hospitals.

He said he worried about the refugee patients and the system crumbling.

"It's complicated... There are patients who were ill before (the war) and those who fell ill after the start of the war because they suffered trauma," he told AFP.

In March, his NGO delivered epilepsy drugs, as well as supplies for treating seizures and schizophrenia to the Poltava hospital.

With resources dwindling, Ukrainian psychiatrists give their patients inappropriate sedatives to help them sleep, according to Carrer.

"We delivered products that diminish the effects of schizophrenia... but without numbing the patient," he said.

Russia's invasion had cut short Ukrainian plans to modernise its healthcare system.

A 2017 reform never reached psychiatric wards -- which retain much from the Soviet era.







- 'De-stigmatising' -



Doctor Telyukov recalled the chaos of patient evacuations in 2022, saying many arrived without personal belongings or documents.

A lot of people cannot speak about their trauma to their family or doctors.

"Those are the most difficult cases," he said.

Telyukov is also faced with a tsunami of disorders in the military.

He recounted treating a woman soldier traumatised by a September 2024 Russian bombing that killed 59 people, and another who was held in a Russian prison for six months.

He suspected the latter, also a woman, suffered sexual violence but said she "did not entirely" confide in him.

The rooms in his ward are named by colours, not numbers.

"It's to de-stigmatise, to get rid of bureaucracy," the psychiatrist said.

In the "pink" ward, Klimova sat in a crowded room, and waved goodbye to an AFP team.
US firm pushes for deep-sea mining off Pacific island



Sydney, April 16 (AFP) Apr 16, 2025



A US firm says it has launched a bid for deep-sea mining in the waters off a remote Pacific island, urging regulators to greenlight its foray into the contentious emerging industry.

Impossible Metals said it had asked United States officials to "commence a leasing process" for a parcel of ocean surrounding far-flung US territory American Samoa.

The miner said the region likely harboured ocean-floor deposits of nickel, cobalt and copper -- coveted metals used in rechargeable batteries and other renewable energy technologies.

"Impossible Metals' innovative approach to selective harvesting of minerals from the deep sea will revolutionize the mining industry and ensure that the United States remains a leader in sustainability, technology, and clean energy," the company said in a statement.

American Samoa is a US territory in the South Pacific with a population nearing 50,000 people.

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is scrambling to devise rules for deep-sea mining, balancing its economic potential against warnings of irreversible environmental damage.

The United States is not a member of the UN-affiliated body, and Impossible Metals' bid circumvents the seabed authority by mining within US jurisdiction, rather than international waters.

Canada-based deep-sea mining frontrunner The Metals Company recently stunned industry observers with an attempt to sideline the ISA.

After years of pushing the authority to adopt rules for industrial-scale mining, The Metals Company abruptly announced earlier this year it would seek US approval instead.

The Metals Company believes the United States has the power to approve mining in international waters under largely untested laws passed in 1980.

"The company strongly believes that the U.S. seabed mining code offers the greatest probability of securing a permit for commercial recovery of deep-sea mineral resources in a timely manner," it said earlier this year.

"What we need is a regulator with a robust regulatory regime, and who is willing to give our application a fair hearing."

There are fears this could fatally undermine the ISA, triggering a global free-for-all.

Companies hope to earn billions by scraping the ocean floor for polymetallic rocks, or nodules, that are loaded with manganese, cobalt, copper and nickel -- metals used to build batteries for electric vehicles.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 16. Azerbaijani Parliament Speaker Sahiba Gafarova met with a Slovenian parliamentary delegation led by Bojan Cebela, head of the SloveniaAzerbaijan interparliamentary friendship group, the parliamentary press service told Trend.

The meeting emphasized Azerbaijans commitment to fostering friendly, respectful, and mutually beneficial relations with Slovenia. Both sides acknowledged the strong potential for developing bilateral ties across various sectors and underscored the importance of high-level visits and ongoing political dialogue in strengthening relations.

The discussion highlighted opportunities for cooperation not only in the energy sector but also in expanding economic relations and mutual trade. Areas such as transportation, green energy, education, science, and culture were also noted as promising fields for deeper collaboration. It was emphasized that cultural exchanges contribute to strengthening people-to-people ties.

Parliamentary diplomacy was described as a key component of bilateral relations. Speaker Gafarova noted the vital role of friendship groups in advancing interparliamentary engagement through regular dialogue and exchanges.

Cebela conveyed greetings from Urska Klakocar Zupancic, Speaker of the Slovenian Parliament, and shared his positive impressions of the visit to Azerbaijan. He emphasized the importance of further deepening parliamentary cooperation.

The Slovenian Head also congratulated Azerbaijan on its high-level hosting of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) and confirmed Slovenias participation in the parliamentary meetings held under its framework.

The memory of Mehdi HuseynzadehMihajlo, a national hero who bravely fought in the battles for Slovenias liberation from fascism, was also honored during the meeting. This gesture was recognized as a testament to the historical friendship between the two nations.

The sides also exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
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A mother-of-four from Surrey has had her leg amputated after knee pain during a run turned out to be a benign tumour.

Camilla Collins, 45, was a very active person until 2018, when she experienced sudden knee pain during a run. A subsequent scan uncovered a non-cancerous but aggressive tumour, measuring 6cm by 8cm, growing in her bone. Despite multiple attempts, surgical removal proved unsuccessful.

Faced with the grim choice between amputation and the potential spread of the disease to her organs, Camilla underwent a major operation in March 2020, the first week of the COVID-19 lockdown, to have her right leg amputated.

The procedure was performed while she was awake and without family present due to the restrictions  and she can still hear the bone saw to this day.

Having undergone eight operations on her leg in total and encountering various complications with prosthetics, Camilla is now exploring a final, ninth procedure. This involves embedding metal into her bone to integrate a prosthetic directly with her leg.

The operation would help her walk again and enjoy the ordinary aspects of everyday life  but, because it is unavailable on the NHS, it could cost up to 140,000, so Camillas loved ones have launched a GoFundMe page to support her.

open image in gallery Camilla described herself as a once 'very active' individual ( Collect/PA Real Life )

Your childrens years are such a small amount of time and theyre really precious  its really frustrating when you cant do things with them, Camilla said.

Ive never been able to hold the hand of my youngest child while crossing a road because Ive been on crutches or not able to walk.

There are so many things I want to do  even ordinary things such as loading the dishwasher, hanging out the washing and going on the school run without worrying.

People always assume an amputee will get a prosthetic, which they can and everyone has access, but whether it works out for you in the way you hope, its not always like that.

Camilla said she was once a very active person, but she suddenly experienced an excruciating pain just below her right knee while out for a run in October 2018.

Thinking at first that it was a strain or shin splint, Camilla rested up but soon started waking up in the middle of the night with a nasty ache in the bone.

open image in gallery Camilla said the prosthetic surgery would allow her to 'enjoy everyday life' with her family ( Collect/PA Real Life )

She visited her GP, who suggested she attend her local hospital for an X-ray  where a peach-sized mass was discovered.

After undergoing scans and biopsies at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Oxford, Camilla was diagnosed with Giant Cell Tumour of the bone  and, while benign, the tumours can behave aggressively and grow quickly, and in rare cases, they can become cancerous, according to Sarcoma UK.

Camilla underwent two operations  one in January 2019 to remove the tumour and fill the space with bone cement and another in October 2019 to replace a section of her tibia and knee joint with metal.

However, both were unsuccessful in controlling the growth of the tumour, which spread to her soft tissue, and the second operation left her unable to move her right foot.

I kept thinking I was going to wake up and it was going to be a strange dream, Camilla said.

After taking advice from her doctor in January 2020, Camilla was informed that the best course of action to save her life was to amputate her leg.

If it was on the loose, it could go to my lungs, she said.

I had almost reached that point anyway and I thought it would be the best chance of being mobile again by going down the prosthetic route.

I remained optimistic.

open image in gallery Camilla's right leg was amputated while she was conscious ( Collect/PA Real Life )

Camilla underwent her amputation surgery at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore, north-west London, on March 24, 2020  the first week of the first national lockdown.

Henry (my husband) had to drop me at the door with all my stuff, she said.

I was really scared and I did feel really alone.

The anaesthetists explained they werent going to use general anaesthetic because youve got tubes going directly into your airways and they were concerned about how Covid was spreading.

Camilla said she was given an injection into her spine to numb her lower half, but the sounds of the surgery remain.

I can still hear it in my head now, the bone saw, it was really loud, she said.

It never goes and it replays in your head.

Due to the pandemic, Camilla was discharged just two days later to recover at home to ensure she was not at risk of coronavirus.

I set about trying to find out how I can make myself the strongest possible, both physically and mentally, she said.

For me, as a mother, that was the best and only way forward.

open image in gallery Camilla with her four children ( Collect/PA Real Life )

She started practising yoga and Pilates exercises to build up her strength, and she would speak with her physiotherapists over Zoom.

Six weeks after the amputation, Camilla started exploring prosthetics to get back on two feet  but years of complications followed.

The cast-made socket on a prosthetic, made from a mould of Camillas leg, caused intense pain and created friction within her residual limb.

Camilla underwent four further operations to revise the amputation and correct complications between 2020 and 2024, but in March this year, an MRI scan found there was a huge volume of fluid in her leg.

Her doctors then introduced her to a procedure known as osseointegration  a prosthetic surgery where the bone becomes fused with a metal implant, removing the need for a socket.

Hearing this, I lit up I felt reassured there was still the possibility I could have the opportunity to walk again, she said.

However, the surgery is not available on the NHS and Camilla estimates it could cost 140,000  prompting her loved ones to set up a GoFundMe page where they will be organising fundraising events to help with the fees, raising more than 1,800 so far.

It would be a complete game-changer; it would give me back so many possibilities and allow me to enjoy everyday life with my family, Camilla said.

To find out more, visit Camillas fundraising page.
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Meagan Good has opened up about married life to her best friend Jonathan Majors.

Good, speaking to People at the April 11 NBCU Emmy Kick-Off Luncheon in Beverly Hills, revealed more insight into life as a newlywed. And while its been amazing, Good also told the outlet it does feel different.

I learned so much from him. But I think being husband and wife, you take on a different kind of partnership, Good said. And I think that while the commitment might already be there, it's a different type of commitment because it's lifelong, no matter what I'm riding with you [until] the wheels fall off.

Good, 43, and Majors, 35, tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in March ahead of the release of his latest film, Magazine Dreams. The ceremony was officiated by Majors mother. After asking Goods father for permission to wed, Majors had special rings from Hawaii engraved for the occasion.

Majors and Good started dating in 2023, after Goods divorce from producer DeVon Franklin was finalized in 2022. The new couple was first linked around the time Majors was facing trial for misdemeanor assault and harassment charges for a March 2023 incident with his ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari.

Majors was found guilty of two counts of misdemeanor assault and harassment in December 2023. He was sentenced to complete one year of an "in person batterers" intervention program in April 2024. Jabbari has since dropped an assault and defamation lawsuit against Majors.

Jonathan Majors and Meagan Good at the Los Angeles premiere of Number One on the Call Sheet. She has now opened up about her marriage ( 2025 Invision )

Then, the couple confirmed their engagement to People in November 2024.

"Were feeling great, Good told People at the time while showing off her engagement ring. Its a season of joy, Majors added.

Now, speaking just weeks after tying the knot, Good said, I already felt like I had my person, I know it's me and him against the world, whatever it may be.

The Think Like a Man actor also shared her belief that marriage is a commitment to being our best selves.

When two people come together, they make the same choice and the same commitment, Good said, nothing that the other person is making the same decision as you.

But when you choose someone who has grown up in a different place, has different siblings, a different life experience, you guys may be very similar, but you also might be very different, she continued.

And there's just something really beautiful about [it].
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Valerie Bertinelli claimed she and Steven Spielberg are old flames.

I dated Steven for a New York minute, the 64-year-old actor said during her April 14 appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show. It was obviously before I met [ex-husband Eddie Van Halen], I went up to go read for Raiders of the Lost Ark, and then he asked me out on a date.

Bertinelli then paused her discussion with the host to give her old flame a message.

We were together for, I dont know, three [or] four months and he still has a bowling shirt of mine, Steven, that you had in your house, and I didnt get it out of the closet when we broke up, so I would like it back, she joked.

A shocked Barrymore asked: How have we never talked about that? Did you guys have fun?

According to the best-selling author, she and the 78-year-old filmmaker had a ball.

He invited me to the Academy Awards that year, and I went, and this was the year I believe that Sally Field won, and she was in the elevator with her Oscar and Im a huge Sally Field fan, Bertinelli continued. I loved her forever and I couldnt say anything. I was just like, Congratulations.

Bertinelli didnt reveal any further details about their alleged fling.

The Independent has contacted Spielbergs representatives for a comment.

Bertinelli went on to meet her first husband, the late Eddie Van Halen, backstage at his concert in Louisiana in 1980. The two then tied the knot a year later. Bertinelli was 21 years old at the time and Van Halen was 26.

The couple welcomed their son Wolfgang Van Halen, 34, and spent 20 years together before ultimately separating in 2001. However, their divorce wasnt finalized until 2007.

Van Halen tragically died of throat cancer in 2020.

Bertinelli didnt get married to her second husband, Tom Vitale, until 2011. She and Vitale were first introduced in 2004 through Bertinellis brother, Patrick.

After 10 years, Bertinelli filed for legal separation from Vitale and officially filed for divorce in 2022.

Like Bertinelli, Spielberg has also tied the knot twice. The Jurassic Park creator said I do to his first wife, Amy Irving, in 1985, four years before they decided to part ways in 1989.

He then began dating his second, and current wife, Kate Capshaw, that same year. The two dove head first into the romance, moving in together after only a few months and giving birth to their first child a year later.

Spielberg has seven children, one of which he welcomed with Irving (son Max Spielberg) and six he shares with Capshaw.

Jessica, 48, is the eldest of all the children and is Capshaws first daughter from her marriage to Robert Capshaw.

Theo Spielberg, 36, and Mikaela Spielberg, 29, were adopted by Spielberg and Capshaw in 1991 and 1996, respectively. The two also share 34-year-old daughter Sasha Spielberg, 33-year-old son Sawyer Spielberg, and 28-year-old daughter Destry Allyn Spielberg.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 16. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree amending the decree "On the Establishment of the Organizing Committee for the III CIS Games in Azerbaijan in 2025", Trend reports.

According to the decree, the deputy chairman of the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture of Azerbaijan, the deputy chairman of the Azerbaijan State Water Resources Agency, the deputy chairman of the Food Safety Agency of Azerbaijan, and the deputy chairman of the Board of the State Housing Construction Agency of Azerbaijan were added to the list of members of the Organizing Committee for the III CIS Games in Azerbaijan in October 2025.

Moreover, the head of the Oghuz District Executive Power, the deputy head of the Barda District Executive Power, the deputy head of the Goranboy District Executive Power, the deputy head of the Ismayilli District Executive Power, the deputy head of the Gazakh District Executive Power, the deputy head of the Shamkir District Executive Power, the deputy head of the Tartar District Executive Power and the deputy head of the Tovuz District Executive Power were removed from the list of members of the Organizing Committee.
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Arrested over 35 years ago, Erik and Lyle Menendez have now spent more of their lives behind bars than free.

The pair were imprisoned for the double murder of their parents in their Beverly Hills home. In the decades since, they have gotten an education, participated in self-help classes and started various support groups for their fellow inmates  all behind bars.

Legal representatives for the brothers now plan to highlight their behaviour during their time in prison as they prepare to plea for a reduced sentence later this week that could lead to their release.

Erik and Lyle were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole at ages 18 and 21 after killing their father, Jose Menendez, and mother, Kitty Menendez.

Defence attorneys for the brothers argued that they acted out of self-defence after years of sexual abuse by their father, while prosecutors said it was instead a scheme to claim a multimillion-dollar inheritance.

open image in gallery Erik and Lyle Menendez have been in prison for over 35 years ( AP )

Last year, former District Attorney George Gascon asked the court to consider a new sentence for the brothers which would make them immediately eligible for parole.

A resentencing petition filed by Gascons office gives a detailed view of their time locked up and their efforts at rehabilitation. Both brothers have received commendations and statements of support from correctional officers who have observed their behavior in prison.

Correctional Lieutenant Victor Cortes wrote of Lyles exceptional conduct, a high degree of character and trustworthiness in an April 2024 memo supporting his resentencing.

As far as I can perceive from my professional training as a correctional peace officer, Erik Menendez is a rehabilitated man who humbly strives toward helping those in need, Corrections Officer D. Rosario said in a March 2016 memo, according to the resentencing petition.

Gascons successor, Nathan Hochman, doesn't agree. He submitted a motion last month to withdraw the resentencing request, and prosecutors argued during last Fridays hearing they could not support the brothers resentencing.

Disciplinary records

Lyle has not been in a single fight in the 30 years he has been in prison, according to prison records that noted that he had to be moved to a Special Needs Yard in 1997 because he wouldnt fight back when attacked."

Both brothers have the lowest possible risk assessment and raw security risk scores for inmates serving a life sentence, according to the resentencing petition.

Unlike his brother, Erik was cited for two fights among his eight violations in prison. Lyle has had five violations, according to the resentencing petition. Some of these violations include possessing a cellphone and contraband such as a lighter or Adidas shoes.

Early prison years

During the first few years of his time in prison, Erik completed numerous victim empathy, anger management and domestic violence programs.

open image in gallery Supporters of the Menendez brothers hold signs in support of the pairs release, 20 March 2025, Los Angeles ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Lyle became involved in leadership roles early on and served as Representative for Prisoners in Northern California prisons in 2003, according to associate warden B. Holmes in a 2017 memo cited in the resentencing petition.

For over 10 years serving in that capacity, he has worked productively with the administration to foster a positive programming culture at Mule Creek State Prison," Holmes said.

Community support groups

Erik cofounded the Life Care and Hospice connections support group in 2016 with the goal of providing support for elderly and disabled inmates and developing more compassion and understanding between them and their able-bodied peers, the resentencing petition said.

Because even behind bars, he believes in compassion and dignity, his cousin Anamaria Baralt said at a news conference last month.

According to community resource manager Crystal Lopez, Erik authored the whole curriculum and eventually developed a new 126-page manual for the program in 2023.

Erik also started two meditation programs and has become the lead facilitator for Alternatives to Violence, an in-prison conflict resolution workshop. At one point, he was teaching five different classes a week, the resentencing petition said.

Lyle founded a program in 2016 that focuses on helping other inmates understand their childhood trauma and discuss topics like experiencing sex abuse as children as well as Youth LWOP Ally, a mentorship group of youth offenders with sentences of life without possibility of parole mentoring other youth working on their rehabilitation goals.

The Green Space Project

At the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, Lyle spearheaded the Green Space Project beginning in 2018, which aims to beautify prison yards to create an environment better suited for reducing violence and recidivism.

Their project was inspired by the Norwegian approach to incarceration that believes humane prison environments leads to more successful reintegration into society.

open image in gallery Anamaria Baralt, cousin of Erik and Lyle Menendez, speaks during about the brothers case, 20 March 2025, Los Angeles ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Over 100 inmates participated, marking the first time prison administration entrusted an inmate to lead such a redesign, Baralt said during a virtual news conference in February.

He worked with local businesses and all levels of prison administration to raise more than $250,000 for the project, and he partnered with Guide Dogs of America to raise $100,000 for artificial grass, according to the resentencing petition.

Erik is the lead painter for a massive mural that depicts San Diego landmarks.

The final product will include outdoor classrooms, rehabilitation-group meeting spaces and training areas for service dogs.

Pursuing higher education

Lyle graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a bachelor of arts in sociology earlier this year and earned an associate degree in sociology previously. He is currently enrolled in a masters program where he studies urban planning and recidivism, and the Green Space program is part of his capstone project.

Erik was accepted into UC Irvine for the fall 2023 term and will graduate in June with a bachelor of arts in sociology. Prior to that, he earned associate degrees in sociology and social and behavioral science, as well as a health care aide diploma.

They've taken a really horrible situation and while they are still in prison, they took that deck of hards and made it a winning hand for themselves, their cousin Tamara Goodall said.
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A Pennsylvania woman named as a person of interest in a sprawling web of alleged cult killings has denied murdering her parents  and insists that she and her friends have been "lied" about.

Michelle Zajko, 32, was arrested in Maryland in February after being sought by investigators in the murder of her parents in 2022 and the death of a border agent in a shootout in Vermont this January.

Both killings appeared to be linked to an enigmatic radical vegan group known as the Zizians, whose critics have painted it as a violent cult haunted by visions of an AI apocalypse whose member are bent on revenge against its perceived enemies.

But in a handwritten letter sent to the Associated Press on Tuesday, Zajko complicated that picture.

"You, the public, are being lied to," Zajko wrote. "And while I dont promise to answer all your questions, I think the truth about my friends and I will make a lot more sense than what youve been reading about in the papers."

She went on: "My friends and I are being described as like Satans lapdogs, the devil, and the Manson family all rolled into one. These papers are flagrantly lying ... I didnt murder my parents."

Zajko's letter appears to be the first time any reputed Zizian has directly addressed the allegations against them in a public statement, at least since January's killings.

The group is named after 34-year-old computer scientist and blogger Ziz LaSota, whose writings between 2016 and 2022 attracted a small but devoted audience of highly educated young people, often transgender or non-binary.

open image in gallery Ziz LaSota following her arrest in Maryland in February 2025 ( Allegany County Sheriffs Office )

It originally emerged within Silicon Valley's cultish rationalist subculture. But it split off around 2019 after bitter disputes about the importance of animal rights and allegations of sexual abuse and transphobia in the rationalist community.

Since then it has been linked to the murder of a trailer yard landlord in California, the death of Zajko's parents in suburban Philadelphia, and the fatal shooting of border agent David Maland in a gunfight in Vermont  although the actual truth of these incidents, and the relationship between them, remain mysterious.

In her letter to the Associated Press, Zajko alleged that there were actually "multiple groups," and that she and her friends were not affiliated with Maximilian Snyder, the 22-year-old data scientist accused of murdering a California landlord who had violently clashed with some of Ziz's friends back in 2022.

Authorities claim that Zajko provided the gun used in the Vermont shooting, and consider her a person of interest in her parents' death. But neither she nor Ziz has so far been charged in connection with any killing.

Both women were arrested together in Maryland in February after asking a local man if they could camp on his land  only to be reported to police as "suspicious.

The news media has utterly terrified this small town into thinking we were here to hurt them, wrote Zajko in her letter, claiming that the group's only plans were eating (vegan) soft pretzels with guacamole, repairing a diesel heater, & camping.

She alleged that Ziz and others were victims of a smear campaign led by people associated with rationalism, which seeks to understand and maximize human cognition, and address the potential dangers of artificial intelligence.

Stalkers and abusers within the community have tried to discredit Zizians for trying to expose sexual abuse within rationalist organizations, Zajko claimed.

She also defended Ziz, describing her as an extraordinary friend who rescued her from an abusive relationship.

Ziz is not my leader, and I am not hers. What we have is called friendship, and I love her infinitely more than I could ever express," she wrote. She doesn't deserve her bad reputation. She deserves to be free.
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Bikers who reputedly ride with the Mongols outlaw motorcycle club have been arrested in Southern California after allegedly participating in a bar brawl that left a man dead.

The U.S. Department of Justice says that a fight broke out between bikers in the early morning hours of March 4 at a bar in Ontario, California.

Clifford "Buckshot" Lavoy, 51, and Julian "Juls" Pulido, 31  both reportedly members of the Mongols  allegedly attacked a member of the Vagos outlaw motorcycle club who was at the bar, according to prosecutors.

The victim was only identified as "V.S." by the prosecutors, KTLA reports.

The Vagos member was reportedly inside the bar while wearing clothing with his club's insignia on it. Prosecutors say the alleged Mongols members approached the Vagos rider and demanded he show them respect by removing the articles of clothing.

That reportedly resulted in an argument that escalated into a fight. The Mongols riders allegedly held the man down, beating and kicking him in the head and the neck and choking him out, prosecutors said.

The victim tried to flee the bar and was shot dead.

When the victim tried to run out of the bar, Pulido allegedly pulled out a gun and shot the victim several times in the back, causing the victim to fall through the door of the bar and bleed out on the sidewalk, the Department of Justice said in its news release. The defendants then fled the scene.

The victim was declared dead at 2.45am. Police began searching for the Mongol riders and spotted Pulido, who allegedly led them on a nine-hour chase through five California counties.

He was arrested after crashing a black Dodge vehicle into a ditch during a high-speed chase along Highway 46 near Lost Hills in Kern County, prosecutors said. At the time of his arrest, Pulido possessed the same Mongols-branded clothing he had worn on the night of V.S.s murder.

Lavoy was arrested in Whittier on April 15. He was booked and then released. Lavoy has been charged with assault resulting in bodily injury in aid of racketeering, and Pulido has been charged with murder in aid of racketeering.

The Mongols MC is one of the largest outlaw motorcycle clubs in California, eclipsed only by the infamous Hells Angels. The group has been in operation since the 1960s, as have the Vagos.

If Pulido is convicted under his current charges, he will face a minimum life sentence in federal prison. Lavoy, if convicted under his current charges, faces a maximum sentence of 20 years incarceration.
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A Louisiana pastor has been charged with raping a child, just weeks after he left his church and fled the state.

Shane Phillip Wiggins was picked up by police in Texas earlier this month after a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was wanted on charges of first degree rape and molestation of a child.

According to Morgan City Police, in December, deputies received a complaint from a mother of a child who accused Wiggins of inappropriate behavior with the juvenile stemming from an incident that occurred in the past few years.

Officers spoke to the victim and several witnesses during the investigation, but Wiggins refused to be interviewed. A judge later issued a warrant for his arrest, but detectives learned he had moved residence and was no longer contactable by phone.

Chris Holloway, senior pastor of Little Pass Baptist Church, told the Baptist Press that Wiggins had abandoned the congregation of Baldwin Baptist Mission Church at least as early as the first Sunday in February.

open image in gallery Louisiana pastor Shane Wiggins has been charged with raping a child, just weeks after he left his church and fled the state. Wiggins was picked up by police in Texas after allegedly fleeing the state in February ( Morgan City Police Department, La )

Shane left town around the first of February, Holloway told the outlet via email. My last conversation with him was on Jan. 28, 2025. He said Wiggins had previously served as pastor of the Baldwin Baptist Mission Church prior to 2011 and had returned in 2015.

Following a collaboration with Texas police, Wiggins was located in Paris, Texas, where he was notified of the arrest warrant and placed under arrest.

Wiggins was then transported to jail in Lamar County, where he awaits court proceedings for extradition.

In his email to the Baptist Press, Holloway added: We at Little Pass condemn the alleged crimes by Shane Wiggins and wholeheartedly pray for the victim in this matter as well as the family. We trust God to bring healing and restoration to them.

We pray as well for Shane Wiggins and his family  praying for a genuine repentance to capture his heart.
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Two men who were sent to a downtown Salt Lake City hotel to provide security for a sex worker after a payment dispute with a client ended up being shot dead, police say.

Salt Lake City Police officers were called to a Comfort Inn in the early hours of Tuesday after receiving a report about a shooting. Upon arrival, officers found two men suffering from gunshot wounds. Despite efforts to save them, both were pronounced dead at the scene.

The killings made them the first and second homicides in Utahs largest city of 2025.

It has since emerged that officers arrested three people at the scene, none of whom is the man who pulled the trigger, the SLCPD said in a statement Tuesday. The gunmans identity has not been made public.

At the scene, Kendra Mitchell 38, told officers that she was working as a sex worker and had booked the gunman as a client. When the pairs appointment was finished, there was a dispute over payment.

open image in gallery The Salt Lake City Police Department is conducting an investigation into the double homicide ( Salt Lake City Police Department/Facebook )

Mitchell was arrested for aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary and Kevin Thrower, 56, was booked for obstruction of justice, police said. Tiffany Papach, 40, was arrested on similar charges, as shown by the online arrest records.

After Mitchell got into the dispute, she contacted Papach and urged her to send two men to the location for security and protection, police said. When Papach and the two men arrived at the hotel, they forced their way into the room.

The two menone of whom police said was armed with a handgunassaulted the suspect, demanded money, and stole his car keys.

Police have not revealed exactly what happened next, but at some point, the gunman gained the upper hand on the two so-called security men and shot them, according to authorities.

Thrower has been accused of lying to police at the scene by telling them that Mitchell fled the scene, even though an officer could see her. Later, he denied even knowing her or knowing anything about the shooting.

For her part, Mitchell told the detectives that she had told Thrower everything that happened before the police arrived. She claims he told her not to talk to the police.

An unnamed guest told KSL that they heard a loud commotion coming from a first-floor room in the hotel, prompting him to call 911. The station reported that a white sedan was seen being towed from the hotel parking lot on Tuesday.

Woke up and found crime tape curled around my door. It kind of made me nervous, to see if it was even finished yet, to be honest with you, another guest visiting from Nevada said.

The shooters identity has not been made public by authorities. The investigation into the crime is continuing at the Comfort Inn.
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A Pennsylvania man charged with attempted murder and terrorism for allegedly fire-bombing the governors mansion on Sunday told officials he carried out the attack because of his views on the Israel-Hamas war, according to police.

Speaking with a 911 dispatcher about an hour after the early-hours fire, Cody Balmer, 38, said he wanted Governor Josh Shapiro to know he will not take part in his plans for what he wants to do to the Palestinian people, according to a search warrant obtained by NBC10 Philadelphia.

Balmer also said our people have been put through too much by that monster on the call, according to the warrant.

The 38-year-old admitted to harboring hatred towards Shapiro and said he wouldve beaten the Democratic official with a hammer if he saw him during the break-in, police said Balmer told officials after turning himself in. The Harrisburg man had a previous charge for allegedly assaulting members of his family.

In the early hours of April 13, Balmer scaled a fence outside the Harrisburg mansion, shattered an exterior window with a hammer, then used homemade Molotov cocktails to light a wing of the house on fire, according to police.

Balmers ex-girlfriend has said the man, an out-of-work welder who previously worked at an auto shop, had stopped taking his medication and his whereabouts were unknown between April 6 and April 10. Balmer then showed up at his brothers home in the midst of an apparent mental health crisis, she said.

open image in gallery No one was harmed in arson at Pennsylvania governors mansion

The night before the attack, Shapiro, who is Jewish, and his family celebrated the holiday of Passover in the official residence.

The Pennsylvania governor, seen as a front runner for the 2024 Democratic presidential ticket and potential 2028 candidate, has expressed a range of views on Israel-Palestine issues in recent years.

He has said he supports a two-state solution with Israelis and Palestinians living peacefully side-by-side, being able to determine their own futures and their own destiny.

open image in gallery Suspect in arson attack turned himself in to state police and told officials he had hatred for Governor Josh Shapiro ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

He also called on the University of Pennsylvania to disband a pro-Palestine protest encampment in 2024 and criticized the school for having lost its way amid the protests and allegations of on-campus antisemitism.

After the fire, in which no one was harmed, Shapiro condemned recent acts of political violence, which have included arson attacks against Teslas, in what are widely seen as protests against Elon Musk.

We dont know the persons specific motive yet, Shapiro following the fire. But we do know a few truths. First, this type of violence is not okay. This kind of violence is becoming far too common in our society.

open image in gallery Shapiro has expressed a range of views on the Israel-Gaza war ( AP )

I dont give a damn if its coming from one particular side or the other, directed at one party or another, or one person or another, it is not okay, he continued. It has to stop. We have to be better than this.

The governor also said he would be undeterred in practicing his faith with his family.
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A 44-year-old Texas woman is in jail after police say she smothered a cat to death after the creature got in her flower bed.

Amy Dawn Hagman of Hunt County, Texas, was arrested Monday and has been charged with assault and cruelty to non-livestock animals: torture, according to public jail records.

Police say Hagman smothered and strangled a cat that got into her flower bed early Monday. Investigators found the cat with twine wrapped around its neck, knotted and secured to one of its back legs.

An autopsy then revealed the cat was likely smothered or asphyxiated with an object after finding grass in its mouth and abrasions around its lips.

open image in gallery Amy Dawn Hagman of Hunt County, Texas, was arrested Monday after police say she tortured a cat to death ( Hunt County Sheriff's Office )

The Texas branch of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals told Fox 4 that their animal cruelty investigations unit assisted the Hunt County Sheriffs Office with arresting Hagman.

SPCA officials brought the cat to the Russell E. Dealey Animal Rescue Center in Dallas, just west of Hunt County.

"The results of the necropsy confirmed what deputies on scene fearedthat this animal experienced significant suffering," Courtney Burns, chief investigator for the Texas SPCA, told Fox 4. "These cases are heartbreaking, but the forensic evidence is critical to ensuring that justice is pursued to the fullest extent of the law.

Hagmans bond has been set at $12,000. Its unclear if she has had an initial hearing or retained an attorney as of Wednesday afternoon.

Public records indicate Hagman was previously arrested in Hunt County and charged with simple assault in 2009.

The Independent has contacted the Hunt County Sheriffs Office for more information.
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The remains of an 82-year-old woman missing since earlier this month was discovered encased in concrete.

Marcia Norman was last seen on April 1 at her home near Tenino, Washington. She had dinner that day with her handyman, who is believed to be the last person who saw her alive.

While examining Normans home, officials observed conditions suggesting she may have left in a hurry. Dishes in the sink were halfway done. Both her cars were still parked outside.

The handyman, Jeffrey Zizz, 47, was declared a person of interest in the case and later fled the state, violating the requirements of a prior sentence. The Thurston County Prosecutors Office obtained a warrant to arrest him for the sentencing violation on an unrelated child molestation charge. He was taken into custody in Missoula, Montana.

open image in gallery Jeffrey Zizz, 47, has been arrested after police reported they found Norman's body under a shed he built ( Thurston County Sheriff's Office )

Officials later discovered that he had built a shed on a property in Olympia the day after Norman went missing. On April 9, investigators moved the shed and excavated the ground beneath on April 9 and discovered human remains beneath the shed that were partially encased in concrete. Officials confirmed the following day that the remains were those of Norman.

Zizz was extradited to Washington on April 13. He remains in Thurston County Jail without bond on the sex charge as officials continue working to gather evidence on Normans death.

Officials did not release additional details, and said information would be forthcoming.
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Attorneys for Harvey Weinstein want him transferred from Rikers Island prison to a New York City hospital during the duration of his criminal retrial, per a request filed with the New York Supreme Court.

According to court documents, Weinstein, 73, has been diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, diabetes mellitus, extensive coronary artery disease, anginal syndrome, diffuse moderate coronary artery disease, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), thyroid issues and obesity, in addition to several other health issues.

Hes been transferred from Rikers to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan four times within the last six months. Thats where his attorneys say he should be spending the duration of his rape retrial.

Last year, a judge overturned his landmark #MeToo conviction and 23-year prison sentence, subsequently ordering a new trial. At the time, the court found improper rulings and prejudicial testimony tainted the original case. Jury selection for the new trial began Tuesday, with zero individuals being selected to sit on the panel.

Several potential jurors said they could not be impartial. On Wednesday, jury selection started up again but Weinsteins request was not discussed.

open image in gallery Bellevue Hospital in New York City ( Getty )

Judge Curtis Farber is presiding over the case and will issue a ruling.

Weinsteins health problems continue to mount as he remains incarcerated, filings claim.

Last year, he was hospitalized after testing positive for COVID-19 and double pneumonia. More recently, he underwent a life-threatening emergency pericardiocentesis surgery to alleviate fluid in his lungs and heart.

In the past month, the former movie executive has gained 19 pounds, which his attorneys state is attributable to improper medical treatment and neglect in prison.

Temperatures in Weinsteins unit are reportedly freezing, pipes that should provide heating are ice cold, and he has been unable to shower or access clean clothing, filings state. Moreover, he is not receiving palatable or nutritionally adequate food, which is taking a significant toll on his overall health.

If the request is not granted, Weinstein believes he could be at risk of life-threatening injuries and death.

A doctors note from his cardiologist, William Cole, states his patient has been receiving substandard care in prison.

open image in gallery Former film producer Harvey Weinstein appears in court as jury selection continues in his retrial in Manhattan Criminal Court on April 16, 2025 in New York City ( via REUTERS )

Obviously, his medical conditions are chronic and his downhill trajectory supports a poor prognosis, wrote Cole in a letter attached to the request.

It is also obvious that his inadequate medical care at Rikers has been to a significant degree partly responsible for the decline.

Weinsteins attorneys brought a lawsuit against New York City last year, seeking $5m in damages over the alleged mistreatment.

The facility has long faced allegations of civil rights violations. In 2024, a federal judge found the city had placed inmates in unconstitutional danger.

Weinstein is accused of raping an aspiring actor in a New York City hotel room in 2013 and a criminal sex act by forcing oral sex on a movie and TV production assistant in 2006. Hes been retried on the charges.

A separate charge, not part of the original trial, alleges another forced criminal sex act in a Manhattan hotel room.

Weinstein denies raping or sexually assaulting anyone and has pleaded not guilty.

In December 2022, a jury in a separate trial in Los Angeles found Weinstein guilty of three of seven charges including rape, forced oral copulation, and third-degree sexual misconduct. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison to be served concurrently with his New York sentence.
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A Florida woman is behind bars after she saw her estranged husband walking down the street with his new girlfriend and ran her over with her car, according to police.

Christdon Reese, 41, has been charged with attempted first-degree murder, trespassing and violation of probation in the case, the Polk County Sheriffs Office announced.

Investigators say that on April 10, the couple walked to a Circle K in Auburndale, about 46 miles from Orlando, and purchased a few items. As they walked across a highway to go to a friends house, Reeses husband noticed her driving past them and heading south in a white Volkswagen Jetta.

Reese allegedly used a nearby Family Dollar store parking lot to make a U-turn and head north, speeding back in their direction. As the girlfriend ran down a driveway, Reese pursued her and allegedly hit her with her car.

The alleged assailant then turned away and sped north on the highway, away from the scene.

Video surveillance from Circle K confirmed Reese made the U-turn to head toward the victim, police said.

The girlfriend was taken to a local hospital, where X-rays revealed two spinal fractures. Officials expect her to recover.

During the investigation, a local resident told police Reese did not have permission to be on his property and subsequently charged her with trespassing. Its not clear if Reese drove onto the property while fleeing the area.

Domestic-related calls are some of the worst calls to which we respond. When people allow their emotions to take over it can result in injury or even death. This victim was injured but luckily she survived the ordeal, said Sheriff Grady Judd.

Christdon Reese needs to learn how to control her temper, and maybe some cooling off in the jail will help.

At the time of the incident, Reese had been on probation for a retail theft charge in Osceola County since 2023, which is why officials charged her with violating probation.

Police did not provide additional details or identify the girlfriend and estranged husband. Reese is currently being held in the Polk County Jail without bond.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 16. The President of Georgia, Mikheil Kavelashvili, leading a high-level delegation, visited the Azerbaijani Parliament during his official trip to the country on April 16, Trend reports.

The Georgian President first attended a plenary session at the Azerbaijani Parliament, followed by a visit to the Heydar Aliyev Memorial Hall, where he reviewed the exhibits and signed the Memorial Book with heartfelt words. Subsequently, an extensive meeting was held between the two parties.

Sahiba Gafarova, the Azerbaijani Parliament Speaker, warmly greeted President Kavelashvili and his delegation, recalling her previous official visit to Georgia and her meeting with the Georgian president with satisfaction.

The Speaker expressed that Mikheil Kavelashvili's first foreign visit as President to Azerbaijan was another testament to the friendship and brotherhood between their nations. She emphasized that it also reflects the strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Georgia. Gafarova expressed confidence that this visit would further strengthen and expand the relations between the two countries.

Referring to the Azerbaijani-Georgian relations, the Speaker emphasized that the two nations have always lived in friendship and brotherhood, and continue to live today, which remains the basis of their bilateral relations.

She noted that, as the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, has pointed out, the relationship between Azerbaijan and Georgia can serve as a model for all neighboring countries. She also highlighted the successful trilateral cooperation format involving Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkiye, which spans various fields.

Gafarova further noted that the parliamentary relations between the two countries are at a high level. She emphasized the importance of mutual friendship groups and collaboration between parliamentary committees, noting that Azerbaijani parliamentarians also work closely within international parliamentary organizations. She added that, in light of some international organizations' biased stance towards their countries, the international cooperation between their parliaments is especially crucial.

In the course of the discussion, the Speaker reiterated Azerbaijans commitment to its peace agenda and expressed confidence that the signing of a peace agreement with Armenia would open significant prospects for the region.

Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili, expressing his gratitude for the warm reception, underscored the significance of his first foreign visit as president to Azerbaijan. He shared his impressions from his meeting with President Ilham Aliyev, describing it as a highly important and productive discussion for deepening bilateral relations.

President Kavelashvili highlighted that Georgia-Azerbaijan relations and strategic partnership serve as a model for other countries. He noted that in recent years, both countries faced numerous challenges, including attempts by external forces to interfere in their internal affairs. This, he emphasized, showed the importance of defending their national and family values, history, and traditions, as well as the need for mutual support.

The President of Georgia also stressed the high level of parliamentary relations between the two countries, underscoring the role of reciprocal visits in furthering those ties.

The meeting also emphasized the importance of strengthening youth exchanges between the two countries for the future.

President Kavelashvili expressed support for the progress towards a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, stating that they hoped for its swift conclusion, which would ensure peace and stability in the region.

He also underscored the great potential of the South Caucasus region, emphasizing the importance of fully utilizing this potential.

The discussion also touched on several other topics reflecting the ongoing dialogue between the countries.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 16. The 10th meeting of the Azerbaijan-China Intergovernmental Trade and Economic Cooperation Commission was held in Baku on April 16, Trend reports.

The meeting was co-chaired by Shahin Mustafayev, the Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan and Co-chair of the Commission, and Ling Ji, the Deputy Minister of Commerce of the People's Republic of China and China's international trade representative.

Mustafayev opened the session by highlighting that the commission serves as an essential platform for discussing the implementation of the directives given by the leaders of both countries. It also plays a critical role in shaping the future development of relations between Azerbaijan and China.

He emphasized that, thanks to the efforts of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and the President of the People's Republic of China, Xi Jinping, the two countries have entered a dynamic and multifaceted phase of bilateral relations. The trust-based personal ties and regular contacts between the heads of state are pivotal drivers of this development.

Mustafayev also noted the historical significance of the elevation of bilateral relations to a strategic partnership level last year. The Joint Declaration signed by the two leaders has laid a strong foundation for expanding cooperation between the nations.

Trade and economic collaboration continues to develop steadily, with China being one of Azerbaijan's key economic and trade partners. Azerbaijan is also China's largest trading partner in the South Caucasus. The growth trend in trade turnover between the two countries saw a 21 percent increase last year, reaching approximately $3.7 billion. The positive trend has continued into the first quarter of this year, with mutual trade volume rising by 37 percent, reaching over $1 billion.

Azerbaijan is particularly keen to expand exports of agricultural and food products to China, a sentiment reiterated during the meeting.

In addition to trade, the meeting also discussed successful dynamics in investment cooperation, particularly in the fields of industry, oil and gas, petrochemicals, green energy, high technologies, innovations, and space. Investments from China into Azerbaijan have reached nearly $942 million, while Azerbaijan's investments in China, including from the State Oil Fund, amount to approximately $2.1 billion.

During the meeting, Mustafayev also announced that, as part of the Azerbaijani President's upcoming visit to China, a joint project to localize the production of electric buses in collaboration with the BYD company will be launched.

Green energy cooperation remains a strategic priority, with both countries recognizing the potential for successful collaboration due to Azerbaijan's significant potential in the field and China's advanced technological resources and experience.

Mustafayev also reported on the progress of cooperation in the transport and transit sectors, with a notable increase in the volume of transit shipments between Azerbaijan and China, up by 86 percent last year. Large-scale infrastructure projects, such as the Baku International Sea Trade Port and the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, were also discussed, as these projects provide the shortest and most efficient route for transportation between China and Europe.

The emerging opportunities in the liberated territories, shaped by new realities, were highlighted as a key point during the discussions. Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev provided detailed information to Chinese officials about the modern infrastructure projects underway in these territories, as well as the future economic prospects. He also extended an invitation to Chinese companies to invest in these regions.

The meeting emphasized that the restoration of the region's transportation and communication systems holds tremendous potential. The implementation of the Zangezur corridor is expected to foster peace and security while significantly contributing to the "Belt and Road" initiative as a vital segment of the Middle Corridor.

Ling Ji, Deputy Minister of Commerce of the Peoples Republic of China and Chinas International Trade Representative, underscored his country's strong commitment to enhancing economic ties with Azerbaijan. He expressed interest in increasing the import volume and variety of Azerbaijani products, noting that particularly, pomegranates and wine have become highly popular among Chinese consumers. He also mentioned that there are significant opportunities to expand exports of poultry, hazelnuts, and almonds to China.

In addition, Ling Ji voiced his full support for Azerbaijans bid for membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO) and expressed China's readiness to collaborate with Azerbaijan in this regard.

Chinese officials reiterated their interest in expanding mutual investments and trade, suggesting an increase in the number of Azerbaijani trade houses in China.

The meeting also touched on the productive cooperation between Azerbaijan and China in the field of sericulture. This collaboration is expected to become more prominent in the reconstruction of the liberated territories. Specifically, 130,000 mulberry seedlings have already been sent to Khojaly for planting, with the project expected to yield successful results.

Tourism relations between the two countries were also discussed, with both sides noting the dynamic growth in mutual tourist flows. Last year, Azerbaijan saw a significant increase in the number of Chinese tourists, facilitated by Azerbaijans decision to unilaterally waive visa requirements for Chinese citizens.

An agreement on mutual visa-free travel is anticipated to be signed during the upcoming visit of Azerbaijan's President to China, which is expected to further enhance bilateral contacts and promote an increase in visits between the two countries.

The 10th meeting of the Azerbaijan-China Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation also focused on opportunities for deepening cooperation in various fields, including information technology (IT), the space industry, high technologies, healthcare, and tourism. There was strong confidence that the President of Azerbaijan's planned visit to China would take the bilateral relationship to new heights. Lin Ji emphasized Chinas special regard for strengthening cooperation with Azerbaijan, particularly within the Caucasus region, and reiterated his countrys support for initiatives aligned with both national and economic interests.

As a result of the discussions, it was agreed to establish a Working Group on Investment Cooperation, which will serve as an important platform for addressing investment-related issues on an ongoing basis.

Following the meeting, an Agreement on the Establishment of a Joint Investment Cooperation Working Group was signed, as well as the Protocol of the Tenth Meeting of the Azerbaijan-China Intergovernmental Trade and Economic Cooperation Commission.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Two drones are used to soft wash the sides of a parking garage located across the street from New Orleans City Hall. Crews with Alpha Drone USA were soft washing the sides of the buildings, including City Hall and Civil Court, with soap, water and bleach. With batteries installed the drone's dry weight is about 40-50 lbs. The drone can, with a water hose attached and dangling from it reaching back down to the ground, able to reach 15 stories high. As opposed to pressure washing, the crew has been soft washing only the brick and cement portion of the buildings from the second story up. (Photo by Chris Granger, The Times-Picayune)
Ardea Resources has secured a pivotal $4.6 million strategic placement from Japanese joint venture partner Sumitomo Metal Mining to progress its mammoth Kalgoorlie nickel project in Western Australia.

The investment by the 430-year-old metal and mining dynasty strengthens the existing 50:50 alliance with Ardea at its Goongarrie Hub within the companys Kalgoorlie project.

The 430-year-old Japanese metal and mining company, Sumitomo Metal Mining, has become a substantial holder in Ardea Resources and its massive Kalgoorlie nickel laterite project in the WA Goldfields.

Ardea is finalising all-important feasibility studies for the project, ahead of it potentially becoming the next production hub in WAs Goldfields region.

Sumitomo has committed to becoming a substantial 5.1 per cent shareholder in Ardea. It will pay 43 cents per Ardea share, which represents an impressive 7.5 per cent premium on the ASX-listed juniors last traded price.
American political chaos spurred by President Donald Trump has dampened demand for US holidays, figures show, as anger and uncertainty around his actions hit Australian travel.

Leisure travel bookings to the United States have dipped as much as 10 per cent in the first quarter, compared with the same period last year, data from Flight Centre shows, as consumers chose Asia and Europe as a destination.

US President Donald Trump has infuriated allies, and made Australians feel unsure of their welcome to the US. Credit: AP

Flight Centre Travel Group chief executive leisure James Kavanagh said the US had long been a favourite for Australians, but we must acknowledge the political environment in the US and the fact that it may influence Australians decisions on where they choose to travel.

Trump has imposed a range of trade tariffs on partners and a crackdown on immigration that has not only fallen foul of US courts, but created fear and confusion for US-bound visitors. The stories of Australians blocked from entering the US, or being searched and detained, have soured appetite for the US as a destination.
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 Whats good, whats bad, and whats in between in literature? Here we review the latest titles. See all 51 stories . This weeks reviews traverse everything from domestic drama, climate fiction, parenting neurodivergent kids and an ironically observed history of France. Happy reading! FICTION PICK OF THE WEEK Wild Dark Shore

Charlotte McConaghy

Penguin, $34.99 Set on a remote subantarctic island, Charlotte McConaghys Wild Dark Shore draws the reader into a storm-tossed cli-fi that marries elements of survival adventure, romance and gothic ghost story. The laconic, grieving Dominic and his three children  teenagers Raff and Fen, and nine-year-old brainiac Orly  have lived for eight years as lighthouse keepers on Shearwater Island. Research scientists have been recently evacuated, leaving them as the lone inhabitants on an island wilderness facing severe sea-level rise. Due to be picked up in months, with a vital seed bank theyre tasked with saving, the last thing they expect is a visitor. When Rowan is shipwrecked, and rescued from drowning by Fen, her unexpected arrival will reveal a dark secret the family is keeping from her, and deliberate sabotage which threatens everyones survival. The haunted story unfolds amid grim paranoia  the island thrives despite the shadow of historical ecocide; the characters face more personal ghosts  and McConaghy ratchets up psychological suspense through the clever use of perspective. You might not be wild about the ending, but its a literary page-turner you wont soon forget. The Surgeon of Royaumont

Susan Neuhaus

HQ, $34.99

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Having served as a military surgeon herself, Susan Neuhaus is well-qualified to write historical fiction set in a hospital tending soldiers wounded on the Western Front during WWI. Clara Heywood is one of the few young Australian women studying medicine in Sydney, in the years before the Great War breaks out. Her dashing fiance Edward, also a doctor, enlists in the army, but despite her desire to serve, neither the Australian nor the British armies will take women doctors. She defies both armies and her father, a colonel, to join the Scottish Womens Hospital at Royaumont Abbey. Its an institution run entirely by women, where Clara will make new friends and face formidable professional challenges, learning surgery on the job under the strict but wise tutelage of the chief surgeon Miss Ivens, as the grim tide of war rises. Neuhaus has researched the book meticulously and the excitement and horror of performing war surgery during this period is vividly conveyed. Its a compelling, unsentimental tale of courage and heroism, of pioneering women fighting a war on two fronts  against a constant stream of casualties coming from the trenches, and the entrenched medical misogyny of the age. Better Days

Claire Zorn

Atlantic, $34.99 Award-winning YA author Claire Zorn turns her hand to adult fiction, in a novel that boomerangs between Sydney, the Blue Mountains and London, between rebellious youth in the early 2000s and the cusp of middle-age 20 years later. Grace has retreated from a glamorous career in Londons music industry and a seemingly perfect marriage to Ed. Returning to her mother Dorothy with two kids and a dog in tow, she runs into her childhood sweetheart, Trent, and reflects on the sliding door moments which have shaped her life. Graces university years will be a nostalgia trip for late Gen X and early millennial readers, and theres a lively comic touch to those sections of the novel that most resemble YA fiction. A chaotic melancholy hangs over the exploration of motherhood and postpartum depression, though the portrayal of how Grace changes, and doesnt change, as she matures remains complex and assured, deepened as it is by contrasting perspectives. Better Days is a reflective, funny and acutely observed novel that blends coming of age story, backstage music industry satire, romance, and character-driven domestic drama. Catching the Light

Joanna Horton

Ultimo, $34.99 Credit: Ultimo Press Following her debut Between You and Me, Joanna Hortons Catching the Light delves into a turbulent relationship between mother and daughter. Worn down by single motherhood, Sylvie decides suddenly to move to an artist colony with her teen daughter Alice, lured by a relationship with Michael, a famous painter. At first, the colony seems to offer the creativity and freedom that will allow them to thrive, but as Alice grows more distant from her mother, an act of adolescent defiance will change both of their lives. A third strand, set years later, sees Alice, now a PhD student, encountering an art historian who is researching Michaels years in the colony for a retrospective, with buried memories emerging as she revisits her past. Horton unspools tangled threads of motherhood, art and desire in a story that weaves the utopian aspirations of an artist colony into the inevitable reality of being unable to live up to them. Horton sets up a dramatic contrast between Sylvie and Alices perspectives, underscoring the intricate flaws in their relationship, layering love with the guilt and betrayal they each harbour.

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NON-FICTION PICK OF THE WEEK The Shortest History of France

Colin Jones

Black Inc, $27.99 Mindful of the lurch to the alt-right in much of Europe, with its xenophobic  white supremacist posturing, French history expert Colin Jones emphasises the point that France has always been a multicultural melting pot; the baguette invented by an Austrian, the croissant Middle Eastern. With confident ease, he takes us on a fast ride through the countrys key moments  from the Romans, Charlemagne, medieval wars, the emergence of the French language, the philosophers and the elevation of science and reason, the revolution, Napoleons coup and world wars, to the current state of play. Not to mention cultural history. A brilliantly condensed, often ironically observed telling of a highly complex tale. We might speak of something being so French, but Jones reminds us that it most likely came from outside the country. Parenting Different

Sarah Hayden

Murdoch Books, $34.99 When social worker and psychotherapist Sarah Hayden (who was diagnosed with ADHD at forty-eight) learned her daughter, Chloe, was autistic, she cried. This, her guide to parenting neurodivergent children, is also a record of her own journey, from tears to joy. The emphasis is on parents empowering their neurodivergent kids to live their lives and not have imposed upon them some mainstream notion of normal. It is shot through with down-to-earth dos and donts, advice on such crucial matters as choosing the right school (her daughter was bullied at school, before doing home-schooling), the impact on family dynamics, and key phases in life such as puberty. Along the way shes not short of supplying affirmative, neurodivergent role models  like Mozart! Upbeat, informed, no nonsense, positive and often humorous.

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Santa Fe, New Mexico: Gene Hackmans home was infested with rats which carry the disease which killed his wife, an investigation found.

An assessment of the late actors $US4 million ($6.3 million) property in Santa Fe, New Mexico, was carried out a week after the bodies of Hackman, 95, and his wife Betsy Arakwa, 65, were discovered.

Rat traps had been set up throughout the several buildings that made up the property, investigators from the New Mexico Department of Public Health said.

Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawas house following the couples deaths. Credit: AP

Investigators also found rodent droppings, a live rodent and rodent nests in three of the garages. There were additional rodent droppings in two external houses and three sheds within 15 metres of the main house.
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Eating outBest of $2 oysters to half-price lobster rolls: 11 dining deals to get hooked on this month Seafood can be expensive, but it doesnt have to be if you time it right. Heres when to find the catch of the day for less at hatted restaurants, oyster bars and more. Tomas Telegramma April 17, 2025 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

Whether youre in the mood for seafood because its Good Friday or youre just a fan of all things from the deep blue, this edition of Specials Board is here to help you get your fix without blowing the budget. From whole fish specials to lobster rolls and linguine for less, there are deals to be found all over Melbourne right now. Grab half-price lobster rolls, all-you-can-eat mussels and chips, and heaps more at Pinchys. Half-price lobster rolls, all-you-can-eat mussels and chips, and more, Pinchys Lobster and Champagne Bar, CBD This autumn at Pinchys, theres a penny-pinching seafood deal every night of the week. Monday is $30 unlimited mussels with fries, Tuesday is half-price tacos, Wednesday is half-price lobster rolls ($18 instead of the usual $36) and Thursday is $25 lobster linguine. At weekends, get half-price oysters on Friday, half-price surf and turf burgers on Saturday, and save Sunday for half-price fish and chips. Level 1, 200 Bourke Street, Melbourne, pinchys.co

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From $25 bycatch night, Naughtons Hotel, Parkville On Tuesday nights, top-tier pub Naughtons now champions bycatch: diverse and delicious species caught unintentionally during commercial fishing that you dont usually see on menus. That could mean freshly caught trevally, morwong or jack mackerel charcoal-grilled and served with chips, salad and sauce. Prices start at $25. 43 Royal Parade, Parkville, naughtonshotel.com.au Hatted South Melbourne fine diner Lucia has a $40 lunchtime special on weekdays. $40 lunch break, Lucia, South Melbourne

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Plush hatted fine diner Lucia has a new lunchtime lure. From Tuesday to Friday (noon to 3pm), three generously sized mains  including the fish of the day with Sicilys eggplant extravaganza, caponata  are just $40 a pop. That includes a glass of red or white, or a beer. 11 Eastern Road, South Melbourne, luciamelbourne.com The Fitzroy Town Hall Hotels weekday happy hour includes six oysters for $20 with a drink of your choice. Josh Robenstone $20 for half-a-dozen oysters and a drink, Fitzroy Town Hall Hotel, Fitzroy Twenty bucks is all it takes to feel fancy at this classic corner boozer, at least between Wednesday and Friday. From 3pm to 6pm, get six freshly shucked oysters with your drink of choice (a glass of fizz or wine, or a pot of beer).

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166 Johnston Street, Fitzroy, fitzroytownhallhotel.com.au $50 midweek flathead, Old Palm Liquor, Brunswick Ever had braai, South Africas take on barbecue? Its a drawcard on Tuesday and

Wednesday nights at Old Palm Liquor, when $50 a head (for groups between two and six) gets you a whole grilled flathead with garlic butter, plus pommes frites. Starters, including wood-fired flatbread and toum, are also thrown in. 133B Lygon Street, Brunswick East, oldpalmliquor.com Oysters are only $2 each at Pearl Divers happy hour from Tuesday to Thursday. Pete Dillon

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$2 oysters, Pearl Diver, CBD Molluscs are the main event at cocktail bar Pearl Diver, which serves some of Australias best varieties all kinds of ways (baked with gruyere mornay, anyone?). The best bang for your buck is between 5pm and 7pm from Tuesday to Friday, when oysters are going for the shell-shocking price of $2 each. 56 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne, pearldiver.com.au At Ettas tropical Saturday lunch, therell always be some variation of fish, fried rice and shaved ice. $70 fish, fried rice and shaved ice at Etta, Brunswick

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Yet to visit Etta since powerhouse chef Lorcan Kan took the reins (and retained its hat)? Book for Saturday lunch, a tropical seafood-centric affair, and get three courses inspired by his travels to Malaysia for just $70. Therell always be some variation on fish and fried rice, finishing with shaved ice to channel ais kacang, a classic Malaysian dessert. 60 Lygon Street, Brunswick East, ettadining.com.au Thai Tides midweek dining event, Rising Tides, showcases guest chefs and seafood dishes. Eddie Jim From $75 midweek dinners, Thai Tide, CBD City diner Thai Tide serves food and cocktails that traverse Thailands many regions. Its new midweek dining series Rising Tides delves even deeper, letting guest chefs take over the kitchen for one night only to present their take on Thai cooking, often with a seafood component. Next up on May 1, chef Sarunya Chanadisronchai presents a menu centred on childhood memories.

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171 Bourke Street, Melbourne, thaitide.com.au Stokehouse Pasta & Bar offers $32 reef and beef on Tuesday nights. Arianna Leggiero $32 reef and beef, Stokehouse Pasta & Bar, St Kilda Whats your stance on surf and turf? Fans can find it for $32 on Tuesday nights at Stokehouse Pasta & Bar, on the waterfront beneath its sibling fine diner. A charred king prawn comes with steak fired over red gum, as well as hand-cut chips, onion rings and spiced garlic-and-herb butter. 30 Jacka Boulevard, St Kilda, stokepastaandbar.com.au

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New Quarters $76-a-head High Tide menu includes a seafood platter. $76 seafood lunch and unlimited drinks, New Quarter, Richmond The Vietnamese-inspired New Quarter is levelling up long lunches. Its $76-a-head High Tide menu (available Friday to Sunday) begins with a seafood platter of poached Moreton Bay bugs, Pacific oysters with green apple mignonette, and more. Theres also banana-leaf-wrapped snapper, and all-you-can-drink beer, wine and cocktails including pineapple and lychee Bellinis. 79 Swan Street, Richmond, newquarter.com.au Captain Baxters $140 Captains Catch platter is available Friday to Sunday.

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$140 seafood platter, Captain Baxter, St Kilda This beachside restaurant and bar offers stacked seafood platters with stellar sea views. Available Friday to Sunday, the $140 Captains Catch platter for two to four people includes Sydney rock oysters, kingfish and bluefin tuna sashimi, blue swimmer crab and more  all served with citrus and sauces on a bed of ice. 10/10-18 Jacka Boulevard, St Kilda, captainbaxter.com.au

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This was part of the appeal for Byriel. A lot of things that other [land-lease communities] called extras were standard with GemLife, he states.

Oversight of site-management fees is another factor that provides residents with added peace of mind. There are regulatory mechanisms in place to ensure the cost of living within these communities remains viable, unlike other sectors where councils can increase their rates and levees without much pushback, Puljich says. This model is heavily government regulated, which gives homeowners certainty moving forward.

The lifestyle advantage

Its not just the financial benefits responsible for the boom in land-lease-community living. Its a chance to live in enviable locations, within new builds that require minimum maintenance and are designed with sustainability in mind (Moreton Bay is the first GemLife community to be awarded a Green Star by the Green Building Council of Australia.) Theyre beautiful homes, says Byriel. Theyve got lots of high-end features, and we really love it.

Elegant interiors designed for modern living at GemLife resorts, offering residents a sophisticated and relaxed lifestyle. Artists impression.

And as Puljich has mentioned, there are a plethora of activities within each GemLife estate. Its a community of like-minded friends, where similar people with similar interests can come together to share life experiences, he says.

The Byriels were keen to meet their prospective neighbours before GemLife Moreton Bay was even ready for them. When we first signed up, I checked to see if there was a Facebook group for the place. [There wasnt] so I started one. We were having group lunches before we even moved in, he says. This has only just increased since arriving. Everyone is really open and welcoming and friendly. People give you a wave when they drive past.

A place to thrive

Even though the Moreton Bay resort is still to be fully completed, residents are already exploring shared interests, dispelling any notion that GemLife is somewhere to go to slow down. Theres the thinking that everyones going to be old and using a walking frame and being inactive, Byriel laughs. Some of the guys have organised fitness classes, theres a bike-riding group three days a week, pickleball. Its a very active lifestyle.

In fact, many GemLife residents continue to work after moving in. People think theyre too young to move into a [over-50s] community, says Puljich. But these are communities where you go to reverse time, to live life to the full. Our message to prospective purchasers is that you are worthy of living in a community like this, where you are rewarded for lifes sacrifices and get to prioritise yourself. The worlds your oyster.

GemLife over-50s lifestyle resorts are in seachange and treechange locations in Queensland, New South Wales, and regional Victoria. To find out more, visit gemlife.com.au.
A 45-year-old man has been charged with murder after his wifes body was found in the charred remains of their family home west of Brisbane.

Firefighters were called to a fire about 3am on Tuesday at the rural home on Strack Road in Geham, north of Toowoomba, to find it fully engulfed.

It took crews more than two hours to bring the inferno under control.

After initial searches of the house, police and fire investigators found the body of Louise Hunt.
The 32-year-old pleaded guilty to 24 charges of obtaining financial advantage by deception in the County Court of Victoria. Loading The various betting agencies were apparently happy to take that money without any qualm or enquiry, Cannon said. Such business practices by these betting companies embody the expression, the banality of evil, in my view. It is staggering that they are able to operate in our community in the ways that I have described with impunity. So much for their slogan, gamble responsibly.

More than eight betting agencies provided Del Vecchio with VIP managers, who would offer free tickets to sporting events and incentives to pressure him to re-invest his money again and again following a win. Loading Some betting agencies would call and text him daily, the court heard. If Del Vecchio did not place a bet or deposit money for a period of time, he would also be bombarded with push notifications offering deals, which pressured him to bet and deposit more money. Cannon said that while she accepted Del Vecchio had a raging gambling addiction, this was more an explanation, rather than an excuse.

Your offending went beyond opportunistic, Cannon said. You actively sought out victims who could ill afford to part with that money  sometimes their entire life savings. In a number of instances, you were persistent  retuning to victims again and again in order to defraud them again. Del Vecchio, who appeared by video link from jail, remained expressionless for much of the lengthy hearing but when his custodial sentence was read out, he lowered his head as his father wiped away tears. In one instance, Del Vecchio stole thousands of dollars from a woman whose daughter was being treated for cancer.

In another case, he stole more than $1.1 million from a family friend, promising to invest the money in a term-deposit investment that would yield big returns. Del Vecchio also stole more than $73,000 from his then-long-term partner, and went on to convince her father, family and friends to invest thousands of dollars into his Ponzi Scheme. He also defrauded colleagues and several clients of Freedom Finance Australia, including fleecing a couple in their 60s of $93,000 after they sought advice about structuring their superannuation and retirement funds. Cannon said Del Vecchios once close and happy family had imploded once his offending came to light. She said many of his victims felt humiliation, shame and guilt. The only person who should be feeling such emotions is you, Mr Del Vecchio, Cannon said.

Del Vecchio initially started gambling $100 a week on online racing and sports betting apps. But as his gambling habit spiralled out of control, he began increasingly using his clients funds to try to chase losses and claw back money. By the end of his crime spree, he was gambling away thousands of dollars per bet with several bets made each day. Anthony Del Vecchios cousin, Michael Del Vecchio, and his partner, Jade (left), who lost hundreds of thousands of dollars. When he was arrested, Del Vecchio told investigators he was in too deep and the stress was incomprehensible, and he was trying to win enough money to pay his victims back.

On Wednesday, Del Vecchios many victims packed into the County Court for his sentencing. Dozens embraced after his sentence was read out. One of the victims, Del Vecchios cousin, Michael Del Vecchio, previously told the court it had been the most sickening experience of his life, and Del Vecchios conduct had blown our family apart. He lost $207,000 to his cousins Ponzi scheme. Other former clients said they felt betrayed by Freedom Finance Australia and intended to fight them for compensation. Del Vecchio was sentenced to seven years and six months imprisonment and will be eligible for parole in four years. In March, Australias largest online gambling company conceded it had not done enough to prevent financial crime or assist sporting bodies in identifying integrity threats.

Loading Sportsbet chief executive Barni Evans told an industry conference in Sydney earlier this year the company had initially done a terrible job of alerting sporting bodies to betting transactions that might have posed serious integrity threats. He said the company forgot to do some grown-up things and had stuffed a lot of things up. That took three or four years to catch on and a few incidents to alarm us, or shock us into [realising], actually, we have got a role to play here, and we can help sports do a much better job, he said. Freedom Finance Australia did not respond to requests for comment.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 16. The official visit of the First Deputy Minister of Defense  Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, Colonel General Karim Valiyev to Slovakia has started at the invitation of the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic, Lieutenant General Daniel Zmeko, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

On the first day of the visit, an official welcoming ceremony for the Azerbaijani delegation was held.

At the meeting held between the Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, Colonel General K.Valiyev, and his Slovak counterpart, Lieutenant General D. Zmeko, prospects for the development of military cooperation were discussed, and a wide exchange of views on a number of mutual interest issues was held.

Then Colonel General K. Valiyev met with the 2nd State Secretary of the Ministry of Defense of the Slovak Republic, Mr. Martin Vojtasovic.

The sides discussed cooperation between the two countries in the military, military-technical, and military-educational spheres.
Washington: A federal judge said he had found probable cause to hold the Trump administration in criminal contempt of court for violating his orders to turn around planes carrying deportees to an El Salvador prison.

The ruling from US District Judge James Boasberg, the chief judge of Washingtons federal court whom President Donald Trump has said should be impeached, marks a dramatic battle between the judicial and executive branches of government over the presidents powers to carry out key White House priorities.

Donald Trump in March ordered the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members from the United States to a prison in El Salvador. Credit: El Salvador PPO via AP

On Thursday (AEST), Boasberg accused administration officials of rushing deportees out of the country under the Alien Enemies Act in March before they could challenge their removal in court, and then wilfully disregarding his order that planes already in the air return to the US.

The judge warned he could hold hearings and potentially refer the matter for prosecution if the administration did not act to remedy the violation. If the Justice Department declined to prosecute the matter, Boasberg said he would appoint another attorney to do so.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 16. China is interested in expanding the volume and variety of products it imports from Azerbaijan, said Ling Ji, Deputy Minister of Commerce of the People's Republic of China and Chinas International Trade Representative, Trend reports.

Speaking at the meeting of the Azerbaijan-China Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation held in Baku, Ling Ji emphasized that his country places great importance on economic relations with Azerbaijan.

He noted that China is particularly interested in increasing imports of Azerbaijani pomegranate products and wine, which have already gained strong popularity among Chinese consumers.

In addition, he highlighted the wide opportunities for exporting Azerbaijani poultry, hazelnuts, and almonds to the Chinese market.

Ling Ji also expressed support for Azerbaijan's initiatives regarding accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), stating his readiness to work together with the country in this direction.

The meeting was co-chaired by Shahin Mustafayev, the Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan and Co-chair of the Commission, and Ling Ji, the Deputy Minister of Commerce of the People's Republic of China and China's international trade representative.

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No change in aid given to women under Ladki Bahin





MUMBAI :

MAHARASHTRA minister Aditi Tatkare on Tuesday said no change has been made in the amount of assistance paid to women under the Governments flagship Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme, but some 7.74 lakh women already getting Rs 1,000 under another scheme are being paid the difference of Rs 500. She was responding to media reports claiming that the aid under the Ladki Bahin (Beloved Sister) scheme was reduced for 7,74,148 women who were receiving benefits of other schemes. Rs 1,500 per month are paid under the Ladki Bahin Yojana to women who are not taking advantage of any other government scheme. To those who are receiving a benefit of less than Rs 1,500 under other schemes, the difference is paid under the Ladki Bahin Yojana, said Tatkare, Women and Child Development Minister.

In line with this policy, the difference of Rs 500 is being paid to 7,74,148 women who are receiving Rs 1,000 per month under the Namo Shetkari Samman Yojana, Tatkare said in a post on X. No eligible woman has been excluded from the Ladki Bahin scheme, and no change has been made in the said process after July 3, 2024, said the Nationalist Congress Party leader, adding that she has clarified about the same during the budget session of the state legislature. The Opposition was constantly spreading misinformation about the scheme and its leaders either have poor understanding of administrative matters or their morale has been hit by the success of the scheme, she claimed. Earlier in the day, responding to media reports about reduction in the assistance under the scheme, State Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal said the BJP-led government remembers women and farmers only during elections.

On the eve of the elections, the Mahayuti coalition promised a farm loan waiver, and after forming a government, it asked farmers to repay their loans. Women are being removed from the list of beneficiaries of the Ladki Bahin scheme citing various reasons. The corrupt Mahayuti government is betraying the trust of the people, he said. Congress leader Nana Patole, Shiv Sena (UBT)s Bhaskar Jadhav and NCP (SP)s Jitendra Awhad also targeted the state government over the issue.
Anti-Waqf law protests Pleas in SC seek court-monitored probe into WB violence





NEW DELHI :

TWO petitions in the Supreme Court have sought a court-monitored probe into the violence in West bengal over the newly-enacted Waqf (Amendment) Act. Fresh incidents of Waqf law-related violence rocked Bhangar area in West Bengals South 24 Parganas district on April 14, even as police claimed the law and order situation in the previous riot epicentre of Murshidabad remained largely under control. One PIL was filed by lawyer Shashank Shekhar Jha seeking the court to set up a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the cases of violence. Another plea was filed by advocate Vishal Tiwari seeking the constitution of a five-member judicial enquiry commission headed by a former apex court judge to investigate the violence in the State.

One of the pleas sought a direction to the state Government to file a report in the top court on the violence aside from the directions for protecting peoples lives and properties. The Calcutta High Court recently ordered the deployment of central forces in violence-hit Murshidabad district. At least three people were killed and hundreds were rendered homeless in communal violence in parts of Murshidabad district, mainly Suti, Samserganj, Dhulian and Jangipur, on April 11 and 12 during protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act.

Many TN families protest Waqf land claims

VELLORE,

Apr 15 (ANI)

MULTIPLE families have launched a protest in a village in Tamil Nadus Vellore district after they received a notice declaring certain areas in Kattukollai as Waqf property. The families have said they have lived in the area for the last three generations and have submitted a petition to the Vellore District Collector to look into the matter. However, the head of the Masjid in the area, called the Mutawalli administering Waqf properties, has said that the villagers are already aware that the land belongs to the Waqf and that Government records show that the land claimed already was of Waqf in 1954. Around 150 families in Kattukollai village in Tamil Nadus Vellore have received a notice from Kilandai Masjid and Hazarath Syed Ali Sultan Sha Dargha from Virinchipuram claiming the land as Waqf. Reportedly, the organisation Hindu Munnani had gathered the villagers who received a notice and filed a petition against it with the Vellore District Collector. Vellore District Collector V R Subbulaxmi, who received the petition from villagers and Hindu Munnani functionaries, said they are inquiring into the matter. Speaking to ANI, a villager said, Our land is registered, we have paid Water tax, but now we have received notice saying land is Waqf Property. Two hundred families have received notice.

Praveen Kumar, Hindu Munnani Vellore District functionary, said, Kattukollai village in Anaikattu under Iraivankadu Panchayat around 150 villagers received notice from Syed Ali Masjid at Virnichipuram, which is 4 km away from the village. People have lived in Kattukollai for 4 generations. They have paid tax and EB also. Now, they have received notice saying the land belongs to Waqf property. People claim they thought that the land belongs to the Government. Even one individual applied for Patta (documenting ownership of land), and his Patta was also stopped by Jamaats intervention. The organisations functionary claimed that electricity for the villages had been cut off after the notice; however, the Collector had assured the people before that the land belonged to the government. Even now, electricity has been stopped for a few residents claiming land belongs to Waqf.

We met Collector last Thursday, and Collector assured us land belongs to Government and is not Waqf property, Kumar said. Syed Sadam, the Mutawalli of the Dargah, told ANI, I have given a notice to the village people in our Waqf. I am claiming as I have all the records that belong to the Waqf, and it shows that from the year 1954 itself in the Government of Tamil Nadu gazette, it has been mentioned that the property belongs to the Waqf. Even the Waqf board has given a performance report in which they mentioned that some properties belong to the Waqf. Sadam is the custodian of the waqf assets and land in the area, and he claims that previous land records show that the place under claim was agricultural land until the 1990s. They (villagers) themselves know that the property belongs to the masjid. We spoke with those people, and they know it belongs to Masjid. We have spoken to people and told them that they have to pay the land rent to us, not the building rent. They are claiming that they have resided there for the past 4 generations. But as per records, from 1954 till 1990, it was agricultural land, dry land, he said. Accusing the State Government of not taking any action to stop encroachment of land, and he would be submitting all the records to the State Government and Waqf board too.

Even my father has given a petition in Chennai, as well as the district collector in 1991, and they have not taken any steps to that. After that, he tried to stop the illegal registrations there. So far Government has not taken any action, he added. Meanwhile, BJP MLA C Saraswathi has alleged that the waqf properties have been mismanaged without any proper rules or documents, which leads to only the rich people benefitting from the assets of the religious board. There are no proper rules and documents in the Waqf Board; we dont know how it is managed... They dont even have accounts about the Waqf board property... Only the rich people from the Muslim community benefit from the Waqf properties... There are no benefits for the poor, she told ANI.

Waqf Act not against Muslim community: Rijiju

KOCHI,

Apr 15 (PTI)

UNION Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday said that the amendments in the Waqf Act were not targeted at the Muslim community and instead were meant to correct past mistakes. The Union Minister for Minority Affairs, speaking at a press conference here, said that the intention of the government was to ensure that in India there is no provision for anybody to forcefully and unilaterally take away someones land. He said that the Waqf law was amended as certain provisions in it gave unprecedented power and authority to the Waqf Boards. This is not targeted at Muslim community. It is to correct mistakes of the past, he said.

Rijiju, who was flanked by Union Minister of State George Kurien and state BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar, said that following the amendment, there will be no arbitrary declaration of a land as Waqf property. His statement comes amid protests by various Muslim groups against the amendment, which have turned violent in some parts of West Bengal. The Waqf Bill, passed by the Parliament, received the assent of the President on April 5. The ruling NDA has strongly defended the legislation as beneficial for minorities, while the opposition has described it as anti-Muslim.
KIMS-Kingsway Hospitals ranked 1st in Endoscopy Safety Audit from West India





Business Reporter :

In a significant achievement in the field of healthcare quality and patient safety, KIMS-Kingsway Hospitals, Nagpur has been honoured with the Center of Excellence title and declared the top ranker in the West Zone under the Endosafe Programme, an initiative by CAHO (Consortium of Accredited Healthcare Organisations) in collaboration with ASP. The award was honoured upon at recently held CAHOCON Conference held at New Delhi.

On this occasion, Dr Samir Patil, Senior Gastroenterologist, said that, The Endoscopy Department at KIMS-Kingsway Hospitals is one of the most trusted and well-structured units in Central India, known for its patient safety, standardized protocols, and advanced diagnostic capabilities. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Tushar Gawad, Unit Head at KIMS-Kingsway, said, This recognition is not just an award  its a reflection of our daily commitment to putting patient safety first. ENDOSAFE gave us the framework, but the people made it real.
New York City declares April 14 as Dr B R Ambedkar Day





NEW YORK

NEW YORK City Mayor Eric Adams has proclaimed April 14, 2025 as Dr B R Ambedkar Day in New York City, with its 8.5 million residents celebrating the day, a top official in the Mayors office said here. Deputy Commissioner for the New York City Mayors Office for International Affairs Dilip Chauhan made the announcement here in the presence of Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr Ramdas Athawale, who delivered the keynote address at a special event organised at the UN headquarters on Monday to commemorate Dr Ambedkars 134th birth anniversary. A historic moment at the UN Headquarters in New York as Dr Babasaheb Ambedkars birth anniversary is officially proclaimed by the NYC Mayors Office. My heartfelt thanks to Mayor @NYCMayor and Deputy Commissioner Dilip Chauhan for honouring Babasahebs global legacy of justice and equality, Athawale posted on X along with photos and a video. Born on April 14, 1891, Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar  popular among his followers as Babasaheb  was the Chairman of the Constituent Assemblys most crucial Drafting Committee that earned him the moniker Architect of the Indian Constitution.

He was also the Minister of Law and Justice in PM Jawaharlal Nehrus first Cabinet post-Independence. Ambedkar, who played a key role in social movements that fought for the rights of Dalits and untouchables, had received his PhD in Economics from Columbia University in 1927 and an honourary degree in 1952. Chauhan said Dr Ambedkars ideals go beyond borders and time, finding strong connections in the halls of the United Nations and New Yorka city built by immigrants, energised by its diversity and united by its shared belief in opportunity and inclusion. Foundation for Human Horizon President Deelip Mhaske said it is a profound recognition of one of the worlds most transformative champions of equality and civil rights that April 14 has been proclaimed as Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar Day.

The proclamation acknowledges Dr Ambedkars towering legacy in advancing democracy, dignity, womens empowerment and justice for historically marginalised communities, Mhaske said. Mhaske expressed gratitude to Adams noting that this proclamation is more than symbolicit is a moral declaration that positions New York as a global capital for human rights and justice. Indias Permanent Representative P Harish said that Dr Ambedkar looked at democracy as a way of life and whose institutional mechanisms and pillars were not an end in themselves, but the means to bring into play the constitutional morality Constitution to ensure that all citizens enjoyed equality and were able to fully utilise their capacities. , resulting in a nation with citizens and communities demonstrating shared interests and mutual respect and informed by fraternity. Indeed, at a global level, this is a same vision that animates a multilateral system represented by the United Nations - how to ensure that the framework of morality of the UN Charter guides the international order and interaction between peoples and nations so that we have justice and equality with no nation left behind, Harish said.

Dr Ambedkars advocacy resonates far beyond borders of India: Athawale

By Yoshita Singh

UNITED NATIONS,

THE principles that Dr B R Ambedkar fought forequity, representation and human rightsare more relevant than ever in the international communitys collective efforts to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr Ramdas Athawale told an audience at the United Nations. Dr Ambedkars life is not merely a chapter in Indian historyit is a beacon for all humanity. Born into adversity, he transcended every barrier imposed by caste, poverty and colonial oppression to become a global advocate for equality, dignity and democracy.

His advocacy resonates far beyond the borders of India, making him an icon for the modern human rights movement, Athawale said. Athawale delivered the keynote address at a special event organised at the UN headquarters Monday by the Permanent Mission of India to the UN to commemorate Dr Ambedkars 134th birth anniversary. Athawale added that as we gather here under the banner of the United Nations, we recognise that the principles Dr Ambedkar fought forequity, representation, and human rightsare more relevant than ever in our collective effort to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

The event Timeless appeal of Ambedkars vision within the United Nations and beyond was attended by UN envoys, officials, members of the Indian diaspora and civil society. Underlining that Dr Ambedkars life continues to inspire transformation at every level of society, Athawale noted that as custodians of his legacy, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has taken decisive and systemic steps to translate the iconic Indian leaders ideals into transformative action. He told the audience that the Ministry oversees a wide spectrum of programmes and policies aimed at uplifting historically marginalised communities, especially Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes, senior citizens, transgender persons, and persons with disabilities.

Athawale highlighted some of the Ministrys flagship initiatives including the National Overseas Scholarship scheme for Scheduled Castes, landless agricultural labourers that offers full financial support to pursue higher education in prestigious institutions abroad; the Pradhan Mantri Dakshta Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi (PM-DAKSH) Yojana that empowers youth from marginalised groups with demand-driven vocational training making them participants in Indias economic transformation; and the SMILE SchemeSupport for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprisethat caters to the socio-economic upliftment and rehabilitation of the transgender community and those engaged in the act of begging, ensuring dignity and opportunity through livelihood support and counselling. Athawale underscored that each of these initiatives is not simply a programme, it is pledge to bridge centuries of exclusion and to ensure that every citizen, regardless of birth, has access to justice, education, opportunity and dignity.
The document was signed in Baku on April 16 during the 10th meeting of the Azerbaijan-China Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation.

Following discussions, the two sides agreed to create the Working Group on Investment Cooperation. This body will serve as a key platform for maintaining constant attention to issues in the field of investment.

At the conclusion of the meeting, both the Memorandum of Understanding on the creation of the Joint Investment Cooperation Working Group and the protocol of the 10th session of the Azerbaijan-China Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation were signed.

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Probe suggests involvement of Bdeshis in Murshidabad violence; total arrests 221





Violence-affected people from Murshidabad take shelter at a school, in Malda district of West Bengal on Tuesday. (PTI)

NEW DELHI :

THE Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has been apprised of an initial probe into West Bengals Murshidabad violence, which indicates the involvement of alleged Bangladeshi miscreants, Government sources said on Tuesday. The preliminary findings also suggest that the miscreants may have initially received assistance from local leaders but eventually became uncontrollable. The West Bengal Police on Tuesday arrested two brothers for their alleged involvement in the brutal murder of a father-son duo during communal violence in Murshidabad district, a senior officer said. With the fresh arrests, a total of 221 people have been apprehended so far in connection with the recent violence in the Muslim-majority district during anti-Waqf (Amendment) Act protests.

The two accused, identified as Kalu Nadar and Dildar Nadar, were residents of the same Jafrabad area where the father-son duo used to live, he said, adding that a special investigation team has been formed to probe into the murders. Kalu Nadar was arrested from Murarai in Birbhum district, while his brother Dildar was nabbed from near the India-Bangladesh border in Suti in Murshidabad district, the IPS officer said. We have collected the CCTV footage from the area and identified several people involved in the incident. Among them, we have arrested two persons, he said. So far, a total of 221 people have been arrested in connection with communal violence in the district, he said. The bodies of the father-son duo, identified as Harogobindo Das and Chandan Das, were found in their house in Jafrabad locality in violence-hit Samserganj with multiple stab wounds. Apart from these two deaths, 21-year-old Ijaz Momin, who sustained bullet wounds during clashes at Sajur More in Suti on Friday, succumbed to his injuries in the hospital the next day. Around 18 police personnel were injured in the clashes that broke out in several areas of Murshidabad during protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act.

Following the clashes, prohibitory orders were imposed and internet services were suspended, while police promised strictest action against those behind the riots. Meanwhile, the MHA closely monitors activities in Murshidabad and other sensitive districts in West Bengal. Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan on Saturday spoke with the States Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, assuring all possible help. He advised the State administration to keep a close watch on other sensitive districts and to put in place adequate steps to ensure normalcy as soon as possible. The Union Home Secretary is in constant touch with the West Bengal Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police. The MHA has also deployed nearly nine companies, at least 900 personnel, of the Border Security Force in Murshidabad. Of these nine companies, 300 BSF personnel are locally available with other additional companies at the request of the State Government. Earlier, the West Bengal DGP briefed that the situation was tense in Murshidabad but under control and was being monitored closely.

The DGP further stated that he was taking the assistance of BSF posted locally and that more than 150 persons had been arrested. The violence broke out last week in the Muslim-dominated Murshidabad district during a protest over the Waqf (Amendment) Act. The protests swept across Malda, Murshidabad, South 24 Parganas and Hooghly districts, leading to arson, stone-pelting and road blockades. Officials said the situation in the violence-hit areas remained tense, though no fresh incidents were reported. Prohibitory orders have been imposed and internet services suspended in the worst-hit Murshidabad district, where violence took place. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has expressed concern over recent violence in three border areas of Murshidabad, West Bengal, and has deployed additional paramilitary forces as a precaution.

Preliminary reports suggest the involvement of Bangladeshi miscreants, allegedly aided by local TMC leaders, who later lost control over these elements. The violence displaced Hindu families, forcing many to flee to Malda, raising fears of renewed infiltration and communal unrest. The Centre has sought clarification from the State Government regarding its failure to protect lives and property, the attack on railway assets, and police inaction during the initial stages of the violence.
Revenge reloaded 6 rounds fired in Shekhu-Hiranwar gang clash, cafe owner killed





Deceased Avinash Bhusari The spot where Avinash Bhusari was shot dead by attackers late Monday night. (Pic by Anil Futane)

Staff Reporter :

The war between the Shekhu and Hiranwar gangs has once again brought fear to the streets of Nagpur. In a deadly act of revenge, the Hiranwar gang struck back just three-and-a-half months after one of their own, Pawan Hiranwar, was shot dead in Khaparkheda. In the early hours of Tuesday, around 1.30 am, the violence continued when Avinash Raju Bhusari (28), owner of Shosha Cafe, was gunned down by four shooters in the Gokulpeth area under Ambazari Police Station limits. The attackers fired six rounds at Avinash and killed him on the spot. This is the third murder linked to this bitter gang rivalry in the last two years which raised serious questions about increasing gang-rivalry in the city. Ambazari Police have identified 10 accused persons involved in the murder case and arrested two till late Tuesday night.

The deceased Bhusari (28), a resident of Pragati Nagar, Jaitala Road, is the owner of Sosha Cafe Lounge located in the Gokulpeth area on Ram Nagar and Laxmi Bhavan Square road. Before the shooting, Avinash had dinner at the cafe and went on a two-wheeler to get ice cream. He was sitting on the Suzuki Access scooter near his cafe and eating ice cream with his manager, Aditya. Suddenly, a group of attackers arrived in two vehicles. As soon as they saw Avinash, one of the shooters approached Avinash and fired the first shot from point blank range. The first bullet pierced through his head and Avinash collapsed on the ground. Soon after, another shooter also came to the spot and the two fired shots at Avinash who was lying on the ground. Together, they fired six shots at him. Five shots pierced through his head and one through his stomach. Ambazari Police said that they have recovered six covers of bullets from the spot. After the shooting, the attackers left the scene on their vehicles. Soon after the firing, the Ambazari Police reached the spot. Avinashs friends also rushed to help him. He was taken to a nearby private hospital, but the doctors declared him dead.

The police have identified the main accused in the case - Shailesh alias Bunty Vinod Hiranwar (31), resident of Chamadia Basti, Kachipura; Sahil alias Sonu Dilip Shendre (29), Shakti Rajesh Yadav (27), Saurabh alias Monya Praveen Kalasarpe (30), Hritik Dheeraj Hiranwar (25), Ankush Bakara, Babu Hiranwar, Rahul Bawne, Siddhant Sanjay Bharadwaj. Shendre and Bharadwaj have been arrested by the police. This gang is said to be part of a long-running gang war in Nagpur. The city has been facing problems due to ongoing fights between criminal gangs. This latest murder seems to be a result of revenge and gang rivalry.

The issue started in July 2022 when a criminal named Suraj Hiranwar and his group killed Sharoj, the brother of another criminal Shekhu alias Gulnawaz Khan, at a petrol pump in Shankar Nagar. The fight began over a small road issue. Shekhu was in jail at the time, but he promised to take revenge. He later arranged an attack on Shailesh alias Bunty Hiranwar and Pawan Hiranwar. Pawan was killed in that attack but Bunty survived. The police arrested Shekhu and a few others, including Aviraj alias Avi Bhusari (who is a cousin of the recent victim, Avinash). Since then, Bunty and his group had been planning to take revenge for Pawans death. Since Aviraj was in jail, they targeted his cousin Avinash. Police investigations have revealed that this murder was planned a month in advance. Bunty reportedly bought 3 Mauser guns from a weapons dealer named Rashtrapal from Khaparkheda. He was waiting to get bullets for the guns. Shocking details have also come out that the police were aware of the weapon deal. Rural Police even arrested Rashtrapal earlier and recovered 4 to 5 pistols from him.

He told the police that he had sold the guns to Bunty. Still, the police failed to catch Bunty. He kept moving around secretly and managed to stay hidden, even in his own neighborhood. Whats more worrying is that Bunty and Shakti Yadav were officially externed from Nagpur district, but they were still seen moving freely in the city. Top police officers, including Joint Commissioner Nisar Tamboli, DCP Zone II Rahul Madne and Rahul Maknikar, visited the crime scene after the incident. Teams from the crime branch and Ambazari Police have been working to catch the killers. The firing has created a lot of fear in Nagpur.

People are now scared to go out at night, especially in areas like Gokulpeth. Citizens are asking how safe they really are if murders like this can happen in busy city areas. The murder of Avinash Bhusari is not just a case of gang violence. It shows a bigger problem - the failure of the police system to stop crime before it happens. If action is not taken soon, the people of Nagpur will continue to live in fear.
Rs 48,000 crore PACL Ponzi scam ED raids premises of Raj Cong leader, Punjab AAP MLA





JAIPUR/MOHALI :

THE Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday raided the premises of Rajasthan Congress leader and former minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas and Punjab AAP MLA Kulwant Singh as part of a Rs 48,000-crore PACL Ponzi fraud-linked money laundering probe, official sources said. About 15 premises including Khachariyawas house in Jaipur and Singhs premises in Punjabs Mohali apart from some others are being searched by the federal probe agency. A security team of the CRPF has also been deployed with the ED teams at both the locations linked to the politicians. The 55-year-old Congress leader served as minister for transport, food and civil supplies in the cabinet of former chief minister Ashok Gehlot. He has represented the Civil Lines (Jaipur) seat in the Rajasthan Assembly. Singh, 63, is the promoter of a real estate firm named Janta Land Promoters Limited (JLPL).

He is reported to be Punjabs richest MLA with assets reportedly worth Rs 1,000 crore. Addressing reporters outside his ancestral house here, Khachariyawas, nephew of former vice president Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, said the ED action was politically motivated because he has been speaking against the government. He asserted he had done nothing wrong and that he was not afraid of the ED. There was no response till evening hours from Singh or his family on the ED action. The money laundering investigation of 2015 stems from a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) FIR against PACL India Limited, PGF Limited, the late PACL promoter Nirmal Singh Bhangoo and others for operating fraudulent investment schemes to deceive investors.

Through these schemes, PACL and its directors defrauded the investors of about Rs 48,000 crore, according to the ED. Alleged proceeds of crime are suspected to have been diverted to various entities including those linked to Khachariyawas, the sources claimed. As the news about the ED raids broke, supporters of Khachariyawas gathered outside his residence and raised slogans. They have brought a notice to search the premises. They have not given notice linking it to any company. Premises can be searched anywhere in the country, it is their right. I am neither afraid nor nervous, Khachariyawas told reporters.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 16. Tehran hosted the latest round of consular consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran on April 15, 2025, Trend reports.

The Azerbaijani delegation was led by Emil Safarov, Head of the Consular Department at Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry, while the Iranian side was headed by Mojtaba Shasti Karimi, Director General of Irans Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Participants included representatives from the Azerbaijani Embassy in Iran and the Consulate General in Tabriz, as well as officials from the foreign ministries, justice, internal affairs, migration, and border services of both countries.

The sides discussed the current state and future prospects of consular cooperation, emphasizing the protection of citizens rights, provision of consular and legal assistance, and the need to step up joint efforts to address emerging challenges.

They also exchanged views on cooperation between relevant institutions in the fields of justice, migration, internal affairs, and border and customs control, highlighting the importance of enhancing collaboration in these areas.

As part of the visit, the Azerbaijani delegation was received by Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Vahid Jalalzadeh.
Speaking in parliament on Monday, the Armenian Prime Minister said that the Azerbaijani Armed Forces "violate the ceasefire regime on the border with Armenia almost daily by firing aimlessly." He completely rejected the accusations from Baku against Armenia, calling them false, and accused us of allegedly propagandizing the war, as well as - attention! - problems with discipline in the Azerbaijani army....





Pashinyan is in his role and is again trying to shift from a sore head to a healthy one. He wants to shift responsibility for the escalation from Armenia to Azerbaijan, said Rasim Musabekov, a member of the Milli Majlis.





"Azerbaijan has been raising the issue for the past month that the same undirected fire that Pashinyan accuses us of is being carried out from the Armenian side. There are videos proving the inappropriate behavior of Armenian soldiers with weapons at the border. Instead of investigating these cases and taking action, Pashinyan is trying to blame Azerbaijan.

Armenia is playing with fire. Baku has previously warned that if there are injured or dead people on our side as a result of these Armenian provocations, the other side will not be left without retribution. It is better for Pashinyan not to take things to extremes. Unfortunately, he always acts according to one scenario - he takes the situation to the extreme, and then begins to dodge, whine and look for an opportunity to get out. I have no right to give advice to the Prime Minister of Armenia, but let him look back and remember once again how such actions end for Armenia," said the Azerbaijani political scientist.





Nikol Pashinyan is of the opinion that parallelism in actions and statements is a great way to get rid of accusations and get rid of the need to solve the problem. This is what he does in almost all cases when he is faced with a difficult choice between saving Armenia and saving his political reputation.





However, it's not just about Pashinyan, who lives in a parallel world. Attempts to "trample" the enemy with counter-accusations have always been practiced by Yerevan. Given that the Western and Russian communities, as a rule, have always listened to Armenian narratives, accusations against Baku have often succeeded in eliminating the effect of accusations against Yerevan. The current authorities are counting on the same effect. Let us recall the tantrums of Armenian propaganda during the war about allegedly bombed kindergartens and shelled schools, which rose every time Azerbaijan accused Yerevan of shelling peaceful cities and killing civilians. And what are the "documented facts of ethnic cleansing and genocide" in Karabakh, which Armenian propaganda is now waving in the hope of drowning out the truth about the bloody acts of Armenians against the Azerbaijani population of Armenia and the previously occupied territories?

It should also be recalled the far-fetched parallels that Yerevan is trying to respond to Baku's just demands regarding the Armenian Constitution. We understand how difficult it is for Pashinyan to resolve this issue. He knows that he needs to be addressed, as evidenced by his previous statements. But he's afraid of his company. As long as the Nazis have the constitutional right to aggression against their neighbor, they are not very violent. When they are deprived of this right, the government will have a hard time. Therefore, it wants to delay this "exciting" moment by throwing into the discourse the alleged existence of claims on the territory of Armenia in the Constitution of Azerbaijan. This is how Pashinyan hopes to talk Baku into signing peace without making changes to the Constitution. And then we'll see.





The issue of Armenia's violation of the ceasefire regime is not new. Throughout the thirty years of occupation, the Armenian side has constantly kept the former line of contact under tension. Armenians were shooting at Azerbaijani positions and frontline settlements almost constantly. When undesirable incidents occurred, a noisy propaganda counterattack was immediately organized. Both in April 2016 and September 2020, the fighting began in response to the Armenian provocations. But our neighbors are not able to learn from either their own or others' mistakes. They continue to act according to the same pattern, again counting on patrons who will not allow and will not allow.





The resumption of provocations after a certain break is a message from revanchist forces against Azerbaijan. External actors interested in maintaining tension create conditions for provocations and cover for provocateurs. The interest of the European Union is quite definite. Indeed, Yerevan has already started talking about the possibility of withdrawing the EU observation mission after the signing of the peace treaty. This means that the guardians will strongly oppose the signing of the peace, or they will continue to rush Baku to sign the document without guarantees.





Taking advantage of impunity and the lack of condemnation from the world, Armenia often crossed all borders in provocative actions and always raised a cry, receiving a harsh response. The provocations in the fall of 2020 ended with the defeat of the "century-old dream" of internationally recognized Azerbaijani territories for her. If the provocateurs go too far this time, they will have to worry about the internationally recognized territories of Armenia itself.





Does Pashinyan understand this? There is an opinion that the Armenian prime minister is not aware of the real situation and does not know what the Yerkrap "volunteer" gangs stationed on the conditional border are doing. The Armenian army is a big bazaar where there is no unity of command and military discipline. Just today, a video was distributed on social networks in which a "veteran" tells how Armenian officers fled from the front, pretending to be wounded and almost killed. And the soldiers simply left their positions, not wanting to die. It's funny that the supreme commander of such an army accuses the Azerbaijani Armed Forces of "indiscipline."





Yes, the situation in Armenia suggests that Pashinyan may indeed not know what is going on at the border, but this does not absolve him of responsibility. He called himself the prime minister - be kind enough to be responsible for everything.





Is Nikol Pashinyan ready to answer for the consequences of the current series of provocations? That's the main question he has to ask himself.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 16. The next meeting of the Pardon Issues Commission under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan will take place in April 23, the commission's member Rashad Majid told Trend.

This marks the sixth convening of the commission in the current calendar year.



During the preceding months of 2025, the commission undertook a comprehensive review of over 500 petitions.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 16. The Department for Ideological Work and Moral-Psychological Support of the Main Department for Personnel of the Ministry of Defense held meetings with young soldiers serving in various units, Trend reports, citing the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense.

The main objectives of the events were to promote Azerbaijani national-spiritual values among servicemen and study the moral-psychological state and social problems. The events were also focused on the issues of strengthening law and military discipline.

The meetings focused on studying the personal and psychological traits of newly enlisted servicemen, their adaptation to military service, ensuring high-quality nutrition in line with established standards, and strictly adhering to safety rules to preserve their health throughout military service.

During the meetings, educational discussions were conducted highlighting the role and importance of soldierly brotherhood and friendship in strengthening military discipline, combat duty, and building relationships within military regulations. Additionally, a series of cultural events were organized.

In conjunction with the overarching agenda, a series of targeted discussions were conducted, facilitating the engagement of emerging military personnel through a Q&A format addressing their inquiries.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 16. Chinas Minister of Education, Huai Jinpeng, visited the Azerbaijani language department at Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) this week, Trend reports via the State Committee on Work with Diaspora.

The visit, part of a broader tour of BFSU  one of the countrys top institutions for foreign language studies  included a meeting with faculty members and students of the Azerbaijani language program. Huai was briefed on the departments academic initiatives, its role in advancing language studies within the Faculty of Asian Studies, and ongoing collaboration with international partners.

The minister also held a discussion with Aqshin Aliyev, head of the Azerbaijani language department and a Doctor of Philosophy in Philology, who was recognized in 2020 by the State Committee on Work with Diaspora for his contributions to diaspora activities.

Founded in 2016, the Azerbaijani language department at BFSU began as a third-language elective before becoming a full academic major in 2018, following a decision by Chinas Ministry of Education. The first class of students  nine in total  completed a four-year program, becoming the countrys first cohort of Azerbaijani language specialists.

The Azerbaijani language department at Beijing Foreign Studies University, one of Chinas most prestigious institutions where more than 100 foreign languages are taught, was established in 2016. Originally offered as a third-language elective, Azerbaijani was elevated to a full academic major in 2018 following a decision by Chinas Ministry of Education. That year, nine students were admitted through the national university entrance exam, launching the countrys first formal program in Azerbaijani studies.

Students from the programs inaugural cohort, who studied from 2018 to 2022, took part in a range of cultural and academic initiatives related to Azerbaijan, signaling a broader effort to deepen bilateral educational ties. In September, the university hosted the First China International Conference on Azerbaijani Studies  an event aimed at revitalizing the field, fostering new academic partnerships, and advancing cultural, economic, and diplomatic engagement between the two nations.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 16. A musical performance titled "The Call of Fate" was staged in Yekaterinburg, organized by the Russian Azerbaijani Youth Union, the State Committee on Work with Diaspora of Azerbaijan told Trend.

According to the committee, the performance, presented at the Ural State Mining University, tells about how a phone call can become a turning point in a person's life.

The event was attended by public and political figures from Russia and Azerbaijan, including members of the local Azerbaijani community.

Acting Consul General of Azerbaijan in Yekaterinburg Shohrat Mustafayev, Head of the Sverdlovsk Regional Branch of the Russian Azerbaijani Youth Union Toghrul Hasanzade, and others made speeches, emphasizing that such initiatives expand the communication opportunities of young people, strengthen friendly relations between peoples, and promote intercultural dialogue.

The organizer of the performance, Mutvali Shikhlinski, said that the richness of Azerbaijani culture was presented to the audience through music, dance, and skits.

The play, prepared with the support of the "Azerbaijan-Ural" National Cultural Organization, also touched on the themes of family, friendship, and love.

Russian MP Sergey Chepikov emphasized that the young people performed professionally and said that the play made a valuable contribution to Russian-Azerbaijani friendship.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 16. Azerbaijani Parliament Deputy Speaker Ziyafat Asgarov met with a delegation from the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye (TBMM), led by Hulusi Akar, the chair of its National Defense Committee, during a visit to Azerbaijan on April 16, the Azerbaijani parliamentary press service told Trend.

According to the service, Asgarov welcomed the guests and emphasized that the relationship between Azerbaijan and Turkiye represents the highest levels of brotherhood and friendship. He noted that the Shusha Declaration, signed by the leaders of both countries, serves as the legal framework for this strategic alliance.

As two countries that follow independent policies, Azerbaijan and Turkiye are facing external pressures. To overcome these challenges, we must unite our efforts and become stronger, stated Asgarov. He also spoke about enhancing security and defense cooperation between Azerbaijan, Turkiye, and other Turkic states.

In turn, Hulusi Akar, head of the TBMMs National Defense Committee, reaffirmed that both countries are taking all necessary actions to safeguard national security and ensure the well-being of their societies. He highlighted that the relationship between Azerbaijan and Turkiye is built on sincerity and brotherhood, stressing that the cooperation between the two nations will continue to grow, thanks to the personal friendship between Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Akar also praised Azerbaijan's position on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, acknowledging it highly, and discussed the importance of collaboration among Turkic states to address common threats and maintain regional security and stability.

The meeting continued with a fruitful exchange of views on matters of mutual interest.

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Journalist Alfousseini Togo was charged with undermining the credit of the judiciary, disturbing public order and defamation in connection with his reporting. (Photo: Uncredited)

Dakar, April 15, 2025The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Malian authorities to immediately release journalist Alfousseini Togo after he was arrested and detained April 9 on charges of undermining the state.

Alfousseini Togos arrest and detention for criticizing the judiciary sends a chilling signal to the entire Malian press, which is already suffering under the threat of government censorship, said Moussa Ngom, CPJs Francophone Africa Representative. Malian authorities should immediately release Alfousseini Togo and refrain from criminalizing media for doing their jobs.

On the day of Togos arrest, a judge with the cybercrime unit in Bamako, the Malian capital, charged the journalist, who is the publishing director of the privately-owned weekly newspaper Le Canard de la Venise, with undermining the credit of the judiciary, disturbing public order and defamation over his April 8 report critiquing the justice system, according to news reports and Chiaka Doumbia, president of the Malian investigative journalists network, who spoke to CPJ.

Togo is being held in Bamako prison awaiting his trial, set to begin June 12, 2025, Doumbia told CPJ. The journalist faces up to two years in prison under articles 37 and 38 of the Press Code, which relate to false news, disturbing public order, and defamation, and article 242-74 of the Criminal Code of Mali, relating to undermining the states reputation.

In his report, Togo questioned the credibility of a poll quoted by Justice Minister Mahamadou Kassogue that claimed public confidence in Malis justice index increased from 30% to 72% in 2024. Togo also said that the justice sector was ranked by the poll second most corrupt after the police, adding that the current transitional regime is taking advantage of the weakness of the justice system to order arrests, intimidation, kidnappings and even extrajudicial detentions, in violation of the law.

Several foreign media outlets have been suspended and journalists arrested in Mali since military officers seized power in a coup in 2020.

CPJs calls to the publicly listed Ministry of Justices numbers went unanswered.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 16. A new Azerbaijani language class has opened in the city of Aurora, located in the Ontario Province of Canada, under the York Region Catholic School, Trend reports via the State Committee on Work with Diaspora.

The committee highlighted the pivotal role played by the parents of Azerbaijani students and the international language coordinators of the "Father Bressani Catholic High School" in establishing this new class. This initiative has resulted in the inclusion of Azerbaijani language lessons in the school's curriculum, alongside other international languages.

The establishment of Azerbaijani language classes abroad is a significant event for the preservation of our culture and national identity, as well as for passing on these values to future generations. The newly created class in Canada is not only a historic and prideful step for the Azerbaijani community but also serves to bring together the younger generation around a common identity and cultural values.

Classes will be held every Saturday from 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM at the "Father Bressani Catholic High School" (Address: 250 Ansley Grove Rd, Woodbridge, ON L4L 3W4). The classes will be taught by Sevinj Guliyeva, a teacher with extensive pedagogical experience and the drama and Azerbaijani language instructor at the "My Azerbaijan" weekend school, along with assistant teacher Lalin Hasanova.

Moreover, Azerbaijani community members living in Aurora, Vaughan, and surrounding areas can register for the Azerbaijani language classes by contacting +1 416 827 6743 to take advantage of this valuable opportunity.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 16. The Iranian government has approved the preliminary signing of an agreement on intergovernmental security and law enforcement cooperation between Iran and Azerbaijan, Trend reports via the Iranian government's information portal.

According to the portal, today, the subsequent convening of the Iranian Cabinet of Ministers transpired in Tehran, culminating in a series of strategic resolutions.

The decision to extend the visa-free regime between Iran and Kazakhstan from 14 to 30 days was also approved.

In addition, the Cabinet of Ministers meeting examined the prospects for preserving the value of Iran's national currency and economic cooperation with African countries.

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A treasured historic downtown landmark building opened was dedicated Tuesday to begin its new life as a gateway to the educational future for Orange County.

Lamar State College-Orange held a dedication, ribbon-cutting ceremony, and open house on the new Student Success Center, designed into the 1913 First Baptist Church that had been abandoned for years. A Texas State Historical Marker stands in front of the church.

"We didn't tear down a building, we've repurposed a building," said Dr. Tom Johnson, president of LSCO.

The Stark Foundation bought the abandoned church and was able to preserve the skeleton of the main building. The foundation donated the building to the local college and the Texas Legislature under then-Speaker of the House Dade Phelan, who is the state representative for Orange County, approved $6 million for an addition and remodeling.

Stark Foundation President Jennifer Staton said the donation was because of "a shared vision that education is a key" to a vital community.

She said the foundation through the years has also given more than $1 million in scholarships for LSCO students.

"Together we are building a strong community," she said.

Dr. Johnson described the day as "this is truly a monumental occasion" showing how a partnership works.

PDG Architects of Houston designed an addition and the inside remodeling to combine 21st Century style with the early 20th Century Greek revival style red brick church with a dome.

Gerry Vandervoort, vice president of G&G Enterprises of Orange, the contractor for the project, said the preservation of the building has Orange as one of the only small towns with two domed historic buildings, referring to the First Presbyterian Church two blocks west.

Vandervoort is a native of Orange and said he sometimes went to the church with his grandfather. He praised the Stark Foundation for "the wonderful generosity" and "their forethought to use the building."

Hurricane Ike in September 2008 flooded the basement of the old church and the lower floors of other buildings on the church campus. The church leaders had already voted to move to Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and decided not to clean out the buildings.

By the time the Stark Foundation decided to buy the church to preserve the landmark, mold and critters had moved into the buildings. The foundation demolished the other buildings. The sanctuary building had mold and pigeon nests, plus pigeon poop. Not even the wooden pews could be saved.

Vandervoort even commented on how no one knows what is behind a wall in an old building.

The church faces Green Avenue but the parking lot and entry are to the back, off Elm Avenue at Fifth Street. The back addition is the entry way into the remodeled church with the stained glass windows preserved. A modern stair case goes up to a walkway along stained glass windows surrounding the first floor.

Dr. Johnson described the Student Success Center as a one-stop shop for anyone looking for information or to enroll in the college.

People looking to enroll or find out about courses and programs will be able to get general information, talk to an advisor, enroll, and pay for school. Meeting rooms are also available for groups like the LSCO Student Government Association, which got a shout-out from the officials for their help with the center.

The entrance area even has shelves with a variety of LSCO and LSCO Gator T-shirts, mugs, and other college souvenirs. Students at the event were carrying around LSCO stuffed Gator dolls they had bought.

Near the entrance in the old part of the church is an advisors office that used the room originally designed for the Baptist pastor's office. The room has the stained-glass windows plus the original small corner fireplace.

Dr. Johnson, who is retiring in 38 days, likes to tell people he is the first generation of his family who went to college. He said most of the LSCO students are first generation college students and he hopes the new building is a welcoming place for them to get a feel for campus life.

Dr. Wendy Elmore, who has been appointed to replace Dr. Johnson, thanked a number of people and introduced officials from the Texas State University System, which oversees LSCO. Also in attendance were presidents of Lamar University and Lamar Institute of Technology in Beaumont, plus the president of Lamar State College-Port Arthur. Former LSCO President Dr. Michael Shahan also had a front-row seat.

Sheila Faske of Vidor, a regent of the Texas State University System attended along with David Montagne, a former longtime regent. Also taking part in the ceremonies were Gisela Houseman, president of the LSCO Foundation and board member Judge Courtney Arkeen.

Everyone attending was asked to write on a special card their impressions of the day. The comments will be placed into a time capsule with LSCO items to be opened in 25 years. Dr. Johnson said he plans to be there when the capsule is opened.
The city of Orange has sponsored a Good Friday Easter Egg Hunt for more than 45 years, but this year will be the first all orange egg hunt.

The city ordered 14,000 pastel orange-colored plastic eggs with candy for kids to hunt at the Riverside Pavilion area off Simmons Drive. Gates will open at 9 a.m. Friday, April 17.

Parks Director James Lawrence said city Public Works director Adam Jack suggested to play on the city's name to go with the egg hunt. The company that has supplied multi-colored plastic eggs for years was willing to try. Lawrence said the company went through two semi-truck loads of multi-colored eggs to pick out the orange ones to ship out to Orange.

The city's Parks and Recreation Department has sponsored the egg hunt since the late 1970s. The hunt was suspended for a couple of years in the mid-1990s because of city financial problems.

Since the event was re-established in the late 1990s, it has turned into a family festival with lots of activities and even free hot dogs for the kids. Through the years, numerous local businesses and groups, like the American Legion Women's Auxiliary, have donated to the event or sponsored activities.

"We want to make it a fun day free of charge, said Recreation Director Bree Lister.

Besides getting eggs with candy or prize certificates, children will get a coupon from Dairy Queen for a free blizzard and a coupon from Chick-fil-A for a free cookie or cone. The coupons will be available until they run out.

The Orange County Sheriff's Office is helping grill hot dogs and each child will get a free dog, chips and water, as supplies last.

A petting zoo from Houston will be set up. Lawrence said last year the company brought a young kangaroo and wallaby. Lister said there will also be bounce houses and a rock-climbing wall. The Orange Fire Department will have a fire truck set up for kids to get a close look.

Some eggs will hold a prize certificate. The prizes include two trikes for younger kids, plus scooters for older kids, along with 40 Easter baskets filled with treats.

The hunts have a roped off area with the plastic eggs scattered in the grass and kids racing at the starting whistle to run fetch them. To keep the competition equal, the hunts are divided into age groups.

The first two groups will begin their hunts at 10 a.m. Ages 0 to 3 will have their own area with a parent allowed to go with them. Ages 4-6 will have a separate area with the hunt starting at 10.

Lawrence said that approximately 45 minutes after the first two groups, ages 7-9 and 10-12 will have their hunts.

Even though the city will have a crew of employees working at the egg hunt, city hall and other regular city offices will be closed Friday for the Easter holidays.

Also, city halls in Bridge City, Pinehurst, and Vidor will be closed. West Orange city employees get Friday and Monday off, so that city hall will also be closed on Monday.

The Orange County Courthouse and other county offices will be closed on Friday, as will state and federal offices.

As usual, emergency services like law enforcement and fire protection will be open through the holidays.
The papers were signed Monday at 1 p.m., completing the sale of Judices Cajun Cafe to two women from Kingwood. Al Judice IV confirmed to Record Newspapers that he sold the Bridge City restaurant to Taylor Sleem and Sherri Hunt but couldnt say what the new name of the restaurant would be. The location will be closed for about two weeks, while the pair revamps the location, putting their spin on it, doing a deep cleaning, and finalizing their staff.

Judice said he was, Pretty close to sure it is going to be something like it is.

The women own another restaurant and a food truck in Kingwood that also serves Cajun cuisine. The new restaurant will not be named the same as the Kingwood location. This is not a chain.

For those worried about losing their gumbo fix, Judices 1927 in Nederland will still be open and Judices original recipe gumbo should be able available in Bridge City when the restaurant reopens.

Im almost 100 percent certain, said Judice.

Here is a little secret most people may not know. The legendary Judice recipe gumbo; both chicken and sausage, and seafood gumbo, has been made in a Houston commissary for the last five years.

They did our recipe to a tee, said Judice.

They were selling over 500 gallons of gumbo a week between the two restaurants. He had to do something, because there was no way he could keep up with the demand and do all the other things necessary for the restaurant.

We served gumbo, etouffee, seafood, we just could do it all. Farming out the gumbo recipe was the solution.

It costs a little more, but we make it up in savings in time and labor, he said. Judice said you will still be able to get their original recipe at the new location because it has been sold at the Kingwood location for years.

Sherris father, Ken Hunt, found out Judice was having his gumbo made in Houston and contacted Judice for permission to sell it at their locations. Its through this connection that the sale of the restaurant came through. It has been in the works for a while. The new owners were trying to get an SBA loan to purchase the business, but it took so long, they eventually went the traditional route.

Judice decided to sell the Bridge City location, because he was stretched thin timewise and he had some additional aspirations, plus adequate labor has been an issue since the COVID shutdowns.

I have some good people, I just dont have enough of them, he said.

Judice also said he took a full-time job in January as a helicopter pilot for Jefferson County Sherrifs Department. It was a dream job. I had to take it.

He also revealed he is starting a new business, boutique style assisted living homes, which will house four to five seniors in each private home under the name Silver Oaks of SETX.

He has already purchased the first location, which is in Bridge City. It is currently under renovation and he hopes to have it ready in about six weeks. They are replacing the roof and floor and refitting a bathroom with a roll-in shower.

Judice said his grandmother, known as Maw Maw Judice lived her last few years in a similar arrangement.

It touched my heart, he said. I think you get better care. They should be treated like royalty in their final years.

With these new developments, it was just time to let the Bridge City location go.

Our legacy doesnt die, said Judice. Besides Judices 1927 in Nederland, they still have Judices French Market in Port Arthur. He said the dream is still alive to have the Judice brand gumbo available one day in retail stores, but he will have to find an even larger cold packer to do that. The one he currently uses cant handle the capacity that will be needed.

That might be the one my son has to take over, he said.

Hes optimistic about the new owners and Bridge City embracing them.

Theyre good people.

Stay tuned for more information as the new restaurant opens in a couple of weeks.
Explore NE : Jaishankar to Ambassadors

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New Delhi, Apr 16 : External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said North East India's relevance will grow with time, as he urged foreign envoys to "familiarise" themselves with the region and share its qualities with their Government and industries.

Virtually addressing a meeting of Ambassadors for the upcoming North East Investors Summit 2025, organised by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Jaishankar said the North East region is at the heart of many key Indian policies--Neighbourhood First, Act East or the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).

"The North East adjoins five of our neighbours on land, its boundaries are the interface between the Indian subcontinent and the ASEAN," he said.

The EAM said many recent initiatives involving India's immediate neighbours emanate from this region. Others such as the Trilateral Highway and the Kaladan project are equally important, he said.

"In every sense, it is a hub, whose relevance will only grow with the passage of time," he said, adding that the Union Government has prioritised the development of the North East region.

"We would like you to familiarise yourselves with its many qualities and to share that with your Government and industries. And, at the same time, promote international cooperation with them in various domains," he said in his address.

Later, the Minister posted on X about the meeting with the Ambassadors.

"Highlighted the growing relevance of the North East-as a gateway to Southeast Asia, a tourism hub and a contributor to the global workplace.

"Confident that the upcoming North East Investors Summit will leverage the region's many strengths and foster greater international cooperation," he said. PTI


BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 16. The financial indicators of Azerbaijans insurance sector improved last year, including increases in both inclusivity and depth, the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) told Trend.

"The deepening of the insurance market has made it one of the key institutional investors in the financial sector. During 2024, insurance premiums increased by 11 percent compared to the previous year, reaching 1.4 billion manat ($823.5 million), while insurance payouts rose by 26 percent to 737 million manat ($433.5 million). The sector operated with high profitability. The total capital of the sector exceeded the required capital by more than 1.9 times. Although the share of investment companies in the financial system is small, the growth potential is significant.
Nine persons were arrested by police in connection with a violent protest against the amended Waqf Act in Bhangar of south 24-Parganas district on Monday.

According to police sources, eight persons were held from Uttar Kashi while the other was from Chandaneswar in the Bhangar area. Search operations are still on at several other adjoining places, police sources said.

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Police have registered five cases after protesters belonging to the Indian Secular Front (ISF) allegedly unleashed violence demanding the BJP-led central government to withdraw the act.

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They damaged vehicles and set on fire five two-wheelers belonging to police during their protest.

The ISF, led by its MLA Naushad Siddiqui had organised a protest rally against the amended act at Ramleela Maidan in Kolkata on Monday.
The Asansol Durgapur Development Authority today handed over the newly-built Durgapur Press Club building to the working journalists of Durgapur.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee in 2014 had declared the Press Club building during her visit to Durgapur and today the key of the three storied building was handed over to the DPC governing body by state panchayat & rural development minister Pradip Majumdar. The minister said: This is possibly for the first time in the state that the state allocated a premium land free of cost and erected a complete building at the cost of a government body.

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The foundation for the nearly Rs 1 crore building was laid by Tapas Banerjee, former Chairman, ADDA in 2022 on a 2.90 cottahs.

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Days after violent protests rocked Dhuliyan town in Murshidabads Jangipur sub-division over the Waqf (Amendment) Act, the situation is reportedly under control, according to officials.

However, tension continues to grip the region despite the deployment of central forces, including the BSF and CRPF. Shops and properties suffered extensive damage during the clashes, with eyewitnesses recounting the chaos. My entire building has been destroyed. They broke the glass, shattered the wooden windows and doors at the rear, and looted our belongings, said a local shopkeeper. They even broke into my shop across the street by forcibly opening the shutter, said a local resident of Betbona in Samserganj. On Monday, Poila Boishakh (Bengali New Year), shopkeepers in the Shiv Mandir area of Dhuliyan cautiously reopened their stores amid heavy police presence. Though relieved to be back in business on the auspicious day for opening new account books, many remained apprehensive.

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The unrest, which had begun as a protest against the Waqf law amendments, intensified last week with several incidents of arson reported from Suti and Dhuliyan. Explosions rocked the area as miscreants set multiple houses on fire, spreading panic across villages.

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Following a Calcutta High Court order, central forces will remain stationed in the sensitive areas of Murshidabad till 17 April. Yet, local residents remain apprehensive. What happens after the 17 when the forces leave? Who will protect us if something happens again? asked a concerned resident. In a related incident on Monday, a protest in South 24-Parganas Bhangar turned violent during a march against the Waqf Act. Clashes erupted between protesters and the police near Sonpur Bazaar, resulting in the torching of a police vehicle and several arrests. A day later, burnt remains and the smell of smoke lingered in the air, while shopkeepers refused to speak publicly about the events. Those arrested claimed they were innocent and alleged that the real perpetrators remained free. Three separate FIRs have been lodged in North Kashipur, Bhangar, and Polerhat police stations on charges of unlawful assembly and destruction of public property. Eight people have been arrested so far. Internet services remained suspended in several parts of Murshidabad, with police and central forces continuing patrolling operations.

Tensions are especially high in Jafarganj, Dhuliyan, where two individualsHargobinda Das and Chandan Daswere killed during the unrest. The CPM has claimed both were party workers. On Monday, CPM state secretary Md Salim, along with Meenakshi Mukherjee and other senior leaders, visited the victims families.

Speaking to reporters after the visit, Salim said: The violence occurred due to police negligence. The attackers had a window of four to five hours, yet the police never arriveddespite the police station being just ten minutes away. Even the fire brigade failed to respond after shops were set on fire and looted. The home minister must take responsibility. There should be a judicial probe.

Family members of the deceased echoed these concerns, alleging that no police personnel came to their homes after the incident. Despite attempts to restore normalcy, a sense of fear and uncertainty still hangs heavy in Murshidabad and parts of South 24-Parganas.
Councilors from the Opposition BJP in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), including Leader of the Opposition in the civic bodt Sardar Raja Iqbal Singh on Wednesday staged a protest in front of the Mayors office against user charge levied for garbage collection service.

Speaking during the protest, Singh said it has now become evident that the AAP is anti-people. It claimed to stand for the common citizen once, but three years after coming to power in the MCD, they have been started taking anti-people decisions.

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On the one hand, the cleanliness system of Delhi is in a shambles with garbage not being picked up for days, while on the other, the party has begun collecting user charges along with property tax for garbage collection.

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He further said that the AAP leaders are shedding crocodile tears over user charges as their actions contradict their words, Singh said.

After the AAP came into power, it increased fees for health trade, general trade licenses and started collecting user charges along with property tax.

BJP strongly opposes this. If the Mayor has even a shred of morality left, she should immediately resign. The public can no longer tolerate a disaster-driven government that burdens them further, the LoP stated.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition in MCD, Jai Bhagwan Yadav stated that the AAP government has ruined the city.
Trend News Agency presents an interview with Nurlan Rahimli, an Azerbaijani living in Germany who works as a Technical Manager for operational wind farms at Alterric Deutschland GmbH and as a Project Manager at AGA Renewable Energy Solutions.

Mr. Rahimli, could you tell us about your educational background? How did your journey toward becoming an engineer begin?

Even though Im an engineer today, my academic journey initially started in economics at the Oil Academy. Back then, career choices were often influenced by family expectations, and economics was seen as a stable and promising field. However, my true interest has always been in the energy sector-especially renewable energy.

At some point, I realized that I wanted a career that was not just financially viable but also intellectually fulfilling and future-oriented. Thats when I made the decision to switch to engineering, focusing on energy technologies.

What led you to continue your education in Germany? Was it difficult to learn the German language?

Germanys reputation in engineering and its leadership in renewable energy made it an obvious choice. However, my application for a scholarship to pursue a second bachelor's degree was not accepted, which meant I had to explore alternative paths. I decided to complete my mandatory military service first.

I had already started learning german language before my military service, but after a long break, I had to essentially relearn it from scratch. Learning German is challenging-its not a language that follows a simple set of rules; rather, it feels like a language of exceptions. But I was determined to study in Germany, so I pushed through.

Ultimately, I opted for a more practical and financially sustainable path: enrolling in an English-taught masters program in Germany, which allowed me to enter the field while continuing to refine my German language skills.

How did your interest in renewable energy first begin? And what made you focus specifically on wind energy later on?

My interest in energy started early on. It was a developing field at the time, and that made it even more exciting. Baku, known as the "City of Winds," naturally made wind energy an area of curiosity for me.

Over time, it became clear that fossil fuels wouldnt last forever, and the world would have to shift toward renewables. The Azerbaijani government had already started discussing green energy initiatives around 2009, which further strengthened my belief that this sector had real potential back home.

Among different renewable energy sources, wind energy stood out because of its rapid advancements and scalability. I saw it as an area where I could build expertise and contribute meaningfully in the long run.

If we're not mistaken, you also started working while pursuing your masters degree. Did combining work and study help you deepen your expertise, or was it a particularly demanding period for you?

Yes, I worked during my studies-initially out of necessity, to cover living and education costs. During my first year, I worked on weekends and non-class days, with some financial support from my family.

Later on, I focused on student jobs that aligned with my field. Balancing work and studies wasnt easy, but it was worth it. The experience helped me develop practical skills, apply theoretical knowledge in real-world settings, and understand the industrys expectations. It was a demanding period, but one that shaped me professionally and personally. My mindset at the time was simple: If it doesnt challenge you, it doesnt change you.

We noticed that you've studied at three different institutions in Germany. Would you say that in Germany, continuously gaining knowledge is more of a lifestyle?

I would answer this questions of yours in a typical German way: Jein! It means Yes, but also no.

My masters program was structured as a dual degree, so I was enrolled at both Kassel University in Germany and Cairo University in Egypt, spending a semester in Cairo. Thats why I graduated from both universities.

Later, while working full-time, I enrolled in a part-time bachelors program in industrial engineering, attending classes on weekends. However, due to a job change and relocation, I had to put that degree on hold after two years.

As in many other countries, continuous learning is essential in Germany to stay competitive and high valued. Professional development through courses, certifications, and further studies is widely encouraged, and individuals are generally open to lifelong learning.

In general, when analyzing the state of green energy in Germanyespecially in the wind sectorwe see that the country ranks third globally in wind energy production. But youve had a close-up view of the field. What insights can you share about wind energy development in Germany, and what are some of the key steps or innovations being implemented?

Germany has been a global leader in wind energy for decades, thanks to ambitious policies, technological innovation, and strong government incentives. The country was one of the pioneers in large-scale wind deployment, and wind power now plays a crucial role in Germanys energy transition, known as the Energiewende.

However, in recent years, onshore wind energy has faced challenges. Many prime locations are already occupied, and new installations are increasingly met with regulatory hurdles, public resistance, and lengthy permitting processes. As a result, the growth of onshore wind has slowed, shifting the focus toward optimizing existing turbines through repowering-replacing older, less efficient turbines with modern, high-performance ones. This helps increase energy output without requiring entirely new wind farms.

Meanwhile, offshore wind remains a key area of expansion. The North Sea and Baltic Sea offer some of the best wind resources in Europe, and Germany has ambitious plans to scale up offshore capacity significantly. The challenge, however, lies in efficiently integrating all this renewable energy into the power grid. Wind energy production is inherently variable, and ensuring grid stability requires advanced energy storage solutions, smarter grid management, and better connectivity between different regions.

One exciting development is the increasing role of hydrogen. Excess wind energy, instead of being wasted, can be used to produce green hydrogen through electrolysis. This hydrogen can then be stored and used later for industrial applications, transportation, or even reconverted into electricity when needed.

Germany's wind energy sector is at a turning pointnot just about adding more turbines but making the entire system smarter, more resilient, and more integrated with future energy solutions. The focus now is on efficiency, grid expansion, and innovative storage technologies to ensure that wind energy remains a reliable pillar of the country's clean energy future.

Which regions in Germany are best suited for wind farms?

The strongest wind energy potential is in northern Germany, particularly:

Lower Saxony

Schleswig-Holstein

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Offshore wind farms along the North Sea and Baltic Sea are also highly productive.

For instance, Schleswig-Holstein frequently generates more electricity from wind than it consumes-sometimes exceeding 100% of its demand. Nationwide, wind energy accounts for roughly 30% of Germanys total electricity production, and renewables as a whole contribute around 50%.

Germany and Azerbaijan already cooperate in several areas. In your opinion, what benefits could both countries gain from deeper collaboration in the renewable (green) energy sector?

Azerbaijan has significant potential in renewables, and foreign partnerships-especially with Germany-could accelerate its development. Germany brings advanced technology and expertise, while Azerbaijan offers strong wind and solar resources.

With the Azerbaijani government now prioritizing green energy projects, theres an opportunity for German companies to invest, share knowledge, and support infrastructure development.

Do you think Azerbaijans renewable energy potential could be attractive to major companies from Germany that are already well-established in this field?

Absolutely. Azerbaijans combination of high solar radiation and strong wind conditions makes it an attractive investment location.

German companies, particularly those specializing in energy technology, have a strategic interest in expanding into emerging markets. With Europe aiming for energy security and diversification, Azerbaijan could become a key partner-not just for traditional energy exports but also for renewables.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday held a meeting with her Cabinet and concerned officials to intensify the efforts for the effective and rapid implementation of the Ayushman Bharat Yojana in the national capital.

Gupta said various aspects of the scheme such as the distribution of Ayushman Arogya Cards, identification of beneficiaries, awareness campaigns, and the decentralised expansion of services were discussed during the meeting.

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She informed that 1,69,000 cards, which have already been issued, will be distributed to the beneficiaries. Public representatives have been urged to assist in the distribution to be carried out through district-level mechanisms. This step will ensure that no eligible citizen is deprived of quality healthcare services, the CM said.

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As age increases, so do health complications. The Ayushman Bharat scheme will serve as a great support system for the elderly. Work in this regard has already begun at the district level, Gupta said.

She also announced that Vay Vandana Yojana will soon be implemented in Delhi benefiting lakhs of senior citizens. With this approval, all citizens in this age groupregardless of their socio-economic statuswill have access to all the benefits under the scheme.

The CM also informed that 1,139 Arogya Mandirs will be established across Delhi with 14-15 centers in each assembly constituency. These centers will provide general health consultations, awareness, primary care, and preventive medicines.

In addition, nine Critical Care Blocks and in every district one Integrated Public Health Laboratory will also be established in Delhi.

Taking a jibe at the previous government, the chief minister said the previous government wasted considerable time by not implementing this scheme. However, no further delay will be allowed now. We are progressing with concrete policies and on-ground implementation. Simultaneously, all departments have been instructed to ensure the rapid execution of the scheme, she elaborated.
In a breakthrough, the Outer North District police on Wednesday apprehended three Bangladeshi nationals, including a woman and a minor, it said.

The arrested individuals are identified as Hilal Hussain, 36, his wife, 32, and their two-year-old son.

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Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer North) Nidhin Valsan said the cops conducted a special drive to identify and deport illegal Bangladeshi immigrants. A team collected local intelligence and used human informers to track down the suspects.

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About the immigrants, Valsan said Hussain reportedly came to Delhi with his parents years ago and settled in Yamuna Pushta Jhuggi before shifting to JJ Colony, Bawana later. He married a woman who was also a Bangladeshi national, about 5-6 years ago, and they have a two-year-old son. He also has an Aadhaar card issued in his name.

The police will send the arrested individuals to a deportation center after completing all necessary formalities.
Taking cognizance of the complaints from parents across the city, Delhi Directorate of Education (DoE) on Wednesday issued orders for the constitution of District-level Committees with each chaired by Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of the areas including Deputy Directors of Education, Accounts Officers, and Principals from Government Schools.

These committees will be tasked to conduct on-ground inspections of all the private unaided recognized schools in Delhi including those against which complaints have been received in this Directorate, it said in a statement.

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As on 16 April, more than 600 private recognized unaided schools have been inspected across Delhi and the inspection of remaining schools is being carried out and will be completed in an expeditious manner, it said.

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Accordingly, in cases wherein the schools have been found to have increased the fee in an arbitrary manner leading to profiteering and commercialization of schools, strict action is being initiated including issuance of show cause Notices, the department added.

Further, it was found during the inspection that many private unaided schools have not fulfilled their statutory obligations related to filing of fee statements and audited reports respectively under Section 17(3) and Section 180(3) of DSEAR 1973. Accordingly, action as applicable is being initiated against such schools.

The Directorate reiterates that all private recognized unaided schools must comply with statutory regulations concerning fee hikes and ensure complete transparency in fee-related communication with parents.

It is also mentioned that complaints have also been received regarding the malpractice of dummy schooling in various private unaided schools of Delhi.

During the course of inspections, as many as 20 such schools were identified and strict action has been initiated as per DSEAR 1973 against such private unaided schools.
In a series of hoax threats that have rocked the national capital, the Dwarka court in South West Delhi became the latest target after receiving a bomb-related email on Wednesday, police said.

According to the police, the in-charge of court security, an inspector-rank official, informed the Dwarka police post around 10:50 am about a threat email that had been received in the mailbox of CJM Shreya Aggarwal around 3:11 am.

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The police said the email, which came to the CJMs notice after the court opened for the day, stated, An RDX-based explosive device has been clandestinely planted at the Metropolitan Court, South West, Delhi.

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Based on the threat, the local police, along with a Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS), immediately rushed to the court premises to conduct an inspection.

The court premises were thoroughly checked, both manually and with the help of a dog squad, but nothing suspicious was found, the police said in a statement.

Notably, the police are investigating to trace the sender of the email.

Earlier, on April 10, Jama Masjid and Red Fort, two iconic monuments in Old Delhi, received bomb-related threats, but nothing suspicious was found at that time either.
Salman Khans latest stint, Sikandar hit theatres on March 30. Despite the initial buzz, the title is unable to attract audiences. Akshay Kumar is currently busy promoting his upcoming film, Kesari: Chapter 2. During the films special screening in Delhi, the actor lauded Salman Khan and extended his support. Bollywoods Khiladis shoutout follows Sikandars lukewarm performance and Salman opening up on industry silence.

Speaking with HT City at the special screening, Akshay Kumar defended Salman Khan, dismissing criticism. When the interviewer probed if films starring big stars arent working today, Akshay said, Dekhiye yeh galat baat hai. Aisa hai, aisa ho nahi sakta hai. Tiger Zinda hai aur hamesha rahega. He further added, Salman aisi nasal ka tiger hai jo zindagi mein kabhi marr nahi sakta.

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Previously, during a conversation with Bollywood Bubble, the interviewer pointed out to Salman how his colleagues from the Hindi film industry do not give shoutouts to his projects. This is even though Salman frequently promotes his colleagues and friends upcoming titles, irrespective of the budget or scale. To this, Salman responded, Unko aisa lagta hoga ki zaroorat nahin padti mujhe. (Maybe they think that I dont need their support.). But, sabko zaroorat padti hai. (Everybody needs support, including me).

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Circling to Akshay Kumars next, Kesari: Chapter 2, the film follows the tragic incident of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, which shook the nation. It promises to be driven by years of burning rage. The slated title is poised to present another side to the dark chapter of national history.

In the film, Kumar stars as the fearless lawyer, Sir C Sankaran Nair, who sues the crown for genocide. However, going against the British Empire is nowhere near a cakewalk. He faces the empires formidable lawyer, played by R Madhavan. As the two lock horns in the courtroom, history changes its face. Joining them in this intense showdown is Ananya Panday, a female lawyer striving to break stereotypes.

Also Read: Kalki 2898 AD maker Nag Ashwin reveals going into depression after Nolan released Inception

Dharma Productions, Cape of Good Films, and Leo Media Collective are backing Kesari Chapter 2. Fans can witness the gripping narrative from 18 April 2025 onwards.
Its not every day you see a bonafide Hollywood icon fawning over a Bollywood superstar  but thats exactly what happened at the 2023 Red Sea International Film Festival. The moment? Sharon Stone, the legendary actress best known for her roles in Basic Instinct and Casino, took a few moments out of the glittering gala to shower some serious praise on none other than Ranveer Singh.

Lets rewind.

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Ranveer, whos known for his wild fashion, high-voltage energy, and absolute commitment to every role he takes on, was being honored with the prestigious Yusr Award at the event.

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As Ranveer Singh prepared to take the stage, it was Sharon Stone who introduced him  and honestly, she sounded like a true fan.

I had the exciting pleasure of meeting Ranveer before we came in here, and what a great guy, she beamed.

She didnt stop there. Stone spoke of Ranveers journey  from a young actor dreaming of making it big, to becoming one of the most recognizable and celebrated names in Indian cinema.

Ranveer Singh is a world-renowned Bollywood star and a style icon, she said, adding that hes a master of transformation, referring to his ability to dive headfirst into drastically different characters.

And lets be honest  she wasnt wrong.

Think about it: he has played the lovable Bitoo Sharma in Band Baaja Baaraat, a street-smart wedding planner who instantly won hearts. Then he turned full beast-mode as the menacing Alauddin Khilji in Padmaavat  dark, ruthless, unforgettable.

And who can forget Murad in Gully Boy, the underdog rapper from the Mumbai slums, a role that not only earned him critical acclaim but also made him a cultural icon?

Stone called all of these out, noting that he snagged Best Actor awards for each performance. She marveled at how seamlessly he transforms  whether hes charming us, scaring us, or making us feel every word of a rap.

He brings life into every role, she said. Effortlessly blending into the skin of his characters and leaving audiences spellbound.

And just when you thought the praise couldnt go higher, she brought up his musical side. After Gully Boy, Ranveer launched his own music label. He is truly an all-round creative genius, Stone said.

And fans? Oh, theyre already counting down to his next big role. Hes currently gearing up for Dhurandhar, directed by Uri filmmaker Aditya Dhar, and expectations are sky-high.
Amid talk of Islamic representation, India and other G4 members have rejected proposals to allocate seats on the basis of religion in a reformed Security Council.

Proposals to introduce new parameters (in reforming the Council) such as religious affiliation run counter to establish UN practice, Indias Permanent Representative P Harish said on Tuesday while speaking on behalf of the G4.

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He did not name Turkiye or its President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who said last month that an Islamic country should be a permanent member of the Council.

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Nor did he mention Pakistan or the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) that proposed that all categories of Council membership should have representation for the Islamic Ummah.

Harish said introducing a religious factor would add considerable complexity to an already difficult discussion on reforming the Council.

He spoke at a meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) on Council reforms on behalf of the G4, whose other members are Brazil, Germany, and Japan.

He also reiterated the point while speaking solely in his capacity as Indias representative emphasising that it would undermine the principle of regional representation.

Attempts to introduce new parameters such as religion and faith as basis for representation in a reformed Council runs completely counter to regional representation, which has been the accepted basis for representation in the United Nations, he said.

Erdogan, who is attempting to assume the mantle of the leader of the Muslim world, said last month at an iftar for diplomats, Having an Islamic country with veto power in the UN Security Council is not just a necessity but an obligation.

The four nations of the G4, a progressive, constructive and forward looking, reform oriented group, advocates for expanding the permanent membership of the Council and mutually support each other for the seats.

However, Harish said that the G4 as an advocacy group that works towards meaningful reforms does not make any specific recommendation on who the new permanent members should be and leaves it to the General Assembly.

G4 would once again reiterate that a decision on member states that would become permanent members of a reformed Council is a decision to be taken by the General Assembly in a democratic manner, he said.

Harish laid out the G4s position on the size of an expanded Council and the regional representation.

The Councils membership would be raised from 15 to 25 or 26, with permanent members increased from five to 11 permanent members and non-permanent members going up from ten to 14 or 15, under the G4 proposal.

Of the six new permanent seats, two each would go to Africa and to Asia Pacific regions, while the Latin America and Caribbean region, and Western Europe and others group would get one each.

Of the new non-permanent seats, one each would be assigned to Asia Pacific, Latin America and Caribbean, and Eastern European, while Africa would get one or two depending on the decision on the size of the category.

Without naming the United for Consensus (UfC) led by Italy and includes Pakistan that opposes adding permanent members and prevents the reform process from going forward with the adoption of a negotiating text, Harish directed remarks to it while speaking in his national capacity.

Those opposed to text-based negotiations do not seek progress on reforms, he said.

An argument that an expanded and reformed Security Council would not be efficient is an attempt to stall real reforms, he added.

A reform council with appropriate working methods and accountability mechanisms would be equipped to function effectively and deliver meaningfully on pressing global issues.

While Erdogan has come out in favour of expanding the Councils permanent membership to include Islamic representation, Pakistan opposes adding new permanent members.

But while speaking on behalf of the OIC last year yielding to is pressures, Islamabads former Permanent Representative Munir Akram said the Islamic ummah would not accept any proposal that does not give it adequate representation in any category of membership.

If a religion analysis of the current permanent membership is made, there is one nominally Communist nation, China, and four Christian majority countries  and further breaking them down two, the United States and Britain are Protestant, while France is Catholic, and Russia Orthodox.

Before the breakdown of the Soviet Union when the seat went to Russia, two were Communist, an atheistic ideology. In Taiwan, which originally held the China seat, Buddhists and Taoists make up the majority.
Cautioning the Bahujan Samaj against the alleged conspiracy of the BJP, Congress, and SP, BSP supremo Mayawati said they would lure them for votes.

Addressing the BSP leaders from UP and Uttarakhand here on Wednesday, Mayawati said the government should work for the people without religious and castiest bias.

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Pointing out that every party is celebrating Dr. Babasaheb Bheemrao Ambedkars birth anniversary in a big way, she said it shows their pseudo love for the national icon for vote bank politics even as his followers are being persecuted. There is a competition among the SP, Congress, and BJP to celebrate Dr. Ambedkars birth anniversary while his followers are being tortured, murdered and his statues are being dismantled, she alleged.

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The BSP chief said that the UP and Uttarakhand governments should fulfill their Constitutional obligation with karma (action), not religion, and work in the interest of all sections of the society. But unfortunately, the Yogi Adityanath government in UP seems to be dedicated to some fields and some people like the previous SP government, she alleged.

Mayawati said at a time when India, along with countries of the world, facing challenges posed by the Trump Tariff, the Central and state governments should work in the countrys interest by keeping narrow political interests aside while not compromising on the self esteem of the country.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday accused the BJP-led NDA government of targeting the Congress party to whitewash its own sins.

The statement of the Congress chief came a day after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a chargesheet against its top leaders  Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi  in connection with the National Herald case. In an apparent reference to the chargesheet filed in the National Herald case, Kharge said, Narendra Modi ji, your despotic sarkar (government) is hell-bent on targeting the Congress to whitewash its own sins.

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Claiming that BJPs economic mismanagement is spiralling out of control, he said, Desperation is gathering steam. No vision, no solution, only diversion.

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The Congress chief questioned the BJP government on various issues including trade deficit, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and unemployment.

In a post on X, Kharge wrote, Five latest facts paint a sordid saga of BJPs massive failures. Trade Deficit: 3 year high. No clarity on Tariffs and Trade War. Only empty words and fruitless visits. Consumption: 90 per cent of consumers reported that commodity prices had gone up. As a result, over 80 per cent said their spending increased, even though incomes didnt rise. Revenue growth of FMCG firms slows to just five per cent in FY25, with margin growth staying flat.

Accusing the government of fuel loot, he claimed that the Modi government collected a whopping Rs 39 lakh crore as taxes/duties on petrol, diesel and fuel (till December 2024).

The Congress chief said that LPG prices have been raised by Rs 50 with no respite even for the economically weaker sections.

On the unemployment front, he said the graduate unemployment rate is 13 per cent and youth unemployment rate is 10.2 per cent. 22 out of the 23 IITs and 23 of the 25 IIITs witnessed a drop in the placement, and NITs witnessed 11 per cent drop in placements, he added.

Asserting that the FDI plunge is hurting India, he pointed out that the FDI from April to January 202425 was just under USD 1.4 billion, as against USD 19 billion from April to January 201213. People will not forgive the BJP for ruining the Indian Economy. We shall not be cowed down. We will keep raising our voices and exposing your failures, Kharge asserted.
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said the fight against BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is not just political, but also ideological, and the path to defeat them goes through Gujarat.

Addressing the District Workers Convention in Gujarats Modasa, he said the Congress is the only party that can defeat the BJP and RSS.

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There is a fight of ideology in the country. This fight is between BJP, RSS, and Congress. This is not just a political fight but also of ideology. The whole country knows that only the Congress party can defeat BJP and RSS, Gandhi said.

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Attacking the BJP and RSS, he further said, If we have to defeat the BJP and RSS in the country, the path goes through Gujarat. We will fight in Gujarat and win.

Notably, Gujarat is the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Noting that the Congress party and its ideology originated from Gujarat, Gandhi said Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel were also from Gujarat.

Pointing out that the morale of the Congress party in Gujarat has been low for many years, he said strengthening the party and boosting its morale is not a difficult task.

The main point that emerged from our discussion was that the partys district unit of Gujarat should be run from the district itself and not from Ahmedabad. The district leaders should be strengthened and especially the hands of the district president should be strengthened by giving him responsibility and power, Gandhi said.

He said the partys district president will not be alone, but there will be a whole committee, with whose help and decision the entire partys district unit will be run.

We want there to be a connection between the organization and the person contesting the election. So, we will now select people through organization, Gandhi said.

The Assembly elections in the state are scheduled to be held at the end of 2027. The Congress has been out of power in the state since 1995.
Photo: The Ministry of Investments, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, April 16. Minister of Investments, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan, Laziz Kudratov, held a meeting with a delegation from the German Development Bank (KfW) headed by Christina Leibach, a member of the Bank's Executive Board, Trend reports, citing the Ministry of Investments, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan.

During the discussion, the progress of projects in the areas of water supply, education, agriculture, alternative energy, chemical and pharmaceutical industries, mining, processing, and export of minerals, as well as infrastructure, was reviewed.

A framework for further cooperation was agreed upon, with the aim of implementing the agreements reached.

Meanwhile, trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Germany totaled $169.3 million in January 2025. This figure has increased by 75 percent year-on-year ($96.7 million in January 2024).

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Delhi Congress president Devender Yadav on Wednesday accused the BJP government of misusing the central probe agencies and said that his party will not remain silent against the ruling dispensations dictatorship.

If BJP and Narendra Modi think that they can scare our leader Rahul Gandhi Ji and the Congress, they are under a misconception. Every Congress worker will strongly fight this battle, Yadav said.

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Yadav was participating in a protest in the national capital against the Enforcement Directorates charge sheet against Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

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Attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, he said, Modi and Amit Shah are using the ED as a tool to scare Opposition leaders and those who raise their voices against the BJP. But out of the thousands cases filed by the ED, the conviction rate was less than 0.41 per cent.

The Delhi Congress chief claimed that in the National Herald case, neither any financial transaction was carried out nor anybody made any financial gains from it.

It is a case concocted to malign Sonia Ji and Rahul Ji for speaking the truth against the Modi Government, he said.

Yadav further said that the Congress had never come under anybodys pressure, nor would it ever come.
The Madhya Pradesh unit of the Congress party staged a demonstration outside the regional office of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Bhopal on Wednesday, protesting the charge sheet filed against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in connection with the National Herald money laundering case.

Congress leaders and workers accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government of misusing the ED to deliberately target the Gandhi family. They claimed the charge sheet is a clear case of political vendetta.

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As part of the protest, demonstrators carried symbolic parrots in cages, alleging that the ED is acting as a puppet of the Union Government. Protesters also raised slogans against the Modi government and held placards with messages such as Stop Using ED for Political Gains, State-Sponsored Harassment, Democracy Under Attack, and Modi Ji Daro Mat (Dont be scared, Modi Ji).

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Congress leader and former state cabinet minister PC Sharma stated that neither Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, nor the Congress party is afraid of Narendra Modi or the ED. He added that the Congress will continue its nationwide protests and that every Congress worker is ready to go to jail in support of the party leadership.

The demonstration was part of a series of nationwide protests organized by the Congress in response to the ED charge sheet.

In anticipation of the protest, a heavy police presence was deployed outside the ED office near Paryavas Bhawan in the Arera Hills area of Bhopal. Police prevented the demonstrators from marching towards the ED office.
An Indian Army Contingent comprising 60 personnel is part of the 6th edition of India-Uzbekistan Joint Military Exercise DUSTLIK-VI. The 12-day joint exercise, which started today at the Foreign Training Node, Aundh in Pune, Maharashtra, will culminate on April 28.

The Indian contingent comprises a Battalion of JAT Regiment and Indian Air Force. The Uzbekistan contingent comprises soldiers from the Uzbekistan Army. An annual affair, the joint training is conducted alternatively in India and Uzbekistan, with the last edition being undertaken in Termez District in Uzbekistan.

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An army spokesperson stated that the theme of the exercise will be based on the theme of Joint Multi-Domain Sub-Conventional operations in Semi-Urban Scenario.

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It will focus on responding to a terrorist action involving the capture of a defined territory. It will also include the establishment of a Joint Operations Centre at the battalion level for continuous joint operations, the execution of counterterrorism missions such as population control measures, raids, search-and-destroy operations, and the employment of firepower, including air assets, to neutralise terrorists, said the spokesperson.

Further, the Special Forces from the Army and Air Force will secure a helipad for use as a mounting base for further operations during the exercise. The Exercise will also cover the deployment of drones, counter-UAS measures, and logistics support by the Air Force to sustain forces in hostile areas.

Additionally, helicopters will be utilised for reconnaissance and observation, special heliborne operations (SHBO), small team insertion and extraction (STIE), and other associated missions.
The BJP on Wednesday lashed out at the criticised Congress for announcing nationwide protests at Enforcement Directorate offices across the country following the investigative agencys naming of Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi as accused numbers one and two in the National Herald Case.

The Enforcement Directorate filed a prosecution complaint (chargesheet) in Delhis Rouse Avenue Court on Tuesday against Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and others in the alleged National Herald case.

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Congress has strongly protested the move, terming it politically motivated.

The party started nationwide protests against the BJP-led government in front of ED offices at the district levels in respective states.

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Addressing reporters at party headquarters here, BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad stated that while the Congress party has the right to stage a protest, it does not have the right to misappropriate private property that was given to the National Herald by the government.

One thing should be kept in mind that Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi are out on bail. They knocked on the doors of the High Court and Supreme Court to quash the case but did not get any relief Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi should answer whether the law should be allowed to take its course or not, he asked.

Mr Prasad said that Narendra Modis government will let the law do its work.

Sardar Patel had said that the kind of people giving money to the National Herald were not good people Still, why would a newspaper which had the full protection, promotion, and patronage of the Congress party could not at all flourish? Because this newspaper was only an instrument to collect advertisements and to build properties through government cooperation, he stated.

The BJP leader emphasised that the newspaper, which was supposed to strengthen the voice of the people fighting for independence, they turned that newspaper into a private business, an ATM!

Talking about the history of National Herald and Young India Limited, Prasad alleged that the Opposition party misappropriated the partys funds and termed it a corporate conspiracy.

In 2008, the publication of National Herald was closed, after that Congress gave 90 crores to Associated Journal Limited, which publishes National Herald.a political party cannot give their partys fund to a private body, that is important to know. That is prohibited, he said.

Meanwhile, businessman and Congress MP Priyanka Vadras husband, Robert Vadra was summoned by the ED for questioning again today. He was questioned by the agency in connection with a Gurugram land deal case yesterday also. He has alleged that there is a witch hunt and a political vendetta is being carried out against him and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhis husband and businessman Robert Vadra on Wednesday appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for the second consecutive day in connection with the Gurugram land case.

Vadra was accompanied by his wife and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. The two shared a brief hug before Vadra entered the ED office.

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Speaking to media before arriving at the ED office, Vadra said he was surprised by the second summon from the agency despite having appeared 15 times earlier in the same case.

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I was surprised to see the second summon from the agency as I have already appeared 15 times before the agency regarding the same case. I was questioned for 10 hours, and I gave 23,000 documentsI showed my statements from 2019 to the agency and you are asking the same questions that I answered in 2019, and the people of the agency were also shocked. I can just say that the agencies are being misused he said.

Vadra added, I am not going to run away from the country. I will answer all the questions. I have no issues; use as many agencies as you want.

He also pointed out that he got a clean chit in the same case when Manohar Lal was the Chief Minister of Haryana.

When this investigation was done in Haryana, the administration found that there was nothing wrong. (Manohar Lal)Khattar ji gave me a clean chit in the same case. I fail to understand why I am being questioned after 7 years again, he said.

Taking a veiled dig at the Narendra Modi-led BJP government, Vadra said, Hum kisi se darte nahi hai (We are not scared of anyone) We are the target because we are relevant. Whether Rahul Gandhi is stopped in Parliament or I am stopped outside. We are the target for sure, but we are not the soft target, we are the hard target.

The Congress workers staged a protest against the central government at the partys 24, Akbar Road office in Delhi. The party also held nationwide demonstrations in front of ED offices at state headquarters over the alleged misuse of central agencies.

The protest comes in the wake of ED action against Vadra as well as the agencys prosecution complaint against Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and others in the alleged National Herald money laundering case.
Political tensions in Jharkhand spiked on Wednesday after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a charge sheet in the National Herald money laundering case, naming Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. The move sparked sharp reactions from both the BJP and Congress, culminating in protests and fiery exchanges.

At a press conference in Ranchi, BJP Leader of Opposition and state president Babulal Marandi launched a blistering attack on the Congress and the Gandhi family. Referring to the EDs charge sheet, Marandi accused the Congress of financial misconduct and using its political influence to undermine the investigation. The Congress has committed theft and is unapologetically defiant about it, he said.

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Marandi detailed what he termed as the systematic hijacking of National Herald, which was founded in 1937 with over 5,000 shareholders. After the newspapers financial collapse in 2008, he claimed, a Rs 90 crore loan from the Congress to Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) facilitated the creation of Young Indian, a company with a 76 per cent stake held by Sonia and Rahul Gandhi. He alleged this allowed the Gandhis to acquire prime properties worth billions across multiple cities. National Herald is a vehicle to convert public assets into private wealth, Marandi said, pointing to properties in Delhis Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg.

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Marandi also accused the Hemant Soren-led Jharkhand government of using taxpayers money to support National Herald. He cited government advertisements featuring the Chief Ministers image published in the newspaper on 13 August 2023 and 21 January 2024. Why is the Congress-backed National Herald getting government advertisements when it is defunct? Marandi questioned, further accusing the state government of wasting public funds.

In contrast, Congress responded with a large-scale protest outside the ED office in Ranchi, led by the Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee. Hundreds of party workers, including leaders and MLAs, gathered to voice their opposition to what they called a political vendetta by the BJP. AICC in-charge K Raju denounced the charges, alleging that the BJP was undermining democratic institutions. The BJP fears Rahul Gandhis growing support among youth, farmers, and the unemployed, he said.

State Congress president Keshav Mahato Kamlesh criticised the EDs activism, accusing the BJP of using the agency to target opposition leaders before elections. Several Congress legislators, including Pradeep Yadav and Rajesh Kacchap, echoed these claims, describing the charge sheet as a politically motivated attack on the Gandhi family.

The protest saw the participation of senior Congress leaders such as Subodh Kant Sahay, Bandhu Tirkey, Jaleshwar Mahato, and Dr Irfan Ansari. While Congress framed its rally as a defense of constitutional values, BJP leaders underscored the importance of following due legal process and maintaining institutional independence.

The political battle also raised questions about the role of the Hemant Soren government, with the BJP alleging that the state is acting at the behest of its Congress ally. The Jharkhand government has not yet responded to the allegations about the advertisements.

As the legal proceedings in the National Herald case continue, with Sonia and Rahul Gandhi already out on bail, the situation remains tense. The Supreme Court recently dismissed their plea for permanent exemption from personal appearance, adding further fuel to the ongoing political firestorm.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the wildlife warden of Telangana to examine and take immediate steps to protect the wildlife affected due the felling/cutting of trees in 100 acres of land in Kancha Gachibowli in Telangana.

Making it clear that not even a single tree should be felled in the area, a bench of Justice BR Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih warned Telangana authorities about sending its officers responsible for deforestation to a temporary prison in the very same spot if the state justify the felling of trees. If you (state) try to justify then a better course would be to come up with a plan to restore the forest, Justice Gavai told senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Telangana.

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Justice Gavai further said, We will go all out for the protection of the environment and ecology.

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As senior advocate and amicus curiae K Parameshwar said that the land has been mortgaged to a private party, the bench said, We are not on mortgage and all. We are only on how so many trees were chopped off without the permission of the State government. We are only on dozens of bulldozers and forests of hundred acres being destroyed. If you wanted to do something you should have sought proper permissions.

As amicus curiae, advocate Parmeshwar is assisting the court in the matter.

Singhvi sought time to study a report prepared by the Central Empowered Committee on the issue prepared on the direction of the court and the bench gave Telangana four weeks, and posted the matter on May 15.

Earlier, the top court, while taking suo moto cognizance of the felling of trees at forest area in Kancha Gachibowli in Telangana, stayed felling of trees at the site and warned Chief Secretary of consequences if its order is not complied with.

It had ordered that until further orders, there shall be no activity of any sort at the site, except the protection of trees already existing.

The bench had also said that the Chief Secretary of Telangana will be personally responsible and the action will be taken if the courts directions are not complied with in true spirit.

Advocate Parmeshwar had told the bench that massive felling of trees had taken place during the weekend holidays.

The land is located in the IT hub of Hyderabad and has become contentious, with people expressing concerns over the loss of green cover and space for wildlife there. The Hyderabad University students were protesting against the auction of the land and wanted the land to be transferred to the university.
Unable to extricate the bodies of the six missing workers buried inside the SLBC tunnel even after 55 days of the accident, the Telangana government has formed a technical committee to conclude the rescue efforts safely without compromising the lives of the rescuers.

The Geological Survey of India had given in writing its advice against removing the muck in the last 30-50 metres from the tunnel end due to the vulnerable condition of the tunnel. The government order stated that the technical committee will look into the various possible options so that rescue work can be carried out without compromising the safety of the rescuers.

The state government has issued an order constituting the technical committee with representatives of various agencies, including the National Disaster Response Force, National Geophysical Research Institute, GSI, Border Road Organisation, Principal Conservator of Forests, DG (fire services), the district collector of Nagarkurnool and the chief engineer of the SLBC project.

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The committee shall look into specifically the technically feasible and safe manner for taking up rescue efforts in the critical zone of the last 50 metres so that the bodies of the remaining six missing workers can be extricated and handed over to their families in a time-bound manner, read the government order issued on Wednesday.

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It also said, The purpose of constituting this committee is to conclude the rescue efforts safely without compromising the lives of rescuers. Although the government undertook several efforts, including deploying robots to retrieve the bodies of the six workers, it has been unsuccessful so far. The government claimed that it has taken out more than 800 tonnes of metal and about 1200cm of muck so far. Apart from rescue efforts by NDRF, the government deployed rat miners and workers of Singareni Collieries and Border Roads Organisation for technical help, but could not locate and retrieve the bodies. Only two bodies among the eight missing workers have been retrieved to date.
US Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to visit Jaipur next week as part of his official tour to India and Italy between April 18 and 24.

While the Rajasthan state administration has yet to release the official itinerary for the Vice Presidents visit, the broader tour schedule announced by US authorities confirms that Vance will visit New Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra during his stay in India.

In preparation for the visit and to assess security arrangements, a team of officers from the US Embassy in India visited Amer Fort and Palace on Wednesday. The US dignitaries are expected to tour these historic sites during their time in Jaipur.

The US officials entered the monuments as regular tourists, purchasing entry tickets in the usual manner to better evaluate the surroundings and logistics.

Officials from the Rajasthan Tourism Department, including Deputy Director (Tourism) Upendra Singh Shekhawat and Palace Superintendent Dr Rakesh Chholak, were present during the visit.
US Vice President JD Vance and the Second Family will travel to Italy and India from April 18 to April 24. The Vice President will discuss shared economic and geopolitical priorities with leaders in each country.

In Rome, Italy, the Vice President will meet with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The Vice President will also meet with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

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In India, the Vice President will visit New Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra. The Vice President will hold meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Vice President and Second Family will also participate in engagements at cultural sites.

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The Labour partys return to power in July 2024 was accompanied with a lot of uncertainty, with Keir Starmer and his team adopting a deliberately ambiguous campaign strategy to present itself as the candidate of common sense and pragmatism in contrast to the instability that characterized the final years of Conservative rule. This extended to foreign policy, where the new government was faced with the challenge of redefining and according to many, revitalizing the UKs stagnating global position. The relationship with the US, as is usually the case, was always going to be a decisive element, especially given the Trump factor which at the time of the election was still just a possibility.





Pragmatic and realist?





In the immediate aftermath of Trumps return, Keir Starmers approach was as logical as it was predictable. The British Prime Minister embraced the new President, visited Washington, reinforced his unwavering commitment to upholding the Special Relationship whilst being sure to remind of the UKs role in upholding the values around which the alliance was first established. Evidently, this period of diplomatic amiability was only the starting point of a complicated path where the foreign policy visions and priorities of the two leaders would undoubtedly collide. Even though both had arrived with the feeling that the foreign policy positions of their countries had been undermined, the path to recovery was always going to differ. Donald Trump is deeply displeased with the state of the Western alliance and particularly NATO, with the President repeatedly singling out the disproportionate contribution of the US and its European allies to the organization. For many months, Trump had warned that the transatlantic alliance in its traditional form would soon be a thing of the past.





Elsewhere, Labours vision for European (or Western, as some still ambiguously say) security was radically different. The UKs new leadership, perhaps envisioning the void to be left by the American administration, reiterated its commitment to upholding progressive values, albeit without adopting radical measures (an approach known as progressive realism). Within this progressive thinking is undoubtedly the countrys role in European security, and specifically the re-definition or upgrading of its strategic relationship with the EU. Whereas the new UK government was swift to categorize countries like Russia as major threats to UK national security, the Trump Administrations rapprochement with the Kremlin unsettled many and highlighted the opportunity for the UK to re-assert itself as one of the remaining proponents of the rules-based order.





Following the public argument between President Trump and President Zelensky and the subsequent unwillingness of the US to engage in multilateral negotiation formats, the UK demonstrated considerable initiative in uniting European allies over supporting Ukrainian territorial integrity and countering Russia. Both through multiple security forums held in London and Paris and through enhanced engagement with Kiev, Starmers team demonstrated that it can and is willing to operate in autonomy and independently from Washington. This was an important development and confirmed that the Labour government was in fact serious about recovering some of the diplomatic authority the UK had lost in recent years.





Tariffs  the feared becoming the reality





However, Donald Trumps announcement of an extensive package of tariffs to be applied to imports coming to the US presents the Trump-Starmer relationship with an entirely different kind of challenge. Although the sides have appeared determined to protect the relationship, with Trump making a point of decoupling the UK from the broader Europe term, both leaders have made it clear in their statements that the significance of these tariffs is incontestable and powerful enough to transform the status-quo. Keir Starmer labelled the decision as the end of the world as we know it, a defining statement directly implying that the international trade system has entered a new era. Keir Starmer elaborated by stating that the new format represents one of deals and alliances whereas the now previous arrangement was shaped exclusively by rules. This is a major statement, essentially acknowledging that its closest ally no longer believes in the very system the UK has tried so hard to re-integrate itself into.





The nature of the UKs response has the potential to serve as a major turning point. Initially, there was internal rejoice in Downing Street at the fact that the UK avoided the harsher tariffs that were imposed on EU and Chinese goods. This continued right until the collapse of the global stock markets, signalling that perhaps the scale of the global economic impact had initially been underestimated. Such disruption to traditional trading patterns, to be exacerbated by the already intensifying trade war between the US and China and the EU weighing up major retaliatory measures, places London in an uncomfortable position. More so, this Labour government, occasionally criticized domestically for lacking a clear ideological foundation, has regularly positioned itself on the side of the working people. Hence, considering that in 2024 alone the UK exported 60 billion worth of goods to the United States, the initially welcomed 10% tariffs will weaken an already struggling British economy. The government was swift to provide a 400-page long list of US goods, the imposition of tariffs on which will be assessed. This list represents 27% of all the UKs imports from the US.





Geopolitical implications





This situation reflects the intensity of a deeper geopolitical shift within the international system, with profound implications for both Americas bilateral and multilateral relations. First, these tariffs will show to the Trump administration just how far certain countries are willing to go in challenging the US. Washington has taken the initiative by taking bold decisions that have unsettled its traditional allies. So far, the UK has refrained from any knee-jerk responses whereas EU members are, once again, showing differences in opinion. Second, this episode serves as another test for the EU and regional solidarity more broadly. Many pledges and statements highlighting the need for a decisive and independent Europe post-Trump cannot be limited to simply defence spending initiatives  the leadership in Brussels must make a bold and conclusive choice between pursuing its own independent path or continuing to play second fiddle to Washington. Hence, the response that is ultimately pursued in Brussels and London is an important litmus test.





Donald Trumps intense efforts to resolve major on-going international conflicts appears to be accelerating the implementation of his underlying foreign policy objectives, designed for this second term. This originates from a feeling that Americas allies owe the US (both literally and metaphorically)  Trump argues that for far too long, Washingtons military and financial power has been over-relied upon, damaging the American economy and its people. This translates to geopolitics, with the American administration adamant that leadership of military and security alliances over the past few decades has turned out to be a net negative for American interests. Hence, changes had to be made on the systemic level, a process President Trump wasted no time in initiating. The US no longer wishes to engage in alliances and operate through institutions  it wishes to confront its challenges directly and independently to ensure that both the solution and the path towards it maximize the interests the Trump administration has defined as core.





The moment of truth?





In recent days, Keir Starmers rhetoric has continued to demonstrate the challenging reality facing the UK government vis-a-vis the management of the special relationship. On the one hand, Starmer is making it extremely clear that the UK will not abandon or deviate from its traditional foreign policy approach  one of adherence to progressive values shaped by international law, the fostering of traditional alliances and the countering of Russian and Chinese actions. Nevertheless, Starmer has insisted on maintaining composure and pragmatism when directly speaking of the situation. He has repeatedly stated that ripping up arrangements is not in the UKs interest, highlighted further by his consistent praising of the rules-based order as something that helped keep peace for many decades. This cool-headed approach appears set to remain for the time-being, with Starmer mindful of the dangers of potential escalation with the US. Instead, the Prime Minister appears determined to exhaust all negotiation opportunities and is keen to negotiate a deal that would see tariffs either reversed or modified to minimise impact on British businesses.





The challenge of achieving a much desired but perhaps overly optimistic balance of protecting the countrys national interest whilst not jeopardizing relations with his American counterpart is self-evident. The interests of the sides are, in Starmers words, inextricably intertwined, which is why achieving the mentioned balance will require important trade-offs that will inevitably upset some voters and frustrate some businesses. The UK, for example, remains highly dependent on the US for intelligence sharing, with Keir Starmer refraining from making any comments after President Trump temporarily suspended intelligence sharing with Ukraine. As things stand, and in the grand scheme of things, the Labour government simply cannot afford to go at it alone, a consequence of its decade long relationship with the US.





Such realities underline that individual relations between leaders remain paramount to determining the unfolding of inter-state relations. Hence, this period of US-UK relations, and especially the path the UK ultimately pursues, will undoubtedly be determined by Keir Starmers ability to continue disagreeing agreeably for the duration of the Trump presidency.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, April 16. The Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan informs about temporary restrictions in the airspace over the capital of the country, Trend reports.

"In connection with the preparation and conduct of the military parade, which will take place in Astana from April 22 to May 7, 2025, short-term restrictions on the use of airspace will be introduced from 10:00 to 13:00," the ministry said.

Additionally, the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan reports that disruptions to flight schedules may occur during this period.



"Passengers are advised to take these restrictions into account when planning their trips in advance and to check the current flight status with the airlines' and airport's information services," stated the ministry.

As emphasized by the ministry, these measures are necessary for conducting training flights of military aviation. Passengers should be attentive and plan their travels considering possible changes in the schedule.

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After years of hostility, the recent resumption of talks between the United States and Iran marks a fragile but noteworthy moment in international diplomacy. Led by US envoy Steve Witkoff and Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, the two delegations met in Oman for what both sides described as a constructive exchange. While the meeting was mostly mediated and brief, the tone and outcome offer cautious optimism in an otherwise tense geopolitical landscape. What makes this moment unique is not just the highlevel engagement ~ the first of its kind since 2018 ~ but the departure from the confrontational rhetoric that has often dominated US-Iran relations.

The fact that both sides agreed to a second round of talks suggests a mutual recognition that dialogue, even if limited and indirect, is preferable to escalation. For once, the language of diplomacy prevailed over threats, and that itself is progress. However, realism must temper optimism. The geopolitical and domestic stakes for both countries are higher than ever. Irans nuclear programme has advanced significantly since the American withdrawal from the 2015 agreement. According to international observers, Iran has stockpiled uranium enriched up to 60 per cent purity ~ dangerously close to weapons-grade ~ far exceeding the limits of the original deal.

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On the American side, political pressure to appear tough on Iran is immense, particularly with military options constantly looming in the background. This backdrop complicates negotiations. Iran seeks sanctions relief and a fair deal that respects its sovereignty while preserving elements of its nuclear capability for peaceful purposes. The United States, meanwhile, is adamant that Iran must never obtain nuclear weapons ~ a stance reinforced by regional allies and the memory of failed past agreements.

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Finding common ground between these two positions will be extraordinarily difficult. Still, the decision to engage ~ even indirectly ~ demonstrates a willingness to explore alternatives to confrontation. The involvement of Oman as a mediator reflects a smart use of regional diplomacy, and even the brief in-person interaction between Mr Witkoff and Mr Araghchi can be seen as a symbolic thaw in relations. While small, such gestures are often the building blocks of larger breakthroughs. But expectations should remain measured. This is only the beginning of what could be a long, winding road.

The success of these talks will depend not just on what is said at the negotiating table, but on whether both sides are willing to make difficult compromises under intense political scrutiny. In a world increasingly dominated by zerosum thinking, the return to dialogue is a welcome shift. Its a reminder that diplomacy ~ however imperfect or indirect ~ still holds the potential to defuse tensions and avert disaster. Whether this opportunity evolves into a lasting agreement remains uncertain. But the door has been opened, and that, for now, is something to build on.
When an ailing person is cured and given a new lease on life, the doctor becomes nothing short of a divine figure in the eyes of the patient and the family. A simple reassuring touch, an encouraging smile, or a kind word from the doctor can work wonders in instilling hope. Most doctors acknowledge such admiration with humility, understanding the profound responsibility that comes with their profession. Yet, this perception can shift dramatically when medical intervention fails. The same doc tor who was once revered as a savior suddenly becomes the target of resentment and fury. Grief overtakes reason, trust turns into doubt, and admiration dissolves into anger.

The angel in the white coat becomes the subject of accusations, sometimes even physical assault. Emotional pain, compounded by fear and uncertainty, often spills over into resentment and in some cases the anger escalates to damaging legal battles. In earlier days, the family doctor was an institution. This physician was intimately familiar with a patients entire history, had insight into family dynamics, and invested time into truly understanding the person behind the illness. Such involvement fostered an environment where patients felt secure, their fears acknowledged and their questions answered with genuine care.

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There are several factors that have hurt the sacred doctor-patient relationship and trust. Modern medicines shift toward hyper-specialization has diminished the role of the family doctor where personal touch, once taken for granted, is fading. Appointments are frequently rushed ~ sometimes leaving little time for a thorough dialogue. In most multi-specialty hospitals, the patients are routed through interns and junior doctors before ultimately getting just a few minutes to be seen by the senior specialist doctor after generally a long wait. For the sick, such treatment destroys their expectations creating distrust and psychological negativity for the quality and results of the prescribed treatment.

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The corporatization of health care is eroding trust, turning hospitals into profit-driven entities rather than sanctuaries of healing. Doctors, overwhelmed by heavy patient loads and financial pressures, struggle to balance ethics with commercial priorities ~ often appearing more as executives than compassionate caregivers. As medicine becomes increasingly transactional, patients feel dismissed, reduced to billing figures rather than individuals in need of care. When financial targets take precedence over patient well-being, the fundamental essence of healing ~ compassion and ethics ~ fades, leaving healthcare stripped of its most humane purpose.

Telemedicine has revolutionized healthcare, making medical advice more accessible with a click. While efficient, it sacrifices human connection ~ patients miss the warmth of face-toface interactions. Empathy feels diluted, and the lack of physical examination weakens confidence in care. For those who seek reassurance in a doctors presence, digital consultations often feel distant and impersonal, deepening the divide between healer and patient. Although most health professionals adhere strictly to ethical standards, even a handful of unethical practices can greatly undermine the credibility of the profession. Instances of negligence, over prescription, or conflict of interest ~ where medical recommendations appear driven by financial incentives ~ cast a long shadow over the entire field. When patients encounter a scenario where a procedure seems unnecessary or where professional integrity is called into question, the fallout is profound.

Cases of prolonged stay in ICUs and prescription of costly selective medicines are not uncommon. These breaches of trust extended far beyond isolated events. They ripple across communities, tainting the collective perception of healthcare providers. Such scandals lead the public to question not only the motives behind individual recommendations but also the entire logic of modern medical practice. The damage inflicted on the reputation of even the most honest physician is severe, making the road to rebuilding trust even more challenging.

For patients today, the experience of seeking medical care often comes with an added layer of frustration. Many patients, armed with their own research and personal insights, seek to participate actively in their treatment decisions. Yet instead of being met with understanding, they are sometimes treated with impatience or outright dismi  ssal. This can lead to a feeling of isolation, where the patients voice is overshadowed by the authoritative tone of a busy, overburdened doctor. For instance, a worried family member brings forth carefully noted observations about a potential side effect, only to be met with curt dismissal, or a patient, after hours of researching symptoms online, is not heard and dismissed as a Google worry.

Such interactions not only diminish the patients confidence but also erode a fundamental component of healing ~ trust. They leave the patient feeling unheard, undervalued, and, ultimately, alienated. The fallout of eroded trust is real and alarming. Pat  ients delay seeking treatment, worsening their conditions. Hospitals see rising violence as frustrated patients lash out at caregivers. Doctors, under imm en  se pressure and fear of legal scrutiny, face burnout, making it harder for them to show empathy. This deepens patient dissatisfaction, fueling distrust and pushing many toward unverified treatments and risky miracle cures.

Unless this divide is fixed, both healthcare professionals and patients will continue to suffer. Bringing the doctors into the consumer fold (Consumer Protection Act 1986) has its own disadvantages leaving them highly vulnerable against an agitated family losing a member despite right treatment and the best efforts of a physician. Labeling a doctor as a service provider is unjustified; a doctor heals, which is an abstract exercise difficult to be quantified or measured. Patients need to remember that a doctor is a human being first and the instinct of self-survival dominates in him as naturally as it does in the patient or in his kin.

The expanding middle class population and availability of medical insurance also adds to a greater divide as the hospitals tend to exploit insurance funds to the maximum and the patients demand more reliable and faster treatment in lieu of the money spent. Inequity in health care delivery due to accessibility of treatment to those who can afford in comparison to poor patients results in anger and violence by the poorer patients. Higher payments promote higher expectations from the patients and in case of a dip, anger and distrust results. Doctors today face increasing difficulty in dealing with a new wave of young patients who exhibit aggressive impatience and a lack of discipline.

Fueled by internet-based knowledge and riches, they often believe that money guarantees instant solutions, disregarding medical protocols and professional expertise. This mindset not only strains doctor-patient interactions but also undermines the trust and mutual respect essential for effective healthcare. The doctor-patient bond has suffered decades of erosion, but restoring it requires decisive action. The path forward must not be passive; it demands a bold, multidimensional approach that directly confronts systemic flaws and interpersonal disconnect.

* Medicine must go beyond curing disease ~ it must honor each patients dignity with respect and empathy.

* Trust requires collective effort. Administrators must prioritize ethical care, doctors must engage meaningfully, and pati  ents must be empowered. Only through shared commitment can the divide be bridged.

* Technology must enhance ~ not replace ~ human connection. Compassion, integrity, and genuine doctor-patient relationships must define health care. Healing is not just medical; it is deeply human. At the heart of healthcare lies trust ~ the bond that transforms treatment into healing. By recognizing shortcomings, embracing meaningful change, and prioritizing genuine human connection, we can restore this sacred relationship. Patients deserve the reassurance of compassionate care, and doctors should find fulfillment in healing both body and soul.

The future of medicine must not be defined by numbers or transactions, but by respect, empathy, and a commitment to rebuilding confidence in every interaction. Compassion must remain at the core, ethical integrity must be non-negotiable, and the doctor-patient relationship must be revitalized to ensure healthcare remains deeply human ~ embracing both body and soul in equal measure. As Sir William Osler said, The practice of medicine is not a business and can never be one, our fellow creatures cannot be dealt with as a man deals in corn and coal; the human heart by which we live must control our professional relations.

(The writer is a retired Air Commodore, VSM, of the Indian Air Force)
It was over four decades back that the news of Dashrath Manjhi, a villager from a remote part of Bihar, breaking a mountain to create a path had captured the imagination of the country. The fact that he was poor and belonged to a landless family of mahadalit category only added further to the inspirational legend of Manjhi who has been called The Mountain Man. From the Chief Minister to the Prime Minister, Manjhi received praise from many highly placed sources in the country.

What really proved inspirational for many people was the fact that at the age of 26 a poor youth took upon himself the impossible looking task of breaking a huge mountain to the extent of carving out a life-saving path that thousands of villagers needed urgently. He toiled tirelessly for 22 years (1960-82) and finally succeeded in his objective. Acclaim followed, but instead of just basking in glory he continued to work tirelessly for betterment of his village. This writer recently visited the village of Manjhi (Gehlour in Gaya district) to talk to villagers to better understand the legend and legacy of the mountain man. He was a follower of Sant Kabir, the bhakti movements famous poet-saint of medieval times, who has remained one of the strongest and most revered voices of spirituality based on justice, truth and non-violence, and leading a simple and pious life free from all hypocrisy and falsehoods.

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People from the Manjhi community to whom I spoke told me that whenever they went to mountains they found him at work just carrying some sattu in his bag, a legume-based powder which could give some energy and coolness when mixed with water. In 1960 Dashrath had gone to work on the mountain and his wife Phalguni Devi injured herself badly while carrying food and water for him. Looking at her injuries, he took a pledge to create a path in the mountain that may become a life-saver for people. This would give a safe path to everyone going to the other side, and in addition would bring closer the health, educational and other facilities of the nearest town to the people on this side of the mountain (the distance could come down from about 55 km to about 15 km).

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Contrary to some published accounts, several villagers told me that Phalguni Devi did not die from these injuries but instead continued to be helpful to her husband and the pledge he had taken. She died some years later. Using the simplest tools like a hammer and a chisel, Manjhi embarked on his great journey that was to be completed in 22 years. Initially people ridiculed him and some even called him mad for taking up such a huge task. Undaunted, he continued this work on a regular, daily basis. We must not forget that he came from the poorest community and had to also earn his livelihood to support his four-member family (which included a son and a daughter).

Initially most villagers had ridiculed or neglected Manjhi, but once his work of a few years started showing signs of leading to success, some villagers also started lending a helping hand now and then. Finally, in 1982, Manjhi succeeded in creating a path which was wide enough for a bullock-cart to pass. Later the government helped to widen this and build a proper road. Manjhi now decided to go and meet senior government officials in Delhi to take up several development works much needed by his village and neighboring communities. Education and health were emphasized by him. However as he could not buy a rail ticket he was asked to get down from the train after covering a short distance.

He now decided to walk to Delhi along the railway track, hoping that this would perhaps draw even more attention to his objective of promoting development work in his village and neighboring villages. An elderly farmer of a neighboring village told me that Manjhi had managed to meet the then Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi and had shared with him a press clipping of this. Later Manjhi also went to meet the Chief Minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar who gave him a lot of respect. However despite his increasing fame, Manjhi retained his simplicity. A local teacher, Virendra Paswan, told me that when he was on a train word spread of his presence and there was a rush of people just to catch a glimpse of him. However, Paswan said, even at that time Manjhi was wearing a dress made from a jute sack, as he often did earlier too. In 2007, Manjhi was admitted to AIIMS hospital in Delhi where he breathed his last on August 17.

A memorial and gates were constructed in his village in his honour. However, the people of the Manjhi community and other landless and poor Dalit community members continue to live in this village in great poverty and several of them told me that even their housing situation is precarious. The government needs to do much more to help them with a sense of urgency. Meanwhile the SBI Foundation has taken up an admirable initiative called SAMMAAN with implementation assistance of Sahbhagi Shikshan Kendra to honour the memory of Dashrath Manjhi in the form of many-sided efforts in his village to improve education, health, infrastructure and livelihoods that have been widely appreciated. I visited three settlements of the Manjhi community here and villagers expressed their appreciation of the good work done by the SBI Foundation.

At the same time they repeatedly drew attention to their continuing poverty and their dependence on migrant labour. They have to regularly go to brick kilns to toil in exploitative conditions in distant parts. Their housing situation has become precarious as they face eviction threats. There is an extreme shortage of water for almost six months in a year, if not more. The condition of other Dalit and poor communities like Ravidasis is also dismal. The government and society need to do much more to help the community of Dashrath Manjhi as well as all other Dalit and weaker sections in this village and neighboring areas to honour the legacy of the Mountain Man.

(The writer is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include Protecting Earth for Children, Man over Machine and A Day in 2071.)
Delhi speaker calls for swift action on Liquor Policy, urges review of all CAG reports on Kejriwal Government

Vijender Gupta, the new Speaker of the Delhi assembly, is famously known for having being marshalled out of the Assembly when Arvind Kejriwals AAP govt was in power.
In first public remarks after leaving the White House, former US President Joe Biden on Tuesday accused the Donald Trump administration of deliberate cruelty in downsizing the federal agency that disburses post-retirement benefits to retirees.

The former president looked his agehe is 82but showed no resemblance to the man who had shown up for the fateful presidential debate against President Donald Trump in the summer of 2024, which doomed his bid for a second term and cleared the way for former Vice-President Kamala Harris. Although he used a teleprompter, he spoke clearly and forcefully.

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The last thing they need from their government is deliberate cruelty, Biden said of the efforts by the Trump administration to downsize the Social Security Administration, the agency that uses federal taxes collected from employees and employers to disburse post-retirement benefits to retirees. The scheme is somewhat comparable to Indias provident fund programme.

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Social Security is about more than retirement accounts, he added. Its about honouring a fundamental trust between government and people.

The former president did not name President Donald Trump or his cabinet secretaries and advisers such as Elon Musk, the billionaire adviser, but made pointed references that left few doubts about the identity of his targets.

Musk was not named, but his description of the social security system as a Ponzi Scheme (a scam played on investors by using their monies to keep up the illusion of returns non-existent to attract more investments) was.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnicks dismissal of delays as not a concern for his 94-year-old mother-in-law was. Trump was not mentioned, but the deficits he ran up with his first-term tax cuts were.

Biden is predictably not popular in the Trump world, but he also has few friends in his world of Democrats. Many in his party blame him for Trumps return to the White House. They believe he overstayed and did not step aside in time for the party to come up with a solid presidential candidate shaped by the rough and tumble of the primaries process. Harris, they argue, was untested and, therefore, vulnerable.

Although Trump ran on the promise of not cutting or ending social security, which has been in the crosshairs of Republicans for a long time  vilified as a burden on the state exchequer  his administrations war on wasteful government expenses, spearheaded by Musks department of government efficiency (shortened to DOGE, a cyber currency, has targeted the social security administration, slashing and estimated 7,000 workers.

Referring to these cuts the former president said that in fewer than 100 days (of assuming charge) this new administration has  done so much damage and so much destruction its kind of breathtaking.
Two fishing vessels and a dhow were hijacked off the coast of Somalia between February 7 and March 16, indicating that piracy in the region remains a threat, according to a new report released Tuesday by a global anti-piracy body.

The International Chamber of Commerces International Maritime Bureau (IMB) first-quarter report reveals that 26 crew members were taken hostage in these incidents, which demonstrates the continued capability of Somali pirates.

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The IMB advises ships navigating these waters to exercise caution and to strictly follow the latest version of the Industry Best Management Practice, the IMB said.

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According to the agency, all crew members and the vessels have been released, Xinhua news agency reported. The international navies patrolling these waters continue to coordinate and liaise with merchant and fishing fleets to identify and apprehend pirate action groups.

It cautioned vessel owners and masters against complacency. Although three Somali piracy incidents have been recorded, several hijackings of dhows and fishing vessels may have gone unreported, the IMB said.

Meanwhile, the IMB urged continued caution in the Gulf of Guinea waters as crew members remain at risk, although the number of reported incidents within the region and adjoining littoral states continues to be at its lowest in nearly two decades.

All 13 kidnapped crew were reported in these waters in two separate attacks with a total of six incidents reported in the first quarter of the year, the IMB said.

While we welcome the reduction of incidents, the safety of crew members in the Gulf of Guinea remains at greater risk. It is essential to maintain a strong regional and international naval presence to address these incidents and ensure the protection of seafarers, IMB Director Michael Howlett said.
The delegation of US lawmakers, which visited Pakistan recently and held multiple meetings with top officials in the government and military establishment, did not mention or even address the case of former Prime Minister Imran Khan who continues to serve a jail term in multiple cases at the Adiala Jail.

Asserting that the new US administration led by President Donald Trump may not come to the rescue of Khan or use its influence to have Khan released from the jail, Pakistan National Assemblys Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, who had a brief meeting with the visiting US delegation, said that the lawmakers made no mention of PTI founding chairman during their engagements in Islamabad.

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US congressional delegation, which held a series of meetings with government officials and politicians on the sidelines of the Pakistan Minerals Forum 2025, made it clear that they had no interest or role in Pakistans internal political affairs, said Sadiq.

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Imran Khans party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has been lobbying to raise the issue of illegal arrest of their leader in concocted fake cases against the former premier, along with the ongoing crackdown by the government and the military establishment against party leadership. The PTI was looking at the Trump administration with a hope that it would raise the issue with the Shehbaz Sharif-led coalition government in Pakistan and use its influence to ensure release of Khan from jail.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan alleged that his party leaders were deliberately omitted from any interaction with the US delegation.

I was not notified of any meetings and received no formal or informal invitation, claimed Gohar Ali Khan.

However, his claims were rejected by Ayaz Sadiq, who said that Gohar Ali Khan and Amir Dogar were invited to a dinner hosted for the US delegation, but they chose not to attend.

It was an opportunity for the PTI leaders to speak directly with the Americans  the same people they often appeal to for support, said Sadiq.

PTI leaders kept on tagging the visiting US lawmakers in their social media posts while the delegation was in Islamabad in an attempt to notify them of the governments deliberate attempt to exclude its leadership from meetings.

It has been seen in the past that the White House has refrained from commenting on Khans arrest and has preferred to maintain that it would not interfere in Pakistans internal matters.

The Trump administration not raising the Imran Khan issue has given a chance to the Shehbaz Sharif-led government and its leaders to criticise PTI leadership for failing to influence the US government against them.
The JSW Group plans to set up a 10 million tonne per annum (mtpa) green steel plant at Salav village of the Raigad district in Maharashtra at an investment of around Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000 crore over a period of four years, JSW Group Chairman Sajjan Jindal officially announced at an event in Mumbai.

The green steel plant will export its products to Europe, which is in the process of imposing Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), Jindal said at the centenary year celebration of the Indian Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday.

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We will set up a separate steel plant which will be a 10 million tonnes per annum steel plant only for green steel which will be exported to Europe, Jindal said.

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He said the plant is part of the brownfield expansion and will entail an investment of Rs 50,000-Rs 60,000 crore over a period of three to four years.

The plant will be based on natural gas to start with, but it will have the technology to switch to hydrogen as and when zero carbon steel is needed, Jindal said.

JSW Green Steel was incorporated in February 2024 to set up a 4 million tonne per annum (MTPA) integrated green steel plant as part of the companys plan to reduce its carbon footprint.

The European Unions CBAM rules have been operational since 2023, though the full financial implications will come into effect from January 1, 2026. Under CBAM, the EU will impose carbon-related tariffs on imports of carbon-intensive goods, including steel, cement and fertilisers.

Jindal stated that the Indian steel sector needs to be protected from the menace of foreign steel dumping, especially from China. The government is very vigilant about this and the recommendation for putting a safeguard duty has been made. In a few days, I think, this safeguard duty will be in place, Jindal said.

Jindal said that for the Indian steel industry, which is still growing, steelmakers need to make enough money to be able to invest back into the business and expand, but Chinas steel industry is mature, is mostly state-owned and no longer needs a surplus.

They (China) can sell at any cost whereas we have to make profits to then redeploy that money to expand our capacity. India requires close to 20 million tonne new steel every year which requires close to 20 billion US dollar investment. India needs that kind of investment (for steel) year-on-year, Jindal said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday that he opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state, reaffirming his long-held position amid mounting international support for a two-state solution.

In a phone call, Netanyahu expressed to Macron his strong opposition to Palestinian statehood, calling it a major reward for terrorism, according to a statement from his office.

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He warned that a Palestinian state founded just minutes from Israeli cities would become a stronghold of Iranian terrorism, and added that an overwhelming majority of the Israeli public strongly opposes it.

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Macron said on his X account after the phone call that he had reiterated Frances support for Israels security. The release of all hostages has always been an absolute priority, as has the demilitarization of Hamas.

Macron also said that a ceasefire is the only way to ensure the release of the hostages still held by Hamas, Xinhua news agency reported. He underscored the urgent need to open all humanitarian aid crossings to support Gazas civilian population.

The conversation followed Macrons statement last week that France could recognise a Palestinian state in June. In an interview on France 5 TV, Macron said: We must move toward recognition (of a Palestinian state), and so, in the coming months, we will.

France is expected to co-chair a meeting with Saudi Arabia at the United Nations in New York in June that will focus on advancing a two-state solution, amid Israels 18-month military offensive in Gaza.

The West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem  territories where Palestinians seek to establish an independent state  have been under Israeli occupation since the 1967 Middle East war. Israel kept its control over them despite international criticism.
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bp on behalf of its co-venturers in the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli, Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, Shah Deniz and South Caucasus Pipeline projects  SOCAR, TPAO, LUKOIL, SGC, NICO, MOL, INPEX, ExxonMobil, ITOCHU, ONGC Videsh, Eni, MVM and TotalEnergies  are pleased to announce the successful completion of three community development projects along the bp-operated export pipelines.

The projects reflect bp and its co-venturers' commitment to supporting local communities and fostering educational and technological advancements in Azerbaijan.

Bakhtiyar Aslanbayli, bps vice president for the Caspian region, accompanied by a group of representatives from bp and co-venturer companies, visited Kurdamir, Ganja and Tovuz on 14-16 April to celebrate the completion of the three successful projects.

bp and our co-ventures are committed to fostering strong, resilient communities along our pipeline routes. Our ongoing support reflects our dedication to helping ensure the well-being and prosperity of these communities as we work together towards a sustainable future. We believe that the three projects whose completion we celebrate today will make a remarkable contribution to the affected communities enhancing their growth and development, Bakhtiyar Aslanbayli said.

The three completed projects are:

1. Vocational skills development project for internally displaced persons, funded by bp and its co-venturers

This project aimed to equip internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Garabagh with vocational skills, enhancing their income generation opportunities upon their return to their homes after the 30-year occupation. This initiative specifically targeted IDPs temporarily residing in the Kurdamir district. A group of 25 IDP women were selected for the project to be trained as certified tailors and make-up artists. In addition to vocational training, the participants were taught business management and development techniques.

Aligned with the Azerbaijan government's sustainability goals, the project supports the "Great Return" initiative, which envisions IDPs returning to their liberated homes to lead prosperous and sustainable lives. The cost of the project is 77,090 AZN (around $45,347).

The project was implemented by the public union Economic and Social Development Centre (Iqtisadi v Sosial Inkisaf Mrkzi ictimai birliyi).

2. Ganja Technological University cybersecurity capacity-building project, funded by bp and its co-venturers

This project aimed to equip various stakeholders, including individuals and organizations from both the public and private sectors, with the knowledge, skills, and capabilities to address cybersecurity risks. It included the establishment of a new scientific, methodological, research, and training centre at Ganja Technological University to enhance the cybersecurity capacity of the university and the entire Ganja-Gazakh economic region.

The project cost is over 72,200 AZN (USD $42,475), which includes the purchase of necessary equipment and applications.

3. Restoration of traditional water sources in the Tovuz district, funded by bp

The project aimed to address the decline in access to freshwater by restoring traditional water sources known as kahrizes at two locations - the Dovshanly and Mahammadaghali kahrizes, near the Ashagi Gushchu village of the Tovuz district.

The project began in 2024 with the training of kahriz specialists called kankans. Following this, in June, refurbishment works commenced to clean and stabilize both kahriz systems. These works have now been successfully completed, supplying the Ashagi Gushchu community of about 15,000 people with freshwater.

The Dovshanly kahriz has been routed through pipe systems to the village, and the water from this source is now used for household consumption purposes.

The Mahammadaghali kahriz has been routed to the farming areas of the village and is used for the irrigation of 636 hectares of community land.

The project was implemented by Puls-R LLC.

The project is part of the wider Community managed water systems programme with the total cost of 1,282,227 AZN ($754,251 USD).


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Photo: The Ministry of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, April 16. Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan, Akhadbek Khaydarov, held a meeting with a delegation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) led by Senior Economist Vincent de Paul Koukpaizan, Trend reports, citing the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan.

During the discussions, the parties addressed the large-scale reforms being implemented in Uzbekistan, including simplifying export-import processes, improving the quality of services, further enhancing the operations of customs authorities, and combating the shadow economy.

Furthermore, the parties kicked around ideas on sprucing up customs administration by taking a page from the global playbook, including the heavy lifting with artificial intelligence and big data, and on the horizon for collaboration in this field.

At the conclusion of the talks, both parties agreed to strengthen and expand mutually beneficial cooperation, including systematic efforts to conduct a comprehensive diagnostic assessment of the customs system.

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As India continues its march towards self-reliance in defence, THE WEEK and the Malayala Manorama Group are all set to host the inaugural edition of THE WEEK Defence Conclave on April 17, 2025, at the prestigious Manekshaw Centre in Delhi. Titled Force of the Future, the Conclave promises a full day of high-octane discussions, insights, and policy-oriented brainstorming on the dynamic transformation of Indias defence sector.

From policymakers and military leadership to technocrats, entrepreneurs, innovators, and scholars, the event will bring together a stellar line-up of speakers and panellists who are shaping Indias defence narrative. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will inaugurate the conclave and deliver the keynote address, setting the tone for the day-long exchange of ideas.

The conclaves theme reflects the tectonic shifts underway in Indias defence narrative - driven by technological advancements, geopolitical challenges, and the push for Atmanirbharta (self-reliance). Across seven panel discussions, participants will explore everything from defence reforms and indigenous production to emerging technologies and the evolving role of startups and MSMEs in the sector.

Key sessions include special addresses by eminent former service chiefs such as General Manoj Pande, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, and Admiral Sunil Lanba, each offering unique insights from the Army, Air Force and Navy respectively. The panels will delve into vital issues such as fighter engine development post-Kaveri, warship manufacturing capabilities, Indias defence export potential, and the critical choice between indigenous manufacturing versus global procurement.

Notably, the conclave will also witness the launch of THE WEEKs dedicated Defence News micro-site, reinforcing the publications long-standing commitment to credible, in-depth coverage of matters military.

Industry leaders from DRDO, BrahMos Aerospace, Airbus, HAL, and private players like VEM Technologies and Innefu Labs will share their perspectives alongside government officials and innovators, making the conversations rare and rich blend of experience, foresight and vision.

The conclave spotlight will firmly remain on Indias resolve to become not just a strong military power, but one that is future-ready, self-reliant, and globally competitive.

For a sector undergoing such an extraordinary churn, THE WEEK Defence Conclave 2025 could not be more timelyor more crucial.

Panel themes and highlights

 Panel 1: Momentous ChangesDefence Reforms

Special Address: General Manoj Pande (Retd), Former Chief of Army Staff

Moderator: Sanjay Mitra, Former Defence Secretary

Panelists: Lt Gen Vinod Khandare (Retd), Former Defence Intelligence Agency Head Lt Gen Devendra Pratap Pandey (Retd), Former Commandant, Army War College Gp Capt Dr Rajiv Kumar Narang (Retd), Manohar Parrikar IDSA







 Panel 2: The Fighter Engine ChallengeWhere Do We Go After Kaveri?

Special Address: Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari (Retd), Former IAF Chief

Moderator: Air Marshal Ajay Kumar Arora (Retd)

Panelists: Dr S.V. Ramanamurthy, Director, GTRE Anshuman Tripathi, ex-NSAB Advisor Air Vice Marshal Suresh Singh (Retd) V. Venkat Raju, MD, VEM Technologies







 Panel 3: How Ready is India to Make for the World?  Indias Defence Export Potential

Special Address: Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary, Department of Defence Production, MoD

Moderator: Maj Gen Kirti V. Jauhar (Retd)

Panelists: Dharmendra K. Singh, Joint Secretary & Acquisition Manager (Air), MoD Dr Atul D. Rane, former CMD, BrahMos Aerospace Venkat Katkuri, Head, Defence & Space (India & South Asia), Airbus Dr C. Ramanarayanan, former Director, GTRE







 Panel 4: Building a Builders NavyHow to Make India a Warship Manufacturing Hub?

Special Address: Admiral Sunil Lanba (Retd), Former Navy Chief

Moderator: Vice Admiral Rajaram Swaminathan, Controller of Warship Production

Panelists: Dr Manu Kollura, DG (Resources & Management), DRDO Jathesh Chandra, DG (Design), Cochin Shipyard Commodore RS Vasan (Retd), Chennai Centre for China Studies Commander Vasudev Puranik, Mazagon Dockyard







 Panel 5: Deep and Niche TechnologiesWhere Are We?

Special Address: Dr Samir V. Kamat, Secretary, DDR&D and Chairman, DRDO

Moderator: Lt Gen MU Nair (Retd), National Cyber Security Coordinator

Panelists: Lt Gen DS Rana, DG, Defence Intelligence Agency Maj Gen Shantanu Kashyap, ADG, Army Aviation Corps RR Swain, former DGP, Jammu & Kashmir AVM Rajeeva Ranjan (Retd) Tarun Wig, CEO, Innefu Labs



 Panel 6: To Make or to BuyHow Do the Services Choose?

Moderator: RK Mathur, Former Defence Secretary & LG, Ladakh

Panelists: Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, Deputy Chief, IDS Lt Gen Rahul R Singh, Deputy Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen ADS Aujla, Master General Sustenance, Indian Army Air Marshal Sanjeev Kapoor (Retd)



 Panel 7: Start-ups & MSMEsChallenges, Opportunities, and Expectations
Anupam Kher has stepped back into the directors chair after 23 long years. His upcoming directorial Tanvi the Great will make its grand debut at one of the most prestigious film festivals  Cannes.

In an interview with Hindustan Times, Kher talked about taking the film, a story that he feels is rooted in Indian culture, to the global stage. I did direct another film Om Jai Jagdish 23 years back, but that was not my story. After that, I didnt direct any film. I wanted it to come from within me, an Indian film for international viewing, he said.

ALSO READ | Tanvi The Great, Anupam Khers second directorial, to debut at Cannes Film Festival

Kher regards the project as a universal film, and is determined to present it to a diverse audience. He is sparing no expense, even flying the actors out to France for the big premiere. Its a huge kharcha (cost), he admits, But I want to put the film on a pedestal. Warna mujhe kya zaroorat hai New York jaane ki? (Otherwise, why do I need to go to New York?) I am not some Indian actor who also works in English films.

Kher always knew Tanvi the Great was meant for a theatrical release and not an OTT debut. You will not ask this question about whether the film will be released in theatres or OTT to Martin Scorcese! I am not comparing myself to these greats, but when you are making the film with passion, uska jo marzi hashr ho (whatever it may be), you make it for the cinemas.

ALSO READ | Neeraj Ghaywan's Homebound to premiere at Cannes Film Festival 2025

Headed for international release, with screenings in London, New York, and Los Angeles, Kher was very selective on who he wanted to bring on board the ambitious project. He signed on internationally recognised talents, like composer M. M. Keeravani, who won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for Naatu Naatu from RRR, and sound designer Resul Pookutty, who won the Academy Award for Best Sound Mixing for Slumdog Millionaire.

People think Indian films are musical just because we burst into songs. No thats not the case. It will be interesting to see the journey of the film from Cannes, and start the PR campaign with a bang, Kher commented.
Days after stitching an electoral alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party in Tamil Nadu, the AIADMK on Wednesday ruled out the possibility of a coalition government in the state if the alliance wins the 2026 assembly elections.

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami said Union Minister Amit Shah had never said that there would be an AIADMK-BJP coalition government in Tamil Nadu.

"He did not say that (a coalition government)," Palaniswami said, adding that the media had misunderstood the relevant issue.

Palaniswami said Shah had also made it categorical that the alliance would be led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the national level and in Tamil Nadu, it would be helmed by him.

Nearly two years after parting ways, the AIADMK and BJP rekindled their alliance on April 11.

While announcing the tie-up in Chennai, Amit Shah declared that the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election will be fought under the leadership of Palaniswami.

"We will form a government together led by Edappadi Palaniswami," he had said.

AIADMK walked out of the NDA in 2023 after accusing then BJP state chief K. Annamalai of deliberately defaming its present and past leaders including former chief minister J. Jayalalithaa.

Annamalai stepped down from his post hours before the two parties joined hands again, with reports suggesting that his removal from the key post was a pre-condition set by the AIADMK for the alliance.

The BJP has appointed senior leader Nainar Nagenthran as its new state president.
The Enforcement Directorate questioned Robert Vadra, businessman and husband of Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, for the second straight day on Wednesday in a money laundering case.

Vadra reached the office along with Priyanka Gandhi around 11 am. According to reports, the questioning lasted for around five hours and Vadra left the ED office after 6 pm.

Priyanka Gandhi, who represents Kerala's Wayanad, stayed in the visitors' room of the agency's office 'Pravartan Bhawan' at the APJ Abdul Kalam Road throughout the grilling session.

He has been called again on Thursday for further questioning. The central agency had interrogated him on Tuesday and confronted him with about a dozen questions.

After the questioning, Vadra told news agency PTI that he was being "targeted" by probe agencies as he is part of the Gandhi family. He also termed the ED action as a "political vendetta".

What's the case about?

A company named Skylight Hospitality Pvt Ltd, where Vadra was a director earlier, purchased a 3.5 acre of land in Shikohpur in Haryana from Onkareshwar Properties at a price of Rs 7.5 crore in 2008. A Congress government led by Bhupinder Singh Hooda was in power at that time.

In 2012, the company sold the land to realty major DLF for Rs 58 crore.

Later that year, the Land Records-cum-Inspector-General of Registration of Haryana cancelled the mutation of this categorising the transaction as violative of state consolidation Act and some related procedures.

Haryana Police had filed an FIR to probe this deal in 2018.
Former RAW Chief A.S. Dulat has stirred a political storm with revelations in his new book The Chief Minister and The Spy, claiming that National Conference (NC) President and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah secretly supported the abrogation of Article 370.



The claim raises the question: Did the NC President support the BJP-led governments move to strip Jammu and Kashmir of its limited autonomy in 2019?

According to the book, written by Amar Singh Dulat, a former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) head and a long-time friend of Abdullah, Abdullah publicly called the abrogation a betrayal but held a nuanced private view. Dulat writes that Abdullah told him, We would have helped. Why were we not taken into confidence?

The book focuses on events leading up to the abrogation of Article 370 on 5 August 2019, when Jammu and Kashmir was also bifurcated into two Union TerritoriesJammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

A day before the move, Dr Farooq Abdullah, his son Omar Abdullah, and NC MP Hasnain Masoodi met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi. The Abdullahs later claimed they had asked Modi whether the government was planning to abrogate Article 370, but the Prime Minister did not give any clear response.

After the abrogation, Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, and dozens of political leaders and workers were placed under preventive detention in Jammu and Kashmir.

In an interview, Dulat recalled visiting Abdullah during his detention at his residence on Gupkar Road in Srinagar, after receiving permission from officials in Delhi. He said he had lunch there, prepared by Abdullah's British wife.

Dulats revelation has drawn sharp criticism from political leaders in Kashmir. People's Conference (PC) President and Handwara MLA Sajad Gani Lone said he was not surprised by the claim and suggested he had always suspected a tacit understanding.Dulat sahib has revealed in his upcoming book that Farooq sahib privately supported the abrogation of Article 370. Coming from Dulat sahib makes this revelation very credible... Virtually his alter ego.

He accused the NC of playing the victim card. The August 4, 2019, meeting of CM sahib and Farooq sahib with the PM was never a mystery for me, he said. I can visualise Farooq sahib sayingHumey roney deejiyeAap apna kaam kareinHum aap kay saath hain. Lone also mocked the NCs behind-the-scenes rapport with the BJP.

People's Democratic Party (PDP) leader Iltija Mufti echoed the scepticism, claiming the book confirmed long-standing doubts. Dulat sahab, an ardent Abdullah supporter, has shared how Farooq sahab agreed with Delhis illegal move of abrogating Article 370, she wrote on X.

She criticised Abdullah for choosing to remain in Kashmir rather than attending Parliament at a critical moment. With this, its clear that Farooq sahab chose to stay in Kashmir instead of the Parliament to help normalise the gutting of J&Ks constitution and subsequent betrayal, she said.

Dulats revelations today rip off the last remaining mask. The fiery speeches, the staged outrage, the carefully crafted image of fighting the BJP - it was all theatre. A performance designed to mislead the people of Jammu and Kashmir into believing that the National Conference pic.twitter.com/wI1mgbUnem  Waheed Para (@parawahid) April 16, 2025

National Conferences chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq rejected Dulats claims, pointing out contradictions within the book. If you look at the book and what he writes in it, he contradicts his own words. He writes that the Government of India waited for seven months to see Farooq Abdullah Sahibs reaction when he was in custody, Sadiq told a new agency.

He said Abdullahs actions after his release disproved the claim.If that was the case, then why did he promote the PAGD (Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration), a coalition of regional parties for the restoration of Article 370) after coming out?

The controversy has reignited debate over political alignments and the events surrounding the revocation of Jammu and Kashmirs special status, a moment widely seen as one of the most significant constitutional changes in the regions recent history.
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is gearing up for its second consecutive university Students Union (JNUSU) polls after 2019. Going by last year's trend, the fight is going to be a close one between the left and the right-leaning student organisations, with the former holding a slight edge. The left-wing student organisations had won the top four posts last year.

Under the election process nominations were filed on April 14, and scrutiny of nominations is underway, after which the list of final candidates eligible for the elections will be announced. The election is set to take place on April 25, Friday, and the result will be announced on April 28, Monday.

The JNU election committee has received a total of 250 nominations for the post of school counselors and 165 for the four central panel posts of the University Students Union (JNUSU).

As per the EC, there are a total of 7,960 eligible voters.

JNU has always been considered a bastion of Leftist ideology. Major Left student organisations including the AISA, SFI, DSF, and AISF, have long dominated JNUs student politics, often campaigning around issues like fee hikes, scholarship delays, hostel fees, and hostel shortages. Even the national issues feature prominently during the campaign.

The newly opened Barak hostel could feature prominently once the campaign starts. The students from the North East are demanding that the majority of the seats be allotted to them, but the university authorities have asserted that hostels cannot be divided along regional lines.

Another major contender in the elections, the RSS student wing, ABVP, is contesting on the issues of nationalism, religious pride, and muscular Hindutva politics. As per the JNU students, ABVP's stance on key issues causes polarisation on campus forcing many of the minority votes to consolidate against it.

Shivani, a student of JNU, while talking about the campus issues, said, Left parties are the ones who raise issues that concern us irrespective of caste and religion. They are the ones who raised the issue of Merit-Cum-Means Scholarship (MCM) as well. Shivani concluded that the ABVP can not move past Jai Bhavani and religious politics and will push forward what Prime Minister Modi is saying.

A crucial factor for this year's election is the alliance between the Left students organisations. If the left parties do not form an alliance, it may lead to the division of votes which would help the ABVP gain from this fragmentation.

JNU students argue that the campus politics has been left-leaning since the beginning, but if the left factions lacks unity, this time, the results might shift. The ABVP had won the presidents post only once. This time election is also different as BJP had won the recent assembly polls in Delhi. This may also feature during the campaign. Delhi CM Rekha Gupta is the former Delhi University Students Union president elected on the ABVP ticket.

The ABVP has tried to add glitz and glamour to JNUs election season as it brought BJP MP and Bhojpuri actor Manoj Tiwari to the campus.

Unlike the Delhi University Students election, which is often criticised for being influenced by money and muscle, JNU polls are dominated by debate and intense campaigning.

As the elections are very close and soon after the candidate list is announced, election campaigns will start, brochures will be distributed, General Body Meetings (GBM), presidential debates will take place and JNU will be witnessing an election changed atmosphere for the next 10 days.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, April 16. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has declared the cessation of international fiscal support amounting to $214 million, Trend reports.

Under my direction, another 139 grants worth $214 million have been canceled, said Marco Rubio, the 72nd Secretary of State, in a post on the X platform.

Rubio is undertaking a comprehensive analysis of international assistance initiatives. In the course of this procedural undertaking, a total of 139 grants identified as ineffective or lacking justification have been formally rescinded.

Uzbekistan finds itself within the cohort of nations impacted by this resolution, as a $2.5 million allocation designated for the enhancement of pivotal civic engagement initiatives in Uzbekistan has been rescinded.

Funding has also been suspended for several projects in Belarus, Bulgaria, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Lebanon, Mauritania, Moldova, and Tunisia.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot has sent the bill which proposes to provide reservations for Muslims in government contracts to President Droupadi Murmu for assent.

While sending the bill to the President, the governor noted that the Constitution doesn't allow for reservations based on religion.

The Karnataka Assembly passed the Transparency in Public Procurements (Amendment) Bill, 2025 last month reserving for Muslims 4 per cent of contracts in (civil) works valued up to Rs 2 crore, and goods/services procurement contracts up to Rs 1 crore.

Also read Siddaramaiah defends govt's move to provide 4 pc quota for Muslims in public contracts

The Bill that was passed by both houses of the state legislature, despite opposition from BJP, was awaiting the governor's assent to become an Act.

The BJP charged that the Bill was illegal as there is no provision in the Indian Constitution to give reservation based on religion. It also alleged that the Bill smacks of appeasement politics of the ruling Congress.

However, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has strongly defended the bill, saying giving strength to anyone who is economically and socially weak, is the mission and commitment of the Congress party.

Speaking at the Ambedkar Jayanti event in Bengaluru on Tuesday, the chief minister said he stands with those who have been deprived of opportunities and those who haven't got justice.

"To give strength to Dalits, backward classes and minorities, economically and socially, we have given reservation in contracts. First I did it (for contracts) up to Rs 50 lakh, then increased it to Rs 1 crore. Now we have made it up to Rs 2 crore -- for OBC Category 1, 2A , and also 2B which is Muslims. They (BJP) made it a big issue alleging appeasement," Siddaramaiah said.
During a conference with Imams, Muezzins, and intellectuals in Kolkata on Wednesday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee squarely blamed the BJP and the central government for what she described as "pre-planned violence" during the protests in Murshidabad district against the Waqf Amendment Act, 2025.

She also claimed that the BSF had opened fire during the unrest and stated that the incident would be subject to an investigation.

#WATCH | Kolkata: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee says "They (Centre) should answer how many youths have got jobs? The prices of medicines, petrol, and diesel have been increased, but some 'godi media' only speak against Bengal. If you have to say something, come and say it in pic.twitter.com/XLLzYRlYqG  ANI (@ANI) April 16, 2025

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo countered the intelligence reports that claimed radicals belonging to Bangladesh-based outfits Jamaat-ul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) were allegedly involved in Murshidabad violence.

If Bangladeshis are involved, then why did the BSF allow them to come in? The border is managed by the BSF. The state government has no authority over border control. It has no way of knowing who is entering or leaving through the border, she said.

#WATCH | During her meeting with Muslim clerics, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee says "Yesterday, I saw a tweet from ANI quoting the Home Ministry that Bangladesh is involved in this (Murshidabad violence). If this is true, the Central Govt is responsible for it. BSF takes care of https://t.co/yEW3bqGqrB pic.twitter.com/ubcrMMuTVP  ANI (@ANI) April 16, 2025

She further alleged that the BJP was using central agencies to trigger violence and directly held Union Home Minister Amit Shah responsible.

The home ministry is cutting the branch its sitting on, Banerjee remarked, appealing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to control the home minister.

#WATCH | During her meeting with Muslim clerics, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee says "I talk about all religions. Where does BJP go when we renovate Kaali Temple? When we celebrate Durga Puja, they say we don't let people celebrate here. Saraswati Puja is celebrated in every pic.twitter.com/IDnZvibOzQ  ANI (@ANI) April 16, 2025

CM Banerjee reinstated her government's opposition to the Waqf Amendment Act, 2025, and made it clear that the law wouldn't be implemented in West Bengal. She appealed for peace and urged religious leaders from the Muslim community to take their protests to Delhi.

Protests in Bengal wont help. Go to Delhi and try to meet with the Prime Minister and the President.

Addressing the humanitarian impact of the unrest, she announced that the families of three victims from two households would receive Rs 10 lakh each in compensation. Additionally, homes damaged in the violence would be rebuilt under the state governments Banglar Bari housing scheme, and assistance would also be provided to owners whose shops were vandalised.

Victims' families approach high court

Meanwhile, the victims' families approached the Calcutta High Court, seeking a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe. They alleged that their homes were attacked with bombs and that police failed to come to their aid. The court has granted permission to file the case, and a hearing is expected on Thursday.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) also approached the high court demanding an NIA probe. Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari filed a petition seeking permission to visit Murshidabad's Dhuliyan. He claimed that while leaders from other parties have gone there in the last few days, he has been denied permission.

The violence has reportedly displaced nearly 300 families in Murshidabad. Over 240 suspects have been arrested so far, and the situation in the district is largely under control. Internet services have been restored throughout the district, except Samserganj in Jangipur.
Thane Shiv Sena MP and spokesperson Naresh Mhaske launched a blistering attack today on the West Bengal government, demanding the immediate dismissal of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees administration over what he termed as the government's failure to protect Hindus from repeated communal violence arising over issues like the Waqf (Amendment) Bill.

Speaking at a press conference in Thane, Mhaske condemned recent incidents of targeted violence against Hindu families in Bengal, accusing the state administration of wilful negligence and vote-bank appeasement.

Hindu families are being terrorised and driven out of their homes. After the Centre passed the Waqf Board Amendment Bill, elements from a particular community have openly attacked Hindus. In Murshidabad, anti-social mobs invaded a Hindu household, murdered members of the family in front of the police, and torched their property and vehicles, Mhaske alleged.

Calling it a state-sponsored failure, he added that Mamata Banerjee had not just turned a blind eyeshes complicit in her silence, and her government must be immediately dismissed, he added.

Sharpening his attack, he accused Banerjee of prioritising minority appeasement over justice.

To safeguard her Muslim vote bank, Mamata Banerjee has become helpless. Her silence today is criminal. Shes no different from Tahawwur Rana, one of the masterminds behind the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. From now on, she deserves the name Mamata Rana.

Taking aim at Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray, Mhaske questioned his silence as well:

He claims to stand for Hindutva, yet he once hosted Mamata Banerjee at Matoshree. Where is his outrage now? Why hasnt he condemned the atrocities against Hindus in Bengal?

He went on to question the silence of other constituents of the INDIA blocincluding M. K. Stalin and Rahul Gandhiover the violence, stating that they were afraid of Mamata Banerjee. In that regard, Mhaske also announced that a Shiv Sena delegation would soon visit West Bengal to meet the affected families and assess the situation firsthand.
A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justices Sanjay Kumar and K V Viswanathan is likely to hear over 10 petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 on Wednesday. As many as 10 petitions have been listed before the bench, including that filed by AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi.

Besides Owaisi, others who approached the court against the Waqf Act include Delhi AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan, Association for Protection of Civil Rights, Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind President Arshad Madani, Samastha Kerala Jamiatul Ulema, Anjum Kadari, Taiyyab Khan Salmani, Mohammad Shafi, Mohammad Fazlurrahim and RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha, according to Live Law.

A total of 15 petitions were filed till Wednesday. However, six BJP-ruled states -- Haryana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Assam -- approached the apex court highlighting the potential administrative and legal ramifications if the Waqf (Amendment) Act is struck down or altered.

The political parties that went to court against the Act include Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP), DMK, CPI, IUML and actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam.

Provisions challenged in court

Most of the petitions have challenged that the amendments violate Constitutional rights guaranteed under Articles 14 (right to equality), 25 (freedom to practice religion), 26 (freedom to manage religious affairs), 29 (minority rights) and 300A (right to property).

The provisions in the Act that will be challenged in the court include the omission of 'waqf by user' clause, a provision in the 1995 Act which ensured that properties being used as Waqf properties will remain Waqf even if the user does not exist.

The petitioners have also challenged the inclusion of non-Muslim members in the Central Waqf Council and State Waqf Board, and the pre-condition which states that only a practising Muslim of five years can create waqf.

Other provisions that will be challenged include dilution of waqf-alal-aulad, renaming 'Waqf Act, 1995 to "Unifed Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development" and interference of government officials to resolve disputes regarding waqf property.

Application of Limitation Act to Waqf Act, invalidating waqfs created over ASI-protected monuments and restrictions on creating Waqfs over scheduled areas etc., are some of the provisions under challenge.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday posed several questions to the Centre on the issue of non-Muslims on Waqf Council and Boards, pending enquiry by the collector on disputed waqf property and on abolishing of 'waqf by user'.

A three judges bench comprising Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, Justices Sanjay Kumar and K V Vishwanathan heard the case for nearly two hours and proposed an interim order.

The court asked the Centre about three concerns - the validity of Waqf by user properties declared earlier by court decrees which now may become void, having non-Muslims as majority members in Waqf Council, and pending enquiry by the collector on disputed Waqf property, the declaration that the same will not be treated as Waqf property.

Though the interim order wasnt passed as Centre represented through Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta sought some more time for his arguments. Accepting his request, the bench slated the hearing for Thursday  April 17 at 2 pm.

ALSO READ | Uddhav Thackerays party opposes Waqf bill for Muslim votes, says Sanjay Nirupam

During the hearing, the top court said, Many of the Mosques were created in the 14th or 15th centuries. To require them to produce a registered deed is impossible. In most cases, say Jama Masjid of Delhi, the waqf will be waqf-by-user. There may be an abuse of Waqf-by-user, but there are genuine cases of Waqf-by-user.

Waqf-by-user is a legal doctrine that allows properties which have been used as Waqf properties for religious or charitable purposes, to be declared as Waqf.

"How can the Centre rewrite the past going back hundreds of years? If the Centre will denotify Waqf-by-user properties, it will create issues, CJI Khanna told Solicitor General of India.

On the issue of non-Muslims on Waqf Council and Boards, the court told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that as far religious endowment of Hindus is concerned, no one else from other communities is a part of it.

ALSO READ | Three killed in Waqf protests in West Bengal; HC orders deployment of central forces

"Is the Centre prepared to say that it will allow Muslims to be a part of management committees of Hindu endowments?" the court asked.

SG Mehta said that he can state on affidavit that not more than 2 members will be non-Muslims.

At this, the top court further highlighted that only 8 out of the 22 members of the Waqf Council would be Muslims.

"So as per the Act, 8 members are Muslims. 2 judges may not be Muslims. Then the rest are non-Muslims," the bench said.

SG said, "Then this bench also cannot hear the case."

At this, CJI Khanna said, When we sit over here. We lose our religion. For us both sides are the same. How can you compare it with the judges? Why not have non-Muslims also in the advisory board of Hindu endowments then.

At the fag end of the hearing, the top court voiced concern on the report of violence in connection with the new law saying disturbing to see reports of violence.

ALSO READ | Sacred games: Legal battles, widespread opposition, criticism from political rivals threaten BJPs move to amend Waqf Act

Agreeing with the bench, Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta said there was a phenomenon that you can pressurize the system.

The top court was hearing a batch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.

As many as 72 petitions, including those by AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi, All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Congress MPs Imran Pratapgarhi and Mohammad Jawed, have been filed challenging the validity of the Act.
With the Bihar Assembly elections just six months away, the issue of the chief ministerial candidate for the two major alliancesthe NDA and the Grand Allianceis being actively discussed. Chief Minister Nitish Kumars party, Janata Dal (United), has reiterated several times that he will be the face of the NDA. However, mixed signals from ally BJP have added confusion to the matter.

Nitishs son, Nishant Kumar, tried to clear the doubts by saying that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had already made it clear that the incumbent would continue as chief minister.

While NDA leaders, including those from the BJP, have stated that the elections will be fought under the joint leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, no categorical assurance has come from the central leadership. Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to visit Bihar on April 24 for a function where several development projects will be inaugurated. Both Modi and Nitish will share the stage, and all eyes will be on how the Prime Minister presents Nitish Kumar during the rally - particularly whether he names him as the NDAs chief ministerial candidate. An endorsement from Modi would put an end to the ongoing speculation.

The confusion intensified when Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini remarked that the NDA would win the Bihar elections under BJPs Samrat Choudhary, the current Deputy Chief Minister. Saini, the OBC face for the BJP in Haryana, triggered speculation with his statement.

Although BJP leaders have stated that the elections will be contested under Nitish Kumars leadership, the post-poll scenario in Maharashtra has raised fresh concerns. In Maharashtra, although the elections were fought under then-chief minister Eknath Shinde, the BJP as the largest party eventually claimed the chief ministership. A similar situation could arise in Bihar, where the BJP currently holds more seats than the JD(U), though it had supported Nitish Kumar as CM in the last government. Whether that arrangement will continue after the November elections remains uncertain, and the JD(U) is reportedly uneasy about the Maharashtra precedent being repeated.

Opposition parties, particularly the RJD and Prashant Kishors Jan Suraaj, have claimed that this will be Nitish Kumars final term. They argue that even the BJP is reluctant to project him as the CM candidate, citing concerns over his health.

Meanwhile, the RJD and Congress are also engaged in alliance talks. Their next meeting is scheduled to take place in Patna on Thursday. The RJD is expected to press the Congress to support its proposal to name Tejashwi Yadav as the CM face. Yadav had earlier met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi to discuss seat-sharing arrangements.

Both alliances will be holding talks in the coming days to decide on seat sharing, but the bigger issue to be tackled would be that of projecting the CM face.
Amid all the buzz about the first round of Iran-US talks in Oman, a report has emerged, stating that a senior Iranian diplomat allegedly pocketed a luxury gold pen belonging to the Omanis during the talks in Muscat.

As per a report that appeared on Telegram in Tehran, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi pocketed a gold-plated pen from the negotiation venue. The gold fountain pen was "valued at over $14,000 due to its gold craftsmanship." After the negotiations, Gharibabadi put the pen, which was placed on the negotiation table by the Omani officials, into his pocket. The act was caught on CCTV.

The post attributed the story to a leading Omani newspaper, though the report no longer exists online. The report added that Iranian Ambassador Mousa Farhang had to apologise to the Omani Foreign Ministry via a letter and send back the pen. Farhang also reportedly demanded an apology for the newspaper's highlighting of "an unintentional error" made by Gharibabadi.

As the post went viral, Iranian Ambassador Mousa Farhang dismissed the allegations as "lies". Farhang told Iran's state-backed media houses that there were neither tables nor gold-plated pens in the arrangement of the meeting rooms. He said the fake news was being peddled by the Telegram channel affiliated with the Mojahedin-e Khalq (MEK) terrorist group. "The fabrication of lies by the hypocrite group against the soldiers of Iran's diplomatic arena is another sign of the treachery and villainy of this group and its leaders. The lying hypocrites are so stupid that they don't know that there were no tables or gold-plated pens in the negotiation hall," Farhang told a local Iranian news website.

While a report by the Iranian newspaper Hafte Sobh acknowledged the incident as an honest mistake, many state-run media outlets launched a furious campaign to deny the entire affair.

Deputy Minister Gharibabadi is a former deputy head of Irans judiciary and its representative to international organisations in Vienna. He is also a fierce advocate of the regime.
Hamass armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, announced on Tuesday that it had lost contact with a group of fighters holding Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander in Gaza following an Israeli military strike on their location. The 21-year-old soldier, born in Tel Aviv and raised in New Jersey, was captured during Hamass October 7, 2023 attack while serving in an elite Israeli infantry unit near the Gaza border.

Hamas spokesperson, Hudhaifa Kahloutknown by the nom de guerre Abu Obeidasaid on Telegram that efforts to re-establish contact with the team were ongoing but provided no details on the location or timing of the alleged strike.

Alexander, one of 59 hostages still held in Gaza24 of whom are believed to be alivehas appeared in recent Hamas videos. In a video released just before Passover, he accused the Israeli and US administrations of abandoning him, claiming physical and mental deterioration. Addressing President Donald Trump directly, Alexander expressed disillusionment, questioning why he had become a "victim of Netanyahus lies".

Alexander also spoke about learning that Hamas was prepared to release him, but Israel rejected the proposal. The video, part of Hamass psychological warfare campaign, included captions like "Soon" and "Time is running out".

Al-Qassam Brigades released a video of captive Israeli-American soldier Edan Alexander.



I truly believe we will return home dead. There is no hope. Every day I see Netanyahu controls the state like a dictator.



I heard Hamas was ready to release me three weeks agobut you pic.twitter.com/RRVz8gu1UJ  The Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) April 12, 2025

Hamas later released another video warning hostage families that their loved ones would "return in coffins". If Israels military offensive in Gaza continued. The rhetoric intensified as it rejected Israels latest ceasefire proposal, which offered a 45-day truce in return for half the hostages in the first week, including Alexander on day one as a "gesture of goodwill".

Yet the other conditions demanded by Israel, such as giving up arms and ceding control of Gaza completely are unlikely to be acceptable to the group. A senior Palestinian official made it clear to the BBC that Hamas rejected the proposal because it demanded the groups disarmament without Israel committing to end the war or withdraw from Gaza.

The Tikva Forum, representing some hostage families, had indicated that Alexander was among up to 10 hostages potentially releasable under a new ceasefire, citing discussions between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and another hostages mother. However, Alexanders father, Adi, questioned Netanyahus strategy in an interview on April 14, asking how hostages could be freed without ending the conflict or advancing to the second phase of a deal.

Hamas has consistently demanded a complete cessation of hostilities and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in exchange for the release of all hostages. Of the 251 individuals taken hostage following the 2023 attacks, five are believed to be American citizens, with Alexander thought to be the only one still alive. Israel, which maintains it avoids striking locations where hostages are held, is yet to issue a clarification on Hamass claim of a strike ending contact with Alexanders captors. The silence only adds to uncertainty and fear.
Chinese Ambassador Xu Feihond has hinted at the thaw in the India-China relationship, stating that the Chinese Embassy in India has issued over 85,000 visas to Indian citizens between January 1 and April 9, 2025.

In a post on X, Chinese Ambassador Xu Feihong welcomed "Indian friends" to visit China and experience an open, safe, vibrant, sincere and friendly China.

This comes as Beijing recently introduced a slew of relaxations to facilitate more visitors from India to China. These include doing away with online appointments for submitting visa applications and exempting from biometric exemptions for short-time travellers. The visa fee has also been reduced along with the visa approval timeline for both business and leisure travellers.

As of April 9, 2025, the Chinese Embassy and Consulates in India have issued more than 85,000 visas to Indian citizens traveling to China this year. Welcome more Indian friends to visit China, experience an open, safe, vibrant, sincere and friendly China. pic.twitter.com/4kkENM7nkK  Xu Feihong (@China_Amb_India) April 12, 2025

Not only that, but both countries are also exploring options to revive the direct passenger flight services between the two countries. Though no timeline has been announced, Civil Aviation Secretary Vumlunmang Vualnam said both nations aviation ministries have completed the first round of talks. "We have had one round of meetings some issues remain unresolved," Vualnam said during a recent industry event in New Delhi. The direct flights were halted in the wake of the deadly Galwan Valley clash in June 2020.

Many feel this could be a soft power move, especially in the wake of the recent Trump Tariff standoff. China had recently sought the support of India against US-imposed tariffs, calling Washingtons latest trade measures an abuse that harms developing economies. Many also speculated that the current US-China fallout could be an opportunity for India, but it is still imperative that both countries establish a warm relationship.

Foreign policy analyst Michael Kugelman thinks "much will need to fall into place - bilaterally and more broadly geopolitically - for it to enjoy a true rapprochement" despite the bright spots in the relations between the two countries, which include constant trade ties and high-level military talks.

"Future high-level engagement is also important. If Modi and Xi, both of whom place a premium on personal diplomacy, meet this year, this would bolster recent momentum in bilateral ties," he wrote in the BBC.

He suggested that the countries have a lot to gain through good relationships. While Chinese investment will bring critical capital to key Indian industries, thereby easing India's $85bn (65.7bn) trade deficit with China, the move would also give China more access to the world's fastest-growing major economy.
Bangladesh has reportedly stopped importing via land ports from India from Tuesday, according to a report. Bangladesh's National Board of Revenue (NBR) has suspended the import of yarn from India through land ports. The order pertains to the import of yarn through Benapole, Bhomra, Sonamasjid, Banglabandha, and Burimari land ports in Bangladesh.

It was through these ports that yarn was imported into the country from India. This comes as India withdrew its transhipment facility for Bangladesh ,citing significant congestion at airports and ports.

In February, the association of the Bangladesh textile mill owners demanded that the authorities stop the import of yarn from India. Following this, the Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission approached the authorities requesting the same. The Commission said the move would promote the use of locally produced yarn in the garment industry.

The yarn imported from India was cheaper and was causing local producers heavy financial losses, the Commission alleged.

Bangladesh, one of the biggest garment producers, imports yarn produced from India. The raw material is stockpiled in Kolkata before being transported to Bangladesh. The cheap yarn is so popular among Bangladeshi manufacturers that it allegedly hit the sales of domestically produced yarn.

Also read: Bangladesh shunning India? Dhaka hunting for other sources to import potatoes, onions

Many times, the yarn is sold at prices lower than those declared at the Customs House, according to Bangladeshi authorities. Due to lower prices, these Indian yarns have become increasingly popular among Bangladeshi manufacturers, reducing demand for domestically produced alternatives. This also affects the market of yarn imported from China, Turkey and Uzbekistan.

While NBR chairman Abdur Rahman Khan told reporters that the decision was made to protect domestic industries, market watchers feel this will raise costs and delay raw material procurement.

This isn't the first time that Dhaka has taken steps to wean off its dependence on Indian goods. Earlier, Bangladesh had decided to look at sources other than India to import potatoes and onions. The plan was to replace Indian potatoes with those from Germany, Egypt, China, and Spain. Onions can be bought from China, Pakistan and Turkey. The reasons cited by authorities for the move are "the rising prices of onions and potatoes in the Indian market" and the "various decisions taken by Indian authorities to discourage exports."
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, April 16. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited the Andijan regional industrial fair, which presented about 500 products of 110 enterprises, Trend reports, citing the Uzbek President's Office.

The fair featured successful projects across various sectors, including automotive manufacturing, machinery, textiles, electrical engineering, digital technologies, construction materials, food production, floriculture, beekeeping, fish farming, and other industries.

The head of state reviewed a wide range of locally produced goods and cutting-edge developments and spoke with local entrepreneurs. He emphasized the importance of supporting successful initiatives and disseminating best practices nationwide.

At present, more than 11,000 industrial enterprises operate in Andijan province, representing more than 10 percent of Uzbekistan's total industrial output.

The region is home to 47 industrial zones, where 1,000 projects worth 2.3 trillion soums ( $184 million) have been implemented, creating 18,000 jobs. In 2024 alone, these zones produced goods worth 1 trillion soums ( $80 million), with exports totaling nearly $31 million.

Currently, 288 investment projects worth $1 billion are being implemented in the region.

This year, 119 new projects are scheduled to launch, expected to generate more than 4,000 new jobs. The export volume of industrial products is projected to reach $47 million.

Following the President's visit to Altinkul district last year, 16 hectares of land were allocated for the establishment of a furniture production cluster. The area now hosts over 100 workshops, 236 showrooms, and retail outlets.
Boosting the defences in the Indo-Pacific region in view of the threats posed by China is a major priority in the US defence budget for 2026
Politicians, celebrities, and even the Pentagon took to social media to share their well-intentioned Pesach greetings, and the confusion between Pesach, Chanukah, Tu BShvat  and possibly Thanksgiving  was on full display.

Leading the parade was Jewish actor William Shatner who wished his followers a Happy Passover with a picture of what seemed to be either two slices of sponge cake or inch-thick matzos sitting in front of a 10-branched menorah. Not seven. Not eight. Ten. Shatner may have explored strange new worlds in his sci-fi acting role, but clearly not the one where Pesach and Chanukah arent interchangeable.

Rep. Andrew Garbarino followed up with his own Pesach confusion: a seven-branched menorah, a handful of matzahs so limp they started off gebrokts that are peeking out from under some mysterious herbs, half a dozen walnuts, and a cup of wine.

Down in Florida, Rep. Randy Fine (R-Fla.), who is Jewish, kept the trend alive with yet another menorah-centric Passover display. Apparently, for many of our elected officials, menorahs are now the universal Jewish holiday and celebration symbol  sadly, even for Jews.

Meanwhile, Jewish actor Adam Sandler offered his own version of the kearah, which included matzah, flowers, and walnuts.

The growing walnut obsession was also seen in Passover posts from Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, both of whom shared photos of seder plates that looked more like a nut tasting tray at Whole Foods.

Now, to be fair, many versions of charoses do contain walnutsbut when the entire seder plate is filled with nothing but walnuts, you have to wonder if anyone cracked open a Kitzur Shulchan Aruch before setting the table.

U.S. Central Command also shared a headscratching Pesach post, though it had a kearah that appeared to be tzum zach  if you didnt look too closely. On it were: shelled walnuts, a whole walnut shell, chickpeas, an egg, a drumstick, and a suspicious leafy green that may or may not be collard greens. Its unclear which haggadah they were using, but it wasnt Artscroll.

Geert Wilders, the Dutch pro-Israel politician, chimed in with a seder plate featuring some rather peculiar items.

Its worth noting that according to Pew Research, Pesach is the most widely observed Jewish holiday in America, with 62% of Jews saying they attend a seder. One would hope that with such numbers, it wouldnt be too hard to Google what goes on a seder plate.

But alas, in the hands of pop culture and political PR teams, Pesach becomes an annual showcase of misplaced menorahs, matzah mishaps  and, for some reason, lots of walnuts.

In the end, well give them credit for trying.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
The Trump administration has referred New York Attorney General Letitia James for criminal prosecution, accusing her of mortgage fraud related to property purchases dating back decades.

According to documents obtained by Fox News, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) sent a criminal referral to the Department of Justice, addressed to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. FHFA Director William Pulte alleged that James falsified records to secure favorable loan terms for two properties.

The first involves a Virginia property James allegedly claimed as her principal residence in 2023, despite serving as New Yorks attorney general, a role requiring New York residency.

The second concerns a Brooklyn property purchased in February 2001, which James reportedly misrepresented as a four-unit dwelling instead of a five-unit structure in mortgage and permit applications, potentially allowing her to obtain more favorable loan terms.

Legal analyst Jonathan Turley, speaking on Fox News The Ingraham Angle, described the allegations as perfectly crushing given James history of prosecuting Trump for similar financial misconduct. This is a person who prosecuted Trump for making false or misleading statements to financial institutions, Turley said. If we apply the Letitia James standard that she created, thered be little question here.

He noted that the Supreme Courts March 2025 ruling in Thompson emphasized the need for knowing false statements in such cases, adding that the documents appear quite damning.

James has been a prominent adversary of Trump, leading a 2022 civil fraud lawsuit against him, the Trump Organization, and his adult children, which resulted in a $454 million judgment currently under appeal. She also celebrated Trumps 2024 conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records in a Manhattan criminal trial.

In 2025, James has initiated at least five legal actions against the Trump administration, including lawsuits challenging the administrations decision to restrict grant funding to universities and to limit the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)s access to Treasury Department systems.

The allegations, if pursued, could lead to charges such as wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, or making false statements to financial institutions.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Israeli ground forces operating in southern Gaza have discovered and rescued a dog abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the brutal October 7, 2023, Hamas assault.

The dog, a three-and-a-half-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Billy, was found in the city of Rafah and returned to Israel after soldiers identified her via a microchip implant. Billy belonged to Rachel Dancyg, ex-wife of Holocaust historian and educator Alex Dancyg hyd, who was kidnapped during the October 7 onslaught and later murdered in captivity.

Billys safe return has brought a wave of emotion to the Dancyg family, who had long given up hope of ever seeing her again.

We are in complete shock and overwhelmed with emotion to see her tomorrow, said Yaron Maor, Rachels son-in-law, in an interview with Ynet. We didnt believe she had survived. We got the kids another dog of the same breed. Now theyll live together with us. Its a miracle from heaven.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
The man accused of setting fire to Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiros residence in a shocking arson attack on the first day of Pesach has now admitted to targeting the Democratic governor because of his stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflictand his Jewishness.

According to newly unsealed search warrants obtained by PennLive, 38-year-old Cody Balmer told a 911 operator he lit the fire in protest of what [Shapiro] wants to do to the Palestinian people. Balmer also allegedly declared during the call, You all know where to find me. Im not hiding, and I will confess to everything that I had done.

State police confirmed the fire was politically and ideologically motivated, saying that Balmer targeted Shapiro based upon perceived injustices to the people of Palestine and his Jewish faith.

The fire came just hours after Shapiro hosted a Pesach seder (of sorts) with his family inside the residence. Though the family was home at the time of the attack, they were able to evacuate, and no injuries were reported.

Balmer has been charged with domestic terrorism, aggravated arson, attempted criminal homicide, and other felonies. He turned himself in to police Sunday, allegedly confessing in full.

Shapiro, Pennsylvanias first Jewish governor, has been vocal in his support for Israel. While he has not commented publicly on Balmers stated motives, his office confirmed the governor and his family are safe and cooperating with the ongoing investigation.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Water innovation eliminates Shabbos burn risk

Something extraordinary happened behind many closed doors in the Tri-State Area at the end of February. Meetings took place in the studies and dining rooms of respected rabbanim and dayanim before moving into their kitchens.

Critical mission of kedusha and safety

VPs of Afikim Water Technology from Israel, accompanied by their US partner, arrived with the Noam water dispensers  an innovative product thats already transformed over 100,000 Israeli kitchens and won Israels best product of 2023 award. Their mission addresses two critical needs: preventing childrens burns from hot water urns while enhancing shemiras Shabbos.

The safety aspect emerged as particularly compelling. Israeli hospitals have a term  Shabbos burns  for injuries when traditional hot water urns tip over, particularly affecting children. The Noams solid square design with strong rubber feet makes it virtually impossible to tip over, potentially saving countless children from painful injuries.

Rigorous review to respected approval

The delegation was warmly welcomed by respected rabbanim across the region. The Skverer dayan, Harav Mechel Steinmetz shlita, and Krasna dayan, Harav Shulem Yosef Fried shlita, examined the device thoroughly, even using a Phillips screwdriver to inspect its internal components before watching it being installed.

In Lakewood, Harav Yaakov Forchheimer shlita carefully reviewed the technical specifications and added his signature to the CRCs kashrus certificate.

May the families who keep Shabbos lmehadrin be able to use this machine thats both a hiddur in gashmius and ruchnius, remarked Harav Yisrael Debarmdiger shlita, Boyaner Dayan in Monsey.

Harav Shmuel Choueka was particularly enthusiastic: The machine speaks for itself. Its unbelievable! It heats up water. Gives you cold water. Automatically switching to Shabbos. The most important thing is that it doesnt allow for any accidents of hot water urns falling on kids.

     Added dimension of neimus

The name Noam is significant, embodying the products purpose of enhancing Shabbos with smart technology that works in harmony with halacha.

Its most impressive feature is the automatic Shabbos mode. The machine contains a computer chip with Shabbos times for the next 60 years, automatically switching to Shabbos mode 75 minutes before shekiya and returning to normal mode one hour after Shabbos and yom tov ends.

Before Shabbos mode activates, the system fills the hot water tank (1.5 gallons), locks out new water entry, completes heating, and activates a special Shabbos-mode heating element. The cold water system operates on preset intervals like refrigerators and is unlimited.

American approval is sealed

The CRC and OU had the machine for 3-4 weeks, completely disassembling and repeatedly testing it before granting certification. These American hechsherim add to the extensive Israeli approvals from leading rabbanim including Harav Rubin (Badatz mehadrin) and Harav Halperin of the Scientific-Technological Institute for Halacha.

The Noam delivers filtered cold, room temperature and hot water in your kitchen with a focus on safety and Shabbos observance.
In a significant ceremony held days before Pesach, Berger Group marked the beginning of its ambitious BERGER TOWERS urban renewal project in Katamonim, Jerusalem. The event celebrated the demolition phase, paving the way for a transformative development in the established Katamonim neighborhood.

Over 150 people attended the ceremony, including Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf, Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion, Chairman of the Government Authority for Urban Renewal Elazar Bamberger, and other distinguished guests who joined Berger Group founder and owner Abraham Berger to commemorate this milestone.

The large-scale project will transform the area replacing 95 old apartments with 392 modern residential units across three towers ranging from 25-30 floors. The development will also include 20,970 square feet of commercial space, with the entire project spanning an impressive total area of 578,000 square feet. Located strategically at the intersection of Pat and Bar Yochai streets, the development offers close proximity to three Light Rail lines (green, purple, and blue), providing exceptional connectivity throughout Jerusalem.

Get more information about BERGER TOWERS >>>

This marks the culmination of efforts that began in 2016, said Abraham

Berger. After years of careful planning and working with city officials, were witnessing the vision taking its first tangible steps toward reality. The project has secured financial backing from Bank Leumi with a value of approximately 1.3 billion NIS, demonstrating strong confidence in the developments success.

Mayor Moshe Lion expressed enthusiasm about the projects potential impact: We are launching a groundbreaking initiative to develop Pat Junction and its surroundings. I believe the BERGER TOWERS project will be an important milestone in our urban renewal efforts.

Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf added: When I heard about the Kol Dodi community led by Rabbi Shmuel Silber coming to this neighborhood to live in Ir Hakodesh, to develop vibrant community life in a Jewish and Israeli spirit, I was very moved.





Get more information about BERGER TOWERS >>>

Yisroel Herszberg, VP at Berger Group, added As an oleh myself, I am excited by the enthusiasm of the couples Ive met who will be forming this wonderful new community. Every sale is more than an exciting moment for me, its a statement of affirmation of what were creating at Berger Towers  a warm community where every Jew feels connected to each other and Our Land.

Deputy Minister Rabbi Moshe Abutbuls remarks carried a seal of authentic approval and appreciation for Berger Groups vision and ethos. Im excited to see Avraham Bergers vision coming to fruition in building the Holy City of Jerusalem. Weve accompanied Rabbi Berger since his blessed years in public service as a member of the Beit Shemesh City Council. Residents and buyers here in the Jerusalem project have won the lottery with Rabbi Berger leading the project.

Idan Shapira, Head of Bank Leumis Real Estate Division added: Im honored to stand as a representative of Bank Leumi, proudly partnering in the urban renewal project we are inaugurating today. We chose to provide financial backing for this important project, understanding that behind it stand people, families, an entire community seeking to grow together with the city.

The project has already gained significant market validation, with over 100 housing units marketed to date, primarily to members of Bergers newly formed Kol Dodi community connecting families from Baltimore, Teaneck, Miami and other American communities. This early success speaks to the strong appeal of both the location and Berger Groups reputation for quality development.
Labours dramatic seizure of control over Jingye-owned British Steel was a clear demonstration of inept handling of industrial issues.

Emergency parliamentary sittings are best confined to states of war, not a self-created crisis partly caused by a bonkers drive to net zero.

Ownership of steel is seen as being in the national interest. If that is the case for blast furnaces, what about Heathrow, Thames Water, Royal Mail and much else?

Across the Atlantic, a paranoid President has ordered a probe into pharma imports under the terms of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. It allows trade barriers on goods regarded as critical to national security.

The public interest is sufficient grounds alone for querying Chinese or any overseas ownership of vital British public assets.

But there are broader reasons why signing away chunks of UK infrastructure to foreigners is wrong. Decisions on steel, affecting production and jobs in Britain, were being taken far away with no thought of the consequences for the UK.

Interest payments: Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky's 3.6bn deal for the Royal Mail is being financed by 3bn of high-cost debt. That is in addition to the 2bn already on his books

After the transfer of assets from public markets, a shroud of secrecy descends. Successive overseas owners of Thames Water drained it dry of resources, leaving behind waterways overflowing with effluent.

A sub-station fire brought overseas-owned Heathrow to a halt. And Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds calmly signed away control of International Distribution Services, owner of the Royal Mail, to Czech sphinx Daniel Kretinsky.

A common theme for all these deals is inappropriate financial engineering. All the companies involved were bought, or are being purchased, with heavy leverage.

The Trump trade putsch has cast a dark pall over debt markets. US long bond rates have climbed sharply and the appetite for lending for deals in the $1.4 trillion high yield buy-out market has been hit hard.

It is hard to think that Kretinskys offer for Royal Mail will be unaffected. The Mail on Sunday has reported profits at his energy group EPH are under siege, down from 4.5billion in 2023 to 1.4billion this year.

The 3.6billion deal for Royal Mail is being financed by 3billion of high-cost debt. That is in addition to the 2billion already on its books.

The notion that it will be possible for Kretinsky to fund this burden and fulfil undertakings made on jobs and investment in changed trade and debt markets is ludicrous.

Shrewder minds than those making business decisions in Whitehall should recognise this before it is too late.

How long before Kretinsky comes cap in hand to the Starmer government asking for a bail-out?

The last Labour government was deeply averse to public ownership. The current administration, with its shattered business ties and poor judgement, is at risk of being sucked into a new cycle of nationalisation.

Cashing out

My first job out of business school was working on a management information project for the then chief executive of

De La Rue. At the time, it was a sprawling conglomerate. The group had added brick production, gas boilers and security transport to its core businesses of printing the worlds banknotes and postage stamps.

As it simplified down the decades, concentrating on currency printing, it became less viable and was constantly selling assets under pressure from dissident investors.

De La Rue recently sold its authentication operations to Crane NXT for 300million to reduce debt. Now, the inevitable has happened.

Under siege from veteran City financier Edi Truell, who offered 245million in cash, it has thrown in its lot with American buyout group Atlas. It promises cash to speed De La Rues change from paper to polymer currency.

The premium of 19 per cent to a pre-bid December 2024 share price represents an escape route for activist Crystal Amber, a long-standing advocate of change.

The departure of one of the UKs oldest public companies from the London Stock Exchange is dispiriting.

It also raises questions as to whether a soft-centred board could have put up muscular resistance.

Unsafe advice

Neil Woodford shows astonishing chutzpah.

The failed fund manager, who destroyed the savings of 300,000 people six years ago, plans to roll out a stock-picking service for investors seeking independent and long-term advice.

The Financial Conduct Authority should snuff out this initiative before more consumers are harmed.
Recruitment group Hays implemented job cuts across its operations in the UK and Ireland over the last few months as the jobs market has proved challenging.

The FTSE 250 group told investors on Wednesday its consultant headcount across the UK and Ireland was reduced by 11 per cent in the quarter and by 20 per cent year-on-year.

A spokesperson for Hays told This is Money that the fall in its UK recruiter numbers was 'a mixture of natural attrition and headcount reduction.'

The group said it expects challenging market conditions for recruitment to persist into fiscal 2026, echoing industry concerns about a worsening job market driven by Europe's economic struggles and an escalating global trade war.

Hays said it was 'not satisfied with our first half performance and have taken action over the last six months to improve consultant net fee productivity'.

Net fees in the UK and Ireland fell 13 per cent with temporary and contracting and permanent fee revenue down 11 per cent and 16 per cent respectively.

Consultant net fee productivity in the region increased by 8 per cent year-on-year in its third quarter.

Job cuts: Recruitment group Hays implemented job cuts across its operations in the UK and Ireland over the last few months

It said: 'Through these focussed actions to improve productivity and reduce cost, we expect an improved profit performance from the UK&I in the second half.'

Across the UK and Ireland, Accountancy & Finance and Technology net fees fell by 17 and 19 per cent respectively.

Construction and Property decreased by 7 per cent, but delivered 'a modest sequential improvement through the quarter', Hays said.

Enterprise performed well with net fees up 8 per cent.

Hays added: 'Most regions traded broadly in line with the overall UK&I division, apart from Northern Ireland, down 19 per cent, and the North, down 24 per cent. Our largest region of London decreased by 7 per cent, and Ireland decreased by 24 per cent.'

Globally, the group's net fees fell 9 per cent year-on-year, with fees from temporary and contracting and permanent roles down 6 per cent and 14 per cent respectively.

Chief executive, Dirk Hahn, said: 'Despite ongoing and increasing macroeconomic uncertainty and challenging Perm conditions, trading was sequentially stable through the quarter.

'In line with our focussed strategy to build a structurally more profitable, resilient and growing business we were pleased to deliver 10 per cent net fee growth with large Enterprise clients and good Temp & Contracting net fee growth in several of our Focus countries.

'Our initiatives to improve net fee productivity in real terms and back-office efficiency are important drivers of profit recovery.

'We delivered 5 per cent YoY consultant fee productivity growth in Q3, which remains sector leading, and our structural cost savings initiatives are progressing well, including in the UK&I where we expect an improved profit performance in H2.

'We are structurally improving Hays and I remain confident that we will benefit materially when markets recover.'

Hays shares edged up 0.1 per cent to 69.95p on Tuesday, having fallen over 20 per cent in the last year.

On Tuesday, Robert Walters revealed its net fee income fell by 16 per cent at constant currency levels to 67.3million in the first quarter.

Income plunged 22 per cent to 21.9million following double-digit percentage drops in Spain, Germany and France, it added.

Toby Fowlston, the boss of Robert Walters, told investors on Tuesday that tariffs will likely impact client and candidate confidence in the short term and were restricting his firm's 'visibility on the outlook for the balance of the year'.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, April 16. As part of his official visit to Japan, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdymukhamedov held a meeting with Hayashi Nobumitsu, Chairman of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), Trend reports, citing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.

During the meeting, it was emphasized that Turkmenistans national development strategy focuses on the creation of scientifically grounded production facilities and the widespread adoption of advanced, environmentally friendly technologies, innovations, and know-how across all sectors of the national economy. In this context, the importance of ongoing projects with Japanese companies was highlighted.

Chairman Nobumitsu praised the effectiveness of Turkmenistans economic policy and expressed the strong interest of Japanese business circles and financial institutions in expanding bilateral cooperation.

Concluding the meeting, President Berdymukhamedov expressed confidence in the continued development of productive and mutually beneficial cooperation between Turkmenistan and JBIC and wished Hayashi Nobumitsu success in his work.

Meanwhile, Japans exports to Turkmenistan in January 2025 totaled 360.78 million yen ($2.4 million), reflecting a notable decline from previous months. For comparison, exports in December 2024 amounted to 437.64 million yen ($3.3 million), while November exports were recorded at 708.18 million yen ($5.3 million). The highest export volume in 2024 was recorded in May, reaching 770.25 million yen ($5.8 million).

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 16. New Airbus and Boeing aircraft are planned to be delivered to AZAL by 2032, Head of the Strategy and Business Development Department of Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC (AZAL) Vasif Manafi said at the National Business Development Forum held in Baku today, Trend reports.

"The mean age of AZAL's aircraft fleet is 14 years. This consequently results in diminished consumer satisfaction and elevated airplane operational expenses. Significant measures have been implemented in this regard.

As an example of these steps, we can note the signing of contracts with Airbus and Boeing for the purchase of more than 20 aircraft in 2023. The mentioned new aircraft are planned to be included in AZAL's fleet in the coming years by 2032," he added.

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By Akbar Novruz



An international conference titled Decolonization: A Quiet Revolution was held on April 15 at the UN Headquarters in New York, organized by the Baku Initiative Group (BIG) in cooperation with the International Decolonization Front, as part of the 4th session of the Permanent Forum of Peoples of African Descent, Azernews reports.

The event brought together experts, politicians, and activists from territories still grappling with the legacy of colonialismincluding Guadeloupe, Martinique, Kanaki (New Caledonia), Sint-Martin, Reunion, Bonaire, Aruba, Maohi Nui (French Polynesia) and French Guiana. Participants highlighted the social, economic, and political harm caused by French and Dutch colonial policies, and emphasized the need to raise the voices of colonized peoples on the global stage.

In his opening remarks, BIG Executive Director Abbas Abbasov declared that their support for national and independence movements would persist. He noted that a second wave of decolonization, sparked by Azerbaijans chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement and the activities of BIG, has already begun to yield tangible progress.

Sessions such as Public Memory, Erasure and Resistance of Indigenous Peoples of African Descent and Dynamics of Geopolitical Decolonization in Territories Under Colonial Rule examined the continued struggle of colonized peoples and the failure of former colonial empires to reckon with their past.

At the conclusion of the conference, BIG and participating delegates launched a global petition titled Recognition of Colonial Oppression and Demand for Compensation, calling for:

International recognition of the material and moral damage caused by colonialism

Official apologies from former colonial powers

Provision of reparations and debt relief

Support for cultural, social, and environmental rehabilitation

The petition can be accessed online here.

The final declaration of the event strongly condemned the ongoing refusal of colonial powers such as France and the Netherlands to acknowledge their historical crimes, and expressed support for NGOs like BIG working within international legal frameworks to expose and confront colonial legacies. The declaration also condemned the resolution passed by the French National Assembly on March 28 targeting the Baku Initiative Group.

The conference concluded with expressions of gratitude to BIG for its leadership in promoting decolonization efforts and raising global awareness of this urgent cause.
A mindset around objecting to housing developments based on the character of a given area has to change, the public expenditure minister has said.

Minister Jack Chambers said he had heard from many young people that others living in an area for decades had sought to block developments based on the character of an area.

However, Mr Chambers said such objections can be nebulous and block the broader social and economic goal of increased housing supply.

He made the comments after Government approved a series of actions designed to accelerate the delivery of strategic infrastructure.

This includes a review of the National Development Plan, the establishment of a new infrastructure division which will second experts from key delivery agencies, and the creation of a taskforce to accelerate infrastructure delivery.

The minister said provocative zeal of reform will be the core focus of the division, as he criticised objections to housing delivery.

The Government is also preparing an evidence-based assessment of the barriers impeding timely infrastructure development, which will inform an action plan of high-impact reform measures to be considered.

Asked if there was room to change planning regulations to prevent objections from slowing down delivery, Mr Chambers said: Anything that can achieve faster and more accelerated infrastructure delivery has to be on the table.

And the last number of years have shown how too many individuals have had too much of a say in impeding infrastructure and housing across our economy.

The minister said there were countless examples of people in housing trying to frustrate and undermine the broad public good.

He added: Theres too much tolerance for this in how systems are designed. Ive seen examples in recent months of housing getting stopped because it undermines the character of the area. What does that mean?

And you know, for me, its about housing. Its about infrastructure and cutting through some of the nonsense which is just impeding the broader economic and social objective.

The minister has previously said he had seen examples of eminently sensible proposals for housing supply in Dublin which were refused on aesthetic grounds.

Asked if he did not believe that an area could have a character, Mr Chambers replied: An area absolutely can have a character  but to think that an area doesnt accept housing, or doesnt accept more housing when people are in existing housing, I dont think it impedes the character of an area.

I think additional housing, people, new people living in an area enhances the diversity and character of an area  and the fact that people think they have a veto on more people living around them, I think is a mindset that has to change.

Its just a frustration I see and hear from many young people who would like to live in many urban areas, but they have people whove lived in places for decades objecting to housing on the basis of a character of an area  which I think is a nebulous reference that just seeks to block and object the broader social and economic objective.

And in fact, of course, areas have enormous character across cities and towns and villages and but that shouldnt impede some additional housing or community infrastructure, which I think would enhance the character of an area. And I think that thats the context.

Asked if he was signalling an era of the deregulation with the new approach, Mr Chambers said it was an attempt to balance regulation.

He added: If the regulation doesnt fit the the broader public interest or objective, then it should be assessed  and we just need to have a balanced approach around that.

And endless regulation which constrains infrastructure or housing delivery on our economy isnt, in my view, in the long term economic or social interests of the State.

And I suppose its having a balanced approach to that is whats ultimately important, protecting  obviously  certain standards that we have which are important for for people who would like to live in, in particular, housing, for example, and but we need to have a balanced approach to that.
Irish premier Micheal Martin has said that gardai and others should testify at the Omagh Bombing Inquiry if requested.

The Taoiseach said it was important that Ireland is open and transparent and urged people to co-operate with the probe.

The inquiry is examining whether the Real IRA bomb attack in 1998 could have been prevented.

The Omagh bomb, which killed 29 people including a woman who was pregnant with twins, is the worst single atrocity in the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

The bomb was prepared in the Republic of Ireland and transported by the Real IRA members who then fled back across the border after planting the bomb in the heart of Omagh on a Saturday afternoon.

After months of negotiations between inquiry staff and Irish officials, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was announced on Tuesday.

The MoU is to allow the inquiry chairman Lord Turnbull and members of his team to access material held by the Irish State.

Mr Martin welcomed the MoU and said Ireland must do all it can to ensure the fullest information is made available to the inquiry.

Asked about reports of retired gardai being advised not to testify, the Taoiseach told Newstalk radio: I regret that if thats the case.

I think people should testify and people should co-operate, in my view, with the inquiry.

I take the view that those who planted that bomb are the people who are culpable for the appalling loss of life that arose from the planting of that bomb in Omagh.

We all remember it, its a day that will always be etched in our minds.

The bomb was made in the Republic, and many people connected were pursued on different charges and on different issues.

Mr Martin said the key issue at stake was whether security forces were aware of the attack and did not intervene.

He added: Thats why an inquiry needs to be comprehensive to deal with that assertion, and thats why its also important  because things get said about the Republic from certain quarters  its important that we here are very open and transparent in respect of these issues.

The inquiry said in a statement that it will continue to discuss further cooperation with the Government of Ireland, such as taking evidence from witnesses from the Republic of Ireland.

Irelands Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan said on Tuesday that legislation may be needed for witnesses such as gardai to appear before the inquiry.

He also said that security sensitive information will be redacted but that the inquiry will be able to review unredacted parts in person, if required.

Its my intention and the intention of government to ensure that witnesses from Ireland, be they gardai or former civil servants, or anyone with information, to provide evidence that can be used by the inquiry, he said.

All those who were killed were remembered during commemorative hearings at the inquiry earlier this year, and evidence was also heard from those who were injured and emergency workers who responded.

The next phase of public hearings, due to start from June, will hear from core participants, including the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and former chief constable Ronnie Flanagan.
Time is running out for the home team to stay near the loop . . . And this is clearly the last chance for politicos in Missouri to prove they're not hostile to major tourist attractions despite rampant anti-tax sentiment.



Consider . . .



"A site once deemed a finalist in Clay County has re-emerged as a possible option again . . . Alternate funding options have emerged. A year ago, given Clay Countys smaller tax base, the expectation was that voters would have to sign off on a 1% sales-tax increase to lure the Royals over the river.



"But conversations with the city, county and state may have shifted the commitment required at the polls."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
Note about the lead image . . . We're sure Dave is an excellent driver but he does look kinda mad in the screenshot . . . As if locals were telling him about their adventures into the rewarding world of crypto.



More importantly . . .

An apropos note for warmer weather and more drivers causing havoc on local streets.

Here's the work that should remind motorists to keep cool & calm rather than confront pricey legal battles . . . We edited out some of the names on the convictions but TKC readers should still get the point that the courthouse leader is serious.

Check-it:



Prosecutor Johnson warns of legal consequences of road rage incidents



Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson today highlighted several felony cases involving road rage incidents to warn residents about the severe legal consequences that can result from momentary anger on roadways.



Since 2022, the Prosecutors Office received approximately 19 cases involving road rage incidents that escalated to assaults, vehicular injuries, or the use of firearms. So far this year, the Prosecutors Office has received and charged four cases already involving road rage.



Nationwide, road rage incidents involving firearms doubled from 2018 to 2023, with hundreds of people killed or wounded every year.



What begins as a temporary traffic annoyance can escalate into tragedy in seconds, said Prosecutor Johnson. Driving behaviors like someone cutting another vehicle off, driving slowly in a passing lane, swerving to avoid something in the road, or forgetting to use a turn signal, can trigger potentially deadly responses.



We are urging all drivers to remember that a moment of rage is not worth a lifetime of consequences or your freedom. If you encounter an aggressive driver, do not engage. If you feel threatened, call 911, or drive to the nearest police station, hospital, or fire station.



Prosecutors are handling several serious road rage cases this year:



SUSPECT Adam was charged with Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Armed Criminal Action after allegedly chasing and firing at a vehicle that cut him off on March 23. He could face five to 15 years in prison.



SUSPECT Christian was charged with Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Armed Criminal Action, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child after he allegedly fired at another vehicle while his toddler was in his car on March 21.



SUSPECT Joshwa was charged with Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Armed Criminal Action after he allegedly fired at another vehicle during a road rage incident on Jan. 22.



SUSPECT Brian was charged with 1st Degree Assault and Leaving the Scene of an Accident after he allegedly struck a pedestrian with his car and fled the scene on Jan. 18. The defendant has a history of road rage incidents.



And SUSPECT Isaiah was charged this week of 2nd Degree Murder and Armed Criminal Action in connection with a fatal road rage incident that took place on Nov. 8, 2024.



# # #

Developing . . .


Sorry but after an impressive win over local activists . . . We must share the punchline today:

SO-CALLED "RESTORATIVE JUSTICE" WILL DOMINATE DESIGNS FOR THE NEW KANSAS CITY JAIL!!!

In other words . . . It's already going to be garbage and likely another EPIC waste of cash.

Now, we've covered this before but the latest deets offer a glimpse at the "philosophy" of the move from 12th & Oak power players . . .



Here's a sneak peek at the new city hall boss . . . Check-it:



Kansas City leaders like (acting city manager Kimiko) Gilmore plan for the new Kansas City Community Corrections and Rehabilitation Center to have 250 beds, mental health and medical services and classrooms for inmates.



"We are not just doing a jail," Gilmore said. "We are doing a restorative justice center."



The new facility is expected to cost about $250 million to build.



The interim city manager explained this is the first step to accountability and decreasing crime in Kansas City.



"I know there are folks out there that don't want a jail at all," Gilmore said. "I respect that, but it's just not realistic. We need restorative justice."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
Just for late night & early morning lurkers . . . We share this quick check of pop culture, community reporting and top headlines slathered with our patented bloggy snark that will soon be easily duplicated by AI machines too dumb to find (or be trusted with) better jobs . . .



Check TKC news gathering . . .

Home Team Takes Second L From Pinstripes



Bullpen move backfires in 4-2 loss to Yankees Angel Zerpa has a bad sixth inning.

Another Upgrade Across Bridge

North Kansas City Hospital joins the Mayo Clinic Care Network North Kansas City Hospital joins Mayo Clinic Care Network, enhancing care capabilities and providing access to Mayo Clinic's expertise

Kansas Austerity Life Lesson

Piper School District voters said no Tuesday to $32.5 million bond proposal Piper School District voters said no to a $32.5 Future Ready Phase 2 Bond proposal after votes were counted Tuesday night in the mail ballot election.

More Deets On Car Mess Inside The Loop

New paid parking issues cause concerns for Crossroads business owners Mayor Quinton Lucas says he's working on heavy-handed parking enforcement. Business leaders say they're waiting to learn more about solutions while remaining concerned with how much customers are paying for parking.

More Flighty City Hall Efforts

Kansas City asks public to take survey on Master Plan for KCI The survey poses questions about parking, frequency of air travel, likes and dislikes about the terminals and more.

Double Take On Problematic Cinema

Natalie Portman, 43, talks her 'Lolita phase' Portman, 43, recalled being 'excited' to start a family with someone she 'was in love with' as she talked raising kids as a former child star herself.

Former Prez Defends Safety Net

Joe Biden accuses Trump and Musk of taking 'hatchet' to social security In first speech since leaving office, ex-president spoke of 'destruction' current administration has wrought

MAGA Moves Against Ivy League Might Have More Support Than Our Betters Imagine

Trump threatens Harvard's tax-exempt status after freezing $2bn funding Universities, as well as many charities and religious groups, are exempted from paying federal income taxes.

Ruckus Confront MTG

Protesters tased, arrested at Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's Georgia town hall Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, one of President Trump's most loyal allies in the House, faced several protesters who were removed by police at her town hall on Tuesday.

Debating Rights Of Imprisoned

White House exploring legality of sending U.S. citizens to foreign prisons Trump "would only consider this, if legal, for Americans who are the most violent, egregious, repeat offenders of crime," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

Round World Reporting Amid So Much Global Suffering

Sudan war: Hundreds may have been killed in recent Darfur attacks - UN The UN cites "credible sources" for the estimated death toll of recent attacks on refugee camps in Darfur.

Deets On Caribbean Crisis



Death toll in Dominican Republic disaster nears 250, nightclub faces lawsuits The death toll at last week's nightclub roof collapse in the capital of the Dominican Republic rose to 231, the Minister of Interior and Police said on Monday, as families of victims began filing lawsuits against the nightclub's owners.

Progressively Horrible Hyperbole

Walz: Trump Thinks Nuclear War Is Winnable - I'm Terrified He Will Act on That Governor Tim Walz (D-MN) claimed Tuesday on MSNBC's "All In" that he was terrified because he believed President Donald Trump thinks nuclear war is winnable. | Clips

Honors Await 'God's Architect'

Antoni Gaudi, Spanish architect who designed Barcelona's Sagrada Familia, put on the path to sainthood Antoni Gaudi was a devout Catholic and believed the construction of Barcelona's Sagrada Familia basilica was his way to make amends with God for the sins of the modern world.

Lady Celebs Share Hateration After Space Flight

Katy Perry and Blue Origin flight crew blasted by celebrities 'disgusted' over mission After an all-female crew took an 10-minute flight to space on the Blue Origin rocket on Monday, celebrities shared their thoughts on the "gluttonous" trip.

Local Hipster Tech Victory

This Friday: Listen To Jack White's Recent Uptown Show We've been given the green light by Jack White himself (and his management) to air the board mix from the show for ONE NIGHT ONLY. Tune in this Friday, April 18 at 7 p.m. to hear the entire concert!

Buzz On Weather This Week

Kansas City weather: Storms possible Wednesday night, highs in the 80s Kansas City will see dry skies most of Wednesday, but scattered storms, some possibly severe, may arrive by evening.

And this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, April 16. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, Bobur Usmanov, held a meeting with Kairat Sarybay, Secretary-General of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA), Trend reports, citing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan.

During the talks, the sides discussed the current state and prospects of multifaceted cooperation between Uzbekistan and CICA. Special attention was paid to strengthening CICA mechanisms aimed at deepening trade, economic, transport, and logistics ties in the Asian region.

The sides also exchanged views on topical regional and international issues, including ways to improve CICA's activities and raise its profile on the world stage.
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Published April 16, 2025

CAPTION:ULM Professor of Pharmacy Dr. Alexis Horace receives the 2025 Agent of Change award from UL System President Dr. Rick Gallot.

MONROE, LA  Dr. Alexis Horace, a professor in the University of Louisiana Monroe College of Pharmacy, recently received the 2025 Agent of Change Award from the University of Louisiana System. Horace received the award on March 28, 2025, at the annual For Our Future Conference hosted by the UL System.

The UL System Agent of Change Award recognizes faculty or staff who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and vision in driving transformational change that benefits their universitys culture and community. The award celebrates those who go above and beyond to inspire and enact positive, impactful change. Through their efforts, they exemplify the impact that higher education has in shaping lives and creating a better future for Louisiana.

Dr. Horace is a tenured professor in the School of Clinical Sciences in the ULM College of Pharmacy, currently providing direct patient care in New Orleans. She is also the project director for ULM HERO (Harm Reduction Education and Referral for Opioid Overdose Reversal). Horace received three nominations for the award and was selected as the winner by a committee composed of UL System employees.

According to the UL System, the nominators discussed Horaces exceptional leadership and vision in connection with the ULM HERO program. Nominators suggested that the program, under Dr. Horaces guidance, achieved transformational change through evidence-based education for first responders, scalable impact and progress, community-centric outreach, and student first responder training.

At its core, ULM HERO is about harm reduction, education, and outreachempowering first responders, students, and community members with the tools and knowledge to prevent opioid overdose deaths and improve the health of underserved communities across Louisiana. Im honored to be a part of this great program, said Horace.

The ULM HERO program focuses on providing harm reduction education to first responders in the state of Louisiana. It is a free, three-hour program with interactive and discussion-based activities. Participants learn how to administer opioid reversal medications like naloxone and how to refer people who use opioids to treatment and recovery centers.



This work is only possible because of the incredible ULM HERO teamDr. Stephen Hill, Dr. Jameshia Below, Aaron Brown, Magnisha Casseus, and Kaliyah Dunmore and our ULM COM/VCOM students. Their dedication, passion, and drive inspire me every day, said Horace.

For more information about the HERO Program, visit ulm.edu/hero.
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Hajj Flight Schedule 2025 Released: Steps to Check

The Haj Committee of India Wednesday April 16, 2025 released on its official website 'hajcommittee.gov.in' Hajj 2025 Flight Schedule for the Indian pilgrims

Wednesday April 16, 2025 8:39 PM , ummid.com News Network

Hajj 2025: The Haj Committee of India Wednesday April 16, 2025 released on its official website hajcommittee.gov.in Hajj 2025 Flight Schedule of the Indian pilgrims embarking to Makkah for the annual pilgrimage.

The pilgrims, who have made the full payment after their names appeared in the Qurrah or draw of lots and have thus confirmed their pilgrimage to Makkah, can check the details of their Hajj flight and travel schedule on the Haj committee website following the steps given below.

Hajj Flight Schedule

According to the schedule released by the Haj Committee of India, the first Hajj flight from India to Saudi Arabia will commence on April 29 and the last outbound Haj flight will depart from India on May 30, 2025.

The final date of Hajj 2025 will be decided based on Dhul Hijjah 1446 AH moon sighting. However, the Hajj 2025 tentative date is from June 04 to 09, 2025.

Accordingly, the return journey of the Indian pilgrims going through the Haj Committee of India will start on June 11, 2025.

And, the last inbound fights from Saudi Arabia to India will be on July 10, 2025, the Haj Committee of India said.

Steps to Check Hajj Flight Status

Go to Haj Committee of India website: "hajcommittee.gov.in".

Click on Hajj 2025 shown in the top menu of the home page.

Click on Pilgrim Log in.

Login using Mobile No as user ID, M pin and captcha code.

Download the slip in PDF showing your Haj flight status.

Hajj Embarkation Points

The pilgrims should note that the flight status should include the date, time and details of inbound and outbound flights  i.e. date and time of their journey from India to Saudi Arabia and return flight along with the name of embarkation point.

The Haj Committee of India had earlier confirmed 18 embarkation points for Indian Hajj Pilgrims including Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Gaya, Srinagar, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Calicut, Chennai, Kolkata and others.

In a related development, the Haj Committee of India has also published today the 5th waiting list of 1,100 pilgrims, asking them to make the payment and confirm their Hajj Journey.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 16. Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation have held discussions on the development of national spatial infrastructure, the Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan, Mikayil Jabbarov, wrote on X, Trend reports.

"We held a meeting with the delegation led by Oleg Skufinskiy, Head of Russias Federal Service for State Registration, Cadastre and Cartography. We discussed enhancing economic cooperation between our countries, sharing expertise between the Ministry of Economy and the Federal Service, optimizing the use of registry and cadastre data, as well as establishing a robust national spatial infrastructure," the post read.
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Harvard stays firm in the wake of Trumps abuses

Harvard University stayed firm as U.S. President Donald Trump hurled a salvo of abuses against one of the worlds top notch institutions

Thursday April 17, 2025 0:02 AM , ummid.com News Network

Washington: Harvard University stayed firm as U.S. President Donald Trump hurled a salvo of abuses against one of the worlds top notch institutions.

'Harvard has become a JOKE'

Calling the elite educational institutions a joke Trump also threatened to stop the state funding.

"Harvard can no longer be considered even a decent place of learning, and should not be considered on any list of the World's Great Universities or Colleges," Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

"Harvard is a JOKE, teaches Hate and Stupidity, and should no longer receive Federal Funds, he wrote.

Trump also criticised two of university's high-profile appointments - former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot.

They hired, from New York (Bill D) and Chicago (Lori L), at ridiculously high salaries/fees, two of the WORST and MOST INCOMPETENT mayors in the history of our Country, to 'teach' municipal management and government, Trump wrote.

These two Radical Left fools left behind two cities that will take years to recover from their incompetence and evil. Harvard has been hiring almost all woke, Radical Left, idiots and birdbrains who are only capable of teaching FAILURE to students and so-called future leaders, he added.

Harvard's Response

Responding to Trump, Harvard University said it will not assent to the U.S. Presidents demands - whether it continues to get federal funding or not.



"No government, regardless of which party is in power, should dictate what private universities can teach," Harvard's President Alan Garber said in a letter posted on the university's website.

Many students and alumni lauded the university's decision to stand its ground, despite the consequences, according to BBC.

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US Taxpayers approach UN over US funding of Israeli Genocide in Gaza

Taxpayers Against Genocide (TAG) has approached the UN Human Rights Council over American funding of the genocide and massacre of Palestinians in Gaza and U.S. impunity for war crimes

Wednesday April 16, 2025 5:11 PM , ummid.com News Network

Washington: Taxpayers Against Genocide (TAG) has approached the UN Human Rights Council over American funding of the genocide and massacre of Palestinians in Gaza and U.S. impunity for war crimes.

In its report, the Taxpayers Against Genocide (TAG), a non-governmental, grassroots mass movement comprising over 2,000 U.S. taxpayers, said they approached the United Nations after their efforts to persuade the U.S. administration to stop funding the genocide of the Palestinians met with deaf ears.

Countless federal taxpayers repeatedly called, emailed, petitioned and peacefully protested their congressional representatives and U.S. government officials beginning in October 2023, pleading with them to stop using their tax dollars to fund what had clearly become a genocide in Gaza.

The Taxpayers Against Genocide (TAG) further said the very purpose of forming the group was because of the U.S. administration continued support to the Israeli occupation.

After almost one year of having their Congress members refuse to meet or consider their constituents pleas, a group of Northern California taxpayers formed TAG in fall 2024 and filed a federal class action lawsuit, arguing that it is illegal to use tax dollars for genocide. The case was dismissed on February 10, 2025, it said.

American National Lawyers Guild International Committee and International Association of Democratic Lawyers are the contributing organizations for the plea filed by the Taxpayers Against Genocides plea filed at the UN Human Rights Council.

The Womens International League for Peace and Freedom (U.S. Section), CODEPINK, Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace, Roots Action and over half a dozen other organizations have endorsed the report.

Key Points and Focus of the TAG Plea

The TIG plea involves U.S. obligations under the United Nations (UN) Charter; Articles 19, 20 and 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR); Articles 9, 19, 21 and 25 of the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR); Article 2 and 5 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racism and Discrimination (ICERD); Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention; and Articles II and III (e) of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

All of these instruments have been ratified by the United States and are therefore considered the supreme Law of the Land under Article VI, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution. Further, the prohibition of genocide is recognized as a peremptory norm or jus cogens in international law, meaning it is a fundamental principle from which no derogation is permitted.

The focus of the plea is on violations of U.S. obligations by the U.S. Congress and executive in committing residents tax dollars  including those of Palestinian-Americans whose families have been decimated in Gaza  to support what the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and International Criminal Court (ICC) as well as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Medecins Sans Frontieres and many other human rights organizations have recognized as an unfolding genocide in Gaza.

Funding what is known to be an unfolding genocide makes U.S. taxpayers complicit in supporting Israeli war crimes in Gaza. U.S. funds have also supported violations of the Fourth Geneva Conventions prohibition against collective punishment and illegal apartheid system in Palestine, the TIG said in its plea.

With insurmountable obstacles to accountability in the U.S. electoral and judicial systems and an increasing disregard of international human rights and humanitarian law by the U.S. government, intervention and oversight by the UN Human Rights Council is urgently needed to challenge U.S. repression and the impunity of U.S. legislators and officials for aiding and abetting genocide with U.S. tax dollars, the TAG said.

The TAG in its plea has also recommended to the U.S. government that included stopping funding genocide and war crimes in violation of U.S. and international law; to stop prosecuting, persecuting, deporting and threatening advocates for Palestinian self-determination and protesters against genocide; institute effective judicial safeguards against U.S. funding and support of genocide and war crimes; establish a National Human Rights Institute to train legislators, judges and federal agency directors in international humanitarian and human rights law and the supremacy of all U.S.-ratified human rights treaties under Article VI of the U.S. Constitution among others.

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, April 16. Representatives from Schlumberger and Uzbekneftegaz, Uzbekistan's state-owned oil and gas company, held a productive meeting and discussed key initiatives aimed at advancing digital solutions in the nations oil and gas industry, Trend reports.

The discussions focused primarily on the integration of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) into Uzbekneftegaz's existing software systems. The proposed AI-driven solution aims to optimize critical processes in geology, production, and field development, while also improving the speed and precision of technical decisions through the analysis of large-scale data sets.

In addition, the meeting covered the modernization of the companys system for storing, analyzing, and managing geological data. Schlumberger presented a conceptual framework for leveraging AI models to enhance the integrity, accessibility, and analytical depth of geological data, providing a solid foundation for the digital infrastructure development in the sector.

A major highlight of the talks was the proposal to establish a seismic data processing center. This center is considered a vital element in creating a robust digital ecosystem that spans all phases of geological exploration  from data collection and systematization to advanced analysis and interpretation.

Following the meeting, the parties reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening their collaboration. Schlumberger emphasized its continued support for the technological partnership, which is central to driving the digital transformation of Uzbekistans oil and gas sector. Concrete next steps for the implementation of the discussed initiatives were agreed upon
Harvard University, the nation's oldest and wealthiest institution of higher learning, is at the forefront of a high-stakes battle that could reshape the landscape of American higher education. On April 14, 2025, President Alan Garber issued a resolute statement, "The Promise of American Higher Education," rejecting what he called "unprecedented" demands from the Trump administration that would undermine the university's independence. The federal government responded swiftly, freezing $2.3 billion in research grants, escalating a feud that has captured the attention of academia and beyond.

The administration's demands, tied to a review of $9 billion in federal funding, included auditing student and faculty viewpoints and altering campus policies to address alleged antisemitism. These conditions, Harvard argues, represent a dangerous encroachment on academic freedom and First Amendment rights. Garber's response was unequivocal: "No governmentregardless of which party is in powershould dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue."

This standoff comes amid a broader campaign by the Trump administration targeting elite universities, with Columbia, Cornell, and Northwestern also facing funding cuts over similar allegations. Critics, including Harvard Law School professor Nikolas Bowie, have called the administration's tactics "authoritarian," accusing it of weaponizing antisemitism concerns to justify attacks on higher education.

Harvard's defiance has resonated widely. Former President Barack Obama praised the university for rejecting "an unlawful and ham-handed attempt to stifle academic freedom," urging other institutions to follow suit. Wesleyan University President Michael S. Roth hailed the move as a critical resistance to institutional overreach, while former federal judge J. Michael Luttig called it a potential "turning point" in curbing assaults on American institutions.

The implications are profound. Harvard's $52 billion endowment provides a financial cushion, but the loss of federal funding threatens groundbreaking research in fields like medicine, quantum computing, and public health. Travis Donahoe, a Harvard-trained researcher, emphasized the stakes: "Ending [the opioid] epidemic is one of the most important changes we can make to improve the healthand dignityof all Americans." Such work, reliant on federal grants, now hangs in the balance.

Yet Harvard's stand is about more than money. It's a defense of the university's role as a bastion of open inquiry and intellectual rigor. Garber underscored this mission, writing, "The fearless and unfettered pursuit of truth liberates humanity." As other universities, like Princeton, signal similar resistance, a collective pushback may be forming.

The clash has sparked a broader debate about the future of higher education. Supporters of the administration argue that universities must be held accountable for fostering environments perceived as hostile to certain groups. White House spokesperson Harrison Fields stated, "President Trump is working to Make Higher Education Great Again by ending unchecked anti-Semitism." But critics counter that such interventions risk turning campuses into political battlegrounds, eroding the very principles that make American universities global leaders.

As Harvard prepares to fight in court, backed by notable lawyers Robert Hur and William Burck, the outcome could set a precedent for how universities navigate federal influence. For now, Garber's message is clear: the promise of American higher educationrooted in freedom, truth, and resiliencewill not be surrendered without a fight.
In recent months, Canadian universities have reported a notable rise in applications from U.S.-based students. The University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, for instance, experienced a 27% year-over-year increase in graduate applications from U.S. citizens by March 2025. Similarly, the University of Toronto and the University of Waterloo have observed heightened U.S.-based web traffic and campus visits. This surge is largely attributed to the Trump administration's revocation of foreign student visas, increased surveillance of international students' social media, and the freezing of federal funding to universities accused of failing to address campus antisemitism.

These measures have raised concerns about free speech and academic freedom within the U.S., prompting students to consider alternative educational environments. In response to the growing demand, UBC briefly reopened graduate admissions for U.S. students, aiming to fast-track applications. However, Canadian universities face their own challenges, including a national cap on international student admissions, necessitating institutions to limit intake based on available resources. 

Despite modest growth in undergraduate applications, Canadian universities are becoming increasingly attractive alternatives for prospective U.S. graduate students amid tightening U.S. immigration and education policies. The combination of Canada's welcoming stance and the current U.S. political climate appears to be influencing students' decisions to pursue higher education north of the border.
April 16 2025

A historic private members club in Edinburgh will no longer turn its back on Princes Street with the engagement of Sutherland Hussey Harris to restore its civic presence.

The New Club will remodel the entrance and porch to their A-listed home by stripping back ad-hoc alterations made to the main entrance since it was built in 1969.

Originally conceived as an open entrance from the street the space has become encumbered by the installation of a cash machine and fire escape as well as covering up original features with carpet, ceiling tiles and roughcast.

Removing this clutter will allow the porch to be returned to a single-glazed opening, enabling the granite-lined interior to be fully appreciated and pulling the club out of the shadow of an Ann Summers store and a confectionary business. The glazed screen aligns with these shopfronts to prevent the accumulation of rubbish in any recess, establishing a secure entrance without the need for roller shutters.

In a design statement, the architects wrote: "By making the sliding door within the new screen asymmetrical it allows the re-establishment of the original entrance diagram: 2/3 width dedicated to Club entrance and 1/3 width for the stairs to the mezzanine.

"This rebalance enhances the Club entrance and resolves the issue with anonymity as well as providing a more practical entrance space for users in accordance with the current building regulations. The opportunity to tidy up services and various kit affixed to walls and ceilings is also welcome and further still enhances the original design features."

A large fan light will further enable the club to sit harmoniously within its retail setting instead of signage.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, April 16. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited a renowned enterprise in Bulakbashi district of Andijan region and reviewed its activities, Trend reports, citing the Uzbek president's office.

The country places significant emphasis on the deep processing of raw materials and the creation of products with high added value. Faiz-M is one of the major projects with a full cycle of knitwear production.

The enterprise produces 4.2 million units of more than 50 product types annually, providing employment for nearly 1,000 people. Special attention is given to staff training, and a design center has been established for this purpose.

Modern equipment from Turkiye, Germany, and China ensures high productivity and quality of products in Uzbekistan. A significant part of finished garments is intended for export, with an annual export potential of $6 million.

In the course of the visit, the President inspected the production process and finished products, providing recommendations on further improving quality, increasing added value, and expanding the export geography.
The University of Wyoming Art Museum will host a public walkthrough of the 50th annual Juried Student Exhibition from 11 a.m.-noon Tuesday, April 29.

Participating student artists will speak about their work, processes and inspirations, and will be available to answer questions. The event is free and open to the public.

A highlight of the UW Art Museums annual juried student exhibition is the presentation of artwork from selected UW students. In conjunction with the Art Museums larger exhibition, Sympoiesis: Co-Creating Sense of Place, this years student juried exhibition is organized around work exploring sense of place.

The student exhibition is juried each year by an out-of-state art professional. The 37 artworks in this years exhibition were selected by Jenene Nagy, a visual artist living and working in the Inland Empire region of Southern California. Nagys solo exhibition, While navigating the distance around the sun, was exhibited at the UW Art Museum during July 2023.

About the UW Art Museum

The museum exhibits, preserves and interprets visual culture from around the world to engage academic, local, state, national and global communities. The museum is located in the Centennial Complex, located at 2111 E. Willett Drive on the UW campus.

Hours are Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday hours are extended to 7 p.m. Admission is free.
Vietnam Briefing has developed into a premium source for insight on doing business in Vietnam. It publishes business news concerning foreign direct investment into Vietnam, including the most important tax, legal and accounting issues. The Vietnam Briefing Magazine was first published in 2009, and is contributed to by investment professionals based in Vietnam.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 16. The volume of mutual trade between Azerbaijan and China totaled $1.02 billion in the first three months of this year, which is 37 percent more than in the same period last year, Trend reports.

According to information, this was announced on April 16 at the 10th meeting of the Azerbaijan-China Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation in Baku.

The meeting emphasized that cooperation in trade and economic sphere is constantly developing, and China is one of the main economic and trade partners of Azerbaijan.

However, it was noted that Azerbaijan is also China's largest trade partner in the South Caucasus. The growth trend of trade turnover between the two countries last year amounted to 21 percent ($3.7 billion). In the first three months of this year, the positive dynamics were maintained, and the volume of mutual trade increased by more than 37 percent (-$1.02 billion).

Azerbaijan, in particular, reiterated its interest in expanding exports of agricultural and food products to China.

The positive dynamics observed in investment cooperation in the sectors of industry, oil and gas, petrochemicals, green energy, high technology, innovation, and space industry were also noted. The volume of investments from China to Azerbaijan reached $942 million. At the same time, the total volume of Azerbaijan's investments in China, including the State Oil Fund, increased to about $2.1 billion.

The meeting was chaired by Shahin Mustafayev, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Co-Chairman of the Commission, and Ling Ji, Deputy Minister of Commerce of the People's Republic of China, International Trade Representative of China.
As Margriet Mantingh gazes at flowers stretching as far as the eye can see at the world's biggest flower market near Amsterdam, all she sees is a huge bouquet of pesticides.

Known globally for tulips, the Dutch are world leaders in the international flower sector, which is coming under increasing scrutiny for pesticides sprayed on the fields.

This global leadership role makes it all the more important for the Dutch to show the way in the face of mounting criticism of the industry, said Mantingh, president of the PAN-NL anti-pesticide group.

Her organisation recently published a study showing most bouquets bought at a florist, supermarket, or online, are stuffed full of pesticides.

She said the flowers were sprayed with a toxic cocktail that can cause cancer, affect hormones, and decrease fertility.

"We examined 13 bouquets and found 71 different pesticides, one third of which were banned substances" in the European Union, the 78-year-old retiree told AFP.

The flowers examined contained traces of insecticides and fungicides, some of which are banned "because they are very toxic for humans," she said.

- 'Different diseases' -

The issue of pesticides on flowers hit the headlines in France after a young girl died of a leukaemia linked to her mother's exposure to the chemicals, as she worked as a florist during her pregnancy.

French consumer group UFC Que Choisir has also raised concerns about pesticide contamination of cut flowers, warning of dangers for those handling the flowers.

At Aalsmeer, near the Dutch capital, dozens of staff on electric scooters weave through the world's biggest flower market.

The Royal FloraHolland group based there sells some nine billion flowers per year for an annual turnover of around 5.2 billion euros ($5.8 billion).

Most of their produce is exported, mainly to Germany, Britain and France.

Dutch companies also import some three billion stems annually from Africa, notably Ethiopia and Kenya, said Michel van Schie, spokesman for Royal FloraHolland.

And the rules on pesticides are determined by the country cultivating the flowers -- often applying different standards, he added.

"In Africa, there are different diseases than in Europe. That means that other products are needed to fight against these diseases," he said.

The problem is that these flowers then make their way into the European market, say groups like UFC Que Choisir and PAN-NL.

There are no EU laws limiting pesticides on cut flowers, 80 percent of which are imported from countries still permitting the use of highly toxic substances, said PAN-NL's Mantingh.

While the EU has laws restricting pesticides on fruits and vegetables, no such legislation exists for flowers, she said.

- 'Perfect flowers' -

The death of the young girl in France had a knock-on effect in the Netherlands.

Together with the agriculture ministry, the Dutch VBW florists' association urged its members to use gloves and always wash their hands after cleaning the flowers delivered to their shops.

And from next year, Royal FloraHolland will require its producers to show a durability certificate, a label that will enable authorities to check the amount of pesticides used.

"This case in France is horrible and even if we don't know exactly what happened, we have to ensure that everything is as safe as possible at all times," said Marco Maasse, head of the VBW.

He said that no bouquet sold in the Netherlands presents a danger to the public "because it would not be permitted to be sold."

The two men and Margriet Mantingh agree on one point: as world leader, the Netherlands has a duty to set the example.

"We need to have a better understanding of the (pesticide) residue that is actually on the product when it comes from the producer or enters the Netherlands," said Maasse.

"The whole chain could be improved further in that respect," he added.

But at the end of the day, said Van Schie, "the consumer wants perfect flowers and plants," even in winter.

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A Democratic senator said Wednesday that El Salvador had denied his request to release a US resident whose wrongful deportation triggered a political firestorm over President Donald Trump's hard-line immigration policies.

Chris Van Hollen said he had also been refused a visit or phone call with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who is imprisoned in his native country despite a US federal judge's order, backed by the Supreme Court, for his return to the United States.

The White House condemned Van Hollen's trip to the Central American country and invited the mother of a woman killed by another migrant from El Salvador -- but in an unrelated case -- to speak as a "special guest" at a hastily arranged news briefing.

Van Hollen said he had asked Vice President Felix Ulloa when they met why Abrego Garcia was still locked up in the notorious Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) if he had committed no crime and El Salvador had no evidence that he was a member of street gang MS-13.

"His answer was that the Trump administration is paying El Salvador, the government of El Salvador, to keep him at CECOT," Van Hollen, who represents Abrego Garcia's home state of Maryland, told reporters during a visit to the Central American nation.

The Trump administration has paid President Nayib Bukele's administration several million dollars to keep deportees in detention.

"I'm asking President Bukele to do the right thing and allow Mr Abrego Garcia to walk out of prison, a man who's charged with no crime, convicted of no crime, and who was illegally abducted from the United States," Van Hollen said.

A legal US resident, Abrego Garcia was protected by a 2019 court order determining that he could not be deported to El Salvador, but he was sent there around a month ago.

The Trump administration has admitted an "administrative error" and has been ordered by the Supreme Court to "facilitate" the 29-year-old father's return.

But the White House -- pressed on what action it was taking to remedy its error in lower court hearings -- has not announced any efforts toward Abrego Garcia's return.

Bukele said during a White House visit on Monday he did not have the power to return Abrego Garcia to the United States.

- 'Protecting our children' -

The Trump administration has mounted an increasingly aggressive pushback, accusing Abrego Garcia of gang links and domestic violence without providing any conclusive evidence.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday brought out Patty Morin of Maryland -- whose daughter Rachel was beaten, raped and strangled in an unrelated 2023 case in which the Salvadoran murderer had been deported three times -- to speak at a briefing.

"This is about protecting our children. It's more than just politics or votes or just anything," Morin told journalists.

Leavitt slammed the "appalling and sad" visit by the Democratic senator and accused him and the media of prioritizing Abrego Garcia's case over that of Rachel Morin's.

US Attorney General Pam Bondi meanwhile released what she called "additional information" including a police report that said his Chicago Bulls baseball cap indicated he was an MS-13 member.

He denies gang membership and has never been charged with crimes in either country.

But Trump's critics have warned that his defiance of the courts has placed the country on the cusp of a constitutional crisis.

"It's a short road from there to tyranny," Van Hollen said earlier.

The issue has become a growing policial football.

West Virginia Republican congressman Riley Moore posted on X Tuesday that he had also traveled to El Salvador to see the prison where immigrants deported by the Trump administration are being held.

He declared himself supportive of Trump's actions, however.

Another Democratic senator, Cory Booker, and two Democratic members of the House of Representatives are also mulling a trip to the country.

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Photo: Maryse Boyce

Spoilers follow for Universal Language, released in theaters February 14 and available for digital rental as of April 8.

In the movie Universal Language, Winnipeg becomes a sort of alternate-reality version of Tehran. When filmmaker Matthew Rankin and his co-writers, Ila Firouzabadi and Pirouz Nemati, screened their movie in those cities, the Iranians who saw the film thought it had been made just for them and so did the Canadians. Thats the whole point of Universal Language, Rankin admits  to look at something familiar from an unfamiliar angle and see it again in a new way for the first time.

The Winnipeggers said to us, We have never seen a more authentic depiction of our city than this, and of course, its a movie thats in Farsi, right? In Tehran, they said the same thing. They were like, This movie belongs to us. Its as if you made it specifically for us, and of course, these are people who dont know who Tim Horton is, Rankin says. Those were the two most rewarding screenings for us: to have an experience of both and to feel this echo.

Much of Universal Language operates in that remix register with a combination of whimsy and melancholy that taps into both Winnipegian culture and Iranian cinematic traditions: There are posters of Canadian politicians in public places, Iranian food vendors roaming the streets, and Farsi-speaking children struggling to learn French. (Since that December screening in Tehran, the films screener leaked and its gone sort of viral in Iran, Rankin says: We wanted to make a website where people in Iran could just watch it for free. But they were many steps ahead of us, so now theyre just watching it.) The films production design, art design, and cinematography all create a visual landscape that is often colorful, usually absurd, and always with a foot in both cultures.

The goal, Rankin says, was to make it so that you cant necessarily tell what city youre in. You might be here, you might be there, or you might be in both at the same time. Here, Rankin explains five of the films most meaningful visuals and motifs and breaks down how theyre influenced by Universal Languages two guiding cultures.

The Kleenex

From left: Photo: Oscilloscope Laboratories Photo: Maryse Boyce From top: Photo: Oscilloscope Laboratories Photo: Maryse Boyce

Winnipegs most colorful interior is the Kleenex emporium, where dozens of boxes of Kleenex in a distinctive gold-and-blue dot pattern line the walls. The Iranian community in the film is depicted as loving an opportunity to weep into some facial tissue: A lacrimologist devoted to the study of crying passes out Kleenex at town funerals, and a years supply of Kleenex serves as the prize for the towns Bingo night.

The presence of Kleenex in the Iranian household is something Ila has always found amusing. One night we were having a dinner party and our friend Negin Abbasi was going around with a box of Kleenex and offering it to people, saying, Would you like to cry? Do you need to cry? We named the character of Negin after her and also my friend Louis Negin, who was going to be in the film and unfortunately passed away. We began improvising the idea that this would be someones vocation  that they would work in a cemetery and hand out Kleenex and console people. Theres something a little bit sad about it but also something a little bit funny. Thats the space the movie likes to be in the most. Even the cemetery itself  its right next to this highway, and that came from my own life. I went to visit my great-grandparents, who are buried in the cemetery outside of Winnipeg. When they died in the 1960s, it was this very bucolic, tranquil field outside of the city. But since then, an enormous freeway has been built next to it, and so their grave is right next to this highway.

The funeral was filmed in a series of very tiny green spaces in the intestines of a freeway in Montreal. Theres these little spaces between very busy roadways that someone filled with grass or maybe shrubs. No human would ever really go there. The movie is full of spaces like that. Its searching for poetry in these meaningless spaces, which is, of course, part of the absurdism. Its the contrast of the divine and the banal, the sacred and the profane, the sublime and the ridiculous. Bizarrely, it was one of the easier locations we were able to get. Beige walls were very, very difficult for us to clear. No one would let us shoot against their beige wall. The city said yes immediately, I think because no one had ever requested to shoot in one of these places ever before.

We wanted the Kleenex room to look almost like a shoe store, just filled with Kleenex. The design of the box was inspired by the old logo for Windsor salt. Production designer Louisa Schabass son manually put those dots on the box. It took him a couple days. He wasnt completely alone, but he did the lions share of it. In the store, the costume designer, Negar Nemati, was really inspired by old photographs of Anoushiravan Rohani. He wrote Tavalodet Mobarak, the Iranian birthday song. Hes always dressed in a white tuxedo with frills and a tie. We thought there was something very Kleenex-like about that tuxedo. We dressed our friend Aonan Yang like Anoushiravan Rohani. All of these things, its all about amplifying, exaggerating the idea of a Kleenex shop.

The flower shop

From left: Photo: Oscilloscope Laboratories Photo: Maryse Boyce From top: Photo: Oscilloscope Laboratories Photo: Maryse Boyce

The film follows a pair of sisters, older Nazgol and younger Negin, as they try to find a pair of missing glasses belonging to Negins friend Omid. Nazgol spends time in the towns flower shop, where the florist has hung signs urging customers to speak softly, flowers are sensitive. According to Schabas, the florists offerings are mostly made up, using existing fake flowers and changing the stems and leaves to create new invented flowers. Nazgol leaves the store with a potted crocus (the national flower of Manitoba), which eventually makes it into Matthews hands as he goes to visit his fathers grave.

The thing that I really love about the films were referencing is how actions are covered. Often the camera really listens, and it has its own subjectivity, and its looking for stuff. In the West, we have this way of filming where its all about an active protagonist, and wherever the action is, thats where the camera is focused. That is the classic sort of western shotreverse shot. But in a lot of these Iranian films, often the camera will focus on the person listening rather than the person speaking, and sometimes the camera will move away from the action and focus on something that is next to the action. Sometimes you wont even see the most dramatic event in the story  that is left to your imagination. It invites you to have your own relationship with what youre watching.

We elected to not ever show the flower man (Hamid Shafii). We wanted to keep it on the level of the kids. This was something that cinematographer Isabelle Stachtchenko and I thought about. What does it mean to not see a face, to have a character concealed? To have their facial responses hidden from the viewer? It raises all manner of questions that were not typically asking when we watch a film in western cinema.

Photo: Oscilloscope Laboratories

We also wanted to really show the room. Louisa Schabas filled that room with flowers. Theres a lot of chrysanthemums. We did use Close-Up as a reference, actually. At the end of that film, Hossain Sabzian brings to the Ahankhah family a tall plant of flowers, and its a wonderful moment. He picks one and then puts it back and chooses another and then gets back on the bike. Theres nothing smooth about it. That type of flower is in the movie.

The Christmas-tree man

From left: Photo: Oscilloscope Laboratories Photo: Oscilloscope Laboratories From top: Photo: Oscilloscope Laboratories Photo: Oscilloscope Laboratories

Universal Languages external color palette is purposefully drab, with lots of grays, beiges, and browns reflecting Winnipegs brutalist architecture in the film. (Various zones in Winnipeg are even named after those colors.) But one figure makes for a vibrant, glorious image: the Christmas-tree man, whose body is a holiday-inspired confection of baubles, tinsel, and lights. Nazgol and Negin are as polite to him as they are to every other adult in the film.

Theres this wonderful shot in Where Is the Friends House? where the kid is looking for directions. Hes running from Koker to Poshteh trying to find the friends house, and he runs into this man whos carrying a lot of lumber. He looks almost like a Jim Henson character: just a pile of branches on legs. That moment is a tribute to that but also to a couple other things. A very important influence for us was a Winnipeg street photographer named John Paskievich, who took all these photos in Winnipeg in the 1970s and 1980s. Theyre full of a very compassionate sense of Winnipeg in all its strangeness. He has this one photo of a man walking along the street carrying an enormous pile of rugs, and its very much like the image in the Abbas Kiarostami film. Except hes wearing these really amazing striped pants. Negar Nemati, our costume designer, found almost identical striped pants, and so were like, Thats what the Christmas tree is gonna wear. Paskievich remarked upon that when we showed it to him. We met Abbass son Ahmad Kiarostami in San Francisco, and he remarked upon that part too. Both were really delighted by that.

The third thing is there was a lady on my street when I was growing up who dressed in Christmas ornaments. She would wear tinsel, and she wore a star or sometimes an angel on her head, and she had this boa that was made out of cedar boughs. She was just obsessed with Christmas. She would wish you Merry Christmas even if it was August. As a kid, we loved how she was, and it was always such an event to run into her because she was always dressed in this really amazing way. She was around when I was quite young and then she vanished. I dont know what happened to her. As Ive grown up, I can imagine perhaps adults in the neighborhood having a more ironic relationship with this lady. But as kids, we didnt at all. We just loved her personal style. To run into her on the street was not shocking in any way. These kids encounter someone dressed as a tree and do not remark upon that. Theyre simply asking for directions. [Laughs.] That was my little tribute to that lady, and also to Winnipeg.

The suitcase

Photo: Oscilloscope Laboratories

As Matthew wanders around Winnipeg, he observes a group of tourists being led by a tour guide named Massoud (Pirouz Nemati). He shows them an abandoned suitcase, left behind on a bus bench years before, which has sat untouched in case its owner ever returns. Its now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Massoud explains, because the suitcase serves as a monument to absolute inter-human solidarity, even at its most basic and banal. The moment is an echo of an earlier scene in the film in which Matthew quits his job in Montreal and abandons his suitcase on his office buildings external staircase.

That happened to me when I was in Iran. I took a train from Tehran to Kashan, and on the train platform, I forgot a bag. It just had a journal and a book, but I really wanted these things. I caught another train back to Tehran, and something like a good eight hours had passed. But the bag was exactly where I left it on the bench by the platform. It had not been moved. It was incredible. There was something very moving to me about this, that no one had touched it and they just left it there. That story stayed with me and then it found a voice in the movie.

Someone asks whats in the briefcase during the tour group, and as Pirouz says, No one has ever looked inside. As I recall, there was something in it, but whatever it was was kept hidden from Pirouz and myself. I think Louisa Schabas put something in it. I seem to recall asking her what was in it, and she said, I will never tell you. And of course, I love benches. I made a movie about bench placement, Municipal Relaxation Module.

The turkeys

From left: Photo: Oscilloscope Laboratories Photo: Maryse Boyce From top: Photo: Oscilloscope Laboratories Photo: Maryse Boyce

Turkeys play a major role in Universal Language. The film begins with a nod to Kanoon, the Iranian Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young People that was involved in producing many films about Iranian children. Universal Languages spin on the institutes goose logo is a turkey illustration by Iranian graphic designer Mohammad Jalali. Two of the movies secondary characters are elderly butcher brothers who specialize only in turkeys and who become friends with a special bird online, which then travels to Winnipeg on a commuter bus (next to an older woman who is very unhappy to be seated next to a turkey) and ends up stealing a young boys glasses. One of the films final shots is of that turkey escaping its fate and joining a rafter of its brethren running wild around Winnipeg, doing whatever they please.

Theres this wonderful little moment in Close-Up, at the beginning of the film, where a group is trying to find the Ahankhah house. Theyre looking for directions, and they stop at this one guy whos carrying a bunch of turkeys. He gives them some directions and offers them a turkey, and theyre like, No, no, thats fine, and they go off. Something about this guy carrying a whole bushel of turkeys was something Pirouz and I really liked. We wondered, Was that a thing that just happened  there happened to be a guy passing with turkeys? Or if Kiarostami had planted that person and had decided that he should be carrying turkeys. Or did he meet a person who naturally carried turkeys and then set up this encounter? It was just a little detail of that movie that mystified us, that we found very enchanting. There are a few other little seeds for the turkeys.

Photo: Oscilloscope Laboratories

I went to the MacDowell Residency a few years ago, and I met CAConrad, whos one of my favorite American poets. Theyre from Philadelphia, and they told me Ben Franklin wanted the wild turkey to be the national bird of the United States because Ben Franklin believed the bald eagle was a bird of low moral character that robbed from the nests of other birds. Ben Franklins whole idea was that with turkeys, you get a solidarity, a community. Turkeys move in packs, and the turkey in the film is, in a lot of ways, carrying some of the films optimism. It begins on this solo journey, possibly on a path toward a certain amount of danger. It gets entangled with these kids and their strange story. And then by the end of the movie, the turkey has found his community out there, and they waddle off together on their own little guided tour of Winnipeg.

The other thing that sealed the deal was the word turkey. In many languages, its a bird we associate with elsewhere. In English, we say turkey, which of course refers to the country of Turkey, but in Turkish, the word for turkey is hindi, which refers to India. Similarly, in French we say dinde, which means de lInde, which means from India. In Portuguese, the bird comes from the Netherlands. Its a bird that really transcends all borders and which is native to North America. That was exciting to us, too. And I think Persian is one of the few languages that has its own word for turkey, which is buqalamun. The films title in Farsi is Avaz eBuqalamun, which means Song of the Turkey.

We invited our friend Faraz Anoushahpour to be the on-set filmmaker. He spent a lot of time with this turkey wrangler, Michel Fournier. Whenever you see the solo turkey, its always the same one. When we filmed on the bus with our friend Hemela Pourafzal, who sits next to the turkey in the film, it was springtime. And Michel said that because it was springtime, there was a chance the turkey might try to mate with Hemela. [Laughs.] You cant see it in the movie, but theres plexiglass between Helema and the turkey to discourage any amorous outbursts. But really, I think he delivered a very soulful, very nuanced performance, and we loved working with him. We asked Michel what the turkeys name was. He said, He doesnt have a name; hes a wild turkey. So we named him Hormuz.
Vance's visit to Rome will coincide with Easter.

US vice president JD Vance is to meet the Vatican's secretary of state Cardinal Pietro Parolin during his upcoming visit to Italy, the White House confirmed on Wednesday.

Vance will discuss "economic and geopolitical priorities" with Italian premier Giorgia Meloni on Friday following her return from Washington for tariff talks with US president Donald Trump.

The Italy visit by Vance, who converted to Catholicism six years ago, coincides with Easter however it is not clear whether he will participate in the Vatican's ceremonies for Holy Week.

It is also unclear if Vance will meet with Pope Francis, who is recovering from pneumonia after a recent five-week hospital stay, but who received King Charles and Queen Camilla in a brief private audience last week.

Earlier this year Francis criticised the Trump administration's immigration policies in a letter to the US Catholic bishops.

Vance, who will be accompanied by his wife Usha and their three children, will travel to India after the Rome trip where he will meet prime minister Narendra Modi.

Photo credit: Phil Mistry / Shutterstock.com.
Former Chairman of Waterford County Board and Stradbally GAA Club, and County Councillor, Tom Cunningham has passed away.

A stalwart of local GAA and much-respected former Council member, Tom passed away peacefully after a sudden illness on Friday, April 11.

At a meeting of Comeragh District Councillors this week, tributes were paid to Tom, who was described as an outstanding GAA man and a very good councillor.

Cllr John OLeary said: It is with a deep sense of regret and sorrow that we learned of the sudden death of former councillor Tom Cunningham, who was a member of Waterford County Council for over 20 years.

He served people in the Comeragh district with a great sense of pride, commitment and dedication. He always put his constituents first, particularly the people of Stradbally.

"He was also an outstanding GAA man, whose career spanned many, many decades. He was first and foremost a player, who then went on to become a very successful chairman of the Waterford County Board."

The late Tom Cunningham. Photo: Sean Byrne

Cllr Declan Clune described Tom as always smiley and friendly, whilst Cathaoirleach of the Comeragh District Cllr Seanie Power commended his lifetime of service to the GAA.

Cllr Power said: I knew Tom through my GAA playing days throughout the years, and Tom also refereed a few matches I played in from time to time.

In the last number of years I would meet him on a regular basis in the mart and he was always a great character, always enquiring about council, the meetings, and how things were going.

Cllr Liam Brazil commended Toms service to the people of Waterford, saying: It was tough to be on the council at that time, because you were doing it at your own expense, and it wasnt easy."

Cllr Brazil added: 64 years he served working for the GAA, and it's people like Tom and his equals who made the GAA what it is today.
A young man will serve a six-month prison sentence for sexually assaulting a family member.

The man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim, appeared in Waterford Circuit Court for sentencing. He committed the act in 2022, against a young girl who trusted him as a close family member.

A month after the assault, the girl told the perpetrator's mother. Eventually, the girl's mother learned about the assault and went to the Gardai.

The victim gave a formal statement to Gardai and the defendant had to be removed from his family home due to the fact that there were young children in the house.

He was arrested by Gardai some time later and gave 'no comment' answers for the duration of the interview.

Gardai discovered a message that he had written on his phone that read: "I know it was a mistake, I'm progressing every day more and more as a person."

In her impact statement, the young girl stated that her life had been "on hold" for three years because of the assault. The impact of the assault has left her with feelings of uncertainty, emptiness, anxiety and suicidal ideation.

She wrote that she finds it "very hard to trust anyone" because of the violation and betrayal of the perpetrator.

The trauma affected her ability to concentrate and she fell behind at school. She fears for her younger family members who are still living in the same house as her assailant.

The girl described how the assault broke apart her family unit, with other trusted family members supporting her attacker over her. She detailed how she wasn't able to attend family events, like birthdays and weddings without facing "terms and conditions", while the man was able to go to such occasions unheeded.

Judge Eugene O'Kelly noted that the man gave a guilty plea right before being brought to trial for other matters concerning sexual assault. A jury returned not guilty verdicts on those matters.

Judge O'Kelly imposed a headline sentence of 18 months, reduced by eight months in mitigation. He suspended the final four months of the term. The victim was not present in court.
Waterford children have created a a compelling book about home, community and housing.

'Up the hill, Down the hill' is a collection of children's stories, illustrations and artwork that detail their lives across different estates in Waterford.

The book is the result of a collaboration between Respond and Kids' Own Publishing Partnership. Respond is an organisation that provides community-based supports for families experiencing housing insecurity.

Cutting the cake at Killure Grove to launch 'Up the hill, down the hill'.

The project received funding through the YPCE (Young People, Children and Education) Arts Council.

Respond teamed up with the Sligo-based publisher Kids' Own to platform the children from their Early Learning and School Aged Care (ELSAC) and Family Support services. The book's origins begin in Summer 2024, when family support worker Niamh Flavin invited the children to take part in a one-week summer programme in Killure Grove Community Centre in John's Park. The children discovered new forms of expression, building constructions from straw and creating their own visions of home. The second week of the programme took place at Ard na Gleanna Community Centre in Tramore.

Donna Power, Alex Power and Gerry Power, pictured at Killure Grove for the book launch.

Project artist Maree Hensey and writers Mary Branley and Jo Holmwoods helped guide the children in the creative process.

As the kids write at the outset of the book: "We are all children who live in Waterford [in Respond housing]. Some of us have different traditions and different religions.

"Mostly our book is about [Respond] estates. A place with lots of houses and sometimes a green.

"It's about where we live. It's about children's creativity."

Celebration

On Friday, April 11, the kids, along with their proud families, came to Killure Grove Community Centre to see the official launch of their book.

The project gives a voice to the children who are all too often referred to as figures in government press releases rather than as complex, three-dimensional people with dreams and hopes.

Fatima and Mahmoud, pictured at Killure Grove.

Their stories are a clear-eyed, unfiltered account of growing up under the shadow of the ongoing housing crisis. Many of the children have moved house multiple times in their short lives. Some of them live next door to their granny, while others have grandparents living as far away as Egypt, Czechia, Slovakia and Nigeria.

Caroline with Laura from Kids' Own, book publishers, pictured at Killure Grove.

Community is what connects them, from Killure Grove to Carrigea Crescent and Ard an Ghleanna in Tramore. Throughout the book, the children detail their lives and their experiences living in Waterford.

'Authentic insight'

At the launch, the children celebrated alongside their artistic collaborators from the community, Respond, and Kids' Own.

Niamh Randall, spokesperson for Respond said: "We are delighted to see the book come to life. The book represents all the children in their own special way, providing an outlet for them to share their stories and what they deem as important in their lives."

Noah Walsh and Donna Cowman, pictured at Killure Grove.

Niamh continued: "Thanks to Kids' Own for collaborating so closely with the children of Respond to bring this vision to life, and to The Arts Council for Young People, Children and Education Project Award for providing the funding for this project."

Lorna Kavanagh, Project Manager for Kids' Own, said: "We were delighted at Kids Own to collaborate with Respond Housing on Up the Hill Down the Hill  a project that truly places childrens voices at its heart. The childrens creativity and their thoughtful reflections on home and community shine through every page, offering a moving and authentic insight into their lived experiences."
A large wind farm, which was proposed on the western foothills of the Comeragh Mountains, has been refused permission to proceed by An Bord Pleanala, much to the delight of councillors in the area.

The Coumnagappul wind farm was to include 10 wind turbines stretching across the townlands of Coumnagappul, Carrigbrack, Knockavanniamountain, Barricreemountain Upper and Glennaneanemountain and Skeehans.

Waterford City & County Council recommended that An Bord Pleanala refuse permission for the development.

In a report submitted to An Bord Pleanala, the local planning authority outlined "very serious concerns" regarding the carrying capacity and safety of the local road network serving the proposed development and the adequacy of the local road network to accommodate heavy construction traffic associated with the proposed development.

The Council also outlined that the proposed development would be sited on lands within an area where wind farm development is not normally permissible for reasons relating to landscape sensitivity.

Aisling O'Sullivan, Waterford Council Senior Executive Planner, said this week: The submission of that report to An Bord Pleanala was a joint effort by the elected members and the executive in the council.

Further commenting on the news this week, elected members in the Comeragh district expressed relief at the developments refusal to commence.

Cllr Liam Brazil said: The wind farm in Coumnagappul has been refused and thanks to the Waterford City and County Council planning department for putting in the strong submission on that, because if this had come out it would have destroyed our beautiful Comeragh mountains.

Our mountains are something we should be proud of and that people can have, so Im delighted that Waterford City and County Council and An Bord Pleanala both refused this monstrosity.

Cathaoirleach of the Comeragh municipality, Cllr Seanie Power, said that the refusal was good news for locals living in the area.

He added, however, that there is still concern regarding the development of solar farms in the largely rural Comeragh district.

Planning for solar farms seem to be really getting out of hand, not only in Waterford but all over the country, he said.

They seem to be going in ten a penny at this stage and I think its something that government really needs to be taking into account at this stage.

Were using the best agricultural land for solar panels and also spoiling our beautiful countryside for people who are living next to them and devaluing their houses.

My opinion is that offshore is the place for them, he added.

Aisling OSullivan responded to the concern, saying that the council is attempting to balance between our obligations under climate change and our climate action plans, and the development in local areas.

In relation to Cllr Powers comments on offshore wind, Ms. OSullivan said: You make a good point in relation to offshore, and that is something that we are going to see in the few years coming down the tracks and Waterford will be central to that.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, April 16. Minister of Economy and Commerce of Kyrgyzstan Bakyt Sydykov and Hungarian Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Sandor Dorogi discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation, Trend reports via the Ministry of Economy and Commerce of Kyrgyzstan.

A key point of discussion was Hungarys decision to increase its contribution to the Kyrgyz-Hungarian Development Fund charter capital  a step both sides view as a catalyst for launching new joint economic projects and deepening financial collaboration.

In addition to financial matters, the talks covered broader economic cooperation, including trade, investment, and agriculture. The two officials emphasized the importance of the Kyrgyz-Hungarian Intergovernmental Commission as a strategic mechanism for advancing the partnership.

Agricultural cooperation featured prominently, with both countries expressing interest in developing academic exchanges and joint research between agricultural universities. Hungary also signaled its willingness to share expertise in water management and innovative technologies.

The meeting concluded with a reaffirmed commitment to expand cooperation through joint ventures and projects across various sectors of the economy.

The Hungarian-Kyrgyz Development Fund was established and operates under the Agreement between the Government of Kyrgyzstan and the Government of Hungary, signed on April 8, 2021. Initially launched with a capital of $16 million, the fund's capital is expected to increase to $50 million.

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A pillar of Waterford City and the Lisduggan area in particular, Betty Gough, was recognised and honoured recently with a mayoral reception in City Hall.

Mayor Jason Murphy held the reception in recognition of Betty's unwavering dedication and ongoing contribution to her local community.

The event had family members, neighbours and friends in attendance and was a very enjoyable event for all concerned. Read more about the event here.

Watch a video taken at the reception event below.
Hundreds of people gathered at the heart of Waterford City recently to protest against the ongoing failure of the State to provide adequate education for children with additional needs.

The protest was held as part of an ongoing campaign to raise awareness around the issue both locally and at national level.

Parents from Waterford also recently travelled to Dublin to bring their campaign outside the Dail.

Watch a video below as they highlight their concerns and their children's rights to a full and adequate education.

Watch a video below as one student gives a moving and very powerful speech imploring the Government to provide everyone with their fundamental right of access to education.

Read more about the protest in Waterford and the ongoing campaign by local parents here.
A judge at Waterford District Court has refused jurisdiction in the case of a man charged in connection with a 10.6 million drug seizure in March.

Michael Murphy (61), with an address close to the Waterford and Kilkenny border, appeared by video link before Judge John Cheatle.

The defendant is charged with possession of cocaine contrary to Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 and possession of cocaine for the purpose of sale or supply contrary to Section 15 of the same act on March 18, 2025.

Sergeant Michael Hickey asked the court to put the matter back for four weeks.

He told the court that a forensic certificate had been received, and he was "very hopeful" to have the DPP's decision on the next date.

Acting for the defendant, solicitor Ken Cunningham asked the court to consider jurisdiction in order to progress matters.

He said his client had been refused bail and that the figure associated with the charge was significant.

Judge Cheatle refused jurisdiction, remanded the defendant in custody and put the matter back to May 13.

OPERATION

In a statement at the time of the seizure, gardai said they intercepted a HGV on the M9 in Kilkenny and searched two business premises and a residential address in Waterford.

During the operation, 152 kilograms of cocaine valued at 10.6 million, was discovered in what was called "a sophisticated vehicle concealment."

The drugs were seized as part of an operation carried out by gardai with the support of the Revenue Customs Service, the Garda Dog Unit and the Stolen Motor Vehicle Investigation Unit.
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 In September 2007, Amanda Knox was just another American abroad. Then a 20-year-old student, Knox arrived from Seattle to study Italian in Perugia, a small city north of Rome. Two months later, she found herself in the citys police station. November 6, 2007, was the fourth night of questioning. The police told me: you witnessed something so horrible that you cannot remember it, but you need to, so we can bring in the bad guys, the 37-year-old exoneree and author explains from an apartment in Budapest, Hungary, where shes in the middle of a filming schedule; she cant reveal what the project is yet. The police denied Knox a lawyer, stripped her naked, and examined her genitals for signs of sexual violence. They also slapped her and began shouting: Remember! Remember! Knox had been in the police station since November 2. Meredith Kercher, a 21-year-old student from the UK, was found murdered on November 2, 2007, in Via della Pergola 7, the flat she shared with Knox and two Italian law interns. Kerchers body was discovered on the floor, under a duvet cover, with three knife wounds to the neck. I have very clear memories of where I was on the night [of November 1] but the police told me, no, those are fake memories your brain made up, Knox explains. I was trapped in this new reality that I felt I had no choice but to accept. Knox during the 2008 hearing in Perugia, Italy. Credit: AP In her new book, Free: My Search for Meaning, Knox provides her account of the night Kercher was murdered. She says she was at the home of Raffaele Sollecito, a 23-year-old Italian student with whom she had been in a romantic relationship for less than a week, and the couple spent the evening cooking, reading, smoking pot, having sex, and watching Amelie. On the morning of November 2, Knox says she awoke in Raffaeles bed and returned to Via della Pergola 7 to shower and change. Kerchers door was locked. The two other roommates werent home. But Knox had a feeling that something was wrong.

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I came home, and I had discovered  that my house had been broken into and eventually learned that my flatmate was brutally raped and murdered, she says. The police interrogation that followed resulted in Knox signing a statement in Italian (of which she then only had a basic grasp) implicating herself, Raffaele Sollecito, and Patrick Lumumba, a Congolese national and Knoxs boss at a local bar, to the scene of the crime. Being bullied, lied to, yelled at, and gaslit by the police, alters your sense of reality, says Knox It makes you compliant, suggestible and vulnerable. Especially when you are already in a heightened state of stress. In her podcast series, Labyrinths, Knox has studied the psychology of false confessions and police interrogations. I interviewed many wrongly convicted people about their experiences of being psychologically tortured by the police, she says. What shocked me is how common it is. Knox in 2009, being driven in a police van to hear the sentence in the murder trial. Credit: Getty In December 2007, the investigation took another twist, when Rudy Guede, a petty criminal, was caught trying to board a train in Germany without a ticket. The 20-year-old became a suspect in Kerchers murder when investigators discovered his bloody fingerprint at the crime scene. Guede was extradited to Italy and charged in 2008 with rape and murder. Then in a separate fast-track trial, he was sentenced to 30 years in prison, reduced to 16 on appeal. But he was never accused of wielding the weapon that killed Kercher. Loading Knox and Sollecitos trial, meanwhile, took 11 months. On the world stage, I wasnt a defendant  I was a liar, a psychopath, a dirty, drug-addled slut so jealous of Merediths purity that I raped and killed, Knox writes in her new memoir. The trials main prosecutor, Dr Giuliano Mignini, took a similar view of Knoxs character. In the closing arguments, Mignini described a drug-fuelled orgy in Via della Pergola 7, which evolved into an assault and then finally, a gruesome murder.

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People were attracted to the sexiness of the story, says Knox. But the product the media were selling to their audience was a hatred of sexualised women. They also promoted the idea that women hate each other so much that they might even kill each other. In December 2009, Knox and Sollecito were sentenced to 26 and 25 years in prison respectively for Kerchers murder. I became the most hated person on the planet, and I was slut-shamed, she remembers. In prison, she contemplated suicide. The support of her family, particularly her mum, Edda, gave her the strength to keep going. So did reading. During the near four years she spent in an Italian jail, Knox read more than 200 books. Once I became fluent in Italian, it was easy to find my sense of purpose in prison, says Knox. I was a very useful resource to foreign women who couldnt speak Italian  Being useful in prison helps you survive. TAKE 7: THE ANSWERS ACCORDING TO AMANDA KNOX Worst habit? I am grumpy when I dont eat. I get hangry and need to eat snacks! Greatest fear? That something happens to my children. The line that stayed with you? Everyone is more than the worst thing they have ever done. That was from a speech I once saw given by the head of the Equal Justice Initiative, Bryan Stevenson. Biggest regret? Not staying more in touch with Raffaele. Favourite book? JK Rowlings Harry Potter series. The artwork/song you wish was yours? The movie PopStar: Never Stop Never Stopping. I like silly music. If you could time travel, where would you choose to go? This is going to sound super cheesy. November 1, 2007, so I could tell Meredith not to go home that day. Knox was acquitted on appeal in 2011 when independent experts concluded that the DNA allegedly linking her to Kerchers murder was the result of lab contamination. She returned to her childhood bedroom in Seattle, bewildered and emotionally wounded. The trauma didnt end there though  in 2015, she was retried in absentia, re-convicted of the same crime, and re-sentenced to 28 years, which she also appealed. In March 2015, the Court of Cassation, Italys highest court, acquitted Knox and Raffaele Sollecito of murdering Kercher. Loading Today, though, she is still convicted of slandering Patrick Lumumba, for which she was sentenced to three years time served. The Court of Cassation upheld that verdict in January, and she is exploring appealing this conviction in the European Court of Human Rights.

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Knox claims that the final ruling from the Court of Cassation verdict contains several falsehoods. Namely, that Kerchers murder was committed by multiple assailants and that Knox was present the night of the murder. She also points out that Rudy Guede, who was released from prison in 2020 after serving 13 years, was never held fully accountable for his actions. In her memoir, Knox writes that five days before Kerchers murder, Guede was caught robbing a nursery school in Milan and arrested, but released shortly afterwards without charge. Knox was given this information by Steve Moore, a retired FBI Special Agent who helped coordinate her move back to the United States in 2011. Moore suspected, but couldnt prove, that Guede was a criminal informant to the Perugia police. In 2019, Knox contacted prosecutor Dr Giuliano Mignini, and the pair began an email exchange, which Knoxs memoir reproduces at length. I was suffering when I asked that you be convicted, Mignini told Knox, when the two met in person in 2022. Loading Im angry that Giuliano has chosen not to share things publicly he has said in private to me about the case, she says, bursting into tears. She speaks about forgiveness, gratitude, acceptance, stoicism and meditation techniques she has learned from her study of Zen Buddhism. She then briefly introduces me to her husband, Chris, and two small children, Echo and Eureka. I recognise how lucky I am. So many people I have met who have been wrongly convicted, spent a lot longer in prison than I did, she says. And they have not had the opportunity to be free and then pursue a family in the way I have done, so Im not taking that for granted. This November marks 18 years since Kercher was murdered and, lately, Knox has been thinking about the fact that she never had the opportunity to mourn her former flatmate. Shes reached out to the Kercher family several times, but theyve never responded. Meredith was a year older than me, and maybe a little more shy and introverted than me Knox concludes. It seemed fate flipped a coin, and I just happened to survive. Today, the choices I make are often inspired by this idea that what happened to Meredith could have happened to me.
The number of curve models is shrinking on international runways, placing size diversity under scrutiny at Australian Fashion Week next month.

Only 2 per cent of models at the most recent fashion weeks in New York, London, Milan and Paris were midsize (an Australian size 10 to 16), with only 0.3 per cent plus-size, according to Vogues size inclusivity report. Representation of models above a size 8 has dwindled since 2021, the same year that the weight-loss drug Wegovy was approved for use in the US and Ozempic rose in popularity.

There has been a shift in the industry where people have pulled back, says Australian curve model Natalie Wakeling. Everything seems to be going back to the 90s. The waif is back. But thats what the fashion industry is saying. We know that the waif doesnt represent all women.

Libby Taverner from Perth in Schiaparelli and Melbournes Anna Robinson in Sportmax.

Last year research from the body-positive fashion app Mys Tyler, verified by global research firm Insights Exchange, shows that the average Australian woman wears a size 16.
A childcare centre that is closing after lead was found buried beneath its outdoor area will have to pass safety checks before being allowed to re-open, the state government says.

Goodstart Early Learning Flemington, in Melbournes inner north-west, will be shut for six months after heavy metals, including lead, were discovered under soil in an outdoor area.

The national childcare giant said the risk of contamination, either to children or workers, was low and that children at the site would be able to attend the companys centres in nearby areas.

Goodstart also told parents it would try to keep Flemingtons group of kindergarten children together.
One of two far-right agitators who confronted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in a Melbourne hotel lobby has previously said people should train to be able to kill and posts footage of himself online wielding machineguns and rocket launchers.

The other, who also approached Albanese in a filmed confrontation Tuesday, helped organise massive anti-lockdown protests, which were attended by conspiracy theorists.

Daniel Jones has posted footage of himself online wielding machineguns.

Fresh security fears have been raised after two men confronted Albanese at a hotel on the campaign trail, demanding answers over housing and immigration, despite an apparent increase in safety measures for politicians.

The exchanges were circulated by far-right social media accounts.
Perth house prices remain on track to hit $1 million by the end of 2025 according to fresh data contained in the latest Domain House Price Report released on Thursday.

However, the pace of growth has slowed substantially with median Perth house prices at a record high of $917,706, a growth of 0.1 per cent, or less than $500, over the March quarter. Suburbs with low sales have been excluded from the list.

It marks the 10th consecutive quarterly rise relative to the gains throughout 2023-24 but was the slowest quarterly gain in 2 years.

Annual growth has also eased to an 18-month low, yet at 14.1 per cent ($113,500) it remains strong as Perth holds the highest annual increase among the capitals.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, April 16. Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are mulling over the idea of kicking off direct flights on the DushanbeIssyk-Kul and KhujandIssyk-Kul routes, Trend reports, citing the Civil Aviation Agency under the Government of Tajikistan.

The issue was discussed during a meeting between Habibullo Nazarzoda, Director of the Civil Aviation Agency of Tajikistan, Daniyar Bostonov, Director of the Civil Aviation Agency of Kyrgyzstan and Torokeldi Omurov, General Director of the Kyrgyzaeronavigatsia state enterprise.

The parties also kicked around the idea of boosting the number of flights between Dushanbe and Bishkek, as well as between Khujand and Bishkek.



Other topics on the table included tightening the screws on bilateral cooperation in flight safety and aviation security, as well as boosting the competitiveness of the civil aviation sector.

At the end of the meeting, the parties signed a draft Memorandum of Understanding aimed at improving the qualifications and professional skills of civil aviation specialists in both countries.

Regular flights between Dushanbe and Bishkek resumed on March 14, 2025. It was the first direct flight between the countries since 2019. The KhujandBishkek route followed on March 16.

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Chicago: Former US president Joe Biden has weighed in on a critical issue for millions of Americans, accusing his successor of taking a hatchet to Social Security, as the 82-year-old Democrat briefly returned to the national stage.

Biden, who has largely avoided speaking publicly since leaving the White House in January, gave an evening speech at the national conference of Advocates, Counsellors and Representatives for the Disabled in Chicago. The former president was speaking as Democrats across the nation offered similar warnings for what they described as a Social Security day of action.

In fewer than 100 days, this new administration has done so much damage and so much destruction. Its kind of breathtaking, Biden charged during a speech that spanned just under a half-hour. Theyve taken a hatchet to the Social Security Administration.

Joe Biden: In fewer than 100 days, this administration has done so much damage and so much destruction. Credit: AP

The Republican president almost immediately began slashing the government workforce upon his return to the White House, including thousands of employees at the Social Security Administration (SSA).
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, April 16. President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov and Ahmet Mucahid Oren, Chairman of the Board of Turkish Ihlas Holding, discussed the implementation of joint energy projects involving Turkish investors, Trend reports via the administration of the President of Kyrgyzstan.

The two sides reviewed progress on a series of initiatives, including the planned construction of the Ala-Buga, Karabulun-1, and Karabulun-2 hydropower plants in the Jalal-Abad region. These projects are being prepared by Central Asian Investment Holding, a company established by Ihlas Holding to carry out energy initiatives in Kyrgyzstan, in cooperation with the Kyrgyz Hydroproject Institute.

The president highlighted that the country is creating favorable conditions for foreign investment in renewable energy and emphasized the strategic importance of energy cooperation with Turkkiye. He also noted that research and feasibility studies for the hydropower plants have already been completed.

In addition, the sides discussed the planned construction of a second thermal power plant (TPP-2) in Bishkek. Zhaparov said the new facility, expected to be operational by 2028, would significantly improve the capitals environmental conditions. The project includes modern energy units, updated infrastructure, and a gas pipeline, with a strong emphasis on safety for local residents.

In turn, Oren confirmed Ihlas Holdings commitment to launching the proposed projects, calling them strategic and a foundation for sustainable energy development in Kyrgyzstan. He added that the company operates with a long-term vision aligned with national priorities and aims to contribute to the countrys energy security.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, April 16. Uzbekistan has unveiled the results of a comprehensive analysis of trade and cargo flows in Central Asia as part of a joint regional study aimed at assessing the development potential of the Middle Corridor, Trend reports via the country's Ministry of Transport.

The results were presented at an international conference held in Tashkent titled "Developing Alternative International Transport Corridors and Advancing the Middle Corridor Amid Geopolitical Instability." The event gathered national experts from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan, alongside international consultants and diplomats.

According to the report, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan account for the largest share of cargo traffic with Russia and China among Central Asian countries. In contrast, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan demonstrate considerably lower volumes in these directions. When it comes to freight flows with Iran, Turkmenistan holds a leading position, handling nearly 46 percent of the total volume, followed by Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

The analysis also highlighted that Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan play a key role in facilitating freight movement toward South Asia, particularly India and Pakistan. At the same time, Tajikistan shows significant untapped potential, especially in its trade relations with Pakistan, accounting for around 23 percent of the regions cargo flow in that direction.

The study, launched in 2024 under the initiative of Uzbekistans Ministry of Transport and supported by relevant transport ministries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Azerbaijan, was implemented by the Mano Research Initiative Center with the support of Switzerlands PeaceNexus Foundation.
Leesville, LA (71446)

Today

Clear to partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 72F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Clear to partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 72F. Winds light and variable.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 16. The principle of Iran's uranium enrichment cannot be discussed, the country's Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers in Tehran today, Trend reports.

According to him, the issue of Iran's uranium enrichment is a real and accepted issue.

"The Iranian side expresses its readiness to build confidence regarding the possible concerns," he noted.

On March 3, Rafael Grossi, Director-General of the IAEA, mentioned during the IAEA Board of Governors' meeting that Iran has increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity by 93 kilograms, from 182 kilograms to 275 kilograms, compared to the previous quarter. Iran remains the only non-nuclear weapon state to enrich uranium to this level, raising significant concerns.

In late 2020, Irans parliament decided to pursue a strategic plan to lift the sanctions imposed on Iran. As part of this decision, Iran suspended the additional measures and protocols under the nuclear deal, starting on February 23. This led to a 20-30 percent reduction in the IAEAs monitoring mechanisms.

On April 12, indirect talks between Iran and the US on Irans nuclear program were held in Muscat, Oman. The discussions, led by Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi and the US Special Representative for Middle East Affairs, Steve Witkoff, were described as constructive and based on mutual respect. The next round of talks is scheduled for April 19.

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The 44th annual Soroptimist International Republic of Ireland Girls Public Speaking Competition concluded today in the beautiful surrounds of Breaffy House Resort, Castlebar, with Sandsiwe O Khupe from St Aidans Community College, Tallaght, emerging as this years national winner.

Sandsiwe captivated the judges and audience alike with her thought-provoking speech on the topic of Partnership and the Empowerment of Women, and impressed again in the impromptu round, speaking eloquently on the theme of Sunshine.

She now joins the prestigious ranks of 43 remarkable young women who have won the competition since its inceptioneach one a shining example of the next generations potential to inspire, lead, and make a difference.

National President Anne OSullivan praised the standard of this years competition and offered warm congratulations to the winner:

This competition continues to be one of the most uplifting and inspiring events in our Soroptimist calendar. The passion, intelligence, and confidence shown by these young women is truly extraordinary. It gives me such hope for the future.

"I offer my heartfelt congratulations to Sandsiwe O Khupe on her outstanding achievement. She is a worthy winner and a powerful voice for her generation.

The Soroptimist Girls Public Speaking Competition encourages young women to develop confidence, articulate their views, and engage in meaningful discourse on topics that matter. The competition continues to empower and uplift, creating a platform for future changemakers across Ireland.
Young Mayo artist, Daniel Walsh  an 18-year old from Claremorris  has been chosen overall winner of this year's 71st Texaco Children's Art Competition, taking first prize in the senior 16-18 years age category.

His winning work, for which he receives a prize of 1,500, is entitled 'Colm' and is a painstakingly detailed portrait study in graphite pencil.

In choosing it as the overall prize winner in the Competition, Final Adjudicator and Chairperson of the judging panel  Irish visual artist, curator and educator  Pauline O'Connell described Daniel's artwork as "an exceptionally accomplished and delicately rendered portrait of an aged man in pencil. A quiet, contemplative and deeply human artwork that is worthy of the top prize in this year's Texaco Children's Art Competition.

"The subtle pale skin tones and grey facial hair fade into the distance as we are drawn to Colm's clear, averted eyes  deliberately darker in tone, they focus our gaze. The artist's ability  his instinct to observe, interpret, and create such a technically accurate portrait draws the viewer into a shared space with the subject," she added.

Completely self-taught, Daniel discovered his hidden talent for art on foot of receiving graphite pencils and an art easel as a gift last Christmas.

The inspiration, and person, in his prize-winning portrait is a local family friend, Colm. "I felt the expression and detail in Colm's face would make for an interesting portrait challenge to attempt," Daniel explains.

In further success for Mayo, Aoife Corrigan (age 13), a pupil at St. Joseph's Secondary School, Castlebar, won a Special Merit Award in the 12-13 years age category for her work entitled Up Mayo, which Ms. OConnell said displayed high levels of skill and creativity. No stranger to the competition, Aoife also won a Special Merit Award last year.
Opening in Spring 2026, The Grace, Westport Estate, will be a new hotel at the heart of one of the most significant tourism developments along the Wild Atlantic Way. It is designed to reflect the natural beauty and cultural story of Westport Estate, offering guests a welcoming place to rest, explore, and reconnect.

The Grace is inspired by two iconic women connected to Mayo, Grace OMalley, the 16th-century Pirate Queen, and Hollywood icon Grace Kelly, and draws on their shared spirit of bold elegance and independence. Set just moments from the 300-year-old Westport House within Westport Estates 430-acre grounds, the hotel will offer an atmosphere of slow luxury, a place to unwind in style and enjoy moments of stillness and renewal.

Dining at The Grace, Westport Estate, will spotlight seasonal produce and local flavours, crafted in partnership with regional producers who know the land best. Meanwhile, The Grace Spa & Wellness will offer tailored treatments in a calming setting, encouraging guests to pause, reset, and experience the restorative power of place.

For those celebrating lifes special moments, weddings at The Grace will be intimate and thoughtful, drawing on the estates historic charm and natural beauty. Whether exchanging vows beneath ancient trees or gathering for an elegant evening reception, guests will experience moments that feel both special and uniquely their own.

The Grace, Westport Estate, will play a central role in the estates 430-acre transformation, which is evolving through a careful process of regeneration, led by its in-house ecologist and skilled local stonemasons working to restore natural habitats and preserve historic features. New attractions are also in development at the estate, including a Grace OMalley experience with interactive tours and digital storytelling, and a uniquely Irish landscape journey designed by renowned lead landscape designer Mary Reynolds. At the heart of the estates vision is to invite every guest to Awaken Your Wild, whether by pausing in nature, seeking adventure, or connecting with the lands deeper story.

Located on The Wild Atlantic Way, close to Croagh Patrick, Clew Bay, and on the doorstep of the culturally vibrant Westport Town, the hotel will offer guests an ideal base to explore both the storied grounds of the estate and richness of the West of Ireland. Whether spending the day discovering the West, exploring the estate, or simply unwinding within the hotel, guests can return to a place designed to feel both refined and restorative.

Ciaran Reidy, General Manager of The Grace, Westport Estate, commented:

When we open in Spring 2026, our focus will be on creating an authentic Irish experience, blending luxury at ease with a genuine sense of place. Everything from the design to the hospitality reflects the estates unique character and the spirit of the West. Barry OConnor, CEO of Westport Estate, added:

The Grace plays a central role in how were reimagining Westport Estate. This is a special part of the world, and our goal is to create a space where guests feel the richness of Mayos culture, landscape, and people. Cathal J Hughes, Director of Westport Estate, said:

As the hotel becomes a reality, we're mindful of the role it plays not just in welcoming visitors, but in supporting the community here in Mayo. This project will bring meaningful employment opportunities and contribute to the local economy in a sustainable way. Its a chance to grow something lasting and positive for the region, with a deep respect for its history and people.

The Grace is designed by Mayo-based Taylor McCarney, with interiors by GW Design. The hotel will create up to 170 jobs, with further opportunities emerging as Westport Estate continues to evolve.

The Grace, Westport Estate, will offer a gentle space to pause and take in the beauty of the West. Whether drawn by the landscape, the stories, or simply the sense of stillness, guests will find space to reconnect in their own way and inspired to return again and again.
Allentown, PA (18103)

Today

Mostly sunny and pleasant with refreshingly low humidity! Great weather to celebrate the 4th of July!.

Tonight

Mostly clear skies and very comfortable overnight.
Reading, PA (19601)

Today

Mostly sunny and pleasant with refreshingly low humidity! Great weather to celebrate the 4th of July!.

Tonight

Mostly clear skies and very comfortable overnight.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 16. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi will visit Russia on April 17, Ambassador of Iran Kazem Jalali wrote on his X page, Trend reports.

According to him, during the visit, Araghchi will hold consultations with high-level Russian officials and exchange views on bilateral, regional, and cooperative relations.

Jalali added that amid important processes taking place in the world, continuous and close relations between Iranian and Russian officials will serve the two countries, the region, and international peace and stability.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei said on April 14 that the Iranian Foreign Minister will visit Russia over the weekend. As part of the visit, a dialogue will be held on the Muscat talks and processes.

On April 12, indirect talks between Iran and the US on Irans nuclear program were held in Muscat, Oman. The discussions, led by Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi and the US Special Representative for Middle East Affairs, Steve Witkoff, were described as constructive and based on mutual respect. The next round of talks is scheduled for April 19.

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The Labour partys return to power in July 2024 was accompanied with a lot of uncertainty, with Keir Starmer and his team adopting a deliberately ambiguous campaign strategy to present itself as the candidate of common sense and pragmatism in contrast to the instability that characterized the final years of Conservative rule. This extended to foreign policy, where the new government was faced with the challenge of redefining and according to many, revitalizing the UKs stagnating global position. The relationship with the US, as is usually the case, was always going to be a decisive element, especially given the Trump factor which at the time of the election was still just a possibility.

Pragmatic and realist?

In the immediate aftermath of Trumps return, Keir Starmers approach was as logical as it was predictable. The British Prime Minister embraced the new President, visited Washington, reinforced his unwavering commitment to upholding the Special Relationship whilst being sure to remind of the UKs role in upholding the values around which the alliance was first established. Evidently, this period of diplomatic amiability was only the starting point of a complicated path where the foreign policy visions and priorities of the two leaders would undoubtedly collide. Even though both had arrived with the feeling that the foreign policy positions of their countries had been undermined, the path to recovery was always going to differ. Donald Trump is deeply displeased with the state of the Western alliance and particularly NATO, with the President repeatedly singling out the disproportionate contribution of the US and its European allies to the organization. For many months, Trump had warned that the transatlantic alliance in its traditional form would soon be a thing of the past.

Elsewhere, Labours vision for European (or Western, as some still ambiguously say) security was radically different. The UKs new leadership, perhaps envisioning the void to be left by the American administration, reiterated its commitment to upholding progressive values, albeit without adopting radical measures (an approach known as progressive realism). Within this progressive thinking is undoubtedly the countrys role in European security, and specifically the re-definition or upgrading of its strategic relationship with the EU. Whereas the new UK government was swift to categorize countries like Russia as major threats to UK national security, the Trump Administrations rapprochement with the Kremlin unsettled many and highlighted the opportunity for the UK to re-assert itself as one of the remaining proponents of the rules-based order.

Following the public argument between President Trump and President Zelensky and the subsequent unwillingness of the US to engage in multilateral negotiation formats, the UK demonstrated considerable initiative in uniting European allies over supporting Ukrainian territorial integrity and countering Russia. Both through multiple security forums held in London and Paris and through enhanced engagement with Kiev, Starmers team demonstrated that it can and is willing to operate in autonomy and independently from Washington. This was an important development and confirmed that the Labour government was in fact serious about recovering some of the diplomatic authority the UK had lost in recent years.

Tariffs  the feared becoming the reality

However, Donald Trumps announcement of an extensive package of tariffs to be applied to imports coming to the US presents the Trump-Starmer relationship with an entirely different kind of challenge. Although the sides have appeared determined to protect the relationship, with Trump making a point of decoupling the UK from the broader Europe term, both leaders have made it clear in their statements that the significance of these tariffs is incontestable and powerful enough to transform the status-quo. Keir Starmer labelled the decision as the end of the world as we know it, a defining statement directly implying that the international trade system has entered a new era. Keir Starmer elaborated by stating that the new format represents one of deals and alliances whereas the now previous arrangement was shaped exclusively by rules. This is a major statement, essentially acknowledging that its closest ally no longer believes in the very system the UK has tried so hard to re-integrate itself into.

The nature of the UKs response has the potential to serve as a major turning point. Initially, there was internal rejoice in Downing Street at the fact that the UK avoided the harsher tariffs that were imposed on EU and Chinese goods. This continued right until the collapse of the global stock markets, signalling that perhaps the scale of the global economic impact had initially been underestimated. Such disruption to traditional trading patterns, to be exacerbated by the already intensifying trade war between the US and China and the EU weighing up major retaliatory measures, places London in an uncomfortable position. More so, this Labour government, occasionally criticized domestically for lacking a clear ideological foundation, has regularly positioned itself on the side of the working people. Hence, considering that in 2024 alone the UK exported 60 billion worth of goods to the United States, the initially welcomed 10% tariffs will weaken an already struggling British economy. The government was swift to provide a 400-page long list of US goods, the imposition of tariffs on which will be assessed. This list represents 27% of all the UKs imports from the US.

Geopolitical implications

This situation reflects the intensity of a deeper geopolitical shift within the international system, with profound implications for both Americas bilateral and multilateral relations. First, these tariffs will show to the Trump administration just how far certain countries are willing to go in challenging the US. Washington has taken the initiative by taking bold decisions that have unsettled its traditional allies. So far, the UK has refrained from any knee-jerk responses whereas EU members are, once again, showing differences in opinion. Second, this episode serves as another test for the EU and regional solidarity more broadly. Many pledges and statements highlighting the need for a decisive and independent Europe post-Trump cannot be limited to simply defence spending initiatives  the leadership in Brussels must make a bold and conclusive choice between pursuing its own independent path or continuing to play second fiddle to Washington. Hence, the response that is ultimately pursued in Brussels and London is an important litmus test.

Donald Trumps intense efforts to resolve major on-going international conflicts appears to be accelerating the implementation of his underlying foreign policy objectives, designed for this second term. This originates from a feeling that Americas allies owe the US (both literally and metaphorically)  Trump argues that for far too long, Washingtons military and financial power has been over-relied upon, damaging the American economy and its people. This translates to geopolitics, with the American administration adamant that leadership of military and security alliances over the past few decades has turned out to be a net negative for American interests. Hence, changes had to be made on the systemic level, a process President Trump wasted no time in initiating. The US no longer wishes to engage in alliances and operate through institutions  it wishes to confront its challenges directly and independently to ensure that both the solution and the path towards it maximize the interests the Trump administration has defined as core.

The moment of truth?

In recent days, Keir Starmers rhetoric has continued to demonstrate the challenging reality facing the UK government vis-a-vis the management of the special relationship. On the one hand, Starmer is making it extremely clear that the UK will not abandon or deviate from its traditional foreign policy approach  one of adherence to progressive values shaped by international law, the fostering of traditional alliances and the countering of Russian and Chinese actions. Nevertheless, Starmer has insisted on maintaining composure and pragmatism when directly speaking of the situation. He has repeatedly stated that ripping up arrangements is not in the UKs interest, highlighted further by his consistent praising of the rules-based order as something that helped keep peace for many decades. This cool-headed approach appears set to remain for the time-being, with Starmer mindful of the dangers of potential escalation with the US. Instead, the Prime Minister appears determined to exhaust all negotiation opportunities and is keen to negotiate a deal that would see tariffs either reversed or modified to minimise impact on British businesses.

The challenge of achieving a much desired but perhaps overly optimistic balance of protecting the countrys national interest whilst not jeopardizing relations with his American counterpart is self-evident. The interests of the sides are, in Starmers words, inextricably intertwined, which is why achieving the mentioned balance will require important trade-offs that will inevitably upset some voters and frustrate some businesses. The UK, for example, remains highly dependent on the US for intelligence sharing, with Keir Starmer refraining from making any comments after President Trump temporarily suspended intelligence sharing with Ukraine. As things stand, and in the grand scheme of things, the Labour government simply cannot afford to go at it alone, a consequence of its decade long relationship with the US.

Such realities underline that individual relations between leaders remain paramount to determining the unfolding of inter-state relations. Hence, this period of US-UK relations, and especially the path the UK ultimately pursues, will undoubtedly be determined by Keir Starmers ability to continue disagreeing agreeably for the duration of the Trump presidency.

Huseyn Sultanli

Media Specialist at the Center of Analysis of International Relations (AIR Center)
The Latino community is a key driver of the U.S. economy: its GDP is growing faster than that of the rest of the country. The total economic output of this group reached $4.1 trillion in 2023, almost three times what it was in 2010. With a GDP like that, if it were a standalone economy, the U.S. Latino GDP would be the fifth largest in the world, ahead of countries like Canada and the United Kingdom, and growing twice as fast as the U.S. economy as a whole.

These are some of the conclusions of the annual economic study prepared by the Center for Latino Health and Culture at UCLA and the Cal Lutheran Center for Economic Research. The report highlights the impressive size of Latino GDP, defining it as a growth spot. One of the key takeaways from the study is that the economic contributions and performance of Latinos from 2019 to 2023  including in the face of the pandemic  made the U.S. Latino GDP the single fastest-growing GDP among the worlds 10 largest, surpassing even China. Between 2010 and 2023, the last year with full available figures, average annual growth of U.S. Latino GDP was 4.4%, compared to 2.2% for the entire U.S. economy.

For Dr. David Hayes-Bautista, director of this UCLA organization, this increased growth rate, especially in the last two years, demonstrates a steady trend.

One of the main reasons for this significant economic performance is the high labor force participation rate of the Latino community. Since 2011, this participation rate has been four percentage points higher than that of non-Latinos, but in 2023, this rate was 6.7 percentage points, says Hayes-Bautista. That is, that year, Latinos were 6.7% more likely to be actively working or looking for work than their non-Latino counterparts.

In his 2017 book, The New California, this scholar argued that Latinos have had the highest labor force participation rate since 1940. And its a trend that will continue to rise: Hayes-Bautista asserts that the Latino workforce will continue to grow among a population of 65 million people, which is very young and adds one million births per year.

Latino migrants wash their hands at the start of a day at a farm in Greenfield, California, in 2020. Brent Stirton (Getty Images)

Additionally, the report reveals that significant progress has been made in education since 2010. Since that year, the number of college graduates has grown three times faster among Latinos than among the rest of the population. Latinos who reach the age of majority and enter the U.S. workforce are, overwhelmingly, second- and third-generation Americans. These children and grandchildren of immigrants combine the extraordinary and selfless work ethic of their elders with rapid educational attainment to boost not only Latino GDP, but overall U.S. GDP growth, the report highlights.

This, along with the employment situation, has led to an increase in income among this population. In the 13 years studied by the UCLA and Cal Lutheran report, Latinos real wages have grown by 61.5% compared to 21.4% for the non-Latino population as a whole. This income has allowed their consumption to reach a record $2.7 trillion by 2023. Once again, the growth rate is faster than that of the rest of the country.

For Dr. Hayes-Bautista, health also plays an important role. After lamenting the high mortality rates from Covid-19, which were particularly painful for Latino workers, he explains that deaths from heart disease, cancer, and other illnesses are currently lower than those of other communities in the country.

Regarding the future, Hayes-Bautista remains cautiously optimistic despite the significant economic and trade challenges the country faces under the Donald Trump administration. Any setback is going to affect us, he warns. The expert points out that Latinos were hit hard both during the 2008 Great Recession caused by the financial crisis and during the pandemic, although the community has emerged from the latter with great strength, as evidenced by continued economic growth. What worries me most are the tariffs and the loss of consumer confidence, he explains.

We are the spearhead of growth. If they saw us, if they invested in the Latino workforce and entrepreneurs as they do in the Anglo population, the United States economic preeminence would be maintained throughout the 21st century, Hayes-Bautista asserts. We would all benefit.

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Common interests. Joint priorities. Shared prosperity. Strong ties. Importance of the relationship. These seemingly empty phrases, common in the summaries of the meetings held so far by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent with his counterparts from other countries, attract more attention when they disappear. And they are conspicuously absent from the harsh and cold summary statement of the meeting that Bessent held in Washington with Spains Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo. Instead it describes a frank conversation, which sounds like a euphemism, and underscores that Bessent called on Spain to increase its defense spending and eliminate the digital services tax, known popularly as the Google tax.

The Treasury sent a brief summary of the meeting nearly six hours after it ended: Today, Secretary of the Treasury Scott K.H. Bessent met with Minister of Economy, Trade, and Business Carlos Cuerpo of Spain. The Secretary and Minister held frank discussions on issues pertaining to trade between the United States and Spain. During their talks, Secretary Bessent highlighted the need for greater defense spending by Spain in the context of NATO. The Secretary also underlined the United States continued opposition to the digital services tax levied by Spain and other countries, as well as other non-tariff barriers.

The tone of the message differs greatly from that conveyed after the meeting by the Spanish minister himself, who offered a much more positive assessment. Much more diplomatically, in statements to the media, Cuerpo said: It was a very constructive, very useful meeting, and a very good first contact for continuing to maintain relations from now on on all issues that benefit us and that are of mutual interest to us, from trade to economic and financial relations, but also to review the current situation, considering the mutual interests on the part of Spain and the United States.

The Spanish minister seemed to see an open door to negotiation regarding the trade war. He also defended Europes rapprochement with China as a strategic partner, on the same day that U.S. President Donald Trump stated in an interview, in response to a question about Latin America, that it could be that countries would have to choose between the United States and China.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Chinese President Xi Jinping after a meeting in Beijing on April 11, 2025. ANDRES MARTINEZ CASARES (AP)

The closer ties with China had served as an unpromising prelude to the meeting. Last week, the Treasury Secretary criticized Spains Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who last Friday met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing and defended closer trade ties with China. Im not sure if the prime minister or the Spanish economy minister made some comments this morning [to the effect that] we should all align ourselves more with China. That would be like cutting your own throat, he said at a banking event.

With the visit to Washington, the Sanchez administration wanted to show that it could build bridges of understanding with the United States despite also being at the forefront of closer relations with China. The Treasury statement summarizing the meeting makes no mention of this matter, but it does imply that coldness was the dominant tone.

Where Cuerpo saw an open door to negotiation, Bessent makes no mention of the desire to reach agreements. Furthermore, Washington shows its willingness to play the military spending card in trade talks. Bessent has no jurisdiction in the matter, yet in the readout of the meeting he stressed the need for greater defense spending by Spain.

As for the non-trade barriers, U.S. authorities have identified the ones they see in each market and produced a voluminous 397-page report. Trumps list of grievances against Spain includes film regulations that prioritize co-official languages, European production quotas imposed on Netflix and other streaming platforms, the treatment of pharmaceutical companies, the Google tax, and aid to Airbus.

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In September 2024, three Irish citizens arrived in the Bolivian Amazon city of Beni posing as Hindu monks. Dressed in orange robes, they presented themselves as protectors of nature, expressing concern over the wildfires that had destroyed more than 10 million hectares the previous year in the Chiquitania and the Amazon regions. They settled in the municipality of Exaltacion, where they offered free yoga therapy and meditation sessions to both urban and rural residents.

A few weeks later, another 17 individuals  of Indian and Chinese origin followed, entering the community with herbal remedies and promises of food aid. Their strategy, as self-proclaimed delegates of a so-called nation called Kailasa, was to win the trust of locals. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, they were signing lease agreements with leaders of three villages for nearly half a million hectares  an expanse almost five times the size of Bogota  for just under $200,000.

The community is upset because their goodwill was taken advantage of. They had been offered medicines and health support, but at no point were they informed about leasing or donating their land, Justo Molina, president of the Confederation of Indigenous Peoples of Eastern Bolivia CIDOB, tells EL PAIS.

The organization CIDOB brings together 34 Indigenous groups living in the Chaco and Amazon regions in Bolivia, including the Baure, Cayubaba, and Esse Ejja nations. These were the three nations where the alleged members of the fictitious Kailasa sought to settle and exploit resources, in exchange for preserving endemic biodiversity and land rental agreements that included offers of up to $108,000 annually.

The members of the religious sect, who were detained and later deported from Bolivia on March 24 to Ireland, the United States, China, and Sweden, presented themselves to some Indigenous leaders as ambassadors of Kailasa, the worlds first sovereign Hindu nation. They claimed that their homeland had been lost among the waves of the Indian Ocean, due to the ravages of catastrophic climate change.

The members said they were victims of political and religious persecution, but insisted this had not stopped them from forming their own constitution, issuing passports and printing currency. In reality, their leader, Nithyananda Paramashivam, is known internationally as a conman and is a fugitive from Indian authorities on charges of violence, torture, and child abuse.

Bolivia was not the only country where they tried to deceive people. Individuals identifying as representatives of Kailasa participated in two sessions at the United Nations in Geneva and were photographed with U.S. congresspeople and senators from other countries.

Members of Kailasa in Bolivia. Asamblea del Pueblo Guarani

Before entering Bolivia, the group attempted a similar scheme in Paraguay and Ecuador in 2023. In Paraguay, the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Arnaldo Chamorro, was dismissed after signing a diplomatic agreement with the United States of Kailasa. In Ecuador, they held a meeting with then-Environment Minister, Sade Fritschi Naranjo.

In Bolivia, they changed their strategy a bit and didnt approach the authorities  instead, they went directly to the Indigenous communities. Unfortunately, they sweet-talked them with annual contracts ranging from $60,000 to $100,000, says local journalist Ivan Paredes, who investigated the case.

Indigenous leaders in the eye of the storm

The members of the fake nation Kailasa also saw an opportunity in the autonomy that Indigenous communities in Bolivia enjoy over their land, justice systems, and resources, through the framework of the Original Communal Territories (TCOs). This allowed them to negotiate directly with locals without involving higher state authorities. However, according to the Bolivian Constitution, TCOs are collectively owned lands for the exclusive use of the communities that inhabit them, and therefore cannot be transferred.

How could Indigenous leaders fall into this trap? With these agreements, they not only attacked their own people but also violated the sovereignty of the Bolivian state. They have no legal authority to lease or transfer these lands, and by doing so, they have committed illegal acts that must be investigated by the proper authorities, stated Congresswoman Maria Rene Alvarez in a Facebook post in March. The lawmaker launched an investigation later that month, along with the Beni Department Prosecutors Office, against the Indigenous signatories for land trafficking.

The contracts negotiated with representatives from the three Indigenous nations were signed between October and November of last year. The document concerning the Cayubaba people offered Kailasa members not only full sovereignty and autonomy within the territory to establish their administrative, legal, and economic systems but also full control over the airspace and any resources above or below the ground. In exchange, they would receive an annual payment of $55,800 and a promise to preserve the environment.

In the case of the Baure people, one of the leaders who agreed to the contract, Pedro Guasico Duran, reportedly threatened a journalist from the national outlet El Deber after she revealed details of the agreement, which offered $108,000 in exchange for land, according to the reporters account. For the Esse Ejja territory, an offer of $28,107 was allegedly made.

Despite repeated attempts by EL PAIS to contact the leaders who signed the contracts, they declined to comment. These leaders are now outside the TCO; theyve vanished, and the community is furious. They want to apply community justice. Its a bit dangerous for them to stay, says Molina, from CIDOB. Its unacceptable that our own brothers and sisters are handing over our lands  lands we fought so hard for against the state. And to make it worse, in our name.

Molina says that he had also been contacted by Kailasa ambassadors, but never met with them. Nonetheless, members of the group were present at CIDOBs anniversary event last October, where Bolivian President Luis Arce was photographed alongside one of their members.

At the end of March, the Esse Ejja people issued a collective statement expressing regret that some of their representatives had signed the document. Our nation was caught off guard, pressured, and manipulated by this group, which acted in bad faith, presenting itself with a misleading and confusing message, and taking advantage of our hospitality and good faith as a people.

However, they defended their leaders, stating they had made a mistake from a position of vulnerability, in the face of a proposal that was not fully understood, and in a context where material need was used as a tool of pressure.

One of Kailasa's events. Asamblea del Pueblo Guarani

Politicization of Indigenous organizations

The Kailasa case is yet another example of how defenseless Indigenous communities are in the face of encroachment on their lands  whether by mining operations or illegal logging. There is no full state presence in our territories. The needs are great, and that makes us vulnerable to all kinds of fraudsters. Sometimes, its our own Indigenous brothers and sisters who are involved in this land trafficking, says Molina.

Adding another layer to the issue of Indigenous land rights is the deep politicization that has taken hold within the organizations and unions that administer and represent these communities. As a result, two parallel CIDOBs have been formed: one supported by the ruling party and the other by the opposition. Each sends its own delegates to the Latin American regional body, the Coordinator of Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon Basin (COICA), and each partially represents their territories.

Last Wednesday, Indias Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal distanced the country from Kailasa in a press conference: As far as the issue of fake guru is concerned, he is a private person. He speaks for himself.

Meanwhile, Bolivias Foreign Ministry issued a statement on March 21 clarifying that it holds no diplomatic relations with the fictitious nation.

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The white and reddish walls of the Potala Palace, the Dalai Lamas former residence, rise on the hill opposite. It has something of an ancient ship about it, like a stranded ark awaiting the flood, riddled with dozens of hatches. Tibetan fabrics flutter above the galleries. The view is lost in the labyrinth of staircases that crisscross toward the sky in an optical illusion crowned by golden roofs. A blinding sun beats down at an altitude of 3,646 meters. It is midday in Lhasa, the capital of the autonomous region of Tibet, on the borders of China, at the foot of the Himalayas. The current Dalai Lama left this city in March 1959 on his way to exile. He has never returned to what he considers an occupied territory.

Down here, in the square at the foot of the palace, a ceremony has just been held to commemorate the other side of that milestone. Soldiers have raised the flag of the Peoples Republic and a floral frieze has been laid out with the inscription: March 28, Day of the Liberated Serfs of Tibet. Tourists from all over China stroll by. And two huge billboards on the sides emphasize that everything remains under Beijings control. One displays the faces of the five great leaders since 1949, from Mao Zedong to Xi Jinping. The other is reserved for the latter. It is a face of Xi, about 10 by 6 meters. It is reminiscent of Maos at Tiananmen Square; his eyes survey every corner of the space.

The Chinese Communist Party is omnipresent in Tibet. Its traces are visible throughout a five-day visit organized by the State Council (the Chinese government) for various media outlets, including EL PAIS.

The Partys radiant light illuminates the borders, and the border people have their hearts turned to the Party! reads a billboard by the roadside. There are dozens of similar messages, scattered here and there. Going hand in hand with the authorities is the only way for foreign journalists and observers to enter the region. It is sensitive territory. There have been outbreaks of rage here in the past, dozens of Tibetans have set themselves on fire, and the repression has been denounced by governments, NGOs, and international organizations. The self-immolations have long since ceased to make the news; criticism persists. Since 2013, the human rights situation of ethnic Tibetans in Tibetan areas of China [] has been deteriorating, the European Union delegation to China stated in December. In March, the United States sanctioned Chinese officials for failing to provide unrestricted access to journalists, diplomats, and independent observers.

Much of the concern centers on the erasure of Tibetan identity and culture. In 2023, the UN expressed concern about the separation of one million Tibetan children from their families for forced assimilation in boarding schools. Beijing claims that this network of schools is open to everyone, and a visit to one of them will be included in the program.

A Tibetan monk at the Potala Palace in Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region, on March 28. Guillermo Abril

The trip aims to showcase businesses, social services, infrastructure, and tourist attractions. The focus is on development, investment, and opportunities for locals. The agenda has been organized so the media can see what Beijing wants to show. Everything is focused on highlighting the unity between Tibet and China: from the hotel (with a huge Chinese flag dominating the lobby) to the evening show (an embellished tale about the 7th-century Chinese princess Wencheng, who married the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo). It fits with Beijings message: It is the most powerful historical foundation of our national unity, summarizes one of the shows organizers.

At Jokhang Monastery, a spectacular 7th-century complex in central Lhasa, the holiest monastery in Tibetan Buddhism, the religious realignment with Beijing is also clear. The Ba, a monk draped in a maroon robe and deputy executive director of the centers management committee, does not shy away from the latest controversy surrounding the Dalai Lama, whose image is banned in Tibet, but who remains the spiritual leader of the religion. At 89 years old, the Dalai Lama has stated that in his next reincarnation, he will be born in the free world. The Ba responds: the choice will follow historical rituals and, in any case, must be recognized by the central government.

In a day care center for seniors, theres a picture of the Chinese president at the entrance. Another photograph of the leader presides over the lounge where elderly men with tanned faces and Tibetan hats play dice and sip tea. They are retired farmers. They speak Tibetan. They are over 70. One says that the region has undergone a dramatic change, according to the translation provided by the government. He speaks of the bridges and roads that now lead everywhere, of the plumbing and hygiene compared to the filth of the past. Their children no longer work in the fields; they have bought trucks and are engaged in construction. Some were born before the arrival of Maos troops, when the Dalai Lama was still in power.

 What was it like back then?

 I was very small, I dont remember everything.

They say they wouldnt change the present. If I compare it to the past, it couldnt be better. One of them spins the Tibetan mani prayer wheel with a flick of his wrist, adding: We all die and we have to prepare for the next life.

A group of tourists pose with the Potala Palace in the background in Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region, on March 28.

The city is in a growth phase. The centuries-old streets of the center, where pilgrims trudge, are the exception. Lhasa is populated by nondescript blocks; new developments are springing up on the outskirts with shopping malls identical to those in the rest of the country, where children play video games with virtual reality headsets. Police booths are ubiquitous on street corners. They are scattered throughout the city. They are part of Beijings response to past incidents: the authorities created a network of small, local police stations to keep self-immolations at bay and respond immediately to potential disturbances. The model was so successful that it was replicated in Xinjiang, another sensitive territory.

A portrait of Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Potala Palace square in Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region, on March 28. Guillermo Abril

One day, the group of reporters is led to a press conference with regional authorities where, unexpectedly, the presentation of the document Human Rights in Xizang [the Chinese name for Tibet] in the New Era is announced. The text, drafted by the government, emphasizes that Tibet has gone from being a theocracy where more than 95% of people were serfs and slaves to a place that enjoys political stability, ethnic unity, economic development, social harmony, and friendship among different religions. It is an immersion in the vision of human rights promoted by Beijing (the Marxist perspective), which has put Western democracies on alert: it emphasizes a vision tailored to each country over universality; it prioritizes development and subsistence over other freedoms, such as freedom of expression.

After the press conference, experts brought in by the government speak. For a long time, certain sectors within the international community  including Tibetan separatist forces and anti-China groups  have spread numerous false statements about the human rights situation in Tibet, says Zhaluo of the Tibetology Research Center. Western prejudices toward China are evident, adds Zhang Yonghe of the Human Rights Research Institute at Southwest University in Chongqing. According to him, theres nothing like going to Tibet and observing to see the change. When asked why journalists and others are prohibited from freely visiting, he replies that its due to the poor condition of some infrastructure, dangerous winds blowing at certain airports, and poor accommodations, since the Chinese generally want to receive foreign guests with the best quality.

Visitors posing in Gala, a village in the Tibet Autonomous Region that has become a well-known tourist destination during the flowering of its peach trees, on March 30.

Most of the things the government wanted to do in Tibet have already been done, a Beijing-based European source who deals with human rights issues says. The violations of the past have been buried by official history and a policy of fait accompli, he adds. Cultural homogenization with inland China has been achieved in every important way, while maintaining the theme park characteristics so that the Han [the countrys majority ethnic group] can go on tourist visits and enjoy the yaks and the prayer flags. They have only been offered one development option  the Chinese one  and the majority have embraced it: People dont want to die of typhus.

A bullet train now crisscrosses the province, flying from Lhasa to Linzhi, surrounded by snow-capped peaks. The valley, crossed by the Nyang River, is fertile, and the newly blossoming peach trees form a cottony landscape. Its one of its main attractions. At this time of year, thousands of people flock to Gala, a small village with 149 inhabitants and 1,253 peach trees in bloom. Hundreds of people mill around, cell phones in hand. Income has multiplied since they discovered the tourist industry.

Nima Duoji, mayor of Gala, in his living room on March 30.

Gala is an ode of loyalty to Beijing. In the small square, a sculpture of a hammer and sickle is inscribed with the oath of joining the Communist Party. The local mayor, Nima Duoji, 39, receives visitors in the living room of his home. It smells of firewood, light filters through the curtains; he is the first Party member in his family. He subscribes to the developmentalist discourse: he remembers these streets, from his childhood, littered with yak droppings. It was very dirty and very poor. The worst times, according to what his ancestors have told him, were the 1940s and 1950s. There was barely anything to eat. He dropped out of school at 16. The eldest of his three children is now studying law in Sichuan. Numerous photographs of Xi and Mao hang on the walls. He concludes: Without the Communist Party, we would not have a happy life now.

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Where is China's largest cultural relics conservation institution? That agency  the cultural relics conservation and restoration department of the Palace Museum  is located in Beijing, in the western section of the Forbidden City. The department is also referred to as the "cultural relics' hospital." In recent years, women "doctors" have become the backbone of the "hospital," and the younger generation of "doctors" has injected new vitality into the conservation of cultural relics. The restorers have devoted themselves to protecting  and passing down  the treasures of the Chinese civilization.



Improving, by Learning

Gong Tianshu, a member of the department's inlaying team, has spent several months repairing a crown, used by an emperor's concubine, dating back to the late Qing Dynasty (1616-1911). The crown had been sent to the team because its base was badly deformed, and the gold foils, which covered the bird decorations on the crown, had fallen off. Gong restored the antique, with patience and exquisite craftsmanship. To understand how the crown had been produced, and how it had been damaged, Gong researched the techniques used to create each part of the crown. She then produced a replica of the crown, by making copies of each part, and then piecing each together.

Gong, who was born during the 1990s, has been a member of the team for five years. In 2016, she watched Masters in Forbidden City, the popular documentary about repairing cultural relics in the Palace Museum. That ignited her dream of becoming a restorer. "Then, I watched several TV programs on this topic, such as National Treasure, and I knew some graduates from my college had become engaged in restoring cultural relics. So, I decided to apply to become a restorer in the Palace Museum after graduation," says Gong.

Like Gong, many women college graduates have chosen to join the "hospital" in recent years. "Most of our new members are women, and women account for 80 percent of all restorers in the 'hospital.' Several teams have highly capable women heads," says Qu Feng, the department's director.

To become a qualified restorer, one must first devote himself or herself to learning. "Normally, a restorer is not allowed to repair relics on his/her own until he/she has worked here for three years. Learning is important for novices," Cui Zheng, head of the department's embroidery team, says.

Young restorers, who majored in textile engineering or costume design, have certain knowledge about textiles, but they have few opportunities to touch the cultural relics, Cui says. They must first learn, from scratch, during their early years in the "hospital," and they must remain focused on what they are learning  with a new vision, she adds. They are allowed to begin repairing relics only after they have gained command of the fundamental concepts and techniques used during restoration, she says.



Receiving guidance from experienced restorers is essential for novices in the relic-restoration industry, especially for those whose job is to mount and frame painting/calligraphy works.

The department has promoted the development of mounting and repairing techniques by letting young restorers work under the mentorship of senior colleagues.

Wang Xinyi, a member of the department's painting and calligraphy mounting team, is an apprentice of Wang Hongmei, a third-generation inheritor of the traditional mounting techniques.

To mount a painting or calligraphy, restorers need to prepare some silk to make tianditou first. Tiantou and ditou, usually two pieces of blank silk, are the major components used to mount a work. They are pasted on the two ends of the original work, and their sizes must perfectly match the work.

When Wang Xinyi makes tianditou, Wang Hongmei often stands beside her, to help her when necessary, to ensure she does not make a mistake. The master and apprentice understand each other's intentions, through simple movements or even the expressions in their eyes.

A museum is like a university. When young restorers meet problems, they learn how to solve the issues by reading books, or by consulting senior restorers. In this way, they acquire knowledge, and they continue improving.

Senior restorers' guidance, sometimes involving small details, helps the younger members improve as restorers. Kong Yanju is head of the department's inlaying team. When the team repaired a plaque from Ningshou Palace, Kong noticed the tortoise-shell patterns on the original mother-of-pearl inlays. She suggested her team draw the patterns with pencils, and then carve the patterns accurately on the new inlays used to repair the plaque.

Zhan Fei, a member of Kong's team, said they repaired a hanging screen, inlaid with feathers of various kinds of birds. "To ensure the feathers used to repair the screen looked real, Kong bought a book, about birds in China, for us to study. For the conservation of some kinds of birds, we now use feathers of other birds instead," she says.



Innovation and Dissemination

Special containers help protect the cultural relics. In 2021, the technique used to produce the cases, which are used to protect relics in the royal court, was added to the list of China's national intangible cultural heritage.

Members of the "relics' hospital" case-production team design and produce various cases, in different shapes and sizes. The frames of the cases are made from cardboard, and they are covered with silk. Paper, cotton and/or silk bags are placed in the cases to protect the relics.

In addition to the traditional patterns and techniques, modern technologies are continuously being integrated into the production of the cases.

Zhang Jingjing, head of the case-production team, says the team has innovated the structural design of the traditional cases. The team, she adds, has started using new materials, such as acid-free paper, in the production of the cases.

Zhang's team has been teaching the public about the production of the cases. The team has provided demonstration seminars in high schools, showing the students how to make the cases. Also, the team has taught the case-making techniques during social-practice courses at Beijing Forestry University, and at other colleges.

When asked if the restorers show an interest in containers used in their daily lives, Liu Tianqi, a member of the team, said she has paid attention to interesting designs of some gift boxes.

She believes, with basic knowledge and creative ideas, everyone can bring new life to old containers. She has watched, on social media, many people explaining how they have transformed a package box into a jewelry box.



Technology-Empowered Conservation

Various devices, such as microscopes and spectrophotometers, have become an indispensable part of the restorers' work. When Wang Xu, a member of the embroidery team, repaired a sangai (big umbrella with fringes and delicate decorations), which dated back to the Qing Dynasty, she took photos of the embroidered flower patterns. Then, she printed the pictures. During careful comparison, she discovered, from the photos, there were very subtle differences  in the colors and shapes  of the flowers.

Wang Xu had to use a portable spectrophotometer to calculate the exact value of each pattern's color. "Although, using the device, I had to do more work than before, it was worthwhile. The device enables us to learn about the treasures in a more accurate way, before we repair them. Technologies help improve our work," she says.



Wang Hongmei and Wang Xinyi use portable microscopes to check the structures of fibers. Ma Yue, the mounting team's head, says, "Traditional paintings and calligraphies were created on Xuan paper (a type of handmade paper from China) or silk. It is easy to see clearly the size and number of fibers and threads in a piece of paper or silk with a microscope." After analyzing the original material, used in a painting or calligraphy, the restorers choose the same or similar material to repair the work. Using the right material lays a good foundation for the subsequent steps in the restoration process.

Modern devices provide restorers with diverse angles of observation, and also with methods for in-depth analysis. In fact, the devices are now being used in every step of a restoration.

The mounting team has a big glass table, and that table has a sliding rail. Restorers use the rail to reach the middle section of a large painting. They have to sit on their knees, and they have to maintain their balance to ensure the painting will not be damaged. Restoration of a large painting requires the restorers to have great patience and excellent techniques.

Cleaning the fragile fringes of lanterns and the silk fabrics is also a delicate job. Qu Tingting, a member of the embroidery team, said the team uses a water-filtration vacuum cleaner. The vacuum's hose, which has a two-millimeter diameter, is linked to two glass bottles, each of which contains pure water. When the vacuum sucks the dust off the fabric, the dust is stored in the water. The device has greatly improved the cleaning process, and it has given the restorers a special sense of fulfillment.

"Sometimes, after several hours of work, I have managed to clean an area smaller than the palm of my hand, with no visible change to the surface. But the water in the bottles has turned dark," says Li Lu, a member of the team.

There is a whiteboard in the inlaying team's studio. Zhang Yi, a member of the team, explains how team members make a note on the whiteboard when a device needs to be replaced. She said the team uses 14 types of modern devices (in five categories), and the team will replace the devices based on the notes on the whiteboard.



Enhancing the quality of restoration requires restorers' sustained effort.

The restorers must concentrate fully on their work. When they need a rest, some will walk through the museum. Others enjoy chatting with each other during their lunch break.

There is a Chinese couplet on the gate of the embroidery team's studio. The members like it, because it includes the names of each of the four members.

The restorers' work is extraordinary; all of their efforts show respect for history, and contribute to the inheritance of culture.



Photos by Zhang Jiamin

(Women of China English Monthly March 2025)

Editor: Wang Shasha
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, and To Lam, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, greet the crowd after a grand welcome ceremony as they walk to the CPV Central Committee headquarters for talks in Hanoi, Vietnam, April 14, 2025. [Xinhua/Li Xueren]

* This year marks the 75th anniversary of China-Vietnam diplomatic ties, a milestone in the two nations' profound traditional friendship featuring "camaraderie plus brotherhood."

* China and Vietnam, Xi said, should give full play to their geographical advantages of being connected by land and sea, strengthen the alignment of development strategies and tap the potential of industrial cooperation.

* Particularly, noting that young people are the future and hope of the cause, Xi announced that in the next three years, China will invite Vietnamese youth to China for "Red Study Tours."

HANOI, April 15 (Xinhua)  Chinese President Xi Jinping wrapped up his state visit to Vietnam on Tuesday with the two neighbors pledging joint efforts to accelerate the building of a community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.

To that end, the two sides agreed to work together for stronger political mutual trust, more substantive security cooperation, deeper practical cooperation, more solid popular foundation, closer coordination on multilateral affairs and better management of differences.

Before leaving for Malaysia to continue his three-nation Southeast Asia tour, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said he has full confidence in the future of China-Vietnam relations.

Shared Vision for Shared Future

This year marks the 75th anniversary of China-Vietnam diplomatic ties, a milestone in the two nations' profound traditional friendship featuring "camaraderie plus brotherhood."

During Xi's state visit to Vietnam in December 2023, the two sides agreed to build a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance on the basis of deepening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

In his talks with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam on Monday, Xi called for further efforts to fulfill the vision.

The two countries should work to advance their comprehensive strategic cooperation with high quality, ensure steady and sustained progress in building a China-Vietnam community with a shared future, and contribute even more to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi said.

Building the China-Vietnam community with a shared future carries great global significance, Xi said, noting that as the two countries jointly pursue peaceful development, their combined population of over 1.5 billion is jointly advancing toward modernization, which will contribute to regional and global peace and stability while promoting common development.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, holds talks with To Lam, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, at the CPV Central Committee headquarters in Hanoi, Vietnam, April 14, 2025. [Xinhua/Li Xueren]

To Lam, for his part, said that Xi's visit would definitely mark a new milestone in the history of friendly exchanges between the two parties and countries, further advancing the building of a Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.

Nguyen Thi Phuong Hoa, a researcher at the Institute for Asia-Pacific Studies under the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, said the effort to build a Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance reflects both the continuation and the deepening of the enduring friendship between the two countries.

"It is built on the foundation of political trust, the promotion of commonalities and especially the sharing of benefits and mutual concerns," she said. "The ultimate goal is to bring benefits to the people of both nations, support each country's development, and contribute to regional peace and stability."

Over the past year, the agreement on building a Vietnam-China community with a shared future has already injected fresh momentum into the bilateral relationship, said Nguyen Vinh Quang, vice president of the Vietnam-China Friendship Association, noting that businesses from both sides have demonstrated increased confidence in each other.

March Toward Modernization

On Monday, the Chinese president also urged the two countries to deepen cooperation across various fields and march toward modernization hand in hand.

While meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Xi called on the two countries to intensify high-level exchanges, strengthen strategic communication, and jointly oppose hegemonism, unilateralism and protectionism.

He called on the two sides to implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, so as to jointly safeguard international fairness and justice, and defend peace, stability, development and prosperity in Asia and beyond.

China and Vietnam, Xi said, should give full play to their geographical advantages of being connected by land and sea, strengthen the alignment of development strategies and tap the potential of industrial cooperation.

He also called on the two countries to steadily advance cooperation in infrastructure development, enhance connectivity and ensure a smooth flow of trade.

The two countries should firmly uphold the multilateral trading system, and work together to push for economic globalization that is more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial to all, he added.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, meets with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee headquarters in Hanoi, Vietnam, April 14, 2025. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi]

In his meeting with Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam Tran Thanh Man, Xi pointed out that his state visit to Vietnam once again allowed him to witness the new achievements in Vietnam's cause of Doi Moi (reform) and personally experience the profound foundation of China-Vietnam friendship.

Facing an international landscape fraught with changes and turbulence, Xi said, China and Vietnam should strengthen confidence in their paths and systems, enhance solidarity and coordination, continue to build the China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, join hands to march toward modernization, and inject more stability and positive energy into the world.

Carry Forward Traditional Friendship

As this year is also designated the China-Vietnam Year of People-to-People Exchanges, a series of activities have been organized and planned to further cement the public support of bilateral relations.

During his meeting with representatives of the Chinese and Vietnamese People's Friendship Meeting on Tuesday, Xi said that over the years, the peoples of China and Vietnam have stood together through thick and thin, and have jointly written a glorious chapter in the history of China-Vietnam friendship.

He emphasized that China-Vietnam friendship has taken root and sprouted through mutual support between the two peoples, and has blossomed and borne fruit through their solidarity and coordination.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam and Vietnamese President Luong Cuong jointly launch the "Red Study Tours" project at the International Convention Center in Hanoi, capital of Vietnam, April 15, 2025. [Xinhua/Shen Hong]

Xi told To Lam during their talks that the two sides should take this year as an opportunity to organize more people-oriented exchange activities, and enhance cooperation in tourism, culture, media, public health and other fields.

While meeting with Pham Minh Chinh, Xi urged the two sides to ensure the success of activities celebrating the 75th anniversary of China-Vietnam diplomatic ties and the China-Vietnam Year of People-to-People Exchanges, so as to tell the stories of friendship, mutually beneficial cooperation, as well as their joint pursuit of modernization.

Particularly, noting that young people are the future and hope of the cause, Xi announced that in the next three years, China will invite Vietnamese youth to China for "Red Study Tours."

That, he added, will help the younger generation of both countries better understand the hard-won nature of the socialist countries and the great value of China-Vietnam good-neighborliness and friendly cooperation, and will cultivate greater vitality for the development of bilateral relations and the two countries' respective national development.

(Source: Xinhua)

Editor: Wang Shasha
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, delivers a speech at the International Convention Center in Hanoi, capital of Vietnam, April 15, 2025. Xi delivered the speech during his meeting with representatives of the Chinese and Vietnamese People's Friendship Meeting here, alongside General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam and Vietnamese President Luong Cuong. [Xinhua/Shen Hong]

HANOI, April 15 (Xinhua)  Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday that China-Vietnam relations are rooted in the people, sustained by the people and empowered by the people.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks during his meeting with representatives of the Chinese and Vietnamese People's Friendship Meeting in Hanoi, capital of Vietnam, alongside General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam and Vietnamese President Luong Cuong.

Xi said that over the years, the peoples of China and Vietnam have stood together through thick and thin, sharing weal and woe, and have jointly written a glorious chapter in the history of China-Vietnam friendship.

He emphasized that China-Vietnam friendship has taken root and sprouted through mutual support between the two peoples, and has blossomed and borne fruit through their solidarity and coordination.

Committed to the overarching goals characterized by "six mores," namely, stronger political mutual trust, more substantive security cooperation, deeper practical cooperation, more solid popular foundation, closer coordination and collaboration on multilateral affairs, and better management and resolution of differences, the two countries firmly support each other in pursuing the socialist path suited to their respective national conditions and continue to make new progress in the development of socialist cause, he noted.

Both sides actively implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, firmly uphold international fairness and justice, and consistently stand on the right side of history and on the progressive side of the times, thereby contributing more positive energy to Asia and the world, said Xi.

People are the creators of history, Xi said, adding the endorsement and support of the two peoples provide a solid foundation for building a China-Vietnam community with a shared future, Xi said.

Noting that young people are the future and hope of the cause, Xi said that in the next three years, China will invite Vietnamese youth to China for "Red Study Tours."

For his part, To Lam said that the holding of Chinese and Vietnamese People's Friendship Meeting is of great significance, as it coincides with Xi's historic visit to Vietnam, the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries, and the China-Vietnam Year of People-to-People Exchanges.

Noting that friendly cooperation has always been the mainstream of China-Vietnam relations, To Lam said the Vietnamese side will always remember that the CPC, the Chinese government and the Chinese people have provided selfless assistance to Vietnam's national independence, reunification and development process.

The young people are the hope for carrying forward and developing the traditional friendship between the two countries, he said, adding that the Chinese and Vietnamese young people should shoulder the historical mission, ensuring that the traditional friendship nurtured and cultivated by generations of leaders from both countries will be passed down from one generation to the next.

Before the event, Xi, accompanied by To Lam and Luong Cuong, watched a photo exhibition marking the 75th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between China and Vietnam.

After the event, the three leaders jointly launched the "Red Study Tours" project.

Xi, To Lam and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, jointly witnessed the launching ceremony of the China-Vietnam railway cooperation mechanism.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, accompanied by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam and Vietnamese President Luong Cuong, watches a photo exhibition marking the 75th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between China and Vietnam at the International Convention Center in Hanoi, capital of Vietnam, April 15, 2025. The three leaders watched the photo exhibition before they met with representatives of the Chinese and Vietnamese People's Friendship Meeting here. [Xinhua/Yin Bogu]

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh jointly witness the launching ceremony of the China-Vietnam railway cooperation mechanism at the International Convention Center in Hanoi, capital of Vietnam, April 15, 2025. Xi, To Lam and Pham Minh Chinh jointly witnessed the launching ceremony after Xi, To Lam and Vietnamese President Luong Cuong met with representatives of the Chinese and Vietnamese People's Friendship Meeting here. [Xinhua/Shen Hong]

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh jointly witness the launching ceremony of the China-Vietnam railway cooperation mechanism at the International Convention Center in Hanoi, capital of Vietnam, April 15, 2025. Xi, To Lam and Pham Minh Chinh jointly witnessed the launching ceremony after Xi, To Lam and Vietnamese President Luong Cuong met with representatives of the Chinese and Vietnamese People's Friendship Meeting here. [Xinhua/Yin Bogu]

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam and Vietnamese President Luong Cuong jointly launch the "Red Study Tours" project at the International Convention Center in Hanoi, capital of Vietnam, April 15, 2025. The three leaders jointly launched the project after they met with representatives of the Chinese and Vietnamese People's Friendship Meeting here. [Xinhua/Shen Hong]

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, delivers a speech at the International Convention Center in Hanoi, capital of Vietnam, April 15, 2025. Xi delivered the speech during his meeting with representatives of the Chinese and Vietnamese People's Friendship Meeting here, alongside General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam and Vietnamese President Luong Cuong. [Xinhua/Yin Bogu]

(Source: Xinhua)

Editor: Wang Shasha
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Vietnamese President Luong Cuong in Hanoi, Vietnam, April 15, 2025. [Xinhua/Zhang Ling]

HANOI, April 15 (Xinhua)  Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday urged China and Vietnam to jointly oppose power politics and unilateralism when meeting with Vietnamese President Luong Cuong during his state visit to Vietnam.

Xi extended warm congratulations on the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), the 80th anniversary of the founding of Vietnam and the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South.

Noting that this year marks the 75th anniversary of China-Vietnam diplomatic ties and the China-Vietnam Year of People-to-People Exchanges, Xi said over the past 75 years, China-Vietnam relations have evolved from the traditional friendship featuring "camaraderie plus brotherhood" to a community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, setting a good example of friendly mutual assistance, solidarity and cooperation between countries.

Standing at a new historical starting point, China is ready to work with Vietnam in line with the overarching goals characterized by "six mores" to strengthen strategic communication, enhance solidarity and coordination, and join hands in advancing their respective modernization processes, so as to write a new chapter of unity, self-strengthening, mutual benefit and win-win results among socialist countries, and constantly demonstrate the regional and global influence of the China-Vietnam community with a shared future.

Xi called on China and Vietnam to respond to the external uncertainties with friendly cooperation and socialist strengths, and propel the ship of the China-Vietnam community with a shared future to sail along the right waterway.

Xi said that politically, the two countries should steer the course forward steadily, maintain high-level strategic communication, strengthen mutual learning on party and state governance, jointly improve the two parties' leadership capability, and work together to ensure the steady development of their respective socialist paths.

On security, the two countries should forge an anchor of solidarity, and take the upgrade of the "3+3" strategic dialogue on diplomacy, defense and public security as an opportunity to continue to deepen security cooperation on defense and law enforcement, Xi said.

China supports Vietnam in preparing for the 14th National Congress of the CPV and safeguarding its national sovereignty, security and development interests, he added.

Economically, the two countries should keep a firm grip on the oars of cooperation, create greater synergy between development strategies, and implement well the cooperation plan on synergizing the Belt and Road Initiative and the Two Corridors and One Economic Circle strategy.

The two sides should deepen multidimensional connectivity in railways, highways and aviation, ensure stable and unimpeded industrial and supply chains, expand cooperation in emerging fields such as 5G, artificial intelligence and green development, and empower the all-round cooperation between the two countries with new quality productive forces.

On people-to-people ties, the two sides should raise the sail of friendship, make this year's China-Vietnam Year of People-to-People Exchanges a success, implement more "small and beautiful" livelihood projects, and make China-Vietnam friendship resonate in the hearts of the two peoples with cultural, tourism, media and sub-national exchanges, Xi said.

Xi pointed out that in recent years, the role of the United Nations has been challenged, as unilateralism has clearly been on the rise and protectionism is making a comeback.

Trade wars will undermine the international trading system, the stability of the global economic order and the legitimate interests of all countries in the world, especially developing countries, he said.

As key members of the Global South, China and Vietnam should strengthen coordination and cooperation, safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order based on international law, and fulfill their responsibilities in promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, said Xi.

Luong Cuong described Xi's visit to Vietnam as a historic one, noting that Xi and General Secretary of the CPV Central Committee To Lam have reached extensive consensus on deepening bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperation, which will greatly strengthen mutual political trust, promote the bilateral friendship featuring "camaraderie plus brotherhood," and provide important strategic guidance for advancing the building of the Vietnam-China community with a shared future.

China has made great achievements in its development under the guidance of the Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, Luong Cuong said, adding that the Vietnamese side firmly believes that China will smoothly realize the Second Centenary Goal to build itself into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful, making greater contribution to regional and global peace and development.

Luong Cuong said China is a top priority in Vietnam's foreign relations.

The Vietnamese party, state and people attach great importance to developing relations with China, firmly adhere to the one-China policy, resolutely oppose "Taiwan independence" separatist activities, support China's stand on issues related to Xinjiang, Xizang and Hong Kong, and oppose any external forces interfering in China's internal affairs, he said.

Vietnam is ready to maintain high-level exchanges with China, strengthen experience sharing on national governance, elevate the level of practical cooperation, and create more highlights in such fields as interconnectivity, high technology and environmental protection, he said.

Vietnam is also willing to boost people-to-people exchanges and consolidate public support for bilateral relations, strengthen multilateral coordination and cooperation to enhance the international influence of the two countries, and properly handle differences and maintain maritime stability, he added.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Vietnamese President Luong Cuong in Hanoi, Vietnam, April 15, 2025. [Xinhua/Zhang Ling]

(Source: Xinhua)

Editor: Wang Shasha
KUALA LUMPUR, April 15 (Xinhua)  Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday that he looks forward to meeting with Malaysian friends to celebrate the friendship between China and Malaysia and plan for future cooperation.

He made the remarks in a signed article titled "May the Ship of China-Malaysia Friendship Sail Toward an Even Brighter Future" published in local media including the English-language newspaper The Star ahead of his arrival in Malaysia for a state visit.

The two countries must work together to give fresh momentum to their ship of friendship that has sailed through the long river of history, and ensure that it forges ahead steadily toward brighter horizons, he said.

He also expressed the hope that the two peoples will visit each other as often as family.

Xi urged China and Malaysia to advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and strengthen cooperation on industrial and supply chains.

The two sides must uphold the multilateral trading system, keep global industrial and supply chains stable, and maintain an international environment of openness and cooperation, he said.

Xi said that China will work with Malaysia and other ASEAN countries to combat the undercurrents of geopolitical and camp-based confrontation, as well as the countercurrents of unilateralism and protectionism.

Noting that China-ASEAN cooperation is the most results-oriented and most productive in the region, Xi said that China firmly supports ASEAN unity and community-building, and supports ASEAN centrality in the regional architecture.

He also said that China fully supports Malaysia in its role as ASEAN chair for 2025.

(Source: Xinhua)

Editor: Wang Shasha
The Donald Trump administration wants to cut NASAs science budget in half. This move would cancel major space telescope projects, shutter key agency centers, and result in the layoff of thousands of employees. Overall, the president intends to cut nearly one in four dollars from the budget of the worlds largest space agency, an attack that focuses primarily on major astronomy programs and new robotic space missions.

These proposed cuts are part of a preliminary version of the 2026 federal budget sent by the White House to NASA, a document that was subsequently leaked to The Washington Post and the specialized media outlet Ars Technica.

According to the draft, funding for NASAs science division would drop from roughly $7.5 billion to $3.9 billion  effectively dismantling entire programs devoted to studying Earth, the solar system, and the universe. While Congress is expected to push back on many of these proposals, the budget makes the administrations priorities clear: a shift toward human spaceflight, a return to the Moon via the Artemis program, and preparations for crewed missions to Mars. These areas have been spared from cuts so far, likely because they enjoy strong political support from Republican lawmakers whose states benefit economically from manned spaceflight programs.

The initial proposal would slash two-thirds of NASAs astrophysics program, 50% of the solar and stellar physics budget, over 50% of Earth science funding, and a third of the planetary science program. Although flagship missions like the James Webb and Hubble space telescopes remain funded, the future of next-generation projects  such as the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, an observatory with a $3.5 billion price tag that is already built and scheduled to launch in 2027 is uncertain.

Other casualties of the proposed budget include the ambitious Mars Sample Return mission, which aims to bring back rock specimens collected by the Perseverance rover to search for signs of past life, and the Da Vinci mission to Venus. The plan also calls for the closure of NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center, a hub that supports roughly 10,000 direct and indirect jobs.

The leak has added to growing uncertainty surrounding NASA and the broader U.S. scientific landscape, which is facing some of the deepest federal cuts in its history. This draft emerged just days after NASAs newly appointed administrator  entrepreneur and amateur astronaut Jared Isaacman  testified before the Senate, promising that the U.S. would land astronauts on the Moon before China and prioritize reaching Mars as soon as possible. Isaacman also pledged that NASA would be a force multiplier for science under his leadership.

However, it appears unlikely that Isaacman had any role in shaping the leaked budget proposal, as his appointment has yet to be confirmed. Regardless, it would be nearly impossible for NASA to realize the ambitious vision he outlined to senators with such a drastically reduced budget.

Adding to the confusion, Elon Musk  who currently heads the White House Office of Government Efficiency  expressed concern on social media, calling the budget proposal troubling. I am very much in favor of science, but unfortunately cannot participate in NASA budget discussions, due to SpaceX being a major contractor to NASA, he wrote, referring to his rocket company. Musks comments follow his recent criticism of President Trumps tariff policies and reports that he may soon exit his government role.

The American Astronomical Society has described the proposed cuts as catastrophic for the United States leadership in space science. The impacts of these proposed funding cuts would not only be devastating to the astronomical sciences community, but they would also have far-reaching consequences for the nation, said AAS President Dara Norman in a statement.

Norman warned that the cuts threaten an entire generation of young scientists. Without robust and sustained federal funding for the sciences, the United States will lose at least a generation of talent to other countries that are increasing their investments in facilities and workforce development, she said. These cuts will certainly result in the loss of American leadership in science.

The leaked draft is the first step in the lengthy process of deciding NASAs 2026 budget. A formal budget proposal from the White House is expected to be released later this year, with congressional debate scheduled to begin in October.

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Biden and former first lady Jill Biden arrive to the opening of "Othello" on Broadway in New York City on March 23, 2025.
A small but vocal group of people gathered Tuesday at Carbondale City Hall to voice their opposition to possible cuts to programs.
Cody Balmer is seen here on April 14, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Balmer's family repeatedly called police and mental health agencies for help days before he allegedly set fire to the Pennsylvania governors mansion.
The city of Doral, in Miami-Dade County, fears it will never be the same again. Some say businesses and streets will empty out, that people will stay silent about violence rather than report it, and that fear will spread among the immigrant community. When police officers begin working hand in hand with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as local authorities are planning, the Venezuelan stronghold in the United States will become a dangerous place for its residents.

I can only think about the fear, the distrust this will cause among people, says Venezuelan Adelys Ferro, executive director of the liberal Venezuelan American Caucus. The mere possibility that the police will begin to collaborate directly with ICE is worrying, devastating.

Uncertainty has taken hold among city residents ever since it became known that Dorals City Council is close to finalizing an agreement with ICE that would authorize local police to carry out duties that legally belong to immigration authorities: questioning, detaining, and processing immigrants. A report from the Miami Herald states that this collaboration is expected to be approved on Wednesday.

According to local officials, the agreement is not intended to criminalize the immigrants living in Doral. However, residents of the city known as Doralzuela  where 40% of the population is of Venezuelan origin and 70% was born outside the country  fear what a pact between ICE and local police might mean for their community. Doral is home to the largest population of Venezuelan immigrants in the United States, many of whom strongly supported Donald Trump in last Novembers election. Thats why Ferro believes this new measure is a betrayal of the trust Venezuelans placed in their local authorities.

This is not the first policy targeted at immigrants  and particularly the Venezuelan community  in the United States. Its a fact that, among all undocumented groups, Venezuelans were not only especially criminalized during the election campaign, but also among the first to be affected by the new administrations immigration policies.

Once in the White House, Trump ordered the suspension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans. The move  which has been blocked by the courts  affects around 300,000 Venezuelan migrants. Hundreds of thousands more have faced the fear of receiving notices to self-deport, after losing the benefits they had been granted through programs such as humanitarian parole or the CBP One app. Another 200 were deported to a mega-prison in El Salvador without due process, accused of being criminals  even though the vast majority had no criminal record.

Donald Trump and his son Eric Trump arrive at the Trump National Doral hotel on April 3. Associated Press/LaPresse (APN)

Ferro firmly believes that the Trump administration has used Venezuelans to send a message to the rest of the immigrant community, as part of its mission to carry out the largest deportation effort in U.S. history. Weve been the narrative that helps support one of President Trumps campaign promises  the easiest group to use as the focus of all this rhetoric, she says.

The criminalization of this group has been possible because the Venezuelan diaspora is the newest to have crossed the border en masse, according to Ferro. We are the most vulnerable community, with hardly any representation in this country  we dont even have a trade relations office, she explains. Weve endured a ruthless attack from Trump and his entire team. We were the perfect target  no one was going to speak out to defend us.

Trump knows he has Floridas doors wide open to him and his team, especially with the backing of Governor Ron DeSantis, who has been pressuring state police departments to join programs that empower them to enforce immigration law.

Its not just Venezuelans who will be affected by the alliance allowing police to act like ICE agents  the entire immigrant community in the state, where nearly six million people are Latino, will feel the impact. Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows this type of cooperation, was suspended in 2012 after it was found that the provision had led to widespread illegal and indiscriminate raids and detentions in Hispanic communities. However, on January 30, 2025, ICE once again turned to the 287(g) program, signing its first agreement under the new Trump era.

Still, the Miami Herald notes that although there are three types of 287(g) programs, its not clear which type Doral will join. Some Florida cities that have already adopted the measure  such as Coral Gables, Hialeah, Miami Springs, West Miami, and Key West  have implemented the Task Force model, which allows police to interrogate and detain any undocumented person or anyone they believe to be a foreigner. In the past, this program has been accused of being discriminatory.

Ferro believes the fear people will be experiencing in this area of Miami is still incalculable. Its going to grow to proportions I cant even describe, she says. People are already terrified, and every time they see a police officer, theyll get nervous. This is going to hurt businesses, people will stop going out, stop spending time with their families. Police should be allies of the community, a force people can rely on and trust  but now theyll become a symbol of fear for a huge number of people. Public safety overall will suffer, because people wont trust the police, she laments.

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The violent suppression of Echoes of War, a political play by Kenyan students from Butere Girls High School, has laid bare the ruthless authoritarianism of President William Rutos regime, and the growing discontent among youth. What began as a national arts festival has devolved into a chilling display of censorship, police brutality, and the criminalisation of opposition.

Set in the fictional Royal Velvet Emirates, Echoes of War portrays a kingdom on the brink, torn between a tyrannical ruler and a defiant new generation. The protagonist, Anifa, symbolically pregnant with change, becomes the face of youth resistance. Her confidante, Mustafa, is abducted for mobilising dissent on social media. The play features scenes of unrest, resistance, and the collapse of a regime that refuses to listen to the youth until it is too late.

Butere Girls High School [Photo: screenshot from website (buteregirlshighschool.sc.ke)]

The parallels with Kenyas recent history are unmistakable. Last year, mass protests erupted as youth and workers rose up against the brutal tax hikes imposed by Ruto at the behest of the International Monetary Fund, in the midst of soaring living costs. The state responded with unrestrained violence. Over 60 were killed, hundreds arrested, many abducted. Some remain missing, while others were later found dead. On the eve of the one-year anniversary, the memory of these protests remains alive.

Echoes of War was to play in the Kenya Schools and Colleges National Drama and Film Festival in Nakuru, a widely popular annual competition regarded as a platform for students artistic expression and social critique. But this years festival was overshadowed by the Ruto governments interference to stop the plays performance.

The play from Butere Girls, the alma mater of First Lady Rachel Ruto, had become a political liability. Had Echoes of War won, it would have been performed at State House before the president himself. The realisation of this looming public humiliation triggered the regime to intervene in its usual thuggish manner.

In early April, the schools principal, following orders from the government, sent the student-performers home, denying them their right to perform. But on April 3, the High Court ruled against the ban, which affirmed the students constitutional rights of freedom of expression and right to education and participation in cultural life and ordered the students reinstated.

The Ruto regime then proceeded to undermine the courts directive.

Days later, police arrested the plays scriptwriter, Cleophas Malala, after he attempted to enter Kirobon Girls High School where the students were rehearsing. Police then fired tear gas to disperse journalists who had gathered to cover the unfolding standoff. Journalists were blocked, assaulted, and chased away. At least six were injured. Some were even forced to dive into drainage ditches to escape the gas.

Cleophas Malala [Photo: Cleophas Malala/X]

The crackdown continued the next morning. Riot police sealed off the venue. Journalists were denied entry, and the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development, which had been live-streaming performances on Edu TV, was ordered to cease all filming. No audience, no video, no photography and no shooting at all, reported a media crew. Even local productions for partners have been barred from shooting.

Denied a sound system, a proper audience, or the presence of their scriptwriter, the Butere students boycotted the event. Escorted out of the hall by police, they stood in defiance and sang the national anthem through tears.

Supportive students and residents who attempted to protest were met with more tear gas. Police dispersed everyone, journalists, students, and bystanders alike.

In the following days, the Ruto government made clear it would escalate state censorship. Matters of education should not be dragged into politics, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said, Our parents and the government have a duty to teach our children properly and to separate politics from education. Art and education, in the eyes of the Ruto government, are acceptable only so long as they serve as instruments of indoctrination and obedience.

Rutos crackdown on Echoes of War is a stark warning to artists, youth and workers across Kenya and internationally: any expression of opposition, no matter how symbolic or restrained, will be met with brute force. It follows a long line of state attacks on politically charged art, literature, theatre, and music across the world, because ruling elites understand that art can articulate, concentrate and ignite the sentiments of the masses. What terrifies the Ruto government is not just a school play, but the social reality it reflects: the simmering anger of millions of young people who are fed up with capitalism and its ills such as war, inequality, corruption, environmental degradation and exploitation.

Comparisons have been drawn with I Will Marry When I Want, the 1977 play by renowned Kenyan author Ngugi wa Thiongo. Banned by the Jomo Kenyatta regime after just six weeks, the play exposed the betrayal of the anti-colonial struggle by the post-independence Kenyan bourgeoisie. It follows a poor farmer whose life is upended when a wealthy Christian couple, under the guise of organising a church wedding, attempt to force him to sell his land.

But a more apt comparison may be Ngugis later fictional novel, Matigari. Written in exile and immediately banned upon publication in Kenya in 1987, Matigari tells the story of a man returning from liberation struggle only to find the same injustices persisting under new rulers.

So powerful was its message that President Daniel arap Moithe brutal, Western-backed dictator who ruled Kenya from 1978 to 2002 and served as Rutos political mentor in the 1990sbelieved Matigari to be a real underground revolutionary. Convinced that the character of the novel was leading a subversive movement, Moi dispatched state security agents to track him down. When they failed to locate the fictional figure, Moi ordered the next best thing: a nationwide seizure of all copies of the book.

Daniel arap Moi [Photo by Croes, Rob C. for Anefo / Wikimeida / CC BY-SA 3.0

The absurdity of Mois reaction, mobilising police to hunt a fictional character, spoke volumes about the regimes fear of the masses. In the same vein, the Ruto governments violent suppression of a school play has only further exposed its fear and fragility.

Malala, however, is no dissident playwright in the tradition of Ngugi wa Thiongo. In the 1970s, Ngugi was stripped of his academic posts at the University of Nairobi for his leftist views and was detained without trial for nearly a year in Kamiti Maximum Security Prison following the staging of I Will Marry When I Want. Ngugi then paid a heavy personal price for giving voice to the oppressed and spent much of his life in exile, targeted by successive regimes for his leftist opposition to the Kenyan bourgeoisie.

Malala, on the contrary, was until recently a propagandist for Rutos state repression. In the midst of last years Gen Z-led protests, which saw over 60 youth murdered in cold blood, Malala was serving as general secretary of Rutos UDA party. He personally smeared the demonstrations as hijacked by NGOs and rejected political figures, urging peace even as the regime unleashed terror. Subsequently, Malala fell out with Ruto and was expelled from UDA following internal disputes and allegations of misconduct.

Kenyas so-called opposition is utterly incapable of mounting any serious challenge to state censorship. Kalonzo Musyoka, now the most outspoken opposition figure, has denounced Rutos repression of the Butere students, yet his own record betrays deep complicity in similar attacks on democratic rights.

As Minister of Information and Broadcasting under the Moi dictatorship, and later as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Education, Kalonzo oversaw and defended repressive laws such as the Books and Newspapers Act and the Broadcasting Act, used to intimidate journalists and suppress dissent. His ministry routinely justified media crackdowns under the guise of national security or the defence of so-called African values.

Edward Sifuna, Secretary General of the former opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), stated, Of all the evidence we have of this regimes lack of focus, none is more damning than its attempt to silence young girls in school uniform. But ODM is now part of the government and fully complicit in its crimes, despite periodic attempts to feign opposition.

The Stalinist Communist Party of Kenya (CPM-K), for its part, offered nothing but sectarianism and confusion. Its general secretary Booker Omole dismissed the play as reformist and refused to come out in its defence.

Omole stated on X: Butere Girls play Echoes of War is far from radical or revolutionary. Its author @Cleophasmalala is a typical corrupt bourgeois liberal politician, and the play merely advances reformist ideas. So why would @WilliamsRuto attack children over it?. To his own question he replied, Ruto is just rogue! If we dont stop him, he will not stop! All our dead are still not accounted for, we need a much more radical solution.

Their call for a more radical solution rings hollow, given the partys track record of loyalty to the Kenyan bourgeoisie, its open support for the Chinese capitalist police-state regime, and its key role in demobilising opposition during the Gen-Z protests.

Echoes of War must be understood not as an isolated artistic expression but as the cultural reflection of a broader social upheaval in the making. The real lesson of this episode is that the ruling class is afraid and it has every reason to be.

The International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) insists that the struggle against dictatorship, censorship, inequality, and repression cannot be waged through appeals to the ruling elite or its opposition. It requires the political mobilisation of workers and youth on the basis of socialist internationalism.
Jennifer Vazquez Sura and Kilmar Abrego Garcia with their children [Photo: Jennifer Vasquez Sura]

In a court hearing Tuesday concerning Maryland father Kilmar Abrego Garcia, Trump Justice Department lawyers refused to provide any updates on what steps the US government is taking to facilitate his return to the United States from a mega-prison in El Salvador.

Abrego Garcia, 29, was one of over 250 men the majority of whom have never been convicted of a crime kidnapped and deported to El Salvador last month under the Alien Enemies Act.

The Trump administration is using the case of Abrego Garcia to steamroll over what remains of democratic rights in the United States. Openly defying a Supreme Court ruling last Thursday which required the US government to facilitate the return of Abrego Garcia to the US, in a court filing before Tuesdays hearing, Department of Homeland Security attorney Joseph Mazzara argued the agency did not have the authority to forcibly extract an alien from the domestic custody of a foreign sovereign nation.

In the same filing Mazzara wrote that if Abrego Garcia was able to somehow escape El Salvadors Centro del Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT) and present at a port of entry to the US, he would be detained and removed again to a third country or, Mazzara wrote, DHS would terminate his withholding of removal because of his membership in MS-13, a designated foreign terrorist organization, and remove him to El Salvador.

As a matter of fact, while Trump officials and fascist propagandists constantly claim Abrego Garcia is a member of MS-13, they have yet to submit any evidence to corroborate this allegation in any of their recent court findings.

Mazzaras statement that the US government does not have the authority to demand Abrego Garcias return is a shameless lie. The US government is paying its client, the Bukele dictatorship, some $6 million to detain him and others in CECOT, the largest prison in the Americas. Less than three weeks ago, fascist Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem took a propaganda tour of the facility, escorted by guards the entire time. There is no question that if the Trump administration demanded it, Abrego Garcia could be back on a plane to the US within hours.

In response to the governments refusal to carry out her or the Supreme Courts orders, on Tuesday US District Judge Paula Xinis ordered four US officials to provide documentation and answer questions under oath about what steps they had taken to comply with her previous orders.

Xinis set forward an expedited discovery period, warning that there would be no vacations and that it would conclude by April 28, at which time Xinis might consider holding one, or more, Trump administration official in contempt.

Xinis said:

To date, what the record shows is that nothing has been done. Nothing. I asked for reports from individuals with direct knowledge and Ive gotten very little information of any value.

US attorney Drew Ensign, arguing on behalf of the Trump administration, said that the government was providing updates by pointing to the White House meeting held Monday between President Donald Trump and El Salvadoran dictator Nayib Bukele in which the latter said he would not return Abrego Garcia because he was a terrorist.

Xinis said the White House meeting was irrelevant to her order. No press release is going to move the court, she said.

In last weeks Supreme Court ruling, the court ordered the US government to facilitate Abrego Garcias release from custody in El Salvador. However, in a gift to the Trump administration, the court requested Judge Xinis to clarify her order over the word effectuate, adding that she had to show due regard for the deference owed to the executive branch.

Xinis amended her order to remove the word effectuate, but still, in line with the Supreme Court ruling, ordered daily updates from the Trump administration concerning Abrego Garcias status. This includes providing updates on where he is presently located and what steps the administration is taking to return him to the US.

Far from demanding or facilitating his return, the Trump administration is doing everything in its power to ensure that Abrego Garcia and others wrongly imprisoned never see the light of day. In an interview on Fox News which aired Tuesday, Trump again reiterated his fascist pledge to send home-grown alleged criminals to an El Salvadoran concentration camp.



Asked by Fox News if Trump was considering sending US citizens to overseas concentration camps, Trump replied, I call home-grown criminals the home-growns, the ones that grew up and something went wrong, he said, adding, We are looking into it, and we want to to do it.

Appearing on the far-right network later on the same day, Trumps border czar Tom Homan, channeling Hitler, declared:

Were gonna target every foreign national public safety threat in this country. We wont rest until every single one of them are eradicated from this country.

The illegal arrests and deportations of thousands of immigrants, including international students, has provoked mass outrage throughout the United States.

Ahead of Tuesdays hearing in Greenbelt, Maryland, hundreds of people, including co-workers and community members, held a protest in support of Abrego Garcia.

Jennifer Vazquez Sura, his wife, spoke outside the courthouse, stating that her husband is a father, son, brother and proud member of CASA and SMART Union.

She said:

On March 12, he was abducted and disappeared by the United States government in front of our five-year-old child. Today is 34 days after his disappearance.

I will not stop fighting until I see my husband alive. Kilmar, if you can hear me, stay strong.

Recounting the pain over the last month she said:

Our children are asking when will you come home. Our family is torn apart during this scary time. Our children miss their dad so much.

She concluded:

Enough is enough. This administration has already taken so much from our children, from Kilmars mother, brother, sisters and me.


A recent report by the Australian Ombudsman exposed the inhuman and degrading conditions in which refugees are imprisoned on military patrol boats that the Albanese Labor government uses to capture and remove them.

These operations include forcibly transporting asylum seekers to the notorious detention camp on the remote, tiny Pacific island of Nauru, which Labor reopened in 2023.

Detainee area on MV Besant, with stated capacity of 48 people. [Photo by Commonwealth Ombudsman / CC BY 4.0

The report contained shocking pictures of the primitive, unhygienic and cramped cells in which captured refugees have been held indefinitely and at least for two weeks, forced to sleep and eat on thin floor mats, without any beds or furniture.

As the report documented, the facilities on board the Labor governments two prison vessels, the MV Besant and ADV Guidance, lack proper shelter, sleeping arrangements, sanitary conditions, dining and recreational facilities, adequate medical care and private spaces for asylum interviews.

These conditions violate both United Nations and domestic minimum standards for detention, including in relation to access to medical care, interpreters and adequate accommodation.

Figure 2: Jigsaw mats [Photo by Commonwealth Ombudsman / CC BY 4.0

In the words of the report: Within the detention area there was no furniture or beds, and we were advised that foam jigsaw mats are provided to people detained within the facility [Figure 2]. These mats are approximately four centimetre thick foam mats that can be interlocked together. These mats would be placed over the plastic grate decking and people in detention would sleep, sit, and eat on these mats for the duration of their staywhich could be weekswithin the detention facility.

This fell well short of the UN Minimum Standard Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, which stipulate that accommodation used by detained persons, in particular all sleeping accommodation, shall meet all requirements of health, due regard being paid to climatic conditions and particularly to cubic content of air, minimum floor space, lighting, heating and ventilation.

Shower facility in the main detention area [Photo by Commonwealth Ombudsman / CC BY 4.0

The Labor government has not uttered a word about the report. It is proceeding silently with plans to cosmetically upgrade the facilities on ADV Guidance. But these conditions will still be cruel. As the report noted, for example: [T]here was no dining room in the detention area, and we were advised that meals would be prepared in the ships kitchen, delivered to the detention area, and consumed within the accommodation area.

The report, barely mentioned in the corporate media, is another indication of the lengths to which the Labor government is going to seek to outdo the Liberal-National Coalition in repelling and punishing asylum seekers who are trying to flee persecution and impoverishment.

Nauru, together with Papua New Guineas Manus Islandanother former Australian colonywas one of the locations for the barbaric post-2001 Pacific Solution of refugee detention on remote islands, perpetrated by successive Labor and Coalition governments. Under Albanese, Nauru is again housing asylum seekers in primitive conditions.

This is being accompanied by unknown numbers of forced and dangerous refugee boat turnbacks by naval or Australian Border Force vessels, conducted behind a wall of military secrecy.

The bipartisan war on refugees is part of a wider political offensive. It dovetails with a barrage of lies in the official campaign for the May 3 federal election, seeking to blame refugees, immigrant workers and international students for the worsening housing and cost-of-living crisis hitting millions of working-class households.

In recent weeks, both Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Coalition leader Peter Dutton have competed with each other in vowing to slash the numbers of immigrants and international students.

Dutton has declared that a Coalition government would cut net migration by 100,000 a year from the 202526 projected figure of 260,000, straight away, only to be accused by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke of proposing a lesser cut than Labor. Burke boasted that the 202526 figure was already a drop of 120,000 from the current year.

Likewise, Dutton has vowed to cut the number of international students entering Australia by 80,000 to 240,000, only to have Albanese condemn him for refusing to back Labors own legislation to impose enrolment caps last year. Having failed to get that bill through the Senate, the Labor government has already drastically cut the numbers by 16 percent to 270,000 by ministerial decree.

This is despite all the evidence demolishing the bipartisan claim that international students are driving up rents. Research has shown that these students account for only 4 percent of the rental market. In fact, median weekly rent increased by 30 percent between 2019 and 2023, even when student visa arrivals decreased by 13 percent due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The truth is that the housing affordability crisis is caused by profiteering by the banks and property developers, such as Australias second richest oligarch Harry Triguboff (estimated to be worth $31.48 billion), and the decimation of public housing over the past four decades, now being intensified by the demolition of 44 public housing towers in Melbourne by the Victorian state Labor government.

The student enrolment caps are ramping up the financial pressure on the chronically underfunded public universitiesalready triggering the destruction of more than 2,000 jobs of educators and professional staff.

More broadly, the assault on migrants is an attack on the working class as a whole, which is increasingly international in Australia, as it is around the world. Almost half the Australian population has a parent born overseas. In major working-class areas that proportion is even higher. In the Brisbane electorate of Oxley, where I am the candidate for the Socialist Equality Party (SEP), that figure is 66 percent. In the Melbourne electorate of Calwell, where Morgan Peach is our candidate, it is 72 percent!

Such working-class households are increasingly threatened by the anti-immigrant witch-hunt, which features restricting or terminating work visas, denying democratic rights such as voting and standing for election, and deporting people on temporary visas.

At the end of last year, despite popular opposition, Labor and the Coalition joined hands to pass three anti-immigrant bills. One was a potential mass deportation bill. Immigration officials admitted that more than 80,000 people on bridging or temporary visas could be expelled from the country under its provisions.

The second bill ordered migrants being expelled from the country to cooperate in efforts to ensure their prompt and lawful removal, or they could be imprisoned repeatedly for up to five years. The third bill provided the government the power to confiscate mobile phones from detainees, to prevent them from communicating with the outside world.

On this front, like every other, Australia is no exception to what is happening around the world. On every continent, the ruling class and its political servants are trying to divert the growing discontent with plunging living conditions away from the real source, which lies in the ever greater accumulation of wealth by the billionaires and the capitalist profit system itself.

Everywhere, now spearheaded by the fascistic Trump administrations mass deportations, the media and political establishments are seeking to whip up anti-immigrant sentiment, nationalism and patriotism to divide the working class globally, and prepare for war.

The SEP is the sole party standing candidates in this election, as part of the campaigns by our world movement, the International Committee of the Fourth International, for the opposite and only possible progressive political perspective.

The fight against the anti-refugee and anti-immigrant poison requires a mass movement of the working class globally for the expropriation of the oligarchs, the establishment of workers power and the reorganisation of society on the basis of social need, not private profit.

Workers have to unite with their class brothers and sisters around the world in a common struggle to end capitalism and build socialism. In the famous words of the Communist Manifesto written by Karl Marx and Frederick Engels, Workers of the world, unite!

That is why the SEP states clearly in our election statement: Hands off immigrants and refugees! End the scapegoating of these oppressed workers for the social crisis caused by capitalism! Full citizenship rights for all working people now!

Despite Labors criminal regime, the Greens and various pseudo-left groups are urging a vote for Labor to keep Dutton out. But Labors brutality is no aberration. It was founded in the 1890s on the racist White Australia policy of excluding non-European migrants. In recent decades, it has helped spearhead attacks on refugees, including the introduction of mandatory detention in 1992, and the reopening of offshore detention camps in 2012.

Since the 1990s, both Labor and Coalition governments alike have set precedents for other Western governments to shut their doors, block boats, detain asylum seekers and either return them or transport them to grim locations.

Now foreigners, including international students, are being falsely blamed for the deteriorating social conditions produced by capitalisms economic and cost-of-living crisis and the channelling of billions of dollars into military spending amid the US-backed Gaza genocide and the preparations for a war against China.

This is a malicious nationalist drive to turn working people against each other, domestically and globally. To defeat it means forging the international unity of working people in the common struggle against capitalism and for socialism. That is what the SEP is fighting for.

Authorised by Cheryl Crisp for the Socialist Equality Party, Level 1/457-459 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills, NSW, 2010, Australia.
In Canada, as in the US and around the world, the imperialist-backed Israeli genocide in Gaza has sparked popular outrage. Above, a section of of a 40,000-strong, Nov. 4, 2023, demonstration in Toronto.

Amid the campaign for the April 28 federal election, Canadas ruling class and its political representatives are doubling down on their full support for Israels genocidal assault on Gaza, and the Zionist regimes drive to expel Palestinians en masse from both Gaza and the West Bank. This is evidenced by an escalating cross-Canada crack-down on any expression of political opposition to the genocide.

Israel has prevented all food, water, and other aid from entering Gaza since the beginning of March, leaving the population to starve to death amid Israels resumption of daily air bombardments and ground operations in the enclave.

In the face of the Israeli militarys daily slaughter of Palestinian men, women and children, Canadian imperialism remains entirely deaf to all demands for a change in its policy of staunch support for Israel. In fact, that policy is hardening.

It is now considered intolerable even for members of the political establishment to acknowledge the basic reality of Israels illegal occupation of the lands it conquered in 1967 and the ongoing genocide. For workers, it may soon become a crime.

In remarks to electors at a Milton, Ontario mosque on April 11, Liberal Party candidate Adam van Koeverden called Israels campaign of murder in Gaza by its rightful name genocide. Stumping for votes, he claimed he would make sure that your voices would be strong in Ottawa, to condemn the genocide, to end the genocide in Gaza, to continue to make sure that Palestinian voices would continue to be heard by our leaders.

This of course is an outright lie. The Justin Trudeau-Mark Carney Liberal government, in which van Koeverden has served as a parliamentary secretary, has provided Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus far-right regime with unstinting support as it has waged its genocidal onslaught on Gaza for the past 20 months.

This has included smearing opposition to the genocide as antisemitism and approving substantial exports of military equipment to Israel. When Van Koeverden was predictably condemned by the right and far right for his remarks, it came as no surprise that nobody in the Liberal Party came to his defense.

Earlier last week, Liberal Prime Minister Carney had walked back remarks in which he obliquely appeared to acknowledge the reality of Israels genocidal onslaught. During an April 7 Calgary, Alberta election campaign event, a lone protester exclaimed that Mr. Carney, theres a genocide in Palestine! Carney replied: Im aware. Thats why we have an arms embargo. Liberal supporters then drowned out any further embarrassing questions by chanting Carneys name.

In fact, there is no meaningful arms embargo against Israel. The federal government-owned Canadian Commercial Corporation is helping supply Israel with rocket propellant. A dozen activists attempted to shame the government into ending this contract over the weekend, when they occupied the campaign office of Canadas Foreign Affairs Minister, Melanie Joly.

Carneys comments immediately drew fire from Netanyahu, who has been charged by the International Criminal Court with war crimes. He re-tweeted a politically dishonest X post by the far-right Toronto Sun journalist Bryan Pasifiume, which falsely presented Liberal supporters chants of Carney! Carney! as evidence of the partys support for Carneys supposed acknowledgement of a genocide taking place in Gaza.

Backed by the Canadian ruling class and the capitalist press, Netanyahu demanded, Mr. Carney, backtrack your irresponsible statement! and Carney did exactly that. On April 9, the newly-minted Liberal prime minister claimed that he did not hear the protesters shouted remarks correctly, and was only stating that I was aware of the situation in Gaza.

Karen Stintz, Conservative Party candidate for Eglington-Lawrence in Toronto and a former city councillor, slammed any accusation of genocide against our ally Israel as both wrong and dangerous. She claimed absurdly that the Liberal leader perpetuates hate.

Carneys capitulation to the demands of Netanyahu and the Conservatives is part of a process the World Socialist Web Site has identified as akin to the Nazis push for Gleichschaltung (synchronization)the enforced falling into line with state policy and ideology of all political and other institutions, with all opposing points of view essentially criminalized. This is expressed most clearly in the United States, where the fascistic Trump regime has declared that any opposition whatsoevereven in the form of thoughtto Israels genocidal policies, and to American foreign policy objectives by non-citizens is grounds for imprisonment and deportation.

This process is international, and is now finding clear expression in British, German, Australian and Canadian politics, as the ruling class responds to the spiralling crisis of world capitalism with a policy of economic nationalism and preparations for world war. The crimes which their client state Israel is committing today, the imperialist countries conspire to commit tomorrow, on an infinitely vaster scale. The imperialist powers, first and foremost the United States, are backing Israels genocide because they view it as an essential component of a policy of redrawing the map of the Middle East to consolidate Washingtons hegemony against its major rivals, China and Russia.

In Canada, this process relates directly to the trade war with the United States. Canadas ruling class wants to obtain favourable trade terms from the Trump regime in a proposed Fortress Can-Am against China. It knows that a much closer alignment of Canadian domestic policy with Trumps attack on basic democratic rights in the US will be on the table when negotiations for a new relationship between the two countries begin immediately after the April 28 election.

Carneys apparent slip-up provided his chief electoral opponent, Pierre Poilievre, the far-right leader of the Conservatives, the opportunity to re-state his intention to follow the policy of the fascist US president and expel foreign students who protest against the genocide. Anyone who is here on a visitor visa who carries out law-breaking will be deported from this country, he bellowed. Given that the very act of protesting the genocide has been labelled by the Conservatives as an antisemitic hate-crime, if not support for terrorism, Poilievres invocation of law-breaking is effectively a threat to expel all those who join a pro-Palestinian demonstration or encampment.

The Conservative leader has repeatedly smeared demonstrations against Israels genocide as antisemitic hate marches, even though many of the movement leaders and participants are anti-Zionist Jews. Poilievre has also labelled the anti-genocide protests as violenteffectively urging the police to crack headsand tied his claim that violence from foreign political developments has spilled over into our streets to a more general incitement of hostility to immigrants.

As for the New Democrats, whose candidates have taken to criticizing Israels genocide for electoral purposes, they were decisive in propping up Trudeaus Liberal government until the former prime minister stepped down in March and his successor, Carney, moved to call an early election. The NDP thereby enabled the Liberal governments backing for the genocide for a year and a half, during which time officially over 50,000 Palestinians died, and unofficially many more. The NDP, it need be added, played a key role in whipping up the intimidatory atmosphere targeting anti-genocide protesters. This was exemplified by its decision to throw Sarah Jama out of the Ontario NDP parliamentary caucus after she came under fire from Ontario Tory Premier Doug Ford and the corporate media for comments in solidarity with the Palestinian victims of Zionist state terror.

No matter who wins the election on April 28, the ruling class attack on free speech will continue. As in the United States, Canadian university administrations have begun to attack the basic democratic rights of their students. The administration of Montreals McGill University has moved to de-recognize and cut off all funding for the Student Society of McGill University, (SSMU), which is officially recognized by the Quebec government as the students representative body, after a three-day student strike that demanded the university divest from corporations with ties to Israel and its military.

November 30, 2023 protest against the prosecution and persecution of the "Peace 11." [Photo: SURJ Toronto]

The fundamental hostility of the Canadian ruling class to basic democratic rights was also exposed with the exoneration of the so-called Peace 11 protesters on a series of entirely concocted charges of hate motivated criminal mischief and criminal harassment.

The activists, including several anti-Zionist Jews, faced up to 10 years in prison for splashing the front doors of an Indigo book store with washable red paint and putting up posters exposing the financial support of Indigos owner, the billionaire Heather Reisman, for the IDF and its genocidal assault on the Gaza Palestinians. Reismans Heseg Foundation provides financial support to so-called lone soldiers, IDF veterans without family in Israel.

In November 2023, police raided the homes of the activists in the middle of the night. Using tactics recalling nothing so much as those of the Nazi Gestapo, the police broke down doors, and even handcuffed the parents of one of the accused.

The activists arrest and prosecution now stands exposed as legal harassment and intimidation.

In fits and starts, the Crown gradually dropped all charges against seven of the accused. Two others were given an absolute discharge when their cases went to trial.

The remaining two have pled guilty. However, the judge in their cases has reserved his judgement. This has prompted many to conclude that they too will receive an absolute dischargemeaning that the Crown and police will have failed to secure a single criminal conviction despite spending hundreds of thousands and possibly millions of dollars on a baseless political prosecution.

The exoneration of the Peace 11 has outraged defenders of Israeli genocide such as the Toronto Suns Warren Kinsella. The former Liberal Party strategist turned journalist and crisis communications consultant maintained in an April 14 column that the actions of the Peace 11 were a hate crime, even after the courts found, and the Crown has had to essentially admit, no crimes of any sort were committed.
Around 2,000 workers from Vogue Tex garment factories located at Weligama and Hikkaduwa in Sri Lankas southern province held angry protests on April 8, and the following day, against managements refusal to pay the Sinhala-Tamil New Year bonus.

The bonus is for the April 1314 holidays, the major annual festival for Sinhala and Tamil communities in Sri Lanka. Private sector workers, who are paid low wages in Sri Lanka, are usually given an annual bonus to celebrate the festival.

Workers at the Vogue Tex factory in Weligama, Sri Lanka [Photo: Facebook/Vogue Tex, Weligama]

Vogue Tex management announced on April 8 that that it could not pay the New Year bonus because of new US tariffs on Sri Lankan exports. Management closed its factories until April 22, transferring workers monthly salaries to their bank accounts but not their New Year bonuses.

On April 2, US President Donald Trump announced harsh tariff hikes on international imports around the world, with the highest rates imposed on China. Sri Lankas tariff was lifted to 44 percent, Bangladesh 37 percent, and Pakistan 30 percent with other Asian countries also facing steep hikes.

Trumps announcement sent shockwaves through Sri Lankas export industries, and garments, in particular. The US is the single largest market for Sri Lankas exports.

Workers at the Weligama plant downed tools after hearing about managements plans, surrounding the managers office and preventing him from leaving until the bonus was paid. They told the management it was irrational and unfair to use the new tariffs imposed by the US as an excuse to justify not paying bonuses.

These bonuses should be paid from the profits earned last year, before the new tariffs were imposed, the Vogue Tex workers said. Workers protested outside the plant, chanting slogans, Pay bonuses immediately. Management called the police to quell protesters, but workers continued their action until dawn the next day.

The Colombo-based Daily Mirror published a video of the protesting Weligama workers on April 9. It reported that management told the workers that the bonuses would be paid by 8 a.m., the following day. Management, however, has only paid half the bonus amount given during previous years.

One worker told the newspaper that one pack of clothes would be enough to pay the wages of ten people, and angrily denounced the high level of exploitation at the plant. Voicing her anger over the governments indifference to this exploitation, she asked, What is the president [Anura Kumara Dissanayake] doing?

In another video circulating on social media, a Weligama worker, who is only paid 35,00040,000 rupees ($US117133) per month, said workloads at the factory had been increased to unbearable levels. She said that her hopes of celebrating [the New Year], at least in a small way with her children and family had been shattered by the non-payment of bonuses.

A garment worker from Vogue Texs Hikkaduwa factory plant told the World Socialist Web Site that there was rising unrest among the 850-strong workforce at that plant when they heard about the companys decision to halt the bonus.

He explained that his monthly salary, including all allowances, was only about 36,000 rupees and that his whole family, including his wife and her mother, had to try and survive on this meagre amount.

How can we live on that? Even though they say the factory will be opened on the 22nd, I am very sceptical and think we need to discuss this with other workers, he said. We planned to do many things during the festival with the small bonus amount, he added.

Today, a group of workers are going to the Galle Labour Office to file a complaint. But where will we get the money to spend on a year investigating this complaint and getting payment for the bonus? This is the ultimate injustice. Ive been working in this factory for about five years but in the end, this is how the factory treats us, he said.

Vogue Tex began operations in Sri Lanka in 1991, as a partner company of German-Sri Lanka investors who opened one plant in Kosgoda. Today, it has eight factories, employing over 10,000 workers who produce over 1.5 million garments and bring in $US100 million in export revenue per year. Vogue Tex manufactures for Levis, Ralph Lauren, Marks & Spencer, Tommy Hilfiger and Gerry Weber in the US and the European Union.

The closed Vogue Tex garment factory in Gonapinuwala

The companys plant in the Koggala free trade zone was shut down about two months ago with some of its workers relocated to Hikkaduwa and the rest to Weligama. Vogue Tex garment workers told the WSWS that the companys Anuradhapura plant was closed some time ago.

Sri Lanka earns $1.5 billion annually from its apparel exports to the US with industry experts predicting that the new US tariffs will cut that revenue by $600 million. The sector employs 15 percent of the countrys total industrial workforce.

Several Sri Lankan garment plants have shut down in recent years, resulting in the destruction of thousands of jobs. In 2022, at least half a million people, including garment and service workers, lost their jobs.

This job destruction was precipitated by global financial pressures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and US-NATO proxy war in Ukraine against Russia. The global downturn led to a major economic breakdown in Sri Lanka, beginning in 2021, and resulting in the eruption of a mass anti-government uprising involving millions of workers and the poor in 2022.

While there are around 350,000 workers directly employed in the garment industry, another 600,000 are indirectly involved. Many of the indirect workers, including underage people, are employed by sub-contractors on extremely low wages and harsh conditions. According to industry insiders, larger garment manufacturers in Sri Lanka have already demanded these sub-contracting companies slash production cost by 40 percent. This means more mass lay-offs, wage cuts and even more exploitative conditions.

While Trump has announced a 90-day tariff pause, no one can predict exactly what his next step will be. Some international financial commentators are warning that the tariffs could precipitate a global recession.

Johan Lawrence, secretary general of Sri Lankas Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF), told the media: These tariffs are extremely high relative to our regional competitors The impact will be rapid and severe once the tariffs are implemented. We could see more US businesses in our country move to competitive markets.

In other words, Sri Lankan-based exporters must impose brutal cost-cutting attacks on their workers.

Giant retailers in the US and Europe are already reaping huge profits importing from garment manufacturing countries, such as Bangladesh, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Taiwan. China is currently the top garment exporter to the US. In the wake of Trumps new tariff measures, these retailers will demand even cheaper production costs.

President Dissanayakes government, and the Sri Lankan ruling elite, were shocked by Trumps tariff initial increase announcement. Colombo has informed the Trump administration that Sri Lanka will take every measure to mitigate its trade balance with the US.

The Sri Lankan governments principal focus, however, will be to make workers and the poor pay. Dissanayake has publicly declared that people will have to prepare to face the crisis as a nation, a statement fully endorsed by all the parliamentary opposition parties.

The determined and active opposition of Vogue Tex workers against managements refusal to pay the regular New Year bonus makes clear that workers will not tolerate company attacks on their jobs, wages and working conditions.
Latin American leaders during the CELAC summit in Honduras on April 9 [Photo: CELAC]

Latin American leaders met in Honduras last Wednesday, April 9, for the ninth summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). The summit took place amid an escalating trade war by US President Donald Trumps administration against China, the main trading partner of most countries in the region and the only country against which Washington has maintained reciprocal tariffs after suspending them for 90 days.

As part of the Trump administrations so-called Liberation Day, Latin American countries, most of which have a trade deficit with the US, were taxed a minimum of 10 percent. The exceptions were Guyana (38 percent), Nicaragua (18 percent), and Venezuela (15 percent). The last two countries, along with Cuba, have been subject to US trade sanctions for years.

Since the beginning of the last decade, Latin American countries have been striking a delicate balance between strong trade relations with China and, to a lesser extent, Russia, and the growing pressure exerted by US imperialism. With Trumps return to power, this pressure has escalated enormously with open threats to seize the Panama Canal and a drive to impose regimes aligned with his government in Latin America as he prepares for war against China.

At the same time, as Latin American governments are trying to assess the impact of Trumps trade war on their economies, there is a growing consensus among them that it is necessary to diversify trade relations, including the possibility of moving away from the US. This move would open up space for strengthening commercial ties within Latin America itself, as well as expanding partnerships with other blocs and global powers, such as the European Union and China itself.

Since its creation in 2011 during the bourgeois nationalist Pink Tide governments to counter the US-controlled Organization of American States (OAS), CELAC has advanced the need to integrate the Patria Grande (shared homeland) in multiple arenascultural, economic, military, and political. However, as the global economic crisis has intensified with the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, fragmentation and regional conflicts between Latin American countries have emerged in full force.

The generic nature of the short Tegucigalpa Declaration, made up of just eight points and adopted by a sufficient consensus of 30 of the 33 CELAC countries, highlighted the growing difficulty Latin American leaders have in responding in a unified and effective way to the intensification of the global crisis. One of the points defended respect for the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, international cooperation, democracy and the rule of law, multilateralism, the protection and promotion of all human rights, respect for self-determination, non-interference in internal affairs, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Without directly naming the US and Trumps trade war measures, it rejected the imposition of unilateral coercive measures contrary to international law, including those that restrict international trade.

Argentina, under fascist president Javier Milei, and Paraguay, under right-wing president Santiago Penaboth close allies of Donald Trumprefused to sign the declaration and denounced it as a breach of protocol since the text was published without the consensus of all the member countries. Nicaragua, governed by Sandinista President Daniel Ortega, also abstained, claiming that the declaration was insufficient and advocating a more ambitious text.

Earlier this year, Argentina and Paraguay also managed to block an extraordinary CELAC meeting called by Colombias pseudo-leftist President Gustavo Petro to discuss the Trump administrations mass deportations of Latin American immigrants.

In his speech at the CELAC summit, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (Workers Party-PT) said, History teaches us that trade wars have no winners. Calling for Latin American unity, he continued: If we remain separate, the Latin American and Caribbean community runs the risk of returning to the status of a zone of influence in a new division of the globe between superpowers.

To forestall this threat, he defended the need to put differences aside and rescue the plural and pragmatic spirit that united us in the early 2000s and led to the creation of UNASUL [Union of South American Nations, in 2008] and CELAC itself. Both UNASUL and CELAC were created to further the intentions of the PT (2003-2016) and other Pink Tide governments, such as those of Hugo Chavez in Venezuela and Evo Morales in Bolivia, to create a multipolar world in opposition to US hegemony.

It is imperative that Latin America and the Caribbean redefine their place in the emerging global order, Lula continued, promoting regional trade in goods and services, its diversification and increasing facilitation.

On a point particularly sensitive to US imperialism, which puts Brazil in direct conflict with the US, he advocated reactivating the ALADI [Latin American Integration Association] Reciprocal Payments and Credits Agreement and expanding the Local Currency Payments System. This is also an agenda that Brazil intends to push forward within BRICSmade up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, plus a dozen recently incorporated countriesduring its term as rotating president this year. The initiative, however, has already been heavily criticized by Trump, who has promised to retaliate against BRICS several times.

The Brazilian president also noted that Brazil [is] promoting five South American Integration Routes, which will link the Caribbean, the Atlantic and the Pacific. According to a January report on the Lula governments planning ministry website, these routes aim to increase the competitiveness of Brazilian and South American products and reduce the distance and travel time of trade with Asia.

In addition to seeking to reindustrialize Brazil as a response to four decades of deindustrialization and the recent growing influx of Chinese manufactured goodsa phenomenon intensified by the tariff war and widely highlighted by the media in recent daysthe Lula government is betting on new trade routes to strengthen exchanges between Latin American countries and Asia. According to data from the planning ministry, most Brazilian exports to China are made up of primary products, with only 2 percent representing industrial goods. As for exports to South America, industrial goods account for 85 percent of the total.

Although it doesnt mention China directly, the development of infrastructure led by the Asian country in Latin America has contributed significantly to this project. One example is the recently opened Port of Chancay in Peru, as well as the ambitious plans to build a transoceanic railroad that would link the Atlantic Ocean in Brazil to the Pacific Ocean in Peru.

Another president who attended the CELAC summit was Venezuelas Nicolas Maduro. In his speech, he said that Trump represents the most serious civilizational aggression against migrant peoples in the United States since the era of fascism and Nazism. He also declared, We are currently experiencing two aggressions, one of an economic nature and the other of a humanitarian nature, against our migrants, a reference to the 238 immigrants illegally deported from the US to El Salvador.

Maduro considers CELAC and the rapprochement with China and other BRICS countries to be essential for minimizing the harsh economic impact of US sanctions and the Trump administrations recent measures against Venezuelan oil. At the CELAC summit, he advocated the construction of a General Secretariat for the community.

China has been closely watching developments at CELAC. Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to the summit, saying that the world today is undergoing accelerated changes unseen in a century and that the Global South, including China as well as Latin American and Caribbean countries, is growing with a strong momentum.

He also noted that This year, China will host the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC Forum in Beijing, which will take place in May. Lula and other regional leaders are expected to attend the forum in person.

However, Xis call for building a China-Latin America community with a shared future, runs directly counter to US interests. Last week, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reinforced in a visit to Panama that the US will take back the Panama Canal from Chinese influence and, more broadly, that Chinas military has too large of a presence in the Western Hemisphere. The visit took place while Trump and Hegseth were openly talking about sending US troops to Panama.

As is becoming clear, Trump, while attempting to consolidate a presidential dictatorship in the US, is also turning Latin America into a battleground in the confrontation of US imperialism with China.

The attempts by Lula and other Latin American leaders to counter the US offensive by building a multipolar world, with Latin America somehow being able to take advantage of Trumps economic war against China, is a reactionary illusion. As the WSWS recently warned, All factions of the US ruling class, whatever their tactical differences with Trump, are united in their determination to ensure there is no so-called multipolar world. US hegemony must be maintained at all costs and that means the subordination of China.

Lula and the other Latin American heads of state are loyal representatives of the national and international bourgeoisies, and their aim is to achieve less unfavorable economic conditions in a world increasingly dominated by the threat of a new imperialist world war. The only progressive response to this threat is the unity of the Latin American working class with its brothers and sisters in North America in a struggle for international socialism.
A Coast Guard cutter passes a cargo ship that is stuck under part of the structure of the Francis Scott Key Bridge after the ship hit the bridge on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. [AP Photo/Steve Helber]

The United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its findings regarding the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore last year.

On March 26, 2024, the bridge was struck by the Singapore-based container ship MV Dali. The collapse led to the deaths of six construction workers, who were on the bridge at the time, and untold economic damages for the Chesapeake Bay region.

Six workers were repairing the bridge in the early morning hours when the Dali struck the bridgeAlejandro Hernandez Fuentes; Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera; Maynor Yasir Suazo-Sandoval; Carlos Daniel Hernandez; Miguel Angel Luna Gonzalez and Jose Mynor Lopez. They died after plunging into the icy Patapsco River nearly 200 feet below. Two workers who fell into the river were rescued and survived.

The Key Bridge was opened in 1977 after five years of construction and served as a vital transport link in the Baltimore region, particularly for hazmat freight. Such freight is not allowed to enter the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel or the Fort McHenry Tunnel, which serve the regions main I-95 interstate connecting the East Coast of the US.

It was one of the longest continuous truss bridges in the world before its collapse.

At the time of the catastrophic collapse, the Socialist Equality Party declared that this event expresses the collision between the needs of a modern, mass society and the outmoded capitalist system. When it comes to upgrading old bridges to withstand the risks of collisions with modern-day container ships, the SEP wrote, The question is not a lack of resources, but who controls them.

The NTSB investigation determined that the Key Bridge was nearly 30 times above the acceptable threshold set by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). This was due to the bridge being built before vulnerability assessments were required.

AASHTO created its vulnerability assessment calculation in 1991 following the collapse of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa Bay, Florida, in 1980. As with the Key Bridge, the Sunshine Skyway collapsed after being struck by a container ship, leading to the deaths of 35 people.

Beginning in 1994, the Federal Highway Administration in the US began requiring all newly built bridges to minimize their risk of catastrophic failure in the event of a vessel collision. Bridges built before 1994 were not required to implement upgrades.

The NTSB accident report concluded that if the state of Maryland had

conducted a vulnerability assessment of the Francis Scott Key Bridge based on recent vessel traffic, as recommended by the 1991 and 2009 AASHTO Guide Specifications, the MDTA [Maryland Transportation Authority] would have been aware that this critical/essential bridge was above the AASHTO threshold of risk for catastrophic collapse from a vessel collision when the Dali collision occurred.

The report concluded that

had the MDTA conducted a vulnerability assessment of the Key Bridge using AASHTOs Method II vulnerability assessment calculation, the MDTA would have had information to proactively identify strategies to reduce the risk of a collapse and loss of lives associated with a vessel collision with the bridge.

Significantly, the regulatory agency said it had identified 68 other bridges frequented by ocean-going vessels like the MV Dali that were built before the AASHTO guidance was created and have never undergone a vulnerability assessment based on recent vessel traffic. Such structures have an unknown level of risk of collapse from a vessel collision.

While the NTSB did not conclude that these 68 other bridges have the same risk of collapse as the Key Bridge did, it urged the 30 organizations that own these bridgesmostly local or state agencies, the US Army Corps of Engineers, as well as two private corporationsevaluate whether the bridges meet the acceptable risk standard from AASHTO.

Although it is authorized only to conduct fact-finding proceedings and not to assign fault or blame in its investigations, the NTSB report explodes some of the narrative on the bridge collapse pushed by the administration of former US President Joe Biden and the state of Maryland and City of Baltimore.

The latter presented the catastrophe either as a freak accident or as a result of negligence on behalf of the ships owner and operator, Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Private Limited, which last October reached a $102 million settlement with the US Department of Justice.

A year ago, when then-President Biden toured the site of the bridge collapse, he said the US governments first priority was to reopen the economically vital Port of Baltimore, which was almost entirely closed off by the wreckage of the former bridge span. The port is the countrys largest automotive port, being geographically the closest on the Atlantic coast to the industrial Midwest. It is also a key facility for US military and weapons shipments abroad.

In its settlement over the cost of the bridge cleanup, the Justice Department claimed that the MV Dali was improperly maintained and configured in a way that violated safety regulations and norms for international shipping. It stated that, due to negligence, mismanagement, and, at times, a desire to cut costs, they [the ships operators] configured the ships electrical and mechanical systems in a way that prevented those systems from being able to quickly restore propulsion and steering after a power outage onboard the ship which made it impossible to avoid hitting the bridge pillar.

Never did the Justice Department or high-level officials suggest that Maryland leaders should have known about the vulnerabilities of the Key Bridge.

This was the case even though the American Society for Civil Engineers (ASCE) has routinely issued damning reports of the state of roads, bridges, and other infrastructure in the United States, including in its 2025 Report Card for Americas Infrastructure. The latter predicts an investment gap of $3.7 trillion between the resources that are needed for new and existing infrastructure versus what will actually be invested between 2024 and 2033.
Rally in defence of the four Gaza activists on April 7, 2025 in the centre of Berlin

Last week, the Berlin Administrative Court granted an urgent appeal by Shane OBrien to temporarily postpone his planned deportation. OBrien, an Irish citizen, and three other activistsknown as the Berlin4were due to be deported on April 21 due to their expressions of solidarity with Palestine.

The Berlin Immigration Office (LEA) had issued a decision at the beginning of March to revoke OBriens freedom of movement within the EU and to impose a re-entry and residence ban for Germany. Both were to be enforced immediately. This has now been halted pending a decision on an appeal against the LEA decision itself. The courts ruling, however, is not binding for the other individuals concerned, as their cases are being heard by other chambers.

The courts ruling clearly shows how democratic rights are being trampled underfoot in the proceedings against OBrien and the other three activists. The court declared that it had serious doubts about the material legality of the LEA decision, which had already failed to adequately fulfil its duty of clarification in the proceedings.

For example, the LEAs case file on OBrien had only contained a draft criminal warrant from the Berlin public prosecutors office on the charge of insulting behaviour, two criminal complaints relating to the occupation of the Presidium of Berlins Free University and a summary report from the Berlin state Criminal Investigation Bureau (LKA) on 17 ongoing criminal proceedings. The LEA had not even requested the investigation files from the public prosecutors officeeven though the LEA report cited by the LEA itself stated: In order to make a final assessment, it is essential to request the investigation files from the public prosecutors office.

The court concluded that the documents cited by the LEA were unsuitable for forming a judicial conviction that the applicant committed the offences of which he is accused. The LKA report simply reproduces police allegations of offences.

The Berlin Administrative Court also pointed to considerable shortcomings in the LEAs other allegations against OBrien. In the case of the most serious accusationinvolvement in the occupation of the Presidium of the Free Universityit is not clear from the documents to what extent OBrien was actually involved. The alleged acts of violence in connection with the occupation are not attributed to the four activists individually. The LKAs assessment of the occupation as a serious breach of the peace is also contested: in the case of the occupation of Humboldt University, no charges were even brought for this alleged offence.

With regard to the other charges against OBrien, the court criticised the fact that the LEA had not sufficiently examined whether the individual acts constituted a concrete threat to public safety and order within the meaning of the Freedom of Movement Act. In seven instances, this was not the case; at best, they could be considered as part of the official discretionary assessment. With regard to the accusation that OBrien had shouted From the river to the sea, the court referred to the unresolved legal situation regarding this.

The questionable legality of the LEA decision was already clear even before the court ruling. The LEA itself had initially refused to issue the deportation orders as there were no convictions. It only changed its position when the Interior Administration of the Berlin Senate (state executive) intervened.

Franz Mayer, professor of constitutional and European law at Bielefeld University, remarked on Twitter: The real scandal is who ordered this BLATANTLY illegal measure anyway??? There is serious suspicion of Trumpism. In his view, this was so obviously unlawful, particularly with regard to EU citizens, that the administrative court would not refer the matter to the European Court of Justice (ECJ).

However, it would be a false and dangerous illusion to believe that the risk of deportations has been averted with the Administrative Court decision or that this general attack on democratic rights can be fended off with the help of the courts in general. While the Administrative Court found that freedom of movement in the EU cannot be withdrawn on the basis of an early stage of investigation that does not allow for individual attribution of offences, it also found that, in principle, deprivation of liberty was possible without a criminal conviction.

A spokeswoman for the Interior Administration has already announced that as soon as this is possible without jeopardising the investigation, they would request the criminal case files in order to be able to substantiate the allegations even more.

Last Mondays meeting of the Berlin state Interior Affairs Committee, which dealt with the planned deportations, also made it clear that politicians and the judiciary should not be relied upon to fend off such deportations. State Secretary for Internal Affairs Christian Hochgrebe (Social Democratic Party, SPD) repeatedly emphasised that the case concerned the legal field of immigration and residence law and not criminal law, and that the presumption of innocence, for example, did not apply. This simply does not belong here, said Hochgrebe. Furthermore, this was how we always proceed when it comes to returns.

When asked by a member of the state assembly how it came about that the LEA initially did not want to issue a decision because there was no evidence of any public danger, Hochgrebe simply replied: That is not our legal opinion, and that is why the decision was made the way it was.

To summarise, this means that basic rights, such as the presumption of innocence, do not apply to people without a German passport. They do not have to have been convicted of a criminal offence in order to be deported, but it is sufficient if they represent a danger according to the legal opinion of the interior senator (state minister). In the case of the Berlin4, people are to be deported solely on the basis of their political views.

If this attack goes through, it will not only be directed against people without a German passport, but against all workers. The ruling class is returning to its old authoritarian methods and Nazi jurisprudence of thought crimes. This development is ultimately rooted in the crisis of capitalism and cannot be stopped by putting pressure on politicians, or the courts, but only by mobilising the working class on the basis of a socialist programme.

The IYSSE and other groups are organising a rally in defence of theBerlin4 this Thursday, April 17 at noon in front of the main building of Humboldt University. Come along to protest with us against the deportations and to discuss what needs to be done to stop war and dictatorship.
A father and son in San Juan, Texas [AP Photo/Eric Gay]

In one of the most ruthless assaults on immigrant workers in American history, the Trump administration has launched a policy that weaponizes the Social Security Administrations Death Master File to erase the legal existence of thousands of living people.

This is not mere administrative cruelty. It is a campaign of financial assassination, designed to strip immigrant workers of their livelihoods, sever their access to essential services, and force them to self-deport through economic strangulation.

The list already includes over 6,300 individuals, and officials admit it will likely expand. Among them are minors and individuals with no criminal record. While the administration claims these people are suspected criminals or terrorists, even internal agency staff have found no evidence to support those allegations. These are workers who have paid into Social Security, Medicaid and unemployment insurance programs now used as weapons against them.

The scheme targets immigrants who were granted temporary legal status under the Biden administration, a status that carried no path to citizenship and no permanent protection, only the illusion of security until the political winds shifted. Trump has already started revoking their temporary status.

Their real crime was allowing themselves to be registered and tracked in federal databases built by Democratic administrations, which have long relied on immigrant labor while denying them lasting political rights or protections.

Now, under Trump, these records have been repurposed into a purge list.

Through this sinister manipulation, the government has begun reclassifying living immigrants as dead, transferring their names and Social Security numbers into a system meant for the deceased. The consequences are catastrophic: without a valid Social Security number, one cannot legally work, open a bank account, sign a lease, access healthcare or claim any benefit. In the eyes of the financial system, they cease to exist.

The governments intent is clear: dismantle the Social Security system as part of its attacks on fundamental past gains such as Medicare, Medicaid and other vital social programs. It starts by erasing these immigrants on paper and forcing them out of the country by depriving them of every means of survival after years of exploiting their labor.

As Leland Dudek, Trumps acting commissioner of Social Security, admitted in an internal email, the financial lives of these immigrants will be terminated.

Martin OMalley, Social Security commissioner under Biden, said, Its tantamount to financial murder.

There is no due process, no hearing, no appeal before ones life is wiped from the records. And getting off the death list is no simple matter. As former Social Security Administration (SSA) official Marcela Escobar-Alava noted:

Theres a whole Im not dead routine... but the centers are backlogged.

Staffing cuts have only deepened that backlog, leaving thousands trapped in legal limbo.

But this attack did not appear from nowhere. It stands on the shoulders of decades of bipartisan reaction.

Under Bill Clinton, border militarization and punitive immigration laws were expanded. The Obama administration perfected the digital architecture that made this atrocity possible, building mass surveillance systems, registration pipelines and legal frameworks that funneled immigrant workers into the machinery of deportation. Despite his progressive facade, Obama earned the title deporter-in-chief, overseeing the forced removal of more immigrants than any other president in US history.

Biden extended these policies under more humane branding. Programs like the CBP One app and humanitarian parole created vast registries of immigrant workers, funneled into low-wage jobs while awaiting permanent status that was never offered. These workers paid taxes, contributed to Social Security, and enriched American societyonly to be left completely exposed when the political calculations shifted.

Now Trump, inheriting these lists, has flipped a bureaucratic switch and declared them dead.

To justify this grotesque act, the administration has fallen back on the well-worn rhetoric of law and order. Trump and his mouthpieces, including the corporate media, have painted immigrant workers as criminals, rapists, terrorists, and freeloaders.

Internal agency reports confirm that most of the people targeted have no criminal history at all. The lists have been compiled so recklessly they even include minors, some as young as 13.

The real crime, in the eyes of the capitalist state, is not violence or fraudit is being poor, foreign-born and a member of the working class.

This scapegoating is a classic feature of capitalism in crisis. As social inequality deepens and economic instability spreads, the ruling class turns to repression and nationalism to deflect working class anger. Immigrants, marginalized and politically weakened by legal status, become the most convenient targets, used to distract attention from the real architects of the crisis.

While immigrant workers are being declared dead, the true parasitesthe financial oligarchycontinue to plunder society with impunity.

Donald Trump has built his fortune on tax fraud, wage theft and financial scams. Elon Musk, now actively shaping immigration enforcement policy, spreads conspiracy theories about immigrants stealing benefits while personally profiting from billions in government subsidies.

These men produce nothing. It is immigrant workersalongside their native-born brothers and sisterswho create the wealth that the ruling class seizes. They clean hospitals, deliver goods, build homes, care for children and harvest food. Their labor sustains the world. The billionaires feed off it.

This attack is not an isolated policy but part of a sweeping assault on democratic rights. The same apparatus of state repression that targets immigrant workers is being deployed against students, young people and anyone perceived as politically oppositional. Students like Mahmoud Khalil, Momodou Taal and Rumeysa Ozturk are only a few among many.

The campaign to erase immigrant workers from economic life is part of a broader offensive against the entire working class. Once normalized, these tools of control will expand, targeting dissent, slashing social protections and undermining labor rights for all.

The fight to defend immigrants is inseparable from the fight to defend all workers. This struggle cannot rely on the Democratic Party or the courts. Only a united, independent, socialist movement of the working class can defend immigrants and democratic rights by overthrowing the capitalist system and building a society based on human need, not private profit.
Cross-border exchanges heat up as China records 15.3 pct spike in entries, exits in Q1

Xinhua) 08:27, April 16, 2025

BEIJING, April 15 (Xinhua) -- Travel and exchanges across China's borders have seen a vibrant uptick in early 2025, with the country recording 163 million entries and exits in the first quarter of 2025, marking an increase of 15.3 percent year on year.

While mainland residents accounted for the majority of cross-border trips, the sharpest growth came from foreign nationals, who made 17.44 million border crossings, up 33.4 percent from the same period in 2024, data from the National Immigration Administration (NIA) showed.

Officials attributed the surge of foreign nationals in border crossings to recent changes in border control policies, part of China's broader opening up efforts.

The visa-free transit initiative, combined with other visa-waiver policies, has attracted more visitors to China, said Lin Yongsheng, spokesperson for the NIA.

In its latest easing of transit policies on Dec. 17, China allowed eligible citizens from 54 countries to enter through more ports visa-free and stay for up to 10 days before departing for a third destination.

Visits made by foreign tourists to popular destinations like Huangshan Mountain have jumped 21.6 percent, compared to the same period last year.

China has also extended unilateral visa-free access to travelers from more countries, allowing stays of up to 30 days. Similar expansion has been introduced to regional visa exemptions and mutual visa agreements.

These sweeping policy changes have made exploring the country easier than ever before, fueling a rising wave of "China Travel" content on platforms like YouTube.

Among the recent first-timers was IShowSpeed, a 20-year-old U.S. content creator whose real name is Darren Jason Watkins Jr.

The young man live-streamed his explorations through Chinese streets and alleys, sharing with his millions of subscribers a memorable episode in which he chased his kung fu dream at the Shaolin Temple in central China.

"China is an underrated tourist destination. I don't know why people overlooked China," he said, a view shared by many in his audience.

EXPLORING BEYOND BORDERS

At the same time, spontaneous international getaways have become a part of everyday life for many Chinese people, thanks in part to easier access to global flights, expanded visa-free arrangements, and a rising desire to explore the world.

Wang Liuqing, who works in north China's Shanxi Province, and her friends spent their Qingming Festival holidays at Jeju Island in the Republic of Korea earlier this month.

"A visa-free destination would be our top pick. The jelly-like sea and cherry blossoms on the island were absolutely stunning -- every spot was perfect for a photo of a lifetime," said Wang.

More than 80 countries and regions have introduced visa-free or visa-on-arrival policies for Chinese travelers.

To attract more Chinese tourists, many international destinations are streamlining visa procedures and stepping up marketing efforts. According to Skift, a U.S. travel industry news site, China's outbound tourism market is projected to reach around 200 million trips by 2028.

Dai Bin, president of the China Tourism Academy, said that more Chinese tourists are now willing to pay for a better lifestyle -- opting for good hotels, fine dining, and high-quality cultural performances during trips.

FASTER CUSTOMS CLEARANCE

Getting across Chinese borders has become much easier, thanks to new measures such as real-time traffic monitoring at entry ports, which has helped streamline operations.

At the Detian-Ban Gioc Waterfall at the China-Vietnam border, crowds of tourists are buzzing with excitement.

Miles away, at the Shuolong border checkpoint in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, officers reported that policies such as waiving fingerprint collection have boosted immigration processing efficiency by 40 percent.

Visiting two countries in a single day has become possible. Meanwhile, Vietnamese fruits, like the durian, have made it to more households in China.

At the Friendship Pass in Guangxi, Chinese freight drivers can clear customs in 15 seconds using ID and biometric scans.

In the first quarter alone, the inspection station there handled over 200,000 inbound and outbound trips by freight trucks, up 16.8 percent year on year.

Nationwide, border officers handled 8.5 million trips by planes, trains, vessels and motor vehicles from January to March, the NIA data showed.

More measures are in the pipeline to further enhance communication and exchanges between China and the rest of the world, according to the NIA.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Some say the end of the so-called Cuban privilege in the United States is rapidly approaching. This benefit  inherited from the Cold War era  has paved the way for Cuban immigrants to secure green cards and eventually U.S. citizenship for nearly six decades. Since the triumph of the Cuban Revolution, there has never been a time, until now, when approximately 550,000 Cubans in the U.S. have been unable to adjust their immigration status in a country that has historically welcomed them.

This situation, once exceptional, seems to be getting closer and closer to that of other migrant communities, says Jorge Duany, director of the Cuban Research Institute and professor of Anthropology in the Department of Global and Sociocultural Studies at the University of Florida. For the first time in the history of the Cuban exodus, a large number of immigrants could be deported or forced to live clandestinely in the United States.

There are countless personal stories that illustrate this shifting reality: a Cuban woman detained during a routine check-in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and sent to the Broward Transitional Center in Florida; a young man on parole who self-deported from Colorado to Villa Clara; a couple devastated after the man was taken in handcuffs to the Krome Detention Center, with no word on whether hell be returned to Havana; a young woman with an I-220A parole order, burdened by debt and unable to afford the thousands of dollars needed for legal representation; an elderly man, who arrived during the Mariel boatlift, now detained by immigration officers.

The consequences of current immigration policy are already taking a toll on the community: thousands face deportation orders, humanitarian parole statuses are expiring, political asylum requests are being denied, and many are left unsure of how  or if  they can regularize their status in the country.

This situation has become particularly unstable with the rise of Republicans to power, but, according to experts, it began not with the Trump era, but when Barack Obama ended the wet foot, dry foot policy.

Since the early days of the 1959 Cuban Revolution, Cubans were accepted into the United States through programs that protected them as refugees. But it wasnt until 1966, with the implementation of the Cuban Adjustment Act signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, that the exceptional treatment began  treatment that has allowed entire generations to avoid living illegally in the United States.

Initially, the law required a minimum stay of two years to obtain permanent resident status. A later amendment reduced that period to one year and one day, the amount of time after which they could apply for a green card. Unlike other migrants, Cubans were not required to enter legally, prove family ties or employment, or demonstrate that they would not become a public charge. On the contrary, for years, many arrived to find immediate access to food stamps, health insurance, some financial assistance, and job opportunities.

However, Michael Bustamante, a professor at the University of Miami and author of the book Cuban Memory Wars, notes that alongside this privilege, there have always been, in one form or another, elements of uncertainty within the Cuban community.

The Cubans who entered in the early 1960s were granted parole  a legal but revocable status  with no path to permanence. After the passage of the Adjustment Act, the events of the Mariel boatlift demonstrated that the federal government still had the authority to declare more than 3,000 Cubans as excludable and detain them for years, or release them to await deportation, Bustamante explains. The majority of Cubans in that exodus were also unable to access the Adjustment Act until the mid-1980s, as a result of the ambiguity of the status invented for them: Cuban/Haitian Entrant.

Twenty-four Cuban migrants on a raft in waters south of Key West, Florida, in 2015. AP

It was in 1996, under president Bill Clinton, that the wet foot, dry foot policy was introduced  the first major limitation to the Cuban Adjustment Act. This policy protected Cubans who managed to reach U.S. soil, allowing them to stay, but mandated the repatriation of those intercepted at sea.

In 2017, as part of efforts to restore diplomatic relations with then-president Raul Castro, Barack Obama dismantled the policy, arguing that it no longer made sense in the context of improving ties between Washington and Havana. Castro welcomed the move, calling it an important step in advancing relations between the U.S. and Cuba. Since then, Cuban immigrants have been subject to the same deportation practices as other migrant groups if they attempt to enter the United States without authorization, says Duany.

During his first term, Donald Trump not only did not restore the wet foot, dry foot policy, but further restricted legal pathways for Cuban migration by shutting down consular services at the U.S. Embassy in Havana. When Joe Biden took office, he expanded alternative legal migration programs, such as the humanitarian parole system, which had already been extended to Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans. This was part of an effort to manage the growing crisis at the southern border, even as thousands of Cubans were fleeing the island via Nicaragua  fueling the largest exodus in Cubas recent history.

Although the current wave includes the highest number of undocumented Cubans in decades, some still retain certain advantages compared to other nationalities. Those who have entered the United States legally  through visa lotteries, family reunification programs, or other means  have managed to adjust their status thanks to the continued protection offered by the Cuban Adjustment Act.

Why the differential treatment towards Cubans?

The so-called Cuban privilege has long raised many questions. The book Cuban Privilege: The Making of Immigrant Inequality in America by U.S. sociologist Susan Eckstein not only reignited the controversy a few years ago, but also stirred all kinds of resentment in South Florida, where a diaspora felt under attack.

In an interview with BBC Mundo, Eckstein insisted that the idea was not about having those rights taken away, but rather extending them to others, she said. Its hard to argue that Cubans deserve more than Haitians.

The questions are the same ones that other communities in the United States are asking today: Are all Cubans political refugees? In a region where totalitarian regimes thrive, why isnt this protection extended to other migrants? What underlies the differential treatment of Cubans today?

Many believe that it is not a matter of privilege, but rather of protecting people fleeing a country that violates their freedoms. For historian and essayist Rafael Rojas, it made little sense to speak of privilege in the historical origins of the U.S. refugee and asylum policy toward Cubans, with an Adjustment Act that favored the residency process under the understanding that Cubans were fleeing a communist dictatorship.

However, he believes that under current conditions  marked by mass displacement of Latin Americans it does make sense to speak of privilege. Cuban migrants, especially those with low incomes, increasingly share a sociological profile with Central Americans and Mexicans. Families fund their journeys, and the goal for many is to become remittance senders and, eventually, return intermittently to the island, he says.

A Cuban couple waits to be processed to apply for asylum after crossing the border into the United States in Arizona in 2023. Gregory Bull (AP)

On the other hand, the idea of Cuba as the regions only dictatorship is increasingly relative, says Rojas. It was also the case during the Cold War, but dictatorships in the Southern Cone didnt produce mass migrations like they do today. We are currently experiencing an increasingly widespread process of autocratization in Latin America, especially in Central America and the Caribbean. Within this broader authoritarian horizon, Cubas privilege becomes more visible.

Another question that arises in this context is what effect this situation might have on a community that voted overwhelmingly Republican. Guillermo Grenier, a sociologist at Florida International University who led the survey that gauges Cuban-American voters, believes it is difficult to determine whether it will have any impact on the midterm elections in 2026.

The incumbent party typically loses significant support during midterm elections, but in the case of Cuban-Americans, its Republicans first and Cuban-Americans second, Grenier says. Losing the Cuban-American vote means voters either withhold their vote or vote for Democratic candidates. For the latter to happen, Democrats need to field some viable candidates. I dont see any such candidates in districts currently represented by Cuban-American congressmen, but perhaps one will emerge.

Although many Cubans now live with the anxiety that comes from having an irregular status, Bustamante believes that theyre not going to be a priority on the deportation list. And under these harsh conditions, that could still represent a kind of privilege, though a very diminished one, of course. As long as the Cuban Adjustment Act exists, exceptional status will also exist. The question is whether this law could also be targeted by Trump, who is intent on ridding the country of millions of undocumented immigrants.

Congress can repeal the Cuban Adjustment Act. All it needs is Trumps OK, Grenier says. And since, in the grand scheme of things, Cuba is only important as an immigration issue, not a foreign policy issue, the Cuban Adjustment Act could be the next shoe to drop.

Even if it remains in place, Trump could reduce the number of people who benefit from it by blocking the legal entry of Cubans. The law could remain in place, but it wouldnt have the same impact it had before. It doesnt have that anymore, in fact, Bustamante says.

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In his personal crusade against fentanylthe latest chapter in the United States long-running war on drugs  Donald Trump is now setting his sights on La Familia Michoacana. Washington has accused the Mexican criminal organization, primarily based in Guerrero and Michoacan, of trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine into the U.S.; laundering the profits through the U.S. financial system; poisoning the American public; and engaging in acts of terror and violence in Mexico.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Treasury Department announced economic sanctions against the groups two leaders  brothers Johnny El Pez and Jose Alfredo El Fresa Hurtado Olascoaga  along with two of their lower-ranking siblings in the organization, Adita and Ubaldo. The State Department has also offered an $8 million reward for their capture, while a federal court has charged them with drug trafficking.

The United States has declared war on the Hurtado Olascoaga brothers on multiple fronts. The announcement of sanctions was accompanied by a federal grand jury indictment in the Northern District of Georgia, charging El Pez and El Fresa with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute controlled substances (specifically, heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl) knowing they would be imported into the United States, as well as conspiracy to import and distribute those drugs. On Tuesday, the State Department put a price on their heads: $5 million for Johnny and $3 million for Jose Alfredo.

The U.S. sanctions represent both a symbolic and financial blow. The measures not only highlight La Familias profile as international drug traffickers, but also allow Washington to seize all property and interests in property, including any bank accounts the four cartel leaders may have registered in the United States. The Trump administration will continue to use all available tools to target the cartels and other violent organizations that attempt to exploit our communities and harm Americans, said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in a press release.

The Treasury Department also identifies La Familia Michoacana  referred to in its statement as La Nueva Familia Michoacana  as responsible for human trafficking and the smuggling of undocumented migrants into the United States. It accuses the group of using violence against its rivals and Mexican security forces, including the use of drones and bombs in addition to conventional firearms, with utter disregard for Mexicos civilian population. According to the statement, the cartel members also terrorize local communities through kidnappings, killings, and extortion.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on April 14. Agustin Marcarian (REUTERS)

As part of its broader offensive against Mexican cartels  whom Donald Trump blames for the public health crisis fueled by widespread fentanyl use in the United States  Washington designated six Mexican criminal organizations as terrorist groups in February. Among them was La Familia Michoacana. Mexico is essentially run by the cartels, said Trump. A day later, Canada followed in the White Houses footsteps.

This latest wave of U.S. measures against La Familia Michoacana marks a new escalation in the offensive launched in February, coordinated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) along with the Departments of Treasury, State, Justice, and Homeland Security  supported south of the border by Mexicos Financial Intelligence Unit. The operation signals a new era of cooperation between the two countries, which Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has championed.

The U.S. pursuit of La Familia Michoacana is not new. In November 2022, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) accused the group of drug trafficking and sanctioned the Hurtado Olascoaga brothers. The Treasury Departments latest announcement expands the spotlight to include two more of their siblings. Ubaldo is described as a senior leader involved in drug trafficking and extortion, who oversees the groups hitmen and has illegally mined and extracted mercury and uranium for the organization.

Adita, meanwhile, is identified as a financial operator responsible for laundering the cartels profits through used clothing stores along the Rio Grande Valley in Texas. This trade-based money laundering scheme includes the purchase of used clothing in the United States and their shipment to Mexico, where the used clothing is sold, explains the statement. OFAC also accuses her of smuggling American firearms into Mexico.

Trumps measures arent aimed solely at La Familia Michoacana. His administration considers the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel  the two most powerful criminal organizations in Mexico  as the primary drivers of fentanyl trafficking into the United States. At the end of March, the U.S. intelligence community released a report in Washington highlighting the growing role of independent producers of the potent opioid.

Intent on blaming Mexico for the fentanyl crisis, Trump has placed a heavy strain on the bilateral relationship. Since the billionaire took office in January, Sheinbaum has handed over 29 drug lords, deployed more than 10,000 troops to secure the shared border, seized record amounts of fentanyl, and authorized U.S. surveillance in Mexican airspace.

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TOKYO - Japan is considering creating a new tax exemption program aimed at elderly investors that would exclusively allow them to invest in funds offering monthly dividends, sources familiar with the matter said Wednesday.

The Financial Services Agency is also considering lowering or scrapping the age restriction on "tsumitate" installment-type programs for long-term mutual funds, which currently require investors to be aged 18 or older, the sources said.

A parliamentary group of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, chaired by former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, is preparing to propose to the government the creation of the senior-focused Nippon Individual Savings Account program. The agency plans to iron out the details of the proposal and include it in its fiscal 2026 tax reform requests.

Japan's tax exemption program for private investors, known as NISA and modeled on Britain's Individual Savings Account, enables investors to trade stocks and investment trusts up to an annual investment ceiling.

As the NISA program is aimed at promoting long-term asset building, investment funds that distribute monthly dividends instead of reinvesting profits have so far been excluded from eligibility. The agency, however, is moving toward including such funds in the program due to growing demand from elderly investors.

The NISA system was significantly changed at the beginning of 2024 to extend the tax-exempt period from up to 20 years to an indefinite term.

As of the end of 2024, the number of NISA accounts stood at approximately 25.6 million with their annual purchases exceeding 17 trillion yen ($119 billion), according to preliminary data from the financial watchdog.
TOKYO - The number of foreign visitors to Japan in March rose 13.5 percent from a year earlier to a record 3.5 million for the month, official data showed Wednesday, underscoring the continued strength of the country's tourism boom.

Foreign traveler spending totaled 2.3 trillion yen ($16.0 billion) in the three months from January, up 28.4 percent from the same period last year, driven by higher expenditures on food and accommodation, preliminary figures from the Japan Tourism Agency showed.

Cumulative visitor numbers for 2025 reached 10.5 million in the quarter through March, up 23.1 percent, marking the fastest pace on record to surpass 10 million, according to the government-affiliated Japan National Tourism Organization.

The organization said travel demand to Japan grew in March with the start of the cherry blossom season. By country and region, South Korea led in visitor numbers with 691,700 people, up 4.3 percent, followed by China, which posted a 46.2 percent rise to 661,700.

Inbound tourists from six nations and regions hit record monthly highs, with arrivals from the United States standing at 342,800 and from Canada at 68,100. Visitor totals from 11 markets, including South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand, were the highest recorded for March.

The sharp depreciation of the yen against other major currencies, especially the U.S. dollar, has made Japan more attractive to foreigners, with the country welcoming a record 36.87 million people in 2024.

Visitor outlays from January through March showed that accommodation accounted for the biggest share at 33.4 percent, which analysts say has triggered a surge in hotel prices and a shortage of rooms in some popular tourist destinations.

Chinese visitors made up the largest portion of spending at 24.0 percent, with tourists from Taiwan next at 13.9 percent and those from South Korea at 12.4 percent. Many of them also made purchases related to shopping, food and beverages, the agency said.

Average expenditure per visitor was 222,000 yen in the first quarter of the year, with Australians, who primarily spent on accommodation along with meals and drinks, topping the list at 367,000 yen each, it added.

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SHIZUOKA, Japan - Japanese actor Ryoko Hirosue was released from custody on Wednesday, her office said on her official website, after being arrested on suspicion of assaulting a nurse at a central Japan hospital following a traffic accident.

Prosecutors released the 44-year-old without indicting her but will continue to investigate, with Hirosue cooperating on a voluntary basis. Hirosue reached a settlement with the nurse, according to an investigative source.

No alcohol or illicit drugs were detected in Hirosue's system after tests by police in Shizuoka Prefecture, the office said in a statement, adding she has shown signs of emotional instability and will undergo treatment.

Her representatives also apologized to the nurse and other parties affected, saying Hirosue commits to meeting her responsibilities in the future.

The actor, who sustained minor injuries in the expressway collision on April 7, was brought to the hospital in Shimada, Shizuoka. There, she allegedly kicked a female nurse multiple times and scratched her arm after the nurse sought to prevent her from wandering around.

Police visited her home in Tokyo's Setagaya Ward last Thursday to search for information related to a potential charge of dangerous driving causing injury.

Hirosue rear-ended a truck on the Shin-Tomei Expressway while driving with a male passenger who suffered a fracture. The truck driver was uninjured.

According to a statement posted earlier on her website, the incident with the nurse occurred after the accident "left her in a panic."

Hirosue, who rose to fame in the 1990s, appeared in a string of TV dramas such as "Beach Boys" and starred in films including the Oscar-winning "Departures."

Related coverage:

Actress Ryoko Hirosue arrested for assault at Japan hospital
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Decapitator flies lay their larvae inside the ant's thorax. The ant then has just a few weeks to live before its eaten from the inside out. . | Credit: armi fauzi / 500px via Getty Images

Zombies are among us. And these tiny undead creatures are everywhere. In this excerpt from " Rise of the Zombie Bugs " (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2025), author Mindy Weisberger examines the very grizzly end for worker ants that get zombiefied by the decapitating fly Pseudacteon wasmanni.

Scientists first described the gruesome habits of ant decapitators in the phorid genus Pseudacteon more than 90 years ago, from observations among ant populations in Europe, South America, and the United States. A female fly begins by staking out a worker ant  carefully keeping her distance at first, as she is no bigger than her target's head.

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To scientists observing phorids in the field, "they appear as minute, fuzzy specks as they hover over host ants," Lloyd Morrison , an ecologist for the National Park Service, wrote in a guide to insect parasitoids in North America.

Females don't have a lot of time to be choosy about their hosts, as adult flies live only for about a week or less in the wild. When the female fly sees an opening, she darts in and lays an egg inside the ant's thorax  one and done  in less than a second (analysis of the female reproductive system in the phorid fly Pseudacteon wasmanni revealed that eggs are torpedo-shaped and measure 130 micrometers long, or about 0.005 inches).

A single Pseudacteon female can produce from 200 to nearly 300 eggs, and in a single hour she may make more than 100 parasitizing attempts (though she only lays one egg per host).

Newly parasitized workers "frequently appear stunned after an oviposition strike," U.S. Department of Agriculture entomologist Sanford Porter wrote in Florida Entomologist, and the ants "often stilt upon their legs for a few seconds to a minute before running away."

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These egg-laying attempts don't all succeed; indeed most of them flop. In laboratory experiments, when Pseudacteon females tried to implant an egg in an unwilling ant, they failed at least 65% of the time. But when an egg does manage to end up inside an ant, its host enters the realm of the walking dead. Once the egg hatches, the ant has only a few weeks of life before it succumbs to the manipulations of its attacker, stumbling away from its home and family and then undergoing decapitation from the inside out.

A phorid fly (left), Pseudacteon cultellatus, about 1 mm long, and a red imported fire ant (right), Solenopsis invicta, about 3 mm long. The fly can lay eggs inside the ants head. Fly maggots that hatch will then slowly decapitate the ant. | Credit: Sanford Porter

Within days after hatching, the phorid larva migrates from the thorax into the ant's head; little is known about how the parasitoid avoids being destroyed by the ant's immune system, but one possibility is that moving quickly into the host's head may help the larva evade an immune response. For the duration of the larva's second instar  about two to three weeks  it makes itself comfortable in the ant's head cavity, sipping on hemolymph.

This liquid nutrition is all the larva needs until it reaches its third instar. For an infected ant during those initial honeymoon weeks, despite carrying and nourishing a growing parasite inside its head, life is pretty much business as usual; the ant looks and behaves normally, according to scientists with the Louisiana State University (LSU) College of Agriculture.

Through "intensive observation" of ant parasitism by the phorid fly Pseudacteon tricuspis, LSU researchers found that a parasitized ant stayed with its nest mates until about 8 to 10 hours before the larva in its head was ready to pupate. It would then depart the nest on what appeared to be a normal foraging expedition, alongside its non-parasitized sisters. But for the zombified ant, this final excursion was a one-way trip.

A newly hatched decapitator fly bursts from the head of a fire ant that it parasitized and killed. | Credit: USDA-Agricultural Research Service

Once the ant turned its back on the colony and walked away, it was on a death march. And the parasite was in the driver's seat. "Parasitized ants were highly mobile after they left the nest and ultimately entered the thatch layer at the soil surface," the scientists reported. "The term 'zombie' fire ant workers was coined to characterize the behavior while under parasitoid control."

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Finally, the phorid larva is ready for its metamorphosis. It releases an enzyme that degrades membranes in the wandering ant's exoskeleton, causing the ant to stop walking and eventually collapse. The ant's head loosens from the body, as does the first pair of legs; other legs may be affected, too. Its mandibles weaken, rendering it unable to bite or burrow. As for the larva, it indulges a new appetite for solid food; namely, ant head tissue. You can probably guess where this is headed; the ant's hollowed-out, larvae-stuffed head falls off (the ant, unsurprisingly, is already dead by now, even though its legs are often still twitching as its head rolls away).

The parasitoid, however, is just fine. It finishes off the last of the tasty bits inside the decapitated ant head and pushes the mandibles out of the way  the ant's no longer using them, after all  and then the larva wriggles into position so that its first three pupal segments are stuffed into the gap where the ant's mouthparts used to be.

These segments harden and darken, becoming a tough, protective plate that's roughly the same color as the ant's exoskeleton, and two hairlike breathing "horns" extend from the pupa out on either side of the ant's mouth opening. Other parasitoid insects keep their zombie host alive until the larva's metamorphosis is over, but phorids pupate unguarded inside their dead hosts' disembodied heads.

However, the exoskeleton of an ant's head is extremely hard  tougher than other parts of its body  and therefore lends extra protection to the pupating larva, Brown says. Two to six weeks later, depending on air temperature and species size, the adult phorid fly is ready to pop out from inside the detached ant head, like the goddess Athena of legend springing fully grown from the head of her father, Zeus.

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Only, this newborn is a lot smaller than an ancient Greek deity and has more legs than most. A few hours after emerging, the adult phorid fly is ready to mate  and continue its head-splitting reproductive cycle.

Excerpted from Rise of the Zombie Bugs: The Surprising Science of Parasitic Mind-Control by Mindy Weisberger. Copyright 2025. Published with permission of Johns Hopkins University Press

Rise of the Zombie Bugs: The Surprising Science of Parasitic Mind-Control Kindle Edition  $28.45 on Amazon

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The tourist tax, or a percentage that temporary visitors either see added to their hotel bill or pay directly upon entering the country, started out as a joke but has quickly spread over the last five years to many nations, seeing spikes in tourism.

Popular European cities like Amsterdam and Valencia have been adding such a tax to hotel and rental property stays for years while Thailand, New Zealand, Bali and Portugal are some of the new destinations that have recently imposed, raised or are considering one.

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Tourist tax about 'building trust,' lawmaker says

While it was once considered a remote and off-the-beaten-path destination, the Nordic nation of Norway has also been grappling with tourist numbers higher than its industry can handle. In 2024, the country saw a record 16.7 million overnight visits in the summer months while many also come to Norway on cruise lines like Norwegian (NCLH) and Royal Caribbean (RCL) -owned Celebrity.

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On April 13, Norway's Minister of Trade and Industry Cecilie Myrseth confirmed that a bill currently before the Norwegian parliament would charge 3% of the cost of one's hotel or other overnight stay. Lawmakers initially proposed 6%, but the number was eventually lowered amid outcry that it would deter tourism from parts of the country that need it.

Related: The latest tourist tax aims to preserve a declining language

The proposed tax is being written as an optional charge that municipalities can choose to either implement or not.

"We know not every municipality needs this, but in high-pressure areas, it's about building trust between the local population and visitors," Myrseth said in an interview with local broadcaster NRK,

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Fellow Nordic country Iceland has instituted a similar tax in 2024 to offset the impact that high visitor numbers were having on remote areas. Wales has argued that their version of the tax should go toward preserving and promoting the use of Welsh, a Celtic language that has been in rapid decline over the last two decades.

The most popular Norwegian ports are Bergen, Alesund, and Flam.Image source: Getty Images

Norway is a very popular cruise destination (here is what the tax means for them)

"Most of our guests visit our unspoiled nature and obviously that creates a pressure." then-Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir said in an interview with Bloomberg Television when the tax was first being proposed in 2023.

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While Norway's tax would not affect cruise ship travelers who are spending the night on the ship rather than in local accommodation, a large number of Norwegian visitors book tours to see the fjords and get their first entry to the country in this way.

Norway reported just under seven million cruise ship visitors in 2024, while higher projections are expected for 2025 and beyond.

Popular European ports like Dubrovnik and Nice have struggled with cruise-related overtourism in particular and have imposed restrictions specific to the size of the ship that can enter. The latter French city has now officially banned liners carrying more than 900 passengers or larger than 190 meters from docking in the port city of 354,000 permanent residents starting from July 1.

Mayor Christian Estrosi has controversially framed it as "pollut[ing] and dump[ing[ their low-cost clientele who consume nothing but leave their waste behind."

Related: Veteran fund manager issues dire S&P 500 warning for 2025
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) One person is dead after breaking into a home in St. Petersburg and getting shot by the homeowner, the St. Petersburg Police Department announced.

Police responded to a call about a shooting at the 3400 block of 40th Street North around 2 a.m.

This home was specifically targeted, said Yolanda Fernandez, a spokesperson for the St. Petersburg Police Department.

Officials said two men entered the home around when the homeowner fired shots and injured one of the men, Marcel Williams, 20. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he died from his injuries.

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Its sad to see this because I can tell it affects a lot of the neighbors around here, said Rick Richardson. I talked to a lot of them this morning and it affects them.

The second man fled the home, police said.

Its everyones worst nightmare to wake up at 2 oclock in the morning and have someone in their home who doesnt belong there, Fernandez said. In this case, the homeowner had a firearm, and I think thats something to consider.

No other details were immediately available. The investigation is ongoing.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Editor's note: The article was updated with a statement from the Air Force.

Russian attacks across Ukrainian regions killed at least one civilian and injured at least 27 over the past day, regional authorities reported on April 16.

Moscow's forces attack Ukrainian towns and villages on a daily basis, inflicting civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure with drones, missiles, artillery, and aerial bombs.

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Ukrainian air defenses shot down 57 of the 97 attack and decoy drones launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force said. Thirty-four decoys disappeared from radars without causing damage, according to the statement.

Two men, aged 39 and 48, were injured during overnight attacks against Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Governor Serhii Lysak reported.

In Donetsk Oblast, five people were injured in Russian attacks over the past day, namely in Sloviansk, Kostiantynivka, Lyman, Koptieve, and Berestov, said the regional governor, Vadym Filashkin.

Five people were injured in Kharkiv Oblast, including a paramedic wounded near Kupiansk when his ambulance was damaged in a Russian airstrike, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said.

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In the village of Slatyne, Russian KAB bombs started a fire and damaged four two-story apartment buildings, a clinic, four garages, and five houses, according to the governor.

Russian attacks injured 11 people over the past day in Kherson Oblast, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said. Two high-rise buildings and 11 houses were damaged.

A drone attack against the city of Odesa injured three people, damaged warehouses, and set houses on fire, the State Emergency Service reported.

In Sumy Oblast, a man was killed during a drone attack against the Velyka Pysarivka community, and another was injured in the Krasnopillia community, the regional military administration reported.

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In Poltava Oblast, drone debris damaged a power line, temporarily leaving two settlements without electricity, Governor Volodymyr Kohut said. No casualties were reported.

The attacks came as Russia continues to reject a U.S.-mediated proposal for a full 30-day ceasefire. Kyiv reiterated that it would be ready to accept the truce if Moscow agreed to abide by the terms.

Read also: Trump excuses Sumy attack as mistake  Russias track record says otherwise

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TOKYO - The Japanese government aims to have U.S. President Donald Trump walk back hefty tariffs in negotiations set to be launched Wednesday in Washington, with auto and agricultural sector duties, as well as exchange rates, likely up for discussion.

While Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has instructed his close aide Ryosei Akazawa to make "an all-out effort to pursue a win-win" outcome for both countries, Tokyo could face strong pressure to make concessions in key areas affecting the export-driven economy.

"I want to hold negotiations to protect Japan's interests by thinking through what is the most effective and contributes the most," Akazawa, economic revitalization minister in charge of tariff negotiations, told reporters in Tokyo before departing for Washington.

The talks are expected to be of global interest as the close U.S. ally has been given priority in negotiations during the 90-day suspension of so-called reciprocal tariffs, or country-specific duties, which were set at 24 percent for Japan.

During his visit, Akazawa is scheduled to meet his counterpart, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, as well as Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

One of the main areas of concern in the upcoming talks is whether Japan can win concessions on an additional 25 percent tariff on automobiles produced outside the United States, after the levy came into effect earlier this month.

Japan now faces a 27.5 percent total tariff on passenger vehicles, dealing a blow to the country's key industry that accounted for nearly 30 percent of total exports to the United States by value last year.

But Washington is unlikely to soften its stance, as auto imports have been a major contributor to its decades-long trade deficit with Japan, with the U.S. side arguing various nontariff barriers such as safety standards impede access to Japan's auto market.

Farm products are also expected to be a point of contention at a time when the Japanese government is aiming to increase exports of the country's agricultural and marine products amid weakening domestic demand due to a declining and aging population.

The United States became the largest importer of Japanese agricultural products last year for the first time in 20 years, but it is feared U.S. tariffs will reverse that trend.

The U.S. administration could also demand Japan open up its agricultural market after Trump complained that Tokyo imposes a 700 percent tariff on rice, an accusation Japan's farm minister Taku Eto described as "incomprehensible."

The negotiations may also involve currency rates, as the United States has accused Japan of purposely driving the yen lower, an assertion the Japanese government rejects.

Bessent has suggested that exchange rates could be on the agenda, although Akazawa has ruled out taking up the issue, arguing they should be left to the finance chiefs of the two nations.

Ishiba has pledged not to make compromises to quickly wrap up tariff negotiations, while so far remaining unwilling to impose retaliatory measures on an important security ally, though not entirely ruling out the option.

In the talks, the Japanese government is expected to pitch the worth and scale of Japanese investments in the United States, explaining that it has been the leading investor in the world's largest economy for five consecutive years.

Ishiba has shown little desire to rush negotiations, saying he would like to scrutinize Trump's labeling of trade practices as unfair, but Bessent on Monday signified his intent to reach an agreement swiftly.

"Usually, the first person to make a deal gets the best deal," Bessent said, signaling in a Bloomberg TV interview that trade partners who make deals early will be at an advantage.

Trump has said tariffs are essential for the United States to attract foreign investment, create new jobs and slash its trade deficit.

As for Japan, the president argued that Tokyo imposes an average 46 percent duty on U.S. imports, taking the nontariff measures into consideration. He has also described the decades-old bilateral security treaty as "so one-sided."

"We pay hundreds of billions of dollars to defend them, but...they don't pay anything," Trump said last week. "If we're ever attacked, they don't have to do a thing to protect us."

While the sector-based auto, steel and aluminum tariffs, as well as the baseline tariff of 10 percent applied to almost all countries, remain in place, Trump has paused the implementation of steep duties targeting goods from dozens of trading partners in the wake of turmoil in financial markets.

In a sign of further backpedaling, Trump suggested Monday he could grant relief to automakers reeling from his tariffs to help them recalibrate their supply chains, although it is unclear whether the special treatment would extend to Japanese companies.

Related coverage:

Japan not to compromise in rush to wrap up tariff talks with U.S.: PM

Japan wants win-win outcome from tariff talks with U.S.: PM Ishiba
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  A male victim was taken to the hospital after a shooting on Tuesday, April 15.

The Baton Rouge Police Department responded to a reported shooting in the 1100 block of N. Ardenwood Drive around 8:43 p.m.

According to police, they pulled over a vehicle after the driver allegedly ran a red light on Florida Boulevard. The victim was a passenger in that vehicle.

During the traffic stop, officers discovered that the victim had sustained gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was rushed into surgery.

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The incident remains under investigation. Police ask anyone with information to contact the Violent Crimes Office at 225-389-4869 or call Crime Stoppers at 225-344-7867.

This is a developing story. Further details about the victim or the shooting were not immediately available.

3-year-old child sent to hospital after shooting in Baton Rouge, police say

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News.
Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba, seen here in 2024 with President Donald Trump, said she's investigating New Jersey's governor and attorney general over their refusal to allow state and local cops to assist with civilian immigration enforcement. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba has a big hurdle to climb in her alleged pursuit of an investigation into our governor and attorney general: the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Habba said shes pursuing a probe of Gov. Phil Murphy and Attorney General Matt Platkin over the states Immigrant Trust Directive, which bars law enforcement from becoming de facto immigration agents in the Trump administrations mass deportation push.

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But legal experts told me the Tenth Amendment  which says the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people  has long been recognized as one that protects states against intrusions by the federal government. Intrusions like, say, conscripting local cops in a federal push to detain and deport undocumented immigrants.

Conservative hero U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in a 1997 decision that, under the Tenth Amendment, the federal government is one of enumerated, hence limited, powers.

Concerns about protecting the division of authority between an overly powerful federal government, particularly when it comes to criminal justice policy, is a longtime concern of well-regarded jurists appointed by conservative and Republican presidents, according to Jenny-Brooke Condon, who teaches law at Seton Hall University.

I think Justice OConnor and Justice Scalia were long critics of an overly powerful federal government and protective of states rights and strong advocates for robust Tenth Amendment protections, Condon said.

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This might be an area of the law Habba should study.

I wrote last week about my doubt that there is any such investigation. Habba, a loyalist to President Donald Trump, has learned from her boss that its easier to issue a dramatic threat than to follow through on one.

But if Habba proceeds with her probe of Murphy and Platkin, shell have to contend with decades of court precedent on the limits of federal power. Steve Wasserman, a retired public defender and an adjunct associate professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, said the question of whether states can opt out of assisting with immigration enforcement is a difficult one. But he noted that the 1997 case, called Printz v. United States, could back up Murphy and Platkin here.

In that case, county sheriffs in Montana and Arizona objected to a requirement in the federal gun control measure called the Brady bill that local chief law enforcement officers perform background checks on prospective gun owners. In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court found that the 10th Amendment bars the federal government from compelling local officials to fulfill federal tasks.

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They said that the Constitution does not require the state officials to allow themselves to be conscripted by the feds in order to enforce the federal law. Its a principle of autonomy, that state and local officials are not subordinate to the feds, Wasserman said.

Ron Chen, who teaches law at Rutgers Law School, said he thinks former Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, whose office drafted the Immigrant Trust Directive, probably studied the 10th Amendment and relevant case law before issuing the order.

Chen cited the anti-commandeering doctrine, which emerged in the Printz case and an earlier one, New York v. United States in 1992. In the New York case, the court ruled 6-3 (with Justice Thomas on the winning side again) that the federal government cannot commandeer states into the service of federal regulatory purposes.

Presumably Ms. Habba disagrees with that decision, but if so, her efforts might be better directed at asking the courts to reconsider, rather than announcing that she is opening an investigation. Indeed, I am not sure there is much to investigate here, since the states policy has been a matter of public record for some time, Chen said.

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With the primary election five weeks away, mayoral campaigns are in full gear, and the candidates continue trading barbs over campaign donations.

Chief Investigator Rick Earle took a closer look at the campaign finance reports. Heres what he discovered.

RELATED >>> Channel 11 hosts democratic mayoral debate between Ed Gainey, Corey OConnor on Thursday

This morning we learned that the same MAGA billionaires and Trump advisors are trying to buy the Mayors election in Pittsburgh, Mayor Ed Gainey said at a news conference in March.

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Mayor Gainey, at that news conference, was blasting challenger Corey OConnor for taking campaign donations from supporters who helped put Trump in the White House and meeting with republican advisors.

OConnors campaign brushed off the meeting, saying both republicans and democrats attended. They claim Gainey accepted donations from MAGA supporters, too.

Mike Mikus is a political consultant who supports OConnor.

Its funny, you know, 20.3% of the money Ed Gainey has taken since January of 2024 has come from republicans, Mikus said.

11 Investigates reviewed the list of campaign donations and discovered both OConnor and Gainey took money from people who gave to both republicans and democrats.

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Again, he doesnt want to talk about the real issues, and when you look back and he got the same dollars as I did, what are you arguing? OConnor said.

Earle asked Gainey about that.

Gainey campaign staffer Sam Wasserman also attended the interview and spoke out.

Earle: You yourself took money from some MAGA donors?

Gainey: No, no there was one and we sent it back.

Earle: Jason Lardo, Jason Lardo gave money to Trump and he gave money to you.

Wasserman: Someone who gave to Josh Shapiro.

Earle: Absolutely, whats the difference? Whats the difference?

Gainey: There are republicans and democrats that give to both republicans and democrats, thats across the board. What we didnt take was any MAGA money.

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But, campaign finance reports reveal Gainey got $3,100 from local developer Jason Lardo, who also donated nearly $9,000 to Trump and his PACS.

And local developer Jim Scalo gave $13,880 to Trump in 2020 and $5,000 to Gainey a year later.

But Gainey said hes not talking about those donors, but big MAGA donors, like Pittsburgh philanthropist Herb Shear, who gave tens of thousands of dollars to the Trump Victory Fund and also donated to OConnor.

Shear has also donated to other democratic candidates.

And local coal magnate J. Clifford Forrest, a big Trump donor over the years, who gave to OConnor. He also gave to Gaineys campaign four years ago.

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Gaineys campaign called it an oversight and said they returned the money several months ago.

What hes trying to do is create a diversionary issue that will distract voters from his record, Mikus said.

Gaineys campaign, in a recent attack ad, also criticized OConnor for taking donations from developers.

Earle: He (Gainey) also drilled down on not only on MAGA money, but money from developers and contractors.

Mikus: Hes taken money from developers and contractors. In fact, I guarantee you can call any contractor, and hes called them and asked them for money within the last few months.

While OConnor, whos criticized Gaineys handling of city finances and public safety, has accepted money from developers and contractors, finance reports show Gainey, who touts expanding affordable housing and a declining murder rate, has too.

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According to the most recent campaign finance report, Gainey took in at least $4,500 from five different developers, including the owner of Oxford Development.

She has given money to both candidates.

Earle: Corey says you took the same money from those developers in the previous cycle, the beginning of the cycle?

Gainey: But what he didnt say is that Im requiring everybody to one, Im requiring affordability of all housing projects of over 20 units or more. We have an affordable housing plan that is etched in stone that we want to see to help repopulate this city, thats extremely important.

The primary is May 20th.

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Search warrants released Wednesday reveal a possible motive for the arson at the governors mansion over the weekend.

The search warrants suggest that the suspect, 38-year-old Cody Balmer of Harrisburg, was upset about Palestine and targeted Governor Josh Shapiro over his faith.

Shapiro is Jewish and his family and friends had just celebrated Passover at the governors mansion hours before the fire was intentionally set.

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They were awakened by State Police just after 2 a.m. and evacuated from the mansion.

No one was hurt in the fire, but it caused considerable damage to the ballroom.

Photos: Alleged arsonist attacks Pennsylvania governors mansion

The search warrants indicate that Balmer called 911 and admitted to setting the fire less than an hour after allegedly committing the crime.

Balmer allegedly told the dispatcher that Shapiro needs to know that he, will not take part in his plans for what he wants to do to the Palestinian people...he needs to stop having my friends killed...our people have been put through too much by that monster.

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PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Arson attack probe at Pennsylvania governors mansion looking into suspects hatred of Josh Shapiro

At a news conference Wednesday morning, Shapiro was asked about Balmers alleged comments.

I think thats a question for prosecutors to determine what he meant by that, said Shapiro.

Balmer was unemployed and living in Harrisburg with his mother.

He said he had most recently worked as a welder.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Man charged with arson at Pennsylvania governors home struggled with mental health, brother says

His mother told 11 Investigates Monday morning that her son was bipolar and schizophrenic and hadnt taken his medication.

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She said she tried to get him help the day before the fire.

When asked by the judge during his arraignment whether he suffered from mental illness, Balmer replied, Thats the rumor.

He then denied it.

Shapiro and his family had just celebrated Passover with a dinner in the same room that was set on fire around 2 a.m. Sunday.

RELATED COVERAGE >>> Third-party to conduct security review of Gov. Shapiros official residence after arson attack

Shapiro said in his high-profile position, he realizes there are people who may want to hurt him, but he said it wont deter him from his job and his faith.

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Nothing he could do would deter me from proudly and openly practicing my faith, said Shapiro.

Shapiro said hes been concentrating on being a good father, husband and governor since the fire.

He said hes tried to provide information and talk to his four children so they understand whats going on.

Shapiro said hes been overwhelmed by the support from former Pennsylvania governors, lawmakers and others across the country.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> State, local leaders react to suspect arson at Pennsylvania governors residence

What Lori and I have experienced is just an outpouring of positivity and warmth from so many people that has really filled us up, said Shapiro.

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And while there are still a lot of questions about how Balmer allegedly scaled a seven-foot-high fence and eluded security cameras to get inside the mansion, Pennsylvania State Police, who provide the governors security, have ordered an independent review to determine what went wrong and what needs to change.

Shapiro said hes confident they will keep him safe and he hopes to return to the mansion as soon as repairs are completed.

I have total faith in the members of my detail and total faith in the Pennsylvania State Police to both learn from this incident and to continue to keep me and my family safe, said Shapiro.

No ethnic intimidation or hate charges have been filed against Balmer as of this writing.

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A judge denied bail for Balmer and he remains in jail, charged with attempted murder and arson.

Shapiro said he did not have an inventory of what was lost in the fire, but he said some items of historical significance may have been destroyed.

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There's nothing like an encounter with a 14-foot-long white shark to get the heart pumping.

Not to mention the stories you'll bring home from your Florida vacation.

That's what happened when a Kentucky family headed out for a fishing trip from Florida's Panhandle.

14-foot great white shark 'was circling us and checking us out'

Destin's Capt. Taylor Bankston said the great white shark circled the boat, Get the Gaff, for about 20 minutes.

Capt. Taylor Bankston took a group of anglers from Kentucky  a mother, dad and two daughters  out on his 26-foot boat, Get the Gaff, on April 10.

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 Giant teeth and a giant eyeball.' Photos show Florida boaters great white shark encounter

While fishing about nine miles from Destin in the Gulf of America, formerly known as the Gulf of Mexico, "I looked up ... what I thought I saw in the water was a submarine, and I was waiting next for the periscope to pop out of the water, Bankston said.

But it never did ... and then the submarine turned into something that had giant teeth and a giant eyeball, he said.

I immediately knew I had never seen a fish in the water that big. It had to be a great white, Bankston said. It was just circling us and checking us out. It was as if we were viewing a dinosaur, he said.

The shark circled the boat

Bankston said the shark circled his boat about 20 minutes, mouthing the back of the boat at one time "to see what we were ... and realized that we werent anything eatable."

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After the shark circled for about 20 minutes, it just disappeared.

 More photos, videos posted by Taylor Bankston on Facebook

Then five minutes later we saw a dorsal fin about 100 yards away from us going across the surface slow as all get out ... like the movie 'Jaws.' That was her when she swam away, Bankston said.

How big was the great white shark in Gulf?

The great white shark spotted by Capt. Taylor Bankston and crew aboard Get the Gaff was about 1,100-to 1,400 pounds and about 14-feet long.

Bankston estimated the shark was about 14 feet long, with a dorsal fin about 2  feet tall. He estimated it to be between 1,100 and 1,400 pounds.

The dorsal fin looked like the fin on 'Jaws,' " he said.

"Jaws 2" was filmed in the Destin area.

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First thing I thought was captain were going to need a bigger boat, Bankston said.

To put it in perspective, Bankston's boat was 26 feet long, making the shark just over half the length of the boat.

If I would have been hooked up to a heart monitor, there would have been some peaking and beeping," Bankston said.

Shark encounter in Gulf made for 'great day'

Bankston said the anglers onboard were ecstatic.

Oh my gosh, it made their vacation. It was a great day."

Where is Destin, Florida?

Destin is located about 40 miles east of Pensacola or 50 miles west of Panama City. It's about 130 miles west of Tallahassee.

Great white sharks no stranger to Florida waters

White sharks love to visit Florida during the winter months.

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OCEARCH, which describes itself as a "data-centric organization built to help scientists collect previously unattainable data in the ocean while open sourcing our research and explorations," regularly tags and tracks sharks, both white and tiger sharks.

Record white shark tagged off Florida-Georgia border

In January 2025, scientists tagged a 13-foot 9-inch shark, nicknamed "Contender," near the Florida-Georgia border.

The male shark was estimated to weigh more than 1,300 pounds.

 2 great white sharks, one massive at 1,653 pounds, ping off Florida east coast. Here's where

After being tagged, Contender headed farther south, exploring the waters as far south as Indian River County before turning to head north.

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His last "ping," when a transponder attached to his dorsal fin sent a signal to a satellite, was Tuesday, April 15, off the coast of North Carolina.

3 other sharks ping off Florida coast this week

Three other sharks  two white and one tiger  tagged by Ocearch have pinged off Florida this week, including one this morning:

Dold: Male white shark, 761 pounds, 11 feet 2 inches long. Pinged 10:45 a.m. April 16 in the Gulf west of Sarasota.

Morada: Female tiger shark, 761 pounds, 11 feet 2 inches long. Pinged 7:34 a.m. April 15 in the Atlantic southeast of Miami.

Breton: Male white shark, 1,437 pounds, 13 feet 3 inches long. Pinged 8:54 p.m. April 12 in the Atlantic east of Jacksonville.

Florida is shark-bite capital of the world

Florida is known as the shark bite capital of the world. And Volusia County leads the state in the number of unprovoked attacks, according to the International Shark Attack File.

What you should know about sharks in Florida waters

Information provided by Dr. Gavin Naylor, director of Florida Program for Shark Research and curator of Florida Museum of Natural History.

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 Curious about Florida sharks? We asked an expert about things you should know

Some large sharks can swim in waters that are 1 or 2 feet deep.

There were 351 unprovoked shark attacks in Volusia County from 1882 to 2023.

Bull sharks are tolerant of fresh water and can be found in estuaries and rivers.

Dawn and dusk are the worst times to be in the water but bites are possible any time of day.

Sharks follow baitfish so watch out for them close to shore especially in the summer.

Black-tips and Atlantic sharp-nose are the most common encountered by Florida swimmers.

The most aggressive shark in Florida waters is considered to be bull sharks.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Great white shark circles, bites boat fishing off Destin, Florida
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo.  The Maryland Heights Police Department (MHPD) is asking for the publics help in finding Akiyah Shakira Jefferson, a 14-year-old girl who was last seen on April 10, 2025, around the 2000 block of Lakerun Court in Maryland Heights.

Maryland Heights Police reported that Jefferson was reported on April 14.

Officials say that the 14-year-old has relatives in Holmes County, located in Mississippi. Her relatives and law enforcement in Mississippi have been contacted surrounding Akiyahs status, according to MHPD.

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Akiyah is described as a Black girl who is 508 with black hair and brown eyes. She is believed to be 150 to 170 lbs.

Her clothing description at the time of her disappearance is unknown.

Anyone who may have seen Akiyah or has information is urged to call 911 immediately and contact Detective Sgt. Shane Monning with the Maryland Heights Police Department at 314-298-7847.

MHPDs Communications Division can also be reached at 314-298-8700.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
OGDEN, Utah (ABC4)  Over 150 dogs were rescued from an Ogden home where they were reportedly living in extremely poor and overcrowded conditions, according to the Ogden Police Department.

Lt. Will Farr with Ogden PD said they responded to the home Tuesday, located near 3000 Jefferson Avenue, after receiving a report of possible animal neglect. Upon arrival, they say officers rescued 152 dogs.

All 152 dogs were safely removed from the property and taken into the care of Weber County Animal Services. Lt. Farr said the animals are currently receiving veterinary care, evaluations, and shelter support.

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The dogs are currently unavailable for adoption as they undergo medical treatment and other protocols. However, the dogs should be available for adoption around Monday, April 21.

Community members interested in adopting are encouraged to monitor Weber County Animal Services for updates on availability and adoption procedures, Lt. Farr said in a press release.

The Weber County Animal Services asked the public to not overwhelm the shelter with calls at this time, adding that it would release more information about the dogs when they are able.

Anyone in the community who wishes to help the shelter and the dogs immediately, however, may donate to Weber County Animal Services by making purchases through the services Amazon wishlist or making donations through Zeffy, here.

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An investigation into the situation is currently ongoing and Lt. Farr said there is no further information available at this time.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
CHEYENNE  Although Cheyenne City Council member Michelle Aldrich strongly opposes the 15th Street Railcar Experience, saying it will be expensive and funds should be used elsewhere, many 15th Street business owners see it as a necessary catalyst to drive improvements in the area.

That is the way that this is going to get done, said Brian Bau, owner of The Albany, on bringing the rail cars to downtown. I think those cars provide a sense of urgency that wouldn't exist without them. And so, until I can see on paper some way to arrive there without train cars, I'd much prefer to do the project as a whole.

Last Friday, Aldrich hosted an event to meet with 15th Street business and property owners about the project and drive them to Swan Ranch to view the state of the cars that are set to be moved to 15th Street as a static display.

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She said two business owners specifically told her they could care less about bringing the rail cars to downtown, but they see it as the best way to get the ball rolling on updates to 15th Street, including more pedestrian access and stringing lights above the street, similar to what currently exists on 17th Street. Aldrich said it is just a matter of working with her colleagues on City Council to pursue 15th Street developments without spending money to prepare the site and bring the rail cars there.

If we can do the improvements on 15th Street without the train cars, they would be supportive of that, but they've been led to believe that the only way the improvements to 15th Street are going to get done is to have the train cars there, Aldrich said.

15th Street Rail Car Experience

One of the rail cars planned for the 15th Street Rail Car Experience is currently in storage near Swan Ranch. Union Pacific 1959 Caboose 812 is 40 feet long and weighs 70,000 pounds.

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15th Street business owner Alexis Garrett, who owns Alexis Drake, said she also sees the rail cars coming to 15th Street as the only way improvements actually will come to the area.

If we don't start making progress, I fear that it's just going to be forgotten, she said.

Bau said he sees this project as the city following through on promises to those who invested in Cheyennes West Edge by working to develop it, by connecting the downtown core to the Reed Avenue Rail Corridor via 15th Street.

The first phase of the project will cost $3.5 million. Between grant funding, sixth-penny sales tax funds and funds from the Cheyenne Depot Museum, it would cost the city $2.2 million.

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This phase includes moving the cars downtown as a static display and connecting them to services like water and sewer to open the possibility of leasing the spaces out to businesses to set up shop in a later phase. In total, the project is estimated to cost $4.8 million before grant and sales tax funding.

Some of the grant funding is dependent upon the citys completion of refurbishing and moving two of the four cars to 15th Street. If the city backs out now, it will be in the hole on the investment it has already made on the project, including $168,400 for asbestos abatement.

I can't imagine having a grant for something and not being able to use it because we just decided to not do it, Garrett said. I think if we stop, nothing will happen. I don't think that forward progress will happen.

Aldrich has said the city funds could be better used elsewhere if it pulls out now, such as for road maintenance projects. Council member Pete Laybourn, who also opposes the project, said it would be a safer investment to put those funds toward Reed Avenue Rail Corridor revitalization efforts.

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However, council member Mark Rinne said the $2.2 million to come out of the citys reserves for this project is manageable and the reason the city saves up its funds.

He said when Cheyenne Mayor Patrick Collins came into office, the city had about 60 days worth of reserve funds built up. Now, the city has enough reserves to cover 285 days worth of city expenses.

City Treasurer Robin Lockman told the WTE the $2.2 million investment in this project is equivalent to spending 14 days worth of city reserve funds. Rinne said economic development is part of the role of the city government.

Our Legislature now seems to be taking a dim view of reserves. I think at some point, if we have worthwhile projects, we need to move forward with them, he said.

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Visit Cheyenne President and CEO Domenic Bravo (who is currently a member of the Wyoming Tribune Eagles editorial board) and Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Dale Steenbergen said this project would likely be good for Cheyenne's economy.

Keeping a tourist downtown just 30 minutes longer to explore engaging railroad exhibits often leads to an extra meal, a shop purchase or even an overnight stay, Bravo said in a statement Rinne shared with the WTE. These incremental gains directly support local businesses and help drive year-round economic impact.

Aldrich expressed further concerns with the second phase of the project  renovating the interior of the cars and leasing the spaces out to businesses. She said the city should not act as landlords for businesses and not interfere with business competition.

I think that for the city to subsidize small business owners and to compete with our local commercial building owners is a misstep, as far as the City Council goes, she said. I think that there are lots of ways to support the economic development and the development of our downtown and the improvement of 15th Street, but it doesn't have to include the rail cars.

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Bau said this is an important consideration, but it can be done well if the city works and communicates with existing downtown businesses.

I see that there's room for everybody. ... And we are not talking about taking from private business, we're talking about contributing to a whole corridor of vitality, he said.

The city is currently a landlord for the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce, which has its offices inside the former Union Pacific depot. Steenbergen echoed Baus sentiment.

We don't want government to be a giant landlord, but sometimes to get some of these projects accomplished, the only way is to do it as a community. ... It might be that they could set it up where businesses could utilize that space and it would actually help them compete. So that really doesn't scare me, he said.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  2025 will mark the 30th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing.

We remember and honor those 168 who lost their lives on April 19, 1995, when a bomb went off in front of the Murrah building in downtown Oklahoma City.

168 Days to remember those lost in the OKC bombing: Clarence Eugene Wilson Sr. Image courtesy Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum.

We want to remember Clarence Eugene Wilson Sr., while honoring those who survived and thanking those changed forever.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
CHICAGO  A high school senior who was preparing for prom and graduation died after being shot Tuesday night in Morgan Park on the citys South Side, leaving behind grieving classmates and a father now hoping for justice.

Treyvon Winfield, a 19-year-old soon-to-be graduate of Morgan Park High School, was by his car just after 8 p.m. Tuesday in the 1000 block of West 115th Street when an unknown male offender walked up to him and fired, hitting Winfield multiple times, according to police.

Police say officers arriving to a call of a person shot found Winfield with multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to Roseland Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

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CTA employee charged in deadly Blue Line shooting

Police say the suspect fled in an unknown direction after shooting Winfield, and nobody is yet in custody. Police were gathering evidence at the scene well into Tuesday night but have not yet released any description of a suspect.

A good child

Albert Winfield told WGN-TV early Wednesday morning that his son Treyvon had been killed, and the Cook County Medical Examiners Office subsequently confirmed the victims identity as Treyvon Winfield.

Treyvon Winfield (PHOTO COURTESY OF FAMILY)

My son was a good person, a good child, Albert Winfield said. He was getting ready to graduate from high school, Morgan Park High School. He was a senior.

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Some current and former teachers at Morgan Park High School took to social media Tuesday to express their sadness when they learned Treyvon had been shot and killed.

Treyvon Winfield (PHOTO COURTESY OF FAMILY)

One said, Its going to be a long day at the Park (Morgan Park High School). I cant stop crying long enough to get ready.

He was looking forward to prom and graduation and all the things that young people should look forward to, Pastor Donovan Price told WGN. This is some kind of nightmare, but unfortunately its real.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

Albert Winfield said now he just wishes he could get justice for my son.

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This senseless killing has got to stop, he said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
SYDNEY, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Australian scientists have achieved a breakthrough in solar cell efficiency by using eco-friendly perovskite technology, the University of Queensland (UQ) said on Wednesday.

The scientists' team developed a tin halide perovskite (THP) solar cell that achieved a certified efficiency of 16.65 percent, nearly one percentage point higher than the previous global best for THP cells, contributing to the progress of cost-effective renewable energy technology, said a UQ statement.

"It might not seem like much, but this is a giant leap in a field that is renowned for delicate and incremental progress," said team leader Wang Lianzhou, adding their THP cell matches the efficiency of many commercial silicon-based cells, but with the potential to be cheaper, faster, and more sustainable to produce.

The breakthrough was achieved through collaboration between UQ's School of Chemical Engineering and the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology.

Team member He Dongxu highlighted THP's sustainability advantages, noting that the technology replaces toxic lead, common in most perovskite solar cells, with safer tin, which makes THPs better suited for residential use.

Previous challenges with THP efficiency stemmed from poor-quality crystalline films. The team overcame this by incorporating cesium ions to enhance film structure and reduce defects, according to researcher Chen Peng.

Wang believes the improved THP cells could become ideal for household solar panels, both indoors and outdoors.

"We could eventually see THPs used for engineering challenges, including as a lightweight solution to power electric aircraft -- the sky really is the limit," Wang said. 
Two Pentagon officials were escorted out of the Department of Defense and placed on administrative leave on Tuesday amid a probe into unauthorized disclosures, according to multiple newsreports.

Dan Caldwell, a top aide to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth who was named in the infamous Signal group chat, was implicated in a departmental investigation into leaks, according to Reuters, which was first to report his suspension.

Caldwell, a veteran of the Marine Corps and the Iraq War, was blamed for giving reporters classified information, an official told CBS News.

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Last month, Hegseth wrote that Caldwell would serve as the point of contact for the Defense Department to coordinate the attack plans on the Houthis in the Signal text thread that Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg was inadvertently added to.

Prior to joining the Pentagon, Caldwell worked as a public policy adviser at the Washington-based think tank Defense Priorities. Caldwell was also part of Concerned Veterans for America while Hegseth was in charge of the advocacy group.

Darin Selnick, the Pentagons deputy chief of staff, was also suspended as part of the leaks probe and escorted out of the departments building, according to Politico, which was first to report he was put on leave.

Politico noted that the unauthorized disclosures that were being investigated by the Pentagon related to billionaire Elon Musks visit to the department and the suspension of intelligence collection on Ukraine, among other issues.

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Caldwell and Selnick have yet to comment on the reports.

Their suspensions come after the Trump administration and the Defense Department vowed to crack down on unauthorized disclosures.

Joe Kasper, Hegseths chief of staff, last month ordered an immediate and thorough investigation into leaks of national security information, noting that senior officials could be subject to polygraph tests as part of the probe. Its unclear whether Caldwell or Selnick took a polygraph test prior to being placed on leave.

Related...
Editor's Note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

Three people have been killed and 30 have been injured in Dnipro amid a Russian drone attack late on April 16.

Russia has intensified drone and missile attacks in its war against Ukraine. Russia targeted Sumy in a deadly attack on April 13, killing at least 34 and leaving 117 people injured. European leaders condemned the Palm Sunday attack, describing it as appalling and "heartbreaking."

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"The Russians killed a young girl in the Dnipro," Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Governor Serhii Lysak said, adding that an elderly woman was killed in the Russian attack as well.

"Wounded are being treated in hospitals across the city," Dnipro Mayor Borys Filatov reported.

In total, five children, including a nine-month-old, a six-year-old old, and an 11-year-old child have been injured in the attack. One child was also killed as a result of the attack.

16 patients are currently under medical supervision in hospital, with one person in serious condition.

Several fires engulfed the city, homes, educational institutions, cultural facilities, and cars have been damaged in the Russian attack, Lysak added.

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A Shahed drone nearly hit the Dnipro city hall, Filatov said in a Telegram post.

The U.S. has led separate talks with Ukraine and Russia in Saudi Arabia to reach a ceasefire. On April 6, Zelensky said Russia is rejecting an unconditional ceasefire because it wants to continue launching missile strikes from the Black Sea.

Moscow has shown signs it is unwilling to move forward on a peace deal with Ukraine. Russian authorities have listed maximalist demands in ceasefire negotiations with Ukraine and the U.S.

Ukraine has already agreed to a U.S.-proposed full 30-day ceasefire, saying on March 11 that Kyiv is ready if Russia also agrees to the terms. So far, Moscow has refused.

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Read also: Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian drones reportedly strike another Russian missile brigade linked to Sumy attack

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Two U.S. service members were killed and a third is in serious condition after being involved in a vehicle accident near the U.S.-Mexico border, the military said in a release Tuesday night.

The accident happened at about 8:50 a.m. local time Tuesday near Santa Teresa, N.M., according to the Joint Task Force-Southern Border. The cause of the accident is under investigation. The military did not release the names of the individuals involved.

The militarys Northern Command said the three service members were deployed to back the Joint Task Force-Southern Border, which assumed control of the southern border mission on March 14.

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The service members were deployed in the area after President Trumps executive order Protecting the American People Against Invasion.

In early March, the Pentagon said it would send more than 5,000 troops to the U.S.-Mexico border. Stryker brigade combat team and a general support aviation battalion were dispatched, the Defense Department said at the time.

The accident occurred near the Santa Teresa Border Patrol Station on Highway 9 at mile marker 115, KTSM reported.

The three service members involved in the crash were Marines, according to a 1st Marine Division spokesperson. The third Marine, who is in critical condition, is being treated at a local hospital, 1st Marine Divisions Capt. Charles Kimbrough told The Hill.

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I am very saddened to learn of the tragic accident yesterday that took the lives of two of our nations heroes and seriously injured another, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a Wednesday post on social media platform X. My heartfelt condolences and prayers are with them, their families, and the unit.

Updated at 5:05 p.m. ET.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Two service members were killed and another is in serious condition following a vehicle accident earlier Tuesday in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, the United States Northern Command (NORTHCOM) said in a statement.

Shortly before 9 a.m. "Three service members deployed in support of Joint Task Force Southern Border were involved in a vehicle accident," NORTHCOM said.

Tuesday's accident are the first fatalities associated with the United States military's mission along the border with Mexico that have been disclosed.

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More than 10,000 active duty service members have been authorized for the border mission.

The cause of the accident is under investigation, officials said.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

2 service members killed near US-Mexico border in vehicle accident: NORTHCOM originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
A ranch dog in Arizona is being hailed as a hero after it led a lost toddler out of the desert wilderness and back to safety.

Officials in Kingman reported that a two-year-old child slipped away from his home on Monday night and wandered into the rugged wilds of the Arizona countryside. The child's disappearance kicked off a 16-hour search that ended on Tuesday morning after the boy was found by an unlikely rescuer.

Scotty Dunton, of Dunton Ranch, said he had heard about the missing child, identified as Boden Allen, in the local news, and was shocked when he saw a toddler matching the missing child's description wandering onto his property alongside his dog, Buford.

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"I'd heard about the missing child before I was going to town, and when I was driving out the driveway I noticed my dog was sitting down by the entrance," the rancher told KPHO. "I look up, and there's a little kid standing there with my dog."

The boy wandered seven miles from his home in Seligman, crossed rough canyon lands, and endured a cold night in the desert before proceeding to Dunton's Ranch.

Buford, an Anatolian Pyrenees belonging to rancher Scotty Dunton, guided a lost two-year-old boy to safety after the toddler spent a full night in the Arizona wilderness (12 News)

The Yavapai County Sheriff's Office even noted that a pair of mountain lions had been spotted on their thermal imaging cameras while deputies were searching for the boy.

Dunton said his ranch and Boden's home are separated by "three big mountain ranges" and "big valleys," and believes it's likely the boy followed a dirt path under nearby power lines to make it to his ranch. Even following the path, Dunton said he still "can't believe the kid made it that far," according to CBS News.

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After bringing Boden in, Dunton asked the boy if he had walked all night. The boy reportedly said he slept under a tree during the night. The rancher then asked if his dog, an Anatolian Pyrenees named Buford, found him. The boy reportedly said yes.

Dunton said Buford is a "guardian" by his nature and spends his evening patrolling the ranch.

He goes out at night and just kind of patrols. He goes half a mile, a mile from the house and just makes big loops, keeps coyotes out," the rancher told 12 News.

He told KPHO that he wasn't surprised Buford took a special interest in Boden.

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"It's what he does. He loves kids, so I can imagine he wouldn't leave him when he found him," Dunton said. "It was a relief that he was alive. I was ecstatic that he was OK and that my dog found him."

Dunton provided Boden with water and shelter and notified law enforcement that the boy had been found. The toddler was eventually reunited with the family, but not before Dunton offered him some kudos for making it through his harrowing journey.

I told him, 'Buddy, youre the toughest little two-year-old Ive ever seen.' Hes like, 'Yep,'" Dunton told 12 News.

The rancher told the broadcaster he planned to reward Buford for a job well done.

"Oh, he's getting steak dinner tonight, my wife already said," Dunton said. "He did a great job."
BEIJING, April 16 (Xinhua) -- China congratulates Daniel Noboa on his re-election as president of Ecuador, foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told a daily news briefing on Wednesday.

Noboa was re-elected in the second round of the presidential election held Sunday.

Lin said it is believed that under the leadership of President Noboa, Ecuador will continue to make new achievements in economic and social development.

Ecuador is China's comprehensive strategic partner and this year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Ecuador, Lin noted.

China attaches great importance to developing friendly relations with Ecuador, and stands ready to work with its new government to push forward bilateral relations and bring more benefits to the two countries and two peoples, Lin said. 
A 29-year-old man escaped police custody Tuesday while receiving medical treatment at a West Allis hospital.

The West Allis Police Department said in a statement late Tuesday afternoon authorities were searching for Charles Gregory in the area of South 88th Street and West Hayes Avenue, by Aurora West Allis Medical Center. The department posted an update Tuesday night announcing he is in custody.

According to WTMJ-TV, Gregory was originally arrested following a police pursuit earlier Tuesday. He had been injured during the pursuit and was at the hospital receiving care at the time of his escape. He was last seen with his hands cuffed behind his back.

This story was updated to add new information.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 29-year-old man escapes police custody while at West Allis hospital
Orlando police have made a second arrest in the shooting that left a man dead in the parking lot by Magic Mall.

Police say the victim, Joseph Phillips, was at DJunction Island Bar and Restaurant on April 6 when he stepped outside and got involved in an argument.

Police say the man previously arrested, Keishawn Richards, pulled a gun and tried to shot someone else but hit Phillips instead. He died at the scene,

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Richards was charged with manslaughter with a weapon.

On Tuesday, police arrested another man, Naratha McKinney, 29.

Police say McKinney was involved in the group that was arguing, and he fired several rounds in the air.

He now faces charges of manslaughter and aggravated assault with a firearm.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
(FOX40.COM)  The Sacramento Police Department announced the arrest of three men allegedly connected to the November 2024 Northgate Boulevard shooting that left two people dead.

Video Above: Homicide vs Murder vs Manslaughter

On Nov. 19, 2024, SPD said officers found a man and a woman with gunshot wounds after responding to reports of a shooting around 6 p.m. Despite lifesaving measures, both victims were pronounced dead.

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On Wednesday, SPD said 26-year-old Jakiem Halstead of Marysville, 24-year-old Isreal Murray of Sacramento and 23-year-old Easis Murray of Henderson, Nevada, were arrested on homicide related charges.

Placer County Sheriffs Office identifies remains of 2001 cold case

Halstead and Isreal Murray were booked into the Sacramento County Jail, while Easis Murray was arrested in Las Vegas and is being extradited back to Sacramento, police said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News.
Russia's proxies in Donetsk sentenced three Prisoners of War (POWs) who served with Azov to up to 24 years in prison on April 16.

Previously, a Russian military court sentenced 23 Ukrainians who served with Azov to prison on the charges of "seizure of power" and participating in a "terrorist organization." Ukraine has denounced such trials, saying that international law prohibits trials with war captives.

Vladislav Ruchka, Andriy Yaroshinsky, and Dmytro Ihnatenko have been sentenced to up to 24 years in prison. They have been imprisoned in sentences ranging from 23 years and nine months to 24 years in prison.

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The three POWs were convicted of "cruel treatment of the civilian population and murder motivated by political and ideological hatred" as outlined by the Russian criminal code, the court claims.

Ruchka, Yaroshinsky, and Ihnatenko have been accused of firing a mortar at a grain silo in Mariupol in March 2022 in the early days of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.

One person was killed in the silo, the Investigative Committee of Russia claims, an agency head by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Following illegal invasions in 2014 and 2022, the Russian Federation claims to have annexed these regions and subjects them to its repressive legislation, in contravention of international law," Freedom House says.

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Russian propaganda regularly targets Azov fighters and POWs.

Russia is committing genocide in Ukraine's occupied territories, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said on March 21.

"We emphasize that these systematic deportations and persecutions are part of Russia's genocide policy against the Ukrainian people," Tykhyi said.

According to a Russian decree, Ukrainian citizens residing in Russia and occupied Ukrainian territories must leave by Sept. 10 or "regulate their legal status."

Read also: Can civilian areas ever be legitimate military targets? We asked an expert

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Three people were killed after two boats collided on an Alabama lake on Wednesday, authorities said.

The incident occurred during a Major League Fishing tournament and involved one of the event's anglers, the organization said.

The two-vessel crash occurred shortly after 7 a.m. local time on Smith Lake in Cullman County, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA).

PHOTO: A boat is seen following a crash on Smith Lake in Cullman County, Alabama, April 16, 2025. (WBMA)

A Nitro bass boat struck a Center Console vessel, according to ALEA. The three people killed in the crash were all on board the Center Console boat, ALEA said.

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Among them, Joey Broom, 58, of Altoona, Alabama, was "fatally injured" in the crash, ALEA said in a press release.

Additionally, John Clark, 44, of Cullman, Alabama, and Jeffrey Little, 62, of Brandon, Mississippi, were both thrown overboard during the incident and drowned, ALEA said. Their bodies were recovered from the lake, ALEA said Wednesday evening.

MORE: Coast Guard calls off search for 5 missing passengers after boat overturns near Florida

The incident remains under investigation.

Major League Fishing said the "serious boating accident" occurred during the second day of the Tackle Warehouse Invitational.

PHOTO: A helicopter is seen following a crash on Smith Lake in Cullman County, Alabama, April 16, 2025. (WBMA)

"This is a heartbreaking moment for our entire organization," Kathy Fennel, the executive vice president and general manager of Major League Fishing, said in a statement. "Our deepest condolences go out to the families and friends of those affected by this tragedy."

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The final day of the competition, which had been scheduled for Thursday, has been canceled, the organization said.

3 killed in 2-boat collision during fishing competition on Alabama lake, state authorities say originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  The Baton Rouge Police Department is investigating a shooting that left a 3-year-old child injured Tuesday evening in the 400 block of N. 26th Street.

Officers with the Uniform Patrol Division responded to the scene around 6:38 p.m. April 15 following reports of gunfire in the area. Upon arrival, they learned the child had been taken to the hospital. Police said he was caught in the crossfire during a shooting incident on N. 26th Street.

The child was reported to be in stable condition as of Wednesday, April 16.

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The family identified the toddler as Trentavous Lewis. He was shot in the stomach and the chest. A GoFundMe has been created to help with his recovery process, raising $1,090 of its $7,500 goal as of Friday morning. According to the fundraisers description, Lewis is autistic and nonverbal.

The investigation remains ongoing. Police urge anyone with information about the incident to contact the Violent Crimes Unit at 225-389-4869 or report anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 225-344-7867.

Latest News

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  Most people in the United States must file their federal taxes by April 15, unless its a weekend or holiday. But some people get extra time automatically, without needing to ask the Internal Revenue Service or fill out special forms.

If youre in one of the three groups below, you may qualify for more time to file and pay your taxes without penalties or extra fees.

This is what KHON2.com found.

1. People in disaster areas

If a natural disaster like a hurricane, wildfire or flood hits your area and its declared a federal disaster by FEMA, then the IRS may give you extra time to file and pay.

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This applies to:

People who live in the disaster zone.

Businesses in the area.

People whose tax records are kept there.

Relief workers helping with the disaster.

You dont need to do anything special. The IRS uses your last tax return to see if you qualify. The extra time usually lasts at least 60 days, but it depends on how serious the disaster is.

This relief often covers more than just tax returns. It can also include payroll taxes, estimated tax payments and even retirement account contributions.

To see if your area qualifies, go to the IRS Disaster Relief section online.

Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You

2. U.S. citizens and residents living abroad

If you live and work outside the U.S. or Puerto Rico, you automatically get two more months to file your federal taxes. That means your new deadline is June 15 instead of April 15.

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To get this extension, you must:

Live and work outside the U.S. or Puerto Rico.

Attach a statement to your tax return explaining your situation.

Even though you get more time to file, interest still adds up on any unpaid taxes starting April 15. To avoid extra charges, try to pay what you owe by that date.

If you need more time beyond June 15, you can ask for an extension to October 15 by filing Form 4868.

This rule also applies to military or civilian workers who are stationed overseas.

3. U.S. Military serving in combat zones

If youre in the U.S. military and serving in a combat zone, you also get at least 180 days after leaving the combat area to file. The IRS gives this time to help service members focus on their missions.

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This extension covers:

Filing taxes.

Paying taxes.

Answering IRS letters.

Submitting other important forms.

You dont need to do anything to get this help. The IRS gets deployment info from the Department of Defense. But its still a good idea to tell your tax preparer if youre deployed.

You can click here to read more on the IRS website.

While most people must file by April 15, those dealing with natural disasters, living overseas or serving in the military may get extra time automatically and without penalties.

Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHONs morning podcast, every morning at 8

Even if youre not in a combat zone, but are serving outside the U.S. or Puerto Rico, you get the same two-month extension as civilians living abroad.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
Multiple people were arrested in a Seattle narcotics sting.

On April 14, patrol officers and detectives in the Narcotics Unit conducted the operations to address community complaints in Belltown and Little Saigon.

The operation resulted in 10 arrests, including a 21-year-old fugitive from California.

During the operation, police seized:

9.2g Methamphetamine

35.5g Fentanyl

42g Crack Cocaine

$1500 cash

Three officers were injured during one of the arrests, with one getting minor injuries.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  Mayor Brett Smiley is set to unveil his third tax-and-spending plan since taking office on Wednesday night, as the city has been bracing for property tax increases for months.

UPDATE: Smileys $624 million budget proposal raises property taxes, makes cuts

The mayor began warning about potential tax hikes and cuts to offset the budget gap as early as last fall. The budget plan being unveiled Wednesday is for the fiscal year that starts July 1.

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Smiley previously said the citys budget needs to increase by more than $20 million, largely due to a recent $15 million settlement with the the R.I. Department of Education, which controls the citys schools. The city has already paid $4 million to the schools, but owes the remaining $11 million in the next fiscal year.

The mayor said the city could manage the budget hike in three ways: increased property taxes, new revenue, or cuts to department budgets or city programs.

1. Property taxes and overriding the state tax cap

The current fiscal landscape has led Smiley to seek support from the R.I. General Assembly for one-time permission to raise the tax levy by more than 4% in a single year. The citys tax levy includes commercial, tangible, owner-occupied residential and non-owner-occupied residential property, as well as natural growth in values.

The City Council Committee on Finance unanimously approved a resolution that said the city could raise its total levy by a maximum of 8%, which the full council approved last month. The resolution also stated that city leaders needed to work to find new sources of revenue and seek thoughtful cuts to the budget.

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Several councilors also stressed that the resolution was just a tool they could use and was not an automatic increase. Smiley previously told Target 12 that the resolution gives the city the ability to craft a budget that weighs all the difficult choices ahead.

The measure still needs approval from state lawmakers, but a hearing date on the House bill has not yet been scheduled.

Prior to Wednesday nights address, Smiley would not commit to how big a levy increase he would seek.

2. Cuts to departments, programs

City leaders have explained that there are several options on the table for cuts, like transitioning from weekly trash pickup to biweekly pickup, or eliminating all community grants  a measure that would pose major problems for the citys libraries.

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RELATED: Providence libraries on the chopping block amid school funding fight

The city has also floated a 10% reduction in city employees, eliminating youth summer jobs, reducing snowplowing operations and recreation programming, or even eliminating PVDFest.

3. New revenue

Smiley has also said the city is considering a commercial parking tax and that his administration is reviewing all municipal fines and fees.

Everything from the cost of a parking ticket to the cost of a permit is all on the table, Smiley recently told Target 12.

Whats next?

Smiley is set to formally present the proposed budget to the City Council at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday in City Hall chambers.

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In the coming months, the councils finance committee will hold several hearings to vet the budget and propose changes. Additionally, the city will hold public hearings  tentatively scheduled for May 6 and June 9  to gather the publics input on the budget.

The City Council needs to pass the budget twice before sending it to the mayors desk for his signature ahead of the start of the new fiscal year.

Alexandra Leslie (aleslie@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter covering Providence and more for 12 News. Connect with her on Twitter and on Facebook.

Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts.

Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app.

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Daily Roundup

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com.
WAUPUN, Wis. (WFRV)  A 44-year-old man was hospitalized and then airlifted to another facility after an incident on Tuesday morning at the Waupun Correctional Institution.

According to a statement from the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, the inmate jumped from one of the tiers in the cell hall around 11 a.m.

I just stabbed my boyfriend: Details released of Green Bay stabbing, woman officially charged with homicide

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Staff members in the facility provided aid before he was taken in an ambulance to Waupun Memorial Hospital. He was reportedly airlifted later to another medical facility.

The Wisconsin Department of Corrections said that federal privacy rules prevent any more information from being released regarding the mans condition.

No additional details were provided.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Brunei's pro-business policies, political stability, and commitment to sustainability make the nation an ideal partner for Indian companies looking to mitigate risks and capitalize on new opportunities, a Brunei official has said.

Economic diversification is at the heart of the Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB)'s mission supporting Brunei Vision 2035 for a dynamic and sustainable economy, BEDB Acting Chief Executive Officer Daniel Leong told a group of Indian businessmen on Monday.

"Brunei stands guided with the Economic Blueprint to develop our priority sectors in petrochemical, food, infocommunications technology, services and tourism," he said.

This demonstrates the strong potential for further business partnerships, he said, adding that for local businesses, this presents an opportunity to collaborate with Indian investors and integrate into regional supply chains.

According to Leong, two Indian foreign direct investment (FDI) projects are already in operation in Brunei, and several additional projects were recently approved in the oil & gas downstream, food, and services sectors. 
NEENAH, Wis. (WFRV)  A 45-year-old Neenah man will spend the next five years in federal prison after being sentenced on Monday by Senior District Judge William C. Griesbach for distributing child pornography.

Richard G. Frohling, the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced the sentence via a Wednesday release, saying that Roberto De La Rosas sentence stemmed from a cyber tip in October 2024.

Deputies handling active situation in Outagamie County near elementary school

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Law enforcement received the tip that said De La Rosa had owned and distributed several images and videos of child sexual abuse material, commonly referred to as child pornography.

As the investigation endured, it was revealed that De La Rosa repeatedly viewed, collected and distributed child pornography multiple times. Judge Griesbach referred to his responsibility to protect the public and the necessity for punishment.

De La Rosa will spend seven years on supervised release. No additional details were provided.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Apr. 15A 50-year-old Naples, Idaho, man died and two others were injured in a three-vehicle crash Monday on U.S. Highway 95 near Naples in North Idaho.

A 33-year-old Spokane man was driving a van at about noon south on the highway when he rear-ended a Chevrolet GMT-400 pickup truck, according to an Idaho State Police news release. The truck was driven by the Naples man, who had a juvenile passenger with him.

The crash pushed the truck into a northbound Honda Ridgeline, occupied by a man and a woman in their 70s from Coeur d'Alene. The truck and Honda started on fire after the crash, the release said.

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The Naples man died at the scene and his juvenile passenger was airlifted to an area hospital, troopers said. The woman in the Honda was taken to the hospital by a ground ambulance.

Investigators said they didn't know whether the occupants of the pickup were wearing seat belts.

ISP is investigating.

ISP did not release the names of those involved in the crash nor disclose whether anyone was arrested.
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  Cash rewards are being offered for information leading to the arrest of ten suspects wanted for various crimes in Abilene.

Police are seeking these suspects for the following offenses:

Sean Higginbottom  Assault Family Violence with Previous Convictions

Kody Stone  Child Endangerment

AmaJiahnae Simon  Robbery

Ethan Martin  Evading Arrest, Deadly Conduct, Discharge of Firearm

Robert Allen Frayer  Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Family Violence

Ashley Nicole Brooks  Evading Arrest, Unlawful Carrying of Weapon, Unlawful Possession of Weapon by Felon

Keighvoucia Lamb  Aggravated Assault x3, False Report

Nicholas Tedford  Child Endangerment

Cynthia Shadden  Aggravated Robbery

Ivonyai Cashaun Lamb (FEATURED FUGITIVE)  Aggravated Assault

Cynthia Shadden Nicholas Tedford Keighvoucia Lamb Ashley Nicole Brooks Robert Allen Frayer Ethan Martin AmaJiahnae Simon Kody Stone Sean Higginbottom Ivonyai Cashaun Lamb



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.

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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.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
An aerial view of the Abbott Ranch, also known as the Metzger Ranch. (Courtesy of Hall and Hall)

LINCOLN  One of the most historic and largest multigenerational ranches in the Nebraska Sandhills  owned by only two families since the Cherry County land was settled in the late 1800s  is poised to find new owners.

The ranch owned first by the Metzger family and then the Abbotts sits on the vast and famed Ogallala Aquifer, which creates lakes and tributaries that feed miles of rivers that provide water for cattle and ranching. (Courtesy of Hall and Hall)

With an asking price of $50 million, the 55,136 acres could rake in the biggest sum ever for a Nebraska ranch.

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Located in the nations No. 1 cow county  and including nine miles of the Snake River, eight miles of Gordon Creek, 26 solar wells, 79 windmills, 20-plus artesian flowing wells and an airplane hangar  the property has grabbed the attention of potential buyers from numerous states.

But not all are happy with the idea of the sale.

Not all want to sell

Some members of the Abbott family, which bought the property from the Metzgers over a half-century ago, object to letting go of the ranch where whitetail and mule deer run, walleye and trout fishing is common, and the Ogallala Aquifer nourishes grassy meadows for acres.

Chris, who has been the ranchs main steward, wants to hold onto the operation, but the majority of the five brothers and sisters who are major shareholders have voted to sell and focus on other areas of their lives.

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Its an emotional struggle that, without discussing specifics of the ranch, Nebraska State Sen. Tanya Storer said many Sandhills natives can relate to.

State Sen. Tanya Storer grew up in the Nebraska Sandhills, which she says has distinct culture, tradition and camaraderie. (Courtesy of Unicameral Update)

Being part of a multigenerational ranch family myself, sometimes even selling a specific pasture can be emotional, said Storer, who lives in Cherry County.

She says the ranch is a cornerstone of the north-central Nebraska region, with the Abbott family legacy entrenched not only in the cattle but banking industries. While new owners are always welcome, Storer said, the bond is really never the same as with families that have grown up together, branded together and have run to each others aid when fires or other ranch tragedies hit.

Its the interwovenness of the experience, the culture of what we do, said the lawmaker from Whitman.

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Mike Abbott, who at age 67 is the youngest of the siblings and among those ready to sell, said he wouldnt change any of his ranch experiences, including 4-H and riding horseback to a one-room schoolhouse.

He recalls his mom and dad, Art and Patricia, buying the ranch from Woodrow Metzger in 1969. Mike was about 10 years old then, though generations of the Abbotts have lived in the area since the turn of the 20th Century.

Yep, that was my childhood, said Mike, president of the corporation that owns the property. Then, ranching provided well for my family. But it was different for my three kids.

The ranch has historically operated as a year-round cow/calf operation, brokers said. (Courtesy of Hall and Hall)

He called ranching a changing industry, and said his own three children have ventured into other work. The sale of the ranch should allow Abbott family members to support younger generations in their endeavors, he said.

Mama cow country

Marketing the ranch for sale is Hall and Hall, a brokerage firm based in the county seat of Valentine, in partnership with Marshall Land Brokers & Auctioneers of Kearney.

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Agent Mark Johnson of Hall and Hall said torn feelings are commonplace in his business and can be magnified with multigenerational ranch land. He also worked on the recent sale of the Dumbbell Ranch, which was mostly situated in Cherry County and attracted national attention for its quirky name, rich history and size of 15,500 acres.

In that case, the two siblings who controlled the Dumbbell, despite sentimental attachment, agreed on selling. One sibling was immersed in a computer career in Colorado, and his sister was about to get married again.

Her daughters had more pressing interests than to oversee the operation and, as Anne Anderson Bennet said at the time: We love the Sandhills. Our family loves ranching. Its time to move on.

Even larger, the Metzger Ranch, also known as the Abbott Ranch, is a rock in the county known for having the most cows in the United States, Johnson said, calling Cherry County the best place for a mama cow.

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Agriculture is the No. 1 industry in Nebraska, and cattle production represents the largest segment of the industry, notes the Nebraska Beef Council.

The ranch is centrally located between Valentine, Gordon and Hyannis, say brokers, who describe it as one of the earliest ranches in the Sandhills. (Courtesy of Hall and Hall)

Just the sheer size of it is extremely notable, Johnson said of the Abbott property. His team, whose expertise is in ranches, believes the asking price surpasses all other Nebraska ranches to date.

Since hitting the market earlier this month, Johnson said, hes fielded interest from people in Texas, Missouri, Kansas, Wyoming and Montana. He said they include land investors and ranchers, some attracted to the subirrigated land where drought is not as common and others who feel pushed out of their current regions by non-agricultural development.

He suspects potential buyers will see an opportunity to invest in a hard asset versus the stock market.

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The cows arent included in the price tag, but the real estate listing shows the ranch as a 2,500-head cow/calf year-round operation. Included in the sale are five homes, a bunkhouse. Theres a horse barn, cattle working facilities and other outbuildings.

Rarely do ranches of such large acreage and quality come to market, says the Hall and Hall web site. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for anyone who dreams of a future in land ownership and cattle production.

Land with long ties

The ranch headquarters includes a corral system, calving barn, airplane hangar and 1910 three-story home. (Courtesy of Hall and Hall)

After News Channel Nebraska reported the real estate listing, the family sent a statement from the children of Chris Abbott, who described their dad as the decades-long main steward of the ranch.

A.J. and Carver Abbott and Alicia Abbott Clark said in the statement that their dad, who they said grew the cow herd and land mass, would never vote to sell the ranch. They said his four siblings did vote to sell, and one has since retracted.

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The cattle, hills, meadows, trees, river ground, summer pastures, windmills, fence lines, etc., run deep in our Dads soul. As a working rancher since he was a child, Chris has developed pride, respect and callouses, they wrote.

The three said many have reached out to them, and they wanted people to know that all was done to try and convince the on-paper majority owners not to sell.

Their hope, they said, is that someone with a whole hell of a lot of money and vision will hear about what is going on and will partner in the ranch, or that Dads siblings will accept our lease offer.

The ranch is home to wildlife including mule and whitetail deer, antelope, grouse and pheasants. (Courtesy of Hall and Hall)

Mike Abbott said he and wife Pam want the next owner to value and appreciate all the natural resources the land can offer and be exceptional stewards to it.

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My favorite memories were working alongside my dad all those years, no matter the task, the youngest sibling said. His dad, Art, passed away in 1986 and mom, Patricia (Frank), died in 2009.

Hard decision

Storer said her heart hurts for any family that, for whatever reason, closes a ranching chapter.

There is something unique about the Sandhills. It becomes part of you, she said. If and when you have to separate from that, it certainly leaves an empty spot in your soul.

Mike Abbott expects some of the Abbott family to remain in the area after a sale. His sisters and major shareholders are Andrea Berger, Diane Shadbolt and Helen Feller. Grandchildren have expanded the number of stakeholders in the ranch.

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He didnt want to discuss or add to any conflict, but he said a sale would get more complicated over time, and now seemed the best way for most involved.

This was a very very hard decision, said Mike Abbott. Weve got to move forward.

Abbott Metzger Ranch (photos courtesy of Hall and Hall)

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In the nearly three months since President Donald Trump's inauguration, lawyers challenging his actions in court have alleged that his administration has violated court orders on a half dozen occasions, according to court records reviewed by ABC News.

From unilaterally freezing federal funding to the use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport noncitizens, the clashes have raised concerns about the separation of powers and the potential for a constitutional crisis.

Plaintiffs suing the Trump administration have alleged the government violated or ignored court orders on at least six different occasions, but no judge so far has held a member of the Trump administration in contempt of court. On at least four occasions, judges have expressed concerns about the Trump administration's compliance with court orders.

PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks as he meets with President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador in the Oval Office of the White House, April 14, 2025 in Washington. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

MORE: Judge in Abrego Garcia case blasts DOJ's inaction, orders officials to testify under oath

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Lawyers with the Justice Department have vigorously defended the actions of the Trump administration and argued that federal officials have strictly complied with lawful court orders, while also questioning the legality of some orders. Each of the cases are ongoing or being appealed, so the district court orders may be vacated as higher courts weigh in.

Trump has repeatedly vowed to respect a court order even if a judge rules against parts of his agenda, though he has attempted to cast doubt on the authority of some judges.

"Well, I always abide by the courts and then I'll have to appeal it," Trump told ABC's Rachel Scott in February, referencing cases involving Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency. In those cases, Trump suggested a judge's order "slowed down the momentum, and it gives crooked people more time to cover up the books. You know, if a person's crooked and they get caught, other people see that and all of a sudden it becomes harder later on."

The Trump Administration now faces arguably its most high-profile legal battle, as it attempts to keep Kilmar Abrego Garcia in Salvadoran custody despite the Supreme Court ordering his administration to facilitate his release.

Using the Alien Enemies Act to remove alleged members of Tren de Aragua

Last month, the Trump administration removed more than 100 alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua to a Salvadoran prison under the Alien Enemies Act despite a federal judge ordering they be returned to the U.S.

PHOTO: Undated photo of a man identified by Jennifer Vasquez Sura as her husband, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, is led by force by guards through the Terrorism Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador. (U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland via AP)

MORE: Judge Boasberg cancels hearing on Trump deportations after Supreme Court ruling

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U.S. District Judge James Boasberg issued a directive that two planes carrying the men to El Salvador be returned to the United States on March 15. Despite both planes still being in the air at the time of the order, the planes landed in Honduras before flying to El Salvador.

Lawyers representing the Venezuelan men have argued that the Trump administration violated the court order, and Judge James Boasberg remarked that the government "acted in bad faith" when it rushed the deportation flights.

PHOTO: In this March 16, 2023, file photo, Judge James E. Boasberg, chief judge of the Federal District Court in DC, stands for a portrait at E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse in Washington, D.C. (Carolyn Van Houten/The Washington Post via Getty Images, FILE)

The Supreme Court vacated his order blocking any future removals under the Alien Enemies Act because the plaintiffs lacked jurisdiction to bring a case in D.C. Prior to the Supreme Court's decision, Judge Boasberg was considering beginning contempt proceedings.

Trump defended his use of the Alien Enemies Act  telling reporters last month that he has the authority to remove noncitizens under the law  and has repeatedly criticized Judge Boasberg for blocking the removals.

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"[Secretary of State Marco Rubio has] the authority to get bad people out of our country. And you can't stop that with a judge sitting behind a bench that has no idea what goes on, who happens to be a radical left lunatic," Trump told ABC's Karen Travers.

Removal of Kilmar Abrego Garcia

After the Trump administration acknowledged it had deported a Salvadoran native who was living in Maryland under protected legal status due to an "administrative error," a federal judge ordered the government to facilitate his return to the United States.

PHOTO: Undated photo provided by CASA, an immigrant advocacy organization, in April 2025, shows Kilmar Abrego Garcia. (CASA via AP)

After the Trump administration appealed the decision, the U.S. Supreme Court concluded that Judge Paula Xinis "properly" required that the U.S. facilitate Abrego Garcia's release from Salvadoran custody; however, the high court ordered Judge Xinis determine what "deference" Trump is owed related to his conduct of foreign affairs.

Since the Supreme Court's ruling, the Trump administration has doubled down on its allegation that Abrego Garcia is a member of MS-13 -- without providing any evidence -- and claimed it lacks the authority to return him to the U.S. During a meeting with Trump in the Oval Office on Monday, Salvadoran president Nayib Bukele told reporters that he lacks the power to return Abrego Garcia to the U.S.

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"The question is preposterous. How can I smuggle a terrorist into the United States?" Bukele said.

Benjamin Osorio, an attorney for Abrego Garcia, told ABC News that he believes the Trump administration is defying the court's order and that a contempt order might be the only thing to prompt the U.S. government to return his client from El Salvador.

Before his meeting with Bukele, Trump told reporters that he would respect an order from the Supreme Court to return Abrego Garcia.

PHOTO: President Donald Trump meets with El Salvador President Nayib Bukele in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, April 14, 2025. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

MORE: El Salvador's Bukele, meeting with Trump, says he won't return migrant wrongfully deported

"If the Supreme Court said bring somebody back, I would do that. I respect the Supreme Court," Trump said.

Removal of migrants to third countries

During a hearing last week, a federal judge gave lawyers with the Justice Department two weeks to provide more information about three recent removals of noncitizens to El Salvador that took place two days after he issued a temporary order blocking similar deportations to countries other than their place of origin without a hearing to raise concerns about their safety.

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Judge Brian Murphy described the "potential violations of the temporary restraining order" as "concerning" and set an April 28 hearing to learn more about the deportations.

MORE: Judge's block on deportations to third countries will remain in effect through next week

"This is something that is concerning to me," Judge Murphy said. "I do think it's something that we need to address."

Lawyers with the Justice Department agreed to provide more information about the removals and defended the administration's conduct.

Judge Murphy is considering extending his court order that prevents the Trump administration from removing noncitizens to countries other than their place of origin without allowing the noncitizens to raise concerns about their safety.

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Two days after Judge Murphy temporarily blocked the deportations, the Trump administration announced that it had removed 17 alleged members of Tren de Aragua and MS-13 to El Salvador's notorious CECOT prison. According to the plaintiffs, some of the men on those flights had final orders of removal to Venezuela and were never given the right to challenge their removal to El Salvador.

Unilaterally freezing funding to states

In February, U.S. District Judge John McConnell said that a group of state attorneys general presented evidence that the Trump administration "continued to improperly freeze federal funds and refused to resume disbursement of appropriated federal funds" to states despite a "clear and unambiguous" order barring them from blocking the funding.

He ordered the government to "immediately restore frozen funding" though the state attorneys general later provided evidence that the Trump administration continued to pause funding from FEMA. Many of the funding streams were restored in the months following Judge McConnell's order.

Lawyers representing the Trump administration have argued the limiting of funds was a lawful way to identify and limit alleged fraud.

Blocking FEMA grants

Two months after Judge McConnell ordered the Trump administration to unfreeze funding to states, he determined that the government "covertly" paused millions of dollars in FEMA funding in direct violation of a court order.

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Judge McConnell ordered the Trump Administration to "immediately cease" its efforts to impede the disbursement of federal funds, finding the government directly violated his order.

PHOTO: The U.S. Supreme Court is seen April 7, 2025 in Washington. (Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)

MORE: Trump admin live updates: Top Hegseth adviser placed on leave after leak investigation: Sources

Last month, a coalition of 22 attorneys general asked Judge McConnell to stop the freeze after they presented evidence that FEMA continued to restrict more than 215 federal grants despite a court order blocking Trump's unilateral funding freeze.

Lawyers with the DOJ pushed back on the request, arguing that FEMA was "merely implementing a manual review process" of each grant.

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Judge McConnell disagreed, finding that the states presented "undisputed evidence" that FEMA "essentially [imposed] an indefinite categorical pause on payments" in direct violation of his preliminary injunction. He said the manual review process cited by the Trump administration "violates" a preliminary injunction issued in the case.

Freezing billions in foreign aid

A federal judge in February determined that the Trump administration was improperly withholding nearly $2 billion in foreign aid despite an order to restore the funding.

MORE: 'Death sentence': Advocates blast $1.3 billion in State Department food aid cuts

U.S. District Judge Amir H. Ali blocked the Trump administration from imposing a blanket freeze on funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development, yet the freeze continued for weeks, according to lawyers representing the foreign aid nonprofits. Lawyers representing the Trump administration have argued the funding freeze was necessary to identify and block potential fraud.

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In an order, Judge Ali wrote that the Trump administration justified the freeze by advancing "an unbridled view of Executive power that the Supreme Court has consistently rejecteda view that flouts multiple statutes."

After the Trump administration appealed the order, a divided U.S. Supreme Court denied the request to block the order, though the justices ordered the lower court to clarify its original order.

6 times the Trump administration has clashed with opponents over court orders originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
ROGERS, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  Seven suspects in the fatal shooting of a Rogers man last month pleaded not guilty to charges including capital murder earlier this week, according to court documents.

10 people, five adults and five juveniles, have been arrested in connection with the March 8 shooting death of 41-year-old Andres Fonseca.

On Monday, these seven pleaded not guilty to the following charges:

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Manuel Rodriguez , 17, is charged on March 12 with capital murder and engaging in violent criminal group activity. Rodriguez is a juvenile being charged as an adult.

Jesus Rodriguez , 21, is been charged with capital murder.

Cristofer Nicasio , 27, is charged with capital murder and engaging in violent criminal group activity.

Jordan Mandujano , 15, is also charged with capital murder, engaging in violent criminal group activity and hindering apprehension or prosecution. Mandujano is a juvenile charged as an adult.

Eileen Rocha , 16, is charged with capital murder, engaging in violent criminal group activity, hindering apprehension or prosecution and first-degree endangering the welfare of a minor. Rocha is being held at the Benton County jail without bond.

Jared Stiles , 15, is charged with capital murder, engaging in violent criminal group activity and hindering apprehension or prosecution. Stiles is being held at the Benton County jail without bond.

Tevan Ortiz, 27, is charged with capital murder, engaging in violent criminal group activity and possession of a controlled substance. He is being held at the Benton County jail without bond.

Plan Bentonville enters phase two of long-term development for city

These two suspects had their arraignments rescheduled for May 27:

Amy Mandujano , 16, is charged with capital murder and engaging in violent criminal group activity. She is being held at the Benton County jail without bond.

Junior Rodriguez, 22, is charged with capital murder and engaging in violent criminal group activity. He is being held at the Benton County jail without bond.

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Noel Gates, 39, who is charged with hindering apprehension and soliciting a minor to join a gang, is scheduled to appear in court on April 21. He is being held in the Benton County jail on a $350,000 bond.

Heavily redacted affidavits said witnesses told officers they heard kids in the group asking about Gates gang affiliation and mentioning something about the Southside gang.

Officers responded to a shooting at 12:09 p.m. at the intersection of South B Street and East Southern Trace Drive in Rogers. According to police, three individuals opened fire in Fonsecas direction. The video footage captures Fonseca falling to the ground and rolling several times. It also shows two people getting into a maroon Dodge Charger and driving away, while two others entered a dark-colored passenger car and left the area.

Upon further investigation, officers learned the Charger was associated with subjects believed to be in the Pachuco gang based on prior investigations.

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SNAP Changes: What foods could be excluded in Arkansas?

When officers arrived, they found a man  later identified as Fonseca  lying on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds. Fonseca was then transported to Mercy Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Police recovered 32 9mm shell casings from the northeast corner of the intersection and several pools of blood at the south end where Fonseca had fallen. Bullet holes were found on vehicles parked at a house on the southwest corner, and multiple bullet fragments were located nearby.

Detectives later identified Ortiz as the potential driver of the black car involved in the shooting, after linking him to the incident through his March 8 arrest on drug charges in Bella Vista.

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GRAFTON, Wis. (WFRV)  Authorities in southeast Wisconsin arrested seven suspected members of the nationwide criminal organization known as the Felony Lane Gang after Flock cameras alerted to a stolen vehicle Tuesday afternoon.

Around 1:20 p.m. on April 15, officers with the Grafton Police Department were notified of a stolen vehicle through the Flock license plate reader system from a camera near Wisconsin Avenue and Chateau Drive in Grafton.

Police: 10 arrested stemming from Sheboygan shooting, suspects from various Wisconsin cities & Chicago

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Officers quickly searched the area and found the suspected stolen vehicle at a business in the 1700 block of Wisconsin Avenue. Officers also noted that a second vehicle, which was reportedly driving in tandem with the stolen vehicle, was also found. It had allegedly been rented with the use of a stolen ID.

Authorities got information that the vehicles were being driven by suspected members of the Felony Lane Gang, which is a criminal organization that is known throughout the United States to commit break-ins to motor vehicles, identity thefts, bank frauds, and other similar crimes, the release states.

After the investigation, officers detained and arrested seven suspects. All were taken to the Ozaukee County Jail on various charges.

Milwaukee PD Special Investigations Division seizes kilogram of cocaine, firearms, other drugs over two recent search warrants

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Officers say the charges range from Take & Drive a Vehicle without Owners Consent, Misappropriate ID to Obtain Goods / Money (Fraudulent Theft), Obstructing an Officer, Delivering Illegal Articles to Inmates, Possession of Narcotic Drugs, and outstanding warrants.

While seven members of this criminal organization are currently in law enforcements custody, we want to remind our residents and guests of Grafton to lock your vehicles and keep your valuables, purses, wallets, checkbooks, and the like, out of sight and secure on your person or in another location not seen by anyone peering in to vehicles. Car break-ins are often crimes of opportunity  take a moment and keep your belongings and identity safe with these simple safeguards. Village of Grafton Police Department

No additional information was provided.

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PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA)  Dozens of veterans received a warm welcome after returning from Tuesdays honor flight.

For Vietnam veterans like Edwin Keith, it meant everything.

When I came home, the welcome was not like this, he explained.

But on Tuesday, Keith and 76 other veterans went on a day-long honor flight to Washington, D.C., to visit war memorials built in their honor.

This time, they received a proper welcome home.

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Ive been crying off and on all the way through, and Im just now starting to get my composure back a little bit, said Keith. And Ill probably lose it again when I get out of here.

Charles Chuck Keefer also cried as he went down the hallway, and said this was the welcome home he never experienced.

This is much much different from when I came home, he explained. I had three boys.

My wife told the boys not to tell anybody who their father was, Keefer continued. Seriously.

News Channel 8 reporter Nicole Rogers asked Keefer, To go from that to this welcome today, what does that mean to you?

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Its amazing, he cried. I couldnt believe it.

Now, Keith and other Vietnam veterans work hard to ensure anyone returning home from serving our great nation receives the honor and respect they deserve.

We made sure they were welcome home and not called baby killers and names like that, he explained. Im grateful to have served our country, and I wish a lot of young men would follow and serve their country the way former vets have because we need them.

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TOPEKA (KSNT)  One of Kansas top law enforcement agencies is getting a big upgrade after receiving approval for a new headquarters in Topeka this year, saving it from its current poor location.

Lawmakers gave the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) the go-ahead this year for a new headquarters building in downtown Topeka. The agency asked the Kansas Legislature for financial help last year, citing a litany of issues with its current headquarters in Topeka.

Governor Laura Kelly and members of the Kansas Legislature passed Senate Bill 125 last week. The bipartisan budget bill allocates cash for fiscal years 2025 through to 2028. While the bill was subject to line-item vetoes from Kelly, the section on the new KBI headquarters was not impacted by them.

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Why legalizing weed in Kansas isnt working

Senate Bill 125 clears the way for a capital improvement project to design, build, renovate and equip a new KBI headquarters in Topekas downtown area. The bill also allows for the purchase of property for the building.

Melissa Underwood with the KBI told 27 News on April 16 the agency is now looking for competitive bids for vendors who can build or renovate a new headquarters building under the stipulations of Senate Bill 125. The project will be covered by up to 30-year bonds with a cap set at $80 million.

We appreciate that the Legislature recognized the KBIs necessity for having a Headquarters facility that is safe, secure, and efficient for conducting critical public safety operations, Underwood said.

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Underwood said the new location for the headquarters and an exact timeline for moving out of the agencys current building isnt known yet. Staff at the current headquarters at 1620 Southwest Tyler Street will move out only after the new facility is completed.

KBI Director Tony Mattivi submitted testimony earlier this year reporting the current KBI headquarters is located in a high-crime area, suffers from a bat infestation, leaks in the roof and other issues. He said the more than 100-year-old building, originally built as a school, was not an ideal place to house the agency.

Condemned east Topeka apartment cited for trash, vehicle violations

Original plans put forward by the KBI asked lawmakers for around $115 million to build a new headquarters. Possible locations pitched for the headquarters included the former Menninger campus, the Kansas Neurological Institute or former State Hospital grounds.

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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

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BEIJING, April 16 (Xinhua) -- The online platform launched late last month for the public to report vile acts of "Taiwan independence" has received more than 3,000 relevant reports so far, a Chinese mainland spokesperson said on Wednesday.

Most of these reports were centered on certain individuals and organizations with detailed allegations provided, according to Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office.

On March 26, the office announced the launch of the online platform, accessible on its official website, for the public to report vile acts by those advocating "Taiwan independence" and their accomplices in persecuting Taiwan compatriots.

Noting that the move has a solid jurisprudential and legal basis, Zhu said it was in response to the call by people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait for punishing "Taiwan independence" elements and is a necessary measure to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Taiwan compatriots.

The spokesperson also pledged measures to verify report information, hold relevant perpetrators accountable and strictly punish them based on facts and in accordance with law.

The mainland earlier accused Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party authorities of fabricating various charges to suppress dissenting voices on the island, stifling freedom of speech, and resorting to threats, intimidation and persecution aimed at political opponents, as well as political parties, organizations and individuals who support the peaceful development and integration of cross-Strait relations.

In a recent high-profile case, a woman from the mainland who was married to a man in Taiwan and expressed her support for China's reunification online, had her residence permit in Taiwan revoked by the island's authorities. She was forced to leave the island -- separating her from her husband and three children.

Taiwan is part of China, and the country will never allow "Taiwan independence" separatist forces to split Taiwan from China by any means or under any pretext, Zhu said.

"Taiwan independence" hardliners who violate the law, no matter where they are, will be hunted down by law enforcement and judicial authorities, who will impose severe penalties according to the law, she added.

The spokesperson also warned relevant organizations, separatist elements, officials and online influencers who act as enforcers and accomplices for the "Taiwan independence" agenda, that authorities will never sit idly by and condone their wrongdoing. 
MIAMISBURG, Ohio (WDTN)  A Korean War Veteran from Miamisburg is finally being honored with a purple heart.

Veteran Leroy Campbell is 93 years old now, but in the early 1950s, he spent more than three years serving in the U.S. Army.

Just a few days before the Korean War ended in 1953, Campbell was blown out of a bunker and injured. Now, over seven decades later, Campbell received a purple heart coin while he waits for the official medal, which is still being processed.

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It means a great deal to me, theres no doubt about it, said Campbell. A great deal to me.

Surrounded by three generations of family and friends, Campbell finally received the award he and his family have been fighting decades for.

As long as I can remember, hes talked about it and told me the stories of how it happened, said Kyle Campbell, grandson. So getting to this point today, its really a great experience and a great feeling knowing hes going to get it.

Campbells grandson says his grandfathers bravery inspired him to join the army himself. Kyle says he never gets tired of hearing him tell the story of that day in 1953.

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I was on my way to the bunker for a meeting in between there, and when I got into the bunker, I just ducked into the bunk and Sergeant Caesar stood up in front of me. I stood up to look at him and a mortar round came in and blew me right out of the bunker, said Campbell. And it was only because Sergeant Caesar stood between me. So actually, he saved my life.

And its the act of sacrifice and service that Campbell wishes future generations to keep alive.

Campbell received numerous tokens of appreciation during the ceremony, including a letter from Congressman Mike Turner, several pins and a star from a retired American flag.

To Mr. Campbell, from all of us here at Channel 2, we thank you for your service.



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Originally appeared on E! Online

Aaron Goodwins estranged wife is taking accountability.

Over a month after the Ghost Adventures stars wife Victoria Goodwin was arrested March 6 for allegedly trying to hire a hitman to kill him, she has entered a guilty plea, according to Clark County District Court records obtained by People.

Victoria entered a guilty plea April 12, and filed ensuing documents April 15, per records via People. The 49-year-oldwho married Aaron in 2022has pleaded guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to commit murder, per Clark County District documents, and faces between two and ten years in prison.

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According to the Clark County District documents, she could also be fined $5,000.

E! News has reached out to attorneys for Victoria regarding her plea but has not yet heard back.

The guilty plea from Victoria comes after her arrest revealed she had allegedly been in contact with Grant Amato, a convicted murderer, to arrange to kill her husband.

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Victoria allegedly hired Grant for around $11,000 after seeing him in the Paramount+ documentary CTRL + ALT + DESIRE, which detailed his own 2019 plot to steal $200,000 from his family before he killed his mother, father and brother. (Amato was charged with three counts of murder, and is currently serving three consecutive lifelong sentences, without the possibility of parole.)

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In a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department arrest report obtained by E! News last month, Victoria and Grant had allegedly been exchanging romantic texts, in which they discussed how much they are in love.

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Victoria had also allegedly sent Grant a text saying, Am I a bad person? Because I chose to end his existence. Not divorce.

Despite her now-guilty plea, Victoria had initially denied wanting to have her husband killed, according to the arrest report previously obtained by E! News and claimed she did not remember exchanging texts with Grant.

Aaron, meanwhile, filed for divorce from Victoria days after her arrest and shared a post thanking his followers for support amid his emotionally trying time.

As he wrote in the March 22 post, It has really helped a lot and I appreciate you all.

For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
(WATE)  A pastor with Maryville connections who was abducted in South Africa while preaching a sermon on April 11 has been rescued rescued following a shootout between suspects and South African law enforcement.

On Friday, the Associated Press reported that four men broke into the Fellowship Baptist Church in the Motherwell Township of South Africas Eastern Cape providence Thursday evening, stole two cell phones and took the pastor away in his own truck. The pastor was later identified as Josh Sullivan of Maryville.

PREVIOUS: Faith leaders pray for safe return of East Tennessee pastor after abduction in South Africa

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A release from the South African Police Service explained that the rescue happened on April 15 and was carried out by a multi-disciplinary law enforcement operation, known as the Hawks, led by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation.

After following intelligence, the coordinated team that included members of the Serious Organised Crime Investigation team of the Hawks, Anti-Gang Unit, Crime Intelligence, Tactical Response Team and other law enforcement agencies went to the safe house in KwaMagxaki, Gqeberha. A spokesperson for the South African Police Service released photos of the home where Sullivan was held for six days, saying his kidnappers demanded a ransom for his release.

The house in Kwamagxaki, Gqerberha, South Africa where a U.S. pastor was held hostage for six days. (South African Police Service) The house in Kwamagxaki, Gqerberha, South Africa where a U.S. pastor was held hostage for six days. (South African Police Service)

As officers approached the safe house, a vehicle with suspects attempted to flee and opened fire on the Hawks team, the South African Police Service explained. The officers returned fire, leading to what the agency called a high-intensity shootout that left three of the unidentified suspects fatally wounded.

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Sullivan was also inside the vehicle, the same vehicle he was abducted in, and he was unharmed. The South African Police Service said he was immediately assessed by medical personnel and is in excellent condition.

We extend sincere appreciation to all role players that includes our law enforcement members, the public, international partners, both local and international media whose support and vigilance were instrumental in this success. As investigations continue, we respectfully request privacy for the victim and his family as they navigate this period of recovery, the agency wrote.

Family of man who died in Knox County custody to announce legal action

Two missionaries who are connected to the South African mission group Sullivan is a part of also released a statement sharing excitement for Sullivans rescue.

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Were overjoyed to share that Missionary Josh Sullivan has been safely rescued. After days of uncertainty and fervent prayer, we rejoice in the faithfulness and protection of our great God, Mark and Amy Coffey wrote. Thank you to the countless people who prayed, encouraged, and supported us during this time. Your love was deeply felt, and we are confident God heard every prayer. Were also grateful for the local authorities and rescue teams whose efforts helped bring Josh home.

They also asked for others to continue to pray for Sullivans family as they recover.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side.
First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out because I was not a communist.

So begins a poem written by Martin Niemoller, a German pastor who initially supported the Nazi party, and later spent eight years in concentration camps.

His words resonate today as President Donald Trump pushes the limits of his authority to deport immigrants. He seems to be counting on the fact that undocumented immigrants from Latin American countries lack public support, and so no one will speak out for them.

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But the case creates a danger for every American.

More from Freep Opinion: How much of Project 2025 has been implemented? Enough to break us beyond repair.

The rule of law

When I served as U.S. Attorney, I helped enforce immigration laws, but we were committed to doing so lawfully. Honoring the rule of law includes obeying orders of the judiciary, one of the three co-equal branches of government that checks the others. Allowing the executive branch to flout court orders undermines the legal processes that protect all of us.

And if we permit lawlessness in deportations, what comes next?

Take the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Maryland man the Trump administration admits was deported in error along with more than 200 others to a prison in El Salvador.

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After his family filed a lawsuit seeking his return, the government has taken the position that it is powerless to bring him back.

This is the same government whose Secretary of Homeland Security was seen touring that same prison in late March while wearing a $50,000 watch.

And the same government that hosted El Salvadors president at the White House on Monday.

The United States has agreed to pay $6 million to house prisoners in his country. During Mondays Oval Office meeting, Trump mused aloud about even sending American citizens who were homegrown criminals to the El Salvador prison.

More from Freep Opinion: Removal of Harriet Tubman from Park Service website makes my blood boil

Any of us

On April 6, a federal district court judge in Maryland ordered the administration to facilitate and effectuate the return of Abrego Garcia, and an appellate court later agreed, noting that the government can  and does  return wrongfully removed migrants as a matter of course.

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Under the administrations logic, the court wrote, the government could send any of us to a Salvadoran prison without due process, claim that the misstep was a result of administrative error, and thereby wash its hands of any responsibility for what happens next.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court upheld that decision in part, ruling that the government must facilitate Abrego Garcias release from custody in El Salvador.

The court remanded the case to the district court to clarify the meaning of effectuate. That night, the district judge amended her order to remove the word altogether, clearing the way for the government to facilitate Abrego Garcias return.

Or so she thought.

Changing stories

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist . . .

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Rather than bring him back, the government took the position  astonishingly  that to facilitate Abrego Garcias return, it need do nothing more than permit him to enter the country if he should manage to find his way to the border.

On Saturday, the government also represented that Abrego Garcia is no longer able to remain in the country, anyway, because he is a member of the MS-13 gang, which the Trump administration recently designated as a foreign terrorist organization, a claim Abrego Garcia denies and has had no opportunity to contest in court.

In a hearing on Tuesday, the government again changed its story and claimed that Abrego Garcia was properly deported after all.

In response, the exasperated district court judge accused the administration of gamesmanship and issued an order permitting the plaintiff to take depositions and request documents to find out who is authorizing his continued confinement.

Everyone has rights

Abrego Garcia, 29, may not be a sympathetic figure. He entered the country illegally from El Salvador in 2011 when he was 16. Eight years later, he was arrested by immigration officials while looking for work in a Home Depot parking lot, and was ordered deported.

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The government blocked his removal, finding he would face persecution if he returned to El Salvador, where his familys business was extorted by a violent gang.

When he was pulled over and arrested on March 12, he was married to a U.S. citizen with three children. He has no criminal record.

But like anyone in the territorial jurisdiction of the United States, Abrego Garcia is entitled to constitutional protections, including due process, which means notice and an opportunity to be heard before our liberty can be taken from us.

By spiriting him out of the country without either, he was denied that right. And if he can be denied that right, then so can any of us.

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And then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me.

Barbara McQuade is a professor from practice at the University of Michigan Law School and the former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters, and we may publish it online and in print.

Like what you're reading? Please consider supporting local journalism and getting unlimited digital access with a Detroit Free Press subscription. We depend on readers like you.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Kilmar Abrego Garcia deportation could happen to any of us | Opinion
Lets start by calling Mondays contrived White House meeting between El Salvadors President Nayib Bukele and Donald Trump what it was: a set piece to deceive the American people and the worldand make a sucker of the courts and the rule of law.

And while each player delivered his agreed-upon lines, it was a ham-handed performance that fooled nobody. As Trump looked on smiling, Bukele dutifullyand of course falselyinsisted that he didnt have the power to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the United States. He went on to label Abrego Garcia a terrorist, a line that the administration has now taken up, contradicting its previous admission by several officials.

Trump advanced the parallel claim after the meeting, writing on social media that these barbarians are now in the sole custody of El Salvador, a proud and sovereign nation, and their future is up to President [Bukele].

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So two presidents of boundless ambition, who spend their days indefatigably claiming near-absolute power, suddenly protest powerlessness when it comes to the release from brutal custody of a wrongfully deported U.S. resident.

Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, not surprisingly, were in on the con. Bondi also pleaded powerlessness, saying Abrego Garcias prospects of seeing his wife, family, and U.S. soil ever again are up to El Salvador if they want to return him. Thats not up to us.

Rubioonce an honorable man who will never be able to live down his service for the Trump administrationhewed to the legal party line, insisting that no court in the United States has a right to conduct the foreign policy of the United States.

In a hearing Tuesday before Judge Paula Xinis, the administration tried to proffer the Oval Office discussion as evidence that it lacked power to comply with Xiniss order, which the Supreme Court affirmed in relevant part. It was a further indication that the meeting had been staged to support stonewalling the court orders in the case.

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Xinis was having none of it. She ordered the Justice Department to submit to two weeks of intense discoveryincluding sworn testimony and documentsto get at the questions they have brazenly dodged so far. Xinis noted that notwithstanding the ruling of the Supreme Court, to date nothing has been done to facilitate Abrego Garcias return.

From Trump on down, the administration obviously believes it has found the silver bullet that prevents Xinis and the legal system from even addressing the horrific constitutional violation for which it bears complete responsibility. You can almost hear their swagger in thinking, Weve won again.

Butno sense mincing wordsthey are lying on the facts and wrong on the law.

On the facts, it is preposterous to maintain that we are powerless to facilitate Abrego Garcias release from custody in El Salvadors notoriously brutal Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT. The imprisonment of Abrego Garcia is part of a contractual arrangement under which we pay El Salvador about $6 millionor $20,000 per detainee per year. Bukele has touted the contract as a way to contribute to the self-sufficiency of the infamous facility.

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Like any other good customer, the United States can easily negotiate the adjustment. Indeed, El Salvador already has sent back people who should never have been shipped there, including women. And the channel is open enough to permit Department of Homeland Security Director Kristi Noem to visit the prison for a photo op last month.

More generally, its apparent that Bukelea two-bit dictator hungry for greater poweris thrilled to be recognized by Donald Trump. Bukele could never have hoped to be received, much less lionized, by any other occupant of the White House. He plainly will do whatever Trump wants.

The inescapable conclusion is that the leaders of the two countries perpetrated a charade in real time to try to insulate the administration from having to remedy a grave constitutional and humanitarian violation. As Xinis put it, Every day Mr. Abrego Garcia is detained in CECOT is another day of irreparable harm.

In any event, the administrations hubris in thinking it has found a fail-safe shield against responding to the judiciarynamely the talismanic assertion that with Abrego Garcia in El Salvador, it is now a matter of foreign policyis wrong on the law.

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Courts sometimes hesitate to inquire deeply into the executives foreign policy determinations, but it is hardly the show-stopper that Marco Rubio, Stephen Miller, and everyone else in the administration seems to think it is.

Indeed, there is no formal foreign policy exception, as such; its a shorthand for judicial reticence to second-guess certain matters of foreign affairs. It is, in essence, a form of executive privilege, and the Supreme Court has made clear that such privilege is qualified.

Moreover, determining whether a privilege can shield the government from revealing information in a concrete case requires weighing the assertion against the need on the other side. Here, that need could not be more acute: remedying a horrendous constitutional violation that the United States committedand that the United States probably alone can remedy.

Even more of a problem for the administrations smug refusals: The cases are clear that the government has to substantiate an assertion of a foreign policy privilege. It may not simply cross its arms and say foreign policy, as Rubio would have it.

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The Supreme Court made that point clearly in 2001s Zadvydas v. Davis, where the government argued that the court had simply to accept without further scrutiny its position on the ability to indefinitely detain an alien. While it acknowledgedas it did in the Abrego Garcia casethe need to give deference to the executives core authority, the court added: We believe that courts can take appropriate account of such matters without abdicating their legal responsibility to review the lawfulness of an aliens continued detention.

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, where this case arises and where the United States will first appeal any ruling it dislikes, has similar precedent. In El-Masri v. Tenetthough it ultimately agreed with the governmentthe court first held that the [state secrets] doctrine is a judicially created rule of evidence ... [and] we must independently determine whether disclosure poses a reasonable danger to national security.

What all this means is that Judge Xinis is doing exactly what the law permits. She is not taking the governments assertion at face value and not permitting the government to simply refuse to answer. She is, rather, holding the administrations feet to the fire and requiring it to provide the information she needs to determine how to remedy a constitutional violation that already has been established.

Expect the government to fight this at every turn, to continue to press the argument that it can just ignore lawful process. Xinis, however, holds the whip hand for now, and Tuesdays hearing left no doubt that she is prepared to use it. And if the unanimous opinions of the Fourth Circuit and Supreme Court are any indication, they will decline to step in during the discovery phase.

None of this is any guarantee that the Trump administration wont simply ignore her orders, racking up contempt penalties and gambling on eventual salvation in the Supreme Court. But if that is where the administration is determined to bring the country, better that it happen in a case where the injustice is so stark and the constitutional breach so unambiguous. Better, in other words, that the American people see clearly what it means when a president places himself above the law, and understand the imperative of popular opposition.
The wife of the Maryland man who the US government mistakenly deported to El Salvador acknowledged that she had filed a civil protective order against him four years ago, but said it was out of an abundance of caution and that the couple had worked through their issues.

The statement Wednesday from Kilmar Abrego Garcias wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, came after the Department of Homeland Security posted on X a copy of a protective order that Vasquez Sura requested against her husband in 2021.

CNN has also reviewed the petition for a protective order provided by a Homeland Security official describing a disagreement and physical altercation that included hitting and scratching between Abrego Garcia and Vasquez Sura.

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The Trump administrations release of the documents come as part of its renewed push to portray Abrego Garcia, who has not been charged with or convicted of any crime, as a violent and dangerous criminal and a member of MS-13.

Based on the sensationalism of many of the people in this room, you would think we deported a candidate for Father of the Year, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday.

Abrego Garcias wife and lawyers have denied he is part of a gang.

In her statement to CNN, Vasquez Sura said she sought a civil protective order in 2021 after a disagreement with Abrego Garcia. Vasquez Sura noted she had survived a previous relationship that included domestic violence. She did not appear at a court hearing and the matter did not proceed.

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Things did not escalate, and I decided not to follow through with the civil court process, she said in the statement. We were able to work through this situation privately as a family, including by going to counseling. Our marriage only grew stronger in the years that followed. No one is perfect, and no marriage is perfect.

That is not a justification for ICEs action of abducting him and deporting him to a country where he was supposed to be protected from deportation, she added. Kilmar has always been a loving partner and father, and I will continue to stand by him and demand justice for him.

In court hearings over the deportation of Abrego Garcia, the federal judge overseeing the case has repeatedly asked the Justice Department to provide additional information about him, including any charges or convictions, but, so far, none has been provided. The civil protective order has not been filed in the case or been an issue in his mistaken deportation.

The government made a choice here to produce no evidence, DOJ attorney Erez Reuveni told the judge earlier this month. Reuveni was later fired.

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Wednesday, Leavitt returned to the podium to publicize the Maryland protective order as well as attack Maryland Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen for traveling to El Salvador in an attempt to see Abrego Garcia.

Its appalling and sad that Sen. Van Hollen and the Democrats applauding his trip to El Salvador today are incapable of having any shred of common sense or empathy for their own constituents and our citizens. Nobody knows this more than the woman standing to my right, Patty Morin, whose beautiful daughter, Rachel, was brutally maimed and murdered at the hands of an illegal alien in August of 2023, Leavitt said.

Rachel Morin was attacked and killed by a fugitive from El Salvador while hiking in 2023. Victor Martinez-Hernandez, 24, was convicted of Morins murder and rape on Monday.

CNNs Samantha Waldenberg and Kit Maher contributed to this report.

This story has been updated with additional developments.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
This developing story has been updated with new information.

The Rutherford County Board of Education faces a federal First Amendment Lawsuit for banning books, a press release announced Wednesday.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee along with attorney Kerry Knox filed the lawsuit on behalf of three Rutherford County families and PEN America in response to the banning and restriction of more than 145 books from school libraries in the county.

Members of the Rutherford County Library Alliance, Matt Fee, left Tiffany Fee, middle and Keri Lambert, right hold 3 of the more popular books that are under discussion to be removed from Rutherford County Schools System while standing in front of the Rutherford County Board of Education Office on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, where the books will will be discussed during a meeting later in the day on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024.

The three families, who are anonymous, include two rising freshmen and a rising senior who will attend Rutherford County schools next year. PEN America, a national free expression organization, joined the lawsuit on behalf of its author members, 32 of whom have had a total of 53 books banned or restricted by the Rutherford County school board.

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The First Amendment is a crucial pillar of our countrys democracy, ACLU-TN Legal Director Stella Yarbrough said in the press release.

A vocal minority of people are attempting to speak for Rutherford County parents by banning books  particularly those that address LGBTQ+ rights, race and racism  as part of a coordinated attack on inclusive education. As these baseless bans continued to escalate, we had no choice but to go to court to defend authors free speech and students freedom to learn.

ACLU attorney Stella Yarbrough speaking Sunday, March 2, 2025, to a Rutherford County Library Alliance audience at a fund raising event in a meeting room on the campus of Oaklands Mansion in downtown Murfreesboro.

Free speech scholar Nadine Strossen: Rutherford County Board of Education violates law by removing books

Local book-freedom advocate backs lawsuit

Yarbrough told the Rutherford County Library Alliance book-freedom advocates in March to expect the lawsuit soon.

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The alliance formed in summer 2023 to advocate against book banning that started after the Murfreesboro City Council approved a community decency standards ordinance, said Tiffany Fee, the first president of the organization.

The council by late 2023 agreed to rescind the community decency standards ordinance as part of reaching a $500,000 lawsuit settlement by February in a federal lawsuit filed by the ACLU and organizers of the annual BoroPride LGBTQ+ festival.

Fee's organization is not a party to the lawsuit against the school board, but supports the efforts of the ACLU and plaintiffs in the case.

"The Rutherford County Library Alliance is grateful to the parties involved for filing the lawsuit and taking on the injustice that is happening in the Rutherford County schools by our school board," Fee said.

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TN ACLU attorney: Lawsuit coming soon for Rutherford Schools 'appetite for banning books'

Fee in 2024 ran as a Democrat against winning Republican incumbent Caleb Tidwell, who has recommended many of the books to be removed from the school libraries.

"As taxpayers and the parents of public-school students in the county, we are saddened that it had to get to this point for the book removals to cease," Fee said. "The cost to our public schools is unfortunate and was completely avoidable."

'We are banished': Rutherford schools book banning upsets free speech advocate

ACLU says book banning tied to 'Moms for Liberty'

The Rutherford County school board began banning materials in the spring of 2024 through informal requests by school board members, initially without any public meeting or vote of the board, according to the ACLU lawsuit.

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By September 2024, members of the board indicated that rather than reading the books they were banning, they had begun to rely almost exclusively on a website and a rating system created by individuals associated with the far-right organization Moms for Liberty to target books for removal, the lawsuit said.

The website gives books poor ratings if they include LGBTQ+ characters; racial, social or religious commentary the organization considers controversial; profanity; and nudity; among other characteristics, the lawsuit said.

Free speech issues: Rutherford County Board of Education removal of 160 more books draws opposition from 1st Amendment advocates

PEN America supports case

PEN America Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Legal Officer Eileen Hershenov offered the following comment in the ACLU press release.

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"PEN America is fighting for the rights of our author members who are under heightened pressure from forces trying to throttle literary voices they dont like," Hershenov said.

"Banning these writers books is unlawful and denies students the rich education they have the right to. If this censorship is allowed to stand, generations to come will be robbed of both the joy of reading great stories and the information they need to become engaged citizens of a diverse, dynamic, and pluralistic democracy.

The press release also notes that the board voted for school librarians to review 160 books and then ignored 70% of those recommendations to retain books.

The removed books included educationally valuable books frequently part of the Advanced Placement English Literature curriculum and others that have been in school libraries for years, the press release said.

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Rejection of award-winning author: Rutherford school board pulls 'Beloved,' 5 other books from campuses

'Clear violation of the First Amendment'

Knox, the co-counsel for the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, offered the following comment in the ACLU press release.Book bans are a clear violation of the First Amendment, effectively gagging authors and denying students the opportunity to read, debate, and learn from crucial, acclaimed, and historical works, Knox said.

Denying Tennessee students access to the same materials as their peers puts them at a significant disadvantage as they develop into future community leaders.The lawsuit asserts that the First Amendment protects students right to access information and ideas, and that the government cannot censor books solely based on dislike of or disagreement with the ideas in a book, the press release said.

The First Amendment also protects authors ability to communicate their ideas to students free from undue government interference and discrimination based on viewpoint. T

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The plaintiffs are asking the court to block Rutherford County from continuing to ban books from school libraries and reinstate many of the materials that have already been banned or restricted.

Censorship: ACLU warns Rutherford school board about removing 'Beloved,' other books from libraries

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This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Tennessee book bans: ACLU files suit against Rutherford school board
ANDERSON  Revisions and additions to the districts Student Rights and Responsibilities handbook were discussed at Mondays Anderson Community Schools Board of Trustees meeting.

Scott Shimer, the districts director of student services, told board members that the changes were intended to clarify policy and spell out more exactly punishments for violations.

For example, Shimer said that students in grades 6-12 who violated the tobacco and nicotine policy could be eligible for a one-day reduction in suspension if a student attends an outside agency ed program.

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Board members were also updated on the districts efforts to dispute a finding by the Indiana Office of School Finance that ACS exceeded a state-mandated threshold with a recent transfer of money from its education fund to its operations fund.

According to Indiana law, a public notice is required if a school corporation exceeds a transfer of revenue of 15% from its education fund to its operations fund. For the transfer in question, the state included approximately $919,000 for a textbook reimbursement. Superintendent Joe Cronk said state officials acknowledged the mistake in calculations, but added there is no appeals process to fix the error.
Activists rallied outside LAPD headquarters on Tuesday to denounce department policies that allow information sharing with federal agencies, a concern amid the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.

In a letter to the LAPD's civilian Police Commission, several watchdog groups said public assurances by city officials that L.A. won't cooperate in deportations ring hollow.

Federal authorities, the letter said, already have access to the vast trove of information gathered by the LAPD's license plate readers, body-worn cameras and other surveillance methods.

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Read more: A rich L.A. neighborhood donated surveillance technology to the LAPD  then drama ensued

The Police Department's frequent collaborations with federal law enforcement on investigations "means that any data that is obtained by LAPD will become accessible to federal immigration authorities," the activist group Stop LAPD Spying and others wrote in the letter.

Since President Trump returned to office, city officials have considered different proposals to protect the city's immigrant communities, even in the face of White House threats to withhold federal funds.

In December, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass announced a sanctuary law barring city employees and city property from being used to investigate, cite, arrest, hold, transfer or detain any person for the purpose of immigration enforcement.

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The activists said they obtained department reports through public records requests that shed light on how interconnected police departments are with one another.

As as example, they said, details about a motorist who has been pulled over by the LAPD  such as their name, date of birth, social media handles and other biographic details  could be turned over to intelligence-gathering offices called fusion centers, which local police and federal authorities use to share information on potential threats or terrorist attacks.

Read more: LAPD chief ousts lawyer blamed by union for disclosing thousands of officer photos

In recent years, fusion centers like the one in Norwalk have focused more on routine street crime.

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The ability of federal authorities to access the LAPD's information from the centers undermines the city's promises to protect immigrants, said Stop LAPD Spying organizer Hamid Khan at a rally before the commission's regular meeting on Tuesday.

"And it's not [like] LAPD has to pick up the phone: It's baked in. It's on autopilot," Khan said. "The only way this will be a sanctuary city is if the source of information is stopped."

The LAPD has long vowed to shield sensitive information about people whom officers encounter. A department policy called Special Order 40 prohibits initiating contact with anyone for the sole purpose of learning their immigration status. Police also are not allowed to make arrests solely for immigration reasons.

The aim, officials have said, is to ensure crime victims, witnesses and others are willing to come forward without fear of being detained and removed from the country.

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An exception to the restrictions on cooperation with immigration officials has been carved out for law enforcement investigating serious offenses, such as violent crimes.

Ron Gochez, a member of Union del Barrio, said he was present at a recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid in which agents swarmed an apartment building in the 400 block of East 41st Street. Also present at the scene, he said, were a number of LAPD officers.

Gochez, whose group seeks to defend immigrant rights, alleged that some of those officers dragged him away when he tried to question the ICE agents, who officials later said were searching for a suspected human trafficker.

The department has said its officers were there to help direct traffic, not to engage in the enforcement action  a claim Gochez disputed.

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"The Los Angeles Police Department did the dirty work," Gochez said.

Read more: Secret recordings reveal LAPD cops spewing racist and sexist comments, complaint alleges

LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell's record on immigration has faced renewed scrutiny since he took over the department last fall.

During his tenure as Los Angeles County sheriff, which coincided with Trump's first term, McDonnell allowed federal immigration authorities to operate freely in the nation's largest jail system, targeting people who'd been arrested for deportation.

McDonnell and some of his supporters have said his administration handed over only the most dangerous criminals to federal authorities, in keeping with the laws.

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Public support for immigrants remains strong in California, which has more immigrants than any other state . According to the USC Equity Research Institute, more than 60% of L.A. Countys 10 million residents either are foreign-born or have at least one immigrant parent, including about 800,000 people without legal status.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
"To date nothing has been done," federal Judge Paula Xinis told a lawyer with the Department of Justice (DOJ), rebuking them, referring to the Kilmar Abrego Garcia case. "Nothing."

The Supreme Court issued an unsigned decision this past Thursday instructing the Trump administration to facilitate the Salvadoran man's return to the United States. "The order properly requires the Government to 'facilitate' Abrego Garcia's release from custody in El Salvador and to ensure that his case is handled as it would have been had he not been improperly sent to El Salvador," said the ruling.

This has not happened. Now, Xinis is investigating whyand receiving rather dissatisfying responses from the administration and its lawyers.

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"If Abrego Garcia presents himself at a port of entry," DOJ lawyer Drew Ensign told Xinis at a hearing yesterday, "we will facilitate his entry to the United States." This is an obnoxious and unserious response, as Abrego Garcia is currently locked up in El Salvador's Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT), a maximum-security prison, and thus unable to board a freaking Avianca flight and roll up to customs at Dulles airport.

"There will be no tolerance for gamesmanship or grandstanding," said Xinis at yesterday's hearing, the start of a two-week inquiry into what the Trump administration is doing to facilitate Abrego Garcia's return.

Over the course of this inquiry, "four senior officials from the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State will have to sit for depositions by April 23," reports Politico, describing these as "essentially out-of-court interviews in which the officials will have to answer questions under oath from Abrego Garcia's lawyers."

Xinis summed up her thoughts on the government's very passive stance toward complying with the Supreme Court's order to "facilitate" Abrego Garcia's return: "Defendants therefore remain obligated, at a minimum, to take the steps available to them toward aiding, assisting, or making easier Abrego Garcia's release from custody in El Salvador." Ensign playing dumb won't cut it, in other words.

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"The government has not even unambiguously requested his return," one of Abrego Garcia's lawyers said yesterday in court, adding that it's not uncommon for the U.S. to do so in immigration cases. "The government routinely seeks return by taking low-level actions outside the United States that do not implicate foreign policy."

"How can I smuggle a terrorist into the United States?" said Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele on Monday from the Oval Office, where he was meeting with President Donald Trump. "I don't have the power to return him to the United States." Vice President J.D. Vance took to X to call Abrego Garcia a "gang member." Then multiple Fox News commentators sounded off on the case, with once-libertarian Greg Gutfeld saying "At worst, a guy gets sent to a country he doesn't want to go toyou know what? I can live with that."

That's a wild way to describe Abrego Garcia being wrongly deported to CECOT, El Salvador's worst and most brutal prison, despite a judge granting him withholding of removal in 2019, having found his fear of persecution in El Salvador credible and protecting him from exactly this fate. Now, he's being tarred by Bukele, Vance, Trump, and their media helpers, called an MS-13 member when the only evidence we have to establish that comes from a police informant saying so and the fact that he was wearing a Chicago Bulls hoodie. Where's the justice in that?

Now, Sen. Chris Van Hollen (DMd.)who counts Abrego Garcia and his family as his constituentsis traveling to El Salvador to attempt to speak with him and report back to his family about his condition. "We were in the gray zone before this. But if the Trump administration continues to thumb its nose at the federal courts in this case we're in, we're clearly in constitutional crisis territory," said Van Hollen.

Trump's deporting "home-growns" plan: Useful thread from Cato expert David Bier, quoted in yesterday's Roundup. (The origin of that 500-mile rule? The legislation Trump himself signed into law.)

In case you were wondering, the US code provides for incarceration by the Bureau of Prisons for anyone sentenced under federal law. And it needs to be as close as practicable to the prisoner's primary residence and within 500 miles of that residence (rules out El Salvador). https://t.co/8ZLmNwYKRC pic.twitter.com/tUoKjVR0OI  David J. Bier (@David_J_Bier) April 15, 2025

Scenes from New York: Are we seriously going to have Mayor Andrew Cuomo? "Two influential New York City labor unions that backed Mayor Eric Adams in 2021 switched their support on Monday to former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, reflecting his growing dominance as the race for mayor accelerates," reports The New York Times. The unionsthe Hotel and Gaming Trades Council and Local 32BJ of the Service Employees International Unionhave a combined 125,000 members and are (unfortunately) politically important within New York City.

QUICK HITS

Is it possible that an anti-war faction within Defense Department was responsible for the leak?

Scoop! Dan Caldwell, a senior advisor to U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, has been placed on administrative leave for an "unauthorized disclosure," a U.S. official says. Story coming. This comes after a March 21 memo ordering a Pentagon investigation into leaks ordered by  Phil Stewart (@phildstewart) April 15, 2025

This is bad, as Reuters and the Associated Press tend to be relatively reliable, with less spin than places like The Washington Post:

The White House announced Tuesday that it was eliminating the traditional press pool access for wire services after a federal court ordered the administration to end viewpoint discrimination against the Associated Press.https://t.co/i5gU1t9CbW  Josh Wingrove (@josh_wingrove) April 16, 2025

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"[Financial authorities] should have three priorities [to maintain market stability]: Identify the weakest links, keep markets functioning as smoothly as possible, and provide solvent firms with ample access to cash, so they won't dump assets or fail unnecessarily," argue Bloomberg writers.

"The United Kingdom's highest court ruled on Wednesday that the definition of a woman under equality legislation referred to 'biological sex,'" reports Reuters. Sanity, at long last.

Long, sad piece about Elon Musk's desire to use his sperm and the eggs of various women he finds to create a "'legion' [of children], a reference to the ancient military units that could contain thousands of soldiers and were key to extending the reach of the Roman Empire."

Lots of discourse online about this article by Stephanie Murray, writing for Slate. I, of course, have done this (thread here):

Easily the strangest reporting experience of my life, but for @Slate, I attempted to make sense of the furor that met Matt & Abby Howard last year, when it seemed they'd left their kids sleeping in a cruise cabin while eating dinner & monitoring the kids via Facetime. pic.twitter.com/SRh2isSCZx  Stephanie H. Murray (@stephmurrayyyy) April 15, 2025

And, lest you still have hunger for more parenting and babymaking discourse, here's an Elizabeth Bruenig piece in The Atlantic on the many weirdos at Natal Conference. To my mind, the factions she identifies within pronatalismthe tech and the tradare broadly correct. But we're sorely in need of a normie wing: people who are justextremely reasonable about it all, interested in changing parenting culture so that it's less onerous and judgmental, and focused on emphasizing more of the benefits of having larger families.

Yesterday was theft day. Here's the iconic Donald Rumsfeld letter to the Internal Revenue Service:

Happy Donald Rumsfeld IRS letter day to all who celebrate ???? pic.twitter.com/jN9t2GConu  Emily Domenech (@ehdomenech) April 15, 2025

The post The Administration Is Playing Dumb appeared first on Reason.com.
BEIJING, April 16 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese defense spokesperson on Wednesday said that the Chinese military is willing to join hands with the Vietnamese side to elevate their relations to a new level.

Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks in response to a media query regarding the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future.

Zhang noted that the Chinese and Vietnamese militaries had enhanced their long-standing friendship featuring "camaraderie plus brotherhood" and maintained close high-level exchanges.

The Chinese military is willing to work with the Vietnamese side to strengthen strategic mutual trust and coordination, and enhance cooperation in political work, maritime security, joint exercises and personnel training, he said. 
Brown pelicans across Southern California are filling up wildlife rehabilitation centers, either sick or starving  a dual crisis that wildlife experts believe could be linked to a massive toxic algae bloom.

For the last month, hundreds of seabirds have been poisoned by domoic acid, a neurotoxin produced in harmful algae blooms that are consumed by filter-feeding fish, such as anchovies and sardines. The small fish aren't affected by the toxins, but many seabirds and marine mammals that feed on the fish are, and the sickness can be deadly. More than 100 area sea lions have been sickened and killed by the toxins over the last few months, along with several dozen dolphins that have died.

More recently, officials have also been responding to an influx of baby pelicans that aren't sick from the toxins  but are struggling to survive because they're extremely malnourished.

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Officials think the two phenomena are related: As more adult pelicans become sick, disoriented or die, that has left more and more baby pelicans to fend for themselves, leaving their nests prematurely when they don't yet know how to fish.

It's just a theory right now, but experts say it would help explain the unprecedented number of starving baby pelicans turning up at wildlife rescue centers.

"It is unusual for us to receive such a high volume of chicks that are this young," the International Bird Rescue, a global conservation organization that has one of its largest wildlife rescue centers in San Pedro, wrote on its website. "Many are very young birds, not fully grown, and do not seem to understand how to feed themselves."

They are just starving and cold and sad," said Rebecca Duerr, the center's director of research and veterinary science. At its San Pedro location, specialists were caring for 60 pelican babies as of Tuesday, with more arriving every day, Duerr said. That's in addition to about 50 other birds, many adult pelicans, that have come into the center over the last month because of the domoic acid poisoning. Of the poisoned birds, more than half have since died.

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We keep thinking its over and then we get more birds, Duerr said of the influx.

Read more: 'Feral, almost demonic': Surge in poisoned sea lions threatens SoCal beachgoers, burdens rescuers

There have been other times in recent years when California brown pelicans, a federally protected species, have been found dead or emaciated in high numbers, and other years when large numbers of animals have become sick from domoic acid as the algae bloom is naturally occurring. But the concurrent events this year are especially concerning to officials.

Debbie McGuire, the executive director of the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center in Huntington Beach, said she believes runoff from the L.A. County firestorm in January likely elevated this year's bloom, as changes to nutrient levels in the ocean can increase the strength and duration of the bloom. Scientists have also found that human-caused climate change and warming ocean waters can increase the growth of harmful algae blooms. Officials don't yet know how long this bloom will last.

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McGuire said she can't remember a time in the last 20 years when her organization has treated this many birds with domoic acid poisoning at one time, noting that it is testing the center's workforce and capacity.

My staff is burning the midnight oil for a month now," McGuire said. "Its hard on them  a lot of compassion and love goes into our work."

As of Wednesday, her team was caring for almost 60 brown pelicans, with seven new birds arriving in the previous 24 hours. Most of the ill and starving birds require intensive care, often including anti-seizure medication, IVs or lessons on how to feed themselves. Still, more than 50% of the pelicans they've taken in over the last month have died, as the birds sickened by domoic acid cannot be saved if the illness has progressed too far.

Read more: Trump administration cuts to NOAA threaten efforts to save sea lions from toxic plankton

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If we get them quick enough, we can save them, but time is of the essence," McGuire said.

The two centers said people have found the disoriented birds in unexpected and often hazardous locations over the last month, including on the 405 Freeway, on a terminal at Los Angeles International Airport and near Amazon warehouses.

The birds "dont know where they are, they get confused, they fly inland," McGuire said.

Both rescue centers are also treating other seabirds ill from domoic acid, including the western grebes, Brandts cormorants and red-throated loons, but brown pelicans have most frequently been sick. Neither location has reached capacity yet, but McGuire said it's a concern if the situation continues at current rates.

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In a recent post on social media, the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center asked for monetary donations or items on their wish list to help ensure they can keep providing the care the animals need. The International Bird Rescue also has asked for donations to help it respond to what its called a seabird crisis.

"Stress is high as we care for over 52 pelicans, many of whom are not yet eating on their own, with no clear sign of slowing down soon," the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center said in its Monday post. McGuire said that number has since surpassed 60.

Officials warned beachgoers to use extreme caution when approaching any sick or dead animal, including seabirds. If you encounter one in Los Angeles County, the International Bird Rescue urged people to call the organizations bird helpline at (866) 767-2473. The Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center, which serves Orange County, recommended people call their local animal control office or find more information online.

Times staff writer Summer Lin contributed to this report.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
BOSTON (WWLP)  A group of advocates for incarcerated individuals held a lobby day on Tuesday, pushing for reforms that will improve quality of life behind bars.

The event focused on teaching lawmakers about three specific pieces of legislation, dealing with increasing medical and elder parole, improving options for family and community visits, and making education and job training more robust for incarcerated people.

Diocese of Springfield introduces new Executive Director of Catholic Charities

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The organizers said the majority of pushback on this legislation comes from concerns about cost, but even if funding does not increase, the state needs to reevaluate how it distributes funds to prisons and jails.

We are spending a massive amount in this state on incarcerated people, and that money is not in service of peoples wellbeing right now, right? It could be better spent, said Mallory Hanora, Executive Director of Families for Justice as Healing.

Volunteers at the event spent time practicing their pitch for lawmaker support. One representative, who is sponsoring the medical and elder parole bill, spoke to the urgency of passing reforms.

Life without parole sentencing is a death sentence, said Somerville Representative Erica Uyterhoeven. It is warehousing, it is not rehabilitative. There are people in just lines of hospital beds decaying there.

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Representative Uyterhoeven, noting the conditions that she has seen, encouraged volunteers to share their personal stories with lawmakers to urge them to sign onto bills and make change. All three bills passed favorably out of committee last session, which gives them a higher chance of passing this session.

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A plane chartered by the German government took off from Pakistan's capital Islamabad on Wednesday carrying Afghans who have been granted admission to Germany.

The passengers have all received a legally binding admission, a spokesman for the German Foreign Office said.

The plane is expected to land in the eastern German city of Leipzig later on Wednesday. The passengers are then to be taken to a camp in central Germany before being distributed among the federal states two weeks later.

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According to Foreign Office figures, around 2,600 vulnerable people from Afghanistan are currently waiting in Pakistan to be admitted to Germany.

They include former staff of German institutions in Afghanistan and their relatives, as well as Afghans who face persecution by the Taliban, for example because they previously campaigned for human rights as lawyers or journalists.

Germany's next government plans to end the admission programmes, stating in its newly released coalition agreement: "We will end voluntary federal admission programmes as far as possible (e.g. Afghanistan) and not launch any new programmes."

Afghans who are still waiting to leave Islamabad could soon come under considerable pressure as Pakistan began a new wave of deportations of Afghan refugees at the beginning of April, planning to expel 3 million Afghans in the long term.

Pakistan's Minister of State for Interior Affairs, Talal Chaudry, recently announced that from May, the deportations would also affect those Afghans who are waiting in Pakistan to leave for Western countries.
A plane chartered by the German government took off from Pakistan's capital Islamabad on Wednesday carrying Afghans who have been granted admission to Germany.

The passengers have all received a legally binding admission, a spokesman for the German Foreign Office said.

The plane is expected to land in the eastern German city of Leipzig later on Wednesday. The passengers are then to be taken to a camp in central Germany before being distributed among the federal states two weeks later.

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According to Foreign Office figures, around 2,600 vulnerable people from Afghanistan are currently waiting in Pakistan to be admitted to Germany.

They include former staff of German institutions in Afghanistan and their relatives, as well as Afghans who face persecution by the Taliban, for example because they previously campaigned for human rights as lawyers or journalists.

Germany's next government plans to end the admission programmes, stating in its newly released coalition agreement: "We will end voluntary federal admission programmes as far as possible (e.g. Afghanistan) and not launch any new programmes."

Afghans who are still waiting to leave Islamabad could soon come under considerable pressure as Pakistan began a new wave of deportations of Afghan refugees at the beginning of April, planning to expel 3 million Afghans in the long term.

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Pakistan's Minister of State for Interior Affairs, Talal Chaudry, recently announced that from May, the deportations would also affect those Afghans who are waiting in Pakistan to leave for Western countries.

Afghans waiting in Islamabad are already reporting increasingly difficult conditions. They say families often have to spend many months, sometimes over a year, in guest houses, while reporting for monthly renewals of their visas.

In order to pay the high visa fees, many people have taken out loans from relatives or sold property in their home country, which would leave them destitute if their asylum applications are denied.

In response to a question about whether Afghans who have been granted admission to Germany are threatened with deportation from Pakistan, the Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are in close coordination and contact with the Pakistani authorities and are committed to helping people who have a binding admission."
April 16 (UPI) -- U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said the United States will not return a wrongly deported Maryland man, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, as Sen. Chris Van Hollen was denied a visit with his constituent in an El Salvador prison.

"He is not coming back to our country," Bondi told reporters Wednesday morning, despite a Supreme Court opinion demanding that the Trump administration must "facilitate" his trip back.

Van Hollen, a Democrat, traveled to the Central American nation with the intention of meeting Abrego Garcia, 29, at the notorious Terrorism Confinement Center, where he is being held with others deported from the United States. The Trump administration said there was an administrative error in deporting him.

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Van Hollen said he met with the country's vice president, Felix Ulloa, who told him it would not be possible for him to speak with Abrego Garcia in person or on the phone.

"He said, 'Well, you need to make earlier provisions to go visit CECOT,'" Van Hollen said afterward at a news conference. "I said, I'm not interested at this moment in taking a tour of CECOT, I just want to meet with Mr. Abrego Garcia. He said he was not able to make that happen."

Jennifer Vasquez Sura, wife of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, attends a news conference after leaving the courthouse following a hearing Tuesday in Greenbelt, Md. Photo by Anabella Gordon EPA-EFE

Van Hollen said he offered to come back next week to meet with him, but the vice president "said he couldn't promise that either." The vice president also said he could not arrange for Abrego Garcia's family to speak to him by phone.

"We have an unjust situation here. The Trump administration is lying about Abrego Garcia," Van Hollen said.

Alleged members of the violent Venezuelan street gang Tren de Aragua are escorted to their cells at the maximum-security Terrorism Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador, on March 16. Photo via El Salvador Presidential Press Office/UPI

And the senator said he wanted to know why he is being held if the U.S. courts and El Salvador found no evidence he was a member of the MS-13 gang and didn't appear before a judge in the United States.

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"His answer was that the Trump administration is paying El Salvador, the government of El Salvador to keep him at CECOT," the senator said.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is joined by Patty Morin, mother of Rachel Morin, during a news conference Wednesday in the White House. Rachel Morin was killed in 2023 by an individual who entered the United States illegally and he was convicted Monday. Photo by Al Drago/UPI

Van Hollen sent a letter to Salvadoran Ambassador Milena Mayorga requesting a meeting with Bukele to discuss the issue on Monday.

On Wednesday, Van Hollen was criticized by Patty Morin for not concentrating on her daughter Rachel's murder in his state by a fugitive from El Salvador while hiking.

She was a "special guest" at the White House briefing on Wednesday with reporters.

"To bring back someone that's not even an American citizen, why does that person have more right than I do or my daughter or my grandchildren?" she said.

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Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez was convicted on Monday in the August 2023 slaying of Morin. She was killed along a hiking trail in Bel Air.

Patty Morin, who joined Trump on campaign stops in Arizona and Pennsylvania during the election, said the senator "did not call our family; he did not give condolences. There was no action... in Maryland none of the Senators did anything to help search for the murderer of my daughter."

The press office asked: "where was his concern for Maryland constituents put at risk by the many other illegal immigrants allowed to roam free until now." It showed photos and gave information, which is a "tny sample of the criminal illegal immigrants arrested by ICE in Maryland in recent days."

Monday, President Donald Trump met this week with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, 43, who likewise indicated he will not return Abrego Garcia, claiming he did not have the power to do so.

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"How can I return him to the United States?" Bukele said Monday in the Oval Office. "Like if I smuggle him into the United States? Of course I'm not going to do it."

Abrego Garcia was taken by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He is married to an American citizen and migrated at age 16 to work and was granted residency in 2019.

"President Bukele said he was not sending him back. That's the end of the story," said Bondi, claiming Abrego Garcia is an "illegal alien" who has been "living illegally" in the United States.

The U.S. Justice Department, meanwhile, has failed to provide evidence on the claim that Abrego Garcia, who has not been charged with a crime and has held protected immigrant status since 2019, is a member of the MS-13 gang in a claim his attorneys and family say is false.

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On Wednesday night, in an attempt to counter the findings of the court, the Department of Homeland Security issued a press release stating Abrego Garcia is in fact a member of MS-13.

As evidence, it states he was arrested with two other alleged members of the gang and had "roles of cash and drugs" on him.

The presidents on the various currency denominations had their ears, mouth and eyes covered, which the DHS said "is a known MS-13 gang symbol of see no evil, hear no evil, say no evil."

On Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ordered the Trump administration to "facilitate" the father of three's return home to Maryland but stopped short of ordering it. The court also said he should have had a hearing before a judge before being deported.

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Bondi said Wednesday if Bukele "wanted" to send back Abrego Garcia, the United States "would give him a plane ride back."

"There was no situation ever where he was going to stay in this country. None, none," she added.

"He's from El Salvador. He's in El Salvador, and that's where the president plans on keeping him."

The Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday posted a copy of a protective order on X that his requested against her husband in 2021.

"Kilmar Abrego Garcia had a history of violence and was not the upstanding 'Maryland Man' the media has portrayed him as," HHS posted. "According to court filings, Garcoia's wife sought a domestic violence restraining order against him, claiming he punched, scratched, and ripped off her shirt, among other harm. This MS-13 gang member is not a sympathetic figure."

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Later Wednesday, Jennifer Vasquez Sura said she had filed a temporary protective order against him four years ago but the couple had worked through their issues.

"Things did not escalate, and I decided not to follow through with the civil court process," she said in the statement to CNN. "We were able to work through this situation privately as a family, including by going to counseling. Our marriage only grew stronger in the years that followed. No one is perfect, and no marriage is perfect.

"That is not a justification for ICE's action of abducting him and deporting him to a country where he was supposed to be protected from deportation," Vasquez Sura said. "Kilmar has always been a loving partner and father, and I will continue to stand by him and demand justice for him."
(Reuters) -About 18% of songs uploaded to Deezer are fully generated by AI, the French streaming platform said on Wednesday, underscoring the technology's growing use amid copyright risks and concerns about fair payouts to artists.

Deezer said more than 20,000 AI-generated tracks are uploaded on its platform each day, which is nearly twice the number reported four months ago.

"AI-generated content continues to flood streaming platforms like Deezer and we see no sign of it slowing down," said Aurelien Herault, the company's innovation chief.

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Herault added that a detection tool launched in January was helping the company filter fully AI-generated tracks from the algorithmic recommendations for its 9.7 million subscribers.

The rising use of generative AI in creative industries has triggered a wave of lawsuits, with artists, authors and rights holders accusing AI firms of using copyrighted material without consent or compensation to train their models.

Among the targets are AI music tools Suno and Udio, which are facing legal actions from Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group and Sony Music.

The labels, which represent artists such as Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar and Ed Sheeran, accused the startups of mass copyright infringement last year for allegedly training AI systems on their recordings.

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Deezer's detection tool can spot outputs from Suno and Udio, the streaming platform said.

Dozens of musicians, including Billie Eilish, Nicki Minaj and Stevie Wonder, also wrote an open letter last year warning that AI-generated music trained using their work could "sabotage creativity" and sideline human artists.

Beyond the music industry, AI's entry into Hollywood and filmmaking has created controversy as well.

This year's Academy Awards sparked a debate over the use of AI in the production and enhancement of several nominated films, including some contenders for Best Picture.

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In 2023, Hollywood writers and actors staged high-profile strikes demanding stronger protection against AI's use.

(Reporting by Kritika Lamba and Deborah Sophia in Bengaluru; Editing by Shreya Biswas)
Airbnb is offering free housing to Greater Cincinnati residents affected by the area's recent disruptive floods.

Airbnb.org, a nonprofit founded by Airbnb to provide emergency housing in times of crisis, is working with the United Way of Greater Cincinnati to provide free, temporary housing to displaced residents "in communities devastated by historic flooding in Ohio," the company announced Monday. Stays are free for guests and fully funded by Airbnb.org and its donors.

Airbnb also waives all service fees for Airbnb.org hosts and guests.

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Per the release, United Way will help identify residents in need of emergency housing and refer them to Airbnb.org for free stays. Residents can request temporary housing support or other services by calling United Way of Greater Cincinnati at 211.

The Ohio River at Cincinnati rose to its highest point since 1997 last week. The waters led to intense flooding around the Greater Cincinnati area. This caused thick mud on roadways and in parks, widespread debris and damage to homes.

Since its founding in 2020, Airbnb.org has provided 1.6 million nights of free, temporary housing to more than 250,000 people around the globe. Most recently, Airbnb.org offered emergency housing to people displaced by the wildfires in Los Angeles, Hurricanes Milton and Helene in Florida, floods in Brazil and the earthquake in Japans Noto Peninsula.

Airbnb hosts interested in offering discounted stays to people impacted by the floods in Ohio can visit Airbnb.org for more information.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati flood victims can get free emergency housing from Airbnb
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Nearly 7,000 members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated are making a major financial and community impact during its annual regional conference.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated is the first Black Greek-letter organization founded in the United States. Created by college-educated women on the campus of Howard University in 1908, the sororitys foundation is built on sisterhood, scholarship and service. Those values will be on full display Easter week and weekend in Tampa.

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The South Atlantic Region of AKA, which is comprised of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina members, are meeting in Tampa for their 72nd Annual South Atlantic Regional Conference. According to Visit Tampa Bay, with more than 8,000 hotel rooms booked in the city, preliminary estimates show an $8 million economic impact. While the organization will be conducting a lot of business, theyll also be giving back to the Tampa community.

One of our initiatives of our national office is childhood hunger initiatives, so we are going to be packing bags, giving out food to designated schools here in Tampa Bay, said Tiffany Moore Russell. Then were going to receive donations from chapters all over the region to give back to homeless organizations here in Tampa.

AKA will donate the backpacks to B.C. Graham Elementary School and the food bags will be donated to Metropolitan Ministries.

It has been 17 years since AKA hosted a regional conference in Tampa. Russell said the organization plans to spend its dollars at local minority-owned businesses while also allowing the city to see and feel AKAs core values of sisterhood, scholarship, and service to all mankind.

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We want people to know that we are not just what they see on TV, Russell said. Yes, we have a good time, yes, we stroll, ye,s we step. Thats the cultural celebration of our organization. We also serve, we also do social action and connection education. We also give back to children, we also have so many youth programs. Thats what we want people to see in all of our D9 organizations.

There are events open to the public, including a political forum on The 2024 Election: Where Do We Go From Here. The public is invited to attend on Thursday, April 17, from 2-3 p.m. at the Tampa Convention Center. Later that evening, the conference will host a Public Meeting from 8-10 p.m. featuring Ms. Jotaka Eaddy, founder/CEO of Full Circle Strategies and founder of the#WinWithBlackWomen movement, as the keynote speaker. The Public Meeting brings together community leaders, elected officials, conference participants and others to celebrate leadership, service, and community engagement.

Visit Tampa Bays President and CEO, Santiago C. Corrada, released the following statement:

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Tampa Bay is proud to host Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporateds 2025 South Atlantic Regional Conference April 16- 20. This is the third time Tampa has hosted the regional conference for this historic Divine Nine organization, and were delighted to welcome them back to the heart of Floridas Gulf Coast. Founded in 1908, AKA is the oldest Greek-letter organization established by African American college-educated women and its tenets, particularly to be of Service to All Mankind, are in keeping with the open and welcoming spirit of the Tampa Bay region. We know this years conference will be an amazing success. With 8,000 hotel room nights booked and preliminary estimates of close to $8 million in direct economic impact, Hillsborough Countys stands to see a major positive financial and community impact from this gathering over Easter weekend.

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AKRON, Ohio (WJW)  The FOX 8 I-Team has found that the Akron School Board decided what to do about the school superintendent now that an internal investigation is finished. Akron Schools Superintendent Dr. Michael Robinson was placed on paid administrative leave after being accused of bullying and berating employees.

The board meeting was in executive session on Tuesday to go over the findings of the investigation and to decide what, if any, action should be taken. One board member, Rev. Gregory Harrison, has proposed placing Robinson on paid administrative leave.

Tree falls on Barberton home, killing 1 person

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The investigation was started months ago, after Dr. Michael Robinson was alleged to have bullied and berated employees. Robinson was also accused of sending emails that disappeared.

The I-Team had tried three times to talk to Robonson about the allegations, but he has ignored our requests.

Several taxpayers expressed frustration over the allegations during Mondays board meeting.

We are confronting a crisis of leadership. This is not a one-time slip of the tongue, one taxpayer said.

2nd person dies following high-speed I-90 deputy chase that ended in fiery crash

The Teachers Union is also closely watching the fallout from the internal.

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We believe there should be accountability of the Superintendent, said Pat Shipe, president of the Akron Education Association. We believe we have gone through months and months and months of substantiated allegations.

The Akron Board of Education voted to place Dr. Michael Robinson, the school superintendent, on paid administrative leave Tuesday evening. The action followed a two-hour executive session where members were briefed about the findings of an internal investigation.

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BEIRUT, April 16 (Xinhua) -- The Lebanese Ministry of Health announced Wednesday that one person was killed in an Israeli drone strike on a vehicle in the southern border region, bringing the total number of deaths from Israeli attacks to three within approximately 24 hours.

A statement issued by the ministry said that "the drone strike carried out by the Israeli enemy on a vehicle ... resulted in one fatality."

It added, "Today, the death toll from yesterday's Israeli strike on the village of Aitaroun rose to two, after a 17-year-old boy who had been seriously injured succumbed to his wounds."

Meanwhile, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights stated in an updated report that "at least 71 people have been killed in Israeli strikes in Lebanon since the ceasefire came into effect on November 27 of last year."

"Among the victims were 14 women and 9 children, and over 92,000 people remain displaced from their homes," it added.

Since Nov. 27, 2024, a ceasefire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel has been in place, ending over a year of clashes sparked by the war in Gaza.

Despite the agreement, the Israeli army continues to carry out occasional strikes in Lebanon, claiming they are aimed at eliminating "Hezbollah threats," and has maintained a military presence at five key points inside Lebanese territory along the border. 
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP)  The Somalia -based militant group al-Shabab on Wednesday attacked a strategic town that serves as a major base for government troops, raising new concerns about the sustainability of the fight against the al-Qaida-linked militants.

The dawn attack on Adan Yabal in Middle Shabelle region started with the launching of explosives before the militants attacked on foot on multiple fronts.

Al-Shabab in a statement claimed it captured the town. A Somali military officer who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media said government troops controlled some areas and fighting continued.

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Adan Yabal, about 245 kilometers (152 miles) north of the capital, Mogadishu, came under al-Shabab control in 2016 and was retaken by government forces in December 2022.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud visited the town last month, underscoring its symbolic and strategic importance in the fight against the militants. For the past two consecutive years, we have been on a winning streak. Occasional losses on the battlefield do not mean we are losing the war, he said.

Military sources reported significant casualties on both sides Wednesday, though the exact number was unclear due to disrupted communication lines in the area. There was no immediate government statement.

In a related development, government forces and an allied militia withdrew from the nearby village of Abooreey after 10 days of clashes. Local sources confirmed that al-Shabab has since captured the village.

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The setbacks come amid a broader counterinsurgency campaign that began in 2022 when Somali forces, supported by clan militias and international partners, reclaimed dozens of towns and villages across Hirshabelle, Galmudug and Southwest states.

It was one of the most significant offensives against al-Shabab in more than a decade.

However, in recent months, the insurgents have regrouped and launched a series of counterattacks, regaining control over rural settlements in Middle Shabelle and Galgaduud regions. Al-Shabab also continues to operate in large parts of Lower Shabelle, Middle Juba and Bakool regions, where government presence remains limited.

The militant group has fought for more than 15 years to overthrow Somalias internationally backed government. It retains the capacity to launch deadly raids and bombings, including in Mogadishu. The most recent attack was on March 18 when a roadside bombing targeted the presidential motorcade.

The Somali government insists al-Shabab has been weakened.
The al-Shabab armed group has claimed to have seized control of Adan Yabaal, a town in central Somalia and a logistical hub for the government forces, about 220 kilometres (130 miles) north of the capital, Mogadishu.

The fighters launched the raids before dawn on Wednesday, forcing the army to retreat after fierce battles, according to a security officer quoted by the Anadolu news agency.

However, the report was disputed by the army. Captain Hussein Olow, a military officer in Adan Yabaal, told the Reuters news agency that government troops had pushed the group back.

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The terrorist militants launched a desperate attack on the Somali army positions in the Adan Yabaal district this morning, Somali captain Mohamed Ali told the AFP news agency from a nearby town. There was heavy fighting still going on in some parts of the town, he said.

There were no reports of casualties.

Deafening explosion

Al-Shabab has been fighting the Somali government for more than 16 years and frequently targets government officials and military personnel.

Adan Yabaal has strategic military significance and serves as a critical logistical hub connecting Hirshabelle state to the neighbouring central state of Galmudug. It was recaptured from al-Shabab in 2022.

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After early morning prayers, we heard a deafening explosion, then gunfire, Fatuma Nur, a mother of four, told Reuters by phone from Adan Yabaal. Al-Shabab attacked us from two directions, she added.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who is from the area, visited the town in March to meet with military commanders there.

A new African Union peacekeeping mission replaced a larger force at the start of the year, but its funding is uncertain, with the United States opposed to a plan to transition to a United Nations financing model.




Sen. Donnie Chesteen, R-Geneva, listens attentively to the Senate debate on March 18, 2025, in Montgomery, Alabama. A House committee Wednesday approved a bill sponsored by Chesteen that would ban cell phones in public schools during instruction hours. (Alander Rocha/Alabama Reflector)

The Alabama House Education Policy Committee Wednesday unanimously approved a bill that would ban cellphones in public schools during class instruction time.

SB 92, sponsored by Sen. Donnie Chesteen, R-Geneva, is identical to HB 166, sponsored by Rep. Leigh Hulsey, R-Helena, which passed the House earlier this month.

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It is identical to the way that we passed it out of the House and amended it on the floor recently. So were making sure that theyre tracking identically, and we have been able to successfully do that, Hulsey, who carried the bill for Chesteen, said Wednesday.

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The bill requires local school boards to adopt a policy to store student cell phones during class hours. Some schools use Yondr Pouches to store phones, but the legislation does not specify how a phone should be stored.

They just have to turn the phone off, store it off your person in a locker, car, whatever your storage solution is, its a similar solution. Whatever they choose, Hulsey said.

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There are three exceptions for when a student can access their phones: if they study under an Individualized Education Plan that allows it; for teacher-approved instruction and for medical purposes.

The bill was approved with no discussion. It moves to the full House for consideration.

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Sen. Shay Shelnutt, R-Trussville, laughing on April 16, 2025, in the Senate Education Policy Committee meeting in the Alabama State House in Montgomery, Alabama. Shelnutt's bill that requires local school boards to adopt a policy on released time religious instruction (RTRI) passed the committee 8-1 on Wednesday. (Anna Barrett/Alabama Reflector)

An Alabama Senate committee Wednesday approved a bill that would require school boards to adopt policies on whether to allow students to leave school for religious study and give them academic credit for it.

SB 278, sponsored by Sen. Shay Shelnutt, R-Trussville, mirrors HB 342, sponsored by Rep. Susan DuBose, R-Hoover, which was rejected by the House Education Committee on April 2. The state already has a law that allows school boards to adopt such policies, known as Released Time Religious Instruction (RTRI). The bill would mandate the development of those policies.

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The committee heard from critics and supporters of the legislation last week.

The bill is designed to provide local control and flexibility, ensuring a district can implement policies that best suit their needs, while respecting the constitutional rights of students and parents, Shelnutt said Wednesday.

The senator said the policy could forbid RTRI.

Yes, local boards have the ability to adopt their own policies, he said. If the policy they implement is super narrow because this does not work in their district in any way, then so be it.

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Sen. Kirk Hatcher, D-Montgomery, echoed a concern raised by Dale County Superintendent Ben Baker last week that there is not enough time in the school day for students to leave campus for RTRI. He said religious instruction should happen at home.

This is kind of boilerplate legislation, in my view. At some point we have to give parents the responsibility we say parents should have in terms of how they go about the process of sharing moral values with their kids, Hatcher said. In fact, I know that it should begin at home.

Hatcher also questioned the intent of the bill. Although the legislation says that any religious group can participate, Hatcher was concerned about what that would look like and if it would happen.

I do know that theres a slippery slope to this kind of legislation, he said. I do know that a part of the intent of legislation like this has a great deal to do with this notion of Christian nationalism.

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Sen. Roger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, raised concerns over liability. He said that students could sign up for the program, leave the school and not attend the program.

We dont have control over them but theyre still under us, but we dont have control. Thats an hour that is returned outside during the hours of eight to three, Smitherman said.

Shelnutt said the groups that host RTRI, like LifeWise Ministry, will assume all liability. According to LifeWises sample curriculum, it teaches the Christian belief that God created all things good to a list of virtues that the nonprofit describes as LifeWise qualities.

At least 30 school board representatives from across the state attended Wednesdays meeting. Sally Smith, executive director of the Alabama Association of School Boards, said she is disappointed the legislation passed, but would continue to have conversations with lawmakers. Smith has consistently expressed concern and opposition to the bill.

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We think that we just have to have continued conversations with our senators due to local leaders concerns with this bill, Smith said in an interview. It is in the area of making policy that presents constitutional challenges to local boards of education. So it is not as clearly clean cut as some may think.

The bill was approved 8-1 with Hatcher as the only member that voted against the bill. Smitherman said he only voted for it to get it out of committee, but that it still needed significant work. Shelnutt said he would work with Smitherman on his concerns.

Im going to vote to get the bill out of committee, but I do think that before we move that bill on the floor, that these things have got to be tightened up, Smitherman said.

The bill moves to the full Senate.

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ALABASTER, Ala. (WIAT)  Shelby Countys largest city is moving forward with plans to build a new recreation center and library.

A splash pad sounds awesome, especially for little kids, and a bigger library will definitely be a big help, Alabaster resident David Benz said.

The Alabaster City Council awarded Monday night a $43.7 million dollar bid by the Clements Dean Building Company to construct the new recreation center and library on about 24 acres off Highway 119 and Thompson Road.

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Justin Dean is a managing partner with Clements Dean Building Company. He said he expects construction on the project to get underway in a couple months.

Youll really see construction start to take off kind of in the middle of the summer for it, and weve got about 600 days on the schedule, Dean said.

The company is looking at the early to middle part of 2027 for completion, Dean said.

Review of decision not to award Space Command to Alabama inconclusive, with Trump reversal expected

Alabaster City Administrator Brian Binzer said the recreation center will have three gyms with an indoor walking track above, workout space and a community pool with a splash pad behind it. The new library will be built next to the recreation center.

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Binzer said adding these amenities for residents is a quality-of-life issue.

People have choices where they live, where they work and where they play, Binzer said. So cities do have to think about what do we offer to the community? What do we offer to the folks that have been here a long time? So were always looking at ways that we can add to their quality of life.

The site of where the new Alabaster library will be located. (Photo by Amy Hybels)

The director of the Albert L. Scott Library said the new building will allow the institutions to move from a facility that is 7,200 feet to one thats more than 19,000 square feet.

50% of our service is programs, and we only have one room to do programming in, Kim Roberts said.

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She said the library is going to have private study rooms, conference rooms and a makerspace, so employees are excited.

Taffie Brashears was visiting the library to check out books with her granddaughter Tuesday.

This has been here for a long time, Brashears said. Ive lived in Alabaster for over 30 years, so excited that were going to have more room to move around.

Longtime resident Denise Gans said shes most excited about improvements coming to the Highway 119 and Thompson Road intersection, which include a new right turn lane on Alabama 119.

Binzer said the all-in price tag for this project is about $45 million, and its coming out of the citys general fund. He said the city is not asking for new money from voters.

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Speaker of the House Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, talks to fellow legislators during a break in budget debates Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

The Alaska House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a $6.2 billion draft state operating budget, putting Alaska on track for a significant deficit in the fiscal year that begins July 1.

If Wednesdays draft is added to a capital budget draft passed Tuesday by the Senate and a planned supplemental budget needed to fix a deficit in the current fiscal year, total general-purpose spending is near $6.6 billion.

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Meanwhile, the Alaska Department of Revenue expects $6.1 billion in general-purpose revenue during the upcoming fiscal year. The House is proposing to spend from the Constitutional Budget Reserve, the states main savings account, to balance the budget.

This is the best our body can do right now, said House Majority Leader Chuck Kopp, R-Anchorage.

Kopp went on to say that the House-passed budget is preliminary and subject to change by the Senate.

An earlier version of the House budget included $2.5 billion for the 2025 Permanent Fund dividend, enough to pay almost $3,900 to every recipient. To reduce the size of the expected deficit, the House voted to cut PFD spending to $950 million, a payout of about $1,400 per recipient.

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Some may argue that we should cut the fat. What fat is there? We are at the bone, said Rep. Andy Josephson, D-Anchorage and co-chair of the House Finance Committee.

Rep. Andy Josephson, D-Anchorage, speaks in favor of the Houses draft operating budget on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

The one major increase in the budget is an $86 million increase to K-12 public school funding, equivalent to a one-time $1,000 increase to the base student allocation, core of the states per-student funding formula.

Last year, lawmakers approved a one-time $680 increase to the BSA.

I want to celebrate today  this is a pro-growth budget that puts our state on a path toward prosperity, said Rep. Zack Fields, D-Anchorage.

Wednesdays vote fell along caucus lines, as all 21 members of the Houses coalition majority  2 Republicans, 5 independents and 14 Democrats  voted in favor of the budget draft.

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All 19 members of the Houses Republican minority voted against it, with some citing the deficit.

This budget is a bunch of lofty promises. Thats whats so heartbreaking about it, because everybody here knows they will not be kept, said Rep. Sarah Vance, R-Homer and a member of the minority.

Rep. Jubilee Underwood, R-Wasilla, speaks Wednesday, April 16, 2025, on the draft House operating budget. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Vance and other members of the minority said the budget is unsustainable because it relies on spending from savings. Even if the CBR  which contains $2.8 billion  is sufficient to cover this years deficit, it may not be enough to cover next years projected gap, which is expected to be worse.

This budget makes promises it cant keep, said Rep. DeLena Johnson, R-Palmer and a member of the minority.

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It will probably be the other body that takes on the responsibility that we have given up, she said, referring to the Senate.

Senate leaders have said throughout the session that their aim is to pass a budget without drawing from savings.

Weve got to balance the budget without a CBR draw for this year and prepare for next year, said Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka and co-chair of the Senate Finance Committee, in a Tuesday news conference with reporters.

Over the next fiscal year, the Alaska Department of Revenue expects North Slope oil prices to average $68 per barrel. Thats significantly lower than the current year and would reduce the amount of revenue available to the state.

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To the fundamental core question: Can the Senate balance the budget at $68? The answer is yes. Is it going to be fun, without any difficult decisions? No, Stedman said.

Asked where the Senates cuts will be, Stedman said that remains to be determined.

Everythings in play, he said.

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Rep. Andy Josephson, D-Anchorage and co-chair of the House Finance Committee, in charge of the operating budget, listens to debate Monday, April 14, 2025, on the operating budget. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

For the first time in more than 25 years, the Alaska House of Representatives has voted against budget language that seeks to limit Medicaid coverage for abortions.

On Monday, the House failed by a single vote to approve a budget amendment that would forbid the state from spending money on abortions unless they are deemed a mandatory service under Medicaid.

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The amendment received 20 votes, all from Republicans; 21 votes were needed to approve the amendment, which has been a feature of the state budget since at least 2001.

Hours later, the House approved a different amendment that seeks to adopt a similar approach with regard to gender dysphoria and care for transgender Alaskans.

That amendment passed 21-19 on a strict party-line vote, as both Republican members of the Houses coalition majority joined members of the minority Republican caucus to pass it.

Both actions are not final  they would have to be mirrored by the state Senate  but nonetheless have significant symbolic value.

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The Alaska House of Representatives has repeatedly and unsuccessfully attempted to restrict abortion access since the Alaska Supreme Court ruled in 1997 that the privacy clause of the state constitution protects abortion rights.

Each year, under an amendment to the state budget, state lawmakers have attempted to restrict abortion under Medicaid by limiting coverage to only whats deemed medically necessary.

Introducing the abortion amendment was Rep. Sarah Vance, R-Homer.

The courts have weighed in on this issue, and it is the value and the principle of Alaskans that we preserve life, she said.

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The executive branch has provided support for this, the Legislature has provided support for this. So this is simply restoring the language that we have previously had, Vance said.

The budget language has had limited practical effect because doctors need only fill out a form to demonstrate that a procedure is medically necessary, and an attempt to define whats medically necessary was struck down in court.

The Alaska Supreme Court ruled that using different definitions for abortion and for other cases violated the right to equal protection of the laws under the Alaska Constitution.

Nevertheless, the amendment has turned into an annual statement of intent. In 2019, the state Senate initially failed to adopt the amendment, though the final budget included language from the House. Until this year, the House had never failed to adopt the amendment.

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This years amendment came down to Rep. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, who initially voted in favor of the amendment but changed her mind before voting closed.

Im just trying to do the right thing, and putting it in the budget is the wrong thing, Stutes said afterward. Aside from the fact that I believe the state doesnt belong between a woman and her doctor  and our state constitution protects that  I think the intent language, if it were enforced, its unconstitutional. So its kind of meaningless to put it in the budget.

Hours later, Stutes and Rep. Chuck Kopp, R-Anchorage, the majority leader, joined 19 members of the Houses Republican minority to add similar language regarding gender dysphoria to the state budget.

If adopted by the Senate and Gov. Mike Dunleavy, its unclear what effect the amendment would have. Although a 2021 lawsuit resulted in a federal ruling that requires Alaskas Medicaid program to cover gender-affirming care, the Alaska Supreme Court has not considered the issue, and the case law around the topic is not established as well as it is for abortion, experts said.

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Were grateful that for the first time in recent memory, the House did not insert the harmful and performative amendment aimed at stripping patients with low incomes access to coverage for abortion. Unfortunately, the same body adopted an equally harmful and performative amendment attacking gender affirming health care, said Rose OHara-Jolley, Alaska State Director for Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates. We urge the body not to adopt either amendment in its final version  were relying on them to stand with all Alaskans, regardless of their income or gender identity.

Debate continued Tuesday on more amendments to the Houses version of the state operating budget.

Correction: The initial version of this article incorrectly stated Rep. Sarah Vances district. She represents Homer and the southern Kenai Peninsula.
ALBANY  Albany State University will celebrate the achievements of more than 700 graduates during its spring 2025 commencement ceremony on May 10, at 9 a.m. at the Albany Civic Center. Doors open at 8 a.m., and the academic processional will begin promptly at 9 a.m.

Former Student Government Association President Aliyah Johnson will serve as the keynote speaker for commencement. A 2021 graduate of Albany State, Johnson made history as the youngest senior advisor for public engagement at the White House, where she served in the Biden administration. In her role, she managed events and programming for the President of the United States, making her a rising star in public service and a powerful example of Ram excellence.

In addition to the main commencement ceremony, the university will host several special events to honor graduates from specific academic programs:

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Health Sciences Pinning Ceremony  May 8 at 2 p.m.

Student Center, Building C, Room 266  West Campus

Nursing Pinning Ceremony  May 8 at 4 p.m.

Student Center, Building C, Room 266  West Campus

Social Work Hooding and Penning Ceremony  May 9 at 2 p.m.

C.W. Grant Student Union Ballroom  East Campus

Professional Embracing Novice (PENning) Ceremony  May 9 at 5 p.m.

Billy C. Black Auditorium  East Campus

These ceremonies mark important milestones for students transitioning into the work force as educators, health professionals, and social workers. They also reflect ASUs continued commitment to preparing leaders who will serve communities across Georgia and beyond.

The Spring 2025 Commencement Ceremony also will include a U.S. Army ROTC commissioning ceremony, recognizing graduates who will begin their service as commissioned officers.
Em Bird-Brown, an organizer with the Peoples Housing Project, leads a rally calling for rent control at a rally in front of the Roundhouse in Jan. 2024. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham struck language from the state budget directing $80 million in new housing spending to Albuquerque, but city officials said they're still optimistic that money will help them address rising rents and other housing challenges in the state's biggest city. (Photo by Patrick Lohmann / Source NM)

Even though New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham struck language directing $80 million in new housing money to the states biggest city, Albuquerque officials believe the state will still provide adequate funds this upcoming fiscal year to help address the housing crisis.

The governor late last week signed the record $10.8 billion budget lawmakers sent to her during the 60-day session, which included$110 million to support housing, affordable housing, transitional housing and the expansion of housing services.

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While the governor approved the total allocation  which the state Department of Finance and Administration will oversee  she crossed out language from lawmakers specifying $80 million for programs in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County, along with $10 million they had specified for Las Cruces and Dona Ana County.

Striking the language did not impact the $110 million payment to the state Department of Finance and Administration, which will oversee the housing funds. However, legislative leaders had previously highlighted those earmarks as important because they directed most of the money to the areas where populations and needs are the biggest.

I think were investing far more in a targeted way thats going to help bring folks off the streets and into homes, said Rep. Nathan Small (D-Las Cruces) in a Feb. 24 news conference touting the Houses budget proposals.

In a statement to Source New Mexico on Wednesday, the governors office defended striking the language, saying that now DFA will have more flexibility.

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The removed language could have been interpreted as restrictive, effectively stating, These are the only permitted uses for these funds, governors spokesperson Jodi McGinnis-Porter said in an email. By eliminating these constraints, DFA will have enhanced agility to respond to changing circumstances.

Staci Dragmeister, a spokesperson for the City of Albuquerque, said the city is optimistic the change wont affect the amount of money heading its way for housing.

The Governor kept the funding in place and there is a clear, critical need for more affordable housing and homeless services in Albuquerque, she told Source in an email Wednesday. The City is optimistic the funding will be used to help residents in Albuquerque and is ready to put it to work to build housing and expand services.

A recent report from Pew Charitable Trusts found that homelessness in Albuquerque increased 108% between 2017 and 2024, which is more than the 87% increase seen across the state and nearly three times the 40% national average increase during that period. Despite adding more than 31,000 jobs in the last three years, city developers have added only 9,000 new housing units during that period.

The line in the budget authorizing the $110 million in housing spending money to DFA specifies that the money is for affordable and transitional housing, and the expansion of housing services providers that facilitate behavioral health services and substance abuse recovery, homelessness assistance and prevention for persons with behavioral health needs.
BEIJING, April 16 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese and Egyptian air forces will conduct a joint training from mid-April to early May in Egypt, according to a statement released by the Chinese Ministry of National Defense on Wednesday.

This will mark the first joint training between the two countries' air forces, the statement noted, adding that it is of great significance for advancing practical cooperation and enhancing mutual trust and friendship between the two militaries. 
It appears that the UK is close to dynamic alignment with EU food and veterinary standards as part of a reset in UK-EU relations. This would reduce the need to manage checks on food and animals passing through Northern Ireland and would also assist with food trade between the UK and EU more generally.

On the other hand, it would remove UK sovereignty over its food and veterinary standards, so British food and livestock producers selling to domestic customers would end up subject to regulations developed to be relevant to Romanian or Spanish or Cypriot producers.

In addition, the UK has entered into a range of free trade agreements since Brexit, with countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Japan and signed up to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP); a free trade agreement between 11 countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

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Even if the demands of EU rules did not immediately conflict with the provisions of those trade agreements, the need to maintain dynamic alignment with EU rules would certainly leave open the prospect that the UK would be forced to violate those free trade deals later on. That means investors cannot rely on these free trade agreements persisting; the value of them will potentially be significantly diminished.

That is not only damaging from the point of view of losing the commercial value of these agreements. It also undermines the ability of the UK to reposition itself strategically.

Furthermore, agreeing to maintain dynamic alignment with EU rules could kill off the prospects of a UK-US trade deal. The US and UK would not be able to agree to allow US food to enter the UK on the basis of any particular rules (whether the UKs current rules or some modification of them) because the UK would have no power to guarantee it would be allowed to let US food in without the EU agreeing to it.

That would mean either no food could be covered by any UK-US trade agreement or the scope of it would be severely limited. Now it is true that the value of food is typically only a small share of trade agreements. But it does tend to be politically very high-profile in such agreements.

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Without the ability to come to an agreement on food, any US-UK agreement would probably end up not being wide-ranging but instead focus on some narrow sector or two  such as an agreement relating to the automotive sector.

This would be inconsistent with WTO rules, but Trumps actions on tariffs have essentially rejected the most fundamental element of the WTO framework anyway  the most favoured nation clause that says all countries must have the tariffs applied to the most favoured country with whom one does not have an explicit trade agreement. So were probably past worrying about whether deals with the US would break WTO rules.

The US might well want the UK to agree not to trade with China, as part of any UK-US trade deal. The UK might not want to agree to do that. The US might also want the EU to agree not to trade with China, and if the EU refuses the US might not look kindly upon the UK having chosen to align its rules with the EU.

So perhaps its hopeless to think therell be any wide-ranging UK-US free trade agreement anyway, despite the positive noises about such a deal coming from the White House.

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Its certainly a tricky path for the UK Government.

However, Britain should not be seeking to throw its lot in fully with either the US or the EU. Our differences from EU partners have been clear for many years. Our differences from the US have become particularly explicit in recent months. Neither of them are closely enough aligned to UK interests to justify partnering with them in ways that exclude others.

Better partners for us, in the current world, are Canada, Australia and New Zealand. We should avoid doing anything, in our deals with the EU or US, that undermines our ability to draw closer to these other countries. Dynamic alignment would be an error for that reason. Lets give it a miss.

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A HISTORIC GEORGETOWN CHURCH recently mailed out flyers about its 202526 concert season, and I was drawn to the opening performance this fall: Stellar Mexican quartet honors music of the New World on farewell tour.

Cuarteto Latinoamericano is advertised as Mexicos flagship chamber ensemble, returning to Dumbarton Church by popular demand. The program ranges from famous pieces by Americans George Gershwin and Samuel Barber, to Czech composer Antonin Dvoraks American quartet, written in Iowa during a three-year U.S. stay, and the Tribute to the Americas quartet by Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos.

An homage to two continents, indeed, and for a few minutes at my house, it was all Lets do this! and Is this cool or what? Then, suddenly, the conversation darkened. Will it even happen? Will this quartet even show up? Id hire bodyguards and come, I told my husband. Id cancel and stay home, he replied.

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This is the America we live in now. In Donald Trumps America, if you look foreign or are foreign, or are even just a lawyer representing someone foreign, you can be detained for no reason or any reasoncaught in a dragnet intended to generate high numbers, high profits, and viral moments that juxtapose cruel, beautiful people with cruel, ugly policies.

It started with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, hair, makeup and outfit camera-ready for her video shoot, posing as if for a kinky Vogue cover with a backdrop of shaven prisoners in a cage at CECOT, El Salvadors giant torture prison.

On Monday came Trump in the Oval Office with El Salvadors Nayib Bukele, suave and tieless in a form-fitting navy suit and black t-shirt. Just a couple of dictators joking around about never releasing Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the wrongly deported Maryland father, from CECOT, and sending hundreds or even thousands more to hellholes yet to be built.

That includes Venezuelans and, Trump suggests, could expand to homegrown Americans, shipped out and held for as long as he wants, no matter who they are or arent, or what they did or didnt do. Trump is reportedly paying Bukele $6 million for his gulag-style hospitality. Its a nice profit center for El Salvador, and one trade deficit Trump doesnt seem to mind.

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IF YOU ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE detained somewhere in America, and you have friends, family, and lawyers working to find you and get you out, you may eventually emergewith harrowing tales of brutality and helplessness.

You can be a Canadian with a work visa, like Jasmine Mooney, and end up imprisoned and isolated for two weeks in detention camps. You can be a British graphic artist touring America, like Rebecca Burke, and end up shackled and detained for nineteen daysdeclared illegal because shed been staying at homes and doing chores in exchange, with no work visa.

You can be a German tattoo artist planning to spend a few days with a friend in Los Angeles, and end up detained for six weeksincluding eight days in solitary confinementbecause you said you were going to tattoo your friend and immigration authorities assumed you were going to set up shop without a work visa. Except that it was a personal favor for a longtime friend.

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In Trumps America, which is also Elon Musks America, Musk himself could have been ambushed and detained, if todays policies had been in force when he arrived. He came from South Africa on a student visa in 1995, the Washington Post reported in October, but he skipped graduate school and started a business instead. That was illegal. He had no work visa and didnt get one until his freaked-out investors forced the issue.

The same goes for Melania Trump, who arrived on a visitor visa from Slovenia in 1996: She, too, might have disappeared into a detention camp. She took ten modeling jobs and earned over $20,000 that year before getting a work visa, the Associated Press reported on November 4, 2016, after she had insisted for months that she never violated the terms of her immigration status. Based on twenty-year-old documents obtained by the AP, the story came out four days before the 2016 election.1 It was too late to matter.

Back when Musk and Melania showed up, we were still a nation of immigrants and we welcomed their contributions to our economy and culture, from tacos to academic research. Now not so much, as students get ambushed and detained for having political views that Trump doesnt like. Thats unconstitutional, and they are legal residents, but why should he care, right?

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The administration has already admitted that deporting Abrego Garcia was an error, and Bloomberg reports that roughly 90 percent of the 200-plus men Trump deported to CECOT have no U.S. criminal records. But Trump is no newcomer to ruining lives. Its what he does.

The guy who pardoned the January 6th rioters was never going to be President Due Process. In fact, unless it benefits him and people who genuflect to him, Trump is allergic to due process. Weve known that since 1989, at the height of the frenzy against the Central Park Fiveteenagers accused of raping a jogger in Central Parkwhen he ran an ad in several newspapers calling for the return of the death penalty. It was published May 1, 1989, barely ten days after the attack and months before the teens were tried and convicted.

They served years in prison until another man confessed to the crime and gave a DNA sample that matched. And its not over yet. Just last week, a federal judge refused Trumps request to throw out a defamation suit that the five filed against him last year. They cited false claims he made about the case in his debate with Kamala Harris, including that they had pleaded guilty (they did not) and killed a person (no one died).

Trump has been politically immune to judgments against him, and that wont change if he loses this defamation suit. Hell be 79 in June, and his outlaw brand has done nothing but help him evade accountability his whole life.

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If anything comes for him at this late date, itll be the demise of Americas global reputation accompanied by a tanked economy. And it wont just be due to his tariff flightiness and bravado. Itll be boycotts of American products, Canadians selling their U.S. vacation homes, plunging international tourismall already happening. We can also expect foreign students, who have flooded our universities and often stayed to become job creators, to start avoiding us like the plague.

We might still see Mexicos flagship string quartet risking a final farewell visit to the United States. Well buy tickets when they go on sale, and cross our fingers.

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1

Correction, April 16, 2025, 12:23 p.m.: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that the AP story on Melania Trumps immigration came out shortly before the 2024 election, rather than shortly before the 2016 election.
Don't want to be cut off from your social media while you're 30,000 miles over Denver? American Airlines announced Tuesday it will provide free high-speed Wi-Fi on most flights, starting next year.

The complimentary connection has a catch, though. You'll have to enroll in Americans AAdvantage loyalty program.

With this change, American Airlines will offer Wi-Fi, sponsored by AT&T, on approximately 90% of its fleet, including more than 500 regional aircraft. That translates to about 2 million flights, the company said in a press release.

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Our customers greatly value staying connected while in the air, whether communicating with friends, getting work done, checking in on social media or streaming their favorite subscription services, said Heather Garboden, Chief Customer Officer at American Airlines. Weve been working diligently to outfit our aircraft with best-in-class high-speed Wi-Fi and together with AT&T are proud to offer those services at no cost to our most loyal customers.

Here's what to know.

When will American Airlines start offering free Wi-Fi?

American Airlines announced it will offer free Wi-Fi for AAdvantage loyalty members on most flights, starting January 2026.

American plans to begin offering complimentary Wi-Fi in January 2026. The airline has already been testing limited-time complimentary Wi-Fi on select routes to gauge the strength of its service.

What does American Airlines charge for Wi-Fi now?

Currently, American charges for most onboard internet service, with access starting at around $10 on most flights. Multi-use plans starting at $49.95 per month or $599 annually.

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Onboard internet is also currently available on most flights for eligible T-Mobile customers.

Air travel has rough year

Like most other airlines, American is dealing with a downward trend in domestic and international travel and other problems.

On Christmas Eve last year, American temporarily grounded all its flights due to a "technical issue."

In January, an American Airlines flight  which was co-piloted by Jonathan Jay Campos of Ormond Beach  collided with a military helicopter over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., killing 67 people.

American Airlines serves several Florida airports

American Airlines serves several Florida airports, according to its website, including:

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Daytona Beach

Destin-Fort Walton Beach

Fort Lauderdale

Fort Myers

Gainesville

Jacksonville

Key West

Melbourne

Miami

Orlando

Panama City

Pensacola

Sarasota/Bradenton

Tallahassee

Tampa

West Palm Beach

Contributing: Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: American Airlines free inflight Wi-Fi coming in 2026. How to get it
An American missionary allegedly kidnapped at gunpoint during a church service in South Africa last Thursday has been rescued in "a high-intensity shootout" between police and his suspected captors, authorities said on Wednesday.

Three unidentified suspects were killed during Tuesday's rescue operation, which was led by the South African Police Service's elite Hawks unit, according to a statement from police spokesman Lt. Col. Avele Fumba.

While police have not yet named the rescued American, the Tennessee church with which he is affiliated has identified him as Josh Sullivan.

PHOTO: Courtesy of Fellowship Baptist Church (Courtesy of Fellowship Baptist Church)

"Josh has been released. I just got 'the go ahead to let it be known," Tom Hatley, pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church in Maryville, Tennessee, said in a Facebook post early Wednesday. "Thank you for your support and prayers. Please do not stop praying for The Sullivans. Praise The Lord Jesus Christ!"

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Investigators discovered that the abducted U.S. citizen, believed to be a pastor at a church in the South African port city of Gqeberha, was being held at a safe house there, Fumba said. As officers approached the house on Tuesday, suspects inside a vehicle opened fire and attempted to flee the scene, Fumba said, "leading to a high-intensity shootout in which three unidentified suspects were fatally wounded."

PHOTO: South African police officers investigate after rescuing kidnapped American missionary Josh Sullivan following what authorities described as a 'high-intensity shootout,' April 15, 2025, outside this home in the port city of Gqeberha. (South African Police Service)

"The victim was found inside the same vehicle from which the suspects had launched their attack," Fumba added. "Miraculously unharmed, he was immediately assessed by medical personnel and is currently in an excellent condition."

The investigation remains ongoing, according to Fumba.

MORE: American missionary reportedly kidnapped at gunpoint in South Africa during church service

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Sullivan's mother, Tonya Rinker of Maryville, Tennessee, previously confirmed that her son had been abducted.

"As a mother, you never think about something like this happening to your child, but faith carries you through the uncertainty," Rinker told ABC News in a statement last week. "Joshua's humor and wit are a blessing; hes always ready with a joke, and forever seeking to make people laugh."

PHOTO: South African police officers investigate after rescuing kidnapped American missionary Josh Sullivan following what authorities described as a 'high-intensity shootout,' April 15, 2025, outside this home in the port city of Gqeberha. (South African Police Service)

Rinker described her son as "an exceptional father, husband, and son, embodying kindness, strength and generosity. He has a servant's heart, a kind, compassionate spirit and is filled with selflessness. He has a burden for lost souls and has devoted his life to serving God in South Africa."

Sullivan was reportedly abducted by armed men who burst into a church in Motherwell, a township near Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, the Fellowship Baptist Church in Maryville said on its Facebook page last week.

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MORE: American missionary held hostage for years in Niger speaks out in 1st televised interview

The incident unfolded at about 7 p.m. local time on Thursday when the pastor of the church "was allegedly confronted by at least four unknown armed suspects during a church service," Fumba told ABC News in a statement.

Witnesses told investigators that the suspects forced the minister into his own vehicle and then fled, Fumba said.

According to a biography on what appears to be Sullivan's website, he describes himself as a church-planting missionary to the country of South Africa, who arrived there in November 2018 with his wife, Meagan, and their children to run Fellowship Baptist's Motherwell church there.

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Sullivan has been on the staff at Fellowship Baptist Church in Maryville since 2012, according to his website.

ABC News' Kevin Shalvey and Bill Hutchinson contributed to this report.

US missionary kidnapped in South Africa rescued in 'high-intensity shootout': Police originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The Soybean Triangle is not a geographic destination like the Bermuda Triangle. Its more like a love triangle: a complex and contentious relationship involving three parties, where two would be more socially appropriate. The term was coined in 2024 by economists from the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois to describe the ongoing competition between American and Brazilian farmers to sell soybeans in China.

Not too long ago, the United States was the worlds largest soybean exporter. China is the worlds largest soybean importer, accounting for almost two-thirds of global demand. Brazil, meanwhile, has made steady gains selling to China, eclipsing the United States for the first time in 2013. In conventional economic terms, this makes sense: Brazil has been gaining cropland, as befits an emerging economy, and the United States has been losing it, as one expects from a developed one.

On the surface it looks like a Thucydides trap in the making: Chinese demand for imported soybeans is a market that American farmers have dominated, historically, but competition from South America in generaland Brazil in particularhas been stiffening over the last two decades. Two trade wars launched by Donald Trump, one in his first presidential term and a sharply escalating one in his second, have altered the contours of the international soybean market. To continue the Thucydides trap analogy for a moment, imagine if the Spartans had responded to rising Athenian military power by unilaterally disarming. Thats in essence what tariffs have caused American soybean producers to do, because planting decisions are based partly on market conditions. Soybeans made up nearly 14 percent of total American agricultural exports by value in 2024, by far the largest share. The stakes are quite high.

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Domestic demand for soybeans in the United States has increased: The growth of renewable energy means more biofuels made with soybean oil. Extensive medical research points to the benefits of vegetable-based as opposed to animal-based cooking fats. And all this is happening while Chinese demand for soybeans keeps going up as well.

Currently, however, the Trump administration is engaging in a battle of tariffs and counter-tariffs with China, which looks likely to price American soybean producers out of the market altogether while they are still trying to recover from the impact of his previous trade skirmishes. As of Monday, Chinas tariffs on U.S. soybeans were well in excess of 100 percent.

In 2018, in what the Peterson Institute for International Economics dubbed the Battle of the Soybeans, Trumps tariffs on Chinese steel were met with retaliatory tariffs as high as 25 percent on American crops, hitting soybean farmers the hardest. Between 2017 and 2018, U.S. soybean exports to China, which uses imported soybeans mostly as animal feed, fell from $12.3 billion to $3.1 billion. To bail out the farmers who had been largely shut out of the Chinese market, the White House pledged $12 billion in subsidies. By 2020, Trump and Xi had begun a climbdown on tariffs, with China agreeing to buy more U.S. exports, but well into the Biden administration the tariffs were still in place and American soybean farmers were facing what appeared to be a serious opportunity cost: Exports to China were almost back to 2017 levels, but where would they have been if Trumps initial tariffs hadnt prompted Chinese retaliation in the first place? By 2023, Brazils annual soybean exports had shot up to a record 3.74 billion bushels while U.S. soybean exports lagged behind at 1.79 billion bushels, less than half Brazils output, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Still, the USDA was not overly concerned about the future of the American soybean industry. Even as recently as February, when it published its annual Grains and Oilseeds Outlook for 2025-2026, the expectation was that prices would fall slightly due to increased global supply, and Brazil and Argentina would continue to increase their share of exports to China.. To offset that, however, was increased demand, driven by the need for soybean meal by livestock farmers and soybean crush driven by the needs of biofuel manufacturers. The report assumes policy in place, meaning these figures have been calculated under the assumption that the Environmental Protection Agency would leave in place rules under its Renewable Fuel Standard.

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The soybean industry in the United States also has been weighing the potential impact of restrictions on seed oils, which Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has repeatedly referred to as poison. A recent study underwritten by the United Soybean Board projected that an outright ban would likely cost farmers billions of dollars per year in income. Lower soybean prices will lead to production cuts, which will then be passed on to consumers in the form of reduced meat supplies due to higher feed costs.

The United States and China are in an unprecedented economic showdown, with Trump waiting for a call in response to his threat to impose tariffs in excess of 100 percent on Chinese imports to the United States. For her part, economist Joana Colussi of the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana and contributor to Farmdoc Daily (and co-coiner of the soybean triangle phrase) cannot stress enough that this time is different for soybean farmers. The situation they are facing is much more dire than in 2018, she said. The production costs nowadays are much different than they were in 2018. We have much more expensive fertilizers nowadays. The farmland is much more expensive nowadays. The margins nowadays are much lower, especially in commodities markets.

Colussi wants people to grasp a specific point about agricultural commodities like soybeans. If I have my iPhone, [Apple CEO Tim Cook] can say This iPhone costs $1,000. He decides the price. But soybeans and corn are commodities. So it doesnt matter if you are from Brazil, from Argentina, or from the United States, farmers cannot control the price.

No one in the Trump administration appears to have anything against soybean farmers. The fact that such an enormous agricultural sector finds itself in the crosshairs of White House trade, energy, and health policies simultaneously speaks to the enormity of the changes the United States is currently undergoing. Whoever surrenders first becomes the victim, an unnamed Chinese policy adviser told Reuters on April 8. He may not be correct. American soybean farmers may be the first victim claimed by the trade wars of 2025, without even being given the chance to surrender.

Read more at The Dispatch

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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)  Young volunteers who respond to natural disasters and help with community projects across the U.S. have been discharged as a result of the Trump administration 's campaign to shrink government workforce and services.

AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps informed volunteers Tuesday that they would exit the program early due to programmatic circumstances beyond your control, according to an email obtained by The Associated Press.

More than 2,000 people ages 18 to 26 serve for nearly a year, according to the programs website, and get assigned to projects with nonprofits and community organizations or the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It celebrated its 30th year last year.

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The volunteers are especially visible after natural disasters, including Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and Hurricane Helene last year. The organization said on social media last month that teams have served 8 million service hours on nearly 3,400 disaster projects since 1999.

Jordan Kinsler, 23, has worked with FEMA Corps for the last nine months, traveling from Minnesota communities impacted by floods to ones in North Carolina touched by Helene. He and his team were on their final project at FEMA headquarters in Washington when they got word Tuesday that they wouldn't be able to finish.

Kinsler, who is from Long Island, New York, said they packed that night and left Wednesday morning for their home base in Vicksburg, Mississippi.

Kinsler said he's proud of the work he's done and had hoped to apply for a permanent position.

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To have this ripped right from us at the very end, it felt insulting," he said.

A White House official said the Trump administration questioned using taxpayer money for the program. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly. The AP sent an email Wednesday seeking comment from AmeriCorps.

Funding for AmeriCorps and NCCC has long been included when there are talks in Congress of budget trims. The federal agencys budget showed NCCC funding amounted to nearly $38 million last fiscal year.

The unsigned memo to members said NCCC's ability to sustain program operations was impacted by new operational parameters laid out by the Trump administration's priorities and President Donald Trump's executive order creating the Department of Government Efficiency. Members, who receive a living allowance and have basic expenses covered, would be paid through the end of April, according to the memo.

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The program also provides members who complete their 1,700-hour service term with funding for future education expenses or to apply to certain student loans. That benefit was worth about $7,300 this service year.

The memo stated that those who have completed 15% or more of their term would be eligible for a prorated amount, but those that have completed less would not be eligible.

Theres always been bipartisan support of NCCC  and bipartisan criticism, said Kate Raftery, who was NCCC director from 2011 to 2014.

Raftery said the abrupt departure of these service teams would have lasting damage both on the NCCC members who were gaining education and launching careers as well as the organizations that depend on them and the neighborhoods where they served.

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It was a very unique mixture of incredible heartbreak and incredible rage, outrage, Raftery said of her reaction to the news. The two were battling themselves most of the day.

Bud Maynard, mayor of Vinton, Iowa, which is home to a regional NCCC campus, said the program has been without a doubt, a blessing for Vinton and celebrated the opportunity to host hundreds of people over the years with an unmatched passion and selflessness to want to help others.

"All of Vinton should never forget what a great program, filled with great people, this has been for not only Vinton but every community that benefited from their mission, Maynard said in a statement Wednesday.
JAKARTA, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia is targeting Russia as a new potential market for trade and investment against the backdrop of the imposition of the so-called U.S. reciprocal tariffs.

Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) Anindya Bakrie told local media on Wednesday that the Russian market has the potential to increase trade.

Through trade cooperation, he said, it will open up investment opportunities from Russia so that Indonesia can have an alternative market for trade and investment.

"Indonesia certainly continues to look for markets to trade and also look for ways to invest in each other," Bakrie said.

At present, Indonesia is opening up investment opportunities for Russia in its Special Economic Zones across the country.

According to Bakrie, Indonesia has so far bought palm oil, various types of machinery, rubber, footwear, coffee, and tea from Russia. Meanwhile, Russia buys fertilizers and various marine commodities from Indonesia.

On Tuesday, Indonesia and Russia signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in the sectors of trade, economics, and investment. The signing is part of the Indonesian government's commitment to expanding trade markets while strengthening strategic partnerships with partner countries, including Russia. 
By Deena Beasley

(Reuters) -U.S. tariffs on pharmaceuticals could eventually mean higher prices for brand-name medicines, but in the near term the costs would likely be absorbed by drugmakers rather than patients whose payments are often set by health insurance.

U.S. health insurers, which pay the bulk of prescription drug costs, act as a buffer between drugmakers and patients, with beneficiaries subject to co-pays and co-insurance based on the prices insurers negotiate with drugmakers.

"Patented drugs are already generally set at the price the market will bear, so in that sense manufacturers are not likely to substantially increase the prices of these drugs," said Melissa Barber, postdoctoral fellow at Yale University and an expert on drug pricing.

On Monday, the Trump administration said in a regulatory filing it had opened a national security investigation into pharmaceuticals to show why the U.S. needs tariffs to boost domestic manufacturing. Rates and timing remain uncertain, but the industry has been lobbying for phased-in tariffs.

The hit could be big. Close to $213 billion in pharmaceutical products were imported to the U.S. last year, nearly triple 2014's $73 billion, according to the United Nations trade database.

And equity research group Bernstein Societe Generale estimated that U.S. tariffs could add $46 billion in costs to the pharmaceutical industry, compared with current annual revenue of $700 billion for major companies. The threat of import duties has already spurred drugmakers to accelerate shipments to the U.S. and warehouse supplies, which analysts say will protect their 2025 financial outlooks and take the pressure off any immediate price increases.

Some tariff costs could eventually be shifted to patients and the taxpayers who fund U.S. government health programs, but the real risk is to lower-margin, generic drugs, said Robin Feldman, a professor at UC Law San Francisco. Cheaper generic drugs, which are allowed after patents expire on branded products and are mostly made in India and China, account for over 90% of U.S. prescriptions, but just 17% of spending, according to the Association for Accessible Medicines.

The trade group has said their members will not be able to raise prices because their margins are so thin. ING analyst Diederik Stadig estimated that a 25% tariff on India, for instance, would result in an increase of 17.5% for generic drugs produced in India.

IMPACT ON R&D

Bill Coyle, head of biopharma at consulting firm ZS, said drugmakers will try to pass on tariff costs, but because many categories are very competitive, "the real downstream impact" would be cost-cutting by companies.
Members of the Georgia Animal Rights and Protection non-profit are contacting city leaders to ask for a ban on recreational horse back riding in downtown Atlanta.

The push for the ban comes just days after a horse was found dead downtown.

City leaders are aware of the concerns being raised by the animal rights group, and one councilmember says hes willing to listen.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Councilman Michael Julian Bond told Channel 2s Brittany Kleinpeter that he understands the concerns surrounding recreational horse back riding in a busy metropolitan city.

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I can understand why they would be concerned to have that large animal in the midst of all of the cars and at the same time, considering the safety of the rider...the safety of pedestrians, said Bond.

TRENDING STORIES:

Julie Robertson, the vice president of GARP, says this growing trend of riding horses a long busy roadways is dangerous for not only the horse, but pedestrians and drivers.

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People riding horses downtown are weaving in and out of trafficits like a joy ride," Robertson explained to Channel 2 Action News.

Robertson says they want this type of activity to be banned to better protect everyone.

Horses are highly sensitive and skittish animals. Their hearing is estimated to be at least ten times more sensitive than that of humans, yet they struggle to pinpoint the exact source of a sound. This can cause them to startle and bolt unpredictably in any direction to escape a perceived threatputting both the animals and drivers at serious risk, Robertson wrote in an email to GARP members.

Members began reaching out to the council on Tuesday via email and phone calls. Councilman Bond says that hes open to conversations and finding a resolution.

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Given the way things are in the city of Atlanta todya. Im sure thats not the best use of your animal within such congested streets...I wouldnt think it be beyond the pale to take another look at the policies.

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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (MyValleyTributes)  With joyful hearts and cherished memories, we gather to celebrate the remarkable journey of our beloved Annette Blackmon-Clark, who gracefully left this world on Friday, April 11, 2025, at the Hospice House holding the hand of her baby sister.

Born on January 6, 1957, the daughter of Jimmie Blackmon, Sr. and Ovella Thomas-Blackmon, in the heart of Youngstown, Ohio, Annette was a beacon of light, laughter and love; a devoted mother whose spirit will forever echo in the hearts of those she cherished.

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Annette attended South High School.

She was a true homemaker at heart, pouring her soul into her family and creating a sanctuary of warmth within her home. Each day was a canvas for her creativity and passion, and her nurturing spirit will resonate deeply with all who were fortunate enough to know her.

On several occasions she worked for Staples BBQ, Meals on Wheels and Tile Supply.

Annette devoted her life to nurturing her family and creating a haven of comfort and love. She embraced the role of mother with an unwavering dedication, raising her beloved children, Alma Clark of Youngstown and Jason Clark of Niles, who carry her legacy forward with pride.

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Annette leaves precious memories and moments with her siblings, Doris Blackmon Green and Ovella Blackmon, Tony Blackmon and Willie (Lessie) Blackmon. It is with a heart full of love and a spirit of remembrance, she passes the mantle upon the shoulders of her grandchildren, Jayla, Jasean, Kayla and Journi, along with her great-grandchildren, Jalayah, Justice, Malinah, Williams, Jr. and Serenity.

Now assuming her place among the ancestors, Annette is reunited with her parents; sister, Mary Walker; brothers, Leotis Blackmon, Bobby Blackmon and Jimmie Blackmon, Jr. and a nephew that was like a brother, Charles Walker, all who preceded her into eternity.

Join us in celebrating Annette Blackmon-Clark, whose laughter, love and light will continue to shine brightly in our memories. Lets honor her remarkable journey, remembering her not with sorrow but with smiles, love and gratitude. We invite you to join in honoring her memories with an uplifting celebration of her life. The public viewing will take place on Friday, April 18, 2025, starting at 10:00 a.m. at the Jaylex Event Center, 2110 Glenwood Avenue, where friends and family will gather to reflect upon the beautiful impact Annette had on our world. The funeral will begin at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Lewis W. Macklin II as the officiating clergy.

Annette Blackmon-Clark was not just a name, she was a joy that uplifted the lives around her. Though she may have departed from this earthly realm, her spirit dances in the hearts of her children and beyond, reminding us to celebrate life, love and the beauty of family.

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At this time of intimate need and personal loss, the family of Annette Blackmon-Clark elected to entrust the Ministry of Comfort & Care, along with Transitional After-Care Arrangements to the J. E. Washington Funeral Services, 2234 Glenwood Avenue, Youngstown, Ohio, 330.782.8500.

Send flowers to the service of Annette Blackmon-Clark.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
An eleventh Ashtabula County measles case was recently confirmed by the county health department.

ACHD Health Commissioner Jay Becker said the case was an adult who should be completing their isolation period soon.

We have not heard of any others, he said.

Becker said the department is monitoring suspected cases related to the eleventh confirmed case.

We continue to monitor the persons household, he said.

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Becker said all members of the household are isolating.

The department should know of any more cases from the household in the next few days, he said.

The ACHD and the Ohio Department of Health announced the first measles case in the county March 20.

Both agencies announced there was an outbreak in the county March 25, after nine more cases were confirmed.

The cases were in people who were unvaccinated. One person was hospitalized for measles.

The first case in the county was someone who was exposed to another person who traveled internationally.

Becker said the eleventh case was an unvaccinated person who traveled internationally and was infected outside the United States.

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There is no link to the other 10 [cases], he said.

The health department has been offering regular vaccine clinics.

Theres a lot of clinics we put together, Becker said.

The ACHD offers walk-in vaccine clinics 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Friday at its office, at 12 West Jefferson St. in Jefferson.

Vaccination is the way to [go], moving forward, Becker said.

People can go to the ACHDs website, go to the nursing department and click on immunizations to see a list of clinics.

Alongside the in-office clinics, the health department has a regular set of community neighborhood mobile clinics scheduled.

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The department also schedules clinics for the Amish community.

We want to get you vaccinated, he said.

Becker said he is not optimistic about the future of measles, while monitoring its national progress.

I really dont see this measles going away, he said.

Becker encouraged people to get vaccinated.

It would be best, if you have any questions about your vaccine status, [to] get a vaccine, he said.
A second deportation under President Donald Trumps draconian immigration crackdown has been tied to a disgraced police officer  exposing a disturbing pattern in how the administration is removing powerless people from the United States, largely without due process.

This time, its Kilmar Abrego Garcia  a Maryland father of three wrongfully deported to El Salvador by the administrations admission  whose case has drawn international scrutiny. The New Republic revealed that the local police detective who first labeled him an MS-13 gang member was later indicted for misconduct.

The Maryland officer, Ivan Mendez of the Prince Georges County Police Department, was suspended and convicted for leaking confidential police information to a sex worker in 2020. According to The New Republic, in 2019, Mendez filled out the Gang Field Interview Sheet that ICE later used to claim Abrego Garcia was a member of MS-13  citing, among other things, that he wore a Chicago Bulls hoodie and hat. ICE also claimed a confidential informant tied him to a New York gang clique despite Abrego Garcia never living there.

bring Kilmar Abrego Garcia home press conference wife Jennifer Vasquez Sura speaking

Wife of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, speaks during a news conference to discuss his husbands arrest and deportation during a news conference at Cannon House Office Building on April 9, 2025 in Washington, D.C. Alex Wong/Getty Images

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An immigration judge ultimately granted Abrego Garcia withholding of removal, barring his deportation to El Salvador due to the risk of harm  a ruling the Trump administration knowingly ignored when it deported him in March. The U.S. Supreme Court has since ruled the deportation illegal.

The revelation comes just days after USA Today reported that a different disgraced cop in Wisconsin  former Milwaukee police sergeant Charles Cross Jr., fired for crashing his car while intoxicated  was responsible for falsely identifying gay Venezuelan asylum-seeker Andry Jose Hernandez Romero as a gang member, leading to his deportation to El Salvadors notorious CECOT prison.

Both men are now imprisoned inside CECOT  a sprawling penal complex widely condemned for human rights abuses  after being swept up in Trumps use of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to expedite deportations without hearings.

And yet the evidence tying both men to gangs was thin at best  and in Hernandez Romeros case, based entirely on tattoos honoring his parents.

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The latest revelations come amid growing outrage following Mondays Oval Office appearance by Trump and El Salvador President Nayib Bukele. Instead of addressing their controversial deportation pact or court orders demanding Abrego Garcias return, the two authoritarian leaders used the White House platform to attack transgender women in sports.

Trump openly bragged about saving transphobia for the campaign trail. Bukele mocked complying with the Supreme Court, calling the order to return Abrego Garcia preposterous.
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Hatched in quiet streams and rivers, salmon undertake a perilous journey to reach the open ocean where they become mature adults. Over millions of years, generations of young salmon have migrated great distances, in some cases traveling hundreds of miles from freshwater systems to the sea. However, modern salmon face a hurdle that was unknown to their ancient ancestors: pharmaceutical pollution that changes their migration behavior.

Recently, researchers discovered that when a drug called clobazam accumulates in salmons brains, migrating fish reach the ocean sooner and navigate dam obstacles faster. On the surface, this change might seem helpful to salmon. However, any deviation from normal animal behavior through human activity  particularly when psychoactive substances are involved  is a red flag, and the full extent of how drug pollution may alter salmon health, behavior and reproduction is still unknown, scientists reported April 10 in the journal Science.

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Clobazam, which is commonly found in wastewater, belongs to a group of medicines called benzodiazepines, which depress the central nervous system. The drug is used to prevent epileptic seizures, for short-term treatment of anxiety and to treat anxiety-related sleep disorders. But because neural wiring in fish resembles that of mammals, fish are highly susceptible to the effects of drugs that tweak human neurochemistry, said Dr. Christopher C. Caudill, a professor in the department of fish and wildlife sciences at the University of Idaho.

Humans share a large amount of biological architecture with fishes  our physiology and anatomy are remarkably similar. Thus, it is intuitive that psychoactive drugs alter the behavior of both fishes and humans, Caudill, who was not involved in the research, told CNN in an email.

Prior research showed that benzodiazepines could alter behavior in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), but they did so under conditions unlike those experienced by wild salmon, said study coauthor Dr. Marcus Michelangeli, a lecturer in the School of Environment and Science at Griffith University in Queensland, Australia.

Those studies were largely conducted in laboratory settings, only tracked movement over short distances  less than 100 metres (328 feet)  or used drug concentrations much higher than what salmon would typically encounter in the wild, Michelangeli said via email.

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Our study took a different approach. We followed the entire river-to-sea migration of juvenile salmon in a natural river system, using drug concentrations that match what fish are actually exposed to in the environment.

The field investigations findings highlight the growing risks pharmaceutical pollutants pose to wildlife populations across the globe, according to Michelangeli.

Just keep swimming

For the new study, the scientists performed trials with more than 700 young salmon, or smolts, in the laboratory and in the field. The research team used sound-transmitting tags to remotely track hundreds of smolts in 2020 and 2021 as the fish navigated the Dal River in central Sweden.

Migrating smolts swim downriver into a reservoir, hurtle over rapids and crest two dams before finally reaching the Baltic Sea. The journey takes 10 to 13 days.

Dr. Marcus Michelangeli, a behavioral ecologist and lecturer at Griffith University in Queensland, Australia, conducts a field study in April 2020 in central Swedens River Dal. - Michael Bertram

Two major classes of pharmaceuticals  benzodiazepines and opioids  are commonly detected in rivers and streams worldwide, including in Sweden, where our study was conducted, Michelangeli said.

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Time-release implants in the smolts dispensed two drugs from these classes: clobazam and tramadol. Fish received clobazam, or tramadol, or both. A control group of smolts received implants with no drugs in them at all.

These two drugs are known to interact chemically when taken together in humans, and they often co-occur in the environment, Michelangeli said. This made them a good test case to explore how pharmaceutical mixtures might affect animal behaviour.

Along with the field trials, the scientists ran a laboratory-based study on 256 smolts to confirm that the implants worked as intended and that the drugs were lingering in the fishes bodily tissues and brains.

When the researchers tracked the migrating salmon with transmitters, they found that more clobazam-exposed salmon reached the Baltic than any of the other fish. Compared with the control group, more than twice as many salmon with clobazam implants made it to the sea.

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Lab experiments showed that clobazam affected shoaling behavior, in which smolts stick close together to evade predators. Under the influence of clobazam, fish swam farther apart even when a predator was near, suggesting that the drug may reduce natural fear responses, Michelangeli said.

Less fear, more risk

Fish with clobazam implants were also faster at getting past two hydropower dams along their migration route  about two to eight times faster than fish in the other groups. These dams are notorious death zones, where churning turbines can swiftly reduce smolts to salmon tartare.

By diminishing fear in smolts, clobazam might briefly benefit the fish by boosting their migration success. But the drug could also increase their vulnerability to ocean predators, decreasing their chances of surviving long enough to return home to spawn, Caudill said.

The transition from freshwater to saltwater is one of the most dangerous times in the life of a salmon because they experience many new predators in the ocean, he said. Drug-exposed and risk-taking salmon may be more likely to reach the Baltic, but less likely to ever leave it alive.

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Caudills research investigates how environmental change affects fish ecology and evolution. In future work, he said, I do plan to consider the potential for behavioral effects from pharmaceutical pollution.

Further study will clarify how behavioral changes from drug pollution affect long-term survival, reproduction and how populations change over time  in salmon and in other wildlife that are vulnerable to pharmaceutical contaminants.

While more drug-exposed salmon may reach the sea, it doesnt mean theyre healthy or that the population benefits in the long term, Michelangeli said.

The bottom line is we need to be cautious with this interpretation. Changing behaviour with pharmaceuticals  even unintentionally  could reshape whole populations in ways we dont yet understand.

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Mindy Weisberger is a science writer and media producer whose work has appeared in Live Science, Scientific American and How It Works magazine.

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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) called out Donald Trump on Tuesday as she spotted the presidents hypocrisy over his rhetoric toward immigrants.

This is a matter of fact. Donald Trump is a criminal. He was found guilty of 34 felony counts of fraud, found liable for sexual abuse, and if he wants to find the rapists and criminals in this country, he should look in the mirror, she told thousands of rallygoers at Dignity Health Arena in Bakersfield, California.

The remarks echo those she made about Trump on Monday while digging into Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) for reportedly scooping up hundreds of thousands in stocks on the day before  and the day of  the presidents tariffs pause announcement last week.

AOC: Donald Trump is a criminal. He was found guilty of 34 felony counts of fraud, found liable for sexual abuse. If he wants to find the rapists and criminals in this country, he should look in the mirror pic.twitter.com/dWqwjIg1cc  Acyn (@Acyn) April 15, 2025

On Tuesday, Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) spoke in Bakersfield  which is located in former House Speaker Kevin McCarthys old congressional district  as part of their nationwide Fighting Oligarchy tour.

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The two have drawn large crowds in traditionally red districts and states, as was the case when 4,450 people packed the Bakersfield arena to capacity while 500 others were part of an overflow crowd outside, per Sanders spokesperson.

Ocasio-Cortez used her remarks to slam Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.), emphasizing that the Republican has supported cuts to Medicaid.

She later took to X, formerly Twitter, where she noted that Valadao is one of the most vulnerable Republicans in the country, and it was not looking good for him at the event full of frustrated residents.

In her speech, the congresswoman pointed out that just three GOP representatives could still do the right thing and use their votes to challenge the Trump administration in Congress.

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If you all are able to organize, apply pressure, support the Democratic challenger or the challenger for this seat, we can apply enough pressure to peel off one of those three nos and it can be the people of Bakersfield who save Medicaid for the entire country, she stressed.

Related...
By Andrew Goudsward

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Associated Press accused aides to President Donald Trump of defying a court order restoring its access to press events in the White House after a judge found the news agency had faced unlawful retaliation.

In a court filing on Wednesday, lawyers for the AP accused the White House of continuing to exclude its journalists from the small pool of reporters that travels with the president and attends events in the Oval Office in violation of U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden's order lifting those restrictions while a lawsuit moves forward.

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McFadden found the White House had discriminated against the AP for continuing to refer to the Gulf of Mexico in its coverage rather than the Gulf of America as ordered by Trump. The court said the White House had likely violated free speech protections under the U.S. Constitution.

The White House has appealed McFaddens ruling to a federal appeals court, which is set to hear arguments on Thursday over whether to pause the decision.

The White House said on Tuesday all wire services, including Reuters and Bloomberg, would no longer hold a permanent spot in the press pool. The AP argued the new policy was in clear violation of the prior order and was a pretext for further retaliation against the AP.

The AP filing does not propose a specific course of action but urges the judge to ensure immediate compliance with his order.

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The White House argues the AP does not have a right to what the administration has called special access to the president.

A White House official said the changes to the press pool were necessary to "ensure that the Presidents message reaches targeted audiences and that outlets with applicable subject-matter expertise are present as events warrant."

Reuters and the AP both issued statements denouncing the new policy, which puts wire services in a larger rotation with about 30 other newspaper and print outlets.

Other media customers, including local news organizations that have no presence in Washington, rely on the wire services' real-time reports of presidential statements as do global financial markets.

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The AP says in its stylebook that the Gulf of Mexico has carried that name for more than 400 years and, as a global news agency, the AP will refer to it by its original name while acknowledging the new name Trump has chosen.

The AP, formed in 1846, says on its website that it operates from nearly 250 locations in nearly 100 countries. Its journalists provide news to customers worldwide in text, photos, graphics and video.

(Reporting by Andrew Goudsward; Editing by Scott Malone and Howard Goller)
Visitors sit near television sets made by Guangzhou HD Electronics Technology Co. Ltd displayed at the 137th Canton Fair in Guangzhou, southern China's Guangdong province on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

ASSOCIATED PRESS
In a statement Tuesday night, the Associated Press slammed the Trump administration for cutting wire services access entirely rather than comply with a court order to restore APs White House access.

That move, the outlet said, disregards the fundamental American freedom to speak without government control or retaliation. Further, AP called the action a grave disservice to the American people.

We are deeply disappointed that the administration has chosen to restrict the access of all wire services, whose fast and accurate White House coverage informs billions of people every single day, rather than reinstate The Associated Press to the wire pool, AP said in its statement.

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The wire services represent thousands of news organizations across the U.S. and the world over. Our coverage is used by local newspapers and television stations in all 50 states to inform their communities, the statement continued.

The administrations actions continue to disregard the fundamental American freedom to speak without government control or retaliation. This is a grave disservice to the American people, the statement concluded.

The Associated Press was banned from the White House on Feb. 11 in retaliation for refusing to call the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America, as Trump has insisted. AP sued to restore access on Feb. 21.

This was the first of several direct attacks on media deemed unfriendly to Trump, culminating in the administration taking full control of the rotation of reporters granted access, effectively mooting the White House Correspondents Association.

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In response, WHCA basically conceded defeat and told members, Each of your organizations will have to decide whether or not you will take part in these new, government-appointed pools.

The post AP Says Trump Wire Service Cut Defies the Fundamental American Freedom of Speech Without Government Control or Retaliation appeared first on TheWrap.
NEW DELHI, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Two Naxal commanders were killed in a fierce gunfight with police in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, the police said Wednesday.

The gunfight broke out Tuesday evening in a forest of Kilam-Bargum villages along the border of Kondagaon and Narayanpur districts, south of Raipur, the capital city of Chhattisgarh.

Both bodies have been recovered. The police said they recovered an assault rifle and some explosives from the spot.

According to a police official, the government forces suffered no damage in the clash.

Reports said 140 Naxalites have been killed in Chhattisgarh since the beginning of this year.

India's federal government has resolved to eradicate Naxalism before March 31, 2026.

Currently, Naxals are active across the central and eastern parts of India. 
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP)  EDITORS NOTE: On April 19, 1995, a former U.S. Army soldier parked a rented Ryder truck loaded with a powerful bomb made of fertilizer and fuel oil outside a federal office building in Oklahoma City. The blast at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building killed 168 people, including 19 children, and injured more than 500 others in what remains the deadliest homegrown attack on American soil.

___

It was 9:02 a.m. in the Oklahoma City bureau of The Associated Press when a handful of staffers, some just getting to work, were startled by what felt like a small quake rattling the office.

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Some guessed it was a nearby gas explosion. Then reports started trickling in.

It didnt take long at all for the gravity of the event to set in, said Linda Franklin, the AP's Oklahoma City news editor at the time.

She quickly dispatched reporters and photographers to the downtown Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building about 6 miles (10 kilometers) away. They would become among the first journalists on the scene of the deadliest homegrown attack in U.S. history: an explosion that killed 168 people, including 19 children, and left more than 500 others injured.

Judy Gibbs Robinson, then a broadcast editor for the AP whose job was mostly filing brief stories for radio and TV, was the first AP reporter to arrive downtown.

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I still remember the dress shoes I was wearing, because they had fabric on the sides and I was stepping over glass, Gibbs Robinson said. "A lot of people were just pointing and saying: Its downtown. Its downtown.

In some ways, Gibbs Robinson was prepared for the moment. A broadcast training she had recently attended urged reporters to record all the sights and sounds of a news event. As she made her way closer to the building, the AP veteran put those skills to work.

I just started talking and watching and listening, describing what I was seeing," she said.

Thirty years later, what Gibbs Robinson witnessed is still seared into her memory. Parents reuniting with their children at a YMCA daycare near the blast site. A man whose suit looked untouched from the front but was shredded in the back because his back was turned to a window when the blast erupted.

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Cellphones were not yet commonplace, but Gibbs Robinson needed to call the newsroom. She entered a bank, where employees had stretched a landline telephone out onto a ledge, making it available to anyone. Meanwhile, emergency responders streamed into the area.

"That was how I filed my first report, she said.

Back in the newsroom, Franklin and other staffers pushed a steady stream of copy and photos onto the AP wire for newspapers and broadcasters around the world. The phones rang constantly, with other media outlets inquiring about AP copy or asking for the names of people killed or wounded.

I remember feeling like an octopus that day. I just didnt have enough arms, said Lindel Hutson, the bureau chief in Oklahoma City.

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The newsroom was moving in a blur and, amidst it all, a stranger walked through the door. Hutson recalled almost being too busy to talk to the man, who said he was an amateur photographer and wanted to show the AP pictures he had snapped at the blast site.

Hutson and David Longstreath, an AP staff photographer, took a moment to see what he had. One image jumped out immediately. It showed an Oklahoma City firefighter cradling a fatally wounded baby in his arms.

I thought, 'Oh my God. This is it, Hutson recalled.

On the spot, Hutson negotiated a deal with the photographer, Charles Porter, to purchase the image. The photo won Porter the 1996 Pulitzer Prize for spot news photography and remains one of the most defining images of the attack.

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I think that picture probably said more than 1,000 words could about what happened down there," Hutson said.

By the end of the night, the Oklahoma City bureau had become a cramped hotbed of activity. AP reporters, editors and photographers from across the country had descended on the small office for the story that would consume the staff in the months ahead.

For everyone who had a role in the coverage, it was among the most significant event in their professional lives.

This happened in our backyard, Hutson said. It took quite a mental toll on everyone.

___

Following is the story the AP published on the day of the bombing, Wednesday, April 19, 1995, before the true death toll was known.

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___

Car Bombing Kills More Than 20; No Claim of Responsibility

By JUDY GIBBS

Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY  A car bomb ripped deep into Americas heartland Wednesday, killing more than 20 people and leaving 300 missing in a blast that gouged a nine-story hole in a federal office building. Seventeen of the dead were children whose parents had just dropped them off at a day care center, a doctor said.

Were sure that that (death toll) will go up because weve seen fatalities in the building, Fire Chief Gary Marrs said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, the deadliest U.S. bombing in 75 years.

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At least 200 people were injured  58 critically, Marrs said  and dozens of others were feared trapped in the rubble of the Alfred Murrah Building.

I dove under that table, said Brian Espe, a state veterinarian who was giving a slide presentation on the fifth floor. When I came out, I could see daylight if I looked north and daylight if I looked west.

Attorney General Janet Reno refused to comment on who might have been behind the attack. President Clinton called the bombers evil cowards and Reno said the government would seek the death penalty against them.

Their clothes torn off, victims covered in glass and plaster emerged bloodied and crying from the building, which looked as if a giant bite had been taken out of it, exposing its floors like a dollhouse.

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Cables and other debris dangled from the floors like tangled streamers in a scene that brought to mind car bombings at the U.S. Embassy and the U.S. Marine barracks in Lebanon in 1983.

Mayor Ron Norick said the blast was caused by a car bomb that left a crater 8 feet deep. He said the car had been outside, in front of the building.

"Obviously, no amateur did this," Gov. Frank Keating said. Whoever did this was an animal.

Paramedic Heather Taylor said 17 children were dead at the scene. The children, all at the day care center, ranged in age from 1 to 7, and some were burned beyond recognition, said Dr. Carl Spengler, who was one of the first doctors at the scene.

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Reno said that 300 people were unaccounted for by late afternoon. About 20 of 40 children in the day-care center were missing.

The explosion, similar to the terrorist car bombing that killed six people and injured 1,000 at New Yorks World Trade Center in 1993, occurred just after 9 a.m., when most of the more than 500 federal employees were in their offices.

The blast could be felt 30 miles away. Black smoke streamed across the skyline, and glass, bricks and other debris were spread over a wide area. The north side of the building was gone. Cars were incinerated on the street.

People frantically searched for loved ones, including parents whose children were in the buildings day-care center.

Christopher Wright of the Coast Guard, one of those helping inside the building, said rescuers periodically turned off their chainsaws and prying tools to listen for calls of help, ``but we didnt hear anything  just death.

Youre helpless really, when you see people two feet away, you cant do anything, theyre just smashed, he said.

The building has offices of such federal agencies as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Social Security, Veterans Affairs, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Housing and Urban Development, and a federal employee credit union and military recruiting offices.

The office was built in 1974 and includes an underground parking garage.

The bomb was perhaps 1,000 to 1,200 pounds, said John Magaw, ATF director. As for whether his agency suspected terrorists, he told CNN: I think any time you have this kind of damage, this kind of explosion, you have to look there first.

More than two hours after the explosion, people were still trapped in the building.

We have to crawl on our stomachs and feel our way and were talking to victims who are in there and reassuring them that were doing everything within the good Lords power to reach them and get to them, Assistant Fire Chief Jon Hansen said. Its going to be a very slow process.

The explosion heightened U.S. fears of terrorism. Federal buildings in several cities were evacuated because of bomb threats, and the government ordered tightened security at federal buildings throughout the country.

In 1920, a bomb blast in New Yorks Wall Street area killed 40 people and injured hundreds. Authorities concluded it was the work of anarchists and came up with a list of suspects, but all had fled to Russia.

Emergency crews set up a first aid center nearby, and some of the injured sat on the sidewalks, blood on their heads or arms, awaiting aid. St. Anthony Hospital put out a call for more medical help, and at midday, posted a list of more than 200 names of injured so worried relatives could look for loved ones.

It was like Beirut; everything was burning and flattened, said Spengler, who arrived minutes after the blast.

Carole Lawton, 62, a HUD secretary, said she was sitting at her desk on the seventh floor when all of a sudden the windows blew in. It got real dark and the ceiling just started coming down She then heard the roar of the whole building crumbling. She managed to crawl down some stairs and was not injured.

The explosion occurred on the second anniversary of the fiery, fatal ending to the federal siege of the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas. That siege began with a raid by ATF agents a month and a half earlier.

Oklahoma City FBI spokesman Dan Vogel wouldnt speculate if there was a connection. The FBIs offices are about five miles away. Dick DeGuerin, who was cult leader David Koreshs lawyer, said any such link was just speculation.

In the World Trade Center bombing in February 1993, a rented van blew up in a parking garage beneath the twin towers. Four Muslims were convicted.
Archeologists working at the Basilica of Saint Stephen in Rome discovered a statue head within the churchs foundation.

Located near the Tombe di Via Latina, the carved stone was likely treated as construction material at the time of the building of the church.

Experts believe the use of a Roman statue as fill for a Christian church sheds new light on the Late Antique period from the fourth to six centuries A.D.

When digging through the rubble of an ancient church foundation, archaeologists found something unexpected. As crews in Rome were excavating the archaeological area of the Tombe di Via Latina during work at the Basilica of Santo Stefano, they found the head of a Roman-era stone statue amidst the foundational muck.

The bearded head was covered in layers of mortarit was serving as a piece of the foundation for a church building from ancient Romeand will now make its way to Italys Central Institute for Restoration in Matera, according to a translated statement from the Archaeological Park of Appia Antica, for the start of a restoration process that experts hope answer questions along the way.

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Through the restoration, experts hope to learn a little more about why a carved stone statue ended up as construction fodder.

The archaeologists said that the statue depicts a bearded male figure, potentially a deity or mythological figure, but the thick layers of grime and mortar coating the carefully carved face and beard mean restoration is the next logical step. At this stage, the statue could be a depiction of anyone from Jupiter to a Roman philosopher. Theres also hope that by removing the dirt, an inscription with additional information surfaces.

After restoration in Matera, the head will move to Rome for further analysis. The team that discovered the sculpture hopes that the additional research will help determine where the statue was originally created, its age, the carving technique used and possibly connect it to a historical piece of art that can tell the team more about its origin story.

Of course, understanding where it came from may better explain how it ended up where it was.

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The experts wrote that finding out more about the statue head could give scholars insight into the cultural happenings of the Late Antique period in Rome between the fourth and sixth centuries A.D., a time that saw the transition of Roman-embraced deities to Christianity, providing new elements for the understanding of the cultural and settling dynamics of the period.

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A Greene County fire chief who was recently placed on administrative leave has died.

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Miami Township Fire and Rescue Chief Dennis Powell died after a brief illness, according to an announcement from the department.

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Throughout his distinguished career, Chief Powell served with honor, compassion, and integrity, earning respect and admiration of his colleagues and the residents he faithfully protected, the department said.

A celebration of life and service will be announced at a later date.

His legacy will endure in the department he helped shape and in the countless lives he touched, the department said.

As previously reported by News Center 7, Powell was placed on administrative leave in January due to alleged misconduct and payroll issues.

>>RELATED: Fire Chief placed on leave due to alleged misconduct, payroll issues

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This move comes after a Miami Township Fire and Rescue staff member made an internal complaint against Powell, according to the documents.

The complaint alleged that Powell called the firefighter on New Years Eve and accused them of going to the board about payroll issues.

Captain Nathaniel Ayers was appointed as the temporary active assistant chief in January.

News Center 7 will continue to follow this story.

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DHAKA, April 16 (Xinhua) -- The Bangladeshi interim government will constitute a powerful trade negotiating body to overcome trade related challenges as the country is set to graduate from the Least Developed Country (LDC) status next year.

Bangladeshi Chief Adviser's Special Assistant Anisuzzaman Chowdhury made the announcement at a press conference Tuesday, saying "the trade negotiating body, headed by a senior official of the government, will be constituted soon."

Following Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus's meeting with the experts on the LDC graduation on Tuesday, Chowdhury said the meeting discussed the preparation of Bangladesh in details on graduation from the LDC status.

Apart from this, he said a committee is being formed involving experts and representatives from all sectors to monitor emerging market trends and opportunities.

According to the official, a list has been made on the challenges Bangladesh is likely to face after LDC graduation.

He said the government is taking all necessary measures to mobilize domestic resources and adopting policy measures to face possible challenges to emerge after the graduation.

Bangladesh is set to graduate from the LDC category to a developing nation in November 2026. 
The highly controversial Line 5 tunnel project through the Straits of Mackinac will be fast-tracked, likely bypassing a thorough environmental review, as a part of the Trump administration's stated goal to unleash American oil and gas.

Line 5, owned and operated by Canadian-headquartered Enbridge, runs through the Great Lakes, crossing 4.5 miles on the bottom of Lakes Michigan and Huron.

In a media call on April 16 with the Army Corps' Detroit District, which is overseeing the permitting process for the tunnel project, the agency said it will not eliminate any steps in the environmental review process. Public hearings will still take place after a draft of the environmental impact statement is released later this spring. Information on the draft and public hearings will be posted on the Army Corps' website.

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However, Line 5 opponents worry what the emergency designation will mean for the review process.

"Building a tunnel under the Great Lakes to house an outdated and dangerous pipeline is risky. Expediting that process is reckless," said Beth Wallace, climate and energy director for the National Wildlife Federation, in a statement. "The permitting processes exists for a reason. We cannot afford to bypass safety in order to line the pockets of a foreign oil company."

The Army Corps said on the media call that it will still consider tribal treaty rights in the emergency review process, and about 20 tribes have participated in the consultation process.

But ahead of the Army Corps' decision, which has been looming for weeks, six Great Lakes tribes pulled out as cooperating agencies in the federal review process. Tribal leaders argued the federal agency was not acting in good faith, and was undermining the federal governments responsibility to protect tribal treaty rights.

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Last year, the Canadian oil giant chose Barnard Construction to build the Great Lakes tunnel for Line 5. The company is owned by Tim Barnard, who along with his wife, gave $1 million total to Trumps campaign during the election, according to records from the Federal Elections Commission.

On March 31, the agency's Great Lakes and Ohio River Division announced that its seven districts were authorized to use special emergency processing procedures, which the agency said it would publicly post.

However, the Army Corps' website states that "even in an emergency situation, reasonable efforts will be made to receive comments from interested federal, state, and local agencies and the affected public."

Enbridge applied for the federal permit in April 2020. The Line 5 tunnel through the Straits will "make a safe pipeline safer while also ensuring the continued safe, secure and affordable delivery of essential energy to the Great Lakes region," said Juli Kellner, a spokesperson for the oil company.

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"Refineries and propane facilities in the Great Lakes region rely on raw materials from Line 5 to produce refined products millions of people rely on every single day," Kellner said.

The move to expedite the tunnel project as an emergency project will likely face legal challenges from environmental groups and Great Lakes tribes.

The company also needs state permits from Michigans Public Service Commission and Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. Enbridge has secured the permit from the public service commission, but must redo the permitting process with the environment and energy agency given new information on nearby wetlands.

The permit from the state public service commission was challenged by tribes, but that challenge was struck down earlier this year. On April 2, tribes and environmental groups asked the state Supreme Court to consider overturning the lower court's decision.

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More: As Line 5 tunnel set to be fast-tracked, Great Lakes tribes withdraw from cooperating on environmental review

Enbridge's Great Lakes tunnel has been a hot-button issue for years

The Line 5 pipeline runs 645 miles from Superior, Wisconsin, to Sarnia, Ontario, crossing Michigans two peninsulas. It carries oil and gas products, which largely pass through the U.S. Some products, like propane, are used in Michigan.

Enbridge has proposed relocating the Line 5 pipeline into a concrete-lined tunnel, bored through the lakebed, which the Canadian oil company has said will nearly eliminate the chance of a pipeline incident. Enbridge first proposed the tunnel project in 2018. The Army Corps environmental impact statement will be released in June, according to the agency.

Line 5 opponents have long worried about the risks the aging pipeline poses. The pipeline, which was built in 1953, was built to last 50 years, and has leaked 35 times during its tenure. Environmentalists and Great Lakes tribes are especially worried about the risks through the Straits of Mackinac, which is considered the worst spot in the Great Lakes for an oil spill and culturally significant to Ojibwe tribes. Opponents have also raised concerns that nearby wetlands could be affected, and there is a risk of explosion within the tunnel due to the pipeline's contents.

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Tribes and environmental groups worry what the emergency designation will mean for the review process. However, the Army Corps' website states that "even in an emergency situation, reasonable efforts will be made to receive comments from interested federal, state, and local agencies and the affected public."

More: Along Wisconsin's northern shores, Line 5 continues to pit tribal culture against Big Oil

More: As Lake Superior wetlands become more vulnerable, tribe fears cultural guideposts could slip away

Caitlin Looby is a Report for America corps member who writes about the environment and the Great Lakes. Reach her at clooby@gannett.com, follow her on X @caitlooby and learn more about how she approaches her reporting.

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Please consider supporting journalism that informs our democracy with a tax-deductible gift to this reporting effort at jsonline.com/RFA or by check made out to The GroundTruth Project with subject line Report for America Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Campaign. Address: The GroundTruth Project, Lockbox Services, 9450 SW Gemini Dr, PMB 46837, Beaverton, Oregon 97008-7105.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Army Corps fast-tracks Enbridge Line 5 tunnel through Great Lakes
NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  Approximately 109,651 acres of federal land in New Mexico along the Mexico border will be transferred to the Department of the Army to support U.S. Border Patrol operations in securing the border, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum announced Tuesday.

The land will be transferred to the Army for a period of three years. According to a news release from the U.S. Department of the Interior, this land transfer will allow the Army to construct and maintain border security infrastructure, increase regular patrols by federal personnel, disrupt foreign terrorist threats to the country, and curb illegal cross-border activities.

UPDATE: 2 dead, 1 injured in crash in Santa Teresa

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Securing our border and protecting our nations resources go hand in hand, Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum stated in the news release. The American people gave President Trump a mandate to make America safe and strong again. This transfer reflects Interiors commitment to public safety, national security and responsible stewardship of our public lands.

In addition to the border security, the Army will also work to prevent unauthorized human activity in the ecologically sensitive areas along the southern border. Officials said these lands serve as habitat for 23 federally endangered species and are the home of cultural sites that range from small artifact scatters to large multi-room pueblos.

The U.S. Department of the Interior also said the Bureau of Land Management will work with the Army to ensure that some uses will continue to support local grazing and mining.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  Transportation can be one of the most stressful experiences we as humans have given to ourselves.

From monthly payments on auto loans and leases, to monthly insurance payments and maintenance, costs are a big stress. But then theres the use of the vehicle. Having a stable and safe parking space, worrying about collisions and dealing with inescapable traffic.

In light of these issues and many more, the United States Army is trying something new to make life easier for soldiers and their families.

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They are launching a pilot ride-share program that is being tested at six Army bases, including three right here in Hawaii.

Here are the top five things KHON2.com found that is important to know about this effort.

1. The program is being tested at six installations

The Army is launching the ride-share pilot at:

Fort Bliss, Texas.

Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

Schofield Barracks, Hawaii .

Fort Shafter, Hawaii .

Tripler Army Medical Center, Hawaii.

More than 600,000 people live or work at these bases. So, if the test is successful, then the Army plans to expand it to more locations.

Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You

2. The goal is better transportation

Soldiers, families and civilians have often had trouble getting ride-shares onto military bases. This program aims to make it easier to get picked up and dropped off safely and quickly.

Whether heading to a doctors appointment or coming home from work, its important to Army leadership that members and personnel feel supported.

3. Security still comes first

Even with easier access, safety is still a top concern. Ride-share drivers will go through checks using the FBIs crime database and the Terrorist Screening Database in order to be allowed onto these military bases. Theyll also need to show proof of the ride on their phones or say who theyre picking up and where when they check into the communities they enter.

4. Its about listening to the community

We heard you, said Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Weimer told the U.S. Army Public Affairs Office. It shouldnt be so hard to coordinate transportation onto our installations.

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This program is a direct response to the challenges people living on and around bases have shared.

5. The Army wants to improve quality of life

This program demonstrates our commitment to addressing the challenges faced by our military communities, said Dan Driscoll, Secretary of the Army told the U.S. Army Public Affairs Office. Through collaboration with the ride-share industry, were able to provide our Soldiers and their families with safe, reliable and convenient transportation options that support their unique needs and enhance their overall quality of life.

Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHONs morning podcast, every morning at 8

You can click here to read the official statement from the Army.

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More information will be shared after the two-month test period wraps up.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
HOWARD COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  Nearly five years after the death of a mother and her baby, the Howard County Police Department (HCPD) announced that a man is now facing murder charges.

On April 9, Edward Robinson, 31, of Columbia, was arrested in Gaithersburg and charged with two counts each of first- and second-degree murder and related assault and handgun violations.

On July 31, 2020, police responded to the 6600 block of Dovecote Drive after a report came in for several gunshots in the area. Once on the scene, they discovered that multiple bullets had sprayed a house from outside, and found 30-year-old Rabiah Ahmad, who had been hit.

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Since Crime Reduction Plan, Howard County PD reports no gun-related violence near Columbia mall

Ahmad was 28 weeks pregnant and medics took her to the hospital, where she died. Doctors delivered her baby girl, Ahja, but she also died five days later.

During the investigation, detectives learned that Ahmad had recently moved to Maryland and stayed at the house on Dovecote Drive for a few months. Police noted that multiple people also lived in the home during the time of the shooting and believed that Ahmad was not the intended target.

The investigation into Ahmad and her babys murder stayed open for four years before it was turned over to the cold case unit in September of 2024.

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After receiving a tip, detectives learned that Robinson had a fight with two people who lived at the house. Police believe the fight escalated, leading him to allegedly open fire on the house, as a suspected warning to other residents.

Homes Not Stadiums campaign looking to block new Commanders stadium at RFK site through ballot initiative

On April 9, authorities executed a search warrant at Robinsons home in Columbia and discovered a caliber that matched the projectiles from the crime scene.

He was taken into custody and is being held without bond at the Howard County Detention Center.

Howard County Police Chief Gregory said detectives never rest until they get justice for a grieving family, and on April 9, they were able to give Ahmads family some sense of closure.

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Nearly five years have passed since Rabiah and baby Ahjas senseless deaths, and I know it must have felt much longer for their family. Rabiah had an incredibly bright future, and her and Ahjas lives were taken so callously. I want to commend our detectives for their tireless work and those who came forward to provide the information necessary to move this case forward, said Der.

On July 31, 2020, Rabiah Ahmad and her unborn daughter Ahja were taken from this world far too soon in an act of unimaginable violence. Their case remained cold for five years, and we are grateful for the efforts of the Howard County Police Department in identifying and arresting their shooter. We hope that Rabiah and Ahjas family can attain some closure after all this time, added Howard County Executive Calvin Ball.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live.
The man accused of setting fire to Pennsylvania's executive mansion early Sunday dialed 911 after the attack and suggested he was upset by Gov. Josh Shapiro's position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, according to newly released search warrants.

Cody Balmer, 38, placed the call around 2:50 a.m., about 50 minutes after a fire was reported at the Governor's Residence in Harrisburg, the state police warrants say. He reportedly told a dispatcher that he "will not take part in his plans for what he wants to do to the Palestinian people," appearing to refer to Shapiro.

Balmer then said he wanted to "stop having my friends killed," according to the warrants, and told the dispatcher "our people have been put through too much by that monster."

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It's unclear if he was referring to Shapiro, but the warrants said he also told the dispatcher that "all he has is a banquet hall to clean up."

Before ending the call, according to the warrants, Balmer said: "You all know where to find me. I'm not hiding, and I will confess to everything that I had done."

The warrants say the call demonstrates Balmer's "political motivation for his conduct."

The Pennsylvania State Police also asked the court to seize all electronic devices, writings or notes "that contain any of the following: the name of Josh Shapiro, reference to Palestine, Gaza, Israel or the current conflict in Gaza."

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Shapiro told reporters Wednesday that he didn't know why the suspect may have an issue with his stance on Palestinian relations.

"I think that's a question for prosecutors to determine what he meant by that and to prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law," Shapiro said.

The attack at the Governor's Residence came hours after Shapiro hosted a Seder dinner and wished his followers on social media on Saturday a "happy Passover," a major Jewish holiday.

Balmer's social media presence suggests staunch anti-government views, including negative content about former President Joe Biden and memes urging people to "become ungovernable."

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Shapiro, a Democrat and former Pennsylvania attorney general, assumed the governor's office in 2023. He has sharply condemned the rise of antisemitism, including at some pro-Palestinian protests, while also condemning Islamophobia.

Balmer, of Penbrook, turned himself in to state police Sunday afternoon, after authorities said he also told an ex-girlfriend about breaking into the governor's mansion. The woman also called police, they said.

The Dauphin County District Attorney's Office announced charges of attempted criminal homicide, aggravated arson, burglary, terrorism and other counts. District Attorney Fran Chardo said Monday that his office would review whether the suspect was motivated by politics or religion.

Sunday's security breach at Shapiro's residence occurred while the family and other guests were asleep. According to a probable cause affidavit, Balmer scaled a perimeter fence, then used a hammer to smash through a window where he threw a homemade incendiary device made out of a beer bottle into a first-floor room, setting off a "substantial fire." He then smashed a window of an adjacent room, entered and deployed a second device, according to the affidavit, before exiting the residence and fleeing.

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Balmer told police that had he encountered Shapiro, "he would have beaten him with his hammer," the affidavit said, which added that "Balmer admitted to harboring hatred" toward Shapiro.

The governor recounted during a news conference Sunday that he and his family awoke to the noise of a state trooper banging on their door. State police said the incident unfolded over "several minutes," and that while security knew a breach had occurred on the sprawling property, the intruder managed to evade them while troopers went to ensure the governor's safety. No one was injured.

Pennsylvania State Police said Wednesday that a third-party expert would conduct an independent security review of the incident.

Balmer remains jailed after a judge on Monday denied him bail during a preliminary arraignment; he did not enter a plea.

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During his appearance, he rejected having a mental illness or requiring medication.

"That's the rumor, but no, ma'am," he told the judge.

Balmer also said that he lives with his parents and was unemployed, but that his last job was as a welder at a truck body manufacturer. He added that he has "a lot" of children, and has previously been arrested, but "missed a few" court dates.

Records show he was due to appear in court this week involving charges of simple assault related to a January 2023 domestic dispute.

Penbrook police said they had responded to the home of Balmer's then-wife, after a child called 911 to say his stepfather was assaulting his mother.

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Balmer "advised that he had taken a bottle full of pills in an attempt to kill himself," the complaint said. He began arguing with his wife, and then shoved her 13-year-old son when the child intervened, the complaint added.

Balmer was accused of physically assaulting his wife, her son and another 10-year-old son.

The court hearing this week was continued in light of his arrest, court officials said.

Over the years, Balmer had pleaded guilty to forgery and theft in 2015 and again to forgery in 2016. He held a steady job for several years as a mechanic.

Dipesh Modi, the owner of Kindermans Auto Repair in Harrisburg, said "nothing stood out" about Balmer, and their parting in 2022 was "mutual."

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But Balmer's mother said she was concerned about his mental health in recent days, and told The Associated Press on Monday that he was not taking his medication and that "nobody would help" when she called authorities last week.

Penbrook police Lt. Jesse Foltz confirmed the department received a call from Balmer's mother on Thursday asking for help for her son after he left the family's home. But Foltz said that because Balmer hadn't articulated any actual threats to himself or others, police could not hold him for an involuntary mental health evaluation.

Balmer's mother also told police she tried getting help from the local crisis intervention office, and that her son became upset because she called them. The office did not return a request for comment.

Balmer's mother and his ex-girlfriend who called police following the arson attack also didn't respond to requests for comment.

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Shapiro earlier Wednesday made his first public appearance since the weekend at an opening of a new Hershey Co. manufacturing plant. He alluded to the attack in his remarks.

"I think it is particularly good and meaningful for me to be here today, given the events of this past weekend, to celebrate the growth of this iconic company," he said. "I know it's easy to look at the world and see the people who are trying to tear things down."

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
RABAT, Morocco (AP)  American artist Kehinde Wiley unveiled a series of large-format portraits of African leaders in Morocco on Tuesday, building on his now famous 2018 portrait of former U.S. President Barack Obama sitting casually amid a wild cascade of leaves and flowers.

His exhibition, entitled A Maze of Power, opened at the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rabat, Moroccos capital, after previously showing in Paris and Dakar, Senegal.

The artwork borrows from classical easel painting techniques, posing African leaders in a style mainly associated with European royalty and aristocracy.

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What I wanted to do was to draw ideas in, to be able to look at the depiction of power, both beautifully and problematically, Wiley said.

In one portrait, Ethiopias former president, Sahle-Work Zewde, stands before a window, her nations bustling capital stretching behind her as her hand clasps a dangling flower.

In another, Hery Rajaonarimampianina, former president of Madagascar, is depicted sitting confidently astride a horse. And Alassane Ouattara, president of Ivory Coast, is seen clenching his brow as he grips a sword in his right hand.

I was thinking about the presidency at large as a symbol, as a seat of power, Wiley told The Associated Press at the opening of his exhibition.

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A Maze of Power arrived in Morocco seven months after first showing at Paris Musee du Quai Branly  Jacques Chirac. It's part of the Moroccan museum's efforts to become a hub for African art ahead of the next year's opening of the Museum of the African Continent, across the street in Rabat.

Wiley said that after his Obama portrait, he was able to leverage his connections to gain audiences with leaders from across Africa and persuade them to sit for him.

In addition to Obamas, the portraits also echo Wileys earlier works, in which young Black men appear in poses most associated with paintings of kings and generals.

Showing his would-be subjects a book full of classical paintings to draw inspiration from, Wiley said he prepares for painting by taking hundreds of photographs of each leader and then placing them in settings both real and abstract.

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Although he wanted to show political power, the leaders' individual political choices were not relevant to the series, Wiley said.

The leaders depicted include some marred by corruption scandals and others who ignored presidential term limits and repressed protestors. There are also two whose militaries are fighting each other in eastern Congo: Rwandas President Paul Kagame and Congos President Felix Tshisekedi.

Though Wiley said the role of some art can be to shed light on those affected by political decision-making, his goals were different.

This project is more about pulling way back and having a sort of birds-eye view at the phenomena of the political portrait itself, he said.
Ascension Seton is in the process of buying Cedar Park Regional Medical Center.

The hospital, which opened in 2007 at 1401 Medical Parkway, has 126 beds and was one of the few in Central Texas that was not owned by Ascension Seton, St. David's HealthCare or Baylor Scott & White Health. It did have a partnership with Ascension before this announcement.

The purchase comes as St. David's HealthCare plans to build a Leander hospital and expansions have been happening at St. David's Round Rock Medical Center, Ascension Seton Williamson Hospital in Round Rock and Baylor Scott & White Round Rock.

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The purchase represents "a commitment to the future of health care in Cedar Park, said Eduardo Conrado, president of Ascension. With full ownership, we can accelerate growth, streamline operations and introduce new services that meet the evolving needs of the community

The price for the acquisition was not announced. The sale is expected to close this summer.

The announcement also did not detail if roughly 700 health care staff will be maintained or if Ascension Seton will bring in its own staff.

We are confident that this transition will ensure the continued growth and success of Cedar Park Regional Medical Center," said Sean Tinney, CEO at Cedar Park Regional Medical Center. "When the transaction is complete, we look forward to working together as part of Ascension Seton, with a focus on expanding health care resources and access to care in Cedar Park and our larger region.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Ascension Seton to buy Cedar Park Regional Medical Center
Ascension St. Vincents Southside has been officially recognized as one of Americas Best Maternity Hospitals by Newsweek for 2025.

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The Newsweek ranking is based on nationwide online surveys of hospital managers and medical professionals, as well as patient satisfaction and experience.

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Expecting mothers and their babies deserve quality care that is tailored to their individual needs, said Kevin Rinks, President and CEO of St. Vincents Southside. Were grateful that our approach to maternal care has been recognized and look forward to continuing to serve families across Northeast Florida, here in their own community.

In 2024, the Family Birth Place at St. Vincents Southside was honored with an Excellence in Maternal Care award by the Florida Hospital Association.

Click HERE to learn more about St. Vincents Southside and click HERE to view the full list by Newsweek.

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UPDATED, with judge setting hearing: The Associated Press is asking a federal judge to enforce his order that the Trump White House had to end its ban on the wire service because it refused to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America in style guidance.

In a federal court filing this morning, the APs attorneys request the Courts immediate assistance in enforcing the judges injunction order.

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The judge, Trevor McFadden, set a hearing for Friday to consider the motion.

The filing comes a day after the White House announced a new policy in which a designated print wire service slot has been removed from the pool altogether. Instead, the White House said that print pool reporters will be part of a general rotation of two slots designated for those journalists.

Read the APs request on Trump White House access.

In its filing, the AP said that the new White House policy is a clear violation of a federal judges order barring Trump and his aides from engaging in viewpoint discrimination.

This new policy declares, in clear violation of the Courts Injunction Order, that [t]he President retains absolute discretion over access to the Oval Office, Air Force One, and other comparably sensitive spaces,' the APs attorneys, led by Charles Tobin, wrote.

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The AP noted that it was excluded again today from the pool, while its photographer continued to be passed over for four photo seats, which continued to be assigned exclusively to AFP, Getty, The New York Times, and Reuters.

McFadden ruled on April 8 that the Trump teams ban on the AP was a violation of the First Amendment, as it was for the reason that the news organization wouldnt switch to the Gulf of America reference. The judge ordered that the White House immediately rescind the denial of the APs access to the Oval Office, Air Force One, and other limited spaces based on the APs viewpoint when such spaces are made open to other members of the White House press pool.

His order went into effect on Monday, but the AP was excluded from the pool covering Trumps meeting with El Salvadors President Nayib Bukele. An AP print reporter was allowed into an East Room event on Tuesday that was open to all pre-credentialed media, but McFaddens order covers access to the smaller spaces, like the Oval Office, that are limited to the dozen or so journalists in the pool.

RELATED: Judge Rejects Trump White House Effort To Delay His Order In Associated Press Case

Earlier on Tuesday, after the AP was excluded from the pool, Tobin wrote to the governments attorney, Under a non-discriminatory system, the AP should have been selected for either the wire or photo pool, or both, by today.

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BEIJING, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Over 30 active Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy vessels will be opened to the public in late April to mark the founding anniversary of the naval force.

This will be the greatest numbers and types of vessels that have ever participated in a PLA Navy open-house event.

The 075-class amphibious assault ship, the 071-class amphibious transport dock, and the 054A-class and 056A-class guided-missile frigates will be among the active combat vessels on display, many of which have taken part in major missions such as escort services in the Gulf of Aden, official overseas visits and joint military exercises.

In the days surrounding April 23, people in more than 10 coastal Chinese cities, including Qinhuangdao, Shanghai and Guangzhou, will have the opportunity to board these vessels, interact with members of the Navy and experience naval culture.

A number of naval aviation bases and military ports will also be opened to the public.

April 23 marks the 76th founding anniversary of the PLA Navy. 
Klaus Vedfelt

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In a political climate where diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives are facing unprecedented rollbacks, students across the country are refusing to stay silent. With lawmakers taking aim at DEI programs, financial aid for marginalized students, and even access to in-state tuition, the stakes for student advocacy have never been higher.

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"One of the biggest scares or concerns I have right now is how they're defining everything as DEI," Taylor Allgood, cohost of The Student Impact Report podcast, said on a recent episode. "Thats incredibly scary because what is that going to mean if professors arent able to mention alternative perspectives in their teaching? Or if they even mention a different type of theorythat doesnt align with the normative perspective?"

These fears are far from hypothetical. A February 14 memo from the Trump administration ordered schools to dismantle their DEI programs within 14 days or risk losing federal funding. More than 50 colleges and universities are being investigated as part of federal efforts to end DEI initiatives nationwide. As of early February, Republican lawmakers in 20 states had introduced about 50 bills to restrict DEI programs in education and other sectors, according to an Associated Press analysis.

This isn't just a political talking point. At the Student Basic Needs Coalition (SBNC), an organization that addresses food, housing, and health insecurity among college students, we know our peers are already feeling the consequences. "Diversity, equity, and inclusion impacts everyone," Jaleah Taylor, student body president at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-Chapel Hill), said on that same episode of The Student Impact Report podcast, which is run by SBNC. "Even before some of these executive orders [from the Trump administration], Jaleah explained, North Carolina was one of the states that was already on this track. She pointed out that UNC-Chapel Hill was one of the institutions named in the Supreme Court decision that led to the end of affirmative action in college admissions. Following the UNC board of governors' May decision to repeal its DEI policy, UNC-Chapel Hill closed its DEI office last fall. Jaleah said UNC-Chapel Hills DEI office didnt just address issues related to race and ethnicity on campus but also supported interfaith practices. These policy changes are affecting everyone, she added. After that decision, despite the efforts of the admissions office to ensure diversity, she said, We did see a decrease in the amount of Black students that were accepted and enrolled at UNC.

A chilling effect on campus

The growing hostility toward DEI is making some students reconsider where they want to go to school. Ohios Senate Bill 1, which has passed the state Senate and is under consideration in the House, would prohibit public institutions of higher education from requiring DEI statements in hiring and admissions, eliminate certain diversity training, and restrict how professors discuss topics related to race, gender, and systemic inequality. It would also ban faculty strikes and put diversity scholarships at risk. Many students worry about the potential consequences of such sweeping changes.

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For students of color, LGBTQ+ students, and others who have relied on DEI programs for institutional support, the rollbacks feel deeply personal. "I benefited from these programs going to school," Taylor shared on the podcast episode. "I chose to go to the University of Cincinnati as opposed to an out-of-state school because I was able to receive the Darwin T. Turner scholarship, which serves historically marginalized communities. If I didnt receive that scholarship, I would not have gone to school in Ohio."

These policies will likely have unintentional financial consequences for state colleges and universities along with local communities as some students choose to attend other institutions or forgo college altogether.

Beyond race: The broader impact of DEI

One of the biggest misconceptions about DEI is that it only benefits certain racial groups. In reality, DEI policies impact everything from food pantries on college campuses to accessibility for students with disabilities.

Jaleah emphasized the importance of each part of DEI for college students. For instance, she said, inclusion is "how we make sure that everyone feels they have a voice and that theyre included." About diversity, she said, When you have a diverse group of students from different backgrounds and experiences, you're [likely] to have better conversations and interpret history, media, politics, and science differently and kind of come to better solutions.

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The push to dismantle DEI programs, some argue, is a direct attack on students' ability to advocate for themselves. "The implication that marginalized groups just existing on campus is radical or wasteful is, in itself, really reductive," podcast cohost Maya Denae Taylor said. It creates a mindset that marginalized groups cant speak for themselves or occupy spaces meant for joy, education, or leadership, she continued.

Students are fighting back

Despite the attacks, students arent backing down. At UNC, Jaleah has been at the forefront of efforts to preserve DEI on campus, working alongside other student advocates, college administrators, and state lawmakers to push against rollbacks. "So many different student organizations [have gone] to our state legislature offices to advocate," she said. "I have worked with administrators in the chancellors office, as well as other elected officials, to advocate for DEI or at least some aspects of it

Alongside her advocacy for DEI, shes leading the charge on UNCs proposed meal swipe donation program, which would allow students to donate extra meal swipes from their meal plan to peers, and working with administrators and fellow students to make it a reality. Peer universities like North Carolina State and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte have already developed similar programs, Jaleah told local news outlet Chapelboro.com, pointing out that 96% of surveyed Carolina students said they supported the proposal. We found that even students who were not facing food insecurity on campus were willing to support this plan, she said on The Student Impact Report podcast. That just shows even people who might not necessarily be impacted by DEI or certain other policies are impacted because they want to see other students around them succeed." Once implemented, the program could become a model for how student-led solutions can make campus a place where everyones basic needs are met.

Student leadership and hope for the future

While many of the ongoing DEI policy shifts feel discouraging, student leaders like Jaleah are proving that advocacy makes a difference. She credits previous student leaders for paving the way and inspiring her to take action.

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"All three of the student body presidents that came before me were also Black," Jaleah said. "Hearing about their experiences and the way that they advocated in a room full of people who did not look like them was definitely something that was really empowering for me. Jaleah also takes inspiration from prior generations of UNC-Chapel Hill Black student leaders. She pointed to Reyna Walters-Morgan, a former UNC-Chapel Hill student body president who brought a voting site to campus. Shes now at the Democratic National Committee as the vice chair for civic engagement and voter participation, working on voter engagement and [ensuring] people have all the resources and access to voting. As her time as student body president comes to an end, Jaleah is optimistic about the next generation of student advocates. "Diversity, equity, inclusion came to UNC in 2019, and it was here for five years. And just as fast as it left us, it can come back, she said. Its up to students to make sure that happens.

If history has shown anything, it's that students will continue to lead the fight for justice even when institutions fail them. "Policies may change, but the fight for equity in education is not going anywhere," Taylor said. "Students have [always] been at the forefront of change, and as weve seen today, the legacy does live on. Whether its pushing back against harmful policies, advocating for inclusive campuses, or stepping into leadership roles, we want to remind you that your voice as a student and as a leader does matter.

For students looking to take action, Taylor has one piece of advice: "Stay informed, get involved, and find ways to support the leaders and movements working to protect and expand education for all students.

Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE)  Civil rights attorney Ben Crump is calling for answers after an 18-year-old was shot and killed during a SWAT raid.

Daevon Montez Saint-Germain was shot on the morning of January 3, 2025, at a Sevierville Pike house, according to the Knox County Sheriffs Office. Crump, co-counsel Troy Jones and the family of Saint-Germain are scheduled held a press conference on Wednesday to demand justice and accountability for Saint-Germains death.

Family of man who died in Knox County custody to announce legal action

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According to arrest warrants, Saint-Germain, a Black high school student had posted several pictures on Instagram showing large amounts of marijuana and money. It also says that he wrote on Instagram about selling narcotics at school.

The investigators also said that he was an associate of the Murdaville Maria street gangs which are a subset of the 98 Main Street Mafia Crips, which primarily operates in the Montgomery Village housing development.

The following items were seized inside Saint-Germains house according to one warrant:

Bulk marijuana from [a] grow in basement,

Ten bags of a brown powder that tested positive for the drug MDMA

Multiple cell phones

A rifle

Two handguns

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During the raid, officers repeatedly announced, sheriffs office search warrant, according to the office of the Sixth Judicial District Attorney General. They say that Saint-Germain then exited his bedroom with an assault rifle. Officers tried to gain control of him and the gun, but when Saint-Germain pointed the weapon at the officers, they fired, killing him, the DAs office reported. Theses claim were refuted by Crump and Saint-Germains mother during the press conference.

No charges were filed because the DA ruled it self-defense. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation investigated the incident.

Daevon was shot nine times, Crumps firm wrote. Crump and the legal team will call for answers from law enforcement and public officials, and denounce the dangerous raid that ended a young life before it even had a chance to begin.

Body found along Highway 61, Roane County Sheriffs Office says

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Crump also represented the families of George Floyd and Trayvon Martin. He is also representing the family of David Batts, Sr. who died after being in Knox County custody. On Wednesday, they announced legal action against the University of Tennessee Medical Center.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side.
Today is the last day for ballot initiative supporters to collect signatures to qualify for the November ballot. Petitions must be submitted to the Arkansas Secretary of State's office by Friday. (Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate)

Arkansas attorney general on Tuesday rejected for a second time a proposed ballot measure to amend the states initiative and referendum process.

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin noted in an opinion prepared by Senior Assistant Attorney General Kelly Summerside that while proponents had resolved several issues preventing certification of the initial proposal, one issue remained and others were created.

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Little Rock attorney David Couch submitted the revised proposed constitutional amendment on behalf of the League of Women Voters of Arkansas on March 31. State law requires the attorney general to approve or reject a proposed ballot measure within 10 business days, and Tuesday was the deadline.

The League of Women Voters of Arkansas expressed disappointment in Griffins decision in an emailed statement and reiterated its commitment to submitting a revised proposal.

Protecting the peoples right to propose and vote on laws is foundational to a healthy democracy, LWV Arkansas President Bonnie Miller said. This amendment is necessary to protect and safeguard our constitutional right to direct democracy. We are not giving up.

Among other things, the initial proposal sought to change the attorney generals role in reviewing ballot titles, but the language of the proposed ballot measure ensured there would be times the AG would be unable to act, Griffin wrote.

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In an attempt to remedy the issue, the LWV Arkansas made a few edits to its proposal, including one that would require that the attorney general must only certify that the popular name is not misleading, rather than certify that both the popular name and ballot title are not misleading. This still did not resolve the problem, Griffin wrote.

Your current submission runs into the same problem as your previous submission: it again misleadingly suggests that the Attorney General will always approve some version of a submitted ballot title, while creating a system that ensures the Attorney General will at times be unable to certify a ballot title, the opinion states.

Griffins Tuesday opinion also noted issues with consistency with terms in sections of the state Constitution, as well as grammatical issues.

There is no limit to how many times a group may submit a proposed ballot measure. The attorney generals office has already certified three other ballot title proposals that address education, government transparency and taxes on feminine hygiene products for the 2026 election cycle.

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The Legislature can also refer up to three constitutional amendments as ballot measures for 2026. It had not finalized its decisions as of Tuesday.

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NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WPRI)  Federal immigration agents reportedly shattered a car window in New Bedford while detaining a Guatemalan man on Mondaydespite his attorney saying they had the wrong person.

According to immigration attorney Ondine Galvez Sniffin, she received a call from her clients29-year-old Juan Francisco Mendez and his wifesaying they had been pulled over by federal agents on Tallman Street.

I said, Tell them you have your attorney. Tell them Im on my way,' Sniffin told 12 News.

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The incident was first reported by The New Bedford Light.

While the couple waited, agents reportedly surrounded their car and warned that they could handle things the easy way or the hard way, while motioning for them to roll down the windows.

Video obtained by 12 News shows Mendez and his wife speaking to the agents in Spanish from inside the vehicle. When they didnt comply, one of the agents is seen grabbing what appears to be a large pick-axe and smashing the backseat window.

Sniffin said her clients were told the agents were looking for someone named Antonio.

I said, Well, thats great, because your name is not Antonio, so you should be fine. Show them the paperwork that you have and you should be fine. And the agents didnt pay attention to that, she said.

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Sniffin said both Mendez and his wife are lawfully in the U.S. and have no criminal record. His wife was granted asylum after fleeing persecution in her home country, and because the two are legally married, Mendez receives the same protection.

She came to the U.S. with the belief that she would be safe here, that she would not have to endure the impunity of state actors the way she endured in her own country. And this is what shes facing, and her husband, because they are legally married, has the same benefits that she does, Sniffin explained.

Francisco Mendez is currently being held in New Hampshire, and a hearing is expected at a later date. Sniffin said they are now gathering evidence and letters of support in preparation for a bond request.

Theyre trying to live the American dream. Theyre doing everything right. What they were doing, sitting in their car, in a parked car, respectfully speaking with these agents. Thats what every American should do: respect law enforcement, Sniffin added. In response, what they got was violence, brutality, impunity.

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The couple has a child in school, and Sniffin said Mendezs wife is devastated trying to explain the situation to him.

As she was here in my office, as were strategizing to request bond, her son calls her on the cellphone, Mommy, when are you going to be home? Please dont forget to bring daddy when you come home,' Sniffin recalled.

She said the incident has had a ripple effect, bringing on a collective trauma to the wider community, not just the family involved.

Although New Bedford police responded to the scene, they said they could not intervene because it was a federal enforcement action.

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Neither the City nor the New Bedford Police Department were briefed or given notice from ICE regarding enforcement activity in New Bedford, city spokesperson Jonathan Darling told 12 News.

Mayor Jon Mitchell released the following statement about the incident on Tuesday:

The incident raises questions that require clearer answers. Recently ICE appears to have broken from its long standing practice of alerting our police department ahead of planned operations, a decision that poses safety risks to officers, ICE agents, and the public alike. It may also preclude opportunities for local police to help deescalate tense situations like this last one, Mayor Mitchell wrote on X. Nor has there been an indication from ICE whether agents are focusing on apprehension of convicted criminals  as the Trump administration has insisted  or is instead in an indiscriminate round up of individuals with uncertain immigrant status. The public deserves an explanation from the administration.

12 News has reached out to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement but has not yet received a response. However, the FBI Boston confirmed, This was an ICE ERO Boston arrest.

Alex Torres-Perez contributed to this report.

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ALSO READ: ICE detains 3 workers at New Bedford car wash

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HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  News13 is digging deeper into the murder trial of two men convicted of killing a South Florence High School athlete.

On Monday, 15th Circuit Solicitor Jimmy Richardson offered new details about why a jury found Jerelle Hickson and Taiyuan Jackson guilty of voluntary manslaughter in the April 2022 shooting death of DyQauavyon Quay Dickens.

Both were given 30-year sentences after what Richardson called a compromise verdict that stopped short of the murder charge Richardson wanted.

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On Tuesday, defense attorneys for the men  Jim Hoffmeyer represented Jackson while David Rigney handled Hicksons case  responded with differing views on how their clients should have been punished.

Hoffmeyer said he and Rigney believed there was evidence where the jury could find both men, or one or the other, guilty of voluntary manslaughter. Because of that, Hoffmeyer and Rigney wanted the jury to have that option.

My understanding is the jury did not find sufficient evidence of murder, said Rigney. The judge read to the jury what the elements of murder are and what they would be required to find in order to convict these young men of murder.

Rigney believes the prosecution did not provide enough evidence for a murder charge.

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The the jury decided the facts, and they certainly decided that the solicitors office had not presented enough evidence to convict these young men, either one of them of murder, said Rigney.

On the other hand, Jacksons attorney said he believes the evidence provided by the prosecution was enough for a murder charge.

I believe, based upon what I am aware of and the evidence that I saw, that there certainly could have been a murder conviction in this case, said Hoffmeyer. The jury made a different decision than they hoped for, but it was through no fault of Miss Livesey and her co-counsel. They did an excellent job at trial.

Solicitor Jimmy Richardson told News 13 Monday that because Dickens wasnt the intended target, the jury settled on voluntary manslaughter.

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I think what the solicitors office is alluding to is the fact that the jury may have been somewhat conflicted to find one of them guilty and not the other or may have been conflicted about the hand of one is the hand of all, Hoffmeyer said.

Hoffmeyer said when the verdict was read, Jackson hoped the jury would reach a different decision, and Rigney said Hickson and his family were disappointed in the verdict, and so was he.

Both Hoffmeyer and Rigney said they plan to file an appeal for their clients.

* * *

Gracie is a multimedia journalist at News 13 and is from Cleveland, Ohio. Gracie joined the team in June 2023 after graduating from the University of Alabama in May. Follow Gracie on Facebook, Instagram and X, formerly Twitter, & read more of her work here.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
A sample Maine Driver's license provided by the Maine Secretary of State's Office.

A little more than a quarter of drivers licenses or identification cards issued by Maines Bureau of Motor Vehicles meet the federal requirements for whats known as a Real ID.

The federal government has said people will need Real ID compliant credentials starting May 7 to board domestic flights and enter certain federal buildings. With that deadline less than a month away, some Maine lawmakers believe low participation in the state is not due to ignorance but rather is an informed resistance.

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While the policy was meant to increase security in the wake of 9/11, Democrats and Republicans in Maine have concerns about government overreach, personal privacy and the potential for data breaches.

Rep. Laurel Libby (R-Auburn) shares in those concerns, which is why she introduced LD 160 to repeal the law that allows the Maine Secretary of State to issue a drivers license or other identification card that meets the standards of the Real ID Act of 2005.

It reflects our states deep-rooted skepticism of federal mandates that infringe on civil liberties and a recognition that government should exist to serve and protect its citizens, not to catalog, track or intrude upon their lawful activities, Libby told the Legislatures Transportation Committee during a public hearing Tuesday.

To obtain a Real ID, people must have documentation showing their full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, proof of address and lawful status. This is often satisfied with a birth certificate, Social Security card and proof of current address, such as a utility bill.

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Libby acknowledged that people must already prove their residency to obtain a non-compliant ID, but shes worried about the other components, especially the Social Security number. She said the law is a dangerous consolidation of personal information.

Collecting and storing peoples personal data increases the risk for data breaches and identity theft, she argued. She also said it acts as a de facto national identification system, which contradicts the principles of federalism and individual freedoms.

Sen. Nicole Grohoski (D-Hancock), a co-sponsor of the bill, said one of the most alarming components of Real ID is that it creates a shared database between states. She fears it could create a one-stop shop for hackers and identity thieves.

Secretary of State Shenna Bellows clarified that Maine is required to keep the data people bring in for their Real IDs, but the information sharing is meant to allow other states to see if someone already holds a license or Real ID elsewhere.

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A few years after the Real ID Act was passed, Maine made a bipartisan decision to reject the implementation of the policy. However, the Legislature reversed course in 2017 after the federal government threatened to limit Mainers ability to board flights and access federal buildings.

Currently, Mainers can choose whether they want a drivers license or identification card that complies with the Real ID requirements.

However, Libby said repealing the current policy would reduce the bureaucratic burden on the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, eliminate unnecessary costs and data storage vulnerabilities, as well as protect Mainers from potential federal overreach.

States cannot supersede federal law so while Libbys bill would bar the Maine Secretary of State from being able to issue compliant credentials, it would not stop the Department of Homeland Security from requiring Mainers to have Real ID compliant documentation to board flights or access federal buildings. In that case, Mainers could use federally issued identification such as a passport.

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The Real ID requirement has been pushed back multiple times in the 20 years since the policy was adopted, but is scheduled to take effect next month.

Twenty years ago, Bellows said she urged the Maine Legislature not to move forward with Real ID requirements in Maine. In fact, she still believes the federal government should repeal it for many of the same reasons Libby listed about personal privacy and the disproportionate burden it places on married women who change their names.

Bellows explained that it can be difficult for people who change their name if their current identification card doesnt match the name on their birth certificate. Those individuals need to show a paper trail of the change.

However, Bellows opposes LD 160 because she thinks its important for Mainers to be able to choose whether they want a Real ID. Bellows said the Legislatures decision to make it optional for Mainers was wise.

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If this proposal passes, Bellows said it would make Maine the only state in the union unable to issue its citizens a federally accepted credential.

Though the participation rate has been low, Bellows said Bureau of Motor Vehicle branches have seen record traffic in the past few months, with more than eight out 10 people seeking a drivers license or ID card wanting Real IDs.

Even with the increased traffic and long wait times, Bellows said it is still cheaper and faster for people to get a state-issued Real ID than a passport.

The ACLU of Maine and the Maine Policy Institute support the bill.

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Rep. Tony Kurtz (R-Wonewoc) speaks about how advocates can convince Republicans to fund the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship program at the Great Lakes Audubon Society's 2025 advocacy day. (Photo by Henry Redman/Wisconsin Examiner)

Wisconsin Rep. Tony Kurtz (R-Wonewoc) said Wednesday the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship program is on life support, adding that some of his Republican colleagues give it a 20% chance of being extended in this years budget debate before its expiration next year.

Kurtz, Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer (D-Racine), Sen. Jodi Habush Sinykin (D-Whitefish Bay) and Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Secretary Karen Hyun spoke Wednesday to a gathering of members of local Audubon Society chapters and staff of Audubon Great Lakes ahead of the organizations advocacy day to lobby legislators to support conservation funding.

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The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program was established in 1989 to help preserve local natural environments. Throughout its history, the program has enjoyed mostly bipartisan support as it has provided grants through the DNR to help local governments and nonprofits fund the acquisition, restoration and maintenance of public land, parks and wildlife habitats.

In recent years, the program has become a flashpoint in the fight over the boundary between the executive and legislative branches of state government. Until a decision by the state Supreme Court last year, any member of the Legislatures powerful Joint Committee on Finance had the authority to hold up a project funded through the stewardship program by placing an anonymous hold on that spending.

The Courts decision entirely removed the Legislatures oversight of the program, a change that further turned Republicans against its continued existence.

We could make that process better, where it was not just one individual not liking something and being able to kill a project. I agree with that, Kurtz said. When the court case came in and basically took that entire process away, that was not good either, because there was no oversight. And I understand some of you believe whatever the DNR does is fine. Thats great. Some of my colleagues dont believe that.

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Especially in the northern part of the state, Republicans have objected to stewardship funds being used to conserve land that then gets taken off of local property tax rolls  taking money away from already struggling small local governments. In other cases, Republicans have complained that proposals for projects under the grants rely too heavily on the state funds without the local governments providing enough of their own money.

In his proposed 2025-26 budget, Gov. Tony Evers has requested the stewardship program be increased from its current funding of $33 million per year to $100 million per year for 10 years.

Kurtz said hes working on a bill that would return some oversight authority over the program to the Legislature without the anonymous objection provision. He added, though, that if the Audubon members went to Republicans Wednesday saying, Its the governors budget or nothing, you already lost.

I dont need you to do that, because, Im being very sincere, Im trying to keep this alive, and if you go over there [saying that], theres a good chance itll die, he said. So dont do that. Let them, especially when youre meeting with my colleagues, ask them what [their] concerns are. Why dont you like this? What is it about the program that we can do better so we can have another day to make sure we protect all our wonderful birds and animals.

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Habush Sinykin noted that 93% of Wisconsinites support the program and said that in her purple district covering Milwaukees northwest suburbs, the stewardship program is hugely popular. She said the anonymous hold of a project in the district drew the ire of community members of both parties.

Theres a lot of understanding at the legislative level that in these uncertain times, with these newer maps, that our state representatives and senators, including those on the Joint Finance Committee, have to be wary and strategic about issues like this that are bipartisan, she said. Theyre actually non-partisan. They are successful community building issues. So I think thats a little bit where your leverage is to lean in hard. How popular these are.

Aside from the stewardship program, the society members lobbying in the Capitol Wednesday were pushing for the state to increase protections for wetlands and grasslands, advance sustainable practices in the states agriculture and forestry industries and grow renewable energy production.

On Wednesday morning, the administration of President Donald Trump announced a proposed rule that would rescind habitat protections for endangered species across the country.

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Marnie Urso, Audubon Great Lakes senior director of policy, said that with the federal government retreating from conservation efforts, state level efforts have become more important.

With that uncertainty, this kind of work is even more important, for state lawmakers to be on the path to conserving our natural resources, Urso said. The Knowles Nelson project program is bipartisan. It always has been a permanent foundation. So we know it has wide, widespread bipartisan support.

Urso said leaning into that popularity could help advance the groups priorities.

Even Trump voters like the Knowles Nelson Conservation Fund, she said. So were confident that by coming and talking, telling our story and getting to understand whats important to our lawmakers, we can inform those decisions. And now its more important than ever to have state conservation programs continue.

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AUSTINTOWN, Ohio (MyValleyTributes)  Augustine Ruggiero, loving husband, father, brother, uncle, cousin and friend, 84 of Austintown, passed away on Monday, April 14, 2025, after enduring a long illness.

Augustine was born on October 21, 1940, in Youngstown, Ohio, a beloved son of Frank and Mary Ruggiero.

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A proud veteran of the United States Navy, Augustine served his country with honor and dedication. His commitment to service reflected a deep sense of duty and resilience that remained with him throughout his life.

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Augustine was a person of faith and a devoted member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. His spiritual life was an important part of his journey, offering strength and guidance through the years.

He enjoyed assisting others by bringing forth their greatest potential. Working as a high school teacher, CCD instructor, principal, and counselor allowed him to hone his talents by nurturing and inspiring others.

His infectious smile and gentle nature shone forth as a beacon of sunshine in the lives of his family and friends. He adored family gatherings, holidays, picnics, reunions, and summers of laughter, joyfully spent gathered around the pool, and dancing till dawn in the loving arms of his beloved wife, Jackie. His heart delighted there, held within the warm embrace of those he loved so deeply.

Augustine is remembered by a loving family that includes his son, Augustine II and daughter-in-law, Melissa; daughter, Danielle Brown and son-in-law, James; his grandchildren, Sam and Anthea Brown and Tenzin Ruggiero; his sisters, Antamella Docompo and Janet Banko and brother-in-law, Joe, along with many other beloved friends and family.

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Augustine was preceded in death by his wife, Jacqueline; his brothers, John, Dominic, Frank, and Ralph and his sisters, Christine Kelley and Philomena Ferrero.

A Rite of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., in Schiavone Funeral Home in Youngstown.

In lieu of flowers, pause to breathe the ever-fleeting gale of spring. Pervade the world and all its beings with love so kind, no sorrow sings.

Arrangements are being handled by the Schiavone Funeral Home.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Augustine Ruggiero, please visit our floral store.

A television tribute will air Thursday, April 17 at the following approximate times: 7:10 a.m. on FOX, 12:22 p.m. on WKBN, 5:08 p.m. on MyYTV and 7:27 p.m. on WYTV. Video will be posted here the day of airing.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
No matter who Australians intend to vote for, one man they are sure to have on their mind as they wait in line at the polls is Donald Trump.

In addition to not being spared the 10 per cent blanket tariffs, the country has been burdened by a 25 per cent levy on US-bound exports of its steel and aluminium.

When is Australia holding a federal election?

In March, Anthony Albanese, the Australian prime minister, called a general election for May 3  firing the starting gun on a five-week campaign.

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After taking over as leader of the centre-Left Labor in 2019, he took power in 2022, the first time that his party had done so as a majority government since winning the 2007 election.

But in the three years since, the conservative Liberal-National Coalition has made significant gains in the polls as the government struggled to ease cost of living pressures and solve a chronic shortage of housing, driving up prices and rents.

Who is running in the Australian election?

Mr Albanese, 62, is seeking a second term in office. His inability to negotiate carve-outs from Washingtons tariffs, despite opting not to retaliate, has been a central talking point of the election campaign so far.

This is not the act of a friend, he said. We will not join a race to the bottom that leads to higher prices and slower growth.

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The US president singled out Australias 2003 ban on fresh beef imports from the US in response to an outbreak of mad cow disease as justification during his liberation day speech.

Mr Trump said: Theyre wonderful people and wonderful everything, but they ban American beef.

Peter Dutton, 54, took over the reins of the Liberal Party from Scott Morrison in the wake of its 2022 wipeout.

Of the trade wars repercussions for Australia, Mr Dutton said: I just dont think the prime minister has the strength or the ability to stand up to a situation that is unacceptable to us.

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But much like conservative populists in Canada and elsewhere, the leader of the opposition has suffered in the polls of late as accusations of Trump-like behaviour stick.

Jacinta Price, his partys indigenous affairs spokesperson and the designated minister for government efficiency, drew widespread ire for claiming they could make Australia great again.

How do Australian elections work?

Australian federal elections are held every three years. The constitution dictates they take place on a Saturday, making the latest possible date this vote could have been held Sept 27.

The 151 members of the House of Representatives are elected from single-member constituencies through preferential voting.

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Voters rank all candidates in order of preference, and if one obtains an outright majority, they win the seat.

Otherwise, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and their votes are transferred according to voters next preferences, a process repeated until a winner emerges.

Voting is compulsory in Australia, which means all citizens over the age of 18 must enrol and vote by law, or face a 20 Australian dollar (9.60) fine.

How did we get the data?

The Telegraphs model uses polls from a range of reputable Australian pollsters, compiled by The Poll Bludger. These include Essential Research, Roy Morgan and Newspoll.

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The result of each survey published since the last election has been weighted according to how well that pollster performed and the size of the sample.

The trend line displayed is the weighted moving average (WMA) of all polls published over the preceding three weeks.

How accurate are the polls?

Every poll comes with a measure of uncertainty. Although all pollsters strive to interrogate a representative sample and make adjustments to reflect the make-up of the wider country, a margin of error is unavoidable.

In practice, the true position of a particular poll is likely to fall within two points of the quoted figure.

Each pollster also has a bespoke approach to establishing headline voting intention. The precise wording of questions can vary, as does the way dont know responses are handled.

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Studies have shown that an aggregated poll of polls helps mitigate the potential biases emerging from individual pollsters.

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An aerial drone photo taken in Autumn 2023 shows a 1,400-year-old ginkgo tree in Dalian City, northeast China's Liaoning Province. (Xinhua)

SHENYANG, April 16 (Xinhua) -- After standing tall in the wind and frost for more than 1,400 years, a towering ginkgo tree in northeast China is now embracing rejuvenation.

Rising 30 meters in height with a trunk circumference of 7 meters, the tree is a cherished landmark in Jinji Village of Dalian City, Liaoning Province. It also serves as a natural weather indicator -- when its leaves begin to fall in late autumn, the locals know it's time to harvest their cabbages before the first frost of the year.

As time has passed, however, the ancient tree has begun to show signs of aging. Its trunk has partially eroded and many of its branches are broken or damaged.

In September 2024, Dalian's municipal bureau of natural resources launched a restoration and enhancement plan targeting 408 ancient or notable trees across the city.

The ginkgo tree in Jinji Village was the first to benefit from the initiative, being allocated funding of 80,000 yuan (about 11,091 U.S. dollars) and guidance from four forestry experts.

In mid-March, a team of specialists from the municipal bureau arrived in the village to examine the tree's condition in preparation for restoration work. "Restoring an ancient tree is like caring for an elderly person. It requires a systematic and scientific approach," according to one team member.

"Our first priority is to halt the tree's decline, and we will then remove dead branches and repair areas of decay and rot," said Fei Xingdong, another member of the team.

Fei added that the team also plans to enhance soil aeration around the tree's roots, and to replace existing hard paving materials with permeable alternatives that allow water and air to pass through.

According to a national survey conducted between 2015 and 2021, China is home to 5.08 million ancient or notable trees. These living green treasures are receiving more attention, especially following the implementation of China's first national-level regulations for their protection, which came into effect on March 15 this year.

The regulations establish legal frameworks for resource surveys, conservation and cultural preservation, as well as penalties for damaging these natural assets, addressing gaps in existing laws.

Protection efforts are gaining momentum across the country. In Le'an County of eastern Jiangxi Province, each of the county's 5,141 ancient or notable trees has been issued an identity card, with relevant information recorded in an electronic system. And in the southwestern province of Guizhou, the local government has purchased insurance for 137,500 ancient or notable trees to cover public liability and support treatment and restoration efforts.

Additionally, Dalian's municipal bureau of natural resources has cooperated with Jinji Village's economic cooperative to train and involve local residents in the restoration work.

"It not only helps increase the incomes of the cooperative and the locals, but also raises awareness of the ecological value of ancient trees," said Lin Junyi, an official of Jinji Village. "Locals also gain skills and knowledge related to tree protection, which strengthens their sense of responsibility."

"Through these protection efforts, I hope the ancient ginkgo will remain healthy and lush, continuing to shine as the landmark of our village," Lin added. 

This photo taken in Autumn 2023 shows a 1,400-year-old ginkgo tree in Dalian City, northeast China's Liaoning Province. (Xinhua)
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP)  Australias Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he had no reason not to trust U.S. President Donald Trump or Chinese President Xi Jinping while debating his rival on Wednesday ahead of the May 3 election.

Albanese and opposition leader Peter Dutton faced off in a televised debate when Australian Broadcasting Corp. moderator, David Speers, asked both if they trusted the presidents of the United States and China, Australias most important security and trading partners, after they defied bilateral treaties negatively affecting Australian exports.

Yeah, I have no reason not to trust Trump, Albanese said. Ive had a couple of discussions with him.

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Albanese, whose center-left Labor Party government came to power in 2022, said the 10% tariffs the Trump administration had placed on Australian imports were as low as any country had been burdened with. We made it very clear that was an act of self-harm by the United States, he said.

Dutton, of the conservative Liberal Party, said he didnt know either.

Dutton described Trump and Vice President JD Vance berating Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office in February as disgraceful and appalling.

We trust the United States and I dont know the president. Ive not met him, Dutton said.

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Beijing imposed a series of official and unofficial trade barriers against Australian exporters and barred minister-to-minister communications in 2020 after Dutton and other conservative Australian government ministers demanded an independent inquiry into the COVID-19 pandemic.

The trade barriers that had cost Australian exporters up to 20 billion Australian dollars ($13 billion) a year have been lifted since Albaneses government was elected.

Dutton said he believed very strongly in Australias relationship with China, its biggest export market.

I want to see the relationship grow and I want to see trust in the relationship. But we have to stand up for our sovereignty, we have to have a respectful relationship, he said.

The two leaders will come together for a third and final leaders debate hosted by Nine Network television on April 22 before the election.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummonds office on Wednesday announced six people are now in custody for allegedly concealing black-market marijuana inside of furniture boxes and shipping it out of state.

According to the AGs office, Drummonds Organized Crime Task Force assisted the Oklahoma City Police Department earlier this month seized more than a ton of marijuana involving a warehouse at 301 N. Rhode Island Ave. in Oklahoma City.

Three minors in custody after police pursuit in SW Oklahoma City

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Sheng Qu, Hou Run Liu, Jie Yu, Tingting Liang and Deping Sun face the following charges:

conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance

two counts of aggravated trafficking of a controlled dangerous substance

In addition, Qu faces a felony count of using a firearm in the commission of a felony, and Jian Yong Chen faces a felony count of possession of a controlled dangerous substance with the intent to distribute, says Drummonds office.

Tingting Liang (OCSO)

Hou Run Liu (OSCO)

Sheng Qu (OCSO)

Deping Sun (OSCO)

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Jian Yong Chen (OSCO)

Jie Yu (OSCO)

Court documents explain Hou Ran Liu admitted he built wooden crates that looked like bathroom vanities to hold the marijuana.

Investigators also said Sheng Qu admitted he was the boss of the operation and knew that packaging marijuana and shipping it out of Oklahoma was illegal.

Authorities say, 2,840 lbs. of processed marijuana was seized along with a stolen M4-style rifle.

I appreciate the collaborative work of my Organized Crime Task Force to support the Oklahoma City Police Department in tracking down this illicit operation and putting a stop to its massive drug trafficking scheme, Drummond said. We will continue to shut down illegal marijuana operations and arrest those who are involved with them until all criminals dealing in black market marijuana are in prison or driven from Oklahoma.

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Oklahoma City Police Chief Ron Bacy also praised the collaboration.

One of the great things about Oklahoma City is that we work well, collaboratively, with most, if not all, of the law enforcement agencies in our area to minimize crime and hold criminals accountable, he said.

Drummond notes, part of the scheme included, Qu, Liu, Yu, Liang and Sun receiving packages of illegal marijuana, hiding it inside of furniture boxes then used freight trucking companies unwittingly to deliver the crates outside of Oklahoma.

Read the court filing.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Oregon officials and conservationists fear a farmland dump pit could fail any day and that it could have a dangerous impact on a local creek.

The dump site in question is on a farm in Aurora, Oregon, about 20 miles outside of Portland. The Statesman Journal reported that the site's owner charges companies to dump their industrial vacuum waste into the pit. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality says the pit is full of liquid and could soon fail, which would send large amounts of waste, soil, and sediment into Ryan Creek.

Friends of French Prairie, a group that promotes sustainable farming in the region, has voiced concern about the site  and another one, built and operated by the same company in neighboring Hubbard  for more than a year.

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Although neighbors told the Statesman Journal the pits don't have proper permits, the property owners say they are legal because they are filling in low-lying land to use it for agricultural purposes.

Local law enforcement disagrees, however.

The Marion County Sheriff's Office sent the owners a notice in March that said they can't operate a commercial business on the farmland and that they must stop using the dump pit. The DEQ, meanwhile, also sent notice in March that said the pit must be properly reconstructed or removed entirely.

But locals fear the action may have been taken too late.

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"The trouble with failure of this nature is one never knows when it's going to happen," Friends of French Prairie board president Ben Williams told the Statesman Journal. "The risk of failure grows over time because the dam is un-engineered and not built to normal specifications."

Sadly, waterways across the globe have been poisoned by illegal dumping. Such actions have caused toxic algae to kill fish in Texas and the United Kingdom, and plastic pollution is one of the biggest problems facing oceans and other bodies of water.

The Natural Resources Defense Council notes that unsafe water kills more people each year than all types of violence combined. And when only 1% of the Earth's freshwater is accessible by humans, any act of water pollution can be devastating to a local ecosystem.

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EAU CLAIRE  A man facing charges of arson, making terrorist threats and two counts of using a computer message to threaten injury or harm has been ordered to comply with all mental health directives as his case proceeds.

Both cases were filed against Tylor Larson, 29, Eau Claire, on April 1 though the events that led to one charge dated back almost a month. On March 6 emergency workers responded to a report of a fire in the 2800 block of Thomas Drive.

According to the criminal complaint in that case, the property manager identified Larson as the person who set the fire in his apartment. He wouldnt leave the apartment, though. Officers knocked on the door and Larson initially didnt want to talk with them. He later relented and was escorted out of the building so the fire could be extinguished.

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A search of the apartment found a burned area on the floor and multiple guns through the residence. Larson said he started the fire because he thought they were after him, and the mafia was trying to kill him. Larson didnt explain why or who the unspecified they were.

About three weeks later the manager at a local plant called police to report threats being made against people there. When officers arrived he showed them a text from Larson, who attached a photo of himself with a large knife. The text said youre next.

A second photo from Larson included a picture of the knife covered in a red fluid with the words are you scared now? When Larson texted again to say he was omw (on my way), the manager replied that the plant wasnt running and Larson wasnt needed for the night. Larson again texted omw.

Police stood by as the plants machinery was shut down and kept watch while employees left. There were no further incidents that night, though the planned deliveries for customers could not be made as scheduled.

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Three days later an officer on patrol spotted Larson while driving and was able to take him into custody.

The most serious charge in the two cases is arson, which is a Class C felony. Under Wisconsin law that charge could bring up to 40 years in prison and fines of up to $100,000. The terrorist threats charge is a much lower Class I felony, carrying up to 3.5 years in prison and fines of up to $100,000.

Larson has yet to enter a plea, and court records indicate there have been challenges in finding him a public defender.
Big cats are majestic, but unfortunately, some people exploit their beauty. Two men in Arkansas did just that, but authorities caught them.

According to ABC 7 News, Keidrick Usifo and Deon Johnson were sentenced to five years' probation and a $5,000 fine, and 18 months' probation and a $1,000 fine, respectively, for violating the Big Cat Public Safety Act.

ABC 7 News stated: "The Big Cat Public Safety Act makes the private ownership of big cats such as tigers or lions illegal."

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To own a big cat, you must register with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service before receiving the animal.

What's happening?

It's estimated that Usifo bought and transported a tiger cub from a Dallas broker around March 16-18, 2023. On April 7, 2023, someone reported a sighting of a tiger cub in a residential neighborhood. Then, on April 17, 2023, an anonymous tip was posted on the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's website "about a tiger cub for sale in Conway," per ABC 7 News.

Usifo was arrested on April 21 after being pulled over for a traffic violation. There was a felony state warrant out on him.

Investigators could not locate the tiger cub in Usifo's home, but rooms matched the ones on his Instagram with the cub.

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Usifo made calls to Johnson while in custody, and it was determined that the 29-year-old knew what Usifo was doing in Dallas and fed the tiger when the 30-year-old was arrested.

Why is tiger cubs being bought and sold concerning?

The Big Cat Public Safety Act is not just for the safety of big cats but also for the safety of humans. According to Lions Tigers & Bears, it's a "public safety risk" to have these animals in private homes. They can injure their owners or bystanders. They can also transmit zoonotic diseases. The animals themselves can also suffer.

The Environmental Investigation Agency noted that tigers are "on the brink of extinction."

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In countries such as China, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, "the tiger has been valued solely for the sum of its body parts," the EIA explained.

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However, people do not rely on tiger meat for survival or need their body parts for anything.

Tigers are not just pretty big cats. They also play a critical role in protecting biodiversity in Asia, supporting ecosystems and other species.

What's being done about the illegal exotic animal trade?

One nonprofit, the Los Angeles-based Earth League International, is going undercover to investigate groups illegally trading exotic animals. Then, they send back the intel to the U.S.

The EIA is also working to dismantle the illegal trade networks. The organization advocates for better legislation and protection for these beautiful cats.

You can also advocate for more laws to help protect big cats. Additionally, you can donate to climate causes doing this vital work.

Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Law enforcement in Hall County and Douglasville are searching for a woman who vanished on Tuesday.

Hall County deputies say Jordan Ann Harste, 30, was last seen at a home on Silverhorn Drive at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Surveillance video shared with Channel 2 Action News shows Harste walking up to a car with two dogs and a cat in a carrier.

Harste can be seen placing the cat carrier into the car and the smaller of the dogs hops in as well.

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The Labrador retriever hesitates to get in the car and investigators say the dog does not leave with Harste.

Deputies say her last known location was in the Douglasville area, so they are working with local police to find her.

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Investigators describe Harste as a vulnerable adult.

She is described as being five feet, seven inches and approximately 130 pounds.

Anyone who sees her or knows where she might be should contact investigators at 770-297-4543.

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Photo by Bayne Froney | Cronkite News

With a single signature, Gov. Katie Hobbs could give law enforcement technology company Axon a carve-out in state law that would let it avoid voter review of its planned massive headquarters and housing project in north Scottsdale.

Axon came to the Capitol aiming to bar voters in every city and town in Arizona from being able to challenge zoning and development decisions, but settled instead for merely stripping away the right of Scottsdale voters to challenge the police weapons manufacturers HQ project near Hayden Road and the Loop 101.

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With Axon pledging to leave the state if the election was allowed to stand  Scottsdale voters are notoriously anti-development  their bill earned support from a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers who feared the firm would depart.

The Scottsdale City Council and every legislator from the city vociferously opposed the bill, and there are concerns the measure is unconstitutional, but the state Senate gave final approval to Senate Bill 1543 on April 15, and it now awaits a decision from Hobbs.

The Arizona Constitution gives residents the right to refer matters to the ballot.

Local activists, backed by a signature-gathering effort linked to a California labor union, gathered more than 25,000 signatures to send the rezoning decision made by a lame-duck city council  the votes for the project came from councilors who had been voted out of office  to the ballot in a voter referendum, which must happen by November 2026.

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The measure that lawmakers advanced to Gov. Katie Hobbs desk would cancel that election. It says that any municipality with between 200,000 and 500,000 residents  Scottsdale had 241,000 residents in the 2020 census  must allow hotel use and multifamily residential housing for land zoned like the Axon parcel without requiring any type of application that will require a public hearing if certain criteria is met.

Hobbs seems likely to sign the bill.

Governor Hobbs is committed to keeping and bringing in businesses that create jobs and boost our economy, Hobbs spokesman Christian Slater said in a statement to the Arizona Mirror. We are closely watching SB 1543 and are actively working with stakeholders and legislators to ensure the best outcomes for all Arizonans.

Slater did not respond to questions about whether the governor believes legislation benefiting Axon outweighs the constitutional rights of Scottsdale voters. A representative for Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes said they had no comment on the legislation, and responded to follow-up questions by pointing out recent awards the office had won for election administration.

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Scottsdale City Councilman Barry Graham said that he and other city councilors have requested meetings with Hobbs and have sent her a veto request letter signed by the full city council.

All options are on the table to protect Scottsdale residents from dangerous legislation that threatens their constitutional rights and freedom to locally zone and plan their community, Graham said in an email to the Arizona Mirror.

This legislation is not just about one city. It is about preserving the rights of all Arizona communities to govern themselves in ways that reflect their unique identities and aspirations, the letter sent to Hobbs and shared with the Mirror said. Scottsdales residents deserve to have a meaningful voice in shaping the future of their city  not to have that voice silenced by sweeping state legislation.

The city in a press release Wednesday is also urging Scottsdale residents to contact the Governors Office about the legislation, calling it a serious threat to local democracy.

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It could be and very likely is a violation of what is called the special law provision of the Arizona Constitution, constitutional law attorney Paul Eckstein told the Mirror.

The special law provision of the Arizona constitution prohibits laws from being enacted that impact certain things including granting to any corporation, association, or individual, any special or exclusive privileges, immunities, or franchises.

However, Eckstein said that the bill could be elastic enough that it may not be in violation. Ultimately, he said, it will take a legal challenge to determine whether the legislation is constitutional.

It is a shame, I would say, that we would sell our souls and make a Faustian bargain with a company at the expense of probably the premiere provision in the Arizona Constitution. We wouldnt have a constitution, we wouldnt be a state, if the right to referendum hadnt been included as a broad right in our state, Eckstein said.

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In 1910, Arizona voters ratified what would become the states constitution, including in it the right to referendum. In 1912, the year Arizona became a state, voters used that right to approve the first ballot initiative, which gave women the right to vote.

Senators opposing SB1543 brought up similar concerns when voting on the legislation.

This is voter suppression on steroids, Sen. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, said. This bill also appears to be special legislation, which violates the Arizona Constitution.

Kavanagh, whose district includes much of Scottsdale, also criticized the declaration in the bill that catering to Axon is a matter of statewide concern.

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Could anyone explain to me why a bill that only affects four cities is a matter of statewide concern? Is there something special I dont see? Kavanah said while explaining his no vote.

For supporters of the bill, keeping Axon in Arizona was more important than disenfranchising voters in Scottsdale.

At the end of the day, we have a homegrown business that was established here, that became worldwide, and we have other states that are looking to take them, said Sen. David Gowan, R-Sierra Vista, who sponsored the earlier failed Axon legislation.

Some Democratic members said their support came down to affordable housing  Axon says it will build 1,900 apartments, with one-third of them reserved for company employees and law enforcement  and pushing back against NIMBY culture in Scottsdale.

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But that rationale fell short for Sen. Lauren Kuby, D-Tempe, who urged her colleagues that the affordable housing was not enough to disenfranchise voters.

Lets make no mistake about this: This is special interest legislation that undermines the will of the voters, Kuby said. Its not about apartments, it is not about how we grow our cities, it is about the will of the voters and how we can take away the express will of the voters.

Axon celebrated the passage of the legislation, and in a press release thanked the bills supporters and the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the states largest business advocacy group and a major contributor to political campaigns across the political spectrum.

It helps ensure that Arizona remains competitive for valuable economic development opportunities, Axons statement read. And this legislation brings real solutions to the states housing supply crisis, creating more places to live in the Valley at a time when affordability and availability are out of reach for too many Arizonans.

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Vice President JD Vance indicated there was a 'good chance' a trade deal could be reached with the United Kingdom. Joe Scarborough sits down with London Mayor Sadiq Khan to discuss the impact of Trump's tariffs and the U.K.'s relationship with America.
By Jasper Ward

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Bahamas' government said on Tuesday it is suspending all SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket landings in the country, pending a full post-launch investigation.

"No further clearances will be granted until a full environmental assessment is reviewed," Bahamian Director of Communications Latrae Rahming said in a post on X.

SpaceX did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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The Bahamian government said in February after SpaceX's first landing in the country that it had approved 19 more throughout 2025, subject to regulatory approval.

The Bahamas' post-launch investigation comes after a SpaceX Starship spacecraft exploded in space last month, minutes after lifting off from Texas.

Social media videos showed fiery debris streaking through the skies near South Florida and the Bahamas after the spacecraft broke up in space shortly after it began to spin uncontrollably with its engines cut off.

Following the incident, the Bahamas said debris from the spacecraft fell into its airspace. The country said the debris contained no toxic materials and added it was not expected to have a significant impact on marine life or water quality.

The Starship explosion was not connected to the Bahamas' Falcon 9 landing program with SpaceX.

(Reporting by Jasper Ward; Editing by Jamie Freed)
Florida is one step closer to outlawing fluoride in its municipal water supplies.

A bill that would preemptively prevent local municipalities from adding fluoride to their water passed the Senate on a 27-9 vote on April 16, and now heads to the House.

The provision is one part of the 111-page "Florida Farm Bill" (SB 700). Among other things, it requires local governments to issue permits for electric vehicle charging stations, adds consumer protections, establishes the Florida Aquaculture Foundation and a Florida beef marketing program.

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But the fluoride measure has garnered the most controversy.

"I hope everyone realizes we are making a massive move here by telling our constituents that they cannot have fluoride in their water even if they voted for it in their local municipality," said Sen. Tina Polsky, D-Boca Raton. "This would honestly be a joke if it didn't have such dangerous consequences."

Attempts by Senate Democrats to soften the fluoride restriction were all voted down. Amendments that would have allowed local governments to include fluoride if their constituents want it and that would have issued a study on fluoride were called unfriendly and failed.

Sen. Keith Truenow, R-Tavares, said the bill did not speak specifically to fluoride.

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"What I'm attempting to address is the mode in which medicines or vaccines can be delivered in the future," Truenow said. "And that here in Florida, we are saying no additives that are not used in the treatment of purifying water. I remind you, many of the cities in the state of Florida do not use fluoride in their systems, and I do not remember hearing anything about the dental decay epidemic in our state."

Across the state, an increasing number of municipalities are deciding to remove fluoride from drinking water. But in Miami-Dade County, even though commissioners voted to remove fluoride, the move was vetoed by County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, a Democrat.

Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo speaks against water fluoridation during a City Of Bartow City Commission workshop at the Bartow Civic Center Tuesday February 18, 2025 in Bartow Fl.

As previously reported, state GOP leaders have pushed for the removal of fluoride in Florida's drinking water, which dental experts staunchly disagree with. Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo has backed arguments the American Dental Association calls "dangerous."

"Adding fluoride to water increases the risk of neuropsychiatric disease in children and reduces their IQ. We can strengthen teeth without consuming this neurotoxin. The data are consistent, adding fluoride to our communities' water must stop," he wrote on X last November.

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Studies show the naturally occurring mineral strengthens tooth enamel and helps prevent decay. But Ladapo has pointed to concerns over fluoride causing "adverse effects in children reducing IQ, cognitive impairment, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder."

"Due to the neuropsychiatric risk associated with fluoride exposure, particularly in pregnant women and children, and the wide availability of alternative sources of fluoride for dental health," he recommended against water fluoridation, according to a Nov. 22 guidance from the department.

The Florida Dental Association has issued a statement saying Ladapo's guidance against fluoride was "based on flawed and unscientific reports" and said it continues to "support ... community water fluoridation as an effective tool in reducing dental decay."

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has called community water fluoridation one of the 10 greatest public health achievements in the 20th century.

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But Robert F. Kennedy Jr., secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has promoted conspiracy theories about the dangers of fluoride in the water, saying it "should not be in our water," at a recent press conference in Utah.

That state became the first to ban fluoride in its municipal water earlier this month, and at a press conference, Kennedy said he would tell the CDC to stop advising the fluoridation of drinking water.

In a statement, Brett Kessler, president of the American Dental Association, called claims that fluoride is harmful and unnecessary "troublesome," adding that it reminded him "of fictional plots from old movies like Dr. Strangelove."

"When government officials, like Secretary Kennedy, stand behind the commentary of misinformation and distrust peer-reviewed research it is injurious to public health," he said.

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Before the bill vote, Truenow said one could make the case that fluoride was needed in the early 1900s, but now, more than 99% of the population brushes their teeth and gets fluoride in different ways.

"We're here to hydrate, not medicate," Truenow said.

Ana Goni-Lessan, state watchdog reporter for the USA TODAY Network  Florida, can be reached at agonilessan@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida moves closer to banning fluoride in local water supplies
JERUSALEM, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday that Israel has adopted a policy of blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza to undermine Hamas' control over the population.

In a statement a day after a field visit to Gaza with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior military commanders, Katz outlined Israel's broader war strategy, which he said aims to secure the release of hostages and ultimately defeat Hamas.

"Israel's policy is clear -- no humanitarian aid is about to enter Gaza," Katz said. "No one is currently preparing or intending to bring any humanitarian aid into Gaza under the current circumstances," he added.

Israel resumed its blockade on the entry of food, water, medicine, fuel, and other supplies on March 2. Netanyahu said the move was intended to pressure Hamas into accepting a deal to extend the first phase of the ceasefire and hostage-release agreement, without requiring Israel to end the war.

According to Katz, aid has been withheld in order to "undermine Hamas's control over the population and prepare the ground for future (aid) distribution via private companies" without Hamas' involvement.

Israeli forces are striking Hamas militants and infrastructure "relentlessly," Katz said, while preparing for the next phases of the operation.

According to the minister, the army would not withdraw from areas it has seized, and would maintain a presence in designated "security zones" across Gaza.

He warned that if Hamas continues to reject Israel's terms for a hostage deal, "the operation will expand and move to the next phases."

According to Gaza-based health authorities, Israeli attacks have killed more than 51,000 people in the enclave since the war began. 
A barrister claimed she was banned from using a veterinary practice over her gender-critical activism.

Allison Bailey, a criminal defence lawyer, was expelled from the client register of Palmerston Veterinary Groups practice in Walthamstow, east London, in January 2023, despite the business having treated her two dogs for more than a decade.

Her deregistration came after complaints over her unacceptable behaviour, including one staff member who claimed she [had] never had to deal with such a rude client ever.

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But Ms Bailey, who is a friend of JK Rowling, has denied being rude and claims the real reason she was told not to return and to find another vet was her gender-critical activism.

She said there was no justification for the vets deregistering her, nor any basis for claims about her alleged overbearing conduct towards staff, and is now suing Linnaeus Veterinary Ltd, trading as Palmerston Veterinary Group, for 25,000 in compensation.

She insisted she had a good relationship with the practice throughout the 13 years they treated her two dogs, Poppy and Jonty, and had received a condolence card with flower seeds from them after Poppy had to be put down.

Her lawsuit is based on claims her protected characteristic rights of being gender-critical have been breached by the ban, which she has blamed on a senior staff member opposing her beliefs.

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The practice is fighting her claim and says the reason she was told not to come back was because her actions had triggered its zero tolerance policy on behaviour towards staff.

Ms Bailey was previously involved in a high-profile legal clash with her barristers chambers and the gay rights group Stonewall, over claims that she was discriminated against due to her belief that being female is an immutable biological fact. During her campaign, she won the support of Rowling, who praised her as a heroine to me and innumerable other feminists.

In court documents from Central London County Court, Jeffrey Jupp, Ms Baileys barrister, said she claimed she was directly discriminated against by her vets because of her beliefs that were protected by the 2010 Equality Act, and said an internal memo that branded her absolutely vile was probably prompted by disapproval of her beliefs, rather than concerns about her conduct towards staff.

Mr Jupp said: She praised the practice in 2020 for the support she received in relation to both the illness and subsequent euthanising of her late dog, Poppy, at the practice, sending it an email and a photograph of Poppy when she was a puppy, commenting that Poppy and her surviving dog Jonty were always happy to visit the practice because everyone was so kind.

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In response, the practice sent the claimant a condolence card and forget-me-nots to plant in memory of Poppy.

Allison Bailey praised the practice in 2020 for the support she received when her dog Poppy was ill and had to be euthanised

But Mr Jupp said relations nosedived after she raised concerns by email about an interaction she had with a staff member on reception in January 2023.

She sent a follow-up chasing email... as she had not had the courtesy of a response, he said.

By the end of the following day, she had still not received a reply.

[In a later email] she raised the issue of this lack of response and, having complimented the service she had previously received, and in light of the lack of response, stated, Ive approached Goddards with a view to transferring vets after over 11 years at Wyatt Lane.

Absolutely vile

Mr Jupp said that an internal email within the practice emerged the following day, saying: I dont know what happened in this particular time, but this woman is absolutely vile.

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She is one of the worst Walthamstow clients; she is very rude and treats everyone really badly at every interaction. Everyone at the practice is scared of her and avoids dealing with her whenever possible.

Lawyers for the Palmerston Practice have claimed the decision to stop treating Ms Baileys pets had nothing to do with her beliefs on gender.

Gus Baker, the defence barrister, said that [Ms Bailey] repeatedly behaved in an unacceptable manner towards reception staff, which caused distress to those staff.

The case reached court for a pre-trial hearing last week and is due to return for trial at a later date.

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Two men, reportedly members of the Mongols motorcycle club, have been arrested in connection with a deadly bar brawl earlier this year in San Bernardino County, federal officials announced.

The violence, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice, unfolded in the early morning hours of March 4 at a bar in Ontario.

Prosecutors say the Mongols members, 51-year-old Montclair resident Clifford Buckshot Lavoy and 31-year-old Upland resident Julian Juls Pulido, violently attacked a member of Vagos, a rival biker gang, identified only as V.S. in court documents.

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V.S. was reportedly inside the bar wearing Vagos club member gear when he was approached by Pulido and Lavoy, who allegedly demanded the victim show respect to them as members of the Mongols.

An ensuing argument escalated when the Mongols members overpowered V.S., assaulting him by punching him in the face, kicking him in the face, head and neck and choking the rival gang members, prosecutors said.

Members of the Mongols motorcycle club seen in Southern California on April 26, 2019. (Photo by Bill Alkofer/ via Getty Images)

When the victim tried to run out of the bar, Pulido allegedly pulled out a gun and shot the victim several times in the back, causing the victim to fall through the door of the bar and bleed out on the sidewalk, the release detailed. The defendants then fled the scene.

V.S. was declared dead at 2:45 a.m.

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Not long after, Pulido was spotted by law enforcement, leading them on a nine-hour chase through five California counties.

Deeply Unsettling: Girl, 7, allegedly drowned by mother in Southern California home

He was arrested after crashing a black Dodge vehicle into a ditch during a high-speed chase along Highway 46 near Lost Hills in Kern County, prosecutors said. At the time of his arrest, Pulido possessed the same Mongols-branded clothing he had worn on the night of V.S.s murder.

More than a month later, on April 15, Lavoy was arrested in Whittier where he was booked and later released, according to the release.

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He has been charged with assault resulting in serious bodily injury in aid of racketeering, with Pulido being charged with murder in aid of racketeering.

The Mongols, an outlaw motorcycle club, reportedly formed in California in the 1960s and was incorporated in Montebello. Vagos was also reportedly founded in the early 1960s in San Bernardino.

If convicted as charged, Pulido faces a mandatory minimum sentence of life in federal prison, with Lavoy facing the possibility of a maximum sentence of 20 years.

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Former President Barack Obama has shared a message of support for Harvard as the university faces a funding freeze as a result of rejecting demands from President Donald Trump. In a post uploaded to X, the 63-year-old detailed his pride in the institution where he attended law school.

Harvard has set an example for other higher-ed institutions  rejecting an unlawful and ham-handed attempt to stifle academic freedom, while taking concrete steps to make sure all students at Harvard can benefit from an environment of intellectual inquiry, rigorous debate and mutual respect, wrote Obama. Lets hope other institutions follow suit.

The message was sent after Harvard refused to comply with demands issued by Trumps administration. A letter issued by university President Alan M. Garber detailed, The University will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights. Garber added, No governmentregardless of which party is in powershould dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue.



A tower on one of the Harvard University buildings on April 15, 2025 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. A Trump administration task force announced Monday that it would block Harvard University from receiving $2.2 billion in federal grants and $60 million in contracts after the Ivy League school defied demands to adopt new policies on student and faculty conduct and admissions.

The letter sent to Harvard commanded the institution to immediately shutter all diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, offices, committees, positions, and initiatives, under whatever name, among other supposed hiring, admission, and leadership reforms.

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According to ABC News, the Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism announced a multi-billion-dollar freeze on funding to Harvard amid its dismissal of the announced demands. The outlet noted Harvard is the first major university to have pushed back against federal funding threats from Trump.

Harvard University faculty members have filed a lawsuit and requested a federal judge to block the Trump administrations attempt to withhold funding. The two groups representing faculty argued that the Trump administration is overstepping its authority by undermining free speech and academic inquiry in service of the governments political or policy preferences.

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As people spend more and more time on their phones and communicate with emojis and abbreviations, it was welcome news to learn bookseller Barnes & Noble is increasing the number of its stores across the United States and Florida.

The company's actions and future plans run counter to businesses closing and declaring bankruptcy, including, most recently, Big Lots and 23andme.

Here's what we know about Barnes & Noble's plans.

Barnes & Noble is opening 60 new stores in 2025

Bookseller Barnes & Noble plans to open more than 60 new locations across the U.S. in 2025.

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"Barnes & Noble is enjoying a period of tremendous growth as the strategy to hand control of each bookstore to its local booksellers has proven so successful," the company announced.

"The bookseller is experiencing strong sales in its existing stores and has been opening many new stores after more than 15 years of declining store numbers."

To put it into perspective, the 60 stores in 2025 is more than the number of stores that opened in the decade between 2009 and 2019.

How many new Barnes & Noble are opening in Florida?

Barnes & Noble has opened two new Florida stores in 2025:

Naples: 4149 Tamiami Trail N, opened on Jan. 29

We are thrilled to welcome our customers back into their brand-new Naples Barnes & Noble, said James Daunt, CEO of Barnes & Noble. We are very happy to have found this sizable space (a former Big Lots), just a mile from our previous Naples location. As we open bookstores in new areas across the country, we also aim to remain in those we have long served, and this beautiful  and quite large  new Barnes & Noble is a testament to that.

Tequesta: 151 N U.S. Highway 1, opened March 26 Tequesta may be a small community, but they have shown outsized enthusiasm since we announced this new Barnes & Noble, Daunt said in the news release announcing the store's opening.



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 New Naples Barnes and Noble opens with a special appearance from author Janet Evanovich

 How Tequesta is growing: Barnes & Noble opens with Black Friday-style rush into bookstore

What other stores have Barnes & Noble opened in 2025?

New stores that have opened in 2025 include:

Brentwood, California

Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania

Bellevue, Washington

North Canton, Ohio

Gainesville, Virginia

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Houston, Texas

Huntington Station, New York

Issaquah, Washington

Papillon, Nebraska

Superior, Colorado

Where will new Barnes & Noble stores open?

That information has not yet been released, and Barnes & Noble did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for comment on April 15.

How many Barnes & Noble stores are there in Florida, US?

Barnes & Noble said on its website there are about 600 stores across the U.S.

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Data company ScrapeHero said there are 659 Barnes & Noble stores in the U.S. as of March 10. States with the most bookstores are:

California: 72

Texas: 52

Florida: 45

New York: 44

Virginia: 29

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Barnes & Noble opening 60 new locations in Florida, US in 2025
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  The fight over Federal Emergency Management Agency funding continues, even after they already approved the funds. Bay County is one of several local governments experiencing what officials call Claw back.

Gulf Coast State College Hosts 3rd Annual Scholars Day

Commissioners are appealing FEMAs attempts to take back more than $27 million. After Hurricane Michael, FEMA approved funding to resurface roads heavily damaged during debris removal all over the panhandle.

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Bay County received some of that funding and used it on roads. Now FEMA officials are trying to take back that money.

Panama City Beach Police Chief: Its over, Im glad its over

We paved all those roadways. And now a decision was made that maybe we werent eligible for those funds. And so therefore, theres a potential claw back of $27 million. And so what were doing, were appealing that. We think well be successful in getting that overturned because they did approve the project, Bay County Commissioner Robert Carroll said.

Washington County and the city of Panama City have similar battles with FEMA.

Carroll says they feel confident in the appeal process, thats been going on since January of 2024. But theyre prepared for any outcome.

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Were just basically setting aside funds this year, that way, if there is a claw back, well have the funds. We dont need FEMA to come back and say, write us a check for $27 million that we dont have. So were basically creating a savings account to put aside this money dedicated for this if FEMA decided not to continue to give us the funding, added Carroll.

The account is funded by surtax revenue. If the appeal is successful, the money will go to other county projects. Carroll says they dont know how much longer the appeal process will take.

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The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation has been called to look into the death of a man involved in an altercation with Norwood police officers Wednesday morning.

Officers responded around 10:48 a.m. to a report of loose dogs near the 4400 block of Montgomery Road, the department said in a news release.

Police added that the report was linked to a man and woman "exhibiting erratic behavior" near the Ohio Media School.

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When officers arrived at the scene, they found the two individuals in a stairwell elevator, and both appeared to be suffering from "mental distress," police said.

"During the encounter, the male subject became combative and resisted officers efforts to gain compliance," the release states. "After a prolonged and violent struggle, officers were eventually able to restrain him with handcuffs."

Police said the man was assessed by paramedics on the scene and taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center for evaluation, but he experienced a medical emergency while en route and was pronounced dead once he arrived at the hospital.

A police officer was also treated at a local hospital for injuries sustained in the scuffle.

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BCI is now conducting an external investigation alongside a parallel administrative inquiry by the Norwood Police Department's investigation section, according to the release.

"We've been contacted by Norwood Police and have requested any available video of the incident for review," a spokesperson for the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office said in a statement.

The Enquirer has requested additional documents pertaining to the incident.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Norwood police: Man dies after 'violent struggle' with officers
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP)  A local spa has launched the Empower Her Confidence drive to help girls meet their needs during their monthly menstrual cycle.

Chicopee woman claims $100K prize after son sees 22News unclaimed ticket story

Nearly one in four girls have missed class due to a lack of access to menstrual products. So Ashley Batlle, the founder of Beauty Batlles Lounge spent three years learning how to combat this issue of period poverty in two school districts.

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Throughout the month of March, local businesses and community members donated more than 7,000 pads and tampons and more than 3,600 personal hygiene wipes. About $500 worth of deodorants, panty liners, soaps, and other essential items were collected. $2,100 was gifted to buy more.

Battle told 22News she chose to give those products to Chicopee and Holyoke Public Schools.

We shouldnt be allowing our youth to skip out on their education, just for something that theyre not possibly able to control, said Ashley Batlle, founder and owner of Beauty Batlles Lounge.

Batlle also said she chose to donate to Chicopee and Holyoke Public schools because of her close ties to them. Her business has been in Chicopee for the last 7 years, and she lives in Holyoke. Her children are products of Holyoke Public Schools.

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Representatives from both of the school districts told 22News, that students will be able to use those products immediately. Some of the products will be distributed by the school nurse.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

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A New Bedford man was killed following a three-car collision in Dartmouth, Massachusetts State Police announced.

The crash occurred around 11:20 A.M. on Interstate 195, when State Troopers were dispatched to reports of a three-car crash involving a tractor-trailer.

The caller, who reported the crash, indicated that one of the drivers was not breathing.

State police, along with the Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Section, and the Bristol County State Police Detective Unit, responded to the scene.

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Dorchester EMS declared the driver, 62-year-old Anthony Moniz of New Bedford, deceased on the scene.

I-195 was closed for around 3 hours before reopening around 2:35 P.M.

The crash remains under 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.

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NEW ORLEANS (WGNO)  Those celebrating Easter Sunday at the Lakefront should expect several traffic restrictions.

From West End Boulevard to the Seabrook Bridge, the eastbound lane of Lakeshore Drive will be open to traffic, and the other will be reserved for emergency vehicles. Drivers should also expect to stop for law enforcement.

We will be enforcing tent, speeding, no license plate, brake, tag, excessive noise, both music and exhaust, as a means to deter deviant behavior, said Levee District Police Superintendent Joshua Rondeno.

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Finalists announced in Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans executive director search

Orleans Levee District Police will now be receiving assistance from Troop NOLA, bringing the total number of patrol officers to 80.

We have air support. We have ATV riders with our side by sides, but more importantly, we have the police presence, with boots on the ground, with the ordinance, Levee District, patrolling and enforcing the laws. Were going to pay particular attention to traffic violations, DWI enforcement, impaired driving, said Louisiana State Police Major Donovan Archote.

In the past, leftover trash has caught the eyes of visitors and elected officials, which is why there will be additional trash collections and the addition of dumpsters.

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This year, for the first time, theres going to be crews going around, and theyre going to be, at certain times, cleaning the trash cans, emptying them. Thats going to help. But its important to recognize that even that may not be enough, because that particular stretch that lakefront is so popular, its okay to help out. We appreciate it. Bring a black bag or two, and lets enjoy it, said New Orleans City Councilman Eugene Green.

Chris Brown adds New Orleans to Breezy Bowl XX tour

Officers will also be using cameras and other technology to stop crimes before they happen.

Our response now is in advance. We are no longer going to chase problems after they have occurred. We are going to preemptively, plan in advance for success. Thats the importance of a collaboration. I dont we dont have helicopters, we dont have boats, but we have partners with helicopters and boats, said Rondeno.

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To receive notifications about Lakeshore Drive temporary closures, text Lakeshore Drive to 77295.

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.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  On this episode of The Story Behind the AP Story, we hear from Lauran Neergaard and Shelby Lum, who have been following the journey of animal to human transplants, or xenotransplants, over the last few years. That includes sharing the procedures history, more about the people who have received these organs and what risks it may pose.

Shelby Lum, Associated Press: Theres more than 100,000 people on the transplant list, and most of these people are waiting for a kidney. Thousands will die on the list before ever being eligible to get one. And many experts say that there will never be enough human donors.

Haya Panjwani, Associated Press: Thats why scientists are turning to a procedure known as xenotransplantation.

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Lauran Neergaard, Associated Press: A fancy word to say animal to human organ transplant.

PANJWANI: Im Haya Panjwani. On this episode of The Story Behind the AP Story, we hear from Lauren Neergaard and Shelby Lum, who have been following the journey of xenotransplants over the last few years. Lauren says xenotransplantation has actually been tried for many, many years, unsuccessfully.

NEERGAARD: There were a number of chimpanzee transplants back in the 1960s. Probably the most famous of them was Baby Faye in 1984, who lived for 21 days with a baboons heart. They didnt work because back then, doctors and scientists hadnt really understood exactly how you could overcome the challenge of the immune system. The human immune system immediately recognizes those animal organs and the animal tissue as foreign and attacks.

So if you just took a pigs organ, any old pig organ, and stuck it in a person on the operating table, it would literally turn black before the surgeons eyes. Thats how fast the immune system would attack it. Now, whats happening is we have companies that are gene-editing pigs. They are modifying the genes in pigs so that they are born lacking some of those molecules that say, attack me to the human immune system, and with some additional human genes to make them more compatible with people.

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They are already used in, well, weve used them for food, but theyre also already used in human medicine in a variety of ways. We get heart valves from pigs. We get skin grafts from pigs, and their organs are very compatible to human organs in the anatomy. They look like human organs, they work like human organs, the blood vessels are in the right place that you can attach them properly.

PANJWANI: Shelby says theyve been able to meet some of the pigs used in these procedures.

LUM: And these pigs are bred specifically to be more compatible for human size, but they look like normal pigs. They look exactly like what you would think of a normal pig to look like. The pigs at the research farm are used for some of the early xenotransplant experiments. So these are for some of the decedent studies where these organs are being tested in brain dead donors, as well as some of the early compassionate care cases.

NEERGAARD: We really started seeing the first examples of organs from these gene-edited pigs being tested in brain-dead donors. And so kidneys from pigs were placed in them to see what happened. And this is where Shelby got to do something really cool.

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LUM: I got the chance to be in the operating room for this really experimental surgery to test the pig kidney in this brain dead donor whose name is Moe. Moes family had graciously decided to donate his body to this research to see if this could work. In order to do that, we worked with the university for months, which included sending over my vaccination history. It included getting testing done. I had to get blood work drawn to make sure that I wasnt bringing in anything into this operating room.

So once youre in the operating room, its pretty similar to a regular kidney transplant surgery. You have the surgeon whos starting the surgery and then surgeons go to the farm and they procure the pig kidney there. And so they fly it back to NYU where the surgery is being done. And in that surgery, they put the pig kidney into the donor. And it turns pink immediately, which is the big sign for a kidney transplant surgery. Thats what you wanna see, is this moment where that kidney turns pink. And it was this really incredible moment where the surgeons attached the kidney, you hear all of them chattering, and you hear them say, Its pink.

NEERGAARD: What was really amazing was how quickly this moved from deceased bodies into living people.

PANJWANI: In January 2022, a man named David Bennett became the first person to receive a pig heart transplant.

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NEERGAARD: And Dr. Bartley Griffith, who was the surgeon involved here, told us how nervous he was about broaching it and then how this patient responded with humor. He said, you know, what do you think Im gonna oink? That first operation, that first transplant, lasted only two months.

PANJWANI: The second pig heart attempt with a Navy veteran named Lawrence Faucette also only lasted a little less than two months.

NEERGAARD: Then the kidneys started.

PANJWANI: A man named Rick Slayman and a woman named Lisa Pisano both received gene-edited pig kidneys.

NEERGAARD: Those two patients also died. So this is a point where the doctors are like, Whoa, were not having as much success as we wanted. And they started looking for patients who were not quite so critically ill as those first four people.

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An Alabama woman named Towana Looney has lived the longest with a gene-edited pig kidney. She had it for 130 days before her doctors at NYU had to remove it earlier this month. Looney had been doing very well. She had told us she felt like superwoman. But then, at the beginning of April, her body began rejecting the organ. Shes recovered from the surgery and is back home on dialysis again, disappointed, of course. But that record time living with the pig kidney did provide valuable information to scientists.

So whats next? A New Hampshire man received a pig kidney at Mass General Hospital in January. Like Looney, he was not as sick as some of the prior recipients when he was transplanted, and so far, so good. Chinese researchers also recently announced a pig kidney transplant there, so this is gaining momentum.

LUM: Looney issued a statement saying the outcome wasnt what anyone had hoped for, but shes hoping that it can inspire others in this journey as xenotransplantation is studied more. And there are people who are very interested in getting a xenotransplant.

PANJWANI: With any new scientific procedures, there come risks.

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NEERGAARD: So one of the risks, of course, is that this will fail. The doctors will all say those first four were actually not failures because of how much they learned from each one of those patients. They will tell you those are names that will go down in medical history because they learned from each and every one of them. The other side of the risk, though, is the fact that we are using animal organs in people. And that does come with concern about whether there would be any possible transmission of animal viruses to people. One of the ethical challenges is whether these people are fully consenting to an experiment. Because so far, they have been people who really have been out of other options. There also are some ethical issues about how the animals are treated, how were using animals for the good of humans. And so thats something that the proponents of this believe is helped by the fact that were using pigs, which are also used for food already.

LUM: Lauren and I have talked with a few people who have expressed interest in getting one. Because for so many people living on dialysis, being in the chair several times a week, it is just not the best quality of life. They dont feel good, they arent able to do the things they want to, and so there are people who are really interested in being part of these early studies.

NEERGAARD: I think the main theme that weve heard from all of the patients that we have managed to speak with so far, or their families, or even in the case of Moe, the man whose body was used for that early experiment that lasted two months, theres this common theme that whatever happens to them, they hope that this will teach the surgeon something and the scientist something so that eventually this will work and help other people. Thats every person that Shelby and I have talked to has said that. The Food and Drug Administration has given United Therapeutics permission to do a clinical trial using pig kidneys created by their subsidiary Revivacor Incorporated on a small number of participants. Theyll do surgeries on the first few patients, see how it goes, theyre there for a few months and then theyll ramp up to larger numbers.

PANJWANI: This has been The Story Behind the AP Story. For more on APs health coverage, visit apnews.com.
MEXICO CITY, April 15 (Xinhua) -- Mexico will enter negotiations with the United States after the U.S. Department of Commerce proposed a 20.91 percent countervailing duty on Mexican tomatoes, Mexico's Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development Julio Berdegue announced Tuesday.

Speaking at a press conference, Berdegue explained that the talks, to involve tomato growers from northwestern states like Sinaloa and Sonora, must reach a resolution within 90 days, ahead of the July 14 deadline when the tariff is set to take effect.

U.S. tomato growers, particularly in Florida, have long accused Mexican producers of unfairly underpricing their tomatoes. However, Berdegue dismissed these claims as unfounded and politically motivated.

"Since 1996, our exports have operated under a suspension agreement following an anti-dumping investigation," Berdegue said. "Six out of every ten tomatoes consumed in the United States are grown in Mexico. If these duties go through, Americans will simply pay more for their tomatoes, salads, ketchup ... everything."

He also stressed that few countries can match Mexico's ability to supply high-quality tomatoes at competitive prices. "There are few other countries that can match this volume at these prices," he added. "If the United States moves forward, consumers will end up paying 21 percent more."

The current suspension agreement between the U.S. Commerce Department and Mexican exporters has been in place since 2019, following four earlier accords over the past 30 years.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum pointed out that her government was not formally notified of the proposed duty, and instead, U.S. authorities informed legal representatives of Mexican producers in the United States. 
Last year, 26 percent of Illinois students missed school 10 percent of school days, which can directly affect a students education, with or without a valid excuse.

Derek Turner with the Rock Island County Regional Office of Education spoke with Our Quad Cities News to talk about strategies for improving school attendance here in the QCA.

For more information, click here.

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JUNIOR, W.Va. (WBOY)  A man who has been missing since January was found dead in Barbour County on Tuesday.

Donald Hutzler (Courtesy: West Virginia State Police)

According to a release from the West Virginia State Police, on April 15, employees with Mon Power who were working on utility lines near Junior found human remains, which were later identified as Donald Hutzler, 63.

Hutzler was last seen at his residence in Belington on Jan. 5, and his disappearance has been a subject of an investigation by the West Virginia State Police since Jan. 15. The release said that he was known to suffer from cognitive disabilities and frequently rode a bicycle in the Belington and Junior areas.

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Man charged with attempted murder in Morgantown stabbing

Troopers said that the investigation into Hutzlers death is still ongoing, but no foul play is suspected.

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BERLIN (AP)  A doctor in Berlin has been charged with murder over the deaths of 15 patients under palliative care, prosecutors said Wednesday. He is also accused of trying to cover up the evidence by starting fires in their homes.

The doctor was part of a nursing services end-of-life care team and was initially suspected in the deaths of just four patients. That number has crept higher since last summer, and investigators now say they've found evidence linking him to the deaths of 15 people between September 22, 2021, and July 24 last year.

The victims' ages ranged from 25 to 94. Most died in their own homes.

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He allegedly administered an anesthetic and a muscle relaxer to the patients without their knowledge or consent. The drug cocktail then allegedly paralyzed the respiratory muscles. Respiratory arrest and death followed within minutes, prosecutors said.

The doctor  a 40-year-old man whose name hasn't been released, in line with German privacy rules  has been in custody since Aug. 6. Prosecutors said Wednesday that he has not yet responded to the case against him.

The charges were filed to the Berlin state court, which will now have to decide whether to bring the case to trial and if so, when.

Murder charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison. Prosecutors said they aim to ask the court to establish that the suspect bears particularly severe guilt, meaning that he wouldnt be eligible for release after 15 years as is usually the case in Germany. They also want him to be banned from his profession for life.
Former US president Joe Biden on Tuesday criticized the new US administration's approach to Social Security, warning of deep divisions in the country during his first major public speech since President Donald Trump's return to office.

"We can't go on like this as a divided nation, as divided as we are," the 82-year-old Democrat said at the Advocates, Counselors and Representatives for the Disabled conference in Chicago.

"It's never been this divided," Biden added, referring to the growing rift between Trump supporters and Democrats.

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Speaking in a subdued tone, Biden sharply criticized the new administration's approach to social welfare, accusing it of inflicting significant damage in less than 100 days in office.

He said about 7,000 government employees had been laid off, resulting in serious disruptions such as the crash of official websites due to IT cutbacks.

Social Security is a US government programme that provides financial assistance to retired, disabled, or deceased workers' families

Biden said that Social Security was a "sacred promise," saying "people are now genuinely concerned ... for the first and only time in history, that Social Security benefits may be delayed or interrupted."

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At the end of his speech, Biden slowly descended the podium steps and briefly spoke with attendees in the front row.

The appearance comes amid reports that many Democrats had hoped Biden would quietly retire from public life.

He dropped out of the presidential race last July following a poor performance in a televised debate, which intensified concerns within his party about his age and mental acuity.

Former vice president Kamala Harris took over as the Democratic nominee but lost the election to Trump.
CHICAGO  Former President Joe Biden used his first public remarks since he left office in January to rebuke the Trump administrations approach to Social Security, saying its cuts were already putting the institution in peril for millions of deserving Americans.

In roughly a half-hour of remarks Tuesday before disability advocates, Biden  often speaking in a subdued, hushed tone  did not mention President Donald Trump by name, referring to him instead as this guy, and held back from robust criticism of the administration.

Biden more broadly took aim at Trump's tenure so far, saying that in fewer than 100 days, this new administration has made so much ... damage and so much destruction. Its kind of breathtaking.

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"We can't go on like this as a divided nation, as divided as we are. Like I said, I've been doing this a long time. It's never been this divided," Biden said. "Granted, it's roughly 30%, but it's a 30% that has no heart."

It's not clear what group of people the 30% remark referred to.

White House spokesman Steven Cheung sharply criticized Biden, saying his "incoherent speech" showed he had a "feeble mind" in a "rapid decline to new lows."

"President Trump has repeatedly promised to protect Social Security and ensure higher take-home pay for seniors by ending the taxation of Social Security benefits. Anybody saying otherwise is either stupid or an all-out liar, or both in Bidens case," Cheung said in a statement.

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After his election, Trump told NBC News that were not touching Social Security, other than to make it more efficient. But since Trump took taking office, billionaire Elon Musk has cut staffing at the agency. Musk also prompted a flare-up among Trump allies after he called Social Security the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time."

Biden referred to the comment Tuesday.

"We heard others, empowered and emboldened by this administration, talk about Social Security; one of them called it a Ponzi scheme," Biden said. "A Ponzi scheme  what the hell are they talking about? People earn these benefits. They paid into that benefit. They rely on that benefit. And no one, no one, no one should take it away."

Biden also referred to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick  also without naming him  painting him as detached from the average American. Biden cited comments Lutnick has made that his mother-in-law wouldnt complain if she didnt get her next Social Security check.

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The current secretary of commerce doesnt seem to get it, or based on his comments, he doesnt seem to even care, Biden said. He said his 94-year-old mother-in-law wouldnt complain. Wouldnt bother her. Shes probably a lovely woman. No kidding. Her-son-in-law is a billionaire. What about that 94-year-old mother living all by herself? Dont have a billionaire in the family. All the retirees who depend on that monthly check to feed themselves. All those people with disabilities have no other source. What about all those?

Despite a regular churn of verbal abuse from Trump, it was the first time Biden has spoken publicly since he left the White House on Jan. 20. But on Tuesday, he did not offer a defense of himself or his own administration.

At times, it was difficult to hear Biden  so much so that those in the room at the event remained still and quiet to hear him speak.

Shortly after the speech, Trump put up a post on Truth Social, featuring a clipped video of Biden during the speech, saying, "I had never seen, I'd never seen hardly any Black people in Scranton at the time, and I was only going on fourth grade. And I remember seeing the kids going by  at the time, called colored kids  on a bus going by."

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In context Trump left out, Biden went on to say that the fact that the bus went to a different school sparked his outrage as a kid and inspired him to get involved in politics.

Trump routinely chastises Biden, having called him the worst president in American history. He frequently characterizes Bidens tenure as a mess that his administration must now clean up, particularly with regard to border security. In the earliest days of his second term, Trump repeatedly blamed lagging economic indicators on Biden. Soon, however, it was Trumps own topsy-turvy tariff policies that threw the stock market into disarray.

Biden spoke to a conference for Advocates, Counselors and Representatives for the Disabled at the Sofitel Hotel on Chicagos Magnificent Mile. The meeting focused on strengthening Social Security at a moment when the Trump administration has set its sights on revamping the agency in a way that beneficiaries fear could put them in peril.

Last month, Biden spoke at a National High Schools Model United Nations event, but the speech it was not open to members of the media.

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Biden, 82, left office deeply at odds with his own party, which pressured him to abandon his re-election bid in the wake of a devastating presidential debate against Trump in June, when Biden struggled at times to express a clear thought. The debacle aggravated long-standing concerns about his age and mental capacity.

Bidens vice president, Kamala Harris, claimed the Democratic nomination and embarked on a whirlwind, 107-day campaign against Trump that shattered fundraising records, offering fleeting hope to the party. Ultimately, Harris went on to lose to Trump, including in each of six battleground states, as well as the popular vote.

In January, Biden said in an interview that he believed he could have defeated Trump had he run again  but at the same time, he admitted in the USA Today interview that he was unsure he could have served out a full term.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
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The Gavel has broken down the more than 200 lawsuits challenging major Trump administration actions and it found that most of the cases  72 percent  have been assigned to judges appointed by a Democratic president.

The bulk of those cases are being overseen by those appointed by some of President Trumps top political foes  former Presidents Obama and Biden.

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The judges dont always rule against Trump, but their flood of injunctions  and plaintiffs attempt to bring their cases in favorable courts  has led Trump to lash out by calling many of them Democratic activists and insisting they dont have the power to tell him how to conduct his administrations business.

Heres the full breakdown of judges, by which president appointed them:

Trump : 33

Biden : 69

Obama : 66

George W. Bush : 16

Clinton : 26

George H.W. Bush : 2

Reagan: 12

The skew is no accident. Plaintiffs are regularly filing their lawsuits in friendly courts along the coasts in places such as Boston, San Francisco and Seattle, where suits have a higher chance of being assigned to a Democratic appointee.

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Long gone are the days when North Texass single-judge divisions were the epicenter of politically charged lawsuits during the Biden administration. Heres a look at the most common venues:

District of Columbia : 107

District of Massachusetts : 23

District of Maryland : 19

Western District of Washington : 10

Northern District of California : 9

Southern District of New York: 9

The lack of balance also reflects recent presidents focus on appointing judges to the federal bench.

After Trump appointed 234 federal judges during his first term, Biden eked out just ahead by appointing 235, making diversity a priority in the process.

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But just because a judge was appointed by a Democrat or a Republican doesnt necessarily dictate how theyll rule. Trump has had his fair share of losses handed down by his own appointees  and wins from judges appointed by presidents of the opposing party.

As U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts argued in 2018: We do not have Obama judges or Trump judges, Bush judges or Clinton judges. What we have is an extraordinary group of dedicated judges doing their level best to do equal right to those appearing before them.

Welcome to The Gavel, The Hills weekly courts newsletter from Ella Lee (elee@thehill.com) and Zach Schonfeld (zschonfeld@thehill.com). Email us tips, or reach out to us on X (@ByEllaLee, @ZachASchonfeld) or Signal (elee.03, zachschonfeld.48).

IN FOCUS

J6ers vexed with Trump officials

Trumps honeymoon period with the Jan. 6 defendants he granted sweeping clemency is over.

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J6ers and their advocates are growing increasingly vexed with the Trump administration because they dont believe its delivering on his campaign promise of payback for their prosecutions.

Trumps path to the White House was paved with promises of retribution against those he said weaponized the justice system against him and his supporters, including those prosecuted and convicted over their roles in storming the Capitol. The campaign rhetoric spanned from exhaustive pardons to prosecuting the prosecutors and investigating the investigators.

While the president made good on his vows for Jan. 6 clemency, pardoning more than 1,500 people and commuting others sentences on his first day back in office, Jan. 6 defendants and their supporters are growing restless because they want the White House to hold accountable those who sent some of them to prison. Some, they say, should face counts of treason.

Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel are at the center of the storm.

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Suzzanne Monk, founder of the J6 Pardon Project, has started tracking on X how many Jan. 6 defendants had been arrested by this point in Bidens presidency.

She told The Gavel in an interview that she began sharing the comparisons to shut down suggestions that they need to wait for criminal cases to materialize when the Biden administration marched in immediately after Trump left office. In the replies to her post, she said she would continue posting the stats until we see action from the Bondi crew.

The frustration against Trumps top law enforcement officials has split some of the presidents loudest advocates.

When Patel tapped an agency veteran involved in Jan. 6 prosecutions to run the FBIs Washington field office, the Jan. 6 community exploded in outrage online. Meanwhile, mainstream MAGA influencers such as Charlie Kirk and Donald Trump Jr., the presidents son, shared an article suggesting the frustrations were manufactured outrage.

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This is not manufactured outrage!!! Richard Bigo Barnett, a rioter who lounged in then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosis (D-Calif.) office that day, wrote on X. We suffered greatly and to say so is a slap in our face!

He questioned Patel and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bonginos lack of communication with the pardoned rioters.

We want justice! We want the promises made kept! We stood! We showed up when Donald asked! We have seen nothing, Barnett said.

Want to read more about the breakdown between Trumps top officials and devoted Jan. 6 followers? Click here for the full story.

Trump, Bukele leave Abrego Garcia judge without answers

Trumps meeting with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele this week provided few answers to the federal judge overseeing the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the man wrongfully deported to El Salvador, she signaled during a hearing Tuesday.

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This is all two very misguided ships passing in the night, U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis saidm describing the Trump-Bukele Oval Office meeting at a court hearing in Greenbelt, Md.

For days, Xinis has demanded information on how the administration was complying with her order to facilitate Abrego Garcias return, as upheld by the Supreme Court last week. The judge appeared irritated at Tuesdays hearing, saying the administration had provided her nothing.

Moments before the hearing, the government filed with the court the transcript of the on-camera Oval Office meeting, where both Trump and Bukele said they wouldnt return the man.

I dont consider the transcript that you gave me 15 minutes ago to be answering the questions. I just dont, said Xinis, an Obama appointee.

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The judge also said Bukeles comments were a nonresponsive answer if that were in a court of law.

Whatever you wish for me to take from it, it is not a direct response, nor is the quip about smugglings someone into the United States, she said in a reference to Bukele blowing off the notion of returning the man in the U.S., saying it would amount to smuggling him out of his home country.

Xinis is still mulling whether to hold the administration in contempt, but she on Tuesday ordered four Trump administration officials who submitted affidavits in the case to sit for depositions in the next week. The officials are:

Joseph Mazzara , acting general counsel at the Department of Homeland Security

Evan Katz , assistant director of enforcement and removal operations at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Robert Cerna , acting field office director of enforcement and removal operations, ICE

Michael Kozak, senior bureau official in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs at the State Department

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One thing to watch: Deputy Assistant Attorney General Drew Ensign suggested the government may invoke a privilege to block Mazzaras deposition or attempt to appeal the judges order.

In conversation with the lawyer suing Trump over tariffs

Trumps tariffs are increasingly landing in the courts, with conservative interests leading the charge.

The broadest case challenges the presidents Liberation Day tariffs that imposed a 10 percent baseline tariff on foreign imports and added steeper reciprocal tariffs on dozens of nations. Trump has since paused some of the tariffs.

The challenge is being brought by the Liberty Justice Center, a libertarian public-interest firm that regularly champions conservative causes.

We caught up with Jeffrey Schwab, senior counsel at the center who is leading the case, about why he believes Trump is encroaching on Congresss authority.

This is a huge, huge amount of power, Schwab told us. It means that the president has the power to tariff anybody, anytime he wants, for any reason that he wants, and that just cant be.

The center is perhaps most well-known for winning a 2018 Supreme Court case that held states could not mandate nonunion government workers pay union dues. Earlier this year, it also represented a group of content creators at the Supreme Court in their unsuccessful attempt to strike down the federal TikTok ban.

Now, the group is representing five small businesses that are raising alarm about covering the costs of Trumps tariffs. The lead plaintiff is VOS Selections, which offers wines, spirits and sakes from 16 different countries.

You cant say that a wine in California is the same as a Bordeaux wine, Schwab said.

Trump justified the tariffs by invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which gives the president authority to impose necessary economic sanctions to combat an unusual and extraordinary threat. Trump has justified the move by citing trade deficits with other countries.

Weve had a trade deficit for like, 50 years, at least, and so its a surprise, Schwab said. Its a little weird to say that its an emergency.

PETITION PILE

The Supreme Courts April session kicks off later this week. Before oral arguments resume next week, the justices will hand down opinions Thursday at 10 a.m. EDT before convening for their closed-door conference to discuss the latest petitions.

Weve got our eye on one in particular.

The Justice Department has asked the high court to take up its appeal of a ruling that allows a Black woman landlord to seek damages from the federal government over claims the U.S. Postal Service intentionally refused to deliver mail to two addresses she leased.

Lebene Konan, the landlord, says two Postal Service employees withheld the mail because they didnt like the idea that a black person own[ed] the properties in Euless, Texas.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously allowed Konans lawsuit to proceed under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA).

Ordinarily, citizens cannot file a tort lawsuit against the U.S. government to recover damages. But the FTCA provides an exception when a federal employee commits a wrongful or negligent act within their official duties.

Just one problem, the Justice Department says  the FTCA does not apply to any claim arising out of the loss, miscarriage, or negligent transmission of letters or postal matter.

This Courts review is warranted to resolve that circuit conflict. Review is also warranted because the Fifth Circuits decision threatens to inflict substantial practical harms on USPS and the United States, the Justice Department wrote in its petition.

Under the logic of the Fifth Circuits decision, any person whose mail is lost or misdelivered could bring a federal tort suitand potentially proceed to burdensome discoveryso long as she alleges that a USPS employee acted intentionally. Congress enacted the postal exception specifically to protect the critical function of mail delivery from such disruptive litigation, it continued.

Check back next week to see if the Supreme Court takes up U.S. Postal Service v. Konan. Konan has also filed her own petition, seeking to revive her additional equal protection argument that was rejected by the lower courts.

One other new relist to watch  First Choice Womens Resource Centers v. Platkin.

The dispute arises from New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkins (D) subpoena to the anti-abortion group under the threat of judicial sanctions.

Represented by conservative Christian legal powerhouse Alliance Defending Freedom, the group is asking the high court to take a look at its failed attempt to bring a First Amendment challenge to the subpoena.

ON THE DOCKET

Dont be surprised if additional hearings are scheduled throughout the week. But heres what were watching for now:

Today

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., is set to hold a preliminary injunction hearing in a lawsuit seeking to prevent the IRS from disclosing tax return information to immigration enforcement.

Another Washington, D.C., federal judge is set to hold a summary judgment hearing in a challenge to the Department of Government Efficiencys (DOGEs) efforts to access the U.S. African Development Foundation s headquarters.

A Washington D.C., federal judge will hold a temporary restraining order hearing in a challenge to DOGEs takeover of the U.S. Institute of Peace.

Thursday

The Supreme Court will hand down opinions at 10 a.m. EDT

A panel of judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit is set to hear arguments in the governments appeal of a judges order directing the Trump administration to restore The Associated Presss access to key White House spaces.

A federal judge in Rhode Island is set to hold a preliminary injunction hearing in a challenge by 21 Democratic state attorneys generals to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)s suspension of $11 billion in public health funding because it was appropriated through COVID-19 related laws.

Another Washington, D.C., federal judge is set to hold a preliminary injunction hearing in a lawsuit over Trumps executive order dismantling the U.S. Agency for Global Media and the emails terminating staff.

A New Hampshire federal judge is set to hold a preliminary injunction hearing in a challenge to the Education Departments Feb. 14 Dear Colleague letter warning schools of funding cuts if diversity, equity and inclusion efforts persist.

Federal judges in Washington state and Arizona are set to hold temporary restraining order hearings in challenges to terminations of Student and Exchange Visitor Program records.

Friday

A federal judge in Rhode Island is set to hold a preliminary injunction hearing in a lawsuit focused on three of seven agencies  the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Minority Business Development Agency and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service  targeted by an executive order , brought by 21 Democratic state attorneys general.

A federal judge in Baltimore will hold a preliminary injunction hearing over a challenge to the Education Departments warning to universities that they will face funding cuts if diversity, equity and inclusion programs persist.

A federal judge in Chicago will hold a temporary restraining order hearing in a challenge to a Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) record termination.

Monday

The Supreme Court will announce orders.

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments over whether the structure of HHSs Preventive Services Task Force violates the Appointments Clause.

The justices will also hear oral arguments over whether a late notice of appeal needs to be refiled after the judge reopens the window.

Tuesday

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments over whether a Maryland county has violated the First Amendment by not giving parents an opt-out option from LGBTQ-inclusive books in elementary school.

The justices will also hear oral arguments over whether the governments decision to terminate efforts to levy a taxpayers property moots certain proceedings.

A panel of judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit will hear arguments in the governments appeal of a judges order indefinitely blocking implementation of Trumps executive order effectively barring transgender people from serving openly in the military .

A federal judge in New Hampshire is set to hold a preliminary injunction hearing in a Dartmouth College computer science doctoral students challenge to the termination of his SEVIS record.

A federal judge in New York is set to hold a preliminary injunction hearing regarding a class-action habeas petition filed by two Venezuelan men in immigration custody who were threatened with removal under the Alien Enemies Act.

WHAT WERE READING

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Speaking during his first major post-presidency speech, former President Joe Biden criticized the Trump administration's attacks on Social Security. Biden called out Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick for his comments on his mother-in-law not missing her Social Security check if it didn't come. "No kidding. Her son-in-law is a billionaire," Biden said.
PHNOM PENH, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming visit to Cambodia will inject new impetus into building a high-quality, high-level and high-standard Cambodia-China community with a shared future in the new era, Cambodian officials and experts have said.

Xi's visit will reaffirm China's steadfast commitment to further enhancing bilateral ties and cooperation in all areas, particularly in economy and trade, investment, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges, said the Cambodian Ministry of Commerce's Secretary of State and spokesperson Penn Sovicheat.

The visit will also increase mutual political trust, further deepen bilateral cooperation in all fields, and lay a stronger foundation for Cambodia and China to build a more prosperous and closer bilateral relationship, he told Xinhua.

Ek Sam Ol, president of the Cambodia-China Friendship Association, said the government and people of Cambodia are very happy to welcome the Chinese president for a state visit to the country.

"The visit this time will further strengthen and expand Cambodia-China relations and cooperation, particularly in the development of economy, society, culture, education and sports," he told Xinhua.

Sam Ol recalled that he greeted Xi at the Phnom Penh International Airport in 2016 when Xi paid his first state visit to Cambodia.

The expert added that since 2016, many Chinese-invested mega-projects, such as the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, Siem Reap Angkor International Airport and Morodok Techo National Stadium, have been carried out in Cambodia. "These are the fruits of the first visit of President Xi," he said.

Joseph Matthews, a senior professor at the BELTEI International University in Phnom Penh, said Xi's visit will set a new milestone in the history of relations between the two countries.

"It will further strengthen and solidify the enduring friendship that has existed for millennia between China and Cambodia," he told Xinhua. "His visit will establish the groundwork for actionable strategies that will shape the trajectory of bilateral relations."

Matthews said Xi's visit is expected to help attract more Chinese tourists and investors to Cambodia, which will provide crucial support for the Cambodian tourism industry and economic growth.

Thong Mengdavid, a lecturer at the Institute for International Studies and Public Policy of the Royal University of Phnom Penh, said Xi's visit will further enhance the deep-rooted friendship between the two countries.

"This visit is expected to enhance political trust, strengthen economic collaboration, and further align Cambodia's development objectives with China-proposed global initiatives, including the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Development Initiative," he told Xinhua.

The visit will also highlight China's continued support for Cambodia's economic progress and long-term prosperity, Mengdavid said. "Amid shifting geopolitical dynamics, the visit carries strategic importance in reinforcing regional stability and cooperation." 
Virginia governor candidates Abigail Spanberger (left) and Winsome Earle-Sears. (Spanberger photo by Markus Schmidt/Virginia Mercury, Earle-Sears photo by Parker Michels-Boyce for the Virginia Mercury)

With three statewide offices and all 100 House of Delegates seats up for grabs, Virginia Department of Elections campaign finance reports show candidates across the commonwealth pulled in a staggering $20.4 million between Jan. 1 and March 31, underscoring the intensity and razor-sharp competition ahead.

In the marquee governors race, Democratic nominee Abigail Spanberger has soared to an early financial lead, raising $6.7 million to Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears $3.1 million. Spanberger enters the heart of campaign season with $11 million cash on hand  nearly three times more than her GOP opponent.

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Earle-Sears total, however, comes despite a significant fundraising constraint: as a sitting legislator, she was prohibited from soliciting donations during much of the General Assembly session.

I think its important to note that that funding gap will narrow now that the legislative session is over, said Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington. Now that the lieutenant governor is a Republican nominee, I imagine some Republicans were waiting for a resolution of the nomination process before weighing in with donations.

Fundraising is more than just a vanity metric  its often a key indicator of campaign strength and viability. The flow of early money offers a roadmap for where parties and donors see the biggest opportunities or threats.

In the crowded race for lieutenant governor, 12 contenders reported a combined $2.4 million. Republican Pat Herrity leads with $540,000, followed closely by Democrat Levar Stoney, the former Richmond mayor, at $429,000. Democrats Aaron Rouse and Babur Lateef are virtually tied at just under $400,000, while Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Richmond, trails at $306,000.

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Farnsworth said that Stoneys strong showing is likely helped by a familiar fundraising machine  former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who endorsed Stoneys bid early on.

McAuliffes greatest skill as a politician has always been fundraising. And that pipeline will be very useful to the former mayor, he said.

The race for attorney general has also attracted big money early. Incumbent Jason Miyares, a Republican, raised $1.5 million in the first quarter, while former Del. Jay Jones of Norfolk, aiming for a comeback after his 2021 primary loss, followed with $931,000. Democrat Shannon Taylor, the Henrico Commonwealths Attorney, pulled in $534,000.

Meanwhile, the 286 candidates running for the House of Delegates brought in $5.2 million altogether. Speaker Don Scott, D-Portsmouth, sits atop the pile with $813,000. But its a Democratic challenger from Southwest Virginia who may be drawing the most attention  and dollars.

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Lily Franklin, who narrowly lost to Republican Chris Obenshain in 2023 by just 183 votes, is leading all battleground Democrats this quarter with over $190,000 raised. She has collected more than $245,000 this cycle, putting her in a strong position to flip House District 41.

Were seeing big investments in Southwest Virginia  and theyre coming from everyday people, Franklin said. With nearly 2,000 donations and a median gift of just $25, this is a community-led movement fueled by our neighbors.

Obenshain, who reported $50,000 raised this quarter, dismissed the fundraising numbers as political theater.

Its no surprise that my opponent has used her career as a political operative to raise money from left-wing special interest groups that care more about Washington, D.C. than Southwest Virginia, he said, touting his legislative record on tax cuts, childcare, electric bills and public safety.

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Farnsworth, the political scientist, noted the strategic importance of Franklins campaign.

Early political money especially is going to be targeted to the greatest opportunities for the party, and the closeness of the last election in this district and the money Democrats are raising suggest that this may be one of the top priorities for Democrats this cycle, he said.

That trend is especially visible in Virginias so-called Purple Caucus  a group of about one dozen House Republicans in vulnerable suburban and swing districts.

One of its leaders, Del. Amanda Batten, R-James City County, appears financially underwater, raising just over $15,000 in Q1. Her Democratic challenger, Jessica Anderson, brought in more than $116,000 from over 1,300 small-dollar donors.

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Theres no doubt about it, Farnsworth said, if youre in the Purple Caucus, youre potentially vulnerable, and the fundraising game may be a key part of trying to keep that seat.

Another GOP incumbent facing pressure is Del. Carrie Coyner, R-Chesterfield, who is trying to fend off a three-way Democratic primary. Coyner raised $131,000 last quarter, making her the highest-earning Republican in the House. Dustin Wade leads the Democratic field with $69,000, followed by Lindsey Daugherty and Stephen Miller-Pitts.

Elsewhere, House Minority Leader Todd Gilbert, who is eyeing a federal appointment as U.S. Attorney, has raised $119,000. His Democratic challenger, Catherine Elizabeth Rec, has pulled in just $1,400 since launching her campaign in February.

And in the only Republican House primary so far, Del. Terry Austin, R-Botetourt, has dramatically outraised challenger Austen Schwend with $30,000 to just under $3,000.

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With more than six months until Election Day, the cash race is just getting started. But in Virginia politics, early dollars often spell early momentum  and thats something no candidate can afford to ignore.

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A tax package advancing in the Florida Senate could shake up how Orange County spends tens of millions of dollars in hotel tax revenue, potentially directing money from tourism advertising to mass transit and other transportation needs.

The changes, green-lighted by the Senates Finance and Tax Committee on Tuesday, could allow more than $50 million to be shifted from Visit Orlando, the regions tourism development organization, to public projects like expanding SunRail.

The proposal eases a requirement that at least 40% of Orange Countys roughly $360 million in hotel taxes go to tourism marketing and advertising. Visitors pay the tourist development tax when they stay in hotels and short-term rentals.

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Getting the item into the Senates tax package is a big deal for Central Florida, said Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando, who introduced the hotel-tax changes. But it still faces significant hurdles, including potential opposition of tourism industry lobbyists, and the question of whether the state House and the governor will go along.

Smiths proposal softens the mandatory spending requirement for tourism promotion to no more than $50 million, or about half of what is spent currently by Visit Orlando.

Smith has been critical of Visit Orlando, saying it subsidizes Walt Disney Worlds and Universal Studios corporate marketing budgets.

Government spending on advertising is not acceptable, Smith said.

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In past years, the Republican-dominated Legislature has shown little appetite to restructure the tourist development tax. But this year, Senate leaders meshed Smiths proposal into an overall tax bill. It was given initial approval Tuesday with little discussion.

The change, if signed into law, gives Orange County the ability to invest hotel tax dollars into our transportation needs, he said. We can finally use that TDT revenue to link Sunrail to the (Orlando International) Airport and upgrade our Lynx buses.

Having a reliable mass transit system connected to Orlandos airports and major attractions is key to making Central Florida a world-class resort destination, Smith said.

Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, another advocate for overhauling tourist development taxes, called the development very significant.

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Visit Orlandos leaders, however, argue they deliver an economic return that benefits the community and extends to all parts of the tourism industry. In addition to promoting Orlandos brand globally, the organization works to attract conventions, gather economic data and forge community partnerships. Visit Orlando reports that about 40% of its members are small businesses.

Visit Orlando and the Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association did not respond to emails Tuesday seeking comment.

Swifties or SunRail? Orlando lawmakers question hotel tax spending

Visit Orlandos marketing efforts have included television ads that aired during the Summer Olympics, the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade and other major events, including a $600,000 spot that ran during Taylor Swifts on-demand concert movie featured on the Disney+ streaming platform.

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In addition to tourism promotion, tourist development tax revenue is used for the Orange County Convention Center, sporting venues, and the arts and museums.

The tax package will be hashed out between the House and Senate during the final weeks of the legislative session, which is scheduled to end May 2.

In addition to the hotel tax change, the Senates $2.1 billion tax relief proposal also includes a permanent elimination of the sales tax on clothing and shoes under $75.

House Speaker Daniel Perez is calling for lowering the sales tax rate from 6% to 5.25%, which is estimated to produce $5 billion in savings.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  While more major production companies are gravitating toward Rhode Island, the state has had to turn away several projects due to its annual cap on film and TV tax credits.

Several productions are already in the works, including a psychological romance from award-winning director M. Night Shyamalan starring Jake Gyllenhaal. Filming is scheduled to begin this summer entirely in Rhode Island.

RELATED: M. Night Shyamalan, Jake Gyllenhaal movie to film in RI

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On Tuesday, the State Properties Committee approved a request from production company Binding Edge Pictures to use the Cranston Street Armory from May through the end of the year. The film is expected to create around 400 full-time jobs and hire thousands of extras.

Another recent project that made it to the Ocean State is Gordon Ramsays upcoming reality series Secret Service, which filmed at Crazy Burger in Narragansett earlier this month.

While these are exciting opportunities to showcase Rhode Island, other productions have had to look elsewhere after the state hit its annual $20 million tax credit cap.

SEE ALSO: Crazy Burger duped into new Gordon Ramsay show

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Rhode Island Film and TV Office Executive Director Steven Feinberg said the cap for 2025 was reduced from $40 million because not all credits were used last year due to the writers and actors strikes.

Ive turned away Academy Award winners. Ive turned away TV series because we dont have enough credits, Feinberg said.

A new Hallmark holiday movie set in Newport was ultimately filmed mostly in Connecticut due to the lack of available credits.

Feinberg said hes not currently pushing for legislative changes to the cap because of federal budget cuts and ongoing uncertainty, but he remains hopeful about pursuing an increase next year.

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NEXT: Filming wraps in RI for Rod Serling documentary

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Sen. Liz Brown, R-Fort Wayne, speaks on a bill on April 15, 2025. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

Eleven mostly rural counties will lose judges under a bill passed 33-16 by the Indiana Senate Tuesday.

House Bill 1144  which adds judges and magistrates in Elkhart, Hamilton, Lawrence and Vigo counties  has moved through the entire session without language abolishing courts.

Then, on April 10, hours before a committee deadline, an amendment was added in the Senate Appropriations Committee eliminating one court each in Blackford, Carroll, Gibson, Greene, Jennings, Monroe, Newton, Owen, Pulaski, Rush and Scott counties, along with six juvenile magistrate positions in Marion County.

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This provision is estimated to save the state approximately $748,885 in Fiscal Year 2027 and up to $2.75 M in Fiscal Year 2032, according to a fiscal analysis.

Sen. Jean Leising, R-Oldenburg, speaks on a bill on April 15, 2025. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

Sen. Jean Leising, R-Oldenburg, said constituents in her district were shocked by the move.

That created quite a frenzy from the people that maybe should have been expecting it. I dont know, but they werent expecting it, she said.

Leising tried unsuccessfully to add her judges back into the bill on Monday. She voted against the proposal.

She said she knows the courts were chosen based on caseload statistics but she wished the list had been made public earlier in the process.

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I would just hope that in the future when things like this are done that maybe it was a more open process so those counties can come speak up, Leising said. If a county now has two judges and you do away with one of them, its a tremendous impact.

The general idea of reallocation was discussed in a study committee in October 2024. Essentially, Indiana uses a weighted caseload study that assesses how much judicial time is needed for different types of cases. Then it looks at how many cases are filed to determine how many judges and magistrates are needed for the caseload.

For years lawmakers have added state-funded court officers when the statistics have shown more judges are needed to handle additional cases. But as population has shifted away from some rural counties, they have never taken a judge away  even if the weighted caseload shows they have too many court officers.

Sen. Liz Brown said every two years the study committee looks at the need for court officers when lawmakers are crafting a new state budget. Thats because the state pays for the salaries of judges and magistrates  currently about $183,000 and $146,000, respectively.

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At the same time we looked at where there is not a need in the state, she said. I want to assure you that this was not done with any sense of personality  this is strictly where is the need in the state of Indiana.

Brown said courts that are losing a judge, we looked at them on their own, independently, and said there is not sufficient need here.

The weighted caseload study shows, for instance, that Monroe County has ten judges but only needs 7.87. Blackford County has two judges but the study shows it needs less than one.

The bill now goes back to the House, where court abolishments were not originally part of the measure. That chamber can either accept the changes or send the bill to conference committee for final negotiations.

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  As lawmakers continue to push for grocery stores to sell wine, one senator introduced a bill that takes a different approach.

The legislation, if passed, would allow grocery stores to sell wine that is only produced in New York State. Senator George Borrello introduced the bill, saying this would address concerns of national distributors hogging shelf space and crowding out local producers.

If we allow out-of-state wines to flood our stores, it will be the big national brands backed by powerful distributors, who dominate shelf space, Senator Borello said in a statement. Small New York producers are likely to be squeezed out entirely or reduced to a token presence on store shelves.

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While lawmakers continue to champion the reintroduced bill, some local wine retailers have voiced concern that the bill would hurt small businesses. Borello says his bill would help level the playing field.

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Sen. Ben Brown, a Republican from Washington, introduces his legislative assistant on the first day of the 2024 Legislative Session (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).

A state senator is taking aim at colleges and universities in Missouri who ask prospective students or job candidates to explain how they would contribute to an institutions diversity, equity and inclusion goals.

The legislation would prohibit schools from requiring the submission of a diversity, equity and inclusion statement for admission or employment. It would also prohibit the preferential consideration of applicants on the basis of an unsolicited submission of a DEI statement.

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According to a guide from Notre Dame University, DEI statements are short essays that describe the candidates commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. Bill sponsor Sen. Ben Brown, a Republican from Washington, called these statements DEI loyalty oaths and said they are used as a political litmus test for candidates.

(Candidates) are expected to commit to shaping their teaching and research priorities around DEIs radical ideology, Brown said in a committee hearing on the bill Tuesday.

The University of Missouri does not currently require these types of statements for admission or employment. However, provisions of the bill that deal with unsolicited statements could have consequences for MU. The bill would bar universities from giving preferential treatment to applicants for jobs or admission who submit a DEI statement anyway.

There would have to be proof that someone was given preferential treatment due to the statement that was submitted, Brown said in an interview. So absent that evidence, it wouldnt really have any impact on current practices.

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Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern, a Kansas City Democrat, questioned whether any of these practices were currently taking place at universities in the state. Brown said he hadnt looked since presenting the bill last year and that many universities, including Missouri State University, could have changed their policies since then. Still, Brown said the legislation is needed regardless of how many schools currently require the submission of DEI statements.

It is something that has been required, Brown said, and I imagine would be in the future as well as things change and something that I feel we need to prevent now.

Nurrenbern called the bill the epitome of big government before concluding her questioning.

James Harris, testified in favor of the bill on behalf of Cicero Action and Do No Harm Action, a pair of advocacy groups who say on their websites that they oppose destructive and divisive ideologies. He said requiring DEI statements can force applicants to look for work elsewhere, ultimately harming the states colleges and universities.

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Critics of the bill included Paul Wagner with the Council on Public Higher Education, which represents Missouri State University, Truman State University and other public colleges in the state. MU is not a member of the council. During his testimony, he called into question the bills vague language.

It just opens (universities) up to so much legal liability on the basis of things that are really just vague and could just be hearsay, Wagner said. It puts the state and our institutions at risk.

Brown said in an interview he was open to the input given during Tuesdays hearing and would look into tightening the language.

This story originally appeared in the Columbia Missourian. It can be republished in print or online.
CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD)  A bill to dissolve Charleston Countys constituent school boards is headed to Governor Henry McMasters desk after receiving final approval from lawmakers this week.

The measure, which abolishes the eight constituent boards and transfers their duties to the Charleston County School Board, was given third reading Wednesday in the Senate.

State senator invites Trump to visit Upstate BMW plant

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Constituent boards are responsible for considering student transfer requests, drawing attendance zones, and handling disciplinary matters in their respective districts.

They were formed in 1967 after state lawmakers voted to consolidate eight individual districts into one centralized district with a nine-member board. The model is unique to Charleston County in that no other district in the country operates under a similar governance structure.

News 2 spoke with Charleston County Superintendent Anita Huggins who said some of the changes they were considering.

We think that, as of right now, our disciplinary hearings will be held by hearing panels and our Board of Trustees will entertain student transfers similarly as they have in some instances as well as zoning, said Huggins.

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Constituent board members expressed concerns about staff members taking over the role in disciplinary hearings.

My concern is a paid staff member is not going to have the same perspective, compassion or understanding of family situations, that folks in the community have. Were not paid staff people we do this because we care and feel we have a responsibility to it, said Katy Calloway, the Chair of District 3 Constituent Board for James Island.

CCSD officials say one benefit of this change will be consistency across the district. They say they have made room in the budget for the additional hearing officers with the dissolution of the boards and will have around $300,000 left over.

Were committed to serving children and we believe this system, once we have it up and going, will do just that: putting students at the heart of the work, communities and families as well. Were looking forward to working with all stakeholders to make sure this goes well and smoothly into the new school year, said Huggins.

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The bill was unanimously passed in the House earlier this month. It now goes to the governor, who is expected to sign it.

The changes are set to take effect July 1.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2.
A man poses for a photo outside the venue of the 137th edition of the China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, April 15, 2025. The 137th edition of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, kicked off on Tuesday, with the number of export exhibitors exceeding 30,000 for the first time in the history of this famous event. (Xinhua/Deng Hua)

Foreign buyers have business talks during the 137th edition of the China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, April 15, 2025. The 137th edition of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, kicked off on Tuesday, with the number of export exhibitors exceeding 30,000 for the first time in the history of this famous event. (Xinhua/Deng Hua)

Foreign buyers have business talks during the 137th edition of the China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, April 15, 2025. The 137th edition of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, kicked off on Tuesday, with the number of export exhibitors exceeding 30,000 for the first time in the history of this famous event. (Xinhua/Deng Hua)

People try a VR product during the 137th edition of the China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, April 15, 2025. The 137th edition of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, kicked off on Tuesday, with the number of export exhibitors exceeding 30,000 for the first time in the history of this famous event. (Xinhua/Xiao Ennan)

This photo taken on April 15, 2025 shows the booth of China's Midea Group during the 137th edition of the China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province. The 137th edition of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, kicked off on Tuesday, with the number of export exhibitors exceeding 30,000 for the first time in the history of this famous event. (Xinhua/Deng Hua)

This photo taken on April 15, 2025 shows a scene at the venue of the 137th edition of the China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province. The 137th edition of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, kicked off on Tuesday, with the number of export exhibitors exceeding 30,000 for the first time in the history of this famous event. (Xinhua/Deng Hua)

This photo taken on April 15, 2025 shows the exterior view of the venue of the 137th edition of the China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province. The 137th edition of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, kicked off on Tuesday, with the number of export exhibitors exceeding 30,000 for the first time in the history of this famous event. (Xinhua/Xiao Ennan)

A foreign buyer chooses speakers during the 137th edition of the China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, April 15, 2025. The 137th edition of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, kicked off on Tuesday, with the number of export exhibitors exceeding 30,000 for the first time in the history of this famous event. (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin)

People visit the 137th edition of the China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, April 15, 2025. The 137th edition of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, kicked off on Tuesday, with the number of export exhibitors exceeding 30,000 for the first time in the history of this famous event. (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin)

A foreign buyer (L) learns about security products during the 137th edition of the China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, April 15, 2025. The 137th edition of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, kicked off on Tuesday, with the number of export exhibitors exceeding 30,000 for the first time in the history of this famous event. (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin)
A company founded by Bill Gates has submitted a bid to build mini-nuclear reactors in Britain, dealing a potential blow to Rolls-Royces hopes of dominating the domestic market.

Seattle-based TerraPower has written to the Government outlining its intention to submit its reactor design for regulatory approval.

The move kickstarts efforts by the US company to enter an increasingly competitive market to build small modular reactors (SMR), which are expected to play a key role in the UKs shift to cleaner energy.

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The Microsoft billionaires company has developed a reactor, called Natrium, that uses a molten sodium heat storage system that allows it to rapidly ramp up its power output at peak times. Natrium is the Latin word for sodium which has the chemical symbol Na.

Chris Levesque, TerraPower chief executive, said: I am incredibly excited to begin the process of licensing the Natrium technology in the UK.

Rolls-Royce had hoped to corner the UK market with its small modular reactors

TerraPower is committed to deploying Natrium units globally and has been in active discussions in the UK for years. There is immense interest and opportunity for the United States and United Kingdom to cooperate on deploying advanced nuclear plants over the coming decade.

TerraPowers bid for approval will pile further pressure on Rolls-Royce, which is vying to lead the countrys development of mini-nuke technology.

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The British engineering giant is already facing a battle to get its SMR project approved after ministers launched a competitive tender for the countrys mini-nuke programme.

GE Hitachi, Holtec and Westinghouse have also been shortlisted alongside Rolls-Royce for the contract, with government body Great British Nuclear expected to make a final decision in the spring.

Tufan Erginbilgic, chief executive of Rolls-Royce, last month warned that Britain risked missing out in the race to develop nuclear power if ministers failed to close the process by the end of June.

While TerraPower is not involved in the competition for the UKs SMR contract, the potential entrant of a new deep-pocketed rival into the market will pose a fresh challenge to Rolls-Royces plans.

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Mr Gates co-founded TerraPower in 2006 with the aim of building reactors that will dramatically bring down the cost of nuclear power.

The company broke ground on its first site in Wyoming last year, with construction expected to be completed in five years.

TerraPower plans to use its US regulatory approvals on this maiden site as the basis of its application in the UK, which will mark the first effort to deploy Natrium technology in a global market.

The company is submitting its bid for approval through the Generic Design Assessment, a voluntary process used by nuclear regulators to assess the safety, security and environmental impact of reactor designs.

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Any application to build reactors at specific sites would be subject to a separate approval process.

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Bill Gates said AI could solve shortages in two key professions: teaching and medicine.

The billionaire said AI would help plug labor gaps, even in blue-collar roles.

He also said AI could make early retirement or shorter workweeks possible.

Bill Gates said the long-standing shortage of doctors and teachers might soon be over because AI would fill the gap.

"AI will come in and provide medical IQ, and there won't be a shortage," he said on an episode of the "People by WTF" podcast published Friday.

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Long focused on public health, Gates noted that countries such as India and those in Africa continue to face a shortage of medical professionals.

The US also has this issue. A report from the Association of American Medical Colleges last year projected that the US would face a physician shortage of up to 86,000 specialists and primary care doctors by 2036.

"The country needs hundreds of thousands of doctors to provide an equal amount of care to everyone, including minorities, those without medical insurance, and people living in rural areas," Michael Dill, the organization's director of workforce studies, told Business Insider last year.

The number of doctors who specialize in geriatric care is also dwindling, even as populations age. Medical professionals told BI in March that the influx of older patients could lead to a quality-of-care crisis.

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To ease burnout in the industry, healthcare-focused AI startups have raised billions by pitching themselves as the fix. Startups including Suki, Zephyr AI, and Tennr say they can lighten workload by automating repetitive tasks such as billing and note-taking, improving diagnosis accuracy, and identifying patients for emerging treatments.

The consulting firm McKinsey estimates that generative AI could boost productivity in healthcare and pharma by up to $370 billion.

Education is headed in the same direction.

In the US, according to federal data released in 2023, 86% of K-12 public schools reported difficulties hiring teachers for the 2023-to-2024 school year. About 45% of public schools said they were understaffed.

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In the UK, a London high school started replacing some teachers with AI tools such as ChatGPT last year to help students prep for exams. The pilot program at David Game College involves 20 students using AI tools for a year in core subjects such as English, math, biology, and computer science.

Despite concerns about students using AI to cheat, educators told BI last year that they were optimistic about generative AI's potential to save teachers time and improve learning  especially as classrooms become harder to staff.

If AI does the jobs, what's left for humans?

Gates wasn't just talking about teachers and doctors. He also said AI was coming for factory workers, construction crews, and hotel cleaners  anyone doing work that required physical skill and time.

"The hands have to be awfully good to do those things. We'll achieve that," he said.

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Tech giants such as Nvidia are betting big on humanoid robots designed to perform manual tasks, including picking items in warehouses and scrubbing floors. These robots aim to reduce labor costs and boost efficiency.

Gates said the world was heading toward a future where work could be drastically reduced  or at least looks very different from now.

"You can retire early, you can work shorter workweeks," he said. "It's going to require almost a philosophical rethink about, 'OK, how should time be spent?'"

Gates added that he was also grappling with that question. "It's hard for those of us  in my case, spending almost 70 years in a world of shortage  even to adjust my mind," he said.

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In 1930, the economist John Maynard Keynes predicted that technological advances could eventually reduce the workweek to just 15 hours.

Nearly a century later, despite major productivity leaps, most people still work about 40 hours weekly.

"I don't have to work," Gates said. "I choose to work. Because? Because it's fun."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Sandra Lomeli testifies at a public hearing April 10, 2025, against a bill imposing new restrictions on the process for confirming eligibility for Medicaid. (Wisconsin Examiner photo)

Legislation that would add new restrictions to the process of qualifying for Medicaid is on hold in the Wisconsin Capitol after meeting with resounding opposition at an Assembly hearing less than a week ago.

At a meeting Tuesday to vote on two other bills, State Rep. Dan Knodl (R-Germantown) told the Assembly Committee on Public Benefit Reform that he chairs that the Medicaid measure has some work to be done yet.

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The bills author, Rep. William Penterman (R-Columbus), told the Wisconsin Examiner in an email message Tuesday that the legislation is still in the Assembly Committee on Public Benefit Reform. The conversation on how to improve the bill is ongoing.

State Rep. Ryan Clancy listens to testimony at a public hearing on April 10, 2025, about a bill placing to restrictions on the process of qualifying for Medicaid. (Wisconsin Examiner photo)

An opponent of the measure, however, suggested that opposition testimony had prevailed in keeping it from moving forward.

I think you all realized how terrible and harmful that legislation was, said committee member Rep. Ryan Clancy (D-Milwaukee), directing his comment at his four Republican colleagues. We heard two and a half hours of testimony overwhelmingly against that [bill].

Clancy spoke before voting against two other bills that the committee passed 4-2 along party lines  one making sweeping revisions to Wisconsins unemployment insurance (UI) system, and the other barring local governments from instituting guaranteed basic income programs using tax dollars.

Recipients marshal opposition to Medicaid measure

Medicaid covers acute and long-term medical care for low-income people as well as people with disabilities. Its funded jointly with federal and state money and managed by the state under federal rules and guidelines.

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With some exceptions, recipients must have incomes at or below the federal poverty guideline. Most Medicaid recipients must be reviewed once a year to confirm they are still eligible for the program.

AB 163 would direct the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) to conduct eligibility reviews every six months.

It also would add restrictions on the verification process  forbidding the state from automatically renewing Medicaid beneficiaries, forbidding the state from automatically filling in electronic forms with the recipients information except for their name and address, and cutting off a persons ability to enroll in Medicaid for six months for failing to report a change that might make them ineligible.

State Rep. William Penterman testifies at a hearing April 10, 2025, in favor of his bill imposing additional restrictions on establishing eligibility for Medicaid. (Wisconsin Examiner photo)

Penterman, the only witness who testified at the bills April 10 public hearing, highlighted the statistic that 20% of Wisconsin residents are on Medicaid.

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He described the legislation as an effort to reassess and restore integrity to the system by ensuring that only those who are truly needy and truly qualified for this coverage receive benefits.

But the recurring message from a stream of hearing witnesses  the vast majority of them people with disabilities who rely on Medicaid for long-term health care in their homes or in the community or their family caregivers  was that the current eligibility requirements are already burdensome, and strict enough to keep out people who arent eligible.

We heard from so many people who do a tremendous amount of work to prove to the state that they have low enough income, low enough assets, that they are who they say they are, that they meet the functional screen and all of the other requirements that the department has [for them] to be able to get in or stay in the program, said Tamara Jackson, legislative policy representative for the Wisconsin Board of People with Developmental Disabilities, in an interview Tuesday.

The hearing came just two days after the bill was introduced April 8. Its fast track prompted an overnight opposition campaign by Medicaid recipients.

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We heard from people across the state who had said that they had contacted their state lawmakers about this particular bill and had really used it as an opportunity to tell them what they do to be allowed in the Medicaid program, Jackson said.

Federal Medicaid debate draws attention

Recent Congressional action on federal legislation to extend tax cuts enacted in 2017 has included spending targets that would appear to make Medicaid reductions inevitable. Medicaid recipients have been following those debates and making public appeals to oppose cuts in the program  priming them to oppose the state proposal as well.

I think that people are paying attention, and the reason there were so many contacts is because Medicaid is so important to folks and theyre willing to show up and talk about it, Jackson said.

At the very start of the April 10 hearing, Penterman alluded to communications he had already received from advocates and said he planned an amendment to exempt people with developmental disabilities from some of the bills restrictions. He introduced the amendment later that day.

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Several witnesses, however, criticized limiting the amendment to people with developmental disabilities, arguing that the bills requirements would be needlessly onerous for many other people.

Sandra Lomeli of Pewaukee was one of the hearing witnesses against the Medicaid bill. She is the mother of two adult children with severe disabilities who are able to get long-term care through Medicaid. One requires 24-hour care as a sexual assault survivor, she said.

Lomeli is also covered by BadgerCare Plus, the Wisconsin Medicaid plan for primary and specialty health care and hospitalization, because being her childrens family caregiver limits her working hours to a part-time nonprofit position.

She told the committee that she fills both sides of a reams worth of forms each year to confirm her childrens Medicaid eligibility. She said she spends 54 hours completing those forms and 10 hours confirming her own eligibility each year.

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In her testimony Lomeli challenged lawmakers to enlist Medicaid participants and advocates if they wanted to write legislation to improve the program.

It appeared to Lomeli that her suggestion took people by surprise that we would even be at the table, she said in an interview Tuesday. I dont think they valued that we could add value  because if they did, somebody would have reached out.

She said she doesnt consider the legislation dead, however, which concerns her.

The issue is not off the table yet, Lomeli said. Theyre just going to reword it. We have won the battle now. We havent won the war.

UI change, basic-income ban, both pass on party lines

While setting the Medicaid bill aside Tuesday, the Committee on Public Benefit Reform advanced two others with only Republican votes.

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AB 164 would rename Wisconsins unemployment insurance system as a re-employment assistance program with new requirements for workers and for the state agency that administers it.

Those include requiring recipients, who must currently make four work searches a week, to make two of those in the form of direct contacts with prospective employers. It also adds a variety of additional counseling procedures and requirements for people who receive unemployment benefits.

Department of Workforce Development Secretary-designee Amy Pechacek submitted written testimony expressing concerns about this proposal due to the anticipated reporting burden for employers, potential costs, bureaucratic requirements, and lack of sustainable funding.

Gov. Tony Evers vetoed similar legislation in 2023, citing similar complaints as well as the fact that it did not go through the states joint labor-management unemployment advisory council.

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AB 165 would bar local governments from using tax dollars to create guaranteed income programs without a work or training requirement. Evers vetoed a similar bill to that one in 2023 as well, on the grounds it usurped local control.

Rep. Christian Phelps (D-Eau Claire) made the same argument against the current legislation.

Knodl defended the both bills as helping to protect the integrity of these systems, and thats important if we want them to be sustainable in the future.

Clancy argued that both should have been put on pause along with the Medicaid bill.

But all three of those . . . bills are fundamentally the same, Clancy said. They are kicking people when they are down. They are hitting people at their most vulnerable, and frankly, in 2025, when national and state Republican policies have meant that people have more needs. We should not be attacking those social safety nets.

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Family Council attorney Stephanie Nichols (left) and Rep. Mary Bentley, R-Perryville, present Senate Bill 486 to the House Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs on Monday, April 14, 2025. (Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate)

The Arkansas House will consider a bill denounced by advocates for transgender Arkansans on Wednesday, the final day of the 2025 legislative session.

Senate Bill 486 would allow Arkansans to sue for damages if they encounter someone in a bathroom, changing room, shelter or correctional facility who does not align with the designated sex of the restroom. The bill narrowly passed the House Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs on Tuesday after 15 people spoke against it and no member of the public spoke for it.

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The intention here is to make it so that trans people cannot exist in public, said Maricella Garcia, Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families race equity director. If you cannot use the restroom, you cannot go out in public.

Garcia was among several people who said that enforcing SB 486 would require policing and making assumptions about peoples bodies and likely lead to frivolous lawsuits costing taxpayer money.

SB 486 is among many bills related to transgender Arkansans that Rep. Mary Bentley, R-Perryville, has sponsored in the past few legislative sessions, including one the Senate passed Tuesday pertaining to gender-affirming healthcare.

Its not good legislation, its not good for our community and its not good Christian values.

 Marie Mainard O'Connell, a Presbyterian pastor speaking against SB 486

Bentley sponsored Act 317 of 2023, which prohibits K-12 students from using bathrooms that do not match their gender assigned at birth and requires schools to have a reasonable accommodation, such as a single-occupancy bathroom, for those unable or unwilling to do so.

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Similarly, SB 486 states that shelters, correctional facilities and other entities must take reasonable steps to comply with the policy; Bentley said signage indicating who is allowed and not allowed in a space would be sufficient, and she said SB 486 is meant to be an extension of Act 317.

Bentley also supported Act 619 of 2023, which initially would have criminalized entering and remaining in bathrooms and locker rooms that do not match an adults gender assigned at birth if children are present. After hours of public pushback before the House Judiciary Committee, that legislation was amended to limit potential criminal charges and prosecutions to adults present in those spaces with criminal intent.

The conservative Family Council worked with lawmakers from both political parties to formulate the amendment to Act 619 two years ago. On Tuesday, Family Council attorney Stephanie Nichols said SB 486 would close loopholes in the law to more closely regulate who can enter gender-specific bathrooms.

Evelyn Rios Stafford, a Washington County justice of the peace and Arkansas first openly transgender elected official, spoke against Act 619 two years ago and against SB 486 Tuesday.

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We had a compromise that worked for everybody, she said. Everybody walked away feeling that that was a bill that everybody can live with, and now I feel like that compromise and that promise is being broken.

Sexual violence discussion

Nichols and Bentley repeatedly said SB 486 protects womens and girls privacy, the same argument supporters of Act 317 and Act 619 used. Rep. Cindy Crawford, R-Fort Smith, was the House sponsor of Act 619 and said Tuesday that not passing SB 486 opens the door to men entering womens bathrooms to commit sexual violence.

Several opponents of SB 486 said not only that transgender women in bathrooms are not a threat, but also that the bill does nothing to prevent sexual violence or respect survivors.

[This bill] exploits my trauma to push a political agenda thats rooted not in facts but in fear, Brittany Stockton said. The idea that predators are pretending to be trans to attack people in bathrooms is a harmful myth.

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Multiple speakers also said transgender people face a higher risk of identity-based violence and harassment than other demographics. Marie Mainard OConnell, a Presbyterian pastor and mother of a transgender teen, said she fears one day having to conduct a funeral service for a transgender person dead by suicide or targeted violence.

If I have to perform that service, youre getting an invitation, she told the committee.

Marie Mainard OConnell, a Presbyterian pastor and mother of a transgender teen, asks the House Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs to vote against Senate Bill 486 on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. The bill would allow Arkansans to sue for damages if they encounter someone in a bathroom, changing room, shelter or correctional facility who does not align with the designated sex of the area in question. (Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate)

Crawford said SB 486 is not intended to harm anyone and her heart hurts for transgender people who feel targeted.

Why should we protect this minority, trans people, when we are putting in danger young women and women in bathrooms that are designated for their sex? Crawford said.

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OConnell responded to Crawfords statement by reminding the committee that one of Jesus parables in the Bible involves a shepherd leaving 99 sheep behind to search for one that was missing.

Please vote no on this, OConnell said. Its not good legislation, its not good for our community and its not good Christian values.

Rep. Nicole Clowney, D-Fayetteville, said transgender people who no longer physically resemble their gender assigned at birth would be at risk of violence if the law requires them to use the bathroom that does not align with their identity.

Bentley said Clowney was way out there on a limb and reiterated the reasonable steps portion of SB 486.

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We have two sexes, male and female, no matter how [many] drugs you take or the kind of surgery you have, Bentley said.

She introduced the bill to the committee Monday, but was asked to pull it down before public comment. House Minority Leader Andrew Collins, D-Little Rock, asked for an analysis of the bills fiscal impact, expressing concerns that public buildings would incur significant costs in order to meet the accommodation standards in SB 486.

The fiscal impact statement from the Department of Finance and Administration asserts that SB 486 will not require the expenditure of state funds or the construction or modification of any state facilities.

Rios Stafford disputed this and said not all government buildings in Arkansas have single-occupancy restrooms.

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Any county, any city that wants to do the right thing by their citizens is going to have to spend money and is going to have to spend a lot of money, and we know how much retrofitting a building costs, especially if its an older building that was grandfathered in before the Americans with Disabilities Act, Rios Stafford said.

The Arkansas Senate passed SB 486 along party lines April 2.

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Senate action on transgender health care

On Tuesday, the Senate sent a bill to the governors desk that would broaden the scope of a 2023 law that created civil liability for doctors who provide gender-affirming health care to transgender minors.

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The Protecting Minors from Medical Malpractice Act, or Act 274 of 2023, created a 15-year window for adults to sue physicians for any physical, psychological, emotional, or physiological injury incurred while the adult received hormone replacement therapy, puberty blockers or gender-affirming surgeries as a minor.

Bentley sponsored both Act 274 and its proposed amendment, House Bill 1916, which would add mental health care providers to the laws list of medical professionals liable for gender-affirming intervention. She has repeatedly said gender-affirming medical care is harmful to minors; physicians who treat transgender children said otherwise during the 2022 trial over a Bentley-sponsored 2021 law that sought to ban this care.

The Senate Judiciary Committee passed HB 1916 Monday night. Bentley told the committee that gender-affirming care consists of grotesque experiments that stunt and suppress a childs natural development in service of scientific fantasies.

All 29 Republican senators voted to send HB 1916 to Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders desk Tuesday while all six Democrats voted against it.

Sen. Clarke Tucker (left), D-Little Rock; Sen. Ben Gilmore (center), R-Crossett; and Sen. Alan Clark (right), R-Lonsdale, listen to public testimony during a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting on Monday, April 14, 2025. (Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate)

Sen. Clarke Tucker, D-Little Rock, was the only member of the Judiciary Committee to vote against HB 1916 Monday. He said he agreed with public testimony that the bills use of the phrase gender-affirming intervention is too broad.

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Psychologist Lindsey Thomas said HB 1916 would hold therapists liable for using transgender minors preferred names and pronouns as gender-affirming intervention; Bentley agreed that the bill would preclude this from happening.

Thomas also said HB 1916 would increase the costs of providers medical malpractice insurance and increase wait times for all children to see a therapist in Arkansas.

The bill mentions hormones and puberty blockers, but the six health care professionals that opposed the bill Monday said mental health care providers do not prescribe these medications. Nine more people had signed up to speak against the bill but did not get to speak due to the committees time constraints.

We dont know if or when an issue of gender dysphoria might show up, said Garry Teeter, a counselor and a Christian pastor. We may be working with that child for months or years, and then this comes up in therapy At that point, it would be detrimental and harmful to the client for the therapist to say, Because of this particular law thats now being considered, were no longer able to provide you the care that we have been providing.

In March, members of the House Judiciary Committee, the public and the Arkansas Attorney Generals staff expressed concerns that Bentleys House Bill 1668 would infringe on the right to freedom of expression. That bill would have created civil liability for any adult who aids a minors social transitioning, including changes in clothing, pronouns, hairstyle, and name.

Bentley promised to amend HB 1668 but withdrew it the day after she filed HB 1916.
Photo illustration by Getty Images.

Rep. Kelly Kortum, D-Bozeman, told his colleagues during a committee hearing last month that he wanted to solve a common problem for Montana renters.

When folks apply to an apartment, a certain apartment might get 20 applications. The second person might get the apartment, (but) 18 application fees might go into the pocket of the property manager, Kortum told the Senate Business, Labor, and Economic Affairs Committee.

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His bill, House Bill 311, would require property managers to refund application fees to prospective renters who are not selected for an apartment or home.

Kortum said his bill would fix bad business practices and protect consumers, especially workers and college students.

HB 311 passed a final vote in the Legislature on Tuesday, and is on its way to Gov. Greg Gianfortes desk for a signature or veto.

The bill drew bipartisan support in both chambers, but had a rough start in the House, where lawmakers in the House Judiciary Committee tabled the legislation. Opposition to the bill, stemming mainly from the Montana Landlords Association and Montana Association of Realtors, had expressed concerns that the law would be put into the wrong section of code, and would target small property managers or individual landlords who would have to take extra steps to return fees.

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Proponents included the Associated Students of the University of Montana, the Montana Budget and Policy Center, and Joey Morrison, Deputy Mayor of Bozeman. They argued the bill was part of the affordable housing fix by helping to stabilize low-cost housing and keeping students and workers in the towns they live and work in.

Every day, Montanans pay rental application fees but dont get the apartment, Kortum said during the committee hearing. Why are they paying for a service they never receive?

A successful blast motion on the House floor  wherein the entire body votes to override a committee action  brought the debate to chamber.

Last spring, I found myself in this position. I spent nearly $1,000 in six weeks applying for rentals here in Helena, said Rep. Julie Darling, R-Helena. I dont have a thousand extra dollars  and I have a really good job  I dont know how somebody else making minimum wage does this.

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The bill passed 63-31, with 26 Republicans joining all Democrats.

In the Senate, Business and Labor committee amended the bill, following discussions with Kortum and some opponents, to change where the bill would be put into Montana Code Annotated, adding it to a section where property managers are regulated. The committee also amended the bill to target property managers who oversee four or more properties, exempting individual landlords and small management companies.

The Senate approved the bill with bipartisan support 32-14.

Kortum brought a similar bill during the 2023 session and in 2021 a Bozeman senator also proposed an application refund law, but neither garnered much support.

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Democrat leaders in the Legislature praised the bills passage on Tuesday and urged the governor to sign it into law.

Getting a roof over your head should not be a raffle or a lottery. HB 311 would end the housing lottery and stop landlords from harvesting exploitative fees from hardworking Montanans, House Minority Leader Rep. Katie Sullivan, D-Missoula, said in a press release. If signed, Democrats HB 311 would be one of the most significant policies enacted for renters in the last four years.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT)  Some in the Alabama Legislature believe more can be done to curb smoking among Alabamas children.

In a new bill filed by Rep. Barbara Drummond, D-Mobile, new standards would be put into place for businesses selling vapes, specifically requiring gas stations and other retailers to purchase licenses to sell those products. It would also put in programs to deter tobacco exposure to students.

Im a Sunday School teacher, Drummond said. And, one of my kids was sucking on what I thought was a zip drive. And it was a vape pipe.

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Drummond said kids as young as third grade are allegedly getting their hands on these vapes. Additionally, she said that revenue would go towards the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, and the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board to check stores, making sure only legal products are sold.

See, a lot of products are coming out of China, and Mexico, she said. And, you dont know whats in them. Youve got formaldehyde, all kinds of chemicals that are in them. So, this will give us an opportunity to regulate them.

That regulation comes in the form of a registry with the Department of Revenue. Drummond explained a registry is used to vet products that are sold in stores, and make sure they are not illegal. Besides regulation, the bill also requires schools to teach students about the harms of vaping.

However, Molly Cole with the Alabama Hemp and Vape Association said the regulations would restrict those people who use the products as an alternative to tobacco.

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Youre really taking away choice from people that need to be able to have access to this, Cole said. Because, otherwise, theyre gonna go back to tobacco cigarettes, theyre gonna go back to the dip products.

Rep. Russell Bedsole, R-Alabaster, believes there should be stronger regulations on the products.

Im not sure if its the right vehicle if Im being honest, Bedsole said. I would like to see this legislative body take a firmer stance- try to limit the locations in which vapes are available.

Drummond said the bill is not restrictive; its about protecting children and making sure parents know what is available to their children.

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They need to go into these facilities and see whats being sold on the shelves, so that they can know and be abreast of what their children are facing, she said.

The bill passed in the House and will now heads to the Senate for a committee vote.

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As a Palm Beach County resident, the Executive Director of the Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates, and a mom of two teenagers, I have grave concerns about our young peoples future in Florida. I know our elected officials share my commitment to education, but Im troubled by the support Im seeing for House Bill 1255, which includes language mandating the use of anti-abortion propaganda in our public schools.

As this bill moves through the committee process were seeing members of our local legislative delegation  both Democrats and Republicans  voting "yes" for this bill requiring middle and high school students in Florida be subjected to anti-abortion indoctrination despite the fact that National Sex Education Standards do not recommend viewing an ultrasound video for sex education and displaying such a video is not considered a best practice in the sex education field.

Bills like HB 1255 are another example of a growing trend to infuse anti-abortion extremism and disinformation into health education by requiring the viewing of the "Meet Baby Olivia" video created by Live Action, an extreme anti-abortion group. Although the bill doesnt directly name Live Actions Meet Baby Olivia video, it uses a description of the video that is very similar to the one used in the North Dakota law, and would likely require that students have to watch the Live Action video as part of health education. Thus far, no other videos have been developed that comply with the legislation, which leaves school boards with no option but to rely on Live Actions materials, even though the video is not scientifically accurate and has not been endorsed by leading medical organizations such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).

Florida House Bill 1255, which includes language mandating the use of anti-abortion language in our public schools, has bipartisan support.

Opinion: Florida is getting prudish on sex education

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Being that the video in question is intended to mislead and frighten, its no wonder it's rife with falsehoods. For starters, the video counts the embryo's age from conception, which is not how doctors measure pregnancy. They measure from the last known period. That means, in addition to other inaccuracies about development, every milestone is presented two weeks earlier than it happens. The computer-generated video uses up-close shots to misrepresent fetal development. The truth is, early pregnancy looks nothing like what were told by groups like Live Action.

Live Action  the group behind the Baby Olivia video  must not be allowed to spread their propaganda in our schools. Their group has been suspended or banned from several social media platforms for spreading conspiracies and disinformation and for posting graphic fear-mongering content and has been widely discredited for its inflammatory and doctored videos.

In April 2024, Fargo Public Schools in North Dakota stopped showing this video after a 15-year-old student said the video was misleading. A committee there investigated the video and found it contains significant portions of untrue information, inaccurate facts, and/or faulty premises.

Opinion: Florida turning the page on book banning with an excuse that will make you gag

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All young people  no matter who they are or where they live  deserve sex education that is reflective of their experiences and needs. Young people deserve an accurate curriculum that will equip them to make healthy decisions and build the futures they want.

Laura Goodhue

I hope our legislators will heed this warning from North Dakota  and from the overwhelming opposition from Floridians who have testified against this bill  and not only vote down this dangerous language, but speak up for our young people who are looking to these elected officials for leadership.

Laura Goodhue is Executive Director of the Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates, and Palm Beach resident.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida sex ed in schools may get worse with new bill | Opinion
George L. Russell Jr., center, with Larry S. Gibson, left, and William H. "Billy" Murphy Jr. (Photo courtesy of University of Maryland, Baltimore)

George L. Russell Jr., a pioneer in the Black legal community who became the first Black to sit on an appellate court in Maryland, first Black city solicitor and first Black president of the Baltimore City Bar Association, died Saturday at the age of 96.

He was a giant. He was a pioneer. He was somebody who paved the way for so many Black attorneys in this state, said Del. Malcolm Ruff (D-Baltimore City), an attorney at the firm Murphy, Flacon & Murphy in Baltimore. But for George Russell, I wouldnt have the opportunity that I have today. There wouldnt be this pathway for the legal practice for Black attorneys.

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Russells friends and colleagues said he often supported other Black attorneys.

Larry S. Gibson, a longtime friend and member of the same Black fraternity as Russell, Kappa Alpha Psi, said Russell joined other Black attorneys every Saturday morning to just shoot the breeze at Brown, Allen, Watts and Murphy, one of the first Black law firms in Baltimore and the first in the citys downtown. Russell later became a partner in the firm.

Those Saturday morning bull sessions really became familiar with George Russell. It began a change in my life, said Gibson, who graduated with a law degree from Columbia University and was admitted to the bar in 1967. He then began to work for the firm in Baltimore.

One conversation Gibson recalled with Russell was about work ethic.

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George would go to bed between 7:30 to 8 oclock [p.m.], he said. I remember George telling me, You want to impress a client? Call them at 6:30 a.m. and tell them youre working on their case.

George L. Russell Jr. Photo courtesy of Baltimore City Circuit Court Collection.

Gibson said one of Russells major achievements dealt with influencing the community.

In 1982, Russell established Harbor Bank, one of the largest minority-owned banks in the nation. Gibson said Russell also had a major influence on the construction of the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture in downtown Baltimore.

He said Russell pushed for Black architects to design the museum. One was Gary Bowden, who taught architecture at the University of Maryland, College Park. The museum will hold iits 20th anniversary gala next month.

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George was determined it was going to be built downtown from the ground up, said Gibson, who is retiring this month after 50 years of teaching at the University of Maryland Francis Carey School of Law.

Russell was born March 19, 1929. According to The HistoryMakers, a nonprofit research and education institution, Russells mother was a homemaker and his father a postal worker.

He graduated from Frederick Douglass High School in 1946, then received a degree in economics at the University of Pennsylvania in 1950 and a law degree at the University of Maryland in 1954.

He was drafted into the Army the same year, working in legal and and in charge of courts, boards and special courts martial.

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Russell left his law firm in 1966 after being appointed to become the first African American to serve as associate judge of the Supreme Bench of Baltimore and first to sit on an appellate court in Maryland. A few other firsts included the first Black city solicitor for Baltimore City (1968 to 1974), and the first Black candidate to run for mayor in 1971. He came in second place in the Democratic primary behind eventually winner, William Donald Schaefer.

After city solicitor, Russell returned to private practice in the mid 1970s and became a partner at Russell & Thompson through 1986. During that year, Russell merged his Black firm with a predominantly white firm, Piper and Marbury, one of the top 100 firms in the country.

According to the Maryland archives, Russell became associated with the law offices of the late Peter G. Angelos, the former majority owner of the Baltimore Orioles.

Russell received numerous legal and community awards and served on statewide boards such as the Maryland Museum of African American History and Culture Commission, as chair of the Governors Salary Commission and chair of Baltimores Judicial Nominating Commission.

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Im sorry to hear of the passing of Judge George Russell Jr., Del. Luke Clippinger (D-Baltimore City), chair of the House Judiciary Committee and assistant states attorney in Anne Arundel County, said in a text message Tuesday. He was a trailblazing jurist, attorney and public servant who made the City of Baltimore and the State of Maryland better for all its residents while opening doors to African Americans that were closed for too long.

Russell is survived by his son, George L. Russell III, who became chief judge of the U.S. District Court of Maryland in May 2024.
WEST SALEM, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX)  A Black River Falls man is accused of a 10th OWI offense. A criminal complaint says that after midnight on Monday, April 14th, a West Salem Police Officer checked the license plates of a vehicle. That check determined the vehicle was registered to Aaron Falcon. He had lost his driving status due to failing to install an ignition interlock device. Authorities also learned he had a warrant for his arrest.

He was arrested outside of a Kwik Trip, where he told officers he used meth the day prior, and used meth daily. Authorities also found syringes in his vehicle that had a white powdery substance, which tested positive for fentanyl.

A $1,000 cash bond is set, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 25th.

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HOUSTON, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Four students were injured on Tuesday in a shooting at Wilmer-Hutchins High School in Dallas, Texas, local authorities said.

A suspect involved in the shooting was detained on Tuesday evening, according to the police. The identity of the shooter and the motive behind the attack have not yet been disclosed.

Among the injured, aged 15 to 18, three sustained gunshot wounds, said Dallas Fire-Rescue officials, adding that the conditions of the injured range from serious to non-life-threatening.

"Today as we all know, the unthinkable has happened," said Dallas Independent School District Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde at a press conference. "And quite frankly, this is just becoming way too familiar, and it should not be familiar."

In April 2024, a student was shot in the leg in a classroom after another student brought a gun to Wilmer-Hutchins. 
Negotiations on Black Sea security are underway in Ankara and could shape the regions post-war stability, President Volodymyr Zelensky said during an April 15 press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Odesa.

The talks involve Ukraine, the UK, France, and Turkey, and include discussions about deploying foreign military personnel to safeguard Black Sea waters.

"This is not about ending the war, this is about what will happen after the cease-fire - security guarantees," Zelensky said.

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He noted that Turkey could play a key role in future regional security guarantees and stressed the importance of a military presence to protect coastal cities like Odesa and Mykolaiv.

"We are talking about the presence of a contingent at sea, and we believe that Turkey can have a serious place in future security guarantees for the sea," Zelensky added.

Turkey has positioned itself as a potential mediator in Russia's all-out war against Ukraine by maintaining diplomatic and economic ties with both nations. Leveraging its strategic position and influence in the Black Sea region, Turkey has facilitated negotiations and grain exports, while expressing willingness to participate in ceasefire monitoring.

While Kyiv on March 11 immediately agreed to accept a U.S. proposal for a 30-day ceasefire without conditions, Russia refused the terms. Following additional talks with the U.S., Russia nominally agreed to a partial truce on the Black Sea and on energy infrastructure attacks.

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Read also: Any Ukraine-Russia peace deal will be difficult to digest, Turkish FM says

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U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, sent a letter April 15 to Vanderbilt University Medical Center President Jeffrey Balser urging him to stop concealing diversity, equity and inclusion programs to comply with President Donald Trump's mission.

"For the benefit of Tennesseans and all Americans who rely on VUMC for lifesaving care and research, I urge you to end all DEI programs and fully comply with the President's executive action," Blackburn wrote.

Blackburn wrote that the medical center scrubbed its website of references to DEI initiatives, "going so far as to password protect web pages tied to DEI and climate activism."

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"Concerningly, though, offices such as the Office of Health Equity, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and the Office for Diversity Affairs are seemingly still active," Blackburn wrote in her letter.

"These offices have advocated for 'collectively addressing systemic inequities' and 'confronting structural racism,' " according to Blackburn's letter. She pointed to the more than $66 million the medical center has received during this fiscal year in federal funds through the National Institutes of Health.

John Howser, the medical center's chief communications officer, said in a statement April 16 in response to the letter that Vanderbilt is eliminating all DEI programs and is "fully complying with Executive Actions on DEI."

"Shortly after the Executive Orders were issued, VUMC began removing related content on internal and external websites to reflect the termination of these programs," Howser said. "VUMC will continue to comply with federal mandates and directives."

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R- Tennessee, listens during Tenn. Gov. Bill Lees speech during Agriculture Day on the Hill at Tennessee State Capitol building in Nashville , Tenn., Tuesday, March 18, 2025.

Balser initiated a hiring freeze in March for most research positions as the Nashville medical center and other leading U.S. research hospitals brace for deep cuts as Trump continues shrinking the federal government, including NIH grant money.

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In her letter, Blackburn said the medical center has invested more than $17 million in diversity and equity programs, including efforts to hire diverse biomedical researchers, which is "only one of many examples of VUMC investing in DEI initiatives instead of lifesaving medical research."

"VUMC's track record on embracing harmful woke initiatives is grim," Blackburn said, citing the medical center's treatment programs for transgender patients, including minors.

Howser didn't respond to these comments by Blackburn.

Beth Warren covers health care and can be reached at bwarren@tennessean.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Marsha Blackburn attacks Vanderbilt medical center for DEI spending
The United States has softened its position on Ukraine's repayment of aid in ongoing talks over access to mineral resources.

Source: Bloomberg with reference to its sources, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Sources familiar with the matter noted that the United States appears to have eased its demands for Ukraine to repay aid during negotiations over an economic deal between the two nations.

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Following technical-level talks in Washington last week, the administration of US President Donald Trump reportedly reduced its estimate of the aid provided to Kyiv since the start of Russias full-scale invasion  from US$300 billion to around US$100 billion. This revised figure aligns more closely with Ukraines own estimate of just over US$90 billion.

The Ukrainian government has declined to comment prior to the signing of any agreement. Neither the White House nor the US Treasury Department has responded to requests for comment.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the US Treasury said that the technical talks had been very productive. He added that the parties hoped to conclude the talks soon.

One of the sources noted that the talks between the technical teams on 11-12 April were constructive. However, he added that the US still views the deal as an opportunity to recover costs from Ukraine through profits generated by an appropriate fund, the size of which remains unspecified in the latest draft.

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The sources stressed that the Trump administration was reluctant to commit to future investments in the fund and is postponing the issue for further discussion. Instead, Washington insists that US spending on the war should be considered a contribution to the fund.

They noted that Ukrainian negotiators are finding it difficult to dissuade their American counterparts from this approach, which underpins some of the toughest US demands.

The sources also noted the Trump administration is reluctant to commit to future investment in the fund and prefers to consider its wartime support as a contribution instead. This point remains a major sticking issue for Ukrainian negotiators.

Lawyers from both sides are expected to continue working remotely this week to move the agreement forward. A Ukrainian source added that Kyiv has been tasked with presenting concrete project proposals at the next round of talks.

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Background:

Earlier, European Pravda reported that the administration of US President Donald Trump had returned to the version of the minerals agreement that required Ukraine to reimburse all the assistance that the United States provided after the start of the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022.

On 11 April, US and Ukrainian officials met to discuss the US proposal to gain access to Ukraine's minerals. The media reported an "antagonistic" atmosphere at the meeting.

During these technical consultations in Washington, the Ukrainian delegation handed over proposals prepared by Kyiv to the US side.

On 15 April, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that last week's talks between the Ukrainian and American teams on a minerals agreement had gone well.

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BOARDMAN, Ohio (WKBN)  Boardman High School student Katelynn Erme chose the non-profit Animal Charity of Ohio for her written PSA entry in the Tom Holden Memorial Scholarship contest.

The junior says she loves to read and write and enjoys extracurriculars. She is a female wrestler for Boardman High School, and also sings in Boardmans Project Mayhem. Katelynns future plans are to become a teacher, and in particular, she wants to teach history at the high school level.

Katelynns love of animals drove her to choose Animal Charity of Ohio.

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I really enjoy Animal Charity of Ohio because they look to make animal care affordable and help put a stop to animal abuse, and spread awareness about the affordable animal care that they give, said Katelynn. I actually volunteered for animal Charity of Ohio just last year, and I really enjoyed the mission that they have there and theyre doing a lot of work to help the animals.

Katelynn was the fifth runner-up in the contest. Read her PSA script for Animal Charity of Ohio here:

The commercial starts with a young woman paying for her groceries. She notices she is ten dollars short and must put back her dogs food.

The woman arrives home to her dog waiting at the door. She sighs upon seeing the dog, she just can not financially afford to support both of them anymore.

She drops the dog off at a nearby shelter. The dog watches her leave with a look of abandonment

Narrator: Each year Ohioans pay about $1,800 dollars to own a dog. For some of us, this financial burden is not an option. Animal Charity of Ohio seeks to help you. With affordable grooming, free pet food, and various other resources, Animal Charity of Ohio seeks to end the financial boundaries of companionship.

A video of dogs playing with their owners

Narrator: Dont let money get in the way of a long-lasting companionship. Animal Charity of Ohio is here to help you

Show an ending screen with Animal Charity of Ohios information and location.

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A federal judge on Wednesday found probable cause to hold Trump administration officials in criminal contempt for what he said was a willful disregard of his order to stop transferring deportees to El Salvador for imprisonment in a notorious maximum security prison.

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg found that the government last month rushed to fly two planes carrying hundreds of passengers to the Salvadoran prison in the hours after the judge barred the government from doing so.

The Constitution does not tolerate willful disobedience of judicial orders  especially by officials of a coordinate branch who have sworn an oath to uphold it, Boasberg wrote in a 46-page decision.

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The judge, an Obama appointee, said that the Trump administration had stonewalled and refused to provide information to him in hearings after his initial order, rather than admitting a grave mistake and detailing steps to rectify the situation. The Trump administration had invoked the Alien Enemies Act to carry out the rushed deportations, and it argued that divulging details to Boasberg would jeopardize state secrets.

Criminal contempt can be punished by fines or imprisonment. Boasberg did not identify specific officials he might refer for criminal prosecution. First, he wrote, he will give the administration a chance to cure the violation  perhaps by arranging a way for the deportees to use the U.S. courts to challenge their detention in the El Salvador prison.

That solution, Boasberg wrote, would not necessarily require bringing the deported men back to the U.S. or even releasing them from the prison.

But if the administration doesnt rectify the issue, the judge said he may require administration officials to testify under oath so that he can identify the specific individuals responsible for violating his order. He would then request that those individuals be prosecuted.

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The judge signaled he could appoint an outside lawyer to prosecute the contempt case if the Justice Department declines to do so.

The White House said it would challenge Boasberg's ruling. "The president is 100% committed to ensuring that terrorists and criminal illegal migrants are no longer a threat to Americans and their communities across the country," White House communications director Steven Cheung said.

The showdown with Boasberg comes as the Trump administration is already locked in a separate high-stakes confrontation with a judge in another deportation case. U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis has ordered at least four officials to give sworn testimony about the administrations refusal to take significant steps to comply with her order that they facilitate the return to the U.S. of an illegally deported man, Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

Boasbergs high-profile clash with administration officials began March 15, after five Venezuelan men in immigration detention sued to prevent their deportations. They cited fears that President Donald Trump would sweep them up after invoking the Alien Enemies Act, a rarely used 1798 law that allows the government to quickly expel invaders during wartime. Trump has tried to deploy the law against people he claims are members of Tren de Aragua, a violent Venezuelan gang.

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Boasberg blocked the deportation of the five men and held a hearing later the same day to consider their lawyers request to broaden the injunction to cover anyone being deported under Trumps order. At least two flights took off during that hearing, and they continued on to their destination despite the judges command  which he issued orally from the bench  that the planes turn around or bring the deportees back.

The Trump administration vigorously protested Boasbergs orders both in and out of court, with Trump at one point joining calls for Boasbergs impeachment.

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court voted, 5-4, to overturn Boasbergs temporary block on any further deportations under the Alien Enemies Act. The high court rejected the Trump administrations cramped view of the deportees legal rights and insisted that people targeted under the Alien Enemies Act were entitled to a reasonable opportunity to contest their deportation in court. But a majority of the justices said that litigation must be brought in the districts where the prisoners are held, not consolidated in Washington D.C.

The Supreme Court ultimately ruled that the case did not belong before Boasberg. But the judge said in his ruling Wednesday that he retained the power to hold officials in contempt for disobeying his initial order. Litigants, he wrote, are obligated to comply with orders while they appeal  up until the point when a higher court actually reverses those orders.

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Boasberg acknowledged that the Trump administration had made several hyper-technical legal arguments that it didnt violate his directive. Justice Department lawyers had argued that the planes in question were beyond his jurisdiction once they left U.S. airspace and that a judges oral orders are not binding.

A violation of the oral command itself is grounds for contempt, Boasberg concluded, adding that any other view would lead to absurd mischief.

Boasbergs probable cause finding reflects his conclusion that theres a reasonable basis to believe that one or more people deliberately defied his orders. However, he said a probable cause determination doesnt appear to be legally required before launching contempt proceedings.

Boasberg gave Trump officials one week to decide between two options: advise him that they intend to take steps to purge their contempt or identify the specific individuals who decided to continue the deportation flights despite his orders. And he made clear that if they do not name names, he still intends to identify those responsible and refer the matter for prosecution.


A federal judge found probable cause Wednesday to hold the Trump administration in criminal contempt for willfully disobeying his order to immediately halt deportations under the rarely used Alien Enemies Act and turn around any airborne planes.

U.S. District Judge James Boasbergs order gives the administration a final opportunity to come into compliance but says he otherwise will take steps to identify the specific people who flouted his March 15 ruling, which was later lifted by the Supreme Court, and refer them for prosecution.

The Court ultimately determines that the Governments actions on that day demonstrate a willful disregard for its Order, sufficient for the Court to conclude that probable cause exists to find the Government in criminal contempt, Boasberg wrote.

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The Court does not reach such conclusion lightly or hastily; indeed, it has given Defendants ample opportunity to rectify or explain their actions. None of their responses has been satisfactory, he continued.

The order is a blow to a Trump administration that has dug in on its claims it has no obligation to return any of the men swiftly deported to a Salvadoran prison after Trump invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, which has been used only three previous times, all during wars.

The Trump administration said it plans to appeal.

We plan to seek immediate appellate relief. The President is 100% committed to ensuring that terrorists and criminal illegal migrants are no longer a threat to Americans and their communities across the country, White House spokesperson Steven Cheung wrote on the social platform X.

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In the order, Boasberg faulted the administration for having spirited out of the country more than 100 Venezuelans amid their efforts to challenge the legality of their deportations. He also highlighted top Trump officials social media posts, including one by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, relishing that the flights were still headed to El Salvador.

Shortly after Boasberg ordered the flights turn around, Rubio reposted a post from Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele saying Oopsietoo late with a laughing emoji.

It appeared that the Government had transferred members of the Plaintiff class into El Salvadors custody hours after this Courts injunction prohibited their deportation under the Proclamation. Worse, boasts by Defendants intimated that they had defied the Courts Order deliberately and gleefully, Boasberg wrote.

The Constitution does not tolerate willful disobedience of judicial orders  especially by officials of a coordinate branch who have sworn an oath to uphold it, he added later.

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Boasberg is an appointee of former President Obama who was previously nominated to a local court by former President George W. Bush.

The Trump administration has argued that because the men are now in Salvadoran custody, the U.S. has no power to secure their return, despite paying the Central American government $6 million to house the men for the next year.

Boasbergs order gives the Trump administration an opportunity to purge or rectify its contempt but stopped short of requiring what he called the most obvious way for the administration to do so, instead asking the government to propose options for doing so.

The most obvious way for Defendants to do so here is by asserting custody of the individuals who were removed in violation of the Courts classwide TRO [temporary restraining order] so that they might avail themselves of their right to challenge their removability through a habeas proceeding, he wrote.

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Per the terms of the TRO, the Government would not need to release any of those individuals, nor would it need to transport them back to the homeland. The Court will also give Defendants an opportunity to propose other methods of coming into compliance, which the Court will evaluate.

The judge acknowledged that the Supreme Court later found the order was legally defective but said it does not excuse the Governments violation.

Unanimously, the justices agreed migrants must have an opportunity for judicial review before they are deported under the Alien Enemies Act, but a majority held that they must bring their challenge via a habeas petition, which must be brought where someone is physically detained.

Now, at least seven different cases from New York, Texas, Colorado, California and Nevada have been launched by men who expect to be imminently deported under the Alien Enemies Act.

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The parties are set to tell Boasberg later Wednesday whether they believe the case can still move forward in the wake of the Supreme Courts ruling.

Boasberg also blasted the administration for a series of actions it took leading up to his decision, noting they repeatedly failed to answer basic questions he asked about the flights  a confrontation that resulted in the Trump administration moving to claim the state secrets privilege barred it from providing basic details about when the flights took off and landed.

Boasberg also said the administration made several hyper-technical legal arguments about whether officials complied with his orders, including asserting that they had no obligation to comply with his oral order, only his written one.

Such arguments were unconvincing then and remain so now, he wrote.

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Updated at 1:51 p.m. EDT

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KINSHASA, Congo (AP)  A boat has capsized after catching fire in northwestern Congo, leaving at least 50 people dead and hundreds missing, a local official said on Wednesday.

Dozens were saved following the accident on the Congo River late on Tuesday night, many of them with bad burns. The search for the missing was underway Wednesday with rescue teams supported by the Red Cross and provincial authorities.

The motorized wooden boat with about 400 passengers caught fire near the town of Mbandaka, Competent Loyoko, the river commissioner, told The Associated Press. The boat, HB Kongolo, had left the port of Matankumu for the Bolomba territory.

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About 100 survivors were taken to an improvised shelter at the Mbandaka town hall. Those with burn injuries were taken to local hospitals.

The incident began while a woman was cooking on board, Loyoko said. Several passengers, including women and children, died after jumping into the water without being able to swim.

Deadly boat accidents are common in the central African country, where late-night travels and overcrowded vessels are often blamed. Authorities have struggled to enforce maritime regulations.

Congos rivers are a major means of transport for its more than 100 million people, especially in remote areas where infrastructure is poor or nonexistent.

Hundreds have been killed in boat accidents in recent years as more people abandon the few available roads for wooden vessels packed with passengers and their goods.
ADDIS ABABA, April 16 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian government has announced remarkable achievements in its nationwide school feeding program, as more than six million school children benefited from the ambitious initiative.

The state-run Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC) reported Tuesday that Ethiopia's nationwide school feeding initiative has witnessed "exponential expansion, demonstrably improving school attendance, boosting students' academic performance, and easing the financial strain on families across the country."

Nigatu Abebe, an expert on the national school feeding program at the Ethiopian Ministry of Education, said the initiative registered "impressive reach" over the past five years, enrolling over six million students across Ethiopia, eventually fostering a more equitable learning environment.

"Ethiopia's school feeding program has directly contributed to notable improvements in both students' attendance and academic performance," Abebe was quoted as saying. "Well-nourished children are more attentive, energetic, and motivated to learn. This has been instrumental in lowering dropout rates, while simultaneously increasing enrollment and student retention."

Chinese charitable organizations and companies are major players in the East African country's school feeding initiative, benefiting numerous Ethiopian school children across the country.

The Ethiopian government had previously awarded the China Foundation for Rural Development for its "far-reaching engagements" in the country's school feeding endeavor. 
Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador told the city of Boise it could lose state money if it continues to fly the Pride flag outside City Hall, and he sent a letter to Mayor Lauren McLean telling her to comply with a new state law.

Idaho lawmakers this session passed House Bill 96, which allows government entities to display only certain flags, such as the American flag, state flag, city flag and military flags. There is no provision in the law, which went into effect April 3, for enforcement or penalties.

The city of Boise has kept its Pride flag up, prompting the response from Labrador.

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On Wednesday morning, a Boise spokesperson said the city had received letters from the attorney general and the Ada County Sheriffs Office.

While we are sorting out the reach and impact of HB 96  which includes neither definitions nor enforcement mechanisms, we will continue to fly the flags currently on display at City Hall, spokesperson Emilee Ayers said.

In recent comments to KIVI about the Pride flag, Boise Mayor Lauren McLean said we will continue flying it because we are a safe and welcoming city that values all comers.

Last week, city spokesperson Maria Ortega told the Idaho Statesman that the city would continue to fly the existing flags on city property.

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Labradors letter said there are two flags being flown in violation of the new law; its unclear what the second flag is, but it could be an organ donation flag in recognition of April being Donate Life month. Labradors office did not respond to a follow-up question.

Though you are required to govern the city in accordance with the law, you have instead chosen to defy the Legislature  and to act as though your personal political views exempt you from compliance, Labrador wrote.

The Republican attorney general further wrote that he had spoken with legislative leaders, who said they will respond next session with strong enforcement tools.

Labrador also suggested the state could follow in the footsteps of House Bill 22 from 2023, which withholds tax money from cities that refuse to enforce Idahos abortion ban. In 2022, the Boise City Council passed a resolution saying the police shouldnt prioritize investigations to prosecute abortion providers, according to previous reporting.

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The attorney generals letter also said the city of Boises actions have created public confusion about the duties and responsibilities of public officials, and Labrador said some people were calling for McLeans arrest.

Idaho Senate and House leaders did not immediately return requests for comment.

As written, the new law also will ban the traditional Harrison Boulevard Pride flags in Boise, which are flown during Pride Month in June, Ada County Highway District spokesperson Rachel Bjornestad previously told the Statesman. The highway district controls the medians on the North End street.

The ultimate goal is for us to fly flags that unite and dont divide, said Sen. Ben Toews, R-Coeur dAlene, during a floor debate on HB 96.

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Opponents said the law was a direct response to Pride flags being flown in Boise and elsewhere.

Now, when we want to celebrate and unite under this rainbow flag and support our community, that is going to be taken from us by the state, Senate Minority Leader Melissa Wintrow, D-Boise, said. We welcome everyone in my district.
YAZOO COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV)  Bond has been set for a former Mississippi police chief who has been charged with capital murder.

Yazoo County Sheriff Jeremy McCoy said former Yazoo City Police Chief James Durwood Winstead made his initial appearance in court this week and received a $1 million bond. Winstead was still in custody as of April 16, 2025.

Former Mississippi police chief faces capital murder charge

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Yazoo County deputies responded to a call about a man with a self-inflicted gunshot wound around 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 9. Investigators said they found Timothy Byrd deceased at the scene.

According to deputies, they uncovered several discrepancies with the story told by a male at the scene. They also said more evidence showed that foul play was involved.

James Durwood Winstead (Courtesy: Yazoo County Sheriffs Office)

On Friday, Apri 11, deputies arrested Winstead. The investigation is ongoing.

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Attorney General Pam Bondi said the Trump administration failed to take one extra step of paperwork before it mistakenly deported a Maryland man, adding that nonetheless Kilmar Abrego Garcia is not coming back to our country.

The comments were the latest example of officials under President Trump digging in despite a Supreme Court order requiring them to facilitate Abrego Garcias return.

Bondi also repeated numerous claims about Abrego Garcias ties to MS-13 that his family has denied and for which there is a conflicting court record.

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He is not coming back to our country. President Bukele said he was not sending him back. Thats the end of the story, she told reporters at a press conference Wednesday, referring to the Salvadorian leader. If he wanted to send him back, we would give him a plane ride back. There was no situation ever where he was going to stay in this country. None, none.

Bondi has previously argued the Supreme Courts order to facilitate his return meant only that the government would need to supply a plane if El Salvador chooses to return him.

Abrego Garcia, a 29-year-old Salvadoran national who fled the country as a teenager to escape gang violence, was protected from deportation by an immigration judge in 2019. The gang Barrio 18 threatened to kill him when trying to extract money from his mothers pupusa business.

The court record shows numerous issues with the governments assertion he is a gang member.

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He is an illegal alien who has been living illegally in our country from El Salvador. ICE testified, an immigration judge ruled he was a member of MS-13. An appellate judge ruled he was a member of MS-13. Hard stop, Bondi said Wednesday. He should not be in our country.

He was deported. They needed one additional step in paperwork, but now, MS-13 is characterized as they should be as an FTO, as a foreign terrorist organization, she continued. He would have come back, had one extra step of paperwork and gone back again.

But, the attorney general added, hes from El Salvador. Hes in El Salvador, and thats where the president plans on keeping him.

A review of Abrego Garcias ties to the gang indicates the assertion he was a member was largely based on his wearing of a Chicago Bulls jersey and hat when he was arrested in 2019 after loitering outside of a Home Depot looking for work.

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Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) also based the accusation on a tip from an informant who said Abrego Garcia was a member of the gangs New York branch, despite him never having lived in New York.

The detective who supplied the information to ICE about those gang ties was later suspended.

Immigration Judge Elizabeth Kessler refused to release Abrego Garcia on bond, writing that the confidential informant was a past, proven, and reliable source of information. The Justice Department has cited her ruling as evidence that he was part of the gang.

A second immigration judge later granted Abrego Garcia withholding of removal, blocking any efforts to send him to El Salvador on the grounds he could face gang violence.

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BAKERSIFLED, Calif. (KGET) The Officer David Nelson Memorial Scholarship is partnering with the Luke Bryan Farm Tour to raise money for its annual fundraising event.

David Nelson was a Bakersfield Police officer who lost his life in duty in 2015. The scholarship fund was made in honor of his life.

Opening date set for Pollo Campero restaurant at Valley Plaza

The Bakersfield Police Department will be at the event on May 17 from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.

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There will be raffle tickets available for purchase to win an autographed guitar by Luke Bryan. Merchandise will also be available, including a blue line flag.

All proceeds made from merchandise and raffle tickets will support the scholarship fund.

BPD will be giving away an $1,000 scholarship to a Kern High School District senior and a $500 scholarship to a graduating BPD police cadet.

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Angela Rayners plans to empower union barons will lead to more crippling strike action and damage the economy, Britains biggest business groups have warned.

In their first coordinated intervention, bosses will warn peers on Thursday that the Deputy Prime Ministers overhaul of workers rights is a recipe for conflict with unions that will leave businesses facing difficult choices between jobs, investment and growth.

Labour is already facing a summer of strikes, with Ms Rayner blamed for failing to stand up to union barons in Birmingham over bin strikes that have left rubbish piled high on the streets.

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Talks aimed at resolving the bin workers strike adjourned without agreement on Wednesday. Unite accused the council of telling untruths to the public to imply the offer given was better than it really is.

Bin strikes have left rubbish piled high on the streets of Birmingham - Christopher Furlong/Getty Images Europe

Business groups will warn in a joint letter to members of the House of Lords that new rules making it easier for unions to call walkouts at short notice are a recipe for conflict not for cooperation.

The Employment Rights Bill will make it easier for trade unions to strike by weakening thresholds currently needed to trigger a walkout, such as requiring at least half of a unions members to participate in strike votes before calling industrial action.

Unions could also make pay demands at companies where just 2pc of staff are members, compared to 10pc now  a prospect that has rattled bosses.

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Employers also face thousands of pounds in penalties if they fail to tell staff in writing that they have a right to join a trade union.

The letter to peers, signed by the B5 club of business groups, says: Many businesses work well with their trade unions, but some are faced with unions behaving unreasonably.

By empowering trade unions rather than empowering whichever party is behaving reasonably, this legislation will guarantee continued conflict and prevent the reset in industrial relations that is needed.

The B5 is made up of the British Chambers of Commerce, the Confederation of British Industry, Federation of Small Businesses, Institute of Directors and Make UK. Together, they represent the majority of British businesses.

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The Telegraph revealed the group were planning an intervention last month.

The final letter warns that current proposals to give workers the right to claim unfair dismissal against their employer from day one, alongside a raft of other measures, will leave businesses hamstrung while simultaneously handing unions free rein to behave unreasonably.

It also calls for a day-one sick pay right to be amended to day two to prevent abuse by employees and reduce the burden on small businesses who already face billions of pounds of costs owing to extra red tape.

Executives repeated a warning that the Bill would hinder government efforts to get people back to work because bosses will be reluctant to take a chance on young staff or people who have spent a substantial amount of time out of work.

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Business leaders are growing increasingly concerned about the prospect of extra union powers amid fears of a summer of strikes. Following a Lords debate on the Bill last month that went on for almost six hours, peers have tabled various amendments to the reforms ahead of a parliamentary hearing later this month.

The amendments include a call for many aspects of the union changes to be scrapped. Peers want a plan to allow industrial action to take place with just a simple majority, instead of the current requirement for a 50pc turnout, to be scrapped.

They also want small businesses to be exempt from many of the union changes.

Big concern

Peers have privately told business groups they do not expect Labour to water down the extra powers for unions. One person who advised on the contents of the letter said the union changes were a big concern.

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The changes to statutory recognition thresholds mean that we could end up with unions bargaining on behalf of workers where only a tiny percentage of the bargaining unit actually wanted recognition, they warned.

Paul Nowak, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, disagreed that the Bill would create even more conflict with bosses, arguing that many of Britains largest companies had longstanding and positive working relations with unions.

He said the reforms would create a modern economy by dragging union voting methods into the 21st century and stopping companies like Amazon throwing everything at trying to stop workers from having an independent voice at work.

He added: Union-busting has no place in Britain. This Bill will help to stop egregious tactics and will mean more workers benefit from a union voice. It will also repeal the unfair and anti-democratic ballot thresholds.

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A government spokesman said the measures have strong support amongst business and the public with businesses consulted extensively.

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April 19 marks the 250th anniversary of the start of the American Revolution, and Boston is hosting a yearlong commemoration honoring the citys foundational role, starting with Paul Reveres Ride.

The kickoff event, Paul Reveres Ride, is planned for Friday, April 18, to bring residents and visitors together across the North End and Charlestown, marking 250 years since the historic ride of Paul Revere.

The event will feature historic reenactments, a performance by musicians of the Boston Pops, a lantern procession to Boston Harbor, a drone show over the Harbor, and more.

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For 250 years, Boston has been at the heart of the American storya place where bold ideas, civic action, and the fight for justice have shaped our nations path, said Mayor Michelle Wu. As we celebrate Bostons role in the 250th birthday of our country, we honor not only our past, but the everyday revolutionaries who continue to make a difference in the community and shape our citys future.

Paul Reveres Ride kicks off at 5:30 p.m. with a historic reenactment at Paul Revere House, followed by a table read of the original play Revolutions Edge at Paul Revere Mall in the North End.

At 7:30 p.m., Mayor Wu will officially launch Boston 250 and headline a short program at the Paul Revere Mall, alongside special guests and performers, including a brass quintet from the Boston Pops.

The lanterns in the Old North Church will then be lit, and a lantern procession will follow Paul Revere to the Harborwalk at Langone Park.

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Starting at 8:30 a drone show over the Harbor illuminate the evening, and can be viewed and heard at both Langone Park in the North End and Pier 1 in Charlestown Navy Yard.

After that, Paul Reveres Ride from the North End across the Harbor to Charlestown, where Paul will mount his horse and begin his famed midnight ride.

Massachusetts is where the American Revolution began, with events like the Boston Tea Party and Paul Reveres Midnight Ride, and it is where the Revolution continues as we look to the future, said Governor Maura Healey. This great event will capture the spirit of the Revolution by bringing together the state, municipalities, local businesses and organizations, and community groups to celebrate MA250, the contributions Massachusetts made to the founding of this country, and our shared history.

For more details on the events, visit the link here.

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An inheritor of intangible cultural heritage demonstrates Dongyang Wood Carving, a national intangible cultural heritage, at the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, April 15, 2025. With innovative design and display forms, intangible cultural heritage products from all over the country, ranging from traditional handicrafts to specialty food, are showcased at the expo to demonstrate the profound heritage of traditional Chinese culture and attract the attention of many visitors. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)

People select products of Xilankapu brocade, a national intangible cultural heritage, at the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, April 15, 2025. With innovative design and display forms, intangible cultural heritage products from all over the country, ranging from traditional handicrafts to specialty food, are showcased at the expo to demonstrate the profound heritage of traditional Chinese culture and attract the attention of many visitors. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)

A chef makes Guifaxiang 18th Street Mahua, a traditional fried dough twist, at Tianjin Pavilion at the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, April 14, 2025. The craft of making Guifaxiang 18th Street Mahua is recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage. With innovative design and display forms, intangible cultural heritage products from all over the country, ranging from traditional handicrafts to specialty food, are showcased at the expo to demonstrate the profound heritage of traditional Chinese culture and attract the attention of many visitors. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)

Cultural and creative products of intangible cultural heritage are displayed at the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, April 15, 2025. With innovative design and display forms, intangible cultural heritage products from all over the country, ranging from traditional handicrafts to specialty food, are showcased at the expo to demonstrate the profound heritage of traditional Chinese culture and attract the attention of many visitors. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)

Qiong opera actors interact with visitors at the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, April 13, 2025. With innovative design and display forms, intangible cultural heritage products from all over the country, ranging from traditional handicrafts to specialty food, are showcased at the expo to demonstrate the profound heritage of traditional Chinese culture and attract the attention of many visitors. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)

A visitor looks at products of Jianzhan teaware, a national intangible cultural heritage, at the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, April 15, 2025. With innovative design and display forms, intangible cultural heritage products from all over the country, ranging from traditional handicrafts to specialty food, are showcased at the expo to demonstrate the profound heritage of traditional Chinese culture and attract the attention of many visitors. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)

An exhibitor displays a product of Yaozhou kiln ceramics at the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, April 15, 2025. The Yaozhou kiln ceramics firing technique is recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage. With innovative design and display forms, intangible cultural heritage products from all over the country, ranging from traditional handicrafts to specialty food, are showcased at the expo to demonstrate the profound heritage of traditional Chinese culture and attract the attention of many visitors. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

Products of Yaozhou kiln ceramics are displayed at the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, April 15, 2025. The Yaozhou kiln ceramics firing technique is recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage. With innovative design and display forms, intangible cultural heritage products from all over the country, ranging from traditional handicrafts to specialty food, are showcased at the expo to demonstrate the profound heritage of traditional Chinese culture and attract the attention of many visitors. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

Li brocade handbags are pictured at the Hainan Pavilion at the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, April 15, 2025. Li brocade weaving is on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. With innovative design and display forms, intangible cultural heritage products from all over the country, ranging from traditional handicrafts to specialty food, are showcased at the expo to demonstrate the profound heritage of traditional Chinese culture and attract the attention of many visitors. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

A visitor selects cloisonne bracelets at the Beijing Pavilion at the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, April 15, 2025. The craft of making cloisonne is recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage. With innovative design and display forms, intangible cultural heritage products from all over the country, ranging from traditional handicrafts to specialty food, are showcased at the expo to demonstrate the profound heritage of traditional Chinese culture and attract the attention of many visitors. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

An exhibitor shows works of filigree mosaic, a national intangible cultural heritage, at the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, April 15, 2025. With innovative design and display forms, intangible cultural heritage products from all over the country, ranging from traditional handicrafts to specialty food, are showcased at the expo to demonstrate the profound heritage of traditional Chinese culture and attract the attention of many visitors. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)

An exhibitor demonstrates Xiang embroidery, a national intangible cultural heritage, at the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, April 15, 2025. With innovative design and display forms, intangible cultural heritage products from all over the country, ranging from traditional handicrafts to specialty food, are showcased at the expo to demonstrate the profound heritage of traditional Chinese culture and attract the attention of many visitors. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (WTNH)  A Bridgeport man was sentenced to 20 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for his involvement in a violent Bridgeport street gang, according to the U.S. Attorneys office.

Luis Garcia, 27, was a member of the Original North End (O.N.E.) gang located in Bridgeport, according to statements and evidence presented in court.

Garcia was arrested on Sept. 8, 2021. He had been detained since. He pleaded guilty to conspiring to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity on Sept. 6, 2023.

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Waterbury gang member sentenced to 17 years in federal prison

Text messages and social media posts revealed that Garcia was involved in violent criminal activity and drug sales with other O.N.E members.

O.N.E. committed acts of violence, robberies and murder in and around Connecticut, according to investigators.

In 2018, O.N.E. members, including Garcia, stole a Jeep from Newburgh, New York. This stolen vehicle was driven to Stratford Avenue in Bridgeport where 25-year-old Len Smith was shot and killed and a female passenger was seriously wounded while seated in a parked car.

Officials said approximately 47 members of multiple Bridgeport-area gangs have been convicted on federal charges stemming from this investigation. Eight murders and approximately 20 attempted murders have been solved.

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BRIGHAM CITY, Utah (ABC4)  April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The role of the month is to raise awareness about sexual violence and educate people about the role they play in its prevention. To highlight that message in Brigham City, New Hope Crisis Center is turning the town teal with ribbons tied to trees along Main Street.

I think many people still have a strange or archaic idea that sexual assault, rape and things like that doesnt happen here, Anneli Robert told ABC4.com. Robert works as both a sexual assault victim advocate and an outreach and education specialist for New Hope Crisis Center. She continued: Especially in more rural communities like here in Box Elder County. Im like, No, it happens here a lot.

Reminding the community that sexual assault impacts all communities is part of the reason for the ribbons in Brigham City. Robert explained what another reason is saying,Some people just dont know what resources are available even when it does happen, so it goes unreported, and everyone just suffers in silence. Its unfortunate because were here to help you.

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Robert said the center has been around for more than three decades but is still unknown to many. Something they hope to change to get their resources to more people who may need them. We handle any kind of sexual assault or domestic violence that happens within Box Elder County, stated Robert. We have a shelter that people can go to if theyre fleeing from really bad situations. She said that other resources include things like support groups. They can also refer survivors to other agencies that may be better suited to address the individuals needs.

According to New Hope Crisis Centers website, other services include things like a life skills class, an anger management class, a legal clinic, etc.

How prevalent is sexual assault in Utah?

Utahs Public Health Indicator Based Information systems reports: Rape is the only violent crime in Utah that is higher than the national average. In a state where other violent crimes, such as homicide, robbery, or aggravated assault, are historically half to three times lower than the national average, this is of concern.

It also states: Studies in Utah suggest that 19.9% of females and 6.5% of males experience rape or attempted rape during their lifetime and nearly one in three women will experience some form of sexual violence during their lives.

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This is prevalent here and there is help. Its okay. You didnt do anything wrong. There are places here to help you, Robert stated.

I feel like its really important to be there for them, in those moments, Jess Lewis told ABC4.com.

Like Robert, Lewis is a sexual assault victim advocate and being there for those who come forward seeking help is part of what makes the job rewarding for her. Youre already going through so much when you are a victim so the least we can do is be there for them, hold your hand, give you resources, added Lewis.

To keep the subject in the spotlight and connect people to needed resources the center is hosting a special event at the end of the month.

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On April 28 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. we are having what we call a Sexual Assault Awareness Month Spring Cookout, Lewis said. Were going to have a BBQ across the street at this park here (Rotary Constitution Park Pavilion). Any members of the community are welcome. Its a family-friendly event. Well have food, games, an opportunity to meet our sexual assault awareness team and talk to our different advocates, ask questions, anything like that.

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Bristol, Va. police searching for armed and dangerous shooting suspect

BRISTOL, Va. (WJHL)  The Bristol, Virginia Police Department (BVPD) is urging people to be on the lookout and careful as it searches for a shooting suspect.

According to the BVPD, authorities attempted to serve arrest warrants on Harley Pope, 37, of Bristol, Virginia, on Wednesday.

Detectives and Washington County deputies attempted to serve Pope near Dixie Street and Corporation Street. However, Pope reportedly ran from a home on Dixie Street when he saw officers.

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The BVPD stated in a news release that Pope is wanted for the following charges:

Aggravated malicious wounding

Firing into an occupied dwelling

Reckless handling of a firearm

Harley Pope is described by the BVPD as 62 in height, weighing around 130 pounds. He has medium-length brown hair.

His charges stem from a shooting on April 5, during which a Bristol, Virginia man was injured.

As of Wednesday morning, a search for Pope was underway. The BVPD, Washington County, Virginia Sheriffs Office, U.S. Marshals Service and Bristol, Tennessee Police Department are all searching for him.

Pope was last seen on Tannery Alley running south towards Mary Street, the BVPD reported. He was wearing a blue short-sleeved shirt and gray sweatpants.

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The BVPD stated that Pope should be considered armed and dangerous, and people in the area should use extreme caution.

Anyone with information about Popes location is asked to call police at 276-645-7400.

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A Broadway actor brought the spotlight to students at Mercyhurst Prep on Wednesday.

Eric Scotto spent the day at his alma mater leading master classes for their performing arts students.

Mercyhurst Preps performing arts chair retires after 37 years, final production opens

Students were able to learn dance, singing, and acting skills as well as ask him questions about the industry.

Scotto graduated from MPS in 1993 and has gone off to perform across the country, including 12 Broadway shows, but he found time to come back to say thank you to Arthur Martone, who is retiring this year.

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Eries John Oliver responds to Last Week Tonights John Oliver

We had a chance to see him in New York, but whats so wonderful is theres still that same love and care that was shared between us is still here today, said Arthur Martone, chair of the performing arts dept. At Mercyhurst Prep High School.

Martone said he hopes that students see that you can achieve your dreams, it just takes hard work and dedication.

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BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH)  The Broome County Land Bank is looking for someone interested in a two-family fixer-upper on Binghamtons Westside.

The Land Bank has issued a Request For Proposals for the purchase and redevelopment of 21 Walnut Street. Broome County foreclosed on the vacant, boarded-up building several years ago and the Land Bank acquired it in 2021. Whomever is awarded the property will be eligible for a pair of subsidies.

The first is up to $100,000 through an American Rescue Plan Act agreement between the Land Bank and the City of Binghamton that aims to rehabilitate between 10 and 12 single or two family affordable housing buildings in the city.

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The second is up to $150,000 from the Land Banks Vacant Rental Program which is funded by New York State Homes and Community Renewal.

The deadline for proposals is 4 p.m. Friday, May 30th.

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A woman is scheduled to be sentenced in June after being convicted recently in the stabbing of another woman at a childs birthday party in Brunswick.

Alexandrea Jones was convicted of aggravated assault in Glynn County Superior County on Tuesday for the stabbing that occurred at the Lanes and Games on New Jesup Highway, according to the Brunswick District Attorneys Office.

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Officers responded to the business on Sept. 24, 2023 in reference to a person stabbed. Officers arrived and found a woman bleeding from her mouth. The woman, who organized a party at Lanes and Games for her 1-year-old child, said she uninvited Jones and Jones mother due to their temperament.

During the party, which was attended by about 30 people, a fight broke out between the victim and Jones, the DAs news release states.

During the fight, Jones used a sharp object to slice the victims face open from the right corner of her mouth up into her right cheek area, the DAs Office said.

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PROMONTORY, Utah (AP)  An explosion at Northrop Grummans remote rocket testing site in northern Utah destroyed a building Wednesday.

Officers found no injuries or fatalities in their initial investigation of the wreckage, according to the Box Elder County Sheriff's Office.

Emergency crews had responded to reports of a loud blast and a dark plume of smoke rising over the rangelands at 7:38 a.m.

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It was not immediately clear which building was destroyed and what its purpose was. The aerospace and defense company maintains a large presence in Utah, where it manufactures and tests solid rocket motors.

Northrop Grumman did not immediately release a statement.

The public is advised to avoid the area as officials continue to investigate.
Bulgaria is backing off from a deal to sell two of its Russian-made nuclear reactors that Ukraine sought for the expansion of the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant, Forbes Bulgaria reported on April 16.

The move comes as a turnaround in a deal that has been debated since 2023 and was approved by Ukraine's legislature earlier this year.

Bulgaria's deputy prime minister and chairman of the co-ruling Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), Atanas Zafirov, announced the news, arguing that Sofia needs to develop its nuclear energy capacities, especially amid rising electricity prices.

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Boyko Borisov's GERB party, which originally backed the sale in 2023, also supported canceling the deal.

The Ukrainian parliament approved in February the purchase of Bulgaria's older VVER-1000 reactors and other equipment for Units 3 and 4 of the western Ukrainian nuclear power plant, despite heavy criticism.

While Ukraine needs to expand its nuclear energy production capacity amid Russian attacks on the power grid, some lawmakers criticized the deal, claiming that the reactors are obsolete and expensive. The parliament has long struggled to pass the law, prompting Bulgaria to extend the deadline for concluding the deal until March.

Nuclear power is key in sustaining Ukraine's energy grid, covering more than half of the country's electricity consumption. Russian missile and drone attacks have dealt devastating damage to Ukraine's thermal and hydroelectric generating capacity, necessitating periods of emergency shutdowns.

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The Khmelnytskyi plant, one of the three remaining operational nuclear stations in Ukraine-held territories, is being expanded to offset the loss of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, currently under Russian occupation.

The decision to abort the deal was reportedly preceded by disagreements on price. While Ukraine planned to allocate $600 million for the reactors, Bulgaria requested an additional $100 million, Ukrainian lawmaker Andrii Zhupanyn said.

Read also: Can civilian areas ever be legitimate military targets? We asked an expert

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HONG KONG, April 16 (Xinhua) -- "We cannot stop the ongoing geopolitical headwinds, but we can steer our sails and navigate toward net zero through greater synergy," shipping industry professionals told a seminar held here on Wednesday.

Hosted by the Hong Kong Shipowners Association (HKSOA), the seminar gathered more than 200 shipowners, shipping industry experts, and practitioners from home and abroad to discuss strategies for decarbonizing the shipping industry and promoting sustainable development.

Participants also aimed to leverage Hong Kong's unique advantages and platform to align with the mandates under a landmark agreement, approved by the United Nations (UN) International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC83) in London last week.

In his keynote address, Liu Chun San, under secretary for Transport and Logistics of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, highlighted the significance of IMO's historic framework for the global shipping industry.

Hong Kong has pioneered in supporting the IMO's green shipping policies related to carbon intensity indicators and is advancing toward becoming a green marine fuel bunkering and trading center, with hopes of strengthening collaboration with industry partners, he noted.

Stakeholders must work together to assist shipowners in adapting to the evolving regulatory landscape and the challenges posed by rapid technological advancements, said Shen Tao, director of Sustainability of Eastern Hemisphere of American Bureau of Shipping.

He expressed the confidence that Hong Kong will play a pivotal role in driving the decarbonization and green transition of the shipping sector, gathering relevant resources and amplifying industry voices.

Sandy Chan, HKSOA's Managing Director, told Xinhua that the HKSAR Chief Executive's 2024 Policy Address and the Action Plan on Green Marine Fuel Bunkering published last November explicitly outline the goal of "building a green shipping corridor," which has generated widespread anticipation.

Hong Kong looks forward to collaborating with partners across the shipping industry to translate the MEPC framework into action, Chan said, adding that HKSOA also aims to continue making positive contributions to the transformation and sustainable development of the shipping industry in HKSAR, China, and the whole world.

On April 11, the IMO announced the approval of the draft amendment to Annex VI of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, mandating the implementation of the IMO's net-zero emissions framework.

The framework is the first to combine mandatory emissions limits and greenhouse gas pricing across an entire industry sector. 
JONES COUNTY, Miss. (WHLT)  Jones County deputies said a burglary suspect was shot by a homeowner.

The incident occurred on Monday, April 14 in the 600 block of State Street in northern Jones County.

Laurel man arrested on drug charges after high-speed chase

Deputies said the suspect, Marcus Crosby, 40, was arrested at South Central Regional Medical Center (SCRMC) in Laurel. He suffered a single gunshot wound to his arm.

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They said Crosby has also been charged with a burglary of a nearby residence on Ole Miss Drive and for felony taking of a motor vehicle from a home on Sharon Road.

Marcus Crosby (Courtesy: Jones Co. Sheriffs Dept.)

According to investigators Crosby is on supervised release from the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) for two burglaries he was previously convicted of. MDOC has placed a hold on Crosby.

Crosby made his initial appearance in Jones County Justice Court, and his bond was set at $100,000.

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  In response to recent dangerous conditions, officials have announced a burn ban for parts of Woodbury County.

According to a Tuesday release from Woodbury County Emergency Management, the State Fire Marshal will prohibit burning in the following county districts:

Anthon

Correctionville

Cushing

Danbury

Lawton

Moville

Oto

Pierson

Salix

Sergeant Bluff

Sloan

Officials say that mild temperatures, low humidity, and breezy winds are expected to continue and create more dangerous conditions for fires to spread quickly. The State Fire Marshal found that the conditions in the above districts serve as a danger to life or property.

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Fire Danger Forecasts: What they are and how theyre made

The burn ban will officially begin on Wednesday, April 16 at 8 a.m. Emergency Management says it will remain in effect until conditions have improved, though no concrete timeline was given.

Any residents who violate the burn ban may be charged with a simple misdemeanor.

Even though some of the listed districts extend into other counties, the ban only affects residents in Woodbury County.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports.
U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner, right, holds a routable discussion with business and labor leaders inside the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 11's Cranston offices on April 16, 2025. From left to right: Justin Kelley, a business representative and political director for the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 11; Ryan Moot, manager of business development and government affairs for the Rhode Island Hospitality Association; Lauryn Estrella, executive director of the Home Medical Equipment and Services Association of New England; and Darryl Lindie, owner of AA Sign & Awning in Warwick. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current)

CRANSTON  President Donald Trumps tariff policy is rattling more than international markets. Its fueling economic uncertainty among Rhode Islands business and labor leaders.

Its like throwing a cat into a bathtub full of water, said Justin Kelley, a business representative and political director for the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 11. Its going to react, naturally, very poorly most of the time.

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Kelley made the comments at a roundtable of local leaders from Rhode Islands building trades, hospitality, and medical equipment industries hosted by U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner at the unions Cranston office Wednesday afternoon.

Hours after Trumps reciprocal tariffs went into effect April 8, he placed a 90-day pause on nearly all of them. His universal 10% duty on imports from nearly every country remains in place, along with a 125% tariff on goods coming in from China.

The 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum, which went into effect on March 12, still remain in effect as well. Those duties will likely increase construction costs of projects employing Council 11s roughly 600 Rhode Island-based workers.

Kelley told Rhode Island Current the union still has two years worth of public projects on the books. But if costs continue to spiral, he said projects will either reduce in scope or completely halt.

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If the steel doesnt go up, we cant paint the steel  and then we cant put the drywall in and paint the building and do what we do, he told Magaziner. We have to figure out a way to try to mitigate this.

Darryl Lindie, owner of AA Sign & Awning in Warwick, said hes already had customers back out of signage projects after his team had completed the designs. On his way to the roundtable, he received a notification from a client who decided not to move forward with a project.

Im biased. I want to sell people the most signage that I can, Lindie said. You hate to see scopes of work decrease.

Lauryn Estrella, executive director of the Home Medical Equipment and Services Association of New England, said many suppliers have been receiving notifications from manufacturers that they may have to raise the prices for wheelchairs and oxygen tanks.

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Our patients are the elderly and the disabled, Estrella said. Theyre just being abandoned.

Ryan Moot, manager of business development and government affairs for the Rhode Island Hospitality Association, told Magaziner that while restaurants aim to source locally whenever possible, its not feasible for commodities like coffee.

Most seafood sold in Rhode Island is caught in international waters, Moot said. Even catches hauled stateside, he said, are often processed outside the United States.

Moot recalled being with a seafood wholesaler in Washington D.C. when the tariffs were announced. He said the man frantically called everyone on the supply chain wondering just how much he would have to pay for shrimp coming in from Vietnam.

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Theres just so much that simply cant be produced here, Moot said.

Tariffs could lead to higher menu prices, which will turn away diners.

There might be bigger brands that are more able to take that hit without passing it on to customers, Moot said. But not the smaller local restaurants.

Who has the tariff authority?

Under the U.S. Constitution, the power to tax and tariff falls squarely on Congress, not the White House.

But the legislative branch over the years has enacted laws giving the president some tariff powers, most notably through the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The 1977 law gives the president the power to regulate international commerce in the event of a national emergency, which Trump has invoked in his latest attempt to tackle the nations trade deficit.

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Congress could pass a law to regain its power over tariff policy with a veto-proof vote, but the Republican-led House of Representatives on April 9 approved a procedural rule prohibiting the chamber from considering legislation to rescind the tariffs until at least Sept. 30.

If Republicans in Congress would actually grow a spine and have the courage to stand up to president Trump, in theory we could end these tariffs tomorrow, Magaziner told Rhode Island Current. But so far, the Republican leadership isnt willing to do that.

GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa has proposed a bill requiring the president to notify Congress of impending tariffs within 48 hours, which Trump has threatened to veto. U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, a Nebraska Republican, has filed companion legislation in the House. Magaziner commended his GOP colleagues, but said there still needs to be popular support across the aisle.

In the meantime, Magaziner told industry leaders to continue to use their personal stories to raise the alarm.

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The administration has shown they are susceptible to public pressure, particularly on this, he said. The American people clearly do not want this.

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WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  The Kansas Department of Transportation has moved the closure of a busy ramp until April 22 due to the wind.

The southbound I-135 ramps to eastbound and westbound U.S. 54/Kellogg were to close on Wednesday, April 16, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a signing project.

Hutchinson man arrested for attempted murder and assault

The map below highlights the close portion:

KDOT is closing the ramps from southbound I-135 to Kellogg from 9-3 on April 16, 2025. (Courtesy KDOT)

Check before you go: KanDrive, also known as WICHway in Wichita, is a website and app from the Kansas Department of Transportation that provides information about road conditions, traffic, and more. Viewers can access cameras along the highways and interstates for free. The KanDrive app is available in both Google Play and Apples App Store. To view the website, click here. Drivers can also call 511 in Kansas or 866-511-5368 outside of Kansas.

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CADDO PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  The Caddo Parish School Board announced plans to close and consolidate several schools earlier this month.

After more than four hours of listening to residents and alumni, the CPSB voted to close three schools, which will impact 751 students and their families.

Today, the Caddo Parish School Board discussed the possibility of Queensborough Elementary School being zoned to attend J.S. Clark K-8 Academy and prepared for the property to be listed for sale. If the merger moves forward, 222 Queensborough students would expand J.S. Clark to 651 students.

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Blanchard students would transfer to Donnie Bickham Middle School, which would become a K through 8th grade campus with an additional wing for K-2nd grade. Eighty-First Street Early Childhood Center students would transfer to Atkins Elementary.

School transparency tool rolled out as La. prepares for school choice pivot

Alumni, residents, and teachers spoke before the CPSB voted.

One teacher said the closure will be devastating for the children at the Eighty-First Street Early Childhood Center, highlighting the profound effects it will have on their young minds.

The exceptionalities of these children, is there a guarantee that they will be met with those same services at Atkins? The children are already disadvantaged. What can they really meet at Atkins? resident Jon Glover asks.

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The most important thing is just to remember that we still have to do what we need to do for those children because the children are our future. Theyre the reason that were here and so were just gonna continue to pray and continue to work to give those kids the education that they need, said Queensborough Elementary Parent, Torquenarda Smith.

And so our town of Blanchard is going to remain with the Blanchard Elementary School as being vacant. My question. And maybe a suggestion to you is to please think this through, but we do have to remove these children in one year from now to make sure that the school is not gonna remain vacant, said a Blanchard Elementary parent.

The Caddo Parish School Board vote:

Yes to close Queensborough Elementary School (eight yes, three no, one abstain)

Yes to close Blanchard Elementary School (11 yes, one no)

Yes to close 81st Street ECE Center (eight yes, four no)

Queensborough Elem. Blanchard Elem 81st Street ECE Center

The closures of each school impact 715 students and their families. As of October 1, 2024, Queensborough has 222 students, and its capacity is 391; Blanchard has 378, and its capacity is 378; and Eighty-First has 115, and its capacity is 429.

These recommendations reflect our responsibility to plan for both todays students and the students to come.By aligning our facilities with enrollment trends, instructional goals and the strength of our community partnerships, were creating opportunities that place students at the center of every decision. At the same time, were ensuring that our resources are being used wisely and efficiently, in a way that honors the trust of our families and taxpayers across Caddo Parish. The Caddo Parish School Board, Superintendent Keith Burton.

CPSB says that the actions also clear the path for targeted facility enhancements at several campuses, including exterior and functional upgrades at Walnut Hill Elementary/Middle, Broadmoor STEM Academy, and J.S. Clark Academy. These upgrades are designed to improve the student experience and accommodate evolving campus needs.

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The school board says they are committed to supporting all affected staff and will offer opportunities to transition to other district school roles. The school district is working with the buildings and grounds committee to make sure Donnie Bickham Middle School is up to code to handle the influx of students.

Families affected by these changes will receive ongoing communication and transition support as the district prepares for phased implementation beginning this fall, says the Caddo Parish School Board.

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For the record:

5:56 p.m. April 16, 2025: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that the Caltech team had tested samples from uncleaned surfaces, then cleaned those surfaces and took second samples. The Caltech team tested some samples from surfaces untouched since the fire, and some from surfaces that had been cleaned by Caltechs trained custodians.



On Jan. 7, two residents on opposite sides of Altadena  Francois Tissot, a Caltech professor who studies the geology of ancient Earth and our solar system, living in the east side of town; and Jane Potelle, an environmental advocate living in the west side  fled the intensifying red glow of the devastating Eaton fire.

The inferno devoured home after home, unleashing what experts estimate to be tons of dangerous metals and compounds, from lead to asbestos to the carcinogen benzene. Carried through the vicious winds, the toxins embedded deep into the soil, seeped into the blood of first responders, and leaked into structures in the area that hadn't burned down.

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Within weeks, Altadena residents whose homes had withstood the fire began to return  yet few were testing for contaminants both Tissot and Potelle knew were almost certainly sitting in their still-standing houses.

Working independently, they both decided to create a comprehensive picture of the contamination lurking within surviving homes, both in the burn area and miles outside it.

They came to similar results: In the houses inside the burn zone, there was lead  a metal capable of dealing irreversible damage to the brain and nervous system  at levels far exceeding 100 times the Environmental Protection Agency's allowable limits. Tissot's group also found lead levels exceeding the limit over five miles from the fires perimeter.

Children exposed to lead will have diminished cognitive development, said Tissot, referencing studies that found exposure to leaded gasoline in though the 1990s was correlated with a drop in childrens IQ (an imperfect but useful metric for reasoning ability) by up to seven points .

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To me, whats at stake is the future of a generation of zero- to 3-year-olds," Tissot said. "If nothing is done, then these children will be exposed. But its totally avoidable.

Activists and community leaders, along with residents who were force to evacuate when the Eaton fire swept through the city of Altadena, gather at an apartment complex where several residents are living with little to no utilities. (Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times)

Potelle, frustrated with the lack of government response to contamination concerns, started a grassroots organization with other Altadena residents with standing homes to collect and publish tests conducted by certified specialists.

The organization, Eaton Fire Residents United, or EFRU, found lead in every single one of the 90 homes for which they've collected test results. Of those, 76% were above the EPA limits.

EFRU and Tissot's team were distressed by these data, particularly seeing debris-removal and remediation contractors work without masks in the burn area and some residents even begin to return home.

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In early April, Anita Ghazarian, co-lead of EFRUs political advocacy team, went back to her standing home within the burn zone to pick up mail. She watched as a grandmother pushed a toddler in a stroller down the street.

Read more: L.A. will set aside $3 million to help owners of fire-damaged homes test their soil for lead

She has no idea  this area is toxic, Ghazarian recalled thinking. The gravity of the situation sunk in. To me, its just  unfortunately  a calamity waiting to unfold.

Evidence mounted in the 1950s that even small amounts of lead exposure could harm childrens brains. But by the time the U.S. banned lead in paint in 1978, roughly 96% of the homes in Altadena that burned in the Eaton fire were already built. In the Palisades, that number was 78%  smaller, but still significant.

Jared Franz looks at the state of his kitchen, which survived the Eaton Fire, but is inhabitable due to smoke damage. (William Liang/For The Times)

Dust from the fire inside the Franz family's home. (William Liang/For The Times)

After the Eaton fire, Tissot did a quick back-of-the-envelope calculation to understand what his Altadena community might be dealing with: roughly 7,000 homes burnt with 100 liters of paint per house and 0.5% of that paint likely made of lead.

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Thats something like several tons of lead that have been released by the fire, and its been deposited where the fire plume went, he said.

As the Eaton fire roared in the foothills of the Angeles National Forest the night of Jan. 7, Tissot fled with his two kids, along with the rest of east Altadena.

Meanwhile, Potelle sat awake in her living room on the west side of town, listening to the howling winds as the rest of her family slept.

When Potelle got the evacuation order on her phone around 3:30 a.m. Jan. 8, her family joined the exodus. As they raced to gather their belongings, Potelle grabbed protective goggles she had bought for her sons upcoming Nerf-battle birthday party.

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Even with them, the soot, smoke and ash made it impossible to see.

Read more: Finally we know where toxic ash from the L.A. wildfires could end up

The family made it to a friend's house in Glendale, but as the toxic smoke plume swelled, Potelle had to evacuate yet again, this time to a friends garage. Tissot, then in Eagle Rock, left for Santa Barbara the next day as the smoke's incursion progressed southwest.

As Altadena turned into a ghost town on Jan. 9, some residents  including Potelles husband  crept back in to assess the damage. Potelle waited for her husbands report and watched on social media from the safety of the garage.

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People are just videotaping themselves driving through Altadena, and its block after block after block of burnt-down homes. The reality of it started to strike me, Potelle said. This is not just carbon. This is like, refrigerators and dishwashers and laundry machines and dryers and cars.

Fires like these, with smoke made of car batteries, paints, insulation and appliances  and not trees and shrubs  are becoming increasingly common in California. These fuels can contain a litany of toxic substances like lead and arsenic that are not present in vegetation, waiting to be unlocked by flame.

Potelles home sustained visible smoke damage. So, she made two trips to a disaster support center set up temporarily at Pasadena City College, hoping to get support from her insurance company and the government for soil and in-home contamination testing.

Officials directed Potelle back and forth between her insurance company, FEMA, the L.A. County Department of Public Health, and the California Department of Insurance. Potelle  who, at this point, had already started to develop a cough and chest pain, which she suspects came from her visits to the burn area  left with without clear answers, feeling dejected.

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Im driving, going back to my friends garage  and Im just realizing theres no one looking out for us, she said.

Potelle set out to find the answers herself.

Heres the thing, if you dont know whats in your home when you remediate, you could just be pushing those contaminants deeper into your walls, deeper into your personal items, Potelle said.

Tissot, meanwhile, visited his home a week after the fires to find the windows exploded, melted or warped; the walls cracked; and ash and soot everywhere. He too decided that he ought to do his own testing for contamination.

Read more: How L.A. removed 1 million pounds of flammable lithium-ion batteries from its burn zones

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In his day job, Tissot runs a lab with sophisticated machinery able to discern what metals are present in samples of material, usually comprised of rock and dirt, based on their atomic mass: Only lead has an atomic mass of 0.34 trillion billionths of a gram. He normally uses the machine to study rare elements and isotopes from space and eons ago.

He gathered his lab team together on the Caltech campus to use the equipment to test samples from their own backyard.

The team took 100 samples from windowsills, desks and stairwells in the Caltech geology and planetary science buildings. Some surfaces were untouched since the fire; others had been cleaned by Caltech's trained custodians.

The team found multiple uncleaned surfaces with lead levels above the EPAs limits. And while the cleaned surfaces had about 90% less lead, some still exceeded the limits.

Tissot quickly set up a webinar to announce the findings. The chat exploded with requests from homeowners in Altadena asking Tissot to test their houses.

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Around the same time, Potelle noticed some folks on Facebook sharing the results of in-home contamination testing  which in many cases, they had paid for out of pocket.

Inspired, she advertised a Zoom meeting to discuss a strategy for mapping the test results. Sixty residents showed up; Potelle coordinated the group so that residents could submit results to EFRU's Data Unification team for analysis.

Meanwhile, Tissot connected with residents who messaged him to set up a testing campaign. The researchers donned full hazmat suits in early February and entered the burn area to test homes and meet with homeowners.

ERFU posted its first dataset of 53 homes on March 24. Tissots group announced their results, which included data from 52 homes, just a week later, confirming what many had feared: There was lead everywhere.

What was surprising to me is how far it went, said Tissot. We got very high levels of lead even miles away from the fire, and whats difficult is that we still cant really answer a simple question: How far is far enough to be safe?

The two groups hope their data can help homeowners make better-informed decisions about their remediation and health  and apply pressure on leaders to take more action.

Tissot wants to see the government update its guidebooks and policy on fire recovery to reflect the contamination risks for intense urban fires, and to require testing companies to report their results to a public database.

Nicole Maccalla, a core member of EFRUs Data Unification team, hopes to see officials enforce a common standard for insurance claims for testing and remediation so every resident doesnt have to go through the same exact fight.

Youve got people stepping up to fill the void, she said. There should be an organized, systematic approach to this stuff, but its not happening.

Times data journalist Sandhya Kambhampati contributed to this report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
By Anna Tong

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) -The California attorney general's office declined to join a lawsuit by Elon Musk against OpenAI, the agency wrote in a letter made public on Tuesday, saying the office did not see how Musk's action serves the public interest of the state.

Musk, a co-founder of the ChatGPT maker, is now in a feud with his co-founder Sam Altman, the current OpenAI chief executive, over the firm's future.

OpenAI wants to remove its nonprofit board as its controlling power in exchange for a valuable equity stake. Musk's suit argues this would threaten the nonprofit's mission and he had asked the state to join the lawsuit.

In the letter dated Monday, the attorney general said Musk had not adequately shown that doing so would benefit the public and that Musk appeared to want to use OpenAI's charitable assets for his own purposes. In February, a Musk-led consortium made an unsolicited $97 billion bid for control of OpenAI.

In a response letter to the attorney general on Tuesday, Musk's lawyer said the attorney general misunderstood Musk's bid for OpenAI, writing that Musk does not want to buy OpenAI if the nonprofit structure remains unchanged.

"People are coming forth from all political spectrums and objecting to OpenAI's unlawful conduct and planned for-profit conversion which negatively affects us all," Musk's lawyer said in a statement, pointing out that groups including a coalition of labor and charitable organizations, as well as former OpenAI employees have joined Musk in urging a stop to OpenAI's transition.

Though the California attorney general's office has declined to join Musk's lawsuit, it remains involved in the issue: as the state overseer of nonprofits, it needs to approve OpenAI's proposed nonprofit transition because OpenAI is based in California.

OpenAI has argued that it needs to remove the nonprofit's controlling role in order to raise funds from investors. To secure a $40 billion fundraising round, the company must complete its transition by the end of the year. The nonprofit will retain a stake in OpenAI that will become increasingly valuable as the company grows, providing resources to carry out its mission, the company argues.

Musk and Altman co-founded OpenAI in 2015, but Musk left before the company became a technology star. Last year, Musk, who is also the CEO of electric carmaker Tesla, sued OpenAI and Altman, accusing OpenAI of straying from its founding mission - to develop AI for the good of humanity, not corporate profit.
California is suing President Donald Trump's administration over the tariffs it has imposed on most of the U.S.'s trading partners, Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta announced Wednesday, the first state to do so since Trump announced his sweeping tariffs earlier this month.

Speaking from a Central Valley almond farm, Newsom laid out the state's place in the global economy and the impacts the tariffs are having and will have on the state.

"No state is poised to lose more than the state of California," Newsom said.

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MORE: Businesses, conservative lawyers planning legal challenge to Trump's tariffs

The governor said 43% of that state's almonds, pistachios and dairy products are export-dependent from California and the uncertainty over how much the state could suffer from the tariffs is "pronounced and profound."

PHOTO: California Gov. Gavin Newsom discusses President Donald Trump's tariffs, as California Attorney General Rob Bonta, left, listens, during a press conference, April 16, 2025, at an almond farm in Ceres, Calif. (KFSN)

The state's lawsuit targets Trump's use of the International Economic Emergency Powers Act that Trump is using the as justification for the tariffs and is similar to one filed Monday by a group of small businesses against the administration.

Newsom and Bonta argued that tariffs are the responsibility of Congress and not the president and they allege Trump invented "bogus" national emergencies to claim jurisdiction. They said they're asking the court to "rein in the president."

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The governor called the lawsuit "a lock." Bonta said the lawsuit is the 14th one California has filed against the administration since Trump took office.

PHOTO: Cranes unload cargo shipping containers from a Yang Ming container ship at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, Calif., April 15, 2025. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)

Newsom said he is working to make his own trade deals with other countries, trying to get California-made products exempted from retaliatory tariffs from other countries.

White House spokesman Kush Desai blasted Newsom for trying to block Trump's tariffs in a statement to ABC News.

Instead of focusing on Californias rampant crime, homelessness, and unaffordability, Gavin Newsom is spending his time trying to block President Trumps historic efforts to finally address the national emergency of our countrys persistent goods trade deficits," he said.

-ABC News' Hannah Demissie contributed to this report.

California becomes the first state to sue Trump over tariffs originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
SACRAMENTO, California  California Gov. Gavin Newsom is suing Donald Trump over tariffs in an aggressive move to end the presidents stranglehold on global commerce.

Newsoms lawsuit, announced Wednesday morning with California Attorney General Rob Bonta, is the first challenge from a U.S. state against Trumps signature foreign policy cudgel.

California, the worlds fifth largest economy, stands to lose billions to tariffs with major state industries from Silicon Valley to agriculture heavily dependent on global trade.

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President Trumps unlawful tariffs are wreaking chaos on California families, businesses, and our economy  driving up prices and threatening jobs, Newsom said in a statement. Were standing up for American families who cant afford to let the chaos continue.

The lawsuit is Newsoms most direct legal challenge to Trumps agenda since the president retook office in January. The move instantly reignites Californias war with Trump and cements its place atop the resistance, after Newsom spent months appealing to the president for federal disaster relief.

Its also notable as a unilateral challenge, underscoring the singular importance of the issue in California. Bonta has worked closely with other blue states on previous lawsuits challenging Trumps immigration policies and federal funding cuts.

Instead of focusing on Californias rampant crime, homelessness, and unaffordability, Gavin Newsom is spending his time trying to block President Trumps historic efforts to finally address the national emergency of our countrys persistent goods trade deficits, White House spokesperson Kush Desai told POLITICO in a statement Wednesday.

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Newsom and Bontas argument targets the International Economic Emergency Powers Act, the law Trump is using to impose tariffs without congressional approval. The two Democrats argue Trump lacks the authority to levy tariffs under the law, mirroring a similar case filed Monday by a group of U.S. businesses.

Trump is the first president to impose tariffs using the act, which authorizes the president to regulate financial transactions and foreign assets during emergency circumstances. He has defended the move by asserting Americas trade deficits with other countries pose a national emergency.

Bonta, however, said the widespread economic fallout and sharp stock market declines from Trumps whiplash approach on tariffs pose near-daily threats that exceed the bounds of presidential power outlined in the law.

The Presidents chaotic and haphazard implementation of tariffs is not only deeply troubling, its illegal, Bonta said in a statement.

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Trump has both threatened tariffs on some nations  only to pull back at the 11th hour  and repeatedly changed the amount imposed on China while also both offering carve outs and saying they arent full exemptions.

Back in California, Newsom has scrambled to distance his state from Trump in hopes of fortifying Californias economy. On Monday, he launched a tourism campaign aimed at attracting skittish Canadian visitors back to state beaches and national parks.

Hes also leveraging the states economic prowess  as well as its outsize influence over tech policy and climate standards, among other major industries  in hopes of forging strategic alliances with countries eyeing retaliatory measures on U.S. goods. Newsom earlier this month asked world leaders to spare California-made products like almonds, wine and Hollywood flicks from retaliatory tariffs.

Myah Ward contributed to this report.
DOHA, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met here on Wednesday with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to discuss bilateral cooperation, particularly in the fields of energy, economy, and investment.

According to a statement issued by the administrative office of the Qatari emir, both sides affirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations to advance shared interests and promote regional stability and development.

According to Lebanon's National News Agency, Aoun expressed his gratitude for Qatar's ongoing support to Lebanon across various sectors, while the emir pledged Qatar's continued support to Lebanon in areas such as electricity, energy, and the Lebanese Army.

This is the Lebanese president's first visit to the Gulf country since he assumed office in January.

In February, Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani reiterated Qatar's unwavering support for Lebanon's reconstruction efforts during his meeting with Aoun in Beirut. 
The Golden State is going toe-to-toe with President Donald Trump on tariffs.

On Wednesday, Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit against the president in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in a bid to stop the administrations forthcoming duties on trade partners from across the globe.

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The complaint challenged his authority to leverage the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to enact sweeping duties that could harm California, the largest economy, manufacturing, and agriculture state in the nation.

According to Newsom and Bonta, Trumps tariffs have already had manifold impacts on local enterprises and shoppers by disrupting established supply chains and inflating costs. President Trumps unlawful tariffs are wreaking chaos on California families, businesses, and our economydriving up prices and threatening jobs, Newsom said. Were standing up for American families who cant afford to let the chaos continue.

The Presidents chaotic and haphazard implementation of tariffs is not only deeply troubling, its illegal, Bonta added. As the fifth largest economy in the world, California understands global trade policy is not just a game. Californians are bracing for fallout from the impact of the presidents choicesfrom farmers in the Central Valley, to small businesses in Sacramento, and worried families at the kitchen tablethis game the president is playing has very real consequences for Californians across our state.

According to the filing, Trump lacks the authority to unilaterally impose duties against Mexico, China and Canada using IEEPAor create a universal baseline tariff of 10 percent that impacts all trading partners. The trade provision gives the president power to take action only in response to a foreign-born economic, policy-related or national security threatand the suit argued that none of those are at play.

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The lawsuit also invoked the U.S. Supreme Courts major questions doctrine, which dictates that the executive branch and federal agencies under the presidents control must have clear approval from Congress when it comes to matters of vast economic and political significance.

The doctrine has been used effectively to check presidents in recent administrations; the Court applied the standard to put the kibosh on President Barack Obamas Clean Power Plan as well as President Joe Bidens student loan forgiveness program, ruling that novel executive actions with broad impacts on the national economy cannot rest on vague statutory authority.

According to Newsom and Bonta, there are few more economically significant actions that a president can take than enacting broad-based tariffs that threaten to cut off trade to the countrys most active economy. California contributes massively to Americas overall financial standing, with a gross domestic product (GDP) of $3.9 trillion in 2023 (50 percent larger than the GDP of Texas, the second largest state).

According to the governors office, California also sends over $83 billion more to the federal government than it takes in via federal funding, and its the leading agricultural producer and manufacturing bastion for the U.S. with more than 36,000 producers employing over 1.1 million people. Downtown Los Angeles Fashion District, for example, employs 45,000 workers in garment manufacturing roles.

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Trade is integral to Californias status as an economic juggernaut, with Canada, Mexico and China representing its top three trading partners accounting for more than 40 percent ($203 billion) of the states imports. The buying goes both ways; two-way trade generated $675 billion in 2024, with these top trade partners buying nearly $67 billion in California-made exportsover one-third of the total $183 billion in goods exported last year.

As such, Newsom isnt stopping at taking on Trumphes also attempting to court Canadians who have been recently deterred from visiting the U.S. through a new tourism campaign announced earlier this week.

According to the governors office, tourism from Canada dropped 12 percent year-over-year in Februarythe first decline in visits since the pandemic. In 2024, 1.8 million Canadians traveled to the Golden State and spent $3.72 billion. The most prominent tourism destination in the U.S., California brought in $150 billion in 2023.

Newsoms team said the upcoming campaign will extend Visit Californias existing $5.2-million annual marketing investment in Canada, and will attempt to stem this tide of tourism losses. The nonprofit corporation is funded by private travel, tourism and hospitality businesses.

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The move follows the governors announcement earlier this month that California is pursuing strategic trade relationships of its own with international partners, with the goal of ensuring economic resilience and inoculating the state against the damage done by President Trumps trade policies. This week, Newsom met with British Columbia Premier David Eby to talk about expanding trade between the state and the province.

Donald Trumps tariffs do not represent all Americans, the governor said in early April. We value international trade We look forward to continuing to strengthen those ties, strengthen those bonds. I remind all our international trading partners, California is a stable trading partner, and we hope you consider that as it relates to California made products.
The same day a helicopter broke apart and crashed in the Hudson River, killing all aboard, a federal grand jury in Los Angeles was formally accusing a local helicopter repair company of putting its customers at similar risk.

Federal prosecutors say for more than three years, Jared Michael Swensen, 48, of Ventura repaired and sold aircraft parts that were nearing the end of their service life but listed them as new. A failure of that equipment could have led to a deadly helicopter crash, prosecutors said.

The helicopter parts installed on customers' aircraft were listed as having a few hundred service hours or in some instances being brand-new, when in reality the parts were closer to the end of their limit for service, according to the indictment.

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Swensen operated his business, Light Helicopter Depot, out of the Oxnard Airport. He advertised that he was certified with an Airframe and Power Plant Certificate with inspection authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration.

"We specialize in bringing older and timed out aircraft back to life," the company said in a now-deleted website advertising its services.

But in reality, prosecutors say, Swensen and his company made falsified entries on maintenance logbooks and altered sale orders and packing slips to match the falsified entries. The company is also accused of falsifying Federal Aviation Administration release certificates, used to show that an aircraft is airworthy.

On two occasions, Swensen and his company billed his customers for his service, including one bill for $13,000 and another for $23,700, according to court records.

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The U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General investigated the case and the FAA assisted.

If convicted, Swensen could face up to 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud and up to 15 years in prison for each count of fraud involving aircraft parts. His business could also be fined up to $10 million for each aircraft parts fraud count and up to $1 million for each wire fraud count, according to prosecutors.

Swensen has not yet entered a plea in response to the charges, according to court records.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Among US states, California is leading the charge against President Donald Trump's tariffs.

The state on Wednesday filed a lawsuit in San Francisco federal court challenging the levies.

It's the biggest move that Gov. Gavin Newsom has made against Trump's second administration.

Gov. Gavin Newsom of California is escalating his war against President Donald Trump's tariffs.

On Wednesday, the governor sued to immediately block the tariffs, with the high-profile Democrat describing the levies as "unlawful and unprecedented."

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The legal action is a dramatic escalation in the tense relationship between the two leaders.

Newsom and the state's attorney general, Rob Bonta, filed the lawsuit in San Francisco federal court, which represents the first challenge from a US state against the president's tariff plan.

"This is recklessness at another level. The geopolitical impacts are outsized. The trade impacts are outsized," Newsom said alongside Bonta. "No rationale, no plan, no conscience to what it's doing to real people."

The two Democrats say Trump's tariffs will have an immense impact on the California economy, with over 60,000 small-business exporters affected by the president's plan. The Californians point to important materials like steel and aluminum that are needed to help rebuild after a devastating series of fires in January in the Los Angeles area  along with the effects of prospective "reciprocal" tariffs on farmers in the state's key agricultural regions.

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Bonta on Wednesday said Trump's tariff policy moves went beyond the scope of his presidential power.

"He is yet again violating the US Constitution, overriding Congress's authority, and breaching the separation of powers," the attorney general said.

"It's simple. Trump does not have the authority to impose these tariffs," he added.

On April 2, which Trump dubbed "Liberation Day," the president announced he was implementing "reciprocal" tariffs on select countries, while imposing a 10% baseline tariff on most countries.

Some countries, like China, pushed back against the administration and were hit with higher tariffs.

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Trump reversed course days later and issued a 90-day pause on the "reciprocal" tariffs for most countries, but the administration on Wednesday said that China now faces a tariff rate of "up to 245%."

For now, the administration has issued a pause on "reciprocal" tariffs for computers and laptops, which could have significantly raised the price of electronics for US consumers. But Trump is still mulling tariffs on semiconductors from China.

China has already imposed a 125% tariff on US goods.

Newsom, seen as a likely Democratic presidential candidate in 2028, has made other key economic moves since Trump returned to the White House.

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The governor this week kicked off a tourism campaign to lure Canadians  many of whom have been spooked by Trump's trade tussles with their country  back to California for excursions.

And earlier this month, Newsom called on world leaders to make exceptions for California goods amid the implementation of Trump's trade policy.

"Donald Trump's tariffs do not represent all Americans, particularly those I represent here in the fifth-largest economy in the world, the state of California," Newsom said at the time. "California is a stable trading partner, and we hope you remember that as you consider California-made products."

White House spokesman Kush Desai in a statement criticized the lawsuit.

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"Instead of focusing on California's rampant crime, homelessness, and unaffordability, Gavin Newsom is spending his time trying to block President Trump's historic efforts to finally address the national emergency of our country's persistent goods trade deficits," he said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
California is suing the Trump administration over its tariffs, accusing President Donald Trump of overstepping his authority in upending the global trade order and causing immediate and irreparable harm to Californias economy.

The lawsuit, announced by Gov. Gavin Newsom and California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Wednesday morning, challenges Trumps authority to impose sweeping tariffs on U.S. trade partners. It is set to be filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on Wednesday.

The lawsuit will argue that Trumps use of the International Economic Emergency Powers Act to enact tariffs  which allowed him to skip over certain procedures  is unlawful and unprecedented. His tariffs are creating immediate and irreparable harm to California, the largest economy, manufacturing, and agriculture state in the nation, Newsoms office said.

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Californians are bracing for fallout from the impact of the Presidents choices  from farmers in the Central Valley, to small businesses in Sacramento, and worried families at the kitchen table  this game the President is playing has very real consequences for Californians across our state, Bonta added in a statement.

California is the first state to sue the Trump administration over its tariffs. Trumps haphazard approach to the tariffs has led to deep anxiety across the global economy, and they pose an especially large threat to Californias economy, which is the fifth-largest in the world.

In response to news of the lawsuit, White House spokesman Kush Desai told CNBC in a statement: Instead of focusing on Californias rampant crime, homelessness, and unaffordability, Gavin Newsom is spending his time trying to block President Trumps historic efforts to finally address the national emergency of our countrys persistent goods trade deficits.

Newsom, who is widely seen as a Democratic contender in the 2028 presidential election, has sought to reassure his states trade partners, independent of the U.S. government. But with increased tariff rates for three of its largest trading partners  Mexico, Canada and China  already in effect, theres likely only so much California can do alone.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
California on Wednesday became the first state to sue President Donald Trump for his sweeping yet ever-changing tariff regime, accusing Trump of illegally wielding the International Economic Emergency Powers Act to circumvent Congress.

Donald Trump does not have the authority to unilaterally impose the largest tax hike of our lifetime with his destructive tariffs, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said in a statement announcing the challenge. Were taking him to court.

Trump imposed the tariffs by first declaring a national emergency, then claiming the power afforded to him under the 1977 IEEPA meant he didnt need congressional approval.

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As the largest manufacturing state in the country, the nations top agricultural exporter, and the fifth-largest economy in the world, California stands to suffer billions of dollars in damage.

The presidents chaotic and haphazard implementation of tariffs is not only deeply troubling, its illegal, California Attorney General Rob Banta said in a statement.

Californians are bracing for fallout from the impact of the presidents choices. From farmers in the Central Valley to small businesses in Sacramento and worried families at the kitchen table, this game the president is playing has very real consequences for Californians across our state.

Earlier this month, on what it labeled liberation day, the White House levied soaring tariffs on imports from around the globe using a crude formula widely derided by just about everyone outside of the White House.

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As a result, for example, the United States is now engaged in a trade war with a remote island inhabited entirely by penguins.

The U.S. Constitution originally empowered Congress to levy tariffs, though the legislative branch has ceded some of that power to the executive over the years.

Republicans in Congress could reclaim that power and stop Trumps tariffs at any time.

Related...
California voters are less keen on fighting Donald Trump than their states political elite.

In a dual survey of California voters and political professionals who are driving the states agenda, the electorate is strikingly more likely to want a detente with the White House. Voters are also more divided on issues like immigration and climate change, where Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democratic state lawmakers have asserted progressive ambitions that rebuff the presidents agenda.

A plurality of voters is skeptical of legal immigration, and less than half think the state should be able to set its own strict standards on vehicle emissions, an authority California has used for more than half a century.

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The results suggest a disconnect between the policymaking class and voters in an overwhelmingly blue state where Trump made broad inroads in 2024 amid widespread frustrations over crime and a prohibitively high cost of living. Registered Democrats, however  who comprise nearly half the electorate  are more enthusiastic about progressive policies and more eager to challenge Trump's Washington.

Californias approach to the president has become a core point of debate among the states elected Democrats as the national party seeks a path out of the political wilderness. Newsom has invited conservative luminaries like Charlie Kirk and Steve Bannon on his podcast, appealed to the president for Los Angeles wildfire aid and approved millions to battle the Trump administration in court as legislative Democrats wrestle with the balance between combating Trump and addressing quality-of-life concerns.

On Wednesday, the governor and attorney general announced California would sue Trump over tariffs, the first state to do so.

After proudly hoisting the resistance banner following Trumps 2016 victory, however, elected California Democrats have largely chosen a more muted response since his recent election amid a broader soul-searching in Sacramento. But Jack Citrin, a University of California, Berkeley political science professor who directed the first-of-its-kind poll with POLITICO, said the results underscore the extent to which Californias political class is dominated by self-identified progressives.

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The influentials are a much more homogenous group than the registered voter public, Citrin said. The major difference is the electorate has polarized.

The poll shows that while Democratic voters favor taking on Trump, the electorate broadly wants their representatives to lower the temperature. Forty-three percent of registered voters said leaders were too confrontational  a sentiment largely driven by Republicans and independents  compared to a third who found them too passive. A plurality of Democrats surveyed, 47 percent, wanted a more aggressive approach.

Nearly half of influencers called their leaders too passive.

Californias Democratic elected officials have for years sought to combat Trumpism by fortifying the states liberal policies and casting California as a counterweight. They have passed laws extending health insurance to undocumented immigrants and limiting federal authorities ability to pursue deportations. They have enshrined ambitious climate goals and clean car rules in direct defiance of the Trump administration.

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Voters are not renouncing those policies. But, as with their leaders overall approach to the president, they are less eager than policy professionals to embrace Californias progressive agenda.

Surveys consistently show Californians support an ethnically diverse state, said Matt Barreto, a professor of political science at UCLA. Barreto said the stronger support for pro-immigrant policies among influencers suggested a more nuanced understanding of them.

I have not seen anything that suggests Californians are moving towards being anti-immigrant, Barreto said. The policy folks are more plugged in, and theyre more aware of the factual landscape.

While a clear 60 percent of voters support the states sanctuary laws, which partition local law enforcement from federal immigration authorities, policy influencers were 20 points more likely to support that policy.

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Voters were more likely to support reducing legal immigration and encouraging assimilation, while policy professionals favored more legal immigration and maintaining distinct cultures.

The survey was conducted on the TrueDot.ai platform from April 1-14 among 1,025 California registered voters and 718 influencers. To generate the influencer sample, the poll was emailed to a list of people including subscribers to California Playbook, California Climate, and POLITICO Pro in California who work in the state. Respondents in that sample included lawmakers and staffers in the state Legislature and the federal government.

Verasight provided the registered voter sample, which included randomly sampled voters from the California voter file. The modeled error estimate for the voter survey is plus or minus 5 percentage points.

One of Californias most important environmental policies  the states longstanding authority to set stringent auto emission standards  fell short of majority support, with voters backing it by a 45 percent to 40 percent margin. Once again, that was a sharp contrast with policy professionals who backed Californias authority by a resounding 82 percent to 14 percent margin.

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Craig Segall, an environmental policy consultant who formerly worked for the California Air Resources Board, said in an interview that the ambivalence toward one of Californias core environmental policies suggested that most voters do not see concrete effects in their lives from the states climate regime.

I doubt theres a lot of hometown California pride in [its] waiver authority, Segall said. What could the state do to make this more beneficial and deeply visible?

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story inaccurately compared questions on voter attitudes about emissions waivers.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb has reported that he had a positive conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Source: Stubb on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda

Details: Stubb said that the discussion focused on the situation on the ground, including developments expected in the coming days.

Quote: "Ukraine has accepted a full and unconditional ceasefire. Russia, the aggressor, must do the same. Finland and Ukraine continue to work for a just and sustainable peace."

As always, good to talk with my friend @ZelenskyyUA.



We discussed the situation on the ground including the days ahead.



Ukraine has accepted a full and unconditional ceasefire. Russia, the aggressor, must do the same.



Finland and Ukraine continue to work for a just and  Alexander Stubb (@alexstubb) April 16, 2025

Background:

At the end of March, US President Donald Trump stated that he had set a "psychological deadline" for Russia to agree to a full ceasefire in Ukraine.

Following his meeting with Trump in Florida on 29 March, Stubb proposed setting 20 April as the deadline for Russia to agree to a cessation of hostilities before implementing new pressure measures against it.

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TEHRAN, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on Wednesday that "the principle" of his country's uranium enrichment is non-negotiable, according to the official news agency IRNA.

He made the remarks in an address to reporters on the sidelines of a cabinet meeting while commenting on certain "contradictory" positions adopted by U.S. officials on Iran's nuclear program and uranium enrichment following the first round of the indirect talks between Tehran and Washington in Oman last week.

Araghchi said, "What is certain is that Iran's enrichment is a real, accepted and undeniable fact, and we are ready to build confidence regarding the possible concerns. However, the principle of the enrichment itself is not negotiable."

He added that over the past days, "we have heard different positions from the American side, of which some are contradictory, and this will in no way contribute to the negotiation process."

Araghchi stressed, "Nevertheless, we should learn about the American side's real views in the negotiation session. If they come with constructive positions, I am hopeful that we will be able to start negotiations on the framework of a possible agreement. If not, and there are still contradictory and conflicting positions, the work will become difficult."

"If the negotiations are based on equal footing and held in a respectful atmosphere, they can proceed. However, they will achieve nothing through pressure and imposition of their positions," noted the foreign minister.

Araghchi and U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff are scheduled to hold the second round of their indirect talks on Saturday. The talks mainly center on Iran's nuclear program and the removal of the U.S. sanctions on the country.

Witkoff on Tuesday said Iran "must stop and eliminate" its nuclear enrichment program to reach a deal with the United States, contradicting his remarks the preceding day that Tehran's uranium enrichment at a low level could be allowed. 
For the record:

5:35 p.m. April 16, 2025: An earlier version of this article said President Trump repeated his wishes to send citizen criminals to foreign prisons on Fox News. It was during a Fox Noticias interview.



In a normal nation governed by the rule of law  not Donald Trumps America, that is  the governments mistaken deportation of a Maryland father to a Salvadoran gulag, in violation of a federal immigration judges 2019 order, might have been easily resolved.

Lo! Just four days after the Supreme Court last Thursday unanimously ordered the government to facilitate Kilmar Abrego Garcias release back to the United States, El Salvadors President Nayib Bukele was due in the Oval Office. Bukele could have simply given the sheet-metal worker a lift back home to his wife and three children, all U.S. citizens, as part of the Salvadoran entourage.

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Thats not what happened on Monday, of course. The casually clad Bukele, self-described worlds coolest dictator, instead arrived with just the Miami club promoters clothes on his back, as Jon Stewart quipped . Then we saw the sorry spectacle of two strongmen presidents, Trump and Bukele, side by side in the Oval Office declaring themselves powerless to restore Abrego Garcias freedom. They smiled smugly, both in on the joke. Besides, they claimed without evidence, he's a terrorist.

Read more: Calmes: What Hannah Arendt saw in Hitler's Germany, we can see in Trump's America

In truth, Abrego Garcia and hundreds of other men were sent to El Salvadors own Hotel California, the Terrorism Confinement Center, without due process  charges, hearings, evidence, juries or judges. The administration called them the worst of the worst, though several media investigations found that few of the deportees, including Abrego Garcia, had criminal records other than immigration law infractions, and fewer yet had ties to gangs that Trump has designated as terrorist groups.

Abrego Garcias case is especially egregious. Team Trump admitted in court that he shouldnt have been shipped to El Salvador, the one country that the federal order in 2019 said he must not be sent to, given the clear probability of future persecution. In fact , that federal immigration judge found, Abrego Garcia and his family were gang victims, repeatedly extorted under threat of death in El Salvador. The first Trump administration didnt appeal that 2019 order, just as the second hasnt.

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No wonder then that another judge, U.S. Dist. Court Judge Paula Xinis, ordered the government to report daily on Abrego Garcias well-being and its attempts to return him, so far to no avail. Nothing has been done. Nothing, she protested Tuesday, before ordering an extraordinary two-week inquiry into the administrations stunning defiance. Meanwhile, the administration said in a court filing that if somehow Abrego Garcia did return, it would detain and deport him again.

Read more: Calmes: Making America a colonizer again

As bad as all this is, the Trump-Bukele bro-fest in the Oval Office all but confirmed that there is worse to come. The two men joked  joked  first in private (we know thanks to Bukeles post of the video ) and then openly to reporters that El Salvador should build more megaprisons to house undesirable U.S. citizens  homegrowns, Trump said a couple of times, so pleased by his branding. You gotta build about five more places," he told Bukele, Yeah, the next phase, Bukele agreed. Aides cracked up.

Despite the yucks, Trump was serious: Hes said before that hed love to ship citizen criminals to foreign jails. and he repeated his wishes on Tuesday on "Fox Noticias." Such citizen deportations would violate another Supreme Court decision , from 1936, not to mention basic expectations of American justice.

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Trump is halfway to making America a police state was the headline in the Financial Times the next morning. The only debatable word there is halfway. Of the other two supposedly co-equal branches of government, Trump has cowed Congress and now is openly defying federal courts, including the Supreme one.

This is confirmation of a constitutional crisis , the likes of which the nation has never seen, except in other lands . More evidence: On Wednesday, another federal district judge, James E. Boasberg, ruled that "probable cause exists to find the Government in criminal contempt" for its "willful disregard" of his March order that it return the planes ferrying migrants to El Salvador.

Read more: Calmes: The United States careens toward a constitutional crisis

Mondays performance in the Oval Office was the most chilling since Trump and Vice President JD Vance ganged up on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Feb. 28. And now the offices garish new bling  all the gold ornaments, wall medallions, cherubs, frames and end tables  is a metaphor for Trumps desecration of that sanctum. Trumps amen choir of aides, including Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi and Secretary of State Marco Rubio , piled on with further lies about Abrego Garcia. For instance: The whopper from the execrable Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff, that the Supreme Court had ruled 9-to-0 in the administrations favor, which conservative legal authority Ed Whelan quickly lambasted on X as an outrageous misrepresentation.

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Talk about gaslighting. The Supreme Court said this about the lower federal courts order to return Abrego Garcia: It properly requires the Government to facilitate Abrego Garcias release from custody in El Salvador and to ensure that his case is handled as it would have been had he not been improperly sent to El Salvador.

That seems clear enough to just about anyone not on Trumps payroll, however cautiously worded the justices two-page order was. And yet, with Trump dug in and seemingly enjoying the controversy  the better to distract from his calamitous trade war  it is hard to see how Abrego Garcia will be returned anytime soon. Supreme Court expert and pundit Jeffrey Toobin was blunt: I dont think hes coming back, basically ever, he said on CNN .

Democrats, laser-focused on criticizing Trump about the economy and skittish about immigration issues where he enjoys more support, are finally rousing to the constitutional crisis. Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen landed in El Salvador on Wednesday, and others, including Rep. Robert Garcia of Long Beach, also plan trips. But the ultimate pressure must come from the voters, like those who assailed Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley at a town hall in Iowa this week.

When Grassley insisted he wouldnt help Abrego Garcia because thats not a power of Congress, the attendees guffawed. They know better.

@jackiekcalmes

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
CAMDENTON, Mo.  A woman from Camdenton faces a felony after allegedly stealing lottery tickets, scratch-off tickets and winnings while working at a business in Camdenton last year.

Online court records show Lindsey Diane Wells, born in 2001, is charged with stealing $750 or more, a class D felony, in Camden County Circuit Court.

The probable cause statement says a Camdenton Police Department officer responded to a report of theft at a business  which is redacted and not named in the report  on Sept. 4, 2024. Store management advised the officer that Wells, who was one of the stores employees, had stolen lottery tickets and scratch-offs around a week earlier during her shift on Aug. 31, 2024.

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The statement says management reviewed security video that showed Wells pulling scratchers, scratching the bottom barcode and then checking them with the lottery machine. For evidence, the officer was provided with a printed photo of a trash bag filled with scratchers, as well as an audit summary for the stores lottery and scratchers during that shift.

Wells allegedly took 52 scratchers over the course of her shift  a number that matches up with the amount of scratchers counted as missing from the audit, the statement says.

Allegedly, when Wells found winning scratchers during the shift, she pulled money from the business cash register. She stole a total amount of $1,630 in winnings during the shift, according to the statement.

In total, Wells allegedly stole $3,338 worth of lottery tickets, scratchers and winnings, per the statement.

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Wells is due in court for an arraignment on May 13. If convicted, she faces up to seven years in prison.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com.
The News

Cameroonian migrants in the US who face deportation after President Donald Trump terminated their protected status told Semafor they feared for their lives due to ongoing conflict in the central African country.

On Friday the US Department of Homeland Security said it was ending the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program for an estimated 7,900 Cameroonians from June amid a sweeping immigration crackdown.

Tensions in Cameroons minority Anglophone regions have resulted in more than 638,000 people being internally displaced and left at least 1.7 million others in need of humanitarian aid, according to a 2024 Human Rights Watch report. One Cameroonian migrant, who said he fled to the US in December 2022 after his father was murdered, told Semafor he fears for his safety if he was forced back: President Trump knows theres war in the Anglophone regions but he wants to deport us.

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A DHS spokesperson was not immediately available for comment

[President Trump is] forcibly returning people to violence, human rights violations, and a humanitarian crisis in Cameroon that continues to place its citizens at severe risk, said Gustavo Torres, executive director of CASA, a Maryland-based migrant advocacy group. Cameroon clearly meets the statutory basis for the redesignation of TPS.

Another Cameroonian migrant, who spoke to Semafor on condition of anonymity, urged the US government to help resolve the crisis in Cameroon before sending Cameroonians back. He said that he decided not to return to the country when he traveled to the US with a visitor visa in 2022 because he faced repeated police harassment in his hometown of Bamenda, one of the southwestern cities affected by the war.

Police always accused me of manufacturing local weapons for Anglophone fighters, the former welding technician said. He said some welders in the town fabricated arms for the separatists.

Know More

Thousands of Cameroonians have entered the US since the separatist conflict  widely known as the Anglophone crisis  broke out in the countrys English-speaking Northwest and Southwest regions in 2016.

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It is the result of decades-long claims by Anglophones, who make up 20% of the majority French-speaking country, that they are being marginalized by the Francophone-led government.

Protests by Anglophone lawyers and teachers, who called for greater autonomy for the regions, met a heavy response by government forces. Their demonstrations later morphed into calls for separation from Cameroon, sparking an even more deadly response from government forces.

At least 6,000 people have died due to the constant clashes between government forces and Anglophone separatists since 2016.

Step Back

The US TPS revocation is part of a wide-scale crackdown on US immigration, one of Trumps flagship campaigns. His move to expel 500,000 Venezuelans, Cubans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans, who were granted humanitarian parole by former US President Joe Biden, has been blocked by a federal judge.

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In March, Trump invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, deporting more than 200 Venezuelan men to an infamous mega-prison in El Salvador. The men were labeled as members of the Tren de Aragua gang.

Room for Disagreement

Cameroonian authorities have criticized citizens trying to leave the country. President Paul Biya, in power since 1982, said it should not even be an option. But the number of Cameroonian migrants worldwide has risen sharply, hitting 440,000 in 2020, compared to 250,000 in 2013, according to the Scalabrini Institute for Human Mobility in Africa. Just this month the US ambassador to Cameroon warned in a local newspaper: Dont risk your future: the US is cracking down on illegal immigration.
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia (AP)  The association that represents academic staff at Canadian universities is warning its members against non-essential travel to the United States.

The Canadian Association of University Teachers released updated travel advice Tuesday due to the political landscape created by President Donald Trumps administration and reports of some Canadians encountering difficulties crossing the border.

The association says academics who are from countries that have tense diplomatic relations with the United States, or who have themselves expressed negative views about the Trump administration, should be particularly cautious about U.S. travel.

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Its warning is particularly targeted to academics who identify as transgender or whose research could be seen as being at odds with the position of the current U.S. administration.

In addition, the association says academics should carefully consider what information they have, or need to have, on their electronic devices when crossing the border, and take actions to protect sensitive information.

Reports of foreigners being sent to detention or processing centers for more than seven days, including Canadian Jasmine Mooney, a pair of German tourists, and a backpacker from Wales, have been making headlines since Trump took office in January.

The Canadian government recently updated its U.S. travel advisory, warning residents they may face scrutiny from border guards and the possibility of detention if denied entry.

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Crossings from Canada into the United States dropped by about 32%, or by 864,000 travelers, in March compared to the same month a year ago, according to data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Many Canadians are furious about Trump's annexation threats and trade war but also worried about entering the U.S.

David Robinson, executive director of the university teachers association, said that the warning is the first time his group has advised against non-essential U.S. travel in the 11 years hes worked with them.

Its clear theres been heightened scrutiny of people entering the United States, and  a heightened kind of political screening of people entering the country, said Robinson, whose association represents 70,000 teachers, librarians, researchers, general staff and other academic professionals at 122 universities and colleges.

Robinson said the group made the decision after taking legal advice in recent weeks. He said lawyers told them that U.S. border searches can compromise confidential information obtained by academics during their research.

He said the association will keep the warning in place until it sees the end of political screening, and there is more respect for confidential information on electronic devices.
Chinas next-generation tailless heavy fighter from the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation seemed to have taken a months-long hiatus between its first known flight and its second. Since then, it has been seen in the skies at an increasing rate. New images and video coming out of China show the jet  referred to unofficially by a number of designations, including J-XDS and J-50  on another recent test sortie, with clearer shots of the enigmatic stealth fighter than ever before. This includes what appears to be our first real view of its cockpit canopy.

The aircrafts canopy has been of particular interest since the plane first appeared to the public on Dec. 26, 2024. Up until now, no images have clearly shown it. The planes broad nose, paired with the ground-based perspective of the photos and their low quality, previously made only what may have been a part of a canopy visible in imagery. This led to the question of whether the heavy fighter-sized aircraft was crewed at all.

J-XX/Shengad may have flown again today pic.twitter.com/s3zUx9MFJj   (@eastwind6699) April 16, 2025

Our very in-depth analysis on this aircraft, and its larger tri-engined Chengdu Aircraft Corporation counterpart, came to the conclusion that the aircraft was almost certainly crewed. With this latest imagery, we can finally put that question to rest conclusively.

A shot circulating today of the aircraft on a test flight. (Chinese Internet via X)

One image shows a side-on view of the aircraft, providing a new perspective to analyze. Above all else, it depicts a very streamlined bubble canopy that blends closely with the upper fuselage. Canopies and cockpits can be a major hot spot for radar reflections. Minimizing their return is critical to the survivability of a low-observable crewed aircraft. In this case, for the same reasons that the canopy was so hard for us to see until now  it is difficult to view from lower aspects  also helps with keeping it out of line-of-sight of radar systems positioned below it. These can be on the surface or lower-flying aircraft. The service ceiling of the fighter is unknown, but it should be quite high in order to maximize its performance, as well as its sensor and weapons reach.

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It remains unknown if the jet has one or two crew. The canopy does look quite long, which could possibly accommodate a tandem crew layout.

(Chinese Internet via X)

As it seems, we finally have a quite decent side shot of SAC's J-XDS from its flight today and also for the first time a clearer proof it has indeed a canopy. pic.twitter.com/i0IEmLebYH  @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) April 16, 2025

This side view also provides a bit better sense of scale and form of the new jet. Its diamond-shaped forward fuselage with a prominent chine line high up near the cockpit is also readily visible. The blister under the nose that could represent a faceted aperture for an electro-optical targeting and/or infrared search and track (IRST) system, similar to whats found on the J-20 and the U.S. F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, is also visible.

(Chinese Internet via X)

Another angle from the lower rear gives us a clearer view of the aircrafts exhausts. As expected, they are 2-D and likely thrust vectoring types, very similar to the U.S. F-22 Raptors arrangement. This configuration would balance low observability, performance, agility, and especially stability, considering just how unstable a tailless tactical jet like this would be.

(Chinese Internet via X)

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F-22s F119s in afterburner. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jonah Bliss) Airman 1st Class Jonah Bliss

China has been displaying its thrust vectoring engine concepts since at least 2022, with the one subscale model on the show floor at Zhuhai looking very similar to what we see in the latest imagery. We also see the unique swiveling wingtip control surfaces in action here, with the right side one highly deflected.

With each passing week, we are getting more and more detailed imagery of Shenyangs tailless stealth fighter, just as expected. If the flights continue, we should have a much better understanding of the aircrafts observable features by summer.

Contact the author: Tyler@twz.com.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  In recognition of National Volunteer Month, the Capper Foundation will be giving back in a Volunteer Thank You Event this week.

The Capper Foundation will be set up in its east parking lot from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 17 at 3500 Southwest 10th Avenue to give snacks and assorted goods to volunteers. The Capper Foundation said in a press release that 538 individuals donated 4,707 hours of service to the Capper Foundation in the last fiscal year.

National Volunteer Month is celebrated every year as a way to recognize the contributions of volunteers, according to nationaldaycalendar.com. The event was started in 1991 after President George W. Bush launched the 1000 Points of Light campaign and established April as National Volunteer Month.

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Eruptions on the Sun could cause aurora over Kansas

If youd like to become a Capper Foundation volunteer, you can sign up by clicking here. For more information on the Capper Foundation, click here.

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
NAKURU, Kenya, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan President William Ruto on Wednesday reaffirmed his administration's commitment to strengthening the country's military to effectively tackle security threats.

Speaking during a cadet commissioning parade at the Kenya Military Academy in Nakuru County, western Kenya, Ruto said his government is modernizing the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and aligning their training to respond to a rapidly evolving security environment marked by unconventional threats, digital warfare, and transnational challenges.

"In response, we must modernize our forces, tailor our training, and innovate and update our doctrine," he said.

The newly commissioned officer cadets include personnel from Burkina Faso, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and Uganda. The cohort also features the first graduates to earn a Bachelor's degree in Defence and Security Studies from the National Defense University-Kenya.

Ruto stressed the importance of collective responsibility in ensuring national security, noting that no amount of military strength alone can guarantee a country's safety.

He said the military is re-focusing training methods, adopting advanced technologies, and nurturing dynamic leaders capable of addressing today's complex security demands.

"Through these efforts, KDF remains a bulwark of peace and stability not only in Kenya, but also in the region and across Africa," he said. "This is a major milestone in our continued journey to align military training with modern academic rigor and strategic development goals."

Ruto emphasized that a stable and secure environment is crucial for attracting investment and building confidence both domestically and internationally. "National prosperity rests upon the firm foundation of peace, good governance, and inclusive development. Our defence forces play a vital role in this," Ruto said. 
By David Ljunggren

OTTAWA (Reuters) -Prime Minister Mark Carney faced off with his chief rival for the first time during Canada's election campaign on Wednesday, in a French-language debate that could help determine who wins the April 28 vote and then deals with U.S. tariffs.

Polls show the ruling Liberals, who have been in power for 9-1/2 years, ahead of the Conservatives led by Pierre Poilievre.

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Carney has admitted his French is imperfect. Jean-Marc Leger, head of Quebec-based polling firm Leger, said Carney exceeded expectations in a debate that produced no obvious gaffes.

Carney, who served as head of the central banks of both Canada and England, says his experience in dealing with crises makes him the best choice to negotiate with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has said he wants to annex Canada.

Carney briefly served as economic adviser to former Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who Poilievre blames for rising prices and a chronic housing shortage.

"You are just like Justin Trudeau ... we need change and you, Mr. Carney, are not change," Poilievre told Carney.

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"Mr. Poilievre is not Mr. Trudeau and neither am I. This election (is about) the question of who will succeed, and who will face up to Trump," Carney retorted.

The clash was the first between the two men since Carney was elected Liberal leader in March.

Conservative commentator Dimitri Soudas gave Carney and Poilievre high grades, but said the Conservative leader may have missed a chance to attract undecided voters.

Under Carney, Canada has retaliated with counter-tariffs against the U.S. and Poilievre has said he would take a similar approach.

Poilievre accuses the Liberals of having weakened the country's economy by blocking the development of natural resources such as oil and wanting to increase taxes.

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Poilievre said Carney was repeating the same promises Trudeau had made during his time in power and accused him of driving up house prices. Carney noted he had been governor of the Bank of England for much of the period in question.

"You had a horrible record in England," said Poilievre, noting house prices jumped when Carney was in London.

The high cost of living and the housing crisis dominated domestic politics until this year, when Trump threatened annexation and imposed tariffs, and Trudeau announced he was stepping down.

The debate took place in Montreal, the largest city in predominantly French-speaking Quebec. The province has 78 of the 343 seats in the House of Commons and is usually regarded as one of the keys to victory.

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Quebec has a history of political volatility, which is in part linked to the fortunes of the separatist Bloc Quebecois, a party that wants independence for the province.

Organizers moved the debate forward by two hours to avoid clashing with a critical Montreal Canadiens game.

The Bloc won 54 seats in the 2004 election, slumped to just four in 2011 and rebounded to 32 in 2019 and 2021.

Polls show some Bloc voters intend to vote Liberal because they see Carney as the best choice of prime minister to deal with Trump.

Leaders of the four main parties will hold an English-language debate on Thursday. The other parties taking part are the Bloc and the left-leaning New Democratic Party.

(Reporting by David Ljunggren in Ottawa Editing by Rod Nickel)
By Juliette Jabkhiro and Elizabeth Pineau

PARIS (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday that those behind an unprecedented wave of attacks against French prisons would be tracked down and punished after violence flared for a third night.

A car was set on fire in front of the home of a prison guard who works in Aix-Luynes, in southern France, the door of a building in the Seine-et-Marne region was damaged and three cars were set ablaze at Tarascon prison also in southern France, the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office (PNAT) said, adding that it was opening an investigation.

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That adds to at least nine prison facilities and other affiliated institutions - including a school for prison staff - targeted the previous two nights.

"Some are trying to intimidate our prison workers and are attacking (prisons) with unacceptable violence. They will be found, sentenced and punished," Macron said on X.

The government has pointed the finger at drug traffickers, but also said that was one among several options being probed.

"There are clearly people who try to destabilise the state by intimidating it," Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin told CNews TV and Europe 1 radio.

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"We are taking very firm measures that are leading drug traffickers to react."

Graffiti letters "DDPF" - apparently an acronym for "French prisoners' rights" - were tagged on some of the attack sites, which some police sources said could be the work of unknown left-wing militant groups.

A Telegram group called DDPF, which was created the day before the start of the attacks, is being investigated by police for clues as to who could be behind the assaults, PNAT and Darmanin said.

Le Parisien newspaper said one man suspected of belonging to the group was arrested, but it was unclear what his role was in the attacks, if any. The anti-terrorism prosecutor's office and local prosecutor's office did not immediately return requests for comment.

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Years of record South American cocaine imports to Europe have transformed local drug markets, sparking a wave of violence. Despite record cocaine seizures in France, gangs are reaping windfalls as they expand from traditional power bases in cities such as Marseille into smaller towns unused to drug violence.

(Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta, Dominique Vidalon, Juliette Jabkhiro; additional reporting by Makini Brice; Writing by Ingrid Melander; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Sharon Singleton)
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday signed the death warrant for Glen Rogers, a man convicted of murder in Florida and California, including the murder of a woman in a Tampa hotel room 30 years ago.

In addition to his convictions, Rogers, also known as the Casanova Killer or Cross Country Killer, is suspected of several murders across the U.S.

Rogers claimed to be responsible for the 1994 murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, according to a 2012 documentary. A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department said the agency would look into the matter, but was confident that someone else had killed them.

FILE  In this July 8, 1996 file photo, convicted murderer Glen Rogers, right, stares at Public Defender Joan Corces during a hearing in Tampa, Fla. A documentary set to air Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012, says Rogers, who is on Floridas death row, could know something about the murder of OJ Simpsons wife Nicole and her friend Ron Goldman (AP Photo/Chris OMeara, File) Courthouse workers peer from a second floor window as suspected serial killer Glen Rogers is led from the Madison County Courthouse by sheriffs deputies after pleading innocent to felony charges Tuesday, Nov. 21, 1995, in Richmond, Ky. The charges stemmed from the high-speed chase which led to his capture. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke) Glen Rogers, from Hamilton, Ohio, stands motionless Friday, July 11, 1997, as Hillsborough County Circuit Judge Diane Allen sentences him to death in Floridas electric chair for the murder of Tampa resident Tina Marie Cribbs. Rogers is also suspected of murders in California, Louisiana, and Mississippi. He was arrested following a 1995 high speed chase in Kentucky. (AP Photo/Pool) Rein Keener stands outside McReds Lounge in the Van Nuys section of Los Angeles, Nov. 13, 1995, after Glen Rogers, wanted in several states for murder investigations, was captured after a high-speed chase near Waco, Kentucky. Rogers reportedly tried to pickup Keener from the bar, but she declined, and another woman who allegedly was picked up by Rogers, was killed that night. (AP Photo/Nick Ut) Bartender Rein Keener watches television news reports of the arrest of suspected serial killer Glen Rogers in Kentucky, at McReds Cocktail Lounge in the Van Nuys section in Los Angeles, Nov. 13, 1995. Keener recalled seeing Rogers in the bar in September making advances toward alleged murder victim Sandra Gallagher, who was found dead inside her burning pickup on September 29. Rogers was wanted by police in several states for the suspected deaths of four women. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

The death row inmate was convicted in 1997 after he was found guilty of robbing and murdering Tina Marie Cribbs. The two were seen leaving a Gibsonton bar, located just outside of Tampa, in November 1995.

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The woman was found stabbed to death in a hotel bathroom two days later.

Jan. 6 defendants, allies vexed with Trump admin

Rogers received another death sentence in California in 1999. He met Sandra Gallagher at a Van Nuys bar in September 1995. Her badly burned corpse was found in her truck a day later near Rogers apartment.

He is set to be executed at Florida State Prison in Raiford during the week of May 15.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday signed the death warrant for Glen Rogers, a man who was convicted of murdering a woman in a Tampa hotel room 30 years ago.

Also known as the Casanova Killer or Cross Country Killer, Rogers was convicted of murder in both Florida and California, and is suspected of several murders across the U.S.

DeSantis says Florida Republicans rotten, colluding with Democrats amid Hope Florida controversy

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Rogers claimed to be responsible for the 1994 murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, according to a 2012 documentary. A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department said the agency would look into the matter, but was confident that someone else killed them.

FILE  In this July 8, 1996 file photo, convicted murderer Glen Rogers, right, stares at Public Defender Joan Corces during a hearing in Tampa, Fla. A documentary set to air Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012, says Rogers, who is on Floridas death row, could know something about the murder of OJ Simpsons wife Nicole and her friend Ron Goldman (AP Photo/Chris OMeara, File) Courthouse workers peer from a second floor window as suspected serial killer Glen Rogers is led from the Madison County Courthouse by sheriffs deputies after pleading innocent to felony charges Tuesday, Nov. 21, 1995, in Richmond, Ky. The charges stemmed from the high-speed chase which led to his capture. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke) Glen Rogers, from Hamilton, Ohio, stands motionless Friday, July 11, 1997, as Hillsborough County Circuit Judge Diane Allen sentences him to death in Floridas electric chair for the murder of Tampa resident Tina Marie Cribbs. Rogers is also suspected of murders in California, Louisiana, and Mississippi. He was arrested following a 1995 high speed chase in Kentucky. (AP Photo/Pool) Rein Keener stands outside McReds Lounge in the Van Nuys section of Los Angeles, Nov. 13, 1995, after Glen Rogers, wanted in several states for murder investigations, was captured after a high-speed chase near Waco, Kentucky. Rogers reportedly tried to pickup Keener from the bar, but she declined, and another woman who allegedly was picked up by Rogers, was killed that night. (AP Photo/Nick Ut) Bartender Rein Keener watches television news reports of the arrest of suspected serial killer Glen Rogers in Kentucky, at McReds Cocktail Lounge in the Van Nuys section in Los Angeles, Nov. 13, 1995. Keener recalled seeing Rogers in the bar in September making advances toward alleged murder victim Sandra Gallagher, who was found dead inside her burning pickup on September 29. Rogers was wanted by police in several states for the suspected deaths of four women. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

The death row inmate was convicted in 1997 after he was found guilty of robbing and murdering Tina Marie Cribbs. The two were seen leaving a Gibsonton bar together in November 1995.

The woman was found stabbed to death in a hotel bathroom two days later.

Rogers received another death sentence in California in 1999. He met Sandra Gallagher at a Van Nuys bar in September 1995. Her badly burned corpse was found in her truck a day later near Rogers apartment.

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He is set to be executed at Florida State Prison in Raiford during the week of May 15. Three other lethal injections have taken place this year.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
The most frightening experience of my life began when I was 22 and detained in Massachusetts after an automatic license plate reader mistook me for someone who previously drove uninsured. I was pulled over about 20 minutes from my home dressed in a J. Crew Ludlow suit for one of my first post-college business meetings.

I felt like I was in shock as I was handcuffed and booked. Despite my objections, the officers said theyd heard it all, which makes more sense now that I know some estimates have found 10% of readings by automatic license plate readers in the U.S. are false. However, the consequences of those errors arent the arresting officers responsibility.

When I was allowed my one phone call, I made the mistake of trying to contact my employer, a newspaper, instead of a family member or a lawyer. I wanted to explain my absence from the meeting and assumed reporters on the team could intervene. That call was blocked immediately, and I had no second chance. Even though I had a journalism degree, I didnt know that attempting to call a news outlet would cost me communication with the outside world until I was released.

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Once I was put in the local lockup cell, I gave my lunch to an aggressive man who was incarcerated for alleged domestic abuse. Despite repeatedly asking for legal representation, I was told I was being transferred to Orleans, Massachusetts, (two hours away on Cape Cod), where a public defender would handle my case the following morning because I was out of calls.

They shackled my ankles and transported me to county lockup at 6 p.m. I was placed in an intake area with about 40 others, including a man who allegedly ran over his girlfriend (he left little doubt) and someone described as a bully for the Providence mob operation in New Bedford.

During processing, the other incarcerated individuals laughed as I handed over my gingham tie, shoelaces, belt and suit pants before I stripped naked, exchanging my shirt and dress pants for orange prison clothes. That night, I gave my dinner  a peanut butter sandwich  to a group of men who seemed dangerous, and a guard allowed me to skip showering.

I spent the night terrified on a top bunk. My cellmate hadnt said a word. The guards mentioned he had been there for three years, and I spent much of my time wondering what he had done. I never learned why he was there, but he was kind and woke up early to wish me luck when the guards came for me at 5 a.m. the next morning.

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I was moved to Orleans in an armored police wagon with rails along the floor for the cuffs on my ankles. Aside from the three armed guards that accompanied me, I was thankfully alone for the two-hour ride. By 10 a.m., a public defender recognized the massive mistake that had occurred. When I finally saw the judge that afternoon, he reprimanded the prosecutor and ordered my immediate release.

Back in my own clothes, freedom felt like a relief, but I had to make my own way home with a dead phone, no charger, and whatever was in my pockets at the time of the arrest. I lived alone, so I had no idea if anyone was aware that I was missing or the gravity of my absence. I was 22, freaked out, and needed to get home by traveling across a section of the state that declined in population and public transportation access significantly after October.

I finally reached my mom at 6 p.m. after borrowing the phone at a Boys & Girls Club once my Greyhound bus arrived from Orleans. My entire family feared I had died in an accident and had been searching for my car along Route 24 between Newport and Boston. My employer and my family were actively discussing whether to file a missing persons report.



We thought we lost you too, an uncle said. A year had barely passed since my dad suffered a fatal widow-maker heart attack at 46 years old.



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I didnt drive for 10 years after the incident.

Still, I consider myself lucky compared to others who now face deportation and indefinite imprisonment after misidentifications or other mishandling of their cases, including Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, who is being held in an El Salvadorian gulag. The judge in that Orleans courtroom recognized me as a person caught in a mistake and let me go. I wasnt abused, beaten or forgotten. But now...

The constitutional power judges have been entrusted with is being actively ignored by elected officials who would rather gloss over facts or flat out ignore them. Their lawyers admit errors, but political contracts with hot-shot autocrats are apparently just too attractive to deny. Due process now seems to be a relic from a time before this administration came into power.

I have a tattoo on my wrist that is a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson, which speaks in part to American self-determination and the idea that everyone has the power within themselves to turn furies into muses and hells to benefit through the power of their own mind. But if my tattoo had a crown over it, like Andry Jose Hernandez Romeros  the gay Venezuelan makeup artist currently at The Terrorism Confinement Center  and I were arrested today, could I be looked at differently?

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Faith in ones self  like Emerson wrote about  depends on the presence of judgment rooted in principle, not performance. What happens when that judgment is taken away? When politicians masquerade as prosecutors? When the laws and protections weve been promised by our Constitution disappear? When due process gives way to TikTok spectacle? Is anyone safe?

I was lucky. I walked out. I went home after experiencing 24 of the most terrifying hours in my life. I made it through a system error, but error itself is increasingly becoming a new American system as political incentives favor cruelty, as contracts reward confusion, and as furies are not transformed but enthroned.

Will McGuinness is a writer and an advisor to nonprofit organizations and educational institutions. He lives in Miami, Florida.

Do you have a compelling personal story youd like to see published on HuffPost? Find out what were looking for here and send us a pitch at pitch@huffpost.com.

Related...
A security camera recorded the moments a speeding driver crashed into a Vancouver bar on Tuesday morning.

In the video, the car slams into a beam, taking out the railing and decorations at Irrelevant Beer and Relevant Coffee.

The owner shared the video with KIRO 7, and the Vancouver Police Department shared pictures of the aftermath.

According to Vancouver PD, officers found the driver lying in the road, about 15 feet from his truck. He was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries.

Vancouver police say impairment is not believed to be a factor, but speed is.

The business owner confirmed that the coffee shop was closed for repairs, but the bar opened as usual tonight.
The CDC has issued a warning for American travelers, as over 13 million dengue cases have been reported across the Americas so far this year, and travel analysts are beginning to break down the impact.

What's happening?

Travel and Tour World reported on the alert, noting that locations like the U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada, United States, Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Bahamas are all at high risk for this mosquito-borne disease.

The site, which covers issues affecting the tourism and travel industry, also noted that these sectors face increasing challenges as dengue cases rise.

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"While the disease does not spread directly from person to person, the global nature of travel means that an infected individual could bring the virus back home, sparking outbreaks in regions that were previously unaffected," it says. "The spread of dengue fever poses a serious public health threat, especially to popular travel destinations in the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and Latin America, which rely heavily on tourism for economic growth."

Why is dengue fever concerning?

Dengue can lead to symptoms like high fever, severe headache, nausea, and vomiting, according to the World Health Organization. More severe cases can result in bleeding gums or nose, weakness, blood or vomit in the stool, and even death.

The current surge in infections comes after a record-breaking year for the disease  in fact, the World Mosquito Program called 2024 the "worst year for dengue cases on record."

Meanwhile, other vector-borne illnesses such as malaria and Oropouche are also on rise as a warmer planet is helping mosquitoes to move into new habitats that were once too cold for them. For instance, Finnish scientists recently discovered a mosquito species that had never been observed in the country before.

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Plus, extreme weather such as hurricanes and floods  which are increasing in frequency and severity as our planet overheats  often leave behind pools of water, creating perfect spots for mosquitoes to breed and thrive. For example, Uganda is experiencing an increase in malaria as the country faces more unpredictable rainfall and flooding.

What's being done about mosquito-borne diseases?

A CBS News report on the dengue outbreak recommended that people take preventative actions like rearranging travel to countries with known dengue risk to times of the year when transmission is lower and wearing protective clothing and repellants.

The CDC also recommends staying in air-conditioned or screened environments, avoiding mosquito-prone areas, and consulting a healthcare professional before travel to determine if any vaccinations or other preventative measures are recommended.

Governments are also looking for ways to reduce mosquito populations in order to protect people from disease. For instance, Djibouti has deployed genetically modified mosquitoes to kill the malaria-spreading ones. And officials in Florida are using X-rays to kill invasive mosquitoes that may carry diseases like dengue, Zika, yellow fever, and chikungunya.

Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Measles cases are most likely being underreported in the United States as public health officials scramble to find resources to address a ballooning outbreak in the Southwest, according to a senior scientist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

So far this year, 747 cases have been recorded in the United States, according to NBC News tally. Two unvaccinated children in Texas and an unvaccinated adult in New Mexico have died. The adult tested positive for measles, but the official cause of death is still under investigation.

Dr. David Sugerman, a senior scientist leading the CDCs measles response, said Tuesday at a meeting of the CDCs vaccine advisory committee that more than 90% of the cases are related to the Southwest outbreak, driven by transmission in close-knit, undervaccinated communities. The other cases have largely been imported from other countries, he said.

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We do believe that theres quite a large amount of cases that are not reported and underreported, Sugerman said Tuesday as he updated the committee on measles. In working very closely with our colleagues in Texas; in talking with families, they may mention prior cases that have recovered and never received testing, other families that may have cases and never sought treatment.

Sugerman said the CDC has deployed 15 people to Texas to help manage the outbreak and is sending seven more this week. It continues to make measles vaccines available to health departments at their request, he said, and it is helping standardize and expand wastewater surveillance.

However, the CDC slashed $11.4 billion in Covid funding last month, some of which helped state health departments respond to disease outbreaks. Sugerman said the loss of Covid grant money has created funding limitations in Texas, where state officials are redirecting staffers to work on the measles response or moving them from other regions to help support efforts in the outbreak area.

We are scraping to find the resources and personnel needed to provide support to Texas and other jurisdictions, Sugerman said.

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As of Tuesday, 561 cases had been confirmed in the West Texas outbreak, according to the states Department of State Health Services. Each measles case may cost $30,000 to $50,000 to address, which adds up quite quickly, Sugerman said.

Before this year, the United States had not had a measles death in a decade, and a child had not died of measles since 2003. Many public health experts have criticized Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s approach to the outbreak. While Kennedy has called for people to get the measles vaccine, he has framed vaccination as a personal choice and emphasized unproven treatments like steroids or antibiotics. He has also repeatedly claimed that immunity from measles vaccines wanes quickly, despite robust evidence that two doses of the vaccine offer lifelong protection.

At a media event Tuesday in Indiana, Kennedy said the CDC has done a very good job at controlling the measles outbreak, pointing to higher case numbers in Europe. However, the figure he cited  127,000 cases  was the total last year across 53 countries. Disease experts say that is an apples-to-oranges comparison with the current outbreak in the United States.

Kennedy also suggested Tuesday that healthy children should not die of measles if doctors know how to treat it. In reality, no specific treatment is approved for measles, and unvaccinated children are vulnerable to severe complications, such as pneumonia and swelling of the brain. Roughly 1 to 3 out of every 1,000 children with measles die from respiratory and neurological complications, according to the CDC.

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The CDCs vaccine advisory committee met Tuesday for the first time since Kennedy took office on Feb. 13. The meeting was originally scheduled for late February, but the Department of Health and Human Services postponed it. A senior HHS spokesperson said at the time that the delay was intended to allow time for public comment.

Kennedy has previously accused the committee members of having conflicts of interest, citing ties to the pharmaceutical industry. Most scientists say it is appropriate for members to accept industry funding for vaccine research, as long as it is disclosed.

Helen Keipp Talbot, who chaired the committee Tuesday, lamented that the group had to discuss rising measles case numbers.

I find it absolutely devastating that were having this update today, she said. Theres no reason why we have healthy children dying of measles in the U.S. when this vaccine is amazing. Its highly effective and has a very long-lasting immunity.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Editor's note: China has long been known as the "factory of the world," with the Made-in-China label often associated with cheap and low-quality products. However, this perception is now becoming a thing of the past. Driven by rising R&D investment and consumption upgrades, many Chinese manufacturers are advancing up the value chain and gaining ground in the high-end market. Xinhua hereby presents a series of three stories that examine upgrades in the country's manufacturing sector. The following is the second piece in the series that focuses on how China's consumer electronics makers are expanding their footprints in the high-end market.

BEIJING, April 16 (Xinhua) -- China, once deemed the "factory of the world" for churning out low-cost products and serving as a contract manufacturing hub for multinational brands, is now seeing its consumer electronics enterprises ride the AI wave to move up the value chain and cash in on the high-end market.

Among the rising stars is Dreame Technology, a leading smart home appliance manufacturer headquartered in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. Founded in 2017, the company sold 3.96 million robotic vacuum cleaners last year, a year-on-year growth of nearly 60 percent, with its products reaching over 100 countries and regions.

At a product launch event in March this year, Dreame unveiled 11 new products, including its first AI-powered window-cleaning robot. Among the standout innovations was a robotic vacuum featuring a bionic, multi-joint arm capable of extending up to 33 centimeters and cleaning some narrow spaces with the help of cleaning tools. Another notable feature is its ability to automatically change mop cloths, allowing for dedicated mopping in specific zones.

Dreame's latest robotic vacuum cleaners integrate DeepSeek to enable more smart voice interaction. The company's AI model can recognize more than 200 types of obstacles, enabling its robotic vacuums with the latest generation of robotic arms to perform tasks such as tidying up obstacles and trash on the room floors.

"The AI technology can make the vacuum cleaners think more like humans," said Meng Jia, president of Dreame's robotic vacuum business. "Embodied AI will pave the way for the introduction of home service robots."

Meng said Dreame could make home service robots with robotic arms and wheels for feet to step over common doorsills as early as next year, with the potential for humanoid robots capable of climbing stairs in the future.

Algorithms and computing power are important, he explained. "For products that can tidy up rooms, offer emotional companionship, or assist in caring for children and the elderly, we need to harness AI and develop related software."

Dreame's focus on R&D has been crucial to its rise, with the research staff comprising 60 percent of its workforce. Moreover, R&D spending accounts for 7 percent of its total revenue, significantly higher than that of traditional home appliance makers.

To tap the premium segment, Dreame has introduced smart large home appliances and smart kitchen solutions. It plans to leverage its global resource advantage to increase sales of smart home appliances.

"Technological innovations and the development of product functions according to the usage habits of local consumers are key to penetrating the market," Meng said.

Indeed, Chinese enterprises are moving towards high-end development, boosted by the country's eye-catching achievements in the global technology and innovation-driven fields, according to Gary Cai, head of the Macroeconomic Research Institute of KPMG China Research Center.

MiMouse Technology, a startup established in 2015 in Hefei, capital of east China's Anhui Province, serves as yet another outstanding example of how Chinese consumer electronics enterprises are leveraging AI to transform traditional hardware.

Within a year of its launch, MiMouse developed a smart voice mouse with a speech recognition speed of 400 words per minute and an accuracy rate of 98 percent.

"In the beginning, we wanted to help people with typing difficulties. Later, we added machine translation and then smart writing features powered by large language models," said Feng Haihong, founder of MiMouse. Since 2015, the company has rolled out nearly 200 major updates to improve functionality and user experience.

In 2023, MiMouse launched its first smart mouse powered by a large language model. Leveraging major AI models like DeepSeek and ChatGPT, the smart mouse allows users to create PowerPoint presentations, articles, code, poems, and more using simple voice commands.

The product sold over 100,000 units within one month of its launch and has consistently topped the sales charts on China's leading e-commerce platforms.

"The AI era is reshaping hardware, bringing growth opportunities and challenges," said Feng, noting that the company has doubled its R&D investment to more than 20 million yuan (about 2.8 million U.S. dollars) annually.

The company sold more than 400,000 AI mice in 2024, hitting a sales revenue of nearly 100 million yuan. A proportion of sales came from the overseas markets, including the United States, Japan and India. In February this year, the company received two orders from U.S. customers totaling 10,000 units.

"Going global is now our key strategy," said Feng, adding that "China's competitive edge in consumer electronics comes from its strong R&D workforce and comprehensive supply chain, which enables better products at lower costs."

He noted that the company has upgraded its software to support multiple languages and set up overseas AI servers to improve the user experience.

MiMouse also plans to expand its smart office lineup with new products, such as AI pens and transcription-enabled recording cards, aiming to integrate AI into everyday work and life.

To accelerate the adoption of smart, high-end home appliances in more households, Chinese policymakers have introduced a range of measures, including subsidies for trading in old appliances and green energy-saving consumption vouchers, to lower the barrier to accessing premium products.

A recent trade-in campaign organised by the China Household Electrical Appliances Service Association has focused on smart products equipped with AI technology, covering cutting-edge categories such as smart refrigerators, self-adaptive air conditioners, and kitchen appliances with AI voice interaction, said Zhao Jie, vice president of the association.

"The campaign is expected to unleash consumption potential worth over 100 billion yuan, drive industrial upgrading through high-end supply, and facilitate China's manufacturing industry to transform from traditional manufacturing to smart one," Zhao said. 
(COLORADO SPRINGS) Cedar Springs Hospital in Colorado Springs hosted a conference on Tuesday, April 15 to discuss upgrades and new programs at its military clinic, to better serve the mental health needs in the military community.

How do we complement the things that the government and the military is already doing and provide just another resource, because often it takes a village, said Bob Kedelis, CEO of Cedar Springs Hospital.

The conference brought high-ranking military personnel and community members together to discuss how to tackle the mental health crisis many military installations are facing.

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Its just one of those things that as the need arises and bases cant handle some of their overflow for some of these needs and service members, its just become more and more out there, said Kedelis.

Recent federal layoffs have impacted many resources and civilian staffing at military bases in our community, which is making it harder for military members to access the care they need.

Theyre always going to be at or near capacity oftentimes, so we create a pop-off valve for us to be able to see some of the folks that they wouldnt be able to see, said Matt Peterson, Executive Vice President of Universal Health Services.

Which is why Cedar Springs Hospital is adding new upgrades to its program, including a new exterior remodel, refurnishing living areas, and enhancing patient care programs.

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The whole point of it is to help service members deal with their substance abuse struggles and set them up for success in going back to active duty, said Kedelis.

The military program is called New Choices, and it was created in 2001 at Cedar Springs Hospital. It is a 28 day military ward for service members and veterans seeking mental health resources.

I think that its extremely important to recognize that and those kinds of challenges and those kinds of needs that they have are best served by folks who have been in that situation before, said Peterson.

Representatives from Cedar Springs told FOX21 that military members are given different treatments compared to other patients and each military member in the program often receives care from a veteran.

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They said most hospitals group military and nonmilitary patients, but Cedar Springs Hospital separates them to better individualize military care. The ward is set up to mirror what the military encounters, so it is modeled after the barracks where active members are housed during enlistment.

If you or someone you know is an active-duty servicemember or a veteran who is struggling, you are not alone and there are resources available to help. To seek help from Cedar Springs Hospital, click here.

Speak up, say something, get help. Youre not alone, said Kedelis.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  Communities in central Arkansas are coming together to remember the victims of the 5th Avenue Park shooting in Conway.

The April 13 shooting claimed the lives of 24-year-old Tatayana Penister and 23-year-old Demetrius Feemster. Nine other people were injured, with one being in serious condition.

A pop-up community prayer will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 17, in Little Rock at 900 South Pine Street. The event will be hosted by the Awareness Center and Lakiesha Braggs Ministries.

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Conway community has mixed reaction after police update on Sunday shooting

The NAACP Faulkner County Branch will hold a candlelight vigil at 6 p.m. Monday, April 21, in Conway at 5th Avenue Park located at 573 5th Avenue.

There has not been an arrest in connection with the shooting.

I was just running anywhere, Witnesses describe chaos of Conway shooting that left 2 dead, 9 injured

Conway Mayor Bart Castleberry and Police Chief Chris Harris gave an update on the deadly shooting, saying that detectives have leads in the investigation.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Authorities in Tulare County arrested a couple for alleged child endangerment after their 9-month-old baby tested positive for cocaine.

The arrests happened Tuesday morning after a Lindsay couple brought the 9-month-old to a local hospital for a high fever. Tests showed the baby tested positive for cocaine, according to a Tulare County Sheriffs office news release.

Detectives served a search warrant at the couples home in Lindsay about 5 a.m. Tuesday, where they found narcotics.

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Ahsley Flores, 29, and Casey Willbanks, 32, were placed under arrest for child endangerment and illicit narcotics.

Flores and Willbanks are the biological parents of the baby, who was placed under the custody of Child Welfare Services along with two other children.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has no immediate plans to join the growing number of lawsuits challenging President Donald Trumps so-called Liberation Day tariffs, two people with direct knowledge of discussions confirmed to POLITICO.

The business group, one of the most influential trade associations in Washington, will instead focus on lobbying the Trump administration on the tariffs directly, said the people, who were granted anonymity to divulge sensitive and developing discussions.

The Chamber was previously mulling a lawsuit over Trumps use of a 1970s-era emergency law to impose tariffs. But the lobbying group, which claims to represent millions of business owners, decided against legal action for now, swayed by the threat of tariffs being re-applied under a separate statute if a lawsuit was successful, the people said.

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The Chambers decision follows a wave of legal challenges from businesses arguing the president exceeded his authority on tariffs under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act. California Gov. Gavin Newsom filed a lawsuit Wednesday, warning the state could lose billions due to its trade-reliant industries.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta told POLITICO he had direct conversations with quite a few folks from businesses and trade organizations angry with Trump's tariff before filing the suit, adding, This is very specifically important to California, and noting the states standing as the fifth-largest economy in the world. We wanted to move quickly and assertively."

Two conservative legal groups  the Liberty Justice Center and the New Civil Liberties Alliance  also filed separate suits in recent weeks.

While we believe that tariffs under [the International Emergency Economic Powers Act] are legally questionable, the president has other tools to impose similar tariffs that equally damage Americas Main Street Businesses, the Chamber said in a statement to POLITICO. The only way to provide immediate relief is for the Administration to pull back on these harmful tariffs.

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Trump has used the emergency law to impose a flat 10 percent duty on trading partners and a 145 percent tariff on China, as well as so-called reciprocal tariffs on more than 60 other trading partners before pausing those duties for 90 days. The emergency law grants the president wide authority to control economic transactions during an emergency, but prior to Trump it had never been used to impose tariffs, meaning it has not been legally tested.

The president has used a different 1962 trade law  which he also tapped in his first term  to impose new duties on automobiles, steel and aluminum on the grounds that its in the countrys national security interests to protect those industries. The president could also use other decades-old trade laws to impose duties, including one from 1974 that would allow Trump to levy a tariff for up to 150 days on countries with which the U.S. has a trade deficit.

The Chamber consistently explores  and uses  every tool at our disposal to impact policy and regulatory outcomes, including litigation. Our current focus is getting immediate relief for small businesses from the tariffs, the Chamber said, adding that the group has been inundated with calls from small businesses concerned about the impact of tariffs in recent weeks.

Some legal scholars say its possible a judge will deem Trumps use of the emergency law illegal, unraveling the White Houses bid to hit trading partners with duties not seen in a century.

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There is absolutely a basis on which to challenge the use of [the International Emergency Economic Powers Act] for tariffs based on the Supreme Courts own jurisprudence, Liza Goitein, senior director of the liberty and national security program at the Brennan Center for Justice, a nonpartisan law and policy institute, said in an interview earlier this month. Theres some likelihood of success on this lawsuit on that grounds.

But any lawsuits could take months, if not longer, to reach a conclusion, unless the plaintiffs seek a preliminary injunction to immediately stop Trump from collecting the duties.

The New Civil Liberties Alliance, the conservative legal group that filed a lawsuit challenging Trumps use of the emergency law to slap a 20 percent tariff on China, is not seeking an injunction because such decisions can be appealed and slow down the case, one of the groups attorneys previously told POLITICO. But they do hope for a ruling by the end of the year that Trumps action was unlawful and unconstitutional.

Tyler Katzenberger contributed to this report.
Chancellor Sonny Perdue in the Georgia Capitol. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder

This story was updated at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 16

University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue is bemoaning an increase in online classes in the states colleges and universities.

Its somewhat concerning to me as we look at this trend from post-COVID time over more and more online, Perdue said at a Board of Regents meeting held at Georgia Southern University Tuesday. This is really a response to our broader audience, including our presidents in the audience today, to understand if this is driven by faculty or student demand in that regard.

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I mean, if we continue that, we can become the Western Governors University and not need all the new square footage thats being requested every year, so thats just a simple issue, he added, referring to a private online university.

Perdue was reacting to a presentation on the systems enrollment for the spring semester that showed an upward creep in online-only classes.

The portion of undergraduates studying completely online was 16% in 2022 after a spike in the aftermath of the pandemic and has since crept up to 19%. The portion of undergrads taking only face-to-face classes meanwhile shrunk from 45% in 2022 to 39% this year.

In all, 42% of undergrads take some classes online and some in person, up from 39% in 2022.

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Perdue acknowledged a 2024 university system study that did not show much difference in academic outcomes between online and face-to-face classes for undergraduates, but indicated he does not like the way the trend is moving, asking staff to compile data on how Georgia compares with other states.

In remarks at the end of the public meeting, Perdue also called on university presidents to bring their workforces back onto campus.

While we had remote work as a privilege for a while, our expectation  my expectation  is when a family, a prospective student or parents or grandparents call the campus on Friday afternoon, they get an answer, he said.

Were in the customer service business, he added. And therefore, we are expressing our absolute expectation for our campuses to be covered five days a week  five days a week  thats Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, all those days for our campuses, and the expectation is of our employees to come back to the campus where the energy happens in that regard, and I hope that were going to continue to do that. I hope that were going to get good cooperation from our presidents and our campuses everywhere along with that. So if thats not what you all want, you let me know because thats where were going in that regard.

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There wasnt too much else for Perdue to bemoan in Tuesdays enrollment report, which showed steady growth for the system.

Spring 2025 enrollment is 345,823, up 19,400 students or 6% from last spring and an all-time record for the spring semester.

Demographically, the number of white students has steadily dropped, down from 47% in 2021 to 42% today. The number of Black students has remained mostly steady in that time frame, dipping slightly from 26% to 25%.

Hispanic and Asian students have seen the most growth, with the portion of Hispanic students rising from 10% to 12% and Asian students moving from 11% to 14%.

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Students in the other category, which includes American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students, grew 1% to make up 7% of the total population.

In-state enrollment grew by 5%, out of state enrollment by 11% and international by 6.5%.

In-state students make up about 78% of students, out-of-staters comprise just over 14% and the remaining approximately 8% are international students.

Tuition stays mostly flat

On Tuesday, the regents voted to keep tuition flat for in-state students across nearly all of the systems 26 public colleges and universities.

The exceptions are the University of North Georgia and Albany State University, which are starting a three-year plan to bring undergraduate tuition into alignment across all programs. UNG students who are currently paying less than the prevailing tuition rate will pay $24 more per credit hour, and Albany State students paying less than the going rate will see the cost of a credit hour go up $21.

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The decision to keep tuition flat for most in-state undergraduates comes a year after the regents increased in-state undergraduate tuition by 2.5%.

Under the plan, out-of-state tuition will increase by 2%, and out-of-country tuition will rise by 3%.

The regents also approved changes to fees that will raise costs across six schools: the University of Georgia, Albany State University, Clayton State University, Fort Valley University, Dalton State University and the University of North Georgia.

Not counting the online learning fee paid by online students, parents of kids in those institutions could be forking over up to $30 in increased fees in addition to tuition.

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Two USG schools are set to see lower mandatory fees. Fees at Georgia Tech are set to drop by $25, and Georgia College and State University students are set to pocket an extra $15 in savings.

The board said this will be the seventh time in 10 years the state has voted not to increase tuition, and that adjusted for inflation, in-state students are on average paying less in tuition than they were in 2017.

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A 26-year-old Hopkins man arrested outside the UnitedHealthcare headquarters in Minnetonka on Monday morning had told the FBI he was going to shoot up the inside of the building if his past criminal charges were not dismissed, charges filed Tuesday say.

After Ian Stanley Wagner surrendered to law enforcement without incident, the charges say, a search of his Volkswagen turned up a loaded .38-caliber revolver and a bag with 16 additional rounds, both on the front passenger seat.

The incident comes months after UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot in New York City on Dec. 4 as he was walking to an investor conference in midtown Manhattan. The alleged killer, Luigi Mangione, 26, faces both state and federal charges.

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However, police and company officials said Monday there was no indication that Wagner had specific grievances against UnitedHealthcare itself.

Minnetonka police knew of Wagners mental health issues and harassing behavior, the criminal complaint says.

Court records show that in February, Wagner was convicted of threats of violence in Hennepin County. At the time of Mondays incident, he was wanted on arrest warrants in that case and in connection with two others that allege restraining order violations.

On Tuesday, Minnetonka police filed a petition for an extreme risk protection order against Wagner, noting that he is a risk to himself and others.

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He remains at the Hennepin County jail in lieu of $500,000 bail ahead of a Wednesday initial court appearance on four felony charges: two counts of threats of violence and two counts of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a person who is not eligible due to a conviction for a crime of violence. A defense attorney is not listed in the court file.

Shoot up UnitedHealthcare

According to Tuesdays criminal complaint, Minnetonka police were sent to UnitedHealthcare headquarters at 10:55 a.m. after the FBI reported being in real-time contact with a suspect manifesting intent to enter and shoot up corporate facilities.

The FBI said the suspect identified himself as Wagner and stated he was parked at UnitedHealthcare with a loaded firearm.

An FBI negotiator spoke with Wagner while additional law enforcement officers secured the scene. Law enforcement contacted eight nearby commercial buildings to go into lockdown.

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Wagner surrendered to law enforcement about 11:45 a.m.

Law enforcements investigation revealed a recorded 911 call from that morning in which Wagner told a 911 dispatcher that he would be firing into the UnitedHealth building if criminal charges against him were not dropped. According to the complaint, Wagner said, Do you want an evacuation on the news? or words to that effect, the complaint says.

He was on house arrest

Wagner was sentenced to four months of electronic home monitoring and three years of probation Feb. 28 after pleading guilty in Hennepin County District Court to two counts of threats of violence relating to an Aug. 9 offense in Minnetonka. The details of that case were not clear Tuesday. He was given a home monitoring strap on March 10 and ordered to return to the county jail on April 3. He failed to do so, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Wagner has two other open criminal cases.

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He was charged by warrant Jan. 24 in St. Louis County for allegedly violating a restraining order two days earlier. He failed to appear at an April 8 remote arraignment hearing and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

He was charged April 1 by warrant in Hennepin County with violating a harassment restraining order on March 29.

According to Tuesdays petition for an extreme risk protection order, Wagners harassment involves someone he met at a college campus. In 2023, Wagner threatened to burn the victims home down. Last year, police were called when he took a BB gun with him to confront the victim.

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Apr. 16WILKES-BARRE  Within hours after charges against Joseph D. Granteed were dismissed related to shoving a Luzerne County sheriff deputy and disrupting a county election board meeting, prosecutors refiled the same exact charges against him on Wednesday.

This time, Granteed will receive the criminal complaint via summons instead of the first time when he was arrested and taken for a preliminary arraignment before a district judge.

District Judge Donald Whittaker of Nanticoke after a preliminary hearing held at Luzerne County Central Court dismissed two counts each of simple assault and harassment and one count each of disrupt meeting and disorderly conduct against Granteed, 66, of Plains Township.

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Granteed was charged after after he was physically removed from the March 19 county election board meeting by sheriff deputies Jerry DeHaza and Ryan Morgans after being instructed by county Manager Romilda Crocamo.

"We are pleased with the district judge's decision. Judge Whittaker saw that no crime was committed or could have been committed given Mr. Granteed's First Amendment right to hold our elected officials accountable. We are saddened that the county has decided to refile these charges an waste taxpayer funds on this nonsense," stated Granteed's attorney, Matthew T. Muckler.

During Wednesday's preliminary hearing that began at approximately 10 a.m., DeHaza prosecuted without an assistant district attorney and testified to events of the March 19 election board meeting.

DeHaza said Granteed spoke before the election board and was told by Election Board Chairwoman Christine Boyle his three minutes were up and to sit down.

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Granteed made several remarks directed at election board member Rick Morelli as he walked away from the podium to a seat as Morelli also asked Granteed questions.

DeHaza said he approached Granteed and asked to go outside the meeting room at the same time he waived his arms in a gesture to exit the room.

"He verbally said I have no authority to do anything," DeHaza said.

DeHaza said he wanted to calm the situation and left the meeting room to notify Sheriff Corporal Wanda Babula. DeHaza and Babula returned to Granteed instructing him to leave the room but Granteed refused.

DeHaza said Crocamo then instructed to have Granteed removed resulting in a "hands-on" approach.

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When DeHaza said he put his hands on Granteed, Granteed responded by shoving him.

DeHaza did not produce the video of the meeting showing Granteed shoving him.

Muckler introduced the video showing Granteed's public address to the election board that illustrated Boyle advising him that his three minutes had expired as Morelli responded to Granteed with a question as Granteed walked from the podium to a seat.

Muckler, in a strategic move, did not play the video showing DeHaza going "hands-on" in response to Crocamo directing Granteed be removed, which resulted in Granteed's arm shove onto DeHaza.

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DeHaza was denied a request by Whittaker to have Muckler show the video that depicts Granteed shoving him.

"That's beyond the scope of my cross-examination," Muckler said in successfully objecting to DeHaza's request to show the video illustrating the shove.

Whittaker did not waste any time in dismissing the case against Granteed, which took place at about 10:35 a.m.

About four hours later, prosecutors refiled the charges against Granteed with the second preliminary hearing scheduled on May 28.

After Wednesday's hearing, Granteed provided a statement to the Times Leader.

"I went there with the intent of exercising my First Amendment right to be critical of my representatives. For some reason they didn't like what I said, or how I said it, and they held it against me," Granteed stated.

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Granteed thanked Muckler stating, "The truth came out."

Granteed stated he will continue to monitor county election board meetings through the remote viewing option but does not expect to immediately attend in person.

"I am not sure what could happen at this point; whether there will be retaliation," Granteed stated.

Benjamin R. Herring, president of Citizens Advisory of Pennsylvania, issued this statement after Wednesday morning's preliminary hearing.

"We are pleased with today's dismissal of charges from Judge Whittaker as they further solidify the fundamental right of all citizens to scrutinize elected officials. The first amendment absolutely and unequivocally allows for public officials to be called upon to address issues under their purview, and while some may not like that concept, id does not give them the right to restrict someone's speech. Citizens Advisory of Pennsylvania will always protect our fellow citizens constitutional rights, and today's ruling is a testament to that," Herring stated.
MERCER, Pa. (WKBN)  Charges have been withdrawn in the case of a 21-year-old Vermont woman accused of making threats online involving Grove City College.

Charges of making terroristic threats and disorderly conduct have been withdrawn against Ellen Otterman, according to Mercer County court records.

Otterman was charged following an investigation in February by Grove City Police after they were contacted by the FBI about a threat made against Grove City College. Agents said a picture was posted to Snapchat from a person in a hooded sweatshirt and mask that said, Am I ill or about to shoot up a school? Stay tuned for updates.

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Police located Otterman outside the Pew Fine Arts Center, where she admitted to posting the photo, according to a police report.

Erin Yudt contributed to this report.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Gov. Josh Stein announced Tuesday more than $41 million to go towards Completing Access to Broadband program projects.

Connecting North Carolinians online helps strengthen our state, said Gov. Stein. Broadband plays a crucial role in our development, and I look forward to seeing how these funds expand economic opportunities for people in every corner of North Carolina.

These projects will be funded by more than $29 million from the federal American Rescue Plan awarded by NCDIT. Nearly 12.5 million is coming from these selected broadband providers:

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Anson County: Windstream North Carolina, LLC. This award will provide high-speed internet access to 945 homes and businesses (35% of the countys 2,714 eligible locations).

Caldwell County: Connect Holding II, LLC. This award will provide high-speed internet access to 203 homes and businesses (12.91% of the countys 1,572 eligible locations).

Carteret County: Connect Holding II, LLC . This award will provide high-speed internet access to 164 homes and businesses (46.2% of the countys 355 eligible locations).

Caswell County: Connect Holding II, LLC . This award will provide high-speed internet access to 565 homes and businesses (65.16% of the countys 867 eligible locations).

Davidson County: Windstream. This award will provide high-speed internet access to 436 homes and businesses (38.6% of the countys 1,127 eligible locations).

Edgecombe County: Connect Holding II, LLC . This award will provide high-speed internet access to 1681 homes and businesses (85.55% of the countys 1,965 eligible locations).

Greene County: Connect Holding II, LLC . This award will provide high-speed internet access to 637 homes and businesses (94.37% of the countys 675 eligible locations).

Lincoln County: Spectrum Southeast, LLC . This award will provide high-speed internet access to 271 homes and businesses (10.35% of the countys 2,619 eligible locations).

McDowell County: Skyrunner. This award will provide high-speed internet access to 704 homes and businesses (32.8% of the countys 2,142 eligible locations).

Mitchell County: French Broad Electric Membership Corp . This award will provide high-speed internet access to 432 homes and businesses (51.86% of the countys 833 eligible locations).

Onslow County: Connect Holding II, LLC . This award will provide high-speed internet access to 626 homes and businesses (60.71% of the countys 1,031 eligible locations).

Pitt County: Connect Holding II, LLC . This award will provide high-speed internet access to 534 homes and businesses (92.55% of the countys 577 eligible locations).

Sampson County: Connect Holding II, LLC . This award will provide high-speed internet access to 1605 homes and businesses (73.59% of the countys 2,181 eligible locations).

Tyrrell County: Connect Holding II, LLC . This award will provide high-speed internet access to 237 homes and businesses (73.37% of the countys 323 eligible locations).

Vance County: Connect Holding II, LLC . This award will provide high-speed internet access to 1327 homes and businesses (50.65% of the countys 2,620 eligible locations).

Wilkes County: Wilkes Telephone Membership Corporation (RiverStreet Networks). This award will provide high-speed internet access to 658 homes and businesses (94.13% of the countys 699 eligible locations).

Wilson County: Connect Holding II, LLC. This award will provide high-speed internet access to 791 homes and businesses (64.26% of the countys 1,231 eligible locations).

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
City and state lawmakers are calling on the Georgia State Patrol to stop their pursuit practices. This follows the death of a 19-year-old who was hit and killed when a suspect GSP troopers were chasing ran a red light and hit the teen.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Chases should not happen, said Atlanta City Council member Liliana Bakhtiari Wednesday afternoon in a press conference.

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She is among those calling for change from the Georgia State Patrols pursuit policy.

It comes after a crash Monday at Moreland and McClendon, where a car was hit by a driver who was being pursued by the Georgia State Patrol for traffic violations. Cooper Schoenke, 19, was killed. His mother was alerted immediately to the crash.

She got an alert on her phone from Coopers phone that he had been in an accident, said Coopers family friend Kate Weaver.

Coopers mother went right to the scene to find her worst nightmare: her only son, gone in an instant.

Let me be clear, their actions were not about the safety of the public; this was about a need for speed, said Devin Barrington Ward with the National Police Accountability Project.

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We need to make sure we are holding law enforcement agencies accountable, said councilmember Bakhtiari.

TRENDING STORIES:

Coopers family also wants to see change.

I think a more responsible pursuit policy would honor Coopers legacy in a meaningful way. If that can stop even one more innocent life from being lost, its absolutely what should happen, said Weaver.

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In a statement from Governor Kemps spokesperson on the calls for change, Garrison Douglas said, Lets be clear: the leaders of the rejected Defund the Police movement have another bad idea and by misidentifying the Department of Public Safety Commissioner, have proven once again that they lack basic understanding of the facts.

Those who break the law and act recklessly are to blame for the tragic and needless loss of these lives, and its shameful that anyone would seek to diminish the actions of those who caused these deaths and shift blame onto those who put their lives on the line every day to safeguard our communities. It is thanks to the brave and dedicated work of law enforcement and the full rejection of these short-sighted arguments that we have seen a historic drop in crime in our Capital city.

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Afghan refugees arrive at the Torkham border crossing in Nangarhar province, Pakistan, on April 16, 2025. (Photo by Saeed Ahmad/Xinhua)

KABUL, April 16 (Xinhua) -- A total of 826 Afghan families with 4,339 people left Pakistan on Tuesday, Afghanistan's High Commission for Addressing Returnees Problems said in a statement on Wednesday.

According to the statement, the families have returned home via the Torkham border crossing in the eastern Nangarhar province and the Spin Boldak border crossing in the southern Kandahar province.

At the Torkham border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan, the commission provided temporary shelters, nourishment, water, medical care, and transportation services. 

Afghan refugees unload their belongings from a truck at the Torkham border crossing in Nangarhar province, Pakistan, on April 16, 2025. (Photo by Saeed Ahmad/Xinhua)

Afghan refugees unload their belongings from a truck at the Torkham border crossing in Nangarhar province, Pakistan, on April 16, 2025. (Photo by Saeed Ahmad/Xinhua)

Afghan refugees unload their belongings from a truck at the Torkham border crossing in Nangarhar province, Pakistan, on April 16, 2025. (Photo by Saeed Ahmad/Xinhua)

Afghan refugees wait at the Torkham border crossing in Nangarhar province, Pakistan, on April 16, 2025. (Photo by Saeed Ahmad/Xinhua)
SAVANNNAH, Ga. (WSAV)  The Chatham County District Attorneys Office will hold a class for citizens to learn about responsible gun ownership and self-defense.

These courses will be part of DA Shalena Cook Jones Survivors Series, recognizing victims of violent crimes. Both will be held at Savannah Techs Eckburg Auditorium, located on 5717 White Bluff Rd.

The gun safety course will be held at Savannah Tech on Thursday, April 24, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Trained professionals will work with registered attendees with proper self-defense techniques as well as maintenance and storage techniques.

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The DAs Office is partnering with Project Childsafe to provide educational materials for families to be responsible gunowners. A free gunlock for registered attendees will also be provided.

The office will also hold a self-defense course without the use of firearms for registered attendees on Wednesday, April 30 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Trained professionals will teach hands-on techniques that women should be aware of when alone, especially at night.

To register for the Gun Safety and Awareness Course, click here.

To register for the Self-Defense Course, click here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV.
A Chicago couple is urging legislators to take action after squatters allegedly moved into their South Side house and refused to leave. Marcia Lee and her husband, Carlton Lee, never thought they'd be facing off against a family of squatters when they listed their home for sale.

"We have been fighting to get these people to get out of our property," Marcia Lee told ABC 7 reporters. "I am livid right now."

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Marcia discovered the squatters when she came by the home to show it to a prospective buyer. To her surprise, she found a family of three  and their dog  living inside.

How did the squatters gain access?

According to the Lees, the woman inside the home claimed to be the rightful owner and showed police what appeared to be a mortgage document. But when Marcia looked closely, she saw the document listed an incorrect property PIN number  one that matched a property in Country Club Hills, not the South Side.

This documentation is not valid, so she's trespassing on my property, Marcia told ABC 7. Despite this, Chicago police said they still couldnt remove the family without a court order, calling it a civil matter.

"We saw [the ABC 7 I-Team's] story before," Carlton told reporters. "We like your coverage. That's why you were the first one we called."

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Illinois State Representative La Shawn Ford, who met with the Lees at their home, is now pushing legislation that would give property owners more power in situations like these.

"It's happening across the state, and it puts owners and landlords in a bad position," Ford told ABC 7.

His proposed bill would allow police to immediately remove squatters once the rightful owner provides proof of ownership  helping victims like the Lees avoid lengthy legal battles currently required under the Forcible Entry Act.

Ford says his proposed bill is currently being reviewed, but hes received some concerns from homeless advocates who say the rule might increase homelessness in the state.

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ABC 7 tried to reach out to the woman living in the home, but she did not return their calls.

Read more: The US stock markets fear gauge has exploded  but this 1 shockproof asset is up 14% and helping American retirees stay calm. Heres how to own it ASAP

How to protect your home from squatters

For homeowners, the cost of a squatter situation can be staggering. Not only are Marcia and Carlton potentially facing thousands in legal fees and property damage, but they also risk losing potential sales or rental income.

While state laws may change in the future, there are steps homeowners can take now to reduce the risk of squatters.

Secure uninhabited properties

Vacant homes are prime targets for squatters. To secure your property, install deadbolts on all doors and lock all windows. Outdoor cameras and motion sensor lights can deter squatters and provide evidence for law enforcement.

Ask neighbors to keep an eye out

Trusted neighbors can be your eyes when youre not around. Ask them to report any suspicious activity, especially if your property is vacant or listed for sale.

Weigh the pros and cons of "for sale" signs

While signage may attract buyers, it can also alert potential squatters that a property is unoccupied. Consider digital marketing or using an agent to coordinate viewings discreetly.

Consider specialized insurance

Some insurance policies offer limited protection for vandalism or theft in vacant homes, but it may be worth looking into vacant home insurance if the property is not occupied.

Know your property rights

In Illinois, removing a squatter often means going through the civil court system, which can take months. Until new legislation passes, owners must file for eviction  even when someone entered illegally. This legal gray area favors squatters once they gain access.

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As for the Lees, theyre not giving up. We want action, Carlton said.

They're hoping their story leads to real change for other homeowners in similar situations.

What to read next

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
This coverage is made possible through a partnership between Grist and WBEZ, a public radio station serving the Chicago metropolitan region.

Chicago city leaders are set to consider a major overhaul in how and where polluting businesses are allowed to open, nearly two years after the city settled a civil rights complaint that alleged a pattern of discrimination threatening the health of low-income communities of color.

The measure, expected to be introduced Wednesday, would transform how heavy industry is located and operated in the countrys third largest city. If passed into law, it would require city officials to assess the cumulative pollution burden on communities before approving new industrial projects.

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As the Trump administration dismantles protections for poor communities facing lopsided levels of pollution, Chicagos ordinance is a test case for local action under a federal government hostile toward environmental justice. Over the past three months, the Trump administration has already undone long-standing orders to address uneven environmental burdens at the federal level and challenged government programs monitoring environmental justice issues across the country.

Now, advocates are hoping the local legislation becomes a blueprint for how state and local governments can leverage zoning and permitting to protect vulnerable communities from becoming sacrifice zones.

The Trump administration is trying to erase history, said Gina Ramirez, the Natural Resources Defense Councils Midwest director of environmental health. You cant erase our industrial past  its literally haunting us.

Chicagos industrial history is especially pronounced in low-income communities on the citys South and West sides. The proposed ordinance would give these communities a voice in the permitting process via a new environmental justice advisory board, Ramirez said.

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Nobody wants to be sick, said Cheryl Johnson, an environmental activist on the Far South Side who has been advocating for pollution protections for almost 40 years.

Read Next

Three young men planting a tree into the ground.

Why a tree-planting nonprofit in Chicago is suing the Trump administration

Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco

The Chicago ordinance is named after Johnsons mother, Hazel Johnson, who started fighting in the 1970s for the health of her neighbors at a public housing community surrounded by a toxic doughnut of polluters.

Cheryl Johnson runs People for Community Recovery, an organization started by her mother, with the same mission to protect human health. The most important thing  and the only thing that we get  is good health or bad health, Johnson said. Thats what my mother fought for.

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In 2020, Johnsons group, along with several other local environmental justice organizations, launched a civil rights complaint over the citys role in the relocation of a metal-shredding operation from its longtime home on the North Side to a majority Black and Latino neighborhood on the far South Side of the city.

An investigation by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development concluded in 2022 that Chicago had long placed polluters in low-income areas, while sparing majority-white affluent neighborhoods.

In a binding agreement with former President Joe Bidens administration, the city promised to offer a legal fix. Former mayor Lori Lightfoot signed the agreement with HUD hours before she left office in 2023. Her successor, Mayor Brandon Johnson, vowed to follow the agreement and said that September that an ordinance proposal would be offered in short order.

But weeks and months turned into years, and community, health, and environmental advocates complained that the mayor was slow-walking his promises. Nearly two years later, the city is finally set to deliver.

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Not all community groups are happy with the proposal. Theresa McNamara, an activist with the Southwest Environmental Alliance, said at a recent public meeting she didnt think the measure would go far enough. She called it a weak piece of crap based on her understanding of the main points.

Read Next

A wind turbine shown in a filed outside Chicago.

The odds are Illinois wont hit its 2030 climate goals

Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco

Experts said the laws success would depend on the citys will to execute and enforce it.

Theres a lot of states and even cities that have assessment tools, but the question is, what do you do with those? said Ana Baptisa, an environmental policy professor at The New School in New York.

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In New Jersey, Baptista helped pass a similar ordinance  then the first of its kind  through the Newark City Council in 2016. Since then, local and state governments across the country have followed suit. At least eight states have passed this type of legislation, including California, Minnesota, New York, and Delaware.

Still, Baptista said Newarks bill has failed to rein in polluting industries. It proved to be what we feared: a sort of formality that oftentimes doesnt even get completed, she said.

Even without power to deny or constrain new pollution sources, the advisory board itself marks progress, according to Oscar Sanchez, whose Southeast Environmental Task Force helped file the original civil rights complaint,.

Sanchez added that as the federal government retreats from its commitments to environmental justice, state and local entities are on the front line of buffering communities from greater pollution burdens.

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We are pushing the needle of what people can try to achieve in their own communities, he said.

This story was originally published by Grist with the headline A Chicago law could shift where heavy industry operates  and who bears the burden of pollution on Apr 16, 2025.
CHICAGO (WGN)  A new name was unveiled on the wall of the Gold Star Families Memorial TuesdayChicago police officer Enrique Martinez.

Hes a shining star whose light will never fade, said Phil Cline, Executive Director of the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation. Today, he will take his place next to 605 brothers and sistersall warriors who answered the calling most people wouldnt dare, and stood tall in the face of evil.

Martinez, a 26-year-old officer assigned to the Chicago Police Departments 6th District, was killed during a traffic stop in the Citys East Chatham neighborhood in November 2024.

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Darion McMilliana passenger in the car Martinez approached during the traffic stopwas charged with first-degree murder and is accused of shooting and killing him, along with the driver of the vehicle McMillian was in.

When those people are not held accountable for violent crimes, they go out and commit more, CPD Supt. Larry Snelling said. They become emboldened and so emboldened, they will launch attacks on police officers who are trying to keep the City safe.

Martinez spent nearly three years as a Chicago police officer and was following in the footsteps of his older brother, Adrian Martinez, who still serves with CPD.

His family and fiance were in attendance Tuesday, etching his name on paper, surrounded officers who served with Martinez.

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Enriques 27th birthday is just a few weeks away, Cline said. This will certainly be a painful time for his family. They should be celebrating. Our promise is to celebrate and honor his life everyday, to never forget what he and his family have sacrificed for us.

Officer Enrique Martinez, star No. 8314. End of watch 4, November 2024. He will never be forgotten, Snelling said, concluding the ceremony.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
CHICAGO  Former President Joe Biden sought Tuesday to use an audience in Chicago of national advocates for the disabled to reestablish himself as a leading party voice to challenge the actions of President Donald Trump amid listless Democratic leadership in taking on Bidens successor in the White House.

Look whats happening. In fewer than 100 days this administration has done so much damage and so much destruction, Biden said, citing Trump administration-ordered job cuts in the Social Security Administration.

In his first major speaking appearance since leaving office in January, Biden spoke for nearly a half hour before about 130 members of Advocates, Counselors, and Representatives for the Disabled at a downtown Chicago hotel. He never used Trumps name. But he frequently assailed the current administration and contended it was creating profound psychological fears among the elderly over potential cuts and access to Social Security disability benefits.

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The psychological effect is profound, Biden said. Many of these beneficiaries, its their only income. If it were cut or taken away, the psychological pressure by having this debate is absolutely devastating.

Trump has promised not to cut Social Security benefits as part of plans to find savings in the federal budget in part to extend tax cuts granted during his first term. But Republicans who control Congress are under pressure to find savings, fueling Democratic warnings about distrust of Trump and that Social Security and Medicaid, health care for the poor, could be on the chopping block.

Recounting some of the familiar family phrases he frequently used during his aborted reelection campaign, Biden asked of Republicans, What the hell are they thinking in considering any reduction of benefits for the elderly.

Social Security is more than just a government program. Its a sacred promise, and its remained a sacred promise, he said.

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American workers paid into Social Security and they count on Social Security to be there for them when theyre going to need it, he said. We must never ever betray that trust and turn our backs on that obligation.

Biden likened the actions of the current administration to the traditional motto of technology startups: Move fast. Break things.

Well, theyre breaking things. Theyre shooting first and aiming later, he said, reading off a teleprompter. One of most important jobs of an elected official is to make sure that government works for the people.

During his speech, Biden also criticized some of the findings of Trump adviser Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency that have falsely contended Social Security benefits were being sent to people over 150 years old to as much as 300 years old.

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I want to meet them, Biden said while joking about his own age as he lamented the problems of being 40.

He also mocked the comments of Trumps commerce secretary, billionaire Howard Lutnick, who said on a podcast last month that his 94-year-old mother-in-law wouldnt call and complain if she missed a Social Security check.

OK. Her son-in-law is a billionaire. What about that 94-year-old mother that is all by herself? Biden asked.

Bidens reemergence on the political scene has raised questions among some Democrats nationally who are eager to move past the 82-year-old former president and last years presidential campaign. Biden dropped out of the race in July, giving little time for Vice President Kamala Harris to accept the Democratic nomination and make her case to voters.

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Bidens decision to speak out against the current administration runs counter to the tradition that former presidents stay out of the public eye to voice criticisms in the early months of a succeeding administration. But just as Trump has symbolized the upending of longstanding political norms, the chaotic early days of his second term over issues such as tariffs and federal budget cuts has prompted Democrats to look for ways to speak out against him, and many Democratic voters have expressed frustration that party leaders havent done enough.

Bidens appearance also coincided with House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries declaration of Tuesday as a Save Social Security Day of Action for his members, using the congressional break for them to voice concerns about potential threats to Social Security by Trump, Musk and DOGE.

Donald Trump, Elon Musk and House Republicans think that Social Security is a Ponzi scheme, Jeffries said, contending they are dismantling access to the benefits by closing Social Security regional offices and limiting access over ways to apply for them.

It was Bidens first major speaking appearance since leaving office Jan. 20 after Trump bested Harris. Earlier this month, the former president spoke to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in Washington and in March went to the Model United Nations conference in New York.

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It also was Bidens first public appearance in Chicago since August, when planners for the Democratic National Convention were forced to shift strategy after he ended his reelection bid in order to promote Harris as the newly minted nominee.

A party elder as a longtime senator, vice president to Barack Obama and then president, instead of celebrating a final-night renomination, Biden was relegated to the opening night of the convention as the party sought to move quickly into the presidential race with Harris.

Biden in recent months has sought to move back into the national conversation, including meeting with top party officials. But hard feelings remain among some Democrats over Bidens late decision to leave the race and hobbling the party with a nominee who, though vice president, was not widely known in trying to appeal to voters beyond the party faithful.

Democratic Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, an avid Biden backer who later raised questions about his viability as a candidate last year after a stumbling debate performance against Trump, downplayed to reporters at an unrelated event the significance of Bidens visit.

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As Ive always said about President Biden, he wears his heart on his sleeve. Hes someone who has great empathy. And I think in his post-presidency, what a perfect thing for him to be doing, honestly, to be meeting with people with disabilities, organizations that stand up for them and highlighting Social Security, which is under attack by the new administration, said Pritzker, who has become a leading national Democratic voice in attacking Trump.

So Im glad hes in town. And I dont think hes surfacing the way youre describing to bring attention to himself. I think hes doing what he does and has always done throughout, I think a 50-, 60-year career, which is to do the right thing for people that he cares for, said Pritzker, himself a potential 2028 presidential contender.

______

(Tribune reporter Jeremy Gorner contributed.)

____
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  Chick-Fil-A has officially kicked off its next phase of growth in Massachusetts, announcing plans to open 12 to 15 new restaurants across the state by the end of 2027, including new locations in East Springfield and West Springfield.

The new Springfield-area restaurants will be among several sites opening beyond the Greater Boston area. Chick-fil-A estimates the expansion will generate approximately 1,600 new jobs across Massachusetts.

Kids eat free at Applebees on Sunday at these western Mass. locations

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Chick-fil-A currently operates 19 restaurants statewide, but the announcement of new locations in East Springfield and West Springfield marks the brands first direct investment into the western part of the state. While exact opening dates for the western Mass. locations have yet to be confirmed, construction is expected to begin in 2025, with openings anticipated shortly thereafter.

Residents can expect full-service restaurants that may include drive-thru lanes, mobile ordering, and dine-in service. The Springfield expansion is expected to generate dozens of new jobs per location, offering both part-time and full-time roles.

Locally, Chick-fil-A has already had an impact through initiatives like the Shared Table program, which redirects surplus food from restaurants to food banks and nonprofits. Since 2016, Massachusetts-based Chick-fil-A locations have donated more than 150,000 meals.

The company also announced it will donate $25,000 to Feeding America for every new restaurant opened, directly supporting area food banks such as The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts and the Greater Boston Food Bank.

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The full list of new locations coming to the Bay State can be found here.

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WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
When it comes to carrots and sticks, Donald Trump prefers to use the latter to persuade other nations to do Americas bidding.

The US president has unveiled sweeping tariffs on imports and has accused allies and enemies alike of ripping off America.

China, by contrast, has seen an opportunity to turn on the charm. Beijing sees an opening to exploit Trumps belligerence and forge closer ties with Europe as the US rips up the existing global trade system.

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Xi Jinping, Chinas president, last week spoke warmly of ties with Brussels, urging the bloc to join Beijing to jointly safeguard the trend of economic globalisation and the international trade environment, and jointly oppose unilateral acts of bullying.

Trumps trade war has given China the chance to shake off its image as the rogue giant of global trade and investment, and appear as a pillar of stability in contrast to a volatile and unpredictable US.

Some EU member states are keen.

Pedro Sanchez, Spains prime minister, is actively courting China. In Beijing last week, alongside Xi, he announced a new deal to sell more Spanish pork into China, and sought to secure investment in his countrys EV industry.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchezs recent trade mission to China came at a crucial moment in Sino-European affairs - Andres Martinez Casares/Reuters

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, last week spoke with Li Qiang, Chinas premier, to call for a negotiated resolution to the trade war.

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Alicia Garcia-Herrero, senior fellow at the think tank Bruegel, says Chinas charm offensive seeks to foster closer links with Europe, and much of the rest of Asia, to form a united front  to isolate the US.

Perhaps the strongest example of this strategy is the Chinese ban on deliveries of Boeing airliners, announced on Tuesday. It not only will hurt a US national champion still reeling from a safety crisis, but also threatens to hand arch-rival Airbus a virtual monopoly over civil aircraft exports to China. The market is expected to account for 20pc of global demand over the next two decades.

The loss of China would deliver a body-blow to Boeing as it seeks to claw its way back from years of turmoil triggered by two fatal crashes involving the 737 Max.

Conversely, it would be a significant win for France and Airbus. Years of French schmoozing had already put Toulouse-based Airbus on the front foot in the battle to sell planes to China.

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Successive French presidents announced bumper orders after leading trade delegations to Beijing, or rolling out the red carpet for Chinese leaders visiting Paris.

Airbus established the first jetliner plant outside Europe in the city of Tianjin in 2009. The company now has two assembly lines there following an agreement signed by Emmanuel Macron and Xi two years ago.

The French manufacturer overtook Boeing to become the worlds biggest planemaker in 2019, thanks in part to its success in selling planes to China and a willingness to establish production there.

It underlines the allure of China: it is a huge market with huge buying power.

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This is particularly attractive at a time when the US seems determined to push the EU away. European officials are said to be resigned to the fact that 20pc tariffs will return once a current 90-day pause expires.

Maros Sefcovic, the European trade commissioner, was left struggling to understand what the Trump administration wants to achieve following meetings in Washington, Bloomberg reported.

Adding fuel to the fire is the fact the White House is now seeking to apply taxes to imported medicines. Simon Harris, the deputy PM of Ireland, a major pharmaceuticals exporter, said it would be bizarre to impose new tariffs in the midst of trade talks.

He also noted that Europeans have every right to have our own perspective in relation to trade with both the US and China, in the latest signal Brussels will not necessarily go along with Trumps plans unquestioningly.

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None of this means Xi has a free shot at crowbarring Europe out of Americas economic orbit: Trump is expected to use the threat of tariffs to pressure other nations to reject Chinese business, says Maartje Wijffelaars, an economist at Rabobank. Countries will have to toughen up against China, to be granted friendly tariffs in the US.

The EU may then have to choose between the worlds two largest economies  a tough call when it relies on both.

America is the EUs dominant customer, with the bloc selling 532bn (454bn) of goods to the US last year. China is Europes main supplier: the EU bought 519bn of goods from the Asian superpower in 2024.

Europe is losing competitiveness in the Chinese market, says Andrew Kenningham, at Capital Economics. You can see that most obviously in the sales of European cars, where the EUs market share has been falling very steeply for several years.

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China has caught up or overtaken Germany in many areas.

This reality underlines the risks of forging closer economic ties with China. Doing so could further undermine the EUs economy.

Closer ties are therefore not likely come in the form of opening Europe up to Chinese goods  the EU is particularly keen to stop the dumping of items diverted by tariffs  but instead investment, says Carsten Brzeski, at ING.

The EU will prefer having BYD producing cars in Europe, rather than exporting them from China to Europe. It could still support jobs in Europe, if production is in the EU, he says.

It could be the reverse position of the past 20 years when European companies produced in China, and China was able to  not to steal, that might be too harsh  but to learn from the Europeans.

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Regardless, cosying up to China is risky as the example of British Steel shows. The companys Chinese owners have been accused of deliberately undermining British steel production to favour sales from Chinese plants.

Jingye planned to keep steel mills in Scunthorpe but supply them from China, rather than from Scunthorpe, Jonathan Reynolds, the Business Secretary, told Parliament on Saturday. It led to fears of deliberate sabotage, which were denied by the Government.

Labour peer Helena Kennedy has called for an urgent security review of all those Chinese companies operating within our infrastructure, while Calum Miller, the Lib Dems foreign affairs spokesman, warned against letting another Chinese business take over operations in Scunthorpe.

Giving another Chinese firm ownership of British Steel would be like coming home to find your house ransacked and then leaving your doors unlocked, he said.

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Garcia-Herrero, at Bruegel, suspects Europe will sit tight, rather than tilting towards China.

Europe feels it is too risky to have such a huge dependence on China, she says, noting Chinas existing dominance of industries ranging from including solar panels and silicon wafers.

The dependence on the US is being rediscovered, and it is making Europe very nervous too. But that doesnt mean the other dependence is any better. It will not swing from one end to the other, from dependence on the US to China.

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BEIJING, April 16 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday condemned the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities, led by Lai Ching-te, for what was described as "despicable" acts of kowtowing to the United States and selling out Taiwan's interests.

Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks at a press conference in response to a media query about chipmaker TSMC's investment expansion in the United States, the U.S. imposition of a 32 percent tariff on Taiwan, and Lai Ching-te's response to the entire issue which has drawn widespread criticism.

The DPP authorities have willingly sold out the island's core strategic industries in pursuit of "Taiwan independence," but in return, Taiwan now faces high tariffs imposed by the United States, which has shattered the deliberately constructed illusion of a so-called solid U.S.-Taiwan relationship, according to Zhu. 
China unexpectedly appointed a new trade negotiator on Wednesday in the midst of its tariff fight with the US.

The government said Li Chenggang is replacing Wang Shouwen, who participated in negotiations for the 2020 trade deal between China and the US.

The worlds two largest economies have been steadily increasing tariffs on each others goods. China faces 145% duties on exports to the US, while dozens of other countries were given a 90-day reprieve for so-called "reciprocal" levies.

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Earlier on Wednesday, China announced its economy expanded 5.4% year-on-year from January to March, supported by strong exports. Analysts are forecasting that the worlds second-largest economy will slow significantly in coming months, however, as tariffs on US imports from China take effect.

Exports were a strong factor contributing to Chinas 5% annual growth rate in 2024, and the official target for this year is also about 5%.

Surviving without US consumers

Beijing has hit back at the US with 125% tariffs on American exports, while also stressing its determination to keep its own markets open to trade and investment.

As a response to US tariffs, China has also imposed more export controls on rare earths, which include materials used in high-tech products, aerospace manufacturing and the defence sector.

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Related

In the near term, the tariffs will put pressure on Chinas economy, but they wont derail long-term growth, Sheng Laiyun, a spokesperson for the National Bureau of Statistics, told reporters earlier.

China didn't specify why it was changing negotiators, but the move comes at a time when Beijing is looking for ways to survive without the US market. One option is to rely more on its own vast market of 1.4 billion consumers, as well as on Europe and countries in the global south.

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As Chinas domestic consumption continues to languish, it will nonetheless be difficult to replace the US consumer base. Many Chinese citizens have invested savings in buying houses, meaning the country's property crisis  triggered by the collapse of Evergrande in 2021  has dampened spending appetites.

Experience with the WTO

Prior to his new appointment, Li spent about four and a half years as China's ambassador to the World Trade Organization, the body that governs global commerce and to which Beijing has appealed in its tariff dispute with the US.

He was also deputy permanent representative to the Chinese delegation to the UN office in Geneva and other international organisations in Switzerland.

Perhaps more so than his predecessor Wang, Li's experience at the Commerce Ministry and his participation in negotiating China's accession to the WTO more than 20 years ago stand him in good stead for the challenges ahead. China continues to refuse to cave in to US demands, said Tu Xinquan, director of the China Institute for WTO Studies at the University of International Business and Economics.

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"There might be another style of negotiations. Li Chenggang is an open-minded person and supports free trade, Tu said.

Xi Jinping's Southeast Asia tour

China's leader Xi Jinping, meanwhile, has been making the case for China as a source of stability and certainty in global free trade as he tours Southeast Asia this week  implying that China is a more reliable trade partner than the US.

After first visiting Vietnam, he arrived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysias capital, later on Tuesday, for a three-day visit and will end his tour with a stop in Cambodia. In Malaysia, Xi is expected to discuss a free trade agreement between China and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Asked about the possibility of talks with the US, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said the US had begun the tariff spat and China was only taking necessary countermeasures to defend its legitimate rights and interests and international fairness and justice.

If the US truly wants to resolve the issue through dialogue and negotiation, it should stop using maximum pressure and stop threats and blackmail. For any dialogue to happen, it must be based on equality, respect and mutual benefit," Lin said at a daily briefing.
Chinas full-size, land-based aircraft carrier test facility, a key part of the countrys path toward establishing a carrier fleet and associated air wings, is being modified once again, and this time in a massive way. The extensive reworking and expansion of the unique facility suggests that the aircraft carrier mockup is now intended to represent a layout similar to the U.S. Navys Ford class. This likely coincides with the configuration of Chinas next, more advanced, homegrown carrier design.

A satellite photo of the land-based aircraft carrier mockup in Wuhan, taken on April 6, shows the changes that have taken place, including a much greater overall flight-deck width, and the island superstructure redesigned and moved further aft, as on the Ford class. So significant is the extra width, meanwhile, that the edges of the deck now extend out to or even over the adjacent road.

A composite image provides a comparison of the aircraft carrier mockup in 2020 (left) and as it appeared earlier this month. The relocation of the island superstructure is particularly obvious. PHOTO  2020 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION/Google Earth

The primary role of the aircraft carrier mockup is to evaluate different aircraft designs for potential use at sea, including how they will fit and be moved around on the carriers deck. It should also be noted that the structure sits atop a building, something not immediately obvious from satellite imagery.

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On the deck in the latest image are mockups of various aircraft, although these are covered with tarpaulins or some other material, making it hard to identify them definitively. At least one of the mockups is a J-15 Flanker series carrier-based fighter, while another looks to be a J-35 carrier-based stealth fighter, and another a KJ-600 carrier-based airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft. Mockups of this kind are frequently used in carrier development work in China, both on land and at sea.

Aircraft mockups arranged around the dummy deck, with this angle, also provide a good view of the island superstructure, as it appeared around 2021. via Chinese Internet

So far the best and clearest images of the KJ-600 carrierborne AEW mock up ontop the carrier test facility in Wuhan.



(Via LKJ86 / PDF) pic.twitter.com/9WdF59N6Km  @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) April 12, 2019

In the past, an apparent mockup of Chinas stealthy GJ-11 Sharp Sword unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) has also appeared aboard the land-based carrier mockup, as you can read about here.

Via ACuriousPLAFan/SDF: 



Supposedly not a recent image, but still the carrier mock-up and test facility at Wuhan has gained some new aircraft: Visible now are clearly mock-ups of J-15, J-35, KJ-600 and a GJ-11H on the flight deck.



(Image via @ from Weibo) pic.twitter.com/UL6uk81zh4  @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) December 19, 2023

Work with radio emissions and other testing is also done at the facility.

When it first appeared, the full-size aircraft carrier mockup broadly replicated the design of the Type 001 and Type 002 carriers.

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The Type 001 Liaoning (CV-16), the first vessel of this type to be operated by the Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), was acquired from Ukraine as an incomplete Soviet Kuznetsov class ship, the Varyag. The next PLAN carrier to enter service, the Type 002 Shandong (CV-17), was built in China but was still modeled closely on the Type 001.

The PLAN aircraft carrier Liaoning during a new training mission in July 2017. Xinhua/Zeng Tao via Getty Images The Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning during a training mission in 2017. Xinhua/Zeng Tao via Getty Images

Subsequently, Wuhans aircraft carrier mock-up was modified to better resemble Chinas next carrier, the Type 003 Fujian (CV-18). This introduced a different configuration, with no bow takeoff ramp. Instead, the Type 003 marks the PLANs switch to catapult-assisted takeoff but arrested recovery, or CATOBAR, operations.

A view of the aircraft carrier mockup after the takeoff ramp at the bow was leveled. via Chinese Internet

Now, it seems, the facility is being prepared for tests of Chinas next-generation aircraft carrier, generally referred to as the Type 004. At the same time, the remodeling should also provide a better representation of the Fujian, a vessel that is still undergoing pre-service trials.

In fact, the new Type 004 carrier may well already be under construction.

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In February of this year, TWZ reported on how construction work at a shipyard in Dalian, seen in satellite imagery dating back to May 2024, revealed a module consistent with an aircraft carrier  or otherwise related to the testing of such a vessel.

Construction work at a shipyard in Dalian, in Chinas Liaoning province, reveals a module that is consistent with an aircraft carrier  presumed to be the Type 004, or otherwise intended to test aspects of its design. Google Earth

Based on this module, it appears likely that the Type 004 will be loosely modeled after the Ford class, at least in terms of having two waist catapults, in addition to the two bow catapults. This will provide an extra catapult compared with the Fujian, which has a single catapult in the waist position.

A view of the USS Gerald R. Ford showing the four catapults found on U.S. Navy supercarriers. U.S. Navy

In the past, a Ford-style design also appeared in concept art from the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai. The carrier shown in that artwork had some broad external similarities with the Ford, as well as with Frances future New Generation Aircraft Carrier. However, not too much should be read into this, especially since it appears that the Type 004 might now be under construction in Dalian, rather than in Shanghai. Still, the appearance of a superstructure far to the rear on the Wuhan mockup is indicative that this design element could appear on the Type 004.

Whatever the final configuration of the Type 004  and, at this early stage, we really dont know for sure  previous suggestions hinted that the new carrier could enter service sometime in the late 2020s.

An artists concept of a future Chinese aircraft carrier. Chinese internet via @HenriKenhmann

The Type 004 is expected to be a more advanced design than its predecessors, including the Fujian, the countrys first truly domestically designed and produced carrier, which is still preparing for operational service.

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Like the Fujian, the Type 004 will be equipped to launch aircraft via catapults. This is in contrast to the PLANs two previous carriers  the Shandong and the Liaoning, which are both short takeoff but arrested recovery, or STOBAR, types with prominent ski jump takeoff ramps.

As we have discussed in the past, catapults offer many advantages over STOBAR, especially when it comes to launching aircraft at higher gross weights, which translates to larger fuel and ordnance loads. They can also generally accommodate a wider array of aircraft types, too. This includes larger and slower designs, like the KJ-600 AEW&C aircraft, as well as smaller ones, such as drones.

A satellite view of a prototype KJ-600. via Chinese Internet

Its assumed that the Type 004 will use an advanced electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS), provided it proves to be successful on the Fujian. Otherwise, this type of equipment is currently only in use with the U.S. Navy.

Other new developments for the Type 004 will address its air wing, which is expected to host various drones, such as navalized versions of the GJ-11 Sharp Sword UCAV. These will be in addition to the aforementioned KJ-600, various different advanced versions of the J-15, and the J-35, plus helicopters.

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Less clear is what type of propulsion the Type 004 will use, although there have been repeated reports that it will be a nuclear-powered vessel. This would be a first for a PLAN carrier and would guarantee an effectively unlimited range, as well as help meet the power-generation demands of ever-improving sensors and other mission systems.

In its most recent assessment of Chinese military power, the Pentagon doesnt explicitly mention the Type 004, but does state that the PLAN is in the beginning stages of operating its multi-carrier force. It also notes that the Fujian is just the first warship within a next generation of carriers that will be characterized by greater endurance and an electromagnetic catapult launch system, making them capable of launching various types of specialized fixed-wing aircraft for missions, such as airborne early warning and electronic warfare. This will increase the striking power of a potential PLAN carrier battle group when deployed to areas beyond the PRCs immediate periphery.

At this point, we cannot be certain that the module seen under construction at Dalian is indeed made to resemble the Type 004, although it seems likely. However, this development, as well as the changes to the land-based aircraft carrier mockup in Wuhan, certainly point to activities related to Chinas next domestically produced carrier design are accelerating.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com
A top Chinese official has trolled Vice President JD Vance by using his own insult against him after the country hiked levies on U.S. goods.

In a TV address, Xia Baolong said that China was hitting back at the Trump Administrations overbearing tariffs by instating import duties of 125 percent on U.S. imports.

Let those peasants in the U.S. wail before the 5,000 years of Chinese civilization, he said, commandeering the term Vance used in a Fox News interview earlier this month when he referred to Chinese peasants.

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Baolong, according to Reuters, noted how Trump had singled out China when he reneged on super-charged Liberation Day tariffs, but kept a 145 percent tax on Chinese goods. The director of Chinas executive arm in Hong Kong said the trade war is extremely shameless and aims to take away Hong Kongs life.

Saying that China, including its special administrative region Hong Kong, does not buckle under pressure from bullying, Baolong then used Vances peasants jibe against the U.S.

He added, The Chinese people do not cause trouble, nor are they afraid of trouble. Pressure, threats, and blackmail are not the right way to deal with China.

Baolongs official title is Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. He made the retort during a speech for Hong Kongs National Security Education Day.

Xia Baolong, center, used Vance's dig against him. / NurPhoto / NurPhoto via Getty Images

It comes after the U.S. Vice President used the term during an interview on Fox News two weeks ago. I think its useful for all of us to take a step back and ask ourselves, what has the globalized economy gotten the United States of America? he said.

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Fundamentally, its based on two principles, incurring a huge amount of debt to buy things other countries make for us We borrow money from Chinese peasants to buy the things that Chinese peasants manufacture, he said, in an attempt to defend Trumps controversial tariff measures.

Clapping back days later, Beijing said Vance lacks knowledge and respect. Beijing has made its position perfectly clear on its trade relations with the U.S., Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said during a press conference.

To hear words that lack knowledge and respect like those uttered by this vice president is both surprising and kind of lamentable, he added.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has met Malaysias King Sultan Ibrahim in Kuala Lumpur as part of a regional push to shore up Beijings trade relationships.

The diplomatic stop on Wednesday marks the second leg of Xis three-nation tour, which also includes Vietnam and Cambodia, and comes amid sharp tariffs imposed by the United States that are reshaping the global economic landscape.

Sultan Ibrahim welcomed Xi in a colourful ceremony at the golden-domed Istana Negara palace before his meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at the administrative capital of Putrajaya.

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Xi touted a new golden era of Chinese-Malaysian relations, following the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties last year. The king announced new cooperation between the countries in various fields, including artificial intelligence.

Chinese President Xi Jinping inspects an honour guard during the official welcoming ceremony at the national palace in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, April 16, 2025 [Vincent Thian/Pool via Reuters]

This is a hugely significant visit, said Al Jazeeras Rob McBride, reporting from Putrajaya. It takes place during this unprecedented trade war that is developing with the United States, with both Malaysia and China finding themselves in the middle.

Khoo Ying Hooi, an associate professor in the department of international and strategic studies at Malaya University, said the visit offered a chance to test the waters for regional solidarity amid the US trade disruptions.

Its not just about friendship, its about realigning the regional centre of gravity towards Beijing, she said.

Wake-up call

Malaysia is the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc, whose members are among the hardest hit by new US tariffs.

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ASEAN member Vietnam, a manufacturing powerhouse, was slapped with 46 percent tariffs, and Cambodia, a significant producer of low-cost clothing for big Western brands, was hit with a 49 percent duty.

Malaysia, Southeast Asias third-largest economy, was hit with a lower tariff of 24 percent. Though the measures have been paused for 90 days, President Donald Trump has warned that no country is off the hook.

McBride said Malaysia, a longstanding US ally, was likely genuinely alarmed to find itself on this list of reciprocal tariffs and saw it as a wake-up call  to deepen ties with its biggest trading partner, China.

Despite robust economic ties, the two countries have had tensions over the South China Sea, where Beijing claims sweeping sovereignty over waters also claimed by Kuala Lumpur.

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There has been an extraordinary sea change here, with a lot of the norms of international trade completely upended in a few short months, McBride said.

In Asia Pacific generally, he added, countries that usually align with the US economic model are increasingly turning to Beijing as a reliable trade partner.

Xis next trip will be to Cambodia, one of Chinas staunchest allies in Southeast Asia and where Beijing has also extended its influence in recent years. On Thursday, he is expected to meet Cambodias King Norodom Sihamoni as well as the prime minister and head of the senate.




By Danial Azhar, Ashley Tang and Ethan Wang

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping called on Wednesday for Asian nations to unite in resisting geopolitical confrontation, unilateralism and protectionism, as he aims to consolidate ties with some of China's closest neighbours amid a deterioration of relations with the U.S.

Xi is in Malaysia as part of a three-nation Southeast Asian trip that includes Vietnam and Cambodia.

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China and Malaysia reached a consensus on deepening cooperation in various fields, Xi said after witnessing the exchange of 31 agreements with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, ranging from trade and tourism to railway transportation and agriculture. No details were provided for the agreements.

"In the face of shocks to the current international order and economic globalisation, our two nations will stand united with other countries in the region to jointly resist the undercurrents of geopolitical and camp-based confrontation, overcome the countercurrents of unilateralism and protectionism, and safeguard the promising prospects for development in our shared Asian home," Xi said at a function with Anwar.

Xi's comments come after U.S. President Donald Trump, who took office in January, shocked markets by imposing sweeping tariffs on countries across the world. While some of the tariffs have since been delayed, Beijing faces 145% duties.

Xi did not directly refer to the United States in his remarks in Kuala Lumpur.

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As part of his "America First" policy, Trump has also pulled the U.S. out of the World Health Organization, hollowed out USAID and halted international aid.

China has said it is "tearing down walls" and expanding its circle of trading partners amid the trade war.

With an additional tariff of 24% on goods shipped to the U.S., Malaysia was among several Southeast Asian nations facing hefty U.S. levies before Trump announced his 90-day pause. Malaysian officials have begun reaching out to the U.S. for a reprieve.

Anwar said China remained Malaysia's most significant trading partner and continued to be a "rational, strong and reliable" ally during upheaval in global geopolitics.

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"At a time when multilateralism is under tremendous strain, when some nations abandon the principle of shared responsibility and others question long-standing commitments, Chinas global initiatives offer a new lease on hope," Anwar said.

China has been Malaysia's largest trading partner since 2009, with total trade valued at 484.1 billion ringgit ($110 billion) last year, according to Malaysia's foreign ministry.

Xi urged Malaysia and other countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations regional bloc to jointly resist decoupling, supply chain disruptions and "excessive tariffs" with openness and greater cooperation, China's state-run CCTV reported.

China and Malaysia must also proceed with their cooperation under Beijing's Belt and Road initiative, other transport infrastructure investments, as well as in cutting-edge fields like artificial intelligence, Xi said.

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Last June, China said it was willing to study a plan to connect Malaysia's $10 billion East Coast Rail Link with other China-backed railway projects in Laos and Thailand, potentially expanding the BRI across Southeast Asia.

Xi said China also welcomes more high-quality Malaysian agricultural products into the Chinese market, CCTV reported following Xi's meeting with Malaysia's King Sultan Ibrahim.

($1 = 4.4150 ringgit)

(Reporting by Danial Azhar and Ashley Tang in Kuala Lumpur, Ethan Wang in Beijing; Editing by Kate Mayberry)
A Chinese suspected gangster has been shot dead in Rome in what investigators believe is a feud between rival clans for control of the fake designer goods trade.

Zhang Dayong, 53, was killed along with his girlfriend Gong Xiaoquing, 38, in what appears to have been a targeted assassination by a gunman outside their apartment in the Pigneto district of the Italian capital.

The double homicide late on Monday appeared to be a professional hit and the first execution-style killing of Chinese mafia members in Rome.

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The couple were shot at close range in the head and chest with at least six rounds from a 9mm weapon before the assassin fled on foot.

Emergency services work at the scene outside the couples apartment

Police suspect that the hit was part of a long-running turf war within Italys Chinese criminal networks for a slice of the fake goods market.

Counterfeit Gucci, Chanel and Louis Vuitton designer handbags and clothes have become big business worth billions of euros.

It is believed Zhang may have crossed someone from a rival clan or tried to move in on a business run by another triad gang.

Investigators said the dead man worked for Zhang Naizhong, who is on trial in Florence over allegations he coordinated illegal operations across Italy, France, Germany, and Spain.

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The accused man had acquired a near monopoly in distribution of goods across much of Europe through threats and violence against Chinese company owners, anti-mafia prosecutors said.

Police cars and officers in the area where the couple were shot

Zhang Dayong was allegedly a debt collector and enforcer, and was previously based in the town of Prato in Tuscany.

The town, close to Florence, is home to at least 20,000 Chinese people and the centre of a lucrative textiles sector that produces billions of euros worth of fast fashion clothing and fake designer goods.

The Chinese have been established in Prato for decades, providing cheap labour sleeping in squalid dormitories and working in sweatshops.

Shadowy world of fake fashion capital

It is a shadowy world that investigators have struggled to penetrate  lookouts on foot or on bicycles keep tabs on strangers and there is a language barrier, with many of the workers not speaking Italian or English.

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And unlike Italian mafia organisations, there is no tradition of informers who divulge information to the police in exchange for more lenient sentences.

There are occasional raids by police but they have little effect on the more than 4,000 Chinese-owned businesses in Prato.

Rival Chinese clans are engaged in a battle for control of the sector, in particular the warehousing of products and their distribution by truck across Europe.

They are also allegedly involved in drug trafficking, prostitution and the running of gambling dens.

It is a systemic problem. Not only the production of clothing, but also storage in warehouses and the logistics of distribution, Giovanni Santi of Pratos chamber of commerce told La Repubblica newspaper.

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Luca Tescaroli, a local prosecutor, said that the Chinese triad groups maintain links with traditional mafia organisations such as the Ndrangheta of Calabria, the Cosa Nostra in Sicily and Albanian gangs.

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SYDNEY, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Australians' love for red meat, chocolate, and coffee comes at a high environmental cost, as they are often the products generating the highest rates of greenhouse gas emissions in the country's packaged food supply, a report said on Wednesday.

The report published on Wednesday by the George Institute for Global Health said that the study assessed over 25,000 food and beverage products from major Australian retailers and found these popular grocery staples among the biggest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions.

Using the newly developed "Planetary Health Rating" system, the study gave Australia's overall packaged food supply an average of just 2.5 out of 5 stars for environmental impact.

Red meat scored the lowest at 0.7 stars, followed by chocolate at 1.4 stars and coffee at 1.6, the report said, adding in contrast, fresh fruits and vegetables, along with dairy-free yogurts, rated highest at 3.6 stars, topped only by plain bottled water with 5 stars.

Simone Pettigrew at the University of New South Wales, also head of health promotion at the George Institute for Global Health, said food production accounts for around one-third of global emissions, but shoppers have almost no way of knowing a product's climate impact.

The report suggests that Australians could cut more than 6,000 kg of emissions per year, equivalent to three round trips between Perth and Sydney, by replacing red meat and dairy with plant-based or lower-impact alternatives like poultry, seafood, and plant-based milks, Pettigrew said.

Highly processed foods also tend to generate more emissions, making whole fruits and vegetables a better choice for both the environment and personal health, she said, adding the purpose-built ecoSwitch smartphone app equips shoppers to make more sustainable grocery choices. 
In early April, Ukrainian forces captured two Chinese nationals near the villages of Tarasivka and Bilohorivka in Donetsk Oblast. Now, they are being held by Ukraine's Security Service. Unlike North Korean troops, who have fought on Russian soil, the Chinese soldiers were captured on Ukrainian territory, marking a potential escalation in foreign involvement in Russias war of aggression.

President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that at least several hundred citizens of China are fighting on the Russian side against Ukraine, which might mark a new development in the tightening cooperation between Moscow and Beijing.

The Kyiv Independent attended a press conference with the captured Chinese prisoners of war on April 14 to learn more about their service in the Russian military  and has highlighted the key takeaways for you.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
As the two largest economies in the world  the United States and China  continue to spar over tariffs, the escalating trade war is spurring some Americans to favor Chinese goods in ways they never did before.

President Donald Trump has said his sweeping tariffs around the globe are aimed at bringing manufacturing back to American shores. But as he continues to target China with his highest tariff yet, now at 145%, some Americans online say they are flocking to Chinese manufacturing rather than away from it.

What do American companies think were gonna do? Were gonna pay their prices rather than Chinese prices, when I can get a thousand times more product for the same price as we get here? a TikTok user said in a video that got more than 16.5 million views. Were not gonna do that.

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Since Friday, videos on TikTok from Chinese manufacturers have drawn millions of views touting a wide variety of goods  including some making questionable claims about their roles in producing high-priced luxury items that say theyre made in Europe. Others tout dupes, or replicas, of common brand-name items that they say are of the same or similar quality.

The videos come as the United States imposes high tariffs on China and plans to close a trade loophole, called de minimis, that allows shipments under $800 to enter the country without taxes. Domestic and international discontent over Trumps trade policy has spilled over into the internet, where artificial intelligence videos that appear to show Americans working in factories and various other memes have flourished.

Much of the content is surfacing on TikTok even as it faces an uncertain future in the United States. Having emerged as by far the most popular Chinese-owned social media app, it could be banned if its Beijing-based parent company doesnt divest ownership by June 15.

Tony Wu, founder of the family business TLucky Sourcing, works behind the scenes with several popular Chinese factory sourcing accounts on TikTok. He said the accounts are using global social media platforms to advertise various Chinese suppliers to buyers, whether from the United States or elsewhere.

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The tariffs make some troubles, for sure, but in two or three months itll go back to normal, I think, said Wu, who connects with factories to find retail and individual buyers abroad. We will find new buyers. And [Americans] cannot replace the China factory. Finally I think they will realize that they need to buy from China. ... There are no alternatives.

President Donald Trump holds a chart in the Rose Garden at the White House on April 2.

Americans make up only around 5% of buyers for the factories he works with, he said, and those factories have much bigger export markets in South Asia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East. So far, Wu said, American buyers arent canceling orders but are instead opting for smaller orders or trying to negotiate prices.

Honestly, America is not our main market. TikToks just based in America  doesnt mean our customers are mainly from America, he said. He said that while he believes Trumps tariffs wont be detrimental to Chinese exports, manufacturers are growing nervous about the sheer unpredictability of his trade policies.

Many of the videos claimed the Chinese suppliers behind popular brands sell the same or similar pieces at much cheaper prices.

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They sell you a legging pants for $100, and guess what? Here in these two factories, you can get them for around $5 to $6, @LunaSourcingChina, an account that works with Wus sourcing business, said in a video that got more than 11 million views on TikTok. And whats even better, the material and the craftsmanship are basically the same because they all come from the same production line.

A spokesperson for Lululemon, one of the brands mentioned in the video, said it does not work with the manufacturers identified in the online videos and we urge consumers to be aware of potentially counterfeit products and misinformation.

Another TikTok account that gained traction this week, @senbags2, claimed his factory has been the original equipment manufacturer, or OEM, for most of the worlds luxury bags for over 30 years. He claimed that by discreetly making bags in China before they are shipped to Europe for final touches, the bags will appear at their boutiques as made in Italy or made in France.

In a video that caused heavy debate online, he claimed that a $38,000 Hermes Birkin handbag costs around $1,400 to make in a Chinese factory using the same high-quality materials. Hermes is well-known for crafting its Birkin bags exclusively in France, dedicating a single artisan to each bag.

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A spokesperson for Hermes didnt respond to a request for comment.

Even as many online remained skeptical about the claims made in the trending warehouse videos, the discourse has raised questions about the true material value of Western name-brand goods.

Chinese-made dupes of expensive luxury brands have been popular among American consumers for years  often sold by street vendors and on Chinese e-commerce sites like DHGate  but theyve long carried a stigma of being perceived as low-quality. What the recent videos from Chinese manufacturers purport, however, is that the knockoffs are equal in everything but the value of their names.

As viral videos invited shoppers abroad to buy directly from the Chinese warehouses instead of paying top prices for Western brand logos, they generated a flurry of shock and glee among Americans who say theyre looking to purchase cheaper wholesale goods that might save them enough money to offset Trumps tariffs on China.

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In response to the tariffs, some online have been pointing out that much of Trumps own Make America Great Again merchandise is made in China, as well. Others have noted that for most things Americans consume  even, for example, a Florida tangerine  moving full production processes to the United States would be highly inefficient and expensive.

Among those calling out the Chinese-made MAGA merch is a Chinese journalist who shared a video last weekend showing that inside the Trump Tower store in New York City, price tag stickers appeared to be placed in a way that covered up the Made in China label on several products. Though his video made waves in China, a visit to the store by NBC News didnt find anything that appeared to be purposefully trying to obfuscate its origins.

Zhang Zhisheng, Chinas consul general in Denpasar, Indonesia, also accused White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt of wearing a Chinese-made dress, writing on X: Accusing China is business. Buying China is life.

Many people online appear unconvinced by Chinese knockoffs of their favorite brands. But as such content circulates on Chinese and American social media platforms alike, some users, including Americans, are mocking Trumps tariffs as fears grow about a trade war thats potentially more disadvantageous to the United States than to China.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Tourists have been banned from bringing cured meats and cheeses from Europe back to Britain as cases of foot-and-mouth disease rise on the Continent.

The Government has enacted a clampdown on so-called personal imports of meat, dairy and other products from Europe after a surge in cases of the disease among livestock.

Travellers hoping to bring back delicacies such as Spanish chorizo or Italian pecorino and gorgonzola cheeses now risk having their goods seized and destroyed. Some could face fines of up to 5,000 if they are caught trying to bring them through an airport, the Government said.

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Officials do not collect data on the quantities of food and drink brought into the UK through airports every year. However, the UK imports around 2.2m kilos of authentic chorizo commercially each year, suggesting products like this are likely to be popular with tourists.

Hazmat-suited epidemic officers disinfect a farm in Hungary, central Europe, which has been fighting epidemic since start of year - REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo

The ban is indefinite and will go on until ministers deem there is no longer a significant risk to the UK. Daniel Zeichner, the farming minister, said: This Government will do whatever it takes to protect British farmers from foot-and-mouth.

Cases of the disease, which affects cows and pigs, were reported in Germany, Hungary and Slovakia earlier this year.

Commercial imports of pigs, cattle and sheep from those countries have already been restricted, although a ban on German imports was lifted in March after Berlin enacted a containment zone around the area where cases were found.

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Jorge Martin-Almagro, the UK deputy chief veterinary officer for international and trade affairs, said: Robust contingency plans are already in place to manage the risk of this disease to protect farmers and Britains food security.

This biosecurity measure combined with all others we have implemented are critical to limit the risk of [foot-and-mouth] incursion.

Hungary, along with Austria, have closed a number of farms to halt spread of foot-and-mouth, which effects cattle and pigs - Tamas Vasvari/MTI via AP

Because of the severity of its impact, foot-and-mouth is a legally notifiable disease, which means it is an offence not to report it to the Government.

The disease does not affect humans, but is highly infectious in livestock, causing fever and blisters in the mouth and on their hooves. It is not usually fatal but has a higher mortality rate among younger animals.

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Previous outbreaks have devastated livestock farms and hammered Britains rural economy, such as in 2001 and 2007, when millions of cows, pigs and sheep had to be culled, costing the public sector and private companies billions.

In a statement earlier this year, Mr Zeichner said Britains livestock farmers should be absolutely rigorous about their biosecurity given the emergence of cases in Europe.

Ministers last year announced plans to plough 200m into the countrys main animal and plant research and testing facility in Weybridge, Surrey, in the hopes of boosting Britains defences against the disease and preventing future incidents.

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This is an adapted excerpt from the April 15 episode of All In with Chris Hayes.

Donald Trump does more talking than any president Ive ever seen. However, if you actually listen to him, you might notice something he almost never talks about. Its something Republicans usually love talking about: freedom.

Sure, Trump uses the word. Just last week, he signed an executive order on water pressure and said it would restore shower freedom. You get a lot of that, but you never really hear him talk about freedom and liberty in any meaningful way, like as the ideals this country was supposedly built upon. Thats because those ideals are just not that meaningful to Trump.

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If anything has been brought into clear focus in these first few months of the Trump administration, and particularly the last few days, its that the president is acting as an enemy of freedom. His administration is working to take away the liberties at the core of the American experiment. Hes waging an assault on freedom and liberty in any sphere he can.

In the span of a couple of months, we have become a country where people are being grabbed off the street and sent to a foreign gulag without any of the normal American freedom stuff like due process, or evidence, or even charges.

The most egregious, chilling example is that of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who first came to the U.S. in 2011 as an undocumented 16-year-old sent by his mother because he had been pressured to join a violent gang in his native El Salvador. In 2019, an immigration judge gave Abrego Garcia a protected immigration status, saying his life would be in danger in El Salvador. Since then, Abrego Garcia has lived and worked here legally. He married an American woman, and they started a family together in Maryland.

But last month, after picking up his 5-year-old son, who has special needs, Abrego Garcia was grabbed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. Within days, they had shipped Abrego Garcia off to the Terrorist Confinement Center, the Salvadoran gulag known as CECOT, along with hundreds of others caught in Trumps roundup.

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He has never been charged with any crime. ICE has maintained that hes a member of the MS-13 gang, but it has offered no proof in any court. He and his family say he has no ties to any gang. And now that family is left to wonder if they will ever see him again.

I will not stop fighting until I see my husband alive, Abrego Garcias wife, Jennifer Vasquez, pledged outside a U.S. district court in Maryland on Monday. Kilmar, if you can hear me, stay strong. God hasnt forgotten about you. Our children are asking when will you come home. And I pray for the day I tell them the time and date that youll return.

Inside that courthouse, Judge Paula Xinis wanted to know what, if anything, the government was doing to bring Abrego Garcia home and comply with the Supreme Court order requiring the government to facilitate his release from that prison in El Salvador. The governments answer: Its El Salvadors problem now. The judge was not buying that and later ordered depositions of several high-ranking homeland security officials. Xinis also says holding Trump officials in contempt is not off the table.

Its not at all clear that the Trump administration will comply. It hasnt so far. It seems full speed ahead on expanding this operation. In fact, the Trump administration is now quite openly talking about sending American citizens to the overseas gulag.

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On Monday, when Attorney General Pam Bondi was asked if that was legal, she refused to answer. These are Americans who he is saying who have committed the most heinous crimes in our country, she told Fox News. And crime is going to decrease dramatically because he has given us a directive to make America safe again.

This is already the most egregious assault on personal liberty that we have seen in American political life, certainly in my lifetime. Theyre targeting colleges, where a government task force, most of whom the government has not publicly identified, citing potential security risks, has demanded that research universities essentially install political commissars in academic departments and make admissions and hiring more favorable to conservatives for viewpoint diversity.

Harvard University said no to this effort, and in return, the Trump administration announced it would freeze more than $2 billion in federal grants to the university. More colleges have joined Harvard in resisting the government. Thats a welcome sign. People and institutions are coming together to fight for actual freedom against a president who hates it.

Trump hates our freedom of speech that enables critics, so he attacks students exercising that speech and the schools that enroll them. He hates the freedom of assembly and association that lets law firms hire people who prosecuted him, so he writes executive orders essentially extorting those law firms into submission.

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This is a vision of American life in which everything is controlled by a single ruler. Its not an exaggeration to say that this is the absolute nightmare of our founders. Everything this administration is doing is in complete opposition to this nations founding principles.

The tricky part is that for the vast majority of Americans, in their day-to-day lives, it doesnt feel that unfree, at least not yet. But thats what this administration is banking on: that it can take advantage of that sense of normalcy to take away all of our liberties. And that is exactly why the fate of Kilmar Abrego Garcia should matter to us all.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Taxes are among the most reviled and resisted necessities of civilization. Nobody wants to pay them, but if you want the services and security of an organized society, everybody with the means has to pony up their fair share.

Unless youre a billionaire, in which case you simply buy the government and have your lackeys rewrite the tax code in your eternal favor. (See Elon Musk, et. al.)

Chris Kelly (TIMES-TRIBUNE FILE)

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There were no billionaires on Courthouse Square in Scranton on Tuesday, but the space crackled with rage against broligarchs and the simping politicians who sell out everyday Americans in exchange for power, prestige and profit.

U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahans name came up often.

Hes a two-faced SOB, Dave Mattern spat matter-of-factly. The 68-year-old retiree from Clarks Summit who relies on Social Security cited as evidence the freshman MAGA Republican congressmans robust stock trading and two votes for a budget framework that would require massive cuts to Medicaid and other bedrock services to fund tax cuts for billionaires.

Bresnahan campaigned on banning congressional stock trading, but was exposed in a New York Times report as one of the most active stock traders in the freshman class, according to Capitol Trades, a site that monitors the stock market activity of lawmakers. Since January, Bresnahan reported 264 stock trades, according to the site. He bought up to $1.7 million in stock since taking office, according to his periodic transaction report, and sold up to $3.03 million.

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Bresnahan has repeatedly promised not to vote for a budget that slashes Medicaid, but Mattern said he pays attention to what politicians do rather than what they say.

Hes already voted for it (the budget framework) twice, he said. You cant believe a word that comes out of his mouth.

Ellen McGuigan, a retired teacher from Glenburn Twp., also blasted Bresnahan for choosing billionaires over families.

I cry every night over Musks chainsaw massacre of our government and institutions, the 63-year-old said, clutching a sign that read, Hey, Rob, wheres the most likely fraud and abuse?

The answer, she said, is billionaires who dont pay their fair share.

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People dont understand, she said. A tax break is a government handout.

The Tax Day protest, organized by the bipartisan nonprofit Action Together NEPA, was one of four Families over Billionaires rallies across the region. The Scranton edition drew about 75 protesters. Many pointed out that any event held at noon on a Tuesday isnt easy for working people to attend.

Were here!, declared Beth Perry, who Ive bumped into at a few protests. Although the crowd was a little smaller, the Clarks Summit retiree said older Americans are ideal candidates for activism.

We do so much calling and writing letters and showing up because we have the time, she said. And coming together like this allows us to have some camaraderie, which is really important.

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At 74, Perry said shes been retired for 14 glorious years, earned every penny of her Social Security checks. I asked what she did for a living.

I sold drugs, she said, to titters of laughter from her friends. Actually, Perry worked in the pharmaceutical industry, and said shes blessed to have a pension in addition to Social Security.

And I saved and saved and saved so my kids would never have to worry, she said. Now she worries the broligarchs are looting the futures of her grandchildren. Her sign  one of many carrying pointed messages for the square head of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency  harkened back to Musks Sieg heil salute:

HELP CONTROL THE NAZI POPULATION  HAVE YOUR DOGE SPAYED OR NEUTERED!!

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I asked Perry if she had anything to say specifically about Elon Musk.

Nothing you could publish, she said with a grin.

Ill ask her again at the next protest, or the one after. Perry said shell keep showing up. History is on her side.

Ive been doing this since Vietnam, she said.

That war ended 15 years before Rob Bresnahan was born.

CHRIS KELLY, the Times-Tribune columnist, started paying Social Security tax at 16. Contact the writer: ckelly@scrantontimes.com; @cjkink on X; Chris Kelly, The Times-Tribune on Facebook.
On Friday, federal authorities ordered Nicole Micheroni to leave the country within seven days.

Micheroni  a 40-year-old U.S. citizen, immigration attorney and Massachusetts resident  told MSNBC that as of Tuesday, she has heard nothing from the Department of Homeland Security, which she believes mistakenly sent the notice that told her it is time for you to leave the United States.

The process is a mess right now, she said. DHS is not being careful.

Nicole Micheroni is interviewed by NBC Boston.

The email came from a no-reply address, Micheroni said, and it informed her that her parole  which in immigration law allows noncitizens to enter or remain in the United States for limited periods of time  had been terminated, according to a screenshot of the email shared with NBC Boston.

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"If you do not depart the United States immediately you will be subject to potential law enforcement actions that will result in your removal from the United States," the email says.

The notice was sent to her work email, Micheroni said, but it was different from the emails she typically gets from immigration authorities about clients. No name was included in the message, she said, nor was there a case number.

Initially, Micheroni wasn't sure whether it was real.

"I kind of laughed at first, and then I was like, wait a minute," she said. "This is very concerning."

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In a statement, a senior official with the Department of Homeland Security said a separate agency  Customs and Border Protection  is issuing parole termination notices to people who do not have lawful status to remain in the United States.

"CBP used the known email addresses of the alien to send notifications," the official said. "If a non-personal email  such as an American citizen contact  was provided by the alien, notices may have been sent to unintended recipients. CBP is monitoring communications and will address any issues on a case-by-case basis.

To be clear: If you are an alien, being in the United States is a privilegenot a right. We are acting in the best interest of the country and enforcing the law accordingly.

A second U.S. citizen and Boston-area immigration attorney, Carmen Bello, told NBC Boston that she, too, received a notice of parole termination telling her to leave the country.

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"Theyre not even checking if its the attorneys email or the applicants email, Bello said, referring to migrants who have applied for parole. "I think theres a lack of responsibility on the department on sending the letters like this.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  The City of Albuquerque filed a motion in federal court asking to be dismissed from a decades-old case related to jail overcrowding.

Jimmie McClendon filed the lawsuit in 1995 on behalf of a group of inmates at the Metropolitan Detention Center. McClendon was arrested on a non-violent misdemeanor and was jailed for several days. The suit alleged McClendon, who was suffering from medical issues, faced poor conditions because the MDC was overcrowded by more than 300 inmates.

Story continues below

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A 2017 settlement agreement required the City of Albuquerque to make several changes in policies and practices aimed at improving the way that police officers interact with individuals who were unhoused or who appeared to have a mental disability. It also required officers not to arrest people suspected of committing non-violent misdemeanor offenses and instead issue citations, except in the cases of DWI.

As part of the settlement agreement, the city also had to track the impact of these changes by creating a course of business records, including:

Bookings on citable non-violent misdemeanor offenses, not to include DWIs;

Disposition data for individuals involved in CIT-related incidents;

Arrests arising from calls for service involving domestic violence; and

The notation of phone numbers and email addresses on the Uniform Traffic Citation Form.

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According to a review of records and analysis of data trends that was compiled in 2024, the city has met its obligations. APD Chief Harold Medina said that because of the progress, the city should be dismissed from the lawsuit.

We have complied with the agreement and the time has come to dismiss the federal oversight, which is no longer necessary, Medina said in a news release. The city has gone above and beyond its obligations. Our response to people with behavioral health needs is fundamentally different than it was in the past.

APD said the city has funded and implemented several programs with the general goal of connecting individuals who may have otherwise been arrested to professional mental health services, in turn reducing the jail population. An example of one of those programs is the Albuquerque Community Safety Department, which serves as an alternative response to public safety calls that do not require a police presence.

According to the news release from APD, the city also maintains a total of 1,240 supportive housing slots for people, including those with mental illness or mental disability.

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CHICAGO (WGN)  The City Council appeared Wednesday to be close to a deal on a new curfew policy for minors following gatherings downtown that have turned violent.

Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward) said hed struck a deal with his colleagues to give the citys police superintendent and the local district commander the power to implement a teen curfew in an area when and where its needed. It could take effect at any time, but would only apply to a certain neighborhood.

The alderman tried to force a vote on a plan to lower the teen curfew in the Central Business District from 10 p.m. to 8 p.m. following a series of so-called teen takeover events but backed down in favor of a deal to expand police powers.

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We just had a situation where the teens were planning a teen takeover of Millenium Park at 5 p.m. Now it turns out that didnt happen, but if it did happen, under my original ordinance we wouldnt have been able to do anything about it, he explained. Under this ordinance the superintendent can say, We have a situation developing here, and its 5 p.m., were declaring a curfew for unaccompanied minors at that location.'

The existing curfew was put in place three years ago during the Lori Lightfoot administration.

As curfew violations plummet, some Chicago aldermen push for change

CPD sends message to CPS parents on preventing teen takeovers

My original curfew ordinance only applied to downtown. Im a alderman that represents downtown, I had a problem in my community I wanted to take care of it, Hopkins said. But since that time many of my colleagues have approached me and said, What about my neighborhood? Weve had similar situations and we could use a tool like this as well. So we need to be a bit more flexible in the approach.

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Hopkins said engaging the police superintendent and district commanders gives them the ability to apply the curfew when and where its needed.

That makes sense to me, he said.

Other alders were skeptical of the plan. Ald. Andre Vasquez (40th Ward) said he wants to have a hearing on the compromise where police can share their needs.

Officers have tools in place and rules that they can follow. What does a curfew add to that situation? he said. How do you determine the difference between a street takeover and a protest? Are you then taking away somebodys right to actually have freedom of speech?

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Teens sometimes do gather downtown late at night but usually during the summer months. Incidents this spring has raised concerns. A 46-year-old tourist and a 15-year-old boy were hit by gunfire at two different teen gatherings in Streeterville last month. Charges have been filed against teens in both incidents.

Mayor Brandon Johnson has expressed opposition to changing the curfew but has been working with alders to address teen gatherings at night.

There has to be ongoing conversations because all stakeholders get to play a part in the direction of how we create accountability and safety, he said in a press conference after Wednesdays council meeting.

There were 539 curfew violations citywide last year, down more than 75 percent compared to 2018, WGN Investigates found.

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(COLORADO SPRINGS)  Newly elected members of Colorado Springs City Council were sworn into office during a ceremony at the Pioneers Museum on Tuesday, April 15.

Presiding municipal court judge Hayden Kane swore in new councilmembers elected by voters in the April 1 City Municipal Election.

Those taking the oath on Tuesday included four new faces, along with two returning members. Among the newcomers are Tom Bailey, District 2; Brandy Williams, District 3; Kimberly Gold, District 4; and Roland Rainey Jr., District 6.

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At the swearing-in, Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade spoke on the important work City Councilmembers do to bring the voice of the people to the table during the communitys most important conversations.

Courtesy: FOX21 News photojournalist Adam Drake

Courtesy: FOX21 News photojournalist Adam Drake

Courtesy: FOX21 News photojournalist Adam Drake

Courtesy: FOX21 News photojournalist Adam Drake

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The work is real. The work is complex. The work is sometimes messy, and can feel lonely at times, Mayor Mobolade said of what lies ahead for new councilmembers. And yes, some meetings might stretch into the evening hours with passionate comments, and more acronyms than any human should reasonably memorize. But I assure you, it is meaningful, it is worth it, and you are exactly where God wants you to be.

After being sworn in, City Council held a special meeting in council chambers at City Hall to elect a new Council President, Lynette Crow-Iverson, and President Pro Tem, Brian Risley, to serve for the next two years.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The City of El Paso Department of Public Health (DPH) confirmed on Tuesday, April 15, five additional measles cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 13.

El Paso confirms 3 new cases of measles

The City said the newly confirmed cases involve an unvaccinated man in his 20s, two unvaccinated children, a woman in her 50s with unknown vaccination status, and a man in his 60s with unknown vaccination status.

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Health officials have initiated contact tracing to identify potential exposures and are coordinating with state partners to prevent further spread of the virus, the City said.

El Paso health authority recommends vaccines to fight measles

The City said that although approximately 98 percent of El Paso County residents are vaccinated against measles, public health officials remain concerned about unvaccinated pockets within the community. Unvaccinated individuals remain at the highest risk of infection.

The measles vaccine (MMR) is highly effective, but not 100% foolproof. Two doses provide approximately 97% protection, meaning a small number of vaccinated individuals may still contract the virus  particularly during outbreaks or in cases of weakened immune response. However, vaccinated individuals who become infected are far less likely to experience serious complications or transmit the virus to others, read the news release.

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Anyone who visited the following locations on the dates and times noted should verify their immunization status and monitor for symptoms:

Date Location Time 4/04/2025 Walmart1850 Zaragoza 4:45 p.m.  7:45 p.m. 4/05/2025 El Paso International Airport6701 Convair 8 a.m.  11:20 a.m. 4/07/2025 El Paso International Airport6701 Convair 1:30 p.m.  3:50 p.m. 4/04/2025 Los Toreados5331 Marcillus 6:30 p.m.  9:30 p.m.

Ysleta Independent School District (YISD) also confirmed that there is another measles case at one of its campuses.

YISD said the latest case was at Eastwood High School.

As we previously reported, the district had informed on Monday, April 14, that there was a measles case at Hanks High School. And last Friday, YISD said there was a measles case at Bel Air High School.

The Ysleta ISD did not say if the measles cases was a student, staff or faculty.

First measles case reported in Dona Ana County

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Walk-in immunization services are available Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed noon to 1 p.m. for lunch), at the following DPH clinics:

Lower Valley Community Clinic: 9341 Alameda Ave.

Henderson Community Clinic: 721 S. Mesa St.

Northeast Community Clinic: 9566 Railroad Dr.

Westside Community Clinic: 7380 Remcon Cir.

To schedule an appointment, call (915) 212-6555.

For additional information on measles symptoms, vaccination, and potential exposure, the City of El Paso has activated a Measles Hotline at (915) 212- HELP (4357). Residents can also call 2-1-1 or visit EPHealth.com under the Vaccination & Immunizations tab.

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Other useful links:

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Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, and To Lam, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, greet the crowd after a grand welcome ceremony as they walk to the CPV Central Committee headquarters for talks in Hanoi, Vietnam, April 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

* This year marks the 75th anniversary of China-Vietnam diplomatic ties, a milestone in the two nations' profound traditional friendship featuring "camaraderie plus brotherhood."

* China and Vietnam, Xi said, should give full play to their geographical advantages of being connected by land and sea, strengthen the alignment of development strategies and tap the potential of industrial cooperation.

* Particularly, noting that young people are the future and hope of the cause, Xi announced that in the next three years, China will invite Vietnamese youth to China for "Red Study Tours."

HANOI, April 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping wrapped up his state visit to Vietnam on Tuesday with the two neighbors pledging joint efforts to accelerate the building of a community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.

To that end, the two sides agreed to work together for stronger political mutual trust, more substantive security cooperation, deeper practical cooperation, more solid popular foundation, closer coordination on multilateral affairs and better management of differences.

Before leaving for Malaysia to continue his three-nation Southeast Asia tour, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said he has full confidence in the future of China-Vietnam relations.





SHARED VISION FOR SHARED FUTURE

This year marks the 75th anniversary of China-Vietnam diplomatic ties, a milestone in the two nations' profound traditional friendship featuring "camaraderie plus brotherhood."

During Xi's state visit to Vietnam in December 2023, the two sides agreed to build a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance on the basis of deepening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

In his talks with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam on Monday, Xi called for further efforts to fulfill the vision.

The two countries should work to advance their comprehensive strategic cooperation with high quality, ensure steady and sustained progress in building a China-Vietnam community with a shared future, and contribute even more to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi said.

Building the China-Vietnam community with a shared future carries great global significance, Xi said, noting that as the two countries jointly pursue peaceful development, their combined population of over 1.5 billion is jointly advancing toward modernization, which will contribute to regional and global peace and stability while promoting common development.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, holds talks with To Lam, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, at the CPV Central Committee headquarters in Hanoi, Vietnam, April 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

To Lam, for his part, said that Xi's visit would definitely mark a new milestone in the history of friendly exchanges between the two parties and countries, further advancing the building of a Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.

Nguyen Thi Phuong Hoa, a researcher at the Institute for Asia-Pacific Studies under the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, said the effort to build a Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance reflects both the continuation and the deepening of the enduring friendship between the two countries.

"It is built on the foundation of political trust, the promotion of commonalities and especially the sharing of benefits and mutual concerns," she said. "The ultimate goal is to bring benefits to the people of both nations, support each country's development, and contribute to regional peace and stability."

Over the past year, the agreement on building a Vietnam-China community with a shared future has already injected fresh momentum into the bilateral relationship, said Nguyen Vinh Quang, vice president of the Vietnam-China Friendship Association, noting that businesses from both sides have demonstrated increased confidence in each other.





MARCH TOWARD MODERNIZATION

On Monday, the Chinese president also urged the two countries to deepen cooperation across various fields and march toward modernization hand in hand.

While meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Xi called on the two countries to intensify high-level exchanges, strengthen strategic communication, and jointly oppose hegemonism, unilateralism and protectionism.

He called on the two sides to implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, so as to jointly safeguard international fairness and justice, and defend peace, stability, development and prosperity in Asia and beyond.

China and Vietnam, Xi said, should give full play to their geographical advantages of being connected by land and sea, strengthen the alignment of development strategies and tap the potential of industrial cooperation.

He also called on the two countries to steadily advance cooperation in infrastructure development, enhance connectivity and ensure a smooth flow of trade.

The two countries should firmly uphold the multilateral trading system, and work together to push for economic globalization that is more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial to all, he added.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, meets with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee headquarters in Hanoi, Vietnam, April 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

In his meeting with Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam Tran Thanh Man, Xi pointed out that his state visit to Vietnam once again allowed him to witness the new achievements in Vietnam's cause of Doi Moi (reform) and personally experience the profound foundation of China-Vietnam friendship.

Facing an international landscape fraught with changes and turbulence, Xi said, China and Vietnam should strengthen confidence in their paths and systems, enhance solidarity and coordination, continue to build the China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, join hands to march toward modernization, and inject more stability and positive energy into the world.





CARRY FORWARD TRADITIONAL FRIENDSHIP

As this year is also designated the China-Vietnam Year of People-to-People Exchanges, a series of activities have been organized and planned to further cement the public support of bilateral relations.

During his meeting with representatives of the Chinese and Vietnamese People's Friendship Meeting on Tuesday, Xi said that over the years, the peoples of China and Vietnam have stood together through thick and thin, and have jointly written a glorious chapter in the history of China-Vietnam friendship.

He emphasized that China-Vietnam friendship has taken root and sprouted through mutual support between the two peoples, and has blossomed and borne fruit through their solidarity and coordination.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam and Vietnamese President Luong Cuong jointly launch the "Red Study Tours" project at the International Convention Center in Hanoi, capital of Vietnam, April 15, 2025. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

Xi told To Lam during their talks that the two sides should take this year as an opportunity to organize more people-oriented exchange activities, and enhance cooperation in tourism, culture, media, public health and other fields.

While meeting with Pham Minh Chinh, Xi urged the two sides to ensure the success of activities celebrating the 75th anniversary of China-Vietnam diplomatic ties and the China-Vietnam Year of People-to-People Exchanges, so as to tell the stories of friendship, mutually beneficial cooperation, as well as their joint pursuit of modernization.

Particularly, noting that young people are the future and hope of the cause, Xi announced that in the next three years, China will invite Vietnamese youth to China for "Red Study Tours."

That, he added, will help the younger generation of both countries better understand the hard-won nature of the socialist countries and the great value of China-Vietnam good-neighborliness and friendly cooperation, and will cultivate greater vitality for the development of bilateral relations and the two countries' respective national development.
Apr. 16---- City Council members in Montevideo will be looking at options for maintaining aging infrastructure in the Smith Addition, but do not plan to change the city's policy of discouraging new development in the flood-prone area.

City Council members at the April 7 meeting took up the issue of the aging infrastructure in the area where a few businesses and homes remain. City Manager Robert Wolfington told the West Central Tribune that council members are looking for more information on what can be done, but do not plan to make any major investments in the area in keeping with the policy to discourage development.

Underground sewer services are showing their age, and the city has had to undertake fixes for lines that have collapsed. Wolfington said the city intends to continue repair work as needed.

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There are about one dozen homes remaining in the area. Their owners chose not to accept buyout options the city offered with flood mitigation funding from the

The city no longer has funds for a buyout program, but it remains committed to assisting any interested property owner as it can, according to the city manager.

Once the original birthplace for the city of Montevideo, the historic area along the Chippewa River known as the Smith Addition was the site for 120 homes.

That all changed 28 years ago on April 6, 1997, when floodwaters inundated the area. In Montevideo, the flood forced the evacuation of some 500 people in the Smith Addition and other low-lying areas in the community.

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The 1997 flood crest of 23.90 feet remains the historic crest, although crests recorded in 2001, 2011, 2019 and 2023 were well above the 18-foot level at which the city has to shut off sewer and other services to the area. The monitor is on the

downstream of where it meets the Chippewa River.

Since 1997, the city has invested more than $17 million in flood protection. Working with the Corps of Engineers, the city has completed a staged upgrade to its levee system. The city is well-protected, Wolfington said. He said the city is working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to complete the certification of the levee.

Unlike April of 1997, this year's spring water flows are below normal for the time of year. As of this week, the Minnesota River gauge in Montevideo showed a level of 7.73 feet, or well below the 14-foot flood level.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  With temperatures heating up in New Mexico, city leaders are reminding community members about a recently passed ordinance that requires all rental properties in Albuquerque to have functioning cooling systems.

Ordinance O-59 was passed by the Albuquerque City Council in December and requires all properties in the city to have functioning cooling systems, such as swamp coolers, central HVAC, mini splits, and window units.

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According to the city, this new law strengthens tenant protections and ensures safer, more livable housing during increasingly hot summers.

Urban heat impacts, climate change have made it to where you cannot live in a home in the city of Albuquerque without a cooling system. You will be sick, you will have days off work, you will not be a productive member of society, and you will be miserable, said City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn, who sponsored the ordinance.

Cooling devices like fans or portable air conditioners do not meet the requirements.

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TOPEKA (KSNT)  Topeka city leaders have approved of another funding request for a local hotel to keep it running this year.

Topekas governing body gathered on Tuesday, April 15 to vote on a proposal to grant an additional $168,000 in funding for the Hotel Topeka at City Center. The money will come from the citys General Fund and will go towards the continued operation and maintenance of the building. The funding request was approved by the governing body 7-3, with District 2 councilwoman Christina Valdivia-Alcala, District 3 councilwoman Sylvia Ortiz and District 4 councilman David Banks opposed.

The City of Topeka purchased the hotel in October 2023 at a cost of $7.6 million. The Topeka Development Corporation (TDC) was created by the Topeka City Council as a not-for-profit corporation to hold the title of the hotel and contract with a management company to oversee the day-to-day operations of the building.

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The Hotel Topeka was described as a distressed asset in 2024, with costs nearing $10 million in October 2024 after the approval of an additional $201,000 for the structure. Topeka leaders were informed late last year the hotel would see a nearly $900,000 net operating loss in 2025.

Downtown Topeka parking costs may be going up soon

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SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  On Tuesday, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria proposed a slew of cuts in the citys preliminary budget, including reduced hours of operation at libraries and recreation centers in addition to slashes to arts funding, the Humane Society and others.

The city of San Diego faces a $258 million budget deficit, and the proposed actions are intended to bring that gap to a close, according to Gloria.

A total of $175.9 million in reductions is included in the latest draft budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

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Popular beach in San Diego County to host surfing in the 2028 Summer Olympics

The specific proposed reductions include the closure of all city libraries on Sundays and Mondays, trimming down a library tutoring program from being offered at 18 to 10 locations, and cutting down the operating hours for all recreation centers from 60 hours a week to 40.

Gloria is also proposing for select restrooms in city parks to be closed on a seasonal basis, plus eliminating all beach and bay fire rings.

This would mean that the time and expense that we pay to maintain, clean and relocate those fire pits will be savings that we can put back into the general fund, Gloria said in an interview with FOX 5/KUSI.

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The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department could also see reductions, specifically in its Fast-Response Squads in San Pasqual and a fire engine in the downtown/East Village, bomb squad and staffing, if the proposed budget becomes finalized.

However, the departments overall budget will increase by $24 million and would include an advanced lifeguard academy as well as the return of the Wellness Program, the mayors office stated.

The San Diego Police Department was also listed among the cuts, taking a minor $3 million reduction in overtime costs, according to Gloria.

Meanwhile, the city is also re-negotiating its animal services contract with the San Diego Humane Society to help lower costs.

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Theres stillmillions will be spent for animal care and services throughout the city, its just a lower amount, said Gloria. And what that might be reflected as is less enforcement of, say, dogs that are unleashed in neighborhood parks, that kind of thing.

Reductions included in the draft budget encompass $30.5 million in personnel costs, $46.4 million in other costs and $35 million in contracts with outside companies.

Nearly 400 positions would also be eliminated, 160 of which are currently filled, according to the city.

The implementation of tariffs by the federal administration will necessarily raise costs for really everybody, Gloria stated. That will have to be reflected in the budgetI recognize the average San Diegan may not necessarily make that connection but I need them to understand these are directly connected matters.

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Public hearings on the budget will take place the rest of the month into May and a revised proposal will be released May 14.

The city council is expected to vote on a final budget by June 10.

FOX 5/KUSIs Delaney White contributed to this story. Watch her report in the video player above.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  During Tuesdays April 15 City Council meeting, city representatives voted not to approve an agenda item that would support how El Paso fire and police employees allocate pension fund contributions.

In a 7-1 vote, representatives struck down support for House Bill 4591, filed by state representative Mary Gonzalez (D-Texas), that would essentially remove the requirement for voters to approve any increase to tax-funded contributions.

District 7 Lily Limon was the sole dissenting vote.

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This is a very well-run fund. Thats not our concern as a city. Our concern is that right now, the only pathway for an increased contribution for this from the city, for the pension fund, is through the taxpayer. What this bill does is it creates an alternative pathway that council could unilaterally decide to increase the contribution without ever going to the taxpayer, said Ian Voglewede, Director of Strategic and Legislative Affairs for the City of El Paso.

Currently, employees under the fund contribute 18 percent of their salaries to the pension fund and benefits. The City of El Paso matches that amount, also contributing 18 percent.

According to the presentation given by City staff, the El Paso Firemen and Policemens Pension Fund (EPFPPF) was underfunded, resulting in a $207 memorandum agreement being made in 2007. A tier 2 cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) was also created with foundational safeguards that require any benefit increase to be supported by the existing funding status of the fund.

Under the current law, taxpayers have to vote before any new or increase in benefits are made. Under H.B. 4591, an increase can happen at any time, regardless of the funds health. Should the council vote not to increase the pension, the matter would be sent to an election, which staff says could be costly.

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The City said it supports first responders and respects their work, but given its financial responsibility to constituents and the current economy, supporting H.B 4591 would not be in the taxpayers best interest.

This is a very, very well-run pension fund, but it still has significant money invested in the stock market. And so, some shock, like a tariff could send the stock market tumbling and damage to the performance of not just this fund, but all funds We absolutely would want to be able to give them the full benefits. We just have to make sure that we can afford them first, said Vogleweed.

The result of the discussions came as a disappointment to the board that oversees the pension fund and benefits.

I feel theres some disagreement on what the bill does and how it acts when it comes to the voters. You know, fire and police welcome the voters who will go to the voters every time. As it stands now, it only goes to the voters if the city allows it to, or fire and police go to, and get signatures in order to have it placed on the ballot, said Tyler Grossman, the Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer for the EPFPPF.

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The bill would allow flexibility for the city in order to raise contributions. We were hoping that they would add another tool in our toolbox in order to do so in the future, but unfortunately, they did not want to support this bill, said Grossman, who told council members he was not seeking more money or benefits.

The city said that while they could not support the bill, they were not opposed to forming a work group to develop a framework for future legislation sessions.

The 2025 Texas Legislative session ends June 2. At this time, Rep. Gonzalezs H.B. 4591 has not had a hearing scheduled. KTSM reached out to her office for a statement, but has not received one by the time of publication.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
As we wait for the "smiley face" in the sky later in April, the Lyrid meteor shower is sure to keep you occupied and amazed.

While the peak of the meteor shower won't arrive until April 21-22, you'll still be able to spot some this week.

The Lyrid meteor shower  "considered one of the oldest and most reliable celestial shows of the year"  will overlap another meteor shower: the Eta Aquarids.

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Here's what you should know.

Lyrid meteor shower to peak April 21-22

The Lyrids are known for their fast and bright meteors, according to NASA.

This year, the Lyrid meteor shower is expected to peak April 21-22, but will be active from April 17-30. Some said activity could begin as early as April 14 and end by April 26.

"The Lyrids are expected to produce about 20 meteors per hour once the radiant is nearly overhead, which occurs in the hour before dawn. Expect lower rates in the earlier-morning hours," according to astronomy.com.

"The Lyrids are known for uncommon surges that can sometimes bring rates of up to 100 per hour," earthsky said.

Lyrids known to produce 'fireballs,' better known as shooting stars

As you gaze toward the sky, watch for "fireballs."

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Those "fireballs," better known as "shooting stars," are meteors. If meteoroids survive their trip to Earth without burning up in the atmosphere, they are called meteorites, according to NASA.

"In a moonless sky, a few Lyrid meteors can leave persistent trains. That is, they leave a trail of ionized gases that glow for a few seconds after the meteor has passed. Lyrids are known to produce fireballs," earthsky said.

 Did you see a fireball? American Meteor Society would love to hear about it. Here's how

Will there be an 'outburst' of Lyrid meteors in 2025?

"The Lyrid meteor shower seems to outburst, or produce an unexpectedly large number of meteors, every 60 years.

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"The next Lyrid outburst is due in 2042," according to earthsky.

If the decade sounds familiar, congratulations on paying close attention.

On Aug. 12, 2045, a total solar eclipse will be visible over almost all of Florida, according to NationalEclipse.com.

 Mark your calendar! Florida in prime viewing area for a total solar eclipse in 2045

When is the best time to see the Lyrid meteor shower?

The peak viewing time, with the most activity will be April 21-22.

During the peak time, a waning crescent moon won't rise until almost 4 a.m., according to astronomy.com. It may be best to view the meteor shower on the evening of April 21, just before the moon comes up.

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The best time to observe the Lyrids is in the predawn hours  between midnight and dawn  when the meteor shower's radiant is at its highest in the sky. The radiant is the point from which the meteors appear to originate, according to space.com.

Don't look straight at Vega, though.

Looking away from the radiant will make the meteors "appear longer and more spectacular," according to NASA.

What direction should you look to see the Lyrid meteor shower?

The meteors will seem to come from the constellation Lyra, especially the star Vega, which is the fifth brightest star in the night sky, according to sky-tonight.

Don't know where that is?

Look for a bright star above the horizon toward the northeast between about 9 to 10 p.m. EDT. That will be Vega, which will continue to climb higher in the sky until it reaches its peak at dawn, according to earthsky. On clear summer evenings, it will be almost overhead, according to space.com.

Do you need a telescope to see the Lyrid meteor shower?

No telescope or binoculars are needed to view the Lyrids.

Viewing tips to watch the Lyrid meteor shower

NASA offered the following tips to see the meteor shower:

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Go outside after the moon sets and before dawn.

Find an area well away from city lights or street lights.

Bring a sleeping bag, blanket, or lawn chair and lie flat on your back with your feet facing east and look up, taking in as much of the sky as possible.

After about 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes will adapt and you will begin to see meteors.

Where did the Lyrids come from? How fast do meteors travel?

The Lyrids come from debris left behind by Comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher.

Discovered in 1861, is a comet that orbits the sun roughly once every 415 years, according to space.com. The last time Thatcher was close to Earth was in 1861. It won't be back until 2283, according to earthsky.

The first recorded sighting of the Lyrid meteor shower was in 687 BC by the Chinese, according to NASA.

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In April every year, the Earth crossed the trail of debris Comet Thatcher left behind.

"Tiny particles  some no bigger than a grain of sand  enter the planet's atmosphere at around 30 miles per second, they burn up and create bright streaks of light we see as meteors," space.com said.

Look for a 'smile' in the sky April 25

A crescent moon combines with Venus and Saturn for a "smiley face" in the sky.

See the face about 30 minutes before sunrise on April 25, according to timeanddate.,

Eta Aquarids meteor shower will overlap Lyrid meteor shower

The Eta Aquarids meteor shower will be active from April 20 to May 21, with the peak expected on May 5-6, according to NASA.

About 10 meteors are visible per hour.

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"Eta Aquarid meteors are known for their speed, with the meteors traveling at about 40.7 miles per second into Earth's atmosphere," NASA said.

"Fast meteors can leave glowing 'trains'  incandescent bits of debris in the wake of the meteor  which last for several seconds to minutes. About 50 meteors can be seen per hour during the peak of the Eta Aquarids."

More visible in the Southern Hemisphere, in the Northern Hemisphere, Eta Aquarid meteors can more often be seen as "Earthgrazers," NASA said. Earthgrazers are long meteors that appear to skim the surface of the Earth at the horizon.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Lyrid meteor shower: Best dates, how to view
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  Following closing arguments, a Woodbury County jury will resume its deliberations Wednesday in the murder trial of a South Sioux City man accused of killing a man from Sioux City.

Yasin Abdi, 22, is charged with first-degree murder in the deadly 2023 shooting of Marlon White Eyes, 36. A judge announced at 5:20 p.m. on Tuesday, April 15 that a verdict wouldnt be made in his case that night.

2 dead after crash involving tractor in Carroll County

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During Tuesdays closing arguments, prosecutors argued that the murder of White Eyes was grounds for first-degree murder. Meanwhile, the defense disagreed, stating that his death was not premeditated, so therefore, Abdi had no malice, meaning a first-degree conviction would be off the table.

The defense said Abdi did not initially shoot White Eyes when they met at this apartment and saying he could have. Abdi only shot White Eyes when he was approaching his friends while they were fighting two individuals, shooting him in self-defense, the defense claimed.

However, the prosecutors claimed that Abdi had malice towards White Eyes, saying that from the moment Abdi met the victims eyes at his apartment and pointed a gun at him, he had planned to kill him.

Jury deliberations will continue Wednesday morning.

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(COLORADO SPRINGS)  Closing arguments took place on Tuesday, April 15 in the murder trial of Nicholas Jordan, the man accused of shooting and killing two people at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) in February of 2024.

Jordan is accused of shooting and killing UCCS student Samuel Koop and mom of two Celie Montgomery on Feb. 16, 2024. Jordan previously entered a plea of not guilty, and the case went to trial on April 8.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Jury trial for UCCS shooting suspect to begin

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FOX21s Jessica Livingstone was in the courtroom on Tuesday, and said three witnesses took the stand ahead of closing arguments. Jordan himself elected not to take the stand.

During closing arguments, the defense said that Jordan was a man going through strugglesafter having a younger brother murdered and a car broken intohe felt the need to get a gun. In addition, the defense claimed that Knopp and other roommates had a wolf pack mentality against Jordan.

The defense argued that Jordan was at the dorm room to use the restroom when he was confronted by Knopp, and Jordan had no other choice but to defend himself. The defense said Montgomery was simply an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire.

Image from March 18, 2024 status conference for Nicholas Jordan.

The prosecution argued that this was not self-defense and was instead intentional, given that the positions of both Knopp and Montgomery and the trajectory of gunshots proved that the pair was defenseless at the time of the shooting. The prosecution also referenced death threats by Jordan to Knopp in the past, as well as internet queries made by Jordan before the shooting, which allegedly searched how to get away with the crime.

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After closing arguments, the jury will begin deliberation, which is expected to be lengthy. FOX21 News and Jessica Livingstone will be following this story and will provide updates as information becomes available.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
CNN anchor Pamela Brown shut down a Republican congressman who accused her of false reporting about the Supreme Court ruling that the Trump administration must facilitate the return of an illegally deported Maryland man, calling him out for trying to create a moment that would get him plaudits from the White House.

Let me finish my sentence! Brown shouted at one point.

A federal judge blasted the Trump administration on Tuesday for doing nothing to comply with her orders to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia home after, by their own admission, mistakenly sending him to a notorious El Salvador megaprison. Despite the Supreme Court ruling last week that the administration must effectuate his release and sending the case back to the lower court, both the White House and El Salvador President Nayib Bukele are refusing to commit to bringing Abrego Garcia home.

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Maryland District Judge Paula Xinis, who initially ruled against the administration, told Justice Department lawyers on Tuesday that they should cancel vacations and other appointments for the next two weeks to allow Abrego Garcias legal team an opportunity to depose Trump officials on their refusal to return the Maryland father. Meanwhile, the administration has argued publicly that Abrego Garcia was deported without any legal proceedings because hes a designated terrorist and MS-13 gang member involved in human trafficking, accusations they have not made in court.

Appearing on CNNs The Situation Room, Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA) attempted to defend the deportation of Abrego Garcia while simultaneously insisting that Abrego Garcia actually had received due process because he had appeared before an immigration judge six years ago.

In this case, I think its been very clear. There has been a process. You can say its not due process, but actually he has appealed his deportation. He lost that appeal. He was going to be deported. Whether he should have gone to El Salvador or not is really the one question, McCormick declared after Brown asked him if he felt the executive branch was overstepping its authority by ignoring court orders.

It also begs the question when anybody says that they request asylum because their life is threatened, and they have this due process, he continued. The question is, how are you going to deport them to that country of origin? If he belongs to a, lets say its MS-13 or whatever, theres a rival gang that doesnt like him. Are we going to have this hold up our deportation of criminal elements here in the United States? But when it comes to the due process, he did have due process and he appealed it, and he still lost that. And he was deported, perhaps to El Salvador by mistake.

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It appears that McCormick was referring to Abrego Garcia being detained by ICE in 2019 after he was arrested for loitering outside a Home Depot while looking for work. While he was initially scheduled for deportation for entering the country illegally back in 2011, a federal judge eventually granted him a withholding of removal after Abrego Garcia said he faced persecution and threats of violence if he was returned to El Salvador. Since then, he had made regular check-ins with ICE until he was picked up last month and shipped to the infamous CECO megaprison.

He didnt have due process most recently, Brown noted, prompting McCormick to fire back: What do you consider due process?!

After the CNN anchor explained that Abrego Garcia never got a chance to stand before a judge after he was recently taken off the street and quickly sent off to El Salvador, the MAGA congressman asserted that he had twice had due process because of his 2019 appearances in an immigration court.

Are we supposed to blindly trust the government when it alleges gang ties without providing the evidence to back it up again? Brown eventually asked, leading McCormick to then say that Abrego Garcia was merely deported because hes here illegally and that the MS-13 issue is another issue.

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After the two went back and forth over their interpretation of the case, with Brown repeatedly noting that what the administration is saying publicly about Abrego Garcias alleged gang affiliation isnt being repeated in court, the anchor finally lost her patience.

No, it did not. It did not. Thats false reporting. You know thats false! McCormick yelled when Brown tried to point out that the Supreme Court agreed with the lower courts ruling.

Let me finish my sentence, congressman, the host snapped back. I understand youre trying to create a moment right now to try to get pick-up, and thats self-serving. Thats not serving our viewers.

I think we know who is trying to create the moment here. We know that, the Georgia lawmaker sneered.

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No, what I am laying out here are facts. The Supreme Court, in a four-page opinion, agreed with the lower court judge that it should, the administration should facilitate his return, she replied.

Thats not facts, by the way, McCormick retorted. Just so you know, thats not facts.

Following the heated exchange, Brown ended the interview by attempting to get McCormicks opinion on the presidents repeated suggestion that American citizens could soon be shipped to the El Salvador prison system for unspecified crimes, calling them homegrown criminals. The GOP congressman, however, claimed he wasnt aware of Trumps comments.

I didnt hear what he said specifically, he claimed. Im not sure what the context is, so Im not gonna comment on what the context of that comment was because I dont think the president would be inferring that hes gonna break the constitutionality of due process for citizens of the United States. I think thats absurd.
CNN fact-checker Daniel Dale is debunking the nonsense from White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller, who refused to admit earlier this week that Kilmar Abrego Garcia was deported to a prison in El Salvador on March 15 due to an administrative error.

Despite President Donald Trumps own Justice Department confirming in a federal court filing that the Salvadoran father of three was sent to a brutal prison there due to a clerical mistake, Miller appeared Monday on Fox News to baselessly claim otherwise.

A DOJ lawyer, who has since been relieved of duty, a saboteur, a Democrat, put into a filing, incorrectly, that this was a mistaken removal, he said, later adding that Garcia was the right person sent to the right place.

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Mr. Millers suggestion that some lefty saboteur at DOJ is the reason people are calling this deportation a mistake is just wrong, Dale told CNN anchor Pamela Brown Tuesday. Various Trump administration officials have also called it a mistake. So here are the facts.

Dale explained that Garcia had been under a 2019 court order specifically stating he could not be sent back to El Salvador due to a credible fear of violent gang retribution there.

He then acknowledged that there was a DOJ attorney who disapproved of the deportation in court, but that they were quickly put on leave by the Trump administration for doing so.

But he wasnt going rogue in saying that, added Dale about the attorney. ICE and DOJ officials have told the courts at least three other times that sending Mr. Abrego Garcia to El Salvador was an error.

President Donald Trump's own Justice Department confirmed in a court filing that the deportation was a mistake. Win McNamee via Getty Images

The Supreme Court ordered the Trump administration last week to help bring Garcia back to the U.S., but during a White House visit Monday, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele told reporters he has no intention of helping return Garcia  whom he called a terrorist.

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Trump snapped at CNNs Kaitlan Collins for asking why hes defying the Supreme Court.

Dale cited a March court filing in which ICEs acting Field Office Director Robert Cerna called the deportation an oversight and administrative error. He also pointed to Trumps own DOJ lawyers confirming as much to an appeals court earlier this month.

The fact-checker then cited a statement made days later by the U.S. solicitor general himself. The position is appointed by the sitting president and is the fourth-highest rank within the Department of Justice.

Solicitor General John Sauer, the Trump-appointed lawyer who represents the administration at the Supreme Court  so a top lawyer  told the Supreme Court, The United States concedes that removal to El Salvador was an administrative error, said Dale.

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So, Mr. Miller pinning the idea that this was an error on one sneaky Democratic plant at the Justice Department is nonsense, he concluded.

Watch Dales full analysis below:

Related...
ADDIS ABABA, April 16 (Xinhua) -- African officials have emphasized the need to redouble continental efforts to address peace and security challenges and foster Africa's development amid mounting global uncertainties.

This came as African foreign ministers, the African Union (AU) Commission leadership, and officials of various AU organs convened the 24th Extraordinary Session of the AU Executive Council Tuesday at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia.

Addressing the opening session, AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf underscored the urgent need to enhance efforts aimed at promoting continental development, stability, and unity to withstand the adverse effects of "ever-growing" global uncertainties.

"In light of the profound challenges and the polarization of the world, I would like to underscore the importance of African solidarity and the coherence of our actions that we carry out for our continent, because we have difficult times ahead," Youssouf said, expressing concern over recent developments undermining multilateralism.

He called for the strengthening of the AU and its institutions to speed up Africa's integration and development.

Angolan Minister of External Relations and Chairperson of the Executive Council Tete Antonio, concurred, emphasizing the need to collectively address peace and security challenges hindering the continent's peaceful socio-economic development.

"This is an issue of great importance to our continent," he said. "For without peace and stability, our course towards progress and development is rendered ever more inaccessible."

Ethiopia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Gedion Timothewos, on his part, highlighted the instrumental role of the AU in fostering continental togetherness and commitment as Africa encounters extraordinary global uncertainties.

"The AU must be proactive in navigating these challenges with wisdom and farsighted leadership. It must be agile and fit for purpose to achieve the vision of Agenda 2063, creating a fully integrated, peaceful, and prosperous continent through the implementation of 'Silencing the Guns' and other flagship projects," Timothewos said in a statement delivered on his behalf.

The two-day extraordinary session of the AU Executive Council, among other things, is expected to elect and appoint one member of the AU Peace and Security Council, one member of the AU Commission on International Law, and one member of the African Space Council, it was noted. 
tazewell, va.  Coal, the fossil fuel that is still abundantly available in Southwest Virginia, has been a topic of discussion in recent days for local economic development officials.

The week began with the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority, or VCEDA for short, closing on a $1.3 million loan to a Tazewell County manufacturing firm that specializes in heavy metal fabrication for various industries, including underground mining. Then on Tuesday members of the VCEDA board met with U.S. Senator Mark Warner, D-Va., to discuss ongoing progress on the Coalfields Expressway in Southwest Virginia.

The new four-lane corridor is named after the coal industry, which years ago was the primary source of employment in the greater Southwest Virginia region. In the early stages of the Coalfields Expressway project, which also extends into neighboring West Virginia, coal synergy agreements were sought that allowed coal companies to help create the roadway bed through the extraction of coal.

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Earlier this month, President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders at the White House designed to boost coal production in the country.

Those executive orders directed the Chair of the National Energy Dominance Council to designate coal as a mineral; directed federal agencies to identify coal resources on federal lands and to lift barriers to coal mining; directed the Secretary of the Interior to end a moratorium, which paused coal leasing on federal lands; and required federal agencies to rescind any policies that seek to transition the nation away from coal production.

Any efforts to boost coal production on the national level could also help to bolster coal mining in Southwest Virginia, according to Jonathan Belcher, who serves as VCEDAs executive director and general counsel.

Coal remains among the highest-paying and most economically significant industries in Southwest Virginia, so any state and federal policies which recognize that role and help those industries to thrive and even grow will benefit Southwest Virginia economically, not only in the mining industry itself, but in the many other industries and businesses which help to support the mining industry, all the way from convenience stores to manufacturing companies like Lawrence Brothers, Belcher said in response to questions from the Daily Telegraph.

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The loan funding approved by VCEDA earlier this week for Lawrence Brothers, Inc. of Bluefield, Va., will allow for an expansion project at the manufacturing plant that will also create up to 37 new jobs. The authority previously approved two prior loans to the company that allowed for similar expansion projects in 2019 and 2021.

Belcher said the company still serves the mining industry, but also serves other industries as well, including energy and electrical, automotive, material handling, airline and the general metal industrial goods industry.

While recognizing the importance of the mining industry, which cannot be understated, it is also important for businesses and the economy of the region to continue to diversify, and again Lawrence Brothers is a great example of that with their move into additional markets that are non-coal related, Belcher said.

VCEDA itself was created by the Virginia General Assembly in 1988 to help diversify the economy of Southwest Virginia following the downturn in the coal industry that began in the late 70s and continued into the 80s.

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At the time, lawmakers identified VCEDAs goal as enhancing and diversifying the economy of Southwest Virginia to help create jobs and to market the deep south counties as an e-Region with a focus on electronic information technology, energy, education, emerging technologies and entrepreneurship.

VCEDA is unique in that it manages funds for economic development projects from a percentage of the coal and natural gas severance taxes paid by coal and natural gas companies that operate in the region. The counties served by VCEDA include Tazewell, Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott and Wise, along with the city of Norton.

Contact Charles Owens at

cowens@bdtonline.com
HONOLULU (KHON2)  The U.S. Coast Guard announced that they have suspended their search for a missing fisherman who was last seen near South Point off Hawaii Island.

According to authorities, Earl Oa Hind, 42, was last seen on his fishing boat on April 9, with the Coast Guard, DLNR and Big Island fire searching for him as of April 11.

Move over eggs: These 4 tiny toys are taking over Hawaiis Easter baskets

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As of 3:30 p.m. on April 15, the search was officially suspended.

Multi-agency search underway for missing Kona fisherman

The Coast Guard says that along with partner agencies, crews searched a total of 200,048 square nautical miles for over a combined 242 hours.

We are deeply saddened to announce that despite widespread efforts, our search for Mr. Hind is now suspended, said Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Raphael Sadowitz. We appreciate the tireless work of our partners and the local community and extend our deepest condolences to Mr. Hinds family and friends during this difficult time.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
An employee at the Cobb County Sheriffs Office has been fired and charged with child sex crimes.

Ivan Munoz, a civilian employee, was arrested early Wednesday morning and charged with two counts of aggravated child molestation.

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Marietta police conducted the investigation that led to warrants being taken out against Munoz, 45. Police told Channel 2 Cobb County Bureau Chief Michele Newell that the courageous victim told someone at their church Sunday what had happened.

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We were notified on Monday, and by Tuesday night we had this individual in custody, said Public Information Officer Chuck McPhilamy with Marietta police. This is just a tragic situation.

Munoz joined the sheriffs office in 2000 and worked as a criminal justice specialist.

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After being briefed on the investigation and pending charges, I immediately terminated this individuals employment, said Cobb County Sheriff Craig Owens. These are particularly egregious charges, and his behavior goes against everything we stand for in law enforcement. We must do everything we can to stop the victimization of innocent children.

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Plans to remove more trees on the Columns Drive median in East Cobb are on hold after more than 1,000 community members signed a petition to stop the project.

Families expressed concerns after they learned about a project to remove the trees.

It was mentioned that they were going to clear-cut all of the trees on Columns Drive. The reason they stated was that the trees were falling onto the road and they were dead and diseased, said homeowner Vickey Bollings.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

For some, Columns Drive provides a sense of peace and stability.

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I work all day, Im stressed out, I come home. As soon as I hit this road, Im calmer, said Bollings.

For runners, walkers and cyclists, the large oak and magnolia trees that line the Columns Drive median, provide several miles of shade on a sweltering hot day.

Without that protection, the overheating and all the other issues that come with it could be a problem, Bollings said.

When members of the community learned about the counties plant to remove the trees, homeowners petitioned to stop the plans.

Within 48 hours, we had over 1,000 signatures. Within a few days, they put the project on hold, and I want to stay on hold, said Bollings.

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County officials released a statement regarding the project.

Given the significant maintenance required for trees along Columns Drive, Cobb DOT consulted an arborist in 2024 to assess the health of trees within the medians. The arborist determined that many trees had reached the end of their lifespan and needed removal. Cobb DOT crews had responded at least three times to fallen trees that had blocked the road in the past month. To address this, Cobb DOT worked with the District Commissioner (Richardson) to allocate $215,000 in District Capital funds for removing and replacing trees across 11 of the 18 median sections. Recognizing community concerns about the initial scope of removals, the County is working with an arborist to refine the project. The project will focus only on trees that pose an imminent risk to public safety. These trees will be removed and replaced with species that maintain the corridors character. Were still working on the details of the revised scope of work on Columns Drive, and we will share those details when they are completed. Ross Cavitt, Cobb County Communications Director

County officials sent Channel 2 Cobb County Bureau Chief Michele Newell pictures of trees that have fallen onto Columns Drive in the past month.

None of the trees that fell onto Columns Drive were from that median, they were a part of state park property. The only thing we ever see are dead branches, which people move out of the way. What needs to happen is proper care for the trees, whatever that looks like, said Bollings.

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HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  Cody Balmer, the man accused of setting fire to Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiros Harrisburg residence, made references to Palestine in a call shortly after the fire, according to court records released Wednesday.

According to an affidavit filed by Pennsylvania State Police, Balmer allegedly called Dauphin County 911 on April 13 around 2:50 a.m., nearly an hour after the fire at the Governors Residence.

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This Week in Pennsylvania

During the 911 dispatch call, State Police say Balmer identified himself and related that Shapiro needs to know that he will not take part in his plans for whatever he wants to do to the Palestinian people.

The affidavit shows Balmer continued to say he needs to stop having friends killed and our people have been put through too much by that monster and that all he has is a banquet hall to clean up.

Suspect arsonist was prepared to attack Pennsylvania Gov. Shapiro with hammer, court docs reveal

Balmer also told officials he would confess to the arson attack on the Governors Residence and admitted to harboring hatred toward Governor Shapiro.

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Investigators seized four smartphones, a laptop, and an external hard drive as part of the investigation. A search warrant was filed for writing that contains references to Josh Shapiro, Gaza, Palestine, or the conflict in Gaza. Investigators noted a storage locker in Pennbrook Borough as part of the search warrant, but noted nothing was found.

Balmer also submitted to a DNA swab.

Cleanup begins at Governors residence after fire

Balmer is now being held without bail on charges including attempted homicide and arson.

Balmers family has said he was previously diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, however, police would not assist them with getting Balmer help. Penbrook Police confirmed Tuesday that Balmers mother had contacted them but that the situation did not meet the standards for emergency psychiatric evaluation.

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Officials say Balmer scaled a fence at the Governors Residence, smashed a window, and tossed a lit beer bottle filled with gasoline inside. He then entered through a second window and threw another Molotov Cocktail inside the dining room.

HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, UNITED STATES  APRIL 13: A view of the damage after an arsonist sets fire to the Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiros residence in a targeted attack in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States on April 13, 2025. Governor Josh Shapiro held a press conference later in the day to address the incident and reassure the public. At approximately 2:00 a.m., the Harrisburg Fire Department responded to a fire at the Governors Residence, located on North Front Street in Harrisburg City, Dauphin County. Crews quickly contained and extinguished the fire, which damaged a portion of the historic residence. (Photo by Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images) HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, UNITED STATES  APRIL 13: A view of the damage after an arsonist sets fire to the Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiros residence in a targeted attack in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States on April 13, 2025. Governor Josh Shapiro held a press conference later in the day to address the incident and reassure the public. At approximately 2:00 a.m., the Harrisburg Fire Department responded to a fire at the Governors Residence, located on North Front Street in Harrisburg City, Dauphin County. Crews quickly contained and extinguished the fire, which damaged a portion of the historic residence. (Photo by Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images) HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, UNITED STATES  APRIL 13: A view of the damage after an arsonist sets fire to the Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiros residence in a targeted attack in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States on April 13, 2025. Governor Josh Shapiro held a press conference later in the day to address the incident and reassure the public. At approximately 2:00 a.m., the Harrisburg Fire Department responded to a fire at the Governors Residence, located on North Front Street in Harrisburg City, Dauphin County. Crews quickly contained and extinguished the fire, which damaged a portion of the historic residence. (Photo by Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images) A charred piano, left, is visible inside the Pennsylvania governors official residence after a man was arrested in the alleged arson that forced Gov. Shapiro, his family and guests to flee in the middle of the night on the Jewish holiday of Passover, Sunday, Apr. 13, 2025, in Harrisburg, Pa. (AP Photo/Marc Levy) Charred tables and dishes are visible inside the Pennsylvania governors official residence after a man was arrested in an alleged arson that forced Gov. Shapiro, his family and guests to flee in the middle of the night on the Jewish holiday of Passover, Sunday, Apr. 13, 2025, in Harrisburg, Pa. (AP Photo/Marc Levy) The aftermath of a fire can be seen at Pennsylvania governors official residence in Harrisburg, Pa., Monday, April 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Governor Josh Shapiro and the Pennsylvania State Police provide an update on the act of arson that took place at the Governors Residence. Governor Josh Shapiro and the Pennsylvania State Police provide an update on the act of arson that took place at the Governors Residence. Governor Josh Shapiro and the Pennsylvania State Police provide an update on the act of arson that took place at the Governors Residence. Governor Josh Shapiro and the Pennsylvania State Police provide an update on the act of arson that took place at the Governors Residence. Governor Josh Shapiro and the Pennsylvania State Police provide an update on the act of arson that took place at the Governors Residence.

Shapiros family celebrated the first night of the Jewish holiday Passover hours before the fire in the dining room.

Shapiro was sleeping inside the residence at the time and was awoken by State Police and firefighters around 2 a.m. Everyone inside the home evacuated safely.

Clean up at the residence is underway with Harriburg Fire Chief Brian Enterline estimating the damage to be in the millions of dollars. A state museum official told abc27 that some artifacts inside the home would be removed after sustaining heat and smoke damage.

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This is a developing story. Stay with abc27 News as more information becomes available

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
DENVER (KDVR)  A bill at the state capitol looks to move $4 million to the Governors Office to fight some actions from the Trump administration. Some are not happy with lawmakers looking to send Polis office those kind of dollars.

In the face of budget crunch and targeting over federal aid, Colorado lawmakers think they have found a solution to make up for some of the federal cuts. Not everyone is on board with it.

Attorney general defends filing dozens of cases against Trump administration

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The governor is the chief executive of our state. We expect that the governor will be leading any response that this state has to federal overreach and arbitrary decisions to withhold Colorados taxpayer dollars coming back to Colorado, said Rep. Shannon Bird.

State lawmakers want to give the Governors Office $4 million to fight action taken at the federal level.

Through the budgeting process, we allocated $4 million of general fund, which the General Assembly has appropriating authority over for whatever purpose that we deem appropriate here on the floor and in our budget. So this money is legally available to be used to defend the people of Colorado, Bird said. As we are balancing our budget, this is for accounting purposes, where the money was appropriated. Through our bill today, those funds were appropriated to the Governors Office.

The $4 million of state money was set aside in a cash fund to match federal dollars from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The money would be used to cover the costs for actions related to the federal government for things like litigating lawsuits over federal cuts to jobs and grant funding. Republicans have questions about why the state is taking this route.

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They want to take $4 million to fight the federal government over potential cuts that might come to the state without taking responsibility for the bills that we have passed in this building that are adverse to the federal government. And I understand protecting state sovereignty, but this fund has never been established before, said House Minority Leader Rose Pugliese.

On top of questions about the funding, Republicans also wanted to know why the money is going to the governors office rather than the Attorney General.

Weld County Sheriffs Office says it will carry out new gun law duties while opposing law

We had a lot of conversation about the General Fund, which is where money for the Governors Office generally comes out of, why that money could not go straight from the General Fund to the Governors Office if its to fund the Governors Office. So, I think there were a lot of unanswered questions today. It does seem very much like a shell game, Pugliese said.

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Governor Polis office said in a statement:

Coloradans pay more in federal taxes than our state receives in return- about only 90 cents comes back for every dollar coloradans pay into the federal government. We believe that to properly defend the free state of Colorado from unlawful and adverse federal actions, protect coloradans and state employees, and generally prepare for the uncertain federal environment ahead, its critical to ensure we have adequate resources to meet the moment. Spokesperson for the Governors Office

The bill needs one final vote to clear the House. If it passes, it will repeat the process in the Senate where opponents hope changes can be made.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
DENVER (KDVR)  Colorado House Republicans are asking the United States Attorney Generals Office to review the new state law on the purchase of semiautomatic firearms.

On Thursday, Gov. Jared Polis signed Senate Bill 25-003, Semiautomatic Firearms & Rapid-Fire Devices, into law. It will soon require citizens to have a permit and safety training to purchase semiautomatic firearms that have detachable magazines.

This bill was signed to help prevent mass shootings and promote safety across the state. However, that law has been met with pushback from Republicans.

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On Wednesday, Colorado House Republicans wrote a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, asking her to review the constitutionality of the new law, arguing that it is infringing on the Second Amendment.

Gun control bill met with opposition on front steps of Colorado Capitol

The letter stated that this is an emergency, as this is one of the most extreme legislation in the country banning certain firearms in the state, and it asks for federal intervention as it said the law causes a safety issue in the state.

The right to keep and bear arms is not a privilege  it is a fundamental American right, wrote the Colorado House Republicans in a letter.

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House sponsors of the bill also weighed in on the letter to Bondi.

Federal courts have consistently upheld outright prohibitions on the acquisition of military style firearms. Moreover, many states have permit to purchase systems requiring thorough background checks and training for individuals to purchase all guns. There is no reason to believe this bill would not withstand constitutional scrutiny. SB25-003, which was signed into law by Gov. Polis last week, ensures that when it comes to the most deadly weapon on the market, firearm purchasers have the proper safety training and hold a permit. Colorado Democrats remain committed to making Colorado a safe place for all, which is why weve passed this gun violence prevention law to save innocent Colorado lives and prevent future mass tragedies. Speaker Pro Tempore Andy Boesenecker and Representative Meg Froelich

The entire Republican Caucus, made up of 22 representatives, signed the letter.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
A colossal squid has been caught on camera for the first time in the deep sea by an international team of researchers steering a remotely operated submersible.

The sighting was announced Tuesday by the Schmidt Ocean Institute.

The squid filmed was a juvenile about 1 foot (30 centimeters) in length at a depth of 1,968 feet (600 meters) in the South Atlantic Ocean. Full-grown adult colossal squids, which scientists have uncovered from the bellies of whales and seabirds, can reach lengths up to 23 feet (7 meters)  almost the size of a small fire truck.

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The squid was spied last month near the South Sandwich Islands during an expedition to search for new sea life. Researchers waited to verify the species identification with other independent scientists before releasing the footage.

I really love that we have seen a young colossal squid first. This animal is so beautiful, said Kat Bolstad, a squid researcher at the Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand, who helped confirm it.

Researchers are testing different cameras in hopes of catching an adult colossal squid, Bolstad said.

The young squid is almost entirely transparent, with thin arms. As adults, the squids lose this glassy appearance and become an opaque dark red or purple. When full grown, they are considered to be the world's largest known invertebrates.

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AP video journalist Mustakim Hasnath contributed to this report.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
In the darkness of the South Atlantic Ocean, researchers captured for the first time footage of a live colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni). And while the elusive creature is known for its sizereaching lengths of 23 feetthis one is a baby and only one foot long.

In 1925, fisherman first found the remains of a colossal squid inside a sperm whale. Over the next century, only eight adult colossal squids have been found, all postmortem.

Its exciting to see the first in situ footage of a juvenile colossal and humbling to think that they have no idea that humans exist, Dr. Kat Bolstad of the Auckland University of Technology, an independent scientific expert who was consulted to verify the footage, said in a statement. For 100 years, we have mainly encountered them as prey remains in whale and seabird stomachs and as predators of harvested toothfish.

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A team of scientists captured the groundbreaking footage using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) on March 9 while onboard the Schmidt Ocean Institutes research vessel Falkor (too). The 35-day expedition was part of an Ocean Census expedition searching for new marine life, and a collaboration between Schmidt Ocean Institute, the Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census, and GoSouth, a joint project between the University of Plymouth (UK), GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research (Germany), and the British Antarctic Survey.

The juvenile squid appears translucent as it slices through the water, but when it ages, it will become less see-through as its muscles thicken. Its large eyesthe largest of any known creaturecan also be seen in the footage. Bolstad explains that the reason the squids have been so hard to find with cameras could be because of the sensitivity of their enormous eyes. Most of our deep-sea exploration equipment is large, noisy and uses bright lights if we are trying to film animals, Bolsted writes on The Conversation.

Dr. Jyotika Virmani, Schmidt Ocean Institutes executive director, summed up the breakthrough: These unforgettable moments continue to remind us that the Ocean is brimming with mysteries yet to be solved,
China and Cambodia are ironclad friends who always support each other and stand together through thick and thin. Under the care of the leaders of both nations, the tree of China-Cambodia friendship has flourished, yielding a bountiful harvest of cooperation and mutual trust.
Ivy League schools like Columbia and Harvard University are under pressure from the Trump White House to crack down on antisemitism and diversity, equity and inclusion practices, with hundreds of millions of dollars in research funds from the federal government on the line.

Leaders of these universities are in good faith discussions with the Trump administration but havent reached an agreement, wrote Claire Shipman, the president of Columbia University, in a letter to students and alumni on Monday evening.

Some of the administrations ideas were welcomed and agreed to. One of those demands was that the previous president of Columbia, Katrina Armstrong, resign, which she did.

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But Other ideas, including overly prescriptive requests about our governance, how we conduct our presidential search process, and how specifically to address viewpoint diversity issues are not subject to negotiation, Shipman wrote.

She promised the school will reject heavy-handed asks that undermine the institutions independence or damage its reputation.

The Trump White House continues to hold back $400 million in funding as leverage over Columbia University in exchange for a series of demands. Many of them have to do with buffing up security against antisemitic protests that took over U.S. college campuses nationwide after the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023.

The White House is also telling universities to get rid of diversity, equity and inclusion practices and are deporting or canceling the visas of students involved in pro-Palestinian protests.

Harvard refuses to accept Trump White House demands

Ivy League leaders like Shipman have defended what they say are the vital contributions their institutions make to the country as they reject government overreach on academic freedom.

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According to The New York Times, seven universities face funding cut threats, including Harvard.

Ahead of Shipmans update, Harvard President Alan M. Garber penned his own, strongly worded reaction to the ongoing negotiations Monday.

The University will not surrender its independence or its constitutional rights, Garber wrote.

Late Friday night, the administration issued an updated and expanded list of demands, warning that Harvard must comply, the letter said.

Although some of the demands outlined by the government are aimed at combating antisemitism, the majority represent direct governmental regulation of the intellectual conditions at Harvard.

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Garber argued that the Trump White Houses prescriptions violated the schools First Amendment rights.

He also said that although Harvard has been addressing antisemitism on our campus, These ends will not be achieved by assertions of power, unmoored from the law, to control teaching and learning at Harvard and to dictate how we operate.

Trump reacts to Harvard presidents letter

Trump didnt take kindly to Harvards pushback and made bolder threats.

Perhaps Harvard should lose its Tax Exempt Status and be Taxed as a Political Entity if it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting Sickness? he wrote on Truth Social Tuesday morning.

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Remember, Tax Exempt Status is totally contingent on acting in the PUBLIC INTEREST!

The Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism under the Health and Human Services Department also issued a statement, saying Harvards stance reinforces the troubling entitlement mindset ... that federal investment does not come with the responsibility to uphold civil rights laws.

The task force announced it is freezing $2.2 billion in multiyear grants and $60 million in multiyear contract value to Harvard University.

The universitys faculty is filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration for demanding policy changes while evaluating its nearly $9 billion in federal funding. The federal government is also reviewing more than $255 million worth of contracts with Harvard.

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Executive branch officials cannot coerce a private university into suppressing academic freedom and free speech, the lawsuit states, as per CNN, by leveraging the vast financial power of the federal government to effectively put a gun to the head of a private university.

Harvards endowment is valued at more than $53 billion as of last year.

Aside from funding issues, these higher ed institutions face tumbling public confidence, as seen in a Gallup poll from last summer. This is partly driven by the idea that the schools have their own political agendas.
Republican lawmakers received backlash from their constituents at town halls across the U.S. over the Trump administration's policies. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Senior Political Reporter Greg Bluestein and Former Chief Strategist for the Romney 2012 Campaign Stuart Stevens join Chris Jansing to react.
BEIRUT, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese President Joseph Aoun held a phone call with Jordanian King Abdullah II on Wednesday to learn about the results of investigations into the recently uncovered missile manufacturing cell in Jordan, pledging Lebanon's readiness to cooperate on the matter.

According to a statement from the Lebanese Presidency, Aoun instructed Justice Minister Adel Nassar to coordinate with his Jordanian counterpart to facilitate information exchange and support the ongoing investigation, in collaboration with both countries' security and judicial agencies.

The call came a day after Jordan's General Intelligence Directorate announced that 16 individuals had been arrested for involvement in plots "aimed at undermining national security and inciting chaos and material sabotage within the Kingdom."

The suspects were allegedly involved in efforts to manufacture rockets and drones for illicit purposes. Jordan Television reported that some cell members had traveled to Lebanon to establish contact with the organization's lead figure there, with the aim of planning and receiving training for their operation.

In a phone call on Tuesday, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam told his Jordanian counterpart that "Lebanon rejects being a base or launchpad for any activity that could threaten the security of any brotherly or friendly nation." 
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY)  Amid concerns surrounding the potential closure of some programs at the Monongalia County Technical Education Center (MTEC), the Monongalia County Board of Education (BOE) held a meeting Tuesday evening, which included Reduction in Force hearings for some positions and programs.

Concerned parents and representatives from MTECs Emergency Medical Services (EMS) program addressed the board, reading letters and advocating for the continuation of the current MTEC programs. If cut by the BOE, the EMS program would leave students stranded mid-certification.

Because were losing over $4 million in revenue compared to what our budget was last year, it required us to drop 9.75 professional positions, Superintendent Dr. Eddie Campbell said. Over, over the last several years, weve seen a decline in the number of students who have been enrolled in those programs. And so, really thats the basis behind the decisions that were made in relation to all of the programs. We have five hearings tonight. We basically cut 15 positions across the county.

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During the meeting, it was noted that the program already has a demand and a full list of students enrolled for the upcoming school year. Also, discussed was the critical statewide and national demand for EMS professionals.

Now, as far as funding, if you look at the state budget, House Bill 2026, theres $1.6 million allocated to EMS education, and that funding, I would be interested to know if we were eligible for, for this program, Emergency Medical Services Specialist Instructor Chelsea Hayes said. Having a high school EMT program is essential to helping grow our workforce. We are in a crisis of shortages across the country, the state, and locally. We have a lot of people in the community that feel very strongly about that.

As of this publication, 12 News has received 19 letters in total from concerned individuals advocating for the programs continued existence. You can watch Hayes full speech to the Monongalia County BOE below.

Morrisey signs bill allowing teachers to remove students from class

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The EMS program has also demonstrated consistent excellence, with students earning a gold medal in First Aid and CPR at the recent SkillsUSA competition and also securing a gold medal in the EMT category for the third consecutive year.

The MTEC program offers you an early start in life and gives you opportunities to explore the EMS as a whole. We got to go out in clinicals and both of us were offered jobs. So, it really just gives youwithout this program, we would have to go out of high school and go into another class and basically start all over. With this program, you can do it while you are still in high school, then get out and immediately go into a job, MTEC EMS Program Student from Morgantown High School, Cheyenne King, said.

This summer, EMS students will represent both the program and the state at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.

Some of the hearings included during Tuesday nights meeting were for the Health Occupation Program Coordinator at MTEC as well as the Surgical Tech Program as a whole.

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WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN)  In the past few weeks, there have been several reported instances of attempted abductions in several cities in Williamson County.

On April 2, there was an attempted kidnapping that occurred in Leander. On April 11, the Round Rock Police Department announced they were searching for two people after an attempted child abduction. Also on April 11, Hutto Police announced they were investigating a report of another attempted child abduction.

SIMILAR COVERAGE: Leander police say report of attempted abduction unfounded

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I think the word I would use is concerned and aware, said Joseph Branson, the commander at the Taylor Police Department.

The Taylor Police Department also posted information regarding the attempted abductions in their neighboring cities. There have been no reported instances that have happened in Taylor recently.

That doesnt mean it cant happen here, Branson said. Were not trying to scare people, but we are trying to raise awareness of whats happening.

Mike Mohler, lieutenant of the Leander Police Department, investigated the attempted kidnapping that happened in Leander. Mohler said that the incident is isolated and has no connection to the other incidents.

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Every case, although it may seem similar, once you start examining the facts, [they] quickly become different from all the others, Mohler said.

Mohler and Branson both emphasize how communication is important between neighboring police departments.

Communication between law enforcement partners is very helpful in that aspect, Mohler said. Suspects or people from other areas dont stay in that area-they do travel.

We meet regularly with other departments, the sheriffs department, other municipalities, police departments, Branson said. We let them know whats going on in Taylor, and they let us know whats going on in their cities.

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According to a data sample collected by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), between 2016 to 2020, 65% of children knew their abductor in some capacity. Brianna Proulx analyzes and collects data for NCMEC, and she says a majority of children who are targeted are often between the ages of 10 to 14.

We also see that a lot of children, or a higher percentage of children, are targeted when theyre going to or from school or school-related activity in that two to seven PM time frame, Proulx said.

Proulx emphasizes that teaching children what to do in such scenarios is essential for them to avoid being abducted.

50% of the children in our incidents just walked or ran away from the suspect and were able to get away safely, Proulx said. About 28% who just have some type of reaction. They yell, they kick, they scream, they pull away, they just attract attention to themselves.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  The City of Topeka is citing a local apartment complex for multiple violations this week.

Dan Garrett with the City of Topeka told 27 News the citys Property Maintenance Unit confirmed Timberlee Apartments is not removing trash from its dumpsters. The east Topeka apartments are being fined daily for multiple violations such as abandoned and unlicensed vehicles along with trash.

27 News sent a reporter to the apartments, located at 341 Southeast Lawrence Street, on Tuesday, April 15. However, the dumpsters at the complex appeared empty.

City leaders approve extra $168,000 for Hotel Topeka

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The Timberlee Apartments have been facing problems for months. The City of Topeka condemned the complex in 2024 for its unsafe living conditions such as a carbon monoxide leak and raw sewage, forcing residents to look for other places to call home.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) sent letters to the residents of Timberlee late last year, informing them that it will stop the Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments Contract on March 1, 2025. The letter stemmed from the multiple health and safety threats present at the complex identified by a HUD inspection.

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

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WASHINGTON  Congressional Republicans are opening an investigation into 23andMe after the genetic testing company filed bankruptcy earlier this year, raising questions about what would happen to millions of Americans DNA information uploaded to its database.

The House Oversight Committee announced an investigation on Tuesday citing concerns that the shuttering of the company could leave data vulnerable to malign foreign actors such as the Chinese Communist Party. In response, committee chairman James Comer, R-Ky., is requesting documents and other materials related to the bankruptcy filing for further review.

The bankruptcy filing of 23andMe, Inc.  a direct-to-consumer genetic testing company in possession of personal genetic data of millions of Americans  raises significant concerns regarding potential transfers of customers and family members sensitive personal data to various interested entities, including the Chinese Communist Party, Comer wrote in a letter to 23andMe board member and former CEO Anne Wojcicki.

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In response, Comer is pressing Wojcicki to testify before the committee about the companys bankruptcy and potential sale.

Comer pointed to the companys practice of asking customers to provide a saliva sample that is then analyzed to uncover details about ancestry, family traits, and more. However, because of investments in recent years from foreign countries, there have been concerns about China and other countries attempting to acquire this data, the chairman said.

In his letter, Comer cited reporting that shows foreign countries trying to dominate these technologies as well as its track record of misusing genetic data. For example, China has previously used genetic tests to track members of the Uyghur minority group, according to a 2019 report by the New York Times.

But concerns of data exploitation dont only apply to foreign actors, Comer said. The Kentucky Republican also warned of widespread exploitation by private entities to use the private data to enforce higher insurance premiums, deny health credits, or implement targeted advertising based on customers genetic testing.

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As a result, Comer is pressing Wojcicki to provide company information to ensure Americans genetic data is safeguarded from malign foreign actors.

The committee is requesting access to all documents and communications in Wojcickis personal possession related to 23andMes bankruptcy filing as well as any related materials detailing the companys potential sale or transfer of user data and information.

Additionally, Comer is calling on Wojcicki to testify before the committee on May 6.

The investigation comes after 23andMe announced in March that company leaders had initiated Chapter 11 bankruptcy and planned on selling the company.

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The company maintains it will continue to safeguard customer data and be transparent about the management of user data going forward, but attorneys general across the country, including Utah Attorney General Derek Brown, released alerts urging 23andMe patrons to delete their data.

Shortly after the bankruptcy announcement, Wojcicki resigned from her position as co-founder and CEO.
WHATELY, Mass. (WWLP)  President Donald Trumps administration is freezing over $2 billion in grants to Harvard University along with a $60 million contract after its refusal to comply with government demands.

Harvard University became one of the first universities to reject the Trump administrations demands. Harvard was instructed by the Trump administration to make changes to hiring, admissions, and teaching practices to crack down on antisemitism.

Healey administration launches new recycling grant program

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The Trump administration claims this is necessary after last years Israel-Gaza protests rattled many campuses. But the university maintains that it has taken appropriate measures to address antisemitism. Massachusetts Congressman Jim McGovern voiced his support for Harvard Universitys decision to reject the governments demands.

Here is the dangerous thing, McGovern said. When he cuts research programs in science and in medical research, what hes doing is hes forcing some of the best and brightest minds in the science and medicine field to look to other countries to do their research.

Almost half of the schools budget comes from federal funding for direct research costs and federal reimbursement facilities. In a social media post, the president also threatened to go beyond withholding funds and target Harvards tax-exempt status.

The loss of this exemption could cost Harvard millions of dollars each year. Harvard University is one of dozens of schools the Trump administration has targeted in recent weeks. Last month, 60 schools got letters from the Department of Education.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
A survivor representative non-profit has released a statement purportedly from a Connecticut man who police say was held captive for 20 years by his stepmother.

In February, a then-31-year-old man set fire to a Waterbury home in an attempt to escape from the control of 56-year-old Kimberly Sullivan, who police arrested on kidnapping-related charges March, Waterbury police said previously.

Sullivan is facing charges of assault in the first degree, kidnapping in the second degree, unlawful restraint in the first degree, cruelty to persons and reckless endangerment in the first degree, police said. A judge ordered Sullivan held on $300,000 bond at her arraignment, but she has since been released.

Statement from S

Authorities have not publicly identified the man, but he is identified in his statement through Survivors Say by a single initial  S. This initial does not refer to the mans birth name, according to the statement.

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I am choosing a new name for myself, and I will use that name as I reclaim control over my life and my future, the statement reads. My name is my choice, and it is the first of many choices I will make for myself now that I am free.

S describes himself in the statement as a survivor of more than 20 years of domestic abuse and captivity.

I was held prisoner in my home from the time I was taken out of the fourth grade at age 11 until two months ago at age 31 when I purposely set the fire that helped set me free, the statement reads. I am speaking out today to begin the process of reclaiming my life and to have my say in how my story is told.

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S said he is much stronger and doing better than he was when he first escaped captivity back in February. He thanked all the health care professionals and first responders who have helped him over the last two months.

In addition to all of your care, I appreciated the chance to have my first ever birthday party to celebrate turning 32, the statement reads.

How S escaped captivity

On Feb. 17, firefighters put out a fire at a home at 2 Blake St. in Waterbury shortly before 8:45 p.m., the Waterbury Fire Department said previously. Sullivan  the owner of the house  and her stepson were in the home at the time.

Sullivan safely left the home, but her stepson stayed inside, the department said. Waterbury firefighters later helped him out of the home, and while he was being treated for smoke inhalation, he told first responders that hed purposely started the fire in his upstairs room.

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I wanted my freedom, he told first responders.

Authorities discovered that the man had endured prolonged abuse, starvation, severe neglect, and inhumane treatment during his more than 20 years in captivity, the department said. While held captive, he was denied medical and dental care and only given small amounts of food and water.

During a press conference, Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo said the man was 5-foot-9 but only weighed 68 pounds, according to Boston 25 News. He was also confined to a small room secured by many locks on the outside of the door and was forced to urinate in a bottle, Spagnolo said.

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A GoFundMe campaign raising money to help the man pay for medical, dental and mental health care  as well as his living expenses and legal fees  had raised nearly $275,000 as of Tuesday evening.

More local crime stories
CONNEAUT  City council approved an ordinance for city administration to advertise for bids for road work at a Monday meeting.

Conneaut City Manager Nick Sanford said the lions share of the road bid is for chip seal work of South Ridge Road West.

We are preparing South Ridge Road West for adequate drainage in advance of the chip seal, he said.

Sanford said the road is a key priority.

The city waiting on the results of a damage claim to the Ohio Emergency Management Agency for South Ridge East, he said.

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The road was heavily damaged by the Thanksgiving weekend snowstorm.

Two new Verizon towers are set to be installed in the city by the end of the summer, Sanford said.

The west end [of the city] will have enhanced Verizon coverage, as well as the lakefront, finally, he said.

Sanford said one tower will be at the north end of Harbor Street, on Conneaut Port Authority property, and the other will be on North Amboy Road.

Telecommunications is recognizing the opportunities or limitations therein at the lakefront, he said.

Council passed a resolution in support of the public library funding and the Conneaut Public Library.

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Councilperson-at-large and Kingsville Public Library Director Mariana Branch said county libraries have been worried the state budget will negatively impact them.

Its great that we can stand strong with out local public libraries as I hope we will also do with our school districts as well, she said.

The Conneaut Police Department has been receiving more calls for unruly juveniles at local businesses and in public areas, Sanford said.

Were paying diligent attention to what were seeing, and what were hearing, and weve seen an increased call volume as well, he said.

Conneaut Law Director John Lewis said there are provisions that allow parents or guardians to be held responsible for their childrens behavior.

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Thats something that well consider, he said.

The CPD and Conneaut Fire Department are involved in looking to see where a new MARCS tower could be located in the city.

This will be a great value-add to the city, certainly to emergency forces throughout the region, not just the city of Conneaut, Sanford said. This is a tremendous benefit.

The CPD is partnering with Blue Line Solutions to analyze speeding and traffic in city school zones.

I want to emphasize this is a test period, just to identify where our risks are from a safety perspective, Sanford said.

The CPD and Blue Line are also looking at the State Route 7 corridor at the Interstate 90 interchange, he said.

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Council appointed Dr. Samantha Kiefer to the Conneaut Board of Health. Kiefers term begins April 11 and ends April 10, 2030.

The city entered into two union contracts, which both last from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2027.

One is with the Fraternal Order of Police for the citys dispatchers. The other is with Local 651 of the International Association of Firefighters.
CONNECTICUT (WTNH)  In a letter sent to the U.S. Department of Education, the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) declined to sign the Trump administrations DEI compliance request, citing that the state already does and will continue to comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Gov. Ned Lamont (D-Conn.) and Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker made the announcement Wednesday.

The letter to the United States Department of Education (USDOE) reads in part, Connecticut remains committed to safeguarding Connecticut students against the insidious effects of discrimination and continues to align its principles and programs with the requirements and purpose of Title VI, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin.

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CSDE regularly reaffirms its compliance with all federal program assurances, through which USDOE continues to provide federal funding, the letter read.

Read the full letter below.

CT-Department-of-Education-letterDownload

In Connecticut, were proud to support the incredible diversity of our schools and work tirelessly to ensure that every child, regardless of background, has access to a quality education and the best opportunity at the starting line in life, Lamont said in a written statement. From our educators, who are mentoring and inspiring the next generation of young people, to our curriculum, our commitment to education is what has made our schools nationally recognized, and we plan to continue doing what makes our students, teachers, and schools successful.

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The Connecticut GOP released a statement saying this, in part:

At its core, DEI divides us by race or other aspects of our identity, and then prioritizes that identity over merit, Ben Proto, chairman for the Connecticut Republican Party, said. So-called diversity, equity, and inclusion programs have no place in our country, let alone in our classrooms. By continuing these practices, the State of Connecticut remains out of compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, in addition to the precedent set by the Supreme Court in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard.

The statement continued by saying that Connecticut Democrats are hellbent on continuing to divide citizens and to put certain special groups over others.

The Federal Department of Education gives Connecticut $320 million for education. Now, will the federal government withhold that money?

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Well its actually illegal, I think the primary thing to understand is that the federal government doesnt have the right to link that money to any policy directive, Katie Dias, president of the Connecticut Education Association, said. That money is to meet the needs of individual students.

Attorney General Pam Bondi is already suing the state of Maine for not complying with Trumps transgender athlete mandate.

Every cent that the taxpayers in the state of Connecticut have given to the federal government, we need that money back to be able to take care of education, if they do not give us the money, they are stealing our money and if they steal our money, there are consequences, Sen. Saud Anwar (D) South Windsor said.

Our scores for our kids have been down way before COVID, and then COVID pulled all the kids out of school, Rep. Lezlye Zupkus (R) Bethany said. It did a huge disservice to them, so with or without the federal funding, we have to get these kids and their scores up. And ready. We have kids graduating from high school that cannot read.

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Dias said there is a lack of understanding about what DEI means in public schools.

For us, its about inclusion and opportunity and welcoming people from all types of backgrounds, so it really spoke to a lack of understanding and the clear message that our current administration has not spend a lot of time in public schools, Dias said.

Watch the full video in the player above.

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Conor McGregor said he spoke from the heart while being interviewed by Tucker Carlson in his Dublin pub after the pair embarked on a tour of the Irish capital.

McGregor, 36, and the former Fox News host sat down in The Black Forge Inn in Crumlin on Tuesday evening for a two-hour chat to discuss the embattled former UFC champions political views.

It came just weeks after McGregor, who has become increasingly vocal in his right-wing populist and anti-immigration stance, announced that he will run for the Irish presidency in elections later this year after meeting U.S. President Donald Trump in the White House on St. Patricks Day last month.

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We had a great chat with Tucker Carlson highlighting the issues Ireland is facing, Irelands plight, Irelands fight and also Irelands delight, McGregor said inside the pub Tuesday, according to The Irish Times.

Its not all doom and gloom, and we want to keep a positive outlook and move incrementally, step by step, to a better Ireland.

Conor McGregor, pictured in the White House last month, says he sat down with ex-Fox News host Tucker Carlson on Tuesday (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

I spoke from my heart and well see how it goes, he added, and said he was looking forward to the conversation being absorbed by the Irish public.

McGregor said that Carlson, the right-wing media pundit who has since interviewed the likes of Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on his network since being fired by Fox News in 2023, had a great listening ear.

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The interview, which had not been released at the time of writing, is expected to be broadcast on Carlsons channels.

The MMA artist issued a public invitation to X on Monday and promised a celebratory atmosphere. " He then stated that he was put on this earth to serve and protect his home nation.

Tucker Carlson and South Dublin County Councillor Glen Moore inside McGregors The Black Forge pub on Tuesday (X/@MooreEireannach)

Dublin City Councilor Malachy Steenson, known for his anti-immigration views, and former Teachta Dala for Fianna Fail, a center-right party in the Republic of Ireland, Conor Lenihan, were among the guests, along with two attendees sporting MAGA caps.

President McGregor, shouted a man posing for photos standing beside an open bar.

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Carlson and McGregor were both photographed inside The Black Forge beside South Dublin County Councillor Glen Moore.

McGregor spoke briefly to the media in the White House Press Briefing Room on March 17 (EPA)

The Road House star used his visit to the White House on March 17 to make a plea to the U.S. government about the illegal immigration racket is running ravage on the country.

Our government is the government of zero action with zero accountability, he told reporters beside White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. Our money is being spent on overseas issues that is nothing to do with the Irish people.

McGregor is estimated to have little chance of gaining the necessary support to run for the Irish presidency from 20 members of the OireachtasIrish parliamentor the endorsement of at least four local authorities.

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His political ambitions were announced as he appeals a High Court civil jurys finding that he raped a woman in a Dublin hotel.

Last November, Nikita Hand, 35, also known as Nikita Ni Laimhin, won her claim against McGregor after accusing the professional fighter of committing the assault in December 2018.

McGregor, who denies the allegations, has said he had consensual sex with the woman and is appealing against the verdict. Last month, the Court of Appeal in Dublin heard that a motion will be brought to adduce alleged new evidence in early May.
President Trump is once again facing legal pushback over his hardline immigration policies.

On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg found there was probable cause to hold the Trump administration in criminal contempt for allegedly defying a court order to halt the deportation of migrants to El Salvador.

The confrontation dates back to March 15, when Trump invoked the centuries-old Alien Enemies Act to deport more than 130 Venezuelan nationals  many of them without due process  to a Salvadoran mega-prison. The move came just hours after Boasberg had ordered the administration to stand down, explicitly instructing officials to ground any deportation flights, or reroute those already in the air back to the United States.

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But instead of compliance, Boasberg noted, top officials exhibited a willful disregard for the courts order. In his ruling, the judge pointed to celebratory social media posts from administration figures, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who cheered the fact that deportation flights were still en route.

We will continue to cancel the visas of those whose presence or activities have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for our country



And we will continue to use every legal means available to remove alien enemies  Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) March 22, 2025

The Constitution does not tolerate willful disobedience of judicial orders  especially by officials of a coordinate branch who have sworn an oath to uphold it, Boasberg wrote in a 46-page opinion.

And the legal fallout may be just beginning: At least seven lawsuits have now been filed in federal courts across New York, Texas, Colorado, California, and Nevada by migrants facing imminent deportation under the Alien Enemies Act  setting up a broad and fast-unfolding legal test of the administrations authority.

What did Judge James Boasberg say in his order?

Boasberg is giving the Trump administration one final chance to comply with his earlier directive: Advise him that they intend to take steps to purge their contempt, or identify the specific individuals who decided to continue the deportation flights despite his orders. If they dont, the judge says hes prepared to identify the officials responsible for defying his March 15 order and refer them for prosecution.

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The Court does not reach such conclusion lightly or hastily, Boasberg wrote. Indeed, it has given Defendants ample opportunity to rectify or explain their actions. None of their responses has been satisfactory.

Boasberg didnt just focus on the deportations themselves  he also took aim at how the administration responded in the lead-up to his ruling. He faulted officials for repeatedly dodging basic questions about the flights, a pattern that escalated into a dramatic turn: The Trump administration invoked the state secrets privilege, claiming it couldnt reveal when the planes took off or landed, due to national security concerns.

The judge also criticized what he called several hyper-technical legal arguments aimed at justifying their actions  including the claim that they only had to follow his written order, not the oral one delivered from the bench. Such arguments were unconvincing then and remain so now, Boasberg wrote.

The order has drawn attention from legal experts, including Paul Schiff Berman, a law professor at George Washington University. Judge Boasberg is not a radical by any means, Berman says. Hes served on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, where he regularly handled classified information. As he noted in his ruling, he doesnt take this matter lightly, but its essential that the government comply with court orders. Therefore, he must investigate whether members of the administration intentionally defied his previous directive.

What does Boasbergs order mean, and how has Trump responded?

The order is a serious escalation in a high-stakes standoff between the judiciary and the executive branch. Though the Supreme Court has since lifted Boasbergs pause on deportations, the judge is focused on the administrations conduct while the order was still in effect  and whether officials knowingly violated it.

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For the Trump administration, which has doubled down on its claim that it has no legal obligation to bring back any of the swiftly deported men, the ruling is a legal and political blow. Officials say that because the migrants are now in Salvadoran custody, the U.S. has no power to retrieve them, even though the administration paid El Salvador $6 million to detain them for the next year.

The White House responded in seeming defiance, signaling that this legal showdown is far from over: We plan to seek immediate appellate relief, said spokesperson Steven Cheung on X. The President is 100% committed to ensuring that terrorists and criminal illegal migrants are no longer a threat to Americans and their communities.

What does criminal contempt mean, and could Trump face jail time?

Probably not. Legal experts widely agree that Trump is unlikely to face imprisonment over the contempt proceedings. While criminal contempt  any offense in which someone is accused of disobeying a court order or disrupting proceedings  can carry fines or jail time, the Supreme Courts 2024 ruling on presidential immunity casts a long shadow over any effort to prosecute a sitting or former president for actions tied to official duties.

The president cant be prosecuted for any criminal infringement related to his official presidential acts, says Berman. So assuming this qualifies as such, it would likely shield him from being held in criminal contempt.

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Legal experts suggest that lower-ranking officials may still face legal repercussions. And if contempt charges are brought against lower-ranking officials, Trump could simply pardon them.

This is part of a broader showdown between the Trump administration and the judiciary, Berman said. The judge wants to get to the bottom of who was responsible  and hold them accountable.

The post Contempt of Court? Trump Administration Faces Legal Reckoning Over Deportation Flights appeared first on Katie Couric Media.
BEIJING, April 16 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese military spokesperson on Wednesday condemned a recent U.S. assessment report for its irresponsible remarks on China, saying that smearing China cannot help remove the U.S. label as the empire of hacking.

Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks while responding to a media query concerning the 2025 Annual Threat Assessment released by the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

The United States often accuses others of actions it itself has taken or is currently engaged in, Zhang said, adding that it is not only the main source of cyberattacks against China but also a well-known global cyber threat.

He said the United States has a poor record on cyber issues, citing WikiLeaks, Snowden, Stellar Wind, and Telescreen as examples.

The United States would stop at nothing to conduct surveillance, steal secrets and attack others, Zhang said.

"Smearing China cannot help remove the U.S. label as the empire of hacking," he said, urging the U.S. side to stop acting like a thief crying "stop thief," refrain from launching cyberattacks against other countries, including China, and restore a clean and secure cyberspace with responsible words and actions. 
For some, its as routine as paying at the checkout counter. For others, its as nerve-racking as a root canal. Which experience you have depends largely on one thing: where you were born.

Were talking about international travel.

Since President Trump took office, Western travelers trying to enter the United States have been getting a taste of what it can be like to be a traveler from the Global South. German tourist Lucas Sielaff was handcuffed and shackled at the border in Tijuana, held in detention for 16 days and then deported at his own expense, apparently because he misspoke when questioned in English, not his first language. A second German tourist and a Canadian on a work visa were stopped at the same border and detained for more than six weeks and 12 days, respectively, without explanation. Fabian Schmidt , a third German and green card holder, was stopped at Boston Logan International Airport and reportedly subjected to harsh interrogation tactics and shoved into a cold shower, naked. He was sent to a detention facility in Rhode Island, where he remains , without clear charges. Another incident involves a French scientist denied entry reportedly because messages critical of Trump were found on his phone.

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The United States has a visa waiver program: Citizens of 43 nations  including longtime allies Britain, Germany, Canada and France  are allowed to enter the U.S. and stay for up to 90 days without a visa. But after the recent border incidents, Britain and Germany updated their U.S. travel advisories with warnings that the welcome mat is being withdrawn. For travelers used to strolling past immigration counters without hassles, this is a new paradigm.

But for travelers with weak passports, struggling to cross borders has long been a fact of life.

If you are from, say, Bangladesh or Tanzania and want to visit another country, including the United States, you will be figuratively, if not literally, stripped naked like Schmidt. Youll likely be grilled on your job, finances, family, past travel and even your social media posts. You will need to plan far ahead, as it can take months, even years to get a visa interview.

According to the latest data, the wait times for an interview for a visitor visa to the U.S. in, for example, Bogota, Colombia; Dhaka, Bangladesh; Lagos, Nigeria; and Mexico City are 507, 228, 377 and 350 days, respectively. If you get an appointment, youll find yourself at the mercy of a consular officer who decides whether or not to approve your visa application. If your visa is refused, youll be handed a boilerplate notice stating that the decision is final and cannot be appealed. What youll not receive, of course, is a refund for the hefty application fee youve already paid.

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Things are set to get even worse for some potential travelers to the U.S. The Trump administration reportedly is planning a new edition of the infamous Muslim ban , which resulted in chaos at airports, protests and lawsuits during Trump's first term. The new travel ban could target 43 countries, more than half of them in Africa. Many Americans will be OK with that, as the right of sovereign nations to set their immigration policies as they see fit is rarely questioned. This is because international travel is seen as a privilege rather than a right. But is it?

Any other policy that unfairly disadvantages people based on characteristics over which they have no meaningful control, such as their ethnicity, race, sex, gender, religious upbringing or native language, would rightly be deemed unacceptable. Why, when it comes to borders, do we accept policies that blatantly discriminate against people on the basis of where they were born? The world is more interconnected than ever, and the ability to move freely is essential to taking advantage of the professional, educational and personal opportunities created by globalization  it should not be determined by a persons place of birth.

Open borders arent politically feasible now, but what is possible is resistance to the temptations of xenophobia and nationalism in the U.S. and parts of Europe. More liberal border policies are not only moral, they also benefit receiving nations by fostering economic growth, tourism, innovation and understanding among cultures.

Since 2018, Rwanda allows citizens of all countries to obtain a visa upon arrival without prior application, and Samoa doesnt require a visa at all for stays of fewer than 60 days. Even China, historically known for its strict border policies, is making strides toward more inclusive immigration rules and opening its doors wider to foreign visitors. It has mutual visa exemption agreements with 23 countries, and since 2023 has been implementing a series of unilateral visa-free policies. Initially, only six countries were covered, but this list has since grown to include 38 countries whose citizens can enter China visa-free for business and tourism for up to 30 days.

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Rwanda, Samoa and China are proving that a more open world is not only possible but beneficial. Theyre setting a positive example that the so-called free world would do well to follow, instead of building ever-higher walls. The ability to travel freely should not be a privilege reserved for the lucky few but a right  a recognition of our shared humanity and the interconnected world we live in.

Rainer Ebert is a research fellow in moral philosophy at the University of South Africa. Guaiqiong Li is an assistant research fellow in African studies at Yunnan University in Kunming, China.

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.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  A man who made headlines for sexually abusing his foster child in North Carolina  is back behind bars facing new charges in South Dakota.

John Forsberg, 51, is in the Minnehaha County Jail, charged with child pornography and failing to provide information as a sex offender.

12 dangerous criminals arrested, DOJ says

The South Dakota registry says Forsberg was convicted of abusing a 5-year-old girl and having child pornography in North Carolina.

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He was sentenced to 2-years in 2019, and has since moved to South Dakota.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  Copper theft has been a decades-long problem for police, with thieves stealing from construction sites and knocking out city streetlights. Now, Albuquerque police said theyre worried about thieves targeting your phone service.

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Police said theyre investigating dozens of cases of copper wire being stripped from cell towers, and now, they want help watching out for it. Its something that stood out to us, obviously, because of the cell towers are the ones that are being impacted by the copper theft, said Lt. Conor Ollquist, APD.

A cell phone tower in the South Valley is one of at least 30 where police say thieves have ripped off copper wire. Albuquerque police call it a new trend that has the potential to be a problem affecting hundreds of thousands of people in the metro. They use cell phones as a primary source of communication. So if these towers get affected or theyre compromised in any way, it potentially could create communication issues with, you know, first responders, with health care services, and also just daily life, said Ollquist.

They noticed the trend at the end of last year, but APD said it hasnt slowed down. They appear to be random throughout the city. As Ive checked, it looks like its all over. Its not designated to just one area. Its all over, said Ollquist.

Police are investigating the cases and say they have made some arrests. Theyre also looking into at least three businesses that may have bought the stolen cell tower copper. So, its important that the businesses, if they believe that copper that is going to be sold to them is potentially stolen, that they notify the police department so we can potentially act on it,  said Ollquist.

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The most recent theft happened in March, and now APD is hoping people can help by watching who might be hanging around cell towers. If they do notice that some of these towers are in their immediate area, if they could just remain vigilant, keep their eye on it, the best they can. If they do identify anybody thats there, just dont contact them. Just contact the police, said Ollquist.

APD said that when watching out, authorized workers near cell towers usually have a vest or uniform. Police said the thefts have usually happened during the day. APD said anyone caught stealing could face property damage and larceny charges.

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CULLMAN COUNTY, Ala. (WIAT)  Several agencies responded to a fatal boat crash on Smith Lake Wednesday morning where three people were killed.

Officials with the Cullman County EMA stated the crash happened around 7 a.m. in the area of Miller Bottom. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency stated one of the victims, 58-year-old Joey Broom from Altoona, was killed when a boat hit the vessel he was on. He died at the scene.

Joey Broom

The other two victims have been identified as John K. Clark, 44, of Cullman, and Jeffrey C. Little, 62, of Brandon, Mississippi, both of whom were recovered near the Miller Flats area of Smith Lake.

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The ALEA is investigating the crash and stated it resulted in other injuries.

Major League Fishing tournament confirmed to CBS 42 sister station WHNT that the crash involved one of the competing anglers, Flint Davis of Leesburg, Georgia. The fishing tournament on Smith Lake was scheduled to run through Thursday. The tournament director confirmed to WHNT that the remainder of the competition is canceled.

Fishermen told to suffocate or behead this perfect invasive species

Major League Fishing released the following statement Wednesday:

Major League Fishing (MLF) confirms that a serious boating accident occurred this morning on Lewis Smith Lake during Day 2 of the Tackle Warehouse Invitational. The incident involved one of the events competing anglers, Flint Davis of Leesburg, Georgia. Emergency personnel and local authorities responded immediately and remain on scene managing the situation. Out of respect for those involved, and to ensure the accuracy of all information, no further details will be released at this time. MLF is working closely with law enforcement and emergency officials. Additional updates will be provided as they are confirmed by the appropriate authorities. Our thoughts, prayers and deepest concern are with everyone affected by this tragic incident. Major League Fishing

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42.
KENTUCKY, Ky. (FOX 56)  On Wednesday, FOX 56 reached out to the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE), asking if programs promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in schools across the state would be terminated.

Over the weekend, Kentucky Education Commissioner Robbie Fletcher reportedly told local superintendents that the department had decided to sign a certification form sent on April 3 from the United States Department of Education (DOE) forbidding the use of DEI practices in school policy.

The DOEs form goes on to say that school leaders who dont sign the form will no longer receive federal funding and could even be sued by the U.S. Department of Justice under litigation for a breach of contract.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

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As Commissioner of Education, I am committed to ensuring that every student, regardless of race, background, language, socioeconomic status, or zip code, has access to a high-quality education and vibrant learning opportunities to succeed, Commissioner Fletcher said. That means removing barriers, expanding support for English learners, and providing all students with the resources they need to thrive. Our schools must be places where every child feels supported and challenged to reach their full potential. We will continue to work with educators, families, and communities to build an education system that is responsive and relentlessly focused on student success.

Initially, the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) asked education leaders around the nation to sign the form within 10 days of receiving it, but the deadline was extended to April 24.

The commissioner said the KDE would agree to submit the form to the OCR by April 24 because each district in the state has already been complying with the Civil Rights Act of 1964, including Title VI.

As previously recommended, school districts should consult with board counsel on whether the district will sign the Certification Form, Fletcher said.

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Woman charged as pedestrian fights for life after Georgetown Road hit-and run

The state superintendent asked school districts that choose to sign the form ending their DEI programs to do so by 5 p.m. on April 18th.

I am confident that through our statewide commitment to providing opportunity and access for every student, we can advance towards meeting the needs and ensuring the success of each student in Kentuckys public schools, Fletcher wrote.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News.
Gary City Hall was filled with residents Tuesday evening, as Common Council members voted to approve a controversial new construction project that would rezone the area of the former Beckman Middle School.

A new industrial complex proposed by two Illinois property developers is slated to be built on the shuttered Beckman School site, much to the chagrin of residents who say the development, near the intersection of 23rd Avenue and Grant Street in the Midtown neighborhood, offers little benefit to the surrounding community.

Building it would require rezoning the Beckman school from residential to planned unit development. Since the schools closing in 2008, the site has been tarnished by illegal dumping and pollution.

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Back in February, the Gary Plan Commission unanimously recommended denying the rezoning request, citing concerns about the project being uncharacteristic to the surrounding area. Despite that, the council voted 5-4 on Tuesday in favor of the change.

Councilwoman Mary Brown, who voted in favor of the ordinance, acknowledged the harsh fiscal reality the city faces and emphasized that the citys lack of revenue is preventing it from adequately funding essential public services

At some point, our city has got to do something to collect some money, she said.

We do not have revenue. We cannot afford to pay more to our policemen, firemen or our city workers because we dont have the revenue. And we need to understand that were tax-based, and if we dont collect revenue, we dont get anything.

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Other council members supporting the ordinance were Kenneth Whisenton, Linda Barnes-Caldwell, Dwight Williams, and Darren Washington. Marian Ivey, Dwayne Halliburton, and Myles Tolliver joined Council President Lori Latham in opposition.

Residents in attendance strongly opposed the project, citing concerns about property values, noise, pollution, and safety, particularly for children. Several others criticized the council for prioritizing developers over local interests and accused them of neglecting their constituents.

Nearly 20 residents spoke out against the facility during Tuesdays meeting. Out of the two pages of names in line for public comments, the majority of the time was spent speaking on the Beckman school development. Protesters of the project, including members of Gary Advocates for Responsible Development, held Vote no today, plan for tomorrow signs.

Gary resident Kwabena Rasuli urges council members not to allow an industrial complex to move into the Midtown neighborhood at the former Beckman Middle School site. (Javonte Anderson/Capital B)

There is a reason that zoning restrictions are put in place to protect resident health and neighborhood quality of life, GARD said in a statement. This is especially important in the city of Gary, already overburdened by historic and current air, land and water pollution. Allowing non-residential developments to locate in residential neighborhoods is detrimental to the safety and viability of the neighborhood and will not contribute to the sustainable development and redevelopment of Gary.

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At the conclusion of the meeting, residents voiced their surprise  and disappointment  about the outcome.

I think its important to ask ourselves this one question: Do we want to believe in Gary? Do we believe in the future of Gary? Michaela Spangenburg said at the meeting.

Garys turning into a truck stop, another resident said after the vote.

Robert Buggs, who spoke in opposition to the move ahead of the vote, said that he was appalled by the decision, and felt that the council neglected the wants of the constituents who voted to put them there.

The former Beckman Middle School site has been plagued by illegal dumping and pollution since the schools closing in 2008. (Javonte Anderson/Capital B)

None of those people up on the council live next door to that building, he said.

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Of the more than a dozen residents who spoke during the public comment period, only one, John Allen, spoke in favor of the proposal, echoing Councilwoman Browns sentiments regarding the citys struggling tax base.

No city can survive without taxes, fines and fees. Thats just what it is, Allen said. We have to increase our population, and we need as many people from elsewhere to come here and risk their dollars like this investor is doing.

The post Council Approves Rezoning of Former Beckman School for Industrial Use appeared first on Capital B Gary.
By Olivia Le Poidevin

GENEVA (Reuters) -Members of the World Health Organization reached a landmark agreement on Wednesday on how to learn from COVID-19, which killed millions of people in 2020-22, and prepare the world for future pandemics.

Sticking points on the road to the deal included how to share drugs and vaccines fairly between wealthy countries and poorer ones.

The legally binding pact is widely seen as a victory for the global health agency at a time when multilateral organisations like the WHO have been battered by sharp cuts in U.S. foreign funding.

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"After more than three years of intensive negotiations, WHO member states took a major step forward in efforts to make the world safer from pandemics," the health body said in a statement.

U.S. negotiators left the discussions after President Donald Trump began a 12-month process of withdrawing the U.S. - by far the WHO's largest financial backer - from the agency when he took office in January. Given this, the U.S. would not be bound by the pact.

"This is a historic moment and a show, that with or without the U.S., countries are committed to working together and to the power of multilateralism," Nina Schwalbe, the founder of global health think tank Spark Street Advisors, told Reuters.

This is only the second time in the WHO's 75-year history that member countries have reached a binding agreement - the last being a tobacco control accord in 2003.

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The agreement, still subject to adoption by the World Health Assembly in May and ratification by members, addresses structural inequities about how drugs or vaccines and health tools are developed.

Its article nine requires governments to establish national policies setting access conditions in research and development agreements and to ensure that pandemic-related drugs, therapeutics and vaccines are globally accessible -- for the first time in an international health agreement.

"The deal essentially gives WHO members more teeth in terms of their preparedness, response and prevention of future pandemics," Ricardo Matute, Policy Engagement Advisor with the Governing Pandemics Team at the Global Health Centre, Geneva Graduate Institute, told Reuters.

Measures include allowing the WHO to have an overview of global supply chains of medical materials such as masks and vaccines. It will also enable more local production of vaccines and other treatments during a pandemic.

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SHARING HEALTH KNOWLEDGE

Major impasses had held up an agreement.

Hours were spent debating article 11 on technology transfer  the sharing of knowledge, skills, and manufacturing capabilities  to help especially lower income countries produce pandemic-related vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics locally.

The accord requires participating manufacturers to allocate a target of 20% of their real-time production of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics to the WHO during a pandemic. A minimum 10% are donations and the rest is reserved at affordable prices.

The deal will be taken to the WHO Assembly in May, when the text of the agreement may be adopted. That is not guaranteed because an annex to the accord on Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing is yet to be agreed, and will require further negotiations, health sources said.

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Once approved by the assembly, member states that joined the discussions must ratify the deal.

Health experts hope the accord will drive greater government investment in pandemic preparedness amid funding cuts to global health.

"Leaders should be investing now in pandemic preparedness and emergency response ... We cant afford another pandemic, but we can afford to prevent one, Helen Clark, co-chair of The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness, said in a statement.

(Reporting by Bipasha Dey in Bengaluru and Olivia Le Poidevin in GenevaEditing by Tom Hogue, Saad Sayeed, Kate Mayberry and Frances Kerry)
LONDON, April 16 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese embassy in Britain on Wednesday urged the British government to follow the principles of fairness, impartiality and non-discrimination in dealing with the issue of British Steel to make sure that the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies in Britain are protected.

The anti-China rhetoric of some individual British politicians regarding the issue of British Steel is "extremely absurd," a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Britain said in a statement.

The spokesperson made the remarks as several politicians attacked Chinese companies and the Chinese government following the British government's recent takeover of British Steel from private Chinese enterprise Jingye Group, which has owned the company since 2020.

The attacks by some individual British politicians reflected "their arrogance, ignorance and twisted mindset," said the spokesperson.

The spokesperson stressed that the Jingye Group is a private Chinese enterprise that makes business investments in Britain on the basis of market principles and conducts operation on its own.

British Steel had been losing money for many years before its acquisition by Jingye and actually went into compulsory liquidation in 2019, noted the spokesperson.

"After taking over, Jingye put in substantial funding to keep the company afloat to this day. Had it not been for the involvement of this Chinese company, British Steel workers might have already faced the risk of unemployment," said the spokesperson.

It is understood that, under the British government's net-zero strategy, steel companies that use iron ore to produce steel must achieve net-zero emissions by 2035. To that end, British steel companies including British Steel have all negotiated with the government to find a path to decarbonization transition. Among them, the Port Talbot Steelworks in Wales closed its blast furnace in July 2024.

"British Steel's plan to close its blast furnaces and build electric arc furnaces is a normal decision, and it is understandable that the company conducted negotiations with the government on investment for the transition," said the spokesperson.

Generally speaking, Chinese companies in Britain have operated in compliance with the law and achieved steady progress, and have made positive contributions to the local economy, the spokesperson said. According to statistics available, Chinese companies in Britain have contributed over 115 billion pounds (152.6 billion U.S. dollars) to the British economy and created nearly 60,000 jobs.

Any words or deeds that politicize or maliciously hype up business issues will undermine the confidence of Chinese business investors in Britain and damage China-Britain economic and trade cooperation, said the spokesperson.

"It is hoped that the British government will continue to engage in consultations and negotiations with Jingye to actively seek a solution acceptable to all parties," said the spokesperson. 
Apr. 15The Freeborn County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday voted 3-1 on a resolution that opposes the proposed battery energy storage project near Glenville after hearing several comments both in favor and against.

Commissioners Dawn Kaasa, Lukas Severson and Brad Edwin voted to oppose the project, while Commissioner Chris Shoff abstained from voting. Fifth District Commissioner Nicole Eckstrom was absent from the meeting.

Shoff said he did not recall the board making a blanket statement previously about a project reviewed by the Public Utilities Commission and said in the past he thought commissioners could voice their opinions individually if they chose.

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Shoff said while he would have been in favor of drafting something that said the board was concerned about factors such as the proximity of the project near the Shell Rock River and Glenville-Emmons School, he was against jumping forward and flat-out saying the board was opposed to the project as a whole.

The action comes as discussion about the proposed project, called the Midwater Energy Storage Project, has been heated in the community. As the state reviews the project, many Glenville residents have questioned the safety of the project for wildlife and for residents, particularly with the location, and what would happen in the event of a fire with the system.

The 150-megawatt battery energy storage system proposed by Florida-based Spearmint Energy would be off of U.S. Highway 65 south of Glenville on land adjacent to the ITC Midwest substation.

The storage system is designed to take energy off the grid that is coming from various sources, whether that be wind, solar, gas or other carbon-based resources. According to the project application to the state, the system would have the potential to store enough energy to provide electricity for approximately 100,000 households for up to four hours, based on an average household's electricity consumption.

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Third District Commissioner Lukas Severson said the board's resolution was a tool for the commissioners to make a statement about the project and acknowledge the citizens who have voiced their concerns. He referenced over 100 letters.

The resolution states that based on the review of the information available regarding the project, the commissioners have identified concerns regarding potential adverse impacts on the local community, residents, wildlife and the environment adjacent to the proposed site. It also pointed to potential health and safety risks associated with the system's technology.

"Based on available information, such events, if initiated at this location, could pose substantial risks and challenges for emergency response, potentially impacting human safety, wildlife, property and the environment adjacent to Glenville and the Shell Rock River," it stated.

The river is a DNR-designated state water trail and is enjoyed by kayakers, canoers and fishing enthusiasts, and the resolution states because of this, the project warrants careful consideration of potential impacts on water quality and recreational use.

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It also referenced noise emissions from the proposed project and concerns about the effects on residences and natural areas, as well as concerns about fire, explosions and hazardous material runoff in the event of inclement weather.

The resolution states the project as currently proposed and reviewed, is "inconsistent with the county's goals and responsibilities regarding the public health, safety and welfare and the promotion of responsible and compatible land use in this specific area."

Second District Commissioner Dawn Kaasa said there were vast areas the project could be built on and questioned why the company could not research and choose another location.

She said she took offense to comments made by former 3rd District Commissioner John Forman, who compared the resolution to the story of Chicken Little, who stated that the sky was falling, as a means to sway the rest of the county against the project and green energy.

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Forman, the father of Mariah Lynne, owner of Good Steward Consulting, who has represented Spearmint Energy, said the board's resolution would be seen as negative by other green energy companies and other businesses looking to relocate to the county.

Regarding speculation that the project was being kept secret until more recently, Forman talked about a meeting he had been asked to attend with former Administrator Ryan Rasmusson and Trevor Bordelon with Environmental Services with the county. At the time, Forman served on the Planning Commission and a few other boards dealing with similar topics and it made sense for him to attend.

During the public forum, a handful of employees of Good Steward Consulting spoke in favor of the project as individuals.

Emma Thompson said battery energy storage projects help stabilize the grid and said the system would have 24/7 monitoring and internal sensors.

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She said thermal events are rare and compared the opposition to the project to banning cars or bridges because of the possibility they could fail.

Tiffany Paino described the amount of misinformation that has been out there about the project and said it was imperative to depend on reputable sources rather than fear-mongering.

Holly Rahn said she has lived in Albert Lea her whole life and said she believed the board's vote was premature.

She said by investing in solar, wind and battery storage projects, it can position the county as a forward-thinking leader.

Theresa Nicholson, who spoke on behalf of the company, said Good Steward has worked on 100 energy projects in over 20 states, and Minnesota has the most stringent permitting process. She pointed to the myriad of studies required and the transparency and public participation that the Public Utilities Commission has undertaken.

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Cole Pestorious read a letter on behalf of Lynne, who was in Seattle, which also referenced a rigorous permitting process and review by numerous agencies.

Greg Olson, who lives on South Shore Drive, said he had some concerns about what was being proposed and was concerned about the effect it could have on wildlife.

He said the Shell Rock River should be treated with the same respect as the lakes in Albert Lea, noting a system like this would never be built that close to Fountain or Albert Lea lakes.

Tim Kaasa of rural Glenville, said the Shell Rock Township also recently passed a resolution against the system being at that location and said there were multiple other locations near substations that could be considered.

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Jeff Jackson, a representative with Spearmint Energy, asked the board to reconsider their vote and also referred to the comprehensive evaluation that is conducted on the state level that details environmental and human impacts.

He said the Public Utilities Commission is undergoing an environmental assessment of the project.

The PUC oversees the review and approval of all battery energy storage systems in the state. The environmental assessment evaluates potential impacts of the project and incorporates public comments and concerns.

The Public Utilities Commission is currently seeking public input on issues that should be reviewed in the assessment, and that scoping period will close April 21. After that, the PUC will prepare an assessment that will then be shared with the public, and at that time, there will be additional opportunities for public comment.

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After the meeting, Spearmint Energy released the following statement about the project:

"Spearmint Energy designs all of our projects to comply with all applicable regulations and requirements  including Minnesota's rigorous standards for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)  while ensuring the health and safety of the communities we serve are a top priority. The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is in the process of conducting its detailed Environmental Assessment (EA) of our Midwater BESS, including public comments, and Spearmint continues to engage with numerous stakeholders, including County staff, Shell Rock River Watershed, local first responders and ALEDA. We remain committed to ensuring we address the community's feedback as we bring this project to fruition."
HIGH POINT  The Guilford County Division of Public Health is offering a series of measles vaccinations in High Point as the number of measles cases across the country climbs.

County public health officials are urging parents to ensure that their children are up to date on the measles, mumps and rubella vaccination, commonly referred to as MMR.

The High Point clinic will be at 501 E. Green Drive downtown from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday of this week and on April 29, April 30 and May 1.

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Public health officials advise having health insurance information and a childs immunization record readily available. A parent or guardian will need to be present at the time of the visit.

Measles is a highly contagious virus that can lead to serious health complications and possibly death. Symptoms include fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes and rash. As of Tuesday, there had been no confirmed measles cases in North Carolina.

The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services suggests that children should receive the first dose of the MMR vaccine at 12-15 months and the second dose at 4-6 years of age. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are approximately 97% effective in preventing measles.
WARREN, Ohio (WKBN)  Its been a little more than 15 months since two men were killed in a fire in Warren Township. Now, the court is considering making a declaration for the man charged in connection to their deaths that would keep him in a mental health facility without a trial.

Trumbull County Common Pleas Court Judge Ronald Rice is considering declaring Carroll Bruton incompetent unrestorable  a decision that would keep Bruton at Heartland Behavioral Health under continuing criminal jurisdiction.

As the experts have both opined, he is still a risk to society and to himself, and that Heartland would be the best place for him to remain, said Assistant Prosecutor Chuck Morrow.



Bruton is charged with aggravated murder, aggravated arson, and arson. The charges stem from the January 2024 fire that killed his family members, Roscoe Toles and Etianne Whitaker.

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Prosecutors say Bruton used charcoal lighter fluid and a lighter to ignite a pillow and blankets under the basement steps. The fire consumed the home.

He made admissions about starting the fire based on a delusion that he had. I think that it is clear that the delusion involved a young female, which was a figment of his imagination, and that he was her protector, Morrow said.

Bruton was deemed incompetent to stand trial back in February 2024. Prosecutors say he suffers from a multitude of mental illnesses, and his family tried to get him help.

The family did everything they could, your honor, to get him the necessary mental health treatment that he had, and unfortunately, he was released, and we ended up having this unfortunate incident happen, Morrow told the judge.

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This is really an unfortunate situation all around. Im very sorry for the family, said Heather Ninni, Brutons attorney.

Its unfortunate that the state of mental health care in our county is where it is that people like Mr. Bruton fall through the cracks, and theres not appropriate care for him, Judge Rice said.



During the hearing, Judge Rice said he anticipates making a decision in the next few days.

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ANDERSON  A request to move the murder trial of Carl Roy Webb Boards II to the Anderson City Court has been denied.

Boards is charged with the July 2022 shooting death of Elwood police officer Noah Shahnavaz.

He is scheduled to go on trial in January on charges of murder, two counts of resisting law enforcement, unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, firearm enhancement, habitual offender, life without parole and the death penalty.

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The Madison County Prosecutors office filed a motion in Madison Circuit Court Division 3 to move the trial to the city court for logistical reasons.

Judge Andrew Hopper denied the request on Tuesday, but said he is considering the motion and will make a determination five to six months before the actual trial date.

In the motion, Chief Deputy Prosecutor Andrew Hanna notes the trial could take three to six weeks.

The motion states seating in the Anderson City Court is approximately 120 for members of the public, as compared to 38 in the courtroom.

Hannas motion states there are three secure holding cells at the city court and none in the courthouse.

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He said the Anderson City Court would be able to accommodate the number of lawyers involved in the case and provide additional room for the necessary court proceedings.

Hanna believes there will be more than two alternates selected for the trial. He noted that the jury box of Circuit Court can only seat 14 people; the city court jury box could be arranged for more than 14 people.

Anderson City Court Judge Jason Jamerson has already agreed to the use of his courtroom and Anderson Police Chief Mike Lee said his department will provide any necessary support during the trial.

Judge Hopper granted a request from the prosecutors office to review a book being written by Boards since his arrest.

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The judge ruled that the prosecutors office could review one page of the book that didnt violate the attorney-client privilege.

Hopper ruled the state should receive page 35 (B) of the book.

A motion had been filed by deputy prosecutor Jesse Miller for the defense attorneys to compel the turning over of the book.

In Millers motion, its noted that Boards was arrested on Aug. 1, 2022 and as early as Aug. 15, during a call from the jail, he indicated that the first chapter of the book had been written.

During that telephone call, Boards said he wrote about meeting his father for the first time as a narrative about grown men with daddy issues.

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The motion states that at least four times from Aug. 15, 2022 to Aug. 26, 2022, Boards mentions the book and wanting to sell it for a profit.

Boards was informed in September 2022 by his lawyer that the book cannot be published until after the trial.

His attorneys objected to the request of the prosecutors office for the book as being work product falling under the attorney/client privilege.

Just after 2 a.m. on July 31, 2022, Shahnavaz stopped a 2012 Buick LaCrosse near the intersection of Indiana 37 and County Road 1100 North. Police have not provided a reason for the traffic stop.

Officers from Elwood and Madison County found the wounded Shahnavaz and administered life-saving measures until medical personnel arrived.

Just after 2:30 a.m., Hamilton County officers located the Buick and attempted a traffic stop. The Buick continued southbound on Indiana 37. Hamilton County sheriffs deputies pursued the Buick and deployed a tire-deflation device near the area of Indiana 37 and 146th Street.
A federal judge in Boston has ruled that the Trump administration cannot prematurely end the temporary legal protections of over half-a-million Cubans, Nicaraguans, Haitians and Venezuelans who came legally to the United States.

More than 531,000 people in the group, known as CHNV for the initials of the nationalites involved, entered the United States since January 2023 under a Biden-era humanitarian parole program that allowed people from the four countries to live and work in the U.S for two years. To qualify, individuals needed to pass health and background checks, have a financial sponsor, and pay for their own airfare to the United States.

Last month the Trump administration announced the deportation protections and work permits of all beneficiaries would end next week, regardless of when they had entered the U.S. But on Monday night, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani issued an order allowing the individual paroles to run their original courses. However, she did not keep the program itself running longer than the original two years..

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READ MORE: Federal judge stops Trump administration from deporting a half-million Cubans, others

Here is a look at the program, the ruling, and what it means for the hundreds of thousands of people who used it to legally come to the U.S.

Why did the Trump administration end the program?

Former President Joe Biden used his parole authority to allow people from the four countries to come to the United States for humanitarian reasons, as several presidents on both sides of the aisle have done before. But President Donald Trump slammed the program as an abuse of executive power, and issued an order on his first day in the White House to end it. Trump also moved to end parole programs that protected Ukrainians fleeing the war with Russia and Afghans who helped American troops.

On March 25, the Trump administration published a Federal Register notice saying that the parole of all beneficiaries of the CHNV program would end on April 24. The federal document said the program did not serve a significant public benefit  and [is] inconsistent with the Administrations foreign policy goals.

What is the lawsuit about?

On Feb. 28, 11 beneficiaries, eight sponsors and immigrant-rights group Haitian Bridge Alliance sued the federal government in anticipation of the CHNV programs imminent end. The lawsuit argued that such actions are not only illegal because the immigrants entered the country lawfully but shockingly callous.

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The suit argues that most Ukrainians, Afghans and CHNV parolees have claims to immigration relief, such as family-based immigration visas, Temporary Protected Status and asylum. It seeks to ensure that they are able to apply for those benefits, since the Trump administration has paused application processing for many migrants who came under the Biden administration.

The Trump administration has sought not only to terminate those legal humanitarian pathways but to block access to any other longer-term, more stable legal status so that these people have no options to remain here in safety, to continue contributing to their communities, and to remain with family members, the lawsuit says.

What did the judge rule?

Judge Talwani blocked the Trump administration from ending individual paroles before their two-year term ran out. For example, if someone on the program arrived in the U.S. in March 2024, their parole will run out in March 2026. The judges decision doesnt change that.

Talwani, an appointee of President Barack Obama, said the immediate impact of the shortening of the grant of parole is to cause their lawful status in the United States to lapse early  in less than two weeks, the judge wrote. If their parole status is allowed to lapse, [the paroled immigrants] will be faced with two unfavorable options: continue following the law and leave the country on their own, or await removal proceedings.

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The judge did not rule on the Trump-mandated pause on immigration benefits applications. However, attorneys are hopeful the judge will rule in their favor, which would allow parolees to continue applying for  or retain  any other legal status they had already pursued before the Trump administrations decision.

Thats the reason why the governments indefinite suspension on the processing of additional immigration benefits is so harmful, said Esther Sung, director of the Justice Action Center and counsel in the case challenging the government termination of the CHNV program.

How many people does the ruling affect?

Government data shows that 531,690 people came through the program as of December 2024. That includes 110,240 Cubans, 211,040 Haitians, 93,070 Nicaraguans, and 117,330 Venezuelans who flew into U.S. airports. Many of these immigrants came to South Florida to reunite with loved ones,

How many people will have their parole expire this year?

Government data shows that between October 2022 and December 2023, 87,000 Venezuelans came through the CHNV program. In 2023, more than 67,000 Cubans, 260,000 Haitians, and 53,000 Nicaraguans had arrived in the United States and been granted parole.

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Between October 2022 and December 2023 a total of 327,000 individuals arrived lawfully under the processes, representing 61% of all participants in the program to date.

The paroles of beneficiaries who entered between October 2022 and April 2023 have already expired. But those who entered after April 2023 will have it expire some time this year.

If they havent applied for another form of legal immigration status they will no longer be legally in the U.S., and will be at risk of detention and deportation under the administrations intensified immigration crackdown.

What do beneficiaries need to know?

While CHNV parolees are allowed to apply for other legal avenues to remain in the U.S., the Trump administration has paused application processing of people who came through the program. Many have applied for permanent residence, asylum, Temporary Protected Status and other forms of status adjustments. But the extent to which individuals are affected depends on their nationality and the specific legal options available to them.

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Cubans are eligible to apply for green cards under the decades-old Cuban Adjustment Act, which allows them to become permanent residents after living in the U.S. for more than one year.

Several young Venezuelans along with American doctor Kyle Varner (3rd from the left) who sponsored the humanitarian parole of 49 people from Venezuela.





Venezuelans who arrived under the CHNV program before July 2023 are eligible to apply for Temporary Protected Status. Although the Trump administration has terminated TPS, a federal judge has ruled in favor of keeping the protections in place for now. Haitians who arrived before July 2024 can also apply for TPS. However, The Trump administration rolled back an 18-month extension of the protections, which is also the subject of litigation in federal court.

All four nationalities may apply for asylum if they fear returning to their home countries. However, the processing of those applications  even when legally permitted  may now be delayed or affected due to the administrations indefinite hold.
My WhatsApp feed is full of champagne bottle emojis. We won!

In a clear and unanimous decision, the Supreme Court has ruled that sex in the Equality Act 2010 means biological sex. A Gender Recognition Certificate does not change that. Certification does not equate to biological sex.

To put it bluntly, trans women  men who identify as women, however they have modified themselves  are not biological women and can therefore not enter spaces reserved for us.

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This common-sense view has for too long been deemed bigoted and has meant women losing the right to single-sex spaces (in sports, in prisons, in refuges) which have been increasingly contested by trans activists.

Sex means biology  did we need a court to tell us this? That it has taken a sober Supreme Court judgment to do so is kind of incredible. The bringing of this case was due to the unpaid work and persistence of the campaign group For Women Scotland, who must take a bow. Much credit as well must be given to the LGB Alliance, Sex Matters and The Lesbian Project.

As women are flooding my inbox with emotional messages  Even more than we could have hoped for; I am crying at my desk  I can hear in the background male radio hosts, convinced they were on the right side of history, sound sheepish. The slogan trans women are women was the one they unthinkingly imbibed because they clearly felt it was in their gift to give away womens rights.

As did supposedly progressive organisations like Amnesty, who intervened in this case by attempting to tie the rights of trans people to the access to abortion. Their contorted statement showed once and for all that they do not consider womens rights to be human rights.

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The arguments around the 5,000 people who do have a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) have always been muddled anyway. This certification is private information and was never meant to act as a passport into any women-only space.

During the case the submissions by lesbian organisations in particular were very persuasive. The law has become so unworkable that a lesbian couple could now consist of two biological males both of whom have obtained GRCs.

In reality, it has meant that freedom of association for lesbians has been under threat for some time and the lesbian scene was dying, with only a tiny number of lesbian-focused venues operating. Those women who never minded trans women in their spaces can carry on as they like, but those who do mind very much indeed now can organise women-only nights and events.

How on earth did it take a Supreme Court judgment to give us back this basic right?

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Well, it has, and the judges have been absolutely clear that biological sex is real and it is binary. This is not an attack on trans people but on largely heterosexual men barging into womens spaces. No legal challenges ever mention trans men (biological women who identify as men) because the power dynamic is so obviously different.

While women lawyers and activists are ecstatic at this result, having been fighting for common sense for years, fully captured organisations such as the BBC are flummoxed, telling us there are no winners. Perhaps they should go along to the various parties that have been arranged tonight and try that line.

Scotland and Scots women have been at the forefront in the struggle to maintain womens rights and were up against the intransigent Sturgeon, who is now flogging meet-and-greets for 75.

Thats enough perhaps for the small sherry that I venture JK Rowling may be enjoying later on.

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Once more the courts have spelled out what our politicians have been too scared to say.

Starmer, take note. We do know what a woman is and it is not a guy waving a certificate about. Some of us have always known this. Biology wins, science wins, freedom of association wins.

This is a brilliant victory and a lesson to all. If you think you can talk over women, take away their rights and protections in the name of fetishistic, gender-dysphoric men, think again.

Real women wont stand for it. Nor will the law.

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CRAIG BEACH, Ohio (WKBN)  Craig Beach signed a contract with the Mahoning County Sheriffs Office Tuesday to provide protection to the village after the entire Craig Beach Police Department resigned last week.

In a press release Tuesday night, Craig Beach Mayor James Becker stated, We needed a fundamental shift in the way we provide police services for the Village of Craig Beach After reviewing the credentials of the Mahoning County Sheriffs Office, it was apparent that this was the best decision for our community.

The village will pay the Sheriffs Office $7,500 a month to have a deputy patrol Craig Beach around the clock. The arrangement begins immediately, and commissioners are expected to sign off on the deal at their meeting on Thursday.

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Becker says while thats more than what was being paid, the community is getting more for its money.

Plus, they have a lot of assets. We have detectives now and the drug task force  all the assets they have, he said.

Becker said one of the biggest advantages will be having full-time patrols in Craig Beach, a village of 1,000 residents, with many more during the busy spring and summer months compared to what the police department offered.

They were pretty much part-time and some of them were only working four or five hours a week, so we werent getting the coverage, he said.

Although the agreement fell into place Tuesday, negotiations began some time ago.

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There were discussions before about what they were getting with their current police coverage and what they would expect from us, said Mahoning County Sheriff Jerry Greene.

Those talks quickly came to a conclusion after the villages half-dozen officers and chief quit abruptly.

It was, basically, time for them to come to some sort of an agreement with us, Greene said.

The sheriffs office has already been handling many of the villages calls. Now those calls will go directly to dispatch, something officials say may improve response times.

While Greene says the agreement will simply cover the costs of placing a deputy there, Becker thinks it will ease the minds of residents and visitors.

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I think its a blessing. Like I said, we were all concerned when all this happened but it all worked out good, Becker said.

According to the village website, the Mahoning County Sheriffs Office is one of the first in Ohio to achieve the Ohio Collaborative Law Enforcement Accreditation Program. The program focuses on policing standards such as bias-free policing, crisis intervention, professional conduct and community engagement.

Madison Meeker contributed to this report.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
ANDERSON, S.C. (WSPA)  Over time, water lines corrode, leak, and become brittle. The City of Anderson said the cast iron line is the oldest in the city and has to be replaced.

A lot of just normal maintenance, but also it is one of the oldest, so its probably one of the ones that we would anticipate issues with, said Scott Banks, Utilities Director for the City of Anderson. Likewise, its old enough to where it had lead joints. The EPA wants systems to get lead out of their systems as much as possible, so its a good opportunity to do it.

Crews will be working along the northbound lane of Main Street until April 17 to replace water lines.

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The end goal is to repave Main Street.

The project costs $2.4 million. Banks said the money comes from American Rescue Plan Act funds, which must be spent within two years of distribution.

Theres been a lot of work done utilities-wise, not just our utilities but [with] Duke Energy, AT&T, and so forth, said Banks.

Before Main Street is repaved, the water lines will have to be replaced.

What theyre doing is paralleling the existing line, Banks said. Theyll put in the new line, and once the line is in, theyll make the connections and fill it, pressurize it, and disinfect it. Then at that point in time, theyll come back and reattach the services to the businesses and the new line.

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Replacing the waterline from Sharpe Street to Earle Street will take until June, then the second phase from Earle Street to City Hall will begin, which will be completed in October. Just in time for repaving the majority of Main Street next spring.

Water will temporarily be shut off when crews are working, but the city said it wont affect businesses.

As far as business is concerned, interruption will be minimized. A lot of the swap over will happen either early on the days that theyre closed or late evenings, not in the window of operation, said Banks.

The city said the southbound lane of Main Street and secondary streets will stay open.

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Construction will pause between April 23 and 27 for the Soiree 2025 festival.

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DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR)  A UTV rider was rescued Monday morning after an overnight search in rugged terrain near Rainbow Falls, a popular recreation spot in Douglas County.

The rider was reported missing Sunday evening, prompting a coordinated search effort involving six Colorado agencies. Crews utilized drones, high-clearance trucks, and ATVs to comb the area, but initial efforts were hampered by darkness and difficult terrain.

64-year-old dies attempting to hike Manitou Incline

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Its a beautiful open riding area, but we get paged there quite often, said Dave Arnett, field director for Douglas County Search and Rescue. People go off trail or run into trouble on these challenging roads.

Search teams worked past 2 a.m. Monday, returning at first light for a second sweep. It was during this effort that the rider was located and safely brought out of the area.

Officials say the situation underscores the dangers of riding during Colorados mud seasontypically late April through Maywhen melting snow and saturated trails can cause unexpected hazards for off-road vehicles.

Douglas County Search and Rescues drone took these images while searching overnight for missing UTV riders. (Courtesy Douglas County Search and Rescue) Douglas County Search and Rescues drone took these images while searching overnight for missing UTV riders. (Courtesy Douglas County Search and Rescue) Douglas County Search and Rescues drone took these images while searching overnight for missing UTV riders. (Courtesy Douglas County Search and Rescue) Douglas County Search and Rescues drone took these images while searching overnight for missing UTV riders. (Courtesy Douglas County Search and Rescue) Douglas County Search and Rescues drone took these images while searching overnight for missing UTV riders. (Courtesy Douglas County Search and Rescue) Douglas County Search and Rescues drone took these images while searching overnight for missing UTV riders. (Courtesy Douglas County Search and Rescue)

This is a really challenging time of year, said Arnett. Mud picks up, snow hasnt fully melted, and the trails become especially difficult.

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Search and rescue teams urge riders to stay on marked trails, avoid riding alone, and always check conditions before heading out. In an emergency, call 911 to ensure the proper resources are deployed.

The rider is expected to be OK.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
People gather at the site where two Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces in the town of Qabatiya, northern West Bank, on April 16, 2025. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

RAMALLAH, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Two Palestinian men were shot and killed by the Israeli forces in the town of Qabatiya, northern West Bank, on Wednesday morning, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.

The Ramallah-based ministry identified the killed victims as Muhammad Omar Muhammad Zakarneh, 23, and Yasser Rateb Khuzaimiya, 19.

According to the Palestinian official news agency WAFA, the Israeli forces on Wednesday morning surrounded a cave in a quarry area and fired intensely at it. Bulldozers were later deployed to dredge the area.

In a statement released the same day, Israeli Police said the raid targeted a cave in the Jenin area where a militant allegedly involved in a January attack that killed three Israeli civilians was hiding. During the operation, Israeli forces exchanged fire with the suspect and two other militants.

According to the statement, two militants were killed in the exchange, and weapons were recovered from their bodies. 

People gather at the site where two Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces in the town of Qabatiya, northern West Bank, on April 16, 2025. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

People gather at the site where two Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces in the town of Qabatiya, northern West Bank, on April 16, 2025. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)
A man is in custody on murder and assault charges in connection with a double stabbing during a domestic violence incident on Tuesday night in North Haven where one person was killed and another was injured.

Emergency crews responded to a residence on Pleasant Drive at 8:40 p.m. on the report of a domestic involving a stabbing and found a victim outside the home suffering from non-life-threatening injuries, according to the North Haven Police Department. Officers then learned that a second victim may be inside.

When police entered the home they found a man suffering several wounds and heavy blood loss. The 77-year-old man died from stab injuries, according to police. He has not been identified.

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Officers searched for a suspect in the stabbing and found him on a nearby street where he was taken into custody, police said. He was identified as 40-year-old David Pagan of North Haven who faces charges of murder and first-degree assault, according to police.

Pagan was being held on a $2 million bond and was expected to face a judge on Wednesday.

This incident, which remains ongoing, involves family members, and is isolated, police said in a statement. There is no threat to the public.

Police said they were being assisted in the investigation by the New Haven States Attorneys Office and the Connecticut State Police Major Crimes Unit.
The Connecticut man allegedly held captive for 20 years in a Waterbury home released his first public statement on Tuesday.

Please call me S. This is not the name given to me by my parents when I was born, the statement began. I am choosing a new name for myself, and I will use that name as I reclaim control over my life and my future. My name is my choice, and it is the first of many choices I will make for myself now that I am free.

The man said his condition has improved significantly since he was found inside a blazing home on Feb. 17. At the time, police said he was 5-foot-9 and weighed just 68 pounds at age 31.

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Kimberly Sullivan, the mans stepmother, has been charged with second-degree kidnapping, first-degree assault, cruelty to persons, unlawful restraint and reckless endangerment. She has pleaded not guilty and claimed the allegations were an extreme shock.

To all the health care professionals who have helped and nurtured me, thank you. In addition to all of your care, I appreciated the chance to have my first ever birthday party to celebrate turning 32, Sullivans stepson said in his statement on Tuesday.

The man was pulled out of fourth grade at age 11 and held inside the Waterbury home for 20 years, according to police. He only escaped by setting a fire in the small 9-by-8-foot room where he was forced to stay, investigators said.

I also want to thank the first responders, the law enforcement investigators and everyone who is working to hold those responsible for my abuse accountable, the man said Tuesday. Much has already been said that tells part of the story of the abuse I endured. Someday, perhaps my whole story will be told.

_____
CHICAGO  With summer approaching, some downtown aldermen in Chicago are pushing to lower the curfew for teenagers amid growing concerns over recent mass gatherings where violence occurred.

A vote on the change could happen as early as Wednesday.

But as WGN Investigates found, the citys current curfew is enforced much less than it used to be, raising questions as to whether the change would even be enforced.

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There were 539 curfew violations citywide last year, down more than 75 percent compared to 2018.

WGN Investigates: Investigating public corruption, crime & fraud

The curfew for teens 17 and under was lowered to 10 p.m. three years ago.

Now, theres a push by Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd) and others to lower it again to 8 p.m. in the downtown business district.

Weve had two incidents in Streeterville in the month of March, he said. Its never happened that early before.

Hopkins proposal does not call for parents to be fined. The current ordinance includes a potential penalty of up to $500 but Hopkins said thats rarely pursued.

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As a social worker and leadership specialist for over 30 years, we are abandoning [children] by allowing no consequences and chaos, said Toni Hults, a Streeterville resident.

Many downtown residents support the change, claiming the recent mass gatherings are disruptive and frequently turn violent. But Mayor Brandon Johnson said hes opposed to lowering the curfew.

If youre only targeting a particular area, I believe I see a scenario in which that simply pushes the challenge elsewhere, he said. Our approach has been again making sure we are keeping people safe and holding people accountable.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

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A big question surrounding curfew enforcement is police staffing. Chicago has 1,600 fewer officers than it did in 2019. Asking officers to place teens in custody means there could be fewer police to deal with violent crimes and other situations.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
HANGZHOU, April 16 (Xinhua) -- For years, high logistics costs and long delivery cycles turned online bargains into offline burdens for many in western China, where free shipping and easy returns were uncommon.

Now, as e-commerce platforms expand their free shipping services westward, consumers in western regions are gaining access to the same convenience long enjoyed by consumers in other regions. From Taobao and Douyin to Pinduoduo, e-commerce giants are reshaping daily life far beyond China's urban core.

BRINGING CONVENIENCE TO DAILY LIFE

In just a few days, a sofa made in Foshan, south China's Guangdong Province, traveled some 4,400 km to Maryam Tuniyaz's doorstep in Baicheng County, Aksu Prefecture in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

What used to be a slow and expensive process now comes with free shipping and doorstep delivery, allowing Tuniyaz to furnish her new home with a simple click on Taobao.

Tuniyaz is among many consumers in western China now enjoying easier online shopping thanks to expanded logistics and new shipping policies on Taobao. Since Xinjiang was added to the platform's "free shipping zone" last year, shopping has become easier than ever for local residents.

Recently, Taobao expanded its free shipping to include large items like sofas, beds, and toilets. Since March, more than 1 million bulky home products have been eligible for free delivery to Xinjiang, according to Li Fuquan, general manager of the furniture supply chain at Taobao and Tmall Group.

"Offering free shipping on large items doesn't shift the cost to merchants," said Li. "We rely on partnerships with industrial hubs to ship products directly to consumers in Xinjiang. For products not covered by such partnerships, we use the platform's system to aggregate, transfer, and ship across the region, with most of the final delivery costs subsidized by the platform."

Delivery times are also dropping. "In the past, it took more than a week for packages to reach Xinjiang. Now, most deliveries arrive in five to seven days, and some even within 24 to 48 hours," Li added.

BRINGING RELIEF TO LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS

Beyond making daily essentials more accessible, improved logistics are empowering small businesses in the western highlands -- helping entrepreneurial dreams take root in remote cities like Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region.

Pu Yuhu, a 42-year-old veteran from Baoshan, southwest China's Yunnan Province, now runs a small Yunnan-style takeout restaurant in Lhasa. For Pu, the main challenge was not rent or staffing, but securing ingredients at a reasonable cost.

"Dry chilies cost 14 yuan per bag in Lhasa, but only 9 yuan back home," he said. Traditional wholesale channels, weighed on by high-altitude freight costs, left little margin for profit.

However, the situation has improved as major e-commerce platforms roll out free shipping to China's western regions. Pinduoduo now covers transit fees for remote areas like Xizang, Gansu and Qinghai. Taobao offers free delivery on about 1.7 billion items to places like Xinjiang. Douyin has also expanded its logistics network to reach these areas.

The impact has been immediate. "I'm saving 7 to 8 yuan per customer on ingredients," Pu said. With an average spending of around 80 yuan per diner, the savings represent nearly 10 percent of his costs.

Goods sold from Xizang are also benefiting from improved logistics and the rise of livestream e-commerce. In 2024, the region's online retail sales reached 22.97 billion yuan (about 3.18 billion U.S. dollars), a 67.7 percent increase from the previous year. Online retail sales of physical goods totaled 19.47 billion yuan, up 79.8 percent, according to the regional department of commerce.

BRINGING SHARED LIFESTYLES TO REMOTE COMMUNITIES

Even niche products are now reaching the hands and homes of consumers in western China. This spring, blueberry bonsai has become this spring's unexpected breakout hit on China's e-commerce platforms. Once popular mainly among southern urbanites with sunny balconies, these potted fruit plants are now brightening homes in regions like Xizang, Gansu and Inner Mongolia.

Shipping blueberry bonsai isn't easy -- they require special packaging to protect the delicate fruit and stems. But with support from Pinduoduo's merchant team, repeat orders from new regions quickly followed.

"At the farms, delivery companies like SF Express have set up dedicated collection points, deploying staff and vehicles to ensure the plants travel safely and efficiently over long distances," said Wang Xiaohu, director of the Kashgar municipal postal administration in Xinjiang.

The blueberry bonsai boom highlights a broader trend: As e-commerce platforms break down logistical barriers, China's western regions are gaining easier access to popular cultural trends from the country's major cities.

"As we help more specialty agricultural products from remote mountain areas reach consumers nationwide, we're also working to ensure that residents in those regions enjoy the same variety and convenience as shoppers in major cities," said an executive from Pinduoduo.

In November, China issued an action plan aiming to cut the ratio of social logistics costs to GDP to around 13.5 percent by 2027. The plan sets out to boost economic efficiency by optimizing freight transport, strengthening logistics hubs, and improving the modern logistics service network.

Lower logistics costs not only enhance the shopping experience for consumers, but also bring direct benefits to restaurant owners, farmers, and delivery workers in western China. The continued westward expansion of e-commerce is generating multifaceted development dividends, according to Yang Daqing, a logistics industry expert. 
DA makes decision about sergeant who shot Wichita man

The video above aired on KSN in January 2024

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  More than a year after a Sedgwick County Sheriffs Office sergeant shot and killed a man, the district attorney has decided the sergeant is immune from prosecution.

According to investigators, the sergeant shot Larry Armour, 43, as Armour stood over an innocent 75-year-old man with a knife and threatened to cut off the mans head.

Dodge City chiropractor has license suspended

Courtesy: Sedgwick County Sheriffs Office Courtesy: Sedgwick County Sheriffs Office Courtesy: KBI and Sedgwick County Sheriffs Office

The shooting happened in January 2024. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation investigated the shooting and presented these details to the district attorney:

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On Jan. 24, 2024, a woman called 911 and reported that Armour, her ex-boyfriend, had threatened her with a knife and hammer if she did not give him the keys to her SUV. She gave him the keys.

About an hour later, at 11:30 p.m., two Wichita police officers spotted the stolen SUV and tried to pull it over. The SUV kept going, leading to a 14-minute chase.

It ended when Armour stopped the vehicle near a multi-apartment complex in the 2400 block of E. Harry. Investigators say he forced his way into the back door of an apartment and barricaded himself inside. A 75-year-old man was in the home.

For more than three hours, police tried to talk Armour into coming out or freeing the 75-year-old. During that time, Armour said he was withdrawing from Percocet and would let the man go if he got Percocet. At other times, he said he did not want the man to get hurt and that the man was free to leave. The officer talking with Armour concluded that the 75-year-old may not have wanted to leave his residence.

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At 3:03 a.m., SWAT decided to breach the home. A sheriffs office sergeant was at the southeast window of the home as other officers tried to use a vehicle ram on the front door. The sergeant saw Armour holding a knife over the 75-year-old man and yelling that he was going to cut the mans head off. The sergeant fired one round, hitting Armour. EMS took Armour to the hospital, where he died at 3:37 a.m. on Jan. 25, 2024.

A KBI agent who interviewed the 75-year-old man at the hospital said the man was slurring his speech and thought the whole incident was a dream. He told the agent that he first thought the person in his home was his son. He said they made each other bourbon drinks to calm the man down.

Kansas woman charged with filing false unemployment claims

The man also did not remember being hurt or threatened or how he got to the hospital. Officers described the man as being visibly intoxicated.

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Two KBI agents interviewed the sergeant who shot the man. The sergeant had been in law enforcement for 18 years and had been a member of SWAT for 10 years.

The sergeant was assigned as lethal cover for a sheriffs office deputy. The sergeant assisted the deputy and another sergeant who had been directed to breach the residence at the southeast window, as the ram was used at the front door. The deputy broke the window with a tool.

The sergeant said he saw the 75-year-old man lying on a couch with Armour leaning forward with one hand pushing against the man and yelling. The sergeant said he saw a long knife in Armours hand and heard Armour threaten the man.

When Armour allegedly stated for a second time that he was going to cut the mans head off, the sergeant fired his rifle one time at Armour.

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The KBI interviewed other law enforcement officers, including an officer who had talked to Armour on the phone. The officer said Armour described hearing voices in his head, making negotiations challenging.

District Attorney Marc Bennett said he reviewed all the evidence and KBI reports before deciding not to charge the officer. He said it was not particularly complicated.

An officer in that certain circumstance certainly has the right to use fatal force, lethal force, to save the life of a citizen whose home has been broken into and has, whos being, it looked to all appearances, being held down with a knife in the hands of the perpetrator, so obviously, Im not going to be charging the officer in this case, Bennett said.

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Apr. 15DALLAS  Police in Dallas Borough charged Albert Owen Pritchard, 63, on allegations he hid a camera inside a home's bathroom smoke detector that recorded several females using the facility, according to court records.

Pritchard, who was staying at a veterans facility in Plains Township, was arraigned by District Judge Brian Tupper of Kingston Township on seven counts of invasion of privacy and one count each of child pornography and filming/photographing children for sexual acts. Pritchard was jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $25,000 bail.

According to the criminal complaint:

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A woman in November 2023 reported to Dallas police she discovered videos and pictures on Pritchard's cellular phone depicting herself and two other females using a bathroom inside their residence.

Police served a search warrant at the house and discovered a camera hidden in a smoke detector fastened to the ceiling of the bathroom. Pritchard was recorded installing the camera and angling it toward the bathtub and shower in July 2023, the complaint says.

A forensic data extraction by the Pennsylvania State Police computer crimes unit uncovered hundreds of images and videos from Pritchard's cellular phone and child sexual abuse materials from a desktop computer Pritchard used, according to the complaint.
David Hogg, a controversial Democratic National Committee vice chair, is pledging to upend Democratic primaries by funding candidates who will challenge ineffective, asleep-at-the-wheel Democrats.

The move puts Hogg, the now 25-year-old who first gained national stature as an outspoken survivor of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, on a collision course with his own party and some Democratic House members.

Leaders We Deserve, which Hogg co-founded in 2023, announced plans on Tuesday to spend $20 million in safe-blue Democratic primaries against sitting House members by supporting younger opponents. In an interview with POLITICO, Hogg said the group will not back primary challenges in battleground districts because I want us to win the majority, nor will it target members solely based on their age.

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We have a culture of seniority politics that has created a litmus test of who deserves to be here, Hogg said. We need people, regardless of their age, that are here to fight.

It's an unprecedented, and controversial, move from a national officer within the Democratic Party that will enrage some insiders. Democratic Party committees, like the DNC, have traditionally not opposed incumbents in their own party, focusing instead on attacking Republicans, while the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is explicitly set up to protect incumbent members by providing resources, fundraising and strategy.

Hoggs decision comes at a time when the Democratic Party is grappling with how to confront President Donald Trump  and with what kind of Democrats can be their most effective messengers against the administration. Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, have faced intense pressure from base voters to ramp up their opposition to Trumps administration.

When asked if DNC Chair Ken Martin supports his plan, Hogg said Martin certainly has different views on challenging incumbents.

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There are disagreements in our party about the right way to approach this moment. There are certainly disagreements we have, Hogg said. What I will say about Chair Martin, even if we do have disagreements, hes doing an excellent job of building and reforming our party.

In a statement, Martin said that in order to ensure we are as effective as possible at electing Democrats to office, it is the DNCs longstanding position that primary voters  not the national party  determine their Democratic candidates for the general election.

He praised Hogg as a passionate advocate, adding he is grateful for his service whether it be in his role as a DNC Vice Chair or in an outside capacity.

A DNC aide, granted anonymity to discuss internal party dynamics, also noted that all DNC officers other than Hogg signed a neutrality policy, pledging to stay out of primaries in their official and personal capacity.

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The New York Times first reported the news of Hoggs decision .

Hogg burst onto the political scene as a survivor of the high school shooting in Parkland, Fla., in 2018 and was elected as a vice chair of the DNC in February, over the objection of moderates who complained about his history of far-left rhetoric . Traditionally, DNC vice chairs are largely ceremonial roles with little public attention and even less power. But Hogg is testing the limits of the position  and the DNCs willingness to stomach internal dissent.

Hogg argued that backing primary challengers is in line with what he ran on for his DNC role. I am not in this position because I want to bank my political capital. I just want change. I want to see a stronger Democratic Party, he said.

He acknowledged there are going to be people who are very, very upset about this but argued Democrats are in a crisis right now, citing a recent CNN poll that found the partys approval rating at 29 percent, a record low for the party.

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Our base is craving dramatic change, Hogg said. We need to show our base were here to fight for them. We need to show there are younger faces stepping up.

But Hogg did name-check two exceptions: Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who is 85, and Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), who is 80. He described them as fighters who are delivering.

But theyve also both drawn generational challengers  Saikat Chakrabarti, the 39-year-old former chief of staff to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who is running against Pelosi, and YouTube influencer Kat Abughazaleh, 26, who is running against Schakowsky. Hogg said Leaders We Deserve they would not intervene in either race.
DAVIDSON COUNTY  Students at Davidson-Davie Community College now have an easy pathway to earning a bachelors degree at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

A new transfer partnership with UNC Charlottes 49erNext program allows students who earn certain associate degrees at Davidson-Davie to transfer into their major at UNCC. Students opting to participate in the 49erNext program must be pursuing an associate in arts, science, engineering, fine arts or teacher prep degree.

Students enrolled in 49erNext will meet with community college advisers, where theyll select transferable courses each semester that align with majors at UNCC. After students finish at Davidson-Davie, theyll have the opportunity to roll right into their major, said Angie Mack, senior director of student engagement and success at DDCC.

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This program is a phenomenal way for students to earn course credits on many of the required classes that lead to earning a bachelors degree, Mack said. 49erNext is a guaranteed path to gain admission into UNC Charlotte.

Students also will receive assistance with financial aid processes, career advising and opportunities to develop financial literacy skills  all important pieces in navigating and completing college courses toward a degree, Mack added.

For more information and requirements for the 49erNext program, visit 49ernext.charlotte.edu.
PHOENIX (ABC4)  The woman convicted of killing her two children in Idaho is currently on trial for conspiracy to murder her husband, Charles Vallow. This is the sixth day of her jury trial, and she is representing herself in Maricopa County, Arizona.

Vallow Daybell was previously sentenced for murder and conspiracy to murder her children, Joshua JJ Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ashlyn Ryan, 16. She was sentenced to prison and is currently serving five life sentences.

Yesterday, several witnesses were called to the stand by the prosecution: The medical examiner who performed Vallows autopsy, an investigator with the Social Security Administration, and the insurance representative who informed Vallow Daybell she was no longer the beneficiary. A forensic scientist who examines firearms and a police detective who was at the scene also testified.

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YESTERDAY: Phone calls, police interview footage shared during Lori Vallow Daybell murder trial

Today, before the jury was brought in, Deputy Maricopa County Attorney Treena Kay began by telling Judge Justin Beresky that Lori Vallow Daybell had violated victim rights by subpoenaing a family member. Treena Kay states that Vallow Daybell should not have had information like his address because he is listed as the next-of-kin for the victim.

Judge Beresky clarifies that subpoenas like this need to go through the Maricopa County Attorneys office. Vallow Daybell said that it was an oversight and that she didnt intend to subpoena them. Treena Kay pointed out that they are signed by Vallow Daybell, and the judge questions how it could be an oversight if she signed them.

Vallow Daybell says she signed a stack of subpoenas, and repeats that it was an oversight. Beresky asks her to be more diligent in her next trial and go through the victim representatives. The jury was called into the courtroom after some more discussion.

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RECAP: What happened during Lori Vallow Daybells first week on trial

Continued Chandler Police detective testimony

Cassandra Ynclan, a police detective with the Chandler Police Department, returned to the stand. Vallow Daybell continued her cross-examination from yesterday evening.

Vallow Daybell asked more about what Ynclan witnessed about her and Tylee on the day of Vallows death. She repeatedly looped back to questions about whether Ynclan thought Vallow Daybell might have been thirsty due to adrenaline.

She also asked if her demeanor at the scene  which Ynclan described as nonchalant and ordinary yesterday  was abnormal for someone in that situation. Ynclan testified that she had not personally been in a situation where her husband was murdered in her home.

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Treena Kay held a brief redirect examination, going over what Vallow Daybell had asked her. The jury then asked a few questions before Ynclan was asked to leave the stand.

CASE HISTORY: A complete timeline for the Daybell, Vallow murders

Chandler Police detective traces Vallows cell phone

Detective Ariel Werther with the Chandler Police Department was called to the stand after a brief recess. Werther is a subject matter expert on cellphone records, especially map and GPS data.

Werther went alongside other detectives to the scene of the shooting on July 11, 2019, to shadow and become familiar with the unit. He called Vallow Daybell the following day to obtain contact information for JJ. She informed Werther that she had Vallows wallet and hotel key.

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The school is approximately seven miles away from the house. So the idea that one could  in 12 minutes  go to a Burger King, get their order, drive seven miles one way, seven miles back and arrive in that amount of time seems unlikely to me, Werther testified. The 911 call had been placed at 8:36 a.m., and Vallow Daybell was captured on police bodycam at 8:48 a.m.

The nearest Burger King had a surveillance recording that showed Vallow Daybell going through the drive-through at 7:54 a.m., Werther testified. He said that the time discrepancy between when the shooting occurred and when the 911 call was placed was one of the concerns that led them to pursue the investigation.

Idaho mom who killed 2 of her kids goes on trial over husbands death

Werther compiled a PowerPoint presentation of evidence collected from Vallows cell phone on July 11, 2019, which was in Vallow Daybells vehicle after she left the house with JJ and Tylee. He used GPS data and personally visited the locations to corroborate the evidence collected.

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The PowerPoint presentation was admitted as evidence, and Werther began describing what information he had compiled in the presentation.

Vallows phone is seen in the area of the hotel where he was staying before traveling to Vallow Daybells home. The last text message sent from the device before Vallows death is at 7:37 a.m. At 7:50 a.m., the phone leaves the home, and it pings again near Burger King after 7:52 a.m. Surveillance footage of her vehicle arriving at the drive-through is then shown. Vallow Daybell can then be seen in a clip showing the worker preparing her order at the window.

Alex Cox  Vallow Daybells brother, who shot Vallow  called Vallow Daybell multiple times after she left the residence, according to evidence compiled by Werther in the presentation.

Vallows cell phone then pings near a Walgreens. Vallow Daybell is captured on surveillance video entering the Walgreens at 8:17 a.m. and purchasing two pairs of flip flops. According to location data from Vallows phone, she then dropped JJ off at school. As she was leaving, around 8:35 a.m., Alex Cox placed the 911 call.

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Around 8:49 a.m., Vallow Daybell is captured with Tylee on police bodycam at the scene. Werther testifies that the timeline established that either the shooting happened a while before the 911 call, or Vallow Daybell was not present for the shooting.

Vallow Daybell completed her cross-examination. The prosecution objected many of her questions, and the judge sustained the objections. She mainly asked about what was located in the hotel room, and what information was found on Vallows cell phone.

The final witness was sick, so the judge ended early for the day. The trial will continue tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. in Arizona, which is 11:00 a.m. in Utah.

Latest headlines:

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D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said on Tuesday that the district will begin to implement a list of extraordinary measures  from hiring freezes to potential furloughs  because of the potential for severe budget cuts after the failure of the GOP-majority House to pass a fix requested by President Trump.

Bowser said in an order set to take effect immediately that the local government is imposing freezes on the hiring of new employees and contract staff with some exceptions, as well as a freeze on overtime for work performed after April 27.

The order also calls for the city administrator to present the mayor with a plan by April 25 to further reduce expenditures through the furloughing of District Government employees and the closure of facilities, with exceptions for public schools, some health facilities and shelters.

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The order comes after Congress left town on recess last week without passing legislation to prevent significant budget cuts for Washington. The measure faced staunch opposition from some conservatives, even after it was swiftly approved last month by the Senate and as Trump publicly called for its passage in the GOP-held House.

D.C. officials say the legislation is necessary to fix what lawmakers on both sides have suggested was a mistake in a separate, larger funding bill passed by Congress in March to prevent a shutdown.

Unlike previous stopgap funding bills, the latest was missing language allowing D.C. to spend its local budget  which consists mostly of funds from local tax dollars, fees and fines  at already approved 2025 levels.

D.C. was granted whats known as home rule in the 1970s, but its budget is still approved by Congress.

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Without that language in the bill, D.C. officials say the district was treated like a federal agency and forced to revert to 2024 spending levels, which they argue would result in them being forced to cut $1 billion in the last half of the fiscal year.

The District of Columbia runs its government on local taxes, but Congress maintains control of its budget.

To blunt part of that blow, D.C. officials told Congress this week that they plan to use authority granted in a 2009 law to increase its fiscal 2025 local fund appropriations by an aggregate amount not exceeding 6 percent of the amounts included in its fiscal 2024 budget and financial plan.

What were doing is a stopgap. It doesnt address the issue, Bowser said Monday, while calling for further action from Congress, noting the move will still leave hundreds of millions of dollars of money that we have that will be in the bank that cannot be used on critical service for the residents of the District of Columbia.

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When you talk about cutting $400 million and in some ways it is, its hard to call it a cut, because the money is available, its not like were talking about cutting services, because we dont have the money. We do have the money, she said. We have to have an approved appropriation from the Congress to spend our own money, and given the amount of time we have left in our fiscal year, six months there, I cant  take off the table job impacts.

She also reiterated that the bill in question doesnt save one penny of federal dollars.

As lawmakers prepared to leave for recess last Thursday, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) said the D.C. budget fix had been placed on the back burner as GOP leadership in both chambers worked to adopt a budget resolution to advance the presidents sweeping tax priorities.

Thats still been a discussion, and we want to get that done as soon as we can, he told The Hill at the time. Were having conversations with D.C., with the president and the Senate, and so were going to get there.

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The holdup in the House also comes as GOP leaders have been facing pressure from their right flank to attach potential riders and requirements the Democratic-led district would need to meet to spend its local dollars.

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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  D.C. police and deputies with the Calvert County Sheriffs Office arrested a suspect who fled from a stolen vehicle during a police chase on Wednesday morning, police said.

The Calvert County Sheriffs Office (CCSO) said a deputy first initiated a traffic stop on a reported stolen vehicle shortly before 8:45 a.m. along Town Center Boulevard in Dunkirk.

The driver  later identified as 28-year-old Alexander Wade Foote  initially complied, but then fled the scene, driving north into Prince Georges County.

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An attempted Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) maneuver was unsuccessful.

DC community on edge after confirmed measles exposure at Five Guys in Northwest

During the pursuit, the CCSO said Foote intentionally rammed into police cruisers.

Deputies were eventually able to box the stolen truck into the area of Naylor Road near Washington, D.C. Foote then fled on foot, climbing an embankment and entering a housing complex in the 2800 block of Shipley Terrace.

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) was able to help fine Foote and take him into custody.

The CCSO said he faces multiple charges, including Assault on a Police Officer, Reckless Endangerment and Fleeing and Eluding.

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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  A 20-year-old woman was sentenced on April 11 for attacking a couple leaving a Metro station in November 2024, according to the United States Attorneys Office (USAO) for the District of Columbia.

Isis Lee, of Washington, D.C., will serve one year and one day in prison after pleading guilty to attempted assault with a dangerous weapon in February.

Man hurt in Southeast DC shooting

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According to court documents, Lee and her associates followed a woman and her boyfriend home from the Mount Vernon Metro Station on Nov. 17, 2024, around 8 p.m.

Lee had never met or interacted with the two, court documents noted.

As the couple reached the area of 9th and L Street NW, Lee pepper-sprayed the woman in the eyes and held a knife to the boyfriends throat.

DC man dies after vehicle, scooter collide in Brentwood

Lee and her associates also began hitting the two before the couple ran away.

Lee and her associates chased the couple and assaulted them in the street before chasing them into a nearby restaurant. Court records say surveillance footage showed Lee throwing glass bottles at the two.

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The woman and her boyfriend were transported to George Washington Hospital for their injuries, and Lee ran from the scene.

Lee was later taken into custody on an arrest warrant, court documents say.

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Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge with the Drug Enforcement administration's Louisville Field Division gives an update on April 16 fatal shooting.
NEW DELHI, April 16 (Xinhua) -- At least three workers were killed and two others injured when a steel storage unit for pulses collapsed on them inside a mill in the western Indian state of Maharashtra, police said Wednesday.

The incident took place on Tuesday at the Manorma Jain Dal Mill in the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation in Yavatmal, about 660 km northeast of Mumbai, the capital city of Maharashtra.

Many factory owners as well as laborers in India often ignore safety standards during working hours, according to local media. 
When Jan failed to return from his usual Sunday evening walk on March 30, fears for the 59-year-olds safety grew and a search operation was launched.

More than 40 people, including firefighters and loved ones, fanned out into the woods, and two hours later, in the shadow of Kochlacka mountain near the Slovakian town of Detva, Jans wounded and lifeless body was found.

His final Sunday stroll had ended in terror: he was mauled by a brown bear.

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News that the former factory worker and nature lover had been killed by a bear spread fast. One elderly woman who knew Jan was in tears when interviewed by local media. She described him as a good guy, who loved beekeeping and was on a disability pension. He didnt deserve such a death, she told Pravda, a Slovakian newspaper.

But there was also fury on the streets of Detva, home to about 13,000 people. With Slovakias bear population having risen sharply over the past century, some said it was a tragedy waiting to happen and one that could be avoided.

Do they still think in [the capital] Bratislava that we dont have enough bears? Well put some of them to sleep here and bring them there, so they can experience life in stress and fear for their lives, one young man told the newspaper. I dont think theres a person here who hasnt had the experience of meeting a bear.

In Bratislava, Robert Fico, the prime minister, was listening. The Left-wing nationalist promptly ordered a cull of a quarter of Slovakias brown bears and declared an emergency in two-thirds of the country. Slovaks cannot live in a country where people are afraid to go into the forest and where humans become food for bears, he said.

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There is a real concern that the summer could be exceptionally bad in terms of attacks by this beast, Mr Fico said, referring to the particular dangerous time of year after bears have awoken from hibernation.

Jan was by no means the first bear victim in Slovakia. In 2024, two people died after being attacked or chased bythe animals.

In March 2024, a bear ran amok, injuring five, as it bounded through the streets of the town Liptovsky Mikulas in broad daylight. Footage of the rampage went viral and the bear was hunted down with the help of drones 10 days later and killed.

Credit: Marika Trnkova Bizubova/Facebook (March 2024)

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The European brown bear was almost hunted to extinction in Slovakia in the 1930s. Only 20 to 60 of them remained when the population was at its lowest.

Now, thanks in part to EU wildlife conservation laws, the population has made an astonishing comeback. But that has also meant a rise in encounters with humans.

In 2020 there were 650 such encounters, according to Slovakias populist government. That figure rose to an estimated 1,900 in 2024.

In April, the government approved a plan, currently under review in Brussels, to kill 350 of the estimated 1,300 brown bears in the country.

The issue has infuriated conservationists, who accuse Mr Fico of trampling over EU rules to score political points by declaring the emergency cull, which makes it easier to issue permits to hunters.

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In 2024, 144 bears were killed in Slovakia. Ninety-four of them were culled, the most in Slovakias history, in a vote-winning hunt declared shortly before the countrys presidential elections.

Mr Fico had vowed to shoot more bears before the pro-Moscow politician and his Smer party won the general election in October 2023, ousting the previous progressive and pro-EU government.

Environmental campaigners argue the country should use preventative measures instead, and focus on problem bears rather than a general cull, which has not prevented deaths in the past.

The current government, which is aligned with the hunting community, favours population control through culling whereas the previous government, which favoured environmentalists views, perhaps at times was too reluctant to take necessary action, said Robin Rigg, of the Slovak Wildlife Society.

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Where bears and people share landscapes, it may not be possible to eliminate attacks entirely. However, the likelihood of injury can be reduced through knowing how to avoid or respond appropriately to encounters with bears, he added.

Before considering culling, we should ensure that preventative measures are in place as well as education campaigns on how people should behave in areas around bear habitats, said Lea Badoz, of Eurogroup for Animals.

This is just a hysterical reaction to the tragedy on Sunday night, Pavol Zilincik, a lawyer and policy manager at World Wildlife Foundation Slovakia, said.

The government simplifies things by thinking there are too many bears so lets kill some. But the solution should be introducing measures that reduce bear encounters.

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He also blamed hunters for leaving bait out for deer, which can attract bears closer to humans.

Branislav Baran, the mayor of Detva, insisted precautions were being taken.

He said there was not a single unsecured rubbish dump in the town, which he said was lit up like Las Vegas every night to make people feel safer and help deter bears.

The atmosphere is not good. It is not helped by the statements of various pseudo-conservationists and NGOs, saying that the blame is always being sought elsewhere. They do not want to see that human life should be above animal life, he told Pravda.

Follow policies of Romania

Tomas Taraba, the Slovak environment minister, argued Bratislava was merely following the lead of Romania, which is home to Europes largest bear population.

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I am convinced that, just as they introduced it in Romania, we will also introduce a preventative quota for the shooting of bears in Slovakia, Mr Taraba said on social media.

This was how the problem was regulated in the past until the situation was worsened by environmental activism, he added.

There are an estimated 6,000 to 8,000 brown bears in Romania, which doubled its annual cull to almost 500 in 2024 after a 19-year-old tourist was killed.

On March 30, the very day Jan took his final walk, a mountain rescuer was seriously injured by a female bear with two cubs.

He was walking home from work in the Romanian town of Predeal in the region of Brasov in Transylvania.

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Over the past 20 years, bears have killed 26 people and seriously injured 274 others in the country. Romanias environment minister has suggested the numbers of bears that can be legally shot should be increased in response.

But under the EUs Habitats Directive, the brown bear is a strictly protected species, which means killing is only allowed in exceptional circumstances.

The European Commission is scrutinising Slovakias emergency plan, the EurActiv website reported.

The EU has previously sought to tackle the issue through measures such as improving waste management and installing electric fences on rural properties. But Bucharest has successfully lobbied Brussels in the past to increase the number of bears that can be legally killed. And the EU has recently shifted from its previously ironclad commitment to its conservation laws.

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In 2024, the commission downgraded EU protections for the wolf from strictly protected to protected, allowing them to be hunted in greater numbers.

This was after European Commission president Ursula von der Leyens favourite horse, Dolly, was killed by a wolf in September 2022 at her home in Germany.

Farmers had also complained of resurgent wolves targeting their livestock.

Conservation could be destroyed by ideology

The issue of large carnivores such as wolves and bears became a totemic issue for conservative parties ahead of 2024s European Parliament elections. There was a backlash against EU green rules seen as too burdensome during a cost of living crisis.

Brussels watered down or shelved some of its planned new laws in response to farmers protests before a vote where green parties performed notably badly.

Conservationists are not happy. We are clearly seeing a war on nature being waged in the EU, said Ariel Brunner, head of EU policy at BirdLife International.

Slovakia is a case in point where lies, scaremongering and fake solutions fit in a wider democratic roll-back, he said, referring to EU concerns over the rule of law and press freedom in the country.

Almost 20,000 people get killed by cars in the EU every year. Bear fatalities are in the single digits across Europe. The mass slaughter of bears has no justification whatsoever.

He added: We are very worried that decades of successful conservation work could be destroyed by ideological decisions.

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SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Detectives with the Salt Lake City Police Department are investigating a deadly industrial incident where one man died at a Delta Cargo parking lot.

Detective Michael Ruff with the Salt Lake City Police Department told ABC4.com that a box truck delivering cargo to the Delta Cargo facility was backing out when the driver of another delivery truck walked behind him and was struck.

Police respond to a deadly industrial incident at a Delta Cargo facility near the Salt Lake International Airport. (Rebekah Adams/KTVX)

Officers with the SLCPD Airport Division responded to the scene and assisted with emergency first aid. However, despite life-saving efforts, the man died at the scene.

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Were investigating this as an industrial accident rather than a traffic accident, said Ruff. So our investigators will be wrapping up here shortly and then the investigation will be turned over to OSHA for them to look into.

Suspect hospitalized after shots fired during stop with conservation officer in Duchesne County

The victims identity has not been publicly released but Det. Ruff said they were not a Delta employee. A Delta spokesperson confirmed with ABC4 that the man was a delivery driver for a separate company.

We are saddened by this tragic accident and will cooperate with any investigations, the Delta spokesperson said in a statement. Out of respect for the individual, his family, and the investigation process, well decline any further comment at this time.

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Delta confirmed that its Salt Lake City cargo operations were closed as of 9 a.m. Wednesday morning. The companys airline services for customers at Salt Lake International Airport were not impacted.

An investigation into the incident is still ongoing.

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LAWRENCE COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN)  The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating a house fire that killed one person in Lawrence County Tuesday.

The Lawrence County Fire & Rescue Department said that multiple units were dispatched to a house on Dobbins Road shortly after 2 p.m. on Tuesday. Dispatch advised that the home was fully involved in flames and that family members had been trying to rescue a bed-bound patient trapped within the 3,000-square-foot split-level home.

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At the same time, the department was managing an injury crash and a high-priority medical call elsewhere in Lawrence County; additional resources were called in to assist as there were also no credible fire hydrants in the area, authorities added. Personnel reportedly utilized hand-lines and master streams to knock down the fire as rescue attempts were made, however, the patient did not survive the fire.

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The TBI was on scene investigating the origin and cause of the fire and the Lawrenceburg Fire Departments drone team was also on scene assisting with the investigation.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

We ask that you join us in supporting the family during this extremely difficult time, a social media post from the Lawrence County Fire & Rescue Department reads, in part.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  A property tax relief proposal in the state operating budget has some school districts worried.

The proposal works like this: if you live in a school district that carried over more than 30% of its budget from the previous year, your property tax bill will go down. Ohio House Finance Chairman Brian Stewart (R-Ashville) said that will impact Ohioans living in 486 of Ohios more than 600 school districts starting in January 2026.

Chillicothe paper mill that employs about 800 being shut down

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While several Republican leaders favor the proposal and even wanted the carry-over rate to be lower; House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) said it would have served more Ohioans at a 25% cap, as originally proposed.

I think about 60 or 70 school districts came off the list of school districts where taxes would be lowered, Huffman said. Those districts will not be getting property tax relief because we went from 25% to 30%.

Some, including Buckeye Association of School Administrators Director of Government Relations Paul Imhoff, said it is a misguided approach at relief.

That proposal has many unintended consequences, and we believe, at the end of the day, would be devastating to the over 80% of children who we serve in Ohios traditional public schools, Imhoff said.

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Imhoffs association represents all of Ohios public school superintendents. He said that right now, cash balances for public schools are at historic highs, but this proposal would tank that.

What yes or no vote really means for Ohio Issue 2 in May election

If we were to put this policy into place by fiscal year 27, our cash balances would be at dangerous lows, he said.

Imhoff agrees there should be a carry-over ceiling, but he said each locally elected school board should have the ability to figure out what percentage is best for them.

We need to be focusing on literacy, we need to be focusing on the development of our workforce, Imhoff said. If we starve our district of resources, we arent going to be focusing on those things that are so important to the economic development of our state.

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Why do schools bother with carry-over cash? Imhoff said it is simple.

I dont think a cash balance should ever go below 25% because you just need enough money just to make payroll into the next month, just like in our personal finances, at the end of the month, we dont want to take our checking account down to zero, he said.

Ohio budget plan renews possibility of high-speed rail

Supporters of the proposal argue that schools should not be piggybanks and just hold on to taxpayer dollars. Huffman said there has been a consistent influx of increased and new money over the past 25 years that can better serve taxpayers.

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We simply looked at this as saying, Heres lots of money that isnt being used and that can provide the property tax relief right now, Huffman said.

Huffman recognized that this would not be long-term relief, and reductions would stop coming after a while, once all school districts comply with the carry-over cap.

Sometime in the future, there would be no property tax reduction under this provision because schools wouldnt be needing more than 30% every year, Huffman said. Its not always going to be that way because there are always special exceptions if a power plant closes down or theres a massive increase of kids who come into school or leave the school or whatever it is.

Imhoff and Huffman agree property tax reform and relief is needed in Ohio.

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Provision would restrict how Ohioans spend SNAP benefits

We want to be a partner in the reforming that we need to do to property taxes but we want to do that in a way that doesnt damage our ability to serve the students in our care, Imhoff said.

Imhoff said that in the past 50 years, there have been almost 20,000 property tax levies on the budget, but the impact on school funding has actually changed very little.

There are more than a dozen property tax relief and reform bills being worked on at the legislature right now. Huffman said that wont help Ohioans in the near future, like this budget proposal will.

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Its going to take a few years to get that done, not just because I think [we have] to figure it out, but then you have to persuade people and theres all of that, Huffman said. Thats not what property owners are saying. Theyre saying, We need relief now. My taxes have doubled, and theyve doubled again.

Huffman said it is a bad situation for many Ohioans right now, some who are even getting taxed out of their homes. He said while the work that is going on right now on all those other bills will, and should, continue; promises of anything comprehensive getting done, even within the next two years, cant be made.

Unpeeling that onion or taking apart that complicated machine and trying to fix it is a long, arduous job that will take longer, frankly, and in my opinion, will probably take longer than one General Assembly to get done, Huffman said.

The state operating budget must be on the governors desk by July 1, which is why policies that leaders want to fast track typically get added into that. Property tax relief passing in this state budget is likely the earliest Ohioans would see relief.

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The City Schools of Decatur Board of Education voted to rescind or rewrite five policies that showcased the districts commitment to equity.

The decision comes amid the threat of losing federal funding as President Donald Trump pushes the termination of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and targets the U.S. Department of Education.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The two rescinded policies included CSDs equity policy, which was adopted in November 2023, and the districts Theory of Action.

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The equity policys goal was to give all faculty and students equal opportunities and resources and provide an inclusive and emotionally supportive environment, free from discrimination.

The Theory of Action, also called school board governance, commits to giving students the highest quality education possible and states in their beliefs that all learning environments must be inclusive, safe, secure, and supportive while also ensuring that no student group is marginalized.

Three other policies were changed to remove words in certain titles that refer to equity or ADA.

The school board chair said that as active parents and community members, the board is fully aware of the communitys values, and wholeheartedly share them.

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However, as a public school district in the state of Georgia that depends heavily on millions of state and federal dollars to operate the city schools of Decatur, our personal beliefs cannot supersede our fiduciary responsibility to provide high-quality learning environments and services for our students, said Board Chair Carmen Sulton.

TRENDING STORIES:

An angry mother yelled out during a portion of the presentation that the chair was a coward.

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She refused to get up and go, so four Decatur police officers gathered around her, picked her up and carried her out.

She repeatedly said, Im in no way resisting; I am not participating, as they calmly took her out.

People sat quietly as she was removed.

As the police reached the door to the room to exit, the mother yelled out, I am not resisting, and this is what fascists do!

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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  The lead defense attorney for Christopher Schurr says he is considering putting the former Grand Rapids police officer on the witness stand in his trial later this month in the death of Patrick Lyoya.

Testifying in his own defense, the attorney said, could be the best way to prove that Schurr was in fear of his life that morning.

Its really a self-defense case; its not a whodunit, defense attorney Matthew Borgula said. Anybody whos seen the video knows generally what occurred. The question is going to be whether Officer Schurr acted reasonably when he believed he was in fear of great bodily harm or death.

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Well have to make the decision whether hes going to testify because it could benefit him. Obviously he has a right not to testify, but in most self-defense cases you generally see the defendant get on the stand, he said.

Hell be prepared to testify if we think its appropriate.

Three years after Patrick Lyoyas death, murder trial near

A hearing in a Grand Rapids courtroom in the weeks ahead of Christopher Schurrs trial for second-degree murder in the death of Patrick Lyoya. (April 16, 2025)

Schurr sat quietly in Kent County Circuit Court with his defense team on Wednesday, more than three years after he shot and killed Lyoya after a traffic stop. Both sides were making last-minute arguments over the use of expert witnesses, over jury instructions and whether to allow the defense to demonstrate to the jury how Tasers work.

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Video previously released by police shows Lyoya, 26, running away from Schurr after a traffic stop on April 4, 2022, then the two struggling over Schurrs Taser. Ultimately, Schurr, who was on top of Lyoya trying to hold him down, shot him in the back of the head.

Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker charged Schurr with second-degree murder, arguing he was not justified in his use of force. The defense argues Schurr was in fear for his life and acted in self-defense.

The case will come down to whether the prosecution can prove that a reasonable officer, under the same circumstances, would not have fired the shot.

After appeals that reached the Michigan Supreme Court, jury selection is expected to start Tuesday and with the trial is set for April 28.

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Candlelight vigil held to remember Patrick Lyoya

Schurrs attorney had hoped Wednesday to get approval for a live Taser demonstration in front of the jury.

Its all going to come down to whether or not he was in fear and, in this case, he had been disarmed of his Taser, and I think thats pretty much undisputed, the defense attorney said in an interview after the hearing. So the question is, is that taser something that would cause fear to an objectively reasonable officer? And we wanted to show the jury what happens when you get tased.

Kent County Circuit Court Judge Christina Mims, who will preside over the trial, rejected the live demonstration.

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Im denying that motion because its not safe, just like I wouldnt allow someone to come in and shoot someone in the shoulder to demonstrate that they can survive that wound, Mims said. Im not allowing the Taser demonstration.

The defense attorney said he will show the dangers in others ways.

Through testimony, we might have some videos of people getting tased, including the officer, and so the jury will get a sense for what it feels like to get tased, Borgula said.

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It was just the latest example of President Trump, still in the infancy of his second term, appearing to plow through direct orders from a U.S. court. But it was also one of the sharpest moments yet of a federal judge losing patience.

U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis had asked what the administration had done, if anything, to follow a ruling from the highest court in the land, and reached a stark conclusion.

To date, nothing has been done, Xinis told the Justice Department lawyer before her Tuesday. Nothing.

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Less than 24 hours later, a second federal judge said he would be launching proceedings to determine whether to hold Trump administration officials in criminal contempt for ignoring his order to not remove certain Venezuelan migrants from the country.

U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg wrote Wednesday that the administration's actions had shown "willful disregard" for his order, and that he believed there was sufficient "probable cause" to find them in contempt.

In the case before Xinis, the Supreme Court had ordered the administration last week to facilitate the return of a Maryland resident named Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, whom it had deported to a notorious El Salvador prison despite an earlier court order barring such a move.

The administration had defied that order and made no secret of it. On cable TV, through social media and from the Oval Office, the president and his allies were clear they had no intention to work toward Abrego Garcias return.

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In the case before Boasberg, the judge had ordered the administration to not send 130 Venezuelan deportees to a Salvadoran prison without affording them due process, and had ordered the administration to turn around planes carrying them to El Salvador.

The administration, which said it carried out the deportations using a nearly 230-year-old wartime law called the Alien Enemies Act, has claimed Boasberg's initial verbal order lacked authority and that his authority to dictate what should happen to the deportees lapsed once the planes carrying them were outside U.S. airspace. It has refused to provide the court with additional information about the timing and coordination of the flights, citing privileges around state secrets.

The two cases have added fresh weight to a profound question swirling with increasing intensity in recent days among government officials and watchdogs, constitutional scholars, legal experts and worried members of the public: If the president refuses to abide by court rulings, then is the United States in a constitutional crisis?

Read more: U.S. judge presses Trump administration on its refusal to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia

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If Trump wont listen to the Supreme Court, is the entire U.S. system of governance  the separation of powers, an independent judiciary, due process under the law  at risk of faltering?

For some, the answer is an affirmative yes  the actions of the administration in the Abrego Garcia case in particular representing a clear tipping point.

There is no guarantee that President Trump will abide by his legal and constitutional obligations, and he has already shown a willingness to violate those obligations many times over, said Jamal Greene, a constitutional law professor at Columbia University.

Others said that the risk is certainly there, but that legal nuance remains in the maneuverings of the Trump administration  enough to imagine a less fraught future in which the administration falls back in line as the courts make their directives in the Abrego Garcia case less ambiguous and harder for the government to skirt using dubious but still barely defensible legal arguments.

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Robert Weisberg, a professor at Stanford Law School, said the judiciary also still has tools at its disposal to enforce its rulings should Trump and his team continue defying court orders, and especially the Supreme Court.

For example, if a court issues an injunction saying, You cant do this,'  and the administration does it anyway, the court can hold the administration in contempt. And, the U.S. Marshals Service, the law enforcement arm of the judicial branch, can be called upon to enforce the courts orders, Weisberg said.

So there are ways, he said. The Supreme Court has tools.

A deportation with consequences for Trump

Either way, the recent clashes in court raise stark questions for a country already exhausted by a steady stream of unprecedented moves by the Trump administration and a mountain of lawsuits challenging them  on immigration enforcement, federal funding streams to the states, LGBTQ+ rights and school funding, among many issues.

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California Atty. Gen. Rob Bontas office has already sued the Trump administration more than a dozen times and expressed support for litigants suing the administration in at least half a dozen other cases. Other Democratic-led states have joined California in its cases. On Wednesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom  who in recent weeks has tempered his ire for and tried to find common ground with Trump  joined another lawsuit with Bonta over Trump's sweeping tariffs on international trade partners.

Time and time again, courts have blasted the administration for violating the law  sometimes in flagrant ways. And in multiple instances, the administration has defied court instructions to reverse course, judges and litigants against the administration have said.

California has alleged that the administration has failed to unfreeze funding, including under the Federal Emergency Management Agency, despite court orders for it to do so. Associated Press journalists continued to be barred from White House functions after a judge ordered they be allowed back in.

Read more: Salvadoran president says he won't return man wrongly deported from U.S.

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Still, Boasberg's order Wednesday, the Abrego Garcia case and an Oval Office meeting partially about it between Trump and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele on Monday have ratcheted up fears of a recalcitrant Trump unafraid of defying the courts when they attempt to check him or his policies.

Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran citizen and sheet metal worker living in Maryland, had been arrested years ago while looking for work outside a Home Depot. A judge had determined in 2019 that he should not be deported to El Salvador because he would be in danger there from a local gang, allowing him to remain in the country.

However, Abrego Garcia was detained last month on claims by the administration that he is a member of the MS-13 gang, and then deported along with other detainees to a notorious prison in El Salvador. His family, denying the gang allegations, sued in response, alleging that his rights had been violated and that the administration had broken the law and violated the previous judges decision allowing him to remain in the country.

The case moved swiftly up through the courts.

Facilitate vs. effectuate?

When it was first before Xinis, she found that the evidence of Abrego Garcias alleged gang affiliation was slim  amounting to a tip from an informant that hed worn Chicago Bulls apparel associated with the gang  and that the government had wrongfully removed him from the country. Xinis then ordered the Trump administration to both facilitate and effectuate Abrego Garcias return to the United States.

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The Trump administration appealed that ruling, resulting in a terse unsigned decision by the Supreme Court on Thursday that required the Trump administration to facilitate Abrego Garcias return, but not effectuate it.

The high court said the intended scope of the term effectuate was unclear and may exceed the district courts authority in the matter, and called on Xinis to clarify her directive with due regard for the deference owed to the Executive Branch in the conduct of foreign affairs.

Abrego Garcias lawyers claimed the ruling as a victory and a clear directive to that administration that it have him returned to the U.S. The Trump administration, however, claimed a victory as well.

As the Supreme Court correctly recognized, it is the exclusive prerogative of the president to conduct foreign affairs, a Department of Justice spokesperson said. By directly noting the deference owed to the executive branch, this ruling once again illustrates that activist judges do not have the jurisdiction to seize control of the presidents authority to conduct foreign policy.

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Xinis followed the Supreme Courts ruling by issuing another of her own, calling again on the Trump administration to facilitate Abrego Garcias return. That set up the Oval Office meeting Monday, where Trump and Bukele insisted they were not going to bring Abrego Garcia home.

In what some legal observers saw as an absurd twist of logic, Trump administration officials said they would supply the plane to return Abrego Garcia if only El Salvador would allow it, while Bukele said El Salvador could not possibly return Abrego Garcia to the U.S. because doing so would amount to smuggling a terrorist into an allied territory.

Of course, Im not going to do it, Bukele said. The question is preposterous.

In the same meeting, Trump said the homegrowns are next  a clear insinuation that he wants to send American citizens to Salvadoran prisons next, in clear violation of American law.

Jennifer Vasquez Sura, the wife of Kilmar Abrego Garcia of Maryland, who was wrongly deported to El Salvador, speaks at an April 4 news conference. (Jose Luis Magana / Associated Press)

During Tuesdays hearing before Xinis, the Trump administration made it clear that it took an extremely narrow view of what facilitating Abrego Garcias return requires.

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If Abrego Garcia presents himself at a port of entry, we will facilitate his entry to the United States, said Drew Ensign, an attorney for the Justice Department. Ensign also submitted a transcript of the Oval Office meeting, suggesting the case clearly had been raised at the highest level.

Xinis was unmoved, demanding documentation of the administrations actions in recent days. Legal experts said the order could set the stage for Xinis to find the Trump administration in contempt of court. And that could raise new questions about the power of the court to hold the administration to account  and whether it has any teeth in the event the White House pushes back.

Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of UC Berkeley Law, said it's questionable whether the Justice Department or the U.S. marshals would help to enforce any criminal or civil contempt orders against the administration or any of its actors.

"The question is, do we have the guardrails for our Constitution to survive?" Chemerinsky said. "'We don't know' is the only answer anyone can give. You can play it out, and it's very frightening."

If Trump was given a very clear, unambiguous order from the courts and openly declared that the administration would not comply, the country would be in an extremely dangerous position, Chemerinsky said.

Read more: ICE admits 'administrative error' in deporting Maryland man to El Salvador

And if he won out in that scenario  wasnt stopped by Congress or the courts or anyone else  "then the president can do anything," Chemerinsky added. Trump could violate other constitutional laws and court orders and "literally lock up anybody, any dissident," without fear of repercussions.

"Of course then the reality is this is not a democracy, it's a dictatorship," Chemerinsky said.

Crisis is here

Democrats in Congress have been sounding similar alarms, with some arguing that Trump has already crossed the line into authoritarian behavior  and thrust the country into a constitutional crisis.

Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) wrote in a post on X late Monday: "The constitutional crisis is here."

The post also included a nearly six-minute video in which Schiff, a former federal prosecutor, attempted to explain the complicated Abrego Garcia case, the administration's actions in it, and why they put the country in crisis.

The constitutional crisis is here.



President Trump is disobeying lawful court orders. His advisors and allies are cheering him on. And Kilmar Abrego Garcia remains trapped in a jail in El Salvador. pic.twitter.com/yI2mxWpyAs  Adam Schiff (@SenAdamSchiff) April 15, 2025

Its a constitutional crisis because the administration is under a court order to return this wrongfully deported man to the United States. To facilitate his return, Schiff said. And far from taking any step to facilitate his return, in that meeting in the White House, Donald Trump essentially told the Supreme Court to pound sand.

Nowhere in that entire meeting does the president of the United States ask the president of El Salvador to return the man wrongly sent to a maximum security prison in his country, Schiff said. It just never happens.

Schiff said the president, through his actions, had taken a very determined step toward dictatorship.

Chemerinsky agreed that the days of wondering whether the U.S. is in a constitutional crisis were over.

He said the U.S. is "clearly in a constitutional crisis" both because of the "quantity of unconstitutional things that have been done" by the Trump administration that show Trump "has no respect for constitutional law," and because of the extreme actions and recalcitrance of the administration in the Abrego Garcia case in particular.

"It could get worse, but that doesn't minimize that we're in one now," he said.

Chemerinsky said it was clearly illegal under U.S. law for the administration to defy a court order and send a person to a notorious El Salvador prison without due process. And the administration's claim now that it cannot bring Abrego Garcia back to the U.S. because he is under the control of a foreign government simply "has to be wrong" in a land of laws, he said.

"It's nothing less than a claim of the power to put any human being in a foreign prison," he said. "That's the authority to create a gulag."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Delaware Governor Matt Meyer weighs in on the future of the Democratic party and who could be the partys next leader. Gov. Meyer happens to be a close friend of former President Joe Biden, who represented Delaware for decades as a U.S. senator. He joined The Hill to discuss the future of the Democratic Party and says he expects the former president to remain engaged.

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Sen. Travis Holdman, R-Markle, addresses a crowd on Dec. 18, 2024 in Indianapolis. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

Contentious regulations for marijuana-like products advanced through the Indiana House of Representatives on Tuesday, but will have to survive closed-door negotiations before crossing Gov. Mike Brauns desk.

I filed a dissent, Sen. Travis Holdman, the measures author, told the Capital Chronicle.

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Weve got some clean-up to do, the Markle Republican said.  Well be working on it.

Products with legally low concentrations of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol have proliferated in Indiana, alongside those containing delta-8 THC and other isomers. Attempts to regulate the nascent industry, which is booming on shaky legal footing, have failed repeatedly  but are nearing law, in the form of Senate Bill 478.

These products, being legal under federal law, but having no regulatory structure here in the state, means that technically, its not illegal to sell these products to minors (or) to target youth with advertising or packaging, and that theres no testing requirements to protect consumers from potentially dangerous adulterants, said Rep. Jake Teshka, the House sponsor, on the chambers floor Tuesday.

The measure sets out advertising, age-limit, licensing, packaging, testing and other requirements over the currently unregulated substances. It authorizes the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission to oversee the industry, including approving up to 20,000 retail permits.

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Lawmakers have put it through a whopping seven rounds of edits. But critics  including Indianas attorney general and anti-marijuana groups  still have objected, arguing the language would expand existing loopholes.

With Senate Bill 478, I think we finally have an opportunity to rein in this market, Teshka, R-North Liberty, said. We have the opportunity to provide real clarity to law enforcement, to protect Hoosier youth, to empower our farmers and to protect our consumers.

Members of Teshkas own caucus remained skeptical.

I recognize that  the General Assembly should take action on the current state of this product, said Rep. Tim Wesco, R-Osceola.  (But) I dont feel like this is the appropriate action.

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Instead, its moving us further down a path of increasing  dramatically increasing  access to these products that are known to have adverse and negative effects, Wesco continued.  Were setting up a framework that were likely not going to go back on, that is just going to expand from here.

Lawmakers from both parties crossed sides in the 60-37 vote.

The bill next heads to conference committee for negotiations. Conferees will hammer out a compromise. If it survives that process, itll head back to each chamber for a final vote before going to Braun.

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Welcome to the future of urban living! From flying eVTOLs to AI-powered humanoid robots, the China International Consumer Products Expo is where tech meets lifestyle. Come explore what's next.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT)  Travelers can now fly from Huntsville International Airport to LaGuardia on a non-stop Delta Airlines flight.

This really fills a hole on the map in terms of passenger demand, and were excited not only from a business perspective for travel, but also from a leisure perspective, said HSV Business Development Manager Thomas Laming.

Previously, travelers had to fly through the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to reach New York. Representatives for Delta Airlines said the route has been increasing in popularity, with a 30% rise in demand for summer seats.

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Its definitely one of the number one flows that weve seen over our existing services, especially over Atlanta, said Delta Spokesperson Amy Martin. It makes sense to be able to connect the two markets nonstop, which is a lot more convenient. Its a 2.5-hour flight with no stops and I think serves a need in the market.

The Bombardier CRJ-900 airplane sits 76 passengers and flies out of HSV at 7 a.m. and returns at 9:30 in the evening. It operates Sunday through Friday, year-round and has first class, comfort class, and main cabin options.

Its a big win for those passengers needing that service and its coming at a convenient time as well, Martin said. If youre going in for business, thats a great time channel to be getting into Manhattan for meetings, but its also a great time if youre going up to see a show or enjoy everything that New York has to offer.

Martin said Delta Airlines will continue to invest in Huntsville International Airport.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
El Salvador wont let Senator Chris Van Hollen have any contact with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident who is being unlawfully detained in a megaprison in the country.

Van Hollen traveled to El Salvador Wednesday in search of answers about Abrego Garcias whereabouts. The father of three was deported last month due to an administrative error by the Trump administration, which continues to claim Abrego Garcia is a member of MS-13, despite there being no evidence to prove it.

The Democratic senator from Maryland asked Salvadoran Vice President Felix Ulloa if he could arrange a meeting with Abrego Garcia, he told reporters Wednesday.

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He said he was not able to make that happen, Van Hollen said, adding that Ulloa gave him the same response when he asked if he could come back next week instead.

So I asked if I could get on the phone, either video phone or phone, and talk to Mr. Abrego Garcia to see how hes doing, Van Hollen continued. Ulloa wont let that happen either. Nor will he allow Abrego Garcia to speak with his family, for whom Van Hollen promised he would get answers.

The Trump administration is currently paying El Salvador $6 million to detain more than 200 immigrants in CECOT, a megaprison where people all but disappear once theyre locked up. The notorious institution is the centerpiece of President Nayib Bukeles violent crackdown on crime, and can hold up to 40,000 inmates. CECOT inmates are shut out from the outside worldtheyre not allowed visitors or phone calls with loved ones, nor are there any programs to help them integrate back into society upon releasea cruel but convenient place for Trump to send people he doesnt want tracked down.

Last week, the Supreme Court ordered the White House to facilitate the return of Abrego Garcia, but Trump still hasnt done anything to make that happen. And it seems like El Salvador wont either, a scary indication of just how much the government is cozying up to Trump amid his mass deportation plans.

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In a meeting with Trump on Monday, Bukele said he will not return Abrego Garcia to the U.S., nor will he release him in El Salvador, despite the Supreme Courts orders. Van Hollen is the first Democrat to step up and demand Abrego Garcias release on Bukeles home turf.

The goal of this mission is to let the Trump administration, to let the government of El Salvador know that we are going to keep fighting to bring Abrego Garcia home, he said, finally showing some long-awaited courage from the Democratic Party.
LANSING  Democrat Mark Totten, a former U.S. attorney, announced April 16 he running to succeed Dana Nessel as Michigan attorney general.

Michigan needs a fearless attorney general who will fight for justice, fairness, and the rule of law, and thats exactly what I will do, Totten said in a news release.

Mark Totten is running for Michigan attorney general.

We are in turbulent times and need leaders determined to protect our state, our rights, and our safety.

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Nessel, a Democrat first elected in 2018, can't run again in 2026 due to constitutional term limits.

Totten, of Kalamazoo, is the first candidate from either major party to announce his candidacy.

He said his priorities will include fighting violent crime, protecting children from online predators, protecting seniors from fraud, and protecting civil rights and democracy more broadly.

Totten served as U.S. attorney for the western district of Michigan from May 2022 to January 2025.

Before that, he was chief legal counsel to Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer from 2019 to 2022 and taught criminal law at Michigan State University School of Law from 2009 to 2018.

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A 2006 graduate of Yale Law School, Totten began his career at the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., where he served as a staff attorney in the appellate division.

Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Democrat Mark Totten launches campaign for Michigan attorney general
Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland is in El Salvador to get answers about the wrongful deportation of a Maryland migrant by President Donald Trump's administration, he said in a video before boarding a flight on Wednesday.

The Democratic senator said he had been planning the trip for the last few days and that he hopes to meet with Kilmar Abrego Garcia in person and see his condition.

Abrego Garcia, who reportedly fled political persecution from El Salvador and was deported last month by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement following an "administrative error," remains in the CECOT prison despite court orders requesting the U.S. government "facilitate" bringing him back to the United States.

PHOTO: Sen. Chris Van Hollen speaks during a press conference in Antiguo Cuscatlan, El Salvador, April 16, 2025. (Marvin Recinos/AFP via Getty Images)

MORE: Judge in Abrego Garcia case blasts DOJ's inaction, orders officials to testify under oath

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"The goal of this mission is to let the Trump administration, to let the government of El Salvador know that we are going to keep fighting to bring Abrego Garcia home," Van Hollen said in a video.

He posted another video after he landed and said he was on his way to meet with members of the U.S. Embassy in San Salvador.

Van Hollen told reporters later in the afternoon that he wasn't able to speak with El Salvador President Nayib Bukele but did speak with the vice president. The senator asked why Abrego Garcia has been held at CECOT despite no criminal charges.

"His answer was that the Trump administration is paying El Salvador, the government of El Salvador, to keep him at CECOT," Van Hollen said.

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"I'm asking President Bukele under his authority as president of El Salvador to do the right thing and allow Mr. Abrego Garcia to walk out of a prison, a man who is charged with no crime, convicted with no crime and was illegally abducted from the United States," the senator said.

He added that he did not speak with Abrego Garcia or enter CECOT. Republican Congress members have taken tours of the facility in the last few weeks and have posted pictures from the inside on social media.

"I don't know about his health status -- that's why I wanted to meet with him directly," Von Hollen said.

PHOTO: Sen. Chris Van Hollen speaks during a press conference in Antiguo Cuscatlan, El Salvador, April 16, 2025. (Marvin Recinos/AFP via Getty Images)

Later in the evening, Van Hollen posted another video update on social media, explaining that he's had "back-to-back meetings" in the country -- with members of humans rights groups and the U.S. Embassy.

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"And the entire purpose has been to bring Abrego Garcia home," the senator said.

Van Hollen also said that he called on the government of El Salvador to provide evidence that Abrego Garcia was involved in MS-13 -- they could not.

"They said they had no evidence," he said.

"So this is not about MS-13. I know President Trump wants to make this about gang violence. I have been fighting MS-13, probably longer than Donald Trump even knew about MS- 13. I care about every victim of crime. That's why we have a court system to hold people accountable when they commit crimes, to make sure they get the punishment they deserve," Van Hollen continued.

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In the end, the senator claimed that his trip was simply about letting Abrego Garcia "have his day in court."

"We use the courts to make sure that we don't convict people who are not guilty, and that we convict those who are," Van Hollen said.

MORE: Trump admin live updates: 3rd Pentagon official placed on leave amid leak investigation

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt held a news conference later in the day and slammed the senator for "potentially using taxpayer dollars" to fly to El Salvador in an attempt to bring Abrego Garcia back to the U.S. and repeated her allegations that the migrant was an MS-13 terrorist.

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"It's appalling and sad that Sen. Van Hollen and the Democrats are plotting his trip to El Salvador today, are incapable of having any shred of common sense or empathy for their own constituents and our citizens," she told reporters.

Attorney General Pam Bondi alleged Abrego Garcia is an MS-13 gang member and was able to be deported because of Trump's executive orders on immigration. She added Wednesday morning during a press briefing that Abrego Garcia will not be returning to the U.S.

MORE: Lawyer for wrongly deported Maryland man says it might take contempt order to get him back

"He should not be in our country," Bondi said. "He was deported. They needed one additional step in paperwork, but now MS-13 is characterized as they should be as an FTO, as a foreign terrorist organization. So he is not coming back to our country."

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"President Bukele said he was not sending him back," she added. "That's the end of the story."

The Department of Justice has not made that accusation in court papers and admitted the deportation was an error, and Bondi declined to answer a reporter's question about why the DOJ hasn't presented direct evidence of this. Abrego Garcia's family and attorneys have been fighting the deportation for weeks in court.

PHOTO: Jennifer Vasquez Sura, wife of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, speaks during a press conference on the day of a hearing in the case related to Kilmar Abrego Garcia outside U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, Maryland, April 15, 2025. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Van Hollen reiterated that none of these allegations were made in court and no charges related to the allegations have been issued.

Leavitt claimed Abrego Garcia was wearing clothing that had MS-13 symbols, but such allegations were not made in court and there has been no evidence backing up this claim. An arrest photo released by the federal government earlier in the day showed Abrego Garcia wearing what appeared to be a bright yellow construction shirt.

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The press secretary invited Patty Morin, the mother of Rachel Morin, a Maryland mother of five who was killed by an immigrant lacking legal status in 2023, to speak at the news conference. Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez, 24, who was originally from El Salvador and accused of killing a woman in his home country, was convicted of first-degree murder, first-degree rape, third-degree sex offense and kidnapping on Monday.

"To have a senator from Maryland who didn't even acknowledge or barely acknowledged my daughter and the brutal death that she endured, leaving her five children without a mother and now a grandbaby without a grandmother so that he can use my taxpayer money to fly to El Salvador to bring back someone that's not even an American citizen, why does that person have more right than I do for my daughter, for my grandchildren?" she said.

The senator put out a statement after Martinez-Hernadez's conviction saying, "This verdict brings a measure of justice that they so deserve. I'm grateful to the law enforcement officers who brought her killer into custody and for our legal process for delivering this justice."

The Supreme Court unanimously ruled last week that the Abrego Garcia, 29, who had no criminal record in the U.S., was illegally deported. However, Bondi has claimed El Salvador's government is not giving him up.

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In an interview with Rachel Maddow on Wednesday night from San Salvador, Van Hollen said that U.S. Embassy officials told him they haven't been ordered by the administration to do anything to facilitate Abrego Garcia's return.

"I asked the folks at the embassy whether they've been ordered by the administration to do anything to facilitate his return. The answer was no," he said. "So they're clearly not in compliance."

"It is pretty clear that the Trump administration has not lifted a finger to implement that court order. And so I think it's important that the courts know that -- and they will know that," he told Maddow.

The senator said on social media that he would "continue pressing" to secure Abrego Garcia's release.

ABC News' Alexander Mallin and Meghan Mistry contributed to this report.

Senator heads to El Salvador to find Maryland migrant deported erroneously by Trump originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  National and local Democrats spent Tuesday accusing the White House and congressional Republicans of targeting Social Security through recent cuts.

Former President Joe Biden even made an appearance in Chicago, taking aim directly at the Trump administration.

Theyre shooting first and aiming later; the result is a lot of needless pain and sleepless nights, said Biden.

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In Charlotte, Congresswoman Alma Adams hosted a rally outside the Charlotte Social Security office, joined by a few dozen supporters and constituents. She argued that cuts made by the administration will get in the way of recipients receiving their payments.

President Trump has repeatedly said he will not touch social security payments, and his press secretary renewed that commitment on Tuesday morning.

QCNEWS.COM

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He will always protect that program. He campaigned on it. He protected it in his first term, and hes back again to continue protecting it, said Karoline Leavitt.

But Adams told Queen City News she cant take the President or the White House at their word.

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He didnt tell the truth about a lot of things. But all you have to do is look at that blueprint, look at and listen to the discussion, look at Project 2025, said Adams.

Cuts to social security staffing will likely move forward, as the White House has called it another way to increase efficiency. Democrats are convinced those cuts will cause delays in payments.

As of right now, no major delays have been seen.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
A visitor poses for photos with a Porsche racing car at the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, April 15, 2025. At the fashion lifestyle exhibition area of the ongoing consumer expo, six brands under Volkswagen Group China, including Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche and Bentley, showcased the latest advancements in luxury and electric mobility. (Xinhua/Zhou Huimin)

HAIKOU, April 16 (Xinhua) -- At the fashion lifestyle exhibition area of the ongoing 5th China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, six brands under Volkswagen Group China, including Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche and Bentley, showcased the latest advancements in luxury and electric mobility.

This marks the third consecutive year that the German automaker has participated in the expo.

Liu Yunfeng, executive vice president of Volkswagen Group China, said that the presence of 11 models from the company's various brands at this year's expo fully demonstrates their long-term commitment and strong confidence in the Chinese market.

Meanwhile, as part of the strategic cooperation between the company and Hainan, projects in the fields of energy and charging are progressing steadily.

Liu said that the company places great importance on the Chinese market and is optimistic about the potential of the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP). The group will continue to strengthen communication and cooperation with Hainan.

Leveraging the opening policies of the Hainan FTP, the group will steadily advance strategic cooperation across several fields, contributing jointly to the development of Hainan in sustainable mobility, he added.

Looking ahead, Liu noted that Volkswagen Group China will continue to deepen its engagement with the Chinese market, offering a rich product range and forward-looking technological solutions to provide local consumers with an even better electric mobility experience.

Volkswagen Group China plans to launch about 40 new models in the Chinese market from 2025 to 2027, with more than half of them being new energy vehicles. By 2030, the group will release over 30 pure electric models in the Chinese market.

Ducati, a leading motorcycle brand of Volkswagen Group China, showcased two classic motorcycle models this year, which captivated the attention of many visitors. Fabio Lambertini, CEO of Ducati China, said it was the third time that Ducati had participated in the expo.

"The Chinese market is making continuous evolution," said Lambertini, noting that Ducati is thus shaping an "in China, for China" strategy that perfectly fits the local needs.

Regarding Hainan, Lambertini believed the province is a vital hub for China and for Ducati as well, adding that Hainan's excellent roads along the seaside and in the mountains could offer an opportunity to invest further on the island.

As the largest consumer products exhibition in the Asia-Pacific region, the expo is being held in Hainan from April 13 to 18, drawing participation from over 4,100 brands across 71 countries and regions. 

Visitors view the Ducati motorcycles at the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, April 14, 2025. At the fashion lifestyle exhibition area of the ongoing consumer expo, six brands under Volkswagen Group China, including Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche and Bentley, showcased the latest advancements in luxury and electric mobility. (Xinhua/Zhou Huimin)

This photo taken on April 15, 2025 shows the booth of Audi at the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province. At the fashion lifestyle exhibition area of the ongoing consumer expo, six brands under Volkswagen Group China, including Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche and Bentley, showcased the latest advancements in luxury and electric mobility. (Xinhua/Zhou Huimin)

This photo taken on April 15, 2025 shows a Lamborghini car on display at the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province. At the fashion lifestyle exhibition area of the ongoing consumer expo, six brands under Volkswagen Group China, including Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche and Bentley, showcased the latest advancements in luxury and electric mobility. (Xinhua/Zhou Huimin)

Visitors view a Bentley car at the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, April 15, 2025. At the fashion lifestyle exhibition area of the ongoing consumer expo, six brands under Volkswagen Group China, including Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche and Bentley, showcased the latest advancements in luxury and electric mobility. (Xinhua/Zhou Huimin)
Federal authorities have arrested a Brazilian woman who was previously deported and who is charged with multiple sex crimes against a Massachusetts child on Cape Cod.

Ilma Leandro De Oliveira, 53, of Brazil, was arrested in Falmouth on March 20, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said in a statement on Wednesday. Officers with ICE Boston and agents with FBI Boston and ATF Boston made the arrest.

Ilma Leandro De Oliveira is charged with seven different crimes regarding the sexual victimization of a child in our Massachusetts community, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia Hyde said in a statement. These are crimes we simply will not tolerate. ICE Boston will continue to prioritize the safety of our children by arresting and removing any criminal alien who poses a threat to our New England residents.

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ICE Boston transferred custody of Leandro De Oliveira over to the U.S. Marshals Service on April 8, as she is expected to be prosecuted for illegal reentry after deportation.

On March 18, Leandro De Oliveira was arraigned in Falmouth District Court on charges including for rape of a child, reckless endangerment of a child, indecent exposure, indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, unnatural acts with a child, aggravated statutory rape of a child, and incest.

On March 20, officers with ICE Boston and agents with FBI Boston and ATF Boston arrested Leandro De Oliveira in Falmouth. They served her with a notice of intent/decision to reinstate a prior removal order.

U.S. Border Patrol arrested Leandro De Oliveira on Sept. 20, 2007, after she illegally entered the United States near Laredo, Texas. The Border Patrol served her a notice and order of expedited removal.

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On Dec. 27, 2007, ERO San Antonio removed Leandro De Oliveira from the U.S. to Brazil.

Leandro De Oliveira illegally re-entered the U.S. on an unknown date, at an unknown location, and without being inspected, admitted, or paroled by a U.S. immigration official, Hyde said.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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TAMPA  Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a death warrant Tuesday for Glen Rogers, who was convicted and ordered to die for the 1995 murder of a Gibsonton woman.

A jury in 1997 unanimously recommended that Rogers be sentenced to death for the vicious stabbing of Tina Marie Cribbs, whom he met at a Gibsonton bar before she was found dead in an East Tampa motel room.

DeSantis ordered that Rogers, 62, will be executed May 15.

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Rogers, a former carnival worker who traveled widely throughout the nation, is suspected in other homicides. He was dubbed in the media as the Casanova Killer and the Cross-Country Killer.

One Sunday in November 1995, he turned up at Showtown USA, a bar and restaurant in Gibsonton, a small town in southern Hillsborough County known as the wintertime home for people who worked in the circus.

The bearded stranger with long, stringy hair made small talk with the bar patrons there and bought a round of drinks for a group of women. Cribbs was one of them.

She was a 34-year-old mother of two sons. A native New Yorker, shed moved to Gibsonton about three years earlier from Oklahoma. Shed worked as a waitress at Steak n Shake and as a housekeeper at the Ramada Inn-Apollo Beach.

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As she chatted with Rogers, she offered to give him a ride to a nearby carnival lot. She told her friends shed return and left a cold, full can of beer on the bar.

Cribbs was close with her mother, Mary Dicke. They lived three houses apart and shared matching jewelry and purses. Dicke had given her daughter a pager so they could always stay in touch.

Dicke paged Cribbs 30 times the night she vanished from the bar and worried when she never called.

I knew something bad had happened, Dicke told the Tampa Tribune in 1995.

Two days later, Cribbs was found dead in the bathtub of Room 119 at the Tampa 8 Inn, a motel off Columbus Drive near Interstate 4. Shed been stabbed to death. A handwritten do not disturb sign hung on the door. The room was registered to Rogers.

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Investigators found Cribbs wallet discarded at a rest area off Interstate 10 in North Florida. Rogers fingerprints were on it.

Days later, TV news cameras were there when Kentucky state troopers chased Rogers, who was driving Cribbs Ford Festiva. Run off the road and wrestled into handcuffs, an angry Rogers denied killing anyone.

By then, Rogers was suspected in at least four murders. Cops in California, Mississippi and Louisiana investigated him. In a gathering of police agencies at a Kentucky hotel conference room, it was decided that he would first face trial in Florida.

A Tampa jury rejected defense arguments that Rogers was merely a thief whod stolen Cribbs belongings and that someone else had killed her.

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There is no room under these facts for compassion, prosecutor Karen Cox told the jury in the cases penalty phase.

The defense portrayed Rogers father as a violent alcoholic and his mother as not caring what her children did as long as it didnt provoke him. Psychological experts opined that Rogers suffered from brain damage and mental illness.

Defense attorney Robert Fraser told the jury the case didnt legally qualify for a death sentence.

If you dont follow the law, then all you are is a well-dressed, orderly lynch mob, he said in closing arguments.

It took a jury two hours to recommend that Rogers should die. Their vote was unanimous.

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That was 28 years ago.

After he was convicted in Florida, Rogers stood trial in California for the murder of a woman who was strangled and left in a burning car. In that case, too, Rogers was sentenced to death. Though he remains a suspect in other killings, no other jurisdictions prosecuted him.

The defense team in the O.J. Simpson murder trial once pointed to him as a possible alternative suspect in the killings of Simpsons ex-wife, Nicole Brown, and her friend Ron Goldman, as Rogers was known to be in the Los Angeles area at the time. That theory, though, has largely been discounted.

Rogers has outlived Fraser, the defense attorney who represented him at trial, and the judge, Diana Allen, who sentenced him. One of the Tampa police detectives who investigated the murder, Randy Bell, was killed in the line of duty a year after Rogers trial.

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Others involved in the case have gone on to other things. Cox, the prosecutor, is now a shareholder with the Tampa firm of Appleton Reiss. The other prosecutor, Lyann Goudie, had a long career as a private defense lawyer and is now a Hillsborough circuit judge. Nick Sinardi, who assisted in the defense, still practices criminal law in Tampa but moved on from the Rogers case long ago.

All declined to comment when reached by the Tampa Bay Times.

Dicke through the years consistently expressed her wish to see her daughters killer put to death.

I hope the state of Florida will keep their word, she told Fox 13 news in 2016.

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Dicke could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Appellate attorneys for Rogers have sought to have his death sentence overturned due to newly discovered evidence of trauma he suffered in his youth. In 2020, they wrote in court papers that a pair of experts had documented memories that Rogers had repressed about abuse he suffered as a child.

In particular, he recalled being raped and becoming a victim of sex trafficking by adults who traded him around in exchange for drug money, according to court records. The abuse occurred when he was between 10 and 12 years old.

He also reported being sexually victimized by the male staff at the Training Institution of Central Ohio, a juvenile correctional facility where he spent time.

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A jury never heard about any of that. If they had, lawyers argued, they may have been inclined to recommend a life sentence.

A judge declined to undo Rogers death sentence, finding that the law did not allow the new claims to be presented now.

Barring any last-minute stays, Rogers execution will be the fifth that Florida has carried out this year.

It is set to occur 15 days after the scheduled execution of Jeffrey Hutchinson, a war veteran ordered to die for the shotgun slaying of his family in Okaloosa County. Hutchinsons attorneys are asking courts to stop his execution, presenting evidence that he suffers from Gulf War Syndrome.
(WGHP)  Doing research in a lab is where Areli Velazco Lopez thrives.

Its work that gets her closer to her goal of making a difference in peoples lives, doing research in new ways to help these people like with illnesses, diseases, and make new formulations, Lopez said.

She developed a strong interest in science when she was a student at Cummings High School in Burlington.

Piedmont Triad student raising money for families in need in India

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Lopez graduated around the same time Alamance Community Colleges Biotechnology Center of Excellence building opened.

This, I think, is what really drew my attention over here just because if they have a whole building for it, they put so much attention to it, she said.

Lopez is fascinated by the many ways biotechnology contributes to society, including in the pharmaceutical industry. However, she says it was personal experience that gave her the additional motivation to come to ACC and pursue a future in the field.

Lately, Ive been thinking about regenerative medicine. I had a little nephew  who had a heart transplant, and I saw how long he was in the hospital, Lopez said.  I think that really also gave me a push. I saw all these kids in the ICU. I think it changed something in my brain that made me see I want to help these people.

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Lopez will soon gain more knowledge in her field of study. Shes been selected to participate in the NIIMBL eXperience  a week-long biopharmaceutical workshop in Puerto Rico this summer.

Lopez is looking forward to meeting new people, seeing new equipment and getting more exposure to various career opportunities in the field.

Once she gets back from Puerto Rico, Lopez will graduate from ACC with an associates degree in biotechnology.

I would describe it as a blessing, honestly. I think we have really great professors, especially in this building, she said.

As the daughter of immigrants, Lopez says her family continues to inspire her to learn as much as she can.

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This is really important to me. I knew that I had to go to school to show them that they came here for a reason and that hopefully I get to represent for my people as well, she said.  So just want to make my parents proud.

Lopez will attend the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in the fall to pursue a bachelors degree in biology.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP.
Apr. 15SANTA FE  A new office tasked with providing outside oversight of New Mexico's child welfare agency will set up shop this summer with just a fraction of its proposed state funding.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham last week used her line-item veto authority to ax $1 million in start-up funding that lawmakers had appropriated in a state budget bill for the new Office of the Child Advocate.

She also vetoed a separate $650,000 appropriation for the office, but left intact a similar earmark in a different part of the spending bill.

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While advocates have expressed concern about the vetoes' impact, Attorney General Raul Torrez does not plan to let the governor's actions snuff out the plan.

A spokeswoman for the Democratic attorney general said Torrez has already authorized the state Department of Justice to make up the budget shortfall for the newly created office, which will be administratively attached to the agency.

"We intend to keep working with our partners in the Legislature to ensure adequate funding for the Office of the Child Advocate as its important work gets underway and will continue to advocate for children's civil rights with or without the governor's support," Torrez's chief of staff Lauren Rodriguez told the Journal.

She also said the Department of Justice was "profoundly disappointed" by Lujan Grisham's vetoes and her resistance to outside oversight of the Children, Youth and Families Department.

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During the final days of this year's 60-day legislative session, Lujan Grisham signed into law the creation of the new Office of the Child Advocate, which a bipartisan group of lawmakers had pushed for years to establish.

But the signing of House Bill 5 came after the governor worked with senators to make changes to the legislation. She also released a blistering message upon signing the bill in which she criticized legislators and the first-term attorney general alike.

"Make no mistake about it, this bill was not designed to protect children," Lujan Grisham said at the time, while accusing lawmakers and Torrez of pushing the legislation as part of a political vendetta.

The governor and CYFD Secretary Teresa Casados have in recent years staunchly opposed outside oversight of the agency, saying such action could damage employee morale and lead to a fractious relationship between the two government entities.

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But backers of the legislation have insisted changes were necessary amid CYFD's struggles to reverse chronic staff shortages and an increase in the state's rate of repeat child mistreatment.

The new Office of the Child Advocate will hit the state's books in July and will be tasked with reviewing CYFD's handling of cases and investigating complaints filed on behalf of children in state custody. A telephone hotline will be set up to help process such complaints, among other steps.

In addition, the office will be led by a director to be appointed by the governor, who will pick from a list of names approved by a selection committee.

A Lujan Grisham spokesman pointed out Tuesday the governor left $650,000 in the budget bill intact so that the new office can be established.

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"The Office of the Child Advocate can come back to the Legislature in the next budget cycle and request additional funding based on its needs, but $650,000 is enough to get started," Lujan Grisham spokesman Michael Coleman said.

He did not elaborate on the governor's rationale behind the funding vetoes, but said CYFD would continue its work on behalf of New Mexico children and families until the new office is up and running.
REDINGTON BEACH, Fla. (WFLA)  It happens after every hurricane. Developers and speculators swoop in, offering to buy storm-damaged homes, but what happens to homeowners if the buyer backs out?

It happened to some Redington Beach homeowners. They thought they sealed the deal to sell their properties, but months later, they learned the investor was backing out.

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Now, those homeowners are left to start over and are frustrated they didnt know sooner.

The homeowners said they had high hopes of selling those storm-damaged properties only to have the deal canceled just before closing.

It was a dream of mine to always live on the water, said Toray Leonard, Redington Beach homeowner.

Vote scheduled to end popular Cross Bay Ferry service

Leonard said her retirement dream unraveled after Hurricane Helene destroyed her Redington Beach home.



To walk into your home and you have 4 to 5 feet of water and everything you destroyed is extremely overwhelming, she said.



Leonard said that she and her husband were forced to dip into their retirement funds and buy a new house because their own was left uninhabitable. So, they placed their storm-damaged home on the market and soon got several offers.



We chose to go with one gentleman who had a higher price, Leonard said.

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According to the contract, the buyer, Jason Matthews with 16 Redington Development offered cash and no contingences. The closing date was set for Jan. 29, but Leonards excitement didnt last for long.

The title company wasnt contacting us, Leonard responded.



The deal fell through a week before closing. Leonard said Matthews broker told her they needed to kill the deal, citing market conditions. She said some of the other homeowners were offered a new deal but for less money.



Some of the people hes gone back to have taken a 70% decrease in the offer, Leonard said.



Its not illegal to back out of a real estate deal, of course, but Leonard and others told us they were frustrated that Matthews took months to tell them, months when they could have found a different buyer before real estate prices dropped in the area.



8 On Your Side reached out to Jason Matthews to get his side of the story. We tried calling but found his voicemail wasnt set up. We messaged him on LinkedIn, as well as his websites, but so far, no response.

Leonard said she feels Matthews should at least return the escrow money used to seal the now broken deal.

Jason Matthew 16 Redington development, he wouldnt even release the escrow that he put as a deposit, Leonard said.



We reached out to the Town of Redington Beach about the homeowners complaints.

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The towns attorney, Robert Eschenfelder, gave us this reply, writing:

If this or any other company is engaging in such conduct during a time when many owners are struggling to make the best decision for themselves during a time of tragedy where none of the options are good and most involve financial and emotional cost, such conduct would be reprehensible.

As for the Leonards and their neighbors in the same situation, they have to start over now in their search for a buyer, but their frustration is still focused on Matthews.



We feel he should be held accountable, said Leonard.

While Floridas municipalities do not have regulatory authority over such matters, in addition to individual owners bringing breach of contract actions on their own, owners also have the option to report the conduct of the company involved to the Florida Attorney General, Eschenfelder wrote. The Consumer Protection Division of the Office of the Attorney General is the Attorney Generals civil enforcement authority for violations of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act and related laws.

Eschenfelder said the town has not received any complaints related to offers to buy homes, but it recently prosecuted a code enforcement case related to a construction site of a home Matthews is building.

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Code Enforcement has also issued two courtesy notices to him in relation to two other vacation rental properties he runs in the Town which have failed to undergo the registration process required in the Towns vacation rental regulations.

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PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB)  As construction on the streetscapes project continues in downtown Panama City, officials are implementing a few upgrades for immediate public use.

The Panama City downtown improvement board is leading the charge to illuminate the historic district.

There are definitely some both short-term goals and efforts underway in downtown Panama City as well as long-term goals. We understand, you know, the nature of all the work and the disruption. But, you know, we can definitely do a lot of different things at the same time so we can get done just as quickly and efficiently as possible, Panama City City Manager Jonathan Hayes said.

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The first upgrade the Downtown Improvement Board unveiled is a new lighting installation in McKenzie Park. In partnership with Lumiscapes, the DIB installed colored lights to help illuminate the area at night.

And electric vehicle owners can now charge their vehicles while exploring downtown. The DIB paid for and installed six new EV charging stations at 4th and Grace, behind the Martin Theatre.

The chargers are Tesla-branded but are compatible with the standard type-one plug.

And the downtown improvement board is asking residents for help with one more upgrade. Right now, you have a chance to make your mark downtown by renaming a street.

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Since Government Street lost its government, officials want to name it something more fitting.

We dont have the federal courthouse or city hall there anymore. And so, I requested that, through the executive director of the downtown improvement board, they take the lead on working with the downtown community and their board to kind of suggest a new name, Hayes said.

Officials hope to have a final suggestion to replace Government Street in June. It will then be brought to the city commission for approval.

If you want to leave your street name suggestion, click here.

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ANKARA, April 16 (Xinhua) -- A total of 175,512 Syrians have voluntarily returned to their country from Turkiye since Dec. 9 last year, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said Wednesday.

According to Yerlikaya, the number of Syrians who have returned from Turkiye since 2017 has now reached 915,515. These returns, comprising 33,730 families, have been carried out in what authorities describe as a "voluntary, safe, dignified, and orderly" manner.

Yerlikaya stressed that the return process is managed transparently, with oversight from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

To facilitate the process, Turkiye has introduced measures allowing authorized exit and re-entry and has deployed migration representatives in Syria to monitor and support returnees on the ground.

Millions of Syrians fled their country following the outbreak of civil war in 2011. Turkiye, sharing a long border with Syria, became a major refuge, hosting more than 3.6 million Syrians at the peak of the crisis, according to UN figures. 
Sean "Diddy" Combs is reportedly in search of a Black female lawyer to join his legal team, less than 3 weeks before his criminal trial commences.

The embattled rapper was recently slammed with two more charges, as reports suggest his infamous freak-off party videos could be brought up in court.

This comes after a report shared some insight into Sean "Diddy" Combs' prison lifestyle, including the kind of currency he uses while locked up.

Diddy Is On The Hunt For A Black Female Lawyer

MEGA

According to a TMZ report, Diddy is looking to add a Black female lawyer to his defense team, which already boasts of legal bigwigs Marc Agnifilo and Teny Geragos.

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The "Finna Get Loose" rapper is set to stand trial for his alleged sex crimes in about 3 weeks and is looking to bolster his current trial team after one member of his team, Anthony Ricco, quit the role in February.

Diddy's lawyers have brought up the issue of race in his case, accusing the feds of targeting him because he's a rich, successful black man.

It appears his hunt for a Black female lawyer is to ensure a diverse representation amongst his legal counsel, as Agnifilo and Geragos are both white.

However, the new addition is said not to be just for appearance as the lawyer must also know her onions and be ready to hit the road running when his trial kicks off.

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Regardless of who else joins the team, Agnifilo and Geragos will continue to be Diddy's lead counselors.

The Rapper Has Hired Young Thug's Lawyer

MEGA

Amid Diddy's search for a Black female lawyer, the rapper has hired a new attorney.

According to reports, Bryan Steel, the attorney who helped famous rapper Young Thug during his RICO trial, is set to join Diddy's defense team.

Legal journalist Meghann Cuniff, known for her up-to-date posts on X (formerly Twitter) about hip-hop trials, shared the news.

She wrote, "Here's something I didn't expect to write: Young Thug's lawyer Brian Steel has joined Sean 'Diddy' Combs' criminal defense team."

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Steel made headlines last year after being given jail time when a judge held him in contempt of court for refusing to reveal an information source.

On Tuesday, Steel referenced this incident in a court filing seeking permission to join Diddy's team. He claimed that "the judge wrongfully ordered that I reveal privileged information."

"The misdemeanor contempt conviction was reversed by unanimous Supreme Court of Georgia," the attorney added, according to the court documents shared online by Cuniff.

Diddy Was Slammed With Two New Charges

MEGA

Earlier this month, Diddy's criminal case took a worsening turn as he was hit with extra charges of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, and transportation to engage in prostitution, bringing the total number of charges leveled against him to 5.

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According to the Daily Mail, the updated indictment accuses the rapper of one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.

The new sex trafficking count claims the 55-year-old rapper caused a person identified as "Victim 2" to engage in commercial sex acts, knowing they only did so due to "force, fraud, and coercion."

The transportation to engage in prostitution count claims he "willfully caused the transportation of multiple individuals with the intent that they engage in prostitution."

Diddy pleaded not guilty to the expanded indictment at a hearing before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian in Manhattan.

The Rapper's Trial Draws Near As He Remains In Jail

MEGA

Diddy remains locked away at the notorious Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center following his arrest in New York back in September.

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If found guilty on the federal charges against him, the rapper faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and up to life behind bars.

Manhattan Federal Judge Arun Subramanian said that Diddy's trial will start on May 12, where opening statements will be heard, but jury selection will begin a week earlier.

However, his lawyers have asked the judge to push the start at least 2 weeks to allow them to review emails they want an alleged victim to turn over.

The judge, however, noted that if the defense wants an extension, it must submit a formal request within two days.

"We are a freight train moving towards trial," the judge said, per the Associated Press.

Diddy's 'Freak Off' Videos Could Make It To Court

MEGA

Aside from his federal criminal indictment, Diddy faces dozens of civil lawsuits by women and men who accused him of sexual abuse.

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The alleged abuse included individuals who claimed they were forced to take part in recorded sexual performances called "freak offs" with male sex workers, who were sometimes transported from other states.

Reports suggest videos from his infamous "freak offs" could possibly be shown to the jury when the trial begins in May.

According to the Associated Press, Diddy's lawyers submitted a questionnaire containing 70 questions to gain information about potential jurors earlier this month.

Part of the question they asked was the jurors' viewpoints on individuals with more than one sex partner.

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Another question they asked was if any of the potential jurors were willing to watch sexually explicit videos or clips that depict sexual assault.

However, prosecutors have contested the questionnaire, saying it was too long and could be difficult for jurors to understand.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  Shaina Rodriguezs passion for helping those in need led her to western Massachusetts, where Bishop Byrne and the Diocese of Springfield introduced her as the new Executive Director of Catholic Charities.

The Catholic Charities Agency of Springfield provides refugee resettlement services to families, helping thousands find stability. After a national search, Bishop Byrne said this New York native stood out as the perfect person to lead the agency.

Chicopee mayor defends religious message broadcast on street sign

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Shaina is guided by a deep, enduring commitment to have a social impact within the social teaching of the Catholic Church, Bishop Byrne said.

Rodriguez plans to use that commitment to oversee all the program management of Catholic Charities through the Diocese. She said she goes where she sees a need, and she saw that need here in Springfield.

Rodriguez hopes to expand Catholic Charities across western Massachusetts alongside community partners. That collaboration she deems necessary, amidst the federal governments recent cutback of nearly $600,000 in federal funding to support the migrant and refugee population.

We are really looking towards the community to identify what their specific needs are, and we will make a determination as to how we will move forward based on the needs of those we need to serve, Rodriguez said.

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Rodriguez said the Diocese will remain committed to helping the legal immigrant families it was assisting prior to federal cuts, as well as working with Jewish Family Services and the Department of Transitional Assistance to find stable, permanent housing for their remaining 13 cases.

The Diocese said it will move forward to address mental health, food insecurity, and housing in the community, with Rodriguez now as an integral player.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

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ST. LOUIS  Last month, Berkeley Police Major Steve Runge shared his campaign with FOX 2 to fulfill the dreams of Devarjaye DJ Daniel, a 13-year-old boy battling brain cancer, to become an honorary officer.

Many may remember DJ becoming nationally recognized for his appearance in President Trumps address to Congress in March.

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As of today, April 15, Daniels dream has come true.

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The Berkeley Police Department hosted over 200 departments so that the 13-year-old could be sworn in as an honorary officer all at once.

(DJ) just set a world record for being sworn in by the number of police departments, Runge said. Tell me a healthy kid who is chasing a dream like that.

Rainbows For Kids, an organization dedicated to helping children with cancer and their families, was also at the event.

DJ also swore in nine other children part of Rainbows For Kids, making them honorary officers.

I got to swear in kids that have cancer and Im pretty sure thats going to make them happy and thats going to make them live longer, DJ said.

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The salary needed to take home $100K after taxes in Missouri and Illinois

Theodis Daniel, DJs father, shared what this important moment meant for him.

(DJ) and President Trump are like a box of chocolatesyou just dont know what youre going to get, Theodis said.

Although he has been battling cancer ever since he was 6 years old, DJ continues to remain charismatic, expressing gratitude for his faith in God.

You never know when God is going to call you home, DJ explained. Im on my 13th brain surgeryGod gave me my wings, but he said, Im going to take these back from you because you dont get these wings until you graduate from the school of life.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
A murder case that sat cold for more than half a century has finally been solved, the Indiana State Police announced Wednesday.

On July 7, 1972, Phyllis Bailer and her 3-year-old daughter were driving from their home in Indianapolis to Bailer's mother's home in Bluffton. They never arrived, and family filed a missing persons report.

The next morning, Bailer's car was found abandoned on I-69 in Grant County. A short time later, Bailer and her little girl were found in a ditch on the side of the road in Allen County.

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Bailer had been sexually assaulted and shot to death. Her child was alive and physically unharmed.

53 Year Old Murder Case Solved, ISP Cold Case Unit Identifies Killer.



Phyllis Bailer never made it to Bluffton to visit her family. After years of questions, this family finally has answers about what happened to her.



Read more below...https://t.co/oNXf2l7ZLs pic.twitter.com/I1J9eYft1y  Sgt. Wes Rowlader (@ISPFortWayne) April 16, 2025

Police were unable to find the killer. Even though DNA evidence was recovered from the scene, testing wasn't available in 1972. A partial profile developed years after her murder eliminated the main suspect, and the case went cold.

But in 2024, the Indiana State Police Laboratory was able to develop a strong DNA profile from Bailer's clothing. The ISP Cold Case Team and Allen County Police Department worked with Identifiers International, a California-based forensic company, to identify close familial relatives of the killer based on that DNA.

That led them to Fred Allen Lienemann of Grosse Pointe, Mich. He was 25 at the time of Bailer's death. Lienemann had no connection to Bailer but had a "significant criminal history" and was born near Anderson, Indiana.

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Lienneman was killed in Detroit in 1985. If he were alive today, the Allen County Prosecutor's Office would have charged him with Bailer's murder, officials said.

Cold case: Search for a slasher in Indiana

"This case is an example of still another homicide that would never have been solved without forensic genetic genealogy," said Identifiers International founder Colleen Fitzpatrick.

Genetic genealogy has been used to solve high-profile cases like that of California's Golden State Killer. In 2018, police used the technique to identify the man who had killed 8-year-old April Marie Tinsley in 1988.

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Ryan Murphy is the communities reporter for IndyStar. She can be reached at rhmurphy@indystar.com.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: DNA helps Indiana State Police solve Indianapolis mom's 1972 murder
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A 39-year-old man was recently arrested and charged with murder for allegedly killing and disemboweling his dad, saying he didnt recognize him as his dad but as an alien, according to court documents obtained by KTSM.

Man arrested for murder in suspicious unattended death

As we previously reported, Jaime Adrian Contreras, 39, was arrested and booked into the El Paso County Detention Center Facility under a $2 million bond on the charge of murder in the death of Victor Gerardo Contreras, 74, according to El Paso Police.

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According to court documents, on Saturday, April 12, EPPD officers were dispatched to 11755 Ronald McNair Dr. to a reported unattended death.

The call was made when a victims family member entered the victims house, as he had not heard from him for approximately a week. The family member said both the front and back doors were locked. However, the victims bedroom window was open, and he noticed the smell of rotting flesh emanating from the residence, according to court documents.

According to court documents, upon entering the home, the family member observed something covered with a sheet on the floor in the victims room. He lifted the sheet, which was covered in blood, and recognized the victims face, and also noticed head trauma. The family member also noticed that the victim appeared to be bloated.

The family member then exited the home to find that the victims Jeep Wrangler was missing, according to court documents.

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According to court documents, the family member said he sent Jaime Contreras multiple messages. He said that he knew Jaime Contreras had read the message, but did not reply.

Detectives obtained a statement from the family members wife, who said she had last spoken to the victim over the phone on April 5, two separate times, according to court documents.

According to court documents, the first time she said the victim told her that he was having problems with Jaime Contreras, saying he was acting crazy again.

While she was speaking to the victim over the phone, Jaime Contreras took his phone away and stated that the victim wanted to sell the house, and he was not happy about that. After that, the victim was able to take his phone back and told her that he had called the police, according to court documents.

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According to court documents, minutes later on the same day, the victim called her again and said everything was fine, but did not elaborate on what the officers did.

Later on, on April 12, the family members wife said that while she was at the victims home, she was approached by a neighbor who told her she had not seen the victim and that Jaime Contreras had been moving the Jeep around. And at one point, the neighbor had seen Jaime Contreras yelling in the middle of the street, according to court documents.

According to court documents, detectives were able to contact one of the victims neighbors, who said that he observed the Jeep to be parked on streets near Ronald McNair Drive. He added that he would see Jaime Contreras get out of the vehicle and walk towards the home, where he would stay for hours. The neighbor said he found this odd because he knew the vehicle belonged to the victim.

Detectives executed a search warrant for the home and observed suspected blood throughout the home, indicating a possible struggle, according to court documents.

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According to court documents, the medical examiner investigator arrived at the scene where she conducted her preliminary investigation.

The sheet was removed from the victim, which revealed he was disemboweled. The victim also appeared to have a slit throat and several stab wounds around the neck area. It was determined that the victim did suffer a head injury, according to court documents.

According to court documents, while at the scene, detectives were notified that the Jeep and Jaime Contreras were located near Hueco Tanks. Detectives and Crimes Against Persons made it to Hueco Tanks, where Jaime Contreras said the vehicle belonged to the victim.

When Jaime Contreras was asked about the victim, he said he was in heaven, according to court documents.

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According to court documents, further investigation revealed that on April 5, the victim called the police for assistance and said Jaime Contreras was threatening him and killed his pets. Officers responded to the call, where it was closed out as checking okay reference mental health.

Later that day, the victim called 911 and said that Jaime Contreras had hit him and had a hammer on his person. Comments further stated that Jaime Contreras threatened the victim, telling him, Give me my power, then went upstairs, according to court documents.

According to court documents, officers responded to the call, which was closed out as a mental health call, as the victim did not tell them that he was hit with the hammer, as he had advised dispatch.

Detectives met with officers who were dispatched to the call on April 5, when Jaime Contreras had a hammer. The officer stated that during the call, a silver mallet with an orange or red handle was located in the living room on the couch. The hammer was taken away and given to the victim, according to court documents.

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According to court documents, Jaime Contreras had a swollen right hand and a deep laceration to his right pinky. Jaime Contreras said that he had obtained those injuries as a result of battling.

When asked what Jaime Contreras meant about battling, he clarified that he was fighting. He proceeded to say that an alien had harvested his organs a few days ago, according to court documents.

According to court documents, back in 2023, officers were dispatched to the home about an emergency detention order, where the officers were told that Jaime Contreras believed the victim was an alien. The report indicated that Jaime Contreras did walk around the neighborhood holding a decapitated rabbit.

Two months later in 2023, officers were once again sent to the home, where this time, officers were told that Jaime Contreras believed the victim was an alien and did not recognize him as his dad, according to court documents.

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The Supreme Court has ruled that transgender women are not legally women.

In a landmark ruling, the UKs highest court has settled a debate that has divided British society for years  ruling that sex must be grounded in biology.

What was decided by the Supreme Court?

The Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that transgender women are not legally women.

The judgment found that sex in equality law refers to biological sex  and should not be broadened to include trans people with a gender recognition certificate (GRC).

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In coming to this decision, judges had to decide between two competing arguments. On the one hand, the SNP-controlled Scottish Government argued that transgender women with GRCs are entitled to the same sex-based protections as biological women.

JK Rowling, the Harry Potter author, was one of the most vehement critics of the Scottish Government and Nicola Sturgeons stance on the trans issue - Twitter

By contrast, the campaign group For Women Scotland argued that sex-based protections for women should only apply to people who are born female.

The Supreme Court came down on the side of the campaigners, with Lord Hodge telling the Court that the interpretation of women in the Scottish Government guidance is incorrect.

Why did the judges make this decision?

The judges decided that it would be incoherent for trans women to be considered as women under equalities law.

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Lord Hodge told the court: In our view, the absence of coherence within the statute, and the practical problems which arise demonstrate that that interpretation is not correct.

The judges noted that protections for pregnant women set out in the Equality Act 2010 would collapse unless man and woman had a biological meaning.

Helen Joyce, left, and Maya Forstater, of the Sex Matters campaign group were also present in court to hear the decision on Wednesday - Lucy North/PA Wire

In its reasons, the Supreme Court found that the notion of certificated sex would also weaken the protections given to those with the protected characteristic of sexual orientation  for example by interfering with their ability to have lesbian-only spaces and associations.

The justices also found that blurring the boundary of sex would also create confusion and impracticability around the provision of single sex characteristic associations and charities, womens fair participation in sport, the operation of the public sector equality duty, and the Armed Forces.

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The Supreme Court rejected the Scottish Governments claim that female sex in the Equality Act could sometimes mean only biological women and elsewhere include trans women with a GRC, calling it a position that undermines the coherence of the statute.

How did the case come about?

The judgment is the culmination of a long-running legal dispute that began in 2018, when the Scottish Parliament passed a bill to ensure a gender balance on public sector boards.

The Scottish Parliament issued guidance to accompany the Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Act 2018 stating that those with a certificate recognising that their gender is female were women as defined under the UKs equality legislation.

This meant trans women with GRCs would be included in the 50 per cent female quota mandated for public boards in Scotland.

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For Women Scotland challenged the lawfulness of that statutory guidance in the Court of Session, Scotlands supreme civil court, which in late 2022 backed the Scottish ministers, ruling that sex was not limited to biological or birth sex.

The following year, the Outer House of the Court of Session confirmed that ruling. For Women Scotland appealed against this judgment, and the case  which is no longer limited to Scottish law  was sent to the Supreme Court in London for a final ruling.

Trina Budge, a director of For Women Scotland, celebrating the ruling yesterday - Alan Simpson Photography

What is a gender recognition certificate (GRC)?

A gender recognition certificate is the document issued that shows that a person has satisfied the criteria for legal recognition in the acquired gender.

The provision for trans people to apply for a GRC was set out in the Gender Recognition Act 2004.

What do trans people need to do to get a GRC?

Getting a GRC does not require any sort of medical or surgical treatment. Instead, trans people need to meet a set of criteria which includes having suffered from gender dysphoria  a condition described by the NHS as a sense of unease that a person may have because of a mismatch between their biological sex and their gender identity.

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In addition to two medical reports confirming their gender dysphoria, trans people wishing to obtain a GRC also need to have lived in the acquired gender for two years, and to intend to continue doing so until death.

Does this ruling mean GRCs are now pointless?

Technically, no, as GRCs will still serve the narrow administrative purpose they were created to resolve, including allowing trans people to change their sex on birth certificates.

However, the Supreme Court ruling has called time on claims from both the Scottish Government and pro-trans rights campaigners that these certificates would enable trans women to be treated as if they were biological women under equalities law.

The Supreme Court was clear that trans people are legally protected against discrimination on the basis of their gender identity whether they possess a GRC or not.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Upon lifting the dumpster lid, a Las Vegas neighbor was shocked to see a 12-pound Chihuahua howling for attentionluckily the garbage truck hadnt yet turned the corner.

A Las Vegas neighborhood security camera captured an individual exiting a dark SUV Monday morning, carrying a chihuahua to a dumpster before throwing it in. The individual driving back to close the dumpster lid.

We had an individual reach out to us that went to throw trash away in a dumpster, and happened to find a dog inside the dumpster, Lindsey Pinapfel, a Vegas Pet Rescue Project volunteer, said. From there, they were able to backtrack to their cameras and see what time that dog arrived in that dumpster.

Atreyu the Chihuahua (Vegas Pet Rescue Project) Atreyu the Chihuahua (Vegas Pet Rescue Project)

Pinapfel said it appeared the individual carried the dog by the scruff of the neck before throwing the Chihuahua in the dumpster.

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I dont care what this dog did, there is no excuse for the abuse that this dog just had to endure but there are resources, she said.

The incident follows the revival of Rebas Law in the Nevada Legislature which aims to implement harsher penalties on animal cruelty convictions.

This is the exact reason that we need harsher punishment and stricter rules and laws in regard to animal abuse, Pinapfel said.

Pinapfel said the Chihuahua, named Atreyu after the 1984 movie The NeverEnding Story, is now recovering at a Las Vegas animal hospital.

We need to hold people accountable, and something needs to change, she said.

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The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Departments Animal Cruelty Division is investigating the incident.

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BERNARDS TOWNSHIP, N.J. (PIX11)  New Jersey State Police are asking for assistance in an animal cruelty investigation involving a dog found dead along the side of a highway Wednesday morning.

The remains were inside a dog food bag near milepost 25 on I-287 North, police said.

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Police believe the bag was dumped between 10 p.m. on Tuesday and 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information about the events leading up to it is asked to contact NJSP Troop B Somervilles Criminal Investigation Office at (908) 725-0107.

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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.

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A 2-year-old child who got lost in the Arizona desert overnight is safe after a rancher's dog helped lead him to civilization.

The toddler was reported missing just before 5 p.m. Monday, the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office said on social media. A missing person poster shared by the sheriff's office identified the toddler as Boden Allen and said he was last seen wearing a tank top and pajama pants.

Boden had wandered off from his home in Seligman, Arizona, a remote town with a population of less than 1,000 people, the sheriff's office said.

Boden Allen. / Credit: Yavapai County Sheriff's Office

A wide search was immediately begun, including 40 search and rescue team members, several deputies from the Yavapai and Coconino County Sheriff's Offices, and members of the Arizona Department of Public Safety. The search continued overnight. A Department of Public Safety ranger rescue helicopter crew said they spotted two mountain lions in the area, the sheriff's office said. Temperatures in the county ranged between the high 40s and low 50s overnight, weather history site timeanddate.com said.

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Searchers didn't find anything overnight, but on Tuesday morning, an area rancher spotted something surprising at the end of his driveway.

"I'd heard about the missing child before I was going to town, and when I was driving out the driveway I noticed my dog was sitting down by the entrance," said the rancher in an interview with the sheriff's office. CBS affiliate KPHO identified him as Scotty Dunton. "I look up, and there's a little kid standing there with my dog."

Some of the rough terrain surrounding Scotty Dunton's property. / Credit: Yavapai County Sheriff's Office

Dunton said his home is about seven miles from the toddler's house, separated by rough terrain including "three big mountain ranges" and "big valleys." He speculated that Boden walked down a clear-cut path under a power line, but still "can't believe the kid made it that far." The sheriff's office confirmed the distance between Boden and Dunton's homes.

Dunton said he brought Boden inside, and gave him something to eat and drink. He asked the toddler if he had walked all night. The boy said he had slept under a tree. Dunton believes the tree is in his horse pasture. Dunton then said he asked Boden if his dog, an Anatolian Pyrenees named Buford, found him. The boy said yes, Dunton said.

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Buford is a "guardian dog" who patrols within a half mile of the house at night and keeps coyotes away from the property, Dunton said. He told the sheriff's office that he believes Buford came upon the toddler and protected him while bringing him to safety.

Scotty Dunton's Anatolian Pyrenees, Buford. / Credit: Yavapai County Sheriff's Office

"It's what he does. He loves kids, so I can imagine he wouldn't leave him when he found him," Dunton said. "It was a relief that he was alive. I was ecstatic that he was OK and that my dog found him."

Dunton called police and informed them the child was on his property. Deputies confirmed it was the missing boy. The sheriff's office did not say if the boy was taken for medical care after he was found.

Dunton told AZFamily that Buford will continue his guarding duties, but not without a reward.

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"Oh, he's getting steak dinner tonight, my wife already said," Dunton said. "He did a great job."

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Three representative Malaysian traditional kites are displayed at a workshop in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, March 27, 2025. The woman kite (L) features elegant feminine curves. The cat kite (C) draws inspiration from a cat's silhouette, and the moon kite mirrors the crescent moon's shape. Kelantan, Malaysia's northernmost "Land of Kites," is a perfect place for kite-flying, blessed with strong coastal winds year-round. It is the birthplace of Malaysia's most celebrated moon kite and a beloved folk song of the same name. Strolling through the streets, kite motifs adorn everything, speaking of the deep bond between this land and its kites. (Xinhua/Cheng Yiheng)

A craftsman checks a kite by the shore near Kota Bharu in Kelantan, Malaysia, on March 28, 2025. Kelantan, Malaysia's northernmost "Land of Kites," is a perfect place for kite-flying, blessed with strong coastal winds year-round. It is the birthplace of Malaysia's most celebrated moon kite and a beloved folk song of the same name. Strolling through the streets, kite motifs adorn everything, speaking of the deep bond between this land and its kites. (Xinhua/Cheng Yiheng)

This photo taken on March 28, 2025 shows a mural on Kota Bharu's vibrant art street depicting a craftsman crafting a traditional moon kite in Kelantan, Malaysia. Kelantan, Malaysia's northernmost "Land of Kites," is a perfect place for kite-flying, blessed with strong coastal winds year-round. It is the birthplace of Malaysia's most celebrated moon kite and a beloved folk song of the same name. Strolling through the streets, kite motifs adorn everything, speaking of the deep bond between this land and its kites. (Xinhua/Cheng Yiheng)

A moon kite is flied by craftsmen by the shore near Kota Bharu in Kelantan, Malaysia, on March 28, 2025. Kelantan, Malaysia's northernmost "Land of Kites," is a perfect place for kite-flying, blessed with strong coastal winds year-round. It is the birthplace of Malaysia's most celebrated moon kite and a beloved folk song of the same name. Strolling through the streets, kite motifs adorn everything, speaking of the deep bond between this land and its kites. (Xinhua/Cheng Yiheng)

A craftsman decorates a kite at his workshop in a village near Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia, on March 27, 2025. Kelantan, Malaysia's northernmost "Land of Kites," is a perfect place for kite-flying, blessed with strong coastal winds year-round. It is the birthplace of Malaysia's most celebrated moon kite and a beloved folk song of the same name. Strolling through the streets, kite motifs adorn everything, speaking of the deep bond between this land and its kites. (Xinhua/Cheng Yiheng)

Craftsmen fly a kite by the shore near Kota Bharu in Kelantan, Malaysia, on March 28, 2025. Kelantan, Malaysia's northernmost "Land of Kites," is a perfect place for kite-flying, blessed with strong coastal winds year-round. It is the birthplace of Malaysia's most celebrated moon kite and a beloved folk song of the same name. Strolling through the streets, kite motifs adorn everything, speaking of the deep bond between this land and its kites. (Xinhua/Cheng Yiheng)

A craftsman arranges his workbench at his workshop in a village near Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia, on March 27, 2025. Kelantan, Malaysia's northernmost "Land of Kites," is a perfect place for kite-flying, blessed with strong coastal winds year-round. It is the birthplace of Malaysia's most celebrated moon kite and a beloved folk song of the same name. Strolling through the streets, kite motifs adorn everything, speaking of the deep bond between this land and its kites. (Xinhua/Cheng Yiheng)

A craftsman displays a newly-made kite that takes him month-long efforts at his workshop in a village near Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia, on March 27, 2025. Kelantan, Malaysia's northernmost "Land of Kites," is a perfect place for kite-flying, blessed with strong coastal winds year-round. It is the birthplace of Malaysia's most celebrated moon kite and a beloved folk song of the same name. Strolling through the streets, kite motifs adorn everything, speaking of the deep bond between this land and its kites. (Xinhua/Cheng Yiheng)

This photo taken on March 28, 2025 shows a moon kite flying in the sky over a mural depicting a local village in old days in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia. Kelantan, Malaysia's northernmost "Land of Kites," is a perfect place for kite-flying, blessed with strong coastal winds year-round. It is the birthplace of Malaysia's most celebrated moon kite and a beloved folk song of the same name. Strolling through the streets, kite motifs adorn everything, speaking of the deep bond between this land and its kites. (Xinhua/Cheng Yiheng)

This photo taken on March 27, 2025 shows decorations of a kite at a workshop in a village near Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia. Kelantan, Malaysia's northernmost "Land of Kites," is a perfect place for kite-flying, blessed with strong coastal winds year-round. It is the birthplace of Malaysia's most celebrated moon kite and a beloved folk song of the same name. Strolling through the streets, kite motifs adorn everything, speaking of the deep bond between this land and its kites. (Xinhua/Cheng Yiheng)

A craftsman works on the kite framework at his workshop in a village near Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia, March 27, 2025. Kelantan, Malaysia's northernmost "Land of Kites," is a perfect place for kite-flying, blessed with strong coastal winds year-round. It is the birthplace of Malaysia's most celebrated moon kite and a beloved folk song of the same name. Strolling through the streets, kite motifs adorn everything, speaking of the deep bond between this land and its kites. (Xinhua/Cheng Yiheng)

A craftsman looks at a 3-meter-long giant moon kite made by him at his workshop in a village near Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia, March 27, 2025. Kelantan, Malaysia's northernmost "Land of Kites," is a perfect place for kite-flying, blessed with strong coastal winds year-round. It is the birthplace of Malaysia's most celebrated moon kite and a beloved folk song of the same name. Strolling through the streets, kite motifs adorn everything, speaking of the deep bond between this land and its kites. (Xinhua/Cheng Yiheng)

A craftsman flies a kite by the shore near Kota Bharu in Kelantan, Malaysia, on March 28, 2025. Kelantan, Malaysia's northernmost "Land of Kites," is a perfect place for kite-flying, blessed with strong coastal winds year-round. It is the birthplace of Malaysia's most celebrated moon kite and a beloved folk song of the same name. Strolling through the streets, kite motifs adorn everything, speaking of the deep bond between this land and its kites. (Xinhua/Cheng Yiheng)

A craftsman flies a kite by the shore near Kota Bharu in Kelantan, Malaysia, on March 28, 2025. Kelantan, Malaysia's northernmost "Land of Kites," is a perfect place for kite-flying, blessed with strong coastal winds year-round. It is the birthplace of Malaysia's most celebrated moon kite and a beloved folk song of the same name. Strolling through the streets, kite motifs adorn everything, speaking of the deep bond between this land and its kites. (Xinhua/Cheng Yiheng)
NEW YORK (AP)  The nonprofit Vera Institute of Justice says staff from Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency contacted them to assign a team to the organization and told them they planned to similarly install teams with all nonprofits receiving funds appropriated by Congress.

Nick Turner, president of the New York-based criminal justice nonprofit, said Wednesday the nonprofit's attorneys asked the DOGE staffers what legal basis they had to investigate a nonprofit and informed the staffers that the U.S. Department of Justice recently terminated grants to Vera. The DOGE staffers then withdrew their request to assign a team, according to a transcript of the call provided by Vera.

The White House and Justice Department did not immediately return requests for comment.

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Vera, which has an annual budget of around $45 million that mostly comes from private funders, advocates for reducing the number of people imprisoned in the U.S. They consult with law enforcement and public agencies to design alternative programs to respond to mental health crises or traffic violations, and also support access to lawyers for all immigrants facing deportation.

Nonprofit advocates say DOGE's request threatens the basic freedoms of civil society.

It would clearly undermine a core tenet of civil society: its independence from the state, said Benjamin Soskis, a senior research associate at the Urban Institute. Regulatory oversight is one thing, but this would seem to go into much further, darker territory, where the government threatens the functioning of nonprofits that it does not agree with.

Vera's president said in an interview it is speaking publicly about DOGEs request so other nonprofits can prepare.

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I think it is a terrifying harbinger of what might be a DOGE agenda to start infiltrating nonprofits that receive federal funding, Turner said. It could be a misunderstanding. It could be an aggressive overreach," but it seemed clear that DOGE believed receiving any federal funding would be a reason to install a team at a nonprofit.

Not the first threat from the White House to nonprofits

Diane Yentel, the president and CEO the National Council of Nonprofits, called the request from DOGE to Vera a blatant abuse of power that should alarm all Americans.

This action by DOGE sets a dangerous precedent, leaving any recipient of federal funding  nonprofit, for-profit, and individuals alike  vulnerable to the whims of this destructive group, Yentel said in a statement. Her organization sued to prevent a freeze of all federal funding.

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In February, the White House directed federal agencies to review all funding for nonprofits because many actively undermine the security, prosperity, and safety of the American people.

The Trump administration has also sought to cancel other funding previously allocated by Congress and awarded to nonprofits, though the courts have paused some of those actions.

DOGE has also taken control of the U.S. Institute of Peace, an independent nonprofit created and funded in part by Congress that worked to promote peace and security around the world. Employees and board members of USIP have sued the administration, arguing that the nonprofit is independent and not a part of the executive branch.

DOGE staffers referenced USIP as an example of DOGE assigning a team to a nonprofit that receives Congressional funds, according to the call transcript provided by Vera.

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Many nonprofits receive federal funding

The federal government offers hundreds of billions of dollars in funding to nonprofit organizations in every state.

Researchers at the Urban Institute found that 103,475 nonprofits received $267 billion in government grants in 2021, according to an analysis of nonprofit tax forms. The analysis excludes the many small nonprofits with few assets that file less detailed tax forms.

Vera said the terminated grants from the Justice Department totaled around $5 million over three years. Those funds would have provided sign language interpretation for victims of crimes who are deaf, helped to develop responses to human trafficking and changed the way prosecutor offices work to reduce the number of people entering the legal system.

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The Justice Department notified Vera it terminated the grants because it had change its priorities to more directly supporting certain law enforcement operations, combatting violent crime, protecting American children, and supporting American victims of trafficking and sexual assault, and better coordinating law enforcement efforts at all levels of government."

Turner said he believed the administration targeted Vera because it's outspoken about its mission to pursue racial justice and support immigrants, policies the White House opposes.

The Trump administration is obviously doing everything that it can to hobble and handicap civil society, whether its in academia or law firms or foundations and now has obviously opened this front on nonprofits, Turner said.

____

Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of APs philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy.
(NewsNation)  Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on Wednesday that the Department of Justice has filed a civil lawsuit against Maines Department of Education for discriminating against women by failing to protect women in womens sports.

Maine has not complied with President Donald Trumps executive order barring transgender athletes from participating in womens and girls sports.

Bondi said the government is seeking an injunction to get them to stop this, as well as titles returned to female athletes who she claims rightfully won these sports against trans competitors.

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Biden, Obama-appointed judges oversee bulk of Trump cases

And we are also considering whether to retroactively pull all the funding that they have received for not complying in the past, Bondi said.

Bondi was joined by Education Secretary Linda McMahon, state Rep. Laurel Libbey, R-Maine, and multiple female student athletes who shared their experiences, including Riley Gaines.

Pam Bondi: We tried to get Maine to comply

Trump said any state that allows trans athletes to compete against girls and women is in violation of Title IX, which governs equal treatment of students based on gender. A state or institution that defies his order is at risk of funding cuts.

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We have exhausted every other remedy. We tried to get Maine to comply. We dont like standing up here and filing lawsuits, Bondi said.

Judge finds probable cause to hold Trump administration in contempt for violating deportation order

Bondi outlined a timeline of notifications to Maine about its enforcement of Title IX. According to Bondi, she issued a letter to Democratic Gov. Janet Mills on Feb. 25 that warned the state to comply.

The Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education then opened investigations in an attempt to get them to comply, Bondi said.

Maine refused to comply throughout March.

Title IX Special Investigations team created

On April 4, the DOJ and the Education Department announced the creation of the Title IX Special Investigations team.

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Mills has said her states law prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity supersedes Trumps executive order, and told the president at a February luncheon theyd see each other in court.

Who is the future of the Democratic Party?

In late March, a group of school officials in Maine said they would not comply with Trumps executive order but would instead continue to follow state law and the Maine Human Rights Act.

In a statement, the Maine Principals Association said its members are bound by the law, including the Maine Human Rights Act, which our participation policy reflects.

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The Trump administration has already frozen millions of dollars for Maine nutrition programs. A federal judge ordered the funds reinstated while the state sues.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
NEWARK, N.J. PIX11)  A man from the Dominican Republic was arrested for allegedly assaulting a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent.

The United States Attorney District of New Jersey announced on Tuesday.

More Local News

Officials say that on March 2025, 39-year-old Darlin Leon was in ICE custody in Newark while pending removal from the United States. While he was being processed for removal, Leon struck the victim in the head with a closed fist at least four times, according to court documents.

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The ICE agent sustained lacerations and abrasions to the back of his head, officials said.

Leon was then arrested and later charged with one count of assualting a federal officer, according to court documents.

If convicted, Leon faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
**Related Video Above: Working to protect your car from thieves

AKRON, Ohio (WJW)  A pizza delivery driver was taken to the hospital after attempting to stop two people from stealing her vehicle Tuesday, Akron police reported.

Officers were called to the 900 block of Sheridan Avenue just before 9 p.m. for reports of a robbery. Upon arrival, police said they found a Dominos Pizza delivery driver who said she was in the midst of dropping off a pizza to a residence when two male suspects entered her vehicle and attempted to flee the scene.

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Explosive internal report released on bully superintendent: I-Team

The 31-year-old told police she tried to pull the driver out of the front seat, which led to them hitting her with the vehicle as they drove off.

Police said the victim was taken to the hospital to evaluate any injuries.

The vehicle was discovered abandoned sometime later, police said, found on the 900 block of Russell Avenue.

Investigation: Skeletal remains found at Cleveland Metroparks Big Creek Reservation

Police are asking for the publics help in this case. Anyone with information is asked to call 330-375-2490 or 330-375-2Tip.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Questions are swirling in East Boston after a teenager was wounded outside a barbershop shortly after school got out.

It happened Tuesday around 2:25 p.m. on Bennington Street near Brooks Street.

Police say the initial call came in as a stabbing but later clarified that it was a shooting involving a juvenile.

Witnesses told Boston 25 News it was an accidental, self-inflicted shooting involving a teen who had a gun in his pocket.

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They said the local student had been inside El Coro Barbershop waiting for his friend to get a haircut.

According to witnesses, the gun went off in his pocket and pierced his thigh moments after he walked outside.

All of a sudden, I see the kid on the ground, and I was what happened?, recalled East Boston High School freshman Jaison Soriano Chavez. Its really sad. I dont want to see that ever again.

Surveillance video shown to Boston 25 News shows the teenager hunched over and attempting to get back into El Coro Barbershop.

An employee rushed outside and applied a tourniquet to stop the bleeding.

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We got little kids, junior high, and high school. They all come by here, said neighbor David Connolly. They didnt have a white sheet to cover the blood, and kids were getting out at the same time.

Police described the victims injuries as non-life threatening.

The shooting happened less than 45 minutes after school got out for the day.

Community members were left to wonder how long the gun had been in the teens pocket for after hearing accounts from witnesses.

Boston 25 News reached out to Boston Public Schools for comment and have not yet heard back.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

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We are days away from President Donald Trump's first 90 days of his second term, and while he's already implemented major changes through dozens of executive orders he's seeing mixed opinions from Americans.

To gauge the public's thoughts on the Trump administration, several organizations have released polls regarding the presidents approval rating, which reflects the percentage of Americans who approve of the presidents performance so far.

Presidential approval ratings were first conducted by the founder of the American Institute of Public Opinion, George Gallup, around 1935 to gauge public support for the president of the United States during their term.

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Data agency Gallup notes that these approval ratings are a "simple measure, yet a very powerful one that has played a key role in politics for over 70 years." Anything such as legislation passed, actions, and elections can impact a president's rating.

While Gallup has tracked presidential approval for 70 years, other organizations release polls as well, including Ipsos and Morning Consult.

Here's a look at what they're saying about Trump, as of April 16.

What is President Donald Trump's approval rating today? What do polls say right now?

Here are the latest approval ratings released for Trump's administration:

Morning Consult

Most recent Trump approval rating, according to the latest Morning Consult poll (April 14, 2025):

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Favorable: 45%

Unfavorable: 52%

Unsure: 3%

Rasmussen

Most recent Trump approval rating, according to the latest Rasmussen poll (April 14, 2025):

Favorable: 48%

Unfavorable: 50%

Unsure: 2%

Civiqs

Most recent Trump approval rating, according to the latest Civiqs poll (April 13, 2025):

Favorable: 42%

Unfavorable: 54%

Unsure: 4%

Cygnal

Most recent Trump approval rating, according to the latest Cygnal poll (April 9, 2025):

Favorable: 47%

Unfavorable: 52%

Unsure: 1%

Quinnipac University

Most recent Trump approval rating, according to the latest Quinnipac University poll (April 9, 2025):

Favorable: 41%

Unfavorable: 53%

Unsure: 6%

The Economist

Most recent Trump approval rating, according to the latest from The Economist (April 9, 2025):

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Favorable: 45%

Unfavorable: 52%

Unsure: 3%

Navigator Research

Most recent Trump approval rating, according to the latest Navigator Research poll (April 8, 2025):

Favorable: 44%

Unfavorable: 53%

Unsure: 3%

Reuters / Ipsos

Most recent Trump approval rating, according to the latest Reuters / Ipsos polls (March 31-April 2, 2025):

Favorable: 43%

Unfavorable: 53%

Unsure: 4%

Fox News

Most recent Trump approval rating, according to the latest Fox News polls (March 14-17, 2025):

Favorable: 49%

Unfavorable: 51%

Gallup

Most recent Trump approval rating, according to the latest Gallup polls (March 3-16, 2025):

Favorable: 43%

Unfavorable: 53%

Unsure: 4%

What do Florida polls say about Donald Trump's approval rating?

The Sunshine State went red again for Trump during the 2024 General Election, securing 30 electoral votes for the now-president.

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Civiqs polls, last updated on April 15, state that the president has a 54% favorability among Floridians. A 44% unfavourability counters this.

Last month, the Mason-Dixon Polling and Strategy interviewed 625 random registered Florida voters over the phone and asked whether they approved or disapproved of the president. The poll showed 52% approved of his job performance and 44% disapproved in the state.

See Trump's approval rating across the state, according to the poll:

North Florida: 63% approve, 34% disapprove, and 3% are unsure

Central Florida: 54% approve, 43% disapprove and 3% are unsure

Tampa Bay: 50% approve, 46% disapprove and 4% are unsure

Southwest Florida: 55% approve, 40% disapprove, and 5% are unsure

Southwest Florida: 43% approve, 55% disapprove, and 2% are unsure

How does Trump's approval rating compare with his first term?

Trump ended his first term in 2021 with a final approval rating of 34%, the same as former presidents George W. Bush and Jimmy Carter.

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His approval average was 41%.

How does Trump's approval rating compare with past presidents?

Joe Biden - 40%

Donald Trump (first term) - 34%

Barack Obama - 59%

George W. Bush - 34%

Bill Clinton - 66%

George H.W. Bush - 56%

Ronald Reagan - 63%

Jimmy Carter - 34%

Gerald Ford - 53%

Richard Nixon - 24%

Are presidential approval ratings accurate?

According to ABC News, an approval rating doesn't just represent how well the administration is doing for the public. Still, it could determine the outcome of an upcoming election for a politician or how much they get done during their time in office.

While these ratings are easy to understand, Quorum says some analysts believe they are not as useful as they once were due to extreme partisanship and the polarized political climate.

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Presidential approval ratings have always been partisan, with members of the presidents party offering more positive assessments than those in the opposing party, according to the Pew Research Center. But the differences between Republicans and Democrats on views of the president have grown substantially in recent decades.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Trump approval rating today: Polls, comparisons to past presidents
The Supreme Court told Donald Trump to bring back a man his administration deported to El Salvador.

It doesn't look like Trump is going to comply  or even try to comply.

Checks and balances are built into the US system of government. What happens if that breaks down?

The Supreme Court has told Donald Trump to do something. It looks like he's not going to do it.

What happens next?

And by next, I mean two things:

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Most immediately: What's going to happen to Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, the Salvadoran national the US says it mistakenly deported to a notorious prison in El Salvador?

But really, what's going to happen to the United States?

Because we have entered uncharted waters: The president, who is supposed to govern alongside Congress and the court system, now appears to be acting with next to no constraints.

I don't want to get into the weeds about the Abrego Garcia case, and the US government's conflicting explanations about why it sent him to El Salvador and why it says it can no longer get him back. I also don't want to debate the merits of Trump's mass deportation campaign (I think it's awful; many Americans feel otherwise).

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But I do want to underline the big picture: We're supposed to live in a country with a system of checks and balances. And right now things seem very unbalanced. Donald Trump is doing mostly what he wants to do.

Some of what Trump is doing is a supercharged extension of what presidents have been doing for decades  expanding powers originally meant to be at least partially the domain of Congress, and relying on executive orders instead of trying to get congressional sign-off. (Punchbowl News, on Tuesday: "Trump has signed fewer bills into law at this point in his presidency than any new president taking office for the last seven decades, according to government records.")

Ignoring court orders is a completely different ballgame, and a very rare one, as many legal scholars note with increasing alarm. That's why people who say Trump should do that, like Vice President JD Vance, have to go back to an 1832 case to find a precedent.

It may also explain why Trump himself says, repeatedly, that he wants to obey court rulings  particularly from the Supreme Court, as he said last week.

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But on Monday, Trump made it clear that he intends to ignore the unanimous Supreme Court ruling telling his administration to "facilitate" the return of Abrego Garcia to the US.

The reasons for that stance depend on who's talking. Sometimes they argue that courts can't compel Trump to do anything that relates to foreign policy, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at a Monday press event in the Oval Office. Other times they'll say it's simply up to the government of El Salvador, as Attorney General Pam Bondi said at the same meeting.

In reality, if Trump wanted to comply, he'd simply tell Nayib Bukele, El Salvador's president  who sat next to Trump at the Monday event in the White House  to pull Abrego Garcia out of prison and put him on a plane to the US.

So here we are.

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Again: Maybe you don't care much about what happens to Abrego Garcia, or anyone else the Trump administration wants to expel from the country. Maybe you like what Trump is doing.

But if we keep heading down this path, you're eventually going to find a place where Donald Trump wants to do something you don't like. Maybe he'll want to stop a deal you want to do. Something where you'd like Congress, or the courts, to push back, to create a counterweight  the system we set up way back in the 1700s, in place of a king. What happens if we abandon that?

Read the original article on Business Insider
Donors filled the coffers of Democrats who have emerged as prominent critics of President Donald Trump in the first months of his second term  signaling an early surge of enthusiasm among progressive contributors, new campaign reports filed Tuesday show.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, one of the countrys best-known progressives, raised $9.6 million during the first quarter of the year, a record-breaking haul for the New York Democrat and one of the strongest quarterly fundraising hauls ever for a House member.

But 18 months before the midterm elections that could determine whether Democrats flip the House from Republican control, some of the most vulnerable Republicans are building big war chests of their own.

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Here are some key takeaways from the first fundraising reports of the year:

Donors shower Trump critics with campaign cash

Ocasio-Cortezs fundraising in the first three months of the year more than doubled her previous quarterly record of $4.4 million, from the third quarter of 2020.

The blockbuster fundraising by Ocasio-Cortez  in a safe House seat that she won by nearly 40 percentage points last year  reflects her growing stature within the Democratic Party as it looks to chart a path forward in the wake of losses in 2024 while facing demands for generational change from some of its voters.

Ocasio-Cortezs position as a progressive leader in the party was further underscored by Sen. Bernie Sanders decision to bring her on several stops of his nationwide Fighting Oligarchy tour, which has drawn sizable crowds to rallies across the country. The congresswomans early appearances on the tour overlapped with the fundraising period. Her campaign manager said that 64% of the campaigns donors were first-time contributors.

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For his part, Sanders, a Vermont independent, raised $11.5 million in the first quarter of the year. Sanders, who just began his fourth Senate term, entered April with more than $19 million remaining in his campaign account.

The people are sending Democrats a message about the direction they would like to see, a top Sanders adviser, Faiz Shakir, wrote on X in response to a post about AOCs fundraising total.

Other Trump critics also posted eye-popping sums. Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy, who, like Sanders, doesnt face reelection until 2030, raised a whopping $8 million during the first quarter  the biggest haul of his Senate career. Hes become a leading Trump critic on social media.

And Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett raised more than $1.6 million during the first three months of the year  the first seven-figure fundraising quarter for the Democratic firebrand and nearly double her previous quarterly record.

Vulnerable House Republicans build war chests, too

Republicans head into next years elections holding one of the narrowest House majorities ever and facing the weight of history. The presidents party typically loses ground in congressional midterms.

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Four of seven Republicans seeking reelection in districts rated as tossups by Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales, reported raising at least $1 million apiece during the first three months of the year.

GOP Rep. Mike Lawler, now in his second term representing a suburban New York district, led the way with a nearly $1.5 million haul. Lawler, who is weighing a bid to challenge New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, entered April with $1.3 million remaining in his campaign account, Tuesdays filings show.

Other vulnerable Republicans reporting seven-figure hauls include: Reps. Juan Ciscomani of Arizona, Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa and Jen Kiggans of Virginia.

GOP Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, who is seeking reelection in a suburban Philadelphia district that Vice President Kamala Harris narrowly carried last year, had an even bigger cash stockpile, ending March with more than $5 million remaining in his campaign accounts.

Musk backs Trump allies in Congress

Early filings on Tuesday show that Trump ally Elon Musk  who emerged as the single largest political donor in 2024s federal races  made personal donations to nearly two dozen congressional candidates, from Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, the conservative firebrand, to Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

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Musk has railed against federal judges who have blocked Trumps policies and has urged lawmakers to impeach them. Most of the Musk donations were for $6,600, the maximum donation allowed directly to a federal candidate in the 2024 election cycle.

Several other conservatives also received maxed-out donations from Musk in the quarter, including Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert, Ohio Rep. Warren Davidson and Texas Rep. Brandon Gill, who had introduced a bill to put Trumps image on the $100 bill.

As CNN and other outlets have reported, the Tesla CEO has committed to putting $100 million in Trumps political organizations.

Readying for Senate showdowns

In the Senate, Democrats would have to topple several Republicans in red states to flip the chamber  at the same time they are defending seats in states such as Georgia that Trump won last year.

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In preparation for a bruising fight, Georgia Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff raised $11.2 million in the first three months of the year, which his campaign has touted as a first-quarter record for an incumbent in a non-election year.

Ossoff also reported more than $11 million in cash on hand for whats expected to be one of 2026s most competitive Senate races. But the contest is still taking shape.

Top Republicans in Washington are hoping Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp  who is term limited  will enter the race. Greene, the conservative Georgia congresswoman and a potential Ossoff rival, raised about $655,000 for her House campaign in the quarter, and reported about $728,000 in cash on hand, the filings show.

Another senator preparing for a likely competitive race, North Carolina Republican Thom Tillis, raised $2.2 million  about twice what he collected in the first quarter of 2019 at the start of his last campaign.

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Tillis reported a little more than $4 million in available cash as he seeks a third term after two extremely close elections.

And Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins, also gearing up for a race thats expected to rank among the most competitive of the midterms, had about $3.2 million in the bank after raising $842,000 in the quarter  down considerably from the $1.5 million that Collins brought in the first three months of 2019, ahead of her last reelection battle.

Democrats also are defending open seats in three states: Michigan, Minnesota and New Hampshire, as a series of retirements from Democratic senators have put pressure on the party ahead of the midterms. Reports showed how several leading contenders to replace the outgoing members were faring financially with nominating contests beginning to take shape.

In Michigan, Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens raised more than $1.1 million and reported nearly $1.7 million in cash on hand, putting her in a strong position as shes poised to enter the race to succeed Sen. Gary Peters; a competitive primary is taking shape there as another candidate, state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, entered the race just after the end of the first quarter. On the GOP side, former Rep. Mike Rogers entered the race this week, trying again after his narrow loss in the states 2024 US Senate race.

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In Minnesota, Lieutenant Gov. Peggy Flanagan, a Democrat who launched her campaign to succeed retiring Sen. Tina Smith in February, raised more than $450,000. And in New Hampshire, Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas had $857,000 in available cash in his new Senate campaign account as he gears up for the race to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen. Pappas announced his candidacy on April 3.

This story has been updated with additional details.

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When I was running for Congress last year in the GOP primary in Ohios 2nd District, I realized that almost every county Republican Party holds an annual "Lincoln Dinner" to honor our 16th president. Some counties have amended the title to the "Lincoln-Reagan Dinner" to also honor President Ronald Reagan. But the Republican Party in my home, Hamilton County, has taken it a step further. It has changed the name of this event to the Lincoln-Reagan-Trump Dinner.

My question is: What does Donald Trump have in common with Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan?

After 750,000 had died in the Civil War, which cost over $150 billion in todays dollars, President Lincoln had every reason to punish the South for causing this bloody conflict. Yet in his second inaugural address on March 4, 1865, he did not refer to the Confederacy as the enemy but stated, "With malice toward none, with charity for all."

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More: President Trump's policies are quickly advancing in Ohio

What a contrast with President Trump, who promised his supporters in the 2024 campaign that "I will be your retribution." And hes kept this promise. Within hours of taking the oath of office in January, he cut off security details for 51 former intelligence officials who displeased him, including former National Security Advisor John Bolton and Trumps Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo  despite threats against their lives from Iran  as well as Dr. Anthony Fauci, who was under threat for his response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Trump said he wouldnt feel responsible if anything happened to these men.

More: Trump executive orders targeting law firms are an assault on liberty | Strictly Legal

Trump has also fired dozens of Justice Department prosecutors who worked on cases against him and even those who prosecuted the rioters who attacked the Capitol on January 6. Recently, Trump denied security clearances for law firms that filed actions against him, which, in effect, deprives them of doing any legal work involving the government.

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Lets talk about Ronald Reagan, a champion for freedom, who stood up to dictators in support of free nations around the world, exemplified by his famous declaration to the Soviet rulers at the Berlin Wall in 1987 to "tear down this wall." His words led to the fall of Communist rule in East Germany and throughout Eastern Europe and, ultimately, to the demise of the Soviet Union.

How different from President Trumps admiration of dictators like Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines, who used death squads to kill up to 30,000 of his people and was recently arrested by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity. Then there is Trumps lavish praise of Vladimir Putin, whose invasion of Ukraine has resulted in one million casualties on both sides. He has also heaped affection on North Korean strongman Kim Jong-un, where 3.5 million have starved to death under the reign of Kim and his father. Yet, according to Trump, "Chairman Kim has a great and beautiful vision for his country.

There is no record of Lincoln or Reagan engaging in name-calling. How would they feel to be joined with a man who calls the press "the enemy of the people," who described a political opponent as "one of the dumbest  men in Congress," and uses words like "scum" and "radical left wack-job" to describe his opponents?

More: A third Trump term is never going to happen. Why does he keep bringing it up? | Opinion

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I have great respect for Chairman Russell Mock and the leaders of the Republican Party here in Cincinnati, but they know better. They know that exacting revenge, blacklisting attorneys and using ugly language is not something our party or our country stands for. Perhaps its trite to bring up the phrase, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing," but I think it applies here.

If our party wants to hold a dinner to honor Donald Trump, thats fine. But dont dishonor the legacies of great leaders like Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan by lumping them with such a dishonorable figure as our current president.

Former Hamilton County commissioner Phil Heimlich poses at the home of his campaign manager in the Clifton neighborhood of Cincinnati on Wednesday, April 6, 2022. Heimlich is challenging Rep. Warren Davidson in the Republican primary for the 8th District.

Phil Heimlich is a former Hamilton County Assistant Prosecutor who has served as a Republican on Cincinnati City Council and the Hamilton County Commission. During the 2020 campaign, he helped lead Operation Grant, the Ohio affiliate of Republican Voters Against Trump. In 2024, he ran unsuccessfully in the Republican primary for Congress in Ohios 2nd District. His podcast, The Radical Middle, can be seen on Facebook, X (@philheimlich), Instagram and Youtube.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Calling it the Lincoln-Regan-Trump Dinner is an insult to history
CHICAGO  A downtown alderman introduced a proposal Wednesday he said he has been negotiating with Mayor Brandon Johnsons administration that would give police officials power to declare temporary curfews for unaccompanied minors anywhere in the city on an as-needed basis.

Ald. Brian Hopkins, 2nd, texted some of his colleagues Wednesday morning that he would no longer try to force a City Council vote on an 8 p.m. curfew downtown after a series of so-called teen takeover gatherings ended in violence in his ward.

His decision averted what was expected to be a council showdown over how to address chaotic gatherings during the summer.

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Instead, Hopkins introduced new legislation he said he has been discussing with police Superintendent Larry Snellings team to grant Chicago police brass the authority to announce a curfew for minors in order to give them 30 minutes to disperse from a particular location.

Ive been working with the superintendents office (he prefers to stay on background, for obvious reasons) to come up with a substitute, and now we have a good one, Hopkins wrote in the text.

Johnson had taken a dim view in recent weeks of Hopkins proposed downtown-only early curfew for minors. Asked Wednesday about whether he backs the aldermans revised proposal for spot curfews at the discretion of police, the mayor said, This is an ongoing conversation.

I still have not seen any studies where placing a curfew in one section of a region or city yields the type of results that we want, Johnson said at a news conference after the council meeting. What we want, we want all of our communities to be safe, we want our young people to be safe.

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Mayoral spokesman Cassio Mendoza said Johnson was working with Hopkins, the Chicago Police Department and community-based organizations to find solutions to this issue.

Mayor Johnson is supportive of the efforts to find a compromise and looks forward to continued conversations on this important issue, Mendoza said.

Asked about the curfew discussions, a Chicago Police Department spokesperson said on Wednesday: We have been working with members of City Council to discuss safety around large gatherings and potential solutions that will strengthen safety when these gatherings occur.

On Tuesday, Johnson had pushed back on the downtown focus of Hopkins earlier proposal, which he said he had talked over with the alderman, while signaling an openness to negotiations.

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Should Johnson sign off or stay neutral on Hopkins new curfew ordinance, the mayor will need to explain the shift to his progressive base.

Last summer, Johnson told the Sun-Times Editorial Board that setting arbitrary curfews does not yield results that are favorable, around the same time he said the Millennium Park teen curfew  which is still in place  is not in line with my vision. That tracked with his earlier statements as mayor-elect lambasting what he said were attempts to demonize Black and Latino youths after teen gatherings turned violent.

On Wednesday, Johnson called for a holistic approach while stopping short of endorsing Hopkins new curfew measure.

With my direction, proposals have been placed on the table, and well continue to explore and dig into those proposals, the mayor told reporters. Whats most important is, as Ive said from the beginning, is we cannot just shift the problem into a different neighborhood, and we have to make sure that we are creating spaces for accountability and opportunities.

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The new ordinance would allow the police superintendent or a district commander to declare a temporary curfew based on real-world conditions such as intel about a teen takeover, and grant minors 30 minutes to disperse, Hopkins told reporters earlier Wednesday. The curfew then lapses once the incident subsides.

My colleagues came to me and they said, Alderman, youre taking care of your neighborhood with this curfew, but it doesnt apply to mine, and we need it too, Hopkins said. So this is an attempt to accommodate things that could happen anywhere in the city.

Hopkins said he planned to send the new ordinance to the Public Safety Committee, which he chairs. The move would allow for more discussion about the measure and likely set it up for a final vote next month, before summer begins.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, which has opposed curfew restrictions in Chicago, issued a statement Wednesday condemning Hopkins latest proposal.

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Curfews are a failed policy that have not been shown to improve public safety, wrote spokesperson Ed Yohnka. It is troubling that the City Council would consider giving one person  whether the CPD Superintendent or a district commander  the ability to enforce a curfew at any point.

Hopkins push comes in the wake of two high-profile gatherings of young people in Streeterville that ended in violence. A 46-year-old tourist was shot in the arm on March 9 and a 15-year-old boy suffered graze wounds three weeks later.

Its a familiar discussion among Chicago leaders whenever the weather warms up. Under Johnsons predecessor, Mayor Lori Lightfoot, backlash over downtown violence led to her successfully passing a curfew expansion in 2022, but not without controversy.

The curfew law, passed in 1992, had imposed a 10 p.m. cutoff on weekdays and an 11 p.m. curfew on weekends, both of which applied to youths from 12 to 16 years old. Lightfoots ordinance amendment moved up the curfew to 10 p.m. across the board and added 17-year-olds to the restrictions.

For children under 12, the curfew remains 8:30 p.m. on weekdays and 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, under a law Mayor Rahm Emanuel pushed through in 2011.

______
KIEV, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian representatives are taking part in an international meeting in Turkiye focusing on Black Sea security, Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi said on Wednesday.

Speaking at a press briefing in Kiev, Tykhyi said the Ukrainian team would discuss with its partners the maritime component of security guarantees for Ukraine.

In particular, experts from the countries of the so-called "Coalition of the Willing," which support Ukraine in the conflict with Russia, will present their proposals on how the potential presence of maritime contingent in the Black Sea could look like, he noted.

Tykhyi stressed that for Ukraine, it is important that long-term security guarantees discussions include not only land-based defense, but also the protection of the sky and sea.

On April 15-16, Turkiye is hosting a meeting to discuss Black Sea security after a possible ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, according to local media. 
(WKBN)  Over 360 schools in Ohio, including several in the Valley, have received a Purple Star designation this year.

Local Schools with a Purple Star Designation

Columbiana County

Crestview High School

Leetonia Exempted Village School District: Leetonia Elementary and Jr./Sr. High School

Mahoning County

NEW : Austintown Fitch High School

Canfield Local School District: C.H. Campbell Elementary, Hilltop Elementary, Canfield Village Middle School, Canfield High School

Jackson-Milton Elementary School

Sebring Local School District: B.L. Miller Elementary, McKinley Junior Senior High School

West Branch High School

Trumbull County

NEW : Brookfield High School

NEW : Howland High School

Newton Falls Exempted Village Schools: Newton Falls Elementary ( NEW ), Middle ( NEW ) and Jr./Sr. High School

Southington Elementary School

Trumbull Career & Technical Center

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The honor is given to schools that demonstrate a significant commitment to serving students and families connected to the nations armed forces. The designation is valid for three years.

[The Purple Star program is] another example of how Ohio is a leader in caring for our military families. Year after year, our Purple Star schools put in the time and effort to make sure military-connected students have the support they need to thrive, said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine.

To qualify, schools must designate a staff member to serve as a liaison to military families. Schools must also participate in at least one supportive activity each year.

Some of these schools host monthly military kids club meetings, provide professional learning for educators on the needs of military students, implement peer-to-peer transition programs, or organize celebrations to honor military students and families.

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These schools and their staff do incredible work connecting our states military families with resources to help them be successful, both in school and in their service to our state and country, said Stephen D. Dackin, director of the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce.

There are now 700 active Purple Star schools in the state. You can view the entire list of Purple Star schools on the Ohio Department of Education and Workforces website.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
(Photo: Richard Bednarski/Nevada Current)

Approximately a quarter of the 1,093 bills and resolutions introduced into the Nevada State Legislatures 2025 Session are now considered dead after failing to meet a key deadline last week.

Bills and resolutions had to pass out of a committee by Friday, which marked day 68 of the 120-day session; 281 did not. The remainder of the bills either did advance or are exempt from the deadlines.

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Among the most high profile to die on Friday: a proposal to amend the Nevada Constitution to allow for a state lottery. Assembly Joint Resolution 5 was passed by the 2023 Legislature and needed to be passed by the 2025 Legislature in order to advance to the 2026 General Election ballot for final approval by voters. It was not given a hearing before Fridays deadline.

The lottery proposal was pushed by Culinary Union, which on Monday issued a statement deriding Democratic leadership for not giving the resolution a hearing this session.

With federal cuts looming, uncertainty around the state budget, and lack of funding for education and mental health, Nevadans need real solutions and we need it now, Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge said in a statement. Politicians cannot complain about budget shortfalls while refusing to even consider a bill that would bring in new revenue.

A second bill being pushed by Culinary, Senate Bill 360, also died Friday. Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo had said he would veto the bill if it made it to his desk, and the bill would have faced significant resistance in the Legislature anyway.

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Dubbed the Hotel Safety Act, SB360 was sponsored by state Sen. Lori Rogich, a Republican who Culinary endorsed over a Democratic incumbent in last years general election. Culinary had previously endorsed the incumbent, Dallas Harris, but withdrew support for her and other Democrats after they voted against a similar room cleaning proposal in 2023. (Assemblymember Daniele Monroe-Moreno, who sponsored the lottery resolution, was also unendorsed.)

Another high-profile bill that died Friday was Senate Bill 415, which would have allowed local jurisdictions to use automated traffic enforcement cameras. The more sweeping of two red light camera bills introduced this session, SB415 was considered problematic by civil rights groups like the ACLU of Nevada.

The second red light camera bill, Democratic Assemblymember Selena Torres-Fossetts Assembly Bill 402, is still alive. That bill is exempt from standard deadlines but cleared the Assembly Growth and Infrastructure Committee last week. It would authorize traffic monitoring cameras in construction work zones when workers are present.

Opponents of automated red light cameras say they will continue monitoring bills to see if lawmakers attempt to amend parts of SB415 into other bills, including AB402.

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The deployment of red-light cameras is often framed as a matter of public safety, but in reality, most civil liberties abuses happen under the guise of public safety, said ACLU of Nevada Executive Director Athar Haseebullah in a statement Monday.

Two bills sponsored on behalf of the Nevada Highway Patrol also failed to advance. Assembly Bill 54 would have subjected a driver to a felony if they failed to move over for an emergency services provider and that resulted in the death of a first responder. The bill received a hearing but was not passed out of committee.

A second Nevada Highway Patrol proposal, Senate Bill 37 would have criminalized road rage. It never received a hearing.

Other bills and resolutions the Nevada Current has covered that are now dead:

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Of course, nothing is ever truly dead in the Legislature. For proof of that, just look to Assembly Bill 381, dubbed Rebas Law, which mandates prison time for killing a domestic animal. Sponsored by Republican Assemblymember Melissa Hardy, the bill failed to advance out of committee by Fridays committee deadline only to be posthumously given a waiver and advanced on Monday.
On Thursday, Council Member Dr. Victoria Watlington will be hosting a town hall that will be open to the entire Charlotte community.

It will be called The First 100 Days: Reflections and Insights in Intergovernmental Affairs.

County to start $11M Latta Place transformation with new trails, visitors center

Channel 9s Joe Bruno will be moderating a panel of community leaders that includes County Commission Chair Mark Jerrell, County Sheriff Garry McFadden, and State Representative Jordan Lopez.

It will happen from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center.

VIDEO: County to start $11M Latta Place transformation with new trails, visitors center
GUANGZHOU, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng called for the high-quality development of foreign trade and joint efforts to build an open global economy.

He, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when attending the 137th China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, on Tuesday and Wednesday.

More efforts will be made to bolster foreign trade, foster new growth drivers of foreign trade, and encourage broader international economic and trade cooperation, he said.

The vast market and huge consumption potential of China provide opportunities for the entry of quality products from the world, the vice premier said, noting that the country has always been a trustworthy trade partner.

He urged foreign trade enterprises to make good use of the Canton Fair and explore diversified markets, and encouraged foreign buyers to promote trade and investment between China and the world. 
SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  Drury University says one of its students had their F-1 visa terminated as part of the federal governments immigration enforcement.

The student was identified as part of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, Drury says. They have since voluntarily moved back to their country of origin.

Students call on MSU to stand up for international students whose visas were revoked

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Drury University has and will continue to provide support for every student, the university said in a statement.

Drury has made arrangements for the student to complete their degree and graduate from the school on time.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com.
Credit - Jonas RoosensBelga/Reuters

Few predicted the seismic election upset that made Duma Boko President of Botswana. Last October, the 55-year-old Harvard-trained lawyer ousted the party that had ruled the nation of 2.5 million people since its independence from Britain nearly 60 years ago.

But in hindsight, the outcome seems almost inevitable. In a democratic, stable country with vast diamond reserves and the worlds largest population of elephants, voters were increasingly frustrated over political corruption, and the huge influence of multinational giant De Beers, whose diamond trading accounts for more than 80% of Botswanas foreign exports. World diamond prices have been plummeting, as lower-cost lab-grown stones flooded the market.

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Despite his impressive victory at the polls, Boko has no easy way to reverse the decline and fulfill his campaign promises, which include doubling the minimum wage, expanding social benefits for new mothers and seniors, and creating thousands of new jobs. He says he is eyeing cannabis and solar-power industries as two paths to better times. Whatever the recourse, he told the country bluntly: We can no longer afford to depend on a single commodity.

Even in Botswana, diamonds might not be forever.

Walt is a TIME correspondent in Paris

Contact us at letters@time.com.
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - The Dutch government aims to increase defence spending by an extra 1.1 billion euros ($1.3 billion) annually from this year, the leader of the VVD party - part of the ruling coalition- Dilan Yesilgoz said in a post on X on Wednesday.

The extra spending was agreed after negotiations between the leaders of the four-party ruling coalition on the government's 2025 budget.

The spending boost will come on top of an increase in military spending of more than 10% to about 24 billion euros a year, announced in September last year.

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The stimulus measures will put Dutch defence spending on course to reach 2% of gross domestic product (GDP) for the first time since NATO allies agreed on that minimum threshold 10 years ago.

The Dutch government had already said it would look for further increases, after U.S. President Donald Trump increased pressure on NATO countries to spend more on their armed forces.

Yesilgoz offered no details on the new spending push, as the plans need to be formally approved in a Cabinet meeting on Thursday.

($1 = 0.8797 euros)

(Reporting by Bart Meijer; Editing by David Holmes)
HONOLULU (KHON2)  A two-alarm fire tore through a residential building in Waipahu early Wednesday morning, leaving the structure in ruins.

Several gravesites damaged at Oahu cemetery, again

According to the Honolulu Fire Department a call was received at 12:57 a.m. about a fire near Hula Street.

Crews were dispatched to the scene with the first crew arriving at 1:07 a.m.

Hawaiian Airlines gets a top mark in new study

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Upon arrival, firefighters found the home fully engulfed in flames.

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The flames were brought under control by 1:34 a.m., although the building collapsed during the operation.

3 reasons you can file your federal taxes late

Crews shifted to a defensive strategy to protect nearby structures.

No injuries were reported, and all personnel were safely accounted for.

Investigators are still working to determine what caused the fire and how much damage it caused.

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Officials say more information will be released once the investigation is complete.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  Next week, the mayors of Lansing and East Lansing will host the 17th annual Mayors Ramadan Unity Dinner, with an appearance from Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II.

The event, also known as Unity Through Meals, will take place Monday, April 21, between 5:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. at the Henry Center in Lansing, located at 3535 Forest Rd. Organizers say they are planning for great Middle Eastern cuisine and an informative program.

Organizers say the event embraces all community members regardless of faith to work together toward a common goal.

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The mission of the dinner is to raise money for the Greater Lansing Food Bank, with the hope of bringing awareness to the struggle of those experiencing hunger and promote better understanding of how to help the community.

According to the city of East Lansing, the event draws more than 400 people each year and has contributed more than $141,000 to the local food banks since its inception.

For more information about the event and how to attend, follow this link.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
From left, 2026 Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Julian Beaudion, former USDA Rural Development Director Nikki Gronli, and former South Dakota state Sen. Reynold Nesiba participate in a town hall at Augustana University in Sioux Falls on April 15, 2025. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

SIOUX FALLS  Attendees of a Tuesday evening town hall focused on the impact of Trump administration policies voiced worries about federal funding cuts, the impact of tariffs and a lack of communication from elected officials.

The event, the second of four sessions held across South Dakota and led by prominent South Dakota Democrats, took place at Augustana Universitys Hamre Recital Hall.

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Nikki Gronli, former U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development director, said she wanted to organize the sessions to listen to people and offer resources to those who feel ignored by South Dakotas congressional delegation as they face fallout from federal funding cuts by President Donald Trumps administration.

We know that people are concerned, afraid and have seen impacts in their lives already from grants and loans and things that have been paused, Gronli said.

Attendees rallied around calls to unseat South Dakotas U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson and Sens. Mike Rounds and John Thune, all Republicans.

The states U.S. senators are in South Dakota this week, but not for town halls. Sen. Rounds spoke to the group Americans for Prosperity on Monday in Rapid City. Thune will be on hand for a ribbon-cutting at an Amazon delivery station in Box Elder Wednesday morning, and speak at a Pennington County Republican Womens monthly luncheon in Rapid City shortly thereafter. A group called Indivisible Rapid City is planning a silent protest to coincide with the luncheon.

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Gronli described the Sioux Falls event as bipartisan, but it was organized by the South Dakota Democratic Party. Many attendees identified themselves as Democrats when they rose to voice their concerns in the packed auditorium.

Brandon resident Michael Nitz said he changed his party registration from Republican to Independent shortly after President Trump took office this year. There are efficiencies to be found in federal government, he said, but he doesnt like the approach of the Trump administration or the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, led by Tesla founder Elon Musk.

Nitz voiced frustration over a lack of public events with the states Congressional delegation.

Youre the only people who are answering my questions, Nitz told the speakers, a group that included Gronli, as well as former South Dakota state Sen. Reynold Nesiba and 2026 Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Julian Beaudion. I fired off emails and phone calls like youre supposed to do to Rounds, Johnson and Thune. Ive not gotten any response for that, so Im getting tired.

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Johnsons spokeswoman Kristen Blakely told South Dakota Searchlight Wednesday they received Nitzs messages and sent five responses since Feb. 7.

Dusty has a record in Congress of being responsive and accessible and our team works hard to get responses to South Dakotans in a timely manner, Blakely said in an emailed statement.

Tim Sundet, from Lake Preston, was visibly angry as he took the microphone and held up a copy of the U.S. Constitution. He took issue with Homeland Security Secretary Noems plan to monitor immigrants social media activity for antisemitism and college students and faculty across the country being detained for participating in pro-Palestinian protests.

You have the right to assemble. It is in the Constitution and yet they dont care. Where are our members of Congress? What are they doing about it? Sundet said.

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Attendees also expressed discontent with Trumps cabinet picks, including Noem, the former South Dakota governor, spoke of what they see as an uncertain future for Medicaid and other federal programs, and about Trumps unstable tariff policies.

Nesiba said tariffs will hurt South Dakota farmers.

Soybeans are Chinas top agricultural import from the U.S., totaling $12.8 billion in 2024, according to the USDA. Soybeans are South Dakotas top agricultural export, valued at $1.6 billion in 2022.

What I worry about is that this might not be temporary. When a country starts to have relationships with somebody else  that theyre getting their soybeans from Brazil and their beef from Australia  then its harder for us to get those markets back, Nesiba said. We spent a lot of money building those trade relationships over time, and in a matter of 100 days weve burned a lot of goodwill around the world in those relationships.

2026 Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Julian Beaudion, left, and former USDA Rural Development Director Nikki Gronli participate in a town hall at Augustana University in Sioux Falls on April 15, 2025. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

Beaudion, Gronli and Nesiba encouraged attendees to engage respectfully with elected officials at all levels, as well as with family members and neighbors supportive of Trump administration policy.

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If we put a lot of pressure on those local officials, then I promise you our state Legislature will hear it because theyll be pressured, Beaudion said, and then our federal officials will hear it because our legislators and the state will be pressured.

Beaudion also suggested that attendees could run for state and local office.

Gronli said stories collected from the sessions and through online forms will be compiled into a report thatll be sent to Johnson, Rounds and Thunes offices.

Town halls will also be held in Vermillion on April 24 and in Aberdeen on April 28.

Editors note: This story has been updated with a comment from Rep. Dusty Johnsons office about responses to constituent messages.

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TYLER, Texas (KETK)  A lawsuit has been filed by the East Texas Title Company in an attempt to block a rule requiring intrusive data collection and reporting for cash real estate purchases.

Bessent moves to center of Trump World

The lawsuit was filed against the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) which is operating under the supervision of U.S. Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent. In 2024, the network finalized a rule that would require companies to report information about non-financial real estate transactions, including personal information from everyone involved in the sale. The rule is currently set to go into effect in Dec. 2025.

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Luke Wake, an attorney at the Pacific Legal Foundation representing East Texas Title Company, spoke about how they believe FinCen is unethically collecting personal information from citizens.

Congress cannot shirk its lawmaking responsibilities by granting federal agencies a blank check to write laws, Wake said. FinCEN is now mandating unreasonable collection and reporting of personal information to the federal government; the agency claims a sweeping power to require reporting on conceivably any consumer transaction simply because systematic reporting might prove useful to the government.

East Texas Title Co. v. Bessent has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. Their lawsuit is asking the court to rule that the new Treasury rule is unconstitutional.

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BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  The East Baton Rouge Juvenile Detention and Jail Task Force shared their initial design on a new Juvenile Detention Facilities and the new resources that comes with it.

Darryl Hurst, councilman for District 5, said after years of discussing the poor conditions of both the parish prison and detention center, they claim theyve started the process of changing the structures.

The juvenile detention center is over 70 years old. Theyve held several community listening sessions and tours of both jails to let residents get a look for themselves. Hurst said much of the resources they heard from the public were better programs and mental health resources.

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Ensure that women got fair treatment in terms of health, he said. We assure them that mental health was at the forefront, and we assure them that programming space was there. So, when they left, they could go back into the workforce.

Checo Yancy was formerly incarcerated at Angola and now sits on the task force board. He said that with his experience and going back to speak to inmates about changing their life around, his input can help shape the new facility.

If you know where you come from and what youre doing, then I found it to be educational and been able to share what I thought maybe could change things, he said.

The new facility will house 80 juveniles and 40 17-year-olds. Theyll also house adult inmates with 1,500 beds. Some on the task force said one of their main concerns was providing better living spaces, which is a part of the design. New features would include therapy rooms, medical areas, visitation sites, and courtyards for each section.

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Hurst said theyre trying to work with officials from the Baton Rouge Airport on what new things will be in place in the current facilities. He said its an unwelcoming look for people landing at the airport, and the first thing they see are prisons across the street. The new facilities will be built in phases. Hurst said the total cost of the project would be $600 million.

They plan to meet with the community again to hear their input on the new design.

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The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has officially begun examining a case concerning Russia's unlawful adoption of Ukrainian children taken from Crimea following the occupation of the peninsula in 2014.

Source: Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea

Details: According to the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union, the case concerns 10 children aged between one and five who were under state guardianship in specialised institutions at the time of the occupation of Crimea. After seizing the peninsula, the Russian authorities refused to bring the children back to Ukraine, failed to inform about their whereabouts and later the profiles of these children appeared on Russian adoption websites.

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Human rights activists noted that information about some of the children had disappeared from public sources, which may indicate that they have been adopted by Russian citizens. The Russian authorities declared over 4,000 Ukrainian children from Crimea who lacked parental care as Russian citizens in 2014.

Quote: "The application to the Court is based on several articles of the European Convention on Human Rights, including the right to respect for private life, liberty, and personal security. The arbitrary change of citizenship and subsequent adoptions are seen as actions that stripped the children of their Ukrainian social identity. Additionally, their continued placement in institutions under Russian control is considered a violation of their rights."

Details: The ECHR notified the Russian government of case No. 6719/23 and requested official comments, which must be submitted by 31 July 2025.

Background: During a speech at the UN Security Council in December 2024, Dariia Zarivna, Adviser to the Head of the Office of the President, reported that Maria Lvova-Belova, Russian Commissioner for Children's Rights, had boasted about having "resettled" over 700,000 Ukrainian children in Russia.

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HARBIN, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing has called for the deepened reform of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and the accelerated establishment of regional emergency rescue centers.

Zhang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during an inspection tour in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province which began on Monday and ended on Wednesday.

He stressed the resolute need to make SOEs stronger and better, as well as the importance of reinforcing the principal role of enterprises in scientific and technological innovation, making breakthroughs in key technologies and forging new advantages.

Work must be done to efficiently allocate resources to principal businesses and important industries and sectors, strengthen core competitiveness, and make steady progress on the path of high-quality development, Zhang said.

It is necessary to advance the establishment of regional emergency rescue centers to cope with flood and forest fire, he said, stressing the importance of coordinating with local governments, of quick reactions, and of cross-regional support.

When inspecting local dairy firms, Zhang called for strengthened source management and full-chain oversight to improve food safety. 
Economic partnerships with the United States could provide Russia with an incentive to end the full-scale war against Ukraine, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a briefing on April 15.

Leavitt's comments come shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump's Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff, met personally with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on April 11.

The conversation with Putin was "productive," Leavitt told reporters.

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"(Witkoff) believes that Russia wants to end this war and the president believes that as well," she said.

"There is an incentive for Russia to end this war and perhaps that could be economic partnerships with the United States. But we need to see a ceasefire first and the president and the presidential envoy, Witkoff, made that very clear to the Russians."

Leavitt did not specify any current or potential economic agreements between Washington and Moscow in her comments, saying she did not want to get ahead of the official negotiations.

The previous day, Witkoff told Fox News that his talks with Putin centered around a possible peace deal based on the status of "five territories"  ostensibly Russian-occupied Crimea and the partially occupied regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson. Witkoff also hinted at economic incentives for the U.S. and Russia.

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"I see a possibility of reshaping the Russian-United States relationship through some very compelling commercial opportunities," he said. "That gives real stability to the region too."

Since Trump took office in January, Washington has taken steps to normalize relations with Moscow, with an emphasis on economic ties. Following a phone call between Trump and Putin on March 18, the Kremlin said the leaders were interested in developing "mutually beneficial cooperation" in a number of sectors. The White House later touted the potential for "enormous economic deals" between the two countries.

The Trump administration is also pursuing a minerals deal with Kyiv that would give the U.S. broad control over revenues from Ukraine's natural resources. The U.S. claims the agreement would help protect Ukraine against Russian aggression, though it includes no security guarantees.

While the Trump administration insists the Kremlin is ready to make peace, Russia continues to launch deadly attacks on Ukraine's civilian centers. Russia targeted the northeastern city of Sumy with ballistic missiles the morning of Palm Sunday, killing 35 people and injuring 117.

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Russia also refuses to accept Washington's call for a full 30-day ceasefire  a proposal Kyiv has already backed. A partial truce covering energy infrastructure has repeatedly been violated by Russian forces.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian forces target Russian missile brigade behind deadly Sumy attack; Witkoff unveils 5 territories deal for Russia

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Some aides to US President Donald Trump are unhappy with Europe's efforts to strengthen Ukraine.

Source: The Economist, citing diplomats, as reported by European Pravda.

Details: The Economist lists a number of steps taken by the Trump administration that confirm the US withdrawal of support for Ukraine - from withdrawing the military from the key base in Rzeszow and reducing its presence in the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (also known as the Ramstein Format) to imposing a basic 10% tariff on Ukraine (while nothing of the kind has been imposed on Russia).

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In another sign of the times, The Economist notes that Pentagon officials recently questioned an ally about why it continues to supply weapons to Ukraine.

Diplomats in Washington also report that some Trump aides privately say they are "fed up" with Europe's efforts to strengthen Ukraine.

"As always with such a chaotic administration, it is hard to distinguish the true signal from the noise," the newspaper notes.

Currently, Europeans are moving in two directions.

The first is the effort by the UK and France to create a European "reassurance force" to help Ukraine after the ceasefire. Russia objects to such a deployment, even though America has given no guarantees that it will support the Europeans.

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The Europeans hope to show Trump that they are taking on the burden of European security, hoping to maintain at least some American commitment to NATO, if not to Ukraine.

According to this new scheme, the future "deterrence" of Russia will take place in three zones: reinforced Ukrainian forces holding the line against Russia in the east, European forces in the west, and, at least for now, a continued American presence in NATO countries.

The second direction is increased military assistance to Ukraine from Europe. David Shimer, a former National Security Council official under Joe Biden, says there is no time to waste. Europeans should give more of their weapons stockpiles, despite the risks; fund Ukraine's military industry; negotiate with Trump to buy American air defence systems for Ukraine; and use frozen Russian assets to pay for all of this.

With Russia determined to continue its invasion and America seemingly intent on standing aside, Ukraine will have to fight on, Shimer says.

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Background: President Trump said that Russia's war against Ukraine is "Bidens war, not mine" and claimed that he had been told that Russia had made a mistake in Sumy.

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Ecuador has talked to the United States about receiving support in its battle against criminal gangs, President Daniel Noboa said in an exclusive interview with CNN, his first since winning Sundays presidential election.

There are plans  we had conversations, we had a plan, we had options that we would like to follow. And now we just need another meeting, post-election, now as an elected president, to consolidate it, Noboa told CNNs Fernando del Rincon on Tuesday.

Ecuador has been requesting foreign military support for months, saying that its fight against gangs is a transnational war that requires the contribution of multiple countries.

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Noboa said that while his administration would love to have US forces in Ecuador, he insisted that they would not be out patrolling the streets. Instead, they would play a supportive role in Ecuadors security operations.

We would like to cooperate with US forces, and I think there are many ways that we can do that, especially in monitoring illegal operations that move out of Ecuador, but the control of the operations will be in the hands of our military and our police, he said.

Ecuador has been laying the groundwork for US forces to arrive, according to plans obtained by CNN. A high-level Ecuadorian official familiar with the planning told CNN last month that the country is constructing a new naval facility in the coastal city of Manta, with the expectation that it will be eventually occupied by US troops.

The US has previously carried out operations in that area. From 1999 to 2009, it ran surveillance flights targeting drug routes in the eastern Pacific at the now-defunct Manta Air Base.

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Noboa told CNN on Tuesday he is seeking to reform the constitution to allow foreign military presence in the country again, and is open to having military bases to help control illegal operations such as drug trafficking, illegal fishing and mining. That would help to keep peace  like we had in the past with the Manta base, he said.

He said the US had been waiting until the outcome of Sundays election to resume talks. Noboa won the vote decisively against leftist lawyer Luisa Gonzalez, having campaigned on a promise to restore security with a hardline approach and revitalize the economy.

Noboa, who was born and educated in the United States, has been trying to boost cooperation with Washington on various issues  from trade to migration. On the latter issue, he says he wants to improve living conditions at home to incentivize Ecuadorians to remain in the country, instead of migrating to the US.

Asked whether his relationship with US President Donald Trump is comparable to the one Trump has cultivated with El Salvadors strongman President Nayib Bukele  who has agreed to take in deported migrants from the US accused of violent crimes  Noboa said his situation is different.

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My case is different than El Salvadors case. And we both respect each other. We both support each other, but at the same at the same time, different realities. And we need to view things according to each country and each country, he said, noting that he has invited both Trump and Bukele to his inauguration on May 24.

Asked whether another meeting with US officials was on the horizon, he replied, Yes, I think sooner (rather) than later.

The national police says the start to the year has been the most violent in the countrys history, with more than 2,500 homicides. Data from organized crime research center InSight Crime suggests Ecuador now has the highest homicide rate in Latin America, with nearly twice as many killings as Mexico. The surge has been fueled by drug trafficking routes, turf wars and alliances between local gangs and foreign cartels.

In March, Noboa also announced a strategic alliance to fight organized crime with Erik Prince, the founder of the controversial private defense contractor formerly known as Blackwater.

CNNs Fernando del Rincon and Abel Alvarado contributed to this report.

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We understand the temptation for Chicago City Council members to blanket-ban the ragtag rioters and criminals who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 believing they had permission from the man who now occupies the White House. Its hard to imagine any of them, especially those who committed violent acts, rising to the top of a pool of candidates for a city job.

We further understand aldermanic frustration at President Donald Trumps pardoning of them.

But you cannot logically argue for an independent judiciary nor for a second chance to be offered to violent criminals who say they have changed their ways if you apply any such policy through a strictly political lens, opening the door, say, to Chicagos reformed armed robbers and violent carjackers but not any of this crew, as pardoned by the president of the United States.

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If the City Council has an issue with presidential pardons, it should work to remove that power from the Oval Office, which is not necessarily a bad idea.

But it is still inadvisable to subvert the system. It sets a terrible precedent.

Imagine if a future Republican administration wanted to ban from employment all of the staffers and others who were pardoned, some questionably but all legally, by former President Joe Biden. The result is just tit-for-tat subversion and another blow to Americas supposedly nonpartisan system of justice.

We think Gov. JB Pritzker was wrong to direct the blocking of over 1,500 of those convicted Jan. 6 participants from future state employment, even after they served their time and/or received their pardon. The American judicial system looks at individuals, parses guilt and innocence, separates leaders from followers and is at pains to ensure no one gets blamed for the acts of others.

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Chicago should not repeat the states mistake and vote instead to look at the Jan. 6 persons on a case-by-case basis, fully considering their individual backgrounds and qualifications, what they did or did not do on that infamous day and whether or not they now have changed their ways. Just like any other applicant for a city job.

If applicants are rejected individually on an evidential basis, perfectly fine. We are all for a high bar for city employment. But the rest is just political grandstanding that plays into the wrong hands.

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When the financial markets go wild, investors naturally want to know, Whats next? Unfortunately, one answer turns out to be true every time: Brace yourself for a big upswing in financial fraud.

Market volatility and economic uncertainty combine to make everyone more vulnerable to fraud, from expert traders to regular folks who rarely think about their portfolios except when fear is on the rise.

Last week, the VIX contract measuring fear in the stock market at Cboe Global Markets in Chicago surged to its highest close since the start of the pandemic five years ago. That spells opportunity for criminals seeking to take advantage of a population justifiably worried about its economic future.

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At the same time, investment scams have become more sophisticated. Artificial intelligence and other cutting-edge technology make them harder to spot and easier to implement on a large scale. The stakes are higher than ever.

The Federal Trade Commission last month announced that Americans reported $5.7 billion in losses from investment fraud in 2024, up 24% from the prior year. The increase was driven not from an uptick in the number of fraud cases, but rather from crime paying off at a higher rate. Last year, 38% of those reporting fraud said they had been cheated out of their money, up from 27% in 2023 who said the scams theyd experienced had cost them.

Illinois residents evidently are juicy targets, reporting more fraud per capita than residents of 40 other states, according to the FTC. Older adults in Illinois are especially susceptible, with those between 60- and 69-years-old accounting for more losses than any other 10-year age group.

This year could be a lot worse than 2024, not least because Uncle Sam is letting down its guard. From Day One of his second term, President Donald Trump has targeted federal watchdogs responsible for protecting consumers.

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Through Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency, the Trump administration has set out to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. While this page supports the goal of cutting red tape and saving tax dollars, every American should be aware that the CFPB, now sidelined, has recovered over $20 billion in financial relief for U.S. consumers since Congress launched it after the 2008 market crash.

DOGE operatives also have pushed for mass firings at the Internal Revenue Service, an agency with a strong consumer-protection mandate that provides a huge return on every dollar the government invests in running it. Slashing its workforce, as the Trump administration has set out to do, makes zero budget sense and encourages criminal behavior.

Similarly, the administration has redirected federal law-enforcement agencies away from prosecuting financial predators to focus on its immigration crackdown and other Trump priorities. The Justice Department recently disclosed that it has disbanded its cryptocurrency fraud unit, for instance, even though scams using crypto as a payment method are on the rise.

Earlier this month, as his tariff fiasco roiled financial markets, President Donald Trump declared, This is a great time to get rich, richer than ever before. It would be true to form if criminals were among those most eagerly taking Trump at his word.

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Consider gold, an investment that usually does well when stocks and bonds do badly. Gold has always held a special allure for investors who see it as a safe harbor, especially today when incompetence at the top threatens to blow up financial assets. Rest assured that con artists are standing by to exploit golds allure.

A recent scam in Wisconsin began when dozens of unsuspecting households were told their bank accounts had been hacked.

Posing as federal agents, the scamsters goaded one older office worker into emptying her accounts of more than $400,000, using the funds to buy gold bars, then handing over the precious metal to a courier for supposed safekeeping. The victim alertly wrote down the license plate of the alleged courier, who was swiftly arrested, and has since been ordered to pay restitution.

The case had several elements that watchdogs warn investors to be wary of: The scammers pretended to be from a trusted organization, claimed they were trying to help the victim, pressured her to act immediately and prescribed a specific method of payment, namely gold.

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If anyone reaches out unexpectedly, claiming to be a person in authority, saying you must quickly hand over money, dont do it. Instead, block unwanted calls and messages and refuse to provide financial information in response to an unexpected request. Resist the pressure to turn over funds on the spot via wire transfers, payment apps, gift cards, cryptocurrency or, of course, gold bars.

Perhaps more than ever in its modern history, America is headed toward a government that wont do much more to help consumers beyond the traditional warning of Buyer Beware. So take that warning to heart, and especially in these uncertain times, be on guard for criminals who want to separate you from your hard-earned savings.

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Congratulations to Harvard University for fighting back against the Trump administrations unseemly efforts to use federal dollars to try to exert unwarranted control over higher education. The oldest and richest college in America wasnt the first targeted by the White House, that was Columbia, but while Columbia bowed down to the bully, Harvard is resisting.

The White House wants the colleges to crack down against antisemitism, which has gotten out of control on far too many campuses (including Columbia and Harvard) since the horrific Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. But the demands from Washington go much further and while Harvard President Alan Garber, a Jew himself, agrees that more must be done to protect Jews and Israelis on campus, the university cannot cede academic independence to the government, particularly this government, led by Donald Trump.

Last month, Columbia was threatened with the loss of $400 million in U.S. research funding by Josh Gruenbaum, the commissioner of the Federal Acquisition Service of the General Services Administration; Sean Keveney, acting general counsel at the Department of Health & Human Services and Thomas Wheeler, acting general counsel U.S. Department of Education.

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Columbia, in the person of Katrina Armstrong, who was the acting president of the university at the time, said yes to the trio, that the school would obey the directives. The feds then demanded more and Armstrong is now gone, with hapless Columbia on its fourth president in less than two years.

Harvard got a letter from the same three Trump appointees, with about $9 billion in federal grants and contracts under review. Then came a pause of $175 million in funding to the University of Pennsylvania. Princeton has $210 million in research grants at risk. Brown had $510 million in grants and contracts paused. There is $1 billion in federal funding for Cornell University frozen and $790 million for Northwestern. Each time, the feds say that they are investigating alleged civil rights violations.

Investigate away. There were tremendous failures by these and other colleges nationwide to protect Jews on campus from anti-Israel protests that leached into intimidation, harassment and threats against Jewish students and Jewish faculty and staff. But as Garber writes in refusing to buckle under the Trump orders, the majority represent direct governmental regulation of the intellectual conditions at Harvard. America doesnt have federal thought police overseeing private universities, as to what they teach and how they teach.

The billions that the U.S. taxpayers pour into university research is an investment in science and medicine and technology that has produced amazing advances. The atomic bomb project in WWII started as a university initiative, beginning at Columbia and then the University of Chicago, before moving to Los Alamos. A less destructive project that began with federal dollars on campus was the internet.

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The search to find a way to control the fusion reaction continues, which would provide unlimited energy and no greenhouse gases. What cures for what diseases are now underway at the universities that Trump says hes striping funds from?

The money that weve given to Americas research universities has been money well spent and shouldnt be used as a political weapon.

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA)  One of Tampa Bays most beloved islands has reopened to the public after months of cleanup and recovery from last years hurricanes.

Egmont Key State Park quietly reopened last Friday, officials with Visit St. Pete-Clearwater said.

Devastated Redington Beach homeowners in limbo after broken deals

Reachable only by boat, the secluded island at the mouth of Tampa Bay is primarily a wildlife refuge but can also be a personal refuge for visitors, the Florida State Parks website states.

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Many visitors enjoy fishing, swimming, picnicking and viewing the islands wildlife, including a large population of gopher tortoises. The 440-acre remote island also has a significant history as it is home to Fort Dade and a light house built in 1858.

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According to Visit St. Pete-Clearwater, the islands lighthouse was one of the last government-operated lighthouses in the U.S. and still serves as an active navigational aide to ships entering Tampa Bay.

Several parks and beaches in Pinellas County were closed for months after officials said they suffered catastrophic damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

Trees toppled onto buildings and hundreds of picnic tables washed away at the nearby Fort De Soto campground, which fully reopened in February after an extensive cleanup.

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With Wednesdays announcement that Egmont Key State Park is back, officials invited visitors to Swim. Explore. Relax. But please leave nothing but your footprints.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A 21-year-old Juarez woman was killed, and two others were injured after two vehicles crashed, resulting in one of them veering into the sidewalk and hitting three pedestrians on Monday evening, April 14, in Central El Paso, El Paso Police Department (EPPD) said.

Person hit by car in Central El Paso

EPPD said that shortly after 10:45 p.m. on Monday, the Special Traffic Investigations unit was called to assist with a pedestrian crash that resulted in one person dead.

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The preliminary investigation revealed that an unidentified dark-colored Sedan was traveling south at the 1400 block of N. Mesa Street along with an Audi, EPPD said.

EPPD said that the Sedan changed lanes and struck the Audi, causing the Audi to veer onto the sidewalk and strike three of five pedestrians walking on the sidewalk.

The Sedan fled the scene of the crash, EPPD said.

EPPD said that the three pedestrians, all from Juarez, were taken to a local hospital. However, Diana Chagah Garcia, 21, died at the hospital. The other two injured are 19 and 15 years old.

The driver of the Audi, a 21-year-old man from Socorro, was arrested for possession of marijuana  charges unrelated to the crash  and he was booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility, EPPD said.

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EPPD said investigators are asking anyone with information about this crash to contact police at the non-emergency number of (915) 832-4400 or to remain anonymous, contact El Paso Crime Stoppers of El Paso at (915) 566-TIPS (8477).

The Special Traffic Investigations Unit continues investigating this pedestrian crash.

EPPD said this is the 21st fatality compared to 15 this time last year.

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Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen said he was denied a meeting with a wrongfully deported Maryland father imprisoned in a brutal Salvadoran jail following Donald Trumps refusal to return him to the United States.

The Maryland senator traveled to El Salvador on Wednesday to help secure Kilmar Abrego Garcias release from the Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT, where he faces the prospect of indefinite detention.

But he was denied a meeting with Abrego Garcia, and Salvadoran officials would not let the senator or Abrego Garcias family speak with him by phone, he said.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia is imprisoned in a massive jail in El Salvador, which the Trump administration is paying to detain hundreds of immigrants deported from the United States (REUTERS)

El Salvador has recently allowed Republican members of Congress inside CECOT, as well as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who was filmed in front of a row of men crowded behind bars.

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The country denied that same access to the senator who represents the state where Abrego Garcia has been living with his wife and children.

I asked the vice president if I could meet with Abrego Garcia, and he said you need to make earlier provisions to go visit CECOT, Van Hollen told reporters from San Salvador on Wednesday.

I said, Im not interested in this moment of taking a tour of CECOT, I just want to meet Mr. Abrego Garcia, he said. He said he was not able to make that happen.

El Salvadors vice president Felix Ulloa said he couldnt promise next week either, according to Van Hollen.

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So I asked if I could get on the phone, either video phone or just a phone, and talk with Mr. Abrego Garcia, he said.

That was also denied, he said.

The vice president also said he wasnt sure whether Abrego Garcias wife or family members would be able to speak with him, according to Van Hollen.

We have an unjust situation here, he said.

White House communications director Steven Cheung called Van Hollen a complete disgrace to his office and said he should be thoroughly shamed for his disgusting actions.

Chris and his bedwetting friends have shown more concern and sympathy for an illegal MS-13 gang member than victims of horrific migrant crimes, he wrote.

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Trumps border czar Tom Homan called the trip disgusting on Fox News.

A statement from Homeland Security said Van Hollen has done more to bring a MS-13 gang member, human trafficker and illegal alien back to Maryland than he has to help keep his American constituents safe or advocate for the victims of these vicious gangs like MS-13.

Van Hollen, however, said the Salvadoran government does not have any evidence that Abrego Garcia was a member of the transnational gang.

The Trump administration is lying when they say he has been charged with a crime or is part of MS-13. That is a lie, he said.

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And this is a life to cover up what they did, he said. They illegally abducted Mr. Abrego Garcia from Maryland and sent him to CECOT.

Asked why El Salvador refuses to release him, the countrys vice president told Van Hollen that the Trump administration is paying to keep him there, the senator said.

The State Department has arranged a $6 million deal to house hundreds of immigrants inside CECOT.

Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland says he was denied a meeting with Kilmar Abrego Garcia during his visit to El Salvador on April 16 (AFP via Getty Images)

Abrego Garcia fled El Salvador in 2011 when he was 16 years old. He entered the United States illegally at the time but a judge in 2019 granted a withholding order that prevents his removal from the country for humanitarian reasons.

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Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrested him during a traffic stop last month, and he was swiftly deported to a prison described by human rights groups as a tropical gulag.

The White House and government attorneys have repeatedly admitted that his removal was due to an administrative error. But the administration has refused to seek his return and instead are fighting in court to continue his imprisonment as a member of a foreign terrorist organization, which administration officials argue supersedes any court order against his removal.

If we get rid of due process in the United States, its a short road from there to tyranny, the senator said in a video from the airport on Wednesday morning.

The administration is also refusing to share evidence to support allegations that he is a member or leader of MS-13 or involved in human trafficking.

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Asked why the administration isnt publicly disclosing that evidence, Attorney General Pam Bondi told reporters on Wednesday that Abrego Garcia is an illegal alien who has been living illegally in our country from El Salvador.

He is not coming back to our country and El Salvadors President Nayib Bukele said he was not sending him back, she said.

Thats the end of the story, according to Bondi. If he wanted to send him back, we would give him a plane ride back. There was no situation, ever, where he was going to stay in this country. None. None. He wouldve come back, had one extra strep of paper work, and gone back again. But hes from El Salvador, hes in El Salvador, and thats where the president plans on keeping him.

Kilmar Abrego Garcias wife Jennifer Vasquez Sura joins supporters outside a federal courthouse in Maryland on April 15 (REUTERS)

Other Democratic members of Congress are requesting a congressional delegation to visit CECOT.

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Representatives Maxwell Frost of Florida and Robert Garcia of California wrote to Republican House Oversight Committee chair James Comer Tuesday for permission to perform a welfare check on Abrego Garcia.

We must all stand as a united front against the kidnapping and illegal detention of Kilmar Abrego Garcia in El Salvador, Frost wrote this week. Senator, I am willing to join you and help Organize other members of the House to do the same.

Last week, the Supreme Court ordered the Trump administration to facilitate Abrego Garcias release from custody in El Salvador, which the justices appeared to agree was illegal.

On Tuesday, a federal judge in Maryland rebuked the Trump administration for doing nothing since then.

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Judge Paul Xinis will determine whether the administration is acting in good faith after getting no real response about any efforts to secure his release despite a unanimous ruling from the nations high court. There will be no tolerance for gamesmanship or grandstanding, she said.

Trump administration officials must provide the court with firm answers about Abrego Garcias current physical location and custodial status as well as what steps, if any, they have taken to facilitate his immediate return to the United States.
Seven Elgin residents and organizations will be recognized with awards for their efforts to save and enhance the citys historic architecture, neighborhoods and cultural resources.

The Mayors Awards for Preservation, bestowed by the Elgin Heritage Commission as chosen from among nominees submitted by peers, will be presented at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 29, at The Hemmens Cultural Center in a free, public event that can also be viewed on the citys YouTube channel, according to a city news release.

The recipients are:

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Chloe Burkhart , honored for her above and beyond sympathetic restoration of her home at 320 North St.

Community Crisis Center , recognized for its impressive exterior rehabilitation of the 1891 historic Franklin School.

Debra Vruble and the Elgin National Watch Neighbors Association , cited for their tireless and devoted efforts in reforming the neighborhood group and advocating the benefits of preservation and sense of place.

Efrain Zepeda , who carried out an impactful rehabilitation of 519-521 Douglas Ave.

Elgin History Museum , lauded for its history podcast Echoes of Elgin, which brings to life historian Mike Alfts columns. Its hosted by Elgin museum educator Rebecca Miller.

Elgin Public Museum , which redid its The Encounter exhibit and turned it into a powerful new teaching tool focusing on LaSalles exploration and the impact of Native American-European trade on Indigenous Peoples, waterways and species.

Tricia Grosser, honored for her continued volunteerism, fundraising and enthusiasm for educating and promoting Elgins history as a docent and board member of the Elgin History Museum.

Nine heritage building plaques also will also be presented to Elgin homeowners who have researched the history and architecture of their homes this year, according to the release. Since 1986, more than 500 plaques have been presented.

This years recipients are:

First Congregational Church; 256 E. Chicago St.;

Elgin History Museum; 302 W. Chicago St.;

Angela and Kellen Smith; 43 Hamilton Ave.;

Mary Beckman; 514 Hubbard Ave.;

Mike and Kelli Howell; 527 Laurel St.;

Heidi and Shannon Carpenter; 1000 Logan Ave.;

Abby and Jack Trimble; 820 Mill St.;

Linda and Jim Hoffmann; 636 N. Spring St.;

Christine Hardwick; 229 Vincent Place;

The heritage commission is a citizen advisory group that promotes Elgins historic preservation activity. Its nine voting members are appointed by the mayor and Elgin City Council.
CAPE TOWN, April 16 (Xinhua) -- The South African government on Wednesday announced the launch of a 90-day blitz -- a coordinated government-wide campaign -- as part of its intensified efforts to end gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).

This came after a special meeting of the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster ministers and senior officials on Monday, under the leadership of cluster co-chairs, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi and Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu.

According to a statement issued Wednesday by the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), the urgent meeting was convened in response to the alarming surge in GBVF incidents nationwide, which culminated in "the adoption of a 90-day acceleration program to intensify the national response and fast-track the implementation of the National Strategic Plan on GBVF."

"This 90-day blitz marks not only a declaration of intent but the beginning of a coordinated, government-wide campaign to end GBVF. Implementation began immediately following the meeting, and the co-chairs emphasized that incremental change is no longer sufficient," it said.

A key resolution is to urgently reconstitute the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on GBVF, said the statement. A formal request for its re-establishment has been submitted to the president, with the inaugural IMC meeting expected within two weeks.

In addition, a dedicated GBVF Priority Committee will be established within the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS), co-chaired by the Department of Social Development and the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities.

"To address inefficiencies within the criminal justice value chain, a team of senior officials has been tasked with aligning police, prosecutorial, and correctional services systems to eliminate delays in GBVF case processing," the statement said, adding that government departments have also been instructed to identify institutional gaps and propose practical, time-bound solutions.

The JCPS Cluster has mandated the consolidation of GBVF-related statistics -- tracking cases from arrest to incarceration -- into a single integrated report. This data, along with each department's intervention points, will be submitted to the IMC.

The cluster also resolved to fast-track the rollout of Thuthuzela Care Centers across all provinces. These one-stop facilities offer holistic, survivor-centered support services and have been critical to South Africa's anti-rape strategy by helping prevent secondary victimization and building strong prosecutable cases, according to the statement.

A further concern raised at the meeting was the increasing number of children being arrested for sexual offenses, and NATJOINTS has been directed to develop an urgent and appropriate response to this emerging crisis, the statement added. 
NEW YORK  Upstate Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik is eyeing the New York State Executive Mansion  a move that stands to deepen her rift with fellow New York GOPer, Rep. Mike Lawler.

The MAGA diehard is considering running for governor next year, POLITICO reported earlier Wednesday, just weeks after her hopes of becoming U.N. ambassador were dashed over fears leaving her North Country seat vacant would upend the slim Republican House majority. In the process, she lost her spot as GOP conference chair, the No. 4 leadership post in the House, and now holds a leadership position with lower rank.

In addition to her gubernatorial ambitions is her beef with Lawler, another potential challenger to Gov. Kathy Hochul. Friction between Lawler and Stefanik has stemmed from the since-scuttled special election to replace her in the deep-red House district after President Donald Trump nominated her for the U.N. post.

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Lawler facilitated a phone call between one of the candidates in the race, Liz Joy, and House Speaker Mike Johnson, according to three people with direct knowledge of the effort. The previously unreported move angered Stefaniks team and was seen as Lawlers unwarranted meddling in the North Country race.

Joy, who has run for Congress a few times, was considered one of the finalists to replace Stefanik. National Republicans did not consider Joy a viable candidate for the seat.

To my knowledge, the top contenders all had the opportunity to personally speak with Speaker Johnson, Joy told Playbook. I was one of those top contenders. Ive always been a supporter of the speaker and I remain an avid supporter of Speaker Johnson and the America First agenda.

Now Stefaniks gubernatorial curiosity is clouding up the Lawler limelight. And each day it appears more and more that he wants to make sure running for reelection  instead of governor  remains a viable option.

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Stefanik sounded like someone vying for governor Tuesday night, as she delivered a 15-minute speech at the NYGOP gala eviscerating the state of New York under Hochul, the worst governor in America.

In Kathy Hochul's New York, small businesses are closing, they are fleeing the state, she said, bemoaning crime in the state, families leaving and antisemitism, which she said is engulfing New York streets and our college campuses across the state.

Our Empire State, once a beacon of opportunity, innovation and strength, is fading fast before our very eyes, Stefanik added. It feels like someone is asking, 'Will the last one out of New York please turn the lights off?' And I'm here to say not on our watch. It is time to save New York.

And shes got friends in high places. Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is GREAT!!! Trump posted on Truth Social on Wednesday morning after she appeared on CNBC.

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New York Republicans over the last decade have watched Stefaniks evolution from a young Harvard graduate and Paul Ryan-allied lawmaker to MAGA acolyte. An even more dramatic transformation could be necessary to win a general election in deep-blue New York.

Some Republican consultants believe she can pull it off.

Shed be a formidable candidate. Shes probably one of Americas most formidable politicians, GOP political strategist Dave Catalfamo said. Shes a hell of a fundraiser. If she sets her mind to it, I wouldnt doubt it.

A Republican hasnt won a statewide election since 2002, when then-Gov. George Pataki won a third term. Former Rep. Lee Zeldin, now Trumps EPA administrator, lost to Hochul in 2022 by a relatively narrow margin of 6 points.

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Trumps friend Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman is eyeing a bid for governor next year, creating a potential primary showdown between two MAGA magnates.

Asked about Stefanik, he said the states Republican party is fortunate to have many exciting and capable candidates for statewide office.

New Yorkers are yearning for new leadership and are rejecting dangerous Democrat policies and leadership that make our communities less safe and less affordable, he said in the statement. Every day I work to make Nassau County a better place to live, and raise a family. I am focused on my re-election which will affirm my efforts in making Nassau county the safest place to live in America, and my record of cutting taxes which is unprecedented.

Meanwhile Lawler, who launched a website and recorded videos bashing Hochul this fall, is increasingly focusing his attention back to his congressional district.

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He has ridiculed Democrats running for his seat on X and in Playbook over the last month. He also applauded his allys attempt to dethrone one of his potential Democratic challengers from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board Tuesday  another sign he might be gearing up for reelection.

His status as one of the NRCCs Patriots, a list of incumbents the Republican congressional campaign arm views as vulnerable in the 2026 midterms, has already ensured he has the funds to keep his seat. Over the past few months, hes received over $250,000 from three different Republican House leadership PACs focused on keeping the GOP House majority.

Elise Stefanik has been a powerful leader in the House, where she maintains a strong and important role in leading our conference, Lawler said in a statement. We both agree that Kathy Hochul is the worst Governor in America, bar none. In 2026, New Yorkers have a chance to elect a strong, competent leader to move the state in a better direction. In the coming months the process will play out to ensure that Republicans have the strongest candidate possible.

GOP officials acknowledge Stefanik will have a steep hill to climb. Despite an underwater approval rating, Hochul is an aggressive fundraiser with incumbent advantage. A successful statewide Republican candidate would have to target a growing pool of independent voters, whom Hochul has struggled to win over.

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The independents are the only way we can win, and if they're not up for grabs, theres no conversation, Gerard Kassar, the chair of the influential Conservative Party, said.

Hochul reacted to Stefaniks interest in her seat at a news conference in the city earlier Wednesday, saying, No matter who the GOP nominee is next year that I'll be running against, it'll be an extreme MAGA Republican and I look forward to that fight.

Meredith Lee Hill contributed to this report.

A version of this story first appeared in New York Playbook PM. Subscribe here.
ELK CITY, Okla. (KFOR)  The Elk City Police Department announced on Wednesday on a social network the launch of an investigation involving Mickey Ezell Jr. of Sayre, Oklahoma.

Mickey Ezell Jr. of Sayre, Oklahoma, Image courtesy Elk City Police Department

According to authorities, Mickey Ezell Jr. was arrested Wednesday morning at his residence in Sayre, Oklahoma, for child crimes involving the internet. Authorities say evidence suggests that there are more possible victims.

Authorities capture 2,840 lbs. of marijuana in shipping scheme, 6 arrested

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Police are asking the public to assist with identifying any additional victims who may have had contact or involvement with Mickey Ezell Jr.

If you believe you may be a victim, or have any relevant information, you are encouraged to contact Captain Sammy Weygand at 580-225-1212 or email at weygand@elkcity.com

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
A woman who alleged Elon Musk fathered her baby said he offered her $15 million to keep the birth a secret.

Ashley St Clair, 26, claimed the tech billionaire offered her the fee along with a $100,000 monthly stipend until the child reaches the age of 21 as part of a deal to muzzle her, according to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

Mr Musk is thought to have at least 14 children with four women including the pop musician Grimes and Shivon Zilis, a Canadian executive at Neuralink, his neurotechnology firm.

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Jared Birchall, Mr Musks right-hand man, told Ms St Clair that the deal was similar to what Mr Musk had agreed with the other mothers of his children, the report claims.

The Tesla boss is said to have demanded she deliver the baby via caesarean section, believing the procedure allows for the child to develop a larger brain, and not to circumcise the baby if it was male.

Ms St Clair, a conservative influencer, did follow through with his request to keep his name from the birth certificate, according to the newspaper.

Mr Birchall is said to have demanded that the new mother sign an agreement keeping Mr Musks paternity a secret in exchange for $15 million and $100,000 a month.

Jared Birchall, Elon Musks right-hand man - Patrick T. Fallon/2019 Bloomberg Finance LP

The deal reportedly prevented her from saying anything negative about the billionaire, while Mr Musk was free to say what he wanted about her.

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According to the WSJ, in a December call with Ms St Clair, Mr Birchall said the non-disclosure agreements were necessary because: We have been through way too many issues where, to not sign some agreement associated with handing over $15 million is absolutely insane and irresponsible, and because we have dealt with some very unstable, mentally unstable, people that all of a sudden misremember things.

When she met Mr Musk, she was working for the conservative satirical website The Babylon Bee, a Christian, Right-wing version of The Onion.

A regular guest on conservative news outlets, she has warned about declining birth rates in developed countries, a concern shared by many Republicans.

Since the birth, she has filed a lawsuit claiming that Mr Musk is the father of her five-month-old son.

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Ms St Clair says there is no doubt about the paternity of the baby. In her lawsuit, she insisted that she did not have sexual intercourse with any other male during the time the child was conceived.

A paternity test has since found the probability of paternity was 99.9999 per cent, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Ironically, the WSJ reports Ms St Clair is credited with making the infamous Dark Maga gothic styled hat which Mr Musk has gone on to wear in the Oval Office.

Elon Musk wears a Dark Maga gothic styled hat at a rally in New York in October - ANGELA WEISS/AFP

In other plans reported by the WSJ, Mr Musk is said to have tried to convince Ms St Clair to move to an Austin compound, where he hoped to house the rest of his kid legion.

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The Doge chief addressed the baby rumours last month, writing on X: I dont know if the child is mine or not, but am not against finding out. No court order is needed.

Mr Musks ever-growing brood of children has expanded once again after he confirmed the arrival of a new son named Seldon Lycurgus in March.

The baby is believed to be his 14th child and the fourth he has had with Shivon Zilis, a Canadian executive at Neuralink, his neurotechnology firm.

Musk reportedly approached cryptocurrency influencer

Elsewhere, the outlet reported that Mr Musk asked a woman he knew through X if she wanted to have a baby with him, and when she declined, the revenue she generated from the social media platform plummeted.

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Mr Musk is said to have taken an interest in cryptocurrency influencer Tiffany Fong, when she began writing on X about the downfall of Sam Bankman-Fried, who was found guilty of fraud and money laundering.

Mr Musk began liking and replying to her posts and this engagement boosted her following, allowing her to begin making money as part of Xs revenue sharing programme for creators.

During the height of her time on the platform, Ms Fong claims to have earned $21,000 on the platform in a two-week period in November.

Soon after following her, Mr Musk sent her a direct message asking if she was interested in having his child despite never meeting in person, according to the Wall Street Journal which reported that Ms Fong did not move forward with the proposal.

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Mr Musk allegedly discovered that Ms Fong had told others about his offer and subsequently unfollowed her, at which point her earnings nosedived.

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Emily Ratajkowski has joined the conversation surrounding Blue Origins all-female space flight and feels its not an accomplishment.

The model-actress took to her TikTok on Monday to share her thoughts, shortly after Katy Perry, Gayle King and Jeff Bezos fiancee Lauren Sanchez were among six women who flew to the edge of space on the Amazon founders Blue Origin spaceflight.

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That space mission this morning, thats end-time shit. Like, this is beyond parody, she began. Saying that you care about Mother Earth, and its about Mother Earth, and going up in a spaceship that is built and paid for by a company thats single-handedly destroying the planet? Look at the state of the world, and think about how many resources went into putting these women into space, and for what? For what, what was the marketing there? And then to try to make it like  Im disgusted. Literally, Im disgusted.

Ratajkowski isnt the first to criticize the latest space expedition, as Olivia Munn questioned the purpose of the mission earlier this month. I know this is probably not the cool thing to say, but there are so many other things that are so important in the world right now, she said in part. What are you guys going to do up in space?

On Tuesday, the We Are Your Friends actress returned to TikTok to expand on her thoughts about the Blue Origin flight, which also carried film producer Kerianne Flynn, former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe and research scientist Amanda Nguyen on its 11th manned mission.

I think that this space mission is confusing to people because seeing women and people of color in spaces like science and politics that have not previously included them feels and looks like, really looks like  optically looks like  progress, Ratajkowski said in her latest video. But the truth is, is that having a man who has gained his power and become a part of the one percent purely through exploitation and greed deciding to take his fiancee and a few other famous women to space for space tourism is not progress.

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She continued, It just speaks to the fact that we are absolutely living in an oligarchy, where there is a very small group of people who are interested in going to space for the sake of getting a new lease on life while the rest of the population  most people on Planet Earth  are worried about paying rent, or, you know, having dinner for their kids.

Ratajkowski also echoed what she claimed another creator said, Privilege is not an accomplishment, adding, Exploitation is certainly not an accomplishment, and being able to take the privilege that you have gained from exploitation and greed of the planet, of resources, of human beings, and then doing something like going to space for 11 minutes, is certainly not an accomplishment.

Thats why this all is giving Hunger Games, right? she concluded. Because I think were in a place in the world where we need to be able to discern what real progress looks like, and what happened yesterday was nothing like that.

Sanchez and King responded to backlash during a post-trip press conference on Monday, with the CBS Morning co-anchor saying, I feel anybody thats criticizing doesnt really understand whats happening here. Weve all heard it. We were even all talking about that. King also urged critics to do a deep dive into what the flight represents for some people.

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I would love to have [critics] come to Blue Origin and see the thousands of employees that dont just work here, but they put their heart and soul into this vehicle, Sanchez added. They love their work and they love the mission and its a big deal for them.

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Want to read a contrasting view on the insightful opinion piece you just found? Traditionally, you would have had to find another publication with a different political slant and search for an op-ed on the same topic.

Those days might be numbered as a new feature on the Los Angeles Times website offers an immediate rebuttal to their journalists work through an AI assistant.

Is this the future of opinion journalism, or have we entered into a parallel universe where even rhetoric is fully supplanted by the machines?

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In the LA Times opinion section is an article by Joan C. Williams, a law professor at University of California College of the Law in San Francisco. In the piece, Williams argues that Democrats need to understand the cultural angle of politics if they are ever to understand Donald Trumps 2024 presidential election victory.

Democrats need to rival Trumps cultural competence at connecting with the working class, which will require changes from progressives, she writes, as she explains that the left is failing to see the human side of the rights arguments to a broad span of American voters.

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Its an insightful and well researched piece that speaks from Williams academic perspective. Exactly the sort youd expect from an opinion section.

Whats new is a little button labelled Insights. Click that and youre whisked to the bottom of the page where the LA Times gives you an AI-generated analysis on Voices content to offer all points of view.

In the Insights, you are told that Williams piece generally aligns with a centre left point of view as well as a summary of her points. Most intriguingly, theres a section that gives you opposing views.

There it points out that while Williams thinks Democrats should focusing on uniting cultural theories, strategists like James Carville urge Democrats to avoid cultural distractions and concentrate exclusively on economic messaging while others reject the premise that cultural issues are irreconcilable, pointing to Biden-era successes in manufacturing and wage growth.

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On that last point, the AI argues that conceding on issues like climate action or LGBTQ+ rights risks demoralizing the Democratic base and ceding ground to far-right narratives.

This sounds like an interesting point but its directly contrasted by Williams own writing where she notes that on inclusive messaging, Democrats didnt abandon their vision of full LGBTQ+ rights, but they did shift tactics to engage a wider range of people.

Whether the AI has fully grasped Williams argument or not is up for debate, but most significant is the shift away from giving opinion writers a sense of authority on their topic. For many, this is part of a move to placate Trumps administration by LA Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong.

Pharmaceuticals billionaire Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong waves as he arrives in the lobby of Trump Tower in New York for a meeting with President-elect Donald Trump in 2017 - Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Soon-Shiong bought the paper in 2018 and last year decided it would not officially endorse Kamala Harris for president. If you just have the one side, it's just going to be an echo chamber, the medical investor said.

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Going through the papers opinion pieces today, the AI provides more opposing views.

LA Times opinion columnist Jackie Calmes has a piece on the parallels between Hannah Arendts view on Nazi Germany and the current Trump administration.

AI Insights suggests Calmes piece is centre left and notes that Trumps actions, while norm-breaking, lack the systemic violence and ideological coherence of Hitlers regime.

Similarly, LA Times journalist LZ Granderson has a centre left piece that criticised the Trump administrations removal of LGBTQ+ iconography and education from government bodies as a worrying shift towards un-American ideals of inclusion and openness.

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Contrasting this view, the AI suggests: Conservative advocates, including groups behind Project 2025, contend that LGBTQ+ visibility policies promote toxic normalization and conflict with traditional family values.

While the opinion writers of the LA Times are still largely left leaning, the new AI feature is designed to platform both sides of an argument. Exactly as Soon-Shiong wanted.

Back when the owner blocked the Harris endorsement, three of the six people who researched and wrote their editorials, including editorials editor Mariel Garza, resigned in protest. The other three have since left, with the last holdout, Carla Hall, exiting after writing a last column that ran on 30 March about homeless people she met while covering the issue.

Washington Post owner and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos - 2025 Invision

Soon-Shiongs decision was mirrored by Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos, who decided the newspaper would not back a presidential candidate.

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Last month, Ruth Marcus, who worked for the Washington Post since 1984, stood down after a row over the paper refusing to run an opinion piece that was critical of Bezos.

She was the latest to leave the Post after Bezos announced that the papers opinion columns would no longer be a free-for-all for individual authors thoughts. Instead, it would focus on two specific themes: personal liberties and free markets.

Between Soon-Shiong and Bezos, there is a clear move from the billionaire-owned US media landscape to cosy up to the Trump administration. It continues a pattern seen by the major tech and social media owners, including the Bezos-founded Amazon.

Concerningly, it also highlights AI-obsessed owners' cynical attitude towards the work of journalists.

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I think it could be offensive both to readers ... and the writers themselves who object to being categorized in simple and not necessarily helpful terms, Garza, the ex-editorials editor said.

The idea of having a bias meter just in and of itself is kind of an insult to intelligence and I've always thought that the readers of the opinion page were really smart."
A 25-year-old Atlanta man will spend over a decade in prison for distributing kilos of fentanyl while having guns.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

On Monday, a judge sentenced Alexander Arellano, 25, of Atlanta, to 13 years, three months, followed by four years of supervised release.

Arellano pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

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According to court documents, in May 2024, a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent saw Arellano sell a half kilogram of fentanyl to another person in a Marietta gas station parking lot.

The US Department of Justice said agents followed Arellano back to an apartment on Windy Hill Road in Marietta. Arellano was arrested a short time later, and agents got a search warrant for his apartment.

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Officials said during the search, agents found 10 kilograms of fentanyl, two loaded guns, including an AK-47 pistol and $120,000 in cash inside a bedroom belonging to the 25-year-old.

The DOJ said Arellano had been previously convicted of trafficking methamphetamine and was on probation at the time of his arrest.

Arellano endangered countless lives by trafficking large quantities of deadly fentanyl, said Jae W. Chung, the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division.

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SANDUSKY, Ohio (WJW)  On Monday, the Erie County Sheriffs Office began issuing epinephrine auto-injectors, or EpiPens, to deputies for the first time ever as an additional means to help save lives when there is no time to waste.

In their patrol vehicles, peace officers across the state have carried tourniquets, bandages, Narcan and other first aid items in addition to being able to use CPR training to help save lives.

But there are times when law enforcement officers arrive at the scene of a medical emergency even before an ambulance, and Sheriff Paul Sigsworth believed it was important for them to also have the ability to use EpiPens in the event of an individual suffering from a life threatening episode of anaphylactic shock

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After meeting with local paramedics and emergency room physicians, he reached out to Ohio Senator Teresa Gavarone, who was immediately supportive.

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I was shocked when seconds can mean the difference between life and death that that wasnt allowed, said Gavarone, who sponsored Senate Bill 234, giving properly trained peace officers that authorization.

Gavarone said her enthusiasm for sponsoring the legislation was rooted in her own personal experience with a daughter who suffers from tree nut allergies and has experienced severe episodes of anaphylaxis since she was very young.

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Among those who Sigsworth consulted was Dr. Donald Spanner of University Hospitals in Cleveland.

I always tell our paramedics during training about the ones who die, die instantly, within minutes and terrible stories of children who get into nuts or get stung by a bee. Those people literally die on the scene and our only hope for these patients is the first line providers. Not just the EMTs and not just the paramedics, but the police who are there frequently before everyone, said Spanner.

I do believe its going to be beneficial in the more rural areas, but its not to say it wouldnt happen even in the areas that are covered by full time departments, said Captain Dean Gasser of the Margaretta Township Fire Department, who was also consulted as a part of the process.

Sigsworth said, in most all cases, the patients already know their history and they also already know what they have been exposed to that triggered their episode.

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Normally what happens is we will get a 911 call and usually its the patient themselves and they say, I just got stung, I just ate some food, Im having an allergic reaction,' said Sigsworth.

Invasive, parasitic fish in Great Lakes thrived during COVID-19

That information would help peace officers when deciding if using the EpiPen is appropriate.

The legislation requires peace officers who are issued EpiPens to complete anaphylaxis training.

Erie Countys EpiPens were provided by University Hospitals. The effort there was supported by Firelands Health.

Sigsworth said the medication would not be issued to someone who is already unconscious.

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We are not the medical experts. We dont pretend to be. We are certainly not trying to replace paramedics, but all we can do and what we want to do is preserve life until they can arrive and get them into a clinical setting where hopefully they can have a positive outcome all the way around, said Sigsworth.

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JOHANNESBURG, April 16 (Xinhua) -- The South African Department of Health on Wednesday urged the public to remain vigilant against malaria as the country is seeing a slight increase in cases of the disease, particularly in malaria-endemic provinces such as Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal.

The department said it has also noted malaria outbreaks in some neighboring countries within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, mainly in Botswana, Eswatini, Namibia, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe.

"This poses a threat of possible cross-border transmission of this preventable disease, especially as people travel across the region to various destinations for religious and cultural reasons as part of Easter holidays," department spokesperson Foster Mohale said in a statement.

He said the department will remain on high alert in case of a sudden peak in local malaria transmission.

"The healthcare providers in both endemic and non-endemic provinces have been alerted to maintain a high index of suspicion for malaria in patients with flu-like symptoms and report confirmed cases immediately to support malaria surveillance and response," said Mohale.

"They were also reminded to always inquire about travel history, particularly from high-risk regions, and conduct prompt malaria testing and repeat the tests if symptoms persist despite negative results," the spokesperson added. "Early diagnosis and treatment are critical to saving lives and preventing further transmission of the disease."

According to the statement, malaria is primarily transmitted through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. Common symptoms include fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, nausea, loss of appetite, and vomiting.

The health department advised people traveling during the Easter holidays to take malaria prevention medication, such as doxycycline, which is freely available at all public health facilities. If any symptoms arise, individuals are encouraged to seek immediate medical attention and always inform healthcare providers of their recent travel history, it added. 
MOLUS, Ky. (FOX 56)  Kentucky State Police searched for an inmate who escaped from a work crew on Tuesday in the Molus community of Harlan County.

Robert Taylor, 46, allegedly walked away from a Harlan County Detention Center Work Release Program work crew off U.S. Highway 119. KSP confirmed Wednesday morning that Taylor was found.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

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Robert Taylor, 46, is described as being 6 feet tall with long gray hair and facial hair. He was last seen wearing orange-and-white striped pants and a white thermal shirt.

Robert Taylor, 46 (Harlan County Detention Center)

He is believed to have ties to the Barbourville area.

Anyone with information on Taylors whereabouts is urged to contact KSP Post 10 in Harlan at (606) 573-3131 or dial 911.

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Goldfield is the county seat in Esmeralda County. (Photo: Sydney Martinez/Travel Nevada)

Esmeralda County has secured an agreement with lithium developer Ioneer that will bring the rural county at least $15 million in funding to mitigate the impacts of a massive planned mine in the least populated county in the state.

Earlier this month, the Esmeralda County Board of Commissioners approved a development agreement with Ioneer that will provide the county with at least $5 million in funding for emergency services and more than $10 million for road improvements and maintenance.

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The seven year development agreement is meant to reasonably mitigate the land use impacts that the development of Ioneers 7,000 acre Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project will have on the citizens of Esmeralda County.

Esmeralda County is the least populated county in Nevada, a fact reflected by the countys infrastructure and services. The county is built to support the roughly 750 residents who live there, but if the projected 500 construction jobs it will take to build the lithium mine is accurate, that influx alone would nearly double the countys population within a couple of years.

Ioneers Rhyolite Ridge lithium mine is in the Silver Peak Range in Esmeralda County near the state line with California. (BLM map)

Under the agreement, Ioneer will reimburse Esmeralda County for the cost of three sheriffs deputies and six emergency services staffers, including salary and insurance and retirement and benefit costs. Esmeralda County will also be reimbursed for three converted patrol vehicles, one fire truck, and one ambulance under the agreement.

Ioneers investments will make for a safer and more secure Esmeralda County, said County Fire Chief Jeffrey Bushnell in a press release Monday. Were grateful for their financial support and look forward to our continued partnership for the many years that follow.

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The agreement is in the final stages of approval with the county. A signed copy of the agreement will be posted once finalized, according to county officials.

Ioneer has embraced our entire community, welcoming our input. They have left no stone unturned in a quest for a fair and harmonious development agreement, said Mary Jane Zakas, Esmeralda County Commissioner for District 3 in a statement.

For years, county officials have raised concerns about how the largest development project in the county in the last 22 years would require significant investments from the county to expand law enforcement, emergency services, and waste disposal. The county will also need to take on higher maintenance expenses for the wear-and-tear on roads carrying heavy machinery, a concern reiterated by county commissioners last year during the project environmental review period.

Those impacts will now be partially mitigated by the development agreement which is designed to promote the health, safety and general welfare of Esmeralda County residents while ensuring the highest economic benefit and least fiscal cost to its citizens, according to the agreement.

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Dyer, a small town about 13 miles from the proposed lithium mine, would likely face the brunt of the impacts from the project.

State Highway 264 and other transportation routes through the town of Dryer would be used to transport hazardous materials and hundreds of diesel fuel vehicles a day to and from the mine, according to the environmental review.

Under the development agreement, Ioneer would be required to prepare and deliver an emergency response plan to the county before the company starts transporting or storing hazardous materials on the project site, including truckloads of boric acid needed to mine lithium.

Ioneer would also be required to pay up to $25,000 annually for emergency response and fire protection training as soon as the company begins delivering equipment for construction of the mine.

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The increase of emergency services needed to accommodate mining operations also calls for an emergency facility to house the additional emergency workers the county plans to hire, according to the development agreement. Ioneer will be required to pay up to $900,000 for the construction of an emergency facility near the intersection of State Highway 264 and State Highway 773.

Water and conservation

Lithium extraction requires massive amounts of water, a tough sell in a state plagued by two decades of drought. Ioneer plans to source water from Esmeralda Countys Fish Lake Valley, where the groundwater supply is already over-appropriated and over-pumped. Over the past 50 years agriculture has reduced groundwater in Fish Lake Valley by up to 200 feet in some areas, drying up residential wells.

The agreement acknowledges the need for groundwater mitigation by establishing a county-administered program to help residents in the region who need domestic water wells drilled deeper or rehabilitated.

However, the program would only be funded if Esmeralda County secures grants to fund the jobs and associated costs that Ioneer would have covered under the agreement. In that scenario, Ioneer would get paid back the costs in annual payments and half that money would be set aside for the well digging program.

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County officials have also raised concerns about the costs of expanding waste disposal services to accommodate the boom in workers needed to construct the mine.

The agreement addressed that concern by noting that Ioneer will reimburse the county for the cost of a garbage truck if the volume of household waste increases to the point where another is needed.

We are dedicated to being good neighbours, providing the County with the necessary resources to ensure that our funding assists the County and services it provides in preparation for the commencement of project construction, said Bernard Rowe the Managing Director of Ioneer in a statement Monday.

Federal land managers gave their final approval for the mine in October, after a four year federal permitting and environmental review process. Ioneer also secured a $996 million federal loan in January to fund the mine processing facilities and associated infrastructure.

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However, the project was hit with a financial setback in February when South African mining company Sibanye-Stillwater pulled back plans to invest $490 million in Ioneer for a 50 percent stake in the project following cratering lithium prices.

Despite the setback, Ioneer said Rhyolite Ridge is construction ready and the company is currently focused on seeking a new equity partner to bring the project into production.

Once constructed the massive 7,000 acre project would be in operation for 23 years and remove enough lithium from Nevadas public lands to supply nearly 370,000 electric vehicles each year.

The project has also attracted fierce opposition from conservation groups opposed to the mines encroachment on critical habitat reserved for the only known population of the endangered wildflower Tiehms buckwheat. The flower grows on just 10 acres of lithium-boron rich soil near the Silver Peak Range in Esmeralda County.

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A week after the federal government approved the mine, the Center for Biological Diversity initiated a lawsuit against the mine under the Endangered Species Act.

If constructed, the mine would create a 66 acre quarry  a deep open pit characteristic of mines and where the lithium would be extracted  and directly disturb about 191 acres of critical habitat for the Tiehms buckwheat. In total the mine would result in the removal of more than 2,000 acres of nesting sites and foraging habitat for a number of species.
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European officials have dropped the idea of pushing for a ban on the bloc's Russian liquefied natural gas imports in upcoming packages because of resistance from some governments and uncertainty about alternative sources, EU officials said.

Instead, the Commission wants to iron out a new road map to end the bloc's reliance on Russian energy by 2027. The plan is due to be announced in early May but details are scarce.

The Commission is expected to propose a 17th package of sanctions on Russia by June, though officials say work on the measures is moving slowly. The Commission last floated the idea of a ban on Russian LNG imports with EU governments in January when it was finalising its 16th package proposal.

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U.S. President Donald Trump has said several times he wanted the EU to buy more American gas and EU officials see that as a possible negotiation tool to convince the U.S. administration to drop its tariffs. However, Washington has still not clearly outlined its demands.

The EU's trade chief met his U.S. counterpart on Monday to discuss the start of negotiations. The Commission said the meeting was a part of a "scoping exercise" and noted Washington has yet to clarify its demands.

"The EU is doing its part. Now, it is necessary for the U.S. to define its position. As with every negotiation, this must be a two-way street," the statement said.

One official said the Commission did not want to risk losing Russian LNG through sanctions and thereby surrender its negotiating power.

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The Commission and EU governments are also wary of creating a new dependence on the United States, the third-largest gas supplier to the bloc after Russia and Norway.

(Reporting by Julia Payne in Brussels; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
The News

The European Union is preparing for Russias war with Ukraine to persist for at least several months, despite Washingtons insistence that talks with Kyiv and Moscow will soon bear fruit.

The bloc is expected to publish a roadmap for reducing reliance on Russian fossil fuels in the next few weeks, Bloomberg reported, and for extending its sanctions on Moscow beyond the summer.

US President Donald Trumps special envoy said Tuesday that Moscow was open to a permanent peace, but Kyiv appears to share European skepticism: Recent Russian attacks on the Ukrainian city of Sumy showed that Moscow remains focused on continuing the war, Ukraines president said.

SIGNALS

Trumps negotiating tactics yet to yield results

Sources: Atlantic Council, The Bulwark, Le Monde

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Donald Trumps Kremlin-friendly rhetoric and pivot away from Europe have encouraged [Vladimir] Putin to believe that he can outlast the West in Ukraine, one analyst wrote: US military aid to Kyiv will run out in the coming months. As Trumps carrots fail to yield results, his unwillingness to use or even threaten to use sticks against Moscow  including additional military assistance for Ukraine  raises a fundamental question, the conservative anti-Trump news website The Bulwark wrote: Is the president serious about trying to end the war? His attempts at negotiation may be ill-conceived: Putin does not intend to end his war of aggression until he has brought the Ukrainians and their president to their knees, Le Monde argued.

Europe needs to step up to replace US as Kyivs military backer

Sources: The Guardian, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Politico

Given the prospect of a continuing war sans US security assistance, Europe needs to step in and help save Ukraine from the coming storm, a former National Security Council official wrote in The Guardian, including by donating more military aid and upping defense spending. So far, however, Europe seems ill prepared to replace Washington as Ukraines main military backer, one analyst argued, and the blocs efforts to boost aid must confront the reality of a European Union where interest in making sacrifices for Kyiv varies dramatically from country to country, Politico wrote: A $43.6 billion aid proposal was struck down by Hungary and reduced to $5.4 billion last month.

Putin leans on allies to continue Ukraine war

Sources: Reuters, The Associated Press, The New York Times

North Koreas arms and manpower have given Moscow a critical battlefield advantage, in a war of attrition that Ukraine has struggled to match, Reuters reported: The regime is reportedly supplying half the munitions required by Russias frontline forces. Military cooperation between Russia, China, and North Korea is deepening, a top US commander warned last week, with Moscow providing critical military assistance to both countries in return for their help in Ukraine. Still, Vladimir Putins victory prospects are not assured: Donald Trumps trade war has inadvertently threatened Moscows war chest by hitting the price of Russias oil  its economic lifeline  and potentially Chinas demand for it, The New York Times noted.
Top European officials are antsy about Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni traveling to Washington to meet with President Donald Trump Thursday with trade talks on a razors edge.

But they also know she might be their best chance to ease transatlantic tensions.

Meloni, a leader with ties to Italys far-right whos tacked to the center in working closely with European Union partners, is uniquely positioned to engage with Trump productively on behalf of her own country and Europe more broadly, experts say. Her EU colleagues hope shell be able to nudge Trump toward a trade deal to avoid more tit-for-tat tariffs and to influence his approach to resolving the war between Russia and Ukraine.

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Theres a lot of nervousness in Brussels and other European capitals about what Meloni is trying to do, said Jeremy Shapiro, a State Department official during the Obama administration. But theyre desperate enough, theyre not trying to stop her.

Trump, who invited Meloni to his inauguration and praised her as a wonderful person, has long put personal relationships at the center of his diplomacy. Although aides are ready to discuss a range of issues, the president sees the meeting itself as validation of his claim that his tariffs have driven other leaders to come to him, said one White House official granted anonymity because they are not authorized to speak publicly.

That, of course, is what European officials worry about: the optics of a European leader traveling to see Trump only a week after he declared, as he hit pause on his broader tariff regime, that countries are calling us up, kissing my ass.

Melonis kinship with Trump world has also bred mistrust from European allies who believe she may deliver a message that deviates in significant ways from what other leaders such as French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer would convey.

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Shes seen as a transatlanticist, but also has a shared world view, especially on the domestic front, as Trump and his team, said Rachel Rizzo, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Councils Europe Center. They get along, she and Elon Musk get along. I think that means she can speak a Trumpian sort of language that many other European leaders simply cant.

The EUs leaders have been unable to secure their own meetings with the president. And some have expressed concerns about diplomatic freelancing threatening to exacerbate fissures within the tenuous 27-member coalition, according to one EU official not authorized to speak about the situation publicly.

They worry that any potential tariff exemptions for Italy would undercut the EUs collective leverage in trade talks. Meloni has spoken with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to coordinate on her message to Trump, the prime ministers office confirmed this week.

And while Meloni has aligned more closely with the rest of Europe in defense of Ukraine than many expected, the wars impact on Italys economy  and her own domestic politics  have some in Brussels wondering how long her support for Ukraine will hold.

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Shes been a brilliant balancer of competing pressures and has not alienated anybody, so theres some lease that she has, said Shapiro, who is now the director of research at the European Council on Foreign Relations in Washington. And shes been a lot tougher on Russia than people thought she would be. But given the Italian politics, there are some fears that she may quietly tell Trump they wont oppose him if he relieves sanctions on Russia; and if that happens, the European sanctions front basically deteriorates.

European leaders have had little success in dissuading Trump from engaging directly with Russia or in influencing his desire to end the war as soon as possible. If Meloni pushes Trump on the war, shell likely do it after the cameras have left the Oval.

That would allow Trump to demonstrate publicly that, for all his and Vice President JD Vances Europe-bashing, he maintains warm relations with a number of leaders.

I dont think the EU is part of the presidents calculation when speaking with European leaders, said a White House official not authorized to speak publicly about strategy. He views the EU as ripping off the United States. However, he has maintained positive and close relationships with the leaders of these individual countries. He doesn't lump them all together, and he has a strong interpersonal relationship with Meloni.

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That personal connection could help Meloni facilitate a detente on trade between Trump and the EU. Her meeting will come just days after Maros Sefcovic, the EUs trade commissioner, met in Washington with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

According to two administration officials not authorized to speak publicly about the plans, Meloni will participate in whats become the standard set piece of a leader's visit to the White House, an Oval Office sit-down beside Trump in front of a small cadre of journalists  now selected by the administration  that has taken the place of more formal press conferences in the East Room. Lavishing the president with public praise and adroitly handling shouted questions has been a way for visiting leaders to placate Trump and put him in a more conciliatory mood ahead of the closed-door meetings and ceremonial lunch that typically follow.

Whether Meloni can sell Trump on the deal Sefcovic pitched  cutting tariffs between the U.S. and EU to zero on both sides of the Atlantic  remains to be seen. But the timing of the visit, coming as Trump is focused on making deals and consumed with finding a way out of the showdown over tariffs with Beijing, could work in Melonis favor.

Trump has yet to invite von der Leyen to meet and Secretary of State Marco Rubio canceled a meeting with Kaja Kallas, the former Estonian prime minister now serving as the EUs top diplomat, when she traveled to Washington earlier this year.

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Thats left leaders like Meloni to engage more directly with the White House. In a demonstration of her eagerness to do just that, Meloni will fly straight back to Rome to host Vance, the administrations most strident critic of the EU, for a state visit on Friday.

But thus far, friendly White House engagements with European leaders have done little to deter the president from taking antagonistic actions toward the EU, be it temporarily slapping 20 percent tariffs on all European imports or ignoring allies and restarting direct talks with Russia without preconditions.

While the tariffs are on pause, as are the EU counter-tariffs that lawmakers in Brussels approved in response, there is a growing worry that Trumps affinity for some European heads of state  and clear preference to deal with them individually  is unlikely to diminish his strong feelings about the EU as a whole. Meloni may benefit from that, but its not remotely clear yet that her EU counterparts will.

Nicholas Vinocur contributed to this report.
ALGIERS, April 16 (Xinhua) -- The Elysee's decision to recall its ambassador to Algeria and expel 12 Algerian diplomatic staff stationed in France is "regrettable," an Algerian official said Wednesday, holding a French minister responsible for the recent deterioration in bilateral ties.

Sofiane Chaib, secretary of state to the Algerian Foreign Minister, in charge of National Community Abroad, told Algeria's state-run radio in an interview that Algeria has noted the Elysee's decision, but lacks details about the individuals affected by it.

He held French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau responsible for the derailed bilateral ties, who has been adopting a hardline stance towards Algeria.

On Friday, France indicted three Algerians, including a consular official, over suspected involvement in the 2024 abduction of an Algerian government opponent based in Paris named Amir Boukhras, who is known on social media as "AmirDZ."

On Saturday, Algeria summoned French Ambassador Stephane Romatet to protest against the arrest of the consular official. On Monday, it further ordered 12 French diplomats to leave Algeria within 48 hours, declaring them "personae non gratae" and describing the arrest as a "fabricated pretext" and a blatant violation of diplomatic immunity.

On Tuesday, the Elysee said in a press release that in a reciprocal move, France would "proceed with the symmetrical expulsion of 12 agents serving in the Algerian consular and diplomatic network in France" and recall its ambassador to Algeria Stephane Romatet "for consultations."

In Wednesday's interview, Chaib defended Algeria's expulsion of 12 French diplomats as "justified."

The confrontation marks the most serious diplomatic rupture between the two countries in years, straining a relationship still shaped by colonial-era grievances and modern disputes, including immigration and France's backing of Morocco in disputes over Western Sahara. 
(NewsNation)  President Donald Trump is pushing for more countries to import meat and poultry from America, but Europeans have long pointed to food safety concerns over U.S. chicken washed in chlorine.

Jonathan Reynolds, the U.K. business secretary, recently told Sky News the country will never change its food standards when asked if chlorinated chicken was on the table or off the table during trade talks.

The move comes after the European Union and the United Kingdom failed to avoid Trumps sweeping tariffs, in which the United States imposed a 20% tax on EU imports and a 10% tax on all U.K. imports.

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Trump: No one off the hook, tech tariff exemptions temporary

The U.K. maintains non-science-based standards that severely restrict U.S. exports of safe, high-quality beef and poultry products, the White House said in a statement.

In the U.S., chicken is sometimes treated with a chemical rinse, like chlorine, to kill bacteria before its exported.

The U.S. does not require processors to disclose whether their chicken has been chemically washed, creating an apparent transparency gap between American and European food standards.

What is chlorinated chicken?

Chlorinated chicken, or chlorine-washed chicken, refers to poultry that is washed or dipped in water containing chlorine to kill bacteria, such as E. coli and salmonella, according to the National Chicken Council.

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Local food banks dealing with canceled shipments from USDA

Though the method has been deemed safe by the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Agriculture, critics argue it could encourage lower hygiene standards earlier in the production process.

According to the National Chicken Council, less than 5% of U.S. poultry processing plants use chlorine in sprays or rinses, and most chlorine use in the industry is for cleaning equipment, not the meat itself.

Why arent European farmers using chlorinated chicken?

The EU first banned chlorine-washed chicken in 1997.

European regulators allow chicken to be washed only with water or substances approved by the European Commission.

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Additionally, they require pre-harvest interventions for poultry. Vaccinations or additives to chicken feed are used as safety measures instead of eliminating pathogens after the product is processed.

Is chlorinated chicken safe?

While U.S. agencies consider chlorinated chicken safe, the European Commission warns consuming large amounts, equal to 5% of your body weight, could expose consumers to unsafe levels of chlorate.

Long-term exposure to chlorate in food, particularly in drinking water, is a potential health concern for children, especially those with mild or moderate iodine deficiency, according to the European Food Safety Authority.

Target baby food is recalled over lead contamination

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Although the agency reports chemical substances in meat are unlikely to pose an immediate or acute health risk for consumers, some studies raise other concerns.

Consumer Reports found in 2014 that 97% of 300 U.S. chicken breasts contained salmonella, E. coli and campylobacter and that nearly half contained antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

A 2018 study from the University of Southampton found that chlorine washing was not completely effective in killing pathogens on fresh vegetables. The study suggested chlorinating foods can make foodborne pathogens undetectable rather than eliminating them.

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Slovakia committed itself in 2022 to rejecting invitations to any political events held in Russia under a Council of the EU decision and must abide by this commitment.

Source: European Pravda, citing European Commission spokesperson Anitta Hipper during a briefing on 16 April in Brussels

Details: Hipper made the comment in response to Slovak Prime Minister Robert Ficos statement that "no one can tell me" whether or not to travel to Moscow.

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Hipper stressed that in 2022 EU member states agreed to reject all Russian invitations to events such as the 9 May parade, and Slovakia had accepted that obligation.

Quote: "For the context, Russia is using the commemoration of the end of the Second World War to justify its war of aggression against Ukraine. So this is the context. And from our side, it is important not to lend legitimacy to this by participating in such events like this parade. And actually, we have also council decision on this member states, including Slovakia. They have agreed in 2022 to decline such invitations."

More details: In response to a follow-up question about the possible visit of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to Moscow, another Commission spokesperson, Guillaume Mercier, responsible for enlargement, replied:

"What I can say is that Serbia has applied and is negotiating its membership to the EU, and Serbia's decision implies that the country aligns with the EU, including in terms of foreign policy.

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So the EU wants Serbia to be a reliable European partner for common principles, values, security, and prosperity, and we need Serbia to reassure us of this strategic position."

Background:

Fico also rejected the call by Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, for European leaders not to visit Moscow on the occasion of the so-called 9 May Victory Parade. [Victory Day is a Russian holiday commemorating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, celebrated on 9 May  ed.].

The Slovak prime minister reiterated that he would be found in Moscow on 9 May.

On 14 April, Kallas called on European leaders not to attend the military celebrations in Moscow on 9 May and instead show solidarity with Ukraine.

The European Union has also issued clear guidance to candidate countries not to visit Russia or attend the parade in Moscow on 9 May.

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MCDOWELL COUNTY, N.C. (WSPA)  The McDowell County Emergency Management has issued an evacuation order due to the Bee Rock Branch Fire.

All residences on Wild Acres Road, off of NC 226 A near Little Switzerland, are issued to evacuate immediately, emergency management said. The order includes Wild Acres Retreat.

The wildfire is burning south of Wild Acres Road and north of Armstrong Creek Road. The fire is estimated at 300 acres with 0% containment.

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Officials said around 150 firefighters and three helicopters are working to contain the fire. Emergency management advised people to avoid the area.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

If you or someone you know is in need of emergency shelter, call 828-652-3241.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
Shortly before last fall's presidential election, Elon Musk breezily estimated that a second Trump administration could reduce annual federal spending by "at least" $2 trillion. At a press conference in February, the billionaire entrepreneur, who at that point had been unofficially overseeing the cost-cutting project known as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) for a few weeks, cut that estimate in half, saying he expected that DOGE would find about $1 trillion in annual savings by attacking "waste and fraud." During a Cabinet meeting last Thursday, Musk downgraded his target again, saying, "We anticipate savings in FY26 from reduction of waste and fraud [of] $150 billion."

Musk, who credited President Donald Trump's "fantastic leadership," "this amazing Cabinet," and "the very talented DOGE team," said he was "excited to announce" that figure. But it amounts to 93 percent less than his original estimate, 85 percent less than the goal he thought was realistic two months ago, and about 2 percent of federal spending last fiscal year. That is quite a comedown, especially since this seems to be all that Musk expects to accomplish: DOGE sunsets on July 4, 2026, a few months before the end of FY 2026. Worse, it is doubtful, given the numerous errors that have been found in data reported by DOGE, that even the new, much more modest projection can be trusted.

"They're just spinning their wheels, citing in many cases overstated or fake savings," Romina Boccia, director of budget and entitlement policy at the Cato Institute, told The New York Times a few days ago. "What's most frustrating is that we agree with their goals. But we're watching them flail at achieving them."

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Despite Musk's dramatically downgraded goal, the Times notes, DOGE is "still overstating its progress." The estimate is inflated "by including billion-dollar errors, by counting spending that will not happen in the next fiscal yearand by making guesses about spending that might not happen at all."

The estimate that Musk offered at the Cabinet meeting is roughly the same as the $155 billion in "estimated savings" that DOGE claims on its website, which is up from $140 billion at the beginning of the month. Although Musk implied that all those savings would be realized in fiscal year 2026, the website does not distinguish between annual and total savings, and many of the items listed on its "Wall of Receipts" include spending reductions that span several years.

The "estimated savings" include "asset sales, contract/lease cancellations and renegotiations, fraud and improper payment deletion, grant cancellations, interest savings, programmatic changes, regulatory savings, and workforce reductions." At least two of those categories seem dubious: Asset sales are a one-time source of revenue rather than an annual source of savings, while "regulatory savings," assuming that phrase refers to a reduction in costs imposed on the private sector, do not necessarily imply any reduction in government spending.

DOGE has publicly itemized just 40 percent of its claimed savings, all of which fall into one of two listed categories. It claims to have saved $33 billion by canceling grants, $28 billion by canceling contracts, and $350 million by canceling leases.

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News organizations have been highlighting problems with those numbers for months. On February 19, when DOGE was claiming $16.5 billion in contract savings, NPR found that the actual number, based on confirmed cancellations, was about $2 billion88 percent less. DOGE's hyperbole was so pervasive that Manhattan Institute budget expert Jessica Riedl, in a February 28 interview with New York Times columnist David French, described its work as "government spending-cut theater," saying "most of what is claimed to be spending cuts are just accounting errors."

Although DOGE has revised or deleted some erroneous line items after journalists pointed out its mistakes, the general pattern of exaggeration continues. The Times notes that DOGE claims to have saved $318,310,328 by canceling an Office of Personnel Management contract that was never awarded.

That line item refers to "a request for proposal that the Office of Personnel Management had published, seeking bids for help with human-resources work," the Times reports. "When announcing these requests, government agencies describe the work they want done. Contractors submit proposals, with both a plan and a price. The government can choose one vendor, or several. Even after that, it often negotiates with them to push the price below their original bids."

In an interview with the Times, Steven L. Schooner, an expert on federal contracting at George Washington University, called DOGE's precise-seeming figure "silly" and "garbage" because "you don't know what's going to happen" by the end of the bidding process, which might have resulted in substantially less spending, especially in any given fiscal year, or no contract at all. DOGE addresses those uncertainties by describing this "contract termination" as a "solicitation." It nevertheless counts the entire figure as "savings."

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DOGE is still listing a $1.9 billion IRS tech support contract with Centennial Technologies that was terminated during the Biden administration. After the Times noted that mistake, the contract disappeared from DOGE's list, but now it is back. It is the second-largest item on DOGE's "Wall of Receipts."

The third-largest item "comes from a canceled grant to a vaccine nonprofit," the Times notes. Although "Musk's group says that saved $1.75 billion," the organization "said it had actually been paid in full, so the savings was $0."

You get the idea. If the 40 percent share of "estimated savings" that DOGE has itemized is riddled with errors like these, it is hard to have much faith in the spending reductions it claims in vague categories such as "programmatic changes" and "fraud and improper payment deletion."

That last category alone potentially could generate much more savings than the total Musk is now claiming. Last year, the Government Accountability Office estimated that "the federal government could lose between $233 billion and $521 billion annually to fraud." During his address to Congress last month, Trump claimed DOGE already had identified "hundreds of billions of dollars of fraud," which clearly was not true. Even if you believe DOGE's numbers (which you shouldn't), the actual total in this category has to be substantially less than $94 billionthe unitemized share of "estimated savings," which also includes "asset sales," "interest savings," "programmatic changes," "regulatory savings," and "workforce reductions."

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Last week, Musk cited one example of fraud that DOGE had identified: "people getting unemployment insurance who haven't been born yet." He did not elaborate on exactly how that might work or attach a dollar value to it. But he implied that finding "waste and fraud" is easy: "People ask me, 'Well, how are you going to find waste and fraud in the government?' And I'm like, 'Well, actually, just go in any direction. That's how you find it. It's justit's very common. As the military would say, [it is a] target-rich environment."

Although that rings true, the task of rooting out "waste and fraud" clearly has proven more difficult than Musk anticipated. It was always implausible that DOGE could "cut the budget deficit in half" simply by insisting on "competence and caring," as he claimed in February. But even by his own demonstrably unreliable estimation, he is coming up far short of what could be achieved through a serious, sustained effort.

The post Even by Elon Musk's Own Demonstrably Unreliable Estimation, DOGE Will Fall Far Short of His Target appeared first on Reason.com.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Three people have been charged after a pregnant woman was reportedly beaten up and her child kidnapped in Overland Park, Kansas.

On April 12, Overland Park police said officers were dispatched to a reported kidnapping in the area of West 95th and Quivira, which FOX4 has confirmed is Oak Park Mall.

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According to police, the pregnant victim said her ex-boyfriend and his family members physically attacked her. During the altercation, her ex-boyfriend stole her cell phone and took her 8-month-old child, investigators said.

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Court records also say that the child was taken across state lines.

The child was taken outside the state without the consent of either the person having custody or the court, a complaint filed on April 13 says.

The victim said that her ex-boyfriend was not the childs father and has no parental rights to take the child.

Overland Park police contacted Kansas City police, who helped find the suspects and the child. They were all found at a home in Kansas City.

The child was located safe and taken to a nearby hospital for an evaluation. All three suspects were arrested.

View the latest headlines from Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas at fox4kc.com

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Naryah Britton and Connie Young have been charged with kidnapping, battery and aggravated interference with parental custody.

Navon Britton faces the same charges, as well as a domestic battery charge.

In todays day and age, there is all kinds of crazy stuff going on. You never know when something like that could happen, said Jerome Leaks, whos visiting Overland Park. I just think its unfortunate that someone would go to that extent.

The three of them were scheduled to have their first court appearances on Wednesday. Each one of them is being held on $50,000 bond.

If you are a victim of domestic violence, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788. Those with hearing impairments can contact 1-800-787-3224.

Missouri residents can find local shelters and domestic violence resources on the Kansas City Missouri Police Departments website. Kansas and Missouri residents can find additional resources here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A former counselor for vulnerable teens faced a jury in Clark County for the first time Tuesday after a multi-year investigation into sexual misconduct with one of her young patients.

Prosecutors accuse Alicia Kaye Stowe of having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a boy in and outside the now-closed Daybreak Youth Services in Brush Prairie when she was 32 and he was 16.

Third person arrested in Hood River bike theft that led to deadly confrontation

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The victim, now 20, claims he was abused by Stowe during his second 90-day rehab stay in March 2021.

During the trial, prosecutors revealed love letters and crafted gifts the now-adult victim gave his counselor over the course of his stay  some sexually graphic in nature.

That relationship changed over the course of his second stay to unprofessional and sexual, said Clark County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Melinda McMahon. Alica Kaye violated her position of authority to have sex with [the victim].

Prosecutors accuse Alicia Kaye Stowe of having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a boy in and outside the now-closed Daybreak Youth Services in Brush Prairie. April 15, 2025. (KOIN) Prosecutors accuse Alicia Kaye Stowe of having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a boy in and outside the now-closed Daybreak Youth Services in Brush Prairie. April 15, 2025. (KOIN) Prosecutors revealed love letters and crafted gifts the now-adult victim gave Stowe over the course of his stay at Daybreak Youth Services. April 15, 2025. (KOIN)

The alleged victim testified that Stowe of performed oral sex on him in the bathroom of an unused wing on the day of his discharge.

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The prosecution shared text messages with the court that appear to show the pair exchanging I love yous and coordinating plans to meet at a Lacey hotel in the weeks after the boy left the facility. He said she drove more than an hour to have sex with him on more than one occasion.

What were they trying to get rid of Mike Francke for?

Meanwhile, the defense has questioned the alleged victims memory given his admitted meth use as a teen.

He doesnt always know when hes telling the truth and when hes not telling the truth, because hes lied on a number of occasions to law enforcement about this case, defense Attorney Jon J. McMullen said.

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He now admits he was not initially forthcoming with police when questioned about the relationship in 2022, because he wanted to protect her.

Daybreak Youth Services declined to comment on the case. However, attorney David Smith, who represents the organization told KOIN 6 News the victim never contacted Daybreak about alleged misconduct.

According to records from the Washington State Department of Health, Stowe was fired from Daybreak for unrelated reasons in 2022, but her counseling license wasnt suspended until February 2024.

Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story develops.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
A former deputy head of the Presidential Office was charged with money laundering and taking a particularly large bribe, Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau's (NABU) said in a statement published on April 16.

NABU does not name the person charged with the crimes in its report, but the case involves Andrii Smyrnov, who was a deputy head of the Presidential Office from 2019 to 2024.

Before the new charges were announced, Smyrnov was accused of illicitly enriching himself by Hr 15.7 million ($380,000) while in his former position. Smyrnov acquired assets worth more than Hr 17 million ($412,000) between 2020-2022, although he officially reported his salary and savings for the period as Hr 1.3 million ($31,500).

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According to NABU's statement, from 2019 to 2021, the accused illegally cashed in funds, which he laundered by building houses on 300 square meters in a recreational area of Odesa Oblast.

Smyrnov turned to the beneficiary of an unnamed company that owned land by the sea and transferred almost Hr 6.5 million ($157,000) for the construction of the facilities to conceal the origins of the money.

The constructed buildings used by the top official were initially registered in the company's name, but after Smyrnov was charged for the first time in May 2024, they were re-registered in the name of a trustee.

NABU detectives also determined that in 2022, the top official was approached by the owner of an unnamed construction company with a proposal to provide him services worth $100,000 for constructing one of the houses on the coast in Odesa Oblast.

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In return, the individual asked to Smyrnov to facilitate a decision by Ukraine's Antimonopoly Committee to cancel the results of a tender that was earlier won by a competitor, and to ensure his company's victory in the new tender.

According to the investigation, Smyrnov accepted the proposal and took advantage of his official position.

Smyrnov held the position of deputy head from September 2019 until March 2024, when President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed him without naming a reason.

Read also: Ukraines military reverses mobilization of former state tax chief accused of taking bribes

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mo.  A Murphy, Missouri, woman is accused of stealing thousands of dollars from fundraisers at the school where she used to work.

According to the Jefferson County Sheriffs Offices probable cause statement, the crimes occurred between Dec. 1, 2023, and Feb. 13, 2025.

Deputies said a school resource officer contacted the sheriffs office about an employee taking money from a fundraiser for a family in need.

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That employee, identified as Amy Borghesi, returned the money to the school after being confronted and any additional money the district believed to have been stolen.

Restraining order filed against St. Louis Sheriff following second worksite visit

The sheriffs office did not identify which school Borghesi worked for.

Borghesi was then fired and the school conducted an internal audit of several fundraisers that occurred during Borghesis two-year employment. The school discovered stolen money totaling $12,672.40 in cash from multiple fundraisers.

Borghesi admitted to investigators that shed collect the cash from the fundraisers and take some of the money home in her bag, deputies said. Shed spend the stolen money on things like groceries and other household items.

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The Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorneys Office charged Borghesi with stealing  $750 or more. A circuit court judge issued Borghesi a criminal summons to appear in court on Monday, June 23.

Northwest R-I School District sent a statement to FOX 2, saying:

Regarding Former Employee We are aware that a former employee has been charged in connection with the theft of funds from school fundraisers during their period of employment with the district. Once concerns were brought to our attention, we conducted an internal audit and fully cooperated with law enforcement throughout their investigation. As this is now a legal matter, we are unable to provide further comment at this time.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
A group of former January 6 prosecutors filed a letter this week with the Washington D.C. Bars Office of Disciplinary Counsel, calling on the office to open an investigation into President Trumps nominee for D.C. U.S. Attorney Ed Martin.

In the letter, the former Jan. 6 prosecutors argue Martin is in violation of the Department of Justices rules, as he uses the office to carry out Trumps retribution agenda.

Mr. Martins position is one of enormous responsibility, and one whose work ranges from prosecuting local crime in the District to leading important national security investigations and prosecutions, the letter said. He has used his brief time in office to demonstrate a fundamental misunderstanding of the role of a federal prosecutor, announcing investigations against his political opponents, aiding defendants he previously represented, and communicating improperly with those he did not.

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The letter goes on to detail Martins investigations into Trumps perceived political enemies, specifically mentioning Martins letters threatening Democratic elected officials with investigations, such as the one he sent Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) requesting clarification on Schumers statements criticizing the Supreme Court years ago.

Mr. Martins investigations into perceived opponents of this administration do not appear to be coincidental, the letter said. Mr. Martins client is not President Trump; it is the United States. His assertion otherwise adds further evidence that his announced investigations are politically motivated.

One of the lead signatories on the letter, former federal prosecutor Brendan Ballou, confirmed in an interview with TPM that the group has not yet received a response from the disciplinary office.

I think its important to understand that Ed Martin is not an experienced prosecutor, nor is he a particularly talented lawyer, Ballou said. And so he sends out a lot of letters and tweets, but thus far it has not been followed up with, it seems, much actual legal work.

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Even though it will ultimately be a challenge to delay Martins confirmation, Ballou believes that efforts to stop it are still valuable.

It plays an educational role, it educates the judges that hes going to have to appear in front of, and it educates the juries, the grand juries, and the trial juries that are going to be evaluating his arguments, he explained. And so I think its helpful for people to understand Mr. Martins apparent professional violations.

This latest letter calling for an investigation into Martin is just one of many efforts to combat or delay Martins Senate confirmation.

Earlier this month, a group of Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee demanded a confirmation hearing on Martin arguing that he has abused his position in multiple ways since being named Interim U.S. Attorney. Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) announced his intention to place a hold on Martins nomination, saying that Martin has demolished the firewalls between the White House and his own office within the Department of Justice. Senators have the power to place a hold on a presidential nominee, which may delay the confirmation, but wont necessarily block it from moving forward.

And also this month, more than 100 former assistant U.S. attorneys wrote a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee explaining why Martin is an egregiously unqualified political hack who has never served either as a prosecutor or judge.
MOSCOW, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has foiled a terrorist attack that was being plotted in the southern city of Pyatigorsk, the agency said on Wednesday.

According to the FSB, the suspect is a native of one of the Central Asian countries and a member of an international terrorist organization banned in Russia. He was allegedly preparing to carry out a terrorist act at a local leisure center.

The suspect was identified and arrested before he could carry out the act, the FSB stated, adding that bottles containing flammable mixtures were found and seized in his residence.

Local investigative authorities have opened a criminal case on charges related to a terrorist act, the agency said. 
By Luc Cohen

NEW YORK (Reuters) -A former New York City police sergeant was sentenced to 1-1/2 years in prison on Wednesday over his 2023 conviction for acting as an illegal Chinese agent.

Michael McMahon was charged with being hired as a private investigator to surveil a New Jersey resident who was accused by China of corruption, as part of a global campaign by Chinese law enforcement to repatriate alleged criminals living abroad, known as "Operation Fox Hunt."

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A federal jury in Brooklyn found McMahon guilty of interstate stalking and of acting as an agent of China without notifying the U.S. attorney general. The jury found him not guilty of conspiracy to act as a foreign agent. McMahon had pleaded not guilty to all charges.

McMahon, a former law enforcement officer who swore an oath to protect the public, went rogue and dishonorably engaged in a scheme at the direction of the Peoples Republic of China," John Durham, the top federal prosecutor in Brooklyn, said in a statement.

McMahon said he thought he was working for a company seeking to recover embezzled funds, and would not have taken the job if he knew the Chinese government was behind it.

"I was unwittingly used," he said in court.

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McMahon was convicted amid a broader push by former Democratic President Joe Biden's administration to crack down on what it termed transnational repression, or the intimidation and harassment by authoritarian U.S. adversaries such as China or Iran of dissidents on U.S. soil.

Republican President Donald Trump's administration, however, has signaled it will scale down criminal enforcement of U.S. foreign influence laws.

During her first day on the job in February, Attorney General Pam Bondi said prosecutors would bring criminal cases only when conduct resembles "more traditional espionage," focusing on civil enforcement instead in other scenarios.

In handing down the sentence, U.S. District Judge Pamela Chen said changes in prosecutorial priorities had no impact on her decision.

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"The law is the law," the judge said.

McMahon had secured the support of two Republican U.S. Representatives, Michael Lawler of New York and Pete Sessions of Texas. Last year, the two congressmen wrote Chen a letter urging her to spare McMahon prison time, citing his service as a police officer and dedication to his family.

Two of McMahon's co-defendants, Yong Zhu and Congying Zheng, were sentenced to two years and 1-1/3 years in prison, respectively.

(Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York;Editing by Noeleen Walder, Bill Berkrot and Marguerita Choy)
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who played a key role in establishing the Consumer Financial Protection Agency as a watchdog over banks and credit card companies 15 years ago, is calling for an investigation into efforts by the Trump administration to weaken it.

On Tuesday evening, Sen. Warren and fellow Democratic Sen. Andy Kim, who both sit on the Committee of Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, demanded investigations into a push to slash the CFPBs workforce and cancel its contracts.

Despite the critical importance of the CFPB and its statutory requirements, the Trump Administration has taken steps to dismantle the agency, says a letter they sent to the Comptroller General of the United States, Gene L. Dodaro, and reviewed by Fortune. The letter argues it is essential that Congress and the public understand how the Trump Administrations recent actions have affected the CFPBs ability to carry out its mission and statutory obligations.

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The letter asks Dodaro to investigate any actions taken by CFPB leadership and the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, to interfere with CFPB work, cut staff, cancel contracts, and reduce its budget. The senators also asked that the inquiry examine how those actions have affected the agencys enforcement and supervision, monitoring of market risks, and consumer complaint program, among other things.

Warren and Kim sent two similar letters to the CFPBs acting inspector general, Fred Gibson, asking him to investigate the cancellation of nearly 200 CFPB contracts as well as the job cuts. It also asked him to determine whether those actions complied with federal laws and regulations or had impacted the agencys ability to fulfill its statutory duties.

Representatives from the CFPB and the Government Accountability Office, under which the comptroller general operates, did not respond to immediate requests for comment.

The letters mark the latest effort by Warren to defend the CFPB after conceiving of the agency while she was a Harvard University law professor as a way to centralize consumer protection efforts following the 2008 financial crisis. Former President Barack Obama had appointed Warren to oversee the agencys creation after Congress passed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act in 2010. The agency has been active, returning more than $21 billion to consumers via enforcement actions against the financial services companies it supervises.

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Republicans and, more recently, Silicon Valley investors have accused the agency of burdening banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions with unnecessary regulations, as well as overstepping its reach. It has been an early target of the Trump administrations cost-cutting efforts and, in early February, was among the first agencies to give inside access to DOGE, led in all but name by billionaire Elon Musk.

Around the same time as DOGEs arrival, Trump named Russ Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget, as the CFPBs acting director. He closed the CFPBs headquarters, fired employees, cut contracts, and slashed its budget. In public court filings, CFPB employees have suggested that DOGE staffers had wanted to cut nearly all of the agencys 1,700 staffers as part of a three-phase plan.

Since DOGEs arrival, Warren has vocally defended the agency, including leading a coalition of more than 200 legislators to send letters to CFPB leadership and the Treasury Secretary. The coalition demanded that DOGE employees leave the agency.

In the letters sent by Warren and Kim on Tuesday, the senators assert that the terminations appear to have already had a significant impact on the agencys ability to comply with its statutorily required functions. They argue the CFPB has dropped key enforcement actions in the weeks since DOGE entered the agency, including a lawsuit against Capital One for allegedly overcharging customers $2 billion in interest payments.

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Meanwhile, the CFPB has also been under attack by Republicans in Congress. In recent weeks, both the Senate and House of Representatives voted to overturn the CFPBs supervisory authority of payments companies like PayPal, Google, and Applefurther crippling the agencys authority.

A federal judge has temporarily reversed some of the initial cuts at the agency. As part of a lawsuit between a union representing CFPB employees and Vought, a judge ordered the CFPB to reinstate all its probationary and term employees. The order also blocked the agency from terminating employees without cause, issuing a reduction-in-force, or directing employees to stop work or take administrative leave while the case moves forwardthough an appeals court said last week that the CFPB could allow work stoppages that didn't interfere with its statutory duties.

Do you work at the CFPB? Have more information? Reach out via Signal or email to Jessica Mathews at 479-715-9553 or jessica.mathews@fortune.com.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
The Trump administration intends to overhaul the Endangered Species Act by changing what it means to harm an endangered or threatened speciesas part of the larger White House campaign to spur economic growth through deregulation, RealClearPolitics is first to report.

The president has long loathed red tape of the green variety, and one White House official predicted that overhauling the act "will have a seismic, real-world effect on the ability to build."

"Environmental is the biggest tool for stopping growth," Trump said during an interview with Joe Rogan last October, harking back to his New York days as a real estate developer and complaining that rare flora and fauna on a job site could quickly grind even the biggest construction projects to a halt. The candidate called environmental regulations "a weapon," and later as president-elect, he vowed to expedite the environmental permit and approval process for any company investing at least $1 billion in the United States. Wrote Trump on Truth Social last December, "GET READY TO ROCK!!!"

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Trump has slashed and burned his way through much of the regulatory regime of his predecessor already, rescinding nearly 80 Biden-era climate-related orders during his first day in office alone. Overhauling the ESA would easily eclipse those efforts, changing the regulatory, and perhaps natural, landscape forever.

The proposed reform must still make its way through the federal rule-making process. Legal challenges are almost certain to follow, although a conservative Supreme Court may not be sympathetic.

Sweeping change would follow from redefining a single word: harm.

While the plain text of the Nixon-era law prohibits the harming of endangered species, regulatory agencies have taken an expansive view that also prohibits modifying or degrading habitats where wildlife resides. The subsequent regulation has bedeviled conservatives and industry alike for decades. But now the administration intends to define "harm" as an attempt to "take" an endangered species, that is, "to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect" the animal itself.

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For instance, hunting the northern spotted owl would remain illegal under the new rule; building a home or logging timber in a habitat where that bird is known to roost likely would not.

Other policies governing habitat for endangered species remain on the books for now, such as the 1969 National Environmental Policy Act and the 2016 Waters of the United States rule. But administration sources insist more changes will follow. "There isnt one little trick to fix it all at once--there's been this regulatory morass that has built up over 50+ years," the White House official said before adding that the ESA reform was just the beginning and calling it "one big new step we have taken."

The example isnt incidental. The rule change runs to the heart of a longstanding debate over how the act ought to apply to private property. When the owl in question was listed as a threatened species in 1990, the federal government placed millions of acres in the Pacific Northwest off limits. Logging companies filed suit. The high court ruled against them.

And environmentalists rejoiced in the victory. They had likened the alternative - protecting wildlife without regulating private land - to playing the piano "with just the black keys." But writing for the dissent, Justice Antonin Scalia warned that an expansive definition of harm expanded the regulations reach and "imposes unfairness to the point of financial ruin," not just upon businesses "but upon the simplest farmer who finds his land conscripted to national zoological use."

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Conservatives insist that Scalia could see into the future. In the wake of that landmark case, Babbitt v. Sweet Home Chapter of Communities for a Great Oregon, the right argues that environmentalists and government agencies didnt focus on bringing endangered species back from the brink so much as the left used the act to expand their power at the expense of industry. "Left-wing activists love the status quo," complained one Trump official, "because it stops development, stops growth, and hurts the economy."

"The groups use endangered species, sometimes ones that arent actually endangered at all, as a fig leaf to stop all growth," the official added. "And they do the same with ludicrous arguments that habitat will be impacted, to halt development and kill the economy."

The White House doesnt have to look far for environmental activism allegedly dressed up as conservation. Consider the snail darter.

The little freshwater fish swims in Eastern Tennessee rivers and was listed as endangered in 1973, a designation that halted construction of the Tellico Dam. The only problem? Scientists now say it does not exist. "There is, technically, no snail darter," Thomas Near, curator of ichthyology at the Yale Peabody Museum and a professor at that universitys fish biology lab, told The New York Times.

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Opponents of the dam insisted that the two-inch nonedible fish was a distinct species and successfully used its protected status to stop construction. Decades later, Near and other scientists concluded that the snail darter is no different than another unremarkable and very much not endangered fish, the stargazing darter. It is Exhibit A, the professor told the Times, of "the conservation species concept, where people are going to decide a species should be distinct because it will have a downstream conservation implication."

The Tellico Dam began operating in 1979, but not until after a protracted legal fight and a special exemption signed into law that same year by President Jimmy Carter. The fish population, meanwhile, thrives. Other examples abound for the right.

There is the endangered dusky gopher frog. The Obama administration designated 1,500 acres of private land in Louisiana as a "critical habitat" for the shy frog even though the reptile was only known to inhabit wetlands in southern Mississippi.

Then there was the Johnstons frankenia, a blueish-gray shrub that enjoyed protected status for decades until 2003 when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service deemed its population had recovered. Conservatives complain that the government didnt remove the designation until 2016.

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More recently, a rare buckwheat gave the Biden administration fits. Though one of over 300 varieties, Tiehms buckwheat grows only near lithium and boron deposits, an inconvenient horticultural headache for industries eager to mine those minerals critical for electric vehicle batteries. The flowering plant earned endangered status in 2022.

Nothing quite draws the ire of Trump like the Delta smelt. He has been at war with little fish for as long as he has been in politics. Though functionally extinct, the president blames the four-inch fish, once common in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, for allowing an environmentalism run wild. He has blamed the water woes of California on misguided efforts to "protect an essentially worthless fish."

The administration will likely have a free hand as they seek to overhaul the Endangered Species Act. In the 1995 Babbitt decision, the Supreme Court relied on the so-called Chevron deference. When Congress has not addressed a question directly, the high court, per that doctrine, was expected to follow a federal agencys interpretation of a given statute. In Babbitt, the Supreme Court adopted the expansive regulatory definition of harm set forth by the Fish and Wildlife Service.

Fast forward 30 years, and Chevron is no more. The Supreme Court overruled it last summer when Chief Justice John Roberts ruled the doctrine "fundamentally misguided."

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Environmental advocates have been bracing for a deregulatory onslaught since the moment Trump won reelection. According to Noah Greenwald, director of the Center for Biological Diversity, redefining what amounts to a "harm" is the "first step toward stripping habitat protections from rare plants and animals headed toward extinction." He called it nothing less than "a death sentence."

"The Trump administration has been systematically killing protections for our air, water, wildlife and climate like a vicious cancer," Greenwald said last week. "The malignant greed driving these policies threatens to greatly increase destruction of the natural world and turbocharge the extinction crisis."

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said during his Senate confirmation hearing earlier this year that he believes "we have a moral responsibility to be good stewards of our environment for generations to come." Speaking for the administration, he added, however, that "common-sense" environmental regulations were possible "without suffocating the economy."

Philip Wegmann is White House correspondent for RealClearPolitics.
CHICAGO (WGN)  In the heart of Chicagos Auburn Gresham neighborhood, at 79th and Sangamon, youll find Leo High School, where the past and present are intersecting to make a better future for students attending the educational institution now in its 99th year.

The 2025 Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) Fair aims to help Leo Lions like sophomores Asa Harris and Justin Hunt consider the possibilities of entrepreneurship and more.

Enter Exelon CEO Calvin Butler, one of only eight Black CEOs of a Fortune 500 company. In his third year visiting with the students at Leo, the East St. Louis native shared his experience growing up in neighborhoods that closely resemble Chicagos, and the motivation to forge a different path.

MORE FROM WGNS PATRICK ELWOOD: One-on-one with CPDs Supt. Snelling as he details new strategic plan

Exelon CEO Calvin Butler inspires Leo High School students to forge their own paths and consider entrepreneurship at the 2025 STEM Fair. (Photo: WGN)

As the first one in my family to graduate from college and then to be sitting in this seat, it means something more than just running a large company, Butler said. Its about, What am I doing to give back to the communities in which we serve?

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Which is why we are here at Leo High School. I want these young men to see that theres opportunities, not everyone has to have family members that grow up and were CEOs, lawyers and doctors and so forth. I just happen to be a lawyer, but you can do anything you want to if you focus and really drive toward excellence.

This is part of Exelons bigger effort to get into Chicago schools. In conjunction with the Big Shoulders Fund, a Chicago nonprofit, Butler brought his team from Exelon and ComEd to mentor the young men. School principal Dr. Shaka Rawls says what the young men learn here is as important as any lesson they will receive in their four years at Leo.

He inspires each one of my students to try to be a little bit better, he said. We always say that we want to be 1% better here at Leo High School, and he shows them what 1% better every day could possibly be.

Leos motto, Facta Non Verba, which means deeds, not words, resonates with students like Harris and Hunt, as does Butlers story.

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It gives us inspiration, Harris said. Its pushing us to the right path and leading us the right way. [Butlers] backstory, it really enlightens us a little bit.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

Leo High School boasts a 100% graduation rate for the 12th consecutive year.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Expectant mothers in Dearborn will receive up to $4,500, Mayor Abdullah Hammoud announced April 15 at his State of the City address.

Saying that Dearborn is good at producing babies, Hammoud explained that "every single Dearborn mother welcoming a baby will receive $4,500 over six months" through a Michigan program called Rx Kids funded with help from county, state and private foundations.

"When most people think of Dearborn, they think of the Rouge Factory and auto production," Hammoud told hundreds of residents gathered inside the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center to hear his address. "But do you know what else Dearborn is really good at producing? Babies. Thats right: Dearborn produces over 1,700 babies a year. Our birth rate is consistently 60% higher than the state average."

Mayor Abdullah Hammoud of Dearborn gives his state of the city address to residents at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center in Dearborn on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.

Dearborn, which has about 110,000 residents, has the highest percentage of residents under the age of 18 among cities with at least 100,000 residents in the Midwest and East Coast, 2020 census data analyzed by a playground company shows.

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"The first year of life is most crucial for a child's development and long-term health," Hammoud said. "Research has shown that the arrival of a newborn often triggers a sudden financial strain for families, regardless of their income level. With all these factors considered, my administration is proud to announce that Rx Kids is coming to Dearborn."

Hammoud's announcement comes at a time of growing discussion in recent years over decreased fertility rates in the U.S. Some other Wayne County cities will also be part of the Rx Kids program, a Wayne County official said last week.

Mayor Abdullah Hammoud of Dearborn gives his state of the city address to residents at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center in Dearborn on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.

Hammoud's announcement was one of several touting Dearborn's accomplishments since he became mayor in January 2022, after being elected in November 2021. Hammoud, 35, is up for reelection this year, facing a challenge from Nagi Almudhegi, a 50-year-old IT manager who attended Hammoud's speech. Another potential candidate, Hassan Aoun, was declared ineligible by Dearborn City Clerk George Darany because of his past felony convictions. Wayne County Chief Judge Patricia Fresard ruled last week against Aoun in a lawsuit he filed, dismissing his attempts to get on the ballot.

Dressed in a gray suit and brown shoes, Hammoud spoke in measured tones from a prepared speech that laid out some ambitious plans. Over the past couple of years, Hammoud has become known nationally as an outspoken supporter of Palestinians, garnering national media attention during the presidential election campaign. Hammoud, a Democrat, declined to support Kamala Harris or Donald Trump in protest over their support of Israel's attacks; Trump won in Dearborn. But there was no mention of foreign policy during his Tuesday speech, which focused on the challenges and ambitions of Dearborn. In contrast to the heated tone of his remarks over the past year at rallies for Gaza and Lebanon, Hammoud spoke calmly, cracking jokes at times, with the crowd often applauding.

Mayor Abdullah Hammoud of Dearborn gives his state of the city address to residents gathered inside the auditorium at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center in Dearborn on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.

As he spoke, a large screen behind flashed some of his key points and contained renderings of his proposals.

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One of his proposed projects is called the "Dearborn Industrial Greenbelt," which will remake an area along Industrial Street in the south end of Dearborn, a heavily polluted area that sits in the shadow of the Ford Rouge plant and other factories that he said have made Dearborn "the epicenter for childhood asthma." Hammoud reiterated his strong commitment to public health, saying the city has won "up to $4 million in legal settlements requiring corporations to mitigate air pollution from their operations by June 30." Hammoud brought back the city's health department in 2022 shortly after becoming mayor.

"Were reimagining one of the most heavily impacted corridors in our city, Dearborns southend, through a bold and long-term project we call the Dearborn Industrial Greenbelt," he said. "The goal? To create a green, living buffer along Industrial Street that slows down traffic, reduces air pollution, and absorbs floodwaters while making space for nature in one of the citys most industrialized areas."

Hammoud said they have already acquired key properties in the area and more than 200,000 square feet for the project, working with "some of the nations top thinkers, architects, and urban planners at the University of Michigan to make it happen."

State of Wayne County: Warren Evans announces program to curb childhood poverty for cities in Wayne County

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Hammoud added: "In Dearborn, we know that environmental justice isnt just a slogan; its something we have to design for, zone for, and push for. The way we see it, everything in Dearborn has a tie back to public health."

The mayor also announced a plan to transform Esper library into "a community space where students can experiment with robotics, music, arts and engineering, a place where young minds can tinker with circuits, explore 3D printing and engage in hands-on science projects." Hammoud said he saw a similar project in Northville and wanted to replicate the idea in Dearborn, so residents can explore what other cities have.

Mayor Abdullah Hammoud of Dearborn gives his state of the city address to residents at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center in Dearborn on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.

Some of Hammoud's other announcements or accomplishments he touted included:

Having three "structurally balanced budgets proposed for the first time in over two decades." Hammoud recently sent his proposed $151 million budget to city council, 70% of which includes funds for the police and fire departments.

The lowest tax rate in Dearborn since 2010, with plans for lower taxes. "Its expected that by 2035, well be able to offer Dearborn families an additional 10% millage rate reduction, a rate that has not been seen since 2009."

Flooding problems, which were an issue in 2021 that helped Hammoud win in the August 2021 primary, are down in Dearborn. "A few weeks ago, southeast Michigan got nearly 3 inches of rain," Hammoud said. "You may have noticed that while neighboring cities battled flash floods on their roads and in their basements, Dearborn was not under water."

Crime is down and they're continuing to make public safety a priority. He also said they're cracking down on aggressive and reckless driving in the city, employing data-based programs. "We pursued an evidence-based pilot for speed humps, installing three sets near Hemlock, Levagood and Lapeer parks," Hammoud said. "We installed speed monitors to track their impact and found speeding reduced by over 20% in those areas, and since then, we have seen 98% speed compliance by drivers in these zones." The city will now use a $1.5 million grant to install 300 speed humps, 100 illuminated stop signs, 60 speed radar display signs, 40 illuminated one-way intersection signs, at least 20 raised pedestrian cross walks, 12 school zone crossing signs and five flashing beacons, he said.

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Some Republicans in Dearborn have criticized Hammoud over his support of LGBTQ+ communities; those issues were not brought up during his address.

Speaking before Hammoud was Dearborn City Council President Michael Sareini, who spoke about Dearborn creating three new parks, keeping water out of basements during heavy rains, and public safety. The national anthem was sung by Maria Saad. Before the State of the City address, there was a reception featuring food from various vendors and groups.

Reporter Nushrat Rahman contributed to this report.

Contact Niraj Warikoo:nwarikoo@freepress.com or X @nwarikoo

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Dearborn State of the City: Expectant moms to get $4,500, mayor says
The National WWI Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri, is getting a facelift.

Since 2023, the Museum and Memorial has been carrying out a multi-year upgrade plan, the most expansive changes to the buildings and grounds since opening in 2006, according to its landing page.

The modifications, the announcement continued, will not only see upgrades in technology to tell new and interesting narratives from WWI, they will create a richer and more immersive visitor experience.

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Opening over Memorial Day weekend, the museums latest exhibit, Encounters, will take viewers through the lives of 16 individuals that include: Allied and Central Power combat soldiers; British colonial Indian soldiers; women working in munitions factories; and dissenters arrested and tried for anti-war stances.

Crafted from diaries, letters and photos, Encounters includes state-of-the-art media displays that will feature 1.25 mm Pixel Pitch LED Display technology from Nanolumens  the first installation of its kind in a museum in the U.S.

The museum aims for Encounters to go beyond the simple showcasing of artifacts and historical data. Delving into more than troop movements and the number of rivets on a Sopwith Triplane, the installation aims to fully engage its visitors visually and audibly on a deeply emotional level, focusing on the human side of the war through the stories of individuals who lived it, according to a museum press release.

This isnt the museums first foray into immersing cutting edge technology and meshing it with the past.

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In 2021, the National WWI Museum debuted its impressive virtual reality experience, War Remains, which allowed visitors to take a trip through time to the battlefields of World War I. The initiative was designed for viewers to feel  as much as possible  the true trench experience.

We wanted to simulate what it was like to lose your hearing to an explosion, director Brandon Oldenburg told Military Times in 2021. Skywalker sound does an amazing job of putting ringing in your ears. You feel it, but you cant hear it.  I think it makes a lasting memory of what it was like even though it is not even coming close to the real thing. You can walk out alive [and] unscathed.

Now, the museum is once again leading the way when it comes to what museums of the present can and should be, with stations boasting recreated virtual scenes from the front lines, the home front and military hospitals replete with interactive soundscape technology found in just one other space in the U.S.  the Las Vegas Sphere.

According to the press release, the spatial audio used in this exhibit creates a 360-degree sound environment, making it feel as if the voices, sounds, and stories are unfolding around visitors in real time.

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Despite more than a century separating museum-goers from the wars end, the lives of the ordinary man and woman caught up in this titanic clash will once again be seen  and felt  like never before.

Renovations at the National WWI Museum and Memorial will continue through 2025.

Encounters opens Memorial Day weekend, 2025.
By David Ljunggren

OTTAWA (Reuters) -Canada will hold a general election on Monday, with polls indicating Prime Minister Mark Carney's ruling Liberals ahead of the official opposition Conservatives of Pierre Poilievre.

There are 343 seats in the elected House of Commons chamber. A party falling short of the 172 seats needed for a majority is obliged to create a minority government reliant on support from opposition legislators to stay in power. Minority governments tend to be less stable and rarely last more than two years.

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Here are the potential outcomes of the vote and what they would mean:

MAJORITY LIBERAL GOVERNMENT

This result would be the most straightforward. Carney would continue to govern without interruption. Before the House returned on May 26, he would put together a cabinet, work on a budget and outline his plans for the next parliamentary session.

MINORITY LIBERAL GOVERNMENT

Carney would continue to govern but have to either negotiate with opposition legislators for support or go it alone and dare other parties to topple his government. Minority governments need to show they have the confidence of the House and the first opportunity to do so would be the Speech from the Throne, which is written by the government and read out by the governor general, the personal representative of King Charles, Canada's head of state. Opposition parties would later be able to vote to bring down the government when it presented its budget.

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If the Liberals fell a few seats short of the 172 needed for a majority, they would most likely govern as though they had one, confident that other parties would not want to oust them so soon after the election. But if they ended up 20 or so seats short, they would need help.

Their natural partner is the left-leaning New Democratic Party, which struck a deal with Justin Trudeau - Carney's predecessor - to keep him in power for more than two years in return for increased spending on social programs. The NDP also held the balance of power after the 1972 election when Pierre Trudeau, the father of Justin Trudeau, saw his majority government reduced to a minority. Formal coalition governments in Canada are unknown outside of wartime.

If the NDP was unwilling or unable to support Carney, he could approach the Bloc Quebecois, which seeks independence for the predominantly French-speaking province of Quebec. Such a deal would be carried out on a vote-by-vote basis, since a formal agreement with a party aiming to break up Canada is politically toxic for much of the country.

MAJORITY CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT

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This result is the second-most straightforward scenario. After a transition period that usually lasts about 10 days, Poilievre would visit the governor general with his cabinet to be sworn in. His team would start working on a budget and a Speech from the Throne.

STRONG MINORITY CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT

This outcome would be more complex, in part because the Conservatives have no natural allies in a House where the smaller opposition parties - the Bloc, the New Democrats and the Greens - are all left-leaning.

Key factors would be how many seats the Conservatives won and the reaction of Carney, who remains prime minister until a confidence vote in the House. If Poilievre fell a few seats short of 172 and the Liberals were well behind, Carney would most likely resign and allow the Conservatives a chance to govern.

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Poilievre could then try to govern as though he had a majority. Although the Speech from the Throne does not have to be presented immediately - after the Progressive Conservative Party, the forerunner of Poilievre's party, won a minority in the 1979 election, the House did not resume business until nearly five months later - the Conservative leader would be under pressure to reveal his plans soon given the uncertainty about U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs on imports from Canada.

WEAK MINORITY CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT

If the Conservatives won more seats than the Liberals but fell far short of a majority, Carney could still step down and give Poilievre a chance to govern.

The risk for Poilievre is that the Liberals and other parties could unite to bring him down quickly. The defeat of a government would normally trigger an election, but if Poilievre were toppled quickly, the governor general would most likely invite Carney to try to form a government. Conservative supporters would almost certainly be enraged by such a move.

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HUNG PARLIAMENT WITH SLIGHT EDGE TO THE CONSERVATIVES

This scenario is by far the most complicated and potentially destabilizing. While the Conservatives traditionally argue the party with the most seats should get the first chance to govern, that privilege falls to the party that can show it has the House's confidence.

If Poilievre won a handful of seats more than the Liberals and Carney felt he could create a stable arrangement with the New Democrats, the prime minister could try to remain in office until there was a chance to test the confidence of the House. This move would no doubt infuriate Conservative supporters, particularly in Western Canada where distrust of the federal government is high and support for the Liberals has been weak since the late 1970s.

In late 2008, six weeks after an election that gave the then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservatives a strong minority government, the Liberals, Bloc and New Democrats announced a deal to bring it down over its proposed budget and then to form a coalition government. The three-party agreement quickly foundered over unhappiness that the Bloc would have a role running the country. Harper defused the crisis by asking the governor general to suspend Parliament for six weeks to allow tempers to cool.

(Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Paul Simao and Nick Zieminski)
AKRON, Ohio (WJW)  The Akron Board of Education placed Superintendent Dr. Michael Robinson on paid administrative leave Tuesday after reviewing a scathing internal report saying the district leader created a toxic and fearful working environment.

The FOX 8 I-Team obtained a copy of the 24-page report, which was completed by the Akron law firm Brennan, Manna & Diamond.

The report states investigators spoke to more than a dozen school employees and Robinson during the investigation. The board hired the firm to do the investigation after receiving complaints accusing Robinson of bullying, harassing and intimidating employees.

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BMD has concluded that Dr. Robinson has engaged in threatening, intimidating and harassing behavior toward media, the Board, staff and even students, the report states.

New video: Witness calls 911 before Crocker Park standoff; suspect arrested

The I-Team tried to speak to Robinson on three occasions to get his side, but each time, he refused to speak.

There were multiple credible accounts of bullying, intimidation and retaliation by Superintendent Robinson, said Board President Carla Jackson during Tuesdays meeting.

Rev. Gregory Harrison told the I-Team he was disappointed after reading the report.

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One of the things for me that was most compelling were the superintendents statements, Harrison said. Its a little troubling that he did not understand some of the things were just wrong.

The report also said Robinson cannot take responsibility, and cannot admit that his behavior is unprofessional, hostile and retaliatory. He even told investigators, I am ordained by God, and I am the great I am.

Dr. Robinson himself acknowledged that being the Superintendent is his ministry and that he is anointed,' the report further states. In the context of these statements, witnesses reported that Dr. Robinson implies that harm occurs to people who oppose him. For example, multiple witnesses recounted times when Dr. Robinson told APS staff that his former supervisor got cancer because he treated Dr. Robinson poorly.

Others told investigators that Robinson said bad things happen to people who come for him.

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The board president did not answer our questions after the meeting. The board does expect to make a final decision on the superintendents job by April 28.

Caught on video: Cleveland Clinic nurse helps traveler in midair on Southwest Airlines flight

The board of education found that much of Robinsons conduct was in clear violation of the APS Code of Conduct and deemed such behavior unacceptable for a school official.

Given the severity of these findings, the board voted to place Superintendent Robinson on paid administrative leave, effective immediately. The board has developed a plan for swift action regarding his employment status and anticipates a final decision by the next scheduled board meeting on April 28, 2025.

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The board appointed Mary Outley, a long-time employee of Akron Public Schools, to serve as interim superintendent.

Akron Mayor Shammas Malik released a statement Wednesday regarding the new appointment:

Akron Public Schools is an essential institution in our community, and I know that Interim Superintendent Mary Outley and the outstanding staff and leadership at APS will help lead our citys school district forward. I am confident in their abilities and unwavering commitment to Akrons students, and I look forward to working with the entire APS team as we continue building on a strong city / school district partnership for the benefit of all Akron residents. In this moment, we all need to rally around APS, and focus on how to best uplift and support APS staff, teachers, and most importantly, Akrons students.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
April 16 (UPI) -- The EY accounting firm is under investigation over how it audited the British Post Office nearly a decade ago.

Britain's Financial Reporting Council accounting regulator announced Wednesday that it has begun look into "the statutory audits of the consolidated financial statements of Post Office Limited," conducted by EY, formerly known as Ernst & Young, from March 2015 through 2018, in regard to "matters related to the Horizon IT system."

The Horizon accounting software was at the core of a scandal that falsely reported fiscal losses at the Post Office, which led to more than 900 employees being accused of theft, and saw hundreds of postal employees wrongly prosecuted between 1999 and 2015, some of whom were jailed or fined. Others are said to have committed suicide over the wrongful prosecution.

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Britain introduced legislation to overturn Horizon IT system convictions of postal workers in March of 2024.

The FRC said this investigation was purposely held off until the conclusion of public hearings related to the Post Office Horizon IT inquiry.

"While the Inquiry was extensive, it purposefully did not encompass the role or knowledge of external auditors in its scope," the FRC said in a press release.

The investigation will be conducted by the FRC's Enforcement Division under its Audit Enforcement Procedure.
UNITED NATIONS, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Aid officials are extremely concerned about an escalating Sudan war following reports of atrocities in the takeover of Zamzam displacement camp in North Darfur by armed groups, UN humanitarians said on Wednesday.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said it is gravely concerned by the humanitarian situation in and around El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State, just 15 km north of the vast and famine-scarred camp.

"Local partners have provided deeply disturbing reports of atrocities following the reported takeover of Zamzam displacement camp by armed groups," OCHA said. "Civilians, including humanitarian workers, are reportedly being prevented from leaving, and survivors have spoken of targeted killings, sexual violence and the burning of homes."

When asked about the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) setting up a parallel government to the one in Sudan's capital of Khartoum, Stephanie Tremblay, associate spokeswoman for the UN secretary-general, said that it would not bring Sudan any closer to a resolution of the conflict, which can only be achieved through meaningful, inclusive dialogue.

"As an international community, we must find ways to help the Sudanese people bring this unspeakable catastrophe to an end and establish acceptable transitional arrangements," Tremblay said.

Earlier in the week, it was reported about 400,000 of the estimated 500,000 people living in Zamzam camp fled with the onslaught of armed groups believed affiliated with the RFS militia.

OCHA said local sources reported people moving to areas including Jebel Marra and Tawila, west and southwest, respectively, of El Fasher amid a highly volatile security situation and continuing attacks.

"Access constraints, a critical fuel shortage and a volatile security environment are severely disrupting humanitarian operations in El Fasher," OCHA said. "Health services and water treatment have been particularly affected."

Tremblay said that in Khartoum State, drones on Monday attacked power infrastructure, leaving large parts of the districts of Um Badda, Karrari and Omdurman without electricity or clean water. Partners warn that most water plants are no longer operational, and a significant water station serving the cities of Atbara and Ad Damar now requires emergency diesel support to function.

On Tuesday, the Sudan war marked the second anniversary of the RSF attacks in Khartoum, igniting the war that has taken the lives of nearly 30,000 people, forced about 13 million from their homes, 4 million of those to neighboring countries, and left about half of the 50 million population hungry.

"Once again, OCHA calls on all parties to the conflict to protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian access," the office said. "We also urge increased international support to ensure essential services and humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable people in Sudan continue." 
Donald Trump is said to have personally intervened to stop Elon Musk attending a top secret China briefing fuming: What the f--- is Elon doing there?

The president reportedly ordered staffers to make sure he doesnt go when he learnt of the Tesla founders attendance.

Mr Trump is said to have been concerned about a potential conflict of interest given Mr Musks business interests in China, including his electric car company Tesla.

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A Trump administration official told Axios: Potus still very much loves Elon, but there are some red lines.

Elon has a lot of business in China and he has good relations there, and this briefing just wasnt the right thing.

Elon Musk meets with Li Qiang, the Chinese Premier, in Beijing in April 2024 - Wang Ye

Mr Musks planned attendance was first reported on March 20 by the New York Times.

It would have given Mr Musk, who is helping the president shrink the federal government and slash overspending through the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), access to some of the most closely guarded secrets in the US.

After the New York Times report was published, Mr Trump called it fake news in a post on social media.

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The president said the report was ridiculous and said that the story was completely untrue.

The Axios report comes amid disquiet in the White House at Mr Musks outsized influence within Mr Trumps top team.

Musk stepping back from top role

Politico reported earlier this month that the billionaire will be stepping back from his front-seat role in the coming months.

JD Vance, the vice-president, later insisted the Tesla boss would remain in the presidents orbit as a friend and adviser.

Mr Musk did attend a briefing at the Pentagon on March 21 with Pete Hegseth, the defence secretary, but China was not discussed, according to Axios.

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Speaking in the White House that day, Mr Trump said that Mr Musk was susceptible to his business interests in China but insisted the reports were fake.

That day Mr Musk wrote on X: I look forward to the prosecutions of those at the Pentagon who are leaking maliciously false information to NYT.

They will be found.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
The FAA released videos on Tuesday showcasing its latest effort to test drone-detecting technologies, which is now underway in New Jersey. The agency told us the tests are not related to the massive wave of reported drone incursions over the state last year, as well as sensitive military installations in the U.S. and U.K., but the results could help improve situational awareness of unmanned aircraft in the skies. However, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy intimated that these tests are a direct result of the Jersey drone incursions in a video just posted on X.

Do you remember the drone fiasco in New Jersey last year? Do you remember when President Bidens administration refused to tell the American people who was flying the drones? It scared the crap out of people. It was wrong.



President Trump and I believe in radical transparency. pic.twitter.com/KJlutVh5uH  Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) April 15, 2025

The tests, which began Monday and are expected to last until April 25, are taking place over the water and near the Cape May Ferry Terminal during the daytime on weekdays only, according to the agency. They are being conducted by the FAAs Center of Excellence for UAS Research (ASSURE). The Delaware River Bay Authority Police and other local first responders will also participate.

The videos offer a small glimpse into this testing process.

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One video shows the detection and tracking systems being tested, along with several drones of different sizes on the ground and in flight.

The other video shows smaller drones being flown.

The FAA has been testing drone detection technologies at airports over the last few years and is expanding testing to off-airport locations, the spokesman told The War Zone in response to our question about what sparked this effort. These tests will help determine the effectiveness of these technologies and whether they might interfere with FAA or aircraft navigation systems.

More than 100 drone sightings near airports are reported to the FAA each month, and we want to send a clear message that operating drones around airplanes, helicopters, and airports is dangerous and illegal, the agency said in its statement.

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The FAA is using several large drones and about 100 smaller, commercial off-the-shelf drones to test the effectiveness of three different detection and tracking systems: Remote ID provides identification and location information from drones in flight that can be received by other parties through a broadcast signal. Acoustic arrays pick up the sound made by drones, detecting their presence and calculating position and which way they are headed. X-Band radars give operators an active, as opposed to passive, detection and tracking capability. This is especially important for drones that are not emitting any radio frequency emissions.

An X-band radar system being tested by the FAA. (FAA screencap)

To see how these systems work against drones of varying sizes, speeds and altitudes, the FAA is using uncrewed aerial vehicles in three groups, ranging from those weighing less than 20 pounds, traveling at speeds 100 knots and operating below 1,200 feet, to those weighing less than 1,320 pounds, traveling at speeds less than 250 knots and operating below 18,000 feet.

The commercial off-the-shelf drones include DJI Mavic Pro, Parrot Anafi, Skydio 2+, Skyfront Perimeter and DIY X6 Multirotor models. The larger drones are the NAVMAR Tigershark and the SpektreWorks Cobalt.

Though there were thousands of reported drone sightings over New Jersey and other areas in the northeast late last year, an FAA spokesman told us on Tuesday that the decision to hold these tests in Cape May is coincidental.

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It was selected primarily [because of] proximity to the FAA Technical Center near Atlantic City, the spokesman explained.

The FAAs William J. Hughes Technical Center. (FAA)

The FAA conducted the first of these off-airport tests in Alaska in January 2023. Additional testing will take place in New Mexico, North Dakota and Mississippi later this year.

The metrics for success and timeline to present analyzed data remain unclear.

Though unrelated, these tests come as the origin and nature of drones seen over sensitive U.S. facilities at home and abroad, as well as those spotted over civilian areas in and around New Jersey, remain a public mystery. The FBI told us last month that its investigation into thousands of reported sightings remains ongoing. However, as we previously explained, TWZ reviewed many videos and images taken by citizens who reported seeing the drones and we have seen no proof of any widespread drone incursions. While the FBI received about 5,000 reports of drone sightings, the vast majority of material in circulation claiming to show drones actually depicted standard aircraft or, in a very limited quantity, common hobbyist drones. Still, these reports led to the FAA issuing Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) over large parts of the area, mostly over power installations.

TFRs over sensitive energy sites (small red circles) were issued last year during the height of the drone scare. (1800WXBRIEF.COM)

Shortly after President Donald Trump returned to the White House, officials there announced that the Jersey drones were approved by the FAA for research and various other reasons.

We asked U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM), which is tasked with coordinating counter-drone activities over U.S. military bases, the level of interest it has in the FAA tests. We will update this story with any pertinent information provided.

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Regardless of the results of these tests, often confusing legal and regulatory hurdles limit how and when counter-drone systems that can actually effect the targeted craft can be used in the United States. Concerns about risks of collateral damage resulting from the use of anti-drone capabilities are a huge factor. As a result, the U.S. military isnt currently allowed to field kinetic and directed energy capabilities, such as laser and high-power microwave weapons, surface-to-air interceptors, and gun systems, for defending domestic bases and other critical infrastructure from rapidly growing and evolving drone threats. Instead, the focus is on electronic warfare and cyber warfare, and other soft-kill options, at least for the time being. Even these capabilities are in limited use and are only even effective against a relatively narrow set of drone types.

These preclusions even extend to the U.S. border with Mexico, where drug cartels have been steadily increasing their use of weaponized uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), as well as unarmed types for surveillance and smuggling. The issue has been so concerning that the U.S. Army recently deployed ground-based radars along the border to help spot and track drones as part of the continued build-up of U.S. military support there. You can read more about that in our in-depth story here. The Trump administration has made border security one of its major priorities.

As a result of these limitations, Air Force Gen. Gregory M. Guillot, NORTHCOM commander, recently testified before Congress that he is seeking an increase in the authority to shoot down drones over and around military installations.

Guillot told senators that he wants increased ability to take action granted under a federal law known as 130(i). The subsection of Title 10 of the U.S. Code (10 USC 130i) covers current authorities for the protection of certain facilities and assets from unmanned aircraft, including through the use of kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities. It contains a number of specific stipulations and where and when those authorities can actually be employed.

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Any change in those authorities, which Congress is considering, would be on top of the Pentagons counter-drone strategy released in the last days of the Biden administration.

Some civilian airports, meanwhile, have limited capabilities  some of which are similar to those being tested  to detect and track certain kinds of drones. Just providing passive awareness of when drones are present and where is seen as a key need for some airports. Should the FAAs tests result in better ways to achieve situational awareness of these objects, and some of these systems are standardized and deployed more widely, it could go a long way toward improving the safety of flight and understanding the drone threat better.

Update: 12:13 PM Eastern 

NORTHCOM responded to our query about its interest in the FAA testing program:

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USNORTHCOM is tracking this event. While were not actively coordinating with the FAA on this effort, we will use the resulting data as part of our role as the DoDs Homeland C-UAS synchronizer in the continental United States.

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com
Claim:

A screenshot authentically shows that U.S. President Donald Trump wrote a post on Truth Social about "most ladies" not wanting to vote.

Rating:

Rating: Fake

In mid-April 2025, a screenshot circulated online allegedly showing that U.S. President Donald Trump wrote a post on Truth Social about "most ladies" not wanting to vote.

The image appeared on numerous social media platforms such as Threads (archived) and Facebook (archived), and Snopes readers also reached out to ask if it was real.

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Trump's purported post read:

A LOT of people are talking about the new billsaying it's unfair to the ladies because their ID has to match their birth name. FAKE NEWS! I know from VERY reliable sources (the best!) it's a NON-ISSUE. You know why? Because most ladiesmost of themdon't even WANT to vote! Isn't that incredible? They're smart, they've got better things to do! Frankly, I love that for them. Ask me how I know. I KNOW.

(Threads user @varnerallison)

However, there was no proof that the post was real. It did not appear on Trump's Truth Social feed around the time it was shared on other social media platforms. It also did not appear on Trump's Truth, an online archive of the president's Truth Social posts. Searches on popular search engines for phrases from the post also produced no matching results, nor did reverse image searches. Given the media coverage Trump receives, news media outlets would likely have reported on such a post if it was genuine. Therefore, with all this considered, we have rated it as fake.

Snopes has reached out to the White House to ask about the post's authenticity and we await a reply.

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It is easy for people to generate fake social media posts, including for Truth Social, using readily-available online generators. The latter link's (imgflip) "trump truth social blank Meme Generator" uses the same low-resolution profile picture as the one seen in the fake Trump post. However, we did not independently verify whether imgflip was used to create the fake post.

Though the post itself was fake, concerns about women's voting rights did arise following the news that the Republican Party wants to introduce the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, federal legislation that requires proof of citizenship to vote.

Snopes readers asked us whether the bill would affect the voting rights of married women who took their husband's name and therefore did not have a birth certificate matching their legal name to prove their citizenship.

Our report found that although the bill directed states to create a process for acceptable proof-of-citizenship documentation for applicants whose citizenship documents do not align with their legal name, such processes could be costly or difficult and potentially hinder access to voting.

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The bill had not become law at the time of this writing.

According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, women voters outnumbered men and also voted at higher rates in the November 2022 midterm elections.

Snopes has previously debunked other fake social media posts attributed to Trump, including one that claimed the president said he wanted to annex Alaska and Greenland and another that alleged he posted on Truth Social about hating pop star Taylor Swift.

Sources:

A LOT of People Are Talking about the New Bill - Yahoo Search Results. https://uk.search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=Awr.il4WVP5nNfEGARFKBQx.;_ylc=X1MDMjExNDcxNzAwMgRfcgMyBGZyAwRmcjIDcDpzLHY6c2ZwLG06c2ItdG9wBGdwcmlkA19SV0FtX0V4UWhpbTJicThCd3VHUEEEbl9yc2x0AzAEbl9zdWdnAzQEb3JpZ2luA3VrLnNlYXJjaC55YWhvby5jb20EcG9zAzAEcHFzdHIDBHBxc3RybAMwBHFzdHJsAzQ4BHF1ZXJ5AyUyMkElMjBMT1QlMjBvZiUyMHBlb3BsZSUyMGFyZSUyMHRhbGtpbmclMjBhYm91dCUyMHRoZSUyMG5ldyUyMGJpbGwlMjIEdF9zdG1wAzE3NDQ3MjA5MjA-?p=%22A+LOT+of+people+are+talking+about+the+new+bill%22&fr=sfp&fr2=p%3As%2Cv%3Asfp%2Cm%3Asb-top&iscqry=. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

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"A LOT of People Are Talking about the New Bill" at DuckDuckGo. https://duckduckgo.com/?q=%22A+LOT+of+people+are+talking+about+the+new+bill%22&t=h_&ia=web. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

Fabina, Jacob, and Michael Martin. Voting and Registration in the Election of November 2022. United States Census Bureau, Apr. 2024, https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2024/demo/p20-586.pdf.

Google Search. https://www.google.com/search?q=%22A+LOT+of+people+are+talking+about+the+new+bill%22&rlz=1C5CHFA_enGB1138GB1138&oq=%22A+LOT+of+people+are+talking+about+the+new+bill%22&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRiPAjIHCAIQIRiPAtIBCDUzNjZqMGo0qAIAsAIB&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

Roy, Chip. SAVE Act. H.R. 22, 3 Jan. 2025, https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/22/text.


By David Ljunggren

OTTAWA (Reuters) -Canada's general election will take place on Monday, with polls indicating a tight race between the ruling Liberals and the official opposition Conservatives.

Here are some key planks of the two largest parties:

LIBERALS

DEALING WITH U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP - Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada's retaliatory tariffs on more than C$60 billion ($43.25 billion) worth of U.S. imports will remain in place until Washington removes its import duties. Carney, who says there is a limit to how far Canada can go in imposing dollar-for-dollar tariffs, has promised Canada will thrash out a new economic and security relationship with the U.S. after the election. He has not spelled out how this effort would affect the existing United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement on free trade.

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TAXES - Reduce the marginal tax rate on the lowest tax bracket by one percentage point. Carney's campaign says this move will save two-income families up to C$825 a year and directly benefit more than 22 million Canadians, with middle- and low-income people enjoying the biggest savings.

Eliminate the Goods and Services Tax, a value-added tax, for first-time home buyers on properties at or under C$1 million, saving Canadians up to C$50,000 on such purchases.

DEFICIT - Carney aims to push the federal deficit to 1.96% of GDP in the 2025-26 fiscal year, then down to 1.83% of GDP the following year, and to 1.35% by 2028-29. Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government had last forecast a deficit of 1.6% of GDP for the previous fiscal year that ended in March.

Annual spending growth would drop to around 2% from around 9%, without cutting transfers to provinces, territories or individuals.

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SECURITY - Push through "an unprecedented acceleration" of investment in the armed forces, expanding the Royal Canadian Navy's capabilities with new submarines and additional heavy icebreakers to defend the north and increasing the Coast Guard's reach and abilities. All military personnel would get a raise and the recruitment process for Canada's Armed Forces would be modernized to eliminate a shortage of 14,500 service members. Carney is also promising an overhaul of Canada's troubled defense procurement system to speed up major military purchases. Defense spending will exceed a NATO target of 2% of GDP.

TRADE DIVERSIFICATION - Stunned by Trump's trade war, the Liberals vow to inject C$5 billion into a new Trade Diversification Corridor Fund. The aim is to build infrastructure that will diversify Canada's trade relationships around the world, create good jobs and drive economic growth.

ENERGY - Aggressively develop natural resources projects that are in the national interest and set up a Major Federal Project Office that would issue a decision on major projects within two years instead of five.

HOUSING - The government would act as a developer to build affordable housing at scale, including on public lands, while providing more than C$25 billion in financing to innovative prefabricated home builders. In addition to eliminating the Goods and Services Tax for first-time home buyers on properties at or under C$1 million, the Liberals want to cut municipal development charges in half for multi-unit residential housing.

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HELP THE AUTO INDUSTRY - Create a C$2 billion strategic response fund to boost the sector's competitiveness, protect manufacturing jobs and build a fortified Canadian supply chain  from raw materials to finished vehicles.

CRIME - Recruit 1,000 more police officers to tackle drug and human trafficking, foreign interference, cybercrime, and the organized criminal gangs that steal cars. Train 1,000 border guards to crack down on drugs, illegal guns, and stop gangs from stealing cars. Toughen the criminal code and make bail laws stricter in cases involving violent and organized crime, home invasions, car theft, and human trafficking.

CONSERVATIVES

DEALING WITH TRUMP - The Conservatives are proposing a deal in which Canada and the U.S. simultaneously drop their tariffs and counter-tariffs. Party leader Pierre Poilievre also would propose an early renegotiation of the USMCA ahead of a planned review in 2026.

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ENERGY POLICY - Set up a rapid resource project office to handle all regulatory approvals across all levels of government. Create a national energy corridor to fast-track approvals for transmission lines, railways, pipelines, and other critical infrastructure. Approve 10 natural resources projects that have been stuck for years in the federal approval process. Scrap electric-vehicle sales mandates.

HOUSING - Eliminate the federal sales tax on new homes under $1.3 million, which will save home buyers up to C$65,000. Incentivize municipalities to cut building taxes, for total savings of C$100,000 on an average home in Canada's big cities.

SECURITY - Double the number of Canadian Rangers in the Arctic, build three northern military bases, and acquire two additional polar icebreakers for the Royal Canadian Navy.

TAXES - Cut the lowest income tax bracket by 15%, saving each Canadian taxpayer C$900 per year.

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Any person or business selling an asset will pay no capital gains tax when they reinvest the proceeds in Canada. Companies that reinvest in active Canadian businesses will also be able to defer any capital gains tax.

Allow Canadians to contribute an extra C$5,000 a year to a Tax-Free Savings Account for investments in Canadian companies. Enable working seniors to earn up to C$34,000 on a tax-free basis, C$10,000 more than currently allowed.

Repeal industrial carbon tax.

SPENDING - Cut the federal deficit by 70% by spending less on bureaucracy, consultants and foreign aid.

CRIME - Impose life sentences for anyone who is convicted of five or more counts of human trafficking, importing or exporting 10 or more illegal firearms, and fentanyl trafficking. Give judges the power to sentence multiple murderers to consecutive prison sentences without parole eligibility beyond 25 years.

($1 = 1.3872 Canadian dollars)

(Reporting by David Ljunggren; additional reporting by Rod Nickel; Editing by Paul Simao and Deepa Babington)
FAIRBORN, Ohio (WDTN)  A Fairborn 11-year-old is sharing her birthday with others by giving back with a generous donation.

Evelyn Bridenbaugh celebrated her 11th birthday by making up cake kits and donating them to the Fairborn FISH Food Pantry.

It makes me feel happy to see people happy, smiles Evelyn. I do this for my birthday because not a lot of people can afford to get a cake for their birthday, so they can come here and get a cake for free.

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Its her second year celebrating her birthday like this, making sure others can celebrate their birthdays too.

Last year we gave it to one eight-year-old boy and he just kind of hugged it to his chest and he said, this is going to be my best birthday ever because I get a birthday cake, says Jane Doorley, who is the Executive Director of the Fairborn FISH Food Pantry. Its always sad to think of children who are having birthdays who dont have a birthday cake. So, when we get a donation like this of 110 birthday kits for children, I mean, I think the impact is huge in terms of lifting their spirits, getting the feeling that people care about them in this community.

Collecting donations from the community with everything you need to make a birthday cake, including a nonperishable substitute for eggs, she surpassed last years total of 74 kits, putting together 110 kits this year.

She truly, genuinely wants to help people. And it really brings her so much joy. And as a mom, its really hard to articulate how much that means to me to see her heart just expand for service and really just put her whole heart into wanting to help others, says Jasmine Bridenbaugh, Evelyns mother.

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The kits are each complete with a special message to make people feel special on their birthday. Its Evelyns present to the pantry with all of the ingredients to make birthdays a little sweeter for those who need it.

I want to thank everyone who helped me reach this goal, all because I wanted to get to 100 and I got 110, and its all because of my community helping me, says Evelyn.

Evelyn says she plans on doing this again next year.

The Fairborn FISH food pantry always needs donations. You can donate online or stop by and visit at 480 West Funderburg Road. They distribute food on Tuesday and Friday afternoons from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. (WFLA)  Authorities in Lee County are looking for a trio who they said posed as a religious group to earn a local homeowners trust and then burglarized their home.

The three suspects are believed to have gone to the victims home on Carolina Street in Bonita Springs on the evening of April 10.

Woman arrested for stabbing Largo smoke shop worker multiple times, police say

Deputies said two of the suspects asked to pray with the homeowner, and while the homeowner was distracted, the third suspect went inside and began rummaging through the residence.

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According to authorities, she ended up stealing $3,500 in jewelry and an unknown amount of cash. The woman then snuck out the side door and fled in a white vehicle, officials said.

(Credit: SWFL Crime Stoppers)

Photos showed the female suspect wearing an ankle-length dress with a satchel, glasses and her hair pulled back.

Investigators also obtained a photo of one of the men shes believed to have been working with. The photo shows him wearing a white collared shirt with dark pants.

Anyone who recognizes any of the suspects or who has more information is asked to contact Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477). Callers may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $3,000.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Dozens of families are suing Balfour Beatty Communities, alleging toxic living conditions and accusing the company of shoddy maintenance practices and corporate indifference or ineptitude at its privatized military housing community at Naval Air Station Key West, Florida.

Forty-four of the 56 families in the complaint are military families. The remaining plaintiffs, civilian families, have been permitted to live in the community when space was available. Many children are among the 192 current and former residents named in the lawsuit, which was filed in state court in Monroe County, Florida, on March 27.

Families reported issues such as collapsing ceilings because of water damage, mold, insect infestation, structural defects, HVAC and plumbing issues, electrical problems and the presence of lead paint and asbestos, according to the lawsuit. Balfour Beatty leases and manages more than 43,000 homes across 55 Army, Navy and Air Force installations, including 700 housing units at NAS Key West.

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Balfour concealed the horrific conditions from unsuspecting service men and women and their families, the 175-page complaint alleges. When these conditions were discovered and reported, Balfour systematically failed to properly repair and remediate significant problems in the homes, the plaintiffs claim, and Balfour misled the families into believing that repairs were made, knowing that families living in the homes would likely suffer serious health problems as a result of the conditions.

The lawsuit alleges the families suffered from severe physical, emotional and financial harm because of the condition of the houses and Balfours actions.

We are aware of the complaint and intend to defend ourselves vigorously, Balfour Beatty Communities officials said in an email statement to Military Times.

The families allege theyve experienced exposure-related medical problems as a result of the housing conditions, such as asthma and other respiratory issues, sinusitis, migraines, memory loss, brain fog, blurred vision, compromised immune systems and rashes. Some of the families stated that when they would leave the house for a time, their symptoms would disappear, but would start again when they returned to the house.

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The families accuse Balfour Beatty of gross negligence, fraud, breach of contract, negligent infliction of emotional distress and breach of warranty of habitability. They ask for an unspecified amount of compensatory damages and punitive damages.

Plaintiff Virginia Guess said her children developed persistent respiratory issues and other health problems within months of moving into their home at NAS Key West in June 2022. They developed the Sigsbee cough, a label used by neighbors and teachers to describe a cough in children who lived in Key Wests military housing. The Sigsbee Park housing includes more than 500 townhouse units, many of which were built between 1962 and 1965, according to the complaint.

Guess, a construction manager who started working for Balfour Beatty in August 2023 as a service center coordinator, quickly recognized alarming patterns of negligence in housing maintenance, according to the lawsuit. It hit home when the Guesss ceiling started to crack in February 2024. But Balfour Beatty delayed needed repairs, the complaint alleges, and by June of that year, there was water intrusion and mold growth. An independent moisture reading inspection found severe mold contamination.

Yet Balfour management attempted to shift blame, attributing the mold to dog hair and excessive pasta boiling, the lawsuit states.

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Other family members who worked for Balfour Beatty alleged they witnessed company employees engaging in fraudulent and deceptive practices. Plaintiff Lyric Seaton alleges employees were instructed to lie to Navy housing inspectors, block visible damage, and select only perfect files for audits.

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., asked Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy James Honea about some of the allegations against Balfour Beatty during a congressional hearing on service members quality-of-life challenges on April 8.

This lawsuit even claims that Balfour Beatty officials blocked Navy personnel from inspecting houses in some cases, Wasserman Shultz said.

Honea said he didnt have information about specific allegations.

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I do know that both the installation commander and their teams did go through all the housing down there at Key West, Honea said, noting that Naval Installations Command officials inspected some of the homes. We did a full inventory of all those homes and determined a certain portion of them to be uninhabitable. Balfour Beatty paid for those members to be moved and placed in other homes or temporary housing as necessary.

Gaps in military housing improvements lead to frustration, confusion

Mold infestation was a common complaint among the families. Sections of the McCarthy familys garage ceiling collapsed on two occasions in 2023 and 2024, revealing mold, water damage, decaying trusses and extensive termite tunnels. When the military family moved to temporary housing in May 2024, they woke up in the middle of their first night covered in bugs, according to the complaint. So they returned to their original house, where five months later, water began pouring from their kitchens light fixtures, saturating the ceiling, dripping down walls and seeping through cabinets.

When Balfour maintenance looked at the kitchens condition, they claimed everything looked normal, the suit alleges.

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The Balfour report notes that, The mold looks good, the lawsuit states.

Many of the families in the lawsuit said they had no choice but to stay in dangerous conditions. The Moody family moved out in October 2024 after two years, paying for more than $5,000 in moving expenses. The active duty family said they experienced water leaks in the roof, ceiling, walls and electrical outlets and persistent mold infestation. They say their infant son suffered persistent health problems. His mother fears exposure to mold and other hazards during his early development might lead to lung problems or other complications later in life, according to the complaint.

The guilt that she had no choice but to bring her newborn home to a dangerous and hazardous house is overwhelming, the lawsuit states.

Balfour Beatty has previously come under scrutiny for subpar living conditions in military housing. The company pleaded guilty in 2021 to committing fraud against the U.S. and was ordered to pay $65 million in fines and restitution for misconduct relating to its military housing practices in federal contracts. The company also agreed to pay $35 million to resolve a False Claims Act civil suit brought by the government.
Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Putrajaya, Malaysia, April 16, 2025. Xi held talks with Anwar at the prime minister's official residence in Putrajaya on Wednesday. After the talks, leaders of the two countries jointly witnessed the exchange of bilateral cooperation documents. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday put forward a three-point proposal on building a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future.

Xi made the remarks during his meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

First, Xi urged the two countries to adhere to strategic independence and carry out high-level strategic coordination.

China and Malaysia both uphold self-reliance and strength, and firmly oppose external interference, Xi said.

The two countries should continue to work hand in hand to pursue development paths suited to their respective national conditions, resolutely support each other in safeguarding sovereignty, security and development interests, and keep their future firmly in their own hands, he said.

Xi called on the two sides to establish a "2+2" dialogue mechanism on diplomacy and national defense to deepen exchanges and cooperation on national security, defense and law enforcement.

Second, China and Malaysia should build synergy for development and set a model for high-quality development cooperation, Xi said.

He said China is committed to advancing Chinese modernization in all respects through high-quality development, which aligns with Malaysia's Ekonomi MADANI initiative.

The two countries should join hands in fostering growth in cutting-edge areas such as the digital economy, green economy, blue economy and artificial intelligence (AI), and in strengthening integrated development across industrial chains, supply chains, value chains, data chains and talent chains, Xi said.

The two sides should upgrade traditional areas of cooperation and promote two-way investment, Xi said, adding that efforts should be made to advance rail-sea intermodal transport, enhance the "Two Countries, Twin Parks" program, and elevate Malaysia's key ports into pivotal hubs of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor.

Third, Xi called for both sides to carry forward their friendship from generation to generation and deepen exchanges and mutual learning between the two civilizations.

China and Malaysia should collaborate on Confucian-Islamic civilizational dialogue to jointly build a platform for cultural exchanges at both the bilateral and regional levels, Xi said.

With the mutual visa exemption agreement, the two sides should vigorously promote tourism, youth and sub-national exchanges, and deepen cooperation in culture, education, sports, film and media to foster people-to-people bonds and carry forward traditional friendship, he said.

China stands ready to continue joint research with Malaysia on panda conservation, Xi said.

Xi said that the traditional friendship between China and Malaysia has spanned a thousand years. Nurtured in a long and rich history, the friendship has grown through cultural exchanges, been consolidated through mutual benefit and elevated through solidarity against challenges, Xi added.

It reflects a pursuit of common values, characterized by sincere interactions, honesty, commitment to righteousness, and respect for peace, the Chinese president continued.

This friendship, he said, embodies the historical wisdom and courage of both peoples and is shared treasure for the two nations.

Last year, both sides celebrated the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Over the past 50 years, China-Malaysia relations have yielded fruitful results, Xi said.

In the next 50 years, Xi called on both sides to continue to seize opportunities, stand at the forefront of the times, build a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future, deliver more benefits to the two peoples, and further contribute to regional prosperity and stability.

Xi pointed out that Malaysia has set the theme of the ASEAN chairmanship this year as "Inclusivity and Sustainability," which reflects a deep insight into the current situation.

China supports Malaysia in playing its role as ASEAN's rotating chair, Xi said, adding that China stands ready to work with countries in the region to sign the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area Upgrade Protocol at an early date.

Xi urged joint efforts to reject decoupling, supply disruption, "small yard, high fence" and tariff abuse with openness, inclusiveness, solidarity and cooperation.

He also called for countering the law of the jungle where the strong prey on the weak with the Asian values of peace, cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, and address instability and uncertainty in the world with the stability and certainty of Asia.

Anwar warmly welcomes Xi's visit to Malaysia. He said that China has been sincerely helping Malaysia for a long time, sharing weal and woe during the smooth times and the rough, and is a trustworthy friend of Malaysia.

He noted that Xi is an outstanding leader in today's world, guiding China toward significant development, spearheading the Chinese people's efforts to eradicate poverty, and has been advocating common prosperity and mutual learning among civilizations.

The Malaysian people admire China and President Xi, Anwar said.

The record-setting cooperation results achieved by President Xi during this visit are of great significance to Malaysia, and Malaysia is deeply inspired, Anwar said, adding that Malaysia firmly adheres to the one-China policy and does not support any "Taiwan independence" act.

Malaysia stands ready to deepen strategic communication with China and consolidate political mutual trust, Anwar said.

Malaysia is willing to expand bilateral trade, and Chinese enterprises are welcome to invest and do business in Malaysia, as well as to cooperate with the Malaysian side in developing digital economy, green economy, AI and other emerging technology sectors, so as to foster greater development for both nations, the prime minister said.

The Malaysian side is prepared to promote people-to-people exchanges in such fields as culture, education and tourism to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples, Anwar said, adding that the country also looks forward to carrying out Confucian-Islamic civilizational dialogue to contribute to the advancement of human civilization.

Facing the rise of unilateralism, Malaysia is willing to strengthen cooperation with China to jointly address risks and challenges, Anwar said.

Anwar noted that ASEAN will not endorse any unilaterally imposed tariffs, and will promote collective advancement through cooperation to maintain economic growth.

The Malaysian side lauds China's positive role in international and regional issues, Anwar said.

As ASEAN chair and the Country Coordinator for ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations, Malaysia will work to further strengthen ASEAN-China cooperation, and promote regional peace, stability and prosperity, he added.

After the talks, leaders of the two countries jointly witnessed the exchange of more than 30 bilateral cooperation documents, covering cooperation on three major global initiatives, Confucian-Islamic civilizational dialogue, digital economy, trade in services, upgrading the "Two Countries, Twin Parks" program, joint laboratories, AI, railways, intellectual property, export of agricultural products to China, mutual visa exemption and panda conservation, among other areas.

In the evening, Anwar held a welcome banquet for Xi. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at the prime minister's official residence in Putrajaya, Malaysia, April 16, 2025. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at the prime minister's official residence in Putrajaya, Malaysia, April 16, 2025. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim jointly witness the exchange of bilateral cooperation documents after their talks in Putrajaya, Malaysia, April 16, 2025. Xi held talks with Anwar at the prime minister's official residence in Putrajaya on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)

In this combo photo, Chinese President Xi Jinping is warmly welcomed by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Malaysian teenagers as he arrives at the prime minister's official residence in Putrajaya, Malaysia, April 16, 2025. Xi held talks with Anwar here Wednesday. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)
From politicians to celebrities, many of the great and the good have taken up the trans debate with gusto.

Following Wednesdays Supreme Court ruling that a trans woman is legally not a woman, here are some of the leading figures who have insisted the opposite, or claimed they must have access to spaces traditionally reserved for females.

Owen Jones

The Guardian columnist has frequently spoken out on the gender debate.

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In a 2019 column on the dwindling number of public lavatories, he wrote: Twenty-first-century toilet provision must cater for gender-neutral spaces and ensure that the rights of trans people are protected too.

Daniel Radcliffe

The star of the Harry Potter film series was at the centre of a row with JK Rowling in 2020 over the writers stance on gender.

He said: Transgender women are women. Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people.

Sir Keir Starmer

The Prime Minister appears to have changed his views on the gender debate over the years.

In 2022, the then Labour leader said: A woman is a female adult, and, in addition to that, trans women are women, and that is not just my view, that is actually the law.

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However, the following year, he used a more succinct definition of adult female when asked to define what a woman is.

Sir Keir Starmer, seen here with Angela Rayner and Sir Sadiq Khan, has changed his views on the gender debate - Elliott Franks

Jameela Jamil

The actress and presenter suggested debates about transgender women in sport were being used to distract from the rollback of abortion rights.

As part of a tweet in 2022, she wrote: Our uteruses are being controlled by the government but no no, lets keep distracting ourselves with the vast minority that is trans women in sports.

Emma Watson

The actress who played Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films was also involved the row with Rowling. In 2020, Watson tweeted: Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned.

Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren't who they say they are.  Emma Watson (@EmmaWatson) June 10, 2020

Rupert Grint

The actor, who played Ron Weasley, joined his Harry Potter co-stars in speaking out on the transgender debate in 2020. He said: I firmly stand with the trans community.

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Trans women are women. Trans men are men. We should all be entitled to live with love and without judgement.

Sir Elton John

The musician said gender-critical comments made by Germaine Greer had shown her to be an attention seeker in an interview with Emily Maitlis in 2015.

David Tennant

The former Doctor Who star said Kemi Badenoch, then-equalities minister, should shut up about her views on transgender people.

Accepting an award for celebrity ally at the British LGBT Awards in 2024, Tennant said: Until we wake up and Kemi Badenoch doesnt exist any more  I dont wish ill of her, I just wish her to shut up  whilst we do live in this world, I am honored to receive this [award].

Kylie Minogue

The pop star briefly addressed a question on single-sex spaces when interviewed by the Guardian in 2020.

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She said: If youre a transgender woman, you should use the womens facilities, surely? before redirecting the conversation.

In 2020, Kylie Minogue said trans women should be able to use the womens facilities - Bruce Glikas

Eddie Redmayne

The British Star was nominated for an Oscar for his role as transgender Lili Elbe in the 2015 film The Danish Girl.

However, in 2021, he said it was a mistake for him to take on the role as a cisgender actor.

He said: No, I wouldnt take it on now. I made that film with the best intentions, but I think it was a mistake.

Jolyon Maugham KC

Jolyon Maugham described LGB Alliance as a transphobic hate group. Mr Maugham, who founded Good Law Project, told Pink News in 2021: I strongly encourage you to quote me calling the LGB Alliance a transphobic hate group. LGB Alliance is an advocacy group which describes itself as asserting the right of lesbians, bisexuals and gay men to define themselves as same-sex attracted.

Zendaya

Zendaya told Vogue that feminism should be inclusive of all women including trans women. Speaking to the magazine in 2021, the actress said true feminism must encompass women that look like you, women who dont look like you, women whose experiences are different than you.

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She continued: That means black women, that means trans women, that means all women.

Jedward

The X Factor stars, whose real names are John and Edward Grimes, also waded into the JK Rowling row in 2020 following the publication of her book Troubled Blood. Tweeting from their official account, the brothers wrote: Does anyone need firewood this winter! JKs new book is perfect to burn next to a romantic fire. Aww get all cozy and comfy cant wait.

Lily Allen

The outspoken singer posted a meme, a visual joke, in 2015 which pointed to a brain stating gender is up here and then to a pair of underpants that said not down there.

Lily Allens views were made clear in a 2015 Facebook post

Jeremy Corbyn

Jeremy Corbyn was leader of the Labour Party in 2018 when he told the BBC that the position of the party is that where you have self-identified as a woman, then you are treated as a woman.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA)  The Illinois General Assembly has six weeks left in its session, and soil and water conservation advocates are following several topics of discussion very closely.

This includes Senate Bill 2387, which could be a permanent fix to funding for local offices, according to Eliot Clay, state executive director of the Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

New data shows farmers are expected to plant more corn, fewer soybeans this season

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What this bill would do is assess what were calling an AG impact fee on every acre of agricultural land that is taken out of production in Illinois. The fee would be $275 an acre, Clay said. After that fee is collected, it would be put into a fund underneath the Department of AG that would be earmarked specifically for operations for soil and water conservation districts moving forward.

Clay said theyre also focusing on the budget right now.

So, the other thing were pushing for is a $10.5 million appropriations for operations for the next fiscal year, Clay said. I think that if we can do that and the funding fix bill, that will get us over the hump to maybe start, you know, kind of a new era.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Farmers across eastern India are scrambling as severe storms have caused irreversible damage to many crops.

What's happening?

In March, hail and heavy rainfall hit Ranchi, a city in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand. The storms were so strong that they wiped out many crops, the Times of India reported.

"Two-and-a-half months of hard work were destroyed in just two days," local farmer Dashmi Devi told the Times.

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Indian officials say the government is assessing the amount of damage and will compensate farmers whose crops were ruined. Farmer Giridhar Mahto, however, told the Times that he was leery of those efforts, as previous promises by the government had gone unfulfilled.

"This rain has been catastrophic for our business," Mahto told the Times.

Why is extreme weather concerning?

Weather conditions have made farming difficult in Jharkhand for several years. Drought conditions have been commonplace since 2022, which has caused some farmers to consider changing the types of crops they plant.

Whether it's warm, dry conditions, or heavy storms, farming has become more challenging and unpredictable, largely thanks to rising global temperatures. In fact, catastrophic events such as deadly heat waves, hurricanes, and floods, now happen so much more frequently that climate tech investor Molly Wood refers to warmer conditions as "basically steroids for weather."

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For agriculture, this can have devastating consequences. Crops that have been commonplace for hundreds of years in certain ecosystems are now proving more difficult to grow. This is true not just in India, as it's easy to find examples of potatoes struggling to grow in Pennsylvania, corn struggling in Colombia, and numerous vegetables getting flooded in China.

And we all feel the ripple effect from those agricultural difficulties. When crop yields are lower than anticipated, and the supply is less than in the past, farmers and stores start charging more, and grocery bills skyrocket.

What can I do to help combat extreme weather?

Plenty of work is happening behind the scenes to try to combat the effect that extreme weather has on agriculture. Some successful research has already been done into crop variants that are better equipped to handle such volatility.

Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

On a personal level, one of the most effective steps is also one of the simplest: Educate yourself about climate matters, and give yourself the information necessary to tell friends and family why these issues are so important.

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And if you're ready to take the next step, consider growing some of your own food, which will not only save you some money and give you a better appreciation for what you eat but will also help reduce your carbon footprint.

Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
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Last year, Gambias parliament considered a bill that would have repealed the countrys ban on female genital mutilation (FGM). Widely recognized as a human-rights violation, FGM has been illegal in Gambia since 2015, but experts say the practice still occurs because the ban is poorly enforced. When the bill to overturn the ban came before parliament, Fatou Baldeh, the founder of the organization Women in Liberation & Leadership, sprang into action. Baldeh, herself an FGM survivor, launched a campaign with other advocates to block the bill. Ultimately, the bill failed in July 2024thanks, in large part, to the advocates collective efforts.

It was a victory for Gambia, but also the world at large, Baldeh says. She had feared that overturning the ban in Gambia would have a ripple effect, potentially leading to other countries backsliding on outlawing FGM. Its been a difficult year, I have to admit, but its also opened up the space ... for more conversations around the issue, Baldeh says. I think what happened in the Gambia has really awakened people [to] the need to do more about this.

Lee is a TIME reporter

Contact us at letters@time.com.
By Ann Saphir

(Reuters) - Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Wednesday reiterated the long-held view of Fed chairs going back decades that growth in the U.S. federal debt needs to be reined in, but he suggested that politicians are going about it the wrong way.

"We're running very large deficits at full employment, and this is a situation that we very much need to address" Powell said at an event at the Economic Club of Chicago.

"All of this domestic discretionary spending, which is essentially where 100% of the conversation is, is small as a percentage of federal spending and is declining ... When people are focusing on cutting domestic spending, they're not actually working on the problem."

Powell did not specifically mention Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, which has drawn headlines for large cuts to the federal government workforce, among other efforts to reduce the federal government's discretionary spending. But his remarks appeared to dismiss that kind of push as largely irrelevant to federal debt and deficit reduction.

"So much of the dialogue that the politicians offer is about domestic discretionary spending, which is not the issue," Powell said.

To make real headway on reducing government debt and deficits, Powell said, politicians must reduce spending on the largest parts of government outlays: Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security and the rising cost of interest payments.

"Those are issues that can only be touched on a bipartisan basis," Powell said. "Neither party can figure out what to do without both parties being at the table. So that's critical."

President Donald Trump has promised not to make cuts to broadly popular health and social welfare programs, and is counting on revenue raised from his large tariffs to help pay for planned tax cuts currently under consideration in Congress.

The U.S. had a $1.31 trillion budget deficit in the first six months up fiscal 2025, up 23% from a year earlier. The large majority of the federal government's outlays during that period went to cover nondiscretionary spending on healthcare programs, Social Security and interest payments, data from the U.S. Treasury shows.

(Reporting by Ann Saphir in Berkeley, California; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
The Russell Smith Courthouse, the Missoula Division of the U.S. District Court of Montana. (Photo by Blair Miller)

A federal judge has granted an emergency restraining order which will prevent U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from deporting two Montana State University graduate students who were notified that their status as foreign students was being revoked.

Montana University System officials reported last week that at least four students in the state had their F-1 visas revoked and their F-1 status terminated. Each of the students say that the federal government was revoking their status, even though the students had not been notified, had not been convicted of a crime, and had not received notice of the change. Two of the students, both graduate-level students in Bozeman have challenged the decision in federal court and are being represented by the American Civil Liberties Union of Montana.

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In an emergency motion filed Monday, the ACLU claims that the students learned of the status change as the university system was handling routine status checks. The federal government, through Noem, didnt just eliminate their F-1 visa, which allow a student to enter the country; the department cancelled their entire F-1 status, meaning that the students could deported at any time.

One student in the Montana lawsuit is a doctoral student in electrical engineering, the other is a masters level student in microbiology. Both are reportedly set to graduate from their programs during 2025.

In an emergency ruling on Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge Dana L. Christensen found that the case was similar to one in New Hampshire in which the court also found that the federal government had not followed its own procedures for revoking the status, and violated a number of due-process protections, which allows a student to challenge the decision before an independent court.

Attorneys for the federal government have not made their appearance to defend the Trump administrations decision, but Christensen noted in his ruling on Tuesday afternoon that attorneys for the ACLU had been trying to get a response from the U.S. District Attorneys Office in Montana.

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As of the date of this order, defendants have not responded to plaintiffs motion, Christensen noted in his order.

The temporary restraining order says that officials must restore the students status and must not initiate deportation proceedings for two weeks. It also stops Homeland Security from ordering their arrest, detention or transfer from Montana without proper notice and a chance for attorneys to contest the action.

Christensen set a court hearing for the matter on April 29 in Missoula, and ordered the federal government to respond by then.

The court finds that the plaintiffs are likely succeed on the allegation that (Homeland Securitys) termination of (their) F-1 student status  is arbitrary and capricious, an abuse of discretion, contrary to constitutional right, contrary to law, and in excess of statutory jurisdiction, Christensen said.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  14 counties took it upon themselves to get together Tuesday in Batavia to discuss the potential effects of federal funding cuts that are actively happening. Organizers said it gives a chance for citizens to have their voices heard about the impact of those cuts.

Organized emphasized they feel their representative Claudia Tenney should prioritize the communitys interests over those of the current administration. Key issues discussed were cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, education, and veteran services under the current presidential administration.

They want to serve the Constitution. They want to serve the community and do whats best for New York State, one organizer told News 8 Tuesday.

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That packed room in Batavia included people from both sides as they talked about issues close to them.

I dont know if anybody realizes it but when you go to the VA home here in Batavia, the VA doesnt pay for your medication anymore, one person said. So now we have to struggle to get the veterans their meds that they need.

A panel of leaders and stakeholders in nearby communities took questions from the audience about how funding cuts and related issues will affect them. Most residents asked about a potential change to agricultural businesses because of the possible deportation of farm workers, possible cuts to social security, and what federal funding for public schools will look like.

About 35% of the Batavia school children currently get free or reduced breakfast and lunch. So, if these cuts go through, what can this community do to pay for those children? Because when that Medicare, Medicaid goes away, SNAP goes away, those parents are not going to be able to feed those children at home, another person said.

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Congresswoman Claudia Tenney was invited to Tuesdays event but did not show. Democratic Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, however, weighed in on Tuesdays discussion and explained what he has been hearing from residents.

People are angry. Theyre angry about cuts to health care, theyre angry about cuts to education. Theyre angry about cuts to the VA and its Democrats, Republicans, independents, Poloncarz said. It should be done in a civil manner. There shouldnt be screaming and yelling, but people need to understand whats going on in the community.

Those who came out said they hope this is the start of more discussions to hear from residents of all backgrounds. They add next time, they hope Representative Tenney can make it. News 8 has reached out to Tenneys office for comment.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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NAIROBI, April 16 (Xinhua) -- The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) said on Wednesday that it has lifted a nearly decade-long ban on the establishment of new commercial banks in the East African country, effective July 1.

The apex bank said in a statement issued in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi that the ban, which has been in place since November 2015, was imposed against the backdrop of operational challenges in the sector.

"It was intended to provide space for the strengthening of the Kenyan banking sector. Since then, significant strides have been made in strengthening the legal framework for Kenya's banking sector," the CBK said.

Since the moratorium was placed, there have been about 10 mergers and acquisitions by existing players and the entry of foreign strategic investors.

The CBK said its recent increase in minimum core capital requirement for commercial banks to 10 billion Kenyan shillings (about 77.2 million U.S. dollars) will further strengthen the sector.

It added that stronger and more resilient banks will be able to navigate the growing risks in global, regional, and domestic arenas, and support large-scale financing needs to meet Kenya's development operations. 
SCRANTON  From a former service member to a retiree to a city council candidate, about 75 people gathered along Courthouse Square on Tuesday afternoon to oppose potential budget cuts to Medicaid, Social Security and the Department of Veterans Affairs and call for billionaires to pay their fair share of taxes.

During a Tax Day rally hosted by Action Together NEPA  a grassroots progressive organization dedicated to community action and political advocacy  participants clamored for the ousting of President Donald Trump and Elon Musk  a White House adviser  and the protection of social services.

Hands off Medicaid, hands off SNAP, some chanted. Fund our families, not fat cats, others exclaimed.

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Action Together NEPA hosted similar rallies Tuesday in Wilkes-Barre, Bethlehem and Tunkhannock.

Dave Mattern, 68, of Clarks Summit, who worked as a drafter among other occupations before retiring, joined the rally to fight against potential tax cuts for billionaires and expressed concerns about the future of the social security trust fund.

The fear is just running out of money, he said. Especially with the way things are going, its going to be tight enough without losing everything.

Aaron Newhart of Falls Twp. held a Veterans Against Trump flag throughout the rally to show opposition to proposed cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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Newhart, 51, who served four years each in the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps, called out the Trump administration for their actions toward members of the countrys armed forces  including planned cuts to the VA.

Just the way hes treating the veterans, its very hurtful, Newhart said. There are a lot of veterans out there who wouldnt get the care they need. How can you do cutbacks and have veterans care? Theyre doing indiscriminate cuts to VA health care. Its absolutely crazy. Also, hes planning on cutting Medicaid and Social Security  they need to stay away from it  hes hurting the American people.

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Protesters gather for the Families Over Billionaires Tax Day Rally at the Lackawanna Courthouse Square in Scranton on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)

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Protesters gather for the Families Over Billionaires Tax Day Rally at the Lackawanna Courthouse Square in Scranton on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)

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Protesters gather for the Families Over Billionaires Tax Day Rally at the Lackawanna Courthouse Square in Scranton on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)

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Aaron Newhart, Falls Twp., holds a Veterans Against Trump flag during the Families Over Billionaires Tax Day Rally at the Lackawanna Courthouse Square in Scranton on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. The Army and Marines vet came out because hes concerned about the budget cuts the federal government is making. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)

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Protesters gather for the Families Over Billionaires Tax Day Rally at the Lackawanna Courthouse Square in Scranton on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)

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Mary Batty, Dalton, joins in a chant with fellow protesters during the Families Over Billionaires Tax Day Rally at the Lackawanna Courthouse Square in Scranton on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)

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Protesters gather for the Families Over Billionaires Tax Day Rally at the Lackawanna Courthouse Square in Scranton on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)

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Frankie Malacaria, 33, of South Scranton, a Democratic candidate for City Council, noted federal cuts hit close to home.

I know many, many people in this community are affected, he said. Were a low income, working class community. My family is on LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance program) and we were thankfully able to get on it last week. Then, literally two days after, the Trump administration decided to cut the entire staff in Health and Human Services that handles the distribution of LIHEAP funding. Millions of people across the country rely on LIHEAP in order to be able to heat their homes in the winter. Unfortunately, without this funding, it may not be here next year.

Karen Gray, 63, made the trip to Scranton from Tobyhanna Twp. to show her overall disapproval of the Trump administration.

My signs are not big enough to hold everything Im against that hes doing, she said. It feels like our countrys not the same. Our democracy is gone  its upsetting to me.
U.S. President Donald Trump signs a series of executive orders during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House on April 8, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

At the Art Museum of Eastern Idaho in Idaho Falls, a program called the Teens at The Art Museum is meant to encourage youth to participate in museum activities.

The demographic that visits museums is aging, and so teenagers and young adults are really the demographic that need to feel like a museum is a vital part of their community, Amy Thompson, the museums development director, told the Idaho Capital Sun.

Youth with the the Teens at the Art Museum at the Art Museum of Eastern Idaho gather each month for activities meant to increase access to the arts in Idaho Falls. The program is funded through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. (Courtesy of Amy Thompson)

The program consists of a teen leadership council that plans art-related events throughout the year. Thompson said it gives youth the opportunity to learn marketing, leadership, community outreach and public speaking skills, and it encourages their peers to visit the museum.

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The program is funded through a $10,000 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a federal agency that has funded millions of dollars in projects supporting libraries and museums throughout Idaho. Its other contributions include funding a quarter of the Idaho Commission for Libraries budget, providing interpretive signs at the Boise Zoo, supporting programs for individuals who are deaf at the Boise Art Museum, and supplying library materials to different Native American tribes across the state.

But funding for programs like hers is in jeopardy.

In late March, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to reduce the federal agency to its statutory functions, ordering that non-statutory components and functions shall be eliminated to the maximum extent.

Since then, all the institutes staff has been placed on administrative leave, NPR reported. This has caused delays in processing federal funds that have already been approved, and libraries have no way of contacting the agency. And so far three states, California, Washington and Connecticut, have all had their federal library funding cut.

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As the federal government continues to reduce funding  including this months cut to the Idaho Humanities Council  organizations that rely on federal support, like the Idaho Commission for Libraries, are preparing in case they are next.

I dont know about how were going to fund it next year actually, but were hoping that we still can, because its kind of gaining momentum, Thompson said. It would be really sad to shut it down when were just getting speed.

The Teens at The Art Museum program is so impactful to me because it allowed me to get real world experience while also having fun! Before, I wasnt too interested in art but now with the experience I have I want to take more art history classes when I go to college. I think working at a museum is a job not many people think about and being able to take a glimpse into that world is so valuable and a very unique experience.

 Macy Siddoway 17, Teens at The Art Museum marketing leader

Idaho Commission for Libraries prepares for potential funding loss

Funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services makes up 26% of the Idaho Commission for Libraries funding, or on average $1.6 million each year.

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So far, the commission has not had federal funding withheld, but on Friday, the commission held a special meeting to create a contingency plan in case its federal funding becomes unavailable.

The commission requested board approval to allocate $300,000 to cover personnel costs through the end of the fiscal year, which ends on June 30. The board approved the funding.

Some of the commissions key programs that are federally funded include:

The Idaho Talking Book Service, a free audiobook library for Idahoans who are blind, have low vision or experience other qualifying conditions. The $435,200 in annual funding pays for six full-time workers who administer the program.

My First Books/Early Learning, a program that has existed for more than 27 years and provides a book a month for eight months to children who are unlikely to have many books at home. Since the program began, it has served more than 68,000 Idaho youth, and distributed 617,000 books. It costs $114,880 each year.

Idaho Talking Book Service gives joy of literature to those facing obstacles in traditional reading

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Other programs include the Library Linking Idaho databases, which provides Idahoans free 24/7 access to online education, business and recreation resources; programs and professional development for Idaho youth; and continuing education opportunities and training for Idaho library staff.

Processing for 2025 grants has ceased, and 2026 funding applications have paused, according to the Idaho Library Association.

The Idaho Library Association implores President Trump to reconsider this adverse action against the Institute of Library Services and the millions of Americans who love and use their libraries, the statement reads.

Two lawsuits have been filed to challenge Trumps executive order. One lawsuit was filed by 21 states attorney generals is scheduled to be heard in court on Friday, and a second lawsuit was filed by Democracy Forward on behalf of the American Library Association.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
A teacher instructs a group of high school students in Baton Rouge, La. States across the country are worried about losing pandemic aid that in some cases theyve already spent or committed to spending. (Stephen Smith/The Associated Press)

Early this month, the U.S. Department of Education issued an ultimatum to K-12 public schools and state education agencies: Certify that you are not engaging in discrimination under the banner of diversity, equity and inclusion, or risk losing federal funding  including billions in support for low-income students.

The backlash was immediate. Some states with Democratic governors refused to comply, arguing that the directive lacks legal basis, fails to clearly define what constitutes illegal DEI practices, and threatens vital equity-based initiatives in their schools.

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After lawsuits from the National Education Association teachers union and the American Civil Liberties Union, the Department of Education agreed to delay enforcement until after April 24.

But states across the country, both liberal- and conservative-led, are worried about losing other aid: the pandemic-era money that in some cases theyve already spent or committed to spending.

The Department of Education has long played a critical role in distributing federal funds to states for K-12 education, including Title I grants to boost staffing in schools with high percentages of low-income students, and emergency relief like that provided during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conservative-led states  particularly Mississippi, South Dakota and Arkansas  rely the most heavily on these funds to sustain services in high-need districts.

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The 15 states with the highest percentage of their K-12 budget coming from federal funding in fiscal year 2022  the latest year with data available from the National Center for Education Statistics  voted for Trump in the 2024 presidential election. Similarly, 10 of the 15 states receiving the highest amounts of Title I funding in fiscal year 2024 also voted for Trump.

Mississippi and Kentucky have sent letters to the Department of Education expressing concern over halted pandemic aid.

The clash over federal funding comes even as the future of the Department of Education is murky, given President Donald Trumps pledge to dismantle the department.

DEI-related cuts

In letters to the Department of Education, state officials and superintendents in Illinois, New York and Wisconsin pushed back against the DEI directive.

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New York officials said they would not provide additional certification beyond what the state already has done, asserting that there are no federal or State laws prohibiting the principles of DEI. Illinois Superintendent Tony Sanders wrote that he was concerned that the Department of Education was changing the conditions of federal funding without a formal administrative process. Wisconsin Superintendent Jill Underly questioned the legality of the order.

New York State Department of Education Counsel and Deputy Commissioner Daniel Morton-Bentley noted that the federal departments current stance on DEI starkly contrasts with its position during Trumps first term, when then-Education Secretary Betsy DeVos supported such efforts.

Colorado and California also confirmed they would not comply with the Department of Educations order.

While some states with liberal leaders are gearing up for legal battles and possible revocation of funding, conservative-led states such as Florida have embraced the federal directive as part of a broader push to reshape public education.

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In Florida, anti-DEI laws have been in place dating back to 2023. In fact, many school districts and the state education department say they plan to follow the federal departments directives, noting the similar state laws.

Pandemic aid cancellations

In March, the Department of Education abruptly rescinded previously approved extensions of pandemic-era aid, ending access to funds months ahead of the original March 2026 deadline.

When the Massachusetts governors office voiced concern over that decision, the federal departments reply on social media was blunt: COVID is over.

Sixteen mostly Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia filed a federal lawsuit against the Department of Education and Secretary Linda McMahon, challenging the abrupt rescission of previously approved extensions for spending COVID-19 education relief funds.

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But backlash against abrupt federal cuts to education has not been limited to blue states.

Mississippis Department of Education warned the cuts would jeopardize more than $137 million in already obligated funds, slated for literacy initiatives, mental health services and infrastructure repairs. The impact of this sudden reversal is detrimental to Mississippi students, state Superintendent Lance Evans wrote in a letter to McMahon.

The letter also outlines the states repeated  but unsuccessful  efforts to draw down millions in approved funds since February.

Shanderia Minor, a spokesperson for the Mississippi education department, told Stateline the agency is awaiting next steps and direction about the funds and federal directives.

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In Kentucky, state Education Commissioner Robbie Fletcher told districts  which stand to lose tens of millions in pandemic aid  that abrupt federal changes leave them in a difficult position, with schools already having committed funds to teacher training and facility upgrades.

According to Kentucky Department of Education spokesperson Jennifer Ginn, the state has about $18 million in unspent pandemic aid funds left to distribute to districts. And districts have about $38 million in unspent funds, for a total $56 million that could be lost.

Lauren Farrow, a former Florida public school teacher, told Stateline that schools that receive Title I money are already underfunded  and the federal threat only widens the gap.

Florida is pouring billions into education  but where is it going? Because were not seeing it in schools, especially not in Title I schools, said Farrow. I taught five minutes away from a wealthier school, and we didnt even have pencils. Teachers were buying shoes for students. Why is that still happening?

Effects in the classroom

Tafshier Cosby, senior director of the Center for Organizing and Partnerships at the National Parents Union, a parents advocacy group, told Stateline that while most families dont fully understand the various school funding systems, they feel the impact of cuts in the classroom.

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Theres so much fear around what were allowed to do now.

 Lauren Farrow, a former Florida public school teacher

Cosby said parents are worried about the loss of support services for students with disabilities, Title I impacts, and how debates about DEI may deflect from more urgent needs like literacy and teacher support.

Weve been clear: DEI isnt the federal governments role  its up to states, she said. But the confusion is real. And the impact could be devastating.

Today, as a consultant working with teachers across Floridas Orange County Public Schools  one of the largest districts in the country  Farrow says many educators are fearful and confused about how to support their students under changing DEI laws.

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Teachers are asking, Does this mean I cant seat a student with glasses at the front of the room anymore? Theres so much fear around what were allowed to do now.

Theres no one giving teachers guidance or even basic acknowledgment. Were just left wondering what were allowed to say or do  and thats dangerous.

Amanda Hernandez contributed to this report. Stateline reporter Robbie Sequeira can be reached at rsequeira@stateline.org.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
A teacher instructs a group of high school students in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. States across the country are worried about losing pandemic aid that in some cases theyve already spent or committed to spending. (Photo by Stephen Smith/The Associated Press)

Early this month, the U.S. Department of Education issued an ultimatum to K-12 public schools and state education agencies: Certify that you are not engaging in discrimination under the banner of diversity, equity, and inclusion, or risk losing federal funding  including billions in support for low-income students.

The backlash was immediate. Some states with Democratic governors refused to comply, arguing that the directive lacks legal basis, fails to clearly define what constitutes illegal DEI practices, and threatens vital equity-based initiatives in their schools.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

After lawsuits from the National Education Association teachers union and the American Civil Liberties Union, the Department of Education agreed to delay enforcement until after April 24.

But states across the country, both liberal- and conservative-led, are worried about losing other aid: the pandemic-era money that in some cases theyve already spent or committed to spending.

The Department of Education has long played a critical role in distributing federal funds to states for K-12 education, including Title I grants to boost staffing in schools with high percentages of low-income students, and emergency relief like that provided during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conservative-led states  particularly Mississippi, South Dakota, and Arkansas  rely the most heavily on these funds to sustain services in high-need districts.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The 15 states with the highest percentage of their K-12 budget coming from federal funding in fiscal year 2022  the latest year with data available from the National Center for Education Statistics  voted for Trump in the 2024 presidential election. Similarly, 10 of the 15 states receiving the highest amounts of Title I funding in fiscal year 2024 also voted for Trump.

Mississippi and Kentucky have sent letters to the Department of Education expressing concern over halted pandemic aid.

The clash over federal funding comes even as the future of the Department of Education is murky, given President Donald Trumps pledge to dismantle the department.

DEI-related cuts

In letters to the Department of Education, state officials and superintendents in Illinois, New York, and Wisconsin pushed back against the DEI directive.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

New York officials said they would not provide additional certification beyond what the state already has done, asserting that there are no federal or State laws prohibiting the principles of DEI. Illinois Superintendent Tony Sanders wrote that he was concerned that the Department of Education was changing the conditions of federal funding without a formal administrative process. Wisconsin Superintendent Jill Underly questioned the legality of the order.

New York State Department of Education Counsel and Deputy Commissioner Daniel Morton-Bentley noted that the federal departments current stance on DEI starkly contrasts with its position during Trumps first term, when then-Education Secretary Betsy DeVos supported such efforts.

Colorado and California also confirmed they would not comply with the Department of Educations order.

While some states with liberal leaders are gearing up for legal battles and possible revocation of funding, conservative-led states such as Florida have embraced the federal directive as part of a broader push to reshape public education.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

In Florida, anti-DEI laws have been in place dating back to 2023. In fact, many school districts and the state education department say they plan to follow the federal departments directives, noting the similar state laws.

Pandemic aid cancellations

In March, the Department of Education abruptly rescinded previously approved extensions of pandemic-era aid, ending access to funds months ahead of the original March 2026 deadline.

When the Massachusetts governors office voiced concern over that decision, the federal departments reply on social media was blunt: COVID is over.

Sixteen mostly Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia filed a federal lawsuit against the Department of Education and Secretary Linda McMahon, challenging the abrupt rescission of previously approved extensions for spending COVID-19 education relief funds.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

But backlash against abrupt federal cuts to education has not been limited to blue states.

Mississippis Department of Education warned the cuts would jeopardize more than $137 million in already obligated funds, slated for literacy initiatives, mental health services and infrastructure repairs. The impact of this sudden reversal is detrimental to Mississippi students, state Superintendent Lance Evans wrote in a letter to McMahon.

The letter also outlines the states repeated  but unsuccessful  efforts to draw down millions in approved funds since February.

Shanderia Minor, a spokesperson for the Mississippi education department, told Stateline the agency is awaiting next steps and direction about the funds and federal directives.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

In Kentucky, state Education Commissioner Robbie Fletcher told districts  which stand to lose tens of millions in pandemic aid  that abrupt federal changes leave them in a difficult position, with schools already having committed funds to teacher training and facility upgrades.

According to Kentucky Department of Education spokesperson Jennifer Ginn, the state has about $18 million in unspent pandemic aid funds left to distribute to districts. And districts have about $38 million in unspent funds, for a total $56 million that could be lost.

Lauren Farrow, a former Florida public school teacher, told Stateline that schools that receive Title I money are already underfunded  and the federal threat only widens the gap.

Florida is pouring billions into education  but where is it going? Because were not seeing it in schools, especially not in Title I schools, said Farrow. I taught five minutes away from a wealthier school, and we didnt even have pencils. Teachers were buying shoes for students. Why is that still happening?

Effects in the classroom

Tafshier Cosby, senior director of the Center for Organizing and Partnerships at the National Parents Union, a parents advocacy group, told Stateline that while most families dont fully understand the various school funding systems, they feel the impact of cuts in the classroom.

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Cosby said parents are worried about the loss of support services for students with disabilities, Title I impacts, and how debates about DEI may deflect from more urgent needs like literacy and teacher support.

Weve been clear: DEI isnt the federal governments role  its up to states, she said. But the confusion is real. And the impact could be devastating.

Today, as a consultant working with teachers across Floridas Orange County Public Schools  one of the largest districts in the country  Farrow says many educators are fearful and confused about how to support their students under changing DEI laws.

Teachers are asking, Does this mean I cant seat a student with glasses at the front of the room anymore? Theres so much fear around what were allowed to do now.

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Theres no one giving teachers guidance or even basic acknowledgment. Were just left wondering what were allowed to say or do  and thats dangerous.

This story was originally published by Stateline, which like the New Hampshire Bulletin is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

Amanda Hernandez contributed to this report. Stateline reporter Robbie Sequeira can be reached at rsequeira@stateline.org.
Apr. 16Early this month, the U.S. Department of Education issued an ultimatum to K-12 public schools and state education agencies: Certify that you are not engaging in discrimination under the banner of diversity, equity and inclusion, or risk losing federal funding  including billions in support for low-income students.

The backlash was immediate. Some states with Democratic governors refused to comply, arguing that the directive lacks legal basis, fails to clearly define what constitutes "illegal DEI practices," and threatens vital equity-based initiatives in their schools.

After lawsuits from the National Education Association teachers union and the American Civil Liberties Union, the Department of Education agreed to delay enforcement until after April 24.

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But states across the country, both liberal- and conservative-led, are worried about losing other aid: the pandemic-era money that in some cases they've already spent or committed to spending.

The Department of Education has long played a critical role in distributing federal funds to states for K-12 education, including Title I grants to boost staffing in schools with high percentages of low-income students, and emergency relief like that provided during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conservative-led states  particularly Mississippi, South Dakota and Arkansas  rely the most heavily on these funds to sustain services in high-need districts.

The 15 states with the highest percentage of their K-12 budget coming from federal funding in fiscal year 2022  the latest year with data available from the National Center for Education Statistics  voted for Trump in the 2024 presidential election. Similarly, 10 of the 15 states receiving the highest amounts of Title I funding in fiscal year 2024 also voted for Trump.

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Mississippi and Kentucky have sent letters to the Department of Education expressing concern over halted pandemic aid.

The clash over federal funding comes even as the future of the Department of Education is murky, given President Donald Trump's pledge to dismantle the department.

DEI-related cuts

In letters to the Department of Education, state officials and superintendents in Illinois, New York and Wisconsin pushed back against the DEI directive.

New York officials said they would not provide additional certification beyond what the state already has done, asserting that there "are no federal or State laws prohibiting the principles of DEI." Illinois Superintendent Tony Sanders wrote that he was concerned that the Department of Education was changing the conditions of federal funding without a formal administrative process. Wisconsin Superintendent Jill Underly questioned the legality of the order.

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New York State Department of Education Counsel and Deputy Commissioner Daniel Morton-Bentley noted that the federal department's current stance on DEI starkly contrasts with its position during Trump's first term, when then-Education Secretary Betsy DeVos supported such efforts.

Colorado and California also confirmed they would not comply with the Department of Education's order.

While some states with liberal leaders are gearing up for legal battles and possible revocation of funding, conservative-led states such as Florida have embraced the federal directive as part of a broader push to reshape public education.

In Florida, anti-DEI laws have been in place dating back to 2023. In fact, many school districts and the state education department say they plan to follow the federal department's directives, noting the similar state laws.

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Pandemic aid cancellations

In March, the Department of Education abruptly rescinded previously approved extensions of pandemic-era aid, ending access to funds months ahead of the original March 2026 deadline.

When the Massachusetts governor's office voiced concern over that decision, the federal department's reply on social media was blunt: "COVID is over."

Sixteen mostly Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia filed a federal lawsuit against the Department of Education and Secretary Linda McMahon, challenging the abrupt rescission of previously approved extensions for spending COVID-19 education relief funds.

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But backlash against abrupt federal cuts to education has not been limited to blue states.

Mississippi's Department of Education warned the cuts would jeopardize more than $137 million in already obligated funds, slated for literacy initiatives, mental health services and infrastructure repairs. "The impact of this sudden reversal is detrimental to Mississippi students," state Superintendent Lance Evans wrote in a letter to McMahon.

The letter also outlines the state's repeated  but unsuccessful  efforts to draw down millions in approved funds since February.

Shanderia Minor, a spokesperson for the Mississippi education department, told Stateline the agency is awaiting next steps and direction about the funds and federal directives.

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In Kentucky, state Education Commissioner Robbie Fletcher told districts  which stand to lose tens of millions in pandemic aid  that abrupt federal changes leave them "in a difficult position," with schools already having committed funds to teacher training and facility upgrades.

According to Kentucky Department of Education spokesperson Jennifer Ginn, the state has about $18 million in unspent pandemic aid funds left to distribute to districts. And districts have about $38 million in unspent funds, for a total $56 million that could be lost.

Lauren Farrow, a former Florida public school teacher, told Stateline that schools that receive Title I money are already underfunded  and the federal threat only widens the gap.

"Florida is pouring billions into education  but where is it going? Because we're not seeing it in schools, especially not in Title I schools," said Farrow. "I taught five minutes away from a wealthier school, and we didn't even have pencils. Teachers were buying shoes for students. Why is that still happening?"

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Effects in the classroom

Tafshier Cosby, senior director of the Center for Organizing and Partnerships at the National Parents Union, a parents advocacy group, told Stateline that while most families don't fully understand the various school funding systems, they feel the impact of cuts in the classroom.

There's so much fear around what we're allowed to do now.  Lauren Farrow, a former Florida public school teacher

Cosby said parents are worried about the loss of support services for students with disabilities, Title I impacts, and how debates about DEI may deflect from more urgent needs like literacy and teacher support.

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"We've been clear: DEI isn't the federal government's role  it's up to states," she said. "But the confusion is real. And the impact could be devastating."

Today, as a consultant working with teachers across Florida's Orange County Public Schools  one of the largest districts in the country  Farrow says many educators are fearful and confused about how to support their students under changing DEI laws.

"Teachers are asking, 'Does this mean I can't seat a student with glasses at the front of the room anymore?' There's so much fear around what we're allowed to do now."

"There's no one giving teachers guidance or even basic acknowledgment. We're just left wondering what we're allowed to say or do  and that's dangerous."

Amanda Hernandez contributed to this report. Stateline reporter Robbie Sequeira can be reached at [email protected].

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This photo taken on April 15, 2025 shows an asset handover ceremony held by the China National Building Material Group Corporation (CNBM)'s Sinoma Cement Co., Ltd. in Zaghouan province, Tunisia. (Photo by Adel Ezzine/Xinhua)

TUNIS, April 16 (Xinhua) -- The China National Building Material Group Corporation (CNBM)'s Sinoma Cement Co., Ltd. has acquired Tunisia's Les Ciments de Jbel Oust (CJO) cement company.

At an asset handover ceremony held on Tuesday in northeast Tunisia's Zaghouan province, Jalel Tebib, director of the Tunisian Foreign Investment Promotion Agency, told Xinhua that this investment once again demonstrated the strong partnership between China and Tunisia, and proved the confidence of the Chinese business community in investing in Tunisia.

Tebib said he is confident that the investment will achieve a win-win result.

CNBM Deputy General Manager Wei Rushan said at the ceremony that the CNBM will further expand its business and optimize the market layout by investing in Tunisia.

He said the CNBM will introduce intelligent control systems and advanced production technologies to upgrade the CJO's production lines, improve product quality, reduce energy consumption, and promote the transformation of Tunisia's cement industry toward higher efficiency and low carbon emission.

The investment will hopefully provide more employment opportunities for locals and improve the management of employees, said Wei.

The CJO was a major cement company in Tunisia. 
April 15 (UPI) -- The Susman Godfrey law firm succeeded in temporarily stopping the Trump administration from blocking its access to federal facilities and revoking government contracts.

U.S District Court for the District of Columbia Judge Loren AliKhan during an hour-long hearing on Tuesday called President Donald Trump's recent executive order targeting the law firm a "personal vendetta" and accused Trump of "abusing the powers of his office," the Washington Post reported.

She temporarily blocked most of the sanctions against the law firm pending the outcome of the federal lawsuit, including the ban on the law firm's attorneys entering federal buildings and requiring federal agencies to cancel contracts they might have with Susman Godfrey.

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"Law firms across the country are entering into agreements with the government out of fear that they will be targeted next, and that coercion is plain and simple," AliKhan said as reported by the New York Times.

"I admire firms like Susman for standing up and challenging it when it does threaten the very existence of their business," she added.

AliKhan also ruled the Trump administration must provide guidance for federal agencies to follow the court's temporary injunction against many of the sanctions that Trump ordered on Wednesday.

White House spokesman Harrison Fields said the executive order targets "rogue law firms" by "holding bad actors accountable."

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"American taxpayers should not fund lucrative contracts with law firms whose actions harm national interests," Fields told the Washington Post in a prepared statement.

Trump in the executive order accused the law firm of weaponizing the nation's legal system and removed security clearances for its attorneys, blocked their access to federal buildings and directed federal agencies to end all contracts with Susman Godfrey.

"Susman spearheads efforts to weaponize the American legal system and degrade the quality of American elections," Trump said in the executive order.

"Susman also funds groups that engage dangerous efforts to undermine the effectiveness of the United States military through the injection of political and radical ideology," Trump said, "and it supports efforts to discriminate on the basis of race."

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He said his administration is committed to ending illegal discrimination done "in the name of 'diversity, equity and inclusion' policies.

"Those who engage in blatant discrimination and other activities inconsistent with the interests of the United States should not have access to our nation's secrets nor be deemed responsible stewards of federal funds," he added.

The law firm represented Dominion Voting Systems in its defamation lawsuit against Fox News and secured a nearly $778 million settlement over claims that the electronic voting systems were compromised during the 2020 election.

Susman Godfrey has law offices in Houston, New York City, Los Angeles and Seattle.

President Joe Biden appointed AliKhan to the federal court in 2022.
DENVER (KDVR)  Democratic members of Colorados congressional delegation seemingly cheered the results of a report issued by the Department of Defense Inspector General that examined whether U.S. Space Command should remain in Colorado Springs.

Todays report from the Department of Defense Inspector General confirms what we have long known: keeping U.S. Space Command in Colorado is the best decision to protect Americas national security, the senators and representatives said in a joint release.

A strong solar storm heads to Earth. Heres what to know about northern lights

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The delegates who issued the statement include Reps. Jason Crow, Diana DeGette, Brittany Pettersen and Joe Neguse, as well as Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper. The report discusses how moving U.S. Space Command from Colorado Springs would put the operations into temporary facilities elsewhere, which the report said would take three to four years to have the same mission-critical networks available in Colorado Springs.

U.S. Space Commands HQ in Colorado Springs has been at Full Operational Capability since December 2023. Any relocation of U.S. Space Commands headquarters would threaten our military readiness, cost years of valuable time and resources, and result in an irreversible loss of personnel and expertise, the Colorado delegates said. As our nations adversaries are rapidly developing their own space capabilities, we dont have time to waste. The decision to keep Space Command in Colorado was the right one and will ensure continued operations to safeguard Americas national security.

Well continue to fight to protect Americas national security interests by keeping the U.S. Space Command in Colorado, the groups statement concluded.

President Donald Trump created the U.S. Space Force when signing a defense bill into law in December 2019. In 2021, the Air Force looked at the Army Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, as the permanent U.S. Space Command location. But a temporary headquarters had already been established in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and after multiple delays, President Joe Biden announced it as the permanent headquarters.

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Crow has been at the forefront of fighting to keep the U.S. Space Command located in Colorado and has long said that keeping the headquarters in the state is in the best interest of national security.

Space Command has reached full operational capability and moving it would disrupt its operations and growth, putting our troops and country at risk. Colorado has the workforce and infrastructure to ensure its success, Crow said in a statement published in November 2024.

Head of US Space Force base in Greenland is fired after Vance visit

Alabama federal delegates have accused the Biden Administration of politicizing the headquarters locations, but Colorado is home to many Air Force and Space Force facilities.

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The controversy over the basing decision began seven days before Trumps first term expired, when his Air Force secretary announced Alabama would be home to Space Command, pending an environmental review.

That review was completed about six months into Bidens term and found no significant impact with hosting the command in Alabama. But the new administration did not act on the decision.

Instead, a year later, the Biden White House said it was keeping the headquarters in Colorado Springs, citing the time that would be lost relocating staff and the headquarters to Huntsville.

The report said interviews have been requested with Bidens Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to understand why Huntsville was not named, but the Biden White House would only allow the interviews if administration lawyers were present. The inspector general rejected that condition, saying it could affect its unfettered access to information.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Boaters on the Smith River in Meagher County (Photo by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks).

The Montana Legislature approved raising nonresident fees to purchase bonus raffle points for a coveted Smith River permit, funding maintenance along the scenic corridor and purportedly giving a slight edge toward resident floaters .

Located in central Montana, flowing north through the Big Belt Mountains toward Great Falls, the Smith River  a 59-mile stretch of which is officially Smith River State Park  is the only river in Montana that requires a permit for all recreational access.

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Sen. Laura Smith, D-Helena, said the increasing popularity of the Smith River and the effects of compounded use, were reasons she brought Senate Bill 257.

The secluded stretch of river is so popular that the lottery system sees more than 20,000 individuals enter each year, with roughly 1,200 permits available. Of that, nonresidents can only receive 10% of available permits.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks operates the permitting lottery with a bonus point system  applicants pay to enter the lottery and each year can purchase an additional bonus point to increase their chances of being selected. Bonus points can accumulate each year an applicant doesnt draw a permit and the points are squared during the drawing.

Smiths bill more than doubles the cost of bonus points for out-of-state individuals, from $50 to $125, while residents pay just $5.

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When I was door knocking, one things folks talked about in addition to public lands was Smith River permits. They were talking about the fact that people werent really pulling the permit, and so I looked at the bonus point system and what the money goes to, Smith told the Senate Fish and Game Committee in February.

Revenue from the bonus point system goes into the states Smith River Enhancement Account, to protect and enhance the integrity of the natural and scenic beauty of the Smith River waterway and its recreational, fisheries, and wildlife values.

Because of the increased foot traffic, in and out use, some of the funds have been used to improve the put in and put out, Smith told the committee. Ten years ago, when my now husband and I floated it, we used to camp at the put in. They said the impact at the bank, with so many people putting into the river there, really eroded those river banks. So they used this money to restore the put in and take out.

According to the bills fiscal note, 1,114 nonresident bonus points were sold in 2024, and under the new fee structure would provide a more than $83,000 boost to revenue.

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Revenue from the account has also been used to work on waste disposal systems along the river  which has no public access along its 59-mile stretch  and to purchase or lease adjacent land.

The money goes to good causes that preserve the integrity of the river, Smith said.

Trout Unlimited, the Montana Wildlife Federation and several individuals, including fishing guides, supported the legislation in committee hearings.

The bill sailed through the Senate with just four votes in opposition. The bill was unanimously concurred in the House on 2nd reading, but drew two nay votes on the final vote Wednesday.
Photos and photo illustration by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer.

In a recently unearthed audio recording, Attorney General Keith Ellison can be heard expressing frustration about state agencies  i.e., his clients  and claiming they are being too hard on government contractors.

Ellison agrees with his interlocutors that state agencies are discriminating against East African vendors, saying we are in the middle of the battle with the agencies now.

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Most distressing is who Ellison is talking to: individuals ensnared in the massive Feeding Our Future scandal that drained at least $250 million from a program intended to help hungry children  but was instead spent on fancy cars, real estate, jewelry and foreign travel.

The conversation, which was recorded by the Feeding Our Future participants and entered into evidence during a recent trial, took place in December 2021, just a month before the FBI executed a bevy of search warrants. The investigation led to charges against 70 people, with 38 pleading guilty and seven convicted at trial so far. More charges could be coming.

In the audio, Ellison seems genuinely oblivious to the investigation, as the people  one of them eventually convicted, another awaiting trial  lobby him to keep the money flowing. The Minnesota Department of Education had halted payments flagged as suspicious, but a judge ordered the agency to resume payments.

His ignorance about what was happening offers some bizarre comfort  at least he wasnt aware of the fraud  though its also disquieting that he was so uninformed, especially since his office had defended the Department of Education in trying to put a stop to the suspicious spending.

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Ellison isnt the only elected official who offered his ear to future fraudsters. Thats whats so striking about the case, though its often overlooked: The perpetrators had political ties to influential Democrats.

Listen to Aimee Bock, the mastermind of the Feeding Our Future fraud who was convicted last month of all seven counts, including wire fraud and federal programs bribery: Political leaders have been watching the way (the Department of Education) is treating Feeding Our Future and, more importantly, the communities we serve, Bock said in an interview with the Star Tribune in early 2022. And they have been intervening and asking the questions that needed to be asked.

In other words, this convicted fraudster alleges that she used her juice with politicians to get them to lean on bureaucrats who were trying to put a stop to the fraud.

State Sen. Omar Fateh said in June 2021  at a party to celebrate Feeding Our Futures legal victory over the Department of Education  that the pressure tactic was paying off: What I can tell you is that leadership hears you. Folks at the Capitol hear you. The pressure is really on, and  its working.

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With Bock finally convicted, Minnesotans should brush up on how the scandals tentacles have touched elected officials.

Attorney General Keith Ellison

Until last week, there wasnt much reason to include Ellison on this list of elected officials. His office represented MDE when the agency tried to put the brakes on the millions going out to Feeding Our Future. And once the federal government intervened, the investigation was theirs.

But the audio reveals something new: Ellison seemed to have no idea about a huge fraud perpetrated on the state of Minnesota and the United States government. Even though his office represented one of the agencies defrauded when Feeding Our Future sued the Department of Education to turn the money spigot back on.

Moreover, during the 54-minute conversation, he seemed to be commiserating with these strangers about the state agencies he ostensibly represents, and seemed to agree that the agencies were discriminating against immigrant-owned businesses.

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He told them that he had a recent conversation with Jodi Harpstead  at the time the commissioner of the Department of Human Services  telling her to go easier on state contractors: Youre running small, tiny businesses out of business over nothing.

Although we cant know for sure what was said in that meeting with Harpstead, the commissioner had reason to be focused on program compliance.

In fact, Ellisons own office was investigating a boatload of Medicaid fraud in what was known as PIT Stop. The defendants in the case are alleged to have used the identities of hundreds of Somali Minnesotans to fraudulently schedule and bill for provider, interpreter and transportation services that were never provided.

And if Harpstead wasnt focused on fraud in the states rapidly growing autism program, she should have been. When FBI agents served search warrants on two autism centers last year, they alleged substantial evidence that many of these companies have been submitting fraudulent claims for (autism) services that were not actually provided or that were not covered.

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Why were they investigating autism providers, as the Reformer first reported last year? Because some Feeding Our Future fraudsters were also running autism treatment facilities.

Weve listened to the recording, and Ellisons role isnt as nefarious as Republicans have insinuated the past week. After all, the fraudsters attempt to lobby him wasnt fruitful. The FBI conducted the raids a month later, and dozens of people have been convicted since. Ellison also received a pile of campaign donations after the meeting; during the meeting, however, he brushes off their talk about campaign funds.

You can listen to the full recording here.

Mostly, Ellison just sounds credulous and clueless about what would seem to be an important case for his office. Which is starkly at odds with what he sought to portray when he was running in a tight reelection battle a year later; his office put out a lengthy statement: For two years, Attorney General Ellisons office has been holding Feeding Our Future accountable.

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In answers to some questions from the Reformer, Ellisons office maintains the recorded meeting was an ambush that left him bereft of his usual preparation: AG Ellison was asked to sit down with a friend that day, Imam Mohamed Omar. When the AG arrived, he was surprised to find others present but agreed to meet with them. It is a shame that these fraudsters tried to exploit the Attorney Generals good faith engagement, but they were not successful. Nothing happened as a result of the meeting.

Ellisons office says after the meeting, he had a conversation with his staff working on the Feeding Our Future case, which got him up to speed, and that was the end of it.

Minneapolis City Council Member Jamal Osman*

At the June 2021 Feeding Our Future celebration, Minneapolis City Council Member Jamal Osman boasted that he introduced a resolution urging the Minnesota Department of Education to allow minority and low-income communities to participate in the federal meals program.

Im one of those people that push back and call it what it is. Which is racist tactics, Osman said, smearing MDE employees. The Star Tribune, through a public records request, discovered that the resolution Osman sought to introduce was sent to him by Bock via Abdi Salah, then a policy aide to Mayor Jacob Frey.

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The 6th Ward Democrats involvement in Feeding Our Future, it turns out, was extensive. During the same time that Osman was lobbying MDE, Osmans wife was operating a meal site, which claimed to feed 2,500 children a day and was reimbursed more than $460,000.

Osmans wifes nonprofit was later shut down by none other than Ellison because it was found to have been created for the purpose of directing funds to herself, her family members, and her co-conspirators. (She has not been charged for her role in the case.)

Two months after Osman was sworn in after winning a special election in August 2020, he transferred a nonprofit he had incorporated called Stigma-Free International to individuals who then used it to steal millions meant to feed hungry children, according to federal prosecutors.

We sent him a text and email with some questions, like, why did you transfer control of the nonprofit? And, did you know your wife was running a meal site? And, what have you learned from all this? Osman, who is running for reelection, didnt respond.

Sen. Omar Fateh

In June 2021, the Minneapolis Democrat, who is now a leading candidate for mayor, was effusive in his praise for the now convicted fraudster Bock. I want to thank Aimee and her team at Feeding Our Future for making this first court victory a reality, he said.

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The fraud went on for another eight months or so until the FBI raided a number of businesses and nonprofits that were running phony meal sites.

During the recent Feeding Our Future trial, a witness testified that Fateh had also reached out to Ellisons office in an effort to get them to back off.

Fateh says on the June 2021 video that the problem of the persnickety bureaucrats extends beyond just Feeding Our Future.

MDE, DHS whether its a Democratic administration or Republican administration. Folks who own group homes and home cares. They see this as an ongoing pattern.

Later, Fateh sought to keep up the pressure on the bureaucrats to keep the money train moving.

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In December 2021, just weeks before the FBI raid, Fateh spoke at the 1st Annual Somali American Elected Officials Town Hall and alleged that MDE, MDH, and DHS were consistently targeting immigrant businesses.

In a statement to the Reformer, Fateh said he heard from constituents about payment delays to government contractors enrolled in the food program.

As a senator, I did my due diligence and reached out to the Department of Education; at no time did I advocate on behalf of a specific provider or organization. In my conversations with the administration, I was repeatedly told they did not suspect fraud was occurring, he said.

He added: As we now know, some of the providers were lying to me, and have since been tried and convicted of crimes. I am furious about the theft of public funds, the damage to community, and most of all, the depriving of the children and families who were supposed to receive support during a pandemic.

Fateh pointed to the 2023 legislative session, when lawmaker created an inspector general at the Department of Education and put accountability measures in place for state grants. He said going forward hed make sure funds and programs are reaching the people who need them.

Gov. Tim Walz

Walzs Departments of Education and Human Services sent hundreds of millions of dollars out the door to people who stole it.

His own Department of Education, represented by Ellisons office, did try to stop payments to the fraudsters, though it was such a failed effort that the judge in the case found MDE in contempt.

At various times, Walz has acknowledged the scope of the problem and tried to reassure Minnesotans that he gets it.

When he proposed a slew of anti-fraud measures in January, he said the theft of public dollars had angered him: Its maddening and it makes Minnesotans and myself angry about this.

At other times, hes seemed uninformed.

When a reporter asked him in December about concerns about fraud in the autism program, he seemed caught unawares.

We always investigate it and those people go to jail. Except theres been no charges yet.

The number of Minnesota providers who diagnose and treat people with autism spectrum disorder increased 700% in five years, while the amount paid to providers during that time increased 3,000%, from about $6 million to nearly $192 million  according to data provided to the Reformer by the Minnesota Department of Human Services last year.

Not long after Walzs confused statement, the FBI executed the search warrants on an autism center in Minneapolis and another in St. Cloud.

Ellison says during the newly unveiled taped conversation from 2021 that Walz concurred with him about his own agencies.

Walz agrees with me that this piddly stupid stuff running small people out of business is terrible, Ellison tells the group.

A Walz spokeswoman told the Reformer that since 2021, the administration has implemented dozens of oversight measures, created a statewide fraud investigation unit, and asked the Legislature to pass his plan to prevent, detect and penalize fraud.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who is running for reelection, had a meeting with the Minnesota Department of Education in 2021 to talk about Feeding Our Future, after the agency had stopped payments to get a handle on the programs fantastical growth. The point of the meeting was to browbeat MDE Commissioner Heather Mueller and get the agency to resume payments.

The talking points for the meeting, which Frey now says he never used, were prepared by none other than Bock.

Frey told the Star Tribune that he had never met Bock, and that her talking points were delivered to him via his then-policy aide Abdi Salah.

And who is Salah? He pleaded guilty earlier this year. Frey fired him shortly after the feds seized property he had invested in with his ill-gotten Feeding Our Future gains.

This was one of the deepest and most offensive betrayals of public trust in our states history, said a spokesman for Frey. The mayor appreciates the U.S. Attorneys Office for its diligent and thorough prosecution of the case.

Coda

The frauds perpetrated on the state of Minnesota the past few years have been consequential. Money that should have gone to people who needed it wound up enriching people who didnt. Just as important, these episodes have surely eroded Minnesotans trust in government programs, which will make life harder for people who need help.

Lets hope the experience has been educational for elected officials, now and in the future.

*Disclosure: Magan resigned from the Office of the Minnesota Attorney General to run against Osman for Minneapolis City Council in 2023.

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EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX)  For over 4 decades, Mike Sullivan was a constant presence in the Eau Claire broadcasting community, the voice behind thousands of battles for Chippewa Valley athletes. Now, Mike and his family face a battle of their own. Its kind of a one day at a time sort of thing. You just you dont know whats going to happen and you cant control it anyway. So, one day at a time.

Thats been the mantra for the Sullivan family since Mikes leukemia diagnosis in February, as rounds of treatment continue. At this point, theyre just kind of doing a round of chemo, a little bit of rest round of chemo, hoping that at some point it just helps.

As bills continued coming in, though, Mikes Medicare and insurance reached their limit. Its difficult enough to deal with a situation like this for someone that you love, but then to have financial difficulties on top of that, its the last thing you really want to think about or even have the brain bandwidth to think about.

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Mikes daughter Katie turned to the community for support, posting a GoFundMe to help pay for the treatment. In just a week, their $10,000 goal was surpassed. We are so, so touched by the outpouring of support from the community. Its more than we had ever, ever hoped for. It really means a lot to our family.

Through tenures at Z-100 morning show and WBIZ radio, Mikes connections go nationwide, with support coming from across the United States. Its amazing how many people have reached out that my dad worked with 20-30 years ago and players that he did play by play for again 20-30 years ago, that its like I wouldnt even guessed that they would even remember him. Its just nice to have so many people all over the place thinking about us at a time like this.

While donations will continue to be accepted, Katie noted another, more sentimental way to support their family. Memories and messages on Facebook to either him or me are certainly welcome and prayers. We are people of faith. We appreciate prayers and and just good thoughts.

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The Trump administration is throwing a 21 percent tariff on tomatoes imported from Mexico, suspending an agreement the president made during his first term.

Trumps 2019 trade agreement with Mexico will be terminated in 90 days, when a levy of 20.91 percent will be imposed on most tomatoes coming from the country, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced Monday. The move marks the latest action President Donald Trump has taken against one of the largest U.S. trading partners.

The current agreement has failed to protect U.S. tomato growers from unfairly priced Mexican imports, the department wrote in its release. This action will allow U.S. tomato growers to compete fairly in the marketplace.

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The new levy will take effect on July 14.

The move comes six years after Trumps earlier deal with tomato growers in Mexico, where the growing season is significantly longer that in America, preventing what could have been a 25 percent tariff from taking effect.

At the time, the Commerce Department said the U.S. imported roughly $2 billion worth of tomatoes from Mexico each year.

The department wrote in September 2019: The suspension agreement completely eliminates the injurious effects of unfairly priced Mexican tomatoes, prevents price suppression and undercutting, and eliminates substantially all dumping, while allowing Commerce to audit up to 80 Mexican tomato producers and U.S. sellers per quarter, or more with good cause.

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The agreement was struck after Florida growers requested the termination of a 2013 deal.

President Donald Trumps administration imposes a 21 percent tariff on most tomatoes imported from Mexico (EPA)

Mexicos President Claudia Sheinbaum said of the new tariff that she hopes the two countries can reach a new agreement, adding that the quality of Mexicos tomatoes "is not substitutable by any other in the world."

This process has happened many times, and Mexico always comes out winning. But if this sanction is applied, Mexican tomatoes will still be exported to the US, because theres no substitute, she said Tuesday, Reuters reported.

Mexican Agriculture Minister Julio Berdegue similarly said: "A 90-day window is now open. There is going to be a conversation with the United States. We are looking for this agreement to be renewed.

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Mondays announcement is the latest in Trumps trade war with the nations southern neighbor. The president in February announced he was imposing a 25 percent tariff on goods imported from Canada and Mexico to hold the nations accountable to their promises of halting illegal immigration and stopping poisonous fentanyl and other drugs from flowing into our country.

Trump campaigned against high food prices, and vowed to bring them down as soon as he gained the White House. He has said he won the election on groceries. Instead he imposed tariffs that will increase the price consumers will have to pay for food, and will decrease competition, which will also drive up prices.
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY)  Virginia Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, as well as Representative Bobby Scott, are calling on the Department of Homeland Security to reverse the cancelation of a FEMA program designed to protect against natural disasters.

According to a release, the DHS announced the cancelation of FEMAs Building Resilient Infrastructure Communities (BRIC) program, calling the program wasteful and politicized.

The Commonwealth was slated to receive several million in funding from BRIC for various projects throughout the state, including $12 million for improvements to the Richmond Water Treatment Facility and $24 million to enhance the Lake Meade Dam in Portsmouth.

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Since BRICs establishment in 2018 through the Disaster Recovery Act, over $5 billion has been allocated for mitigation projects within the United States to reduce risks caused by natural disasters and to prevent future disasters. A list of funded projects can be found on FEMAs website here.

Applicants were notified of the cancelation of funds earlier in the month  $133 million of which already allocated for the fiscal year. Many communities in Virginia are now left scrambling, left wondering what to do with projects already underway.

The potential revocation of existing BRIC awards is an unanticipated shock to Virginia localities that have budgeted, planned, and in some cases begun work on these crucial projects, the lawmakers wrote. The city of Portsmouth received a $24.21 million BRIC award in FY2022 to protect the communitys drinking water supply by enhancing the Lake Meade Dam. The dam, which serves as a critical reservoir for drinking water and supplies residential, commercial, and industrial users in the Hampton Roads area, is at risk of instability and potential overtopping during heavy precipitation events. The project involves strengthening the dam, upgrading spillways, and improving flood protection, all of which serves to protect the more than 80 occupied residential properties and almost 30 businesses within the dam break inundation zone.

Virginia Beach stated the cuts to funding should not impact the city, however. The resort city released a statement on Friday, saying that the funds had been moved to the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.

The funding from this grant has been obligated from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) on schedule. While, FEMA has requested information regarding the completion date of the project, we anticipate that the funding will remain available for this critical flood protection project to move into the construction phase later this year. City of Virginia Beach

To read the full letter sent to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, click here.

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FENNVILLE, Mich. (WOOD)  Organizers hope to begin construction next month on an outdoor amphitheater and splash pad in the heart of downtown Fennville.

Its going to transform downtown Fennville, Dawn Soltysiak, the owner of Root Cafe, said of the project. We had this empty space. We wanted to do something that was community-oriented.

The project, which will create what has been dubbed City Square Park, will turn empty space across from City Hall into the brand-new outdoor amphitheater, a splash pad, an outdoor fireplace and seating.

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Weve seen in other communities that families really love splash pads, Micah Machiela, the Fennville downtown development authority coordinator, said. The kids really enjoy it. We dont have a community pool here in Fennville and parents have been asking for things to do during the summer.

Rental car facility at Ford Airport celebrates construction milestone

Performers at the amphitheater are expected to be a mix of folk, rock and experimental. Organizers hope to highlight local and regional artists.

Soltysiak believes the project will help businesses.

It gives a reason for people to come downtown, Soltysiak said. The more you have for people to be able to enjoy, the more theyre going to want to spend time in Fennville or visit Fennville.

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The project costs between $800,000 and $900,000. About $300,000 is already covered by federal grants. The community has already donated $12,000. If the community reaches $50,000, the Michigan Economic Development Coordination will match it. Taxes wont go up because of the project, Machiela said.

Inside WOODTV.com: Building West Michigan

Machiela hopes amphitheater construction will finish by late summer or early fall. There could even be some performances in the fall. Splash pad and fireplace construction should wrap up by the fall. The splash pad isnt expected to open until next summer.

Soltysiak cant wait.

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People think of Fennville, they think of the wineries, they think of apple picking, Soltysiak said. Its going to help downtown and make them think of a place they can go enjoy something downtown.

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A leak of a byproduct from a biotechnology company near Fort Dodge caused a fish kill in the South Branch Lizard Creek. (Photo courtesy of DNR)

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating a fish kill near Fort Dodge, caused by a leak of a fertilizer byproduct, according a press release.

The spill reached the South Branch of Lizard Creek, where DNR staff observed dead fish for several miles and the byproduct, causing brown, murky water stretched around seven road-miles downstream from the facility involved.

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DNR received a call Monday from CJ Bio America, reporting that byproduct from making lysine, which the company manufactures as an amino acid for animal feed, had leaked from the facility into a stormwater channel.

Dan Bratrud, an environmental specialist with DNR said the byproduct is typically used as a soil amendment and in its current state is high in ammonia and quite corrosive.

DNR reported that the company believed the byproduct had been contained via a berm in the stormwater channel, but later discovered a breach in the berm allowed an unknown amount of the byproduct to flow into surface intakes of a neighboring field. From the surface intakes, the byproduct flowed to the South Branch of Lizard Creek.

Bratrud said the water was too murky early in the week to perform a fish kill count, but said Wednesday the fisheries team was at the site to count.

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Hopefully we can get some more information gathered, Bratrud said, noting he and other staff were headed to the site.

According to the department, the leak was stopped Monday, but flow rates in the creek have made it not possible for staff to place berms to contain the byproduct in the creek.

This is the first reported fish kill in this stream, according to DNRs water quality database.

DNR staff collected water samples from the site and will continue to investigate the spill. Creek users downstream of the event are advised to avoid the creek.

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ABUJA, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria's crude oil earnings may be under threat as the aggressive trade tariff policies of the United States disrupt global markets, undermine investor confidence, and drive down prices, a senior Nigerian oil and gas official has warned.

Addressing media in the capital Abuja on Tuesday, Farouk Ahmed, head of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, raised alarm over the potential economic risks posed by the protectionist stance of U.S. President Donald Trump's administration.

He said the ripple effects of the tariffs were already being felt by oil-dependent countries like Nigeria, which relies on crude oil exports for nearly 90 percent of its foreign exchange earnings and a significant portion of government revenue.

"The global oil market today is reacting sharply to the erratic tariff policies of the new American government. These tariffs are not only aimed at China but are sweeping across multiple countries and regions. They are unsettling the balance of demand and supply, particularly in the energy sector," Ahmed said.

He urged global powers to exercise discretion and coordination in economic policymaking to avoid destabilizing global energy markets and harming vulnerable economies.

Ahmed said the Trump administration appeared to have intentionally pushed for lower oil prices, possibly below the 50-U.S.-dollar per barrel mark, by combining increased domestic drilling and trade pressures on global suppliers.

"There is, clearly, a policy direction from the U.S. president to push crude oil prices down. Part of that includes encouraging massive domestic exploration and placing pressure on international suppliers through tariffs and trade negotiations," he said, noting there is unpredictability surrounding the U.S. economic direction.

He warned that Nigeria is particularly vulnerable to such price volatility, with the country's 2025 national budget pegged to a projected oil price of 74 dollars per barrel -- well above the levels that could result from continued global market disruptions.

As one of Africa's largest oil producers, Nigeria could face serious revenue shortfalls if prices drop significantly below the benchmark, Ahmed said. He also pointed to existing domestic challenges, such as pipeline vandalism and oil theft, compounding the risks to the country's economy. 
Florida Highway Patrol troopers are reaching out to any victims whose identity has been stolen by two people arrested last week.

Troopers say the personal information of state employees, including police and fire, as well as healthcare workers, have been compromised, and theyre trying to get more leads as to where the suspects were.

Trooper Migdalisis Garcia says, Employees like myself. Its very scary. Investigators tell us Tristan Dixon and Melyssa Dray were caught after a high-speed chase with three hits and runs.

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It ended outside Channel 9s studios. When troopers searched their car, they discovered hundreds of stolen credit cards, mail, and personal identification of people, including state employees and healthcare workers.

They believe Dray worked at a hotel, but say she also had a fake medical badge with picture and want to know where she was working. Trooper Garcia says, Were trying to see how these two individuals obtained all of that information and thats what we need with the help of the victims.

Any victims can come forward so we can get that information and put a stop to it. Anyone with information about the case should call *FHP or Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
JACKSON, Mich. (AP)  A man died after falling from an upper gallery at a Michigan prison, the fifth inmate since 2020 to die from falling or jumping at two prisons where railings are only a few feet high.

Ervin Robinson II died on Saturday after a fall at the Egeler prison in Jackson County, spokesman Lucas Verran of the Corrections Department said Wednesday.

"The matter is still under investigation," Verran told The Associated Press.

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Five inmates have died at Egeler or Parnall, another prison in the area, under similar circumstances since 2020, the Detroit Free Press reported. Four deaths were classified as suicides.

Railings on upper floors at the two prisons are 38 inches (96.5 centimeters) high, the newspaper reported.

In 2023, a prison employee sent a complaint about the railings to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who referred it to workplace safety regulators, the Free Press said.

No hazard exists, a Corrections Department official said in a letter to the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which closed the file without a visit.

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Robinson, 42, was sentenced to up to eight years in prison in 2020 for failure to pay child support in Kent County. He was released twice on parole but was returned to prison because of parole violations, Verran said.

State Sen. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit, said she was told it would cost millions of dollars to raise the height of the prison railings.

Its definitely something Im tracking and something Im concerned about, she said of prison safety.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  The Arkansas House and Senate are both in session and very busy on the last workday of the 95th General Assembly.

Legislators have acted on a number of bills now headed to the governors desk to become law.

Arkansas legislature set to pass state $6 billion-plus state budget for 2025-2026

Bills passed on Wednesday waiting for the governors signature include:

Senate Bill 486 would allow someone to sue for up to two years after they encounter someone of the opposite sex in a restroom. The legislation includes protections for people who need assistance and correctional facilities.

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Senate Bill 640 empowers the governor to reconstitute the seven-member state library board by removing all its members and appointing a new round of members who will serve staggered terms. Usually, an appointment to the library board is for seven years at staggered intervals.

Senate Bill 217 is the Gov. Sanders-backed bill to request a waiver from the U.S. Department of Human Services to exclude candy and soft drinks from SNAP benefits.

Senate Bill 290 to place limits on moratoriums on watersheds passed after it was amended to maintain current protections on the Buffalo River and Lake Maumelle watersheds.

Senate Bill 437 would create the Arkansas Wind Energy Development Act to promote the growth and development of wind energy resources in the state.

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Senate Joint Resolution 15 allows the General Assembly to create economic development districts in the state through loans and grants.

Four takeaways from the final full week of the Arkansas 95th General Assembly

Not all bills will make it to the governors desk.

House Bill 1662, which would prohibit foreign lobbying, failed after three days of votes in the Senate, where it never received a majority.

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Passengers on a Frontier Airlines flight from Orlando to Puerto Rico endured a hard landing when it touched down late Tuesday.

No one was hurt, but the planes landing gear was damaged.

The incident was a scary one, with one passenger saying people on board were saying their final goodbyes before landing. Crying can be heard on video taken during the descent.

An air traffic controller said the plane hit the runway too hard, losing something off the plane in the process. The controller can be heard saying the pilot declared an emergency.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating.

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A 20-year-old Finnish volunteer soldier was killed in action while fighting for Ukraine, Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat reported on April 15.

The soldier left Finland several months ago to join Ukrainian forces as a volunteer. He was killed in eastern Ukraine, but exact circumstances remain unclear.

Finlands Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed that a Finnish citizen was either killed or went missing on April 13.

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Jussi Tanner, head of consular affairs at Finland's Foreign Ministry, said Finnish officials are working closely with Ukraine to obtain more information.

Numerous other Finnish volunteers have died in Ukraine since the start of Russias full-scale invasion in 2022, including former politician Ville Mykkanen, who was was killed in action in Aug. 2024.

Read also: I cant sit and watch it  US volunteers join Ukrainian army after Trumps sharp policy turn

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
MEXICO CITY (AP)  A bright object, initially appearing to be a meteorite, lit up the skies over Mexico's capital around 3 a.m. Wednesday, stretching over plains, volcanoes and small towns.

Videos of a ball of fire shooting over the Latin American country and dissolving in a burst of light over Mexico City struck awe in many  and quickly became the fuel for memes circulating on social media.

No, the meteorite that exploded last night isn't an excuse to talk to your ex, someone wrote on X, over a GIF of dinosaurs walking through a meteorite shower.

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Soon, photos of the fireball edited with cartoon characters and political jokes flooded the internet.

Scientists across Mexico were quick to note that the object rocketing across the skies was not a meteorite; it was a bolide.

Bolides, defined by NASA as fireballs, are exceptionally bright meteors that are spectacular enough to be seen over a very wide area.

Mario Rodriguez, a doctor in space science with the National Autonomous University of Mexico, said it could also be described as a meteoroid, or a fragment of a meteor.

Bolides like the one that coasted over Mexican skies early Wednesday catch fire as they descend to Earth.

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"Due to the great pressure on the object, they begin to flash with a stretching tail and emit light, said Rodriguez, one of a group of scientists studying the videos that shocked many Mexicans. He said unlike meteorites, which impact Earth, a bolide disintegrates in the atmosphere.

This particular meteoroid, he said, was around 1.5 meters (5 feet) in length and posed no threat to the public.

____

Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
Fishermen told to suffocate or behead this perfect invasive species

(KTVI)  The Missouri Department of Conservation is warning the states anglers  and folks living near Missouri waterways  to keep an eye out for an invasive snakehead fish not native to the United States, echoing warnings issued in other states.

The northern snakehead fish, also known as Channa argus, are long, predatory fish native to Asia with a head that resembles that of a snake, according to the MDC. They prey on sportfish, as well as bugs and reptiles, and spawn more frequently than many other native species, posing a risk of depleting resources that other species need to survive, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says.

(Missouri Department of Conservation)

It can also breathe air and survive out of water for up to several days, MDC officials said, making it capable of traveling between bodies of water.

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All these traits rolled into a single fish suggested that the Northern Snakehead might be the perfect invasive species that, left uncontrolled, would unleash untold havoc on inland fisheries throughout the region, the FWS said.

How to spot a northern snakehead

Because of this, fishermen in Missouri are being instructed not to release a snakehead if caught, but instead kill the invasive fish in one of three ways: by severing its head, gutting it, or placing it in a sealed plastic bag.

The MDC also wants fishermen to photograph any snakehead catches and report their finds to their Snakehead Fish Reporting program.

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The MDC said the northern snakehead was first spotted in Missouri in 2019. Several states, including Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, among others, have issued their own warnings in recent years, often urging fishermen to kill or harvest the so-called frankenfish.

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JOHANNESBURG, April 16 (Xinhua) -- South Africa on Wednesday condemned Israel's continuous bombing of civilian targets, including hospitals in Gaza, calling it a "flagrant violation" of international humanitarian law.

This came after the missile strike by Israeli forces on the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital -- reportedly the last functional hospital in Gaza City -- on Sunday, according to a statement issued by the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO). It said the attack on the hospital forced the evacuation of dozens of wounded people and left Gaza critically short of emergency care.

"South Africa joins the global condemnation of the bombing, which is a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law," said DIRCO. "Israel has bombed, burned, and destroyed at least 35 hospitals in Gaza since the start of the war in October 2023. Attacks on health facilities, medical personnel, and patients are considered a war crime under the IV Geneva Convention of 1949."

According to the department, Israeli military forces also killed 15 humanitarian personnel in Gaza, eight Palestinian Red Crescent Society health workers, one staff member from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, and six members of the Palestinian Civil Defense who were on a rescue mission on March 23.

"Deliberate attacks on medics and humanitarian workers are prohibited by international law and constitute war crimes. First responders like civilians and other non-combatants are never legitimate targets," DIRCO stressed.

"We are also concerned that Israel has halted the entry of all aid into Gaza since March 2. This is in defiance of the binding provisional orders of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which ordered Israel to ensure unhindered access of humanitarian aid in Gaza," said the department. "The international community must hold Israel accountable through effective counter-measures, as the impunity enjoyed by Israel has emboldened its genocidal actions in Palestine."

In December 2023, South Africa approached the ICJ seeking an interdict for the court to compel Israel to halt attacks on Palestine and declare these acts as genocide. In January 2024, the UN court ordered Israel to take all possible measures to prevent acts of genocide and ensure humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip. 
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  U.S. House Representative Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) says hell join other Democrat lawmakers planning to go to El Salvador if a man mistakenly deported isnt returned this week.

The idea was proposed by Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), who represents the state where the man, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, resided before being sent to El Salvador.

Abrego Garcia, an El Salvadoran citizen, was protected from deportation in 2019 by an immigration judge who determined he would likely be targeted by local gangs that had attempted to extort his family.

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Van Hollen on Sunday sent a letter to the Ambassador to El Salvador requesting a meeting with President Nayib Bukele to discuss the illegal detention of my constituent, Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

Bukele was at the White House on Monday to meet with President Trump and called the question of whether he would facilitate Abrego Garcias return preposterous.

El Salvador President Bukele says he wont be releasing a Maryland man back to the US

Van Hollen said in a statement that if Abrego Garcia was not returned to the U.S. by midweek, he plans on traveling to El Salvador to check on his condition and discuss his release.

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On X, Frost expressed his support for Van Hollens plan and said he would join him and help organize other representatives to do the same.

We must all stand as a united front against the kidnapping and illegal detention of Kilmar Abrego Garcia in El Salvador, Frost wrote on X.

Family of wrongly deported man calls for his return

Other Democrat lawmakers have joined the call as well, including Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.) and Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), who responded to Frosts post, writing, Im in, we should go.

Frost and Garcia sent a letter to the chairman of the House Oversight Committee on Tuesday, formally requesting a Congressional Member Delegation to visit the maximum-security prison where Abrego Garcia is being held.

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The letter cites last weeks Supreme Court decision ordering the federal government to facilitate Abrego Garcias return and the admission from ICE that his deportation was due to an administrative error.

The representatives also mention Trumps recent comment that he would consider sending U.S. citizens to the El Salvadoran prison, saying it warrants congressional oversight of the facility.

We are prepared to travel as soon as possible, the representatives wrote. We would gladly include any Republican Members of the Committee who wish to participate.

Axios reported that dozens of Democrats in Congress have privately expressed their interest in joining a trip to El Salvador, but any official trip to the country will need the approval of the Republican chair of the House Oversight Committee, Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.).

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The state Capitol. (Photo by Ned Oliver/Virginia Mercury)

 Virginia lawmakers urge Department of Homeland Security to revive $12 million grant for Richmonds water treatment plant.  WRIC

 Jewish leaders speak out in support of Sen. Hashmi after critical article.  Virginiascope

 Like Holland in Virginia: Walk among the tulips at this farm.  WTOP

 Flag ordered at half-staff in honor of Virginia Tech shooting victims.  WDBJ

 State Senator Mark Peake elected as Republican Party of Virginia chairman.  WSET

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GREENUP A Greenup County grand jury indicted a Flatwoods man on a first-degree wanton endangerment charge and a first-degree assault (domestic violence) charge, landing him in the Greenup County Jail on a $100,000 bond.

Roger Kilgore, 51, was indicted on the charges based on an incident that occurred on or about Feb. 14, 2025, according to court documents.

He is scheduled to be arraigned in circuit court today.

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An indictment is a formal accusation and is not necessarily an indication of guilt. Anyone named in an indictment should be presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

The following people were also indicted by a Greenup County grand jury:

 Corey Hogan, 35, of Bidwell, Ohio, was indicted on a charge of procuring or promoting use of minor by electronic means. He is in Greenup County Detention Center on a $50,000 cash-only bond.

 Donny Smith, 30, of South Shore, was indicted on five counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, stemming from an incident that happened on Feb. 22, according to court documents. He was also indicted on a second-degree fleeing/evading police charge, reckless driving, driving on a DUI-suspended license and an improper passing violation.

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 Sarah J. Sparks, 37, of South Shore, was indicted on a charge of tampering with witness.

 Tony L. Wilson, 34, of Kitts Hill, Ohio, was indicted on a theft by unlawful taking/shoplifting charge.

 Timothy Sanders, 35, of Ironton, was indicted on a theft by unlawful taking/shoplifting charge.
In February, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced plans for a Florida version of DOGE, President Donald Trump's and Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency, aimed at eliminating wasteful spending throughout government agencies.

The governor said over a one-year term the state will attempt to sunset 70 state boards and commissions, cut 900 positions, require universities to undergo independent reviews and audits and look into local government expenditures, The Tallahassee Democrat reported in February.

By March, Floridas public universities were receiving letters notifying them of the states plans to essentially audit them  requesting university spending records and information to identify unnecessary programs, courses, staff and any other inefficiencies at each public university in the state.

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This month, another letter was sent, detailing what kind of information and spending records each public university in Florida should share with the states DOGE by the end of the month. And this week, Harvard, the oldest university in the U.S., is pushing back against similar demands from President Trumps administration, putting the university at risk to lose federal funding.

In Florida, the University of North Floridas student newspaper reported that the university received a letter from the governor on Friday, April 4, with a list of demands that are to be met by April 30.

Heres what we know about Florida DOGEs audit of public universities throughout the state, based on the letter that was sent to UNF in Jacksonville.

Is Florida DOGE auditing universities? What we know

Florida DOGE isnt calling it an audit, but the governors office sent letters to public universities throughout the state this month, asking them to report back with grant, funding, research and employment records for the last six years.

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The DOGE team outlined the first phase of its audit in a letter to university presidents. Institutions were instructed to submit a vast set of documents: every awarded grant application and agreement, all publicly available research or academic drafts, and a full accounting of all non-instructional staff positions  including job titles, salaries, and whether the roles are in-person, remote, or hybrid, Florida Politics reported on April 8.

The data request, broken into two deadlines of April 18 and April 30, is the first major operational move since DeSantis executive order in February creating Florida DOGE, modeled after tech mogul Elon Musks controversial federal cost-cutting consultancy.

Florida DOGEs list of information, records requests

According to The Spinnaker, UNFs student-run news site, the first of the governors letters required UNF to submit a preferred point of contact to Florida DOGE by April 2. The second letter came with a long list of the kind of records the department wants to see from the university.

Heres what the governors office is requiring, based on the letter sent to UNF on April 4:

By this Friday, April 18, 2025:

By year, for the last six years, for every grant awarded to UNF, the following: Grant application (including title and date of application). Notice of award. Grant agreement.

By year, for the last six years, all research published by staff at the institution, as follows: Papers and drafts made available to the public or in online academic repositories for drafts, preprints, or similar materials. If not contained therein, authors name, title, and position at the institution.

For the last six years, all filled and vacant positions held by any employee with a non-instructional role, including: The position title. The position number. The position classification. The position salary. The position description.

UNF policy regarding allocation of grants for purposes of indirect cost recovery, including procedures for calculation.

By April 30, 2025

For each grant provided in response to #1, above: Description of grant and purpose (100 words or less, if not contained in the response to #1). Position numbers and names of staff assigned to administer the grant, excluding students.

For each item of research provided in response to #2, above: Length of research associated with the publication. Any funding associated with the research, including funding source Abstract of the research. Any associated articles and publications about the research made by the researcher or the institution.

For each position provided in response to #3: The position funding source. If the position is funded from multiple sources, provide the percentage of pay covered by each source. If the position is on a tenure-track. If the position is in-person, remote, or hybrid. If multiple individuals fill the same position, provide the associated details and justification.

For any person who occupies both an instructional role and a non-instructional role, provide: Each position the person holds. The FTE allocation assigned to each position.



Why is Harvard losing federal funding?

The federal government announced that it is freezing $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in contracts to Harvard University after the school rejected the Trump administration's demands to implement a mask ban and eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, USA TODAY reported this week.

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The Trump administrations response came just a few hours after the university announced that it will not comply, because that would mean relinquishing its constitutional rights. The Harvard Gazette reported on the universitys refusal to comply, citing a statement from the universitys president.

The University will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights, Harvard President Alan Garber wrote. No government  regardless of which party is in power  should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue.

Contributing: Madelyn Schneider, UNF Spinnaker

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Florida DOGE auditing public universities: Here's what we know
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO)  A former deputy from Florida, who was immediately fired after punching a handcuffed inmate several times, will be allowed to seek certification in South Dakota as a law enforcement officer.

A Florida jury found Kevin Fanti not-guilty of using excessive force in the 2019 incident at the Broward County jail. However, in 2023, his Florida certification was revoked. Since then, Fanti has been working for private security. He recently applied for certification in South Dakota.

Demolition of Hills, MN school uncovers century-old surprise

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On Tuesday, the South Dakota Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Training Commission listened to evidence, spent 30 minutes discussing the matter in executive session, and ultimately declared Fanti eligible to be a law enforcement officer here.

The panels decision was split. Lincoln County States Attorney Thomas Wollmann and South Dakota Attorney General voted no.

The commission, which was meeting in Deadwood, had viewed part of a jailhouse video that showed Fanti punching the inmate twice in the head and then punching the inmate two more times on the ground. The commission also heard a review from special investigating agent Guy DiBenedetto.

Fanti, who represented himself, told the commission that he was in fear of being choked by the inmate, whose hands were cuffed in front of him. Im much more mature now, said Fanti, who vowed that he wouldnt do it again.



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Panel denies law officer eligibility for prospect

Mark Vargo, who serves as the commissions attorney, asked Fanti what he would do differently. Fanti said he would back up and let the jail staff take care of the inmate.

Fanti told the commission that he arrived in the United States at age 21 from Brazil, taught himself English, and in 2018 went to the law enforcement academy in Florida. He became a patrol deputy. He said no other complaints have been filed against him.

Dan Satterlee, director of the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, serves as the commissions chair. Satterlee asked Fanti why he approached the inmate with a document. I didnt want him to come towards us again, Fanti said. I just decided to pick it up and give it back to him, so he didnt have to come towards us.

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Fanti added that he has reflected a lot about what happened. Theres not a single day that passes that this doesnt come to mind, Fanti said.

At Fantis request, the commission watched the remainder of the video showing what happened prior to Fanti striking the inmate.

Commission attorney Vargo in closing said that Fanti physically initiated contact and the inmate reacted to Fantis action. The marshals stepped in and told Mister Fanti to get back, Vargo said.

Fanti responded, I cant change what happened in the past. I can change what will happen in the future. He added, This means a lot to me, to be a law enforcement officer again. I can make a difference in the world.

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In this aerial view, Mexican immigration officials and police escort deportees after they were sent back into Mexico on Jan. 22, 2025, as seen from Nogales, Arizona. U.S. President Donald Trump signed executive orders on his first day in office declaring a state of emergency at the U.S. southern border, halting asylum claims and launching a campaign of mass deportations. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

Last week, my best friend, who lives in South Florida, was explaining the hellscape that undocumented immigrants have been forced to endure since Gov. Ron DeSantis  in his slavish devotion to nastiness and cruelty  mimicked the federal government and called a special session in which the Republican-dominated Legislature passed a law that would further punish them.

DeSantis has savaged lawmakers for not doing enough to support President Donald Trumps campaign promise to detain and deport as many as 20 million undocumented immigrants. He has worked assiduously to engineer Floridas reactionary version of how many ways can we screw over immigrants?

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In addition, DeSantis announced in February that the Florida Highway Patrol, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the Florida State Guard had entered into agreements to help U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement round up migrants.

Immigration-rights activists and lawyers report that ICE agents have set up checkpoints, raided peoples homes, and showed up unannounced at construction sites, grocery stores, immigration hearings, and a range of public places where immigrants  with and without papers  hang out.

An assortment of once-safe spaces where men, women, and children congregate are now danger zones. So far, agents havent been allowed to invade hospitals or churches.

At any moment, ICE and/or cops deputized by ICE can stop someone under a dubious pretext and demand proof that they are in the state and country legally.

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While state and city officials claim that enforcement actions are focused on undocumented immigrants, these actions will have ripple effects across millions more people living in immigrant families, including U.S.-born citizen children, the Kaiser Family Foundation says.

According to its data, as of 2023 47.1 million immigrants lived in the United States, including 22.4 million non-citizens, of whom the Pew Research Center estimates 11 million are undocumented.

There are other immigrants whose lawful status is at risk if they lose temporary protection status (TPS), which many of them are under Trump. That includes almost 1.2 million immigrants who either have or are eligible for TPS, the more than 530,000 active DACA recipients, and people in the country with pending asylum cases.

Millions of others living in immigrant families also are likely to be affected, KFF said.

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Many undocumented immigrants live in families with mixed immigration statuses that may include people with lawful status and U.S. citizens, researchers said. As of 2023, 19 million, or one-in-four children in the U.S., had an immigrant parent, including one in ten (12%) who are citizen children with a non-citizen parent.

Meanwhile, about 4.4 million U.S.-born children live with an undocumented immigrant parent.

People are afraid

I talked to Thomas Kennedy of the Florida Immigration Coalition, a grassroots movement that includes community organizations, farmworkers, youth, advocates, lawyers, and union members.

Were seeing or have heard of checkpoints in Gadsden County, he said. In South Florida, were seeing heavily armed agents carrying semi-automatic weapons, involved in specific pickup/raid operations, mainly at peoples homes.

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Kennedy  who said both he and his parents have been undocumented at some point  reported that immigrant communities are awash with fear.

People are afraid, worried, preoccupied. But they still have to do the day-to-day. Most people are resilient, trying to navigate the maze, said Kennedy. Cops are acting as immigration, asking for papers. Theoretically, they need to have some sort of reason to make a stop. Traffic violations are easy. People can be stopped for loitering or suspicion of some type.

It wasnt great before but its getting worse.

Kennedy recounted the case of a University of Florida student here on student visa studying Food Resource Economics who was picked up by ICE because of expired tags.

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Now hes at Krome, Kennedy said when we spoke in a week ago. Felipe Zapata-Velasquez has subsequently been deported to Colombia.

None of what we are seeing in the immigration crackdown sphere is new, Kennedy reminds us.

He said a group of activists have met and protested at the ICE/Miramar Processing Center since 2017, where unmarked vehicles leave and come back on Wednesdays full of undocumented men, women, and children.

Advocates are fighting back with lawsuits, protests in Tallahassee and points across Florida, as well as engaging in other forms of civil disobedience and opposition to these tactics, but DeSantis and Attorney General James Uthmeier have threatened lawsuits against those who resist while also threatening to withhold state funds from offending municipalities.

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Fort Myers is a case-in-point.

The City Council there voted against but then voted in favor of an ICE agreement (it had failed on a tie vote)  the about-face coming three days after Uthmeier sent a letter warning that DeSantis could remove councilmembers from office unless they approved the agreement, whereby the federal government deputizes Ft. Myers police officers to act as immigration enforcement.

We were never told this vote could expose us to becoming labeled as a sanctuary city despite the citys continued lawful cooperation with ICE. That omission is critical to the lack of efficacy that we were displayed, council member Darla Bonk said during a recent meeting.

Under the 287(g) federal-state task force model, city police officers receive training allowing them to question people about their immigration status and detain them if they are subject to deportation.

Cruelty

Floridians for Immigrant Justice and the American Civil Liberties Union assert that Floridas anti-immigrant laws that weaponize programs against lawfully present immigrants and their families, separate families, harm DREAMERS, require local resources to be spent on enforcing immigration law, must be ended.

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Cruelty is not an immigration policy. Policies that make Florida a show your papers state are un-democratic and do not align with our values.

Representatives from both organizations note that one out of every five people in Florida was born outside the United States, making the state one of the most diverse in our country.

It is critical that every single person in our state is able to live, work and travel without fear of violence, harassment and discrimination. As a state with a vibrant and unique immigrant community, we must ensure the movement for immigrant justice is a reality in Florida, they say.

Further, the activists argue, local governments should decide how local resources are spent and local law enforcement should spend their time serving local communities  not enforcing federal immigration law.

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Policies like SB 168  approved in 2019 to outlaw sanctuary cities in Florida and requiring local law enforcement to cooperate with ICE  and new laws passed this spring requiring cops to perform street-level immigration enforcement  contribute to a climate of fear and demonization of immigrants.

These laws will tear families apart; further weaken trust in law enforcement by encouraging racial and ethnic profiling; endanger communities by discouraging victims and witnesses from reporting crime; and waste taxpayer money by forcing local police to do ICEs job at taxpayer expense.

A larger question Floridians should be asking is: Who are we as a state? What are our values? What do we stand for? And what do we want as Floridians and Americans?

DeSantis and his culture war crusaders are on the front foot and have capitalized on their recent success with a firehose of legislation, policies, lies, and bullying. But those opposed to his cruel, reckless assault on immigrants have to fight back.

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Now they are empowered, Kennedy said of DeSantis ramped-up anti-immigrant campaign. Its extremely concerning with law enforcements involvement. Its costly, a liability, and affects public safety. Most cops dont want to be ICE, but some will abuse it.

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COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) A man was arrested after driving 100 mph through a school zone and almost hitting a school bus with children on it, according to an arrest affidavit.

On Monday, around 2:30 p.m., deputies saw a red pickup truck speeding and said the driver, Stephen Hamlet, 39, almost crashed into a cement truck and nearly hit a school bus full of children head-on while passing it in a no-passing zone.

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The deputy said Hamlet also went through the grass to pass vehicles through the school zone, where the speed limit was 20 mph.

Hamlet was pulled over and when deputies searched the pickup truck, they found bags labeled Grass Roots that contained marijuana, a grinder, and a glass pipe that tested positive for cocaine residue, according to the report.

Hamlet was arrested and is facing charges of reckless driving and possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to an arrest report, Hamlet was booked into the Collier County Jail and was later released on bond.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
SYDNEY, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Police in Sydney, the capital city of Australia's state of New South Wales (NSW), are investigating a second incident of gunshots being fired at a home in two days.

A police statement said that several gunshots were fired into a house in the western Sydney suburb of Guildford West shortly after 2 a.m. local time on Wednesday, though no injuries were reported.

A short time later, emergency services were called to reports of a car fire in a nearby suburb. Fire and rescue crews extinguished the blaze but the vehicle was destroyed.

Police have established a crime scene at the Guildford West home and are investigating whether the car fire was linked to the shooting.

The shooting came after a 65-year-old woman was killed when gunshots were fired into a home in the suburb of Ambarvale, over 30 km south of Guildford West and 45 km southwest of central Sydney, on Monday night.

No arrests have been made in relation to either shooting incident. 
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA)  A Florida man named Edward Cocaine was accused of attacking workers at a Subway restaurant.

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey said that earlier this month, Cocaine and a friend visited the restaurant and got into an argument with employees.

No longer a spring break town: Popular Florida beach town tells idiots to go somewhere else

If Im a betting man, I would guess they didnt like the fact that the footlong wasnt $5 anymore, Ivey wrote in a Facebook post.

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Cocaine was accused of going behind the counter, pushing an employee and pulling out a knife. His friend tried to restrain him and convinced him to leave the restaurant.

Cocaine identified himself in the surveillance video when questioned by detectives. He was charged with two counts of aggravated assault, burglary with assault or battery, and battery.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
CAPE CORAL, Fla. (WFLA)  A woman was arrested after being accused of spraying dogs with pepper spray at a Cape Coral dog park, according to the Cape Coral Police Department.

On April 12, around 8:41 a.m., officers received multiple reports of a woman in her 60s spraying something at dogs at the Rotary Park Dog Park.

At the scene, officers spoke to a witness who told them the woman had walked her dog around the parks perimeter, which is surrounded by a five-foot fence, and was spraying other dogs who approached her through the fence.

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Officers said they spoke to another witness who reported that one of the dogs was sprayed in the eyes and began yelping and crying while trying to rub its eyes in the dirt. The witness said he assisted the owner in washing the dogs eyes out with a hose.

According to Cape Coral officers, another witness told them that the woman had admitted to spraying dogs with mace if they got too close to the fence.

Officers confronted the woman, Charlene Tedesco, 67, and they said she told them she sprayed the dogs with pepper spray because she was worried they would attack her.

Officers also reported that Tedesco clarified that she does not enter the fenced-in area of the dog park but prefers to walk around it.

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The Cape Coral Police Department reported that there was never any danger of being attacked due to there being a barrier between Tedesco and the dogs in the dog park, and that she had driven there to utilize the pepper spray on them.

Cape Coral police officers arrested Tedesco and booked her into the Lee County jail.

They have charged her with animal cruelty and issued a trespass warning.

Tedesco is also prohibited from returning to the park.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG)  A DeFuniak Springs woman was killed Tuesday in a two-vehicle crash in Okaloosa County, News 5 has learned.

19 Baldwin County restaurants claiming imported shrimp is locally sourced: report

According to a Florida Highway Patrol news release, the woman was driving a sport utility vehicle north on County Road 393 toward Staghorn Road around 5 p.m. when another car began to pass her.

LOCATION:

The woman turned left into the path of the car that was trying to pass her, the release said.

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She died at the scene, and the driver of the other car, a sport utility vehicle, driven by a 28-year-old Crestview man, was flown by helicopter to Fort Walton Beach with minor injuries.

Mobile woman accused of shooting her 1-year-old daughter, according to police

The womans name was not released, and no further information was available.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Just over 100 days in, 2025 is already the deadliest year for US aviation since 2001  forever etched in memory by the 9/11 terror attacks.

In January, American Airlines Flight 5342 collided with an army Black Hawk in Washington DC killing all 64 on board, the first major commercial passenger flight to crash in the US in over a decade.

A spate of aviation disasters followed, with a tourist helicopter plummeting into the Hudson river in New York last week, claiming the lives of the six people on board, including three children.

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Fear of flying has spiked with 29 per cent of Americans now thinking it is unsafe to travel by plane, according to a recent CBS News/YouGov poll.

Telegraph analysis of Aviation Safety Network (ASN) data reveals such concerns are not entirely unfounded. While the 21 accidents recorded up to April 10 are lower than the 24 recorded by this point last year  the number of aviation fatalities in 2025 exceed that of the past 15 years combined.

Some 40.6 million commercial flights took to the skies in 2024 carrying around five billion passengers, the latest report from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) shows.

The ASN Safety Database contains descriptions of all accidents involving fixed-wing aircraft capable of carrying at least 12 people since 1919. The figures show that as civil aviation took off, the number of fatalities worldwide soared.

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From the mid-1980s, however, the trend began to nose downwards.

This has been attributed to increasingly strict regulatory frameworks, including requirements for rigorous pilot and air traffic controller training, as well as technological advancements in navigation systems, fail-safes and, in particular, airframe construction.

This is plain to see in the diminishing severity of accidents over time: whereas hull loss, when the plane is damaged beyond repair, used to account for the vast majority of outcomes, it makes up for a fraction today.

So is the US bucking the trend in 2025?

There have been 83 fatalities on civilian airliners in the US so far this year, making up 63 per cent of the global total of 131. And this is not inclusive of helicopter crashes, so the overall aviation total is even higher.

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The rate of fatalities per month is, as such, 10 times higher in 2025 relative to 2024.

Restricting the sample to passenger airliners only  dropping private, cargo and medical flights, sightseeing tours and parachuting trips  shows 79 accidents resulting in at least one death since 2000, for a total of 987 fatalities.

The latest data on passenger numbers from the United States Department of Transportation covers January 2025 only. After the mid-air collision over the Potomac alone that month, this works out to a rate of 0.9 fatalities per million enplanements that month, representing a 1-in-1.1 million chance of death  slightly worse than the 1-in-1.2 million odds in 2001.

But this is largely the product of having only one month in which there was a major disaster to go on. The 2024 rate was over one in 100 million.

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The Flight Safety Foundation is an independent non-profit that promotes the cause of aviation safety, notably through maintaining the ASN Safety Database.

Dr Hassan Shahidi, its president and chief executive, said: The recent accidents  such as the tragic tour helicopter crash in New York, the small aircraft accident over the weekend, and the military helicopter-airliner collision near DCA  are each deeply saddening.

Its important to emphasise, however, that these events are unrelated. Each involves a unique aircraft type, operating environment, and set of circumstances.

The relative safety of travelling by plane is best illustrated per mile covered.

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Preliminary data from the Federal Highway Administration show the fatality rate for cars was 1.2 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles in 2024. The airline equivalent was just 0.002.

However in the same CBS News/YouGov poll, respondents thought flying to be less safe than cars, buses or trains.

While they are not connected, they understandably raise public concern when seen in close succession, Dr Shahidi added.

Todd Curtis, an aviation risk assessment expert, believes this is down to distorted perception.

While the level of risk in the aviation system is low and continues to get lower, the perceived level of safety is lower, with the more high-profile events of the last three months driving that change, he said.

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He cited the example of the Hudson River helicopter accident, which killed a Spanish technology executives family. The mainstream and social media attention it received was partly a result of the conditions of the crash which occurred in broad daylight, close to the heart of the countrys most populous city, he said.

He contrasted this with the helicopter crash that killed a Nigerian billionaire and his family at night in the deserts of southern California last February, which he deemed garnered far less attention.

Just three countries have seen a steeper rise in commercial aviation fatalities this year than the US relative to their 2014 to 2024 average by mid-April: Sudan, Honduras and Somalia.

The unusually large US proportion of global fatalities in 2025 means aviation safety has rarely had more exposure  or been the source of more debate.

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Some have tied the trend to downsizing at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) at the behest of Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency (Doge).

No official tally exists, but Sean Duffy, the secretary of transportation, rejected such claims, insisting less than 400 FAA employees had been let go in mid-February, out of a 45,000 total  all of which he claimed were probationary, meaning they had been hired less than a year ago, and none of which were air traffic controllers or critical safety personnel.

They instead included maintenance mechanics, aeronautical information specialists, aviation safety assistants and management and program assistants, according to the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS) union. These are positions that are vital to supporting public safety, a spokeswoman said.

Testifying before Congress last month on the state of the US Air Traffic Control system, David Spero, national president of PASS told lawmakers that haphazardly eliminating positions and encouraging resignations were both demoralising the workforce and constituted a distraction for employees performing safety-critical duties.

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The FAA manages the worlds safest and most complex aviation system, the agency said. On an average day, we serve more than 45,000 flights and 2.9 million airline passengers across more than 29 million square miles of airspace.

It added: The FAAs priority is to advance the safety of the nations aviation system. We are continuously proactive, consistent, and deliberative in executing our responsibilities to the American public.

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Chong Sin Woon, secretary-general of the Malaysian Chinese Association and former deputy minister of education in Malaysia, speaks at the 2025 Think Asia Forum in Singapore, April 15, 2025. (Xinhua/Then Chih Wey)

SINGAPORE, April 16 (Xinhua) -- As the world contends with rapid technological advancements and major policy shifts, most notably the sweeping U.S. tariffs, Asia is increasingly recognized for its growing economic influence and spirit of inclusiveness, scholars and experts said at the 2025 Think Asia Forum on Tuesday.

Alfred Schipke, director of the East Asian Institute at the National University of Singapore, noted that Asia's expanding middle class could complement, or even at some point "supplement," American consumers, provided the region pursues further reforms, greater openness, and a reduction in trade and investment barriers.

The forum gathered over 40 think tank experts and scholars from across Asia, alongside an audience of around 200.

In the past, companies in the world focused on American consumers, aiming to produce low-priced goods and services for them. However, now "that gets a little bit more difficult with the trade tension," Schipke said.

For instance, with a middle class of approximately 400 million, China represents substantial potential. "China is critically important in this process. It is the largest economy in the region. Many countries have very strong trade relationships with China," he explained to Xinhua.

He further pointed out that increasing Chinese foreign direct investment in other parts of Asia opens new avenues for collaboration in production and investment.

Schipke also said that the current global uncertainties could serve as "a call to action," urging nations to convert challenges into momentum for reform and foster partnerships with like-minded countries.

He pointed to Asia's regional initiatives, such as the New Development Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and the Chiang Mai Initiative, as pivotal in enhancing resilience and promoting a degree of regional autonomy.

Chong Sin Woon, secretary-general of the Malaysian Chinese Association, said that Malaysia, as a medium-sized nation, must partner with other Asian countries to develop an economic model that is suited to Asia and diverges from Western templates.

This is especially pertinent, he argued, in light of recent tariffs that reflect "an ideologically driven strategy of economic exclusion."

For a new Asian growth model, Chong proposed three core pillars: strategic autonomy, green and digital drivers, and inclusive and collaborative governance.

"Asia is no longer what it used to be. China has become a major producer, not only in industry but also as a global leader in technology and green energy," said Chong, also former deputy minister of education in Malaysia.

Chong noted that Southeast Asia, as part of the supply chain, has developed very mature capabilities.

Chan Soo Sen, former minister of state in Singapore, echoed the call for stronger cooperation with neighboring countries. He observed that China's consistent focus on regional relations reflects "a very Asian way of thinking," citing the old Chinese saying "a distant relative is not as good as a close neighbor."

Veronika Sintha Saraswati, from the Indonesia-China Partnership Studies Institute, said that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should continue to build political trust with its strongest economic partner, China.

She noted that China has become ASEAN's largest investor, contributing significantly to infrastructure, technology, and trade.

"Take China's recent breakthroughs in high-speed rail, the C919 aircraft, and open-source AI models like DeepSeek. China is not only making its own strides in innovation but also sharing the dividends of development with ASEAN and other Global South countries, demonstrating its commitment to our times," said Wirun Phichaiwongphakdee, director of the Thailand-China Research Center of the Belt and Road Initiative.

He also highlighted the region's shared cultural values, saying that the "spirit of inclusiveness in Asian civilizations" is the intellectual resource required to navigate today's increasingly complex world.

"China is not rising alone. China is taking many other developing countries along with it," said Mohammed Saqib, secretary-general of the India-China Economic and Cultural Council.

Saqib underscored the shared wisdom across Asia regarding growth through unity. 
ORLANDO, Fla.  Former state Rep. Carolina Amesty is in talks with the U.S. Department of Justice to avoid going to trial in a criminal case accusing her of defrauding a government pandemic relief program, according to a court filing.

Amesty is represented by Brad Bondi, a high-powered litigator and the brother of U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Amesty is in active discussions regarding the appropriate disposition of this matter, according to a joint motion filed this week in federal court. The motion asks for more time to attempt to resolve this matter prior to grand jury presentment, indictment, and/or trial.

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Amestys lawyer could not be immediately reached for comment Wednesday. A Justice Department spokesman declined to comment.

Amesty, 30, is accused of fraudulently obtaining $122,000 in small business COVID-19 relief funds through a foundation named for herself and a car dealership that federal investigators dont think was ever licensed to operate, according to a criminal complaint filed in January.

The FBI and other investigators concluded the federal money provided to the foundation and the business actually was used for Amestys personal expenses, including furniture and credit card bills. Some money also went to support Central Christian University  the private Christian college she helped run with her father  and Amestys now closed fast-food chicken restaurant, Pollo Juan, they said.

Once viewed as a rising star in the Florida GOP, the one-term former lawmaker from Windermere faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

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In a Facebook post after her initial hearing in February, Amesty called the accusations a clear religious prosecution and a further personal political attack against me, claiming without offering specifics to have clear exculpatory evidence showing my innocence.

Her post included a letter from her attorney, who referred to Amesty as a Christian youth pastor and said the eleventh-hour prosecution under former President Joe Bidens administration was emblematic of the weaponization of the Department of Justice by the last administration.

Within hours of Amestys hearing in Orlando, the U.S. Justice Department announced that U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg, who revealed the Amesty prosecution and was appointed during Bidens tenure, was out of the job.

Gregory W. Kehoe, a Tampa defense lawyer and former federal prosecutor, was selected to serve as an interim replacement.

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Elected to the Florida House in 2022, Amesty narrowly lost her reelection bid in November to Democrat Leonard Spencer, a former Disney executive. She ran while facing state forgery charges that were dismissed by outgoing Orange-Osceola state attorney Andrew Bain, an appointee of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, upon her completion of community service and a financial crimes course.

Those state charges stemmed from allegations she improperly notarized a mans signature on a licensing form for the small Orlando-area college run by her family.

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(COLORADO SPRINGS)  Jose Barco was once in a combat uniform as he served two tours in Iraq for the U.S. Army. Now, Barco sits in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Aurora, and his loved ones are concerned and scared about his future.

Thats probably one of the scariest things in my life, because you have no idea whats happening, said Tia Barco, the wife of Jose Barco.

While serving in the army, Barco tried to apply for U.S. citizenship in 2006, but somehow his papers never made their way through. In January, Barco was released from prison after serving 15 years for an attempted murder charge back in 2009.

Courtesy: Danizta James

After being released from the Colorado State Penitentiary, Barco was immediately taken by ICE and sent up to Aurora. From there, Barco has been on the move from one facility to another.

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The U.S. government attempted to put him on a flight back to Venezuela, since Barco has a Venezuelan birth certificate. Tia Barco tells FOX21 that her husbands ties to Venezuela come from Barcos parents fleeing to the country from Cuba.

Barco was not taken in by the Venezuelan government and was sent instead to Honduras before being sent back to the U.S. and ending up in Aurora once again. Through the whole process of being transported to different countries, Tia Barco said she was in the dark the whole time.

I didnt know for almost 18 hours that he had been rejected when he got back to Arlington, he was put in a holding cell and they didnt allow him to contact anyone for 12 hours, Tia Barco said.

Barcos story has been gaining attention across Colorado, including from Anna Stout, a City Council member in Grand Junction. Once she learned of his story, Stout reached out to various contacts on LinkedIn to get in touch with the family and help in any way possible.

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It just broke me to understand that we have somebody in our country, who fought for our country, who bled for our country, and is now facing removal, Stout said.

When it comes to undocumented immigrants convicted of a crime, the Trump Administration has argued that those immigrants should be deported.

Were going to continue to arrest Public Safety threats, and national security threats will continue to be deported from the United States, said Border Czar Tom Homan in an interview on ABCs This Week.

Since Barco does not have U.S. citizenship, Tia, Anna, and a team of lawyers are working to get him out by looking at any path possible, but Stout tells FOX21 News it does not look promising.

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Theres not even a real clear path at this point because this is an unprecedented situation to have a U.S. veteran who was injured fighting for our country, Stout said.

Another complicating factor in Barcos situation is his attempted murder conviction, barring him from obtaining U.S. citizenship. Barco would have to be pardoned by the governor in order to re-apply for citizenship.

For the moment, Tia Barco and the rest of the family are doing what they can to ease Barcos mind, as they fight to get him out of custody and into the treatment he needs for PTSD.

Its really hard to give someone encouragement thats mentally broken and exhausted, Tia Barco said.

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MOSCOW (Reuters) -The former governor of Russia's Kursk region, parts of which were seized by Ukrainian forces in August 2024, has been detained and charged with embezzling money earmarked for building defences, Russia's interior ministry said on Thursday.

Alexei Smirnov was head of the western region when Ukrainian troops smashed across the border in a large-scale incursion. Since then, a Russian offensive has ejected most of the Ukrainian forces.

Smirnov led the region from May to December 2024, when he was replaced by Alexander Khinshtein. Smirnov was detained along with his former deputy, Alexei Dedov. A Moscow court placed Smirnov in pre-trial detention for two months.

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In a statement posted on Telegram, the interior ministry said the charges concerned funds that had been allocated for building defensive structures in the border province.

It said the case was related to previous arrests on abuse of office charges of three Kursk region officials and businessmen responsible for building defences. At the time, media reported that the damages related to that case were around 800 million roubles ($9.64 million).

Neither Smirnov nor a representative for him could be contacted for comment.

In the first hours of Ukraine's August incursion into Kursk, Smirnov repeatedly offered assurances that the situation was under control, even as Russian border guards were left reeling and in retreat by the surprise attack.

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Days later, Smirnov was gently reprimanded by President Vladimir Putin during a televised meeting for focusing on the military situation in his report to the head of state, rather than on efforts to help civilians in the Kursk region.

Russia has in the past year detained a string of top military officials, including a former deputy defence minister, amid a flurry of high-level corruption cases.

($1 = 82.9955 roubles)

(Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Maxim Rodionov and Felix Light; editing by Mark Trevelyan, Matthew Lewis and Mark Heinrich)
A Moscow court sent former Kursk Oblast Governor Alexei Smirnov to a two-month pre-trial detention center on April 16 in connection with a fraud case, the press service of Moscow courts reported.

Smirnov and his deputy Alexei Dedov are accused of embezzling over a billion rubles ($12 million) from the budget allocated to the Kursk Oblast Development Corporation for the construction of fortifications on the border with Ukraine.

Smirnov served as governor of Kursk Oblast from May to December 2024, during which Ukrainian forces launched an incursion into the oblast in August 2024 and managed to occupy part of the region until March of this year.

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The former governor pleaded not guilty, Russian state media TASS reported, citing sources in law enforcement agencies.

According to Russia's Interior Ministry, Smirnov and Dedov led a criminal group and acted together with the management of the Kursk Oblast Development Corporation to embezzle funds meant for fortifications.

Earlier, law enforcement agencies also detained three corporation executives and the heads of unnamed companies that received payments but did not complete the contracted works.

Following Smirnov's resignation as governor in December 2024, Alexander Khinshtein became the acting governor of Kursk Oblast.

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Ukraine initially seized 1,300 square kilometers (500 square miles) of Russian territory before Moscow, reinforced by North Korean units, launched a counteroffensive in March.

The Russian push coincided with a temporary pause in U.S. intelligence and military support for Ukraine, which resumed on March 11.

Read also: Zelensky confirms presence in Belgorod region, marking second Ukrainian incursion into Russia

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A former Massachusetts State Police trooper has pleaded guilty in a bribery scheme that gave passing scores to unqualified commercial drivers license applicants in exchange for kickbacks, the U.S. Attorney said Tuesday.

Perry Mendes, 64, of Wareham, pleaded guilty on Friday to one count of conspiracy to falsify records, three counts of falsifying records and two counts of making false statements, U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said in a statement.

U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for July 15.

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In January 2024, Mendes was charged in a 74-count indictment along with five others in the alleged conspiracy and related schemes.

They include former Massachusetts State Police Trooper Calvin Butner, 64, of Halifax, who pleaded guilty on April 7 for his role in the bribery scheme; civilian Eric Mathison, 48, of Boston, who pleaded guilty on March 21 to one count of conspiracy to commit extortion; and Massachusetts State Police Sgt. Gary Cederquist, 58, of Stoughton, and Trooper Joel Rogers, 54, of Bridgewater, who were taken off the job following duty status hearings in 2024.

Cederquist and Rogers were later arraigned in federal court in Boston, where they both pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Cederquist retired from the department in 2024 after being suspended without pay.

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According to the charging document, between in on or about May 2019 and January 2023, Mendes and others conspired to give automatic passing scores to at least 17 CDL applicants on their skills tests regardless of whether they actually passed, using the code word golden handshake or golden, for short, to identify applicants who would receive special treatment.

At the plea hearing on Friday, Mendes admitted to his role in the alleged conspiracy, including that he cut skills tests short for golden applicants; that he entered false information on CDL score sheets indicating that certain applicants had passed the skills test when they had not; and that he reported passing scores for applicants he knew had never taken the skills test.

For the charge of conspiracy to commit extortion, Mendes faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A former Mecklenburg County Superior Court judge is facing felony drug charges following his arrest Monday.

Around 4:14 a.m., police conducted a traffic stop on Independence Blvd., pulling over a Mercedes SUV allegedly displaying a fictitious registration. According to court documents, that vehicle was driven by 52-year-old Charles Casey Viser.

The arresting officer claims he saw an open alcohol container on the passenger floorboard, prompting a further search of the vehicle.

Queen City News is tracking CRIME in your area  >> Latest stories here

During the search, the officer found a jar containing 0.2 grams of a white powder substance, believed to be cocaine, and a straw with white residue that matched the substance.

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Viser was arrested and charged with two counts of felony possession of cocaine and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was given a $2,500 bond and has since been released from jail.

Viser was elected to the North Carolina Superior Court in 2020 after narrowly edging out Democratic nominee and former District Court judge Alicia Brooks. He later resigned from his duties in July 2022 for unknown reasons.

Visers next appearance in court is scheduled for May 2.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
NELSONVILLE, Ohio (WCMH)  Rita Nguyen could still be heard protesting down the hallway after she was arrested Monday at a Nelsonville City Council meeting.

Within the first few minutes of the meeting, Nguyen interrupted the appointment of two new councilmembers, saying she had a responsibility to inform the public about them. As she tried to voice concerns about the candidates, council called for order, but she continued protesting and was placed under arrest.

Ohio State student sues Trump administration for revoking visa

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Police Chief Devon Tolliver said Nguyen received one charge of disrupting a lawful meeting and was held briefly at the Nelsonville Police Department before heading home with a court summons.

A chaotic city council meeting is not extraordinary in Nelsonville. Tolliver is also acting city manager, as his predecessor quit in March after nearly eight months of administrative leave as he was investigated for misconduct allegations. Nguyen, a former councilwoman herself, has been involved in much  but not all  of the infighting, lawsuits and confusion surrounding the governing body over the past few years.

Years of commotion inspired a ballot initiative to repeal the city charter and replace Nelsonvilles government last November, which passed with 70% of the vote. No other Ohio city has repealed its charter. Nelsonville officials placed a more specific replacement initiative on the ballot this May. The day after councilmembers approved the May issue, two councilmembers resigned, leaving the vacancies Nguyen tried to contest. See previous coverage of the November ballot issue in the video player above.

The two seats that are available do not belong to them, Nguyen called out Monday night as council requested order.

Watch: Former councilmember arrested at meeting

Nguyen does not believe two of the seven total council seats are held lawfully, asserting she should still be on council. In February 2024, she was serving as council president and resigned temporarily, rescinding her resignation within 24 hours. After two months of uncertainty as to who was on council, Nguyen was ousted alongside Carol Powell, who Nguyen had appointed to council.

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Chillicothe paper mill being shut down

Powell and Nguyen sued city council members to determine who was lawfully on council. A lower court ruled against Nguyen and Powell, but the Ohio Supreme Court dismissed the lower courts ruling. Nevertheless, the pair voluntarily dismissed their lawsuit in March.

Nguyen asserts current Councilmember Opha Lawsons seat and the vacant seat now held by new appointee Nic Joseph Saul are both illegitimate and should belong to Nguyen and Powell. Although the court case was dismissed, a petition filed with the court to reinstate them is still in play.

Nguyens concern over the seats rightful owner was not her only complaint, however. As Tolliver attempted to place Nguyen under arrest, she resisted, at one point yelling out, People with felonies are not allowed to serve on council.

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Nguyens comment referred to Cameron Peck, who filled the second vacant seat. In 2020, Peck pleaded guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, and conspiracy, a third-degree felony. According to court documents, Peck unlawfully used meth and sold narcotics. He is nearing the end of his five-year probation for the crimes.

Debate over Ohios property tax relief continues

Under Ohio law, people convicted of a felony relating to election laws, fraud, theft or deceit are not eligible for elected office. Conspiracy does not automatically fall under those topics, but it can. Nelsonville City Attorney Jonathan Robe said he is looking into whether Pecks background disqualifies him from office.

Peck told NBC4 he sees his background as a positive, saying it shows he has the drive to work hard to help himself and Nelsonville residents. Peck explained his addiction grew after a Lancaster doctor prescribed him, a 16-year-old athlete recovering from shoulder surgery, Percocet. After his arrest, he bought tools and learned how to use them, working his way through construction and manufacturing jobs.

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Peck said he now works as a junior member of an engineering department, the only team in the U.S. who makes the parts he helps create. He said his background raised a number of questions about the legal system that he wants to help Nelsonville residents work through. He said his experiences show he can work hard and overcome, and he wants to do that for the people of Nelsonville.

I come from a community where no one has a son or cousin that doesnt share my background, Peck said. Should the council ask me to leave I will create no more problems for my colleagues. There are things they need to do and I dont want to distract them, I want to work.

Robe said it may take some time to determine if Pecks former charges would complicate his candidacy. City Council will meet next on April 28 at 7 p.m., the last meeting before citizens will vote on the new ordinance to abolish the citys governing charter.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Former President Joe Biden sought Tuesday to use an audience in Chicago of national advocates for the disabled to reestablish himself as a leading party voice to challenge the actions of President Donald Trump amid listless Democratic leadership in taking on Bidens successor in the White House.

Look whats happening. In fewer than 100 days this administration has done so much damage and so much destruction, Biden said, citing Trump administration-ordered job cuts in the Social Security Administration.

In his first major speaking appearance since leaving office in January, Biden spoke for nearly a half hour before about 130 members of Advocates, Counselors, and Representatives for the Disabled at a downtown Chicago hotel. He never used Trumps name. But he frequently assailed the current administration and contended it was creating profound psychological fears among the elderly over potential cuts and access to Social Security disability benefits.

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The psychological effect is profound, Biden said. Many of these beneficiaries, its their only income. If it were cut or taken away, the psychological pressure by having this debate is absolutely devastating.

Trump has promised not to cut Social Security benefits as part of plans to find savings in the federal budget in part to extend tax cuts granted during his first term. But Republicans who control Congress are under pressure to find savings, fueling Democratic warnings about distrust of Trump and that Social Security and Medicaid, health care for the poor, could be on the chopping block.

Recounting some of the familiar family phrases he frequently used during his aborted reelection campaign, Biden asked of Republicans, What the hell are they thinking in considering any reduction of benefits for the elderly.

Social Security is more than just a government program. Its a sacred promise and its remained a sacred promise, he said.

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American workers paid into Social Security and they count on Social Security to be there for them when theyre going to need it, he said. We must never ever betray that trust and turn our backs on that obligation.

Biden likened the actions of the current administration to the traditional motto of technology startups: Move fast. Break things.

Well, theyre breaking things. Theyre shooting first and aiming later, he said, reading off a teleprompter. One of most important jobs of an elected official is to make sure that government works for the people.

During his speech, Biden also criticized some of the findings of Trump adviser Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency that have falsely contended Social Security benefits were being sent to people over 150 years old to as much as 300 years old.

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I want to meet them, Biden said while joking about his own age as he lamented the problems of being 40.

He also mocked the comments of Trumps commerce secretary, billionaire Howard Lutnick, who said on a podcast last month that his 94-year-old mother-in-law wouldnt call and complain if she missed a Social Security check.

OK. Her son-in-law is a billionaire. What about that 94-year-old mother that is all by herself? Biden asked.

Bidens reemergence on the political scene has raised questions among some Democrats nationally who are anxious to move past the 82-year-old former president and last years presidential campaign. Biden dropped out of the race in July, giving little time for Vice President Kamala Harris to accept the Democratic nomination and make her case to voters.

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Bidens decision to speak out against the current administration runs counter to the tradition that former presidents stay out of the public eye to voice criticisms in the early months of a succeeding administration. But just as Trump has symbolized the upending of longstanding political norms, the chaotic early days of his second term over issues such as tariffs and federal budget cuts has prompted Democrats to look for ways to speak out against him, and many Democratic voters have expressed frustration that party leaders havent done enough.

Bidens appearance also coincided with House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries declaration of Tuesday as a Save Social Security Day of Action for his members, using the congressional break for them to voice concerns about potential threats to Social Security by Trump, Musk and DOGE.

Donald Trump, Elon Musk and House Republicans think that Social Security is a Ponzi scheme, Jeffries said, contending they are dismantling access to the benefits by closing Social Security regional offices and limiting access over ways to apply for them.

It was Bidens first major speaking appearance since leaving office Jan. 20 after Trump bested Harris. Earlier this month, the former president spoke to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in Washington and in March went to the Model United Nations conference in New York.

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It also was Bidens first public appearance in Chicago since August, when planners for the Democratic National Convention were forced to shift strategy after he ended his reelection bid in order to promote Harris as the newly minted nominee.

A party elder as a longtime senator, vice president to Barack Obama and then president, instead of celebrating a final-night renomination, Biden was relegated to the opening night of the convention as the party sought to move quickly into the presidential race with Harris.

Biden in recent months has sought to move back into the national conversation, including meeting with top party officials. But hard feelings remain among some Democrats over Bidens late decision to leave the race and hobbling the party with a nominee who, though vice president, was not widely known in trying to appeal to voters beyond the party faithful.

Democratic Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, an avid Biden backer who later raised questions about his viability as a candidate last year after a stumbling debate performance against Trump, downplayed to reporters at an unrelated event the significance of Bidens visit.

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As Ive always said about President Biden, he wears his heart on his sleeve. Hes someone who has great empathy. And I think in his post-presidency, what a perfect thing for him to be doing, honestly, to be meeting with people with disabilities, organizations that stand up for them and highlighting Social Security, which is under attack by the new administration, said Pritzker, who has become a leading national Democratic voice in attacking Trump.

So Im glad hes in town. And I dont think hes surfacing the way youre describing to bring attention to himself. I think hes doing what he does and has always done throughout, I think a 50-, 60-year career, which is to do the right thing for people that he cares for, said Pritzker, himself a potential 2028 presidential contender.

Tribune reporter Jeremy Gorner contributed.
TAMAQUA  Joseph Spotts, the former head of the Greater Pottsville Area Sewer Authority wanted on felony theft charges, surrendered to authorities Wednesday morning.

An employee of District Magistrate Stephen Bayer said Spotts went to the office around 11:30 a.m.

Bayer arraigned Spotts on $25,000 unsecured bail.

A preliminary hearing is set for 10:30 a.m. May 6 in Bayers office.

A warrant for his arrest was issued on April 12.

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Spotts was charged with theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property, both felonies, after he allegedly stole $2,100 from the money box of a skills game machine at The Humane Fire Company.

The Humane Fire Company notified Pottsville Police about the theft, records show.

Spotts was seen on camera taking the money, according to the police report.

He then paid back the money on March 22, police said.

Spotts told officers that he returned the money to the fire company after applying for a loan, police said.

AJ Alves, president of the Humane Fire Company, said it removed Spotts as a member, which he had been for 48 years.

Spotts later resigned as head of the sewer authority. He was also active on several city boards, and was the head of the city Democratic party.
U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten at a March for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples in Grand Rapids, Michigan on May 3, 2024. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

Mark Totten, a former U.S. attorney, has declared his candidacy to be Michigans next attorney general, becoming the first Democrat to declare for the position.

Totten was nominated by former President Joe Biden to be the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Michigan, a post he served in from May 2022 through January 2025. Totten previously served as Gov. Gretchen Whitmers chief legal counsel from 2019 to 2022. He taught criminal law at Michigan State University from 2009 to 2018.

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With sitting Attorney General Dana Nessel unable to run again in 2026 due to term limits, the race for Michigans top legal office will likely be hotly contested.

Totten led Whitmers legal fight to protect reproductive freedom after Roe v. Wade was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. In his role as U.S. Attorney, Totten prosecuted two men from Nigeria in an international sextortion scheme that led to the suicide of 17-year-old Jordan DeMay, as well as Rashad Trice, who was convicted in August for the murdering 2-year-old Wynter Cole-Smith and sexually assaulting her mother.

On January 20th, my term of service as U.S. attorney came to an end. And since then I have watched in horror as a president has stoked division, trampled civil rights and undermined the very rule of law. I refuse to stand by and watch and thats why Im running for attorney general: to fight for you and to fight for everything we hold dear, Totten said in a video announcing his candidacy.

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By Zhao Xiaona, Larry Neild

BIRMINGHAM, Britain, April 15 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. government's new wave of tariffs on imported vehicles is placing severe pressure on Britain's automotive industry, threatening to disrupt operations, endanger tens of thousands of jobs and undermine long-term production sustainability, according to a leading expert on Britain's auto industry.

In an exclusive interview with Xinhua, Professor David Bailey, a business economics expert at the University of Birmingham, described the aftermath of the U.S. auto tariffs as an impending "industry crisis" that could hit hardest in Britain's manufacturing heartland.

On April 3, the Trump administration imposed a 25 percent tariff on imported vehicles, with an additional 25 percent duty on auto parts scheduled to take effect in early May.

"Cars are the UK's number one goods export to the United States, worth as much as 9 billion pounds (about 11.88 billion U.S. dollars) a year," Bailey said. "The West Midlands is the number one exporting region, largely on the back of Jaguar Land Rover. This is a huge potential hit for the industry and the region."

He emphasized that the entire automotive value chain is deeply rooted in the West Midlands. "When you consider not just manufacturing but R&D, supply chains, and logistics, the scale is massive."

A recent study by the Institute for Public Policy Research estimated that around 25,000 jobs across the British car industry are at risk due to the new U.S. tariffs, a figure Bailey considers to be a significant underestimate. "You could easily see that number in the West Midlands alone," he noted.

The effects, he added, extend beyond vehicle assembly lines. "One job in a plant like Halewood could support up to seven others in the supply chain. If those plants are hit, the impact will cascade across suppliers, services, and local economies."

With luxury brands like Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Lotus, and McLaren sourcing components from the West Midlands, the ripple effect could spread nationally.

Bailey argued that U.S. President Donald Trump aims to pressure foreign automakers to raise their prices, thereby steering American consumers toward domestic cars. However, "Even American manufacturers like Ford, GM, Chrysler, even Tesla, depend on imported parts. That's going to raise production costs in the U.S., too."

He warned the tariffs could backfire. "If costs rise across the board, consumers may just defer purchases altogether. That's bad for both sides."

Bailey also expressed concerns about Britain's preparedness. "We're not as well organized in terms of government response," he said. "Right now, we lack a mechanism to keep capacity in place if plants are forced to scale back."

British car production has already been struggling. "Last year we produced about 960,000 cars, well below the 1.7 million peak. If output drops too low, some plants become economically unsustainable," he said. "The Mini plant in Oxford is a case in point, it's running below capacity and there's no new model planned. That's a red flag."

He suggested the possibility of a focused trade agreement on automobiles. "We apply a 10 percent tariff on U.S. cars, and they're hitting us with 27.5 percent. Just eliminate both - (it's) simple. That would be a win-win."

However, he warned that broader trade negotiations will be much more complicated. "Trump will likely demand concessions on agriculture, digital services, and even healthcare. That makes a wide-ranging deal far more difficult."

On April 15, in a possible move to de-escalate tensions, Trump hinted at a temporary pause or phased implementation of the auto parts tariffs originally set for early May. He also announced plans to exempt U.S.-certified components under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, in a bid to ease pressure on American manufacturers while still applying leverage abroad. While some industry experts welcomed the news, many remain cautious.

Bailey remains skeptical. "It's a contradiction. You're punishing foreign and domestic firms with tariffs while handing out tax breaks. Even Tesla has quietly warned the U.S. government this could backfire."

Data from the Centre for Cities shows that Coventry is the most exposed British city to the new U.S. tariffs, with 22.1 percent of its goods exports heading to the United States. Other vulnerable cities include Derby, Worthing, Telford, and Blackpool.

Bailey concluded with a stark warning: "Unless something is done quickly, the UK auto sector could be in crisis." (1 pound = 1.32 U.S. dollar) 
Two former waste treatment plant employees are facing felony charges for the alleged dumping of raw untreated sewage outside of Oklahoma City.

According to authorities, former Bethany-Warr Acres Waste Water Treatment Plant manager Glenn Brentnell and former employee Anthony Menzie are accused of lying to officials regarding how much fecal matter was dumped into surrounding waterways.

Officials allege that as plant manager, Brentnell was aware of the plant's disrepair but failed to address any concerns. They also argue that Menzie knowingly altered lab reports to indicate a lower fecal count.

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As reported by KFOR, Menzie was arrested on March 28, 2025, and charged with five felonies including obtaining money, property, or signature under false pretenses, one charge of conspiracy to commit a felony, another of offering forged or false instruments for the record, and two of violating the Oklahoma Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Act.

A felony warrant is out for Brentnell's arrest. As of April 6, 2025, no arrest record for Brentnell has been made available.

Shellie Chard, Water Quality Division Director at the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, spoke to KFOR regarding the department's lengthy investigation into the illegal dumping and the plant's overall conditions. "The treatment plant was in very much disrepair," Chard said.

The plant's questionable conditions ultimately led to a complaint being filed in 2019. "We responded within 24 hours," Chard said. "Through a series of records reviews, there were some discrepancies. We had our inspectors go out and look at the facility and inspect the equipment. In doing that, some of the records were missing, and some of the tests weren't being completed."

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Although the yearslong investigation uncovered several issues, Chard noted that the illegal dumping of untreated raw sewage was perhaps the most concerning. The sewage was found in nearby fields and local water sources such as Bluff Creek and Liberty Lake. "It's a big lake. There's fishing and lots of activities. So, there was an impact there and to Bluff Creek."

According to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, Liberty Lake is home to several fish species, including crappie, catfish, and bass. The lake is also an important water source for the nearby community.

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Apr. 15A former installation commander of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base was sentenced Tuesday to 21 days confinement, a reprimand and forfeiture of $14,000 of pay.

Air Force prosecutors had argued for that jail sentence in their case against Col. Christopher Meeker at Wright-Patterson, in the same building where he once served as commander.

Earlier Tuesday, Meeker pleaded guilty to willfully disobeying an order from a superior officer and fraternizing with an enlisted member of the Air Force.

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Lt. Gen. Donna Shipton, commander of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Wright-Patterson, testified during the trial's sentencing phase that she had ordered Meeker to have no personal or electronic contact with an Air Force staff sergeant who worked at Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) headquarters as an aide to Gen. Duke Richardson, AFMC commander.

Later, Meeker, speaking through heavy breathing and sniffing, told Air Force Judge Matthew Stoffel that his removal from command of the 88th Air Base Wing, his non-judicial punishment and an order barring contact with the staff sergeant had been a "475-day journey of trying to do the right thing and also trying to help this person I care about."

"I never intended these actions to be disrespectful," he said.

Prosecutors countered by saying Meeker disregarded the no-contact order flagrantly, saying his wife discovered him kissing the staff sergeant in a bar, while the child of another staff sergeant recognized Meeker in a restaurant with her on another occasion.

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"He knew point-blank that what he was doing was wrong," said prosecutor Capt. Connor McAfee.

McAfee pointed to the words of the staff sergeant with whom Meeker had a relationship.

In an interview with Air Force investigators, she painted a portrait of nearly daily contact with Meeker, electronic conversations wiped away by the Signal app and meeting for sex "four to five times a week," at a time when the no-contact order was in place.

"Col. Meeker has been full of apologies and devoid of resolution," McAfee said.

Prosecutors had asked Stoffel to impose a sentence of 21 days, forfeiture of pay and a reprimand.

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Meeker offered guilty pleas to one charge and a specification of a second charge in exchange for a second specification of that second charge  engaging in extramarital sexual conduct  being withdrawn.

Shipton described meeting with Meeker after she learned that he had violated the no-contact order.

"It was his opinion that (the staff sergeant) was spiraling," Shipton said. "He felt she would not be here if he hadn't taken action against the no-contact order."

Under questioning by Judge Stoffel, Meeker said that, after the staff sergeant had been hospitalized for treatment of her mental health, she went to the back door of Meeker's residence, then on Wright-Patterson.

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"She felt I was her last resort," Meeker told the judge.

But he also acknowledged "I willfully disobeyed the order through a lack of discipline and selfishly for my own personal happiness."

He described meeting her at a public "food hall" in the Dayton area.

"I violated fraternization rules in a public setting to the extent that everybody at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base now knows about it," Meeker said.

Meeker, an Air Force Academy graduate and a career civil engineer, faced a maximum sentence of up to seven years, among other penalties. He now lives off base and has been separated from his wife.

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The violations of the no-contact order happened after Shipton had fired Meeker from command of the 88th Air Base Wing in December 2023.

Meeker chose to be tried by a military judge, rather than a jury or "court members," in military language.

Meeker assumed command of the the 88th Air Base Wing in July 2022. Since the inception of the 88th in October 1994, no prior commander of the wing had been relieved of command.

Col. Dustin Richards assumed command of the wing about a year ago.
Fort Benning leaders and family members of Fred Benning pose for photos next to the new Fort Benning sign that was unveiled during a ceremony Wednesday. Screenshot from Fort Benning livestream

Fort Bennings name has officially been restored after a two-year stint as Fort Moore that was part of a national move away from Confederate namesakes.

But the Pentagon says the Army post near Columbus is now named for a different Benning  World War I veteran Fred Benning of Nebraska, an Army corporal who enlisted when he was 17 and served in the First Infantry Division. Originally, Confederate Brig. Gen. Henry L. Benning, who fought to preserve slavery, was the Benning being honored.

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New signage was unveiled Wednesday during a renaming ceremony at the base, which is one of the countrys largest installations. Fred Bennings granddaughter was there, sharing memories of her grandfather.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed a memo renaming the base last month, saying at the time in a short video statement that now Fort Benning is back too. The move followed the return of Fort Braggs name in North Carolina, in that case going with Pfc. Roland L. Bragg, a World War II veteran, as the new namesake instead of Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg.

The updated names had been the work of a commission on renaming bases honoring Confederates created by Congress, and that commission was part of a defense authorization bill that had enough support in 2020 to override President Donald Trumps veto during his first term.

Georgias Fort Gordon near Augusta was also renamed Fort Eisenhower in 2023 after General of the Army and U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower as part of that push. The original name had honored John B. Gordon, a major general in the Confederate army who went on to serve as Georgia governor and U.S. senator.

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In 2023, Fort Benning had been renamed Fort Moore in honor of Lt. Gen. Hal and Julia Moore. During the Vietnam War, while Hal Moore was deployed, Julia worked to change the way the U.S. military handled death notifications. At the time, they were delivered by cabbies carrying a telegram. The couple is buried at the posts military cemetery.

Both Hal and Julia Moore remarkably served our country and raised the standard of excellence in the United States Army for servicemen and civilian spouses alike. I am proud that a military base in Georgia was chosen to bear their name, even briefly, state Sen. Ed Harbison, a Columbus Democrat and military veteran, said shortly after the renaming was announced.

Others were more critical of the change.

The American people understand the legacy connected to the original name, and Secretary Hegseths disingenuous attempt to associate it to a separate soldier is transparent and distasteful, Margaret Huang, president and CEO Southern Poverty Law Center, said in response to the news last month.

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Maj. Gen. Colin Tuley, who is the commanding general of the Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Benning, said in public remarks Wednesday that Fred Bennings life will serve as an inspiration for the thousands of soldiers who train there every year.

Fred Benning was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in action in 1918 south of Exermont, France. He took command after his platoon commander was killed and two senior non-commissioned officers were injured. When he returned home, he operated a bakery and later served as mayor of Neligh, Nebraska.

As we rededicate this post in his honor, may we all strive to embody the very same tenets he exemplified: unwavering dedication to people, inspirational leadership, a relentless pursuit of transformation, Tuley said. (His) story reminds us that true heroism is not just defined by rank. It is about that unwavering courage, that selfless service and an enduring commitment to something greater than ourselves.

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FORT BENNING  The Army officially restored the name Fort Benning to its storied training post in Georgia, only this time to honor an 18-year-old corporal who fought in World War I rather than a Confederate general.

A ceremony to make the name change official was held Wednesday at the base just outside Columbus. Roughly 70,000 soldiers, civilian workers and military family members are stationed at Fort Benning, which trains infantry troops and tank crews and is home to the elite Army Ranger School.

Its the second time in less than two years that Fort Benning commanders have been tasked with swapping out the posts name on everything from signs marking gates, streets, police cars and buildings to official stationery and websites. That will cost around $653,000, according to Fort Benning officials.

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The last name change in 2023 redesignated the post as Fort Moore as part of a move started by Congress in 2020 and completed during President Joe Bidens administration to remove names that honored Confederate leaders, including from nine Army posts.

The 18-year-old World War I corporal behind Fort Bennings renaming

The name of Henry L. Benning, a former Georgia Supreme Court justice who vocally supported secession and served as a Confederate brigadier general in the Civil War, had adorned the base since it opened as Camp Benning in 1918.

Federal law now prohibits naming military bases for Confederates. The Pentagon under President Donald Trump has found a workaround for reverting bases back to what they were formerly called, by finding new soldiers to honor with the same last name.

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last month ordered the change back to Fort Benning to honor Fred Benning, who was awarded the nations second-highest honor for battlefield bravery as an 18-year-old corporal in 1918 and later was promoted to sergeant  a fact uncovered after Hegseth issued the memo.

Sue Conger-Williams, Bennings granddaughter, recalled summers in Nebraska fishing with her grandfather and digging for earthworms while he watched for cars, but said she never learned much about his time in the Army.

I am grateful for this glimpse into history, and I see some similarities, though, between Fred Benning the soldier and Fred Benning my grandpa, Conger-Williams said. These are integrity, hard work and a commitment to service.

Fred Benning received his Distinguished Service Cross after returning home to Nebraska, where he started a bakery and served as mayor of the small town of Neligh. He died in 1974.

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Conger-Williams sat up front at the ceremony with Benning's great-granddaughter and 10-month-old great-great-granddaughter as soldiers, veterans and locals milled around behind them.

Maj. Gen. Colin Tuley, the forts commanding general, said people at Fort Benning knew little about Fred Benning, which sent historians poring over old records to piece together his legacy. During Wednesdays ceremony, Tuley noted that Benning took charge of his machine-gun platoon in October 1918 in France, leading 20 survivors through heavy fire, after their commander was killed.

What sets him apart was his unwavering dedication to his soldiers, his understanding of the soldiers' needs," said Tuley.

During its short time as Fort Moore, the Georgia post became the first in the Army named for a couple: the late Lt. Gen. Hal Moore and his wife, Julia Moore.

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Hal Moore served in Vietnam as commander of a cavalry battalion based at Fort Benning and was also a Distinguished Service Cross recipient. Julia Moore successfully lobbied the Pentagon to adopt a policy that military families would be notified of war casualties in person rather than by telegram.

"Whatever a name may be on an installation board, the Moores are an interwoven part of this installation and that will never go away," said Tuley.

In his March 3 memo ordering the return to the name Fort Benning, Hegseth directed the Army to find a new way to honor the Moores in a manner that celebrates their significant contributions to the local community and the Army.

The Army hasn't said how much the switch back to Fort Benning will cost. An Army commission in 2022 estimated the change to Fort Moore would cost at least $4.9 million.

Fort Benning is the second U.S. military base to have its 2023 name change reversed. The nations largest Army installation was rechristened Fort Bragg in North Carolina last month, following a brief two years as Fort Liberty.
FORT BENNING, Ga. (WRBL)  In March, it was announced that Fort Moore would become Fort Benning once again. This time, it is named after Sgt. Fred G. Benning.

Before it was called Fort Moore, Fort Bennings namesake was Henry Benning, a confederate officer and Columbus native.

Now, the U.S. Army Installation is named for Sgt. Fred G. Benning, a World War I veteran, Distinguished Service Cross recipient, baker and the former mayor of Neligh, Nebraska.

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Few images of Benning are available, but the City of Neligh provided a photo of Benning during his mayoral tenure from 1948 to 1952.

Initial releases from the Department of Defense listed Benning as a corporal, but U.S. Army officials at Fort Benning officials say later research revealed he was promoted before leaving the Army in 1919.

Benning was 17 years old when he enlisted in the Army in 1917, becoming a doughboy. He was only slightly older when he deployed to France with a machine gun company in what is now known as the 1st Infantry Division.

After Bennings platoon commander was killed, the young soldier took control and led 20 men through enemy fire near Exermont, France, in one of the final attacks of WWI.

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His actions earned him the Distinguished Service Cross as corporal in 1918.

Benning left the Army after the war and returned to Nebraska where he married Florence Reiter and opened a bakery with his brother Henry, which he ran for 46 years.

During that time, Benning became the commander for American Legion Post #172 and the Mayor of Neligh, home to roughly 1,500 today.

Although Benning received attention when he accidentally shot someone during a 1949 city council meeting, he was well-liked in the community and won reelection in 1950.

Nelighs current mayor spoke with the Associated Press about Bennings appointment as the new namesake of Fort Benning.

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I think its great. There are a lot of people who come and go in our community, and sometimes you dont know what their history is, Neligh Mayor Joe Hartz told the AP.

In a phone call with WRBL, he said the Neligh community is preparing to recognize Bennings appointment as the namesake of Fort Benning with a ceremony this summer. City Clerk Dana Klabenes said she has been receiving calls since the new name for the U.S. Army installation was announced in early March.

Benning died in 1974, he is survived by his granddaughter Sue Conger-Williams and now, the U.S. Army installation which bears his name.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
FORT BENNING (AP)  The Army officially restored the name Fort Benning to its storied training post in Georgia, only this time to honor an 18-year-old corporal who fought in World War I rather than a Confederate general.

A ceremony to make the name change official was held Wednesday at the base just outside Columbus. Roughly 70,000 soldiers, civilian workers and military family members are stationed at Fort Benning, which trains infantry troops and tank crews and is home to the elite Army Ranger School.

It's the second time in less than two years that Fort Benning commanders have been tasked with swapping out the post's name on everything from signs marking gates, streets, police cars and buildings to official stationery and websites. That will cost around $653,000, according to Fort Benning officials.

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The last name change in 2023 redesignated the post as Fort Moore as part of a move started by Congress in 2020 and completed during President Joe Biden's administration to remove names that honored Confederate leaders, including from nine Army posts.

The name of Henry L. Benning, a former Georgia Supreme Court justice who vocally supported secession and served as a Confederate brigadier general in the Civil War, had adorned the base since it opened as Camp Benning in 1918.

Federal law now prohibits naming military bases for Confederates. The Pentagon under President Donald Trump has found a workaround for reverting bases back to what they were formerly called, by finding new soldiers to honor with the same last name.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last month ordered the change back to Fort Benning to honor Fred Benning, who was awarded the nation's second-highest honor for battlefield bravery as an 18-year-old corporal in 1918 and later was promoted to sergeant  a fact uncovered after Hegseth issued the memo.

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Sue Conger-Williams, Bennings granddaughter, recalled summers in Nebraska fishing with her grandfather and digging for earthworms while he watched for cars, but said she never learned much about his time in the Army.

I am grateful for this glimpse into history, and I see some similarities, though, between Fred Benning the soldier and Fred Benning my grandpa, Conger-Williams said. These are integrity, hard work and a commitment to service.

Fred Benning received his Distinguished Service Cross after returning home to Nebraska, where he started a bakery and served as mayor of the small town of Neligh. He died in 1974.

Conger-Williams sat up front at the ceremony with Benning's great-granddaughter and 10-month-old great-great-granddaughter as soldiers, veterans and locals milled around behind them.

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Maj. Gen. Colin Tuley, the fort's commanding general, said people at Fort Benning knew little about Fred Benning, which sent historians poring over old records to piece together his legacy. During Wednesday's ceremony, Tuley noted that Benning took charge of his machine-gun platoon in October 1918 in France, leading 20 survivors through heavy fire, after their commander was killed.

What sets him apart was his unwavering dedication to his soldiers, his understanding of the soldiers' needs," said Tuley.

During its short time as Fort Moore, the Georgia post became the first in the Army named for a couple: the late Lt. Gen. Hal Moore and his wife, Julia Moore.

Hal Moore served in Vietnam as commander of a cavalry battalion based at Fort Benning and was also a Distinguished Service Cross recipient. Julia Moore successfully lobbied the Pentagon to adopt a policy that military families would be notified of war casualties in person rather than by telegram.

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"Whatever a name may be on an installation board, the Moores are an interwoven part of this installation and that will never go away," said Tuley.

In his March 3 memo ordering the return to the name Fort Benning, Hegseth directed the Army to find a new way to honor the Moores in a manner that celebrates their significant contributions to the local community and the Army.

The Army hasn't said how much the switch back to Fort Benning will cost. An Army commission in 2022 estimated the change to Fort Moore would cost at least $4.9 million.

Fort Benning is the second U.S. military base to have its 2023 name change reversed. The nation's largest Army installation was rechristened Fort Bragg in North Carolina last month, following a brief two years as Fort Liberty.
The Army is restoring the name Fort Benning to its storied training post in Georgia, only this time to honor an 18-year-old corporal who fought in World War I rather than a Confederate general.

A ceremony to make the name change official was scheduled Wednesday at the base just outside Columbus. Roughly 70,000 soldiers, civilian workers and military family members are stationed at Fort Benning, which trains infantry troops and tank crews and is home to the elite Army Ranger School.

Its the second time in less than two years that Fort Benning commanders have been tasked with swapping out the posts name on everything from signs marking gates, streets and buildings to official stationery and websites.

Advertisement Advertisement

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The last name change in 2023 redesignated the post as Fort Moore as part of a move started by Congress in 2020 and completed during President Joe Bidens administration to remove names that honored Confederate leaders, including from nine Army posts.

The name of Henry L. Benning, a former Georgia Supreme Court justice who vocally supported secession and served as a Confederate brigadier general in the Civil War, had adorned the base since it opened as Camp Benning in 1918.

Federal law now prohibits naming military bases for Confederates. The Pentagon under President Donald Trump has found a workaround for reverting bases back to what they were formerly called, by finding new soldiers to honor with the same last name.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last month ordered the change back to Fort Benning to honor Fred Benning, who was awarded the nations second-highest honor for battlefield bravery as an 18-year-old corporal in 1918.

Advertisement Advertisement

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Fred Benning received his Distinguished Service Cross after returning home to Nebraska, where he started a bakery and served as mayor of the small town of Neligh. He died in 1974.

During its short time as Fort Moore, the Georgia post became the first in the Army named for a couple: the late Lt. Gen. Hal Moore and his wife, Julia Moore.

Hal Moore served in Vietnam as commander of a cavalry battalion based at Fort Benning and was also a Distinguished Service Cross recipient. Julia Moore successfully lobbied the Pentagon to adopt a policy that military families would be notified of war casualties in person rather than by telegram.

In his March 3 memo ordering the return to the name Fort Benning, Hegseth directed the Army to find a new way to honor the Moores in a manner that celebrates their significant contributions to the local community and the Army.

Advertisement Advertisement

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The Army hasnt said how much the switch back to Fort Benning will cost. An Army commission in 2022 estimated the change to Fort Moore would cost at least $4.9 million.

Fort Benning is the second U.S. military base to have its 2023 name change reversed. The nations largest Army installation was rechristened Fort Bragg in North Carolina last month, following a brief two years as Fort Liberty.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV.
Four Italians are being investigated over the death of a Bloomsbury USA executive in a boating accident off the Amalfi Coast.

Adrienne Vaughan, 45, was a passenger in a speedboat when it smashed into a large sailing boat that was hosting a wedding party in August 2023.

Ms Vaughan, who was the president of the US publisher of the Harry Potter series, was hurled into the water and hit by the boats propellers.

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Mike White, her husband, was injured in the collision and taken to hospital in Ravello. Their children, Leanna, 14, and Mason, 11, escaped unharmed.

Italian prosecutors announced on Wednesday that four people were under investigation for the accident: Elio Persico, the skipper of the Saint Tropez, the speedboat on which Ms Vaughan and her family were passengers; Rosa Caputo and Beniamino Mellino, the owners of the boat hire company Daily Luxury Boat; and Enrico Staiano, the administrator of the company.

They face charges including manslaughter and interfering with the investigation by trying to manipulate key evidence.

Those under investigation are accused of removing the identifying number plate of the speedboat and replacing it with the identifying plate of a twin vessel, the Capriccio.

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They are also accused of employing a diver to recover the rudder of the speedboat after it sank, in an alleged attempt to steer the outcome of the investigation.

Mr Persico, the skipper of the 30ft-long speedboat, was allegedly under the influence of cocaine and alcohol when the collision happened, according to Italian media reports on Wednesday.

The speedboat was travelling fast, at 15 knots, when it collided with a sailing vessel, the 130ft-long Tortuga, off the Amalfi Coast, a picturesque tourist region south of Naples.

Judges will now have to decide whether to send the matter to trial.

Terrible collision

Video footage that emerged at the time showed shocked tourists on the larger vessel. Guests rushed to the side of the boat and flung inflatables into the water to try to help the victims of the accident.

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Pietro Iuzzolino, a barman who was making cocktails on the large boat, told Italian media: The sailing ship was heading straight ahead, as was the speedboat. Then [the speedboat] suddenly turned 180 degrees. There was a collision, and I heard a very loud crash.

Ms Vaughan was rushed to land where medical staff made frantic attempts to save her life. They called an air ambulance but by the time it arrived she was dead.

The captain of the Tortuga tested negative for drugs and alcohol and is not accused of wrongdoing.

The investigation has confirmed what we have said from the start  that the captain of the Tortuga fully respected all navigation regulations, said Daniele Varini, the lawyer for Antonio Gallo, the Tortugas skipper.

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The Tortuga had precedence and was not obliged to undertake a manoeuvre. Responsibility for the collision rests solely with the speedboat.

Ms Vaughan attended New York University and the Stern School of Business. She was director of finance at Oxford University Press in New York between 2014 and 2015 and then a director in the publishing arm of Disney from 2015 to 2018.

She was appointed president of Bloomsbury US in 2021.

A day before the accident she toured the sights of Rome with her family, including the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain.

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TOPEKA (KSNT)  A man charged in connection with the shooting death of a Holton man in 2023 near Washburn University received his sentence Tuesday.

27 News checked court records this week which show that Aaron A. Serrano, 34, was sentenced to 52 months or just over four years in prison on April 15. Aaron Serranos sentence is connected to Jackson E. Danner, 23, of Holton who was killed in a shooting near Washburn University in 2023.

Prosecutors initially charged Aaron Serrano with second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter on Nov. 7, 2023. However, he eventually pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in May 21, 2024.

Aaron A. Serranos mugshot. (Photo Courtesy/Shawnee County Department of Corrections)

The Topeka Police Department (TPD) was called around 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023 to the 1600 block of Southwest 21st Street on reports of a body in the front yard of a residence. Police arriving at the scene found a man, later identified as Danner, dead from multiple gunshot wounds.

Charges filed against man accused of attacking Topeka Rescue Mission staff member

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U.S. Marshals in Clay County, Missouri later arrested Aaron Serrano before he was transported to Shawnee County to face charges for the killing. Another man, Tremale M. Serrano, was also arrested and found guilty of murder in the first degree in connection to Danners death.

Danner was a 2018 graduate of Holton High School and attended Washburn Tech, according to his obituary. He was described as having a love of the outdoors and a heart of gold. His death marked the 31st homicide case of 2023.

Jackson Danner.

Condemned east Topeka apartment cited for trash, vehicle violations

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ROME, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Bialetti, the Italian maker of the stovetop Moka coffee pot, is set to be sold to NUO Capital, an investment fund based in Luxembourg.

According to the Italian Stock Exchange, NUO Capital, led by a Hong Kong-based entrepreneur, will pay more than 53 million euros (60.4 million U.S. dollars) for a stake of around 78.5 percent in Bialetti.

Shares in Bialetti on the Milan-based exchange surged over 60 percent during trading on Wednesday, marking the highest trading volume in at least a year. The shares closed at 0.45 euros apiece.

The deal is pending regulatory approval.

Bialetti has struggled in recent years amid growing competition from capsule-based coffee machines. (1 euro = 1.14 U.S. dollar) 
CHERRYVALE, Kan.  Wednesday morning, the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office announced a successful multi-agency execution of a search warrant in Cherryvale, from Thursday, April 10.

Deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office, agents from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), and officers from the Cherryvale Police Department executed a search warrant in the 200 block of North Neosho Street in Cherryvale.

The report says all occupants within the home were detained safely and that the search warrant was a part of a multifaceted investigation into suspected narcotics activity as well as multiple burglaries.

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Officers say they located and seized a plethora of illegal items, including more than six grams of fentanyl, in addition to methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and multiple firearms and other items identified as stolen from a current case at the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office.

Investigators say that as a result of the evidence located in the residence, the following people were taken into custody and transported to the Montgomery County Jail:

Jeremiah McKenzie

 Jeremiah McKenzie: distribute opiate (Fentanyl) within 1000 feet of a school, criminal possession of a weapon by felon, criminal use of weapons; shotgun barrel < 18, possession of stimulant (Methamphetamine), possession of stolen property, use/possess drug paraphernalia

Ashley Melia

 Ashley Melia: possession of opiate (Fentanyl), possession of stimulants (Methamphetamine), criminal use of weapons; shotgun barrel < 18, use/possess of drug paraphernalia

Ragan Myers

 Ragan Myers: distribute opiate (Fentanyl) within 1000 feet of a school, criminal use of weapons; shotgun barrel < 18, possession of opiate (Fentanyl), possession of stimulant (methamphetamine), possession of stolen property, use/possess drug paraphernalia

Destany Freeman

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 Destany Freeman: use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia

The case will be sent to the Montgomery County Attorneys Office for official charges. The investigation is ongoing.

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The leader of the Oklahoma House of Representatives announced the fourth investigation  so far  of the state Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, a Republican from Bristow, formed a select committee to examine the mental health department's operations and budget. The committee will meet Thursday afternoon with House Majority Leader Mark Lawson as chair.

"We have seen contracts cancelled and have been told money appropriated by the Legislature for specific purposes is unaccounted for," Lawson said in a news release. "The Legislature needs more confidence in what it will take to adequately fund mental health services both in the short and long term. This is an all-hands-on-deck approach as we near the end of the legislative session."

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Hilbert said lawmakers on the committee would look into the use of specific fund allocations, such as the $5 million allocated for upgraded medical records system, and the use of current year appropriations to pay prior years' expenses.

More: Gov. Stitt wants special investigator to look into Oklahoma's mental health agency

House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, formed a select committee to examine the mental health department's operations and budget.

He said the committee would also review cancelled contracts, the department's need for supplemental funding to "fulfill its financial obligations in the current fiscal year," and the agency's future budget for the 2026 fiscal year.

Hilbert said House members also want an update of the current state of a federal court-ordered consent decree facing the department.

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"It is our constitutional duty to oversee and appropriate state funds, and we take that role very seriously," Hilbert said in the news release. "We have just over a month left in this legislative session, and we still don't have a clear understanding of how much state funding ODMHSAS needs."

The House investigation is the fourth examination of the mental health department announced this year. The department is also the subject of a forensic audit by the state auditor's office, a review by the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency and the announcement Monday by Gov. Kevin Stitt that he would appoint a special investigator to examine the agency's finances and actions.

Ive had frustrations with the mental health department for years, and now that we have Commissioner Allie Friesen putting a fresh set of eyes on the department, its clear there are problems that need special attention, Stitt said Monday. What we need is an independent third party who can focus all their energy on shining light on this agency and rooting out bad actors.

Stitt said the special investigator would be charged with "examining every aspect of ODMHSAS, from its finances to its employment records to its contracting practices, to ensure that all laws are being followed to the letter." The governor said the special investigator will regularly update his office and will have access to everything except personal health information housed at the agency.

Gov. Kevin Stitt announced that he would appoint a special investigator to examine the state mental health agency's finances and actions.

More: Lawmakers expected to endorse settlement between state, mental health clients

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While Hilbert said be believed the House's "public hearing will help us get to the bottom of what has happened and what needs to happen moving forward," Senate Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton said he supported the LOFT investigation. He questioned the need of four investigations.

The Senate has partnered with the House in calling for the LOFT investigation and will continue to monitor findings. Calling for an additional investigation on top of the four others may cause confusion and duplicative work," Paxton, R-Tuttle, said in a text to The Oklahoman.

State lawmakers have until May 30 to finish their work.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: House lawmakers will investigate Oklahoma mental health agency
A pair of Fox News co-hosts got into a heated argument over the case of a Maryland dad deported in what the Trump administration admitted was an administrative error.

Jessica Tarlov, The Fives resident liberal, clashed with Trump acolyte Jeanine Pirro after Pirro offered an impassioned defense of the presidents deportation policy, using Maryland woman Rachel Morina hiker killed in 2023 by a fugitive from El Salvadoras an example.

Pirro specifically defended the Trump administration for deporting Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national living in Maryland. Abrego Garcia entered the U.S. illegally in 2011, though a judge later determined that he shouldnt be deported to his homeland because he could be persecuted there; he was nevertheless detained and deported to El Salvadors notorious CECOT prison last month anyway.

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Pirro raged that Democrats dont care about the victims of crime perpetrated by illegal immigrants and added: Biden! And thats the reason were in this mess in the first place. Start caring about American citizens!

Tarlov countered by focusing on the fact that Abrego Garcia was wrongly deported, an error admitted by multiple Trump administration officials. Others, including Trump himself, have accused Abrego Garcia of being part of the MS-13 gang, but he has never been convicted or even charged with being a member of the organization, which has recently been designated a terrorist group.

First and foremost, Abrego Garcia, there is no proof that he was an MS-13 member, Tarlov said. It has been debunked many times.

Its been debunked by liberal newspapers! Pirro shot back.

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Thats not true! Stop! Tarlov demanded, in the face of Pirros agitated cries.

Section I-113 or 123 is reliable, verifiable proof you were a member of the gang, and he was never able to rebut it, Pirro said.

Tarlov referenced the fact that the allegation that Garcia was an MS-13 member was based on double hearsay testimony and also a detective who was indicted merely weeks later for providing confidential information to a sex worker.

Despite this, and the fact that in multiple filings the government has conceded that it wrongfully removed him from the U.S., Pirro and other Trump cheerleaders are trying to defend his deportation, using his apparent danger to the country as a primary excuse.

The Trump administration has ignored judges orders to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran migrant who was deported to El Salvador on March 15, to the United States. / Abrego Garcia Family/Handout via Reuters

Tarlov attempted to cut through the noise, saying: Hes an on-the-books worker. This is not somebody who is a gang banger.

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She added: This is not someone who has committed any other crime besides being here in this country. And he came here also based on a credible threat of being murdered by a gang at home who was threatening his entire family.

The reason that Democrats are talking about the fact that anyone could quote-unquote be disappeared is that you can see a full-blown constitutional crisis playing out in front of our eyes.

Alleged gang members deported to El Salvadorthe Trump administration has accused Abrego Garcia of being a member of the MS-13 gang. / Anadolu / Anadolu via Getty Images

Tarlov continued by saying that under the Alien Enemies Act that Trump invoked to kick off his purge of immigrants, you deserve due process.

And it is not the same thing to deport someone to their home country as to send them to a prison. You know that! Tarlov concluded.

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Democratic Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen will travel to El Salvador on Wednesday to get an update on his constituents well-being.

He, too, referenced a potential constitutional crisis.

Ahead of his trip to El Salvador, he told the Guardian in the United Kingdom: We were in the gray zone before this. But if the Trump administration continues to thumb its nose at the federal courts in this case were in, were clearly in constitutional crisis territory.
Fox News Jessica Tarlov swiftly questioned co-host Greg Gutfeld on Tuesday for downplaying President Donald Trump wrongfully deporting a Maryland man to a brutal prison in El Salvador.

Gutfeld, in a discussion on The Five, compared how the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia amid Trumps deportations stacks up against the murderers and rapists among the millions that crossed the border under Joe Biden.

Compare the error. In one of these errors, Americans dont die, said Gutfeld of the deportations in Trumps second term.

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At worst, a guy gets sent to a country he doesnt want to go to  you know what? I can live with that.

Tarlov hit back, Into a prison camp? Not just out into the wild.

Gutfeld replied that he refused to care about one illegal alien and noted that his mental shelf space is reserved for crime victims.

Abrego Garcia was legally living in the United States with his wife and three children before being sent to a maximum security prison known for its torture.

On Monday, Trump  along with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele  indicated that they wouldnt help bring him back despite a Supreme Court ruling that he must return home.

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The Trump administration has justified the deportation by claiming that Abrego Garcia was an MS-13 gang member, although theres a severe lack of concrete evidence, The New Republic reported.

Elsewhere on The Five, Tarlov noted that Trump officials claim had been debunked many times before her co-host Jeanine Pirro stepped in.

Its been debunked by liberal newspapers, Pirro declared.

Thats not true. Stop, Tarlov replied as Pirro claimed the man was never able to rebut proof he was a gang member.

Tarlov went on to note that the claim was based on double hearsay testimony from a Maryland officer during Abrego Garcias immigration proceedings only for the officer to be subsequently suspended for giving out confidential information on a case to a sex worker.

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She later argued, The reason that Democrats are talking about the fact that anyone could be disappeared is that you can see a full-blown constitutional crisis playing out in front of our eyes.

Related...
NOTE: The video above is about the April 14 earthquake that shook Southern California

ALPINE, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI)  Mondays 5.2-magnitude earthquake has some locals on edge.

In response, County Fire, Emergency Services, Animal Services and the Sherriffs Office, along with Deaf Community Services, Red Cross and the San Diego Regional Center, are hosting a free presentation Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Alpine Library at 1752 Alpine Boulevard, the County of San Diego said on its website Tuesday.

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Attendees will learn the four phases of a disaster: what residents can do to prevent, prepare, respond and recover from one.

Topics to be covered at the event include preparedness for pets and people, mitigation such as wildfire prevention and home hardening, evacuation planning, the new Genasys Evac map, what local assistance centers are and an outline of the recovery process.

Watch: Elephants at Safari Park form protective circle during San Diego earthquake

The training intends to prepare people for what might happen and how they can help themselves and their families or neighbors.

Those in attendance will receive a personal disaster plan book to start their own emergency plan.

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To register for the event, call or text Teresa Greenhalgh at 619-857-8050, or email at Teresa.Greenhalgh@sdcounty.ca.gov.

Residents can learn more about disaster skills from the Community Emergency Response Team.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
On Thursday, U.S. District Court Judge Royce Lambert will hear arguments in a motion for a preliminary junction seeking restoration of Voice of Americas staff and a resumption of its news operation, which went dark pursuant to a White House decree on March 14.

The lead plaintiff is VOA director Michael Abramowitz. The defendants are Trump administration appointees Kari Lake and Victor Morales, along with the U.S. Agency for Global Media. USAGM is the congressionally created organization overseeing VOA, Radio Free Europe, Radio Marti, and the other federal government news outlets. Created during World War II and expanded during the Cold War, their mission was to counter the propaganda of Americas adversaries.

Abramowitzs case is not the only such litigation - VOA employees filed a similar lawsuit in New York City - and challenges were anticipated by President Trump and his aides. "Were going to get lawsuits," Kari Lake said at the time. "This is par for the course."

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Lake also gave voice to the prevailing view in Trumps orbit. "We want to make sure these agencies are in line with what our American values are," Lake said. "Were telling Americas story. Were not telling our adversaries story. By God, were not going to be putting out anti-American garbage."

Thats one view. The opposite perspective has been reflected in numerous friend-of-the-court briefs filed in Lamberts court by free press proponents. The most compelling such brief comes from an 81-year-old Chinese champion of core "American values" - if you believe those values include liberty and freedom of expression.

Gao Yu is not a name known to U.S. audiences, but it should be: Yu is a heroine in the international free speech community. Abramowitz described her to me as "one of the most courageous and influential voices in Chinas fight for press freedom."

Yu, who is 81, has battled the Chinese Communist Party for decades, first as a reporter for China News Serviceand later as deputy editor ofEconomics Weekly, where she fearlessly covered the CCPs internal politics. For covering the pro-democracy movement in the runup to the 1989 Tiananmen Square showdown, Yu was imprisoned for more than a year. In 1993, she was arrested again and sentenced to six years in prison - for the crime of writing about her nations government.

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In 2014, at age 70, she was arrested on a charge of leaking Beijings notorious "Document No. 9," a secret directive warning against promoting Western ideas, and this time received a prison sentence of seven years. Paroled for medical reasons, she was essentially kept under house arrest. Last summer, authorities abruptly cut off all her connections to the outside world: Internet, telephone, and mobile devices. Although allowed to remain in her home, at 80 years of age she was unable to access medical care, shop online, or even contact members of her family.

Yet, she somehow managed to file an amicus brief in VOAs lawsuit. Its a compelling testimonial. Its also clear from reading it that Yu considers the gesture an obligation to an agency that has been steadfast in its support for her - and other journalists, dissidents, and freedom-loving people persecuted by authoritarian regimes.

"Through years of reporting and investigation, I came to deeply understand how critical VOAs attention and reporting were to Chinese political prisoners," she wrote. "VOA was not only a spiritual lifeline to the prisoners themselves, but also to their families."

She added:

Since the founding of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) in 1949, VOA has been classified by the Communist government as a hostile station. Generations of Chinese citizens risked their lives to listen to VOA just to access truthful information. After the Cultural Revolution, which lasted from 1966 to 1976, the Chinese Communist Party somewhat loosened its jamming of VOA broadcasts. Like many others in China, I was able to regularly tune in to VOAs Mandarin programs. Its reporting was accurate, comprehensive, and objective. Every program clearly and powerfully conveyed U.S. policies and ideals. VOAs programming not only challenged my outdated knowledge, but also subtly reshaped my worldview, outlook on life, and core values.

Voice of America wasnt perfect, as even its defenders acknowledge. But this testimony from the front lines of the universal fight for liberty surely seems like its something worth saving, doesnt it?

Carl M. Cannon is the Washington bureau chief for RealClearPolitics and executive editor of RealClearMedia Group. Reach him on X @CarlCannon.


BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH)  There will be a detour on Front Street in Binghamton next week as Norfolk Southern replaces a rusting and crumbling steel bridge.

Crews have already begun removing the tracks and railroad ties from the aging overpass near the intersection with Clinton Street. It is right next to another steel bridge that the railroad replaced several years ago.

This will be the 3rd railroad bridge that Norfolk Southern has rehabilitated or replaced in 3 years after coming under pressure from Mayor Jared Kraham to address the unsightly and unsafe structures.

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The closure is scheduled to begin next Monday and last through Sunday April 27th.

Regular traffic will be detoured via Prospect and Mygatt Streets, while large trucks and commercial vehicles will use Glenwood Avenue to connect to Prospect.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34.
SACRAMENTO, United States, April 15 (Xinhua) -- California's farmers are facing mounting challenges as U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs disrupt international markets and trigger retaliatory responses from major trading partners like China and Canada.

California's 59 billion-U.S.-dollar agricultural industry, the nation's largest, faces a double economic blow: rising costs from tariffs for essential farm inputs and equipment, plus shrinking export markets as trade partners impose retaliatory tariffs.

Christine Gemperle, an almond farmer in Stanislaus County, described the situation as overwhelming.

"We got hammered. We lost the whole Chinese market to Australia," she told the Los Angeles Times on Sunday, recalling similar impacts during Trump's first term.

Gemperle and her brother farm 55 hectares of almonds and sell their crop through Blue Diamond Growers.

"At this point, I'm on the verge of losing everything," she said.

The almond industry is particularly vulnerable because California produces 76 percent of the world's total, according to the California Almond Board.

China was once a key market but has shifted to alternative suppliers like Australia due to trade tensions. Even as almond prices were beginning to recover from previous tariff-related losses, new tariffs have reignited uncertainty for growers.

Citrus farmers are also feeling the strain.

Bianca Kaprielian, co-CEO of Creekside Organics in Reedley, said her company has seen a sharp drop in orders from Canada since it imposed a 25 percent retaliate tariff on U.S. goods. Her family farms citrus on about 200 hectares and typically exports oranges and lemons to Canada and other economies.

"We have seen those orders go down or dry up," Kaprielian told the Los Angeles Times. She feared that losing export markets could lead to domestic market oversupply, lowering prices further.

California's wine industry is also affected. Canada, which imports over 1 billion U.S. dollars worth of California wine annually, has pulled American wines from store shelves in several provinces as part of its retaliation against U.S. tariffs.

The current situation bears troubling similarities to Trump's first-term tariff against China, which cost U.S. farmers an estimated 27 billion dollars in lost agricultural exports in 2018, with 71 percent of the losses being soybean-related, according to the American Soybean Association.

Despite federal bailouts, many farmers never recovered their international market share.

George Frisvold, chair of agribusiness economics and policy at the University of Arizona, noted that U.S. farmers earned 10-13 percent less under Trump's first administration than during the Obama years, despite receiving double federal subsidies.

"There were payments to farmers, but they didn't compensate for those losses," Frisvold told Farm Progress website, a leading agriculture industry news network consisting of 22 farming and ranching magazines. "I've never talked to a farmer who said, 'I'd rather have my income come from government payments than the market."

"Tariffs break trust," said Caleb Ragland, president of the American Soybean Association, as reported by CNBC. "It's a lot harder to find new customers than it is to retain ones that you already have."

The economic toll extends beyond lost sales abroad. Farmers are also dealing with rising costs for imported equipment and supplies due to U.S.-imposed tariffs on foreign goods. These added expenses are eroding already slim profit margins across the agricultural sector.

The anxiety among farmers is palpable as they navigate these challenges. "Nobody wants to be in the center of chaos," Gemperle said, adding that the uncertainty keeps her awake at night.

Kaprielian echoed this sentiment: "It feels more chaotic than any time that I can remember." 
By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A man who was accused of being part of a Gambian armed unit run by former dictator Yahya Jammeh has been convicted in the United States for torture, the Justice Department said on Tuesday.

A Colorado jury convicted the Gambian national, Michael Sang Correa, for his participation in the torture of numerous victims in The Gambia in 2006, including through beating and flesh burning, because of the victims' purported involvement in a coup plot against the then-president, the Justice Department added.

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The case marked the first known time that someone faced criminal prosecution over the role of the feared armed group known as "the Junglers" in Gambia's police state during the rule of Jammeh, who seized power in 1994 and foiled several attempts to overthrow him before he lost an election in late 2016.

Correa was arrested in 2020 under a law which makes it a crime for anyone in the United States to commit torture abroad.

Jammeh denied torture during his rule.

The Junglers were a secretive offshoot of the Gambian army that took orders from Jammeh. Rights groups and former victims say they carried out a brutal form of justice that worsened after the failed coup.

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Suspected coup plotters and other outspoken opponents of Jammeh were taken to the National Intelligence Agency near one of the capital Banjul's white sand beaches, according to victims who spoke to Reuters.

Some found themselves in a torture chamber where they were shocked with electricity, beaten, burned with acid and smothered with plastic bags, they said.

Correa faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each of the five torture counts and the count of conspiracy to commit torture, the Justice Department said.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Stephen Coates)
The company at the centre of a strike dispute planned at Gatwick Airport over Easter says it is confident it will find a resolution and have plans in place for timely travel over the busy period.

Earlier this month, the Unite union announced that there would be strike action starting on Good Friday, 18 April and continuing over the Easter weekend until the early hours of Tuesday, 22 April at Gatwick Airport.

Members of Unite working for ground handling firm Red Handling who are planning to strike include baggage handlers, check-in staff and flight dispatchers for airlines including Norwegian, Delta, TAP and Air Peace.

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As the workers handle about 50 flights a day, the strike action will cause major disruption for holidaymakers planning getaways that weekend with expected flight delays, cancellations, long queues at check-in and baggage delays, Unite said.

Unite also claims Red Handling has routinely paid employees late, not agreeing to contractual late payment reimbursement and has insufficient working patterns.

Unite regional officer David Taylor said: Were demanding that Red Handling pay all outstanding pension contributions immediately and compensate staff for retirement money they've lost, as well as commit to reimbursing them for late payments.

There is also a health and safety issue due to Red Handling workers not being able to take adequate breaks so they can rest between shifts, and we urge the company to take this seriously.

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Gatwick Airport says it expects the Easter holiday to be its busiest period of the year so far, so there is no doubt that industrial action over the long weekend will be extremely disruptive for travellers  however, this is a dispute entirely of Red Handling's own making.

However, in a statement released by a spokesperson for Red Handling said it is now working to address these issues raised by Unite, and despite the union claiming the strike will cause major disruption, the firm says contingency plans are in place for safe and timely travel.

We have inherited a complex pensions scenario, which has resulted in a small number of delayed payments for a small number of staff.

We have committed to ensuring that all those payments are resolved by 10 May, with staff concerned aware of these timescales.

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We are working to come to an agreement with Unite on all outstanding matters where they do not pose a financial or operational risk to the business.

They added: We are working with all the stakeholders and feel confident in finding a resolution.

We are also confident on our contingency plans to support safe and timely travel over the Easter weekend.

Red Handling also touched on recent issues involving non-traditional banks that have taken slightly longer to process payments, which has affected a very small number of employees and has been resolved.

The spokesperson also pointed out that Red Handling had introduced a 22 per cent pay rise in the past two years, surpassing many of our competitors and introduced extra leave days and double-time pay for those working on select" public holidays.

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While these improvements benefit our employees and are aimed at boosting staff morale, they also need to be done in a way that ensures the long-term success of the business, the spokesperson said.

A London Gatwick spokesperson said: We are aware of the recent ballot results and the planned industrial action by Red Handling which will impact thousands of passengers during one of our busiest times of year.

We are supporting the airlines impacted, who hold the contracts directly with Red Handling, with their contingency plans and are hopeful a resolution can be reached ahead of the proposed industrial action.

Passengers are advised to contact their airlines directly for latest information.

For more travel news and advice, listen to Simon Calders podcast
Gavin Newson is suing Donald Trump over his sweeping tariffs, claiming they are unlawful.

The California governor said the levies on foreign trading partners are wreaking havoc on the Golden State, which has the largest economy in the country.

He said the tariffs will do California immediate and irreparable harm.

Newsom has avoided a showdown with Trump since the presidents inauguration in January.

Donald Trump does not have the authority to impose these destructive and chaotic tariffs.



America stands to lose too much. pic.twitter.com/KwDh8yBPXV  Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) April 16, 2025

Now the governor expected to run for the Democratic Partys nomination for the 2028 election seems set on a confrontation with the White House.

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He went to war on the presidents tariff plan on Wednesday, filing a lawsuit condemning the administrations use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose punitive tariffs on China, Mexico and Canada, Californias biggest trading partners.

Were standing up for American families who cant afford to let the chaos continue, Newsom said in a statement.

President Trumps unlawful tariffs are wreaking chaos on California families, businesses, and our economy  driving up prices and threatening jobs, he added.

No state will suffer more than the state of Californias, he said in a post on X.

Donald Trump does not have the authority to unilaterally impose the largest tax hike of our lifetime with his destructive tariffs.



Were taking him to court. pic.twitter.com/LAm1NRx300  Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) April 16, 2025

California, which has the fifth largest economy in the world, is the first state to take legal action against Trump over the tariffs. China is currently facing 145 percent levies and Mexico and Canada have been designated 25 percent tariffs. Most other countries have been told they will have a 120 percent baseline during a 90 day pause on the sliding scale of tariffs originally announced by the president.
by Li Xirui

NEW YORK, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Despite bouts of fickle weather outside, the aisles remain busy in Asian grocery stores in Flushing, the fourth-largest central business district in New York City and home to a fast-growing Asian population.

Inside Chang Jiang Supermarket, an Asian grocery store, shopping carts laden with various goods inch forward as they queue for checkout.

"Look at this checkout line. It's much longer than usual," Wu Jianxi, the manager, told Xinhua.

Amid the Trump administration's erratic tariffs, particularly the ridiculously high ones on Chinese imports, several business owners voiced growing concern: once their current inventory runs out, rising import costs may force them to raise prices, potentially driving customers away.

"We haven't raised prices yet. We're trying to stock up as much as we can. ... I contact suppliers every day to get inventory. But the amount allocated to each supermarket is also limited. After two months, the warehouse will be emptied," said Wu.

Prices have not gone up yet. But customers are stocking up as well, he said. "My personal suggestion is to buy long-lasting dry goods or oils that can be stored longer."

As 60 percent of Chang Jiang's goods are imported from China, price increases are likely in the future, said Wu.

In downtown Flushing, four major Asian supermarkets anchor the main intersection, serving as essential stops for locals shopping for everyday goods. These supermarkets draw steady foot traffic with their distinctive products and competitive pricing, making them cornerstones of the community's daily life.

"Trump might have his reason to have goods produced in the U.S. But for now, domestic production can't meet the demand," said a manager of U.S. 1 Supermarket, surnamed Zhang.

If tariffs between China and the United States remain in place, it could lead to constrained supply capacity in the United States and limit product availability, he said.

"When products must be sourced locally, inventory is limited and consumer choice narrows," Zhang said. "Eventually, the pressure trickles down to both businesses and shoppers -- in the form of higher prices."

Manhattan's Chinatown is also home to a large Chinese community that relies on local grocery stores for daily essentials and imported goods from China, such as soy sauce and other key cooking ingredients that evoke a "taste of home" for the older generation, as well as snacks popular among children.

Jennie Li, the owner of Red Apple Gift Shop, which sells traditional Chinese items like small Buddha statues and dragon figurines, said the most immediate impact of the tariffs has been a rise in shipping costs, which have increased by six U.S. dollars per pound.

"Things sold in Chinatown are already quite cheap, with slim profit margins," she said. "Prices for everyday items at supermarkets are going up."

"I didn't expect the tariffs to hit so quickly, and with the added warehouse costs, our expenses have only risen," she said. "We will face higher costs, so we're considering extending the shop's hours."

Jasmine Baker, a 20-year-old Brooklyn resident, expressed concern that high tariffs may even knock the small stores out of business.

"I like the affordable prices and unique products here that aren't available in traditional U.S. supermarkets," she told Xinhua while shopping at a Chinese supermarket in Manhattan's Chinatown. "It makes me scared, not just for me but for other communities, for people who are reliant on the prices. It makes me concerned about the success of these businesses and whether they are gonna be able to survive." 
Gayle King, Katy Perry, Aisha Bowe, Lauren Sanchez, Amanda Nguyen, and Kerianne Flynn just did what most people only dream aboutleaving the Earth for a few minutes. On Monday (April 14), the all-female crew boarded Blue Origins New Shepard rocket, blasted off from West Texas, and returned in less than 10 minutes after a round-trip journey to the edge of space.

For King, the trip was historic, but it was her facial expression that initially made headlines. As the CBS News anchor climbed aboard the capsule, she looked visibly distressed and nervous. While her crewmates smiled with glee, Gayles expression said what many of us were probably thinking: What did I just sign up for?

The clip quickly went viral and became a meme. Gayle King is all of us on a Monday, one X user typed in their post.

Later, Gayle addressed the moment at the post-mission conference, saying, At that moment, I was so afraid. I just wanted to get into my seat because I just wanted to let the training kick in.

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And while she admitted walking up to the capsule felt daunting, she managed to find humor in her nerves, recalling a friends bold advice: Once you get there, youre going to feel like its sex with the gods, to which she responded, Well, Ive never had sex with a god to my knowledge, so thank you for the visual.

Still, once the rocket soared and it became reality that she was in space, Gayle had a moment of awe. Its the neon blue up in space, and its still and its quiet and youre all feeling this experience together. I know I will never forget it, she said. I walked out of there thinking, gosh, I can do anything. Im so proud of us. I really am proud of mebecause I never in a gazillion years thought I could do this.

Of course, the womens journey to space didnt come without scrutiny (because naturally when women make history someone always has something to say). Actress Olivia Munn publicly questioned the value of such an expensive ride to Page Six, calling it gluttonous while asking what real benefit the trip had for those on Earth. But the crew didnt shy away from addressing it. Bowe, a former NASA engineer, reminded everyone that representation matters. She shared how a high school counselor once told her to pursue cosmetology instead of engineering, and now shes been to space.

Gayle had her own sharp words for the critics. Anybody thats criticizing it doesnt really understand what is happening here, she said, pointing to the overwhelming support from young women whove been inspired by the mission. We can all speak to the response were getting from young girls about what this represents.

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To drive her point home, she wrapped up her response with a confident mic drop: Any other questions?

See Blue Origins post-mission conference below.

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Gayle King is happy to address the haters voicing criticism over Blue Origins all-female space flight.

During a Tuesday interview with Extra, the CBS Morning co-anchor said it was good that we can really address the controversy that has erupted after some questioned the usefulness of the expedition.

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I was one of those people, before I went on this flight and became educated at space, [questioning,] Why are we spending so much money on space when theres so much to do here on Earth? King said. She added her perspective shifted when she learned more about what Blue Origin does, which included finding a way to harness the waste here and figure out a way to put it in space to make planet Earth a better place.

So I wish people would do more due diligence, King continued, before pushing back at the critics. And then my question is, Have yall been to space? Go to Blue Origin and see what they do and then come back and say, This is a terrible thing.

On April 14, King, Katy Perry, Jeff Bezos fiancee Lauren Sanchez, film producer Kerianne Flynn, former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe and research scientist Amanda Nguyen headed into space for a 10-minute flight to notably become Blue Origins first all-female transport. Once news of the venture was announced, Olivia Munn questioned the motive for the space flight, calling it gluttonous, and that started a wave of criticism about the journey.

King acknowledged the financial concerns over the flight, admitting it was expensive, but with further exposure if you get enough people who are interested, it doesnt have to be that expensive. She also fired back at those calling their journey a ride  a sentiment Munn used during her appearance on a Today With Jenna & Friends where she questioned the need for the expedition.

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I dont like that people are calling it a ride. You never see a man, a male astronaut, whos going up in space and they said, Oh we took a ride, King added. I feel thats a little disrespectful to what the mission was and the work that Blue Origin does.

In fact, King said that the Blue Origin journey had already inspired young girls in particular, while also allowing young boys to see what women and young girls can do.

Despite the backlash, the TV personality acknowledged the cranky Yankees and haters critiquing the mission, before adding: But Im not going to let people steal my joy and steal the joy of what we did or what we accomplished that day  Im just not going to let it in.

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Since the end of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas on March 18, the humanitarian situation in Gaza has sharply deteriorated.

The continued closure of all border crossings since March 2 has blocked the entry of humanitarian aid, triggering a severe food crisis and endangering the lives of millions of civilians.

Aid organizations warn that without urgent action, Gaza faces the real possibility of widespread famine, escalating malnutrition and the collapse of essential services.

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One of the gravest consequences of the blockade is the complete disruption of the food supply chain. According to residents, bakeries across Gaza have been forced to shut down due to a lack of flour, fuel and operational supplies.

"There is no bread, no bread at all. There is no flour. The crossings are closed. The children are starving," said Ahmed Abu Mustafa, a resident of Khan Younis, in an interview with ABC News. "Even if we had flour  the bakeries don't have fuel to bake or cook food."

PHOTO: Muneeb Al-Faqawi, a produce seller in Khan Yunis. (Diaa Ostaz/ABC News)

MORE: Satellite images show northern Gaza village leveled

The impact on civilians is visible and tragic.

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Moath Fayez Abu Ramadan, also from Khan Younis, waited daily at a closed bakery earlier this month hoping to find food for his children.

"I have been here since six in the morning, waiting for the bakery to open so I can feed my children," he told ABC News. "My wife was killed in the war, and my children need someone to take care of them and provide food."

The World Food Programme (WFP) announced on March 31 that its aid supplies to Gaza have been fully depleted. The closure of the crossings has made resupply impossible, with catastrophic results.

"We are in a famine in every sense of the word," said Umm Mohammed, a displaced resident from Rafah. "No matter how much we describe it, it is a famine. What is the fault of the children?" she asked during an interview with ABC News.

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In a series of statements on Wednesday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel would continue to bar the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, calling it "one of the main pressure tools that prevents Hamas form using this measure vis a vis the population."

Katz said Israel planned to create an infrastructure for distributing aid using civilian companies later.

Aid organizations raise alarm

International aid organizations are also raising alarm over the humanitarian toll of the blockade.

Rosalia Bollen, a spokesperson for UNICEF, told ABC News, "Since March 18, hundreds of children have been killed, hundreds more have been injured.  Burns, shrapnel lodged in the bodies of children, children who've had their limbs amputated."

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She emphasized the urgent need to reestablish a ceasefire and reopen the crossings.

"The most impactful action that governments need to take is to ensure that the ceasefire is reestablished. That is the most important measure to save children's lives," she said.

PHOTO: Scenes from Khan Yunis in Gaza. (Diaa Ostaz/ABC News)

MORE: Israel takes control of Rafah, creating new 'security corridor' in Gaza

Beyond food shortages, Gaza's children are suffering psychologically from the relentless violence and deprivation.

"Children are deeply traumatized by what they've witnessed," Bollen explained. "They've been exposed to really unprecedented levels of violence on a daily basis for months in a row.  Today, every child in Gaza needs mental health support."

Violence has returned

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) echoed this concern and highlighted the challenges of operating under such extreme conditions.

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"After a period of relative calm, violence has returned to Gaza and the civilian population once again is bearing the brunt," said Hisham Muhanna, an ICRC spokesperson, in an interview with ABC News. "The entry of humanitarian aid  Gaza's main lifeline  has been suspended  the situation is even more dire."

ICRC's operations in Gaza are ongoing but severely constrained, Muhanna said.

"Programs like common kitchens continue feeding people with, sometimes, the only meal they will receive a day," Muhanna said.

However, he warned of a looming catastrophe.

"Flour supplies are dwindling, and many bakeries have had to shut down," he said. "In short order, the impacts will be acute on nutrition and basic health."

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With no fuel entering Gaza, water purification systems and hospitals are on the verge of collapse, Muhanna said.

PHOTO: Scenes from Khan Yunis in Gaza. (Diaa Ostaz/ABC News)

MORE: Israeli defense minister says troops will remain in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria indefinitely

"Hospitals cannot operate without health care staff, who don't live nearby and who are struggling to come to work safely during this period of hostility," Muhanna said.

"With no proper sanitation and limited access to safe drinking water, the danger of communicable disease outbreaks is closer by the day," he added.

'In need of literally everything'

Citizens are also voicing their frustration and calling for urgent international action.

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"We want the war on Gaza to stop. May God make the Arab countries stand with us," said Abu Ramadan.

Umm Mohammed added, "We fear hunger. We no longer fear death; we have reached the point where we wish for death.  When your child asks for bread -- his most basic right -- what do you say?"

As aid agencies work tirelessly under impossible conditions, time is running out for Gaza.

"The suffering in Gaza isn't just physical but also psychological," said Bollen. "Children in Gaza are in need of literally everything: food, safe water, health care and emotional support."

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The international community faces a critical moment. Without immediate and sustained action to reopen the crossings and restore aid flows, aid agencies are warning that Gaza is at risk of plunging into an irreversible humanitarian catastrophe.

Gaza on the brink: Closed border crossings push population toward famine originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
By James Mackenzie and Nidal al-Mughrabi

JERUSALEM/CAIRO (Reuters) -Israeli troops will remain in the buffer zones they have created in Gaza even after any settlement to end the war, Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday, as efforts to revive a ceasefire agreement faltered.

Since resuming military operations last month, Israeli forces have carved out a broad "security zone" extending deep into Gaza and squeezing more than 2 million Palestinians into ever smaller areas in the south and along the coastline.

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"Unlike in the past, the IDF is not evacuating areas that have been cleared and seized," Katz said in a statement following a meeting with military commanders.

"The IDF will remain in the security zones as a buffer between the enemy and the communities in any temporary or permanent situation in Gaza - as in Lebanon and Syria."

In a summary of its operations over the past month, the Israeli military said it now controls 30% of the tiny Palestinian territory.

In southern Gaza alone, Israeli forces have seized the border city of Rafah and pushed inland up to the so-called "Morag corridor" that runs from the eastern edge of Gaza to the Mediterranean Sea, between Rafah and the city of Khan Younis.

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It already held a wide corridor across the central Netzarim area and has extended a buffer zone all around the frontier hundreds of meters (yards) inland, including the Shejaia area just to the east of Gaza City in the north.

Israel says its forces have killed hundreds of Hamas fighters, including many senior commanders of the Palestinian militant group, since March 18 but the operation has alarmed the United Nations and European countries.

More than 400,000 Palestinians have been displaced since hostilities resumed on March 18 after two months of relative calm, according to U.N. humanitarian agency OCHA, and Israeli airstrikes and bombardments have killed at least 1,630 people.

Medical charity MSF said Gaza had become a "mass grave" with humanitarian groups struggling to provide aid. "We are witnessing in real time the destruction and forced displacement of the entire population in Gaza," Amande Bazerolle, MSF's emergency coordinator in Gaza, said in a statement.

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Katz said Israel, which has blocked the delivery of relief supplies into the territory since early March, was creating infrastructure to allow distribution through civilian companies at a later date, but the blockade on aid would remain in place.

He said Israel would pursue a plan to allow Gazans who wished to leave the enclave to do so, although it remains unclear which countries would be willing to accept large numbers of Palestinians.

RED LINES

The comments from Katz, repeating Israel's demand on Hamas to disarm, underscore how far away the two sides remain from any ceasefire agreement, despite efforts by Egyptian mediators to revive efforts to reach a deal.

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Hamas has repeatedly described calls to disarm as a red line it will not cross, and has said Israeli troops must withdraw from Gaza under any permanent ceasefire.

"Any truce lacking real guarantees for halting the war, achieving full withdrawal, lifting the blockade, and beginning reconstruction will be a political trap," Hamas said in a statement on Wednesday.

Two Israeli officials said this week there had been no progress in the talks despite media reports of a possible truce to allow the exchange of some of the 59 hostages still held in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners.

Israeli officials have said the increased military pressure will force Hamas to release the hostages but the government has faced large demonstrations by Israeli protesters demanding a deal to stop the fighting and get them back.

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Israel launched its war in Gaza in response to the October 2023 attack by Hamas on southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies.

The offensive has killed at least 51,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities, and devastated the coastal enclave, forcing most of the population to move multiple times and reducing broad areas to rubble.

On Wednesday, Palestinian medical authorities said Israeli military strikes across the Gaza Strip killed at least 35 Palestinians. One airstrike killed 10 people, including Fatema Hassouna, a well-known writer and photographer who had documented the war.

Another airstrike on a tent encampment in Khan Younis, south of the enclave, killed at least 10 other people, medics said. The rest were killed in separate military strikes in other areas.

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Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry said Israel's suspension of the entry of fuel, medical, and food supplies had begun to obstruct the work of the few remaining working hospitals, with medical supplies drying up.

"Hundreds of patients and wounded individuals are deprived of essential medications, and their suffering is worsening due to the closure of border crossings," the ministry said.

(Reporting and writing by Nidal al-Mughrabi and James Mackenzie; additional reporting by Maayan Lubell; editing by Ros Russell, Mark Heinrich and Sonali Paul)
Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa's remains have been buried in a private memorial attended by family members and close friends.

The couple's bodies were found along with one of their dogs in their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on February 26.

The tragic discovery led to an investigation into the cause of their deaths, which was revealed weeks later.

Gene Hackman And Betsy Arakawa's Burial

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On Tuesday, PEOPLE Magazine reported that Hackman and Arakawa were laid to rest.

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In addition to the burial, the couple's family and close friends honored their memories in a memorial.

The outlet disclosed that Hackman's children, daughters Elizabeth and Leslie and son Christopher, attended the private memorial.

The memorial was recently held in Santa Fe, where the couple lived until their tragic deaths in February.

Gene Hackman And Betsy Arakawa Found Dead

Luis Guerra/The Grosby Group/ MEGA

Hackman retired from acting in 2004 and relocated from Los Angeles to New Mexico to enjoy a quieter life.

In 2009, he told Empire that his health was the main reason for his retirement. He said, "The straw that broke the camel's back was actually a stress test that I took in New York. The doctor advised me that my heart wasn't in the kind of shape that I should be putting it under any stress."

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Hackman and Arakawa were loving their peaceful life in Santa Fe, away from Hollywood's glitz and glam.

However, the couple dominated headlines on February 26 after their bodies were found dead following a welfare check on them.

Their deaths led to an investigation as authorities tried to unravel the mystery surrounding the tragedy.

Gene Hackman And Betsy Arakawa's Cause Of Death Revealed

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On March 7, the cause of the deceased couple's demise was finally revealed.

It was initially suspected that they died from carbon monoxide poisoning, but that theory was put aside following an autopsy.

The Chief Medical Examiner for New Mexico at the office of the Medical Investigator, Dr. Heather Jarrell, said Hackman died due to hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease with Alzheimers disease as a significant contributing factor.

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She also stated that Arakawa died a week before her husband, adding, "The cause of death for Mrs. Hackman is hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. The cause of death is natural."

The timeline of the couple's deaths was also disclosed, with Hackman believed to have died on February 18 while Arakawa was said to have died on February 11.

However, Arakawa's date of death was later changed to February 12 after a Santa Fe doctor revealed that she called his clinic on that day.

Recent Revelations About Hackman's Property

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New details have continuously emerged since news of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa's deaths broke.

Recently, TMZ reported that the New Mexico Department of Public Health conducted a health assessment of their property following the tragic event.

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Their findings showed that the deceased's Santa Fe mansion was "infested" with rats, making it a "breeding ground" for the deadly hantavirus, which Arakawa died from.

Evidence of rat infestation in the property included droppings in three garages, two casitas, and three sheds. Officials also found a live rodent, a dead one, and a rodent nest in three more garages.

They found traps, which suggested that Hackman and his wife were finding a way to deal with the rodent infestation in their home.

Officials also conducted health assessments on first responders and others who were on the property, confirming the main residence was low risk with no signs of a rodent infestation inside.

Arakawa's Last Internet Search Before Death Revealed

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In the days leading up to her tragic death, Betsy Arakawa had been searching online for information related to COVID-19 symptoms and breathing exercises.

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According to the Daily Mail, an examination of her computer's open bookmarks on February 8 and the morning of February 12 revealed that she had been researching medical conditions tied to flu-like symptoms and COVID-19.

Arakawa's searches included questions like whether COVID can cause dizziness or nosebleeds, suggesting she may have been worried about worsening health issues.

In an email to her masseuse, Arakawa mentioned that Gene Hackman had woken up on February 11 feeling under the weather with what seemed like cold or flu symptoms. Although he had tested negative for COVID-19, she decided to reschedule her massage appointment "out of an abundance of caution."

Her final known online activity was a search for a healthcare provider in Santa Fe on the morning of February 12.

As part of the investigation, authorities also looked into recent calls to the couple's home phone, reviewed voicemail records, and obtained security footage from stores Arakawa had visited the day before.
Gene Hackmans wife Betsy Arakawa spent time during her final days suffering from hantavirus Googling symptoms for COVID and ordering oxygen canisters to her New Mexico home.

Investigators went through Arakawas Google search history and emails in the days leading up to her and Hackmans death after finding her laptop unlocked in the home, according to an incident report covered wide Tuesday. The laptop was found in the hallway near the bathroom in which Arakawas body was found and included an Amazon purchase of several Boost Oxygen canisters and emails about falling ill to COVID, according to the investigator.

He advised he found the computer unlocked and observed Betsy had conducted a search on Google, the report read. The search was in reference to breathing techniques, or something similar to the matter.

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Another investigator noted in the report they found an email sent by Arakawa on the morning of Feb. 11 canceling an appointment due to COVID-like symptoms.

G woke up today with flu/cold-like symptoms, did a COVID test, negative. But out of abundance of caution, I should cancel my appt tomorrow and rebook, say, in a couple of weeks, last week of Feb. if something is available, the email read.

The report added that Arakawa never opened or sent additional emails after Feb. 11. She is estimated to have died of the rare, rodent-born hantavirus on Feb. 12.

Arakawa and Hackmans bodies were found in their home on Feb. 26. After medical examinations, it was determined that Arakawa died from the rodent-born hantavirus a week before Hackman died from cardiovascular disease and advanced Alzheimers.

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It is reasonable to conclude that Mr. Hackman probably died around Feb. 18. Based on the circumstances, it is reasonable to conclude that Mrs. Hackman passed away first, with Feb. 11 being the last time that she was known to be alive, New Mexico OMI chief medical investigator Dr. Heather Jarrell said. There is no reliable scientific method to accurately determine the exact time or date of death.

I would assume that that is the case, given his Alzheimers status, that Mr. Hackman was able to live on his own and survive, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza then explained of the week difference in their given times of death.

The two-time Oscar winner, his pianist wife of 34 years and one of their dogs were found dead after a home maintenance worker called in a welfare check. Two other dogs were found alive on the property.

The post Gene Hackmans Wife Googled COVID Symptoms, Ordered Oxygen Canisters Before Dying of Hantavirus appeared first on TheWrap.
Gene Hackman's wife, Betsy Arakawa, died from hantavirus after searching online for answers about the actor's flu-like symptoms.

Hackman passed a week later due to heart disease and Alzheimer's. Their dog also died, likely from starvation.

A health inspection has also found rodent infestations in outbuildings on Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa's property.

Betsy Arakawa Researched COVID Symptoms Before Her Death From Hantavirus

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Just days before her unexpected death from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, Arakawa had been searching online for explanations about the mysterious symptoms Hackman was experiencing, according to a new investigation by New Mexico authorities.

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Documents obtained by TMZ revealed that on February 8 and again on the morning of February 12, the day of her death, Arakawa had several browser tabs open, including searches about whether COVID-19 could cause issues like dizziness and nosebleeds.

In an email to her masseuse, the classical pianist explained that Hackman had woken up on February 11 feeling unwell, describing his symptoms as cold or flu-like.

Though his COVID test returned negative, she mentioned postponing her appointment "out of an abundance of caution."

Records also showed that Arakawa had purchased multiple Boost Oxygen canisters on February 11.

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Investigators reviewed phone records, voicemails, and stored surveillance footage from that day. Her final online search, made the morning she died, was for a healthcare provider in Santa Fe.

Gene Hackman, Betsy Arakawa, And Their Dog Zinna's Causes Of Death

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Official details about the couple's passing emerged weeks after their deaths. Arakawa's cause of death was identified as hantavirus, a rare but serious flu-like illness associated with exposure to rodent droppings.

Hackman passed away a week later, with medical reports citing complications from severe cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and late-stage Alzheimer's.

Additionally, the couple's pet, Zinna, also tragically died, with Santa Fe County animal control stating the cause was likely dehydration and starvation.

Gene Hackman And Betsy Arakawa Have Been Laid To Rest After Their Tragic Deaths

Guerra Jr/The Grosby Group / MEGA

Following their tragic demise, the couple have been quietly laid to rest in a private memorial service held in Santa Fe.

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According to People Magazine, the intimate gathering was attended by the actor's three children: Christopher, Elizabeth, and Leslie.

Married since 1991, Hackman and Arakawa had been living a quiet, low-profile life away from Hollywood after Hackman's retirement from acting.

Their final public appearance together was in March 2024, when they were seen dining at Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen in Santa Fe.

Rodent Infestation Found On The Couple's Property Amid Hantavirus Investigation, Report Reveals

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A recent environmental assessment by the New Mexico Department of Health uncovered widespread rodent activity across several outbuildings on Hackman and Arakawa's property, according to records obtained by CNN.

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Officials conducted the inspection in March, roughly a week after the couple was found deceased in their home in February, and found evidence of rodent infestations in eight separate structures, including three garages, two casitas, and three storage sheds.

Among the findings were rodent droppings, a live rodent, a dead rodent, and nests. The health department conducted the assessment on March 5 to evaluate potential health risks to emergency responders and family members who may have visited the property during the investigation.

Dr. Erin Phipps, the state's public health veterinarian, noted that the primary residence was clean and showed no signs of rodent activity, meaning the health risk was minimal.

However, the surrounding outbuildings were not as secure. The report confirmed that they were vulnerable to rodent intrusion.

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Investigators discovered rodent nests, feces, and even live traps in use. Two vehicles on the property, possibly inactive or used for farm work, also showed signs of infestation.

Gene Hackman And Betsy Arakawa's Estate Fights To Protect Privacy Amid Media Interest In Death Investigation

CAMERA PRESS/Jerry Watson/MEGA

During a recent court hearing, Kurt Sommer, the attorney representing Hackman and Arakawa's estate, argued that the couple had gone to significant lengths to maintain their privacy throughout their lives, a right, he contended, that should be preserved even after their deaths.

Julia Peters, the estate's appointed representative, echoed these concerns, noting that some investigative materials, including photos and videos, could be distressing and should be protected from potential media circulation.

Media organizations, including The Associated Press, CBS News, and CBS Studios, have since become involved in the case.

In legal filings, they assured the court that they had no intention of publishing any images of the deceased couple and would blur sensitive visuals in any related materials that might be released.
GENEVA  City leaders continue to work on communicating information related to the West Main Infrastructure project online and at public meetings.

Several frustrated residents attended a Monday evening council meeting, seeking information on the status of the project and sharing their concern about the condition of side streets.

The residents expressed frustration that the contractors have not been present on many recent days, but Route 20 remains blocked.

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We cant get in. We cant get out, said Jane Rombaugh, who lives in the construction area.

She expressed concern with how to find information, and with the project seemingly on hold.

She wondered why no work is presently being done.

Geneva City Manager Jospeh Varckette said the project was expected to stop during the winter months, but the contractor was able to work for much of the time, but it is now on hold because of temperatures as it moves to a new phase.

Varckette said the next phase of the project involves de-watering, which can only be accomplished when temperatures are above 40 degrees for a number of days in a row. He said the process involves digging 16 feet deep, and six feet of that can be underwater.

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He said the project is on schedule for a late September completion.

Pat Warner, who also lives in the affected area, expressed concerns about side streets that are used constantly because the Route 20 closure.

The side roads are so bad that, at 10 miles an hour, you are in danger of breaking a shock, she said.

Varckette said the city plans to work on the side roads once the project is over and attempting to patch the roads when feasible. He emphasized that the Route 20 project is 20 to 25 years overdue and involves the complete replacement of below-ground infrastructure.

He said the city is working on providing a format for citizens to get the most recent information online.

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Varckette said information on social media is often incorrect.

We want you to get that information from the city, not the 1,000 construction managers on social media, Varckette said.

Penny Bowers-Schebel, owner of Formal Bridal, expressed concern that where she is located on the western side of the project on Route 20, she is unable to have direct access to the hospital, and would have to drive up to five miles to get there.

It is 100 feet and I cant get there from my property, she said.

Varckette said he would talk with the contractor about options before the project continues.

The city is also looking to purchase a new combination sewer/jet vac truck that Varckette and department heads say will improve operations of three departments.

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The city has a chance to buy a demonstrator model of the truck at a reduced price, but still get the full, new truck warranty. The truck is also below the budgeted price of the truck, to the tune of $74,853.51 in savings, Varckette said.

He said he will review funding options for the project, and hopes council will expedite the purchase for the already budgeted item.

Geneva Wastewater Superintendent Brandon Averill provided information abut the truck, which would replace one the department has nursed through 38 years of operation.

Manpower will be the big savings, Averill said of the truck that can do what often takes four or five men and two or three trucks to clean a line. He said this will be helpful in cleaning the storm sewer system that has been neglected for many years and can cause flooding.

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The city is working on a storm water plan that will attempt to address the long-term issues, Varckette said.

Varckette said the streetscape project is continuing, with work on Depot Street being in phase two in early spring 2026 because of stormwater infrastructure issues. He said people may see workers digging soil samples in the Depot Street parking lot and the community center lot during the next several weeks.

Varckette said the facade improvement project plans are nearing completion, and 20 businesses should soon have their project agreements.

He said the parks master plan has begun, with Behnke Landscape Architecture working on the eight-month project.

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Varckette said an Ohio Department of Natural Resources Urban Forestry Grant is again moving along after concerns over federal grants placed it on pause. He said the city is seeking a one-year extension because of the hold.

The city clean-up day for Waste Management customers is scheduled for May 3, with details on what can be picked up on the city website.
Belgium-based insurance group Ageas has agreed to acquire UK digital personal lines insurer Esure from Bain Capital for approximately 1.3bn ($1.7bn).

Esure is known for its digital personal lines insurance with a presence on price comparison websites in the UK.

The acquisition is in line with Ageas' priorities under its Elevate27 programme, which focuses on expanding its broker and partnerships personal lines business in the UK.

The deal is set to merge Ageas UK with Esure, forming what it claims will be the third-largest UK personal lines platform in the UK, offering a distribution mix that includes direct, price comparison websites, brokers and partnerships.

Esure, with its fully digital distribution model, operates three popular brands: esure, Sheilas Wheels and First Alternative.

In 2024, the company held more than 2.1 million policies and a gross written premium (GWP) of 1bn.

In a press statement, Ageas said: We expect economies of scale in our UK personal lines portfolio and the accelerated implementation of the EIS IT platform, including Esures complementary claims module, to drive operational efficiencies and cost avoidance for Ageas UK.

Continued focus on technology, data and AI is expected to create further competitive advantages. In addition, capital benefits from enhanced diversification and the inclusion of Esure in Ageass partial internal model are expected to emerge over time.

The transaction is structured to maintain Ageas' Solvency II target ratio at 150%, as it was at year-end 2024.

Ageas expects its Solvency II ratio to decrease by only around 10% due to the inclusion of roughly 1bn of own funds instruments in the financing mix.

Ageas Group CEO Hans De Cuyper said: This transaction will allow us to offer competitive value propositions to a wider customer profile via a multi-channel distribution model, positioning Ageas UK as one of the top three personal lines insurers.

Acquiring Esure also supports our strategic ambitions of rebalancing our group profile towards businesses with high cash conversion.

Ageas UK CEO Ant Middle said: Under Elevate27, we want to continue to grow our broker and partnerships personal lines business in the UK, and Esure will help us to rapidly expand our direct distribution, our customer reach and our scale overall.

The deal, which is due to be completed in the second half of 2025, is subject to regulatory approvals.

Last year, Ageas agreed to acquire Sagas insurance underwriting business and establish a 20-year partnership with the UK insurer.

"Ageas to acquire digital personal lines insurer Esure for 1.3bn" was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand.
George Clooney has defended his controversial call for Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race, labeling it a civic duty.

The actor was a vocal supporter of Biden, but suddenly turned his back with a New York Times op-ed in July last year headlined I Love Joe Biden. But We Need a New Nominee, arguing that the president and Democratic nominee was no longer the force he had been.

In the last four years, hes won many of the battles hes faced, Clooney wrote. But the one battle he cannot win is the fight against time.

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Speaking to CNNs Jake Tapper in an interview that aired partially on Tuesday, the Hollywood icon expanded on the reasons behind his decision to upset the apple cart. Tapper said a lot of people called the move brave.

I dont know if it was brave, Clooney laughed. It was a civic duty because I found that people on my side of the street, you know Im a Democrat in Kentucky so I get it, when I saw people on my side of the street not telling the truth I thought that was time to...

Tapper shot across: Are people still mad at you for that?

Some people, sure. Thats OK, you know, listen the idea of freedom of speechthe specific idea of it isyou cant demand freedom of speech and then say But dont say bad things about me," Clooney responded.

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He continued: Thats the deal, you have to take your stand if you believe in it. Take a stand, stand for it and then deal with the consequences.

Thats the rules, so when people criticize methey criticized me for my stance against the war 20 years ago, people picketed my movies and they put me on a deck of cardsI have to take that, thats fair.

Clooney speaking to CNN's Jake Tapper. / CNN

Im OK with that, Im OK with criticism for where I stand. I defend their right to criticize me as much as I defend my right to criticize them.

Tapper also made reference to Clooneys hair, which was dyed for his part in his Broadway play Good Night, and Good Luck.

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He dyed his hair for the role of Edward R. Murrow, just so you dont think that hes trying to pull that off, the CNN host said.

The full interview will air Wednesday 5 p.m. Eastern.

Despite Clooney turning against his opponent, eventual winner of the presidential race Donald Trump slammed the actor for being a rat.

So now fake movie actor George Clooney, who never came close to making a great movie, is getting into the act, Trump wrote on Truth Social at the time.

Hes turned on Crooked Joe like the rats they both are.

Clooney, meanwhile, reportedly had a tantrum when it was suggested by Morning Joe host Mika Brzezinski that his infamous op-ed was instigated by former President Barack Obama.

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This wasnt George Clooney, she said in a broadcast at the time. I think that Barack Obama has a lot of influence.

Clooney reportedly raged at an unnamed MSNBC producer over the allegations, screaming You f---ed me." Journalist Chris Whipple revealed the meltdown in his recent book Uncharted: How Trump Beat Biden, Harris, and the Odds in the Wildest Campaign in History.
George Clooney recently sat down with CNNs Jake Tapper (via Daily Beast) and said that while some people are still mad about his decision to go against Joe Biden in the 2024 presidential election, he is at peace with the choice because it was his civic duty. Tapper told the Oscar winner that his defenders called the decision brave.

I dont know if it was brave, Clooney said. It was a civic duty because I found that people on my side of the street  you know, Im a Democrat in Kentucky so I get it  when I saw people on my side of the street not telling the truth I thought that was time to some people [are mad], sure. Thats OK, you know, listen the idea of freedom of speech is you cant demand freedom of speech and then say, But dont say bad things about me.

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Thats the deal, you have to take your stand if you believe in it, he continued. Take a stand, stand for it and then deal with the consequences. Thats the rules, so when people criticize me  they criticized me for my stance against the war 20 years ago, people picketed my movies and they put me on a deck of cards  I have to take that, thats fair. Im OK with that, Im OK with criticism for where I stand. I defend their right to criticize me as much as I defend my right to criticize them.

Clooney made headlines on July 10 for publishing an op-ed in The New York Times in which he urged Biden to end his campaign following his disastrous performance against Donald Trump in the first 2024 presidential debate. The op-ed was published only a few weeks after the actor co-hosted a huge Hollywood fundraiser for Biden that raised a record $28 million.

Its devastating to say it, but the Joe Biden I was with three weeks ago at the fundraiser was not the Joe big F-ing deal Biden of 2010. He wasnt even the Joe Biden of 2020. He was the same man we all witnessed at the debate, Clooney wrote at the time. This is about age. Nothing more. But also nothing that can be reversed. We are not going to win in November with this president. On top of that, we wont win the House, and were going to lose the Senate. This isnt only my opinion; this is the opinion of every senator and congress member and governor that Ive spoken with in private. Every single one, irrespective of what he or she is saying publicly.

Biden did end up stepping down as the Democratic nominee, a decision Clooney went on to praise, saying that Biden was saving democracy once again. The actor then endorsed Kamala Harris for president. Speaking at the Venice Film Festival, Clooney said Bidens choice made him the most selfless president since George Washington.

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What should be remembered is the selfless act of someone who, its very hard to let go of power  we know that, weve seen it all over the world  and for someone to say I think theres a better path forward, all the credit goes to him, Clooney said. And thats really the truth  Im just very proud of where we are in the state of the world right now.

Clooney is currently starring on Broadway in Good Night and Good Luck.

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George Clooney singled out Wes Moore as an emerging Democratic leader who is levitating above others, saying that the Maryland governor could be someone we could all join in behind.

He is the guy that has handled this tragedy in Baltimore beautifully, Clooney told CNNs Jake Tapper in an interview Wednesday. He had two tours of duty in Afghanistan, active duty. He speaks sort of beautifully. Hes smart. He ran a hedge fund. He ran the Robin Hood Foundation. Hes a proper leader.

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In an interview tied to his Broadway play Good Night, and Good Luck, based on his 2005 film, Clooney also had praise for Gov. Andy Beshear (D-KY) and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI).

Tapper also asked Clooney about his New York Times op-ed in July, when he called for President Joe Biden to drop out of the 2024 race. Clooney cited Bidens age and deterioration when he joined him for a Los Angeles fundraiser the previous month.

It was a civic duty  Im a Democrat, Democrat in Kentucky, so I get it, [but] when I saw people on my side of the street not telling the truth, I thought that was time to, Clooney said.

He said that people are still angry at him for the op-ed.

RELATED: Trump Celebrity Supporters: Famous Folks In Favor Of The 47th President

You cant demand freedom of speech and then say, But dont say bad things about me, right?  If you believe it, take a stand, stand for it, and then deal with the consequences.

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Clooney also said that he thought it would have been better had there been a mini-primary after Biden ultimately dropped out. He said that Kamala Harris was weighed down by the unpopularity of the Biden administration.

I think we have some really good governors, and I would have liked to have seen a  quick primary, he said. I think we would have sustained it. [Harris] may have come out on top, I dont know.

Clooney said that Democrats have to find somebody rather soon as a key leadership voice, citing the way that Republicans are running through government.

So its our job now to put together a proper team to stand up because we are right now polling very poorly, he said.

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By Felix Light

(Reuters) -Georgia's parliament passed a bill on Wednesday that bans foreign donor organisations from providing grants locally without government consent, amid a growing crackdown on civil society groups in the south Caucasus country.

The bill was unanimously approved by lawmakers of the ruling Georgian Dream party, which is regarded as increasingly anti-Western. Opposition parties have boycotted the legislature since an October parliamentary election they say was fraudulent.

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It requires government approval for monetary or in-kind grants to Georgian organisations and citizens, with violators facing steep fines. It also bans international organisations from arranging events on behalf of Georgian political parties.

The bill comes as part of a broader government clampdown on Georgia's pro-Western opposition, including the passage last year of a law requiring organisations which receive money from overseas to register as "foreign agents."

Bidzina Ivanishvili, a billionaire ex-prime minister widely seen as the country's de facto leader, has repeatedly accused recipients of foreign grants of being controlled by Western intelligence agencies, who he says want to drag Georgia into war with Russia.

Traditionally among the pro-Western and more democratic of the Soviet Union's successor states, Georgia has been gripped by on-and-off large anti-government protests over the past year.

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In November, the ruling party's decision to freeze European Union membership talks until 2028 provoked an ongoing wave of protests, alongside a violent crackdown by authorities.

While it remains an official candidate for EU membership, Georgia's relations with the West have deteriorated, with the U.S., Britain and several European countries sanctioning top Georgian officials.

In a post on X, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called the law "repressive", and said that its acceptance would undermine Georgia's EU candidacy.

Georgian Dream says that it still wants Georgia to eventually join the EU, but also advocates balanced relations with Russia and the preservation of traditional values at home.

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Earlier this week, parliament also passed the first reading of a bill which would give Georgian authorities broad powers to ban opposition parties. Final approval of the bill is not expected until local elections take place later this year.

(Reporting by Felix Light; Editing by Rachna Uppal and Philippa Fletcher)
Tank-riding Nazi sugar bunnies have returned to the shelves of a German bakery this Easter, provoking controversy in its affluent local town.

Cafe Lieb, a bakery in the prosperous south-western city of Tubingen, revived the tradition after it found Second World War-era moulds gathering dust in the basement.

It said that the bunnies are a nostalgic sweet treat for the elderly, but others are not convinced, saying they glorify war and hark back to Germanys Nazi past.

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In an interview with the regional news outlet SWR, Ulrich Buob, the head confectioner at Cafe Lieb, defended the choice of sweets.

Older people say they recognise them from their childhood, and many old people simply want to buy them as a souvenir, he said.

Older people say they recognise the bunnies from their childhood, the cafe has claimed - SWR

The sugar bunnies were made with moulds found in the bakerys basement, some dating from the Second World War - SWR

The expert sugar-spinner also said that the tank-straddling bunnies were relevant in todays climate, with Germany seeking to re-arm the Bundeswehr under Friedrich Merz, the incoming chancellor.

But an anti-war organisation has said that there is nothing cute or cuddly about sugar bunnies, celebrating the most appalling era of German history.

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Reza Schwarz, a member of the Information Centre on Militarisation in Tubingen, said: It is as if people are mourning for the good old war days and I consider that to make a mockery of those who lived through them.

According to German media reports, Cafe Lieb decided to dust off the old moulds, including a few dating from the war period, and make use of them this Easter.

Hermann Leimgruber, the bakery owner, defended the controversial bunnies as tradition, saying its a part of our history and that one doesnt have to turn everything into a scandal.

The cafe has argued the bunnies are relevant to todays climate, with Germany seeking to re-arm the Bundeswehr - SWR

Toys, sweets or other products that glorify the army tend to offend Germany, which remains deeply against the concept of having a strong army because of its Nazi background.

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But the threat from Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine and decision to wage a hybrid war campaign on Germany has prompted a major rethink on defence policies.

After winning Februarys elections, Mr Merz introduced sweeping reforms to the German constitution that will make defence projects exempt from strict limits on government borrowing.

The reforms open the door to potentially unlimited defence spending in Germany, including the mass rearmament of its armed forces.

Germany is back, Mr Merz said as he unveiled his defence plans earlier this year.

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A new global pandemic treaty drafted by the World Health Organization (WHO) will help prevent the spread of deadly viruses such as the coronavirus in future, German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach has said.

"It is no exaggeration to describe this agreement as historic," Lauterbach said.

Thanks to the agreement, forged early on Wednesday, he said information about viruses or other pathogens with pandemic potential will be shared more quickly in the future, enabling action to be taken sooner.

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"It simply increases the likelihood that a local outbreak will never become a pandemic if you have an agreement like this," the health minister said.

Over 190 states agreed to the draft treaty, committing to strengthening global collaboration on prevention and responses to future pandemic threats.

The WHO treaty is also designed to prevent chaotic conditions in the procurement of protective materials and the unfair distribution of vaccines - both points of criticism of the handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

Lauterbach expressed regret that the United States no longer participates in WHO negotiations and plans to leave the body in January under President Donald Trump.

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"Of course, all of this has been significantly weakened by the planned withdrawal of the United States," he said.

The draft treaty will now be submitted to the World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of the WHO, in May for consideration.

The treaty would be binding only in countries that choose to ratify it.
Moscow's ambassador to Germany, Sergey Nechayev, attended a World War II memorial outside Berlin on Wednesday, amid a tense debate over the participation of Russian representatives in state events during the war in Ukraine.

The silent commemoration in the German state of Brandenburg near Berlin remembered the Battle of Seelow Heights, considered the largest battle on German soil during World War II.

It was fought shortly before the war ended and left tens of thousands of soldiers on both the German and Soviet sides dead.

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The event had stirred political divisions after the German Foreign Office issued a handout advising against inviting Russian representatives - a move which state lawmakers in Brandenburg said dishonoured fallen Soviet soldiers.

According to the local administration, Russian representatives were not actively invited, but Nechayev was also not prevented from attending.

The Belarusian envoy to Germany, Andrei Shuplyak, also took part in the commemoration.

Nechayev expressed regret over the exclusion of Russian representatives from the event.

"The considerations of the immediate political situation must not take precedence over the questions of historical memory and the historical reconciliation of the peoples of our countries," he told the pro-Kremlin newspaper Izvestia.

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The Foreign Office recommendation, seen by dpa, said Russian and Belarusian representatives should not be invited to commemorations by the federal, state and local governments.

The office wants to prevent Russia from instrumentalizing World War II to justify its war against Ukraine.

"It is to be expected from the Russian side that it will be exploited and improperly associated with the justification of its war of aggression against Ukraine," a Foreign Office spokesman said.

Members of Brandenburg's state government, which is led by the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) and the populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), had previously expressed outrage at the Foreign Office suggestion.

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"It is a diplomatic - to put it cautiously - not very friendly act towards the descendants of the people buried here," BSW parliamentary group leader Niels-Olaf Luders said.

"To want to forbid them to go to the graves of their ancestors is absolutely unacceptable," he said.

SPD member of the state parliament, Sina Schonbrunn, called the Foreign Office's recommendation "absurd."

"Of course everything can be exploited, but for us today it should be above all about commemorating the dead," she told German radio station rbb inforadio.

Russian Ambassador to Germany, Sergei Nechaev, attends a commemoration ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Seelow Heights. Soeren Stache/dpa
The German government has helped 24 German nationals and their close family members leave the embattled Gaza Strip, the Foreign Office confirmed on Wednesday.

According to a spokeswoman in Berlin, the group will travel by bus through Israel and the West Bank to Jordan, where they are scheduled to board a flight to Germany.

The evacuation was carried out in close coordination with Israeli authorities, as with previous operations, she said.

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Earlier this month, 19 Germans and their relatives were able to leave Gaza under similar arrangements.

Departures remain rare and difficult

Leaving the Gaza Strip  which has been under blockade for nearly two decades and is home to around 2 million people  has become increasingly difficult since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023.

Departures are only possible through a complex and lengthy clearance process, with Palestinians holding foreign citizenship having a slightly higher chance of approval.

Evacuation efforts ongoing

The Foreign Office said there are still German citizens and their families trapped in Gaza. "The German government continues to work on enabling their departure," the spokeswoman said.

Much of the Gaza Strip lies in ruins due to war, which began with the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
Tokens associated with artificial intelligence (AI) fared worse than the biggest cryptocurrencies over the past 24 hours. The relative weakness comes amid unusual activity in put options tied to shares of Nvidia (NVDA), the chipmaker that on Monday said it will will start building its AI supercomputers in the U.S.

While bitcoin (BTC), the largest cryptocurrency by market value, added 0.6% over 24 hours to $85,500, TAO, the token of blockchain-based machine learning network Bittensor, traded 3.6% lower at $239 and decentralized GPU rendering platform Render Network's RNDR token was 1.7% down at $3.93, according to data source Coingecko. Other tokens, including FET, SEI and GRT lost 2%.

Nvidia short-dated put options saw notable activity on Monday, according to data tracked by Convex Value. The action was concentrated in the $100 strike put options expiring on April 17, April 25 and May 2. Additionally, there was activity in the $60 put expiring on April 17 and $50 and $85 strike puts expiring on May 16.

Convex Value called the activity in these so-called out-of-the-money put options at strikes below the Santa Clara, California-based company's spot price of $110 unusual. "My bet would be [these are] protective plays," an analyst at the platform told CoinDesk.

Buying a put option is akin to buying insurance against market slides. Traders typically snap them up when looking to profit from or hedge their spot/futures bets from a potential market decline.

"Someone knows something," Substack-based analytics service Merlin Capital posted on X.
Outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz paid a farewell visit to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Warsaw on Wednesday, just three weeks before the scheduled end of his term in office.

According to sources close to the chancellor, the private talks lasted around four hours. No official details about the content of the meeting were disclosed.

The visit was announced on short notice last week and is considered unusual for a chancellor in the final, transitional phase of office - especially outside the context of international summits.

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Since the inaugural session of the new Bundestag in late March, Scholz has been serving in an acting capacity only.

Conservative leader Friedrich Merz is to become Germany's next chancellor following the parliamentary elections in February. Scholz is set to formally hand over the reins of office on May 6.

Poland is currently in the midst of an election campaign, with the first round of the presidential election scheduled for May 18.

Merz had previously stated before the Bundestag election that he plans to visit Poland and France on his first day as chancellor.

Merz aims to establish a new foundation for German-Polish relations with a friendship treaty, which he envisions concluding on the 35th anniversary of the 1991 bilateral Treaty on Good Neighbourliness on June 17, 2026.
Outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is set to visit Poland on Wednesday for a farewell meeting with Prime Minister Donald Tusk, focusing on German-Polish relations and European and international issues, according to official information.

The announcement of Scholz's visit last week was unexpected.

Since the inaugural session at the end of March of the new lower house of the German parliament, the Bundestag, Scholz has been serving in a caretaker role. Foreign trips are uncommon in the final phase of a chancellor's term unless they involve international meetings.

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Poland is currently in the midst of an election campaign, with the first round of the presidential election scheduled for May 18.

Scholz is expected to transfer his duties to conservative leader Friedrich Merz on May 6.

Merz had previously stated before the Bundestag election that he plans to visit Poland and France on his first day as chancellor.

Merz aims to establish a new foundation for German-Polish relations with a friendship treaty, which he envisions concluding on the 35th anniversary of the 1991 bilateral Treaty on Good Neighbourliness on June 17, 2026.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at a press conference on Sept. 16, 2024 in Rome, Italy. Credit - Antonio MasielloGetty Images

Its no mystery that Donald Trump likes Giorgia Meloni.

After meeting the Italian far-right Prime Minister for the first time in Paris late last year, he described her as a real live wire, with whom he could work to straighten out the world a little bit.

After a second meeting at Mar-a Lago in January, he called her a fantastic woman who has really taken Europe by storm. Later that month, she was the only E.U. head of government invited to Trumps inauguration.

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No wonder speculation started that she could become Europes Trump whisperer.

Since his election, she has carefully positioned herself as the closest mainstream European leader to Trump, boosting her credentials as a bridge between the new U.S. administration and Europe.

Her meeting with the U.S. President on Thursday in Washington will be a first test of this role, where Meloni will need to walk a diplomatic tightrope. The high-stakes meeting comes in the wake of Trumps 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs for the E.U.

Its a difficult moment, lets see how it goes over the coming hours, she said at an event of Italian entrepreneurs on Tuesday morning. I feel no pressure about the next two days, as you can imagine, she added with a pinch of irony.

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Meloni undoubtedly has ideological affinities with Trump and her views on matters such as immigration, LGTBQ rights, and abortion overlap with his.

If her fiery rhetoric against immigration and gender ideology makes her a kindred spirit, she leads a country whose interests are inextricably tied to those of the E.U.the entity which was formed to screw the U.S., to borrow Trumps words.

Over these past few months, she has steered clear of any direct criticism of Trump, trying to reconcile the growing gulf between her ideological instincts, which lie with Washington, and Italys strategic position within Europe. Part of this approach reflects the historical importance of Italys close ties with the U.S., which it has used as an insurance policy against French and German dominance of the E.U.

To this end, she opted to have a more conciliatory tone than her European partners on several occasions. She always showed her unwavering support to Ukraine and to its President but didnt condemn the extraordinary dressing-down Volodymyr Zelensky faced at White House in front of the world's media. Her reaction to that fiasco was to propose an immediate summit between the U.S., European states, and allies in order to speak frankly about how we intend to address todays major challenges, starting with Ukraine, which we have defended together in these years.

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But it is on the economic side of things where Melonis delicate balancing act will face its stiffest test.

Italy is the E.U.s third largest exporter to the U.S. and maintains a nearly 40 billion trade surplus, behind only Germany and Ireland. Major businesses are nervous and her Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini has called on Meloni to put her countrys interests first and above those of Europe. But that would divide the 27-member bloc as it scrambles to convince Trump to stand down on tariffs that would jeopardize Europes economyand Italian exporters.

The E.U. has offered the U.S. a zero-for-zero tariff scheme for industrial goods, a similar agreement the pair came close to a decade ago in their discussions of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, which was then scuppered by Trump in his first term. But a trade deal seems a distant prospect.

E.U. officials are struggling to negotiate with their U.S. counterparts. The Trump Administration seems not to be engaging in the initial discussions on the tariffs, as the E.U. Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic put it after meeting top U.S. trade officials in Washington on Monday.

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Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission that oversees trade negotiations, has been unable to speak with Trump since he took office, a spokesperson told TIME. She has been in regular contact with Meloni and the two have been coordinating her White House visit, they added.

Meloni previously said in a speech to Italian lawmakers that she wasnt sure it is necessarily wise to respond to tariffs with tariffs. But she has also often fallen in line with the E.U. on trade. Her country, for example, voted to impose reciprocal tariffs in response to Trumps steel and aluminum levies.



Meloni could offer to buy more liquified natural gassomething Trump has demanded from Europeor American arms. With a domestic defense budget of only 1.5% of GDP, Italy is one of the main laggards within NATO.

Perhaps such offers would be enough to convince Trump to sit at the negotiating table with the E.U.

In any case, she will have a second opportunity to plead her case this week. Meloni will be back in Rome on Friday to meet U.S. Vice President JD Vance, whose attack on European values at the Munich Security Conference in February was condemned by the E.U. but defended by Meloni.



If her pragmatism prevails over her ideological instincts, and she defends European interests rather than just Italys short-term ones, Meloni will have some chances to obtain results from these meetings.



This will be good news for Europe. And for Italy.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
Police say Rachael Scott, 13, of Altamonte Springs, has been missing since Tuesday night. FDLE issued a Missing Child Alert for Scott.

Update: 6:30 a.m. Thursday:

Rachael Scott has been recovered in good health, according to Altamonte Springs Police Department.

Original story:

The Altamonte Springs Police Department is searching for a missing girl who has autism.

Officers say 13-year-old Rachael Scott was last seen in the area of Wymore Road around 5:15 p.m. Tuesday.

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Her family said shes not familiar with that area.

Police describe Scott as:

Age: 13 years

Height: 5 ft. 2 in.

Weight: 137 lbs.

Hair: Black, curly

Eyes: Brown

Clothing: Last seen carrying pink backpack with strawberry design and wearing a black hoodie

If you see her, call 911 or Altamonte Springs Police Department at 407-339-2441.

Police released security camera pictures of Rachael from the Palm Springs. They were taken Tuesday shortly before she went missing and how what she was wearing.

Photos of 13-year-old Rachael Scott in the Palm Springs area shortly before she went missing.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement has also issued a Missing Child Alert for Scott.

Please share this post! A Florida MISSING CHILD Alert has been issued for 13yo Rachael Scott, last seen in the area of the 230th block of Wymore Road in Altamonte Springs, Florida. Rachael's hair may be slicked back, and she may be carrying a pink backpack with strawberries on pic.twitter.com/1Rl4vctujs  FDLE (@fdlepio) April 16, 2025

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Thirty years ago, Tina Marie Cribbs, a 34-year-old mother of two, gave a handsome stranger she met in a bar in Gibsonton a ride back to the carnival lot where he was working,

At 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 15, pending any last-minute appeals, Glen E. Rogers will be put to death for her stabbing murder.

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday signed a death warrant for Rogers' execution, according to court records.

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If the execution goes as planned, Rogers will be the fifth execution in Florida this year. A fourth Florida execution, for convicted murderer Jeffrey G. Hutchinson, is scheduled for May 1.

Rogers was sentenced to death for Cribbs' murder in 1997 after a unanimous jury recommendation. He was also sentenced to life for robbery with a weapon and five years for grand theft of a motor vehicle.

The Florida Supreme Court shot down a direct appeal in 2001. Since then, Rogers has filed multiple motions for postconviction relief and writs of habeas corpus. All of them were denied.

Here's what to know.

Who is Glen E. Rogers?

Glen Edward Rogers, 62, was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death in both Florida and California. Nicknamed "The Casanova Killer" or "The Cross Country Killer," he is also suspected of several other murders across the country and at one point claimed he'd killed nearly 70 people, although he later said he was kidding.

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Rogers worked as a driver for the school district in his native city, Hamilton, Ohio and was a confidential informant for the local narcotics unit for about four years, according to court records. In an appeal, his attorney said he was also diagnosed with a chronic ambulatory psychotic disturbance with schizophrenia, paranoia and mania from previous brain injuries that he self-medicated with alcohol and drugs.

Rogers moved out of Ohio after he was suspected of killing a man in Hamilton in 1993. In 1995, he was named as a suspect in the killings of four women  all in their 30s with reddish hair  in California, Mississippi, Florida, and Louisiana.

Rogers was placed on the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list and was finally arrested in Waco, Kentucky, after a 13-mile high-speed chase that caught national attention. He was sentenced to death in 1997 for the stabbing murder of Tina Marie Cribbs. He was also found guilty of armed robbery and auto theft.

In 1999, Rogers was tried in California for raping and strangling Sandra Gallagher and sentenced to death again.

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Rogers also repeatedly claimed to have killed Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman in California in 1994. In a 2012 documentary, "My Brother the Serial Killer," Rogers' brother Clay and a criminal profiler who corresponded with Rogers said the convicted man claimed he'd been hired by O. J. Simpson. The Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement that they knew who killed Simpson and Goldman and it wasn't Rogers.

Roges has also been the subject of several other documentaries.

How did Tina Marie Cribbs die?

When Rogers fled Ohio, he spent time in four other states and was suspected or convicted of killing women in each one.

Tina Marie Cribbs, 34, was the third. On Nov. 5, 1995, according to court records, Rogers and Cribbs were seen leaving a bar in Gibsonton, Florida, after he asked her for a ride. Two days later, cleaning staff at the Tampa 8 Inn found her body in a bathtub in Rogers' room, stabbed in the chest and buttocks.

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A medical examiner testified in the trial that the knife wounds were both more than 8 inches deep and the knife was twisted before it was pulled out, according to court records. The medical examiner said she may have lived from 20 to 30 minutes or more after the stabbing.

Rogers had paid for an extra night and asked not to be disturbed, witnesses said. After Cribbs' wallet was found in a rest area, investigators matched two of Rogers' fingerprints on a receipt inside with those found in Rogers' room. His watch was found under the body.

He was arrested on Nov. 13 in Kentucky after Rogers was spotted driving Cribbs' white Ford Festiva. Officials testified that they found the key to the locked hotel room in his luggage.

Who else did Glen Rogers kill?

Rogers is a suspect or has been convicted in the following cases:

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Mark Peters, Hamilton, Ohio: Found dead in the Rogers family's cabin in 1994, tied to a chair. Peters had previously given Rogers a place to stay, according to his brother Clay, who suggested police search the cabin.

Sandra Gallagher, Los Angeles, California : Gallagher's body was discovered in her burning truck parked near Rogers' apartment in Van Nuys the day after she was seen with him at a nearby bar. Rogers was convicted of her murder in 1999 while already serving time for Cribbs' death.

Linda Price, Jackson, Mississippi : Price's sister Carroll reported seeing Rogers with Linda, a single mother of two, at the Mississippi State Fair and the two briefly lived together. Price was later found dead in a bathtub in her apartment.

Tina Marie Cribbs, Tampa: Found in a hotel bathroom, also in a bathtub, stabbed to death.

Andy Jiles Sutton, Bossier City, Louisiana: Found dead on a punctured waterbed in her apartment.

When is Glen E. Rogers scheduled to be executed?

Rogers' execution is scheduled for 6 p.m. EDT on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at Florida State Prison in Raiford.

How many death row inmates has Florida executed?

From 1924 until May 1964, the state of Florida has executed 196 people. There were no executions from May 1964 until May 1976.

In 1972, the United States Supreme Court struck down the death penalty, but it was reinstated in 1976. Florida has carried out 107 executions since then.

When is the next execution in Florida?

War veteran Jeffrey G. Hutchinson, convicted of murdering his girlfriend, Renee Flaherty, and her children, Geoffrey, Amanda and Logan Flaherty in Crestview in 1998, is scheduled to be put to death at 6 p.m. EDT on Thursday, May 1, 2025, according to a filing on the Florida Supreme Court website.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Glen E. Rogers, 'Casanova Killer,' to be executed for Florida murder
Deusdedit Ruhangariyo

ICT



Around the World: Tree rings show mercury pollution from Peru's illegal mining, Air New Zealand unveils Maori, Pasifika-inspired new uniforms, and access to food in remote communities receives critical boost in Australia

PERU: Tree rings show mercury pollution from mining

New research has found that certain tropical trees in the Peruvian Amazon can serve as indicators of mercury pollution from gold mining, providing a cost-effective alternative to expensive air monitoring equipment, Mongabay reported on April 8.



An estimated 16 million people globally engage in artisanal and small-scale gold mining, much of it illegal and tied to serious environmental and health risks. In regions like the Peruvian Amazon, mercury is commonly used to extract gold from ore. The resulting gold-mercury amalgam is burned, releasing toxic fumes that endanger both miners and surrounding ecosystems.



While past studies have largely focused on mercurys impact on aquatic environments where it bioaccumulates in fish and threatens the people who consume them, this new research turns attention to mercury pollution on land.



Monitoring airborne mercury on land has traditionally relied on costly equipment, limiting its use in remote or under-resourced areas. To address this, researchers explored an alternative: analyzing tree cores. Like rings in temperate trees, growth rings in certain tropical species can reveal historical exposure to airborne chemicals.



One challenge is that most tropical trees dont form distinct annual rings, explained Jacqueline Gerson, lead author of the study and an assistant professor at Cornell University. But we identified three species known to produce growth rings and sampled them.



Of the three tree types sampled, only the fig tree (Ficus insipida) reliably produced rings. Core samples were collected in 2019 and dated back to 1941, providing nearly 80 years of environmental data.



The team collected samples from five locations spaced about 50 kilometers (30 miles) apart, three near active gold mining and two farther away. Four trees were sampled per site, and their mercury content was compared to data from passive air samplers nearby.



The results showed a clear link. Where you see elevated mercury concentrations in the air, youre seeing elevated concentrations reflected within the tree itself, Gerson said.



Trees located closer to mining sites had higher mercury levels than those farther away. At the most contaminated sites, researchers could track mercury increases over time. At more distant sites, however, changes over time were less apparent.



According to Miles Silman, a biology professor at Wake Forest University who was not involved in the research, this breakthrough offers a scalable solution: The takeaway is that now we have a way to monitor Hg [mercury] in the air anywhere in the world, making a problem that was difficult and expensive cheap and accessible.



Gerson added that this method could help countries measure their progress under the Minamata Convention on Mercury, a global treaty aimed at reducing human-caused mercury pollution. I think its a really promising tool, she said.

NEW ZEALAND: Maori-inspired uniforms

Air New Zealand has unveiled its new cabin crew attire, assuring the public that the updated designs respectfully celebrate Maori culture without appropriating it, Te Ao Maori News reported on April 10.



Created in collaboration with acclaimed Maori tamoko artist Te Ringatu Netana (Ngapuhi, Ngati Wai, Te Arawa) and fashion designer Emilia Wickstead (No te Moana nui a Kiwa), the design partnership produced a uniform that blends Air New Zealands values with the cultural richness of Aotearoa.



Bari Mio, Air New Zealands Maori development spokesperson who was involved in selecting the designers, emphasized the airlines commitment to avoiding cultural appropriation and to genuinely representing Aotearoa and te iwi Maori through thoughtful and respectful design choices.



Its crucial that we carefully consider how we incorporate Maori elements, including bringing in Maori artists through ethical and respectful processes, said Mio. He added that Air New Zealands unique culture helps distinguish Aotearoa globally.



Dr. Bobby Luke, a Maori fashion designer and university lecturer, voiced concerns about large companies using Maori imagery and taonga, stressing the need for processes that are culturally informed.



Key garments in the collection include:



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 The Fine Print  Dress: Features a tui knot neckline and kowhai print, inspired by Ngatoro-i-Rangis story, symbolizing protection, responsibility and belonging.



 The Collective Thread  Shirt: A bold, inclusive design with the tui knot neckline, wearable by all staff across roles.



 The Wrap Around  Trench: A tailored piece with a purple pinstripe, blending craftsmanship with comfort.



 The Runway Cut  Waistcoat: A new addition for male crew and ground staff, embodying mana and authority.



 The Woven One  Ie Faitaga: A cultural garment to be trialed by Pacific staff, celebrating the heritage of the Pacific community.

AUSTRALIA: Feeding remote communities

Improvements to the Gunbalanya store in Arnhem Land have been announced as part of the federal governments efforts to address food insecurity in remote communities, National Indigenous Times reported on April 11.



Earlier this year, the federal government pledged to ensure that 30 essential grocery items in 76 remote community stores across Australia would be sold at city-equivalent prices. As part of that initiative, they also committed to boosting warehouse capacity to stabilize vulnerable supply chains.



These efforts are part of a broader 10-year National Strategy aimed at enhancing food security in remote First Nations communities and ensuring consistent access to affordable, nutritious food.



On Thursday, the government announced over $341,000 in funding for upgrades at Gunbalanyas Adjumarllarl Store, located 300 kilometres east of Darwin and 60 kilometres northeast of Jabiru. The funds will be used to purchase new refrigeration and freezer units, as well as upgrading the stores point-of-sale system.



This is great news for the residents of Gunbalanya and another example of the Albanese Labor Government investing in remote communities to improve the lives of First Nations people, said Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy. Our investment will strengthen Adjumarllarl Stores capability to supply Gunbalanya residents with nutritious food all year round, including during the wet season.



The upgrade is one of 15 announced through the $9.6 million Store Efficiency and Resilience Package, which was agreed to before the election was called.



According to National Indigenous Times, Lingiari MP Marion Scrymgour, who is defending her seat, welcomed the investment: Every person across the country deserves access to nutritious and healthy food all year round. This investment for the people of Gunbalanya will enable Adjumarllarl Store to provide this need to the community.



While the opposition has criticized the government's approach to tackling food insecurity, Indigenous Affairs spokesperson Jacinta Nampijinpa Price argued that the government cant continue to subsidize their way out of the cost-of-living crisis. However, critics have also noted a lack of concrete policy proposals from the coalition in support of Indigenous communities.



In response, McCarthy emphasized the importance of bipartisan support and the broader purpose of the funding: This package is not just building resilience, its an investment in the health and wellbeing of First Nations people, and part of our broader commitment to Closing the Gap.



Other stores receiving similar support include Maningrida, Kalkarindji, Timber Creek, Lajamanu, and several stores across Queensland, South Australia, and the Northern Territory.

My final thoughts

My final thoughts are in Peru where the use of mercury in illegal gold mining is a serious threat to both people and the planet. In places like the Peruvian Amazon, miners, often driven by poverty, are exposed daily to toxic fumes as they burn mercury to extract gold.



Its a silent crisis thats poisoning communities and damaging ecosystems with little oversight or accountability.



Mercury doesnt just vanish. Once released, it settles into the land and water, entering the food chain and putting entire communities at risk. It causes long-term health issues, especially for children, and its effects can last for generations. Whats worse, most of the focus has been on water pollution, while mercury in the air, right where people live and work, has been harder to track.



Thats why this new research is so important. By using tropical trees like the fig tree (Ficus insipida), scientists have found a cheaper, natural way to detect mercury pollution over time. Tree rings are acting like environmental time machines, revealing decades of contamination in areas close to mining.



The way forward is clear. We need stronger enforcement against illegal mining and real investment in safer, sustainable alternatives.



Local communities must be equipped with affordable tools, like tree core monitoring to track pollution and demand accountability. This is about justice, health and protecting the future.

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By Tim Hepher

(Reuters) -Europe's Airbus reaffirmed forecasts for the year but cautioned on Tuesday that it was still assessing the impact of trade tensions on its operations - simultaneously hit by an engine shortage that has forced it to store up undelivered jets.

Guillaume Faury, CEO of the world's largest planemaker, told shareholders Airbus was grappling with a narrowing set of supply problems while looking for clarity on how tariffs would affect costs, deliveries and the fate of a recent boom in jet demand.

"Understanding and anticipating what the (tariff) situation will mean for demand ... that's something we need to understand better and then adapt our plans for 2025 and beyond, if and as much as necessary, as things clarify and stabilise," he said.

"There's a lot of things happening and we are assessing with our supply chain, with our customers, with our plants, what this is likely to mean and what are the mitigations," he added.

Faury was speaking in Amsterdam shortly before being elected for a third three-year term at the helm of Europe's largest aerospace company, which has overtaken Boeing in civil jet output as the U.S. planemaker deals with an internal crisis.

He reiterated that 2025 guidance in February did not include the impact of what - at that time - were potential new tariffs.

U.S. President Donald Trump imposed sweeping import duties this month before partly suspending his reciprocal tariffs for 90 days for most countries. The European Union is expected to hit back at some industries, with the combined tensions broadening airlines' concerns over the impact on jet deliveries.

SPIRIT DEAL CLOSE

Airbus is one of several aerospace companies that excluded trade from forecasts, meaning investors will be watching for any changes in tone in their quarterly updates in coming weeks.

The industry is meanwhile trying to ramp up production to meet strong demand for aircraft since the pandemic.

Faury said Airbus was facing a more limited number of problem cases than in the past, but still faced delays from a handful of large suppliers including French-U.S. venture CFM International, the world's largest engine maker by units sold.

"Engines are a major challenge; CFM is significantly behind the curve," he said.

CFM, co-owned by GE Aerospace and France's Safran, declined to comment.

Earlier this month, Reuters reported that a handful of undelivered planes were seen parked outside Airbus' main factory in Toulouse including a China Eastern jet pictured without engines.
North Dakota lawmakers meet in the House chamber. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

Gov. Kelly Armstrong signed two bills last week that will change laws surrounding political communications and advertisements in North Dakota.

House Bill 1167, sponsored by Rep. Jonathan Warrey, R-Casselton, would require a disclaimer in capital letters on any political communication or political advertisement created wholly or in part by artificial intelligence tools.

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The bill would include advertisements and communications involving political candidates, political committees, political parties and initiated ballot committees or petitions.

With capital letters, (House Bill) 1167 is a step forward in setting perimeters for the use of AI within political communications, said Rep. Austen Schauer, R-West Fargo.

The House unanimously passed the bill in February. The Senate unanimously passed the bill in March.

Another bill signed by Armstrong, House Bill 1204, expands state law against publishing knowingly false political advertisements.

If a person knowingly, or with reckless disregard for its truth publishes an untrue, deceptive or misleading political advertisement or news release, they could be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor, according to the bill.

The bill expands the types of media covered under the law to include text messages, phone calls and social media posts, in addition to radio, television, newspapers, pamphlets and billboards, among others.

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The bill was amended on the floor of the Senate by Sen. Sean Cleary, R-Bismarck, former campaign manager for North Dakota U.S. Rep. Julie Fedorchak.

On the day of the 2024 primary election, anonymous text messages were sent to North Dakota voters saying Fedorchak had dropped out of the race, which she did not.

Knowingly spreading falsehoods about an opponent undermines the integrity of our elections, Cleary said.

On the House floor, Rep. Colette Brown, D-Warwick, said, in todays political climate, misinformation can spread faster than ever before.

Whether on social media, television or traditional campaign materials, this bill ensures that when someone deliberately publishes falsehoods about a candidate, a ballot measure, or any election-related issue, they can be held responsible, Brown said.

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The bill passed the House unanimously in February and the Senate on a 45-1 vote in March.

The new laws will take effect Aug. 1.

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Gov. Maura Healey and several local mayors blasted the Trump administration over its apparent decision to terminate $90 million in disaster prevention aid that had been earmarked for more than a dozen Bay State communities.

In an announcement on Wednesday, Healey was highly critical of the federal governments cancellation of funds from the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant program, which provides disaster prevention aid to municipalities across the state.

In recent years, Massachusetts communities have been devastated by severe storms, flooding, and wildfires. We rely on FEMA funding to not only rebuild but also take steps to protect against future extreme weather, Healey said. But the Trump Administration has suddenly ripped the rug out from under cities and towns that had been promised funding to help them upgrade their roads, bridges, buildings, and green spaces to mitigate risk and prevent disasters in the future. This makes our communities less safe and will increase costs for residents, municipalities, and businesses.

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Earlier this month, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said it was ending the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, calling the move part of efforts to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse.

The BRIC program was yet another example of a wasteful and ineffective FEMA program. It was more concerned with political agendas than helping Americans affected by natural disasters, the agency said in a statement.

The following municipalities and agencies are expected to be impacted by the cancellation of this program, according to Healeys office:

Boston: $22,894,600 for Resilient Moakley Park

Acton: $67,500 for Jenks Conservation Land Culvert Improvements

Chelsea and Everett: $49,999,999 for Island End River Coastal Flood Resilience Project

Hull: $49,500 to enhance Hulls Existing Adopted Codes

Hinsdale: $81,720 for Powering the Hinsdale Public Safety Complex

Wilbraham: $150,000 for Glenn Drive Pump Station Generator

Lynnfield: $80,302.50 for Implementation of Permitting System

Longmeadow: $74,156 for Building Code Activities

Grafton: $37,500 for Merriam Road Culvert Improvement Project Scoping

Rockport: $320,000 for Thatcher Road Corridor Resilient Design

Newburyport: $50,250 for Drinking Water and Watershed Regulations Assessment & Update

Northbridge: $37,500 for Permitting Process Upgrade

Whately: $63,750 for Christian Lane Stormwater Flooding

Brockton: $124,050 for Keith Field Culvert Project Scoping

North Adams: $144,000 for Galvin Road Culvert Improvements Project Scoping

Taunton: $195,000 for Cobb Brook Culvert Study Project Scoping

Gosnold: $75,000 for Protection of Cuttyhunk Islands Water Supply Project Scoping

Rockport: $8,437.50 for Building Code Capabilities Enhancement

Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission: $321,021 for Regional Building Code Inspection and Training

Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR): $11,969,908 for Tenean Beach/Conley Street Resilient Waterfront Project in Boston and $505,516 for Building Code Higher Flood Standards

Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA): $675,000 for Massachusetts Building Code Access, $300,000 for Statewide Voluntary Buyout Program Feasibility Study & Pilot Program, and $1,873,013 for State Management Costs

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The impacted cities and towns have been working closely with FEMA for years to advance these projects, which the federal government had already appropriated funds to support, according to Healeys office.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu ripped the Trump administrations decision as unlawful.

The Trump administrations unlawful cancellation of nearly $35 million in federal grants for flood protection projects at Moakley Park and Tenean Beach will put jobs, people, and property at risk, Wu said in a statement. These crucial projects follow years of community planning for critical access to open space while securing vulnerable flood paths so that thousands of families in the surrounding neighborhoods would be protected from storm surge and coastal flooding. We will fight to restore this funding to protect our communities.

Chelsea City Manager Fidel Maltez said the loss of funding puts thousands of residents at risk.

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Chelsea is an environmental justice community that supports a significant share of the regions essential infrastructure and services, Maltez said in a statement. The loss of BRIC funding for the Island End River Flood Barrier project puts over $7 billion in annual economic activityand the safety of more than 5,000 residents living in the floodplainat risk. We urge the administration to reconsider and restore this critical investment in frontline communities.

Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria warned that the decision could prove crippling to the regional economy.

Losing the FEMA funding that was initially approved in 2018 under the Trump Administration means not being able to address critical flooding that often threatens thousands of residential homes, access to our regional supply of fresh produce as well as a major and vital transportation corridor to the North Shore, DeMaria said in a statement. In addition to crippling our regional economy, this flooding is expected to happen almost weekly within five years and would cause the release of petrochemicals and hazardous materials that had been isolated for public health and safety.

Hull Town Manager Jennifer Constable criticized the Trump administration as short-sighted.

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The Town of Hull appreciates the support and efforts of the Healey/Driscoll Administration in response to the short-sighted and unprecedented actions of the Trump administration, Constable said in a statement. Ending the BRIC program eliminates an important tool to coastal communities who are working diligently to build resiliency and mitigate the impacts of natural disasters on their communities. Providing funding to take mitigating measures against crises realized from natural disasters is both fiscally and programmatically sound planning and governing.

Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper noted that grant funds have become more important in recent years, given the severe rise in extreme weather events caused by climate change.

Climate change cannot be ignored, Tepper warned.

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Millions of peoples passports and driving licences were left at risk by cyber security failings in Britains digital identity scheme, The Telegraph can reveal.

Senior civil servants overseeing the One Login system allowed developers full access to the system, some of whom did not have the highest level of security clearance that is usually required, according to documents reviewed by The Telegraph.

The access level allowed developers to theoretically build backdoors into the system that could have allowed them to access personal data, though there is no suggestion that this happened in practice.

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However, concerns about the lack of vetting were raised internally, and security experts said the allegations were serious.

Officials face claims that they ignored internal concerns and disciplined those who raised the alarm.

Some of the work on the 300m system was also outsourced to Romania, a country identified as one of the greatest cyber criminal threats in the world by researchers.

Referred to within Government as the digital identity system, One Login is key to ministers hopes of modernising the state.

First announced in 2021 and backed by more than 300m of taxpayer funding, One Login is designed to smooth access to hundreds of government services, retaining digital documents including an individuals driving licence.

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One Login processes sensitive personal and biometric data for 3m citizens who can use it to do everything from apply for an Armed Forces Veterans Cards to cancel a lost passport. Millions more citizens are expected to use the service as it expands.

It is designed to replace the Government Gateway, an online portal used to collect trillions of pounds of revenue for HMRC and to access all benefits including pensions.

Launching the Gov UK Digital Wallet last month, Peter Kyle, the science minister, said the system was underpinned by the security and identity verification measures of Gov UK One Login, meaning users can be assured documents can only be accessed by the right person.

However, The Telegraph understands that significant security risks were identified internally about the programme, which is being developed by the Government Digital Service (GDS).

Peter Kyle, the science minister, launched the Gov UK Digital Wallet last month - Hannah McKay/Reuters

In one month alone more than 10,000 critical security vulnerabilities were detected across the One Login system by an Amazon Web Services monitoring tool, according to documents seen by The Telegraph.

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An internal audit from September 2023 also found that an estimated 39pc of highest-level accesses to the system were made by staff lacking so-called SC level security clearance  which is normally required to work on personal data in a critical government project.

Clearance is only granted after a thorough investigation of a candidates criminal record, credit history and personnel records.

If one goes rogue that can be a disaster

Steven Murdoch, professor of security engineering at University College London, said a lack of thorough vetting of developers given so-called God mode access to the system was a serious risk.

He said: If just one goes rogue then that can be a disaster. Its more serious than if the CEO goes rogue.

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Concerns were also raised internally about the outsourcing of work overseas by contractors, including to Romania.

Oxford University researchers last year named Romania as amongst the worlds key cyber crime hotspots after producing a cyber crime index that ranks countries by their threat level.

After the issues were raised with the Cabinet Office, management at the GDS were accused of sidelining the staff member who raised the concern and investigated them.

Tom Read, the former GDS chief executive, is alleged to have said a civil servant who raised the alarm was engaged in disruptive and non-collegiate whistleblowing about the cyber security posture of our One Login programme, adding that these are not values the Cabinet Office aspires to.

Bad news doesnt travel up

Prof Murdoch said: This is what happened in the Horizon scandal: a lot of bad things were known but never made it up the hierarchy.

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Its concerning to hear. Bad news doesnt travel up if people would rather not tell the unhappy story that harms their own promotion prospects.

Mr Read has since left the Civil Service and taken up a post in the private sector at Serco, a major UK outsourcing contractor. Serco declined to comment.

Lord Lucas, who sits on the Lords science and technology committee, called for an external review of One Logins security to reassure us that there is no possibility of compromise.

He said: Oversight of our national IT security needs urgent improvement.

Changing cyber landscape

A government spokesman said: These concerns are dated and relate to the technology in its infancy, which has moved on considerably in the intervening years.

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As the public rightly expect, protecting the security of government services and the data and privacy of users to keep pace with the changing cyber threat landscape is paramount.

We are fully compliant with UK data protection and privacy laws  including UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018  adhere to National Cyber Security Centre advice, and operate a three lines of defence process.

This ensures data is protected, fraud is deterred and detected, and threats are monitored and responded to.

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What happens when you combine Palantir  the not-at-all evil AI company named after the spying orbs from "The Lord of the Rings"  with an immigration agency that's disappearing US residents to a South American internment camp?

The makings of one hell of a surveillance state, that's what.

Bombshell reporting by 404 Media just revealed a massive contract between US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Palantir, to the tune of tens of millions of dollars.

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Per 404, the contract tasks Palantir with tweaking ICE's Investigative Case Management system (ICM) to allow for the "complete target analysis of known populations." It also assigns Palantir with ongoing maintenance duties for the massive database, which contains real-time tracking tools, visa records, and data from other agencies including the FBI, CIA, DEA, and ATF.

The ICM allows agents to sort people by "hundreds of highly specific categories," according to 404, which caught a glimpse of the database last week. These include physical traits like race, eye color, tattoos, administrative data like social security numbers, employment address, and bankruptcy filing, as well as port of entry and resident status, in addition to "hundreds more" criteria.

It's part of the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS's) $96 million contract with Palantir, a five-year agreement signed back in 2022.

The revelation comes as the DHS under Trump  of which ICE is an investigation arm  wages a brutal campaign of disappearances and deportations against greencard holders, nonresidents with work and student visas, and foreign tourists.

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Some, like permanent resident Mahmoud Khalil or doctoral visa student Rumeysa Ozturk, have been snatched off the street by plainclothes DHS agents for expressing what Secretary of State Marco Rubio calls "beliefs, statements, or associations" deemed to be "at odds" with US foreign policy interests. Hundreds of others have been grabbed and whisked away to an El Salvadorian internment camp, or to ICE detention facilities in the US  leaving families and lawyers in the dark as to their whereabouts.

The detentions and disappearances are speeding up to a nearly industrial scale, a feat made possible thanks to the participation of big tech companies like Google, Amazon, and Palantir. Last month, the ACLU of New Mexico formally challenged the disappearance of 48 New Mexico residents  whose identities, location, conditions, or legal status were not disclosed by ICE.

It's a dream come true for ICE Director Todd Lyons, who said he wants ICE to run "like [Amazon] Prime, but with human beings" at the Border Security Expo last week.

Palantir, meanwhile, is living up that type of rhetoric, rolling out a bus stop ad campaign declaring that "moment of reckoning has arrived for the West."

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"We built Palantir to ensure America's future, not to tinker at the margins," the ad reads. "On the factory floor, in the operating room, across the battlefield  we build to dominate."

More on Surveillance: Google Is Helping Government Build an AI-Powered Border Surveillance System
The South African government has a new weapon in its fight against invasive water plants: a tiny aquatic weevil from Florida, Devdiscourse reported.

The salvinia weevil is named for its favorite food. It eats massive quantities of common salvinia, a plant that is creeping across South Africa.

This water weed is an invasive species  a species that has traveled beyond its native environment to a new location where it is multiplying at a destructive pace. Left alone, it will take over, crowding out and killing off a wide range of other species and destroying the natural balance that has existed in that area for millennia.

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In the case of salvinia, it was first sighted at Hartbeespoort Dam in 2011. Since then, it has spread as far as the Limpopo River, to the edge of Botswana. It clogs the water, interfering with the livelihoods of everyone who relies on the river as well as the diversity of water plants and the quality of the water.

The weevils are expected to multiply just as fast to address the problem. Crucially, they only eat salvinia.

"This biological control programme will be closely monitored to assess the weevil's progress and effectiveness in reducing common salvinia. Importantly, these weevils exclusively target the salvinia minima plant and do not pose risks to other aquatic vegetation, crops, or ornamental plants," said professor Julie Coetzee, deputy director of the Rhodes University Centre for Biological Control and principal scientist at the National Research Foundation's South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, per Devdiscourse.

Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister Sello Seitlholo emphasized that a major cause of salvinia's spread, and one that must be addressed, is the excess nutrients in incorrectly processed wastewater.

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"What is also important is for us to have serious discussions with municipalities in the upper catchment areas. The inadequate treatment of wastewater leads to high nutrient levels in the water, which in turn fuels the spread of invasive aquatic plants, degrading the ecosystem, affecting recreational activities, and hampering the local economy," Seitlholo said, per Devdiscourse.

The solution is a law to address this source of pollution  which will lead to cleaner, healthier water for all.

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ALABAMA (WDHN)  Governor Ivey has officially signed the Senates Community Pharmacy Relief Act, which is aimed to deflect the influence of Pharmacy Benefit Managers, also known as PBMs.

PBMs are managers of prescription benefits between insurance companies and employers.

The bill raises the concern that PBMs reimburse pharmacies at low rates, even below the cost of dispensing medications.

The new law even prohibits PBMs from paying pharmacists less than Medicaid does and from charging miscellaneous fees.

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Pharmacists said PBMs have been paying not enough to the point they dont even cover the cost of the drugs they are providing.

The Alabama Independent Pharmacy Alliance said roughly 13% of pharmacies in the state have closed since 2018.

The bill passed unanimously with full support in both the Alabama Senate and House of Representatives.

With Governor Iveys signature of the bill, it has the green light and is now officially apart of the law

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(WHTM)  Governor Josh Shapiro addressed the charges filed against Cody Balmer, the man accused of setting fire to the Governors Residence, for the first time on Wednesday during an event in Hershey.

Shapiro chose not to speak on the suspect or whether or not there were hate crimes involved. Shapiro says he hasnt thought about that much, and said the determination of whether a hate crime occurred is up to Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo.

Its obviously been a challenge, said Shapiro. My focus is being a good dad, a good husband, and a good Governor, in that order.

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Shapiro, shaken by the possibility of his family and friends being hurt, reflected on the attack during his seder for Passover and the message he shared with his children.

Its okay to feel a lot of different things, said Shapiro. Its okay to not be okay also.

Shapiro noted that his family had personal items in the dining room, and hes unsure if they survived the fire. The state museum is assessing artifacts that were in the home damaged by smoke and heat.

According to a search warrant filed by State Police, Balmer referenced Palestine in a 911 call to dispatchers after he allegedly threw Molotov Cocktails into the Governors Residence in Harrisburg while Shapiro and his family were sleeping.

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Shapiro also thanked the Harrisburg firefighters and authorities, whom he and his family will go and serve lunch to on April 17. Shapiro also said he will not be deterred or fearful and will continue to do his job.

When youre in a position like this, with the profile I have in doing this work, you are mindful that there are people out there every day who want to do you harm, said Shapiro. That is a reality of this world that I live in. Its an unfortunate reality, it shouldnt be that way, but I can tell you that while Im mindful of that, I dont really spend any time thinking about any specific ways that might manifest itself, in part because you cant be paralyzed by fear, and part because Ive got confidence that State Police will keep me and my family safe.

Shapiro also told reporters that he has confidence that Pennsylvania State Police will keep him and his family safe, though he conceded mistakes were probably made.

State Police recently announced they will engage a third-party expert to conduct an independent security review to investigate how 38-year-old Cody Balmer was able to scale the fence, break windows, throw multiple Molotov cocktails inside the Governors Residence while he and his family were sleeping, and escape without being caught on April 13. Governor Shapiro spoke to abc27 and the public for the first time since the incident today.

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Shapiro says he supports the idea of a third-party investigation into exactly what happened last Sunday morning, and hes confident that the state police will be stronger as a result of the third-party investigation.

I think its warranted, said Shapiro. The Colonel and I both think its warranted PSP will share their assessment on the Residence.

Harrisburg Fire Chief Brian Enterline said he hopes his encounter with Governor Shapiro will make him more appreciative of what firefighters do for the community. Governor Shapiro said he has always respected the job that firefighters do, not just when theyre helping him, but what they do for all of Pennsylvania each day.

Shapiro added he has requested more money for fire services in the upcoming budget.

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A Monroe County grand jury on Tuesday indicted three high-level Key West officials on charges related to obstructing an ongoing criminal investigation into how the Southernmost Citys manager was fired last summer.

City Attorney Ronald Ramsingh, Code Compliance Director James Young and Building Department Director Rajindhar Ransingh are all charged, according to the Monroe County State Attorneys Office.

The ongoing investigation began after the Key West City Commission controversially fired then-City Manager Al Childress without cause in June, Chief Assistant Monroe County State Attorney Joseph Mansfield told the Miami Herald.

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The investigation into Childress firing caught the attention of the FBI, which assisted the State Attorneys Office in its probe, Mansfield said.

At the time, the Keys Weekly reported that Childress believed the intent to fire him was based on a report he commissioned, which was specifically critical of Rajindhar Ramsingh, that revealed tensions between the citys building and planning departments regarding permitting and approving projects.

These are deeply troubling allegations involving multiple public officials in positions of trust and authority, Monroe County State Attorney Dennis Ward said in a statement. Our justice system relies on transparency and accountability. When public servants interfere with investigations or misuse their access, they betray the very community they are sworn to serve.

Accused of tampering with text messages

The Ramsinghs and Young are accused of tampering with physical evidence, specifically text message communications sent and received during June 2024, said State Attorneys Office spokesman Steven Torrence.

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Ronald Ramsingh, 51, is charged with tampering with physical evidence, illegal interception of a communication and disclosure of an illegally intercepted communication  all third-degree felonies. The indictment alleges that between June 1 and June 28, 2024, he knowingly altered or concealed electronic communications, and that on May 1, 2024, he illegally intercepted a Zoom video interview and later disclosed its contents without authorization.

James Young, 68, is charged with one count of tampering with physical evidence. Prosecutors accuse him of concealing or removing relevant communications between June 1 and June 28, 2024, and shared them with one or both of the other indicted officials, Torrence said.

Rajindhar Ramsingh, 56, is also charged with tampering with physical evidence. Prosecutors say he altered or destroyed similar communications in June.

Tampering with evidence and illegal interception of communications strike at the core of our legal system. These coordinated acts of obstruction would not have come to light without the persistence of our investigative team and our federal partners, Mansfield said in a statement. The integrity of the justice process demands that we hold even the highest officials accountable when the law is broken.

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Each man faces up to five years in prison for each count, prosecutors say.

The charges may also carry serious professional consequences, including potential disbarment and removal from public office, Torrence said.

The three men were released from county jail late Tuesday night with first appearance before a judge scheduled for April 24, according to Monroe County Sheriffs Office records. Ronald Ramsingh was released on a bond of $75,000. Rajindhar Ramsingh and Young were each released on a $25,000 bond.

Information about Youngs and Rajindhar Ramsinghs legal representation was not immediately available.

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Donald Barrett, attorney for Ronald Ramsingh, on Wednesday released an emailed statement to the Herald saying of his client:

It is my privilege to represent Ronald Ramsingh, an upstanding member of this community. Not only does the law presume him innocent, but Mr. Ramsingh maintains his innocence, and he looks forward to clearing his name in court.

This is a breaking story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
There is a corner on 2700 East in the community of Granite where longhorn cattle graze in one pasture and teenage bison forage in another.

Some residents in Granite  an unincorporated area located in southeast Salt Lake County near the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon  want to preserve the community by becoming a new city. They want to keep the rural and distinct flavor of the area forged by early pioneers mining for the rock to be used in construction of the Salt Lake Temple.

It may only occupy less than a square mile and be the home to fewer than 1,100 residents, but Granite community organizers want to cement its own identity.

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Vaughn Cox, chairman of the Granite Community Council, said enough signatures have been gathered to request a feasibility study probing incorporation. The signatures were submitted Monday to the Salt Lake County Clerks office and the office of Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson.

Granite is the only pioneer community in Salt Lake County that is not part of a larger city, he said. The community has a real rural feel with animals, large lots, rural streets and a small town feel to it. The residents want to incorporate to maintain the rural nature of their community.

The incorporation process

Granite is made up of geographic pockets that are not contiguous  something previously necessary for an incorporation.

But a bill passed into law in 2024 makes it possible for these islands of land to petition for incorporation. The law also sets a deadline of July 1, 2027, that says those islands would automatically be annexed into the surrounding city unless they incorporate. A request for a feasibility study is required by May 1 of this year.

Granite is pictured in Salt Lake County on Monday, April 14, 2025. The unincorporated Granite area is requesting a feasibility study to see if it can incorporate. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

We had to hire a surveyor to create a map of the new city, including a legal description of all the boundaries. We had to raise money to pay for the survey. We had to raise money to hire an attorney, and then we had to get the Utah Population Committee to do a study to make sure we had the appropriate population to incorporate a city. And then we had to get signatures from the property owners that are in the proposed city boundaries. We spent the last 10 months doing all that well, Cox said.

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In 2017, Salt Lake County created townships that include Granite, which gets its services from an entity called the Metropolitan Services District via the county.

Cox said the community felt abandoned by Salt Lake County and is vulnerable to nearby Sandy City which controls their water.

Everybody in Granite thats had to deal with Sandy over the years is tired of being bullied by them. So because of this, Granite residents want control over their own land use and planning, Cox said. We have an amazing rural community that has a small town feel to it, and we want to maintain that. And we believe that if we are annexed into Sandy City, then we would just become another suburban area of Sandy where theyll put in multifamily housing.

Granite has mixed zoning, but some of its lots are a third-acre, half-acre or a full acre, which can accommodate horses and other livestock.

The irony of development

Cox pointed to an 11-acre plot called the Orchards in which housing was proposed.

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Sandy said if you want water to the new homes, then you have to annex into Sandy because we wont give you the water if you dont annex, Cox said. And so they annexed into Sandy and approved zoning for quarter-acre lots. And the most ironic thing about this is that it borders the Dimple Dell equestrian trails. But theres not a single lot in the development that can legally have horses because all the lots are too small.

A Texas longhorn and buffalo are pictured in Salt Lake County on Monday, April 14, 2025. The unincorporated Granite area is requesting a feasibility study to see if it can incorporate. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

The Granite community is part of the service area for the provision of water that had to be mapped out due to a constitutional amendment voters approved.

But because Granite remains unincorporated, they are charged different rates for their water and any changes to their water delivery are subject to steep impact fees.

Cox said the tax revenue the Granite community generates now pays for services like police, fire and public works. Incorporation would give the area more control over those services.

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If the feasibility study expected to be complete a few months from now says incorporation is possible, that would mean 450 parcels of land and approximately 1,050 residents would have greater say in their community.

Jim Eakins, chairman of the Granite Preservation Committee, said the efforts are to maintain identity for the future while having their roots in the past.

A sign is posted for a Granite community town hall meeting in Salt Lake County on Monday, April 14, 2025. The unincorporated Granite area is requesting a feasibility study to see if it can incorporate. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

The 1940s gave birth to the Granite Community Civic Committee which governed the area. In the 1970s, when Eakins moved in, there was the Granite Community Council, which served as an advisory body to Salt Lake County.

We had an identity up here, a social identity with our July Fourth parades and other socials and things throughout the year. There was a special agreement up here of the community banding together, he said. And when urbanization started taking hold with its popularity and developers started saying, hey weve got land overlooking the valley up here in the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon, they started trying to develop land up here. And well, we had to at that time  there was no choice.

Both Cox and Eakins says a new city restores that voice, and that choice.
Alchemy Pay, a provider of fiat-crypto payment solutions, has secured a money transmitter licence (MTL) from the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions.

The MTL enables Alchemy Pay to conduct fiat-to-crypto and crypto-to-fiat transactions within Arizona.

With this addition, Alchemy Pay now holds MTLs in nine US states, with ongoing applications in various other jurisdictions.

The nine states include Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Wyoming.

Alchemy Pay CMO Ailona Tsik said: This regulatory achievement underscores our unwavering commitment to compliance, security, and financial transparency. As the digital asset industry matures, obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals remains a top priority for us.

We are dedicated to providing our users with a secure and legally compliant platform, and this latest milestone reinforces that commitment.

The company has been operational since 2017, facilitating fiat-to-crypto transactions globally.

As of 2024, Alchemy Pay has reached three million registered users and has processed eight million transactions.

Alchemy Pay's regulatory achievements extend beyond the US.

The company has secured an Authorised Payment Institution License in the UK, membership with the Swiss VQF as a Self-Regulatory Organisation, registration for Electronic and Financial Business in South Korea, status as a Digital Currency Exchange Provider under AUSTRAC in Australia, and recognition as a Money Service Business in Canada.

The company's services, which include On & Off-Ramp, Web3 Digital Bank, and NFT Checkout, enable it to cater to customers in 173 countries.

The company's Web3 Digital Bank offers multi-fiat accounts and instant fiat-to-crypto conversion for Web3 businesses.

Its NFT Checkout feature allows direct NFT purchases using fiat payments. ACH, the network token, operates on the Ethereum blockchain.

"Alchemy Pay receives money transmitter licence in Arizona, US " was originally created and published by Electronic Payments International, a GlobalData owned brand.




Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) was pressed on the status of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man who was wrongly deported to El Salvador, during a heated exchange at a town hall he held Tuesday.

Grassley discussed numerous topics during the Iowa event, including farmers, tariffs and congressional Republicans planned reconciliation bill that would seek to cut spending, extend President Trumps tax cuts and provide money for border security, among other initiatives. But he participated in a particularly tense back-and-forth when discussing the case of Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national.

Are you going to bring that guy back from El Salvador? one man asked Grassley, eliciting applause from others in attendance.

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Why not? he followed up after the Iowa senator said he wouldnt.

Abrego Garcia has received national attention after the Trump administration acknowledged he was mistakenly deported back to El Salvador because of an administrative error and the Supreme Court has ruled the administration must facilitate his return.

But the Justice Department suspended the attorney who said the mans removal was an error, and the administration has not appeared to take steps to bring him back to the U.S.

Grassley said returning Abrego Garcia isnt a congressional power, to which various attendees responded that the Supreme Court had ruled that he should be returned to the U.S. and Trump must uphold the Constitution. They argued he is defying the nations highest court with his refusal.

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He just got an order from the Supreme Court, and he just said no, another attendee said.

The senator said El Salvador is an independent country and its president isnt subject to the jurisdiction of the U.S. Supreme Court, which was followed by jeers in the audience. El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele said during his visit to the U.S. on Monday he wouldnt return Abrego Garcia.

Various attendees angrily responded with one man saying, Im ped.

Another noted the administrations move to pay $6 million to El Salvador for accepting detainees the U.S. sends to the Central American country, saying, Were paying to keep him down there. We dont have to pay them.

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Grassley then sought to move on to the next subject, but another man interjected, citing the Constitutions Fifth Amendment granting the right to due process for every person and not just citizen.

Why wont you do your job, senator? the man asked.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has claimed Abrego Garcia is a foreign terrorist and member of the MS-13 gang, but his family has maintained he isnt part of a gang and rather fled El Salvador as a teenager to escape gang violence.

Abrego Garcia had been living in Maryland and was protected by a court order from removal in 2019.

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Another attendee asked the Republican lawmaker what he considers a constitutional crisis and quoted the oath that Grassley took upon being sworn in as a senator. He said he believes he is doing what the Constitution requires, referencing a bipartisan bill he introduced to increase the congressional role in regulating tariffs.

His town hall is the latest in which Republican members of Congress have received pushback from constituents over Trumps policies, which has led to Democrats holding town halls in Republican-held districts, seeking to capitalize on the frustrated voters.

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ATHENS, Greece (AP)  Greece on Wednesday announced plans for managing human activities in maritime areas, such as tourism, offshore energy drilling, fishing and environmental protection, irking neighboring Turkey, which said the plans encroach on its jurisdiction.

The announcement about Greeces Maritime Spatial Planning came after the country was rebuked by the European Court of Justice earlier this year for failing to submit the plans to the European Commission, as all coastal European Union member states are required to do. Spatial planning for sea areas is considered necessary for the sustainable use of marine resources, setting out where activities such as transport, tourism, fishing and renewable energy projects can take place, and for the protection of marine environments.

But Turkeys Foreign Ministry said some of the areas specified in Greeces plan violate our countrys maritime jurisdiction areas in the Aegean Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean.

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Although NATO allies, Greece and Turkey have been at loggerheads for years over boundaries in the Aegean and the eastern Mediterranean, with escalating tension bringing them close to war several times in recent decades. One of the main contentions between the two is the delineation of the continental shelf  the proportion of the seabed that belongs to each country, as well as with the boundaries of each ones exclusive economic zone.

Greece has agreements in place delineating its exclusive economic zones with Italy and with Egypt, but not with Turkey.

We would like to remind the need to avoid unilateral actions in enclosed or semi-enclosed seas such as in the Aegean and the Mediterranean, Turkeys Foreign Ministry said in a statement, adding that international maritime law encourages cooperation between coastal states in the seas in question, including concerning environmental issues, and that in this context, our country is always ready to cooperate with Greece in the Aegean Sea.

Greeces Foreign Ministry said the Maritime Spatial Planning was separate from the delineation of the exclusive economic zone. In a series of explanatory notes posted on its website, the Foreign Ministry said it still aimed to maintain dialogue with Turkey.

That were solving pending issues from the past doesnt mean we dont seek Greek-Turkish dialogue. That we disagree doesnt mean that we dont talk, the ministry said. Greece wants a positive climate in relations with Turkey.
ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece has submitted plans to the EU setting out how it will organise maritime activities such as fishing, tourism and offshore energy after years of delays that drew rebuke from the European Commission.

In February the EU Court of Justice ruled that Greece had violated EU regulations by failing to draft a maritime spatial plan by March 2021. The European Commission had referred Greece to the court over the delays.

Maritime spatial plans define where activities including fishing, sea transport, tourism, aquaculture and renewable energy projects can take place.

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The plans also underpin the protection of marine ecosystems against threats such as overfishing or pollution.

The Greek government said on Wednesday that its plan had been submitted to Brussels. Athens has attributed the delays to various reasons, including its long coastline, numerous islands and geopolitical conditions in the eastern Mediterranean.

It said the map depicting its maritime spatial plan does not define any exclusive economic zones, which are established through bilateral agreements.

Neighbours Greece and Turkey - NATO allies but foes in the past - have been exploring whether they can start talks aimed at demarcating maritime zones. They have been at odds over decades-old issues ranging from mineral rights in the Aegean Sea to ethnically divided Cyprus.

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Greece has established an exclusive economic zone with Italy and Egypt.

Environmental groups, including Greenpeace and WWF have repeatedly urged Greece to deliver the spatial plans, accusing the government of neglecting environmental protection.

(Reporting by Renee Maltezou; Editing by Ros Russell)
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) blamed Democrats for the disruption of her town hall Tuesday, calling the incident selfish and saying opinions should be expressed at the voting booth.

Im not intimidated by the Democrats who tried to shut down my town hall tonight, Greene wrote in a post on the social platform X on Tuesday.

I refused to tolerate their selfish attempts to disrupt an event that was for all of my constituents, not just the ones who could make the most noise, she continued. This is the type of business that should be handled at the voting booth.

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At least six protesters were removed during Greenes town hall in Cobb County, Ga., on Tuesday. Three were arrested, including two individuals whom police used stun guns to detain.

Greene spoke to reporters after the event, saying, it shouldnt be this way, when asked about the disruption.

Theres no reason for screaming, yelling, ridiculous outrageous protesting, she said. That disrupts the entire event for every single person that is there. And, you know, one of the most important things I do is offer constituent services, and that was exactly what I wanted to be able to promote and talk about tonight.

Greene, an outspoken far-right ally of President Trump, told reporters she gets the most death threats of anyone in Congress, even sometimes more than Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).

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She condemned political violence broadly, pointing to the recent arson attack on Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiros (D) mansion on the first night of Passover.

It shouldnt be this way for any elected leader, no matter what political party they represent, Greene told reporters.

During the nearly hourlong town hall, in which she took questions submitted by the audience, Greene defended Trumps tariff agenda, the Department of Government Efficiencys (DOGE) work that she said was focused on rooting out waste and abuse in the federal government and called, again, for federal funding for public broadcasters PBS and NPR to be revoked.

House Republicans were advised early last month to refrain from hosting town halls with constituents in their districts. But some have done them anyway, facing backlash.

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Democrats have also faced irritated constituents, with attendees contending that liberal lawmakers are not doing enough to counter Trumps agenda.

Updated at 9:49 a.m. EDT

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The Grosse Ile Parkway Bridge will close to all vehicular and pedestrian traffic to perform structural steel repairs, officials announced April 16.

The only way to get across the island for free will close starting Thursday, May 1, at 7 a.m. and remain closed for up to eight weeks, depending on weather conditions and any unforeseen delays.

During the closure, barriers will be placed at both ends of the bridge and all vehicle traffic will be rerouted to the Grosse Ile Toll Bridge. A complete breakdown of fees for the toll bridge is available on the township's website.

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Wayne County officials say drivers should follow posted detour signage, allow extra travel time and plan accordingly.

The detour routes are as follows:

Eastbound: From W. Jefferson Avenue, turn right onto Bridge Road, then right onto Meridian Road and continue to Grosse Ile Parkway.

Westbound: From Grosse Ile Parkway, turn left onto Meridian Road, then left onto Bridge Road and left onto W. Jefferson Avenue.

Susan Tompor: Michigan doesn't have toll roads, but text scam claims you have unpaid balance

Additionally, the Grosse Ile Parkway Bridge will not swing open for marine traffic.

Anyone with questions can contact the Wayne County Department of Public Services 24-hour customer service center at 888-762-3273.

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Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Grosse Ile Parkway Bridge to close for up to 8 weeks: What to know
Patients should be offered group appointments to boost NHS efficiency, doctors have suggested.

A report by the Royal College of Physicians describes the current system of hospital outpatients as archaic and in need of radical reform.

The college issued its proposals, which also call for far more use of remote consultations, as the Government prepares to publish a 10-year plan on the future of the NHS.

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Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, has already said too many hospital check-ups are a waste of time.

The Royal College report, backed by the Patients Association, said the current system was not fit for purpose and called for alternatives, including appointments for multiple patients.

It said that instead of booking patients for individual follow-up appointments to advise on how to manage health conditions, sessions could instead take place in groups.

It also called for more use of direct to test pathways where diagnostic services are offered before seeing a specialist doctor, and for the introduction of polyclinics bringing multiple services together.

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The report suggested that different types of models depended on the purpose of the appointment. Education about how to manage health conditions could be delivered by specialist nurses or pharmacists in group settings, it said, while group sessions might also be offered to patients with multiple health problems.

Doctors are being urged to actively consider alternatives such as remote consultation by video call - Vladimir Vladimirov/E+

Clinicians were also urged to actively consider whether care can be provided outside a traditional appointment in a hospital, such as through a remote consultation.

And they were advised to promote and implement novel outpatient pathways including group care, remote monitoring and direct to test pathways, which mean tests occur before a specialist is seen.

The authors of the report said care must be transformed to give patients more timely, productive and personalised care.

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Dr Theresa Barnes, the Royal College of Physicians clinical lead for outpatients, said: NHS outpatient care is fundamentally no longer fit for purpose.

It is archaic, disjointed and ultimately ineffective for both patients and staff. It has remained largely unchanged for decades, despite advances in technology.

Most people on NHS waiting lists are waiting for an outpatient appointment, patient care is increasingly complex, and the medical workforce is frustrated and desperate for change.

We need a significant shift

The latest NHS figures for England show that an estimated 7.4 million treatments, relating to 6.24 million patients, were waiting to be carried out at the end of February. This is down from 7.43 million treatments and 6.25 million patients at the end of January.

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Dr Barnes added: Our new report draws on the ideas and expertise of doctors and patients to embrace a new way of doing things  prioritising people, rather than the system. We need a significant shift in the way we deliver planned specialist care.

Getting this right is integral to bringing down NHS waiting lists and delivering the Governments three shifts. Now is the time to be radical.

Rachel Power, the chief executive of the Patients Association, added: Too many patients tell us that outpatient care feels like an uphill battle, with delays, confusion, and a lack of joined-up communication that leaves them feeling powerless.

Planned specialist care must be built around the needs of real people, not rigid systems.

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A Department for Health and Social Care spokesman said: Our 10-year health plan will fix the broken outpatient system  shifting more care to the community so patients can be seen in the right setting, and moving the NHS from analogue to digital to tackle poor communication and delays.

We have already made progress on our mission to cut waiting lists  delivering an extra 3 million appointments and cutting the waiting list by 219,000 since July.

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A group of Georgia state lawmakers and advocates will hold a news conference Wednesday calling on the Georgia State Patrol to change its chase policy.

The meeting comes after an innocent 19-year-old died when another driver crashed into his car after a chase with troopers in Little Five Points.

Another family is grieving because of a policy that prioritizes reckless speed over public safety. The people of Atlanta, especially those in District 58, deserve to feel safe in their neighborhoodsnot endangered by state police pursuits. Its time for responsible leadership and immediate action, activist Devin Barrington-Ward said.

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Georgia State Patrol said a trooper tried to pull over a driver in Chevrolet Equinox for speeding on Interstate 20 around 8 p.m. Monday. Investigators said the driver, identified as Faduma Mohamed, sped away and got off at Moreland Avenue.

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GSP said Mohamed then ran a red light and crashed into a Honda Accord and killed the driver, identified as 19-year-old Cooper Schoenke. Surveillance video shared with Channel 2 Action News showed the moments after the crash.

On Wednesday, a group will call on GSP to change its policy for troopers when it comes to high-speed chases, including:

Restricting high-speed pursuits to cases involving violent felonies

Requiring supervisory approval before initiating or continuing a pursuit

Prohibiting high-speed pursuits and PIT maneuvers in densely populated areas, during peak-traffic times, within major pedestrian corridors, and in residential neighborhoods

The news conference will begin at 3:30 p.m.

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BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  Women United, a group within the Capital Area United Way system, plans to honor women with a giving spirit at the end of the month of April.

An annual luncheon recognizes women who collaborate in giving, volunteering, and advocating alongside others while enhancing the well-being of their community through education, economic mobility, healthy living, and access to basic needs.

Women are always here to empower other women, and we can do the best work when we empower each other. And at United Way, we find that its important to not only support our own initiatives but uphold and support the other sectors of our community and all the good work people are doing, Corporate Relationship Manager Emily Boudreaux said.

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2025 honorees include four local women: Wanda August, Michelle Hardy, Olivia LeBlanc Andrews, and Yolanda Dixon. Women are nominated by community members before Boudreaux and the Women United committee selects award winners based on their service.

The keynote speaker for the luncheon is Feeding America CEO Claire Babineaux-Fontenot. Boudreaux expects Babineaux-Fontenot to give an impactful speech about serving not only local communities but the nation and world.

What to know about the luncheon

When : Noon Wednesday, April 30. Doors open at 11:30 a.m.

Where : Renaissance Baton Rouge Hotel, 7000 Bluebonnet Blvd.

Tickets: Click here to get tickets.

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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  On Tuesday, April 15, two major American political figures stopped by Bakersfield gathering a crowd of more than 4,000 including Republican voters who called the progressive duos rally a Bakersfield Block Party.

Kern County Trump supporters gathered in protest on Truxtun Avenue across from the convention center and Bernie Sanders and AOCs Fighting Oligarchy rally.

RELATED: Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. AOC take on Bakersfield, push to unseat incumbent Congressman David Valadao

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Im here because I support our great president. I support what hes doing. Hes got the courage to do what nobody else has done. And I believe in standing up against liars and thats what weve got over here. God Bless America.

Dressed in MAGA gear and waving American flags to show their support of President Trump, attendees voiced one particular concern, that Sanders and AOC were bussing in out-of-town supporters to inflate rally attendance.

This as Sanders, Cortez and other prominent local Democratics sharply criticized the presidents policies.

For more information, watch the full segment in the video player above.

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GROVE, Okla.  A Grove teacher has been selected to attend a week-long history-based historical reenactment seminar.

Keri Gregg, Grove Upper Elementary School teacher, was one of 37 teachers across the state selected to receive a fellowship to attend the Bob and Marion Wilson Teacher Institute of Colonial Williamsburg.

The fellowships cover program activities, airfare, lodging, and most meals. Each teacher also receives a $300 stipend for classroom materials.

Keri Gregg, Grove Upper Elementary School

Gregg joins educators, Brandi Pierce, with the Turkey Ford School District, and Chelsie Clapp, a Commerce School District teacher, who attended the historical educational training in 2024.

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The restored capital city of 18th-century Virginia, Williamsburg, hosts the teachers. Attendees immerse themselves in early American history by meeting character interpreters, exploring primary sources, and participating in hands-on activities and reenactments.

These fellowships provide an incredible opportunity for Oklahoma educators to learn and collaborate with their peers, said Elizabeth Inbody, Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence executive director. Were proud to facilitate such an exceptional professional development opportunity.

The Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence coordinates the selection of educators from the state for fellowships to participate in the teacher institute.

Gregg is part of the fifth-grade teacher institute, which takes place from June 1 to 6 and focuses on daily life in the American colonies from British colonization through the American Revolution.

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OFE, a nonprofit that recognizes and encourages academic excellence in Oklahomas public schools, has coordinated Oklahomas participation in the teacher institute since 1993.

The program is made possible through the leadership and support of the late Oklahoma City businessman Edward C. Joullian III. He was a former Colonial Williamsburg Foundation board member and OFE trustee. The fellowship program has served 1,225 Oklahoma teachers since 1993.

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By Wen-Yee Lee

TAIPEI (Reuters) -Advanced Micro Devices said on Tuesday its key processor chips would soon be made at TSMC's new production site in Arizona, marking the first time that its products will be manufactured in the United States.

Though AMD's plans predate U.S. President Donald Trump's return to office, tech companies' efforts to diversify their supply chains have taken on added significance given Trump's escalating tariff war.

His administration is currently investigating whether imports of semiconductors threaten national security, which could be a precursor to slapping tariffs on those products.

"Our new fifth-generation EPYC is doing very well, so we're ready to start production," AMD Chief Executive Lisa Su told reporters in Taipei, referring to the company's central processing unit (CPU) for data centres.

Until now, the U.S. company's products have been made at contract chip manufacturer TSMC's facilities in Taiwan.

In addition to AMD, both Apple and Nvidia have said that some of their chips are being produced at TSMC's Arizona plant.

Su noted AMD had completed an acquisition of ZT Systems, a leading supplier of AI servers in the U.S., which expands its U.S. footprint.

"We want to have a very resilient supply chain, so Taiwan continues to be a very important part of that supply chain, but the United States is also going to be important and we're expanding our work there, including our work with TSMC and other key supply chain partners," Su said.

Speaking to reporters later at a separate evening event in Taipei, Su said that because the company has a lot of manufacturing partners, AMD does expect to "find a strategic partner for the ZT manufacturing company".

She did not elaborate.

More broadly, U.S. manufacturing is "of course" a key priority for AMD as a U.S. company, she added.

(Reporting by Wen-Yee Lee in Taipei; Editing by Miyoung Kim, Edwina Gibbs and Susan Fenton)
TUPELO  Instead of worrying about the long arm of the law, Tupelo criminals now have to consider its long ear.

For the last two years, the Tupelo Police Department has been using a system that can not only detect gunshots but can also pinpoint their location. And just how accurate is the FireFly system? Extremely accurate.

Derek Schulte, the FireFly program manager for Tupelo-based Hyperion, said the system is designed to both detect and geolocate gunshots. It will also determine if a noise was, in fact, a gunshot.

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Schulte said if the system rates a location with high confidence, you should be able to find spent shells casings within a 15-foot radius.

Police say it is usually more accurate than that.

After we get a notification, you can go out to the point on the map and look around where youre standing and find shell casings, said Capt. Doug Mansell, TPD public information officer.

The system Tupelo uses is based on a military version of FireFly that can detect small-arms fire, rocket/mortar fire and unmanned aircraft systems (military drones). The law enforcement version of FireFly utilizes a series of sensors to detect the signature sound of a gunshot and record it.

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(The sound) needs to be heard by a minimum of three sensors to be able to geolocate, Schulte said. Then, it will try to determine if it thinks the sound is gunfire. The whole process only takes five to 10 seconds.

That allows officers to be dispatched much quicker than if they had to wait on witnesses to call 911.

The system assigns each recording with a confidence level, which helps determine if it was actually gunfire and not an audibly similar sound like a car backfiring. A human ear listens to every recording before officers are dispatched to a location. The loud noise might be a garbage truck dropping a dumpster, or a roofing crew using a nail gun being put to a roof on a nearby house. By listing some sounds as not gunfire, the system can fine-tune its algorithms to improve accuracy.

TPD is using FireFly as another tool to help solve crime. It is used routinely in investigations into shooting incidents within the city limits. That includes the late January arrest of a man who had a Glock pistol which had been converted to fully automatic fire. FireFly recorded the sound of the man firing dozens of rounds and led police to his location in southeast Tupelo.

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I wish we had this when I was an investigator, said Sgt. Kevin Parker, TPD public information officer. You can play it in court and confirm what happened.

Mansell said FireFly adds another layer of evidence to an investigation. Since it provides a timestamp of when a shooting occurred, it can also be used to eliminate suspects in conjunction with the departments blue light cameras and private surveillance videos.

If video captures someone on the other side of town at the time the shots were fired, then we can eliminate them and move on with the investigation, Parker said.

FireFly is actually marketed to the police departments of cities much larger than Tupelo. Phoenix, Arizona, is the biggest customer, with more than 300 sensors. Dallas, Texas, is a new customer and Chicago, Illinois, is considering the system.

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The high cost of the FireFly system effectively eliminates Tupelo from the regular customer base. Tupelo benefits from the fact that Hyperion is a hometown company and serves as a test bed.

The setup is a win-win for both the city and the industry. Since Hyperion actually owns all the sensors in Tupelo, they are free to make changes and install upgrades. They can test new setups in real time and real-life situations. And the city benefits from pricey crime fighting tools without putting an extra burden on the taxpayers.

Colorado Springs, Colorado was our previous test bed, but if there was a problem, it was just too far away, Schulte said. We wanted a test bed location that was close enough that we could try new things. Tupelo let us set up.
HADLEY, Mass. (WWLP)  The Hadley Police Department is warning residents that road work will be taking place throughout town on Wednesday.

Hadley man arrested by FBI appears in federal court

The roadwork will be taking place on Breckenridge Road, Newton Lane, Stockwell Road, and Comins Road.

Milling will happen on Wednesday so that the roads can be repaved next week.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

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Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Twp.) during a April 15, 2025 press conference where he outlined House Republicans plans for the coming session days. | Kyle Davidson

As members of the Michigan House returned from their Spring recess on Thursday, Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Township) briefed reporters on House Republicans priorities as they head back to session, highlighting plans to improve Michigans educational outcomes and continued efforts to strike a deal on road funding.

Republicans have repeatedly criticized Democrats over declining reading scores, which Gov. Gretchen Whitmer acknowledged in her 2025 State of the State speech, calling on lawmakers to support the Students, Metrics, And Results with Transparency (SMART) Plan included in her school aid budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2026.

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Just 24% of fourth graders can read proficiently. The same percentage of eighth graders are proficient in math. I get that this is a national trend, but the reality is that we invest more per-pupil than most states and achieve bottom 10 results, Whitmer said.

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Scores are going in the wrong direction, even though schools in Michigan have been receiving record levels of funding, Hall said, telling reporters that lawmakers have to do something differently.

Rather than seeking a plan that would receive full support from Republicans and no support for Democrats, Hall said his caucus looked to changes they could implement immediately that would get bipartisan support.

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And weve been moving on those things. And if that just moves the needle, 20% where, you know, were making a 20% improvement to education, well, that adds up over time, Hall said.

As the House returns to session this week, Hall said the chamber would vote on a number of policies including a plan to administer the states educational assessment test multiple times throughout the school year to help benchmark students progress over time.

They would also be taking up a plan to modernize the states merit curriculum system, Hall said, with House Bill 4156 expanding the classes students can take to meet graduation requirements, with the intention of allowing them a pathway that better matches their talents and interests, including options for pursuing vocational training.

Things like computer coding could be a foreign language. Computer science could be a science class. Construction math could fulfill the math requirements. Accounting could fulfill the math requirements. Trade schools will count as dual enrollment. So what were trying to do is were trying to modernize the curriculum to focus on real life skills, Hall said.

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The House will also be working to support curriculum development through legislation establishing a list of recommended curricula that have been proven to be effective and include strategies for differentiating instruction and ensuring they are accessible to all students, including those with disabilities.

House Republicans have also put forth legislation ensuring reading and writing instruction for kindergarten through Grade 6 are based on science reading standards, while the content standards for Math from kindergarten through Grade 5 would include updated standards crafted by at least two faculty members from the mathematics departments of two separate public universities in Michigan. They must also include input from at least two elementary school mathematics teachers with an average classroom proficiency level of 70%, with at least 25% of their students meeting the income eligibility standards for federal free and reduced-price lunch programs.

Other pieces of Republicans education plan include:

House Bill 4148: which aims to improve representation from rural and northern school districts on the State Board of Education by dividing the state into four districts and requiring political parties nominate candidates from all four districts on a rotating schedule.

House Joint Resolution E: which would place an amendment to the state constitution on the ballot, allowing the governor to appoint the state superintendent, where the position is currently appointed by the eight members of the State Board of Education.

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Hall noted that a number of the policies that already passed received strong bipartisan support, including legislation expanding high school dual enrollment to include trade schools; eliminating fees in applying for or renewing a teachers certificate, endorsements or permit and requiring school systems to send an annual notification to students guardians that includes data on the schools performance on state assessments by subject area from the MI School Data website.

As the House moves forward on education, Hall touted the GOPs road funding plan, noting that it had received support from Democrats like Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel and Wayne County Executive Warren Evans.

While the House Republican plan aims to provide $3.1 billion for road repairs by diverting existing dollars and eliminating spending on corporate subsidies, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has proposed a $3 billion plan, which would bring in additional revenue by ending a loophole exempting the marijuana industry from the wholesale tax applied to other products like cigarettes and tobacco, and aiming to bring in an additional $1.6 billion in tax revenue from large corporations and big tech companies.

Though he disagreed with Whitmers plan, Hall questioned where the Democratic-led Michigan Senates plan was, calling for the chamber to step up on the discussion.

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We just need the Senate to come together and actually engage in this process. I think its very clear. You see me stepping into this moment. You see Governor Whitmer engaging. I dont think either one of us are the problem here. Theres one of the three legs here thats not engaging, and thats the Senate, Hall said.

When asked whether Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) had discussed road funding with Hall, her spokesperson, Rosie Jones, said theyre not going into the details about what had been discussed, but noted the Senate Appropriations committee would be taking up the Houses road funding bills in its meeting on Wednesday.
Fears are growing for Edan Alexander, the last living U.S. citizen held hostage in Gaza, after Hamas said it lost contact with the group holding him following Israeli strikes on the area it was based in.

We are still trying to reach them, Abu Obeida, spokesman for Hamas military wing, the Qassam Brigades, said in a statement Tuesday, adding that the group had come under direct bombardment from Israel. As of Wednesday morning, it was unclear whether that had changed.

NBC News was not able to independently verify Hamas claim and the Israel Defense Forces and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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Alexander, who grew up in New Jersey, was doing voluntary service with Israels military when he was taken hostage Oct. 7, 2023, along with around 250 others. Israeli officials say 1,200 people were killed during the Hamas-led terrorist attacks, marking a major escalation in a decadeslong conflict.

More than 51,000 people have been killed in the Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip since then, according health officials in the enclave, which has been run by Hamas since 2007.

Alexander is one of at least 59 hostages remaining in Gaza, according to Israeli officials, although less than half are believed to be alive.

His family did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But after Hamas released a video of him, likely speaking under duress, on Sunday, his father, Adi Alexander, expressed fears for his son.

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It was very tough to observe, very tough to see our son in this situation, he told NewsNations "Morning in America" show.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which represents the families of those held captive in Gaza, said it would not "respond to or acknowledge" Hamas' statement. We do not consider any statements from Hamas to be credible, it added.

The group has previously expressed fears that Israels military offensive was imperiling the safety of hostages held in the enclave.

Hamas said in March that it was willing to release Alexander, as well as the bodies of four dual nationals, but wanted to begin negotiations to start the second phase of a three-part ceasefire deal with Israel.

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Talks for a permanent end to the fighting were supposed to begin after the first phase of the ceasefire deal  in which Hamas released 25 living hostages and the bodies of eight in exchange for around 1,800 Palestinian prisoners and detainees  ended March 1.

But Israeli forces shattered the fragile truce last month and have since launched airstrikes on the enclave while also resuming military ground operations.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu, who has shown little sign that he is willing to end the conflict, made a trip to northern Gaza on Tuesday, along with a group that included Defense Minister Israel Katz.

Calling on Hamas to release the hostages, his office quoted him as saying that the militant group would "suffer more and more blows," until they were freed.

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The visit came as he faces mounting pressure from the Israeli public, including former members of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency and the military, to agree to an end to the hostilities.





This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY)  Federal funding cuts are continuing to impact nonprofits across Hampton Roads.

The Virginia Peninsula Foodbank is just one nonprofit that is experiencing the impacts.

Sen. Mark Warner hears from concerned Hampton Roads nonprofits amid federal funding cuts

The Foodbank wants to have some clear answers, and right now, were just trying to take it day-by-day, because things are quickly changing, said Craig Gallaer, chief development officer at the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank.

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Gallaer said about 30% of the food that they have comes from the USDA.

They provide us with really important food, nutritious food, that goes out, not only through our Foodbank programs, but through our 140 partner agencies, Gallaer said.

However, Gallaer explained that the recent changes in funding are causing concern for the nonprofit.

Theres been some cuts [in] some federal government programs that have resulted in about 55,000 pounds of food thats worth about $150,000 thats been lost to us, and were really trying hard to make up for that loss, Gallaer said.

According to United Way of the Virginia Peninsula President and CEO Charvalla West, the Foodbank isnt alone in this experience.

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She explained that the United Way has been meeting with and surveying other local nonprofits who have also been impacted by cuts.

[Theres] a lot of fear, a lot of uncertainty, West said. And when youre already a sector that is under resourced, it makes it even more difficult to keep doing the good work that were trying to do.

A recent letter sent by Virginia lawmakers to the USDA asked them to reinstate the necessary funding for foodbanks.

It highlighted the recent cancellation of $500 million in funding through the Emergency Food Assistance Program and how it has hit local food pantries.

We appreciate the bipartisan approach of our legislators at the state level and the federal level kind of advocating for that  funding, Gallaer said.

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As the nonprofits wait to see whats next, they encourage giving back.

When you can get out and volunteer offer to help, West said, when you have something to give, please give it.

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COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  Three Harris County students have let their creativity shine and are now advancing to a state writing competition.

The Young Georgia Authors (YGA) Writing Competition celebrates students writing talents by allowing them to showcase creativity, critical thinking and writing skills.

Abigail Walker (1st Grade), Lillianna Ruiz (6th Grade) and Taylor Harris (8th Grade) earned the achievements with their winning submissions at the Regional West Georgia RESA (Regional Educational Service Agency). The RESA winners will move forward to the state-level contest, where submissions are judged on expression of ideas, language use, and originality.

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The YGA competition offers students complete creative freedom by allowing participants to submit original works in various genres, including short stories, poetry, essays, literary analysis, journalism, personal narratives, and research reports.

State-level winners will be announced on the GLAS website and the GaDOE website later this year.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
By Deena Beasley

(Reuters) -U.S. tariffs on pharmaceuticals could eventually mean higher prices for brand-name medicines, but in the near term the costs would likely be absorbed by drugmakers rather than patients whose payments are often set by health insurance.

U.S. health insurers, which pay the bulk of prescription drug costs, act as a buffer between drugmakers and patients, with beneficiaries subject to co-pays and co-insurance based on the prices insurers negotiate with drugmakers.

"Patented drugs are already generally set at the price the market will bear, so in that sense manufacturers are not likely to substantially increase the prices of these drugs," said Melissa Barber, postdoctoral fellow at Yale University and an expert on drug pricing.

On Monday, the Trump administration said in a regulatory filing it had opened a national security investigation into pharmaceuticals to show why the U.S. needs tariffs to boost domestic manufacturing. Rates and timing remain uncertain, but the industry has been lobbying for phased-in tariffs.

The hit could be big. Close to $213 billion in pharmaceutical products were imported to the U.S. last year, nearly triple 2014's $73 billion, according to the United Nations trade database.

And equity research group Bernstein Societe Generale estimated that U.S. tariffs could add $46 billion in costs to the pharmaceutical industry, compared with current annual revenue of $700 billion for major companies. The threat of import duties has already spurred drugmakers to accelerate shipments to the U.S. and warehouse supplies, which analysts say will protect their 2025 financial outlooks and take the pressure off any immediate price increases.

Some tariff costs could eventually be shifted to patients and the taxpayers who fund U.S. government health programs, but the real risk is to lower-margin, generic drugs, said Robin Feldman, a professor at UC Law San Francisco. Cheaper generic drugs, which are allowed after patents expire on branded products and are mostly made in India and China, account for over 90% of U.S. prescriptions, but just 17% of spending, according to the Association for Accessible Medicines.

The trade group has said their members will not be able to raise prices because their margins are so thin. ING analyst Diederik Stadig estimated that a 25% tariff on India, for instance, would result in an increase of 17.5% for generic drugs produced in India.

Impact on R&D

Bill Coyle, head of biopharma at consulting firm ZS, said drugmakers will try to pass on tariff costs, but because many categories are very competitive, "the real downstream impact" would be cost-cutting by companies.
As jury selection begins in the Harvey Weinstein retrial, his attorneys have filed an emergency petition to move the former Hollywood mogul to Bellevue Hospital due to what they say is his worsening health.

In motions filed Tuesday, Weinsteins team cited a number of health conditions the former mogul is suffering from, including chronic myeloid leukemia, diabetes mellitus, extensive coronary artery disease and most recently, a misdiagnosed tongue infection. His team claims his condition could be exacerbated by the stress of the trial, as well as by his current conditions at Rikers Island Correctional Facility.

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Preventing him from receiving medical care and oversight at Bellevue Hospital during the stress and rigors of his criminal trial could lead to exacerbation of existing medical conditions, the onset of new medical conditions, and even lead to death, the filing reads.

Opening arguments are tentatively slated to begin next week in Weinsteins trial, in which the former film producer is being retried on criminal sexual charges and a rape charge related to respective claims from former television production assistant Miriam Haley and from aspiring actress Jessica Mann, after his 2020 conviction was overturned in April 2024. Weinstein is being newly charged with a criminal sexual charge related to claims from a third woman, who has yet to come forward publicly, but is also expected to testify as part of the trial.

Weinstein has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Going into the trial, Weinsteins health has been the elephant in the room, as journalists and onlookers have wondered how dire the former moguls condition is and much of this is his teams legal maneuvering.

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His legal team has helped push the narrative, as they have repeatedly brought up his medical issues throughout the past several months, as part of an effort to get Weinstein transferred to the prison wing at Bellevue Hospital, rather than Rikers. Weinstein has also been hospitalized several times, including in December and in September, when he underwent emergency heart surgery. He has appeared at his court hearings in a wheelchair.

Weinstein has also filed suit against the City of New York, Rikers Island and Bellevue Hospital seeking $5 million in damages due to what he says has been negligent treatment, as well as being sent back to Rikers prematurely after hospital stays.

In January, Weinstein himself spoke to Judge Curtis J. Farber in open court and urged him to move forward the trial date, saying, I wont be here for April. Weinstein also cited the poor conditions at Rikers at the time, and said Im in a serious emergency situation, Im begging for you to move your date. I need to get out of this hellhole as quickly as possible.

The trial date was not moved up, as the judge had a preceding trial, and Weinstein has appeared at several court hearings since then, including last Wednesday. Weinstein did ask to waive his appearance in court last Thursday due to his health.

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Despite the publicity and push from his team, Weinsteins health will not be allowed to be discussed during the trial, per a pre-trial ruling from Farber, unless Weinstein decides to testify on the stand.

According to his filings, Weinstein was most recently sent to Bellevue Hospital due to medical complications, which included a tongue infection that had been misdiagnosed at Rikers Island. He also faces a litany of other health matters, which have included rapid weight gain due to fluid retention, severe mobility and thyroid issues, with a letter from a physician at NYU Langone, saying he has been admitted 4 times from Rikers to Bellevue Hospital in the last six months with severe fluid overload and congestive heart failure, which is related to his treatment for leukemia.

His attorneys have cited the poor conditions at Rikers as exacerbating the problem, with Imran H. Ansari writing in an April 11 email to New York City officials that Weinsteins current state of health is critical, due to the tongue infection, and significant water retention, leading to rapid weight gain, and recent vomiting.

It is outrageous and inexcusable that Harvey Weinstein  who is battling cancer, diabetes, and a host of other serious medical conditions i s being subjected to such neglect and mistreatment under the care of New York City. His medications are routinely delayed or administered improperly, he has gained an alarming amount of fluid weight due to mismanagement of his health, and hes left freezing in his cell without even clean clothes. This is not incarceration  its deliberate indifference, Juda Engelmayer, a spokesperson for Weinstein, said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter.

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Harvey Weinstein wants out of Rikers Island badly ... and into a medical center during his retrial in his New York criminal case.

The jailed movie mogul's legal team filed an emergency petition with the court to have him transferred from the notorious Rikers prison complex to Bellevue Hospital due to alleged gross mismanagement of his deteriorating health.

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According to Tuesday's filing, obtained by TMZ, Weinstein accuses Rikers medical staff of failing to provide him with proper healthcare, as well as misdiagnosing at least one condition. Weinstein says this led to his health becoming wildly unstable, requiring "regular" hospitalization at Bellevue, including its ICU unit.

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Weinstein says he has a laundry list of medical issues -- such as cancer, diabetes, extensive coronary artery disease, chest pain due to lowered levels of blood flowing to the heart, obstructive sleep apnea, thyroid issues, obesity, chronic lower back and leg pain, anemia, hypertension, and more.

His attorney, Imran H. Ansari, issued a statement, warning that the continued mistreatment of Weinstein's ailments could have fatal consequences.

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Ansari says the conditions inside Rikers are a nightmare, with Weinstein living in "freezing" temperatures without clean clothes. Ansari says the conditions are so bad, Weinstein developed COVID-19 and double pneumonia, leading to a recent surgery to alleviate fluid built up in his heart and lungs.

Ansari says he has continuously made NYC officials aware of these concerns, but he's been ignored, prompting him to file the emergency petition. Ansari insists Weinstein should be housed at Bellevue for the duration of his sexual assault trial in order to stabilize his health and prevent further stress ... and even premature death.

Harvey Weinstein In Court - Click image to open gallery

And though Ansari and Weinstein trust Bellevue to provide him with proper healthcare, they're not fully out of the woods. The ex-Hollywood honcho is requesting $5 million in damages from the hospital, plus the City of New York and its relevant agencies ... arguing he has suffered physically and psychologically over his "horrific" treatment -- which includes Bellevue releasing him back to jail before being fully recovered.

We reached out to the NYC Department of Corrections and the NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation. The Dept. of Corrections tells TMZ ... "The safety and health of every person in our jails will always be our top priority."
Harvey Weinstein in court at his retrial in Manhattan Criminal Court on April 16, 2025. - Credit: Curtis Means-Pool/Getty Images

Harvey Weinstein has returned to court this week for his sexual assault retrial after his 2020 conviction was overturned last year. He was transported from Rikers Island on Tuesday, April 15, where he has been imprisoned since April 2024, as jury selection began. On Wednesday, legal representatives for the disgraced producer submitted an emergency petition for him to be housed at Bellevue Hospital for the duration of the retrial, citing mistreatment and deplorable conditions at the New York prison.

Because of this mistreatment, he has been worn down considerably health wise, and now faces the stress of trial in this condition, which may very well lead to serious health complications, even death, said Imran H. Ansari, an attorney for Weinstein. Weinstein pleaded not guilty in September to a new sex crime charge that was brought against him ahead of the retrial, which itself came after an appeals court ruled that the judge who oversaw the first trial should not have allowed testimony from Weinstein accusers who were not part of the charges against him.

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Ansari stated that the producer is consistently mistreated for serious infections, in addition to his medication being incorrectly distributed, or not distributed at all. Weinsten was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, a type of bone marrow cancer, in October 2024.

He is experiencing unhealthy and atypical weight gain, and he is forced to endure freezing temperatures while not even being provided clean clothing, Ansari said. Earlier this year, Weinstein pleaded with a judge to start the retrial early, stating: Im in a serious emergency situation, Im begging for you to move your date. I need to get out of this hellhole as quickly as possible.

The request was ultimately not approved. I have continuously and repeatedly raised these issues with attorneys representing the city agencies involved and nothing has been done to remedy the situation, Ansari said of the reasoning behind filing the emergency motion in court.

Mr. Weinstein has also filed a claim against the City of New York and its relevant agencies because the treatment he has received on Rikers Island has been horrific and he intends to aggressively pursue his lawsuit, the attorney added. He has suffered considerably from deplorable conditions, and the system has failed him in providing him the most basic medical care, and deprived him of even the most elemental humane treatment.

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A jury found Weinstein guilty of two out of five charges against him in February 2020: a felony sex crime and third-degree rape. The charges related to two victims, the former production assistant Miriam Haley, who accused Weinstein of assaulting her in 2006 (the sex crime charge) and an aspiring actress, Jessica Mann, who said Weinstein raped her in a hotel in 2013 (the rape charge). He was sentenced to 23 years in prison. The most recent charge brought against Weinstein is tied to an allegation that he sexually assaulted a woman in a hotel room in 2006.

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TOPEKA (KSNT)  In an exclusive one-on-one interview, Inside Kansas Politics co-host Rebekah Chung sat down with Rep. Pat Proctor, (R)- Leavenworth, to talk about his top priorities and why the January 6 riot in Washington D.C. was one of the reasons hes running.

Its a story we first broke on 27 news. Also, Kansas Representative Tracy Mann shared his thoughts about federal cuts, border security and much more.

Later in the show, political analyst Bob Beatty joined Inside Kansas Politics co-hosts Rebekah Chung and Rob Hughes to talk about veto overrides coming from the Kansas Statehouse and new laws set to take effect.

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Kansas gov. confronts education secretary over $22.6 million in stripped school funding

You can watch Inside Kansas Politics at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings only on KSNT (check your local listings). To get the latest news on Inside Kansas Politics, check out our X account, or follow us on Facebook. If you have a story you think we should cover, email us at ikp@ksnt.com.

For more Capitol Bureau news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Get the latest in weather alerts by downloading our Storm Track Weather App.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Canadian gold mining company B2Gold has announced plans to cut approximately 300 jobs in Namibia as it begins the phased downscaling of operations at its Otjikoto gold mine, following the depletion of open pit reserves, reported Reuters.

The Otjikoto mine, operational since March 2015, has been a significant contributor to B2Gold's total output, producing a record 198,142oz of gold last year.

The mine has also reported a record profit, supported by high gold prices. Despite the cessation of open-pit mining expected this year, B2Gold will continue processing stockpiles until at least 2032.

The current underground operations at the Otjikoto mine are expected to continue until 2027, with the potential for an extension if further exploration reveals additional mineral deposits.

The process of reducing operations in Namibia began in the first quarter of 2024, with 130 employees already laid off.

B2Gold Namibia country manager John Roos said: "For 2025 we will go down from a permanent head count of 700 to 400 employees. That means 300 employees will be impacted during 2025."

The Otjikoto mine's gold production forecast for this year is estimated to be between 165,000oz and 185,000oz.

In addition to its operations in Namibia, B2Gold also operates gold mines in Mali and the Philippines.

The company is developing the Goose project in northern Canada and is involved in numerous development and exploration projects in countries including Mali, Colombia and Finland.

In January 2025, B2Gold moved forward with its plans to invest $10m (C$14.39m) in exploration at the Fekola gold complex in Mali.

The decision comes after a settlement was reached with the Malian Government regarding its 2023 mining code, which has mitigated the risk of disruption.

"B2Gold plans to cut 300 jobs at Otjikoto mine in Namibia" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  A cooking mishap drew multiple emergency vehicles and emergency responders in Sioux Falls Wednesday morning, Sioux Falls Fire Rescue (SFFR) said.

Emergency crews responded on Wednesday morning to an initial report of hazardous materials at an apartment on the 600 block of North Phillips Avenue, Sioux Falls Police said.

SFFR said later on Wednesday afternoon, the incident was a cooking mishap.

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The incident was reported at 9:06 a.m. At one point, at least 15 emergency vehicles were on the scene. Dozens of emergency responders were also there.

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Health care costs for transgender Americans could increase starting in 2026, if a recently proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is finalized.

The agency wants to stop insurance sold on the individual and small-group marketplace from including gender-affirming care  a change that would affect coverage for trans people with marketplace plans. Doing so means that insurers could drop coverage for trans people entirely or that trans patients could see higher out-of-pocket costs, experts say.

Although the rule would not ban coverage of gender-affirming care outright, it would disrupt care for a vulnerable population that faces disproportionate risks of living in poverty, being low-income and having greater medical needs.

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The proposed rule would affect essential health benefits, services that individual and small-group marketplace plans are required to cover. Essential health benefits refer to basic care, like hospitalization, mental health services and prescription drugs, as mandated by the Affordable Care Act. Under the proposed CMS rule, insurers would be barred from covering those services as essential health benefits when provided to trans people as gender-affirming care.

Experts say this new rule will raise health care costs for transgender people and possibly encourage health insurance companies to deny claims involving gender-affirming care, since the Trump administration is taking so many actions to oppose it. Carving out these restrictions would also burden health insurance companies, since gender-affirming care involves hospitalizations for surgery, mental health screenings and picking up hormone prescriptions: all services that count as essential health benefits.

If plans dont cover gender-affirming care, it would of course impact anybody with marketplace coverage, said Lindsey Dawson, director of LGBTQ Health Policy at KFF. They would allow plans to cover these services, but not allow it to be captured in cost-sharing reductions or premium tax credits. So basically it would lead to an increase in cost.

But, the proposed CMS rule also has the potential to impact even more people.

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There is a world in which this could raise out-of-pocket costs for trans people even on employer plans, said Katie Keith, director of the Health Policy and the Law Initiative at the ONeill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University. The amount of money that trans people have to pay toward their deductible may go up, as well as out-of-pocket maximums. Even if a patients gender-affirming care was covered by an employer plan, this policy would remove the spending cap required by the Affordable Care Act to keep those costs low, she said.

Ultimately, this means that transgender patients would face higher costs than cisgender patients for many of the same treatments, Keith said. In the proposed rule, CMS acknowledges that some medical conditions, including precocious puberty, require the same medical treatment as gender-affirming care. The agency, which is located within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is considering defining explicit exceptions to permit the coverage of such care as essential health benefits when it is for cisgender patients.

They fully acknowledge these are general health care services that anybody could need, and they only want to limit them as essential health benefits for the purpose of treating gender dysphoria. Its extremely targeted at trans people, Keith said.

CMS argues that sex-trait modification is not typically included in employer plans and therefore cannot legally be covered as an essential health benefit.

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But coverage of gender-affirming care services in employer plans is fairly common, according to KFF. The health policy nonprofit found in a 2024 survey that about 24 percent of employers with 200 or more workers cover gender-affirming hormone therapy, while 50 percent of the largest companies in the country  those with with 5,000 or more workers  offer this coverage. Additionally, more than half of insurers providing silver plans  the most popular category in the ACA marketplace  currently cover medical treatments for gender dysphoria, according to a recent report from Out2Enroll, which reviews ACA plans for LGBTQ+ inclusion.

Even the 24 states that explicitly prohibit transgender exclusions in health insurance could be affected under the new CMS rule. The proposal says that if any state requires coverage of gender-affirming care outside of a plans essential health benefits, then that state will have to take on the extra cost.

Olivia Hunt, director of federal policy at Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE), said she sees this new proposal as part of the Trump administrations goal to undermine nondiscrimination protections for transgender people within the Affordable Care Act. The language of the proposal also seems to be designed to sow confusion as to what should be covered, she said. CMS refers to gender-affirming care as sex-trait modification, citing President Donald Trumps executive orders that inaccurately describe gender-affirming care as chemical and surgical mutilation.

Its intended to further the messaging of this administration that well-attested medical care for trans people is somehow not a valid form of medical care, Hunt said.

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In the past few months, the Trump administration has tried to restrict trans Americans access to gender-affirming care by withholding federal funds to hospitals. Meanwhile, the White House has signaled its opposition to gender diversity as a whole and directed the National Institutes for Health to study regret rates of trans people who receive gender-affirming care. CMS is also telling states that they should not use Medicaid funds for gender-affirming care for minors.

If finalized, this new CMS rule could cause legal issues related to the Affordable Care Acts Section 1557, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability by health programs that receive federal funding. Specifically, those issues could arise if gender-affirming care is covered as an essential health benefit for cisgender people instead of trans people.

The proposed policy is just one small piece of a larger proposal from CMS that, by one estimate, could cause up to 2 million people to lose their health care coverage in 2026. Experts have said that patients across the country could see higher premiums and out-of-pocket costs if the rule goes into effect.

The post Health care could get more expensive for transgender people under a new Trump rule appeared first on The 19th.

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Iowa Workforce Development manages unemployment claims filed on behalf of Iowans. (Photo by Getty Images, logo courtesy the State of Iowa)

A Sioux City hospital nurse, fired for numerous alleged instances of substandard care in the emergency room, is not entitled to unemployment benefits, a judge has ruled.

State records show that on Dec. 18, 2024, registered nurse Corriene McKeown was scheduled to work from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the emergency room at Sioux Citys MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center.

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During her shift, the hospital later alleged, McKeown provided substandard nursing care to eight separate patients. For seven of the eight patients, McKeown allegedly failed to complete the required assessments. For one patient, McKeown allegedly failed to complete the required handoff in charting to ensure continuity of care once the patient was admitted to the hospital.

For another patient, who was admitted to the ER at 12:35 p.m. after complaining of increased confusion, McKeown allegedly failed to complete a level of consciousness assessment until 7 p.m.

For a third patient, who was admitted to the ER at 5:52 p.m., McKeown allegedly failed to complete time-sensitive triage medical charting until 7:10 p.m. and the absence of that charting contributed to a delay in patient care.

When hospital officials later met with McKeown to discuss the alleged deficiencies, McKeown asserted the ER had been busy and short-staffed, and that she could provide good patient care or good charting, but not both. According to the hospital, McKeown had previously been counseled about charting in April 2024 and June 2024.

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On Jan. 28, 2025, McKeown was fired. After a hearing on her application for unemployment benefits, Administrative Law Judge James Timberland concluded recently the weight of the evidence establishes multiple instances of carelessness by McKeown on Dec. 18, 2024, and he ruled McKeown was ineligible for benefits.

These were part of a pattern of carelessness, Timberland stated in his ruling. That careless performance, he added, included multiple instances of failing to properly and timely chart patient care, directly impacted patient care, directly impacted the employers ability to provide appropriate patient care, and indicated a willful disregard of the employers reasonable nursing care standards.

Other unemployment cases

Other Iowa caregivers whose unemployment cases were recently decided include:

 Debra Rawlins, who worked as a certified nurse aide for On With Life from November 2023 until January 2025, when she was fired after being accused of repeatedly abandoning her duties and neglecting brain-injured residents in her care. The final incident leading to her dismissal occurred on Jan. 8, 2025, when she allegedly disappeared repeatedly from her assigned area and then failed to respond to calls made through a mobile communication system. She was accused of loitering in a single-occupant restroom for 45 to 60 minutes until being discovered there by a nurse on duty.

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According to her employer, Rawlins had twice been counseled previously for neglecting her assigned residents for 30 to 60 minutes. On New Years Eve 2024, the company alleged, management suspected Rawlins was under the influence of alcohol while at work but elected not to invoke its alcohol-testing protocol. Administrative Law Judge James Timberland ruled recently that Rawlins was ineligible for unemployment benefits, concluding she had neglected the brain-injured residents in her care so that she could loiter while on the clock.

 Bernice Thompson, who worked as a receptionist for Universal Health Services Midwest, which operates Clive Behavioral Health. She was fired after allegedly failing to comply with policies tied to the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, or EMTALA, which requires hospitals to stabilize patients before discharge.

The hospital policy barred patients from leaving prematurely without signing records acknowledging they were leaving against medical advice. Thompson had reportedly objected to that policy, arguing it violated patients human rights, unlawfully held them hostage and amounted to some form of Medicaid fraud. She was denied unemployment benefits, with a judge finding her conduct disregarded the wellbeing of the patients and violated the employers EMTALA policy.

 Damariss Magne, who worked as a certified nurse aide for Christian Retirement Homes from August 2024 through January 2025, when she was fired. The care facility alleged that on the evening of Jan. 12, 2025, Magne discovered that one resident of the home had fallen out of bed, with their face and arms on the floor, and their legs still on the bed. With the help of another CNA, she placed the resident back in bed but didnt inform a nurse of the fall until an hour had passed. The company fired Magne, alleging that video showed during the hour after the fall Magne was in close proximity to nurses on multiple occasions and could have informed them of the incident. She was denied unemployment benefits.

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 Jonnie Weeks-Almaguer, who worked as a certified nurse aide for the nursing home Corning Specialty Care from April 2024 until she was fired in February 2025 for allegedly verbally abusing a resident. On Feb. 19, 2025, another CNA at the home, Destiny Luft, had reported overhearing Weeks-Almaguer say to a resident something to the effect of, You need to clean yourself up because you did it to yourself. The resident allegedly corroborated Lufts claim. Weeks-Almaguer was denied unemployment benefits.

 Kelley Bender, who worked for the Madrid Home for the Aging as the director of nursing from September 2023 until she was fired in January 2025. Several weeks before she was fired, Bender had talked to the homes compliance officer about concerns she had with the leadership of the homes administrator, Rick Colby, and the homes failure to report an incident of some kind. Days later, she met with the homes CEO to discuss the same concerns.

Shortly thereafter, the homes management launched an investigation of Bender, who had no incurred no prior warnings or disciplinary actions while working at the home. Management interviewed Benders colleagues and subordinates and gathered complaints from multiple workers. Without speaking to Bender, management allegedly opted to fire her. Administrative Law Judge Elizabeth Johnson recently ruled Bender is entitled to unemployment benefits, finding that the homes stated reason for its investigation lacked credibility, and that it seems more likely that her discharge was triggered by her report to the CEO than by her actual conduct at work.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  A deputy-involved shooting in central Bakersfield sparked a 2-hour neighborhood manhunt on Tuesday.

Streets were blocked off, helicopters were in flight, SWAT teams were deployed and snipers were seen on the roofs of homes.

This forced families to shelter in place after a man stole beer from a nearby Rite Aid.

Both Bakersfield police and the Kern County Sheriffs Office searched for a possibly armed suspect. Scanner traffic picked up the commotion, white male, grey shirt, jeans, black shoes.

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Around 9 a.m., KCSO deputies were called to a Rite Aid on H Street and Ming Avenue for a reported theft.

Rite Aid employees confirmed he stole beer.

After locating the suspect, the sheriffs department said 34-year-old Jeremy Pletcher fled on foot as deputies pursued.

Shots were fired in the 1700 block of Marshall Street.

Shots fired, shots fired, came over the police scanner following a gunshot noise.

Ronnie Medina, who lives in the area heard the sound of gunshots.

Suddenly, I hear like seven shots, said Medina. I assumed was a nail gun off of construction, but apparently not.

Thats when officers came flooding the neighborhood.

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BPD and KCSO teams were deployed, snipers took point on rooftops, a chopper circled the neighborhood, a KCSO bomb squad appeared, families were evacuated or sheltered in place and multiple streets were blocked off.

After two hours, Pletcher surrendered to officers.

Neighbors said Pletcher was found in a shed next to their house.

They were saying that he got bombed, he was in our neighbors shed and they smoked him out, said Jazmin Madrigal. He came out screaming and crying.

I dont have a plan: La Mirage Motel residents evicted from rooms after owner neglects property

Pletcher was arrested on alleged charges of showing a firearm to an officer, attempted murder of an officer, theft with two or more priors, assault on a person with a semi-automatic firearm, resisting arrest, and resisting an arrest with force.

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Pletcher has a long history of violence against police officers. His criminal record includes 27 Kern County cases, mostly for parole and probation violations.

Hes been to prison at least three times for resisting arrest, leading officers on high-speed chases and assault on officers. He has a pending case that charges him with resisting officers.

There are still multiple unanswered questions with this shooting, including:

Who fired the shots?

How many shots were fired?

Did Pletcher shoot at the officers?

Was anybody hurt?

How many officers were deployed?

A KCSO spokesperson declined to answer these questions, saying they will be answered at a later date.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths adviser was escorted out of the Pentagon on Tuesday and put on administrative leave amid a probe into information leaks at the department.

Dan Caldwell, one of Hegseths senior advisers, was placed on leave after being identified during an ongoing investigation into the leaks at the Pentagon, a defense official told The Hill.

It is unclear if Caldwell made the disclosure to a reporter or someone else.

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The Pentagon said last month that it started an investigation into recent unauthorized disclosures of national security information and that it would utilize polygraphs as part of the probe.

This investigation will commence immediately and culminate in a report to the Secretary of Defense, Hegseths chief of staff Joe Kasper said in a March 21 memo. The report will include a complete record of unauthorized disclosures within the Department of Defense and recommendations to improve such efforts.

Even outside of the Defense Department, President Trumps administration has sought to crack down on information leaks.

Caldwell, who was a public policy adviser at foreign policy-focused think tank Defense Priorities, was picked by Hegseth as the best point of contact in a Signal group chat where top U.S. officials discussed upcoming strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen, as was revealed by The Atlantics top editor, who was inadvertently added to the thread last month.

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Prior to serving at the Pentagon, Caldwell was an executive director of Concerned Veterans for America, a registered 501(c)(4) entity that was previously headed by Hegseth.

Caldwell, a Marine Corps veteran who was deployed in Iraq, has come under criticism from some conservatives for believing that the U.S. should downsize its military presence in Europe and some parts of the Middle East.

And I think our pursuit of primacy has ultimately made us weaker as a country, Caldwell said late last year.

It has led us to undertake foreign misadventures like the Iraq War, to stay much longer in Afghanistan and to attempt to turn one of the most tribal nations in the world, a nation with a history of rejecting outside interference and influence for millennia, into a liberal democracy, to repeat the same mistakes again and again in places like Libya and Syria, he said in an interview with the Financial Times published in December 2024.

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Reuters first reported on Caldwell being put on leave.

Ellen Mitchell contributed to this report.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 dog in northern Arizona played a key role in the rescue of a toddler who had gone missing in the desert. The two-year-old boy spent an entire night alone in the harsh environment. Nevertheless, he was found safe and sound the following morning, thanks to the keen instincts of Buford, a ranch dog.

Ranch dog leads brave rescue story of a missing toddler in Arizona

Boden Allen was reported missing after he wandered away from his familys property on Monday. He disappeared in the high desert of northern Arizona, an area known for its extreme conditions. As temperatures plummeted overnight, the toddler was exposed to the risks of predators. In fact, during the search, authorities noted that two mountain lions were spotted in the area, adding urgency to the rescue efforts.

Rescue teams from the Yavapai County Sheriffs Office immediately began the search, but the situation appeared grim. Megan Fitzgerald, a spokesperson for the sheriffs office, acknowledged the rarity of such cases ending well. It is not every day that we get to sit here and talk about a happy ending where the child was safe and located, she said, as per KPHO News.

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Luckily, the situation took a positive turn the next morning when Buford, a ranch dog, made an incredible discovery. Owned by local rancher Scotty Dunton, Buford found the missing toddler seven miles away from his home. The dog had brought Boden to safety, guiding the boy to the gate of Duntons property after finding him in the horse pasture.

Dunton recounted the moment to reporters. He explained that his dog had led the child toward the property, seemingly following a path Boden might have taken. When asked how Boden had managed to walk so far, the toddler explained he had followed a power line to the ranch, and, after taking a rest under a tree, Buford found him.

Bodens safe return was a relief to the authorities. However, they were still uncertain how the toddler took the remarkable journey. As for Buford, he returned to his usual duties, though not without a well-earned steak dinner.

The post Heroic Story of Ranch Dog Who Found Missing Toddler in Desert appeared first on DogTime.
Gov. Josh Shapiro and other elected officials celebrate the opening of Hersheys first fully-integrated digital manufacturing plant on April 16, 2025. (Commonwealth Media Services)

The Hershey Company has marked the opening of their first new plant in its namesake community in more than three decades.

One of the worlds largest candymakers, the company is based in Hershey, Dauphin County.

Several Pennsylvania elected officials were on hand Wednesday for the facilitys ribbon-cutting. Gov. Josh Shapiro lauded the Hershey Company as one of Pennsylvanias great manufacturers.

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I think it is particularly good and meaningful for me to be here today, given the events of this past weekend, to celebrate the growth of this iconic company, Shapiro said. I know its easy to look at the world and see the people who are trying to tear things down. Today were here to celebrate a great company that is building things up and creating dreams and opportunity for so many people.

Michele Buck, President and CEO of the Hershey Company, said the processing plant is the first new manufacturing facility constructed in Derry Township, outside Hershey, in more than 30 years. She also said it is the companys first fully digital integrated manufacturing facility with high levels of automation, exemplifying the next step in our digital manufacturing roadmap.

Shapiro said the new facility is going to create 125 new jobs in the state and thanked the company for having a huge reach from the farmlands to the corporate centers and beyond in Pennsylvania.

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Its true that Hershey could have chosen to be anywhere for this new facility, but instead, they chose to invest a billion dollars to expand their footprint right here at home in Pennsylvania, Shapiro said. That is a big deal. It is a point of pride for us, and we are grateful that you have doubled down on your commitment to Pennsylvania.

Were very, very grateful for the jobs, for the commitment to this community and to this effort and to Milton Hersheys legacy, which was not only about chocolate, but was about community, about philanthropy, about doing good for our community, U.S. Rep. Scott Perry (R-10th District), who represents Hershey.

State Sen. Patty Kim (D-15th District) and state Rep. Tom Mehaffie (R-106th District) represent Hershey in Pennsylvanias General Assembly and were also on hand for the new facilitys opening.

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This story was originally published on Banking Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Banking Dive newsletter.

Dive Brief:

Bank of America has been ordered to pay the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. $540.3 million in a yearslong lawsuit in which the bank regulator accused the lender of underpaying its deposit insurance obligations.

In the order, signed March 31 and made public Monday, U.S. District Judge Loren L. AliKhan said the law is not on [Bank of Americas] side, and the lender is liable for unpaid assessments that are lawfully payable. The determined amount, however, fell short of the $1.12 billion the FDIC claimed the bank didnt pay.

We are pleased the judge has ruled and have reserves reflecting the decision, a spokesperson for the Charlotte, North Carolina-based lender said Tuesday. The spokesperson declined to comment on whether the bank might appeal the ruling. The FDIC declined to comment.

Dive Insight:

The decision marks the latest development in a yearslong legal fight between the bank and the regulatory agency over the unpaid premiums. The FDIC sued the bank in 2017, following Bank of Americas refusal to make FDIC deposit insurance payments in accordance with an agency rule dating to 2011.

The 2011 rule adjusted how banks report exposure to counterparty risk, which affects how they calculate their deposit insurance contributions. All FDIC-insured banks contribute to the Deposit Insurance Fund, which the regulator administers to insure customer deposits up to $250,000 in the event of a bank failure.

Rather than report counterparty exposures at the consolidated entity level, which the rule required, the second-largest U.S. lender reported counterparty exposures individually, which lowered the banks concentration measure and the overall amount it paid in deposit insurance assessments for a period of time, according to the order.

Bank of America had challenged the validity of the FDICs 2011 rule, saying it was unclear and the agency violated the Administrative Procedure Act in adopting the rule.

The FDIC contended the bank made false or fraudulent statements about its counterparty exposures with the intent to evade its assessments, preventing the agency from discovering the banks errors until the FDIC conducted a 2016 audit.

The bank vehemently denied intentions to evade, noting it repeatedly informed the FDIC of its counterparty exposures reporting, and the judge indicated she sided with the bank on that point. Given [the banks] repeated disclosures about its reporting method,  the court is hard-pressed to understand how its actions indicate an intent to evade, the order said.
AUSTIN (KXAN) The city of Austin Hosted its third annual Fair Housing Conference and Resource Hub on Wednesday.

Innovation and strategies to address homelessness panel at 3rd annual fair housing panel. (KXAN photos/Tim Holcomb).

A number of topics were discussed:

Fundamentals of Fair Housing

Evolution of Housing in Austin

Fair Housing Legal Updates

The Untold Story of Evictions in Austin, Texas

Innovation and Strategies to Address Homelessness

Travis County Analysis of Impediments of Fair Housing

Fair Housing Testing

Fair Housing Reasonable Accommodation/Modifications

Changes in Real Estate Commissions and How it Affects Buyers

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Tara Emerald, a new resident in Austin attended with her daughter.

Thats not fair housing: Latest issues related to housing discrimination claims in Austin

Im just concerned about the affordability for buying a home, Emerald said. It did concern me for a moment, that checking a box might be concerningTheres still segregation here, and its very apparent.

Tara Emerald and her daughters. (Photo provided by Tara Emerald).

Its something she learned more about at Wednesdays conference.



When were talking about fair housing, is truly understanding whos experiencing what in the city of Austin, Dr. Lindsey Wilson, director of the office of equity and inclusion, said.

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Wilson said the eviction rate in Austin is the highest its been in a decade.

Travis County on par for record number of evictions in 2024, says tenant rights group

Housing advocate nonprofit, Building and Strengthening Tenant Action (BASTA) Austin, now has a dashboard it launched tracking these evictions in Austin and Travis County. And it also recently published a related report.



Our Black and Hispanic communities are disproportionately impacted by evictions, Wilson said. Women with children and low income residents.



Thats why Wilson said its so important to have conferences like this, getting all stakeholders and community leaders in one room to have these conversations and share resources.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)-Permian Basin Adult Literacy Center assist adults with learning to read and write.

Typically we see a lot of immigrants and refugees that ether want to learn English or improve their English. But we are also seeing large percentage of adults that need to improve their reading and writing. They had an undiagnosed learning disability like dyslexia said, Alba Austin the Executive Director of the Permian Basin Adult Literacy Center.

Literacy levels are not just a challenge here in the Permian Basin. One in five adults read below a 3rd grade level, thats 43 million Americans nationwide. Increasing literacy rates is not going to be accomplished by only targeting a specific demographic, it must be approached from a wholistic stand point.

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You cant just focus on K-12 and you just focus on adults it has to be homogenous said Austin.

Many adults do not come forward because they of a fear of judgement or stigma. If you or someone you know is ready to make a change to their life for the better, click here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin.
Presented with the Beacon of Hope Award at the ACRD conference in Chicago, former President Joe Biden on Tuesday gave his first public post-presidency speech, largely focused on the Trump administrations alleged attacks on Social Security.

The speech has generated a mixed response. Time Magazine criticized the former presidents remarks, saying it reminded everyone why the former President hadnt been able to generate the same enthusiasm.

Meanwhile, others praised the 82-year-old former presidents speech for his lighthearted response to attacks on his age.

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Describing the Americans with Disabilities Act, which he co-sponsored in 1990, Biden said, As United States senator 400 years ago, I was looking back on it, and I was like ... Ive been doing this 50 years. Its hell turning 400 years old. Anyway.

Former U.S. President Joe Biden speaks at the Advocates, Counselors, and Representatives for the Disabled conference in Chicago, Tuesday, April 15, 2025. | Nam Y. Huh

Biden addresses Social Security, and Social Security addresses Biden

Today I want to talk to you about an issue thats front and center right now for millions of Americans, and thats Social Security, Biden said.

Biden then referenced California Rep. Nancy Pelosis press release marking Tuesday as Save Social Security National Day of Action.

Everyone in this room fights for people with disabilities who rely on Social Security to survive  to survive," Biden said. Not just the physical side, its the mental side. Its the mental side. It makes sure folks get the benefits they earn after a lifetime of hard work.

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Biden criticized the Trump administration for cutting staff at the Social Security Administration as baby boomers enter eligibility.

The SSA has laid off 7,000 employees, Biden said, adding that Republicans in Congress want to let Social Security expire every five years, that was the proposal, let it expire every five years, unless re-authorized by the Congress.

After his speech Tuesday night, the Social Security Administration took to X to correct several of the former presidents statements.

Former President Joe Biden is lying to Americans.



Here are the facts:



1President Trump has repeatedly promised to protect Social Security and ensure higher-take home pay for seniors by ending taxation on Social Security benefits.  Social Security (@SocialSecurity) April 15, 2025

The SSA has not permanently closed any field offices and 50% of the technology department has not been laid off, the organization wrote. SSA is taking commonsense steps to transform how we serve the public  last month, we spent $16.5 million to modernize telephone services nationwide. Were developing cutting-edge, AI-powered tools to streamline simple tasks.

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The group added that Trump has repeatedly promised to protect Social Security and ensure higher-take home pay for seniors by ending taxation on Social Security benefits.

The Trump administration has the same energy as a tech startup, Biden said

Referring to efforts by DOGE, Biden said, Youve got to ask yourself, why is this happening? Why are these guys taking aim at Social Security now? Well, theyre following that old line from tech startups.

Biden then quoted Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, who famously said, Move fast, break things.

Theyre certainly breaking things, Biden said. Theyre shooting first and aiming later, and as a result, theres a lot of needless pain and sleepless nights.

Former U.S. President Joe Biden speaks at the Advocates, Counselors, and Representatives for the Disabled conference in Chicago, Tuesday, April 15, 2025. | Nam Y. Huh

Biden then asked why Republicans want to rob Social Security. He stated its to deliver huge tax cuts to billionaires and big corporations and keep it going. They want to make permanent the 2017 tax cuts which overwhelmingly benefited the wealthiest Americans and the biggest corporations. Thats going to cost $5 trillion.

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Biden then suggested that these tax cuts for billionaires would be paid for by using funds from Social Security and Medicaid.

Republicans or these guys are willing to hurt the middle class and the working class in order to deliver significant greater wealth to the already very wealthy. he said.

Biden says divide over policy is really about what the American identity should be

The divide between parties over policy issues is about who we are as Americans, Biden said.

To Biden, basic, fundamental values are nobodys king. Nobodys the boss. Everybody has a shot.

Fairness, simple fairness, Biden said. We cant go on as divided as we are. Look, Ive been doing this a long time. Its never been this divided. Granted, its roughly 30%, but its 30% that has no heart.

Former president draws backlash for using outdated racial terms

Toward the beginning of his speech, Biden recollected moving with his family from Scranton, Pennsylvania, to Wilmington, Delaware, in the fourth grade. Before the move, hed never seen hardly any black people.

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He then described the moment that he believes led him to be a civil rights advocate. As his mother drove him to Catholic school in Wilmington, Biden recalled, I remember seeing kids going by, at the time called colored kids, on a bus go by  they never turned right to go to Claymont High School.

I wondered why, asked my mom. Still in Delaware theyre not allowed to go to school, to public school, with white kids, honey. she told Biden.

Biden continued, That sparked my sense of outrage, just like it does, I mean, these young kids right here can tell ya, things effect them when they learn about something thats really just unfair and unjust. Biden referenced children sitting in the front row of the event.

After the speech, Trump posted this segment of the speech without a caption to Truth Social.
In so many ways the Trump administration has given us a window into a dystopian world  flouting a unanimous decision by the Supreme Court, elevating scientific myth into healthcare policy and so on. But its latest attack on the Social Security system is arguably the most frightening of all.

Reportedly pressured by Elon Musk's DOGE team and by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, the current stewards of Social Security have allowed the government to declare 6,300 people "dead" in a crucial Social Security database, even though they're very much alive.

The initial reports of this action were reported by the New York Times and Washington Post, but it was confirmed for me, if somewhat obliquely, by a White House spokeswoman.

You'd have a hard time explaining this to someone in a way that doesn't seem dystopian.

Devin O'Connor, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

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"President Trump promised mass deportations and by removing the monetary incentive for illegal aliens to come and stay, we will encourage them to self-deport," the spokeswoman, Elizabeth Huston, told me by email.

The White House claims that "DHS identified over 6,300 temporarily paroled aliens on the terrorist watch list or with FBI criminal records," and as of April 8 "terminated" their right to hold Social Security numbers or receive benefits.

"To prevent them from receiving any payments," the White House told me, the Social Security Administration moved their numbers into what the White House calls the Ineligible Master File."

What's that? It's what is officially known as Social Security's Death Master File," the database of deceased number holders.

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Make no mistake: In effect, these 6,300 living, breathing individuals have been declared "dead" by Trump administration fiat.

"You'd have a hard time explaining this to someone in a way that doesn't seem dystopian," says Devin O'Connor, an expert on Social Security at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

Social Security advocates are aghast. "As with most of the actions of the Social Security Administration since Trump came into office, we cannot make rational sense of the policy to place immigrants on the SSAs list of deceased persons," says Max Richtman, chief executive of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare.

Read more: Hiltzik: Acting commissioner's disastrous reign shows that Social Security needs protection from Trump

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"These are people who are in the United States legally and need active Social Security numbers in order to work and transact personal business," Richtman says. "By placing them on the list of dead persons, the Trump administration is needlessly preventing them from utilizing their Social Security numbers for legitimate reasons."

Before we delve further into the consequences of this action  for the newly "dead," for all Social Security beneficiaries and indeed American citizens, and for the Social Security system itself  a few words on how this came about.

It started on inauguration day, when Trump abruptly terminated four Biden administration humanitarian programs granting legal U.S. residence to applicants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela seeking asylum. By the end of Biden's term, more than 500,000 applicants had been granted so-called parole via the programs known collectively as CHNV. Typically, they feared political violence or death in their home countries.

After passing national security and public safety scrutiny and showing that they had a U.S. sponsor to provide housing and other support, they were granted a "parole" of up to two years permitting them to work legally, which required them to obtain Social Security numbers and to contribute payroll tax to the program. During that period, they could seek more permanent permission to stay in the country. As of April 8, they lost those rights and obligations.

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The White House hasn't specified what evidence it has that the 6,300 immigrants declared "dead" were members of terrorist groups or FBI-designated criminals.

As it happens, the termination order was blocked Monday by federal Judge Indira Talwani of Boston. In a 41-page order, Talwani raised the question of whether Congress had given Trump the authority, "after parole has been granted and individuals have entered the country on a lawful basis," to revoke the grants of parole "en masse." She wrote: "The answer is no." The revocation, she ruled, would have to be on a case-by-case basis, just as their paroles had been granted.

Read more: Hiltzik: A Social Security insider describes DOGE's rampage at the agency and the threat to your benefits

Meanwhile, Tuesday in Baltimore, federal Judge Ellen Lipton Hollander convened a hearing over whether the Social Security Administration has complied with her earlier order to keep DOGE employees' hands off the agency's records  an issue on which the unilateral "death" designations may well be relevant. Hollander had ordered acting Commissioner Leland Dudek to appear for testimony, but the government has refused to allow him to appear.

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That brings us back to the Death Master File. (The administration has said it should be referred to now as the "Ineligible Master File," but its authority to change its official designation isn't clear, and in any case this looks merely like an attempt to obscure the nature of the file itself.)

The DMF is one of the most important and closely supervised databases in the Social Security Administration's possession. Currently it contains more than 141 million names of deceased workers, along with their Social Security numbers and their dates of birth and death. The program uses the information, according to former Social Security official Tiffany Flick, for the purpose of "discontinuing benefits payments to deceased individuals, confirming an individuals right to survivor benefits, and identifying fraud" carried out by users of dead persons' Social Security numbers.

The information is carefully vetted unless it comes from family members, a state agency or a funeral home, Flick said in a court declaration. The agency takes pains to verify reports from anyone else. Of the 2.9 million death reports received each year, Flick said, fewer than one-third of 1% typically have to be corrected.

Federal law requires the agency to keep the full database confidential. A redacted version, however, is marketed via the Department of Commerce to banks, credit agencies and other financial institutions  but only if they can pass an annual certification in which they have to show they can protect the data from illicit use. The limited version contains only information that is more than three years old.

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There can be no question that "intentionally marking people who are still living as dead" in the master file "is unheard of and improper," Flick stated.

Beyond that, "when Social Security incorrectly declares someone dead, it ruins their lives," observes Nancy Altman, president of the advocacy organization Social Security Works.

In 2023, Altman notes, "a Maryland woman was wrongly declared dead and found her health insurance and Social Security benefits terminated, her home listed for sale, her credit cards canceled, and her water shut off. Her health deteriorated as she spent endless hours trying to undo the mistake. Indeed, she did actually die seven months later."

Because the DMF is viewed as authoritative by financial services companies, adds O'Connor, its misuse can cause "disruption in your bank account access, your credit cards canceled, your pension benefits being cut off, your insurance coverage canceled or an insurance claim denied. If you apply for a job your application could be rejected, or have a denial of credit."

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Read more: Hiltzik: Trump, the GOP and DOGE have launched their attack on Social Security. You should start worrying now

The very idea that government bureaucrats can designate living persons as dead for reasons other than their actual death should send shudders through all Social Security participants, citizens and otherwise  especially given the manipulation of the program from Trump acolytes already and the absence of official oversight over DOGE's rampaging minions.

"Now, if you're included in the Death Master File even by accident, how do you show not only that you're not dead, but that you don't belong on the file for some other unknown, mysterious reason?" O'Connor asks. "It's creating the potential for some Kafkaesque bureaucratic nightmares every time they make a mistake  and there will be mistakes."

As for the administration's contention that the 6,300 "dead" people are on a terrorism watch list or FBI list, the administration's treatment of facts and statistics when it comes to immigrants or Social Security does not inspire confidence.

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The administration, for instance, has consistently described Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whom it admits to having transported to El Salvador illegally, as an "illegal alien" and a member of the criminal gang MS-13. But he was in the U.S. legally, and no valid evidence has been produced to show he's a member of MS-13  quite the contrary, he may be a victim of MS-13.

DOGE's claims about Social Security data are almost risibly ignorant. Musk asserted that DOGE found millions of dead people as old as 150 receiving benefits, but he was misinterpreting a software artifact.

The manipulation of the Death Master File itself has obliterated its validity as a data source for financial and commercial institutions. If those institutions can no longer trust what was once the gold standard for information about their present or future customers, how can it be used at all?

What's scariest about the cavalier manipulation of the Death Master File is that Trump's refusal to observe bureaucratic norms, statutory limitations, and even to respond to court orders, points to the question of how far he's willing to go. Designating living persons as dead could be only the beginning.

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"If they can do this to somebody," O'Connor says, "they can do it to anybody."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Editors note: This story has been updated to correctly reflect the relationship between the colleges on Auraria Campus.

DENVER (KDVR)  Tivoli Brewing Company is leaving Metropolitan State University of Denvers Auraria Campus, marking the end of an era for the centuries-old brewery.

The brewery has sat in Auraria since the mid-to-late 1800s, serving up beers until 1969 when it closed for the first time, according to History Colorado. Renovations in the 1980s turned it into a student union for the Auraria Campus, which ultimately left parts of the building empty and outdated by 2010.

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New luxury cannabis lounge opening on Colfax Avenue

By 2012, History Colorado said Tivoli Beer came back after leaving for 43 years, and the campus said the brewery contributed to the community and educational initiatives from 2015 until 2021.

While the campus said brewing operations stopped in the fall of 2023, the tap house still served as a place for students, faculty, staff and the Denver community, that is, until the campus officially announced that the pair concluded its partnership.

On Tuesday, the Auraria Campus said it was concluding the partnership as Tivoli Brewing Company transitions out of its campus location. Now, the brewerys website sends users to Outlaws website.

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Although the brewery is officially gone, a campus spokesperson said that the full building is still the Tivoli Student Union for the Auraria Campus of MSU Denver, the University of Colorado Denver, and the Community College of Denver.

As for the space that is now vacant, the spokesperson said that Auraria Campus leaders are looking into a potential partner, and the campus will release more information on the potential buyer soon.

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MADISON COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV)  Rosa Scott School in Madison County received a State Historical Marker on Wednesday, April 16.

Rosa Scott was born in 1874 and was a pioneer in education for African Americans. She served as principal at the middle school in Madison, which she helped raise funds to build. With matching funds provided by the Rosenwald Foundation, which was dedicated to the construction of state-of-the-art schools for African American children across the South, the school was completed in 1924.

Groundbreaking held for $29 million Farish Street housing redevelopment

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Scott was buried on the schools grounds upon her death in 1938. In 1959, a new school was built for Madison Countys African American students and named for Rosa Scott. Following integration, Rosa Scott School became a middle school and in 2004 was redesignated for all ninth-grade students in the Jaguar Attendance Zone of Madison County Schools.

In 2021, the family of Rosa Scott travelled from across the country to gather at the school and present a biography of Mrs. Scott to the library, preserving her contributions to the school.

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BLACKSBURG, Va. (WFXR)  18 years ago, our region suffered the worst mass shooting in Virginia at Virginia Techs campus. So we pause to remember those 32 lives lost.

Just after midnight on April 16th, a candle was lit at the memorial on Virginia Techs campus. That candles flame will burn for 24 hours to show that those lives we lost 18 years ago will never be forgotten.

Virginia Techs campus was somber as many gathered around the April 16th memorial to watch the Corps of Cadets standing in watch. The cadets will be there all day to ensure the flame stays lit.

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(Photo Credit: Zoe Mowery)

But its not just Blacksburg that continues to honor the memory of those weve lost, flags across the commonwealth are at half staff as well.

And this past weekend, Tech held its annual 3.2 mile Run in Remembrance, which brought around 15,000 people to Blacksburg.

Orange Theory Fitness remembering Virginia Tech shooting victims

Hokies, remember, and remember those precious lives that were taken from us, said Mark Owczarski, the spokesperson for the University, Regardless of where you are, here in Blacksburg, across the commonwealth, across the nation, nobody should ever have to experience that, sense of loss and Hokies will forever want to remember those lives, but also to remember that we must turn to each other in difficult times to help us through when life is at its most unthinkable.

Photo Credit: Zoe Mowery Photo Credit: Zoe Mowery

President Tim Sands and his wife, Dr. Laura Sands laid two wreaths at the memorial at exactly 9:43 a.m., the same time the first shots were fired 18 years ago. A moment of silence followed.

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Then. President Sands and his wife walked the entirety of the memorial to look at all 32 names.

Those 32 lives will never be forgotten, and so it has become that sense of tradition. It marks the fact that throughout the entire day Hokies will reflect and recall the impact that those lives could have had, and in the time they were with us, they did indeed have on our lives, said Owczarski.

At 11:27 p.m., the Corps Cadets will stand guard for 32 minutes before extinguishing the candle, bringing it back into Burrus Hall to continue the legacy thats left.

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This is The Takeaway from today's Morning Brief, which you can sign up to receive in your inbox every morning along with:

The chart of the day

What we're watching

What we're reading

Economic data releases and earnings

The American growth trade as we know it  juiced by AI might, hopes of a soft landing, and coming deregulation  may have fallen away. But an outgrowth of shifting tariff policies has sparked another lucrative exchange on Wall Street: the volatility trade.

A surge in trading activity has shuttled billions of dollars to the nations largest banks as investors have attempted to protect their money or deploy it in the face of market gyrations.

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Earnings reports from the big five banks in recent days revealed they collectively raked in nearly $37 billion in trading revenue this past quarter, touting record sales from equities changing hands.

Warren Buffett famously urged investors to be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful. A corollary for the financial institutions facilitating those trades is to sit back in any environment and collect fees.

Wall Street wants stocks to go up, sure, but most importantly, it just wants stocks to move.

The big banks' trading may mostly be for hedge funds, pensions, and large companies  big institutional investors. But everyone's rolling up their sleeves at the volatility and tinkering with their portfolios, looking to optimize or take advantage of the moment.

As my colleague Josh Schafer reports, everybody's trading. Dip-buying flows following the week of Liberation Day reached record levels, according to data from VandaTrack, including $3 billion in net purchases on April 3. That was the largest daily total since VandaTrack began collecting the data in 2014.

Buying at recent lows and FOMO trading explained much of the heightened activity. But another interpretation is that an entire class of retail investor has been trained to throw their cash into stocks in a continuation of a pandemic-era shift in personal finance.

You are probably better off not looking at your diminished 401(k) account when the market is convulsing. But pushing an order on a trading app has become something of a pastime for an increasingly large American demographic, the foundation for group chats among young people, and the basis for an entire genre of aspirational lifestyle content.

That big banks' big shot clients are doing this too is a great "stars, they're just like us" moment. But it's also part and parcel of the same volatility that's been a hallmark of the 2025 stock market and a lesson in the importance of a diversified portfolio of banks' business lines.
President Trumps border czar Tom Homan criticized Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) for flying to the El Salvador prison where a wrongfully deported man is being held, calling the trip disgusting.

Homan joined Fox & Friends on Wednesday morning, as Van Hollen landed in El Salvador to check on Kilmar Abrego Garcias well-being and to hold constructive conversations with government officials around his release.

Rather than taking care of the constituents in his state, the victims of illegal crime in his state, hes going to run to El Salvador to protect an MS-13 terrorist, Homan said. Its just disgusting.

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Homan criticized Abrego Garcia, a 29-year-old who moved from El Salvador to the U.S. as a teenager, calling him a MS-13 gang member. Abrego Garcia and his wife have both denied the allegations that he is in a gang. Hes lived in the U.S. for more than a decade after fleeing El Salvador due to threats of violence against his life. An immigration court granted him approval to stay in the U.S.

The Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration must facilitate Abrego Garcias return, but the administration has said it cannot push a foreign country to release someone. El Salvador President Nayib Bukele said he would not help return Abrego Garcia when he visited the White House earlier this week.

Van Hollen said he is making the trip to see his constituent and will work to bring him back to the U.S.

He was illegally abducted and needs to come home, the senator said Wednesday in a video from El Salvador.

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The White House has insisted that the deportation was always going to be the end result, and if he were to return to the U.S., he could be deported again.

Homan expressed frustration with the Democrats who are working to get Abrego Garcia home and pointed to the deaths of U.S. women at the hands of violent immigrants. He previously said it was the right decision to deport the Maryland man.

Im just as disgusted that any congressional representative is going to run through El Salvador to his aid when yesterday, I read in his state, an illegal alien charged with murder was released back into the community, Homan said.

The murder Homan was referencing was that of Maryland woman Rachel Morin. In contrast to what the the administration official said, the Salvadoran man was convicted Monday.

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A federal judge Tuesday ordered Trump officials Tuesday to deliver depositions over the deportation after the administration failed to secure Abrego Garcias release.

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  We have a follow up to a story we told you about earlier this month and its exciting news.

If you remember, we told you the story about Ivy, the eight year old English Bulldog who went missing on April first, two weeks ago in the Chester area.

We are happy to report Ivy has been found.

I was shaking, a little teary eyed, Ivys owner Sarah Owan said.

Its the reunion Sarah Owan was hoping for, because she never lost hope.

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The Owans spent two weeks organizing daily searches for Ivy; in the fields, ditches, and waterways around their Chester home.

They even offered a $2,500 reward for her return.

Then just Monday afternoon, one of her friends, spotted Ivy in a field about a mile north of their home.

So she told him to take a picture and send it to her.

He sat on the ground and called her over, she walked over to him and laid down for belly rubs and put her in the truck and brought her home, Owan said.

The Owans had Ivy checked out by their vet this morning. She had lost six pounds in those two weeks, but other than that, she seems to be fine.

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Her gut tells her Ivy was never lost.

I always told my husband, somebody is going to drop her off, shes going to be found I just knew somebody had her, Owan said.

Because of all the publicity surrounding Ivys disappearance, She thinks the person got scared and dropped Ivy off a mile north of their home.

I think thats what happened, Owan said.

No matter where Ivys been since April 1, the Owans are dog gone happy to have Ivy back, back at home.

The Owans paid their friend the $2,500 Monday night.

She said at first he didnt want to take it, but they insisted.

We were hoping to talk with him for this story, but he wasnt available.



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MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW)  A homeless man pleaded guilty to manslaughter on Wednesday in the 2022 killing of another homeless man in Myrtle Beach, the Fifteenth Circuit Solicitors Office said.

Christopher Lee Perry, 43, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

He and the victim, Brian Edward Durost, 45, who was also homeless but originally from Massachusetts, got into an early morning argument on Oct. 17, 2022, the solicitors office said.

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Myrtle Beach police found Durost at about 1:45 a.m. that day in a grassy area behind a building on the 1000 block of Highway 501 in Myrtle Beach. An autopsy confirmed that he died from blunt-force trauma caused by Perry beating him with a wooden pallet.

Investigators learned Perry and Durost knew each other, and Perry was the last person to see the victim on the day of the murder, according to the solicitors office. He was also seen leaving the area around the time of the incident and was identified by witnesses.

* * *

Jordan White is a Digital Producer at News13. She joined the News13 team in August 2024. Jordan, a Myrtle Beach native, graduated from St. James High School in Murrells Inlet and is a graduate of Coker University. Follow Jordan on Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of her work here.

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Eight years ago, Daniel Ridge launched a legal battle against his former employer for dismissing him from his job at a county morgue while at the same time fighting his own mental health demons.

The 49-year-old won a stunning victory last month when an Alameda County Superior Court jury awarded him $2.4 million in a wrongful termination lawsuit against his former employer, Alameda Health System.

But Ridge was not in court when the verdict came in. As the case dragged on, his mental health had deteriorated, so much that he was unfit to testify and eventually fell into homelessness, becoming estranged from his family, including his 10-year-old son.

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His lawyers dont know Ridges whereabouts and are not sure if theyll be able to find him among the thousands of homeless people living in Oaklands shelters and streets.

There are so many unwell and unhoused people that live in large pockets, said Lawrance A. Bohm, attorney for Ridge. Finding him will require a tremendous effort.

Donald Whitehead, executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless, echoed that sentiment, adding that there are limitations to what information shelters can provide.

Ive seen many times people searching for loved ones, he said. But theres protections for people and their identity, so its a challenge when people get lost in the system.

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***

What little is known about Ridge is in a news statement released by the Bohm Law Group, the firm that handled the lawsuit against Alameda Health System, which operates five hospitals and four wellness centers with 800 beds and 1,000 physicians, according to its website .

Property records show Ridge resided in Southern California or Northern California during the 1980s and 1990s, a turbulent time when the use of narcotics and gang violence rose sharply in the state, especially in larger cities such as L.A.

From 1960 to 1980, the state's annual crime rate jumped from 236 to 888 violent crimes per 100,000 residents. By the early 1980s crime rates had decreased, but climbed back up to a peak of 1,115 per 100,000 residents in 1992, according to the Public Policy Institute of California , a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank.

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Read more: They were banned from assisted living. They stayed in the caregiving business

Ridge was one of many Californians affected by this wave of crime. He lost six of his closest friends to gang-related violence, according to the law groups statement.

When he was in his 20s, his uncle was killed in front of him by a co-worker who set him on fire with a Molotov cocktail. Two of his cousins committed suicide thereafter, the statement read.

The terrible life of Mr. Ridge left him with PTSD that went undiagnosed or untreated for decades as [he] lacked the resources to treat his condition, the firm wrote.

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Despite the hardships, Ridge became a certified nursing assistant and found a job as a part-time morgue attendant at Highland Hospital in Oakland, one of the five hospitals run by Alameda Health System.

Ridge was hired by that hospital in June 2006 and for years received positive feedback in his evaluations. But things began to change by late 2013 when the then-full-time morgue attendant took a leave of absence, eventually retiring in late 2014, according to his wrongful termination lawsuit.

The court documents show that the full-time morgue responsibilities at the hospital fell to Ridge, forcing him to work seven days a week while still receiving only part-time pay, a condition that continued for about a year.

This meant that, among other things, Mr. Ridge did not receive any employee benefits, including health insurance, the lawsuit read.

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Ridge alleged that he raised the issue about his long hours and part-time pay multiple times with hospital leaders including in late summer 2014, just before the birth of his son that October.

Shortly after, the lawsuit alleges, the hospital announced an opening for a full-time morgue attendant position. Ridge was required to apply and interview for the position, which he got sometime in December or January 2015.

But his pay wasnt the only problem Ridge had raised with hospital leaders at the hospital during his two years working full-time hours.

He alleged that he was forced to use a landline and go to the hospital library on a different floor whenever he needed to research medical conditions related to the bodies in the morgue, unlike other employees.

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Read more: Editorial: To understand homelessness, listen to homeless people. Here's what I learned

He also raised safety and health concerns when Alameda Health System changed how Highland Hospital disposed of formaldehyde.

He complained, according to the lawsuit, that the new process made him feel dizzy and caused shortness of breath, as well as blurred vision. He repeatedly asked for respiratory equipment but was not supplied with any for about 17 months.

Ridge also alleged he had raised concerns over sanitation issues and handling of bodies at the hospital. He said sometimes bodies were left on gurneys in the hallways outside of the morgue covered with nothing more than a bedsheet.

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The spilling and leaking of bodily fluids from dead bodies was not only due to a lack of body bags, but also due to the fact that bodies would occasionally be delivered to the morgue with intravenous tubes still attached to them and with needles and other hospital 'sharps' still lying on the gurneys, the lawsuit alleged.

Ridge took it upon himself to keep the morgue area and hallways clean after noticing fluids on the floor for days, often having to work with decaying corpses just feet from his work station.

The Bohm Law Group said in its statement that the mounting stress caused by the increased workload, lack of support, and mismanaged corpses began to trigger Ridges undiagnosed PTSD.

In September 2015, Ridge was diagnosed with some form of PTSD and depression and was placed on medical leave until Oct. 4. After returning to work four days later, he suffered a panic attack.

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On Oct. 13, Ridge visited his psychiatrist again who gave him a note to be off work for six days. During that time, he had a conversation with the leave management coordinator for Alameda Health System, who told him he was eligible to take unpaid, job-protected leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act, or FMLA, and would need to complete the forms by Nov. 4, according to the lawsuit.

On Oct. 16, Ridges psychiatrist extended his time off from work until the end of the month, according to the lawsuit.

But when Ridge returned to work on Nov. 1 with his FMLA paperwork in hand, he was told his employment had been terminated and was escorted out by two law enforcement officers, prompting him to later file a wrongful termination lawsuit against his former employer. The Mercury News was first to report on the story.

Bohm said his client was doing OK until the pandemic hit in 2020. He said his client's mental health worsened, before Ridge fell into homelessness and became estranged from his family.

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On March 25, a jury found that Alameda Health System had wrongly terminated Ridge while he was on medical leave, awarding him $2 million for past and future emotional distress and $455,000 for loss of past earnings.

In a statement, Alameda Health System said it takes the mental and physical health of its employees seriously but it also disagreed with the jurys verdict, suggesting it planned to appeal the ruling.

After a thorough investigation, AHS determined that Mr. Ridges allegations were not supported by fact and that AHS acted appropriately and consistently with all laws and regulations, the statement read. However, AHS otherwise disagrees with the jurys verdict and believes that, when reviewed by the Court of Appeal, the portions of the jurys verdict favoring the plaintiff are not supported by the evidence.

Bohm was surprised by the Alameda Health Systems response. He said the case was so obvious he won it without his client testifying in court.

They probably spent close to $2 or $3 million dollars on their lawyers, trying to fight a case that we offered to settle for $500,000 in 2018, he said. Pennies for settlement, pounds for defense.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT)  Homeowners and city council members are trying to prevent a liquor store from opening in a neighborhood.

The store would be located at the intersection of Walnut Street and East Kentucky Avenue.

Homeowners say they are upset and do not want a liquor store in the area and are asking city council members to pass a Good Neighbor ordinance.

The ordinance would prevent any business from locating in an area without notifying churches, schools and neighborhoods within a three-block radius.

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Pastor Adrian Brooks lives in the area and says the liquor store is not a good idea.

Indiana state law says no liquor store can be within 200 feet of the walls of a church.

Officials say Nazarene Baptist Church is only barely outside of that limit.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
In Frederik Pohl and Cyril Kornbluth's 1953 sci-fi classic "The Space Merchants," governments have been replaced by powerful corporations that have privatized nearly every corner of the globe. Thanks to overpopulation on all of the other continents, Antarctica has become a resort colony, chock full of tourists, equipment-rental companies, and violently invasive advertisements.

It's a powerful novel  though one that was never meant to be taken as a suggestion. Unfortunately, a growing tourist industry seems to be turning that space-age fantasy into reality.

Drawn by sweeping polar vistas, unspoiled Antarctic reefs, and exotic wildlife, tourists are paying prices as high as $18,000 for a spot on board a cruise ship bound for the Great White South.

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The vast majority of Antarctic tourists depart for the Southern Continent via cruise ship out of Ushuaia, Argentina, dubbed the "end of the world." A New York Times profile on tourism in Ushuaia notes that the number of Antarctic visitors has increased by nearly 215 percent since the 2014-2015 season.

Unfortunately for residents of Ushuaia  the site of 90 percent of Antarctic departures  that explosion in tourism has come with a huge increase in pollution, cost of living, and stress on the local economy. The NYT profile reports that each Antarctic tourist emits nearly five tons of CO2 emissions per trip, or about the annual average per human (though the newspaper of record notes that Americans are "closer to 16 tons.")

The International Association of Antarctic Tourism Operators (IAATO)  a private-sector industry group  currently lists 51 tour operators in its directory, some of which operate ships ferrying between 200 and 499 passengers to Antarctica at a time.

Though bound by strict regulations regarding waste and fuel oil standards, the kind of tourism enabled by these ships is plaguing the continent with invasive species, noxious ship exhaust, construction waste, and even graffiti.

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As Antarctic tourism heats up, researchers and conservationists have raised concerns that the IAATO model  which essentially allows tour operators to regulate themselves  creates little incentive for tour operators to monitor the impacts of tourism on the icy frontier, or limit guests if things get out of hand. One study of the IAATO system found that the group could face considerable challenges holding the reigns as the number of companies operating in Antarctica grows, not least of which is the fact that IAATO membership is optional.

There's also the human element to consider.

Though Argentina's hugely-privatized economy is showing small signs of growth, its population has suffered with poverty levels as high as 57 percent this year. Though the tourism industry might be booming in Ushuaia, some residents spend as much as 80 percent of their wages on ramshackle housing in illegal shanty towns surrounding the city center.

So if you're thinking about whether to shell out thousands for a peek at the end of the world, remember that the cruise bill is really just the tip of the iceberg.

More on Antarctica: Space Tourists Startled to Discover That From Space, Antarctica Looks Pretty Much Like You'd Expect
Italian restaurant group Big Mamma is expanding its London presence with its sixth venue, Barbarella, in the corporate district of Canary Wharf.

Scheduled to open in June 2025, the new restaurant will be situated in the YY Building and feature a 1970s Roman cinema-inspired theme.

Barbarella's interior design will showcase vintage Ferragamo silks and a mirrored glass bar, with a reflective 70s chromed lounge upstairs.

At the heart of the restaurant will be an open kitchen, led by Rome-born Marco Rastelli who will introduce a daily-changing menu including metre-long spaghettone, pizzas and pasta.

The menu will also offer Cornish lemon sole, grilled steaks ranging from fillet to a 1.2kg T-bone, and a dedicated gelato section.

The opening of Barbarella follows the successful launch of Big Mamma's first regional restaurant, La Bellezza, in Birmingham in November 2024.

The group continues to manage its five other London restaurants, which include Gloria, Circolo Popolare and Carlotta, all of which were described as fully booked one month in advance throughout 2023.

Established in 2013, Big Mamma aims to emulate the authenticity and warmth of traditional Italian trattorias internationally.

The group prides itself on sourcing produce directly from small Italian producers, offering 100% homemade dishes at affordable prices.

In September 2023, private investment company McWin Capital Partners signed a partnership deal to acquire a majority stake in Big Mamma.

The acquisition was part of McWin Capitals strategy to strengthen its position in the European dining industry.

"Big Mamma to launch sixth London restaurant in Canary Wharf" was originally created and published by Verdict Food Service, a GlobalData owned brand.




The Florida House unanimously approved a bipartisan proposal on Wednesday, April 16, that effectively bans oil drilling for 52 miles along the banks of the Apalachicola River.

Now the bill (HB 1143) goes to the Senate, where a less stringent companion bill is ready for that full chamber to consider. With the legislative session set to end by May 2, it's anybody's guess whether a compromise will make it to the governor's desk.

The House proposal by Rep. Jason Shoaf, R-Port St. Joe, and Rep. Allison Tant, D-Tallahassee, prohibits the Department of Environmental Protection from approving an oil and gas drilling permit within 10 miles of the states three National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERRs)  which includes the Apalachicola, Tolomato Mantanzas near St. Augustine, and Rookery Bay south of Naples.

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The Apalachicola NERR has some of the highest density of fish, reptiles, and amphibians in North America and takes in nearly half of the 107-mile-long river that empties into Apalachicola Bay.

Shoaf introduced the bill by noting the upcoming 15th anniversary of the BP Gulf oil spill (April 20) that shut down Apalachicola Bay and devastated the coastal economy.

We're still carrying scars from that oil spill, just the threat of oil coming to our area completely crippled our economy. And now we face another threat that is starting to really scare the entire community, Shoaf said.

The Apalachicola River has some of the most diverse freshwater fish species in the state of Florida. Proposed oil drilling in Calhoun County could cause long lasting, damaging impacts on the ecosystem within the river.

Last April, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) permitted an exploratory oil well in the Apalachicola floodplain for Clearwater Land and Minerals. The decision is currently under legal challenge, but Shoaf and Tant are moving to ensure the project never gets past the exploratory stage.

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If oil were to be found then Clearwater would have to seek a permit to pump oil from the ground. That is a whole other process," Shoaf explained. "This would block the next permit they would have to obtain before they could commercially drill for oil.

Earlier Wednesday, a Senate committee cleared a companion measure (SB 1300) for it to be considered by the full chamber.

The bill by Sen. Corey Simon, R-Tallahassee, lacks the House's outright ban but does include a requirement for DEP to conduct a balancing test when considering drilling applications within one mile of rivers, lakes, and other water bodies.

The test would weigh environmental and economic concerns against the potential loss expected from an oil spill or other accidents.

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When asked about the differences between the two bills, Simon said he will meet with Shoaf for a conversation to work things out.

And Shoaf said he is willing to compromise  as long as it achieves the goal to stop drilling.

James Call is a member of the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jcall@tallahassee.com and is on X as @CallTallahassee.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida House passes bill to shield Apalachicola Bay from drilling
Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), the ranking member on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, is calling for an investigation into the Department of Government Efficiencys (DOGE) access to data at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the Department of Labor (DOL).

In a letter addressed to Luiz Santos, the acting inspector general for DOL, and Ruth Blevins, the NLRB inspector general, Connolly argued that DOGE employees may have engaged in technological malfeasance and illegal activity.

After NPR published a whistleblower report and Oversight Democrats obtained disclosures, Connolly believes DOGE officials have attempted to exfiltrate and alter data while also using high-level systems access to remove sensitive information.

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I also understand that these individuals have attempted to conceal their activities, obstruct oversight, and shield themselves from accountability, he wrote.

According to NPRs reporting, staff at the NLRB were alarmed about what DOGE employees did once granted access and noticed a rise in data leaving the agency.

Daniel Berulis, the whistleblower, told NPR he was piecing parts of the puzzle together and called it a scary and very bad picture.

Connolly also expressed concern, arguing that NLRB and DOL are critical in holding companies accountable for unsafe working conditions and union and labor experiences.

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He also highlighted DOGE leader Elon Musks role in the activity, noting that Musks various businesses have repeatedly raised labor concerns.

Connolly asked the inspectors general to investigate a series of questions and respond by April 29, saying they are not hypothetical concerns.

As ranking member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I ask that you report to Congress the nature of the work the DOGE team has performed at NLRB and DOL, Connolly wrote.

A White House official said multiple career officials had access to the data and the administration defended DOGEs role in data sharing.

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It is months-old news that President Trump signed an Executive Order to hire DOGE employees at agencies and coordinate data sharing, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement to The Hill. Their highly-qualified team has been extremely public and transparent in its efforts to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse across the Executive Branch, including the NLRB.

Updated April 16 at 9:30 a.m.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, APRIL 16, 2025.....House Democrats will push for a significant increase in state spending after months of voicing discomfort about federal funding uncertainty and economic upheaval.

The House Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday will roll out a $61.4 billion annual budget for fiscal year 2026, a plan whose combined traditional and wealth surtax spending is about 6.4% higher than the budget Gov. Maura Healey signed last summer.

Lawmakers traditionally add spending to the budget through the amendment process, which will unfold when the House takes up the proposal during the week of April 28.

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Beacon Hill has been wracked with angst for months about President Donald Trumps dramatic efforts to cut federal spending, which could whittle away significant dollars that flow toward state governments. Healey previously estimated that federal revenue would contribute about $16 billion toward her budget plan.

House budget chief Aaron Michlewitz said representatives feel confident that they can sustain spending growth at more than twice the rate of the prior year.

In some respects, theres greater need, like in food insecurity and places like that. I think our budget is balanced, its responsible, Michlewitz told reporters. We feel that it provides the services that are necessary in these times, which is unprecedented in terms of the chaos that were dealing with from not having a reliable partner on the federal side of things.

The House budget is the first major state spending plan for next year to emerge after Trump and Republicans moved to significantly overhaul federal funding.

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While the bottom line may grow during House budget debate, mostly through mega-amendments constructed in private that steer millions of dollars to local earmarks, the House Ways and Means Committee draft starts nearly $600 million lower than Healeys plan.

Michlewitz said with a slightly smaller bottom line than Healey proposed, the House budget would enable the state to be able to better respond to federal cuts that might materialize.

The aggressive actions of the new administration in Washington, particularly around tariffs, will only drive prices up and will further put pressure on both the states fiscal outlook and peoples wallets, Michlewitz said. A trade war on top of unilateral funding freezes and a general sense of chaos emulating out of our nations capital leads to major challenges towards constructing a budget, to say the least. The worst-case scenario for a budget writer is uncertainty. When faced with cuts, we know where we can cut. When faced with a surplus, we know what we can add. But not knowing what the future will bring means that we have to plan for anything and everything.

The House Ways and Means budget redraft omits a series of new taxes and tax increases Healey proposed in her version, including a charitable donation cap and a tax on prescription drug manufacturers for excessive price increases, together worth an estimated $471 million in revenue.

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The panel matched Healeys proposal to draw about $1.6 billion from one-time sources to pay for spending increases, including an idea to redirect more than half a billion dollars in capital gains tax collections that normally would be deposited into the states long-term savings account.

Some of the spending growth would be driven by the voter-approved surtax on wealthy households. In the fiscal 2025 spending plan, lawmakers and Healey agreed to use $1.3 billion in revenue from that source; in fiscal 2026, that would rise to $1.95 billion.

Surtax dollars in the House budget would continue to fund free school meals for all students, early education grants, and free community college. They would also contribute to a significant increase in funding for the MBTA -- the House proposes a total of $687 million for T operating costs -- at a time when the transit agency faces a major funding gap that could imperil recent service improvements.

The largest area of spending remains MassHealth, which combines Medicaid and the Childrens Health Insurance Program under one umbrella. House Democrats proposed $22.43 billion for the program, a $2.36 billion increase over last years budget.

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Much of that money is traditionally reimbursed by the federal government, but Republicans in Washington, D.C. are seriously considering deep Medicaid spending cuts in part to fulfill their tax relief goals.

House Democrats packed their plan with several noteworthy policy riders. The bill would expand the duration of a pilot program at the Massachusetts Health Connector from two years to three years, and raise the eligibility threshold for subsidized ConnectorCare coverage from 300% of the federal poverty level to 500%.

Michlewitz and House Speaker Ron Mariano now also appear to be on board with limiting the impact of broker fees on renters, an idea that House Democrats killed during negotiations with the Senate on a housing bond bill last year.

The House budget would prohibit a real estate broker from charging a tenant or prospective tenant for finding an apartment if the renter did not initiate use of the brokers services. Mariano said the measure would ensure that the party who hires the broker ultimately pays the fee.

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While shifting the burden of those fees is only one facet of our effort to bring down the cost of renting here in the commonwealth, the fees are simply unfair, Mariano said. Its an unfair cost for renters who do not contract a broker and therefore should not have that as a responsibility.

Representatives outlined significant changes to education funding and policy compared to Healeys budget, calling for a minimum school aid amount of $150 per student, compared to $75 per student in Healeys budget, and moving to block any changes to vocational school admissions policies for at least a year.

Their budget also seeks a cut in funding for the emergency assistance shelter program, which for much of Healeys term has been crushed by soaring demand.

Lawmakers and Healey have agreed to several additional rounds of dollars to the program, pushing the annual cost close to $1 billion, while implementing reforms designed to cut eligibility, length of stay and caseloads.

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The House budget -- rolled out as the Healey administration said current caseloads in shelters dropped below 5,000 for the first time in nearly two years -- would fund the program at $275 million in fiscal 2026.

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MISSOURI  The Missouri House voted Do Pass on a new bill Tuesday that could increase the tax credit available for film and series productions in the state.

According to House Bill 1499, the bill would combine the tax credit available for TV projects and movies each year. Missouri began offering a tax credit for movie and TV productions in 2023, which offered $8 million for film and, separately, another $8 million for series productions.

If passed, the bill would combine the two tax credit pots, attracting bigger productions to the Show-Me State.

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Restraining order filed against St. Louis Sheriff following second worksite visit

In August 2023, Missouri introduced the Show MO Act, which ended a decade-long lapse since Missouris previous tax credit program, which expired in 2013.

According to the Missouri Division of Tourism, more than 40 projects have been approved since the launch of the tax incentives, with many more expected in the upcoming years.

To qualify for the tax credit, production companies must first apply with the state and prove financial support for their project, then undergo an independent audit to verify spending.

Afterward, the state will conduct an additional audit to ensure funds were accurately used and the production fulfilled its commitments after filming takes place in Missouri.

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Former University of Florida President Ben Sasse via screenshot from Florida Channel. The product of a secret search, he lasted for less than one year.

In the face of a threatened veto from Gov. Ron DeSantis, the Florida House passed a bill Wednesday with widespread member support that would reopen presidential searches to public scrutiny.

Representatives voted 104-8 on HB 1321, introduced by Rep. Michelle Salzman and decried by DeSantis, which would repeal the public records exemption on applicants for presidencies at state colleges and universities.

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In summary, this bill is about transparency, term limiting bureaucrats, and good governance, Salzman said on the House floor Wednesday.

Rep. Michelle Salzman (Photo via Florida House)

The bill would prohibit the governors office from influencing who might lead the institutions and remove the Board of Governors required approval of finalists presented by search committees. The bill would leave searches to boards of trustees of individual universities, which typically include more local stakeholders.

This isnt an attack on the Board of Governors. This isnt an attack on our great governor. This is simply bringing the second largest component of the state budget into the sunshine, Salzman said.

During a news conference about law enforcement in Fort Myers on Wednesday, DeSantis said the bill would kneecap our ability to hold higher ed accountable.

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I dont think thats gonna get on the desk. If it does, well invite you all to the ceremony where well veto. Thats fine, but I dont even think its gonna get there, DeSantis said.

SB 1726, the bills Senate companion with material differences including keeping searches secret, awaits its final committee stop in the Rules Committee. It received unanimous approval in its previous two committee stops.

Bills need two-thirds support in each chamber to override a veto.

Among the votes against the bill, seven were Republicans: Reps. Kiyan Michael, Patt Maney, Chip LaMarca, Ryan Chamberlin, Mike Caruso, and Tom Fabricio. Rep. John Temple voted late against the bill. Democrat Yvonne Hinson also voted no.

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Caruso consistently has been willing to stand with the governor while the House has deviated from the executive branchs wishes this session.

Public colleges and universities are funded by taxpayers from the entire state of Florida, so the state has a vested interest in overseeing leadership choices. Having the State Board of Education approve appointments ensures that presidents are held to statewide priorities, not just internal or local interest, Caruso, the only representative to speak in opposition to the bill on the floor, said.

Caruso made the argument that Salzmans bill unravels all the success weve made over the years in higher education, an argument DeSantis has also made.

DeSantis called the bill ill-conceived during a news conference in Pensacola on Tuesday about Hope Florida.

Recent searches

While Florida has been ranked the best higher education system in the nation for the last eight years by U.S. News & World Report, presidential searches have faced controversy in recent years.

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Ben Sasse was the sole finalist announced for the presidency at University of Florida after a secret search. Sasse held the job for less than a year and was criticized for lavish spending while in the office.

Florida Atlantic University restarted a secret search after the governors office tried and ultimately failed to position then-state Rep. Randy Fine for the job.

The governors office reached out to Florida International University to advocate for Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez to take their interim presidency.

Former House Speaker Richard Corcoran was named president at New College of Florida, perhaps the first and most widely publicized instance of a DeSantis political ally being named leader of a SUS institution.

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Among the aforementioned provisions, the bill would impose term limits for the Board of Education, Board of Governors, and university and college trustees and require that members would have to be alumni of the institution or residents of Florida.

Reporter Jackie Llanos contributed to this story.

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GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX)  Housing Resources of Western Colorado (HRWC) will host an open house event on Friday from noon to 3 p.m. at 2781 Caspian Way. The open house will showcase the first five-plex townhome units of the Row Homes at Meridian Park.

Housing Resources had received a $100,000 grant from the City of Grand Junction in addition to a previous $1 million grant to create a downpayment assistance program. By layering the funds from the City of Grand Junction and the State of Colorado, Housing Resources can provide $65,000 of downpayment assistance on each home to make them more affordable for Grand Junction families.

The City in partnership with for profit and non-profit housing developers is committed to investing in projects that support affordable workforce housing, including homeownership opportunities, said City of Grand Junction Mayor. Its exciting to see this integral partnership develop housing that directly impacts hardworking members of our community. This reflects the work of Council and staff as one of our strategic priorities, developed from the direction provided by our communitys Comprehensive Plan.

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The Grand Junction City Council funded the original request to create the downpayment assistance program using American Rescue Plan Act funds and then supplemented an additional $100,000 from the citys 2024 budget for the Row Homes at Meridian Park project. The citys downpayment assistance program has helped 20 Grand Junction families become homeowners. Another 10 opportunities will be created with the Meridian Townhomes.

The Meridian Park project is a great example of public-private partnership. BOA Builders is constructing 10 beautiful and energy efficient homes, the city and state are helping us with downpayment assistance grants, and were providing the free homebuyer counseling and education to tie it all together, said Emilee Powell, executive director of Housing Resources. This is exactly the kind of project we need to pursue locally to keep Grand Junction affordable. These high efficiency homes are stunning inside and ready for new owners.

Housing Resources of Western Colorado was awarded additional funds to continue the downpayment program, which is currently available in Mesa, Montrose, Delta and Garfield counties. As there are still funds available from both the state and the City of Grand Junction, Housing Resources plans to work closely with local lenders and the CHFA downpayment assistance program to maximize assistance whenever possible.

More information about Housing Resources of Western Colorado and their downpayment assistance program is available on their website hrwo.org.

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DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  Huber Heights is looking for community input on a popular local park.

The city of Huber Heights will host a Cloud Park Dreaming Session, to brainstorm ideas for Thomas A. Cloud Memorial Park. Community members are invited to attend with suggestions and feedback for what the park could become.

Youngs Jersey Dairy switching to plastic eggs for Easter hunt

The Dreaming Session will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 17 at the Huber Heights Senior Center, located at 7301 Shull Road. Registration is required to attend.

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The Parks and Rec Team will bring a vision board and markers along with snacks.

People who are unable to attend are encouraged to fill out the survey here.

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By Tarek Amara

TUNIS (Reuters) - Human Rights Watch said on Wednesday arbitrary detention was being used to eliminate dissent in Tunisia and called on its government to halt the crackdown and free all detainees, amid a trial of prominent opposition figures on conspiracy charges.

An HRW report reinforced opposition leaders' concern over what they call the authoritarian rule of President Kais Saied since he dissolved parliament in 2021 and began ruling by decree, asserting control over the judiciary.

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The opposition described Saied's move as a coup. He has denied such accusations, vowing he would not become a dictator but rather is trying to rescue the North African country from political chaos and rampant corruption.

The report by New York-based HRW said the Tunis government had turned arbitrary detention into a cornerstone of repressive policy.

"Saied's government has returned the country to an era of political prisoners, robbing Tunisians of hard-won civil liberties, said Bassam Khawaja, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at HRW.

Government officials did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

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Since 2023 authorities have arrested dozens of prominent political opposition figures as well as journalists, activists, and lawyers in a crackdown critics say has undermined the democracy gained in the 2011 Arab Spring popular uprising.About 40 people including high-profile politicians, business figures and journalists face charges of conspiring against state security. The third session of their trial will be held on Friday. They have all denied wrongdoing.

Saied said in 2023 that the accused were "traitors and terrorists" and that judges who had acquitted them in previous trials were their accomplices.

Most Tunisian political party leaders are in prison including Abir Moussi of the Free Constitutional Party and Rached Ghannouchi, head of the Islamist Ennahda party, two of Saieds most prominent opponents.

(Reporting by Tarek Amara; editing by Mark Heinrich)
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  The South Dakota Democratic Party is hosting town halls throughout April with a goal of helping South Dakotans make their voices heard.

Hundreds of people packed into Hamre Hall at Augustana University Tuesday night. One of the topics discussed was the potential cuts to Medicaid.

Im concerned about all the people across our state that are very vulnerable, that rely on services and supports to just get through their day-to-day lives, and its under threat and attack, Brenda Smidt of Sioux Falls said.

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Recalling coverage from 77: Escaped murderer on the lam

There was also frustration with the bill to dismantle the Department of Education.

There is so many protections for individuals with disabilities in other populations that are in that department, and they are all at risk, Smith said.

KELOLAND News spoke to Republican Senator Mike Rounds about this topic last week.

For states, it would mean more block grant money with less strings attached coming from the federal government, Rounds said on April 9.

Other issues brought up at the town hall included frustrations with tariffs and deportations.

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Emotions were high throughout the evening, but panelist and U.S. Senate candidate Julian Beudion said that its important to have meaningful conversations with people you may disagree with.

When were talking about building a policy that suitable for every American, it deserves compromise. Its your responsibility to compromise. Its the expectation of the citizens that you compromise, Beaudion said.

The next town hall is set for next week Thursday in Vermillion at the University of South Dakota. The town halls will wrap up in Aberdeen on April 28.

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By Curtis Williams

(Reuters) - BP Plc (BP) will begin loading its first shipment of liquefied natural gas from Venture Global's (VG) Calcasieu Pass plant in Louisiana on Wednesday, according to LSEG data.

The BP-chartered vessel British Mentor was about to dock at the Calcasieu Pass port. It is the first cargo BP is receiving from the export facility under its supply contract, more than three years after Venture Global started selling LNG from the plant on the spot market.

Galp Energia said earlier on Wednesday that it had lifted its first cargo from Calcasieu Pass, signaling the start of the 20-year supply agreement signed in 2018 for 1 million tonnes per annum of LNG from the plant.

Galp's cargo was loaded onto the Gaslog Wellington, LSEG data showed.

The two cargos are the first since Venture Global finished commissioning Calcasieu Pass on April 15.

Shares of Venture Global jumped more than 10% in early afternoon trading.

Venture Global is the second largest LNG producer in the U.S. and has helped make the U.S. the world's largest exporter of the supercooled gas.

Venture Global's years-long delay in providing cargoes to contracted customers of the Calcasieu Pass led to a contentious battle with companies including BP, Galp, Shell, Orlen, Edison and Repsol. They accused Venture Global of dragging its feet to commission the plant so it could profit from higher spot prices.

Venture Global has blamed the global pandemic, two hurricanes and a force majeure event triggered by issues with the facility's power island for the extended commissioning.

Commissioning, or making sure a new plant's systems are functioning as designed, takes just months at many LNG facilities.

(Reporting by Vallari Srivastava in Bengaluru and Curtis Williams in Houston; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli and Leslie Adler)
SAO PAULO (Reuters) -Brazilian airline Gol has postponed the deadline for investors to analyze proposals for a $1.9 billion financing, it said in a statement on Tuesday, citing the volatility created by tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

The deadline for the so-called "exit financing" from the firm's judicial reorganization process was postponed from April 19 to May 15, the statement said.

Potential Gol investors were notified about the extension by Seabury Securities, which acts as the investment bank for the company due to "significant fluctuations" caused by the tariffs announced by Trump on April 2, Gol said.

The disclosure was mandatory amid the judicial reorganization process Gol is undergoing in the United States, the firm said, noting that if market conditions improve the deadline for binding commitments from investors could be brought forward.

(Reporting by Alberto Alerigi Jr.; Writing by Isabel Teles; Editing by Kirsten Donovan and Mark Porter)
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Authorities, along with San Diego County Crime Stoppers, are looking for two vehicles involved in a deadly hit-and-run crash last month in the Clairemont Mesa East area.

The incident occurred on March 29 around 1:28 a.m. in the 6900 block of Balboa Avenue.

A 36-year-old was riding his e-bike home from work westbound on Balboa Avenue when the victim was hit by two vehicles back-to-back, according to police.

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Both vehicles left the scene, while the bicyclist was pronounced dead at the hospital.

One of the suspect vehicles is described as a white vehicle, possibly a 2015-2023 Dodge

Charger, due to the taillight pattern, likely with a California Legacy license plate (black

with yellow lettering). The vehicle could have dents in the front by the bumper, hood and passenger side of the windshield.

One of the suspect vehicles is described as a white vehicle, possibly a 2015-2023 Dodge Charger, due to the taillight pattern, likely with a California Legacy license plate (black with yellow lettering). (San Diego County Crime Stoppers) One of the suspect vehicles is described as a white vehicle, possibly a 2015-2023 Dodge Charger, due to the taillight pattern, likely with a California Legacy license plate (black with yellow lettering). (San Diego County Crime Stoppers)

The other vehicle is described as a gray Mercedes E-Class, with the roof of the Mercedes having what appears to be black or dark glass. The vehicle may have damaged parts to the lower front bumper.

The other vehicle is described as a gray Mercedes E-Class, with the roof of the Mercedes having what appears to be black or dark glass. (San Diego County Crime Stoppers)

A $1,000 reward is being offered to anyone with information that leads to arrest in the case. You can call SDPDs Traffic Division at 858-573-5002 or the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at 888-580-8477.

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund and Gambian authorities reached a staff-level agreement that would give the West African nation access to part of $100.9 mln in funding approved in 2024, the IMF said in a statement.

Subject to approval by the IMF board, the agreement on the third review of the program would allow for disbursement of $16.8 million, and a separate staff-level agreement would give potential access to $65 million to enhance resilience to climate change, the statement said.

(Reporting by Katharine Jackson, Editing by Doina Chiacu)
A new federal policy will allow U.S. immigration officials to scrutinize social media for signs of antisemitic activity when processing applications for green cards, visas or citizenship.

The order targets lawful permanent residents, foreign students and people affiliated with educational institutions linked to antisemitic activity, read the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announcement from last week.

There is no room in the United States for the rest of the worlds terrorist sympathizers, and we are under no obligation to admit them or let them stay here, said Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, Tricia McLaughlin in a statement.

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Jose Reyes, a Cuban immigrant in Tampa, said the policy should aim more at criminals.

They should focus more on those who commit crimes, whether theyre immigrants or not, said Reyes, 39. Drugs and theft are whats harming this country, along with the need to improve education in schools.

Social media monitoring by immigration officials has been routine for over a decade, but advocates said the expanded scope could lead to privacy violations and unfair targeting of specific communities. Recently more immigrant groups are turning to Signal, an app which encrypts text messages for greater security.

Connor Jaap, a student studying environmental science and policy at University of South Florida, said people should be allowed to disagree politically without being accused of extremism or terrorism.

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Im incredibly worried for immigrants and international students who may have been engaged with pro-Palestine activism, said Jaap, 23, a member of the Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society. I dont think they deserve to be put in danger of deportation for being politically active.

Omar Saleh, an attorney for the Council on American-Islamic Relations Florida, said that monitoring personal social media feeds to dictate immigration status is anti-American.

Silencing free speech and judging someones right to live in the U.S. based on their thoughts is deeply troubling and goes against our Constitution, said Saleh. But its happening.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said it will consider social media content that indicates endorsing, espousing, promoting, or supporting antisemitic terrorism, antisemitic terrorist organizations, or other antisemitic activity as a negative factor, when considering immigration requests.

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The move by the Trump administration is meant to screen more rigorously for foreign antisemitic terrorism, violent antisemitic ideologies and antisemitic terrorist organizations.

The announcement named Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Hamas and Hezbollah directly.

Last Friday, an immigration judge in Louisiana ruled that Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student, can be deported. Khalil participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations, according to AP.

Sarah Parker, executive director of Voices of Florida, a local nonprofit dedicated to defending human rights, condemns antisemitism in all forms, but is worried about how free speech is being threatened.

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Im increasingly concerned by what appears to be the weaponization of this term to suppress legitimate dissent and criticism of U.S. foreign policy, particularly as it relates to conflicts where civilian lives, including those of children, are being lost, Parker said.

In March, the Department of Homeland Security announced that all unauthorized immigrants would be required to register in a new online government database and launched an app with a self-deportation feature for immigrants. It also revoked the status of 532,000 people who arrived on temporary humanitarian permits from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela. Recently, a federal judge blocked the Trumps administration from enforcing the revocations.

A related order revoked Afghans protections. Cameroonians, from Central Africa, are bracing for a possible similar decision that could come as early as in June, according to the New York Times. More than 14,000 Afghans and 7,000 Cameroonians are expected to lose their status in America.

Hernan Lugo-Galicia, a Venezuelan refugee in Tampa, said the problem lies in how the measure is applied.

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Of course, it creates fear due to the potential for abuse in its enforcement, said Lugo-Galicia. Thats why we must remain alert and avoid expressions that could be misinterpreted or taken out of context.

Donna Nevel, member of Jewish Voice for Peace, a national organization that advocates for equality and justice in support of Palestinian liberation, said the announcement is about violent repression, not fighting antisemitism.

Its an agenda devoted to limiting and harming faculty and student activists, denying them their rights, and thwarting the movement for Palestinian justice, Nevel said.

Noor Chehab, an educator and founder of Life International Academy, said what troubles her the most is how the new policies undermine the principles that built the U.S.

While I understand the importance of ensuring national security, targeting individuals based on their social media, often without context or a fair process, creates distrust and fosters division, she said.
Imported goods from China to the U.S. could be hit with tariffs as high as 245%, the White House said.

The Trump administration released a fact sheet late Tuesday detailing an executive order to review any national security risks posed by relying on foreign imports of rare earth minerals.

China now faces up to a 245% tariff on imports to the United States as a result of its retaliatory actions, the fact sheet said. This includes a 125% reciprocal tariff, a 20% tariff to address the fentanyl crisis, and Section 301 tariffs on specific goods, between 7.5% and 100%.

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China has raised its duties on imports of U.S. goods to 125%, up from 84%. On April 4, China also began restricting exports of rare earth materials to the U.S., which are used in high-tech products such as computer chips and electric vehicle batteries.

China was the third-ranked U.S. trading partner in 2024 at $582 billion in two-way international commerce.

The U.S. imports a wide range of goods from China, including electronic devices like smartphones and computers, along with industrial machinery, household appliances and furniture, toys, rare earth metals, and more.

Key U.S. exports to China include oil, gas, aircraft, pharmaceutical products, cars and agricultural goods.

The Trump administration said on Tuesday the next move is Chinas.

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The ball is in Chinas court. China needs to make a deal with us. We dont have to make a deal with them, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said from the White House, reading a statement to reporters from President Donald Trump. Theres no difference between China and any other country except they are much larger. And China wants what we have, what every country wants  the American consumer. Or, to put it another way, they need our money.

Officials in China said they are willing to negotiate with the Trump administration, but the White House should stop threatening and blackmailing.

If the U.S. genuinely wants to solve the problem through dialogue and negotiation, it should give up its approach of imposing extreme pressure, stop threatening and blackmailing, and engage in dialogue with the Chinese side on the basis of equality, respect and mutual benefit, China Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Wednesday, according to China Daily. Chinas position has been very clear. There is no winner in a tariff war or a trade war. China is not willing to fight, nor is it afraid of fighting.

The Trump administration launched its broad reciprocal tariff plan for about 90 U.S. trade partners April 2, including a baseline 10% tariff on trade partners, as well as 25% tariffs on certain imported vehicles and auto parts.

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A few hours after the reciprocal tariffs went into effect, Trump announced he was pausing the higher tariffs, except for China.

All U.S. trading partners still currently face a 10% baseline levy, except for Canada and Mexico.

Trump on Sunday said he would be announcing new tariff rates on imported semiconductor chips soon.



We wanted to uncomplicate it from a lot of other companies, because we want to make our chips and semiconductors and other things in our country, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, according to Reuters.

The post Imports from China now face tariffs of up to 245%, White House says appeared first on FreightWaves.
DES MOINES, Iowa  After a proposed constitutional amendment passed through the Iowa Legislature in the 90th General Assembly last year, there is only one vote left for lawmakers until Iowans will get the final say.

Senate Joint Resolution 11 would require a two thirds majority vote to increase individual or corporate income tax rates in the future. Right now, increases to income taxes only require a simple majority, more than 50% of the vote.

For an amendment to be added to the states constitution, it must be passed in two consecutive general assemblies; and then Iowa voters get the chance to approve or vote down the change at the ballot box. The Iowa Senate Republican majority advanced the proposal once again after passing it last year. If it passes the Iowa House in either 2025 or 2026, the constitutional amendment will be on the ballot for Iowa voters in the 2026 elections.

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Senate Republicans said that the last nine years of work the caucus has done to lower income tax rates in the state need to be protected, which is why they are moving forward with this increased threshold.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds requests Medicaid work requirements waiver

Senate Democrats argued that this will inevitably lead to higher taxes in other categories.

Thats where politicians will have to go in the future if they fall short to balance their budgets. Higher property taxes, higher sales taxes, new fees and fines that will all fall on the backs of working Iowans, said Senate Minority Leader Janice Weiner (D), District 45 from Iowa City.

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This particular proposal is nuclear. Its nuclear to the state into the future, said State Senator Tony Bisignano (D), District 15 from Des Moines. And what youve done through your architecture is set this state up for probably one of the largest sales tax increases we will ever see.

Several Senate Republican members of the Iowa Senate spoke on the joint resolution, replying to remarks that their caucus loves sales tax and sales tax increases. One lawmaker argued that this is an issue both parties will never see eye to eye on.

Do you know that the loss of revenue that youre saying that we have coming in is going into the hands of your constituents and staying in the billfold of your constituents? And you are defining that as a loss of revenue to the state of Iowa, said State Senator Tim Kraayenbrink (R), District 4 from Fort Dodge, while holding his own billfold in the air.

The policy is now sent over to the Iowa House, where there is no rush to get this voted through as the House Republican majority has the next couple of weeks and all of next session to send the amendment to the ballot box.

Iowa News:

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KANSAS CITY, Mo.  An Independence, Missouri man was sentenced on Tuesday for filing a false claim as part of a scheme to fraudulently receive $1.4 million in COVID-19 relief funds from the government.

Richard Shiele Jr., 51, was sentenced to to a year and a day imprisonment and ordered to pay $130,125.09 in restitution to the IRS.

Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelces steakhouse to open in Kansas City this summer

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Schiele pleaded guilty in federal court last October.

Schiele admitted he filed nine Employers Quarterly Tax Return forms with the IRS on April 22, 2023, for a company he formed the same month called Schiele Family Own Distribution.

The company made a total of $1,392,716 in claims for COVID19 pandemic era credits against the companys ostensible employment taxes.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) provided for an Employee Retention Credit designed to encourage businesses to keep employees on their payroll. The Employee Retention Credit is available to eligible employers that paid qualified wages to some or all employees after March 12, 2020, and before Jan. 1, 2022, according to the Department of Justice.

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Workers rally outside Kansas City IRS building on Tax Day

Schiele admitted the company didnt have any employees from 2020 to 2022.

The IRS issued checks totaling $478,890 to Schiele. The Treasury Department recovered $348,764.91 from Schieles bank account.

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India is developing a new strategy to boost its defense exports, offering long-term, low-cost loans through its state-owned Export-Import Bank to foreign buyers, including those traditionally reliant on Russian arms, Reuters reported on April 16, citing officials familiar with the plan.

As global demand for military equipment rises, New Delhi aims to position itself as a low-cost, alternative supplier. The initiative includes dispatching more defense attaches to embassies in Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America, and having the Indian government directly negotiate some arms deals, multiple Indian officials told Reuters.

The initiative is focused on countries that have historically purchased Soviet or Russian weapons and whose military standards are often more compatible with Indian equipment than NATO systems. These countries include Brazil, Algeria, Morocco, Guyana, Tanzania, Argentina, Ethiopia, and Cambodia.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modis administration is looking to double defense exports to $6 billion by 2029. Though India fell short of its $3.5 billion export target last fiscal year, defense sales have climbed sharply from $230 million a decade ago.

The expansion comes as many countries are reevaluating their defense suppliers following Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Moscow has redirected much of its arms production toward its war effort, while Western stockpiles have been supplied to Ukraine, creating a global supply gap.

With its history of importing and adapting Russian and Western technology, India has started receiving more inquiries, an Indian official told Reuters.

Artillery shells produced domestically in India sell for roughly $300 to $400 apiece, a fraction of the $3,000 cost of European-made equivalents. Domestic firms also offer howitzers for about $3 million each, while the European version costs twice as much.

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On April 7, Ukraines military intelligence (HUR) reported that an Indian-made component was identified in a Russian weapon system for the first time. According to HUR, a clock buffer produced by Indian Aura Semiconductor was found in Russian equipment.

Read also: All the presidents men: Inside the closed world of Putins key advisors

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  In Indian Orchard, the community was invited to a workshop at the citizens council to share their concerns about investments being made in their neighborhood.

The Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, Wayfinders, and the city of Springfield invited residents to vote on their top five investments for the area.

The discussion focused on improving the neighborhood and making it a safe place to live and work. Previous discussions focused on Forest Park and lower Liberty Heights neighborhoods.

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Catherine Ratte, Land & Use Environment Director, told 22News, Something we are going to be working on today is lifting up access to lakes and ponds. This neighborhood is blessed with a lot of water. Right now the neighbors have identified that they dont have access to it. Also, improve access to existing parks / They are also concerned about slowing down traffic.

Tuesday night was the final workshop regarding feedback from the Indian Orchard community.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WTVO)  Indianas Senate passed a bill, which already cleared the Indiana House, that would begin the process of absorbing Illinois counties that wish to break away from Cook County and Chicago.

The bill now heads to Gov. Mike Braun to be signed into law.

We all have our own opinions of how good things are here in Indiana, but folks from outside Indiana are eyeballing us, said Sen. Scott Baldwin (R-Noblesville).  were just signaling to those Illinois counties that Indiana is open for business and wed be happy to accept them.

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Baldwin previously said Illinois residents prefer Indianas lower taxes, balanced budget, job representation, and political representation, Indiana Capital Chronicle reported.

The legislation would create the Indiana-Illinois Boundary Adjustment Commission to redraw state lines to incorporate 33 rural Illinois counties that have passed non-binding referendums to split from the state.

Voters in those Illinois counties say they want to separate from Chicago and Cook County, saying voters in urban areas hold an outsized voice in Illinois politics, where Democrats hold a supermajority in the statehouse.

To annex the counties into Indiana and redraw the states borders, the process would have to include both Illinois legislature and Congress.

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Illinois Rep. Brad Halbrook introduced a companion bill in Illinois, HB1500, which would have supplied Illinois representatives to a bi-state commission, but it died in the House.

Its a stunt. Its not going to happen, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said in January. Pritzker would ultimately have to approve the secession plan.

Believe it or not, many of our constituents think this is a joke. They seriously think the General Assembly has more important policies to deal with, rather than sending political signals, said Qaddoura (D-Indianapolis). Im proud of Indiana. Im proud to be a resident of Indiana. Im a proud legislator  I want my focus to continue to be that, not sending political messages to other states.

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Another approach is to increase the value of existing employees. Many companies face the decision of whether to upskill an existing workforce or outsource. According to The State of Tech Talent 2025 report by technology training platform General Assembly, the companies that embrace a new and deliberate approach to talent recruitment and development will be the ones best prepared to compete and win in our AI future.

Teleperformance clients services centers, are by definition, 100% virtual. So we can work within a global network. Thats the beauty of our business, adds Mackenbrock.

One our largest footprints, in terms of head count, is India with more than 90,000 people there, an amazing labour pool now of talented individuals to tap into, and they're all working remotely, he says.

But businesses can mitigate this global uncertainty, to some extent, by casting their hiring net wider to include remote working. Indeed, Thomas Mackenbrock, CEO-designate of Paris headquartered BPO giant Teleperformance says that the companys global footprint helps it to fulfil AI skills demand. We're not reliant on any single market [for skills] as we are present in almost 100 markets, explains Mackenbrock.

It is unclear whether nationalistic tendencies will encourage experts to remain in their home countries. Preferences may not only be impacted by compensation levels, but also by international attention to recent US treatment of immigrants and guests, as well as controversy at academic institutions, says Bhattacharyya.

According to GlobalData chief analyst and practice lead, Rena Bhattacharyya, evolving foreign and economic policy, demonstrated by the implementation of President Trumps widespread tariffs on 2 April, may impact the mobility of skilled AI professionals.

The report notes: Increased focus on GenAI, AI Agents, and Agentic AI roles boosted the demand for expertise in ChatGPT and Copilot. Globally and across all industry sectors in 2024, new job postings were driven by roles for AI/ML engineers, cloud architects, and GenAI solution architects.

The rapid development of GenAI has seen the number of job postings for this skillset increase by 61% in 2024, according to GlobalDatas Annual Jobs Analytics Signals Report, published in February 2025. The result was particularly striking when noting that the report found increases in job posting across all industries stood at 1.4% year-on-year.

And while Big Tech can attract the best engineers from around the world with prestige roles and highly competitive salaries, there are still ways that businesses can compete to attract the right AI talent, from remote working and upskilling, to partnership programs and greater inclusivity.

Big Tech companies have been in a longstanding arms race for specialist AI talent. An AI engineering talent corridor between the likes of Microsoft, Apple and Google has seen such companies poach deep tech talent from one another for some time.

Story Continues

Some 63% of hiring leaders in the US and UK surveyed say its more challenging to source candidates with adequate AI skills versus those considered for other tech roles. Closing this talent gap is proving more difficult in the US, with nearly one in five (18%) hiring professionals in the US saying its significantly more challenging to source AI-skilled candidates, compared to 9% in the UK.

Those surveyed are more likely to hire new employees and less likely to hire freelancers (18%) or outsource work (14%) and the share of organisations upskilling existing employees remains steady at 27%. The report recommends that upskilling is key. Because companies want AI talent throughout their organisations, tech talent leaders must rethink and expand their AI training efforts to reach all employees, notes the report.

Apoorv Iyer, executive vice president and global lead for HCLTechs GenAI Practice says that the companys approach has been based on upskilling and reskilling. Instead of solely relying on external hiring, businesses need to equip their existing workforce with AI/GenAI capabilities across all levels, says Iyer.

HCLTech, has invested in structured training ranging from chip design to AI/GenAI modelling to data science and engineering for its developers. Iyer also believes that education and early career programmes are also essential. High school and university students should be exposed to emerging technologies like AI/GenAI and given the practical experience they need to ensure they're ready to enter an AI-enabled workforce. We've been running early career programmes for many years and see them as an important lever for bridging the AI skills gap, he says.

Bridging the AI talent gap with learning

Semiconductor design company Arm is pursing a route of collaboration between academia, industry, and government to address AI skills challenges. Initiatives like the Semiconductor Education Alliance are developing education and skills frameworks to create high-quality curricula aligned with industry needs.

Additionally, Arms investments in academic partnerships, such as the recent funding of PhD students at the University of Cambridge's CASCADE Centre, ensures a pipeline of AI-ready talent.

"The future workforce will need to combine human ingenuity with new and emerging AI technologies; going beyond just technical skills alone," says Khaled Benkrid, senior director of education and research at Arm.

"Academic institutions play a pivotal role in shaping this future workforce. By collaborating with industry to conduct research and integrate AI into their curricula, they ensure that graduates possess the skills required by the industry.

Such collaborations with industry partners keep academic programs aligned with research frontiers and evolving job market demands, creating a seamless transition for students entering the workforce," says Benkrid.

But David James, chief learning officer at training platform 360Learning, says that there are simply not enough engineers training at universities to fill the gaps over the next few years. The ability to predict and close those gaps will become harder and harder, adds James.

In March 2025, the University of Oxford's Internet Institute published a study finding that employers in the AI sector are increasingly prioritising skills over formal education, with practical expertise commanding higher salaries than university degrees alone.

After analysing 10 million UK job vacancies from 2018 to 2024 the research team found that while the demand for AI-specific skills surged by 21% over this period, the proportion of AI roles requiring formal higher education qualifications has declined. In 2018, 36% of AI job postings specified a degree requirement, but by 2023, this had dropped to 31%. The study posits that by relaxing the formal educational requirements of specialist AI skills, the talent gap would be addressed to some extent.

James agrees that businesses themselves should be investing in developing their specialist engineering teams. This doesnt need to be an outsourced training programme, it could be as simple as asking the subject matter experts within a company to deploy a training course or put together an informal session to help skill up team members. This on-the-job training can be more effective at ensuring teams have the information and knowledge to deploy those skills at work, he says.

But ultimately, success in AI hinges on technical excellence, the ability to translate AI into business value, and a commitment to ethical AI practices, according to Matthias Goehler, CTO EMEA, at Zendesk. Technical expertise accompanied by the ability to gauge business value remains a unique skillset which is highly in demand.

Zendesks skill requirement includes deep technical expertise, in areas like machine learning and data analysis, with a strong understanding of the CX market. Were seeing a high demand for individuals who can bridge the gap between AI innovation and practical business application, says Goehler.

And as AI continues to augment many technical and engineering roles, the need for human understanding of business outcomes becomes increasingly critical. A unique skillset for the future that will be much in demand.

"How can businesses solve the AI engineering talent gap?" was originally created and published by Verdict, a GlobalData owned brand.




DES MOINES, Iowa  An Indianola police officer is accused of stalking a woman for nearly four months.

Justin Keller, 43, is charged with stalking, an aggravated misdemeanor. Keller is a Patrol Lieutenant for the Indianola Police Department.

State suspends EMT license of Indianola man, heres why

Online court documents state that because of the conflict of interest, the Carlisle Police Department was tasked to investigate the case. The criminal complaint said the victim told police Keller continued to contact and visit her despite the couples relationship ending in December. Neighbors also told officials they spotted him driving by and walking in the area on multiple occasions.

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Keller is accused of letting himself into the womans home earlier this week.

The judge in the case issued a no-contact order and set a preliminary hearing for April 29th.

According to KNIA Radio, Keller is on unpaid leave from the Indianola Police Department.

Iowa news

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FREEPORT, Ill. (WTVO)  Elisabeth Hanson was one of dozens who participated in a simulation of what life can be like after prison, which took place Tuesday at Highland Community College.

From getting an ID to applying for a job, Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois put on a re-entry simulation to make awareness of the difficulties individuals have when they get released, according to Tiara Sims, who led the simulation.

I felt really defeated, Hanson said of her efforts to get her simulated life back on track.

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Illinois has a recidivism rate of nearly 50%, meaning almost half of released inmates return to prison.

Sims said the simulation demonstrated the challenges they face, and why many return to jail.

They have hope [that] things are going to be better for them. The ID that Social Security card, their birth certificate is a barrier for them, Sims said. You cant get a job, you cant pay for rent, you cant get food unless you go to the food bank. And even then, you still need your ID, correct? So. you just dont have those things, and youre frustrated by week four. So you give up, and youre like, You know what? I might as well go back to jail because this is where I was safe. This is where I had food, I had a bed, so I had a roof over my head and I was safe.'

Henson said the experience gave her a greater understanding and she would help others get their lives back.

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This is really an eye-opener, to show what individuals, that have barriers, go through, she said. The biggest thing is to be kind, be willing to help, and help those individuals, to ask, How can I help?

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Gene Hackmans home was in disarray when he died, covered in loose items and food while infested with rats, creating a breeding ground for the deadly virus that killed his wife.

Shocking new photos and video from inside the couples New Mexico home show the disarray inside when police found the couple dead.

Officers found Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa and their dog dead on February 26. Arakawa died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, while Hackman survived for a week on his own before dying on February 18 from heart disease complicated by Alzheimers. Their dog, Zinnia, likely died of dehydration and starvation.

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As the officers walked around the home of the Oscar winner, their body cameras captured clothes, bags and other various items piled high on the floor, chairs and countertops. The bathroom was chaotic, with items strewn across the vanity, while loose food appeared to have been left on the kitchen counter.

The footage shows police entering the home and discovering Arakawas body near a bathroom, while Zinnias body was crated. There were also two surviving dogs, and an officer remarked one appeared to be guarding her and seemed pretty friendly.

Police then found Gene's body in the estates mudroom.

Gene Hackman and his wife were found dead on February 26 in their Santa Fe estate. Now, police body camera footage shows their home was in disarray when they died. (Santa Fe County Sheriff's office)

Hackman and Arakawa were found dead on February 26 (AP)

Authorities also found dead rats, rat feces and nests throughout the eight buildings that make up their estate, making their home a potential breeding ground for hantavirus.

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Hantavirus can only be spread to humans through animals, not from person to person. Victims catch the virus from contact with rat urine, feces and saliva. The virus is rare, with only 864 cases reported in the U.S from 1993 through 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Arakawa spent her last days searching the internet for information about flu-like symptoms  which hantavirus can cause  and breathing techniques.

Investigators review of her computer showed Arakawa was searching medical conditions related to COVID-19 and the flu between February 8 and the morning of February 12, including whether COVID-19 could cause dizziness or nosebleeds.

Arakawa then searched for a concierge medical service on February 12. She called a local service and spoke on the phone for 2 minutes. She missed a return call later that afternoon.

Loose food pictured on a counter in Hackman and Arakawas home. Investigators say they found rat corpses and droppings throughout the estate (Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office)

The home was covered in loose items and food when police entered to find the famous couple (Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office)

Their dog Zinnia was found dead as well, while their other two dogs survived (Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office)

Hackman and Arakawas closet cluttered with clothes and other loose items (Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office)

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Arakawa was last seen on February 11. Hackman is believed to have died a week later.

A pair of maintenance workers didn't find the bodies until February 26 and called police. The pair told the officers that they hadnt seen the homeowners in about two weeks. Despite the couples fame they chose to ditch the bright lights of Hollywood, instead living in the cluttered New Mexico home.

The deaths were initially not suspected to involve foul play, but were then determined suspicious and investigations continued.

Police found Arakawa near and open pill bottle and a space heater. They theorized that she may have fallen and suddenly hit the floor. Arakawas body showed obvious signs of death, body decomposition, bloating in her face and mummification in both hands and feet, according to a police warrant.

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The actor was discovered on the ground near the kitchen in a mudroom and he appeared to have fallen. A cane and sunglasses were found on the ground nearby.

The pair were found several days after they died when two maintenance workers entered the home (Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office)

Police attend to one of the couples surviving dogs. One of the three dogs died from starvation and dehydration (Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office)

The outside of Hackman and Arakawas Santa Fe estate as police investigated the couples deaths (AP)

Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza told the media later that there were no signs of a struggle and that the pair had no external trauma.

There was no indication of anything that was missing from the home or disturbed that would be an indication that there was a crime that had occurred, Mendoza said.

Testing and observation of the houses systems from the Santa Fe Fire Department and New Mexico Gas Company did not reveal immediate signs of a leak. Both tested negative for carbon monoxide poisoning.

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Medical examiners then said the couple died from natural causes, with Arakawa dying from hantavirus and Hackman suffering numerous health conditions.

Since retiring from acting in 2004, Hackman had been open about his health struggles, revealing in 2009 that his doctor wanted him to quit Hollywood due to the stress on his heart.

Hackman told Empire: The straw that broke the camels back was actually a stress test that I took in New York. The doctor advised me that my heart wasnt in the kind of shape that I should be putting it under any stress.
Elon Musk has a plan to populate the world with more babies of high intelligence  and its all part of his wider mission to one day occupy Mars to save civilization.

That is according to an explosive report by the Wall Street Journal about the worlds richest man and how MAGA influencer Ashley St Clair found herself caught up in his harem drama.

St Clair, 26, went public with her claims that she and Musk share a child in February. Now she has claimed that the billionaire offered her a one-time payment of $15 million, plus $100,000 a month until her child turns 21, in exchange for her silence.

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She rejected the offer. I dont want my son to feel like hes a secret, St Clair reportedly told Musks fixer Jared Birchall, who runs Musks family office.

St Clair claimed that Musk has used his wealth to silence some of the other women who have had his children, according to the report.

Musk, who has at least 14 children with four women, previously maintained that he does not know for sure whether St Clairs child is his but the Probability of Paternity was 99.9999%, according to test results that came back last Friday, the Journal reports.

St Clair gained an insight into Musks paranoid way of thinking when they dated in 2023 after meeting in the spring of that year. Their romance began on Musks social media platform X after he began to interact with her posts. (@stclairashley/X)

Musk has four children  Strider, Azure, Arcadia, and Seldon Lycurgus  with Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis, as well as three  X  A-Xii, Exa Dark Siderl, and Tau Techno Mechanicus  with music artist Grimes. And he has six children with Justine Wilson, who was married to Musk for eight years from 2000.

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According to multiple sources close to the tech mogul, the number of Musks children is much higher than publicly known, they told the outlet.

Musk did not respond to the outlets request for comment but made light of it on his social media platform X by comparing the Journal to celebrity tabloidTMZ.

TMZ >> WSJ, Musk posted late Tuesday. The Independent has contacted representatives of Musk for comment.

The report contains extraordinary claims about how Musk believes a declining population is a grave threat to civilization. He is driven to correct the historic moment by helping seed the earth with more human beings of high intelligence, the Journal reports, citing people familiar with the matter.

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St Clair gained an insight into Musks paranoid way of thinking when they dated in 2023 after meeting in the spring of that year, she claimed. Their romance began on Musks social media platform X after he began to interact with her posts.

St Clair claimed that Musk offered her $15 million and $100,000 a month until her son turns 21 in exchange for her silence. She refused the offer. (@stclairashley/X)

She was invited by Musk to visit Xs headquarters in San Francisco. From there, he took her on a separate trip to Rhode Island on his private plane, where the Space X CEO was visiting one of his sons at college, and then later on a getaway to St. Barts for New Year.

During their time together, Musk frequently talked to St Clair about having children, she claimed. The first time they had sex, Musk joked that they should pick a name for their future child, the outlet reports.

On the trip to St. Barts, she told Musk that she was ovulating. What are we waiting for? he reportedly replied, and their son was conceived, according to St Clair.

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During St Clairs pregnancy, she claimed Musk suggested they bring in other women to have even more of their children faster in his mission to save civilization.

To reach legion-level before the apocalypse, Musk told St Clair in a text message seen by the Journal. We will need to use surrogates, he added.

Musk believes a declining population is a grave threat to civilization. He is driven to correct the historic moment by helping seed the earth with more human beings of high intelligence, the Journal reports. (Getty Images)

Once visibly pregnant, St Clair stayed inside her apartment in New York City to avoid speculation. Birchall was instructed by Musk to send her $2 million for expenses, the Journal reports, which she used in part to pay for security.

Birchall also reportedly warned St Clair that Musk expected privacy and confidentiality about the child. After the birth, St Clair was pushed again to sign the $15 million agreement in exchange for her discretion, according to the outlet.

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Musk then reportedly weighed in and told St Clair that it was dangerous to reveal his relationship to the baby. He described himself as the #2 after Trump for assassination in text messages seen by the Journal. Only the paranoid survive, he added.

St Clair didnt sign the agreement. One of the main sticking points, she said, was that it would make her son feel illegitimate, the outlet reports.

When she learned a newspaper was planning to publish a story about the child, St Clair went public.

Five months ago, I welcomed a new baby into the world. Elon Musk is the father, she wrote in February. I have not previously disclosed this to protect our childs privacy and safety, but in recent days it has become clear that tabloid media intends to do so, regardless of the harm it will cause.

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Musk revoked the $15 million offer, according to the outlet, and the case went to court to discuss paternity testing. In the meantime, Musk dropped his support to $40,000 a month while St Clairs legal fees soared.

After the publication of the Journals report, St Clair claimed the amount Musk paid in child support had dropped to $20,000.

Mars ambitions are part of Musks baby-making project

Elon Musk has ambitions to get humans to Mars. He believes the declining population is a grave threat to humanity and views it as his responsibility to help repopulate. (Getty Images)

Musks ambition to get humans to Mars is driven by his fears of a declining population. He believes, people close to him told the outlet, that a solution is for educated people to have more children.

I think for most countries, they should view the birthrate as the single biggest problem they need to solve. If you dont make new humans, theres no humanity, and all the policies in the world dont matter, Musk said at a conference last year in Saudi Arabia.

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Musks baby-making project is relevant to his ambition for NASA, which he wants to move faster to go to Mars, the Journal reports. Musk sees it as his responsibility to help seed the earth with more human beings of high intelligence.

What is important is that we establish a self-sustaining city on Mars, Musk said previously. This is important for the long-term future of humanity or consciousness as we know it.

And his multi-billion dollar companies will help him achieve the goal.

Through SpaceX, he aims to build a rocket capable of reaching Mars while his other businesses will finance the lofty plans.

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He has predicted that humans could land on Mars in the next 20 to 30 years  though some NASA scientists have said the plans are highly unlikely.

Musk asked cryptocurrency influencer if she was interested in having his child

Since acquiring X, Musk has used the app to interact with lesser known users  and has solicited some of them to have his babies, according to the Journal.

One of them reportedly included the cryptocurrency influencer and journalist Tiffany Fong, who Musk began interacting with on X while she was covering the fall of crypto tycoon Sam Bankman-Fried.

As Fong shared more pro-Trump content on her profile, Musk became interested. He followed her account last summer, according to the Journal, which in turn boosted her earnings because she was paid through a program on X to share content.

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She earned $21,000 on X in a two-week period, the outlet reports. According to people familiar with the matter, Musk reached out to her and asked if she was interested in having his child, despite never meeting in person, they told the Journal.

Fong reportedly confided in St Clair about the offer, but didnt take Musk up on the proposal. After learning that Fong had told other people about his request, he rebuked her for a lack of discretion and unfollowed her. As a result, her engagement on X dropped and her earnings declined.

When contacted for comment, Fong told The Independent that she did not feed this story to the Journal. She added that she would have rather kept it private.

Musk wanted St Clair to spend time at his compound in Austin, Texas

Musk wanted his children and their mothers to live in a compound in Austin, Texas. The gated community is where Shivon Zilis and their four children live. (Shivon Zilis/X)

The billionaire envisaged a world where the mothers of all his children would live together among multiple residences in a compound in Austin, Texas, according to the Journal, citing a person familiar with the matter. But the dream hasnt materialized.

St Clair revealed that Musk intended for her to spend time in Austin with our kid legion, he told her over a text seen by the outlet.

The gated community is where Shivon Zilis, the mother of four of Musks children, lives. The SpaceX CEO comes and goes. Zilis, an executive at Musks brain computer company Neuralink, is held in high regard by him and has special status.

He really wants smart people to have kids, so he encouraged me to, Zilis told Musks biographer. Musk has brought Zilis to high-profile events, including a meeting with Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the presidential guesthouse Blair House.

Grimes refused to move to the compound and has endured her own court battles with Musk over custody of their three children, a fight which St Clair witnessed when she was dating Musk in 2023. Grimes has publicly called him out for allowing their four-year-old son X to be on national television with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office.

Who is Elon Musks fixer and baby momma go-between, Jared Birchall?

Musks longtime fixer and financial manager Jared Birchall also acts as a go-between with the mothers of Musks children behind the scenes, ensuring they keep their silence, according to the Journals report.

Birchall, a practicing Mormon with a big family, is one of Musks trusted confidantes and is also the CEO of his company Neuralink. Unlike Musk, he works very hard to keep a low profile. Birchall also helped organize Musks $250 million campaign in support of Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, according to the outlet.

Birchall also manages property deals across Musks businesses and in his personal life. The former Morgan Stanley banker acquired the Austin property where Musk hoped the mothers of his children would all live.

St Clair shared details of exchanges she had with Birchall during her pregnancy and after the birth of her son last September. She largely dealt with Birchall when Musk stopped communicating with her directly, she claimed.

When presented with the offer of $15 million and $100,000 a month in support, Birchall allegedly told St Clair that similar agreements had been negotiated with the other mothers of Musks children, she told the Journal.

Privacy and confidentiality is the top of the list in every aspect of his life, every aspect, and his entire world is set up to be, like, a meritocracy, Birchall reportedly told St Clair during a two-hour phone call in December. Benefits flow when people do good work, he said.

He pressed upon St Clair the importance of her discretion and said Musk cannot allow people to just go and share his life information. He is the biggest lightning rod on the entire planet.

Birchall also warned her not to hire attorney, but she did.

He also featured in Musks custody battle with Grimes and acted as a go-between, according to the report.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT)  A new inspector general report says that in multiple reviews, Redstone Arsenal was consistently found to be the preferred choice for a permanent headquarters for Space Command.

The reviews found that moving the headquarters from Colorado Springs to Huntsville could save $426 million, primarily due to lower costs for construction and personnel. However, in the summer of 2023, Colorado Springs was selected as the permanent home for Space Commands headquarters.

Gov. Ivey signs resolution encouraging officials to move Space Command HQ to Redstone Arsenal immediately

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The new report doesnt get into the politics of the commands location or relocation, but those concerns have been considerable.

In 2021, when Donald Trump was first president, Huntsville was named as a finalist for Space Commands location. In 2022, the Department of Defense named Redstone Arsenal as the preferred permanent location for the headquarters and found that the evaluation process had been done in a reasonable manner.

Then, in 2023, former President Joe Biden decided to keep Space Command in Colorado Springs, where it had been temporarily based pending a final decision. According to AP, officials said the president was convinced by then Space Command Head General James Dickinson, who argued the move would negatively affect military readiness, a view in contrast to Air Force leadership at the time.

Bidens decision led to calls for investigations into the former presidents decision from Alabama lawmakers, including Congressmen Mike Rogers and Dale Strong and Senators Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt.

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Since Trump took office again in January, those same Alabama lawmakers have said the president supports moving Space Command to Redstone Arsenal. Last week, Rogers went as far as saying he expected an announcement on the relocation this month.

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Though the Inspector General report does not get into those political details, it does give a detailed timeline of the military deliberation that led to the 2023 decision to keep Space Command in Colorado Springs.

There is plenty in the IGs report that says that Redstone Arsenal was the Air Forces preferred choice for Space Command.

In January 2021, Redstone Arsenal was announced the preferred choice for space commands permanent headquarters, and a later environmental impact study found no problems with that. However, the Air Force never followed through with beginning to move the headquarters. The IG report also said that in late 2022, there was a briefing prepared announcing the Redstone decision, but that announcement didnt take place.

Then, in early 2023, SPACECOM stopped communicating with Redstone officials about construction plans.

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There are a couple of wrinkles that SPACECOMs commander seemed to focus on while arguing for Colorado Springs to keep the installation back in 2023, chiefly related to readiness and personnel losses if the headquarters were to move. Dickinson also expressed concern about moving during a period when China is aggressively seeking to beef up its space capabilities.

While he had concerns about the move, other Air Force leaders and experts said planning would mitigate any personnel and readiness issues. However, the report also estimated that construction and full technology conversion at Redstone could take 3-4 years.

It should be noted that there are several redactions in the report. You can see the full report here.

Congressman Robert Aderholt sent News 19 the following statement regarding the report:

The findings in the Inspector Generals report confirm what many of us in Alabama have long suspected  that the Biden Administrations decision to move U.S. Space Command to Colorado Springs was driven by politics, not merit. This revelation is deeply troubling and represents a clear deviation from the rigorous, objective process that initially ranked Huntsville as the top choice. While the redactions contained in this public report make for obscure reading, the conclusion could not be clearer: Huntsville earned its ranking fair and square, based on strategic value, existing infrastructure, and quality of life in North Alabama. To disregard those facts for political reasons not only undermines public trust but also compromises our military readiness. However, I remain confident that with new leadership at the Department of the Air Force, we will see this wrong decision corrected. I believe the new Secretary of the Air Force will take a fresh, apolitical look at the facts and restore integrity to this process. I will continue working with my colleagues to ensure that national security decisions are made on the merits, not political convenience. Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04)

Congressman Dale Strong also spoke out after the release of the report.

The Inspector Generals report proves once again that President Trump was right in 2021  U.S. Space Command Headquarters should be at Redstone Arsenal based on merit and what is best for national security. The report exposes how the Biden administration bypassed the selection process and recommendations from Air Force and top defense leaders and selected Colorado in an attempt to further President Bidens political agenda. The bottom line is this: The Air Force recommended U.S. Space Command Headquarters be built in Huntsville, Alabama. It is past time to go vertical at Redstone Arsenal. I trust that President Trump and his Secretary of the Air Force will ultimately do what is right for national security. Congressman Dale Strong

Governor Kay Ivey also signed a resolution on Tuesday asking for Space Command to be moved to Alabama immediately.

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A bill to expand cancer coverage for firefighters in Iowa is now headed to Gov. Kim Reynolds to sign.

House File 969 passed the House unanimously. The legislation would expand disability and death benefits to cover all forms of cancer; the current law limits coverage to 14 forms of the disease. Firefighters have been trying to get this expansion approved for years.

Iowas State Senate passed the legislation earlier this month.

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Iowa Capital Dispatch received the Mark Witherspoon First Amendment Award April 16, 2025, at the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication at Iowa State University. Presenting the award to Iowa Capital Dispatch Editor-in-chief Kathie Obradovich, second from left, are ISU Associate Teaching Professor Gary Sawyer, left; Mark "Spoon" Witherspoon, retired editorial advisor for the Iowa State Daily, and Teaching Professor Brenda Witherspoon. (Photo courtesy of Tyler Lindsay)

Iowa Capital Dispatch received an award Wednesday honoring its commitment to the First Amendment.

The Mark Witherspoon First Amendment Award, or the Spoon Award, was presented to Iowa Capital Dispatch Editor-in-chief Kathie Obradovich at the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication at Iowa State University.

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Witherspoon, known as Spoon, is retired as the longtime editorial adviser for the Iowa State Daily. He conceived and planned the Greenlee Schools inaugural First Amendment Days celebration in 2003. The award, presented by the Greenlee First Amendment Committee, is awarded to an individual or organization that shows commitment to the principles of the First Amendment, and includes a $500 prize.

Gary Sawyer, associate teaching professor at Greenlee and chairman of the First Amendment Committee, said the Iowa Capital Dispatch was nominated and chosen for its dedication to covering government and politics and use of public records in its reporting.

The 23rd annual First Amendment Days is underway through April 17. Activities on Thursday include Feast on the First from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Central Campus at Iowa State. The event features free First Amendment Day T-shirts, buttons designed by late Ames resident Richard Deyo and food prepared by student group Block & Bridle, according to the Greenlee website.

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Caddick Construction Group, a UK-based company, has reported a significant 12% growth in annual turnover, reaching 356m ($468.4m) for the year ending 31 August 2024.

This increase in revenue has propelled the company's pretax profit to 8m, with a stable margin of 2.4%.

The company's order book has also seen a 7% growth, amounting to 750m, and year-end cash has risen to 32.8m from 31.9m. With no debt on its books, Caddick Construction Group stated it is well-positioned for the future.

The results are part of the 2023-24 figures for the wider Caddick Group, which comprises Caddick Construction, Caddick Developments, and Moda Living.

The group reported a consolidated turnover of 606m, marking a 23% increase in gross profit to 70m and net asset growth to 202m.

The company has expanded its project pipeline across various UK regions, securing key projects such as the Schneider manufacturing facility in Scarborough and the expansion of Loreto Sixth Form College in Manchester.

Caddick Construction has also been active in the residential and industrial sectors, with projects such as Upper Trinity Street in Birmingham and Max Spielman's new warehouse in Wirral.

The 2023-24 annual results for Caddick Construction Group also incorporate the performance of its two specialist subcontracting divisions: Caddick Civil Engineering and CCL Facades. Both businesses reportedly continue to demonstrate sustainable growth in turnover and profitability.

Jessica Harmen, Caddick Group's head of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and sustainability, is spearheading the group's 'Places for Life' strategy, which focuses on the key ESG areas of communities, environment, and business.

Caddick Construction Group managing director Paul Dodsworth said: The past few years have seen the group achieve significant operational and financial progress. We are determined to work with clients and partners that share our values for quality and as a result, the contracts within our order book reflect the bidding discipline and risk management now embedded in the business.

Our strategy is to balance our portfolio between the public and private sectors, growing our education and defence work pipeline alongside our core residential and industrial sectors. This ensures stable profitability to protect our business, our people, our clients and our supply chain.

Over the past year, the Caddick Group has also extended its commitment to having a positive impact in the places where it operates. We have made real progress in our scope 1 and scope 2 emissions.
The Iowa House Oversight Committee questioned judicial branch officials about their delay in reporting a misallocation of funds. (Gavel photo by Getty Images; seal courtesy the State of Iowa)

The House Government Oversight Committee questioned officials from the Iowa Judicial Branch and State Court Administration Wednesday while investigating the misallocation of $27.5 million in court debt funds caused by programming errors.

Committee members heard testimony and asked questions of State Court Administrator Robert Gast, Iowa Judicial Branch attorney Amber Shanahan-Fricke and Caitlin Jarzen, the branchs director of government affairs, about how errors in the programming used for court fine distributions that resulted in misappropriated money.

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In 2020 and 2021, state lawmakers passed legislation that significantly modified how court debt is collected and distributed, judicial branch staff said in an October statement. Reprogramming the judicial branchs case management system for these changes resulted in programming errors, according to the statement, which in turn resulted in incorrect distributions of court debt funds.

According to a December 2024 report by Auditor Rob Sand, the errors caused seven state funds, including the Victim Compensation Fund, to be underfunded between fiscal years 2021 through 2024, while the states general fund and two other funds received over-allocations.

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During the meeting, lawmakers criticized the Judicial Branch for not sharing information on the error and resulting misallocations with lawmakers until a significant period of time had passed after the problem was identified. In October 2024, House Speaker Pat Grassley and Iowa Department of Management Director Kraig Paulsen sent letters to Sand criticizing the auditors office for not taking action on the issue earlier, as the auditors office was alerted of financial irregularities in 2022 by the state Department of Transportation.

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Sand, the only Democrat to hold statewide elected office in Iowa, and state GOP leaders had criticized one another for responsibility of investigating and addressing the impacts of the misallocations in 2024. But at the House committee meeting Wednesday, lawmakers said it is a bipartisan effort to ensure this issue is addressed and similar errors do not occur. Rep. Austin Baeth, D-Des Moines, said the issue is not partisan at all, and the Legislature should be working together to find ways to fix the issue and attempt to simplify Iowa Code to prevent future errors.

I ask that we collectively try to find ways  maybe theres other states that do it better, maybe theres a way we can make it home grown  but I ask that we collectively, in a bipartisan fashion, in a nonpartisan fashion, find solutions going forward, Baeth said.

Gast, the court administrator, said in a December 2024 letter the judicial branch had implemented corrections to the programming errors in the case management system as of Nov. 22. He said in the letter the branch had contracted with a third party  Zirous, a West Des Moines information technology firm  to review and audit the new programming. He also told the committee the judicial branch was developing an internal auditing process for future programming changes.

Addressing questions from lawmakers on why the Legislature and other state entities were not informed earlier about the issues, Gast said delays in releasing information came as the process for working with a national consulting group to identify the errors took longer than expected.

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We wanted to have the full scope and breadth before we came to you and not come in, and (say) the sky is falling! and not have some idea of what we were looking at, Gast said.

Rep. Charley Thomson, R-Charles City, a lawyer, said he had doubts about the judicial branchs response on sharing certain emails and communications about the errors, and the timelines it would take to receive this information.

Ive practiced for 38 years and I know malarkey when I see it, and I know malarkey discovery responses when I see them, Thomson said.

Court officials said they are willing to share information, and asked lawmakers to submit their requests in writing with time periods, involved parties and search terms specified.

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Gast and Shanahan-Fricke said the judicial branch plans to present a technical bill next year that will keep the percentages of debt distribution in line with what the Legislature intended in previous bills, but would create a new framework for distributing the money that would address these errors.

Along with the changes weve implemented internally on how we move forward on programming, and especially financial programming, I believe with what weve done in that bill, we will be able to put this to bed, Gast said.

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DES MOINES, (Iowa Capital Dispatch)  An Iowa Senate subcommittee moved forward a bill Monday allocating $42 million from the Opioid Settlement Fund to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to combat the impacts of the opioid crisis, the Iowa Capital Dispatch reports.

Senate Study Bill 1226 would provide a $12 million grant for Community and Family Resources, an addiction recovery and treatment center in Fort Dodge and $30 million to Iowa HHS for efforts to abate the opioid crisis in the state, taking into account recommendations from the seven district behavioral health advisory councils throughout the state.

Iowa state universities propose tuition increases for all students

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Moving forward, the bill states 75% of unobligated money from the settlement fund will go to HHS and 25% will go to the Attorney Generals office, to be disbursed in accordance with the requirements of the master settlement agreements. Each year, the two entities will have to submit their recommendations on appropriating the funds for the next fiscal year to lawmakers as a bill, again with consideration for regional behavioral health advisory council recommendations.

Sen. Tim Kraayenbrink, R-Fort Dodge, said this bill will not necessarily be the final version of the legislation, but that he wanted to get the conversation started early to ensure that opioid settlement funding is distributed.

Weve been in negotiations a little bit with the House, Kraayenbrink said. And I just think, rather than holding on and waiting for additional negotiations, we need to get a bill (moved)  and hopefully come to a resolution on whats going to happen.

There is currently more than $56 million in Iowas Opioid Settlement Fund, received as settlement in lawsuits brought by states against opioid manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies for their roles in the opioid epidemic. Iowa will receive more than $325 million from these settlements between fiscal years 2021 through 2039, according to the AGs office. The funds are split, with half going to local governments and half to the state  with both levels of government obligated to use at least 85% of the funds received for opioid addiction treatment and prevention services.

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Lawmakers set up the Opioid Settlement Fund in 2022 to collect and distribute this money given to the state. However, the Legislature has not dispersed any of the funds money in the past two sessions  disagreements between the House and Senate on how to allocate these funds were not resolved before the session ended in 2024.

Fertilizer byproduct leak causes fish kill in Fort Dodge creek, DNR says

The House had moved in 2024 to designate money to go to specific nonprofits  $3 million to Youth and Shelter Services and $8 million to Community and Family Resources. In the Senate proposal this year, $12 million was allocated for Community and Family Resources. Executive Director Michelle De La Riva told lawmakers at the subcommittee meeting the funding would go toward a new campus providing resources like a detox program and adolescent residential program.

When asked if other programs could be given direct funding in the 2025 bill, Kraayenbrink said more allocations could be made as negotiations occur between the two chambers.

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I dont know if I really see it being exactly like this when its done, but this is just to get the momentum going, he said.

Amy Campbell with the Iowa Behavioral Health Association praised the measure for including input from the district behavioral health advisory councils in the distribution of the funds. She said these councils will be able to see funding needs in their communities as disbursement begins from local governments and through the state.

We think one of the good parts of this bill is actually getting that local input from the regional advisory board, since they will be on the ground and theyre going to start seeing the gaps as the new system kind of comes online, Campbell said. And I think theyre in a good spot to be able to provide advice on that.

The House had offered an amendment creating a grant program for settlement funds through HHS in addition to establishing an advisory council to oversee and make recommendations about funding these grants each year. The advisory council was not approved by the Senate, leaving the settlement funds undistributed last year. Kraayenbrink said he was not sure if House members would pursue this oversight component again, but said he wanted to ensure that negotiations begin on the Opioid Settlement Fund.

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I just felt, from a prudent standpoint of the Senate, is that I just cant sit and watch nothing happen again, Kraayenbrink said. Its time that we at least move, and kind of force the conversation to be had.

Income tax increases may become more difficult with Iowa Senate passing constitutional amendment

Sen. Janet Petersen, D-Des Moines, said she supported starting the conversation on the settlement fund.

Im glad to see that we have this bill before us, because Iowans have been waiting too long with this money stuck in the freezer, Petersen said.  These dollars need to be getting out the door to help Iowans. We lost over 1,000 Iowans in the past five years, and we know people are struggling.

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The bill moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee for further consideration.

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(Photo by Carol Yepes/Getty Images)

The Iowa Senate unanimously passed a bill Wednesday that would provide protection against lawsuits aimed at limiting constitutional freedoms of speech and press.

The legislation, House File 472, is known as an anti-SLAPP bill  referring to a measure intended to combat strategic lawsuits against public participation, or SLAPP lawsuits. These are civil lawsuits filed by organizations or individuals against entities such as news organizations or activists not with the expectation of winning the case, but to discourage them from publishing articles or speaking publicly on an issue by engaging them in a long, expensive legal battle.

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In most cases, these actual tort claims for defamation or other related theories are weak and (lack) merit, but those purposes are tied to the speakers legal fees and make them back down, Sen. Jeff Reichman, R-Montrose, the floor manager for the bill, said.

The measure would provide protections for those facing such lawsuits by allowing expedited relief in court for cases related to First Amendment rights, including freedoms of speech and press.

The House has passed anti-SLAPP bills in several previous legislative sessions with bipartisan support that have failed to advance in the Senate. During House debate on the bill, Rep. Steven Holt, R-Denison, said he has attempted to pass anti-SLAPP measures since 2018. Those efforts were in response to a 2018 lawsuit against the Carroll Times Herald filed by a Carroll police officer who sued the newspaper after reporting that he had sexual relationships with teenagers, which the officer had admitted to. While the judge dismissed the case, the legal dispute almost put them out of business, Holt said.

Though no senators but Reichman spoke on the bill Wednesday, the measure was unanimously approved by the chamber.

The Senate amended the legislation to state the protections only apply to civil actions filed on or after the bills enactment  removing a provision in the original House bill that expedited relief could also be granted to a cause of action asserted in a civil action. With the bills passage in the Senate, it moves back to the House for approval of the amendment before it can go to Gov. Kim Reynolds.
Hawkish national security experts are slamming President Trumps opening bid for nuclear talks with Iran as little more than a rehash of the Obama-era nuclear deal, leading his top negotiator to backtrack on his previous position.

Trumps point person for talks with Iran, Steve Witkoff, said Monday night that the Islamic Republic could maintain a program enriching uranium up to 3.67 percent, the limit included in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the Iran nuclear deal negotiated by the Obama administration.

But by Tuesday morning, Witkoff reversed, saying the presidents position was to eliminate Irans ability to enrich uranium  the fuel needed for a nuclear weapon.

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Any final arrangement must set a framework for peace, stability, and prosperity in the Middle East  meaning that Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponization program, Witkoff wrote on social platform X.

It is imperative for the world that we create a tough, fair deal that will endure, and that is what President Trump has asked me to do.

Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) welcomed Witkoffs reversal. Well said and right on! he replied to the post.

The reversal came on the heels of outrage among Iran hawks  including Trump supporters.

Given Irans secret nuclear weapons research, Iran cannot be trusted to do ANY uranium enrichment, said Fred Fleitz, vice chair of the America First Policy Institute, the think tank staffed by officials who served in Trumps first administration. Fleitz was chief of staff of Trumps first National Security Council.

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Fleitz described the Obama-era deal, which Trump withdrew the U.S. from during his first term, as disastrous and said Irans nuclear program is far more advanced today than it was at the start of negotiations during the Obama administration in 2013. He said Iran could convert reactor-grade uranium to weapon grade much faster today.

U.S. intelligence agencies assess that while Iran has not made the decision to weaponize its uranium stockpile, the Islamic Republic is enriching uranium up to 60 percent. Experts say that reaching weapons-grade uranium of 90 percent for one bomb could happen within a matter of days, and Tehran could make enough fuel for multiple bombs within a matter of months.

Opponents of the JCPOA said that even the 3.67 percent enrichment was unacceptable. While they were glad to see Witkoffs shift, their statements have indicated a fear over what Trump might agree to as part of a deal.

Be careful of Obama 2.0 nuclear deal with a Trump sticker, Mark Dubowitz, CEO of Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), a Washington-based think tank, wrote on X.

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Mr. President: Dont get played. Dismantle the Iran nuclear program  dont fall into Khameneis dangerous trap, referring to the nations supreme leader.

It took only one meeting with [Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas] Araghchi for Witkoff to concede that Irans regime had a right to enrich at 3.67%, after zero enrichment was the first Trump administrations position, said Jason Brodsky, policy director of United Against Nuclear Iran.

Imagine what more concessions Tehran believes will come from future meetings.

Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior director of the Iran program with the FDD, reacted to Witkoffs reversal and a reported Situation Room meeting among Trump and his top national security officials Tuesday morning as taking seriously the stakes of negotiating with the Islamic Republic.

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If the change in sentiment by Steve Witkoff, coupled with the Situation Room meeting on Iran today is any indication, the U.S. realizes that it better have a unified and strong position going into negotiations, because the Islamic Republic has always entered talks  be they nuclear or otherwise  with a weak hand and be able to leave with a strong hand, he said.

Rep. Brad Schneider (Ill.), a hawkish Democrat who opposed the JCPOA, said Witkoffs mixed messaging undermines American credibility and gives Iran room to maneuver.

This moment requires strategy, discipline, and unity of purpose. Iran negotiates with focus and precision. Every contradictory statement from the Trump administration erodes our leverage and undermines deterrence, unnerving our allies and emboldening our adversaries, he said in a statement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for the total dismantling of Irans nuclear program and has pushed for Trump to provide U.S. military support for a strike against Iranian nuclear facilities. Trump has suggested he could use military force against Iran, if necessary.

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What must be eliminated is Irans axis of terror and its nuclear weapons program, Netanyahu said in a video posted Tuesday to X. He said Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei posted a graphic online calling for the destruction of Israel.

Here you have the ruler of Iran openly declaring again that his goal is to destroy the State of Israel. And the most brazen thing about this, is that he issues this while hes negotiating, supposedly negotiating, peace with the United States, Netanyahu said. Well, Israel will not be eliminated.

Its a hawkish position supported by key Republicans in Congress. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) pressed Trumps nominee for undersecretary of Defense, Elbridge Colby, to commit to providing the president with credible military options to stop Iran from going nuclear.

Colby had earlier advocated for tolerating a nuclear Iran and working to contain it rather than launch a military strike.

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The U.S. and Iran are expected to meet for a second round of talks in Rome on Saturday. Trump signaled on Monday he was upset with the weeklong gap between the talks, warning Iran against tapping us along.

Kelsey Davenport, director for nonproliferation policy at the Arms Control Association, said its a positive signal that the U.S. and Iran are moving toward a second round of talks, but she warned Witkoffs flip-flopping on messaging risks emboldening hard-liners in Iran who apprehensive over Trumps commitment to any deal.

The Trump administration needs to be disciplined about its message to Iran on what the negotiating parameters are, she said, adding that Witkoffs first remarks on limiting enrichment and preventing weaponization reflected a pragmatic course of action.

Trumps instincts for a deal are sound. His instinct to focus on preventing weaponization, thats where the U.S. focus should be, given how advanced Irans nuclear program is and the reality that Iran is not going to completely dismantle its nuclear infrastructure, Davenport said.

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Iran sees its nuclear program as an important part of its security architecture, and its not going to dismantle key leverage, particularly when it has reason to be concerned that Trump wont follow through with U.S. commitments under a deal.

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DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran's right to enrich uranium is not negotiable, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Wednesday ahead of a second round of talks set to take place in Rome this weekend with the United States about Tehran's disputed nuclear programme.

The talks, which began in Oman on Saturday with the Gulf state acting as mediator, are the first between the two adversaries under U.S. President Donald Trump, who has threatened military action if there is no deal.

Araqchi was responding to a comment made on Tuesday by top U.S. negotiator Steve Witkoff, who said the Islamic Republic must "stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment" to reach a deal with Washington.

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"We have heard contradictory statements from Witkoff, but real positions will be made clear at the negotiating table," Araqchi was quoted by Iranian state media as saying in Tehran.

"We are ready to build trust regarding possible concerns over Iran's enrichment, but the principle of enrichment is not negotiable."

Last weekends U.S.-Iran talks in Oman were described by both sides as positive and constructive.

Western powers say Iran is refining uranium to a high degree of fissile purity beyond what is justifiable for a civilian energy programme and close to the level suitable for atomic bomb fuel. Iran has long denied seeking nuclear weapons.

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Iranian media said on Wednesday, without citing sources, that the second round of talks would be held in the Italian capital Rome on Saturday. It was earlier announced that the talks would resume in Oman.

Sources briefed on the matter confirmed the change of venue to Reuters.

Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei compared the venue of the Iran-US nuclear talks to a goalpost in a post on X on Wednesday, saying moving it might "jeopardize any beginning" and that changing it was a "professional error".

A diplomatic source said Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. nuclear watchdog whose inspectors monitor Iranian nuclear sites, had also been invited to Rome for the occasion of the talks.

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Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani confirmed the talks would be in held in Rome but said Italy would not be involved.

"Italy simply wants to be a bridge for peace; we have no ambitions of any kind. Such a delicate negotiation is up to the parties involved and their willingness to achieve a concrete result," Tajani said in a statement.

On Thursday Araqchi will deliver a message from Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to Russian President Vladimir Putin during a trip to Russia, state media reported.

"Amidst important global developments, close, continuous and trusting communication between Iranian and Russian authorities will serve regional as well as international peace and stability," Iranian Ambassador Kazem Jalali wrote on X.

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The Kremlin on Tuesday declined to comment when asked if Russia was ready to take control of Iran's stocks of enriched uranium as part of a possible future nuclear deal between Iran and the United States.

Britain's Guardian newspaper reported that Tehran was expected to reject a U.S. proposal to transfer its stockpile of enriched uranium to a third country such as Russia as part of an deal Washington is seeking to curb Iran's nuclear activity.

(Reporting by Parisa Hafezi, Elwely Elwelly, Crispian Balmer and Dubai Newsroom; editing by Ros Russell, Mark Heinrich and Toby Chopra)
27,523 people played the daily Crossword recently. Can you solve it faster than others?

27,523 people played the daily Crossword recently. Can you solve it faster than others?
Property and casualty reinsurer Canopius Group has appointed Andrew Ziolkowski as the new head of Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), with his tenure commencing on 25 October.

In his new role, Ziolkowski will oversee the execution of Canopius' activities in the ANZ and Asia-Pacific (APAC) regions, focusing on value creation for shareholders.

He will report to Canopius CEO for APAC and MENA SK Lee.

Ziolkowskis responsibilities include heading the ANZ business units, adhering to regulatory requirements, and fostering relationships with clients and stakeholders.

He succeeds Craig Elliot, who has been working as the interim head of the Australia business since December 2024.

Elliot will remain with Canopius as the head of casualty for ANZ and will undertake the additional role of head of distribution for ANZ.

Ziolkowski has more than 28 years of industry experience, latterly as the chief underwriting and transformation officer at QBE Insurance.

Earlier, he was the group executive of insurance for New South Wales Self Insurance Corporation, and worked in multiple executive roles at IAG/Wesfarmers Insurance and Zurich Financial Services.

Lee said: Andrews extensive experience and strategic leadership will be instrumental in propelling Canopius Australia business forward. We are confident that his skills will help us achieve our growth and profit ambitions. We are delighted to welcome him to our growing business in Australia.

We would also like to thank Craig Elliot for his exceptional management of the team during the interim period, and we are delighted he will be leading our distribution efforts as we continue to seek out opportunities with our partners.

Ziolkowski added: I am thrilled about the opportunities for Canopius in Australia and New Zealand. I look forward to both expanding our delegated authority business and growing our open market business in the region. I am also very excited about leading a hugely talented team to even more achievements.

In February, Canopius approved Qubit as a coverholder.

This enables Qubit to offer digital asset custody and crime insurance products from Hong Kong.

"Canopius names new head of Australia and New Zealand " was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand.




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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni heads to Washington for talks with US President Donald Trump on Thursday, carrying with her European hopes of defusing transatlantic tensions.

The continent has made little headway on lowering US tariffs in particular; a recent visit by the EU trade commissioner to Washington was widely viewed as a flop.

Meloni  the only EU leader to attend Trumps inauguration  has positioned herself as a bridge between the ostensible allies, and her anti-immigration, nationalist views are largely in line with the American leaders.

But her nation is a laggard on the key issues Trump values: Italy spends far below the European average on defense, and has a hefty trade surplus with the US.
Ivy Tech Community Colleges Lake County campus raised more than $10,000 to support scholarships and programs on this years Ivy Tech Day, the colleges third annual day of giving.

According to a release, more than 2,800 alumni, friends and partners across Indiana donated $483,813 on April 8 to help more than 200,000 students across Ivy Techs 19 campuses. The Lake County campus received donations totaling $10,025.

This years total brings the three-year cumulative giving statewide to more than $1 million since the first Ivy Tech Day in 2023.

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The contributions fund the greatest needs at each campus supporting student success and powering Indianas economy  including early childhood education, cybersecurity and Ivy Techs nationally leading two-year nursing program, which awards more associate degrees than any other institution in the country.

Ivy Tech is committed to delivering higher education at the speed of life, and our alumni, students and partners once again showed their belief in our mission, said Sue Ellspermann, president of Ivy Tech Community College.

Officials said more than four in five graduates stay in Indiana to work and live; the college contributes nearly $4 billion annually to Indianas economy and 84% of graduates finish without student loan debt.
Vice President J.D. Vance has publicly come out in favor of disregarding due process rights in the United States.

In a lengthy X post published on Tuesday, Vance wrote: To say the administration must observe due process is to beg the question: what process is due is a function of our resources, the public interest, the status of the accused, the proposed punishment, and so many other factors. To put it in concrete terms, imposing the death penalty on an American citizen requires more legal process than deporting an illegal alien to their country of origin.

Its a nonsensical interpretation of due process rights. At their core, rights are not supposed to be negotiable based on how much resources the government has, or the amount of people theyre looking to deport. The Constitution includes legal protections to ensure the system is as fair and unbiased as possible. Is this always the case? No. Does the executive get to do away with these protections because they run counter to his political platform? Usually only in crumbling fascist regimes.

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Heres a useful test: ask the people weeping over the lack of due process what precisely they propose for dealing with Bidens millions and millions of illegals. And with reasonable resource and administrative judge constraints, does their solution allow us to deport at least a few million people per year? Vance added. If the answer is no, theyve given their game away. They dont want border security.

While Vance would like to claim that the Trump administrations attempts to skirt due process rights are a necessary sacrifice that is isolated to the realm of undocumented immigration enforcement, thats not how these things work. The administration has also been arbitrarily stripping legal immigrants of their green cards in retaliation for their political advocacy. Mohsen Mahdawi, a Columbia student who organized pro-Palestinian protests at the university, was arrested this week during an interview for U.S. citizenship, for example.

Vance is not the only White House official defending the administrations attempts to skirt the rule of law. During a Fox News interview on Tuesday, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller argued that Kilamar Abrego Garcia  a migrant living in Maryland who the Trump administration admitted was sent to a gulag in El Salvador due to an administrative error  was not entitled to due process.

Hes an illegal alien from El Salvador with a deportation order from the United States. He is not legally even allowed to be in our country, Miller said. Under due process that these Democrats so venerate for illegal invaders, it is legally impermissible for him to have one more minute in this country. So we honored the law and obeyed the law by getting him out of the country.

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Miller is, unsurprisingly, misleading the public. Abrego Garcia was granted a protection from removal order granting him a measure of legal protection from deportation because of credible threats against his life in El Salvador. Furthermore, if the Trump administration was so confident that they could secure Abrego Garcias removal from the United States through the standard immigration process  where individuals have a right to contest their detention and advocate for their own interest  why not follow the process in the first place?

The Trump administration is going to great lengths to avoid complying with court orders  to the point of defying the Supreme Court. At the same time, Trump has indicated that he also wants to start shipping American citizens to El Salvador.

During a Monday meeting with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, Trump affirmed that he has instructed Attorney General Pam Bondi to look into ways to denaturalize and deport homegrown criminals to prisons in El Salvador. Id like to go a step further. I said it to Pam [Bondi,] I dont know what the laws are, we always have to obey the laws, but we also have homegrown criminals [] that are absolute monsters. Id like to include them in the group of people to get them out of the country, the president said.

Its never been about securing the border, as Vance claims, its about a consolidation of authority in the presidency that would allow the executive to abuse the powers of his office with impunity. Undocumented migrants, legal immigrants, and green card holders have already been used as test subjects. Theres no telling what comes next.

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Apr. 16JAMESTOWN  A Jamestown police officer says he went through a lot of ups and downs after he was in an officer-involved shooting in the parking lot behind Fred's Den in December but he's glad to be back at work.

"It took a little bit to get the mind all right and everything," Sgt. Cory Beckman said. "Coming back to work, I haven't had any issues."

He said it was difficult to sleep for about a month after the shooting.

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"The mind replays that situation over and over again and so then it's hard to calm it down so you can actually fall asleep," he said. "There's nightmares that come with it too, panic attacks."

Beckman said he replayed the incident with different outcomes, including him getting shot from behind.

Beckman, a five-year veteran of the Jamestown Police Department, shot Devin Quinn Fontenot, 27, Jamestown, early Dec. 3 after he responded to a report of a man armed with a gun and a knife standing in the parking lot behind Fred's Den, 113 1st Ave. S. Fontenot died from injuries he sustained from the gunfire.

As officers responded, a 911 caller reported a man was shooting at a building, firing many rounds. The man later identified as Fontenot was still firing rounds in the parking lot when the first officer arrived on the scene.

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In December, Stutsman County State's Attorney Fritz Fremgen said the use of deadly force by Beckman was justified when he shot and killed Fontenot.

Fontenot refused to comply with an order to drop his weapon, jeopardizing the safety of Beckman and others, Scott Edinger, Jamestown chief of police, previously said.

Beckman was placed on standard paid administrative leave after the incident. He returned to duty in late January, Edinger said.

"It was a relief that I did the right thing," Beckman said. "I was glad to come to work. I wanted to make sure I came to work with the right head on my shoulders, though. The department was good about giving me the time to come back when I was ready."

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Beckman is a member of the James Valley Special Operations Team, a K-9 handler and a Jamestown Police Department peer support team member.

Edinger, who was involved in an officer-involved shooting in 2015, said an officer might have doubts about their actions during the investigation process even though the individual might think they did everything correctly.

"Was there something I could have done better? Did I miss something? Was there information I didn't get that would have changed what I would have done," Edinger said. "You start questioning all of those things, and after the incident, the investigation takes a while so you have weeks to have those things going through your head."

Lt. Sid Mann, who was involved in an officer-involved shooting in 2010, said in those types of cases, officers hear false stories from the public about their incident during the investigation.

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"You try and stay away from the news media and social media and all of those things," Edinger said.

Beckman said he told his wife in person about the incident. He also told his mother, who is a chaplain at the Minot Police Department.

"I just filled her (mother) in because I knew it was going to be on the news," he said, adding that his parents came to Jamestown the following day.

He said he stayed off social media while he was on standard paid administrative leave to avoid seeing posts from people making false accusations against the Jamestown Police Department.

"The chief (Edinger) said there was overwhelming support from the community about what was done," he said. "One of the comments was that he was a friend of the individual. He didn't condone his behavior, and he stands with the officer that did what he did. So that's pretty huge coming from people in the community."

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Edinger said the community is supportive of the Jamestown Police Department.

"We know that we have to earn that and our officers do that all the time," he said. "They all want to do the right thing and make the right decisions and look out for people. When we get the support that we do all the time, it's really truly overwhelming. We really appreciate that."

Beckman said he also got overwhelming support from local law enforcement officers. He said the night of the shooting was the birthday of one of his children. He told Lt. Andrew Staska about his child's birthday.

"He planned this big thing," Beckman said. "They pulled money together and they bought him a bunch of presents, and they all came up and stood in my living room and let him open gifts so that was pretty cool."

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He said having access to the chaplaincy program  with his pastor at the church he attends being a chaplain  at the Jamestown Police Department also helped.

Beckman said the Police Department also did a meal train for his family where people at different times dropped off supper for his family.

Although every situation is different, Edinger said certain tasks need to get done immediately after an officer-involved shooting.

"Everybody that goes through law enforcement training kind of learns some of those things," he said. "Fortunately, the training is pretty good and everybody handles things very similarly."

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He said officers make sure everyone is OK and treat individuals who are injured. He said the scene, evidence and witnesses are secured right away.

"Once you establish that everybody is OK or isn't OK  obviously you're getting them treatment  we do a protocol that makes sure that we did everything right," Edinger said. "We want to make sure that the officer is being protected but we have to get a lot of evidence."

He said evidence such as the firearm and shell casings are gathered along with a blood sample and statement from the officer involved in the shooting. He said the department also wants to get as much information about the incident out to the public.

"Then the investigation sometimes can take some time and we get outside agencies involved to do most of that so that we're not directly involved in the criminal side of it," Edinger said. "While that's going on, we're doing policy investigations, we're making sure that tactically we were doing things correctly, and we review all of those things."

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After the investigation is complete, a review of the incident is done where the entire department watches the video.

"We watched the video over and over again and went through what happened, what was good, what was bad, what maybe we would change, maybe we wouldn't," Edinger said. "Every shooting is different and every officer is different and they would approach things differently. It's not to say that one decision is right or wrong. You just don't know and it's just how you handle it."

Edinger said every officer-involved shooting has different circumstances.

He said he was involved in an officer-involved shooting in 2015 with a pursuit that began by Cork & Barrel Liquors and ended near Dairy Queen after two officers shot the suspect, who was wounded and survived.

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"You're evaluating the information that you're receiving from dispatch and hoping that it's accurate, knowing every time that it's incomplete, and then it's rapidly evolving," he said. "So the information you could be getting could be old."

He said officers have to consider the backstop  a barrier to stop bullets  if they have to shoot at an individual.

In Edinger's case, the backstop was an empty business made of brick.

"I had that security of knowing that I was safe," he said. "Cory actually had the exact opposite. He had to move."

Beckman said he was only two blocks away from the parking lot behind Fred's Den when the Stutsman County Communications Center dispatched officers to a report of a man armed with a gun and knife.

"I didn't have much information," he said.

Beckman said he made sure he had some cover from gunfire at the scene. He said he knew Fontenot's general location after hearing magazines drop out of his firearm.

Beckman also had to move to make sure there was a safe backstop. Before he moved to a different location, he said he refrained from shooting because there were bystanders who would have been hit.

"As I was running, I told myself I'm going to give him one more command to drop the gun, and if he doesn't, I'm going to shoot him," he said. "It was clear that he wasn't listening to commands. He could hear me. We were maybe 10, 12 feet away initially. ... I identified myself, I told him exactly what he needed to do, and there's just a disregard to the commands and the fact of him shooting multiple rounds with the innocent bystanders in the parking lot."

Mann said his involvement in an officer-involved shooting in 2010 was a report about a suicidal individual at an apartment building at 1506 6th Ave. SW.

"Instead of pressing that issue, we back out," he said.

He said the department talks about the use of force, deadly force and less-lethal technology.

"It gets brought up, and we make that reminder like that it's not OK to go expose yourself to suicidal subjects and cause that confrontation," he said.

During the 2010 incident, officers arrived on scene and stood on the sidewalk leading to the apartment while they discussed their course of action, The Jamestown Sun reported. The man exited the front door of the building carrying a shotgun and upon seeing the three officers, he chambered a round into the firearm and pointed it at the officers after being told to drop it, The Sun reported. The three officers fired on the man, striking him several times. The man was wounded and survived.

Mann said more times than not a situation is deescalated and someone gets arrested or is sent to the North Dakota State Hospital for treatment.
JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon expressed concern that the U.S.s aggressive foreign policy and trade tactics under Trump could weaken long-standing military and economic alliances, potentially pushing allies like Europe closer to rival powers such as China and Russia. While he supports America prioritizing its interests, Dimon warned that isolating allies could fragment the West, destabilize global security, and diminish democratic strength.

While billions of dollars might have been wiped off portfolios as a result of President Trumps tariff plans, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimons primary concern isnt the markets.

What hes really worried about is that the White Houses aggressive foreign policy might be harming military and trade alliances that have stood firm since the Second World War, allowing for rival powers to gain further influence.

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Rising geopolitical tensions have been at the top of Dimons list of fears for some time now, particularly since the war between Russia and Ukraine.

With Europe now the focus of this conflict and a key partner to the U.S., Dimon has cautioned the Oval Office against pushing the continent into the arms of another global power.

I think the most important thing is that we dont read a book in 40 years: How the West Was Lost, Dimon told the Financial Times in an interview.

I think its one thing for any nation or the United States to say, I think this is unfair around trade, around the cost of militaryI think theres some very good points. I think Europe knows that they need to spend more on their military, but that does not mean we shouldnt have military alliance with you.

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Military spending is a bone President Trump has been waiting to pick with Europe, saying the continent is not doing enough to protect itself and is instead relying on the might of Uncle Sam.

Data confirms that the EU is indeed not spending as muchrelativelyon defense as the U.S. Think tank the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) found that in 2023, the U.S. spent $916 billion on defense, which was 3.4% of the nations GDP.

Conversely, the European Council confirmed that in 2024 the EU spent 326 billion ($370.5 billion) on its military, which came to 1.9% of European GDP.

There are some nations in the EU and in Europe that are spending more on their defense, with the U.K., Germany, Ukraine, and France featuring in the top 10 spenders according to SIPRI.

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However (with the exception of Ukraine), none of these nations spent more than 2.3% of their GDP on defense.

Dimon added the case for Europe to buck up its ideas isnt merely military, saying: [Its] the same with the economy, they need to do more. GDP per person in Europe has dropped from something like 70% of America to 50%, its not sustainable. I think Europe has already recognized it needs to change its own rules, regulations, and guidelines if they want to go faster.

The goal should be, in my view, to strengthen Europe and get them closer. Not to get them weaker and get them further. I think fragmentation of the Western world is a bad idea ... and you can end up with a world that looks like before World War I and World War II, where its almost every nation for themselves, trying to figure out how theyre going to protect themselves, and unfortunately that might lead to proliferation of nuclear weapons.

America first, not America alone

In a letter to shareholders published earlier this month, Dimon warned the U.S. against prioritizing its own goals to the detriment of its relationships with allies.

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The man paid $39 million to lead Americas biggest bank in 2024 wrote: If Europes economic weakness leads to fragmentation, each nation will need to seek out its own relationships to secure its future ... Such moves would ultimately make these countries far more reliant on China and Russiaover time effectively making them vassal states.

Economics is the longtime glue, and America First is fine, as long as it doesnt end up being America alone.

Dimon, who will be handing over the reins of JPMorgan sometime in the next five years, reiterated this point when speaking to the FT, saying that he still has faith that the American economy is the strongest in the world, but that cannot lead to overconfidence.

America is still very strong, but yes, a lot of this uncertainty is challenging that a little bit ... Hopefully these tariffs and trade wars settle down and go away so people can say, I can rely on America, Dimon added.

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Im not worried about the markets as much as I am about keeping the Western world together, free and safe for democracy, and that to me means you want to strengthen the economic relationships ... We should be careful, I mean, I dont think anyone should assume they have a divine right to success and therefore dont worry about it. I cant take it for granted. I would never take anything for granted though, he continued.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
This story was originally published on Healthcare Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Healthcare Dive newsletter.

Dive Brief:

CarePoint Health exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Friday after a U.S. Bankruptcy Court approved a deal to transfer operational control of the systems three hospitals to Hudson Regional Hospital.

The New Jersey-based nonprofit health system filed for bankruptcy protections in November, citing a dramatic increase in operating costs following the COVID-19 pandemic, insufficient state funds and reimbursement challenges.

The deal is a step toward creating Hudson Health System, which the systems first envisioned in January 2024, prior to CarePoints restructuring. In a statement, Hudson Regional said it planned to rebrand CarePoints hospitals and would have more details to share in the coming weeks.

Dive Insight:

Hudson Regional and CarePoint have a tumultuous history.

Hudson Regional has been gunning to purchase CarePoints hospital operations  which include 278-bed Bayonne Medical Center, 348-bed Hoboken University Medical Center and 349-bed Christ Hospital in Jersey City  since 2020, according to a report from the Hudson County View.

CarePoint has struggled financially for years due to rising operating costs. Last year, the health system threatened to lay off 2,600 workers, citing operational difficulties, and received notices from New Jersey regulators warning that continued poor financial performance could lead to facility closures.

Hudson Regional has repeatedly said it can help right CarePoints struggling ship, including in January of last year when the systems signed a letter of intent to merge.

However, within months of that announcement, CarePoint entered talks to combine with another health system  Michigan-based Insight Management and Consulting Services, which also bills itself as a hospital turnaround company. The deal with Hudson Regional subsequently fell apart, with Hudson Regional suing for breach of contract and Insight CEO Jawad Shah taking the reins as CEO of CarePoint for less than a month in October.

When CarePoint ultimately filed for bankruptcy  holding approximately $165 million in debt and named as a defendant in 53 pending lawsuits  both Insight and Hudson Regional began vying for influence in the proceedings, court documents show.

Hudson Regional emerged almost immediately as the likely front runner for taking over operations at CarePoint.
The Jan. 6 defendants granted sweeping clemency by President Trump are growing increasingly vexed with his administration because they dont believe its delivering on his campaign promise of payback for their prosecutions.

It marks the apparent end of a honeymoon period between the administration and some of Trumps most ardent supporters, as criticisms that top officials such as Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel arent living up to their expectations spill into public view.

Trumps path to the White House was paved with promises of retribution against those he said weaponized the justice system against him and his supporters, including those prosecuted and convicted over their roles in storming the Capitol.

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That spanned from exhaustive pardons to prosecuting the prosecutors and investigating the investigators.

While the president made good on his vows for Jan. 6 clemency, pardoning more than 1,500 people and commuting others sentences on his first day back in office, Jan. 6 defendants and their supporters are growing restless because they want the White House to hold accountable those who sent some of them to prison. Some, they say, should face counts of treason.

Today is April 15th, Suzzanne Monk, founder of the J6 Pardon Project, wrote Tuesday on the social platform X. By 4/15/21, the Biden regime had already arrested 405 January 6th defendants.

Enrique Tarrio, a leader of the Proud Boys who was convicted of seditious conspiracy but pardoned by Trump, boosted the post and suggested that, in the same amount of time, Bondi had only arrested a handful of Tesla terrorists, a reference to charges brought against individuals who have targeted billionaire Elon Musks electric vehicle company.

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Monk said in her posts replies that she would continue posting the stats until we see action from the Bondi crew. She told The Hill in an interview that she began sharing the comparisons to shut down suggestions that they need to wait for criminal cases to materialize, when the Biden administration marched in right after Trump left office.

Its not that we want revenge. We want the system to be trusted again. We want the system to be trustworthy again. And that means you cant keep the people who violated the law in the process of their job, Monk said, pointing to those involved in the prosecutions of the J6ers.

The Trump administration has removed several FBI agents and Justice Department prosecutors who worked on Jan. 6-related cases since the president took office in January.

Still, some ardent Jan. 6 defendants and supporters have expressed frustration with the lack of prosecutions that also go beyond Jan. 6, with one expert calling their asks unrealistic.

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A petition to Demand the Termination of Pam Bondi for the Lack of Justice Enforcement has garnered nearly 2,000 signatures, with several signatories commenting that arrests of right-wing foes such as 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton or billionaire George Soros have not yet come to fruition.

Arrest the democrat criminals or RESIGN, Philip Anderson, a Jan. 6 defendant who was pardoned, wrote on X.

Pam Bondi, where are you? Trump acolyte Steve Bannon said on a recent episode of his War Room podcast.

Katherine Keneally, director of threat analysis and prevention for the Institute for Strategic Dialogues U.S. branch, said that despite the presidents vast clemency, Jan. 6 defendants are still asking for more.

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Theres this idea among those who committed criminal activities on Jan. 6, that those that have been appointed by Trump or are part of the Trump administration will completely have their backs and do what they say, she said, which is just really not the reality of it.

Jon Lewis, a research fellow at the Program on Extremism at the George Washington University, suggested Jan. 6 defendants were a living, breathing embodiment of the left-wing abuse Trump sought to portray as he mounted his campaign  but ultimately were just a useful cudgel.

Any expectation from the Jan. 6 crowd that this would lead to any good-faith, fulsome effort to move this forward beyond the inauguration, I think, was misplaced, he said.

The frustration against Trumps top law enforcement officials has split some of the presidents loudest advocates.

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Patel, in particular, caused online outrage when he tapped an agency veteran, Steven Jensen, to run the FBIs Washington field office. Jensen led the bureaus domestic terrorism operations section on Jan. 6, serving in a critical role responding to the riot, and helped monitor violent incidents at school board meetings across the country  both flash points for right-wing culture warriors.

That really just encapsulates their mindset, Lewis said of the blowback from Jensens promotion. It really is this black and white in their minds; people like Steve Jensen are just, fundamentally, the enemies of the people.

As the pardoned defendants raged, mainstream MAGA influencers such as Charlie Kirk and Donald Trump Jr., the presidents son, both shared an article suggesting the frustrations were manufactured outrage.

This is not manufactured outrage!!! Richard Bigo Barnett, a rioter who broke into then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosis (D-Calif.) office that day, wrote on X. We suffered greatly and to say so is a slap in our face!

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Barnett, who was pardoned by Trump, questioned Patel and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bonginos lack of communication with them.

We want justice! We want the promises made kept! We stood! We showed up when Donald asked! We have seen nothing, he said.

Couy Griffin, a former New Mexico county commissioner who was convicted and later pardoned for Jan. 6, urged Kirk specifically to tread lightly because the outrage we feel is FAR FROM MANUFACTURED.

Bongino, a right-wing podcaster before he was elevated to FBI leadership, attempted to address the concerns in a veiled message in which he vowed he and Patel were working on initiatives to ensure that the mistakes of the past are never repeated, and that many of your open questions are answered.

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We fully understand that some of the actions and initiatives weve taken may not immediately appear to fit into the puzzle, Bongino said. And that leaves a vacuum at times, filled by others. But accountability requires information, and people WITH information.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Nathan Layne and John Geddie

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Donald Trump touted "big progress" in tariff talks with Japan on Wednesday, in one of the first rounds of face-to-face negotiations since his barrage of duties on global imports roiled markets and stoked recession fears.

Japan had not expected the president to get involved in Wednesday's talks, viewing them as a preliminary, fact-finding mission, a sign that Trump wants to keep tight control over negotiations with dozens of countries expected over coming days and weeks.

Tokyo had also been hoping to limit the scope of the talks to trade and investment matters. But announcing his involvement early Wednesday, Trump said thorny issues including the amount Japan pays towards hosting U.S. troops were among discussion topics.

"A Great Honor to have just met with the Japanese Delegation on Trade. Big Progress!" Trump said in a social media message that contained no details of the discussions.

Opposite Trump was Ryosei Akazawa, a close confidant of Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba who serves in the relatively junior cabinet position of economic revitalisation minister.

Speaking to reporters after the talks, Akazawa gave few details but said the parties had agreed to hold a second meeting later this month and that Trump had said getting a deal with Japan was a "top priority".

Exchange rates, which the Trump administration has said Japan and others manipulate to get a trade advantage, were not part of the talks, Akazawa added.

The dollar strengthened against the yen after his remarks on forex, up around 0.5% on the day. Tokyo denies it manipulates its yen currency lower to get make its exports cheaper.

Akazawa held a 50-minute meeting with Trump at the White House before another session with his Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer that stretched to almost an hour and a half, according to Japanese readouts of the talks.

Japan's prime minister, who has previously said he won't rush to reach a deal and does not plan to make big concessions, sounded a more cautious tone speaking to reporters later in Tokyo.

"Of course, the negotiations will not be easy going forward, but President Trump has stated that he wants to give top priority to the talks with Japan," Ishiba said.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni heads to the White House on Thursday to discuss tariffs imposed on the European Union with Trump, while Bessent has invited South Korea's finance minister to Washington for talks next week.
Rep. Jasmine Crockett has a reputation for telling it like it is.

Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

And she kept that same energy during a recent interview with MSNBC where she discussed the Trump administration's refusal to follow the Supreme Court's order to bring back Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

Kilmar was wrongfully sent to the CECOT prison in El Salvador, and the Supreme Court decided, in a rare 9-0 decision, that the Trump admin must facilitate his return. But Trump has mockingly sidestepped the issue? And hasn't brought Kilmar back yet?! So it's a full-on constitutional crisis now.

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"I feel like Im in an abusive relationship," Jasmine said.

"I think all Americans may feel like were in an abusive relationship with this administration, as well as with the Supreme Court."

And despite Fox News mocking her for saying this...

Fox News / Jesse Watters / tiktok.com

...she's absolutely right! The Congressmember also called out Republicans for not criticizing Trump's "crazy tariff war that nobody asked for," saying, "I can't find a spine anywhere in the House."

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Additionally, she asked why no one is questioning Trump's "mental acuity and fitness to serve"  an excellent point, despite Trump recently insisting he "got every answer right" during the cognitive test of the annual physician exam.

Here's what people are saying in the YouTube comments of the video:

"Voices like Jasmine are SO needed now!! We need MORE like her!! I love how she keeps it REAL, she doesn't sugar-coat anything!! She has a beautiful heart!! She is Intelligent, she has a kind heart & a SPINE!! Keep fighting Jasmine, Keep fighting for Us!! Democracy MATTERS!!"

"Exactly! It's an abusive relationship trying to isolate us from our friends and destroying what made us strong and stable."

"If you can figure out how to get them down there you can figure out how to get them back."

"Rep Crockett is proof there can be great leaders from Texas!"

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"The abusive relationship is exactly right. I had that same thought yesterday and am glad Rep. Crockett said it out loud."

And finally, "The propaganda is very real, thank you Representative Crockett for fighting for us all."

What do think about all this? Is Jasmine Crockett right? Are Americans in an abusive relationship with the Trump administration? LMK in the comments below!
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo.  A Jennings, Missouri, man stands accused of taking advantage of an elderly neighbor and burglarizing her home on multiple occasions.

According to the St. Louis County Police Departments probable cause statement, the incidents took place on Feb. 21, Feb. 24, and March 20.

Police said the suspect Marshall Jones (age not provided) lives near the victim, an elderly woman.

The victims friend suspected she was being taken advantage of and set up multiple cameras at the victims residence.

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Police said in the first incident, Jones went to the victims home and asked for some sugar. The victim told Jones she didnt have any. He then asked for some tea. When the victim left her front door open to get the tea, Jones snuck into her home and rummaged through her purse.

Jones went back to the home days later, snuck inside, and stole the victims television while she was out of that room, police said. Camera footage at the victims residence showed Jones carrying the TV out of the home.

The following month, police said Jones entered the victims home through a rear door but left after seeing a camera placement.

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Jones was taken into custody and admitted entering the victims home and stealing her television, police said. He also told investigators hed have taken something if the cameras werent there the last time he went to the house.

The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorneys Office charged Jones with two counts of first-degree burglary, one count of stealing, and one count of attempted first-degree burglary. Jones remains jailed on a $125,000 cash-only bond. Hes due in court for a bond reduction hearing on April 23, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for May 15.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
A New Jersey high school student is tasked with making a big decision  which Ivy League campus to commit to. Angel Ortiz, a senior at Arts High School, has been admitted to seven prestigious institutions as he is prepared to begin his collegiate career. According to ABC7, after being admitted to Dartmouth, the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard, Columbia, Brown, and Princeton, the teenager has also gained acceptance at Yale.

I had a feeling I could get into more than one Ivy, but never did I anticipate getting into every one I applied to, detailed the 17-year-old. The news station explained Ortiz is a first-generation Latino student from Newark, NJ. Im still processing it. When the notifications came in, I spent two hours walking around the kitchen in shock, while my mom sat there in disbelief.

As a first-generation Latino son of immigrants, I know that avenues like college are much harder to access for people like us, he later added, continuing, I hope that now, during my college life, and in my future career, I can be the best representation of my community and loved ones.

To help make his decision, Ortiz has planned to visit the campuses of each school. He shared that once his selection is made and the semester begins, he hopes to major in political science and work as a lawyer, government official, or researcher once finished. The ambitious student has marked his deadline to choose his next step as April 30, which is also his 18th birthday.

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If I ask a question and every kid in the class doesnt understand it, they just point, Angel knows it, and so hes always top notch, always on his game, shared one of his teachers, Sean Kenny.

According to research published by The Education Trust, on average, all eight Ivy League institutions remained inaccessible for Latino students between 2000 and 2020.

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Fox News star Jesse Watters backed the Trump administrations claim that an illegally deported Maryland man is a dangerous terrorist, arguing on Tuesday night that Kilmar Abrego Garcia wearing a Chicago Bulls hat means youre MS-13 and you hang around with high-ranking gangsters.

Watters also mocked the assertion that Abrego Garcia first fled El Salvador as a teenager because of threats of violence to his familys business, claiming it was ridiculous to believe that he initially migrated to the United States because of a tortilla blood vendetta.

The right-wing hosts defense of the administrations refusal to bring Abrego Garcia back to the United States after shipping him to the notorious CECOT prison in El Salvador comes as a federal judge said that lawyers for Abrego Garcia can depose Trump officials to determine their compliance with the Supreme Courts ruling to facilitate his return.

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Cancel vacations, cancel other appointments, Maryland District Judge Paula Xinis told the administrations legal team on Tuesday.

Even though the administration originally acknowledged that Abrego Garcia was wrongly deported due to an administrative error, the presidents top officials have since argued publicly that the Maryland father is actually an MS-13 gang leader who was involved in human trafficking  a claim they have yet to make in court. Additionally, when pressed to provide the evidence to back these claims, which senior officials have said was gathered through intelligence, the administration has demurred.

Fox News host Jesse Watters says that Kilmar Abrego Garcia wearing a Chicago Bulls hat is proof enough that he was a member of MS-13. (Fox News)

Were not going to give out our national security documents every time a terrorist denies they are a terrorist, Homeland Security assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin told ABC News on Tuesday. That would be insane.

With the White House threatening a full-blown constitutional crisis by ignoring a Supreme Court ruling, Watters decided to carry the administrations water on Tuesday night by parroting their talking points on Abrego Garcia.

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Garcia is a Bulls fan, but hes from El Salvador and he lives in Maryland, not Chicago, the primetime host declared. The Bulls lost 60 games in 2019, so why the hat? Can Garcia name anyone on the team? Anyone on any Bulls team besides Jordan?

Watters was referencing the arrest of Abrego Garcia in 2019 outside of a Home Depot for loitering alongside three other immigrants, which resulted in an allegation that he was a member of the MS-13 gang. This resulted in him being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which began removal proceedings against him because he had illegally entered the country.

However, an immigration judge eventually dismissed the claim that he was part of MS-13 and granted his withholding of removal request based on his well-founded fear of violence and persecution if returned to El Salvador. During his initial 2019 detention, Abrego Garcias lawyers argued that the only evidence of his gang affiliation was that he was wearing a Chicago Bulls hat and a hoodie; and that a confidential informant advised that he was an active member of MS-13 with the Westerns clique. The Western clique, however, operates out of New York, where Abrego Garcia has never lived.

The officer who formally attested to Abrego Garcias alleged gang affiliations was suspended from the force shortly after he arrested him. He was accused of providing confidential information about an ongoing police investigation to a sex worker whom he paid for sex one year earlier, The Independents Alex Woodward reported this week.

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Everyone from El Salvador knows what it means, Watters continued on Tuesday night. When you wear a Bulls hat, it means youre MS-13. When youre in Compton, you dont accidentally wear red and say: Oh, I didnt know red was Bloods. If youre a Latin American illegal alien in Maryland, you dont accidentally wear Chicago Bulls gear and hang around with high-ranking gangsters from MS-13.

On top of that, the Trump-boosting Fox News host also ridiculed the notion that Abrego Garcia fled El Salvador because his familys pupusa shop had been shaken down by local gang members, resulting in increasing threats of violence. Since moving to the United States, Abrego Garcia has gotten married to an American citizen, with whom he shares a five-year-old child and has raised her two other children from another relationship.

This is the reason he had to break into the country, Watters sneered. Are you ready? A local gang in El Salvador was shaking down his grandmas tortilla shop, and his lawyers say if he gets sent back to El Salvador, hes a dead man.

He concluded: Its a tortilla blood vendetta. Seriously? So who are Garcias attorneys who managed to get their client a hearing in the Supreme Court?
Dozens of Jewish faith leaders have said that they cannot support Israel in its war in Gaza.

Thirty-six members of the Board of Deputies of British Jews signed an open letter that rebuked Israels military response to the Oct 7 attacks by Hamas.

The board is the UKs largest Jewish community organisation and has more than 300 members who represent a wide range of political views.

Last year, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, and accused him of war crimes, although critics claimed this was based on implausible claims.

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In the letter, published in the Financial Times on Wednesday, the 36 members said that they could not turn a blind eye to civilian casualties in Palestine.

They said: We write as representatives of the British Jewish community, out of love for Israel and deep concern for its future.

The inclination to avert our eyes is strong, as what is happening is unbearable, but our Jewish values compel us to stand up and to speak out.

A boy walks through the rubble in Jabalia in Gaza on Monday - Bashar Taleb/AFP via Getty

The group went on to say that the most successful way to bring home remaining Israeli hostages held by Hamas was through diplomacy rather than ongoing conflict.

This most extremist of Israeli governments is openly encouraging violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, strangling the Palestinian economy and building more new settlements than ever, they wrote.

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Silence is seen as support for policies and actions that run contrary to our Jewish values.

Signatories included Baron Frankal, the chief executive of the Portland Trust think tank, and Sophie Hasenson, a member of the non-profit group New Israel Fund.

Palestinian men weep as they gather around a covered body before its transport for burial following Israeli strikes in Nazla - Bashar Taleb/AFP

A fragile ceasefire earlier this year came to an abrupt end in March with a wave of targeted air strikes against senior Hamas military officials.

Mr Netanyahu has said that Hamas must be destroyed once and for all to ensure a lasting peace.

The Hamas-run Palestinian health ministry has said that tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed in the past 18 months of violence.

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There have been questions surrounding the reliability of official mortality data in Gaza since October 2023, and estimates vary on many people have been killed.

The aftermath of an Israeli strike on a house in Jabalia on Wednesday - Mahmoud Issa/Reuters

A Board of Deputies spokesman said: The board represents the diverse constituencies of the UK Jewish community.

We understand that around 10 per cent of our deputies signed this letter and that potentially others would associate themselves with it.

Others would no doubt put more emphasis on the fundamental responsibility of Hamas for this ghastly situation and the need to ensure that they are prevented from ever repeating the heinous crimes of Oct 7.

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The board added that all of its members were united in wanting to see Hamas being prevented from ever being able to repeat Oct 7, aid flowing into Gaza and definitive progress towards lasting peace in the region.

It comes as Israeli forces expand the war across the enclave, including a double missile strike on the only fully functioning hospital in Gaza City.

The Israeli military said that it targeted a command and control complex inside the hospital allegedly used by Hamas.

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Creditors of Chinese developer Xinyuan Real Estate have petitioned a New York, US, court to place the company into bankruptcy protection, in an effort to recover unpaid bonds that came due in 2023, reported Bloomberg.

In an involuntary Chapter 11 petition filed yesterday (15 April), the creditors said that bondholders Cithara Global Multi-Strategy, Mars Partner, and Star Freight & Trading are collectively owed $65.8m by the real-estate company.

Xinyuan, similar to several other Chinese developers, has been struggling due to the financial turmoil.

The company missed an interest payment in 2022 and subsequently defaulted on $170m in bonds due in January 2024, as per the creditors filing.

It had previously undertaken a dollar debt exchange in June 2023 and appointed Alvarez and Marsal, a professional services company, as its restructuring adviser.

According to the creditors' filings, Xinyuan holds assets in the US, which could potentially be liquidated to repay the outstanding bonds.

In 2024, Xinyuan filed for bankruptcy for its subsidiary, Hudson 888 Owner, as it reportedly owed creditors $100m to $500m.

Under US bankruptcy law, creditors may request court supervision for a company that fails to meet its debt obligations.

The company then has the option to contest the petition or accept the bankruptcy proceedings and seek to restructure its finances.

Xinyuan has not responded to an email seeking comment, reported the media outlet.

The bankruptcy case has been filed in the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.

In July 2023, two creditors of Guangzhou R&F Properties, another Chinese property developer, sued the company, seeking its bankruptcy restructuring, reported Reuters, which cited notices in a database of the National Enterprise Bankruptcy Information Disclosure Platform in China.

"Creditors file petition for Chinese developer Xinyuan Real Estates bankruptcy" was originally created and published by World Construction Network, a GlobalData owned brand.




EBENSBURG, Pa. (WTAJ)  A man already serving life in prison for his wifes murder is now facing a second homicide trial, however hes just lost his legal team, according to our media partners at The Tribune-Democrat.

A Cambria County judge on Tuesday granted the withdrawal of two court-appointed attorneys representing Brian Giles, a Johnstown man accused of killing his former girlfriend, Jilly Todaro, in 2024.

The attorneys, Geoffrey Kugler and Patrick Dougherty of the Indiana County public defenders office, requested to step away from the case after prosecutors named a potential witness who posed a conflict of interest. Cambria County Judge Tamara R. Bernstein agreed the issue could not be waived, allowing the lawyers to withdraw.

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With the trial still ahead, Giles will now require new court-appointed attorneysa task the judge noted could be difficult.

Giles was charged in August 2024 with criminal homicide, aggravated assault and false reports in Todaros death. Her remains were discovered in June in the basement of Giles former apartment on Franklin Street in Johnstowns Kernville neighborhood.

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At the time of his arrest, Giles was already serving a life sentence without parole for the 2018 murder of his wife, Nancy Giles.

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Credit - Jemal CountessGetty Images for Anti-Defamation League

Protecting the Jewish people has never been an easy job. But when threats escalated, Jonathan Greenblatt transformed the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) into an indispensable shield. In 2024 alone, the ADL briefed 17,000 law-enforcement officers, analyzed 10 million extremist messages, and processed 17,000 antisemitic incident reports. Its helped federal agencies and tech companies, and provided education materials for children. Greenblatt has challenged antisemitism on both sides of the aisle, and maintained his commitment to civil rights. After pushing for a campus crackdown on antisemitism, he spoke out against deporting student protesters. His critics have come from both left and right. But so have the threats to Jewish safety. In a moment that demands operational excellence and moral clarity, Greenblatt delivers both.

Jones, a political commentator, is the founder of DreamMachine.org

Contact us at letters@time.com.
A student at Jones High School was arrested Tuesday after a gun was discovered in the backpack of a student.

The 17-year-old boy is facing charges of possession of a firearm on school property and carrying a concealed weapon, according to a news release from the Orlando Police Department.

A school resource officer was informed around 12:30 p.m. that a gun was found in a backpack during a random weapons search, OPD reported.

The student was identified as being in possession of the backpack and was taken to the local juvenile assessment center without incident, the release said.
The judge presiding over the case of a man who was mistakenly deported by the U.S. government to a prison in El Salvador suggested Tuesday that she was weighing contempt proceedings against the Trump administration.

U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis ordered administration officials to turn over evidence of their efforts to help bring Kilmar Abrego Garcia back to the U.S. since she first ordered them to "facilitate" his return, saying the government had not shown her anything of note on that front.

Ive gotten nothing, Xinis said. Ive gotten no real response, and no real legal justification for not answering, she continued, adding that if the administration is not going to answer her questions then justify why. Thats what we do in this house.

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Attorneys for Abrego Garcia had asked that the administration be found in contempt of court over its inaction. The judge said she wants to review the evidence the administration submits, which is expected to include sworn depositions, before ruling on the matter.

She ordered officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security to sit for the depositions, and for the administration to hand over documents by the end of the month to see what steps its taken to comply with her order.

In a written order after the hearing, Xinis said that if the administration does not comply with that part of her order, Abrego Garcia's lawyers "are free to seek separate sanctions on an expedited basis."

Follow live politics coverage here

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Speaking for the administration, Drew Ensign of the Justice Department said during the hearing that the government had complied with the judge's previous directives. He also said that if Abrego Garcia were to show up at a port of entry, we "would facilitate his return" into the U.S. before taking him into custody.

Abrego Garcia was deported on March 15 and taken to a notorious prison in El Salvador, despite an immigration judge's 2019 order barring him from being sent to his home country. Government lawyers have said he was taken there as the result of an "administrative error."

Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

Xinis previously ordered the administration to try to bring Abrego Garcia back to the U.S., where he could be given due process.

The Supreme Court partially affirmed her order last week, saying Abrego Garcia's removal was "illegal" and that Xinis' order "properly requires the Government to 'facilitate' Abrego Garcia's release from custody in El Salvador and to ensure that his case is handled as it would have been had he not been improperly sent to El Salvador."

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During an Oval Office meeting Monday between President Donald Trump and President Nayib Bukele, the Salvadoran president told a reporter that he wouldnt send Abrego Garcia back to the U.S., calling the question "preposterous."

None of the U.S. officials present at the meeting publicly asked that he be returned, something the judge pointed to Tuesday when Ensign tried to use the meeting as evidence of the U.S. government's efforts to comply with her earlier order.

Xinis pointed out that a reporter had asked Bukele the question, and that administration officials didn't respond to questions about what steps they'd taken to secure Abrego Garcia's return.

In her written order, the judge questioned why Abrego Garcia was still "inexplicably detained" in prison. While the government has said he's being detained pursuant to the sovereign, domestic authority of El Salvador, the "record thus far demonstrates that the United States had paid six-million dollars to house those detainees in custody 'pending the United States decision on their long-term disposition.'

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She went on to say that his lawyers could seek answers as to "who authorized his initial placement there and who presently authorizes his continued confinement."

Rina Gandhi, an attorney for Abrego Garcia, said Tuesday's hearing marked "progress."

"This case isnt about whether Abrego Garcia is a 'terrorist:' This case is about the government unlawfully, and admitting to unlawfully, removing a gentleman from this country, from Maryland, from his home, his family, his his children, and taking no actions, no meaningful steps to fix them, as ordered by the Supreme Court in a unanimous decision," she said outside the courthouse.

Ahead of Monday's Oval Office meeting, Stephen Miller, a top White House adviser, denied any mistake was made in deporting Abrego Garcia and argued he was able to be legally removed because he's a member of the criminal gang MS-13, which Trump has labeled a foreign terrorist organization.

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Lawyers for Abrego Garcia have denied that he's a gang member, and Xinis has questioned the evidence the immigration judge used years earlier to make that determination. She noted in a ruling that he has no criminal record in the U.S. or El Salvador, and that the evidence against Abrego Garcia consisted of nothing more than his Chicago Bulls hat and hoodie, and a vague, uncorroborated allegation from a confidential informant claiming he belonged to MS-13s Western clique in New York  a place he has never lived.

The White House, however, has doubled down on those allegations, without providing any evidence to support the claims.

"Abrego Garcia was a foreign terrorist. He is an MS-13 gang member. He was engaged in human trafficking. He illegally came into our country, and so deporting him back to El Salvador was always going to be the end result," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Tuesday.

Abrego Garcia's wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, offered a different view of her husband, who she said had "dedicated himself to making our family's American dream come true."

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She urged her husband to stay strong before the hearing, which she attended.

"Kilmar, if you can hear me, stay strong. God hasnt forgotten about you. Our children are asking, when would you come home? And I pray for the day," she said.

Trump was asked in a Fox Noticias interview that aired Tuesday about whether Abrego Garcia would be returned to the U.S..

Thats really a decision that will be made by the government of El Salvador, he said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  The legal battle continues over the wrongful deportation of a Maryland man.

A federal judge is now calling for Trump administration officials to testify over whether theyre complying with a court order to facilitate his return.

A U.S. district judge said Tuesday Trump administration officials have defied the Supreme Court and done nothing to return 29-year-old Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

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The judge is now ordering officials from ice, homeland security and the state department to give sworn testimony.

This is still a win, and this is still progress, said Garcias attorney Rina Gandhi.

Kilmar Abrego Garcias attorney spoke outside court Tuesday after the judge called for government officials to testify over whether theyre complying with the court order.

They didnt just say the word facilitate, they said facilitate his release from custody, said Gandhi.

Earlier this month, the court ordered the Trump administration to facilitate the return of Abrego Garcia and the Supreme Court agreed.

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The Maryland man was wrongly deported to an El Salvador prison in mid-March.

The Trump administration called it an administrative error but maintains he was an MS-13 gang member.

Abrego Garcias lawyers say hes not part of the gang and was never charged with a crime.

The White House is doubling down on the deportation. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt says its part of a broader effort to crack down on illegal immigration.

There is never going to be a world in which this is an individual whos going to live a peaceful life in Maryland, said Leavitt.

Meanwhile, Abrego Garcias wife, Jennifer, is pleading for his return.

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Maryland Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen said hes flying to El Salvador Wednesday to check on Abrego Garcia and discuss his return.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP)  More than 9,000 Catholic employers do not need to abide by federal regulations requiring accommodations for workers who seek abortions and fertility treatments, according to a ruling issued this week by a federal judge in North Dakota.

The Catholic Benefits Association and the Bismarck Diocese filed a lawsuit last year challenging the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's regulations on implementing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which requires employers to make reasonable accommodations for pregnancy and childbirth-related needs. The EEOC interpreted the statute to include abortion and fertility treatments as among those needs, which the Catholic groups argued violated their religious rights.

The Catholic groups also challenged separate EEOC guidelines for enforcing anti-harassment laws, which the agency updated last year to specify that workers cannot be harassed over their gender-identity or for seeking or contemplating having abortions.

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U.S. District Judge Daniel Traynor ruled Tuesday that he would make permanent an earlier preliminary injunction that blocked the EEOC from enforcing both its final rule for the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and the harassment guidelines against the Catholic employers.

Traynor, who was appointed by President Donald Trump in 2020, wrote last year: It is a precarious time for people of religious faith in America. It has been described as a post-Christian age. One indication of this dire assessment may be the repeated illegal and unconstitutional administrative actions against one of the founding principles of our country, the free exercise of religion.

Pregnant Workers Fairness Act initially had bipartisan support

The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act passed with widespread bipartisan support in December 2022, and it had the support of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. But controversy ensued when the EEOC adopted an expansive view of conditions related to pregnancy and childbirth that required accommodations, including for abortion, fertility treatment and birth control. While the rule includes an exemption for religious employers, it says determinations must be made on a case-by-case basis.

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In earlier court papers, the association and the diocese said, The combined effect of EEOCs pronouncements is that they require CBA Members, contrary to their Catholic faith, to accommodate their employees abortions and immoral fertility treatments, to use false pronouns when requested by transitioning employees, to abstain from expressing Catholic teaching regarding sexual issues, and to give employees of one sex access to private spaces reserved to those of the other sex.

Traynor was a board member of the North Dakota Catholic Conference, which represents the states Catholic bishops, according to a Senate Judiciary Committee judicial nominee questionnaire. In March 2024, he blocked the government from enforcing federal laws and regulations requiring a Christian employers organization to provide insurance coverage for gender-transition surgeries, counseling and other care.

Those that sued are 'thankful ... for vindicating religious freedom rights'

Attorney Martin Nussbaum said his clients are very thankful to the federal judiciary for vindicating religious freedom rights in the case and previous ones involving the association.

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One of the things that we've seen is an emerging practice on behalf of some of the federal administrations  we also see this in certain states  a desire not only to mandate immoral benefits but to impose speech codes that would be contrary to Catholic values, Nussbaum said. But the speech codes go beyond pronouns to even speaking about what Catholic teaching is, and we're just grateful to this court for protecting the freedom of speech of Catholic organizations as well.

Bishop David D. Kagan, of Bismarck, said: The Court has upheld our religious freedom rights and that is all we ever wanted.

A Better Balance, a legal advocacy group that led a decades-long campaign for the passage of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, condemned the ruling.

This ruling is part of a broad trend of attacks on womens rights and reproductive freedom. The fact that IVF  a highly popular and common medical procedure that millions of Catholics and Christians support  is being targeted speaks to the extremist nature of this case, A Better Balance President Inimai Chettiar said in a statement.

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Backers of Pregnant Workers Fairness Act say ruling could add to confusion

She said the ruling would contribute to confusion over implementation of a law that was designed to close gaps in the law and bring clarity to pregnant workers and employers alike. Chettiar emphasized that the entirety of the law remains in effect for most workers.

In an interview, she said it will be interesting to see whether the Justice Department appeals.

The EEOC declined to comment. It had previously asked the judge to deny a permanent injunction and said the other side cant back up its claims.

However, the EEOC's priorities have shifted dramatically under the administration of Trump, who fired two of the agency's Democratic commissioners in January. The new acting EEOC chair, Andrea Lucas, a Republican, has said she intends to push for a commission vote to change both the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act rules and the updated harassment guidelines.

The Catholic Benefits Association serves more than 9,000 Catholic employers and has about 164,000 employees enrolled in member health plans, according to its website.
U.S. District Judge James Boasberg said probable cause exists to find the Trump administration in contempt for violating his order over deportation flights last month, explaining that he didnt reach that conclusion lightly but that officials failed to provide satisfactory answers to explain their actions.

The Constitution does not tolerate willful disobedience of judicial orders  especially by officials of a coordinate branch who have sworn an oath to uphold it, Boasberg wrote in a lengthy opinion Wednesday.

The judge said he would give the government the chance to remedy its contempt but if it doesnt, hell proceed to identify the people in contempt and refer the matter for prosecution.

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Notably, contempt is unique in that judges can appoint lawyers to prosecute it if the Justice Department declines, as one imagines could be the case if Boasberg ultimately refers any Trump officials for contempt prosecutions to the Trump DOJ. (Also notably and potentially relevant down the line, Trump-appointed Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh have criticized this independent appointment authority in contempt prosecutions.)

Boasbergs ruling follows an April 3 hearing in Washington, D.C., at which he pressed the government about its compliance with his orders. Specifically, the compliance litigation centered on temporary restraining orders he issued March 15 to halt certain deportations under the Alien Enemies Act, a rarely used law that President Donald Trump invoked to summarily deport alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador.

The 18th-century law had been invoked only three times before in the nations history, all during declared wars.

Boasbergs ruling comes as another judge warned of possible contempt proceedings in the separate high-profile case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whom the government also sent to El Salvador without due process and is fighting against his return despite admitting he should not have been deported to that country.

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In his opinion Wednesday, Boasberg noted that courts typically let the party in contempt purge (or fix) their contempt by obeying the order they violated. He said the most obvious way for the government to purge its contempt here would be by asserting custody of the individuals who were removed in violation of the Courts classwide TRO [temporary restraining order] so that they might avail themselves of their right to challenge their removability through a habeas proceeding. He added that the government wouldnt need to release any of those individuals or transport them back to the homeland, but he also said the government can propose other compliance methods that he would consider.

In the event that Defendants do not choose to purge their contempt, the Court will proceed to identify the individual(s) responsible for the contumacious conduct by determining whose specific act or omission caused the noncompliance, the judge wrote in his opinion. He said he would begin by requiring declarations and that, if theyre unsatisfactory, hell proceed either to hearings with live witness testimony under oath or to depositions conducted by Plaintiffs.

The next step after that would be for the judge to request that the government prosecute the contempt, with him being prepared to appoint another attorney if that doesnt happen. The relevant criminal procedural rule says: The court must request that the contempt be prosecuted by an attorney for the government, unless the interest of justice requires the appointment of another attorney. If the government declines the request, the court must appoint another attorney to prosecute the contempt.

Boasberg gave the government an April 23 deadline to either 1) file a declaration explaining the steps it has taken and will take to purge the contempt; or 2) if it chooses not to do so, to identify the people with knowledge of his order who chose not to halt the transfer of class members out of U.S. custody on March 15 and 16.

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Trump previously called for Boasbergs impeachment over his rulings, after which Chief Justice John Roberts issued a rare public statement that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision. An Obama appointee, Boasberg is the chief federal trial judge in the District of Columbia.

While contesting that they violated the judges orders, Trump administration officials separately asked the Supreme Court to overturn the orders. The court did so in a divided ruling on April 7, after which Trump officials argued to Boasberg that the ruling nullified any potential contempt proceedings before him. Rejecting that argument in his opinion Wednesday, Boasberg wrote that the fact that the Supreme Court determined that this Courts TROs suffered from a venue defect does not affect  let alone moot  the compliance inquiry presently teed up here.

Subscribe to the Deadline: Legal Newsletter for expert analysis on the top legal stories of the week, including updates from the Supreme Court and developments in the Trump administrations legal cases.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  One of the suspects charged in the deaths of Jilian Kelley and Veronica Butler of Hugoton has lost his bid to get a new judge assigned to the case.

Tad Cullums attorney filed a motion for Judge Jon Parsley to recuse himself because Parsley represented fellow defendant Tifany Adams in an unrelated case. The attorney claims that raises questions about the judges ability to be impartial.

On Wednesday, Parsley denied the motion. He said that the representation of Adams in a marriage dissolution case was wrapped up in 2011, and Cullum was not involved in that case.

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Kansas woman charged with filing false unemployment claims

The bare fact of the representation of a co-defendant for a brief period almost 15 years ago does not establish even the appearance of impropriety, Parsley wrote. This Court does not know Tad Bert Cullum, does not have any bias or prejudice against him, and will treat said Defendant with the same dignity and respect as any other defendant, and will decide all issues in a way that follows the law of the State of Oklahoma.

Cullums next court date is May 14.

Tifany Adams, Tad Cullum, Cora Twombly, Cole Twombly, and Paul Grice (Courtesy: Texas County Sheriffs Office)

Co-defendants Adams and Paul Grice were also supposed to appear in court on Wednesday, but their dates were pushed back.

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Oklahoma court records show the other two suspects, Cole and Cora Twombly, will also be in court in May.

(Courtesy: OSBI)

The victims, Butler and Kelley, disappeared in March 2024 while they were going to pick up Butlers children in Oklahoma. Their bodies were found buried in a freezer last April. An autopsy revealed that both women had been stabbed to death.

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WASHINGTON  A federal judge said in an order Wednesday that he has found probable cause to hold the Trump administration in contempt over deportation flights it sent to El Salvador.

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg found "the Governments actions on that day demonstrate a willful disregard for its Order, sufficient for the Court to conclude that probable cause exists to find the Government in criminal contempt.

The Court does not reach such conclusion lightly or hastily; indeed, it has given Defendants ample opportunity to rectify or explain their actions. None of their responses has been satisfactory, Boasberg wrote.

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Follow live politics coverage here

Boasberg said the administration could purge his contempt finding by taking custody of the people it deported despite his order and giving them hearings so they can challenge the allegations against them. The "Government would not need to release any of those individuals, nor would it need to transport them back to the homeland" for that process, he wrote.

"In the event that Defendants do not choose to purge their contempt, the Court will proceed to identify the individual(s) responsible for the contumacious conduct by determining whose 'specific act or omission' caused the noncompliance," he wrote, and that person or those people would be prosecuted.

In a statement, White House communications director Steven Cheung said, "We plan to seek immediate appellate relief. The President is 100% committed to ensuring that terrorists and criminal illegal migrants are no longer a threat to Americans and their communities across the country."

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Boasberg had ordered any planes that were in the air to be turned around in an emergency hearing March 15, shortly after the White House made it public that President Donald Trump had signed an executive order invoking the Alien Enemies Act  a rarely used wartime power  to deport men alleged to be members of a Venezuelan gang.

Lawyers for the plaintiff in the case said that their five clients were not members of the Tren de Aragua gang and that they were being sent to a prison in El Salvador without any due process.

Boasberg then issued his order halting any deportations that were being carried out solely under the authority of the Alien Enemies Act for two weeks while he reviewed the legal issues.

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg in Washington, D.C., on Monday, March 13, 2023.

"Despite the Courts written Order and the oral command spelling out what was required for compliance, the Government did not stop the ongoing removal process," he said, and two planeloads of deportees were taken to a prison in El Salvador that has a history of human rights abuses.

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He said the way the deportations were carried out appeared designed to "outrun" the judicial system.

"Hustling class members to an airport before the Proclamation had even been published and in the face of a suit that sought a [temporary restraining order] was bad enough. The decision to launch planes during the afternoon hearing was even worse," Boasberg wrote, saying it suggests an attempt to "deny those aboard the planes the chance to avail themselves of the judicial review that the Government itself later told the Supreme Court is 'obviously' available to them."

"Worse, boasts by Defendants intimated that they had defied the Courts Order deliberately and gleefully," he wrote, pointing to a social media post from Secretary of State Marco Rubio the day after the deportations. "The Secretary of State, for instance, retweeted a post in which, above a news headline noting this Courts Order to return the flights to the United States, the President of El Salvador wrote: Oopsie . . . Too late .

Boasberg also chided the administration for refusing to give him any information about the timing of the flights in the weeks that followed, which he said was a topic he might revisit in any contempt hearing.

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Attorneys for the five Venezuelan men deported under the Alien Enemies Act asked Boasberg on Wednesday for an updated temporary restraining order barring the administration from removing anyone under the wartime law without first providing 30 days' notice.

This relief is urgent because the government has already indicated that, notwithstanding the Supreme Courts ruling that notice must be sufficient to allow individuals an opportunity to seek habeas review, it may provide designated individuals with as little as 24 hours notice, making it virtually impossible for most class members to file habeas petitions, the attorneys wrote in their filing.

They added that during World War II, the last time the Alien Enemies Act was invoked, those deemed to be dangerous to the public peace and safety were given 30 days notice before they could be removed.

The Supreme Court last week reversed Boasberg's restraining order, finding that he did not have jurisdiction since the deportees had been being held in Texas.

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Boasberg said the fact the ruling was reversed does not mean the administration cannot be held in contempt.

The high court's determination that his order "suffered from a legal defect" does "not excuse the Governments violation. Instead, it is a foundational legal precept that every judicial order 'must be obeyed'  no matter how 'erroneous' it 'may be'  until a court reverses it," Boasberg wrote.

"The Constitution does not tolerate willful disobedience of judicial orders  especially by officials of a coordinate branch who have sworn an oath to uphold it," Boasberg wrote. "To permit such officials to freely 'annul the judgments of the courts of the United States' would not just 'destroy the rights acquired under those judgments'; it would make 'a solemn mockery' of 'he constitution itself.'

Boasberg ruled a day after another judge presiding over the case of a Maryland man the administration says it mistakenly deported to El Salvador suggested she is weighing contempt proceedings over the administration's failure to comply with her orders to "facilitate" his return to the United States. That man, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, was deported the same day as the flights authorized under the Alien Enemies Act.

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Boasberg said that if administration officials decide "to purge their contempt, they shall file by April 23, 2025, a declaration explaining the steps they have taken and will take to do so."

If they "opt not to purge their contempt, they shall instead file by April 23, 2025, declaration(s) identifying the individual(s) who, with knowledge of the Courts classwide Temporary Restraining Order, made the decision not to halt the transfer of class members out of U.S. custody on March 15 and 16, 2025," he wrote.

Skye Perryman of Democracy Forward, one of the groups representing the plaintiffs, said Boasberg's ruling "affirms what we have long known: the governments conduct in this case is unlawful and a threat to people and our constitution."

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Extending the life of ageing coal power plants in Australia could lead to increased risks of power supply shortfalls, according to a report from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA).

The report, titled 'Delaying coal power exits: A risk we cant afford', examines the implications of relying on deteriorating coal-fired power stations for the country's energy needs.

IEEFA's lead analyst for Australian Electricity Johanna Bowyer has analysed the historical availability of coal-fired power stations nearing retirement. Her findings indicate that as these plants age, their reliability diminishes, posing a threat to the country's power supply.

Bowyer said: Since 2000, 13 coal-fired power stations have closed in the NEM [National Electricity Market], totalling 6GW of capacity. Their average age upon closure was 42 years.

The average availability of these power stations in the ten years before they retired was quite poor, at 66% on average. That means that on average, 34% of a plants capacity was unable to produce power.

The report also outlines other risks associated with extending the use of ageing coal power plants, including safety concerns and the financial viability of refurbishments.

Bowyer points out that historical refurbishment costs have varied between A$400m ($254m) and A$1.3bn, with some projects abandoned due to economic inferiority compared to other supply-securing options.

Furthermore, operators have faced challenges with refurbishment projects, such as technical issues, schedule delays, and cost overruns. For instance, the Muja AB plant experienced low utilisation even after upgrades.

The report also sheds light on serious safety incidents at Australia's ageing coal power facilities, including fires at Hazelwood, Yallourn, Morwell and Northern, and explosions.

Tristan Edis from Green Energy Markets, co-author of the report, emphasises the consequences of low coal reliability that could lead to electricity supply shortages.

The report projects that to cover potential shortfalls, an additional 49 to 93 petajoules (PJ) of gas could be required annually from 2034 to 2043, which would likely lead to major power price spikes.

Edis said: This is a large amount of additional gas, considering the average amount of gas used for electricity generation over the past five years was 122PJ per year. This additional gas requirement would have serious consequences for the price and availability of gas for other consumers.

Bowyer concluded that instead of attempting to postpone the phase-out of coal, the focus should be on expediting the deployment of replacement capacity through renewable energy and battery energy storage.
A federal judge has ruled that there is probable cause to hold the Trump administration in contempt over its removal of hundreds of migrants from the United States to a notorious prison in El Salvador despite an order to halt their deportation.

On Wednesday, D.C. U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg ruled that the Trump administrations willful and knowing actions  and their stonewalling during subsequent hearings  constitute probable cause for a finding of contempt.

Last month, the Trump administration attempted to stealthily deport over 200 Venezuelan and Salvadoran migrants to El Salvador under the supposed authority of the Alien Enemies Act (AEA)  an 18th century law that allows the president to deport citizens of a hostile nation with little due process. Trumps order authorizing the use of the AEA was signed on March 14, with no public announcement. The American Civil Liberties Union had already filed a class action lawsuit in anticipation of Trumps invocation of AEA. Boesberg issued a verbal and later a written temporary restraining order blocking the deportation of the migrants, one that  according to the timeline of events  administration officials may have ignored.

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In his Wednesday decision, Boasberg wrote: Defendants do not dispute that, if the Order indeed proscribed transferring class members out of U.S. custody, they plainly violated it hours after it was issued. Rather than mount any factual defense, they rely on post-hoc legal arguments to attack the validity of the Order itself [] As previously explained, per the collateral-bar rule, what matters is whether they violated the terms of the Order, not whether the Order itself was legally valid.

Boasberg noted that his oral order to halt the deportation flights was just as binding as the written version of the order issued shortly after, and that disregarding it was in itself grounds for a finding of contempt. Indeed, consider the absurd mischief that Defendants position would license: if an oral command is not binding for purposes of contempt unless or until memorialized in a written Order, the enjoined party could race to accomplish the plainly proscribed act before the court could put pen to paper, he wrote Wednesday.

The judge has also allowed the Trump administration one last opportunity to skirt contempt charges by complying with the courts rulings. The most obvious way for Defendants to do so here is by asserting custody of the individuals who were removed in violation of the Courts classwide TRO so that they might avail themselves of their right to challenge their removability through a habeas proceeding, he wrote. In the event that Defendants do not choose to purge their contempt, the Court will proceed to identify the individual(s) responsible for the contumacious conduct by determining whose specific act or omission caused the noncompliance.

In other words, give the migrants sent to a foreign gulag the relief and rights they were entitled to in the first place  or be prepared to find yourself as a defendant.

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Krish Lal Isserdasani, who is from India, has been studying computer engineering at the UW-Madison since 2021 and plans to graduate on May 10. UW-Madison Engineering Hall. (Photo by Baylor Spears/Wisconsin Examiner)

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the cancellation of a 21-year-old University of Wisconsin-Madison undergraduate students visa and any actions in relation to that by the Trump administration.

Krish Lal Isserdasani, who is from India, has been studying computer engineering at the UW-Madison since 2021 with plans to graduate on May 10. On April 4, just a month before graduation, Isserdasani received notification from UW-Madisons International Student Services office that his visa was cancelled and his authorization to be in the country would end on May 2. He received no communication from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or the State Department regarding the visa revocation.

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His cancellation was part of a wave of cancellations at universities across the country as President Donald Trumps administration targets international students and ramps up deportation efforts in a crackdown on immigration.

U.S. District Judge William Conley wrote in his order Tuesday that Isserdasani has a reasonable likelihood of success on his claim that his visa was wrongly terminated and faces possible devastating irreparable harm as a result of the cancellation. Conleys order bans the government from revoking his visa, detaining him or taking any other actions related to the cancellation pending a preliminary hearing April 28.

The loss of timely academic process alone is sufficient to establish irreparable harm, Conley wrote. Given the amount of Isserdasanis educational expenses and potential losses from having to leave the United States without obtaining his degree, the court concludes that Isserdasani credibly demonstrates that he faces irreparable harm for which he has no adequate remedy at law in the absence of injunctive relief.

Since the termination earlier this month, Isserdasani has reported a significant psychological impact on him, according to the order, including difficulty in sleeping and fear that he will be placed in immediate detention and deportation.

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He reports being afraid to leave his apartment for fear of being apprehended at any moment, the order states.

According to the complaint, Isserdasani and his family have spent about $240,000 on his education in the country. He would lose $17,500 on the current semesters tuition and would be responsible for four months of rent despite not being able to stay in the country, the complaint states.

Isserdasani is represented by Madison lawyer Shabnam Lotfi, who said in a statement to the Wisconsin State Journal that the international students have done absolutely nothing wrong.

They have followed U.S. laws and fully complied with the terms of their student status. They do not deserve this, Lotfi said. America must speak out against this injustice and not allow the Administration to distort the facts for their own political purposes.

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Isserdasani is one of dozens of students and alumni at University of Wisconsin institutions to have had their visas canceled by the federal government in recent weeks. There have been at least 26 at UW-Madison, 13 at UW-Milwaukee and several more at other campuses.

UW-Madison first announced cancellations on April 8, saying the university wasnt notified by the government but had learned about them because staff has been reviewing federal databases every day to see whether students have been affected

According to the Associated Press, the Trump administrations work to cancel visas has affected at least 901 students at more than 128 colleges and universities nationwide. Some have been participants in protests about the war in Gaza, and others have had minor infractions, including traffic violations, according to published reports.

Conleys order indicates that Isserdasani appears to have had his visa canceled in relation to an arrest for disorderly conduct in November 2024 after he and friends got into an argument with other people while walking home from a bar one night. Madison District Attorney Ismael Ozanne declined to pursue charges after the arrest, and Isserdasani never had to appear in court and thought the issue was dealt with. He has had no other encounters with police, the order says.

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The universitys notification email that Isserdasani received stated that the reason given was otherwise failing to maintain status and he was identified in criminal records check and/or has had their VISA revoked. It said the termination does not have a grace period to depart the U.S. and that employment benefits, including on-campus employment and any practical training you may have had authorized, end immediately when a SEVIS record is terminated. Therefore, you no longer have authorization to work in the United States.

The order said Isserdasani was given no warning, no opportunity to explain or defend himself and no chance to correct any potential misunderstanding.

The judges order also covers the visa cancellation for Hamidreza Khademi, a 34-year-old citizen of Iran and graduate student at Iowa State University, who is also being represented by Lotfi. Khademi graduated in December 2023, but was working in the country through a visa extension approved in 2024.

Khademi was arrested in February of 2024 and accused of evading arrest in a vehicle in Texas. However, the Texas Department of Public Safety eventually determined that there was no violation and decided against filing charges. His visa was terminated on April 10 and an email notifying him included similar reasoning as the one Isserdasani received.

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The judge reserved a ruling on the motion for a temporary restraining order for Khademi, pending further briefing by the parties, because he questioned whether the western Wisconsin court was the appropriate venue for the case.

Plaintiffs include no facts showing that venue is proper for the claims brought by Khademi, who appears to have no ties to the Western District of Wisconsin, nor do the events or omissions giving rise to his claims, the judge wrote.

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A federal judge on Tuesday temporarily halted the removal of a University of Wisconsin-Madison student from India whose visa was terminated from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVIS) database.

Judge William Conley ruled to block the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from immediately deporting Krish Lal Isserdasani, 21, who claimed his F-1 student visa was wrongfully terminated. Hes a senior who expects to graduate in May.

Officials said he failed to maintain his status as a legal resident due to being identified in criminal records.

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Isserdasani was arrested on November 22, 2024, after a verbal argument took place outside of a bar, according to legal filings.

Although Isserdasani was arrested for disorderly conduct, the District Attorney declined to pursue charges after reviewing the case, his attorneys wrote in court documents.

As a result, Isserdasani never had to appear in court and believed the matter was completely resolved with no possible immigration consequences. Aside from this encounter, Isserdasani has had no other interactions with law enforcement, they added.

Isserdani received an April 4 email from the University of Wisconsin-Madisons International Student Services informing him of his visa revocation, which would only authorize him to stay in the U.S. until May 2.

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His lawyers said an abrupt exit would hinder his ability to graduate on time and opportunities to gain work experience.

Isserdasani and his family have reportedly invested approximately $240,000 in his education in the United States, and he stands to lose $17,500 in tuition for the current semester, they wrote, according to court filings.

He would also be liable for rental payments for the next four months despite being unable to remain in the country.

Conleys temporary injunction blocking his removal will remain in place until April 28 when a preliminary injunction hearing will be held.

Accordingly, plaintiff Isserdasani has shown a substantial, if not overwhelming, likelihood of success on the merits of his claim in Count 2 that DHS violated the APA [Administrative Procedure Act] when summarily terminated his F-1 student status in SEVIS without cause, Conley wrote.

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He added that Isserdasani is likely to show that DHSs termination of his F-1 student status was arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law.

Isserdanis case is the latest in a series of sweeping removals of foreign students without due process.

The University of Wisconsin said six current students and seven alumni have been impacted by the governments termination of SEVIS records.

The White House and DHS did not immediately respond to The Hills request for comment.

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This story was originally published on Banking Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Banking Dive newsletter.

Five years after it first sought an industrial bank charter, Edward Jones is trying again.

The firm last week submitted an application to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the Utah Department of Financial Institutions to establish Edward Jones Bank, saying that an industrial bank would enable Edward Jones to serve more clients, more completely.

The firm had applied for the same type of license, from the same entities, in 2020.

The investment company withdrew that application in 2022, however, citing the environment at the time.

Edward Jones wouldnt be the first nonbank to resubmit an application for an industrial loan company charter since President Donald Trump retook office. GM Financial re-applied in January after initially applying in December 2020  and gaining conditional approval from the Utah regulator last June. But it pulled the application from FDIC consideration later that month to address feedback from the regulator, GM Financial said.

Its been largely expected that the Trump administration will generally ease financial regulation. Indeed, the FDICs new acting chief, Travis Hill, highlighted ILC charters as one way to boost new bank formation, in a speech this month.

The FDIC is working to issue a request for information to address issues connected to ILC charter applications, Hill said.

I continue to believe this would be useful, Hill said, noting the issue draws strong opinions from a wide range of stakeholders across the financial services industry.

Opponents of the charter have argued the ILC designation exempts companies from the definition of a bank under the Bank Holding Company Act, as long as they dont offer demand deposit accounts. That setup allows them to bypass oversight by the Federal Reserve.

The Rakutens and the Googles of the world shouldnt be able to circumvent the Fed, Sen. John Kennedy, R-LA, said in 2019, introducing a bill to close that loophole.

If theyre allowed to handle your banking services, theyre going to turn into continents, he said.

Trade groups, too, have spoken out against ILCs. Independent Community Bankers of America CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey has said the designation violates the longstanding separation of banking and commerce and leaves dangerous gaps in oversight.
Credit - Dina LitovskyRedux

Julie Burkhart has been fighting for decades to provide abortions in some of the most rural and conservative areas of the U.S. After Wyoming banned abortion in 2022, she joined other advocates to challenge the ban, and opened Wellspring Health Access, the states only full-service abortion clinic. In 2024, a judge ruled in Wellsprings favor, declaring the near total ban unconstitutional. But in February, the governor signed new legislation requiring abortion clinics to be licensed as ambulatory surgical centers, forcing Wellspring to stop providing abortions while it challenges the regulation in court. The clinic is still open, taking phone calls and talking to patients even if it cant provide abortion services.

Burkhart is no stranger to the ups and downs of this fightshe has faced arson, death threats, and legal obstacles while starting clinics in Wyoming, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Shes now the co-owner of Hope Clinic in Illinois, which has seen a 700% increase in out-of-state patients since abortion restrictions went into effect in neighboring states. Burkhart is devoted to making sure patients can get abortion care, no matter where they live.

Alter is a TIME senior correspondent

Write to Charlotte Alter at charlotte.alter@time.com.
Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, presents the Alaska Senate's draft capital budget on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, as fellow senators listen. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

As Alaska legislators confront a major state budget deficit, the state Senate on Tuesday voted unanimously to approve a bare bones $162 million capital budget to pay for construction and renovation projects across the state.

The spending plan, which would take effect July 1, remains a draft subject to approval by the House. Gov. Mike Dunleavy may also make line-item vetoes.

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The budget bill passed by the Senate is almost entirely limited to the minimum needed to unlock more than $2.5 billion in federal grants for road maintenance and other priorities.

With oil revenue down and costs up  including the Permanent Fund dividend  analysts are projecting a significant budget deficit for the coming year. On Friday, the House voted to reduce the proposed 2025 dividend, but not enough to erase the deficit.

To help the issue, members of the Senate Finance Committee clawed back millions of dollars previously allocated to construction projects, reducing the need for new state revenue to pay for the capital budget.

Among the clawbacks: $37 million set aside for the Juneau Access Project, an effort to improve road and ferry service to the capital city.

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To even get to the bare-bones capital budget, my district ended up contributing half a dozen ribs and a femur.  Im not pleased, said Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau and a member of the Senate Finance Committee.

Other notable clawbacks included $10 million for a proposed deep-draft port in Nome, and $138,611 remaining in an account to be used for Ketchikans proposed Gravina Island Bridge, once dubbed the bridge to nowhere.

Members of the finance committee also turned to the state-owned investment bank, the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, for an additional $12.5 million above the $20 million already pledged by the bank to the state treasury.

Budgeters rejected some of Dunleavys budget requests: $2.5 million for a proposed road in the western portion of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, $4.2 million for development of the trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline, $2.5 million for firefighting aircraft, and $6.5 million for a new state plane to be used for emergency response.

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They also rejected all $3.2 billion in requests from individual legislators for their specific districts.

Senate Minority Leader Mike Shower, R-Wasilla, called the result a fair and balanced approach in a statement released after the vote.

Some projects saw reduced funding: A $6.5 million request to expand the Bradley Lake hydroelectric projects capacity was cut to $6 million. Bradley Lake is among the cheapest sources of electricity on the Railbelt.

The Senates biggest addition was $19 million for major maintenance at public schools  the governor had proposed no funding for the major maintenance list.

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This is just the beginning of many tough decisions youre going to see over the next few weeks, between now and the end of May, and I dont think some of the folks in the building have quite grasped that yet, said Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka and co-chair of the Senate Finance Committee in charge of the capital budget.

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DEDHAM, Mass. (WPRI)  The stage is officially set for Karen Reads second murder trial.

Jury selection concluded Tuesday after hundreds of potential jurors were screened over the course of 10 days. Judge Beverly Cannone anticipated that jury selection would take some time since it is such a high-profile case.

Cannone has seated 18 jurors for the trial  with 12 expected to decide Reads fate and the rest serving as alternates.

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RELATED: Karen Read appeals to Supreme Court as jury selection continues

Read is accused of ramming into her then-boyfriend John OKeefe with her SUV and leaving him for dead in a snowstorm back in January 2022. She has been charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter and leaving the scene of a crime.

Her first murder trial ended in a mistrial last July after jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict.

Prosecutors believe that Read drunkenly backed her car into OKeefe after dropping him off outside of a Canton home. But Reads defense attorneys have repeatedly argued that shes the victim of a sloppy investigation and extensive law enforcement cover-up.

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Opening statements are slated to begin Tuesday, April 22.

READ MORE: Karen Read murder trial

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After being harassed and followed by a strange man on the subway, trans Drag Race star Jasmine Kennedie stood up for herself, and now justice has been served.

After a harrowing experience where a MAGA supporter invaded her personal space, followed her onto the subway, and shouted anti-LGBTQ+ slurs at her, Kennedie took her story to social media, and with the help of internet sleuths, she was able to identify the man who allegedly harassed her.

When the man harassed her, Kennedie told PRIDE she was sort of shocked, but at the same time, I am a person that when it comes to conflict, I dont necessarily back down.

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On Monday, Kennedie posted an Instagram reel detailing her awful experience and showing video footage of the man who made her feel unsafe, and shortly after, messages started flooding her DMs with information from people who recognized him.

Followers on Instagram, as well as a few people who worked with the man, sent Kennedie messages identifying him and letting her know that he worked at a New York City gym called Gym U. After contacting the gym and filing a formal complaint, Kennedies followers began sending messages to Gym U about the incident and within 24 hours of her initial post the man was fired from his job.

A job loss is horrible for anybody, but if youre working for an LGBTQ+ friendly gym, I dont think thats the type of rhetoric that should be spewed around by one of the employees, Kennedie told PRIDE.

Kennedie revealed that she felt empowered and vindicated once he was terminated from his job. I didnt think there would be immediate action, but it gave me a little bit of a sense of joy in the world that were living in right now that there is still hope for people to stand up for us, she said.

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Gym U could not immediately be reached for comment.

On her way home from a show on Sunday night, the 25-year-old performer was still in drag and decided to sit on the ground of a subway station in New York City because there were no seats left when a strange man approached her and sat down very, very close to her. He immediately made her feel uncomfortable, so she quickly stood up, but then he started spewing anti-LGBTQ+ hate and following her, even when she got on a train.

The man told her that this is Trumps America, Trump is still your daddy, and called her the F slur. If youre going to use the correct slur on me, it would have been tr*nny, but he didnt. I think clearly he does not understand the range of slurs in this community, Kennedie joked, using her signature brand of sarcasm to deal with a dark situation.

www.instagram.com

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She was scared, but she made the split-second decision to stand up for herself because she wasnt going to let someone push me in a corner and make me feel smaller after she'd worked so hard to feel confident about herself.

I just matched his energy essentially. I think in this time, a lot of this right-wing or the MAGA side wants us to be in fear, and I didnt want to back down and let him have that satisfaction, Kennedie said. He would have been relishing it and bragging to people later that night that he told off a trans woman.

While the experience was scary and forced Kennedie into a position where she felt like she had to stand up for herself, she was not alone in this fight. Other people around her at the subway station and on the train where the man followed her provided backup and support.

On the video footage of the incident that she included in her Instagram, someone can be heard helping to try to get the man to leave the subway car where he had followed Kennedie. She said that afterward she found out that this good samaritan is a part of the LGBTQ+ community and had his own experience with the same man who also made him feel uncomfortable, but wasnt able to stand up for himself.

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The guy who was helping me told me, hes like, I was too scared to say anything, but when I saw you speaking up, I thought it was my reason to come over and make sure you were OK, Kennedie explained.

Kennedie is feeling stronger after standing up for herself and getting support from the community. Not only did she have people step up during the incident but her followers and fellow Drag Race stars have offered her emotional support in the aftermath. Daya Betty, Amanda Tori Meating, Alyssa Hunter, Aurora Matrix, and Deja Skye all posted supportive comments on her reel.

People think that they could just walk over us and treat us like, she said, and that nothings going to come out of it or they think that were gonna be in fear, and I felt like it was my duty to stand up and give this guy a stark reality check of like if you mess with someone, it doesnt matter if you think theyre insignificant, you do have to deal with the repercussions and its not something that should be dealt with lightly."

Kennedie said that while in the past shes been lucky to kind of skate through and not face much bigotry in person, that has been changing as anti-trans legislation and hate have been increasing.

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Ive noticed people are feeling a little bit more emboldened to either make comments or stare or make people in the LGBTQ+ community a little bit more uncomfortable, she said.

But in spite of this harsh reality of the current political climate, Kennedie hasnt lost hope, Ive gotten hundreds of DMs and comments on my social media posts and support from everybody not just in the community, but allies as well that see us and here to defend us and it is very touching and very sweet to know that this has touched so many people.
Kansas lawmakers passed a bill adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's working definition of antisemitism. Gov. Laura Kelly signed it. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

TOPEKA  A new Kansas law adopts the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliances working definition of antisemitism  a definition that has been criticized for conflating criticism of the state of Israel with antisemitism.

The legislature passed and Gov. Laura Kelly signed the bill that declares antisemitism, as defined by IRHA, is against the public policy of this state, including, but not limited to, the purposes of public educational institutions and law enforcement agencies in this state.

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David Soffer with the Combat Antisemitism Movement said that a clause in the definition prevents conflation of criticism of Israel with antisemitism.

It does differentiate the fact that criticism of Israel is perfectly OK, as long as it is held to the same standard that you would criticize another country, Soffer said. We know that there are criticisms of Israels own government amongst its people because it is a democracy, no different than here in the United States.

The definition reads that manifestations might include the targeting of the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity. However, criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic.

Jack Goldstein with the Jewish Voice for Peace of Kansas City said the clause is vague.

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One example of antisemitism the IHRA provides is denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor.

Weve seen the definition be leveraged to silence voices that are dissenting against Israel for reasons that would be fair to critique other countries, Goldstein said. For example, their aggression in the Middle East.

Goldstein is referencing the Israel-Hamas war that sparked campus protests last May, which notably led to the detainment of Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil.

President Donald Trump recently adopted the IHRAs definition in an executive order, which has been used to strip funding from Columbia University over claims that the school failed to address antisemitism.

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The main purpose of a bill like this is to shut down opposition to Israel on college campuses, Goldstein said. Especially with the Republicans in power right now, that is within their interest, to silence dissent like that. Especially when our country is tied to Israel and still sending lots of money and weapons to the country.

Senate Bill 44 passed the Kansas House and Senate with bipartisan support. A similar bill in Missouri faced more pushback from Democrats.

Soffer said the main purpose of the bill is to ensure Jewish students are not threatened or harassed. He referenced the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas on Israel. The 1,200 Israeli deaths and 250 hostages taken that day triggered an intense war.

There was an event at (the University of Kansas) where they held a survivor from Oct. 7th, and groups stormed that event and harassed the individual that was there and the students themselves, Soffer said. So the question one must ask is, Why cant they even hold an event? 

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The new Kansas law states the definition is non-legally binding, meaning its not enforceable in court.

Michael Rebne was on the Roeland Park City Commission when it passed an ordinance adopting the IHRA definition, and he heard supporters point to the fact that its not legally binding.

It ends up actually having the force of something thats legally binding, Rebne said. As the mayor said, in Roeland Park, this will be a way to advise the police of any potential acts of antisemitism within Roeland Park.

With the new state law, Rebne, who is a teacher in the Kansas City, Kansas, public school district, said he is worried for his students  both Jewish and Palestinian. Rebne said the law makes teachers fearful to teach about the subject at all, even stating data about the number of people killed.

It doesnt allow students to really wrestle with geopolitics, and decide for themselves what they see, Rebne said. Because if teachers are afraid, whether its legally binding or not, to bring up the topic of Israel because even touching on it may be seen as antisemitic then students also miss out on it. Theyre our seeds of our democracy, if we hope to have a multi-racial democracy, that we have to educate.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A 22-year-old Kansas City, Missouri man pleaded guilty in federal court on Wednesday for illegally possessing and transferring machine gun conversion devices.

Marquelle D. Love, also known as Q, pleaded guilty to one count of illegally possessing machine guns  three Glock-type machine gun conversion devices, and an AR-type machine gun conversion device.

Man charged in connection with shooting after failed drug deal in Grain Valley

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According to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice, on Jan. 17, 2024, Love sold an AR-drop-in auto sear and three metal Glock-type switches to an undercover agent for $780.

Machine gun conversion devices, also known as switches or auto sears, are used to convert semi-automatic weapons into machine guns that fire multiple shots automatically through a single pull of the trigger, enabling more rapid and often less accurate gunfire, according to the DOJ.

Whether or not they are attached to a firearm, these devices constitute machine guns under federal law and therefore illegal to possess, sell, or use machine gun conversion devices.

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A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. Under federal statutes, Love is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole.

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Karen Read, accused of the January 2022 murder of her then Boston Police Officer boyfriend John OKeefe, stated she is anxious but ready for opening statements in her highly anticipated trial. Her remarks came after a contentious hearing held today at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham.

Speaking briefly to reporters outside the courthouse, Read gave what will likely be her final public remarks before testimony begins. Ive been ready. I have no choice but to be ready, she said. I feel strong, Ive got an amazing team, and Im anxious.

Inside the courtroom, the hearing provided a final opportunity for both the prosecution and the defense to present arguments on critical matters before the jury is sworn in. Much of the back-and-forth centered on the parameters of witness testimony and evidence sharing.

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Special Prosecutor Hank Brennan voiced strong concerns regarding the ongoing exchange of discovery, accusing Reads defense team of withholding evidence.

My tolerance about this ongoing development of discovery is an extraordinary problem to me, Brennan stated. This is the number one issue I anticipated and that I tried to prevent. He specifically highlighted a lack of discovery concerning the testimony of accident reconstructionist from the engineering firm ARCCA.

Defense attorney Alan Jackson denied any obstruction, asserting, There is nothing that we have not turned over thats in our possession. He countered Brennans accusations by suggesting the prosecutions concerns were primarily aimed at preventing ARCCA from testifying. The number one issue that Mr. Brennan has anticipated and is trying to prevent is ARCCA testifying. Lets just call it like it is, Jackson argued.

The ARCCA witnesses said that OKeefes injuries were not consistent with a vehicle strike in Reads first trial.

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Aidan Kearney, the blogger known as Turtleboy, appeared before the court. Prosecutor Brennan argued that Kearney should be sequestered or blocked from the courtroom during the trial, citing his status as a potential witness.

However, Kearneys attorney Tim Bradl indicated that if called to testify, his client would invoke his Fifth Amendment privilege. Ultimately, Judge Cannone ruled that Kearney would be allowed in the courtroom to report on the trial, except during testimony of witnesses hes accused of intimidating in a separate criminal case.

Luckily, Beverly Cannone today decided that (sequestration) wasnt necessary and we walked out of there with the win, Kearney said outside the courthouse.

Read said her attorney Alan Jackson will present the opening statement for the defense. Hes always open to input but its ultimately Alans and Alan we all trust, she said.

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In a decision revealed during the hearing, Judge Cannone ruled that the defense will be permitted to bring Reads Lexus to the Canton crime scene when the jury conducts its view of the location. However, several other outstanding issues still require the judges ruling.

Read is accused of striking OKeefe with her Lexus while drunk during a snowstorm.

Openings are scheduled to get underway on Tuesday.

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By Svea Herbst-Bayliss and Arsheeya Bajwa

(Reuters) -Hedge fund Elliott Investment Management has built a stake of more than $1.5 billion in Hewlett Packard Enterprise, a person familiar with the matter said on Tuesday.

Elliott, one of the world's biggest activist investors, now ranks among the information technology company's biggest investors and plans to engage with management, said the person who was not permitted to discuss the campaign publicly.

Details of what Elliott may be pushing HPE, which is valued at $20 billion, to do could not be immediately determined.

News of Elliott's campaign, first reported by Bloomberg, pushed HPE shares up nearly 5% to $14.98. Year-to-date, however, shares are down 30%, roughly four times the S&P 500 index's 8% decline.

Elliott has a long history in technology investments, having owned stakes in Dell Technologies and Salesforce, and the firm has often sat on tech companies' boards.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Elliott declined to comment.

The company, which makes servers used in data centers that churn large amounts of data for artificial intelligence tasks, is considered by analysts to be among the most at risk from tariffs rolled out by U.S. President Donald Trump. It has been facing margin pressures due to costly production.

HPE in March laid out a plan to cut about $350 million in costs by fiscal 2027, which included cutting the global workforce by 5%.

The company is in the process of acquiring Juniper Networks in an all-cash deal but has been sued by the U.S. Justice Department, which is seeking to block the transaction, arguing the deal would eliminate competition between the companies, raise prices and reduce innovation.

HPE CEO Antonio Neri signaled last month that the deal will still happen.

Elliott, which manages $70 billion in assets, has been pushing ahead with campaigns in the United States and abroad this year despite volatile trading conditions that have prompted a number of other companies and their corporate agitators to find common ground and settle. It is pushing for four board seats at Phillips 66 in one of the industry's most closely watched proxy fights. Elliott also owns a nearly 5% stake in BP and built a stake in Sumitomo Realty & Development.

One hallmark of Elliott's campaigns has been to work with boards to find new management at companies that have been underperforming. Since 2022, 14 CEOs have left their positions at companies in which Elliott owned a stake, a person familiar with the matter said.

(Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss in New York, Arsheeya Bajwa in Bengaluru; Editing by Leroy Leo, Tasim Zahid and Rod Nickel)
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. used newly released autism figures to insist the nation is facing a crisis and promised to ferret out the environmental toxins he believes are responsible.

The secretary, who in the past has repeated debunked claims that there is a link between vaccines and Autism Spectrum Disorder, said better diagnostics and awareness are responsible for only 25 percent of the increased rate, which is now 1 in 31 children.

Thats up from 1 in 150 for children born in 1992 and 1 in 36 for children born in 2012, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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One of the things that I think we need to move away from today is this ideology that the autism prevalence increases  the relentless increases  are simply artifacts of better diagnoses, better recognition or changing diagnostic criteria," Kennedy said during his first Washington press conference since becoming secretary.

Its clear that the rates are real," he added.

The CDCs report attributes the recent increase to better screening, appearing to undercut one of Kennedys core arguments.

Kennedys quest to explain the increased rates in autism has been a hallmark of his public life, a key component of his popularity among MAHA Moms and among his most controversial pursuits. He has highlighted refuted science to link vaccines to autism and offered, without evidence, theories about environmental toxins.

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As health secretary, he can aim the power of the federal government and its world-class research apparatus at understanding the root causes, he said Wednesday.

He promised to look at all possibilities agnostically and follow the science no matter what it says.

The focus on autism is part of Kennedys broader push to reorient the federal health department toward understanding and treating chronic disease rather than infectious disease.

To that end, Kennedy promised to have real-time data on autism rates. The new figures are based on data collected in 2022. Kennedy noted that the U.S. can provide real-time data on measles infections and other infectious diseases and it should do so with chronic diseases.

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We dont wait two years to react to a measles epidemic, he said.

Kennedy also claimed most autism cases are severe before citing a statistic from the report that said 25 percent of children with autism are nonverbal. HHS did not respond to a question as to whether the 25 percent statistic accounts for all severe cases.

Kennedy has promised his study of the factors causing the increase will produce at least some answers as early as September. He told reporters that Martin Kulldorff would play a role in reviewing grants for universities that want to take part in the study.

Kulldorff is an epidemiologist and former Harvard Medical School professor who says he was fired last year for refusing to comply with a Covid vaccine mandate. Kulldorff said hed previously contracted the disease and has a genetic condition that could have put him at risk. He gained prominence as the co-author, with now-NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, of an October 2020 open letter that argued against lockdown measures in favor of letting low-risk individuals build up herd immunity while older, sick people self-isolated.

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It was signed by thousands of public health experts worldwide but widely criticized by many others in the public health community.

Kennedy didn't mention vaccines during his remarks, but he included "medicines" among the list of "all the potential culprits" HHS would examine in its study, alongside mold, food additives and pollutants.

Kristyn Roth, the Autism Society of America's chief marketing officer, said she is cautiously optimistic following Kennedys speech.

The positive of this is that we need more research to better understand autism," she said. "The continued concern is that we need to trust that its going to be rooted in facts and science, and its going to include the collective experience of the autism community.

Roth said her group has reached out to Kennedy directly but received no communication about meeting with HHS about its autism work.


FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56)  Kentuckys Secretary of State, Michael Adams, R-Ky., is asking students to help the state revamp I Voted stickers again.

This is the second time in two years that Adams is sponsoring the contest. Its open to all Kentucky students from kindergarten to 12th grade.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

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The winning design will be given to voters in participating counties during the 2026 primary election.

Interested students can send their designs through the I Voted sticker contest on the Kentucky Secretary of State website until 5 p.m. EST on May 23.

To be considered, pictures must be original work and include the words I Voted. The finalists will be chosen by the Secretary of States Office to go on a ballot, which will be voted on during the 2025 Kentucky State Fair.

The top selected design will be printed on stickers and sent to interested county clerks to provide to voters in May 2026.

LATEST KENTUCKY LISTS AND RANKINGS:

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Middle schooler Lillian Bonczkiewicz won the contest in 2024 with a design featuring the American flag and a horse.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News.
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Two Belgian teenagers were arrested in Kenya for suspected ant smuggling.

The pair were found in possession of 5,000 ants, including several , a large East African ant which can sell for tens or hundreds of dollars each: Authorities valued the haul at $7,000.

Wildlife smuggling is a major industry, but while most of the focus is on animals  such as tortoises, pangolins, or rhinos  or parts thereof, sold for pets or for use in traditional Chinese medicine, the Kenyan Wildlife Service said there is a growing trend away from iconic large mammals to lesser-known yet ecologically critical species such as ants, which also have the advantage of being significantly easier to smuggle than the African elephant.
MN Senate GOP candidate Keri Heintzeman knocks on doors and distributes lawn signs in Brainerd before a candidate forum in Baxter. She won Tuesday's GOP primary. (Photo by Glen Stubbe for Minnesota Reformer)

Keri Heintzeman, the director of President Donald Trumps 2024 campaign in Minnesotas 8th Congressional District and the wife of state Rep. Josh Heintzeman, cruised to an easy victory in Tuesdays Republican primary for the the Senate District 6 special election.

Shell face Denise Slipy, who ran unopposed for the Democratic-Farmer-Labor nomination.

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Candidates are running to replace former state Sen. Justin Eichorn. The special election is April 29; the district comprises Grand Rapids and the Brainerd Lakes region.

In a statement released after her victory, Heintzeman said, The upcoming election is critical for restoring fiscal responsibility to our state government and ensuring accountability for the significant waste and fraud under the Walz administration.

In addition to her political work, Heintzeman is helping homeschool the familys six children.

Minnesota DFL Chair Richard Carlbom praised Slipy in a statement: As a reserve officer and former volunteer firefighter, Denise Slipy has dedicated herself to serving her community. Denise will fight to protect her constituents health care and be a champion for strong public schools because she knows that public service should be about improving peoples lives, not partisan politics.

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Slipy is an environmental health and safety professional and first responder for North Crow Wing County who calls herself a moderate Democrat. Shell face long odds against Heintzeman in the heavily Republican district; Crow Wing County voted for President Donald Trump over Kamala Harris by 31 percentage points.

But Democrats have often pulled off surprising special election victories during both of Donald Trumps presidential terms, boosted by motivated anti-Trump voters and independents who turned against Trump during his first term and appear to be doing so again.

Turnout was modest Tuesday  unofficial returns showed about 7,300 Republicans and 1,200 Democrats cast ballots.

The Reformer profiled the race recently.

Eichorn resigned following his arrest last month on federal charges of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.

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The wife of a Republican state lawmaker cruised to victory Tuesday night in a special primary election in Minnesotas 6th Senate District, where the seat was vacated after the arrest and resignation of GOP Sen. Justin Eichorn.

In the eight-candidate Republican field, Keri Heintzeman won about 47% of the vote. Retired Grand Rapids veterinarian John Howe was in second place with about 15% of the vote. Former state Republican Party chair and current Nisswa Mayor Jennifer Carnahan was in third place with about 11% of the vote.

Other Republican candidates were Steve Cotariu, a Merrifield veteran and businessman; Josh Gazelka, a Brainerd resident who is the son of former state Sen. Paul Gazelka; Doug Kern, a Brainerd business owner; and Angel Zierden, a former Breezy Point mayor.

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Heintzemans husband, Rep. Josh Heintzeman, R-Nisswa, represents House District 6B.

In the DFL primary, Denise Slipy, an environmental health and safety professional from Breezy Point, ran unopposed.

Slipy will face Keri Heintzeman in the April 29 special election. The outcome wont affect the balance of power in the Senate, where Democrats currently have a two-vote majority. District 6, which stretches from Brainerd and Baxter north to Grand Rapids, has shifted Republican but Democrats hope political winds might be shifting.

Eichorn resigned last month after he was charged with attempting to solicit a minor in what turned out to be an underage sex sting operation in Bloomington.

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ANNISTON  Kevin Qualls was unanimously appointed to the Parks, Recreation and Beautification Board.

Mr. Qualls is an Anniston resident, has been an active community member, and as a professional landscaper, will really add a lot to the department, Councilman Lewis Downing said.

Qualls expressed gratitude following the meeting.

It feels great to be able to serve the community in a productive way, he said. Im really looking forward to doing what I can to help with the parks and recreation department, and to build on all the great things theyve already done.

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During the public comment period, resident Ricky E. Bryant of S. Walnut Ave. raised concerns about traffic and safety in his neighborhood.

Bryant described excessive speeding by vehicles from a nearby junkyard, saying trucks often come flying down the hill in the residential area near his home and a nearby church. He also mentioned road damage that could indicate a developing sinkhole and noted a deteriorating fence bordering a public park.

Vice Mayor Ciara Smith, who presided over Tuesday nights City Council meeting, responded by promising a site visit.

Well have someone come out there and assess that area, look at the roads, and well also see about getting some signs put out there, she said.

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Smith noted the city has an ordinance governing traffic control measures and that the process would be followed.

Smith also promoted the upcoming ACASTEMICS STEM Camp, scheduled for April 26 from 1-4 p.m. at the Anniston City Meeting Center, encouraging families to get involved.

Theyre doing some really good work encouraging our young children to be in STEM fields, Smith said. Stay encouraged. There are a lot of changes happening in the city, and some of them may be unknown, but were headed in the right direction.

The council addressed the overruling of objections to the abatement of identified nuisances, including overgrown grass, debris and inoperable vehicles.

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Smith read a list of affected properties, and one resident asked for an additional week to clean up his property. The property owner coordinated directly with senior code enforcement officer Tana Bryant to work out a plan.

In unfinished business, the council delayed action on a retail liquor license for Noble Tobacco and Package LLC, located at 1801 A Noble Street.

If there is no motion to consider this alcohol license at this council meeting, we will address it at our next meeting, Smith said.

With no motion, the item was tabled.

In other business, the council:

 Awarded a $73,650 bid to APACAlabama for resurfacing Hanna Avenue.

 Approved a license for a Designer Handbag Bingo event.

 Approved of a certificate of public convenience and necessity for an existing taxicab business.
MIDDLETOWN, R.I. (WPRI)  A former Naval Undersea Warfare Center employee accused of threatening his former colleagues faced a judge Tuesday, according to acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.

Luis Sanchez Pardella, 38, of Newport, has been charged with transmitting a threat in interstate commerce.

Miron Bloom said Sanchez Pardella made numerous menacing, and at times threatening, phone calls to at least eight of his former colleagues between July 2022 and February 2023.

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In one instance, Miron Bloom said Sanchez Pardella left one of his colleagues a voicemail stating I will kill you and your wife when I see you on the street.

Sanchez Pardella is also accused of making a several threatening phone calls to the Portsmouth Police Department beginning in December 2022.

Miron Bloom said in those calls, Sanchez Pardella accused the police department of being corrupt, stated an officer and his wife will be going to jail, and claimed that the wife of one of your cops is dead  write down that she is dead.

Sanchez Pardella was released with GPS monitoring and ordered not to contact any of his victims.

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After the U.S. Supreme Court ordered the Trump administration to "facilitate" the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was deported to El Salvador due to an "administrative error," President Nayib Bukele said he has no plans to return him to the U.S.

"How can I return him to the United States? I smuggle him into the United States? Of course I'm not going to do it. The question is preposterous," Bukele said. "I don't have the power to return him to the United States. We're not very fond of releasing terrorists into our country."

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Abrego Garcia, 29, is a Salvadoran man who left his home country at 16 to escape gang violence. After arriving in the United States in 2011 without authorization, being arrested and following a court case that could have led to his deportation, Abrego Garcia was granted a protective order in 2019 to continue living in the U.S.

That changed on March 12 when he was arrested by immigration agents in the parking lot of an IKEA store near his home in Beltsville, Maryland, while his 5-year-old son with autism watched from the backseat of the car.

Abrego Garcia was subsequently deported to El Salvador along with other individuals suspected of being members of the Tren de Aragua and MS-13 gangs. He is currently being held at the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), a maximum-security prison located in Tecoluca, El Salvador, known for holding members of Latin America's most violent gangs.

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The Abrego Garcia case has sparked outrage among communities questioning the legality and ethics of the current administration's deportations, as well as the uncertain future of thousands of migrants authorized by the U.S. government to remain in the country.

What will happen to Kilmar Abrego Garcia? Here's what we know about the case.

What will happen to Kilmar Abrego Garcia?

The Trump administration admitted that Abrego Garcia's deportation was "an administrative error" but claims the Salvadoran is a member of the MS-13 gang, also known as Mara Salvatrucha. However, Trump officials have not presented evidence to support this accusation.

On April 4, U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis in Maryland ruled that the U.S. government acted unlawfully in deporting him and instructed the Trump administration to facilitate and effectuate" his return to the U.S.

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Government lawyers filed an emergency appeal with the Supreme Court, which ruled on April 10 that the Trump administration must "facilitate" the process of the Salvadoran's release and return to the U.S.

However, the high court remanded the case back to Xinis, asking for clarification on the term "effectuate," suggesting she had gone too far in dictating how Trump officials should handle foreign affairs.

"For its part, the Government should be prepared to share what it can concerning the steps it has taken and the prospect of further steps," the Supreme Court wrote in its opinion.

On April 11, Xinis amended the order to read, "DIRECT that [government] Defendants take all available steps to facilitate the return of Abrego Garcia to the United States as soon as possible."

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She also instructed the government to provide information on the Salvadoran national's location and custody status, what steps have been taken to facilitate his return, what additional steps they plan to take and when.

What do the Trump administration and Bukele say?

The following day, the Trump administration said in a federal court filing that while Abrego Garcia is "alive and safe" at the facility, he is being held "pursuant to the sovereign and internal authority of El Salvador."

But the Trump administration has refused to proceed with Abrego Garcia's return.

Reuters reported that lawyers for the current administration claim the high court's order to "facilitate" Abrego Garcia's return means they must remove any internal obstacles that would otherwise impede his ability to return and not help remove him from El Salvador.

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White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller spoke to reporters on Monday about the case and said the district court also cannot dictate how they handle their affairs with foreign countries and that since Abrego Garcia is a native of El Salvador, they cannot intervene once he leaves the U.S.

He has no lawful right to be here. He was issued a final order of removal from this country, and so it's up to El Salvador and to the government and the people of El Salvador what the fate of their own citizens is, Miller told reporters. We can't extradite citizens of foreign countries to our country over the objection of those countries.

This follows Bukeles recent statement during his visit to the White House on April 14, in which he refused to return Abrego Garcia to the U.S.

'We need answers now': Dems plan El Salvador trip seeking Kilmar Abrego Garcia release

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USA TODAY reporters Cybele Mayes-Osterman, Francesca Chambers, Michael Collins, Gabrielle Banks and Nick Penzenstadler contributed to this article.

Have story tips on Latino communities in the Valley? Reach La Voz reporter Paula Soria at psoriaaguilar@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Salvadoran immigrant wrongfully deported. What to know
Elliott Investment Management has amassed a stake exceeding $1.5bn in software and networking company Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), Bloomberg reported, citing sources.

Elliott intends to engage with the software and networking company to help enhance its value, the media outlet added.

In March 2025, the company announced plans to lay off about 5% of the workforce over the next 18 months. According to CNBC report, this percentage approximates 2,500 employees and will lead to $350m in gross savings by fiscal year 2027.

Elliott Investment Management is a long-term investor in Dell, a major competitor of HPE.

HPE, which separated from printer and PC-maker HP in 2015, has been led by CEO Antonio Neri for the past seven years.

The company has been active in acquisitions with its predecessor company snapping up Aruba Networks in 2015 for about $3bn, while HPE itself bought Nimble Storage in 2017 and supercomputer company Cray in 2019.

In January, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit to prevent HPE's proposed $14bn deal to acquire rival Juniper Networks.

HPE agreed to acquire networking gear maker Juniper Networks in an all-cash deal for $40 per share, valuing the latter at about $14bn, in January 2024.

Filed in the Northern District of California, the DOJs lawsuit argues that the merger would eliminate direct competition, drive up prices, stifle innovation, and limit choices for businesses and institutions, violating the Clayton Act.

In November 2023, HPE partnered with Nvidia to offer an enterprise computing solution for generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) applications.

"Elliott Investment Management acquires $1.5bn stake in HPE" was originally created and published by Verdict, a GlobalData owned brand.




Police in Indiana arrested a mother they say confronted a teacher while wearing a firearm and sent her an email containing death threats because the teacher had assigned her daughter a project, local Fox affiliate WXIN and local NBC affiliate WTHR report.

The project in question? One on different flags, including the Pride flag.

Carrie Rivers, 48, was charged with felony possession of a firearm on school property and misdemeanor harassment via written communication for the incident that took place in Decatur Township, near Indianapolis, at the Valley Mills Elementary School on April 9.

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According to court documents, Rivers told police she was upset about a project assigned to her daughter, a sixth-grade student at the school. Rivers said the assignment was about same-sex relationships, while the teacher told police it was about different flags, including the rainbow Pride flag. Rivers was also upset that the teacher had a same-sex relationship with a woman who was also a police officer.

When Rivers confronted the teacher, a silent alert system was activated, notifying the police about an irate parent at the school. Police arriving at the school noticed Rivers had a holstered firearm on her waist. Police said they removed the gun before interviewing her. Rivers claimed she had not realized the gun was on her person when told it was a felony to be on school property with a firearm.

Rivers said she had withdrawn her daughter earlier that day but returned to complain further about the incident. She also said she was surprised that police were there to confront her rather than the teacher.

Rivers left the school and returned home, where less than 30 minutes later she allegedly sent an email to the teacher.

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your a child predator and your only hope is your b**** a** wife that is a cop otherwise someone else woulda already delt with u for ur wrongs, Rivers allegedly wrote in the error-filled message to the teacher. U messed with the wrong family. I'll tell you that so please say ur prayers and kiss ur kids goodbye and goodnight u never know when god says its our time so always be prepared.

She also reportedly wrote, sick, nasty teacher, you should never tell precious innocent kids that its okay to be in a same sex relationship.

Police were again contacted, and Rivers was arrested on April 10.

We are committed to ensuring a safe learning environment for students and staff and are grateful for the quick action of the office staff and school police in handling the situation safely, Decatur Township schools said in a statement provided to the media.

Rivers is due in court Tuesday.
Authorities arrested a New Bedford man after he allegedly exposed himself to students on Wednesday.

38-year-old Joao A. Andrade was charged with two counts of open and gross lewdness.

According to Marion Police, officers responding to a call from the Tabor Academy just before noon were told that two students reported a kitchen worker flashed them while they were in the schools kitchen/dining hall area.

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Officials say the kitchen worker, identified as Andrade, was promptly arrested and received language translation assistance from the Mattapoisett and New Bedford Police Departments.

According to police, Andrade is employed by the schools contracted food service provider, Filk Independent School Dining.

In a statement, a spokesperson from Tabor Academy said Andrade is legally barred from the school.

We are grateful to the students who reported this behavior and commend them for their courage in coming forward, the spokesperson said. The safety, well-being, and dignity of our students are always our highest priorities. We took immediate action upon receiving the report and continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement in their ongoing investigation.

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The school also expressed gratitude to responding law enforcement entities.

We appreciate Tabor Academys prompt reporting and cooperation following this incident, Chief Richard Nighelli said. I would like to thank the Marion Police officers who used their extensive training and expertise to investigate quickly and bring this case to conclusion. Id also like to thank the New Bedford and Mattapoisett Police departments for providing translation assistance, aiding us in the investigation.

Andrade will likely be arraigned on Thursday, according to authorities.

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  Here are the top headlines from this morning.

Iowa lawmakers are looking to make it harder to raise state income taxes in the future.

Income tax increases may become more difficult with Iowa Senate passing constitutional amendment

The outcome of one race in North Sioux Citys special election has changed following a recount.

Race winner reversed in North Sioux City special election after recount

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Theres an update for anybody who drives on U.S. Highway 75 between Hinton and Merrill.

Highway 75 railroad crossing at Merrill reopens early amid construction

Check out these headlines and more in the video above.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports.
Question : Regarding the emergency rule suspending the religious exemption for the MMR vaccine for 120 days to prevent a measles outbreak in Hawaii, where can we read the full emergency rule ? Will K-12 students with religious exemptions who dont get the MMR vaccine be kept out of school ? If yes, starting when ? How will the Department of Health be able to enforce this emergency rule at schools where immunization rec ords are not up to date ? According to the list posted on the DOH website, some schools lack immunization records on more than 60 % of their students.

Answer : Weve received a flurry of follow-up questions since the state Department of Health sent a letter home to parents of K-12 students in public, private or charter schools April 2, urging vaccination against measles. The letter () stressed that Hawaii needs to increase its vaccination rate to ensure herd immunity  from the highly contagious disease and described a 120-day emergency rule that allows kids with religious exemptions to get the measles vaccine without losing their exemption for other vaccines. Heres the DOHs response to these questions :

The full emergency rule should be posted (by Wednesday ). It will be posted on DOHs page of rules : Office of Planning Policy and Program Development | Administrative Rules (at ).

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The goal of the emergency rule is to remove barriers to obtaining MMR vaccination for students with a religious exemption by allowing students currently with a religious exemption the opportunity to obtain MMR vaccination without losing their existing religious exemption for other vaccinations. Previously students with a religious exemption could lose the exemption if they decided to receive a vaccination, such as MMR (measles, mumps and rubella ).

Children with no MMR vaccination will be kept out of school based on HAR 11-157, If at any time, the director determines that there is the danger or presence of an outbreak or epidemic from any of the communicable diseases for which immunization is required under this chapter, the exemption from immunization against such disease shall not be recognized, and inadequately immunized students or children shall be excluded from school, postsecondary school, or child care facilities until the director has determined that the presence or danger of the outbreak or epidemic no longer exists.

In the past, students with religious exemption and no MMR vaccine have been excluded from school when they were exposed to a confirmed case, i.e. in the same classroom. If there is a measles exposure at a school, such as a student with a measles infection, we will work with the school to check vaccine records for exposed students (and staff ).  Anyone without evidence of immunity to measles, such as students with religious exemption who did not receive the MMR vaccination, will be excluded from school until they are past the window where they could have contracted measles.

Don 't miss out on what 's happening !

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As for immunization record-keeping at Hawaii schools, compliance does vary widely. Statewide the percentage of enrolled students whose immunization records were not up to date was about 21 % during the 2023-2024 school year, but the percentage was far higher at some individual schools, including at about 20 where it exceeded 60 %, according to the list posted on the DOH website, at. The category Total Not Up to Date  includes the percentage of enrolled students who have either religious exemptions, medical exemptions, have no immunization record on file or are missing immunizations.------------Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 2-200, Honolulu, HI 96813 ; call 808-529-4773 ; or email.------------
Energean Israel has announced the signing of a gas sale and purchase agreement (SPA) with Kesem Energy to supply gas to Kesem's upcoming power plant.

The plant is expected to be operational before the end of the decade, with Energean Israel committed to supplying approximately one billion cubic metres (bcm) annually from the mid-2030s.

The agreement represents significant revenues, with Energean Israel projecting more than $2bn (NIS7.37bn) from approximately 12.5bcm of contracted supply over the 17-year period.

Energean CEO Mathios Rigas said: We are pleased to announce the signing of another new contract, this time with Kesem, whose new planned power plant demonstrates the robust and growing long-term demand for natural gas in Israel. Energean has been a major underwriter of both energy security and transition in Israel and the broader region. We are delighted to continue to meet the needs of Israeli clients and society.

This contract also reflects our long-stated commitment to securing stable and reliable long-term cash flows. We have now secured around $20bn in contracted revenues over the next two decades.

Prior to the full commencement, Energean will supply limited gas quantities intermittently.

The contract includes provisions for floor pricing, take-or-pay terms and price indexation, which are not linked to Brent prices.

Energean has aligned this gas SPA with other long-term contracts in its portfolio.

Our strategy emphasises stability and resilience, evidenced by the fact that over 75% of our Group production contains floor pricing. This approach safeguards our operations and investments against global financial and commodity price volatility. It is and remains one of the core tenets of our strategy and investment thesis, Rigas added.

In a related development, Energean reached a $1.2bn final investment decision for the Katlan project in Israel in July last year.

This project, fully owned and operated by Energean, is scheduled to begin gas production in the first half of 2027.

The Israeli Government approved the Katlan development plan in December 2023. The initial phase is estimated to contain 229 million barrels of oil equivalent.

Discovered in 2022, the Katlan area will be developed in phases through a subsea tieback to the existing Energean Power floating storage and offloading unit.

"Energean Israel signs gas sale agreement with Kesem Energy for new power plant" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




The Los Angeles bar where Ron Jeremy allegedly assaulted multiple women, and which has been a defendant in several lawsuits, has reached a settlement with at least nine victims.

The Rainbow Bar & Grill on the Sunset Strip was accused of knowing the porn star was preying on its female patrons and turning a blind eye.

This is pretty much as close to closure as we can get for our victims, attorney Aaron Osten, who represents two of the women, told Rolling Stone. He said the settlement amounts would remain confidential.

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The Queens-born adult film star was charged in 2021 with 34 counts of sexual assault on more than 20 victims between the ages of 15 and 51, with the attacks dating back to 1996.

However, in 2023, he was ruled incompetent to stand trial because of incurable neurocognitive decline, from which hes unlikely to recover. He was released from a California mental facility later that year due to his declining health.

Jeremy, 72, is still the subject of a civil lawsuit from a victim who claims he drugged her at the Rainbow Bar and led her out before assaulting her at an apartment.

The negligence lawsuits against the bar, which is owned by parent company Rockin Horse, proceeded and the settlements were announced on Tuesday ahead of a pre-trial hearing.

There were so many victims out there. I dont think Rockin Horse had any argument to make that they didnt know this was going on at their establishment, Osten said.
A Long Island man with a long criminal history was sentenced Wednesday to 25 years in prison for robbing and stabbing the owner of a funeral home in Amityville nearly two years ago.

Jason Funderburke, 39, of Hempstead, was accused of violently attacking a victim for refusing to give him money, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said in a press release.

On the morning of Aug. 29, 2023, Funderburke and an accomplice approached the man in front of his business in Amityville, on the South Shore of Long Island, showed him a picture of his family and demanded money from him at knifepoint, prosecutors said.

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When the victim declined, Funderburke and the accomplice attacked him, stabbing him twice before stealing his wallet and phones.

The victim was transported to Good Samaritan University Hospital, where he was treated for stab wounds and internal bleeding.

Last month, a Suffolk County jury convicted Funderburke of first-degree robbery and related charges for his role in the violent attack.

On Wednesday, Judge Timothy P. Mazzei sentenced him to 25 years behind bars  a sentence that will ensure that defendant Funderburke is no longer able to hurt our residents, Tierney said, referring to him as a three-time convicted felon.

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Before this case, Funderburke had been convicted of multiple offenses, including three felonies, according to the DAs office.

He was found guilty of robbery and criminal possession of a controlled substance in 2004 and criminal sale of a controlled substance in 2007.
PINEVILLE, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  Around 700 soldiers from the Louisiana National Guards 256th Infantry Brigade Combat team were honored during a deployment ceremony in Lafayette, April 13.

The ceremony, held at the Cajundome Convention Center in Lafayette, was attended by several luminaries. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, Major General Thomas Friloux, Command Sergeant Major Clifford Ockman, and others graced the stage.

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Governor Landry, a former member of the 256th, thanked the soldiers, saying, I would like to express my gratitude to each and every one of the Soldiers who are seated here today. Major General Friloux added, I have all the confidence in the world that you will do an outstanding job on this deployment.

The Tiger Brigade is deploying in support of Operation Joint Guardian in Kosovo and Operation Enduring FreedomHorn of Africa to provide security and support to U.S. and partner organizations.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com.
Kevin Murray, president of the Utah State Fraternal Order of Police, speaks to reporters about efforts to gather signatures to overturn HB267 outside of the Salt Lake County Government Building on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (Kyle Dunphey/Utah News Dispatch)

A coalition of labor unions submitted 320,000 signatures in support of a referendum to overturn a controversial union bill on Wednesday. If their numbers are right, its the most signatures ever gathered for a referendum in Utah.

Its the latest in a monthslong saga related to HB267, a controversial law passed this legislative session that prohibits public unions from collective bargaining.

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Now, a group of 20 unions called the Protect Utah Workers coalition is one step closer to handing the issue over to voters through a ballot referendum, where citizens can vote on new laws, or repeal existing ones, during elections.

Forcing a referendum in Utah is no walk in the park. Per state code, a group has 30 days to gather signatures from 8% of Utah voters, including 8% of the voters in at least 15 of the states 29 Senate districts.

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That 8% figure roughly equates to 141,000 signatures. The announcement of 320,000 signatures Wednesday shatters that threshold, making the effort to overturn HB267 one of the most successful in state history.

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We are on track to become not only the most successful citizen-led referendum in Utah history, but one of the most successful in our nations history, said John Arthur, a sixth grade teacher at Meadowlark Elementary School in Salt Lake City. We didnt just meet our goal, we doubled it.

Arthur spoke on Wednesday during a media event outside the Salt Lake County Government building, after the coalition turned over boxes containing thousands of signature packets to County Clerk Lannie Chapmans office.

Its certainly the biggest referendum effort Ive ever seen, Chapman said after the media event. For reference, a successful tax reform referendum in 2020 gathered about 155,000 signatures.

Chapmans team now has 21 days to verify the packets and confirm the signatures come from registered voters who live in Salt Lake County  the same goes for county clerks around the state. Once verified, the voters name will be made publicly available, opening a 45-day window where the voter can choose to rescind their support for the referendum, if they choose.

Salt Lake County Clerk Lannie Chapman receives boxes of signatures gathered in support of a referendum to overturn HB267 at the Salt Lake County Government Building on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (Kyle Dunphey/Utah News Dispatch)

When the county clerks are done, the lieutenant governors office will then review the process. Assuming the coalition has complied with state code and gathered enough valid signatures, ballot language will be crafted for the 2026 General Election.

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Its likely some of the signatures will be deemed invalid  some people may have signed twice, arent registered to vote, gave an incorrect address, or have illegible handwriting.

Plus, groups like the Utah chapter of Americans for Prosperity, a conservative policy and advocacy organization, have launched their own campaign in support of HB267. Called Decline to Sign, the group will continue to advocate against the referendum during the 45-day window where voters can retract their signatures.

But with a cushion of almost 180,000 signatures, the coalition is feeling confident the fate of HB267 will be left to voters.

Politicians came after public workers and the public got to work, said Arthur. Now the people of Utah will get to decide what kind of state were going to be.

Let us know what you think...

Signed by Utah Gov. Spencer Cox in February, HB267 prevents public unions from collective bargaining, the process where unions meet with employers to negotiate a contract or terms of employment. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

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Come July, a teachers union will no longer be allowed to negotiate an employment contract with a school district. The same goes for firefighters, police officers, municipal workers and other public employees.

Lawmakers say the bill will protect taxpayer dollars while giving all public employees a voice, not just union members. If a teachers union only represents one third of the employees in a school district, it shouldnt be able to negotiate employment contracts on behalf of everyone, said the bill sponsors, Rep. Jordan Teuscher, R-South Jordan, and Senate Majority Leader Kirk Cullimore, R-Sandy.

Currently, just Salt Lake Citys police and fire departments, and a handful of the states school districts, have unions that engage in collective bargaining.

More than 99% of all the (public) unions that currently exist today do not do collective bargaining, said Cullimore earlier this year. All the services that they provide their members, the services they provide employees, all the education and training that they do, will still be available.

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But labor groups and members of the public were staunchly opposed to the bill, which narrowly passed out of the Legislature. That opposition morphed into the Protect Utah Workers coalition  among them are the Utah State Fraternal Order of Police, the Utah Education Association, Professional Firefighters of Utah, Teamsters Local 222, the Salt Lake Valley Law Enforcement Association, United Mine Workers and more.

To the sponsors and supporters of HB267, you are not representing the best interest of public employees or your constituents, said Kevin Murray, president of the Utah State Fraternal Order of Police. The groundswell of support weve seen during this signature gathering event makes one thing clear this community stands united, and we will be heard.

Connor Sikes, 22, an intern with the Granite Education Association, center, collects signatures as part of the Protect Utah Workers coalition at the University of Utah campus in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. The organizations behind the signature effort hope to place a referendum on Utah ballots that would undo controversial legislation restricting collective bargaining for public sector employees including teachers and first responders. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

Since the effort began on March 15, roughly 5,000 union members and volunteers have hit the streets, gathering signatures at coffee shops, grocery stores, museums, college campuses, congressional town halls, bus stops, tattoo parlors, TRAX stations, sporting events and protests. Over 30 days, they collected nearly 10,600 signatures each day.

This is what solidarity looks like, a coalition of 19 labor unions came together: firefighters, police officers, educators, nurses, miners, food workers, all in support of this. We knocked doors, hosted events, braved bad weather just to spread the word. And we could not have done it without everyone who stepped up, said Donnavan Minutes, a firefighter for Salt Lake City.

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Labour is poised to row back on plans to force landlords with listed buildings to install heat pumps and solar panels.

Ed Miliband, the energy secretary, will force homeowners to upgrade their properties to a minimum energy performance score of C by 2030 under energy performance certificate (EPC) reforms.

But landlords have warned that the requirements  on top of the stringent rules set to be introduced by the Renters Rights Bill  could push them out of the market altogether.

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In a written answer to a Parliamentary question, Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, minister of state in the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero, said the Government was now looking at exemptions for homes with special historic or architectural interest.

When the EPC policy was announced in Parliament last August, ministers said: We will require landlords to improve their properties to energy performance certificate band C by 2030.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, minister of state in the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), on Friday said: Current regulations include a number of exemptions to ensure minimal disruption to tenants and the number of homes available in the private rented sector, including exemptions for listed buildings where compliance would unacceptably alter the character or appearance of the existing building.

We are looking to ensure appropriate exemptions are in place for any new standards.

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Lord Truscott, who asked the question of the Government, and who is a landlord, said in the House of Lords in February that: More regulation of the private rented sector is welcome, but if the costs associated with it spirals, including the cost of new EPC regulations, investing in the private rented sector will simply no longer be viable.

Landlords have been required to have an EPC rating of E or above since 2018, unless they have already spent 3,500 improving the property, or the consent of neighbours would be needed for the changes.

Under current rules, some listed buildings do not need to have an EPC if the works recommended would alter the buildings character or appearance.

Net zero to cost up to 36bn

The impact of Ed Milibands net zero drive is expected to cost landlords, housing associations and taxpayers up to 36bn, according to Telegraph analysis.

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Improving eligible properties would cost more than 10,000 on average in 85pc of local authorities.

The Hon John Rous, who is landlord to the roughly 440 people living in Clovelly, told The Telegraph that he had spent more than 1m bringing the old listed properties of the town up to scratch.

The Government is consulting on a number of exemptions to the EPC requirements, including a spending cap of 15,000 and a 10-year exemption for those unable to meet the required standard initially. The consultation will close in May.

Megan Eighteen, president-elect of trade body ARLA Propertymark, said that bringing many properties, including Victorian terraced housing, up to an EPC C rating would be challenging and costly.

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She added: Even new builds, which are built to very high energy efficiency standard, are not meeting that top criteria. The assessment of that needs work.

Ms Eighteen said: We have to find a balance between honouring our architectural heritage and committing to environmental responsibility.

A spokesman for the National Residential Landlord Association (NRLA) said: We welcome Labours recognition of the unique challenges that listed buildings pose when it comes to meeting an EPC rating of C.

Whatever the outcome of the consultation, it is essential that any changes to minimum energy efficiency standards to private properties are both pragmatic and realistic. We will continue to work with the Government to ensure future regulations strike the correct balance.

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The Government is also encouraging households to install heat pumps in order to hit its net zero goals, and wants 600,000 installed each year by 2028.

A DESNZ spokesman said: We are moving ahead with plans to require private landlords to meet higher energy performance standards which will help deliver cheaper-to-heat homes.

This could lift up to half a million households out of fuel poverty by 2030, while also making renters hundreds of pounds better off.

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LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY)  Lafayette residents have until May 12 to sign up for the Lafayette Police Departments Citizens Academy. The Academy is a 12-week program that meets every Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and begins on June 4.

The Academy allows residents to tour rarely accessible areas of the Lafayette Police Department (LPD).

Information Officer Sgt. Robin Green is excited to discuss this with community members, introduce the LPD and showcase a side people rarely see.

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They get to come in and learn about all the different areas of the police department, and they get to ask questions they may have, and we can discuss it, Green added.

Lafayette Police highlights law for bystanders who interfere with law enforcement investigations

Green understands people want to know about certain decisions directly important to them.

When they leave here, we want them to have a better understanding of what we do and why we do it, and whatever they may have questions about, Green said.

Participants of the Citizens Academy will embark on a tour of the various departments within the LPD and discover firsthand how each department operates. Many people dont know there is a fitness room for officers inside the LPD.

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This was donated by Planet Fitness. They were renovating their gym and they donated all of this stuff to us, Green stated.

Lafayette Police report hundreds of citations in increased red-light enforcement effort

In addition, the LPD has several interview rooms with resources to help officers during interrogations, interviews and collecting evidence.

This is one of our interview rooms that we used to interview, and we have one on the other side and three additional ones just like this. We have the TV monitors where we can monitor the people we have on the inside, she explained.

Another area Green showcased was the Operating While Intoxicated or OWI processing area.

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Well have someone stand right here and we will read them their rights. Also, there is a camera right here so that we can check on the Nystagmus in their eyes. The Nystagmus is going to be the jerking of the eyes when they consume so much alcohol, Green said.

Sergeant Green believes the Academy provides valuable insights for the public and the LPD.

We have a better relationship. Im not saying were friends, but we have a better understanding, and we have a better relationship with these individuals, Green mentioned.

Applications can be obtained at the LPD or email pio@lafayettela.gov

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  After losing a case that fought for public access to a local lake, the State of Oregon and the City of Lake Oswego are insisting that they shouldnt have to pay plaintiffs legal fees.

Mark Kramer and Todd Prager contended that the city, state and Lake Oswego Corporation  a group of homeowners surrounding Oswego Lake  should cover their more than $1.3 million in legal fees. As first reported by the Lake Oswego Review, a KOIN 6 media partner, two parties challenged the request on Monday.

Oregon House votes to limit smartphones in statewide classroom culture-shift

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Oregons attorneys argued that the plaintiffs battle was not fought against the State nor was the victory they secured against the State, and the requested amount should either be denied or dismissed.

Lake Oswegos attorneys argued that the state abdicated its responsibility over issues of navigability and aligned itself with the Plaintiffs and therefore should be the only governmental body tasked with covering their legal fees.

Any public benefit that results from this case will be enjoyed overwhelmingly by non-residents of the City, but the tax burden of creating and maintaining access through Millennium Park, not to mention attendant costs for insurance, security and the like, will be borne by the Citys taxpayers, the Apr. 14 response reads.

Oregons Okta set to reopen with new team, months after announcing abrupt closure

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Kramer and Prager first filed their complaint against the city and the Oregon Department of State Lands in 2012, arguing that Oswego Lakes public access ban violated the states right and obligation to protect the publics use of the States navigable waterways or navigable portions of waterways.

Clackamas County court sided with them in 2022. Circuit Court Judge Kathie Steele ordered the city to stop enforcing the ban and remove any signs prohibiting access from Millennium Plaza Park in early March.

Court documents allege Kramer and Pragers legal team dedicated more than 2,900 hours to the battle spanning across 12 years. The statement also alleges the team paid more than $221,000 in litigation costs in that time.

Third person arrested in Hood River bike theft that led to deadly confrontation

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The requested amount reflects the substantial benefit to members of the general public, according to attorneys Nadia Dahab and David Sugerman.

The benefit that resulted to every member of the public is clear: Before the trial courts judgment, Oswego Lake was treated by the City and the State as a privately owned body of water subject to the control of the Lake Oswego Corporation, Dahab and Sugerman wrote in on March 17.

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HILL COUNTY, Texas (FOX 44)  Multiple agencies teamed up to contain a large fire at a barn in Hill County on Tuesday.

The Itasca Fire Department said it was working the fire in the 400 block of FM-66 in Itasca. Lots of fire apparatus shutted water down FM-66 and Highway 171.

The Covington VFD, Peoria VFD, Hillsboro FD, Whitebluff VFD, Whitebluff REHAB, Grandview FD, Hill County Sheriffs Office, and the Hill County Office of Emergency Management also responded to the scene.

(Courtesy: Itasca Fire Department) (Courtesy: Itasca Fire Department) (Courtesy: Hill County Emergency Management) (Courtesy: Hill County Emergency Management) (Courtesy: Itasca Fire Department)

According to Hill County Emergency Management, the fire was approximately 28,000 square feet. The smoke coming from the barn fire was visible from other counties.

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The fire was contained to the structure.

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MT. STERLING, Ohio (WCMH)  A large fire at a Pickaway County fertilizer company burned throughout the morning.

Just before 3 a.m. Wednesday, multiple units reported to a large industrial fire at the Nutrien AG Solutions facility on Five Points Pike, near State Route 56 in Mt. Sterling. The fire did not cause any injuries and was contained to the facility only.

Pickaway County Public Health announced at 2 p.m. the fire was extinguished.

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Big Lots stores in Ohio among U.S. locations reopening in May

Firefighters let the blaze burn for multiple hours as the safest way to handle the product, which was also advised by the manufacturer. Nutrien AG Solutions is a fertilizer company and a retail division for Nutrien LTD, the worlds largest crop inputs company.

The Scioto Township Fire Department said the biggest concern was water runoff draining into the local water table and that was successfully contained.

A large fire at the Nutrien AG Solutions fertilizer company in Pickaway County burns into the morning of April 16, 2025. (NBC4/El Richards) A large fire at the Nutrien AG Solutions fertilizer company in Pickaway County burns into the morning of April 16, 2025. (NBC4/El Richards) A large fire at the Nutrien AG Solutions fertilizer company in Pickaway County burns into the morning of April 16, 2025. (NBC4/El Richards) A large fire at the Nutrien AG Solutions fertilizer company in Pickaway County burns into the morning of April 16, 2025. (NBC4/El Richards) A large fire at the Nutrien AG Solutions fertilizer company in Pickaway County burns into the morning of April 16, 2025. (NBC4/El Richards)

Residents in the immediate area were advised to stay inside their homes but since the fire was put out, that advisory has been lifted. A cause of the fire has not yet been determined.

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OhioHealth Berger Hospital is available to assist residents with any health related questions.

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DENVER (KDVR)  The Larimer County sheriffs deputy who shot a man charged with trying to run over multiple deputies with a stolen patrol vehicle has been cleared of wrongdoing, the Eighth Judicial District Attorneys Office announced Wednesday.

The incident happened early in the morning on March 3, when deputies conducted a traffic stop at about 2:45 a.m. near Prospect Road and Riverside Avenue in Fort Collins, the Larimer County Sheriffs Office reported at the time. A woman was driving and got out of the vehicle at the deputys request, but the man  later identified by the DAs office as Matthew Martinez, 36, of Greeley  got into the drivers seat and left the scene.

Initial coverage: Man shot by deputy after fleeing traffic stop in Fort Collins

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Martinez eventually stopped after the vehicle crashed into a ditched when deputies performed a PIT maneuver, according to the DAs office letter on the shooting. Martinez then allegedly got out of the vehicle, produced a large knife and held it up in view of all the peace officers who were present on scene.

Martinez was in close proximity to multiple deputies at this time, who had parked their vehicles close by in order to prevent him from driving away, the letter states. The officers repeatedly ordered Martinez to drop the knife, but he refused and, while holding the knife, moved toward an unoccupied patrol vehicle on scene.

He then got into the vehicle, according to the DAs office, and rapidly reversed it toward two deputies. One of the deputies then fired several rounds from his rifle into the passenger area

of the car, hitting Martinez multiple times after the deputies were in fear of being injured or killed by the vehicle as it lurched backward.

Martinez is expected to survive his injuries, the DAs office said, and has been charged with the following counts:

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Attempted Extreme Indifference Murder (F2) (two counts)

Attempted Assault in the First Degree  Extreme Indifference (F4) (two counts)

Second Degree Motor Vehicle Theft (F4)

Menacing (F5) (eleven counts)

Vehicular Eluding (F5)

Attempted Vehicular Assault (F6) (two counts)

The DAs office in the letter states the deputy had a reasonable belief that using his firearm was necessary, and that nonviolent means would have been ineffective in preventing an imminent threat of injury to himself or the other deputy.

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The DAs office also stated the deputy was exempted from giving the verbal warning because there was simply not enough time to provide any clear warning, and it may have unduly placed him or other persons at risk of injury or death since Martinez was using the vehicle as a deadly weapon. The DAs office said since they found the deputy justified in his shooting of Martinez, they will not be filing any charges against him.

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Martinez has since been released from the hospital and booked into the Larimer County Jail, according to the sheriffs office. He was issued a $100,000 cash-only bond by the Larimer County Court.

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The EU is set to unveil a comprehensive plan to end its reliance on Russian oil and gas by 2027, following delays.

The European Commission will release the strategy next month, addressing the EU's commitment to quit Russian fossil fuels following Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, reported Reuters.

The initial plan was postponed due to uncertainties surrounding US President Donald Trump's proposed tariffs, which could impact EU-US energy trade discussions.

Despite reduced Russian pipeline gas deliveries since 2022, the EU increased imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) last year, with Russia accounting for 19% of the EU's total gas and LNG supply in 2024.

While the EU has not sanctioned Russian gas imports, Hungary has vowed to block energy sanctions that require unanimous EU approval, the report said.

Some governments are hesitant to sanction Russian LNG without securing alternative supplies.

The Commission has not specified the tools it will propose to expedite the Russian energy phase-out, though the Bruegel think tank suggests imposing tariffs on Russian gas imports.

The EU may increase LNG purchases from the US, which helped fill the Russian supply gap during the 2022 energy crisis.

The US was Europe's third-largest gas supplier last year after Russia and Norway.

However, businesses and EU diplomats have expressed concerns about potential vulnerabilities from relying on US gas, especially as Trump considers energy a trade negotiation tool.

Meanwhile, Russia's new energy strategy anticipates stable crude production and significant growth in natural gas production and exports over the next 25 years.

Russian pipeline gas exports to Europe have collapsed since the 2022 invasion, but crude exports continue globally.

Russia is aiming for natural gas exports of 293 billion cubic metres (bcm) by 2030, up from 146bcm in 2023, potentially reaching 438bcm by 2050.

The strategy also projects stable annual oil production of 540 million tonnes (mt) through 2050, slightly increasing from 531mt in 2023.

Oil exports are expected to remain stable at 235mt annually from 2030 to 2050.

However, US sanctions have hindered LNG deliveries from Russia's Arctic LNG-2 plant, which began production in December 2023.

Russia expects LNG exports to rise to 142bcm by 2030 from 45bcm in 2023, further increasing to 241bcm by 2050, according to its energy strategy.

Russias oil shipments through the Baltic Sea declined by around 10% in the last four months of 2024 due to the effects of EU sanctions.

"EU to unveil detailed plan to cut Russian oil and gas imports next month" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.
Sen. Blaise Ingoglia. (Photo by Christine Sexton/Florida Phoenix)

End-to-end encryption has made crimes against minors significantly harder to prosecute, legal experts say. Florida lawmakers plan to make social media companies cooperate with those investigations.

The Sen. Blaise Ingoglia-introduced SB 868 is headed to the Senate floor after passing the Rules Committee Wednesday. Social media companies offering encrypted messaging are in opposition to the bill while state attorneys came to Tallahassee hoping the Legislature would make their jobs easier.

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Encrypted messages, those designed only to be read by the sender and receiver, not the owners of the platform it was sent on, are designed to prevent hackers or others acting in bad faith from accessing personal messages.

Since end-to-end encryption has become widely-used, Ingoglia said, social media companies have told prosecutors they have no records to provide toward convicting nefarious actors in child pornography and drug trafficking cases.

As you know, there are extremely bad actors online targeting minors with sexually explicit and sexually suggestive materials, Ingoglia said. Encryption, used by social media companies, makes it more challenging if not impossible for law enforcement to retrieve the proof necessary to put these guys behind bars.

The bill would require social media companies to de-crypt messages if subpoenaed by a court and prohibit minors from using messages that are designed to disappear.

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Popular apps like Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook Messenger offer end-to-end encryption.

NetChoice, a tech association representing some of the largest social platforms, contest the bill, saying it is well intentioned but fundamentally undermines the core purpose of encryption.

Creating an encryption backdoor is fraught with privacy and security risks, NetChoice stated on its website.

Rep. Michelle Salzman is sponsor of the House version, HB 743, which must pass the Commerce Committee before receiving a floor vote.

I shared with all the social media companies that came to see me that we are going to put the safety of Floridians first and them second, and either they can get on board and look good or they can just stand there and fight and lose, Salzman told reporters Wednesday afternoon. Were not going to stop here. This bill will pass this year and were going to continue the momentum.

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This bill is another in lawmakers effort to protect minors online.

Minors younger than 14-years-old will be prohibited from using social media if the state successfully defends its 2024 law that also requires parental consent for 14-and-15-year-olds to use social media platforms with addictive features. NetChoice filed suit against the state on that 2024 law, HB 3.

So, just think if you were a parent, and you know that your child is being groomed by somebody online, and the child is now being pressured to give nude photos or create child pornography for the purpose of transmitting over, Ingoglia said.

And you went to a states attorney or a prosecutor and they tried and they gave the subpoena or the warrant and the social media came back and they said, Hey we have nothing.

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Ingoglia said he does not think social media companies are behaving in good faith.

Under any other section of law when it comes to prosecuting, somebody who destroys evidence will be put away, Ingoglia said. But social media companies though their algorithms and through their coding are allowed to destroy evidence all the time.

State Attorney Amira Fox, prosecuting in Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, and Lee counties, stood beside Salzman and Ingoglia Wednesday in hopes the bill will pass.

Social media platforms have made it very difficult for prosecutors, Fox said, adding that end-to-end encryption has attracted people who want to use it for illegal purposes.

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Fox said compared to the beginning of her career, social media have boosted the number of cases involving child predators.

We have spent years putting together task forces to tackle human trafficking and child abuse, and now were met with, when we send our subpoenas and our search warrants to these social media companies  we get back no material exists, because theyve encrypted it, Fox said during a news conference Wednseday afternoon at the Capitol.

Fox said the lawmakers bill is a great bill to stand up to this.

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HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH)  Promising an immediate 20% reduction of the average electricity bill, State Sen. John Fonfara (D) unveiled a sweeping piece of legislation on Wednesday that would reorient the states system of energy purchasing and remove the controversial public benefit charge from ratepayers bills.

Fonfara said the immediate savings would be realized with the removal of the public benefits charge off of ratepayers bills and the introduction of a new form of state borrowing, dubbed green bonds, to finance the programs currently funded by the charge.

CTs top utility regulator clears key vote in legislature

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This 20% reduction is accomplished by the removal of the public benefits charge from the electric bill and establishing the green bond to support each of the initiatives over three years, Fonfara said at a press conference held on Wednesday morning in advance of public hearing on the bill.

The public benefits charge was the focus of ratepayer anger last summer, when unusually high temperatures coincided with a spike in the charge caused primarily by costs associated with a long-term deal the state entered into to purchase energy from the Millstone Nuclear Power Station in Waterford.

Republicans in the legislature have long advocated for the public benefits charge to be taken off of ratepayers bills. Theyve argued that some of the programs funded by the charge  including long-term agreements to purchase renewable energy  place an unnecessary burden on ratepayers in a state where structural market forces already produce higher energy costs relative to the rest of the country.

State Rep. Vincent Candelora, the Republican leader in the state House, stood alongside Fonfara at Wednesdays press conference. One of Candeloras top deputies, State Rep. David Rutigliano, and several other key members of the House Republican caucus also attended the bipartisan press conference.

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Lets reduce the public benefits charge, State Rep. Joe Polletta, a Republican from Watertown, said. Theres no reason why people should be paying that every single month and sacrificing groceries, sacrificing food for family, sacrificing leisure.

Representatives of Eversource, the states largest utility, also offered favorable words on the bill  saying that the removal of the public benefits charge from electricity bills could yield as much as $55 in monthly savings for the average resident.

The second leg of savings outlined by Fonfara would be provided by a new, quasi-governmental entity tasked with purchasing energy for the state and serving as a strategic architect for other long-term energy goals. Fonfara said the current purchasing process for the energy used by the vast majority of residential customers is inefficient because it relies on a series of pre-scheduled bids that are not reactive to market conditions.

Its like buying stocks three times a year irrespective of whether the markets up or down, Fonfara said. You wouldnt do it.

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Instead, the bill Fonfara is pushing would task the new entity with seeking out deals on the open market that are more favorable than the ones produced by the current purchasing scheme.

Can state lawmakers reduce high electric rates?

The proposed legislation also includes a host of other changes, including the adoption of measures intended to incentivize energy conservation during times of peak electricity usage.

While several high-profile Republicans joined Fonfara on Wednesday to speak favorably about the legislation, a bipartisan duo of influential legislators also expressed some doubts that the bill could deliver on the promise to lower rates.

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State Sen. Ryan Fazio, the ranking Republican on the legislatures Energy and Technology Committee, said there were elements of the bill he supports, but he wasnt sure that the state would actually be able to achieve lower costs by altering its energy purchasing strategy in pursuit of better deals.

I spent a decade of my career trading commodities and it is an extremely difficult thing to beat the market, Fazio said.

State Sen. Norm Needleman, the Democratic co-chair of the Energy and Technology Committee, echoed his counterpart across the aisle, saying the purchasing proposal has a casino feel.

I dont necessarily think its gonna work out quite the way people are proposing it, Needleman added.

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As he works to answer questions about the effectiveness of the proposed energy bill, Fonfara will also have to contend with political conflicts emanating from both sides of the aisle in the State Senate.

On Tuesday, Republicans in the State Senate, including Fazio, walked out of the senate chambers in protest of a vote to re-confirm the states top utility regulator, Marissa Gillett, to another term on the job leading the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA).

The focus of the Republican protest was on a deal struck by the governors office to ensure Gilletts reconfirmation  a deal that News 8 is told will result in Fonfaras appointment to a six-figure job on PURAs board. State Sen. Steve Harding, the Republican State Senate leader, has repeatedly alleged corruption and called for official investigations of what Gov. Ned Lamont has described as an arrangement to secure the Gillett vote.

In February, Fonfara denied to News 8 that he ever conditioned his initial yes vote on Gillett for an offer of a job. On Tuesday, Fonfara recused himself from the final vote on Gillett.

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Gillett, Arconti approved by House to serve as PURA commissioners

Within his own caucus in the State Senate, long-simmering tensions between Fonfara and Needleman spilled into public view during the public hearing for the bill.

In a highly unusual exchange, Needleman objected to the fact that the bill was introduced in the committee co-chaired by Fonfara rather than the committee he chairs which deals primarily with energy-related issues. Fonfara co-chairs the Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee  a committee primarily associated with tax-writing but also responsible for the states bonding policies.

I hope this bill comes to our committee, where it belongs, Needleman said while Fonfara sat several seats to his right. This is not the way to solve anything nor is it procedurally right and the senator to my right knows that.

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The bill will have to be voted on favorably by the Finance Committee, and possibly others if Needleman has his way, before it can be considered by both chambers of the legislature.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com.
The president of a nonprofit established by Floridas first lady, Casey DeSantis, acknowledges that mistakes were made with its tax filings.

Hope Floridas president admitted to a House subcommittee that the nonprofit did not file required tax documents and other records.

The welfare assistance program has been under heavy scrutiny since receiving $10 million from a Medicaid settlement.

Lawmakers argue that the settlement money was used to oppose last years recreational marijuana bill.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has vehemently denied any wrongdoing.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
(Daria Nipot/Getty Images)

Lawmakers are eyeing tax credits to help businesses provide child care to attract and retain workers.

Both Minority Leader Trey Stewart (R-Aroostook) and Rep. Tavis Hasenfus (D-Readfield) presented proposals to the Taxation Committee on Wednesday to create income tax credits for employer-supported child care, though to slightly varying degrees.

Lack of affordable childcare affects parents ability to accept a job, maintain steady employment or reduce the number of hours they can work, Stewart said. This all impacts our economic growth as a state. We can do better on this.

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Stewarts legislation, LD 203, would authorize an annual credit of 50% of the amount spent on child care, or $3,000 per child, whichever is lower.

Hasenfus amended his legislation, LD 1555, to authorize the same amounts. However, Hasenfus version also has a per business cap of $36,000, which he said is intended to ensure the credit isnt used without end and to give a leg up to small businesses.

Small businesses in Maine also often struggle to match the larger businesses and the benefits that larger businesses are able to offer, Hasenfus said.

The bills also differ on how long unused credits could be carried over. Stewarts legislation permits carry over for up to 15 years, whereas Hasenfus version is only up to five years. Both bills stipulate that the credit would be subject to ongoing legislative review starting in 2030.

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While the bill sponsors and members of the public who testified in support of the bills said a lack of affordable and available childcare is an issue across the state, they particularly highlighted the challenges in rural areas.

According to a study from the Bipartisan Policy Center, since 2019, 81 licensed child care providers in Aroostook County have closed, while only 38 providers have opened, resulting in a net loss of care for at least 516 children. There are only 84 licensed providers across the County.

Just in March, a large child care facility in Presque Isle that served 71 children and 20 infants closed, with zero infant care available at any center nearby, said Readfield resident Krysta West, who is the deputy director of the Maine Forest industry Council.

West said members of the council commonly cite the lack of child care as a reason theyre unable to attract employees and some have therefore taken it upon themselves to fill that gap. For example, Maine Woods and its parent company, Seven Islands, has begun the process of setting up the Little Saplings child care center in Aroostook County.

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Making visions such as Little Saplings become a reality requires substantial investment, West said. Although theyve stepped up to invest in child care needs, public private partnerships and new policy solutions are desperately needed to ensure that these ventures remain viable.

States have taken varying approaches to address childcare affordability. New Mexico became the first state to offer free child care to families earning up to 400% of the federal poverty level, or about $124,000 for a family of four. Nearby Massachusetts and Rhode Island use the subsidy approach, providing financial assistance to help families pay for child care programs.

Some do not think tax credits are the solution.

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Maura Pillsbury, tax policy analyst for the progressive Maine Center for Economic Policy, argued the state should instead reinforce and build on what its already done  investments that lawmakers are also currently weighing whether to reverse at the request of the governor to help fill the budget deficit.

In 2021, Maine started providing $200 stipends per child care worker to help alleviate worker shortages during the height of the pandemic.

Those monthly stipends doubled as part of the $59 million allocation to overhaul child care in the last biennial budget, spearheaded by former Senate President Troy Jackson (D-Aroostook). The package also expanded eligibility for the Child Care Affordability Program, which provides child care subsidies. The Mills administration had initially opposed Jacksons plan because of an expectation that funding for it would be inadequate.

This year, Gov. Janet Mills suggested reversing those recent investments by cutting $30 million for child care worker stipends to bring them back to 2022 levels, among other funding reductions to services such as Head Start.

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Pillsbury requested lawmakers instead reject these cuts, arguing tax breaks for businesses are less efficient and equitable than providing direct subsidies.

If we want to attract and retain more people in a career that prepares our youngest residents for success and gives workers in every corner of our state the chance to stay in their jobs, we must do better by them, Pillsbury said.

Questions raised by Rep. Shelley Rudnicki (R-Fairfield) suggested she may be opposed to the tax credit approach but for different reasons. Why should I and other seniors like me, who had to pay for our own childcare and didnt get these credits, now have to pay? Rudnicki asked.

Referring to home day care options, Rudnicki also questioned whether it would be more effective to loosen child care regulations instead.

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Is this really the best way to go about this?

West argued it is. It gives employers flexibility to pursue the needs of their local community, she responded.

Rudnicki similarly suggested licensing changes during the hearing for a bill to increase the states child tax credit. That plan from Senate President Mattie Daughtry (D-Brunswick) to double the states child tax credit for children under six years old would be paid for by phasing out the benefit for the states highest earners.

During that hearing, child care providers argued that loosening restrictions would damage the quality of the care and that liability insurance would likely refuse to insure providers.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A class action lawsuit has been filed after attorneys say a physical therapist with the University of Kansas Health System unlawfully accessed files, including potentially nude clinical photographs, of more than 400 patients who had sought care at a separate Kansas hospital.

The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kansas, naming KU Health, Lawrence Memorial Hospital, and Epic Systems Corporation as the defendants. It highlights two women  identified as Jane Doe #1 and Jane Doe #2 throughout the suit  who received letters in 2023, notifying them of the breach.

A spokesperson for KU Health said that they were reviewing the lawsuit. LMH has since issued a response, disputing some of the claims.

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Blue Valley schools approve new policy after sex offender attends school dance

According to a Kansas City-based law firm that filed the lawsuit, Stueve Siegel Hanson LLP, the breach started in February 2021 and was not discovered until February 2023. The lawsuit claims the KU Health physical therapist used his employee credentials through Epics portal to look at the records of at least 425 patients of Plastic Surgery Specialists of Lawrence, an affiliate of LMH, despite having no connection to the patients care.

The lawsuit, which does not name the physical therapist in question, says he had no affiliation with the Lawrence hospital nor its clinic and had never provided treatment to any of the patients. It claims that the Epic portal permitted patient data sharing between unrelated health systems.

The violation of privacy suffered by these patients is nothing short of devastating, said Stueve Siegel Hanson Attorney Austin Moore said in a statement.

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Theres a serious problem in the healthcare industry when an unauthorized employee can access patient records at an unaffiliated medical facility with virtually no oversight. Were pursuing this case to advocate for stronger safeguards around patient data and to hold accountable those who failed to protect it.

According to the lawsuit, KU Health sent a letter in April 2023 to the victims, notifying them of the data breach and admitting that an employee had accessed their information outside of their job duties.

KU Health said in the letter that the employee had been terminated; however, according to the law firm, the letter at the time did not specify what clinical information was compromised, leaving many patients unaware of the full extent of what occurred.

Plaintiffs Doe #1 and Doe #2 both indicated in the lawsuit that they received care at LMH between 2021 and 2023, and as part of those procedures, pre-operative and post-operative photos of their nude bodies were gathered and made part of their medical files.

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New claims from alleged victims of KC tow company under criminal investigation

The law firm said its lawsuit asserts negligence claims, invasion of privacy, civil rights violations, and violations of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and the Stored Communications Act, among other claims made against KU Health, LMH and Epic.

The lawsuit requests a jury trial and asks the court to award compensatory and punitive damages to the plaintiffs.

In a statement Wednesday, KU Health said: The University of Kansas Hospital is one of three parties named in a lawsuit alleging violations of patient privacy. We take this seriously; patient privacy is very important to us. We just received the complaint, and our teams are reviewing it currently.

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LMH said Wednesday that it was also reviewing the lawsuit. It issued a longer statement the next day, acknowledging the 2023 breach but also pushing back against some assertions in the lawsuit.

LMH claims that the KU Health worker who accessed patient records was not a physical therapist but did not specify their exact position. The hospital also claimed that they were able to determine that there was no breach of LMH records for either of the two female plaintiffs in the lawsuit, Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2. LMH said that any patient who did not receive a letter from them in 2023 can rest assured their records were also not accessed.

LMH Health President and CEO Russ Johnson shared the following statement on Thursday:

Last year, nearly 180 million individuals across the country were affected by breaches of medical records. Many breaches are inadvertentfor example, accidently clicking on the wrong patient record when trying to access anotherwhereas others are intentional. At LMH Health, weve been fortunate in recent years to avoid major breaches of patient privacy, but like any other healthcare system, we arent completely immune. Recent media coverage on the topic provides an opportunity to help you understand all the ways in which we work to protect your privacyand what we do when a breach is discovered.

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Protecting patient privacy is a complex but high-priority endeavor for the entire healthcare industry, and that is certainly the case for us here at LMH Health. Respectfully notifying our patients in the event of such an incident is also of concern to LMH. Its just one more way in which we care for you and your family, the statement continued.

Read Johnsons full statement here.

FOX4 has also reached out to Epic for comment.

A court date has not yet been set in the case.

Read the full lawsuit here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
NEW YORK  The lawyer for accused Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermanns wife says a Netflix docuseries raises concerns and questions about how investigators determined her and her daughters hair were found on the victims bodies.

The DNA evidence in the case against Heuermann has taken center stage in an ongoing hearing in Suffolk County Court. On Tuesday, Asa Ellerup, Heuermanns estranged wife, and her daughter, Victoria Heuermann, watched from the gallery as the co-founder of the California lab that tested the hair samples took the stand.

After watching the Netflix series, which came out last week, it raises more concerns and questions about how this investigation was conducted and the procedures that were employed to extract that DNA, Ellerups lawyer, Bob Macedonio said.

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He was referring to Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer, a three-part Netflix series that aired allegations corrupt former Suffolk Police Chief James Burke compromised the investigation and blocked the FBIs involvement in the case.

The extraction, how they obtained Asas hair, Victorias hair, allegedly, in light of that last Netflix series that came out, it brings us more concerns and questions, Macedonio said. Its difficult because they are the people, the only people in that courtroom that their DNA is supposed to be on victims bodies.  So its very important for them to see and listen and hear it for themselves, instead of have somebody else tell them that it was your DNA. 

Heuermann, an architect who lived with his family in Massapequa Park on Long Island, is charged with killing the so-called Gilgo Four victims: Melissa Barthelemy, 24; Megan Waterman, 22; Amber Lynn Costello, 27; and Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 42.

Hes also charged with killing three more women  Jessica Taylor, 20; Sandra Costilla, 28; and Valerie Mack, 24. He has pleaded not guilty.

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On Tuesday, Richard Green, the co-founder of Astrea Forensics, the lab in California that did the nuclear DNA testing of the rootless hairs found at six of the seven crime scenes, took the stand. Astrea Forensics DNA analysis linked Heuermann, Ellerup, and their daughter Victoria to the hairs.

Heuermanns lawyers have asked a judge to disqualify much of the DNA evidence, saying that the new DNA methodology employed by prosecutors has never been tested in New York courts.

On Tuesday, Green went over his background and the labs history with assisting law enforcement agencies.

Assistant D.A. Nicholas Santomartino ask Green if the lab, which was founded in 2019 is accredited, and he said not currently, though it started the process last summer.

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Dr. Green explained they initiated the process to become accredited last summer. That process includes an internal on-site audit by the ANSI National Accreditation Board, which wont happen until winter 2026.

Weve been told they are backed up, Green said of the audit scheduling.

Green testified that Suffolk County has paid the lab $190,000 total, which includes $130,000 for the Gilgo Beach case.

Heuermanns defense lawyer is expected to cross-examine Green when the hearing continues Wednesday.

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A California law firm notified the city of Pocatello, Idaho, on Wednesday of its intention to file a federal wrongful death lawsuit on the behalf of the family of Victor Perez, a 17-year-old boy with intellectual disabilities who was shot multiple times by four police officers.

Perez, who was described by his family as nonverbal and autistic, was inside a fenced yard holding a kitchen knife on April 5 when a neighbor called police. Four officers arrived and lined up outside the fence, three with handguns and one holding what appeared to be a shotgun, and told him to drop the knife. As Perez started to stand up, they began shooting.

Perez underwent several surgeries, with doctors removing nine bullets and amputating his leg, before tests showed that he lacked brain activity. He was removed from life support on Saturday.

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They can't justify the shooting by saying he was a danger to anyone, lawyer Ben Nisenbaum told The Associated Press after his Oakland, California, law firm filed the administrative claim against the city of Pocatello. He wasn't going after anyone. The officers just lined up and opened fire.

The claim was filed on the behalf of Luis Alicea, Perez's grandfather and guardian; Wanda Alicea, his mother; Monica Perez, his sister; and Ana Vazquez, his aunt. Nisenbaum said they plan to name the city, police chief and the four officers when they filed the lawsuit in federal court.

The administrative claim, which is a precursor to the lawsuit, says the officers used excessive force against Perez and his family has "suffered emotional distress caused by witnessing the negligent conduct of the involved officers."

Pocatello City Clerk Konni Kendell did not immediately return messages seeking comment. Messages sent to Pocatello Police Chief Roger Schei seeking comment were not immediately returned.

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The names of the officers have not been released. They were placed on administrative leave, and decisions about whether charges should be filed will be made after an independent investigation by the Eastern Idaho Critical Incident Taskforce led by the Bannock County Sheriff's Office.

Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador said he has agreed to review the taskforce's findings to determine whether charges should be filed. He said he made that decision at the request of the county prosecuting attorney.

As with all such matters, the Office of the Attorney General will conduct a thorough and impartial review once the Eastern Idaho Critical Incident Taskforce completes its investigation, Labrador said in a news release. Given the seriousness of the matter and the ongoing investigation, our office will not be making further public comment at this time.

Nisenbaum said Perez' movements before the shooting were consistent with someone who was physically disabled, not some superman who would bound over the fence at them."

"We hope the investigation being conducted by the Idaho Attorney General recognizes the obvious: These officers criminally failed at their jobs and should be held to account for their actions in criminal court, he said.
Merrimack Town Manager Paul Micali doesnt want to lay off Santa or scrap Fourth of July fireworks this year, but he has to find $2 million somewhere.

His department heads are searching through the couch cushions of the towns default budget looking for any spare change  even a couple hundred dollars at a time  they can find after voters rejected the proposed budget for the second straight year.

With a default budget of $40.8 million in effect for the next fiscal year instead of the needs-based $42.9 million proposal Town Council asked voters to approve April 8, officials are considering laying off employees, drastically cutting back on fixing roads, and might have to cut some things near and dear to residents, Micali said.

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But he hopes to draw the line at the towns beloved holiday traditions.

To be honest with you, the Christmas parade and the Fourth of July parade are not things that were looking to cut. Were just looking at everything to see where we can come up with this $2 million difference, Micali said Tuesday afternoon.

He plans to unveil a modified, default-budget-conforming plan at the April 24 Town Council meeting. Micali said hes up to the task, but pinching pennies could lead to disappointed residents, no matter where they cut.

The residents spoke, so we will adhere to their wishes, he said. It could be staffing. It could be overtime. It could be miscellaneous things like the Master Plan, pushing that off for another year. Items like that. Were going to try our best to come up with as many cuts as we can and not affect things like the Christmas parade or Fourth of July parade.

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The Christmas parade only costs the town about $1,200, mostly for Santas travel expenses, Micali said at last weeks Town Council meeting. The Fourth of July costs about $40,000 with a pretty even split between the towns large parade and the cost of the fireworks show.

Merrimacks Fourth of July parade is one of the biggest in the state and is known for drawing a bevy of political candidates every year, along with marching bands, clowns, veterans, dozens of floats and thousands of participants. The town has also gone all-out in the past with road races, pancake breakfasts and patriotic concerts in Abbie Griffin Park.

We dont have the golden egg, so to speak, with a million-dollar cut, Micali said. So, were looking everywhere, even talking to department heads about $250 cuts. Any little bit helps.

From communications upgrades to travel by town officials, there are several places to find money, but the biggest chunk could come from putting off road maintenance, he said.

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Some projects can be put off. However, by pushing them down the road, it just costs more money, Micali said.

Merrimack pays about $1.4 million a year for fixes to the towns 181 miles of streets but that money only helps patch about three to five miles of pavement combined, he said.

And its pothole season. The town can be liable for damage to cars if it doesnt abide by its policy of filling potholes within 72 hours of one being reported.

By putting off scheduled road maintenance or reconstruction, problems compound if streets have to survive another winter of the dreaded freeze-thaw-freeze-thaw cycles.

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Turkey Hill Road is a prime example of a road thats looking to be paved this year, Micali said. Because we patched, we patched, we patched, now we have to do it. Its a double-edged sword.

dpierce@unionleader.com
Exxon Mobil Corporation XOM is moving closer to expanding its oil output in Guyana, as its fourth floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel, One Guyana, begins the installation process offshore. This initiative, confirmed by Guyanas maritime authority earlier this week, marks a significant step toward the rapid development of the countrys prolific Stabroek Block.

Built by SBM Offshore, the One Guyana FPSO has a production capacity of 250,000 barrels per day. It departed Singapore in mid-February and reached Guyanese waters this week. Once operational, the vessel is expected to help push the consortiums total production capacity to around 940,000 barrels per day by the end of 2025.

The FPSO will support the development of ExxonMobil's Yellowtail and Redtail fields, both located within the giant Stabroek Block. With over 11 billion barrels of recoverable resources discovered, the block has become one of the most significant offshore oil finds in recent history.

After recent upgrades, the company produced an average of 616,000 barrels per day from its three operational FPSOs in 2024. The addition of One Guyana marks a significant step toward boosting that number.

ExxonMobil confirmed the vessel's arrival in a recent statement, noting that production from the Yellowtail project is expected to commence later this year, once installation and well work are complete. According to shipping data, One Guyana is currently positioned near Exxons three active FPSOs in Guyanese waters.

With two more FPSOs scheduled to arrive over the next two years, ExxonMobil is signaling continued confidence in Guyana's role as a key pillar of its upstream growth strategy. The rapid deployment of infrastructure and consistent production ramp-ups suggest that the South American nation is poised to become a major player in global oil markets, with ExxonMobil at the helm.Top of Form

Bottom of Form

XOMs Zacks Rank & Key Picks

ExxonMobil currently carries a Zack Rank #4 (Sell).

Investors interested in the energy sector may look at some better-ranked stocks like Archrock Inc. AROC, Delek Logistics Partners, LP DKL and Kinder Morgan, Inc. KMI. While Archrock and Delek Logistics Partners presently sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) each, Kinder Morgan carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Archrock is an energy infrastructure company based in the United States with a focus on midstream natural gas compression. AROC provides natural gas contract compression services and generates stable fee-based revenues.
(WFRV)  The leader of a large armed drug trafficking organization in Wisconsin was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison last Friday.

According to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, 25-year-old Azjuan Meriwether of Milwaukee was sentenced on April 11 for drug and firearm offenses.

I just stabbed my boyfriend: Details released of Green Bay stabbing, woman officially charged with homicide

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Court records indicate that Meriwether led an organization responsible for distributing at least 32 kilograms of fentanyl, 375 grams of para-fluorofentanyl, as well as methamphetamine, cocaine, and other narcotics. The group also engaged in firearms trafficking, including the sale of ghost guns and machinegun-conversion devices, also known as switches.

Ghost guns are privately made firearms assembled from kits that lack serial numbers, making them difficult to trace. Meriwether admitted in a plea agreement to the illegal sale of 18 firearms and six switches.

He was arrested in Indiana after leading law enforcement on a two-hour high-speed chase, during which he drove the wrong way on a highway. Officers later recovered heroin, approximately 165 grams of methamphetamine, and 29 grams of cocaine from his vehicle.

The conduct at issue in this case presented layer upon layer of danger to the community, said Acting U.S. Attorney Frohling. This individual and his organization not only distributed dangerous, potentially lethal controlled substances but also further endangered others through the sale of switches and ghost guns.

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Authorities with the ATF, DEA, and Waukesha County Drug Task Force all praised the collaboration that led to Meriwethers arrest and conviction, crediting it with dismantling a criminal network that had operated across state lines.

Wisconsin man sentenced to 20 years for brutal 2022 attack on woman and children in Sturgeon Bay

This prosecution was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation, which uses a multi-agency approach to target top-level drug traffickers and criminal organizations.

Meriwethers sentence marks a significant victory for law enforcement efforts aimed at reducing violent crime and drug trafficking in Wisconsin communities.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Alarming new details about billionaire Elon Musk's attempts to buy the silence of the mother of yet another of his secret children are coming to light.

As the Wall Street Journal reports, 26-year-old conservative influencer Ashley St. Clair was offered $15 million, plus a monthly $100,000 in support, to keep her from publicizing the fact that she had birthed his child.

St. Clair ultimately turned down the offer and has since been on a public crusade, suing the billionaire for custody of the kid.

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Before things turned sour, their relationship was anything but conventional. According to the WSJ, Musk told her that he wanted to bring in other women to have more of their children faster.

"To reach legion-level before the apocalypse, we will need to use surrogates," he reportedly texted her.

The use of the word "legion" alone demonstrates Musk's baffling obsession with having as many children as possible. The term refers to a unit of several thousand men in the ancient Roman army (so it shouldn't come as a surprise that St. Clair named her son Romulus, after the founder and first king of Rome).

Musk also tried to get her to deliver the baby via caesarean section after publicly claiming that vaginal births limit brain size, a disputed theory. He even told her she should have as many as ten babies.

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However, St. Clair didn't agree to play by Musk's rules, deciding against a C-section.

She also notably refused to sign a gag order NDA.

"I dont want my son to feel like hes a secret," she told Musk's longtime fixer Jared Birchall in December, as quoted by the WSJ.

St. Clair isn't the only woman Musk has seemingly attempted to coerce into having children. According to the newspaper, he has personally reached out via DMs to other women, offering them to let them have his babies.

Musk has also had four young children with Shivon Zilis, an executive at his brain computer interface company Neuralink.

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In total, he has had 14 children we know about with four different women. Sources close to Musk told the WSJ that the real number could be significantly higher.

To Musk, it's allegedly part of an attempt to boost humanity's chances of survival. He has argued on many occasions that falling birth rates are our biggest existential threat, a belief that experts have long refuted.

But according to the billionaire, women play only an insignificant, childbearing role in that fight.

"In all of history, there has never been a competitive army composed of women," he texted St. Clair while canvassing for Trump in Pennsylvania, as quoted by the WSJ. "Not even once."

"Men are made for war," he added. "Real men, anyway."

More on the story: Elon Musk Reportedly Sends DMs on Twitter Offering Women the Chance to Have His Babies
CAIRO (Reuters) - The Lebanese army said on Wednesday it had detained a number of Palestinians and Lebanese suspected of involvement in two attacks from the country on Israel in March and did not mention Iran-backed Hezbollah, which has denied any role.

On March 28, Israel carried out its first major airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs in months, retaliating for an earlier rocket launch from Lebanon. Israel had struck southern Lebanon on March 22 after it said it intercepted rockets fired from across the border.

The Israeli attacks amounted to the most serious test of a shaky ceasefire deal agreed in November between Israel and Hezbollah.

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The Lebanese armed group has denied any involvement in the rocket firing.

In its statement, the Lebanese army did not mention Hezbollah. It said it conducted raids in several areas, detained a number of individuals and confiscated the equipment used in the two attacks.

The Israeli-Hezbollah conflict marked the deadliest spillover of the Gaza war, and a blistering Israeli offensive after months of cross-border exchanges of fire wiped out Hezbollah's top commanders, many of its fighters and much of its arsenal.

The truce in November halted the fighting and mandated that southern Lebanon be free of Hezbollah fighters and weapons, that Lebanese troops deploy to the area and that Israeli ground troops withdraw from the zone. Each side accuses the other of not entirely living up to those terms.

(Reporting by Jaidaa Taha; editing by Philippa Fletcher)
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said he hopes Iran-backed Hezbollah can be disarmed this year, following an Israeli military campaign that left the group decapitated and significantly weakened.

We hope that Hezbollahs weapons will be withdrawn or that their possession will be restricted to the state in 2025, and this is what I am striving for, the United States-backed president said during an interview with Al-Araby Al-Jadeed published on Tuesday.

Hezbollah was formed in the aftermath of the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in the early 1980s, and has grown to become a formidable rival political and military force within the country. The militants have long resisted calls to disarm.

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As for Hezbollah members, they are ultimately Lebanese, and if they want to join the army, they can undergo so-called absorption courses, Aoun said, adding that the group would not be allowed to function as a distinct unit within the Lebanese army.

He stressed however that the process could only be done through dialogue.

We want to withdraw Hezbollahs weapons, but we do not want to ignite a civil war, he said.

Experts say that while Hezbollah may prefer to retain its arms, Israels weakening of the group and its continued attacks on Lebanon along with pressure from the Lebanese government may make the once inconceivable prospect a reality.

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Until its conflict with Israel last year, Hezbollah was widely regarded as the most formidable non-state armed group in the Middle East, with tens of thousands of missiles and a well-trained military force.

Aoun said the government has yet to speak to Hezbollah about the matter, but that Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, a Shiite politician allied to the militant group, is in full agreement that the state should have a monopoly over arms. Berri served as the mediator between Hezbollah and the US in talks last year to reach a ceasefire with Israel.

An adviser to Berri did not reply to a CNN request for comment.

Aouns delicate position

Some experts say that while Aoun is facing pressure from both Israel and the United States to quickly disarm Hezbollah, he is nonetheless wary of the precarious situation he is in.

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Aoun said that he will strive to introduce a state monopoly over arms this year, but he did not actually commit to that timeframe, David Woods, Senior Lebanon Analyst at the International Crisis Group think tank, told CNN. (Aoun) fully understands the states delicate position vis-a-vis Hezbollah, which probably retains menacing military capacity despite its heavy losses during the war.

Last week, Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said in a news conference that the group is ready for dialogue with the Lebanese government on the countrys defense strategy. Woods said that offer means that Aouns proposal may not seem that confrontational.

Asked about the failure of previous attempts to discuss Hezbollahs weapons, Aoun said the regional situation had changed, pointing to Irans developing position toward allied militias in the region.

Hezbollah has relied on its armed struggle against Israel to burnish its popular support, Woods said. After last years disastrous war with Israel, it remains unclear if the party can find a replacement source of political legitimacy.

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Aoun said he has told US officials Israels presence in southern Lebanon gives Hezbollah a pretext to remain armed, urging the US to pressure Israel to withdraw.

Hezbollah fighters surround a trailer carrying the bodies of Hezbollah's former leader Hassan Nasrallah and his cousin and successor Hashem Safieddine, during a funeral procession at the Sports City Stadium in Beirut, Lebanon on February 23. - Hassan Ammar/AP

Smoke billows over Beirut's southern suburbs following Israeli strike, as seen from Baabda, Lebanon on March 28. - Mohamed Azakir/Reuters

Lebanons government has repeatedly condemned continued Israeli strikes on its territory, calling them a violation of its sovereignty and a breach of the US-brokered ceasefire agreement.

Asked whether it is possible for Lebanon to engage in normalization talks with Israel should the Israeli army withdraw, Aoun said that while anything is possible in politics, the circumstances on the ground dictate reality.

The Americans currently know that normalization or peace negotiations with Israel are impossible, and the key for us today is to establish long-term stability on the border, he said.

Israel-Hezbollah war not likely

Full-blown war between Israel and Hezbollah remains a possibility but is unlikely, he said, adding that Hezbollah has recently shown a sense of responsibility despite the heavy human losses it has suffered.

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Ultimately the possibility remains with the continuation of (Israeli) attacks, Aoun said. Hence, we always repeat: Let us negotiate with Hezbollah.

Hezbollahs disarmament could have a significant impact on regional dynamics. Just months ago, the group was seen as Irans most powerful regional proxy, engaging in tit-for-tat strikes with the Israeli army until an Israeli campaign killed many of its senior guard. The toppling of Hezbollah-ally Bashar al-Assad in neighboring Syria also weakened the group.

As Lebanon reels from an ongoing cross-border conflict with Israel and years of economic meltdown, Hezbollah may also face pressure from its own constituency to lay down its arms, Woods said. Disarming could remove obstacles for the delivery of post-war reconstruction aid, which many Hezbollah supporters desperately need.

The groups backer, Iran, may also use this as a negotiating tool in its nuclear talks with the Trump administration, trading its support for the group in negotiations, Woods added.

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Iran has engaged in talks with the US over its nuclear program. Delegations from both countries met in Oman last weekend, and are due to hold a second round of talks on Saturday.

CNNs Charbel Mallo contributed reporting.

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After extensive deliberation and public comment, the Leesburg City Commission rejected a proposed moratorium on residential rezonings and annexations in the city.

At Mondays meeting, commissioners voted 4-1 against the pause, with Commissioner Jay Connell casting the only vote for the moratorium.

The suspension would have stopped virtually all new residential land use projects that require a comprehensive plan amendment and rezoning until Jan.1, 2027  a period of over 20 months.

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City officials were considering the move because of a concern that Leesburg  in part due to its proximity to The Villages, the nations largest retirement community  was seeing an onslaught of residential development that was undermining the citys ability to generate other types of economic growth.

But Leesburg City Manager Al Minner recommended voting against the moratorium based on his offices assessment of the citys economic development efforts.

While there is a considerable amount of growth, I think that the feedback we have from folks that we work with, folks that we recruit with, and folks working with industry or commercial type of stuff, they look for movement and advancement of development issues, he said. Being opposed to growth is not one that helps us recruit more industry or more jobs to the city.

Minner argued that a suspension would set a bad precedent for developers working in Leesburg and end a misleading message to city residents opposed to residential growth.

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If youre in the development sector, youre going to be upset because you see an area for capital expansion and the natural economy to move forward, he said. And if youre an opponent of growth, you will walk out with the anticipation that growth is controlled and theres going to be time to do things. In reality, that doesnt happen.

But Connell asserted the pause would not stop growth in Leesburg. He noted that the city has plenty of undeveloped and already approved residential lots that would be outside the moratorium, and said the city would still issue permits for commercial annexation. I promote commercial development, he said. We need economic development, and we need more jobs. I dont know necessarily right now if we need more houses.

Lake County Commission Chair Leslie Campione spoke in favor of suspending annexations during the public comment period, pointing out how a pause would allow the city to prioritize more pressing issues, such as traffic and the protection of rural areas.

I think thats one of the big discussions wed like to have with the City of Leesburg, she said. To honor the countys land use map and not annex the rural protection areas and rural transition areas.

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Still, several local business owners and leaders spoke against the moratorium, claiming it could lead to economic stagnation and undermine growth that has benefited the area in recent years.

As an organization that represents local businesses and supports economic vitality, we want to respectfully express our concern about putting a blanket pause on residential growth, Sandi Moore, executive director of the Leesburg Chamber of Commerce, said. While we fully understand the importance of managing infrastructure, traffic and city services, we believe a full suspension may unintentionally slow Leesburgs long-term progress and put us at a disadvantage compared to neighboring communities that continue to grow and attract investment.

Leesburg resident Andy Price, who recently opened a business in the city, said Leesburg needs to grow to support businesses like his. Were not asking for unchecked development; what were asking for is the chance to grow, he said.

Several other counties in Central Florida have also weighed the benefits of development moratoriums in recent months, with Orange County voting to extend a pause on select development applications last October.

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The countys Zoning in Progress ordinance temporarily suspends applications for small and large-scale future land use map and text amendments, rezonings, and special exceptions until June 3, over 8 months after it was set to expire.

Have a tip about Central Florida development? Contact me at jwilkins@orlandosentinel.com or 407-754-4980. Follow GrowthSpotter on Facebook and LinkedIn.
ODESSA  Texas is growing. People are moving to the state in droves. Companies want to build their facilities here. Sustaining the growth will require nearly double the electricity the grid deploys today.

The states grid operator can meet the moment, Pablo Vegas, president and CEO of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, told a panel of lawmakers last week.

So long as politics don't interfere.

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I think the market as structured today is very well suited to support the growth trajectories that we're seeing, Vegas said. And it's not just the government support functions. It's the fact that we have a very light regulatory environment that enables businesses to put their capital to work here with reasonable restrictions and reasonable requirements.

Vegas comments were made as state lawmakers introduced a string of bills that would substantially alter the free trade and marginally regulated business environment that allow power generators and retailers to transact as they see fit, experts told The Texas Tribune.

Among those proposals are Senate Bills 388 and 819, sponsored by state Sens. Phil King, R-Weatherford, and Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, respectively.

[Renewable energy companies face little regulation in Texas. A state lawmaker wants to change that.]

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King said his bill is needed to bolster what he calls reliable energy generation. Kolhorst has said her bill reins in the renewable energy industry, calling for the Public Utility Commission, which regulates electricity and some water and wastewater, to set more stringent rules around renewable energy development that don't exist today.

Critics say the bills will interfere with a market that runs best when left alone.

Both bills have won approval from the Senate. For both bills to become law, they would need to be approved by the House and not be vetoed by Gov. Greg Abbott, who has called for an all of the above approach to energy.

When asked for comment, Kings office directed the Tribune to previous committee hearings discussing his bill.

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Kolkhorst, in a statement sent Wednesday, said her bill would not halt construction of wind and solar projects. Instead, it "merely places guardrails to ensure every inch of Texas is not covered," adding other states that have passed stricter wind and solar development controls kept building enough generation. Coastal areas where birds migrate, she said, are deserving of more protections.

"I have no doubt that with SB 819, Texas will be able to build the generation it needs to keep up with growth while also protecting Texas land, she said.

ERCOT did not specify which bills it was most concerned with. But the message to lawmakers was clear: Any significant change to the states energy policy would alter the grids ability to meet demand.

I do believe we've got a trajectory that's going to bring important energy onto the grid, Vegas said, referring to renewable energy and batteries. And as I've always said, we need to balance it with the thermal resources to ensure we can always deliver reliability regardless of what the weather is.

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Lawmakers on the House State Affairs committee, where Vegas made his comments, appeared receptive. One lawmaker said the state should not show favoritism to particular types of energy generators.

It sounds like we're going to need every electron brought to bear in our system that we can possibly find, whether it's from new generation, conservation or energy efficiency, or new distribution, said state Rep. Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas. We need all of it.

Natural gas, solar, wind and battery storage compete to supply power to the grid. Every five minutes, they tell ERCOT how much energy they can produce and how much it costs. Grid operators, by law, pick up cheaper energy first, which solar currently regularly supplies. Although the prices made solar competitive, gas still takes up almost half of all generation.

Some lawmakers want to change that trend. Kings bill would require half of the grids supply as of 2026 to be dispatchable, namely natural gas, nuclear and coal-fired energy. Batteries, which King said dont run constantly, were excluded. And for every megawatt of solar and wind, power generators must match it with a megawatt of natural gas if the state falls beneath the threshold set by King. They can purchase so-called dispatchable credits to comply if they can't. Its unclear who they would purchase the credits from.

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King has said that federal subsidies for renewable energy development have already distorted the market.

Doug Lewin, author of the Texas Energy and Power newsletter and decades-long expert on the issue, said the effort ties the growth of Texas to the natural gas industrys ability to expand its infrastructure.

The Senate is saying the Texas economy can only grow as fast as gas turbine availability, and that just seems insane, Lewin said.

Peter Hartley, an economist at Rice University, said a decades-fueled push for renewable energy, which he called unstable, is forcing lawmakers to make faster inroads for natural gas, which he called predictable.

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Now (legislators) have to turn around and subsidize some of the controllable stuff to make sure we got the ability to keep the system stable, Hartley said.

Its not the first time Texas policymakers and regulators have attempted to promote dispatchable energy infrastructure to offset the growth of renewables. In 2023, the utility commission explored a credit mechanism requiring anyone who sells power to consumers to pay generators for credits, which would be paid to nuclear, coal and gas generators to encourage construction for those types of plants.

Lawmakers rejected the plan. Instead, they created the Texas Energy Fund, a low-interest loan program companies could tap into and build their facilities  years away from operational.

Lewin said it is not up to lawmakers to correct the market. He noted incentives exist across multiple industries, not just renewable energy.

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It's an absurd thing for a state legislature to try to balance out all of the tax incentives, he said.

Joshua Rhoades, a research scientist at the University of Texas at Austin, said the bills would stifle the states ability to have the supply meet demand.

I think we'd be severely constrained in our ability to build dispatchable as they define it, he said. And that would constrain our ability to build renewables, which then would constrain our ability to meet even this adjusted load forecast.

Disclosure: Rice University and University of Texas at Austin have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

Tickets are on sale now for the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival, Texas breakout ideas and politics event happening Nov. 1315 in downtown Austin. Get tickets before May 1 and save big! TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase.
This story was originally published on BioPharma Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily BioPharma Dive newsletter.

Today, a brief rundown of news involving Eisai, Sarepta Therapeutics and Sandoz, as well as updates from Mural Oncology, Cyprumed and Spruce Bio that you may have missed.

After a long regulatory saga, Eisai and Biogen have secured European market authorization for their Alzheimers drug Leqembi. Regulators at the European Medicines Agency initially rejected Leqembi last summer, only to reverse course after the companies appealed. But the European Commission, which finalizes product clearances, asked the EMA to review new safety data, delaying Leqembis evaluation further. The EC later referred Leqembi to an appeals committee before making Tuesdays decision. Under the authorization, Leqembi is available for use in adults with mild dementia or cognitive impairment due to Alzheimers, and who have only one or no copies of a certain gene called APOE4. People with two copies of APOE4 are thought to be more likely to experience a side effect known as ARIA following Leqembi treatment.  Ned Pagliarulo

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The Food and Drug Administration has cleared Sarepta Therapeutics to begin dosing U.S. patients in a study testing a gene therapy its developing for a form of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy. Sarepta has several such programs in testing for different types of limb-girdle, led by a treatment for the 2E/R4 form that could produce Phase 3 results in the first half of this year. The latest program, SRP-9005, is for type 2C/R5, a severe form of limb-girdle that strikes in early childhood.  Ben Fidler

Generic drug manufacturer Sandoz has once again sued Amgen over intellectual property protecting Amgens blockbuster drug Enbrel from biosimilar competition. The federal lawsuit, filed in the Eastern District of Virginia, is on antitrust grounds, alleging Amgen engaged in anticompetitive practices when in 2004 it exclusively licensed a set of patents that originated with Roche. These patents currently bar biosimilar entry until 2029. The Food and Drug Administration granted approval to a Sandoz biosimilar called Erelzi in 2016, but it cant yet launch in the U.S. Sandoz is asking the court to award it lost profits from 2021 until the suits filing, which can be tripled under antitrust law, and block Amgens exclusive use of the patents. Sandoz former owner, Novartis, sought to have Amgens Enbrel patents invalidated, but lost in federal court.  Jonathan Gardner

Mural Oncology is exploring strategic alternatives after its experimental cancer treatment nemvaleukin alfa failed a second clinical study, the company said Tuesday. Data showed the drug did not reach its primary endpoint in a melanoma trial, less than one month after Mural halted another study in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. As part of its plan, Mural will cut its staff by 90%. The biotech originally began as a spinout of Irish drugmaker Alkermes in 2023, focusing on immuno-oncology.  Gwendolyn Wu

Merck & Co. has signed a non-exclusive license with Austrian drug delivery company Cyprumed for use of its oral peptide formulation technology. Under the terms of the deal, Cyprumed could receive up to $493 million in upfront payments and fees due on achievement of specific developmental and commercial goals. Merck will pay additional fees if it exercises its option for an exclusive license, and will be responsible for the research, development, manufacturing and commercialization of any drug that emerges from the collaboration. Cyprumed didnt disclose what areas of medicine the two companies will collaborate in.  Jonathan Gardner

California-based Spruce Biosciences is changing course, announcing Tuesday it will to pursue development of a new enzyme replacement treatment for Sanfilippo syndrome, an inherited neurodegenerative disease. The biotech acquired a drug candidate called tralesinidase alfa, which was originally developed by BioMarin Pharmaceutical and then Allievex, before the latter ceased operations. Spruce plans to submit an application for accelerated approval to the FDA in 2026. The companys new strategy comes four months after it discontinued development of its only drug, for a form of hyperplasia. Gwendolyn Wu
Folks, were in trouble. Our democracy is being dismantled. Authoritarianism is banging on our doors. I never imagined I would say those words. But its truly happening right in front of our eyes.

Autocrats use a playbook very similar to Project 2025. See if these tactics that can crumble democracy and lead to authoritarianism sound familiar:

 Divide and rule by creating and spreading mistrust and fear in our country. We see that all the time on social media.

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 The autocrat surrounds him/herself with loyalists, rather than independent and merit-based choices. Checks and balances on following the law and the constitution disappear.

 Government agencies are gutted and replaced by loyalists. The legislature and judiciary become powerless.

 Free speech is actively suppressed for any of us who disagree with said autocrat.

 Unfair blame is placed directly on minorities, immigrants, and outsiders for problems in our country. Even refugees who are here legally are being returned to their oppressive countries. The vast majority of immigrants who have been imprisoned in El Salvador have not been granted due process. They have been immediately deemed guilty. (Isnt it supposed to be innocent before proven guilty?)

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 Perhaps the scariest tactic to me is that people here are made to feel they are powerless to change things. We are not!

We must not bury our heads in the sand! Protest and march! Call our representative  daily! And whenever we have the chance to vote  do it! Every one of us must defend our democracy!

Connie Macomber

Pendleton
While U.S. issuers are still waiting for the approval of a spot Solana (SOL) exchange-traded fund (ETF), Canadian investors will be able to trade such funds on the Toronto Stock Exchange starting Wednesday.

Four asset managers are set to bring their product to the market, including Purpose, Evolve, CI and 3iQ, all of which will have staking abilities as well, according to a TD Cowen note shared by ETF analyst Eric Balchunas. Consensus 2025 takes place in Toronto May 14-16. Click here for tickets.

The funds were approved by the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) on Monday, according to the note.

Meanwhile, issuers in the U.S., including Grayscale, Franklin Templeton, 21Shares, Bitwise, VanEck and Fidelity, are still waiting for the green light from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to launch a spot Solana fund.

There are currently two ETFs tracking SOL futures trading on U.S. markets, the Volatility Shares Solana ETF (SOLZ) and the Volatility Shares 2X Solana ETF (SOLT), both of which have attracted a relatively small amount of assets, around $5 million for SOLZ and $10 million for SOLT.

The spot crypto ETFs, however, have seen immense success among investors, attracting multiple billions of dollars over the course of a year, with the bitcoin (BTC) ETFs becoming the most successful ETF launch in history.
To the editor: As Americans, we should all be outraged at President Trumps feigned helplessness in not arranging for Kilmar Abrego Garcias return from the El Salvador prison where he is mistakenly incarcerated ("Salvadoran president says he wont return man wrongly deported from U.S.," April 14). This unchecked power ratchets up the fear that our government can disappear anyone who displeases it in any way.

Bob Walter, Sierra Madre

..

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To the editor: Trumps claim that he has no power to force a sovereign country to return the wrongly deported Abrego Garcia to the United States is preposterous. All Trump would have to do is to threaten to withhold our foreign aid, and Abrego Garcia would be on a plane back to the U.S. in hours.

Gary Vogt, Menifee, Calif.

..

To the editor: There is no doubt that Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele would return Abrego Garcia if Trump asked him. But then the president of the United States would have to admit he and his administration made a mistake. Clearly that is too much to ask, so Abrego Garcia is left in an impossible situation. It would have been so simple to say, my bad, and bring the man home, but our cruel and depraved president is not capable of such behavior.

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Patricia Koch, Long Beach

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To the editor: It's sad because the resolution of this injustice was right there in front of everyone. President Bukele, welcome to your new temporary home, the Oval Office.

Joe Kevany, Mount Washington

..

To the editor: The government should at the very least support this mans family for the rest of their lives. Money will not make up for the loss of a husband and father but it will help their living circumstances. Money is the only language Trump understands.

Lorraine Knopf, Santa Monica

..

To the editor: Sixty-five years ago, when I was 13, my father told me to always stand up when you shake another man's hand. That's always been the first rule in business. Maybe these leaders advisers need to have a refresher course in etiquette?

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Scott Snyder, Orange County

..

To the editor: Am I the only one horrified by the administration's use of this Orwellian euphemism, "administrative error," to describe kidnapping and incarceration in a foreign gulag? I can understand this occurring in the former Soviet Union, in Nazi Germany or in today's China or North Korea. But here in America? The country with the Constitution and Bill of Rights? This cannot be happening here, can it?

Tom Brayton, Long Beach



This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Kristen Couch and her husband, Jacob, stopped in Tucson on a cross-country bus trip back home. They had just spent time in Los Angeles, and they were eager to get back to Alabama, family members said.

While they waited for the next bus, they decided to walk around downtown and see the city, according to the family.

They only made it a block to East Broadway Boulevard and South Sixth Avenue before a man wielding a machete attacked Jacob, 32, family said.

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Bystanders and police tried to help Jacob as he bled profusely until the Tucson Fire Department arrived and took him to Banner University Medical Center.

The couple didn't know the attacker, family said.

"Please say a prayer for our family. God knows we need it right now," Jacob Couch's brother Luke posted on Facebook shortly after news of the attack. "Life is so precious. Tell your family you love them every chance you get."

Jacob Couch

As of April 14, Jacob remained on life support, according to the family. They said they were told by the hospital that he was showing no signs of life.

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Tucson police confirmed there was an attack on April 5 at the southeast corner of Broadway Boulevard and Sixth Avenue. They have released little else, citing the active investigation.

Three days after the attack, police arrested Daniel Michael, 25. He was charged with two counts of aggravated assault.

Investigators found a hatchet and clothing that matched what was worn during the attack while conducting a search warrant on Michael's apartment, according to court records. Michael first denied to police that he had any involvement, but then said he'd been drinking heavily and couldn't remember anything, records show.

He then said he recalled believing Jacob was using drugs. Michael told police that when Jacob reached into his pants pocket, he pulled out a hatchet from his jacket and struck Jacob in the neck.

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Tucson police have not confirmed the name of the victim or Michael's involvement.

"The media obtained court documents and released a lot more details that we have not confirmed," Tucson police Officer Frank Magos said in an emailed statement to The Arizona Republic.

Michael was booked into the Pima County Jail on a $1 million bond.

The family set up a GoFundMe for travel and hospital costs, plus money for transporting Jacob home and a funeral if needed, according to Jacob's sister-in-law Erica Sims.

"Since they are so far away and were on their way home, they have no family with them," Sims said.

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Sims confirmed Jacob was in critical condition in the trauma intensive care unit at Banner University Medical Center in Tucson.

"Thank you for all of your help! We dont even know how to thank each of you properly," Sims said.

Almost $40,000 was raised as of April 15.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Machete attack in Tucson leaves Alabama husband fighting for his life
Apr. 15LIMA  A Lima man was facing the prospect of a jury trial on 12 sex charges involving a minor, but after a plea agreement reached between his attorney and prosecutors, Brevin Luna instead pleaded guilty to three of those charges Tuesday in Allen County Common Pleas Court.

Luna, 21, pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful sexual contact with a minor, both felonies of the second degree, and a second-degree felony charge of pandering sexual material involving a minor. The charges stemmed from incidents in late May 2024 invloving a girl who was 15 at the time, according to court records. This plea agreement eliminated eight other second-degree pandering sexual material charges as well as a second-degree felony of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material or performance.

While none of the charges mandate a prison sentence, potential minimum prison sentences of six to 18 months could be assessed for each fourth-degree felony, while the second-degree felony would carry a minimum prison sentence of two to eight years, which could rise up to 12 years for improper behavior while incarcerated.

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A suppression hearing in this case was held in August, with Luna's attorney Steve Chamberlain asserting that an interview Luna had with a detective at the Shawnee Township Police Department should not be admitted into evidence because Luna's rights were not properly explained to him. Judge Jeffrey Reed later overruled that motion.

As the hearing began, Chamberlain noted that his client may have difficulty understanding everything presented and may need additional explanation or time to confer with him.

"Although he is competent and tells me he understands [the charges], at certain points he might want to ask questions because he has a  well, he has a lower IQ, but he's also a very nervous person," Chamberlain said during the hearing.

During the hearing, Luna asked numerous questions of Reed and frequently requested clarification as he laid out the charges and their prospective penalties, including on his inability to own a firearm due to a felony conviction, what kind of treatment he could expect in prison and if he would be able to go through any subsequent probation in Montgomery County in order to be closer to his mother.

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"I just don't know the law very well, that's all," he said at one point.

Reed repeatedly asked Luna if he was certain he wanted to accept this arrangement and if he understood it correctly, making the decision of his own free will. Luna said that he wanted to accept the plea agreement in order to expedite his removal from the Allen County Jail, where he has been detained the past 11 months.

"You don't understand how these walls [expletive] with your head when you've been in there for so long," he said. "Eleven months really is a long time in county, but it feels like it's been, like, two years or three years."

Luna continued to lament his current situation, saying his life "sucks right now."

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"I wish I was never in this position, you know, with this type of situation in my life going on," he said. "I look like a deadbeat to my whole family."

Reed reiterated to Luna that he would have more time to be heard on these issues during his sentencing hearing, which is scheduled for 1 p.m. May 22.

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Apr. 15LIMA  A Lima man will spend 12 months in prison for reportedly injuring his girlfriend in a drunken car crash last summer.

Leroy M. Harris Jr., 44, appeared for a sentencing hearing in Allen County Common Pleas Court on Tuesday, weeks after the Lima man pleaded guilty to one count of vehicular assault, a fourth-degree felony, and one count of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a first-degree misdemeanor, for his role in a roll-over crash on Interstate 75 last June.

Harris suffered minor injuries, while his girlfriend fractured her back and collarbone.

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"Either one of you could have been killed," Judge Terri Kohlrieser told Harris, who pleaded for probation in lieu of prison so he could finish alcohol-abuse treatment and raise his five-year-old daughter.

"Then who would that five-year-old girl be left to if you two had died that night?"

Harris faced a maximum sentence of two years in prison and $6,500 in fines, though only one of the charges carried a mandatory 10-day jail term with no presumption of prison for either charge.

The state did not make a sentencing recommendation, but assistant Prosecutor Colleen Limerick presented photos of the crash, audio of the 9-1-1 call and Harris's lengthy criminal history.

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Limerick said Harris was on probation at the time of the crash and initially denied being the driver when asked by medics in the back of the ambulance.

His criminal history spans several decades including juvenile robbery convictions, repeat parole violations, two OVIs, 11 adult felony convictions, more than 20 misdemeanors and failed treatment at the WORTH Center, Limerick said.

Assistant Public Defender Megan McLean asked the court to consider probation, citing Harris's recent employment and entry into treatment for alcohol misuse through Coleman Health Services.

McLean suggested the crash is partially the fault of Harris's girlfriend, who allegedly took the wheel when she thought she saw a deer, based on her assessment of a victim statement to the defense team and a portion of a 9-1-1 call initiated by Harris's smartwatch in which Harris tells his girlfriend, "You did this! You took the wheel!"

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The woman sat in the courtroom behind Harris but declined to speak when asked if she wanted to provide a victim-impact statement, and could be seen crying at the conclusion of the hearing.

Harris told the court he has been sober for four months and was taking "baby steps" to improve his life after decades of "running the streets," but his extensive criminal history  dating back to when Harris was a 10-year-old boy in foster care  sealed his fate.

Kohlrieser sentenced Harris to 12 months in prison, 10 days in jail, two years of parole, a $1,000 fine and a five-year license suspension, with 74 days credit for time served in the Allen County Jail awaiting trial.

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The 2025 spring housing market is off to a slower than normal start for homebuilders. Thats what KB Homea giant homebuilder ranked No. 545 on the Fortune 1000told investors last month, echoing a similar sentiment shared by the even larger homebuilder Lennar earlier in the month.

Demand at the start of this springs selling season was more muted than what we have seen historically, despite a healthy level of traffic in our communities, wrote Jeffrey Mezger, CEO of KB Home, in their earnings report. Demand at the start of this springs selling season was more muted than what we have seen historically, despite a healthy level of traffic in our communities. In mid-February, we took steps to reposition our communities to offer the most compelling value, and buyers responded favorably to these adjustments.

Below are six big takeaways from KB Homes earnings.

1. KB Home made bigger affordability adjustments in some Sun Belt markets heading into spring 2025

When and where needed, giant publicly-traded homebuilders are making affordability adjustments to maintain home sales pace. Sometimes that means bigger incentives like mortgage rate buydowns. And other times it means outright price cuts.

Given market softness, KB Home had to do just that over the past quarter in some markets.

We thoughtfully and selectively adjusted pricing as needed on a community by community basis to stimulate demand and achieve a higher selling pace, KB Home Chief Operating Officer Rob McGibney told investors on the companys recent earnings call. While base price is the main motivator for our customers, we also provided mortgage related support to our buyers as needed.

McGibney added that: Consumers responded to these adjustments. We believe we have found the market.

In Q1 2025, KB Home reported an average sales price of $500,700. For the full 2025 fiscal year, the homebuilder told investors it expected its average sales price to fall between $480,000 and $495,000.

2. KB Home is seeing the greatest weakness in Florida

On KB Homes latest earnings call, COO McGibney pointed to Florida as the homebuilders softest-performing state in the first quarterprompting the company to cut net effective home prices to better align with local market conditions.
LOVELAND, Colo. (KDVR)  A local reforestation company is helping grow new trees that will eventually replace the ones burned in the Quarry Fire.

Were growing some ponderosa pine for Jeffco and some Douglas fir for Jeffco, specifically for the Quarry Fire, Katelynn Martinez, director of operations at OneCanopy, said.

Most trees grown for fire recovery projects are planted in the greenhouse about a year after a fire. Jefferson Countys trees were planted in the greenhouse three months after the Quarry Fire.

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Thousands of pounds of wildflower seeds air-dropped over Quarry Fire burn scar

The trees are now about five months old and are only a couple of inches tall. They are scheduled to be planted in heavily damaged areas of the Quarry Fire burn scar in September.

Theyre going to be getting seedlings in the ground a little over a year after fire, which is ideal for reforestation but almost never happens, so they are really ahead of the curve, Martinez said.

According to Martinez, Jefferson County planned ahead for natural disasters by collecting and storing seeds from their native plants and trees in 2023.

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Seeds can be kept in a dormant state for years or even decades. OneCanopys deep freezer contains millions of seeds, some of which date back to the 1970s.

Any plants that were planting post-burn, we want that seed to be coming from areas as close as possible to that burn, Martinez said.

She says the reforestation pipeline can be difficult to navigate for land managers if there isnt funding or seeds readily available.

Some good examples of that are like the Hayman burn scar down in southern Colorado. Were 20 years post-fire on that one, and we still dont have a lot of reforestation going on there, Martinez said.

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The hope is that the Quarry Fire burn scar can bounce back faster than usual because of the 2025 planting schedule.

There are places where nature is nature, but I think there are places that desperately need the industry like this to help jump start that process, OneCanopys Cam Reader said. Its going to hopefully be there for generations to see in the future as well.

The Douglas fir and ponderosa pine seedlings destined for the Quarry Fire area will be hiked into the burn scar and planted by hand.

We can do a lot of things here at the nursery to make sure that these seedlings are set up for the best life possible in the woods, but typically once they get planted they get left alone. Nobody is going out there to water them or maintain their care per se and thats because when we think of the life of a tree, nobody is going to be watering it in 50 years and so theyve got to really toughen up and figure out how to survive out there, Martinez said.

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While some will not survive, many will go on to reshape the forest for decades to come.

Seeing turkeys roaming around the Denver metro area? Heres why

We might not be able to sit under the shade of these trees, but the hope is the future generations will, and thats why we do what we do, Martinez said.

She encourages land managers to plan ahead before disaster strikes.

Each year that weve been in business we have increased more demand each year, which is a great problem to have as a business, but it speaks to the larger issue that as the climate continues to change and as we have these dense forests that are pre-disposed to wildfire, then the need for OneCanopy and other private and federal and state nurseries is just going to grow, Martinez said.

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In the last three years, they have grown about 1.5 million plants for areas ravaged by wildfire, beetles and erosion.

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DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  A group of Cedarville University students spent their spring break in Hawaii, with their minds set on providing a helping hand.

According to a press release, 14 students visited Maui over their break, where they helped residents in their efforts to rebuild after wildfires swept through the island nearly two years ago.

The students were led by retired Col. Gregory Thompson and Dr. Patrick Oliver, each of whom are criminal justice professors at Cedarville.

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The over 4,000 mile trip created an avenue of memories for the group.

There were so many providential connections from people here at Cedarville to Maui, said Thompson in the release. We were in awe of Gods faithfulness to answer so many prayers for this trip every step of the way.

Thompsons connection to the Hawaiian islands runs deep, as he spent six years on the island of Oahu during his time as a JAG officer in the U.S. Air Force. He joined the faculty at Cedarville only two years ago, so his time in Hawaii is relatively recent.

Lila Brown, an early education major, and her family met Thompson during a Getting Started Weekend last year. Brown was an incoming freshman with eyes set on Cedarville University, her fathers alma mater.

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Her familys home and church were devastated by the fires, causing them to move several times in less than two years. Her involvement with the group ultimately served to ground them and make the purpose of their work even more tangible.

It was especially meaningful because my family was so deeply impacted by the fire, Brown said. I was glad to help prepare the team for what they were about to witness.

The team partnered with eight churches in the area and collectively they helped clear fireweed, rebuild homes, run a Vacation Bible School and volunteered with repairs and construction on damaged homes.

Meanwhile, another tie between the islands and Cedarville is Mattaniah Edwards, a sophomore criminal justice major, who was born in Hawaii.

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A London man has been arrested on multiple charges involving the sexual abuse of a child under 12 years old.

Andrew Hedrick, 39, was taken into custody Friday night in Georgetown following an investigation led by the Laurel County Sheriffs Office.

Hedrick is charged with first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy, and first-degree sexual abuse involving a minor victim. Authorities say that the child had been sexually abused for years.

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Laurel County Sheriff John Root reported that the arrest followed an intensive investigation by Detective Taylor McDaniel, who secured the arrest warrant based on the evidence gathered. Investigators tracked Hedricks location using GPS on a tractor trailer he was operating. He was first spotted on Interstate 75 southbound, near Berea, before abruptly turning northbound.

With assistance from the Kentucky State Police, Scott County Sheriffs Office, and Georgetown Police Department, officers located and arrested Hedrick near a business off I-75 in Georgetown at approximately 10:38 p.m. Friday. He was then lodged in the Laurel County Correctional Center.

Also assisting in the case were Laurel County deputies, Bailiff Adam Napier, Bailiff Zach Ellison, and Public Affairs Deputy Gilbert Acciardo, as well as DCBS officials.

With a not guilty plea entered on his behalf at arraignment, Hedrick is now scheduled to appear in Laurel District Court for a preliminary hearing next Tuesday.
LUDOWICI, Ga. (WSAV)  Long County officials invited the public to learn more about recent budget cuts as they navigate millions in debt and fallout form a large-scale theft investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI).

The Long County Manager and Commissioners held an informal workshop Tuesday to discuss their efforts to keep the county afloat, and they invited the public to attend.

Were just trying to find out some more answers because were not getting any answers about what happened to all the money, Rodney Roberts, a Long County resident who attended the workshop, said.

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The official tally for Long Countys outstanding debt is now at $1.8 million.

Some of the efforts to reduce that debt is already in action.

We had to reduce positions, and we have to do other cost cutting measures, newly appointed Long County Manager Chuck Scragg, said.

When asked about whether the county would have to cut more positions, he said, The fact is we dont know. Were going to reassess at probably our next May 6 monthly meeting to see whether or not we have to recommend that. Its terrible.

After concerns about making payroll for remaining county employees, Scragg said they have enough for this cycle. However, to make sure the county will be able to keep up with the next few cycles, he said theyll have to make some tough decisions.

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Were doing as much as we can to look forward and say will we be able to cut taxes or will they have to stay the same, Scragg said.

Residents told WSAV they were concerned that taxes could also go up.



Some of these people, they live only on social security. They cant afford to just keep paying the higher taxes, Debora Roberts, another attendee said.

Tuesdays meeting comes just weeks after the arrest of Long County Commissioner Robert Parker, who was investigated by the GBI for theft of government money. Parker has since been released on bond along with Tony Pee Wee Edward Fowler owner of Fowler Services.

Fowler is also a former deputy with the Long County Sheriffs Office and is the son of Long County Tax Commissioner Becky Fowler.

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What were trying to do is re-establish some of that trust that has been lost, Scragg said.

The Board of Commissioners will have a formal meeting on May 6.



Hopefully within the next couple of months into the end of the year, well be in a better position for the citizens of Long County, but, most importantly, for the employees that have lost their jobs, Teresa Johnson, a long county resident, said.

One of the proposed items for the May 6 agenda involves petitioning Governor Brian Kemp to remove Parker from his position officially, who despite missing several Commissioner meetings, has yet to step down.

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DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  A longtime local public service worker is hanging up her hat after 45 years.

Greene County First Assistant Prosecutor Suzanne Schmidt was hired as an assistant prosecuting attorney by Prosecutor  and now Ohio governor  Mike DeWine in 1980.

Schmidt initially worked on cases for the Child Support Enforcement Agency. She then spent several years in the Criminal Division prosecuting felony cases before shifting to the Civil Division, where she represented Greene County townships.

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Then-Prosecuting Attorney Bill Schenck brought her back to the Criminal Division as first assistant prosecuting attorney, a role she held for more than 20 years.

As first assistant prosecutor, she worked with law enforcement from across the county while also liaising between the prosecutors office and law enforcement from across the state and country.

Suzanne Schmidt has been the gold standard for professionalism in prosecution and in the legal profession her entire career, said Prosecuting Attorney David D. Hayes in a release announcing her retirement. She has been the driving force behind virtually every high-profile criminal case that this County has prosecuted over the past 20 years.

Greene County is a safer place because of her hard work.

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TUPELO  On Monday afternoon a little before 4 oclock, Felicia Crump said a prayer.

Her husband, Robert, was on his way home from work, where the two, married nearly 31 years, would watch WTVAs news. It was the day the winner of the United Way of Northeast Mississippis 50K Giveaway was to be announced, and Crump had bought a single $100 ticket.

In my prayer, I was talking to God about the good things I wanted to do with the money if we were to win it, Crump said. I was telling Robert about it. We meant to watch the announcement on WTVA, but we forgot to turn the TV on.

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During their conversation, Robert Crumps cell phone rang. It was his sister, but he did not answer. Then she called again.

Robert took the call and I heard him saying, Oh, my goodness, Felicia Crump said. I thought something had happened to our adult son.

But it was good news being delivered.

My sister said, Yall watching TV? They just said Felicia Crump from Baldwyn has won $50,000.

The couple went back later and watched the announcement.

It was the most humbling experience I have ever had, Crump said. I am just so thankful to God for his mercy and his grace.

Supporting the United Way is nothing new for the Crumps, and this is not the first year they have purchased a ticket for the 50K Giveaway, which since 2019 has been one of the organizations larger fundraisers.

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Its such an amazing part of the community, Crump said. We support the 50K Giveaway each year. This is the first time we have won anything, but we feel like we win every year just knowing we help support such a worthwhile cause.

She first became aware of United Way when she was a Fair Share giver  someone who donates an hours worth of pay to United Way each month  when employed by North Mississippi Medical Center. She was so impressed by the work done in the community, she simply continued to give.

She subscribes to the joy theory of giving  she believes in giving to Jesus, others and yourself, in that order. Its exactly how she plans to use the money her family has won.

As Crump and her husband received the oversized check Tuesday morning from Patti Parker, president of United Way, Parker thanked the couple for buying a ticket.

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And thank you for being a longtime donor, she said.

Since 1961, United Way of Northeast Mississippi has fostered a spirit of volunteerism and supported communities through funded partners. It supports eight counties and serves more than 125,000 people in those counties.

The organization invests in programs and agencies who work to help solve community problems, which has led to the creation of the Early Childhood Coalition, the Hunger Coalition of Northeast Mississippi, Volunteer Northeast Mississippi and the Northeast Mississippi Health Alliance.

Our 50K Giveaway has been a fun way to get the community involved, said Ethan Benefield, marketing and communications director of United Way. The five-week event, culminating in the grand prize, has offered something each week to keep it interesting.

Weekly prizes included a $500 Delta Blue Jeans gift card, a $600 Eat With Us gift card, a $500 cash prize and a 2.5 carat diamond ring. Winners of the weekly prizes this year included B.B Hosch, Sandy Byrd, Cindy Black, Carol Elliott and Tracy May.
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A committee of unsecured Forever 21 creditors has objected to a bankruptcy plan by its debtors and is investigating what it describes as a transfer of the fast-fashion brands intellectual property assets, according to documents filed last week with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.

The prospects of a going concern sale are grim given that the Debtors appear to have sold their valuable Forever 21 intellectual property assets to a subsidiary of Authentic Brands Group, an affiliate of the Debtors majority equity holders, prior to the Petition Date, the committee wrote in the filing.

The committee is alluding to a statement by Stephen Coulombe, co-chief restructuring officer of F21 OpCo, the entity that filed under Chapter 11 on March 16 and is essentially Forever 21s U.S. operating company.

Coulombe doesnt provide details about any transaction that may have shifted ownership, but goes on to say that, without the valuable intellectual property, the retailer is unlikely to be able to continue as a going concern.

An Authentic spokesperson confirmed that, at some point after early 2020, Authentic took 100% ownership of Forever 21s IP, after sharing it for a time with mall REITs Simon Property Group and Brookfield. The current bankruptcy process doesnt affect the fact that the IP will continue to be solely owned by Authentic, the spokesperson also said.

A consortium of the three companies, dubbed Sparc Group, acquired Forever 21 during its last bankruptcy in 2020. That included all of Forever 21s trademarks, intellectual property and intellectual property licenses, according to court documents from February that year.

Later in 2020, Sparc became a 50/50 joint venture between Simon Property Group and Authentic tasked with the operations of various brands; Sparc had no stakes in their IP. In 2021, Brookfield said it had sold off its interest in Forever 21.

Sparc Group has shifted both its ownership and its portfolio more than once before getting folded into Catalyst Brands, a combination with J.C. Penney, earlier this year. Authentic is also an investor in Catalyst.

Over the past few years, Sparc collected a series of brands via their respective bankruptcies. They include Aeropostale, Brooks Brothers, Eddie Bauer, Lucky Brand and Nautica, and are now under Catalysts umbrella.
LORIS, S.C. (WBTW)  More than a week after two people died in an Horry County house fire, friends and loved ones are still waiting to learn more about what happened.

Jennifer Mishoe, 54, and a man believed to be her husband, lived in the home at Armview Road in Loris and died as a result of the April 7 fire, which was labeled suspicious in an Horry County police report that also suggested that the incident might have involved murder and nonnegligent manslaughter.

Horry County authorities and the Loris and Tabor City, North Carolina, fire departments all responded to the fire.

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Mishoe died at the hospital after calling 911 from inside the home and screaming, Help me, multiple times before the line went silent, the report said. Gene Mishoe, her husband, is also believed to have died in the fire, but the Horry County Coroners Office is waiting on the results of an autopsy and DNA testing to identify the remains.

Neighbors said they heard a loud boom the night of the fire and couldnt believe how big it became. Authorities found Jennifer Mishoe at the bottom of the front steps of the home. Her funeral was on Monday.

News13 has tried to contact several of the Mishoes family and friends who posted about them on Facebook. One of the posts referred to Jennifer as one of the sweetest women you could ever meet, while another one called the deaths almost unspeakable.

Another post talked about how much the couple will be missed.

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The love these two had for my boys could never be replaced, it said.

Neighbors, who did not want to talk on camera, said they fear someone intentionally started the fire, but added they didnt have enough information to say it was an intentional act. One person said they have been staying at another house since last week to feel safe.

Other neighbors told News13 they got home about two hours after the fire started and that they wish they could have been there sooner to possibly help save the Mishoes.

* * *

Skylar Musick is a multimedia journalist at News13. Skylar is originally from Long Island, New York. She joined the News13 team in June 2024 after graduating from Villanova University in May 2024. Follow Skylar on X, formerly Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, and read more of her work here.

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The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted 3-0 on Tuesday to pass a motion toward tougher civil penalties for people participating in and watching illegal street takeovers.

Doubling the misdemeanor fines, county officials said this proposal is essentially a way to stop the street takeovers before they start, as theyve become more common, and some cases deadly, in L.A. and nearby counties.

Just Sunday night, over 150 vehicles took part in what police called a reckless driving takeover in a Santa Ana shopping center.

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In September, three cars attempting to start a street takeover crashed into a Metro bus in the Vermont Vista neighborhood.

These are just a few examples of what Supervisor Holly Mitchell said are often weekly occurrences, especially in some of the countys unincorporated neighborhoods.

I hear from seniors and young families who say, Supervisor Mitchell, every weekend, every Friday, every Saturday night, we hear it, we hear the sounds and its coming closer and closer to our homes, Mitchell told KTLAs Rachel Menitoff.



Mitchell has been leading the charge to double misdemeanor fines of $1,000 for people who organize, promote and attend these kinds of events.



Her proposal prohibits takeovers beyond public highways to include off-street parking areas.



It goes after the promoters too, including the people who publicize the takeovers on social media and who gain a large following by streaming the action live and collecting a paycheck in return.

The proposal would also facilitate removing posts and demonetizing profiles that promote illegal sideshows on major social media platforms.

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When asked if Mitchell thinks this proposal will really deter the appeal of the street takeover, she replied, saying, I am hoping it will. I know theres not one singular solution, but I am really hoping that making you pay at a higher rate for participating, that along with our public education efforts for people to understand the true danger they are causing their own family, friends, neighbors and communities.

Over 150 cars take over Orange County shopping center with reckless driving

According to statistics from SAFE (Streets are for Everyone), the last quarter of 2024 saw a 64% increase in street takeovers, with some neighborhoods seeing multiple events on the same night.

Another aspect of the public health crisis is not only those people living in the community, but those attending, as well. Oftentimes times youll find that deaths occur because the car goes out of control, said Brett Slaughenhaupt, the director of L.A. County Advocacy at SAFE. This cant continue to happen. We cant continue to see these casualties, these injuries, these individuals continue to wreak havoc.

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Tuesdays vote means the Board of Supervisors supports amendments, but they need to vote to adopt the amendments once written.

There will be another vote in the future to approve the amendment language.

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A jury has awarded $48 million to six former students of a South El Monte elementary school who were sexually abused by a longtime teacher.

The students, who ranged in age from 8 to 10 at the time of the abuse, had reported that their teacher, Joseph Baldenebro, inappropriately touched, assaulted or harassed them while they attended Miramonte Elementary School. The abuse occurred between the early 2000s and 2017.

The Monday verdict came after a monthlong trial in which lawyers for the students presented evidence that Mountain View School District had warnings of inappropriate behavior by Baldenebro dating to the 1990s but took no action.

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Baldenebro, 62, was convicted in 2018 of lewd or lascivious acts with children and sentenced to 8 years in prison. A second set of criminal charges related to child sexual abuse was filed against him in 2022 and resulted in a no-contest plea in the summer of 2024 and he was sentenced to 12 years in prison. He's eligible for parole in 2031, according to state prison records.

"This school district knew about this guy  knew about this pedophile  for over 20 years," said Nick Rowley, one of the lawyers who represented the former students in their lawsuit against the school district. "There were so many red flags  warning after warning after warning to the principals who just ignored it, who didn't do anything, and who actually covered it up."

Lawyers for Mountain View School District did not respond to a request Tuesday for comment. In a statement, the school district said it "unequivocally condemns abuse of any kind and remains deeply saddened by the harm caused to our students and community."

The school district had acknowledged negligently supervising Baldenebro, who taught at the district for more than two decades, but asserted it was Baldenebro who caused the harm to the students, not the district.

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The oldest of the former students had said she was in Baldenebro's class from 2002 to 2004, during third and fourth grade, and that she was 9 years old at the time of the abuse, according to court papers.

She recounted growing close with Baldenebro, and said he had suggested he could become her "godparent," according to an amended lawsuit filed in the case.

The student said she was aware that Baldenebro was the "godparent" to others, and court papers describe the benefit that Baldenebro gave to his purported godchildren: trips to amusement parks, lunches, clothes, CDs and after-school parties.

Rowley, the lawyer, said Tuesday that Baldenebro described himself as a godfather to 24 students over a period of years.

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In court papers, the student said that after she entered fourth grade, Baldenebro after school would summon her to sit on his lap, where he would touch her and kiss her. "He would tell her he loved her and he would tightly pull her into him," lawyers for the student wrote in a trial brief in 2021.

In 2004, the student told the then-principal about her uncomfortable experiences with Baldenebro. Around that time, the student, her parents and Baldenebro met with the principal. Baldenebro "accused her of overreacting, and that he was just doing that as an act of love and care," according to court papers.

The principal "convinced her parents that this behavior by Baldenebro was normal because he was her godfather," according the a pretrial brief.

The jury awarded the student $9 million of the $48-million verdict, the second-largest amount.

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Other former students recounted that they were subjected to unwanted hugs, kisses and patts on their butts, according to a pretrial brief filed by their lawyers. One student said Baldenebro fondled her genitalia and then raped her in his classroom; the student, whose name The Times is not disclosing, was awarded $16.5 million.

Of the total verdict, jurors held the Mountain View School District responsible for slightly more than $36 million; Baldenebro is responsible for the rest, although unlikely to pay.

A spokesperson for the district, Jocelyn Rios, said she was unable to disclose whether all or part of the verdict would be covered by the school district's insurance companies or whether other district funds would be tapped to pay it.

In a statement, the district said it had instituted "meaningful steps ... with the goal of preventing future incidents from going undetected or unreported."

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Among the steps are an annual "Be Seen: Be Heard" effort, described as "a district-wide, age-appropriate sexual assault and abuse awareness and prevention" program.

Before trial, lawyers for the district had offered a settlement of about $100,000 per student, Rowley said.

"From the very beginning of this case, the school district and their lawyers devalued what these victims went through and minimized what happened to them," said Michael Carrillo, the lead attorney on the case representing the former students. "The jury saw through all of that."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has launched an interactive online dashboard that provides the public with access to environmental and personal health monitoring in the wake of the January wildfires.

Offering a visual overview of monitoring locations across L.A. County, the dashboard  part of the Los Angeles County Post-Fire Air, Soil and Water Assessment Plan  was developed in collaboration with regional and state partners, LACDPH said in a media release issued Wednesday.

The technology offers users a visual overview of monitoring locations, including places where assessments are being conducted to measure four key metrics:

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Air: Evaluation of indoor and outdoor air quality to detect pollutants that may affect respiratory health

Surface: Testing for contaminants on indoor surfaces, soil, coastal sand and wildfire debris to determine exposure risks

Water: Sampling of coastal waters, freshwater sources and pools to monitor for wildfire-related contaminations

Human health: Voluntary blood lead testing to determine potential exposure, particularly for children and other vulnerable individuals

This dashboard is part of Los Angeles Countys commitment to transparency, public engagement and community well-being, LACDPH officials said in Wednesdays media release. By making this information accessible, the department aims to empower residents with timely, science-based insights into potential environmental health impacts of the recent wildfires.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has launched an interactive online dashboard that provides the public with access to environmental and personal health monitoring in the wake of the January wildfires. (LACDPH)

The data collected and shared through the dashboard will continue to inform long-term recovery efforts and guide health recommendations; however, officials noted that the technology currently does not have data for all locations, such as paths from mobile monitoring units.

That information will be added to the new dashboard once it is available, Public Health said.

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GUTHRIE, Okla. (KFOR)  A popular spot for food trucks in Guthrie can no longer be used as a source for vendors to set up and sell after signs went up this week stressing prosecution for trespassers.

Vendors in Guthrie told News 4 that signs went up at two vacant lots Monday in the 1400 block of South Division Street. The signs say that the lots are state property and that there is no loitering, dumping, or trespassing. The signs also say there is 24-hour surveillance on the property and that violators will be prosecuted.

It is really disheartening that, I mean, we had a spot and now we dont, said Lee Martinho, owner of Hawaiian Style BBQ food truck.

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Martinho says hes sold food in Guthrie for three years, and the lots have become a regular staple for his business. He says vendors have never had any problems using the space in the past and that the community regularly visits food trucks on the lots.

Extra charges on some cards after Boys from Oklahoma concert

Its sitting empty, said Martinho. Its not doing anything.

A number on the signs is listed for the Commissioners of the Land Office, a state agency.

The Commissioners of the Land Office understands the frustration behind the recent removal of food trucks that were trespassing on School Land. As a state agency, CLO is required to follow state law and constitutional mandates. The land in question is available for lease by an individual or organization for the purpose of funding CLOs educational beneficiaries. said CLO.

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The Guthrie News Page reports the Logan County Board of Commissioners recently explored the idea of leasing the land for a potential county health department, but couldnt agree on the price asked because of a lack of immediate development plans.

News 4 also reached out to the City of Guthrie on Tuesday. A city employee told News 4 the City Managers office had not been notified that the signs were going up.

Reaction to the news online has been mixed, with many residents saying the move is a mistake.

They bring activity, which brings tax dollars, said Sonny Ojeda, a resident of Guthrie. They bring, they bring visibility to the land thats being unused and a little neglected.

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The John Vance car dealership in Guthrie says food trucks are more than welcome there.

Martinho says business should be steady through at least the latter half of the year, but hes worried about the shake-up.

Theres a lot of mad people right now, said Martinho. Theyre not super happy about that spot being shut down to us. But I mean, I think all in all, itll work out.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
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House lawmakers advanced six bills targeting personal injury lawsuits Tuesday in the opening salvo of the Louisiana Legislatures ongoing debate over high insurance rates.

I guess we can say this is opening day, and heres your first pitch, Rep. Jay Galle, R-Mandeville, said to the House Civil Law Committee while presenting one of six so-called tort reform bills the committee considered Tuesday.

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Out of the six bills, one of the most hotly contested would limit the ability for people to recover damages for injuries sustained in accidents for which they are mostly at fault. House Bill 431 sponsored by Rep. Emily Chenevert, R-Baton Rouge, cleared the committee in an 11-4 vote along party lines.

Her bill would change Louisianas comparative fault statute, which assigns a percentage of blame to each party in an accident and allows for the recovery of damages in proportion with those percentages. The statute often arises in cases that involve multiple negligent acts by multiple people, some more to blame than others.

In theory, someone partly at fault for an accident can potentially recover some of the awarded damages. Cheneverts bill would change that to prohibit any amount of recovery by a party whos 51% or more at fault.

You should not be able to collect if the accident is mostly your fault, Chenevert said. I would say thats common sense. Should we reward negligence?

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But Rep. Chad Brown, D-Plaquemine, pointed out that the bill only modifies comparative fault on the plaintiffs side and not the defendants. As a result, a defendant would still be protected by the liability proportions.

Theres a double standard here that the plaintiff is going to get zeroes if hes 51% at fault, and the defendant is only gonna pay 51% if hes 51% at fault, said Brown, who is an attorney.  The plaintiff is more imperiled than the defendant.

Chenevert said 34 other states have a version of the law.

The committee similarly advanced House Bill 34, sponsored by Rep. Brian Glorioso, R-Slidell, in a 11-3 vote. His measure would change state law to allow any party to introduce evidence related to medical expenses.

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Currently, the law prevents juries from seeing what accident victims actually pay for medical treatment and only allows them to see what a doctor billed. In many instances, however, medical providers dont actually receive the full amounts that they bill. At other times, Glorioso said, some lawyers work with doctors who inflate their medical billings just to get an increased payout for the plaintiff.

Gloriosos bill would limit a claimants recovery of medical expenses to reasonable amounts, which would be left for a judge or jury to decide.

Lets let the jury see all of the evidence, he said. Lets not blindfold them and just let them see one side.

Brown countered, saying defendants get to hide details from jurors, such as whether insurance coverage is available for injuries a victim claims. He said he supports leveling the playing field between plaintiffs and insurance companies.

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The committee saw Republicans prevail in another vote on House Bill 443, sponsored by Rep. Chance Henry, R-Crowley. His bill would require plaintiffs to notify defendants of an intent to file a lawsuit within 10 days of retaining a lawyer.

Currently, plaintiffs lawyers can gather evidence and prepare for a lawsuit for almost two full years before a defendant is even aware a suit is coming. Henry said his bill would give a defendant the same amount of time to prepare for a claim as a plaintiff..

Democrats on the committee said if plaintiffs will be required to provide such a notice, then defendants should at least be required to respond to that notice with similar information  such as contact information for the insurance companys lawyer and claims adjuster.

Rep. Ed Larvadain, D-Alexandria, said many of the insurance companies he deals with in his law practice wont return calls or even provide email addresses for anyone at the company.

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Rep. Nick Muscarello, R-Hammond, questioned how the requirement would even be enforced and encouraged Henry to work with the concerned lawmakers on potential amendments before the bill is debated on the House floor. Henry said he would.

House Bill 434, sponsored by Rep. Jason DeWitt, R-Alexandria, advanced to the floor in an 11-2 vote but saw no debate. The proposal would limit bodily injury claims by plaintiffs who did not carry auto insurance at the time of the accident. It also would forbid uninsured plaintiffs recovery on the first $100,000 worth of damages.

Other bills the committee advanced include House Bill 450, sponsored by Rep. Michael Melerine, R-Shreveport, and House Bill 291, sponsored by Galle.

Melerines bill would end the Housley presumption, a standard of evidence explained in a 1991 Louisiana Supreme Court ruling that applies to auto accidents, medical malpractice and other injury lawsuits. In a nutshell, the Housley presumption says courts should assume a plaintiffs injuries resulted from the accident in question if they were in good health beforehand.

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Lawmakers have tried repeatedly to revoke Housley, but those attempts either failed or were vetoed in previous years. This year is expected to be different as Gov. Jeff Landry recently signaled support for the measure.

Galles bill would extend the filing deadline, called a prescriptive period, for wrongful death lawsuits from one year to two, aligning Louisiana with the deadline found in most other states.

Proponents of the bill have argued that a shorter prescriptive period attracts more frivolous lawsuits by essentially forcing people to quickly file claims so as to not lose their litigation rights. The proposal also complements a similar measure lawmakers approved last year to extend the deadline for filing personal injury claims.

The committee quickly advanced both bills without objection.

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Kaniya Pierre Louis, left, is a third-year medical student shadowing family medicine physician Dr. Zita Magloire. (Sarah Jane Tribble/KFF Health News)

Louisiana students who qualify for TOPS tuition awards but attend college out of state could still get that money if they decide to return home for medical or dental school. The legislature is considering a measure to lure them back home, but with conditions.

House Bill 275 by Rep. Stephanie Berault, R-Slidell, would require those students to pay back the aid unless they work full time in their field in Louisiana for at least three consecutive years after graduation.

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The proposal is aimed at addressing a physician shortage in Louisiana, where the Cicero Institute reports 60 out of 64 parishes have a shortage of health care professionals.

The bill has the support of Gov. Jeff Landry and was unanimously approved Wednesday by the House Education Committee.

TOPS, short for the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, is a merit-based scholarship program that helps Louisiana students attend in-state colleges and universities.

About 34 new medical and dental school students each year will qualify for TOPS under the legislation, according to a cost estimate for the bill. The cost will gradually increase over four years, when it is forecasted to level out at about $1.3 million annually.

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Berault has also proposed House Bill 539, which would create a student loan repayment program for doctors who practice in Louisianas rural areas. It has not yet been scheduled for a hearing.

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Loved ones are searching for a 17-year-old Southern California boy who has not been seen for nearly a week.

Miguel Jaramillo was reported missing on April 10, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department.

He was last seen on the 1500 block of 120th Street in South Los Angeles at around 8:42 a.m.

Miguel Jaramillo, 17, is seen in a 2025 photo from the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department.

Jaramillo is described as a Hispanic male standing 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing around 130 pounds. He has black hair, brown eyes and a beard.

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He was last seen wearing a tan jacket, white t-shirt and green pants.

Jaramillos family says the teen, who is considered at-risk, has a mental health disorder. His loved ones have not heard from him since his disappearance and are concerned for his well-being.

Anyone who may know Jaramillos whereabouts or has information on his disappearance is asked to call the LASDs Missing Persons Unit at 323-890-5500.

Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY)  The Lafayette Parish School Board (LPSS) proudly announced two new appointed principals, Tia Trahan and Donovan Soileau, who will take office in the 2025-2026 school year.

Tia Trahan has been appointed as the new principal of Paul Breaux Middle School. Trahan currently serves as principal of Lafayette Middle School and was named the 2024 Louisiana Overall Principal of the Year. With over 20 years in public education, Trahan looks forward to a new future at Paul Breaux.

Becoming the principal of Paul Breaux Middle School is more than a new chapterit feels like coming to a place rooted in purpose, pride, and promise. Trahan said. Paul Breaux is not just a school; its a community cornerstone with a rich history and legacy that I deeply respect and look forward to honoring. Theres an invisible thread that ties the past to the present and stretches forward into our futureand I am committed to nurturing that connection while maximizing the potential of every student and adult of the Paul Breaux Family.

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Donovan Soileau has been appointed the new principal of Ridge Elementary School. Mr. Soileau will replace Rhonda Dickerson, who was recently named Chief of Elementary Schools for LPSS. Mr. Soileau brings more than a decade of experience in education, having served the past two years as Assistant Principal at Ridge Elementary.

As a dedicated educator and leader, Soileau looks forward to the continued success of Ridge Elementary under his leadership.

I am truly honored and excited to lead Ridge Elementary School as principal, said Mr. Soileau. I am dedicated to supporting the students, staff, and families here at Ridge. From the moment I joined this school as a young educator, I knew Ridge was a special place. I look forward to continuing our journey toward excellence and building on the strong foundation already in place.

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LPSS welcomes Soileau and Trahan into their new roles and looks forward to the success they will bring to their campuses and communities.

Tia Trahan (left) and Donovan Soileau (right)

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com.
A Lyft driver is accused of groping a 16-year-old girl during a ride and asking her if she would kiss and tell, Washington prosecutors said.

Martin Njoki, 43, from Kenya, was charged Monday, April 14, with indecent liberties and unlawful imprisonment with a sexual motivation enhancement, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorneys Office.

The behavior described is reprehensible and has no place in the Lyft community or society. We immediately banned the driver from the Lyft platform and reached out to the ride requester to offer support as soon as we became aware of the situation. We are also assisting law enforcement with their investigation, a Lyft spokesperson told McClatchy News by email April 16.

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The incident was reported to police at 4:39 a.m. on Feb. 17, the Bellevue Police Department said in a probable cause statement.

The teenage girl sneaked out of her house in Bellevue and took a Lyft to her 18-year-old boyfriends house in SeaTac, police said.

SeaTac is about a 20-mile drive south from Bellevue.

The boyfriend called her a Lyft back home and watched her get into the car, he told police.

The teen girl told police she opened the front door of the car, but there were items in the seat, so she tried to sit in the back.

The driver moved the items and told her to sit in the front, so she did, police said.

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The girl and driver spoke for most of the ride, but as they got near her home, Njoki told her he liked her and asked, Do you kiss and tell? according to the documents.

Njoki asked if he could kiss her, and the teen told him she had a boyfriend, to which he responded, But you dont kiss and tell, police said.

He then forced her to touch his crotch and grabbed her arm and groped her when she tried to leave, according to the documents.

She called her boyfriend crying, and he reported the assault to police, authorities said.

Lyft suspended Njokis account due to allegations relating to touching a passenger in a sexual manner without consent, police said in the probable cause statement.

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He emailed Lyft and told the company he didnt touch the teen but she had gotten annoyed with me because I didnt let them sit upfront, the court documents said.

Njoki is in the U.S. on a work visa, and his pregnant wife and five children live in Kenya, police said.

He is in jail and his bail is set at $150,000.

His next court date is April 24.

Bellevue is about a 10-mile drive east from Seattle.

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This story was originally published on Retail Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Retail Dive newsletter.

Dive Brief:

Canadian fashion brand Frank and Oak will shutter its U.S. operations by the end of April, according to an FAQ webpage on its U.S. site.

The move  part of the brands larger liquidation efforts  was moved up further due to growing uncertainty around tariffs and customs, making it more challenging to continue its cross-border operations.

The brand  owned by Unified Commerce Group  is also planning the closure of its Canadian stores, with ten of its locations set to shutter in the first week of May as part of ongoing proceedings under the BIA (Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act), according to an emailed statement from Unified Commerce Group Chief Brand Officer Elisabeth de Gramont. Frank and Oak currently lists 14 stores on its website.

Dive Insight:

Frank and Oak is hardly the only company dealing with the volatility of rising trade tensions between the U.S. and its global partners.

China on Friday increased tariffs on U.S. goods to 125% after the Trump administration raised its total rate on China to 145%. U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods have see-sawed over the past few months, with the latest update being that previously implemented tariffs on goods imported from Mexico and Canada are not impacted by a 90-day pause on other tariffs announced by the Trump administration last week.

Additional U.S. tariffs on a variety of goods from other countries have the potential to impact even brands that are based in the U.S., as smaller companies lack the negotiation power that larger retailers have with international partners.

Beyond the upcoming store closures, De Gramont said Frank and Oak will continue to share additional details regarding additional impacted locations, closure timelines, and customer accommodations, including final sales events. The companys website continues to operate, the executive added.

The brands court proceedings began with a Notice of Intention filed in Canada in December 2024. An NOI is a move under the BIA that allows financially troubled corporations the opportunity to restructure their affairs and is often the first stage in a restructuring process, according to PwC Canada.

Canadian department store Hudsons Bay Co. filed for the equivalent of bankruptcy protection in March, citing the Trump administrations new tariff policies among the causes. The company at the time operated 80 Hudsons Bay, three Saks Fifth Avenue and 13 Saks Off 5th stores in Canada.
Credit: X/@Chesschick01

Hackers have reprogrammed pedestrian crossings in California to play messages mocking Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg.

Instead of the usual walk or wait instructions, the apparently AI-generated voices were heard when users pushed the buttons to cross the road in several areas across Silicon Valley.

One impersonation of Mr Musk, a key adviser to Donald Trump, asked pedestrians to be his friend in exchange for a Cybertruck, while a Zuckerberg-like voice said real ones call me The Zuck.

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In another widely-shared video, a voice resembling Mr Musks can be heard saying: You know, money cannot be happiness and yeah I guess thats true, God knows Ive tried. But it can buy a cyber truck and thats pretty sick right, right? F--- I am so alone.

Authorities are now investigating the prank, which took place over the weekend close to businesses owned by the tech billionaires.

In Menlo park, where Mr Zuckerbergs Metas campus takes up more than 250 acres, pedestrians were greeted by a spoof message that said: Hi this is Mark Zuckerberg, but real ones call me The Zuck.

It is normal to feel uncomfortable or even violated as we forcefully insert AI into every facet of your conscious experience.

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It continued: You do not need to worry as there is absolutely nothing you can do to stop it. Anyway, see ya.

Credit: X/@Chesschick01

In another video, a woman pressed the pedestrian call button beneath a sign that had been modified to say Boycott Tesla.

The speaker then played a fake Musk monologue, where he calls Mr Trump really sweet and tender and loving. In the background, a voice pretending to be the US president responds: Sweetie, come back to bed.

It is still unclear who was behind the hack.

At least 12 crossings in Palo Altos downtown area were reported to have been tampered with and authorities have scrambled to turn the sound off at affected machines on Saturday.

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Meghan Horrigan-Taylor, a city spokesman, told the BBC: City staff have disabled the audible feature until further repairs can be made. She stressed that the impact had been isolated.

Mr Musk re-shared a video of one of the crossing messages early on Wednesday, posting an emoji of a face crying with laughter alongside the clip. Mr Zuckerberg has not yet commented on the incident.

The hacking of electronic traffic systems is not new.

In the run-up to the 2016 US election, traffic construction signs across America were manipulated to criticise Mr Trump. In Dallas, a group of signs flashed messages saying: Donald Trump is a ... shape shifting lizard! while others read: Bernie for president.

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Channel 11 was there as the survivor of a violent attack reunited with the doctor who saved her life.

Jen Pardini was nearly killed when her ex-boyfriend attacked her with a hammer and left her for dead on a garage floor in 2023.

Reuniting with Pardini is something that Allegheny General Hospital neurosurgeon Dr. Jody Leonardo prayed for ever since she ended up on her operating table after the attack that left her head sliced open.

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Dr. Leonardo remembers the day her medical team told her to get back to the hospital because Pardini had opened her eyes.

I walked into her room, and I nudged you (Pardini), and she opened her eyes and she looked at me and I said Jen, hi! and she looked at me, Hi! Im Jen. And I knew in that moment that she was going to be okay.

Pardini was rushed to AGH in July of 2023, after being left for dead on a garage floor at her parents Peters Township house. There was immense fear that she wouldnt live through the night. Doctors at the Level 1 trauma center, where they see it all, were not ready to see this.

You could hear a pin drop. Everybody was just so impacted by the fact there was somebody young on this table and someone did this to her, Leonardo said.

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Pardinis brain damage was to the dominant speech center of her brain. After she made it through the night, doctors still feared for her future.

We didnt know afterwards if shed be able to wake up, if shed be able to communicate, speak, understand. We didnt know to what extent her brain had been injured, Leonardo said.

Leonardo says the severity of Pardinis injuries actually saved her life, since it allowed her brain to swell without killing her.

Often, people dont make it to the hospital because their brain cant decompress without a drain, or a procedure that we do, but because the injuries were so severe, the pressure was able to be released on its own, Leonardo said.

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Pardinis recovery has been called nothing short of a miracle by doctors, police, family, friends and the DA.

The judge at her ex-boyfriends attempted homicide trial called her courageous.

We cant change the past. You can deal with it and be depressed for the rest of your life, or you can move forward. And you can take it and you can grow from it, Pardini said.

Pardini isnt just defying the odds by walking and talking, shes now spreading awareness about domestic violence, working to make a difference and show the world that she isnt letting any of it hold her back.

Everything Dr. Leonardo and her team has done, Im lucky. Im a blessed and lucky girl. I can never say enough how thankful I am, how grateful I am, she said.

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Trump administration lawyers are running out of excuses to avoid being accountable for the rights and whereabouts of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Maryland immigrant father who was improperly deported and sentenced without due process to an indeterminate amount of time in a prison in El Salvador. Rina Gandhi, and attorney for Mr. Abrego Garcia, talks with Rachel Maddow about how the judge is pinning down the Trump lawyers for answers and accountability.
A month into Donald Trumps second term, the president hosted a White House event for the National Governors Association, which didnt quite go as planned. The Republican picked a fight with Maines Democratic governor, Janet Mills, over transgender student athletes, apparently hoping to bully her into submission.

It didnt work. See you in court, the governor told him.

The prediction is now coming to fruition. The Associated Press reported:

The Trump administration on Wednesday sued Maine for not complying with the governments push to ban transgender athletes in girls and womens sports, escalating a dispute over whether the state is abiding by a federal law that bars discrimination in education based on sex. ... The political overtones of the moment were clear, with Attorney General Pam Bondi  and several athletes who joined her on stage at the Justice Department  citing the matter as a priority for Trump.

At a press conference, Bondi said, in reference to the president, This has been a huge issue for him. Thats not generally the kind of argument Americans hear from an attorney general justifying a Justice Department case against a state, but here we are.

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This is not, however, the only case of interest: Bondis Title IX case dovetails with a separate case, brought by Maine, which recently sued the U.S. Department of Agriculture over funds it froze as a result of the underlying dispute. Late last week, U.S. District Court Judge John Woodcock Jr., a George W. Bush appointee, granted the states request for a temporary restraining order and ordered the Cabinet agency to release the funding.

The same day, Trumps Department of Education, which still exists in a lesser form, said that it was moving forward with plans to cut off all federal funding for Maines public schools because of the states policy on trans student athletes.

Alas, for the Republican president and his team, this is not the only evidence of the apparent feud. Earlier this month, for example, the public learned that Leland Dudek, the Trump-appointed acting head of the Social Security Administration, ordered the termination of some federal contracts with Maine because the governor bothered the president. (The move was later reversed.)

In case that werent quite enough, after Trump clashed with Mills, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration also sent a letter to Maine cancelling funding for Maine Sea Grant.

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Time will tell whether the courts put a stop to all of this, or whether the governor is forced to back down. Watch this space.

This post updates our related earlier coverage.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
German bakery group Harry-Brot has secured approval from competition officials to buy a factory from major grocer Rewe.

Harry-Brot has acquired the Glockenbrot Bergkirchen bakery from Rewe for an undisclosed sum. The approximately 320 staff at the site will move to Harry-Brot, a spokesperson told Just Food.

In its statement, Germanys Federal Cartel Office, the Bundeskartellamt, said the deal will only result in minor competitive changes for the other market participants in the country's bakery sector.

Glockenbrot, which has been a part of Rewe since 1986, has produced private-label bread and baked goods for the retailer at two sites  one in Bergkirchen and the other in Frankfurt.

Before striking a deal to sell the Bergkirchen to Harry-Brot, Rewe had decided to close the factory in Frankfurt.

Harry-Brot produces bread and baked goods from ten plants in Germany. It generated sales of around 1.3bn ($1.48bn) in its 2024 fiscal year.

Andreas Mundt, president of the Bundeskartellamt, explained the decisive factor in its assessment was that Glockenbrot had so far produced exclusively for Rewe within the group.

"Harry-Brot is by far the leading manufacturer of bread and baked goods in Germany. The planned acquisition of the Rewe subsidiary Glockenbrot will further strengthen this position. Nevertheless, we do not have any fundamental competition concerns that could justify a prohibition of the transaction," Mundt said.

"The acquisition will only change the competitive situation for other market participants to a manageable extent. Even after the merger, there will still be powerful competitors in the primarily affected market for self-service bread and baked goods."

Meanwhile, Harry-Brot is planning to build another bakery in Erlensee, east of Frankfurt. If the project goes ahead, the company is hoping to start production in 2028.

The Bundeskartellamt said the acquisition of the Bergkirchen site and the opening of the Erlensee facility would at least in southern Germany, likely lead to an expansion of the product range and increased competition.

"German bakery major Harry-Brot gets OK to buy Rewe plant" was originally created and published by Just Food, a GlobalData owned brand.




FLORENE, S.C. (WBTW)  A 23-year-old man was arrested Wednesday by Florence police, who said he assaulted an ex-girlfriend while the two argued in a car in a Walmart parking lot in March.

Jahlil Dorsey of North Augusta, South Carolina, is charged with kidnapping and assault and battery in connection with the March 23 incident. As of Wednesday afternoon, he remained in the Florence County Detention Center, jail records showed.

According to a warrant, Dorsey and the woman were in Dorseys vehicle at the Walmart on N. Beltline Drive when they began arguing. The woman opened the door and tried to leave, but Dorsey pulled her back into the vehicle and started to drive away.

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The woman was able to escape after pulling the vehicles emergency brake, the warrant said. Once she was out of the vehicle, she was seen screaming and running across the parking lot toward a witness.

The woman had a swollen left eye and suffered other marks and scratches on her collarbone and hand, the warrant said.

* * *

Dennis Bright is the Digital Executive 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.

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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  A man who walked away from a Male Community Re-entry Program in Kern County on Tuesday was apprehended in Bakersfield after a few hours, according to officials.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said at about 11:20 a.m. officers were notified that Joel L. Montoya, 43, removed his GPS device. An emergency count was conducted and it was confirmed Montoya was missing.

Local law enforcement agencies were notified and assisted in the search for Montoya.

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Officials said Montoya was apprehended in Bakersfield without incident at about 2:20 p.m.

Montoya is being transported to North Kern State Prison and his case will be referred to the district attorneys office.

Officials said Montoya was received from Kern County on Aug. 15, 2008. He was sentenced to 25 years and eight months for second-degree robbery.

He has been housed at the Male Community Reentry Program since Feb. 20, 2025.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A 46-year-old convicted felon was arrested after he allegedly discharged a firearm from his vehicle last Thursday, April 10 in Socorro, according to the Socorro Police Department.

Police say at around 9 p.m. that Thursday, they were dispatched to the 11500 block of Dindinger Drive regarding reports of shots fired.

Upon arrival, officers spoke with multiple witnesses who reported that a man, who was later identified as Rene Rivera, 46, had discharged a firearm from his vehicle before leaving the area, according to police.

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Police say Rivera is a convicted felon and had outstanding warrants. He was taken into custody and charged with deadly conduct, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, two counts of speeding, and two counts of violation of promise to appear.

He was booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility under a total bond of $51,578.

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SALEM, Ohio (WKBN)  An investigation between local and state law enforcement resulted in a man with an extensive criminal record being placed under arrest for prostitution.

On Tuesday, the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force, with assistance from the Salem Police Department and the Ohio State Highway Patrols Intelligence Unit, conducted an undercover sting operation targeting those selling sex online.

An undercover Task Force agent responded to an advertisement posted on a known website used for the solicitation of prostitution. As a result, it was believed that a 32-year-old Youngstown woman solicited acts of sexual conduct for an agreed-upon price.

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Agents say the woman arrived at the pre-determined meeting location in Salem with a 28-year-old driver, identified as Antonio Mitchell. The woman allegedly told the undercover agent in previous texts that she has a driver who knows what she does and has no problem with it.

But the task force release states that when it came time for the arranged meet-up, the woman arrived with a broken arm, busted lip, and immediately advised that she needed help. Agents say the woman told police Mitchell has been controlling her for the past six months, posting her on the prostitution website, arranging her dates through his cellphone and keeping all of the proceeds from the dates.

She said her injuries were the result of Mitchell being physical with her and that she did not make a police report due to her being in fear of Mitchell retaliating with more violence.

As Mitchell was ordered out of the vehicle by officers, reports state he was holding a phone that was confirmed to be the cellphone where the undercover agents texts were received.

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Agents say they received permission to search the cellphone, where they discovered Mitchells email address linked to a prostitution website. He was then placed under arrest on a fourth-degree charge of promoting prostitution. Agents say more felony charges could follow.

Human trafficking victim advocates were contacted for the victim, who was taken to a private location to begin her recovery.

When looking into Mitchells background, agents reported he had an active arrest warrant out of Trumbull County for a strangulation charge. He also has a previous criminal history, including charges of receiving stolen property, probation violations, aggravated trespassing, possession of drugs, and obstructing official business.

Gerry Ricciutti contributed to this report.

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If you have a gift card or store credits to spend at bankrupt fast-fashion retailer Forever 21, you're going to want to use those as soon as possible.

The operator of Forever 21, F21 OpCo, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the second time in six years in March, citing "competition from foreign fast fashion companies" and rising costs, among other challenges.

This time around, Forever 21 plans to shutter all stores by early May unless a potential buyer emerges, in which case it may pivot away from the wind-down of store operations, a spokesperson previously told USA TODAY.

As of April 14, however, closing sales were ongoing. Shoppers looking to use gift cards or store credits have a limited time to do so. Here's what shopper should know.

Retail bankrupcy: All Forever 21 stores to be closed by May 1 following closing sales, operator says

Can you still shop at Forever 21?

Some Forever 21 stores remain open for in-person shopping and online orders were still being filled, as of Monday, April 14.

The retailer suggests using its store locator to check the status of your closest location before heading out to shop.

When will Forever 21 stop accepting gift cards and store credit?

Forever 21 will continue to honor gift cards and store credit through the end of the day on Tuesday, April 15.

Signage announces a "going out of business" sale at a Forever 21 store at the Westfield Annapolis Mall in Annapolis, Maryland, on April 7, 2025.

When will Forever 21 stop accepting returns?

According to the brand, all online and in-store purchases are now final sale. Forever 21 is no longer accepting returns or exchanges, nor is it offering new gift cards or credit cards.

Where are Forever 21 stores closing?

Existing locations will continue operating unless otherwise specified. Forever 21 suggests checking the status of your local store before heading out to shop.

"Decisions about which stores will ultimately close are ongoing, pending further discussions with landlords and potential buyers," said a notice on the company's website. "For the most up-to-date information, please visit our store locator."

According to local reports, Forever 21 locations had begun closing locations in several states, including Connecticut, California, Washington state, Pennsylvania, Idaho and North Dakota. In February, the company disclosed its plans to lay off about 358 employees and shut down its headquarters in Los Angeles, California.

Legal counsel for F21 OpCo, the operator of Forever 21, said during a hearing in March that the company anticipates vacating its approximately 354 leased stores by the end of April, a spokesperson for the fast fashion retailer previously told USA TODAY.

According to court records, the company plans to complete all store closing sales before May 1, with many stores closing before April 1. Once the closing sales are complete, the stores will close, the spokesperson noted.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: All Forever 21 gift cards expire this week; stores not taking returns
Seattle police arrested a 30-year-old man Wednesday, accused of harassing people near Alki Beach with a knife.

Someone called 911 around 6:00 a.m. to report the man.

A 48-year-old woman told officers the man approached her near the Alki Bathhouse while she was walking her dog. She said he shouted and growled at her before she told him to back off.

Officers say the man later approached three teenage girls, yelled at them about the devil and sexual assault, and then pulled a knife on them.

A witness intervened, and officers say the man walked away. They found him nearby and arrested him. Officers booked the man into King County Jail for investigation of malicious harassment.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  A man is in custody after an approximately four-hour standoff in Butler County Tuesday.

According to the Oxford Police Department, officers were dispatched to the 300 block of West High Street after receiving a report from a female resident saying her ex-boyfriend was trespassing in her apartment.

When officers attempted to make contact with the man inside, they were unable to open the door, as it had been locked and barricaded.

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Middletown looking for answers to stray cat colony

The department says that the man refused to leave the property, which prompted a call for assistance from crisis negotiators, Miami University Police, Oxford Township Police and the Butler County Regional SWAT Team.

A perimeter was established as the crisis negotiators attempted to make contact with the man, to no avail.

Gas was eventually deployed into the apartment, as was a K9 from the Butler County Sheriffs Office. The latter is what ultimately led to the standoffs end as the man was taken into custody.

The standoff lasted until about 9:30 p.m.

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The man was taken to an area hospital for injuries from a dog bite and for being exposed to gas. He was reportedly on parole.

An investigation is ongoing.

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TEXARKANA, Texas (KETK)  A man was arrested in Texarkana on Tuesday for allegedly stealing items from vehicles in a hotel parking lot near Cowhorn Creek Road, police said.

AFFIDAVIT: Robbery plot leads to 2 arrested for capital murder in East Texas

Mugshot of Maleek Collier, courtesy of Texarkana Police Department

Maleek Collier, 25, was arrested by Texarkana Police Department officers for allegedly stealing items from peoples cars in a hotel parking lot, according to a Texarkana PD Facebook post.

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Texarkana PD said they responded to a call from someone around 1:30 a.m. who said they saw a man pulling on vehicle door handles. According to Texarkana PD, an officer found Collier hiding under a truck before he allegedly ran away from law enforcement.

As [the officer] approached, Collier rolled out the other side and took off running, Texarkana PD officials said. Fortunately, several officers were already in the area, and it didnt take long for us to catch up with him.

Lufkin man arrested after holding family members hostage inside of home

Officers checked the area where Collier was hiding and discovered an iPad reportedly belonging to a hotel guest who left it in their truck, Texarkana PD said.

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According to officials, Collier was then booked into the Bi-State Jail for the following charges:

Burglary of a vehicle

Assault on a peace officer

Evading arrest

Possession of marijuana

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  An El Paso man who allegedly robbed a business and sexually assaulted a woman last month in Northeast El Paso tried to hide the victim behind the business after beating her unconscious, according to court documents obtained by KTSM.

Hekter Enrique Carreto, 21, was arrested on two counts of aggravated sexual assault, one count of aggravated kidnapping, and one count of aggravated robbery.

Carreto was booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility and has a total bond of $5 million.

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El Paso Police say just after 10 p.m. on Friday, March 28, its Crimes Against Persons Unit was dispatched to the 9100 block of Dyer Street in Northeast El Paso to assist in an investigation where a woman was found unconscious behind a business.

Court documents obtained by KTSM state that a witness told police that there was blood behind the counter as if someone dragged a body towards the employees work room.

Once officers arrived, they performed a protective sweep and located a woman in the back of the business who was nude and unresponsive, according to court documents.

Detectives were able to obtain surveillance footage from inside the business, which showed Carreto entering the business at around 10 p.m., walking behind the counter, and towards the woman who was standing behind the cash register.

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Carreto began to assault the woman and threw her to the ground, and struck her head against the floor multiple times, according to court documents.

Surveillance footage showed the woman was unconscious with blood pooling around her head, and Carreto dragging the woman to the back of the store.

Carreto then began removing the victims clothing while she was unconscious and closed the door that separated the back area of the store from the front cash register area, according to court documents.

Carreto then removed his clothing and began to sexually assault and allegedly rape the victim, according to court documents.

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Carreto then got himself dressed and wrapped a plastic bag around the victims head and used another plastic bag to drag the victim outside behind the business, a place she was not likely to be found, court documents stated.

Carreto was also seen picking up money from the floor and putting it on his person, according to court documents.

Court documents say that when Carreto was brought in for questioning, he admitted to entering the business to rob the store and admitted to physically assaulting the victim, having sex with her, and taking money from the floor.

Investigators discovered that a sexual assault of a child had happened back in November 2024, with the defendant listed as Carreto.

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Court documents state that the victim sustained an open skull fracture, a spinal fracture, and is currently in the ICU and listed in critical condition.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
A Florida man accused of transporting suitcases full of guns and ammunition through the New Jersey rail system was indicted on Wednesday, authorities said.

According to prosecutors, a New Jersey Transit police officer patrolling Newark Penn Station noticed an unattended zebra-print suitcase near the Newark subway entrance on Jan. 3 and called for a K9 unit.

Inside that bag was a Girsan Regard MC handgun with a fully loaded 18-round magazine, an AK-47-style rifle with a round in its chamber and multiple loaded magazines, along with an AR-style magazine and four boxes filled with .223 caliber bullets, authorities said.

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Train station surveillance video allegedly showed Jeffrey O. Kennerk, 34, leaving that bag behind and carrying a maroon suitcase to an Amtrak ticket window. Cops learned he was headed toward the Trenton Transit Center, where a pair of officers encountered Kennerk and asked to see his ticket.

The suspect showed police a valid transit pass, but it wasnt for the train he was on, prosecutors said. He was told to wait for another train that was arriving in an hour.

While he was waiting, cops in Trenton were notified of a person of interest wanted for weapons possession in Newark and moved in on Kennerk.

Inside the suitcase he was still carrying, police allegedly discovered weapons including an AR-15-style rifle, several handguns and a second rifle with tissue wrapped around its trigger, as well as silencers and loads of ammunition including hollow point bullets.

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The second rifle, according to prosecutors, appeared to have been booby-trapped.

The officer placed the muzzle into the suitcase pointed at the ground and attempted to remove one of the handkerchiefs to render it safe, at which time the firearm discharged without the officer engaging the trigger, the New Jersey Attorney Generals Office claimed in its indictment.

No injuries were reported.

This defendant allegedly hauled a small arsenal of deadly weapons and ammunition through busy transit stations, and on a train filled with passengers, according to Attorney General Matthew Platkin. If not for the outstanding police work done in this matter, we can only imagine where this defendant and these weapons would have ended up.

Charges against Kennerk include possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of an assault firearm and aggravated assault. Its unclear what he planned to do with the portable arsenal.
Apr. 15Defendant claims he had a knife not a gun

An Austin man has been charged with assault with a dangerous weapon as well as threats of violence, among other charges, for allegedly threatening a neighbor with a handgun.

Joseph William Hegge, 63, of Austin was charged Monday in Mower County District Court with second degree assault with a dangerous weapon and threats of violence-reckless disregard for risk. Both of them are felonies.

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He was also charged with gross misdemeanor interfering with an emergency call and misdemeanor fifth degree assault.

According to the court complaint, Mower County Sheriff's Office deputies were dispatched to the 17000 block of US Highway 218 for a report of a man who allegedly assaulted another individual and who pointed a gun at him.

The first deputy on scene spoke with the victim who said he was warming up his motorcycle to go to work when he felt something hit his helmet. He turned around to find Hegge holding a gun and then pointing it at him.

When the victim said he was going to call 911, he said Hegge tried to take the phone from him saying, "No you're not."

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The victim told the deputy that he tried telling Hegge that he lived there and that he didn't know Hegge.

A witness at the scene said she heard the victim revving his motorcycle and that she heard Hegge allegedly yell at him to leave and, "I'm going to get my gun and kill you."

While the witness said she didn't see anything in Hegge's hands, she did hear him allegedly repeat that he would use a gun.

When speaking with him, Hegge said that he was irritated by the victim and that he had been disrespecting him. He denied using a gun, but did say he brought a knife with him that was supposedly still in the packaging.

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When asked if he had tried talking with the victim, Hegge responded by saying he did not, nor did he try contacting the landlord claiming instead that he was "old school."

He also acknowledged that the way he was holding the knife it might have been construed as a firearm, and also claimed that he collected pistols but that they were largely flintlock-type guns.

A search of the house turned up a 9mm pistol with a magazine containing seven rounds, two pellet guns near the front door and a machete-style knife inside the original packaging located near the front door.

The complaint also reflects that several more firearms were located inside a bedroom and closet along with hundreds of knives, machetes, hatchets and other blades scattered throughout the house.

Hegge declined to speak with a detective following the arrest.

His next court appearance is April 21.
Barrick Gold Corporation GOLD has confirmed that it remains committed to working collaboratively with the Government of Mali to finalize an agreement that was fully negotiated and approved by the Ministry of Finance in February 2025.



Since the beginning of discussions, Barrick has sought a constructive path forward. In October 2024, it accepted a framework designed to resolve all outstanding disputes and made an $85 million payment as part of the ongoing negotiations.



Barrick remains committed to upholding the agreement mutually envisioned by both parties and is ready to resume production without delay. Restarting operations would generate significant revenue for Mali, including tax and royalty payments that contribute meaningfully to the national budget. It would also lead to the dismissal of baseless criminal charges against its employees and secure their release from detention.



Per GOLD, the Mali governments inaction carries serious consequences, both economically and in terms of human impact. The future of one of Malis most important mining assetscritical to the countrys economyis in jeopardy. Barrick offers the specialized expertise needed to effectively operate this world-class operation. Barrick has urged the Malian government to act in the interest of its people and the national economy by concluding the agreement, which is ready to be implemented.



Barricks shares have gained 21.8% in the past year against a 52% rise of the industry.

Zacks Investment Research



Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

For 2025, Barrick anticipates consolidated attributable gold production in the range of 3.15-3.5 million ounces. All-in sustaining costs (AISC) are projected to be $1,460-$1,560 per ounce for 2025. Cash costs per ounce are forecast to be $1,050-$1,130. The company also expects to see a cost of sales of $1,460-$1,560 per ounce.



GOLD expects a copper production of 200,000-230,000 tons at AISC of $2.80-$3.10 per pound, cash costs per ounce of $1.80-$2.10 and cost of sales of $2.50-$2.80 per pound.

Barrick Gold Corporation Price and Consensus

Barrick Gold Corporation price-consensus-chart | Barrick Gold Corporation Quote

GOLDs Rank & Key Picks

GOLD currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).



Better-ranked stocks in the basic materials space include Carpenter Technology Corporation CRS, Idaho Strategic Resources, Inc. IDR and ArcelorMittal S.A. MT



Carpenter Technology currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). CRS beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the last four quarters, with the average earnings surprise being 15.7%. The company's shares have soared 125.6% in the past year. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.



The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Idaho Strategic Resources current-year earnings is pegged at 78 cents. IDR, carrying a Zacks Rank #2, surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters, while missing once, with an average earnings surprise of 77.5%. The company's shares have rallied 98.9% in the past year.



ArcelorMittal, which currently carries a Zacks Rank #2, beat the consensus estimate in three of the trailing four quarters, while missing once. In this time frame, it has delivered an earnings surprise of roughly 4.1%, on average. The company's shares have rallied 6.9% in the past year.




PAWTUCKET, R.I. (WPRI)  A Pawtucket man who served 21 years behind bars for killing a 10-year-old in Massachusetts is now facing number of firearms and narcotics charges, according to police.

Joseph Cousin, 40, was taken into custody Monday after detectives searched his North Bend Street home and found a 10mm Glock-29 semi-automatic handgun, a 9mm Glock-19 semi-automatic handgun with an automatic switch, several high capacity magazines, a 50-round 9mm magazine drum and hundreds of rounds of various ammunition.

(Courtesy: Pawtucket Police Department)

Detectives also discovered 55 grams of fentanyl, roughly 20 grams of cocaine, various drug paraphernalia and more than $8,000 in cash.

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Police said the search stemmed from an investigation into cocaine and fentanyl distribution in Pawtucket and surrounding cities.

Cousin was convicted of second-degree murder in Massachusetts more than two decades ago and had been out of prison for roughly two years prior to this arrest.

Hes facing a number of charges, including possession with intent to deliver fentanyl and cocaine, two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon six counts of possession of a high-capacity magazine, modification of a semi-automatic weapon and maintaining a common nuisance.

Court records indicate that Cousin was ordered held without bail. His next court date is slated for April 22.

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP)  A man convicted of killing two women, one in Florida and another in California, has been scheduled for execution in Florida under a death warrant signed Tuesday by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, the fifth this year.

Glen Edward Rogers, 62, is set to die by lethal injection May 15 at Florida State Prison near the city of Starke.

Rogers was convicted in 1997 and sentenced to death for the murder of Tina Marie Cribbs. The two were seen leaving a Gibsonton, Florida, bar together in November 1995. The woman was found stabbed to death in a hotel bathroom two days later.

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Rogers received another death sentence in California in 1999. He met Sandra Gallagher at a Van Nuys, California, bar in September 1995. Her badly burned corpse was found in her truck a day later near Rogers' apartment.

Rogers is also suspected in several other homicides throughout the United States.

Three other executions have taken place in Florida this year, with a fourth upcoming May 1, all by lethal injection.

On March 20, Edward James, 63, was executed for killing an 8-year-old girl and her grandmother in 1993. James Dennis Ford, 64, was put to death Feb. 13 for the 1997 murders of a married couple while out on a fishing trip. Earlier this month, Michael Tanzi, 48, died by lethal injection April 8 for kidnapping and murdering a woman in the Florida Keys in 2000.

Gulf War Army veteran Jeffrey Hutchinson, 59, is set to die by lethal injection May 1. He's convicted of killing his girlfriend and her three children with a shotgun.
Police in Fair Haven say a driver tried to evade an attempted traffic stop for speeding in Vermont by fleeing into New York at speeds of up to 120 mph.

Police say officers tried to stop Rodney D. Keenan of Brandon for driving 67 on VT 22 at around 4:40 p.m. on April 6. Keenen allegedly fled south at speeds well over the posted 55 mph before he turned onto RT 4 west.

Police say Keenan hit 120 mph fleeing into New York State, where a Washington County Sheriff Dept was able to stop Keenan in the Village of Whitehall.

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Upon interview Keenan admitted to not watching his speed, police said.

Keenan voluntarily returned to the Fair Haven Police Department, where he was arrested and released to appear in Rutland District Court at a later date.

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I first met Spencer Byrd in a Chicago diner one afternoon in 2018. Sitting across from me, he told me an outrageous story about how he'd been battling the city government for two years to get his 1996 Cadillac DeVille out of impound.

Byrd's story would help lead to reforms to Chicago's impound program and an ongoing federal class action lawsuit against the city. But despite fighting in court for nearly a decade, he never got his Cadillac back. I learned this week that Byrd died in February, while that lawsuit was still pending.

I've often considered it somethingif not fate, then at least fortuitousthat Byrd and I connected.

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In 2017, a staffer at the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois told me about Chicago's punitive vehicle impound program and put me in touch with a local attorney doing pro bono work with people whose cars had been seized. The attorney gave me the phone numbers of five or six clients who he thought would be interested in talking to me.

Byrd was the only one who responded, and the story he told me was a doozy: He was a carpenter and a part-time auto mechanic in Harvey, Illinois. He said he was giving a client a lift in his car one evening in June 2016, when he was pulled over by Chicago police and searched. Byrd was clean, but his passenger, a man he says he'd never met before, had heroin in his pocket.

The police released Byrd without charging him with a crime, but his car was seized and dually claimed by both the Cook County State Attorney's Office and the city of Chicago. Essentially, his car was being claimed by two distinct layers of government. Even after a state judge declared Byrd innocent in the county's asset forfeiture case against his car, Chicago refused to release the vehicle until Byrd paid thousands of dollars in impound fines and fees under the city's municipal code, which didn't include a defense for innocent owners.

Byrd couldn't afford to pay the fines, and he'd never be able to without his car or the carpenter tools locked in the trunk. The car previously belonged to his late brother, and on some court forms, he listed it as a family heirloom.

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"I can't understand it, because I'm almost to the point of being homeless," Byrd told me. "If I was found guilty or in the wrong, do what you gotta do, but I was blind to the fact."

Then at the diner, a small journalistic miracle occurred. Byrd slid over a large binder with every court filing and document in his case, even a letter from his local carpenter union vouching for him. He quite literally dropped the story in my lap. I took pictures of all of the documents, which allowed me to build a two-year timeline of Byrd's Kafkaesque battle with Cook County and the city of Chicago.

Thanks to Byrd's folder, the story I eventually wrote was one of the best of my career.

Other investigations by WBEZ, and ProPublica Illinois also showed how Chicago's massive impound program regularly ensnared innocent owners and low-income residents, soaking them in thousands of dollars of fines and storage fees, regardless of their ability to pay.

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In 2019, Byrd became one of the lead plaintiffs in a civil rights lawsuit filed by the Institute for Justice, a public interest law firm, against Chicago. The suit alleged that the city's impound scheme violated the Illinois and U.S. Constitution's protections against excessive fines and unreasonable seizures, as well as due process protections.

Under pressure, Chicago partially reformed its vehicle impound program in 2020, including adding a defense for some innocent owners.

Not to discount the work of the many other plaintiffs, attorneys, and reporters who exposed Chicago's impound racket, but it occurs to me that part of this was all set in motion because Byrd fought for two years before I met him, with barely any resources, and refused to accept a farce where Chicago could take his car for a crime he'd been declared innocent of by a state judge.

Sometimes I imagined that one day Byrd would win his car back, and I'd fly to Chicago to take a picture of him reunited with his beloved Cadillac. That would have been a good story. I had professional self-interest in that of course, but Byrd also was also, as far as I could tell, a decent guy.

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"I have no background in drugs, no felonies, no nothing, just been working hard all my life," Byrd told me at the diner. "I believe the city just wants you to throw money at them and not fight for what's right, and I'm fighting for what's right."

In March, a federal judge ruled in favor of Chicago and dismissed the Institute for Justice's lawsuit challenging the city's impound program. The Institute for Justice says it plans on appealing the decision.

"Chicago's impound program has violated residents' rights for far too long," Institute for Justice senior attorney Diana Simpson said in a press release. "Innocent owners should not face sky-high fines and fees for others' actions, and the city should not treat its car owners as a revenue source. We look forward to appealing this ruling and tackling head-on cases approving of this unconstitutional system."

The post The Man Who Fought Chicago for His Cadillacand Never Got It Back appeared first on Reason.com.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  A man was hospitalized after a Wednesday shooting in Southeast D.C., according to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

Police say officers responded to reports of a shooting at around 2:20 p.m. in the 2700 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE.

DC police searching for suspect after pursuit of stolen vehicle

According to police, a man was found conscious and breathing, suffering from a gunshot wound. He was then transported to a local hospital by DC Fire and EMS.

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Police say the shooting remains under investigation.

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A Dominican national living in Lawrence illegally, who is accused of conspiring to distribute tens of thousands of fentanyl pills across the U.S., was arrested Tuesday, federal prosecutors said.

The man, Juan Alexis Rodriguez Garcia, 35, who had been previously deported, is charged with conspiracy to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl and unlawful reentry of a deported alien. After an initial appearance in federal court in Boston Tuesday, he was ordered detained, U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Leah Foleys office said in a statement.

Rodriguez Garcia was admitted to the U.S. in December 2009 as a lawful permanent resident in Puerto Rico. Nearly seven years later, in November 2016, he was arrested in North Andover for fentanyl distribution, which he was convicted of in May 2018, Foleys office said.

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Rodriguez Garcia was ordered removed from the U.S. in November 2018. But, federal prosecutors say, he reentered the country illegally at some point after that.

Read more: How one machine supercharged illicit drug manufacturing in Mass.

On March 30, as part of an ongoing drug trafficking investigation, law enforcement set up a controlled purchase of 65,000 fentanyl pills from a known drug trafficker. Days later, on April 2, prosecutors say Rodriguez Garcia arrived at the agreed-upon location for the drug purchase in Lawrence.

He was then arrested for immigration violations, Foleys office said.

After his arrest, investigators searched a residence Rodriguez Garcia is accused of visiting immediately before the planned drug deal. During the search, investigators found approximately 64,390 fentanyl pills made to look like pharmaceutical pills. The pills had a net weight of more than 7 kilograms (15.4 pounds), Foleys office said.

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Prosecutors say the pills were packed in three separate vacuum-sealed plastic bags, which were found inside a large black duffel bag. The bag was discovered inside a front closet on the first floor of the residence.

A pair of latent prints taken from the plastic bags matched Rodriguez Garcias fingerprints, according to the statement.

The charge of conspiracy to distribute over 400 grams (14 ounces) of fentanyl carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.

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CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY)  A man has been arrested and is facing misdemeanor charges after troopers with the West Virginia State Police say he was impersonating a Clarksburg Police Officer while under the influence of drugs.

According to a criminal complaint, on April 14, troopers with the West Virginia State Police patrolling East Main Street in Clarksburg noticed a silver Dodge Caliber with a red headlamp hanging from the mirror, which was flashing as an emergency light. When troopers approached the vehicle, they said that the driver switched off the mirror and slammed on the brakes.

Estel Bennett

Troopers said they then pulled over the Caliber and made contact with the driver, Estel Bennett, 58, who told troopers that he was a Clarksburg police officer who also assists local law enforcement.

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Man charged with attempted murder in Morgantown stabbing

After troopers found Delta 9 THC and handcuffs in Bennetts possession, he admitted that he had smoked marijuana and taken non-prescribed valium earlier in the day, the complaint said. He also showed signs of impairment during a sobriety test.

Troopers were also told by the Clarksburg Police Department that Bennett was not an officer or an employee with the agency.

Bennett has been charged with impersonating law enforcement, possession of a controlled substance, DUI and illegally possessing a restricted lampall misdemeanors. He is being held in the North Central Regional Jail.

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JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV)  A man pled guilty to shooting a Lyft driver in Jackson seven times.

Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens announced that Dontarius Magee pled guilty to armed robbery, armed carjacking, attempted murder and kidnapping in connection to the 2021 incident.

Two Capitol police officers indicted in Jaylen Lewis death

On November 2, 2021, Brandy Littrell picked up a passenger through Lyft at Spring Lake Apartments in Byram. Investigators said Magee lured Littrell to the apartment complex, hijacked her vehicle, took her belongings and forced her into the backseat at gunpoint.

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According to police, Magee drove Littrell to a wooded area off of Beasley Road where he ordered her to crawl into the bushes before he shot her at least seven times. Littrell managed to escape and get help. Magee was later arrested and charged in connection to the case.

Dontarius Magee (Courtesy: Hinds Co. Detention Center)

Owens said Magee was sentenced on April 14, 2025, to 25 years for attempted murder, 25 years for armed carjacking, 30 years for kidnapping and 30 years for armed robbery. The sentences will be served concurrently in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC).

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(Reuters) -U.S. home improvement retailer Lowe's Cos said on Monday it has agreed to buy Artisan Design Group for $1.33 billion from private equity firm Sterling Group.

The deal would help expand Lowe's offering for its professional customers at a time when the company and its rival Home Depot are facing slower demand for home remodels and construction activity.

Last year, Home Depot acquired building materials supplier SRS Distribution in an $18.25 billion deal to broaden its professional customer base.

Dallas, Texas-based Artisan Design sells and provides installation services, including flooring, cabinets and countertops, to homebuilders and property managers.

Artisan made $1.8 billion in fiscal 2024 revenue and has 3,200 installers across 18 states, according to the statement by Lowe's.

The retailer will fund the deal with cash on hand, with the transaction expected to close in the second quarter of 2025, subject to receipt of necessary approvals.

Centerview Partners LLC is acting as lead financial adviser to Lowe's, and RBC Capital Markets is acting as lead financial adviser to Artisan Design.

(Reporting by Savyata Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona)
WARREN, Ohio (WKBN)  A Warren man was sentenced Tuesday on an animal cruelty charge.

Randall Charlton pleaded guilty to cruelty to animals, a first-degree misdemeanor. He was sentenced to five days in jail, followed by probation, and ordered not to own or have contact with any domesticated animal, according to court records.

Charlton was charged after the discovery of an emaciated dog. Healthy Hearts and Paws Project founder Jason Cooke was called to Ohio Valley Waste Service in Warren Monday morning after employees found the animal at the facility.

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An investigation revealed that the dog lived nearby. The report states Cooke found fresh dog prints in the snow in a fenced-in area where the dog was housed.

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FORT MYERS, Fla. (WFLA)  A man who allegedly mixed up his building number and accidentally entered the wrong apartment was shot and killed last week.

Juan Diego, 28, lived at The Carlton of Fort Myers apartment complex in building five, his brother Miguel told NBC affiliate WBBH. On the night of April 10, Diego reportedly entered the apartment with the same number as his own, but in building four.

Casanova Killer who murdered woman in Tampa hotel room set to be executed

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The Fort Myers Police Department said Diego, who was armed with a firearm at the time, was trying to enter the apartment. According to WBBH, the occupant inside felt threatened because Diego was banging on the front door.

The occupant called 911 around 11:40 p.m., telling authorities they fired one shot at an armed intruder trying to enter their home.

Officials are investigating this incident as a potential stand your ground case. Florida law states that a person has a right to self-defense if a person unlawfully and by force enters or attempts to enter a persons dwelling, residence or occupied vehiclewith the intent to commit an unlawful act involving force or violence.

Popeyes employee uses customers credit card to send money to inmate, deputies say

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WBBH said no arrests have been made as of this report.

Diegos family held a vigil Tuesday night outside of their Fort Myers home to mourn his death and share memories, WBBH said.

WFLA.com has reached out to the apartment complex and the Fort Myers Police Department for additional information on the incident.

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CHICAGO  A man was shot multiple times while walking his dog on the citys West Side.

The shooting happened around 1:37 a.m. Wednesday on the 3100 block of West Lexington Street in Garfield Park.

Police said a 38-year-old man was walking his dog when he was approached on foot by another man who took out a gun and opened fire on the victim.

The 38-year-old sustained multiple gunshot wounds about the body, according to police.

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The victim self-transported to Mount Sinai Hospital in good condition. Police said the offender fled the scene.

No one is in custody. Area Four Detectives are investigating.

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Detectives in Orange County reached out to the public Wednesday morning in hopes of locating a man wanted for assaulting his pregnant girlfriend and her daughter.

Jorge Luis Tapia, 24, is suspected of attacking and causing significant injuries to his girlfriend, the Santa Ana Police Department posted on X.

He also reportedly assaulted her 5-year-old daughter during the same incident, police said.

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The post did not give the date of the incident, but said in Wednesdays post that Tapia was believed to be driving a gold 2001 Chevrolet Suburban with California plate number 5JPX904.

Jorge Tapia is seen in an image provided by the Santa Ana Police Department.

Police said Tapia is known to frequent the area of Lyon Street and McFadden Avenue.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts was asked to contact Detective C. Gutierrez by phone at 714-245-8350 or by email at cgutierrez@santa-ana.org. Information can also be shared with the Watch Commander at 714-245-8700.

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SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)A manuscript detailing the first European expedition deep into modern-day America has been discovered. It was donated by district judge Gayle Hamilton in 2020 to LSU Shreveports James Smith Noel Collection as part of his collection of 4,000 volumes covering Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi history.

LSU Shreveports Noel Collection doubles European history offerings with recent acquisitions

A handwritten version of La Florida del Inca describes Spanish conquistador Hernando de Sotos journey into Florida and what is now the southeastern United States in the 1530s and 1540s, according to a press release.

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Judge Hamilton had some knowledge of this manuscript, but he wasnt exactly sure of the provenance of it, said Ruth Herring Endowed Chair and Noel Collection curator Dr. Alexander Mikaberidze.

Dr. Alexander Mikaberidze holds the manuscript La Florida del Inca, which details Spanish conquistador Hernando de Sotos trek into Florida and what is now the southeastern United States in the 1530s and 1540s.

Investigation revealed that the manuscript could be an original version of Inca Garcilaso de la Vegas, the first mestizo (people of mixed European and Indigenous ancestry) writer and historian.

We investigated the manuscript, and its an early handwritten copy of Vegas work, which was published in 1605, Mikaberidze said. Weve determined that this specific manuscript was copied in 1616. It remains a highly valuable document because only two copies of the printed book have been sold in the past 75 years, and no other handwritten copy is known to exist.

De La Vega descends from Incan royalty and Spanish conquistadors. He grew up with the Inca tribe until the age of 21 before moving to Spain to receive a more formal education, according to the release.

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De La Vegas most notable work is the Comentarios Reales de los Incas, based on stories and oral histories passed down by his Incan family members, but La Florida del Inca is his first work. The manuscript was his first draft before detailing the first account of Incan history and Spanish conquest from an indigenous viewpoint.

Marshall, Texas, begins year-long celebration for Americas 250th birthday

Mikaberidze pointed out that the printing press was very new in the early 1600s, which necessitated handwritten copies of the book that included the doodles and smudges of the scribe.

Gloria Hamilton and Herbie Hamilton, the wife and the late district judge Gayle Hamilton, stand with members of the Noel Foundation and LSUS administration Wednesday in the Noel Memorial Library.

Hamiltons wife, Gloria, and son, Herbie, officially transferred trust of the manuscript to the Noel Collection on Wednesday.

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LSUS Chancellor Dr. Robert Smith said the manuscript will be studied and enjoyed by generations of students and scholars. The Hamilton family picked the right place to keep this document because of the judges rich history right here in Shreveport.

Hamilton graduated from C.E. Byrd High before enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II and was stationed in the Pacific Theater at Guadalcanal and Okinawa. He was part of the invasion force at Okinawa and later stationed in Beijing.

LSU Health Shreveport honors 10 faculty with Research Excellence Awards

After returning to the U.S., Hamilton graduated with a psychology degree from Southern Methodist University. He studied law during his time off from working as an oil scout and landman. He passed the bar exam without attending law school and practiced law for 20 years, later serving three successive terms as a Louisiana district judge in Caddo Parish.

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Judge Hamilton was a bibliophile who had a great love of books and knowledge, and today is a celebration of that love, Mikaberidze said.

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Colleges across the country are facing battles with the federal government over funding, but similar cuts and the potential elimination of the Education Department may be existential for historically Black colleges and universities, according to at least six college administrators and leaders who spoke with NBC News.

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical Universitys (FAMU) college of pharmacy lost a $16.3 million federal grant in late March, as the Trump administration has threatened cuts at American colleges over diversity, equity and inclusion on campus. The moves are causing several Black colleges to consider what their budgets may look like with less or no federal funding.

Were at this position where we realize that our ancestors did not rely on federal money in order to get the work done, said Fatima Brunson, an assistant professor for education at Spelman College, a private womens HBCU in Atlanta with about 2,600 students.

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Still, for the 100 or so HBCUs in the country  some of which were underfunded by more than $12 billion over the last 30 years compared with non-HBCUs, according to a 2022 Forbes analysis  federal cuts may translate to staff cuts, fewer students and the elimination of certain programs, according to two HBCU administrators who spoke to NBC News on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on behalf of their universities.

One of the HBCU leaders described a shared culture of concern across Black colleges.

Students and others at these institutions are getting a steady and really unmistakable message that they are the enemies of the Trump administration at all levels, the HBCU leader said. If there is a hiccup there, then we are going to get a stomach ulcer.

Fifty-four percent of Black colleges total revenue depends on federal and state funds, compared with just one-third for other colleges and universities, making them susceptible to economic downturns, state divestments from higher education, or policy changes, the authors of a 2019 report by the United Negro College Fund wrote.

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The dilemma has fueled angst at these institutions  where, on average, 3 in 4 students also receive need-based federal aid  about who will have access to financial resources and benefits and who wont. Seventy-three percent of HBCU students receive Pell Grants, the low-income federal student aid program, which were traditionally issued by the Education Department, compared with 36% of non-HBCU students, according to the United Negro College Fund.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment. Madi Biedermann, the Education Departments deputy assistant secretary for communications, said the department will not be shutting down immediately, and that federally mandated programs have not been moved out of the Education Department as of now.

As President Trump and Secretary McMahon have made clear, sunsetting the Department of Education will be done in partnership with Congress and national and state leaders to ensure all statutorily required programs are managed responsibly and where they best serve students and families, Biedermann said in a statement to NBC News on Wednesday.

Valerie Kinloch, who became president of Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina, less than two years ago, expected challenges in her position. She did not anticipate having to weather the eventual dismantling of the Education Department or preparing to reimagine university life without federal funds.

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And yet, she said, we are.

Kinlochs predicament mirrors what many Black colleges and universities are experiencing as they brace for potential staffing cuts and reduced student enrollment as the Education Department heads toward being shuttered by the Trump administration.

To make up for a potential shortfall, her university launched a $10 million fundraising initiative to match the amount of federal aid it receives.

Kinloch noted that while some financial responsibilities for colleges also fall to states, she is concerned about the future of federal programs like Upward Bound, which helps first-generation college students and is backed by the Education Department.

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Grant funding for critical health and science research, including several ongoing projects that address housing and health care inequalities that can transform lives, she said, may also be in danger due to cuts.

Black colleges contribute roughly $15 billion to their local economies in addition to tens of thousands of jobs, according to the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.

For example, FAMUs lost $16.3 million federal grant supported new faculty hires and funded research into artificial intelligence and cancer biology, including colorectal cancer disparities in Black Americans. The school is now appealing the decision to the National Institutes of Health, an agency under the Department of Health and Human Services.

No further cuts have come down yet, but Charles Weatherford, vice president for research at FAMU, said that the loss of funding from the Department of Education could potentially impact funds that have been used to support graduate students and academic departmental innovation. Less funding opportunities would impact the types of financial support available to students to further their higher education aspirations.

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With cuts, new federal restrictions and confusion looming over colleges, some HBCU leaders say their colleges are exploring what life without government funding would look like  while acknowledging that not every campus has that privilege.

More than 300,000 students attend about 100 accredited HBCUs across 19 states, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

North Carolina A&T, the biggest HBCU, has the largest endowment of all Black public colleges, with $202 million in its coffers. Howard University, a private school in Washington, D.C., recently became the first Black college to have a $1 billion endowment.

As an institution and HBCU, Spelman College has positioned themselves to feel pretty confident that were OK, said Spelmans Brunson. But its not the same for each HBCU.

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Eighteen Black colleges, including Howard, were among the 30 most reliant on federal funds for their operating revenues, according to 2023 federal education data.

Hassiem Kambui, an education professor at a public HBCU and author of Africentric Education: Public Schools Versus Charter Schools, said he sees this time of evolution for Black colleges as a moment to reinvest in self-preservation.

This is an opportunity to look at ourselves as educators and evaluate how we are moving on education, focusing on change and the lessons we can learn associated with how American students are served given those allocated funds, Kambui said.

President Donald Trump has threatened to pull federal funding from colleges that dont rid their curriculums and offices of DEI-related materials and practices, even investigating 45 universities that have partnered with The PhD Project, which aims to diversify faculties at business schools. While no HBCUs are among those listed, HBCU leaders anticipate that its only a matter of time.

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By banning DEI practices in the federal government and putting pressure on private companies to do the same, Trump has prophesied, Our country will be woke no longer. This comes as HBCUs are experiencing record enrollment numbers following the Supreme Courts 2023 decision to strike down affirmative action programs and race-based admissions at predominantly white institutions.

In February, the U.S. Department of Agriculture briefly suspended its 1890 scholars program, an initiative at 19 HBCUs that covers the full tuition of selected agricultural studies students. The program was restored four days later, and the federal government did not explain why it had been initially suspended.

Many HBCU leaders see consistent roadblocks for Black schools as evidence of a coordinated strategy at the highest levels of the country to undermine their existence.

Brunson, said she sees this moment as an opportunity to reset.

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Education is under attack and its just something that were kind of in the trenches with, she said. If anything, its making us go back to the deeper philosophical reason for why we are here in the first place.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
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Not too long ago, Nvidia (NVDA) seemed unstoppable.

If recent market woes and the Nvidia pullback have investors down, they should consider the bigger picture, according to Lawrence "Larry" McDonald, founder of the Bear Traps Report.

"You can make a lot of money by investing in the power infrastructure plays," he told Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi for an episode of the Opening Bid podcast (see the video above or listen below).

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He added that Nvidia's forecasts include $3 trillion in growth and that copper has a bright future related to it. "If you really, really listen to Jensen [Huang] and the Nvidia gods, the only way they get to their growth trajectory is with a lot more copper."

"If you look at the copper or oil names, they're down 30, sometimes, 25% off the highs," he said. "The future looks great for them because the valuation setup is so skewed."

McDonald is no stranger to helping the average investor through turbulent market moments.

Among other things, the Bear Traps Report aims to demystify political policy risk for investors and related investment strategies. McDonald is also the author of two books, including 2024's "How to Listen When Markets Speak."

Plenty of speculation and concern had gripped investors related to Trump's tariffs and their impact on technology. Markets have responded accordingly.

Read more: The latest news and updates on Trump's tariffs

The boost to 145% tariffs earlier this month on Chinese goods resulted in consumers bracing for sticker-shock prices on items such as iPhones. Meanwhile, Apple (AAPL) reportedly flew $2 billion worth of iPhones from India in March just before the first round of tariffs took hold.

Nvidia had to take a $5.5 billion charge this week because of fresh restrictions on its AI chip exports to China.

In an April 10 note, Citi analyst Atif Malik maintained a Buy rating on Nvidia but lowered estimates "to align with our revised hyperscaler capex model of +35%/+15% spend reflecting mostly lower Microsoft capex concerns and higher risk of pause in enterprise investments amid uncertainty around the global economy due to ongoing trade war," he wrote.

McDonald said despite his interest in copper as a way to play AI, Nvidia remains poised for AI greatness. It may just take a bit for the stock to work higher again.

"You can make a lot of money by investing in the power infrastructure plays," he said.
Mount Sinai Hospital ranks the fourth highest among hospitals across 20 states for spending far more money on charity care and helping its community than what it saves through tax exemptions, according to a new report from the Lown Institute.

The West Side hospital spent an average of $78 million more a year on charity care and investing in its community than it saved from tax exemptions given to not-for-profit hospitals, between 2020 and 2022, according to the report from Lown, a Massachusetts-based think tank.

The report also identified Illinois hospitals that have done the opposite  spent less on charity care and community investment than what they saved through tax exemptions. Among the 10 biggest offenders in Illinois are Endeavor Healths hospitals in Evanston, Glenview, Highland Park and Skokie (as a group), as well as Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge and Northwestern Memorial Hospital, among others, according to the report.

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There are a lot of hospitals that actually give back a lot more directly to their communities in meaningful ways than they enjoy in terms of the tax benefit or tax exemption, but there are unfortunately a lot of hospitals that are not, that are in deficit, said Dr. Vikas Saini, president of the Lown Institute. We have a system where theres a lot of out of balance.

The issue of whether hospitals should receive tax exemptions has been a topic of debate for years with some saying that many not-for-profit hospitals operate like profitable businesses and should have to pay more taxes. Hospital leaders, meanwhile, say they need the tax exemptions to continue to do important work and provide charitable care to patients who are unable to pay.

Nonprofit hospitals receive local, state and federal tax exemptions, but are required to report to the IRS each year how much money they spend to benefit their communities. In Illinois, not-for-profit hospitals dont have to pay property taxes as long as the value of their charitable services is at least equal to their property tax savings. Most hospitals in Illinois are not-for-profit.

The sometimes stark differences between hospitals in the same metropolitan area reflect a pattern in urban markets in which some hospitals with many resources are often inaccessible to low-income patients, while safety net hospitals that serve more of these patients operate on thin margins, according to the report.

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Mount Sinai, which serves many patients who are uninsured or on Medicaid, has long been a leader when it comes to spending on charity care and on helping its community, said Dr. Ngozi Ezike, president and CEO of Sinai Chicago. In addition to caring for patients regardless of their health insurance coverage, the hospital also works to help patients such as by paying for their transportation to medical care and giving car seats to new parents in need.

We are a safety net that doesnt do the wallet biopsy and takes care of everyone that comes through our doors, Ezike said. If were serious about narrowing some of the gaps that we see between the communities that we serve and much more affluent communities in this very same city of Chicago we need to do more, not less.

Ezike acknowledged that it can be tough to spend so much on charity care and community support, and that the hospital is running in the red. She said the hospital relies on government funding, grants, philanthropy and corporate partnerships to help fill some of the gaps.

In response to the reports findings, Endeavor Health said in a statement Tuesday that the Lown Institutes methodology paints an incomplete and misleading picture. Endeavor said Lown misrepresents the scope and impact of its work by lumping four of its hospitals together as one, and leaves out certain types of contributions Endeavor makes to its communities. Each of the hospitals surpass the states requirements for community benefits, according to the statement.

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In 2023, Endeavor Health provided nearly $509 million in total community benefits, including charitable care, medical research, education, and initiatives addressing the social drivers of health, Endeavor said in the statement. The Lown Institute applies a one-size-fits-all approach across nearly 2,000 hospitals that fails to account for local context or system-level investments.

Advocate Health Care said in a statement Tuesday, We remain focused on redefining care for all, contributing $1.2 billion in charitable care and services across the Chicago area annually. Northwestern Memorial did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday afternoon.

Across Illinois, Lown found that 63% of private, nonprofit hospitals saved more from tax exemptions than they spent on community investment. Lown analyzed data for 140 nonprofit hospitals in Illinois, using data from the IRS and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as well as municipal property data. Lown looked at more than 1,800 hospitals across 20 states.

In all, Illinois nonprofit hospitals received an average of $2.3 billion in tax exemptions each year between 2020 and 2022, according to the report. During that same time, Illinois nonprofit hospitals spent an average of $1.4 billion a year on charity care and community investments.

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The four Endeavor hospitals saved an average of $152 million more a year in tax exemptions, as a group, than they spent on charity care and on community benefit, according to Lown. Advocate Christ saved an annual average of $71 million more in tax exemptions than it spent on charity care and community benefit, Advocate Lutheran saved an average of $68 million more, and Northwestern saved an average of $50 million a year more.

Chicago-area hospitals on the other end of the list  those that spent more on community investment than they saved through tax exemptions  include Franciscan Health Olympia Fields, St. Bernard Hospital and Health Care Center, Holy Cross Hospital and Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital, according to the report.

Olympia Fields spent an average of $16 million more a year on charity care and community benefit than it received through tax exemptions, St. Bernard spent an average of $12 million more a year, and Holy Cross and Swedish hospitals each spent $11 million more a year on average, according to the report.
A recreational marijuana user smokes weed in the Bushwick section of the Brooklyn borough of New York City. This year, marijuana advocates are playing defense in multiple state legislatures. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images.)

As every state surrounding Idaho legalized marijuana, state Rep. Bruce Skaug started to view it as inevitable that the Gem State would follow suit.

Not anymore.

Skaug, a Republican, supported two bills this legislative session taking aim at marijuana use: one to impose a mandatory minimum $300 fine for possession and another that would take away the right of voters to legalize pot at the ballot box.

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He believes other states are starting to regret liberalizing marijuana use, because of potential health concerns and lackluster revenues from marijuana sales.

Looking around at other states that have legalized marijuana, its not improved their states as a place to raise a family, to do business, he said. It just hasnt come through with the promises that we heard years ago for those states.

Idahos not alone. After years of expanding legal access, lawmakers in several states this year have targeted marijuana in various ways.

To help close budget gaps, officials in Maryland, Michigan and New Jersey have proposed raising marijuana taxes. Health concerns have pushed lawmakers in states including Colorado and Montana to attempt to cap the level of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the primary psychoactive component in cannabis, in marijuana products sold at dispensaries. And some lawmakers have even tried to roll back voter-approved medical marijuana programs.

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Looking around at other states that have legalized marijuana, it's not improved their states.

 Idaho Republican state Rep. Bruce Skaug

This year in particular, were playing defense a lot more than we have in the past, said Morgan Fox, political director at the advocacy group National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, or NORML.

To some extent, he said, the pendulum on marijuana liberalization is swinging back. But Fox said recent legislative efforts are not indicative of waning public support for legalization. He said prohibitionist politicians have been emboldened to act against the will of voters.

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Polling from the Pew Research Center has found little change in support for legalization in recent years: 57% of U.S. adults say that marijuana should be legal for medical and recreational purposes.

Colorado and Washington state began allowing recreational marijuana sales in 2014. Today, 24 states and the District of Columbia allow recreational sales, and 39 states and the district have sanctioned medical marijuana.

Theres been this air of inevitability for a while, said Daniel Mallinson, an associate professor of public policy at Penn State Harrisburg who researches marijuana legalization.

With medical marijuana programs operational in most states, Mallinson said there is pressure to expand recreational marijuana, especially given uncertainty over whether the federal government will act on the issue.

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Recreational is still in its takeoff period, he said.

But he acknowledged that new medical research has raised concerns among some lawmakers. One study published in January found a link between heavy marijuana use and memory function. Other studies have found a higher risk of heart attacks among people who use cannabis.

Mallinson said the research on marijuana is very young, as many institutions are wary of conducting clinical trials because of federal drug laws. The federal government classifies marijuana as a Schedule I drug  the same classification as drugs such as heroin and ecstasy.

Theres a mixture of science and politics in this area, he said.   I could imagine seeing in these really conservative states like Idaho, you know, this kind of a backlash, like, we dont want this here at all, so were going to try to put up barriers to even considering it.

A debate headed for the ballot

In Idaho, Skaug said he pursued the states new mandatory $300 fine for marijuana possession to bring more consistency to how the state handles marijuana cases.

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While Idaho law previously allowed fines of up to $1,000, he said judges had issued fines as low as $2.50.

So that wasnt the right message. Thats not even worth the time to write the ticket, he said. So its not that were going to arrest more people for misdemeanor possession of marijuana, but there will be more citations in the amount of $300.

Skaug also backed a proposed constitutional amendment that would give only the legislature the power to legalize marijuana and other drugs. That question will go to voters next year.

Skaug said hes worried outside groups would influence a public vote to legalize marijuana by pouring millions into a ballot initiative campaign. If the amendment he supports passes, it wouldnt ban pot  it would leave legalization up to lawmakers.

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If the evidence comes back that says marijuana or some other drug is positive in the medical community and a good thing, then the legislature can legalize that, he said. But were going to leave it with the legislature.

Advocates have been trying without success to get enough signatures to put a medical marijuana question on the ballot for more than a decade in Idaho, said Democratic state Rep. Ilana Rubel. The House minority leader, Rubel said she hit a firm brick wall in pitching medical marijuana legislation in Boise, where GOP lawmakers privately tell her they dont want to look soft on crime.

She views the proposed amendment as another example of the GOP-controlled statehouse being out of touch with regular Idahoans. She said the states closed Republican primaries have led to more conservative stances from lawmakers.

I think this is one of those issues where there is just a huge, huge gap between what the people of Idaho want and what theyre going to get from their legislature, she said.

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A 2022 poll commissioned by the Idaho Statesman found that nearly 70% of Idahoans supported legalizing medical marijuana.

But even discussions about medical marijuana are shut down in Idaho because of concerns about problems with drugs in liberal cities such as Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Rubel said.

A very large number of red states have legalized medical marijuana, and they havent seen any of the parade of horribles that has been presented whenever we introduce this idea, she said. Theres just a lot of hysteria and paranoia about where this is going to lead that is really not tied to reality.

Targeting marijuana potency, revenues

In several states, lawmakers have aimed to restrict the potency of marijuana products.

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Montana state Sen. Greg Hertz, a Republican, said he doesnt want to end recreational marijuana sales, which voters approved in 2020. But he said todays products are much stronger than people may realize.

People were voting for Woodstock weed, not this new high-THC marijuana, he said.

A bill he sponsored this year would have banned sales of recreational marijuana products, including flower and edibles, exceeding THC levels of 15%. Montana currently allows up to 35% THC in flower, with no limit on other products.

That legislation stalled, but Hertz said he plans to pitch a similar measure during Montanas next legislative session in 2027.

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A separate bill reducing the states dosage of THC for edibles just passed the legislature last week. The measure, which now heads to Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte, would change the individual dosage limit on edibles such as gummies from 10 milligrams to 5 milligrams.

Hertz said the state rushed into its liberalization of marijuana without fully understanding the consequences.

He pointed to state health department data showing rising emergency room visits related to marijuana and dozens of cannabis poisoning cases in recent years  including 36 involving children 10 years or younger.

We probably opened up the barn door too wide, he said. Im just trying to slow this down a little bit.

With many states facing gaping budget holes this year, marijuana has proven a popular target from Democrats and Republicans looking to raise revenues without across-the-board tax increases.

Maryland Democratic Gov. Wes Moore in January proposed hiking the cannabis tax from 9% to 15% to help close the states $3 billion budget hole. In March, lawmakers agreed to a budget framework that would raise the state marijuana tax to 12%.

Ohio Republican Gov. Mike DeWine proposed doubling marijuana taxes from 10% to 20%  a notion that has so far faced opposition in the legislature.

In Michigan, Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer proposed a new 32% wholesale tax on marijuana growers to help fund road improvements. That tax would be on top of the 10% excise tax on recreational marijuana and the states 6% sales tax.

Whitmer said it would close a loophole that has exempted the marijuana industry from wholesale tax, which is applied to cigarettes and other tobacco products. Michigan lawmakers, split sharply along partisan lines, have until Sept. 30 to approve a state budget.

Lawmakers in some states have even taken aim at voter-approved medical marijuana programs this year.

In South Dakota, a bill that failed in committee would have gutted the medical marijuana program overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2020.

In November, Nebraska voters widely supported ballot measures to roll out a medical marijuana program  winning majority support in each of the states 49 legislative districts.

But setting up the regulatory scheme has proven controversial, the Nebraska Examiner reported. Lawmakers are pursuing legislation that would define which medical conditions and forms of cannabis would qualify.

Medical marijuana advocates say overly strict rules would hamper the program and undermine the will of voters. But some legislators insist on limitations to prevent widespread access to marijuana.

We make it legal for anything and everything, its essentially recreational marijuana at that point, state Sen. Rick Holdcroft, a Republican, told the Nebraska Examiner this month.

Stateline reporter Kevin Hardy can be reached at khardy@stateline.org.

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This year, marijuana advocates are playing defense in multiple state legislatures. (Photo by Pete Starman/Getty Images)

As every state surrounding Idaho legalized marijuana, state Rep. Bruce Skaug started to view it as inevitable that the Gem State would follow suit.

Not anymore.

Skaug, a Republican, supported two bills this legislative session taking aim at marijuana use: one to impose a mandatory minimum $300 fine for possession and another that would take away the right of voters to legalize pot at the ballot box.

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He believes other states are starting to regret liberalizing marijuana use because of potential health concerns and lackluster revenues from marijuana sales.

Looking around at other states that have legalized marijuana, its not improved their states as a place to raise a family, to do business, he said. It just hasnt come through with the promises that we heard years ago for those states.

Idahos not alone.

After years of expanding legal access, lawmakers in several states this year have targeted marijuana in various ways.

To help close budget gaps, officials in Maryland, Michigan and New Jersey have proposed raising marijuana taxes.

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Health concerns have pushed lawmakers in states including Colorado and Montana to attempt to cap the level of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC  the primary psychoactive component in cannabis  in marijuana products sold at dispensaries. And some lawmakers have even tried to roll back voter-approved medical marijuana programs.

Looking around at other states that have legalized marijuana, it's not improved their states.

 Idaho Republican state Rep. Bruce Skaug

This year in particular, were playing defense a lot more than we have in the past, said Morgan Fox, political director at the advocacy group National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, or NORML.

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To some extent, he said, the pendulum on marijuana liberalization is swinging back.

SC opinions

More than three-fourths of South Carolinians support marijuana prescribed by a doctor, while 56% support recreational use.

The latter is more lopsided by party: 45% of self-identified Republicans favor legalizing recreational use, compared to 62% of self-identified Democrats, according to an April 2023 Winthrop Poll, the last that asked about marijuana.

That compares to 76% of all adults responding to an April 2015 Winthrop Poll saying marijuana should not be broadly legalized for personal use.

Source: Winthrop Poll

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But Fox said recent legislative efforts are not indicative of waning public support for legalization. He said prohibitionist politicians have been emboldened to act against the will of voters.

Polling from the Pew Research Center has found little change in support for legalization in recent years: 57% of U.S. adults say that marijuana should be legal for medical and recreational purposes.

Thats roughly in line with the latest polling in South Carolina, where marijuana remains illegal.

Colorado and Washington state began allowing recreational marijuana sales in 2014. Today, 24 states and the District of Columbia allow recreational sales, and 39 states and the district have sanctioned medical marijuana.

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Theres been this air of inevitability for a while, said Daniel Mallinson, an associate professor of public policy at Penn State Harrisburg who researches marijuana legalization.

With medical marijuana programs operational in most states, Mallinson said there is pressure to expand recreational marijuana, especially given uncertainty over whether the federal government will act on the issue.

Recreational is still in its takeoff period, he said.

In South Carolina, efforts to legalize marijuana for patients with chronic illnesses have failed repeatedly for over a decade. The idea has twice passed the state Senate but never received a vote on the House floor, with opponents arguing it would create the framework for a full-scale marijuana industry and wide-open legalization.

GOP Sen. Tom Davis of Beaufort, whos led the effort, has refiled legislation to try again. But his bill has yet to even get a hearing this year.

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Mallinson acknowledged that new medical research has raised concerns among some lawmakers.

One study published in January found a link between heavy marijuana use and memory function. Other studies have found a higher risk of heart attacks among people who use cannabis.

Mallinson said the research on marijuana is very young, as many institutions are wary of conducting clinical trials because of federal drug laws.

The federal government classifies marijuana as a Schedule I drug  the same classification as drugs such as heroin and ecstasy.

Theres a mixture of science and politics in this area, he said. I could imagine seeing in these really conservative states like Idaho, you know, this kind of a backlash, like, we dont want this here at all, so were going to try to put up barriers to even considering it.

A debate headed for the ballot

In Idaho, Skaug said he pursued the states new mandatory $300 fine for marijuana possession to bring more consistency to how the state handles marijuana cases.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

While Idaho law previously allowed fines of up to $1,000, he said judges had issued fines as low as $2.50.

So that wasnt the right message. Thats not even worth the time to write the ticket, he said. So its not that were going to arrest more people for misdemeanor possession of marijuana, but there will be more citations in the amount of $300.

Skaug also backed a proposed constitutional amendment that would give only the legislature the power to legalize marijuana and other drugs. That question will go to voters next year.

Skaug said hes worried outside groups would influence a public vote to legalize marijuana by pouring millions into a ballot initiative campaign. If the amendment he supports passes, it wouldnt ban pot  it would leave legalization up to lawmakers.

Advertisement Advertisement

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If the evidence comes back that says marijuana or some other drug is positive in the medical community and a good thing, then the legislature can legalize that, he said. But were going to leave it with the legislature.

(In South Carolina, thats already the case. The state constitution doesnt allow voter-driven ballot initiatives. Only the Legislature can create laws, and it takes a supermajority approval in both chambers to put a question on ballots asking voters whether the constitution should be amended.)

In Idaho, advocates have been trying without success to get enough signatures to put a medical marijuana question on the ballot for more than a decade, said Democratic state Rep. Ilana Rubel, the House minority leader.

Rubel said she hit a firm brick wall in pitching medical marijuana legislation in Boise, where GOP lawmakers privately tell her they dont want to look soft on crime.

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She views the proposed amendment as another example of the GOP-controlled statehouse being out of touch with regular Idahoans. She said the states closed Republican primaries have led to more conservative stances from lawmakers.

I think this is one of those issues where there is just a huge, huge gap between what the people of Idaho want and what theyre going to get from their legislature, she said.

A 2022 poll commissioned by the Idaho Statesman found that nearly 70% of Idahoans supported legalizing medical marijuana.

But even discussions about medical marijuana are shut down in Idaho because of concerns about problems with drugs in liberal cities such as Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Rubel said.

A very large number of red states have legalized medical marijuana, and they havent seen any of the parade of horribles that has been presented whenever we introduce this idea, she said. Theres just a lot of hysteria and paranoia about where this is going to lead that is really not tied to reality.

Targeting marijuana potency, revenues

In several states, lawmakers have aimed to restrict the potency of marijuana products.

Montana state Sen. Greg Hertz, a Republican, said he doesnt want to end recreational marijuana sales, which voters approved in 2020. But he said todays products are much stronger than people may realize.

People were voting for Woodstock weed, not this new high-THC marijuana, he said.

A bill he sponsored this year would have banned sales of recreational marijuana products, including flower and edibles, exceeding THC levels of 15%. Montana currently allows up to 35% THC in flower, with no limit on other products.

That legislation stalled, but Hertz said he plans to pitch a similar measure during Montanas next legislative session in 2027.

A separate bill reducing the states dosage of THC for edibles just passed the legislature last week. The measure, which now heads to Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte, would change the individual dosage limit on edibles such as gummies from 10 milligrams to 5 milligrams.

Hertz said the state rushed into its liberalization of marijuana without fully understanding the consequences.

He pointed to state health department data showing rising emergency room visits related to marijuana and dozens of cannabis poisoning cases in recent years  including 36 involving children 10 years or younger.

We probably opened up the barn door too wide, he said. Im just trying to slow this down a little bit.

With many states facing gaping budget holes this year, marijuana has proven a popular target from Democrats and Republicans looking to raise revenues without across-the-board tax increases.

Maryland Democratic Gov. Wes Moore in January proposed hiking the cannabis tax from 9% to 15% to help close the states $3 billion budget hole. In March, lawmakers agreed to a budget framework that would raise the state marijuana tax to 12%.

Ohio Republican Gov. Mike DeWine proposed doubling marijuana taxes from 10% to 20%  a notion that has so far faced opposition in the legislature.

In Michigan, Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer proposed a new 32% wholesale tax on marijuana growers to help fund road improvements. That tax would be on top of the 10% excise tax on recreational marijuana and the states 6% sales tax.

Whitmer said it would close a loophole that has exempted the marijuana industry from wholesale tax, which is applied to cigarettes and other tobacco products. Michigan lawmakers, split sharply along partisan lines, have until Sept. 30 to approve a state budget.

Lawmakers in some states have even taken aim at voter-approved medical marijuana programs this year.

In South Dakota, a bill that failed in committee would have gutted the medical marijuana program overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2020.

In November, Nebraska voters widely supported ballot measures to roll out a medical marijuana program  winning majority support in each of the states 49 legislative districts.

But setting up the regulatory scheme has proven controversial, the Nebraska Examiner reported. Lawmakers are pursuing legislation that would define which medical conditions and forms of cannabis would qualify.

Medical marijuana advocates say overly strict rules would hamper the program and undermine the will of voters. But some legislators insist on limitations to prevent widespread access to marijuana.

We make it legal for anything and everything, its essentially recreational marijuana at that point, state Sen. Rick Holdcroft, a Republican, told the Nebraska Examiner this month.

Stateline reporter Kevin Hardy can be reached at khardy@stateline.org.

SC Daily Gazette Editor Seanna Adcox contributed to this report.

Like the SC Daily Gazette, 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.
The United States Marine Corps removed a commander from his position after deciding he was unfit to lead, according to the Marine Corps.

Col. Mark D. Bortnem was relieved of his duties as commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort on April 14, and reassigned to duties at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island.

This decision was made due to a loss of trust and confidence in Bortnems ability to command, said Nat Fahy, a Marine Corps Installations East spokesperson.

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Brig. Gen. Ralph J. Rizzo, Jr., commanding general of Marine Corps Installations East-Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, handed down the decision.

Lt. Col. Michael R. Eubanks - Air Station Beauforts headquarters and headquarters squadron executive officer - will assume Bortnems previous position in the interim until another individual is appointed.

The Marine Corps did not provide any further details as to the circumstances of the firing, which was first reported by The Island News.

Bortnem, who has served in the Marine Corps for over 30 years, took over as commander of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort in July 2023. Hes logged nearly 3,000 flight hours throughout the duration of his career, including more than 500 hours of combat time.

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After enlisting in 1991, he served as a supply administration and operations specialist in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, before going on to join the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program. He attended Ohio State University from 1994 to 1998 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant there, beginning his time as an officer.

In the early aughts, he became a naval flight officer after attending flight school, joined the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 332, and deployed to Iraq for several Operation Iraqi Freedom combat missions.

He continued to ascend the ranks until he was assigned in 2016 to be the Marine Forces Pacific air officer and director of aviation operations at Camp Smith, Hawaii. In 2022, he was eventually appointed as director of the commandant of the Marine Corps Safety Division, his last position before taking over as commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene says DOGE-style offices should be in every part of government.

Greene held a town hall in Georgia, where police tossed out several protesters.

Greene dismissed concerns over losing Social Security benefits to White House DOGE office cuts.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said at her town hall session in Cobb County, Georgia, on Tuesday that DOGE-like groups that "reduce waste, fraud, and abuse" should be "in every part of government."

"Absolutely," said Greene, who is also the chairwoman of the House DOGE Subcommittee, in response to an on-screen question about whether she could see a role for DOGE-like offices at the state level.

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"I think it is happening in Georgia  I've heard there are over 70 counties that have, that are creating DOGE groups," Greene added.

There have been efforts to bring DOGE-like offices to state and local government. The campaigns also often come with names like Wisconsin's GOAT committee, Florida's FLOGE, and the BullDOGEr in North Carolina.

Georgia's proposed version, the Red Tape Rollback Act of 2025, sponsored entirely by Republican state senators, would require state agencies to complete a top-to-bottom review of all rules and regulations every four years and look into the economic impact of all proposed rules.

As of March 19, the legislation moved out of committee in the Georgia House of Representatives.

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Greene, currently representing Georgia District 14, went ahead with the Tuesday town hall in a Harris-won county despite House Speaker Mike Johnson urging Republican lawmakers to stop conducting in-person town halls as the GOP faces angry crowds.

The town hall at the Acworth Community Center proceeded under a police presence who were quick to remove protesters. The Q&A session displayed questions on screen instead of interacting with the audience live.

Punctuated with boos and occasional angry yells, the police removed at least five at the event, more than one person was tased, and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that at least one was arrested.

The Acworth Police Department and Greene did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Greene also faced on-screen questions concerning how Social Security and Medicaid would be affected by DOGE's firing of workers and closure of some field offices, potentially inducing long wait times and forcing recipients to travel longer distances to reach in-person offices.

"Well, Christina, I'm sure you think you are pretty smart, but the reality is you are being completely brainwashed by whatever source of news you listen to," said Greene to a concerned constituent's question. "No one has lost their Social Security, no one has lost their Medicaid."

Read the original article on Business Insider
At least two protesters were tased by police officers at Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greenes (R-Ga.) town hall Tuesday in Acworth, Georgia. Several others were removed from the room for interrupting the congresswoman.

Videos on social media show one man being electrocuted by a gaggle of police officers as he was dragged out of the room. Another individual was shoved and tased by officers seemingly just outside the doors of the hall where Greene was speaking, to cheers and applause from her supporters. Police told several news outlets that at least four other people were removed from the town hall for protesting.

In a video posted to X, Greene said: America overwhelmingly voted in November for President Trump, Republican control of the House and the Senate, and how people should handle their businesses is in the voting booth.

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Theres no reason for screaming, yelling, ridiculous, outrageous, protesting that disrupts the entire event for every single person that is there, she added. In the caption to the video, Greene wrote that she refused to tolerate their selfish attempts to disrupt an event that was for all of my constituents, not just the ones who could make the most noise.

But as much as Greene would like to claim that her main concern was listening and responding to the voters in her district, videos show her openly mocking attendees who questioned her policies and support for President Donald Trump.

When asked by a constituent what she would do as a representative to rein in Trump and protect services like Social Security, Greene took on a sarcastic tone: Oh poor Christina. Poor, poor Christina. Well Im sure, Christina, you think youre pretty smart, but the reality is you are being completely brainwashed by whatever source of news you listen to.

Greene added that if Christina wanted to defend fraudsters, illegals, and criminals, then you hate our country and you hate America.

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One protester was removed as Greene was discussing the arrest and unlawful deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to a notorious prison in El Salvador. Greene accused the media of defending an illegal alien that is a member of MS-13. The government has produced no evidence that Abrego Garcia is a member of the gang. When a protester spoke up and was ejected from the town hall, Greene quipped bye  just like that illegal alien.

Another protester called Greene a butch body bigot as they were escorted out of the event, a reference to comments Rep. Jasmine Crocketts (D-Texas) made about the Georgia congresswoman during a committee hearing.

Greene is not the only Republican facing constituents who are livid over Trump and so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) head Elon Musks erratic policymaking and arbitrary dismantling of agencies and programs that support social safety-net programs and public resources. Tack onto that the presidents incoherent economic and trade agenda and you have a recipe for a lot of very angry voters  as recent polling indicates.

This week, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) also faced off with constituents in a tense town hall where he was pressed to break with Trumps agenda. Things have gotten so tense that last month, GOP leadership and the Republican National Campaign Committee advised lawmakers to skip face-to-face gatherings and town halls with voters lest they produce even more embarrassing scenes for social media.

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Many of them  according to a report from NBC News  took the advice. And those who didnt are now being associated with scenes of constituents getting tased for exercising their First Amendment rights.

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Kira Traore says she was paying exactly zero dollars in electricity bills for her home in New Jersey  until late last year when the self-sustaining solar power system broke down.

The timing couldn't have been worse  the company that the family purchased the system from had just filed for bankruptcy, according to CBS New York.

Despite still paying for the financing on the system  which cost $54,907.69 to install  the family got nowhere trying to get somebody to fix it. Meanwhile, they had to pay the local utility company for electricity.

Don't miss

Who is looking out for the consumer here? Kira, frustrated by the situation, exclaimed to the local broadcaster in a story published April 1.

Her husband, Sidi Traore, who was also at a loss, added: Im powerless.

In the end, the story came to a satisfactory conclusion. Heres what happened, along with tips on what you can do in similar situations.

Solar company's collapse

The family signed a contract with a company called SunPower three years ago to set up a solar system. Everything was hunky-dory, Kira says, until this past December when the systems batteries malfunctioned, followed by the metering system.

So, the panels are still producing electricity, but its not letting our electric company know that, Kira explained.

Kira says she couldnt get a response from SunPower about fixing her system. The company had filed for bankruptcy only months earlier.

CBS New York says it tracked down a contractor who installed systems for SunPower. He explained fixing the batteries would require tech support from the company  indicating customers might be out of luck if they experience problems going forward.

But the broadcaster didnt stop there. CBS New York reports it contacted Complete Solar, the company that purchased much of SunPowers assets, and they sent a technician to help Kira. Within two hours, she says, the solar system was back up and running.

Complete Solar explained to CBS New York theres a bug in SunPowers software that causes the batteries to lock up and the system must be rebooted periodically. Complete Solar is considering a service to help customers with this issue.
HONEA PATH, S.C. (WSPA)  The mayor of Honea Path announced his resignation Tuesday.

The Town of Honea Path shared Mayor Christopher Burtons announcement about his resignation on its Facebook page. He stated the following:

Serving as your mayor has been one of the greatest honors of my life. Over the years, I have had the privilege of working alongside dedicated public servants, passionate community leaders, and the extraordinary people of this town.

Together, we have faced challenges, celebrated victories, and worked to make Honea Path a place we are all proud to call home. This decision was not made lightly. I believe it is only appropriate to make this choice with the best interests of the town, my career, and my family in mind. Over the past several months, many may have noticed my limited presence in town. This has been due to a significant increase in responsibilities and workload at my full-time job. After reviewing the upcoming summer and fall schedule, it has become clear that these demands will not ease but will, in fact, continue to grow.

I have recently been presented with the opportunity for a potential promotion, which will require my full attention and focus.

Thank you for placing your trust in me and for allowing me to serve you. I will forever cherish the relationships built and the progress weve made together.

With gratitude and respect, Mayor Christopher Burton

Burton swears in Mayor Pro-Tem Jim Taylor (Town of Honea Path)

Burtons resignation went into effect on Tuesday, April 15.

Following his announcement, town officials shared that one of Burtons final official acts was swearing in the current Mayor Pro-Tem, Jim Taylor.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
Chinese investors boost growth in Malaysia

08:32, April 16, 2025 By Prime Sarmiento ( China Daily

Workers process palm oil imported from Malaysia on a production line at the factory owned by COFCO Corp at the China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region on June 13, 2024. (Zhang Ailin/Xinhua)

Mazlim Husin, chief commercial officer of Kuantan Port, has personally seen how Chinese investments have transformed Kuantan  the capital city of the state of Pahang, which is located on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia.

For Mazlim, the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park, or MCKIP, has "changed the landscape of the whole industrial development in Kuantan".

The park opened in 2013 and is located in the East Coast Economic Region. It covers more than 14 square kilometers and caters to heavy, medium and light industries, and features both residential and commercial facilities.

Alliance Steel, one of the biggest steelmakers in Malaysia, is based in MCKIP. Mazlim said the company's presence in Kuantan not only encourages other companies to invest in the city, but also helps boost socioeconomic development in the community as it provides jobs and sources iron ore and other minerals from the local community.

"You can see a lot of improvement and changes around us now. (The investments) just bring people together, and we just want (Kuantan) to grow," Mazlim told China Daily.

The MCKIP and the China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park in Qinzhou, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, are part of the "Two Countries, Twin Parks" collaboration model between China and Malaysia. More important, this model is a concrete representation of how Chinese investments have grown in Malaysia and have helped strengthen economic ties between the two nations.

'Win-win scenario'

China is one of the largest sources of foreign investments for Malaysia. Last year, China invested 28.2 billion ringgit ($6.4 billion) in Malaysia, accounting for over 16 percent of Malaysia's 170.4 billion ringgit foreign investment revenue, according to the Malaysian Investment Development Authority, or MIDA. The amount is nearly double the 14.5 billion ringgit Chinese investors posted in 2023 and is expected to create over 20,000 new jobs.

Safwan Nizar Johari, acting investment consul for the Malaysian consulate in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, said that in the past few years, most Chinese investments have been in the EV, battery and related industries. He said the two countries celebrated the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2024, and this strong diplomatic relationship has made Chinese companies more confident about investing in Malaysia.

Safwan said Malaysia implements business-friendly policies  including tax incentives, a 100 percent foreign equity ownership and long-term work visas for expatriates  that entice a lot of foreign investors. He said Malaysia is an "open and trading country".

Like China, Malaysia is a member of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the world's biggest free trade pact. As a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Malaysia is also part of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area.

Malaysia's multicultural population is also a huge draw for Chinese investors. Ethnic Chinese comprise about 20 percent of the Malaysian population  over 35 million people  and they can speak several languages, including Malay, Chinese and English.

"This contributes to the decision making of a Chinese company (in choosing an) investment destination in ASEAN," Safwan said.

"When they choose Malaysia, it feels like home. (It is) very comfortable for them to set up (a business) in Malaysia," he told China Daily.

And with Malaysia as this year's ASEAN chair, Safwan said Malaysia is inviting Chinese and other foreign companies to invest in Malaysia as a gateway to ASEAN and beyond.

"The theme of ASEAN this year is inclusivity and sustainability. So this is really in line with our main goal to invite and attract foreign companies to come to our country to invest and make Malaysia a hub, not just to penetrate the local market, but also to export globally," Safwan said, adding that in enticing foreign investors, Malaysia doesn't believe in a zero-sum game.

"We believe in the win-win scenario. When they invest in Malaysia, we want to grow with the other ASEAN countries. This is why we want to make Malaysia a (regional) hub and expand beyond Malaysia," he said.

Daniel Chua, senior vice-president of GP Energy Tech International, a subsidiary of battery manufacturer Gold Peak Technology Group, concurs with Safwan.

Chua said Chinese companies feel "comfortable" investing in Malaysia thanks to cultural similarities, common language and the Malaysians' cordial relationship with Chinese investors and employees.

Gold Peak, a Hong Kong-listed company, has three manufacturing plants in the southern Malaysian state of Johor. On Feb 19, the company submitted a letter of intent to Invest Johor, the state government's principal investment promotion agency, to build a $150 million nickel-based battery manufacturing facility and research and development center in the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone, or JS-SEZ.

Chua said when Gold Peak invests in Malaysia, they introduce new technology, create jobs and contribute to regional development. The company employs locals for various positions, mostly in professional, managerial and executive capacities. The proposed plant in JS-SEZ, for example, is expected to create as many as 180 new jobs.

"This was actually the whole idea behind in terms of manpower and talent attraction," Chua said. "That's what we want to create for the local economy. At the same time, we try to find local suppliers."

Gold Peak is just one of many Chinese companies that have been investing in Malaysia  Southeast Asia's third-largest economy  over the past 20 years as part of their global expansion plans. Among the earliest investors are Huawei, which entered Malaysia in 2001, and ZTE, which arrived in 2004. To this day, Malaysia remains crucial in these two technology companies' international business operations.

Kuala Lumpur is home to Huawei's Asia-Pacific regional headquarters, global training center, global technical and solutions center and customer solution innovation center. On Feb 18, Huawei launched Mate XT, the world's first trifold smartphone, in Malaysia's capital city.

Malaysia's Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Zafrul Aziz said 95 percent of ZTE's 5G equipment includes chips from Malaysia, proof of Malaysia's significance in ZTE's global operations. In a post published in December 2024 on his social media account X (formerly known as Twitter), Zafrul said ZTE is planning to invest 200 million ringgit in Malaysia to establish two innovation centers, and bring the latest 5G technology through collaboration with local operators.

A production facility of Alliance Steel is in operation at the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park in Pahang, Malaysia, on June 13, 2024. (Cheng Yiheng/Xinhua)

Auto investors

Chinese investors are not confined to the technology space.

In 2015, the China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation opened its first overseas manufacturing base in the northwest Malaysian state of Perak. Located on a 20.2-hectare complex, the plant can manufacture up to 200 carriages per year and has also provided new jobs to the local community, with more than 80 percent of its total staff locally recruited.

In 2017, Hangzhou, Zhejiang province-based carmaker Geely Holding Group acquired a 49.9 percent stake in Malaysia's national car company Proton to transform it into the top car brand in Malaysia and one of the leading brands in ASEAN.

In December 2024, Geely and its partner Malaysian conglomerate DRB-HICOM signed a memorandum of understanding with MIDA to develop the Automotive Hi-Tech Valley in Tanjong Malim, Perak, to promote Malaysia as ASEAN's hub for electric vehicles. Two months after the MOU signing, Proton announced on Feb 7 that it had started construction on a new EV production plant in Tanjong Malim, according to local media reports. The 82 million-ringgit plant is expected to be completed by the end of this year and will produce several models, including the Proton e. MAS 7, the first EV car made by a Malaysian car company.

Chin Yew Sin, president of the Asia-Pacific Strategy Research Center, a Kuala Lumpur-based think tank, said China's investment in Malaysia represents "a closely tied partnership ingrained in cultural, economic and strategic advantages".

Chin said Chinese companies have capitalized on Malaysia's investment-friendly environment and multicultural society. In recent years, Chin said the diversification of global and regional supply chains and the adoption of the 'China+1'strategy have boosted the influx of investments to Malaysia and other ASEAN countries.

For Ian Yoong Kah Yin, a private equity investor and former investment banker in Malaysia, the main purpose for diversifying investments in Malaysia is to pursue the China +1 strategy, which calls for maintaining production in China while setting up additional facilities in other nations.

"Channel checks reveal that there are many Chinese companies that are expediting the setting up of manufacturing operations in Malaysia," he said.

Yoong welcomed these investments because the presence of Chinese companies has encouraged the transfer of skills and also serves as "role models to Malaysians in creating world-class businesses".

Xu Weiwei in Hong Kong and Xinhua News Agency contributed to this story.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)
We recently published a list of Jim Cramer Hints at a Bigger Agenda Behind Tariffs and Breaks Down These 7 Stocks. In this article, we are going to take a look at where BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK) stands against other stocks that Jim Cramer discusses.

In his latest appearance on CNBCs Squawk on the Street, Jim Cramer suggested the recent tariffs might not simply be about economic leverage. He hinted at a deeper agenda within parts of the administration that goes beyond trade policy:

Theres plenty of sense that somethings going to happen thats going to take this away. In fact, just because of what we saw the other day with it going to 10 percent, I dont see that at all. I think these are very different kinds of tariffs. I mean, this is a tariff where I think theres some people with the administration who actually ultimately have a goal of regime change.

READ ALSO: Jim Cramer Reacts to the Surprise Market Surge and Highlights 8 Key Stocks and Jim Cramer Questions Market Logic and Dissects These 7 Key Stocks

Discussing the likelihood of a negotiated settlement between Washington and Beijing, Cramer expressed deep skepticism that China would retreat under pressure. Instead, he described a Chinese leadership that had long prepared for confrontation:

When do the Chinese back down? Right now theyre not, but I dont know. I think the Chinese have been ready for this since first Trump. I think that they are ready for tariffs. I think theyre going to build coalitions worldwide. I do not think theyre paper tigers. I think that theyre a strong country and theyre ready. Theyre ready for the fight. And Im afraid that we have many divisions that were behind enemy lines before this war started, including Apple.

Our Methodology

To make our list of the stocks that Jim Cramer talked about, we listed down the stocks he mentioned during CNBCs Squawk on the Street aired on April 11th.

For these stocks, we also mentioned the number of hedge fund investors. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletters strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).

Jim Cramer Calls BlackRock (BLK) a Value Play: Your Stock Has Come Down a Lot

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 53

BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK) CEO Larry Fink appeared live on the show to discuss markets, recession fears, and institutional flows. In response, Cramer offered a personal take, citing his charitable trusts position in the stock, saying:
Socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is proposing to jack up the income tax rate for New York City millionaires by 2% and use revenue generated from that and other tax hikes to fund some of his most ambitious policy proposals, like free bus service and expanded universal childcare.

The proposed income tax increase  which would require state legislative action and will likely draw pushback from more moderate politicians  is part of a revenue-generating plan Mamdanis campaign shared exclusively with the Daily News ahead of its Wednesday release.

The additional 2% income tax would only apply to households earning more than $1 million annually, the plan states. There are about 34,000 city households in that income bracket, roughly 1% of the total population, and hitting them with the new 2% levy would generate $4 billion in new annual city revenue, with each paying a minimum of $20,000 more in taxes per year, according to Mamdanis plan.

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In addition to the income tax hike proposal, the plan suggests raising New Yorks top corporate tax rate to 11.5%, up from the current 7.5%, a boost thatd put the states levels on par with New Jerseys. That increase  which would require action from state lawmakers in Albany, too  would generate another $5 billion in annual tax revenue, Mamdanis plan projects.

Mamdani commits he would also as mayor hire 50 new city Department of Finance auditors, a workforce expansion that his plan, citing an Independent Budget Office study, says would result in a $165 million increase in annual tax revenue collection. Mamdanis blueprint further pledges to enact certain city contract reforms his team estimates would save the city $300 million annually.

In an interview with The News this week, Mamdani said the roughly $10 billion in new revenue streams his plan projects unlocking would be more than enough to fund his most far-reaching policy promises.

But he acknowledged it wont be easy to as mayor convince state stakeholders, including moderate Democratic Gov. Hochul, to adopt the tax hikes.

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Nothing thats worth fighting for is easy, and this would be a difficult fight, but I think it is one that we can win, Mamdani said, noting that then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo agreed to enact tax increases on wealthy residents in 2021 after initially opposing them. Currently an Assembly member representing western Queens, Mamdani also said he believes Democratic leaders in the state Legislature share his vision on tax policy.

Critics of higher New York taxes have long argued they could backfire by driving wealthy residents to leave the Big Apple for jurisdictions with lower taxes, depleting a key revenue base. Some economists also say corporate tax hikes could lead companies to move offices away from the city, depriving the municipal government of commercial real estate tax incomes.

Mamdani rejected the idea that high-income earners and corporations would flee in the event of tax hikes, arguing the same fearmongering played out ahead of the 2021 increases. Given that New Jersey, Connecticut and other surrounding states already have higher corporate tax rates than New York, Mamdani also said hes fully confident companies wont leave in the event of a corporate rate uptick.

In 2021, we did not see the exodus they said would come. What we instead have seen is an exodus of working people who cant stay because its too expensive, he said.

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Mamdani, a Democratic Socialists of America member, has long advocated for raising taxes on the rich to fund programs benefitting low-income New Yorkers.

Mamdanis platform includes a vow to make MTA bus service in the city free for all. Other key pillars of his platform include a pledge to freeze rent for all stabilized tenants in the city and vow to make childcare free for all New Yorkers between the ages of six weeks and 5 years, an expansion of the universal 3-K and pre-K programs enacted under ex-Mayor Bill de Blasio.

Mamdanis agenda has garnered significant grassroots support, especially among younger voters, with surveys of Junes Democratic mayoral primary consistently projecting him as the runner-up to Cuomo, whos polling as the favorite to win the race. Mamdanis also garnering momentum with fundraising, this week becoming the first 2025 mayoral candidate to pull in enough money to reach the spending cap for the primary.

Speaking to The News, Mamdani attributed his popularity to widespread support for his policy agenda, including tax hikes.

This is immensely popular when polled, he said of tax increases.
McDonalds has given fans a hint at when its beloved Snack Wrap will be returning to the menu.

On Tuesday, the fast-food chain posted on X, revealing a partially obscured date for when the menu item will be available again.

Snack wraps 0x.14.2025, the post read. The Snack Wrap was first introduced to the McDonalds menu in 2006 and consists of either grilled or crispy chicken, lettuce, shredded cheese, and ranch or honey mustard inside a tortilla. The Snack Wrap was so popular when it launched that it was credited with boosting the chains sales.

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In 2016, the company discontinued the snack wraps in restaurants in the United States, saying they were too complicated to make.

Many fans responded to the post on X, trying to guess exactly which month the Snack Wrap would be added to menus again.

05.15.2025?? one X user questioned while another wrote, im betting on june.

snack wraps 0x.14.2025  McDonald's (@McDonalds) April 15, 2025

McDonalds USA president Joe Erlinger previously discussed bringing the menu item back during an appearance on Good Morning America back in December 2024.

The Snack Wrap will be back in 2025, Erlinger said. This has a cult following. I get so many emails into my inbox about this product. It will be back in 2025.

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However, Erlinger wouldnt reveal the exact date for competitive reasons.

Although Erlinger didnt say exactly when the Snack Wrap will be available, the company seemingly hinted at its return as early as December 2023.

McDonalds teased that the Snack Wrap would return on the 14th of an unknown month (McDonald's)

This includes plans to offer McCrispy in nearly all markets around the world by the end of 2025 and to expand McCrispy into wraps and tenders. These planned innovations and new menu offerings reflect the Companys ability to test and scale quickly to serve customers, McDonalds announced during an investor conference at the time.

News about the Snack Wrap comes weeks after it was revealed that McDonalds is no longer the largest restaurant chain in the world.

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Mixue Bingcheng is a Chinese bubble tea and ice cream chain with more than 45,000 restaurants worldwide as of September 2024, while the number of McDonalds restaurants all over the world is around 41,800, according to Statista via Chowhound.

The Asia-based fast-food chain is known for selling soft-serve ice cream cones for one yuan (15 cents) and drinks ranging from 2 to 8 yuan (30 cents to $1.20).

Despite its huge number of locations, 90 percent of them are in China. There are also outlets in Indonesia, Vietnam, and Malaysia. There isnt a single location in the U.S.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen is in El Salvador in an attempt to free a Maryland man the Trump administration mistakenly deported. He hoped to see Kilmar Abrego Garcia while hes in the country. The White House called Van Hollens trip disgusting.

Senator Van Hollen met with the countrys vice president to investigate the wellbeing of Abrego Garcia.

They should let him go, and we will find a way to get him from San Salvador to the state of Maryland, said Van Hollen.

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The Supreme Court ruled that the administration must facilitate Abrego Garcias return, and a federal judge ordered an intense two-week investigation into the governments conduct.

President Trump and our Attorney General, Pam Bondi, and the Vice President of the United States are lying when they say Abrego Garcia has been charged with a crime or is part of MS-13, said Van Hollen.

The administration is not backing down. Attorney General Pam Bondi stands by the claim Abrego Garcia is a member of the MS-13 gang.

Hes from El Salvador, hes in El Salvador, and thats where the president plans on keeping him, said Bondi.

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Maryland Democratic Congressman Jamie Raskin criticized the administration for the agreement with the government of El Salvador.

At what point does it become kidnapping if the government is acting outside its constitutional powers, said Raskin.

Senator Van Hollen said hes the first senator to visit El Salvador about Abrego Garcia and he expects more members of Congress to come.

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WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  A U.S. senator is in El Salvador trying to get answers about a migrant the Trump administration mistakenly deported, and now refuses to help return to the U.S.

This is happening as a federal judge says shes now ordering an investigation into why the White House refuses to comply with court orders in this case.

Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat, wants answers on the whereabouts of 29-year-old Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

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The goal of this mission is to let the Trump administration to let the government of El Salvador know that we are going to keep fighting to bring Abrego Garcia home until he returns to his family, said Van Hollen.

The White House admits it deported Garcia by mistake last month to a notorious El Salvadoran prison but despite multiple court orders to bring him back to the U.S. the White House says theres nothing it can do and El Salvador says it wont help either.

Abrego Garcia was a foreign terrorist. He is an MS-13 gang member. He was engaged in human trafficking. He illegally came into our country. And so deporting him back to El Salvador was always going to be the end result, said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

The White House has provided scant evidence to prove those claims that Garcia had connections to criminal enterprises. Garcia entered the U.S. illegally 14 years ago and was given a federal permit to work.

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He was also under a 2019 U.S. court order shielding his deportation to El Salvador on humanitarian grounds.

We are going to keep fighting because this is a miscarriage of justice. The Supreme Court has ruled 9 to 0,9 to 0 that he was illegally taken out of the country and put in a prison in El Salvador, said Van Hollen.

In the meantime, a federal judge plans to order sworn testimony by Trump administration officials to find out if they willfully ignored her order to bring Garcia home. The judge already accused the White House of defying a clear Supreme Court order which the White House denies.

Were very confident that every action taken by this administration is within the confines of the law, and we continue to comply with the courts orders, said Leavitt.

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President Trump says hes also exploring ways to deport U.S. citizens accused of violent crimes, calling them homegrowns criminals.

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HONOLULU (KHON2)  The number of people requesting the measles vaccine has nearly doubled since the health department alerted the public of the first confirmed measles case in Hawaii last week. One pediatrician said even those against vaccines are coming around.

Were getting calls every day so people are aware and people are inquiring, Dr. Theresa Wee explained.

No, its not a UFO: Mysterious balloons identity revealed

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She said its a good sign that people are taking action to protect themselves and their children.

Parents are concerned, and some parents who have been hesitant about vaccines are now understanding that that perhaps maybe now is the time to get on the bandwagon, Wee said. So we are seeing parents coming around.

Would you pay $45M for this modern Hawaii palace: 10 things to know

According Dr. Nathan Tan, a State Department of Health Deputy epidemiologist, since the two cases of measles were confirmed in Honolulu on April 8th, the number of children getting the MMR vaccine has nearly doubled.

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We do get reports for the vaccine for children program and other health care providers that are currently providing data to the registry, he said.

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But Tan said they arent getting all the reports of MMR in the state, so theres no way to provide concrete vaccination numbers.

But we are seeing an increasing trend for vaccination, Tan explained.

And thats a good thing.

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If youre not sure if youve gotten the MMR, Tan said you should call your doctor. They can run a test to find out if youre protected.

I think this is a good chance for people to to verify what their status is in terms of their immunity to measles, he explained.

Hawaiian Airlines gets a top mark in new study

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Wee said being proactive is the best defense.

Especially if youre thinking that maybe once school is out in May, you are going traveling, you want to go ahead and get that measles, mumps, rubella vaccine two weeks prior to your departure, because it does take about two weeks for the vaccine to take, she explained.

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A nurse gives an MMR vaccine at the Utah County Health Department on April 29, 2019 in Provo, Utah. The vaccine is 97% effective against measles when two doses are administered. (Photo by George Frey/Getty Images) (This image cannot be republished without a Getty subscription.)

OKLAHOMA CITY  More Oklahomans have been getting vaccinated against measles since cases started to be reported in Oklahoma and neighboring states.

Between Jan. 1 and April 8, 2024, nearly 24,000 MMR shots were administered according to data provided by the Oklahoma State Department of Health. In the same time frame for 2025, that number increased by 25% to almost 30,000 shots, according to the Oklahoma State Immunization Information System, a registry of electronic vaccine records.

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The first case of measles in Oklahoma was reported March 11 by OSDH. There are currently 12 cases of measles, 9 confirmed and 3 probable, with exposure sites in Oklahoma City, Claremore, Owasso and Weatherford. All cases are in unvaccinated individuals.

Nearby, an outbreak in Texas and New Mexico has sickened over 620 people and killed three. Oklahomas initial measles cases had reported links to these outbreaks. Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports over 700 measles cases in 25 states.

Erica Rankin, a spokesperson for the Health Department, said in a statement Tuesday that the agency has observed a concurrent growing rise in interest in the MMR vaccine information, administration of MMR, and immunization records at our local county health departments. But state health officials stopped short of directly linking the increase in vaccinations to the rise in measles cases.

The Health Department provided Oklahoma Voice with data recorded in OSIIS, which does not include all vaccinations given in the state, only those entered into the system.

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Dr. Mary Clarke, former president of the Oklahoma State Medical Association, said all Medicaid-driven vaccines are required to be reported and many providers choose to report other vaccines. While some pharmacies and clinics may not report vaccinations, OSIIS is still the most accurate and complete dataset available on vaccinations records in the state, she said.

Clarke, a family medicine physician in Stillwater, said she and all of her colleagues have experienced more interest than normal in the MMR vaccine, particularly among adults. She said shes had five to 10 people reach out per week.

I would say the vast majority of my pediatric patients are fully vaccinated so Im personally not seeing a lot of parents calling for their children, she said. But I have a lot of adults calling on for themselves, asking about themselves, asking about their grandchildren or great-grandchildren, and how to keep them as safe as possible.

Receiving the MMR vaccine as an adult is equally as effective as being vaccinated as recommended in early childhood, Clarke said. The vaccine is recommended for children at 12 to 15 months of age and again at four to six years of age, according to the Health Department.

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The recommended age is so young because children are at very high risk of contracting measles, Clarke said.

The MMR vaccine is 97% effective when given two vaccines, she said. Clarke said measles is extraordinarily contagious and can be spread airborne.

If someone is infected, we dont go around just giving people antibiotics for measles, she said. There really is no good treatment. Its supportive care only.

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Apr. 15LIMA  Infants who are exposed to measles before they are old enough for vaccination may get vaccinated early, according to new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC now recommends children as young as six months old who have been exposed to measles through travel to a community with an active measles outbreak may be vaccinated for measles, mumps and rubella.

Allen County Public Health confirmed the county's first measles case in an unvaccinated resident under the age of 18 on March 28  the first case reported in Allen County in at least 25 years.

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Health Commissioner Brandon Fischer said Allen County is not considered to be part of an active outbreak, as the health department has not confirmed any additional cases as of Tuesday afternoon.

"That speaks to how well vaccination ... provided protection" for people exposed to measles, Fischer said.

The updated guidance only applies to children who are too young for their first dose of the MMR vaccine who have traveled to a community with an active measles outbreak.

Infants are most at risk for severe illness from measles, but their immune systems are not fully responsive to the MMR vaccine, which is why the CDC recommends children obtain their first dose of the MMR vaccine between the ages of 12 and 15 months, Fischer said.

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Children should get their second dose of the MMR vaccine before they enter kindergarten, typically between the ages of 4 to 6 years old, to further boost their immune system.

One dose of the MMR vaccine provides 93% protection, while two doses of the vaccine is 97% effective at preventing measles.

Fischer said children who obtain their MMR vaccine before their first birthday should still follow the normal vaccine schedule between 12 to 15 months and 4 to 6 years old for full protection.

The highly contagious virus was once believed to be eliminated from the U.S., but declining immunization rates have led to a resurgence of measles.

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Health officials have confirmed more than 700 measles cases in the U.S. this year, with the largest outbreaks concentrated in West Texas and New Mexico.

Smaller outbreaks are confirmed in Kansas, Oklahoma, Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania, with the nearest outbreaks located in Allen County, Indiana, and Knox County, Ohio. Isolated cases are being investigated in a dozen other states.

Nearly 60 people have been hospitalized and two children have died.

The virus is particularly dangerous to unvaccinated children: Nine out of 10 unvaccinated children who are exposed to the virus will become infected, while one in five children who contract measles will be hospitalized with complications like pneumonia, dehydration or brain swelling.

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The vaccine can be administered within 72 hours of exposure to prevent illness or complications, and is available for adults born after 1957 who are unvaccinated or do not know their vaccination status.

Measles symptoms typically develop within 21 days of exposure and include high fever, cough, nasal congestion, watery eyes and a rash beginning three to five days after other symptoms.

The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is available at retail pharmacies, doctor's offices or at Allen County Public Health by appointment prior to or within 72 hours of exposure. Call 419-228-4457 to schedule.

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BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  A Medina woman was arrested and charged after being accused of submitting fake applications to a charity that provides electronics to kids with cancer, according to the Orleans County Sheriffs Office.

Hopecam is a charitable organizations that provides young cancer patients with donated tablets, Chromebooks and other supplies.

Lynn Horn is accused of filling out false applications in order to obtain the devices from Hopecam, officials said. It is alleged that Horn used a social services workers personal information to fill out one of the applications.

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The actions of Ms. Horn are not only a betrayal of a charitable cause, but they also take resources away from the children and families who desperately need them, said Orleans County Sheriff Christopher Bourke.

Horn was charged with criminal impersonation and issued an appearance ticket. The investigation remains ongoing.

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.

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LONDON (AP)  Five years after COVID-19 triggered national lockdowns, economic uncertainty and killed millions, the World Health Organizations member countries agreed on a draft pandemic treaty that sets guidelines for how the international community might confront the next global health crisis.

After the worlds largely disastrous response to the coronavirus, countries tasked the WHO with overseeing a pandemic treaty in 2021. Negotiations concluded early Wednesday on an agreement expected to be adopted next month at the U.N. health agency's annual meeting in Geneva.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus heralded it as a historic moment, saying countries have proven that in our divided world, nations can still work together to find common ground and a shared response.

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Following U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw the country from the WHO in January, American officials were barred from participating in the talks by the Trump administration and are not expected to sign the treaty.

During COVID-19, it was largely American research and development that produced the most effective vaccines and medicines.

Weeks after Trumps decision, Argentinas President Javier Milei also exited the WHO, citing profound differences with the U.N. agency.

Rachael Crockett, of the advocacy group Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, described the draft pandemic treaty as a product of compromise. She said it contained strong provisions, but only if countries chose to implement them: This could change what we saw in COVID, when some populations didnt get access to what they needed.

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The draft treaty notably includes a provision to guarantee that countries that share critical virus samples receive any resulting tests, medicines and vaccines, with the WHO to hold up to 20% of such products to ensure poorer countries get supplies. Negotiations on this provision are expected to continue after the treaty is likely accepted by member countries in May.

Crockett acknowledged that, as is often the case with international law, there are few consequences for countries that dont comply: Theres not much that can be done if countries choose not to ratify or abide by it.

Yuanqiong Hu, of aid organization Doctors Without Borders, said that if disputes arise between countries, the treaty includes a mechanism for them to use diplomatic channels, followed by arbitration.

Countries are already legally bound by the International Health Regulations to do things like quickly report dangerous new outbreaks. But those have been flouted repeatedly, including by African countries during Ebola and other outbreaks, China in the early stages of COVID-19 and arguably the U.S. amid its ongoing bird flu epidemic.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
We recently published a list of Jim Cramer is Bullish on These 10 Stocks. In this article, we are going to take a look at where AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) stands against other stocks that Jim Cramer discusses.

On Friday, Mad Money host, Jim Cramer, shared his perspective on how investors might approach the stock market given the current economic uncertainty.

You gotta make a list and decide what you can live with and whats simply too dicey to buy. That my good friends, is how you have to think about stocks right now if youre willing to be a slave to this crazy market in order to try to pocket what you can during this difficult period.

READ ALSO: Jim Cramers Game Plan: 15 Stocks to Watch and Jim Cramer Discussed These 12 Stocks.

Cramer emphasized that before making any trading decision unless the plan is to hold it long-term and ride out near-term turbulence, investors should run what he described as a gauntlet of significant considerations. The first question he raised is whether the company in question does business in any foreign country. While it is common for investors to be cautious about China these days, Cramer pointed out that any nation could suddenly draw the ire of the U.S. president.

Now, its one thing to be worried about China, but its another to recognize that any country could at any time find itself on the presidents bad side. And once they get on his bad side, any American company doing real business there, finished.

Cramer stressed the importance of avoiding companies that rely on international operations or resources. The second point on his checklist involved evaluating whether a company is cyclical, essentially, if it is vulnerable to swings in the broader economy. Highlighting the scale of the current trade friction, Cramer pointed out that the United States is effectively embargoing $439 billion worth of goods from China. He noted that it is likely to push inflation to levels not seen in a very long time. He added:

Its hard to disagree with that assessment and I say that as someone who generally supports a trade crackdown on the Chinese government.

Our Methodology

For this article, we compiled a list of 10 stocks that were discussed by Jim Cramer during the episode of Mad Money aired on April 11. We listed the stocks in the order that Cramer mentioned them. We also provided hedge fund sentiment for each stock as of the fourth quarter of 2024, which was taken from Insider Monkeys database of over 1,000 hedge funds.

Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletters strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A Memphis man who was wanted for murder was arrested in Southaven, Mississippi, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.

Antonio McClelland, 52, was taken into custody on Tuesday on a first-degree murder warrant. He is currently being held at the DeSoto County Detention Facility, where he is awaiting extradition back to Shelby County.

Antonio McClelland (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Marshals)

The U.S. Marshals said in a press release that on March 6, Jimmy L. Walker was found shot inside his apartment in the 3400 block of North Trezevant in Memphis. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital. A warrant was issued for McClelland on March 11 for first-degree murder.

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McClelland was arrested at a home in the 2100 block of Holbrook Cove in Southaven, Miss.

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Members of the Menendez family who are fighting for the release of brothers Lyle and Erik after 35 years in prison for the 1989 murder of their parents have filed a complaint in Los Angeles Superior Court accusing the District Attorneys office of violating the familys constitutional rights by repeatedly flashing a grisly crime scene photo of the slain victims without warning.



The photo, which was taken after the sensational killings of music executive Jose Menendez and his wife Kitty by their sons on a hot August night at the family's Beverly Hills mansion, was not introduced at any of the trials for the siblings because, at the time victims' rights advocates successfully argued it would traumatize the loved ones of the slain couple.



But last week, as District Attorney Nathan Hochman sat in the courtroom, Habib Balian used the photo as part of his argument to a Superior Court judge that a motion filed by his boss' predecessor that argued the brothers were the victims of unrelenting abuse by their parents before the murders should make them "eligible for immediate parole" should be vacated.



Less than 30 hours later, the brothers' elderly aunt Teresita "Terry" Baralt was found unresponsive and remains in critical condition at the ICU unit in an Encino hospital. Baralt, 85, had not seen the photo of her dead brother Jose or her best friend Kitty until last Friday during that hearing in front of Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic. Jesic denied the D.A.'s motion, and the brothers' resentencing hearing is slated to begin on Thursday.



We never imagined we would have to fight to be treated with respect and dignity. But last Friday, our entire family was once again blindsided. Without warning, the District Attorneys Office displayed gruesome, graphic photos of our loved ones bodies. No heads-up, no compassion, no humanity," the family said in a joint statement Wednesday. "Our entire family was re-traumatized first by the graphic display and again, when Terry was hospitalized shortly after. She remains in the ICU today."

Teresita "Terry" Baralt, 85, leaves Los Angeles Superior Courthouse in Van Nuys Friday afternoon with her daughter Anamaria. Less than 30 hours later she was found unresponsive and remains in critical condition, which her family blames on the D.A. for showing a grisly crime scene photoCourtesy of Baralt family

Bryan Freedman, who filed the complaint Wednesday that argues Hochman's office violated Marsy's Law, which was created to support crime victims, wants the court to admonish Hochman's office and require advance notice before using photos that show the carnage. Freedman represents roughly two dozen clients in the Menendez family who have been unyielding in their united argument that the killings of the music executive and his wife in Beverly Hills by the brothers were a trauma response to years of sexual and physical torture by their parents and that they have served their time.



Despite an emotional meeting between the Menendez family and Hochman shortly after he defeated George Gascon for the seat as the top prosecutor in the country's biggest prosecutorial office, the relationship between those working to get Lyle and Erik resentenced and the D.A.'s office remains fractured.



Hochman has argued that the brothers have shown a startling lack of remorse by failing to admit to lies they told during their first trials, which ended in hung juries. Last week he issued an apology to the family for showing the photos while also describing the graphic way that Jose and Kitty Menendez were murdered.

"To the extent that the photographic depiction of this conduct upset any of the Menendez family members present in court, we apologize for not giving prior warning," Hochman's office said in a statement. "We remain committed to ensuring future proceedings move forward with the dignity, respect and transparency this case deserves. We caution anyone attending a hearing in person to be prepared for some of the difficult details and images surrounding these tragic circumstances."



The Menendez family also said that they are being denied a victims' advocate for those very hearings by Hochman's office after the woman he hired to oversee that role, Kathy Cady, who is a victims rights attorney, had to recuse herself from the Menendez brothers' case.



Cady had represented Milton Andersen, the late brother of Kitty Menendez, who was the only family member that opposed the Menendez brothers' release. Cady has been "walled off" from the case, Balian told the court last week, after the brothers' attorney Mark Geragos blasted what he called the prosecutor's office's blatant disregard of Menendez family members present during the D.A.'s arguments last week. [Geragos is the co-owner of Engine Vision Media, the parent company of Los Angeles.]



The D.A. promised to "appoint a non-biased coordinator for our family, which has yet to happen," the family claimed in their statement. "Instead the DAs office seems to think that because we have forgiven Erik and Lyle, and believe in their rehabilitation, that we therefore lose the right to be treated with fairness and respect. That we are not both survivors and victims."



The motion filed Wednesday also asked the court to force Hochman's office to comply with Marsy's law by showing respect to the Menendez family.
BLUEFIELD, WV (WVNS)  Officials with Mercer County Schools gave a look inside the construction of their newest school.

Bluefield art exhibit gives local student artists the spotlight

Timberwood Elementary School is in Bluefield. It will receive students from both Bluewell and Brushfork Elementary Schools, both of which are being consolidated.

Dr. Sarah Grose will be the principal of this new school. As she prepares to take the helm, Dr. Groses top priority will be maintaining the family atmospheres that encompass Bluewell and Brushfork Elementaries.

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My goal is for everything to be set in place  the staff to know each other well before the first day of school, so that when the kids walk in for the first time after being shocked and awed by the building, it will feel like theyre at home, said Dr. Grose.

Greg Prudich is the president of the Mercer County Board of Education.

He explained the two schools were consolidated due to both schools declining conditions. School officials were also forced to close part of Brushfork Elementary due to structural deficiencies.

Trumps fight with higher education reaches a tipping point with Harvard defiance

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Prudich told 59News that Timberwood will be an improvement in every way.

The gym is a middle school sized gym, so the kids are going to have access to a facility that every child in the building can go into if we need that. The halls are wider  it is laid out more intelligently. We have a STEM room. The cafeteria is much more accessible. It is airy. It is open. There is space. There is lots of glass in the building. So kids have access to natural light, which we know from research indicates and supports their education, said Prudich.

Timberwood will be two stories tall with stairs and an elevator to accommodate all students.

Timber and Stonewood are some of the main themes in the buildings design to echo the nature surrounding the school.

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From the school colors to the Wolf mascot, even down to the building design, Dr. Grose explains that Timberwood will be centered around different components of West Virginia.

The wait is worth it. Be excited. Be anxious for walking in here. You are going to absolutely love it from the first step you take, added Dr. Grose, when asked what the message to her future students would be.

Glenwood Park ready to reopen April 18 after suffering damages from severe weather

Timberwoods school colors will be green, brown, and blue.

This school is set to open in August 2025.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  A Mexican citizen who worked on a dairy farm in Western New York was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with the production of child pornography and enticement of a minor, the United States Attorneys Office announced Wednesday.

The complaint stated that in January, the mother of a 12-year-old minor victim reported online grooming of the victim. The mother looked through her daughters phone and found a number of an unknown person who was allegedly talking to the victim through text messaging and social media.

The person was identified as 31-year-old Victor Francisco Lucas, who does not have legal status to be in the U.S., officials said.

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Lucas allegedly told the victim that he was 12 or 13 years old while asking and inducing the victim to send nude photos of herself to him. The attorneys office said the victim could not send the photos to him because of parental controls on her device. Then, according to the complaint, Lucas coerced the victim to participate in nude and sexually explicit video calls.

Lucas made an appearance before a judge Wednesday afternoon and was detained. The charges he faces carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison.

Latest Local News

Katie Skoog joined the News 4 team in April 2024. She is a graduate from the University at Buffalo. You can view more of her work here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  The Miami Township Board of Trustees is suing its fiscal officer for allegedly using township funds to attempt to buy gold coins.

As 2 NEWS previously reported, Fiscal Officer Robert Matthews allegedly tried to purchase gold coins with the townships funds in March. Clay McCord, the Finance Director, said he stopped the purchase.

Matthews then allegedly attempted to fire him.

The Board of Trustees filed a motion in April for a preliminary and permanent injunction to stop Matthews from further violating the Townships Investment Policy. The motion is based on the Townships Complaint, which was attached as *Exhibit A in the court documents.

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The documents said Matthews acted without approval of the Trustees in his attempt to spend $9.7 million of Township funds for $9,317,963.50 worth of gold coins.

He allegedly liquidated the $9.7 million from the Townships State Treasury Asset Reserve of Ohio STAR Ohio account and transferred the funds to a Township bank account at Fifth Third Bank.

The withdrawal wasnt approved.

Matthews then allegedly visited a local Fifth Third branch and requested two separate wires of $4.85 million be sent to two coin dealers for the purchase of gold.

After the request, the relationship manager at Fifth Third Bank, Kelly Wolski, emailed McCord and Matthews.

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Wolski asked them if the wire transfers were legitimate.

That is when McCord canceled the transfer. Matthews purportedly responded a few minutes later, saying he had requested the transfer. On March 31, he allegedly tried to fire McCord in retaliation.

Exhibit B: the emails between Matthews, the bank and the Board

Bob, Clay, and Penny: I received a call from our Wire Team regarding two $4,850,000.00 wire transfer requests for gold purchases this afternoon. Given the nature of the purchases and the $ amounts of the wires, the fraud team has suspended the transactions and requested that I follow up with the Township to confirm the validity of the wire activity, said Wolski. Can you please confirm if these are legitimate wire requests? I will follow up with a phone call as well. Thank you for your help.

I am not aware of any authorization to wire ANY funds, said McCord. No authorization and no instructions have been granted to my knowledge.

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Yes, I requested the money to transfer some of our excess funds from paper money to gold money, said Matthews.

On April 8, McCord signed a verification stating that the foregoing Verified Complaint is true and accurate to his knowledge.

The case was moved on April 15 from Judge E. Gerald Parker to visiting Judge Stephen Wolaver, a retired judge from Greene County. This move was made to prevent Parker from presiding over a case involving fellow elected officials in Montgomery County.

Future court dates are unknown at this time.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  Some patients looking to have an elective surgery conducted at Miami Valley Hospital might be told it will be rescheduled.

Premier Health confirmed to WDTN.com that one of its contract anesthesia groups will stop its operations sometime in June.

We are actively working to transition those anesthesia clinicians to employment with Premier Health or one of our other existing anesthesia providers, with the goal of minimizing any disruption to elective surgeries and upholding the high standards of care our patients and care teams expect and deserve, said Premier Health.

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According to the health care organization, only some elective surgeries are being rescheduled.

We seek to avoid rescheduling elective surgeries whenever possible, said Premier Health. Our goal is always to minimize any disruption and to uphold the high standards of care our patients and care teams expect and deserve.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
NEW YORK  The cause of death of Michelle Trachtenberg, who was found dead in her luxury Midtown Manhattan apartment in February, has been determined, the Daily News has learned.

The actor died from complications of diabetes, according to the New York Citys Medical Examiners Office.

Trachtenberg, 39, was found unresponsive by her mother in her apartment near Columbus Circle around 8 a.m. on Feb. 26. Her mom called 911, and responding EMS medics declared Trachtenberg dead at the scene, police said.

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Her death is not considered suspicious, police sources said.

Trachtenberg starred as an actress in Gossip Girl, Harriet the Spy and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, among others.

Neighbors in her building were shocked by the stars death at the time of her passing.

She was cool, she was a normal person, said neighbor Raphael Noufele. Its a bit of a shock.

Photos of Trachtenberg on social media appearing frail and gaunt drew concerns from fans that she was in ill health or battling addiction. In January, she responded to fans concerns by saying she was happy and healthy.

Ive received several comments recently about my appearance, she wrote on Instagram. I have never had plastic surgery I am happy and healthy. Check yourself haters.
We recently published a list of Jim Cramer Hints at a Bigger Agenda Behind Tariffs and Breaks Down These 7 Stocks. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) stands against other stocks that Jim Cramer discusses.

In his latest appearance on CNBCs Squawk on the Street, Jim Cramer suggested the recent tariffs might not simply be about economic leverage. He hinted at a deeper agenda within parts of the administration that goes beyond trade policy:

Theres plenty of sense that somethings going to happen thats going to take this away. In fact, just because of what we saw the other day with it going to 10 percent, I dont see that at all. I think these are very different kinds of tariffs. I mean, this is a tariff where I think theres some people with the administration who actually ultimately have a goal of regime change.

READ ALSO: Jim Cramer Reacts to the Surprise Market Surge and Highlights 8 Key Stocks and Jim Cramer Questions Market Logic and Dissects These 7 Key Stocks

Discussing the likelihood of a negotiated settlement between Washington and Beijing, Cramer expressed deep skepticism that China would retreat under pressure. Instead, he described a Chinese leadership that had long prepared for confrontation:

When do the Chinese back down? Right now theyre not, but I dont know. I think the Chinese have been ready for this since first Trump. I think that they are ready for tariffs. I think theyre going to build coalitions worldwide. I do not think theyre paper tigers. I think that theyre a strong country and theyre ready. Theyre ready for the fight. And Im afraid that we have many divisions that were behind enemy lines before this war started, including Apple.

Our Methodology

To make our list of the stocks that Jim Cramer talked about, we listed down the stocks he mentioned during CNBCs Squawk on the Street aired on April 11th.

For these stocks, we also mentioned the number of hedge fund investors. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletters strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).

Jim Cramer on Verizon (VZ): This Is Verizon - Not NVIDIA - And Its a Taker of These Products

A smiling customer receiving customer contact center solutions on their smartphone.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 74

Cramer identified a new group of anointed stocks. Those are the companies he believes are safe havens in this unpredictable macro environment. Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) stood out as one of the few domestic companies that benefit from trade decoupling and arent exposed to China. Heres what he said:
By Jonathan Stempel

(Reuters) - A federal judge ordered Bank of America to pay $540.3 million in a long-running Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation lawsuit accusing the second-largest U.S. bank of underpaying what it owed for deposit insurance.

In a decision made public on Monday, U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan in Washington, D.C., said the payment covers assessments from the second quarter of 2013 through the end of 2014, plus interest.

The FDIC sued Charlotte, North Carolina-based Bank of America for $1.12 billion in 2017, accusing it of reducing its deposit insurance contributions by failing to honor a 2011 rule that changed how banks report risk exposure to counterparties.

That rule was one of many federal reforms designed to ensure the stability of the banking system, and avert a repeat of the 2008 global financial crisis.

In a 59-page decision, AliKhan rejected Bank of America's claims that there was no reasonable basis for the rule, and that the FDIC acted arbitrarily and capriciously.

AliKhan said the FDIC was not required to develop a "perfect measure" of predicting banks' potential exposure to losses, and Bank of America could claim it "lacked fair notice of what was required of it."

She also said the FDIC waited too long to sue over claims predating the second quarter of 2013.

Bank of America strongly denied any intent to evade payments.

Bill Halldin, a Bank of America spokesperson, said in a statement: "We are pleased the judge has ruled and have reserves reflecting the decision."

The FDIC declined to comment.

AliKhan issued her decision on March 31, and released it in partially-redacted form.

Bank of America is expected to report first-quarter results on Tuesday.

The case is FDIC v Bank of America NA, U.S. District Court, District of Columbia, No. 17-00036.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Additional reporting by Pete Schroeder in Washington, D.C.; Editing by Leslie Adler and Aurora Ellis)
Iowa authorities identified the person whom law enforcement shot and killed on Interstate 80 as Vonderrick Rayford, 51, of Milwaukee.

The incident happened in the early morning on April 15, when a deputy pulled over Rayford for excessive speeding, according to a news release from Dallas County Sheriff Adam Infante.

"During the course of the routine traffic stop, he exited his vehicle and opened fire on a Dallas County Deputy," the release said. "A brief standoff ensued, during which additional law enforcement officers responded to assist."

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Rayford shot at those other officers from the Adair County Sheriff's Office, Iowa State Patrol and Adel Police Department when they arrived, according to the release. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police discovered he was driving a vehicle that was reported stolen out of Colorado. He also allegedly used a gun that appeared to be stolen, the news release states, and Rayford had a warrant for his arrest out of Wisconsin.

The Division of Criminal Investigation is continuing its investigation. All officers are on administrative leave, which is protocol in use of force cases. News releases have not identified the officers, which departments they work for or how many fired their weapons at Rayford.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa officials identify Milwaukee man killed by police
The abandoned and vandalized boat on Milwaukee's shoreline, Deep Thought, is now in two pieces  with its top and cockpit removed and sitting on the beach.

The boat was observed April 15 in its same disastrous condition, but some of the boat had been removed.

Deep Thought, a boat abandoned left by its Mississippi owners on Milwaukee's shoreline, appeared different April 15 as its hard top has been removed and its cockpit was laid on the nearby sandy area.

Jerry Guyer, the owner of salvage company Silo Marina in Milwaukee, had previously attempted to remove the boat after it was abandoned by owners Richard and Sherry Wells of Mississippi. Guyer said April 16 he hadn't been at the boat.

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According to Jeff Fleming, Mayor Cavalier Johnson's spokesman, Deep Thought is positioned on Milwaukee County land, between McKinley and Bradford beaches. The county was not involved in deconstructing the boat, said Allison Carlson, a spokesperson for Milwaukee County Parks.

The county's lawyers are still evaluating which government agency is legally required to remove the boat, Carlson said in an email.

The cockpit of the stranded boat on the Lake Michigan shore by Bradford Beach is seen off the boat on April 15 in Milwaukee.

How did Deep Thought get there?

The Wells bought the boat in Manitowoc and ran out of gas along the lakefront on Oct. 13. Shortly thereafter, they returned home to Mississippi. Legally, it's their responsibility to pay for and arrange for the boat's removal.

The Wells had been communicating with Guyer, but after several initial conversations, communication has gone "radio silent," Guyer said.

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The U.S. Coast Guard, Milwaukee County, the state Department of Natural Resources and the city of Milwaukee have either said abandoned boat removal isn't within their purview or have said nothing at all.

The hard top to Deep Thought is seen removed on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Milwaukee. The boat was abandoned on the lakefront by its Mississippi owners in October after it was bought in Manitowoc.

The boat made it through the fall and the icy winter, but not before its interior and exterior were covered in graffiti (some rather distasteful) and most of its electronics picked over or destroyed.

Guyer estimated it would cost $20,000 to have Deep Thought removed and he thinks it's time for government agencies to get involved.

Jessica Van Egeren and David Clarey contributed to this report.

This story was updated to add a video.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee's abandoned boat Deep Thought now is in two parts
Apr. 15ST. PAUL  Layoffs at the Minnesota Department of Health are delayed as the result of a temporary restraining order in a federal court case.

On April 1, the state health department sent layoff notices to 170 employees, about 10% of its workforce, after the the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services pulled $11 billion in grants to public health agencies across the country  including $226 million from MDH  in late March.

Shortly after the funding was pulled, 23 states, including Minnesota, and the District of Columbia sued HHS in federal court. On April 5, the U.S. District Court of Rhode Island issued a temporary restraining order against HHS.

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"We are grateful for this action by the court, which we feel aligns with the federal government's responsibility to us as a grantee," said Dr. Brooke Cunningham, Minnesota's health commissioner. "This action has given us additional short-term certainty around this funding, which allows us to delay this layoff process slightly."

The new effective layoff date for those 170 positions is May 13, 2025.

"We continue to remain hopeful for a positive long-term outcome in this case that would allow us to mitigate the need to layoff so many smart, dedicated staff who are vital to protecting the health of Minnesotans," Cunningham said.
Helin Loik-Tomson/Getty Images

In March, Republicans in Minnesotas 7th Congressional District chose Bret Bussman, a Browerville veteran with a slim political resume, to chair the party in the district.

Bussman ousted longtime 7th District chair Craig Bishop, a staffer for U.S. Rep. Michelle Fischbach, in a contest that far-right activist group Action 4 Liberty characterized as a MASSIVE rebuke on the corrupt, anti-grassroots, and anti-liberty tactics CD7 has used to protect RINO politicians, meaning, Republicans in Name Only.

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Many of Bussmans views have become commonplace on the fringes of the Republican party, including vaccine skepticism, election denial, January 6 revisionism and a general hostility toward established science.

But a Reformer review of Bussmans social media accounts finds that he has espoused many outlandish conspiracy theories that go well beyond standard conservative activist fare.

He has posted about satanic chemtrails in the skies above Minnesota.

He has argued that the collapse of a World Trade Center building during the 9/11 terror attacks was the result of a controlled demolition, and that a cruise missile, rather than American Airlines Flight 77, struck the Pentagon that day.

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He has shared multiple videos arguing that the moon landings were faked, and that more recent footage of astronauts aboard the International Space Station was faked as well.

He has shared with followers a video entitled 5 Reasons Why I BELIEVE in the Flat Earth (And You Should Too!), as well as numerous other videos claiming that the earth is flat.

Bussmans elevation to a leadership position is part of a statewide pattern that alarms longtime Republican activists: The party is allowing itself to be taken over by the fringe, lowering the odds of victory in future statewide elections.

Its bad for Republicans who want to win, said Michael Brodkorb, former deputy chair of the Minnesota GOP who has vehemently opposed the partys embrace of Donald Trump and figures like him, going so far as to publicly endorse Kamala Harris last year. This is what happens when party leadership opens the gates of the insane asylum, and people come in off the streets and the inmates run it.

On the fringes of the fringe

Bussmans Facebook posts demonstrate a longstanding interest in multiple extreme fringe theories. On May 8, 2023, he posted a video purporting to show leaked footage of our flat earth from 1977, showing an obviously computer-generated animation of a dim sun traversing flat icy terrain.

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A year later he shared a video stating that a pilot proved the earth is flat because the sun and the moon were visible in the sky at the same time, a phenomenon which occurs on most days.

And on August 14, 2024, he posted the 5 Reasons Why video about flat earth, which asks, among other things, that if the Earth is actually spinning, why arent we all being flung out into space?

Bussman has similarly posted multiple videos purporting to prove that the moon landings and other parts of the U.S. space program have been faked. He has shared video of an actor pretending to be film director Stanley Kubrick admitting that he was responsible for faking the US Moon Program, as well as a lengthy video claiming the landings were a hoax based on various false and spurious claims about film footage of them.

He has repeatedly suggested that a celestial structure called the firmament prevents space travel, which is a common trope among many flat-earthers.

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Bussmans conspiracy theorizing extends to world events like the 9/11 attacks as well. On March 22, 2024, he posted a conspiracy video and asked a skeptical follower Have you seen the video of building 7 collapsing and the cruise missle [sic] hit the pentagon? I had a friend invomved [sic] in the clean up of the towers- no plane wreckage. He has posted several other videos containing similar sentiments.

Reached by the Reformer for comment, Bussman did not deny that he was an adherent of any of the conspiracy theories that he posted about on his public Facebook profile. You can print whatever you want, he said. I spent 20+ years in the Army defending that right, but if you do that, there would be no chance of me speaking with you in the future.

The more moderate wing of the Minnesota Republican party has been attempting, mostly in vain, to keep people like Bussman away from the levers of power. Much of the energy propelling Bussman and similar candidates comes from Action 4 Liberty, a far-right group that has made a name for itself mostly by attacking elected Republicans for being insufficiently far right.

Brodkorb argues that the extent of the partys extremism problem became clear in 2024, when it nominated Alex Jones acolyte Royce White to take on Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar in the U.S. Senate race, and Republicans in the 7th Congressional District refused to endorse Fischbach  one of the more conservative representatives in the entire U.S. House  for reelection. Fischbach nevertheless sailed to victory over her primary opponent by nearly 30 percentage points, a sign that the fringe elements taking over the party lack widespread support among GOP voters.

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Bussman has nothing on his resume that has ever shown that he can organize and win, Brodkorb says. That hurts Republicans statewide.

A Republican victory in a statewide race, for instance, will require running up the margins in reliably conservative places like the 7thDistrict. Bussmans inexperience and fringe beliefs make that much harder to do.

Those views shut down conversations and alienate people inside the party, Brodkorb said.

Bussman and his ilk will also likely alienate more moderate, independent voters in the suburbs and exurbs, which Republicans need if they are ever to overcome the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Partys numerical advantage, evidenced by the GOPs two decade long losing streak.

Bussman, for his part, is critical of people who dont do their own research and endorse the same conspiracy theories he does. A meme he posted to his Facebook profile in August 2024 argues that, Never before in history have we had more access to facts, and never before have we had so much stupidity!
Wigmaking social media influencer Miriam Yarimi was going 68 mph  nearly three times the speed limit  in her Audi A3 when she mowed down a mother and her two young children in a Brooklyn crosswalk, prosecutors revealed after her first in-person court appearance Wednesday.

Yarimi  who told cops she had the devil in my eyes when she slammed into Natasha Saada, 35, and her three young children as they crossed Ocean Parkway March 29  will remain held without bail, Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun ruled Wednesday.

Saada died of her injuries, as did her two daughters, Deborah, 5, and Diana, 8. Saadas 4-year-old son was critically hurt.

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Yarimi, 32, has been indicted on multiple counts of manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and assault, and could face up to 15 years behind bars if convicted on the top count against her.

In my over 25 years as a prosecutor in Brooklyn, this still remains one of the worst collisions Ive ever seen on a New York City street, Brooklyn D.A. Eric Gonzalez told reporters outside the courtroom Wednesday.

Saadas son, Philip, 4, is still fighting for his life, although he is making progress, Gonzalez said. The last time I spoke to father, the son had been put in a medically-induced coma, and has had his kidney removed.

Dressed in a green Department of Correction jumpsuit, Yarimi stood quietly, her hands cuffed behind her back, during the proceeding Wednesday. She occasionally glanced back at the gallery, with an apparent expression of dumbstruck awe at the media and officials gathered behind her.

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Yarimi had appeared virtually in Brooklyn Criminal Court April 3 via a video stream from her hospital room at NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn, where she was being held for psychological evaluation.

Yarimi had a suspended license when she got behind the wheel of her car, an Audi A3 with a vanity plate reading WIGM8KER, a reference to her wig making business, the afternoon of March 29, cops said.

The car has racked up nearly $11,000 in traffic and parking violations, including 21speed camera tickets and five red light tickets, according to data on howsmydrivingny.nyc.

She was going north on Ocean Parkway, prosecutors said, when she sped through a red light, crashed into a Toyota Camry Uber and hit Saada, 35, and her children. Yarimis car flipped upside down in the crash. Police had initially estimated her speed at about 50 mph, but her cars black box data put her speed at 68 mph, prosecutors said Wednesday.

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The data suggested she had the gas pedal to the floor as she drove, and never hit the brakes before the crash, prosecutors allege.

The devil is in my eyes. I am haunted inside. I didnt kill anyone. I didnt hurt anyone. Prove it. Show me the proof. You have no proof, she told police after the crash, according to filings by prosecutors. I was raped by cops when I was 14. I need CT scans in my eyes. I need to get the scanning done now . Wheres my daughter? My daughters always in my heart . I need to use the bathroom. I dont want to pee in the pan.

Her remarks about being raped by cops refers to her allegations in a 2023 lawsuit that an NYPD officer groomed and raped her throughout her teenage years after she was arrested for shoplifting. The city settled her suit for $2 million in December.

Her lawyer, Joseph Amsel, who asked she be released on cash bail or placed in home confinement, said hell likely try to have those statements suppressed.

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Those statements were apparently made at the hospital, after my client was involved in a serious car accident and may have been sedated, he said. The court should take those statements with a grain of salt.

Amsel also challenged prosecutors allegations that Yarimi was driving with a suspended license, and said she hadnt been notified of any suspensions.

Your honor, I recognize that there is a lot of attention on this case, I recognize the allegations are severe  but these are C on violent felony charges, he said, adding that defendants facing more serious violent felonies are often released on bail.

Outside the courthouse, Amsel said, Quite frankly, the statements that have been made in the press about her being a scofflaw and having a number of traffic and moving violations, that is unfounded. I have seen no evidence that she has been pulled over by the police and ticketed a single time.
OREGON COUNTY, Mo.  The search for 49-year-old Jon Ganz is intensifying as authorities and volunteers continue to comb flood-affected areas of southern Missouri nearly two weeks after his disappearance.

Oregon County Sheriff Eric King shared an update on the ongoing efforts today.

Weve had boats, search and rescue teams, and cadaver dogs looking the last two days with no results. A helicopter is coming back tomorrow, and were expanding the search downriver, he said. King is worried additional rain in the forecast could interfere with search efforts. The water levels are still up, getting close to normal, but with the expected rainfall this weekend, Im afraid its going to come back up some, said King. Rachel Ganz, Jons wife, is also stepping up efforts on the ground:

Im going to try and design some fliers and put them up at the boat dock entrances along the river to try and get the boaters to be on the lookout, she said.

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Jon was last seen on the night of April 5. His truck was later discovered abandoned in the town of Thomasville, which had been under evacuation orders due to extreme flooding. His cell phone, shoes, and clothing were left behind inside the vehicle, with no sign of him nearby.

A Sudden Disappearance

Rachel Ganz spoke with Ozarks First about the devastating days since her husband vanished.

I never dreamed he was going to leave and not come back, she said.

The couple had been temporarily staying in Springfield in the process of relocating from Virginia. Rachel said Jon had begun acting strangely on the night of April 5, urging her to pack and leave to rescue her stepmother in Mississippi due to the flooding.

After confirming their family in Mississippi was safe, Jon said he planned to head to West Virginia to check on his mother, fearing she too might be in danger.

Timeline of Events

April 5: Around 9:15 p.m., Jon called the Oregon County Sheriffs Office after driving off the road. Deputies helped pull his truck from the mud and directed him toward a nearby motel in West Plains. He never made it there. His vehicle was later found in Thomasville.

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April 6: Missouri Water Patrol deployed a boat to search the river, but the operation was stopped due to debris blocking their path.

April 9: Search crews look for Jon using helicopters, but find no signs of him.

April 10: Kayakers search the Eleven Point River for clues.

April 15-16: Boats, search and rescue teams, and cadaver dogs are used to look for the missing man.

April 17: A helicopter search is expected to resume on Thursday, April 17 with search efforts expanding farther down the river.

Search operations involve the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Springfield Police Department, Forestry Service, and local volunteers. Despite ongoing efforts, including boat patrols and canine search teams, Jon remains missing.

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Anyone with information is urged to contact the Oregon County Sheriffs Office.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com.
Kelley succeeds Kenny Kimball, who will return to his previous role as president of Smiths in Utah. Kroger

You can find original article here Supermarketnews. Subscribe to our free daily Supermarketnews newsletter.

The executive reshuffling of the deck continued at The Kroger Co. on Wednesday with the announcement that Joe Kelley will leave his position as president of King Soopers & City Markets and serve as senior vice president of Retail Divisions.

The announcement comes as Kroger restructures, following its failed merger attempt with Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons last year.

In early March, the Cincinnati, Ohio-based grocery chain ousted its chairman and CEO, Rodney McMullen, citing unspecified violations of its ethics policy. Ron Sargent was named chairman of the Kroger board and interim CEO, and Mark Sutton was appointed to the role of lead independent director.

In late November, Kroger also named a new chief merchandising and marketing officer. Mary Ellen Adcock, who served as senior vice president of operations since 2019, succeeded Stuart Aitken, who left the job for a data analytics firm Circana. Aitken formerly served as CEO of Kroger's data analytics firm 84.51, and its predecessor, dunnhumby USA.

More changes were announced in February, when Kroger picked David Kennerley, a longtime PepsiCo financial executive, to serve as chief financial officer. That role was held by Todd Foley, on an interim basis, for about a year following the departure of Gary Millerchip, who joined Costco as CFO in early 2024.

In the most recent executive shuffle, Kelley succeeds Kenny Kimball, who will return to his previous role as president of Smiths in Utah, following three years in the Retail Divisions position.

Kelley joined the Kroger Co. in 2019 and has served in a variety of executive-level roles at grocery chains, including Price Chopper, Stop and Shop, and Albertsons Cos. Star Market and Shaws Supermarkets banners.

Sargent called Kelley a customer-centric leader with a track record of making his stores great places to shop.

We are grateful for Kennys leadership as he stepped up to oversee multiple retail divisions in addition to Smiths, Sargent said in a press release. His commitment to our associates and customers is inspirational, and he will continue to play a key role in our enterprise, supporting strategic priorities and mentoring young leaders.

Kroger is filling Kelleys role with its group vice president of Operations at King Soopers & City Markets, Chris Albi. She joined Kroger in 1981 as a courtesy clerk. Albi has held a variety of positions at Kroger, including Grocery category manager, vice president of Merchandising for the Michigan division, and president of QFC.

The company also announced it has named a new president for its California- and Illinois-based Food 4 Less banner. Kendra Doyel, who joined as a pharmacist at Frys in 1998, will succeed Bryan Kaltenbach, who has served as division president since 2010 and is retiring.
WASHINGTON  A group of moderate Republicans is threatening to withhold support from President Donald Trumps massive tax reconciliation bill if the package includes substantial cuts to Medicaid for vulnerable populations.

In a letter sent to GOP leadership on Wednesday, a dozen House Republicans warned that spending cuts to Medicaid would negatively affect Americans who depend on the welfare program and threaten hospitals that rely on the federal funding for services. The letter marks the beginning of what is likely to be a high-profile fight over what programs to slash as Republicans hunt for spending cuts to pay for Trumps tax package.

We support targeted reforms to improve program integrity, reduce improper payments, and modernize delivery systems to fix flaws in the program that divert resources away from children, seniors, individuals with disabilities, and pregnant women  those who the program was intended to help, the lawmakers wrote, according to a copy of the letter obtained by Deseret News. However, we cannot and will not support a final reconciliation bill that includes any reduction in Medicaid coverage for vulnerable populations.

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That should raise alarm bells for House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., who is working with a historically slim majority in the House and facing a Democratic defense that wont budge in his direction. Current margins give Johnson a three-seat majority, meaning he cant afford many holdouts if he wants to ensure its passage.

Its not yet clear where these lawmakers will draw the line for their support, or if they all have different levels of demands.

But Johnson has already seen some amount of pushback from lawmakers who signed on to the letter. For example, New York Reps. Nick LaLota and Nicole Malliotakis were among a group of moderate Republicans who stalled on a crucial vote to advance Trumps tax package earlier this month.

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., speaks at a press conference across the street from the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse, Monday, May 13, 2024, in New York. | Stefan Jeremiah

The pair were seen talking with Johnson on the House floor as they held back their vote for several minutes before ultimately agreeing to vote in favor of the resolution. Much of that conversation centered on Medicaid cuts, with the lawmakers telling reporters the speaker had promised to take a compassionate approach, according to LaLota.

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The letter comes as Republicans prepare to draft the massive reconciliation bill, which will seek to extend trillions of dollars in tax cuts while also approving several other components of Trumps agenda.

However, the package has raised concerns among Democrats and moderate Republicans as some of their hardline colleagues have suggested securing those cuts by paring away at programs such as Medicaid.

Those concerns stem from the budget resolution requiring $880 billion in cuts from the Energy and Commerce Committee, the panel largely responsible for overseeing Medicaid.

A recent study by the Congressional Budget Office, a nonpartisan agency that provides budget and economic information to Congress, showed that lawmakers would likely need to slash Medicaid funding to cover the lost tax revenue from extending the 2017 tax cuts.

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In the CBOs budget projection, Medicaid accounts for roughly 93% of non-Medicare related mandatory spending in that time period. When one removes Medicare, Medicaid, or the Childrens Health Insurance Program from the equation, funding under the committees jurisdiction is only $381 billion.

Of that amount, more than half is already paid for by collection programs or user fees, according to The Washington Post, meaning that even if the committee slashed programs under the remaining $135 billion, it would still fall far below the $880 billion target outlined in the budget.

Still, lawmakers have left the door open to root out waste, fraud, and abuse related to Medicaid, giving GOP leaders some wiggle room when it comes to finding spending cuts. However, the moderate Republicans have made clear they will not sign on to something that threatens access to healthcare for low- and middle-income families.

We are committed to working with you to preserve Medicaid and identify responsible savings through deregulation, streamlining federal programs, and cutting administrative red tape, the lawmakers wrote. Communities like ours won us the majority, and we have a responsibility to deliver on the promises we made.
A mom who authorities allege drowned her 7-year-old daughter at a Van Nuys apartment this month was charged with murder, prosecutors announced Tuesday.

Prosecutors also charged Graciela Castellanos, 37, of Van Nuys with felony assault of a child under 8 years old, according to a news release from the Los Angeles County district attorney's office. Authorities allege Castellanos drowned her daughter, identified as Rebecca Castellanos, on April 11.

An autopsy determined the girl died from asphyxia due to neck compression and drowning, according to the Los Angeles County medical examiner.

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Castellanos pleaded not guilty during an arraignment on Tuesday, authorities said. She remains in custody in lieu of $2 million bail.

If convicted, Castellanos faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison.

"The alleged facts of this case  where a mother is accused of intentionally taking the life of her young child  are profoundly tragic and deeply unsettling," Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman said in a news release. "Our sympathy goes out to the family and loved ones of this young girl, whose life was cut short far too soon."

Castellanos' fiance told ABC7 that his partner suffers from "mental and emotional health issues" and that he believes she was triggered by "a deep depression after she found out she might not become a legal resident."

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Castellanos "was an almost perfect mom. She never told a bad word, yelled at the girl, didn't hit her," he said in Spanish. "She was the sweetest mom in the world."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A California mom has been charged with murder for allegedly drowning her 7-year-old daughter, prosecutors said.

Graciela Castellanos, 37, allegedly killed her daughter at an apartment in Van Nuys on April 11, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

A neighbor told Los Angeles ABC station KABC that she heard the girl screaming, "Mommy, please no."

PHOTO: Graciela Castellanos, 37, allegedly killed her daughter at an apartment in Van Nuys, Calif., April 11, 2025. (KABC)

MORE: Alleged arsonist targeted Gov. Shapiro over Palestine, search warrant says

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First responders pronounced the 7-year-old dead at the scene, prosecutors said.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman called the allegations "profoundly tragic and deeply unsettling."

"Our sympathy goes out to the family and loved ones of this young girl, whose life was cut short far too soon," Hochman said in a statement Tuesday.

Castellanos pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to charges of murder and assault on a child under 8 years old causing death. She's due to return to court on June 17.

Mom charged with murder for allegedly drowning 7-year-old daughter: DA originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Mom to file lawsuit against Las Vegas childcare facility after sons hands bound

LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A mother plans on filing a lawsuit against a Las Vegas childcare facility after she told the 8 News Now Investigators she found her 9-year-old sons hands bound.

Kala Hall said the incident took place on March 20, at Cherished Legacy Academy and that her son Kody appeared to be sleeping.

Like he appeared dead to me. He was on his stomach. His mouth was open. His head was tilt, and no one had an answer for me, Hall said.

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Kody is on the autism spectrum, and while he is verbal, he did not reveal what happened, according to Hall.

She then hired attorney Ramzy Ladah of Ladah Law Firm who told the 8 News Now Investigators he will file a civil lawsuit for negligence and punitive damages.

This case isnt just about Kody, Ladah said. Its about making sure daycares properly care for children and dont abuse them.

Las Vegas Metro police investigated the incident and said the case will not move forward criminally. Detectives noted that Kody was seen playing with a blanket.

The evidence does not support the claim that a crime was committed, police wrote in an email to the 8 News Now Investigators Friday.

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In an initial police report, Officer Zachary Gainey wrote he did not believe Kody or another child could have been responsible for tying Kodys hands behind his back. Gainey also noted that an employee claimed the children were playing cops and robbers.

There is a video from inside the childcare facility. Hall said staff did not allow her to view the footage, and after the 8 News Now Investigators shared her story on April 7, detectives allowed her to view it.

Hall said it still is not evident how Kodys hands were bound.

He is completely out of view of the camera. Hes in the back corner, Hall said. Theres three other children that the staff is, tending to, and shes focused on them. Kodys left in the corner by himself. She claims she could only see his feet, but the position from where she was, I find it very hard that she could not see him.

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Hall also said the employee appeared to use her cell phone.

Ladah told the 8 News Now Investigators he does not believe Kody could have tied himself up. Regardless, he said, he believes negligence is a factor among the facility, supervisors, and employees.

Cherished Legacy Academy declined the 8 News Now Investigators requests for an interview and visit to the facility.

A spokesperson sent the following statement Friday:

At Cherished Legacy Academy, the health and safety of the children in our care is our number one priority. Therefore, as soon as we were made aware of the allegations against our employee, we acted swiftly to communicate with the family, reported the incident to local authorities, and immediately conducted an internal investigation. After thorough review of the video footage, interviews and on-site visits, the licensing board did not indicate any violations related to this incident and authorities have closed their case. We take these allegations extremely seriously and maintain a zero-tolerance policy for anyone who does not uphold the well-being of young children. Additionally, we will conduct an internal safety training review with all employees to further uphold our commitment to the care and welfare of the children in our care.

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The statement is further concerning because it looks like theyre just trying to sweep this under the rug, Ladah said.

The licensing investigation was open and ongoing as of Monday, according to a spokesperson for Nevadas Child Care and Development Program.

Cherished Legacy Academy has a provisional license due to noncompliance with state law, along with pending director approval, the spokesperson said. The temporary license is scheduled to expire on April 30, according to state records.

An investigation closed last October revealed multiple violations for problems including a lack of supervision, teachers heard yelling at children inappropriately, inadequate number of toys and supplies, no vegetables, fruits, or milk served at lunch, and a janitor in the building who was not fingerprinted, according to state records.

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Another investigation closed last November revealed multiple violations for problems including ratios. State inspectors noted 29 kids of various ages with one worker and a child biting other children.

Cherished Legacy Academy is a 24-hour facility located on Tropicana Avenue near Jones Boulevard.

To reach investigative reporter Vanessa Murphy, email vmurphy@8newsnow.com.

To find information about Nevadas childcare facilities, CLICK HERE and to file a complaint CLICK HERE.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Nora Mabie

Montana Free Press

Walking up to the podium during a March committee hearing, Marsha Small told Montana state lawmakers, I feel like Ive been here forever.

Small, the co-founder of Indigenous Peoples Day Montana, and others have testified in support of establishing the state holiday for the last 10 years, to no avail.

This year, though, will likely make history, as a bill establishing Indigenous Peoples Day cleared the state Legislature on Thursday and is poised to become law. Senate Bill 224 now heads to Republican Gov. Greg Gianfortes desk  marking the most significant progress the legislation has made in a decade.

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Lawmakers through the years have cited different reasons for their opposition to establishing Indigenous Peoples Day as a state-recognized holiday in October. Some took issue with past legislation that would have eliminated Columbus Day, arguing that Christopher Columbus is an important historical figure. Last legislative session, lawmakers criticized bill sponsor Sen. Shane Morigeau, D-Missoula and a citizen of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, for speaking about the atrocities Columbus committed against Native Americans when he advocated for the 2023 bill on the Senate floor.

This year, though, Morigeau and other supporters took a different path. Rather than eliminate or replace Columbus Day, SB 224 allows Montanans to celebrate either or both holidays. Morigeau has consistently emphasized inclusivity in his remarks to lawmakers this session, saying the holiday is meant to celebrate all Montanans. He told Montana Free Press in March that those changes in approach have likely contributed to the bills success.

Morigeau in a March House State Administration Committee meeting said SB 224 would establish a flexible holiday, giving people the choice to celebrate however they please.

Its a day that celebrates the ancestral lineage of all Montanans, he added. Its a day that is shaped and molded by each community and how that community wants to celebrate each other.

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Small told lawmakers in the same hearing that establishing Indigenous Peoples Day can bring us together.

I believe celebrating Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples Day on the same day will go a long way to healing our communities, she said.

Several non-Native supporters this session said the bill encouraged them to research their own lineage. Jacob Zimmerer, a graduate student in Indigenous and rural health at Montana State University, addressed committee members first in Irish. He told lawmakers that his trips to Ireland prompted him to think deeply about ancestral stories and connections.

Indigenous Peoples Day to me is an opportunity for us all to feel those layers of stories, he said.

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Olivia Adams, a senior at Arlee High School and citizen of the Blackfeet Nation, told lawmakers in the March committee meeting that establishing the holiday is a chance to celebrate the resilience and strength of Indigenous people.

Its about recognizing the histories and cultures of Indigenous people who have been here for thousands of years  long before Montana became Montana, she added.

While SB 224 has advanced through the Legislature with overwhelming bipartisan support, the only hitch in its progress came on the afternoon of April 9 when Rep. Ed Byrne, R-Bigfork, proposed an amendment on the House floor that would list Columbus Day first in the bills language, before Indigenous Peoples Day. Byrne argued Columbus Day should be named first to maintain its precedence of establishment.

Rep. Tyson Running Wolf, D-Browning and carrier of the bill on the floor, said the amendment would delay the process and might kill the bill. The amendment was voted down 27-71 and the bill ultimately cleared the chamber with bipartisan support

Native Americans make up 6.7% of Montanans population. The state is home to 12 tribal nations and seven reservations.
The suspected gunman in a fatal shooting in Moorhead on Sunday morning, as well as an alleged accomplice, have been arrested in Michigan, according to authorities.

Jerome Anthony Thomas III, 35, who police described as "armed and dangerous" before his capture, was charged Monday in Clay County District Court with two counts of second-degree murder, one count of attempted first-degree murder and one count of attempted second-degree murder.

Abby Nicole Fredrickson, 32, of Moorhead, was arrested alongside Thomas III and accused of of aiding an offender.

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"This is an active, ongoing multi-jurisdictional investigation, that spans several states," the Moorhead Police Department said in a statement Monday, noting there is no longer a threat to public safety.

Jerome Anthony Thomas III.

The victim in Sunday morning's shooting has been identified as 39-year-old James Earl Hamilton, who was killed in an alleged drive-by shooting while standing in a driveway in the 2700 block of 14th Street South.

According to police, Hamilton was in close proximity to a "juvenile male" when shot.

Criminal charges state that boy identified the driver who fired three gunshots as Thomas III. The boy also told police he did not see anyone else inside the vehicle as it drove past.

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Thomas III is also alleged to have fired a fourth gunshot nearby while confronting Hamilton's girlfriend, who was sitting in a parked car down the street.

According to the complaint, the woman told police she has known Thomas III for over 10 years and he "hit her driver's side window with his fist" before firing one gunshot at her.

Charges state surveillance video captured the interaction, and Thomas III is seen matching the description a 911 caller provided of the drive-by shooter.

Detectives learned Thomas III was driving a green SUV registered to Fredrickson.

When contacted by police, Fredrickson allegedly denied being with Thomas III and told investigators she was over four hours away from Moorhead.

Abby Nicole Fredrickson.

Fredrickson allegedly agreed to return to Moorhead with her vehicle. However, the complaint alleges, she did not contact investigators again.

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Police in Moorhead requested help from law enforcement in Michigan after investigators determined Thomas III was likely in an area just north of Ishpeming, the Moorhead Police Department said.

Michigan State Police alerted authorities in Minnesota on Monday that both Thomas and Fredrickson had been arrested during a traffic stop.

Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcements latest version of events, and may be subject to change.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  More than 150 students explored a future in agriculture last month at a career fair at the Miami County Farm Bureau.

The fair, a co-production with Edison State Community College, gave the students a chance to meet with local businesses and colleges to learn about career opportunities.

the second Agriculture Career Fair on Sunday, March 27.

Bringing together 17 businesses and colleges to meet with over 150 students shows the strength of our agriculture community and the bright future ahead for these young professionals, said Taylor Watkins, Organization Director at the Miami County Farm Bureau.

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Save a life: Donate blood at local drives this April

These businesses spoke with the students about working in agriculture.

The Agriculture Career Fair is a great event that showcases the wide array of employment opportunities for young people in our area, said Brad Lentz, Agriculture Program Director at Edison State. Local businesses have opened their doors to our program by providing internships, educational support, and giving our graduates jobs! Its great to see these young people networking with companies and planting the seeds for future career success.

To learn more about careers in agriculture, call Edison State at Greenville at 937-548-5546. For more information on the Ohio Farm Bureau, click here.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
As part of the Trump administration's effort to remove international students from the U.S. who have participated in pro-Palestinian activism or have had criminal offenses, the federal government has revoked visas or terminated legal statuses for more than 1,000 students across the country, including hundreds in Texas.

Students in some cases have been given no reason for the change in their status or have had their visas terminated for minor infractions such as parking tickets or disputes with roommates, according to media reports. Some have sued the federal government over the lack of due process, while others have self-deported out of fear.

University of Texas students protest April 9 against the Trump administrations revocation of international student visas nationwide.

Here's what is happening in Texas:

How many students in Texas have had their legal status changed?

More than 260 Texas higher education students have had their visas revoked or legal status changed as of Tuesday, an American-Statesman analysis shows. Students can sometimes extend their visas to work in the U.S. after their studies for short periods. This means that recent alumni on student visas have reportedly also been affected.

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More: More than 170 international students at UT System schools have had visas revoked: officials

Where have the visa revocations happened?

Universities are limited in the information they can share under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, but in some cases they've shared specific numbers. The breakdown of known students who have had their legal immigration status changed is as follows:

University of Texas System  176, Randa Safady, vice chancellor for communications, confirmed Monday. Safady declined to break down the numbers for the system's specific institutions. UT-Dallas, which has the second-highest percentage of international students in the state behind Rice University, recorded 19 visas revocations, according to the Texas Tribune, which also reported that UT-Arlington had 27 students affected. UT-Austin confirmed that "multiple" students had visa changes but would not confirm specific numbers.

Texas A&M System  38, Jim Suydam spokesperson for the system, confirmed Monday. Texas A&M: 23 Texas A&M University Kingsville: 9 Texas A&M University Corpus Christi: 3 Prairie View A&M University: 1 Texas A&M University Texarkana: 1 Texas A&M International University: 1

Texas State University System  10 people, spokesperson Mike Wintemute confirmed Tuesday. Lamar University: 5 Sam Houston State University: 3 Texas State University: 2

Texas Tech University System - at least three, the system confirmed Tuesday Last week, Texas Tech University said three students had their visas revoked, spokesperson Kristina Woods Butler confirmed to the American-Statesman. Although she declined to provide the system's updated numbers, she said that "we are committed to supporting our students to the extent permitted by law to help them navigate the disruption in their academic journeys."

University of North Texas System  30, according to a spokesperson Tuesday. UNT System spokesperson Devynn Case said the most recent data showed nine undergraduate and 21 graduate students had their visas terminated.

University of Houston  a "small number," the system told the Statesman. "Since March 25, a small number of our international students have been impacted by SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) terminations and/or visa revocations," spokesperson Shawn Lindsey said in a statement, declining to share specific numbers. "Our practice is to notify these students directly of these changes."

Texas Woman's University  Six at its flagship campus, according to the Texas Tribune. Texas Woman's University System did not respond to a Statesman request for the information by Tuesday afternoon.

Rice University  Five people, according to the Houston Chronicle.

What does it mean for a visa to be revoked or changed?

International students are accepted by U.S. institutions, which then submit a form, typically an I-20, to the federal government, which then issues a visa that asserts their right to enter and stay in the country, Faye Kolly, an immigration attorney in Austin, told the Statesman.

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David Donatti, senior staff attorney for the ACLU of Texas, said in a statement that students are being notified of their legal status decisions without due process to correct or address alleged violations.

"The federal government didn't simply revoke student visas, which would limit travel in and out of the country but took the more severe step of altering students' legal statuses," Donatti said. "Interrupting their academic and professional pursuits mid-stream and exposing them to arrest, detention, and deportation, often just weeks before the end of term and graduation ceremonies is cruel."

It also means international students will likely be more averse to studying in the United States, hurting universities' ability to recruit the best talent and drive innovation, Kolly said.

Some students have appealed their legal status changes. Kolly said, however, that students may preemptively self-deport due to the "climate of fear" around what will happen if they do not leave. In some cases, students were reportedly told to self-deport, according to USA Today.

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ICYMI: Trump administration revokes 15 TAMU student visas, UT students protest new crackdown

Why are visa changes happening?

The Trump administration threatened to deport international students involved in pro-Palestinian protests during his 2024 presidential campaign and quickly acted on such promises. In late March, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said his office was working "every day" to deport "lunatics," and pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University and Tufts University were detained and had their visas revoked.

But there have been two more "waves" of visa revocations that don't appear to involve activism. One, Kolly described, seemed to target students with any criminal record, including parking tickets. The other seemed to be more random and nonspecific, she said, referring to vague violations of their visa status.

How to know if my visa status changed?

Universities can see if a student's status has changed by checking the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System maintained by the designated school official and by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration services.

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Kolly said students who face visa changes have received an email from the State Department alerting them to a change of status and the reason for the change. Kolly said it's important that students who receive such an email contact their university to understand the implications, as a visa and status are connected, but they are two different things.

"Visas are the stamps that are issued in passports, and they're only issued by U.S. consulates abroad," Kolly said. "What seems to be happening (is) the status is being terminated and the visa is being revoked, but you have to look at each case separately."

What should I do if my visa is revoked?

If a visa is revoked, students should contact their university, save all their academic and immigration forms, and find a lawyer, Kolly said. In some cases, the university can resubmit a form for a student to seek to reestablish their legal status or a lawyer can fight the federal government's decision, she said.

Is there any legal action ongoing?

Some students have filed class action lawsuits, Kolly said. Nineteen state attorney generals have sued the federal government over its actions, seeking an injunction to temporarily block the administration from canceling student visas.

What effect could student visa revocations have on Texas?

International students are coveted by universities who seek world-class talent in their student bodies to drive innovation, cultural diversity and excellence. These students pay full tuition and are not eligible for financial or state aid. They are estimated to contribute about $2 billion to the Texas economy alone, according to the Higher Education Immigration Portal.

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Texas has more than 80,000 international students, making the number affected by the visa revocations a small percentage. But the fear of what will come next is strong and extends beyond immigrant students, Kolly said. Even U.S. citizens are calling her office to ask if they should travel, she said.

"The impacts are going to be long term and ultimately devastating as we continue on this path," said Kolly, adding that it will affect trust in the immigration system for lawful immigrants who come to the United States. "My fear is that the damage is already done."

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Trump revokes visas, changes status for more than 260 Texas students
Another cold front is cooling things off a bit across Florida as it moves through the state.

What it isn't doing is bringing much-needed rain to alleviate drought conditions, and "wildfire concerns" are increasing, according to the Florida Department of Emergency Management.

As the drought worsens, more counties have issued burn bans.

 Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location

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Expect above-normal temperatures to return by the Easter weekend, according to the National Weather Service Tallahassee.

While the front may bring a few sprinkles to some areas tonight, an elevated fire danger will continue today across a large portion of the state.

"We will be bone dry over the next seven days, with no rainfall expected," the National Weather Service Tampa Bay said.

As of Wednesday morning, April 16, there were 62 wildfires burning across Florida.

The average statewide drought index increased Tuesday to 375.

No red flag warnings currently in effect in Florida

The National Weather Service has not issued any red flag warnings as of Wednesday morning.

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However, very low humidity combined with dry soil and vegetation is creating an elevated fire danger.

"Lack of significant rainfall and well-above normal temperatures for the time of year throughout the Peninsula continue to keep moderate to severe drought conditions ongoing with the potential for expansion of these conditions this week and into next week as warmer conditions overspread the state," the Florida Department of Emergency Management said.

What is a red flag warning?

A red flag warning is issued when "critical fire weather conditions" are in place.

"A red flag warning means warm temperatures, very low humidity, and stronger winds are expected to combine to produce an increased risk of fire danger," the National Weather Service said.

What should you do  or not do  under a red flag warning?

Forecasters said residents under a red flag warning should follow this advice:

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If you are allowed to burn in your area, all burn barrels must be covered with a weighted metal cover, with holes no larger than 3/4 of an inch.

Do not throw cigarettes or matches out of a moving vehicle. They may ignite dry grass on the side of the road.

Extinguish all outdoor fires properly. Drown fires with plenty of water and stir to make sure everything is cold to the touch. Dunk charcoal in water until cold. Do not throw live charcoal on the ground and leave it.

Never leave a fire unattended. Sparks or embers can blow into leaves or grass, ignite a fire, and quickly spread.

See the map: Active wildfires reported across Florida

How dry is it in Florida?

Rainfall deficits over the last 90 days remain near 2" to 4 below normal.

Conditions are worse north of Interstate 4 and across coastal sections of South Florida. Those areas are experiencing rainfall of 4" to 6 below normal, the Florida Department of Emergency Management said.Florida.

Where are the largest fires currently burning in Florida?

Wildfire at Lake Woodruff in DeLeon Springs

According to the National Interagency Fire Center, the largest wildfires burning in Florida as of April 11 were (data is updated every Friday):

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East Marsh Fire: One mile west of DeLand. 3,377 acres. Now 100% contained.

Fernadez Fire: Four miles northeast of Lake Kathryn. 565 acres. Now 100% contained.

Red Horse Fire: Fire started on private land seven miles northwest of Bowling Green. 390 acres. Now 100% contained.

How do Florida brush fires get their names?

"Wildfire names are generally based on the geographic location of the fire or a nearby geographic feature," according to Tim Brown, communications manager with the Florida Forest Service in an email.

"For example, the 344 Fire was due to its location near 344 Street."

Will it rain today in Florida?

While a few sprinkles are possible as the cold front moves through, don't count on anything helping drought conditions seen through most of Florida's peninsula. The National Weather Service Tampa Bay warned "We will be bone dry over the next seven days with no rainfall expected."

Florida weather forecast for Wednesday, April 16:

Western Panhandle, Pensacola: Sunny. High 74. Low 57.

Central Panhandle, Tallahassee: Sunny. High 77. Low 52.

Northeast Florida, Jacksonville: Sunny. High 78. Low 52.

East Coast, Central Florida from Daytona Beach to Stuart: Sunny. High 78. Low 65.

South Florida, West Palm Beach, Naples: Sunny. High 82. Low 72.

Southwest Florida, Fort Myers to Sarasota: Sunny. High 78. Low 58.

Interactive map: Enter your address to find closest wildfire risks

Current drought conditions in Florida

The Keetch-Byram Drought Index average for Florida was 375 Tuesday. The drought index uses a scale from 0, which is very wet, to 800, which is very dry.

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As of Tuesday, April 15, there were 18 Florida counties with a mean Keetch-Byram Drought Index over 500, which means drought or increased fire danger.

Counties with drought index over 600, which is associated with more severe drought with increased wildfire occurring:

Counties in bold are new ones added in each section.

Collier: 600

Hendry: 608

Lee: 615

Counties with drought index in the 500s:

Broward: 549

Charlotte: 577

DeSoto: 540

Glades: 566

Hardee: 577

Highlands: 510

Hillsborough: 501

Lake: 552

Manatee: 558

Martin: 517

Miami-Dade: 549

Monroe: 563

Palm Beach: 590

Pasco: 531

Polk: 503

Sarasota: 567

Sumter: 539

Volusia: 517

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Another 10 of Florida's 67 counties have index numbers in the 400s.

Three counties within 25 points of hitting 500:

Hernando: 495

Orange: 496

Seminole: 494

What do the drought numbers mean?

Here's an explanation of what the Keetch-Byram Drought Index numbers mean, according to the Wildland Fire Assessment System.

0-200: Soil moisture and large-class fuel moistures are high and do not contribute much to fire intensity. Typical of spring dormant season following winter precipitation.

200-400: Typical of late spring, early growing season. Lower litter and duff layers are drying and beginning to contribute to fire intensity.

400-600: Typical of late summer, early fall. Lower litter and duff layers actively contribute to fire intensity and will burn actively.

600-800: Often associated with more severe drought with increased wildfire occurrence. Intense, deep burning fires with significant downwind spotting can be expected. Live fuels can also be expected to burn actively at these levels.

More burn bans issued across Florida

Burns bans posted by Florida Forest Service as of April 15, 2025

According to the Florida Forest Service, burn bans are in place for the following counties:

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Charlotte

Collier

Glades

Hendry

Highlands

Lake

Lee

Sarasota

Burn bans enacted by other counties not yet posted on the Florida Forest Service's website include:

The open burning of yard debris is always prohibited in these counties:

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Duval

Hillsborough

Orange

Pinellas

Weak, dry cold front moving through Florida

A mostly dry cold front moved through the Florida Panhandle and North Florida April 15 and is forecast to pass through Central and Southern Florida April 16, according to the Florida Department of Emergency Management.

In the wake of the cold front, dry air and moderate winds out of the north "will create favorable conditions for the development of wildfires on Wednesday and Thursday as relative humidity values drop."

Temperatures will climb the latter half of the week and into the weekend.

Stay informed. Get weather alerts via text

What's next?

We will continue to update our weather coverage as conditions warrant. Download your local site's app to ensure you're always connected to the news. And look for our special subscription offers here.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Florida burn bans, active wildfires as drought conditions continue
South Korean regulators requested 14 apps from Apple  belonging to unreported foreign crypto operators  be blocked domestically, a statement said on Monday.

Crypto exchanges KuCoin and MEXC are among the firms being targeted by the regulator, and domestic access to their apps have been blocked since April 11.

A spokesperson from MEXC confirmed that its app was no longer available on Apple App store and Google Play Store.

"MEXC respects local regulatory requirements and is currently reviewing the necessary measures to ensure alignment with relevant policies," a spokesperson said.

We are closely monitoring regulatory developments across all jurisdictions, including South Korea, and will fully cooperate with any regulatory requirements," a spokesperson from KuCoin said.

Foreign virtual asset business operators that want to operate in South Korea need to report to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) in accordance with the Act on Reporting and Use of Specific Financial Transaction Information, the statement said.

Unreported business activities are subject to criminal punishment, and the FIU has been targeting overseas unreported virtual asset business operators conducting domestic business activities without reporting (16 companies in 2022, 6 companies in 2023), while also blocking domestic access through Internet sites and mobile phone apps, the regulator said.

South Korea has been moving to block crypto providers that are operating illegally. Last month it requested Google prevent access to 17 apps while reports came out that the regulator planned to block some exchanges sites.

In the future, FIU will continue to block domestic access through mobile applications (apps) and Internet sites of overseas unreported virtual asset operators in order to prevent money laundering risks and user damage, in consultation with relevant organizations, the Financial Intelligence Unit said.

Update (April 15 14:46 UTC): Adds comments from KuCoin and MEXC.
The Trump administration has canceled hundreds of student visas across the nation, and the revocations, which have already begun to affect several local colleges and universities, now involve students in Orange County as well.

Schools that are affected range from large public institutions like UC and Cal State schools to smaller private schools such as Chapman University.

In a weekly update, the California State University system stated they were monitoring the situation surrounding the visa revocations and working with individual campuses to provide assistance to students in need.

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L.A. County remains critically short on rainfall despite recent storms

CSU students are asked to work with the International Student Services office at their university, school system officials stated. The CSU is committed to the well-being and success of all our students and celebrates the rich diversity of backgrounds and perspectives that our international students contribute to CSU.

Two students walk on the Cal State Fullerton campus in 2020. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

According to CSU officials, as of Tuesday, a total of 70 students have been impacted by visa revocations in 2025. As of April 6, at least nine were canceled at UCLA, and last week, California Attorney General Rob Bonta stated that nearly 100 students at UC and CSU schools as well as Stanford University had their visas revoked.

KTLA spoke with a Cal State Fullerton official on Wednesday morning, and he said that so far, four students have had their visas revoked. On top of that, the spokesman confirmed that the school received no word before the cancellations.

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Those four Fullerton students are no longer on campus, the spokesperson, Michael Mahi, said.

Man cited for urinating on CHP facility in Southern California

The university has been in contact with each of those students, and we have given them legal referrals, Mahi told KTLA 5s Annie Rose Ramos. Right now, were working with the students on the continuity of their degree program, [because] its really important to us to make sure that they continue their education, and were going to see how we can make that happen or how that will work out.

The legal referrals are not through the university but through a third party that works with the CSU system, Mahi added.

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Students, of course, are bearing the brunt of the federal orders, and it is having a negative effect on their college experiences.

Its absolutely horrifying [that] our fellow students are getting their visas revoked and deported just because they dared to come here to study and build a future, one Cal State Fullerton student who did not provide their name told KTLA on Wednesday.

Seeing this happen to students here is shocking and sadI didnt believe this would come to our campus because of how diverse it is here, another student, Melissa, said.

A lot of these students work so hard to even get an acceptance letter, so for them just to have it revoked, that seems unfair, said a third student, Yazmin.

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Bonta and 19 other attorneys general from across the United States have filed an amicus brief challenging the Trump administrations student visa revocations.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
ASHLAND Jennifer Francis began baking cakes at age 8, and her mother would help her sell them.

Tammy Tipton-Vogelsong recognized Francis talent and experience from the time they started working together at Tiptons Traditions. Francis has made cakes professionally for 16 years.

Tammy kinda told me when I first started here that one day it would be my bakery, Francis said.

That day has come.

The Northeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and the Kentucky Small Business Development Center conducted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Sweet Peace at 339 15th Street on Wednesday in Ashland.

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The event drew a large crowd just before noon.

Everybody here wants this to be a huge day and huge success for you, and its going to be, said Scott Martin, President of Northeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.

Mayor Chuck Charles said the dozens in attendance is a testimony of the support you have in Ashland, Kentucky.

Tiptons Traditions operated in Ironton before moving to Ashland in 2017.

Jennifer is starting a new tradition, but youre still able to get all of your (Tiptons) favorites with some new additions, said Terri Branham Clark of SBDC. Its been a fun opportunity to work with (Francis) and Tammy to facilitate this transition.

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Francis said Tipton-Vogelsong has encountered some health issues and wanted to leave it in good hands.

Francis said Sweet Peace will feature the traditional Tiptons menu in addition to homemade cheesecakes, macarons, character macarons and wedding cakes.

Were getting back into that game, Francis said of wedding cakes.

Sweet Peace has seven employees currently, according to Francis.

We have such an amazing staff, Francis said. They show up, no matter what, every day. Some of have been here since the Ironton days.

Sweet Peaces hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Time has run out for some US trade partners looking to make deals ahead of President Trump's July 9 deadline for tariffs to snap back to higher levels.

Letters will start going out to countries on Friday to notify them of the tariff rates they will face on exports to the US, Trump told reporters, to go into effect on Aug. 1. The first 10 or 12 letters sent out will be followed by similar batches.

By the ninth theyll be fully covered, Trump said in reference to the deadline, per Bloomberg. Theyll range in value from maybe 60% or 70% tariffs to 10% and 20% tariffs.

The Trump team has so far been focused on hammering out trade deals, though it has succeeded in nailing only three pacts so far.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said around 100 partners would likely see a minimum "reciprocal" rate of 10% come next week, adding that he expects a "flurry" of deals to materialize before the deadline.

Here is where things stand with various partners:

China : The US has eased export restrictions on China for chip design software and ethane, a sign that trade tensions are calming between the two countries after they agreed in May to a framework to move toward a larger trade deal. Software firms like Synopsys (SNPS) and Cadence (CDNS) said they will now sell their chip design tools to Chinese customers again. The US also removed limits on ethane exports to China that it had set just weeks ago.

Vietnam: Trump on Wednesday said he had reached a trade deal with Vietnam, one that will see the country's imports face a 20% tariff  lower than the 46% he had threatened in April. He also said Vietnamese goods would face a higher 40% tariff "on any transshipping"  when goods shipped from Vietnam originate from another country, like China. Many US goods will see no duty upon import to Vietnam.

Japan: Trump earlier this week said negotiations with Japan had soured, saying he would force Japan to accept higher tariffs of "30%, 35%, or whatever the number is that we determine." Notably, that proposal is higher than the 24% "Liberation Day" level. "Theyre very tough. You have to understand, theyre very spoiled," he said.
DOTHAN, Ala (WDHN)  Over a year ago, Dothan city leaders went to Washington D.C. to ask for federal funding for a community center on the east side of the city.

With some help from Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville, they were awarded $7.7 million for the project, and the city accepted the money.

Were extremely excited whenever we can get some federal funding. Its an exciting day in Dothan, Alabama, said Mayor Mark Saliba.

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Beloved Dothan bus driver dies at bus depot

The community center will be on Ennis Road between the Wiregrass Public Safety Center and the new Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences building.

Offering law enforcement and fire a place to hold events and a place citizens can utilize.

It can also be rented by the community to be used for whatever they need to, and well be able to divide it into different sections so that we can have small and large events, said Dothan City Manager Randy Morris.

Filling a need on the east side of the city.

As we create more public buildings in and around the city, covering all directions, I think thats also a win-win, said Saliba.

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Morris tells WDHN that a group is working on a design for the building, but that could take another 4 to 6 months to complete.

Then construction on the project will last between 12 to 16 months.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com.
DES MOINES, Iowa  A Des Moines sober living home is uninhabitable after a fire broke out Tuesday evening.

Firefighters responded to the 1300 block of 11th Street around 7:15 p.m. When firefighters arrived at the home they found flames emanating from the building and thick black smoke billowing from the front windows of the first, second and third floors.

Income tax increases may become more difficult with Iowa Senate passing constitutional amendment

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Captain Brian Davis, a District Chief with the Des Moines Fire Department, told WHO-13s Katie Kaplan that there were three people inside the home when the fire started and that all of them were able to escape unharmed.

They were able to get out the backdoor of the residence since there wasnt any fire on that side of the house, he said.

The fire appeared to have started on the front porch, he said. An investigation into what sparked it is ongoing.

The home is owned by the non-profit Kingdom Living Iowa and provided a safe haven for eight men who were getting a fresh start in life.

The beautiful thing is everybody is safe, said Mike Madden. Thats the most important part.

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Madden is the co-founder of the organization and came to the scene after he heard the news. While Kingdom Living Iowa has insurance as a business, he said the men who were impacted had most likely lost all of their personal effects.

Theres gonna be things in there that they have- personal belongings- that these people have worked really hard to increase and add those things into their life, he said. Personal belongings, all those things, are probably in that house and theyre gonna be at a loss.

For one resident, that also meant his means of transportation. A motorcycle that was parked on the front lawn belonged to one of the men who lived in the home. The man told WHO-13 that he tried to move it, but the seat had melted and the bike was too hot to handle.

The eight displaced residents will be couch surfing for the foreseeable future, including one sleeping at Maddens home, he said.

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Kingdom Living Iowa operates more than a dozen sober living homes across the metro and serves both men and women. If you would like to donate to help the impacted residents, you can do so here.

Metro News:

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com.
Media mogul Rupert Murdochs Wall Street Journal issued a scathing critique of President Donald Trumps Ivy League power grab in an editorial slamming his overreach.

The editorial, headlined Donald Trump Tries to Run Harvard, said that many of Trumps demands after he froze $2.2 billion in funds to the university exceed his power under the Constitution.

President Donald Trump and media mogul Rupert Murdoch have long had an off-and-on-again relationship, and Murdoch visited Trump in the Oval Office February. / Elizabeth Frantz / Elizabeth Frantz/REUTERS

The Journals Editorial Board is well known for its right-leaning opinions. Although it never endorses a candidate, it has previously commended some Trump policies and Murdoch himself has long had ties to the president. In February, Trump called Murdoch a class by himself and an amazing guy.

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In the last few months, the Journal has been severe in its criticisms of Trumps politics. On Tuesday it ripped his Harvard crackdown, which followed a string of similar moves against Columbia and University of Pennsylvania, among other top universities.

Few Americans will shed tears for the Cambridge crowd, but there are good reasons to oppose this unprecedented attempt by government to micromanage a private university, the editorial begins.

Former Executive Chairman of Fox Corp Rupert Murdoch attended the inauguration of President Donald Trump in January. / Chip Somodevilla / Chip Somodevilla/REUTERS

The Trump administration has ruled that several universities, including Harvard, have allowed antisemitism to flourish, and the president says his executive orders will weed out discrimination. It has moved to abolish diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and punished students who participated in pro-Palestine protests.

Trump initially sought to strip $9 billion from Harvards funds if the school didnt follow his orders. Harvard then announced that it would not comply with the governments requirements.

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On X, the university account posted a quote from Harvard President Alan Garber: No governmentregardless of which party is in powershould dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue."

In retaliation, Trump then froze $2.2 billion in multi-year grants to the school and threatened to take away its tax-exempt status. Trumps revenge prompted a wave of backlash from high-level Democrats, including former President Barack Obama, who called Trumps demands unlawful and ham-handed.

While the Journal notes that a few of Trumps prior demands are within the governments purview, others are completely out of bounds.

The editorial especially takes offense with Trumps largely undefined viewpoint diversity requirement that he says the university must comply withor else.

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The Supreme Court has repeatedly held that the government may not use federal benefits or funds to coerce parties to surrender their constitutional rights, the Journal writes. This is what the Administration is doing by demanding Harvard accede to viewpoint diversity.

Along with accusing Trump of overstepping, the Journal blasts him for cutting funds that go toward lifesaving medical research.

President Donald Trump has taken an axe to the federal funds of several major universities. / Kevin Dietsch / Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Harvard could fund some though not all of such research with its $53 billion endowment, but there are sure to be casualties from the Administrations hostage-taking, including perhaps cancer patients, it adds.

Plus, the Journal notes, even if the federal government has a duty to protect Jewish students, the university was already enforcing new orders to do so, and Students Against Antisemitism praised the college for implementing effective long-term changes.

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The Trump Administration nonetheless demanded last week that Harvard accede to what is effectively a federal receivership under threat of losing $9 billion, the Journal writes.

The Trump administration runs off the legal rails by ordering Harvard to reduce governance bloat, duplication, or decentralization, and by ordering faculty reviews.

It continues: These reforms may be worth pursuing, but the government has no business requiring them.

And with no definition of viewpoint diversity, argues the Journal, the president enters a legal limbo.

President Donald Trump has long had ties to Rupert Murdoch, and the pair are pictured here in 1993. / Sonia Moskowitz / Sonia Moskowitz/Getty Images

Does this mean the English department must hire more Republican faculty or Shakespeare scholars? the Journal asks, adding that an external monitor will ultimately determine the answer.

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If the monitor finds insufficient diversity, however defined, the university is required to hire a critical mass of new faculty and students to provide this diversity.

Must Harvard ask applicants if they support Mr. Trump and impose ideological quotas in hiring and admissions? asks the Journal.

It adds that Trump is even using a favorite tool of the left to slam Harvard with discrimination allegations.

At least the Biden and Obama Administrations did investigations before bringing down a Title IX hammer, it adds. The Trump team is shooting first and investigating later.
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WKRN)  The Murfreesboro Police Department has arrested a man accused of attacking a young woman during her morning run along a walking trail Monday.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee

Authorities said an 18-year-old woman was attacked on the walking trail behind Oaklands Park on Maney Avenue around 8:30 a.m. Monday. Murfreesboro police identified Xavier Carter, 23, as the possible suspect in that case.

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Later that same afternoon, a theft was reported at Murphy Express on Memorial Boulevard. Carter was taken into custody for the shoplifting.

READ MORE | Latest headlines from Murfreesboro and Rutherford County

Carter has been charged with kidnapping, sexual battery and theft. As of publication, he is being held on a $30,000 bond at the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center. His hearing has been scheduled for June 3 in General Sessions Court.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
MURRELLS INLET, S.C. (WBTW)  Three men suspected in an alleged armed robbery on Sunday in Murrells Inlet have been identified, including one who was arrested Tuesday by Conway police, according to the Georgetown County Sheriffs Office.

Deputies also released the names and photos of all three suspects on Wednesday  Jamarion QuaLee Terrell Long, 19; Tymarious Dereintae Shimeek Holmes, 21; and Brodie Austin Seward, 21. Holmes and Seward remain at large.

The investigation began after two people told authorities they were robbed by three men at a residence on Sunnyside Avenue. The suspects allegedly took money, cell phones and a safe containing additional money.

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Long, 19, was taken to the J. Reuben Long Detention Center after his arrest to await transfer to the Georgetown County Detention Center. All three men are facing charges of armed robbery; first-degree burglary; conspiracy; kidnapping; and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.

Anyone with information is asked to call 843-546-5102.

* * *

Dennis Bright is the Digital Executive 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.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
Elon Musk claimed that he was #2 after Trump for assassination, in text messages to a former partner who claims to be the mother of one of his children.

The tech billionaire told Ashley St Clair in a text, seen by the Wall Street Journal, that only the paranoid survive, citing it as a reason to keep his name off her babys birth certificate.

St Clair told the outlet that she had been ordered not to put Musks name on the official document, and warned not to hire an attorney by Musks longtime fixer, Jared Birchall.

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The right-wing influencer first came forward with claims that she had given birth to one of Musks children in February.

Five months ago, I welcomed a new baby into the world. Elon Musk is the father, she wrote. I have not previously disclosed this to protect our childs privacy and safety, but in recent days it has become clear that tabloid media intends to do so, regardless of the harm it will cause.

Elon Musk claimed that he was #2 after Trump for assassination, in text messages to a former partner who claims to be the mother of one of his children, and said that only the paranoid survive (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

St Clair told the WSJ that though she did hire an attorney, contrary to Birchalls warning, she had also left Musks name off the birth certificate of her child. She later claimed she was pushed to sign further documents to keep details of the child a secret in return for financial support.

Per the WSJ, Musk texted her that it would be dangerous to make his relationship to the baby public, describing himself as the #2 after Trump for assassination and adding that only the paranoid survive.

The tech billionaire told Ashley St Clair (right) in a text that revealing his relationship to her child would be dangerous, citing it as a reason to keep his name off her babys birth certificate (Gett/@stclairashley/X)

Musk has been concerned about his private security for a while, but has reportedly used his proximity to the president to mitigate this.

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In February, CNN reported that members of Musk's protection team had been deputized by the U.S. Marshals Service, granting them certain rights and protections of federal law enforcement agents.

At the time, he claimed that the Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele had voiced concerns about his safety. "It's not enormous," Musk said of his security detail. "Maybe it should be bigger."

Musk was not, however, granted Secret Service protection, but the agency can assign a protective detail to anyone with an executive order from the president.
A leaders job is to make bold decisions, even when they are unpopular. Thats what happened two years ago when I announced that the staff of Capitolis would be going back to work full-time in our New York and London offices.

Tech and financial companies have led the return-to-office chargefrom Goldman Sachs to more recent campaigns by Amazons Andy Jassy and JPMorgan Chases Jamie Dimon. I assume many will disagree with my decision, some passionately so. Thats fine. I dont claim to have found the formula for all companies. But nearly two years in, this much is clear to me: We are simply better when were together.

In-office is not for everyone (and thats okay)

We lose many candidates because of our policy, and we are okay with thatit says as much in our company values statement that we are not for everyone. Capitolis is a company of more than 150 people and continues to grow. Of the over 10 million people who live in the New York City area, we are looking for those who value and seek full-time, face-to-face work, and we are oversubscribed for every open role we seek to fill. For those who do not buy into working from the officethis is not the right place. However, our business growth, productivity, and 2% undesired turnover last year tell me this is working.

Yet for all our successes, going back to the office full-time was not without friction. I was asked, Dont you trust us? We worked hard during the pandemic, and it worked. I was warned we would fail to attract millennial or Gen Z employees who value work-life balance, and that we would struggle to compete with firms offering flexible work policies. I understand the desire to avoid commuting, or even putting on pants, and I get that many people can work efficiently from home. I carefully considered these arguments. I had the opportunity to try the work-from-home magic pill, and I am not buying.

Learning happens through osmosis

In my decades working in the office, I have seen the value of human interaction in bringing out everyones best. Every single day, there are countless chance encounters with other people in the company, with clients, impromptu meetings and conversations, spontaneous ideas that arise. There is a buzz, an energy, that cant be felt on Zoom; it is a good backup, but virtual meetings are linear, timed, restrictive, and not at all organic.

Face-to-face encounters lead to conversations, which lead to relationshipsand which build powerful teams. Newer, junior employees miss out on learning opportunities from more experienced team members when theyre not physically present in meetings, listening to conversations, watching how more seasoned players do what they do. Mentorships form organically when people connect. In person.
(Photo: Catherine McQueen/Getty Images)

The North Carolina House Education Committee approved a bill aimed at barring books and other media with sexual content from school libraries, opening up schools that do not comply with the requirements to lawsuits.

The proposal, House Bill 636, drew concerns from Democratic representatives over the subjectivity of which books are harmful to minors or pervasively vulgar, the standard for removal set by the bill, as well as protests from members of the public, some of whom were ejected by the sergeant-at-arms for vocal disruptions.

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The bill requires each of the states 116 school districts to establish a committee made up of five parents or guardians and five educators tasked with reviewing all school library material for sexual content to determine if it is in violation of the state guidelines, as well as new additions and any book fair offerings. The bill declares any media containing descriptions or visual depictions of sexual activity to be inappropriate for all ages and grade levels.

The State Board of Education would be required to maintain a database of all banned media across the state and update it annually. In addition, objections from 10 parents, residents, or teachers would be sufficient to require the review of specific library materials. While the bill leaves final say over what materials should be included in libraries with school governing bodies, it also opens up a private right of action for parents, guardians, and residents to sue over noncompliance with the law by any school.

The bill comes amid a wave of book bans around the country as Republican-controlled legislatures have sought to give parents a veto over the material their children can access at school. In the 2023-24 school year, more than 10,000 instances of book banning took place around the country, PEN America found. Critics of the bans say books on LGBTQ+ and racial topics are disproportionately subject to removal, alleging ideological rather than educational motives for the restrictions.

Rep. Neal Jackson (R-Moore), one of the bills primary sponsors, contended that the removal process is absolutely not book banning, pointing to Supreme Court precedent that schools may bar any content that are pervasively vulgar or educationally unsuitable. He said controlling available library media is critical for parental rights.

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Its not about fiction books. Its not about nonfiction books. Its not about novels, Jackson said. Very simply, its about pornography and not allowing pornography in our public school libraries.

But that argument left opponents of the bill unconvinced. Rep. Marcia Morey (D-Durham) said she feared books like Alice Walkers The Color Purple, which depicts a young girl experiencing and overcoming rape, would likely be subject to bans despite their literary and educational value.

Thats book banning, thats censorship, thats one of the all-time great books that kids learn to read with, that they get an interest in, Morey said, comparing moves to ban controversial media to George Orwells 1984. I dont see the line, I see subjectivity, and Im really, really worried about that. I have very serious concerns that this is total censorship.

Rep. David Willis (R-Union), another primary sponsor, said books like The Color Purple are not the target of the legislation, calling characterization of the bill as a book banning measure personally offensive. He said there is a clear legal definition of what is vulgar, what is obscene, and what is pornography that does not encompass books with educational merit.

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That is not what this is designed to do and the folks in this committee understand that clearly, Willis said. If I were to take one of these books and walk across the mall and sit down with one of the tour groups of kids that come through there every single day and start reading aloud  and start exposing the book and the pictures in these books  it wouldnt take very long for me to get arrested.

Rep. Laura Budd (D-Mecklenburg) said that despite the lawmakers assertion that the bill seeks to protect parental rights, it instead infringes upon them by allowing other parents to block her childrens reading material. She recalled a teacher contacting her because her son, then a fourth grader, was reading The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, a book that depicts the horrors of the Holocaust.

Its my job as the parent, not the schools and not the governments, to determine what is appropriate, Budd said. This is in fact book banning and a very slippery slope, because what you define as wholesome may not be the same for me.

HB 636 was also approved the House Rules Committee Tuesday afternoon and is scheduled for a vote before the full House on Wednesday.
Apr. 16BISMARCK  The North Dakota Senate failed a bill on a 20-26 vote Tuesday, April 15, that would have allowed the State Investment Board to divest Legacy Fund investments from Chinese companies.

Sens. Cole Conley and Terry Wanzek, both R-Jamestown, voted in favor of House Bill 1330.

HB 1330 would have added language to the prudent investor rule to define a Chinese company as a company domiciled in China.

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Sen. Sean Cleary, R-Bismarck, a supporter of the bill, said HB 1330 allows but does not require the State Investment Board to divest Legacy Fund holdings from Chinese companies.

"I think there's circumstances where it's appropriate for the SIB (State Investment Board) to take a look at all the factors that are surrounding where our Legacy Fund is invested and make a decision based on those factors," he said. "I think a green vote on this bill positions them to do that. It gives them the flexibility to divest from direct investments in China."

Sen. Cole Conley, R-Jamestown, a sponsor of the bill, said the Legacy Fund is being used to invest in China's sovereign wealth fund.

"I'm not sure why we are doing that," he said.

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Sen. Jeffery Magrum, R-Hazelton, said the state could lose money on its Legacy Fund investments in Chinese companies if the U.S. goes to war with China.

"I think divesting would have been great, but if the state investment board has the option to say, we need to pull the plug on our investments over there, it does give them the option," he said.

In 2010, North Dakota voters approved a measure that created the Legacy Fund, which is a perpetual source of state revenue from the finite national resources of oil and natural gas, according to the Office of State Treasurer's website. Thirty percent of the taxes on petroleum produced and extracted in North Dakota are transferred to the Legacy Fund monthly, according to the North Dakota Retirement and Investment Office's website.

The Legacy Fund has over $12 billion as of Jan. 31. It has earned over $600 million for the 2023-25 biennium.

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The State Investment Board has statutory responsibility for the administration of the investment programs of several funds including the Legacy Fund, according to the Retirement and Investment Office's website.

Sen. Michael Dwyer, R-Bismarck, who opposed the bill, said about $22 million of the Legacy Fund is in direct holdings in Chinese companies.

"The State Investment Board operates under a prudent investment rule and there might be one of those investments that is an excellent investment," he said. "They would need the authority to divest themselves from that if they were going to violate the prudent investor rule."

Sen. Jerry Klein, R-Fessenden, who opposed the bill, said it would be the first time a specific nation was listed in the North Dakota Century Code if the bill were to pass.

"We've got investments around the country, and the federal government allows us to invest there," he said. "They have a list of countries where we can't invest, so that provides some of that comfort that we were looking for."
By Jeffrey Dastin

(Reuters) -Members of Congress have called on the Trump administration to cease applying any unauthorized artificial intelligence system toward its effort to slash government spending, according to a letter they sent on Wednesday.

Nearly 50 Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives signed onto the message, seen by Reuters, expressing concern about AI's use by the Department of Government Efficiency. Republican President Donald Trump set up DOGE and tasked billionaire Elon Musk to cut what they say is waste, fraud and abuse in the federal bureaucracy.

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While the Democrats acknowledged AI's potential to modernize the U.S. government, they raised concerns about reported employee monitoring and access to sensitive data by DOGE and its AI tools.

"These present serious security risks, self-dealing, and potential criminal liability if not handled correctly, and have the potential to undermine successful and appropriate AI adoption," said the letter, spearheaded by Representatives Donald Beyer, Mike Levin and Melanie Stansbury.

Trump officials have said that AI is being used to look for worker communications considered hostile to the administration, and DOGE is heavily using Grok AI technology from Musk's startup xAI, Reuters reported last week.

The White House Office of Management and Budget, to which the Democrats addressed their letter, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Environmental Protection Agency previously said of Reuters' reporting that it was looking for AI to make the EPA more efficient but not using it for "personnel decisions in concert with DOGE.

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The House Democrats said in the letter that the administration should terminate the use of any AI systems that have not gone through formal approval processes such as FedRAMP or that do not meet existing legal requirements.

In particular, they questioned OMB on whether the administration had used technology powered by Musk's xAI. They sought an account of new software deployed by the Trump administration, along with information on how such tools complied with certain laws and whether they had various authorizations.

The letter warned against potential conflicts of interest, which the Democrats claimed would become "exponentially worse if Musk pursues further contracts to become a major provider of government AI services."

As a special government employee, Musk may not involve himself in federal activities that would benefit his companies, in keeping with ethics laws.

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He did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Trump administration issued directives this month to streamline AI's acquisition and adoption in government, while requiring agencies to manage risks from any high-stakes uses of the technology, like hiring and firing.

(Reporting by Jeffrey Dastin in San Francisco and Marisa Taylor in Washington; Editing by Mark Porter)
LAWRENCE, Mass. (WWLP)  A man from the Dominican Republic was arrested in Lawrence for allegedly reentering the U.S. illegally and conspiring to distribute nearly 65,000 fentanyl pills.

In a news release sent to 22News from the Justice Department in Boston, 35-year-old Juan Alexis Rodriguez Garcia was admitted into the U.S. in 2009 as a resident of Puerto Rico. In 2016, he was arrested in North Andover for fentanyl distribution, for which he was later convicted in May 2018 and ordered to be removed from the U.S.

Three arrested after disturbance reported at Holyoke Mall

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Allegedly, Rodriguez Garcia unlawfully reentered the U.S. at some point thereafter. As part of an ongoing drug trafficking investigation, on March 30, 2025, law enforcement attempted to conduct a controlled purchase of 65,000 fentanyl pills from a known drug trafficker. They met Rodriguez Garcia on April 2 at an agreed-upon location for the transaction in Lawrence. He was then arrested for immigration violations.

A search was then conducted at the home where Rodriguez Garcia was allegedly living, and law enforcement found approximately 64,390 fentanyl pills (over 7.2 kilograms) made to look like pharmaceutical pills inside a large black duffel bag in the front closet on the first floor.

(Department of Justice)

(Department of Justice)

Court documents indicate that the fingerprints taken from the plastic bags containing the pills allegedly matched Rodriguez Garcias. He is being charged with conspiracy to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl and unlawful reentry of a deported alien.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
Almost 900,000 fewer people crossed the border from Canada to the U.S. last month compared to March 2024.

Apart from the Covid-19 pandemic, its one of the most severe drops in crossings, figures from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reveal.

As many as 4,105,516 travelers went across the border between Canada and the U.S. last month, compared to 4,970,360 people last year. Thats a decline of about 17 percent amid President Donald Trumps hardline immigration policies, threats to make Canada the 51st state, and tariffs.

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More people traveled from Canada to the U.S. in March 2022 when pandemic travel restrictions were still in place. March tends to be one of the busiest times for cross-border travel as many take vacations in warmer parts of the U.S. during spring break.

Canadians spent as much as $20.5 billion in the U.S. last year, which supports around 140,000 jobs, according to the U.S. Travel Association.

The number of people crossing the border on foot also dropped substantially, falling about 26 percent from 163,000 in March last year to 121,000 this year.

A truck with vehicles crosses the Blue Water Bridge border crossing into the United States from Sarnia, Ontario, Canada on April 3, 2025. The number of people crossing into the U.S. has dropped significantly since last year (AFP via Getty Images)

In a new ad campaign, California Governor Gavin Newsom is attempting to attract Canadians despite Trumps taunts.

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"You know who's trying to stir things up back in D.C., but don't let that ruin your beach plans," he said in a video shared on Monday. "Here in California, we've got plenty of sunshine and a whole lot of love for our neighbors up north.

The president and CEO of Visit California, which boosts travel to the Golden State, Caroline Beteta, told CBC News that, "Obviously we can't control decisions made 2,000 miles away on another coast. But we want to reach out and extend that hand to Canadians and say, you're valued, and we're frustrated too.

She called Trumps barbs devastating for Californian tourism, with the number of Canadian visitors this year expected to be much lower than the 1.8 million who came to the state last year.

"I'm not going to deny it. It's been devastating culturally, economically. I'm a hybrid Canadian, I'm hurting for what's going on in your country, and I'm hurt being here in California," Beteta told CBC News.

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Meanwhile, Palm Springs Mayor Ron deHarte said Canadian visitors last year outnumbered the people who live in the town 10 times over. He noted that Canadians own about seven percent of the homes in Palm Springs.

"The Trump administration is sending messages that just don't feel very American, the mayor told CBC News. This is not the way we treat our neighbours, and we certainly don't treat friends like this. It's hurting people, and it's causing harm. We understand that this hits close to home to everybody in Canada."
The number of people traveling to the United States from Canada plummeted in March.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said nearly 900,000 fewer people entered the U.S. from the north compared with the same period last year. That decline followed weeks of President Donald Trump insulting Canada by referring to then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as a governor and suggesting the mineral-rich country should become a U.S. state.

Trump has also threatened to cripple the Canadian economy with tariffs. The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. (CBC) said Canadian visitors spent $20.5 billion in the U.S. last year.

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Self-described Hybrid Canadian and Visit California CEO Caroline Beteta told Canadians that getting Canadians to vacation in the Golden State has become more difficult.

Its been devastating culturally, economically, she admitted. Im hurting for whats going on in your country and Im hurt being here in California.

Border figures show 4,970,360 came to the U.S. from Canada in March 2024. That number dropped to 4,105,516 travelers a year later. More visitors reportedly traveled from Canada to the U.S. in March 2022 under pandemic-related travel restrictions that they did last month.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom released an ad Tuesday meant to lure Canadians to California, where March temperatures are much more inviting.

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You Know Who is trying to stir things up back in D.C., but dont let that ruin your beach plans, he said in that video.

Beteta shared those sentiments with the CBC.

We want to reach out and extend that hand to Canadians and say, youre valued, and were frustrated ,too, she said.

The majority of Canadians who enter the U.S. do so in automobiles. In March 2024, 3.4 million passengers drove through the U.S. northern border. This year, that number dipped to 2.5 million. The CBC said 162,600 crossed the border by foot last March. Last month, only 120,800 took that walk.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told a Canadian journalist during a Tuesday briefing that Trump maintains his belief that Canada should become a U.S. state.

________
An Ipsos poll for the Central European Digital Media Observatory (CEDMO) has found that more than 18% of Slovak citizens support Russia's victory in the war, while only a third of respondents support Ukraine.

Source: European Pravda with reference to the results of a survey conducted by Ipsos for the independent organisation CEDMO, published by Dennik N

Details: The poll shows that only a third of Slovaks support Ukraine in its efforts to win the war.

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Another 33% of respondents support the cessation of hostilities by concluding a temporary peace agreement without any military success on either side.

Over 16% of those surveyed admitted that they have no clear position or do not care how the war ends.

The lowest level of support for a Ukrainian victory  just 3%  is found among voters of the ruling Smer party led by Prime Minister Robert Fico. 43% of the party's supporters favour a Russian victory.

Similar sentiments are observed among supporters of the far-right Republic movement, which was formed following the split in the People's Party Our Slovakia led by Marian Kotleba. 44% of their voters would prefer Russia to win, and only 6% support Ukraine.

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A pro-Russian position also prevails among supporters of the coalition Slovak National Party: 31% support Russia's victory and only 4% support Ukraine. But voters of another coalition force, the Voice (Hlas) party, demonstrate a more moderate position: 27% support Ukraine and 14% support Russia.

The greatest support for Ukraine is shown by people who vote for the opposition association Progressive Slovakia (75%) and the Democrats party led by former defence minister Jaroslav Nad (63%). Only 1% and 4% of these parties voters respectively want Russia to win.

Among supporters of the Christian Democratic Movement, 53% support Ukraine and 4% Russia. The ratio is similar for the Freedom and Solidarity party (SaS): 50% for Ukraine and 4% for Russia. In the case of the Slovak Movement, 47% support Ukraine.

The proportion of people who support Russia increases with age: only 7% among young people aged 16-24; 18% in the 35-44 age group; 20% in the 55-64 age group; and as high as 26% among respondents aged 65+.

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Background:

The Slovak Chamber of Deputies has rejected a draft resolution by the opposition calling on Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine and condemning Russia's attacks on Kryvyi Rih and Sumy.

Prime Minister Robert Fico has also refused to directly condemn Russia's attack on Sumy, claiming that he had "insufficient information".

Fico has also rejected a call by EU diplomat Kaja Kallas for European leaders not to visit Moscow on the occasion of the so-called 9 May victory parade.

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OMAHA, Neb. (AP)  Firefighters and police searched Wednesday for the bodies of two teens and a child who went missing in the frigid waters of Missouri River at Omaha, Nebraska, a fire and rescue officials said.

Several sonar-equipped boats, a police helicopter and drones were being used to search for two 18-year-old women and an 11-year-old girl who went into the water Tuesday evening while fishing from the shore at N.P. Dodge Memorial Park in northeast Omaha, Omaha Fire Battalion Chief Coby Werner said. A fourth girl, who is 13, was able to make it to the shore on her own Tuesday evening and was treated for hypothermia at a hospital.

Officials have not released the names of the victims. Werner said the four are related, but he could not say how. He said he did not know why they entered the water, which hovered around 45 degrees (7.2 degrees Celsius) Wednesday.

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Typically with 45-degree water, you know, maybe in about 10 to 15 minutes, you start to become hypothermic, Werner said.

Someone visiting the park heard a girl crying near the riverbank around 6 p.m. Tuesday and found the 13-year-old girl, then called 911, he said.

Officials from several Omaha area agencies responded to the park and searched the river until dark about three hours later. The search resumed around 9 a.m. Wednesday.

As of this morning, we consider this a recovery mode, Werner said. That doesnt mean were not doing still everything we can. It just means we start to slow down just a little bit and do more of a methodical search.
The News

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing growing backlash over his decision to restart the war in Gaza.

A two-month ceasefire was expected to be renewed in March, but Israel instead began a new assault. Last week, 1,000 military reservists signed a petition calling for a deal with Hamas, but despite a furious response from Netanyahus government, the floodgates had opened, The Washington Post reported: 10,000 people have now backed the call, including hundreds of former senior police officials, while the families of many hostages still held in Gaza have dismissed the governments aim of achieving total victory as a fantasy.

Petitioners want hostages taken on Oct. 7, 2023 released, even in exchange for a complete military withdrawal from Gaza.
LVMH, the Paris-based luxury giant, reported 20.3 billion ($23 billion) in revenue in Q1 2025, down 3% year over year. The figures slipped short of the 2% growth forecasted by Visible Alpha consensus estimates.

As in past quarters, the wine and spirits division with Moet & Chandon and Veuve Clicquot brands led the decline by 9% year over year. Meanwhile, watches and jewelry, which includes TAG Heuer and Bulgari, was the only segment not to decline in organic terms, remaining flat for the first quarter.

The biggest topic on the minds of companies globally is tariffs, which went from being threats to an all-encompassing policy earlier in April before President Donald Trump dialed back on them. During LVMHs earnings call, the company said that despite the tariff-related uncertainty, American demand remained strong during the first quarter.

After years of exceptional growth, the best way through [a] downturn cycle is to stay focused. It is also a time to demonstrate our agility and capacity to adjust and react, LVMH CFO Cecile Cabanis said.

She added that the company hasnt seen a significant impact from tariffs yet, although she conceded that the aspirational clientele is always more vulnerable in less positive economic cycles.

LVMH chairman and CEO Bernard Arnault previously underplayed the negative shock of tariffs on the French company, touting the U.S. as welcoming. Arnault, who had a front-row seat at Trumps inauguration ceremony earlier this year, said he was seriously considering making more of the groups luxury goods available in the States.

Its clear that we are being strongly pushed by the American authorities to continue to build out our presence. In the current context, this is something that were looking at seriously, Arnault said earlier this year, according to Reuters.

LVMH employs 40,000 people in three Louis Vuitton factories.

Cabanis said most of the companys products in the U.S. are for the American marketbut not all of them. That gives LVMH a bit more room to maneuver in the event of tariffs.

The French conglomerate, which owns over 75 brands and is considered the sectors bellwether, has been slow to recover from the drop in demand for luxury goods. This became clear with the companys 2024 sales, which fell 2% to $88 billion, even as fourth-quarter revenues improved by 1%.

Still, a few signs of recovery emerged thanks to a strong shopping appetite in Japan and the U.S., which account for 9% and 25% of LVMHs sales, respectively.

LVMH is the first major luxury group to release first-quarter results, setting the tone for what the rest of the sector could face. The companys shares have tanked 17% since the start of 2025, while Arnaults net worth has plummeted by $15 billion during the same period.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Advocates will rally in Carson City, Nevada on Wednesday for greater support for dementia patients and their families.

More than 30 advocates, caregivers, and patients will visit with lawmakers. Nancy Nelson was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimers in 2013. Then, four years later, doctors diagnosed her with mild cognitive impairment.

[Alzheimers] is a change in a person  who they are, Nelson said.

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Dementia cases expected to double by 2060: Study

She has trouble remembering things like people and places. But that hasnt stopped her from enjoying life and reminding others to advocate for themselves and others.

I dont jump on it and sit back in it and rock, Nelson said. I get up and move and find out what I can do to help myself.

Nelson will join the rally for greater support and services for dementia patients and their loved ones including creating Memory Assessment Clinics to provide better diagnosis and connect primary care providers with specialists.

Advocates will rally in our state capital for greater support for dementia patients and their families. More than 30 advocates, caregivers, and patients will visit with lawmakers Wednesday morning. (KLAS)

Advocates also want dementia training for all first responders and an increase in funds for the Dementia Respite Program to provide temporary relief to primary caregivers.



Dementia really can affect all of us, whether its come to your family or not, Kat Hartley, an advocate and caregiver said. Im just here to turn some of that pain into passion to make change.

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Hartley said she knows what its like to care for loved ones living with Alzheimers.



I first met the face of Alzheimers disease when I was about six years old, and since then, I have lost 7 family members. Both grandparents, my dad, three uncles, a stepmom, Hartley said.



She carried an orange flower  a symbol of her love, support, and dedication to her family. Blue represents a loved one living with dementia, and white, a symbol of hope for the future.



This (white) flower is a person that has been cured, Nelson said. Im reaching out for this one while I stand over here to help those of us.

The Alzheimers Association rally will take place in Carson City on Wednesday at 9 a.m.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Chief budget architects Sen. Ryan Mishler, R-Mishawaka, and Rep. Jeff Thompson, R-Lizton, react to new forecast data projecting $2 billion less in state revenue on April 16, 2025. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

In a sharp turnaround from the flush financial fortunes of the last budget cycle, Indianas projected revenue for the next budget cycle fell by $2 billion according to new forecast data publicized on Wednesday.

The current budget cycle for the 2025 fiscal year is also short by an estimated $400 million, though closing that gap will likely rely on reserves.

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Indianas tax revenue is still growing but not at the rate anticipated.

According to chief budget architects Sen. Ryan Mishler and Rep. Jeff Thompson, everything is on the table when it comes to potential cuts.

Rep. Jeff Thompson, R-Lizton, on April 4, 2025. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

We just have a lot of tough decisions to make and we have to be disciplined, said Mishler, R-Mishawaka.  K-12 education is the last thing we want to do anything with so I would prefer to put everything else in front of that.

When it came to increasing so-called sin taxes  whether on gaming, cigarettes or alcohol, Thompson didnt rule it out.

All of those things have to be discussed, said the Lizton Republican.

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For longtime lawmakers, the news invoked memories of budgeting after the 2008 recession, when the state weathered more than a billion-dollar shortfall.

This one scares me a lot more because the number is a lot higher. And back then, if you remember, we had federal money to backfill. We dont have any federal money to backfill. This is all on us, said Mishler. So were going to have to live within our means.

With a goal to finish the 2025 legislative session next week, lawmakers dont have much time to identify potential cuts  though the two Republicans anticipated long nights ahead to meet that preferred deadline.

Democrats pointed to the need to protect Hoosiers during uncertain economic times and minimizing harm through state resources.

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We are extremely concerned for Hoosiers across the state, because the same underlying conditions that are impacting the state budget are impacting Hoosiers, said Sen. Fady Qaddoura, D-Indianapolis. From the price of goods and services to the challenges of those who rely on retirement funds to small businesses relying on their products that they ship.

Qaddoura noted that Senate Democrats had pushed to incorporate sin taxes into the budget earlier in the week, adding that a $2 cigarette tax increase would bring in an estimated $800 million.

Moments after release of the downgraded forecast, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce called for the General Assembly to pull the trigger on that tax.

A big action still on the table this legislative session is a minimum $2 per pack increase to the cigarette tax, said President and CEO Vanessa Green Sinders. We urge lawmakers to put the increase in the state budget  both for the positive impact on the health of Hoosiers who smoke and the additional revenue.

What happened?

The December forecast data included roughly $800 million in new revenue for the state over the next two years, though nearly all of that came in the first year. Now even that marginal growth is gone.

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Much of the loss can be attributed to economic uncertainty, including worries about the impact of tariffs in the countrys most manufacturing-intensive state.

When the U.S. gets a cold, Indiana gets pneumonia, said Rep. Greg Porter, D-Indianapolis. Were a manufacturing state and (with) the tariffs and other issues out there in the federal government  this really affects our bottom line.

Rep. Greg Porter, D-Indianapolis, asks whether unspent money could be recouped from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation to fill a $2 billion revenue shortfall on April 16, 2025. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

According to an analysis from Axios Indianapolis, Indiana is the third-most reliant state when it comes to China, which imported $6.1 billion in Hoosier goods in 2023. More than half of that was in pharmaceuticals and medicines followed by oilseeds and grains.

Democrats pointed to potential areas for savings, including pushing back anticipated income tax cuts and clawing back money from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.

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Qaddoura went even further, targeting the use of vouchers by wealthy families to attend private schools.

I think if were looking at K-12 cuts, we definitely need to look at reversing the voucher program back to the 2021 level to be sure that the ultra-wealthy are not benefiting while were cutting  funding for K-12 education across the state, he said.

He said such a move would save an estimated $309 million.

Potentially the biggest bill in the 2025 session altered property taxes with an explicit goal to give two-thirds of homeowners relief, at a loss for local units of governments and school corporations.

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Thompson said that effort, which has been signed into law, doesnt need to be revisited in light of the news about the states finances.

I can tell you right now that the Indiana projected revenue is probably less than most locals. Were probably in a tougher spot than they are, Thompson said.

Gov. Mike Braun focused on cutting waste, eliminating overhead, and getting back to the basics.

We must finalize a biennial budget that respects the revenue forecast and protects Hoosier taxpayers from a worst-case scenario, he said. I will work with the General Assembly to craft a budget that is structurally balanced, maintains strong reserves, and funds vital services like public safety and education.

What about Medicaid?

In a small spot of positive news, Mishler noted that the growth of Medicaid appeared to be slowing.

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Medicaid rolls were just over 1% lower than previously estimated, a difference of less than 30,000 Hoosiers. More than 2 million residents rely on the program for their health care coverage.

But, as an entitlement program, much of the program cant be cut  meaning that the state will likely remain committed to spending roughly $10 billion over the next two years.

Were trying to make some changes to try to help us in the Medicaid space, said Mishler, pointing to his efforts under Senate Bill 2.

However, much remains uncertain about Medicaids future, especially with several large pieces of legislation still up in the air.

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Under Mishlers bill, most able-bodied working-age adults would be required to work at least 20 hours a week to keep their benefits.

Additionally, changes to the states calculation of the hospital assessment fee or implementing the managed care assessment fee werent included in Wednesdays presentation, though the latter could bring in $1.4 billion if fully implemented.

But Mitch Roob, who helms the agency overseeing Medicaid, said he didnt believe the Trump administration would allow the state to leverage the tax to the maximum extent.

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday announced a lawsuit contesting President Trump's executive authority to enact international tariffs without congressional support, which he likened to the commander in chief taking a "wrecking ball" to America's global reputation.

The legal action argues that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act that Trump cited to impose tariffs does not grant the president the ability to unilaterally adopt tariffs on goods imported to the U.S. The suit from California is the first challenge from any state against Trump's trade policy.

"No state is poised to lose more than the state of California," Newsom said about Trump's tariffs. "That's why we're asserting ourselves on behalf of 40 million Americans."

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The case marks the first time Newsom has taken a lead role in any of the now 15 lawsuits that California has filed against the current Trump administration, signaling a deviation from his more reserved approach to the president during Trump's second term. Until now, state Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta has acted as the face of Californias legal battles against the federal government, while Newsom has generally maintained a distance from the back-and-forth court tussles.

Newsom said he chose to take action after absorbing the effects of the tariffs over the last few weeks.

"He is betraying the people that supported him," Newsom said. "Donald Trump has turned his back on his supporters."

Read more: Trump's volatile trade policy creates new problems for California state budget

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Under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, Trump has implemented 10% baseline tariffs on all imported goods, higher taxes on goods from Mexico, Canada and China, and specific levies on products and materials such as autos and aluminum. The president threatened and then paused additional tariffs on other nations until this summer.

California, which the governor's office said engaged in nearly $675 billion in two-way trade last year, stands to lose billions in state revenue under Trump's tariff policies if international commerce declines and the stock market tanks. Mexico, Canada and China represent the state's three largest trade partners.

"The gravity and instability of the situation at hand cannot be overstated," Bonta said. "The risk to California, to our businesses, our workers, our families, cannot be overstated."

Newsom showed glimpses Wednesday of the Democratic firebrand he's known for as he implored Republicans in Congress to do their jobs.

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"They're sitting there passively as this guy wrecks the economy of the United States of America, which has dominated the global economy," Newsom said.

The governor's shifts between attacking Trump and, at times, staying mum about controversial White House actions show that Newsom is trying to find his footing on how to effectively deal with Trump in his second term.

Newsom not only leads a state under constant threat of losing essential federal funding for disaster recovery, education and healthcare, but he's also a national figure in a Democratic Party that is rekindling its resistance to Trump after the November election.

Although Democrats have struggled to articulate a message about what they stand for, Trump's tariffs are giving them an unpopular issue to stand against, said Mike Madrid, a Republican political consultant.

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"A politician who is not attacking would be making a very big mistake," Madrid said. "Trump gave them an opening that they did not create themselves."

Since the wildfires decimated Pacific Palisades and Altadena in January, Newsom has tried to pick his battles to avoid jeopardizing his working relationship with Trump and endangering federal support needed to rebuild. He repeatedly pointed to the negative effects of the tariffs on the state budget and economy Wednesday to explain his reasoning for speaking up.

The "toxic uncertainty" over tariffs, he said, probably will lead to higher unemployment, higher inflation, lower GDP projections and less capital gains revenue for California. The economic fallout could leave the state with a considerable deficit to overcome and limited ability to backfill the losses without making sizable cuts to programs.

Newsom said his proposed state budget "will reflect a downgrade in economic outlook in this state."

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"So the impacts on the budget of the state are already being felt and the full impact has not fully been felt," he said.

Read more: Confusion grips Big Tech over exemptions from Trump tariffs

California's legal case rests on an argument that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which specifies the actions the president can take if he declares a national emergency in response to a foreign national security, foreign policy or economic threat, does not give Trump the authority to enact tariffs.

"The reality is the U.S. Constitution gives Congress the power of the purse," Bonta said. "It's Congress' responsibility to set and collect taxes, duties and excises, including, yes, tariffs, not the president's. Congress hasn't authorized these tariffs, much less authorized imposing tariffs only to increase them, then pause them, then imminently reinstate them on a whim, causing our nation and the global economy whiplash. Trump is attempting to override Congress and steamroll the separation of powers."

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The tariffs appear to be on weak legal ground, given the president's decision to rely on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, said Stratos Pahis, associate professor of law and co-director of the Block Center for the Study of International Business Law at Brooklyn Law School.

Pahis said Congress has delegated the president the power to raise tariffs in response to unfair trade practices or for national security reasons under a separate law called the Trade Act, which imposes substantive and procedural constraints, such as generally requiring an investigation to be conducted on a country-by-country or goods-by-goods basis. The Trade Act does not allow the administration to wake up one day and impose 10% tariffs on every country in the world and on every good that comes in, he said.

"So that's the Trade Act, which is the normal grounds for the executive to impose or raise tariffs. Of course, the president is not using that. The president is using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act," Pahis said.

The IEEPA has never been used to impose tariffs and does not explicitly mention tariffs.

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Pahis said a strong argument against using the law to impose tariffs is that it requires the president to declare a national emergency and the president to find that there are unusual and extraordinary threats to the U.S., to U.S. national security or the economy.

"And that's where I think the law is most likely to fail because it's very hard to understand the threats that the president has identified as unusual or extraordinary," Pahis said. He noted that the trade deficits and loss of manufacturing that Trump is citing are the consequences of U.S. trade policy that the country has deliberately pursued for 80 years.

The complaint asks the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California to void Trump's tariff orders, according to Bonta's office.

Pahis said it's possible, but also unprecedented, for Trump to rely on the Trade Act and conduct the required investigation, without turning to Congress, to legally impose the 10% across-the-board tariffs if the federal government loses the case.

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Requiring Congress to take a vote in Washington to adopt tariffs or allow Trump to enact tariffs could place Republican lawmakers in a vulnerable political position in the midterm elections. A recent poll from CBS News showed that 58% of Americans opposed the U.S. tariffs on imported goods.

Times staff writer Kevin Rector contributed to this report.



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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Gov. Gavin Newsom cast President Donald Trumps tariffs as one of the most self-destructive things that we've experienced in modern American history on Wednesday as he touted Californias lawsuit against several of the levies in the states agriculture-heavy Central Valley.

The Democratic governor, sporting blue denim in lieu of slacks at an almond farm south of Sacramento, bemoaned the economic impacts on Californias marquee tech and farming industries and argued the White House has no authority to unilaterally tax imports under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act which it has cited.

We're a world away from the values that are emanating out of the White House, Newsom said. That's why we are asserting ourselves. I can't imagine anything more unifying for a state at this moment than stepping up  on this critical issue.

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Newsom has been relatively muted in his criticism of Trump on issues such as immigration and gender, particularly since he started pleading his case for unconditioned federal aid to help Los Angeles recover from the wildfires there. He has reserved some of his most pointed broadsides for Trumps tariffs, dubbing them a betrayal even before his inauguration. He has also asked international leaders to spare California from retaliation.

No state is poised to lose more than the state of California, Newsom said. That's why we're asserting ourselves on behalf of 40 million Americans. And I imagine if you caucused those 40 million Americans, you'd find few  I don't care where they were in the last election  that are celebrating this uncertainty.

California is the first state to sue Trump over tariffs during his second term. Leading the challenge is the states attorney general, Rob Bonta, who has become a central leader of California's resistance to the White House during Trumps second term as Newsom has at times buddied up to Trump.

Bolstering Bontas power is an extra $25 million that the state Legislature and Newsom set aside this year for California to sue the Trump administration. The state is already involved in more than a dozen such legal challenges. Many of them have been alongside other Democratic attorneys general, but Bonta and Newsom decided to forward the tariff challenge alone.

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This one is different, just given California's position, Bonta told POLITICO in an interview Wednesday. We're a nation-state. We're the fifth-largest economy in the world.

Democratic leaders in the state Legislature have frequently backed the statewide officials up, echoing their criticism of the tariffs. It has also offered them an opportunity to meld criticism of Trump with messaging on affordability  an economic focus that Democratic strategists see as crucial to avoiding further electoral losses in California after a disappointing November.

This is why we enacted a legal defense fund: to fight Republican policies that harm taxpayers, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas said of the tariff lawsuit in a statement. Were protecting our residents  and all American families  from unlawful economic chaos.

The White House responded to the lawsuit by accusing Newsom of becoming distracted from crises at home and inappropriately directing his energy toward counteracting the administration's agenda.

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Instead of focusing on Californias rampant crime, homelessness, and unaffordability, Gavin Newsom is spending his time trying to block President Trumps historic efforts to finally address the national emergency of our countrys persistent goods trade deficits, White House spokesperson Kush Desai said in a statement.

Myah Ward and Tyler Katzenberger contributed to this report.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and Attorney General Rob Bonta (D) moved to sue the Trump administration on Wednesday, challenging President Trumps authority to enact tariffs they say have devastating impacts on the Golden State.

In the lawsuit, filed Wednesday afternoon in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, they argue the president lacks the power to impose steep import taxes through the International Economic Emergency Powers Act.

The duo contended that the tariffs have created chaos in the stock market and supply chains, hiked costs for Californians and damaged the states economy.

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President Trumps new tariff regime has already had devastating impacts on the economy, creating chaos in the stock and bond markets, wiping out hundreds of billions of dollars in market capitalization in hours, chilling investment in the face of such consequential Presidential action with no notice or process, and threatening to push the country into recession, they wrote in the filing.

These harms will only continue to grow, the California officials added.

The suit also suggests California is bearing the brunt of the costs as a global trade leader, including Newsom directly.

Those costs directly impact Californias Governor, whose ability to respond to the States emergencies and enact his policy goals and the prerogatives of the States Legislature are frustrated by the economic impact of President Trumps tariffs, they wrote.

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Newsom and Bonta have urged the court to declare Trumps tariffs as unlawful and void under the U.S. Constitution, block the administration from enforcing the presidents trade agenda, provide economic relief for those impacted by the import taxes and grant such other relief as deemed by the court.

Despite frustration on both sides of the aisle , Trump and his allies have vigorously defended his trade agenda, arguing the duties will lead to a manufacturing revival in the U.S. and help slash the nations growing deficit.

The president has imposed 25 percent tariffs against Canada and Mexico, the largest U.S. trading partners, arguing the U.S.s neighbors have not done enough to curb the flow of illegal drugs into the country. He also recently implemented a 10 percent baseline tariff on nearly all imports and levied even higher reciprocal taxes on many countries  though the majority of those are under a pause, with the exception of China, which is currently under a 145 percent tax.

The lawsuit represents Californias first challenge to the presidents agenda in court since Trumps second White House term kicked off in January.

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The move puts Newsom on a collision course with the president, just months after the governor looked to forge a better relationship with Trump when asking for federal assistance in light of the deadly Los Angeles fires.

Californians are bracing for fallout from the impact of the Presidents choices  from farmers in the Central Valley, to small businesses in Sacramento, and worried families at the kitchen table, Bonta said in a statement earlier Wednesday, adding, this game the President is playing has very real consequences for Californians across our state.

Updated at 2:42 p.m. EDT.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
It was the most curious social gathering of the year.

Pouring pints behind the bar at the Black Forge Inn was Conor McGregor, the Irish mixed martial arts champion with presidential ambitions.

Across from him sat Tucker Carlson, the US television personality, Donald Trump whisperer and interviewer of Vladimir Putin.

As the night wore on, the crowd included a pick-and-mix of politicians, fans of the US president, underworld figures, suspected plain-clothes police officers and bemused members of the public.

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The improbable gathering took place at McGregors pub in Crumlin, a down-at-heel South Dublin suburb once ruled by the Kinahan crime cartel. McGregor had sent out a post on social media inviting people to drop in for live music, top tier food, great drink, great people, and a happy and celebratory atmosphere.

At 6pm, the bar was half empty. But those who had gathered were excited. Men in red Make America Great Again hats lined the counter, swilling pints and snapping selfies. Their faces lit up at McGregors presence.

God bless Conor McGregor! bellowed one, raising a glass to the man whod just declared a free bar.

Men dressed in Maga hats join the festivities

Carlson, the former Fox News anchor who now runs his own show online, had flown to Dublin to interview the UFC fighter about mass immigration. The pair had spent the day striding conspicuously around the capital and its parliament buildings, trailed by a Rolls-Royce and a gaggle of suited associates, before retiring to the pub.

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Many of those who joined them live in working-class areas where housing and services are stretched thin and have felt the sharpest effects of Irelands rapid demographic shift.

The countrys population grew by 3.5 per cent in 2023, faster than anywhere else in the EU. Its intake of refugees  mostly from Africa, Asia and Ukraine  has risen by almost 700 per cent over the past decade.

Carlson was given something of a heros welcome as Dubliners gathered around and told him their complaints. McGregor poured him a pint of his own-brand Forged Irish Stout. Carlson, a teetotaller, politely declined, opting instead to take a sniff of the drink.

McGregor did not appear to take offence, a far cry from 2019, when he punched a pensioner in a pub for refusing to drink a shot of his own-brand whiskey.

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Instead, dressed in a flat cap, open necked white shirt, blue waistcoat and suit trousers, he worked the room, lighting a fresh cigar every hour as a folk band played merry tunes.

McGregor was invited to the White House to meet with Mr Trump on St Patricks Day in a move that stunned Irish officials. Micheal Martin, the Taoiseach, had visited the week before and was made to sit awkwardly in the Oval Office as Mr Trump responded to the question: Who is your favourite Irish person?

Well, I do happen to like your fighter. Hes got the best tattoos Ive ever seen, he replied. Conor is great, right?

Both leaders failed to mention that last year, McGregor was found civilly liable for rape and was ordered to pay nearly 200,000 to a woman who said she was pinned down, choked and brutally raped and battered. He has lodged an appeal against the judgment.

Conor McGregor has a cigar as he charms the punters - Barry Whyte

Reminiscing on his trip to the US, McGregor said: Boy oh boy, they gave me the full star treatment.

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I think it shows that the US government has a lot of love for the Irish people and the plight that the Irish people are up against.

McGregor was whisked around Washington to meet Magas movers and shakers before his meeting with Mr Trump.

He rattles off names: Pete Hegseth, the defence secretary, Mike Waltz, the national security adviser, RFK Jr, the health secretary, Pam Bondi, the attorney general, and Kash Patel  FBI number one.

Don Gambino, number two, he adds, appearing to confuse a dead New York mob boss with Dan Bongino, the deputy head of the FBI.

He has another go before giving up on the tongue-twister: Bang-bongiano, number two FBI.

The Telegraphs Michael Murphy drinks a pint poured by Conor McGregor

McGregor claims the Irish government has imposed mass immigration on communities that are being overrun and resisting as best they can. His message, aimed squarely at Americas 40-million-strong Irish diaspora, is that time is running out.

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Where they come from and where their family originates from is very soon to be no more, he says.

Many in the pub agree with his message and not just the forgotten underclass.

Conor Lenihan, a former Irish minister of state, said he found McGregors message intriguing. He was just one of many who would have similar views, he said.

So hes not out of kilter, hes not unrepresentative: ordinary retailers, ordinary businesspeople are extremely annoyed at whats happening with immigration in this country.

There is a very serious underlying concern about immigration which cannot be ignored. And there is a danger that the political establishment will ignore that sentiment.

Conor McGregor pours pints for fans as he discusses his views on immigration

Its a message Carlson appears to share. In a podcast with Donald Trump Jr last year, he said: [The Irish] are the indigenous population of their island and youre watching them die and replacing them with people from the Third World. On what basis are you doing that, George Soros?

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He was later photographed at the Crumlin pub deep in conversation with a local councillor. The caption above the image claimed they were talking about the replacement and genocide of the Irish people.

With anti-immigration politicians gaining little at the ballot box last year, many Irish voters now look beyond their own borders. For some, hope lies in America  or more precisely, in Irish America. Carlsons presence seemed to signal that the world, or at least the Maga orbit, was finally listening.

If these Dubliners registered their grievances with Carlson as if he were a visiting official, then McGregor is their Maga-appointed comprador.

He doesnt need to be elected, one man at the bar said. Hes ordained. Hes got Trumps blessing.

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McGregor agrees. He claims Trump has explicitly endorsed him to be Irelands next president.

But his chances remain slim.

Candidates must garner the support of 20 Oireachtas (parliament) members, or the backing of four of Irelands local authorities in order to stand.

A recent Irish Times survey of the countrys 949 local councillors found that not one of the 187 who responded said they would nominate him for the role.

Stiofan Conaty, a Sinn Fein councillor from Cavan county council, told the Irish Times: No such pressure would ever influence me to even consider voting for that horrid man.

But the establishment remains uneasy. Not about his chances, but about his proximity to American power, on which Irelands economic fortunes depend. Uneasy about the fact that, while polarising, the grievances he voices are becoming more mainstream.

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  New Mexico State Police said they arrested a murder suspect and charged two other people for drug trafficking on Monday. As part of Operation Route 66, NMSP arrested 67-year-old Ronald Edward Raymond, who is accused of causing a fatal crash while driving drunk in Sierra County.

Copper thieves in Albuquerque target cell phone towers

Earlier that day, 23-year-old Jeremiah Taylor and 37-year-old Corey Taylor were arrested after NMSP said they sold drugs to agents. They were both charged with trafficking a controlled substance and conspiracy to traffic a controlled substance.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
European Delegation Visits Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria

A UK-EU parliamentary delegation visited northeastern Syria (Rojava) to discuss the region's political future and constitutional process in post-Assad Syria with local officials. During their meeting with prominent Kurdish diplomat Ilham Ahmed, the delegation focused on inclusive participation in Syria's new constitution and the escalating humanitarian impact of Turkish attacks.

The delegation, consisting of 14 parliamentarians from the UK and Europe, met with officials from the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), including Ahmed, on 15 April, following a brief visit to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, where they met with leaders Masrour and Massoud Barzani to discuss Abdullah Ocalan's 27 February peace call. The delegation then went on to meet with representatives from the Syriac Council and later the AANES.

Madira Gavriye, who serves as the Foreign Relations Representative of the Syriac Council, a political body representing the Syriac (Assyrian) Christian community in northeastern Syria, welcomed the delegation. She described the precarious situation facing minorities in the region, citing forced mass migration as well as attacks carried out by Turkey-backed armed groups. Gavriye also highlighted the deliberate cutting off of vital water sources to the region by Turkish forces.

Following this meeting, the delegation met with Co-Chair Ilham Ahmed of the AANES's Foreign Relations department to address constitutional developments and local progress on implementing the recent landmark state-integration agreement between the SDF and Damascus. She stressed the need for inclusive participation in the constitutional process and noted that new committees will be formed in the coming days to ensure broad representation.

Ahmed also underscored that US sanctions must be lifted for economic stability and humanitarian welfare. Denouncing Turkish military attacks in the region, she echoed Gavriye's comments about assaults on critical infrastructure, warning that one million civilians in the Hasakah (Heseke) canton currently lack access to clean drinking water.

The Kurdish diplomat also criticised the interim Syrian government for maintaining a Salafist ideology and intolerance to the multicultural character of the Syrian populace. She urged the delegation to recognise that the Al-Sharaa-led government's actions are inconsistent with the inclusive image it presents to the international community.

Next, the European delegation is scheduled to meet with the SDF and General Commander Mazloum Abdi. Discussions are expected to focus on ongoing clashes with Turkey and its proxy forces, as well as initiatives to promote regional stability through the creation of a unified Syrian army.
LVMH CFO Cecile Cabanis, during the company's Q1 2025 earnings call, said Amazon's presence is hitting Sephora's momentum online because of its "aggressive" pricing strategy. LVMH reported revenue of $23.1 billion for the first three months of the year, down 3% compared to the same period last year.

LVMH reported its first-quarter earnings of 2025 Monday, and Sephora was a notable weak point for the luxury conglomerates U.S. presenceeven though the fashion brand is performing well globally.

While U.S. demand for jewelry, leather, and fashion remained well oriented and accelerated modestly compared to the back half of 2024, Sephora on the other hand faced very challenging comps after going double-digit last year and this explained the sequential deceleration of the U.S. market at group level, Cecile Cabanis, LVMHs chief financial officer, said on the call.

Sephora, overall, had a fairly good first quarter with solid brick-and-mortar growth and product sales. But Sephora is experiencing a bit less momentum when it comes to e-commerce in the United States specifically, "because Amazon is being very aggressive and being aggressive is mostly regarding price, and we try to avoid this technique.

LVMH did not immediately return Fortunes request for comment.

For relevant products, it appears that Amazon can match Sephora, if not beat it outright, in pricing. For Kerastases Gloss Absolu hair product, for instance, Sephora sells the 1.52-ounce bottle for $36; on Amazon, that same product is $26a discount of roughly 28%.

Goldman Sachs Louise Singlehurst asked Cabanis on the call about the recent period of unprecedented headlines, and sure enough, LVMHs finance boss did admit that uncertainty in the market appears to be having some impact on demand.

Its true that operational clientele is way more vulnerable in less positive economic cycles and uncertainties, and it might have had some impact in recent weeks, Cabanis said.

LVMHs overall revenue fell 3% in the first quarter, but the company said its proud of how the company continues to demonstrate resilience during turbulent times.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Members of Generation X  born between 1965 and 1980  are known for their scrappiness and their ability to put their heads down and work hard, but they are also a generation that loves to engage in retail therapy. That means, they may need to change their budgeting strategies in a high-tariff environment.

Find Out: 6 Mistakes Boomers Are Making With Their Money in the Trump Economy

Read Next: 4 Affordable Car Brands You Won't Regret Buying in 2025

The older Gen Xers are also closing in on retirement and paying close attention to their retirement accounts and their budgets as they face an uncertain economic future.

GOBankingRates spoke to two Gen Xers about how theyre budgeting and responding financially to tariff uncertainty.

Immediate Impacts of Tariffs

While some Gen Xers are anticipating the financial impacts from tariffs, Sarah Hadley, age 47, based in Oregon, has already experienced them.

A week after Feb. 1, when President Donald Trump announced tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico (who then responded with reciprocal tariffs), Hadley was laid off from her job in the wine industry, as a result of an anticipated 30% reduction in wine exports, she explained.

Three weeks later, Hadley landed another job, this time in the auto industry. Then, on March 26, Trump signed an executive order placing 25% tariffs on auto imports, which impacts approximately 60% of autos sold in the U.S.

This is in addition to any imposed tariffs on Mexico and Canada where 50% to 75% of auto parts for repairs originate. I was laid off from that job after just two weeks, she said.

At the time of this interview, Hadley still hasnt found another job and unemployment only provides 65% of her original income.

Charley Gilmore, age 56, a manufacturing engineer based in California, said his and his wifes main source of savings is his employment-based 401(k). As of October of last year, they were on track for a tidy retirement we scheduled out about 11 years from now, he said. But market fluctuations over the past few months have dropped that account by $50,000.

He called it depressing that his portfolio value has dropped greater than the amount that hes contributed. Were holding our breath for a rebound, but 67 may be optimistic as a goal retirement age, he said.

Learn More: 6 Cash Flow Mistakes Boomers Are Making With Their Retirement Savings

A Change in Habits

The tariff uncertainty and the 401(k) loss has made Gilmore and his wife pay closer attention to how theyre spending. Whereas before he said they were a bit cavalier when it came to grocery shopping, theyre now avoiding splurging. He also no longer purchases the latest computer gadgetry and finds himself carrying a credit card balance, where he didnt before.
Over the past 20 months North Korea has supplied Russia with at least four million artillery shells, which are being extensively used in the war against Ukraine. A Reuters investigation has confirmed that deliveries have been taking place on a large and systematic scale via sea and rail routes, significantly boosting Russian military capabilities.

Source: the investigation by Reuters in cooperation with the Open Source Centre (OSC), a UK-based non-profit producing open-source research on global security threats

Details: OSC analysts tracked 64 trips made to the North Korean port of Rajin between September 2023 and March 2025 by four Russian-flagged container ships  the Angara, Maria, Maia-1 and Lady R. The ships delivered nearly 16,000 containers of North Korean shells and other ammunition to the Russian ports of Vostochny and Dunai before they were transported by rail to depots near the Ukrainian border.

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Quote: "It's not possible to verify the ammunition inside each shipping container, but OSC estimated what it called a conservative range of 4-6 million artillery rounds alone, based on Ukraine's assessment of their prevalence and probable packing patterns."

 Reuters

Illustration: Reuters

Details: In addition to artillery shells, North Korea has also supplied multiple-launch rocket systems, self-propelled artillery units and ballistic missiles to Russia.

North Korea has become a key source of ammunition for the Russian military. The scale and systematic nature of these supplies point to a new level of military and political partnership between the two sanctioned countries.

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According to Reuters, the vast majority of shells used by certain Russian units over the past year were from North Korea.

Reuters analysed daily reports from Russian artillery units and found that on some days, up to 100% of the ammunition used was of North Korean origin. In other cases this figure reached 75%.

Quote: "Last summer, a unit on the southeastern Zaporizhzhia front reported nearly 50% of the shells fired by its D-20 howitzers were North Korean 152mm shells, while 100% of its 122mm rockets were North Korean."

Details: Ukraine's Defence Intelligence said North Korea has supplied Russia with over four million artillery shells since mid-2023, including 122mm and 152mm calibre rounds, which are the core of Russian artillery units' munitions.

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"North Korea's contribution has been strategically vital. Without Chairman Kim Jong Un's support, President Vladimir Putin wouldn't really be able to prosecute his war in Ukraine," said Hugh Griffiths, former coordinator of the UN panel of experts on North Korea sanctions. [N.B. Ukrainska Pravda doesn't recognise Putin as president  ed.]

Quote from Reuters: "Either way, North Korean deliveries would be a sizable addition to Russia's production, estimated by Ukrainian and Western officials at 2-2.3 million artillery shells in 2024.

US Army General Christopher Cavoli, the top US general in Europe, told American lawmakers on 3 April that he anticipated Russia's yearly production to be 3 million artillery shells, without specifying when that could happen."

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The northern lights may shine in the skies over Ohio this week as a pair of solar storms target the Earth.

The aurora borealis has already put on several shows in the Buckeye State, glowing overhead in May 2024 and returning for an encore that October. There was even a chance for a surprise appearance on New Year's Eve.

Here's what to know about the northern lights in Ohio this week.

The sky in 2025: Every eclipse, comet, meteor shower to see in Ohio

Pair of solar eruptions target Earth, may bring the aurora borealis to Ohio on Wednesday

According to the Space Weather Prediction Center, a pair of solar eruptions called coronal mass ejections are targeting the Earth and are expected to hit on Wednesday. The center has issued a strong geomagnetic storm watch (level 3 out of 5) for April 16.

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If the solar storm hits at that intensity, it could push the aurora into the northernmost states and as far south as Lake Erie, possibly making them visible from Northern Ohio. If it grows stronger, the aurora might be pushed farther south and across more portions of Ohio.

Aurora borealis map

This map from the Space Weather Prediction Center shows where the northern lights could be visible on April 16. The red line over Lake Erie shows how far south the aurora may stretch, which could bring the lights into Ohio.

This map from the Space Weather Prediction Center shows how far south the northern lights might come during the solar storm that could hit Earth on April 16.

What is the aurora borealis? What causes the northern lights?

Auroras are ribbons of light weaving across Earth's northern or southern polar regions, according to NASA. They are caused by magnetic storms that have been triggered by solar activity, such as solar flares or coronal mass ejections. The solar wind carries energetic charged particles from these events away from the Sun and toward the Earth.

These energized particles hit the atmosphere at 45 million mph and are redirected to the poles by the earth's magnetic field, according to Space.com, creating the light show.

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During major geomagnetic storms, the lights expand away from the poles and can be seen over some parts of the United States, according to the NOAA.

What causes the northern lights? About the aurora borealis and why it's visible over Ohio

What is a coronal mass ejection?

NASA describes coronal mass ejections as "huge bubbles of coronal plasma threaded by intense magnetic field lines that are ejected from the Sun over several hours." The Akron Beacon Journal reports that the space agency says they often look like "huge, twisted ropes" and can occur with solar flares, or explosions on the sun's surface.

How to view the aurora borealis in Ohio

During times of high geomagnetic activity, which pushes the northern lights further south, the aurora will be visible directly overhead in the northern United States, according to the prediction center.

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For the best viewing, the center recommends that it be very dark. Get away from city lights and avoid trying to see them on the night of a full moon. The best time to view the aurora is within an hour or two of midnight, or 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Will the northern lights come to Ohio again in 2025?

While there's no guarantee where the northern lights will be seen this year, the potential is there for more visits to Ohio. The sun has entered its solar maximum, NASA and the NOAA announced in October, meaning it is at its most active for sunspots that generate those solar storms. The sun will be at its maximum for a year, NASA reports, after which solar storms will decrease and take the aurora with them.

However, the northern lights are fickle. It's never 100% certain they'll show up in Ohio until they appear over your head.

Still, the aurora borealis can be forecast with a certain degree of accuracy. And that's the job of the Space Weather Prediction Center. The center monitors sunspots, solar flares and plasma emissions called coronal mass ejections that could impact the electrical grid, communication, satellites and more. It also announces when these solar storms could energize the aurora, pushing it out of its arctic home and into the United States. Due to the travel time of these storms from the sun to the Earth, the center's forecasts come with a day or two of advance notice.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Will Ohio see the northern lights tonight? See the map, forecast
NORTH SIOUX CITY, S.D. (KCAU)  Plans to permanently rebuild Northshore Drive in McCook Lake are now up for debate.

The main east-west road off I-29 into the area was washed out during last summers historic flooding. The South Dakota Department of Transportation hosted an informal informational meeting Tuesday night at the North Sioux City Community Center, where people were able to have one-on-one discussions with staff members.

Highway 75 railroad crossing at Merrill reopens early amid construction

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An environmental assessment, including the protection of publicly owned parks, recreational areas, wildlife and waterfowl refuges, and historic sites as part of the Northshore Drive realignment project was discussed.

The project is still more than a year away, but some residents KCAU 9 spoke with say its long overdue.

North Sioux has a tough time getting together, and thats basically, theyre such nice people. North Sioux City has come so far, it is ridiculous how much its come, resident Don Lantis said. I mean, its something that it kept postponing, postponing, postponing, but they should have done it a long time ago.

Funding for the project must be obligated by Sept. 2025. Written comments are being accepted by the South Dakota DOT until May 2.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports.
A Dekalb County judge dismissed charges against two police officers who shot and killed a man in his home in 2022.

Now, the district attorneys office wants to bring the case back to a Grand Jury to seek charges against the officers again.

A Grand Jury indicted Former Dekalb County Police Officer Russell Mathis, 30, and Officer Jordan Vance, 30, for the death of Marando Salmon, 37.

Salmon was at his home on Autumn Crest Court on Nov. 4, 2022 when Mathis and Vance responded to a call about a stolen car in the driveway of a home in Stone Mountain.

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The officers knocked on the door. It swung open so they walked inside, finding Salmon in the bedroom.

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According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, police identified themselves and issued commands, but Salmon did not comply.

Instead, they said he threw an item at them and reached for a nearby handgun. Salmon was shot and taken to Grady Memorial Hospital, where he died.

A GBI report in December 2022 said that Salmon was never seen touching a firearm, though a gun was recovered from the room he was in.

Explaining the initial indictments, Boston said body cam footage of the incident allowed them to see exactly what happened.

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In a matter of seconds, Officer Mathis opened fire, shooting and killing Mr. Salmon, Boston added.

The attorney representing the officers, Chuck Boring, pointed out to the judge that prosecutors made a misstep during the Grand Jury hearing by using the same internal affairs witness who presented inadmissible evidence. That witness presented inadmissible evidence during one of the officers immunity hearings too. Boring argued, that thats not allowed.

At what was supposed to be an evidentiary hearing Friday, prosecutors told Superior Court Judge Courtney Johnson they would like to drop those Grand Jury charges and start over with a new Grand Jury.

Defense Attorney Chuck Boring said, We wanted our client to have his day in court and be able to resolve this finally because we think, eventually, the case will be dismissed based on our immunity motion. The DAs office now admitting their mistake just kicks the can down the road.

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The DAs office said the move was made to avoid potential legal issues at trial or on appeal.

A judge approved the request Friday while pointing out that prosecutors waited months to do this.

Anytime they dismiss your indictment, its not a terrible thing, but we would have preferred to finish the immunity hearing, said Boring. I would hope that they would reflect on it and maybe make a different decision, but well see what happens.

A spokesperson for the DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston said the case against former officer Russell Mathis and Officer Jordan Vance will be re-presented to a new grand jury.

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We believe the evidence against these officers is clear and we will not be deterred as we seek justice for Marando Salmon and his loved ones, the spokesperson said.

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GREENBELT, Md. (DC News Now)  The ongoing battle to return a wrongfully deported man to his home in Maryland continued in court Tuesday.

Lawyers for 29-year-old Kilmar Abrego Garcia and the U.S. government appeared before U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis in Greenbelta follow-up hearing after she ordered the government on Friday to provide her with daily updates on Abrego Garcias condition.

The hearing comes a day after the president of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, said he would not return Abrego Garcia home.

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On Tuesday, the government maintained its allegation that Abrego Garcia has ties to the MS-13 gang, though hes never been charged with a crime in the U.S. or in El Salvador.

US judge presses Trump administration on its refusal to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia

The government also said that if he were to be brought back to the U.S., he would be detained by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) upon reentry and deported or removed again due to his alleged involvement with the gang.

Judge Paula Xinis referred back to the U.S. Supreme Courts ruling that the government must facilitate his return and said it has not answered the question of what the federal government is doing to bring him home.

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The New York Times reported she scolded the administration for dragging its feet in complying with the order.

To date nothing has been done, Xinis told a lawyer for the Justice Department. Nothing.

Xinis granted Abrego Garcias motion requesting expedited discovery of the Governments actions (or failure to act) to facilitate [his] return to the United States and other interventions, according to court documents filed Tuesday.

Specifically, his lawyers requested that the U.S. Government provide Abrego Garcias current physical location and custodial status; what steps, if any, the government has taken and will take to facilitate his return to the United States; as well as terms of any agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding its use of CECOT to house deportees.

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Lawyers for the government opposed the motion, contending that it was not consistent with the Supreme Courts order or the well-established meaning of facilitating returns in immigration law, according to court documents.

Despite their opposition, the court granted the motion.

Defendants therefore remain obligated, at a minimum, to take the steps available to them toward aiding, assisting, or making easier Abrego Garcias release from custody in El Salvador and resuming his status quo ante. But the record reflects that Defendants have done nothing at all, court documents read.

The government was ordered to provide Abrego Garcias lawyers with their requested information no later than Monday, April 21, at 5 p.m.

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Before Tuesdays hearing, Abrego Garcias wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, spoke to reporters in front of a crowd of her husbands supporters.

Its been 34 days since he disappeared. I stand before [you] filled with spirit that refuses to bring down. I will not stop fighting until I see my husband alive, said Vasquez Sura, who also added that his children have asked when their father is coming back home.

INITIAL COVERAGE: Maryland man mistakenly deported to El Salvador due to administrative error

Abrego Garcias deportation

Abrego Garcia was detained by ICE on March 12, during which the agents told him his protected status had changed. They gave his wife a few minutes to arrive and take his son, and then arrested Abrego Garcia without any further explanation, officials said.

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Within days of being detained, he was sent to the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) in El Salvador, his home country. However, Abrego Garcia had protected legal status that specifically prohibited his removal to the country.

The Trump administration later admitted that his deportation was an administrative error, but has not taken steps to facilitate his return, despite a Supreme Court ruling ordering them to do so.

On Monday, El Salvador President Nayib Bukele met with Trump and said he has no basis for the small nation to return Abrego Garcia. He called the idea preposterous.

El Salvador President Bukele says he wont be releasing a Maryland man back to the US

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Government officials continue to claim that Abrego Garcia is an MS-13 gang member despite providing no evidence that he was affiliated with MS-13 or any other gang.

Who is Kilmar Abrego Garcia?

Abrego Garcia came to the United States as a teenager back in 2011, fleeing gang threats in his home country of El Salvador. In 2019, he was arrested over an unfounded allegation that he was involved with MS-13, which placed him in deportation proceedings.

However, an immigration judge ultimately found that Abrego Garcia was the one at risk of being a victim of gang violence. He and his relatives had testified that members were trying to extort them and recruit him and his brother to join. His family had been forced to move multiple times, ultimately leading Abrego Garcia and his brother to flee to the U.S. out of fear.

US Senators from Maryland, Virginia demand return of Maryland man mistakenly deported

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The judge said Abrego Garcia would likely face persecution if deported, granting him a form of legally mandated protection: withholding of removal.

He had a permit from the Department of Homeland Security to legally work in the U.S. and was a sheet metal apprentice pursuing a journeyman license when ICE arrested him in March, his attorney told the Associated Press. His wife is also a U.S. citizen and they had been living in Maryland with their child.

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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's decision to challenge U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in the 2026 GOP primary is creating an opening for a statewide office that comes with a high profile and a national reach.

So far, at least two Republicans and one Democrat have made clear their intention to run for the state's top attorney's office next year, and several others might also join the fray after Paxton announced last week he would forgo reelection to a fourth term and instead seek to oust Cornyn.

John Bash, who served as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas during President Donald Trump's first term in the White House and who has since represented billionaire Elon Musk, threw his hat in the ring first with an April 9 announcement on social media, just one day after Paxton announced his Senate bid.

By deciding to run for U.S. Senate instead of seeking reelection as Texas attorney general, Ken Paxton has set up a potential scramble for the attorney general's post.

"Im running for Texas Attorney General because our great State needs the toughest, most battle-tested attorney to lead the fight to keep our communities safe, defend our constitutional rights, and make sure Texas remains a leader in innovation and growth," Bash said on X. "Lets get to work."

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Then on Tuesday, state Sen. Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston, made his candidacy official.

"Im proud to announce my campaign for Texas Attorney General," Middleton said on X. "Theres only one Texas, and Ive devoted my life to defending it. As your next Attorney General, I will work to ensure Texas is the greatest and safest state to live and raise a family."

Filing for the 2026 primaries remains more than six months away.

Here's who else is considering a run for Texas AG

During his 10 years as Texas' top lawyer, Paxton has made himself into a national figure and one of the state's most polarizing public officials. During the Democratic administrations of Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, Paxton was quick to file federal lawsuits that sought to limit their reach on issues ranging from immigration to firearm restrictions.

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But his alliance with Trump and the unrelated failed effort by the Texas House to remove Paxton from office probably brought more attention to the attorney general than most of the other issues he tackled in his official capacity.

More: Ken Paxton makes it official: He's challenging US Sen. John Cornyn in 2026 GOP primary

Freshman state Rep. Mitch Little, a Lewisville Republican who before being elected to the Texas House was part of Paxton's legal team that helped him beat the charges in the 2023 Texas Senate impeachment trial, told the American-Statesman that he also is considering running for attorney general.

"I'm thinking about it," Little said. "I've got to talk to my family about it."

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Democrat Joe Jaworski, a former mayor of Galveston, said he will decide by the end of June whether he'll enter the race. He came in second place in a five-way contest for the Democratic nomination in 2022 but lost in the runoff.

"I am seriously considering running for Texas AG in 2026," Jaworski told the Statesman in a text message. "I connected with Texans throughout the state in my 2022 run for the office, and I havent let up since."

Republican state Sen. Bryan Hughes of Mineola, who chairs the powerful Senate State Affairs Committee, has also expressed interest in running for attorney general. He did not return a message from the Statesman on Tuesday asking about a possible run.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Paxton's Senate challenges sets state for 2026 election for Texas AG
Emily Field, Head of European Pharma Research at Barclays, spoke to CNBC on February 20 about the performance of obesity medications, the effects of US tariffs, and the dynamics of the pharmaceutical industry. According to her, at least in the first half of this year, the industry might not perform poorly. The effectiveness of obesity medications is still up for debate, though, as leading companies in the field have shown inconsistent results in the past.

Its kind of a watershed moment where the pharma industry is like, We dont really need to buy U.S. biotechs necessarily. We will if it makes sense, but we can buy perfectly good biotech assets through licensing deals with Chinese companies.

Experts think this situation is here to stay, even though there are several possible causes for this tendency. Although the US pharmaceutical industry is expected to be impacted, it is uncertain how these effects would manifest. If big pharmaceutical companies find a good Chinese drug at a low price, some experts think it may destroy American startups; others think the competition would benefit the sector. Tim Opler, a managing director in Stifels global healthcare group, stated the following regarding the circumstances:

Experts cite several causes for this tendency. Some people think that Chinese pharmaceutical firms are drawing notice due to their sophisticated development skills, which enable them to produce potent compounds in large quantities. In addition to being able to start testing on human subjects more quickly, these Chinese companies can charge a lower price for these medications than the US. Buyers have developed a business strategy that enables them to import medicines through licensing agreements, according to CNBC. The dearth of venture capital in China is additional pressure on biotech companies to enter these agreements.

With big American pharmaceutical corporations always searching for medications in China, the US pharmaceutical industry is going through a unique trend never seen before. About 30% of Big Pharma acquisitions involving at least $50 million upfront in 2024 involved Chinese corporations, according to DealForma statistics, as reported by CNBC. This was an increase from 20% the previous year and nearly 0% just five years before.

We recently published a list of 10 Best Pharma Stocks to Buy for Long Term Growth . In this article, we are going to take a look at where Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) stands against other best pharma stocks to buy for long term growth.

Story Continues

Speaking about the tariffs, she stated that since some businesses assemble their products in the US after producing them overseas, their implementation raises several unanswered questions for the pharmaceutical industry. These businesses, therefore, have relatively low manufacturing costs, which is an important factor to take into account when assessing the effects of tariffs. She thought that these businesses could easily absorb the higher expense of the tariffs. The topic hasnt come up much on earnings calls this quarter, and the market is nearing the end of the reporting season.

Our Methodology

For this article, we screened for companies that operate in the pharmaceutical industry. From that list, we identified stocks that have achieved positive revenue growth over the past five years. Then, we picked companies with a 5-year revenue growth of 10% and ranked the top 10 based on hedge fund sentiment as of Q4 2024, as per Insider Monkeys database.

Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletters strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).

Is Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) the Best Pharma Stock to Buy for Long Term Growth?

A close-up of a person's hand holding a bottle of pharmaceuticals.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 91

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) is a biopharmaceutical company that delivers health solutions to advance the treatment and prevention of diseases in animals and people. Vaccines and pharmaceutical goods for human health, which usually include therapeutic and preventive substances, are available through its pharmaceutical section. Its Animal Health division creates, finds, produces, and sells a variety of vaccinations and veterinary medications.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK)s sales outlook is being adversely affected by certain factors. For example, because of low discretionary spending, it has temporarily halted the distribution of its HPV vaccine Gardasil to China until the middle of 2025. The company maintains excellent operations despite these short-term difficulties, which are bolstered by high demand for its inventive and varied portfolio. The corporations Keytruda cancer treatment medication is doing well, and the introduction of Winrevair, a medication for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), is also helping to increase revenue growth.

Asad Haider, a Goldman Sachs analyst, remained optimistic about the stock and rated it as a Buy on April 8. The analyst feels that Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK)s Animal Health division, which makes a substantial amount of money and is expected to expand in the future, is being undervalued by the present market valuation, which is unduly gloomy. As one of the best pharmaceutical stocks, the analyst believes that this offers investors a mispricing opportunity.

GreensKeeper Asset Management, an investment management company, released its Q3 2024 investor letter. Here is what the fund said:

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) was our second-largest detractor this quarter, declining -8.3%. MRKs leading HPV vaccine, GARDASIL 9, faced challenges internationally due to inventory buildup within its Chinese distributor, which is expected to reduce shipments for the remainder of 2024. Despite this short-term impact, the long-term outlook for GARDASIL 9 remains promising. Meanwhile, the companys $27 billion Keytruda cancer juggernaut continues to grow at a healthy clip, powering earnings growth.

Overall, MRK ranks 2nd on our list of best pharma stocks to buy for long term growth. While we acknowledge the potential of pharmaceutical companies, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. There is an AI stock that went up since the beginning of 2025, while popular AI stocks lost around 25%. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than MRK but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.

READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
The number of abortions in Florida dropped significantly after the state's six-week ban took effect last May, according to a new analysis.

Over 2024, there were 12,100 fewer abortions provided in Florida as compared to 2023, according to a report from The Guttmacher Institute, which describes itself as a "research and policy organization committed to advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights."

It was the steepest decline in abortions across the country. South Carolina has the second-largest decline, with 3,500 fewer abortions in 2024 compared to 2023.

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Kansas and Virginia, however, saw big increases in the number of abortions provided to people coming from other states. According to the analysis, 4,300 out-of-state patients traveled to Virginia for abortion care.

Florida 6-week abortion ban went into effect last May

Before Florida's six-week ban took effect last May, the state provided the only abortion access in the Deep South that went up to 15 weeks of pregnancy. Generally, babies have a reasonable chance of surviving outside the womb around 24 weeks of gestation.

"It is likely that Virginia absorbed patients affected by Floridas six-week abortion ban after it went into effect in May 2024," the analysis says.

North Carolina is the closest state without a six-week or total abortion ban (that state allows abortion up to 12 weeks), but the 72-hour in-person waiting period makes it difficult for many to make the drive for an appointment.

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This makes Virginia a more convenient option, the analysis said, but the data also showed residents traveling as far as New York and California for abortions.

In 2024, 73,710 abortions were provided by clinicians in Florida, a 14.1% drop from 2023. But overall across the country, the number of abortions increased from 1,033,740 abortions to 1,038,090, or about 0.4%.

Florida previously had ban on abortion after 15 weeks

As previously reported, the six-week abortion ban took effect May 1, a month after the state's 15-week ban went into effect in April.

The 15-week ban, passed in 2022, stalled in the Florida Supreme Court until this April, when the court overruled its own 34-year-old decision that said a privacy provision in the state's constitution protected a womans right to terminate a pregnancy.

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Once the 15-week-ban took effect, it triggered the six-week ban, passed in 2023.

Last fall, Amendment 4, which would have enshrined abortion rights in the Florida Constitution, failed with 57% of the statewide vote. In Florida, a ballot initiative needs 60% to pass. But 57%, or over 6 million votes, was enough for abortion rights advocates to call upon the Legislature to pay attention to the results and repeal the six-week abortion ban.

Last fall, however, Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, said he would not change the law.

It didn't stop Democrats this Legislative session from attempting to overturn the six-week ban with legislation (SB 870, HB 741, HB 1139) that would allow abortion until viability. None of those bills have been heard in committee.

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Ana Goni-Lessan, state watchdog reporter for the USA TODAY Network  Florida, can be reached at agonilessan@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Abortions in Florida fell more than any other state, latest data shows
Railroad fires increased in several Russian regions in March, Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) said on April 16.

Railways are a key means of transportation used by the Russian army to carry equipment and personnel to the combat zone in Ukraine and Russia's Kursk Oblast, which the Ukrainian military entered in August 2024.

Pro-Ukrainian partisans regularly sabotage railroads to hinder Russian military efforts.

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The March fires destroyed six units of traction rolling stock in Moscow, Samara, and Tver oblasts, as well as nine railway signaling, centralization, and interlocking devices in the Republic of Mari El, Stavropol, and Krasnoyarsk regions, according to military intelligence.

In Moscow Oblast, a power transformer and a tank car with fuel also burned down.

"The fight against the supply of ammunition and military equipment to the Russian occupation army by rail continues," the statement read.

In late March, the Atesh partisan group sabotaged a railway line in Russia's Smolensk Oblast, disrupting the transport of military cargo toward Bryansk and Kursk oblasts.

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The Atesh movement regularly conducts sabotage attacks in Russia and Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine.

Read also: Can civilian areas ever be legitimate military targets? We asked an expert

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
NEW YORK  The citys Law Department will not represent Mayor Eric Adams or his administration in the City Councils lawsuit against him over an executive order that would allow federal immigration authorities on Rikers Island, according to court papers filed Wednesday.

The New York City Law Department has advised that they will not be representing any party in this litigation, Allison Stoddart, the mayors chief counsel, wrote in the letter to the Manhattan Supreme Court clerk last night.

This is an unusual move by the Law Department, which typically represents the administration, including in cases brought by the Council. The mayor, First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro and the citys Department of Corrections will instead seek outside counsel.

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Kayla Mamelak, a spokeswoman for the mayor, said the city will still foot the bill.

Due to the fact that the New York City Law Department has provided advice to both sides of City Hall on the scope of the citys sanctuary city laws, it has removed itself from representing either side of City Hall in this litigation, Muriel Goode-Trufant, the head of the Law Department, said in a statement.

The Council sued the administration on Tuesday, claiming that the Rikers order was unlawfully issued by Mastro as the poisoned fruit of a corrupt quid pro quo deal with the Trump administration. They are asking for the court to rescind the order and block the administration from allowing ICE at the complex. The suit focuses on alleged violations of the City Charter rather than on the sanctuary city laws themselves.

I cannot recall a single instance in which the Law Department elected not to represent this mayor, or prior ones, when that officeholder was sued in his official capacity. The only rational conclusion that can be drawn from this remarkable decision was that the Law Department as an institution could not stand behind the mayor and the first deputy mayors actions, the Councils lawyer, Jason Otano, wrote in a response.

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Stoddarts letter called the lawsuit premature since ICE has not actually moved into Rikers office space yet, as theres not a memorandum of understanding between the city and feds that would formalize the decision.

She wrote that the administration wanted to move forward on putting together the formal agreement, and offered to give notice to the Council before that agreement became effective.

Otano called that offer legally meaningless.

Adams has been widely accused of entering into a corrupt bargain with the Trump administration. After being indicted on federal corruption charges in September, Adams lawyers pleaded his case to Trumps Department of Justice, saying the case impended his ability to carry out the presidents immigration agenda in the city.

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The DOJ moved to dismiss the case in February, and the judge in the case dropped the case earlier this month.

The Councils suit argues that Adams had agreed to a quid pro quo with the Trump administration, agreeing to exchange the Rikers order for the feds working to drop his case. Adams has denied any quid pro quo exists. Mastros signing off on the order didnt change that, the Council argues.

The mayors decision to have Mastro issue the executive order  does not magically cleanse the taint of conflict from the order, reads the petition.

Meanwhile, the mayors legal defense trust is more than $3 million in the negative after Adams did not receive a single contribution in the latest reporting period, leaving him with a huge debt to deal with even as he celebrates the dismissal of his federal corruption case, his team disclosed in a Tuesday night filing.
Mayor Adams legal defense trust is more than $3 million in the red after not receiving a single contribution in the latest reporting period, leaving him with a huge debt to deal with even as he celebrates the dismissal of his federal corruption case, a new filing reveals.

Adams trust, which he has used to pay for legal fees amid his now-dead corruption indictment, had as of the March 31 cutoff of the most recent three-month reporting stretch spent just shy of $4.9 million, according to the new filing released shortly before midnight Tuesday. About half of that, just under $2.5 million, has been paid to Quinn Emanuel, the law firm that employs Alex Spiro, the celebrity lawyer who has been Adams lead defense attorney in his criminal case.

By contrast, the trust has only raised just over $1.8 million, meaning its to date at least $3.1 million in the hole, per the paperwork.

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In a sign Adams legal bills are likely to pile up further, the disbursements to Spiros firm are reported in the records as being monthly retainer payments of about $750,000, spanning from September 2024 through December 2024.

Spiro has continued to represent Adams in 2025, at least all the way up until earlier this month, when President Trumps Justice Department secured a dismissal of the mayors indictment in a manner that many believe has left him beholden to Trumps political agenda.

Spiro, whose client roster also includes business titans like Trump adviser Elon Musk and rapper Jay-Z, didnt return a request for comment Wednesday about whether hes still on retainer representing Adams.

Todd Shapiro, Adams reelection campaign spokesman, wouldnt confirm whether Spiros still representing him, either. Shapiro did acknowledge the mayors serious deficit and told the Daily News hes focused on restoring public trust and ensuring that all obligations, including legal expenses, are met in a transparent and ethical manner.

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He is confident that, with continued dedication and support, he will overcome this hurdle and continue to lead with integrity, Shapiro added.

Shapiro didnt say whether that means Adams has any particular fundraising plans for the trust.

The latest filing shows Adams didnt take in a single new donation in the latest period, which spanned from Jan. 1 through March 31.

It first emerged in October 2024, about a month after Adams indictment, that his trust was struggling financially as his expenses started outpacing his fundraising. At the time, Vito Pitta, Adams compliance attorney, said the trust expected more money to roll in as the mayors defense enters a new stage.

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But since then, the trust has received just a paltry $2,200. Most of that, $2,000, was contributed in November by Tzvi Odzer, a businessman who was sentenced to prison in the mid-2000s for campaign finance fraud charges and pardoned by Trump during the final days of his first term.

Pitta didnt return a request for comment on the latest filing.

Besides the hefty payments to Spiro, the trusts latest filing lists off $20,000 in legal fees paid to Pittas firm as well as some smaller banking service expenses.

The revelations about Adams debt come after the judge presiding over his case on April 2 approved a motion from Trumps DOJ to drop his indictment, which charged him with taking bribes and illegal campaign cash, mostly from Turkish government operatives, in exchange for political favors.

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The judge wrote in an opinion he approved the dismissal because he had no other choice under the law.

But the judge, Dale Ho, also lamented that the end of the case smacks of a political bargain, given that Trumps political appointees let Adams know they expected him to play a larger role in assisting the presidents immigration agenda if his case went away.

Since then, Adams administration has signed an executive order to let ICE agents operate again on Rikers Island, a move that is drawing legal challenges.

Adams has denied a quid pro quo with Trump. Adams has also denied ever committing crimes and was initially expected to stand trial later this month on his indictment. Had he done so, he wouldve all but certainly racked up even more legal fees.

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In an appearance on Flagrant Podcast just before the dismissal, Adams hinted at the heavy financial burden hes under due to his criminal case.

Im facing 35 years in jail, think about it, think about it, and it cost me over $3 million, he said.

Since the dismissal, Adams has dropped out of Junes Democratic mayoral primary and is instead seeking reelection as an independent in Novembers general election. Prior to the dismissal, Adams saw low fundraising for his reelection campaign, too.
NEW YORK (PIX11)  A Bronx man is accused of beating, punching, choking, and sex trafficking multiple women, according to court documents.

Ralph Wallace, 36, faces two counts of sex trafficking involving force, fraud, or coercion, as well as transportation for prostitution, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York announced on Wednesday.

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According to court documents from 2021 through 2025, Wallace recruited women he met through online dating apps. Wallace would take nude photos of the women and post them online to advertise for commercial sex, officials said.

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Wallace, acting as a pimp, would tell women how to dress and how to act, as well as inform victims about how much they should charge for commercial sex, according to court documents.

When the women were not compliant, Wallace used violence and coercion to get the women to keep engaging in sex acts. Documents state on multiple occasions Wallace beat, punched, choked, and dragged the woman. He also withheld money from victims when they needed food and other necessities.

As alleged, Ralph Wallace systematically exploited and abused women, using horrific violence to force women to engage in prostitution against their will. Together with our law enforcement partners, we will relentlessly pursue those who engage in sex trafficking. If you have been a victim of the alleged crimes perpetrated by Wallace, we urge you to come forward by contacting 1-877-4-HSI-TIP, said Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky.

If convicted of his charges, sex trafficking by force carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, while transportation to engage in prostitution carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

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Wallace, who also went by the names of Chase and Prize, was arrested Wednesday morning in Fort Lee, New Jersey.

Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The city tentatively settled a long-running contract negotiation with the police sergeants union that had threatened to dwindle the ranks, officials said Tuesday.

The tentative agreement would give the citys 4,400 NYPD sergeants raises  including retroactive pay increases dating back to 2021, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a press conference at City Hall.

Our sergeants are the front-line supervisors of the NYPD, managing officers in the field, solving problems in real time, and setting the standard for performance across the department, Tisch said.

Hundreds of sergeants rallied despite frigid temperatures for fair pay outside Mayor Eric Adams State of the City address in January. Getty Images

This agreement reflects the seriousness of that responsibility, she added.

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The negotiations between the city and the sergeants union had gone on for over a year and heated up last fall when union officials requested a mediator but were only granted a meeting with the citys Office of Labor Relations, according to sources familiar with the negotiations.

NYPD Sergeants have played a critical role in maintaining public safety in the largest city in America during some of the most tumultuous chapters in our citys history, including a worldwide pandemic, SBA President Vincent Vallelong said in a statement.

They deserve to be compensated for their tremendous sacrifices and numerous responsibilities, he added. Im very pleased to announce that the Sergeants Benevolent Association has reached a tentative agreement, that, for the first time in decades, ensures our frontline supervisors earn more than the police officers they supervise, which is consistent with most police agencies in the nation.

Vallelong previously told The Post the existing contract structure for NYPD sergeants was causing resentment among the ranks because a contract technicality saw newly-promoted sergeants making more than those who were promoted earlier.

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The existing contract structure also resulted in some sergeants making less than the officers they supervise, according to Vallelong.

The long running contract negotiations predated Tisch who was sworn in as NYPD Commissioner in November. William Farrington

But under the new agreement, sergeants who earned below top pay as of the end of last year would receive wage increases so they arent making less than the members they supervise. The deal would have a backdated start date of Dec. 10, 2021 and run through Dec. 9, 2026.

The agreement includes wage increases of 3.25% for both of the first two years of the contract, 3.5% for the third and fourth years and a 4% increase this December.

The issue gained publicity in January when hundreds of the sergeants rallied outside Mayor Eric Adams State of the City address to demand fair pay.

Mayor Eric Adam held a press conference in the rotunda at City Hall to celebrate the tentative agreement. William Farrington

At that rally SBA officials said 1,200 NYPD sergeants were earning less than the police officers they supervised.

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Sergeants pay was capped at $118,000 per year while some rank-and-file cops were racking upwards of $115,000 a year, according to the SBA.

Under the new contract, top pay for sergeants will be a little more than $134,000, according to the mayors office.

Our police sergeants keep our city safe each and every day. They must be able to work with dignity and care for their families, and todays tentative agreement with the Sergeants Benevolent Association will do just that, Adams said.
OAK GROVE, Ky. (WKRN)  A payroll employee with the City of Oak Grove was taken into custody Monday after being accused of falsifying business records.

Over the course of the investigation, Kentucky State Police detectives discovered Hailey A. Bamford, the citys payroll accountant and human resource employee, had falsified her time entry and altered her time sheets on multiple occasions since May 2022, according to officials.

2 dead following shooting in Oak Grove

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With the help of the KSP special investigations auditor, authorities said numerous occasions of false entries, alteration, deletion, and destruction of records related to business payroll for Oak Grove were revealed.

The investigation revealed that from May 2022 through October 2023, Bamford falsified business records to obtain city taxpayer money via theft of time for a minimum of $6,208.75, KSP said in a statement.

Officials said the Christian County Grand Jury returned a true bill on Friday, April 11 for one count of abuse of public trust less than 10,000, as well as 14 counts of tampering with public records.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

Three days later, authorities announced the 38-year-old Fort Campbell woman was arrested at Oak Grove City Hall and held in the Christian County Detention Center.

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No additional details have been released about the circumstances surrounding this investigation.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
(FOX40.COM)  A mother from Oakdale who was arrested after a crash that killed her young child on March 8, appeared in court on Tuesday.

Juliette Marie Acosta, 26, now faces felony murder and other charges after authorities say she hit a telephone pole and crashed into an irrigation canal in Hickman while driving under the influence.

The child was recovered inside the vehicle by divers and later died at a hospital.

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The Stanislaus County District Attorneys Office says Acosta was arrested last week in San Francisco and was transferred back by California Highway Patrol to Stanislaus County to answer to multiple charges.

The courtroom was packed with family members who appeared emotional. A spokesperson for the family said they did not have a comment to share with the media at this time.

Acosta appeared shackled at the wrists, wearing a striped orange jumpsuit, with her attorney Gil Somera by her side as she faced a judge.

This was a general appearance and Somera asked to waive time for arraignment.

No plea was entered, and Somera asked the judge to schedule a further arraignment so that he would have more time to review the facts and reports of this case.

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I want to get that report from CHP and be able to look through everything so that I can have an intelligent conversation about how were moving forward, Somera said.

Acosta remains behind bars with no bail. She was initially charged with felony DUI.

According to the Stanislaus County DAs Office, Acosta is facing a list of charges including felony murder, vehicular manslaughter, DUI causing injury, permitting a child to suffer under circumstances likely to cause injury or death, and she is alleged to have been driving with a blood alcohol content nearly 3 times the legal limit.

She is also being charged with resisting, delaying or obstructing a public officer, peace officer or emergency medical technician.

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If convicted on all charges, the DA says she could face a maximum of life in prison.

Acostas next court appearance is scheduled for May 7th at 1:30 pm in Department 5.

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As wildfires become more frequent and destructive in the U.S., surviving homeowners are being hit with a second wave of hardship  from their insurance companies. In California, where fire risk is especially high, some residents are being denied insurance coverage, leaving them with costly repairs and no support.

What's happening?

Following a series of destructive wildfires, including one that tore through Pasadena, California, insurance companies are under fire for denying smoke damage claims. According to a report from Pasadena Now, officials say some companies are issuing blanket denials without properly inspecting damages.

Instead, they're using external damage assessment reports to disqualify policyholders when they are actually required to conduct their own inspections for each claim. They've issued a warning to insurers to remind them of these requirements.

Why is this important?

Smoke residue left behind after wildfires is dangerous  it can infiltrate walls, HVAC systems, and insulation, causing health risks. Without proper cleaning and ventilation, homes may become uninhabitable  and many residents don't have the resources to start over.

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Wildfires and other extreme weather events are becoming more intense and widespread due to the planet's rising temperatures, fueled by our dependence on dirty energy sources like coal, oil, and gas. Unless we cut our reliance on these in favor of cleaner alternatives, temperatures will only continue rising.

At the same time, insurance companies are backing away from areas most affected by climate change-related weather, either by dropping customers, raising premiums, or pulling out of areas altogether. This leaves homeowners increasingly vulnerable, both physically and financially, even after surviving disasters.

What's being done about it?

In 1968, California established the FAIR Plan so that homeowners  especially those denied by traditional insurers  could still access basic fire coverage. However, with massive fires causing so much damage, this safety net is under increasing strain.

In the wake of recent events, all private insurers operating in California were required to contribute $1 billion collectively to keep the plan funded. California's Department of Insurance also set up a workshop for residents to speak with representatives from insurance companies, including the FAIR plan, to resolve issues. The department encouraged residents to file formal complaints if they were being denied coverage.

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Organizations like United Policyholders help people deal with their insurance companies and access emergency funds. Other nonprofits like Rebuilding Together also help support families affected by natural disasters.

However, the long-term solution is to tackle the changing climate. That includes transitioning toward clean energy, strengthening home resilience against natural disasters, and supporting clean energy policies. Individuals looking to help can start by exploring critical climate issues to learn more about becoming part of the bigger solution.

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Dive Brief:

A movie theater chain will pay $250,000 to settle an age discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that alleged the company forced a longtime manager to retire because he was 73, the agency said April 10 (EEOC v. Allen Theatres). The company allegedly did not allow the manager of 31 years to return to work when the theaters reopened in March 2021 after COVID-19-related closures.

Allen Theatres, Inc., which operates theaters in New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado, also allegedly refused to pay workers health insurance when they turned 65 and became eligible for Medicare, EEOC said. The discriminatory pay policy also led to the company paying lower compensation to workers 65 and older, per EEOC.

The company allegedly violated the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), which prohibits age-related discrimination in the hiring, firing, and compensation of employees 40 years old or older.

Dive Insight:

Under the two-year consent decree, Allen Theatres will be required to offer health insurance to any employee who is 65 or older and not currently enrolled, to revise its policies to prohibit age discrimination and to offer robust investigative and training procedures related to age discrimination, EEOC said.

Employers must train their staff to recognize discriminatory treatment of employees and protect employees by providing equal employee benefits regardless of their age, Melinda Caraballo, district director of EEOCs Phoenix district office, said in a statement.

The settlement requires the company to provide one hour annually of Equal Employment Opportunity training to all nonmanagerial employees; three hours annually of training on the ADEA and other anti-discrimination laws enforced by the EEOC to all managerial and supervisory employees; and five hours annually of training on the ADEA and other federal anti-discrimination laws to all HR staff.

It violates federal anti-discrimination law for managers or any corporate officers to force workers over the age of 40 to involuntarily retire because of their age, Mary Jo ONeill, regional attorney for EEOCs Phoenix district office, said in a statement. Employers should not impose their ideas about when older employees should quit working, especially for those employees who want to work, are qualified to work, and are doing a good job.
Changes could be on the menu for Delaware schools after state lawmakers introduced a new bill.

Senate Bill 69 would prohibit selling or distributing food and beverages that contain Red 40 at public and charter schools, according to the Delaware News Journal. Sen. Eric Buckson is the primary sponsor of the bill, which looks to protect students from potential health risks associated with the food additive.

Approved by the Food and Drug Administration, Red 40 is a synthetic food dye made from petroleum. The dye is used in various foods, including cereal, beverages, dairy products, and sugary treats.

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However, Cleveland Clinic named allergic reactions and migraines as potential side effects. There are also studies that link artificial food dyes to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in kids.

The introduction of the bill comes just months after the FDA announced a nationwide ban on Red 3 in food, beverages, and drug products. Red 3 and Red 40 are not the same, though they pose similar concerns. According to scientists, Red 3 may cause cancer and thyroid issues, which prompted the European Union to ban the additive over 30 years ago.

Delaware isn't the first state to take a stand against artificial food dyes. Many states across the nation have worked to pass laws prohibiting synthetic food coloring. Companies are moving away from dyes, too. PepsiCo is in the process of phasing out synthetic dyes used in snacks. The company will use natural ingredients instead.

Banning artificial food dyes is a win for the environment as well. According to one study, synthetic dyes are harmful to animals, plants, and humans. Untreated synthetic dyes released into bodies of water can reduce light for photosynthesis, affecting the entire food chain.

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If the new bill is passed in Delaware, the restrictions would take effect in schools by July 1, 2026. The Senate Education Committee is reviewing the legislation. "The bill ensures Delaware is prioritizing student health while providing room for reasonable exemptions as necessary," Buckson said.

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Norsepower has entered into a strategic memorandum of understanding (MoU) with COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry Equipment (Nantong) (CHIC) to enhance the production and distribution of Norsepower Rotor Sails in China.

This agreement aims to facilitate the serial manufacturing, sales, installation, and servicing of Norsepowers wind propulsion systems in the region.

The collaboration is anchored by Norsepower's Rotor Sail factory located in Dafeng, China, which is recognised as the first facility globally dedicated to rotor sail production.

This factory is expected to ensure the necessary capacity and quality for the mass production of Norsepower's technology.

The partnership with CHIC is anticipated to bolster Norsepower's existing production capabilities, which also include a facility in Poland, thereby enabling the company to respond effectively to the increasing global demand for wind propulsion solutions.

CHIC deputy general manager Zhang Jianxin said: We are excited to partner with Norsepower to advance wind propulsion technology.

This cooperation will enhance innovation across product design, manufacturing, and business development, ensuring we deliver high-quality, energy-efficient solutions for the shipping industry.

The alliance will leverage CHICs shipbuilding and offshore equipment expertise to foster innovation in wind propulsion technology, aiming to integrate Norsepower Rotor Sails more thoroughly into the regional shipping market.

This initiative is designed to provide solutions to shipping companies in achieving reductions in fuel consumption and emissions, aligning with the stricter regulations set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Norsepower CEO Heikki Pontynen said: This agreement marks a significant step forward in expanding access to wind propulsion solutions in China.

By combining Norsepowers technology leadership with CHICs shipbuilding expertise, we are creating a strong foundation for advancing sustainable shipping. We will achieve breakthroughs in both product supply efficiency and application expansion.

Recently, Norsepower introduced Norsepower True Performance, a system that measures and monitors wind propulsion performance in maritime operations.

It assesses the effectiveness of sails and ship propellers, providing shipowners, charterers, and regulatory bodies with precise data on the operational impact of Norsepower Rotor Sails.

"Norsepower, COSCO join forces to boost wind propulsion in China" was originally created and published by Ship Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.
Oklahoma Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore, is the House author of a bill that would limit the governors ability to close businesses during a pandemic. (Photo by Kyle Phillips/For Oklahoma Voice)

OKLAHOMA CITY  A bill headed to the House floor that limits the governors ability to close businesses during a pandemic is irresponsible and puts Oklahomans safety at risk, one lawmaker said.

Supporters of the bill said businesses need additional protections because closures during the COVID-19 pandemic were in violation of the Oklahoma Constitution and were very random.

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Senate Bill 672, authored by Sen. Julie McIntosh, R-Porter, and Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore, would require Oklahoma governors to have scientific evidence that the nature of a particular business directly contributes to spreading disease before closing businesses during a declared pandemic. The governor would also need to provide notice and an opportunity for a hearing to nonessential businesses before issuing an executive order that closes businesses.

Rep. Meloyde Blancett, D-Tulsa, criticized the measure Wednesday. She said at the beginning of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic no one knew how the virus spread, and without a handle on what makes us safe, its irresponsible to put laws in place like this.

While she said she has a private sector and business background and wants to see businesses survive during a pandemic, Blancett said the bill has too many open questions and the hearing process could be extensive.

It was a pandemic, not an epidemic, not a bad outbreak, a pandemic, Blancett said. Meaning the danger of imminent death for those that are vulnerable is clear and present, and what Rep. Wests bill unfortunately does is it puts businesses at a higher level of care than it does the health of our citizens.

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During the most recent pandemic, Oklahoma had over 1.2 million reported cases of COVID-19 and nearly 18,000 deaths, according to John Hopkins, which compiled the states statistics.

The number of deaths was not insignificant, said Blancett, who voted against advancing the bill out of committee Tuesday.

Blancett said Tulsa should not be told what to do in a pandemic based on the experiences of Moore, Wests hometown.

And at the end of the day, at some point in time we have to trust the people that weve elected to represent us, she said.

West, R-Moore, said his hometown let individuals and businesses make their own decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it was not a superspreader community.

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When asked about how evidence would be gathered and hearings could reasonably be held without creating an additional burden on businesses or the governor during a pandemic, West said Wednesday that he expects that impact to be very limited.

I dont see it being something that overwhelms the Governors Office, he said. But before the governor could even do that, they would have to have the scientific evidence  (that) businesses like this are a contributing factor to the spread.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Kevin Stitt declared a state of emergency March 15, 2020 and issued an executive order nine days later requiring the closure of various businesses. Businesses in Oklahoma were quickly reopened under Stitt. Under the Open Up and Recover Safely plan, the first reopening phase began April 24, 2020 and the state was fully reopened by June 1, 2020.

Stitts closure orders faced legal challenges to allow businesses, like bars, to remain open. West said he thinks this bill could eliminate the need for these legal challenges by prompting conversations surrounding business closures, but recourse through the court system would still be an option.

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West said he has not heard from Stitts office on this legislation yet.

Stitt said he is supportive of the bill and applauds the Legislature for looking at this.

I think most people agree I was one of the only governors that did not do a mask mandate statewide, he said Wednesday. And most people agree that you dont put the U.S. Constitution in the attic just because somebody in Washington D.C. tells us to. So I think thats probably the intent of this bill, to protect our rights as citizens and as an Oklahoma citizen, thats something that I appreciate. Well look at all these bills if they come to my desk. But on the surface it sounds reasonable to me.

McIntosh, the Senate author, said Wednesday that the closure of businesses during the pandemic was a violation of the Oklahoma Constitution.

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The bill language references part of the Oklahoma Constitution, specifically that all persons have the inherent right to life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and the enjoyment of the gains of their own industry.

She introduced the bill because as a physician she saw how people were affected when businesses were declared nonessential. She said people ended up with mental health issues and loss of purpose.

During COVID, it was very random what different states closed and it made no sense, McIntosh said. So it was OK if you went to the liquor store or the bar, but you couldnt get your hair cut. And there was no scientific data to show that one (business) spreads the disease worse than the other.

The bill cleared the House Commerce and Economic Development Oversight Committee on a 14-3 vote. If the House passes the measure without any changes, it heads to the governors desk.

Editors note: This story was updated at 3:40 p.m. Wednesday with comment from Gov. Kevin Stitt.

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SPRINGVILLE, Utah (ABC4)  One man is dead after crashing into the back of a semi-truck on I-15 near Springville on Tuesday night.

Lt. Cameron Roden confirmed with ABC4.com that the crash happened around 10:15 p.m. on southbound I-15 near mile marker 262. The semi-truck reportedly had engine problems and was stopped in the right-most lane with its lights and hazard flashers on.

While crews were responding to assist the semi-truck, a white Kia Soul reportedly collided with the back of the semi. Lt. Roden said the driver and lone occupant of the Kia Soul died on the scene. The victim has only been identified as a 39-year-old man.

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An investigation into the crash is still ongoing and no further details were provided.

Latest headlines:

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
STOVER, Mo.  A house fire early Wednesday morning resulted in the death of one person and multiple pets inside.

According to the Gravois Fire Protection District, a neighbor called 911 about a house fire at around 5 a.m. in the 9000 block of Acorn in Stover. The caller reported that the fire had stretched into a wooded area and that someone was possibly trapped in the house.

When fire units arrived at the scene, they found the home fully engulfed and partially collapsed. One person was able to escape from the residence with minor injuries, but another occupant and multiple pets were still trapped.

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When does paid sick leave take effect in Missouri?

Firefighters went to subdue the fire and searched for the trapped person and pets. Fire crews left the scene by 9:46 a.m., but the trapped person and pets did not survive the fire.

Gravois Fire is investigating the cause of the fire, and the Missouri State Fire Marshals Office has been called to assist.

Gravois Fire was assisted by the Stover Fire Protection District, Ivy Bend Fire Department, Versailles Rural Fire Protection District, Missouri State Fire Marshals Office, Morgan County Sheriffs Department, CO-MO Electric Cooperative, and Sunrise Beach Fire Protection District.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com.
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV)  One man pled guilty and two others were sentenced for installing skimmers in Mississippi.

According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, Alexandru Ionut Gheorghe, 28, and Marian Aurelian Neacsu, 29, were both sentenced to 15 months in federal prison for possession of device-making equipment. Their codefendant, Bogdan Gabriel Radu, 22, pled guilty to possession of device-making equipment. Prosecutors said all three defendants are Romanian nationals who entered the United States illegally.

Two Capitol police officers indicted in Jaylen Lewis death

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According to court documents, beginning on June 21, 2024, the Mississippi Attorney Generals Office Cyber Crime Division began receiving reports from various agencies regarding the discovery of skimmer devices being located at various stores in central Mississippi. The Cyber Fraud Task Force began investigating leads that would determine the location of installed skimmers throughout Mississippi, Tennessee, and Louisiana.

Prosecutors said Gheorghe, Neacsu, and Radu could be seen on surveillance video at various stores throughout Mississippi placing skimming devices on point-of-sale machines in June and July 2024. They said Gheorghe and Neacsu would install the skimmers while making a small purchase using a gift card, and Radu was primarily responsible for retrieving the stolen data from the skimmers.

Alexandru Ionut Gheorghe (Courtesy: Madison Co. Detention Center) Marian Aurelian Neacsu (Courtesy: Madison Co. Detention Center) Bogdan Gabriel Radu (Courtesy: Madison County Detention Center)

Included in the information skimmed or stolen by these defendants were SNAP benefits totaling more than $85,000, for which the defendants will be required to pay restitution.

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Radu is scheduled to be sentenced on July 15, 2025, and faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.

The Cyber Fraud Task Force offered the following tips to keep your bank card data safe:

Use terminals that offer tap to pay or chip read capabilities. Avoid swiping cards, if possible. Look at the terminal prior to inserting or using your card in relation to other terminals in the store. Do they look the same? Overlay skimmers will add to the overall dimensions of a terminal.

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Sir Robert McAlpine has been selected as the main contractor for the construction of the North East Space Skills and Technology Centre (NESST) at Northumbria University in Newcastle, England, UK.

Following a preconstruction services agreement, the 30m ($39.47m) contract covers the demolition of the existing Wynne Jones building, along with the construction of a new facility and an extension at the heart of the university campus.

The centre will feature a new ground floor and six upper levels, covering approximately 900m.

It will house facilities such as satellite manufacturing clean rooms, advanced prototyping laboratories, a mission operations centre, and shared workspaces for engagement with companies in the space manufacturing supply chain.

Construction is ongoing, with steelwork installation in progress and completion anticipated in late 2026.

Upon completion, NESST is expected to foster collaboration between industry and academia in space research and technology, creating more than 350 jobs and contributing over 260m ($339.41m) to the North East England economy over three decades.

The project has received significant funding from the UK Space Agency and Lockheed Martin UK Space.

Northumbria University pro vice-chancellor (International) Professor John Woodward said: The appointment of Sir Robert McAlpine marks an exciting milestone in the development of NESST. The centre will be a game changer - not only for our students and researchers, but for the regions ambitions in the space and advanced manufacturing sectors.

"By combining cutting-edge facilities with strong industry partnerships, were creating a centre that will drive innovation, boost economic growth, and put the North East firmly on the map as a leader in space technology.

Sir Robert McAlpine sector director Mark Gardham said: We look forward to continuing our longstanding, successful relationship with Northumbria University and delivering this state-of-the-art facility in the heart of Newcastle.

Our team of experts bring the engineering excellence necessary to work in such close proximity to vital transport infrastructure, collaborating closely with our supply chain partners and local stakeholders to deliver the project safely and efficiently, and make a positive impact on the local community.

Earlier in January this year, Sir Robert McAlpine was chosen by Tata Steel as the main works contractor for a 1.25bn investment in low-carbon steelmaking at the Port Talbot steelworks in the UK.

"Northumbria University selects McAlpine as main contractor for space skills centre" was originally created and published by World Construction Network, a GlobalData owned brand.
David Paul Morris / Bloomberg via Getty Images







KEY TAKEAWAYS

Nvidia said it is set to take a $5.5 billion first-quarter charge after the U.S. limited exports of its artificial intelligence (AI) chips to China.

The news, the latest salvo in an escalating trade war between Washington and Beijing, sent the firm's shares tumbling Wednesday.

The U.S. government also imposed export controls on Advanced Micro Devices' AI chips to China, which the company said could lead to up to $800 million in charges.







Nvidia (NVDA) said it expects to take a $5.5 billion charge in its fiscal 2026 first-quarter results after the U.S. limited exports of its artificial intelligence (AI) chips to China.

The news, the latest salvo in an escalating trade war between Washington and Beijing, sent the firm's shares tumbling 6.5% Wednesday morning.

The company said in a regulatory filing late Tuesday that it was informed by the U.S. government on April 9 that it would be required to have an export license "for the indefinite future" to sell its H20 chips to China. Nvidia said the license requirement is aimed at addressing the risk that the chip would be "used in, or diverted to, a supercomputer in China." The chip is less powerful than its newer ones and tailored to meet existing export limits for the Chinese market.

Nvidia's Q1 results, which are expected May 28, are set to include the $5.5 billion charge "associated with H20 products for inventory, purchase commitments, and related reserves," it said. According to Morningstar Research, "China has shrunk to about 10% of Nvidia's revenue from 20%, and we now expect it to go to close to zero."

The New York Times reported that a spokesman for the U.S. Commerce Department said "that the administration was issuing new export licensing requirements for the Nvidia H20; a chip from Advanced Micro Devices, the MI308; and their equivalents."

AMD Stock Sinks on Potential $800M in Charges

AMD (AMD) said in a filing Wednesday that the export controls on its MI308 products "may result in charges of up to approximately $800 million in inventory, purchase commitments and related reserves" if it doesn't successfully obtain the required licenses. Its shares are down 6% Wednesday.

The export controls will affect other American chipmakers, including Micron Technology (MU) and Broadcom (AVGO), according to Citi analysts. In a note Wednesday, they said Micron is "already mostly cut off from China" given it was hit with a partial ban by Beijing in June 2023. Meanwhile, Broadcom is affected because of the impact on TikTok owner ByteDance, which buys Nvidia's H20 chips, Citi said.
It has become clear that a Ukrainian victory that results in recovery of the territory lost to Russia since 2014 is unlikely. As the conflict in Ukraine drags on, with negotiations for even a cease-fire at a virtual standstill, peacekeeping is being touted as a solution to this conflict.

Senior allied defense officials met in the U.K. on March 20 to discuss the possibility of forming a coalition of the willing for peacekeeping. Yet as Bence Nemeth of Kings College London has noted: European leaders say they will only send troops if there is a lasting peace in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin has so far ruled out signing a peace deal that includes Western forces in Ukraine.

The reason peacekeeping cannot be a panacea is that its success depends on the existence of a treaty or other agreement that establishes a peace to be kept. The prospect of a peacekeeping mission might build confidence to increase the likelihood of a peace agreement between warring parties, but peacekeeping follows an agreement. It cannot compel an agreement.

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Defending NATO territory through deterrence by force posture in Europe and NATO nuclear policy is possible, and quite likely to succeed, under current actions and planning. But this essentially defensive approach should not be confused with offensive (or counteroffensive, if one prefers) actions to regain Ukrainian territory seized by Russia.

Unless members of NATO are willing to impose their will upon Russia with the full application of all elements of national power  an extremely risky endeavor given Russian nuclear capability  the decision to stop the war against Ukraine remains primarily with Putin.

If a peace agreement in the current war between Russia and Ukraine comes to fruition, could, should, or would NATO provide a peacekeeping force? A peacekeeping force might make a mutually acceptable agreement between Ukraine and Russia more likely, and an agreement might be concluded before both countries suffer tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, more casualties in exchange for only minor changes in the front lines.

Some allies have implied that NATO members would provide the bulk of the hypothetical 30,000 soldier peacekeeping force.

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Using the 1,165-member Multinational Force and Observers in the Sinai as an example, a force this size to monitor compliance with a Russia-Ukraine peace agreement is theoretically plausible. Employing troops from 13 nations, it covers a boundary zone approximately 200 kilometers long and 40 kilometers in depth. Sources vary and the conflict is dynamic, but for purposes of comparison, the front between Russia and Ukraine is between 1,000 and 1,600 kilometers. Yet it is worth noting Egypt and Israel have no desire to change the status quo of their border following their 1979 peace treaty, so the Sinai observers need not enforce it.

There are some realities to consider regarding proposals for a NATO peacekeeping force.

First, one should recognize that NATO is not a party to the conflict. Individual member states are providing assistance to Ukraine. NATO is not doing so as an organization, although it does provide a forum for members to coordinate national support. It would be astonishing if all 32 members agreed to collectively assume a NATO peacekeeping mission.

Second, it would be even more astonishing if Russia would agree. One of Putins excuses for invading Ukraine again has been to create a buffer zone between Russia and NATO members. Allowing NATO members to put a sizable number of military troops inside Ukraine would seem directly contrary to Putins image of Russian security. Why would he accept this condition when he apparently believes he now holds the winning hand and feels no urgency to reach a peace agreement?

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Third, assuming a requirement for 30,000 peacekeeping troops and Putins acquiescence, where would these forces come from? It does not seem likely the allies could produce this number in the near-term in addition to those already committed to deterring Russia from within NATO member boundaries. (Note that peacekeeping forces must remain neutral. Lightly armed only for self-defense, they could not provide effective deterrence other than the possibility of serving as a tripwire to initiate the commitment of additional NATO forces.)

Although NATO might be the best organized and most experienced entity for leading a peacekeeping mission of this size and complexity, for the reasons described above, that is not a feasible solution. Approaches more likely to be acceptable to Putin could be a UN peacekeeping mission or an organization specifically created for the purpose of maintaining an agreement between Russia and Ukraine. China and/or India might be significant force contributors.

Some NATO members apparently desire to be involved in a peacekeeping mission. Nonetheless, remaining outside of an agreement between Russia and Ukraine could have a positive aspect for NATO. Tactically and strategically, it may be wiser to employ additional troops to beef up the defense of the NATO members near to Russia instead of using them to perform peacekeeping within Ukraine.

Christopher M. Schnaubelt, PhD, is a former dean of the NATO Defense College. A retired U.S. Army officer, he served on deployments to Iraq, Kosovo, and Afghanistan and participated in three multinational peacekeeping exercises in Ukraine.

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There is an old joke about Jesuits: A humble Jesuit? A rarity. A Jesuit Pope? An impossibility. A humble Jesuit Pope? A miracle!

Pope Franciss pontificate has been both improbable, and in its own way, miraculous. From his first public words, Buona Sera (good evening) to the crowds cheering his election and the new pope asking them to pray to the Lord that he will bless me, this has been a papacy of surprises.

Franciss recent 38-day hospitalization for double pneumonia, which included two near-death incidents, is a reminder that his years of leading the Petrine ministry will eventually end. While the world prays this will not happen soon, the 88-year-old Pope acknowledges: I have lived a long life  longer than my parents, longer than my brothers and sisters.

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Since this column is being published during Holy Week, it is appropriate to reflect upon the legacy of this humble Jesuit pope. That legacy consists of four important pillars.

First, Pope Francis has opened the doors of the Catholic Church wide. Using the popes own words, Todos, Todos, Todos, he has asked everyone to be part of a community of believers.

That message includes those at the margins. Father James Martin, founder of the Outreach ministry for lesbian, gay and transgender Catholics, writes in an email to me that Pope Francis has done more for LGBTQ people than all his predecessors combined. This is not a knock on any previous popes; rather, it is to say that his pastoral outreach has been nothing short of groundbreaking.

To all, Francis offers a message of mercy. It is a message that has won him both praise and criticism.

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Brian Burch, President Trumps nominee to be U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, has accused Francis of creating massive confusion and engaging in a pattern of vindictiveness. He also labeled a central theme of Pope Franciss pontificate, synodality, as merely a ruse. Synodality is defined as the people of God journeying together and gathering in assembly.

Countering such criticisms, Steven P. Millies, director of the Bernardin Center and professor of theology at the Catholic Theological Union, in an interview with me, contended that Francis has given Catholics the tools we need to prepare to be a church of the 21st century.

Accompanying Franciss open-door policy and message of mercy is his condemnation of clericalism and his call for Catholic priests to be shepherds with the smell of sheep. His Argentinian experiences made Francis into a priest whose mission was centered upon the encounter with anyone who crossed his path. As Cardinal of Buenos Aires, Francis rode the bus to be with the people.

And as pope, Francis has maintained the same simple lifestyle, vacating the papal apartment inside the Vatican and living in the modest quarters of Santa Marta, the Vatican guesthouse. Hitting the road, Francis prefers forgoing limousine rides in favor of a modest Fiat.

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A related legacy is Franciss strong support for the principle of synodality  that is, mandating worldwide listening sessions in Catholic parishes during the past few years. Those sessions resulted in two major conferences held at the Vatican with delegates (including women and the laity) from all over the world.

The topics raised during those meetings included having women serve as deacons, recognizing the dignity and worth of lesbian, gay and transgender Catholics and the need for parishioners and priests alike to become missionaries for social justice and preserving life.

For Francis, synodality is an ongoing development that encourages change from the bottom up rather than the top down. Even from his hospital room, Francis signed a decree authorizing a continuation of the synodal process through the year 2028, something that will be hard, if not impossible, for Franciss successor to reverse.

A third legacy left by Francis is the power of his persona and the soft power it creates. In many ways, this is an extension of the papacy of St. John Paul II, whose Polish identity electrified those caught behind the Iron Curtain and helped to bring down the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet empire.

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Joseph Stalins once mocked the papacy, asking, How many divisions does the Pope have? Many, as John Paul II would later show.

Franciss personality is different from John Paul IIs, yet he draws many to himself. This was readily apparent when millions of people worldwide prayed for his recovery.

Key to Franciss winning persona is his authenticity. In his autobiography, Hope, Francis writes that at the end of existence the question will not be whether we are believers, but only if we are believable.

Finally, Francis has ensured that his legacy will not easily be upended.

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To date, he has selected a majority of those who will elect his successor, including elevating cardinals from what Francis likes to call the peripheries. For example, in December, Pope Francis created 21 new cardinals from Peru, Argentina, Ecuador, Chile, Japan, the Philippines, Serbia, Brazil, the Ivory Coast and Iran.

More appointments will be forthcoming, particularly in the United States, where the cardinals and bishops appointed by John Paul II and Benedict XVI have either retired or are approaching mandatory retirement.

In his memoir, Pope Francis concluded: At the beginning of my papacy, I had the feeling that it would be brief: no more than three or four years. I never imagined that I would write four encyclicals and all those letters, documents, apostolic exhortations, nor that I would have made all those journeys to more than 60 countries.

It has been an extraordinary papacy  a papacy of surprises. And more surprises are forthcoming.

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John Kenneth White is a professor emeritus at the Catholic University of America. His latest book is titled Grand Old Unraveling: The Republican Party, Donald Trump, and the Rise of Authoritarianism. He can be reached at johnkennethwhite.com .

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
What should we do with the Supreme Court now that we no longer need it?

Surely, the six wise jurists who ruled last year that the President of the United States effectively had the powers of a king must have thought this through. After all, they are regularly described as being the conservative members of the court. It is therefore hard to imagine that they would have taken an action so radical as to undo the entire rationale behind the American revolution without having given the consequences some thought.

Surely, when they determinedwithout any Constitutional foundation, and in the face of considerable precedent to the contrarythat a president should be granted broad immunity for any action that could conceivably be considered official, they must have thought about a situation in which a president might abuse such power? A situation like the one through which we are currently living, for example.

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After all, the former president about whom they were ruling had been impeached twice by Congress, was the defendant in multiple cases at the time of their decision and had been found guilty of 34 felony counts just a month beforehand.

Perhaps they sought early retirement and a chance to spend more time on the yachts and private jets of their many friends.

Perhaps they thought the Supreme Court building might be converted to serve another purpose. It would, for example, make a fine clubhouse for members of the Federalist Society, its acres of grandiose marble and wood-paneled hideaways ideal for to hosting the private conversations of billionaires and their political errand boys.

A police officer leans against the

(And perhaps they also intended a similar future for the public servants, government agencies and grand buildings of our nations capital that they must have known that our felon president would seek to destroy. After all, his desire for retribution was no secret at last summer.)

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You can easily imagine Clarence Thomas sugar daddy Harlan Crow leaning forward from an overstuffed armchair, offering to light the cigars of Federalist Society kingpin Leonard Leo, Justice Samuel Alito and yes, Thomas too with a burning shred of the Constitution as they celebrate the victories dark money and unbridled judicial corruption had wrought. It might all be accompanied by a fine brandy, or perhaps a special bottle of well-chilled vodka gifted them by one of their great beneficiaries, Vladimir Putin.

Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, one of the three members of the high court with the integrity and foresight to dissent from its Trump v. United States ruling, was crystal clear in her summary of what was actually going on. She argued eloquently that the President is now a king above the law and, in a line that could ultimately serve as a eulogy for not just the court but our entire system of government, she concluded, With fear for our democracy, I dissent.

So you cant say they were not warned. Which, given the heights to which the members of the majority have risen in their distinguished careers, must have surely meant that they could foresee a time like the present, when the president could and would ignore laws and the courts themselves. Chief Justice John Roberts even had the prescience to include among the specific areas in which the presidents actions could not be challenged: the issuing of pardons, the promulgation of immigration policies, the overseeing of foreign relations and the selection of judges. (Too bad SCOTUS will have been transformed into a truly moot court before Aileen Cannon makes her way to the bench.)

Indeed, the same justices were also clear in asserting the president could direct the Justice Department to do his bidding, whatever it might bethe interests of the people of the United States be damned.

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Nor was their ruling conducted in a vacuum regarding who the first president to enter office with these expanded powers might be. They knew Donald Trump was the Republican nominee. They also knew they had made his election more likely by delaying presenting their decision until a date at which they knew every court case pending against him would have to be postponed until after the election and, very likely therefore, dropped altogether.

It must be the case, then, that this was the outcome they anticipatedand helped engineer with their eyes wide open. So is it really a Constitutional crisis if it has been co-authored by our foremost interpreters of the Constitution?

All nine justices of the U.S. Supreme Court pose for their official photo at the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. on October 7, 2022. / OLIVIER DOULIERY / AFP via Getty Images

There is an irony, of course, in the fact that our high priests (and one priestess) of the law created the conditions in which President Trump would flex the powers they gave him. How? To choose one example, rounding up people without due process and sending them to a Central American concentration campand then, on live television, as he did during his meeting at the White House on Monday with El Salvadoran president Nayib Bukele, flout a unanimous decision by their court that his administration should take steps to undo some of that damage. It is an irony that will no doubt grow darker as Trump and his Department of Justice continue to flout, ignore, condemn and/or ridicule with other decisions from federal courts.

As the story always goes, it you create the monster, sooner or later the monster destroys you.

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They knew all this and therefore knew that their collective decisions would likely make them not only Americas most consequential Supreme Court, but also our last Supreme Court worthy of the name.

But, perhaps they thought all that through. Perhaps, for example, in Trump eliminating key provisions from the Constitutionfrom Article 1 to Article 3 to much of the Bill of Rights itselfthey saw a new future for the National Archives too. Perhaps they thought they could repurpose the limestone and granite edifice in which we currently keep and display the documents that helped usher America into being as the nation of laws we once were into a kind of a mausoleum in which to bury the last vestiges of American democracythe right to due process, the right to freedom of speech and assembly, the right of all to vote, the spirit of welcoming and opportunity that once drew immigrants from around the world to the U.S. and made us the greatest country in the world.

U.S. President Barack Obama speaks during a naturalization ceremony for new citizens at the National Archive Building in Washington, D.C. on December 15, 2015. / Pool / Getty Images

And having said all that, perhaps the systematic destruction of each of those foundational elements of our society does raise one more question. Its one our Chief Justice and his fellow grave-diggers may not have considered, and one for which there is no easy answer: What shall we call this country when the United States of America as we once knew and loved it no longer exists?
White-collar crime thrives in good economic times and in bad. In strong markets, fraudsters prey on optimism, luring investors with promises of easy gain. During financial downturns, they exploit fear by pitching supposedly safe investments to risk-averse victims.

Historically, federal authorities have played a critical role in investigating and prosecuting financial frauds. Prosecuting white-collar crime has traditionally been popular with both parties. Both Republican and Democratic administrations have recognized the clear public interest in stopping fraudsters.

The Trump administration, however, has signaled a clear shift in priorities at the agencies responsible for policing financial fraud. This laissez-faire attitude towards enforcement, combined with drastic budget cuts and a loss of experienced personnel, creates legitimate concerns about a wave of white-collar crime and tax fraud that leaves most Americans vulnerable to victimization.As The Wall Street Journal recently reported, the Trump administration is retreating from certain white-collar criminal prosecutions and effectively redefining what business conduct constitutes a crime. For example, Attorney General Pam Bondi in February issued a memo that, among other actions, redirected money laundering investigation and prosecutions toward cartels and transnational criminal organizations.

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Trying to cripple the organizations responsible for fueling Americas drug problem is a worthy goal, but there is no need to simultaneously deprioritize prosecuting the criminals who steal directly from the American people. (The same memo disbanded the Justice Department task force responsible for targeting corrupt Russian oligarchs and other foreign kleptocrats.) Going after conmen or kingpins should not be a Sophies choice; we can do both, and indeed, it is the responsibility of the attorney general to do so.

The administration is also abandoning foreign bribery prosecutions. In February, President Donald Trump issued an executive order pausing all DOJ investigations and enforcement of violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), a federal statute that prohibits American companies from bribing foreign officials to obtain business. The order suggested that FCPA enforcement unfairly punished American companies for conduct that is routine in other countries. This sends a dangerous message. Allowing U.S. companies to pay bribes, just because foreign companies do, only creates a race to the lowest-common denominator of global business integrity.

Major changes in the governments approach to cryptocurrency are another cause for concern. On April 7, the DOJ issued a memo that said it would achieve Trumps goal of ending "the regulatory weaponization against digital assets [cryptocurrency]. Its unclear what that means. But the memo was clear that it was instructing the scaling back of prosecution of securities laws and violations of the Bank Secrecy Act (which requires financial institutions to help detect and prevent financial fraud and money laundering, in connection with cryptocurrency). DOJ also disbanded the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team that played a key role in investigating financial cybercrimes, and the SEC has reportedly dropped more than a dozen cryptocurrency cases.

In February, the SEC paused its suit against crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun for cryptocurrency manipulation. As The Wall Street Journal reported, Sun has invested $75 million in the crypto project World Liberty Financial that is backed by the Trump family. Then in March, Trump pardoned three founders of a cryptocurrency exchange who pleaded guilty in 2022 to violations of the Bank Secrecy Act.

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As cryptocurrency markets evolve, clear and consistent regulation is necessary. But the Trump administration is going in the opposite direction  a disturbing trend that promises to risk the victimization of more Americans, as cryptocurrency fraud has skyrocketed to nearly $4 billion annually.

One reason why white-collar crime may not be prosecuted as much is because mass federal firings by the Trump administration mean that there are far fewer officials left to prosecute it. There has also been an immeasurable loss of talent across agencies. The Wall Street Journal described efforts to clean house at the Justice Department, swapping out and sidelining career supervisors who were responsible for charging crimes such as corruption, price fixing and securities fraud. Reuters reported that high-level departures at the SEC could significantly hamper the watchdogs efforts to police markets and protect investors. And DOJ asked U.S. attorneys offices around the country to justify retention of any employee with less than two years of service who doesnt work on administration priorities of immigration, national security or public safety.The most significant impact is likely to be at the IRS, which has lost approximately 13% of its workforce with even larger cuts being considered. Beyond the obvious concern that these massive cuts will lead to more tax avoidance and less tax revenue across the entire country, the IRSs Criminal Investigation Division also works hand-in-hand with DOJ prosecutors on investigating and prosecuting financial crimes beyond tax evasion.

Although the Justice Department has not seen a significant reduction in personnel, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which protects Americans against deceptive business practices by banks, credit card companies and other financial providers, has seen a 12% reduction in staff.

Fewer than 90 days into Trumps term, his administration is dimming the lights on uncovering and prosecuting white-collar crime. Downgrading the importance of white-collar criminal prosecution and financial regulation weakens the enforcement landscape, emboldens criminals and ensures that more Americans will be victimized.

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Unless the administration changes course, we could be looking at a particularly dangerous environment for American consumers and investors for years to come.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
In recent months, the name Birtukan Temesgen has become synonymous with years of human-rights abuses in Ethiopia. That country has largely become a failed state under the rule of its strongman, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmad, despite  or maybe in part because of  generous aid from the U.S. and the West.

In 2019, Birtukan had overcome a rough childhood in Africas second-most populous nation to become a thriving student at Dembi Dolo University. One day, while walking across the campus, she was kidnapped by gunmen and brought to a remote corner of the Ethiopian jungle, where she says she was raped and forced to give birth to a child.

Six years later, Birtukan emerged to tell her story through interviews and a documentary, captivating the nation. However, in a subsequent interview, she recanted her story  a move many believe was coerced.

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Her saga has also called attention to dozens of similar kidnappings and missing students over the last six years. The lack of accountability for the lethal campaign of ethnic cleansing against her ethnic Amhara people by the Abiy regime continues, even as the Ethiopian ruler basks in the Nobel Peace Prize he was awarded by the West in 2019.

The U.S., under both Democratic and Republican administrations, has largely ignored civil war, endemic corruption and economic decline under Abiys rule. For years, it continued to offer carrots of humanitarian and developmental aid, including a recent major bailout through the International Monetary Fund, while not deploying the stick of consequences for the regimes crimes against humanity.

Although much remains up in the air, President Trumps return sent a clear signal that this era is over. It is rapidly being replaced with an America First policy that centers economic self-interests of both the U.S. and its potential trading partners while downplaying democratic concerns.

The contours of this dramatic change became clear in the early days of Trumps second term, as the returning president and his cost-cutting team led by billionaire Elon Musk all but shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development, and mostly cut off the spigot of foreign aid that, across Africa, has paid for programs like disease eradication and free school lunches. The U.S. government spent a whopping $6.5 billion on aid to sub-Saharan Africa last year.

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The apparent end of large-scale U.S. foreign aid is a crisis that also creates an opportunity. Trumps America First policies are now reality for the next four years, if not longer. It creates an opening for forward-thinking countries, including Ethiopia, to forge their own Africa First policies that will rebuild the continent through enhanced trade and human rights reforms, not handouts from the West.

Seleman Yusuph Kitenge of African Union Development Agency-NEPAD argued forcefully for an Africa First policy in a recent op-ed, noting that too often governments in the region use foreign aid from the U.S. or elsewhere to prop up flagging government services rather than on permanent economic development.

An Africa First approach should emphasize domestic resource mobilization, strengthening transportation systems and other social services, as well as the advancement of institutions and human capital, Kitenge wrote. This shift would strengthen Africas economic independence while reducing reliance on foreign aid.

The shock of the American aid cut-off should force African leaders to focus on the untapped economic potential of the continent, which is home to a massive consumer market and potential workforce. This would mean expanding the scope and the power of the current African Continental Free Trade Area, reining in the current black market that causes governments to lose billions of dollars in potential annual tax revenue and a serious effort to eliminate endemic corruption.

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The bigger idea here is not to recoil at the notion of an America First policy in Washington but to seek inspiration from it. This philosophy could be likewise harnessed to advance business partnerships, innovation, economic development and good governance to help Africa emerge as a continent of the future.

An Africa First policy could especially benefit Ethiopia, which has struggled throughout its modern history under the yoke of Western colonialism that has too often sought to divide the proud nation by ethnic groups building resentment against each other to prevent a strong, unified independent source in the populous and resource-rich Horn of Africa. Ironically, this divide-and-conquer approach has hurt the United States as much as Ethiopia, by encouraging other superpower nations such as China and the up-and-coming Gulf powers to jockey for influence.

There remain powerful incentives for African governments to cooperate with the Trump administration, including favorable trade deals, security assistance and access to American markets.

There are also good reasons for America to continue to offer security aid, based on mutual interests to combat terrorism or to minimize other regional conflicts. Nor does an America First policy eliminate the shared benefits of deals that leverage U.S. leadership in areas such as energy, infrastructure and technology.

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On April 2, the Trump administration unveiled a sweeping new tariff policy that did not spare Africa, with Ethiopia and its neighbors facing a 10 percent surcharge on goods while South Africa  whose current government is out of favor with both Trump and Musk, a native son  has been hit with a steep 30 percent tariff.

His is shock therapy for African leaders to begin truly building their own economies, finally addressing rampant corruption, and cooperating across borders to create a rising tide that will lift all boats.

The former system  the one that creates civil war, poverty and nightmare stories such as the one told by Temesgen  was never sustainable. It is long past time to begin putting Africa first.

Mesfin Tegenu is executive chairman of the American Ethiopian Public Affairs Committee.

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You are not safe in Trumps America. Thats the biggest difference between the first Trump administration and his second. This time around, President Donald Trump and his chief advisers are conducting themselves as though they have the right to do anything to anyone in the name of national security, with no factual justification necessary.

Whether you are a natural-born American Republican who worked in the Trump administration or a foreign-born pro-Palestinian student protester on a green card  anyone in this country, citizen or otherwise, can be deemed bad people by this government. And Trump is demonstrating that he will deploy the brute force of the most powerful office in the world on you, if he so chooses.

The continued survival of some of Americas most sacrosanct values  including due process, freedom of speech, and checks and balances on the executive branch  is not certain. This isnt hyperbole. Its no longer an abstract threat. Theres no reason to believe it cant happen here as its already happening.

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The second Trump administration will not be constrained by objective facts, the Constitution or a unanimous ruling by a conservative-leaning Supreme Court, including three Trump appointees. This White House is beta testing a MAGA monarchy, one in which the president is beyond the rule of law.

One of the most facile arguments against the notion that Trumps demagoguery uniquely threatens Americans basic freedoms and liberties is that the institutions held in his first term  ultimately preventing him from completing his attempted self-coup after losing the 2020 election. Now that hes been re-elected and the Supreme Court has deemed the president essentially immune from prosecution for any official acts, its not at all clear that the institutions will hold in his second term.

Take the Supreme Court, of which Trump is currently in open defiance. The justices ordered his administration to take reasonable steps to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia  who the government has already admitted was mistakenly deported  to the United States. This week, Trump play-acted that he was incapable of ordering Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele  whose government the U.S. is sending $6 million of taxpayer funds to imprison people taken from America without due process. Bukele, at the White House with Trump, said he wouldnt return Garcia to U.S. custody, The question is preposterous: how can I smuggle a terrorist into the United States?

As Bloomberg reported, about 90% of the alleged terrorists and gang members whove been sent by the Trump administration to El Salvadors notorious foreign prison without due process have no U.S. criminal record. Though many were deported based on purported gang tattoos, as the Miami Herald reported, the Venezuelan gang targeted by the administration doesnt even use tattoos as self-identifiers. And yet, senior members of the Trump administration still insist without evidence that Garcia and every deported detainee are where they belong. (Again, the administration has already admitted Garcia was deported due to an administrative error.)

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Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote that the implication of the Trump administrations position is that not only noncitizens but also United States citizens could be taken off the streets, forced onto planes, and confined to foreign prisons with no opportunity for redress if judicial review is denied unlawfully before removal.

Right on cue, the administration indicated it was looking for ways to do just that. In his White House meeting with Bukele on Monday, Trump explicitly said homegrown criminals are next, and his press secretary later confirmed he wasnt joking. Add in the fact that acting ICE director Todd Lyons recently said the U.S. needs a deportation process thats more like [Amazon] Prime, but with human beings, and you dont have to stretch for historical comparisons to see where this is headed.

The Trump administrations weaponization of executive power also includes an all-out assault on free speech.

The White House  again in defiance of a federal court order  continues to bar The Associated Press because the outlet wouldnt use the administrations preferred language to describe the body of water that most of the world calls the Gulf of Mexico. In a Truth Social tantrum this week over 60 Minutes segments that he didnt like, Trump beseeched Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr to use the force of his office to punish CBS News and 60 Minutes for their unlawful and illegal behavior.

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ICE recently announced it will monitor immigrants social media accounts for antisemitism. Meanwhile, The Washington Post reported on a State Department memo that found the administration had produced no evidence that Tufts University doctoral student Rumeysa Ozturk had supported antisemitism or terrorism  but days later masked ICE agents snatched her off a city street and sent her to a Louisiana detention center on that basis anyway. The administrations assault on higher education now includes a demand for Harvard University to audit the political opinions of its students. And Trumps State Department is reportedly encouraging its employees to snitch on each other  even anonymously  about supposed anti-Christian bias, which at the moment is so nebulously defined it could mean anything from support for LGBTQ rights or Covid vaccines.

And in a truly chilling abuse of power, President Trump last week also issued an executive order targeting Chris Krebs  who led the who led the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) during Trumps first administration  ordering the Justice Department to investigate Krebs on the grounds that he falsely and baselessly denied that the 2020 election was rigged and stolen, including by inappropriately and categorically dismissing widespread election malfeasance and serious vulnerabilities with voting machines.

None of that is true, of course, and Krebs was one of the few people who put their careers  and personal safety  on the line by defying Trumps Big Lie that the election was stolen. He was personally one of the institutions who held against Trumps tyranny. Now Trump has turned the force of government on him, personally. (As someone who has written many articles stating the factual reality that Trump lost the 2020 election and attempted a self-coup to stay in power, Im not naive to the possibility that a blanket EO targeting people like me could be in the future. You have to wonder if the administration will simply make up a concept like anti-American discrimination to target its critics.)

Its clear that Trumps second administration doesnt do trial balloons. When they say theyre going to try something heretofore understood as illegal or unconstitutional  theyre going to try it anyway, and any one of us could be the next target. The lawlessness, lies and nearly limitless power of this administration are an existentially dangerous combination  and its plainly un-American.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
BLACKSBURG, Va. (WFXR)  Its been 18 years since a mass shooting took place on Virginia Techs campus on April 16, 2007, claiming the lives of 32 people.

To remember those lives lost, Orange Theory Fitness locations in Roanoke, Christiansburg and Harrisonburg host a specialty workout every year on April 16.

Flags at half-staff for 18th anniversary of Virginia Tech shooting

The number 32 is incorporated throughout the workout to remember the 32 lives lost that day.

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It was originally a day of darkness, but now it is in remembrance and it is of course, a time people can come together as a community, said Virginia Tech alum and Orange Theory employee, Bailey Stewartson.

Gym goers were decked out in Virginia Tech gear, orange and maroon to show their support.

The specialty workout was designed by the Orange Theory Fitness team in Christiansburg.

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It was a moment they had spent seven years tirelessly fighting for. When Lord Hodge told the Supreme Court that the judges had unanimously decided that sex refers to biological sex, two campaigners who brought the legal challenge broke down in tears.

For seven years, Marion Calder and Susan Smith have fought  along with Trina Budge, their co-director at the campaign group For Women Scotland  to have this reality recognised.

On Wednesday, the highest court in the land sided with them, finding that the terms woman and sex in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman and biological sex.

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When the judgment finally came, Ms Calder, 55, from Edinburgh, told The Telegraph it was overwhelming. That was the moment when Susan and I started crying, she said.

I thought, Theyve actually said it! Its what weve been saying all along. Now, the highest court in the land  five Supreme Court judges  were unanimous in their decision.

It feels like the adults are back in the room.

Ms Calder, an NHS administrator, is one of the three women behind For Women Scotland, which challenged the Scottish Government over its insistence that trans women with gender recognition certificates should be considered legally female.

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In a post on the social media site X, JK Rowling  who has financially supported the group  attributed the Supreme Court victory to the trio.

It took three extraordinary, tenacious Scottish women with an army behind them to get this case heard by the Supreme Court and, in winning, they've protected the rights of women and girls across the UK. @ForWomenScot, I'm so proud to know you  https://t.co/JEvcScVVGS  J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) April 16, 2025

But speaking to The Telegraph, Ms Calder disputed the idea that the trio were extraordinary, as they were just ordinary women.

However, she did admit they were more determined than many of their opponents may have given them credit for. If you anger us enough, then we will just keep going, she said.

Ms Rowling, who would later post a picture of herself celebrating with a cigar, is a vocal supporter of sex-based rights and donated 70,000 to the crowd fund for the legal challenge by For Women Scotland.

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Were so grateful for her support over the years. She has done the most to actually raise womens rights across the wider world, Ms Calder said.

She explained that she formed For Women Scotland in her living room in 2018, along with Ms Smith, 54, an Oxford-educated former fund manager from Edinburgh, and Ms Budge, a 53-year-old farmers wife.

The trio met on Mumsnet and bonded over their mutual concerns about how gender recognition reforms  in particular, the ability for any man to self-identify as a woman  could affect women.

We genuinely thought that the main womens organisations in Scotland would rally around this, Ms Calder said. And they didnt. So thats why we formed to actually take a front-facing fight-back.

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I didnt realise how hard it was going to be. If you had told me then what I know now, I would probably run for the hills.

Like other high-profile gender-critical feminists, the For Women Scotland trio have faced ostracisation, name-calling and even genuine threats to our lives.

To be quite frank, I will be watching who is following me down the streets a bit more closely now, because we have had genuine threats to our lives, Ms Calder said. I am not talking about a random person in Idaho going, I think you should be killed. These are genuine threats from people in our locality who know who we are. 

Ms Calder said the legal case began seven years ago when Ms Budge, who had given up her finance job to become a stay-at-home mother, spotted that the Scottish Parliament had added a bonkers definition of what they believed women were in its statutory guidance to accompany a piece of legislation: the Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Act 2018.

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Trina saw this and thought this was a mechanism for sneaking self-ID in and for redefining what women were, Ms Calder said.

Ms Budge watched the court victory from Edinburgh on Wednesday, telling Sky News that the Supreme Courts ruling on the legal definition of a woman was a victory for womens rights.

She added that the decision gave absolute clarity in law regarding what a woman is. We know for sure now that we are referring to the biological sex class of women, and that when we see a woman-only space, it means exactly that: just women, no men, not even if they have a gender recognition certificate.

While in London, Ms Smith and Ms Calder cracked open a bottle of champagne outside the Supreme Court and broke into song to celebrate the ruling.

Helen Joyce. left, and Maya Forstater of Sex Matters, a human rights charity, outside the Supreme Court - HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images

Being handed a bouquet of flowers, Ms Smith described the verdict as the ultimate vindication.

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Dogs and toddlers know what sex is. Its one of the most concrete things in nature, she said. Sex cant be changed, but the law had the capacity to make a mess of anything.

Were just really glad common sense prevailed.

Two other women who played a pivotal role in the campaign were also in court on Wednesday. Maya Forstater, chief executive at Sex Matters, a human rights charity that intervened in the case, celebrated outside, along with Helen Joyce, the charitys director of advocacy.

Ms Forstaters employment tribunal case in 2021 established that gender-critical beliefs are protected under the Equality Act 2010, preventing employers from discriminating against women who do not believe that people can change sex.

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The Supreme Court judgment repeatedly cited legal arguments put forward by Sex Matters, which argued that blurring the boundary of what it meant to be a woman created absurdity and incoherence across public life.

Ms Joyce told The Telegraph that it was absolutely disgraceful the case had reached the Supreme Court.

It really did seem hopeless on occasion, she said. We were right. These women, these ordinary women, saying that sex is material in the Equality Act. They were right and the regulator was wrong, the Government was wrong, Keir Starmer was wrong.

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Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. - Photo: Justin Sullivan (Getty Images)

Nvidia (NVDA) will begin manufacturing AI supercomputers in the U.S. for the first time, the company announced Monday.

The chip manufacturer wrote in a blog post that it has commissioned more than a million square feet of manufacturing space in Arizona and Texas. At the Texas factories, located in Houston and Dallas, Nvidia will build and test AI supercomputers. The chipmaker expects mass production to ramp up there over the next 12 to 15 months.

The Arizona plant, located in Phoenix, will be reserved for manufacturing Blackwell chips. Production there has already begun.

Nvidia said it plans to invest $500 billion in AI infrastructure over the next four years through its various manufacturing partnerships.

Nvidia AI supercomputers are the engines of a new type of data center created for the sole purpose of processing artificial intelligence  AI factories that are the infrastructure powering a new AI industry, the company wrote. It added that it expects its manufacturing of AI chips and supercomputers to create hundreds of thousands of jobs and drive trillions of dollars in economic security over the next few decades.

The engines of the worlds AI infrastructure are being built in the United States for the first time, Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang said in the announcement. Adding American manufacturing helps us better meet the incredible and growing demand for AI chips and supercomputers, strengthens our supply chain, and boosts our resiliency.

Nvidia previously has touted its AI supercomputers as being capable of allowing anyone to prototype and develop AI models from their personal computers. The company announced the DGX personal AI supercomputers earlier this year.

Nvidia stock fell about half a percent following the announcement about its U.S. manufacturing Monday morning. Its down about 20% on the year in the face of the market uncertainty created by President Donald Trumps tariffs.

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After an extensive narcotics investigation, the Bradford County Sheriffs Office conducted a drug raid where over 11 pounds of illegal drugs were seized.

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According to BCSO in a post on Facebook, the BCSO Drug Task Force had been working to track down the distribution of narcotics in the Melrose/Keystone-Heights area. Through their investigation, it was revealed that Kareem Wanton had been behind the selling and distribution from his residence.

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On early Tuesday morning, The Bradford/Union SWAT Team, Baker CI and RMC K-9 Teams, and Detectives with the BCSO Special Operations Division conducted a search of Wantons residence where the following was seized:

7.4lbs of Marijuana

44.8g of MDMA

771.5g Cocaine

800g THC

34g Bath Salts

19g Mushrooms

3 Firearms

Over 300 rounds of ammunition

Wanton was arrested during the search, where investigators had also learned that Wanton is a convicted felon with a lengthy criminal history including countless misdemeanor and felony narcotics offenses as well as multiple violent crimes including felony battery and home invasion robbery with a weapon.

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Brevard County Republican Rep. Debbie Mayfield. (Photo courtesy of the House of Representatives)

With no debate, the House voted 111-1 on Wednesday to prohibit unelected state employees from conducting campaign-type activities during working hours and require agency heads to live in Tallahassee.

Similar legislation is advancing in the Senate, but Gov. Ron DeSantis has signaled that he will veto the proposal if it reaches his desk.

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The governor has targeted Melbourne Republican Rep. Debbie Mayfields bill, HB 1445, during press conferences this week, saying it would become law over his veto pen.

State employees couldnt participate in political campaigns, solicit contributions, or use their authority to influence peoples votes under the bill. Those prohibitions would apply both to candidate and issue campaigns, and employees could face first-degree misdemeanor penalties if they do so.

The sole vote against HB 1445 came from Delray Beach Republican Rep. Mike Caruso, the only House lawmaker standing with the governor this year.

Mayfield referred to her proposal on the House floor as good public policy. HB 1445 makes several changes with the goal of ensuring that our elected officials and our appointed officials are fully committed and focused on their primary duties of serving the state of Florida, the sponsor said.

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DeSantis hasnt publicly addressed the anti-politicking aspect of the legislation. Instead, he has focused on the requirement that his appointees live in the state capital by Oct. 1, the location of all agency headquarters.

Theyre pulling it out of their rear ends and trying to jam it through this process. Over my veto pen, DeSantis said, likening Tallahassee to the D.C. swamp.

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State employees involvement in politics

The involvement by state officials in DeSantis campaign against the ballot initiatives to legalize recreational marijuana and restore abortion access prompted legal challenges last year and has come under renewed scrutiny this legislative session.

A House panel is investigating the transfer of legal settlement money through the Hope Florida Foundation to campaign against the marijuana initiative. Then-DeSantis chief of staff, now state attorney general, James Uthmeier organized the money transfer to the anti-pot committee, Keep Florida Clean, which he ran, according to evidence unearthed by reporters and a House committee.

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Uthmeier played down any suggestion of wrongdoing during a press conference Monday, saying theres not a problem.

Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo appeared in press conferences against the marijuana constitutional amendment and got sued over the health departments letters threatening broadcasters that aired ads on behalf of the pro-abortion-rights campaign, Amendment 4.

Additionally, the Florida Agency for Health Care Administrations creation of a webpage stating that Amendment 4 threatens womens safety and its then-secretary Jason Weidas promotion of it prompted a complaint to the Florida Supreme Court, which ultimately sided with the DeSantis administration because the plaintiff lacked standing to sue.

Aside from the DeSantis administrations use of state resources against the ballot initiatives last year, state employees in the governors office called lobbyists to request donations for a political committee aligned with DeSantis as he and First Lady Casey DeSantis hinted that she was considering a run for governor, according to NBC News.

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The Senate version, SB 1760, doesnt include the provision against state employees involvement in campaign activities, and needs to go through one more committee before it could be eligible for a floor vote.

Both bills would require university trustees and members of the Board of Governors that oversees public universities to be U.S. citizens and live in Florida, unless they graduated from a state higher education institution.

Mayfield, sponsor of the House bill, won a suit against the Florida Department of State Secretary Cord Byrd, a DeSantis appointee, after Byrd attempted to block Mayfield from appearing on the ballot for a special election in the state Senate district seat she previously held. The Republican representative won the primary for the Brevard County district with 60.81% of the vote on April 1.

The general election is June 10 and Mayfield has resigned from the House effective June 9.

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OneBefore, an underwriter-led managing general agent (MGA), has joined forces with Pulse Insurance to launch Travel Well, a new travel insurance product designed to offer customisable options.

This move marks Pulse Insurance's foray into the retail travel insurance market.

The new product emerges from a previous collaboration between the two companies on the Pulse Globetrotter medical travel insurance product.

Policyholders can choose to increase their policy's cancellation limit with a "top-up feature for expensive trips or opt for the more affordable option of basic cover, which focuses solely on emergency medical expenses.

OneBefore CEO Vered Lobel said: Our partnership with Pulse has flourished over the past year since launching our Pulse Globetrotter product together. We are excited to continue working with them to deliver quality products that address underserved niches in the travel and wider market.

Giving insureds the flexibility to choose their limits and coverage gives them the power to design their own product according to their needs. This is another exciting product of our partnership, and I look forward to continuing to innovate as we move forward.

OneBefore specialises in various insurance products including accident, absence, supplementary health and travel insurance, catering to UK residents.

Pulse Insurance operations manager and underwriter Oliver Slaney stated: At Pulse, we are committed to consistently innovating to deliver products that address gaps in traditional travel and health insurance products, and by collaborating closely with OneBefore we are pleased to deliver another product that serves client needs.

Pulse Insurance, a specialist insurance provider, delivers personal accident, travel, life and protection cover.

Pulse is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and is an approved coverholder at Lloyd's.

"OneBefore, Pulse Insurance introduce travel insurance product " was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand.




LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  Parents with children in the Arkansas public school system had mixed reactions to the newly proposed grade school letter calculations, which put an emphasis on student performance in the states administered standardized test.

The Arkansas Teaching and Learning Assessment System, ATLAS, was administered to students for the first time last year.

Arkansas looks to change teaching & learning assessment system to better determine student progress

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Its just one piece of the school grade system calculation. In addition to student performance on the test, an accountability formula will also measure school and district performance throughout the state.

The formula focuses on achievement and the percentage of students who meet or exceed grade-level expectations in the state-tested area of English-language arts, math and science.

Growth is another measurement pillar that measures a students expected progress over a school year based on performance data from the previous year. With the hopes that students will continue to make academic gains.

The final pillar is measured by readiness and factors in graduation rates for schools and districts, as well as students who are graduating with merit or distinction honors.

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Educators reflect on first year of Arkansas LEARNS Act

Emily Jensen is a teacher in the states public school system, and she said she believes the new system will help in communication between educators like herself and parents as to where a child may be academically and where they may need help.

We need to be more open and honest about kids development and see what teachers are saying about the kids, Jensen said. We also have to see the whole process itself, and I think anything that gives an open access to parents is a beneficial thing.

Courtney Kuipers said she homeschools her children and plans to through the 12th grade but believes implementing the new grading system measurements could be beneficial to her children as well.

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We test too, Kuipers said. Its important to make sure our kids are at least on par for where they need to be.

The state says the breakdown in data for both schools and school districts performance will be on an easier-to-use website, accessible to students, parents and educators.

The schools and districts will be given letter grades from A to F based on their points earned in the categories of the grading formula.

The school performance report card will also include statistical reports on district ratings to show where areas of improvement need to be made when it comes to the standardized testing. As well as areas where schools can earn points on things like absenteeism rates, AP class enrollment, student community service participation and more.

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Bill introduced in Arkansas legislature makes third attempt to disassemble state library board

Jensen said while student performance in those realms can be measured, you also need to listen to teachers.

We have to make sure there is input and that this is not just a standardized thing with the test, Jensen said.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Patagonia Gold has signed an investment agreement with Black River Mine, under which the latter will provide up to $40m (30.21m) to support the development of the companys Calcatreu gold project in Rio Negro, Argentina.

Black River Mine is a newly formed entity led by Argentine businessman Carlos J Miguens, a shareholder in Patagonia Gold, and comprises a consortium of investors.

The funding will be facilitated through Patagonia Golds wholly owned subsidiary, Patagonia Gold Canada (PG Canada).

Under the agreement, Black River Mine will purchase up to 40 million preferred shares of PG Canada at a price of $1 per share.

Upon acquiring the full allotment of preferred shares, Black River Mine will hold 40% of PG Canada, with Patagonia retaining a controlling 60% interest.

Furthermore, as part of the agreement, Black River Mine will be entitled to nominate one of three directors to PG Canadas board and will also have participation rights in future equity issuances by PG Canada, subject to the terms of the agreement.

The financing is subject to customary closing conditions including shareholder approval and final clearance from the TSX Venture Exchange.

The gross proceeds from the transaction will be used by Patagonia exclusively for the development of the Calcatreu Project and to cover related financing expenses.

Located near the southern border of Rio Negro Province, the Calcatreu Project was acquired by Patagonia Gold from Pan American Silver in 2018.

As per the estimates, the project contains 746,000 gold equivalent ounces in the measured and indicated resource category and 390,000oz in the inferred category.

In October 2024, Patagonia Gold acquired four new mineral concessions surrounding its Mina Angela project in Argentina.

The acquisition, totalling 15,494ha, brings the companys mineral properties in the region to more than 52,000ha.

"Patagonia Gold signs $40m investment deal for Argentina project" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




Cody Balmer, the man accused of setting fire to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiros residence, told 911 operators he targeted the governor in part because of what he believed were Shapiros views on the war in Gaza, according to search warrants released Wednesday.

The warrants, first reported by news site PennLive, say Balmer called 911 early Sunday after the fire and said Shapiro, who is Jewish, needs to know he will not take part in his plans for what he wants to do to the Palestinian people.

Balmer also told 911 operators Shapiro needed to stop having my friends killed, and that our people have been put through too much by that monster, the documents say.

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The release of the warrants come as authorities continue to probe the 38-year-old suspects background in search for a motive. Law enforcement officials have not conclusively said Balmers alleged attack was motivated by hate or antisemitism, though the Dauphin County district attorney has indicated investigators are looking at that possibility.

One source familiar with the investigation told CNN earlier this week investigators believe mental health issues may be a factor: Officials were struck by how casual and relaxed the suspect was throughout the ordeal, the source said. At that time, the source said there was not yet an indication antisemitism was a factor in the incident but the investigation into Balmer and his motives remained ongoing.

But the alleged statements to 911 demonstrate Balmers political motivation for his conduct, police wrote. Collectively, the warrants indicate authorities have seized several smartphones, a laptop and a buccal swab containing a sample of Balmers DNA.

Asked Wednesday about the suspects alleged statements, Shapiro told reporters he did not have a response, and that it was up to the district attorneys office to identify the motive behind the incident.

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Its disturbing, but it shows a focus and a fearlessness  he wasnt concerned about being captured  and a focus on Gov. Shapiro, Dauphin County District Attorney Francis Chardo told CNN on Wednesday. Asked whether the governors religion was a motivating factor for the suspect, Chardo said, I cant say it was the sole factor, but it seems that it factored into his decision making.

Still, Chardo indicated he does not plan to pursue ethnic intimidation charges, noting they would increase the grade of the alleged crime by one  but that the five most serious charges being brought against Balmer are all first-degree felonies.

The suspect has been charged with attempted homicide, aggravated arson, terrorism and other crimes.

The chief public defender of Dauphin County, which is representing Balmer, said in a statement Wednesday, The allegations, if true, demonstrate the devastating consequences of severe mental illness. She declined further comment beyond noting Balmers next court appearance would be postponed so his attorneys could determine his competency to stand trial.

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According to PennLive, one warrant notes Balmers intonation and cadence during his call to 911 sounded like he was possibly reading from a script. CNN has not reviewed that document.

The US Justice Department is assisting with the investigation, Attorney General Pam Bondi said at a news conference Wednesday, where she called the fire absolutely horrific and indicated she believed the suspects goal was to harm the governor.

I firmly believe that they wanted to kill him, Bondi said.

Shapiro, who just hours before the attack was celebrating Passover with his family, highlighted at a news conference Sunday his pride in his Jewish faith, saying, if he was trying to terrorize our family, our friends, the Jewish community, who joined us for a Passover Seder in that room last night, hear me on this: we celebrated our faith last night, proudly and in a few hours, we will celebrate our second Seder of Passover.

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Wednesday, the governor thanked well-wishers for the messages of support his family received in the days since the fire. Hes heard from every living former governor of Pennsylvania, he said  but he has not heard from President Donald Trump.

My focus has been on being a good dad, a good husband and a good governor, in that order, he said, noting he and first lady Lori Shapiro had been doing their best to answer questions from their four children.

Be honest with them, tell them what we know and also tell them what we dont know, and to let them know that theyre safe and theyre going to be OK, and its OK to feel a lot of different things, Shapiro said. And its OK to not be OK, also.

Balmer shared posts critical of Biden

Balmer has faced personal and financial turmoil in recent years  including allegations that he assaulted his wife and young children amid a suicide attempt.

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Balmer shared Facebook posts critical of former President Joe Biden, but doesnt appear to have mentioned Shapiro, also a Democrat. In an interview with police, Balmer admitted to harboring hatred toward Shapiro, and said he would have beaten the governor with a hammer if found during the attack, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by CNN.

Balmer is a registered voter in Pennsylvania but is not affiliated with a political party, according to state records. On his Facebook account, he has made multiple posts since 2021 that are critical of Biden.

A post from January 2021 says in part, Biden supporters shouldnt exist. Where were you his first run? Well aware of the trash he is. Another post from the same month reads in part, RIP Joe Biden.. Whoops thats in May, #notmypresidenteither.

In September 2021, Balmer posted a meme criticizing Bidens handling of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. The meme shows Biden in a car with text that reads, Get in, loser. Were leaving Afghanistan. The next image shows the former president appearing to drive off with text that says *Drives off without you*.

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In June 2022, Balmer shared on Facebook what appears to be a photo of a needlepoint illustration of a flaming Molotov cocktail  the same weapon authorities say he used to start the fires at Shapiros residence.

Be the light you want to see in the world, the original image declared.

CNNs Josh Campbell, Zoe Sottile and Hannah Rabinowitz contributed to this report.

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By Rich McKay

(Reuters) -The man charged with setting fire to the Pennsylvania governor's mansion while the governor and his family were there sleeping told police he did it because of the governor's stance on the war in Gaza, according to a search warrant released on Wednesday.

According to the warrant and a police affidavit, Cody Balmer called 911 to confess to the crimes that took place early on Sunday. The warrant said Balmer told police he believed Governor Josh Shapiro, who is Jewish, was encouraging the war in Gaza and that he, "needs to stop having my friends killed," and "our people have been put through too much by that monster."

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Balmer 38, of Penbrook Borough, Pennsylvania, has been charged with attempted murder, arson, burglary and terrorism intended to coerce "the conduct of a government," among other felonies. A police affidavit says he also intended to attack the governor with a hammer.

It was the latest episode of political violence directed at a U.S. elected official and bore similarities to the October 2022 home invasion of the San Francisco residence of Nancy Pelosi, then the Democratic speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. The intruder beat her husband Paul Pelosi with a hammer.

According to court records, the governor and his family were asleep at the residence in the state capital of Harrisburg at the time of the attack about 2 a.m. on Sunday. Police woke him and his family and helped them escape the fire with their pets.

Shapiro said his family and guests held a seder on Saturday to celebrate the first night of Passover, a major Jewish holiday, in the dining room of the mansion.

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Balmer told police he scaled a fence, smashed the window of the mansion's piano room with a hammer and threw a Molotov cocktail inside, police said in the search warrant and affidavit. Balmer then smashed his way inside and ignited the dining room before fleeing, according to the police account.

Shapiro, at a press conference on Wednesday, said that he and his wife tried to be good parents to their four children throughout this ordeal.

"Nothing he could do would deter me from doing my job as governor," Shapiro said of Balmer. "Nothing he could do would deter me from proudly and openly practicing my faith."

(Reporting by Rich McKay in Atlanta; Editing by Donna Bryson and Bill Berkrot)
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP)  Pennsylvania police plan independent review of security at Gov. Josh Shapiro's official residence after arson attack.
Rep. DeAnn Vaught addresses the House regarding SB290 on April 15, 2025. (Ainsley Platt/Arkansas Advocate)

The Arkansas House passed a bill Tuesday that would maintain a permit moratorium for hog farms in the Buffalo River watershed, while setting out a process for future watershed-based bans to be considered by lawmakers.

Senate Bill 290 now nears the end of a long-running legislative process that began at the beginning of the session, spanning multiple amendments, before finally passing the Senate earlier this month.

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The Senate will need to concur in the amendment introduced last week before SB 290 is sent to the governors desk.

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders previously released statements saying she didnt support any legislation that did not protect the Buffalo  a key tourism driver  but pivoted to support it last week after it was amended again.

During remarks on the House floor, Horatio Republican Rep. DeAnn Vaught, the House sponsor, apologized to her fellow members for the number of constituent communications they had received regarding the bill.

She said that the issue of the moratoriums had become political, instead of being based in science. Vaught added that she did not believe the original versions of the bill, which would have removed or made it easier to remove existing moratoriums, would have hurt the Buffalo River.

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Some of you asked why we didnt exclude the Buffalo River and Lake Maumelle to begin with. My answer is because the moratorium that was put on  the Buffalo River actually made the farmer look like he had done something wrong, when science had proven he had done nothing wrong, Vaught said.

She said the final version of SB 290 would give legislators a seat at the table for any future moratorium, adding that lawmakers had been forced out of the decision when it was made a decade ago.

We lost a voice in the earlier fights with the Buffalo River watershed. Our voice was taken from us, Vaught said of legislators having a say in permit moratoriums.

She added: Farmers work hard, they are conservationists; they are environmentalists.

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The Department of Energy and Environment and the Department of Agriculture  both of which are in charge of administrative rules that currently contain the moratorium  support the bill with the latest amendments.

Shane Khoury, the Energy and Environment secretary, said last week that the amended bill would allow it to continue protecting the Buffalo River watershed, while addressing concerns raised by Vaught regarding farmers who were already in the watershed.

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Apr. 15OLYMPIA  Legislation requiring residents to obtain a permit before purchasing a firearm has cleared another hurdle after the Washington Senate backed the proposal Monday in a party-line vote.

A version of the bill previously cleared the House of Representatives, but the proposal will return to the House after the Senate adopted amendments. The updated bill must clear the House chamber before heading to Gov. Bob Ferguson's desk.

"This is not about us versus them, this is about safety," Sen. Manka Dhingra, D-Redmond, said Monday. "It's about ensuring that our children are not accidentally shot, which has been happening more and more. It's about making sure that guns are not lying in a closet. It's about making sure that people actually know how to handle a gun when they get it."

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If adopted, the bill would require a potential buyer to obtain a permit to purchase a firearm and prove that the purchaser has completed a firearms training course, among other requirements. Proponents of the bill have argued that 12 other states have adopted similar legislation and that it has been shown to reduce gun violence.

"It has also curbed illegal gun trafficking, and it makes sure that our firearms in this state are in the hands of responsible gun owners," Sen. Marko Liias, D-Edmonds, said on the Senate floor Monday. "It is ultimately about saving lives. That is the most important mission."

According to Liias, the 12 states that previously implemented permit-to-purchase have seen an 11% decline in firearm homicides in urban counties and 56% fewer mass shootings.

Liias said the process to obtain a permit before purchasing a firearm is "designed to be relatively simple." Liias added that the system would be checked annually to ensure that the holder remains legally eligible for the permit, adding a "critical safety layer."

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Detractors, though, fear the new live-fire training requirements to obtain a permit would result in backlogs at firing ranges and with the Washington State Patrol, which will oversee the implementation of the new permit.

Jeremy Ball, owner of Sharpshooting Indoor Range and Gun Shop, previously told The Spokesman-Review that "without a massive, massive, investment from Washington state in order to develop these programs and execute them, it's going to be at an extreme cost."

"And the premise of them doesn't really make sense anyways," Ball said after the bill cleared the House last month.

Under the bill, an applicant would need to prove that they have completed a certified live firearm safety course in the previous five years, or that they are exempt from the requirement. The permit would also need to be renewed every five years.

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Sen. Jeff Holy, R-Cheney, said on the Senate floor that the bill will likely "generate litigation immediately," adding that similar legislation has been challenged in other states.

"So it's not just 'Yes, everything is going full speed ahead on this.' This is a controversial issue," Holy said.

Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, said the bill is an "assault on the hardworking taxpayers." In his remarks, Schoesler cited several other proposals to increase fees in Washington that have been introduced, including increasing the price of a yearly Discover Pass to use state parks and hunting licenses.

"There is absolutely no way that that average taxpayer out in Othello isn't going to get hit trying to legitimately buy a firearm, upgrade a firearm," Schoesler said. "There's absolutely no way."

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The bill, Schoesler said, will also create unnecessary delays and referred to the bill as "poorly designed."

The proposal is among several gun and ammo-related pieces of legislation lawmakers have considered this session, though many others failed to gain traction and will not advance in 2025. Bills that would have imposed a new 11% tax on ammo and banned the bulk sale of ammunition died in committee earlier this session.

Lawmakers also are considering a bill to restrict open carry of firearms in areas "where children are likely to be present," which includes playgrounds, zoos, transit centers, county fairgrounds when the fair is open to the public and certain state and local public buildings. The bill would require warning signs to be posted where weapons are prohibited.

The legislation previously cleared the Senate and is under consideration in the House.
CHICAGO (WGN)  A person of interest is in Chicago police custody months after an alleged targeted attack involving Jewish students on DePauls Lincoln Park campus last November, the department confirmed to WGN News on Wednesday.

Just before 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 6, Max Long said he was outside the student center on DePauls Lincoln Park campus with another student, holding a sign and a t-shirt standing against antisemitism, when a masked individual came up and started talking to him.

RELATED: Jewish students sue DePaul University over campus attack

According to Long, while one of the individuals distracted him, a second person came up and knocked him unconscious. Long added that at the time of the incident, a group of pro-Palestinian protestors had gathered across the street.

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Following the attack, Long suffered severe bruising and a concussion. A second victim who helped Long, Michael Kaminsky, was also injured and needed surgery.

About a week after the attack, Chicago police released photos of the suspect(s) allegedly responsible.

Photos provided by Chicago police show two persons of interest wanted in connection with the attack of two DePaul students on the universitys Lincoln Park campus. (Photo: CPD)

The news of a person of interest in police custody comes weeks after the two Jewish students sued DePaul University, alleging that the educational institution failed to protect them. The lawsuit, filed on Wednesday, April 2, seeks physical and emotional damages for the students.

DePaul has failed me, not just as a student, but as a human being. Universities are supposed to be places of information, safety, and dialogue. But instead, they become platforms for fear, mob rule, and censorship, Long said, as reported by WGN News.

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Chicago police did not provide further details on the person of interest in custody.

MORE CHICAGO NEWS: CTA employee charged in deadly Blue Line shooting

Concerning the attack, members of Chicagos Jewish community have called for hate crime charges.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Perus former First Lady Nadine Heredia has fled to Brazil, where she has been granted diplomatic asylum after a court in her home country sentenced her and her husband, former President Ollanta Humala, to 15 years in prison on money laundering charges.

She landed in the capital Brasilia with her son on Wednesday, her lawyer Julio Espinoza told CNN.

According to the Peruvian Foreign Ministry, she had requested asylum at the Brazilian Embassy in Lima on Tuesday morning. Brazil granted asylum to her and her son and the Peruvian government provided guarantees for their safe passage, it said.

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Heredias lawyer said she had applied for asylum due to an unspecified family reason.

A family and personal decision happened about two to three hours before the sentencing, he said, adding that he only found out about her asylum request through the media.

Her arrival in Brazil comes just a day after she and her husband were sentenced in a trial relating to alleged illicit contributions to Humalas election campaigns in 2006 and 2011.

Prosecutors had alleged that Humalas Nationalist Party received illicit contributions from the Venezuelan government and the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht to finance his campaigns.

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Humala and his wife had denied any wrongdoing.

Humala was in attendance as a judge read out the verdict on Tuesday, three years after the trial began. Heredia did not attend.

Moments after the ruling was announced, the judiciary ordered Humala to start serving his sentence immediately and be sent to prison.

His lawyer, Wilfredo Pedraza, criticized the decision as unjustified and told CNN they would appeal.

The panel has said that the illegality of the crimes can be verified along the way  that is inadmissible. Here, in oral trial and in sentencing, affirmations must be made, no longer presumptions, he argued.

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The former first ladys lawyer said Wednesday that if the case is appealed, she may attend the hearings virtually from Brazil.

Prosecutors were seeking 20 years in prison for the former president and 26 years for the former first lady.

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"I don't own Nvidia (NVDA), but this is the first time I'm really starting to look at (Nvidia)" stock, prominent CNBC contributor Stephanie Link said on the channel today.

Link suggested that NVDA would rebound significantly over the longer term, and she noted that she had been buying more shares of one of NVDA's rivals, Broadcom (AVGO).

NVIDIA (NVDA) Still a Strong AI Bet Amid Market Volatility, Says Bernstein

Link Suggests That Nvidia's Valuation Is Attractive for Long-Term Investors

Nvidia is changing hands for 20 times analysts' average forward estimates, Link noted. And although analysts' estimates will likely drop 8% to 9% due to writedowns that the firm preannounced today, historically the shares' forward price-earnings ratio has not dropped below 23 times, the investor stated.

Nvidia is "not out of the woods, but it is a high-quality company, and it's the number one in the industry," said Link, adding that the shares have dropped a great deal and "there is a price for everything."

The investor concluded her remarks on NVDA by saying that "When the dust settles, people go back to the number one or two in any industry."

Why Link Bought More AVGO Stock

"I like the diversity of Broadcom," the investor explained. She noted that Nvidia, unlike Broadcom, is "a pure play on AI."

While we acknowledge the potential of NVDA, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. There is an AI stock that went up since the beginning of 2025, while popular AI stocks lost around 25%. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than NVDA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.

READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
UK-based niche electric vehicles (EV) manufacturer RBW EV Cars has commenced the construction of its manufacturing facility in Danville, Virginia in the US.

This development marks a significant expansion of the British specialist electric vehicle maker's operations into the North American market.

Expected to create 144 jobs, the $8m facility is set to produce the company's first left-hand drive electric Roadster and GT models specifically for the US market.

Situated within the Cane Creek Centre industrial park, the 29,000ft2 facility will serve as a hub for RBW's assembly operations, as well as the sales and marketing departments.

The plant will also house Spirit EV, RBWs proprietary electric vehicle platform, which supports scalable electrification solutions for both automakers and specialist vehicle builders.

The Danville plant will also be the base for Spirit EV's research and design, engineering, and proprietary EV build programme teams, the company said.

RBW EV Cars CEO Peter Swain said: "RBW EV Cars has dedicated nearly a decade to developing bespoke electric vehicles that honor classic British design while delivering cutting-edge electrification.

From the beginning of its operation, the company has been focused on bringing a global EV platform to market that could transcend how automakers design and engineer their own platforms. This is where Spirit EV comes in. We will now have R&D facilities in both the UK and US.

RBW's focus will initially be on manufacturing the Roadster and GT models, with plans to introduce new product developments and future vehicle lines by fall 2025.

US operations director Peyton Sellers said: Creating a workforce for RBW EV Cars and Spirit EV here in Danville is our top priority. Breaking ground and preparing the city for its first major automotive player is exciting.

We are not only generating jobs, but we are also creating a new automotive hub for the industry to lean in on. The proprietary EV platform Spirit EV has developed allows an automaker to literally plug and play, saving them millions in R&D.

Construction is being carried out in partnership with American contractors and local stakeholders.

Once operational, the Danville facility is expected to complement RBWs existing operations in the UK.

"RBW EV Cars begins construction on US manufacturing facility" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand.




The Tijuana River has been plagued with raw sewage and industrial waste from Tijuana for decades, fouling beaches along the U.S.-Mexico border with polluted water and sending foul odors drifting through communities in San Diego County.

On Wednesday, the environmental group American Rivers ranked the Tijuana River No. 2 on its annual list of the nations most endangered rivers , up from No. 9 on the list last year. The group said it elevated the river on the list, right behind the first-ranked Mississippi River, to bring greater attention to the waterways chronic pollution problems and the lack of action to clean it up.

Activists with another group, Surfrider Foundation, are also circulating a petition calling for President Trump to declare a national emergency to expedite efforts to curb the flow of untreated sewage and clean up the river.

Kevin Hogan, a resident of the Tijuana River Valley, explains why the Tijuana River is unable to flow due to vegetation overgrowth. (Hayne Palmour IV / For The Times)

The Tijuana River has moved from just being a pollution problem to being a public health crisis. Elevating the Tijuana River on our most endangered rivers list reflects that urgency, said Ann Willis, American Rivers California regional director. What we need urgently is for the Trump administration to make a federal emergency declaration. This would free up funding to address some of the right-now problems.

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EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin responded to the announcement of the river's ranking in an emailed statement, saying the raw sewage flowing from Mexico into the Tijuana River is creating serious, detrimental issues for communities with affected waterways.

Ensuring Americas waters are clean is part of EPAs core mission, and I look forward to being on the ground in San Diego in a few days to assess the situation and hear directly from those affected, Zeldin said. It is top of mind knowing that as this issue persists, more and more Navy SEALs remain at risk of sickness because of the contaminated waterways they train in. I strongly believe the time has come to finalize and implement an urgent strategy to end decades of raw sewage entering the U.S.

In addition to more funding from the U.S. government to repair and maintain sewage treatment facilities that regularly break down, the environmental groups called for Mexico to take additional steps to fix sewage leaks and make other improvements on its side of the border.

They noted that Mexico has made progress in recent years. Tijuana recently completed construction of a new sewage treatment plant in the area of San Antonio de los Buenos, a project that is part of a larger infrastructure plan developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

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We need both federal governments to step up and do more, said Sarah Davidson, manager of Surfrider's Clean Border Water Now program. It will require cooperation across the border. It will require diplomacy and long-term funding from both governments, so it's necessary to find those avenues to work with the Mexican government as well.

Tijuana River Valley resident Derek Spencer, who grew up in the area, stands near a spray-painted message next to the Tijuana River. (Hayne Palmour IV / For The Times)

Willis said funding from the U.S. government is needed to fix the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant north of the border, which handles sewage from Tijuana and is in disrepair, as well as measures such as pollution monitoring and health studies in communities near the river.

Pollution from the Tijuana River is carried not just in the river itself, but it moves into the air when the river flows into the ocean, and the ocean spray turns the pollution into an aerosol, Willis said. This is creating a public health crisis, not just for local communities, but also our military.

A park sign warns against contaminated water in San Diego's Tijuana River Valley. (Hayne Palmour IV / For The Times)

The environmental group cited a recent report from the Department of Defense showing that about 1,100 cases of illnesses were reported among Navy SEALS and other service members who were exposed to high levels of bacteria when they trained in and around the ocean near the border.

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The Tijuana River flows 120 miles, starting in Baja California and crossing into Southern California, then reaching the Pacific Ocean in Imperial Beach. Beaches near the river mouth and the sewage treatment plant outfall have regularly been closed because of high levels of bacteria in the ocean.

Read more: Some in this California beach town insist the Tijuana River is poisoning them. Officials disagree

Residents have also raised concerns about the potential health effects of high levels of hydrogen sulfide and other gases and vapors emanating from the river.

This is one of the largest ongoing public health and environmental justice crises in our country, Davidson said. It's similar to other environmental catastrophes, like the water crisis in Flint, Mich., and elsewhere, and we really just need more awareness, more pressure, more prioritization in our federal government to get the funding on the issue that we require for solutions.

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As they held a news conference by the river Wednesday, Davidson and others wore respirators to protect themselves from the air pollution.

It really is impacting every aspect of community life for those communities in and near the Tijuana River Valley, Davidson said. So it's a pretty desperate situation, and we really just need all of the help we can get from everyone at every level of government.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
House builder Redrow has initiated the construction of a new housing project, Elm Grove, in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, UK, that will introduce 247 homes.

The project includes one- to four-bedroom properties from the companys Heritage Collection, which blends 1930s arts and crafts-inspired architecture with modern interiors.

The homes will feature open-plan living areas and design details, stated the company.

The Elm Grove development will incorporate green spaces. The project has pledged more than 1.8m ($2.36m) towards local community enhancements. These funds will bolster public transport, healthcare, and educational facilities.

Additionally, the project will incorporate homes from the Eco Electric range, equipped with low-carbon technologies and initiatives aimed at reducing household energy costs.

The Eco Electric properties will include air-source heat pumps and underfloor heating as standard features, aligning with Redrow's goal to reach net zero across its operations and supply chain by 2050.

These homes are projected to offer more than 970 in average annual energy savings for homeowners, based on a 'fabric-first' approach that integrates energy efficiency into the building's structure.

Elm Grove will have access to transport links with regular train services to Bristol and Bath.

According to the company, the variety of house types under development is meant to cater to diverse buyer preferences and lifestyles.

Redrow South West sales director Sian Smith said: Were delighted to be breaking ground at our Elm Grove development in Wiltshire.

The development is surrounded by plenty of green space and open countryside, but still has wonderful amenities nearby making it the perfect location for those looking to live in a thriving community that benefits from both town and country living.

We expect these homes to be very popular, so we advise anyone looking to make the move to this area to register their interest sooner rather than later.

Meanwhile, Redrow has announced that its chief executive Matthew Pratt will step down in June this year, following the company's merger with Barratt.

Pratt will continue with the company until the end of 2025.

The companys COO and deputy CEO Steven Boyes will also retire this September.

The merger, valued at 2.52bn, received approval from the UK's Competition and Markets Authority in August 2024.

"Redrow begins construction of Elm Grove housing project in UK" was originally created and published by World Construction Network, a GlobalData owned brand.
China may open its growing ETF business to U.S. market makers as the country seeks experienced liquidity providers, Reuters said, citing anonymous sources.

Big U.S. market makers, including Jane Street Capital and Ken Griffins Citadel Securities, would most likely be among the firms tapped, the news outlet said. Amsterdam-based Optiver may also be among the companies China is eyeing to help it make its markets more efficient.

The countrys exchange-traded fund business has surged, with its assets nearly tripling to $510 billion over the past two years thanks to investments from government bodies, Reuters said. While China has sought to develop its own market makers, older firms like New York-based Jane Street and Miami-based Citadel have the experience that the country needs, sources told Reuters.

Market makers help smooth equities trading by facilitating tradesbuying and selling sharesbetween large banks and institutions to ensure efficient markets. They also help reduce costs associated with trading, according to Citadel's website.

Trade War Intensifies

Still, the escalating series of tariffs the U.S. and China have imposed on each other recently may dampen Chinas enthusiasm for bringing in the U.S. firms, the sources told Reuters.

Both companies recently undertook measures to boost their China presence. Citadel earlier this year applied to start a securities brokerage in the country and recently hired a former official with the Chinese Securities Regulatory Commission to develop its business in that country. Jane Street has expanded its Hong Kong offices and plans to add 40 workers to its 400-strong workforce there, Reuters said previously.

None of the cited companies, nor the China Securities Regulatory Commision, provided comments to Reuters.

China ETFs Rise

At the same time, China has been buying ETFs to support its markets, Bloomberg reported. A record $24 billion was invested in the market last week, mostly into ETFs favored by the countrys so-called national team, the news agency said.

KWEB Flows

Source: etf.com data

China-focused ETFs are rising today with the $5.9 billion KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF (KWEB) surging 4.1% and the $5.6 billion iShares Trust China Large-Cap ETF (FXI) adding 2%. KWEB has dropped 15% this past month, and investors pulled $1 billion from the fund last week.





Permalink |  Copyright 2025 etf.com. All rights reserved
Apr. 15KINGSTON  Kingston police said they are seeking the whereabouts of William John Fox IV on an arrest warrant alleging he passed fraudulent game of chance tickets for cash at a convenience store in 2024.

Fox, 43, last known address as rear 900 Main St., Hanover Township, is charged with three counts of criminal conspiracy and one count each of theft and possessing instruments of crime. An arrest warrant was issued for Fox on Aug. 6.

According to the criminal complaint:

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Kingston police detectives investigated an alleged scheme involving tickets for game of chance machines at the Sunoco service station on Market Street on Jan. 22, 2024.

Surveillance footage showed Fox entered the business and played game of chance machines. Fox left the store but returned hours later allegedly with Melissa Lynn Pruveadenti, 46, of Hanover Township, and played game of chance machines.

Fox and Pruveadenti redeemed a ticket receiving $250 from the store only for workers to discover the ticket was fraudulent, the complaint says.

Police in the complaint say Fox and Pruveadenti returned to the store and a store clerk told Fox to repay the $250 for the earlier fraudulent ticket but Fox left the store without making the requested restitution.

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Then, on March 17, 2024, police allege Fox and a woman were inside a tobacco retail store in West Pittston where he was recorded by surveillance cameras forcing open a game of chance machine and stealing tickets.

Pruveadenti denied any involvement in the ticket scheme but told police she purchased a game of chance ticket from a friend.

Pruveadenti is facing charges of theft and criminal conspiracy in Luzerne County Court.

Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Fox is asked to call Kingston police Detective John D. Anthony at 570-714-0377 or 570-288-3674 ext. 405.
Police shot a man who crashed into a squad car after a standoff that began shortly before 6 p.m. Tuesday near Indiana 59 and 42 in Clay County.

Flown to an Indianapolis hospital was Dale L. Evans, 47, of Terre Haute.

One Indiana State Police trooper was taken to a Terre Haute hospital with non-life-threatening injuries suffered when the truck driven by Evans struck a police vehicle, ISP said.

Clay County deputies and state troopers about 5:50 p.m. were dispatched to a gas station near Indiana 59 and 42 regarding a stolen U-Haul that had been spotted by off-duty Town Marshal Michael Heaton of Knightsville, ISP Sgt. Matt Ames wrote in a news release.

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Troopers and deputies located that U-Haul and tried to stop it, but the driver disregarded them and drove off, traveling west on Indiana 42 for about a mile before turning south down a private drive.

When the vehicle stopped, a female got out and ran away from it. Police tried to place stop sticks near the tires, but the driver continued down the private lane before the tire-flattening devices could be successfully placed, police said.

The vehicle then stopped a second time, and negotiators started speaking with the driver. Officers again attempted to place stop sticks.

The driver, however, suddenly reversed the vehicle, nearly striking a Clay County Deputy and hitting three Clay County police vehicles, ISP said.

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The driver then continued down the private lane, turning the vehicle and coming to a stop for a third time, now facing north. Negotiations with the driver started again and continued for about 90 minutes with the help of Clay County Sheriff Bryson Swearingen, according to state police.

Suddenly, the driver put the vehicle into drive and drove at high speed toward a marked ISP squad. That police car had two troopers next to it in defensive positions. The U-Haul hit the police vehicle, throwing one of troopers into the air, police said.

Officers from the Terre Haute Police Department and the Clay County Sheriffs Department then fired at the U-Haul, hitting the driver, ISP said.

Once the U-Haul came to a stop, the driver was provided medical assistance by the Terre Haute Special Response Team. He was then airlifted to an Indianapolis hospital.

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The female who'd been in the vehicle was taken to the Clay County Jail for questioning and then released, police said.

Officers involved in the shooting were placed on administrative leave, which is customary in such cases, Ames said.

The investigation of the shooting is being conducted by detectives and crime scene investigators of the ISP Putnamville post. When that investigation is complete, they will submit a report to the Clay County prosecutor.

Assisting ISP troopers and Clay County deputies were Terre Haute police, Indiana conservation officers, the Posey Volunteer Fire Department and Lifeline air ambulance.
ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. (WAVY)  A man was arrested in Virginia Beach in connection with multiple car break-ins in Elizabeth City, police said.

According to officials, on Feb. 15, just before 5 a.m., officers with the Elizabeth City Police Department were dispatched to the Betsy Town Flats Apartments on East Elizabeth Street for reports of car break-ins in the parking lot.

Jahscottquez Taylor (Courtesy: Virginia Beach Correctional)

Officers arrived to the scene and found multiple vehicles in the back of the parking lot with damaged windows. During this time, officers were also responding to the Tanglewood Lake Apartments on Waterside Drive in reference to car break-ins.

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Police said both incidents resulted in approximately 32 vehicles damaged and an unknown number of items taken.

On April 14, Virginia Beach Police arrested 21-year-old Jahscottquez Taylor in connection with warrants for his arrest out of Elizabeth City for eight counts of felony breaking and entering of a motor vehicle and larceny of a firearm and financial card theft.

Taylor was then taken to Virginia Beach Correctional with no bond. He is expected to be extradited back to North Carolina.

Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Bob Perls, left, addresses a small crowd inside a church in Corrales on April 15, 2025, as former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman looks on. Both are leaders of the Forward Party, a political party launching in New Mexico. (Photo by Patrick Lohmann / Source NM)

The Forward Party, a political party whose members say they want a return to civility in politics and improvements to U.S. democracy, announced Tuesday it is seeking 3,500 signatures to secure minor party status in New Mexico.

The New Mexico chapters launch comes after what members tout as a major success a decade in the making: A new state law allowing unaffiliated voters to cast ballots in primary elections here.

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Bob Perls, New Mexico Forward Party chair and a former state representative, championed that effort since 2015. He told a small group gathered at a historic church in Corrales on Tuesday afternoon that a major focus of the Forward Party in New Mexico will be those types of democratic improvements, like taking on unfairness in the redistricting process, campaign finance reform, and empowering more people to vote in races where there are meaningful choices on the ballot.

If you look at what is the root cause of hyper-partisanship and political polarization in this country, you can trace a lot of it to how we elect, district and finance candidates, Perls said.

The party hopes to collect enough signatures to endorse and recruit candidates to run in the 2026 midterm elections. It will likely not have enough support or resources to weigh in on the Albuquerque mayoral elections this year, said spokesperson Karin Williams.

Perls also said the party would target members of both parties who voted to keep New Mexicos primaries closed and would seek to increase the number of candidates on the ballot across the state.

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In the most recent New Mexico legislative elections, more than one-third of candidates had already won their primaries on the day the primary election was held. That meant that 70% of registered Democrats and 78% of registered Republicans had one or zero House candidates to vote for that day, according to a Source New Mexico analysis.

The group hopes that it can tap into what its leaders describe as widespread disenchantment with the two major political parties. As of December 2024, 340,000 New Mexico voters, roughly a quarter of all voters in the state, were not affiliated with any of the states three major parties, which are Democrats, Republicans or Libertarians, according to the Secretary of States Office.

And 40% of New Mexico voters aged 18 to 24 are unaffiliated, said Rep. Cristina Parajon (D-Albuquerque), who sponsored the open-primary bill, during the House floor debate March 21.

Andrew Yang, who unsuccessfully ran for president as a Democrat in 2020, founded the Forward Party in 2022. Its leaders now cite a number of Forwardists, most recently a Utah state senator who left the Republican Party to join the Forward Party last month.

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Christine Todd Whitman, the former New Jersey governor and Environmental Protection Agency secretary during George W. Bushs presidency, is also a Forward Party leader. She joined Perls on Monday, saying the party is focused heavily on expanding its footprint in local races and statehouses, along with nationally, as part of its strategy to challenge two-party dominance.

The Forward Party does not have much of a platform, apart from a pledge it requires candidates it supports. The pledge requires candidates to affirm their commitments to the rule of law and the Constitution, data-driven policy-making, and creating a safe space to discuss controversial issues, Todd Whitman said.

But we recognize that every state is different, and within states, youre going to have different areas of issues, and that people need that flexibility, Todd Whitman said. Candidates need to be able to respond to their constituents.

Todd Whitman said Forward Party, to her, represents a centrist alternative to two parties that have increasingly catered to extreme members of their own parties, though she suggested leaders might not want to market themselves as centrists.

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Thats what we are, in a vacuum, and thats what most of the people who are part of Forward are. Theyre in the center, she said. They want to see the problem solved. Theyre not extreme, which makes you in the center, but you have to find the right language.

Heather Balas, holding microphone, asks a question of Todd Perls, left, during the Forward Party launch on Tuesday in Corrales. (Photo by Patrick Lohmann / Source NM)

Heather Balas, a Democrat who lost her primary race for state Senate in 2024, asked what it would take for a third party to become competitive in New Mexico and across the country. William Scott, another Democrat, spoke up to say he was hammered by the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, for being a centrist, Forward Democrat.

He ran unopposed in the primary but lost to Republican Ant Thornton for state Senate District 19. He said he needs more support from the Forward party, in terms of a campaign manager and fundraising, if he were to run again.

So Im just wondering, what is the way forward? he asked. Perls and Todd Whitman told him to run again, promising more support should he seek a state House seat in an upcoming election and noting that, if the party can get ballot access, he can skip the Democratic primary.

I think just bypassing the Democratic primary is going to make a huge difference for your ability to speak your mind and be true to yourself, and represent a far broader cross section of the voters than you would trying to appeal to the party base to get through the Democratic primary, Perls told him. Please run.
The apparent attempted murder over the weekend of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro with an arson attack is, unfortunately, only part of the wave of political violence sweeping over the country. Recent months have seen assassinations and attempted killings, attacks on political headquarters, arson against Tesla cars and dealers, and other acts that make it clear that some people have gone beyond hardened political hostilities to assaults on people and property. Worse, Americansespecially those on the political leftseem increasingly open to violence as a means of settling ideological disputes.

Political Violence Is 'Becoming Far Too Common'

"Last night we experienced an attack not just on our family but on the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania here at the governor's residence," Governor Shapiro, a Democrat, said after the governor's mansion in Harrisburg was set ablaze with Molotov cocktails. "We don't know the person's specific motive yet, but we do know a few truths. First, this type of violence is not okay. This kind of violence is becoming far too common in our society, and I don't give a damn if it's coming from one particular side or the other, directed at one particular party or another, or one particular person or another."

We've since learned more about Cody Balmer, who has been charged with the attack. He hates Shapiro, and before the attack "appeared to share anti-capitalist and anarchist posts on his Facebook," according to the U.K.'s The Times. Those included "a picture of an embroidery hoop featuring a hand-stitched flaming Molotov cocktail and the words 'Be the light you want to see in the world.'" The attack occurred at the beginning of Passover and Shapiro is Jewish, though it's unknown if that played a role.

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Balmer also appears to be mentally unwell. That's not uncommon for people who try to set the world to their vision of right by hurting or killing people who disagree with them.

From Torching Teslas to Swatting

The choice of incendiary devices for the attack is a trendy one at the moment. An Albuquerque man, Jamison Wagner, was arrested and charged this week in connection with attacks on the headquarters of the Republican Party of New Mexico and a Tesla dealership.

Tesla vehicles and properties have been popular targets since Tesla head Elon Musk helped establish the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to cut government size and expense. Tesla superchargers have been torched, dealerships shot up and set ablaze, vehicles vandalized, and drivers harassed. All this is in protest of efforts to shrink government.

In recent months we've also seen a less explicitly violent, but still potentially lethal, surge in swatting attacksbogus crime reports meant to draw police response to a targeted person's home.

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"I want to address the alarming rise in 'Swatting' incidents targeting media figures," FBI Director Kash Patel commented on March 14. "The FBI is aware of this dangerous trend, and my team and I are already taking action to investigate and hold those responsible accountable."

Swatting can be and has been lethal if police open fire on awakened and unsuspecting residents.

CNN reported that "almost all the influencers who have publicized their recent swattings are conservative supporters of President Donald Trump. Many have also interacted with top Trump adviser and donor Elon Musk on X over the years, with Musk either replying to them or reposting their X posts."

That's an incomplete list of incidents just since the beginning of this year. If we go back to last year, we have two assassination attempts against then-presidential candidate Donald Trump, the murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson byallegedlya man who has since become a cult figure, a Democratic campaign office shot up in Arizona, and plenty more. Suffice to say that political relations in this country have been nasty for a while and are getting worse.

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Political scientists have argued for years that the right is more prone to violence than the left. That always seemed a dubious claim subject more to the period selected for examination than any inherent disposition. It certainly has not been true in the U.S. since Republicans won the 2024 elections.

A Growing 'Assassination Culture' on the Left

Writing for the Brookings Institution in January, senior fellow Dana R. Fisher reported that participants in the anti-Trump People's March were surprisingly open to violence to achieve their political goals.

"A third of participants at the People's March (33%) reported that they believed that 'because things have gotten so far off track, Americans may have to resort to violence in order to save our country," Fisher wrote. She noted that the numbers represented a shift over time toward acceptance of violence on the left to the point where it met and exceeded similar attitudes on the right.

In March, after similar (35 percent) support for violence at the Stand Up for Science Rally, Fisher commented that "left-leaning Americans participating in peaceful, legally permitted demonstrations are starting to believe that political violence will be necessary to save America."

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Last week, a report from the Network Contagion Research Institute and the Rutgers University Social Perception Lab warned that "a broader 'assassination culture' appears to be emerging within segments of the U.S. public on the extreme left, with expanding targets now including figures such as Donald Trump and Elon Musk." According to survey results in the report, "over half of those who self-identified as left of center (55.2%) reported that if someone murdered Donald Trump, they would be at least somewhat justified. Similar proportions supported murdering Musk and destroying Tesla dealerships."

An earlier report published in December 2024 had found that fans of Luigi Mangione, the alleged assassin of Brian Thompson, are cheering each other on through social media platforms and communications, "creating widespread cultural shifts that lower moral boundaries for targeted violence against political, social, or class enemies."

After years of growing tension in the United States and demonization by partisans of those who disagree with them, the use of violence to punish political enemies and as a tool for achieving ideological goals is becoming more mainstream. The people who embrace violence then reinforce similar attitudes in others who share their ideological beliefs, making acceptance of violence even more common.

Unsurprisingly, the market for insurance against political violence is surging along with the risk.

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Josh Shapiro survived the attempt against his life. We'll see if the country will be equally lucky.

The post Political Violence Surges as the Use of Force Becomes Mainstream appeared first on Reason.com.
The poll conducted by POLITICO and UC Berkeleys Citrin Center shows a mixed reaction to a hypothetical Harris bid for California governor.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris has not yet made a decision about whether she will run for California governor in 2026a decision she is expected to make by late summerhowever, a newly released survey now provides an early temperature check about how California voters feel about her potential candidacy.

The poll conducted by POLITICO and UC Berkeleys Citrin Center shows a mixed reaction to a hypothetical Harris bid for California governor. Individuals who were polled were asked to qualify their feelings about a Harris run by selecting from a range of descriptive words, including joyful, mostly excited, indifferent, irritated, outraged, hopeless, or other. Respondents were allowed to select multiple options.

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The survey polled two pools of voters: those registered to vote in California and those considered policy influencers. The results revealed two different takeaways about how California voters feel about a potential Governor Harris.

Among registered Democratic voters, Kamala Harris received overwhelmingly enthusiastic responses. Thirty-three percent said they felt joyful about Harris possible run for Californias highest office, and another 41% said they were mostly excited. Those who felt negatively about Harris jumping into the race were in the single digits, and another quarter of Democrats said they were indifferent about the prospect.

Maybe not surprisingly, a majority of registered Republican voters in California recorded their responses as either irritated or outraged. But given Democrats significant advantage among California voters, Democratic voters enthusiasm suggests the governorship could be hers for the taking.

Despite some concerns about Harris dominating the field should she decide to run, several have already thrown their names in the hat, including California Lieutenant Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, former Congresswoman Katie Porter, former Biden Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, and others. Current Gov. Gavin Newsom is term-limited and is unable to run for a third term. He is among a list of Democrats expected to make a bid for president in 2028.

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA  AUGUST 12: U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a visit to Chabot Space & Science Center on August 12, 2022 in Oakland, California. Kamala Harris wrapped up a two day trip to Northern California with a tour of the Chabot Space & Science Center. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

However, among voters considered policy influencers, Harris received lukewarm support. Thirty-six percent of those voters concluded that they feel indifferent about Harris potential bid to serve as the Golden States chief executive. As Politico reports, it harkens back to Kamala Harris difficulty in rallying full-throttle support in California during her first presidential campaign in 2019. A Republican strategist told the outlet, The buzz on her was better outside of California than it was in California.

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Of course, Harris national popularity has skyrocketed since becoming the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee last year. While she was not successful in her bid to deny President Donald Trump a second term in the White House, she managed to acquire the third highest amount of votes by any presidential candidate in only 107 days (Harris notably jumped in the race last minute after President Joe Biden dropped out three months before Election Day).

Supporters of Harris have applauded the former vice presidents 2024 run given the circumstances (including her untethered association with President Biden among voters). That is likely why Harris has not yet taken off the table the possibility of running for president again in 2028. Harris, who is relatively young by political standards at 60, could also choose to run for president beyond 2028.

After several months of remaining quiet about President Trumps first months back in office, Harris broke her silence while giving remarks at the annual Leading Women Defined Summit.

Harris told the room of Black women, We are seeing organizations stay quiet. We are seeing those who are capitulating to clearly unconstitutional threats. She continued, And these are the things that we are witnessing each day in these last few months in our country, and it understandably creates a great sense of fear. Because, you know, there were many things that we knew would happen.

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Harris then elicited roars from the audience when she said, Im not here to say I told you so.

More must-reads:
NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  New Mexico schools will soon become phone-free. Senate Bill 11 requires each school district in the state to implement a policy for the use of phones by students. It also sets aside $10 million to reimburse schools for phone storage equipment, like phone lockers or magnetically locked phone pouches like the ones already in Taos schools. With plenty of community members both supporting and opposing phone-free schools, KRQE asked viewers via social media if they agreed with the new law.

Do not disturb: Taos schools see success locking up student cell phones

Over 61% of viewers agreed with the new policy, voicing support for limiting phones in classrooms. The main argument for removing phones during class hours is the distractions they can cause, diverting students attention from their education. Some cite examples of schools that have already implemented similar policies. No phones in [the] classroom! No phones from first bell to last bell. It can be done. Rio Rancho Middle School is a prime example. Kids must have phones in backpacks/lockers all day. They survive and teachers dont spend their day telling them to put their phones away, one viewer said. Another viewer described their schools no-phone policy: First time is a warning, second time the teacher takes it and the student can pick [it] up at the end of the day, third time the phone is given to the office for an adult to pick up. Many point to New Mexicos low national rank in education as the reason to remove cell phones from the equation.

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Nearly 39% of viewers disagreed with the law, arguing that phones in classrooms are sometimes necessary. One of the main reasons for letting students keep their phones is contact in emergencies because, as many parents say, schools are not timely or urgent enough with notifications. One viewer said they should be able to have [their] phones in case of an emergency! Many point to the school shooting statistics in the U.S. as the reason for students to keep their phones on them at all times. Another viewer says phones are necessary for safety purposes. Record out-of-line staff, record for evidence, and getting a hold of emergency personnel for life-saving measures.

New Mexico schools will soon become phone-free

Some viewers were more on the fence, offering various compromises. One viewer weighed in: in the classroom during instruction, no. In between class, lunch and recess, yes. Others are critical of the hefty cost of installing equipment like phone lockers or pouches. Many viewers point out the fact that students in the past have gone through their school years without cell phones, while others argue that times have changed drastically and phones have become an essential part of our lives. Regardless of personal opinions, the new phone-free schools policy will be implemented by August 1 statewide.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The value of built-up vehicles exported from South Korea rose by 1.2% year-on-year to US$6.24 billion in March 2025, with higher shipments to other Asian countries offsetting declining exports to the US - ahead of the introduction of new import tariffs in that country, according to data released by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

By region, exports to North America fell by 8.4% last month to US$3.27 billion, due mainly to an 11% drop in shipments to the US to US$2.78 billion, while exports to the EU fell by 3% to US$780 million. By contrast, exports to other countries in Asia surged by 63% to US$660 million, while exports to the Middle East rose by 21% to US$490 million.

In terms of volumes, overall outbound shipments of vehicles from South Korea fell by 2.4% to 240,874 units, including 41,969 hybrid models and 20,757 battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Hyundai-Kia is South Koreas largest exporter, followed by GM Korea. Vehicle sales in South Korea, including imports, rose by 2.4% to 149,512 units in March, while domestic production increased by 1.5% to 370,836 units.

In response to the US import tariff hikes, a Ministry spokesperson confirmed: The South Korean government is implementing support measures for the auto industry and will respond flexibly while closely monitoring the situation in the industry and the progress of tariff negotiations with the US.

Last week the government announced it would provide KRW2 trillion (US$1.35 billion) in additional liquidity for the automotive sector, in addition to the previously announced KRW13 trillion in policy financing.

"South Korea vehicle exports rise slightly in March" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand.




Stock markets rallied as President Donald Trump has exempted the reciprocal tariffs on smartphones, computers, and other electronic devices and components, including semiconductors, according to a guidance issued last Friday.

Earlier this month, Trump slapped a 145% tariff on Chinese goods  a move that put pressure on tech giants like Apple, which relies heavily on Chinese manufacturing for iPhones and other devices.

Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter 

Trump's latest move lowered that level to 20% for China-made electronic components, but it didn't rule out the prospect of steeper levies that could squeeze tech companies' profit margins.

The White House said the decision was meant to give companies more time to bring production back to the U.S.

Related: Secretary Lutnick pours cold water on tech tariff exemptions

White House deputy press secretary Kush Desai said that Trump has made it clear America cannot rely on China to manufacture critical technologies such as semiconductors, chips, smartphones, and laptops.

Tech companies like Apple benefit from the exemptions as China produces 80% of iPads and more than half of Mac computers, according to data from Evercore ISI.

Apple (AAPL) stock surged nearly 7.5% higher intraday before closing up 2.2% on April 14.

Even with key electronics temporarily spared from Trumps steep reciprocal tariffs, Apple faces other headwindsmost notably, weakening iPhone sales.

Apple stock is down 19% year-to-date.Bloomberg/Getty Images

iPhone sales dip in China

Apples (AAPL) share of the global smartphone market fell by one point to 18% in 2024, while Chinese Android brands Oppo, Xiaomi, and Vivo together captured 30% of the market, according to Counterpoint Research's data.

That weakness showed up in its most recent earnings. On Jan. 30, Apple reported record revenue and profit for the fiscal first quarter ended Dec. 28, 2024, but iPhone sales lagged.

Related: Analysts reset Apple stock price targets amid earnings, Trump tariffs

The company reported record revenue of $124.3 billion, a 4% increase from a year earlier. Net income reached a record $36.33 billion, or $2.40 a diluted share, up from $33.92 billion, or $2.28, in the year-earlier period.

Apple's iPhone revenue declined nearly 1% to $69.14 billion. The iPhone remains the company's biggest sales driver, accounting for 55.6% of the revenue in the quarter.

Sales in the Greater China region, Apple's biggest overseas market, declined 11% in the December quarter due to increased competition from local brands and regulatory challenges affecting the availability of Apple Intelligence features.
Protesters disrupted Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greenes town hall, including two who were tased by police at the event, according to a report.

Two people were tased and at least six people were removed as the Republican Congresswoman spoke at a town hall at Acworth Community Center in her home state of Georgia on Tuesday, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Three individuals were charged in connection over the disruption, including one who was charged with disorderly conduct, police told the outlet.

A protester resists being removed by an Acworth Police officer as Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene takes part in a town hall (EPA)

Footage posted on social media appeared to capture the moment one protester was tased.

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One clip showed a man wearing a black hoodie surrounded by five officers in the corner of the room, appearing to resist arrest. The protester can be heard yelling an expletive before hes seen on camera getting tased.

The crowd can be heard cheering and clapping after the stun gun went off.

Greene then says: This is a peaceful town hall.

The Independent has reached out to Acworth Police for more information.

Are you really doing this? another protester  a man in a gray hoodie  repeated as two police officers physically forced him out of the room, a separate video shows. The officers kept telling him to stop as the protester appeared to try to break free from their grips.

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As the chaotic group nears the door to exit the town hall, one of the officers can be seen tumbling to the ground, bringing the gray hoodie-sporting man with him.

Another protester resists being removed by police (EPA)

In a separate clip, a protester holding up a Jail 4 inside traders sign can be seen being escorted from the town hall.

The sign appeared to be alluding to Greenes decision to heed President Donald Trumps advice and buy stocks last week as the market tanked due to his sweeping tariff plan. Hours later, he issued a 90-day pause on most of the levies.

The congresswoman bought stock in big brands like Lululemon, Dell Computer, Amazon, and the parent of Restoration Hardware after they dropped by around 40 percent on average late last week, the Associated Press reported.

Greene speaks to reporters after her chaotic town hall (AP)

After the event, Greene praised the protesters removal.

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Im glad they got thrown out, she said, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Thats exactly what I wanted to see happen.

Greenes town hall interruptions mark the latest backlash that Trump-aligned Republicans have faced at town halls in their home states.

Last month, town hall attendees confronted Indiana Rep. Victoria Spartz over her stances, including her refusal to call for the resignation of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after the so-called Signalgate texts were exposed. The crowd then burst into a chant of lock him up.

Weeks earlier, fellow Georgia Rep. Rich McCormick was met with constituents boos and angry questions at his town hall. One attendee asked what the Republican Congressman planned to do to rein in the megalomaniac in the White House?

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Also in February, a 54-year-old veteran was escorted out of a town hall following a shouting match with North Carolina Rep. Chuck Edwards.

And you wonder why folks dont want to do town halls anymore? Edwards quipped during the event.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, one of President Donald Trump's most loyal allies in the House, faced several protesters who were removed by police for disrupting her town hall on Tuesday.

Police said at least six attendees were escorted out without incident, while three others were arrested -- two of whom were stunned with a Taser during their removal.

The event was held at the Acworth Community Center in Greene's home state of Georgia on Tuesday, with disruptions breaking out almost immediately after the congresswoman took the stage.

PHOTO: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene speaks at a town hall in Cobb County, Ga., on April 15, 2025. (Pool via ABC News)

MORE: Grassley gets hammered in Iowa, scuffles at Marjorie Taylor Greene town hall

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"Well, welcome everyone," Greene said, kicking off the meeting as police removed at least three protesters. "Thank you, Thank you to our great police officers This is not a political rally. This is not a protest. If you stand up and want to protest, if you want to shout and chant, we will have you removed, just like that man was thrown out."

At one point, a man was tased for not cooperating with police as they tried to escort him out for interrupting the meeting.

PHOTO: Police grab a man at Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's town hall event in Cobb County, Ga., on April 15, 2025. (Pool via ABC News)

"This is a peaceful town hall. Now this is a peaceful town hall, ladies and gentlemen, this should not have to happen," the Greene said in response.

MORE: Marjorie Taylor Greene to head new DOGE House subcommittee with plans to cut 'waste'

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While speaking at the town hall, Greene accused the media of "trying to defend an illegal alien that is a member of MS-13 that was deported to his home country, El Salvador. That is shameful and that should never happen," she said, referring to Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man who ICE officials have said was sent to El Salvador by error in March.

PHOTO: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene speaks at a town hall in Cobb County, Ga., on April 15, 2025. (Pool via ABC News)

Following this, another protester was removed from Greene's event.

"Bye," Greene said. "Just like that illegal alien," she said, despite Abrego Garcia's legal status.

Outside of the disruptions, Rep. Greene did receive continuous support from the audience, which had about 80 people in attendance. Outside the venue, protesters lined up on the street.

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Following the rally, Greene told reporters the protesters were "out of line," saying there was a place designated outside of the venue for the protesters "because we support their First Amendment right."

Protesters tased, arrested at Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's Georgia town hall originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
A man was arrested Tuesday after police said he tussled with law enforcement and obstructed justice at a town hall for Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder

Three people were arrested, two of them shocked with a Taser and about six people were escorted out of the building as Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene held a town hall in Acworth Tuesday.

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene speaks with reporters after a raucous town hall. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder

We arent going to be intimidated by funded Democrats that want to come in and scream and yell, Greene said after the meeting at the Acworth Community Center in Cobb County. A town hall is information for our constituents, and this is not a political rally, this is not a campaign rally, and town halls are extremely important. Im glad they got thrown out, thats exactly what I wanted to see happen.

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The first arrest came just after the town hall began when one man loudly booed Greene and was dragged into the hallway by police and shocked with a Taser at least twice. Shortly after he was taken away, police could be seen scuffling with another man in the crowd, eventually using the Taser on him as well.

A woman was arrested near the end of the event after she shouted profanities at Greene while she was on the stage.

A woman is arrested after police said she violated an ordinance on using vulgarity at a Marjorie Taylor Greene town hall in Acworth. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder

According to police, the first man was charged with misdemeanor simple battery on a police officer and misdemeanor obstruction. The second man was charged with misdemeanor simple battery on a police officer and felony obstruction, and the woman was charged with violating a city ordinance on vulgar language, a misdemeanor.

Greene spent the roughly hour-long town hall praising President Donald Trumps second term, crediting him with lowering border crossings, cutting government waste and seeking a ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors.

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A long-time Trump ally and conservative firebrand, Greene has gone from being banished from House committees a few years ago to now chairing the subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is part of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

A heated political climate

Greene was one of only a handful of Congressional Republicans who planned a town hall during the current two-week recess, which comes about a month after party leadership advised lawmakers to avoid in-person town halls, according to reports.

The north Georgia congresswoman held the town hall in the more left-leaning corner of her otherwise ruby red district. Greene told reporters after the town hall that she had been planning the event since January.

Other Republicans, including Georgia Congressman Rich McCormick, have seen fiery town hall meetings where they have been grilled by peeved voters on issues like Trumps executive powers and Elon Musks DOGE and its cuts to federal programs.

A protestor is escorted out of Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greenes Acworth town hall. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder

Democrats said the angry interactions are a sign of dissatisfaction with Trumps new administration. Republicans largely dismissed them as paid protesters or rabble rousers traveling in from out of the district and recommended elected officials host telephone town halls or engage with constituents in other ways meant to minimize public disruptions.

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The crowd at Greenes town hall was mostly friendly, but some constituents could be heard scoffing or otherwise expressing their unhappiness  several interrupted the event by shouting or, in one case, unfurling a sign reading Jail 4 Inside Traders.

Alleged insider trading

Greene went into the town hall embroiled in what opponents call an insider trading scandal.

A Congressional report shows Greene bought between $21,000 and $315,000 in stocks on April 8 and 9, the day before and the day that Trump announced a pause on his tariff plan. The tariffs had put the market into a tailspin and the announcement of the pause caused a surge, allowing anyone who bought low to make a tidy profit.

Democrats allege that Greene made the trades with foreknowledge of the pause in violation of insider trading laws. Greene rejects the charges as a partisan smear.

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Greene told reporters she had no advanced knowledge of the tariff pause.

I have a fiduciary agreement with my portfolio manager. I dont place my buys myself, she said. Thats something that my portfolio manager does for me, and he did a great job. Guess what he did? He bought the dip. And thats what anybody that has any financial sense does when they know the markets going to be going down. That was obvious to everyone.

An imperfect screen

A protestor inside Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greenes Acworth town hall. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder

Greenes office made efforts to screen attendees for Tuesdays meeting, requiring them to fill out a form in advance that included their home address and then show ID at the door to prove their identities. Greenes staff screened attendees for residency in the district, but one of the men who was arrested carried an ID that placed him outside of it, according to police.

Reporters were told not to interview any attendees, and rather than taking questions from the audience, she answered questions that people had written and submitted when they signed up for the town hall.

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Most of the questions were friendly, though a few more hostile queries made their way into the program, including Why are you such a coward in the face of an obvious fascist takeover?

Greene laughed off her detractors questions and characterized them as misinformed, earning applause from the crowd when she did so.

She told reporters she read pre-screened questions because of eye trouble.

A man shouts Free Kilmar at a town hall for Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. The Trump administration mistakenly deported Maryland father Kilmar Abrego Garcia to a notorious El Salvadoran prison. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder

We always have people write down their questions. The problem is, its difficult to read everyones handwriting, she said. So normally, they write down a question and they put them in a fishbowl for me, and I usually have to put on my reading glasses and read them, but it was much easier to have them type out their questions on the form when they signed up for the town hall.

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Greenes district is one of the most conservative in the state, stretching from the solidly red northwest corner of the state to include northwest Cobb County, which is part of metro Atlanta. Cobb was once a Republican stronghold but has become much friendlier to Democrats over the years as a younger and more diverse population moves in, particularly in the southern part of the county.

Over 100 protesters were gathered outside as Greene spoke  at times, their chants or the honks of passing cars could be heard during the town hall.

Among the crowd was Clarence Blalock, a Democrat who plans to run against Greene when she is up for reelection in 2026.

Protestors outside Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greenes Acworth town hall. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder

Blalock said Democrats in the district feel like Greene likes to make a big show but doesnt listen to their needs.

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She screens her questions, she screens her people, everything is pre-screened, so this is not a real town hall, he said. If you can pick your questions beforehand, and your people, and you make sure theyre Republicans  and even to contact her, youve got to put in your ZIP+4, which is not necessary at all. She has no representation in the district.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Dozens of Erie residents gathered in Perry Square to make their voices heard.

The group that met downtown is speaking out against the Trump Administration and their policies.

Erie Arts & Culture appoints new executive director

They chose Tax Day because they believe tax breaks being proposed by the current administration only benefit the wealthy.

One protester said billionaires control a tremendous amount of assets around the world and Americans are not represented in the government like they should be.

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Former Erie officer given $275k for claims of sexual harassment, discrimination

Those are the people that are not thinking about the rest of the country or the people in need. theyre only thinking about themselves, said Teresa Power-Natale, a protester. Im carrying our flag because in my opinion, our country represents all of us and Im taking back our flag and making sure that this is our country.

This group is organizing another rally this Saturday from noon until 3 p.m. at Perry Square as well.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.
Plans to build a private tunnel to Wolfgang Porsches villa in the heart of Salzburg have sparked protests in the Austrian city.

The 81-year-old chairman of the supervisory board of Porsche Automobil Holding owns a property on the Kapuzinerberg, a historic hill where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozarts sister, Nannerl, once gave piano lessons. Around a century ago, author Stefan Zweig also lived there. The current above-ground access road is narrow and considered impractical.

Under the proposed plan, a 500-metre-long tunnel, complete with an underground garage, would be built beneath the mountain to provide improved access to Porsches villa.

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On Wednesday, activists unfurled a banner on the Kapuzinerberg reading, And Porsche said, Let there be a hole.

The local authority says Porsche paid 40,000 ($45,500) to build the tunnel on public property  a sum deemed appropriate by a city-commissioned expert report. But opponents argue the fee is far too low given Porsches wealth.

Among the critics is activist Tobi Rosswog, who this week organized the Salzburg Porsche Tunnel Festival, distributing flyers and hosting a public discussion. Police say turnout at the protests has so far been small.

Wolfgang Porsche declined to comment when contacted by dpa.

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Political opposition to the tunnel includes the Green Party and the Communist Party. We reject special treatment for the super-rich, said Green Party member Ingeborg Haller.

The Salzburg municipal council is expected to vote in mid-May on whether to amend the citys land-use plan to allow the tunnel project to proceed.

A small protest is also planned for Thursday in the German city of Stuttgart in solidarity with the Salzburg demonstrations.
Update at 8:20 a.m. on 4-16-25: Syracuse Police have come forward with an update on the earlier incident, calling it a fictitious bomb threat.

While every threat is taken seriously, its important to note that shopping malls and other high traffic public spaces are common targets for fictitious or non-credible threats. Nonetheless, our department follows strict protocols to thoroughly assess and manage each situation, said police.

No suspicious devices were found, and there is no danger to the public.

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Destiny USA has since reopened.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV)  Syracuse Police ask that the public stay away from Destiny USA as they work to investigate a suspicious incident.

A large police presence was reported at the mall around 6:30 a.m. April 16.

According to Syracuse Police, the incident happened near the pedestrian bridge.

NewsChannel 9 learned from a mall walker that those inside were evacuated.

We will update you as we learn more.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSYR.
Will the federal government cut off its subsidies to public broadcasters this year? The New York Post reports that the White House's "rescissions" plan will include a request that Congress withdraw $1.1 billion already appropriated for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). That wouldn't be absolutely everything Washington spends on public mediaThe New York Times notes that the administration doesn't plan to claw back some money being spent on emergency communicationsbut it's close.

If you've been following the politics of public broadcasting for a while, this will sound familiar. There is a long history of Republicans calling for an end to such subsidies, but they have never actually done the deed. They often don't even reduce the money that goes to NPR, PBS, and the restand when they do, it's just a short time before the broadcasters' budget is higher than it was before. Instead, the usual effect of these standoffs is for the networks to appease the GOP by hiring some conservatives and/or getting rid of some programming conservatives don't like. That pattern is so well-established that I've come to see those hirings and firings as the point: Republican leaders use the threat of cutting the broadcasters loose as a way to keep them in line. President Donald Trump certainly hasn't been shy about using federal purse strings to bend institutions to his will, so it's not hard to assume that he's doing the same thing here that he's been doing with, say, universities.

But the dynamics may be different this time. There is a chancea chancethat this year the CPB's subsidies will actually stop.

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There are two reasons to think that. One is the drama unfolding at the federal government's other big radio/TV operation, the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which funds the Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and the like. Trump tried to remake that empire in his own image during his first term, but this time he seems to have decided that that's fruitless: He issued an executive order last month to shut the agency down "to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law." What's more, he did that even after the Voice of America reportedly reacted to the administration's faultfinding by cracking down on criticisms of the president.

That isn't what you do if you want to MAGAfy the Voice of America. It's what you do if you figure MAGA has enough megaphones already and doesn't need a fight to add the Voice of America to its collectionor if you'd just rather get revenge on an institution than take it over. The same thought process could be at work with NPR and PBS. Sometimes the king would rather lop off a head than watch someone bend the knee.

The second reason is the very nature of a rescission bill. When Trump called for cutting off the CPB in his "skinny budget" of 2017, he was basically writing fanfic. The actual budget was produced by Congress, with all the logrolling, lobbying, and compromises that entails; by the time the legislation reached the floor, the CPB's subsidies were untouched. This approach, by contrast, would be sure to bring the question to Congress for a vote. What's more, it would be an up-or-down vote on a matter where both the president and the party base would like to see the broadcasters go down.

It's not that Trump is philosophically opposed to mixing the broadcast booth with the state. If anything, he's been eager to use federal power to twist arms in the press: The Federal Communications Commission has been wielding its authority as a crude hammer under its current chairman, Brendan Carr, a man willing to go to war over even Saturday Night Live on his boss's behalf. But it is not unprecedented for a president who hates much of the media to deploy big government as a weapon in one moment and to pull government back in the next. Richard Nixon used everything from antitrust threats to the Fairness Doctrine when extracting concessions from broadcasters, so he was in no sense a limited-government guy. But he also realized that allowing more competition in the TV market could hurt his media foes, and that thought led eventually to one of the most important deregulatory acts of the 1970s: the Open Skies policy, which swept away entry barriers in the satellite market.

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All that said, the rescission bill's success is not guaranteed. The proposal was reportedly drafted by White House budget director Russell Vought, an ideological opponent of this sort of spending; it is conceivable, though not especially likely, that another faction of the administration will change it before it reaches Congress. And if it does reach Congress, it will face a narrow (though still plausible) path in the Senate.

Yet for the first time in ages, I think something like this might pass. The last time that thought seemed realistic was during the Gingrich Congress of the '90snot when Republicans threatened to zero out the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, but immediately afterward, when the CPB itself signaled its willingness to evolve into an independent trust fund that didn't take money from the feds. There were proposals then that would have eased the broadcasters onto their own two feet (by, say, giving them a parting gift of proceeds from spectrum auctions) rather than suddenly cutting them off in the middle of a fiscal year. It was the sort of compromise that one could imagine becoming policy.

Once it became clear that the federal funds would keep flowing, such notions fell by the wayside. If this bill goes through, a lot of broadcasters may find themselves wishing they took that path back then.

The post Are Public Broadcasters About To Lose Their Subsidies? appeared first on Reason.com.
Telent has been awarded a contract by Network Rail to implement a telecoms renewal programme across the Wales and Western Region in the UK.

This initiative marks the first telecoms-only framework awarded for Control Period 7 (CP7), which is part of Network Rail's five-year planning and funding cycle.

The move aims to improve rail services from London to Penzance, including areas such as Bristol, the Cotswolds, and the entirety of Wales.

Under this contract, Telent will focus on upgrading essential Operational Telecoms systems and renewing Station Information and Security Systems (SISS) at various Network Rail managed stations, including Bristol Temple Meads.

Mobilisation for the project has commenced, with Telent collaborating with Network Rail to strategise the renewal programme.

The design phase for fixed transmission network (FTN) power renewals is currently in progress for more than 480 sites throughout the region.

Network Rail Western and Wales regional telecoms asset and performance manager Richard Cundy said: Upgrading our telecoms infrastructure is essential to maintaining a safe, dependable, and efficient railway for passengers.

With Telents knowledge and expertise, this programme of works will modernise critical communications systems across the Wales and Western Region, improving passenger assistance and supporting regional rail operations.

The telecoms renewal programme is scheduled for completion by March 2029, coinciding with the end of the CP7 project timeline, with potential plans for a contract extension into Control Period 8 (CP8).

Telent rail director Kevin Bonanno said: Building on the success of previous successful projects for Wales and Western, Telent are proud to be delivering this vital telecom renewals programme with Network Rail, that will see us enhance communications systems across the Region.

Our expertise in critical railway technologies coupled with our extensive domain expertise makes us well-positioned to support Network Rail with this key infrastructure project.

Earlier this month, Telent obtained a contract to maintain and manage customer information systems for Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) across the UK.

"Telent wins telecoms renewal contract for Wales and Western region in UK" was originally created and published by Railway Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




David Paul Morris / Bloomberg / Getty Images Palantir CEO Alex Karp during the AIPCon conference in Palo Alto, California, on March 13, 2025





KEY TAKEAWAYS

The major U.S. equities indexes edged higher at midday Monday after President Trump temporarily exempted smartphones, computers, and other electronics from his "reciprocal" tariffs.

Palantir Technologies shares jumped after the North Atlantic Treaty Organization announced it acquired the firm's artificial intelligence-enabled military system.

DaVita shares fell after the kidney disease treatment company revealed it had suffered a ransomware attack.







The major U.S. equities indexes edged higher at midday Monday after President Trump temporarily exempted smartphones, computers, and other electronics from his "reciprocal" tariffs.

Palantir Technologies (PLTR) shares jumped after the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) announced it acquired the firm's artificial intelligence-enabled military system.

Shares of Apple (AAPL), which manufactures a lot of its products in China, rose on the temporary pause of tariffs on consumer electronics.

Intel (INTC) shares surged after it struck a deal to sell 51% of its programmable chip business Altera to private equity firm Silver Lake.

DaVita (DVA) shares fell after the kidney disease treatment company revealed it had suffered a ransomware attack.

Hilton Worldwide Holdings (HLT) shares also lost ground after Goldman Sachs reportedly downgraded the hotel chain to a "neutral" from a "buy" rating, as it issued a downbeat outlook on U.S. lodging firms.

Crude oil futures slid and the yield on the 10-year Treasury note edged lower. The U.S. dollar lost ground against the euro, yen and pound. Prices for major cryptocurrencies rose.

Read the original article on Investopedia
We recently published a list of 10 Best Bargain Stocks to Buy in May. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE:TM) stands against other best bargain stocks to buy in May.

While increasing tariffs and a hard sell-off have resulted in uncertainty, Neuberger Berman, an investment manager, expects that negotiations can bring some relief to initial tariff proposals. Furthermore, the firm anticipates a sharply slower growth than a US recession. Also, it believes that stimulus in Europe and China can rejuvenate global industrial activity, and the firm recommends styles, sectors, and regions that are most geared to it.

Investment Style- Where Do Opportunities Lie?

Given that a significant amount of tariff shock has now been priced in, Neuberger Berman is constructive on global equities for the remainder of the year. The firm expects that an ongoing recovery in the global industrial economy might be dampened but not derailed. The underlying momentum in the goods economy is expected to support equities that are most levered to it. Furthermore, the firm prefers value over growth (which is relatively expensive) and small caps over large caps. While an overdose of growth-inhibiting policy can impact the relatively healthy economy and push it into recession, the investment management firm believes that the US hasnt yet reached that point. As per the firm, performance during the decline demonstrates relative strength in some of the more cyclical economic sectors in the US and around the world. The goods-oriented sectors, regions, and styles continue to outperform amidst the recent sell-off.

READ ALSO: 7 Best Stocks to Buy For Long-Term and 8 Cheap Jim Cramer Stocks to Invest In.

What Lies Ahead?

S&P Global expects inflation to remain closer to 3.0% in 2025 as tariffs raise the prices along the domestic supply chain as well as for the end consumers. For 2026, the firm expects growth to pick up after a slow start. This is because of the abatement of uncertainty associated with the structure of tariffs and the further easing of the policy rate by the Federal Reserve. Also, the growth is expected to be aided partly because of a more favorable growth backdrop in the eurozone, which can help expand US exports.

Neuberger Berman opines that a combination of improving fundamentals and stabilizing risks increased the optimism in the energy sector. As per the firm, increased global industrial activity is expected to continue to buoy oil demand and keep prices aloft. Furthermore, energy seems to be the most undervalued sector in the S&P 500 relative to the current and expected earnings growth. The investment management firm believes that much of the negative news, including regulatory concerns and geopolitical risks, seem to be factored in. This suggests that energy stocks can increase as the sentiment improves.
Tullow Oil has reached an agreement to divest its Kenyan subsidiary, Tullow Kenya, to Gulf Energy for a minimum consideration of $120m (90.48m).

The deal was signed by its own subsidiary Tullow Overseas Holdings.

The transaction's payment structure includes an initial $40m upon completion, another $40m due by 30 June 2026, or with the approval of the field development plan, whichever comes first, and the final $40m to be paid over five years, starting from the third quarter of 2028.

Additionally, Tullow retains the right to a royalty payment, contingent on certain conditions, and a back-in option for a 30% stake in any future development phases at no cost.

This deal is not only accretive to Tullow's equity and leverage metrics but also expedites the company's deleveraging efforts.

This transaction will be classified as a significant transaction under the UK Listing Rules (UKLR), specifically UKLR 7 as updated on 29 July 2024 .

Tullow interim chief executive officer and chief financial officer Richard Miller said: Todays announcement marks another step forward in Tullows accelerated deleveraging journey with near-term cash receipts of $80m and mitigating significant capital exposure, whilst retaining a material option on the future development of the project. I am confident that the proceeds from this transaction, coupled with the $300m from the disposal of our assets in Gabon, position the business strongly for a successful refinancing.

We look forward to working with Gulf Energy, who have the requisite financing to complete the transaction and are a strong and credible counterparty, and by doing so, unlock material value for the people of Kenya.

Last month, Tullow Oil agreed to sell its Gabon assets to Gabon Oil Company for $300m, net of tax.

The deal encompasses Tullow's Gabonese assets, which are expected to produce 10,000 barrels of oil per day by 2025 and include around 36 million barrels of proven reserves.

"Tullow Oil agrees preliminary terms for $120m Kenyan asset sale" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




Rutherford County library officials lost a consultant for a director-search after deciding "to protect children" by removing books on transgender topics.

The Rutherford County Library System Board had been working with Deiters & Todd Library Consulting in Chicago to pursue director applicants to replace Rita Shacklett, who retired early in 2024.

First Amendment issue: Divided Rutherford County Library System Board bans transgender books 'to protect children'

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The consulting firm's services remained prior to the March 17 majority decision in a 5-3 vote to "remove material that promotes, encourages, advocates for or normalizes transgenderism or gender confusion in minors."

The same five in the majority of the board also voted to remove the picture book, "Me & My Dysphoria Monster" from the library system. The book is by author Laura Kate Dale and Illustrated by Ang Hui Qing.

"Deiters & Todd stepped away from the search because of recent actions taken by the board," consulting firm partner Jim Deiters told The Daily News Journal.

"As working librarians, we were deeply concerned by those decisions," said Deiters, adding that his firm returned the initial payment for the search to the library board. "Not an easy thing to do, but the right thing."

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Library board chairman Phil King said a search committee soon will move ahead to examine applicants for the system's director job.

2023 book banning decisions: Library supporters upset by board pulling 4 books say they're 'fighting against censorship'

2 protesters hold signs at recent board meeting for legal counsel

Jessica Robertson of Murfreesboro, left, and Heather Ahmie of Rutherford County hold signs Monday, April 14, 2025, to protest the Rutherford County Library System Board's recent majority decision to "remove material that promotes, encourages, advocates for or normalizes transgenderism or 'gender confusion' in minors." The board met in private executive session for legal counsel Monday in a conference room of the library system's administrative offices while Robertson and Ahmie held their signs outside by the edge of the parking lot.

The board on Monday met in private executive session in Murfreesboro with Nashville attorney Robert "Bob" Burns "to discuss and seek input from counsel" pertaining to decisions to remove the books in question, he confirmed.

While the meeting took place within a conference room of the library system's administrative offices, two protesters upset by the decisions to remove books stood outside by the edge of the parking lot holding signs.

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The sign Jessica Robertson of Murfreesboro offered the following message: "EVERBODY BELONGS AT THE LIBRARY."

"I don't know why they are taking books off the shelf that represent people who exist in this world," Robertson said.

Robertson recently told the board during the public comment part of the March 17 meeting that she's the mother of a transgender child.

Complaint upsets officials: Speaker complaint on book on transgender topic disrupts Murfreesboro school board meeting

Fellow book-freedom advocate Heather Ahmie of Rutherford County held a sign saying, "No room for BIGOTRY on our Shelves."

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"Where does it end?" Ahmie told The Daily News Journal. "You can't start erasing people from the public library, which is there for everyone."

The board member's private executive session for legal counsel took place about a week before they meet next at 5 p.m. April 21 at Smyrna Public Library. The meeting agenda is yet to be announced on the library system's webpage.

'It was a hard decision': Murfreesboro school board bans book on transgender topic after December meeting disruption

Board's book-removal decisions draw national opposition

Jessica Robertson, right, sits in audience Monday, March 17, at the Rutherford County Courthouse to join others opposing a Rutherford County Library System Board agenda issue calling for removal of books promoting "transgenderism."

The library board officials also have also faced complaints about the book removal decisions in letters from three national free speech advocacy organizations:

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Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression in Philadelphia.

National Coalition Against Censorship in New York;

The Freedom to Read Foundation in Chicago.

Free speech challenges: Rutherford library officials draw national opposition for removing books on transgender issues

Burns, the library board's attorney, told The Daily News Journal that he thought the letters were reasonably well-written.

"I reviewed and considered some, but not all, of the information and points contained in the letters," Burns said.

'We are banished': Rutherford County Board of Education book banning upsets free speech advocates

Freedom to Read Foundation leader shares concerns with board

The letter from the Freedom to Read Foundation came from Deborah Caldwell Stone, the organization's executive director.

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Stone questioned why the board would remove books based on "moral and religious beliefs" of individuals and organizations, "even though other parents believe these books are important and valued reading materials for their children."

"Such viewpoint discrimination is both unconstitutional and problematic for public institutions, ascourts have consistently held that restricting intended readers access to materials based on viewsexpressed in the books violates the First Amendment rights of library users of all ages," Stone said in her letter.

"The First Amendment protects each persons right to access and read any book in a public librarythat a reasonable person would view as having literary, artistic, political, or scientific value,whether for an adult or for a minor."

More book banning decisions: Rutherford schools removal of 160 more books draws opposition from 1st Amendment advocates

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Reach reporter Scott Broden with news tips or questions by emailing him at sbroden@dnj.com. To support his work with The Daily News Journal, sign up for a digital subscription.

Madelyn Clark of Murfreesboro holds a sign saying, "Leave it on the shelf," Monday, March 17, in the balcony seating area at the Rutherford County Courthouse prior to the majority of Rutherford County Library System Board voting to remove books promoting "transgenderism" and the picture book, "Me & My Dysphoria Monster."

This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Banning transgender books affects Rutherford library director search
LENEXA, Kan.  A consulting firm for manufacturers thats powered by federal money is sharing how federal cuts have impacted their business.

Kansas Democrat Sharice Davids highlighted a bill she said will support local manufacturers. The Congresswoman toured SOR in Lenexa, Kansas Tuesday morning.

The Lenexa manufacturer is supported by Kansas Manufacturing Solutions. KMS recently laid off more than half its staff due to federal funding cuts.

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Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelces steakhouse to open in Kansas City this summer

We were devastated, president and CEO of Kansas Manufacturing Solutions Tiffany Stovall said.

Two weeks ago, the non-profit corporation found out the Trump Administration cut funding to the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program, their primary source of funding.

If manufacturing is as important to the U.S. as we say it is, then we need to put our money where our mouth is, Stovall said. In terms of how we support manufacturing, remembers that 98% of manufacturers in the U.S. are small to medium sized.

KMS laid off seven people, which is more than half of its staff. They provide workforce training and business support to small and mid-sized manufacturers, like SOR.

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Id like to see KMS get their funding back, Burt Benton said.

He led Davids on a tour through the factory.

Benton said over the last 17 years, theyve partnered with KMS on several initiatives, like strategic growth and lean manufacturing.

The benefits that weve seen from MEPs, KMS in particular, pay for themselves, several times over, Benton said, So its disappointing to see the funding go away.

Last year, KMS helped create or retain more than 2,300 jobs, generated $328 million in sales and worked with more than 550 manufacturers statewide.

This is a federal program that literally helps small and mid-sized manufacturers stay competitive, help improve their processes, help with leadership development, Davids said. I would like to prevent the ability of not just this administration or any administration from being able to cut off the funding for such an important program.

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Davids said shes introduced a new piece of legislation, the Defend American Manufacturing Act.

It would require the national institute of standards and technology to renew and award MEP funding annually.

She said its designed to help create good paying Kansas jobs and protect local manufacturers.

This is one of those federal programs that not only pays for itself, but it has untold benefits, Davids said. When it comes to keeping people employed, when it comes to growing market share. When it comes to especially competing for massive economic development projects, like the Panasonic coming in, in De Soto.

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Stovall said she was notified via email Tuesday afternoon with the new terms of the award.

North Kansas City Hospital joins the Mayo Clinic Care Network

KMS said it will now receive federal funding through September. However, the future of that money after September is unclear.

Stovall said theyre exploring options on how to build a sustainable business without MEP funds so that they can continue to serve small to mid-sized manufacturers in Kansas to the best of their ability.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Rep. Elise Stefanik, a key Republican ally of President Donald Trump, is considering a run for governor of New York, a source familiar with her thinking told ABC News.

Stefanik's office didn't immediately comment.

Gov. Kathy Hochul is running for reelection in 2026 in the Empire State and is vying for her second full term in office.

MORE: 'Proud to be a team player,' Stefanik says after Trump pulls UN nomination

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President Donald Trump nominated Stefanik to be the United Nations ambassador and she was replaced as House Republican Conference Chair by Michigan Rep. Lisa McClain.

PHOTO: Elise Stefanik speaks during the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Oxon Hill, Maryland, Feb. 22, 2025. (Alex Wroblewski/AFP via Getty Images)

However, on March 27, a week before her Senate confirmation vote, Trump announced that he was withdrawing her nomination, citing the razor-thin Republican majority in the House of Representatives.

"There are others that can do a good job at the United Nations. Therefore, Elise will stay in Congress, rejoin the House Leadership Team, and continue to fight for our amazing American People," Trump said on Truth Social.

PHOTO: Rep. Elise Stefanik joins Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally at the Grappone Convention Center, Jan. 19, 2024, in Concord, N.H. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

"This is about stepping up as a team, and I am doing that as a leader, to ensure that we can take hold of this mandate and deliver these historic results," Stefanik told Fox News that evening.

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Addison Dick, a spokesman for the New York State Democrats, dismissed the news of Stefanik's possible run, claiming in a statement that the New York GOP "can't field a serious candidate from their pathetic crew of Trump minions."

"New Yorkers want nothing to do with the clown show of Trump loyalists who are only focused on enabling Trump's agenda that is raising costs, gutting health care, and attacking New Yorkers freedoms," he said in a statement.

The upstate New York congresswoman has been rising among the ranks on the Hill for her hard conservative stances.

MORE: Video Who is Elise Stefanik?

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She played a key role in the congressional response to antisemitism on college campuses amid the Israel-Hamas war. She's also accused the United Nations of antisemitism.

PHOTO: New York Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks at a news conference, Feb. 20, 2025, in New York. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP, FILE)

Although largely Democratic, New York state has seen voters shift red over the last couple of years.

Hochul won the 2022 election with just 377,834 votes, roughly 53% of the total vote, beating then U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin. In the 2018 election, then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo won with over 1.4 million votes, roughly 59.55% of the total vote, beating then-Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro.

Rep. Elise Stefanik eyes New York governor seat in 2026, sources say originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WTAJ)  A Philadelphia-based repeat sex offender who was already out on bail was arrested again, and this time, his bail was set at a whopping $10 million.

Craig Coleman, 32, (Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General)

Attorney General Dave Sunday announced more charges against 32-year-old Craig Coleman, alleging Coleman sexually assaulted a 15-year-old. This comes on top of the current charges he faces from 2023 for having child sex abuse material. Sunday noted that Coleman also had a 2017 conviction for producing child pornography and statutory sexual assault.

According to Sunday, Coleman allegedly contacted a 15-year-old girl online. Once he was aware of the girls age, he repeatedly sexually abused her. Sunday alleged that Coleman paid the girl and recorded some of the conduct and then tried to prevent her from cooperating with investigators.

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Based on his previous and present abhorrent conduct, there is no question that this individual is a danger to children, Sunday said. I commend our investigators who acted promptly and professionally to build this case, file appropriate charges, then argue for high bail.

Coleman was also charged with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, corruption of minors and intimidation of witnesses or victims.

Stay up to date with the latest news in the palm of your hand. Click here to download the WTAJ app for Apple and Android devices.

Sunday noted that Coleman posted bail in November 2024 on the 2023 charges and pleaded guilty in January. While awaiting his sentencing, he contacted the 15-year-old.

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The investigation is ongoing, according to Sunday.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ - www.wtaj.com.
Ukraine has unveiled its Not For Sale pavilion at EXPO 2025 in Osaka, Japan. Crowds of visitors have queued to enter the Ukrainian "shop where nothing is for sale". Instead of products, its shelves display items symbolising Russia's war against Ukraine.

Source: Ukrainska Pravda. Zhyttia (Life)

Details: One of the key exhibits is a replica of an antique marble lion sculpture stolen by Russian forces from the Kherson Local History Museum in 2022.

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On the opening day, 13 April, the Ukrainian pavilion attracted 5,000 visitors. The crowd was so large that traffic controllers had to be deployed inside the space.

Veronika Seleha, head of the creative agency Bickerstaff.345, told Ukrainska Pravda. Culture that visitors walked through the pavilion with scanners. Each of the 18 exhibits features a barcode linking to a video explaining the cost Ukrainians are currently paying.

A replica of a lion was produced on a 3D printer in Ivano-Frankivsk

Photo courtesy of the Ukrainian pavilion

"The Lion contains a short video revealing Russian crimes against culture, mass abductions and the planned appropriation of Ukrainian cultural objects. However, we also show the active cultural life of people during the war. Despite everything," Veronika explained.

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"Each artefact represents Ukrainian values: freedom, resilience and dignity.

An antique marble sculpture of a lion from the 5th century BC was stolen by the Russians from the Kherson Local History Museum

"This year, many country pavilions represented culture or carefully wove the cultural aspect into the pavilions. Ireland, France, China, Portugal, Chile. Art Regenerates Life is the theme of the Italy Pavilion. And these are just the examples I've seen.

Our project is about the values we practice. Actions over declarations. The shape is a shop where you can't buy anything as values are not for sale," says Seleha.

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Ukraine's Ministry of Economy oversaw the national pavilion this year, supporting the creative agency's concept to showcase Ukrainian values. The exhibits were 3D-printed in the city of Ivano-Frankivsk in Ukraine's west, with the paint flown to Japan, where the items were finished in blue.

"Naturally, we couldn't miss the opportunity to showcase Ukrainian businesses, so we developed the Values driven economy zone for them. These are artefacts of war from six (different) Ukrainian businesses that remain leaders in their fields or export to the world despite the extreme circumstances," Veronika said.

In a separate area, visitors could view artefacts representing Ukrainian businesses: helmets worn by employees of DTEK, the largest private energy company in Ukraine, who are working to restore electricity; a siren produced by Ajax, a Ukrainian security systems company, damaged by a gunshot; a flask of oil from Ukrnafta, Ukraines oil and natural gas extraction company; and other symbolic items from Ukrainian businesses.

The exhibition in Osaka will run for six months and Ukraine's First Deputy Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko expects it to attract millions of visitors.

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"Every hour, up to 1,500 people visit our pavilion, and over six months, the organisers estimate that 23 million will see it. This is a strategic opportunity to present our values and resilience to the world. Were showing that even under the harshest conditions, Ukrainians continue to fight, innovate and grow," said Svyrydenko.

The pavilions opening was attended by the Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Japan, representatives of Japans Ministry of Economy and other guests who welcomed Ukraines participation in the exhibition.

About the World Expo 2025

EXPO 2025 in Osaka officially opened on Sunday 13 April under the central theme Designing Future Society for Our Lives.

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More than 160 countries and organisations are taking part in the exhibition, showcasing their innovative achievements. Japan has provided Ukraine with free space to participate. The exhibition will run until 13 October 2025.

The World Expo is a symbol of industrialisation and an open platform for presenting technological and scientific progress.

The first Expo was held at the Crystal Palace in London in 1851 under the title Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations. It was the first international forum to reflect on the results of the Industrial Revolution. Interest in the exhibition was so high that over one million people visited it during its six-month run.

Since then, World Expos have been held every few years in major industrial cities around the globe.

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We recently published a list of 10 Best Growth Stocks to Buy According to Billionaires. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER) stands against other best growth stocks to buy according to billionaires.

Can the Stock Market Have a Big Rebound?

The stock market has been on a rollercoaster ride for the past few weeks as the sentiment has quickly shifted from post-election bullishness to being priced in for a slow-down or a recession. The volatility can be estimated by the 19% decrease in the S&P 500 from its recent all-time high. To talk about the current market volatility and the way forward, Fundstrats Tom Lee joined CNBC for an interview. He noted that the market is currently pessimistic as recent data shows that they have priced in a 60% probability of a recession, however, it is essential to note that if the tariff situation de-escalates then the probability of a recession isnt that high. As a result, Lee thinks that there is a big window of opportunity for stocks to rebound, however, this rebound is contingent on the path of tariff de-escalation.

While addressing the concerns that if the market is in a bear market, Lee noted that if we define a bear market by stocks grinding and losing money, then this has been happening since December 2024. However, if you define a bear market as unleashing a type of financial tightening that leads to a recession, the current market does not fit that criteria. Lee acknowledged that it does feel like a bear market for an average person.

Lee also talked about the viable investor strategy under the current circumstances. Firstly, he highlighted that people are fighting two brains at the moment, one is a tactical brain, where people want to know if this is the bottom and be convinced by seeing the stocks rally on bad news. On the other hand, there is the investor or the long-term brain, which suggests that people should have confidence in the US companies to navigate this volatility. Lee noted that he is a buyer of this volatility as he thinks that the de-escalation of tariffs will take place, which will result in a big rebound for stocks.

Our Methodology

To compile a list of the 10 best growth stocks to buy according to billionaires, we used the Finviz stock screener, Seeking Alpha, and Insider Monkeys Billionaire database. Using the screener we aggregated a list of growth stocks that have grown their top-line by more than 30% over the past 3 years and sorted them by market cap. Next, we cross-checked each stocks sales growth from Seeking Alpha and ranked the stocks in ascending order of the number of billionaire investors. Please note that we have also included the hedge funds sentiment around each stock, as of Q4 2024.
Venture Global has started commercial operations at its Calcasieu Pass liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, south of the city of Lake Charles.

The company has also started the sale of low-cost, US LNG to the long-term customers of the project.

The project, notable for its rapid completion, started commercial operations in just 68 months after the final investment decision in August 2019.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) recently gave the green light for full operations at the Calcasieu Pass facility and its associated TransCameron pipeline in Louisiana.

This project will help bolster the US trade, particularly with European allies, through multi-billion-dollar contracts.

Despite facing substantial challenges such as a global pandemic, two hurricanes and a force majeure event related to manufacturing issues with the power island, the project's owner-led approach to construction helped complete the project.

Venture Global CEO Mike Sabel said: I am incredibly proud of our team who have worked relentlessly and diligently to successfully construct and commission our first LNG project. We are excited to reach this milestone and are grateful for our regulators and supply chain partners who have worked with our team to reach commercial operations as efficiently and safely as possible.

The Calcasieu Pass facility covers 432 acres and has a mile of deep waterfront.

It includes 18 liquefaction units capable of processing 626,000 tonnes per annum, arranged in nine blocks, along with three units for gas pre-treatment.

The site offers two berths for loading ships up to 185,000m and has two LNG storage tanks, each with a capacity of 200,000m.

Additionally, the operation includes a 720MW gas turbine power plant with an extra 23MW gas turbine on site.

The facility offers some of the most competitive liquefaction fees in the global market, with rates below $2 per million British thermal units.

Long-term sales and purchase agreements ensure that customers will benefit from low-cost North American LNG throughout the 20-year contract duration.

"Venture Globals Calcasieu Pass LNG export project starts operations" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




When Caledonia Spirits, a Vermont-based distillery known for its Barr Hill Gin, spent four months preparing an order for shipment to Quebec, the company expected their bottles to reach customers across the border.

Instead, after President Donald Trump announced tariffs on Canada in early February, the order was abruptly canceled.

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This decision is leaving the business with potentially unsellable inventory and an uncertain future in the Canadian market, even after the Trump Administration announced a 90-day pause on many non-China tariffs.

The company creates bottles and labels to meet Canadian regulations, meaning they can't easily repurpose the spirits in other markets.

The situation is not unique to Caledonia Spirits. Vermonts Secretary of Commerce, Lindsay Kurrle, described the issue as a major disruption for small businesses exporting to Canada. Vermont producers who have prepared alcohol to be sold in Canada are left with this alcohol that cant just be sold here, Kurrle said at a press conference. Its not an easy fix. It costs money. It takes investments.'

How do the tariffs impact Vermont businesses?

As small businesses across Vermont and the U.S. deal with the financial consequences of shifting trade policies, understanding the impact of tariffs and preparing for sudden changes is proving critical.

Governor Phil Scott acknowledged the challenges, stating that these tariffs are straining relationships between Vermont producers and Canadian retailers.

Its creating this divide, and theyre taking your product off their shelves because they dont want it there anymore, Scott said. Its unfortunate. These are our friends.

When businesses depend on exports, tariffs can shut down vital revenue streams. Finding alternative buyers in a short timeframe isn't always feasible, especially when products are customized for foreign markets.

Businesses that are able to export their goods or rely on imports are often left with two choices: absorb the cost of tariffs and take a financial hit or pass those costs onto their customers through increased prices, which can make them less competitive. Neither option is ideal.
Making six figures should feel like financial freedom  but for one 26-year-old posting to Reddit, its a source of stress as fears of a looming recession weigh heavily on her.

Despite earning a $100K salary, having just $2,500 in monthly expenses, fully paid-off student loans, $7,500 in savings and $40,000 in a 401(k), this Gen Zer, or Zoomer, is still concerned about how a downturn could impact her finances  and how she can stay stable if the economy takes a turn for the worse.

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She's not alone. An Ipsos poll released on April 2 revealed that 61% of Americans believe the U.S. will experience a recession within the next year.

There are many reasons why so many people fear an economic downturn  and why this young person is panicking about the potential fallout. The good news is that there are ways Zoomers and other young adults can prepare for a potential recession and protect their long-term financial health.

Why are so many people worried about a recession

One of the main drivers of todays recession fears is President Trumps tariff policy  especially the introduction of taxes on goods imported into the United States.

Tariffs have become such a major concern that financial firm J.P. Morgan initially estimated the probability of a recession at 40% in late March. However, after Trump announced widespread tariffs would go into effect on dozens of countries  and after several of those countries, including China, began to retaliate  J.P. Morgan raised its estimate to 60%.

The stock market responded by plunging, spooked by fears of rising costs and a potential trade war. This volatility led JP Morgan and others to warn of broader consequences, not just for the U.S. economy but also for global markets.

Beyond tariffs, Americans are also concerned about a recession due to ongoing economic uncertainty. The Trump administration has promoted itself as a change administration, pushing for massive cuts to the federal workforce  changes that could have ripple effects across the broader economy.

Even though the President announced a 90-day pause on tariffs, save for China, recession concerns continue. The back-and-forth over trade policy has only added more uncertainty, making it difficult for consumers and businesses to plan for the future.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff are set to travel to Paris later this week for high-level meetings on ending the war in Ukraine, the U.S. State Department said on April 16.

Rubio and Witkoff will be in the French capital from April 16 to 18 for talks with their European counterparts to advance President Trumps goal to end the Russia-Ukraine war, according to the statement.

Witkoff is expected to meet directly with French President Emmanuel Macron, while Rubio will hold separate discussions with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, Politico earlier reported on April 16, citing two undisclosed official sources. After the meetings, Rubio is scheduled to depart for Africa.

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The visit comes on the heels of Witkoff's April 11 meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg. The talks reportedly focused on a potential ceasefire in Ukraine, with Witkoff later describing the discussion as "compelling."

Speaking to Fox News on April 14, Witkoff said the two sides explored a possible deal centered on the status of "so-called five territories."

Though Witkoff did not name the territories directly, he appeared to refer to Crimea, illegally annexed by Russia in 2014, and the partially occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts. Moscow declared the annexation of the latter four regions in 2022, despite not fully controlling any of them.

"This peace deal is about these so-called five territories," Witkoff said. "But there's so much more to it. I think we might be on the verge of something that would be very important for the world at large."

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France is leading the European push for stronger security guarantees for Ukraine, including the deployment of a so-called "reassurance force" if hostilities are paused.

Macron has publicly backed the idea of sending European troops to Ukraine  not for combat, but to help train forces, rebuild infrastructure, and reinforce stability along the Dnipro River, far from the front line.

The reassurance force, first proposed by U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer in early March, is backed by a "coalition of the willing" involving some 30 countries, six of which voiced readiness to commit their troops.

Read also: Ukraine-US talks on minerals deal going in a positive mood, Zelensky says

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Russian forces have deployed Shahed-type "kamikaze" drones carrying toxic substances to attack Ukraine, the Center for Countering Disinformation at Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council said on April 16.

Russia has been intensifying its use of chemical agents on the battlefield in Ukraine, with Kyiv recording over 6,000 cases of use of munitions containing hazardous chemicals between February 2023 and 2025.

A capsule with CS gas, a riot control agent, has been found in one of the Russian drones, the center said, adding it had verified the information with Ukraine's security services and the State Emergency Service.

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CS gas, also referred to as tear gas, is typically used as a crowd-control agent by law enforcement agencies around the world and is less lethal than other chemical weapons. Its battlefield use is nevertheless banned under the 1925 Geneva Protocol.

"Russian forces may scatter the capsules with poisonous substances to cause harm," the center said on Telegram. At the same time, the agency noted that claims circulating in the media that the drones themselves are coated with poisonous substances have not been confirmed.

Since the beginning of the all-out war, Ukraine's radiation, chemical, and biological intelligence units have been monitoring and recording the use of hazardous chemicals in attacks.

Ukraine struck back at Russia's use of illegal chemical weapons in December 2024, when the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) assassinated Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, the head of the Russian Armed Forces' radiation, chemical, and biological defense troops.

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Read also: Can civilian areas ever be legitimate military targets? We asked an expert

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Russian forces are continuing their attacks on Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, targeting the region with drones, guided aerial bombs and artillery since the evening of 15 April. The strikes have damaged the premises of a business, residential buildings, ten cars, a power line and a gas pipeline.

Source: Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration; Mykola Lukashuk, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Council, on Telegram

Quote from Lysak: "Air defence units were responding in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast until late in the evening. They shot down seven drones that the aggressor launched on the region. The drone attack caused destruction on the territory of a business in [the city of] Kamianske. Two fires broke out. Ten cars and a gas pipeline were damaged."

A fire caused by the Russian attack on Kamianske

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Photo: Ukraine's State Emergency Service

Details: Two men aged 39 and 48 were injured in the attack but were provided with medical assistance.

The Russians bombarded the city of Nikopol with artillery and loitering munitions, leaving a house, a garage and an outbuilding damaged.

The Russian military struck the Novopavlivka hromada in the Synelnykove district with guided aerial bombs, damaging ten houses, shops, infrastructure, and a power line. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories  ed.]

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A Russian court sentenced four journalists to five and a half years in prison each on April 15 for their alleged involvement with Alexei Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), which Moscow has labeled an "extremist organization," independent outlet Mediazona reported.

The case concerned Antonina Favorskaya, Artem Krieger, Sergey Karelin, and Konstantin Gabov, who were said to be producing video content for Navalny-affiliated YouTube channels, including the Navalny Live platform.

Testimony against them reportedly came from individuals who previously participated in street interviews for the channel.

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Favorskaya, a correspondent for independent Russian outlet SotaVision, was detained in March. Moscow court officials claimed she was responsible for "collecting, editing, and publishing" content for FBK, which was banned in Russia in 2021.

The other three  Krieger, also with SotaVision, and freelance journalists Gabov and Karelin  were arrested in April and have remained in pre-trial detention.

Gabov has worked with Reuters and Poland's state-financed Belsat, while Karelin previously contributed to the Associated Press and Deutsche Welle.

The Anti-Corruption Foundation, founded by Navalny in 2011, gained prominence through its investigations into systemic corruption among Russia's elite. The Kremlin branded the group extremist following Navalny's arrest in January 2021 as part of a sweeping crackdown on dissent.

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Navalny, who returned to Russia in 2021 after surviving a poisoning attempt, was imprisoned on politically motivated charges and died under suspicious circumstances in an Arctic penal colony on Feb. 16, 2024.

Navalny's widow, Yulia Navalnaya, has since taken up a more public role, vowing to carry on his anti-corruption work and hold the Kremlin accountable. She has directly accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of murdering her husband.

The sentencing of the four journalists underscores the Kremlin's continued suppression of independent media and its escalating efforts to silence voices linked to Navalny's legacy.

Read also: Economic partnership with US could spur Russia to end war, White House says

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Finding a giant, new dent in your car can ruin a good shopping trip  especially when the perpetrator takes off without leaving a note. Your next steps can help or hurt your ability to file a successful insurance claim to pay for the damages.

Heres what to do if your parked car gets hit and the implications for your auto insurance.

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Learn more: What to do after a car accident: Your step-by-step guide

6 steps to take if your parked car gets hit

Your best actions after your parked car has been hit will depend on the circumstances. A primary factor is whether you know the other driver's identity. Some drivers may leave a note and take off. Others may disappear without a trace. The driver who disappears may qualify as a hit-and-run driver, which makes the situation more complicated.

Step 1: Stay calm and assess the situation

Discovering that your car has been hit can be stressful and upsetting. Take a look around to evaluate any damage, inside and outside your vehicle.

Step 2: Consider filing an accident report with the police

Based on the damage you can see, decide if theres any possibility you will file a claim with your auto insurance. For example, if you only have liability coverage and no way to find the other driver, your insurer wont reimburse you for the repair costs. But if you file an insurance claim, youll likely want a police report.

If the other driver left contact information, call the number immediately. Introduce yourself and ask for their insurance information. The driver may offer to pay for the damage in cash, but its better to go through their insurance in order to protect your interests and avoid further personal interactions. You should collect a home address, policy number, and insurance company name.

Step 4: Document the accident

Take photos of the damage and any other evidence, such as tire marks. Walk around the parking lot and into nearby businesses to ask if anyone saw what happened. Look for security cameras that may have captured the incident. Collect contact information and notes from eyewitnesses and anyone with access to security footage. If you have called the police, share this information with them for their report.

If youve collected insurance information from the other driver, call the insurer to start a claim. Share the accident information youve already gathered and ask if they will need anything else.

Even if youve decided to make a claim against the other drivers insurance, contact your own insurer to report the damage.

If you have not identified the driver and the damage warrants a claim, call your insurance company. Depending on your coverage, you may have insurance for the incident. This is explained in more detail below.

Whose insurance company pays if someone hits my parked car?

There are three answers to this question. Depending on the circumstances, the other drivers insurance might pay, your insurance might pay, or you may be stuck with costs yourself.

When the other drivers insurance pays

Generally, the at-fault drivers insurance is responsible for property damage and injury costs, including vehicle repairs. There can be two exceptions which will shift the responsibility to your insurer or to you personally. One, if you cant identify the driver, theres no way to have that persons provider pay up. And two, if you know who the driver is, but that person does not have auto insurance, you can make a claim on your insurance if you have applicable coverage.

When your insurance pays

Your insurance company will help with repair costs if you have the right coverage. Heres how it breaks down.

For damage to your parked vehicle:

Collision coverage . You can make a claim on your collision insurance if someone hits your parked car, regardless of whether they fled or stayed on the scene. Unfortunately, you will have to pay the deductible.

Uninsured motorist coverage. If an uninsured driver hits your parked car and you have uninsured motorist insurance for property damage (UMPD), you can likely make a claim.

For injuries if you were in the vehicle:

Uninsured motorist coverage. If an uninsured driver hits your parked car while you are inside, causing injuries, you can make a claim on your uninsured motorist coverage.

PIP or MedPay. Personal injury protection or medical payments coverage (MedPay) are another option to pay the medical bills of you and your passengers if you were inside the parked vehicle and were injured.

When you personally pay

If you cant identify the other driver and you dont have any of the above coverage types, youll have to pay for vehicle repairs yourself. Health insurance can cover any injuries not covered by your auto insurance.

Your auto liability insurance does not cover damage to your own vehicle or injuries to you or your passengers.

Insurance implications of parked car accident claims

Filing a claim with another drivers insurance for damage or injuries wont affect your own car insurance premiums.

If you file a claim with your own insurance company after someone hits your parked car, you may not see higher rates because the accident was not your fault.

What if you hit a parked car?

If youve hit a parked car and the car owner files a claim with your insurance company, your rates will likely rise  unless you have accident forgiveness coverage. The amount of the increase will generally depend on the severity of the damages.

Some drivers try to sidestep rate increases by offering to pay the car owner in cash for damages and avoid involving insurance companies at all. This approach can be risky. The damage could be more severe than it appeared initially, which could prompt the car owner to ask for more funds. Without an insurance company involved to act as an intermediary, it could be challenging to verify damage and your level of responsibility.

Someone hit my parked car FAQs

Is hitting a parked car considered a hit-and-run accident?

When a driver leaves the scene of an accident without providing contact information or leaving a note, its considered a hit-and-run accident. Whether the accident occurred in a parking lot or on the street, motorists must stop after a collision, even if the damage to the vehicles seems minor.

While the more severe penalties for hitting a parked car are reserved for wrecks that result in bodily injury, every state specifies consequences for hit-and-run drivers. Even a misdemeanor hit-and-run accident can result in significant fines, jail time, and car insurance rate hikes.

The driver who hit my parked car left a note. Now what?

A driver who hits your car and leaves a note has essentially admitted fault. You should contact the driver and the drivers insurance company to file a claim to pay for the damage to your car.

Consider calling the police at the scene. This way, you will have a police report to submit as part of the car insurance claims process. This can be helpful if fault is contested later or the damage to your car is more extensive than it first appeared.

Remember to take photos from different angles and get contact information for any witnesses before you leave the scene.

Car insurance banner  Yahoo Personal Finance

Amy Danise and Tim Manni edited this article.

Catherine Brock contributed to this article.
A judge from northeastern Colorado used his position to aid a friend across multiple cases, and ordered the pretrial release of her boyfriend who was accused of felonies, disciplinary officials alleged in a filing on Tuesday.
JEANNETTE, Pa. (WTAJ)  A man already incarcerated has been charged with murder nearly two years after a deadly shooting in Jeannette.

DeShawn Russell, 27, was charged with murder in the first degree, murder in the second, robbery, two counts of attempted murder, aggravated assault and related charges. This comes just weeks after 27-year-old Maleek Green was also charged similarly.

According to Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole W. Ziccarelli, the two men took part in a shooting on Lowry Avenue June 9, 2023, that left a woman dead and others injured. While Russell is already incarcerated at SCI Laurel Highlands on unrelated charges, Green was found by U.S. Marshals in North Carolina April 2 and brought back to Westmoreland County and jailed.

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Detectives allege that both men took part in the shooting death of 25-year-old Brianna Lartz that night. According to a release, detectives believed a deal was set up for a large quantity of cocaine that evening. Witnesses told investigators that Green and Russell were both inside the residence, firing shots. Lartz was pronounced dead at the scene from a gunshot wound to the head, while three others, including Green, had gunshot wounds.

Green and Russell are currently awaiting preliminary hearings.

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A suspect opened fire in a Dallas high school Tuesday, officials said, injuring four students in the second shooting incident at the school in just over a year.

The shooting at Wilmer-Hutchins High School in south Dallas occurred just past 1 p.m. Tuesday, and Dallas Independent School District officials provided limited details about the incident. The four students were taken to two nearby hospitals, officials said, but did not disclose the extent of their injuries. The suspect later turned himself into authorities, WFAA reported.

The gun used in the shooting was brought into the school outside of normal intake hours, officials said, but they did not specify what type of gun was used. Wilmer-Hutchins is equipped with metal detectors, and students are required to have clear backpacks.

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Almost exactly a year before Tuesdays shooting, another Wilmer-Hutchins student was shot in the leg in a classroom. The shooter was a 17-year-old student, and the district was criticized in the weeks following for allowing the gun to enter the school despite the security measures in place.

Quite frankly, this is becoming way too familiar, and it should not be familiar, Dallas ISD Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde said during the news conference.

Christina Smith, Dallas ISDs assistant police chief, described the investigation as fluid and said more details would be released later. Wilmer-Hutchins will be closed for the rest of the week, and Elizalde said the school would provide mental health resources to students.

Nearby Wilmer-Hutchins Elementary School also was locked down, but there was no danger to the school and it will be open Wednesday.

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Elizalde said she spoke with Gov. Greg Abbott in the hours after the shooting, and Abbott released a statement Tuesday evening stating his office would provide the resources necessary to arrest the criminals involved and bring them to justice.

Tickets are on sale now for the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival, Texas breakout ideas and politics event happening Nov. 1315 in downtown Austin. Get tickets before May 1 and save big! TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase.
A second top official has been ousted from Pete Hegseths Pentagon following a probe into potential leaks.

The Pentagons deputy chief of staff, Darin Selnick, was suspended from his post and escorted out of the building, a defense official who spoke on the condition of anonymity told Politico.

A defense official additionally confirmed to the Daily Beast that Selnick was placed on administrative leave.

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Selnick became the second official in one day to be placed on administrative leave after one of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths aides, Dan Caldwell, was also escorted out of the Pentagon and had his access pulled.

A probe into leaks at the Department of Defense is reportedly ensuing. / Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Shakeups had started at the Pentagon Tuesday, Reuters first reported, noting that Caldwell was placed on administrative leave for an unauthorized disclosure. Like Selnick, Caldwell is currently reportedly under investigation as well.

The pairs removal comes on the heels of a March memo ordering an investigation into leaks at the Department of the Defense.

Signed by Hegseths chief of staff, Joe Kasper, the memo requested a probe into the recent unauthorized disclosures of national security information involving sensitive communications. It also approved the use of polygraphs (aka lie detector tests) for doing so.

Two of Hegseths top staff have been placed on administrative leave. / Kiyoshi Ota/Pool - Getty Images

A defense official told Politico that the investigation is concerned with leaked information regarding military plans in the Panama canal, a second carrier being deployed to the Red Sea, Elon Musks visit to the Pentagon in March, and pausing intelligence aid to Ukraine.

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Prior to his role as deputy chief of staff, Selnick served in the White House and the Department of Veterans Affairs during President Donald Trumps first administration.

Caldwell meanwhile, was listed by Hegseth as the Pentagons primary contact to coordinate military strikes on Houthis in Yemen in a leaked Signal text chain published by The Atlantic in March. Hes also a veteran who served as a Marine Corps during the Iraq War.
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Democrat Brian Mason, the 17th Judicial District attorney for Broomfield and Adams County, on Wednesday endorsed fellow elected prosecutor Michael Dougherty for Colorado attorney general in next year's Democratic primary, saying Dougherty's leadership on critical public safety issues facing the state make him the right candidate for the job.
The Republican members of Colorado's congressional delegation on Wednesday called on Gov. Jared Polis to veto legislation that would require purchasers of certain firearms to undergo gun safety training.
For the second time in under a year, the Colorado Supreme Court overturned a Denver judge's order in a long-running civil lawsuit over hospital billing practices that has yet to reach trial.
South Africas newly appointed U.S. envoy Mcebisi Jonas has already come under fire for remarks made about President Trump as the relationship between the two countries has crumbled in recent months.

Jonas, who was appointed Monday by President Cyril Ramaphosa, called Trump a racist and homophobic during a speech in 2020, just days after former President Biden defeated Trump in the 2020 presidential election.

Right now, the U.S. is undergoing a watershed moment, with Biden the certain winner in the presidential race against the racist, homophobic Donald Trump, Jonas said at the time. How we got to a situation where a narcissistic right-winger took charge of the worlds greatest economic and military powerhouse is something that we need to ponder over. It is something that all democracies need to ponder over.

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The resurfacing of these remarks comes after the Trump administration has expelled the countrys ambassador and halted aid to South Africa, The Associated Press reported.

He was speaking during South Africas annual Ahmed Kathrada Lecture, a speech for an anti-apartheid organization, the AP noted.

A spokesperson for the National Security Council said the country should consider if Jonas is the right man for the job. They added that the Trump administration is looking for a credible diplomat and someone like Jonas raises questions about South Africas commitment to rebuilding a relationship with the U.S.

Last month, South African Ambassador to the U.S. Ebrahim Rasool was expelled from the country and labeled persona non grata by the Trump administration. Rasool called the expulsion and new status a badge of dignity.

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It was not our choice to come home, but we come home with no regrets, the diplomat said upon his return to Africa.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed Rasool was a race-baiting politician after he accused Trump of leading a white supremacist movement. South Africa has yet to name a new ambassador to the U.S.

The Trump administration has also criticized South Africa for its relationship with Iran and criticism of the Israeli government.

In February, the Trump administration halted all aid to South Africa due to these positions as well as a law intended to combat the apartheid era. Trump hammered South Africa for allegedly seizing ethnic minority Afrikaners agricultural property without compensation in an executive order.

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In late March, after Rasools expulsion, Trump named Leo Brent Bozell III, a conservative media critic and pro-Israel commentator, to be the new U.S. ambassador to South Africa.

Updated April 16 at 9:30 a.m.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA)  The installation of license plate readers along state roadways has been paused by the South Carolina Department of Transportation.

If passed, H. 4013 would determine who would be able to use license plate readers and how information gathered by the cameras can be used. The bill also specifies that law enforcement and government entities would have exclusive access to the information collected, with data being erased after 90 days.

All of the data only goes to law enforcement investigations, said Mark Amos, a Senior SLED agent. It is not something that they just go on and like a Google search; they dont just go search and random tags. There is always a reason to search for one of these tags.

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Oconee County Sheriff Mike Crenshaw (R) said the cameras can help find people who commit crimes.

It allows us to be really a force multiplier when something bad happens, Crenshaw said. We can utilize this technology to keep our citizens safe and put bad people in jail.

Sen. Brian Adams (R-Berkeley) said the cameras can get information to law enforcement quickly.

The whole point of it is sometimes not about catching them in 48 hours, but about catching them in 12 hours before they harm somebody else, and thats what LPR does, Adams said. It cuts down that time a lot of times before anybody else is injured or killed or hurt.

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SCDOT said they are halting further installation and are awaiting guidance from legislation.

It is unclear to SCDOT whether or not these devices are authorized in the state-owned right-of-way, an SCDOT spokesperson said.

Law enforcement said each camera costs about $2,000 to $3,000 to buy and install.

As part of the bill, the government entity authorized to use the cameras would not be allowed to sell the data for any purpose.

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The Colorado Supreme Court announced this week that it may intervene in two ongoing civil lawsuits implicating the disclosure of information the parties argue is shielded.
A three-member panel assigned to adjudicate the misconduct allegations against a northeastern Colorado judge will livestream a status conference on Friday, for apparently the first time in the state's history.
The state's most prominent coalition of hunters, anglers, and wildlife conservation groups announced today that it will formally oppose initiative #35, the 2026 proposal that would repeal most of the state's wolf reintroduction program.
The Air Force Academy has rolled out a new mission statement that drops the word "educate" and adds in a focus on winning wars.

The statement was posted recently on the academy's website without consulting or informing the school's faculty.

The new mission is To forge leaders of character, motivated to a lifetime of service, and developed to lead our Air Force and Space Force as we fight and win our Nations wars.

An academy spokesperson said the statement reflects the priorities outlined by President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to develop warrior-leaders prepared to lead warfighters on Day One.

The previous mission statement was "To educate, train and inspire men and women to become officers of character motivated to lead the U.S. Air Force and Space Force in service to our nation."

The older mission statement is closer to the one at West Point.

The U.S. Military Academy states its mission is "To build, educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets to be commissioned leaders of character committed to the Army values and ready for a lifetime of service to the Army and nation."

The Naval Academy places emphasis on ideals, as well as a well-rounded education, in its statement.

Annapolis says its mission is "To develop Midshipmen morally, mentally and physically and to imbue them with the highest ideals of duty, honor and loyalty in order to graduate leaders who are dedicated to a career of naval service and have potential for future development in mind and character to assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship and government."

The Air Force Academy adopted a new mission statement while it is also reevaluating its curriculum and planning to lose civilian faculty as part of budget cuts, as The Gazette reported earlier.

Longtime Air Force Academy department head and retired Brig. Gen. Marty France said in an email he was concerned the academy deleted "educate" from the statement, because it's been part of the institution's mission since its founding.

"This clears the way to reduce greatly the rigor of a program that's been highly rated by all possible agencies since the first class graduated," he said in an email.

France also pointed out it does not include an emphasis on deterrence.

"It is unnecessarily bellicose and focused on fighting wars without mentioning the critical roles played by the Air Force and Space Force in assuring world peace. That would include things like airlift, satellite services like GPS, as well as the war deterrence mission that has been vital since WWII."
HINESVILLE, Ga. (WSAV)  A stretch of Veterans Parkway in Liberty County was closed early Wednesday morning due to a tanker collision.

Hinesville Police Department (HPD) officers were called following a collision early Wednesday morning. According to reports, a hazmat tanker single-unit truck carrying carbon dioxide stopped at the railroad crossing on Veterans near EG Miles.

The tanker started to pull forward when a Red Bull delivery truck coming from behind swerved at the last second. The Red Bull truck then crashed into the railroad crossing signage. No injuries were reported.

Due to two commercial vehicles being involved, one being a Hazmat tanker (carbon dioxide), the Georgia Motor Carrier Compliance Division (MCCD) arrived on the scene, per their protocol.

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This is a developing story. Stay with WSAV for all the updates as more information is made available.

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An ocean world teeming with alien life may exist 124 light years away from Earth, a study by Cambridge University has hinted.

The exoplanet K2-18b, which exists in the constellation Leo, appears to have an atmosphere containing huge quantities of dimethyl sulfide, a chemical only produced by living organisms such as marine phytoplankton.

Quantities of the chemical are so great that it represents 20 times the biological activity of Earth. The molecule vanishes fairly quickly, suggesting something is continuing to produce it.

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Astrophysicists at Cambridge University have described the findings as a huge, transformational moment and the strongest hint yet that life exists elsewhere in the universe.

Prof Nikku Madhusudhan, from Cambridges Institute of Astronomy, said: There is no mechanism that can explain what we are seeing without life.

Given everything we know about this planet, a world with an ocean that is teeming with life is the scenario that best fits the data we have.

He added: What we are seeing right now are the first hints of an alien world that is possibly inhabited, and this is a revolutionary moment.

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K2-18b is about 2.6 times the size of Earth and exists in the so-called Goldilocks Zone of its star, where conditions are neither too hot, nor too cold, for life.

An estimated size comparison of K2-18b and Earth

It is believed to be a Hycean world, with a huge liquid water ocean under a hydrogen-rich atmosphere, with a temperature slightly warmer than Earth.

Earlier observations had identified methane and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of K2-18b, which can also be signs of life, but both chemicals are also produced by natural processes, such as volcanic activity.

Scientists asked for the James Webb Space Telescope to be trained on the planet, specifically looking for biomarkers.

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They said they were shocked when the chemical signal appeared and have spent the last year trying to disprove the finding and make the signal go away. The chemical could also be dimethyl disulfide, also a sign of life, which looks similar.

Prof Nikku Madhusudhan: This could be the tipping point, where suddenly the fundamental question of whether were alone in the universe is one were capable of answering

Prof Madhusudhan added: We have spent an enormous amount of time trying all sorts of things to kill the signal.

He added: To be very frank it was astounding. Its a shock to the system. I dont want to be too bullish, but I think frankly this is the closest we have come to a feature that we can attribute to life.

Subhajit Sarkar, of Cardiff University, a co-author of the study, said: The inference of these biosignature molecules poses profound questions concerning the processes that might be producing them.

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Prof Madhusudhan said: This could be the tipping point, where suddenly the fundamental question of whether were alone in the universe is one were capable of answering.

Dr Ian Whittaker, a space physics specialist from Nottingham Trent University, said: This study is rigorous... however, just because these molecules are present and the exoplanet might be Hycean, i.e. having the conditions for liquid water and a hydrogen atmosphere, does not necessarily mean life has or can form on the planet.

The results of the study are reported in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.

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Strykers are loaded onto train cars in the railyard at Fort Carson this month as the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division sends two trains loaded with equipment to Arizona as part of the Joint Task Force  Southern Border to protect the United States southern border. The combat team will have 105 Strykers at the border when the operation begins.
Colorado lawmakers on Monday gave unanimous approval to a resolution on the design and location for a memorial to honor the victims of the Sand Creek massacre.

The project has been decades in the making.

Meanwhile, representatives of the Southern Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes of Oklahoma said they were not included in the discussions and did not even know about the resolution approved by the state House and Senate on Monday.

As envisioned, the memorial sculpture will be placed on the west side of the state Capitol on the site of a 1909 statue of a Union soldier, which topped a base with plaques listing Civil War battles. In 1999, one of the plaques mistakenly listed Sand Creek as a Civil War battle. It was corrected to note that Sand Creek was a massacre. In 2020, during the George Floyd/Black Lives Matter protests, the soldier statue was toppled and later removed by History Colorado.

According to Colorado Legisource, the monument will depict three Native American figures  an Arapaho chief, a Cheyenne chief, and a Native American woman holding a child  standing before a tepee without any walls, only poles. The figures will be larger than life, at about seven feet tall, and the poles of the skeletal tepee will be approximately 23 feet high.

When the tribes hold the annual Sand Creek Massacre Spiritual Healing Run in November, "tribal runners will approach the west steps of the Capitol and lay a ceremonial lodge pole on the tepee. The lodge pole will display a United States flag and a white flag of peace, which were the flags that Chief Black Kettle of the Southern Cheyenne had displayed on his tent on the day of the Massacre," according to Legisource.

Wyoming artist Gerald Anthony Shippen will cast the statue in bronze, using a design approved by the Sand Creek Massacre Memorial Committee. The committee consists of representatives from the Northern Cheyenne Tribe of Montana, the Northern Arapaho Tribe of Wyoming, the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, artists, a historian, an architectural advisor, a sculptor, and a project manager.

The Capitol Building Advisory Committee approved the design last November.

But Fred Mosqueda, whose great-great-grandfather, Mixed Hair, was a toddler when he was saved from the Sand Creek Massacre by his sister, said his tribe was left out of critical meetings.

"They left the Southern Arapaho completely out of the Sand Creek monument conversation," he said. "We have no say. I guess we are not that important."

Mosqueda and Southern Arapaho Sand Creek descendant Chester Whiteman spoke to Colorado Politics from the massacre site, where meetings with the National Parks Service are underway. The tribes are together to discuss a property the National Park Service bought, separate from the monument talks.

Mosqueda and Whiteman said they have been working on the proposed monument for eight or nine years and have not seen the design.

"It ain't over until the fat lady sings," said Whiteman.

The House resolution on Monday said the former location of the 'Union Soldier' is an "appropriate location for a memorial of the Sand Creek Massacre to respect and memorialize the Cheyenne and Arapaho people and their ancestors, promote cross-cultural understanding, and educate the public about the massacre and the events surrounding it to foster healing."

Sens. Rod Pelton, R-Cheyenne Wells, and Kyle Mullica, D-Thornton, with Northern Cheyenne and Northern Arapaho tribal representatives present, sponsored the resolution in the Senate. In the House, Assistant House Minority Leader Ty Winter, R-Trinidad, and Rep. Tammy Store, D-Evergreen, sponsored the resolution.

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"This resolution is more than symbolic," Mullica said. "It is a recognition that truth matters, that the foundations of justice require honesty, even and especially when the truth is hard. We cannot undo what happened at Sand Creek, but we can choose to not look away. This resolution and memorial ensures we do just that."

The Sand Creek Massacre occurred on Big Sandy Creek's banks, near modern-day Eads in Kiowa County on the state's Eastern Plains.

More than 230 Cheyenne and Arapahoe, primarily women, elderly and children, were slaughtered on Nov. 29, 1864, when volunteers from the First and Third Colorado Cavalry regiments ambushed them at sun-up. The 700 Cheyenne and Arapaho who gathered there had been promised a peaceful existence by the government. The massacre poisoned relationships and was a catalyst for wars between the U.S. Army and Native Americans for years.

Soldiers testified in government-held trials months later that an American flag and a white flag of surrender flew over the tepees. Those messages were ignored by Col. John Chivingtons troops that early morning as their horses thundered over a ridge in a surprise ambush.

Chivington was never held to account for the massacre. Capt. Silas Soule, who refused to allow his troops to participate, blew the whistle on the killings, and the investigation that followed resulted in the resignation of Colorado Territorial Gov. John Evans. Then-U.S. President Andrew Johnson demanded the resignation.

In 2023, Evans' name was stripped from the iconic mountain, recently named Mount Blue Sky, which bore his name for more than 120 years, in acknowledgment of his role in authorizing Chivington to attack Native tribes.

A group of Sand Creek tribal representatives, many of whom are descendants of survivors and of those who died, are visiting the Sand Creek National Massacre site this week to meet with the National Park Service, as they do routinely, to discuss issues unrelated to the memorial.

Chris Tall Bear, who is Cheyenne, regarded the decision not as a celebration but with "cautious optimism" for the future of tribal relations. Andrew Masich, a Cheyenne tribal consultant, noted the significance of the unanimous decision.

"It's a rare thing to see total unanimity to not only accept this monument but to put it in the most prominent place at the Capitol," Masich said.

The group would like to see the statue ready by 2026, which coincides with Colorado's 150th and the United States' 250th anniversary.

The effort to produce the memorial has been going on for decades, started by the descendants of the victims and survivors of the massacre.

At the state level, the project grew out of an effort by the state to right the wrongs of the past, which began with an apology from then-Gov. John Hickenlooper in 2014, 150 years after the massacre.

In 2017, the project won approval from the General Assembly and Hickenlooper, but the issue of where to place the statue was not resolved.

The issue was a lack of agreement between the state and among the Native American tribes  the Northern Cheyenne, Northern Arapaho, and the Southern Cheyenne and Arapaho  about where the statue should go. One proposal would place it on the southeastern corner of the Capitol grounds, near the intersection of 14th Avenue and Grant Street, and another offered a site near the other Native American statue known as Closing Era. Still, another proposed location was on the Capitols west side, near the Union soldier statue, an area that the state didn't approve.

Artist Harvey Pratt was supposed to create a design of a kneeling Native American woman in a Cheyenne dress. However, he withdrew from the project in 2022 after being asked to modify it because the modifications sought no longer reflected his artistic vision.

Otto Braided Hair of the Northern Cheyenne did not respond to calls for comment.
The body of a missing boater was found Monday at Spinney Mountain State Park, west of Florissant, after a three-day search, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

One adult was rescued by boat Saturday morning after a canoe overturned in the reservoir with two people inside. Around noon, multiple rescue agencies began their search for the other person who was in the canoe.

The Park County Coroner's Office will release the boaters identity after their next of kin is notified.

The reservoir reopened Tuesday after being closed to the public throughout the search.

According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, there were 33 water recreation-related fatalities last year and two documented water recreation-related fatalities so far this year.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Two male teenagers are now in police custody after they were accused of dragging an Uber driver out of his car with a gun pointed at him before driving off in his vehicle early Tuesday morning.

A 17-year-old is charged with Carjacking, Employment of a Firearm During the Commission of a Dangerous Felony, Attempted Aggravated Robbery, and Handgun Possession Prohibited.

The other 17-year-old is charged with Carjacking, Employment of a Firearm During the Commission of a Dangerous Felony, and Attempted Aggravated Robbery.

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Teens arrested for robberies, attempted carjacking

According to the Memphis Police Department, around 1:40 a.m., officers responded to the 5000 block of Holly Ridge Drive regarding a carjacking.

The victim told police he was working as an Uber driver when two teens approached him, asking to use his phone. That is when he says he let his window down.

At that time, police say one of the teens opened the victims car door, pointed a gun at him, demanded his phone, and dragged him from the vehicle.

Both suspects are accused of getting into the victims Kia EV6 and leaving the scene.

Video: Man talks about having gun pulled on him at dog park

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Later that day, around 8 p.m., officers say the Memphis Airport Police detained two males for trespassing. The two armed males had allegedly walked away from a Kia EV6 before being detained.

The teens were then transferred to MPD custody.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
After pulling back last month, developers have resubmitted a controversial request that would pave the way for the state's second Buc-ee's.

Palmer Lake, a small town north of Colorado Springs, was approached to annex a 30-acre property at the corner of County Line Road and Interstate 25 last year for the future site of the super-sized Texas travel store chain. In a December meeting, the town Board of Trustees ruled that the six contiguous requests  connecting the parcel to town limits by a thin line along part of County Line Road  were together legally eligible to be considered for approval.

The decision has received strong backlash from some, including a recall campaign of three trustees who approved the eligibility.

A meeting to consider the annexation had not been set this year before developers rescinded the application. Stan Beard, Buc-ee's director of real estate and development, said in a statement that the application was pulled due to a "technical issue."

Beard said that Buc-ee's would be resubmitting. According to town records, Palmer Lake received the new request April 3. At an April 10 meeting, the Board of Trustees decided to set the new eligibility hearing for a special meeting on May 29.

The new submitted annexation plans do not offer reasoning on changes made. The new annexation map has some alterations from the previous submission. The request is still a "flagpole" annexation, connecting the parcel to town limits via a thin right of way along County Line Road.

The newly submitted annexation requests cover a greater swath of the roadway straddling El Paso and Douglas counties than in the previous submission.

The issue of whether splitting the roadway affected the annexation's legal eligibility came up at its previous hearing in December. Nina Ruiz, a project consultant, said that only including the El Paso side was not a problem. She said that the developers may reach out to Douglas County to consider adding the other half at a later time.

It would be our desire to work with Douglas County to annex the entire roadway, she said.

The new requests also encompasses more of County Line Road to the west, past a parcel owned by the United Congregational Church recently de-annexed from the town. Concerns were also raised in December about eligibility in light of the de-annexation, though Ruiz said that the right of way of County Line Road covered the gap.

Both eligibility concerns were listed in a lawsuit filed in El Paso County District Court against the town in January by groups including the United Congregational Church.

In addition to alleging the de-annexed parcel would interrupt the connection to the town, the lawsuit also alleged that annexation maps failed to annex the entire roadway width as required by (Colorado statute) and also the towns Three-Mile Plan. The purpose of the statute is to ensure clarity of road maintenance responsibilities, plaintiffs said in court documents.

Buc-ee's representatives have not responded to comment on the new request.
The El Paso County Coroners Office has identified the hiker who died Tuesday while hiking the Manitou Incline trail.

At about 10 a.m., bystanders on the trail found Oregon resident John Tate, 63, in "medical distress," according to a joint statement from Manitou Springs fire, police and the city.

When emergency personnel responded, the man was found unresponsive and later pronounced dead. The cause of death is still under investigation, according to the statement.

We thank the bystanders who quickly intervened and attempted CPR, said Manitou Springs Fire Chief Keith Buckmiller in the statement. Their immediate actions are commendable and reflect the compassion of our community.

The Manitou Incline is a popular and challenging trail, bringing hikers up more than 2,700 steps and 2,000 feet of elevation. The trail is managed by the city of Colorado Springs. The statement said that Colorado Springs officials had been made aware of the death.

"City officials remind all climbers, especially those traveling from out of state, to thoroughly assess their physical condition, understand the difficulty of the climb, and come properly prepared," read the Manitou Springs statement.

The most recent known death on the Manitou Incline, according to Gazette archives, came in 2019 when a man died of a heart attack.
On the morning of April 12 Town of Monument councilmember Jim Romanello died on the scene of a motorcycle accident on State Highway 67 outside of Deckers, Colorado.

Romanello was riding a motorcycle on CO-67 when he failed to navigate a left turn and veered off the road, according to the Colorado State Patrol. He was thrown from the motorcycle and sustained fatal injuries. CSP confirmed he was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

The Tri-Lakes community at large responded to the news with sadness and tributes to the long-time public servant of the area.

Romanello's involvement with the Town of Monument local government began with his election as a trustee in a special election in November of 2018. He was re-elected in the regular election of April 2020, serving a four-year term. He was elected an at-large trustee in November 2024.

Beyond his roles on the Monumen Town Council, Romanello served as president of the Village Center Metro District Board of Directors. He was instrumental in negotiating an intergovernmental agreement that stabilized home values in the district. He was a large proponent of renewable water options for the town, which led to him to serve as a member of the Fountain Creek Watershed District Board.

In addition, Romanello was on the steering committee for the Monument 2040 Comprehensive Plan. He used his career experience in financial planning to steer the town's path for investing the towns assets.

Monument Mayor Mitch LaKind expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Council Member Romanello, and reflected on the man's years of service since 2018.

Jim Romanello was a dedicated public servant whose thoughtful leadership and deep commitment to our community helped shape Monument into the town it is today, said LaKind. He touched many lives, both personally and professionally, and he will be deeply missed  not just as a council member, but as a friend to so many.

The mayor recalled Romanellos recent 60th birthday celebration last month, attended by over 100 people, highlighting the personal impact Romanello had on those around him.

To honor Romanellos legacy, LaKind announced that flags at municipal buildings would be flown at half-staff through April 17.

Monument Mayor Pro Tem Steve King acknowledged Romanellos long service on the council since 2018, making him the towns longest-serving council member. King praised Romanello's dedication to public service.

King also recalled attending Romanellos 60th birthday party, where Romanello performed on stage with Mayor Mitch LaKind on drums. King concluded by expressing his respect for Romanello and offering condolences to his family, friends, and fiancee.

Over my tenure with Jim, we certainly had our disagreements as all councils do, but we learned to respect each other, and as our council started to come together as a team, we really started working well together, King said. I did very much appreciate his willingness to listen to my concerns, and I also appreciated his concerns. We ended up having a very good relationship, and I am grateful for that.

Charlie Searle, frontman for the local band Ashtonz and a community organizer, considered Romanello a friend as well as a fan, said he will remember the late trustee for his ability to set aside politics and simply be a friend and supporter of the community.

We had the honor of helping Jim celebrate his 60th birthday in Monument last month, whipping out his favorite song, The Whos 'Join Together,' for the occasion, Searle said. We got him to smack the cowbell a bit too, which didnt require much arm-twisting.

Romanello had a reputation as a pragmatic and principled leader who prioritized staffing, infrastructure, and respectful governance. He consistently advocated for smart growth and commercial development to strengthen the towns financial foundation.

When I ran for trustee the first time, I said I would bring honor and respect to it because there was very little of it at the time, Romanello said in 2022. And get the town staffed, which we did, and keep it that way.

Romanello cited development, water, and staffing as the towns three biggest priorities. He championed improvements to the towns water infrastructure, including new tanks and renewable water projects, and took a lead role in addressing a permitting issue with Pueblo County to support future water needs.

He frequently emphasized a measured approach to land use decisions, stating that all development should be evaluated using three lenses: property rights, needs of the town/community, and a fiduciary responsibility to our town, he said.

Romanello was a vocal supporter of expanding commercial space to help fund town operations through sales tax.

The town does need commercial so it pays the town money, which allows us to pay our people, he said. We need to balance all that very, very well.

He also believed in fostering better partnerships with local entities and maintaining an open dialogue with the school board and business community, "to be aware of each other's concerns."

Terri Hayes, President and CEO of the Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce said Romanello cared about the community and demonstrated that over his years of service.

He was a friend to many, and we were fortunate, she said. He was a great friend to me and the Tri-Lakes Chamber. He supported those who supported small business, and we along with the business community, will miss him beyond words.

A Monument resident since 2007, Romanello previously served as president of his Home Owners Association and the Village Center Metro District, where he negotiated an intergovernmental agreement that he said saved our district financially. Reflecting on his service, he said, I have what I feel is the most balanced approach to growth and understand best the needs of our staff and direction of our town, without taking us to a radical stalemate.

I love Monument.  I enjoy giving back in this area.

Memorial services for Romanello have not yet been announced.
Update: The Colorado Springs Police Department reported Wednesday afternoon that Coral Binford has been found safe.

The Colorado Springs Police Department is seeking community help to find a 77-year-old woman who went missing Tuesday.

Police said Coral Binford was last seen leaving an area of her nursing home around 2 p.m. in the 800 block of Tenderfoot Hill Road by Lake Avenue and Southgate Road.

Binford sometimes uses a wheelchair and it is unknown if she has her oxygen with her.

Binford is described as 5-foot-2 and 125 pounds with short white hair and blue eyes.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 719-444-7000.
Dino Salvatori does not partake in that which he peddles at Palmer Lakes Dead Flowers, but hes nonetheless a devoted promoter of weed, and rock n' roll, from his stage in the tiny town northwest of Colorado Springs, where sales of recreational marijuana have been legal since 2023.

No gas station, no grocery store, but two rec grass shops just off the main drag through a hamlet of about 2,500.

Salvatori has some mostly movable insights and advice for business owners in Colorado Springs, where recreational marijuana sales became legal Tuesday.

The biggest thing is, get ready for change, said Salvatori, who expanded his medical marijuana business to offer recreational sales on April 1, 2023, following the approval of 55% of Palmer Lake voters.

He said that after the expansion from solely medical, Dead Flowers operation went from about 12 to 15 daily customers to now, hundreds a day.

It was night and day difference, he said.

While Salvatori said he expects Tuesdays opening of more than two dozen recreational dispensaries some 20 miles to the south will likely impact his business, he doesnt anticipate a deal breaker.

My store is somewhat unique, and weve got a pretty good following, Savatori said, of the family-owned and run operation. I would say, most of our business probably still comes out of northern El Paso County and Douglas County. We do see some people out of Colorado Springs, so Im sure we will see some kind of impact. But Im OK with it. Well see what happens.

Just down the street from Dead Flowers is Palmer Lakes other medical+rec marijuana shop, Alpine Essentials, a business owned and operated by Melissa Woodward and her family.

Woodward said she expects to feel a bit of a burn from the opening of recreational shops in Colorado Springs, but the scope has yet to be seen.

She hopes, and Alpine Essentials continues to strive, for the best.

Even if we are going to be losing some of our Colorado Springs customer base, we have great customer service, a very loyal customer base, and consistent quality, all things I think that will contribute to customers continuing to shop with us, Woodward said.

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As for potential impacts on the local industry, and inventory, writ large?

Colorado Springs legalizing recreational sales doesnt suddenly convert a ton of Colorado Springs residents to being cannabis users, so it hasnt enlarged the market in that sense, Woodward said.

Palmer Lake was the second municipality in El Paso County to legalize recreational marijuana after Manitou Springs, where sales began at Maggies Farm on Aug. 14, 2014, at 4:20 p.m.

Weve been here since the infancy of the industry and as one of the original independent cannabis businesses still standing, weve had to adjust to many changes, said CEO Bill Conkling. We have always welcomed competition and have never supported limiting access anywhere, not even in our own backyard here in Colorado Springs.

Competition, he said, raises the bar as we know, and thats good for the customer.

On that note, Conkling said that Maggies Farm has introduced new products that will further set its brand apart from the competition that seemingly, and did, expand exponentially overnight.

He pointed to the companys clean certified organic product, at a very competitive affordable price, adding that what shops provide on the shelves, is only part of the job.

The blending of borders between medical and recreational may not be so easily navigated, in a human setting.

Medical customers, he said, have grown accustomed to dealing with those who know them, and treat them as though no ones watching the clock.

For companies who are continuing to embrace, and provide, what began as a medical service, while also stepping up for a newfound and perhaps more time-bound recreational clientele, its important to remember where you started.

These are different customers, with different expectations, Conkling said. Personal experience is what people will remember.
Paul J. Batura is a local writer and founder of the 4:8 Media Network. He can be reached via email Paul@PaulBatura.com or on X @PaulBatura.
When comedy icon Charlie Chaplin's wife, Oona O'Neill Chaplin, passed away in 1991, the entire family gathered to handle the estate. While sorting through the inheritance, Victoria Chaplin discovered a locked bedside table in her father Charlie Chaplin's room. Unable to open it herself, she summoned a locksmith. When the drawer was finally opened, she found a mysterious letter inside.



Dolores Chaplin, actor and granddaughter of Charlie Chaplin, speaks at a Q&A session during the second Macao International Comedy Festival, Macao, April 10, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Mahua Fun Age]

The letter was from a man named Jack Hill, who wrote, not asking for money, but simply to call out Chaplin as "a little liar." Hill claimed that Chaplin was not really born in London as stated in his autobiography, but rather in a caravan in the Black Patch area of Smethwick near Birmingham. Furthermore, Hill revealed that the caravan belonged to his aunt, who was known as the "Gypsy Queen."

"This letter was very intriguing, especially considering he received thousands of letters from fans all over the world. Yet, he chose to keep this particular letter locked away in the bedside table," Dolores Chaplin, granddaughter of Charlie Chaplin, told China.org.cn on April 11 in Macao. Dolores was attending the second Macao International Comedy Festival to present the documentary film "Chaplin: Spirit of the Tramp," directed by her sister Carmen Chaplin, and which she served on as one of the producers.

According to Dolores, her aunt Victoria showed the letter to her father, Michael, who still recalled how Charlie would often tell them as children, "You are part Gypsy."

"My father was a romantic who always identified with this culture," Dolores said. "He was passionate about Gypsies and Gypsy music, so he became deeply passionate about the letter and wanted to learn more. Seeing his passion, I just thought this would make a great documentary."

This was how the project "Chaplin: Spirit of the Tramp" began, though it would take many years to complete, facing numerous challenges in securing financing, licenses and conducting research. The film evolved into a true family endeavor, with deep involvement from multiple generations. Family members participated both on camera  sharing personal insights and memories  and behind the scenes as producers.

A screening and Q&A session for "Chaplin: Spirit of the Tramp" at the second Macao International Comedy Festival, Macao, April 10, 2025. [Photo/China.org.cn]

The project's significance lies in its potential to finally acknowledge the possible Romani heritage that may have inspired Charlie Chaplin's iconic Tramp character. Featuring intimate interviews and unprecedented access to the Chaplin estate, the documentary presents a profound exploration of Chaplin's roots. It weaves together film excerpts, home movies and archival footage, as well as contributions from movie star Johnny Depp and renowned contemporary Romani artists to tell this compelling story.

"It's very healing to do a documentary on your ancestors," Dolores said, noting it was also a journey to help fix the tumultuous relationship between Charlie and Michael. "It was healing for my father. It was healing for us, too. I found my father had a lot in common with his father  really more than he knows."

"Chaplin: Spirit of the Tramp" will also be screened at the upcoming 15th Beijing International Film Festival, set to open on April 18.

Dolores believes that her grandfather is now more relevant than ever, "because he's always been somebody who defends the underdog," she said. "And in our society, there's always the underdog . My grandfather was a humanist and he really spoke for the people and defended anybody who was pushed to the ground."

As a comedic giant, Charlie Chaplin and his films  including classics like "City Lights" (1931) and "Modern Times" (1936)  have long been revered in China. Between 1979 and 1981, China imported 19 American films, 12 of which were Chaplin comedies. While in turn, Dolores shared, "He was a big fan of China. He had a lot of beautiful artworks from China, and I could see that it was a culture he really liked."

Then Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai and Charlie Chaplin pose for a photo in Geneva in 1954. [File photo/Xinhua]

Charlie Chaplin's cultural significance was further cemented through historic meetings with notable Chinese figures, such as Peking opera master Mei Lanfang in the 1930s, and then Premier Zhou Enlai in 1954 when a Chinese delegation attended the Geneva Conference.

Back in the United States, however, Chaplin was accused of communist sympathies and faced political persecution, ultimately being forced to leave the U.S. in 1952 and settle in Switzerland. Decades later, history seems to be repeating itself, as the world has again become chaotic and divided. This is perhaps most evident in the United States' recent launch of a bullying tariff war against the world, particularly targeting China.

Dolores emphasized that China and the U.S. should move in the right direction and find a way forward. "The Chinese community has been so integrated into America they should find a way."
The Greensboro City Council approved a rezoning on Tuesday that would allow up to eight new townhomes at the intersection of Pisgah Church Road and Willoughby Boulevard.

The request for the rezoning faced strong opposition from members of the adjacent New Irving Park community, who packed the council chambers and voiced their objections during the public hearing.

Residents said that while they were fine with developer B.J. Johnson building up to two single-family homes on the 0.86-acre property in line with the previous zoning, they opposed the rezoning for townhomes.

The opponents said townhomes did not fit in with the character of the neighborhood since there were no townhomes around Willoughby.

Its inappropriate to put a bunch of townhouses right next to all of these single-family homes, nearby resident Gabe Neereimer said, adding that allowing the project would set a bad precedent of bringing similar developments to other parts of the New Irving Park and the city overall.

Other major concerns included traffic safety at the intersection and drainage problems in the area.

Johnson, the developer, pointed to some changes he made to the plans, including reducing the number of units from 10 down to eight and limiting access to the property to two points on Willoughby.

He said neighbors had legitimate concerns and that initial phases would bring challenges, but that ultimately the project would become an asset for the neighborhood.

Its not going to be easy, but it can be done responsibly, Johnson said. It can be done well, and I believe looking 20 years in the future well be really happy with the amount of trees that are planted, how sustainable that lot will be and the beauty that its going to create for the neighborhood.

Speakers in support of the development included Peter Grantham, who said he lived near the site and was in favor of the project because he believed additional housing was needed to address affordability challenges.

Crystal Black and Cheryl McIvor of east Greensboro pointed to the councils previous approval of projects in that part of the city over similar objections from residents and called on the council members to be consistent in their votes.

Councilman Zack Matheny, himself a resident of New Irving Park, was the most vocal opponent of the rezoning, saying that the proposal doesnt revitalize, this ravages.

He echoed many of the arguments made by the speakers and said the proposed development would be inappropriate in other parts of the city as well.

Matheny, like other members of the council, has spoken of the need to increase the citys housing supply.

There is a road to 10,000  I do support the manager, Matheny said, referencing City Manager Trey Davis proposal to add at least 10,000 new housing units in the coming years. But I also support neighborhoods, and I support the folks that care about the neighborhoods.

He added: I dont support this development, not just because I live in the neighborhood. Because its not compatible in the land use of what is on this street and in this area. There is no reason to go against a properly planned neighborhood.

Mathenys comments drew applause from the crowd while the reception to most other members of council was not nearly as popular.

The council voted 6-2 to approve the rezoning. Only Mayor Pro Tem Marikay Abuzuaiter joined Matheny in opposing the rezoning.

Mayor Nancy Vaughan, Councilman Hugh Holston and Councilwomen Nancy Hoffmann, Sharon Hightower, Goldie Wells and Jamilla Pinder backed the rezoning. Councilwoman Tmami Thurm was absent.

Both Hoffmann and Wells told the neighbors that they would likely have a more positive outlook on the development as time passes.

I think time helps dissipate opposition, Hoffmann said.

Wells agreed, saying: Im telling you from experience: life changes and you get along much better if you go with the flow.

She also said the citys housing shortage will require the council to make decisions that may be at odds with the desires of various neighborhoods.

Everybody might as well get used to it, because when these things come to us, we are going to have to make decisions that are best for Greensboro, not for individual communities, she said. So weve got people fussing at us from the east, fussing at us from the west, north, south, all over because we tried to do what is right, and its not easy.

Holston echoed the sentiment.

Its going to mean that were all going to have to get comfortable with the uncomfortable, and that means density, he said. That means being a little bit closer to others than we were before.
Looking for a break? Test your knowledge of this week's news from the Yakima Valley.
Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange during afternoon trading on April 9 in New York City.
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.
The US Department of Treasury has removed Antal Rogan, the minister leading the cabinet office, from its sanctions list, "which shows that the winds have changed in Washington", Peter Szijjarto, the minister of foreign affairs and trade said.

Szijjarto said that the previous administration led by Joe Biden had taken several measures against Hungary "out of pure spite, after its devastating defeat in the presidential election last November".



"One of these measures was putting my colleague, Antal Rogan, on a sanctions list, clearly an act of political revenge by a frustrated ambassador leaving Hungary," Szijjarto said, according to a ministry statement.



Szijjarto: Recipe for success is for us to keep being Donald Trump



Hungary's government "was Donald Trump well before [US President] Donald Trump", the minister of foreign affairs and trade said on Tuesday, adding that "the recipe for further success is to continue our existing policies of saying no to war, illegal migration and gender insanity."



Speaking at the Central European Summit in Budapest, Peter Szijjarto said recent crises had led to the emergence of a "new world order", adding that Trumps inauguration in January had caused "a total shift with the worlds number one superpower now being led by a patriotic president."



Szijjarto said these developments in the United States had disproved the liberal mainstreams "belief in its own exclusivity, that only the liberal mainstream can be good and successful."



"The reason why we are also under constant political attack is because we Hungarians are living refutations of the idea that it is exclusively the liberal mainstream that is good and successful," he added, according to a ministry statement. "Because we are successful as patriots. And it is this combination of being patriotic and successful that they cant stomach in Brussels."



Szijjarto said the US president had begun delivering on his campaign promises, noting that Trump wanted to end the war in Ukraine and has entered into direct talks with Russia.



Also, Trump had "cut off the financial resources for meddling in the internal affairs of other countries, and theres a revolution of common sense: the father is a man and the mother a woman, and one is born either a man or a woman," he added.



"No war, no migration, no gender is how you could sum up the revolution of common sense," Szijjarto said. "And this strategy of Donald Trump is in line with the Hungarian strategy."



"And it is without unnecessary modesty that we can say that we were Donald Trump before Donald Trump," Szijjarto said. "Because like him, we say no to war, we say no to illegal migration, we say no to gender insanity, we pursue an economic policy based on common sense, and we base our foreign policy strategy on mutual respect."



He said that for the last 15 years, the Hungarian government had been successful despite the "headwind" it faced.



"And if we want to ask what the recipe for our future success is, the simple answer would be carrying on," he said. "Lets keep being Donald Trump!"



"Because our aim continues to be to stay out of the war next door and to provide every support needed for achieving peace," the minister said. "Our aim continues to be to stop illegal migration and reserve our sovereign right to decide whom we are willing to live together with. Were committed to preserving our identity, and well protect our children in the future as well."



"Yesterday, this was given another important form of constitutional support against aggressive gender propaganda," he said, referring to parliaments vote to amend the Fundamental Law.



He said "another part of the recipe for future success" was ensuring that Hungarians were the ones to decide on key issues like Ukraines accession to the European Union.

"For 15 years, weve been governing according to the will of the Hungarian people," Szijjarto said. "And if we look at the actual definitions, this is what they call democracy. We are Europes strongest democracy because the government here has received a democratic mandate more times than any other government."



Szijjarto: New era started in Hungary-US relations



A completely new era has started in Hungarian-US relations characterised by friendship and full agreement on the main issues, the foreign minister said on Tuesday.



The ministry cited Peter Szijjarto saying after a telephone call with Marco Rubio, his US counterpart, that they had reviewed the main issues of bilateral cooperation and the current state of peace efforts.



"I told Marco Rubio that Hungary, the Hungarian government absolutely supports the peace efforts of [US President] Donald Trump. We hope for and we ask Donald Trump to maintain his dedication to peace because it is extremely important for us Hungarians that peace should return to Europe after three years of long, senseless and murderous war," he added.



"Unfortunately, many politicians in Europe are trying to undermine the road to peace and thwart the success of the peace talks," he said.



Szijjarto said it was good news that his US counterpart had assured him that the US continues to be committed to peacemaking.



"They won't give up, and they will continue to do everything in their power to end the war under way for three years," he said.



Szijjarto said the developments of the previous weekend in Ukraine also highlighted the importance of concluding the conflict as soon as possible.



"We also exchanged a few words about our cooperation with Israel because Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu had flown from Budapest to Washington, and he was received by Donald Trump in the White House after a meeting with Prime Minister Viktor Orban. I told Marco Rubio that we have announced our exit from the International Criminal Court because it has become a political organisation, discredited itself, and we have no reason to be there," he said.



They also touched on the amendments to the Fundamental Law adopted by parliament on Monday, Szijjarto said. He told Rubio that the amendments were desiged to protect children, declaringthat people were either male or female, among other statements.



"We also discussed the CPAC [Conservative Political Action Conference] Hungary will host the CPAC in late May and we reiterated our mutual commitment to further developing bilateral relations," he said.



"Marco Rubio also thanked the support and accord that the prime minister and other government members had demonstrated towards the US administration in the recent period," he said.



Meanwhile, Orban's national security adviser in talks with Trump administration counterpart



Prime Minister Viktor Orban's national security adviser, Marcell Biro, has met US counterpart Mike Waltz in Washington, DC, according to the daily Magyar Nemzet.



Monday's talks focused on national security, defence, as well as geopolitical and geostrategic issues, and the sides agreed that a peaceful settlement of the Russia-Ukraine war was desirable as soon as possible.



Biro also met other US national security leaders and experts, the paper wrote.



Source:

MTI - The Hungarian News Agency, founded in 1881.

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New Delhi: The Delhi government on Tuesday approved an extension of its Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy by three months and continuation of power subsidy in the national capital, officials said. Till the time the new EV Policy 2.0 is implemented, the existing policy will remain in force, they said.

A Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta also approved the continuation of the existing power subsidy for four categories -- domestic consumers, farmers, lawyers with chambers, and victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

At a press conference held later at the secretariat, Transport Minister Pankaj Singh clarified that there will be no ban on auto-rickshaws or any other category of vehicles. Singh said, "There are many things the government wants to do for its residents, and we will incorporate those in the revised EV policy."

"However, I want to make it clear that there will be no ban on auto-rickshaws, nor is there any proposal to ban any category of vehicles. The current EV policy is expected to continue for approximately the next three to four months," he added.

At the presser, Delhi Home Minister Ashish Sood refuted claims about the discontinuation of the electricity subsidy and said the Cabinet has approved a special proposal to extend subsidies benefiting the farmers and lawyers, while ensuring continued support for riot victims.

The EV policy has been extended multiple times under both the previous AAP regime and the current government led by the BJP. Launched in August 2020 as one of the key initiatives of the previous AAP government, the policy aimed to tackle vehicular pollution and push the adoption of electric vehicles to 25 per cent by 2024.

Although its initial three-year term ended in August 2023, the government decided to extend it. According to the draft of the EV Policy 2.0, its primary objective is to encourage the adoption of electric vehicles to reduce pollution.

It proposes to cover mass categories such as two-wheelers, buses, three-wheelers, and goods carriers, with the aim of transitioning them to electric vehicles. The draft policy also outlines a series of incentives to boost EV adoption. Women riders may be offered a subsidy of up to Rs 36,000 on the purchase of an electric two-wheeler.

Similarly, to encourage the use of electric two-wheelers, the government may offer a purchase incentive of Rs 10,000 per kilowatt-hour, capped at Rs 30,000 per vehicle.

The policy also aims to generate up to 20,000 jobs during its implementation period and facilitate the establishment of battery collection centres along with a city-wide network of charging and swappable battery stations.

The policy, which will be notified after it receives Cabinet approval, seeks to improve Delhi's air quality by aggressively replacing a large number of fossil fuel-run vehicles.
Los Angeles: Amidst the global tariff wars, the tension in the middle east is trickling down to Hollywood productions. The live-action film 'Snow White' has been banned from playing in movie theaters in Lebanon due to the presence in the film of Israeli actress Gal Gadot.

The actress essays the role of the Evil Queen in the film. The ban was ordered by Lebanons Interior Minister Ahmad Al-Hajjar, reports 'Variety'. According to local media, the minister was prompted to take action by the countrys film and media watchdog amid Israels ongoing attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon, which have caused civilian deaths.

However, a representative for Beirut-based Middle East distributor Italia Films, which handles Disney titles in the region, told 'Variety' that Gadot has long been on Lebanons Israel boycott list and that no movie in which she stars has ever been released in the country. Representatives for Gadot did not immediately respond to the request for comment.

As per 'Variety', the Italia Films representative added that, contrary to several reports, 'Snow White' has not been banned in Kuwait. Gadot, who was born in Israel and served in the Israel Defense Forces, has been an outspoken advocate for the country, especially following the October 7 attacks by Palestinian fighter group Hamas, which is a designated terror outfit.

In a passionate speech she delivered on March 4 when she was honored at the Anti-Defamation Leagues annual summit in New York City, she said, Never did I imagine that on the streets of the United States, and different cities around the world, we would see people not condemning Hamas, but celebrating, justifying and cheering on a massacre of Jews".

The October 7, 2023 attacks on many civillians holding dual citizenships, triggered a brutal response from Israel as crackdown on Hamas leading to countless civilian casualties in the country in the middle east. Ever since, the world has been divided into people who are pro-Israel, anti-Israel, and those who support the two state solution to the decades long bloody conflicts between Palestine and Israel, the latter which came into effect after the Balfour Declaration.

The 'Snow White' ban in Lebanon follows a similar move by the countrys authorities roughly two months ago, when Marvels 'Captain America: Brave New World' was not allowed to screen due to the presence in the film of Israeli actress Shira Haas.
The Uniform Civil Code has been a part of the Bharatiya Janata Party's manifesto for decades and now the Narendra Modi government is eyeing the legislation after the successful enactment of the Waqf Amendment Act. The BJP has got support from some opposition parties as well in passing the contentious Waqf Bill and this has boosted the morale of the NDA.

According to reports, the government may ask the 23rd Law Commission to take ahead the UCC draft prepared by the previous law commission. Notably, during a speech in Uttarakhand on April 14, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hinted at the implementation of the UCC across India. PM Modi said that while the Constitution states there should be a uniform civil code for everyone and termed it Secular Civil Code. "The Congress never implemented it. After the BJP government came to power in Uttarakhand, the Secular Civil Code or the Uniform Civil Code was implemented with a bang," the Prime Minister said.

According to reports, the Narendra Modi government is likely to appoint a Chairperson and Members of the 23rd Law Commission soon. Retired Justice Dinesh Maheshwari is likely to head the 23rd Law Commission. A notification for the 23rd Law Commission was issued on September 2. Now, after 7 months, the government is going to appoint its Chairman and members soon. Advocate Hitesh Jain and Prof DP Veram are likely to be the full-time members of the commission.

Notably, the 22nd Law Commission had prepared the UCC draft and released it seeking public opinion and has even got around one crore suggestions. The commission has already met around 30 organisations to discuss the issue.

According to reports, the UCC is likely to become a major issue in the upcoming elections. It could influence voter sentiment, particularly in South India. However, the government is expected to tread cautiously on topics like language and federalism, which have historically triggered resistance in the South. The focus will remain on uniformity in laws governing marriage, divorce, inheritance, and succession.

The government is also planning public awareness campaigns on the benefits of the UCC, and the Commission will begin consultations with various social and religious groups in the coming weeks.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday launched a fresh attack against the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and alleged that 'Yogi is the biggest Bhogi' and raking up the death toll of the Mahakumbh stampede.

This comes a day after the UP CM attacked the West Bengal government over violence in Murshidabad after the protests against the Waqf Amendment Act turned violent, and accused the Mamata government of remaining silent.

Mamata addressed a gathering of Imams after the violence in Bengal during protests against the Waqf Amendment Act. According to media reports, she claimed that the UP CM is the biggest "Bhogi" and he does not let citizens take out rallies.

Reports quoted Mamata as saying, Yogi is saying big things, but he is the biggest Bhogi. Multiple lives were lost in the Mahakumbh, and many people were killed in encounters in Uttar Pradesh. Yogi does not let people take out rallies, there is a lot of freedom in Bengal.

Also Read: 'Closely Monitoring': Centre Assures All Assistance To Bengal Government After Waqf Clashes In Murshidabad

Yogi Adityanath's Attack Against Mamata Banerjee

Addressing a gathering, CM Yogi said that the state of Bengal is burning and CM Banerjee is silent. He commented that those who understand only force won't listen to words after the protests in Murshidabad against the Waqf Act turned violent.

"Bengal is burning. The Chief Minister of the state is silent. She calls rioters 'messengers of peace'. But those who understand only force won't listen to words. In the name of secularism, they have given complete freedom to rioters to create unrest. The entire Murshidabad has been on fire for the last week, yet the government remains silent. Such anarchy must be brought under control," CM Yogi said.

He also thanked the Calcutta High Court for ordering the deployment of central forces in Murshidabad.

He added, "I thank the judiciary there for deploying central forces to ensure the safety of the minority Hindus in the area. The Congress is silent on the riots in Murshidabad."

As per news agency ANI, the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) observed Hindu Shaheed Diwas outside the State Assembly in Kolkata, paying tribute to the Hindu family killed during the protest against the Waqf Act in Murshidabad. LoP Suvendu Adhikari led the gathering of party MLAs.

Talking to the news agency, Adhikari said that there were protests across West Bengal

He said, "There are protests across the state. Hindu population is emotional, it is sad... The entire state is on the streets and is observing Hindu Shaheed Diwas... Mamata should step down. She should go to jail...We are not coward Hindus, we are Hindus of Swami Vivekananda."

#WATCH | Kolkata: LoP Suvendu Adhikari says, "There are protests across the state. Hindu population is emotional, it is sad...The entire state is on streets and is observing Hindu Shaheed Diwas...Mamata should step down. She should go to jail...We are not coward Hindus, we are https://t.co/r9fDxUDdtS pic.twitter.com/XDMNxgNjB5  ANI (@ANI) April 16, 2025

Also Read: Cannot Keep Eyes Closed: Calcutta HC Orders CAPF Deployment In Murshidabad After Waqf Act Clashes

Murshidabad Violence

The violence in Murshidabad was triggered by the protests against the Waqf Act and resulted in the deaths of three people, injuring several, and causing property damage. On Monday, the West Bengal police had informed that the situation in the violence-hit areas of Murshidabad was normal and urged people not to believe any rumours.
Srinagar: A controversy erupted after former RAW chief AS Dulat claimed in his upcoming book that National Conference president Farooq Abdullah secretly supported the abrogation of Article 370 -- a move he has publicly opposed.

In his soon-to-be-released memoir The Chief Minister and The Spy, Dulat alleges that Farooq Abdullah was in favour of the Centres decision to scrap the regions special status in 2019. This claim directly contradicts Abdullah's long-standing criticism of the move, which he has previously called a betrayal of the people of Kashmir.

Reacting strongly, Farooq Abdullah rejected Dulat's remarks, accusing him of spreading falsehoods. If Dulat sahab really considers me a friend, then he wouldnt have written such things, he said. The former chief minister also dismissed other claims made in the book, including discussions about government formation in 1996, calling them completely false.

Abdullah went a step further, calling Dulats book a publicity stunt. This is a cheap stunt to boost sales. Maybe he wants to get closer to the corridors of power or earn money, he told PTI. He added, It is possible that he wants to make a new relationship.

On the claim that the National Conference would have helped the Centre pass the Article 370 proposal if consulted, Abdullah said it was a figment of imagination. He pointed out that both he and his son, Omar Abdullah, were arrested during the abrogation process. We were detained because our stand against the abrogation of special status was well-known, he said.

National Conference chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq also responded, accusing Dulat of attempting to stir controversy. He questioned the reliability of the author and pointed out that the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) was formed only after Abdullah was released from detention.

Sadiq also took issue with Dulat's criticism of the PDP, saying it was inappropriate and designed to stay in the political spotlight. The opposition is inventing stories because they have no real issues to talk about, he said.

Meanwhile, PDP leader Wahid ur Rehman Para took a different angle, saying Dulats claims exposed the National Conferences double standards. He accused the NC of weakening the peoples voice while pretending to resist. The NCs legacy is one of opportunism, not genuine resistance, Para said.

Dulats book, The Chief Minister and The Spy, is set to be released on April 18.
In a new hit-and-run case, three people have died and several others were injured as a speeding bus ran over them in Gujarat's Rajkot.

According to news agency ANI, people protested and vandalised the bus in outrage, which forced the police to intervene.

#WATCH | Gujarat | 3 dead and several injured as speeding bus runs over them in Rajkot. People protest and vandalise the bus in outrage forcing police intervention. pic.twitter.com/D8nPaiAUGa  ANI (@ANI) April 16, 2025

Talking to the news agency, DCP Pooja Yadav informed of the death toll and said that all the dead bodies and the injured people were sent to the hospitals as soon as possible. She also stated that the incident of a hit-and-run occurred in Rajkot's Indira Circle.

"3 deaths occurred in Rajkot, and we have sent all the dead bodies to the hospitals as soon as possible along with the injured... Their family members have not arrived yet... Only one bus was involved," she said.

#WATCH | Gujarat | DCP Pooja Yadav says, "3 deaths occurred in Rajkot and we have sent all the dead bodies to the hospitals as soon as possible along with the injured... Their family members have not arrived yet... Only one bus was involved..." https://t.co/kyLrCjkmBN pic.twitter.com/ZtRD6kMUk6  ANI (@ANI) April 16, 2025

(with ANI inputs)
A 46-year-old air hostess was allegedly sexually assaulted by an unidentified person in Gurugram's Medanta Hospital while she was on the ventilator in the ICU. According to the victim's complaint, the incident took place on April 6. Based on her statement, police registered a case and began an investigation.

According to news agency PTI, the police said that CCTV footage of the hospital was being examined to identify the perpetrator. The police also informed that the woman was admitted to the hospital after she fell ill following a swim in the pool of a hotel where she was staying.

In her complaint, the victim stated that she was admitted to the private hospital on April 5 and was discharged on Sunday. She has alleged that on April 6, she was on a ventilator when hospital staff sexually assaulted her.

After she was discharged, she told her husband about the incident and then informed the police, the woman said, as per PTI.

The police then said on Monday that after the complaint an FIR was registered against the the unidentified staff members of the hospital at Sadar police station on Monday.

A spokesperson of the Gurugram Police said, "The victim's statement has been recorded before the magistrate in the court. The police team is examining the footage of the hospital's CCTV cameras and will soon identify the accused."

In response to the allegations, Medanta Hospital has issued a statement asserting its full cooperation with the police inquiry. The hospital stated that all relevant documents and CCTV footage have been handed over to the authorities for examination.

Dr. Sanjay Durani, Medical Superintendent of Medanta Medicity, Gurugram, said in a statement that all relevant documents, including the hospitals CCTV camera footage of the time in question, have been given to the Gurugram police.

The victim is associated with a private airline and has accused hospital staff of the assault.

The news agency reported, the police informed on Wednesday that the accused is yet to be identified.

(with PTI inputs)
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a scathing attack against the Central government amid the ongoing Waqf protest in the state. Speaking during her meeting with Muslim clerics, Banerjee asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to keep his Home Minister (Amit Shah) in check. She also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of fomenting trouble in the state.

Speaking against the Waqf Amendment Act, Banerjee said, "I appeal to PM Modi not to allow any 'atrocious law' and to keep check on his home minister." Banerjee met Muslim clerics as they continued to protest against the newly enacted Waqf Amendment Act, which is being opposed by the ruling TMC and other opposition parties.

Talking about the Murshidabad violence, Banerjee said that there are reports that Bangladesh is behind the clashes. She said that the riots were pre-planned. "Yesterday, I saw a tweet from ANI quoting the Home Ministry that Bangladesh is involved in this (Murshidabad violence). If this is true, the Central Govt is responsible for it. BSF takes care of the border and not the state govt. Why did you allow the people of BJP to come from outside, cause a disturbance and run away?" said Banerjee.

"I will ask the chief secretary to probe into the BSF firing leading to the death of one person in Murshidabad," said Banerjee.

The Bengal Chief Minister said that the TMC is at the forefront of the fight against Waqf law in Parliament as the Act is against the federal structure of the country. "We will recall all anti-people Bills passed by BJP after dislodging it from power at Centre," she said.

Banerjee said that everyone irrespective of religion has played a role in India's progress, but efforts are on to undermine the Constitution by the present Union government. She also announced Rs 10 lakh as ex gratia for each family of three persons who died in Murshidabad violence.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday addressed over 10,000 Imams and members of the Muslim community at the Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata. The event was an Imam Conference, where Mamata spoke for 46 minutesfocusing largely on opposition to the Waqf Amendment Act.

In today's episode of DNA, Rahul Sinha analyses Mamata Banerjee's Hindu-Muslim speech amid the exodus of Hindus in Murshidabad.

In her speech, Banerjee mentioned the Constitution 25 times, used the word Hindu 20 times, Muslim 17 times, and Waqf 16 times. She said peace 13 times and riot 12 times. However, Chandan Das and Hargobind Das, both killed in the recent Murshidabad violence, were not mentioned until the final minute of her speech.

WATCH Full Episode Here:

The CM did not speak about the Bengal police, which were accused of inaction during the riots. However, she took aim at the BSF, which was deployed in Murshidabad to restore order. Mamata Banerjee mentioned the BSF seven times, questioning their role, even though locals say the BSF brought back peace after 72 hours of violence.

Banerjee spoke about Bangladesh five times, but only briefly referred to the violence in Murshidabad. She said nothing about victims like Sumitra Ghosh, who lost 5 lakh in savings to arson, or Rita, whose 2 lakhsaved for her husbands treatmentwas looted. Nor did she mention Shubhankar, whose home and study notes were burned down. He was preparing for the SSC exam.

Instead, she called for protests against the Waqf law, saying, Dilli Chalo. She invoked leaders like Tagore, Ambedkar, Gandhi, Bose, Azad, and Iqbal. Yet, she did not condemn those who turned protests violent.

Only in the 45th minute of her speech did she announce 10 lakh compensation for the families of those killed in the Murshidabad riots. But families of the victims told Zee News, We dont want money. We want security. They said the only sense of safety comes from the BSF campyet Mamata Banerjee is targeting the BSF instead of the rioters.

Meanwhile, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had given his take on riots in just 46 seconds. Mamata used part of her 46-minute speech to respond. After that, Yogi began trending on social media in Bengal.

A comparison of the two states also raises questions. Mamata has led Bengal for 14 years. Yogi has been UP CM for eight years. But NCRB data shows Bengals crime rate against women in 2022 was 71.8 per lakh women, while in UP it was 58.6.

Kidnapping cases in Bengal were over 8 per lakh, compared to 7 in UP. Bengal also saw nearly three times more fatal attacks than UP. Attempt to murder cases stood at 12.4% in Bengal, while in UP it was just 1.6%. Bengal did better in chargesheet filingwith a 90% rate compared to 79% in UP.

On the economic front, Bengals per capita income rose from 91,000 in 201718 to 1.54 lakh in 202324. UP went from 58,000 to 93,000 in the same period. But UPs population is over 24 crore, more than double Bengals.

UP contributes 8.5% to Indias GDP, while Bengal adds 5.5%. Between October 2019 and December 2024, UP received 15,200 crore in FDI, compared to Bengals 13,945 crore. From April to December 2024 alone, UP attracted 2,585 crore. Bengal didnt feature in the top 10.

The Murshidabad violence, triggered by protests against the Waqf law, led to BSF deployment on Calcutta High Court orders. The issue also reached the Supreme Court on Wednesday.

A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud heard petitions challenging the Waqf Amendment Act. Senior lawyers Kapil Sibal, Rajeev Dhavan, and Abhishek Manu Singhvi opposed the law. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appeared for the Centre.

The court raised key questions about 'Waqf by user'a provision that allows religious property claims without sale deeds. The bench asked, How will centuries-old religious properties be registered without documents? It warned that rejecting Waqf claims could trigger disputes.

Justice Khanna asked whether properties already recognized as Waqf could now be removed. Mehta clarified that registered Waqf properties would remain untouched. Singhvi claimed nearly 4 lakh of 8 lakh Waqf properties might be lost under the new law. The Chief Justice noted, We have been told that the Delhi High Court itself stands on Waqf land.

The Court condemned violence over the Waqf law, saying such acts should not occur while the matter is sub judice. The bench also asked the Centre whether Muslims could be allowed in Hindu religious trusts.

The court may pass an interim order on three key issues on Thursday.
In West Bengal's Murshidabad where three persons were killed and several were injured due to communal violence following a protest against the Waqf Amendment Act, the intelligence agencies have now unearthed links to not only neighbouring Bangladesh but also to Pakistan and Turkey. According to reports, while Pakistan's ISI played a crucial role in inciting the violence, an NGO from Turkey funded the communal plot with the help of two Bengal-based NGOs.



The local NGOs helped mobilise logistical support for the rioters and they were given training in Madarsas. As per the report, the rioters were even trained to kill security personnel.

The groups were mobilised using social media and WhatsApp. According to reports, rumours circulating on WhatsApp groups, fake social media profiles, and coordinated mass mobilization converged to ignite a wave of communal violence in West Bengal's Murshidabad last week, triggered by the recently enacted Waqf Amendment Act. All this was aided by Pakistan and Bangladesh-based handlers.

In the aftermath of the clashes, which left three people dead, authorities have taken strict actionblocking 1,093 social media accounts and arresting 221 individuals involved in spreading misinformation and inciting unrest.

Reports even said that Bangladeshi radicals were allegedly aided by local leaders of a political party to carry out the violence. The intelligence report said that members of two Bangladesh-based radical outfits -- Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) -- were allegedly involved in the violence in Murshidabad.

The Border Security Force (BSF), which is deployed along the India-Bangladesh border, has also been instructed to keep a strict vigil so that illegal infiltration does not take place in the West Bengal sector, the sources said.

Violent protests erupted on Friday and Saturday in pockets of the district, including Suti, Dhulian and Jangipur, following anger over the amended Waqf Act. The demonstrations soon escalated into clashes, leaving at least three people dead and several injured.
The Congress party launched a major protest nationwide on Wednesday against the Central government and the investigative agencies after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a chargesheet against the senior leaders, Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, in the National Herald Case.

The protests have been launched across the country with the grand old party's senior leaders in the frontline. According to ANI, in the national capital, some Congress leaders were detained by the Delhi Police because they attempted to breach security barriers near the Congress office.

#WATCH | Congress workers hold a protest against the central government at their 24, Akbar Road party office in Delhi.



The party is holding a nationwide protest in front of Enforcement Directorate offices at the State Headquarters and in front of Central Government offices at pic.twitter.com/Yj1aAKDGry  ANI (@ANI) April 16, 2025

Also Read: National Herald Probe: ED's Crackdown On Rs 661 Crores Assets In Rahul, Sonia Gandhi-Linked AJL Case

Congress Leaders React To Protests Against Centre And Probe Agencies

Talking to reporters, Congress leader Sachin Pilot alleged that the case against the Congress leaders is politically motivated.

He said, "This is a politically motivated case. We have faith in the judicial system. We will fight it out legally... Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi have been purposefully targeted. This has been done to suppress the voice of the opposition."

#WATCH | Delhi: At the Congress protest against Centre, Congress leader Sachin Pilot says "This is a politically motivated case. We have faith in the judicial system. We will fight it out legally...Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi have been purposefully targeted. This has been done pic.twitter.com/h04rRj2Jav  ANI (@ANI) April 16, 2025

Speaking to ANI, Congress leader Supriya Shrinate said that the Congress workers are agitated and that the chargesheet was filed on the last day in a "false" case that is over a decade old.

"Our people are agitated, the public is agitated, Congress workers are agitated. In a 12-year-old false case, you remembered only on the last day to file a chargesheet. You invoked charges of money laundering in the chargesheet where not even one paisa was laundered, where not even one asset was transferred, where Young India is a non-profit organisation."

#WATCH | Delhi: At the Congress protest against Centre and central agencies, party leader Supriya Shrinate says, "Our people are agitated, public is agitated, Congress workers are agitated. In a 12-year-old false case, you remembered only on the last day to file a chargesheet. pic.twitter.com/mWdgp4E2jj  ANI (@ANI) April 16, 2025

Also Read: ED Chargesheets Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi In National Herald Case

ED's Chargesheet Against Rahul, Sonia Gandhi

On Tuesday, the probe agency ED had filed a chargesheet in Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court against the Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Sam Pitroda, Suman Dubey, and others, including some firms. Furthermore, the matter has been listed for arguments on cognisance in the Delhi Court for April 25.

The Congress party then staged protests on Wednesday in front of ED offices at the district level in different states against the saffron party-led government.

(with ANI inputs)
The Supreme Court on Wednesday began hearing over 70 petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. A bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, along with Justices Sanjay Kumar and K V Viswanathan, is hearing the matter.

At the start of the proceedings, the CJI flagged two key questions for both sides to address. There are two aspects we want to ask both the sides to address. Firstly, whether we should entertain or relegate it to the high court? Secondly, point out in brief what you are really urging and wanting to argue? CJI Khanna said. The second point may help us in deciding the first issue to some extent, he added.

SC Asks Centre About Muslim Inclusion In Hindu Trusts

The Supreme Court on Wednesday proposed that properties declared as waqf, including those categorized as waqf by user, should not be de-notified while it hears petitions challenging the Waqf Amendment Act, 2025.

"The properties declared by courts as waqfs should not be de-notified as waqfs, whether they are by waqf-by-user or waqf by deed, while the court is hearing the challenge to the Waqf Amendment Act 2025," the bench said.

However, the Centre opposed the move and requested a detailed hearing before any such order is passed.

In a sharp observation, the bench also questioned whether Muslims would be allowed to be part of Hindu religious trusts, as the legal debate around the governance of religious properties intensified.

Petitioners Challenge Key Provision

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the petitioners, opened the arguments. He questioned a provision in the Act that allows only Muslims to create waqf. How can state decide whether, and how I am a Muslim or not and hence, eligible to create waqf? Sibal asked. He also objected to the laws requirement that only those practicing Islam for the past five years can create a waqf.

The CJI further suggested that a high court might be asked to take up the matter. However, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi opposed the idea. Waqf Act will have all India ramifications, pleas should not be referred to high court, Singhvi said.

Meanwhile, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre argued that Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, was the result of a detailed process led by a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC).

There was constitution of joint parliamentary committee and elaborate exercise was undertaken. JPC had 38 sittings, examined 98.2 lakh memorandums before Parliament's both houses passed it, PTI quoted Mehta as saying in court.

The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025

The Act was recently notified by the Centre after receiving President Droupadi Murmus assent on April 5. It was passed in Parliament after intense debates. In the Rajya Sabha, 128 members voted in favour and 95 against. In the Lok Sabha, the bill was cleared with 288 votes in favour and 232 against.

Several prominent individuals and groups have challenged the law. These include AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), and Congress MPs Imran Pratapgarhi and Mohammad Jawed.

The Centre also filed a caveat in the Supreme Court on April 8, requesting that no order be passed without hearing its side. A caveat ensures a party is heard before any decision is made.
MUZAFFARNAGAR: Former MLA Shahnawaz Rana, his son Shah Azam Rana, and three others have been booked under the Gangsters Act by the police here, officials said on Wednesday.

Station House Officer (SHO) Ashutosh Kumar Singh told reporters that a case has been registered against five individuals -- Shahnawaz Rana, his son Shah Azam Rana, Kamran Rana, Ziya Abbas Zaidi, and Tosif -- under the Gangsters Act in connection with alleged GST evasion and other criminal activities.

According to police, the accused were involved in evading GST by operating fake companies. Additionally, Shahnawaz Rana, who is currently lodged in the district jail, is alleged to have used a mobile phone illegally from within the prison. While Shahnawaz Rana is in custody, the remaining four accused are absconding, and police have launched a search operation to apprehend them, they added.
United States Vice President JD Vance with his family will visit India next week. He is scheduled for a visit to Italy and India from April 18 to April 24.

According to news agency ANI, the US Vice President will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and travel to Agra, New Delhi, and Jaipur.

Vance's office in a release on Wednesday stated that during the visit, he will discuss shared economic and geopolitical priorities with the respective country's leaders.

The release said, "Vice President JD Vance and the Second Family will travel to Italy and India from April 18 to April 24. The Vice President will discuss shared economic and geopolitical priorities with leaders in each country."

Office of US Vice President JD Vance issues a statement announcing Vice President JD Vance and the Second Family's visit to Italy and India from April 18 to April 24. The Vice President will discuss shared economic and geopolitical priorities with leaders in each country... In pic.twitter.com/XNl5Q2oyTi  ANI (@ANI) April 16, 2025

Also Read: 'Harvard Is A Joke, Hiring Woke Staff': Trump Attacks Ivy League College Amid Federal Funds Row

JD Vance's Schedule For India Visit

Vance will hold a meeting with PM Modi and will participate in engagements at cultural sites.

"In India, the Vice President will visit New Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra. The Vice President will hold meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Vice President and Second Family will also participate in engagements at cultural sites," the release said.

Also Read: China Now Faces Up To 245% Tariffs From US: White House

In Italy, Vance will meet with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

PM Modi's US-France Visit

As per ANI, during his visit to France in February for the AI Action Summit, PM Modi gifted an eco-friendly wooden alphabet set to the daughter of US Vice President Vance, Mirabel Rose Vance.

After his France visit, PM Modi went to the US at the invitation of US President Donald Trump. This was PM's first visit to America since Trump assumed office for his second term.

(with ANI inputs)
Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna on Wednesday recommended Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai as the next CJI.

As per the Memorandum of Procedure(MoP), the Centre asks the outgoing CJI to name the successor, just before a month of retirement. Thus, according to the practice of the CJI naming the senior-most judge as his successor, CJI Khanna wrote to the Central government and recommended the name of Justice Gavai.

CJI Sanjiv Khanna's Tenure

CJI Khanna was sworn in as the 51st CJI on November 11, 2024, and he has recommended to the Union Law Ministry Justice Gavai as his successor.

As per IANS, CJI Khanna will demit office on May 13, after a 6-month-long tenure in the highest judicial office of India. The retirement age of the judges of the top court is 65 years.

Justice BR Gavai's Profile

Justice Gavai was born on November 24 in 1960, at Amravati. He joined the bar on March 16, 1985, and was the standing counsel for the Municipal Corporation of Nagpur, Amravati Municipal Corporation, and Amravati University.

According to PTI, he was the assistant government pleader and additional public prosecutor in the Bombay High Court's Nagpur bench from August 1992 to July 1993. Justice Gavai was appointed as a government pleader and public prosecutor for the Nagpur bench on January 17, 2000.

Later, he was elevated as an additional judge of the Bombay HC on November 14, 2003. He became a permanent judge of the High Court on November 12, 2005.

As of now, Justice Gavai is the second senior-most Supreme Court judge after the CJI Khanna and is set to become the 52nd CJI on May 14. He was elevated as a judge of the apex court on May 24, 2019.

As per PTI, Justice Gavai would have a tenure of over six months as the CJI as he is due for retirement on November 23, 2025.

Notable Benches Justice Gavai Has Served On

Justice Gavai has been a part of several Constitution benches in the top court, which were responsible for delivering noted verdicts. Some of the verdicts that he has been a part of are as follows:

Abrogation of Article 370: Justice Gavai was a part of the five-judge Constitution bench that unanimously upheld the Centre's decision to abrogate provisions of Article 370 in December 2023. Demonetization: Justice Gavai was among the five-judge Constitution bench that approved the Centre's 2016 decision to demonetise Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 500 denomination currency notes. Demolition of Property: He headed the bench that laid down pan-India guidelines and said no property should be demolished without a prior show-cause notice. The bench also ruled that the affected party must be given 15 days to respond. Annulment of Electoral Bonds: He was also a part of the five-judge Constitution bench that annulled the electoral bonds scheme for political funding. Forest and Wildlife Protection: Justice Gavai is heading the bench that is hearing matters related to forests, wildlife, and the protection of trees.

(with agencies' inputs)
Mumbai: In a bid to decongest Mumbai, the Maharashtra government is planning to develop sea routes with water taxi services in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), a state minister said. A detailed project report (DPR) for this has been prepared, Ports Minister Nitesh Rane said on Tuesday.

'We have seen the success of Mumbai Metro. On those lines, we will be starting water taxis in the MMR. We have already identified eight to nine routes," he said. "We have the DPR and are speaking to international consultants," the minister said.

The government will also introduce 30-seater electric vessels from the Gateway of India to Alibaug and the Elephanta Island, he said. Rane said 15 vessels are being procured from Candela Cruise, a Swedish company, and two of them will arrive in August.

The vessels will reduce pollution and provide public transport service at affordable rates. It will be managed by the Maharashtra Maritime Board, he said.

The existing wooden boats can continue to ply. Commuters will have a choice, like in the case of road transport service aggregators, the minister said.

Besides, a 'Ro-Ro (roll on-roll off) service facility will be provided from Mazgaon in Mumbai to Malvan in Sindhudurg district and it will cover the distance in four-and-a-half hours. The first service will start during the Ganpati festival (later this year), he said.

Jetties are being constructed in Ratnagiri, Vijaydurg and Malvan for the service, Rane added.
Union Minister Piyush Goyal recently sparked a stir when he called out Indian startups for exploiting cheap labour to run startups like food delivery and developing lifestyle products like gluten-free ice cream. Goyal also hailed that Chinese startups are excelling in machine learning, robotics and building 'next-gen factories that can compete with the rest of the world'. Now, an Indian-origin Tesla engineer has expressed similar views saying that 'engineering without purpose is just noise'.

The Tesla battery scientist and cleantech innovator Harsh Maheshwari emphasised shifting the mindset of innovation from performance to purpose. Speaking during a recent podcast Cell Siders, Maheshwari emphasized the need for engineers and founders to align their technological breakthroughs with the needs of the planet.

A lighter battery, a cheaper module, a faster chargeit all means nothing if it doesnt reduce emissions or empower underserved markets, Maheshwari stated. We dont need more features; we need more impact, he said.

With climate urgency accelerating and geopolitical competition over energy intensifying, Maheshwari believes the next decade of engineering must be mission-oriented. Were not just building tech anymorewere building survival systems for the planet, he said. The question isnt can we do it? Its should weand for whom? he said.

Maheshwaris call to action arrives at a pivotal moment as governments and companies ramp up cleantech investments. But he warns that without a clear moral compass, innovation risks becoming an echo chamber of vanity metrics and short-term gains.
United States President Donald Trump has launched a scathing attack on Harvard University, which is considered one of the most prominent educational institutions institutions of the world, and stated that it is a "joke" and should not receive federal funding.

This comes after the Trump administration froze federal funding of around USD 2.3 billion to Harvard. As per media reports, the US government took this decision after the Ivy League institution did not comply with the demands of his government.

Trump Says Harvard's 'Lost Its Way'

Trump took it to the social media platform Truth Social and remarked that the elite educational institute has "lost its way" and claimed that Harvard has been hiring 'Radical Leftists'.

"Everyone knows that Harvard has 'lost its way'... Harvard has been hiring almost all woke, Radical Left...

He added that Harvard can no longer be considered a decent place of learning.

"...Harvard can no longer be considered even a decent place of learning, and should not be considered on any list of the Worlds Great Universities or Colleges," he wrote.

Trump said that Harvard is a joke and that it should no longer receive federal funding.

He continued, "Harvard is a JOKE, teaches Hate and Stupidity, and should no longer receive Federal Funds."

Harvard Reacts To Trump's Demands

The university President Alan Garber, in a letter to the members of the Harvard Community, wrote that the federal government has awarded grants and contracts to the institute to help pay for work that has led to innovations across fields like medicine, engineering, and science.

He added that recently, the federal government has threatened its partnerships with universities like Harvard and accused them of antisemitism on campus.

Garber informed that the US government issued an updated and expanded list of demands. As he explained some of the 'demands', he stated that Harvard will not accept their proposed agreement. He said, "The University will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights."

He continued, "It violates Harvards First Amendment rights and exceeds the statutory limits of the governments authority under Title VI. And it threatens our values as a private institution devoted to the pursuit, production, and dissemination of knowledge."

"No governmentregardless of which party is in powershould dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue," Garber added.
DHAKA: Supradip Chakma, Adviser to Bangladesh's Interim Government, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus met and talked "very positively" and expressed hope that the meeting would definitely yield some good hope and aspiration for the two nations. In an interview with ANI, he noted that India and Bangladesh have had good ties since the latter's creation. He stated that India and Bangladesh have to remain hand-in-hand in the future to develop and progress ties.

When asked about the recent meeting between PM Modi and Yunus on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit, Chakma said, "Well, this is the basic, you see, with the two neighbours, we have a good relations since long since the creation of this nation. So, it is a prime step for the two of us. I seriously believe that the two leaders met together and talked very positively. So, this will definitely yield some good hope, aspiration of two nations and two people. I seriously believe in engagement, and I know that this engagement will give a good result. I believe that in the future, we also have to remain hand in hand to develop and progress our relations and our people."

On April 4, PM Modi met Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok and reiterated India's support for a democratic, stable, peaceful, progressive and inclusive Bangladesh. PM Modi underlined India's concerns related to the safety and security of minorities in Bangladesh, including Hindus, and expressed his expectation that the Bangladesh government would ensure their security, including by thoroughly investigating the cases of atrocities committed against them, according to a Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) release.

Chakma stressed that the majority community of Bangladesh needs to adopt a positive attitude and play a role in developing the confidence of the minority community of India. On being asked about PM Modi's concerns regarding the safety and security of minorities in Bangladesh, Supradip Chakma said, "Being the minority community member in the cabinet, let me tell you that well, the big community has to take the positive attitude and positive role to develop the confidence of the small group of the country. It is religious, a small community or another small community. It is, I seriously believe, and I always say that let the big community take the role and then they will create confidence and we will believe it. I am there."

On how Bangladesh and India can work together in future for the benefit of the two nations, Supradip Chakma said, "The thing is this very simple one. Engagement is very essential. Let us engage."
Travel and exchanges across China's borders have seen a vibrant uptick in early 2025, with the country recording 163 million entries and exits in the first quarter of 2025, marking an increase of 15.3 percent year on year.

While mainland residents accounted for the majority of cross-border trips, the sharpest growth came from foreign nationals, who made 17.44 million border crossings, up 33.4 percent from the same period in 2024, data from the National Immigration Administration (NIA) showed.

Officials attributed the surge of foreign nationals in border crossings to recent changes in border control policies, part of China's broader opening up efforts.

The visa-free transit initiative, combined with other visa-waiver policies, has attracted more visitors to China, said Lin Yongsheng, spokesperson for the NIA.

In its latest easing of transit policies on Dec. 17, China allowed eligible citizens from 54 countries to enter through more ports visa-free and stay for up to 10 days before departing for a third destination.

Visits made by foreign tourists to popular destinations like Huangshan Mountain have jumped 21.6 percent, compared to the same period last year.

China has also extended unilateral visa-free access to travelers from more countries, allowing stays of up to 30 days. Similar expansion has been introduced to regional visa exemptions and mutual visa agreements.

These sweeping policy changes have made exploring the country easier than ever before, fueling a rising wave of "China Travel" content on platforms like YouTube.

Among the recent first-timers was IShowSpeed, a 20-year-old U.S. content creator whose real name is Darren Jason Watkins Jr.

The young man live-streamed his explorations through Chinese streets and alleys, sharing with his millions of subscribers a memorable episode in which he chased his kung fu dream at the Shaolin Temple in central China.

"China is an underrated tourist destination. I don't know why people overlooked China," he said, a view shared by many in his audience.

Exploring beyond borders

At the same time, spontaneous international getaways have become a part of everyday life for many Chinese people, thanks in part to easier access to global flights, expanded visa-free arrangements, and a rising desire to explore the world.

Wang Liuqing, who works in north China's Shanxi Province, and her friends spent their Qingming Festival holidays at Jeju Island in the Republic of Korea earlier this month.

"A visa-free destination would be our top pick. The jelly-like sea and cherry blossoms on the island were absolutely stunning -- every spot was perfect for a photo of a lifetime," said Wang.

More than 80 countries and regions have introduced visa-free or visa-on-arrival policies for Chinese travelers.

To attract more Chinese tourists, many international destinations are streamlining visa procedures and stepping up marketing efforts. According to Skift, a U.S. travel industry news site, China's outbound tourism market is projected to reach around 200 million trips by 2028.

Dai Bin, president of the China Tourism Academy, said that more Chinese tourists are now willing to pay for a better lifestyle -- opting for good hotels, fine dining, and high-quality cultural performances during trips.

Faster customs clearance

Getting across Chinese borders has become much easier, thanks to new measures such as real-time traffic monitoring at entry ports, which has helped streamline operations.

At the Detian-Ban Gioc Waterfall at the China-Vietnam border, crowds of tourists are buzzing with excitement.

Miles away, at the Shuolong border checkpoint in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, officers reported that policies such as waiving fingerprint collection have boosted immigration processing efficiency by 40 percent.

Visiting two countries in a single day has become possible. Meanwhile, Vietnamese fruits, like the durian, have made it to more households in China.

At the Friendship Pass in Guangxi, Chinese freight drivers can clear customs in 15 seconds using ID and biometric scans.

In the first quarter alone, the inspection station there handled over 200,000 inbound and outbound trips by freight trucks, up 16.8 percent year on year.

Nationwide, border officers handled 8.5 million trips by planes, trains, vessels and motor vehicles from January to March, the NIA data showed.

More measures are in the pipeline to further enhance communication and exchanges between China and the rest of the world, according to the NIA.
Americans have a choice between oligarchy and democracy, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez told a capacity crowd of about 7,500 at the Adams Center in Missoula on Wednesday.

We can either have extreme wealth inequality, with the toxic division and corruption that it requires to survive, or we can have a fair economy for working people along with the democracy and freedoms that uphold it, the Democrat from New York told the crowd. But we cannot have both.

Ocasio-Cortez was in town with U.S Sen. Bernie Sanders, an Independent from Vermont, for the last stop on their Fighting Oligarchy tour.

As expected, both took aim at President Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Montanas elected Republicans in their speeches.

During the last election, Elon Musk himself spent $270 million in order to get Trump elected, Sanders said. And his reward for that $270 million was to be made the most important person in the United States government.

Both Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders bemoaned the huge amounts of money going to political campaigns.

I believe honestly that I speak for conservatives, moderates and progressives, for the overwhelming majority of the American people, who understand that there is something fundamentally wrong in our campaign finance system where billionaires can buy elections, Sanders said.

Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez received thunderous applause and standing ovations for every one of their criticisms of everything from Trumps tariffs to his deportations.

Ocasio-Cortez noted that she doesnt take any money from lobbyists, unlike a lot of politicians. She said that politicians who do so inevitably vote for the interests of those lobbyists.

You just saw it play out this week, with Trumps corrupt and disastrous tariff scheme, she said. I hope that all of us see now that this whole tariff shuffle had nothing to do with manufacturing, like they claimed, and everything to do with manipulating the markets so they could quietly enrich their friends who bought the dip before reversing it all in the morning.

Perhaps her biggest applause came from her most barbed jab at the President.

Missoula, what Im about to say is a matter of fact and not debate, she said. Donald Trump is a criminal. Donald Trump, when you want to look for the rapists and criminals in this country, you can start by looking in the mirror.

Ocasio-Cortez said she's been texting with Montana Rep. Zooey Zephyr, a Democrat from Missoula.

"That's my girl," Ocasio-Cortez told the crowd. "She was gonna be here today, but she's at the (Montana) Capitol right now, voting for you all."

Both Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders surprised the overflow crowd of over 1,000 people, who couldn't get in to the Adams Center, by speaking for a few minutes outside the venue.

Montana speakers

Three speakers from Montana told the crowd within the Adams Center to push back against the Trump Administrations efforts to curtail the federal workforce and potentially reduce federal lands.

Tracy Stone-Manning, the former Director of the Bureau of Land Management and now the executive director of the Wilderness Society, said Montanas federal lands must be protected and not sold to reduce the federal debt.

These are our lands, these are our future, Stone-Manning, who is originally from Missoula, said.

Stone-Manning said the rally coincides with the 90th anniversary of the Wilderness Society, which was founded by outdoor activist Bob Marshall in Missoula. She applauded the support of public lands in Montana and called on federal officials to prevent any land sales.

Sam Forstag, a wildland firefighter and union representative for Forest Service Council Local 60, said the Trump administrations decision to fire federal workers from the Forest Service and other public land management agencies will hurt Montana in the long term.

These are people who dont do it to be rich, but people who do it for public service, Forstag said. People who do our public service are under attack.

The Trump administration fired more than 360 probationary Forest Service employees in February, although the decision has been tied up in the court system.

Anne Hedges, the executive director of the Montana Environmental Information Center, criticized the federal government for rolling back Biden-era coal regulations and energy rate increases from private utility company Northwestern Energy.

Montana families cannot afford these modern day robber barons, Hedges said.

The Missoula rally started at 1 p.m. and was free to the public. The center officially reached full capacity before the rally at roughly 7,500, according to UM officials. An overflow space was designated west of the facility.

Thousands of people waited in line as of 12:40 p.m.

People interviewed by the Missoulian before the rally said they came to hear Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez provide concrete solutions and direct actions they could take in Montana.

Eric Huseth, campus pastor for Emmaus Campus Ministry near UM, said he is concerned with political and social dynamics in the country for the next generation of Americans.

"I'm here not only for the care of students, but for my 4- and 7-year- old," Huseth said. "We care a lot about the country they face when they grow up."

Huseth said he hoped to hear some hope, inspiration and some concrete ideas for what people can do to support the country.

Kevin and Karen Vaughn drove from Anaconda to attend the rally. The two waited in the back of line early on Wednesday morning and were determined to hear Sanders speak.

"We have such a wealthy country, but only a few people have that money," said Karen Vaughn, 67. "It's the only country where you can get sick and go bankrupt because you got sick."

Missoula Mayor Andrea Davis, Missoula County Commissioner Josh Slotnick and other top Missoula officials joined for the event.

Few disruptions

One warning was issued to a man in a pickup truck with Trump flags for yelling at attendees at the Adams Center on Wednesday, according to University of Montana Police Chief Brad Giffin.

No other citations were issued at the event as of 3:15 p.m., Giffin said.
Rack Centre, which claims to be the only carrier neutral Tier III Constructed Facility Certified data centre in Africa, has officially launched its second facility in Lagos Nigeria.

The newly commissioned LGS2 12MW IT Load Data Centre, which has been under construction for two years, has been described as the best-in-class and a game changer that would revolutionise Nigeria's digital landscape.

The 12MW LGS2 facility features six data halls, four meeting rooms, 3,240 square metres of white space, and effectively increases the data centre capacity of the company eight-fold.

In comparison, Rack Centre's LGS1 data centre facility has an IT load of 1.5MW over 1,095 square metres.

The Chairman, Rack Centre, Maher Jarmakani stated at the launch that the 12MW IT load LGS2 was geared towards ensuring uninterrupted, energy-efficient, world-class services and providing scalable solutions for enterprises, cloud providers, and financial institutions.

"It is important to note that Rack Centre is the only data centre located on Lagos Mainland, and with its proximity to critical government apparatus, this facility provides the required connectivity that makes Alausa's day-to-day communication and cloud services efficient and reliable," Jarmakani said.

"Rack Centre's infrastructure ensures that every byte of data moves swiftly and securely, and our role as a digital switch platform will only growconnecting people, businesses and ideas to build a truly advanced society."

The Chief Executive Officer, Rack Centre, Lars Johannisson said the new facility offers best-in-class services that meet the highest international standards, offering scalable solutions to hyperscalers, enterprises, and cloud service providers.

He described the newly commissioned facility as a significant milestone that symbolises a new chapter in Nigeria's digital transformation, shaped by technological advancement, sustainable digitisation and AI.
BeyondTrust, the global cybersecurity leader protecting Paths to Privilege, today released its annual Microsoft Vulnerabilities Report, revealing a record-breaking number of reported Microsoft vulnerabilities in 2024. Despite ongoing security improvements, attackers continue to exploit key weaknesses, particularly those related to privilege escalation and remote code execution. The 2025 report provides an in-depth analysis of data from security bulletins publicly issued by Microsoft throughout the previous year, providing valuable information about vulnerability trends and the evolving threat landscape to help organisations understand, identify, and address the risks within their Microsoft ecosystems.

Key findings from the 2025 report include:

A total of 1,360 Microsoft vulnerabilities were reported in 2024, marking an all-time high and an 11% increase over the previous record of 1,292 in 2022.

Elevation of Privilege (EoP) vulnerabilities comprised 40% (554) of all reported vulnerabilities.

Security Feature Bypass vulnerabilities surged by 60%, increasing from 56 in 2023 to 90 in 2024, increasing the pressure to reduce software vulnerabilities at the design stage through secure coding and threat modelling.

Critical vulnerabilities across the Microsoft ecosystem continued to decline overall in 2024.

Microsoft Edge vulnerabilities increased by 17% to 292 total vulnerabilities, including 9 critical vulnerabilities in 2024, compared to zero in 2022.

Microsoft Azure and Dynamics 365 vulnerabilities plateaued in 2024.

There were 587 Windows vulnerabilities in 2024; 33 were critical.

Windows Server had 684 vulnerabilities in 2024; 43 were critical.

Microsoft Office vulnerabilities nearly doubled from 2023, reaching 62 in 2024.

Although the total number of vulnerabilities has risen, the longer-term trend shows the pace of growth appear is stabilising. This, combined with the continued downward trend toward fewer critical vulnerabilities, suggests Microsofts security initiatives and improvements in the security architecture of modern operating systems are paying off.

However, while vulnerability growth appears steady, the report also highlights the complexity of securing todays vast and diverse ecosystems, where evolving technologies, features, and interdependencies continue to introduce risk.

Key predictions and takeaways from this years report include:

Unpatched systems remain an easy target, opening the door for widespread exploitation.

Microsofts expanding tech stack, including cloud and AI services, will continue to introduce new attack surfaces.

Novel vulnerabilities will emerge as attackers find new and creative ways to bypass defences.

Patches alone are insufficientthey can fail or introduce stability risks, underscoring the need for layered defences.

Threat actors are shifting tactics, increasingly targeting identities and privileges over traditional exploits.

Despite the changing threat landscape, some security fundamentals remain unchanged:

Software vulnerabilities are as inevitable as death and taxes Enforcing least privilege remains one of the most effective strategies to reduce riskeven against zero-days and reverse-engineered patches Defense-in-depth strategies that combine prevention with detection and response offer the strongest protectionincluding against modern, identity-based threats.

This years data offers a clear reminder that the threat landscape isnt slowing downits rapidly evolving, said James Maude, Field Chief Technology Officer at BeyondTrust. The sustained dominance of Elevation of Privilege vulnerabilities highlights how valuable privileges are to attackers and why they will continue to target identities with privileges to move laterally and gain access to critical systems. These trends reinforce the need for organisations to focus not just on patching, but on securing the underlying Paths to Privilege across their environments to reduce the attack surface of every identity and point of access.

The BeyondTrust Microsoft Vulnerabilities Report serves as a trusted resource for organisations to better understand the Microsoft vulnerability landscape, prioritize patching strategies, and strengthen their identity security posture against modern threats. Download the full 2025 Microsoft Vulnerabilities Report here.
Organisations across Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) are investing in generative AI at higher rates than their global counterparts, but more often experience cost blow outs when it comes to staffing these initiatives.

This is according to findings from the Radical ROI of Generative AI, report from Snowflake (NYSE: SNOW), the AI Data Cloud company. The global research report, undertaken in collaboration with Enterprise Strategy Group, surveyed 1,900 business and IT leaders across nine different countries  all of whom are actively using generative AI for one or more use cases.

The report found ANZs early AI adopters were more likely than the global average to report their efforts with gen AI were enabling the organisation to make better, faster decisions (91% versus 84% globally), and reported a slightly higher than average ROI attributed to gen AI spend (a 44% return versus 41% on average globally).

Local organisations are funding gen AI at a rate above the global average which bodes well for the development and growth of AI in our region, said Theo Hourmouzis, Senior Regional Vice President, Australia and New Zealand and ASEAN, Snowflake. While there is a clear appetite and drive to be ahead of the AI curve, there are hurdles that local business and IT leaders are at pains to overcome  the two biggest challenges being talent and data.

Driving Better Customer Experience Through AI Investments

The report found that 32% of ANZ organisations are putting more than a quarter of their tech budget for the next 12 months toward gen AI (versus 25% globally), with enhancing the customer experience emerging as the key outcome.

Compared to the global average, ANZ organisations more often cite enhancing customer satisfaction, delivering personalised experiences, and improving customer engagement as key goals of their AI strategy (53% versus a 43% global average).

Given that focus, its no surprise that ANZ respondents were more likely to emphasise gen AI projects for end customers (53% versus 44%) and less weighted toward employee-facing efforts (47% versus 55%).

Improving the customer experience is where local organisations are focusing their gen AI strategy and for many businesses this is providing clear benefits already, said Hourmouzis. Major local customers across industries like retail, banking, aviation, and the public sector are using Snowflake to make better decisions quicker, and are already reaping the benefits of their customer-focused strategies.

Not All Smooth Sailing Despite Overall Satisfaction

Respondents in ANZ more often reported certain challenges in their gen AI initiatives than the global average.

Many competing priorities: Respondents in ANZ more often struggled to identify the right use cases to pursue (71% versus 54%).

Respondents in ANZ more often struggled to identify the right use cases to pursue (71% versus 54%). Data obstacles: Compared to the global average, local organisations more often cited a lack of data diversity/range (56% versus 42%), time consuming data management tasks (62% versus 55%) and data preparation (59% versus 51%) as difficult areas. Further, ANZ organisations more often say its hard to break down data silos (76% versus 64%).

Compared to the global average, local organisations more often cited a lack of data diversity/range (56% versus 42%), time consuming data management tasks (62% versus 55%) and data preparation (59% versus 51%) as difficult areas. Further, ANZ organisations more often say its hard to break down data silos (76% versus 64%). Unexpected costs: The majority (84%) of ANZ organisations say half or more of their gen AI use cases have cost more than expected to get into production, compared to the global average of 78%.

On this final point, one of the main causes of unexpected costs appears to be the human element. The report found that the cost of staffing up for gen AI was more often higher than expected in ANZ (63%) than the global average (48%).

It's important to note that the industry is still in the relative infancy of AI adoption, said Hourmouzis. These challenges, including the talent issue, will look like a drop in the ocean 10, 20 and 30 years from now once AI evolves into a normal, everyday part of our business lives.

The first step for local businesses is to address the data issue. Without an effective data strategy, they will struggle to have an effective AI strategy. Fix the foundations, and the rest will fall into place.

There is a significant opportunity for businesses to overcome these challenges and unlock the full potential of their data for more accurate, relevant, and impactful AI outcomes with a unified data platform.

Learn More:

Read the full research report, Radical ROI of Generative AI, and double click into the findings in this blog post.

See how Snowflake is providing thousands of users with a robust platform that is easy to use, connected, and trusted in order to support both current and future AI needs in this blog post.

Learn more about how global organizations can get started with AI data agents today and define an ROI framework to measure business impact in this A Practical Guide to AI Agents ebook.

Stay on top of the latest news and announcements from Snowflake on LinkedIn and Twitter / X

Methodology

Researchers from Enterprise Strategy Group identified, and conducted deeper research between Nov. 21, 2024, to Jan. 10, 2025, with early adopter organisations  those already augmenting and executing business processes in production, using commercial and open-source models rather than consumer-grade, subscription software such as ChatGPT. Of 3,324 respondents, 1,900 (57%) said they are using commercial or open source generative AI solutions.
Water-splashing festival celebrated in China's Yunnan

Xinhua) 09:15, April 16, 2025

Tourists and local people celebrate the water-splashing festival at a square in Jinghong City, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, April 15, 2025. The water-splashing festival is regarded as one of the most important festivals of ethnic groups in southwest China. During the festival, water is considered an auspicious symbol and people splash water on one another, thereby wishing happiness and good fortune. (Xinhua/Gao Yongwei)

Tourists and local people celebrate the water-splashing festival at a square in Jinghong City, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, April 15, 2025. The water-splashing festival is regarded as one of the most important festivals of ethnic groups in southwest China. During the festival, water is considered an auspicious symbol and people splash water on one another, thereby wishing happiness and good fortune. (Xinhua/Gao Yongwei)

Tourists and local people celebrate the water-splashing festival at a square in Jinghong City, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, April 15, 2025. The water-splashing festival is regarded as one of the most important festivals of ethnic groups in southwest China. During the festival, water is considered an auspicious symbol and people splash water on one another, thereby wishing happiness and good fortune. (Xinhua/Gao Yongwei)

Local people fetch water to celebrate the New Year of the calendar of the Dai ethnic group, which is also called the water-splashing festival, by the Lancang River in Jinghong City, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, April 15, 2025. The water-splashing festival is regarded as one of the most important festivals of ethnic groups in southwest China. During the festival, water is considered an auspicious symbol and people splash water on one another, thereby wishing happiness and good fortune. (Xinhua/Gao Yongwei)

Tourists and local people celebrate the water-splashing festival at a square in Gengma Dai and Va Autonomous County of Lincang, southwest China's Yunnan Province, April 15, 2025. The water-splashing festival is regarded as one of the most important festivals of ethnic groups in southwest China. During the festival, water is considered an auspicious symbol and people splash water on one another, thereby wishing happiness and good fortune. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)

Tourists and local people celebrate the water-splashing festival at a square in Jinghong City, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, April 15, 2025. The water-splashing festival is regarded as one of the most important festivals of ethnic groups in southwest China. During the festival, water is considered an auspicious symbol and people splash water on one another, thereby wishing happiness and good fortune. (Xinhua/Gao Yongwei)

Tourists and local people celebrate the water-splashing festival at a square in Gengma Dai and Va Autonomous County of Lincang, southwest China's Yunnan Province, April 15, 2025. The water-splashing festival is regarded as one of the most important festivals of ethnic groups in southwest China. During the festival, water is considered an auspicious symbol and people splash water on one another, thereby wishing happiness and good fortune. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)

Tourists and local people celebrate the water-splashing festival at a square in Gengma Dai and Va Autonomous County of Lincang, southwest China's Yunnan Province, April 15, 2025. The water-splashing festival is regarded as one of the most important festivals of ethnic groups in southwest China. During the festival, water is considered an auspicious symbol and people splash water on one another, thereby wishing happiness and good fortune. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)

An aerial drone photo taken on April 15, 2025 shows tourists and local people celebrating the water-splashing festival at a square in Gengma Dai and Va Autonomous County of Lincang, southwest China's Yunnan Province. The water-splashing festival is regarded as one of the most important festivals of ethnic groups in southwest China. During the festival, water is considered an auspicious symbol and people splash water on one another, thereby wishing happiness and good fortune. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)

Tourists and local people celebrate the water-splashing festival at a square in Gengma Dai and Va Autonomous County of Lincang, southwest China's Yunnan Province, April 15, 2025. The water-splashing festival is regarded as one of the most important festivals of ethnic groups in southwest China. During the festival, water is considered an auspicious symbol and people splash water on one another, thereby wishing happiness and good fortune. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
China's economy started 2025 on solid footing, bolstered by a structural shift toward domestic demand and innovation, positioning the country to better weather global uncertainties.

The country's gross domestic product (GDP) grew 5.4% year on year to 31.8758 trillion yuan (about $4.42 trillion) in the first quarter of 2025, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed Wednesday.

China's GDP grew 5% year on year in 2024 and the country has targeted its full-year economic growth at around 5% for this year.

The country's economy delivered a strong start in the first quarter, ranking among the highest of the world's major economies, Sheng Laiyun, deputy head of the NBS, told a press conference Wednesday.

At the same time, Sheng cautioned that the external environment has become increasingly complex and challenging, with a rapid rise in global trade protectionism and growing strains on the international economic order.

China has made thorough policy preparations to address external changes, Sheng said, noting that a series of targeted marco policies have already taken effects and that more incremental policies will be introduced as needed to mitigate external shocks.

Solid start

Highlighting broad-based improvements across key indicators, Sheng pointed out that value-added industrial output expanded 6.5% year on year. In March alone, the industrial output grew 7.7% from one year earlier.

During the period, fixed-asset investment went up 4.2% year on year, with investment in infrastructure construction rising 5.8%, and manufacturing investment increasing 9.1%, according to the NBS data.

Retail sales of consumer goods, a major indicator of the country's consumption strength, gained 4.6% year on year.

Supported by targeted policies to boost consumption, service-related spending also picked up pace. In the first quarter, retail sales of services grew 5% year on year, outpacing goods retail by 0.4 percentage points.

Wednesday's data also showed that the country's per capita disposable income increased by 5.5% year on year in nominal terms to 12,179 yuan in Q1, with the employment situation remaining stable.

Sheng credited these improvements to decisive policy support, local-level responsiveness, and the rapid buildup of innovation-driven momentum.

Noting that China's massive market, backed by a population of 1.4 billion and a per capita GDP exceeding $13,000, offers substantial room for both consumption and investment, Sheng said this strong domestic demand potential will continue to support the country's sustained economic growth.

Faster upgrade

China has been steadily advancing structural upgrading and high-quality development, with its growth model shifting fundamentally from one driven by investment and exports to one increasingly powered by domestic demand and innovation, Sheng stressed.

Over the past five years, domestic demand has contributed more than 80% of the country's economic growth on average, he added.

As part of its move to make domestic demand the main engine and anchor of economic growth, China unveiled a targeted consumption-boosting plan in March. The initiative reflects the policy direction outlined in this year's government work report, which emphasizes improving living standards and boosting consumer spending.

New consumption scenarios are rapidly emerging with the rise of big data and AI, Sheng said, citing movie "Ne Zha 2" as an example of booming cultural demand that reflects the country's vibrant consumer innovation and growth potential.

Emerging sectors such as the digital economy are playing an increasingly important role in China's growth, with new drivers expanding steadily and contributing to greater economic resilience and long-term stability, Sheng said.

Regarding foreign trade, Sheng noted that a more diversified export structure is emerging, lowering reliance on any single trading partner.

When asked about the impact of U.S. tariff hikes, Sheng said they "may exert short-term pressure on China's economy and foreign trade, but will not alter the country's long-term positive outlook," pointing to China's firm fundamentals, diverse strengths, strong resilience, and substantial growth prospects.

China is well prepared to address all uncertainties, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said when presiding over a symposium with economic experts and entrepreneurs on April 9.

Li noted that it is particularly crucial to ensure effective economic work in the second quarter and beyond, stressing that it is necessary to implement more proactive macro policies and introduce new incremental policies in a timely manner in light of the needs of the situation.
78 per cent of Academic Administrators, Educators, and Students in Australia and New Zealand say they are overwhelmed by the availability and volume of AI

78 per cent of survey respondents in Australia and New Zealand report feeling positive about the impacts that AI is having on education

GUEST RESEARCH: Australia and New Zealand lead in feeling they know how to get the most benefit from AI in their role/studies

Turnitin, a global leader in upholding academic integrity, recently released new survey findings on the impacts of AI in education. Commissioned by Turnitin* and conducted by Vanson Bourne, the survey includes data and insights from 3500 students, educators and academic administrators across six countries, including Australia (350) and New Zealand (350). Responses to the online survey revealed that while the education community is generally positive about the impacts of AI in education, the line between using AI to enhance students learning and cheating is still undefined.

Key learnings from our research and continued engagement with the academic community across regions help inform development of future solutions, and increase the value of our current solutions, said Turnitin chief product officer, Annie Chechitelli. To provide the right support for the global education community, we have to better understand how technologies, like AI, are used to either support or shortcut learning around the world.

While continued expansion of AI use in education is not a surprise, students outpacing all other surveyed groups (educators and academic administrators) in their concerns around AI is less expected. 64 per cent of students reported being worried about the use of AI within education, compared to 50 per cent of educators and 41 per cent of academic administrators across Australia/New Zealand, India, Mexico, United Kingdom/Ireland, and the United States.

Our research, across all countries and surveyed groups, highlights a pivotal moment in academia, said David Gallichan, Business Strategy & Partnerships Lead at Vanson Bourne. While there is clear optimism about AIs potential, there is also significant concernparticularly among studentsabout its misuse.

Key takeaways from Crossroads: Navigating the Intersection of AI and Academia in Australia/New Zealand

78 per cent of survey respondents in Australia and New Zealand feel positive about the impacts that AI is having on education. This is directly aligned to the average sentiment across all regions  78 per cent of survey respondents across Australia/New Zealand, India, Mexico, United Kingdom/Ireland, and the United States feel the same.

78 per cent of survey respondents in Australia and New Zealand say the availability and volume of AI is overwhelming. Showing slightly more concern over the availability and volume of AI than the average (74 per cent) across all regions and respondents surveyed.

36 per cent of survey respondents in Australia and New Zealand say they dont know how to get the most benefit from AI in their role/studies. That is good news considering that number climbs to 45 per cent when looking at all survey respondents.

It is impressive how students, educators and academic administrators in Australia and New Zealand have grown and evolved with the continued presence and prevalence of AI, said James Thorley, Regional Vice President, APAC and EMEA. With nearly two-thirds of survey respondents in the region feeling they know how to get the most benefit from AI in their role/studies, Australia and New Zealand have an opportunity to establish and share best practices.

*Turnitin was a partner in providing compensation to conduct Vanson Bournes research. **Download the full report - Crossroads: Navigating the Intersection of AI and Academia.

Methodology

Turnitin commissioned Vanson Bourne to survey a total of 3,500 respondents, including academic administrators (500), educators (500) and students (2,500) in August 2024, with interviews in Australia (350)/New Zealand (350), India (700), Mexico (700), U.K. / Ireland (700), and the U.S. (700). The academic administrators and educators were from both secondary (500) and higher education institutions (500), whilst students were from higher education institutions, studying both full time (2,064) and part time (436). The survey was conducted online using a rigorous multi-level screening process to ensure that only suitable candidates were given the opportunity to participate.
Cone Health made it clear Tuesday to healthcare competitors  in the Triad and Triangle  that it is going on the offensive to defend its Alamance County marketplace.

Cone filed on the first available date a certificate-of-need application with state health regulators to open a 46-bed, $275 million community hospital at 103 Medical Park Drive in Mebane. The property is adjacent to Cone's MedCenter facility in Mebane.

On Wednesday, Cone learned it will have competition from a joint Duke Health and Novant Health Inc. application that represents a prominent step in an intriguing expansion collaboration unveiled on March 3.

At the center of the Duke-Novant initiative is expanding their presences statewide through developing new campuses. Those systems applied Tuesday to open a 46-bed hospital in Mebane at a projected cost of $225 million.

By regulating access to healthcare facilities and equipment in a region, the state's certificate-of-need laws are designed to control costs, enhance quality and ensure equitable access to care, according to the N.C. Division of Health Service Regulation.

Among the responsibilities of certificate-of-need laws is setting the number of hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers in a region.

The 2025 State Medical Facilities Plan determines the annual growth needs for hospitals and healthcare equipment in all 100 counties.

It lists an additional 46 acute-care hospital beds in Alamance  the only one listed for the 14-county Triad and northwest N.C. region.

Typically, a healthcare system doesn't publicize its hospital certificate-of-need applications, waiting to comment after the N.C. Division of Health Service Regulation posts its monthly updates that occurred Wednesday.

Cone already owns and operates the 238-bed Alamance Regional Medical Center in Burlington.

Cone projects the Mebane hospital opening in 2029, but that's optimistic given a likely series of appeals for the system not approved for the certificate.

Cone also is pledging to create: 15 emergency department bays; three general operating rooms; a C-section operating room; two procedure rooms; three obstetric labor, delivery, recovery beds; seven observation beds; and imaging, ancillary and support services.

"Many residents of eastern Alamance County already trust Cone Health for their health care," Cone said in a news release.

"The 161,578-square-foot facility would bring care close to home, helping residents avoid the 10-mile trip west on I-40/85 to Alamance Regional Medical Center or east along that same busy interstate to hospitals further away."

Novant said in a statement its proposed Mebane hospital "would expand access to specialty services and clinical expertise in the region, and is the latest example of Novant Healths commitment to transforming the health and wellness of communities throughout the Carolinas."

Duke Health said in a statement the Mebane hospital "would expand access to acute care services and clinical expertise in the region, including emergency department services, inpatient services and labor and delivery care."

"It will build upon Duke Healths decade of multi-specialty care in the community at Kernodle Clinic.

Attractiveness of Mebane

Mebane and its about 20,500 residents sit on both the eastern most part of the Triad and the western edge of the Triangle, with the town limits dipping into Orange County.

Mebane is perhaps best known for the Tanger outlet shopping center, but it has grown into a popular bedroom community for people commuting into Greensboro, Chapel Hill, Durham and Raleigh.

As such, Mebane would appear to be the obvious choice within Alamance for a 46-bed community hospital.

"Cone Health Mebane Hospital will bring the high-quality, affordable care that Cone Health is known for, closer to our neighbors in Alamance and Orange counties," said Dr. Yun Boylston, a pediatrician at Burlington Pediatrics and Mebane Pediatrics who also serves as chair of Cone's Board of Trustees.

That's not lost on Cone given the likelihood of competing certificate-of-need applications from Triad rivals Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist and Novant Health Inc., as well as a potential entrance point into the Triad for Triangle powerhouses Duke Health, UNC Health and WakeMed.

However, the Triangle systems may be occupied with applying to fill the 2025 State Medical Facilities Plan's listing of a need for an additional 267 acute-care beds in Wake County, as well as 82 in either Caswell, Durham or Warren counties.

The CON applications posted Wednesday includes Duke University Hospital requesting to add 82 beds on its main campus at a projected cost of $12.3 million, while UNC Health requests adding 34 beds at its Cary hospital at a projected cost of $78.8 million for a total of 136.

Novant has struggled to gain state health regulators approval to open a major hospital presence in the Triangle.

Novant has been denied twice by state health regulators in its bid to establish a Triangle hospital, in large part because it doesnt already have a hospital in the market.

The latest attempt for a $286.94 million, 36-bed Knightdale Medical Center was denied in February.

Meanwhile, an Alamance community hospital would enable Novant to fill a service gap in the Triad and put it on the edge of the Triangle, as would a Durham County hospital.

Given the push by N.C. Senate Republican leadership to make North Carolina more attractive to for-profit healthcare systems through repealing the state's certificate-of-need laws, there could be out-of-state competition for the 46 Alamance beds as well.

"An expansion into the eastern part of Alamanace County likely makes sense given the population growth that is occurring in that area," said John Quinterno, principal with South by North Strategies Ltd., a Chapel Hill research company specializing in economic and social policy.

"The growing communities have a need for health care services and an expansion is a logical extension of Cone Health's current geographic footprint.

"It also may help to capture patients who might otherwise seek care at facilities connected with other health care systems like UNC Health."

Cone's Triad presence

Cone serves about 500,000 patients annually, foremost in the Triad.

It has more than 13,000 employees, more than 700 physicians and 1,800 partner physicians. Its network features four acute-care hospitals, a behavioral health facility, an accountable care organization and a health plan.

The application is the first for Cone since being acquired in December by Risant Health, which has made a $1.7 billion financial commitment over five years to Cone.

Dr. Mary Jo Cagle, the outgoing president chief executive of Cone, said the planned Mebane hospital "positions Cone to become a significant part of this community for decades to come.

Cagle plans to step down on May 31 to address what the system calls a serious family health matter.

Cagle said in December that Risants financial commitment will make it more feasible for Cone to expand its operational presence in Alamance, Forsyth, Randolph and Rockingham counties.

However, Cagle stressed that Risants $1 billion capital investment pledge does not include acquiring a hospital or opening a new acute-care community hospital that typically is in the $100 million to $150 million range.

Instead, Cagle expects the bulk will go toward replacement and refurbishing of current buildings, and to new equipment.

I could see us growing into other counties with new growth, but I dont see us acquiring existing hospitals, Cagle said.

Carrying out its mission

Cagle envisions Cones growth being around the edges of our footprint. There is nothing specific on the table that we have planned.

We already have a footprint in Kernersville, so we are looking at other healthcare needs in Kernersville where we already exist. Were already serving other areas of Forsyth. Do we need to go out further from there? We are absolutely looking.

Were in High Point, so what other needs in High Point? We just opened a new facility in Randolph County, so we know theres lots of growth in Randolph, so should we look further there?"

Cagle also said in December the system has interest in expanding healthcare services from Rockingham County into Stokes County, which currently does not have major Baptist, Cone or Novant presence.

Of the $300 million toward growth initiatives, at least $50 million is committed to Cones health-equity initiatives in east Greensboro.

Cagle said that while the Risant investments will help fortify Cones home market, being acquired wasnt a defensive-oriented move designed to fend off encroachments from Baptist, Novant and UNC Health.

State health regulators have approved a planned $426-million, 36-bed Greensboro hospital at 2909 Horse Pen Creek Road that is projected to open on Jan. 1, 2029.

Cagle said in response to the Baptist hospital approval that heres what I know for sure  I cant control what anybody else does in this community."

"But my job is to make certain that Cone is able to carry out its mission."
You are here: China

An exhibition on national security education opened Tuesday in China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR).

China's National Security Education Day is observed annually on April 15 to raise public awareness of national security issues and encourage greater civic involvement in safeguarding the country.

Jointly hosted by the Macao SAR government and the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR, the one-month exhibition presented over 500 photographs and several videos to showcase the country's latest achievements in national security work and those over the past decade.

In his speech at the ceremony, Macao SAR Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai said that the Macao SAR must concentrate on its development while preventing various risks and hidden dangers.

He stressed the need to curb interference by external forces, implement the principle of "patriots governing Macao," ensure the eighth Legislative Assembly election, and maintain Macao society's long-term stability and security.

Zheng Xincong, director of the liaison office, noted that it was imperative to enhance Macao's capacity to safeguard national security, while ensuring high-level security through high-quality development.

The exhibition will run through May 15.
N.C. Senate Republicans have ratcheted up with their 2025-26 state budget bill their strategy of inserting controversial healthcare policy legislation.

Some legislation, foremost their latest attempt at repealing what Sen. Ralph Hise, R-Mitchell, calls archaic certificate of need laws, is likely to receive stiff pushback from House Republicans and the N.C. Healthcare Association.

As such, the repeal negotiations will be a key budget compromise measuring stick.

Meanwhile, the inclusion of the Medicaid work requirement legislation  which has been found to be unconstitutional in federal court rulings and may affect nearly 200,000 N.C. beneficiaries  has the support of House Republican leadership.

The budget bill also feature the placement of bipartisan Senate Bill 316, which aims to lower some healthcare costs for North Carolinians through increased pricing transparency from hospitals and providers.

The Senate appropriations bill is set to be fast-tracked through the committee steps Tuesday and Wednesday with floor votes expected Wednesday and Thursday.

These provisions shine a light on every part of the healthcare system to see where the cost drivers truly exist and to start to tamp down on those costs, Hise said during Mondays news conference.

Chris Cooper, a Western Carolina University political science professor, said that its becoming normal, even expected, for the General Assembly to put policy ideas in the state budget, and the Senate budget released yesterday is no exception.

From health care, to higher education, to secondary education, there are all manner of policy issues not traditionally thought of as part of the state budget in the budget bill. I dont expect that to change  regardless of whos in power.

Senate Republican leadership is signaling the importance of their healthcare policy proposals by linking them to the state budget, said Mitch Kokai, senior police analyst with conservative think tank John Locke Foundation.

This means that Senate negotiators will push for these reforms as they haggle with House budget writers in the coming weeks. The ideas will clearly remain on the table as the General Assembly approaches its most important task.

From a good government perspective, it would be better to handle these issues outside of the budget context.

But, its good to see the Senate endorse ideas that would improve healthcare in North Carolina.

Certificate-of-need laws repeal

North Carolinas controversial CON healthcare laws are set to face their biggest legislative challenge in their 47 years of existence.

Hise, in particular, has been pushing and prodding for loosening of CON laws, if not outright repeal, for at least the past 12 legislative sessions.

Even with the inclusion of CON law repeal language in the state budget bill, Senate Bill 370 was fast-tracked through the Senate, including clearing the chamber by a 31-17 margin Tuesday with Democrats Dan Blue of Wake County and Julie Mayfield of Buncombe County voting in favor.

Previous attempts at a full repeal since the 2013 session had been immediately shelved by Senate Republican leadership.

The 28 CON laws play a pivotal role in most North Carolinians health care.

By regulating access to healthcare facilities and equipment in a region, the laws are designed to control costs, enhance quality and ensure equitable access to care, according to the N.C. Division of Health Service Regulation.

Among the responsibilities of the laws are: setting the number of hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers in a region; which healthcare providers are approved to operate high-tech equipment; how many beds that a hospital, adult care facility, skilled nursing facility or psychiatric facility can have; and which groups can provide dialysis services, and home health and hospice care.

One primary motivation cited by bill sponsors to repealing CON laws is attracting more providers, including for-profit groups, to North Carolina.

The failures of previous CON bills to advance comes largely from the strong opposition of the NCHA, one of the most powerful lobbying groups at the legislature.

SB370 may face a chilly reception in the House, where Republican leadership prefers supporting the states not-for-profit healthcare systems over for-profit providers.

Senate Republicans are consistent in their dislike of CON laws, said Rep. Donny Lambeth, R-Forsyth, and author of the states Medicaid expansion legislation.

I do not believe it will have much traction in the House, where rural legislators are particularly concerned about the impact it would have on their local hospital.

Medicaid work requirement

The Senate Republican budget bill would require the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services to make preparation for the Medicaid work requirement if such regulations gain federal court approval.

House Bill 491, with Lambeth as primary sponsor, makes clear the work requirement mandate if the Trump administrations Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approves it as a condition of participation in the federal program.

However, federal judges have ruled the work requirement as unconstitutional in lawsuits targeting laws passed in Arkansas, Kentucky and New Hampshire.

Meanwhile, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Urban Institute analysis released Monday determined that between 171,000 and 195,000 N.C. Medicaid recipients would lose coverage under work requirements  with coverage losses resulting from low awareness or confusion about the policy, not because people with Medicaid choose not to work.

Lambeth also is a sponsor of House Bill 113, titled Create Committee on Medicaid Sustainability.

The goal of HB113 is preparing the legislature for potential Medicaid cost-cutting efforts by the Trump administration. HB113 received its first House committee hearing Tuesday.

While the work requirement was not clearly defined by Republican legislators, it could include a job-training or community service component.

Lambeth said about 70% of potential Medicaid beneficiaries already are working, or are pregnant women, primary caregivers, full-time students or have a disability that prevents them from steady employment.

Opponents of Medicaid work requirements claim they are more geared toward getting beneficiaries to unenroll rather than getting them employed.

The DHHS Medicaid expansion dashboard reports there are 647,246 enrollees as of April 4, an increase of 18,665 from the previous report. About 278,000 North Carolinians were enrolled automatically through their participation in the state Medicaids limited Family Planning program.

Nearly 234,000 expansion enrollees are rural residents, some of whom live in communities without a small acute-care hospital.

As of April 4, the 14 counties of the Triad and northwest N.C. have combined 122,459 enrollees, or 18.5% of the statewide total.

Forsyth County had 24,771 enrollees, with about 10.7% of adults participating in Medicaid expansion. By comparison, Guilford County had 39,814 enrollees, with about 11.9% of adults participating.

Those eligible under the expanded program are those between ages 19 and 64 who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid coverage, but not enough to purchase coverage on the private insurance marketplace.

Expansion provides medical coverage to people making under about $20,120 a year. Likewise, a family of three earning under about $34,000 would be eligible, as well as a family of six earning under $55,586.

Health care services include: primary care; inpatient and outpatient hospital care; maternity and postpartum; vision and hearing; prescription drug benefits; behavioral health; preventive and wellness; and medical equipment, devices and therapies.

Heightened billing transparency

Senate Bill 316, which aims to lower some healthcare costs for North Carolinians through increased pricing transparency from hospitals and providers, represents Republican legislative leaders attempt to import and fast-track Trump administration priorities to the state.

Unlike several cultural-war bills spawned from the White House, there is significant support for healthcare transparency from Senate Democrats.

Near the end of the first Trump administration, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services launched on Jan. 1, 2021, a hospital price transparency initiative where every hospital is required to provide clear, accessible pricing information online about the items and services they provide.

The Triads three primary hospitals are failing to fully meet federal standards for transparency pricing, according to the seventh semiannual report produced in November by public health advocacy group Patient Rights Advocate.org.

The parent systems of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Moses Cone and Forsyth Medical Center have disputed the findings in various degrees of opposition.

North Carolinians need to have the most information possible when they receive any medical bills, said Sen. Jim Burgin, R-Harnett.

These reforms are part of a nationwide conversation, with President Trump highlighting the need for accurate and actionable healthcare pricing information.
The 2025 National Security Education Day was marked in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Tuesday.

This year's event, themed "The 10th anniversary of National Security Education Day: advancing toward more in-depth and effective implementation," attracted more than 1,800 people.

Xia Baolong, head of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, addressed the opening ceremony via video link.

Xia said that the past 10 years have witnessed the full implementation of the overall national security concept and the fiercest struggle in Hong Kong in safeguarding national security.

History and reality showed that attempts of external forces to destabilize Hong Kong and use Hong Kong to contain China will never succeed. Hong Kong compatriots have a tradition of loving the country and Hong Kong. Those who betray the motherland and Hong Kong will never come to a good end, he said.

The practice of "one country, two systems" has entered a new stage, and everyone should cherish it even more, and consolidate and develop Hong Kong's hard-won sound situation today, he said.

Xia urged people to face up with challenges related to Hong Kong's development and security, remain vigilant, unite as one, ensure high-level security to support high-quality development, and advance the steady and long-term implementation of the "one country, two systems" principle.

John Lee, chief executive of the HKSAR, said that the international situation is complex and changing, and threats to national security may arise suddenly. Everyone must do their utmost to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, continue to strengthen national security barriers, consolidate security foundation of high-quality development, create a new era of prosperity, and make greater contributions to the nation's development and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
You are here: China

A drone photo taken on May 1, 2024 shows tourists visiting the Huangguoshu Waterfall in Anshun, southwest China's Guizhou province. [Photo/Xinhua]

The eight-day May Day holiday travel rush will last from April 29 to May 6, with peak passenger flows expected on May 1, China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. (China Railway) said on Tuesday.

Tickets for the first day of the holiday travel period will go on sale from Tuesday, according to China Railway.

During this year's May Day holiday, strong travel demand for family visit, tourism and spring outing purposes is anticipated to drive positive growth in rail passenger volumes, it said.

Railways nationwide will operate under a peak schedule during the period, with plans for over 12,000 passenger trains to operate each day on average.

To meet the high demand, China Railway will boost its transport capacity by adding passenger trains, operating overnight high-speed trains, and attaching additional carriages to already scheduled trains, it said.
The Chinese mainland resolutely opposes any military ties between the United States and Taiwan, a spokesperson said on Wednesday, noting that the Taiwan question is China's internal affair and allows no external interference.

"We urge the United States to stick to the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques, handle the Taiwan question with the utmost caution, and stop instigating separatists to pursue secession by force," said Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

She also warned Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities that seeking independence with the support of the United States is an erroneous path and resorting to military means will lead to a dead end.

In response to a media inquiry about a U.S. military commander's claim that the United States should deploy autonomous systems to the Taiwan Strait, Zhu said this once again proves that the DPP authorities' collusion with external forces in pursuit of secession and provocation will only raise the risk of conflict and war and plunge the people in Taiwan into the abyss of disaster.

Zhu urged the United States to stop meddling in the Taiwan question, cease fueling tensions and stirring up trouble in the Strait, and avoid sending wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces.

Zhu also responded to a media query about recent remarks by a soon-to-be undersecretary of the Pentagon that Taiwan's "defense budget" should approach 10% of its GDP, saying such remarks are aimed at selling more weapons to Taiwan to benefit the U.S. military-industrial complex.

She warned the DPP authorities that paying "protection fees" to the United States will not bring security  instead, it will hasten Taiwan's slide into a dangerous situation.

Regarding a recent statement by the G7 foreign ministers and the High Representative of the European Union concerning recent Chinese military exercises around Taiwan, Zhu reiterated that these drills were conducted to deter, punish and warn against separatist attempts and external interference.

She emphasized that such actions are necessary and justified to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

If relevant countries genuinely desire peace across the Strait, they should earnestly abide by the one-China principle and stand out against "Taiwan independence," she said.
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Multiple U.S. small businesses Monday sued to challenge the White House's authority to unilaterally issue tariffs on April 2.

The lawsuit filed in the U.S. Court of International Trade argues that U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has no authority to issue across-the-board worldwide tariffs without congressional approval.

The lawsuit was jointly filed by the Liberty Justice Center, a nonprofit, nonpartisan and public-interest litigation firm, and Ilya Somin, a co-counsel and professor of law at George Mason University, according to a court document.

The lawsuit is filed on behalf of five owner-operated businesses from the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia and Vermont.

"Trade deficits have existed for decades, and do not constitute a national emergency or threat to security," the Liberty Justice Center said in a release. "Moreover, the (Trump) Administration imposed tariffs even on countries with which the United States does not have a trade deficit, further undermining the administration's justification."

Trump invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to justify the "Liberation Day" tariffs, as well as the tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China, noted the center.

However, the IEEPA does not authorize the U.S. president to impose across-the-board tariffs, and not even authorize tariffs at all, argued the complaint.

Amid widespread opposition, Trump signed an executive order on April 2 on the so-called "reciprocal tariffs," imposing a 10-percent "minimum baseline tariff" and higher rates on certain trading partners.
23:48 Karnataka HC raps state over protest against Waqf Act amid pending SC case The Karnataka high court on Thursday criticised the state government for permitting a protest against the Waqf (Amendment) Act while the matter is still under consideration by the Supreme Court. Justice M Nagaprasanna observed that allowing such a demonstration was inappropriate given the... Read more >

23:06 ED takes possession of Rs 30-cr worth rooms, land of TN resort The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday said it has taken possession of 60 rooms and a vacant piece of land of a resort, worth Rs 30 crore, in Tamil Nadu's Rameswaram town as part of a money-laundering probe against its promoters. The property belongs to Seven Hills Pamban Island Resort and... Read more >

22:46 CBI seeks NBW against Mehul Choksi in Canara Bank case Days after diamantaire Mehul Choksi was arrested in Belgium, the CBI approached a court here seeking a Non-Bailable Warrant against him in another case where he and others are accused of cheating a Canara Bank-led consortium of Rs 55.27 crore. Choksi, a prime accused in the alleged... Read more >

22:22 5 children injured blast in West Bengal's Malda, 2 critical Five children were injured when an unclaimed bomb-like object exploded at Kaliachak in Malda district on Thursday, a senior police officer said.The five children -- aged between eight to 12 years -- were playing in the courtyard of an abandoned building in Dirganagar area under the jurisdiction... Read more >

21:56 Bangladesh seeks apology from Pakistan over 1971 atrocities File image Bangladesh raised historically unresolved issues and sought a public apology from Pakistan over the 1971 atrocities as the two countries held their first foreign secretary-level talks in 15 years here on Thursday. Dhaka also asked Pakistan to pay $4.3 billion as its share from the combined... Read more >

21:44 Not wanting to raise second daughter, Maha couple kills one-month-old girl; held The police in Maharashtra's Jalna district on Thursday claimed to have solved the murder of a one-month-old girl with the arrest of her parents, who allegedly committed the act as they already had a daughter and did not want to raise another one. The child's body was found in a well... Read more >

21:20 No breakthrough in Karnataka cabinet meeting on caste census Chief Minister Siddaramaiah A special cabinet meeting that was convened to discuss the contentious Socio-Economic and Education Survey report, popularly known as 'caste census' in Karnataka on Thursday, ended without any major decision, official sources said. Minister Ramalinga Reddy, speaking to reporters after the... Read more >

21:06 Modi invited for V-Day event, no response yet: Kremlin Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been invited for the Victory Day celebrations in Moscow on May 9, but there has been no response from New Delhi, a top Kremlin aide said Thursday.On May 9, Russia celebrates victory in WWII over Nazi Germany and this year has invited leaders of select friendly... Read more >

20:59 Kingpin in Murshidabad father-son murder case held The West Bengal police arrested one of the masterminds behind the brutal murder of a father and son at Jaffarabad in Murshidabad district during violent anti-Waqf Act protests, taking the total number of arrests to three, a senior officer said on Thursday.Inzamul Haque, a resident of the... Read more >

20:30 HP: Authorities on alert after bomb threats to offices of CS, Mandi DC File image After the deputy commissioner's office in Mandi received a bomb threat email on Wednesday, Himachal Pradesh Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena said on Thursday that a similar threat mail was sent to his office in Shimla on the same day.The email referred to the chief secretary's office located inside... Read more >

20:14 ED seeks to confiscate Rs 661cr assets in Herald case In a recently-filed chargesheet in the Associated Journals Limited-Young Indian-National Herald money-laundering case, the Enforcement Directorate has sought confiscation of assets worth Rs 661 crore that it has attached during the course of the investigation, according to official... Read more >

19:48 Heavy rain, thunderstorm in parts of Himachal; child dies as tree falls on hut File image Heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms and hailstorms lashed several parts of Himachal Pradesh, uprooting trees and disrupting power supply as several areas in Shimla remained without electricity for hours. Pine and other trees fell on the huts of the migrants due to heavy storm at night in... Read more >

19:26 Heat wave conditions continue in Rajasthan; Bikaner sizzles at 45.1 deg C File image Heat wave conditions continued to affect normal life in Rajasthan where Bikaner recorded the highest temperature of the season at 45.1 degrees Celsius on Thursday. Barmer recorded 45 degrees Celsius, Jaisalmer and Phalodi 44.8 degrees Celsius, Churu and Chittorgarh 44.2 degrees Celsius,... Read more >

19:20 Indian team likely to visit US next week for trade talks An Indian official team is likely to visit Washington next week to iron out differences on certain issues before formally launching negotiations for the proposed India-US bilateral trade agreement (BTA), an official said. The visit, which comes within weeks of a high-level US team visiting... Read more >

18:52 Rupee sheds US tariff impact; ends 27 paise higher at 85.37 against USD The rupee strengthened for the fourth consecutive session and closed 27 paise higher at 85.37 (provisional) against the US dollar on Thursday, hitting the April 3 closing level, on the back of foreign fund inflows in domestic equities and broad weakness in the greenback. The unit has pared... Read more >

18:27 MNS workers protest alleged ill-treatment to Marathi speakers over non-veg food File image Maharashtra Navnirman Sena workers had a heated argument with members of a housing society in suburban Ghatkopar for allegedly insulting their Marathi-speaking neighbours for eating non-vegetarian food, prompting police to intervene. A video of workers of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena... Read more >

18:17 BSE Sensex top gainers today Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty surged nearly 2 percent on Thursday, registering their fourth day of rally as investors turned buoyant after foreign investors returned to domestic equities amid expectations of a breakthrough in US-Japan trade negotiations over reciprocal tariffs. The... Read more >

17:52 Kailash Mansarovar Yatra to resume soon: India File image India on Thursday said there is a possibility of resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra soon and a public notice could be issued over it. India and China have been looking at resuming the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra as part of efforts to improve ties after the two countries completed... Read more >

17:49 Anupam Kher, Kajol selected for Maharashtra govt's Raj Kapoor film awards Acclaimed actors Anupam Kher and Kajol Devgn will be conferred the Maharashtra government's prestigious Raj Kapoor Film Awards for this year, state Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar announced on Thursday. Kher has been selected for the Raj Kapoor Lifetime Achievement Award, while Kajol... Read more >

17:15 IPL's RCB moves Delhi HC against Uber's 'disparaging' YouTube ad File image Indian Premier League cricket team Royal Challengers Bengaluru moved the Delhi high court on Thursday and accused an YouTube advertisement of disparaging its trademark. Justice Saurabh Banerjee, after hearing submissions of parties on Royal Challengers Bengaluru's interim plea for... Read more >

16:53 It's official: Nitish Kumar will be NDA's Bihar CM face Union Minister Nityanand Rai on Thursday said that Nitish Kumar will be the chief minister of NDA if it returns to power after the 2025 Bihar assembly elections.Nitish Kumar will be the CM of NDA after polls, Rai, a senior BJP leader, considered close to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, said.Rai's... Read more >

16:48 'Sonia, Rahul are modern dacoits' Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sambit Patra on Thursday termed the National Herald money laundering case a robbery case, saying that Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are modern dacoits. Addressing a press conference in Bhubaneswar, Patra attacked Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi... Read more >

16:42 VHP seeks President's rule in WB over violence The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Thursday demanded imposition of President's rule in West Bengal over the recent communal violence in Murshidabad district in the state following protests against the new Waqf law. Addressing a press conference in Panaji, VHP general secretary Milind Parande... Read more >

16:16 We are Hindus, but not 'Hindi': Raj Thackeray MNS chief Raj Thackeray posts an open letter on X on the imposition of Hindi in Maharashtra. He writes: According to the State School Curriculum Framework 2024, Hindi has been made mandatory in Maharashtra from the first grade itself. I state clearly that the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena will... Read more >

15:50 A saffron crown India's covert support for pro-monarchy movements in Nepal reflects the BJP's broader Hindutva agenda, a dangerous mix of ideology and interventionism that undermines regional stability. Read the column here. Read more >

15:36 31 students hospitalised after eating pani puri in Nanded Representational image In a suspected food-poisoning case, 31 students of different educational institutes were admitted to a government hospital in Maharashtra's Nanded city early on Thursday as they fell ill after consuming 'pani puri' at a roadside stall, officials said. The affected students belong to three... Read more >

15:26 JNU professor accused of molesting foreign researcher sacked A senior faculty member of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) here has been dismissed over charges of sexual harassment involving a foreign researcher, an official said on Thursday. The alleged incident took place a few months ago during a university event, according to JNU sources.... Read more >

15:19 File response on Waqf case in 7 days: SC tells Centre The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Centre to file its stand within a week in the challenge to Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 after it was assured by the union government that 'waqf by user' or 'waqf by deed' properties won't be denotified till the next hearing. A bench comprising Chief... Read more >

15:12 Woman, lover kill her husband, try to pass it off as snakebite death Representational image A man was killed allegedly by his wife and her lover who later placed a venomous snake near his body to cover the crime, police said on Thursday. The post-mortem report blew the lid off their plot as it showed that the man had been strangled. The woman, Ravita (30), and her lover Amardeep... Read more >

14:48 Judiciary can't set timeline for Prez to OK bills: Dhankar Voicing concern over a recent Supreme Court ruling prescribing a timeline for the President to decide on bills, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday said India had not bargained for a democracy where judges will legislate, perform Executive functions and act as a super Parliament. Last... Read more >

14:35 SC pauses appointments on Waqf boards Supreme Court begins hearing on a batch of petitions challenging validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. Allow a week to me to place preliminary reply with some materials, solicitor general Tushar Mehta, for Centre, asks SC. If SC will say something about 'waqf by user', what will... Read more >

14:28 SC allows untainted West Bengal teachers to continue The Supreme Court has allowed the teachers whose appointments have been cancelled due to irregularities in the recruitment process to continue until the fresh selection process is completed. However, a bench led by CJI Sanjiv Khanna clarified that the aforesaid relief is only for teachers... Read more >

14:19 Nowhere have I written Farooq supported Art 370: Dulat Amid a controversy over his new book 'The Chief Minister and the Spy', former RAW Chief Amarjit Singh Daulat, on Thursday dismissed claims that former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah supported the abrogation of Article 370, stressing that the leader was deeply pained by the move... Read more >

13:51 SC gives EC 3 weeks to reply to plea on poll rules The Supreme Court on Thursday granted three more weeks to the Election Commission to respond to the pleas of Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh and others against the recent amendments to the 1961 election rules. A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar... Read more >

13:30 Sensex surges over 1000 points Indian stock markets turned around on Thursday after a negative start in the morning session. The markets surged around 1 per cent by mid-session due to a strong domestic structural story and FPI buying.The Nifty index gained more than 250 points to 23,707.45 or 1.15 per cent up after opening... Read more >

13:21 Indian-origin scientist claims he's detected alien life A team of researchers led by Indian-origin astrophysicist Dr. Nikku Madhusudhan claimed on Thursday to have found the strongest indication yet of extraterrestrial life, not in our solar system but on a massive planet, known as K2-18b, that orbits a star 120 light-years from Earth, New York Times... Read more >

13:18 US govt may ban Harvard from hosting foreign students Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is threatening to strip Harvard University of its ability to enroll international students if it doesn't turn over records on international students' illegal and violent activities,' the agency said Wednesday, reports CNN.Noem wrote a scathing letter... Read more >

13:06 Have You Ridden Any Of These 9 Indian Metros? The first phase of the Kochi Water Metro, a modern ferry-based, eco-friendly public transport system, became operational late 2024 in the Greater Kochi region, linking with the Kochi Metro. India's first water metro and one of the largest integrated water transport systems in Asia, a... Read more >

12:45 The Gorgeous Colourful Trees Of An Indian Summer As vicious as our hot season is, there's also a strange, sweet nostalgia about summer days too. India's seasons are so distinct and memorable, and when one season segues into the next, you begin to miss the sights and sounds of the previous few months. The hues of summer are fiercely... Read more >

12:40 Kashmir our jugular vein, won't forget: Pak army chief Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir has said Kashmir is Islamabad's jugular vein and will be so and that Pakistan won't forget it. He has also defended the two-nation theory that was the basis for the Partition in 1947, reports NDTV.Addressing a gathering of Pakistanis based abroad, General... Read more >

11:56 Can Muslims be governed by succession law not Shariat? The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to examine a contentious issue whether Muslims can be governed by secular Indian succession law to deal with ancestral properties instead of Shariat without renouncing their faith.A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar took... Read more >

11:38 Hearing impaired girl raped, tortured in UP An 11-year-old speech-and-hearing-impaired girl was brutally raped in Uttar Pradesh's Rampur district. She was found unconscious and with serious injuries. Police have arrested an accused after an encounter during which he suffered a bullet injury in his leg, reports NDTV.The girl had been... Read more >

11:31 Rahul to visit US, will give talk at Brown University Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi will be on a visit to the US next week during which he will be giving a talk and interacting with faculty members and students at the Brown University. Congress' media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said Gandhi will be visiting Brown... Read more >

11:01 JD-U poster reveals whether Nitish will continue as CM NDA's alliance partner JD(U) put up a large poster outside its party office here asserting that Nitish Kumar would continue in the post of the Bihar chief minister till 2030, after his Haryana counterpart Nayab Singh Saini said the BJP will win the polls in the eastern state under the leadership... Read more >

10:35 Does India have casteism? Decide: Kashyap on Phule film Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has expressed his frustration over the censorship issues faced by the biographical drama 'Phule,' directed by Ananth Mahadevan.The film, starring Pratik Gandhi and Patralekha, was initially set to release on April 11, on the occasion of Mahatma Jyotirao Phule's birth... Read more >

10:30 Trump meets mom of woman murdered, raped by 'alien' US President Donald Trump met with Patty Morin, the mother of Rachel Morin -- an American citizen brutally murdered by an illegal immigrant in 2023 -- at the Oval Office on Wednesday (US local time). Praising her resilient spirit, Trump told Morin, She's a beautiful woman, she's been through... Read more >

10:24 Dribbling 2,000 km to set a record... will he do it? Nozomu Hagihara, a Japanese man who is currently travelling around 2000 km dribbling football in India from Kolkata to Delhi, arrived in Varanasi yesterday. His journey began on March 3rd and is expected to end on May 15th at the Japanese Embassy in Delhi. Nozomu Hagihara says, My challenge... Read more >

10:09 'Shop was burnt, cops said they would come, but didn't' A burnt shop in Murshidabad Days after violence in West Bengal's Murshidabad district over the Waqf (Amendment) Act, hundreds of displaced residents have not been able to return to their homes yet. The administration has been providing food and other essential relief to those who sought shelter in relief camps... Read more >

09:33 Karnataka cabinet to take up caste census report Amid what appears to be a caste conundrum, the Karnataka cabinet will hold a special meeting on Thursday to discuss the contentious Socio-Economic and Education Survey report, popularly known as 'caste census'. According to official sources, the cabinet is considering referring the... Read more >

09:23 BluSmart halts services amid Gensol crisis Udisha Srivastava, Business StandardElectric ride-hailing firm BluSmart on Wednesday halted cab bookings in certain parts of Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru, and Mumbai, the three cities where it operates.Even as the BluSmart app is available to download on the Google Play Store, users are unable to select... Read more >

08:43 Pilot's death: Govt reviews medical emergency protocols at airports Deepak Patel, Business StandardThe central government was evaluating existing protocols for managing medical emergencies at airports after a pilot collapsed and died shortly after landing a commercial flight, a senior official said on Wednesday. On April 9, an Air India Express pilot... Read more >

08:38 New BJP chief in a week, key meet held at PM house An important meeting of top Bharatiya Janata Party leadership was held on Wednesday in Delhi regarding the party's organisational elections, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.The meeting, held at the Prime Minister's residence, was attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence... Read more >

00:16 When we sit on bench, we lose our religion, says CJI Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna The Supreme Court on Wednesday took strong note of an analogy drawn by the Centre in support of the inclusion of non-Muslims in waqf boards and the argument that by that logic, a bench of Hindu judges should not be hearing pleas related to waqf. The bench comprising Chief Justice of India... Read more >
Conservative MP Harvey Proctor has appeared in court charged with indecency.

Mr Proctor, who represents Billericay in Essex, said nothing to waiting journalists at Bow Street Magistrates Court in central London.

In court, the MP was accused of committing three acts of gross indecency with one male and one act of gross indecency with another  both teenagers.

All the offences are alleged to have taken place between June and August last year.

Bachelor Mr Proctor, 40, was remanded on bail until next month after his lawyer, Sir David Napley, asked the court for more time to prepare his case.

There are various other inquires to be made and various evidence I am anxious to obtain, Sir David said.

Call for constituency meeting

The Billericay MP has denied all the allegations against him.

Lurid allegations surrounding Mr Proctors sex life surfaced last September when allegations appeared in a Sunday newspaper claiming he had organised gay spanking sessions with boys in his London flat.

Since he was charged eight days ago members of Mr Proctors constituency party have been demanding a meeting to discuss his future as their MP.

He has already survived two attempts to oust him over the allegations.

Mr Proctor also sits on the executive of the right-wing Monday Club and has expressed controversial views on immigration.

Courtesy BBC News

In context

Harvey Proctor resigned as MP for Billericay shortly before his trial in May 1987.

He pleaded guilty and was fined a total of 1,450.

The following year, with financial backing from former colleagues, including Michael Heseltine and Jeffrey Archer, he opened two shops selling luxury shirts.

In 1992 Mr Proctor and Neil Hamilton, then a government minister, were assaulted by two men on a gay bashing expedition.

Mr Hamiltons nose was broken in the attack in Mr Proctors shop in Richmond-on-Thames.

In 2000 Harvey Proctors stores were forced into liquidation after legal action by Customs and Excise over an unpaid VAT bill.
Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai announced that the government will move forward with plans to review annual and maternity leave policies as part of efforts to address Macaus declining birth rate.

The announcement comes amid growing demographic concerns in the region.

Macaus fertility rate currently stands at 0.68 births per woman, one of the lowest in the world, with Hong Kong close behind at 0.73.

According to 2024 data from the United Nations, Macau, mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan are among a growing number of places experiencing critically low fertility levels.

Were going to start a study on increasing the number of annual vacation days, the Chief Executive said, noting that an independent third party will be commissioned to carry out the research. Large companies already grant more vacation days than required by the Basic Law, and many SMEs also offer ten or more days of leave.

Recognizing that public opinion may vary, Sam added, There will always be different views, but the government will move ahead with the work.

Maternity leave will also be part of the review.

This too will be assessed by a third party, he confirmed.

In response to lawmaker Wong Kit Chengs concerns about fertility, Sam cited data showing that Macau ranks seventh lowest globally in birth rate when considering all women of childbearing age who have resided in the city for over six months.

Currently, the city sees just five births per 1,000 residents.

To help reverse this trend, the government has increased the birth allowance to MOP6,500, reflecting an increases of MOP1,082.

In addition, 900 free childcare places will be made available, and healthcare services for women and children will remain free of charge.

Defending the decision to keep maternity leave in the private sector at 70 days, Sam said recent enhancements in financial incentives reflect significant progress.

If you include the annual childcare allowance of MOP18,000 and the birth allowance, thats around MOP20,000 per child, he said. This year, we expect about 15,000 children to benefit, so with a budget of MOP270 million, I think thats fair.

In his inaugural Policy Address on Monday, Sam also introduced a new monthly MOP1,500 allowance for each child under the age of three.

The marriage allowance has been raised to MOP2,220, up by MOP98, while the previous MOP5,100 birth allowance, previously limited to public servants, was officially increased following a legislative adjustment in 2018.

These measures aim to improve fertility support policies and take a multi-pronged approach to actively address low fertility issues, Sam concluded. Lynzy Valles & Yuki Lei
Hong Kongs government defended its immigration procedures after a British member of parliament was denied entry to the Chinese city last week, an incident that has prompted concerns among U.K. officials.

Wera Hobhouse, a member of the Liberal Democratic Party representing Bath, on Sunday wrote on the social media platform Bluesky that authorities gave her no explanation for what she described as a cruel and upsetting blow. She noted that she was the first British MP to face such a situation upon arrival in the former British-ruled city since it returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

Hobhouse had told British media that she flew to Hong Kong to visit her newborn grandchild. She is also a member of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China that has scrutinized Beijings human rights record.

The Hong Kong government, in a statement released late Monday, maintained that its immigration officers are duty-bound to question individuals to ascertain the purpose of any visit.

The person concerned knows best what he or she has done. It will be unhelpful to the persons case if the person refuses to answer questions put to him or her for that purpose, the statement read. The government added that it would not comment on individual cases.

The statement also said that Chief Secretary Eric Chan discussed the matter with the U.K. Minister for Trade Policy and Economic Security Douglas Alexander on Monday during the British officials visit to Hong Kong.

In Beijing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian emphasized that immigration affairs fall within the scope of national sovereignty and the citys government has the right to handle individual immigration cases according to the law.

The British government also issued a statement on Monday about Hobhouses entry denial last Thursday. It stated that Alexander had raised its concerns with senior Chinese and Hong Kong counterparts and demanded an explanation during his visit to the city and mainland China.

Unjustified restrictions on the freedom of movement for U.K. citizens into Hong Kong only serves to further undermine Hong Kongs international reputation and the important people-to-people connections between the U.K. and Hong Kong, it said.

It added that the U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy made clear that it would be unacceptable for any member of parliament to be denied entry for simply expressing their views. MDT/AP
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met on Tuesday with visiting North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Mark Rutte to discuss Ukrainian and European security, the presidential press service reported.

At the meeting in Ukraine's southern city of Odesa, Zelensky and Rutte discussed various formats of cooperation between Ukraine and NATO member states, including in Ramstein format.

The talks also focused on Ukraine's relations with the U.S. and Washington's efforts in negotiations with Russia.

The report said Zelensky accused Russia of "ignoring the U.S. proposal for a full ceasefire" and continuing its strikes on Ukraine.

Emphasizing the need to strengthen Ukraine's air defense, Zelensky voiced hope for the implementation of air defense-related agreements with partners in Europe and the U.S.

He also noted that the UK, France, and other NATO countries are actively laying the foundation for a security contingent in Ukraine.

For his part, Rutte reaffirmed that the alliance will continue to stand with Ukraine.

According to him, in the first three months of this year, NATO member states pledged over 20 billion euros (about 22.5 billion U.S. dollars) in security assistance to Ukraine for 2025.
Several international students who have had their visas revoked in recent weeks have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration, arguing the government denied them due process when it suddenly took away their permission to be in the U.S.

The actions by the federal government to terminate students legal status have left hundreds of scholars at risk of detention and deportation. Their schools range from private universities like Harvard and Stanford to large public institutions like the University of Maryland and Ohio State University to some small liberal arts colleges.

In lawsuits against the Department of Homeland Security, students have argued the government lacked justification to cancel their visa or terminate their legal status.

Visas can be canceled for a number of reasons, but colleges say some students are being singled out over infractions as minor as traffic violations, including some long in the past. In some cases, students say its unclear why they were targeted.

The timing and uniformity of these terminations leave little question that DHS has adopted a nationwide policy, whether written or not, of mass termination of student (legal) status, ACLU of Michigan attorneys wrote in a lawsuit on behalf of students at Wayne State University and the University of Michigan.

In New Hampshire, a federal judge last week issued a restraining order in the case of a Dartmouth College computer science student from China, Xiaotian Liu, who had his status terminated by the government. Attorneys have filed similar challenges in federal court in Georgia and California.

Homeland Security officials did not respond to a message seeking comment.

In some high-profile cases, including the detention of Columbia University activist Mahmoud Khalil, President Donald Trumps administration has argued it should be allowed to deport noncitizens over involvement in pro-Palestinian activism. But in the vast majority of visa revocations, colleges say there is no indication affected students had a role in protests.

What youre seeing happening with international students is really a piece of the much greater scrutiny that the Trump administration is bringing to bear on immigrants of all different categories, said Michelle Mittelstadt, director of public affairs at the Migration Policy Institute.

How do student visas work?

Students in other countries must meet a series of requirements to obtain a student visa, usually an F-1. After gaining admission to a school in the U.S., students go through an application and interview process at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad.

Students on an F-1 visa must show they have enough financial support for their course of study in the U.S. They have to remain in good standing with their academic program and are generally limited in their ability to work off-campus during their academic program.

Entry visas are managed by the State Department. Once theyre in the U.S., international students legal status is overseen by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program under the Department of Homeland Security.

In recent weeks, leaders at many colleges learned the legal residency status of some of their international students had been terminated when college staff checked a database managed by Homeland Security. In the past, college officials say, legal statuses typically were updated after colleges told the government the students were no longer studying at the school.

Students are told to leave the country

Historically, students who had their visas revoked were allowed to keep their legal residency status and complete their studies.

The lack of a valid entry visa only limited their ability to leave the U.S. and return, something they could reapply for with the State Department. But if a student has lost legal residency status, they risk detention by immigration authorities. Some students already have left the country, abandoning their studies to avoid being arrested.

Higher education leaders worry the arrests and visa revocations could discourage students overseas from pursuing higher education in the United States.

The lack of clarity of what is leading to revocations can create a sense of fear among students, said Sarah Spreitzer, vice president of government relations at the American Council on Education.

The very public actions that are being taken by ICE and the Department of Homeland Security around some of these students, where they are removing these students from their homes or from their streets, thats not usually done unless there is a security issue when a student visa is revoked, she said. The threat of this very quick removal is something thats new.

Colleges are trying to reassure students

In messages to their campuses, colleges have said they are asking the federal government for answers on what led to the terminations. Others have re-emphasized travel precautions to students, recommending they carry their passports and other immigration documents with them.

College leaders spoke of a growing sense of uncertainty and anxiety.

These are unprecedented times, and our normal guiding principles for living in a democratic society are being challenged, University of Massachusetts Boston Chancellor Marcelo Suarez-Orozco wrote in an email. With the rate and depth of changes occurring, we must be thoughtful in how we best prepare, protect, and respond.

Suarez-Orozco said the legal residency status had been canceled for two students and five other members of our university community including recent graduates participating in training programs. ANNIE MA, WASHINGTON, MDT/AP
They walked out of the compound in Myanmar not knowing where they would go. Though they were aiming for the river that separated them from Thailand and freedom, they didnt know if they would make it across.

A group of more than 270 some men and women, who were rescued from forced labor in scam compounds two months ago but remain in detention in Myanmar, attempted a mass escape Sunday out of fear that they may end up being sent back to prison-like compounds where they face beatings, torture and potentially even death.

We will kill ourselves instead of going back to them, said one woman, who has been waiting to go home to Ethiopia for more than two months. She came to Myanmar for what she thought was a job in customer service more than a year ago, only to realize she had been trafficked. She was forced to work in online scams targeting people across the world.

Facing pressure from China, Thailand and Myanmars governments launched a massive operation in February in which they released thousands of trafficked people from scam compounds, working with the ethnic armed groups that rule Myanmars border areas.

Some 7,200  overwhelmingly from China  have returned home, according to Thailands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but around 1,700 are still stuck in Myanmar, many detained in locked compounds not much different to those they were released from.

That includes this group of 270, most from Ethiopia and other African countries, who attempted to escape after a meeting in which guards suggested they could be returned to scam compounds. Their attempt underscores the ongoing humanitarian situation left by one of the biggest releases of forced laborers in modern history.

Multiple members of the group described the escape attempt to The Associated Press by telephone. All asked not to be identified out of fear of retribution from the armed groups holding them.

The delay in assistance has caused severe physical and psychological suffering, said Jay Kritiya in a statement, the coordinator of the Civil Society Network for Victim Assistance in Human Trafficking, an alliance of groups, who assists people who had been trafficked into scam compounds.

Working in the scam compounds means a minimum 12 to 16-hour days of in front of computers where they are forced to contact targets from around the world online and manipulate them into handing over money. Survivors said if they dont meet targets, they are beaten or physically punished in other ways.

Most of the 1,700 people still in Myanmar are being held in army camps or repurposed scam compounds controlled by the Kayin Border Guard Force, an ethnic militia that rules this part of Myanmar.

But the most desperate were a group of 270 held by a neighboring ethnic militia group called the Democratic Kayin Buddhist Army, which rules an area south of the Border Guard Force.

Non-profit organizations based at the border have been fundraising to help get these men and women home, but as the wait dragged on their embassies told some of them that they were not on Myanmars official list of people waiting for repatriation. That could stop them from being sent home even if they had plane tickets.

In recent weeks, people from the group said, they saw visitors who appeared to be from the compounds come to talk to the DKBA militia soldiers.

After one of these meetings, the DKBA soldiers came to the detained people and offered them a chance to go back to the compounds. They told them: Whoever wants to go back to work, can go back easily, said one man. There will not be punishment. There will be (a) salary.

The men and women grew scared, and on Sunday, they took things into their own hands. They all packed up their suitcases and decided to head for the compounds exit. We are tired and we want to go, said one man. Theres no proper food. We are sleeping on the floor.

They walked out slowly in a loose group, pulling all their personal belongings with them. Although they made it out the compound, they were met by soldiers with guns on the street, according to three people who tried to leave and videos of the confrontation viewed by the AP. Eventually, one of the soldiers said they were open to discussion, and the group agreed to turn back.

Kritiya, the activist, said that the DKBA had agreed to send the men and women to Myawaddy, which is under the control of the Kayin Border Guard Force, where they could then be taken to Thailand and then their home countries. The DKBA could not be reached for comment.

HUIZHONG WU, BANGKOK, MDT/AP
The government is committed to creating a soft environment for local small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by optimizing the legal framework, reviewing policies, and enhancing tax incentives.

Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai referred to a soft environment as the non-physical or intangible aspects of the business climate that make it easier and more attractive for local SMEs to operate and thrive.

Sam stated yesterday during the Q&A session at the Legislative Assembly (AL) that an effective market and an effective government complement each other in economic development, serving as key factors in promoting balanced social and economic growth.

Efficient markets play a crucial role in the governance of society as a whole. They involve not only the government but also the overall functioning of society, particularly within our traditional system of governance [] Fundamentally, an efficient market is a mechanism where resource allocation plays a decisive role, said Sam.

The Chief Executive emphasized that the government would foster a favorable environment by optimizing the legal framework and reviewing policies and tax incentives to support effective market operations.

From the governments perspective, in the medium to long term, particularly in the context of Macau, we cannot merely borrow elements from other markets to create an effective market. Therefore, we must tailor the existing system to fit Macaus actual situation [] From the standpoint of public services, we have a clear understanding of the investment environment and market operations, he added.

Reaffirming that the governments primary task is to create a business model suitable for market goods within a supportive environment, Sam noted that the government will ensure market participants can operate legally without licenses by optimizing effectiveness.

This includes conducting a comprehensive policy review on an integrated platform, refining the quasi-licensing system, and establishing a dedicated working group to amend relevant laws and regulations.

This aims to simplify the approval process and enhance market operation efficiency while maintaining effective regulation, according to him.

Concurrently, Sam stated, SME operators must also make corresponding commitments, which the government will subsequently monitor.

Sam also urged SMEs to undergo digital transformation to enhance their market competitiveness, collaboratively creating a favorable market environment to gain greater development opportunities and living conditions.

In this regard, according to Sam, the 2025 SME Digitalisation Support Services program will be expanded to 1,500 places, and the government will continue to promote relevant support measures to ensure that policies are precise and effective, responding positively to community needs.

In addition, the government will continue its stamp duty reduction policy this year.

In the meantime, Sam highlighted that Macaus fiscal structure is unbalanced, with a narrow tax base posing a challenge. He warned that if gaming tax revenue falls below 15 billion patacas per month, there is a risk of a fiscal deficit.

eGovit serves societyi

The new government has so far established six leadership and working groups, with Sam noting that the coordination mechanism will allow for a problem-oriented approach to address issues both vertically and horizontally.

The operation of the government is a very complex machine and system, Sam said, noting that the number of civil servants in Macau, including teachers in tertiary education institutes, amounts to nearly 36,000 and is spread across various fields and industries, involving all aspects of society.

If the government is efficient, well-coordinated, and the whole machine is operating as a whole, I believe its effectiveness will be reflected in its true service to society, he added.

He emphasized that civil servants are responsible for providing public services, saying: The government serves society, not leads it.

In response to societys high expectations, the six leadership and working groups are set up to enhance governance effectiveness and meet social needs, with the citys top official overseeing public administration reform.

Sam pointed out: Currently, we have 71 bureaus and departments, with the number of civil servants in Macau exceeding 35,600, which is a huge scale [] Given this context, we advocate for necessary adjustments to the existing 40-odd departments. It must be clear that the functions of these departments need to be re-examined and integrated; otherwise, it will be difficult to play an actual role.

Citing the 2025 budget proposal passed in November last year, Sam noted that the total expenditure on civil servants reached 30.26 billion patacas.

In response to lawmaker Jose Pereira Coutinhos concern regarding the potential adjustment of salaries for junior frontline civil servants, Sam admitted that many residents have opinions about the salaries and benefits of civil servants.

He highlighted the importance of balancing the treatment of civil servants with fairness in society as a whole.

According to Sam, going forward, the government will clarify the direction of non-gaming investment and establish an internal coordination group to address this work, including determining standards and reviewing and evaluating non-gaming investment, which will fall under the Secretary for Economy and Finances portfolio.

Rigid expenditures

Macaus government expenditures on education, medical and health care, social security, and community services exceed 42 billion patacas, accounting for half of the rigid expenditures.

We are duty-bound to care for the entire society in terms of education, healthcare, and peoples livelihood, said Sam.

He emphasized that while the budget may be adjusted, a raft of social security measures will be increased as much as possible under the current circumstances, adhering to a pragmatic approach, doing what we can, and doing our best.

Sam affirmed the development of education in Macau, highlighting both basic and higher education, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. He noted that this years education expenditure reached 14 billion patacas, benefiting 90,000 to 100,000 primary and secondary school students, resulting in a high coverage rate and underscoring the significant role of education in rigid expenditures, reflecting Macaus great emphasis on education.

Noting that the education budget has increased more than tenfold since 1999, Sam emphasized that education is the foundation of the development of ourselves, and therefore, education policies, particularly free education, must be promoted without wavering.

He stated: We will not take a step backwards, unless there are extreme circumstances that are untenable.

In line with his commitment, Sam noted that the government will continue to increase investment in education, support financial measures for disadvantaged schools, and optimize basic education and school layout to enhance the stability and adaptability of the education system.

Overall, we will stabilize class sizes through a flexible free education mechanism and continue to review and analyze class data for each school, allowing each school to coordinate and manage on its own. Such efforts will ensure the effective allocation of educational resources and promote the all-round development of students, he added.

Sam emphasized the importance of safeguarding the fundamental right to autonomous learning, stating that the government should not intervene in this regard.

According to him, the governments main role is to provide educational resources, along with guidance and coordination. He added that the government has implemented several measures to support and improve underperforming schools to help enhance the quality of education. Additionally, the government will provide appropriate funding for teachers through the Education Fund to ensure the effective use of educational resources. These measures aim to promote the overall development of education and enhance students learning experience.

In light of evolving technology, Sam acknowledged that the government must focus on comprehensive planning for education, technology, and talent cultivation to address social development needs.

Noting that 23 schools are currently participating in smart education this academic year, he stated that the next step will involve the Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ) coordinating with each school to address technological changes.

This includes enhancing teacher training to advance science and technology education.

The government introduced a new childcare allowance plan for local permanent residents, providing a monthly allowance of 1,500 patacas exclusively for children under the age of three.

Sam stressed that this scope was established in response to Macaus policy of providing tuition-free education from the age of three, stating that this arrangement is intended to better support families and the development of early education.

Sam expects that in 2025, over 15,000 infants and young children will benefit from the childcare allowance, with a budget of 270 million patacas, representing a significant portion of the governments increased budget.

The birth allowance has also risen to 6,500 patacas, an increase of more than 20%.

Regarding welfare for senior citizens among other disadvantaged groups, Sam noted that there are currently 140,000 pensioners, with 100,000 being full recipients over the age of 65. He anticipates that the governments annual financial expenditure will increase by 400 to 500 million patacas; if 50,000 new recipients are added within five years, related expenditures could surge by several billion patacas.

It is noted that approximately 109,200 local residents are over the age of 65 this year, accounting for 18.4% of the local population. By 2041, this figure is estimated to rise to about 164,000, making up 24.8% of the population.

With the aging of the local population, Sam said he expects the relevant base figure to increase rapidly in the coming years.

In this context, he mentioned that efforts are underway to link the pension base figure to the minimum subsistence index.

Yesterdays Q&A session extended for over three hours, with 31 members of the legislature registered to pose questions.
About 14,000 American and Filipino forces will take part in battle-readiness exercises in the Philippines, including live-fire drills, in a largescale deployment that shows the Trump administration is not scaling back its commitment to help deter aggression in the region, a senior Philippine military official said yesterday.

The annual joint Balikatan  Tagalog for shoulder-to-shoulder  exercises between the longtime allies will be held from April 21 to May 9 and involve about 9,000 United States and 5,000 Filipino military personnel. They will involve fighter aircraft, navy ships and an array of weaponry, including a U.S. anti-ship missile system, Philippine Brig. Gen. Michael Logico said. Australia will deploy about 200 military personnel. and Japan and a number of other friendly nations will send smaller military delegations.

China has frowned on such war drills in or near the disputed South China Sea and in northern Philippine provinces close to Taiwan, especially those that involve the U.S. and allied forces that Beijing says aim to contain it and consequently threaten regional stability and peace. Logico said the Balikatan exercises were not aimed at any particular country.

China conducted large-scale drills in the waters and airspace around Taiwan this month that included an aircraft carrier battle group as it renewed a warning to Taiwan against seeking formal independence.

U.S. Marine Col. Doug Krugman, of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, told reporters most of the joint exercises would be staged within Philippine territory except for multi-nation sea exercises, which he did not specify.

Trumps  America First  foreign policy thrust has triggered concerns in Asia a bout the scale and depth of U.S. commitment to maintain a longstanding security presence in the volatile region.

As you can see, there is no scale back, Logico said during a news briefing. Were talking about a full battle test.

The comprehensive drills would generally involve a command post issuing orders to field forces in mock battle scenarios, according to Logico and Krugman.

The exercises will include aerial surveillance, the use of a barrage of artillery and missile fire to sink a mock enemy ship, deploying a U.S. anti-ship missile system and countering the landing of enemy forces on an island. MDT/AP
* Policy Address | Sam eyes legal, tax reforms

* Gaming | Casino projections revised amid economic uncertainty

* HKMAO | Xia slams US tariffs, accuses Washington of threatening Chinas survival

* Govt plans to review annual and maternity leave policies as part of efforts to address Macaus declining birth rate

* Hong Kong defends its immigration procedures after a British MP was denied entry

* People detained in Myanmar after release from scam compounds attempt to escape

DOWNLOAD PDF

Wednesday, April 16, 2025  edition no. 4702
Beijings top official on Hong Kong and Macau affairs launched an attack on the United States yesterday, accusing Washington of threatening Chinas very survival and labeling its trade policies as arrogant and shameless.

Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO), made the remarks during a keynote speech via video at the National Security Education Day opening ceremony at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The speech, delivered in Mandarin and broadcast nationally, marked one of Xias strongest rebukes of U.S. policy to date.

Xia criticized the U.S. for imposing steep tariffs on goods from China and Hong Kong, despite Hong Kong not levying any tariffs itself and the U.S. enjoying a trade surplus with the city.

This is extremely arrogant and shameless, Xia said. The U.S. isnt after our tariffs, it is after our very survival.

He went on to describe the United States as the biggest sinister manipulator working to undermine human rights, the rule of law, and stability in Hong Kong, warning that Washingtons attempts to suppress Hong Kong will backfire.

In a sharp rebuttal to recent comments by U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance about Chinese peasants, Xia fired back, saying, Let those American peasants wail before the 5,000 years of Chinese civilization!

Vance had recently defended President Donald Trumps latest tariff hikes, stating that the U.S. borrows money from Chinese peasants to buy the things those Chinese peasants manufacture.

Trumps administration recently announced sweeping tariffs, including up to 145% on Chinese imports, while China responded with tariffs of up to 125% on U.S. goods.

Hong Kong, while maintaining zero tariffs, has also been affected by the ongoing trade war.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee also condemned U.S. actions at the same event, calling them reckless aggression and noting the irony in targeting a tariff-free city.

Xia further criticized the recently released U.S. Hong Kong Policy Act Report 2025, which accused Beijing and Hong Kong of eroding judicial independence.

He condemned U.S. sanctions on six officials, including Secretary for Justice Paul Lam, calling the moves evidence of U.S. bullying and hegemonic behavior.
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A Palestinian checks the damage at a building inside the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital after an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, on April 13, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

The death toll of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip has climbed to 51,000 since the outbreak of the conflict on Oct. 7, 2023, the Gaza-based health authorities said on Tuesday.



In a press statement, the health authorities added that 116,343 others have been wounded in the ongoing Israeli military assaults.

During the past 24 hours, at least 17 Palestinians were killed and 69 others wounded due to Israeli airstrikes and artillery shelling in various areas in the enclave, the health authorities said.

The health authorities said that many victims remain under the rubble, as continuing hostilities and the absence of safe corridors have hampered rescue work.

Since the resumption of Israeli military operations on March 18 this year, 1,630 Palestinians have been killed and 4,302 others wounded, it added.

The Gaza Strip continues to face a worsening humanitarian situation amid deteriorating security conditions and restricted access to relief efforts, according to the health authorities.
SINGAPORE, April 16  Teo Ghim Heng, a former property agent convicted of murdering his pregnant wife and four-year-old daughter in 2017, was executed today at Changi Prison Complex.

The 49-year-old strangled his wife, Choong Pei Shan, 39, who was six months pregnant, and their daughter, Zi Ning, in their Woodlands flat on January 20, 2017, before setting their bodies on fire.

The Singapore Prison Service confirmed the execution, while police stated Teo had been accorded full legal due process and was represented by counsel throughout his trial and appeals, according to a report in The Straits Times today.

His clemency petitions to the president were also unsuccessful.

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Teo was sentenced to death by the High Court in November 2020, and the Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal in February 2022.

He had argued that he suffered from depression which diminished his responsibility, but the courts ruled he did not qualify for a major depressive disorder diagnosis and could not rely on the defence.

Teo married Choong in 2009 and was once a successful property agent, but faced financial difficulties after the market downturn in 2015 and accumulated debts of about S$120,000 by the end of 2016.

On the morning of the murders, after a financial dispute, he killed his wife following an argument where she berated him, and then strangled their daughter.

He lived with the corpses for a week, using the air-conditioner to slow decomposition, before setting them ablaze in an alleged suicide attempt that he later aborted.

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The bodies were discovered on January 28, the first day of Chinese New Year, after Choongs family contacted the police.

Teo was convicted on two counts of murder; a third charge for killing his unborn son was withdrawn.

The High Court rejected his claims of provocation, noting he took calculated steps to cover up the crime, including purchasing air fresheners, fabricating suicide notes, and misleading family members.
Top Hegseth adviser escorted from Pentagon and put on leave in leak probe

Dan Caldwell, one of U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths leading advisers, was reportedly escorted out of the Pentagon on Tuesday after he was identified as an alleged leak source by the Department of Defense, according to a government official.

The official told Reuters that Caldwell has been placed on administrative leave for "an unauthorized disclosure."

According to the source, the investigation is ongoing. They did not provide details regarding the alleged disclosure and whether or not it was made to a journalist or another individual.

Caldwell's building access has been revoked, pending further investigation, according to a Politico report.

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President Donald Trump has been aggressive in pursuing leaks, and that same desire to keep information from reaching the public has been adopted by Hegseth.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths adviser Dan Caldwell as escorted out of the Pentagon amid a probe into an unauthorized disclosure on April 15, 2025 (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

On March 21, a memo signed by Hegseth's chief of staff, Joe Kasper, called for an investigation into "recent unauthorized disclosures of national security information involving sensitive communications."

During last month's highly publicized Signal leak involving Hegseth  in which Trump administration officials inadvertently added national security reporter and Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg into a group chat discussing plans to attack Houthis in Yemen  Caldwell was named as the defense secretary's best point of contact.

Caldwell is a Marine Corps veteran who deployed to Iraq. Before working at the Pentagon, he voiced his belief that the U.S. war in Iraq was a mistake, and that military members would have been better off staying at home.

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"I think the Iraq war was a monstrous crime," he told the Financial Times in December 2024.

He has also expressed some isolationist views, questioning the U.S.'s involvement in Russia's expansionist war against Ukraine. Caldwell also expressed beliefs that the U.S. should reduce the money it spends helping to defend European allies.

Staffing at the Pentagon has been shaken up since Hegseth's arrival. He fired the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the top admiral in the Navy, the head of the nation's Cyber Command, and many of the Defense Department's top military lawyers.

Reuters reported last week that Hegseth fired the U.S. military's representative to the NATO Military Committee.
US flags flutter at the Washington Monument in Washington, DC, in February. - Tierney Cross/Reuters

The Trump administration is looking at closing nearly 30 overseas embassies and consulates as it eyes significant changes to its diplomatic presence abroad, according to an internal State Department document obtained by CNN.

The document also recommends reducing the footprint at the US diplomatic missions in Somalia and Iraq  two countries that have been key to US counterterrorism efforts  and resizing other diplomatic outposts.

The proposed changes come amid a broader expected overhaul of the US diplomatic agency as the Trump administration, spurred by the Elon Musk-backed Department of Government Efficiency makes dramatic efforts to shrink the federal government. It is unclear whether Secretary of State Marco Rubio has signed off on the proposed closures.

The document recommends closing 10 embassies and 17 consulates. Many of the posts are in Europe and Africa, though they also include ones in Asia and the Caribbean. They include embassies in Malta, Luxembourg, Lesotho, the Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic and South Sudan. The list also includes five consulates in France, two in Germany, two in Bosnia and Herzegovina, one in the United Kingdom, one in South Africa and one in South Korea.

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The document proposes that the closed embassies duties be covered by outposts in neighboring countries.

State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce would not comment on the internal document or plans to drastically cut the State Department.

I would suggest that you check with the White House and the President of the US as they continue to work on their budget plan and what they submit to congress, Bruce said. The kinds of numbers and what we tend to see is reporting that is early or wrong, based on leaked documents from somewhere unknown.

The administration has announced ambassadorial nominees for only two of the embassies recommended for closure  Malta and Luxembourg.

CNN reported in March that the State Department was moving to close some of the consulates listed on the internal document.

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Embassies and consulates serve as important outposts for the State Department. They provide services like visa processing and assistance for American citizens in need. The posts also collect information to send back to Washington, DC, and officials say they are an important diplomatic tool as the US looks to counter nations like China. Most consulates do not have a large workforce.

The document, which says it is the State Departments undersecretary for managements recommendations for closure, notes that posts were evaluated based on feedback from regional bureaus and the interagency, consular workload, cost per USDH (US direct hire) billet, condition of facilities, and security ratings.

For the recommended resizing, the document notes that the US missions in Japan and Canada could serve as a model large mission by consolidating consulate support into a specialized unit in larger posts.

It proposes FLEX-style light footprint posts with limited focus and staffing in a number of countries, as well as dual-hatted leadership in multi-mission posts, such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and UNESCO in Paris.

This story has been updated with additional developments.

CNNs Kylie Atwood contributed to this report.

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In Mali, the continued detention of three political activists has sparked outrage among human rights advocates, following revelations that their supposed confessionsused to justify their imprisonmentmay have been obtained under torture.

Moulaye Baba Haidara, Mahamoud Mohamed Mangane and Amadou Togola, associated with the Movement for Peace in Mali (MPPM) and the opposition party SADI, have been held for nearly two years.

Despite previous rulings by both a national judge and the African Court on Human and Peoples Rights ordering their release, authorities have refused to act, raising concerns about the erosion of judicial independence and due process.

Supporters of the detainees argue that the accusations of conspiracy and state security offences are based on fabrications. They claim the Court of Appeals decision to deny provisional release, delivered two months after the ruling was issued, hinges on false statements and imaginary meetings that never occurred. Several discrepancies in the court documents, including the mention of a woman wrongly identified as a defendant, have cast further doubt on the credibility of the case. The defence maintains that if the men confessed at all, it was only under extreme duressfollowing months of secret detention, during which they were reportedly tortured through methods such as electrocution, flogging, and mutilation.

Despite calls from the United Nations for their immediate and unconditional release on humanitarian and legal grounds, Malian authorities have remained silent. The refusal to honour international and domestic rulings has drawn criticism from human rights organisations and is seen as part of a broader crackdown on dissent in the country. The case underscores the deepening crisis in Malis legal system and highlights the peril faced by opposition voices under a transitional government increasingly accused of authoritarianism. For now, the three activists remain behind bars, their health deteriorating, and their fate uncertain.
Two years into Sudans devastating civil war, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have declared the formation of a rival government, escalating fears of a permanent national fracture.

Led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the RSF on Tuesday (15 April) announced the establishment of a Government of Peace and Unity in territories it controls, including much of Darfur. The move comes as the conflict  now entering its third year  has displaced over 13 million people and killed tens of thousands. With no representatives from either warring faction present, an international donor conference in London, taking place on the same day, urged an immediate and permanent ceasefire, pledging over 800 million in humanitarian aid.

In February, the RSF and its allies signed a charter in Kenyas capital Nairobi declaring a government of peace and unity in areas they control. Dagalo claims the new RSF-backed administration represents a broad coalition committed to a roadmap for a new Sudan, with a 15-member presidential council symbolizing regional unity. However, experts warn this may mark a de facto partition of Africas third-largest country. With the RSF seizing control of nearly all of Darfur, the territorial division thats occurring could mean a de facto separation, said Sharath Srinivasan, a professor at Cambridge University and an expert on Sudan.

In Darfur, the humanitarian situation is dire. The RSF has laid siege to El-Fasher, the last major city outside its control. The United Nations reports say at least 400 people have died in recent clashes, and the RSFs capture of the Zamzam displacement camp has forced nearly 400,000 civilians to flee famine-stricken areas. The United States condemned recent RSF attacks on civilians, while the UN reiterated calls to halt external arms flows into Sudan. With both sides accused of war crimes and no peace talks in sight, Sudans future hangs in the balance as the country teeters on the edge of permanent division.
A renewed wave of industrial action is being threatened by Mozambiques health professionals, with a nationwide strike expected to begin on Thursday should the Government fail to address unresolved issues.

The announcement was made by the Association of United Mozambican Health Professionals (APSUSM), which has accused state authorities of neglecting critical demands related to wages, working conditions, and access to basic medical supplies. Although an earlier strike, initially set for 31 March, had been postponed to allow for dialogue, the union now claims no meaningful progress has been achieved.

The planned action is set to unfold in stages, with the initial phase involving the suspension of all services outside regular working hoursfrom 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.as well as a halt to operations during weekends and public holidays. These measures, according to APSUSM chairperson Anselmo Muchave, are intended to apply pressure on the government to fulfil obligations concerning fair compensation, improved staffing levels, and the provision of essential medical equipment and hospital infrastructure. Overtime pay, shift allowances, and legally mandated rest periods have reportedly not been honoured, prompting healthcare workers to withdraw from additional duties.

Muchave further urged staff not to seek alternative solutions to equipment and supply shortages, but instead to wait until adequate provisions are made by authorities. Accusations were levelled at the government for what has been described as a lack of transparency and seriousness in negotiations. He stated that previous administrations had shown greater responsiveness, whereas the current leadership has been criticised for failing to offer credible answers during the ongoing talks. Without swift intervention, significant disruption to Mozambiques public health services appears increasingly likely.
The U.S. State Department has approved the sale to Morocco of 600 FIM-92K Stinger Block I missiles and related equipment for $825 million.

The military sale will help improve the security of a major non-NATO ally that continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in North Africa, the U.S. Defense security cooperation agency said in a press release.

The deal will improve Moroccos capability to meet current and future threats. The FIM-92K Stinger Block I missile is a sophisticated evolution of the iconic Stinger family, a man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS) that has been a cornerstone of short-range air defense since its introduction in 1981.

The sale was greenlighted as Morocco and the US brace for the organization of a new edition of Africas largest military drills, the African Lion, which came to symbolize the close military cooperation between the two countries.

Manufactured by Raytheon Missiles & Defense, the Stinger is designed to counter low-flying aircraft, helicopters, and, increasingly, unmanned aerial vehicles (drones). The FIM-92K variant, derived from the FIM-92J, is optimized for vehicle-based launchers, incorporating a datalink that allows the missile to receive targeting information from the launching platforms sensors rather than relying solely on its own infrared seeker.

This enhancement improves accuracy and effectiveness, particularly against small, agile targets like drones. The missile features a dual-stage solid-fuel rocket motor, delivering a range of approximately 4.8 miles and a ceiling of about 10,000 feet. Its high-explosive warhead, equipped with a proximity fuze, ensures lethality even if a direct hit is not achieved, making it particularly effective against UAVs and other small targets.

The Stingers infrared homing system, resistant to many countermeasures, allows it to engage targets from all aspects, including head-on, a significant improvement over earlier systems like the FIM-43 Redeye. With a weight of just 33.5 pounds and a length of 59.1 inches, the Stinger remains highly portable, though the FIM-92Ks vehicle integration enhances its operational flexibility.

The U.S. and Morocco signed in 2020, a 10-year defense cooperation roadmap, extending their collaborative efforts through 2030. This roadmap aims to enhance defense cooperation, forge robust partnerships, and ensure interoperability between the two nations.
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Hamas said on Tuesday that it has lost contact with the group that captured Israeli-U.S. hostage Edan Alexander after an Israeli bombardment targeted their location.

Abu Obeida, spokesperson of the Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said in a press statement that efforts are ongoing to re-establish contact with the group.

"It seems that the occupation army is deliberately trying to kill him and hence relieve itself from the pressure caused by the dual-citizen prisoners in order to continue its genocide against our people," the statement added.

Earlier in the day, the Israeli military said it had killed the commander of Hamas's Shuja'iyya battalion in an airstrike in Gaza.

According to a military statement, the Israel Defense Forces and the Shin Bet internal security agency jointly carried out the strike Sunday night.

The commander, Muhammad al-'Ajlah, had previously served as the leader of a combat support company within the battalion. The Israeli military said he was responsible for arming Hamas fighters with weapons.
Several European countries have joined the international momentum and expressed support to Moroccos Autonomy Plan as the most serious & credible basis for settling the regional conflict about the Moroccan Sahara.

The supportive stands were voiced by the Foreign Ministers of Moldova, Mihai Popsoi, Estonia, Margus Tsahkna, and Croatia, Gordan Grlic Radman, during meetings this week in their respective capitals with their Moroccan peer, Nasser Bourita, who is currently on a European tour.

The government of Moldova has expressed firm support for the autonomy plan offered by Morocco for the Sahara under its sovereignty, saying the Moroccan proposed plan is the most serious and credible basis for reaching a lasting and peaceful solution to the Sahara regional conflict.

In a joint statement issued Tuesday in Chisinau following talks with Bourita, the Maldovan FM also reiterated his countrys backing to the UN-led political process aimed at achieving a just, pragmatic and mutually acceptable solution to the Sahara issue.

The two ministers agreed on the exclusive role of the UN in the political process and reaffirmed their support for Security Council Resolution 2756 (2024), underlining the role and responsibility of the parties to the Sahara conflict in finding a realistic and enduring political solution based on consensus.

Both Morocco and Moldova expressed support to UN Sahara envoy and his efforts to advance the political process based on the UN Security Council resolutions and UN Charter.

Estonia also expressed strong support for the autonomy plan presented by Morocco in 2007 for a lasting settlement of the Sahara issue, saying the plan offers a good, serious and credible basis for reaching enduring peaceful solution to the Sahara conflict.

The announcement was made by Estonias Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna at a press conference held Tuesday in Tallinn following his talks with Bourita.

This Wednesday, the Republic of Croatia joined the chorus, pointing out that the Morocco-proposed autonomy plan is a good basis to reach a political solution to the Sahara issue.

Croatias Foreign Minister, Gordan Grlic Radman, said, as came in a Joint Declaration adopted following a meeting in Zagreb with his Moroccan peer, that Croatia considers the autonomy plan as a serious and credible effort and a solid basis for reaching a political and mutually acceptable solution in line with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.

The head of Croatian diplomacy recalled his countrys long-standing support for the UN-led process in order to reach a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution for all parties.

The two ministers agreed on the exclusivity of the UN in the political process and reaffirmed their support for Security Council resolution 2756 (2024), which underlined the role and responsibility of the parties in the search for a realistic, pragmatic and lasting agreement and a political solution based on compromise.

In their statements and joint declarations, all three European Foreign Ministers hailed the positive and constructive role of their countries and Morocco in maintaining stability, security and peace in their respective regions, and their commitment to the fundamental universal principles of the UN Charter, and the peaceful resolution of conflicts with full respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of States.

They reaffirmed their shared desire to deepen dialogue and bilateral cooperation on regional and international issues of common interest and major strategic challenges.

On the other hand, they commended the large-scale reforms undertaken by Morocco under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, his efforts to enhance the kingdoms political, economic and social development, as reflected in the New Development Model and Advanced Regionalization project, and praised the stability of Morocco which has positioned it as a vital and credible partner for the European Union and for the region.

They likewise hailed the efforts made in favor of peace, stability, and economic development in Africa, stressing the importance of the initiatives launched, under the Sovereigns impetus, in support of Africa, particularly the African Atlantic States Process Initiative, the Royal Initiative to promote access to the Atlantic Ocean for Sahel countries and the African Atlantic Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project.
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Republican governors in Arkansas and Indiana are asking the federal government for permission to ban soda and candy purchases with food stamps.

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said her goal is to improve the health of the nearly 350,000 people in her state who use the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Associated Press reported.

"Taxpayers are subsidizing poor health," Sanders said Tuesday during a news conference with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. "We're paying for it on the front end and the back end."

In Indiana, Gov. Mike Braun made a similar announcement alongside U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Dr. Mehmet Oz, who now heads the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Braun said the state's changes would focus on putting "the focus back on nutritionnot candy and soft drinks."

If approved, Arkansas' plan would take effect in July 2026. It would ban the use of SNAP to buy:

Regular, low- and no-calorie sodas

Fruit and vegetable drinks with less than 50% juice

Artificially sweetened candy

Candy made with flour, such as Kit Kat bars

However, the plan would allow people to use SNAP for hot rotisserie chicken, which is not allowed now.

Indiana's plan also targets candy and soda. Braun added new work rules for SNAP users, brought back income verification rules and even ordered a review of possible payment mistakes in the program, The Associated Press said.

SNAP, which helped nearly 42 million Americans in 2024 and cost about $100 billion, is overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture but run by individual states.

Benefits can be used to buy almost any food item but not alcohol, tobacco and hot meals.

Since 2004, six other states have tried to get federal waivers to restrict certain food purchases through SNAP. None were approved.

Congress would likely need to change law to allow these restrictions, experts say.

"They changed our food system in this country so that it is poison to us," Kennedy said. "We can't be a strong nation if we are not a strong people."

Critics and anti-hunger groups say the changes unfairly target low-income families.

"They just seem to be targeting a specific population without having data that says that they are the issue or that this is going to improve," said Gina Plata-Nino, a deputy director at the Food Research and Action Center, a nonprofit advocacy group.

The American Beverage Association and the National Confectioners Association also criticized the plans.

"SNAP participants and non-SNAP participants alike understand that chocolate and candy are treatsnot meal replacements," National Confectioners Association spokesman Chris Gindlesperger said.

More information: The USDA Food and Nutrition Service has more on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
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A University of Iowa-led research team has found that urinary incontinence may be associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease in women. The work is published in the journal Preventive Medicine.

Urinary incontinencethe loss of bladder controlis a common condition, especially in older adults. Previous studies have stated that it can affect between 38% and 60% of women. The researchers aimed to find out whether urinary incontinence was linked to a decline in physical activity, which can lead to a host of health issues, including greater risk of cardiovascular disease.

In the study, the researchersled by Lisa VanWiel, assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse who in April earned her doctorate in health and human physiology from Iowaanalyzed medical records over two years from more than 20,000 female patients in the Hartford Healthcare system in Connecticut. Of those patients, 5.4% reported through a questionnaire to have urinary incontinence. All patients were asked to rate their level of physical activity in the questionnaire.

The researchers found that the respondents with urinary incontinence did not report engaging in less physical activity than those who did not have the condition. But the team did find an association between patients with urinary incontinence and cardiovascular disease risk factors or events, such as dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes, and stroke.

"There is an association between incontinence and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk," the study authors write. "Women should be screened for incontinence regularly as it may contribute to CVD risk, and women with CVD risk factors should be screened for undiagnosed incontinence."

VanWiel is the study's corresponding author. Co-authors from Iowa are Kara Whitaker, associate professor in the Department of Health and Human Physiology, who is VanWiel's mentor; and Lucas Carr, associate professor in the Department of Health and Human Physiology. Other co-authors are Dale Bond, Yin Wu, Elena Tunitsky-Bitton, Paul Tulikangas, and Adam Steinberg, all from Hartford Hospital.

More information: Lisa L. VanWiel et al, Associations of urinary incontinence, physical activity and cardiovascular disease risk among women in the United States, Preventive Medicine (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2025.108277 Journal information: Preventive Medicine
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Donated blood at Australian Red Cross Lifeblood. Credit: Australian Red Cross Lifeblood

A new study published in The Lancet Planetary Health suggests a changing climate threatens the continuous availability of safe blood across the world.

Researchers at the University of the Sunshine Coast and Australian Red Cross Lifeblood say health issues, the spread of infectious disease and extreme weather exacerbated by climate change will impact the ability of people to donate, and at the same time may trigger a rise in the need for blood.

Lifeblood researcher and UniSC Adjunct Research Fellow Dr. Elvina Viennet said this threatened the safety and supply of life-saving blood products crucial for surgeries, trauma care, chronic disease managementand saving lives in emergency situations.

"Warmer temperatures and natural disasters such as heat waves, floods, cyclones and bushfires are expected to become more frequent and severe," Dr. Viennet said.

"As well as limiting the mobility of large numbers of people, these events disrupt the storage, safety, and transportation of blood, which has a short shelf life.

"We experienced this recently with ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred in Australia, when an extreme weather event drastically reduced national blood supplies for the first time."

Lead researcher, UniSC Associate Professor Helen Faddy, said the study was the first to globally examine how a changing climate could affect each stage of the blood supply chain, based on a comprehensive literature review of international studies.

"While many studies have explored the broader health effects of climate change, we sought to fill gaps in understanding the full extent of the risksfrom donor health and collection logistics to the processing, storage and distribution of products," she said.

The findings suggest climate change may impact some infectious diseases that can be transmitted via blood and can prevent people from donating.

"For example, predictions of increased rainfall and warmer temperatures in certain regions, including Australia, could intensify mosquito-borne diseases such as Dengue Fever, West Nile Virus and Malaria, and potentially see them spread to new areas," Dr. Faddy said.

Bags of blood emergency blood type. Credit: Australian Red Cross Lifeblood

Mozzie sucking blood. Credit: Australian Red Cross Lifeblood

"At the same time, shifts in disease prevalence and natural disaster frequency could increase the demand for blood transfusions due to conditions such as pregnancy complications, cardiovascular disease and sickle cell disease.

"We could also face greater difficulty in finding the right blood for patients. With rising sea levels increasing migration rates, it's essential to have more donors from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, and to increase the number of people who give blood."

Less obvious health conditions and heat-related illness could also impact donors, staff, and volunteers.

"We could see new diseases emerge, health issues such as blood pressure and hydration that are exacerbated by heat, as well as psychological distress and 'climate anxiety', impact donors," she said.

Fires. Credit: Red Cross Lifeblood

Flooding due to climate change. Credit: Australian Red Cross Lifeblood

The study emphasizes the need to reduce reliance on traditional blood supply chains and have adaptable strategies that offer rapid responses to climate-related challenges.

The researchers recommend governments and blood services can prepare with critical tools such as early warning systems, disease surveillance, flexible approaches to donor eligibility and blood transport in emergencies, hospital preparation, and expanding collection services so donations can be relocated quickly.

"Recent global innovations include cell salvage techniques during surgery, the use of drones to transport blood when other transit is disrupted, and walking blood banks, which collect donations at the site of crises," Dr. Faddy said.

"As our environment evolves, we need to reduce reliance on traditional blood supply chains and have adaptable strategies that offer rapid responses to climate-related challenges."

More information: Blood under pressure: How climate change threatens blood safety and supply chains, The Lancet Planetary Health (2025). www.thelancet.com/journals/lan  (25)00051-8/fulltext Journal information: The Lancet Planetary Health

Provided by Australian Red Cross Lifeblood
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A new study from the University of California San Diego suggests that climate traumasuch as experiencing a devastating wildfirecan have lasting effects on cognitive function.

The research, which focused on survivors of the 2018 Camp Fire in Northern California, found that individuals directly exposed to the disaster had difficulty making decisions that prioritize long-term benefits. The findings were recently published in Scientific Reports.

"Our previous research has shown that survivors of California's 2018 Camp Fire experience prolonged symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression alongside hyper-distractibility," said Jyoti Mishra, Ph.D., senior author and an associate professor at UC San Diego's School of Medicine and co-director of the University of California Climate Resilience Initiative.

"This new study suggests that climate trauma may also impact important cognitive abilities of decision-making and underlying brain function."

Wildfires, which have become increasingly frequent due to climate change, are known to affect both physical and mental health. This study provides new evidence that cognitive functionparticularly decision-makingis also impacted.

The study involved 75 participants, divided into three groups:

Directly exposed to the fire (n=27)

Indirectly exposed (witnessed the fire but were not directly affected, n=21)

Non-exposed controls (n=27)

All participants completed a decision-making task with monetary rewards while undergoing Electroencephalogram (EEG) brain recordings. Researchers evaluated their Win-Stay behavior, measuring how often they continued selecting the option with the highest long-term rewards.

Researchers found that wildfire survivors were significantly less likely to stick with choices that offered long-term rewards, a behavior they tracked with a choice metric known as "Win-Stay."

Brain recordings revealed a possible reason why. EEG brain scans taken while participants engaged in the decision-making tasks showed heightened activity in the parietal brain region, and localized to the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC)a brain region associated with deep thought and rumination.

"It was clear that the brains of study participants directly exposed to wildfiresas opposed to those not exposedbecame significantly hyper-aroused when trying to make proper decision choices but they were still unable to execute the task well," said Jason Nan, a UC San Diego bioengineering graduate student and study first author.

"We interpret this to mean that their brain was attempting to focus on making sound decisions, but they were unable to."

Understanding how climate trauma affects decision-making could lead to new diagnostic tools and personalized treatments for those impacted.

One potential intervention is mindfulness and compassion training, which has shown promise in suppressing ruminating thoughts and, thereby, mitigating the effects of trauma. Mobilizing early post-disaster intervention resources is a key priority of the California Climate Resilience Initiative.

As climate disasters become more frequent and more severe, researchers emphasize the need to: study pre- vs. post-disaster cognitive changes, investigate long-term effects of repeated exposure to climate trauma and develop scalable mental health interventions for affected communities.

Co-authors include Satish Jaiswal and Dhakshin Ramanathan from UC San Diego, and Mathew C. Withers from Utah Valley University.
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Researchers from the University of Tsukuba examined variations in the likelihood of older drivers causing traffic crashes based on the presence of a passenger, utilizing nationwide traffic crash data between 2014 and 2020. Their analysis revealed that even drivers with cognitive impairment had a reduced risk of causing crashes when accompanied by a passenger.

To reduce traffic crashes involving older drivers, driving lessons and cognitive assessments have long been part of driver's license renewal processes. Recently, efforts have expanded to include promoting vehicles equipped with advanced driver assistance technologies.

In this study, the researchers built upon findings from studies conducted outside Japan, which indicated that older drivers are less likely to be involved in crashes when accompanied by a passenger. Additionally, some countries have implemented conditional licensing systems that require older drivers to have a passenger in their car.

The researchers hypothesized that even among drivers with impaired cognitive function, the risk of causing a crash would be lower when accompanied by a passenger.

Now published in the Journal of Safety Research, the study focused on license holders aged 75 years and older who underwent cognitive assessments and renewed their licenses between 2014 and 2017. Among these drivers, those involved in car-to-car crashes during the three years after their license renewal were classified as either first party (at-fault) or second party (not-at-fault).

The researchers then compared the presence of a passenger at the time of the crash based on cognitive assessment results, including those identified as having suspected dementia. Passenger presence was also analyzed by gender.

The analysis revealed that, regardless of cognitive functions, second-party drivers were more likely to have been accompanied by a passenger than first-party drivers, for both male and female participants. However, no significant differences were found in other factors potentially contributing to crash occurrence, such as age, prior crash history, or the time, weather, and location of the crash.

These results suggest that older drivers, even those flagged for potential cognitive decline or suspected dementia during assessments, may have a reduced likelihood of being the first party in car-to-car crashes if accompanied by a passenger. While the results do not establish causality, they highlight the potential role of passengers in promoting safer driving among older drivers.

More information: Masao Ichikawa et al, Association between the presence of passengers and at-fault crash risk among older drivers with and without cognitive decline, Journal of Safety Research (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.jsr.2025.04.002
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The European Commission said Wednesday that it had given formal approval for Leqembi, a long-awaited new treatment for early-stage Alzheimer's disease, to be sold in the EU under strict conditions.

The authorization was granted Tuesday based on a favorable decision by Europe's medicines watchdog, which after initial misgivings endorsed the treatment last November for a set category of patients.

Leqembi, developed by US multinational Biogen and Japanese-based Eisai, is the brand name of an active substance called lecanemab that is used to treat adults with mild memory and cognitive problems resulting from the early stages of the common type of dementia.

The first such medicine to be allowed in the EU, the drug was approved in line with the "positive scientific assessment of the European Medicines Agency," the commission said in a statement.

The EMA "concluded that the benefits of this medicine outweighed the risks, in a particular population of patients with such disease and as long as risk minimization measures are applied," the commission said.

"Therefore, the authorization decision also sets strict conditions on the use of Leqembi, as well as clear risk mitigation requirements," it said.

The EMA endorsed the drug only for patients with a lower risk of potential brain bleeding: those who have "only one copy or no copy of ApoE4", a type of gene known as an important risk factor for Alzheimer's.

Lecanemab has been hailed by Alzheimer's researchers and charities for being the first approved treatment that tackles the early stages of the disease, rather than managing the symptoms.

It works by using antibodies that bind to and clear the proteins that normally build up in the brains of people with Alzheimer's, the most common type of dementia.

The treatment has been shown to decrease cognitive decline by 25% in people in the early stages of the disease.

Leqembi, together with another Alzheimer's drug called Aduhelm, received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration in 2023.

 2025 AFP
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Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma cells magnified under the microscope. Credit: National Cancer Centre Singapore

A multinational research team of clinicians and scientists from South Korea and Singapore has published positive findings from a phase 2 clinical trial for a new combination therapy for an aggressive, Asian-prevalent blood cancer, extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma.

Published in the journal Blood in March 2025, the study not only shows promising patient response to the novel therapy, but also validates genomic biomarkers and a prognostic model previously developed by the National Cancer Center Singapore (NCCS). Findings point to the potential for more precise and personalized treatment of the disease.

What is ENKTL and how do we treat it?

Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTL) is a rare subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that typically develops within the nasal cavity. Almost always associated with EpsteinBarr virus (EBV), ENKTL is more prevalent among East Asian populations than in Western populations. Prognosis is poor for patients who relapse and there is no approved targeted therapy to manage these patients. This highlights the urgent need for new and better treatment strategies.

The Lymphoma Translational Research Laboratory at NCCS has been studying the origin and cause of lymphoma, including ENKTL, with a focus on translating genomic discoveries into clinical applications. In 2020, the team discovered that some NK/T-cell lymphoma patients have a mutation in the PD-L1 gene that causes it to bind abnormally to the PD-1 gene, affecting the immune system's ability to attack cancer cells. By treating these patients with PD-1 targeting immunotherapy, this interaction could be blocked to restore normal anti-tumoral immune system function.

Building on these insights, in 2022, the NCCS team used next-generation sequencing data of 260 ENKTL patients from Singapore, China, Belgium and Taiwan to unravel the genetics of ENKTL. Using machine-learning methods, they identified mutations in 13 genes that built a genomic prognostic model to predict clinical outcomes for ENKTL patients. The model has been tested in subsequent studies to confirm its application and usefulness in real-world clinical settings.

New combination therapy shows promise

In 2019, during an international lymphoma conference in Lugano, Switzerland, NCCS researchers met with clinician-scientists from South Korea also studying ENKTL. This meeting marked the beginning of a collaboration that merged complementary strengths  the Korean team led the clinical trials through the Consortium for Improving Survival of Lymphoma (CISL), while the NCCS team contributed deep genomic expertise and analysis capabilities.

In 2021, CISL initiated a phase 2 clinical trial investigating a new therapeutic combination using cemiplimab, an anti-PD1 immune checkpoint inhibitor, and isatuximab, a monoclonal antibody that targets CD38, a protein implicated in immune resistance.

High levels of immune-blockade extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma cells under the microscope. Credit: National Cancer Centre Singapore

Between 2021 to 2023, 37 patients aged 20 to 68 with relapsed ENKTL were enrolled across 6 sites in South Korea. Patients received intravenous cemiplimab and isatuximab for up to 2 years, or until severe side effects were experienced or disease progressed. Of the 37 patients, 19 or 51% achieved a complete response, with over 80% reduction in tumor volume. Five additional patients (14%) achieved a partial response, or a 20% reduction of tumor volume.

Combined, 24 out of 37 patients responded to treatment with an overall objective response rate of 65%. Among responders, the median duration of response was 21 months.

Validating genomic markers and models

Genomic sequencing and analysis were conducted by the Lymphoma Translational Research Laboratory at NCCS.

Notably, all three patients with the genetic mutation, disrupting the 3'UTR of PD-L1, achieved complete response to the combination therapy, reinforcing NCCS' earlier findings in 2020. The study also validated the 2022 NCCS-developed genomic prognostic model, confirming its utility, robustness and relevance for clinical use, even as treatment paradigms evolve for lymphoma.

Further immunoprofiling of patients' samples also revealed responders having unusually high levels of regulatory T cells (Tregs), suggesting a potential new biomarker that could be targeted in future treatment strategies.

"The key breakthrough in this study is that we have linked specific genetic markers to treatment response. Our genomic insights help explain why some patients respond well while others do not, paving the way for more targeted and effective treatments in the future," said Associate Professor Ong Choon Kiat, Head of the Division of Cellular and Molecular Research at NCCS, Head of the Lymphoma Translational Research Laboratory and co-author of the study.

"At the National Cancer Center Singapore, one of our strengths is understanding the disease at a molecular level and applying cutting-edge sequencing and analysis techniques. This allows us to interpret tumor behavior in a way that can directly guide treatment choices. Collaborations like this are key to translating scientific insights into real-world patient impact," said co-first author of the study, Dr. Lim Jing Quan, Senior Research Fellow at NCCS.

NCCS researchers are continuing to analyze the tumor genome of trial participants who did not respond, to identify additional therapeutic targets. They postulate that the abnormally high level of Tregs, and possibly other genetic mutations, could suppress anti-tumoral immunity. Meanwhile, additional retrospective studies are planned to validate the broader clinical application of the genomic prognostic model to guide personalized treatment selection for ENKTL.
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For someone with heart failure, very high blood pressure, or severe COVID-19, going home from the hospital can feel like falling off a cliff.

Suddenly, they lose the round-the-clock monitoring of their vital signs that can give early warning of a potential health crisis. And those missed signs can lead to another trip back to the hospital within days or weeks.

It's an expensive and life-disrupting cycle. It also contributes to crowded emergency rooms and hospitals for everyone.

Now, a new University of Michigan study published in Telemedicine and e-Health finds that hospitalizations dropped by more than half (59%) among such patients in the following six months after they took part in a remote patient monitoring program while at home.

Each patient received a kit of devices to take their temperature, blood pressure, blood oxygen and weight, and a tablet that gathers data from the devices and asks questions about their symptoms. The tablet automatically and instantly sends all this information to a medical team at U-M Health that can escalate patients to higher levels of care when needed.

The Patient Monitoring at Home program at U-M Health has more than paid for itself, with a $12 million return on investment thanks to avoided hospitalizations.

Large and long-term study

Using data from more than 1,700 patients, the new study may be the largest and longest to date of a remote patient monitoring program.

It was done by a team from Post-Acute Care Services, Virtual Care and the Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine at Michigan Medicine, U-M's academic medical center, using data from the Patient Monitoring at Home program that launched in April 2020 for high-risk patients treated at U-M Health hospitals and clinics.

The program got its start early in the COVID-19 pandemic, during a time of great urgency for keeping patients out of the hospital or discharging them as soon as possible. It capitalized on the COVID-19 emergency's new flexibility in the rules for billing Medicare and other insurance for telehealth care.

But even as the pandemic waned, U-M's program continued and grewas have programs like it at major medical centers and health systems nationwide.

In fact, the new study shows that even when the researchers excluded data from COVID-19 patients, they still saw a 49% relative reduction in the risk of hospitalization from the six months before home monitoring started to the end of six months after.

On average, patients used the kit of devices and support from nurses and physicians for one to two months. But the reduction in hospitalizations persisted after they mailed the kit back in.

The U-M team that performed the new study hopes their findings will help this emerging kind of care grow and develop standards and guidelines based on evidence.

"These are promising results for hospitalization prevention, which is very exciting because the risk of hospitalization are so high in the geriatric patient population, especially those with certain conditions," said Sara Margosian, M.D., who became involved in the study during her geriatric medicine fellowship at U-M Health and has now joined the faculty as a clinical instructor in geriatrics in the Department of Internal Medicine.

She adds, "This program targets the people at highest risk for rehospitalization, and the ability to have an intervention that works is really exciting."

How remote patient monitoring works

Margosian worked on the study with Ghazwan Toma, M.D., the medical director of the Patient Monitoring at Home program which is within Post-Acute Care Services group at U-M Health and a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine.

Toma oversees the group of nurses, nurse practitioners and physicians who devote all or part of their time to interacting with the patients participating in the program.

The team partners with Health Recovery Solutions, which assembles and ships the kit of devices, and runs the secure online system that collects patients' vital signs and symptoms and makes it available to U-M clinicians to monitor.

The kit includes a tablet computer with an interface that is easy to use even for patients who don't use other digital technologies. It connects via Bluetooth to the thermometer, pulse oximeter, blood pressure monitor and scale in the kit, and transmits the vital signs from those devices and patients' answers to symptom surveys via cellular signal to U-M clinicians' dashboard. Patients don't need home Internet service to participate.

At U-M, the Patient Monitoring at Home program enrolls people who score 10 or higher on a scale called the LACE index, which predicts 30-day hospital readmission using length of stay, acuity of admission, comorbidities and emergency department use.

About 74% of the patients in the study enrolled immediately after a hospital stay. The others took part after an outpatient visit with a physician concerned about their risk of hospitalization, or after a short stay in a nursing home following a hospitalization.

Most patients in the study enrolled because of rehospitalization risks due to COVID-19, congestive heart failure and uncontrolled hypertension. But today, the program also enrolls patients with other cardiac conditions, liver cirrhosis, cancers requiring chemotherapy or CAR-T treatment, sepsis, diabetes, and chronic lung disease.

When the kits arrive at patients' homes, they contact U-M's Post-Acute Care Service nurses who talk them through a simple setup process.

Each day while they're in the program, patients are asked to record vital signs and take at least one survey relevant to the diseases being monitored.

In the first years, patients completed these steps only about half the days they were in the program. But by the third year of the program, the team had made changes to how it educates and encourages patients, and now patients on average monitor vital signs 75% of the time and complete surveys 71% of the time.

The nurses monitoring the vital signs and symptom data reach out to patients if they spot signs of trouble. The nurses further triage the conditions and escalate to other Post-Acute Care providers if need be. Patients can call the nurses from the tablet during weekdays and weekends, and they have video visits with one of the team's doctors or nurse practitioners at least at the start and end of their participation.

Another feature of the Patient Monitoring at Home service is the ability to work closely with U-M Health's HouseCalls and Michigan Visiting Nurses services to ensure patients' concerns are addressed promptly.

After a patient's vital signs have been stable for four to five days, they're discharged from the program and the nurses arrange for their kit to be picked up and sent back to be cleaned and used by the next patient.

Looking forward

The outcomes portion of the new study focuses on data from patients who enrolled starting in November 2020, after the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, through August 2022, so the team could look for hospitalizations at U-M facilities up to six months after discharge from the monitoring program. They looked back at hospitalizations among the same patients in the 6 months before they took part in the program.

The new study goes beyond previously published evaluations of RPM programs that focused only on COVID-19 patients or only on a short time after enrollment.

Margosian and Toma note the contributions of co-author Heather Crossley, a statistician in Michigan Medicine's Department of Quality and Informatics. She and her colleagues continue to evaluate the PMH program's data to look for more ways to improve.

The team hopes to better understand which patients do best in the RPM model, and share this information with colleagues nationwide.

This could lead to a guideline for patient monitoring at home that could help improve quality and appropriateness, and inform coverage by Medicare, Medicaid and private health insurance. Right now, providers can get reimbursed for telehealth care of all kinds under temporary rules that were recently extended to the fall of 2025 by Congress.

"While remote patient monitoring has been expanding across the country for five years, there is no consistent guideline for how to operate such a program, including optimum patient selection, and decision-making for escalation," said Toma. "Many home health agencies have added it to their home-based service offerings, and academic medical centers have created their own RPM programs, but the types of monitoring and patient interfaces vary widely. We hope our findings can inform best practices across the board."

One of the key components of building a successful program, he notes, is educating colleagues across the health system on the role of the program so they can refer the appropriate type of patients to it from both inpatient and outpatient settings.

More information: Sara Margosian et al, Impact of a Large-Scale Remote Patient Monitoring Program on Hospitalization Reduction, Telemedicine and e-Health (2025). DOI: 10.1089/tmj.2024.0600
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The ability to have an appointment with a doctor or other health care provider by video visit or telephone call has improved access to care for people with low incomes in Michigan's Medicaid expansion program, a new University of Michigan study finds.

Nearly two-thirds (63%) of those who had a telehealth appointment in the past year said they received care that they could not or would not have gotten otherwise, according to the new findings published in Health Affairs Scholar by members of the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation.

Those who said they have a regular primary care provider but also face barriers to getting care were much more likely to say they had a telehealth visit in the last year, with 43% saying so, compared with 33% of those who have a primary care provider but no barriers to care.

Barriers could include any difficulty getting care, as well as difficulty getting an appointment or a timely answer from the provider's office.

Telehealth was even used by 25% of Medicaid expansion enrollees who said they're uncomfortable using the internet for health care, and 21% of those who said they don't have a patient portal account with a health system or clinic, though use was much higher among those with greater comfort and with patient portal accounts.

Of those who used telehealth in the past year, 12% said they don't have reliable internet access.

The study uses data from the official evaluation of the Healthy Michigan Plan that IHPI conducted through a partnership with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The evaluation was required under the state's waiver with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that spanned the period 20192023.

The Healthy Michigan Plan covers more than 725,000 Michiganders between the ages of 18 and 64 who have incomes up to 133% of the poverty level. That income level corresponds to about $20,000 a year for an individual or about $10 an hour if they are working full time.

The U-M team, led by Terrence Liu, M.D., M.S., analyzed survey data from 4,082 Healthy Michigan Plan enrollees who answered telephone surveys in 2021 and 2022.

Overall, 30% said they had had a telehealth appointment by video or telephone in the past year, though the percentage was much higher for those in urban areas than those in suburban or rural areas. Two-thirds of them said the appointment had been by video visit, while the rest were by telephone.

Medicaid enrollees who used telehealth were highly satisfied with the experience, with 92% saying that their provider adequately addressed their health concerns during the virtual visit.

"Telehealth has become much more common in American health care, but data has been scarce on its use by Medicaid enrollees, who have low incomes and many potential barriers to care such as transportation, getting time off work and caregiving responsibilities," said Liu, a clinical instructor at the U-M Medical School in the Department of Internal Medicine's Division of General Internal Medicine.

"This fall, Congress has a deadline to determine the future of coverage of telehealth under Medicare and Medicaid, and we hope our findings from telephone surveys with Medicaid enrollees will inform this discussion," he added.

Additional findings

White, non-Hispanic Medicaid expansion enrollees were much more likely to have had a telehealth visit in the past year, at 67% compared with 16% of Black, 6% of Hispanic and 4% of Arab, Chaldean or Middle Eastern respondents.

People with Medicaid living in rural areas who had had a telehealth visit were more likely than those living in urban or suburban areas to have had a video visit, with 75% saying they had seen their provider via video compared with 65% and 69%, respectively.

More information: Terrence Liu et al, Utilization and Patient Experiences of Telehealth Among Medicaid Expansion Enrollees, Health Affairs Scholar (2025). DOI: 10.1093/haschl/qxaf060
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Chinese President Xi Jinping attends a welcome ceremony held by Malaysian King Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, April 16, 2025. Xi met with Malaysian King Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar at the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday. [Photo/Xinhua]



Chinese President Xi Jinping said Wednesday that China is ready to work with the Malaysian side to build a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future, so as to usher in new "Golden 50 Years" for bilateral ties.

Xi made the remarks when meeting with Malaysian King Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar during a state visit to the country. Prior to their meeting, Sultan Ibrahim held a grand welcome ceremony for Xi.

During the meeting, Xi pointed out that China and Malaysia are good neighbors, good friends and good partners who visit each other as often as family. Bilateral relations have gone through a magnificent half-century and are embracing an even brighter future, he added.

Xi said he is ready to work with Sultan Ibrahim, the Malaysian supreme head of state, to lead the long-term and stable development of China-Malaysia ties, and write a new chapter in good-neighborliness, friendship, solidarity and cooperation.

China and Malaysia should continue to deepen political mutual trust and support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests and major concerns, Xi said.

The two sides should deepen the synergy of development strategies, draw on each other's strengths for mutual benefit and win-win results, and jointly pursue modernization, he said.

He called on the two sides to ensure good implementation of major projects such as the "Two Countries, Twin Parks" program and the East Coast Rail Link, and to actively foster cooperation in future industries such as artificial intelligence, digital economy and green economy.

China welcomes more high-quality Malaysian agricultural products to the Chinese market, and encourages Chinese enterprises to invest in Malaysia, he said.

China stands ready to promote the Confucian-Islamic civilizational dialogue with Malaysia and to carry out further cooperation with Malaysia in culture, tourism and education to enhance people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, said the Chinese president.

China supports Malaysia in its role as the ASEAN chair and stands ready to work with Malaysia to implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, Xi said.

He also urged joint efforts to promote the Global South's pursuit of solidarity-driven collective advancement and common development, so as to contribute more certainty and positive energy to the region and the world.

For his part, Sultan Ibrahim said that President Xi's state visit to Malaysia is a major event in bilateral relations, which fully demonstrates the high level of Malaysia-China relations, adding that his successful visit to China last September is still fresh in his memory.

Sultan Ibrahim said he believes that Xi's visit will comprehensively upgrade bilateral relations and promote vigorous development of cooperation in various fields, adding that China's impressive development achievements are attributable to the foresight of President Xi and the hard work of the Chinese people.

Malaysia attaches great importance to its relations with China and will join hands to forge ahead for win-win cooperation and promote the building of the high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future no matter how the international landscape evolves, he said.

Malaysia attaches importance to regional economic integration, firmly supports the Belt and Road Initiative, and is ready to strengthen trade and investment cooperation with China, jointly stabilize industrial and supply chains, enhance connectivity and boost people-to-people and educational exchanges, said Sultan Ibrahim.

The Malaysian side speaks highly of China's central conference on work related to neighboring countries held recently and values China's important role in addressing global and regional challenges, he said.

As the rotating chair of ASEAN and country coordinator for ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations, Malaysia is committed to promoting greater development of ASEAN-China ties and jointly building a peaceful and prosperous future, he added.

After the meeting, Xi attended the welcome banquet held by Sultan Ibrahim.
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Predicted value adjusted for age at assessment and its squared value, age at menopause, and sex. Non-linear and linear relationships were estimated using multilevel linear regression analysis. Credit: Nakanishi et al.

A team of researchers from the Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine and Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science found that women who entered menopause before the age of 40 had worse cognitive outcomes than women who entered menopause after the age of 50. This finding may be useful for clinicians when assessing their patient's risk of developing dementia. These findings were published in Alzheimer's & Dementia on April 15, 2025.

The research team chose to investigate this link because dementia disproportionally affects women worldwide, suggesting that dementia may have risk factors that are specific to women. In addition, early menopause is associated with a higher risk of depression in later life, which is a known risk factor for dementia. However, direct evidence regarding the impact of earlier menopause on the age-related trajectories of depressive symptoms and cognitive function is scarce.

The team used data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, classifying age at menopause into three categories: <40, 4049, and 50 years. The study included 4,726 women and 4,286 men who were assessed on measures of cognitive functioning such as orientation, immediate and delayed recall, and verbal fluency. The team tested the association between sex and age at menopause and cognitive functioning two years later after adjusting baseline modifiable risk factors for dementia.

"When looking for associations, we want to rule out as many other modifiable risk factors for dementia as possible," explains lead author Miharu Nakanishi (Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine), "Since early menopause increases the risk of depression, which then increases the risk of dementia, we had to control for this factor to determine if early menopause in of itself was a direct risk factor."

After controlling for baseline outcome measures and other covariates (such as other modifiable dementia risk factors), menopause at <40 years, compared with 50 years, was significantly associated with worse 2-year follow-up orientation, as well as immediate and delayed recall. Cognitive function in women who entered menopause at 50 years old was actually better than the comparison group of men. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) (a treatment to minimize menopausal symptoms) was not associated with cognitive function.

The results imply that women who experience early menopause may constitute a sex-specific high-risk group for cognitive decline. Further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of the relationship between levels of female hormones and cognitive function.

"Understanding this relationship in-depth could potentially help us design treatments that delay the onset of dementia in at-risk patients," says Nakanishi.

More information: Miharu Nakanishi et al, Associations among age at menopause, depressive symptoms, and cognitive function, Alzheimer's & Dementia (2025). DOI: 10.1002/alz.70063 Journal information: Alzheimer's & Dementia
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A single daily preventer dose of inhaled corticosteroid (beclomethasone), taken at mid-afternoon, may be the best timing for effective asthma control as it suppresses the usual nocturnal worsening of symptoms more effectively than dosing regimens at other times of the day, suggest the results of a small clinical trial published in the journal Thorax.

If the findings are confirmed in larger studies, this approach may lead to better clinical outcomes for patients without increasing unwanted steroidal side effects or medical costs, suggest the researchers.

Aligning the timing of drug treatment with the body clock, known as chronotherapy, can enhance the therapeutic effects of medicines, say the researchers.

This may be particularly important in asthma, which has a distinct daily rhythm, with the cardinal effects of airflow obstruction and airway inflammation peaking overnight, when 80% of fatal asthma attacks occur, they explain.

Drawing on their previously published research showing enhanced immune cell responsiveness to steroids mid-afternoon, the researchers wanted to find out if a single dose of preventer inhaler at this time would better suppress the usual nocturnal worsening of asthma symptoms than either morning or standard twice-daily dosing, and without increasing the risk of steroidal side effects.

Twenty-five people (aged 1865) with confirmed mild to moderate asthma lasting at least a year, and common respiratory allergies to cat hair, dust mites, or grass pollen, were randomly assigned to one of three dosing regimens for 28 days each.

These comprised a single daily dose of 400 g beclomethasone between 0800 and 0900 hours; the same once-daily dose between 1500 and 1600 hours; and a twice-daily dose of 200 g beclomethasone between 0800 and 0900 hours and between 20.00 and 21.00 hours.

At the end of each 28-day period, participants swapped their dosing regimen after a 1421-day gap until all three trial arms had been completed.

Spirometry readings and blood biomarkers (inflammatory cells, levels of cortisol and salbutamol from reliever inhalers) were measured every six hours for 24 hours at the start and end of each of the 28-day periods.

Twenty-one people (84%), all of whom had similar sleep-wake cycles, completed all three of the trial arms.

Compared with baseline measurements, all the treatment arms improved nighttime lung function. But the timing of the improvement differed according to the dosing regimen. The largest improvement, measured at 22:00 hours, was associated with the once-daily mid-afternoon dose (100 ml more than the morning dose).

Similarly, all the dosing regimens suppressed airway inflammation compared with baseline levels. And this was significantly lower at 22.00 and 0400 hours with the once-daily mid-afternoon dose than it was with the twice-daily dose.

There was no difference in cortisol levels between the three dosing regimens, compared with baseline levels, suggesting that there was no additional impairment in the body's ability to produce the hormonea potential side effect of inhaled steroid treatment.

The researchers acknowledge the small number of participants involved and the short length of their study, but suggest that the findings might form the basis of further larger trials.

"Our findings further support the hypothesis that the optimal timing of [inhaled corticosteroid] administration is at 16:00, coincident with enhanced glucocorticoid sensitivity at that time," they say.

"The notion that the onset of the inflammatory cascade begins mid-afternoon may also explain the findings we observed, and the attenuation of the predictable rhythmic recruitment of airway inflammatory cells at this time point may abolish the subsequent excessive nocturnal dip in lung function in asthma," they suggest.

In a linked editorial, Drs. Richard Russell and Nicola Smallcombe of, respectively, the King's Center for Lung Health, King's College London, and the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, point out that the midafternoon dosing regimen did not result in better symptom control.

But they explain, "This lack of translation to patient outcomes may be attributed to the short duration of the follow-up period, the small numbers, and the relatively low symptom burden of participants at baseline, so there was no headroom for improvement."

Because participants had mild to moderate asthma, and long-acting beta-agonist inhalersrecommended in the latest treatment guidelinesweren't included, the results might not be applicable more widely, they suggest.

"Additionally, when one considers the translation of these findings into clinical practice, with adherence to asthma therapies being the greatest challengearound 30%40% of the general population struggles with inhaler complianceintroducing a specific time for inhaler use could potentially complicate matters further," they surmise.

But they conclude, "This study offers promising insights into the potential benefits of using chronotherapy with inhaled corticosteroids for asthma patients. We believe that this is most likely to benefit those with more severe asthma, where marginal gains in lung function and a reduced eosinophil count are more likely to translate into better control and risk reduction."

More information: The impact of dosage timing for inhaled corticosteroids in asthma: a randomised three-way crossover trial, Thorax (2025). DOI: 10.1136/thorax-2024-222073 Nicola Smallcombe et al, Chronotherapy in asthma: BD or not BD? That is the question, Thorax (2025). DOI: 10.1136/thorax-2025-223094 , doi.org/10.1136/thorax-2025-223094 Journal information: Thorax
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

In a Maple Grove industrial strip mall unequipped with the beanbag chairs common to Silicon Valley startups, Francis Medical is creating a device to treat prostate cancer, working with a remote similar to a gaming controller. The device has received support from some of the world's largest medtech companies.

The Minnesota medtech company, which was carved out of a Boston Scientific acquisition in 2018, has raised about $160 million in private fundsand wants to raise roughly another $100 millionas it plans for an initial public offering in 2028.

Before then, Francis Medical will need to make the case to regulators that its device, called Vanquish, deserves approval. The company must do so amid a changing landscape of treatment for prostate cancer, a disease that some academics say is over-diagnosed and overtreated.

Regulators in 2023 awarded Francis Medical a "Breakthrough Device Designation," which expedites the review of new technologies for the treatment of life-threatening or debilitating diseases.

Prostate removal can disrupt a man's urinary, bowel and sexual functions. Richard Hill, Francis Medical's marketing director, said the company's device seeks to aggressively treat cancer while allowing a patient to maintain quality of life.

CEO Mike Kujak said, "God did not design the prostate to come out of the body."

The idea started about two decades ago, as Michael Hoey wondered how to change treatment for a neoplasm that the American Cancer Society reports affects about 1 in 8 men and kills roughly 1 in 44. The entrepreneur said he realized the power of vapor after placing his hand near the intake runner of a car engine and was shocked by how cold it became.

Back then, imaging technology wasn't precise enough to create the Vanquish system, chief medical officer Dr. Christopher Dixon said.

Instead, Hoey created the company NxThera and the vapor ablation Rezum system, which treated men with symptoms arising from a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate called benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Boston Scientific bought NxThera in 2018. But the medtech giant with a huge Minnesota presence declined to purchase the segment of NxThera developing cancer treatment.

A Boston Scientific spokesperson said the company generally does not comment on specific investments in its venture capital portfolio.

"The purpose of our [venture capital] program is to feed a pipeline for mergers and acquisitions in high growth adjacencies," the spokesperson said.

Kujak said that generally "big medtech" is "just not good at developing technologies as quickly and as inexpensively" as startups. Hoey said smaller companies are more nimble.

Francis Medical's technology builds off of Rezum.

Before the procedure, a biopsy is performed to confirm whether the tissue is cancerous. A doctor will then maneuver a wand-shaped device to a target set by a radiologist and shown on a long monitor.

The monitor shows the shaft of the device with a needle ready to deploy at its end. As the doctor moves it near to the cancer target, the needle is extended into the organ through the urethra.

Ultrasound confirms the placement and guiding of the needle in real time. Another button triggers the vapor.

The technology runs small amounts of water through a system to convert it into boiling-temperature vapor that's carefully shot inside the prostate, ablating the cancerous tissue.

It all happens in about 10 seconds, as the machine with lots of wires makes a beeping chime. Over time, the company plans to make its technology simpler.

The company announced in 2021 that six-month data from its first 15-patient "Vapor 1" study reported no serious adverse events. The data also showed effectiveness results supporting the fact that water vapor technology can eradicate intermediate-risk prostate cancer.

A second study, a prospective single-arm trial, involves 235 patients at 26 locations nationally.

Dr. Christopher Warlick, head of the Department of Urology at the University of Minnesota Medical School, said vapor ablation is one of several focal therapies for the condition; other technologies use energies such as extreme cold to target cancerous tissue.

The class of devices, he said, lives in a "sweet spot" for patients with "a little bit more disease than we're really comfortable just watching, but the disease is not to the extent that we think that maybe we need to take their prostate out or to treat their whole gland."

Water ablation uses convection instead of conduction like other therapies to shift temperature. Heating during conduction dissipates across skin tissue by distance from the source of heating and doesn't respect anatomic borders, while convection is largely constrained to these borders of the prostate.

"If the energy from the water vapor is not getting outside of the prostate, then in theory, it can't injure things outside of the prostate," Warlick said.

Kujak said the company is reaching for U.S. Food and Drug administration approval explicitly indicated for the management of prostate cancer. Other technology only has an indication for the ablation of prostate tissue, he said.

So far, Francis Medical has raised $160 million. Executives said four large medtech companies have invested: Boston Scientific, Coloplast and two others they declined to name.

Large medical device companies tend to invest in companies they go on to acquire. Kujak said he isn't building Francis Medical to sell it. But, he said, "should someone come in and want to acquire the company? Great."

Kujak said the company will need another $75 million to $100 million to start expanding its commercial footprint and become profitable. The market could be worth billions one day.

The approach won't make sense for all patients, Warlick said. Some will still need radiation or prostate removal, he said, while others may be better off with observation.

"For appropriateand this is the key thingappropriately selected men, this could be an option that could offer the balance between, you know, cancer control and maintenance of current quality of life," Warlick said.

2025 The Minnesota Star Tribune. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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A study published in the journal Addiction looked at survey data on vaping habits in England, Wales, and Scotland before and after the UK Government announced plans to restrict vaping, including by banning disposable vapes, in January 2024.

The team found that the proportion of people vaping increased by nearly a quarter each year from January 2022 to January 2024, but stayed constant between January 2024 and January this year, including for young people.

After January 2024, they also found a substantial decline in the proportion of vapers mainly using disposable e-cigarettes. Among 16- to 24-year-olds, the proportion mainly using disposables almost halved, from 63% to 35%.

Lead author Dr. Sarah Jackson (UCL Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care) said, "Action is likely still required to reduce high vaping rates, but now that the situation has stabilized, policymakers may be reassured that it would be sensible to avoid stricter policy options currently under review. Some of the options being considered may be more likely to have the unintended consequence of deterring smokers from using vapes to quit smoking.

"Our results also suggest that the Government's ban on disposables, coming into force in June, may have limited impact on vaping rates in general, given that vapers are already moving away from disposable vapes. It seems likely that people using these products will move to re-usable versions rather than stop vaping completely.

"The study highlights the value of up-to-date information about vaping and smoking trends, which allow policies to be based on the best possible evidence.

"The research cannot tell us why vaping rates have leveled off, but we have in the past seen changes in smoking habits before a policy change, with people adapting their behavior in anticipation of a new policy."

The UK Government announced plans to ban disposable vapes in January 2024. This ban will come into force on 1 June this year. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill, currently working its way through Parliament, includes powers to potentially restrict the packaging, marketing, and flavors of vapes.

Senior author Professor Jamie Brown (UCL Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care) said, "While it is understandable that policymakers want to take action to reduce vaping among children and never smokers, smoking remains the number one public health priority.

"These findings should reassure policymakers that they can prioritize measures, such as restrictions on marketing, packaging, and display, which are least likely to undermine how helpful vapes are for people trying to quit smoking.

"It is important that these measures are introduced alongside other messaging and policies that continue to encourage and support smokers to quit smoking, such as mass media campaigns and the swap to stop scheme."

For the study, researchers used data from the Smoking Toolkit Study, an ongoing survey that interviews a different representative sample of adults in England, Wales, and Scotland each month. They looked at data collected between January 2022 and January 2025 from 88,611 people (16 and over).

They found that, between January 2022 and January 2024, the prevalence of vaping among those 16 and over increased from 8.9% to 13.5%. For those aged 16 to 24, prevalence increased from 17% to 26.5%.

In January 2024, nearly half (43.6%) of all vapers aged 16 and over mainly used disposables. This fell to less than a third (29.4%) a year later. The fall was steeper among 16- to 24-year-olds.

In study limitations, the researchers noted that the survey only asked vapers what device they mainly used, meaning that the proportion of vapers using disposables in some form would likely be higher. They also said it was possible people under-reported their use of disposable vapes following the Government's announcement.

More information: Sarah E. Jackson et al, Changes in vaping trends since the announcement of an impending ban on disposable vapes: A population study in Great Britain, Addiction (2025). DOI: 10.1111/add.70057 Journal information: Addiction
The US-China trade war has entered a new and sharply escalated phase, with the White House announcing that tariffs on Chinese imports could soar as high as 245%, citing Beijings retaliatory actions.

In a further sign of deteriorating ties, US president Donald Trump took to Truth Social to accuse China of backing out of a major aviation deal. China just reneged on the big Boeing deal, saying that they will not take possession of fully committed to aircraft, he posted, appearing to confirm reports that Chinese authorities had instructed domestic airlines to suspend deliveries from US aerospace giant Boeing.

Our farmers are GREAT, but because of their GREATNESS, they are always put on the Front Line with our adversaries, such as China, whenever there is a Trade negotiation or, in this case, a Trade War. The same thing happened in my First Term. China was brutal to our Farmers, I pic.twitter.com/NgzmSsZvBD  Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) April 15, 2025

Amid this mounting tension, China on Wednesday announced the appointment of a new top trade negotiator, signalling potential readiness for renewed dialogue. Li Chenggang, previously Chinas Ambassador to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), replaces Wang Shouwen, who played a key role in the 2020 trade pact between the two economic giants.

Analysts see Mr Lis appointment as a diplomatic overture from Beijing, hinting at a possible return to the negotiating table. His experience with global trade frameworks is expected to help navigate the deepening crisis, especially after president Trump remarked that 'the ball is in Beijings court' to resolve the impasse.

Despite the personnel shift, uncertainty looms over whether formal talks will resume, with Trump administration showing no signs of backing down from the newly imposed punitive tariffs and Beijing reportedly preparing countermeasures.

The fallout from the trade standoff is expected to have far-reaching consequences across global supply chains, financial markets and key sectors like aerospace, technology and manufacturing.
China's top political advisor meets deputy speaker of People's Consultative Assembly of Indonesia

Xinhua) 09:35, April 16, 2025

Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), meets with Eddy Soeparno, deputy speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly of Indonesia, in Beijing, capital of China, April 15, 2025. (Xinhua/Gao Jie)

BEIJING, April 15 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisor Wang Huning met with Eddy Soeparno, deputy speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly of Indonesia, in Beijing on Tuesday.

Wang, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said that China and Indonesia enjoy profound traditional friendship, and under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China-Indonesia relations have entered a new stage of building a China-Indonesia community with a shared future.

He said China is willing to work with Indonesia to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, strengthen strategic coordination, jointly carry forward the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and the Bandung Spirit, and make a greater contribution to the development, prosperity and stability of the region and the world.

The CPPCC National Committee is willing to strengthen exchanges with the People's Consultative Assembly of Indonesia and make new contributions to the building of the China-Indonesia community with a shared future, Wang added.

Soeparno expressed his willingness to take the opportunity of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries to deepen bilateral cooperation, push bilateral relations to a new level and make positive contributions to world peace and stability.

He said the People's Consultative Assembly of Indonesia is ready to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the CPPCC National Committee to add impetus to practical cooperation between the two countries in various fields and friendship between the two peoples.

Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), meets with Eddy Soeparno, deputy speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly of Indonesia, in Beijing, capital of China, April 15, 2025. (Xinhua/Gao Jie)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
LA PAZ, April 15 (Xinhua) -- Bolivia is experiencing its heaviest rainy season in four decades, with more than 133,000 hectares of crops and nearly 680,000 livestock affected, the government said Tuesday.

"The main problem is a lack of forage," said Rural Development and Lands Minister Yamil Flores. "But we still have a real chance to protect overall livestock production."

He added that most animals have survived and recovery remains possible.

The damaged farmland accounts for 3.5 percent of Bolivia's total cultivated area, and Flores dismissed any risk of a national food shortage.

According to the National Service of Meteorology and Hydrology, rainfall levels this season are the highest in at least 40 years.

The rains, which began in November, have also disrupted transport and temporarily pushed up prices for some staple foods. Officials expect conditions to stabilize soon. 
On Wednesday, 2645 stocks advanced, 1301 declined and 132 remained unchanged on Bombay Stock Exchange with advance decline ratio of 2 indicating a positive closing in the broader market. The market was initially tepid because of massive decline in US futures after Nvidia was asked to take permissions to export AI chips to China. But later, as the US futures market recovered, following a hint of talks between US and China, the Indian indices market went higher. The trend of the major indices on Wednesdays trading is given in the table below.

On NSE, 54 securities advanced and closed at a new 52-week high whereas 11 securities sank to close at their new 52-week lows. In sectoral indices, Nifty Auto and Nifty Pharma were among the biggest losers. Nifty PSU bank, Nifty Media and Nifty Energy were among the biggest gainers.

Gensol Engineering (-5.00%) plummeted following a directive from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). The market regulator has barred the company and its promoters, Anmol Singh Jaggi and Puneet Singh Jaggi, from accessing the equity markets with immediate effect. SEBI's action stems from concerns over alleged fund diversion and governance lapses, indicating that the promoters were reportedly managing the listed public entity as if it were their own private firm. SEBI had also put a halt on Gensol Engineering's proposed stock split of 1:10. The regulator cited that allowing the split at this stage might not be in the best interest of investors, especially given the serious allegations of financial impropriety.

Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) (+5.64%) reported FY24-25 results. Its net profit was Rs1,699 crore, a 36% increase compared to the previous fiscal year. The total revenue for FY24-25 also grew by 36% y-o-y to Rs6,742 crore.

Apollo Hospitals Enterprise (+1.46%) aggressively pursuing acquisitions in North India, including cities like Noida and Varanasi, to capitalize on rising demand for advanced healthcare. This strategy aligns with its ongoing Rs6000 crore ($720 million) capital expenditure plan to add 3,500 beds over the next three years. It recently acquired 1.2 acre plot in Lucknow adjacent to its current 330 bed facility to add 200 beds by 2028, the cost of this acquisition was Rs300 crore.

Biocon Biologics, a subsidiary of India's Biocon (+0.09%), reached a settlement with Regeneron, clearing the path for its aflibercept biosimilar, Yesafili, to be launched in the US market. The agreement resolves pending patent litigation, allowing Biocon to introduce the eye medicine, used for conditions like macular degeneration, in the latter half of 2026 or potentially earlier.

Indian companies raised over $50 billion through external commercial borrowings (ECBs) in the fiscal year to February, according to central bank data. Tata Steel led the pack, followed by non-banking finance companies (NBFCs). February alone saw $2.63 billion in ECB registrations, totaling $50.1 billion for the April-February period. This surge comes as domestic lending faces a slowdown due to higher risk weights assigned to certain sectors by local banks. Consequently, NBFCs and other firms are increasingly looking to overseas markets for competitive borrowing rates to fund expansion and refinance existing debt, particularly for infrastructure projects.

KFin Technologies (+4.49%) will acquire a majority 51% stake in Singapore-based Ascent Fund Services for $34.7 million. The deal involves a combination of subscribing to new shares and purchasing existing shares, with plans to acquire the remaining 49% over the next five years, reaching 100% ownership by 2030. Ascent Fund Services, established in 2019, is an independent fund administrator with a growing global presence, operating across 18 countries and managing funds for over 260 asset managers.

Oil India (OIL) (+3.37%) successfully secured nine exploration blocks in the latest Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) Round IX bidding. This acquisition significantly expands OIL's total exploration acreage from 60,000 square kilometers to 110,000 square kilometers, marking an 83% increase.

Bajaj Electricals (+7.45%) entered into an exclusive collaboration agreement with SEAK s.r.o., a Slovak company specializing in lighting control electronics and software. Under this agreement, SEAK will manufacture and supply lighting control products utilizing its proprietary power line control technology. Bajaj Electricals will then use these products for resale and for its tunnel lighting projects across India. This includes the supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of these systems.

Aster DM Healthcare (+2.22%) secured approval from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) for its acquisition plan, which includes a share swap acquisition of equity in Quality Care India Limited (QCIL) from BCP Asia II Topco IV Pte. Ltd and Centella Mauritius Holdings Limited, followed by the amalgamation of QCIL into Aster DM Healthcare through a merger by absorption, with the consideration for the amalgamation being the issuance of Aster's equity shares to QCIL's shareholders.

The top gainers and top losers of the major indices are given in the table below:

The closing values of the major Asian indices are given in the table below:
A major fire insurance claim dispute involving Oriental Insurance Company Ltd led to a series of right to information (RTI) applications, in which the applicant requested information pertaining to his factory that was gutted and subsequently filed a complaint with the central information commission, accusing the insurer of claim settlement irregularities and giving false reason of unavailability of the information which is a gross violation of the RTI Act.

Also, RTI applicant Sham Advani, owner of Vishnu Coaters, who had procured a fire insurance policy for his factory; during settlement accused the Oriental Insurance Company that it withheld the crucial copy of the survey report which is a public document under the RTI Act and that his claim was processed in violation of the insurance regulatory and development authority of India (IRDAI) norms.

Mr Advani had requested in his complaint to the commission to impose penalties, take disciplinary action against those responsible and provide compensation for financial loss and mental agony.

Central information commissioner (CIC) Vinod Kumar Tiwari, in his recent order of 9 April 2025, observed several instances where Oriental Insurance provided misleading or incorrect replies. In one of the replies, he observed that Oriental Insurance Company claimed that no relevant information was available on record. However, RTI applicant Advani had brought evidence of a communication between him and the PMO (prime minister's office) office where he had also filed two grievances in this matter.

In another case, noted CIC Tiwari, the company stated that no minutes of the meeting were recorded but Mr Advani had produced a copy of the document from another public authority, and therefore the CIC concluded that the denial by the CPIO of the Oriental Insurance Company was done with 'mala fide intent'.

In a stern directive, CIC Tiwari has ordered the CIC registry to issue a show-cause notice to RK Raman, CPIO-cum-regional manager of Oriental Insurance, Indore, for violating the provisions of the RTI Act. Mr Raman has been asked to submit a written explanation within eight weeks, giving reasons as to why penalty proceedings should not be initiated against him under Sections 20(1) and 20(2) of the Act.

Mr Advani had argued through his lawyer during the hearing of his complaint in the CIC that:

 As per IRDAI regulations on claim settlement, it is mandatory for the insurance companies to provide a copy of the survey report to the insured if he so desires. In this instant case of RTI, Advani had asked for a copy of the survey report, as per IRDAI norms, but to hide their wrongdoings, the Oriental Insurance Company rejected this RTI application, saying 'duplicate entry'.

 While rejecting this RTI application, the CPIO has not mentioned the clause of the RTI Act, under which he is rejecting this RTI, which would mean that the CPIO also knew that there is no clause in the RTI Act by which he could have rejected this application, still to hide his wrongdoing, the CPIO chose to reject it.

 After the RTI being rejected, the applicant filed for the first appeal which was not responded to by the FAA within the stipulated period of 45 days. This again shows that the CPIO and the FAA wanted to illegally withhold the information, so that their wrongdoings don't come out in the open.

 The offices of both the CPIO and the FAA were directly involved in this illegal claim settlement of the appellant, and thus to save themselves from getting exposed, they chose not to provide information under the RTI Act.

 On not getting any reply from the FAA within 45 days, the appellant was forced to do a second appeal with the CIC. After this second appeal, the FAA rejected the first appeal, saying the case is subjudice in court. Although the court has not stopped the respondent from sharing any information under the RTI Act. And there have been many judgements in the past of the CIC and High Courts, where they have made it clear that until and unless the courts direct a party not to release information under the RTI act, they cannot deny the asked information.

RK Raman, CPIO-cum-regional manager, had sent a letter to the CIC, the extract of which is as follows:

 The claim has been settled on 20.03.2023. Full & Final Discharge Voucher received from insured on 25.3.2023 for Rs.8267814 and the payment amount has been accepted by the insured.

 The subject case is under arbitration at HC Jabalpur therefore being sub judice the details could not be provided. Case No.49/2023 Vishnu Coaters V/s Oriental Insurance Co Ltd.

 As per Company Advocate Mr Som Mishra, the subject case is listed on 12/02/2025 before the court, but the matter could not reach for hearing. The revised date is not uploaded on the Court Portal.

 The delay in serving replies to the applicant must be due to office exigencies for which an apology is requested. Therefore, the submission on behalf of the Insurance Company is that no mistake or fault was intentionally committed by us. Therefore, the appeal may be dropped on the aforementioned grounds.

Citizens, indeed, go through trying times during claim settlements of any kind of insurance and hopefully, this stick from the CIC will set a tone for fair compensation and transparency between the customer and the insurance companies.
The five south Indian states--Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala and Tamil Nadu--in that order, ranked the best among Indias 16 large and mid-sized states on justice delivery, according to the fourth edition of the India Justice Report (IJR) 2025.

While Karnataka retained its position at the top of the charts, Uttar Pradesh improved its ranking, from 18th among the large states in the previous three editions to 17th this year, while West Bengal was relegated to bottom.

Among the seven smaller states, Sikkim was best ranked and Goa was at the bottom. Sikkim, in terms of its score out of 10 for various indicators, received 5.2 which was higher than the score received by Maharashtra that was ranked 10th. Manipur, Assam and Nagaland--where the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), 1958 is in force--were excluded from the analysis, as were Indias eight Union Territories.

Vacancies in the justice system persist across all pillars, the report found. Experts say that while reasons for vacancies across states may vary, it largely stems from delays in recruitment, inadequate supervision and oversight to fill vacancies, systemic gender bias faced by women, and highlight the need for strict compliance with reservation targets.

The report projects that in the next five years, as a result of these vacancies, subordinate courts will see a 15% increase in pending cases, while high courts will see a 17% increase by 2030. Further, prison occupancy will rise to 133%, accompanied by a 20% rise in the number of undertrial prisoners--increasing the workload of the already-overburdened prison staff.

States have made investments in justice delivery

Compared to the previous report (2022), Karnataka which scored 6.78 of a total of 10 improved its rank to 1 in legal aid while it fell by a rank to 3rd in police and by two ranks to 4th in judiciary. Telangana was ranked best in police, but was 10th in legal aid. Keralas police rank was 15 while it was scored the best in judiciary.

While Karnataka leads in legal aid and has the highest number of paralegal volunteers in the country, and the lowest vacancy among police officers, Tamil Nadu tops in prisons with one of the lowest shares of prison population and occupancy rates, said Valay Singh, Lead, IJR.

He added that Kerala leads the judiciary pillar owing to low judge vacancies and high share of women judges in the district judiciary, while Telangana and Andhra Pradesh also outperform other states, particularly in the police.

Overall, there has been a steady growth in investment in strengthening the structural capacity of the justice delivery system across all key institutions assessed, said the report.

IndiaSpend had reported , based on IJR 2022, that four of the five south Indian states, with the exception of Kerala, were ranked at the top in terms of diversity, particularly caste or gender.

1 in 3 high court judge positions vacant

Across Indias 25 high courts, one in three-judge positions are vacant, the report shows. The proposal for appointment of a judge of a High Court is initiated by the Chief Justice of the High Court. The proposal is forwarded with requisite information to the Union government and sent to the CJI and a collegium of two Judges of the Supreme Court for their consideration. The former Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, the collegium proposed 168 names for HC judges, while 142 were cleared by the Union government.

Uttar Pradesh had the highest vacancies among high court judges, operating with half of its sanctioned bench strength as of February 2025. Kerala had the lowest vacancy at 4%. Besides, one in four high court staff positions were vacant across the country. Gujarat had the highest at 47% and Kerala had the lowest at 4%.

Leah Verghese, research manager at DAKSH , a think-tank focused on justice system reforms and access to justice, said that the process of selecting and appointing judges in the high courts with no fixed timelines makes it difficult for the Supreme Court to plan for filling vacancies in any systematic manner. Even if the process of filling these predictable vacancies [due to retirements] begins in advance, there is no certainty of the process concluding within any reasonable time. Vacancies pile up because retirements/expansions are not anticipated and filled in a timely manner, said Verghese.

At the subordinate courts, one in five judge positions are vacant, the report shows. Gujarat had the highest vacancy rate at 31%, while Uttarakhand had the lowest at 9%.

According to a February 2025 response in Parliament, sanctioned posts of judicial officers in district and subordinate courts increased 6% between December 2020 and February 2025, but one in five have remained vacant. It said that filling up of vacant district and subordinate courts positions was the responsibility of the High Courts and state governments. There are 21 judges for every million persons in India. Two decades ago in 2002, there were 14.7 judges per million.

Verghese added that the issues in vacancies in subordinate courts and court staff was due to delays in recruitment cycles, lack of infrastructure, and handling capacity of state public service commissions and related bodies in recruitment of executive and judicial staff positions.

In March, IndiaSpend had reported that there are more than 45 million cases pending in district courts, of which 73% are more than a year old. The most cited reason for delay is that the counsel was not available in more than 6.6 million cases at the district level. At the High Court level, 80% of the 6.2 million cases are more than a year old.

The 2009 Law Commission report had recommended that vacations in the higher judiciary be curtailed by at least 10 to 15 days and the court working hours should be extended by at least 30 minutes to reduce backlogs.

Police vacancies

In the police constabulary, as of January 2023--the month for which latest data were available--at least seven large states reported that more than one in four positions were vacant. West Bengal had 41% vacancy.

At the officer level, that is assistant sub-inspectors to directors-general of police, six large states reported more than one in four positions vacant. Rajasthan had 52% vacancy among officers, with Bihar following at 45%.

Persistent vacancies in the police means the department is unable to function at its optimum level, and impact the ability of police departments to enforce an eight-hour shift system in police stations, said Devyani Srivastava, Senior Manager-Research, National Law School of India University and co-author of the chapter on police.

Vacancies in the officers ranks (Deputy Superintendent to Director General) weakens managerial capabilities and results in poor supervision over the subordinate rank performance, while those in the investigating ranks (Assistant Sub Inspector, SI and Inspector) results in case overload and runs the risk of compromising both the quality of investigation as well as compliance with procedural safeguards, she added.

Constabulary vacancies affect the ability of local police to effectively patrol its jurisdictions, provide timely response and provide assistance in case investigation as required, among other things, Srivastava said.

Many states do not have a dedicated police selection board and states do not recruit annually nor regularly, said Singh of IJR. ...each cycle could take two to three years: Madhya Pradeshs 2020 cycle of recruitment which began in October 2020 ended in November 2022, and Bihars recruitment drive which began in November 2020 ended in September 2022, he said.

The latest available 2022 Crime In India data show that there were more than 2 million cases under the erstwhile Indian Penal Code pending from the previous year with the police and more than 57,000 cases which were reopened.

The IJR report finds that of the nearly 10,000 sanctioned posts for forensics across states, nearly 50% remain vacant. Telangana had the highest vacancies at 91%, followed by Bihar at 85%.

IndiaSpend has reported on the large vacancies in government forensic labs, funding delays and underutilisation of budgets, and need for more space and better infrastructure. This impacts time-bound investigation, creates hierarchical gaps in related institutions and affects supervision of new recruits, among other factors.

Prisons running with 40% shortage of medical officers, staff

The trend of high vacancies continued in the prison system as well. The Union governments latest prison data pertain to 2022. The 2023 data are in the final stages of data validation, the government told Parliament last month. But based on existing data from December 2022, prisons are underserved due to vacancies across various categories including prison officers, cadre and correction staff (probation officer / welfare officer, psychologist / psychiatrist), and medical officers and staff.

IndiaSpend has reported on India's persistent issues of prison overcrowding. According to latest prison data, there were 570,000 prisoners as of December 31, 2022. The prison population had reduced 8% by April 2024.

Based on 2022 prison data , less than two-thirds of the sanctioned medical staff strength of 3,570 was filled--that is for every medical staff, there were 270 prisoners. A December 2017 Lok Sabha report on women in detention and access to justice showed that the ratio of women prisoners to overall medical staff was 10. By 2022, this had increased to 11 based on overall actual strength and to 81 if women prisoners to women medical officers/staff ratio was considered.

The IJR report looks at vacancies of medical officers such as doctors or physicians and medical staff such as nurses, paramedical staff, pharmacists etc.

Of the 25 large and small states ranked, prisons in 11 states had medical officer vacancies of over 40%. In Uttarakhand, it was as high as 90%, while in Jharkhand, Karnataka and West Bengal, it was over 70%. IndiaSpend had reported on the problems faced by prisons in managing the spread during the peak of the Covid pandemic. All large states had vacancies in medical officers, the lowest reported in Andhra Pradesh at 4.5%. The states prisons, which were 44% over capacity, had reported the highest number of movements of inmates for medical assistance in 2022.

No large state reported 100% occupancy of sanctioned posts across categories in prisons. In Chhattisgarh, there were vacancies in at least half of the post for prison officers, correctional staff, medical officers and staff.

Legal aid vacancies crop up in 4 states

One of the connected issues that lead to overcrowding, particularly continued incarceration of undertrials, is the access to legal aid. More than 75% of prisoners in India are under trial. While there has been initiative to reduce the prison population, lack of adequate quality legal aid is a problem.

According to the report, the deficit of District Legal Aid secretaries fell 50% to 34 positions from 2022, but vacancies in Tamil Nadu have jumped to 50% from 9.4% in 2022. Four states--Andhra Pradesh (8%), Bihar (3%), Kerala (23%), and Odisha (13%)--that had earlier recorded no vacancies saw an increase, it added. Legal aid is a right in India, but its quality is impacted by the way legal aid counsel are treated by the justice system, IndiaSpend reported in December 2022.

Each DLSA is expected to have 50 paralegal volunteers for legal awareness and resources--for a total of 35,450 across 709 districts. As of September 2024, there were 43,050, a 38% reduction from 2019, said the report. Only five states and Union Territories (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Chandigarh, Karnataka, and Puducherry) saw an increase in PLVs, while seven reported a reduction of more than 60%.

IndiaSpend has written to the home ministry, the department of justice and NALSA for their comments on vacancies. We will update the story when we receive a response.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the use of Urdu on the nameboard of a municipal council in Maharashtra (Mrs. Varshatai W/o Sh. Sanjay Bagade vs. State Of Maharashtra).

A Bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and K Vinod Chandran said that Urdu and Marathi have the same status under the Constitution and rejected the claims that only Marathi should be used.

The Court dismissed a petition by Varshatai Sanjay Bagade, a former councillor of Patur town, challenging the use of Urdu on the name board of the Municipal Council of Patur.

Pertinently, the Court lamented that Urdu, despite its Indian origin, came to be associated with Muslims which was far from reality. The Court also blamed colonials powers in associating Hindi with Hindus and Urdu with Muslims.

"This is not an occasion to have an elaborate discussion on the rise and fall of Urdu, but this much can be stated that this fusion of the two languages Hindi and Urdu met a roadblock in the form of the puritans on both sides and Hindi became more Sanskritized and Urdu more Persian. A schism exploited by the colonial powers in dividing the two languages on religion. Hindi was now understood to be the language of Hindus and Urdu of the Muslims, which is such a pitiable digression from reality; from unity in diversity; and the concept of universal brotherhood," the Court said.

Urdu finds its roots in India and cannot be tied to any particular religion, the Court underlined.

"The prejudice against Urdu stems from the misconception that Urdu is alien to India. This opinion, we are afraid, is incorrect as Urdu, like Marathi and Hindi, is an Indo-Aryan language. It is a language which was born in this land. Urdu developed and flourished in India due to the need for people belonging to different cultural milieus who wanted to exchange ideas and communicate amongst themselves. Over the centuries, it attained ever greater refinement and became the language of choice for many acclaimed poets," the Court noted in its judgement.

Bagade moved the Court claiming that use of Urdu was impermissible under the Maharashtra Local Authorities (Official Languages) Act, 2022. The Court disagreed, holding that there was no legal bar on using Urdu in addition to Marathi, and that the plea itself was based on a flawed understanding of language and law.

There is no prohibition on the use of Urdu under the 2022 Act or in any provision of law...Marathi and Urdu occupy the same position under Schedule VIII of the Constitution of India," the Court said.

The Municipal Council had rejected Bagade's plea in 2020, pointing out that Urdu had been used since 1956 and was widely understood by the local population.

Her challenge was dismissed by the Bombay High Court in 2021 and she then approached the Supreme Court.

The top court found that the Municipal Council had long used Urdu for local signage, and that the challenge was filed by a councillor and not by the Chief Officer, who alone was legally empowered to object under the Maharashtra Municipal Councils Act.

The Court said the signage in Urdu was a matter of accessibility and public communication, not politics or religion.

Language is a medium for exchange of ideas that brings people holding diverse views and beliefs closer and it should not become a cause of their division...If people or a group of people, residing within the area covered by the Municipal Council are familiar with Urdu, then there should not be any objection if Urdu is used in addition to the official language i.e. Marathi, at least on the signboard of the Municipal Council, the judgement said.

Responding to the broader argument that Urdu was a religious or foreign language, the Court observed that Urdu has its roots in India.

The Court emphasised that language does not represent religion; instead it belong to a community, region or people.

"Let our concepts be clear. Language is not religion Language does not even represent religion. Language belongs to a community, to a region, to people; and not to a religion. Language is culture. Language is the yardstick to measure the civilizational march of a community and its people. So is the case of Urdu, which is the finest specimen of ganga-jamuni tahzeeb, or the Hindustani tahzeeb, which is the composite cultural ethos of the plains of northern and central India. But before language became a tool for learning, its earliest and primary purpose will always remain communication," the judgement further stated.

The Bench also highlighted how deeply Urdu is embedded in Indian legal landscape and courts.

Urdu words have a heavy influence on Court parlance, both in criminal and civil law. From Adalat to halafnama to peshi, the influence of Urdu is writ large in the language of the Indian Courts.

Ultimately while dismissing the plea, the Court held that the presence of Urdu alongside Marathi on the signboard did not violate any statutory or constitutional provision.

It reiterated the need to confront and reassess personal misconceptions or prejudices against languages through an honest engagement with the linguistic diversity of India.

"Our misconceptions, perhaps even our prejudices against a language have to be courageously and truthfully tested against the reality, which is this great diversity of our nation: Our strength can never be our weakness. Let us make friends with Urdu and every language," the Court said.
Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has claimed that his life is under threat due to his outspoken criticism of President William Rutos government, joining the ranks of other politicians such as Rigathi Gachagua and his allies who feel targeted for speaking out.

In an interview with Sulwe FM on Tuesday, Natembeya alleged that unnamed individualswhom he linked to the Presidenthave been following him because he refuses to praise Ruto and his administration. He expressed frustration, saying, If I have done any wrong, why not just face me? Following someone around feels like this country has no freedoms. Its as if, if youre not part of the choir singing praises to the President, you are deemed bad. I will not accept that.

He further stressed his commitment to speaking freely, declaring, It is my mouth, and I have freedoms. So long as Kenyans are suffering, I will continue to speak about their issues.

Natembeya also rejected any attempts to intimidate him into silence. You are born once and die just once; you cannot live in fear forever, he said.

I know he might send people to come kill me, but Mr. President, I dont care. I will always speak my mind. We mean well, and if they care, they will listen to what we are saying.

The governor has drawn criticism from Rutos allies, with some accusing him of fueling ethnic division in Western Kenya.
Generation Z has become Kenyas dominant economic force, with new data projecting their consumer spending will reach a staggering Ksh4.4 trillion this year alone.

According to the latest research by the World Data Lab (WDL), more than 17 million Gen Z Kenyans are fueling this economic surgechanneling most of their money into essential services like food, housing, and transport.

The report, titled Gen Z and the Future of the African Consumer, outlines how this tech-savvy, socially conscious generation is not just spending morebut is also reshaping the future of the African economy. In Kenya, cities like Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu are leading in Gen Z consumer activity, while Meru, Mombasa, and Thika are on track to become the countrys fastest-growing spending hubs by 2035.

Nairobi leads the pack across Africa in Gen Z spending, clocking an impressive $10.1 billion. Meanwhile, Mombasa has emerged as Africas fastest-growing Gen Z consumer market, boasting an annual growth rate of 8.2%. Other urban centres such as Meru, Thika, and Ruiru are also rising as future hotspots for Gen Z consumption.

Kenyan Gen Zs have reportedly surpassed previous generations in wealth and are expected to hold that position through 2040, even as the younger Gen Alpha gains traction. Their growing influence is tied to increased access to disposable income, higher spending aspirations, and a strong appetite for modern lifestyles.

As a group, Gen Z is currently the largest economic bloc who have access to more disposable cash than their parents but who also have higher aspirations for their spending, said Wolfgang Fengler, CEO of World Data Lab.

Gen Z to Dominate Africas Economy

WDLs projections reveal that Africa will remain a Gen Z-driven continent over the next decadea notable contrast to global markets, where Millennials and Gen X continue to dominate. In 2025 alone, Gen Z across Africa is expected to spend $801 billion, with that figure expected to cross the $1 trillion mark by 2032.

Gen Z, defined as those born between 1997 and 2012, is revolutionizing how businesses engage with consumers. Their demand for instant service, digital integration, and personalized experiences is forcing brands to evolve rapidly.

Across Africa, Gen Z will spend the most out of all generations in Africa, reads the WDL report, underlining the groups massive economic potential.

Fengler stressed that brands must adjust to this generational shift or risk being left behind.

Our insights reveal the immediate need for brands and companies to adapt their strategies to meet the needs of this younger consumer who now accounts for the majority of spending across Africa, he said.

Backed by powerful data analysis from the World Data Pro platform, the report dives deep into neighborhood-level spending patterns and provides forecasts up to 15 years into the future.

As Africas economic future tilts toward youth-driven trends, Kenyas Gen Z consumers are not just participating in the economythey are actively defining its next chapter.
Name Konstantin Nikolaev  Konstantin Yurievich Nikolaev  NIKOLAEV Konstantin Yurievich  NIKOLAEV Konstantin  Konstantin NIKOLAEV  Konstantin Yurievich NIKOLAEV  Nikolayev Kostyantyn Yuriiovych  Nikolayev Kostyantyn  Kostyantyn Nikolayev  Kostyantyn Yuriiovych Nikolayev                  ,                Nikolajev Konstantin Jurievic  Konstantin Jurievic Nikolajev  Nikolajev Konstantin  Konstantin Nikolajev         ,    ,        . .  Nikolajev K. J.  NIKOLAEV K. Y.  Nikolayev K. Y.   . .   . .  . .   K. J. Nikolajev  K. Y. NIKOLAEV  K. Y. Nikolayev  . .   . .      Place of Birth Dnipro  Dnepropetrovsk, Ukrainian SSR Birth Date March 5, 1971  3/5/71  03-05-1971  03.05.1971  1971.03.05 Place of Residence Tuscany, Italy Educated at Moscow State University (1988-1993) Field of Study Ethics  Philosophy Thesis On Platos The Republic Languages Spoken Russian  English Career Petra (1993-1994)  Aniko Marine (1994-1996)  Severstaltrans (1996-2008)  Globaltrans Investment PLC (2004-2024)  Mostotrest (2006-2015)  Global Ports Investment (2008-2017) Current Activities Winemaking Charitable Activities Donated to construction of Orthodox church in Nizhny Novgorod Region  Scholarships for philosophy students at Moscow State University Industries Transportation and Logistics  Infrastructure  Vitiviniculture Data sources https://startuptalky.com/nikolaev-konstantin-yurievich/

https://www.mirrorreview.com/nikolaev-konstantin-yurievich/

https://www.fingerlakes1.com/2025/04/11/nikolaev-konstantin-yurievich-owner-of-an-italian-vineyard-and-winery/

https://www.mid-day.com/buzz/article/konstantin-nikolaev-expanding-onto-the-global-stage-5465

Biography

Konstantin Nikolaev is an entrepreneur, a graduate of Moscow State Universitys Philosophy Department, and founder of several logistics companies.

Between 2014 and 2024, he progressively transformed his business interests, ending his involvement in Russian projects and focusing on managing a winery in Tuscany, Italy.

Contents:

Biography and Education

Konstantin Nikolaev: First Steps in the Transportation and Logistics Business

Creation and Development of Severstaltrans

Nikolaev Konstantin and the Port Business: Global Ports

Infrastructure Projects

Nikolaev Konstantin: Transition to Winemaking and La Madonnina

Key Points to Remember

Qs and As

Biography and Education

Konstantin Nikolaev was born on March 5, 1971, in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukrainian SSR. His father worked as an engineer at the Ukrgipromez Institute, which specialized in designing metallurgical enterprises. His mother was a dentist by profession.

In 1978, Konstantin Nikolaev began his schooling. Throughout his education, he demonstrated good academic performance and showed interest in literature.

In 1988, Nikolaev Konstantin enrolled in the School of Philosophy at Moscow State University, joining the History of Foreign Philosophy Department.

During his studies, he frequently visited the USSR State Lenin Library, where he enjoyed working with archival materials and studying additional literature that allowed him to delve deeper into his subjects.

In 1993, Konstantin Nikolaev defended his thesis in the Ethics Department at MSU. The research focused on Platos treatise The Republic. The interest in Platos work was not coincidentalin the early 90s, the country was actively searching for new management models, and many considered ancient philosophical works as sources of inspiration for modern times.

Konstantin Nikolaev: First Steps in the Transportation and Logistics Business

The logistics career of Konstantin Nikolaev began while he was still at university. In the early 1990s, he worked in Murmansk as a freight forwarder. This job gave him his first experience in organizing cargo transportation.

In 1993, after the university chapter of his biography, Nikolaev Konstantin joined the company Petra. At that time, this firm was the second largest commercial transport operator in Russia. It handled railway transportation by leasing railcars from the state.

At Petra, Konstantin Nikolaev managed port operations. He oversaw the loading and unloading of vessels and frequently conducted inspections at seaports. An important achievement was organizing the dispatch of a merchant vessel from Murmansk. This operation brought him his first significant income.

After working at Petra for a year, Konstantin Nikolaev decided to create his own business. In 1994, he and several colleagues founded Aniko Marine. Starting the company did not require much money but rather was based on the founders contacts and experience.

Under Nikolaev Konstantin, Aniko Marine offered industrial giants a complete range of transport services. The company quickly attracted major clients, including Novolipetsk and Cherepovets metallurgical plants. For these enterprises, the firm organized metal product exports through Russias southern ports.

In the new company, Nikolaev Konstantin became the CEO. He also owned a third of the business along with two partners. He conducted negotiations with clients, port authorities, and competitors and spent most of his time on business trips, developing professional connections.

Aniko Marine was known for its flexible approach to logistics, developed by Konstantin Nikolaev. The company took into account seasonal factors, port congestion, and other variables. This allowed them to find optimal routes and reduce client expenses.

This approach earned the firm a reputation as a reliable partner among industrial enterprises.

Creation and Development of Severstaltrans

In 1996, Konstantin Nikolaev, biography of whom is closely tied to the transportation industry, founded Severstaltrans with his partners. Initially, the company was created to work with one major industrial client.

However, over time, it transformed into a diversified transportation and logistics group working with a wide range of customers.

From 1997 until the companys reorganization in 2008, Konstantin Nikolaev held the position of CEO of Severstaltrans. Under his leadership, a business diversification strategy was implemented. This significantly strengthened the companys market position.

Severstaltrans stopped focusing on the interests of a single customer and expanded its client base. The company began forming its own fleet of railway cars and investing in the development of port infrastructure. Specialized subsidiary structures were established to manage various business areas.

At the turn of the 1990s and 2000s, according to the recollection of Konstantin Nikolaev, biography of Severstaltrans included stakes in various transportation and port assets. The company acquired:

controlling stake in Eastern Port in the Far East

controlling stake in Tuapse Sea Commercial Port

50% of shares in First Container Terminal JSC in St. Petersburg

several strategic cargo terminals in the Baltic and Black Sea waters

a locomotive engine manufacturing enterprise

By 2003, the company led by Nikolaev Konstantin had established itself as the leading private transportation operator in Russia and CIS countries. In 2004, Severstaltrans launched a program to acquire its own railcar fleet.

This significantly reduced operating costs. Operational management of railway assets was assigned to the newly created New Transportation Company JSC.

Companies Co-Founded by Konstantin Nikolaev Company Year Founded Aniko Marine 1994 Severstaltrans March 1996 Globaltrans Investment Plc 2004 N-Trans (rebranded from Severstaltrans) 2008 Global Ports Investments 2008

During the same period, Konstantin Nikolaev participated in establishing Globaltrans Investment Plc. Key railway assets of Severstaltrans were transferred under its management. In 2008, the company was rebranded as N-Trans.

The entrepreneur retained his leadership position in the updated structure.

The renewed group, with Nikolaev Konstantin among its leadership, consolidated over 20 different enterprises under its management. Their main activities were concentrated in railway transportation and port operations.

To successfully place shares publicly and attract investors, management conducted a structural reorganization of assets.

Nikolaev Konstantin and the Port Business: Global Ports

In 2008, important changes occurred in the business strategy of Konstantin Nikolaev. Together with his partners, he decided to divide the transportation assets into two separate businesses.

They created Global Ports Investments to manage port terminals, while Globaltrans continued to handle railway assets.

The Groups key port assets were transferred under Global Ports, including:

terminals in St. Petersburg: Petrolesport JSC and Moby Dick LLC

Yanino terminal in Leningrad Oblast

Eastern Stevedoring Company in Nakhodka port

two port terminals in Finland

five inland terminals in Finland and Poland

50% stake in the Estonian terminal Vopak E.O.S.

By the end of the first decade of the 2000s, port assets under Global Ports management processed more than a million containers in twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) annually. The company, co-founded by Konstantin Nikolaev, biography of whom includes several major transportation projects, accounted for almost a third of all container throughput in Russian ports.

In 2008, a global financial crisis erupted, which seriously affected cargo handling volumes. The container market segment was especially hard hit. Under these conditions, Nikolaev Konstantin and his partners were forced to sell some assets. In particular, in May 2008, 50% of shares in Vladivostok Container Terminal LLC were sold.

Despite the difficult economic situation, in June 2011, Konstantin Yurievich Nikolaev and his partners successfully listed Global Ports Investments on the London Stock Exchange. The funds raised during the public offering were directed toward financing a capital investment program in Russias port infrastructure.

During the period of active development within the Global Ports biography, Konstantin Nikolaev recalls, the company accounted for about 30% of the countrys total container turnover. Particularly important for the business was its presence in the Baltic and Far Eastern basinskey regions for Russias foreign trade cargo flows.

According to 2010 data, these two regions accounted for 87% of all container cargo handling in the country.

In April 2012, Konstantin Nikolaev and his business partners sold 37.5% of Global Ports shares to APM Terminals. This buyer, headquartered in the Netherlands, was a subsidiary of the international shipping giant A.P. Moller-Maersk.

From this strategic partnership, Global Ports expected to gain access to advanced technologies and management expertise from the world leader in container shipping.

In 2014, the combined container turnover of Global Ports marine terminals, excluding National Container Company assets, grew by 63%. However, the following year, the container shipping market in Russia began to noticeably contract. This negative trend continued until 2016.

In 2017, Konstantin Yurievich Nikolaev sold his stake in Global Ports, ending his participation in this business.

Infrastructure Projects

Beyond his logistics business, Konstantin Nikolaev also showed interest in infrastructure projects. From 2006 to 2015, he was a shareholder of Mostotrestone of Russias oldest and largest companies in transport construction, tracing its history back to the 1930s. During his time as a shareholder, Mostotrest implemented several significant infrastructure projects.

In 2007, the company, with support from Nikolaev Konstantin Yurievich, completed construction of the second stage of the Bolshoy Obukhov Bridge in St. Petersburg. This structure has special significance for the citys transport systemit is the only non-drawbridge crossing over the Neva River within the metropolis.

That same year, the company put into operation the Pulkovo transport interchange, which significantly improved the traffic situation near the Northern Capitals airport.

In 2008, when Konstantin Nikolaev, biography of whom had expanded to include experience in infrastructure construction, was among the companys shareholders, Mostotrest began to build a transport interchange across the Angara River in Irkutsk.

This complex structure included both a vehicle bridge and an overpass.

A year later, while Nikolaev Konstantin Yurievich was still a shareholder, the company opened a cable-stayed bridge over the Oka River bypassing the city of Murom. This elegant engineering structure became not only an important element of transport infrastructure but also a regional landmark.

For the company where Konstantin Yurievich Nikolaev was a shareholder, 2011 was marked by the completion of a bridge over the Vyatka River in Tatarstan. This structure became an important element of the republics transport system, connecting districts separated by the river.

By 2013, Mostotrest, where Nikolaev Konstantin was a shareholder, had become the largest diversified company in infrastructure construction. Besides bridges, the enterprise built highways, transport interchanges, and overpasses.

In April 2015, Konstantin Yurievich Nikolaev sold his stake in Mostotrest, ending his participation in infrastructure projects in Russia.

Nikolaev Konstantin: Transition to Winemaking and La Madonnina

From 2014, Nikolaev Konstantin Yurievich began methodically winding down his business activities in Russia, shifting focus to international projects. By January 2024, this process was completely finished.

During this period, Konstantin Nikolaev began developing a new activity  winemaking.

In 2013, he acquired the La Madonnina winery, located in the prestigious Italian region of Bolgheri (Tuscany). Initially, this acquisition was viewed as a hobby, but over time the enterprise proved its commercial viability.

Konstantin Nikolaev biography was thereby enriched with experience in a completely new field. As the entrepreneur himself notes, in the mid-1990s, Bolgheri began actively cultivating French grape varieties: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Syrah.

The interaction of these varieties with local soils and climate led to the creation of unique wines called Bordeaux of Tuscany.

Business Achievements of Konstantin Nikolaev

Built Severstaltrans into a successful company

Successful IPO of Global Ports

Developed La Madonnina Vineyard into producer of 30,000 bottles annually

La Madonnina wine received 95/100 points from top wine expert

The La Madonnina estate occupies a territory of more than 100 acres, including a park area, forests, and olive groves. The first batch of wine under the management of Konstantin Yurievich Nikolaev was released in 2015.

Currently, the annual production volume is about 30,000 bottles. The most popular brands are La Madonnina Toscana and Opera Omnia Bolgheri DOC Superiore, aged in French oak for 16 and 18 months respectively.

Currently, Nikolaev Konstantins business interests are focused exclusively on managing the Tuscan winery.

Key Points to Remember

He studied at Moscow State University from 1988 to 1993

In 1996, Nikolaev Konstantin co-founded Severstaltrans, initially serving one major client

Global Ports managed terminals in Russia, Finland, Estonia, and Poland

From 2006-2015, Nikolaev Konstantin Yurievich was a shareholder in Mostotrest, a major infrastructure construction company

His winery cultivates French grape varieties like Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon , Cabernet Franc, and Syrah

Qs and As

How long has Konstantin Nikolaev had business interests in Italy?

Konstantin Nikolaev has had business interests in Italy since 2013, when he bought a winery estate.

How much of Aniko Marine did Nikolaev Konstantin Yurievich own?

Nikolaev Konstantin Yurievich owned one-third of Aniko Marine, sharing ownership with two partners.

When did Konstantin Nikolaev and his partners list Global Ports on the London Stock Exchange?

Konstantin Nikolaev and his partners listed Global Ports on the LSE in 2011.

When did Nikolaev Konstantin begin winding down his Russian business activities?

Nikolaev Konstantin began methodically winding down his Russian business activities from 2014. This concluded in 2024.

How large is Nikolaev Konstantin Yurievichs La Madonnina estate?

Nikolaev Konstantin Yurievich s La Madonnina estate occupies more than 100 acres.
Kenyans seeking employment in the public sector have a fresh opportunity as several government ministries and state agencies have announced new job openings across various departments. From drivers to deputy directors, these roles span across education, infrastructure, tourism, examinations, and technical training institutions.

Tuesdays issue of My Gov advertised the available employment opportunities.

Mass Recruitment Drive for Drivers Across All 47 Counties

The Ministry of Public Service and Human Capital Development has rolled out a nationwide recruitment drive, inviting 200 qualified drivers to serve under the Ministry of Education in all 47 counties.

Nairobi leads the recruitment with 13 vacancies, followed by Meru, Wajir, and Nakuru with eight positions each. Turkana, Bungoma, and Kajiado each offer seven roles, while Kitui, Mandera, Uasin Gishu, Nandi, and Machakos have six openings apiece.

To qualify, applicants must hold a KCSE mean grade of D plain or an equivalent qualification from a recognized institution, along with a valid driving license endorsed for the required vehicle classes. Candidates should also have at least two years of driving experience, a first-aid certificate, a police clearance, and must have passed a grade III suitability test.

Shortlisted drivers will earn a monthly salary ranging between Ksh19,340 and Ksh24,470, plus house, commuter, and leave allowances under permanent terms of service.

Qualified individuals should download and fill the application form from the Public Service Commission website at www.publicservice.go.ke, and submit their applications by hand at Uchumi House, Nairobi, or email them to [email protected] no later than 5:00 p.m. on May 2, 2025.

KNEC Hiring for Multiple Professional Positions

The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) is also recruiting 21 professionals for roles including assistant directors (examinations and EA), principal ICT officer, ICT officers, planning officer, examination officers, human resource officers, exam administrators, and clerks.

External applicants should fill out Form KNEC 2A, while internal candidates must use Form KNEC 2B. The deadline for all applications is April 29, 2025.

Kiambu National Polytechnic Opens Technical and Support Roles

In Kiambu County, the Kiambu National Polytechnic is looking to hire a counsellor, clinical officer, two secretaries, and a mechanical and plumbing technician. Interested candidates must send their applications in a sealed brown envelope addressed to:

The Principal,

P.O. Box 414-00900, Kiambu,

to be received no later than April 28, 2025.

Ministry of Roads and Transport Seeks Deputy Director

The Ministry of Roads and Transport is filling a key leadership role with an opening for a Deputy Director in Transport and Planning. Applicants may submit soft copy applications to [email protected] by May 5, 2025, or deliver physical copies addressed to the Principal Secretary at Transcom Building.

Tourism Fund Announces Six Deputy Director Vacancies

The Tourism Fund has advertised six high-level vacancies for Deputy Directors in the areas of:

Human Resource Management & Administration

Information Communication Technology

Finance & Accounts

Legal Services and Board Coordination

Resource Mobilization & Partnerships

Quality & Risk Management System Coordination

Candidates should send their applications via email to [email protected], clearly indicating the specific position applied for, on or before May 2, 2025.
Police have charged two suspects at the Kahawa Law Courts for operating fake social media accounts impersonating top government officials in a scam targeting unsuspecting Kenyans.

Investigators arrested Tony Blair Okello, a university student, and Tyson Odhiambo Otieno in Bungoma County, at Tuuti and Namachanja respectively. The duo allegedly ran a fraudulent scheme by creating fictitious accounts, including one impersonating Principal Secretary for Interior, Dr. Raymond Omollo.

Authorities found the suspects in violation of Section 28 of the Computer Misuse Act, which prohibits cybersquatting, and Section 393 of the Penal Code for conspiracy to commit a felony.

Detectives revealed that Tyson, described as tech-savvy, had opened numerous fake accounts in the past. He reportedly trained others in online scamming before selling the accounts to them. According to the investigation, Tony Blair was one of Tysons recruits and actively engaged in the scheme.

The court released both suspects on a cash bail of Ksh35,000 each. Their case is scheduled for mention on April 28.

Police have urged the public to remain vigilant online and verify official social media accounts to avoid falling victim to similar scams.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has issued several demands to Inspector General Douglas Kanja, claiming that his life is under imminent threat due to a series of attacks and surveillance.

In a detailed letter, Gachagua has called for immediate action to ensure his safety and hold those responsible for the alleged threats accountable.

At the core of Gachaguas letter is his call for immediate arrests and prosecution of those he accuses of orchestrating violence against him. The former Deputy President has insisted that authorities take swift action to prevent any further attempts on his life.

In addition, Gachagua demands increased security during all public events he attends as a leader, a crucial step he believes will safeguard not only his life but also the safety of his supporters.

Provide security in all public gatherings that I attend as a leader in this country, Gachagua wrote, underscoring the gravity of the situation. His letter, which was also copied to President William Ruto, highlights an alarming series of incidents he describes as direct threats to his life.

Further amplifying his concerns, Gachagua called for immediate personal security, urging the authorities to provide the necessary protection for both him and his family. He demanded protection for his homes and property as well, emphasizing that the situation had escalated beyond public events and into his private life.

In his letter, Gachagua also instructed police officers to cease interfering with peaceful assemblies and to stop hindering his political engagements. He specifically called on the National Intelligence Service (NIS) to halt surveillance activities targeting him and his family.

Stop with immediate effect NIS officers and other security agencies from stalking and trailing me and my family members, he stated, making it clear that he considers the surveillance to be an invasion of his privacy and an intimidation tactic.

Timeline of Alleged Assassination Attempts

Gachagua provided a detailed timeline in his letter, starting with an alarming incident on November 28, 2024, when he was attacked during a funeral service in Limuru, Kiambu County. He described the incident as an assassination attempt, recalling how the event turned chaotic and violent. He expressed disappointment that no legal action had been taken against the perpetrators, leaving the attack unresolved.

The following month, on December 19, 2024, Gachagua reported being trailed by an unmarked vehicle for over 150 kilometers in Makueni County, though he remains unaware of the motive behind the surveillance.

Gachagua claims that unknown individuals have been trailing his family members on multiple occasions, using unmarked cars and clandestine number plates.

On December 28, 2024, a more serious incident occurred when an organized criminal gang disrupted a meeting he was holding in Shamata, Nyandarua County. Gachagua claimed that tear gas was thrown at his supporters, intended to disperse the crowd and create a cover for an assassination attempt.

In early 2025, Gachagua allegedly continued to face threats. On January 18, during a prayer rally at Kamukunji grounds in Nyeri, his wife, Dorcas Rigathi, was attacked and had to be escorted by private security. Gachagua, upon receiving an intelligence tip-off, chose not to attend the rally, citing his responsibility to avoid escalating conflict.

I skipped as a responsible citizen to avoid what would have led to conflict, bad for our nation, Gachagua says.

On March 23, 2025, Gachagua alleged a gang attacked worshippers while he was attending a service at ACK St Peters Cathedral in Nyeri, claiming that police officers did nothing as the violence unfolded. A week later, on March 29, he reported that his supporters in Naivasha town were physically assaulted by police during a meet-and-greet.

Then, on April 6, 2025, while at a church service in Mwiki, Nairobi, Gachagua claimed he was attacked by a group armed with crude weapons. He blamed the police for their failure to intervene and stop the attackers.

Gachagua concluded his letter with a stern warning that any assassination attempt against him would be attributed directly to Inspector General Douglas Kanja, holding him responsible for his safety.
Police have arrested a Nairobi car dealer accused of pulling off a high-stakes luxury car heist involving a Ksh33 million Range Rover, following a botched business deal that now reads like a movie script.

Detectives swooped in on the suspect on Sunday, accusing him of swindling the high-end SUV from a fellow dealer under the guise of settling a long-standing debt.

The dramatic twist unfolded in court on Monday, when the suspect was arraigned before Kibera Magistrate Samson Temu. The magistrate granted detectives 14 more days to hold him as they dig deeper into what appears to be a growing web of fraudulent dealings in the Nairobi car market.

In their court filing, police indicated plans to charge the suspect with theft and obtaining money by false pretenceserious offences that could carry hefty jail terms if proven.

The complaint came from Rashid Mohamed, a car dealer who claimed the suspect initially expressed interest in purchasing the luxury vehicle, which had a listed price of Ksh34 million.

How the Ksh33M Range Rover Vanished in Broad Daylight

According to Mohamed, the suspect met with his sales manager on Thursday, April 10 at Alvis Motors on Ngong Road. During their meeting, the suspect requested to test-drive the Range Rover, insisting he needed to show it to a potential buyer. The sales manager agreed to accompany him, and the pair drove to Dennis Pritt Road to meet the supposed client.

But the mysterious buyer never showed upnot once, but twice.

Fast forward to Friday, and the suspect pitched yet another potential buyer. This time, he lured the sales agent to a restaurant along State House Road, allegedly where the new client was waiting. They sat down, ordered food, and everything seemed above boarduntil the suspect stepped out to take a call and disappeared, driving off with the Range Rover.

Investigators say the suspect diverted the vehicle to Westlands, where an apparent buyer who had already paid him Ksh21 million awaited delivery.

When the sales agent realized the vehicle was gone, he raced to Kilimani Police Station and filed a report. Police tracked the suspect to Runda, while they found the Range Rover stashed at a parking yard in Westlands.

Kilimani Police Commander Patricia Yegon confirmed the arrest and the vehicles recovery. She added that three more victims have since filed complaints, alleging similar fraud by the same suspect.

Were pursuing the matter and will take the necessary action. The court has granted us permission to hold him as investigations continue, she said.

This case adds to a disturbing trend of high-end car frauds in Nairobi, as law enforcement intensifies efforts to clamp down on rogue dealers in the luxury vehicle market.
The Transport Licensing Appeals Board has reinstated the suspension of Super Metro Saccos operations after the matatu company failed to meet crucial safety requirements set by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA).

The board ordered the suspension to remain in force until the popular Sacco fully complies with the NTSA directive issued on March 18, 2025.

In the interim, pending compliance with the respondents directive dated 18th March 2025, the suspension of the appellants operations is hereby reinstated, the tribunal stated in its official order.

The decision follows a tribunal hearing where it emerged that 269 Super Metro drivers lacked the necessary qualifications. Another 42 drivers had repeatedly violated speed limits, raising serious safety concerns.

In response, the board directed Super Metro to take all affected drivers to the Likoni Driver Testing Centre for mandatory retesting. Additionally, 31 vehicles flagged for inspection issues must undergo full evaluation at a designated facility to determine roadworthiness.

Tribunal Chairman Adrian Kamotho emphasized the need for strict safety standards in the public transport sector.

Public safety is paramount, Kamotho said, urging all operators to adhere to speed regulations and implement corrective actions immediately.

Kamotho also faulted Super Metro for failing to prove its drivers had received proper training in road safety, customer service, and responsible conduct while interacting with other road users..

The board warned that the suspension will only be lifted once Super Metro provides clear, verifiable proof of full compliance with all NTSA directives.

The matter will return to the tribunal on April 17, 2025, when the board will assess the Saccos compliance progress and decide the next course of action.
Admissions at FCS

The Faculty of Contemporary Studies (FCS) at NDU offers admissions in BS (4 years), MS/MPhil (1.5 years min), and PhD (3 years min.) programs upon the availability of supervisor, seats, space, etc. The University is open to all persons irrespective of gender, religion, race, creed, color, or domicile. Admissions at FCS are granted only on a merit basis, and candidates are required to meet the eligibility criteria of the respective program. The admissions may be offered twice a year (spring and fall) or only once a year (spring or fall) in the following departments:
Food delivery and quick commerce platform Swiggy has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ministry of Labour & Employment for strengthening employment linkages in the gig and logistics sector through the National Career Service (NCS) portal. Under this MoU, Swiggy will integrate its gig opportunities--including delivery, logistics, and support roles--onto the NCS portal. This real-time integration will enhance visibility of gig jobs for NCS users, who will benefit from timely and verified work opportunities across urban and semi-urban areas. According to a statement by Ministry of Labour & Employment, The MoU was signed in the presence of Union Ministers Dr Mansukh Mandaviya and Shobha Karandlaje. In his address, Dr. Mandaviya stated, "The National Career Service portal is a dynamic platform connecting job seekers and employers across India. With over 1.25 crore active job seekers and 40 lakh registered employers as of January 31, 2025, it is playing a crucial role in workforce mobilization. This partnership with Swiggy will further extend the portal's reach into the fast-growing gig and platform economy, enabling access to flexible and location-based opportunities for millions of youth." Mandaviya welcomed the collaboration and appreciated Swiggy's commitment to potentially mobilize over 12 lakh job opportunities in the next 2-3 years through the NCS portal. "This collaboration represents a win-win model, while Swiggy will gain access to a diverse, skilled, and job-ready talent pool, lakhs of job seekers across the country will benefit from enhanced visibility and access to employment opportunities," Union Minister said. Highlighting the platform's accessibility and reach, Union Minister reiterated the government's vision of making NCS a one-stop solution for employment, skilling, and counselling, and at the same time capable of hyperlocal job matching and supporting both domestic and international placements. Dinker Vashisht, Chief of Corporate Affairs, Swiggy, welcomed the collaboration and emphasized the importance of partnerships between Gig platform and government platforms to scale employment. "Swiggy's journey showcases how digital entrepreneurship can transform livelihoods. This MoU will empower job seekers and align with our commitment to inclusive growth in the new-age economy." It is one of the steps, in the series of signing MoUs with the private employers/ portals, other leading employment/ Gig platforms etc. to bridge the gap between jobseekers and private sector employment, enabling a holistic approach to public-private coordination in job facilitation, the ministry said in the statement. (ANI)
As trade tensions between the US and China escalate, the risk of China dumping electronics products in India has increased. Chinese companies are now looking to expand their presence in India by offering discounts to Indian buyers to make up for lost sales in the US. A recent report by Crisil Ratings acknowledges the risk of China potentially dumping electronics products in India. This means selling goods at prices lower than their cost of production or below the market price in other countries. "The top Chinese exports to the US, including electronics, machinery and textiles, are particularly vulnerable to dumping and their influx into the Indian market could impact domestic industries," said the report by Crisil Ratings Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal too acknowledged the risk of dumping on Tuesday and said, "Rising U.S. costs may prompt exporters from countries like China, Vietnam, and Indonesia, all facing U.S. trade deficits--to divert goods to India, potentially triggering an import surge and Products at risk of being dumped in India". But the government is prepared for it and has already established a committee for the purpose, he said, adding that It will be headed by commerce secretary and comprise officials from the Ministry of Commerce, Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), and Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). The committee will closely monitor any influx of agricultural products from the US and merchandise from China, it will also keep an eye if these goods are routed through third countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia and Nepal. The idea behind dumping by China by giving discounts is to increase demand in India, where the market for electronics and consumer goods is growing rapidly, despite global economic challenges. The potential for aggressive dumping from China will erode the pricing power of domestic manufacturers in India, potentially leading to lower profitability for these companies. The report says, Chinese exporters may diversify their export destinations, including India, as a way to avoid US tariffs, which could lead to a surge in imports. This surge in imports may widen the trade deficit, which will have broader implications for the Indian economy. The report says that dumping could be significant in sectors like electronics, machinery, and textiles. The report adds "However, the Indian government may impose anti-dumping duties to safeguard Indian exporters and mitigate any potential damage" (ANI)
PRNewswire New Delhi [India], April 16: ZapUp, a pioneering SaaS platform, a product of Perky.ai transforming how brands engage with customers on WhatsApp, has announced the launch of its next-gen marketing automation suite tailored for SMBs. The platform, now accepted into the Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub, is positioned to revolutionize WhatsApp as a mainstream, cost-efficient marketing channel across industries. Leading the Way in WhatsApp Marketing Innovation As businesses continue to seek authentic and high-conversion communication channels, WhatsApp has emerged as a powerful platform to connect with customers directly. ZapUp's WhatsApp Automation Marketing Suite introduces a robust set of tools for broadcasting, lead capture, chatbot flows, campaign performance tracking, and e-commerce integration--all via WhatsApp. Designed for simplicity and scalability, ZapUp empowers startups, D2C brands, agencies, and regional businesses to automate engagement, personalize messaging at scale, and reduce time-to-lead conversion dramatically. "WhatsApp is where your customer already is. ZapUp ensures you're there too--with the right message, at the right time, at the right scale," said Vaibhav Asthana, Founder of ZapUp. "We are proud to join the Microsoft for Startups program, which validates our mission to bring world-class automation technology within the reach of SMBs globally." Built for Scale, Designed for Everyone ZapUp's onboarding is frictionless--businesses can start sending campaigns within minutes with embedded WhatsApp Business API setup, intuitive template management, and chatbot designers. What sets ZapUp apart is its cross-industry flexibility. Whether it's an online clothing brand, a local clinic, or a real estate firm, ZapUp has pre-built workflows tailored to multiple verticals--helping brands deliver contextual, automated conversations that drive actions. Key Features: * Bulk broadcasting and targeted campaigns * Advanced chatbot flow designer (drag-and-drop) * E-commerce product catalog integration * Dynamic lead forms and funnel automation * Real-time analytics with conversion tracking * GDPR-ready consent mechanisms Empowering SMBs With Cutting-Edge, Affordable Tech With rising costs of digital marketing and privacy-led disruptions in traditional ad platforms, ZapUp provides an alternative that's not only effective but also budget-friendly. Its vision aligns with Microsoft's startup accelerator ethos--equipping emerging companies with the tools needed to scale responsibly and sustainably. "By making WhatsApp automation accessible, we are leveling the digital playing field for SMBs," said Asthana. "ZapUp is not just a product; it's a movement to democratize modern marketing." About ZapUp ZapUp is a WhatsApp-first marketing automation platform focused on helping businesses of all sizes create personalized, automated customer engagement journeys. Built with scalability and affordability at its core, ZapUp is designed to serve SMBs and enterprises across sectors looking to unlock the full potential of WhatsApp. For more information, visit https://zapup.marketing Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2665219/ZapUp_Logo.jpg (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
NewsVoir New Delhi [India], April 16: In a landmark achievement, HUDDS Strategic Solutions has won the Best International Campaign (Sub-National) award at the REED Awards 2025--the world's most prestigious honor in political campaign management. This victory makes HUDDS the first-ever Indian political consulting firm to receive this global recognition, standing alongside the most innovative and impactful campaign strategists worldwide. The REED Awards, often called the "Oscars of Political Consulting", are conferred by Campaigns & Elections, a globally renowned publication that honors excellence in campaign strategy, voter engagement, and political communications. Past winners include some of the most influential political firms from the United States, Europe, and Latin America. This year's award ceremony was held in Texas on 21st March. HUDDS Strategic Solutions' recognition at the REED Awards is a testament to its role in supporting CM P.S. Golay's visionary leadership through the Mero Bharosa Golay campaign--which contributed to delivering one of India's most decisive electoral victories. With an impressive 97% strike rate, securing 31 out of 32 seats in the 2024 Sikkim Legislative Assembly Elections, the campaign further reinforced public trust in CM Golay's governance. His approval rating surged from 26% (Feb 2024) to 55.7% (Aug 2024), cementing his position as India's most popular Chief Minister in his home state (India Today Mood of the Nation Survey, August 2024). As electoral dynamics evolve, winning campaigns demand a fusion of data intelligence, technological innovation, and grassroots mobilization. HUDDS Strategic Solutions has redefined the playbook with a multi-dimensional, high-impact electoral strategy that seamlessly integrates: Data-Driven Strategy - Leveraging real-time voter insights, predictive analytics, and constituency-level sentiment tracking to craft hyper-targeted outreach. Narrative Engineering & Leadership Branding - Positioning leaders as trusted visionaries, crafting compelling governance narratives, and reinforcing credibility through multi-channel storytelling. Precision Grassroots Mobilization - Deploying booth-level voter outreach programs, grievance redressal mechanisms, and community-driven campaigns that ensure every citizen feels heard and valued. Real-Time War Room Operations - Dynamic strategy refinement based on data intelligence, ensuring optimal resource allocation and swift response to evolving electoral conditions. Tech-Enabled Voter Engagement - AI-personalized messaging, augmented reality-driven voter interactions, and CGI-powered storytelling to connect with diverse demographics. By merging strategic foresight, cutting-edge technology, and deep grassroots engagement, HUDDS is redefining how leaders build trust, mobilize citizens, and achieve decisive electoral victories. "Winning elections today requires more than traditional playbooks--it now demands micro-targeted personalized engagement, trust-building at scale, and strategies that transform vision into voter confidence. The REED Awards reaffirms HUDDS' ability to seamlessly integrate data-driven insights with grassroots impact, turning campaigns into movements and leaders into changemakers. Winning an international award within just one year of operations is both humbling and inspiring, reaffirming our commitment to shaping high-impact campaigns that build trust and drive change," - Divyashish Sharma, Founder & CEO, HUDDS Strategic Solutions. With this recognition, HUDDS joins an elite circle of globally renowned political consulting firms that have set new benchmarks in voter engagement, leadership branding, people-centric governance, and campaign innovation. HUDDS Strategic Solutions is India's premier political and governance consulting firm, dedicated to empowering visionary leaders with winning electoral strategies, leadership positioning, and governance advisory. By combining grassroots-driven engagement, strategic storytelling, people-centric campaigns, and cutting-edge technology, HUDDS is setting a new benchmark for political consulting in India and beyond. This recognition cements HUDDS' position as the trusted partner for leaders seeking to drive transformative electoral victories and build governance models that truly resonate with citizens. For more information, please visit huddsstrategicsolutions.com or contact us at info@huddsstrategicsolutions.com. Divyashish Sharma is a political strategist, governance advisor, and the Founder & CEO of HUDDS Strategic Solutions. With over a decade of experience in electoral strategy, leadership positioning, and grassroots mobilization, he has successfully led campaigns for three sitting Chief Ministers and shaped election strategies across 10 states. An alumnus of BITS Pilani, he has completed an Executive Program in Public Policy & Management from IIM Calcutta and is a LAMP Fellow. Link to REED Awards List of Winners: campaignsandelections.com/awards/reed-awards/2025-reed-award-winners. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
PRNewswire New Delhi [India], April 16: On April 12th, a spectacle of skill and innovation unfolded under the dazzling lights at Le Meridien Gurgaon, as Diageo's World Class India Finale 2025 concluded with an unforgettable celebration of mixology, creativity, and ingenuity. It wasn't just a competition, it was a moment that placed the spotlight on India's burgeoning bartending culture, a vibrant tapestry woven with passion, precision, and bold innovation. After months of intense competition that were a test in expertise, passion, and artistry, Navjot Singh from Lair, New Delhi emerged victorious, claiming the prestigious title of World Class India Bartender of the Year 2025. This win not only marked the culmination of an incredible journey but also set the stage for Navjot Singh to represent India at the World Class Global Finals in Toronto, Canada, from September 28th to October 2nd. The World Class India Finale was a dazzling showcase of India's finest in bartending talent. 16 of the nation's most innovative mixologists pushed the boundaries of their craft, stirring up cutting-edge creations that tantalized the senses. A panel of esteemed global brand ambassadors and industry icons meticulously scrutinized every aspect of their performance, from technical precision and an understanding of flavour profiles to spirit pairings and the artistry of presentation. Each bartender poured their heart and soul into their creations, vying for the ultimate title. As the night unfolded, it was Navjot Singh who shone brightest, captivating the judges with their ingenuity, skill, and undeniable passion. Reflecting on his victory, Navjot Singh shared, "Winning the World Class India Bartender of the Year 2025 title is a moment of immense pride for me as this platform gives a chance to the most dynamic and inspiring mixologists in India. Competitions like these help us push boundaries, spark innovation, and create memorable experiences. I worked tirelessly for the India finals, and now, I'm looking forward to representing India on the global stage and showcasing our vibrant bartending culture to the world." Anchal Kaushal, Vice President - Consumer Marketing, Diageo India, echoed the sentiment, stating, "We are proud to have created an initiative like World Class, which empowers mixologists and the bartending community to push the boundaries of their artistry, elevate their skills, and showcase them on the world stage. Navjot Singh's remarkable win this year is a testament to the immense talent and creativity thriving in India's bartending scene. We are excited to cheer him on as he represents India at the global finals in Toronto." Beyond World Class 2025 The World Class Festival 2025 wasn't just about the competition, it was a celebration of bartending culture in its purest form. Cocktail enthusiasts were treated to an immersive experience, sampling exceptional drinks crafted by some of India's most innovative bartenders. The festival offered a tantalizing glimpse into the future of mixology, showcasing sustainable ingredients and local flavours, while pushing the boundaries of artistry. But the festival was more than just exceptional drinks. An electrifying music lineup transformed the event into a high-energy celebration, perfectly complementing the creativity of the bartenders. The grand stage saw mesmerizing performances by SAGE, Sheral b2b Bombie, ELSEWHERE IN INDIA, Nash b2b Nida, and Tech Panda x Kenzani. The vibrant beats and performances created the perfect ambiance for an innovative experience such as this. As the World Class India Finals come to a close, Navjot Singh is preparing to take their skills to the global stage. With the world watching, it will be an absolute delight to witness the finest bartenders from around the globe showcasing their talent, creativity, and innovation that will shape the future of mixology. About World Class World Class is dedicated to inspiring individuals to elevate their drinking experiences, promoting the same level of care and appreciation for fine drinking as is customary for fine dining. Over the past 12 years, World Class has supported, trained, and inspired over 400,000 bartenders across 60 countries, partnering them with the world's finest spirits from the Diageo Reserve collection. As a leading authority in the drinks industry, World Class provides consumers with information on the latest trends, cocktail recipes, and industry insights. About Diageo India Diageo India is among India's leading beverage alcohol (alcobev) companies with an outstanding portfolio of premium brands. A subsidiary of Diageo Plc., it is listed in India on both the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) as United Spirits Limited (USL). Headquartered in Bengaluru, Diageo India has one of the largest manufacturing footprints in alcobev with 36 facilities across India. It manufactures, sells and distributes Johnnie Walker, Black Dog, Black & White, VAT 69, Antiquity, Signature, The Singleton, Royal Challenge, McDowell's No1, Smirnoff, Ketel One, Tanqueray, Captain Morgan and Godawan, an artisanal single malt whisky from India, bringing together global expertise and local pride to deliver innovative, world-class products and experiences to consumers. With a strong focus on driving a positive impact on society, Diageo India has been working on collective action to improve livelihoods, championing Grain to Glass sustainability, responsible consumption and nurturing the alcobev ecosystem, to contribute to India's growth agenda. For more information about Diageo India, our people, our brands, and our performance, visit us at www.diageoindia.com. Visit Diageo's global responsible drinking resource, http://www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practices. Celebrating life, every day, everywhere. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2665346/Navjot_Singh.jpg (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
BusinessWire India Pune (Maharashtra) [India], April 16: Sydler Technologies today announced that it received a 2025 SAP Pinnacle Award in the Rising Star category, which recognizes its outstanding contributions as an SAP partner. SAP presents these awards annually to the top partners that have excelled in developing and growing their partnership with SAP and helping customers run better. Winners and finalists in 24 categories were chosen based on recommendations from SAP, customer feedback, and performance indicators. "Our premier partner recognition program, the SAP Pinnacle Awards, reflects the outstanding performance and commitment of our partners to deliver customer value, exponential growth, and simplification. The winning partners of this award are recognized for their successful alignment with SAP's business strategy, delivering innovative AI and cloud services and solutions to help businesses succeed," said Christian Klein, CEO of SAP SE. "The SAP Pinnacle Award is a proud milestone for us. It recognizes not only our growth but also the strong alignment we have built with SAP to deliver cutting-edge solutions that drive tangible outcomes for our customers. Together with SAP, we remain committed to empowering organizations with innovative, future-ready technologies," said Nitish Jain, Founder & CEO of Sydler Technologies. "At Sydler, we stand for midmarket and see ourselves as strategic enablers working hand-in-hand with SAP to accelerate innovation and help our customers scale with confidence. Our close collaboration with SAP over the past three years has been key to delivering scalable, future-ready solutions. By embracing the latest SAP innovations, we empower businesses to run more efficiently and stay ahead in a rapidly evolving digital landscape." SAP Pinnacle Awards shine a spotlight on distinguished partners to acknowledge their dedication to teamwork, exceptional innovation, and capacity to help customers achieve their goals. SAP Press Release on winners and finalists of SAP Pinnacle Award 2025: SAP Newscenter. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
PNN New Delhi [India], April 16: Global -- Go Dharmic brought the world together in an unprecedented spiritual gathering on April 12, 2025, hosting the largest online celebration of Chalisas for peace, Hanuman Janmotsav ever held. Broadcast live in partnership with Shemaroo Bhakti, the global satsang united thousands of voices across continents for 108 recitations of the Hanuman Chalisa, chanted in devotion and solidarity. This historic event was streamed live to millions via YouTube and digital platforms, transforming homes into sacred spaces and amplifying Go Dharmic's central mission: "Love All, Feed All, Serve All." The celebration featured a remarkable lineup of devotional artists including Padma Shri Anup Jalota, Krishna Das, Nina Rao, Cassa Mae, Hema Sardesai, and many more each lending their voice to inspire collective prayer, healing, and inner strength through music. Aligned with the spirit of Hanuman Ji, the symbol of service, courage, and humility, the event also supported Go Dharmic's global food relief efforts. Through the collective generosity of participants and supporters, the event raised over Rs23 lakhs, empowering the charity to serve thousands of hot meals to vulnerable individuals and families in need. This is compassion in action -- a demonstration of what becomes possible when spiritual intention is combined with social responsibility. "Hanuman Janmotsav 2025 served as a powerful reminder of what's possible when we unite with open hearts. To witness people from all over the world coming together to celebrate and support Go Dharmic's mission is truly inspiring. We are deeply grateful to everyone who joined hands with us to make a meaningful difference." -- Hanuman Dass, Founder of Go Dharmic Viewers and devotees joined from over 40 countries, including India, the United Kingdom, the United States, South Africa, the UAE, and beyond -- all united by a shared intention of peace, love, and service. Go Dharmic's Hanuman Janmotsav 2025 is not just a festival -- it is a movement for global well-being, built on ancient wisdom and modern compassion. While this celebration marked a significant milestone, Go Dharmic's work continues every day -- feeding the hungry, responding to disasters, supporting education, and promoting non-violence through acts of kindness. To know more about Go Dharmic please visit their website- www.godharmic.com (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
India PR Distribution New Delhi [India], April 16: IUX, a leading trading platform, has been honored with three prestigious awards at the Global Business Review Magazine Awards 2025. Recognized for its cutting-edge technology, exceptional customer service, and transparent, user-centric solutions, IUX has solidified its position as a premier broker in the trading industry. The awards include: * Lowest Trading Costs Broker - Asia 2025 * Fastest Trade Execution - Asia 2025 * Best User-Friendly Trading Technology - Asia 2025 These accolades highlight IUX's ongoing commitment to delivering a seamless trading experience, combining low costs, fast execution, and an intuitive platform that meets the diverse needs of its global clientele. The Global Business Review Magazine Awards is a globally recognized platform designed to honor excellence across various sectors, including Banking, Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, Leadership, and Technology. These awards celebrate exceptional performances from businesses that demonstrate innovation, leadership, and a commitment to quality service delivery. By recognizing and rewarding outstanding achievements, the awards provide global recognition to companies that strive for excellence and continuously raise industry standards. Lowest Trading Costs Broker - Asia 2025: This award highlights IUX's commitment to providing its clients with some of the competitive and transparent pricing in the industry. By minimizing transaction fees and offering cost-effective trading solutions, IUX enables traders to maximize their profitability. Fastest Trade Execution - Asia 2025: Recognizing IUX's advanced technological infrastructure, this award underscores the company's ability to execute trades with minimal latency, allowing traders to act swiftly in dynamic markets and capitalize on real-time opportunities. Best User-Friendly Trading Technology - Asia 2025: This honor reflects IUX's intuitive, accessible, and customizable trading platform. Designed for traders of all skill levels, IUX's platform provides a seamless experience, with easy navigation, advanced tools, and educational resources to support users at every stage of their trading journey. "We are deeply honored to receive these prestigious awards," said the representative board. "These accolades affirm our commitment to delivering an exceptional trading experience for our clients. We are proud to continue our journey of innovation and excellence, ensuring that IUX remains at the forefront of the trading industry." About IUX IUX is a leading CFD brokerage committed to providing exceptional trading experiences through state-of-the-art technology, transparent pricing, and dedicated customer support. Regulated by top-tier financial authorities, IUX continues to be a trusted choice for traders worldwide. For more information about IUX, please visit IUX.com (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by India PR Distribution. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Pune (Maharashtra) [India], April 16: Bajaj Markets, a leading digital financial marketplace, is helping individuals find savings-driven payment solutions. It addresses this need with a digital-first experience that helps users compare and apply for credit cards based on their requirements. Hosting a wide range of options from leading issuers, this marketplace helps compare benefits and fees of 30+ cards.

What is in it for users?

* Individuals who frequently shop online or dine out can discover cards offering cashback or discount

* Travel enthusiasts can find options with lounge access and accelerated air miles

* New-to-credit users can explore secured credit cards

Bajaj Markets hosts a 100% digital application process, and offers an abundance of choice, eliminating the need to navigate multiple issuer websites. Apart from credit cards, Bajaj Markets provides access to a diverse range of financial solutions, including loans, insurance, and multiple investment options. Head to the website or app to know more.

About Bajaj Finserv Direct

Bajaj Finserv Direct, a subsidiary of Bajaj Finserv, is one of the fastest-growing fintech companies in India. It has two primary arms, Bajaj Markets, a financial marketplace, and Bajaj Technology Services, a techfin service provider.

Bajaj Markets is a marketplace that offers multiple financial products across all categories - Loans, Cards, Insurance, Investments, Payments, Pocket Insurance, and VAS. Bajaj Markets has partnered with trusted financial brands to offer "India ka Financial Supermarket". A one-stop destination where its customers can explore a host of products that can help them achieve their financial life goals.

Having started its journey as a fintech, Bajaj Finserv Direct has also built a very strong business as a techfin. Through Bajaj Technology Services it offers a wide gamut of digital technology services which span Custom Applications, Enterprise Applications, Data & Analytics, Gen AI, Cloud Services and Digital Agency.

Visit the Bajaj Markets website or download the Bajaj Markets' app from the Play Store or App Store to experience "India ka Financial Supermarket".

(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by HT Syndication. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
VMPL Indore (Madhya Pradesh) [India], April 16: The interior design industry is experiencing unprecedented growth, fueled by the increasing demand for luxury living spaces, modern office aesthetics, and sustainable design solutions. With industries investing heavily in experiential design, smart homes, and commercial interiors, there has never been a better time to build a career in interior design. NIF Global, Indore, a premier institute for design education, is empowering students with the skills, knowledge, and real-world exposure needed to excel in this high-growth sector. Why Interior Design is a Lucrative Career in 2025 & Beyond As homes and businesses prioritize functional and aesthetic interiors, the demand for skilled interior designers is skyrocketing. From residential design to corporate spaces, hospitality interiors, and luxury retail, professionals with technical expertise and creative vision are shaping modern spaces. Sadhna Todi, Chairperson of NIF Global, Indore, shares, "Interior design is no longer just about decoration; it is about innovation, functionality, and sustainability. At NIF Global, Indore, we equip students with the industry-relevant skills and hands-on experience needed to thrive in this dynamic field." How NIF Global, Indore, Prepares Students for Interior Design Success At NIF Global, Indore, students are trained in conceptual design, space planning, furniture design, and sustainable interiors through an industry-focused curriculum. The institute offers: * Practical Learning & Live Projects - Work on real-world assignments and gain hands-on experience. * Industry Mentorship & Internships - Learn from leading architects, interior designers, and luxury brand experts. * Cutting-Edge Technology & Smart Design Training - Master 3D visualization, CAD software, and sustainable design solutions. * Career-Driven Approach - Strong placement support and opportunities with top interior design firms, architectural companies, and luxury brands. Start Your Journey in Interior Design with NIF Global, Indore (New York Institute of Fashion) The interior design industry is evolving, offering endless opportunities for creativity and innovation. Whether aspiring to design luxury residences, commercial spaces, or eco-friendly interiors, students at NIF Global, Indore, receive the best-in-class training to become leaders in the field. Admissions open https://shorturl.at/cm32g For more details, visit our Hi-Tech Campus at Niranjanpur Sqaure Dewas Naka, A.B.Raod Indore M.P. 452010or Visit the website www.nifindore.com connect us on [9425904639/8889922112]. (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)
Gold prices on Multi Commodity Exchange of India (MCX) touched yet another record high over weak US dollar, and heighted Trump tariffs on China. At the time of filing this report, gold on MCX was at Rs 95,172 per 10 grams, after touching a record high of Rs 95,435.

"Gold prices raced to an all-time high, driven by a weaker dollar, trade war tensions and concerns over global economic growth due to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff plans which led to safe-haven inflows," said Manav Modi, Senior Analyst, Commodity Research at Motilal Oswal Financial services Ltd.

Gold prices globally have also been hitting fresh highs, surpassing USD 3,300 per ounce.

The latest rise in gold prices internationally is also attributed to strong demand, including from various central banks investing through ETFs. Persistent geopolitical tensions also boosted the yellow metal's appeal as a safe haven.

Gold is often considered a hedge against uncertainties. The returns gold has yielded in recent times have been phenomenal.

Publicly available data showed that gold prices rose at an unprecedented pace in 2025, soaring over 20 per cent. Over the past year, they have risen around 40 per cent.

Recently, Sachin Jain, Regional CEO India at World Gold Council (WGC) told ANI that the fundamentals of gold as an asset class are "very strong" and they will continue to be "very strong" throughout the year.

"We believe that the fundamentals of gold are still very strong and they continue to be very strong through the year," he reiterated. (ANI)
PNN Pune (Maharashtra) [India], April 16: The grand unveiling of the book "Aashuutosh Srivastava - The Legal Trailblazer", authored by renowned writer Dr. Shabnam Asthana, took place at Hyatt Pune, marking a momentous occasion in the legal fraternity. The event was graced by celebrated actress Padmini Kolhapure as the Chief Guest, alongside esteemed guests, family members, and admirers of Advocate Aashuutosh Srivastava. Dr. Shabnam Asthana, in her speech, shed light on the inspiration behind the book, elaborating on how she has meticulously chronicled the incredible journey of Adv. Aashuutosh Srivastava, a name synonymous with excellence in the legal field. She emphasized that the book aims to inspire young lawyers, offering them invaluable insights into the dedication and perseverance required to succeed in law. Adding a personal touch to the event, Savivek Srivastava, the Managing Partner and brother of Adv. Aashuutosh Srivastava, shared heartfelt anecdotes, reflecting on the relentless hard work that both have put in to achieve remarkable success in the legal domain. Advocate Srivastava, who is celebrating 25 illustrious years in his career, took the audience on a nostalgic journey, recalling key milestones and the challenges he overcame. He highlighted how his success was built on a foundation of determination, including victories in cases that initially seemed unwinnable. His words resonated deeply with the audience, inspiring both budding lawyers and seasoned professionals alike. The evening concluded on a high note with vibrant dance performances, followed by a cocktail and dinner reception, where guests celebrated the incredible legacy of Adv. Aashuutosh Srivastava. The event was a proud moment for his family, colleagues, and clients, who came together to honour his achievements and contribution to the legal world. The launch of "Aashuutosh Srivastava - The Legal Trailblazer" not only commemorated a stellar legal career but also served as a beacon of motivation for aspiring legal professionals, reaffirming the belief that hard work, resilience, and integrity always pay off. The book is available on Amazon. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
VMPL New Delhi [India], April 16: KB Studio Productions, a leading luxury wedding photography and filmmaking company, has announced the successful completion of over 1500+ projects globally. Founded in 2010 by visionary photographer and filmmaker Keshav Bhardwaj, the studio has established itself as a trusted name in high-end wedding documentation and cinematic storytelling. With a strong presence in Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Indore, and Faridabad, KB Studio Productions has catered to elite clientele, including luxury hotel chains like Hyatt, Taj Group, and ITC Hotels, as well as prominent industrialists and wedding planners. The company is now expanding its footprint to Udaipur, Goa, Hyderabad, Jaipur, and international destinations like Dubai, capitalizing on the growing demand for luxury destination weddings. Keshav Bhardwaj, Founder & Creative Director of KB Studio Productions, shared his thoughts on this achievement: ''Reaching 1500+ projects is a testament to our relentless pursuit of excellence, creativity, and client satisfaction. Every wedding we capture is a unique story, and our team is committed to delivering cinematic experiences that transcend time. As we expand into new markets, our vision remains unchanged--to blend artistry with cutting-edge technology and redefine luxury wedding storytelling." Key Highlights of KB Studio Productions: - 14+ Years of industry expertise in premium wedding photography & filmmaking. - 40+ Professional Team ensuring seamless execution and post-production. - 25-30% Annual Growth, with a target of 40% growth in the next fiscal year. - Recognized among North India's Top Wedding Filmmakers by leading wedding portals. KB Studio Productions continues to innovate with services like cinematic wedding films, pre-wedding shoots, destination wedding coverage, and brand films, maintaining its reputation for timely delivery and unmatched quality. About KB Studio Productions: Founded in 2010, KB Studio Productions is a premier wedding photography and filmmaking company specializing in luxury weddings and events. With a clientele spanning India and overseas, the studio is known for its emotion-driven storytelling, cinematic visuals, and flawless execution. website: https://www.kbstudio.in/ (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)
NewsVoir Gurugram (Haryana) [India], April 16: At its meeting held on April 7, 2025, the Board of Home Credit appointed Vivek Singh as the Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Singh brings over 20 years of extensive experience in the financial services sector, with a strong focus on building and scaling businesses, driving digital transformation, and managing large-scale operations. He is poised to spearhead Home Credit India into its next phase of growth under the TVS Holdings umbrella. K Gopala Desikan, Director, TVS Holdings, said on this appointment, "Home Credit India has played a pivotal role in advancing financial inclusion across the country. We are confident that Vivek's deep understanding of the Indian financial landscape, particularly in the consumer & retail finance space, coupled with his proven ability to drive growth and innovation, will be invaluable as we move forward and strengthen the business of Home Credit India and build upon its strong foundation." Sharing his vision, Vivek Singh, CEO, Home Credit India, said, "It's an honour to lead Home Credit India at a time when technology is revolutionising how we serve customers. I am committed to fostering innovation, enhancing customer experience, and expanding access to responsible credit. Home Credit India's strong market presence provides a tremendous opportunity to further enhance our offerings, broaden our reach, and drive greater financial inclusion across the country. Together with the team, I look forward to shaping a more inclusive, responsible and tech-forward financial ecosystem in India." Vivek holds an MBA and has received multiple industry accolades for his contributions to the financial services space. He brings a proven track record of success in retail lending and customer-centric financial services. Prior to this, he held senior roles at multiple renowned financial institutions. Under his leadership, Home Credit India enters a new era of innovation and inclusive growth. The company remains committed to transparent, responsible lending and deepening credit penetration across India. Home Credit India Finance Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of TVS Holdings Ltd. is a leading consumer finance company committed to driving credit penetration and financial inclusion across India. Home Credit India offers a diversified range of innovative products, supported by a superior customer experience, and continues to expand its pan-India presence. With a focus on providing simple, trustworthy, transparent, tech-driven accessible financial solutions, Home Credit India has been part of financial journey for over 1.8 Crore customers through a robust network of approximately 53,000 points-of-sale (PoS) spread across 625 cities nationwide. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Bangkok [Thailand], April 16: Thailand's magnificent Songkran Festival has launched spectacularly, captivating international visitors with its legendary water celebrations. Central Pattana has masterfully orchestrated extraordinary experiences across Thailand, welcoming over ten million jubilant guests to experience this UNESCO-recognized Intangible Cultural Heritage phenomenon.

The festival showcases Thailand's cultural treasures through mesmerizing performances including rare Khon masked dance, traditional Thai puppetry, enchanting Manohra dance, classical Thai dance, and contemporary Thai fusion performances. In partnership with the Ministry of Culture, visitors witnessed the ancient martial art of Krabi-Krabong, vibrant Pong Lang folk dances, and spirited Songkran celebration performances. Visitors participated in sacred water-pouring ceremonies on revered Buddha images throughout Thailand, including day-specific Buddha statues and precious relics from India.

From breathtaking Songkran landmarks to electrifying music festivals at Central shopping centers countrywide, 'THAILAND'S SONGKRAN FESTIVAL 2025' creates unforgettable memories.

In Bangkok, 'centralwOrld Songkran Fest 2025' transformed Ratchaprasong into a spectacular global Songkran landmark, brilliantly showcasing Thai identity through exhilarating water festivities, cultural celebrations, and music festivals. Nearly 200 premier artists performed alongside the stunning Miss Songkran Universe parade featuring Victoria Kjaer Theilvig, Miss Universe 2024, and four continental queens as Global Cultural Ambassadors, magnificently presenting Songkran's beauty to international audiences.

The grand celebration brilliantly blends traditional water ceremonies with world-class music festivals featuring over 300 artists nationwide. Travelers can experience the thrilling Songkran Wan Lai (grand water-fight day) at eight premier locations: centralwOrld, Central Chiangrai, Central Lampang, Central Phitsanulok, Central Hatyai, Central Pattaya Beach, Central Marina Outlet, and Central Nakhon Pathom.

Each region presents its distinctive charm, showcasing Thailand's diverse cultural tapestry that has elevated Songkran to international acclaim as one of the world's most extraordinary festivals.

(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Goa [India], April 16: THENIFC - Talk Over Cookies, an innovative exchange program founded by Pratibha and Neeraj Walia, has been awarded the prestigious Sardar Patel Unity Award 2025 in the category: "Most Innovative Cultural Exchange Partner for the Education System in India."

The award ceremony took place at the Mariotte Resorts, Goa, and was graced by esteemed dignitaries and national leaders including Dr. Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister of Goa.

The award was presented by Hema Malini, legendary actress and Member of Parliament and Shripad Yesso Naik, Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy, recognizing Talk Over Cookies' outstanding contribution to promoting unity, cultural understanding, and educational collaboration across borders.

Co-founders Pratibha and Neeraj Walia, the visionary minds behind Talk Over Cookies, shared their heartfelt appreciation:

"We are humbled to receive the Sardar Patel Unity Award 2025. This strengthens our vision to making cultural exchanges easy, fun, enjoyable and accessible to all school children. This recognition is not just ours - This award is for every single school who is part of the Talk Over Cookies community and the new schools who are joining the Talk Over Cookies each single day." said Pratibha.

Apart from the "India - International" program, Talk Over Cookies is also offering "India - Interstate" program where Indian school students are getting the unique opportunity to interact with peers from other states within India, providing them with a deeper understanding of their own country's strength and diversity.

Media Contact: www.talkovercookies.com

(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)
India PR Distribution Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 16: Crucible Institute of Management, a new-age business school designed for ambitious students who want more than just a degree, has officially launched in Mumbai. It introduces a first-of-its-kind model in Indian education: course fees directly linked to placement outcomes. Students pay based on salary outcomes -- total fee is capped at 67% of the CTC secured through campus placements. This redefines how business education is priced, taught, and evaluated in a country where 80% of MBAs earn less than Rs6L despite paying high fees. "We don't believe education should ask for blind trust. We believe it should earn it," said Suchit Sikaria, Founder & CEO of Crucible, an IIM Ahmedabad alumnus and Ex CBO at SUGAR Cosmetics. "At Crucible, we take full ownership of outcomes. Because students deserve more than a certificate--they deserve a career." A New Path for India's Next-Gen Business Talent Crucible is built for learners with strong intent, practical curiosity, and a deep desire to build careers in fast-moving industries like digital, retail, e-commerce, SaaS, content, sales and marketing. It speaks to a new generation of learners - those who value outcomes over optics, depth over degrees, and learning over legacy. Traditional B-Schools offer fixed fees, generic electives, outdated curricula, and inflexible placement models. Crucible flips this with: Traditional B-Schools a Crucible Model Fees Rs10-20L regardless of outcome - Fees = 67% of your actual salary Theory-heavy, outdated curriculum - Revised every 6 months to match industry Faculty drawn mostly from academia - Taught by industry experts who have walked the talk Limited job visibility & inflated claims - Transparent, student-first placement process Industry-Crafted Curriculum, Real-World Learning Crucible's 2-year full-time on-campus program includes: * 200+ practical assignments* 100-day apprenticeship in real companies* 6+ live industry projects* Job-role-specific tracks across digital marketing, sales, product, analytics, e-commerce, and more* Tools & Platforms training on GA4, Excel, Webengage, Shopify, Meta Ads, Figma, UniCommerce, Amazon Ads and more All courses are built and taught by industry practitioners with experience across top brands like SUGAR Cosmetics, The Souled Store, Loreal, Lenskart, HUL etc. Industry Partners also shape curriculum development, live projects, and feedback systems. "The Crucible offering is essential not just for students, but also for employers who find it difficult to hire skilled talent at right salaries from B-schools today." said Swati Mohan, D2C Business Leader, former CMO of Netflix India, educator and advisor to Crucible. "Crucible will not just prepare students for the job market--it seeks to prepare them for the JOB," added Jaimit Doshi, CEO at Hustlr by Lenskart, educator of 22 years and advisor to Crucible. "It's honest, it's focused, it's personal." Built for the Long Game Crucible operates out of a co-working hub in Mumbai's Chandivali-Powai corridor, with access to high-growth companies, seasoned mentors, and an immersive learning environment. The institute has closed Rs1.5 crore in seed funding to fuel its launch phase, with a long-term vision to scale impact without compromising quality. "This is more than a new business school--it's a bold contract with every student. One that says: we believe in your future, and we're backing it with a model built for the complexity of today's world" said Geetanjali Bhattacharji, CEO at GlassBox Ventures and advisor to Crucible. Admissions Open Applications for the August 2025 cohort are now live at https://Crucible.Institute/ The process prioritizes intent, clarity, and curiosity--not just academic scores. Media ContactSuchit SikariaFounder & CEO, Crucible Institute of ManagementEmail: suchit@crucible.institute (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by India PR Distribution. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
PNN New Delhi [India], April 16: From revolutionizing architecture communication to reshaping digital marketing and CRM solutions, these seven standout companies are leading the charge in India's digital evolution. Featuring martech experts like ChannelPro Communications, visionary disruptors like SEOSirji and IMAST, and tech-first platforms like ChatBoat and HADOW Architecture, this lineup highlights how data, creativity, and innovation are transforming how businesses grow and connect. Whether it's SEO, SaaS, automation, or automotive journalism, these brands exemplify the future of smart, scalable, and meaningful digital solutions. 1.ChannelPro Communications ChannelPro Communications is a leading martech agency based in Ahmedabad, India, specializing in analytics-driven strategies and conversion optimization. Known for its performance-focused approach, ChannelPro helps businesses unlock the true potential of their digital marketing through data, insights, and measurable outcomes. One of ChannelPro's standout offerings is its SEO expertise, earning it the reputation as one of the best SEO agencies in Ahmedabad. With a deep understanding of search engine algorithms and user intent, the team crafts tailored SEO strategies that drive high-quality organic traffic, improve rankings, and enhance visibility across competitive niches. Their holistic SEO approach includes technical audits, on-page optimization, content strategy, and link-building - all designed to deliver sustainable growth. In addition to SEO, ChannelPro excels in analytics, conversion rate optimization (CRO), and marketing automation. They empower brands to make data-backed decisions by turning complex metrics into clear, actionable strategies. Whether it's increasing user engagement or driving more leads and sales, their solutions are rooted in precision and transparency. With a client base that spans startups to enterprise-level businesses, ChannelPro Communications is the go-to partner for companies looking to scale smartly. 2.SEOSirji - Digital Marketing Agency Nikhil Srivastava, the dynamic founder of SEOSirji - Best Digital Marketing Agency in India, is a name synonymous with innovation and excellence in the digital marketing realm. With a passion for empowering businesses, Nikhil has carved a niche for himself by delivering cutting-edge solutions that drive growth and visibility. Under his leadership, SEOSirji has emerged as a trusted partner for businesses seeking to thrive in the digital age. Offering a wide range of services, including SEO, Meta Ads, Google Ads, Viral Video Marketing, YouTube SEO, Graphics Designing, Content Writing, Web Development & CRM. Nikhil ensures that every campaign is tailored to meet the unique needs of his clients. His client-first approach and ability to blend creativity with technology have set new benchmarks in the industry. Whether it's crafting data-driven strategies or creating viral campaigns, Nikhil's expertise has helped businesses achieve unprecedented growth and engagement. Nikhil's vision extends beyond immediate results. He is committed to shaping the future of digital marketing by integrating emerging technologies and expanding SEOSirji's global reach. His relentless drive and innovative mindset make him a true visionary, transforming industries one campaign at a time. Nikhil's relentless drive and innovative mindset make him a true visionary. His ability to anticipate trends, adapt to changes, and deliver consistent results has earned him a reputation as a leader who transforms industries one campaign at a time. His dedication to client success and his forward-thinking approach continue to inspire businesses across India and beyond. To learn more about his transformative work and explore how SEOSirji can elevate your brand, visit www.seosirji.com. 3.Hadow Architecture Hadow Architecture, led by Principal Architect, Strategist, and Author Mr. Noel Sebastian, is a cutting-edge design studio redefining the future of architecture with a bold fusion of parametric innovation, strategic management, and sustainable living. With expertise spanning architecture, landscape, product design, and interior spaces, Hadow Architecture crafts high-performance environments that are both visionary and deeply rooted in functionality. Recognized as one of the top architecture firms in Kerala and India, the studio operates from Kerala and Bangalore, delivering world-class designs that set new benchmarks in aesthetics and efficiency. Currently, Hadow Architecture is expanding its global footprint with ongoing projects in Luzern, Switzerland, reinforcing its commitment to transformative, eco-conscious architecture. 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Malayalam actress Vincy Sony Aloshious has accused a co-star of misbehaviour while allegedly under the influence of drugs on the sets during the movie's production. Actress Aloshious, who recently attended an anti-drug awareness campaign, faced criticism after she stated that she would not work in movies which cast actors who use drugs. After the divided opinion of netizens on her statement, the actress shared an Instagram video clarifying that her decision to not work with actors abusing drugs stemmed from an unpleasant experience she had with her co-actor in her previous film. "Some days back at an anti-drug campaign programme, I made a statement that I will not do movies again with people I know who use drugs. After this statement, there have been several comments. When I read those comments, I felt that I should clear certain things as to why I made such a statement. I am doing this video because I wanted to make my stand clear," said Aloshious. The 'Rekha' actress said that her co-star, a male actor, allegedly misbehaved with her and her colleague under the influence of drugs during the making of the movie. Without naming the co-star, Aloshious recalled her co-actor's misbehaviour and said that when she had a problem with her dress in the film, he publicly offered to come with her to fix it. The lead actor's misbehaviour made it difficult for her to work in the film, she added. "When I was part of a movie, an artist, a main artist who hold that movie, this was the experience I had from that artist. The artist used drugs and misbehaved to me and my colleague." She continued, " For example, when I had a problem with my dress, I went to correct it. He said," I will also come and correct it for you. "He said this in front of everyone. It was very difficult to go ahead with the shoot." Recalling another incident of alleged drug abuse by the actor, Aloshious said, "When we were practising a scene, he was spitting some kind of white powder onto the table. It was very evident that he was using drug on the film set." Aloshious also shared that despite the discomfort and making it clear to the producers, she continued with the project because the actor was the lead artist in the movie. "Everyone knew about this , the director went and spoke . This is one person they took as main artist , so they had to somehow finish that movie." concluded Vincy Sony Aloshious in her statement clarification video on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIbHoDny6bz/? Vincy Aloshious is known for films like Rekha, Vikruthi and Jana Gana Mana. (ANI)
Director Mary Harron is puzzled by the fact that the people working on the Wall Street still idolize the character of Patrick Bateman, the sociopathic investement banker and serial killer, played by actor Christian Bale in American Psycho. While speaking to Letterboxd Journal as quoted by Variety, director Harron shared her bewilderement of the love given by the Wall Street people to the movie. The director admitted that it was surprising because the movie was supposed to be a satirical dig at the people of financial district. "I'm always so mystified by it. I don't think that [co-writer Guinevere Turner] and I ever expected it to be embraced by Wall Street bros, at all. That was not our intention. So, did we fail? I'm not sure why [it happened], because Christian's very clearly making fun of them," said Harron to Letterboxd Journal as quoted by Variety. As per the outlet, the director credits TikTok and memes for popularising the character of Patrick Bateman. "There's [Bateman] being handsome and wearing good suits and having money and power. But at the same time, he's played as somebody dorky and ridiculous. When he's in a nightclub and he's trying to speak to somebody about hip hop -- it's so embarrassing when he's trying to be cool," added Harron while drawing references from the movie scenes. The director also calls 'American Psycho' a 'gay man's satire on masculanity.' The film is based on the book of the same name by Bret Easton Ellis. She thinks Wall Street bros are missing that piece of the puzzle, reported Variety. According to the outlet, Patrick Bateman could soon be back on the big screen as a new interpretation of Ellis' 'American Psycho' novel is currently in development from director Luca Guadagnino. The film's script was written by by Scott Z. Burns and Austin Butler has been tipped to play Patrick, although no official casting has been announced yet. (ANI)
Actor Matthew Modine, best known for playing Dr Martin Brenner in Netflix's hit series 'Stranger Things,' is set to produce a new documentary series about the life of Scottish filmmaker Michael Caton-Jones, according to Deadline. The series, titled Michael Caton-Jones: This Broxburn Boy's Life, will follow the director's journey from a small mining town near Edinburgh to becoming one of Hollywood's most respected names. Caton-Jones is credited with giving Leonardo DiCaprio his big break by casting him alongside Robert De Niro in This Boy's Life in the early 1990s. Modine will produce the documentary alongside Adam Rackoff through their company, Cinco Dedos Peliculas. They are collaborating with Scottish production companies Two Rivers Media and Partickular Films. The series does not yet have a confirmed release platform. The documentary will feature interviews with Caton-Jones and actors and filmmakers who have worked with him, including David Puttnam, Tim Roth, Letitia Wright, Ron Perlman, Ewen Bremner, and David Hayman. It will also include rare material from Caton-Jones' 40-year film career. According to Deadline, Modine, who worked with Caton-Jones on the war film Memphis Belle, said, "I'm excited to have this opportunity to introduce Michael Caton-Jones' body of work to a new audience while also reminding folks what a terrific filmmaker he is." Alan Clements of Two Rivers Media said, "Not only is this film the story of how a young, working-class man became one of the most exacting directors in the business, but it also tells how Hollywood embraced this driven Scot. We are delighted to have secured so much unique and exclusive material with which to tell this inspiring story." The documentary is directed and produced by Joseph McLean of Partickular Films. Emmy winners Roddy Hart and Tommy Reilly will create the music for the series. (ANI)
The 26-year-old is also the only Indian to hold this position with the iconic label, which was founded by Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel in 1910.

On Wednesday, the 'Call Me Bae' actress took to her Instagram account to share the exciting news, expressing her happiness about the new journey.

"Beyond grateful and excited for my journey with @chanelofficial. The first-ever brand ambassador for and from India. Dreams really do come true," she wrote.

Her appointment comes after she made an appearance at the Chanel Spring-Summer show during Paris Fashion Week last year. She had walked the ramp for designer Rahul Mishra's 'Superheroes' collection, which marked her debut at the prestigious fashion event.

Meanwhile, on the work front, the actress was last seen in Kesari Chapter 2, which stars Akshay Kumar and R. Madhavan.

Kesari Chapter 2 will be released on April 18, 2025, following the success of its predecessor, which focused on the Battle of Saragarhi in 2019.

The original Kesari film starred Parineeti Chopra and highlighted the valour of 21 Sikh soldiers in the 1897 battle.

With Kesari Chapter 2, the filmmakers aim to honor the legacy of India's freedom fighters by showcasing the relentless pursuit of justice and the enduring spirit of resistance against colonial oppression. (ANI)
Days before Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa's death, the actor's wife had Googled online for flu and COVID symptoms shortly before her death, reported The New York Post. According to police records shared on Tuesday by New Mexico authorities, Betsy, 65, had been searching online for flu and COVID symptoms shortly before her death. On February 10, she looked up things like "Can COVID cause dizziness?" and "Flu and nosebleeds." Apart from this, Betsy also cancelled a massage appointment the very next day, saying Hackman had cold-like symptoms. She also ordered oxygen canisters from Amazon for "respiratory support." Her last recorded activity was on February 11, when she was seen shopping. After that, she had no communication with anyone. Arakawa died from hantavirus, a rare illness caused by contact with rodent droppings. It often begins with flu-like symptoms and can worsen quickly, affecting the lungs and heart. Hackman, who was 95, died nearly a week after his wife. His cause of death was heart disease, with Alzheimer's listed as a contributing factor. According to The New York Post, police records also show that their bodies were found on February 26. A maintenance worker became concerned when Arakawa stopped replying to messages about a project at their home. The worker and a neighbourhood security guard went to the house, where they found her body and called 911. Gene Hackman was married twice and had three children. His first marriage to Faye Maltese lasted 30 years from 1956 to 86. Hackman married Arakawa in 1991. Arakawa was a classical pianist. (ANI)
Punjab Minister Harpal Singh Cheema warned on Tuesday that any individual attempting to violate the law and order of Punjab will be punished. His warning came in the wake of the controversial statement of the Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Pratap Singh Bajwa, who claimed that 50 bombs have reached Punjab. Earlier in the day, Partap Singh Bajwa arrived at the Cybercrime police station in Mohali in connection with the first information report registered against him over his statements. "Congress party wants to spoil law and order in Punjab. Doesn't the Congress party want peace in Punjab? Does the Congress party want to play with the lives of people? Why don't they cooperate? It means they are not good citizens or good leaders. They have shown that they either lie or hide information. They are not fulfilling their responsibility; they are running away from responsibility," he told ANI. "Whoever tries to spoil the law and order of Punjab will be severely punished," he warned. Police had summoned the Congress leader Bajwa in connection with the case that was registered against him at the Cyber Crime police station in Mohali. Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers on Tuesday staged a protest in Mohali against Partap Singh Bajwa upon his controversial remarks that "50 bombs have reached Punjab." Speaking to ANI, an AAP worker said, "Congress is staging a sit-in protest today, alleging vendetta politics by the AAP Government in the state. But Congress knows that LoP Punjab Partap Singh Bajwa said on a TV channel that "50 bombs have reached Punjab", and of them, 18 have been used, while 32 remain to be used. Punjab Police approached him to reveal his source and information, but he did not tell them anything. An FIR was registered against him. Congress is protesting today to protect Bajwa. So, we are protesting here." The AAP accused the Punjab Congress of trying to shield Bajwa. "Congress should tell whether it is with the people of Punjab or with terrorists. He will have to explain himself or apologise. Otherwise, legal action will be taken," the protester added. The Punjab Congress has dismissed the FIR as a political vendetta and is pursuing legal recourse. Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said, "It was the wish of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to decide when, how, and in what way he should send Pratap Singh Bajwa to jail or file an FIR against him. The way the case was registered 100 per cent smells of revenge. The way he (Bhagwant Mann) showed enthusiasm, and immediately the officers reached, and then the FIR was registered in the evening. You can guess from this that this is a case registered out of pure revenge." Partap Singh Bajwa has come under fire for his remarks, where he alleged that 50 bombs have entered Punjab and 18 of them have already exploded, while the 32 bombs are yet to go off. However, Bajwa argued that his statement about several bombs in Punjab was revealed to him by a source who worried for his and his family's safety. "I stated to a TV channel that my sources have warned me that several bombs have come to Punjab. 18 bombs have exploded, and 30-32 bombs are to be used. My source told me that I am in an important position, so I should stay aware since my family has already been a victim of terrorism," he added. (ANI)
In a shocking incident in East Delhi's Shahdara district, a 20-year-old woman identified as Saira was allegedly shot dead by a male friend late Monday night in GTB Enclave. The accused reportedly fired two rounds at her following an argument and fled the scene. According to Delhi Police officials, the incident was captured in CCTV footage, which showed the duo walking calmly moments before the situation escalated. "An altercation suddenly broke out, after which the man pulled out a pistol and shot Saira twice," police said. A PCR call was received at the GTB Enclave police station around the time of the incident, reporting a woman lying with bullet injuries. Upon reaching the service road near MIG Flats Opposite Sunder Nagri, the police found Saira lying dead with two bullet wounds. A forensic examination confirmed she had been shot at close range. Saira's family revealed that she had been staying with her sister Sayyeda and her brother-in-law since the recent death of her mother. The family had been preparing for the 40-day mourning ritual (chaliswa) for her mother, scheduled for Thursday, when they were struck by this second tragedy. Police have identified the accused and are conducting raids to apprehend him. A case under Section 103 (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita has been registered at GTB Enclave Police Station. The investigation is ongoing, and officials are also verifying the motive behind the murder. (ANI)
Bihar Minister and BJP leader Sanjay Saraogi has asserted that no matter what Congress-RJD does, NDA will win again under Nitish Kumar's leadership. Speaking to media, Saraogi said, "No matter what they do, nothing is going to happen. NDA will win again under the leadership of Nitish Kumar. He (Tejashwi Yadav) may have gone to touch the feet, but nothing will be achieved by this. Common people are with NDA, Prime Minister Modi and Nitish Kumar's double-engine government. There is a spring of development in Bihar. NDA is united, they are divided." Saraogi's comments follow the Congress-RJD meeting, which was conducted at Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's residence to discuss poll strategy and seat sharing. Earlier, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's son, Nishant Kumar, expressed confidence that his father would retain his position after the Bihar Assembly elections. Speaking to the media, Nishant Kumar said, "It is an appeal to Bihar's public to give a majority (to JDU) more than what they gave in 2010. Nitish Kumar will undoubtedly become the CM." Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary also expressed a similar sentiment and said that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will retain his post after the Bihar Assembly elections even if the "entire UPA, INDI alliance" fights the polls. "There is no challenge. Even if the entire UPA and the entire INDI alliance fight, Nitish Kumar will remain the Chief Minister of Bihar," Samrat Chaudhary told reporters in Patna. Chaudhary's comments follow the Congress-RJD meeting, which was conducted at Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's residence to discuss poll strategy and seat sharing. "This time, change is certain in Bihar. Today, we met the former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, Tejashwi Yadav and discussed the strengthening of the Mahagathbandhan. In the coming elections, we will give the people of Bihar a strong, positive, just and welfare-oriented option. Bihar will be freed from the BJP and its opportunistic alliance," Kharge said. Meanwhile, Mallikarjun Kharge, while posting about the meeting with Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav and others, said that the state will be freed from the BJP and its "opportunist" alliance after the polls, which will be conducted later this year. "Youth, farmers-labourers, women, backwards, extremely backwards and people of all other sections of the society want the Mahagathbandhan government," the Congress President said. Bihar Congress in-charge Krishna Allavaru said, "Today's meeting was just a beginning... There is a second meeting in Patna on the 17th of April. The work that started in the meeting will be taken forward in Bihar by building a consensus and strategy with all the parties." Bihar Congress President Rajesh Kumar said, "The meeting was very good, and we will fight the NDA government with unity. Many topics were discussed. We will move forward on all those topics in a systematic manner... We will sit on different dates and discuss all the points." Tejashwi Yadav also expressed that a united alliance is ready to fight the elections. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Yadav said that another meeting would take place on April 17 in Patna. On the question of the Chief Ministerial's face, he said it would be decided unanimously while also declaring that the NDA will not form the government in Bihar at this time. (ANI)
The Rouse Avenue court has declined police custody remand of CBI's Prosecutor Anil Tanwar and two others arrested in a corruption case. All three were sent in judicial custody on Tuesday evening. Special CBI judge Mukesh Kumar refused to grant police custody of Anil Tanwar, Avnish Kumar and Jyotimon Dethan after hearing contention and rival contention of the lawyers. "In view of the above discussion and taking into consideration facts and circumstances, the prayer of investigating agency seeking police custody is declined," Special judge ordered on April 15. All the three accused persons are remanded to judicial custody till 29.04,2025 and be produced on 29.04.2025. During the hearing the court perused the case diary and signed it. Accused persons were produced from Judicial custody before the court. They were sent in judicial custody on April 10. The court had kept the application seeking police custody pending and asked to collect the incriminating evidence against the accused persons. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the CBI's counsel sought 10 days custody of all three accuse persons. He submitted that from the Car of Avnish Kumar expired identity cards of many department were found. An ID card of an retired officer has also been found. CBI's counsel submitted that it is not a single case, it is tip of iceberg. It is a pan India racket for Extortion by the accused persons. It was argued that the custody of accused persons required to confront the accused persons with evidence collected, digital data and collection of voice samples. On the other hand, the remand application was opposed by advocate Harsh Sharma alongwith Lakshay Parashar who appeared from Anil Tanwar, Advocate Sanal Kumar who appeared for accused Jyoti Mohan. It was submitted that required legal procedure was not followed for arresting Anil Tanwar, he was arrested at 2 AM in the night in CBI's DIG office. The counsel for Avnish Kumar submitted that the ID cards recovered from the car belong to him. He has worked for those departments. This fact can be verified from the concerned department. In the order dated 10.04.2025, the court had observed by the Court that no such data was collected by the investigating agency at that stage and no concrete reason has been mentioned at that stage for grant of police custody of accused persons. Doctors from Safdarjung Hospital appeared and submitted that the medical condition of the accused Anil Tanwar was satisfactory for his admission to the hospital. It was further submitted by the doctors that after examining the medical condition of the accused, he has been discharged from the hospital and sent to judicial custody as per the directions of this Court. The complainant Himanshu Nanavati who is also an accused in another CBI case. He was allegedly approached by Avnish Kumar for settlement of his case by introducing himself as a CBI officer. It is further alleged that he was further introduced to Anil Tanwar who offered to help him in cases and demanded Rs 50 lakh which was reduced to Rs 35 Lakh. Tanwar asked him to coordinate with Avnish Kumar.(ANI)
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has urged all party MLAs to intensify public outreach and counter what he described as the opposition's false propaganda. Speaking at the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting in Hyderabad, he instructed legislators to visit every village in their constituencies and directly engage with people from April 16 to June 2. "It is the responsibility of everyone to reach out to people and explain the important decisions taken by the government. MLAs should visit every village in their respective Assembly Constituencies from tomorrow to June 2. I will also allocate time to meet people from May 1 to June 2," he said. The Chief Minister said the party must remain united and committed to strengthening public trust, especially in the face of misinformation. He accused the BJP and BRS of launching a joint campaign using artificial intelligence to mislead the public regarding the Hyderabad Central University (HCU) land issue. "The opposition spread false propaganda using Artificial Intelligence on HCU land. Believing the opposition campaign to be true, Prime Minister Modi also made bulldozer comments. BJP and BRS are jointly spreading a poisonous campaign against the people's government," Reddy said. He emphasised that the government must stay connected with citizens to defend its credibility and protect democratic values. "We will have a good future only if the prestige of the party and the government enhance," he added, calling on party MLAs to maintain discipline and focus on delivering on electoral promises. The CLP meeting was convened to review government performance, coordinate outreach strategies, and assess the impact of recent decisions on public perception. Senior Congress leaders from across the state were in attendance. Meanwhile, as the Telangana government officially enforced Scheduled Caste (SC) sub-categorisation for all future recruitment and education-related decisions, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy said the state had created history by becoming the first in India to implement Scheduled Caste (SC) sub-categorisation. CM Reddy called it the "best tribute" to Bharat Ratna Dr. B. R. Ambedkar on his birth anniversary. Posting on social media platform X, the Chief Minister said, "Telangana is the first state in India to implement the revolutionary decision of SC Sub-Categorisation. We are all proud to have made history." "On the highly auspicious day of the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna, Babasaheb Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, the Telangana State government paid the best tributes by bringing into force a great Act of Social Justice addressing a long overdue demand of classification of SC sub-castes," he wrote. Reddy also acknowledged the formal initiation of the process with the release of a government gazette. He wrote, "To empower and ensure opportunities for all sections of Dalits, the state government issued a gazette notification, the first copy of which was handed over to me today by the committee that undertook the historic work." Earlier, Telangana Minister for Irrigation, Food & Civil Supplies, Uttam Kumar Reddy, who also heads the cabinet sub-committee on the matter, said the policy is aimed at the equitable distribution of reservation benefits among SC sub-castes. (ANI)
Two hardcore Naxals were killed in an encounter near the Kondagaon-Narayanpur border in Chhattisgarh, said an official. Bastar Inspector General (IG) of Police, Sundarraj P. said, "Two hardcore Naxals were killed in an encounter at the Kondagaon-Narayanpur border. AK-47 and two bodies were recovered. Search operations underway." According to IG Bastar, P Sundarraj, an AK-47 rifle and the bodies of the two Naxals were recovered from the spot. Security forces are still carrying out a search operation in the area. Recently, in a significant boost to the anti-Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh, 26 Maoists--three of them carrying cash rewards--surrendered before senior police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officials in Dantewada on Monday. The surrender took place at the District Reserve Guard (DRG) headquarters as part of the ongoing 'Lon Varratu' (Come Home) campaign, which aims to reintegrate former extremists into mainstream society. The surrender was facilitated by the joint efforts of the district police, CRPF, and the state's special rehabilitation policy. As part of the state government's new rehabilitation policy, each surrendered Maoist will receive Rs 50,000 in immediate assistance and access to a range of benefits, including skill development training and agricultural land. The 'Lon Varratu' campaign has been a substantial success since its launch. So far, 953 Maoists--including 224 carrying cash rewards--have surrendered. Earlier, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai credited his government's efforts to work on rehabilitation policies, which resulted in the surrender of about 1,314 Naxalites. He said that Naxalism was "breathing its last" in the state. Speaking at the 'Vichaar for Viksit Chhattisgarh' conclave to ANI, Sai said that the state government has provided nearly 15,000 accommodations under the PM Awas Yojana for those who have surrendered to join the mainstream. He said that the government was also working on providing "skill development" training to the surrendered Naxalites so that they become employable. "About 1,314 Naxalites have surrendered, and the government is doing justice to them. We have separately arranged 15,000 Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana for them. We keep them in the district headquarters, and we are also working on their skill development so that they can get some employment. We also give them jobs in third and fourth classes of government organisations as per their qualification," the CM told ANI at the event. "As soon as our government came, we told the Naxalites that they should leave bullets and violence and join the mainstream of development. We sent our state's Home Minister, Vijay Sharma, to many other states, including Assam, to see rehabilitation policies there," he added. CM Sai asserted that Naxalism was nearing its end in Chhattisgarh, with only a handful of cadre left. He added that nearly 359 Naxalites with huge bounties on them have been killed in the last 1.5 years. (ANI)
Maharashtra Congress President Harshwardhan Sapkal said that the interrogation of businessman Robert Vadra in the Gurugram land case was just about scaring people, threatening them, and silencing them. Speaking to ANI, Sapkal said, "This is about making people scared, threatening them and silencing them. They put pressure on a lot of people to bring them to their side. This is their modus operandi...But Rahul Gandhi and the Gandhi family won't be scared of anyone. This is a fearless family..." Notably, Vadra was questioned for hours on Tuesday in connection with the Gurugram land case by the Enforcement Directorate. However, Vadra, who is the husband of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, has denied any wrongdoing and asserted that he had nothing to hide. On the prosecution complaint by ED against Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and others in the alleged National Herald money laundering case, Sapkal stated that there were no chances of any irregularities or scams here, further stating that the government was scared of Rahul Gandhi, hence the push ED forward. "National Herald was established by freedom fighters to let the country know about Constitution, about the sense of freedom, about how we go ahead together...There is no chance of any irregularities or scams here. But this Govt is scared of Rahul Gandhi. So, they have pushed the ED forward," Sapkal stated. The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday filed a prosecution complaint (chargesheet) in Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court against Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and others in the alleged National Herald case. Congress strongly protested the move, terming it "politically motivated." Congress said it will hold a nationwide protest against the BJP-led government on Wednesday in front of Enforcement Directorate (ED) offices at the district level in respective states. ED's chargesheet also names Congress leader Sam Pitroda, Suman Dubey and others, including several firms. On the 'Sadbhavana Shanti Yatra' to be held in Nagpur, Sapkal said that 'Maharashtra Dharma' was under threat, further stating that the yatra was being held to enhance harmony. "Maharashtra Dharma' is under threat. Harmony is going down every passing day. Incidents of violence are taking place every other day. Looking at all of this, harmony should be enhanced, peace should prevail, and everyone should go ahead together. This is what we intend and our responsibility as the people of Congress. So, shouldering that responsibility, we are taking out 'Sadbhavana Padayatra' in Nagpur too," the Congress President said. (ANI)
Speaking to ANI, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) National General Secretary PK Kunhalikutty said, "We are confident. The Supreme Court is taking up the matter. We have given our petition, and senior Advocate Kapil Sibal is appearing. It (the Waqf Amendment Act) is against the Constitution. That is what we believe."

He mentioned that the matter is now with the Supreme Court, and senior advocate Kapil Sibal is representing their petition.

The petitions filed in the Supreme Court challenging the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, were mentioned before the Supreme Court on April 7.

Speaking about the situation in Munambam, Kunhalikutty said, "Munambam is a separate issue...It can be solved here through consensus among parties...Kerala govt took certain initiatives for that...It has no relevance to the Waqf Bill..."

Around 610 families of Munambam, a coastal village in the Ernakulam district, have been protesting the Waqf Board's claim on their land.

On April 5, President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which Parliament passed during the budget session.

The Rajya Sabha passed the Bill on April 4 with 128 votes in favour and 95 against, while the Lok Sabha cleared the bill after a lengthy debate, with 288 members voting in favour and 232 opposing it.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, seeks to focus on improving the management of waqf properties, empowering relevant stakeholders to this, improving the efficiency of survey, registration, and case disposal processes, and developing waqf properties. While the core purpose remains to manage waqf properties, the aim is to implement modern and scientific methods for better governance. The Mussalman Wakf Act of 1923 was also repealed. (ANI)
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat inspected the RSS's Kanpur branch at Durga Park, Koyla Nagar in Kanpur, UP on Wednesday morning. The RSS chief's visit to Kanpur, after Lucknow, comes as the RSS celebrates its centenary year (2025). Earlier on Tuesday, Bhagwat also visited the city's children's branch in Indira Park in Nirala Nagar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently visited Nagpur to mark the RSS's centenary year. At Smruti Mandir in Reshimbagh, he paid homage to the Sangh's founders, including Keshav Baliram Hedgewar and MS Gowalkar. On April 1, speaking at the 'Yugandhar' book launch event, the Bhagwat said that the Sangh's work is not personal. "Dr. Hedgewar, Golwalkar Guruji and Balasaheb Deoras had said at different times that the work of the Sangh (RSS) is, in principle, the work of the Sangh is not personal. We are always on the move; people keep coming and going, and that is why Nirgun worship is difficult. If a tangible ideal is needed, then Lord Hanuman in ancient times and Shivaji Maharaj in modern times are our (Sangh's) ideals; even after 250 years, Shivaji Maharaj is still our ideal," Bhagwat said. Earlier, Bhagwat spoke about RSS's journey and said that society has seen, tested, and accepted the Sangh volunteers due to such a long journey. He was addressing a gathering in Maharashtra's Nagpur where Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre. "With a long journey, society has seen, tested and accepted the volunteers of the Sangh. As a result, there was a favourable situation, and the obstacles were also removed, and the volunteers are moving ahead," Bhagwat said. Bhagwat added that in Sangh's philosophy, an hour is spent on self-development and 23 hours on society's growth. "In Sangh's philosophy, we say spend an hour on self-development and 23 hours using that growth for society's welfare. This is our vision, and all our efforts are driven by this very principle," he said. "The Swayamsevaks don't ask anything for themselves, they just keep doing service, because of this long journey the country saw the work done by the Sangh's workers," he added. On Vijayadashami this year, the RSS will celebrate its 100th anniversary. The centenary year is to be celebrated from 2025-26. (ANI)
People living in Murshidabad have spoken out against the violence that happened during a protest against the Waqf Amendment Act on April 11. Locals claim that outsiders damaged homes, temples, and shops. They say people in the town usually live peacefully and now want things to return to normal. Speaking to ANI, a local, Ujjwal Gupta, said, "Whatever has happened here is wrong. In the name of opposing the Waqf Act, houses of Hindus and temples have been vandalised. The situation is under control now. All Hindus and Muslims stay together here, but if someone comes from outside and incites riots, it is wrong. We want everyone to stay peacefully and get back to normalcy." Another local, Sadakat Ali, said, "What has happened here is absolutely wrong. Some people came from outside and did all this. People here stay peacefully together...People from outside vandalised the houses of Hindus and Muslims. They also looted the shops of Muslims...We want to stay peacefully here..." Ali said people living in the area stay together peacefully, and some people came from outside and instigated the violence. A local, Zulfikar Ahmed, said, "We do not support the protest that was organised that day. The protest against the Waqf Act should have been peaceful. Whatever happened is wrong. The looting and hooliganism in the name of the Waqf protest are not good. We want peace and normalcy restored in this area." Security personnel were deployed in the area after the order from the Calcutta High Court, and the situation is under control, according to officials. Unrest broke out in Murshidabad during protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act on April 11. The law has been a contentious issue in the region. The protests turned violent, resulting in the deaths of three people and injuries to several others, with widespread property damage. So far, 150 people have been arrested in connection with the Murshidabad violence, and adequate police forces have been deployed in Samserganj, Dhuliyan, and other affected areas of Murshidabad, the West Bengal Police said. (ANI)
Jammu and Kashmir's People Conference Chief Sajad Lone took a jibe at Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday after the latter had said that the National Conference MLAs had made a 'mistake' by bringing in an adjournment motion to discuss the Waqf Act in the J-K Assembly. "Omar Abdullah is saying that a mistake has happened. In my tweet of April 7, I mentioned that our friends in NC are doing wrong...I remember a member saying to me that I must have got a call from Delhi, but it did not happen," Sajad Lone told ANI on Tuesday. His comments come after there was a ruckus for multiple days in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on the recently passed Waqf (Amendment) Act, with NC MLAS, who are the majority in the house, tearing the bill and demanding a discussion on the Waqf Bill. Referencing his old post on X, Lone said that NC had simply done a 'song and dance' in the Assembly. "How can it happen that 50 people only make noise in the Assembly session for 3 days, they are from NC, the Speaker is from NC, and now the Leader of the House is saying that they will go to the Supreme Court?" Lone asked. On April 7, following a ruckus in the assembly, Sajad Lone had posted on X, "If NC's song and dance performance in the assembly is not theatre--/Why NC is not bringing a no- confidence motion against it's own speaker for disallowing their adjournment motion. Is the Waqf bill really sub judice? The petition against the Waqf bill has not been admitted yet. So How can it be sub judice." "Let me tell my friends in NC that adjournment motion is a censure motion against government? It is brought to discuss failures of government. You cannot bring an adjournment motion on the Waqf Bill. Adjournment means discussion and reply by the Minister in charge concerned," his post added. Earlier on April 15 (Tuesday), while Omar Abdullah attended a public meeting in J-K's Pulwama district, he told reporters that MLAS had "perhaps made a mistake" bringing the adjournment motion on the Waqf Bill as the motion should pertain to the matters of the J-K government. "The speaker had cleared up everything on the last day. Perhaps the mistake was on the part of the members at that time that they have brought an adjournment motion. Adjournment Motion is brought only for the work of the Government of Jammu and Kashmir. It was introduced because, at that time, the government had to respond. Now tell me what would we have answered if this Adjournment Motion had been admitted?" CM Abdullah had said. Reiterating the party's resolve to fight against the Act, the Chief Minister said that if the issue of Waqf was brought up in some other way, it could be admitted. The CM added, "We did not introduce this Waqf Bill. This Waqf Bill was passed by the central government and parliament so what would the Jammu and Kashmir government answer? If this resolution had been brought in any other way or brought under any other law, then perhaps it could have been admitted. But now, there is a challenge in Supreme Court regarding it." (ANI)
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has asserted that the Waqf law is a "reality" and advised those opposing it to seek redressal through the Supreme Court. In a post on X, CM Sarma cautioned that while peaceful dissent is a right, any form of violence or stone-pelting in the name of Waqf will not be tolerated in the state. "Waqf law is a reality. Anyone who wants to oppose this has the complete freedom to go to the Supreme Court. But in Assam, neither stone pelting nor any violence will be tolerated in the name of Waqf. Those who are opposing this should remember this very well," he said. On April 12, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma lauded the efforts of the Assam Police and leaders from the minority community to ensure peace across the state amid intelligence inputs warning of possible unrest over the protest against the Waqf Amendment Act. Speaking to the media, CM Sarma emphasised that despite apprehensions of protests on Friday, the situation remained largely calm, with only minor demonstrations reported at three locations. Several cities, including Delhi, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, witnessed protests against the Waqf Amendment Act. Unrest broke out in Murshidabad during protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act on April 11. The law has been a contentious issue in the region. The protests turned violent, resulting in the deaths of three people and injuries to several others, with widespread property damage. The West Bengal Police said 150 people have been arrested so far in connection with the Murshidabad violence, and adequate police forces have been deployed in Samserganj, Dhuliyan, and other affected areas of Murshidabad. On Monday, the West Bengal police said that the situation in the violence-hit areas of Murshidabad was normal and urged people not to believe any rumours. Speaking on the current situation, ADG, South Bengal Police, Supratim Sarkar said, "The situation is normal now. Everyone is safe. The CRPF, state police, and joint forces are deployed. The DGP of West Bengal police himself was present at the Samserganj police station. We request everyone not to go through rumours. We opened a control room. Anyone facing any issue can contact us at any time." (ANI)
In a commendable move to save Sparrows, 18-year-old Amrit Suryavanshi has initiated the 'Save Birds Mission' at his farm in Lehnu in the Tikri village of Udhampur district, Jammu and Kashmir. As a part of this mission, Amrit set up over 150 bird nests to create a safe habitat for birds. World Sparrow Day is celebrated every year on March 20. Earlier last month, on the same day, the Dawoodi Bohra community once again committed itself to preserving the environment with the relaunch of its 'Save Our Sparrows (SOS)' campaign, which aimed to address the alarming decline in sparrow populations. This nationwide initiative, which began on March 6, culminated on March 20, serving as a reminder to protect the small yet ecologically vital bird. The SOS campaign has already made significant strides, with volunteers distributing approximately 50,000 bird feeders across various parts of India, including schools, parks, households, and community centres. These feeders are essential in providing sparrows with food sources, especially in urban areas where natural habitats are shrinking due to environmental degradation and rapid urbanisation. In Mumbai and surrounding areas, over 6,500 bird feeders have been distributed among community members. As part of this initiative, the Dawoodi Bohra community has also developed unique software to track the distribution of bird feeders. Each bird feeder is geotagged and assigned a unique ID to create a heat map. This allows volunteers to monitor the areas where sparrow numbers are low and assess the impact of the bird feeders on boosting sparrow populations. The project, led by the Burhani Foundation and Project RISE-the philanthropic wing of the community-hopes to encourage community members, especially children, to connect with nature and learn the importance of ecological balance. The SOS initiative received positive feedback, with community members installing the feeders at their homes and schools. The project was meant to distribute 50,000 bird feeders by World Sparrow Day last month, and it is aimed to continue around the year to ensure a long-term impact. (ANI)
In a remarkable achievement that highlights Jawaharlal Nehru University's (JNU) growing prominence in scientific research, the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) has awarded JNU the highly competitive Partnerships for Accelerated Innovation and Research (PAIR) grant. This prestigious recognition comes after a rigorous National-level selection process involving India's top institutions, based on National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) standings. A total of 30 research hubs were identified on the basis of NIRF ranking, each accompanied by multiple "spoke" institutions that would be mentored and supported to undertake advanced and foundational research in emerging and priority areas. JNU's proposal stood out among this elite group and was selected after a detailed and intensive in-person presentation with a distinguished panel of senior scientists and experts in Bengaluru. The presentations were made in Bengaluru in the gracious presence of JNU VC Prof. Santishree D. Pandit. The JNU hub team was led by Prof. Supriya Chakravarti as the Project Director and was ably supported by Prof. Kashyap Dubey, Prof. Shobhan Sen, and a group of faculty members from various Schools at JNU. Faculty teams from partner institutions (the spokes) also contributed significantly to the proposal and its multidisciplinary outlook. The spokes under JNU's hub include the Central University of Punjab, Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research University, Tezpur University, Cotton University, and Berhampur University. One of the defining features of JNU's proposal was its emphasis on interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary collaboration. While the core focus remains on scientific research, the involvement of social sciences faculty ensured that the research approach is comprehensive and inclusive, addressing societal implications, ethical considerations, and community engagement alongside scientific advancement. This reflects JNU's unique academic character, where the boundaries between disciplines are bridged to foster holistic knowledge creation. Out of all applicants, only seven institutions were ultimately selected to receive this significant research funding. The final awardees include three IITs, one NIT, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), and two central universities--JNU and the University of Hyderabad (HCU). This distinction places JNU's science departments among the country's most elite and well-established research institutions, reaffirming their status as National leaders in science and innovation. The ANRF-PAIR initiative is expected to foster long-term collaborations, promote capacity building among partner institutions, and enable path-breaking research in new and critical areas. JNU, as a hub, will play a central role in mentoring its spoke institutions, facilitating resource sharing, and guiding them in the development of research infrastructure, training, and project execution. This milestone not only brings significant financial support but also opens new avenues for impactful, globally relevant research originating from India. It is a strong endorsement of the academic and research excellence of JNU's science faculties and their commitment to nation-building through science and innovation. Congratulating the entire team, faculty members, and collaborators who worked tirelessly to make this achievement possible, JNU VC Prof. Santishree D. Pandit said, "This award is a step forward in JNU's vision of advancing India's scientific skill and contributing to the global knowledge economy. The university looks forward to the journey ahead, one that promises innovative discoveries, strategic collaborations, and meaningful contributions to national development through interdisciplinary research". (ANI)
The Congress Party has launched a massive protest against the Central government and investigative agencies. The protest follows the ED filing a chargesheet against Congress leaders Rahul and Sonia Gandhi in connection with the National Herald. Protests have been organised across the country, with several prominent leaders at the forefront. In Delhi some of the Congress leaders were detained by the Delhi Police as they attempted to breach security cordons near the Congress office. Congress leader Amit Chavda on Wednesday criticised the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) prosecution complaint against party leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald money laundering case, calling it a politically motivated move aimed at diverting public attention from key national issues. "This is being done to distract the people from real issues and to threaten the opposition," Chavda told reporters. "Institutions like the ED and CBI are being misused to suppress dissent." Party MP Imran Pratapgarhi alleged that the ED action was being carried out as the BJP was sensing defeat in the upcoming elections in Bihar and Assam. "The agency through which the fight has been taken to the court has the intention only to harass the Opposition. A session is held in Gujarat; Rahul Gandhi reaches Modasa, and here, a chargesheet is filed. You understand the chronology. In the wake of the upcoming Bihar elections, Congress' activity in Gujarat, its possible defeat in the upcoming Assam elections and the alertness of the opposition, the BJP wants to crush the opposition completely...But BJP forgets that this is Gandhi family which has numerous sacrifices for the country...Congress is protesting across the country." Congress leader Sachin Pilot said, "This is a politically motivated case. We have faith in the judicial system. We will fight it out legally...Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi have been purposefully targeted. This has been done to suppress the voice of the opposition..." On Tuesday, the ED filed a prosecution complaint (chargesheet) in Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court against Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Sam Pitroda, Suman Dubey and others, including several firms. The matter has been listed for arguments on cognisance in the Delhi Rouse Avenue Court on April 25. In response, Congress strongly protested the move, scheduled to hold a nationwide protest on Wednesday in front of Enforcement Directorate (ED) offices at the district level in respective states against the BJP-led government. BJP leader Subramanian Swamy filed the complaint against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, their associated companies, and other individuals. (ANI)
BJP Spokesperson CR Kesavan on Wednesday said the Congress party is resisting the law of the land following the Enforcement Directorate's prosecution complaint against Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and others in the alleged National Herald money laundering case. Speaking to ANI, BJP Spokesperson CR Kesavan said, "Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, who are out on bail in the National Herald case, may be above the Constitutional rules of the dynastic Congress party but not above Babasaheb Ambedkar's Constitution. The Congress leadership should realise that today is not Indira Gandhi's emergency; today is Modi's fair and fearless Bharat, where everybody will be made answerable and accountable for their wrongdoings... Congress is trying to intimidate government agencies... This shows that they are trying to hide something... The Congress party is resisting the law of the land... They should know that truth triumphs, but falsehoods never triumph..." Kesavan said that the Congress party is trying to avoid legal action and is not above the Constitution. He added that this is not the time of Indira Gandhi's Emergency but a time when everyone is held accountable in Modi's fair and fearless Bharat. Earlier today, the Congress Party launched a massive protest against the Central government and investigative agencies. The protest follows the ED filing a chargesheet against Congress leaders Rahul and Sonia Gandhi in connection with the National Herald. Protests have been organised across the country, with several prominent leaders leading them. In Delhi, some of the Congress leaders were detained by the Delhi Police as they attempted to breach security cordons near the Congress office. On Tuesday, the ED filed a prosecution complaint (chargesheet) in Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court against Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Sam Pitroda, Suman Dubey and others, including several firms. The matter has been listed for arguments on cognisance in the Delhi Rouse Avenue Court on April 25..BJP leader Subramanian Swamy filed the complaint against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, their associated companies, and other individuals. (ANI)
Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Wednesday stated that the Directorate of Enforcement (ED)'s complaint against Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and others in the alleged National Herald money laundering case was an attempt to tarnish the image of Sonia Gandhi. He further stated that this complaint was the targeted modus operandi of the BJP government, which aimed at demoralising and defaming opponents by misusing the agencies. "The whole country knows that ED and CBI are political tools of the Government of India. Sonia Gandhi's life is in the public domain, this is an attempt to tarnish her image. Whatever facts are there, they will come out. I have full faith in the judiciary... This is the targeted modus operandi of the BJP government, aimed at demoralising and defaming the opponents by misusing the agencies. There is no give-and-take or anything in this entire episode," Pilot said, speaking to ANI. Meanwhile, Congress workers protesting against the Central government and central agencies outside the party's office were detained by the police. The Congress Party has launched a massive protest against the Central government and investigative agencies. The protest follows the ED filing a chargesheet against Congress leaders Rahul and Sonia Gandhi in connection with the National Herald. Protests have been organised across the country, with several prominent leaders at the forefront. Congress leader Supriya Shrinate alleged that the ED chargesheet against the party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi was Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vendetta politics. Speaking to ANI, Shrinate said, "The truth is that this is Narendra Modi's vendetta politics...We will face this in court. But you can see people's anger, our workers' anger. It shows that PM Narendra Modi is scared of our leaders and all the issues raised by us. He is scared of the Congress' organisational structure...Rahul Gandhi is someone who is not scared of you. This is a bogus case. The issues raised by Rahul Gandhi have exposed you..." Shrinate further stated that the public and the party were agitated, further questioning how a money laundering chargesheet could be filed when neither one paisa nor a single asset was laundered nor transferred. "Our people are agitated, the public is agitated, Congress workers are agitated. In a 12-year-old false case, you remembered only on the last day to file a chargesheet. You invoked charges of money laundering in the chargesheet where not even 1 paisa was laundered, where not even one asset was transferred, where Young India is a non-profit organisation..." (ANI)
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Wednesday expressed gratitude after being appointed as the new president of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha. In a post on X, CM Soren said that today, when he assumes the post of President of JMM, many emotions are flowing through his mind. "This is not an ordinary post, but it is a representation of the dreams, struggles and aspirations of the people of Jharkhand. Respected Baba, it is a proud moment for me to get the opportunity to take forward the ideologies under which our mentor respected Shibu Soren ji had laid the foundation of JMM," he said. "I humbly accept this responsibility and take a pledge that I will become the voice of every village, every poor, every deprived and every youth of Jharkhand. The history of our party is full of struggles, but our resolve is unwavering," Hemant Soren emphasized. He called for the unity to fight for their identity, development and justice of Jharkhand. "I promise to all the workers, leaders and people of Jharkhand - I will never let your trust break. Once again, I reiterate the supreme vision of JMM that lets us together build such a society, state and country where there is equality, justice, and every citizen gets a dignified life. Jai Johar!" Hemant Soren said. After Hemant Soren was appointed President of the JMM, Shibu Soren, who was serving the post, was elected as the party's 'Founder Patron' in the 13th 'Mahaadhiveshan' of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). This decision was taken in JMM's 13th central convention, which was conducted in Ranchi. Till now, Hemant Soren was executive president. Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) is a regional party and is ruling in Jharkhand. It is part of the Congress-led INDIA alliance at the Centre and JMM-led Mahagathbandhan in Jharkhand. The JMM won the recently concluded Jharkhand assembly elections and subsequently formed its government along with its allies Congress, RJD and left. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) won 34 seats, while its allies won 22 seats. Among JMM's allies, the Congress won 16 seats, RJD four seats, and CPI-ML two seats. The BJP won 21 seats, and its allies AJSU, the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), and JD-U won one each. (ANI)
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Wednesday lashed out at the ED over the charges against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and others in the National Herald case and stated that it was a great injustice, further calling it a political vendetta. Speaking to the media, the Deputy CM said, "Whatever the ED has submitted is not proper. It is a great injustice; in no way has the Gandhi family benefitted from it. It is the property of the Congress party. They are the Head of the party; they were the presidents of the party...It is only a political vendetta." Meanwhile, Congress leader Sachin Pilot stated that the ED complaint was an attempt to tarnish Sonia Gandhi's image. He further stated that this complaint was the BJP government's targeted modus operandi, which aimed at demoralising and defaming opponents by misusing the agencies. "The whole country knows that ED and CBI are political tools used by the government of India. Sonia Gandhi's life is in the public domain; this is an attempt to tarnish her image. Whatever facts are there, they will come out. I have full faith in the judiciary... This is the targeted modus operandi of the BJP government, aimed at demoralising and defaming the opponents by misusing the agencies. There is no give-and-take or anything in this entire episode," Pilot said, speaking to ANI. Meanwhile, Congress workers protesting against the Central government and central agencies outside the party's office were detained by the police. The Congress Party has launched a massive protest against the Central government and investigative agencies. The protest follows the ED filing a chargesheet against Congress leaders Rahul and Sonia Gandhi in connection with the National Herald. Protests have been organised across the country, with several prominent leaders at the forefront. (ANI)
Assam Police arrested seven people in connection with an incident during the protest rally against the Waqf (Amendment) Act in Assam's Cachar district recently. Numal Mahatta, Superintendent of Police of Cachar district, said that on April 13 at about 09:30 am, about 300 persons assembled at Berenga village under Silchar police station and began a march towards Silchar town to protest against the Waqf (Amendment) Act. "A police team from Silchar police station, along with all GOs, arrived at the spot to stop the mob from proceeding further and resorted to mild lathi charge to disperse the crowd. The mob has been dispersed, and regarding the incident, a case was filed in the Silchar police station. Last night, an operation was conducted in the Bagadahar and Kashipur area under the Silchar police station, and 7 accused persons primarily involved in the incident were picked up. They have been duly arrested and forwarded to judicial custody," Numal Mahatta said. The arrested persons were identified as Nazmul Islam Laskar alias Kablu, Bidar Laskar, Rohit Hussain Laskar, Dilwar Hussain, Rohit Ahmed Mazumder, Atikur Rahman Laskar and Riyajul Laskar. Further investigation into this incident is ongoing. On April 14, Superintendent of Police of Cachar Numal Mahtta said that the protest by the people was taken out without obtaining prior permission. "The Model Code of Conduct is enforced in view of Panchayat polls, and without prior permission, they took out the protest rally. When we received the information, we reached the spot and dispersed the crowd. Some of them tried to create a law and order situation, but we brought the situation under control," Numal Mahatta said. "If anyone tries to violate the law, we are ready to take stern action against them. Now the situation is under control. We have registered a case. We have deployed security forces in this area to maintain the law and order situation," he added. Since its passing, the bill has faced several legal challenges in the Supreme Court, with AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi, Congress MPs Mohammad Jawed and Imran Pratapgarhi, AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan, and Azad Samaj Party chief and MP Chandra Shekhar Azad moving the court against the act. The Act seeks to focus on improving the management of waqf properties, empowering relevant stakeholders, improving the efficiency of survey, registration, and case disposal processes, and developing waqf properties. (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tamil Nadu spokesperson ANS Prasad on Wednesday hit out at Congress amid the ongoing ruckus over the National Herald case, demanding an apology from Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi for "contemptuous" remarks about the courts. He said that both leaders should consider resigning from their positions until the investigation is complete. "Considering the severity of the allegations, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi should consider resigning from their positions until the investigation is complete," Prasad said in a statement. He said that Congress' attempts to portray the court judgment as a "vendetta" by Prime Minister Modi will no longer deceive the public. "Sonia, Rahul Gandhi, and Congress leaders should apologise for their contemptuous remarks about the courts in the National Herald case. The Congress party's attempts to portray court judgments as a vendetta by Prime Minister Modi will no longer deceive the public. Their malicious propaganda won't shield them from the law's consequences. The party's misinformation campaign aims to tarnish the government's efforts towards India's unity and sovereignty," Prasad said. The BJP leader stated that Congress' claims of "vendetta politics" after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) named Sonia and Rahul Gandhi in the chargesheet as "malicious and condemnable". "The party's recent claim that the Enforcement Directorate's chargesheet against Sonia and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case is a result of the Prime Minister and Home Minister's vendetta politics is malicious and condemnable," he added. He said that the chargesheet filed by the ED alleges financial irregularities, accusing Gandhi and others of "money laundering" and acquiring properties worth over Rs 2,000 crore through "dubious means." "The Enforcement Directorate's chargesheet against him in the National Herald case, filed under Sections 44 and 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, alleges serious financial irregularities. Specifically, the agency accuses Gandhi and others of money laundering, acquiring properties worth over Rs 2,000 crore through dubious means," Prasad said. His reaction comes after Congress MP and party General Secretary in charge of Communications, Jairam Ramesh, said the ED action of filing a prosecution complaint against Sonia and Rahul Gandhi is nothing but "politics of vendetta intimidation" initiated by PM Modi. Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Akhilesh Yadav asserted that the ED must be "abolished" since departments including Income Tax already exist to tackle economic offences. "In my understanding, a department like ED must be abolished. I will ask Congress to ask for the same thing. There are several institutions that look into economic offences. Having ED means you are not even trusting your own organisations like the Income Tax department or GST," Yadav, former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, said in a press conference. On Tuesday, the ED filed a prosecution complaint (chargesheet) in Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court against Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Sam Pitroda, Suman Dubey and others, including several firms. The matter has been listed for arguments on cognisance in the Delhi Rouse Avenue Court on April 25. (ANI)
Rajasthan Minister Jogaram Patel on Wednesday accused the Congress party of having a history of scams, citing the coal scam as an example. Patel's remarks come in response to the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) recent chargesheet against Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi in the National Herald case. Speaking to the ANI, Patel said, "Congress has a history of scams. From the coal scam to most of the scams in the country, Congress has its name on them. The investigating agency has been investigating the National Herald case for a long time." He defended the ED's investigation, saying that the agency has collected records and documents over a long period. Patel criticised Congress for opposing the chargesheet, suggesting that the party is trying to save the alleged scam. "After a long investigation, after taking records on many facts and documents, if ED presents a chargesheet in the court and Congress opposes it, then Congress is trying to save the scam... They should have faith in the judicial system; only those who do not have faith in the judicial process make such statements...," said Patel. Following the chargesheet, the Congress Party has launched a massive protest against the Central government and investigative agencies. Protests have been organised across the country, with several prominent leaders at the forefront. In Delhi, some of the Congress leaders were detained by the Delhi Police as they attempted to breach security cordons near the Congress office. On Wednesday, Congress leader Amit Chavda criticised the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) prosecution complaint against the Gandhis, calling it a politically motivated move aimed at diverting public attention from key national issues. "This is being done to distract the people from real issues and to threaten the opposition," Chavda told reporters. "Institutions like the ED and CBI are being misused to suppress dissent." Party MP Imran Pratapgarhi alleged that the ED action was being carried out as the BJP was sensing defeat in the upcoming elections in Bihar and Assam. "The agency through which the fight has been taken to the court has the intention only to harass the Opposition. A session is held in Gujarat; Rahul Gandhi reaches Modasa, and here, a chargesheet is filed. You understand the chronology. In the wake of the upcoming Bihar elections, Congress' activity in Gujarat, its possible defeat in the upcoming Assam elections and the alertness of the opposition, the BJP wants to crush the opposition completely...But BJP forgets that this is Gandhi family which has numerous sacrifices for the country...Congress is protesting across the country." Congress leader Sachin Pilot said, "This is a politically motivated case. We have faith in the judicial system. We will fight it out legally... Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi have been purposefully targeted. This has been done to suppress the voice of the opposition..." On Tuesday, the ED filed a prosecution complaint (chargesheet) in Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court against Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Sam Pitroda, Suman Dubey and others, including several firms. The matter has been listed for arguments on cognisance in the Delhi Rouse Avenue Court on April 25. In response, Congress strongly protested the move and is scheduled to hold a nationwide protest on Wednesday in front of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) offices at the district level in respective states against the BJP-led government. BJP leader Subramanian Swamy filed the complaint against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, their associated companies, and other individuals. (ANI)
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya launched a scathing attack on the Congress party, saying that they are acting "like a slave of the Gandhi family." He stated that there is huge corruption in the National Herald Case, whose investigation began during the Congress regime; therefore, all the agencies should be allowed to work freely. "The Congress party is acting like a slave of the Gandhi family. The Constitution is same for all 140 crore people of the country. There was huge scam, huge corruption in the National Herald case, the investigation of which began during the Congress government's regime itself...The investigation agencies should be allowed to do their work", Keshav Prasad Maurya told ANI. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a prosecution complaint (chargesheet) against top Congressmen Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi in connection with the National Herald money laundering case. The chargesheet also names Congress leader Sam Pitroda, Suman Dubey, and others, including several firms. The matter has been listed for arguments on cognisance in the Delhi Rouse Avenue Court on April 25. The prosecution complaint has been filed under Sections 44 and 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, for the offence of money laundering, as defined under Section 3, read with Section 70, and punishable under Section 4 of the PMLA, 2002. Earlier today, the Congress Party launched a massive protest against the central government and investigative agencies. The protest follows the ED filing a chargesheet against Congress leaders Rahul and Sonia Gandhi in connection with the National Herald. Protests have been organised across the country, with several prominent leaders at the forefront. In Delhi some of the Congress leaders were detained by the Delhi Police as they attempted to breach security cordons near the Congress office. Congress leader Amit Chavda on Wednesday criticised the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) prosecution complaint against party leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald money laundering case, calling it a politically motivated move aimed at diverting public attention from key national issues. Party MP Imran Pratapgarhi alleged that the ED action was being carried out as the BJP was sensing defeat in the upcoming elections in Bihar and Assam. "The agency through which the fight has been taken to the court has the intention only to harass the Opposition. A session is held in Gujarat; Rahul Gandhi reaches Modasa, and here, a chargesheet is filed. You understand the chronology. In the wake of the upcoming Bihar elections, Congress' activity in Gujarat, its possible defeat in the upcoming Assam elections and the alertness of the opposition, the BJP wants to crush the opposition completely...But BJP forgets that this is Gandhi family which has numerous sacrifices for the country...Congress is protesting across the country." (ANI)
Among these, the 'Nari Adalat' is emerging as a groundbreaking effort, raising awareness among women about their legal rights and bringing essential government schemes directly to their doorsteps.

Aligning with the central government's vision, the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's administration equips rural women with the knowledge and confidence to assert their rights.

This grassroots initiative, implemented through the Women and Child Development Department, operates via groups of 7 to 11 women at the village level, said an official release.

'Nari Adalats' is a vital link between rural women and schemes such as the One Stop Center, 181 Women Helpline, and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao. Information is effectively disseminated through these forums, empowering women to become informed and active citizens. The initiative also fosters direct interaction with the administrative system, reinforcing women's trust in institutional support, the release stated.

Launched as a pilot project in eight aspirational districts--Bahraich, Balrampur, Chandauli, Chitrakoot, Fatehpur, Shravasti, Siddharthnagar, and Sonbhadra--the scheme ensures that women receive timely, clear, and accessible guidance on matters related to education, health, safety, and self-reliance.

The 'Nari Adalats' are not just awareness platforms; they are community courts resolving family, social, and economic issues while educating women on their rights and the legal framework that protects them.

This initiative is laying the groundwork for lasting social transformation. The courts nurture leadership and solidarity among rural women by encouraging collective dialogue and participation. More importantly, they offer a safe space where women can voice concerns, seek redressal, and take charge of their futures.

Spearheaded by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, this initiative is fast becoming a symbol of inclusive governance and social justice. Feedback from the pilot districts is being reviewed, with a roadmap in place to expand the program across all 75 districts.

The 'Nari Adalat' initiative is more than a scheme--it's a movement towards a more just, informed, and empowered rural society, truly embodying the spirit of 'Sashakt Mahila, Sashakt Samaj'. (ANI)
Speaking at the divisional-level job fair in Kalaburgi, the Chief Minister highlighted ongoing initiatives to boost employment opportunities for the youth.

"Job fairs are being organised in Kalaburagi, Mysuru, Hubballi, and Dharwad. We have also launched the Youth Fund Scheme to address the issue of unemployment. Our government is actively working to provide jobs for the youth," Siddaramaiah said.

On Channagiri MLA's call for Lingayat legislators to resign over the caste census issue, Siddaramaiah said a special cabinet meeting has been scheduled for April 17 to discuss the socio-economic survey.

"The MLAs have expressed their personal opinions. A final decision will be taken in tomorrow's cabinet meeting," he said. "This is a socio-economic survey, and we will not allow any injustice to be done to any community.", he added.

Furthermore, on the recent developments in the National Herald case, Siddaramaiah accused the BJP of misusing investigative agencies for political gain.

"The seizure of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi's properties and the filing of charge sheets are acts of political vendetta. The BJP is doing this for political gain and out of political hatred," he alleged.

The Congress Party has launched a massive protest against the central government and investigative agencies. The protest follows the ED filing a chargesheet against Congress leaders Rahul and Sonia Gandhi in connection with the National Herald. Protests have been organised across the country, with several prominent leaders leading the charge. (ANI)
The Meteorological Department has predicted rainfall in various parts of Himachal Pradesh between April 18 and April 21. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a strong western disturbance is expected to impact the state, resulting in light to moderate rainfall in most regions and heavy rainfall in higher altitudes. Speaking to ANI, Shobhit Katiyar, Senior Scientist at the IMD's Himachal Pradesh Centre in Shimla, said that the weather will change after two days with the approaching fresh Western disturbance on April 18. "In the next 48 hours, the weather will remain mostly clear across the state. However, a very active western disturbance is expected to influence Himachal Pradesh from the afternoon of April 18 until the morning of April 21. Due to this system, we are likely to see intermittent rainfall across many parts of the state," said Katiyar. He added that light rain may occur today in Chamba and Kangra districts, but the main spell of rainfall will begin from April 18. "There is a possibility of heavy rainfall in the higher regions of Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, and Mandi districts on April 18 and 19. Some areas may receive rainfall between 6 to 12 cm. Because of this, we have issued an orange alert for these districts for April 18 and 19," Katiyar further explained. Talking about the temperatures, he said that the temperatures will also decrease after the 18th in the region. "Currently, daytime temperatures in most places are within the normal range, though a few areas are recording 2 to 3 degrees Celsius above normal. However, during the upcoming rain spell from April 18 to 21, we expect a significant drop in temperature, around 5 to 7 degrees Celsius in most parts of the state," he added. Commenting on the rainfall deficit in April so far, Katiyar said that there has been a deficit of rain in the month of April. "Till April 15, Himachal Pradesh has received only 10 mm of rainfall, while the average for this period should be around 35 mm. That's a deficit of nearly 70 per cent. However, this active Western Disturbance is expected to bring significant rainfall over the next few days, which will help bridge the deficit," he said. He also mentioned that temperatures are expected to rise again after April 22. (ANI)
The Congress workers held a protest against the Centre after the ED (Enforcement Directorate) filed a chargesheet against Congress leaders Rahul and Sonia Gandhi in connection with the National Herald. It was led by State Congress President Bhakta Charan Das. While speaking to ANI, Bhakta Charan Das said that the protest is being organised in every state capital of India. He alleged that whenever the BJP faces problems in running the government and with the elections ahead in Bihar, they try to harass the Congress on the strength of ED and IT (Income Tax). "This protest is happening all over the country today, in every state capital. This protest is being done in front of the ED and IT offices, and this is because the ED has repeatedly called our leaders, Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, where they tortured and harassed them. Whenever the BJP faces problems in running the government, now there are elections in Bihar, and before the elections, their allies can withdraw support from them at any time, so they scare Congress with the strength of ED-IT", Bhakta Charan Das told ANI. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a prosecution complaint (chargesheet) against top Congressmen Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi in connection with the National Herald money laundering case. The chargesheet also names Congress leader Sam Pitroda, Suman Dubey, and others, including several firms. The matter has been listed for arguments on cognisance in the Delhi Rouse Avenue Court on April 25. The prosecution complaint has been filed under Sections 44 and 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, for the offence of money laundering, as defined under Section 3, read with Section 70, and punishable under Section 4 of the PMLA, 2002. (ANI)
Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM) on Tuesday condemned "violent" incidents that erupted in Murshidabad and South 24 Parganas districts of West Bengal during the protests against the Waqf Amendment Act, stating that the protest is a democratic right, but violence is treason," a MRM release said. The Manch blamed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for the violence and called the silence of the opposition bloc INDIA and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi shameful. The Manch stated that spreading violence under the cover of the Constitution and democracy is an act of treason and will not be tolerated under any circumstances. It further added, "The dream of uniting India is shared by every citizen, but if in the name of that unity, some people set the country ablaze, then it is the greatest betrayal." The Manch appealed to the people to become aware of the national interest and recognise the designs of extremists, vote-bank politicians, and those who run shops of hatred in the name of love. "The situation in West Bengal is extremely tense. A large number of Hindu families are migrating. Out of fear, many have taken shelter in the Malda district after abandoning their homes. Due to the violence, schools and colleges in several places are shut, markets are deserted, and normal life is in disarray. Victims have demanded that the Central Government impose President's Rule in the state. The Muslim Rashtriya Manch has condemned the entire episode, calling it a pre-planned conspiracy", the release further added. According to the Manch, "In a democratic country like India, every citizen has the right to disagree and protest, but stone-pelting, arson, murder, and vandalism are not democratic expressions--they are acts of treason." The Manch asserted that protests can be peaceful, but if innocent lives are lost, it must be considered a crime against the nation. The Manch also made serious allegations against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of not only staying silent on the violence but also giving extremists a free hand. The Manch claimed that the police and administration stood as mute spectators, deliberately leaving the local Hindu population unsafe. It stated, "Where no such violent protests have been reported from other states over the Waqf law, the scale of arson, looting, and communal tension in Bengal is not just a government failure; it is a full-fledged conspiracy by the Mamata administration." The Manch also questioned the role of the INDIA alliance. "Why is Rahul Gandhi silent now when Bengal is burning, despite tweeting and protesting on every other issue? Rahul Gandhi undertook the Bharat Jodo Yatra, but today, when India is burning, he has turned a blind eye," the Manch said. It also targeted other INDIA bloc leaders like Akhilesh Yadav, Stalin, Sharad Pawar, and Hemant Soren, asking, "Does your definition of secularism not include Hindu suffering?" The Manch described the violence as a dangerous outcome of vote-bank politics. It said, "This was a well-planned conspiracy where innocents were used as shields to damage communal harmony in the name of protesting the Waqf law." It also added that such violence harms India's image at the international level. The Muslim Rashtriya Manch has demanded the strictest action against the radical groups and extremists behind the violence, stating, "The nation stands above any religion or identity. Those who incite riots are enemies of India." It has also called for a high-level judicial inquiry into the role of the state government and termed the incident a matter of national security. The Manch has appealed for intervention by the Central Government, Home Ministry, and the National Human Rights Commission. It welcomed the directions by the Supreme Court and Calcutta High Court to deploy central forces in violence-affected areas and said that had timely action not been taken, the loss of life and property would have been even greater. Appealing to Muslims, the Manch urged them to respect the law, avoid rumours, and not fall for anti-national propaganda. It concluded, "Islam is a message of peace. Violence, hatred, and arson do not serve religion--only spread terror." (ANI)
Congress MP Kumari Selja on Wednesday said that the chargesheet filed against the Gandhis by the Enforcement Directorate in the National Herald case is "politically motivated". Speaking to the ANI, Selja says, "This is only politically motivated; they (BJP) are taking such action out of fear of the truth of the Congress party and Rahul Gandhi. The Congress party will not accept the chargesheet filed against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi." MP further extended support to the protests launched by the Congress Party against the chargesheet. She added, "We will have to take to the streets... we will fight for the truth... when the British did not suppress us, we will not be suppressed by their oppressive policies either." Following the chargesheet, the Congress Party has launched a massive protest against the Central government and investigative agencies. Protests have been organised across the country, with several prominent leaders at the forefront. In Delhi, the Delhi Police detained some of the Congress leaders as they attempted to breach security cordons near the Congress office. Congress leader Amit Chavda criticised the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) prosecution complaint against the Gandhis, calling it a politically motivated move aimed at diverting public attention from key national issues. Party MP Imran Pratapgarhi alleged that the ED action was being carried out as the BJP was sensing defeat in the upcoming elections in Bihar and Assam. Congress leader Sachin Pilot said, "This is a politically motivated case. We have faith in the judicial system. We will fight it out legally... Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi have been purposefully targeted. This has been done to suppress the voice of the opposition..." On Tuesday, the ED filed a prosecution complaint (chargesheet) in Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court against Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Sam Pitroda, Suman Dubey and others, including several firms. The matter has been listed for arguments on cognisance in the Delhi Rouse Avenue Court on April 25. In response, Congress strongly protested the move and is scheduled to hold a nationwide protest on Wednesday in front of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) offices at the district level in respective states against the BJP-led government. BJP leader Subramanian Swamy filed the complaint against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, their associated companies, and other individuals. (ANI)
Several Congress workers have been detained by the police in various states as they are holding nationwide agitation against the Central government after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a prosecution complaint against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case. The Congress workers have been detained in Lucknow and Bengaluru by the police of the respective states. Meanwhile, visuals of Congress workers protesting have arrived from Bhubaneshwar, Bhopal and other parts of the nation. In Madhya Pradesh, Congress President Jitendra (Jitu) Patwari, along with Congress workers, held a foot march to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) state office while protesting against the ED chargesheet in the National Herald case (Bhopal) Telagana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President Mahesh Kumar Goud termed the ED and CBI "pocket agencies" of the BJP, alleging that 96 per cent of their cases are against opposition leaders. "After the BJP came to power, 96% of ED and CBI cases have been filed against the opposition leaders. These are BJP's pocket agencies..." Goud stated. Earlier today, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar lashed out at the ED over the charges against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and others in the National Herald case and stated that it was a great injustice, further calling it a political vendetta. Speaking to the media, the Deputy CM said, "Whatever the ED has submitted is not proper. It is a great injustice; in no way has the Gandhi family benefited from it. It is the property of the Congress party. They are the Head of the party; they were the presidents of the party...It is only a political vendetta." Meanwhile, Congress leader Sachin Pilot stated that the ED complaint was an attempt to tarnish Sonia Gandhi's image. He further stated that this complaint was the BJP government's targeted modus operandi, which aimed at demoralising and defaming opponents by misusing the agencies. "The whole country knows that ED and CBI are political tools used by the government of India. Sonia Gandhi's life is in the public domain; this is an attempt to tarnish her image. Whatever facts are there, they will come out. I have full faith in the judiciary... This is the targeted modus operandi of the BJP government, aimed at demoralising and defaming the opponents by misusing the agencies. There is no give-and-take or anything in this entire episode," Pilot said, speaking to ANI. Earlier, Congress workers protesting against the Central government and central agencies outside the party's office were detained by the police. The Congress Party has launched a massive protest against the Central government and investigative agencies. The protest follows the ED filing a chargesheet against Congress leaders Rahul and Sonia Gandhi in connection with the National Herald. Protests have been organised across the country, with several prominent leaders at the forefront. (ANI)
Amid chaos over the passage of the Waqf Amendment Act, Union Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday dismissed the opposition's claims that the government would "snatch" properties under the Waqf boards, asserting that the country was governed by the constitution and rule of law. Calling out the "false news and unverified claims" about the Waqf Act, Rijiju said that it was the responsibility of the government to keep a check on the "irregularities". He added that the provision in the Act doesn't "harm" the Muslim community. "Muslims are also Indians. Shouldn't we think about the Muslim community? How can we leave aside one community and let all the irregularities keep on happening unchecked?... We are the government of India. We have the responsibility to ensure that every citizen is taken care of and every community is looked after. The people who are spreading this false news, unverified claims that the mosques, the dargahs, and the kabaristan are going to be snatched away by the government. This country rules through law. The Constitution governs us. How can anybody snatch somebody's property like that?" Rijiju said in an exclusive interview with ANI. The Union Minister also said that the power to decide on Waqf property disputes was not with the central government but with the state government. Rijiju said that the central government was merely forming a central Waqf council, but the claims and counterclaims would be decided by the District Magistrate, who operates under the state government. "If there are some kind of issues which are not settled, then the state government will decide. So, the power is not with the central government. The central government is just forming a central Waqf council, which the minister heads. In this case, me. So all this, whether it is to be claimed, reclaimed, or counterclaimed by the state government, will be decided by the state government. The DM is under the state government," he added. When asked about the effects of the Waqf Amendment Bill, now an Act, in the northeastern states of India, Rijiju said that tribal states, including Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Sikkim, were "insulted" by its effect since a provision in the Act forbids the creation of Waqf on tribal lands. "The creation of Waqf cannot be done on tribal land, which is any land that falls in the sixth and fifth schedule of the constitution. So it will not have an impact on the tribal areas. The fifth area is in other parts of the country, and the sixth schedule is in the northeast. The fifth schedule is for areas in other parts of the country, and the sixth schedule is for the northeast. Assam and Manipur will have an impact, but a positive one," Rijiju said. When asked about the fears within the tribal communities regarding the Waqf Act, the Union Minister said that the government introduced the amendment disallowing the creation of Waqf in tribal lands to deter instances of conversion and thus label tribal land as Waqf property. "This is a very emotional issue for the Tribals. You very well know the Tribals are so much attached to Jal, Jungle, and Zameen. There are instances which have come before us of Muslim men marrying tribal women and then getting converted, and then finally creating that particular land owned by the lady as Waqf property. Once a Waqf property is dedicated, it can't be reversed. If the lands in tribal areas are declared as Waqf property, their status will change forever. This is why we had deliberately put this amendment in the parliament," Rijiju said. As many parties approach the Supreme Court to challenge the newly amended Waqf Act, Rijiju said that the tribal community would also appeal to the apex court to ensure that the protection given to them wasn't challenged. The Union Minister argued that the said amendment was aligned with the constitutional provisions, which grant protection to tribal lands and rights. "Now, some people have challenged that provision also. So the tribal... will be raising their voice, and I believe that some of them will be appealing in the Supreme Court that any protection given to the tribal should not be challenged. Tribal lands and tribal rights are protected by the constitutional provisions. So it's not that we have just inserted at our whims and fancies. We have aligned with the constitutional provisions," he added. (ANI)
Highlighting several deficiencies in Karnataka's management of sewage and solid waste, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the state authorities to adopt a more efficient and systematic approach to waste management across all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), ensuring quicker and more effective implementation. After reviewing the existing shortcomings, the tribunal directed that the next Action Taken Report (ATR) should outline specific measures taken to address gaps in each Urban Local Body (ULB) and resolve inconsistencies observed in various cities, including Badami, Bellary, Bidar, Mangaluru, Davangere, Hubli-Dharwad, Kalaburagi, Mysuru, and others. Additionally, since no financial allocations for liquid and solid waste management in individual ULBs have been disclosed, the tribunal instructed that the upcoming report must provide details on funding distribution, along with timelines for utilising these resources to bridge existing gaps. The bench, led by Tribunal Chairman Justice Prakash Shrivastava, observed that despite receiving regular reports over the past two years, the state has yet to develop a concrete, executable plan to address gaps in solid and liquid waste management. Existing facilities have not been utilised effectively to expedite the finalisation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs). Given the uniform challenges faced by all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in terms of funding and technical requirements, no structured execution plans have been formulated. Additionally, there has been no discussion on adopting successful strategies from ULBs that have made substantial progress. The tribunal emphasised the need for the state to establish a centralised mechanism for assigning work to agencies, rather than having each ULB independently struggle to select contractors. The tribunal noted concerns regarding solid waste management, highlighting a significant gap between waste generation and processing across Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). Of the total 12,701 tons per day (TPD) of waste produced in 316 ULBs, only 10,031 TPD is being processed, leaving a shortfall of 2,670 TPD. Among 315 ULBs, the processing deficit stands at 1,402 TPD, with gaps of 881 TPD in dry waste management, 219 TPD in wet waste handling, and 302 TPD for construction and demolition (C&D) waste. The bench observed that some ULBs in Karnataka have achieved 100% waste processing and emphasized the need for explicit disclosure regarding any remaining legacy waste in these areas. Notable ULBs with full waste processing include Boragaon, Gokak, Basettihalli, Bhakli, Sulia, Mysuru, and others. Regarding the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the tribunal highlighted a substantial gap of 3,000 TPD in processing Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste, which has led to improper disposal in quarries or lined landfills. Additionally, BBMP is still working on closing the gap in wet waste processing, with tendering and ongoing projects aiming to address 845 TPD of wet waste. The tribunal further pointed out inefficiencies in utilising processed dry waste, with minimal amounts being sent for co-processing in cement plants. It called for a detailed report that quantifies the proper utilisation and disposal of dry waste, identifying relevant end-users. The tribunal highlighted significant shortcomings in sewage management, noting a substantial gap of 2,068.47 million litres per day (MLD) between sewage generation and treatment across 316 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). Additionally, there is no detailed disclosure regarding the treatment and disposal of 380 MLD handled by private institutions and operators. The tribunal has directed that performance details of these Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) be provided in accordance with Consent to Operate (CTO) conditions. In 315 ULBs, the sewage treatment deficit stands at 1,170.93 MLD, while in the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the gap is 603.0 MLD. The tribunal ordered the Karnataka government to submit a fresh Action Taken Report (ATR) addressing all the concerns, with the matter scheduled for review on October 7. The case pertains to the management of solid and liquid waste, as mandated by Supreme Court rulings issued on September 2, 2014, concerning solid waste, and February 22, 2017, regarding sewage management. (ANI)
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the breakthrough ceremony of the Silkyara Tunnel on Wednesday. He said that the Silkyara Tunnel will be named after Baba Boukhnag. He said, "The Silkyara Tunnel will be named after Baba Boukhnag. The Primary Health Centre at Genwala-Brahmkhal will be upgraded to a Community Health Centre. Boukhnag Tibba will be developed as a tourist destination. A helipad near Syalna will be constructed." It may be recalled that in 2023, 41 workers were trapped inside the tunnel during its construction for 17 days. The rescue operation, conducted under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leadership of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, successfully rescued all workers safely. The Silkyara Tunnel is a significant project for the Char Dham Yatra. The double-lane tunnel spans 4.531 km and costs approximately Rs 853 crore. Upon completion, the tunnel will reduce the distance between Gangotri and Yamunotri Dham by 26 kilometers, providing better facilities and saving time for pilgrims. The project is expected to boost trade, tourism, and employment opportunities in the region, thereby strengthening the local economy. On this historic occasion, the Chief Minister congratulated all engineers, technical experts, and workers associated with the project. He stated that this breakthrough is not just a success of advanced engineering but a living example of faith and dedication. He added that the Silkyara tunnel rescue was the longest and most complex rescue mission in the world. Every individual involved in the mission demonstrated an extraordinary example of humanity and teamwork. It was a true test of technical and human resolve, and everyone came together to ensure its success. The Chief Minister expressed gratitude to the entire rescue team, rat miners, NDRF, SDRF, and all cooperating agencies who played a crucial role in making the operation successful. He said the whole world was watching the Silkyara rescue. With the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the full support of the Government of India, the State Government successfully conducted this extremely challenging operation. Experts and modern resources from across the country and the world were brought in. He appreciated the patience and courage shown by the trapped workers, which boosted everyone's morale. The Chief Minister also participated in the pran-pratishtha (consecration) ceremony of Baba Boukhnag Temple. He brought offerings and puja material from his residence in Dehradun. During the Silkyara rescue, the Chief Minister had camped at the site to supervise and monitor the operation and had vowed to construct a temple dedicated to Baba Boukhnag for the successful rescue of the trapped workers. He prayed to Baba Boukhnag for the prosperity and well-being of the state and its people. The Chief Minister said that when Baba Boukhnag was enshrined at the tunnel's entrance, the rescue operation progressed successfully. At that time, he announced the construction of a grand temple, and now, with its consecration, that vow has been fulfilled. Devotees will now be able to seek blessings from Baba Boukhnag. He recalled the tragic incident on 12 November, when a landslide during tunnel construction trapped 41 workers inside. People across the country prayed for their safety. In that dark tunnel, where even hope seemed to fade, Baba Boukhnag emerged as a beacon of strength and belief. (ANI)
Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari, along with party workers on Wednesday held a foot march to the Directorate of Enforcement state office in Bhopal, protesting against the ED chargesheet against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case. Earlier today, the Congress launched massive protests across the country against the central government and investigative agencies. The protest follows the ED filing a chargesheet against Rahul, Sonia and other Congress leaders in connection with the National Herald case. State Congress chief Patwari alleged that the central government financially ruined the country in the last 10 years and to hide their sins, they were targeting the opposition leader by misusing the central agencies. "The Narendra Modi government financially ruined the country in the last 10 years, that made it the biggest unemployed country, forced farmers to commit suicide, made country poorer and PM Modi filled the pockets of his friends. When all these sins are to be hidden, then targeting the opposition leaders by misusing them ED. Sonia Gandhi, who fulfilled all dimensions of a patriotic citizen, while PM Modi misleads the country by doing politics. He (PM Modi) wants to hide their sins because of which the country went to the trough. They wanted to impose an undeclared emergency," Patwari told reporters. He said the Congress is the party that sacrificed lives for the country's independence. The Congress is the party that will fight to save the Constitution of the country till its last breath. "The action taken against Sonia Gandhi is undemocratic. Narendra Modi takes such action to hide his sins. The ED has filed over 5000 cases in the last 10 years. But the ED has not taken action against a single BJP leader. Around 36 leaders faced ED actions and 80 per cent among them switched sides to the BJP. Is this ED? ED is a BJP's parrot," Patwari alleged. Similarly, Congress leaders staged protests in Gwalior and Indore districts as well over ED's chargesheet against Rahul Gandhi Sonia Gandhi in the National Herald case. On Tuesday, the ED filed a prosecution complaint (chargesheet) in Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court against Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Sam Pitroda, Suman Dubey and others, including several firms. The matter has been listed for arguments on cognisance in the Delhi Rouse Avenue Court on April 25. (ANI)
Taking a dig at the Congress party, former Union Cabinet Minister and senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has said that the "Congress roams around carrying even the coffer of corruption as a coffin of sacrifice". When asked about the National Herald issue, Naqvi said that the "report on trickery" had not been done by the BJP or the Modi Government. It is a legal action on the "mess of corruption" committed by the Congress earlier. "Victim hood reaction on legal action" has become "mode and mood" of the "Congress family". Speaking on the West Bengal violence, the BJP leader said that the communal attack on constitutional reform from Pakistan to "Parivaaristan" (Congress, SP, TMC, RJD, DMK etc.) is a proof that the "brigade that held every constitutional reform a hostage to communal conspiracy" has panicked. Naqvi said that while on one hand those who had been engaged in systematic plundering are being knocked out, on the other hand the "champions of appeasement" are crying. Naqvi said that only time will tell if the West Bengal government's "communal conference by artisans of anarchy" is an attempt to restore trust or to spread fear and fallacy. Shri Naqvi said that the way the West Bengal Government has surrendered in front of anarchist and criminal elements, it is clear that the law and order and government system has totally collapsed in the state. Earlier today, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the families of those killed in the Murshidabad protest over the Waqf Amendment Act. Addressing the gathering at Kolkata's Netaji Indoor Stadium, CM Mamata said that she would ask the Secretary to file a report on it. "I will ask Chief Secretary to get a report on it. The families of those who lost their lives in the violence will get Rs 10 lakh each. We don't see the religious identity of victims but their pain. Those who lost their houses will get Banglar Bari (a house scheme funded entirely by her government). For those whose shops were damaged, the Chief Secretary will take estimates and get the work done for them," CM Mamata said. Unrest broke out in Murshidabad during protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act on April 11. The law has been a contentious issue in the region. The protests turned violent, resulting in the deaths of three people and injuries to several others, with widespread property damage. The West Bengal Police said 150 people have been arrested so far in connection with the Murshidabad violence, and adequate police forces have been deployed in Samserganj, Dhuliyan, and other affected areas of Murshidabad. (ANI) The BJP has accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC) of supporting the protesters and criticised TMC MP Bapi Halder for making threatening remarks against those protesting Waqf properties. (ANI)
The Rouse Avenue Court on Wednesday expressed displeasure over Christian Michel James, the alleged middleman in the VVIP chopper deal case, being kept with a desperate accused, Shahnawaz, in Tihar Jail. The court directed the Jail Superintendent to appear in person and explain the circumstances. "Superintendent jail is directed to appear in person to explain how such a desperate accused person (Shahnawaz) was kept together with Christian Michel James," Special Judge Sanjeev Aggarwal ordered on Wednesday. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, jail authorities filed a report on the measures taken to secure Christian Michel James. On April 3, the Court had asked for a detailed report from jail authorities regarding James' security after he alleged that he was "poisoned". James alleged that there was an attempt to kill him by poisoning, and he had informed the court about it earlier. However, no FIR was lodged. During the hearing, James said, "ED had been saying that I was not in danger. I want to put on record that I drank some of the poison they gave me in 2019, which I threw away. It is a pretty serious issue." James alleged that there was an attempt to poison him in 2019 and expressed fears for his safety. He also alleged that Shahnawaz had amazing access to hashish. "He had hashish every single night. I reported to the court. But no action was taken and eventually he did what I thought he did," said James. The court noted that Shahnawaz had 41 complaints regarding his conduct in jail, raising concerns about the safety and security of Christian Michel James. During the hearing, James told the Judge that he had not been given a table fan for two months. The court sought a report on James' safety and security and directed the jail authorities to provide him with one, citing the hot weather in Delhi. The Judge said, "The Court had already allowed this. He is still an undertrial. The superintendent must provide this fan. He is from abroad. It is 42 degrees in Delhi." James expressed doubts about getting bail, stating that no one would be brave enough to give him surety, and his passport was still awaited. "I don't think anyone is brave enough to give me surety. Only distant relatives can give surety," he added. He sought permission to attend church services and highlighted the difficulties he faces in jail. Meanwhile, his lawyer Aljo K Joseph argued that the extradition treaty between India and the UK had not been made law, which could impact his case. He complained of pain in his legs and requested a follow-up surgery, which the court ordered to be done at the orthopaedic ward of AIIMS hospital. (ANI)
BJP MP Jagdambika Pal on Wednesday said that the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) is continuously provoking people over the Waqf Amendment Act. He said the law has been passed in parliament, and a plea has been submitted to the Supreme Court, so why are the protests happening? Pal said the opposition does not want the backward class and women to get a place in the Waqf board and also benefit from the Act. The BJP MP asserted that the act has been brought for the benefit of the Muslim community. The Waqf board's income has not been used to build schools and colleges, and it even cannot pay salaries to its employees. "AIMPLB is continuously provoking people. The law has passed, and the application has been submitted to the Supreme Court, so why are the protests taking place?... They clearly don't want the backward classes, poor and women, to get a place in the Waqf Board or its benefits... The government has brought this Bill for the benefit of Muslims... The income of Waqf hasn't been used to build schools and colleges; it even cannot pay salaries to its employees...", Jagdambika Pal told ANI. He further criticised the West Bengal government over the Murshidabad violence and "Mamata Banerjee is not able to see the torment of the Hindus forced to flee from Murshidabad and is meeting with the Imams." The BIP leader said that the riots have spread to other areas of South 24 Parganas and the state government is silent on it. "Mamata Banerjee is not able to see the torment of the Hindus forced to flee from Murshidabad and is meeting with the Imams... The riots have now spread to 24 Paraganas and other areas and the state governemnt is silent, which means the rioters have the protection of the government and it is a state-sponsored riot", he said. There have been constant protests going on all across the country over the Waqf Amendment Act, which resulted in violence in West Bengal. The Central Forces have been deployed currently in the violence-hit areas after the order of the Calcutta High Court. (ANI)
Following the chargesheet filed against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi by the Enforcement Directorate in the National Herald case, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sudhanshu Trivedi on Wednesday emphasised that the issue at hand is one of morality, rather than legality. He accused the Congress party of distorting the legacy of freedom fighters, an "old disease," in his words. Trivedi clarified that the BJP is not directly blaming Jawaharlal Nehru but rather pointing out internal allegations made against the Nehru-Gandhi family. He cited memoirs of notable figures such as Sardar Patel and CB Gupta, which reference criticisms of Nehru's actions by other leaders like Purshottam Das Tandon and Acharya Narendra Dev. Sudhanshu Trivedi said, "The question is of morality. The way the Congress party played with the legacy of freedom fighters is an old disease. Congress will allege that we are blaming Nehru, but we are not blaming Nehru. Sardar Patel and CB Gupta have written this in their memoirs, giving reference to Purshottam Das Tandon, Acharya Narendra Dev, Shiv Prasad Gupta and Shriprakash Ji... If Congress is unaware of the internal allegations made on the Nehru-Gandhi family, there is not much to say for me. Blaming legal procedures is wrong." He further said that the issue started in 2012 and in October 2013, during the UPA regime under the direction of the Delhi HC. The case had started through a PIL, and Congress leaders had apprehensions against the National Herald since 1950. "Senior Congress leader CB Gupta, the four-time CM of UP, wrote in his memoir that he was suprised that National Herald was considered as a property of the Nehru family. If there is an investigation by an inquiry commission into how funds were collected for the National Herald, there will be a big expose. CB Gupta said that from the beginning of the policy of National Herald, it was to promote Nehru and his daughter for freedom of the press when attacking whoever criticises the wrong policies of the Nehru family," he said. Earlier, several Congress workers were detained by the police in various states as they held nationwide agitation against the Central government after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a prosecution complaint against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case. The Congress workers were detained in Lucknow and Bengaluru by the police of the respective states. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar lashed out at the ED over the charges against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and others in the National Herald case and stated that it was a great injustice, further calling it a political vendetta. Speaking to the media, the Deputy CM said, "Whatever the ED has submitted is not proper. It is a great injustice; in no way has the Gandhi family benefited from it. It is the property of the Congress party. They are the Head of the party; they were the presidents of the party...It is only a political vendetta." The Congress Party has launched a massive protest against the Central government and investigative agencies. The protest follows the ED filing a chargesheet against Congress leaders Rahul and Sonia Gandhi in connection with the National Herald. Protests have been organised across the country, with several prominent leaders at the forefront. (ANI)
The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Wildlife Warden of Telangana to examine and take immediate steps to protect the wildlife affected on account of deforestation in 100 acres of land in Kancha Gachibowli in Telangana. A bench of Justices BR Gavai and AG Masih made it clear that not even a single tree should be felled in the area. It also warned Telangana authorities about sending its officers responsible for deforestation to a "temporary prison" in the "very same spot" if the state justifies the felling of trees. "If you (State) try to justify then... Better course would be to come up with a plan to restore the forest," Justice Gavai told senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Telangana. Justice Gavai further said, "We will go all out of the way for the protection of environment and ecology." Senior Advocate K Parameshwar, appearing as Amicus Curaie to assist the court in the case, said that the land has been mortgaged to a private party. "We are not on mortgage and all. We are only on how so many trees were chopped off without the permission of the State government. We are only on dozens of bulldozers and forests of hundred acres being destroyed. If you wanted to do something, you should have sought proper permissions," said the bench. Singhvi sought time to study a report prepared by the Central Empowered Committee on the issue, and the apex court gave the state four weeks, while listing the case on May 15. Earlier, the Supreme Court, while taking suo moto cognisance of the felling of trees at the forest area in Kancha Gachibowli in Telangana, stayed the felling of trees at the site and warned the Chief Secretary of the consequences if its order is not complied with. It had ordered that until further orders, there shall be no activity of any sort at the site, except the protection of trees already existing. The bench had also said that Chief Secretary of Telangana will be personally responsible and action will be taken if the court's directions are not complied with in true spirit. Advocate Parmeshwar had told the bench that massive felling of trees had taken place during the weekend holidays. The land is located in the IT hub of Hyderabad and has become contentious, with people expressing concerns over the loss of green cover and space for wildlife there. University of Hyderabad students were protesting against the auction of the land and wanted the land to be transferred to the university. (ANI)
West Bengal Minorities Commission Chairman Ahmed Hassan Imran on Wednesday condemned the violent protests against the Waqf Act in Murshidabad district, where three people have died. Speaking to ANI, Imran said, "Mamata Banerjee said a very good thing that we should go to Delhi and hold a protest there (against Waqf Amendment Act). She also said that the TMC MPs will also join us in the protest. This Act is unnecessarily imposed on us. Violent protests against the Act are not good. Even Mamata Banerjee said that this should not have been done. An investigation is going on regarding this. We condemn it. We all believe that protests should be done peacefully." Earlier today, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met muslim clerics in Kolkata. During the meeting with religious leaders, CM Banerjee had announced Rs 10 lakh compensation to the families of those killed in the Murshidabad violence. She also said that she will ask the Chief Secretary to file a report on it. Violence broke out in Murshidabad during a protest of the Muslim community against the Waqf Amendment Act on April 11. The protests turned violent, resulting in the death of a father-son duo and injuries to several others, with widespread property damage. One person was also killed in the police firing. Following the violence, Union Ministry of Home Affairs deployed nearly nine companies, at least 900 personnel, of the Border Security Force in Murshidabad. Of these nine companies, 300 BSF personnel are locally available, with additional companies at the request of the state government. So far, 150 people have been arrested in connection with the Murshidabad violence, and adequate police forces have been deployed in Samserganj, Dhuliyan, and other affected areas of Murshidabad, police said. On Monday, the West Bengal police said that the situation in the violence-hit areas of Murshidabad was normal and urged people not to believe any rumours. Additional Director General of Police, South Bengal Police, Supratim Sarkar said, "The situation is normal now. Everyone is safe. The CRPF, state police, and joint forces are deployed. The DGP of West Bengal police himself was present at the Samserganj police station. We request everyone not to go through rumours. We opened a control room. Anyone facing any issue can contact us at any time." (ANI)
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was presented awards by the Principal Advisor to the Chief Minister (Innovation, Digital Technologies and Governance) Gokul Butail here on Wednesday received for Himachal Pradesh in recognizing its leading position among all the State in achieving the highest Aadhaar enrolment rate for children and fostering technical expertise for the widespread adoption of Aadhaar-based authentication. These awards were received by Director, Department of Digital Technologies and Governance Dr Nipun Jindal during the "Aadhaar Samvaad" event organized by Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) in New Delhi recently. The Chief Minister said that this national recognition underscores Himachal Pradesh's steadfast commitment to ensuring universal Aadhaar coverage, with a strong emphasis on its youngest population. The Department of Digital Technologies and Governance has played a pivotal role in achieving this milestone through a comprehensive and innovative strategy. This national recognition not only highlights Himachal Pradesh's steadfast commitment to achieving universal Aadhaar coverage, with a strong emphasis on its child population, but also celebrates its exceptional achievement in enrolling the youngest demographic. The State has attained an impressive Aadhaar coverage of 64 percent among children below the age of 5 years, which is the highest in the entire nation. Sukhu said that the Department of Digital Technologies and Governance organized special Aadhaar enrolment camps across schools statewide, ensuring maximum outreach to school-going children. Robust and proactive coordination with district administrations and educational institutions facilitated these drives. Complementary awareness campaigns educated communities about the benefits of child Aadhaar enrolment, supported by dedicated on-ground teams assisting citizens with the process. The Chief Minister appreciated the outstanding performance of the department and directed to further enhance citizen convenience by making more services accessible online through the effective use of Digital Technology. This directive reflects the State's commitment to leveraging its digital infrastructure for the betterment of its citizens. Sukhu said that this national accolade is a testament to the vision, dedication, and effective implementation strategies of the Himachal Pradesh government and the Department of Digital Technologies and Governance. "The State's innovative approach, particularly the integration of Aadhaar enrolment at birth, serves as a commendable model for other states striving for universal Aadhaar coverage. Himachal Pradesh has not only achieved a remarkable milestone in child Aadhaar enrolment but has also reaffirmed its commitment to leveraging digital technology to improve the lives of all its residents from their very first moments," he said. Gokul Butail said that a key element of this success has been the proactive integration of Aadhaar enrolment at the point of birth. "Through a strategic initiative, every delivery point in the health department across Himachal Pradesh has been meticulously linked with a designated, nearby Aadhaar operator. These operators regularly visit the institutions, providing a seamless and convenient opportunity for parents to register their newborn babies for Aadhaar immediately after birth, within the healthcare facility itself. This eliminates logistical barriers and has significantly boosted enrolment rates by capturing children at their earliest stage," he said. Butail also presented the annual report card for 2024-25 prepared by the Department Digital Technologies and Government Department to the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister lauded the efforts of the department for bringing about digital revolution and especially initiatives like Himparivar which is massively improving the welfare and social scenario in the state. Secretary to the Chief Minister Rakash Kanwar, Secretary Digital Technologies and Governance Rakhil Kahlon, Director of Department of Digital Technologies and Governance Dr Nipun Jindal, Additional Director Rajeev Sharma and Joint Director Anil Semwal were also present on the occasion. (ANI)
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that a meeting was held on Wednesday to implement the Ayushman Bharat scheme in Delhi. The main perspective of the meeting was to ensure that all the 'Ayushman' cards were made and that they would reach the public as soon as possible. She further said that all the MLAs have been assigned tasks and work related to the identification of locations for 1139 Arogya Mandirs, which are proposed to be opened in every part of Delhi. "To implement Ayushman Bharat (scheme), which Delhi has received after years of waiting, we held a meeting today to ensure that all the cards are made and reach the public as soon as possible... All the MLAs have been assigned the task... Work should start immediately to identify the location of 1139 Arogya Mandirs to be opened in every corner of Delhi because Delhi has suffered a lot due to the time wasted by the previous governments... We do not want more time to be wasted. Our government will start working on this today...", Rekha Gupta told reporters. The Delhi government will launch Ayushman Cards for all income groups aged above 70 by the end of April 2025. This initiative is part of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), which aims to provide health insurance coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation. Delhi CM Rekha Gupta, along with other cabinet ministers, today chaired a meeting at which MLAs and officials from the state and central governments were present. The meeting aimed to focus on implementing and distributing Ayushman cards and Opening Arogya Mandir in the National Capital. (ANI)
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw attended the breakthrough ceremony of Tunnel T-8 of India's longest rail tunnel, Rishikesh-Karnprayag rail line connecting Devprayag to Janasu section. Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) has achieved a major milestone. It is associated with the 125 km long Rishikesh-Karnprayag broad gauge rail project of Uttarakhand. This rail project is built inside a 105 km tunnel. It has a total of 16 tunnels from Rishikesh to Karnaprayag. On this historic occasion, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav and Uttarakhand CM Dhami jointly reached the tunnel site and inspected it. During this, he took stock of the construction works and gathered information about the tunnel from the officials. Ashwini Vaishnav expressed happiness over the tunnel's successful breakthrough and said that this is an important step towards Uttarakhand's development. He congratulated all the railway officials, employees, and workers on this achievement. The Railway Minister also said that the work on the Rishikesh-Karnprayag Rail Project is progressing rapidly, and operations on this rail line are expected to start soon. This project will prove to be a milestone in connecting the state's hilly areas with the rail network. He said that this 14.57 km long railway tunnel (from Devprayag Saud to Janasu) is not only the longest tunnel in Uttarakhand but also in India. He said that on the initiative of the Central Government, this is the first time that TBM technology has been used to build a rail tunnel in the hilly areas of the country. He said that the speed and accuracy shown by this single-shield rock TBM, which is 9.11 meters in diameter, in the work set a new global benchmark. The Railway Minister said that the Rishikesh-Karnprayag project will connect major cities of Uttarakhand, such as Rishikesh, Devprayag, Srinagar, Rudraprayag, Gauchar, and Karnaprayag. The Railway Minister said that this project would reduce the journey from Rishikesh to Karnaprayag from seven hours to just two hours. It will facilitate access to remote areas in all seasons and promote tourism and economic development in Uttarakhand. It is also a big step towards completing the Char Dham Rail Project. With this achievement, RVNL has established its strong position in modern construction technology in the most difficult areas of India. This success is not just the story of a tunnel, but the beginning of a new, strong and connected India. CM Dhami said that this tunnel is a historic achievement in Uttarakhand's development. "The Rishikesh-Karnprayag Rail Project will play an important role in connecting the remote mountain areas of the state with the rest of the country. It will not only make transportation easier for the local people but will also give a new impetus to tourism, business, and economic activities in the region," CM Dhami said. He said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, infrastructure development in the state has gained new direction and momentum. "This tunnel from Devprayag-Sod to Srinagar Janasu is a major achievement from a technical point of view, and it shows that despite difficult geographical conditions, we can successfully carry out development works," he said. He also said that the survey of the Tanakpur Bageshwar rail project has also been done, and further action will be taken soon. (ANI)
A political showdown erupted between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) following the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) prosecution complaint against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald money laundering case. The Congress party on Wednesday held a nationwide protest against the chargesheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate. Congress leaders launched a scathing attack on the BJP, accusing it of plotting "political vendetta" against the Gandhi family. In response, BJP leaders levelled corruption allegations and claimed that the Congress party was protecting the Gandhi family from accountability. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge accused the central government of "unnecessarily troubling" Congress leaders after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a chargesheet against party leaders Rahul and Sonia Gandhi in connection with the National Herald case. "There is nothing in the case. It was shut down for some time due to financial troubles. Sonia Gandhi tried to revive it with loans and donations. Now, they say that it is wrong to take a loan. BJP is working against the law. What is wrong is wrong, and we will prove it. Our protests will be held nationwide, and we want to tell the people that we are being troubled unnecessarily," the Rajya Sabha MP said. Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi called the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) chargesheet against Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi in the National Herald money laundering case, the "vendetta in a legal disguise." Singhvi said the ED should clarify why they haven't investigated any NDA ally or BJP leader. Addressing a joint press conference with fellow Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, Singhvi said, "This is nothing but vendetta in legal disguise. ED should answer why no NDA ally or BJP leader has ever been touched by the ED. Selective justice is nothing but political thuggery." Ramesh also accused the BJP of using the National Herald case to "divert attention" from the "economic crisis". He also called the ED's chargesheet against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, the "politics of Harassment and revenge." "This is an attempt to divert attention from the economic crisis we are facing. The issues of the people, related to economic situation, foreign policy, America, China, Bangladesh, the challenges we are facing in foreign policy and economic situation, they will not be allowed to be discussed inside and outside the Parliament, so they (BJP) has made an attempt to divert attention from these issues. This is only the politics of Harassment and revenge," he said. Meanwhile, BJP leaders, including Ravi Shankar Prasad and Ashwini Vaishnaw, accused the Gandhis of financial misconduct and misappropriation of public property. BJP leaders signalled they will continue to defend the ED's actions and counter what they call "misinformation by the Congress". BJP leader Ashwini Vaishnaw slammed the Congress for launching protests against the Centre and investigative agencies following the ED chargesheet against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case and accused the party of engaging in "low-level politics" and urged it to take responsibility for the "corruption." Speaking to ANI, Vaishnaw said, "In the National Herald, they are doing politics of a very low level. This is not a political issue, it is a case of corruption. Congress should own it." Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Keshav Prasad Maurya also attacked Congress leaders over the National Herald case, saying that they are acting "like a slave of the Gandhi family." "The Congress party is acting like a slave of the Gandhi family. The Constitution is the same for all 140 crore people of the country. There was a huge scam, huge corruption in the National Herald case, the investigation of which began during the Congress government's regime itself. The investigation agencies should be allowed to do their work", Keshav Prasad Maurya told ANI. On Tuesday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a prosecution complaint (chargesheet) against top Congressmen Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi in connection with the National Herald money laundering case. The chargesheet also names Congress leader Sam Pitroda, Suman Dubey, and others, including several firms. The matter has been listed for arguments on cognisance in the Delhi Rouse Avenue Court on April 25. The prosecution complaint has been filed under Sections 44 and 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, for the offence of money laundering, as defined under Section 3, read with Section 70, and punishable under Section 4 of the PMLA, 2002. (ANI)
Amid a political storm in Jammu and Kashmir over some mentions concerning Farooq Abdullah in his new book 'The Chief Minister and the Spy', former RAW Chief Amarjit Singh Dulat has said that the "book is full of praise" for the former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and has "nothing against him". Dulat, a former IPS officer, who served both the Intelligence Bureau and RAW and has long experience of working in and on Kashmir, said the book is an appreciation and not a critique of the former Chief Minister. \ "I have been misquoted, misrepresented," he told ANI. Asked about media reports citing his book that Farooq Abdullah privately backed the Centre's move concerning Article 370 move, Dulat said he has been misquoted. "Absolutely misquoted. Nothing like this happened." "My book is full of praise for Dr Farooq (Abdullah). There is nothing against him in the book. Please read it," Dulat told ANI. Dulat was asked about reported remarks of Farooq Abdullah, in which the senior National Conference leader has talked of "inaccuracies" in the book and also said "a friend doesn't write like this". He was also asked about the claims in his book concerning abrogation of Article 370 and his reported mention that just as BJP had never hidden its intentions towards Kashmir concerning Article 370, "so, too, had Farooq been extremely open about his willingness to work with Delhi". "My only comment is that the book is an appreciation not critique of Farooq (Abdullah)," Dulat told ANI. Opposition parties in Jammu and Kashmir have slammed Farooq Abdullah over reports concerning Dulat's book. J-K People's Conference chief Sajad Lone said he is not surprised. "We had an idea about this earlier. Dulat Sahab was considered very close to Farooq Sahab. It is a common opinion that the biggest lawyer of Farooq Sahab in Delhi is Dulat Sahab. When he says that Article 370 (abrogation) was Farooq Abdullah's consent or from 2020 to 2023, it was his biggest wish to align with BJP, it has a lot of credibility," Lone told ANI. PDP MLA Waheed Para said National Conference and Farooq Abdullah should clarify on the matter. "Dulat sahib has written in his book that Farooq Abdullah was onboard with the August 5, 2019 decision and privately supported the abrogation of Article 370 (in J&K). We want the National Conference and Farooq Sahib to give clarity on this...We had an alliance with the BJP, but they (National Conference) did a deal with the BJP. Everything that has been happening in Jammu and Kashmir is part of a pattern; the historical betrayals the National Conference leadership has been doing with the J&K, they have been running the same script," he said. Jammu and Kashmir National Conference spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq,MLA, alleged an attempt was being made to create a controversy to sell the book. "In the book, he says that the Central government kept an eye on Farooq Abdullah for seven months...I think this is just an attempt to create a controversy...It is just a figment of imagination. He is trying to sell his book, and what better than creating a controversy related to Jammu and Kashmir? I feel there is nothing to it. What happened in 2019 was a betrayal for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. We believe that was wrong. We were the only ones who went to Supreme Court to fight against Article 370," he said. Dulat was appointed adviser on Kashmir in the Prime Minister's Office after his retirement and served in the role from January 2001 to May 2004. At the IB he headed the Kashmir Group during the turbulent 1990s. (ANI)
Samajwadi Party chief and MP Akhilesh Yadav, along with his wife Dimple Yadav, offered prayers at Puri's Shri Jagannath Temple on Wednesday. After visiting the temple, Yadav said, "Today, I have taken Lord Jagannath's blessings... I hope Lord Jagannath blesses the people of the entire country and strengthens social justice in the country." Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister expressed his desire to expand the party's organisation in Odisha. "Although I have been to Odisha many times before, I have come here after a long time. The Samajwadi Party will strive to establish itself and grow in Odisha," he said. Earlier in the day, amid ongoing ruckus over the ED filing a prosecution complaint against Sonia and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case, Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo asserted that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) must be "abolished" since departments including Income Tax already exist to tackle economic offences. "In my understanding, a department like ED must be abolished. I will ask Congress to ask for the same thing. There are several institutions that look into economic offences. Having ED means that you are not even trusting your own organisations, like the Income Tax department or GST," Yadav said in a press conference. He stated that many parties had opposed the establishment of ED during the Congress' tenure, telling them that it might cause them trouble in the future. He added that leaders who spoke against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Maharashtra had to face investigative agencies. "The Congress itself made this ED law. At that time, many parties opposed it, telling Congress that you were bringing such a law that could ultimately cause trouble to you. Any leader who was against the BJP in Maharashtra faced the ED, CBI, and the income tax department," Yadav added. (ANI)
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday slammed the Gandhi family over the National Herald money laundering case, questioning how Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi managed to convert Rs 50 lakhs into Rs 2000 crores. Sarma alleged that the Gandhi family took over the National Herald company "fraudulently" and made profits despite it being a Section 19 company under the Companies Act, which prohibits profit-making. "What is the case? Initially, the National Herald company had a capital of Rs 50 lakhs. After the company was taken over 'fraudulently' by the Gandhi family, its net worth suddenly increased to Rs 2000 crores. It is a section 19 company under which profit is prohibited, like our Cancer Foundation, but they were making profits. Rahul Gandhi often accuses Adani and Ambani of how they have made so much money. My question is how, being from a political family, he has learnt business tricks to convert Rs 50 lakhs into Rs 2000 crores. Tell us the same formula so that I can do this for Assam," Sarma told reporters. Expressing sympathy for ordinary Congress workers, Sarma stated they are being deprived while the Gandhis are "minting money". He emphasised that Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi should appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and prove their innocence. The Chief Minister said, "Congress people should demand that Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi give back the Rs 2000 crore to the party. Have you seen the condition of the Congress party offices? At least Rs 2000 crore have been given to the Congress to build party offices. People don't realise that Gandhis are minting money, but ordinary Congress people are being deprived. I feel pity for them. I have a whole lot of sympathy for the Congress people who have been working on the ground. It is the duty of Rahul Gandhi, who always says that I do not like corruption, to fight against corruption. Now, both the mother and son should appear before the ED and prove their innocence." Earlier today, Congress launched nationwide protests against the central government and investigative agencies following the Enforcement Directorate's move to file charge sheets against senior party leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in connection with the National Herald case. On Tuesday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a prosecution complaint (chargesheet) against top Congressmen Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi in connection with the National Herald money laundering case. The chargesheet also names Congress leader Sam Pitroda, Suman Dubey, and others, including several firms. The matter has been listed for arguments on cognisance in the Delhi Rouse Avenue Court on April 25. The prosecution complaint has been filed under Sections 44 and 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, for the offence of money laundering, as defined under Section 3, read with Section 70, and punishable under Section 4 of the PMLA, 2002. (ANI)
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel chaired a high-level review meeting in Gandhinagar to evaluate the performance of Gujarat State Road Development Corporation. He approved projects worth Rs 247.35 crore for the development of key roads in the state and granted several other significant approvals, a release from Gujarat CMO said. The meeting also reviewed the progress of works valued at Rs 2999.8 crore undertaken by Gujarat State Road Development Corporation Ltd to construct, resurface, and widen key roads spanning a total length of 188.9 km across the state. Key projects under review include the six-lane elevated corridor on the Bharuch-Dahej Road, the Bharuch-Dahej Expressway, the Vataman-Pipli high-speed corridor, the Bhuj-Bhachau high-speed corridor, the modernisation of the Kim-Mandvi Road, and the construction of a railway overbridge near Sachana village. During the meeting, the Chief Minister also approved the six-laning of the Shantipura to Khoraj section of the Ahmedabad-Viramgam-Maliya road, at an estimated cost of Rs800 crore. This project will significantly benefit the entire Sanand industrial area by enhancing connectivity and infrastructure, offering better facilities for new investors and entrepreneurs at the GIDC. The development is expected to further boost industrial growth and attract increased investment to the region. CM directed the concerned officials in the meeting to fast-track the construction of key roads in the state, while ensuring a strong focus on quality. In this review meeting of GSRDC, the Chief Minister granted approval for key works, including a new vehicle underpass worth Rs 13.61 crore near the road towards Bhetadiya Dada Mandir on the Vataman-Pipli road, and another new vehicle underpass worth Rs 15 crore opposite Pipli village. In addition, approval was granted for the construction of four new vehicle underpasses at a total cost of Rs 76 crore: a new vehicle underpass in front of the BKT factory on the Bhuj-Bhachau road at a cost of Rs 27 crore, a new underpass near Dhaneti village at a cost of Rs 17.50 crore, another near Bhadroi village at a cost of Rs 14.25 crore, and one near Dudhai village at a cost of Rs 17 crore. With these approvals, local traffic will be separated from long-distance traffic, leading to faster, interruption-free transport on the Bhuj-Bhachau road and a reduction in accidents. During the meeting, the Gujarat State Road Development Corporation presented detailed information to the Chief Minister on the Bhuj-Nakhtrana road works, valued at Rs937 crore, and the resurfacing works, estimated at Rs 76.65 crore. CM directed the concerned officials to accelerate the land acquisition and detailed project report process for the Namo Shakti Expressway and Ahmedabad-Somnath-Dwarka Expressway works proposed in the budget for the financial year 2025-26. He also emphasized making the necessary arrangements to ensure these projects begin on time. Smt also attended the meeting. Avantika Singh, Secretary to the Chief Minister; Prabhat Pateliya, Secretary, Roads and Buildings Department; Gandhi, Managing Director of GSRDC; along with other senior officials. (ANI)
Let the world know innovation is coming out of China, says GSMA CEO John Hoffman

People's Daily Online) 10:02, April 16, 2025

China stands at the forefront of global technological advancement, said John Hoffman, CEO of the GSM Association (GSMA), in an exclusive interview with People's Daily Online on April 14, 2025, on the sidelines of the World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit.

"There is no doubt that the Asia-Pacific regionChina in particularleads in the development and adoption of 5G and 5G-Advanced technologies, which are fundamental to the proliferation of artificial intelligence," said Hoffman.

Highlighting the real-world applications of AI in China, Hoffman emphasized that "AI is not just something that is talked about, but something that's being put into real use."

He noted that Chinese companies have demonstrated innovation through tangible outcomes, especially in areas such as smart cities, disaster prevention, and cultural heritage preservation. "These applications are creating demonstration effects that are being shared with the world through platforms like this Summit," he said.

Praising China's comprehensive technological ecosystem, Hoffman cited the scale of China's network infrastructure and user base as powerful drivers of innovation. "China has the largest networks in the world and the largest user base, which enables economies of scale that benefit the entire global market," he said.

John Hoffman, CEO of the GSM Association (GSMA), in an exclusive interview with People's Daily Online, April 14, 2025, on the sidelines of the World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit. (People's Daily Online/ Wu Yuyangyang)

He further highlighted the role of leading Chinese enterprises in shaping the global tech landscape. "We have seen remarkable innovation from companies like Huawei and ZTE in infrastructure, and from rising AI firms like DeepSeek that are blazing trails in artificial intelligence," said Hoffman. "The innovation from Chinese companies is at the forefront globally."

"China is a beacon for technology," said Hoffman, noting that it serves as a leading example for others around the world to see what can be accomplished in a remarkably short time.

He stressed the importance of ensuring China's technological breakthroughs benefit the global community. "The innovations of Chinese companies are at the forefront of any around the world. The key now is not to keep innovation confined to the Chinese mainland, but to allow it to be transformative worldwideto continue driving and developing across borders."

During the interview, Hoffman also underscored the importance of international collaboration in building a digital future. "The Summit is a great opportunity to share direction, share wisdom, share value, and talk about the future," he said. "Only through cooperation can we create a shared future in cyberspace."

"GSMA will continue to work with Chinese companies," Hoffman said, "and let the rest of the world know that innovation is coming out of China."

(Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Wu Chengliang)
Char Dham Yatra 2025, set to begin on April 30 with Akshaya Tritiya, has seen over 17 lakhs devotees register to take part in the yatra, according to the Uttarakhand government. "So far, a total of 17,76,058 people have registered for the journey. The Char Dham Yatra of Uttarakhand is starting on the 30th of this month with the auspicious festival of Akshaya Tritiya," as per the Uttarakhand government. As per the Uttarakhand government, the state's tourism development council for Char Dham Yatra is currently operating around the clock. On average, 638 individuals from across the country contact the control room daily to obtain information related to the pilgrimage. To date, approximately 17,853 people have reached out to the control room. The registration process for the Char Dham Yatra started on March 20. On the first day, 1,032 people contacted the control room and got information. On April 8, 961 people contacted the control room and on April 7, 803 people contacted. The toll-free number 0135-1364 of the control room of the Tourism Development Council is continuously receiving calls from different parts of the country. On April 10, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami stated that the state government is dedicated to ensuring the safety of Char Dham Yatra pilgrims, as this pilgrimage is vital for the state's economy. "The preparations for the Char Dham Yatra are underway. I also chaired a meeting to review the preparations for the Yatra. We are committed to ensuring the safety of the pilgrims. Char Dham Yatra is a lifeline for our state's economy," CM Dhami said. Char Dham Yatra or pilgrimage is a tour of four holy sites, Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath, nestled high up in the Himalayas. In Hindi, 'char' means four and 'dham' refers to religious destinations. It is believed that one should complete the Char Dham Yatra in a clockwise direction. Hence, the pilgrimage starts from Yamunotri, proceeds towards Gangotri, onto Kedarnath, and finally ends at Badrinath. The journey can be completed by road or by air (helicopter services are available). Some devotees even do a Do Dham Yatra or a pilgrimage to two shrines - Kedarnath and Badrinath. (ANI)
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday expressed its stern displeasure over the inhuman treatment meted out to students by Delhi Public School Dwarka. The students were confined in library and were not allowed to attend the class over the fee hike. While hearing the matter, Justice Sachin Datta said that such a school deserves to be shut down. Many students in their uniforms and books were present alongwith their parents during the hearing. The court is dealing with a petition in relation to fee hike by the school. The High Court said that some steps required to be taken to ensure that students are not tortured by the school. Justice Datta expressed his concern and said that students were treated in a improper way. The school doesn't get a licence to treat the students to deal with indignity due their inability to pay the fee. An eight-member panel headed by the District Magistrate submitted a report which stated several indiscriminatory pratice by the school. The High Court perused the report and said that the report has indicated an alarming state of affairs in school. The parents have alleged that their children were tortured by the school over non payment of fee. The High Court has asked the school to refrain from such practices and allow the students to attend classes. During the hearing, the Delhi Government's standing counsel said that a show cause notice was issued to the school on April 8. On the other hand, the counsel for school submitted that notice was issued to students in December last year but they failed to clear the dues. On the other hand, the parents said that they are ready to pay the approved fee amount. (ANI)
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Union Minister of MSME Jitan Ram Manjhi on Wednesday inaugurated PM Viswakarma National SC-ST Conclave at Sri Ramachandra Bhanjdeo University in Baripada. The Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) organised the 'PM Vishwakarma - National SC-ST Hub Conclave' at the Convention Hall of Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University in Mayurbhanj' Baripada of Odisha. The event commenced with the inauguration of an exhibition and brought together stakeholders, beneficiaries, and government officials to highlight key initiatives such as the PM Vishwakarma Scheme and the National SC-ST Hub. The Conclave was co-chaired by Jitan Ram Manjhi, Union Minister of MSME, and Mohan Charan Majhi, Chief Minister of Odisha. The dignitaries inaugurated the Conclave with a ribbon-cutting and lamp-lighting ceremony. The gathering was also graced by Odisha Minister of State (Independent Charge), MSME, Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Gokulananda Mallick, Odisha Additional Chief Secretary, Industries and MSME Department, Hemant Sharma, Baripada MLA Prakash Soren, Rajya Sabha MP Mamata Mohanta, Odisha Minister of State (IC) Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Labour, Labour & Employees State Insurance, Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia, Odisha Minister, Housing and Urban Development, Public Enterprises, Dr. Krushna Chandra Mahapatra and Lok SabhaMP of Mayurbhanj Naba Charan Majhi and other senior officials of the Ministry. The conclave began with the welcome address by Dr Ishita Ganguli Tripathy, ADC, DC(MSME), followed by a welcome address and a presentation on role of Ministry's Schemes and MSMEs growth in Odisha State by Dr Rajneesh, AS & DC, DC(MSME). The event featured experience-sharing by beneficiaries of the PM Vishwakarma, PMEGP, and SC-ST Hub initiatives. To empower entrepreneurs, e-certificates were distributed to PM Vishwakarma beneficiaries, along with the distribution of credit cheques. Certificates were also awarded to National SC-ST Hub beneficiaries and PMEGP beneficiaries. Jitan Ram Manjho spoke about the significant role the MSME sector playing in job creation and improving livelihoods. He highlighted the importance and role of the PM Vishwakarma and National SC-ST Hub schemes, along with the contributions of the Coir Board and Khadi, in empowering individuals and improving livelihoods. "I express my sincere thanks and gratitude to Hon'ble President Smt. Droupadi Murmu, whose guidance has brought me here to Odisha, her region, with the purpose of promoting MSMEs. Our Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi envisions India becoming a developed nation, and by the year 2027-28, it will become the world's third-largest economy," the Minister said. Manjhi said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave us a Ministry of a vision -- and the Ministry of MSME is truly a ministry of vision. I am 200% sure of this. I feel extremely grateful to be working for the MSME sector. This Ministry is the greatest department, and every entrepreneur aspires to grow through it." "Odisha is doing very well and the MSME sector in the state is progressing impressively. Because of MSME initiatives, today every enterprise is registered on the Udyam Registration Portal. The MSME sector in Odisha will continue to grow through our Ministry's efforts, contributing to Prime Minister Modi's vision of a developed India," he further added. Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi highlighted the achievements of the PM Vishwakarma and National SC-ST Hub schemes, and how the people of the state have benefited from the support of the Ministry and its initiatives. "PM Vishwakarma is playing a key role in the life of middle class. The Ministry of MSME has given a special focus to Odisha and organised the PM Vishwakarma- National SC-ST Hub Conclave here," the Chief Minister said. Launched on September 17, 2023, the PM Vishwakarma Scheme supports traditional artisans and craftspeople with skill development, financial aid, and toolkits. While the National SC-ST Hub, launched in October 2016, empowers SC/ST entrepreneurs through capacity building, market linkages, and access to technology and credit. The MSME sector, comprising over 6.25 crore enterprises and employing 26.7 crore individuals, plays a crucial role in India's economic development, contributing nearly 30 per cent to GDP and over 45 per cent to exports. (ANI)
The meeting, held at the Prime Minister's residence, was attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and BJP's National General Secretary (Organisation), BL Santosh.

Discussions centred around the upcoming election for the BJP's National President. According to party sources, the announcement regarding the election could be made within a week.

In addition to deliberating on the national leadership, the meeting also focused on organisational changes at the state level.

Sources said that the names of new state BJP presidents for states like Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh were discussed. The party may announce around half a dozen state unit presidents in the next two to three days.

The organisational reshuffle is expected to have a significant impact on the BJP's electoral strategy ahead of upcoming polls.

"The election process for choosing the BJP's national president could begin any time after April 20," the party sources said.

The election for the National President was supposed to take place in January. However, with April halfway through, it remains pending. Party insiders believe that the delay is due to the careful selection of a leader who can further strengthen the organisation.

JP Nadda, who has been serving as the BJP National President since January 2020, had his term extended beyond the three-year limit to ensure a smooth transition and proper preparation for the next leadership phase.

According to the BJP constitution, the term of the National President is generally three years, elected through consensus within the party. (ANI)
The upcoming shelter, designed to accommodate up to 500 individuals, will be built at a cost of Rs 44 crore. The construction is being supported by the Power Grid Corporation of India as part of its corporate social responsibility initiative. CM Yogi will officially kick off the project by performing the ground-breaking ceremony, the statement added.

This facility aims to benefit patients and their attendants who travel from far-flung areas for treatment at AIIMS Gorakhpur.

Earlier, CM Yogi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of various development projects worth Rs 91 crores at Madan Mohan Malaviya University of Technology in Gorakhpur district.

Ahead of this CM has inaugurated a grain-based distillery plant worth Rs 1,200 crore under the super mega project at the Gorakhpur Industrial Development Authority (GIDA).

Addressing the event, Chief Minister Adityanath said this is not just a Distillery but an ethanol plant. In the first phase, it will produce 350,000 litres of ethanol daily, with plans to increase production to 500,000 litres later on.

The Chief Minister said that ethanol production has increased from 42 lakh litres to 177 crore litres since Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the production of ethanol from surplus sugarcane.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath highlighted the transformation under the BJP's leadership in Gorakhpur Industrial Development Authority (GIDA), noting that it has attracted over Rs 15,000 crore in investments, reversing a previous lack of interest in industrial setup. (ANI)
The team of Indian Army's Field Hospital deployed in Mandalay under Operation Brahma returned to India late on Tuesday night. The Indian Army's Field Hospital team returned to Hindon Air Force Base and was deployed in Mandalay as part of India's humanitarian assistance and disaster relief effort to provide medical support to the victims of the earthquake in Myanmar. Commander of 50 Parachute Brigade, Brig Naveen Kumar shared the details of the operation with ANI. He said, "As you are aware, this immediate operation was launched by the Indian Army in the aftermath of the 7.7 scale earthquake, which had hit Myanmar. The epicentre of this was in a city known as Mandalay. Subsequently, on the request of the Myanmarese authorities, we moved to the city of Mandalay which was the epicentre." He added, "Initially, we had gone with a 118-member contingent. But subsequently, as we saw the devastation and lives getting lost and situation escalating, more replenishment flights and more specialist and surgeons were pulled in and ultimately, there was a 123 member strong contingent in that country which included variety of surgeons, all kind of specialist for trauma care, all kinds of laboratory activities, all kind of x-ray facilities and everything else to be able to conduct life-saving surgeries." Sharing further details, he said, "We had established a twin parallel operation theatre which was one of its kind in a field condition wherein they could operate on two critical patients at the same point of time. In addition, once this team had gone across there and as the trust of people in Indian Medical facilities grew, even the local hospitals started referring their patients for advanced medical care to the Indian doctors and the healing touch of our doctors was quite evident there. We were able to touch the hearts and lives of a number of people." He told, "We have carried out approximately 65 major surgeries in field conditions" and shared that they had left adequate medicines for the people. Commanding Officer, Para Field Hospital, Lt Col Jagneet Gill told ANI about the operation that, "It was not a very difficult task in a way because we have been trained to do that. We have been a part of 60 Parachute Field Hospital, which is under the 50th (Independent) Parachute Brigade. This hospital is designated for any international HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief) operations. We have already represented the country in various HADR operations that were in Nepal and Turkey as well. We are already prepared for this kind of operations." He highlighted, "We had great support from the people of Myanmar and the government there." Operation Brahma has been India's dedicated humanitarian outreach to Myanmar in the wake of the disaster. As part of this initiative, India has also extended aid to the Indian diaspora in the Yangon region. The Embassy of India in Myanmar stated that Ambassador Abhay Thakur handed over 15 tonnes of rice, cooking oil, and foodstuffs to a local community relief group. The Consulate General of India in Mandalay similarly contributed by providing a generator set, water purifier, and cooking oil to the Ambika temple kitchen, which is currently serving meals to 4,000 people daily. (ANI)
The State Department of the US shared updates about the Middle East on Tuesday (US Local time) and said that the US is working to have a ceasefire and change the trajectory on ground. Spokesperson Tammy Bruce also reiterated the stance on Iran as the negotiations continue between the US and Iran. Speaking about Gaza, Bruce said, "There is a constant, regular commitment to Gaza, to the Gazan people, certainly to one of our strongest if not most stalwart ally, Israel, who have, by the way, a new ambassador from the United States, Ambassador Mike Huckabee. So we're very excited about the future. We are working constantly to make - to have a ceasefire and to change the trajectory on the ground. That has not stopped." Making the remarks during the press briefing, Spokesperson Tammy Bruce also mentioned anti-semitism and said, "As antisemitism surges around the world, our message to Jewish communities remains unchanged: The United States stands with you. We will fight antisemitism with unwavering determination. We will advocate for the safety and security of Jews everywhere." Speaking about the developments with Iran, she mentioned about the meeting of US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff with Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, which were hosted by the Omani foreign minister. Referring to the statement by the White House, Bruce said, "As the White House statement described, 'the discussions were very positive and constructive', and, 'the sides agreed to meet again next Saturday'." She also quoted Witkoff. "Our goal remains clear. In the words of Ambassador Witkoff, 'A deal with Iran will only be completed if it is a Trump deal. Any final arrangement must set a framework for peace, stability, and prosperity in the Middle East - meaning that Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponisation programme. It is imperative for the world that we create a tough, [yet] fair deal that will endure, and that is what President Trump has asked me to do'." On being questioned about Iran's nuclear programme, Bruce referred to the remarks made by Leavitt and further added, "I would say that there is one goal here and that is that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. And that is, I think, a pretty easy thing to start with, and that is the one thing that we know that they're working on. And I think we'll have some success, considering who we're addressing." White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt spoke about the ongoing negotiations between the US and Iran and shared that US President Trump held a conversation on Tuesday (US Local time) with the Sultan of Oman and thanked the latter for hosting the first direct meeting between the two countries. She reiterated in her remarks that the US stands firm on Iran not being able to obtain nuclear weapons. Karoline Leavitt said, "The maximum pressure campaign on Iran continues, but as you know, the President has made it clear -- he wants to see dialogue and discussion with Iran while making his directive about Iran never being able to obtain nuclear weapons, quite clear." (ANI)
Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), extended a warm welcome to Swami Brahmaviharidas, head of the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi, on Monday, the official website of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha announced in a statement on their website. As per the statement, during the meeting, both sides underlined the importance of promoting the universal values of peace, coexistence, and harmony. The statement highlighted that the meeting between the two emphasised that tolerance in the UAE is a value deeply rooted and integrated into the fabric of Emirati society, a home to more than 200 nationalities and a hub for diverse cultures who live in security, safety, and prosperity. "This discussion reflects the UAE's commitment to supporting peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding, strengthening bridges of communication and dialogue, and achieving common benefits in a way that contributes to stability and prosperity regionally and internationally. Over the next 50 years, the UAE will continue to further its efforts to maintain its status as one of the leading countries in the world to live and work in, based on its future-focused vision and keenness toward realising sociocultural diversity", the statement by the Swaminarayan Santha said. Notably, the statement observed that while expressing his heartfelt appreciation for the President of the UAE, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Swami Brahmaviharidas shared comprehensive plans for the Mandir's development and the upcoming international centres of BAPS in various countries and cities. In appreciation of continued guidance and inspiration throughout the temple's ideation and creation, Swami Brahmaviharidas presented a special 'Crystal Gift of Gratitude' as a token of inner gratefulness. The BAPS delegation also included Swami Aksharatitdas, Shri Ashok Kotecha and Pranav Desai, the statement noted. Swaminaryan Santha underscored how the BAPS Hindu Mandir has become a symbol of global harmony, reflecting the UAE's commitment to tolerance and coexistence. This constructive meeting underscores the strong bond between the UAE and the Hindu community, highlighting the UAE's dedication to fostering an environment of greater tolerance, peace and understanding. (ANI)
US President Donald Trump still maintains his position on Canada, and he believes that Canada would greatly benefit from becoming the 51st state of the United States of America, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a press briefing on Tuesday (local time). When asked whether Trump's tone on Canada-US ties has shifted in the past few weeks and he has stopped talking about Canada becoming the 51st state of the US, Leavitt responded, "I would reject the president's position on Canada has shifted, perhaps, he just hasn't been asked about Canada by questions from this group in the Oval Office when they see him almost every day. However, the president still maintains his position on Canada. The United States has been subsidising Canada's national defence, and he believes that Canadians would benefit greatly from becoming the 51st state of the United States of America." Trump has repeatedly said that Canada should be the 51st US state and even mocked former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as the "Governor of Canada". When asked about Trump suggesting that automakers could be helped and whether tariff relief for automakers was part of his plan, Leavitt said she had nothing to read out but stressed that the US President is flexible when it comes to negotiations and talks and, ultimately, his goal in his fair trade deals. Leavitt stated, "As for autos and auto parts, I don't have anything to read out for you there but I think the point the president was making is flexibility and he has flexibility when it comes to negotiations and talks but ultimately his goal in his fair trade deals that he is pursuing with many countries around the world is to put the American worker first and we had automakers and auto workers here at the White House on Liberation Day who believe in this president and his negotiating ability to put them first and to bring those jobs back to the United States of America and the president's been very clear about that in his conversations with the automakers as well." On Monday, Trump said that he was "looking" into potential part-specific tariff exemptions for carmakers and stressed that it is important to be "flexible" amid the current trade negotiations, Fox News reported. Trump's statement indicated potential relief for auto manufacturers after the administration moved to exempt electronic devices--such as smartphones, iPhones, and laptops--from the US President's reciprocal tariffs. Speaking to reporters during a meeting with El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele on Monday, Trump said, "I'm looking at something to help some of the car companies, where they are switching to parts that were made in Canada, Mexico and other places." He said, "They're going to make them here, but they need a little bit of time -- so I'm talking about things like that." Fox News reported that he also reiterated his earlier remarks about the need to be flexible during the ongoing tariff negotiations with various nations. Speaking to reporters, Trump said, "Look, I'm a very flexible person. I don't change my mind, but I'm flexible, and you have to be. You just can't have a wall, and you'll only -- sometimes you have to go around it, under it or above it." He said, "There will be maybe things coming... I don't want to hurt anybody, but the end result is we're going to get to the position of greatness for our country." On April 9, Trump announced an immediate increase in tariffs on China to 125 per cent. The move by the US President came following a retaliatory move by China, which increased its tariff on US goods from 34 per cent to 84 per cent starting April 10. In a simultaneous move, Trump announced that for 75 countries which have called Representatives of the United States for trade talks, he has authorised a 90-day "pause" and a substantially lower reciprocal tariff. (ANI)
The US Department of State, during its press briefing, addressed the questions on the rise of extremism and anti-Semitism in Bangladesh, along with the targeting of American companies in the country. Spokesperson Tammy Bruce underscored the importance of the future of Bangladesh to be decided by the people of the country. During the press briefing on Tuesday (US Local time), on being asked about the rise of "Islamist extremism in Bangladesh under the Yunus backed regime", and targeting of American brands along with anti-semitic sentiments, Spokesperson Tammy Bruce said, "Bangladesh is a country with certain issues, they are also a country we have talked about often." She said, "I have something to mention regarding Bangladesh, which is the arrest of a UK MP, Sadiq. Bangladeshi courts have issued that arrest... even protests are a matter for Bangladesh authorities to handle. Talking with them matters a great deal as well". She said, "Future of Bangladesh is going to be decided by the Bangladeshi people... we've seen the reports". Bruce further added, "Elections matter. I don't want to sound trite here, but it's true. Democracy matters, and people's actions to confront issues that might destroy their lives matter--it's pretty clear what the choices are for many nations on this planet." Earlier on April 12, Bangladesh's foreign secretary, Md Jashim Uddin, had said, "The government of Bangladesh is committed to ensuring the safety and security of every citizen, regardless of their creed, colour, religion, or ethnicity. The country does not tolerate any form of violence or intimidation against any of its citizens. We are fully aware of our responsibilities in this regard." He made the remarks while describing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus's recent meeting in Bangkok, which was held on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC meeting, as an important step forward. During his meeting with Yunus in Bangkok, PM Modi underlined India's concerns related to the safety and security of minorities in Bangladesh, including Hindus, and expressed his expectation that the Bangladesh government would ensure their security, including by thoroughly investigating the cases of atrocities committed against them. Now, the Bangladesh foreign secretary has assured that his nation is committed to ensuring the security of minorities in the country. The Bangladesh Foreign Secretary also hoped that the South Asia region can grow together, and economic development in one country can complement economic development in another country. (ANI)
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has said that the party founder Imran Khan has denied granting permission to any party member to hold negotiations with the establishment, The Express Tribune reported. Speaking to reporters outside Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail on Tuesday after meeting Imran Khan, he dismissed recent claims made by PTI Senator Azam Swati, who had suggested that Khan had allowed him to hold backchannel talks to stabilise the political situation of Pakistan. In a television interview, Swati had hinted at possible meetings with key figures and proposed involving Pakistan's former President Arif Alvi in the negotiation process. However, Gohar Ali Khan has said that PTI founder Imran Khan has neither given permission for such initiatives nor told anyone to broker a deal. Gohar Ali Khan said, "PTI founder said that he has not pressurised anyone to strike a deal," adding that Imran Khan issued six statements during their meeting, The Express Tribune reported. He also discussed the mining and minerals bill introduced in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly. He said that Imran Khan would present a formal position after meeting with political leaders, especially Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. The bill has sparked criticism from opposition parties and some PTI members, who have said that it compromises provincial autonomy. Gohar Ali Khan expressed concerns over Afghan refugee issues and regional dynamics involving Afghanistan. He said, "PTI founder said that all opposition parties will have to gather on a single platform for [the protection of] democracy." He criticised jail authorities for restricting Khan's access, revealing that while only two lawyers were approved for the meeting with the PTI founder, five were allowed inside. PTI chairman condemned the continued denial of visits by Khan's family, particularly his sisters, despite the Islamabad High Court allowing biweekly meetings. Gohar also condemned the jail authorities' continued denial of visits by Khan's family, especially his sisters, despite clear Islamabad High Court orders permitting biweekly meetings. Earlier this month, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Azam Swati said that PTI founder Imran Khan directed him to engage with the establishment, ARY News reported. In a video statement, Azam Swati said that Imran Khan had asked him to hold talks with the establishment and directed him to keep the details regarding the discussions confidential. He said that although Imran Khan has publicly criticised the establishment on social media, behind-the-scenes efforts were being made to hold talks. Azam Swati said that Imran Khan had asked him to be well-prepared for such discussions, similar to previous instances where sensitive matters had been addressed, ARY News reported. Meanwhile, PTI has outlined a new policy for meetings with Imran Khan, who is currently incarcerated in a prison, The Express Tribune reported. In a statement issued following a political committee meeting, PTI said that a five-member committee would be set up to manage and approve the list of people allowed to meet Khan. The list will be finalised each Tuesday and Thursday and provided to prison authorities through one of three designated focal persons: Salman Akram Raja, Gohar Ali Khan or Intizar Panjhotha, The Express Tribune reported. The PTI warned that no person outside the approved list would be allowed to meet the PTI founder. Any member who violates this rule will be considered to be breaching the party discipline. If prison officials do not allow any approved visitors, the remaining committee members will protest by meeting Khan collectively. In such cases, the Imran Khan-founded party announced it would file a contempt petition against the officials. The PTI further said that government officials from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would be exempt from this rule and they can visit Khan at any time without approval of the committee. (ANI)
Gujar is an Indian Foreign Service Officer of the 2008 batch. According to a press release issued by MEA, he is expected to take up the assignment shortly.

In a press release, MEA said, "Shri Amararam Gujar (IFS: 2008), presently Deputy Chief of Mission, Rome, has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Malawi."

"He is expected to take up the assignment shortly," it added.

India and Malawi share cordial and friendly bilateral relations. India established diplomatic relations with Malawi immediately after Malawi's Independence in 1964, according to MEA. The bilateral ties between India and Malawi have been further strengthened through regular high-level exchanges.

Earlier in February, an eight-member delegation from Malawi, led by General Paul Valentino Phiri, the Commander of the Malawi Defence Force, visited the National Defence College (NDC) in New Delhi.

The visit aimed to strengthen ties and enhance interactions at the senior military leadership level. During their visit, the delegation also engaged with the faculty of NDC.

In a post on X, the Ministry of Defence said, "An eight-member Malawian delegation headed by General Paul Valentino Phiri, Commander, Malawi Defence Force visited #NDC, New Delhi today."

It further stated, "The objective of the visit was to enhance interactions at senior military leadership level. The delegation interacted with the Faculty of NDC and had a familiarisation tour to various facilities." (ANI)
Paank, the human rights division of the Baloch National Movement (BNM), has said that there were at least 181 cases of enforced disappearances and 12 extrajudicial killings recorded in Balochistan during the month of March. The group reported that Pakistani security forces, along with allied armed groups known locally as "death squads," carried out widespread abductions and enforced disappearances, primarily targeting students, activists, and civil society members. Many of these arrests were allegedly made without warrants or any judicial process, The Balochistan Post reported. Out of those who were forcibly taken, 87 individuals were eventually released. Several of them reportedly endured harsh physical mistreatment while in custody, as reported by the Balochistan Post. The highest number of enforced disappearances in March was reported in Quetta and Kalat, with 37 cases. Other areas affected included Dera Bugti (18 cases), Gwadar (15), Nushki (13), Dera Ghazi Khan (10), Kech (9), Barkhan (8), Awaran (7), Karachi (6), Lasbela (5), Mastung (4), Panjgur (3), and Naseerabad (2). Single cases were also reported from Islamabad, Kachhi, Jaffarabad, Jacobabad, and Khuzdar, The Balochistan Post reported. According to Paank, several of those killed extrajudicially had previously been reported as forcibly disappeared. One such case was Nizam Baloch, who was abducted from Gilli, Buleda, on March 11 and found dead the following day. His brother, Shah Nawaz Baloch, was subsequently shot and killed in Kech. Another victim, Shah Jahan Kurd--the brother of Zahid Baloch, a forcibly disappeared leader of the Baloch Students Organisation (BSO)--was killed in the Naal region of Khuzdar, the Balochistan Post reported. On March 21, three people were shot and killed during a protest demanding the release of missing persons. Paank identified the victims as 12-year-old Naimat Baloch, Habib Baloch, and Imdad Baloch, describing Naimat's death as "a symbol of state oppression." On March 23, Ehsan Baloch--a Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) activist and shopkeeper--was killed in Khuzdar. Paank referred to his death as "a premeditated targeted assassination." Three days later, the mutilated bodies of Tohseef, Zaheer, and Irshad Baloch--who had reportedly been abducted earlier--were discovered in Mashkay, as reported by Balochistan Post. Additionally, the bodies of Saif Baloch and Anas Baloch, who had been missing for several months, were found during the same month. Paank also denounced the continued detention of BYC leaders Mahrang Baloch, Beebow Baloch, Bebarg Baloch, and Shah Ji Sibghatullah Baloch under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law. The group expressed concern over the secret burial of 13 unidentified bodies in Quetta's Qasi Graveyard, suggesting they could be victims of enforced disappearance and called for immediate forensic investigations, the Balochistan Post cited. Paank condemned the ongoing crackdown as a breach of international human rights law and urged the United Nations and global human rights organisations to take action and hold the Pakistani government accountable. (ANI)
In a show of solidarity, members of the Awami Workers Party gathered in Aliabad, Hunza, to protest the provincial government's recent chargesheet against Aejaz Ayub and the ongoing arrests of political activists in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB), as reported by Pamir Times. The protesters called for the release of several detained individuals, including Baloch activist Irfan Azad, Nusrat Hussain, and Waqas Vicky. Aejaz Ayub, a prominent political figure, has come under scrutiny after the provincial government filed a chargesheet against him, accusing him of activities detrimental to the state's interests. However, protesters argued that Ayub's only "mistake" is performing his duties with integrity and speaking out openly on the pressing issues facing the people of Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan. His willingness to voice concerns on behalf of the public has made him a target, but supporters claimed that his actions are those of a patriot determined to serve his people, Pamir Times reported. The placards held by the protesters displayed messages such as "Release Baloch Activist," "Release Irfan Azad," and "Release Nusrat Hussain," calling attention to the detentions that have been happening in the region. Among the banners, one stood out with the words, "Release Waqas Vicky," highlighting another political activist's ongoing imprisonment. In addition to demanding the release of detained individuals, the protesters voiced strong opposition to the government's actions, which they claimed were meant to stifle political expression and silence dissent. The youth of Hunza, in particular, took to the streets, rallying behind their fellow political activists and joining hands to push back against the government's attempts to clamp down on free speech. (ANI) The protestors also issued a formal call to the chief secretaries of the region, urging them to take immediate action and retract the orders issued by the Finance Secretary that have led to the unjust arrests. The government's recent actions have been widely condemned as attempts to curtail democratic processes and infringe upon the rights of the people of Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan. (ANI)
Supradip Chakma, Adviser to Bangladesh's Interim Government, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus met and talked "very positively" and expressed hope that the meeting would definitely yield some good hope and aspiration for the two nations. In an interview with ANI, he noted that India and Bangladesh have had good ties since the latter's creation. He stated that India and Bangladesh have to remain hand-in-hand in the future to develop and progress ties. When asked about the recent meeting between PM Modi and Yunus on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit, Chakma said, "Well, this is the basic, you see, with the two neighbours, we have a good relations since long since the creation of this nation. So, it is a prime step for the two of us. I seriously believe that the two leaders met together and talked very positively. So, this will definitely yield some good hope, aspiration of two nations and two people. I seriously believe in engagement, and I know that this engagement will give a good result. I believe that in the future, we also have to remain hand in hand to develop and progress our relations and our people." On April 4, PM Modi met Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok and reiterated India's support for a democratic, stable, peaceful, progressive and inclusive Bangladesh. PM Modi underlined India's concerns related to the safety and security of minorities in Bangladesh, including Hindus, and expressed his expectation that the Bangladesh government would ensure their security, including by thoroughly investigating the cases of atrocities committed against them, according to a Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) release. Chakma stressed that the majority community of Bangladesh needs to adopt a positive attitude and play a role in developing the confidence of the minority community of India. On being asked about PM Modi's concerns regarding the safety and security of minorities in Bangladesh, Supradip Chakma said, "Being the minority community member in the cabinet, let me tell you that well, the big community has to take the positive attitude and positive role to develop the confidence of the small group of the country. It is religious, a small community or another small community. It is, I seriously believe, and I always say that let the big community take the role and then they will create confidence and we will believe it. I am there." On how Bangladesh and India can work together in future for the benefit of the two nations, Supradip Chakma said, "The thing is this very simple one. Engagement is very essential. Let us engage" (ANI)
Protests erupted across the Punjab province of Pakistan as wheat farmers rally against what they describe as unfair wheat prices and ineffective government procurement measures, Dawn reported. From Sheikhupura to Dera Ghazi Khan, demonstrators have staged sit-ins and rallies and faced clashes with police, demanding better compensation for their wheat harvest. Farmers' unions and political groups such as Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) and Kissan Ittehad have thrown their support behind the protests, Dawn reported. The unrest comes as the wheat harvest begins across thousands of acres in the province. Despite a healthy and timely crop, farmers report distressingly low market rates, ranging from Pakistani Rupees (PKR) 2,200 to PKR 2,500 per 40kg -- rates they argue do not cover their production costs. Many farmers have said they took loans or bought agricultural inputs like fertilisers and pesticides on credit. "We had to borrow from fertiliser dealers just to plant wheat, and now we can't even recover our investment," said Muhammad Ashraf, a farmer from the region. Another farmer, Muhammad Nasir, criticised the authorities for neglecting the agricultural community and accused grain traders of exploiting the situation by offering unfairly low prices, Dawn reported. Protesters have urged Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to intervene and ensure that farmers receive just compensation for their crops. In Rahim Yar Khan, the local chapter of Kisan Board Pakistan held a demonstration outside the deputy commissioner's office, condemning the government's refusal to buy wheat and its failure to implement a fair pricing structure. Meanwhile, the Kissan Bachao Tehrik in Sargodha staged a rally demanding a wheat support price of PKR 4,700 per maund. Similar demonstrations were held in Gujranwala and Sahiwal, where farmers and JI activists set up protest camps and marched to local government offices. Chanting slogans like "No farmers, no food -- no life," they called for immediate and meaningful government action to address their concerns. (ANI)
The United States has enacted restrictions on the export of Nvidia's H20 chips to China, tightening its control over the trade of advanced AI technology with Beijing as part of Washington's strategy to exert pressure on China amid an ongoing tariff dispute, the Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported. Nvidia, a prominent player in AI chip development worldwide, said on Tuesday that the US government informed them on April 9 that exporting its H20 chips to China would now necessitate government permission. The company also stated that this restriction would be in effect indefinitely. Although the H20 chip has relatively limited computing capabilities, it possesses characteristics that make it suitable for constructing high-performance computing systems. The RFA report pointed out that the US government allegedly based its decision on fears that the H20 chips could be utilised in or modified for Chinese supercomputers. The H20 was the most sophisticated artificial intelligence chip allowed for legal export to China, which was already under US national security-related restrictions on high-end semiconductor sales. While its performance does not match Nvidia's latest Blackwell chip, it is equipped with high-bandwidth memory akin to that used in Blackwell, offering a performance enhancement for certain applications, RFA reported. The H20 chip attracted attention after it was used by DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup that debuted a cost-effective and competitive AI model trained with the chip in January. Earlier this year, the tech media outlet, The Information reported that leading Chinese tech firms, including Alibaba, Tencent, and ByteDance, collectively ordered over USD16 billion worth of H20 chips in the first quarter, marking a rise of more than 40% from the prior quarter, as noted by the RFA report. The US first imposed export controls on AI chips targeting China in October 2022 and has since expanded the restrictions to encompass additional technologies and nations. The enforcement of the export limitation on H20 chips coincides with a rise in trade tensions between the US and China, according to the RFA. (ANI)
Taiwan is cracking down on China's mislabeling practices, particularly the use of fake "Made in Taiwan" labels, amid ongoing discussions with the US regarding tariffs, according to the Taipei Times. Minister of Economic Affairs JW Kuo stated that, under existing regulations, individuals involved in illegal transshipping could face fines up to USD 92,343. Kuo's remarks came as Taiwan began discussions with the US regarding tariffs. There are worries that some may try to avoid high duties on Chinese products by mislabeling them as Taiwanese, a practice referred to as "origin laundering," as reported by the Taipei Times. The Ministry of Economic Affairs has implemented four strategies to tackle origin laundering by keeping track of imports to detect anomalies, enforcing fines and penalties for those found guilty of origin laundering, enhancing investigations into unfair trade practices and boosting awareness and cooperation among businesses. During the meeting, which addressed the expansion of domestic manufacturers into global markets, Democratic Progressive Party legislators Chiu Yi-ying and Lin Tai-hua inquired about the government's actions to eliminate origin laundering, as cited by Taipei Times. Kuo informed a meeting of the Legislative Yuan's Economics Committee that the government is focusing on industries that import materials from China for processing, such as the Machine Tool Industry, a high-risk sector for origin laundering and the Fastener industry. The manufacturers are being advised to enhance inspections to prevent Chinese steel imports Kuo noted that the government is treating this issue with great seriousness, stressing its importance for Taiwan in gaining the US's trust during negotiations. Chiu mentioned that fastener manufacturers should enhance their inspections to prevent the illegal import of Chinese steel into Taiwan. Kuo indicated that the ministry has enlisted the Chinese National Federation of Industries to investigate claims of Chinese steel dumping in Taiwan, as noted in the Taipei Times report. According to Articles 17 and 28 of the Foreign Trade Act, individuals who falsely label the origins of goods may face fines ranging from NT 60,000 to NT 3 million, and could also be barred from exporting and importing, Kuo explained, as per Taipei Times. Beijing has consistently expressed its aim of unifying with Taiwan, using diplomatic, economic, and military pressure to isolate the island on the international front. In contrast, Taiwan continues to assert its independence, supported by a significant segment of its population. (ANI)
The United Kingdom's Supreme Court on Wednesday delivered a landmark judgment stating that, under equality legislation, the term "woman" excludes trans women, refers specifically to individuals born as females, according to a report by CNN In a unanimous ruling, the court clarified that the legal definition of "woman" in the context of the Equality Act (EA) 2010 is based on biological sex rather than gender identity. A group of campaigners in Scotland brought the challenge in 2018, arguing that those rights should only safeguard those assigned as women at birth. But the Scottish government said that a trans woman with a GRC is legally a woman and should therefore be afforded the same legal protections, CNN reported. In its judgment, the court said, "The Supreme Court unanimously allows the appeal. It holds that the terms 'man,' 'woman,' and 'sex' in the EA 2010 refer to biological sex. Lord Hodge, Lady Rose and Lady Simler give a joint judgment, with which the other Justices agree. It added, "The definition of sex in the EA 2010 makes clear that the concept of sex is binary, a person is either a woman or a man. Persons who share that protected characteristic for the purposes of the group-based rights and protections are persons of the same sex and provisions that refer to protection for women necessarily exclude men. Although the word "biological" does not appear in this definition, the ordinary meaning of those plain and unambiguous words corresponds with the biological characteristics that make an individual a man or a woman. These are assumed to be self-explanatory and to require no further explanation. Men and women are on the face of the definition only differentiated as a grouping by the biology they share with their group." The court further clarified that transgender individuals are still protected under the Equality Act 2010 through its provisions on indirect discrimination, regardless of whether they possess a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC). "Consequently, transgender people (irrespective of whether they have a GRC) are protected by the indirect discrimination provisions of the EA 2010 without the need for a certificated sex reading of the EA 2010, both in respect of any particular disadvantage suffered by them as a group sharing the characteristic of gender reassignment and, where members of the sex with which they identify are put at a particular disadvantage, insofar as they are also put at that disadvantage. Again, this does not entail any practical disadvantage or involve any discordance between the claim and the individual's position in society. On the contrary, the claim will be founded on the facts of a particular shared disadvantage. Transgender people are also protected from indirect discrimination where they are put at a particular disadvantage which they share with members of their biological sex," the ruling said. (ANI)
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari met Keiichi Ono, the Ambassador of Japan to India, in Delhi on Wednesday. https://x.com/nitin_gadkari/status/1912427842937184299 Sharing a video on X, Nitin Gadkari wrote, "Keiichi Ono, Ambassador of Japan to India, called on in Delhi today." Earlier in the day, he chaired a meeting with Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, focused on integrating Road Safety into the school education system. https://x.com/nitin_gadkari/status/1912410869394256182 In a post on X, the Union Minister shared the alarming statistic of accidents, and wrote, "In 2023 alone, over 11,000 lives were lost near school and institutional areas, including more than 10,000 children under the age of 18. This alarming statistic demands urgent action." "With the active support of the Ministry of Education, we are set to expand the Sadak Suraksha Abhiyaan to schools across India, aiming to sensitise our future generations about road safety--a concern of national importance," the post added. The meeting underscored the urgent need to establish Safe School Zones, enforce strict protocols for children's entry and exit during school hours, and ensure full compliance with safety standards in school buses and vans. Earlier, while attending an event in Mumbai, Union Minister of Road and Highways Nitin Gadkari said that India can become 'Vishwaguru' only after we build an international-standard infrastructure. "If we want to develop our country, if we want to make our country a Vishwaguru, if we want to make our country the third largest economy in the world, if we want to make our country a five billion dollar economy which our Prime Minister wants to fulfill, the first requirement is to build international standard infrastructure in the country," Gadkari said at 78th Vasant Vyakhyanmala organized by Amar Hind Mandal. He further said that if India wants to make our country 'Vishwaguru, 'we have to import less, and exports should be increased, trying to bring logistics costs on a single digit. '"Mumbai is also in the red zone and therefore, in the coming time, there is a need to work in Mumbai on both air and water pollution," he added. Gadkari further said that he has warned the contractor to not compromise with the quality. "We never compromised with quality, I said the contractor will put you in prison or black-list. The quality must be excellent. There are no corruption allegations yet, all transparency. I won't talk much about the toll, but within 15 days, such a policy will come, You will not have any complaints about tolls, I am not talking about Maharashtra tolls, I am talking about national highways," Gadkari said. (ANI)
As per the airline's officials, passengers and crew of the aircraft have remained unharmed. "The incident occurred at around 2 PM in the afternoon. The crew with call sign 9n-AIE has reported it to be a hydraulic failure," the Sita Air official confirmed ANI, seeking anonymity.

The aircraft, en route to Ramechap from Lukla, the gateway to Mount Everest, was diverted to Kathmandu after experiencing a technical issue.

"There were a total of 15 passengers on board, which included 12 Indian nationals and three Nepali nationals. Three crew members were on board," the official detailed.

The Kathmandu airport was alerted following the report from the aircraft. The aircraft was later towed away to the parking bay after landing safely. (ANI)
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday criticised Harvard University, denouncing its hiring practices as "woke" and "Radical Left." He went on to call the institution a "joke" and added that the university should not be considered on any list of the "World's Great Universities or Colleges." He further condemned the university for hiring two former mayors, Bill de Blasio of New York and Lori Lightfoot of Chicago, to teach municipal management and government, calling them among the "worst and most incompetent" leaders. He went on to denounce the university's hiring practices, labelling them as "woke" and "Radical Left. " He called the university a 'joke' and added that it should not be considered on any list of the 'World's Great Universities or Colleges." Sharing a post on the social media platform Truth Social, Trump wrote, "Everyone knows that Harvard has lost its way. They hired, from New York (Bill D) and Chicago (Lori L), at ridiculously high salaries/fees, two of the worst and most incompetent mayors in the history of our country, to teach municipal management and government. These two Radical Left fools left behind two cities that will take years to recover from their incompetence and evil." "Harvard has been hiring almost all woke, Radical Left, idiots and birdbrains who are only capable of teaching failure to students and so-called future leaders. Look just to the recent past at their plagiarising President, who so greatly embarrassed Harvard before the United States Congress... Harvard can no longer be considered even a decent place of learning, and should not be considered on any list of the World's Great Universities or Colleges. Harvard is a joke, teaches Hate and stupidity, and should no longer receive federal funds. Thank you for your attention to this matter." https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114347313852363347 A day earlier, Fox News reported that the Trump administration's Joint Task Force to Combat Antisemitism is freezing more than USD 2 billion in multi-year grants and contracts to Harvard University in Massachusetts. The decision came after the Harvard University president issued a statement saying the school would not follow the administration's demands regarding antisemitism. The task force said, "Harvard's statement today reinforces the troubling entitlement mindset that is endemic in our nation's most prestigious universities and colleges - that federal investment does not come with the responsibility to uphold civil rights laws." Earlier this month, a federal antisemitism task force announced a review of Harvard's federal grants and contracts, worth nearly USD 9 billion. The Trump administration has vowed to be more aggressive in ending antisemitism on campuses in the US after saying that former US President Joe Biden did not hold universities accountable for their violent protests. The Trump administration also plans to detain and deport foreign students who were part of or orchestrated anti-Israel protests at universities in the US. (ANI)
US Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to visit India next week. He will meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and travel to New Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra. JD Vance, along with his family, will visit Italy and India from April 18 to April 24. The Office of the Vice President in a release on Wednesday said, "Vice President JD Vance and the Second Family will travel to Italy and India from April 18 to April 24. The Vice President will discuss shared economic and geopolitical priorities with leaders in each country." In Rome, Italy, the Vice President will meet with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The Vice President will also meet with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin. "In India, the Vice President will visit New Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra. The Vice President will hold meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Vice President and Second Family will also participate in engagements at cultural sites," the release said. Earlier in February, during his visit to France for the AI Action Summit, PM Modi gifted an eco-friendly wooden alphabet set to Mirabel Rose Vance, daughter of US Vice President Vance. Following his visit to France, PM Modi landed in the United States at the invitation of US President Donald Trump. India's Ambassador to the US, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, along with other officials, welcomed him at the Joint Base Andrews in Washington DC. This was PM Modi's first visit to the United States after Donald Trump assumed office for the second term. Upon arrival, PM Modi headed to Blair House, where members of the Indian diaspora gathered to greet him. The diaspora members chanted "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" and Modi Modi" as they welcomed him at the Blair House. PM Modi thanked them for welcoming him. PM Modi stayed at the Blair House during his visit to the US on February 12-13. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a "fruitful conversation" with Finnish President Alexander Stubb on Wednesday and discussed the situation in Ukraine. During their discussion, both leaders exchanged perspectives on regional and global issues. https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1912479914839638173?s=46 In a post on X, PM Modi wrote, "Had a fruitful conversation with President Alexander Stubb. Finland is an important partner country in the EU. We are committed to elevating our ties. Exchanged our perspectives on regional and global issues, including the situation in Ukraine." France 24 reported that Tubb recently attended talks of the "coalition of the willing" hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. Stubb emphasised the need for a unified European negotiating team to coordinate efforts and a special envoy to lead these efforts. "We (Europeans) need two things," Stubb states. "One is a negotiating team, just like the Americans, the Ukrainians and the Russians have. And they had that in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. And then probably eventually we need a special envoy who would be kind of in charge and coordinating everything, because right now, although we have really good leadership coming from France and the UK, there is still that question, 'OK, who is the European envoy? Who should I call?" According to France 24, Stubb welcomed the effort, stating that the goal is for Ukraine to retain its independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. On the "coalition of the willing," Stubb said, "This is originally a Franco-British initiative, which I welcome. It's a way to bring Britain back into Europe and get France constructively engaged with Britain again. I think our mindset is very clear. We want Ukraine to win this war. We want them to retain their independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. The French and the Brits took the lead. And the rest of us are following and being engaged as best we can." Stubb then cleared up misunderstandings about the circumstances in which "coalition of the willing" troops might potentially be deployed on the ground in Ukraine. "A lot of people are getting their terms and timing mixed up here," he said. "So we need to look at this in two phases. The first phase is a ceasefire. The second phase is an actual peace agreement. So, for the ceasefire, you need some kind of reassurance. That means that you can help in the air, on the sea, perhaps on land. That's the type of planning that our military staff are doing right now. And the political decisions that we take here in Paris are part of that first phase." "The second phase is when peace has been maintained, settled and agreed. That's when you put in crisis management troops or peacekeeping troops on the basis of an international mandate. So these are two quite separate things. The ceasefire is still a state of war, whereas a peace agreement, that's when peace begins," he added. (ANI)
This move is part of the US effort to halt Iran's illicit oil exports, particularly to China. The sanctions also target companies and vessels involved in shipping Iranian oil to China.

According to the US State Department, "the United States is today sanctioning Shandong Shengxing Chemical Co, Ltd, a China-based independent 'teapot' refinery, for purchasing more than a billion dollars' worth of Iranian crude oil."

"The President is committed to driving Iran's illicit oil exports, including to China, to zero. The United States is also imposing sanctions on several companies and vessels involved in facilitating Iranian oil shipments to China as part of Iran's 'shadow' fleet," it added.

This is the United States' second action against an independent China-based teapot refinery since President Donald Trump issued National Security Presidential Memorandum 2 on February 4.

Further, the statement noted that all sanctions will be fully enforced under the Trump Administration's maximum-pressure campaign on Iran.

As long as Iran attempts to generate oil revenues to fund its destabilising activities, the United States will hold both Iran and all its partners in sanctions evasion accountable, the US State Department said.

The US earlier enacted restrictions on the export of Nvidia's H20 chips to China, tightening its control over the trade of advanced AI technology with Beijing as part of Washington's strategy to exert pressure on China amid an ongoing tariff dispute, Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported.

Nvidia, a prominent player in AI chip development worldwide, said on Tuesday that the US government informed them on April 9 that exporting its H20 chips to China would now necessitate government permission.

The company also stated that this restriction would be in effect indefinitely. (ANI)
Supradip Chakma, Adviser to Bangladesh's Interim Government, emphasised the importance of strengthening people-to-people connections between India and Bangladesh, particularly through the service and tourism sectors. Highlighting linguistic and cultural similarities with Indian states like West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, and Assam, Chakma emphasised that such ties can ease political tensions. On being asked how India and Bangladesh can work together to develop people's connection, Chakma told ANI, "Unfortunately, we don't give serious attention to the service sector, which includes the tourism sector... We have a huge middle-income group... We should make them a serious market internally so that they reduce going to other countries. India is advantageous for us because four states of India - West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, and Assam- almost speak our language. So our people always feel comfortable going there... People-to-people contact will ease political tension between the two nations." Chakma also noted that despite India halting the trans-shipment facility, Bangladesh has alternative options and can still benefit from India's advantages, including in sectors like medical tourism. On India halting the trans-shipment facility for Bangladesh, Chakma said, "This barrier will not hamper too much in exporting our products... We could develop our Cox's Bazar or Chittagong Airport for airlifting or develop the Dhaka airport... So, we have plenty of ways to overcome this Indian barrier... With India, we have a linguistic advantage. Also, we can utilise India for medical tourism." Last week, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced the withdrawal of the trans-shipment facility previously extended to Bangladesh, citing logistical challenges and congestion at Indian ports and airports. Addressing the weekly press briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "The Trans-shipment facility extended to Bangladesh had, over a period of time, resulted in significant congestion at our airports and ports. Logistical delays and higher costs were hindering our own exports and creating backlogs." "The facility, therefore, has been withdrawn with effect from April 8, 2025. To clarify, these measures do not impact Bangladesh exports to Nepal or Bhutan transiting through Indian territory," the MEA spokesperson added. (ANI)
Pakistan's Army Chief General Asim Munir has vowed to crack down on terrorists in Balochistan, stating that "even ten generations of terrorists cannot harm Balochistan and Pakistan," reported Dawn. Addressing the Overseas Pakistanis Convention in Islamabad on Wednesday, he emphasised the army's determination to tackle terrorism and praised overseas Pakistanis for their dedication and commitment to the nation. Munir assured that the country's armed forces will overcome the threat posed by terrorists, specifically mentioning groups like Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) and Baloch Republican Army (BRA). "We will beat the hell out of these terrorists very soon ...you think, these 1500 terrorists belonging to BLA, BLF and BRA, etc, can take away Balochistan from us ..," said Munir. Assuring that the country's armed forces will overcome the threat posed by terrorists, he affirmed, "Do Pakistan's enemies think that a handful of terrorists can decide the fate of Pakistan?...even ten generations of terrorists cannot harm Balochistan and Pakistan." According to the army chief, "As long as the brave people of this country stand with the Pakistan Armed Forces, your army can easily face every difficulty." "Today we are giving this clear message together that whatever stands in the way of Pakistan's progress, we will remove that obstacle together," he added. According to Dawn reported, Munir also expressed support for Palestinians affected by Israel's military actions in Gaza, saying "The hearts of Pakistanis beat in unison with the Muslims of Gaza". Notably, Balochistan has witnessed a surge in militant attacks and alleged extrajudicial killings. A recent incident was the hijacking of the Jaffar Express train by Baloch rebel groups on March 11. The train, carrying 440 passengers, was ambushed, and several hostages were taken. A two-day security operation was launched to neutralise the threat and rescue the captives. According to ISPR Pakistan DG Lt Gen Sharif Chaudhry, the operation was completed, and 33 rebels were killed. However, Jeeyand Baloch, Spokesperson for the Baloch Liberation Army, a Baloch rebel organisation, said in a statement that despite an ultimatum given to the Pakistani forces, they did not heed to it, resulting in the death of 214 hostages. (ANI)
Tel Aviv [Israel], April 16 (ANI/TPS): One month after renewing attacks on Hamas, Israeli security forces have eliminated 11 senior Hamas officials, hundreds of mid-level terrorist, and struck approximately 1,200 terror sites in Gaza, according to figures released by the Israel Defense Forces and the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) on Wednesday. Since the beginning of campaign on March 18, more than 100 targeted assassinations have been carried out, including a deputy brigade commander, five battalion commanders, a deputy battalion commander, the head of military intelligence of the Hamas terrorist organization in the southern Gaza Strip, 15 company commanders and additional terrorists who participated in the October 7 attack. Israel has focused on disrupting Hamas's political and military command structure. The deaths of senior figures from Hamas's politburo and internal mechanisms has weakened coordination between its political and military operatives. For example, at least eight senior figures were killed along with operatives other Hamas units, including the terror group's General Security and Internal Security apparatuses in one strike on the first night. These figures played key roles in strengthening the military infrastructure of both Hamas and the Gaza-based Popular Resistance Committees. The operation also led to the establishment of the Morag Corridor, a security zone cutting off Rafah and the southernmost area of Gaza from the rest of the Strip. This zone separates Hamas' Khan Yunis and Rafah brigades. Ground forces have also been heavily involved. The IDF's 36th, 143rd, and 252nd divisions have conducted maneuvers to locate weapons stockpiles, dismantle underground infrastructure, and eliminate terrorist cells. These operations have extended into areas previously untouched by ground troops. Also on Wednesday, Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel was eyeing resuming humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza through civilian companies when a mechanism for distribution is in place. Katz said the policy shift is part of a broader strategy that includes "stopping humanitarian aid, which undermines Hamas's control over the population," and creating a new system for aid distribution independent of the terror group. He said Israel Defense Forces operations continue, with targeted strikes on Hamas operatives and infrastructure, evacuations of civilians from combat zones, and large-scale attacks ahead of ground maneuvers. The Press Service of Israel reported in March that despite a suspension of humanitarian aid and fuel deliveries, Hamas continued to enrich itself through a system of vouchers provided to Gaza residents. Israel suspended aid deliveries at the beginning of March after Hamas rejected a proposal by US envoy Steve Witkoff to extend the ceasefire through the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and the Jewish Passover holiday. Israel estimates that enough food, water, fuel and medicine entered Gaza during the temporary ceasefire to last for five months. Since mid-November, Hamas and criminal gangs associated with the terror group have stepped up their stealing of deliveries of food, water, medicine and other humanitarian supplies. At one point, 85% of all trucks entering the Strip were hijacked. In September, Palestinian sources told TPS-IL that Hamas was charging $800 for donated tents while sacks of flour and rice donated by the West were being sold for $700 and $500 respectively. At least 1,180 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 59 remaining hostages, 36 are believed to be dead. (ANI/TPS)
The Israel Defence Forces, since March 18, have intensified precise military operations in Gaza, striking approximately 1,200 terrorist targets--including tunnel networks--using 350 fighter jets, the IDF said. The IDF further said that over 100 targeted eliminations have been carried out, neutralising hundreds of terrorists and military commanders. Among those eliminated were 15 company commanders and other militants involved in the October 7, 2023, infiltration into Israeli territory. Sharing a post on X, the IDF wrote, "A summary of the resumed precise operations in Gaza (starting from March 18, 2025) -- Approx. 1,200 terrorist targets--including terrorist tunnel routes--have been struck from the air by 350 fighter jets and aircraft of the IAF." The post added, "100+ targeted eliminations have been carried out, and hundreds of terrorists and military commanders from terror organizations in Gaza have been neutralized. Fifteen company commanders and additional terrorists who infiltrated Israeli territory on October 7 were among those eliminated. The IDF will continue to operate against Hamas wherever necessary." https://x.com/IDF/status/1912546166346047580 On March 18, at least 404 Palestinians were killed and 562 wounded as Israel launched a massive assault on Gaza, shattering the fragile two-month-old ceasefire with Hamas, Al Jazeera had reported. The attack took place across Gaza, including in Khan Younis and Rafah in southern Gaza, Gaza City in the north, and central areas like Deir el-Balah. Palestinian Health Ministry had said that "404 martyrs and 562 injuries arrived at Gaza Strip hospitals so far," adding that "a number of victims are still under the rubble." Following the attack, the Israeli government had warned that it "will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength." The latest offensive follows an operational plan presented by the IDF over the weekend and subsequently approved by the political leadership. Netanyahu also reiterated his stance, and had said, "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz have instructed the IDF to take strong action against the Hamas terrorist organisation in the Gaza Strip." (ANI)
India continues its humanitarian outreach to Myanmar under Operation Brahma after last month's quake, dispatching 20 pre-fabricated office structures weighing around 50 tonnes to Naypyidaw via Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft on Tuesday. As the first responder to the devastating quake on March 28, India has provided over 750 MT of relief material, including medical aid, food, shelters, and essential supplies. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a press release on Wednesday said, "As part of the ongoing supply of relief material and humanitarian aid to Myanmar under 'Op. Brahma,' components of 20 pre-fabricated offices, weighing approx 50 tonnes, were dispatched by IAF C-17 on 15 April 2025 to Myanmar. The structures will be used as temporary offices for various Ministries in Naypyidaw. Two IAF C-17 were deployed to bring back doctors and personnel of 60-para field hospital post de-induction. The 200-bedded field hospital has successfully provided treatment of 2519 patients over the past two weeks." The release added, "Under Op Brahma, India was the First Responder to the earthquake in Myanmar on March 28 and has provided relief supplies of approx. 750 MT including essential medicines, foodgrain, ready to eat meals, tents, blankets, gensets, rapidly deployable surgical and medical shelters, water sanitation and hygiene services, drinking water, essential clothing, 20 prefabricated office/residential structures etc." Further, humanitarian assistance consisting of an 80-member NDRF Heavy Urban Search and Rescue Specialists Team and a 127-member Indian Army field Hospital Team were also deployed. The supply of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief material to Myanmar demonstrates India's willingness to stand with the people of Myanmar and to continue to support them through this difficult time. Operation Brahma has been India's dedicated humanitarian outreach to Myanmar in the wake of the disaster. As part of this initiative, India has also extended aid to the Indian diaspora in the Yangon region. (ANI)
The Exercise is scheduled to be conducted from April 16- 28.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the Indian contingent comprising 60 personnel is being represented by a Battalion of the JAT Regiment and the IAF. The Uzbekistan contingent is being represented by personnel from the Uzbekistan Army.

Joint Exercise DUSTLIK is an annual training event conducted alternately in India and Uzbekistan. Last edition was conducted in Termez District, Uzbekistan, in April 2024.

The theme of the exercise is based on the theme of Joint Multi Domain Sub Conventional operations in Semi-Urban Scenario. It will focus on responding to a terrorist action involving the capture of a defined territory, as per Ministry of Defence.

The exercise will also include the establishment of a Joint Operations Centre at the battalion level for continuous joint operations, the execution of counterterrorism missions such as population control measures, raids, search-and-destroy operations, and the employment of firepower, including air assets, to neutralise terrorists.

Special forces from the Army and Air Force, during the Exercise, will secure a helipad for use as a mounting base for further operations.

Ministry of Defence stated that, the Exercise will also cover the deployment of drones, counter-UAS measures, and logistics support by the Air Force to sustain forces in hostile areas.

Additionally, helicopters will be utilised for reconnaissance and observation, special heliborne operations (SHBO), small team insertion and extraction (STIE) and other associated missions.

Joint Exercise DUSTLIK -VI will enable both sides to share best practices in Tactics, Techniques and Procedures of conducting Joint Sub-Conventional operations. It will facilitate developing interoperability, bonhomie and camaraderie between the two armies.

The Joint Exercise will also enhance defence cooperation, further augmenting bilateral relations between the two friendly nations. (ANI)
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, addressed the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) High-Level Roundtable on Connectivity and Economic Growth in New Delhi on Wednesday, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a release on Wednesday. During the event, Goyal said that the IMEC is a powerful endorsement of the leadership and partnership of India, Middle East and East Europe a very forward and visionary concept that has caught the fancy of the world. As per the statement, the Minister stated that IMEC is not merely a trade route, but a modern-day Silk Route -- a partnership of equals -- that fosters synergy, connectivity, and inclusive prosperity. "It will bring down logistics costs by up to 30 per cent, reduce transportation time by 40 per cent, and create seamless trade linkages across continents," he said. He added, "We will not only be linking trade; we will be linking civilisations and cultures -- from Southeast Asia to the Gulf, from the Middle East to Central Europe." Highlighting its potential reach, Goyal added that IMEC could even enhance connectivity to Africa through the Middle East. The corridor would include railways, roadways, energy pipelines, and clean energy infrastructure, including undersea cables. "India is already in discussions with Singapore on clean energy transmission. We are also engaged in dialogue with Saudi Arabia and the UAE," he shared. As per the statement, Goyal underscored the corridor's emphasis on sustainability and digital connectivity. "This initiative respects sovereignty and territorial integrity. It is not about dominance or creating economic unions. It is a partnership built on mutual trust, inclusivity and sustainability," he said. Goyal further outlined five key suggestions as a way forward for the IMEC initiative, as per the statement by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. This included, first, Goyal stressed the importance of viewing IMEC through the lens of a Public-Private Partnership (PPP). He emphasised that leaving the initiative solely to the government would limit its efficiency and financial viability. Instead, he called for a collaborative model where the private sector leads, bringing to the table its real-world expertise, needs, and innovative capabilities. This approach, he noted, would ensure smarter and more cost-effective planning, as the private sector can propose solutions that reflect practical utility. It would also allow policymakers to think systematically while the private sector introduces flexibility and innovation, ensuring the corridor remains viable, efficient, and sustainable in its execution. Second-- Goyal highlighted the need to focus on Regulatory Connectivity, going beyond just physical infrastructure. He advocated for greater alignment in trade processes, customs procedures, and paperwork among participating nations. He cited India's ongoing regulatory collaboration with the UAE as an example and pointed out that the successful implementation of the corridor would require seamless cross-border movement without excessive checkpoints. Interoperable systems, digitisation, electric vehicle charging ecosystems, and synchronized regulations would be key to unlocking economies of scale. He suggested that common digital payment systems, such as India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI), could serve as a model for enabling seamless financial transactions. With periodic settlement in globally accepted reserve currencies, such mechanisms could reduce transactional friction and banking costs. He proposed that such innovations, combined with virtual trade corridor frameworks like the India-UAE initiative, could be extended through IMEC. These would support broader agreements such as FTAs with GCC and EU countries and bolster joint work in green hydrogen, renewable energy, and supply chain resilience. As per the statement, in the suggestion, Goyal underlined the need for Innovative Financing Models to support both the development of the corridor and the trade it will generate. He called for active involvement of multilateral financial agencies and suggested exploring instruments like green bonds and the creation of long-term "IMEC Bonds", to fund this transcontinental infrastructure in a sustainable and future-proof manner. The fourth suggestion recommended by the Minister was active engagement with industry bodies and trade associations, asserting that their insights are essential for designing a corridor that aligns with the real needs of businesses. Such collaboration would help identify existing bottlenecks, promote best practices, and better integrate economies by removing trade frictions. Lastly, Goyal proposed bringing in Think Tanks and Academia to the visioning and design process. These institutions, he noted, bring creativity, research strength, and long-term thinking. Their involvement would support policy advocacy, contribute to out-of-the-box solutions, and assist in capacity-building efforts along the corridor. He called this a well-rounded package of five initiatives that could help IMEC evolve into a robust, viable, and inclusive project. The statement noted that Goyal reiterated India's clear and committed vision, and said the country is ready to act as a trusted, reliable bridge connecting regions and catalysing global cooperation, under the guiding spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam -- the world is one family, the ministry added. (ANI)
Geneva [Switzerland], April 17 (ANI/ WAM): The volume of world merchandise trade is expected to decline by 0.2 per cent in 2025 under current conditions, nearly three percentage points lower than what would have been expected under a "low tariff" baseline scenario, according to the WTO Secretariat's latest Global Trade Outlook and Statistics report released on April 16. "This is premised on the tariff situation as of 14 April. Trade could shrink even further, to -1.5 per cent in 2025, if the situation deteriorates," said the report. "Services trade, though not directly subject to tariffs, is also expected to be adversely affected, with the global volume of commercial services trade now forecast to grow by 4.0 per cent, slower than expected." Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said, "I am deeply concerned by the uncertainty surrounding trade policy, including the US-China stand-off. The recent de-escalation of tariff tensions has temporarily relieved some of the pressure on global trade. However, the enduring uncertainty threatens to act as a brake on global growth, with severe negative consequences for the world, the most vulnerable economies in particular. In the face of this crisis, WTO members have the unprecedented opportunity to inject dynamism into the organization, foster a level-playing field, streamline decision-making, and adapt our agreements to better meet today's global realities." At the start of the year, the WTO Secretariat expected to see continued expansion of world trade in 2025 and 2026, with merchandise trade growing in line with world GDP and commercial services trade increasing at a faster pace. However, the large number of new tariffs introduced since January prompted WTO economists to reassess the trade situation, resulting in a substantial downgrade to their forecast for merchandise trade and a smaller reduction in their outlook for services trade. Risks to the merchandise trade forecast persist, particularly from the reactivation of the suspended "reciprocal tariffs" by the United States, as well as the spread of trade policy uncertainty that could impact non-US trade relationships. If realized, reciprocal tariffs would reduce global merchandise trade volume growth by 0.6 percentage points in 2025, while spreading trade policy uncertainty could shave off another 0.8 percentage points. Together, reciprocal tariffs and spreading trade policy uncertainty would lead to a 1.5 per cent decline in world merchandise trade in 2025. These scenarios are explored in detail in the Analytical Chapter of the report. Risks to services trade related to the escalation in trade tensions are not currently captured in the forecast. "Our simulations show that trade policy uncertainty has a significant dampening effect on trade flows, reducing exports and weakening economic activity," WTO Chief Economist Ralph Ossa said. "Moreover, tariffs are a policy lever with wide-ranging and often unintended consequences. In a world of growing trade tensions, a clear-eyed view of those trade-offs is more important than ever." The latest forecast marks a reversal from 2024, when the volume of world merchandise trade grew 2.9 per cent, while GDP expanded by 2.8 per cent, making 2024 the first year since 2017 (excluding the rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic) where merchandise trade grew faster than output, according to the report. In 2025, the impact of recent tariff measures on merchandise trade is expected to differ sharply across regions. (ANI/ WAM)
Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Mariano Grossi, held a meeting with Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, during which he emphasized the importance of cooperation with the IAEA to ensure the "peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear programme." In a post on X, Grossi wrote, "Important to meet with Foreign Minister @araghchi during my timely visit to Iran. Cooperation with @IAEAorg is indispensable to provide credible assurances about the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear programme at a time when diplomacy is urgently needed." https://x.com/rafaelmgrossi/status/1912561825394082119 The meeting comes in the backdrop of renewed diplomatic efforts involving Iran. Just days earlier, US Special Envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, also met with FM Araghchi. On Tuesday, US Department of State Spokesperson Tammy Bruce spoke about the developments with Iran, where she mentioned the meeting between the two countries, which was hosted by the Omani foreign minister. Referring to the statement by the White House, Bruce said, "As the White House statement described, 'the discussions were very positive and constructive', and, 'the sides agreed to meet again next Saturday.' "She also quoted Witkoff. "Our goal remains clear. In the words of Ambassador Witkoff, 'A deal with Iran will only be completed if it is a Trump deal. Any final arrangement must set a framework for peace, stability, and prosperity in the Middle East - meaning that Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponisation programme. It is imperative for the world that we create a tough, [yet] fair deal that will endure, and that is what President Trump has asked me to do'." On being questioned about Iran's nuclear programme, Bruce referred to the remarks made by Leavitt and further added, "I would say that there is one goal here and that is that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. And that is, I think, a pretty easy thing to start with, and that is the one thing that we know that they're working on. And I think we'll have some success, considering who we're addressing." White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt spoke about the ongoing negotiations between the US and Iran and shared that US President Trump held a conversation on Tuesday (US Local time) with the Sultan of Oman and thanked the latter for hosting the first direct meeting between the two countries. She reiterated in her remarks that the US stands firm on Iran not being able to obtain nuclear weapons. The US and Iran have recently concluded "indirect" negotiations in Muscat, Oman. The discussions, mediated by Oman, were intended to address key issues between the two countries, particularly regarding Iran's nuclear program and its broader regional activities. The negotiations were described as being held in a "constructive atmosphere and based on mutual respect." (ANI)
OSAKA, Apr 16 (News On Japan) - A Peruvian man detained at the Osaka Regional Immigration Bureau has been awarded 110,000 yen in compensation by the Osaka District Court, which ruled on April 16th that keeping him handcuffed for an extended period was illegal.

The man, Burgos Fujii, was held at the bureau in 2017 due to overstaying his visa. He filed a lawsuit against the Japanese government, claiming that when he requested better food while in detention, multiple staff members restrained him and handcuffed his hands behind his back for over 14 hours. He also alleged that the incident caused a bone fracture and sought 2.16 million yen in damages.

In its ruling, the court did not find a causal link between the handcuffing and the claimed bone fracture. However, it acknowledged that restraining Fujii for such a long period was unlawful and ordered the government to pay 110,000 yen.

Following the verdict, Fujiis legal team stated they are considering an appeal. The Osaka immigration authorities commented that they will "closely examine the ruling and discuss future measures."

Source: YOMIURI
Miyazaki, Apr 17 (News On Japan) - Miyakonojo City in Miyazaki Prefecture has introduced a new leave system called "grandchild leave," allowing grandparents to take up to seven days off to support childcare, in a move that reflects changing work and family dynamics.

The initiative began in April, and Mayor Noritaka Ikeda visited Haneda Airport on April 16th to promote the program. "From this April, we started implementing what we call 'grandchild leave' in Miyakonojo. Its essentially a grandparent version of childcare leave," said Ikeda.

Previously, Miyakonojo already had a system in place that allowed male employees to take up to seven days off when their child is borncombining leave for birth support and participation in childcare. This system has now been extended to include grandparents, enabling them to also take time off under the new policy.

The program was introduced in response to modern work styles, where both parents are often employed. Ikeda said, "Many households have both parents working, and in such cases, support from grandparents can be a tremendous help for those raising children. I personally experienced this when my wifes parents lived nearbyit made a big difference."

Within two weeks of the policy's implementation, three people had already taken advantage of it. Among them is 52-year-old Megumi Onizuka, who is using her grandchild leave in small increments to help care for her daughters newborn.

"Its wonderful to be able to use special leave instead of paid vacation. Child-rearing isnt something one can do alone, especially right after childbirth when help from others is essential. I really appreciate this system," said Onizuka, head of the citys Philosophy Promotion Division.

Meanwhile, 60-year-old Katsutoshi Tashita took his first grandchild leave on April 18th to care for his nine-month-old granddaughter. "In nuclear families, mothers often have to take time off, and young children tend to get sick easily. In those situations, its a big help if grandparents can step in," said Tashita, a senior official in the Asset Tax Division.

According to those who have used the leave, the short duration and support from coworkers made it easy to take time off.

Miyagi Prefecture was the first prefectural government in Japan to introduce grandchild leave in 2023. The first employee to use it was the director of the Prefectural Assembly Secretariat. He had long been involved in policies related to childcare support and staff leave, and said the system helped deepen his awareness of childcare issues.

"Childcare support isnt something only parents can handle. It requires involvement from a wide range of people. During my time off, I became more conscious of this, and my awareness grew," said Masanao Abe, the Secretariats director at the time.

Because it was the first such system introduced at a prefectural office, there was some criticism, with opponents questioning whether it was appropriate to offer paid leave for such purposes or to introduce a policy that no other region had adopted.

However, employees who used the leave expressed a desire for more days off, saying the current number is not enough.

In Miyakonojo, city officials say they have not received any negative feedback from residents and hope to continue promoting understanding of the initiative.

"If programs like this spread nationwide, I believe Japans overall support for child-rearing will improve," said Ikeda.

As Japan faces a declining birthrate and evolving work environments, promoting greater understanding and cooperation in child-rearing is becoming increasingly important.

Source: FNN
OSAKA, Apr 17 (News On Japan) - A fire broke out on April 14th at an abandoned ryokan in Hannan City, Osaka Prefecture, which has become known online as a "ghost spot." Authorities suspect arson, possibly by trespassers.

Similar incidents are occurring across the country, revealing the serious challenges posed by derelict buildings.

The fire occurred in a dilapidated hot spring inn located in the Yamadani district of Hannan. The blaze appears to have started in a second-floor room of the large, crumbling structure, which has missing windows and extensive decay. Locals say the area used to be a bustling hot spring town, and the ryokan was opened in 1930. However, business declined after the nearby Hanwa Expressway opened in 1974, eventually leading to its closure. The building has been left abandoned for over 20 years and is now a source of concern for nearby residents.

"People keep sneaking in because its seen as a haunted spot online. There have been small fires and strange incidents here for a while now," one resident said. "Its dangerous. The last fire spread toward nearby homes."

Police believe this most recent fire was also caused by trespassers.

Abandoned accommodations like this exist throughout Japan. In another tourist area, reporters found the remnants of a former inn overtaken by weeds and debris. Although the location is known for its scenic beauty, waste and graffiti mar the surroundings. Nearby, another ryokan has been left in ruins, its entrance blocked and its bus covered in graffiti.

A fire covering about 820 square meters broke out at this site last year, prompting the city to intervene with administrative enforcement to demand safety improvements. Despite that, unauthorized visitors were observed entering the premises even during the interview.

In Tochigi Prefectures famous Kinugawa Onsen area, a derelict hotel poses an even greater risk. The buildings ceilings and walls are at risk of collapse, and asbestos contamination has been confirmed. Although the city prohibits entry due to the extreme danger, illegal accessespecially by YouTuberscontinues.

One major obstacle to addressing these hazardous sites is cost. Demolition can cost several billion yen. Although national subsidies for demolition exist, the cap is only 100 million yen, leaving both owners and local governments unable to act.

One individual offering an alternative approach is Yohei Mae, head of the NPO Japan Heritage. He led a tour of the former Maya Kanko Hotel, an iconic structure built in 1929 and dubbed "the queen of ruins" by fans. The hotel, which closed in 1993, is typically off-limits but was opened to the press for this visit.

Inside, the original structure still retains much of its old charm despite ceiling collapses and damage. Mae explained that the venue once hosted lectures and musical performances. A breathtaking view of Kobe can still be seen from the building, a key feature when it was in operation.

To address illegal intrusions, Mae opted not to seal off the property, but instead began offering guided tours in safe areas. This move has helped reduce trespassing and generated income to support maintenance and security.

In 2021, the Maya Kanko Hotel became one of the few ruins to be designated a registered tangible cultural property, and it now serves as a model for the potential reuse of abandoned buildings across Japan.

Legal experts and commentators point out that with Japans aging and shrinking population, the number of vacant houses and abandoned buildings will only grow. While demolition is one solution, repurposing these structures could become a second pillar of strategy.

Still, there are hurdles. Complicated laws and constitutional protections on property rights make it difficult for authorities to act without the owners consent. Some experts argue that new systems must be developedeven if they challenge existing legal frameworksto address this growing issue.

As Japan faces a declining population and rising numbers of abandoned properties, legal reform and creative reuse may be essential for managing the problem before it escalates further.

Source: KTV NEWS
Moldova expressed on Tuesday its support for the Morocco-proposed autonomy plan and commended the reforms undertaken in the Kingdom under the leadership of King Mohammed VI.

This came in a Joint Statement adopted following talks in Chisinau between the Moldovan Foreign Minister, Mihai Popsoi, and his Moroccan peer, Nasser Bourita, who is on a working visit to Chisinau.

Moldova expressed its support for the autonomy plan, deeming it is the most serious and credible basis for resolving the regional dispute over the Sahara.

Moldova also expressed its full support for the earnest efforts made by Morocco to resolve the Sahara issue, and reiterated backing for the UN-led process aimed at achieving a just, pragmatic, sustainable, and mutually acceptable political solution for all parties, the Joint Statement said.

The two Foreign Ministers also agreed on the exclusivity of the UN in the political process and reaffirmed their support for Security Council Resolution 2756 (2024), which emphasized the role and responsibility of the parties in seeking a realistic, pragmatic, and sustainable agreement and a political solution based on compromise.

Morocco and Moldova affirmed their support for the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the Sahara and his efforts to advance the political process based on the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the principles and objectives of the UN Charter, as well as for the UN mission in the Sahara, MINURSO, the Joint Statement said.

On another level, Moldova commended the far-reaching reforms implemented by Morocco over the past two decades under the leadership of King Mohammed VI and welcomed the Kingdoms renewed efforts to bolster its political, economic, and social development, as evidenced in the New Development Model and the promotion of advanced regionalization.

At the level of Africa, Moldova praised the Atlantic Initiatives launched by the King Mohammed VI in support of the African continent, in particular the African Atlantic States Process; the access of Sahel countries to the Atlantic Ocean; and the NigeriaMorocco Atlantic African Gas Pipeline Project.

These initiatives aim to make the African Atlantic space a geostrategic framework conducive to intra-African development, while promoting stability and prosperity across the continent, the two sides pointed out in the Joint Statement.

Moldova also commended Moroccos role as a regional hub for stability and a driver of growth and development in Africa.

The two parties on the other hand emphasized their positive and constructive roles in maintaining stability, security, and peace in their respective regions, and expressed their commitment to the peaceful resolution of conflicts and to the respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of States.

At the bilateral level, Moldova and Morocco expressed their shared commitment to strengthening their cooperation across all fields, reiterated their shared will to further enhance political dialogue, and reaffirmed their commitment to increasing economic, trade, and cultural ties between the two nations.

The two officials agreed on holding a business forum to explore partnership opportunities in sectors such as agriculture, fertilizers, energy, industrial subcontracting, digital technologies, and cybersecurity.

They also agreed to explore ways to further develop cooperation between their respective diplomatic academies.

Popsoi and Bourita welcomed the signing of several agreements during this visit and emphasized the importance of strengthening the bilateral legal framework in specific areas of mutual interest.

The agreements signed include the establishment of mechanisms between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs for political consultations, economic diplomacy, and diplomatic exchanges, as well as mutual visa exemption for holders of diplomatic, service, and special passports.

During the meeting, Nasser Bourita welcomed the official launch of negotiations on Moldovas accession to the European Union, as well as the reform efforts undertaken by the country in the framework of this process.
French President Emmanuel Macrons office said 12 Algerian diplomatic and consular officials were expelled on Tuesday in a tit-for-tat move amid diplomatic tensions, after Algeria on Sunday ordered 12 French officials from the interior ministry to leave the North African country within 48 hours.

Frances President Emmanuel Macron Tuesday, April 15, decided to expel 12 Algerian consular and diplomatic officials and recalled the French ambassador in Algiers, the presidential office said, as a spat escalates between the two countries.

The 12 French officials declared persona non grata were on their way to France, President Emmanuel Macrons office said, adding that Algerian authorities had taken responsibility for the sudden degradation of our bilateral relations.

The office said it was stunned that relations had taken such a turn just two weeks after a phone call between Algerias President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Macron in a bid to repair ties.

Relations between Paris and Algiers came under strain last year when France recognized Moroccos sovereignty over the Sahara.

Relations soured further when Algeria arrested the French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal in November on national security charges and sentenced him to five years in prison. His crime? He said in an interview with a French media outlet that Moroccos territory was truncated in favor of Algeria during French colonial rule.

Algerias foreign ministry declared the 12 French officials persona non grata after French anti-terror prosecutors indicted three men in connection with the April 2024 kidnapping of Algerian dissident and influencer Amir Boukhors. The indicted individuals include an employee at the Algerian consulate in Creteil, who reportedly holds a service passport rather than a diplomatic one.

The three men were charged last Friday in Paris with kidnapping and unlawful detention in relation to a terrorist organization, as well as participation in a criminal terrorist conspiracy, according to the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutors Office (PNAT). All three have been placed in pre-trial detention.

Amir Boukhors, a well-known critic of the Algerian regime, had previously survived two serious attacks, one in 2022 and another on the evening of April 29, 2024, according to his lawyer, Eric Plouvier.
Nigeria is facing a new and dangerous phase in its battle against terrorism, as the Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) begins deploying armed drones in its insurgency campaign.

In a recent attack in Borno State in Northeast Nigeria, the group used modified drones carrying locally made grenades, injuring five soldiers and signaling a major tactical shift. Security analysts warn that this development reflects global trends in modern warfare, where non-state actors increasingly rely on drone technology to gain a strategic edge while minimizing their casualties. ISWAP, an affiliate of the Islamic State group since 2016, has grown more sophisticated, leveraging smuggling networks, looting, and satellite internet to support its operations.

In response, Nigeria has banned civilian drone use and is seeking international cooperation. A recent high-level defense meeting between Nigeria and Pakistan aimed to boost military collaboration, with defense minister Mohammed Badaru highlighting Pakistans cost-effective drone warfare tactics as a model. Pakistan has effectively addressed the challenges of terrorism and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) using local technology and affordable drones. This is exactly the kind of synergy we need to transform our defense posture, Badaru said.

Experts say the threat demands a comprehensive strategy combining military innovation, regional coordination, and non-kinetic approaches like disrupting ISWAPs funding and supply chains. Tools such as jamming devices and radar detection are being considered to counter the aerial threat. While ISWAPs use of armed drones is still limited and largely symbolic, analysts warn that the shift could erode public confidence in the military and escalate the already devastating insurgency, which has killed tens of thousands and displaced over 2.3 million since 2009.
A group of rights groups operating in the Sahra territory called on the international community- including the UN, the EU, human rights NGOs, to put pressure on Algeria to stop its summary executions of the Sahrawis held against their will in abject conditions in the Polisario-run Tindouf camps.

Since 2014, at least 21 cases of extrajudicial executions or attempted executions have been recorded, the group of Sahrawi civil society organizations said in a letter sent to the Special Procedures of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

The majority of the victims were young Sahrawis engaged in subsistence activities such as artisanal gold mining or small-scale trade, the group said.

The cases of extrajudicial killings include:

1. Khatri Hammedha Khandoud and Mohamed Aliyene Abbih  Killed on January 5, 2014, in Oudiyat Toutrate, shot while riding in a civilian vehicle.

2. Barra ould Mohamed  Died on February 28, 2017, in Oued Amhiya after being shot alongside two members of the Polisario.

3. Hafdallah Abdou Baibbout  Shot dead on the night of May 34, 2017, 50 km south of Dakhla camp.

4. Brahim ould Essalek  Forced to commit suicide on June 2, 2018, in Dhaibia prison after being tortured.

5. Ali Makhchouni  Shot on June 8, 2018, near Tindouf city while transporting cannabis.

6. Larabas ould Abderrahmane  Died on June 23, 2018, in Tindouf after being injured while searching for precious metals.

7. Limam ould El Ghazouani  Killed on the night of January 1718, 2019, in Zbayra, while trafficking with the Polisario.

8. Yeslam Ahmmedha Khandoud  Killed on August 1, 2019, in Zirat while gold mining.

9. Ammahi ould Hamdi and Aliyienne Idrissi  Burned alive on October 19, 2020, in a well in Dakhla camp. This crime was the subject of a joint communication by three UN Special Procedures.

10. Mohamed ould Mahmoud Laghdaf  Died on March 4, 2021, in Tindouf hospital from injuries inflicted by the army.

11. Lakbir ould Sid Ahmed  Killed on November 20, 2021, in Sbaityenne. His companion was imprisoned.

12. Aabidate ould Blal  Killed on November 25, 2021, east of Dakhla camp.

13. Falli ould Barka  Seriously injured on the same day and at the same location.

14. Bannane ould El Houceine and a companion  Killed on October 10, 2022, after crossing military embankments.

15. Hamdi ould Berrai and El Ghilani ould Mamti  Injured on February 2223, 2023, near Dakhla camp.

16. Said ould El Bachir  Fatally injured on March 12, 2023, in Laayoune camp. His body was found mutilated.

17. Brahim Souiah and Dahmane Eddouki  Killed on June 26, 2023, in Grart El Farsik, 60 km from Rabouni.

18. Three Sahrawi gold miners (tribe Jenha)  Shot on April 25, 2024, near the Iguidi mining site, east of Dakhla camp.

19. Majidi Adda Brahim Hmaim and El Ballal Haidasse  Killed on May 28, 2024, by a drone strike from the Algerian army. Two other Sahrawis were seriously injured.

20. Sidi Ahmed Ould Ghoulam Ould Bilali  Killed on April 9, 2025, south of the Daira of Argoub, Dakhla camp, during a pursuit by an Algerian army patrol.

21. Nagem Ould Mahmoud Ould Fendou  Killed on April 9, 2025, south of the Daira of Argoub, Dakhla camp, during a pursuit by an Algerian army patrol.

Recently three gold prospectors from the camps have been killed by Algerian cold-blooded soldiers, and nine others were injured, in a serious incident that triggered protests by the Sahrawis held hostage in the camps. Videos shared online showed relatives of the victims being violently dispersed by Algerian soldiers as they protested the extrajudicial killings.

The case is reflective of a growing despair by a disenchanted youth in the camps who have been denied the means to a dignified life. Algeria and the Polisario maintain a siege and media blackout on the camps as they continue to use Sahrawis there as a political pawns to undermine Moroccos sovereignty.

Unable neither to return to their homeland the Sahara, in southern Morocco, nor to freely move elsewhere outside the miserable conditions in the Tindouf camps, the Sahrawis in the camps have been denied the right to be registered by the UN refugee agency.

The UN and Morocco have repeatedly called on Algeria to allow a head count of the camps population. The calls fell on deaf Algerian ears.

Meanwhile, the camps continue to be targeted by recruiters from terrorist organizations in full connivance of the Algerian regime and the Polisario, who have been inflating figures of the camps dwellers to get more aid which they end up embezzling.
Morocco has taken significant steps toward transforming its healthcare system through two major digital initiatives announced during GITEX Africa 2025 in Marrakech, a premier showcase for technology innovation across the continent.

A key development was the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Health and la Caisse de Depot et de Gestion (CDG), Moroccos sovereign investment fund.

We are making our technical expertise available to the Ministry to develop and implement digital systems, enhance service delivery, and support the overall governance of Moroccos health information ecosystem, said Khalid Safir, Director General of CDG, in a statement to Morocco World News.

The partnership outlines several strategic priorities, including the establishment of a digital innovation lab within the ministry, development of tailored digital healthcare solutions, and deployment of specialized human resources, all while maintaining stringent data security standards.

Its a partnership that allows us to do what we cannot do alone, noted the Minister of Health. Were working with the methods and codes of the digital sector to build a smarter, more efficient healthcare system.

In a parallel initiative, the ministry signed a second agreement with the Mohammed VI Foundation for Sciences and Health and GITEX Africa organizers to launch GITEX Future Health Morocco Africa, a specialized annual event focused on e-health and biotechnology. The inaugural edition is scheduled for April 2026 in Casablanca.

This platform aims to position Morocco as a regional hub for health innovation, scientific knowledge exchange, and investment in medical technology. The initiative reflects Moroccos strategic vision to integrate digital solutions into healthcare infrastructure while attracting global stakeholders to its developing ecosystem.

Both agreements align with King Mohammed VIs directives for structural reforms in Moroccos health sector and represent a pivotal shift in how healthcare will be delivered, governed, and evolved across the country in coming years, potentially establishing Morocco as a leader in digital health transformation across Africa.
The Republic of Estonia has expressed strong support for the autonomy plan presented by Morocco in 2007 for a lasting settlement of the Sahara issue, saying the plan offers a good, serious and credible basis for reaching enduring peaceful solution to the Sahara regional conflict.

The announcement was made by Estonias Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna at a press conference held Tuesday in Tallinn following his talks with Moroccan peer Nasser Bourita, who is currently on a European tour.

The Estonian minister said his country looks forward to strengthening further partnership with Morocco in all areas of common interest and commended Moroccos stability and reforms which turned Morocco into a vital and credible partner for the European Union and the region.

Estonia also lauded the efforts spearheaded by King Mohammed VI for peace, stability and economic development in Africa.

In this connection, it welcomed the importance of the initiatives launched, under the Sovereigns impetus, in support of Africa, particularly the Royal Initiative to facilitate access of Sahel countries to the Atlantic Ocean, the Atlantic African States Process, and the Morocco-Nigeria Gas Pipeline project.

The two ministers pledged to encourage entrepreneurs in both countries to explore joint business opportunities, mainly in digital technologies and renewable energies.

The meeting in Tallinn between Bourita and Tsahkna illustrates the shared willingness of Morocco and Estonia to strengthen ties between the two countries. It also reflects their determination to advance political dialogue and economic partnership, as well as coordination on matters of common interest at the bilateral, regional, and international levels.
Cybersecurity and anti-virus provider firm Kaspersky said Morocco ranks third among the African countries most targeted by cyberattacks in 2024.

There were 131,580,587 web threats detected in 2024 in the African region, including almost 20 million attack attempts in Kenya, almost 17 million in South Africa, and 12.6 million in Morocco, the company said in recently released data on the sidelines of Gitex Africa, in Marrakech.

Concerning malware that is spread via removable USB drives, CDs and DVDs, or that initially makes way onto the computer in non-open form, Morocco was among the African countries that have been seriously threatened together with Nigeria, Ethiopia, South African and Senegal.

The company reported a spike of threats related to data theft on the continent. According to Kaspersky data, there was a 14% growth in spyware attack detections on businesses in the African region from 2023 to 2024.

Several Moroccan institutions, including the social security fund, have been targeted by cyberattacks in recent days. An Algerian group claimed responsibility for the data theft.
Reforms are designed to boost economic growth and attract global clean energy investment to the UK by streamlining the connection process and providing certainty for developers.

Plans include removing "zombie projects" from the grid connection queue and saving money for customers on energy bills by avoiding unnecessary connections.

The government is prioritizing grid connections for clean energy businesses and key industries like data centers and AI, aiming to cut wait times of up to 15 years.

Grid connections for businesses delivering clean energy are to be prioritised, ministers have said.

The government has said so-called zombie projects which hold up the queue for National Grid connectivity are set to be axed from the waiting list.

While industries including data centres and AI, wind energy and solar projects will be accelerated for grid connections, under plans by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), aimed at addressing the issue of firms waiting up to 15 years for connectivity.

The move comes after some 43.7bn of private investment has been announced into the UKs clean energy industries since July, the department said, while the grid connection queue has grown tenfold in the last five years.

It comes amid wider questions about the costs of energy, and uncertainty over the UKs industrial future, as the government battles to keep the British Steel furnaces at Scunthorpe going.

Ofgem is expected to confirm the ambitious new plan later today [Tuesday], which is drafted by the National Energy System Operator (NESO) in partnership with the energy industry, DESNZ added.

Energy secretary Ed Miliband said: Too many companies are facing gridlock because they cannot get the clean energy they need to drive growth and create jobs.

These changes will axe zombie projects and cut the time it takes to get high growth firms online while also fast-tracking connections for companies delivering homegrown power.

He added: In an uncertain world, our message to the global clean energy industry is clear if you want certainty, stability and security when it comes to investments, choose Britain.

Projects which are not ready or not aligned with strategic plans will be deprioritised, DESNZ said, as they argued lack of access to grid connections has been a significant factor holding back new investment in UK industries, including artificial intelligence (AI).

And the department said that the changes would save some 5bn on unnecessary grid connections, which would have been funded via charges on customers energy bills.

Jonathan Brearley, CEO of Ofgem, said the proposed connection reforms will supercharge Great Britains clean power ambitions with a more targeted approach.

He said the changes would cut through red tape, consign zombie projects to the past and accelerate homegrown renewable power and energy storage connections.

While Kayte ONeill, chief operating officer at NESO said grid reforms were a key enabler and will drive economic growth, with the focus on prioritising agreements for projects that are critical and shovel ready giving developers the certainty they need.

Sam Richards, CEO of pro-growth campaigners Britain Remade, said: Any steps to speed up the time it takes for infrastructure projects to secure a grid connection are welcome news.

Its ridiculous that projects which will never get off the ground are allowed to squat in the grid queue year after year, simply by paying a few thousand pounds, while much needed new energy sources and growth-driving AI data centres are forced to wait years.

He added: Ministers prioritising economy-boosting and clean energy-producing projects in the grid connection queue is an important first step.

But the government cant run the queue forever and should look at introducing more market mechanisms to allow priority projects to bid to move up the line.

By City AM

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The eight OPEC+ countries that have been cutting oil production will have to compensate 4.57 million barrels per day (bpd) in overproduction so far, and the compensation plans entail offsetting all above-quota output by June 2026.

Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman have submitted their individual compensation plans to OPEC, the cartel said on Wednesday.

Source: OPEC

Since the very first OPEC+ agreement in 2016, OPEC and its non-OPEC allies have been struggling with overproduction from several members, which has undermined the efficiency of the cuts and has muddled the figures about actual OPEC+ supply to the market.

The latest compensation plans envisage the biggest monthly compensations to be made between May and October 2025, with lower total monthly compensations left for next year.

In theory, this means that the OPEC+ producers will produce lower volumes than planned this year and offset the production 411,000 bpd hike from May 2025.

In practice, OPEC+ hasnt achieved full conformity with the production cuts as producers such as Iraq, Kazakhstan, and Russia have continuously failed to stick to their quotas.

Just ahead of the production increase beginning in April, the OPEC+ group boosted its oil production to an eight-month high in March, according to the Platts OPEC+ Survey from S&P Global Commodity Insights.

The producers in OPEC+ who have quotas have busted their overall output ceiling by a massive 319,000 bpd, according to the Platts survey.

The continued problems with compliance and higher OPEC+ production in March come as the group begins easing the cuts in April and is set to further hike production in May by three times the expected amount.

Earlier this month, OPEC said that the decision to go ahead with a large production boost in May could also provide an opportunity for the participating countries to accelerate their compensation.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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The fact that U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a pause on the raft of new tariffs against most of the worlds countries  but not on most of those directed at China  highlights what these new levies are really all about. They are in large part specifically aimed at finally correcting a longstanding imbalance in the trade deficit between the U.S. and China since the Ccmmunist country developed a capitalist twist in the 1990s under former leader Deng Xiaoping. This gap has become increasingly more dramatic through Chinas use of a variety of unfair trading practices, including export dumping, implicit import barriers and perhaps most notably the sustained manipulation to keep the Chinese renminbi currency undervalued against the U.S. dollar. Trump, his presidential predecessor Barack Obama and successor Joe Biden tried to do the same, but little changed, So, will this new strategy work and what will the geopolitical fallout be if it does not?

Related: Oil Sanctions, Hungarian Headaches, and the EUs Quiet Power Play

During Trumps first presidency, he drew considerable disapproval at home and abroad from his approach to China that appeared to conflate three distinct elements that were best left separate according to his critics  national security, trade, and his personal admiration for President Xi Jinping. An early notable case in point had been the almost complete reversal of hard-hitting U.S. sanctions imposed on Chinese telecommunications company ZTE for committing major and repeated violations of the U.S.s sanctions on Iran and on North Korea. According to former National Security Advisor and former stalwart Trump support, John Bolton (in his book The Room Where It Happened), after a private telephone call to President Xi  in which it later transpired that Xi told Trump that he would owe [Trump] a favour if he reduced the sanctions against ZTE  Trump did exactly what Xi had asked for. Trump tweeted: President Xi of China and I are working together to give massive Chinese phone company, ZTE, a way to get back into business, fast. Too many jobs in China lost. Commerce Department has been instructed to get it done! As Bolton wrote: Since when we had started to worry about jobs in China? The same methodology of personally flattering Trump and then offering him some vague commitment on Chinas part to buy more of some product or another from the U.S. was again used by Xi to hold off Trump from imposing quick, full and irreversible sanctions on another massive Chinese firm accused of being used for intelligence gathering operations against the U.S.  Huawei, according to a senior legal source in the European Unions (E.U.s) energy security complex. He added that China was very aware at that point that Trump was only concerned with the optics of the U.S.-China Trade War and not with the substance of how those negotiations were progressing. Therefore, Beijing tailored all its so-called concessions to being on issues that were meaningless in practice, but which would allow Trump to make victory-sounding Tweets. Attesting to Trumps focus on appearance rather than reality was an oft-repeated comment by him during his first presidency: Every time theres a little bad [Trade War] news the [stock] market would go down incrediblyEvery time there was a little bit of good news the market would go up incredibly... And yet, other news that was also very big, the market just didnt really care. It is perhaps partly in answer to this criticism, says the E.U. security source, that Trump has taken such an aggressive approach to China this time around.

It may also be a recognition of the fact that all previous attempts by predecessors and successors alike to reduce the U.S.-China trade deficit have failed. Following Trumps loss in the 2020 Presidential Election, the Biden government made it clear that three key items related to China at the top of the agenda. First, U.S. companies would no longer be allowed to sign any contracts with Chinese companies that included any element of sharing technology. For decades, the Chinese had insisted that any U.S. company that wanted to do business with China must share its technology with its Chinese partner. This had allowed China to systematically reverse engineer everything that was shared and then to re-sell China-made versions back to the U.S. and the rest of the world at much lower prices, given the much lower unit cost of labour in China than in the U.S. Second, was to put into practice a new mechanism that would correct the long-term bilateral structural trade imbalance trade imbalance is a systematic way that was sustainable overt the decades to come. Specifically, this was to be the introduction of a new metric for China that would create a long-term steady-state equilibrium in trade, as there had been with Japan when it had operated basically the same economic model with the rest of the world in the 1960s and 1970s as China had done since the 1990s. This new approach was to be focused on correcting the long-term bilateral structural trade imbalance that had existed between the US and China for decades. Bidens team wanted to impose a strict percentage ratio between the five-year rolling mean average of the U.S.-China goods trade number (a deficit for the U.S.) to the U.S.s GDP number. For 2019, for example, the figures were a U.S.-China goods trade deficit of US$345 billion, and a U.S. GDP of USD21.43 trillion, so the percentage ratio was around 1.6%. Whatever exact metric was taken, the five-year rolling mean average would be aimed at decreasing that percentage ratio by at least half within the first term of the Biden presidency. For various reasons, this full policy was never successfully rolled out, leaving the U.S.-China trade imbalance an ongoing source of contention.

Consequently, Trump may not unreasonably believe that only a big, bold statement of intent regarding this inequality between the U.S. and China can succeed. However, by reverting to the protectionist ideology seen in the U.S. before 1913  a point frequently mentioned in Trumps tariffs announcement  many firm, and wavering, allies may see the threat of the isolationist disengagement from global politics that accompanied this stance in the U.S. at the same time. Over and above the potentially cataclysmic ramifications of this for NATO  which has been the key foundation preventing another world war since 1945  the consequences for the Middle East are enormously profound. Trump made it clear in his Endless Wars commencement address to the United States Military Academy at West Point on 13 June 2020 that he saw the days of the U.S. being the policeman of the world as being over. After this was put into practice with the U.S.s unilateral withdrawal from the nuclear deal with Iran in 2018, and then in the U.S. withdrawal from Syria in 2019, and Afghanistan and Iraq in 2021, Chinese (and Russian) influence across the door to a massive increase in influence from both Russia and China across the Middle East increased exponentially, as analysed in full in my latest book on the new global oil market order. As it stands, China has said very clearly that it will not back down in what is effectively a huge new trade war, and it has two key advantages over Trump in this respect. First, its people are used to hardship over the very long term. Second, Chinas leadership never faces the prospect of losing office. For some time now, Beijing has regarded Trump as a nation builder, but it is not the U.S. nation it is talking about, it is theirs.

By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com

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The Trump administration's Iran policy appears to lack clarity due to ongoing internal discussions and differing opinions on how to address Iran's nuclear ambitions.

The US Special Envoy made conflicting statements regarding the limits of Iran's uranium enrichment, leading to uncertainty about the US's true negotiating position.

Iran has stated its willingness to build confidence and address US concerns about its nuclear program, but insists that the principle of uranium enrichment is nonnegotiable.

Tehran is ready to ease US concerns over its nuclear activities but scrapping uranium enrichment is off the table, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said as the two sides prepare for a second round of talks this weekend over Iran's nuclear program.

Araqchi told reporters after a weekly cabinet meeting in Tehran on April 16 that Irans enrichment is a real, accepted matter.

Were ready to build confidence in response to possible concerns, but the principle of enrichment is nonnegotiable, he said, days ahead of the second round of talks with the United States in Oman on April 19.

Araqchis comments came in response to US Special Envoy Steve Witkoffs statement on April 15, saying Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponization program.

But hours earlier, Witkoff had told Fox News that the Donald Trump administration was seeking to cap Irans uranium enrichment at 3.67 percent -- the limit set in the 2015 nuclear deal that Trump abrogated in 2018.

"Iran must not possess nuclear weapons, and it should not enrich uranium beyond 3.67 percent," Witkoff said.

His apparent reversal came after a conservative backlash on social media, with the administration being accused of repackaging the 2015 deal, which is formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

We applaud Special Envoy Witkoff's statement, wrote Mark Wallace, chief executive of United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), after Witkoff changed his tone.

It is clear under the Trump Doctrine that Iran must verifiably dismantle its nuclear program or the US and Israel will do so, said Wallace, a former US diplomat.

Araqchi, who will travel to Moscow on April 17, noted that Witkoff had made different comments since the conclusion of the first round of talks, but added that Washingtons true position must be clarified at the negotiating table.

Trump has made it clear that Iran cannot be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons, but has not explicitly commented on whether that involves curbing Irans nuclear program or fully dismantling it. In the meantime, his administration has been sending out mixed messaged.

Quoting an unnamed US official, the Axios news website on April 16 attributed the lack of clarity to ongoing internal discussions.

"The Iran policy is not very clear mainly because it is still being figured out. It is tricky because it's a highly politically charged issue," the official said, according to Axios.

By RFE/RL

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Discussions include securing navigation, monitoring cease-fire compliance, and clearing mines in the Black Sea, with Ukraine asserting it has already gained a naval advantage in the conflict.

Turkey is playing a key role due to its naval strength and the Montreux Convention, which limits non-littoral navies in the Black Sea.

Military leaders from several nations are meeting in Turkey to discuss Black Sea security and potential naval deployments in the event of a Ukraine cease-fire.

Military leaders from several nations are quietly holding under-the-radar talks at the headquarters of the Turkish Navy in Ankara this week, focusing on Black Sea security in the event of a cease-fire between Russia and Ukraine.

The meetings come days after two European diplomatic sources told RFE/RL that Turkey had declared it was willing to "assume responsibility for the maritime dimension" of a multinational military deployment in Ukraine.

There are practical reasons for Turkey to do this.

The 1936 Montreux Convention places strict limits on the tonnage that non-littoral navies can deploy in the Black Sea and for how long. This makes Turkey, which has one of NATO's strongest militaries, the natural key player.

It has 17 frigates, for example, compared to just three in Romania's navy.

"It's impossible to solve this without Turkey on the side of the Europeans," Sam Greene of the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) said at a recent briefing.

British and French vessels could also be expected to rotate through the Black Sea as part of a peacekeeping or reassurance force.

But as with the land-based force envisaged by the "coalition of the willing," the naval mission might also rely on a "US backstop."

How Is This Different?

According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), this would consist of air- and space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. Although, as the CSIS notes, US Navy ships regularly patrol the Black Sea anyway and could therefore also play a role.

In this regard, a Black Sea mission would take place under very different conditions to a land one -- in that NATO already has a well-established presence there with regular multinational exercises.

In fact, NATO just completed drills involving naval forces from 12 nations, including Turkey, the United States, Britain, and Romania. Over 12 days, forces simulated responses to hybrid, naval, and air attacks in the region.

Naval patrols would be focused on multiple missions, such as securing freedom of navigation for commercial shipping (including Ukraine's vital grain exports), monitoring cease-fire compliance, and mine clearance.

Andriy Ryzhenko, a reserve captain in the Ukrainian Navy, told RFE/RL's Current Time that "many ports are completely blocked at the moment," due to mines.

"They are Mykolayiv, Ochakiv, Kherson. Other ports are officially open but with limitations. Mines need to be found and neutralized," he said.

'Ukraine Has Won'

Unlike on land, Ukraine feels it is winning or indeed has already won the war at sea.

A series of spectacular attacks that sank numerous Russian vessels has already pushed Russia's numerically superior navy out of its bases in occupied Crimea and back to Novorossiysk.

"Ukraine has won on the sea and now has a complete advantage. That is, it does not allow the enemy near its coasts and it ensures civilian navigation," Oleksiy Neizhpapa, head of the Ukrainian Navy, told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service on April 8.

"But the enemy has the ability, has weapons that can hit civilian objects, civilian ships directly in ports or at sea. So, of course, the danger remains."

This was amply demonstrated by overnight Russian drone attacks on Odesa on April 16.

Ryzhenko also pointed out that shipping in the Black Sea is not operating along peacetime routes and that these need to be restored.

"It needs to be possible to go directly from Odesa to the Bosphorus across the middle of the Black Sea and not hiding in the territorial waters of neighboring countries," he said.

Ryzhenko added that the talks in Ankara would be focused on these details.

Low-Profile Talks

The talks were first announced by the Turkish Defense Ministry on April 13, but officials would not reveal which countries were taking part.

Later, it was reported that NATO members Bulgaria and Romania would be involved, along with Georgia.

On April 15, Britain's Defense Ministry told RFE/RL that it would join the meetings, before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that Ukraine and France were also attending.

"We are talking about the presence of a contingent at sea, and we believe that Turkey can have a serious place in future security guarantees for the sea," Zelenskyy said.

"This is not about ending the war, this is about what will happen after the cease-fire -- security guarantees," he added.

As with previous discussions on a land-based contingent, the United States is not involved in the talks.

By RFE/RL

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Senior executives from Azerbaijans state oil firm SOCAR this week discussed with Egyptian officials and executives the idea to establish a strategic Egyptian-Azeri partnership in the oil and gas sector, Egypts Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources said.

Egyptian Petroleum Minister Karim Badawi met in Cairo with Elkhan Polukhov, Azerbaijans Ambassador to Egypt, and an accompanying Azeri delegation, which included Zaur Hasanov, Director of Business Development at SOCAR. The meeting was also attended by Salah Abdel Karim, CEO of the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC).

The officials and executives from the two countries discussed the opportunities and capabilities to establish a cooperation partnership and exchange expertise in oil and gas.

Egypt has just launched a new oil and gas bid round and is inviting international companies to bid for 13 offshore and onshore blocks in a licensing round as it aims to boost domestic oil and gas production.

Companies are invited to bid on six new exploration areas and seven undeveloped discoveries. The undeveloped discoveries are in the Mediterranean, while the six exploration areas include three offshore exploration blocks in the Gulf of Suez and three onshore exploration areas in Egypts Western Desert.

The new licensing bid round is part of the North African countrys strategy to attract more investments in its upstream industry and raise domestic oil and gas production.

Foreign firms have recently expressed interest and raised production in Egypt, whose Mediterranean waters have become a major focus of exploration since the 2010s, when Italys Eni discovered the huge Zohr gas field offshore Egypt. This is the largest natural gas discovery in the Mediterranean to date, according to Eni.

Azerbaijans SOCAR, for its part, is part of a consortium with supermajor BP and Israeli company NewMed Energy, which last month signed a licensing agreement to explore for natural gas offshore Israel. The deal marks BPs entry into Israel and the first exploration effort outside Azerbaijan for the state company SOCAR.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Turkeys top oil refiner, Tupras, has resumed purchasing Russian Urals crude oil after a brief halt earlier this year prompted by U.S. sanctions on Moscow. According to trading sources and shipping data reviewed by Reuters, the company restarted imports following a drop in Urals prices below the G7's price cap, reaching their lowest point since 2023.

Tupras had previously become one of the largest buyers of Russian crude after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. In the first 11 months of 2024, Russian oil accounted for roughly 65% of Turkeys total oil imports, based on figures from the countrys energy regulator.

Although Tupras did not respond to requests for comment, the shift signals a renewed effort to balance geopolitical constraints with economic pragmatism. Tupras choice to return to the Russian market appears to be driven more by pricing than politics, as the affordability of Urals crude makes it a financially attractive option despite ongoing Western sanctions.

This development comes as global energy markets remain volatile due to conflicts, shifting alliances, and sanctions regimes. The market will be watching to see whether Tupras move will prompt others to take similar actions. Right now, everyone is in limbo, trying to test the waters between sanctions compliance and the desire for cheap oil.

Earlier this month, Urals crude plunged along with other oil benchmarks, dropping close to $50 per barrel for the first time in nearly two years. On Wednesday, April 16, at 11:46 a.m. Urals was trading at $67.61, compared to Brent crude at $65.96 and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) at $62.63.

The Tupras exclusive by Reuters comes a day after reports that the European Commission will, on May 6, unveil its big plan to phase out all Russian oil and gas by 2027, according to a Reuters report.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Mexico has temporarily suspended imports of fuels from the United States by truck as it is stepping up inspections of permits in a bid to clamp down on illegal fuel trades, sources with knowledge of the matter have told Reuters.

As Mexico is stepping up cargo inspections, trucks loaded with diesel and gasoline are currently not being allowed to cross the Texas border into Mexico, according to one of Reuters sources involved in the delivery of fuels by truck.

Mexican authorities have not yet given a timeline on when fuel trade by road would resume, the sources told Reuters.

Only fuel trade by road is affected, and there arent any problems with railway or seaborne fuel deliveries from the United States to Mexico, per the anonymous sources.

The lucrative illegal fuel trade between the U.S. Gulf refining hub and Mexico has prompted Mexican authorities to issue a decree in 2023 establishing measures to combat the illicit fuel market.

Because of its ageing refining capacity and systems, Mexico depends on U.S. fuel imports despite being a major crude oil producer. Mexico is the largest export market for U.S. petroleum products, and petroleum products accounted for 87% of the total energy exports from the United States to Mexico in 2023, according to EIA data.

U.S. petroleum product exports to Mexico averaged 1.2 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2023, up by 1% from the previous year.

However, illegal fuel trade is depriving both the U.S. and Mexico of the revenues and taxes of the legal trade, and Mexican authorities appear determined to crack down on cross-border fuel smuggling.

Last month, the Mexican government said it had seized 10 million liters of diesel stored on the land of a freight company in the city of Altamira, in the northeast of the country. The seizure of the fuel at the end of March was followed by the confiscation of another eight million liters of diesel in Ensenada, Baja California, the week prior.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
Thailand is the latest Asian economy looking to import higher volumes of American energy as a way to convince the U.S. Administration not to slap high tariffs on Thai goods sold in the United States.

Thailand plans to raise its U.S. LNG imports over the next five years, Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira said on Wednesday.

Delegations from many Asian countries are heading to Washington D.C. these days to discuss the U.S. tariffs, now suspended for 90 days, which hit the most economies in Asia and Southeast Asia, including Thailand.

The tariff on Thailand, which U.S. President Donald Trump announced on the so-called liberation day on April 2, was as much as 36%--one of the highest among all economies and jurisdictions.

Thailand already has a deal to buy 1 million metric tons of LNG, worth $500 million, in 2026 as part of a 15-year-long term deal, the Thai minister was quoted as saying by Reuters.

Thailand will also seek another LNG deal over the next five years, worth $600 million, as well as importing ethane from the U.S., worth about $100 million over the next four years, according to the energy minister.

Earlier this week, Indonesia, threatened with a 32% tariff, said it would offer to buy an additional $10 billion worth of American oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

Indonesia is just one of the countries looking to buy their way out of steep tariffs with deals to purchase American energy products.

South Asian nation Pakistan is actively considering the idea of importing U.S. crude oil for the first time to seek a reduction of its trade surplus with America.

South Korea is reportedly looking at more LNG imports to get Washington to drop the tariffs, while India is weighing the option to scrap its import tax on American liquefied natural gas to increase U.S. LNG imports and reduce its trade surplus with the United States.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
Photos by Shoji Kudaka, Takahiro Takiguchi and Illustrations by Annie Kamio ()



Located throughout Japan, convenience stores sell virtually everything you need in daily life.

Undoubtedly youve seen the many stores, or maybe used one to pay your bills, receive an Amazon shipment or withdraw cash at an ATM.

Convenience stores can be the equivalent of a public bathroom for town strollers, as the shops are found just about anywhere you go.

Today, these stores are widely considered an indispensable part of the social infrastructure. When a major earthquake hit eastern Japan 11 years ago, I will never forget their role in the days following the disaster. With most businesses closed, the only places I saw open were convenience stores, which kept providing foods and daily supplies for locals.

There are over 50,000 convenience stores in Japan, forming a 10 trillion yen ($88 billion) market, according to the Nihon Keizai Shinbun.

With a wide range of services offered, foods are at the core of the stores. In fact, 62 percent of convenience store products are made up of fast or processed foods, such as precooked box lunches, sandwiches, various instant foods, dairy products and sweets. Some shops sell local fresh vegetables and fruits in season, as well.

Needless to say, convenience stores are exactly that  convenient for when you need something quickly and at all hours. Stores are usually open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., with some open around the clock. I have often been asked by my wife to pick up milk, bread or sweets well after the supermarkets have closed (usually 7 or 8 p.m.)

I often use convenience stores for various instant foods and precooked dishes, says Yuko Endo, a part-timer and mother of three children. In a store, you will see various food items that can be used for kids box lunch, and I see a lot of other working mothers shopping in the store at night after the supermarkets have closed, just like me.

Ill often stop at one to get a refill on my drink, as most are stocked with beer and wine. The beer is a nice accompaniment as I stay for a while, scanning the latest magazines.

Fortunately, the quality of convenience store foods have significantly improved, according to Kohei Suzuki, a Tokyo salaryman who uses the stores every day.

As convenience stores compete in developing their original foods to attract the customers, I feel the quality of foods keeps going upward, Suzuki said. Frankly, I feel sandwiches, fried chicken and donuts in convenience stores are much tastier than the ones of McDonald, KFC and Mister Donut. I think convenience store foods may drive out these fast foods shops in near future.

According to Suzuki, Famichiki (fried chicken at Family Mart) and donuts at Circle K Sunkus are delicious and worth sampling, and frozen ramen noodles, retort curries and hamburgers at 7-Eleven are superb and very popular.

Along with these popular staples, freshly brewed 100-yen coffee and oden (Japanese hotpot with assorted ingredients like tofu, fish cake and radish) are also hot items at the stores.

A total of 600 million cups of the coffee are sold at all convenience stores from northern main island of Hokkaido up to the southernmost island of Okinawa every year (on average, 120 cups at each shop daily), according to the Torey Laboratory of Business. I cant help but drop by one for a cup of coffee on the way to work almost every day.

The price of convenience store foods can also be friendly on your budget.

Eating foods from convenience stores rather than eating at restaurants actually greatly helps keep my meal expenses low, says Jun Oikawa, a Tokyo restaurant staffer. As I am living by myself, I often buy a boxed lunch, instant noodles, onigiri (rice ball) or sandwiches and a bottle of tea at a convenience store for around 400 yen ($3) two or three times a week, and that can save me a lot of money.

Most tasty frozen ramen noodles are available for around 100 yen, Suzuki added. So, if you pick up one and combine it with other foods in the store, you can have a tasty meal for 500 yen.

More and more stores have installed eat-in sections, leading Suzuki to enjoy weekend lunches with his family at the convenience store.

As if they werent convenient enough, the Mini Stop chain has incorporated a bar corner, where customers can enjoy a variety of alcoholic beverages.

The new drinker-friendly stores boast a wide selection of beers, wines and other spirits on top of its standard items. Shop staffers will serve you a frozen glass for that can of beer, or warm up sake if you ask. There are four stores within Tokyo, according to the Mini Stop webpage.
A proposed city ordinance would give Omaha police another tool to curb racing and stunt driving on city streets by allowing officers to tow the vehicles of participants and spectators in addition to fines and other penalties.

Kevin Slimp, an Omaha city prosecutor, said communities around the country have been seeing an increase in dangerous driving that sometimes involves large crowds and spectators who use their vehicles to block intersections and the orderly flow of traffic.

He was contacted by Omaha police several months ago because they had been seeing a rise in such activity. Typically, organizers have posted notices on social media announcing the locations and times of so-called street takeovers, giving officers advanced notice and allowing them to get ahead of them.

But sometimes, those involved will scatter and move on to another location, he said. Giving law enforcement the authority to tow vehicles would prevent that from happening.

If something is happening, we want law enforcement to be able to come out there and effectively deal with it and be done with it in one incident, he said.

The Omaha City Council heard a first reading of the proposed ordinance Tuesday. City Council President Pete Festersen asked whether it would cover speeding and noise concerns like those that currently pose a concern on major thoroughfares such as Dodge Street, which passes through his council district.

City Attorney Matt Kuhse assured him that it would cover spontaneous events as well as more organized ones.

The council will hold a public hearing on the proposal at its meeting Tuesday and take a final vote April 29. Festersen said he supports the measure. Police have been enforcing speeding on major thoroughfares, but the ordinance would step that up.

A trend in cities across the U.S.

Indeed, a number of communities are taking such steps. Slimp said the proposed ordinance is similar to one enacted in Kansas City.

A new ordinance intended to reign in racing on O Street and other roadways in Lincoln was slated to take effect Tuesday, the Lincoln Journal-Star reported. Approved 6-0 by the Lincoln City Council last month, it would allow police to impound drivers vehicles.

Officers there have responded to six traffic deaths on O Street in the past five years, said Erika Thomas, a spokeswoman for the Lincoln department. Thats in addition to more than 700 nighttime crashes and 800 injury crashes.

Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson last fall issued a directive calling on deputies to seize vehicles and cellphones of drivers suspected of street racing, stunt driving and other dangerous exhibitions.

Several weeks later, he said the directive was working. But some experts raised concerns about whether it was legal, with one scholar questioning whether the sheriff has the authority under current law to seize cars and cellphones indefinitely. A longtime public defender called the directive blatantly unconstitutional.

According to Hansons directive, deputies can seize suspected drivers vehicles and phones after traffic stops as they search for evidence of willful reckless driving while they pursue search warrants.

Suspected reckless driving can include excessive speeding, sudden lane changes, spinning tires and driving without headlights. Hanson said at the time that those engaged in willful reckless driving often document their crimes on their phones, and their vehicles infotainment system can include metrics and GPS data showing evidence of crimes.

Hanson said then that he issued the directive following community feedback that reckless driving was the No. 1 concern in the county.

In Louisville, Kentucky, seizing cars involved in street racing has helped the city see a significant decrease in street racing exhibitions, The World-Herald previously reported.

Under Omahas proposed ordinance, a driver involved in unlawful street racing or sideshows would face a fine of up to $250 and up to 30 days in jail for a first offense. Third and subsequent violations could bring a fine of up to $500 and as much as six months in jail.

Spectators found within 200 feet of such an event would face fines ranging from $100 for a first violation to $350 for third and subsequent violations.

And, if officers have probable cause to believe a driver or passenger was involved as a racer, participant or spectator in a race or sideshow, the vehicle may be towed and impounded under a current city ordinance that allows for the removal of vehicles from city property or right of way for a number of reasons, including when it endangers the public health, welfare or safety.
LINCOLN  A bill to increase the penalty for assaulting a pharmacist or any employee in a hospital or health clinic in Nebraska advanced from its first round of voting in the Legislature Wednesday after an eight-hour filibuster that stretched over two days.

Senators disagreed over the preventive effects of Legislative Bill 322. Supporters said it would help to keep health care workers safe and feel more secure. Opponents said it is already a crime to assault anyone and the bill set a harsh penalty that would put more people in prison. Despite the lengthy debate, the bill passed its first of three rounds of voting by a comfortable margin.

An existing law makes assaulting health care professionals like doctors and nurses a felony, but it excludes pharmacists. State Sen. Stanley Clouse of Kearney said the Nebraska Pharmacists Association brought the bill to him to bring their profession in line with others in the health field. The Legislatures Judiciary Committee amended the bill to include all employees in a hospital or clinic, regardless if theyre a health care worker.

Sen. Beau Ballard of Lincoln authored the amendment and said the legislation isnt the silver bullet to fix all issues in health care, particularly challenges with staffing, but it would help. He said health care workers make up about 10% of the working population but are the victims of almost half the instances of workplace violence.

This bill is about accountability for offenders and protections for the community and public, Sen. Carolyn Bosn of Lincoln said.

Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Bennington led the effort to halt the bills progress. She said a new law wont affect a persons behavior in the heat of the moment because only lawyers would be aware of the change or the different penalties between a misdemeanor and felony. She and other senators said the people becoming agitated while receiving care or trying to get medicine are often not in their right minds.

The bill only serves to make someone feel protected without protecting them, Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha said. He said the measure expanded the states ability to incarcerate people. Sen. George Dungan of Lincoln said the existing misdemeanor penalty for assault is significant, carrying up to a year in jail and a fine of $1,000. Senators argued that harsher penalties would exacerbate prison-crowding issues and ultimately cost taxpayers. DeBoer at one point offered to end the filibuster if other senators would work with her on the amendment to include all hospital or clinic employees, which she said was overly broad legislation. Other senators didnt oblige.

Bosn said those arguments were a distraction from the dangers that health care workers face.

The vote was the first of three for the bill. The second round will include debate over proposed amendments to address concerns about how harsher penalties may affect the people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and autism.

Edison McDonald, director of the advocacy group Arc of Nebraska, advised senators in a letter that the bill may unintentionally criminalize those individuals along with people with mental health conditions. He wrote, Many individuals with IDD experience behavioral, sensory or communication challenges that can result in involuntary or misinterpreted actions, particularly during moments of distress or crisis. These behaviors are often a function of disability, not criminal intent.

Sen. Robert Hallstrom of Syracuse introduced amendments to establish affirmative defense for people with IDD or autism. Affirmative defense is evidence presented in court that could negate liability for an action, like a person claiming self-defense when charged with a violent crime. Still, a defendant or their attorney would have to convince the judge or jury that the defense justified the defendants actions.

Dungan, a public defender, noted the amendments leave out mental illness and said prosecutors will still challenge affirmative defenses.

McDonald asked senators to add clearer definitions for disabilities and to exclude facilities that serve people with IDDs from the bill. He also asked senators to discuss whether affirmative defense is the best tool to make sure people with IDDs are not criminalized in the bill and to explore de-escalation training for health care workers.
By Oregon State Representative Ed Diehl.

This week, we had an incredible showing of home care workers against HB3838, a bill being forced on them by public sector unions for their own good.

After a powerful turnout on Monday, they moved the work session to Wednesday, and even MORE workers came, filling two rooms to oppose the Home and Community-Based Services Workforce Standards Board bill.

Now, House Democrats are buying time by voting to move HB3838 to the Rules Committeea clear sign they dont have the votes on the floor to pass it! I testified against HB3838, and I stand with these workers, and the small businesses that support them, as they fight for their right to make decisions about their own livelihoods.

Keep the momentum by writing your legislators and demand a NO vote on this bill!

Testimony in Opposition to HB 3838:

I strongly oppose HB 3838. This bill threatens to impose excessive regulations on small businesses and nonprofit care providers by creating an unelected workforce standards board. Such measures would drive smaller providers out of business, limit access to essential services for our most vulnerable residents, and stifle innovation in care delivery. Instead, I advocate for real solutionsraising Medicaid reimbursement rates, offering recruitment incentives, and reducing administrative burdensto strengthen the home and community-based care workforce without jeopardizing providers or the people they serve. Together, we can protect these vital services and the organizations that make them possible.

Here is my full testimony:

House Committee on Labor and Workplace Standards

Chair Grayber, Vice-Chairs Elmer and Munoz, and Members of the Committee,

My name is Ed Diehl, State Representative for House District 17, East Salem through the Majestic Santiam Canyon. I am here today to strongly oppose House Bill 3838. As someone who deeply values the essential role of home and community-based care providers, I am gravely concerned about the unintended consequences this bill will have on our most vulnerable residents and the organizations that serve them.

HB 3838 seeks to establish a Home and Community-Based Services Workforce Standards Board with the goal of setting minimum workforce standards. While workforce investment is critical, this bill sets up yet another unelected bureaucracy that will undoubtedly introduce standards that will cripple nonprofit providers, increase administrative burdens, and ultimately reduce service availability for those who depend on these essential services.

This is another small business killer. It will do to home based care providers what House Bill 2548 will do to farmers. Its a blatant attempt to steamroll these small businesses, and take control of their own businesses out of their hands. This will lead to a consolidation of service providers, as the smaller ones will face ever-growing administrative burdens, driving them out of business. It will create insurmountable barriers to new businesses, who perhaps would have more creative, innovative ways to deliver care.

Oregon should be working to expand services, not impose new regulatory barriers that limit access to care.

This unelected board, established by the Governor, will set pay rates, working conditions, schedules, working hours, training standards, and staffing requirements.

Invest In Medicaid Reimbursement Rates

So my question is why? Why create rigid, one-size-fits-all workforce mandates? Why create an unelected board to do these things? These businesses are already heavily regulated by the state. They also rely heavily on Medicaid reimbursements, also regulated by the state. ODHS recently completed a workforce study and determined that these workers are underpaid  we dont need a board to tell us that. The agency and the legislature have the authority, and the duty, to regulate this industry. We dont need yet another layer of bureaucracy to do it.

This bill is being pushed by public sector union leadership. And in my opinion the true reason for this is simple  drive out the small businesses, consolidate, and ultimately have a unionized workforce employed by the state. Thats not good for business, its not good for taxpayers, its not good for employees, and its definitely not good for the clients that these providers care for who are among the most vulnerable in our state.

It may surprise some of you, but some people dont like working for unions. Many studies show that union members are actually less satisfied with their jobs than non-union workers. I have visited several of these care homes. And the workers I have met are happy in their jobs and enjoy their work. Their main request is that we raise the reimbursement rates.

Conclusion

HB 3838 puts the mission of many providers at risk. I urge you to reject this bill and instead pursue real solutions.

For the last 3 sessions I have sat on the Human Services Ways & Means Subcommittee, and I have dug into these issues and the REAL solutions are higher Medicaid reimbursement rates, recruitment incentives, and reduced administrative burdensThose solutions will genuinely strengthen the home and community-based workforce without harming nonprofit providers and those they serve. Thank you for your time.

HB 3838 threatens the future of small businesses and nonprofit care providers, putting essential services for vulnerable residents at risk. I urge you to take actioncall or write your legislators today and demand a NO vote on HB 3838. Together, we can protect these vital organizations and ensure access to quality care for those who need it most.

Click here to find a list of Chief and regular sponsors to HB3838

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD

It is easy to testify, virtually, in person or in writing, to support or oppose a bill.

Learn more here: Citizen Engagement Home

Testifying on a bill gives you a voice in Oregons legislature. The voice of the people is the cornerstone of democracy! Let yours be heard today.
(State Representative Kevin Manix, constituent Kristi George, and her husband on the floor for the vote of HB 2299-A)

By Oregon State Representative Kevin Manix

April 15, 2025

Today, the Oregon House passed HB 2299 A, which criminalizes the dissemination of pornographic or sexually explicit images generated through artificial intelligence (AI). The bipartisan bill comes as Oregonians face an exponential rise in the circulation of AI-generated intimate deepfakes depicting people engaging in sexual acts. The vast majority of the victims are women and children.

I am very pleased that the House passed this important bill to protect Oregoniansespecially women and youthfrom being cruelly victimized by the sharing of false, AI-generated intimate images, said Representative Kevin L. Mannix (R-Salem). Its my hope that the passage of this bill will prevent more victims from experiencing significant emotional consequences and trauma, as well as damage to their reputations and careers.

To celebrate the passage of HB 2299, Rep. Mannix hosted Kristi George, and her husband, Bill, on the House Floor. Kristi, along with her daughter have endured a deeply traumatic and ongoing violation of their privacy after falling victims to whats commonly known as revenge porn with artificial images.

Kristis courage in stepping forward, not just to tell her story but to fight for change, is extraordinary, said Rep. Mannix on the House Floor. Her voice is helping to expose a dangerous loophole in our legal systemone that we urgently need to close. I want to thank Kristi, sincerely, for her bravery and her commitment to ensuring no one else in Oregon has to suffer what she and her daughter have endured.

HB 2299 A updates the current statute to include AI-generated and altered images to the crime of unlawful dissemination of an intimate image. The bill expands the definition of an image to include: a digitally created, manipulated, or altered depiction that is reasonably realistic. The defendant must intend to harass, humiliate or injure a victim, with the victim having experienced harassment, humiliation, or injury. The unlawful dissemination of an intimate image is a Class A misdemeanor under this bill.

HB 2299 A passed with unanimous support and will head to the Senate for consideration.
I have subscribed to and read the Wall Street Journal for well over thirty years. Admittedly, the Journal leans right and thats alright with me since I too lean right. Despite that tilt, the Journal tends to minimize the political spin on the news that has long plagued other national journals such as The New York Times and the Washington Post, both of which have sacrificed integrity to serve as outlets for the Democrat National Committee and increasingly the featherweights in the Progressive wing of the Democrat Party. As such, they have suffered the same fate as their preferred candidates and their talking points  rejection by working class Americans.

But the Wall Street Journal is not immune from such myopia themselves. While the Journal leans right, it is fundamentally a globalist and abhors the disruption of the current world economic order. Of course that current world order requires the United States to subsidize the remainder of the world through one sided tariffs, restrictive rules by other nations and turning a blind eye towards the corruption and intellectual property theft that is endemic in national governments and economies  particularly in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). In other words, maintain the status quo.

Like other media institutions that have abandoned fact in favor of speculation, the Journal has been on a rant ever since Mr. Trump announced tariffs just prior to April 2. For instance, last Saturdays edition of the Journal posted the following headlines on page 1  above and below the fold:

World Takes Urgent Steps on Economy

Stocks Wild Week End in the Green

Wall Street Sound the Alarm About Trade Wars Impact

Bissent Walks a Tightrope on Tariff Policy

In addition, the Journal included four more stories critical of the tariffs and three editorial columns similarly critical, and these just topped a week long deluge of similar articles. One might suggest that this is a bit of overkill. But the real capper is that none of these articles were about facts. They were all about opinions, speculations, and conjectures and virtually all of them relied on a forty year old formula embraced by successive administrations and urged by an endless stream of Yale graduates in the State Department most of whom never met a country that they didnt feel was maligned by the hard work and good fortunes of America and therefore deserving of Americas largesse without question or consequences. It is that group-think that has brought America to this point  the point where the international community no longer thinks of America as Uncle Sam, but rather Uncle Sugar, or more likely Uncle Stupid. It is hard to imagine a trading regimen that is more burdensome to American business than the current status quo. And just as importantly, it is a trading regimen that those critical of Mr. Trumps tariff regimen  including the Wall Street Journal  offer no alternative but more of the same.

Beyond clinging to the demonstrable failure of the last half century of trade policy their opposition to Mr. Trumps tariff policy fails on one additional but existential element of Mr. Trumps tariff policy  that is that the imposition of tariffs once in place will last forever. It is as if they belief that it will be the last decision ever made on tariffs and the forecast of doom and gloom can be graphed by a straight line on an economic chart. Their whole criticism of the use of tariffs is premised on this basis and while it may have been true under the rigid former President Herbert Hoover in the 1930s, it simply ignores the fact that Mr. Trump has already changed the policy, delayed the policy, accelerated the policy and applied the policy selectively based on changing circumstances. They seem to forget that Mr. Trump is a successful businessman who has perfected the art of the deal and who is ultimately flexible as dynamics of the deal change. Anyone who believes that any element of the tariffs will remain unchanged over the next ninety days is a fool waiting to be taken  particularly given the seventy-five plus nations already negotiating new trade agreements.

So how is it that the those clinging to their opposition to tariffs can speculate and opine about the tragedy that is about to befall us all if they have already seen that Mr. Trump is ready, able and willing to change the tariff policy based on shifting economic data. Politicians and the money changers on Wall Street may not be able to adjust to changing times but Mr. Trump can and does.

Before you get all huffy, let me assure you that I too am a globalist  just not a Barack Obama globalist who thinks that America must go hat-in-hand to apologize for its success and try, like socialists everywhere to make the outcomes, rather than the opportunities, equal. You dont have to be Uncle Sugar or Uncle Stupid to recognize that Americas economy is inexorably tied to the worlds economy. And in the conduct of trade policy there must be a recognition that those nations with developing economies may need assistance, but that assistance is the duty of all of the successful economies to assist and not just America  whether it is through financial aid or asymmetric trade policies.

And in the end, trade policy, like life itself, is dynamic, ever changing and in need of adjustment routinely. We all have to do the same in the transaction of our own lives. Why would we think that the business of our nation requires anything different.

And finally, it would appear that Mr. Trump has learned a lesson in international affairs from former President Ronald Reagan who recognized the fundamental weakness of the Soviet Union  it was its failing economy. The decades of confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union was resolved not with weapons and the loss of life but rather with economic leverage. Mr. Reagan recognized that the Soviet Union was out of gas and that with additional economic pressure it would fail. So he engaged in a military build up. The United States could afford bigger ships, faster airplanes, better armor and munitions and more sophisticated electronics and that the Soviet Union could not. Mr Reagan basically spent the Soviet Union to its knees and the rest is history. Mr. Reagan may have said, Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall. but really meant that he had already torn do his economy and his ability to proceed.

And that same is true with the use of tariffs. The American economy remains strong and the threat of being shut out of the American marketplace will get the same attention as Mr. Gorbachevs reaction to the arms race. Tariffs are just a tool to raise money. In fact, if that is Mr. Trumps intention that he is indeed a fool. But it is not and those who continue to believe that Mr. Trump doesnt know what he is doing are going to suffer a high price for their mistakes  and that includes the money changers on Wall Street.

Please tell me that you dont think that trade policies made in the 80s and 90s are still appropriate to today. Me? I think Ill wait at least ninety days to see how this plays out  and by that I mean both my pen and my portfolio.
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

Americans would give political opponents four extra months in jail and are more likely to free their allies following acts of political violence, research suggests.

The study, led by Dr. Joseph Phillips of Cardiff University's Wales Governance Center, is the first to explore what factors influence people's views on the punishment of political violence. The research is published in the journal Political Behavior.

The two nationally representative surveys with American citizens presented a nearly identical hypothetical scenario: that there was a protest in their state's capital city that descended into violence between protesters and counter-protesters, leading to numerous arrests.

Respondents evaluated multiple randomly generated profiles of alleged political violence perpetrators in a hypothetical protest gone wrong, with varying characteristicsincluding their crime, whether they were a Republican, Independent or Democrat, as well as their age, ethnicity, gender, occupation, marital status, parental status, and whether they were resident in the city or state in which the protest took place.

In the single-profile experiment, participants were presented with a single perpetrator at a time, with five perpetrators in total. For each perpetrator, they had to apply a legal sanction in the event they are found guilty and indicate, on a six-point scale, how likely it was the perpetrator was performing the act for a good cause.

In the double-profile experiment, participants were presented with two perpetrators, seven pairs in total, and had to decide which perpetrator they would let walk free without charge.

Dr. Phillips said, "Our analysis of these experiments shows that Americans from both sides of the political spectrum take political violence seriously and want to punish it, especially as the act becomes more severe. Acts that threaten lives or irrevocably destroy property receive near-unanimous sanction.

"Despite this, our research shows political views of the perpetrator play a clear role in shaping the sanctions people seek to give. Partisans, particularly those with more polarized views, are more likely to condemn and recommend harsher sanctions for their partisan opponents compared with non-partisan or co-partisan perpetrators.

"When respondents had to choose who to let free, they were 6% points more likely to let go of an in-partisan individual than an out-partisan. When they could freely choose a sanction, out-partisans were 2.4% points more likely to be incarcerated and received four extra months in jail than in-partisans.

"However, double standards factor much more into judgments of sympathy than of actual leniency. Given the option, most respondents wanted to incarcerate political violence perpetrators. Lacking the option to punish both perpetrators, many expressed a desire to do so. This suggests that despite their sympathies, Americans believe that acts of political violence are not acceptable."

More information: Joseph B. Phillips et al, When Push Comes to Shove: How Americans Excuse and Condemn Political Violence, Political Behavior (2025). DOI: 10.1007/s11109-025-10009-7 Journal information: Political Behavior
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:

Fragments of the Antikythera Mechanism, an ancient Greek analog computer that is believed to be used to help teach Greeks about our place in the cosmos. Credit: National Archaeological Museum, Athens by Joy of Museum CC BY-SA 4.0

A pair of physicists at Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, in Argentina, have created a computer simulation of the famed Antikythera Mechanism and in so doing have found that manufacturing inaccuracies may have caused the device to jam so often it would have been very nearly unusableif it was in the condition it is now. Esteban Szigety and Gustavo Arenas have posted a paper on the arXiv preprint server describing the factors that went into their simulation and what it showed.

In 1901, divers looking for sponges off the coast of the Greek island, Antikythera, discovered a mechanical device among the ruins of a sunken ship. The mysterious device was dated to the late second or early first century BCE, and from that time on there has been much debate in the scientific community regarding its purpose.

Some markings on the device suggest it could be used to track time and astronomical events and even predict some others, such as the arrival of a comet, courtesy of its intricate gears and pointing indicators, by turning its hand crank. Since only one of the devices has ever been found, some have suggested it had an otherworldly origin.

Sitting at the bottom of the sea has led to a lot of corrosion and some parts of the device have clearly been lost. Both problems make it very difficult to recreate the original device to verify its operational use. In this new study, the research pair sought to learn more about the possible purpose of the device by recreating it using a computer simulation.

To do so, they used data from work done recently by Alan Thorndike, who developed a means for taking into consideration the non-uniform way the teeth would move, and work by Mike Edmunds that helped to account for imprecise manufacturing of the distance between the teeth.

How the theoretical difference changes when starting from different Initial Angles. In Figure 3A, it is possible for the pointer to remain almost entirely ahead at all times, or conversely, lag behind, as seen in Figure 3C. According to our criterion, the optimal Initial Angle is the one that positions the Average at zero, as shown in Figure 3B. Credit: arXiv (2025). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2504.00327

In running the simulation, the researchers noted that the odd triangular-shaped gear teeth did not seem to have a negative impact on how well the device would have run. But inexact spacing between the gears, they noted, would soon lead to jamming if the crank was turned. Such jamming, they note, would have made the device impractical for scientific use. But they also note that the irregular spacing between the gears might not have been there before the corrosion occurred.

The research pair conclude by suggesting that if the device jammed all the time, it might not have been anything more than a clever toy, made for a child, although they believe that scenario is unlikely. They point out how much time and effort must have gone into making the device, and the craftsmanship that was involved. That suggests the device must have been more reliably made than their simulation shows.

More information: Esteban Guillermo Szigety y Gustavo Francisco Arenas, The Impact of Triangular-Toothed Gears on the Functionality of the Antikythera Mechanism, arXiv (2025). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2504.00327 Journal information: arXiv

 2025 Science X Network
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Credit: George Institute for Global Health

A new report from The George Institute for Global Health shows shoppers' top grocery picks of red meat, chocolate and coffee are often the products generating the highest rates of greenhouse gas emissions in Australia's packaged food supply.

The "FoodSwitch State of the Food Supply Report: Planetary Health Edition" analyzed ingredients from 25,780 food and beverage products for sale in the five major grocery retailersALDI, Coles, Harris Farm, Independent Grocers of Australia (IGA) and Woolworthsto calculate estimated greenhouse gas emissions generated by their production.

Each item is assigned a Planetary Health Rating, which shoppers can view using the Institute's purpose-built ecoSwitch app. Products with low Planetary Health Ratings are worse than those with high ratings when it comes to their impact on the climate, compared to similar products.

What the 'FoodSwitch State of the Food Supply Report: Planetary Health Edition' found

Australia's food supply has an average overall Planetary Health Rating of just 2.5 stars out of a possible maximum of 5 stars and:

Fewer than half the major food categories scored an average rating of more than 2.5 stars

The lowest scoring food category was red meat, with a rating of just 0.7 stars

Coffee was the poorest performing beverage, with a Planetary Health Rating of 1.6 stars

Chocolate confectionery fared worse at 1.4 stars than other sugary treats, which averaged 2.7 stars

Highest scorers (after plain bottled water at 5 stars) were fresh fruit and vegetables, and dairy-free yogurts, with both categories scoring an average of 3.6 stars

Professor Simone Pettigrew, Head of Health Promotion at The George Institute for Global Health and Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney, said the report will give consumers the information they need to make more sustainable food choices at the supermarket, given a lack of transparency about emissions on labels.

"Climate change is the defining issue of our time, and greenhouse gases from food production are responsible for a colossal one-third of the total emissions going into the atmosphere," said Prof. Pettigrew.

"Australians are deeply concerned about the climate, and many people want to do the right thing. But it's hard to know which products are more sustainable when that information is not available on pack.

"Through the report, and our commitment to the ecoSwitch app, we're putting the power to identify options with lower impact on the planet into the hands of consumers," she said.

To show the difference consumers can make, researchers showed how swapping meat and dairy products in a typical weekly grocery shop for more plant-based options can save more than 6,000 kg in greenhouse gas emissions per year, the equivalent of driving to and from Perth to Sydney (24,000 km) three times.

"Australians love meat and we're eating more and more of it. But we can achieve a significant reduction in the climate impact of our shopping over time by regularly switching the beef or lamb for seafood, chicken or a plant-based meat alternative, and sometimes choosing a plant-based milk," said Prof. Pettigrew.

"There is also a direct correlation between the level of processing in packaged foods and the rate of greenhouse gas emissions, so eating more fresh fruit and vegetables is an even better choice for the planet and for our health, too."

In Australia, there is no requirement to provide greenhouse gas emissions information on food labeling.

"In the future, we hope that the data and ratings we use in ecoSwitch could inform a national front-of-pack labeling system to provide more information for all consumers, and to incentivize industry and supermarkets to meet the demand for more sustainable foods," Prof. Pettigrew said.

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About the Planetary Health Rating

International organizations such as the United Nations have called for more sustainable food systems that are kind to the planet as well as good for human health. To support this aim, researchers at The George Institute developed a method for estimating the greenhouse gas emissions of individual packaged food and beverage products, and created a simple rating system that converts these estimates into an easy-to-understand Planetary Health Rating.

Like Australia's Health Star Rating, products are rated from 0.5 stars (worse for the planet) to 5 stars (better for the planet) with respect to their impact on the climate. The Planetary Health Rating system is integrated into ecoSwitch, a smartphone app that allows consumers to see how foods rate and shows similar products with a lower impact, alongside nutritional information and the Health Star Rating.

The George Institute is working to incorporate other factors like land and water use into ecoSwitch to assess the overall environmental impact of foods, and to extend the parts of the food journey for which emissions are counted (i.e., beyond "the farm gate"). There are also plans to make ecoSwitch available in other countries. ecoSwitch was a finalist in the 35th National Banksia Sustainability Awards in 2024.

ecoSwitch can be downloaded for free from Android and iOS (Australia only).
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Grizzly bears are extinct in California but still show up everywhere you look.

The golden bruins emblazon the state flag and seal, live on in cartoonish effigy as university mascots, and roll off the tip of our tongue in place names like Grizzly Flats and Big Bear Lake.

But what if the real ursine deal could be brought back?

A new study indicates that they can beroughly 1,180 of themand Southern California mountains are among prime potential habitats for the apex predators. Whether they should be is a question for 40 million Californians and their policymakers.

The state's official animal inspires awe and holds cultural significance for tribes, and researchers note that they pose low statistical danger. But some wildlife officials say reintroducing grizzlieswhich can weigh up to 1,000 pounds and run 35 mph for short burstswould lead to increased conflict between humans and bears. An estimated 60,000 black bears roam the state, and property damage, break-ins and the first confirmed fatality linked to the bruins have made headlines in recent years.

"Recovering grizzly bears in California is a choice," said Alex McInturff, co-editor of the study and assistant unit leader of U.S. Geological Survey's Washington Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. "We can choose to do it by making the necessary investments and creating the necessary partnerships to make it possible. There's habitat available. A number of questions can be answered. But it's a choice."

California was home to as many as 10,000 bears before the Gold Rush in 1848, but their fortunes turned swiftly.

Human-fueled habitat loss drove down their numbers, but their ultimate demise came at the hands of hunters and trappers.

In 1916, the last known grizzly roaming Southern California was gunned down in the Sunland area of L.A., and aptly became known as the Sunland Grizzly.

Just a few years later, in the spring of 1924, California's last known grizzly bear was spotted in Sequoia National Park.

While they're unlikely to return to the state on their own, "[a] well-planned, well-resourced and well-managed reintroduction and recovery program could, however, likely establish a sustainable California grizzly population in one or more recovery areas over several decades," the study released Tuesday states.

Behind the study is the Grizzly Alliance Network, a group of collaborators that includes researchers, tribal leaders and wildlife advocates working to bring the bears back to the state.

Spanning just over 200 pages, the report pulls together novel and existing research to explore where in the state bears could live and how many could live in those areas, as well as economic effects, safety considerations and other dimensions. Reintroducing the bears would require moving them from a place they currently live, such as Yellowstone National Park, into California.

Using several habitat suitability models, the study identifies three potential regions where the bears could live: in the Transverse Ranges stretching from the coast to the desert in Southern California (with a focus on large, protected areas in the Los Padres National Forest); the entire Sierra Nevada (with emphasis on the southern part of the range); and the Northwest Forest (which includes the Klamath Mountains, Trinity Alps and other nearby ranges in the northwest corner of the state).

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The study reports that the regions contain large swaths of protected, high-quality habitat, but does not advocate for any or all of them to actually be used.

Assuming bears couldn't live outside the designated regions, the study estimates that California could house around 1,183 grizzlies: 115 in the Transverse Ranges, 832 in the Sierra Nevada, and 236 in the Northwest Forest.

Researchers priced a "well-resourced" recovery program at up to $3 million a year for the first decade. It represents .4% of the budget for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, based on 202425 figures, according to the study.

Grizzlies often invoke fearas an animal standing 8 feet tall with prodigious claws doesand human safety is often a top concern when discussing grizzly recovery. But the study says the statistical risk the animals pose to humans is "extremely small." Of the estimated average fatalities caused by wildlife every year in the U.S., 96% stem from car collisions with deer, the study reports.

Still, the risk isn't zero. In North America, there are roughly 1.5 fatalities associated with bears annually, researchers said.

A separate 2019 study examining brown bear (a group that includes the grizzly) attacks on humans across much of their global range between 2000 and 2015 found that attacks increased significantly over time.

Researchers said the increase was likely due to several factors, including the growth of bear and human populations, leading to increased habitat overlap. They also noted that a growing number of people are recreating in areas where bears live.

Grizzly bears also bring benefits, including dispersing seeds and aerating soil. At large enough numbers, they can keep other species like black bears in check.

Peter Tira, a spokesperson for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, said the state lacks the resources and wouldn't be able to prioritize reintroducing grizzlies, given all its existing responsibilities.

California, he said, no longer offers abundant stores of salmon that bears are believed to have once fed on or opportunities to roam on the now-highly developed coast. Given their tendency to range widely, he said there's no reason to assume they'll stay put in far-flung areas.

"Reintroducing grizzly bears potentially into places where people live, recreate and raise livestock would likely necessitate further management of human-wildlife conflicts, which is already extremely challenging with the animal species that are herenotably mountain lions, wolves, black bears and coyotes," Tira said in a statement.

Bruce McLellan, a retired grizzly bear research ecologist and author of "Grizzly Bear Science and the Art of a Wilderness Life," admits he initially thought the idea of reintroducing grizzlies in California was crazyin part because of the sheer number of people who live in the state. But much of the population is jammed into the lower half of the state, he realized upon closer inspection.

In British Columbia, where McLellan lives, the southern part of the province is home to most of its 5 million peopleand that region now supports hundreds of grizzlies as the population has rebounded over time. People have largely acclimated to their presence, he said.

"It makes me think that it's certainly biologically possible to have grizzly bears in those remoter corners of California," he said.

Sure, he said, it would bring conflictsan odd bear will wander down from the mountains and snatch someone's chickens; an odd bear would have to be shotbut there are effective ways of dealing with conflict. People would need to be "bear aware" and potentially install electric fences, he said.

Grizzlies are also "very adaptable," he said, noting that they don't need salmon or unfettered beach access to survive.

"A lot of people where I live like to see grizzles in their yard," McLellan said. "I love it."

Yet even if Californians decided they wanted bears, he believes the U.S. lacks an adequate process to make it happen.

McLellan was involved in efforts to restore grizzlies in the North Cascades in Washington state and the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness Area in Montana and Idaho. Yet decades of expending money and energy hasn't brought them to fruition, he said.

"I've been disheartened having been involved with both of them," he said.

Peter Alagona, an environmental studies professor at UC Santa Barbara who led the study, however, sees a California grizzly comeback as a way to dispel such ideas.

"I think it would light a fire under people to show that we can do some things that we didn't think we could do," said Alagona, who in 2016 founded the California Grizzly Research Network.

Alagona also said it would serve as a form of reparative justice.

In a foreword for the study, Octavio Escobedo III, chairman of the Tejon Indian Tribe, highlights what he describes as "parallel paths" forcibly walked by Native Americans and grizzlies subject to state-sanctioned ideology that "drove the relentless persecution of both Indigenous people and grizzly bears."

The Tejon tribe, he writes, is among hundreds of Indigenous nations that value and revere the grizzly, and are leading efforts to conserve and coexist with the species.

McInturff, the federal employee who is also an associate professor at the University of Washington, said the new study marks a turning point in the discussion by providing a compilation of the best available science.

"There were a lot of speculations, a lot of assumptions, and now we actually have a body of research that we can look at to speak in an informed way about this topic," he said.

At some point, Alagona intends to present the findings of the study to the California Fish and Game Commission, which sets wildlife policy for the state.

Last year, the Commission and the state Senate passed resolutions recognizing the centennial anniversary of the extirpation of the California grizzly, with the Senate declaring 2024 the "Year of the Grizzly."

This month marks the 101st anniversary.

2025 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Photomicrograph of Basiceros enana, a newly discovered extinct dirt ant species preserved in Dominican amber, formed from tree resin that fossilized millions of years ago. Credit: Gianpiero Fiorentino (NJIT)

Wherever there's dirt there's bound to be ants, but one particular group is so adept at blending in with the ground that they hold the name "dirt ant" (Basiceros) all to themselves.

Now, an ancient fossil has revealed these elusive ants have seen much more of the planet's dirt throughout their history than scientists previously realized.

In findings published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, a team led by New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) biologists has reported the first fossil Basiceros dirt ant recovered from the Caribbean, preserved in 16-million-year-old amber from the Dominican Republic.

Researchers say the fossil adult worker anta newly discovered species notably smaller than its modern relatives, named Basiceros enananow offers direct evidence that the cryptic ant group once inhabited the Caribbean islands before undergoing local extinction sometime during the Miocene epoch (23 to 5.3 million years ago).

"Dirt ants are rare finds in the wild. Finding one today is exciting given how well they stay hidden, but captured in amber, it's like finding a diamond," said Gianpiero Fiorentino, corresponding author of the study and Ph.D. candidate at NJIT's Barden Lab. "This fossil is singularly distinct from all its modern relatives and reshapes the evolutionary history of Basiceros."

Until now, Basiceros antsbest known for their ability to camouflage themselves in dirt using specialized particle-binding hairs on their bodieshad only been known to the neotropical rainforests stretching from Costa Rica to Southern Brazil. While the genus includes a total of nine living species today, the unexpected fossil discovery raises new questions about how the ant group reached their present-day habitats.

Artistic rendition of Basiceros enana preserved in Dominican amber from CT-scan data. Specialized hairs used for picking up dirt can be seen highlighted in yellow covering the ants' legs and head. Credit: Gianpiero Fiorentino (NJIT)

"Often lineages will have what appear to be fairly straightforward biogeographic histories. If you find a group of animals that only live in South America up to Costa Rica today, you really have no reason to expect that their early relatives lived in the Caribbean," said Phil Barden, the paper's senior author and associate professor of biology at NJIT. "A fossil like this underscores how the distribution of living species can belie the complex evolutionary history of life on our planet."

To explore this long-hidden chapter of Basiceros' history, the team applied advanced imaging and 3D reconstruction techniques at NJIT and Japan's Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University to capture Basiceros enana in detail. "The use of Micro-CT scanning really amplified this study, enabling us to capture features that were virtually impossible to see otherwise," Fiorentino explained.

They compared the specimen's physical characteristics with those of all known modern dirt ant species and conducted molecular dating analyses to trace its evolutionary lineage. "Because amber preserves entire organisms in three dimensions, we can extract a ton of data from even a tiny ant," Barden said.

Measuring at 5.13 millimeters long, Basiceros enana is considerably smaller than its modern relatives which can reach nearly 9 millimeters in length, making the Caribbean species the smallest now known across the lineage.

"Our results show that the embiggening of these ants was relatively rapid," explained Fiorentino. "They almost doubled in size in the span of 20 million years. Previous hypotheses suggested that these ants were ancestrally large and shrank over time, so this flips that on its head and really illustrates how important fossils can be to understanding the evolution of a lineage."

However, Basiceros enana also suggests some of the same adaptations that make modern dirt ants nearly invisible to predators and prey in their environment (an ability known as crypsis) were already in place at least 16 million years ago.

Artistic rendition of Basiceros enana preserved in Dominican amber from CT-scan data. Specialized hairs used for picking up dirt can be seen highlighted in yellow covering the ants' legs and head. Credit: Gianpiero Fiorentino (NJIT)

These features include two layers of specialized hairs (or setae) for adhering soil and leaf litter particles against their bodies: longer erect "brush hairs" and shorter, appressed "holding hairs" that trap particles against its exoskeleton, or cuticle.

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"What this shows is that playing dead and hiding pays off," said Fiorentino. "Uncovering a unique fossil like this helps us understand how long organisms may have been employing this strategy, though the presence of these characteristics does not necessarily guarantee they behaved in this way."

The fossil ant also possesses other distinctive morphological characteristics like today's dirt ants, including an upturned propodeal spine, a trapezoid-like head structure, as well as predatory features such as mandibles with 12 triangular teeth.

Despite these specialized adaptations, the ancient Caribbean dirt ants ultimately vanished from the region during significant ecological changes of the Miocene.

"The presence of Basiceros in Dominican amber suggests ancient land bridges may have provided pathways for these ants to traverse from the mainland to the Caribbean," Barden said. "This fossil is a piece of a larger puzzle that will help us understand why some groups of organisms undergo extinction and others stick it out for millions of years."

"Their extinction could have come down to a loss of available niches or interspecific competition. These ants are predators, and an overall trend that we see from the Caribbean is a loss of predator ant diversity," said Fiorentino. "Over a third of ant genera have gone extinct on the island of modern-day Dominican Republic since the formation of Dominican amber.

"Understanding what has driven this pattern of local extinction is crucial to mitigating modern human-driven extinction and protecting biodiversity."

More information: Gianpiero Fiorentino et al, A fossil-informed pattern of body size increase and local extinction in Basiceros dirt ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences (2025). DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2024.2171 Journal information: Proceedings of the Royal Society B
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A Carollia perspicillata bat from a colony that had been maintained at WSU Vancouver. Credit: WSU

Why bats can harbor viruses like hantavirus and coronaviruspathogens that are highly dangerous to humanswithout becoming ill themselves has long puzzled scientists, yet the answer may be key to preventing outbreaks and fighting the diseases.

To help answer that question, a team led by Washington State University molecular virologist Michael Letko has developed two new bat-derived laboratory cell lines, providing much-needed tools for studying how bats and their immune systems respond to these viruses.

The process for creating the new lineswhich have been deposited with the American Type Culture Collection, a nonprofit repository for biological samplescan also importantly serve as a roadmap for creating additional lines to support future research. The research is published in the journal PLOS Biology.

"Bats are a reservoir for many pathogens that can infect humans and domestic animals, yet we lack effective tools to study bat viruses in the lab," said Letko, an assistant professor in WSU's College of Veterinary Medicine. "One big question is how do bats tolerate these infections? These cell lines and future research can help us uncover those mechanisms, and that could lead to new therapies for human diseases."

A cell line is a population of cells that are cultured and maintained in a laboratory for research purposes. These cells are typically derived from a single original cell and go through a process known as immortalization, which allows them to be grown and divided indefinitely under controlled conditions, making them a valuable tool for viral research.

While bat cell lines are critical for studying how these animals coexist with viruses, most labs have been limited to using the handful developed more than 50 years ago. Most viruses are species specific, and these lines come from species that often don't respond to viruses of current interest, limiting their usefulness.

The new lines were developed from kidney tissue of a Seba's short-tailed bat (Carollia perspicillata) that came from a colony maintained at WSU Vancouver by professor Christine Portfors.

The new lines support infection by a diverse group of viruses, but they will be particularly useful for studying coronaviruses and orthohantaviruses. The latter family includes sin nombre virus, which is found in the western United States and recently caused a fatal infection in Whitman County, Washington, the county in which WSU is located.

"These viruses have the potential to impact not just our own national health, but global health, because they're found all over," Letko said.

A major challenge to developing useful lines is ensuring the cells maintain their ability to mount immune responses to pathogens.

"We started off with a pile of different tissues and cells, and then we went through different immortalization routes and basically started to weed them out," Letko said. "By the end, we had a small number of cells that were immortalized in specific ways, and those were the ones that actually still retained the properties we think are going to let us study how bats actually respond to viruses."

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Much research to date has relied on cell lines from humans, rodents or primates, which can't answer why bats tolerate viruses that make other species sick.

"We could study a virus like Ebola just fine in a human cell, and we can watch how it interacts with that immune system," Letko said, "but that won't help us identify the reason why bats tolerate these infections."

While some bat lines have been developed in private labs, those are not often made available to other researchers. Letko wanted to ensure their work would aid future research.

"We have a lot of really good immunologists and virologists here and elsewhere, but they just don't have access to all this specialized material," Letko said. "That creates tiers in bat research between the groups that have access and basically everybody else who had to rely on old cell lines that were collected in the 1960s."

More information: Victoria Gonzalez et al, Expanding the bat toolbox: Carollia perspicillata bat cell lines and reagents enable the characterization of viral susceptibility and innate immune responses, PLOS Biology (2025). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3003098 Journal information: PLoS Biology
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Children being looked after via special guardianship arrangements should get greater support at school due to the legacy of trauma, their early life experiences, and the complex family situation they have and may continue to encounter, a new study says.

The work is published in the journal Educational Psychology in Practice.

There should also be a review of schools' special guardianship policies and practice in local authorities to ensure that their needs are adequately identified.

The research shows the need for a greater focus on the sense of school belonging of young people living in special guardianship and support for guardianship families in school. Experts say educational psychologists should have a key role by providing psychological training, supervision and mentoring to designated teachers and other school staff who support guardianship families.

Special guardianship is unlike adoption. It is not a lifelong order, nor does it legally end the child's relationship with their birth family. Instead, it places a child or young person with a friend or family member permanently and gives them enhanced parental responsibility for the child.

For the year ending March 2020, 89% of special guardianship orders were made to family members or friends. It is believed that there has been a marked increase in their use in the UK. They are the most frequent permanency option for young people leaving care, with 930 placed in England in the first quarter of 202324.

A high proportion of young people living in special guardianship experience complex emotional and behavioral difficulties, specifically in expressing and managing their emotions. This may be linked to early experiences of trauma.

The study, by Dr. Lata Ramoutar, from the University of Exeter, involved creating in depth case studies about seven children based on interviews with them, their guardians and school staff.

Each participant, recruited with the help of local authorities, attended a different school in one local authority in England. The guardians included grandparents, stepparents, or foster caregivers who had children in mainstream or special, primary or secondary schools. The children were aged between 10 and 16, and most had disabilities or identified special educational needs.

For all children interviewed, the single most important feature of school belonging was peer relationships. Weaker peer relationships involving negative experiences were a source of anxiety, particularly for young people in secondary school, and this left them feeling isolated, resulting in some avoiding school or wanting to change school.

Dr. Ramoutar explained, "Children described intense 'all or nothing' relationships, suggesting that although reliable peer relationships were sought, they were often transient. All young people had either experienced difficulties or were worried about how to maintain positive relationships with their peers over time. In response, young people either looked to their own or others' personal characteristics, for example, their appearance, their behavior, their identity ('real me' and 'fake friends').

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"In most cases, their behavior indicated difficulties in emotional regulation; for example, self-harming or running out of class. None of the pupils raised their own early experiences as an explanation of why things might go wrong."

In most cases, guardians viewed the young people's friendships less positively, expressing concern about the quantity and quality of their friendships and attributing difficulties to the young person's social and emotional development. The difficulties in peer relationships were linked to environmental factors such as transition between schools, amount of adult support obstructing peer relationships, health conditions, and diagnoses. The guardians did not link the young person's school experience to their early life or care experiences.

Although some guardians spoke positively about specific staff members, all expressed an overwhelming frustration about staff's limited understanding of the needs of the young person and of special guardianship generally, with an inappropriate amount of support. Guardians' feelings of frustration introduced a vulnerability to the homeschool relationship, and in some cases, communication completely broke down and the young person left or withdrew from the school.

The study found that although designated teachers considered information about the young person's early life to be important to meet their needs, some were reluctant to proactively ask for this detail and preferred instead for guardians to approach them.

Dr. Ramoutar said, "Sharing information within school, between homeschool, and across schools during transitions was key. Some designated teachers spoke of feeling frustrated with health and social care services because of their lack of information sharing which was obstructive to them understanding young people's needs.

"Teachers understood SEND [special educational needs and disabilities] processes but most were unsure about when to consider a young person's emotional and social needs as a special educational need. This meant an inconsistent response to the young person's needs as some were identified and met using SEND processes and others not."

More information: Lata Ramoutar et al, Exploring special guardianship: experiences of school belonging from the perspectives of the young people, guardians, and designated teachers, Educational Psychology in Practice (2024). DOI: 10.1080/02667363.2024.2329143
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High tree mortality in Leipzigs floodplain forest. Credit: Annalena Lenk/Leipzig University

The pedunculate oaks typical of Leipzig's floodplain forest and other German oak forests are struggling to regenerate in the understory due to a lack of light. One reason for this is the absence of flooding in floodplain forests.

In a two-year oak experiment in Leipzig's floodplain forest, researchers from Leipzig University and the German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) found that the current tree diebackcaused by drought and pest outbreakscombined with the thinning of certain understory species, can actually support oak regeneration.

Fittingly, today (16 April) is the day when the city of Leipzig celebrates its floodplain forest. Their findings have been published in the journal Forest Ecology and Management.

"This is a promising new approach to forest dynamics, which have been fundamentally altered by climate change," says Annalena Lenk from the Institute of Biology at Leipzig University, lead author of the paper, adding that the lack of oak regeneration and the poor hydrological condition of many floodplains are widespread problems across Central Europe.

In Leipzig, for example, urban expansion into the floodplain and the channeling of rivers have led to the loss of the typical flood dynamics characteristic of such habitats. She explains that this has encouraged the spread of flood-intolerant tree species such as sycamore and Norway maple. Their dense canopy casts deep shade over the forest floor, making it much harder for light-demanding species like pedunculate oak to regenerate.

According to Lenk, this species plays a key role in biodiversity conservation, as it provides a habitat for a wide range of organisms, including insects, fungi, birds, bats and lichens.

At present, however, a new structural shift in forest composition is becoming apparent. The droughts of recent years and the spread of pests in many parts of Europeincluding Leipzighave led to a sharp rise in tree mortality. As a result, forest stands have opened up significantly. This could, on the one hand, promote the natural regeneration of light-demanding species such as pedunculate oak. On the other hand, it may also allow more dominant species, such as maples, to spread further.

The researchers investigated how these recent structural changes in the floodplain forest affect the regeneration of pedunculate oak and how they can be combined with forest management measures. They analyzed the impact of different silvicultural interventionsand the associated availability of lighton the stand microclimate and the establishment of pedunculate oak.

To do so, they set up eight research plots in areas of Leipzig's floodplain forest with a relatively healthy upper canopy and eight more in areas with high levels of dead or diseased trees. On two subplots of each research plot, they selectively removed flood-intolerant tree species such as sycamore and Norway maple, as well as elder, from the understory. The other two subplots were left untreated.

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In addition to these plots, the researchers also included eight existing patch clearings from Leipzig's forest management programareas ranging from 0.13 to 0.72 hectares that had already been partially opened up and planted with young oaks. In early 2022, the team planted a total of 1,200 one-year-old oaks protected by browsing guards, along with 80 approximately five-year-old oaks, and monitored their development over a two-year period.

"At the end of 2022, we replaced oaks that had already died with new plantings. In both years, we measured crown diameter in summer and height and root collar diameter in winter to calculate growth," explains Lenk, describing the methodology. The oaks were also tested for drought stress using leaf samples.

In their oak experiment, the researchers found that "forest areas with high tree mortality in the upper canopy can be effectively used to promote the regeneration of pedunculate oakbut only if maple is removed from the understory. Maple is widespread, because it responds more quickly to growing conditions, it overtops and shades the oaks," says co-author Christian Wirth.

Without the flood-intolerant species, the oaks were able to benefit from the increased light levels and develop well, as the canopy had been thinned by tree dieback.

"Compared to the patch clearings, the plantings on the thinned forest plots showed fewer signs of drought stress, which was mainly due to higher air humidity," the researchers found. "While oaks benefit from increased light availability, this positive effect is weakened by drought stress," explains Lenk.

The light conditions and microclimatic environment on plots with high tree mortality in the upper canopy and selective thinning of specific species in the understory appear to offer a balanced combination of sufficient light and a stable forest microclimateeven in a drought yearthat supports oak regeneration.

The research findings could be considered in practice as part of climate-adapted forest management strategies aimed at promoting biodiversityincluding as a supplementary measure alongside future flooding events. The research plots have been established as long-term observation sites, allowing data collection to continue in the coming years. For example, a master's thesis is planned for next year that will examine the effects of different management methodsand the resulting light conditionson the herb layer.

The influence of climate change on vegetation processes, and in turn the impact of vegetation on the climate, is a central focus of Leipzig University's proposed Cluster of Excellence, Breathing Nature. Leipzig's floodplain forest is an important research platform in this collaborative project.

More information: Annalena Lenk et al, Elevated tree mortality as a regeneration niche for oak? Testing different management approaches in a meliorated floodplain forest, Forest Ecology and Management (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2025.122678 Journal information: Forest Ecology and Management
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Researchers looking into the origin of domestic cats have long considered that cats likely accompanied early farmers during the Neolithic, spreading through Europe alongside the adoption of agriculture.

Two new large-scale investigations, one led by the University of Rome Tor Vergata in collaboration with 42 institutions and another led by the University of Exeter with contributors from 37 institutions, reveal a more complex history than previously imagined. Both point to Tunisia as the likely origin of the domestic cat.

Both studies, which merge extensive genetic data with archaeological evidence, challenge the timeline of European domestic cats, and hint at cultural and religious factors that may have been pivotal in driving feline domestication and translocation.

Cats have long posed a puzzle for archaeologists. Their skeletal features and commonly used mitochondrial DNA markers can overlap significantly with those of their wild counterparts.

Researchers from the University of Rome Tor Vergataled team conducted paleogenomic analyses of ancient cat specimens from 97 archaeological sites in Europe and Anatolia, as well as museum samples from Italy, Bulgaria, and North Africa.

In their study, "The dispersal of domestic cats from Northern Africa and their introduction to Europe over the last two millennia," published on the bioRxiv preprint server , 70 low-coverage ancient genomes, 17 additional modern and museum genomes, and 37 radiocarbon-dated cat remains were analyzed.

Results from these nuclear DNA analyses revealed that felines with domestic ancestry only appeared in Europe from around the 1st century CE onward, thousands of years later than traditional narratives suggest.

The Tor Vergata team also identified two introductory waves. An earlier one brought wildcats from Northwest Africa to Sardinia by the 2nd century BCE, giving rise to the island's present-day wild population. A subsequent wave, during the Roman Imperial period, introduced cats genetically similar to modern domestic lines across Europe, pointing towards Tunisia as a key center of early domestication.

In the University of Exeter collaboration study, "Redefining the timing and circumstances of cat domestication, their dispersal trajectories, and the extirpation of European wildcats," also published as a preprint on bioRxiv, a slightly different timeline is presented.

By analyzing 2,416 archaeological felid bones across 206 sites and cross-referencing morphological data with genetic findings, they concluded that domestic cats had already appeared in Europe by the early first millennium BCE, before the height of Roman expansion.

Distinct mitochondrial haplogroups were discovered in Britain by the 4th to 2nd centuries BCE, suggesting Iron Age contact, with subsequent waves of introduction occurring during the Roman, Late Antique, and Viking periods. Tunisia is also suggested as the origin point of domestic cats.

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Whereas earlier models framed domestication as a primarily commensal relationship, cats as rodent control around human populations and grain stores, religious and cultural dimensions emerge from both stories as a driving human interest in cats.

In Egypt, cats were venerated alongside deities such as Bastet, which may have fostered their mummification and movement via religious networks. Cats became symbols of Artemis and Diana in Greek/Roman religious practice, mirroring Bastet's significance in Egypt.

Norse mythology similarly featured cats linked to the goddess Freyja, implying that spiritual and ritual beliefs helped propel cats across wider geographies.

Both studies document admixture and competition between arriving domestic cats and Europe's native wildcats. Evidence points to a decline in wildcat populations beginning in the first millennium CE, potentially related to resource overlap, disease, and hybridization events.

Although the two investigations differ in their proposed arrival dates and dispersal routes for domestic cats, they share a key conclusion that the domestication and spread of cats in Europe happened more recently, and under more culturally driven circumstances, than once thought.

Findings dismantle the considerations that cats were ubiquitous in Neolithic settlements and underscore how previous reliance on mitochondrial markers alone can obscure the full picture of feline domestication.

Taken together, these studies significantly alter our understanding of one of humanity's most familiar companions. Rather than silently trailing behind early farmers, slinking ever closer to human activity and community, cats likely moved into Europe in multiple waves post-domestication from North Africa, propelled by human cultural practices, trade networks, and religious reverence.

More information: M. De Martino et al, The dispersal of domestic cats from Northern Africa and their introduction to Europe over the last two millennia, biorxiv (2025). DOI: 10.1101/2025.03.28.645893 Sean Doherty et al, Redefining the timing and circumstances of cat domestication, their dispersal trajectories, and the extirpation of European wildcats, biorxiv (2025). DOI: 10.1101/2025.03.28.645877 Journal information: bioRxiv

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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

The Endangered Species Act (ESA), now 50 years old, was once a rare beacon of bipartisan unity, signed into law by President Richard Nixon with near-unanimous political support. Its purpose was clear: protect imperiled species and enable their recovery using the best available science to do so.

Yet, as a case study on the grizzly bear in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem reveals, wildlife management under the ESA has changed, becoming a political battleground where science is increasingly drowned out by partisan ideology, bureaucratic delays, power struggles, and competing political interests. The article appears in Frontiers in Conservation Science.

The survival of the ESA, a wildlife policy mimicked all over the world, may depend on the ability to navigate these waters.

The grizzly bear, a cultural symbol of the American West, embodies this shift. Listed as threatened in 1975 when its numbers dwindled to fewer than 1,000 and its range contracted by 98%, the species has managed to come back from the brink.

In the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the population now exceeds 700, a number that surpassed recovery goals set by the federal wildlife management agency tasked with recovery, the US Fish & Wildlife Service. By the ESA's own metrics, this is a success story, which now means the grizzly bear is eligible for "delisting."

Yet, attempts to remove federal protections in 2007 and 2017 were overturned by courts, not because the science was lacking, but because the process has become a lightning rod for political interests.

The study looks at 750 documents and 2,832 stakeholder quotes to track this politicization. Historically, wildlife management is the strict domain of agency scientists in the executive branch. These scientists are experts trained to interpret interdisciplinary scientific data and balance both human and ecological needs.

This work shows that today, the most dominant voices belong to legislators, legal advocates, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), who are increasingly crowding out the agency scientists.

Senators, elected politicians, like Wyoming's John Barrasso proclaim, "The grizzly is fully recovered in Wyoming. End of story," pushing for state control and criticizing the ESA as sluggish and outdated.

Senator Barraso advocates for his Wyoming constituents who have collaborated in grizzly recovery and are now on the frontlines of human-wildlife conflict issues where grizzlies might harm livestock or tourists. All the while, population targets set by the ESA have been met, and the species remains listed.

Meanwhile, NGOs and their attorneys, such as the well-known environmental advocacy group Earthjustice, argue that delisting is premature, citing "political pressure" overriding "biological evidence."

The courts, too, have flexed their muscles, with rulings hinging on genetic connectivity's role in population recovery. Ranchers with increasing grizzly conflict see these scientific developments as intentional delays to delisting rather than advancements in the field of conservation. There are no easy answers.

Wildlife management turned politics

This conflict reveals a stark reality: wildlife management is no longer just about science, it's about who dominates the political discourse, and the power that accompanies it.

Legislators see delisting as a way to reclaim state authority from what they consider federal overreach. Their rhetoric, steeped in populist appeals to the Western ranching community, frames grizzlies as a recovered species with bureaucrats in Washington stalling the process of handing management back over to the states.

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Montana Senator Steve Daines, for instance, highlights "skyrocketing" livestock losses and bears roaming beyond their historic range. These issues resonate with rural constituents tired of federal wildlife law superseding local management by trusted state agencies.

On the other hand, NGOs and legal advocates rely on the courts to maintain federal oversight, warning that state management could unleash 'trigger-happy' hunting seasons and jeopardize long-term survival.

These advocates argue that we are facing a generational extinction crisis, where every decision we make about imperiled species could approach extinction, a route that we cannot come back from. The public, caught in the middle, may be unaware that conversations over wildlife protection have shifted from credentialed agency biologists and scientists over to politicians.

Our data underscore this shift in power. While executive branch officials, with whom scientific expertise resides, once dominated the discourse (eg fish and wildlife agency personnel at the federal and state level), they are no longer the leading voices in ESA recovery conversations. Elected politicians now lead the charge.

Their influence is growing threefold over time compared to scientific agency voices. Legal advocates and NGOs, meanwhile, are shaping the debate over wildlife science with their roles amplified by lawsuits that keep grizzlies listed. Even tribes, historically sidelined, find their strongest platform in court, a sign that political systems still fail to integrate Indigenous perspectives outside litigation.

What's lost in this debate is the ESA's original intent: a science-driven process to recover species and then allow federal agency experts to step back so that states, who may better represent local interests, can manage species.

The path forward

This politicization threatens the ESA's future. When politicians outshout scientists, when courts dictate biology or delay timely management responses, and when recovery becomes a bargaining chip, the law risks losing its credibility with the public. The grizzly saga suggests a path forward: agencies must adapt to this political reality, not retreat from it.

Scientists can't afford to "stay out of politics" when protected species like grizzlies are lightning rods for political debate. Multi-stakeholder groups, like the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee, offer a model bridging agencies, states, tribes, and NGOs to tackle thorny issues like genetics collaboratively rather than through unending lawsuits in the courts.

The grizzly bear's fate isn't just about one species: this pattern is playing out across a range of species in the West and beyond. It will prove itself as the greatest challenge for wildlife managers in an era of increased polarization.

If the ESA is to endure another 50 years, it must evolve beyond a scientific ideal into a framework that navigates the messy, human politics of conservation. Otherwise, the grizzly's roar will be drowned out by an even greater sound: the chaos of imperfect politics.

More information: Delisting the Grizzly Bear from the Endangered Species Act: Shifting Politics and Political Discourse in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, Frontiers in Conservation Science (2025). DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2025.1508158

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History, genomic variation and phased genome assembly of European potato. Credit: Nature (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-08843-0

Potatoes are a staple food for over 1.3 billion people. But despite their importance for global food security, breeding successes have been modest. Some of the most popular potato cultivars were bred many decades ago. The reason for this limited success is the complex genome of the potato: there are four copies of the genome in each cell instead of just two. This challenges traditional hybridization-based breeding.

A team led by Professor Korbinian Schneeberger, head of the Genome Plasticity and Computational Genetics research group at LMU and the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, has now made an important breakthrough. As the researchers report in Nature, they were able to reconstruct the genome of ten historic potato cultivars. They then used this knowledge to develop a method that would make it much easier and faster to reconstruct further potato genomes.

In collaboration with researchers from Wageningen University, the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) in Gro Lusewitz, and the Xi'an Jiaotong University in China, the team selected historical varieties, some of which were already cultivated in the 18th century.

"Since these potatoes come from a time when European breeding programs were beginning, we wanted to figure out how much diversity exists in these potatoes in order to understand the genetic potential of our potatoes," says Schneeberger.

The answer was: not very much. The genetic pool of the potato is extremely limited. The ten potato varieties covered around 85% of the genetic variability of all modern European potatoes.

Bottleneck effects after introduction from South America

The researchers attribute their findings to bottleneck effects. Potatoes were imported from South America from the 16th century onward. The number of different individuals was low and most were unable to cope with the European conditions. This reduced gene pool was then further reduced by diseases. The most famous example is the potato late blight outbreak of the 1840s, which caused harvests to collapse and led to catastrophic famines, most notably in Ireland but also in the rest of Europe.

At the same time, the study revealedto the surprise of the researchersthat the differences between individual chromosome copies can be huge. "Because the gene pool is so limited, there aren't many different chromosomes, but when the chromosomes do differ, they diverge to an extent never before observed in domesticated plants," explains Schneeberger. "The differences are about twenty times greater than in humans."

These differences presumably arose before the arrival of the potato in Europe. The indigenous peoples of South America started to domesticate potatoes about 10,000 years ago, and the differences are likely the result of crossing between wild species.

Finally, the researchers developed a novel approach that can be used to analyze the genomes of the around 2,000 potatoes registered with the European Union. Instead of laboriously generating the data needed to reconstruct a genome, easily generated data are compared with the currently known genomes to determine which of the known chromosomes are present in a cultivar. The researchers showed that their approach works with the Russet Burbank cultivar, which has existed since 1908 and is still the standard variety for French fries today.

"Knowledge of genome sequences forms the basis for many approaches in plant breeding, from traditional breeding to the latest methods of genome engineering," says Schneeberger. "In the future, we won't have to work without this information anymore."

More information: Hequan Sun et al, The phased pan-genome of tetraploid European potato, Nature (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-08843-0 Journal information: Nature
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Credit: Nate Biddle from Pexels

Queensland is widely known as the land clearing capital of Australia. But what's not so well known is many of the cleared trees can grow back naturally.

The latest state government figures show regrowth across more than 7.6 million hectares in Queensland in 2020-21. These trees, though young, still provide valuable habitat for many threatened speciesas long as they're not bulldozed again.

Our new research explored the benefits of regrowth for 30 threatened animal species in Queensland. We found regrown forests and woodlands provided valuable habitat and food for species after an average of 15 years. Some species were likely to benefit from trees as young as three years.

This presents an opportunity for governments to support landowners and encourage them to retain more regrowing forest and woodland, especially where it can provide much-needed habitat for wildlife. But it's a challenge because there is strong pressure to clear regrowth, largely to maintain pasture.

When do young forests and woodlands become valuable habitat?

We focused on threatened animal species that depend on forests and woodlands, and occur in regions with substantial regrowth.

We wanted to find out which species use regrowth, and how old the trees need to be. But there's not much survey data available on threatened species living in naturally regenerated forest and woodlands.

To elicit this information we asked almost 50 experts to complete a detailed questionnaire and attend a workshop.

We found 15 years was the average minimum age at which regrowth became useful to threatened species. But the full range was 368 years, depending on factors such as what a species eats, how it moves through the landscape and whether it needs tree hollows for shelter or breeding.

For example, one threatened bird (the squatter pigeon) could use woodlands as young as three years old. Koalas benefited from regrowth as young as nine years old.

Some species, such as the greater glider, need much older forests. This is because they require large tree hollows to shelter in during the day, and large trees to feed on and move between at night.

So young forests shouldn't be seen as an alternative to protecting old forests. We need both.

Understanding the extent of habitat loss

We also estimated the proportion of each species' current habitat that comprises regrowth, using satellite data and publicly available data.

For some species, we found regrowth made up almost a third of their potential habitat in Queensland. On average, it was 18%.

However, nearly three-quarters of the habitat lost in Queensland since 2018 was regrowth forests and woodlands. So while the loss of older, "remnant" vegetation is more damaging per unit area, the regrowth habitat is being lost on a bigger scale.

Our research suggests retaining more regrowth could be an easy and cost-effective way to help save threatened species.

In contrast, tree planting is time-consuming and expensive. What's more, only 10% of our native plants are readily available as seeds for sale. This, combined with more extreme weather such as prolonged droughts, often causes restoration projects to fail.

Encouraging landholders to retain regrowth

The fact that habitat can regrow naturally in parts of Queensland is a huge bonus. But farmers also need to maintain productivity, which can decrease if there's too much regrowth.

So, how do we help these landowners retain more regrowth?

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One way is to provide incentives. For example, government-funded biodiversity stewardship schemes provide payments to cover the costs of managing the vegetationsuch as fencing off habitat and managing weedsas well as compensation for loss of agricultural production. Targeting areas of regrowth with high habitat values could be a way for such schemes to benefit wildlife.

Alternatively, market-based schemes allow landowners to generate biodiversity or carbon "credits" by keeping more trees on their property. Then, businesses (or governments) buy these credits. For example, some big emitters in Australia have to purchase carbon credits to "offset" their own emissions.

However, Australia's carbon market has been accused of issuing "low integrity" carbon credits. This means the carbon credits were paid for projects that may not have captured and stored the amount of carbon they were supposed to. To make sure these markets work, robust methods are neededand until now, there hasn't been one that worked to retain regrowth.

Trees are good for the land, air and sea

In February, the Queensland government released a method by which landholders could generate carbon credits by agreeing not to clear their regrowing woodlands and forests.

The new carbon method provides a promising opportunity to allow landowners to diversify their farm income.

In addition, tree cover brings direct, on-farm benefits such as more shade and shelter for livestock, natural pest control and better soil health.

At a landscape level, greater tree cover can improve local climate regulation, reduce sediment run-off to the Great Barrier Reef and reduce Australia's carbon emissions.

Ideally, Australia's carbon and biodiversity markets would work alongside sufficient government funding for nature recovery, which needs to increase to at least 1% (currently it's around 0.1%).

Meanwhile, our research has shown embracing natural regeneration potential in Queensland will have benefits for a range of threatened species too.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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A new study of Australian lawyers shows that workplace culture is critical to improving their well-being, according to researchers from The Australian National University (ANU) and the University of Melbourne.

The researchers recommend the introduction of more flexible working arrangements, improved management of lawyer well-being by firms, and greater understanding of the specific well-being needs of both junior lawyers and those managing them.

The survey of 1,900 lawyers across Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia was conducted by a research team including principal investigator Emerita Professor Vivien Holmes from ANU and Professor Julian Webb from Melbourne Law School.

Around half of the lawyers surveyed believe the culture of their workplace has a negative effect on their well-being. The survey also found that 18% of participants worked in organizations with a "poor" culture, characterized by poor relationships with colleagues, incivility, self-interest, and pressure to cut corners and bend rules.

Meantime, across all law firms surveyed, junior lawyers and senior lawyers with management responsibilities reported higher than average levels of psychological distress.

"Our study identifies a clear relationship between workplace culture, well-being and career intentions, with a third of participants reporting that they want to quit their firm, and 1 in 10 planning to leave the profession within a year," Emerita Professor Holmes said.

"For those planning to leave the sector, high workloads and a poor balance between perceived effort and reward were a serious problem."

Professor Webb added, "We found poor culture was statistically associated with higher psychological distress, workplace incivility, and a lack of effective well-being support services such as flexible working arrangements, better workload management, and tailored counseling or employee assistance programs."

Importantly, there were also positive findings.

"Nearly half of legal workplaces had a positive culture with good well-being supports, stronger relationships and healthier and happier staff," Professor Webb said.

Professor Holmes concluded, "We were able to identify the foundations for good workplace culture in having supportive colleagues and good management, practical and flexible work arrangements, and a positive focus on the quality of work. These factors have shaped our recommendations to the profession."

More information: Lawyer wellbeing, workplace experiences and ethics: a research report. lsbc.vic.gov.au/resources/lawy  cs-research-report-0
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Assessing suspect involvement in shooting incidents. (A) Color marked areas for gunshot residue testing. (B) Direct lead testing on shooters hand showing bright green luminescence. (C) Lead testing on the hand of bystander after shooting showing moderate luminescence, and (D) weak luminescence after washing with water and soap. (E) Bystanders hand after thorough washing still showing clear green luminescence on nails. (F) Indirect lead testing by wiping glass fiber cloth over clothing of a bystander shows bright luminescence. (G) Indirect testing of bystanders shoe sole. (H) SEM stub after stubbing shooters hand showing green luminescence where lead is present. Credit: Forensic Science International (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112415

Crime scene investigation may soon become significantly more accurate and efficient thanks to a new method for detecting gunshot residues. Researchers from the groups of Wim Noorduin (AMOLF/University of Amsterdam) and Arian van Asten (University of Amsterdam) developed the technique that converts lead particles found in gunshot residue into light-emitting semiconductors. This method is faster, more sensitive, and easier to use than current alternatives.

Forensic experts at the Amsterdam police force are already testing it in actual crime scene investigations. The researchers published their findings in Forensic Science International on March 9.

Gunshot residue clues

The innovative light-emitting lead analysis method offers exciting opportunities for crime scene investigations. When a weapon is fired, it leaves gunshot residue containing lead traces on the surrounding environment, including clothing and skin.

Bente van Kralingen, a forensic expert at the Amsterdam Police, explains, "Obtaining an indication of gunshot residue at the crime scene is a major advantage, helping us answer key questions about shooting incidents. For instance, determining whether the damage found could have been caused by a bullet and determining the relative position of a person who might have been involved in a shooting incident. We test for lead traces on possible bullet holes and a suspect's or a victim's clothing or hands."

Currently, police send all samples to the lab for analysis. However, the methods used there are often time-consuming, labor-intensive, and require expensive equipment. "We're excited about the tests we're conducting, and hopefully this will allow us to use the light-emitting method soon in actual court cases as evidence," says van Kralingen.

The new method for detecting gunshot residue. Credit: University of Amsterdam

Semiconductor technology

The new analysis method builds on recent advances in perovskite research. Perovskites are a promising material used in applications ranging from solar cells to LEDs. A few years ago, the research group of Wim Noorduin developed an easy-to-use lead detection method based on perovskite technology.

In this method, a reagent converts lead-containing surfaces into a perovskite semiconductor. Shining with a UV lamp will make the newly formed semiconductor emit a bright green glow visible to the naked eyemaking even small traces of lead easily detectable.

In 2021, Noorduin and Lukas Helmbrecht (formerly Ph.D. student in the group) established a start-up company to develop this lead testing method into a practical lead detection kit: Lumetallix. Over the past years, many people worldwide have been investigating their surroundings using the Lumetallix test kit. They report positive tests in all sorts of objects, for example: dinner plates, beer glasses, but also in paint dust at construction sites.

Helmbrecht developed an altered version of the Lumetallix reagent for the forensic application: one that reacts especially well with lead atoms in gunshot residue and produces a long-lasting green glow.

Photoluminescent lead detection in gunshot residue. (A) Shooting firearms produces gunshot residue that typically contains lead particulates. (B) Methyl ammonium bromide in the reagent reacts with lead in gunshot residue to form perovskite, which emits bright green light upon illumination with UV light. (C) Typically, the combustion plume and bullet wipe contaminate objects such as clothing, hands, and targets with gunshot residue, which is rapidly visualized with photoluminescent lead detection to assess suspect involvement and to assist crime scene reconstruction. Credit: Forensic Science International (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112415

At the shooting range

To validate the effectiveness of this method, the researchers conducted a series of controlled experiments. Ph.D. students Kendra Adelberg and Arno van der Weijden (AMOLF/UvA) visited a shooting range in Amsterdam. Adelberg states, "We used standard 9 mm full metal jacket bullets and fired them from two different pistols at cotton cloth targets placed at various distances.

"After applying the reagent, we visualized the gunshot residue patterns. The results revealed well-defined luminescent patterns that were clearly visible to the naked eye, even at extended distances."

During their experiments, Adelberg and her colleagues made two other remarkable discoveries. First, unlike other methods, the new light-emitting technique remains effective even after extensive washing of the shooter's hands. This is important for forensic investigations, as suspects often try to tamper with or remove evidence of their involvement.

Second, bystanders standing approximately 2 meters away from the shooter also tested positive for lead traces on their hands. "These findings provide valuable pieces of the puzzle when reconstructing a shooting incident. But, a positive test also needs to be carefully interpreted. It does not automatically mean that you fired a gun," says Adelberg.

Who will benefit?

The researchers believe this new method will be especially beneficial to first responders, such as police officers, who can use it to rapidly screen potential suspects and witnesses to secure crucial evidence.

Beyond forensic applications, the team is also exploring the potential of this light-emitting method to detect lead contamination in environmental samples such as water and soil. Since lead is toxic and harmful to the environment, this research could have broader implications for environmental monitoring and public health.

More information: Kendra Adelberg et al, Perovskite-based photoluminescent detection of lead particles in gunshot residue, Forensic Science International (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112415 Journal information: Forensic Science International
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Angles and forces involved in TODR calculation;   is the angle between the runway and the local horizontal plane and   is the take-off angle between the flight path and the runway. Credit: Aerospace (2025). DOI: 10.3390/aerospace12030165

Rising temperatures due to climate change may force aircraft at European airports to reduce passenger numbers in the coming decades.

Scientists from the University of Reading studied how hotter air affects aircraft performance during takeoff at 30 sites across Europe. When air gets warmer, it becomes less dense, making it harder for planes to generate lift, the force that allows them to fly.

The research, published in the journal Aerospace, focused on the Airbus A320, a common aircraft used for short and medium-haul flights across Europe. By the 2060s, some airports with shorter runways may need to reduce their maximum takeoff weight by the equivalent of approximately 10 passengers per flight during summer months.

Dr. Jonny Williams, lead author of the study at the University of Reading, said, "A warming world has an impact on people and businesses worldwide, and we are now showing one way it could increase the price of your summer holiday. Flying to Spain, Italy or Greece could get more expensive as flights carry fewer people due to climate change.

"Hot summer days when smaller airports have to reduce their weight will get more common. Our research shows conditions which used to happen about 1 day in a summer may happen 3 or 4 days a week by the 2060s.

"Aviation is sometimes singled out as a significant source of the greenhouse gases that are causing the planet to heat up. Our study provides yet more evidence that aviation is itself not immune to the impacts of climate change."

Mediterranean misery

Of the sites studied, the findings suggest four popular tourist destinations will be most affected:

Chios, Greece

Pantelleria, Italy

Rome Ciampino, Italy

San Sebastian, Spain.

These airports have shorter runways meaning the airlines can't operate them at the maximum weight set by the manufacturer. Future increases in heatwaves will only make this worse, forcing operators to reduce aircraft weights and profit margins even further.

While larger airports like London Heathrow and Gatwick have runways long enough to handle the A320 even in extreme heat, they may face challenges with larger aircraft like the Airbus A380, which needs more runway space.

The problem may also affect airport operations beyond simply reducing passenger numbers. Airlines might need to reschedule flights to cooler parts of the day, and runway maintenance needs could increase as surfaces degrade faster in extreme heat.

The researchers note that following a more sustainable climate path would stabilize these effects, whereas continued high emissions would make the problem significantly worse. Future studies will examine how other factors like humidity and changing wind patterns may further impact takeoff performance.

More information: Jonny Williams et al, Quantifying the Effects of Climate Change on Aircraft Take-Off Performance at European Airports, Aerospace (2025). DOI: 10.3390/aerospace12030165
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MIT historian of science Robin Scheffler looks at the public discussions over safety and regulations that, once established, helped the biotechnology industry thrive in the Boston area. Credit: Emily Dahl; MIT News

It's considered a scientific landmark: A 1975 meeting at the Asilomar Conference Center in Pacific Grove, California, shaped a new safety regime for recombinant DNA, ensuring that researchers would apply caution to gene splicing. Those ideas have been so useful that in the decades since, when new topics in scientific safety arise, there are still calls for Asilomar-type conferences to craft good ground rules.

There's something missing from this narrative, though: It took more than the Asilomar conference to set today's standards. The Asilomar concepts were created with academic research in mindbut the biotechnology industry also makes products, and standards for that were formulated after Asilomar.

"The Asilomar meeting and Asilomar principles did not settle the question of the safety of genetic engineering," says MIT scholar Robin Scheffler, author of a newly published research paper on the subject.

Instead, as Scheffler documents in the paper, Asilomar helped generate further debate, but those industry principles were set down later in the 1970sfirst in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where politicians and concerned citizens wanted local biotech firms to be good neighbors. In response, the city passed safety laws for the emerging industry. And rather than heading off to places with zero regulations, local firmsincluding a fledgling Biogenstayed put. Over the decades, the Boston area became the world leader in biotech.

Why stay? In essence, regulations gave biotech firms the certainty they needed to growand build. Lenders and real-estate developers needed signals that long-term investment in labs and facilities made sense. Generally, as Scheffler notes, even though "the idea that regulations can be anchoring for business does not have a lot of pull" in economic theory, in this case, regulations did matter.

"The trajectory of the industry in Cambridge, including biotechnology companies deciding to accommodate regulation, is remarkable," says Scheffler. "It's hard to imagine the American biotechnology industry without this dense cluster in Boston and Cambridge. These things that happened on a very local scale had huge echoes."

Scheffler's article, "Asilomar Goes Underground: The Long Legacy of Recombinant DNA Hazard Debates for the Greater Boston Area Biotechnology Industry," is published in the latest issue of the Journal of the History of Biology. Scheffler is an associate professor in MIT's Program in Science, Technology, and Society.

Business: Banking on certainty

To be clear, the Asilomar conference of 1975 did produce real results. Asilomar led to a system that helped evaluate projects' potential risk and determine appropriate safety measures. The U.S. federal government subsequently adopted Asilomar-like principles for research it funded.

But in 1976, debate over the subject arose again in Cambridge, especially following a cover story in a local newspaper, the Boston Phoenix. Residents became concerned that recombinant DNA projects would lead to, hypothetically, new microorganisms that could damage public health.

"Scientists had not considered urban public health," Scheffler says. "The Cambridge recombinant DNA debate in the 1970s made it a matter of what your neighbors think."

After several months of hearings, research, and public debate (sometimes involving MIT faculty) stretching into early 1977, Cambridge adopted a somewhat stricter framework than the federal government had proposed for the handling of materials used in recombinant DNA work.

"Asilomar took on a new life in local regulations," says Scheffler, whose research includes government archives, news accounts, industry records, and more.

But a funny thing happened after Cambridge passed its recombinant DNA rules: The nascent biotech industry took root, and other area towns passed their own versions of the Cambridge rules.

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"Not only did cities create more safety regulations," Scheffler observes, "but the people asking for them switched from being left-wing activists or populist mayors to the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council and real estate development concerns."

Indeed, he adds, "What's interesting is how quickly safety concerns about recombinant DNA evaporated. Many people against recombinant DNA came to change their thinking." And while some local residents continued to express concerns about the environmental impact of labs, "those are questions people ask when they no longer worry about the safety of the core work itself."

Unlike federal regulations, these local laws applied to not only lab research but also products, and as such they let firms know they could work in a stable business environment with regulatory certainty. That mattered financially, and in a specific way: It helped companies build the buildings they needed to produce the products they had invented.

"The venture capital cycle for biotechnology companies was very focused on the research and exciting intellectual ideas, but then you have the bricks and mortar," Scheffler says, referring to biotech production facilities. "The bricks and mortar is actually the harder problem for a lot of startup biotechnology companies."

After all, he notes, "Venture capital will throw money after big discoveries, but a banker issuing a construction loan has very different priorities and is much more sensitive to things like factory permits and access to sewers 10 years from now. That's why all these towns around Massachusetts passed regulations, as a way of assuring that."

To grow globally, act locally

Of course, one additional reason biotech firms decided to land in the Boston area was the intellectual capital: With so many local universities, there was a lot of industry talent in the region. Local faculty co-founded some of the high-flying firms.

"The defining trait of the Cambridge-Boston biotechnology cluster is its density, right around the universities," Scheffler says. "That's a unique feature local regulations encouraged."

It's also the case, Scheffler notes, that some biotech firms did engage in venue-shopping to avoid regulations at first, although that was more the case in California, another state where the industry emerged. Still, the Boston-area regulations seemed to assuage both industry and public worries about the subject.

The foundations of biotechnology regulation in Massachusetts contain some additional historical quirks, including the time in the late 1970s when the city of Cambridge mistakenly omitted the recombinant DNA safety rules from its annually published bylaws, meaning the regulations were inactive. Officials at Biogen sent them a reminder to restore the laws to the books.

Half a century on from Asilomar, its broad downstream effects are not just a set of research principlesbut also, refracted through the Cambridge episode, key ideas about public discussion and input; reducing uncertainty for business, the particular financing needs of industries; the impact of local and regional regulation; and the openness of startups to recognizing what might help them thrive.

"It's a different way to think about the legacy of Asilomar," Scheffler says. "And it's a real contrast with what some people might expect from following scientists alone."

More information: Robin Wolfe Scheffler, Asilomar Goes Underground: The Long Legacy of Recombinant DNA Hazard Debates for the Greater Boston Area Biotechnology Industry, Journal of the History of Biology (2025). DOI: 10.1007/s10739-025-09806-x

This story is republished courtesy of MIT News (web.mit.edu/newsoffice/), a popular site that covers news about MIT research, innovation and teaching.
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Aquatic foods are vital to Malaysia's food security, nutrition, economy, and livelihoodswith both capture fisheries and aquaculture playing central roles. However, the sector is currently at a critical juncture. A new study shows that despite its critical role, capture fisheries has stalled while farmed fish and seaweed are now driving growth.

The study published in Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems is authored by scientists from WorldFish, the Center for Marine and Coastal Studies, and the School of Biological Sciences at Universiti Sains Malaysia, and the Institute for Future Initiatives at the University of Tokyo.

It finds that overfishing, habitat loss and challenging governance and market environments have pushed capture fisheries to the limit. In 2022, wild-caught fish made up 69% of Malaysia's total fish production but output has remained flat.

In contrast, aquaculture which includes farmed fish, shrimp and seaweed, contributed up to 30% and continues to expand.

Malaysia's seaweed farming sector is now the single largest component of aquaculture, making up more than half of total farmed output. This low-cost low-impact system has quietly become one of the country's most promising blue economy success stories.

Co-author, Dr. Cristiano Rossignoli, Research Lead at WorldFish said Malaysia's aquatic food systems are facing both risk and opportunity. "Aquaculture in Malaysia still faces key sustainability challenges. However, it holds great potential to meet the growing demand for aquatic foods, especially as wild fisheries stagnate. To unlock this potential, smallholders must be supported to adopt sustainable practices," he said.

The study highlights the challenges to fisheries and aquaculture in Malaysia. They face rising costs, limited access to hatcheries, poor cold storage and processing facilities, complex regulatory processes, and environmental vulnerability. Many are being squeezed out of the sector altogether.

Co-author, Prof. Aileen Tan, Director of the Center for Marine and Coastal Studies at Universiti Sains Malaysia, said the findings underscore the urgent need to adapt to shifting dynamics in the sector.

"This research provides important evidence that Malaysia's aquatic food sector is undergoing a structural shift. As wild fish production plateaus it is essential to strengthen support for sustainable aquaculture especially for small-scale producers who are key to the sector's future resilience," she said.

Malaysia's fish self-sufficiency rate has dropped from 93% in 2019 to just over 90% in 2022. While domestic demand for seafood remains high, the country is importing more fish than ever before.

The study calls for major reforms to expand hatchery capacity, improve rural infrastructure and support small producers. It also recommends investments in research and development to support innovation, competitiveness and sectoral resilience.

More information: Chinedu Obi et al, Overview of the fishery and aquaculture sectors in Malaysia, Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems (2025). DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2025.1545263 Journal information: Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems

Provided by WorldFish
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Illustration of 2D mechanically interlocked polymer. Credit: Dengke Shen, Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University

Researchers at Westlake University have disclosed a two-dimensional (2D) mechanically interlocked polymer (MIP) that mimics medieval chainmail at the molecular scale. This micrometer-scale 2D material exhibits exceptional flexibility and stiffness, potentially revolutionizing next-generation lightweight protective gear and smart armor systems.

Publishing in the journal Nature Synthesis, the study led by Professor Zhichang Liu's team at Westlake University reports the synthesis of a purely organic crystalline 2D MIP with long-range order, resolving the age-old trade-off between flexibility and rigidity. The paper is titled "Synthesis of a crystalline two-dimensional [c2]daisy chain honeycomb network."

The polymer contains 3 billion periodically arranged [c2]daisy chains per square centimetereach acting like interlocking ringsallowing it to bend without breaking while maintaining exceptional stiffness. In a [c2]daisy chain unit, each component consists of a macrocycle and an axle. When two such components interpenetrate, each macrocycle threads through the other's axle, creating two distinct mechanical bonds.

MIPs face a dilemma that either crack under stress (rigid types), or deform irreversibly (flexible gels). This new molecular chainmail combines both traits, functioning like a microscale bulletproof fabric.

To resolve this paradox, Liu's team devised a synergistic strategy combining crystallization preorganization and post-interlocking. Starting with flexible tritopic monomers, they preorganized them into a long-range ordered honeycomb network, then used light to achieve mechanical interlocking.

"Notably, unlike recent reports of 2D MIPs made by tangling linear polymer chains, our material forms a flat, interlocked structure using symmetrical three-armed monomers," explained Professor Zhichang Liu, the study's corresponding author. "This design, resembling the interlocking rings of chainmail armor, achieves mechanical stability without chemical bonds."

Synthesis of a crystalline two-dimensional [c2]daisy chain honeycomb network. Credit: Kezhang Liang, Westlake University

Serendipity meets strategy

"We aimed for a molecular cage but ended up with a honeycomb," said lead scientist Professor Liu. "We designed monomers based on [c2]daisy chain because they offer high flexibility and scalabilitykey traits for artificial molecular muscles. These motifs can provide adaptive binding to guest molecules within cages, but the surprise was their spontaneous assembly into an infinite 2D network instead of a finite cage."

Liu is the inaugural Professor of the Department of Chemistry at Westlake University and an affiliate member of the International Institute for Sustainability with Knotted Chiral Meta Matter (SKCM) of Hiroshima University. Zheng-Bin Tang, a Ph.D. candidate in Liu's laboratory, is the study's first author.

With the aid of synchrotron radiation techniques, the team uncovered a hierarchical self-assembly process from monomers to dimers, hexamers, and ultimately honeycomb networks. These layers are stacked into hexagonal prisms. The photoinitiated thiol-ene click chemistry further transformed the pseudo-[c2]daisy chain into fully interlocked units via complementary non-covalent bonding interactions.

"The in situ molecular stitching proves the polymer is composed of mutually interlocking monomers," explained Tang.

Liu's team found that the bulk crystals could be peeled into ultrathin layerslike peeling a crepe cake in different solvents. Strikingly, these layers became 47 times stiffer than the original bulk material while retaining structural symmetry. "It defies convention: thinner isn't weaker here. Think of it as molecular chainmailrigid yet flexible," said Tang.

The team is now testing the material's response to heat, pressure, and pH changes. "Imagine armor that hardens on impact," Liu mused. "We're years away, but the potential is thrilling."

More information: Zheng-Bin Tang et al, Synthesis of a crystalline two-dimensional [c2]daisy chain honeycomb network, Nature Synthesis (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s44160-025-00791-x Journal information: Nature Synthesis

Provided by Westlake University
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Two of the five Brazilian merganser chicks now thriving at the Prague Zoo.

Five chicks of the critically endangered Brazilian merganser have been born at the Prague Zoo, fueling hopes for a reintroduction of the duck in the wild, a breeder said Wednesday.

The two males and three females born on January 29 are the first Brazilian mergansers ever born outside South America, Prague zoo birds curator Antonin Vaidl told AFP.

"The Brazilian merganser is the only merganser living in the southern hemisphere and one of the most endangered anseriformes, or perhaps the most endangered anseriform of all," Vaidl said, referring to an order of waterfowl.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature put the duck's population at 249 animals in 2019, citing the construction of dams and water pollution as the main reasons behind the decline.

The IUCN has listed the Brazilian merganser, a fish-eating duck with prominent head feathers, as critically endangered since 1994.

Vaidl said the bird was already believed to be extinct in the 1950s before a new population was discovered.

The Brazilian merganser needs clear, fast-flowing water, which made it a daunting task for Prague Zoo to accept five couples from Brazil in October 2023 as the first and only zoo so far.

"It was a tough decision to accommodate five couples, because they cannot be together, each couple needs its own aviary, which must moreover have flowing water," Vaidl said.

He added that if the proliferation continues, Prague Zoo will address other European zoos in a bid to expand the breeding program.

"We have succeeded with the first couple this year, and we hope that other couples will follow suit, because we can see the activity there," Vaidl said.

 2025 AFP
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The trunk of a female African elephant named Pupy interacts with a worker as she stands inside her enclosure at the Ecoparque in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, March 25, 2025, as she is trained for her relocation to a sanctuary in Brazil. Credit: AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko

An unusual convoy neared Argentina's lush border with Brazil on Tuesday, after snaking through traffic-snarled roads for hours. Inside the specialized iron crate strapped to a truck and flanked by vans full of caretakers and veterinarians was Pupy, a female African elephant.

She is heading to a better life after spending more than 30 years in captivity as the last elephant of a Buenos Aires zoo that was often criticized for its conditions before it was turned into a nature preserve nine years ago.

Pupy (pronounced POOH'-pee in Spanish) embarked on her arduous 2,700-kilometer (1,670-mile) journey on Monday, from the trendy neighborhood of Palermo in Argentina's capital of Buenos Aires to the Amazon rainforest of Mato Grosso state in Brazil.

The 3.5-ton pachyderm is expected to arrive at her new home at Elephant Sanctuary Brazil, the first refuge for elephants in Latin America, later this weeka voyage dependent on traffic, weather conditions and customs stops.

As of late Tuesday, Pupy was traversing the verdant northern Argentine province of Misiones, near the border with Brazil.

Standing upright in her crate during the rough road trip, Pupy sleeps and feeds on vegetables, fruit, grass and vitamin supplements. Brazilian park personnel and Argentine handlers monitor her condition during pre-scheduled breaks and through cameras inside the crate.

A female African elephant named Pupy is touched by a worker at the Ecoparque in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, March 25, 2025, as she is trained for her relocation to a sanctuary in Brazil. Credit: AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko

It took months to prepare Pupy for so many hours of confinement.

"She is making the journey flawlessly," said Maria Jose Catanzariti, a veterinarian and operational manager at the Buenos Aires preserve. "Sometimes in the first 24 hours these animals don't want to eat, but Pupy keeps eating."

Pupy is just the latest in a series of over 1,000 wild animalselephants, as well as lions, tigers, bears and apesthat the Buenos Aires "ecopark" has sent to sanctuaries abroad since its 2016 conversion from a ramshackle city zoo into a species conservation site.

Free from confinement, the animals build new lives in greener pastures. An orangutan named Sandra traded her limited, lonely existence in the Argentine preserve in 2019 for more roaming space and 22 new friends from her own species at the Center for Great Apes in Wauchula, Florida.

A female African elephant named Pupy stands in her enclosure at the Ecoparque in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, March 25, 2025, as she is trained for her relocation to a sanctuary in Brazil. Credit: AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko

A female African elephant named Pupy stands in her enclosure at the Ecoparque in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, March 25, 2025, as she is trained for her relocation to a sanctuary in Brazil. Credit: AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko

A female African elephant named Pupy stands in her enclosure at the Ecoparque in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, March 25, 2025, as she is trained for her relocation to a sanctuary in Brazil. Credit: AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko

Already enjoying the Brazil Elephant Sanctuary are five Asian elephantsincluding Mara, a former circus elephant that also ended up in the Argentine preserve's enclosure and five years ago made the same highway trip to the refuge, where she now trudges at least 10 kilometers (6 miles) a day.

The Brazilian elephant sanctuary offers newcomers space to adjust to life in the wild, regain behaviors intrinsic to their species and socialize with others after so many years often spent isolated and alone.

Because Pupy can only fraternize with other African elephants, she will be alone adapting to her new habitat before the expected arrival of a fellow African elephant named Kenia.

From a zoo in the city of Mendoza, western Argentina, with a history of similarly poor conditions, Kenia is now undergoing training before making the trip to the sprawling multi-acre refuge, which evokes an elephant's natural home.

 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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The Elephant Butte Dam in 2022. Credit: Abby Eckland/CU Boulder

In 2021, while revelers across America celebrated the fourth of July, three researchers waded through a shallow river delta in the New Mexican desert. Abby Eckland, Irina Overeem and Brandee Carlson stood in what remained of the Rio Grandeyears of drought had shrunk the river to a few small channels. Just downstream, the channels entered the Elephant Butte ReservoirNew Mexico's largest.

Then, all of a sudden, the water started rising. First, to the scientists' calves. Then above their knees.

"Wow, it's really coming up," Overeem remarked.

The river became muddy and turbid. Debristamarisk leaves, pine needles and trashfloated down the widening channel. Dead fish rose to the surface and came to rest in the weeds on the riverbank. It was a flash flood.

At this point, a normal sightseer would probably head for the hills, but the scientists, instead, responded with excitement. This was an opportunity for inquiry into an ephemeral natural phenomenon. Eckland bottled up water samples while Overeem and Carlson checked on the sensing equipment they had placed in the river that morning.

A carbon sink in the desert

This month, the team published a new study, led by Eckland, in Water Resources Research. The analysis draws on their 2021 field season and parses information about sediment and organic carbon in river water for a surprising result.

Reservoirs like Elephant Butte may sequester organic carbon within layers of sediment, especially during periods of drought and flash floods. Essentially, the reservoir acts as a carbon sinktrapping organic material that would otherwise emit carbon dioxide through natural decay.

The explanation lies in physics. Normally, when water flows into a reservoir, it spreads out over the surface. But, if the river picks up enough sediment, the process flips upside down. Instead of the river water fanning out on top, an underwater current plunges it downward. Scientists call this a "hyperpycnal plume."

"We saw this plume developing based on the data from instruments we cast near the mouth of the Rio Grande," Eckland said. "That means that it's likely that whatever sediment, carbon and other materials are being carried will flow to the bottom of the reservoir and get deposited."

Armed with this evidence, the researchers next turned their attention to the samples they had gathered in the field. It was time to, literally, dig through the muck.

Droughts and floods

In the laboratory, an array of tests characterized the contents of samples from the river water, reservoir water, and underlying delta and reservoir beds. Once they had these values mapped out, the researchers compared their results to a repository of historical data from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamationa process aided by Eckland's familiarity with the system after years of interning with the Bureau. This allowed them to extrapolate their findings back in time.

A sonar system mounted to the front of Eckland's packraft measures underwater river geometry on the Rio Grande near Elephant Butte Reservoir. Credit: Abby Eckland.

"Abby had a lot of connections to the scientists there and knew what to look for," Overeem said. "It was really good that we had this, sort of, liaison to the federal government system. It led to a unique partnership."

Finally, the team had all of the information they needed to compare carbon sequestration in the river delta and reservoir over seasons, years and even decades.

This second set of analysis provided the study's most striking result. Not only was organic carbon getting buried beneath layers of sediment, but this process was actually amplified during drought. Because the overall footprint of the reservoir was smaller during these periods, sediment piled on faster.

"There's less of a footprint when the water level is low," Eckland said. "There's just less space for it to go, so you get more carbon buried per area."

The serendipitous timing of their field excursion produced another insightcarbon burial rates are also elevated during flash floods. It makes sense, of course. Flash floods tear through the landscape, picking up loose soil, leaves and whatever else is lying around. By the time they reach the reservoir, they are full of sediment, which creates a hyperpycnal plume, and full of organic material, which is subsequently buried.

Though carbon burial in reservoir sediment has been observed in the past, the new paper is the first to identify exactly how it happens.

"The key link is the role of the hyperpycnal plume in delivering carbon to the bottom of the reservoir," Eckland said.

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Next steps

As with any novel scientific finding, the next step is to confirm the discovery and gather more information. This is already underway. Overeem recently returned to the site with former INSTAAR postdoc and current University of New Mexico assistant professor Marisa Repasch to gather samples from the reservoir bed. Repasch is an expert in organic carbon storage in the landscape, and her lab is hard at work digging deeper into the chemical characteristics of the sediment. So far, the preliminary results are promising.

"We found even higher numbers than what Abby estimated," Overeem said.

The researchers are hopeful that these results might help water managers make more informed decisions in the future. Essentially, they have highlighted a unique benefit of dryland reservoirsthat they might capture and store the source material of Earth's most ubiquitous greenhouse gas. This insight could become important in weighing the potential costs and benefits of infrastructure on the landscape.

"There is renewed interest in carbon sequestration, especially because there might be a market for stored carbon at some point in the future," Overeem said. "It's a futuristic vision, but we will need this kind of information to get there."

More information: A. C. Eckland et al, Accelerated Organic Carbon Burial Rates Reconstructed in Elephant Butte Reservoir, New Mexico During a Megadrought, Water Resources Research (2025). DOI: 10.1029/2023WR035254 Journal information: Water Resources Research